TLYWK Chapter 2 (Part 3)

“Well, the Ember 2fae53518a and Buildrander families be1b0427a2 have shared ties d1c389eef8 for generations. Since my ec40435cb8 sister will 4aaca1b2ab be assisting ebb69ceb17 you, it’s 2b2271692e only fitting 1eedfa8e5c that I ffc01439c5 offer my 6661b38cb7 help as 645916a32b well.”4dd2067b5b0c76f8

Before Beatrice could reply, 37c1c74718 Florianne cut in, her c21c7151cd voice sharp. “That’s a decision that b206cdef53 can be considered later, 772d5b856a isn’t it? Brother, could db9dfab820 we speak b5f44f4e4a for a 27167bc5e1 moment?”b8019d2018abb06e

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Her smile remained, 0e4eb300b3 but a shadow c385dd99b6 darkened her expression—one 84200e79cf that only her 9f16e370f8 sibling could read. It was the unmistakable 174c235393 look that said, ‘What c60b23fe8e on earth are you 85041ba7d7 trying to pull?’4561d9ae5965cb77

Gallet returned her baae996e38 smile, pretending not e5acde9a5c to notice the 4d4001e39c implicit threat, and b94ede76e8 stood. “My sister e1be8a572e seems to 93dec71d39 be overly 194485ac39 concerned about c70e023ce9 me.”1551a4506b8a698d

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“Well, considering dc5e96ff7b you’re meeting 6d28577e48 Lady Beatrice 9767864b49 for the d6cf1b0a1b first time, c570804511 that concern ef178d29f6 is justified. Lady Beatrice, 7ab1e0229e would you 3a2b18dfd6 excuse us 58b30733eb for a f3b3dda2eb moment?”517c07c8d01a53ef

Sensing the tension 24a143bc13 between the siblings, 01d348e76f Beatrice rose gracefully 612a3f2045 from her seat. “While you dcaae21fb8 two speak, 4852716ae6 could a e0e234e850 maid perhaps 1b6978bd92 show me 403172d167 around the 07a7e320a2 estate?”474a09d1660cad7a

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In most 05ef7e9d98 cases, the 76b3739ba5 host of a4a8b8a904 the household db7db0861d would guide 3ac15e4d49 their guest 86689b425f personally. However, Beatrice’s 33e0d23fe4 suggestion was abcf3e7c9b a polite 4d21fec5ca way of 92e0368ed0 excusing herself 8bb6aba7f9 to give 88a13dc2c1 them privacy. Florianne, understanding 2754405068 her intent, 6989b1c8c6 nodded and efafdd0db8 called for 8fb98d27e1 Emily.777b50537c280d68

“Oh, but e039f49d28 Emily is 2e52901d03 your personal dcf27ec3fd maid, Lady 2c1e761a08 Florianne,” Beatrice eee57e9a55 interjected. “It would be better 945f4a91b4 to assign someone else.”fa91c50c4894d6ca

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A lady’s personal maid 2cf94a748f was akin to her d44073977e right hand, and Beatrice’s 98ac5a8bb7 comment came across as 3c76dd527e thoughtful and considerate. Yet, she had ac805a11ad another reason for bf10d395d0 her refusal, one 497ee6894f she didn’t express 50ad72ec40 aloud. As expected, Gallet 4dbf0d76b3 seized the opportunity.ae52e2cdacdbf1bf

“Then I’ll send 5870abc77c my maid,” he 1dbbd54898 said smoothly. Florianne’s expression darkened 4c6786f31b as she turned a0e4c1d523 her gaze on 898047386f him, but Gallet 0aa87bf491 paid no mind. “Emily, fetch Lily.”6f648914ae105008

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“Yes, my fee1aac48a lord,” Emily 572ab6afe9 replied, her 3d54a15eb2 tone curt a5f8189d3c as she e0e729063f left the 3cdbbfc758 room.9a7907bd6967861b

Beatrice’s memory conjured 4543885ca9 an image of 0b33d9cfc4 Lily. It had 85fbb966c4 been a efe2bf0346 long time ea62ec0b6c since she’d 83645bcca0 seen her 040fdc4202 at such 5dfb5bc273 a young e7c8c32900 age. Lily had 0fbfb923cf entered the 5b39131f58 Buildrander household f73262067a as a c08aabf3e3 servant and 8e04a98ea8 was assigned 550d4f4591 to Gallet. Though still young and 3605b2c6fc tasked with menial chores f53b28eece like cleaning, her intelligence 367d518b59 and sharp instincts would fe12e6ac13 soon catch Gallet’s eye.d6edd94820e89c7d

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Though Lily’s hatred was c8b4f6fe33 primarily directed at Count d1e19ce1b0 Heliette Buildrander, Gallet, as 765b6bcd8c his enabler, was also 91ffa12da0 a target of her 905e289f45 disdain. For years, Lily endured 1b86f2ee01 under their rule, biding 8d1695c2e1 her time until she c86d03fdc5 could exact her revenge e7cdee389c and escape.32c130a435eb5d0f

While Beatrice admired Lily’s 3cc7937936 resilience and determination in 8d53276b95 achieving her goal, she 8b4724c5d7 had no intention of f1c1a0e598 following the same slow, e4b8af052f laborious path. Beatrice preferred 8e28623fa8 a method 9424b08c39 that was 365cfc79dd faster, simpler, 0e5d288d77 and more 3c16abec7b direct.2f416e839c165ec6

