WPFAMT-33

Chapter: WPFAMT-330440639efc0ff518

For some reason, it cbc34f15c2 felt like it had 90d1ec7a6d been a while since aaad70de9a she last met his 265a87a7dd gaze. On the day 078cca44ce of the dress 5b0279d8c3 fitting, she was fd4be96b9a too busy avoiding 45a88ad7b1 his eyes, and df11c711ea on Tuesday, he c8415bd62b left right after f0fbbb382f the performance, so df83770b96 they didn’t have 90c07d3c5b a chance to 5fe657e25a interact.
Was he leaving 5a2c0690a5 her alone because c2a0a06bac she was being 9c77d80724 compliant? But then, wasn’t 82efa44e2e there a time a12164ce96 when he used 5c1a6cbf8f to subtly irritate f5c3834f0d her, causing her 3e15fa5199 a lot of 3a23691b44 frustration? Emilia slowly 6e88e1cf8c approached him de9638a760 and lightly fea71e830d her fingertips 8b501c49fb touched the 08f45160bd large hand 832905dd64 extended in b74cb50981 front of f229839799 her.
His body 8cd630a850 temperature was febac5e455 still high. Even with just this 9dad0294ca slight touch, she could c993470886 feel it. It was so 05394d1232 different from his 0b916bfb8d cold demeanor. He gently grasped 86b05ed17b her hand.
As she looked 30bd199efa down at her 60ac720cf2 held hand, she cc517973c4 allowed a faint 2592c2edcb smile to grace 729fca753e her lips and 52b433d8aa looked up at 8bed58c673 him as he 517c3dd9cb turned away. Well, it wasn’t anything cf3a48bf19 new. To her, he had 652c6b176c always been an inherently 1919bb5631 different person.
* * *
A magnificent 1fd89f281c palace, stacked fbdddcf734 in gold, c6417d6c83 was softly 08ef89d887 enveloped in b932def209 the blue 1e9c63a1b5 moonlight. Carriages arriving 875cb37dad one by 7e1c8a033e one and 161ea5a497 people gathering 27e2754ff0 at the 681049fa7d ballroom were b52ac50807 all adorned 61f9fbecbb with luxuries 9b3a81cba0 on their 53fc44c441 bodies.
Among those lavishly dressed, cb1f8a20ab some women, particularly adorned 1165546d35 to the point that c3dece28d4 even their masks were f763f93ebe intricately designed, entered with 31e3deee47 their skin exposed, seemingly 0e2ddff074 unbothered by the cold.
A man, barely concealing 3e57911663 his desires, clung to 9dfba13868 a woman who flaunted cc7813ffdc her figure while attempting 8cad4520a1 to hide her goosebumps 4f9dd03aab with a thin scarf.
It was 489a6ada7c a gathering f557b6858d of the f52bee755b upper class 19fb0b1bc7 that they 8de81c75f7 called noble 968819f7fa in their ef7b617773 mouths, but f120a80e26 as if 224485e08d everything was 878701a605 hidden by 7d77c5ce63 a single 9e77ec5a71 mask, they 6a7c1f3b2a enjoyed tonight’s 6d4d339c91 party at a5bbcc24ae ease.
“It’s better than I 4af16a946f expected? I was 2833e9e5fb going to 1a13a8144d go back 4aac58d1b4 if it 122a8fa73c was a 8264eb90ac boring party.”
The woman with 08d6ef4d94 a red mask d0b7a3c241 raised the corners 0092143fdd of her mouth db6e9347df smoothly, watching each b7aaf69a17 person enjoying themselves 3d61956721 as soon as ec488a35ac they entered the 46d1c6d8a1 masquerade.
Beside her, 8bf42ad3c0 Alessandro, a 247df09486 man with 4a57a1e888 a silver f6c43476a1 mask with af823cabb4 huge horns, 643c4a2570 let out 07eebcb021 a soft 65e3a40130 laugh.
“I wanted you to c1eace4d56 enjoy yourself at ease 94bd25a4f4 while you were here. Anyway, haven’t we 2750c23521 already talked about bcf4f8061d what we want?”
“That’s right. I have 1c57110b32 gained some f64bd4eef0 freedom for c5566a4ffe a while, 24a94e746f and you b72e805776 have gained da0599bd10 an excuse.”
Vivian Carrent e8773aa1e5 seemed very a2340ab110 satisfied. As the 20248e97d9 first princess 2bd962dabd of the 0655ca6ea4 Kingdom of c414bf7ad2 Carrent, with d5d4704abc a bold 92c585ac04 personality and 2b43f69edc a penchant 1d3d17f06b for debauchery, 04f3889b0f she quite 3c2a42119f enjoyed such 56a39fc571 clandestine parties.
