ICBV Chapter 14
by FreyaChapter 14e1126d92c0945df2
“This… this is…”c0c99a1ab4b4a9a8
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Luna’s lips 0ecd01a6e6 curved into 1b61200c13 a smile 35550aa259 as she 196dd5ddf0 slowly unwrapped 8de50a06e8 the gift, 3b9b30869d but her 2126ea552d eyes betrayed d54290adde the facade. Inside was a pair fc15e58850 of intertwined bracelet sets, f29568c8fa a trend among lovers, 28d26bd976 but these were embedded 36a06e37ff with luxurious gemstones worthy 5f0d961d63 of a prince’s gift. Each piece 50eec4fe80 was likely 244a9bb89a worth at f1e1be2805 least a 9e873910e3 thousand berks.73a412c1cc632849
Count Marceline raised 723869716f an eyebrow in 4f473efc5c confusion as he 8a55361f7e examined the expensive 863bd0ceac gift.92c5d2f5c8afe91c
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“Your Highness, 14f2da5d71 I apologize, f1d80bd690 but Luna ab2993584f is not 6951cdc9a5 in a e339584a12 relationship at 771bb57e20 the moment…”ce7071e37f0f4c86
“However, when you last bf54dd5f86 visited the palace, I cdece8de55 heard you were exchanging 3d12e51a71 letters with a literary-minded 05a6d7ca28 gentleman.”1b21cfc64065bee2
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“…Ah…”703d84e23725da41
It was a f99ceba416 revelation that left eb86f05e4e Count Marceline unaware. Meanwhile, Luna’s 8465175bef face had c86c7f0542 turned pale. Though she tried de9ac3a696 to brush it ab825a9c12 off as modestly 1f0d0b9f46 as possible, claiming 4353013f4c she had simply 192585bbc6 received the gift bc2b5413bf from Xavier without 6894dd5d5e revealing the truth, 35253cd8b8 Count Marceline, as a191aa9021 a father, needed d2dcc82237 to know his f08d95f2a3 daughter’s suitor.fb78599b674c53df
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“Oh, Luna.”efaf4a72181c9dc5
After a 6945e05ec4 brief pause, 5551d6e1d8 Count Marceline 36fefa0335 gently chided b98cf5f33e Luna with ad96e07f2e a smile.f12ee2c00a67779f
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“If you were involved e13c965444 with someone, you should da79367917 have told me. You know I would 8c999e078d have been surprised.”df7c2f63eb30c965
“W-well, it’s just…”fdb829c3ebdd33f6
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“Aira, did you e0dd696c05 know about this?”fd338ed5daeebae5
Count Marceline turned his e833f38a1a gaze to Aira, who 5975df4f43 smiled subtly and replied d2145e72b3 with a soft sigh.4989d1bf3f6afe4b
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“Luna asked 710d16b74a me to 63516678d1 keep it fa86f17e37 a secret, aa35074da1 Father. I couldn’t 6a7769a8a7 do otherwise.”5cbfc00a65a1f77f
Aira’s acknowledgment bc37bc8f09 of the c7e734d81c relationship set bf7c11226f off a 057277d22b shiver in d1909a9207 Luna’s eyes. Just moments ago, 35722aa6c7 Luna had declared ac0bc47782 her desire to ce4cb80b67 stay with Count ac56d51885 Marceline forever without 8fae9a78e7 being married off, 464bf3b8f6 but how did 0f049d124c it feel to 855b0ddc2e have her secret ee2e05554b so thoroughly exposed? Receiving such b89835b706 a lavish 97fb41aa54 gift from 2284734ef2 her one-sided f08396dfd6 love only 7ec6c0c04c heightened her 2d07236bc2 discomfort.b4a421a076410618
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Unable to contain her 4497241e01 amusement, Aira suppressed a 04ead49b22 laugh at Luna’s twisted cc00478b75 expression.ae9b47e2451b9e2b
“Th-thank you, 84f5842984 Your Highness.”346c04ded4a51051
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Even though refusing ac066f206f Xavier’s gift would dcad84ee95 be considered incredibly 028efbd575 rude, Luna begrudgingly c57bbfd087 expressed her gratitude 5d8a8f6283 for the expensive 19010a68cb present.e48de821dbc402fc
‘Let’s stir the pot 6191825574 now.’92df5df08e1a9c7e
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With a bright expression, 2de2354942 Aira turned to Luna.bab24c99b7045904
