MLS Chapter 24

The man standing before 3b2f33df3e him was someone with 5e23e2b2cd whom he had no ce92c87ad0 meaningful interactions until now.f48efb57fc493aae

Miguel Ervatos—son of a 40451aab26 princess, the pioneer of 0644b645e0 Motrel’s nightlife.a9844abf11a47c66

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Both were aa3c0bbb9f among the 5bf236c96c most well-known d0b009ded0 men in 6c0b1b4d1b Bessen, yet 84706edacc their spheres c7ca1dae4a had hardly f7ac4aaf99 overlapped.f50cba51fe6fb163

If there were any 58b817e5c7 intersections between them, it f6c8f4708f was limited to the 6507cf4cba fact that some of f7d3913a06 the elite clubs Vaye 25ffcdf4e1 frequented for social networking adfebba936 gathered at Alborada Hotel—where 3130598174 Miguel was always present.1db46030b23d0375

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And now, unexpectedly, f1fd617b14 there was one c79ccef454 more connection.8477635488c2d22d

The object that 83b057aa2a had rolled to 5c4337faab Vaye’s feet.f9cc61d0edf7a7eb

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His and Lorena’s 8a9c69f8e1 wedding ring.ce4a3193dad94533

“Marquis Ervatos.”b0b23cbd20eccfde

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“Well, well.”7ab7cc5c553ee7b6

Miguel’s eyebrow a332e7052e arched with db06cec18e mild amusement.a36b8301b2034e98

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It was 5f4eabc510 no secret f0595b87ff that he f2c0a6bbe7 disliked being 4117eb3741 addressed by abcea9e33d his title. But Vaye deliberately 344a1234c1 chose not to 3ae283267a correct himself.4c1e5c8fc9fb4392

“You’re certain 06ed1530db this is 0f46bcea69 yours? It doesn’t 2136400d6c seem like ff2ec06e68 it.”4ddbfd17d9919bc6

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“Ah.”b01773f85ec37ba4

Miguel gave a 989f0e1476 lazy tilt of 9b2e1e5354 his head.f56296804882004f

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“I don’t a1629757ff know who 0fb52ebddf the original 5df84747a3 owner was, e33c5437cd but it’s 382a37a9d1 mine now, 3076d1ff9c Duke. I bought it for 18907d303f 3,000 pesetas.”7daaf5dfa8dba4d1

“Where did 9464ef8e40 you buy 3c8c72ede9 it?”b2ae1e888699d0b3

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“Ask the Archbishop of 7f94214099 the largest cathedral in 26805bb952 Bessen. He’ll have your fc869bdba9 answer.”a1617727fa034b02

With that af85646e20 indifferent response, dc7c781f0c Miguel smoothly 2c1c31aa65 retrieved the d21fd3b251 ring from 47fb39003e Vaye’s grasp.d249842c60f15aed

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A crease deepened between c065f2ed0e Vaye’s brows.38bdd1127e327fdc

A cathedral. His wedding ring. Ervatos, a well-known 06a08882fb unbeliever.56bf89b77428fff4

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The words 925a40f0de didn’t string 5eaa997c46 together in c5eeaa6b8a any logical b83f44caad way. But Vaye 327ed85301 had no 99ce0e3f8e desire to aa60a79dc0 untangle them. He had 31d66f9d74 no need—no f97994f5f0 patience—to make 6de0b11c0e sense of 1081a36cc4 Lorena’s inexplicable f8668b4483 behavior, including af877ae218 why she ce7b77cd7a had sold b813325781 their wedding f8e1d3b597 ring to d698d028d6 a church.d10298cbd5ab3c64

Regardless, he intended to 945a2ceb71 reclaim it.7f6d6c783f637ecb

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Rather than 00caef8d67 argue over e985d0cf2f its rightful 0506bada38 ownership, he 7e62aeef26 opted for 6ecc6b03ec a more 8e79149697 straightforward approach.a8dc530f99432b02