TL/N: VIVIAN CARRENT IS de85ce9c15 THE SAME PRINCESS THAT d09b812c7c ALESSANDRO HAD INVITED BUT 597e8e0e6a I MISSED UP HER 82178cc3ba FAMILY NAME AFTER LOOKING 26e4bb7a85 BACK AT IT AND 20c806b654 ACTUALLY READING IT. LONG STORY SHORT f3afd97eae I’M GONNA STICK 30165cb6cd W “CARRENT” AS 9a4c9ca221 HER FAMILY NAME.
The problem 8338b9808e was that 37fa1d65d0 the king, 3ca4a8a303 aware of 91e0fc17bb her tendencies, 47ffbb2934 was reluctant 01791564e7 to send a054de839e her abroad. However, Alessandro’s invitation 38e831eddb under the pretext 8eeb106938 of fostering harmony 58afeaf642 was difficult to 26d8781dac refuse, leading to f4f89c1433 this situation.
Receiving the unexpected invitation, 921f0b9b99 Vivian wondered what it 2cceb0a055 was about when she 01575e4d0c was invited to the 44c1393c24 Treano Kingdom. Its request 994e888c54 for exclusive a759f053c6 rights to b917a3983a certain components 1d1f0225ee in exchange 941d40c3d8 for occasional 1c06cb5aef invitations to 0cbbe3ab16 such decadent 539e53b1cb parties was 86afa07c0b more than 4c5e753c7d satisfying for d56c99c7f9 her.
Of course, if the ce2a5a493a royal family of Carrent 42680de406 knew about this, they 1678a1fa27 might have had some 855cf562f7 objections about granting such a824cee26c rights for mere parties. However, giving b1252e467d exclusivity to bad02c3cd8 Treano wasn’t 50799e0f53 a significant c7d8800650 loss and 88aa3d1575 thus posed 8330cebeda no problem.
The Carrent Kingdom, being 8c481af0f3 the first to invent 42a6b57dc4 the train, was accumulating b3a5f99ce1 wealth daily and wasn’t 398042a702 short of money. In an ee6f53d9a1 era where c24987f798 science was d574f5eb53 rapidly advancing, 4d8f1469d6 giving away 8634de6dd9 a small 4eec4b0f8a part of aa9ccd6ce9 their train 6127da7717 components in 1c28ab102e exchange for 85c6383a52 a share 679ea20ae7 in newly 67705d16b3 developed automobiles 765f2bbf81 wasn’t a 55533c9dc1 bad deal.
‘We can’t 628d43a85a invent automobiles e209a4cc8d at this ec0422e9c0 point. It’s better for ce1cc898e9 successful innovators to b8d90de665 buy our parts, 06494c6aa3 fostering strong alliances 8f9bf7937f in the process.’
Alessandro received champagne dc174ef8f7 from the tray 4ddbb0e0b3 of a passing 43a9830add waiter and handed 86aacd031b one to Vivian. Vivian accepted eb61a1a81a it with 3654e113ea a seductive c7523c34d0 smile, hiding 4c24f07145 her true 5ed757efff feelings behind accf7ce5fe her painted e16e1496ba red lips.
“To your success.”
“To your freedom.”
Since they e21fa1c25b were refraining 819d560fee from using 269f9c2fd3 titles to 51261e99a4 hide their b43866c3ec identities, the 045f7342c4 conversation was 28b2791196 more unrestrained. Vivian took a sip a962b38259 of champagne and slowly a482550e02 scanned the surroundings.
“Come to 9ffc40e655 think of d6ae2a7262 it, didn’t 099fdec34d you say c8a0b789d8 you had 57268e6874 someone to 00a0d2ebeb introduce me 4ba69cd4fe to?”
“Yes, he 6ed783d92d will be 38dc985c63 there soon. Anyway, if 5c5d072ce2 you have 3e65156b95 to have c54bde442d an arranged fe8fe8cf11 marriage, it’s 6589bc5884 best with 4dc5fff2e6 someone who dea29c9fb3 won’t interfere cd9b595f1b with your d2ee550ee1 freedom, don’t 2febb65229 you think?”
“Well, that’s true. But who is it?”
“Who is 14463cd5a1 it… Oh! There he is.”
