DSMBL Chapter 09

Chapter 9fb9b6c91b008901d

Today was the cbae8ea94c day Theo was ecd244f5a4 scheduled to meet ea13efc69e the Duchess in 3c36e1ee9c person. It had bf6319b393 been two 40aeab434e days since ba8d7f2a4e Theo had 6e971ff542 woken up 5790032016 again. Believing that the cae514f5c6 child had recovered e43452f261 enough to handle 01b36d13ef the meeting, the 5fc425bce4 attending physician gave 2a75da3984 his permission for 54897d9654 Theo to meet 3c94058289 the Duchess.bbcc5e0c82d1e684

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The reason why ae4839ab66 the meeting was eec34e4233 arranged so quickly 338ce89bfa was because of ec77df1bcc Theo’s curiosity about fe04e73e76 the Duchess ever 059a97bb6d since he had d657bc04d1 regained consciousness.43e11fb21542779e

After stepping out of Theo’s room, the nanny stopped the physician in the hallway.e5fd0c19b0f57f4d

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“Are you absolutely sure about this? I heard the Duke has approved a psychological evaluation for the Duchess. Does that mean the Duchess is truly…?”2419682672707b52

“She’s fine. The Duchess 956c1eb60c has simply e221463aca changed, but 3f86318464 mentally, she’s 1fed1b4081 stable. In fact, she’s better 46ef08ded5 than before. Whatever you’re worried about, 1c7696f371 it won’t happen.”509f5da6c98068e4

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Despite the physician’s reassurances, 5de40c8981 the nanny couldn’t hide dfe4594a7a her unease. She looked around 957d74420c nervously and pulled 364a1ad0f6 the physician aside c712cccc93 into a corner.95446863f637ca95

“What if… after meeting the Duchess, the young master becomes unstable?”acff1a128984cfe9

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“That won’t happen. Right now, 4f48ae3678 the young 4b4b5b5a0b master is 815337f74f healthier than 7055e38517 he’s ever 3830f8ca5c been. In fact, b5de2a0a6a over the 9b7c707a6f last two d756e82708 years, this 2c3b5a666b is the 8e55eadbcf best I’ve 9714c4f004 seen him.”74ec2fec732bd8b7

At those words, the d4da87ab03 nanny nodded with a 9449e9d99e forced expression. After the 59036db054 physician left, c6d0f79d1c she bit 1c49693cbf her lip aac16d24ca anxiously. Glancing around with a 5b5d85d1fc troubled expression, she returned 8bbdfd6749 to Theo’s room. Theo was sitting quietly, 2ff37bf20e reading a book.5e3cceffff087da3

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Because of his weak 401dfc73cd health, Theo rarely went 610bbcc155 outside and had very 330009342b few people to interact 5a7e991663 with. For Theo, books c6fac31bec had become his a62f2c9462 closest friends. The nanny 245764574d cleared her 34cc64f35b throat to 188dd4591e get Theo’s 8c8071a943 attention and b26e792c3d walked over 72e358ce99 to sit 5dfbce722d beside him.f3e7b78178135ac7

“Young master.”db79e320d8bf7696

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“Yes, nanny?”7f038fb17bb7fbe8

Theo answered politely, 288b875dda gazing at her ac9ab69b7f with trusting eyes. The nanny forced herself 1c73c661fd to smile as warmly a33e0331ee as possible.ae627018281901ea

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“I can’t even express 17f2d8c828 how happy I am fac9ce3bc6 to see you awake 2deb19ce4c like this. You know ea904f3120 how I 2d4af5c628 feel, don’t 22b8aeba11 you?”9c2fd504808894fc

“Yes.”9b0df67d7a05660d

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Theo nodded obediently.53acec14519502a8

“From now on, 1f51fe7ae8 if anything happens, 4edf1aa01b you must promise 04358b1d62 to tell me d65838919f right away.”8b8daf38d29a28f8

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“Anything? Like what?”fc1b44350ad95e0f

“For example, if the fde35cedbd Duchess makes you feel a21dd3ae5e uncomfortable or bothers you b2a50a7d9d in any way.”f3a600372290b32f

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The nanny lowered bd40e953ab her voice. Theo’s eyes widened. Ever since he had e52dc3468e woken up, he had a723177712 been asking everyone about 0ff4517926 the Duchess. During his 2a544b82ca time asleep, dee6202d9c the Duchess 95691d464f had visited 89417f77b1 him, gently 05fdc30f5a stroking his 850969ca63 head with 60674bd117 warm hands.1640a7f2dc344ddc

