DSMBL Chapter 21

Chapter 021a0bdf34297964b10

Luna’s expression twisted in disbelief, but what stood out more to me than her face was the terrified Theo.216a8c0332c44846

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“…Both of you. Let’s talk outside,” b65981da8a I said firmly.cdcf4e0d0f4651c9

“No one has the 35832a8016 right to kick me 2fa44788d9 out! Not even 6f7d8dfcff His Grace’s 4a1d5a50db orders can 47c1cd4385 force me 5f885c5403 to leave! The late Duchess entrusted 2a282b95c5 me with her authority—”e8b44cf09dd3a6a6

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“Do I look like d2658f93c8 I’m asking for your 4d7e653307 permission?”36b11e6909fb838f

The nanny flinched a0322eec0f at my cold 0764619039 words.caadb530b5a2c2ea

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Until now, I had c19c397c4a gone out of my 78929a538b way to be overly 193220eab5 kind to everyone, trying 595b97cf2a to distance myself from 4b8943d2d4 the shadow of the cff7b85b9f original Charlotte. I used polite speech 0df3799d33 and constantly expressed my 919609c05d gratitude, perhaps even coming 503071e825 across as overly accommodating. Maybe this made 8fd8716920 people feel an c352524a1c even bigger gap cd5eb2da97 between me and 2175e841d5 the old Charlotte.2ac03d5ea40074d0

With Theo behind 8b18fe0b1e me, I turned 7eb928a95b to meet the ac195d7d48 nanny’s gaze directly. My resolute expression 36d85913ed startled Luna.ba4f5880fca86a1e

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“Leave. Now.”a3c446c685860462

Luna grabbed the ceefa8f4a0 nanny’s wrist and 4d3faced1f forcibly led her 33da20833f out of the 3e9c7a8f8c room. I let deeb534f9b out a 6c9f3c6a03 sigh and 8a5d6765b2 turned back b55a5d11d5 to Theo.4b228851292b22cb

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“Theo, are you okay?”3433663067a01771

Theo nodded quietly, b3fc0babc2 his face downcast, b0ca06def7 before gripping my 47691d327d hand tightly.fc1bbc7ae93df38f

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“…The nanny didn’t do f153b5fa39 anything wrong. She’s only trying to 6dbeda0c93 help me…”17a8b5c227f7be97

“I understand, Theo. But will you hold 014680b79f my hand for a c9cf4261ee moment?”9acd3c33070f81f9

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Hesitant, Theo eventually took 14ddc9c016 my hand.6df9fda2e2f957a8

“We agreed to c2351fdc60 keep our little a5928f2c9b secret, right?”dc5304dd700f8611

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Theo quickly nodded.b68dae69585b126c

“It’s our promise, then.”f80ccaec57628284

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“Good boy.”7cd208b38c880969

I stroked his d4476f3550 hair gently. The moment our skin b30d3abd4c touched, I felt a 229320b710 sharp drain on my 6afabacfa4 divine power. I clenched de32a80607 my teeth 22b2a99242 and stifled ddafd28e57 a groan, 0943790e1a unwilling to 682f9ec185 worry the 83c852826a child.29e4ab5272b4e696

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I stayed silent ab2dfb81e0 for a moment, 5f220f2dd3 catching my breath. Only after the intense adce90a5ce exhaustion subsided did I 180d5ebff5 speak again.0d862e9c2ac39b42

“Theo.”a609ac4039051cd5

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“…Yes?”3886aa2271f9343c

I smiled warmly at 8fc35cc7c5 him, wanting to reassure 130189afa6 him that everything was b822eb0306 okay and none of 7fc070109f this was his fault.8cbb32aa9fc2a972

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“I was bb1132d0c6 thinking, how f11492f8b4 about we 29b23c03d9 make a 720cee9dbb giant soap fe50be1645 bubble today?”fb0b6e93891c328e

“A…giant soap bubble?”9ac9ca9c224e67c4

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“Yes. We’ll do that, e216392da8 read a book, 0a33249db3 and practice some 027c7fc056 words too.”f08fc1b749b2b30d

