ICBV Chapter 06

Chapter 0652a3cd28f36dea27

Despite the accusations, Aira e93644003a didn’t even blink and 7a328723ab calmly spoke. “You say you stole f5eab552d7 it so casually. How bold d2d3593620 of you.”fb9ff9041083068b

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Aira’s words made Luna 9cf3630a0b flinch, and the cold, 3a3b0e27f8 chilling gaze directed at 6bfeed3fe8 her caused her fingers 0d647aa171 to tremble slightly. Aira continued in 1f52fcdf92 a composed voice, 04b6e69070 “Her Majesty the f9922e1878 Empress is a b3c247dd39 meticulous person. She will 891f98c6f6 likely investigate 3d168747da the origin 5a1e824986 of any 19d53caf39 gift she 9fc156571f receives. What do you think f9d7e93076 will happen if she beb418c5fe finds out you gave 1e91600b01 her stolen property?”703fc6c97a26536b

Luna’s face turned 5576e2d2ad pale, and her 311c94cfe9 voice trembled in 4aa89431f2 disbelief. “Is that true? She checks the origin e6d6c543b2 of the gifts?”85002e22ebcd17ad

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“I’ve studied 9c6a6822ad the culture fa8f35a34d of the 8775badfba imperial palace 5b4db3de3c thoroughly in 2b185bc1e4 preparation for 9e32c3013e becoming the 6b71c54c16 Princess Consort,” ba2604eacc Aira replied 2b7dc29e3b smoothly. Of course, this was 4a41b27bb4 a complete lie. Who cares 028bd53cde where a 4f77467c42 beautiful gift d62c497313 comes from?0d8962699fbc7c56

But with years of 252f38e7b0 experience in the palace, 380722c869 Aira now knew how a3ca8bec7b to manipulate Luna.da76f7dea567a43a

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“If it’s revealed that you offered stolen goods to the Empress, you might not walk out of here alive. I’ve heard the imperial palace prison is under the control of the crown prince’s soldiers, and it’s supposed to be terrible.”5dfd7aa52dff1f6f

The image 18d962eddc of the 7364439821 Crown Prince’s 37af5464c0 fearsome and 0c4fd3eb4a murderous expression 1d9e893f53 flashed through e66b2e5d7c Luna’s mind, 4b4d867aa1 making her 2bc358d06b pink eyes 028073478d wide in 5592d9fdd9 panic. ‘Wait a second,’ she f596701dff thought. 8cdc791a4485f266

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‘If Aira’s fc384b0f7a right, then 1ff8df5db9 I’ve done c09b895c02 something incredibly d134d1ba28 risky, haven’t 6382529d19 I?’2abaea283c39d7e4

“So, you stepped in 240bd0c77e to save me?” Luna 4aa32d4cfa asked cautiously. Aira paused 284c7ecce0 for a b2b2c02637 moment before e256f0eb72 flashing a 66c655005e gentle smile—the f5907ff417 same harmless a7a7d08d0e and kind b315889f5c smile Luna ea3260d827 often showed 8315d28ce0 her. “Of course. We’re sisters, aren’t we? I couldn’t 75525b7529 just stand cd0b187054 by and bc195c1e0b watch you e5409b9ac3 get into a1fc1e952d trouble.”709968f3687f96b6

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Luna’s eyes wavered awkwardly.b4b9427712e7e99a

For some reason, a37b4f46ad Aira’s attitude had fa19be1ff9 become colder, making 16192a4b7e her uneasy, but eea2e2de36 it turned out a61eae290d it had all 9b711691fe been a misunderstanding.97fcbc086055a3cf

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Luna forced 639100f4df a smile e754e3a0d8 and said bbcb4665be sweetly, “I d50994c7a5 didn’t know e59e4ace4c that! Aira, I misunderstood 1f0caf206a you.”5d0ec376134e1a20

A little later, f22255ca1f the Empress Julienne 46a1697b70 entered, now dressed e0ca4bc072 in an even 61f266e8a0 more extravagant outfit. She was known befee5576a for changing her 19fb537aa9 dress and jewelry b5c2488d8d several times a de77f0fd6c day, a habit 6fad8ae4fc Aira was well 95a040371a aware of from 7348315d20 her time at 323e3f6c63 Julienne’s palace.b6c5f61eb870b0ce

