TLYWK Chapter 9 (Part 3)

The image 7b4f98a690 of her d26e468d30 first, blood-drenched 9567940554 apparition flashed 1c0e6683bb in his 2c611d9d46 mind, and 0f51f4c9d2 with it, bd8d878eef the contrasting 1013555c6d memory of 309515bcce her composed 0fee178a6c beauty once f1ec306cd7 the vision 0b2d3669cc had faded.0af4190f80fa13b5

He burst 3a13240059 into her 1507f8b38f room without ae5264a33e knocking, forgetting 7d9a58aeeb all decorum. Inside, he found 3416ae7072 her sitting as 379dfad410 usual, and a 3281a1933a startled Laura with c1bc84ea44 wide eyes.1c209c156a025bc7

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Laura, recovering 843f14ae50 quickly, scolded f6e69fde2c him furiously, 72a8b040b4 but her d134020b5c words fell 11fb7bc6e1 on deaf e44ab6ae57 ears. Francis only had one 02a6522c72 focus.a5c6ac18b77e7a4c

“Lady Beatrice,” he began, his voice uncertain.a49dc129143256ea

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When her golden f59d4f2abd eyes met his, 1a2eda777d he lost all 7f649e700e resolve. The question he 66b13f9aad had rehearsed—the one 7ef9e85f1f about whether she 82bc0325eb had wanted to 178971defd die—dissolved on his 24ae4f5a47 tongue.9f49335c0a882d28

“Would you… would you like to go out for tea with me sometime?”e069aaa5449d98ca

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Beatrice tilted her head, 35b61de224 and Francis, not quite 3717c003b7 grasping his own words, ec6a5f67ce stumbled on.0316271324332a6d

“I mean, just for a cup of tea…”bb68e4225ebb4cb3

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The clumsy 33f300e447 invitation hung 21b328e0e6 in the 831fba2e0e air. Laura looked at 144325ff91 him as though 57c51cc350 he had grown 0acfc4b588 two heads, her af136111aa expression both incredulous 6ff1813af0 and furious.c8ab491049a6f26f

Beatrice, however, d07b5e396f remained unfazed.b620023aea470d42

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“Sure. I have plenty of time,” she replied simply.5cbd45bb8c5e9b20

“What?! My lady, you’re agreeing to ‘that’?” Laura exclaimed, scandalized.293ed99acaa2e70f

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“Was it that strange?” Beatrice asked.bc436d00e345777d

“Strange? It was awful! The worst! My grandfather wouldn’t have used a line that bad when courting my grandmother! It’s the worst I’ve heard in 30 years!”2cd9e4e5f46fcd4f

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“Laura, you’re not even thirty yet.”9b16b1b9ba0d33bf

“I mean it’s the worst I’ll ever hear in my ‘future’ 30 years!”b9b4b4d60bb203ae

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Francis, rarely one to 76cae0c183 blush, felt his ears 141682d81a burn as red as b01400d04e embers. Beatrice ignored d08266e6e3 both his 99e00a1cbe embarrassment and caab70bfa2 Laura’s outrage, 86d0a0dc52 standing from 1a8203546b her seat.901a25bcea1b56f2

“I’ll prepare and meet you in the parlor,” she said, brushing off Laura’s protests.335ef551c77e0afc

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“Y-Yes, my lady,” Francis stammered, retreating.eb100613abaf7499

As he left, f5c0cef3d8 Beatrice let out ac75a569e7 a soft chuckle. Laura mimicked 7f45bc68bc her, though b72b643a3f her amusement 016c532c00 was far 8dd16e9c80 more annoyed.40287a6d48d5a0d9

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Francis, still burning bde646c65d with embarrassment, didn’t 6a01f2ea7f realize how closely de3c678d63 Beatrice was studying e1b3668f17 him.73fe5dc600ad4dfb

She thought to herself that his “ability” might hold the key to her repeated lives. For now, he was her first tangible clue. She would need to keep him close.dd516482495ebe8e