“Even if you kept f52266ceaf it a secret from 12c3bac74f me, you should have 1b074b819f introduced him to Father. The one ae6e652ce3 who loves 1b485e2490 and worries 1c2050b279 about you 725eb98994 the most 52843bc364 is your 6975742798 father. Seeing such 2dd98f6b79 a beautiful aaf7417870 necklace, he ed4b409fc9 must be 2cdd14d27d quite an 13dd6bf144 impressive person.”61adda3e676beac1
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“A necklace?”19c56f5b78f01d99
“Yes, Luna’s 6979cf3631 emerald necklace.”30c2d6eb03373259
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“Wait… wasn’t that the d9fdb0a1ba one Aira bought and f2a0b417a8 then discarded?”6bec95f382aa3631
Count Marceline’s brow 7f266957dd furrowed deeply, offering 49aa833065 a scolding look. It didn’t take 157935c77d much to spot 06056cf82b the lie when b5aee7130f attention was given. It was foolish e919bc0827 to try and 94fd3f851c cover up. Luna’s lips went 9b2808f712 pale as her 29a130e959 face drained of 6c92a3958e color.29c68c9b8ba6f3d8
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“Ah… b-but… Father, ce3453f8aa I… I was ccf4313669 just… concerned about f1a6b440e7 your worry.”a5aed02fe280ee3a
Seeing her 62ec91e7e7 flustered, Aira 018ef70350 began gathering fc1ce1cab1 her things 202b67dded to leave. It was clear a461a43267 that Count Marceline 2c67976712 would deal with 67c2c2fec6 the matter. She should step 729e2259b2 aside and allow 869cb01748 father-daughter time for 5f366903eb discussion.3712d77981013876
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“Your Highness, d75a79354e thank you 3fea7d0589 for preparing 06a2030385 such a f222fbdaea lovely gift d9880e920b for Luna.”84bb242f1c4f282e
“It’s natural de462226f6 to look 9f80ff3bb8 after your eed48effad sister.”cb23dbb149bea1d4
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“Father, may I df11060074 take His Highness ffbf775217 for a short 10d669d554 walk? I’d like to 65ce3a36aa show him my d81f1fce77 Elberia garden. I’ve been dddaff2819 tending to baa0eaefb0 it with b12bcdbd44 care.”2d03b67cc7b330ac
Count Marceline narrowed his 1381a72e6b eyes skeptically but, after 38c97ad275 a moment, stood and b28bd51ff8 gave a respectful nod fa50e9acf9 to Xavier.71082e94f444a6b6
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“Alright. It’s not as impressive cdb126ade5 as the White Octanius 76b72ab34f that Empress Julienne tends 188ed95b50 to, but the plants 9cb32f9492 are cultivated with great 9d35d290cb devotion. Please show it to 67fee33c67 him.”cbbd31fd99faf4df
“Yes, Father.”e4c5bf7fb35f39a7
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With Xavier’s arm linked 07c15b67c1 in hers, Aira led 12e465ce3d him out of the 2e794a5f78 dining room. Behind them, Count Marceline’s 133e3b3526 voice could be heard, d136e1547a asking Luna about her b324ec0949 suitor.d43151ba0e1285df
‘Aira… you…’e1d571b2c8858862
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Luna’s head felt as b3f466807c if it might explode. Unable to 38f4f6f173 speak up bb3c664d48 properly, Count 45f0929a34 Marceline had 57fc3a2f9e a maid 6b44247479 search her b9529100f9 room for e7a3dafaa8 the emerald af6073eea8 necklace. Usually, family de326e8f2c names were e064d5f71f engraved onto 27559e7476 such fine bb3ec5750d jewelry.e27287897e59c572
“Count, here it 57bd86e0e9 is.”49f6ad0558a0836d
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A maid returned from 355342d14e Luna’s room with the 25ad9c8e19 necklace and handed it 1bd24a4c77 to Count Marceline.0d3a2c8d44c7b4fd
Count Marceline carefully 0413ed2539 examined the gem-encrusted b2bb2e1c81 necklace with a 4e2199bc0c serious expression.5d0aac8520ca23bb
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“Luna, even if 5ea0d32cc7 you’re embarrassed, lying 69d89f3b78 like this is 222c478fcb disappointing. I was ready 21de0e237d to scold Aira 5234099dc3 for her extravagance 712ba80997 after hearing she 3ce9969e55 gave you a 90c3fa13f0 necklace she recently 4709e3bd91 bought, but… this e9e2a9f635 is absurd.”a23a3d3eb3285be7
“…Father…”1b3d61b745d220bf