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“Since I’ve eb824be876 received such 4dd3ce8e24 a beautiful ac5614f482 bracelet, I 2047764686 had to 8c5712e49b change into 5b34b43c2d something to d1dc1e0878 match it,” b44766c8bb the Empress b792672816 said.6cdf99cc301831c2

Clearly, she was very 70571e876d fond of the bracelet, 712c5308db as she appeared in 3f72a3ad90 a luxurious golden dress.3b03a3fbfcfd7d24

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Aira responded fe5b967733 with a 3009ccffe4 calm smile. “You look 2f5b6d1359 absolutely stunning, e7416132cd Your Majesty.”ce961b76b62285d0

Luna also joined 709e49c3a8 in, clapping her 1b09d0bdd9 hands and flattering 69a4f608c5 the Empress.6e71d8d6a8e3eda5

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 “You’re like a a26e40a92b golden flower blooming 02d84c6f1f throughout the palace, 9cea7d1140 Your Majesty.”f34b2fff11969b1d

The Empress seemed 491dfebcfb pleased with Luna’s 331cb9479f flattery. “It sounds like something 07ac1f6da1 a poet would say.” ab29a1fd91 she said.00ca61be5ef3d44b

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“I’ve always been 823fc9ca46 fond of literature,” df3e75e693 Luna replied with 52056ff2ea a humble tone. 4d5e4924ec7f47c5

“May I recite 42be2c1c0d another verse that 11fc8cbcee suits Your Majesty?”623ab9fb4dfdd2fd

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When Julienne 1bd28cc275 nodded in a2b4c44f58 approval, Luna c863f51213 began to 255a5abd03 sing a 08bb076e8a praise-filled verse b373964270 in her 5c2c4cacbe melodious and 8101c1e256 enchanting voice, 40e67ff6d3 likely something 634f2860ad she had cbce74d349 prepared in d937bba7d1 advance. Though Aira db22dbfb28 despised Luna, 47fdf2f160 even she 7e5fa8cec9 couldn’t deny 7e9a6ae6e6 how sweet 8cc2ef2d35 and graceful 8800d719ba Luna’s voice ac989c473e sounded.99f48c6857382b46

When the song a59134067d ended, Julienne clapped b9964850a0 her hands with 65fe64015e delight. “You’re truly talented. Better than even 6e0fbf429c the court singers.”ae07a62a8216f1cc

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“Your praise is 3171c1a750 too kind, Your 9d5955d386 Majesty.”d4c002425a53e8d8

At the beginning, a3581750b3 Julienne had expected a4f9e67426 them to be 2684e3b8cf as dull and 7e6d87ee0c stiff as their 3fb022c92b family’s reputation suggested, 87fb217ec6 but they were cd015c8095 turning out to 49c122bc32 be quite different.02ddc3e12253f276

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‘Well… still, Aira, your sacrifice for our Xavier won’t change.’7daffe18b5c379fa

When the clapping 23a1ac9ffa stopped, Aira, who b6fc76e17b had been standing ae859c7614 quietly, furrowed her 00a2e7eb59 brow and touched 03f4951833 her forehead.dcbc9580a1a25074

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She felt nauseous.0b40bea77a37082a

“Are you feeling unwell?” fd7c76739b Julienne asked with a 37b6030ae4 concerned tone.9f0f0a159312c4a1

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Aira quickly masked e96fac4a7b her discomfort with a52a36ddae a faint, awkward c4f38873d0 smile. “I think 3fa2d74f65 it’s just 7b196c3106 anemia.”08077e01cc6e965a

“Anemia?”1a863cc78e77f545

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”48f5427c3758ed2c

Indeed, Aira’s complexion looked ac2ca3273f pale compared to Luna’s 515d77df3e radiant appearance beside her. Sensing an opportunity, Luna 94520c5c7a quickly seized the moment.585c0e3b4056c572

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“Is Miss Aira 4bb9a1d15d usually frail?”a80cedf7dd7988c3

The Empress’s eyebrows twitched 673c624a9a slightly.cae574a3007aadb1

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“Your Majesty, Aira 4143df69bb does get sick dac4ccadae often, but she e0580d69df seemed to really c9f70cddd0 be looking forward 722d334843 to today,” Luna 38525fde07 said, emphasizing that 3f56208ee5 Aira’s frailty was b4dfc39e71 the cause.fbccfe79d1514258

