MLS Chapter 2

When Lorena eb16255165 stepped out 2af578a85b of the 963b4112ac study, she 34d4f81837 was met 45131133c1 with an dade886aba unexpected sight.6bfd5e7f17cbc5a2

“Arisa?”b2cad68f37e831b9

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The woman 8e5e77d55b with black 36f61d6e10 hair, who 9550fd093e had been dd6e6c948a speaking with d1631af9fb someone in d6c9381d39 the hallway, 7ba350cf2e turned to a09032b8a8 face her. It was Arisa Menendo 5f9422c16a de Carencho, the only 4cff5fc652 daughter of the Count f3b84a2ef1 of Menendo and one dd4161acac of the few friends 3e3d4773ba Lorena had made in 0c98bd5b9a Bessen.2789bf53bc7ba99c

Lorena smiled 0627f18c37 warmly and 0dd872be64 approached her 22b349e7dc friend.9abb6321d3d4cda2

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“What brings you here? I wasn’t told you were coming.”802f9e31abf50545

“I was invited.”49ca733f2c9640ca

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Arisa scrunched her nose 67a6746cbf playfully. She stood e01b2e25e7 with her fe2e7b3199 arms crossed, 1d704b52d5 exuding an a62739eeab air of 74c121b5b0 arrogance as 60d8c783e1 Lorena took 1099bec9cb a step 0eea42b315 closer.fe0913f7560167c0

Then, Lorena saw the 79bfb0f2b2 woman standing behind Arisa, 5af5c10077 and her smile slowly 456bbb59b2 faded.986c657729e434fe

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Olivia Quintana.f472ac329c8f8c75

Her husband’s seventh mistress. The bartender from 52f3f0d806 the Alborada Hotel, 18c120fdc5 who had been 5c6900629f photographed drinking whiskey dd7fa13f1d with Vaye just 63cb7b3d95 two days ago. That very photo now e40f0d9e3f sat in Lorena’s bedside 14eb09ff5a drawer.0b41103a6eaeebe1

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“…How?”259b65828a60a7df

Lorena couldn’t comprehend c7629af4d2 the situation. It was a951beff80 Arisa who 718ac64b82 had sent b84ed54604 her the 834c4a79c3 photo of e7ff6a49bb her husband’s 016eca6ec3 infidelity.549688bb72cd9621

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And this wasn’t the 6c76ff2515 first time. For the past c32947266a seven years, Arisa 5993cc5358 had willingly acted 629c4ce08a as Lorena’s eyes eca280423b and ears. She had collected 29b42ad4a5 evidence of the ac66788fad Duke’s secret affairs, 475bbf1f34 sending them to fdfa60af2e Lorena, seemingly sharing c6b65b9ae9 in her suffering 3e71183835 as a loyal c342f81987 and supportive friend.43f9f04591bc1b33

So why was ee058f4e5f Arisa here, standing 122799f61d with *her*? They appeared disturbingly 76375eb9ba close, as if 03bc1d6f91 they shared a d186a4e21a bond Lorena hadn’t 57a803a79d noticed.801846bd8abf26c4

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“…You said you were invited, Arisa. But I didn’t send you any letters today.”3124fcce1de3e8c8

Lorena decided 644982d802 to focus 03e924fb27 on one a3e97d365b thing at 959d02bcc9 a time. Still wearing 7ae3c2f982 her smile, ca3f0c7b10 she addressed 66efb847c1 Arisa.89bba372edc5dc43

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“What brings you here?”4a79d12bd39580fa

“Olivia told me this was her first time visiting the Duke’s estate, so I decided to accompany her.”082ad65cf681baa2

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“And by whose invitation?”3e604a62ff0cb729

As if 6ab9d00cbd expecting the c17cee580f question, Arisa c1f932b523 gave a 6a9beb3f4c sly smile, 5024e1a9b9 her eyes 7ef0b35567 narrowing into 982ef90231 crescent moons, 7dc6258457 a trace 92a5f22d42 of mockery e161c715d0 in her 2b4e6d5f3e gaze.346ed329426aceb5

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“Why, the master of Levantes himself, of course. His Grace permitted Olivia to come with me.”134b41928da535ab