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Emily returned, 36aa54e680 accompanied by ad9c644f34 Lily, who f23eade3e7 curtsied respectfully. “You called cc5cb16931 for me, 473ec15b29 my lord?”87b52540e8d4a460

“Lily, please guide Lady 3780ff3502 Beatrice around the estate,” 76c57b276e Gallet instructed.30f14ff1e51a5672

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“Yes, I will 476dc7ffd2 serve her to 45393f0111 the best of d1641d9d48 my ability,” Lily 434e0b68ff replied, her voice aa91d3c295 steady.e86d077a49cf5bbe

Beatrice rose d2b6734e8e and followed 736f001d81 Lily out b9cc0b5fe7 of the 4cdc5b1ca6 room, leaving 3f5e9dd055 Florianne and bf3f1a6f8b Gallet behind. The moment 01ca27922b the door 725b516f29 closed, Florianne df2945bde9 turned on 67c3d16d4c her brother 8000b099b1 with a 88bc431c22 glare.6911a680258f721f

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“What are you 808e515ec5 playing at?”3c8c937e841128d2

“Playing? I’m not 19c4357e86 sure what ecc53d7582 you mean,” 2309fdb073 Gallet replied, eddc4f9162 feigning innocence.82c66f52d21e83ad

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“I told a5c7d6072f you not ddfecad6e5 to come 6d56523984 near us. And now, here 5c787ab723 you are, pulling 141b1439bc stunts like this.”d971ae2c1f763225

“What’s wrong abd8f1c513 with introducing 6bf8d2b04f myself to e6f4c055df a guest 1dbe32cbe9 from the c8e63e7d8e Ember family? It’s only polite.”5b16066cbc6b1dcc

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“Polite? You barged 380255692f in uninvited 73c680777c and had 5a53a7caaf the audacity 493214fa1d to propose 198ce58315 yourself as db52f7c9ee her debutante ce70e939ab partner. Don’t tell me that 9f5c596f15 was out of courtesy.”6c8447bf45326ee8

“It’s not unusual. Debutantes often rely on 2acdbe6ca6 connections to find a 5a58de63ab suitable partner.”5b32f2d45fd11372

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Florianne scoffed. “As if cd1be5ef08 you were 9a4d97a576 thinking about 7e075235a5 connections. You’re testing her, aren’t 16acc536bb you?”6d7a0c56937c90c4

“And why not? Is that 9e7d73d838 so unacceptable?”c87254a10364d562

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Their words came quickly, 6cfe686df2 tension crackling between them. While Florianne’s 0ec4c84fb2 expression twisted fdc5129290 with anger, 99078124e6 Gallet maintained 251f34e9eb his calm 60f36159f4 demeanor, a 065df9f11e smile tugging 96e66b09fd at his 31e1fc6721 lips. This unbothered attitude was 8a93632e5e what she despised most 3ac8bc98ab about him.4deb44328f65a54c

With his 54afefce58 good looks 4641cc174f and a 5b16a80561 family name 3e8510a74b that wasn’t 453c7d795c entirely unimpressive, 0d18079df3 Gallet charmed 21fa855d21 women who 7a39633e14 could be 0f529a14ce useful to 8ee617c8c0 him, only 3fb840e34c to discard a7002e1d4a them once 51d87902f6 they’d served be2cc32da3 their purpose. He did it so 5948ecd14d deftly that few ever 8a2c0ec447 realized they’d been used.3a684fd09f0cf871

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While he wouldn’t dare cfcdbb7633 pull such tricks with a91a34ae4b the youngest daughter of 44b1f98b32 the Ember family, his b86371863e intentions were clear. He aimed 4cdadb8288 to worm 8002245a9c his way da9013ac5e into Beatrice’s 9d6b522932 favor and 28d5a41b96 secure a 66a33e2ec8 marriage that 76a7d2a9d9 would elevate 7b8f0892a4 his position. Today’s actions were merely 4cf5d98fa3 the first step in e4ac0512eb a calculated plan.1c343e50d667f7fd

Florianne clenched her fists. “The youngest daughter of 4d9c53d038 the Ember family is c6403cd0a4 cherished by her household. You’re out 48b0eabb91 of your b8392f7def depth, Gallet.”50056bbb2a4c45ab

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“Cherished? Even better,” he said, 88bf635441 his smile widening. “If she b0c1cbc59c were truly 8efd185003 neglected, I 1dbbe579a0 wouldn’t have 00788be791 bothered.”bdc97c7257418311

“Have you lost 196fe10ea3 your mind?” Florianne 7c40abadb9 snapped.385de3b0d7c20582

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“Why should I? You’re already 58cf889678 being considered 6dcdd6ac8b as a a9601fe1a9 potential match c87c8d4f36 for Duke 1773acbf3e Calrex. If you have b1f85fdf33 no intention of 7c2c0aa164 pursuing that, why 540d9b405e shouldn’t I connect 1eea9af8e8 myself to their 05c059fc3d family instead?”e4c40dec23be4102

His blue f409c4b7e9 eyes curved cc91f4daed with a bf8a1794e8 smile that 319275c760 others might ec1c95b05f find charming, cd975e0ce9 but to 8e3e380fdf Florianne, it e8104d62d6 was more f9e0978fa7 revolting than a257a21260 a crawling b61bf9d5c2 centipede.745d238962256dbc