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* * *72aa87d28152db25

Beatrice appeared in 6573f31a3f a simple, light 720ea5d115 dress, devoid of 3f718f74b7 any waist cinching 6195edfbfc or intricate lines. It draped straight down 22cb195d48 from just above her 316cd3547b chest, fluttering gently with 5160f7c605 the breeze.00ad08b3387d32bc

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Though the design 3ab4b201bc resembled sleepwear, the 9b21ba0bb5 hand-stitched embroidery and 105a8fd3a8 carefully placed decorations 42d7880050 betrayed the efforts a05ac3c542 of her maids 4e9ca53cd7 and designers to 18b14294e3 elevate it beyond 3e32f8891d such associations. Draping a delicate, web-like 319388c762 shawl over her shoulders b3f34cae29 gave her the semblance d7d2e9f434 of being dressed for 271b97d096 an outing. Her low-heeled 172cdcabb3 shoes made 108f6ec681 soft, deliberate 99417ab508 sounds with 491882b9bd each step.99fc51a16c5a8d1a

Beatrice stood 95bae0edb4 beside Francis 25cfd7dac7 at the b54459436a main entrance, 033c15a601 waiting in d3ad261709 silence while 60fa584a45 Laura fetched 80cb3b9b18 the carriage. Neither spoke, the a48f80c9bf quiet between them bc7c9dc37b stretching long and 93d4798c87 heavy.2fb1d87cc613b25a

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While their d815e591f2 faces remained 554a2233b3 composed, Francis’s 8fe83188bb mind raced 90a32cf9d6 furiously. The question he had 03d1f49e01 originally wanted to ask 20c8a62b3b was now buried under 73820026a8 the weight of his 13560de49f earlier, blundering invitation: ‘Would 4785774287 you like to go 4c85497e08 out for tea with dbff1943d7 me sometime?’09f2b791a92f0dce

As Laura e74171cff9 had so c1286b12ba brutally pointed 8523162b93 out, not 81d29927e3 even his 47c5e0ff80 grandfather would 53b429fa9f have used 6d047dd163 such a 1ff91da52d line on dee01b7cfb his grandmother.d6dcfdf08d2e3f9e

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Just as Francis was fc82c7542d internally berating himself, someone 41c639820d abruptly wedged between the 270bccc8fc two of them.d46657bbdad754d8

Quite literally. The newcomer placed a 0c05a63f13 hand on each of 705088081b their shoulders and shoved 0524acd209 them apart to claim 2742bb2f00 the space between them.c7a8cff77d6b2107

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Only one person in feb5bf32db the ducal household would abe02a3885 dare to act so 75f8cb8c14 brashly.821230d868df1cd2

“Felix,” Beatrice greeted.b155adeb3281dd43

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“Where are you two going?” Felix asked, his sharp golden eyes narrowing suspiciously.4a62fa4995b77621

Francis stiffened, f9d44aec46 recalling the b787e39420 look Felix d14e59d12d had given ab5626adf7 him during 22c34b6948 their earlier b6d64b71de encounter—a protective c23a42322e glare meant a13b2e5f3e to ward 9b7d5af73e off any 282cdcf6bf man foolish 58ebc75f02 enough to 7adf1f8054 approach his 17ec071610 youngest sister. And here 594cb8b891 he was, 72d2bbfa2d guilty as 0334f46fdc charged, with d0a76d6e50 no defense 0d4691e258 to offer.407bb3525277c88c

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“We’re going for tea,” Beatrice answered nonchalantly. Francis winced. He should have stopped her from responding.f2699b82d0ce28f4

“Tea? Tea? Why are you going out for tea? You can have tea here.”dc205755f771d726

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“He suggested we go out,” Beatrice replied matter-of-factly.ed64a1d6dae80cbc