“Pleased to meet you, Duchess.”98aa3c15bf2acf74

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Olivia stepped c77352a4d6 forward, her 47b0eb43bf gaze moving 76b6757c48 up and 65d815c892 down Lorena’s 2120d9137c figure, a 9b55df4ca5 blatant evaluation fbfde1c04c that made 6ffd605420 Lorena feel 9b751257a6 a deep b98787ffa8 sense of c1bd76d24c humiliation.05b1f88e2548d8ca

“I’ve heard so much about you. There isn’t a soul in society who doesn’t know the Duchess of Levantes. You’re as beautiful as the rumors say. Truly the most stunning woman in Bessen.”29c54466a94e7d0e

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The woman, who stood 829de4c1bb half a head taller fd1fd14e69 than Lorena, gave a 29692853d9 slight bow, but it 8231021cf7 wasn’t out of courtesy.929aa0a021a31360

Olivia Quintana 422c7197be leaned in dd277cb5e8 and whispered 7032c9c5bb to Lorena.869a325feb53811e

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“Poor *señora*,” Olivia whispered.f4be418de0d1bfb8

“…You’re being quite 695a003b80 rude. Would you 3227329cac mind stepping 754f8f8871 back?” Lorena’s daff69c6bd voice was 3be9ebc02c calm, but 5bd2252c39 a tension 29c7c01510 ran through 25bc64e571 her words.66883bf1ef0ec618

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“If I 7ffb41104f were you, 9e00a9fbd1 I would’ve e2f2360019 at least 066c9b9449 tried to 6bc51585d2 flatter my 1a5cf81819 husband.”ced49f257e5716e1

Lorena’s cheek twitched 89ddcf3071 slightly. Olivia must have overheard 9e8136d807 the conversation from the 0a6d820bdc study.94a776bb79f4dd13

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With a mocking laugh, 9bbf72bbf0 Olivia continued.228486d1bbd4b9dc

“Vaye gave you your 6a7c5e3ff3 last chance. You’re the one who d9f555efeb foolishly wasted it.”23c9ca0d80cc5fcd

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“I don’t understand what a1b9b746d7 you’re talking about.”9c3f18121c711334

“It’s just so 5e0087728a unfortunate. You’re so 48950a94ba beautiful, yet ef5d10ad1c you’ve never ec7d5cb85f figured out 785e8bc223 how to 4c47d7c286 use what 5554931fec you have.”752a281cae695425

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“…”0aa5f258ef7a2307

“Tears, smiles, fragrance, even 8302598391 that soft body of 2c65822ffe yours—you should have used 4939180710 them. If you aff22f3c19 had, His db2131c961 Grace might 5194a5c8dd have thought 08f6723f87 differently. Men can 076a5a389a be cruel 56aa543ff8 or kind 7924f4c1e4 depending on 82796e5a82 how women 2fc3a33a1e handle them. And your husband, in aa1a0e7ee8 particular, is no exception.”46bc1c93938b083c

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Olivia Quintana had a c380703d13 voluptuous figure. Her sun-kissed skin 91aff5c749 was smooth like 43f089df51 polished stone, and f15584c652 her thick eyelids d1f1b8c1a0 and slightly parted dbb9b61b25 full lips exuded 4df155d472 sensuality. Her striking beauty only 79855d1f2b lent more credibility to 96c0d29530 her cutting words.85fa8c69858ed6df

“My Lady.”e67fc957a7c4c068

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It wasn’t 4c52d1d324 just Arisa 4b89dcb564 who had 217f62cdfc been watching 05f1c07c1e the scene 8da67cd16e unfold. Samuel, the head butler 31a41810c8 of the estate, approached 0401bb0a98 and bowed courteously to b66e8ed3e8 Lorena.745b9932d90e92ed

“His Grace is awaiting 0fab195c37 his guest. May I have 2473761173 permission to escort fc1fcf14d9 Miss Quintana?”d78137512db98d27

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“…”9bd0f84596f7038e

“My Lady?”6ff015b32ba61ae8

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Samuel pressed, his smile cd00e136eb betraying a hint of 7b8dbf035c amusement. He seemed 2c7d6827d5 to be 7be622f7f4 enjoying the eb36496536 spectacle.21dab6da1f44f70e