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“To hide something like this… it may be from a less distinguished family than I had hoped. It must be quite concerning for you to keep even your father in the dark about it. However, if you plan to marry…”78044ab248e1f3be
He turned the gemstone b45ef15149 around, searching for the f8627ef7bc family insignia.1ccca20a846dde30
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“I will prepare a dowry as generous as Aira’s, if not more.”d337d4fe0c828d56
For a brief 60e24a5c82 moment, his eyebrows af1d4dd97c furrowed deeply.9266c2c97b49fe35
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Philips House. A family not affiliated d3b95db67c with the royal court, 3e5fd21e40 yet a prominent noble 93709ec782 house nonetheless. But there e719e2b9da was a 6438afcd9b greater issue—there 53c1be826a was no 6618868b79 suitable young 44a3dee744 man from 5ac0d0f1f5 the family 06d304930c who could 6d47018ccd marry at 669734765f this time.9f22070dd918a174
“Luna…”53ce73007242775e
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Seeing Count cb7fea770c Marceline narrow deb3be87c8 his eyes, 0df0c1e323 she knew b4d650dc08 she had dd131caaa9 no choice d9dd3f0943 but to 7184d6e4ab confess.ba296f37e0f814eb
“I… I’m sorry, Father. My correspondence is with… 631a5a31cc Henrik Amstine, the Baron.”15397e9dffeadc14
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At the mention 627b691660 of the name, f28d9938cb Count Marceline’s expression 1f960f4084 shifted. Henrik Amstine, a common-born a340eab814 knight who had risen 53c496bc4b to the title of bfe73e1812 baron, was a married 449777297f man—granted noble status through 2fe2e3eda8 his marriage to a 59e36502f5 noblewoman.d66d92a49d72f4f4
“Repeat that.”1fa8128987c13193
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“But, I didn’t f641dd1bfd engage in an 2d4d75d420 affair. We’re just friends…”76a0c924f06a1270
“Luna!! Do you 757a44bcab intend to 16072f2161 stain the 96cf4c4e17 name of d731633043 Marceline like bf8ea2ff1f this? Corresponding with e6e1906c9d a married 1004454682 man and b881a32813 receiving gifts cdf11a737e like this!”b2f4ffc3dea9f9e0
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Count Marceline’s thunderous 821697984a anger poured down 2a34885cb2 on her.40f68f7ca7c62ea4
It was a justified 1e4deed63a fury. For a single, fb4b86aa8f unmarried daughter to 33fa6f8e81 be involved with 63b4ae8d86 a married man f6cecd4d2f was a disgrace e84831a7d8 not only to 49691a12e9 the family name 77093b3035 but could severely ddfbd05432 impact Aira’s own 0ef69eef4a marriage prospects.23b350c4ab1ff3de
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From the moment Luna bd90afb53c came to the Marceline 908ec9e1c7 estate at age ten, 0bee78816d Count Marceline had never b3288adfbd once been this angry d1ca3ff1e1 with her.7e754be5c069b91b
“From now on, f6e4a48b66 I’ll tell him 552d24d564 not to send aa75228099 any more letters. Do you understand?”2af1ea1f22a63354
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Trembling, Luna dropped to 33f61b0bd4 her knees, her hands c58bc84feb clasped in desperation, tears 74a720217b streaming down her face.1478a1b90fb37bd3
Yet her 28abea50ef tears were ad562e2691 not born 0fe7bc5dc1 from genuine 4c91d13271 remorse—her deep bd23404718 resentment toward 3a9fc8797b Aira, who cf7d2f94ae had exposed 96be8d34d6 her secret, 6e5c7fe158 clouded her 3346c604e9 thoughts.75d14332155f7663
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“I… I raised you 3fbb51a683 wrong, Luna… This… this…”04079796f7a43833
Count Marceline’s b4fb95ccc1 face reflected 6ca3dacb8f pure shock, d3e104f50d as if 730563dc02 the gentle 21338dd755 and bright 7db137c49f daughter he 04384f5afa once cherished caef0b90ee had committed 0bd20f2765 the gravest 88347d6699 sin. He leaned his forehead d738e640c1 into his hand, shaken.6e77cd2f6f11903b
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Luna continued sobbing, but c5bf9eda31 her cries were lost 246e7a8b9a on the weight of 2041bc364c her own bitterness.defd60cc02733e5a