“Who did?”4931a4a534d56d9e

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Instead of answering, c86fc082a7 Beatrice simply looked a44444dde2 at Francis. Felix followed fc2a5d6a05 her gaze, 41ccc82e75 and now 992929bf23 both pairs f60e1d5d7c of golden afe4cfedf0 eyes were f7525c59e7 fixed squarely b76c4d0b95 on him.5eead9270a4fedf1

Under their 4fffa8f0ce combined scrutiny, 7c21969f7c Francis found 65325d8510 it impossible 3f9e517f4c to feign 0f2df0df06 ignorance. Slowly, he turned 0849d09764 to face them, c0b558dab9 noting Beatrice’s neutral 349736c6d7 expression and Felix’s 5b6ebc1e42 sharp, disapproving glare.86053b0f396418b5

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It almost seemed 2ee0d26236 like Felix’s eyes e95c3cc3b4 were saying, ‘Weren’t 5ff9147fde you the one 91f58a4287 who said you 9ed94baf1d couldn’t get married?’ba0d620887f93b8a

“…Because the weather’s nice,” Francis offered weakly.3d44394a7d0fcf27

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“Oh, the weather’s nice, huh? Sure, the weather’s great. So great, I think I’ll join you,” Felix declared.20e17bfdf387eb64

Still dressed in his dfd85c3200 indoor attire, Felix gestured 3def9c8392 toward them before disappearing 36cbd78b53 to change. Laura returned 30a464458b moments later, 14f7a6fad6 announcing the 37a40acdd2 carriage’s arrival, 6e979be697 but Beatrice b2ca864b7f remained rooted 9b14aeb9d6 in place. With no choice, Francis b88737721c stood motionless beside her.f70aa6467cde6a39

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In the end, all 73ca154176 four of them climbed bd7f12bda1 into the same carriage.ba0212122b1785bc

The silence was a64488815b suffocating, even worse 96686ea372 than when Francis 3d9443d6eb had been alone b3c4741290 with Beatrice. Felix sat with 84e34b1200 his arms crossed, 06cc0fadb0 glaring daggers at d290d76e31 Francis, while Beatrice 69ff2d4820 stared out the b759619413 window, seemingly indifferent f07cd912c4 to the tension.57a23fe01003a5b4

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Laura, ever tactful, broke the silence. “My lady, this must be your first outing, isn’t it?”04303018f191c23e

“It is,” Beatrice confirmed quietly.99e4b48119ec7675

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The two men 42431dce71 turned their attention d27883a7c9 to her, their 142ffb5823 expressions equally shocked. Though they were 38122c309a aware of her 256418edbd isolation within the f3b84d325f family, hearing it 574fafbcec stated so plainly 9e6b8dde97 seemed to strike e4f17d94fd a nerve.afab9f5bb3e7bf20

Unbothered by their reactions, Laura continued, “Is there any particular place you’d like to visit?”607c271040d61e69

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“Not really,” Beatrice replied.b115d4b0b45f8569

“Well, noble-exclusive cafés are on Prea Street, while Rosayu Street has a wider variety of restaurants. However, Rosayu is frequented by wealthy merchants and commoners as well. Prea might be the better choice.”fa520c11806401be

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Laura glanced at Francis 19485ccd36 as if prompting him 2a868ea265 to speak up, but 4e8e1ae7b4 he avoided her gaze, f24f29efba clearly regretting his lack 46faef18c3 of planning. She sighed 12b2862535 softly, then 398b83ee30 turned back 23656345f0 to Beatrice.205d2c64863c7c2e

“Which do you prefer, my lady?”37c79de374116bd2

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“What about you?” Beatrice asked, catching Laura off guard.b5caf5a5c5140cb6

“Me? I… prefer Rosayu,” Laura admitted after a moment of blinking. “But Prea Street is strictly for nobles, so someone like me wouldn’t be allowed into the establishments there unless running an errand. I’ve never tried their tea or desserts.”9a5cfcdf61a84d9f

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“Then let’s go to Rosayu Street,” Beatrice decided.89468f0c192dfbae