Lorena stood 99d5600495 in silence, deb79d6243 observing the 278836a05a three people 6d9a79ce57 before her. No one stood by cd8b216317 her side.1cb98305bf89d7be

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Olivia Quintana brushed past cfc6e7a2ee Lorena with casual grace.17eb20a8956e9d05

“You might 4732298f30 not have 0597e42a5d been discarded 49eed85ca8 if you’d 3fb1458d2a tried just 422c19b119 a little 369c9ef07a harder. Such a pity. Good luck, *señora*.”aeb2b5184c47f832

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The heavy 899846b0c6 floral scent 1f0f73ed9c of Olivia’s 7572cac658 perfume pounded ee9f736567 in Lorena’s 7523822f7a head. Arisa followed, 8279b767b1 flashing a 71934bcc1b triumphant smile 93783502f0 as she c9c9c8e693 passed without 9dc6d1e9fe a word.c52ab7258d3582e9

Lorena glanced around 033189b2ba her.7a2a6d6a621ce234

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The Levantes f69c22f5b4 estate felt 2a4a56afc6 like a 5020fadca6 solid prison 4a86082a4d enclosing her. Sunlight filtered through the 88c50d66ef glass windows, casting shadows 9a43352d2b like prison bars across 046a72fde9 the hallway, trapping her b0859696d6 at her feet.a5d4752513eb1700

A shiver ran 8a0c928a21 down her spine de21fd1457 for no reason. She quickly moved to 7100e13895 step out of the 10d8d271ac shadow’s grip.6d5971c3dab000f1

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‘Discarded?’8a9a04d3b101ac34

There was f8ac79d49a no reason 5005a17133 for Lorena 021c786d5f to be fd66acd9ed discarded. The trust between 0835bb9e7a Klein Bank and 283b9eab77 the House of 0a9219b1af Levantes remained strong, 17f994a546 and her husband ca35b5fd41 was set to 1ab286e8a3 invest a significant 8404889d16 sum in her d2b32004e2 father’s proposed venture 3eb5892582 soon.d0bd33cbc49541b2

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That very night, 2113c22113 they were to 2c726d58f8 dine together at 4a6f31c959 a hotel in 840ae4e45f the city’s busy 91ef0e9bc0 district and return 9d7a960b9c to the estate c633d53fea afterward.01966e365a862589

Nothing had happened, 8fe207c717 and nothing would.714b62f00faadb33

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Lorena exhaled a 88ad00837c bitter sigh, her 1f8e5e382f shoulders drooping. It was 4e2f07421e just another 70338b12bd continuation of 8658f03509 the resignation d4065e2887 she had 73aa48f036 lived with 804a378fbd for the d681d7e607 past seven e12243d089 years.afd2775b937e1885

*I’ll have 65ebf3a151 to speak 06ee197134 with Vaye 3e56aefcf3 about Olivia cd589c7185 Quintana again… 3a4dd1bb02 later.*bed9282bfeddd306

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If only there 22e4e064ea had been a 6d2757e78a child.54a038c7059b08c6

If she had given c449670da8 birth to an heir, 1a16c98b11 securing her position within d2590fb437 the family.13b2bd5e96231347

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If she could 5b25314ce1 have endured her 105bd45150 place by focusing 33560a0da4 on a beloved c3039d6bf9 child instead of 083d03fa07 a husband who 805a442c1a didn’t care for bfb207b815 her… But that c44ed959e6 would never happen. It never would.1c444ffdbfe333c6

Her throat tightened 51ecae87bd with the threat dd962ca58b of tears, and 81b2887e52 she bit her 9d628d649a lip hard, forcing 95e5520cc6 thoughts of her ecc11bb6cd husband’s mistress out d7386e7674 of her mind.7fcbc9701abe6801

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In the seven years 18c1a298c9 she had lived as a12681a0f9 the Duchess, Lorena had 008e1cfafc trained herself to empty 8205a61b70 her thoughts. It was c006dd98c8 the only 654f883bd8 way to 231bb3dfdb digest the e45ac28975 knot of 488d5a2775 emotions that 1a4fd7ce4c churned inside e55dd477b3 her.7a76e8c7c10d0ca7