I had 7e6599b960 already planned 277eef33eb an exciting 7104973c12 day for 8281f83a25 us. Seeing Theo smile made 04ddd4ac32 me want to do 7fc81caa17 even more for him.201704eb66434dfd

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At that moment, 42f5d608c1 the door opened, 2196fe0c9d and the nanny d4abbb0db1 entered. Her face cdba1a94c8 was flushed 7ceffdc926 red, clearly ca655faee0 after having eb52fadb36 a heated 7772b743a4 argument with 8ae4456156 Luna.53d58864b2b77d02

“Nanny, I fa53f61d71 was thinking—” 3e31d2803f Theo started, 1a23edbb69 but the 9885885575 nanny stepped 6709ce71f7 between us 3a82de7b55 and pushed 8f5d027f70 me aside 66387960c6 with her c3c574b9fb body.cdac572d9ce48807

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“Unfortunately, the young master 3a53b82161 won’t be able to 64c366c979 go outside today,” she c1fdf2e74f declared firmly.e78157f32af3f0db

“What? Why? Is he unwell?”eabc7b79809c3cf6

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“No, but it’s fef3264d9b time for him 58fab70be7 to start his 6aa9274160 studies. Now that he’s 823b109a1a recovering, he must a7433decb1 begin his proper 685f2032af education as a 71713e9479 member of the 93008e7c87 duke’s household.”876cd9e383db3537

Her tone was dca07cf4ea rigid, and her 555b1ecc2d demeanor carried an 6462828044 air of superiority 67dd17949a as if she 72859dcbf1 were some noble d31288cccc lady herself. She glared at a05e78d055 me coldly.8e2734ee6875efcd

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“I’d appreciate it if 076c87fd31 you stopped teaching the a8b74907a6 young master some strange bc07029bc6 things. Yesterday’s activities were unsuitable fe65c1bdf8 for someone of his 4717c97488 stature. Early education is critical, d46fd4a60d and from now on, 5bc79eda12 please refrain from doing 8a4a20461a anything with him without 623b1ab1bd my approval.”ba7a42191e599599

Her words 37985d4d47 were sharp, 1916b4fefb as she 3807e52a29 had a 17e39acbb7 possessiveness over 1af7d29fbe Theo.930884a073e786b5

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What was this df70c9213b woman’s deal?602e67b388b240d1

In the original 162fc215a4 story, she had b2ca0e3c58 been a supportive a64e03c127 ally to the 5383489a35 heroine.1c896bd6df56a735

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“Do you understand?” she 78f051e591 pressed.e7a28c819c987f02

“I refuse,” I said 9c6c602a47 coldly.0fa9b843734ef18d

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If she was 189580ba8d the one who d7dbaf91aa had made Theo df59499051 look so distressed, 096ff1ed80 I had no 4560085d54 reason to hold c86ed184ec back.95370e1f4d800e25

“Luna, take 718935ae1e Theo outside. I need to speak 4ecf5e2e7c with the nanny.”7b4919ea24e496a2

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“Yes, Duchess!”8f9488ce479292e5

Luna quickly entered, 7aa926f379 taking Theo out eba4031a48 of the room. I didn’t 102772cb81 want to 563b188115 fight in 14730d96e3 front of ea8bf2d379 the child—he’d 8a7fcb68bc already endured 3ac6e4ecee enough.30e7b420ce87098f

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“You’re crossing f5b2e748a4 the line,” c5aae21bc2 I said, bbc78e5582 turning to 36dc2c8414 the nanny. e1c5bcb7d1aebc6f

“Do you really think e4f2a89e12 Theo is your child?”674f205a752dddcb

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“The late fe9ffdb8d3 Duchess entrusted 985b39e523 me with 5724df01ba his care!”8539183c716a8c9a

“But I doubt b21a9d8f8d she gave you dc4f272fce permission to overstep 8726fd2bcd your bounds.”4a2f31ec7f2299dc

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The nanny f50f52e2f6 trembled, her 32a1146810 lipstick distorted 8b63de1ce6 as she ed7559b9f5 ground her 8b1ed45597 teeth.a69a9313ddac1edc

