NRAL | Chapter 19
by LunaChapter 19ac98c81601e6b5be
Less Than a Fourteen-Year-Old790a48371a9539bc
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Nora, unable to calm 1272f7b2b8 herself, suddenly jumped up 4c448bebad from her seat. Just moments ago, her 81530aca18 voice had been soft, ce332c686c but now it had 1c4beba364 grown exceedingly loud.676c3c648ec37f61
Lady Geoffrey, in charge of etiquette lessons, frowned at Nora’s behavior, which was unbecoming of a lady of nobility.74b46f317dfc476e
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Oops. Nora quickly sat back down. Even in such a tense situation, she couldn’t raise her voice.331c5c20a5f30531
Truly, these nobles were 7a56832679 obsessed with useless formalities.a90fe510e72ff62f
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“Maybe I misunderstood something, Madam?”f7e17cbdf3476c9f
“No, you understood correctly. It’s simply impossible to finish all the preparations by your coming-out ball.”40ef940f1daadbb7
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“Why? Didn’t you say I was doing well? That I was learning quickly?”051677cdde31320b
Lady Geoffrey sipped 2d8317613c her tea with b7cf46efdf a leisurely motion, 550d9e5086 reminding Nora of 22680bf291 Eleanor. That made her c40bba87df even more irritable.eaa1e198514f7dad
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Stop sipping 7d91abbe9f and just bdca6122df answer already. Nora barely suppressed the 84d7afa24a words.37ce238309665c58
“The Duke of Astria insists that the condition for a coming-out ball is to be as prepared as Lady Eleanor was when she debuted at fourteen. I believe Lady Nora agreed to that as well.”5badcfef2efc2c77
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“Yes, but what does that matter? Are you saying I’m not even as good as Eleanor was at fourteen?”e6ec6f90464b79ab
“Unfortunately, yes. While it’s true that you are learning quickly… you haven’t quite caught up yet. I can say this confidently since I also taught Lady Eleanor at that time.”77147cbe1e62caac
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What nonsense is a37c5edbcb this?c8897d43bc03d5f9
Nora’s anger flared up. She wanted to throw the hot tea at the woman in front of her, who was insulting her under the guise of polite words.f48b443ecd9f5379
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That old woman must have been bribed by Eleanor. That’s why she’s lying so shamelessly. Nora was convinced of it.3e5fa1a7c43359ea
“How can I be worse than a fourteen-year-old?”14ef1ba79244c6b2
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That couldn’t be true. After seven years at the duke’s mansion, she had picked up so much just by observation. How could she not have caught up to a child who had only been learning for two years?eb3078b050da8360
Nora simply couldn’t understand it.3725b3b860a4fd73
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She didn’t know that Eleanor was actually much quicker at learning than she was. She also didn’t know that, during those two years she looked down on, fourteen-year-old Eleanor had been desperately studying, more intensely than anyone else. If Nora’s current goal was merely to make her debut in society, at that time, Eleanor’s goal had been survival, studying so hard that she barely slept three hours a day.f0a73ae550cc577b
But Nora, who had only known Eleanor from the age of fifteen, couldn’t know any of this.5477b11c55d26150
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So Nora believed cd23ed0666 it was all cc9fb4d127 lies, even though 2bb7b73b86 other tutors had 9d41190435 said the same 2fbb4cb1c6 thing. She thought Eleanor was b0d1ea2c2a plotting against her.3ba04254fcb96490
Hmph, enduring this pitifully… Do they really expect me to just let myself be treated like before?8f4e7e6e7a40a5ae