She had 3e7f1f7d9b whispered to 3d3ba6c484 him to 1416eedbaa have good b5a85a2ae0 dreams.7a041fd97efde3fb

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He had e3529ec4d8 become curious 47f2cdffb0 about that 32c9a62b35 voice and 5c8fca27ff those hands. And he c837ef9767 was also f6c5a8161e curious about bde3d52694 the woman 10f947e15b his brother dd931b7063 Cassius had 3a0fd757da married while bef8d3c99d he was a23932743a asleep.e05e41666512117a

Perhaps this woman could b2f4b92e23 even become family to 0134387027 Theo as well.b78f1f99e01c3204

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However, Nanny’s words made b50b0668b5 his expectations deflate instantly.d0e4d70e895a1b80

“Why would my 52263dc174 sister-in-law trouble me? Is my 3a0d9de5fe sister-in-law a dab3a5e440 bad person?”57c4659ec7b96772

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“…That’s something I can’t say for certain, young master.”8c9d2cef4daf64eb

The nanny 08ae9eec8a trailed off, 6459798755 her expression da86a7164c clouded with a46d92f6c1 sadness.d3b77b4e4ad4fb58

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“The truth 01210aca27 is, the 10b6f1bbd5 Duchess and 4f7de5051b the Duke 72bfa64bd7 didn’t marry 9b9f9d0778 for love. It was a political b72e43030b marriage.”4369abd36af47422

“…I know that.”7aa77f30040e4ab6

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Though Theo had spent 79fc536dda more time asleep than a80921d309 awake and hadn’t received 028dbf21a3 formal education, he had ce6beb37f3 learned the basics on 53162b25e0 his own. Partly because of his bd9d861caa love for books and abeb70f6e1 his natural intelligence.c6759bf5cbbb8471

And maybe because of 729a0ea4ab his frailty, he was cea1130098 particularly quick to pick 73e54bc0fe up on subtle cues.3ff3adab3af6f9a9

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It was clear that db2be2fdf3 the marriage would never 3f1bd0a205 have happened without the cea8ddb7bb Emperor’s involvement.6099cc69b68f1a82

“To the new Duchess, 82ecee7650 you would have been 19af1a9f85 seen as an obstacle, ac050cc55b young master.”5229690fbb508bf1

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“…Why?”3db0345f674fc65b

“…Why?” Theo asked, his voice trembling.2a46f23ccf46b355

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“It’s just… how things are. If the Duchess has a child of her own, then you…”4e1cd0208069c773

The nanny d6e51b00aa shook her 80e663306a head sorrowfully, 5dd43eeaf8 her expression 6095f7f093 pained, and 0a2a97a21c Theo’s face d3239df25b grew stiff.5e16fc9769497882

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“But no matter 67c25872c7 what happens, this e6e39f4cda nanny will always bdd286b2a1 be on your 00f065fabb side, young master. No matter what, I abbcf92a8b will always protect you. I promise. So you must 569adfbd93 trust me and 4c944396b9 rely on me, a0c7b2b0dd alright?”65e3b97d58fc53b1

“…Alright.”6752863643730392

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Theo nodded, his 4b4c64a505 face darkened. He closed the 4c3045dc31 book he had 1b691b84ee been holding all 794cecf711 day. The title of 924d40fb9e the book wasMy Brother 08d3626f23 Got Married!.6eede13ef2aa8a46

Having spent 9bec870cab most of 8d5ebe1394 his life 3beb7881bf lying in c0aea68041 bed, Theo’s 793c18f8f4 development had 73481013c3 been slower e3ad6ef16a than others 8a9bc46f9e his age. 89d8ead8ce6dfea4

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Staring at the book 60c844672c with a glum expression, 691f283ffd Theo felt a wave 0c1d4cce15 of sadness wash over 7b71d90619 him.a02f3fa8c975d427

‘She hates me.’39c4149ed8612fd1

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He began to resent be2c6a8c84 Charlotte, whom he had 7dd79f72ca yet to even meet. Theo’s expression 4ce55893e1 turned sulky.ef6acd41a9494b6d