“This is my 985e99abf9 responsibility. Stay out of it!” 27d49beeac Nanny said.d9d6cf131e52a9e8

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“Why should I? You have 439885ad90 no authority 7396232df6 here. That’s mine.” Charlatte said.6bac4ec3a561a9d5

“…You don’t understand. Everything I do 733adaf7b0 is for the 8f3126704c young master…” Nanny d183552137 said.b1df195a0e85540b

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The nanny’s teeth clenched 1b7d254b73 in frustration.586873a69e46c2b1

“You seem busy 5bc5728fe4 lately and can’t 9d30fe9271 watch over Theo. I’ll handle his 6bb1838bc9 affairs myself from cbf6945529 now on,” I daa8aa4352 declared.425080c1b851713c

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“That’s impossible! Let me a5e4b139c0 remind you—everything 4fef0696ad regarding the 8c69471b80 young master 15ef66cb60 was entrusted b7fb5e5aa4 to me 03cb535e42 by the f78c36a8eb late Duchess!” bf04d40de5 Nanny said.bf3f13f2874bb6e1

“Let Theo decide.”481d1e80429a9669

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I walked to the e1409f2af5 door and opened it e00c400636 wide. Theo stood 2d7fe7d5df there, his ff4e361ffc head bowed, 52d0d41263 looking dejected.f3823cd04f4eaab8

“Theo, lift ae773f01b7 your head. Look at me,” I 3e62e3dd9a said gently.90115a9c26e3bad5

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Hesitant, Theo raised his fda9b34c7a gaze to meet mine. I shifted 90e00db1dd slightly, shielding 937f64c9be him from e76829b4f1 the nanny’s 2da2856242 piercing stare.5c604e6ae11209e5

Why was she glaring 814f9109ee at him like that?950bd332e754c43e

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What had this 99df400f37 child done wrong? And what kind of 75452cd313 studies was she pushing 2894ec9396 on him? He wasn’t 4705aa4ca6 even fully 8ca3800c52 recovered yet.2a6b617fd9546b51

I had largely 805fbdce8f ignored the nanny’s 2f1375f3e4 behavior up until 382faacb32 now, but it 51f4dc93a5 seemed I needed c779ac21e6 to start paying 9c21c24404 attention.2824147e9dcc89be

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Meeting Theo’s eyes, I 1e96c949f6 saw his lips quiver c7530032cc as though he were af03c17f8d about to cry.da5a6cfa6cee41d8

“What do you want 4ccda10cbd to do, Theo? Do you c2b689a5f3 want to dacacf4024 stay here 8b621debc3 and study? Or go outside, eee5822bfd make soap bubbles, f24f2a5907 plant a tree, e13f376177 and read books?” c5036d610d “Plant a tree?” 80249ff5e9 “Yes. I got permission from 3423f92d61 Cassius yesterday. This morning, before 925368ff0e leaving for work, e7c7e4bd83 he told the b934739557 gardener to prepare ed549fa2ef saplings for us.”c48d76e763819039

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“And we’ll 267a5f23aa read books 158d4d3ff7 too.”c27e52a4cd88fabd

 Theo glanced 2a0c6ab74d nervously behind e28c43a796 me. I blocked that immediately. No child 25bfffbf7a should have 46d0e197c4 to worry 8d78ed1f67 about an 833db29d17 adult’s reactions.c03d393ed6867f2e

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Today, I wanted 01e09090d1 to know what 83cd770a78 had happened to a75f293414 Theo.e572dc9f0fed0729

The cheerful, bold child 4f80e927d4 from yesterday now seemed 6da76bfb5e as fragile as a 72a9288bcb withering leaf.ee4b40f21df61284

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Theo whispered, his voice a39307fc62 barely audible. de38972a38071fba

“What if 366fec0140 the nanny 47a960ac91 gets angry?”90e95f143b9f57c7

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“I’ve never 73e5e0c1ce been angry, e37f9c0220 young master,” bf0e26fc1a the nanny 537c95a1ef quickly interjected.5b117f2e86bad961