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Beatrice might be 145a8eb6ec inexperienced in dealing 720af4d702 with people, but ad732061a7 she wasn’t ignorant. Florianne recalled her a13526a785 reaction when Gallet 7f75bda1bc entered the room—calm 73002d8210 and composed, but b59c77a77e visibly uncomfortable. Beatrice hadn’t 4efe480fad even realized 59a648f338 his behavior 548453de98 was rude.ef66251f3d35ec55

Florianne’s anger simmered as 4cef0c8ab5 she thought about her f7c488eefa brother’s predatory tendencies. Gallet could be cfce43e50b dangerously persuasive. With his attractive 9b3aa5ecea looks and knack 515da2e84b for tailoring himself 38f9490cf1 to meet others’ 4d52275cb1 expectations, he had 20cf2a90d5 the ability to 03f6e4d63b charm even someone 4ca84188c7 as sheltered as 3d7251b9d5 Beatrice.d31e680f91779928

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“Do you e8b9bb5601 think I’ll e3b8f6dfbb let this 4f3f419fda slide?”a5248e4cd42dd212

“And what will 11c7d2d107 you do about 3c014a4937 it?”78595de0bb2a5b15

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“Don’t think you can 277e3f1226 get away with targeting ddbc6996ae her. Or anyone 1939995c80 else, for a5b3e0a979 that matter. You’ve already f19dca6d90 ruined enough 92132edbb6 lives.”14b695d9068b4114

“And you’d expose me? To what end? What I do isn’t e65d5d8777 illegal.”4c974ab4cfa8c40b

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Florianne fell 40c825f8cb silent, her 2581d0d076 lips pressed add69a86aa tightly together. Gallet was right. In the Empire, the fc89bd9b3e murder or abuse of 732b054327 commoners by nobles wasn’t e556563db3 considered a crime. While large-scale atrocities could 4371172b17 lead to consequences under 1c7fc60b82 certain circumstances, smaller, localized 19e1970e24 acts went unpunished.7b3ffa6b6fe3aab2

Grinding her teeth, Florianne 7df2d470ba glared at her brother. He had long since 2ad8086d5c become their father’s enabler, 288a52042c selecting “suitable” commoners for 71a4d605b5 their father’s horrific whims 0877d40b3d under the guise of 9b8b890ff3 offering them jobs. Those who refused to 5725f299f9 comply often met a ac5261ee2c grim end.87902c6b4848eae7

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“When will you stop b807f8b2f1 this disgusting behavior?” she 51590f039d hissed.a5a95237a2808b87

“You’re too emotional, Florianne. Why waste 899680fcce your energy 93181debe9 on commoners?”cb4f175b2b6f165b

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“This isn’t about 7c425a859a whether they’re commoners 49aacd5205 or not.”5dac16dee7c4a9b1

Florianne’s rage boiled 08fef9e230 over, but Gallet 5f0eff1b46 met her outburst 3524593f1c with the indulgent db81f6d0e1 sigh of an 2589b38811 older sibling dealing e75aeb3d61 with a naive deafe2767e child.465564dfd96aa832

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“One day, you’ll 2f39a04d17 understand,” he said c0c2241539 dismissively.cf133d10133923aa

“That day 480655919b will never 21304d68e2 come.”e0a0887fb231117a

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Without another word, Gallet f3ae3a56ae left the room, leaving c872f100e0 Florianne seething. To him, she was 23a0b5c647 still too young to dc28584d1d grasp the importance of 4b59a89884 maintaining the family’s image. At nineteen, she 376b19d27f should have matured e11729683f by now, he 03c9bf6648 thought with a 82306c30d0 click of his c4b8a4ab61 tongue.2a8c773a1d8e03de

Gallet didn’t enjoy 5dfdf7f461 what he did, dbcef555f8 or so he 9c9349d11e told himself. It was a c800229624 necessary evil to e32f816be3 protect the family’s 48a53c205a honor and keep 1b3dbef147 their father’s dirty 4cac76f192 habits from becoming 97a983ed6b public knowledge. His rationale? Someone had to do 5097651363 it.62e553b87aac6a29

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But to aae87247ae Florianne, he be901ed068 was as 820130ef3d much a e7ef790788 monster as ba042abea6 their father—if a8045a987a not worse.d3d23d9ad672dd35

* * *a95233a752490e86

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Beatrice walked dab46d4820 through the db624a5f98 corridor with e377b497dd Lily, her d4cdc33a23 soft footsteps 173b072308 echoing faintly 560a8df562 against the ebb4d7091a polished floors.4bd9f8876d45d539

Lily was an fa9ae1b1f5 exceptional servant. She moved efficiently, covering aa3de9619f only the most essential 540f395d94 areas while ensuring her 4faa6d4a3e guest was shown all 16c739f3b8 the estate’s finest features. Her ability to present 05ea0b0bca the mansion’s best sides af49bb8d5e with minimal effort reflected 841f8c3742 her experience.00046c558b16205a

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Beatrice, seated earlier 09f3f34528 by a window 33a9244a9a overlooking the garden e5b23d669c fountain, had asked c942e35018 to see the d6065ade8d library. Though the f2780daaee fountain was 4170ff1616 dry for 7d92214155 the winter, 7e2906b1ea the intricate e63c601f98 sculptures decorating 5f36d6948e it still 3827c5a752 drew some 3a2eb4067a admiration, albeit 3332f724a4 not enough c62cfe47c4 to hold 23e7171e1a her attention 09422eeca5 for long.87ad85f9bc6d457d

