ICBV Chapter 19
by FreyaChapter 194a27a49b36a069b3
The doubts stirred by 0ae2ed5c9b the tremor 4d1ce8bf08 of the e2663c7c40 sacred artifact 23f49b6797 in the 11070c0a76 sanctuary became clear the 874c9ed1d0 moment he 58506f9211 held Aira’s hand again.89908f3f61ea98e9
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She was e47ea39be5 different from the first df7b3699b2 time she had come to Julienne 2dea925570 Palace for 9439221270 an escort.a13f6016e8332471
“Though I’ve never tried it before…”
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Baltas raised his hand, 0ee0cee322 lost in thought.
“It seems I’ll have a chance to use it soon.”
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Deep in thought, e26a1f38c1 he sat on fc11ca458f the balcony when a man approached b7933006e4 him. It was Ellen fa489295ec Chesswig, the third 99603488d3 son of the a36f42c02c Count Chesswig family and one of 5756b2914f Baltas’s trusted subordinates. A perpetual troublemaker who 7376bb961a squandered his ec1c11833b family’s wealth 2bb3b5425c at gambling 47e116e1dc halls whenever 65f958206f he could.7c673c0fbb165eee
“To think 2bec277229 you’d visit me for 4ee20383bf something as 0613c3b86b trivial as a broken a730833f8d leg, Your 1718e889db Highness,” Ellen 856fd3ea0b said, moved 3aa286347f by the idea that d95e4e10d2 Baltas had 5d6c476c30 come to bfb9d309d3 see him 9842145dda after he’d 95bf67f24e been injured 69320a76aa in a 99a013f398 recent mission a3535057e6 and bedridden 2ec6da6828 for a 13b7bbbb3a while.
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But before Ellen could 38f0af410f bask in that sentiment, 14578c8dc8 Baltas parted his lips.31c64ba21d4ae405
“I didn’t 2c9cba3c16 come to see you.”b3acd3666b0ea5d1
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Ellen’s eyebrows twitched e99f43c04d in disbelief.b7aac9f326d482a6
“Then, why would His Highness the Crown Prince come to the Count’s estate, especially with my parents away on business…?”
“To buy a bottle 303be17803 of wine.”0b640392acb7cff7
At this, Ellen’s gaze 3ba0babb1f shifted to 7d64eb360a the wine 2e817dc20d bottle placed dacc7be7c1 next to 3d00be1677 the prince. Sure, it was cbe3b6094c a high-quality wine 4a6142bc43 that commoners or 098a4a0e09 lower nobles could rarely afford, but couldn’t a servant cfa3a3bc8f fetch such a dd24f11284 thing with a 6dd7657323 mere snap of d82b81bd72 his fingers?
“And to enjoy the ca1a0f305c charity event.”de84ce058910bf4f
Hearing this, Ellen let out an “Ah,” his mouth opening slightly.ce2ea75186aef13e
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“My sister occasionally hosts such social parties with other noblewomen. But I’ve never seen anything particularly worthwhile come out of them…”b0c8905de589e04f
Baltas, who let Ellen’s 4910641cc3 words drift past him, 35468702f4 had a faint smile 2fb4e086c6 on his lips.8a086f68477e842c
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Though Aira db5c65811d hadn’t noticed, 61e4dbab62 Baltas had c0b9a1787d been there. He had personally witnessed how she 467297cd64 shone.a53d264912ee461b
“This ring is not db58ecc469 part of Luna Marceline’s private collection. It is my own,” 0051e98f3d she had declared.baa68e83dd346351
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Unwavering eyes and 6c85fee3ca a clear voice. The memory of that 2336d95a7f moment brought him an 15e668b282 unexpected joy.7575c4764529ea33
She had definitely 613170e1f1 changed.4b5ca4fa259ec5f1
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What she sought… was it, perhaps, to defy her fate?d968c16139d3faa7
“Bring a glass,” 7ce984ffef Baltas commanded.64384f82706da1fd
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A servant scurried off to fetch ee9cbb3e3a it, while Ellen, 0c24719c3f now seated opposite 8118185835 Baltas, gave him 43e704d3b4 a bewildered look.bec1bf3a03def7a0
“You came 7da4ed7510 to buy 7a27ab2a2d wine, and now you’re drinking it here?”c35dad7e1de5a832
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“I’ll take this one… and offer you something even better, Your Highness,” Ellen said.