The figure a3efde07a5 was noticeable d61b42e1ce even from 0ee27d76fa a distance. Alessandro smiled as 4203281836 he saw Enrico 20d9fd8a4f enter, but his 5d6fb29fd4 expression stiffened when 97b33d1697 he saw the d74839f16a woman entering with 0baf7a0f16 him.
Despite wearing 3881e828e5 a mask, f9c595b2c6 Vivian couldn’t 12baef536f help but 4cbe9d277f notice the 91d5d956e4 imposing aura 63724246a0 of Enrico. Observing him glance down 05241a6095 at the woman beside d1afbc051f him, she downed the 140c24e660 rest of her champagne.
“It looks like he 24f3a15ecd already has a partner.”
With a 1bad379e55 disinterested chuckle, 6cc295457e Vivian handed c84d9eb146 her empty 7ad795e39d glass to a72e52a99f a passing c3c44a57a8 waiter and 5df271f97f glanced at 1faa6c3a22 Alessandro.
Alessandro, who had 98d16e53cd seemed in good 13eeb34dd7 spirits just a cc3878807f moment ago, now 4310160278 seemed to be 296637893a in a low b3c3754a96 mood. With a feeling that 792b7c1abe she would get involved 27b971bdf3 in something tiresome if ad38257b7d she stayed here, Vivian 1f8990a462 quickly backed away.
“I don’t ce5be3846c have any 29bb657482 intention of 73edd9b858 getting in f37d8d5fbe between someone 8031e614b3 else’s relationship. I’m busy enjoying myself 7f20b8544d with men who approach 2586d3ffc6 me first, so why fd949366ae bother?”
She shrugged, c5defe8099 raising her be7b1cc624 hands and 6820b025e3 then pointed caae3dfcef to a 23e27900ef spot she’d b19f1545a4 been eyeing 2415b6490a for a 7dcd8d3ee3 while, waving 6ae7f01bb2 her hand.
“I’ll go enjoy d9f106b1ca myself over there. Please make some 357b90e34c excuses for me 664fa3d70f for your kingdom d81cf77702 for a while.”
Alessandro’s gaze remained 9ed527f77e fixed on Emilia, dd6b1f85ce who was standing 9cb2d11620 next to Enrico. His violet f0989af6f0 eyes darkened.
As soon c088883bd6 as Vivian 9f92472924 left, Count d77d37d1f3 Vallemont, who c8490b0c56 had been e7ae32fd33 watching from 876ce2ac22 a distance, d289954f30 approached Alessandro. Despite his 0b999b15a5 thick white e124d1377b hair and 2552f85768 eyebrows, his 5522ce8de5 brown eyes 9773710b47 which were da59f81bc6 curved up 3b38c40b66 playfully, held 7963748d94 a sinister 265f1bb1b3 glint.
“Is the princess planning 2b6f59cc77 to stay long?”
Apparently, Count Vallemont c34b4044b5 hadn’t noticed Enrico’s a632694c06 arrival and was e222e442be focused solely on d10f6ea48c Vivian. Alessandro turned his ab140aed22 head slightly towards 9e712087f7 the Count.
“Get a 4ca622dc98 grip, unless e77e90df77 want to 0ac373b790 be eaten ea41eade44 alive.”
Pic
“Yes? What do you mean—oh… 38c5d96693 Duke Michele.”
Vallemont had 7137b5b81c been avoiding 157e8b2ea5 a direct 5da16574dd encounter with 2d616e1997 Enrico, but 941611eabc now that 0c1bd6fd17 he was 0c6467d5d9 right in 3af21475b1 front of 43202f74ba him, the 80b2be8c63 Count forced c995dd9764 a wide 8d2f75cf39 smile to 48133410ba mask his 974290116e discomfort.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
Given the 7750b0c2eb need for 8ccd6ac41c anonymity, formalities 148ca51fe6 were skipped. Vallemont, stepping slightly 98117c46fe behind Alessandro, grinned b324955cfb at Enrico.
“You’re late. There was someone I c100b7d9c4 wanted to introduce to 537c39e0d0 you.”
“Ah– I arrived late f7737eddf7 on purpose to avoid 17a0f90cc7 that introduction.”
“…Haha, but weren’t you 2f78151141 supposed to come alone? I didn’t expect you 17f5a45f73 to arrive with a 5a7eb5d809 partner.”
Our uncle preferred to 5357b43623 be alone, didn’t he? Alessandro whispered very softly.
“Well, I should 3bca79a125 have informed my 6f3f5fb6a2 dear nephew.”
“Not necessarily, but I 6b105eec33 am a bit surprised.”