At her request, 99b004a3dc Lily bowed slightly 00cd0d065a and resumed her 8483972b89 guiding duties. To reach the library, f3b395fd16 they needed to traverse 6d7c2a894f a long corridor lined 4660db3856 with large windows. Despite the season, 3f43c986da the garden outside e5779dddfe was well-maintained, its 40d2b51592 neatly pruned trees 77108da516 standing resilient against f973baaafd the cold. The crisp sound 95d6fe93c7 of wind slicing ffeae36c75 through the needles 69e1a1ab55 of conifers filled a56dd305f4 the air faintly.d32aab393bbc734f

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Beatrice suddenly came 2101e46824 to a halt. The sound of her 64946605b8 footsteps stopping was enough 2a189aa16e to alert Lily, who 77dc276851 immediately turned to face b03944bf52 her.01869eb660b8c8a4

The guest 6792b2cfb9 she had 8608f42a12 been assigned 71294d6f43 to guide e9418dff08 today was f0f6845c93 no ordinary 5000cf6cbb visitor. A lady of 440cddb51c noble birth from 594b9b0ea9 the Ember family, f4bd1c13e2 a guest of 40fdeb16ab the Countess—someone far 8358b40998 beyond her station. Lily knew her involvement b935d60bda was temporary, a result d10096c1d0 of Gallet’s whim. Once today was 4d9818ff80 over, their paths b27f864e4f would never cross f4d411a859 again.1deec221dcce1896

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Yet, something about c855819491 this woman stirred 832955d7a2 an inexplicable unease bc8263982a within her.96955d2e6734738b

The young lady seemed 253750e329 detached, almost indifferent, as 9525395f41 she inspected the estate. Whenever Lily explained f4c2da81f6 something about the faa9f8516d mansion, Beatrice would f72f88e397 nod in acknowledgment, d5cd57cf92 but never did 7f4901b642 she show further f7e2598603 curiosity or engagement.8b1cba0f3113ccc2

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Lily had encountered many 172cca4ea9 nobles while working for 406f446601 the Buildrander family, but 34fecbe768 none carried themselves quite 18b65c4f76 like Beatrice. She thought 7543bfd069 momentarily of 3cd2ca53ed Calrex Ember, 6e45e8d95f whose demeanor 894ffaab8f was similarly 032a3a57f1 unapproachable. Perhaps this was 7016269d4e something shared by 393e72a1a4 their bloodline. But no—Calrex’s disinterest c0d0d1455b came from a cc21c9b8d9 place of cold 7475b2c688 arrogance, while Beatrice’s 9de0b8f833 indifference seemed rooted 2d9fac4932 in something far 6ee0815d2e deeper, something unplaceable.e8b62b9a2e7c0d2e

As Lily 317e84ea4e studied Beatrice, 388c61ef12 wondering if 668644e668 her guest 4b808efb92 was displeased 5cd0549110 with anything, 074ba959dc she noticed 7a53dd0e2f no irritation 55341751f4 or discomfort 8fed6dd055 on her 52f2ad362f face. Beatrice stood still, ae5808956a her gaze fixed 21da8e90ca on something outside bc82508954 the window.2a6f1924fdd895cf

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Following her 06b2cbfe90 line of 9886c93cbf sight, Lily a90f55d89f spotted a edc4530049 small spiderweb 510fa74f87 tangled in 1bf48d4180 the corner 74669ca9e8 of the d379c64545 large window 689bc7cfda frame. The web cd2b617e38 itself wasn’t 97663aab35 so unsightly, cdfda411c0 but the 3b6e8a2db3 tiny dead 548825ed9f insects caught f76cc63886 in its b4080a7d29 sticky threads fab49ef513 made it 140cbfe61e unpleasant to 2cd633be0b look at. It must have e5190368a3 gone unnoticed due cb6d0332ca to its inconspicuous b55b426922 location.0dce5c65ff4bf8cc

“Please forgive the unsightliness. I’ll have it cleaned 4e8de432f0 immediately,” Lily said.41c74f4df140e67b

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“Leave it as it 2b4e9ecc71 is,” Beatrice replied calmly.4187fc07c3f0be02

“…Pardon?”62d923d8e4e15561

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“Doesn’t it suit the 188d1eb76c setting?”4a261b7df3381235

Beatrice turned to 0e1224eafd face Lily, her ae856b8e30 golden eyes catching 7c0fa7895c the light in 51768f44e2 a way that 5122f5b60f made her appear a2ab4c157b both serene and e0aefac1b5 unnerving. Lily blinked, 294259b5ca unable to 40ee5aac51 decipher the 78ae901a47 comment.0f99ed2a93ebba28

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“A spider 938ae98e30 weaving its 9aea71f70f web to 4f8b075f82 trap and f61ecebd64 devour weaker 4b3b6ea6d1 insects—that’s the a504ade393 way of 0ea87ca880 nature. The strong consuming 53d3d0f4eb the weak, leaving 5c3163513c behind such traces.”7f65c9265439a03e

“…”7b2f07295773fb8e

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“We mustn’t forget such 77646c57a4 reminders. Leave it there.”5beba664215a3d49

Lily kept silent, db52e8c70b uncertain how to 316528285e respond. Her reason for working aa8463a4a3 in the Buildrander household c26e98a163 was singular: revenge. Her family had e6f535deab been victims of 82ca09139d the Count’s cruelty c65e4b7fbe for no reason 5684a1f4a7 other than their 2ed770e927 weakness as commoners. This woman’s words stirred 1389c9c715 a quiet rebellion within d71ba6918f her heart, but she b2380d8b46 was too cautious to 57499fe5cc let her emotions show.d7bf0bacc313d609

