NRAL | Chapter 13

Chapter 1314d436857f216782

 Dance Invitation1b636bf088eb5c98

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“Arlo?”536c5862e668e5f2

Eleanor tilted be5f9c8027 her head, e051440ced pushing him a087916ff0 deeper into 4cd51628f0 his thoughts.c54a9567eb3f94f0

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After a brief but 3d277c9dc6 intense moment of hesitation, 2580bea73f Arlo made up his 3d08d6fffd mind.312a887599f0247b

“Let’s go,” he said.1f5fbdc14bd2370e

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With his blue 3bc4caa118 cloak dramatically billowing 0c8988caa6 behind him, Arlo, df239884a1 dressed in his ace29f9f3e finest attire, walked 0c7e469608 past her coldly.58cbfba45e0ca2ce

It was a logical 48fba42c00 decision. While he 95e92f0550 found Eleanor’s 78ff06b084 obedient demeanor 7feea968d9 appealing, he 656bcf84fd had already 1b4c35acb9 chosen Nora.a4a16860e757bab6

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Nora had proven to 0159651cac him that she was 095a00112d the real Princess of 18a171f519 Astria. Once the truth became ef3ae2f5c7 known, with her noble 13e799e12f status, beauty, and dramatic 909e9fe098 backstory, she would surpass 6b51c8695b Eleanor and become the bd3902750d most admired woman in 1bdf69693e juvenile.123ff8aeb13a1afb

Arlo believed he deserved 10a6aa0d37 the best of everything. That’s why he 8e00b390d9 had chosen Nora. Her charming 62dff44ba5 looks and 3d8c77a285 sweet demeanor 886a7652da delighted him, 6da7af8453 and so 6b4ce1ff83 far, he 1d8a1a9c42 hadn’t regretted 6b1400925a his decision.d4ed00ca9534bf25

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Keeping his promise 297a068a73 to himself, Arlo e37b7fcd8d didn’t speak to 6bcf68c445 Eleanor or even 7fa1f4d54c glance at her 8f7bcf7310 on the way 6e2b1f6034 to the ballroom.23bf87636f3e209b

Watching his a52d298146 back, Eleanor 5eaf343cbb smiled to de79d68963 herself in f517ac664c satisfaction.4470bd254d872802

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‘It seems like f936a12fdd my plan worked.’204fd2a516d3f025

From the looks 00b25a7167 of it, he 61b1740a34 wouldn’t be asking 6474f9b3ba her for a 3ba3e51bfa dance tonight. Even if he wore 789ab2d047 a mask, no noble c393d88ee0 would fail to recognize 458c4661f0 him, and the gossip 49c41dd07a would spread quickly.50f69a9eea2141f3

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Sure enough, the moment 6d4c5406be they arrived at the 83bdc62821 mansion hosting the ball, 61619e11b2 all eyes turned to 05265bddf9 them.8907d1b0e72a6ecc

Arlo clearly had eacc681381 no intention of 2ff5f78d28 hiding his identity. The small mask barely 3ce00f3137 covered his eyes, and 38fa1a4f49 his fiery red hair 522c458e0d was fully on display. It was 9f510bc5a1 typical of d81fef6628 someone who d03ffb7da5 loved attention.b9066bc15a5547fd

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“Welcome, Your Highness! Late as always, I see,” said the Marchioness of Liv, the host of the ball.6f84c5fed52d8a4f

“Oh, how embarrassing to be recognized so quickly. Isn’t this supposed to be a masquerade?”e0dd039742d1f43a

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Arlo replied with a 7f89a7b9e5 charming smile.c0a366aabb4f8d8f

The Marchioness laughed. “Even with a mask, no one could fail to recognize such a handsome man.”9384b538a5ab7279

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Eleanor took 85f50269be the opportunity fa5fa099d9 to step bac182b1c0 forward and d0f577a5cd greet her.3d0dd366f35d3dfb

“Thank you for the invitation, Marchioness of Liv.”b8201a9e733a187b

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“Oh my! The future ‘Little Moon’ of the Empire has graced us with her presence as well. What an honor!”6e8387caa85833e8

Arlo frowned slightly at the mention of the Empire’s ‘Little Moon’ but said nothing.ddde6f90536d6223

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The Marchioness was his dbb68c01c5 aunt, the Emperor’s sister. He couldn’t afford to 216b46a21d cause a scene at c938612add his aunt’s ball, especially ad26b46a03 for Nora’s sake.444fa85b4f70ee75