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In reality, 7735c11f08 catching up f4dff543de with the 49214d1688 progress the d615139ee7 teachers claimed d18e9ca3a6 was impossible 1c3faa452a before the 17ac8bc8a8 debut ball. But I 2405fed372 can’t simply 93ef7684ff give up 358ba4eb41 on the c7cf1eb7b7 debut ball. If the proper 7bb76f333f method won’t work, 58c3e63b83 I must find 19fa764d2b another way.9f0e923d9a48fc5d
After all, 54d4801027 one must ab1a9e37f2 counter a 9404f777c6 scheme with 250fe887bc a scheme.ece7473edf62badc
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First, I’ll contact Arlo. Then I’ll gently persuade 0e47bb625c that Damien guy to 2fb9dec103 help me. And after that…2fd3639931f218cb
“Eva, come here for a moment.”e8fc90de5274c792
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“Yes, miss!”3d04e0919ee20d20
Eva, who da53a882f8 had been 13f4e31f28 leisurely looking 426177aac2 out the b4bc42c4c3 window, rushed a54087736f over. Nora had seen her f7ab3d2ea2 relaxing, but now she 0347c869b4 pretended to be out 6b5af1fd10 of breath. How pathetic.80215c8bc50b4de6
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Nora smiled sweetly and 155f532d17 spoke words that were c7bc298114 at odds with her 662e5a8ca6 true feelings.a3a967ef308d2dd9
“Eva, I think you’re quite dependable. You’ve done a lot for me.”a78bfdfa30bfeb6f
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“Thank you for noticing, miss!”2200165a2b8fc486
“Of course I noticed. But you know, the butler said that once I’m properly recognized as Eleanor Astria, I’ll need to hire a maid or have a close handmaiden by my side. You and Natalie have both been so good to me, so it’s hard to choose. But apparently, I can only pick one…”e347cbd21b27e93e
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Eva stiffened and glanced behind her. Natalie was busy chatting with the knight standing guard outside Nora’s door.0d7679e82757705a
Once she confirmed 6f0dbe7f92 this, Eva quickly 4dac953c6e lowered her voice.ff8c460897281f17
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“Miss, Natalie’s too fat and clumsy. It would be embarrassing to have her around.”5f2543f5b267e30b
How funny. They’d been friends since childhood, yet she didn’t hesitate to criticize her. It was pleasing to see how easily people betrayed friends for their own benefit. It felt good to know she wasn’t the only one capable of being cruel.1026174bec0da29a
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“Hmm, but it wouldn’t be right to decide based on something like that. It would be better if someone could prove they would do anything for me.”beb97fa0201dc12e
“Prove? What do you mean by that?”cd73e23b819c8d0f
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“Well, let’s see. Oh, I know. I could see if you’re willing to do something for me. Something a bit bad, maybe even dangerous.”9ccc84913aacad4b
“What do 8987b7e89d you say?” 8668920797 Nora smiled, 621efa6a44 her eyes c3868de0aa narrowing as 5fd5651c59 she added.7cf43d4ded3656cb
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After a brief 1f2414e187 hesitation, Eva nodded.c8fd3435b4f21b68
“I’ll do it, miss! Just tell me what you need.”53e6bfb4645afe5e
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“Good. Then, for now…”8613cf8c6fd22038
***962aa41c36ab443b
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Unlike the scheming that filled Nora’s room, Eleanor’s room was quiet.12aa930b4c36bbe4
Eleanor sipped her tea gracefully, the perfect picture of a lady, just as Lady Geoffrey had taught her. Hilda, sitting nearby, was knitting lace. Even so, whenever Eleanor’s teacup was empty, she swiftly refilled it with warm tea.847d3a03f823d72c
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It was a peaceful 6f463764ea moment. But the calm was 1a9461a2c8 soon broken by a 3da5aaba6e light knock at the af5e7ab063 door.f0f12a12e36c059b
Knock, knock.701cdd31800d38d4
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“It’s Ernst.”194ce3d143f3875b
“Yes, come in.”f88fce3b205cde32