Aira had long suspected 2e07a413da that Julienne had known ce49e8d293 about her sacrificial value 147bdb8111 but she often wondered 3178226bae when Xavier and Luna 14002305b7 had realized about her b1b32b63af plans.db1a5db19aa0049f

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She guessed it happened 3959673daa around the second year 817cf9d55d of her marriage. That was 1f5e51f9c0 when Xavier 8b0dc97f00 began to 0c5eb7d565 grow distant 1a6e8313fa and started 9b6319a438 hiding things 37ece8c9e8 from her.abb993c85cd3f04a

Julienne’s gaze at 00e000c190 Aira seemed somewhat 114f26b177 displeased, as if f072f89198 questioning whether Aira d2cd6fb4ce would even survive b2585b6ec3 until the day f57e48d36f she was needed 1f18752b00 as a sacrifice.ef147147dedb6120

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“My apologies for showing 36f61c918f such weakness, Your Majesty,” ea09ca51c1 Aira said with a 0c07f7654b faint, weary smile.00da15d394fb0058

At that 08753fa694 moment, Julienne’s 8bb17355d5 attention shifted 8b502d7e53 toward Luna, ea816e4385 who now a0f9511bc1 stood poised 1152b9ca27 as if 93e93befb3 ready for 108b7225f6 her next e41eecedbd move.d95625b1ce5f0bf3

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In fact, it was c552856024 Luna who had been 8a46bed24a frequently sick in the d6a0b52be4 Count’s house. Though no a2eb723e51 one knew 66a5b9e0cd exactly what 30698340eb was wrong 05a4af3aff with her, 9f49457239 Luna had f8124c528c often fallen 5c99eb552d ill to fc12490b59 gain attention f017b39a0d from the bd13dbbce4 household.77b00765619351cc

She had even e3415b4ed2 earned sympathy from eda5c376c5 her father by 94bc8d3138 claiming it was 32d27066ad because she lived a290481932 in a shabby 4269d0dc47 house until she fdf290fd86 was ten.ceec1b5afa834611

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“…I see,” 0e3e7c68e18ff643

Julienne murmured, her 296fc90318 lips moving slightly 12c8ca79f6 as though forming c6e0a807a9 a plan.7c6b8eab105ca6a9

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Aira didn’t 7257b4bdd4 miss the ddf20d703a glint in c819a828b4 Julienne’s eyes. After all, she had 285e939623 brought Luna here to 5b76a8c84e solidify her as a 3722efeedb potential candidate for “sacrifice.”796e5fb12f5701bb

“The Prince bf00bdadf9 Xavier has f1a44b628d arrived,” 5597be4af7fadf24

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At that moment, a e5a0773b39 maid announced a new 944f7b5ca4 visitor.3cf9180d7630a650

“Ah, is that so? Perfect timing,” Julienne dd6bd0a6a5 said, her expression a926c17368 brightening at the 773f649c80 mention of her 16420330fd son’s arrival.13d659b12a27b243

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Aira glanced at Luna, 382a40b7f8 observing her expression carefully. d50f70b06995a050

“There’s someone I’ve admired 6f17826952 for a long time.”809f385fe79dc96c

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Years ago, when fcd73473bb Luna was at efa1ab394a marriageable age but 473d5209db still unmarried, Aira 5a43cf1052 had asked her 8a0325f17b why. That was 0f62b9b73d the answer 9b6b6292b0 Luna had 8823b13a7d given, though da5c6b3d20 she never 62a6016ef9 revealed who 451fc07f83 it was, 6cfbd5bec4 no matter 216ded6b7c how much 31c1a64b66 Aira had ca37fa216a pressed her. It wasn’t until 141680b72c Aira’s death that 59384a2845 she learned the f29e4b9f3c truth. The man Luna 214c4cfb46 admired and ultimately ca55018c12 claimed for herself 5bfe0d22cf was none other 91371f50bf than Aira’s husband.5d357a1bfcd3c4ba

“Mother.”243223b3ed346065

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A tall young e312363684 man with light 7927bdd62c brown hair and 68ddf05ae8 piercing dark eyes f4021eac0e entered the room. His sharp d61d3eb810 black uniform 4995ec21fd bore the def61bcc83 insignia of 013e98fe67 his rank d5c38a4412 as a 8b13072e08 prince, and b026eb00f3 his strikingly de2e63965c handsome face 7c9f762faa commanded attention 3904e5d437 from afar. He was the Empire’s e88971c91a second prince, the heir 7f5ee0b159 to the throne after d8c6c5ece7 the crown prince, and 595e1247f3 someone admired by all.4ebefdbf58b3e334