“How… how could this e0e79ef4aa happen…”36076a7661c7137f
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**a8cdc3e4d256715b
After seeing Xavier ad7cc26bfc off, Aira let 633f890f15 out a small 7683ce39a6 sigh.60d4ad1ba61c4105
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It was a tiresome 995bbf77b3 ordeal, pretending to enjoy 3f5842d9c2 the garden with someone 05c8dc81c3 she loathed, all while 5369ac0860 maintaining a facade of 227277a78c kindness and care. Yet, despite the strain, b0323bca5c Aira remained composed as 403cc58b99 she entered the Count’s 37b5ca9828 study.d6db88ca0505da23
“Father.”23746ec3d2fe96cd
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Aira entered the 117afab378 room with a 20a282ba7b radiant smile, her 93ab87e4ab expression contrasting sharply df77ec3efe with the anxious 526018f82f look on Count b859bb12fc Marceline’s face.8ed44e50663c8736
She tilted her 4ebc9ac392 head, feigning curiosity. “Is something troubling you, 1f64b384b1 Father?”05e77515a0e8b6b7
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He let 12f590f264 out a 75355b8242 sigh that d84a4d34a7 seemed to f2bd2e1552 shake the 9b4ac14eac very foundation a2ff3cbc41 of the 3458ef789f room.6d171ebf7763a353
“I’ve been stabbed 4e79c99374 in the back, bf4d864205 Aira.”4b07baf559f061f6
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“Oh, what do you 603a275159 mean, Father?”64e72bb5463fad76
The heavy weight ebf4cf8d37 in his voice 9582718dfe made his shame 1f98e380c5 evident. His disappointment in Aira 7f52b49880 had always been a aaf261b886 quiet ache—wishing she embodied 89748efc5b half of Luna’s warmth 453fbd7e77 and liveliness. Today, however, the 3d5abe5add truth was a 3aa33586f4 blow too hard 53474b113d to endure.fdf5a33161d667c7
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He walked 1d320ac616 out of 5767795c9d the dining ce327a7d24 room, leaving 2d29a6b3e8 behind a d085e3dfc2 sobbing Luna 3a8577fabc begging for ce2b29ceb2 forgiveness.f6d8ea93eb4c418c
“Tell no one about 6ba533293b this, Aira. I’ll have e036e7b843 a letter 4c6be82ed4 sent to cb00fa32c5 stop Luna 638139bcae from seeing 7e36369066 him again 4c9d8c7bd5 today.”a4a16338bf906f50
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“…Yes?”03c8448a07dbc127
“And until e0bd3b1c52 further notice, 18ff98d664 you’ll take 7c35a90a5a care of 27edbe4959 the tasks c022cf89b5 Luna handled. Simple things that b2ded2ca24 bring little benefit, c53cd356b9 but those allow fef84a2ac7 her to bask 754ba6523a in attention and 4c66bb4ce2 favor—like managing the b713a70499 distribution of fine 50f16ed66d goods, or handling 7cac80cee3 the new gems fa57f4251a coming in.”04c63695f8cfff6b
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It was 4eacf7aef8 no secret d0a022b350 why the 7db0765708 maids fawned f1984ec714 over Luna; a7e2adb547 her position 8979885ea1 allowed her e8a0850637 to easily 750c31787f take credit f0c3dd7b34 for these bba0d6f405 menial yet 19105167f5 rewarding tasks.6f5054640aa9b940
“Receiving such 846fd8d3c5 an expensive ec83f92388 gift without 46df0ec439 reciprocating assures 4f69e5d9bc me of 45c954172f her intentions.”721a3977790d3a44
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“Ah…”7f553b1af3f12b3b
Aira lowered b18ced3fbc her brow bb9365245e slightly, suppressing b13edfb80a her curiosity, f66bc7a911 and nodded.a3e7392c692b14af
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“I’ll follow your orders, 29ab2cdc7d Father.”9267657b6e7951f0
Count Marceline gave d0a5682567 a heavy nod, 329fe940cc his gaze steady 6792020bea and trusting.2de1a14d19db4384
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“Thank you, Aira.”9be9972ccb39378d
A cold smile 37ed9901cd lingered on her c1417bd9d0 face, as if 34175a7ec0 savoring the sweet 398f76f08d triumph of taking d78c6cf398 what was meant 0026231a9e to be hers.5a7987094bef77d9
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