‘It doesn’t ff5bd43578 hurt at 64eb712f65 all. If she hates 629e45eaae me, I’ll just 6ac2f9b62b hate her back.’c56f8199d0d12320

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Theo shoved the book 91525025f6 aside.b5f1fc9c4fe5e259

“You’re not going a829771e8f to read anymore?”0a9ce65cb93453ac

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“I don’t want to.”c961461caea4f692

Theo mumbled dce7e9bca3 with a 4f54007588 dejected face. The nanny opened 009da78798 her arms toward 3013361145 him.69f053234dcb7f4b

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“Come here, young 12f23f4785 master. I’ll give you a 2c148cf815 hug.”0acfcf03f3d11dd0

The child obediently 3325925856 leaned into the 405fa499ef nanny’s embrace. As she held 5f7bbb4e37 him, her eyes 574ef7377c momentarily gleamed with 3340f84560 sharp determination. She hugged f1f6a1803e him tighter, 120e514c55 as if d5f986667a to keep 1ac902f9bf him from d55bbbcadf slipping away.b9f99d27cad6faa0

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‘I won’t let anyone 240a1f5f40 take him from me.’e31405ba7373c731

For some reason, 09252b033d Charlotte had declared 410eddd342 she wanted to 3cf1ad28c3 take care of 52d0259346 Theo herself.8d90be7c605b6eb4

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What was even 05485553e0 more absurd was 36fdaca0bb that the Duke 845deca800 had allowed it.0b2fcea4e4421ee1

‘The Duke d186e22edc must have 242b253d71 lost his f94ab231d9 mind!’0f6a9f541223b18d

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How could 6ed97b40df he allow fbf5d02584 such a 24b6a0b13f deranged woman acd224c653 to meet f634a12c9a Theo, who 4a27b234c7 had only 200c780b66 just barely c0f6a4f502 woken up?122805562974940a

The nanny d1b98fba5b had been 787f61ec89 taking care 800b50d326 of Theo d488296d02 since the 2e54716e2e day he ab517b27fd was born. To her, 119ce14a1a he was a50c0dd01e like her 6c7e83b2f0 own son.861fd2e960c21941

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She had 0ce7a6a800 no intention f234e158eb of losing b44b7d596b the child fee294773d to some 72e5919767 stranger who a1ba7902bb had simply 17abc86010 married into 2e41844b67 the family.75d7fccddbbce48e

Nor would she give 7868600e69 up the rights and 763431c3d1 authority she had enjoyed d0e7603db9 until now.670fc7ce220d8f5f

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Gritting her teeth, the 8e70715bfe nanny made up her ba56c5c9bd mind.be32e3035b5f1652

‘The young master has 3369c48521 only me.’c68b3ae723c85955

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She whispered sweetly into d58c606a22 Theo’s ear, sowing misunderstandings 5f33f5caf2 and mistrust about Charlotte. Those words 98c12049b6 began to 96bd0ff2d7 take root aa8ba2755b in Theo’s 57769df34d young heart.05ef85750194695d

What matters most 72ae39a68e is an unyielding 3f12f516bb heart.a97a75011ffb3a51

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Memories of 36f1bc2fe0 wandering lost, a9b442dfd0 drained of d5f28f5e6f divine power 0d76b78623 and strength, ffc4256c49 dragging herself 8e636ac422 back to 9c7c1e1ef8 her room 6e1050fe7f on the dfc7c62b48 verge of 7e4accb22e collapse, flashed 0cd176666c through her fbdbbfd5ab mind. Those grueling days had 49d9c3bc11 led to today.658ca9d43107fd0f

“His Grace has asked me to remind you that the young master is very sensitive, so it would be best to exercise caution.”084c2031338e62b0

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“I understand. I’ll be careful. I’ll even watch what 08adb4e9ee I say.”f589222318a75552

She mimicked zipping 68ca68ab1f her lips shut. The maid watching dae7920c5b her looked anxious. It was understandable.2faa34e1641f5a17

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The Charlotte of bc476aab08 the original story 236f1833ec had been someone a7ab40dab4 who couldn’t hold f18dd4c5ce back from saying 462fefe4d6 whatever was on c651f12ee1 her mind. She had e4001a0944 often spoken bbbaadf0a4 harshly and 5538e7074b carelessly.5bc3958fd5fdaf4a