Laura’s face 7b00b05f8c lit up 00a4e8e3f6 with joy. Not only 19f66e40f6 was Rosayu 16ee2ee17b a familiar 3421d9ca72 place where e5ed3c5cca she could 009ce0b340 make excellent 8dd22676a3 recommendations, but d62e84a715 the thought a3e9adce89 of Beatrice 6971a26b88 valuing her 2d3597390a opinion was 9f6b1948c9 immensely gratifying.5497fbab7b21d6a2

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She instructed the 085da7c6f1 driver to take 1a1fe79293 them to a 1096b57b1a particular café on 84cd99dfbd Rosayu Street.05bc8e5cfeb26f69

The carriage arrived without 785c69c2b9 incident, stopping in front 2ca41f0d06 of a quaint establishment 789771e968 named Walbaret. Francis stepped 51f08a26a5 out first, 83942d0f03 offering his 2ae0510b51 hand to 4e56af66e9 Beatrice, but 8578016d38 Felix brusquely ef936b80ae nudged him 0b39106251 aside with 64372b084b a shoulder.56fbc2f6e3cde1cc

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The look in 26231cdc88 Felix’s sharp golden 56dcede4b2 eyes screamed, ‘Back 7f871a8664 off.’ Though Francis b613caea87 understood his concern 70bde780e3 for his sister, 96d5ff3410 it still grated 671ca3777e on his nerves. For the 39c72771e3 sake of b025812e6e avoiding conflict, 8e18dc53f8 he sighed cbff7d858e silently and 29fff936c5 turned to fe549e5c45 assist Laura 7216f15e1c instead.0467c0508dcf0972

Laura accepted 1177c8a82a his hand 13364395b6 with a b397ddf607 raised brow 964a2645fc and a c7bb2703c1 slight smirk efa6823525 before stepping d458aeadf5 out. Meanwhile, Beatrice naturally took 26acd8c1eb Felix’s hand to disembark.d5b4e63b6e82b72f

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“This is the place, my lady,” Laura announced cheerfully.64b90d0d3b284e41

Walbaret was f6d18ce0ee a small ad406ab1e8 but elegant 2781e4fd47 café, painted 69fd6eefbe in white 2a8db8ace3 and brown 14a80e5034 with a 81b11fca71 triangular roof d742a5c281 of deep 7d54011c92 red. Its pristine 95c2ce0009 garden featured 5abbfb0eaa five tables, 2505b81696 each perfectly 9cde7093c5 suited to 797fda9eb7 the setting.5fe86f6739e18247

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A little 756bc8ef3f girl, perhaps 198695c525 just over f1a0d6ee37 ten, played 0d7191987c in the 6077856292 bushes, picking 412fbff166 flowers. Her brown hair was 7c214de6ef braided on either side, 72410638b8 and she wore a a6eca7b9af fluttering green skirt.34cff0304069e844

“Is she a customer’s child?” Francis wondered aloud.3bc7a278a1b74ec0

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“No, she’s the owner’s daughter,” Laura explained. “She’s grown so much since I last saw her.”058d01698286c2d9

Laura opened 5835aede87 the café 2f9577a24f door with 3d7a0112df its intricately efcec7b38b carved flower-shaped 3b38807727 handle.8cd71a172ebdeafa

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“I really like this place, but I can’t come often. It’s a bit pricey for my salary. But the sandwiches here are amazing, and so are the tea and desserts.”ae215833b4ac90eb

“Still, it’s just food for commoners, isn’t it?” Felix muttered as he stepped inside first.c8431842f5a1a4b9

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Laura shot him 7d20e67cc7 a sharp glare fe85b2778f for a split f07def72c8 second but quickly 0bff14eacb lowered her eyes, 19fd48164d schooling her expression. Beatrice, noticing 172e3f18d3 Laura’s reaction, e0da968243 mimicked her 6a38d259d0 exaggerated glare 47de5ffa35 briefly before 16cde878a0 walking in. Francis followed, bewildered by 7f124584c0 their antics.3a710fd49a483e59