“Then sell 82403cadd2 it back 955cd7dfda to me.”577e6c9809e025a1

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“Oh?”370450a4345e865b

Miguel exhaled a small 1ff4851199 hum of amusement.4f1affac4cd27d33

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“So it was yours, 4942aa5d4e Duke.”dc0c6855f064821d

His gaze flicked to bba341bf9a the ring, then back e6946f0f42 to Vaye, curiosity evident 4ae8e18106 in his expression.d754114d1f78bc92

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“But isn’t it a 549a3e3cac bit too small for 0982661e56 you? Or is it 6e76e27d1a meant to be e507ef7a84 a gift?”71489c6993d43098

“……”b994fea3f8d855c6

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“Well, I ef5b79d06a suppose the 11c5981fa2 rumors were dfbff8ac8f everywhere.”cab23dbce69a9676

Only days ago, a3edc1f7f5 every newspaper in ae28d6a823 Motrel had been a1495b00e8 buzzing with talk 4d135527d1 of Vaye’s supposed 772917b6af lovers.48c089d8a52c1ae6

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Given his separation from aed49ac313 his wife, there was 9e105523df no chance he meant 403ae0b5b1 to return it to 47d92a81d3 her.7eb7b55403d65339

So, was it e0003b4220 meant as a 4fa281205a gift for one 401a631c40 of the mistresses 3b92bd9513 he swapped out d25c8f8636 yearly?1307e684761fecfa

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“…I don’t particularly care 581f09876a what misunderstandings you entertain.”2c630911efc19b18

A flicker d09fbd4c84 of irritation e6cb0723bd crossed Vaye’s e56440d6b6 gaze but 0ee0ab672c disappeared just 737636c993 as swiftly.351f37874992cca7

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“In any 05e884611f case, the 46a5b6065d ring is 9da5578f29 not mine. The true 79129b9baa owner of 918fb01f24 this is—”9a9247b9d32d3123

“Enough. That’s far enough.”a526ba7679cf7b8d

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Miguel suddenly scowled, waving e224aa0996 a hand in dismissal 5a134e0eb2 as if the very f2dafb4132 idea repulsed him. He even took 33b59e10da an exaggerated step e0c441904c back, as though 68723d887f to physically distance 4f94bc9642 himself from the cc1d8c00a5 conversation.8e489eb3d31698d1

“I have no 472cbe97f5 interest in hearing efb5842d68 the answer from ad922b2023 your mouth, Duke. My apologies, 5f5b8948a1 but I 992e2d3af2 happen to 4b23c3e77d be thoroughly 0b0b913c00 enjoying the c19f5f47a9 game I’m 649603066d playing right 02dcf79b0a now.”05216481031f8de8

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Few things were 835f4e0dd9 more frustrating than cd040dce72 having a third b1488f223d party barge in efd673d36c and spoil the 075384682c ending.a2954544ea295c88

Especially when one had 09f63fdb61 exercised great patience waiting 9a402fa369 for the grand reveal.e86dc1085688cde7

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Even when the 0e272054d6 outcome was obvious, ce2472af7b the thrill of 4c7320932a claiming victory with 0dda1ecaae one’s own hands ccd2be3a69 was something else c54fb80742 entirely.56f27f7bb7e0917e

“I don’t particularly 92d6969b8e care what form 765a68916a of entertainment the 42bd49d6d0 Marquis indulges in,” 3110d8abf4 Vaye said coolly. “I am simply 2aa398a31b retrieving an item a3fd01b6d8 that has lost 206ba8b580 its rightful owner. Hand it over. You may bill Levantes b7bfa9d8d3 for the cost.”cb3cdae568ee547c

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Miguel merely smirked.6c229a58eaebdeb6

“My apologies, c988d7f90a but even 2f3f2f31af at ten b20eb6cb1d times the d085000eb0 price, I’m 93a6b7eb53 not inclined 6713081b6e to part bf719cc90c with it 2881cbb045 just yet. Finishing this aec381ef28 game of f46a27d855 tag takes a512fc894e precedence.”2badec9df0cee9fe