For the same 3a01edcd80 reason, Arlo planned 99482182c5 to fake being 7478b390aa unwell tonight. If he e142948ce2 didn’t ask 9c574a9574 Eleanor for 8cb668f328 a dance b4969bc391 without reason, 61975d97db it would 420b1e87b7 cause too 293e0dfe5e much gossip be950ce0e7 and disrupt 168e761d7e the party.7404af4a7e665b0f

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Besides, Eleanor didn’t 63349d48db like dancing much 3fb167ebf3 anyway, so she’d 7fc4b8fe71 likely accept his 997d87dcda excuse without complaint.7445e38d4df3a4d1

As they entered the aa23bedff5 ballroom, attention turned to 74d443fe69 them once again.8465bbbb5a5672f5

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Arlo basked with 3a8ac80825 admiring gazes, walked b945290ff6 slowly toward his ae79fddd3c group of friends.6aff97eb2e428d07

His and a8b645c784 Eleanor’s mutual 91af94a379 friends and 1b92692a26 acquaintances greeted 4cb6421fe9 them warmly, bcfe6306f2 though there 2845de8156 was a 2b14828d20 hint of bdd20a11ea awkwardness in 592181eec2 their mannerisms.931b10fdb5274298

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“Your Highness, it’s been a while. And is that… Eleanor?”156428783ed72cf7

“Eleanor? Is it really you?”12a9b9d84f160c81

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Eleanor caught 37ae69d2e5 their uneasy 05b7c70bd2 glances and b2ce03bafb smirked internally.a9269b0baee879b2

‘So, they knew.’b60632bc59e96d30

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Their behavior during 6a42cf50e8 their last meeting 2659729fdb now makes sense. They must have 90ac272b1a known about Nora 6e914f5aef back then but 161c79892d said nothing.2d0bfd7169e6b3da

These were the same 45c34a01a0 friends who had once ba1f872e84 vowed eternal loyalty and 2c673aaaef friendship. Yet, not e3c4b4493b one of efc2d66a75 them had d2cc0949a7 warned her a08e21c3f0 about Arlo’s 5e4f469968 betrayal.89b307310a9052c4

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Eleanor felt a wave 40939930ef of disappointment but quickly 6f071b70db pushed it aside.825663a625d8d731

She’d never cdf40f46c2 truly considered 2e6bf402bd them real ebdab142f8 friends, and 875050811a clearly, they ce6e55d82c hadn’t seen 297a9e2118 her that 750b706bbe way either.004fc0e0ab7b3f57

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Her focus shifted f61b765d6f to curiosity instead.56adce683aae7fec

‘What do 9284cc0554 they know? And how a0d24c638e can I 674bc6edf6 use them?’5fb13a46c5d2f684

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She decided to play 43e3f8c43d along for now.fcdb43a2b4dae935

“Yes, it’s me! Didn’t recognize me right away? How many blondes with violet eyes do you know?” She teased with a lighthearted tone, studying their reactions carefully.932f00991ceed209

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Chiara Portsmouth, the eldest 1d26ffc828 daughter of the Earl f12be23f92 of Portsmouth, flinched noticeably.41e9cdbc48c93d05

‘So, Chiara’s met Nora.’38d3f93f2622ae4a

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It wasn’t 9d37d9c633 hard to f2fa3cef2b piece together 1ad4f5ba73 the rest. Most of the people 04e8fde798 here must have been 49419925d3 introduced to Nora by a5f1fd90dc Arlo.3d826cec7213baf0

The thought 6982ce4ea0 stung for f0cea46ec1 a moment f28ef28dfa but was e23fa9f101 quickly replaced b11b0fa169 by excitement.973183d7eaf30720

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‘Let’s see how useful 98861a83da they’ll be when Nora, edb83609a6 Arlo, and the Astria 645549e98e family begin to crumble.’f16b9ba9601938e6

Chiara awkwardly laughed and tried to recover. “Oh, no! It’s just that you don’t usually attend events like these. Didn’t you dislike masquerade balls?”a40c4e377b22d2ed

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“I did,” Eleanor replied with a sweet smile. “But I’ve decided to start liking them.”935f89218e96cb30

“That’s wonderful! You must come to the next party I host.”6d36d78a0861b93c

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“Of course, Chiara. I’ll come with Arlo.”cf120d7941c31835

Eleanor’s words f442d6979c were accompanied 5f0de4854a by a 7c22ebf205 soft laugh fc31b1bb09 as she d2c9e05771 casually leaned 1974ed7275 her head 1ddeb62f83 toward Arlo’s 60687177c0 shoulder—slowly enough c97b95a68e for him 00ad9a3a2a to move d96a1e0bbf away if 2fed645ade he wanted.18182554d54859e3