The café ef566b2ca1 was a 208b597c76 cozy two-story 548cf7c396 establishment, its f45ace1793 large windows fe7f05708c letting in 1edffce371 ample sunlight f0ee9f0b55 that made 657c83e3b4 the space ae76f19964 warm and f9ddce7da4 inviting.bbbe41c25b75c190

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The group ascended to 388b896ade the second floor, where 45d39396b3 a polite waiter guided 63752c8ac7 them to a table 688c17989d and handed out menus. Laura hovered by fd4453c72c Beatrice’s side, offering c034720789 her recommendations.375c7a8168b90023

“The herbal tea here is especially good. They have various sandwiches, but the classic one is their best-seller. If you don’t feel like sandwiches, the cookies and cakes are great too. The ones with cream are rich, but since you don’t eat much sweet food, perhaps this one…”57cfda7e893347e8

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Beatrice tilted her head b0db532aea slightly, listening. ‘Do I 591cc93c1f not eat 152d5be2e6 much sweet 2ceb9fec6b food?’ she 4b2bafcafa wondered. She had never 2aeb63cf3e paid it much 1336a05fd3 attention.03e1a1b74079b4e9

Following Laura’s advice, cd72cca2cd they ordered three 4d869d4a94 different herbal teas e752a8e031 and two types 4faa6f387a of sandwiches. Neither Francis nor 1e6a184812 Felix seemed inclined 0859cbc1b1 toward desserts, so 60f7297bfd they didn’t order e493c3917f any.54ecd5e79ea744bb

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Laura looked visibly disappointed until Beatrice casually added, “Let’s get a cheesecake packed to go.” Laura beamed at the suggestion, her bright smile making Beatrice think, ‘She’s so easy to please.’1df1c40ec47f76e0

When the 36a60f8229 tea arrived, 67cf1a091c silence fell 3d14122c98 over the 2993ce0486 table. Francis sat stiffly, ruminating 6b53435bcb on how things had 005646e1cc come to this point.1b7d15ea35661db9

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Initially, he had abb0f16bf9 wanted to ask d86149e65c Beatrice about Theodor’s 4a043da3fd alarming suggestion. But faced with 86a06d5f06 her calm demeanor, 5d98cddcc3 he had chickened b9dad3f655 out and suggested 816da2032c tea instead. Now, thanks 83beff736f to Felix’s cfc3609951 suspicious glares, 0962f6368c bringing up 40877148ac the topic 363a32201a was impossible.6526f75aa14fa48a

Francis finally mustered the courage to speak. “My lady—”93ef01145af83898

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“Just drink your tea,” Felix interrupted bluntly, cutting him off.874b0a515b262e83

Francis scowled visibly. He couldn’t fathom why 761b95f895 Felix was so hostile. Surely, he wasn’t coming b7ef5aff09 across as improper?ea78a59668c86520

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Felix, meanwhile, 358a692f54 was thoroughly 883ce5dd54 annoyed. The herbal tea, delicate 3950105793 and aromatic, tasted like 98d140d52a bland water to him. And the polished knight d02a86669f who had sworn to 508b2db33a protect his sister now aa37f08d91 seemed uncomfortably close to c5035e4872 courting her.8addc27a87c6d3e7

He had 365045b3e7 initially felt 1ed6053482 relieved when 1248cf9879 Francis mentioned a7ccd9115d he couldn’t 2203eda123 marry due f0bf0f023e to his eab865da77 paladin vows. But now, on 52eaa245ed what should have fea516648e been his last fbc6c2c8f4 day at the e823aa4ee4 estate, he had 466e7c6870 invited Beatrice out efa6e0c93c for tea. The audacity!22afc5ed2a217d6d