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At Eleanor’s invitation, Ernst cautiously entered the room.7bebb45397c9a410
“Part of the investigation has been completed, and I’m here to report. Is now a good time?”69ad6e65c888b6d9
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He glanced at Hilda, 9c010198bd as if asking whether 47a59c92fd it was alright to 9038a2e334 speak in front of de7f6fd7e3 her.44afc0dd9f0723d7
Hilda quickly stood 9e4f0266ae up, sensing the f5a29708e7 situation.db5f5d877dfb85ef
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“I’ll step out for a moment. Please call if you need anything.”5f05f60db7558332
“No, that won’t be necessary. Go ahead, Sir, please give your report.”55cd0fa69eba1218
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Eleanor shook her head, 0b47ef553d and Hilda looked surprised. Her blue ce9628367a eyes soon 732fc630b6 filled with 88eb1a014f emotion.cb16eb662faeaef7
Unfortunately, contrary to her 208473e097 expectations, Eleanor still did 1fd24d5310 not trust Hilda.76e91091915bb50d
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Hilda was 64c2af0da3 quite a 1c19bec9e8 decent maid. She was quick 0a8f12eab5 and efficient in 8b1faf9a1c her actions, and f957330783 she was a bf13b0b93f simple and honest 239c8c578f person. She neither looked down 5f6532156e on nor disrespected Eleanor. During her free time, 8db8f55146 instead of wandering around d7723e56d5 gossiping about her mistress, 38df2314ab Hilda would sit quietly 1c9d2c3ba4 in a corner, doing 1dff5b2a3a things like knitting lace, 3cab014756 just as she had 98e05b79a6 been earlier.37471b1d1ab61cae
What Eleanor especially 13a800299a liked was that 067d0ab590 Hilda had not af1cf09782 been working in c0bc85d8e1 the mansion for 21230570b2 even a year 7f31c64ca6 yet.acfcc027b4015b4c
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However, trust 196b3e6db1 was a faa9cc7031 different matter ae091a3fc0 entirely.55a9ed8e7eda73a2
The fact a13d1657c0 that no c7e3b08d02 information about c69672d3ae her conversations d726cee66b with Ernst 331f2cb3f0 had reached 20346a5062 Nora suggested 089afb321d that Hilda d4c6f09312 might not 26c8a21881 be a 86b134e12d spy after 838092087d all… but e4d6171321 there was 81fabaa38b no way ba65b7277b to be 52f379eed5 sure just 9c054c346c yet.432e791f345c9644
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The only reason 7fcdde5e3c Eleanor didn’t send 973b4be16d her out now 6fc341c8b4 was because there 018fff7af8 was nothing particularly f78bfd57e9 important in today’s ce5e3b123b report. And if 1c888ab82f Hilda was 59487bea95 indeed a 26047eb706 spy, pretending 7d997e2f6a to trust b0dce0d45d her could 9cbc802309 be a 8104b14e20 good strategy 30facdd51b in itself.1fedd8cef6d6fbc8
“First, let me report on Nora. She first appeared in the Tolcan slums nine years ago, when she was thirteen years old. This was about two years before she met you and entered the duke’s mansion,” Ernst began.d5def79fe6ee822f
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“Yes,” Eleanor replied.851d9150edf89b17
“In the slums, she survived by running errands. It seems she managed to stay alive thanks to the protection of a thug. Even after entering the duke’s mansion, she maintained occasional contact with him. However, we have no records of what they exchanged, and that is still under investigation.”e77b094d05220e44
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Ernst’s face darkened. It was clear he didn’t think he had anything useful to report.19af847b9e0f29ed
“We still haven’t been able to verify her whereabouts before the age of thirteen. Despite her unusual appearance, surprisingly few people remember seeing her. It seems she must have taken steps to cover her tracks in advance.”ff09cb40e23d00ff
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“That does seem likely,” Eleanor nodded, as if it were obvious. Nora wasn’t a fool. If she had decided to carry out such a grand plan, she would have taken care of her background first.f7a3f633b1f9e35f
