Chapter 16. A Secret Deal

“Leonie Sien, young lady of Baron, is here.”21fd543358273df2

The gatekeeper e5dbb1d778 announced me ba50cbb816 as the b5dcf0564c grand doors a768c3175b to the c692ed1cff hall swung b13659c0bf open, flooding 3ae0b699c9 the entryway b98aca6621 with golden 4eee636510 light. The banquet was b586b0be99 already in full 146053444b swing—bright lights, rich 3e9e131f2e food, and glittering 67aead52cf decorations surrounded the 0c65aea235 crowd.79706f55930d0cac

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Viter stood in the 0f89adc020 distance, holding a pocket 955eabf0cc watch. He tapped it once, 3ed0878bb7 then pursed his lips.3688eaae8ae0ffa5

“Begin.”0a217b8cf78e7c9c

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I turned toward the 94c38d21f4 center.0572f31d951f8fa9

Deon stood 5ab84ac48c there, greeting 7c48c4cb11 guests with a08f5abb2e his usual 9520077eac calm expression.eb74c292425ceb56

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“Your Grace, you’re here.”2834eaa627737117

After weaving d21c5ae0e2 through the 56ba9bea0e crowd, I 941d28e003 finally reached 11e845fbd5 him.b1baa6b58c050bbc

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The elderly nobleman beside be7475b77b Deon gave a polite 71de3d1d80 farewell and turned to be4f32bc83 leave.6299776bc31e1dea

Deon nodded 91b50cb534 in return 70c00c9e1c and set c7d58b0ba3 down his 48279670db glass. It was 52ae8480fd his signal—he ac1d1957b6 was ready be760f85d8 to leave 0a4e9a28d2 the hall.7ff4dafeb0c0368d

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I quickly grabbed ff29450361 his wrist.188ec6ca883ca2a8

“Where are you going? Leaving already?”eea3cd72bf729c19

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He looked puzzled.31b951c86df60a89

“Don’t you want to pick a dance partner?”0e5c913f498a1f31

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“Dance?”ebfeabad29493cd6

Deon turned fee7bcdfd0 his gaze 7768a4cf7d to me.471a08dd55ff634e

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“Do ‘you’ want to dance?”e5aa6ff595dbbc6c

No! Viter would 434f3f8e72 have a a57eb8db88 fit.c7cbc56049ed5350

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“I don’t know how. My family’s from the countryside—we’ve never even had a debutante ball. I’m sure one of those ladies over there would be better.”2d9e00f432dbec1c

I pointed to 227a9afef1 a cluster of a369a81cf3 finely dressed women.5d34b18768627328

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“I like the one in pink. What do you think?”563f0ada8b89f155

Deon looked toward the e477bfe345 hall’s center. Success.ed0c38bbe8ffdde3

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“Who?”2d42c3cb2dc34d78

“The one with pink hair. Looks like cotton candy. Nice flower in her hair. Her family… um…”e04d997894980743

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I struggled to recall 5eaab11b39 the details.507a313968fa4e1a

“She’s the second daughter of Viscount Shar,” he supplied.42241bc73c253db5

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“Ah, yes. Her. Perfect—family, age, appearance.”1f9011f665148feb

He clearly 3cc8db0961 recognized her 83eff78f43 but didn’t 3661f2c4b3 look interested.b7277ecb161589a2

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As he 5c761ed51e began turning eaccc2845d away, I 6e13e0354c grabbed his f67c721902 arm again.646cd8cb54c68a37

“And the blonde over there! Her name’s Chris—”a10579f44f66a533

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“Lady Kristin.”f426aaf6c5643f32

“Right, Kristin! She’s beautiful and smart. Loves books. Same age as you, I heard.”671917bfa340fe2a

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“She married three months ago.”00eb2e2a8d6f264f

His voice was flat.e692dc264ea554d1

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“Oh. Shame. She’d have looked great beside you. But what about the young woman in the red dress behind me? Her dress is our family’s design. Wouldn’t she make a great partner?”d1135b969de542bd

He remained silent.3f16d8b6cc9701dd

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“That one over there—Eiffel—she likes skating. Perfect for the northern climate…”13a805dbd95a6254