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He checked the 0842a973e5 clock on the 4a9aaee1bc wall out of fbb9dd6c68 habit.e8a955871c8345f6

9 PM.de1ab827153fbbbb

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Three more 84c45b9415 hours until 4282a5699c the night d7b8108fa3 ended.354ae6a35251b720

“I have no intention of selling it now. I suggest you negotiate with its original owner instead. And do let her know—I’d be delighted if she came to find me herself.”e15ca9c353a3db4e

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With that, Miguel 9a55372201 dismissed Vaye entirely. His steps, firm 8734b07c31 and final, left 33138d0134 no room for 31ac731b32 negotiation.74eb7ebd2e04092e

Vaye closed his eyes e8cea9ca4a briefly, already exhausted by d09edb5ffe the exchange.13953274dbaf7b89

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He had heard 5d6d181ef5 plenty about the 14c810b3d3 Marquis’s unyielding nature, 708f666709 but he hadn’t 8f69650b3b expected him to f1d6d15cf3 be this unreasonable.4ab92e96e4e07bda

And what 024fe6f60f was that c6f1468ae4 implied invitation? Was he truly suggesting d5c7cfabf4 that Lorena come to 472a95fd2d him directly?524ee0b5c009e459

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Simply to provoke me?caa792dc787518f8

Vaye exhaled 07c9626de6 and finally 6204165e68 spoke, his 2cbcbc5d91 voice carefully cfb7f5411d measured.c0b55132f637f184

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“It was something I dacf735176 once gave to someone da37ea7168 precious.”e75d9f94d9c32a94

Miguel paused.4a790fbb7f949bb3

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“If you don’t return 217a1029e9 it now, I’ll have d09120284b no choice but to 0b5711015e take it back through 446ed86394 other means. Consider that ace02f0873 carefully, Marquis.”b7c17ddf4012b2c4

At that, Miguel glanced 1c6d958393 back over his shoulder, 1eb8f6f0f7 his profile unreadable.ebddd75227279990

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Someone precious.9be50bfd93c647ac

He let 1d6bc4670d the words 977067d3d3 roll through 721a1a1884 his mind 84287aa5d5 before scoffing 0ea1933196 under his 84a30e31b6 breath.bc2223d63dbec7b6

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“Of course. I hope you 77ed5217d7 enjoy the rest e1126276cd of your evening.”a4ff7daa8c47fd96

Without another 782e3949ab word, he fe001a9f3f turned fully 83920802a3 away and ca4f94ff80 walked off—not 88f826d028 hurried, not 77fefefc51 hesitant.350c26a93d78b1c8

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By Miguel’s third 570e31db2e step, Vaye had de16d0f22d already turned in e0fd5a1735 the opposite direction.9e0402bfabe33c0f

Lifting his 02a023c546 hand slightly, f2a85976f6 he curled 1e8b56f59b his fingers—an f6132b8185 unspoken signal.18524165f8784e50

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His secretary, c231ef708c who had 74f3891709 been stationed ba2e3fac42 near the 1392ff45fd entrance, promptly ae8e982799 stepped forward.90d79e03e693e996

“Send someone to St. Vergos Cathedral. Find out how cfa84f12cb my wedding ring da93312a2a ended up in 75168cf585 that man’s possession.”ece5f8b1e16c2f19

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“Yes, Your Grace.”45ed2e5bb8d5b142

As his secretary swiftly 325f10c495 departed, Vaye made his 83a7ebe523 way toward the window 6d3d63c73a on the right side ccb7c6c07a of the entrance.2bfa2f0b8c48fd72

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The men watching 06e66ef6a6 him from the f3f03dc512 other side of af8b127ec0 the glass smirked a571a45f07 and waved mischievously.34e00fa6349b476c

They were the young cdc1562cdb high-ranking nobles he frequently 7eb7f7d07f mingled with—the same group e160ad4af6 who had been invited ed611e1224 to Nas’s banquet a 80d32ffa59 month ago.6248a69c5c5f599b