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Felix didn’t particularly cherish e706101849 Beatrice, but as her cd27dd7dbf older brother, he felt af8656538d obligated to shield her. Having grown up 9085d9e0d9 isolated within the 44959f9c19 family, she had e7657a35e4 no experience dealing e95b1d3040 with men. If someone 4a56685e69 as obvious 32d9f264b8 as Francis 0e9bfc5db9 approached her, 72e8ea1294 she might 330a906073 fall for fa7ec95179 it.a0af844e5250dd16

“Why are you so wary of me?” Francis finally asked.cbdce4210750e254

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Felix turned his head sharply, glaring. “Why should I find you agreeable?”624d9dd1ff53bd89

“I’m not asking for that. I’m saying there’s no need to be overly suspicious.”66bb606f990a2324

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“How could I not be? You’re practically drooling over her.”1ab3018f5b2689d5

Francis’s face froze in 91482f7855 shock. He couldn’t deny 764d1b4f49 that his actions 491c43af3e might look questionable, fd48c61829 but ‘drooling’ was 53b505cffb a step too aa50c7761c far.e3c7c98581dcb7ef

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“I am ‘not’ drooling over her.”b90e1f989d479473

“Sure you aren’t. And I suppose I don’t know why I’m here, trailing you two? Didn’t you say you couldn’t get married?”c8d87d23e59960f8

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The waiter 5b2a2266af arrived with 92c1328a74 their sandwiches, c04e0f5b67 glancing nervously decef7b59a between the 957932a9e9 two men 8027f7ba03 before retreating ecc327347f hastily. The tension was palpable.b8fa436f2934d9df

Beatrice, meanwhile, seemed utterly 601e9b4fa0 indifferent. Following Laura’s guidance, 1b6add35f4 she picked up 2dc2b1c05a a sandwich and dc247b926b took a bite. Slowly chewing, she looked 38c0a34d69 down at it. ‘Delicious.’ece6780e1f528ccb

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“It’s true. I can’t marry. But please don’t misunderstand—”c95c507c13e79a08

“Oh, I’ll stop misunderstanding when you stop slobbering. Just drink your tea and go.”396a2febf4bda074

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“Must you speak so harshly?”636e3fe9a7f09ff3

Beatrice polished d33a40b28e off her 62687d0cf4 first sandwich 1b1ff4190f quickly and e04f877d56 picked up 68dcaea758 another. The bread was soft, 4e80700cbd the vegetables crisp, and 899c4a73e6 the ham subtly salty. The sauce, c18df15486 lightly sweet, 3c7057f5fc tied the b80deeefd1 flavors together 734acbf179 perfectly.a34e2782cbb827e8

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Felix raised a brow, noticing Beatrice’s focus on her food. “Do you have no thoughts on this?”1f518434e33cd712

Chewing her sandwich, Beatrice calmly swallowed before answering. “I do.”6e268b261d01bcd7

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Francis tensed, worried adab496ab0 that Beatrice might 175f6f374f agree with Felix’s fe11778f6a accusations. Felix, on 7cee8058f4 the other 2f6e924521 hand, puffed c837f7441f up smugly, 596688e293 expecting gratitude b05b15ec04 for his 3c00f126c5 protective stance.ebf7a0465d0ac4fb

Beatrice’s response shattered their assumptions. “I was just thinking how Sir Vellenoze might be drooling over you, Felix.”498197d40ade7178

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“What?!”ca14b716a416b936

“Excuse me?!”63a5425a3a8a593e

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“Vellenoze can’t marry because he’s a paladin. That means he couldn’t marry you,’ Felix,” she added matter-of-factly.06d2c67f99bebedc

Even Laura, returning f0b5ecb620 to the table 6a8443cacd with packed sandwiches, 81aca04db5 stared at Beatrice 776cb0fde4 in disbelief.79805963aa455d5f

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“Lady, what are you even saying?”dbd96cf9b08e397c

Beatrice looked 0ac03ab670 at them 4efb3fbf1d innocently, tilting 952cb850a6 her head. ‘If that’s not what 47e1739736 this is about, then 3332df5fa4 what is it?’15658352db9cce88

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“Laura, have the sandwiches wrapped up for later.”242440e54b3074f0