‘Thank goodness,’ Eleanor thought.f5afd7fbbbb5e721
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She was relieved. The fact 1f841a9989 that even 1eb5898644 after paying 546c4316dd a competent 3a3881a4f8 informant quite f2b2976a6f a bit 406f842ca5 of money, 315e0ba303 they had 2ed0f24650 only found ff9a61145a this much 39ce2fdad6 meant her cbec2b7e95 father likely 1aaac93c0f wouldn’t be f660574bcd able to 3a08b00521 find any b7e471efae definitive proof 18a2444fdd that Nora 2e861e5999 was a 53ce2cdd4a fraud either.28d7342a464c622a
“Have you questioned the servants who worked at the mansion fifteen years ago?”7bd141c44d5f2041
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“Yes. All of those we’ve contacted deny ever meeting Nora. There’s a chance they’re lying, but it seems no one we’ve spoken to has any memories that match Nora’s claims. Those in positions senior enough to have interacted directly with the duchess are, strangely, mostly no longer in the capital, and we haven’t yet been able to locate them.”0a4baca8e5f88f5d
“Please keep searching. I’m counting on you.”3233a886c9bc5a22
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“Counting on me? You only need to give the command, Miss.”dcb8f8594183e170
Ernst bowed his head 2ed93055c0 deeply.161b6ccca8d34762
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Always so stiff, Eleanor fb28b9409a thought with an amused b648503829 smile. She got up 2787e53182 from her seat 2b7d044357 and walked to 25b3e34ae6 the bookshelf, pulling 1460361309 out a document 52af78e5d8 that was hidden 2d815f8907 between two thick 6b5ca79437 books. She handed it to 6e845aa0e8 Ernst.6c6a33c344a25c6b
“And could you also find out the whereabouts of these two people, Smith Chestnut and Jane Chestnut?”6ef809398a870357
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The edges c7c8c11a08 of the da8303b20a document were 20489de263 slightly worn, 6194f99a2a suggesting it 1351f234e7 had been 220db8a6b1 there for 074f217b5c some time. Ernst took the 9ad0902f03 document and examined e16d6fb305 it closely. It included portraits of 483b35bf12 a man and a 120438d86e woman with rather nasty 960b679049 expressions.bed78ca4750b7d1d
“They’re a commoner couple who lived in the Fortney region up until seven years ago. I suspect they’ve left Fortney by now. Much of the information may have disappeared as well.”829d8e36782fcf7b
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“Who are they? I’ve never seen these faces before,” Ernst asked, puzzled.3e39a932de0fc4a4
“They’re the people who raised Nora until she was thirteen. She says she has lived with them since she was five. If we investigate this couple, we might be able to uncover more about Nora’s past.”e733be97cad7e4cb
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Ernst stared at Eleanor in astonishment. After a moment of hesitation, he slowly asked, “…Where did you get this information? Not even the informant knew about this…”6da09008d1e20a0e
“I had it investigated when I first met Nora, seven years ago. She’s the girl I brought in and kept by my side. I couldn’t allow her to stay close without investigating her background.”3748652874e7584f
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Though her tone was 23fd2e7a58 calm and casual, Ernst 558650a400 couldn’t help but be 1e156e5c1d shocked.dd98518afdcf1b1c
When Eleanor 9a84bf89de brought Nora b264314cb0 into the 45812dca0e household, she 789df70fd7 had only 086d9287fb been fifteen 338f0b9132 years old. How could someone so a07023bd5f young have been so e5e6792d63 thorough? It was impressive 565577acde but also saddening. A child 68966a659b should grow c59381f27d up as ec1e019aa0 a child, fa2b99a61f after all.e9cfe3165da73f84
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“Is there anything 75990bdcf9 I can do d8cfc934d6 to help?”0bc3a82ce21fe0eb