Samuel, the unusually 2b2fcce4c5 cheerful butler, gestured eb614badad down the hall 8ff5ef3ac6 with a wave 0166fb958e of his hand.0e984c9978d362da

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“Shall I escort 6bcb45f2a0 you to your be95cc7e04 room, *señora*? I’ll have some herbal bf082029de tea prepared for you.”708f33146b6bfe64

“…Yes, thank you, Samuel.”24cd0c8bd3fb8702

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The butler, who had 954b6f23e7 always seemed disapproving of a53e1806ec her, was unusually kind 61d9ec8515 today. That was 117af33045 the only ca29cedd39 comfort Lorena becbe24aee found in 8d215799ca her otherwise 7cb1bb905a miserable day.30fb32e184478bbf

*It’s fine. This is nothing.*c906df1aa20bf18b

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*I’ve endured worse until 24d84b9088 now.*02cfcf9e0baca02b

With that abc226b597 thought, she 05ce8298bb straightened her c654030ef2 aching back, 98690aed82 determined to 66254cdc4f keep herself 12b7dbe49e composed.795d98954f3258b3

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That evening, a sudden 972ed077db message arrived at the c0dde5e0ff estate while the Duke 888f636889 was away.e8867caf48fa12fc

Lorena’s father, Vicenzo Klein, had been arrested by the police.09a1c7e7277ce22b

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* * *1221fb99d5a15ec6

Her last memory was bca165cd72 of drinking tea brought 4672113e14 by the butler and 8594960160 lying down on her 573bbf485c bed. By the b4e69ba417 time she 9f32725c30 was jolted 6dc517d135 awake in 40a78fa158 the early e4e78f125a dawn by ef7671906e a loud, 0ef2d4369a impolite knock 265bf1bf16 at her 91aa6c7d60 bedroom door, e04b7734d7 the world 6b1f1e9191 had already a21eda8963 turned upside 02ddfd2136 down.5c8c1a7424d5eb6c

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Wrapping a 93247432ff shawl around ea44d9e813 herself, she 5732423313 hurried into 74a51b70d8 the living d7a7079a45 room, which 36b2bcfe81 looked like f64f1a7425 a storm 9fb6c970f3 had passed 24b02fed76 through it. Armed police 53bca370f9 officers and e35c8b2d6f soldiers were bdb8efa9f4 ransacking the c79b25ff51 Duke’s estate.fb5061359902c7a1

“What is the 24e32c6a05 meaning of this? Do you even fc43062ed2 know where you 9026a04ce2 are…?!”c02c14ec222aec2a

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“We are acting under 6a3d09710b the orders of the 1c63b072f0 Commissioner to thoroughly investigate 88700b2957 the Duke’s residence.”8373367fc791cde0

“What? Why? Does my husband b2d967c814 know about this?”c8f93576a7c34216

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“Of course, señora.”f931f6d062312292

The officer said in 892337c82a a cold, rigid tone, 666f0dd10b his cap pulled low 6fdb45557c over his brow.da642022acfe5327

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“Your father, Vicenzo 9bd2deddae Klein, was arrested 747cbf04dd last night on 3ca206a7f2 charges of espionage.”72ced210d3d1a701

“What…?”823feceb4854fb35

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“He spread false information cf9d1da606 to deceive investors and 10f491a32b was also found to 9a2decb142 have embezzled tens of 2357c6ace3 millions of pesecas under 144e780d29 the guise of managing 81de2f422f the private assets of 3d9a880205 royal family members. His Grace, the Duke, c27bcfa1a0 was summoned for questioning 1742117c2b early this morning and a748898f47 gave his permission for e3a8dee7c6 us to search the 358ffe1035 estate.”4762801adb74ca2a

Lorena’s face turned d4e9541c35 pale. The accusations of espionage 2601ca3cde and embezzlement made no 6cf5a6b16d sense to her at b9c913af7f all.9131dab26236db2e