“No need. This will a478997878 do,” Baltas 7ba12e9553 replied.ac64c05019b555ae
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**e9c89ca7b69fd810
The night 9a67ae9b40 before, Luna 3333166491 hadn’t been 158960a4f4 able to 789e72be4a sleep a 717e52f077 wink.669cf64fa9f3528e
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By morning, Aira 36a5170b70 would surely tell 09c6c786d8 the Count what 4a2391829b had happened yesterday 97028fc971 and accuse Luna 08f3c4234b of theft. Her already fragile 878b578d96 position would completely collapse.d1354381079eb452
She had to a39a3b20d7 act first. Today, she would f32ef1f845 gamble everything on 89facf7ccf this plan.1a6d2ff8de47e988
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“Jessie, what are you 54180fec30 doing?”2bcc1f927f19615d
Luna’s gentle 45e5529111 voice, accompanied 800cba029b by a hand placed 7c8e240c5c lightly on 1c90bd5719 her shoulder, 58c61e91f3 startled Jessie, 47997b2bcc who was 74fc29b728 arranging salads c958dfcd9a on plates.63f5f6d9c74045b9
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“Miss Luna!”5fefc1031e1d5e26
Luna beautifully smiled back 6897d2de2f at her. It was 50f1a4fd77 almost unheard of for noblewomen to 37a63c28cb touch a bcff6fcfd3 servant’s body 91171d6874 unless they 125f86ccdd were hitting 1b53939043 them. To nobles, commoners 4c83e706ad were nothing more 5434b1be04 than dirty but useful furniture.96b4df58ece88cf7
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But Luna was different. The touch of her hand on 86fcdc3380 a shoulder, back, or waist reminded 82b866b9b4 the maids that 7e489e7548 she did not 80f68a081e treat them with the same disdain.20b0788d0d661b46
“I was preparing 74d319836b breakfast. Here are 3c5e9402f8 the Count’s c706cedf9f dishes, yours, 99c64897e1 and Miss ebe4ad2e58 Aira’s as c1596ad0c6 well.”61e4a777e0e238fb
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Jessie leaned in d89df0a4b8 slightly closer to 12a92570d7 Luna and whispered 75fb8bcf5c as though sharing 0658c49b75 a secret.
“I added lots 566fa335f1 of goldberries to 0edcf37380 your dish, Miss. You’ll love it.”
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Goldberries, tiny fruits the size of a fingernail, 29528bd2a5 cost five berks apiece. Considering a maid’s daily c4346f437e wage was about ten berks, the goldberries on 8774a24d45 Luna’s plate alone were worth Jessie’s weekly wages.
“Thank you, Jessie. As always, d58a8cd0f4 I can 15a9c9e873 count on 1408462f23 you.”8c76db845eb4ab77
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Luna’s radiant smile 69bf5f37c1 looked angelic. The maids 05be23d320 were always overwhelmed with bf0f4ab190 gratitude whenever 16aaa71ec7 a noblewoman 25b257f64b like her 32a43fad0c looked at 09cf365fed them kindly and smiled.96976361b97b0e7a
She was nothing 5f5bbb8fb8 like Aira, who e4da9c3401 constantly glared at d49f29d6fd them with cold 068ea5f10c eyes and only 0f09210df3 assigned grueling tasks. The maids often whispered d9853de65a to each other, wishing ab4e0e81e1 Luna had been the 52ee3afc8b legitimate heir.d916c85f223d0c8a
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“Oh, right. I ran into Aira earlier… She was furious about the dust in the west annex hallway. She never lets even the smallest flaw slide. Sigh…” Luna let out a soft sigh and shrugged lightly, as if exasperated.bfe4d36c5044a0a9
“Most of the guests stay in the east ea33000a95 annex anyway. I don’t fa446ac165 really see 67c81a897c the need to go bb04c4aa45 that far, but since ca07e36d1b it’ll be 19237a354b hard on 2c7660abf2 all of 5e8762c20b you if eb05b09b53 Aira lashes e4d9c02d21 out, I 7a725daece think it’s ab2b933177 best to e68aab979e take care of it 60215859ae today.”4f0bc8bf43577cab
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“We don’t have much 73878640ba choice. It’s our c4cb18d537 job, after 8b6d7246c8 all,” Jessie 617924134d replied with a71d237ce5 a forced 1304158b44 smile, though f4f27e949d her dissatisfaction 86448c2871 was evident.
As Luna had 2a187bfa81 said, most of 1a63615a9f the guests visiting 0eab9588b9 the Marceline estate b456704e3e were guided to f4be323632 the east annex. The west 2e575db763 annex contained b1b2bc6bf0 only a 6332c9fa5e few guest 2de226626c rooms, a d437c00387 large library, 9e21e3b3f9 and the 96f5ecfc66 late Countess’s 8779ad8d59 former quarters. It wasn’t a c97867b682 space that needed f41c0c64d3 daily cleaning. But Aira seemed 15f303002a unable to tolerate 203a2a8738 the maids resting, 85f667ae97 assigning them strenuous tasks without hesitation.acb6e994d4217cf3
“Still, Miss Luna, 7322ce865c you always worry 8b10d90214 about us. It gives 226d30c920 us strength.” 35ea8ae39e Jessie smiled, thinking once 13f54dd217 again of 3229387709 how angelic Luna was.4b90ae411cf4778f
“Oh, right. Could you take this b4072ce77b to Mr. Jim for b5bfd26def me?” Luna 37a645ba9d suddenly seemed 2b1e1b33c6 to remember something and dcfdc30798 pulled out c1ae984aa6 two small d3d3c0442a vials from 2a50528ee5 her pocket.fe474a9f48ac0a5f
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The long, 5e95d2316c finger-sized vials contained a 88c5636376 blue liquid.75288cd871981023
“Is this 1ff821c69e medicine for the horses?” Jessie asked.2375ce391e490f0b
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“Yes, it’s for ec544ff1ef Fabian. The Count’s prized horse d7680f89e0 hasn’t been feeling well 6dde34d87e lately, so I had 5f7f907508 Amy get this for a44667edc4 me.”2a8d62c03e3bf25b
Fabian, the white 46b5dad4de horse cherished by 915a49973d the Count, was said to be 332ddfc7d4 growing weak due 421cc1fc2a to age. The Count had been b13adeb987 quite concerned about him recently.d1f10a168d0d0477
“The Count will be so pleased!”