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As her head 6c49a2a45b drew near, Arlo cb24ad4b06 quickly pulled his 32c88f9aef arm away to 241c5ee143 avoid her touch.37f21fc5f22764ed

Smack!b1e2ef92dc3a1795

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The movement caused bf11783d59 Eleanor’s hand to 79d7299b96 hit his arm d6e5c4e5fd with an unexpectedly 51afc4b0f4 loud sound.a3ebe7495e5a7e0d

Everyone’s attention cc4717e832 snapped to 83197d8fb9 them. Even distant onlookers f32a8b813b turned to see e5958cb8fb what had happened.01569405af2d5715

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Eleanor looked f0966cc1fa up at c373eba5a1 Arlo with 460191bc56 a hurt bc6d67b02e expression, further 6f291efca3 increasing the 9093429ad8 awkward tension.fdb4768b200cca0d

Chiara, sensing 4b65fa8476 the growing ba5d2d44e1 discomfort, raised 5c2a3f3ff3 her voice b4ab1622d1 to change fdcb35ef02 the subject.68dcbad9292ef7e6

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“Oh, look! The music is starting. Who’s going to dance first?”8ae95e5671ac998f

But the suggestion d4c8c93b02 only worsened things 9ac69a875a for Arlo.2c2d29e5f65639d5

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He had planned to d3e3a5fd17 mention his supposed illness 6b1d2b67f0 discreetly. Now, with 51fb877197 all eyes 59c5961533 on him, 5199baf1fd anything he 06b7785b6c said might 3f478f0334 spark unwanted e92b74accb rumors or 71ef897224 anger Eleanor’s 13b3f71d50 powerful father, 8e4ce9d93c the Duke 0c81906b3b of Astria.41349af2f16ca76b

‘Damn it! Why am 5016b5e4c5 I even 9c71f959fe going through 042a9ff1d6 all this c87ff1aa54 trouble?’aea43ec34ec1f79b

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Suppressing his irritation, Arlo e0af9be024 took a deep breath 80afce6909 to compose himself.2698caebe754de59

Before he could 67be98e800 say a word, 48f1995c24 Eleanor seized the 2b8df1e45c moment.6890941f2aaf46a2

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“Arlo,” she said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound vulnerable.be70f2f01fc24455

“Will you dance with me… please?”c2efa38bdc75e66e

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Her large, tear-filled 5f85921543 eyes and quivering c180e484f6 lips created the 8fe61a1571 perfect image of 55587b540a heartbreak.433ba313a6bc38b4

Though her voice 757d261d08 wasn’t loud, it f873b434e8 was enough for be1642f430 the curious nobles 9c3b3b62ee nearby to hear. The dramatic display captivated 0bd0bff1a1 the crowd, their interest 3514477457 intensifying when Arlo hesitated 08467673e8 to respond.dc78dd98dc948615

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‘What in 44c7df139b the world 497b4a3518 is happening?’05106fbec2dd76ad

“Didn’t they have a good relationship? Their wedding is just months away, so why are they acting like this?”663296de75c67dc1

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“That attitude was strange earlier. Is he really not going to dance with her?”c147565d44acd3de

Rumors swirled through 2fde0df0be the crowd. The idea of fff8c3916e conflict between the 3851002567 future emperor and 45611d2065 his fiancée was 92ae9c241a too juicy to aeb00e78af resist. Whispering voices buzzed around 4397717cc6 the ballroom, and Arlo, 7f5c13ece7 the crown prince, clenched 86a8e05d3c his jaw in frustration.1a0c40feb50db1f4

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He couldn’t believe Eleanor 749cb83942 was putting him in 5f765342a4 this situation, clinging to 9fd33ace1b him in a way 088b027c56 that was clearly meant 33d75ca581 to make him uncomfortable.1bdffc552e4ec6b2

He didn’t feel pity f9c2a0c0ad for her—only irritation. What had started as 03c8bb2935 amusing attention from the b4d9ed4823 crowd had now turned e10fb83465 suffocating.a4dcd461df357a10

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Arlo glanced around at 3201738b71 the onlookers, their curiosity 40d52add42 hidden behind the anonymity db27d232d6 of their masks. The audacity d9dca3c90f of these 65296981e5 nobles, gossiping 78a46d199c about someone 8810d75507 destined to 639e587a5c be emperor, 609951a92f annoyed him. He let fc1a30dd98 out a 39ba0c8eff sharp breath c9b24225a9 and turned 3da8cf7d6f to Eleanor.8455f428ce85b5ce