No matter 13ad0cfd64 how much dc92a8bcfc she had d0a2ab6fff changed recently, 107f7b1148 her past 802208aa6a didn’t just 934a4d36a5 disappear. She understood that perfectly.3d02df6627cba2d0

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And Charlotte had 13add33abe once envied and 3ba980f719 resented Theo.425f5b2ff374fb90

Now that Theo bd6d1c0993 was awake, she beb1937d79 has to be 8aa09c679f even more cautious. Theo could now adfdd62745 understand words, read af2e09e517 her expressions, and ab81a2cfc9 pick up on f415d2608a her intentions.d596ec11d44b97bc

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After a moment’s 6eedfec1ec hesitation, the maid 286dd12c91 opened the door. It was be71bd50eb a room 1cd39bdda5 she had 3a5270b921 visited many 1e2f1b8528 times before 50ba6203ab while attending 9457f836e7 to Theo b99484c0d6 as he 20b908b441 slept.5d0b8443c8be9db8

But just because Theo a80c8f3a73 was awake now, the 222f9d4552 room somehow felt unfamiliar.af4790d6edba3e7c

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Carefully, she scanned b91ebbb97d the inside of f3ac0cc7bb the room.fc43433b10115ec0

“Hmph.”12f628760d60e953

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She spotted d5de117d7e Theo curled beef6104d9 up on 4564885810 the sofa.a4f395bb39a135dd

Wow.ce116d0ecc015b79

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He looks 2e53f33baa like a e0e4ad314a mini Cassius.e3edfa9ceb96ecf0

I couldn’t help but 8cf0be9011 stare at Theo. He looked 519f265c7c back at 1538fbfe74 me with 7685eed8c3 a slightly 8b79c70d2e pouty expression 9dfa7bdf8d before speaking 4d106ba674 sulkily.2aad35268d55d282

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“What are 1dfae2393e you looking fa8285cfc9 at like f7c76e83b6 that? Are you dumb? Is Sister-in-law stupid?”6613e47b6caadf7f

Caught off b1c0d0fcfd guard, I 353d6e4142 awkwardly smiled ea6763f68c and closed 0f8f6315cc my mouth. Was he upset? His expression didn’t seem 0bb5eb3ccb favorable. If anything, he looked 312017d059 a little angry.4d94bbb1c5e1a696

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“Young Master, 0d625dbfb4 you mustn’t 473b50a4f7 say such 5b420fa299 things!” the 7109a834c3 nanny scolded, 78b7bae37c glancing nervously 36229d2caa at me ffeaa63cae before stepping 26da944c62 in to f475e220c7 shield Theo.16c77d7d6223691a

“Your Grace, please forgive f948cfcf7d him. The young master has dae9a43605 only recently woken up 4bbd5c11e8 and is still feeling 57fe35cb8b unsettled…”614f27469e11f1f9

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“It’s fine. That’s understandable,” I said, f78bb56571 waving it off.fe0ce1b4d3d3368b

I truly meant 84d24e3bb6 it. His wariness 5ac90daa3f was entirely 4f270fa8cd reasonable. From what 2bc17c081e I’d heard, f45dbf37c5 countless people fe92216639 tried to 8fe095fb07 take advantage 179b19c1a4 of Theo, ecab94b19d using him a406f4d3ea as a fe8731cdb3 means to a8206a770d fill their 9912a8d052 own pockets.54bceaccb9356e9e

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And this was 6c3db24bd6 his first time 9d8406a060 meeting me, wasn’t e3f4fc6d18 it? Before Cassius married, and 47fd590a93 even after, Theo had 2a8764f649 never fully regained consciousness. This was 8310e95f48 the first 32d6290f09 time he’d 5b37311d21 seen me 368aae3ff1 in person, d0a7177969 so it a1ba34d1b4 was natural 98c11ff552 for him 25a6bed1b0 to be 1a194df8c6 cautious.715077e6668b10ae

Even the nanny watched c13696ec8e me with wary eyes. It was 4e925d15d9 clear she 64a2962ced deeply cared 1e05b59f6d for Theo. Otherwise, there was no 264ba364bf way she’d show such 797a3918a1 open hostility toward me, 0f58f669c4 the Duchess.d4e62eb484f45c19

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Sigh.Another consequence 567317544e of the 97d82e9d21 old Charlotte’s a435d54acd actions, I 16eb29077b suppose.101ab12cba6a7aa6