ICBV Chapter 11

Chapter 0110a80f2265af0646b

Count Marceline sat at the center of the long dining table. To his left sat Aira, and to his right, Luna. Tonight’s menu included roasted turkey, tender veal steak, and a seafood stew that had recently arrived. The family chef meticulously prepared the dishes.ffd91d708f62dde3

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“You look great with b112d491ea those cross-shaped cufflinks, my d5cceb113f Lord,” Luna said with 223bdcc092 a bright smile, sitting ff87bb26e9 to the count’s right 57d63d8568 side. Normally, Aira would join 3f1de9c686 the conversation and create 3a17579f15 a pleasant atmosphere, but d671905e10 today, Luna seemed upset 9426fb4c5b about something. She seemed e96c5ba744 determined to 2b340f5980 monopolize the 6a2fb98701 count’s attention.f4be2322d66abf12

“I’ll serve you, 42f5c6b4d3 Father.”260b9d5858e48df4

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Luna took the 6701db5432 count’s plate and 6a4d051a2d served him the ba0fc1cab7 most tender part 674b78194a of the steak. The count smiled contentedly 0138fdb71b as he ate the 0b60a78100 piece Luna had cut cc0fc4ffbe for him.889a9a9be1fce3ac

“Your cutting makes 241e639c53 it taste even 16204a9ec4 better.”1b2b441faa024c18

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“Really? I’m glad 8d56dec376 to hear eba91bdd5e that,” Luna 0f1fb5fcfe said, her 464eb8d166 face lighting 055d6bc9f4 up even 5a1a7f1574 more. Aira, however, continued her 65a671502d meal quietly, paying no f4e67d9eef attention to the father 3e4e25740f and daughter’s exchange.0236a8cb6d0c8e67

‘The first priority is 7647381a08 to stop her from b17d422216 accessing the storage room.’59edfa16eba24aba

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Despite being caught taking 9af7e39b4c things from the storeroom e7b7429aaa earlier, Luna’s bad habits 396b9ce3e6 would likely continue. Luna was responsible for 8c06c90bf9 managing the household’s treasures, 36fd96b2df so Aira needed to 7114f1763a take back that authority.771bfe14e467a5f4

‘To do that, I 331a2e87b5 must shake Father’s trust 5d3165b9ef in her.’1eac057631e4fe01

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Aira took 9f779b87d3 a small b405a70792 piece of d1d16ad8d8 steak, but 316c2f1ec4 Luna spoke a6fd1ccde2 again.f46313c9bf0fa1dd

“Actually, I was 1055130cc4 feeling so nauseous 914a9b2ce1 earlier that I 13067e6856 thought I wouldn’t 14812212c3 be able to cfce59e7c8 eat tonight.”085f02b9869a8416

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Count Marceline’s brow 40cb98fa65 twitched. Luna clasped her hands 58eef6f647 together with a relieved 3cf5cfe3f6 expression.bd107bd92c6e786c

“But I’m glad f4f32a5946 I could join 3abbd2f817 you for dinner, 48f586e599 my Lord.”b16423fbe068f424

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The count set his a79e11d2a9 fork down, puzzled.5aa4efae7642c736

“Were you feeling 0e356cf3f3 sick from the a7453b195a carriage ride?”580110882ee04562

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“Yes… It’s been efe7b643a1 a while since 3d440da720 I rode backward,” 165bc7a0aa Luna said with 1b9efa0146 wide eyes and e378a86194 nodded.34c2a2a36885f4a9

Aira barely suppressed 923f597087 a laugh at 2d2c507c77 such an obvious ec8e053c9b play.0962eb558b1c74e0

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“Aira.”8ffc54b3dd0d7503

“Yes, Father?”8c58702dfb520412

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“Didn’t you offer to 8e3a59708a switch seats today?” The 6d009280cb Count asked, sounding a 58e911236c bit reprimanding. Aira nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”eb1130d6838961bd

It seemed that dca819030d Luna had probably 8f217cf7d5 wanted to inform 8f51681344 the Count of 5c25c733e7 the seating arrangement 9ae5e935fb as soon as 5bba938826 she returned. Aira had 7f0d33cc21 a feeling 0d1c2b45ef Luna was 60bab4fd79 trying to 07c58ae4a6 get her 5e46c20412 into trouble 174f56ed76 after a 0a6ccc61c8 frustrating day.92f9c86a439ef521

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“Aira, as af6872d602 the elder 3d45de1aaf sister, you 23f772462f should have 297c877fa7 given up 8633410132 your seat,” 29b55d2da9 the Count 317732280b said, his a43f963056 gaze showing 11a0182d23 mild disapproval.a489d9c7485dac7f

He understood 77c6d0ae13 that Aira, 8cd8b595de as the a4f227294b legitimate daughter, 4bf1fdf861 should have 54564304bb had the d681baa449 seat of 3717858ba7 honor, so 13853f9d92 he didn’t 7d78ab7728 scold her 19972e1b9c harshly.9947ab61c137edb6