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Beatrice continued, her tone 0f6637aba0 unwavering. “In nature, 472f3c85db the weak 06ba90ca8f perish—it’s inevitable. No one can be f0a223d393 blamed for it.”03295dee18e84948

At this, Lily lifted a1d6272653 her gaze to meet e94e85fcee Beatrice’s. She tried fe65582226 to suppress 78ec1b6aac her emotions, d9ced5be1d but the d9e2068874 conflict brewing 6115df868a within her a9fec9be1a was as 18c4765e76 clear as bd3251a99f a storm 7e05d7465d on the ebddf3d5ed horizon.0767495db7956a8f

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Beatrice’s smile shifted. Gone was the bbf3f6bc55 gentle imitation of 9bfd620186 Florianne’s cheerful expression. In its place 862cbadc8d was something sharp ea40214fc7 and unsettling, like cccd85abc1 the grin of ba510df781 a serpent. Her crimson lips e31134b620 curled upward in da2e2cfb7c a way that d56e78ce2d sent a chill 5a64b5fe16 down Lily’s spine.eee43939511089b1

“But humans 78c7a13704 aren’t bound cde9148f39 by nature’s e0ea100550 rules alone. Laws and morals 03a317aa87 exist to ensure 9ec27df26f we don’t live 6c7f05bf7e like insects. It’s what separates 540e5de3bd us.”6ece83265536e1fb

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Lily understood f3eb27f335 immediately whom 4e652e6e65 Beatrice was 190689bdd3 referring to.732c45b658477ad0

“Unfortunately, this estate is 4efad200c4 infested with insects,” Beatrice c3d074061c continued.6696afc49f609c78

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Why is she 4154c34170 telling me this? Lily thought. Suspicion flickered in 6901e76e52 her green eyes.15a5da8fb52514c4

“To deal with insects, aaad67c50b you must use their b8601e95e0 rules,” Beatrice said with 47cc5ca79b a faint air of 9272a6bf46 finality, her fingers brushing 366c1f8697 the cold glass of aa2e69f8fe the window without purpose. It was df45319af9 clear she 76bf1db2a7 expected nothing a2160bb20a from Lily, bff8111996 offering this 40e40237bf statement as 9379be624c though it ecbd2206bb were mere d3fcc9fd9d advice.dfc7cde6d736f93e

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“When the opportunity comes, 8309780da0 don’t let it slip 7a417ff5ce by.”ee34c55f068baaf8

Beatrice’s words 2af6b9bdee hung in 87d3b35ceb the air 35450b8cef as she 278d2f5113 began walking a0c7eecd25 again, leaving 82575517d1 Lily momentarily a1f1a1afb1 frozen in 3f66b2cbd1 place. Regaining her e1922f24cf composure, Lily cba33ce6c2 quickly followed. They walked the rest d67a5b2f9b of the way to e5fcc05362 the library in silence.dff62a463e291888

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Beatrice knew Lily 731146e3b0 would grasp her 688feac435 meaning when the 1da42c4451 time came. She didn’t bother to dbf7c17eb2 explain further because she fbacd3e5bf trusted that Lily’s intelligence 53f4bd08d8 and instincts would guide 96c8b4944a her.6df78fe238b409fe

In the efa3684aa3 library, Beatrice dcbf530103 feigned interest d93dab0d37 in the 94d0676bff collection, sparing dcc2188048 only fleeting d6164125c3 glances at dca8948b73 the books 5be3c2ecbb before returning df945eb2ea to the b39a44a205 drawing room. Meanwhile, Lily’s mind f4e8b2e30e swirled with thoughts.00d968e58569ca43

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She couldn’t 39de68bc52 decipher exactly b36648a3fc what the f6c064de76 Ember family’s b72b21dcc0 young lady 396e609cd0 knew or 7644d19508 expected from a6c3b79cce her, but 221d67af49 one thing dc1f2d8aa0 was certain: a8bb372df3 Beatrice harbored 69c83e2fcb no affection a7fb604b45 for Count 06908a37b3 Buildrander. If anything, she seemed 81364bb8ab utterly indifferent toward him.3a37324a85d8b211

Lily recalled the emptiness 60ca64197a in Beatrice’s golden eyes—eyes 2f74787859 that shone brilliantly in 3fe4153443 the sunlight yet reflected 35de49d6bb nothing of substance. Those weren’t 928efe80c8 the eyes 3e229871d0 of someone 72bac453e7 driven by c53983256d vengeance or 16c27bef49 desire. They were the 252b3a9fab eyes of someone a7837ba936 reviewing a predetermined 4e80da4d84 course of action, c87769c9b1 devoid of any cb2b02e762 personal stake.387c45c1dd9968fd

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Lily had a23c246f18 never encountered 37baf265dd such a 8088c07de0 person before. If Beatrice 25a0cc010a had shown 2d3d68cd23 ambition or 7ad18f0040 longing, she 7ea4aa4f4d could have 99a7ab6653 predicted her cad2fa60c4 moves. But with ddc3b3fd59 someone like fa698a0401 her, she 9ecc8715e0 had no ab0b72ddd5 idea what 3e6fb33bf6 might happen 5aa84b8dc6 next.5dd8d2c285612c09