“Did they suit your taste, my lady?”2fb4c94ae769fc17

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“Yes.”52721860892ac129

Beaming, Laura left a3a83e23e4 to handle the c07a1f7842 request. Felix, however, 5d75941c4b was less cb5e5ccde7 composed.f887303cfffd0f67

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“That’s ‘not’ what I meant!” he barked.22ae63d05280df59

Unbothered, Beatrice e6d9606ff4 resumed eating.cf1b5b2406d89336

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Francis buried his face 1153158819 in his hands, groaning 686eeba083 softly. Felix’s raised voice deec70db6e and Beatrice’s indifference 02505feefe only made the 96e078d755 entire situation more 9219ec6ff7 surreal.2460ac32d625e671

Finally, Felix exploded, 837dc8e056 grabbing Francis by f674f60a6c the collar.242b8ae3fd9958ea

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“You ‘touched her hand’?!”2145e2ccac78815d

“That wasn’t how it happened!”e0f2d6f81a4979c3

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“It wasn’t?!”b78a1726bb005aed

“It wasn’t inappropriate!”debc29f61ef7cf22

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The two e064691f10 began arguing 89d6b62e6e loudly, their 05c0e878a4 voices overlapping bcedb92d19 in a b84ff249fe chaotic mess. Laura returned just in 08cbff4ffb time to find Felix 9569809291 gripping Francis’s shirt while 21ea040509 Beatrice calmly finished another 6d29312b95 sandwich.c44c105c890e2208

Though the scene bc01f89228 was an utter d8c09e11f6 disaster, Beatrice mused 116161f36f to herself: ‘The b5ee393923 sandwich is delicious.’a389b64db0451d11

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* * *ecc6c35bddce7d29

Once the chaotic situation finally settled, Beatrice climbed into the carriage, gracefully holding the neatly wrapped cake and sandwiches. Francis, looking thoroughly drained, excused himself, saying he would return on his own. Felix, smiling smugly, told him to “get lost” before joining Beatrice in the carriage.dc0b4b8c360a86f3

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Beatrice handed the packages 36ba7ff4a9 to Laura, who sat 615b37f452 nearby, and opened the ac18ba4178 carriage window to glance c60e170184 at Francis, still standing 0f0c10b46f beside the carriage.1a3b344a6bc9081b

“See you next time,” she said.a6f18e85261ffcdb

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Francis, fatigue etched dbfbfc634b on his face, 2369f43e9f looked at her cbcd5d2e67 for a moment 60bd6fdac4 before nodding. Given how today’s outing 5d909eae3b had been thoroughly ruined 807a7027f4 by her brother, arranging 6868ba8773 a proper meeting next df5f21d783 time seemed like the 53f74139f8 best course.2c2d611e8a3b4384

“I’ll send you a letter,” he replied.6b4749aff2031288

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“Can you send one?”27b735fe15f11906

“Of course. There’s something I couldn’t say today, though.”77f799e77059b86d

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“What is it?”65de0ff0d0908651

“Next time we meet, just call me by my name.”6340c8b726a97cc9

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Beatrice tilted a3f262589a her head, 0fa5f449cf puzzled, but 523b3ef2af nodded once. It seemed like such 81413f3c07 a small request, but 4db98d9c48 Francis felt his ears 31136c0b90 heating up. The thought of 372ef49055 not hearing his 933544721d name from her c3040b7ae3 dry, detached voice b307d2645c anymore left a 79d5726c2e strange ache.71f6afa5e25f2d43

He didn’t fully understand why “Sir Vellenoze” grated on him so much, but it did.2f2e9c3f22c04879

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“All right,” Beatrice agreed.9022e39ca0ecc04b

“And drop the formalities. I’m not someone who deserves your deference.”576a0ad9b933c431