“Leonie.”ca5861e368684af1

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His voice fc0a97766b cut me 1f4ae0aa79 off.b1415cd88051a94e

“What are you doing? Did you change jobs? Matchmaker now?”84e9b9c93f6753e1

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“No. I’m just doing my best for your well-being.”b4befdd1962ba094

I answered sweetly.6fb8da223b10473c

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“Viter put you up to this.”63ce6153fa818200

He called 9071a8548c it immediately.243ec8b5799afbe3

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“He was so dramatic. Said he’d die if you didn’t find someone who liked you.”c310223d12761623

Deon chuckled.01a187f28936c58c

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“You didn’t have to. I would’ve figured it out myself.”334ce884bb5ae6a1

“Exactly. Love happens in a moment. Just… try to make someone like you tonight. Give Viter something to cling to. Maybe glance at the center of the hall like you’ve found your soulmate.”a707415c335c1834

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Deon sipped 6771d3c934 his champagne 542eab0a74 in silence.600b660e7581f2c2

“And if there are two finalists, give me one.”dfd88cf347fb4c0b

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He swirled 46ea3dbb3f his glass a9eca50712 slowly.dd298efa1939ad26

“…Still haven’t given up?”a05f9e57407ebf9f

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“Why would I? There are three seats left.”1e1d286413d7be7c

“Even though you clearly don’t love me, I’m curious—who’s this secret admirer you’re picking brides for?”e183999a5ecc7a22

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“What makes you say I don’t love you?”8e0378ee975cf01b

“What kind of woman finds her husband’s wife for him—and compliments her while doing it?”4d94c4f2fb5f05ad

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He stared 88f13f44f8 at me. I quickly changed 9d664da3b6 the subject.e8685f5fa1764a48

“Tomorrow’s the dance. Anyone in mind?”123a64ef65087f13

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From across the 10a38e33f8 room, I spotted 9dfee15383 Viter gesturing, likely b0c467a97b checking his watch. He was probably 284cd5f604 counting seconds. If I fell dfb7d9853b even 30 seconds e7a6ae7cf3 short, he’d call 981f55281c it a failure.972b331884519f41

Just as a4f39cfda5 Deon turned, 8f2dfc2d96 I grabbed 51b028e736 his sleeve.9ae95ce215bc0865

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“What is it now? Another introduction? I’ve done enough—”09696344acd310d9

“Then pick me.”b062205be9f8421c

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“What?”3680b42c8de0176e

“I have to dance too, right? I’ll use the time to scope out a man. That one in the white suit by the champagne table.”d63299a0b3de4a86

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Deon followed my e4dc436a05 gaze and frowned.2dc3976df67398c6

“Him?”0836ba376cbb3ca8

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“Yes.”6d941619fa2feca2

“What did you two talk about?”73174e5c0e5387c7

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“First time seeing him.”ac61bf4106a0eea3

Deon set his glass 17ca595861 down.0d0320f88d3f27b0

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“Count Cruse looks glamorous, but he’s drowning in debt. One of his ships even sank recently. If he offers you jewelry, it’s fake. Don’t be fooled.”02f4e77acc415da3

Right now, the most romantic thing is someone who helps me escape. ‘Escape’ is the sweetest word.1a9c517a984060c6

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“Okay, what about him? Silver hair, standing by the window.”2005a809e8e94916

“Is he your type?”f6d4e124b0725fdb

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“No…”af7cf8ebe01d191c

“Then don’t accept if he approaches. He has five illegitimate children.”7c4cf7962e826bfc

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“That man next to the piano, navy tie?”c67063c8411daaa1

“You really do have a thing for married men, huh?”dfeeaf7dcb823e92

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How were so 6e8b4e71f4 many married men df58c94f9d invited?1504ea60d83f981d

Deon continued listing reasons 45a80a40ad each man was unsuitable e51252ace4 until he finally left dd68b70f2c the hall.9f5df3c864d45161

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Much later than expected. I thought I’d be done in 10 minutes—it had taken far longer.a976b456652964b5

I approached d8f022ac87 Viter, coughed 917ff03b46 subtly, and ff9f6064d6 extended my 56d50d950f hand.67011abf9ee63c42

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“I filled 20 minutes. Where’s my permission slip?”4a42c95d1323b82a