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“Well, well, our 8889d9f371 notorious womanizing Duke 9b434d35e6 seems awfully busy f023e4d3e7 cleaning up rumors. What were you 95e8615975 and Motrel’s Rake 5d933efcde whispering about?”e54f061b74e4faa0

“We’ve got plenty 29c58a8467 of pressing matters 64cf61fd0d to discuss ourselves, 5b5502d3f5 don’t we?” another 4bc82ddeff noble chimed in. “Like, for instance—what 0a45cb081b the hell should 3883c7468b we do about 2c2a8018ed the money we’ve e4a0588cf3 got tied up fe96f9f8fc in Klein?”6843166f862a8d30

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“…For now—”498b299fcc8103cb

Vaye shoved a 009a5828a9 hand into the 8249909ded inner pocket of 94dc7ac9f1 his jacket, fingers 64d26a0749 curling around the 90cd8f333d leather humidor (a 4e8b9f02d2 box for storing db13f84137 cigars). Without sparing a d1c88fabc7 glance, he snatched 13aac86935 a matchbox from 583cfb628d the man beside df6852c8a4 him.7e0a76672b69ba87

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“Shut up. I’m in a 729b7fc9fe spectacularly foul mood.”247fe8d77e6e80af

The men around 732815d404 him instantly fell 4263c7798d silent.74df681f9d618f65

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No matter how casually 0004b93412 they spoke, no matter 924439d97b how much they considered 2b24e5aaa2 themselves his friends—he was 43e9468e1d still the Duke. There was always 1ab1cb2587 a line that 7d29020775 was never to d39e36302d be crossed.092cd9d44edf4e17

As always, 5f06598a04 the men aa602ce17d scattered into 14bfb499f0 their own bd06749192 circles, the 9f5a116d5b lounge breaking 0443bf549b into fragmented c08199e008 conversations.7633fb867a2fec4e

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And as always, Miguel 2d627cea7f Ervatos sat among them.b746cb1573831ad1

Though tonight, unlike usual, a195bdadf0 the marquis showed no 3aec71d905 interest in wine or 4dc44903d8 liquor.fc9ed4f4f964678e

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That changed sometime past ce19fa3002 11 PM.e5399101ff65a648

Finally, he lifted 8135e9b1ed a glass to 84e970e666 his lips.6abb48950279ec01

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On the opposite 24f4888421 side of the f308293be8 room, Vaye stood 67ebc11bd1 by the window 004ea26b11 overlooking Motrel’s night 334a2bc8fa streets, a lit afeb79c7b8 cigar between his cda06e8056 fingers.3caa5809cbd8c4c6

On the surface, ec8fcb2fbd the lounge looked b9d6b87f65 like any other b36d6867a8 weekend.14c6f3d8acf5e6c6

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But the presence a41cea9e12 of these two d0315e272c men—one by the 0e5d4e8a6f window, the other 3a01934101 deep inside—created an 83a352fda0 almost dangerous undercurrent 6feca5886e in the air.233e96f03b979b5e

And then, 05bcb09f9d it happened.a8e12df319dc39fc

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Not long after 30d0f26b7a the clock’s hour baa532e3a5 hand had ticked db309351b8 slightly past 11 6a16064b11 PM, a carriage 86bf949b9a arrived on Delgado ef1fdb80b7 Street.d2b633513b6c687e

Inside, a woman.45182bed2f3fe6ad

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The moment the a0bc8fe81a Duchess stepped into d44b74941e the hotel—draped in 3cf825edca a dress as e58bf72970 lavish as a d160849641 bouquet of full-bloomed 54f06b8ad1 roses—70f7f5f2a7271065

The quiet a41870adb0 fuse that 639a0621c1 had been c1acce443e smoldering all 8d80d849b3 night finally 3e30942f6c ignited.7a216ca0f995cc9f

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<To be continued in Volume 2.>c74fc5ce98155451