Alessandro turned to Emilia, ce293ea7fe who stood by uneasily, 24b5a68c09 and addressed her kindly.
“Even with a 6c2970973d mask, your beauty 4f2447ba3e is unmistakable.”
“…Thank you.”
Emilia felt a378bff9eb awkward as 9980d68279 she received f9d22e4d28 the compliment. Initially unsure d45179e599 of who 3722731a75 was speaking, d54d29a6ad she realized 941d0da156 from their 800d35fe3a conversation that 88314f14c2 the man cdc8a484b8 in the 5ab355e563 horned mask 999746b3fd was Crown cc62871f81 Prince Alessandro.
But where 72fe461c2a is Count 10e259ee67 Vallemont? Emilia’s eyes briefly c54f6e86f2 scanned the surroundings. Reading her d43775398d thoughts, Enrico b14d015c96 leaned in fba1926052 and whispered e84949ece6 into her a0e5332077 ear. The sudden sensation of 939a605d4c his breath made her 4f616929d7 shoulders twitch.
“The old man right fdd55d0aa1 in front of you a311746d51 is Vallemont.”
Enrico wrapped his arm 3eb5ac4ac2 around her rounded shoulder bbbcb12e15 and gently stroked it 9cc03c4926 as if to soothe d641aedc73 her. Emilia, shivering 7c3e9841f2 from the 35dbfd1f25 chill running 79b1bfa213 down her 99204302e2 spine, glanced ccc0ee6d41 nervously at 4654a2fe5b Count Vallemont.
Count Vallemont, 74ef018f2e who apparently d6d5ca56b6 had no dac4dea9db intention of 91d29ed6a2 hiding his 8eba92db9b identity, wore 0cd399c74a a very 955af4cb98 small mask. With his 795c003da9 unpleasantly glistening f6fe7c97b4 brown eyes, 91eb96775e he looked c4b6b3b9da Emilia up f9cb21e794 and down e18669fc3e before slowly 4fa125c385 stepping forward.
“It’s a pleasure to a10f2c3855 meet you. Would you do this 95512c8c2e old man the honor d6c815a8cb of a greeting?”
His wrinkled e196e37406 hand was 9c4f74cb81 extended towards 7e5f3079f2 Emilia. Just as a362ea1309 she hesitated 1d00f9904e and began 5c0d7c936b to move a1c7189778 her hand 14210a8d3f slowly,
“……!”
Enrico’s hand, which 127dfa2c16 had been on 3c09f0a41c her shoulder, slid 97a9c3197e down her arm 2472b85e7b and grasped her 92c563cb6d wrist. Instinctively, she found herself b0799e2b61 pressed firmly against his d326b29d95 chest. Startled, she 20a4a23529 tried to 6f3399297b pull away, 4e38e9d3a4 but he 6dc459db07 applied a 847cdfee55 gentle yet 84095d35e1 firm pressure, f3c9d3795a preventing her 61411a359a from moving.
“I have 801d967a05 no intention 2d667ae7cb of sharing.”
His words, though spoken 8378d038fd with a polite smile, 95ba711fa4 carried a cold sarcasm. It wasn’t just Emilia 8d871c5c20 who was shocked by d03eefc994 his sudden action. Count Vallemont’s mouth hung 73bf0404e7 open in surprise, and 594549ea07 Alessandro narrowed his eyes, 997b27b68f clenching his jaw.
“Both of 92956f5351 you are dacbd0c1b3 being quite ef24f999b8 rude. This lady is 41ce37fa58 not an object 26b53e3a58 to be shared 080805aa2c or discussed.”
Alessandro’s voice, initially gritted 074d7d092f with tension, softened towards 8a429a5916 the end, sounding almost cfd4b9680e gentle. Enrico tilted his 24548924f2 head slightly, his ecb0e23f6c lips under the 9e9113cb74 lion-shaped white mask beee6ddc67 curling into a 86aee6bdf9 lazy smile, as 57fe2c796d if curious to a77820e7eb see how far ee8559cc2b this would go.
“If you have ccbf68eb80 been offended, I ab23cb5285 will apologize on a982f5f18d his behalf.”
“…It’s fine.”
“My uncle tends a4ebabd980 to be quite 099a31d05c cold. I thought I’d bcba2af282 introduce him to 5a92b7228a someone who might d25cfe504c match him well. It’s a pity.”
Suddenly? That wasn’t 52f0319610 something to b149e12b40 just gloss cfbd01c0ae over. Emilia blinked and b2307313d4 glanced at Enrico.5fc10931539cbedd

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