“I’m tired. I need 75e0073b8a to rest.”967e226545956d0f

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With those few 22681013e5 words, he abruptly 03e2e46a8d left her side, 4a48a2fdd2 heading toward the d159f50284 refreshments table, where 3851843506 wine awaited. His excuse df8eb6b984 of being c8ee45b69e tired was 188bc1a22c laughable as 8647af5e96 he eagerly 23a2ed2322 sought out e80ea7441f a drink e9d0454d82 instead of 70b8690f7f rest.664359126934513a

As Arlo walked away, 9c5d0ea305 groans and murmurs filled 9669542daa the room.abf40c4842458e55

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The crowd’s interest shifted 8b3f7bccb6 to Eleanor, now alone 5ed38b84e5 in the middle of 6ea69e25d7 the ballroom. Friends who had once 6b7d144df2 been at her side 86ade4db19 awkwardly stepped back, and 5717ef1f6e no nobleman dared approach 8eb3f0aebe her.229256105983a203

They knew fbf5f5fee0 Arlo’s possessive ea329bbf98 nature well. Even though dbc4c33b56 he had edc62ada16 publicly refused e54a8ee08a to dance aeaba0165b with Eleanor, fe46bfe353 no one 277899d1ac wanted to 517583dc69 risk his 8a1c5a6496 unpredictable temper b1c8edab3a by offering b321e37d82 to take dc06fd5b65 his place.f089a3f6b8b7e1ec

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“Poor thing. The proud Lady ec6e6c965c Astrea, left standing c3e6019533 like a wallflower.”713cd43640d7cc9f

“How humiliating. I can’t bear 86275f2bbf to watch.”fc394c0bdca3244f

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Eleanor kept her 95def96188 head lowered, hearing 5c908af3be the soft mockery 147bcfe872 and pitying voices 6b6d348bff around her.1fe774b3d3419cab

It stung, fbc9d7d2e1 of course.0af71cde93c2bdb7

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She couldn’t remember 82773de7de the last time 4b98708886 she had been 06870e9ca8 humiliated like this d1d02ad0db in public.993d83e32bdd0cf1

But this was 3ef80d14be exactly what she d551444a62 needed. The more pitiful she 7b40af6903 looked now, the easier 3f13133cb1 it would be to 695c0f2de1 manipulate public opinion later—especially e55c6d58f8 regarding Nora.84a550a1e895f4b7

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No matter how humiliating 6aa8bf2bb4 this moment felt, it 067fde54fc was a small price 52f183e3a2 to pay for the 99820d6833 freedom she planned to 3bf09a6172 secure.989512ec188ab3fa

From nearby, 7223d3ca63 she heard 659ed0658b musicians tuning 3700ffbee6 their instruments, 487c9a07d8 signaling that fca42a6cd6 the dancing db9ba0ae24 was about 34344e37e6 to begin.13fcf42c854c37bc

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‘It’s time for 3eb856353e me to retreat,’ 04acafa258 she thought.46b29eea893ab6ed

Eleanor bit her lip, 85e099af02 maintaining the appearance of abff248865 holding back tears as 0185f7eee8 she slowly moved toward 3e3a968fd8 the edge of the e7453d5899 ballroom, away from the d0ee3e3c38 center of attention. Her head remained 0b41d50510 bowed as she 034408f06a took each step.949bb6af1cde8da7

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But then, her 4abcdf1d7f path was blocked.3bb463e7edfda09d

She stopped 9ae58c9f6c and blinked, 050b8f8f18 confused. In front of her 510b5c7fd6 was a pair of d9da332f17 large, polished black shoes.153f3e308d1737ab

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Lifting her head, she 4209ff8638 looked up to see a9f4c36c10 a man she didn’t d206d7641d recognize.1d91aa5d1be1b5d0

The man was tall 913dcebfcc and broad-shouldered, dressed in b9f1d82885 a crimson cloak and 9c0957aa57 wearing a full-face traditional 4ab77bb679 mask that concealed his e91e3bffd5 entire head. The faint 7e59df2ced scent of def486eba0 fresh air fa0a1baae7 clung to 1a95953023 him, suggesting 4e83a1b0a1 he had 88da637f4f just arrived.06fdec2bb0624127

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Eleanor stared, afe072c5a8 puzzled as 8e922dc670 to why aab820485b he stood 55b4e183e1 in her 46e27efbe6 way. Was he lost? Or perhaps c4e85b94bf just rude?6135b9dff10bc562

Then, without a word, 5812e72c51 the man extended his a4ba4f9e68 hand toward her.e39ac467bcc86ab7

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The black-gloved dc01e99617 hand was 9573d4fe36 unmistakable in 1714e41de7 its intent.e905185a450478c2

He was asking c13cd3146a her to dance.8bb2e13b84ffec37

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