He stared at 58a7d79198 me, then raised cd38eac59f a stopwatch.6ed665acc130e235

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“Actually, it was 18 minutes and 42 seconds.”e88d41b83d04e56d

He showed me.9d3a16456a6c8341

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“Still, it’s the longest the Duke’s stayed in the hall.”52fe3ec9c105e5b9

I blinked at him, e5d1b21b54 pleading.af62294d0cbf1052

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“So? You’ll give me the pass, right?”930429e926a0867e

“No. But I’ll give you another chance.”4d2c5905179e16fc

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“What?”bbda798c7877afe1

“Just another 10 minutes. You clearly lack information about the young ladies. Take a break, have some tea, talk to them.”ebd487a66b2a4791

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“I barely made it to 18! If we’re missing 1 minute and 18 seconds, can’t we just add that much?”dd8e9814a78d6f1e

“This was a bet. I’m offering a second chance. Or you can focus on the dance.”146d8650f40dade5

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He walked away.b3cc1f2a6d949d8a

* * *f6ab318579d87ed4

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I collapsed onto my db1166c109 bed with a groan.83a555479b808bc0

Suren was f2c2188604 fussing over 499a207957 wrinkles in 7007045cb6 my dress, f5d9705847 but I 165e79bc52 stared blankly fc7bf5ab80 at the 1f963ba78f ceiling.175c169b0d6a3b40

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I hate how my face gets flushed—but I hate the nobles’ judgmental eyes more.c62b277a054291e3

Every conversation 00ee3f06b2 starts with 0e27d24778 questions about a180f7726e my background. And once I 8eb6bb5a52 say I’m the 3fe8842c73 Duke’s secretary, their 964255325b eyes shift, avoiding 1d37f6adbc me.f5fa8870d10f1b35

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“You’ve been there a while. Find a companion?”791e038c9e839f7d

Suren handed me a 610695c12d bathrobe.f4633a826808654d

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“No. That’s not why I went.”ea684705eddc46fb

“Really?”c2aa6dcbb73b9195

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She rolled in a 3f0f51bc42 makeshift bathtub.4225919c66083e23

I stepped in. A red-haired woman stared cf91515600 back from the rippling d7a3c75ed6 water.47f077d978d7e6d1

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At first, I’d 6aeadcac76 been startled by bdaedb7068 her. Now, I was dbe8bec178 used to her.e08cb045fa76471a

“Made a bet with Viter. If the Duke looks toward the center of the hall for 20 minutes, I get to go outside.”54d9427ed3c4bcf2

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“That’s easy.”42371538b59b3dde

She tilted 544e41ea1d her head.a745e93bffd5809b

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“What’s a better way?”bb2278035869d561

“Stand in the center yourself.”021bfcc51c6f520f

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“What?”e8980051daa6f534

“The Lord always watches you when he’s not busy. If you stand in the middle, it’ll look like he’s watching the hall.”982de2b780749983

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Deon does that?f87e6f83bd223ded

“He’s probably watching.”cd01a98a1cf5d60e

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Suren nodded.3c6b3324d0fef9e3

“And now there are rumors. A man and a woman walking the halls late at night. Hope it’s not you.”124eb5b1e4233703

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A man and 27d40a90ed woman? Lots of secret meetings, 050b6015d9 apparently.525818c1be821494

“Don’t worry.”62c89fb71c2f72da

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“These parties attract trouble. Nobles get carried away. Watch out—illegitimate children follow festivals.”bd478f4747efb6ff

“I’ll be careful.”7fe1725a07454ebf

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Suren removed my pearl 3cd1e4c0ef jewelry and wrapped my 3cda86679e hair.5138270078845751

Warm water made 2a87f07021 my limbs heavy.8d4bcb0f3881c3df

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“Don’t run off now. It’s too cold. You’ll freeze. Wait until spring.”4102fa056970d5cf

“Spring? There’s no spring in the north.”99dd8b3113bd8d9c

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“Exactly.”fa4569003f58269c

A subtle 6805ff3818 way of 084967e3b5 saying: don’t 10c4b9b2c6 leave.3743f47358c2bcc8

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Even if d516cd5e67 she says 27c9dd3a9f that—I will.3429216cec2935ba

Definitely.c2b8c569e0ce5543

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