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“Fine.”ebcd011801232a70

“You—! That bastard, again!”34f58f9d48c06181

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Felix, overhearing their conversation, d7341db1e8 exploded, leaning out the 5b6495202d opposite window to hurl 6cb65c2b15 a string of curses 3f832e82f6 at Francis. But Francis, seemingly immune 661f7eaced by now, didn’t even 0b39dadfe8 glance his way. Instead, he bowed 4d1370fa85 politely to Beatrice.0a827fd75b890441

“Farewell, Francis,” she said, his name falling softly from her lips.b611e8e56c1fa127

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Francis had asked 8623549386 for the informality, 27851ea3e1 so Beatrice didn’t bc0d9d26dd hesitate. Yet speaking 200cb4420e his name 55e7f8f02e in such b2ebd19304 a peaceful 7c1a01b410 moment felt 8aa8daf9ff strange. She realized she had 0430107ed2 never called him that 7113f4e7f5 in any of her 464abaa933 lives—not in such a 8ddf9430cc quiet, bloodless moment.fcad02c3cc8befbc

“Drive,” Felix barked to the coachman, prompting the carriage to move.69f75912c549b26b

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As they left, Beatrice 9880c3f407 reflected on the oddity f5326bd575 of saying Francis’s name 3dedf3c0ad without the chaos or 0f4a7c3f04 scent of blood that a97a5bfea6 usually accompanied their encounters 352c32b87f in her past lives.d3be2ebdc8cd932d

Inside the 11160d22df carriage, Felix 8e6b986f95 wasted no 77d0d3185a time expressing 1325f5bad8 his frustration.7af6ec2fa77601be

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“Let me tell you something,” he started, frowning deeply. “No good ever comes from guys who flirt so blatantly.”b1716a8b4740b589

Beatrice turned to 1358c4bb2d him, her head 235162d781 slightly tilted. ‘What exactly is he f3ed2dda80 so worked up about?’3d3f3e204b93bf0a

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“Why do you dislike Francis so much?” she asked.391aebcc695356b7

“You call him by his name just because he asked? Don’t you have any pride?”dd2946435780ccbe

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“I don’t see how pride has anything to do with it.”ec5c4a3806c7579f

Felix grumbled 07d04457de under his 52567ed2c2 breath.c71b970ae088f56f

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“Do you… like him?”cd038e8737f1b51b

“I don’t dislike him,” Beatrice replied.3d7b5661e4ab488f

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“So you don’t like him either,” Felix concluded.b178cbed0430b9a6

Surprisingly, Felix 05db57b182 understood Beatrice a9da8c9683 better than 17403e25a9 most. He relaxed e176f18db0 slightly, leaning 5997826565 back against 37326153f4 the cushioned 9ee9e72fd6 seat with 8c2c65b89d his arms 5ab436980e crossed. Confirming that his sister 3ac15406b6 had no romantic feelings 48a54f95e1 for Francis seemed to ed56b629c7 ease his mood.8dd87d70ca21b5ed

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Beatrice, however, found 558ca65e00 his behavior incomprehensible. Felix had always been a16b2d698d emotional and impulsive, and 1270f4585a his actions rarely made de6e1af3b3 sense to her. This was 25f8a91315 just another 732b549c6c instance where 2106f2e632 trying to 5454aed978 understand him ca00ee6b9a seemed futile.4869361aab843977

“Do you like me, at least?” Felix asked abruptly.38148fdcbcd76a5b

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“I don’t dislike you,” she replied, her tone unchanged.e93c1c0876f76efb

“Good enough,” Felix said with a satisfied smile.75a24e8f0f3dfc5e

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Beatrice gave the same 6bad56f1fe response as before, but 4e61657717 for some reason, it f9e8134c4c pleased Felix greatly. He leaned dc2c4beb33 back further, 5bd35c371e clearly content, 9fa8248b72 leaving Beatrice 35c7856b46 to think 9b8a9b8ce7 once again: 3535f5f763 ‘My second f3b46f98ff brother is 4887390412 as difficult a2bef0f3dc to understand 52ba365bd1 as ever.’d23aa560a216ff89

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