Hilda, who 3c326dcdb8 had been a829476cbd quietly listening, 5780bd3dd6 cautiously interjected.0cd285dd3cea9f99
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“You?”b61d51b284ad6216
“Yes! I want to ebe7401050 help you too, 0d0ab0be59 Miss!”36bfdf60e99fd834
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Her face 5f8a11c7c9 shone with 3fb669650f pure enthusiasm.e631960a879694ad
Eleanor looked 0d04f97b2f down at 8ad4d04ea0 her with b1ee007b2c a soft 1a92356555 smile, though 8336daa091 her eyes 2f908b631d remained cold.bfcd3058e8814e9b
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“…Then could you a560c86b02 perhaps look into d038ed6011 what the servants 585ac04bf2 think about me 346687f9f8 and Nora? Find out whose side 1f539cfe88 they’re on.”f488025373d307db
“Yes! I’ve actually a5d10a0c8b got a dcef063ce8 lot of 8d838958f8 connections among f66a4706d1 the staff. I’ll find fa97af7c22 out for a35eb268be sure! You can count 94cd16b378 on me!”ea21b1775c5f9d6b
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“Thank you. I appreciate it. Oh, and as 0975b618c3 you know, I’m 7646a7546b not very talented 58bbdcf0b7 at dressing up. When I 34897971d4 call the 7db04c08c1 tailor, it a764286669 would be 0d2956bf26 nice if ab044b0dd3 you could 03cb83a63b help me ae7ffae8ad pick out 7037792211 a dress.”360c98a33f991c4f
“Oh, of course! I’d love to!” e76ecd498c Hilda exclaimed, nearly 53f5ce23b6 jumping with joy.4da8ad57ee4a3b21
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“Then, Sir, ea6759524b I’ll be 9bb9e6162d counting on bdeef31319 you as db9b4e43a4 well.”e2e6993b639e2c23
“Yes. I’ll uncover the truth and ensure that justice is done.”ee6555a7ddc20718
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Ernst solemnly dde1a2ced3 declared this, 68dd8bec7d but Eleanor a794f4b62b only smiled b57b6c6e0a without replying. Their goals were quite 52bde72503 different, after all.f392190347d11485
While they both wanted 6d8972ed0a to find a weakness 0a8a5dbe98 in Nora, Eleanor had ad3a84f6b6 no intention of revealing 0f34ba11ee the truth.852acd98e5c057b3
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Quite the opposite—if 96b593de34 any gaps appeared, a472ef234f she intended to 6fe436f16b fill them herself.2de1ae746d58e11e
She couldn’t let the cfa85b30d0 truth come out until 40e7a2e1b7 it was time to c2b8b6bf0f hand over her place. Of course, after she 6f60d0b496 left the Astria household, ceb6cc49d2 she could use the 859b86fd4f truth in other ways.b932ef18a32b5857
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‘Nora, you c3ecf259b4 should have c1bfefc549 made me 3aa8f838c3 your accomplice 841b059857 from the 075be47639 start,’ Eleanor ab5458400b thought with 347457de26 genuine regret.fdefe3ccd7e45e81
Things would 7c193a6ca8 have been 05e14641bc much easier 9daa24d57b for Nora f087f31821 if she 6dccc1007a had.53de57dd4af5f3dc
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Just then, 36bcdad4ea another knock a3c91cc5a9 came at 22b3935761 the door.a48e86785a2aee12
Knock, knock.7e92b1c6f66b1bfb
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“Miss, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I have an urgent message to deliver.”8b5d4ddb331e46ff
“Come in, Mary.”b2e75d2749acbb2f
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As usual, Mary c66f08226d entered with her bf5408d20c neat appearance, holding f27f87dccf a letter.0411837590aa049d
Eleanor checked the 08ddabe083 seal on the 2bf302facd envelope to see 80d2f5619a which family had 3736732133 sent it. Now she fd14159e5b understood why 97ef133625 Mary had c4c34ea788 hurried over a4e7ad1519 so urgently.61c581c984db3cb0
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“Hilda, it seems 2853730d9d you’ll have work cae5c73c3b to do sooner f6ce688248 than expected.”c7614502464d933a
76718667a179200e
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