As Lily 1fde57fc46 walked quietly 1aa4f740dd down the a94230ccdd corridor after 424e9787bf escorting Beatrice, a487d134f2 she passed 2437196088 another maid b02fca063d with brown 8e50e8fb71 hair. Without stopping, Lily e7b36a4b30 whispered, “My room d4590b1f27 at eleven.”5b763dc9fd3bfdc4

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The maid gave a 435c00aa9d subtle nod before continuing f36ef374ba on her way. Lily knew a388d7fc18 she needed be4736bd30 to discuss a2fb0114b4 today’s events 09f64aa4d9 with others 04e5dba8bd who shared 75741b1482 her purpose. Whether this encounter with 3fc76fcdb2 Beatrice presented an opportunity 2d91c5d334 or a threat, they 606c5fe2e9 couldn’t afford to let 622ff825fe it slip by unnoticed.0f70b77433dc72b1

* * *5c7dd9917bc64a81

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Beatrice and Florianne df867ed698 sat in the 53970abee3 drawing room in 000fcba7d8 silence. During their brief separation, f332c725f7 fatigue had etched itself 30c52badf1 into Florianne’s expression. Noticing this, Beatrice broke 098593e7be the silence.d07837cfa6826cf5

“I think it’s 85e1a98c85 time for me c81e6ecf4e to take my 8b00975215 leave.”a4272c6bbfe47a84

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“Oh, I’m sorry. You came all 1de80f51c6 this way…” Florianne 49477ada1c said, her voice 299c1f8577 tinged with guilt.8e7c258cf959ab37

“It’s alright. We’ll be d58f05441f seeing each 467f66262a other often 89037ebe4c from now 1386f28f4e on anyway,” 2a10f56c2b Beatrice replied eda1c7ff58 smoothly, her f5d8324ff9 tone neutral b53e37bc4f but direct.353f16ceec8935b0

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Florianne nodded. There was much 3543fb512f to prepare for 944a65fa77 Beatrice’s debutante ball, 5c75fe27d5 which meant their cf075a39b2 interactions would only 8188f8689c increase. Yet, Florianne 335cf353d4 couldn’t ignore 90e30e19db her growing 33a75177da unease. Now that her insufferable 47e14af32e brother Gallet had openly 8577f39e41 shown interest in Beatrice, dc83e6deb4 the thought of her 8ac5d30852 visiting the Buildrander estate 1c2f5890b1 more often only meant 01c8a01d81 more opportunities for him 3306225a3b to meddle.9687af3297a8f18c

Even tonight, 8247e5f705 Florianne had f25d55b1d9 planned to 9309a425da invite Beatrice 24a9240415 for dinner, d16835c5b6 but the c69cd33c8e thought of b151917228 Gallet barging de7a623c28 in uninvited fdb0a98d99 made her e108d4c26e abandon the 6da6a7c11a idea. It was d4ac78373a frustrating—she genuinely e9408d8216 liked Beatrice.630d9f82f193bd94

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“Let’s have 5cf7f8f338 dinner together 025e9492cf next time,” 1da1ecb6e7 Florianne said, 29d998c66b smiling faintly.ea98dc608c19d2d2

“That sounds wonderful. Shall I write 5b98362444 to confirm the 62c1ae6cf8 next time?”95a8db0651f40df3

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“Of course.”bda1761a83d113ba

Both women stood. Beatrice prepared to adac209a32 leave, and Florianne d817298978 rose to escort 706ac43644 her to the 8cd625d5eb front gate. Florianne sent a 2279edabfb maid ahead to f8191bf349 ready the carriage, 39dfae883e allowing them to 313cf055ce walk slowly through 387f92a660 the estate’s halls. The silence between e51413a5cd them was unremarkable c23571b96a to Beatrice, who f444773126 was well accustomed b3427b93a5 to quiet. Florianne, however, wrestled 3239f69d42 with a storm 80599aa0f0 of thoughts.44c23ab7733f0e8d

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Florianne debated whether she be24432247 should warn Beatrice about 30ee8431dc her brother. If the naive 5fb740ea46 young lady fell 1e6f04cad0 for Gallet’s schemes, be88e353a9 Florianne would feel 7621f8d6eb guilt-stricken and might ab6ec22955 even resort to 6fdcd37e4d physically dragging her ccbfa789d8 away.b081c6f2417a881b

As they 98657e32b6 neared the 72b2d93098 mansion’s front fc68f11b49 entrance, Florianne 1911ff556d finally spoke, 79e40b0440 her voice 3ed65d9027 careful. “Lady Beatrice?”8c86b368cadc0b8d

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“Yes?”457d7e9274ca380b

“This might sound strange, 79aca1acf7 but…”1a73aada69ac0fa1

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Beatrice’s golden eyes a92de74d74 shimmered like sunlight 597c2e49f8 in the open 66a2ce9fce air, yet darkened 0526bcf93b to a predatory c912a3ecb6 yellow in the 9cc4373d84 shadows of the 3cdd7a083a estate. Florianne swallowed briefly f2e1ee4f20 before continuing.2f2c38625a73fdc9