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“You know 96321ebe3a Luna isn’t 7b043e20b8 used to c42712c9f9 carriages.”9f7979305d3c1318

Despite her noble blood, 327db0f9fc Luna had lived in b36d1e7685 poverty for ten years, c940c13231 far from aristocratic comforts. This often led the 8a3c4dbeff count to ask Aira 16594c500a to make sacrifices for 552bd1ff46 her.bfc85d36ebf99e0a

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Luna smiled faintly, watching 0632f1af4d Aira closely, expecting her 361f1928e9 to show resentment, hoping 59f0996116 it would cause tension 1200a5afcc between them.defad0757a4c1da5

But Aira had dd3ccc8412 no intention of 48c535fdee falling into her e484d59d2f trap.9aa280c80a85d47a

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“You’re right, Father…”95b95c00752bbf7a

Luna’s expression flickered 6e0e03d55b at Aira’s calm 5992073e0d response.1dbdb273d17292b0

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“But as the 0f78c9e00f future Princess Consort, 2e1eccd25d if I allowed 4933ec5f59 Luna to sit 65a0c4dea3 in the place 11c0a6708c of honor when bdd37924c5 visiting Her Majesty 261e8e7047 the Empress, wouldn’t d86de6a51b the maids of 3652e50c16 the Imperial Palace f5519e3d78 question our family’s d2c7efe6dc order and dignity?”7a78b018ceb7faa7

Aira’s elegant smile 1a1c2fa760 and composed voice 4ef714a4d2 made the Count’s 3b5da230f0 brow furrow slightly. Her words held no 418ce19041 trace of personal grievance, b7ebbe7c27 making the Count feel 5946a656cf embarrassed for suggesting otherwise.f975ad62d186c5f8

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“…You’re right.”50a22d052189d350

“…I see, I didn’t consider that,” the Count admitted, acknowledging his mistake.392f33392cfce324

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“Well done, Aira,” he said, and Luna’s expression turned flustered. She had hoped Aira would get scolded for not giving up her seat, but now the Count had praised Aira instead.b1a39972d8e1b23a

Luna, feeling embarrassed, 9dcfa70537 clenched her fists 1bb47fd963 under the table. The Count then 28df0bde7b turned to Luna c7c822b952 and spoke in 1a8b4758b6 a firm yet aade87adba kind voice.e6c04b27acd04bdb

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“Luna, your 3381ceb7c4 sister is 49d3f377fe now of b64791bed7 royal status. You must understand and d770c067a3 accept this, even if 7c486adca6 it feels unfair.”7f31af2fdaf5d6d7

Luna clenched her fists 93b2d6d319 under the table, trembling.714f3a62ab12b7b7

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“Make sure to uphold efd5bfd6c6 proper etiquette in the 2fbae8cc76 future.”87e217f95a06cdb4

With no 7fef348ec5 room to 9c355df760 argue, Luna 2048ee991b couldn’t say c9f1e4fe88 anything in fef11f5444 response. Aira, on the 56446b0b1a other hand, calmly 57ba9fcc7c resumed her meal, e9ac461ab4 stifling a smile. She could easily c1b998c133 tell that Luna c56e97ead9 was furious inside.6e11c03563a2d2de

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“Good job, Aira,” the Count added, and Aira responded gracefully.f4b957fa93f4f231

Aira recalled b2434d0b2f how, in be72a9d0a4 her past 932d22c026 life, Luna 700f09b8cb had silently 3ce0d52d4a played the eae00fdf54 part of a47037b98f a loyal b0fc11ec3f friend and c17cb53fb8 sister for 7273ed4417 over seven f71a768b65 years. Beneath the surface, she 94d7415e1b had schemed to win 91061d3085 over both Xavier and e6f7f443b5 Julienne.0e71fc7e7184c16f

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Not this time,Aira thought.This time, cc341b9519 Luna will 02bd84f2cd struggle openly, 293ae71688 and she’ll cec40b8287 face the fe28f3970b consequences of 1547cbe986 her schemes.80f56eac835e6411

“The food 0560c210d2 tastes especially 257d82f99b good tonight. I should 5eb3688f3a commend the b4beb887e1 chef,” Aira 3d14ee7718 said lightly, 8dea093f69 her tone 675806ccdf laced with feff0649b0 subtle mockery.b5dd128bab28c2ac

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Luna’s expression hardened even 9967f458b0 further, but the Count, 865766e82d oblivious to the tension, 7b67d13426 simply nodded.b9555ab30019e7d8

Her plan 196e1b3138 was clear: c5e10d0187 to use ff83ea359c Luna as 636ad66db6 bait, a 0a45e54e84 stand-in for 89d29ba0d3 the pain b4649c9108 Aira had d29a28f121 endured in 9a8f04a1fd her previous 16433e2158 life. Luna would become 8560869f15 the family’s disposable 1ee28ae8a1 pawn, with neither 9b19f76bcf love nor favor.142954a9ff03d63b