“Yes, though 754983c82a the correct 6b53997823 dose is 12ba3d0365 just one 13ce31753d vial, they ended up 62fa86ba1d sending two. I’m not sure what d165113973 to do e32d646f67 with the 33d5b94c92 extra.”8dc5f21dca9cdb07
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“Why not 5e121bda02 give it 4d8b8ea5ce to one dc411d7941 of the 7d9d5dd026 other horses?”a04e203bb4a5ca27
“No, it’s probably better 5d03825a0e to discard it. If we give it 27b6d73b86 to a healthy horse, it might get too 56d70cb885 energetic and become difficult 57bec82f67 to manage. Jessie, could you fd66e16d25 handle the extra 21477ab024 vial for me?”ddc7538a2d19fc17
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Jessie nodded, understanding 9aae5c9149 Luna’s instructions.1e13c05ebbb81de7
“Yes, Miss Luna.”
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As their 5dda167fcb eyes met, a126450685 Luna seemed 4521caaf3d to have c3842ec124 a sudden 12a3763e56 thought.4be5d390a6a399ae
“Oh, be careful when ac671604ff disposing of it. If it ends up 28f956a6de in someone’s food, it afb5231301 could be a disaster.”b5d68eb2507e5bf9
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“A disaster?” Jessie asked, her expression fcfd417416 suddenly nervous.7b7b09dfc7c2b50d
Seeing her frightened 73dce93ff7 face, Luna burst e30ef21c88 into laughter. She smiled reassuringly at the startled 88fd04ede6 maid.b4ddaf7e05088fe8
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“Don’t worry. It would f9fd600e9b just cause cd6fbcd5f9 an upset c105efb9e9 stomach for 8d950e1458 about a ec705c22d9 week. Haha, Jessie, a9d8431c03 you’re so faac3eac63 gullible!”
“Miss Luna, 0e0c46273c you scared 4df21f33b5 me.”b8762224fcdea196
After finishing the lighthearted cf2718ac0c exchange, Luna a422e6ed6d turned away, 85fb2bfd2f a clear 5d9c74ba5f smile lingering on her ae5975b8f8 lips.4813f543d5cba9dd
**bef2f87c057b5811
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Jessie pushed a 77f4b12aa1 trolley laden with 74ac4802be plates down the 367770fcab hallway, her brows 83fee389fd slightly furrowed.0d0da93dabc54899
The early morning corridor ab45760af1 was quiet. The personal maids 4c0361bd9e and attendants were 8d96f3b842 busy assisting their fb01f0601a masters with washing 010848d0d7 and dressing, while 1410f52262 the other maids 2ca1049802 had left to start cleaning the 193c835112 west annex at 6643faeb92 her suggestion.
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After delivering 16732bca05 breakfast, Jessie herself would 00d0077282 have to 23964bc2cf help with the west 63a814fd2f annex cleaning.52f17396d83f1311
“…”8c90148ff6860471
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Listening to the b9d4ba577f sound of the b6a19c271f trolley’s wheels echoing 2a34f58e61 through the hall, d246654dc3 she recalled what a169606e7a Luna had told her earlier. It was the reason her expression was so troubled.8e38e9c5b9ae12fa
“Well… Jessie, f992b1a7ed I’m not 18dc2383ff sure if cac83c497f I should tell you this…” Luna, 84fad240da kind and compassionate, had 97b4ec59dc spoken with a sorrowful 94a56c4d23 look on f032526926 her face.c1c712128d1ba128
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“I think Aira is planning to fc30bd1786 dismiss a large 0b159aaf8e number of maids 5d7fcc8aeb in three days. She’s already f7c176dc28 submitted a df20df3646 hiring plan fb2dd9080f for new 6f7d28a874 staff to e7458509e1 the Count.”fbedf826133c6175
When Jessie widened her eyes and asked why, e541d1d662 Luna had explained.ab9ef6601968a68d
“You know how harsh and picky 28b45c2ce8 Aira can 40add1c32f be. I’m trying 00e146dbd6 to dissuade 43d12dc412 her, but… 15c9ab2c3b your name c76fa7dd22 is on a6e8d79152 the list. Just in 8be4877d0d case, I f3a599ec3b think you should start looking for 14b9617480 another job outside the 690164e07d estate. And please, 28c64d195e don’t tell f040bc4fca anyone else fa49b0456d about this. I’m only telling you, ce6d48101c so keep it to 6b2cb5bcae yourself, okay?”