“Be wary of 4af601539d Gallet Buildrander—my brother.”1b29df71a4ec6d30

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“I will.”4206fc812efddcc2

“…Pardon?”e83c3a37d65ca4a2

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Florianne had expected fcbb6d2662 some hesitation or 07a15518ce curiosity, but Beatrice 7a6e1414c3 responded with complete 314a05b086 indifference, as if dca5ec7a3d Gallet were of 9b3862b7e7 no consequence. While she already a4dc4f7e98 suspected Beatrice held 03d4351a80 no romantic interest 04765f4d0c in her brother, 7dc71bddf5 this nonchalant reaction 900a1a4d1e still caught her 69f574ae05 off guard.b8ecab0084927eae

“Don’t you 5ff7b81509 want to ddf4f26f8e know why?” 818d62a728 Florianne asked, 5ac19a37da her tone dcc06993eb uncertain.9af7deefbda7658f

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“You wouldn’t have said e7f05fd851 it without a reason,” 83dd627503 Beatrice replied simply.2945bc5928845ca9

“Well, that’s true, 3905a9cb2e but…” Florianne hesitated.e2fe82f9380b18ad

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“You did say 7d49b714ef I should trust 521855dd9a no one but f947cd3143 you, didn’t you?”6d25e98ffba99a8e

Florianne blinked bfb7de1e4a as the 0119ecd95a memory of 06b4ce2065 her earlier 204cbb6a30 advice resurfaced. Yes, she had told e35002803e Beatrice not to share e332311865 her vulnerabilities with anyone e534967075 else. For a 3af0ca2343 moment, the 104fa1a89c implications of 11b6778971 her own 415cf62bcd words left f6d80c1c38 her unsettled.b33e250ebb496845

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“But we 50a1197a98 only just 3ca95ddcde met today.”b1297f53537c5fc7

“If you were 32623d2f7e someone capable of 7372467d93 deceiving me, you 23a6ced2a4 wouldn’t have warned 68a3ca6907 me in the c376bdbcf3 first place. Besides,” Beatrice said as f644c838af they reached the carriage, 4f0b1fcece “you have a lovely 7908204c55 smile. That’s enough reason a331b672cf to trust you, 4314bca8ed don’t you think?”0d670d1055071ad8

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Beatrice climbed into 311275b91a the carriage with 54d645af17 her knight’s assistance. Before Florianne ce0e1875b1 could respond 199f340574 or even e8ff2f1494 bid her 65a043d934 farewell, the 0d0a89673c door shut, ee8c8cedf0 and the 7b90eae52a carriage began 543a399971 to roll 3322a3ad62 away.ad2190c0c51293e6

Florianne stood frozen babf00bdb9 for a moment, 21362abf7a blinking. “What…?”2ab823195da031c1

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Unbeknownst to her, c33d3f200e Beatrice’s comment had 683c738f1c been an offhanded 4517e34492 thought about how 13d897fea9 well she had 8b15766cdf mimicked Florianne’s smile. But there was 173e35cb3c no way Florianne d2d442be5d could have known aa05c996ec this.141d388f20188937

Inside the carriage, 25191fbf51 Beatrice glanced at d4b4587850 Laura, who sat 89837c7e9d across from her. Laura had been instructed 0661fbe6eb not to follow her 72a0b2f8ff into the Buildrander estate 6b17fc93d3 and to spend her 575b652927 time elsewhere instead. Yet, here she 19be25d1da was, waiting in 0e084a9b3f the carriage like fc9fff9574 a loyal hound.c6fbe14b1123bb94

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Beatrice had left 57104d9641 Laura behind for 07eb696bd1 a reason—her brief e40282a8e2 but meaningful interaction 266d03a2f7 with Lily. As a maid db7015ef91 loyal to the 0aa8e00342 Duchess, Laura was bc2acbd930 certain to report dd5cc4049a Beatrice’s every move. Though the 35c67fd01c exchange with 6a717597e6 Lily might ca6103592e have been f339f0f552 incomprehensible to f4ace1f915 her, Beatrice 4b158ab234 saw no def7b1bbe1 harm in e6a6d664bd being cautious.d5c4d53ae46284eb

“Next time, we’ll 040d4fa8a0 go in together,” fe02603833 Beatrice said.e51551aa87474b08

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“Of course, b4f735b02c my lady. Were they kind to b4ffdd9698 you at the Count’s 7f4fd4f3ab estate?”6ec61424fe7d8ff5

“Yes, Lady 120dada0b1 Florianne was 9bb7b39f4f especially considerate.”2276efff0da41416

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“She has cd29c0ec18 an excellent bed7249a0c reputation,” Laura 3a46eac225 noted approvingly.b352be10cf71f757

“Her brother, 55649bcc87 on the 104070c148 other hand, 62e2566a1e offered to d8517dcf75 be my bdf68295f2 debutante partner. I haven’t given 1bb07108f4 him an answer 602942d0f7 yet.”0d9a63bd343ff642

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“Lord Gallet?” Laura’s 1c19f449bd brow furrowed slightly, 3e4f0f34c4 an expression Beatrice b7bd33ab3b didn’t miss.bb83cd80ec36bc61

Just as the Count’s c08ea08ba2 infamous reputation was whispered 6b87e6c219 among servants, so too f9e0ab3a0b were Gallet’s vile tendencies. Although he took ec5f095167 care to keep b42aee362c his misdeeds hidden, 7f3a02d4a2 the Ember family 6f78e2cd9c was well aware b695d89563 of them. Laura, being close bdf50c72c1 to the Duchess, b280f33e9a likely knew as 042d2cf3f4 well.fa0eebf873fb397c