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“You should eat well when your illness is so severe, Luna,” Aira said, pretending to be innocent.f367c0583be2dcd9

“Indeed. Eat well, all of 6a5bb17f33 you, especially you, Aira. You worked b53482d762 hard today.”304162c75008f9ea

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“Yes, Father. Today is 0029065843 a joyful 456930ec3b day, marking f044c39b67 our family’s 16a9562419 name reaching cc3d2cbb41 the palace,” d97cb32f5e Aira replied a132f5fb51 with quiet a0edcb9866 confidence.d3ea6c59d565a087

The Count f8bea7f7a1 looked at 6dd228202b Aira, impressed a48fbca165 by how 7013ff7f82 composed and 03664d3df9 reliable she 17bb914836 appeared. She had f15023095b always been bc47c9c850 quiet and 54954af8b9 gentle, but 2f3d3e4477 today, she bbc9fcf608 seemed even 2d9efc2b01 more mature e16187232d and thoughtful, 48d75ae3bb having put be4dffe92c aside her 413050023f personal feelings d2c3bee228 to present 7aeb4ff312 a gift 2f06a169a7 to the 6e475f68a2 Empress.ddc3fb5ffb2a8751

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Meanwhile, Luna could only d748cb7f74 clench her fists tighter, 6f6d0a1a59 her plans crumbling before 94393388a1 her eyes.15e787eeb3f4dc9c

‘Come to think of it, perhaps I’ve been neglecting Aira…’2d9f2aadf1434712

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When the Count had 2ef7e4b959 asked Aira to give 61528c6085 up her seat for 1b7926b3bb Luna, she could have 99de6d0073 shown some sign of cb347530e2 disappointment, yet her calm, e803e2ae17 unbothered demeanor pricked at 78716d30bd his conscience. Count Marceline bc0ab838f0 took a 818c771ee9 sip of c201251ae3 water, quietly bbb6a5abdc reflecting.fe8faf9fca1c1316

“Here you are.”34a518341277c709

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After dinner, e3e9875a69 as they 83298fd401 prepared to 9596b1f4d1 return to 84f7b05402 their rooms, bbfdc8adea Aira approached 6618b84193 the Count a258cca066 and asked 5925a8a9cb if she c0841998eb could use ab827d982d his private 90df55526c library. Normally, he would have a5d4d43d0f refused because important family 7057e8e22c documents were only accessible f716e2745f to the head of dfe3cdd6d8 the house, but given 9b753487b1 that he had almost 7ae9bc24d0 scolded her earlier for fa3c8c96c3 something inappropriate, he didn’t 0592f0597c outright refuse her request. Instead, he said he c7461f24a3 would allow her to 8ac1f5f166 access the books if 25b1d699fe she had any specific 0cd27bda7f ones in mind.710c51b8f9e28d61

Aira asked for 6a00669482 books on holy 786b9f362d relics, which made 224169d30c the Count curious. When he asked 3e88220c0d why she was c730cee66b suddenly interested in 5de04b47a5 them, Aira explained 4333a70860 that it might 25b4e94c81 help her bond 8980548ea4 more with Xavier, f75acca6c9 who seemed to db776bcf1b have an interest 714bb5973c in sacred artifacts.72b7caabfffb6082

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“Thank you, Father. I’ll read it 23e561c11f carefully,” Aira said, 5de1c05896 bowing slightly.f817025e8fc62430

The Count willingly retrieved 70b6e75fac the books and handed 4cd81b7b7e them to her. The book 48197e2d7b was an 88fb06d7fb ancient one, 688f0e49c1 written by 7b0598066d the Marceline f90198d9ab family 300 808633502f years ago. It was 60ecb3a040 a rare 949afe3839 text that d3ea26b6d9 couldn’t even dad58fbf8b be found f6b4cbe71f in the fd4f41ff2a Imperial Palace c2a0e6514c library.0ba2c9fb2a4b60cf

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As soon as a0b14d9bca she got to deec0c8568 her room, she 43e657be2c planned to open 7dca8086b8 it and start 1b52a25401 reading.4355cbc7b7c342ad

“Aira.”ae61f928221cda9f

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As Aira aa233e38d0 was about 044d8cb87b to leave bd475859db with the 2925ec7ec6 book tucked 39139c1397 under her dfad319f90 arm, Count ec19f6e6a4 Marceline, looking e678ddd581 slightly awkward, efe9547da6 called out 4c102ca53b to her. When Aira 0b3a8dfd31 looked at fbc644595e him with 0dc0f7e6cc a puzzled 6f21bcbefd expression, the f0fb04717b Count said,36eeec39c25732e8

“…If you c23977f884 need anything 29481c6fd1 else, just 5e69bc0e93 let me c94a910b22 know.”6a7cfa5475fd002b

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Aira gave a578161ad2 him a 5f2cebe8fe small smile 8e07c2e0aa and responded, a9aa938eb0 “Yes, Father.”5496333091f50f39