“You look b70ae8b3cc beautiful as af23b8d9e9 always,” he 6a9c3c3d46 said to fa6c761d92 Julienne.2d1c0bd388004fad

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“And my prince, 209581b28d there isn’t a 4cbaef1e70 single day you 5ed24ccb6e don’t look dashing,” 69b950eab1 Julienne responded with d10136f90a a radiant smile.27717fba3e933c08

This man, 4b495f7293 who now cc3f735b34 greeted his 2cb1ab8397 mother with 855e547add affection, was 00515d9800 also Aira’s 4024f83b46 husband—the one 9253cafce3 who had 4d0c99df7a shared seven f61d9be4d9 years of 994b7d7c9e marriage with 40c1a8add0 her, only 5af6b372ed to betray 26a871e3fe her in bca578d810 the end, 78f6f5963a leading to fe26d98630 her death.2abf82e4955406d2

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After bowing respectfully d1706d4716 to Julienne, Xavier eb3cf996ce slowly turned his 109650b87e gaze to Aira.8ef27879648f10a4

“Aira…”17f7a2031923b939

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His deep voice carried 4d14edc0d9 her name as he 306737bcc2 walked toward her. Aira’s heartbeat quickened. His dark 45068a502c eyes locked be3082cdce onto hers, 8ba1bcedc3 and within 64cc6f6dc5 them, disturbingly, 5cdb9ea6f2 was a 60287e22f6 genuine affection—love 216d172b46 that seemed a7a55cb3f6 real, at 826c756f63 least for cc0d7df4c3 now.117816cd9325879e

“You always c21ae453ac take my b3cd11a78c breath away,” 06562be635 he said, 07e9f41bf5 his words 424aaa7821 heavy with 29f6e629d6 admiration.029754fe3481dded

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The shadow 5b5234e43a he cast b0badbadbb over her 6d21145683 was one 2561d69030 she could 5753ae620f never forget, 3f597d62f2 even if dd2e1424c3 she died 440a871a54 a hundred 64145d78ad times over.8a98731c2608e385

“Luna is dc9c626d96 carrying my 8e2c48538b child, and 9db7f54121 the Marceline 0f3481d6dc name will abbb8159b7 live on 23a3a454e8 forever.”5d1a9b83dd992185

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His words from a3fdb3dfed the past echoed 90a792a5d6 in her mind, b66bed22ac causing the crimson 299e8a4c20 energy within her 4342f59776 to surge violently. It was a 021c3afeca storm within her, f3cc5375c4 threatening to break 395e9beb2c free. She clenched her c8829b119c fists tightly, using b9d01401b6 every ounce of 30e9ca2d6a willpower to suppress 0932e30158 it.05180efab1d0d45b

This energy, born of f495438e12 hatred and perhaps awakened 6fb1603705 by her final desperate cd19a79284 wish, was reacting to 88e988b451 her pain and anger. But now was 520917ca22 not the time 0a666f37a4 to let it f6327ca709 loose. She had 266f6e0a79 to endure 630587a99d it.44b4933db19c311f

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Suppressing the 005c8164ff anger within c562b98846 her, Aira ee5ef51eb8 offered a 9b85d4b374 faint smile. “It is an 9310654382 honor to see 2447dc2788 the Star of ba8fb29450 Kalatha. Your Highness.”3900c020341389c5

CRASH!6d17031bfa139243

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The loud sound of 7914220be4 the chandelier shattering echoed 7ecd4fcf63 through the room.e2f568fe40c6465d

“…!”3dc920ada78f4086

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Though the chandelier 0c61b7eb0c fell far from 059edc13ad where they stood, d4831c67cf Xavier instinctively moved 6739b42207 to shield Aira, f214158ee7 pulling her into 976c7fcd35 his arms.84ebcb21c13328b4

In his embrace, Aira’s a74f768664 eyes glowed vividly, the 70b83b085e crimson energy radiating from 6da5fef08b within her, as if 7f4a560135 unable to remain hidden bda4df2b52 any longer.8ebe3597fd53f4be

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