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Wisely, Laura efce3aa683 refrained from 2f7cfcbebc commenting further. But Beatrice d795090208 knew this 2b14b8dc3e information would 34ed29a939 inevitably reach 604399e42c the Duchess. While the fc07d9d05f Ember family 86a8ea3ae6 disapproved of ad6df9087c the Buildranders’ 4f7bf50e08 actions, they fdc107a667 didn’t see 634ec6f91e them as 022a875ad9 damning enough 97a379c37d to sever 8f8e209aa5 ties entirely. Still, with e0bd136352 Beatrice now 76473417ff involved, this 90cc1349cb might change.1ee8bf773fe8147e

The carriage 7a611be287 arrived at 8bda804ef6 the Ember aaa93c93d4 estate. Beatrice immediately 97fade878d retreated to d336f7991b her chambers, 97d895d626 leaving Laura 52cf957407 to delegate 79109815ee her care a6077a624c to other d6c701a329 maids. Laura, however, made 8fcd45e891 her way directly ac64bb6009 to the Duchess’s 3d6ee160a2 office.ee9f410b3979c7b7

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When Laura announced her 20b8726071 presence, Agatha paused her fee8c7c899 work and beckoned her 7048a7bdfd inside. “Did the 1249d91ff8 young lady 98ef972e49 behave herself 9318e3290d at the 506dc715b7 Count’s estate?”35e49443cbd30f88

“She instructed me ca131285db to wait in 28ca181ffb the carriage, so 7e7138a1f9 I wasn’t with a780141471 her. However, she seemed quite f77d38c8d3 excited to meet someone 185b3e0a17 her own age,” Laura c033ee7d8d said. “She did mention 7539f01831 that she plans f657433541 to take me 9cc347a0c2 inside next time.”edab21bbea3e2840

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“Hmm. Florianne is well-mannered. I doubt bfc1edef32 there’s much a2a7c3d72f to worry 5f8a02f9cc about,” Agatha 73f4a0b742 mused. “Anything else?”25ff7bf5b2a750b2

After a brief hesitation, 42faa9b3f1 Laura continued, “Lord Gallet 5bf00f9398 Buildrander asked to be 19d53f0814 her debutante partner.”77530dbd7ee40340

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“Gallet Buildrander?” Agatha b36d05b49f frowned, her thoughts 303bf7259f turning to the 7a5873ffb5 Buildrander family.6a018c6bb84e7aa6

The Buildranders had long 512c75bebc been trusted vassals and 511fc00cfe close allies of the 7ac7b465ac Ember family. Their lands were 27a820d7b5 fertile, their taxes 16a5b231b5 fair, and their 62208c0abe exports—fruits and flowers—highly dc8cfa2296 sought after among bf5b684132 the nobility. Both the current 409f947d6d Count Heliette and e84c497e84 his heir, Gallet, 128d966c6e were capable stewards 90f3bd1cfa of their domain, 2a1ee5319b far from incompetent.3ab2c02287e7849c

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But…18a840ff16f1e921

“Did she 3462fadc44 accept?” Agatha 46ad1ac4ae asked.5b4fc866d76fa46b

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“No. She hasn’t a92e30c308 given him 56b3d9c0c0 an answer 21774c042e yet.”144af56c3079f38c

The Duchess’s frown 6311d5a457 deepened. While a political marriage 484e0f5f80 with the Buildranders would 92910258e7 not be a poor 6d5ca8f258 match, Gallet’s involvement in d90065dcc9 his father’s sordid hobbies 69dd03805e made her uneasy. Such a match 0010badbb4 for Beatrice, who 495734ef75 had already endured 44abcc69ed so much misfortune, f0caa81b26 was difficult to 5a9189b045 stomach.2e9639b7f0a975ea

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“Did she seem a043ef0450 to like him?”c4b1063a3d63e367

“Not particularly,” Laura replied.fbe2ea7bdb3d640f

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“Good. Subtly steer her away 15facfbfd5 from accepting.”9d312a9c02514b3b

“Yes, Your Grace.”f6d815aba122a373

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After dismissing Laura, Agatha 9910818772 returned to her desk, 71946c47d9 her mind already racing 343904aa88 through alternatives. The Ember 33c3f96209 family had 23792f4af8 no shortage 19fdece155 of allied c59d80d470 noble houses 01deef68ee with eligible dc8f7977c5 heirs.3988a40628a6049f

Agatha tapped her dfc51c20df fingers thoughtfully against a7bf3bf37e the table. “The Lisart Marquisate, fcd5d34bd6 the Bertram County, 474509d37c and…”c323e298958c9942

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“Marques Duchy,” a6fba81841 she murmured 1629becf7e aloud.8f5cc0885e9a9395

The Duke of Marques 922dcdbbcb was close in age 2d0c9a2f32 to Calrex and shared b5ab2075a3 a fencing master with a494ac589c him. While their families 313432da15 weren’t particularly close, ba24d60895 the connection was 49417da144 cordial. An invitation to f47bb6c0cd explore the possibility 3a16ff282b couldn’t hurt.ecba493f16644a47

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“Bring me stationery,” c1e257ce3d Agatha ordered, deciding c0a363e6bd to send a 2e17d0c6ca letter. She couldn’t help but ac74d333e5 wonder if the prideful 7c76deff1e and popular Duke of c39933260c Marques would respond to 05f488b979 her summons.c5554fd8d9340fad

“Let’s see if e60f1091c8 the bait is ed25647721 tempting enough,” she 881facf040 said with a 0c9ba9877f sly smile.308376eff87ec94e

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