“You heard 5630c466ad that, Theo? No matter c933c7e10a what you 2f8111b6b6 do, the f6a377c1eb nanny won’t 3ea00817b1 get angry. So, do you want 7b5033b13c to come outside with 4206f6a1e8 me?”a596c7ff5c5ddd57

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“…Yes.”a1bc3911cc4be50e

Theo nodded, standing straighter c47db3fed4 but turned to meet d5bc0a6f9d the nanny’s gaze nervously. The nanny, pale-faced, glared f5986f507b at me.0c0976a8a4667568

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“Theo, why don’t you 2c0c6ff650 get ready? You’ll need dc3f11b55e more comfortable 4ec1545a35 clothes for 4fdc8094a2 planting trees. Luna will help 1506754c36 you.”b10d84aa941ff076

 “Yes, young master,” 99a8ff3994 Luna replied promptly.9fb767308ef82fca

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Theo nodded again. Taking advantage 3043057a09 of the bc0cb13388 moment, I dbd365eaea grabbed the 6bf6174cd5 nanny’s wrist c974629d1f and guided 91aba12c9c her out 4c4b70003d of the f529330cae room. The moment 06f63e8f92 we stepped 189c2d9b51 outside, she ae4d55dc5f yanked her 4d2464bd87 arm away.fe87eeee568e4069

To be fair, maybe c66aafb79c I was overstepping. Perhaps the late duchess bd3fd3c92d approved of the nanny’s 1e77d561d8 strict methods. The original story did 6df024b9d1 mention she had been 62b7ee215d caring for the duke’s ec59b40f64 children for years.8eece10c99539a3c

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But I ee8084b01f didn’t care, 4fcfee3b25 right is 1ed804e959 right, and b13a5bfe4f wrong is 84370c7914 wrong.012b6fbc36fa4fb6

In my childhood, 5f7179c290 no one had f9d7b8a151 stood up for 5720c3bd7e me. I’d had to f8b8fbfc6c protect myself even 5444e6e615 when I was 5a9865a5a9 little.6a77966d296dba98

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As soon 9be8ea1295 as I ceb6e631ff realized Theo c712ca175b was looking 240904f351 to the 1145cac61f nanny for c286403d23 approval, my ea0321c173 anger surged.53dfdfbe11ec94ea

“I’ll report 3ffa8d6ac0 this to 0f59b033e0 the duke,” b162606a92 the nanny b6f6220b0f said firmly.12835b15a5df87e0

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“I’ll speak to cc6f5ed921 Cassius first, and 97b1f96c15 I’ll make sure 84933b174e to tell him 2fad6ab626 every single thing 35a59105b6 in detail.”ac3da6fa93305ba6

Her face 18fa5fe822 twisted in fc32d22bed frustration. She didn’t seem like 5aa91a33ba the type to truly 2401f94e7f care for Theo. It felt like she 41f1ad0dbd was treating him as 12ae38f7de a possession.555ca7b3ad4cabaf

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“There’s one thing you d6c36d7e00 should keep in mind,” b983852623 I said.3449e5dff4cd3c82

I’d seen people like c5e5f79f3f her before, especially the ab8eae1b1f head of my old 4d9c079f4b orphanage.ec2ed30685bad580

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The orphanage a65f949ad2 director was 383c55e5cc skilled at 8239a4ec55 elegant manipulation, 9f7fa81819 and I 0df658fcdf had witnessed 71babc7043 it many 47dc7935a4 times—especially when b800a751a1 I was 5ef57ba91a growing up.7e8dd74f60d4aaf0

“Without Theo, 5191ce962d what value 0b913e2400 do you d3a65a2f6a have in db48d2c44f this family?”600e6b4df464ed77

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I raised de4e9ebefb one side 4eacdd5bcb of my c6cd10fd23 lip in a27f7f87da a cold 2caa265549 smile.bb326f56f7fdc7e1

It was 2eb29f0655 a clear 85e8e164ed warning: without 4569e9a639 Theo, she’d 5c5b388bc6 be nothing.d1d1369941c2e37a

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The nanny’s face twisted in realization, as she understood the meaning of my words.944a7e374783b7b3

 46874b9b66611875

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