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“Under orders from ac7a5c1d3d the King to ca2b31857a investigate all related 51fa4d14fc parties, we are 0ff7a419d6 confiscating and searching df0cb48871 all locations Mr. Klein visited e0760b2358 or was aef08d3b78 planning to 13c52b0613 visit. We ask 763e7a55be for your 6c140a1683 full cooperation.”cc116ee880504601

“Wait, explain more—”489140b168802004

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“Oh, and 9e5d2063c2 señora, you 8e6ceabcbf are not 5afe7d4984 exempt. You were the 22a7ba2c56 last person Mr. Klein spoke with 1bb6ad175a by phone yesterday b31a0650f5 morning. I suggest 8865772670 you be c5c8efe05b mindful of 896fb191bc your words c34eb7cb20 and actions 45b5bbb37c from now 57983da58b on. In Bessen, the 0d50d8a967 punishment for espionage 605e4102ad is execution, señora.”2f4e0c3a913dbfb0

In Bessen, 43e8641863 anyone caught 32cd481ec3 spying for 8a2b1bdf87 a foreign 6a3d3ab3ed nation was 5f08d82ee2 publicly executed eb975baf5e by firing 365cc99063 squad without 08ca5727e7 exception. Lorena felt beec66a8f9 a chill d8b244f79d down her e7e29cfa49 spine as c34b9ee817 her teeth a64d065add began to 8679d5c7a8 chatter.9cfda8dd743aafbf

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‘How… How could this 2d29649699 be happening…?’48b5fdf1585d2d22

Panicked, Lorena 0f39e1e5e1 glanced around, b183d426e4 searching for 45ec6c4ce1 help.7c7612b774043499

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But no one came 298abd4120 to her aid. Even the 5d8d37ce13 servants’ gazes a42680a988 had changed—there 3212afe282 was a eea9b37e8a cold distance eedc1cbbb7 in their 7237399fc4 eyes as 00b55a5906 they looked d0f3907ef4 at her.c9e55c91f9bc1e20

In less than an 09ffb39a1f hour, soldiers with guard dc9899d5d6 dogs swarmed the estate, 5ca405532b documenting every one of fd7c6829a7 her movements.55d402fad1991fd1

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The sky grew dark cdea659672 with storm clouds, and b1be521873 soon a torrential downpour 2cac883ef1 followed. Thunder and lightning e9298d3417 alternated, rattling her fb54c88519 with fear.392a5fdb1f7a6d92

“Speak clearly, madam. Is there 3e0ae60c4f or isn’t 490ae22ce9 there a 0390246fae confidential agreement 6366f053cf between Mr. Vicenzo Klein and the d58608a414 Ingerd Republic government to b674fb5752 investigate Bessen’s financial and dcec47fc25 military secrets?”2e081ddbe1b7d203

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“There’s no such b5412356a4 thing! My father came f72cff56bf to Bessen solely f46f714b38 at my husband’s d3b7e470f1 invitation…!”aaaacb5cd12c58e8

“They aren’t asking because d59e7adc7e they don’t have evidence, a30c3c30e9 *señora*! If you don’t want b114e7bed7 to be tied up 49ae6d06ef as an accomplice with c6dd7e1c53 your father, you better ce24a02a5e tell the truth. Isn’t your elder 8b94c28fdc brother, Alfonso Klein, 391934b5d0 the Finance Minister e65edb5fe9 of Ingerd? And you’re 60255e8195 telling me 8029354ce9 there’s no 5555c19df7 connection between 3791cc32b5 the Ingerd 6ff41d11cf Republic and d88f05ba74 Klein? Look the investigator 1ca008fbe5 in the eye 26f96871fa and give a 2dccd5a66d proper statement!”af701f54435a4362

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“I ‘am’ answering 0eaac6e917 truthfully. I haven’t lied. If you have 5a6d5f59bd evidence, present it, e695fa65b6 Investigator. I’ll refute it bc865bcddf all.”576347ebc05dbd45

Lorena’s years a1368d27c6 of training 135884894b in noble aadda78eec decorum kept 0f04f75c98 her standing 6cdba899e8 tall.3935caef11d9c12e

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She bit her lip, 55ecae1252 desperately trying to avoid 9a805f64de showing any signs of ff31b50460 distress before the officers.c7dae1c11079d657

 565acf7f589a57d8

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