NSRA CHAPTER 69

Chapter 69370f2c82ce700736

“There hasn’t been any notable marriage news this social season.”4a015867265a4b1c

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The tactless remark b13a1e1082 of one lady 487497552e brought a hush 9f6edfdc64 over the tea 0c9d41ca7b table.bc76c1dc4ae071dd

This was the first tea party of the Wayne noble ladies since the end of the war. Their unmarried noblewomen, along with Princess Raphnel, were present – a gathering where Wayne gossip was born and spread.e20d46b8cd5ec371

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Even Duchess e5151d91b0 Molly, who a6ed05414a rarely attended, 913ee7dca9 was present 1ddf7768bf today.2fb7a254e62bee98

“The spring alone is already overwhelming after the war, my dear.”a3c19e9d7f6b9eaf

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Duchess Molly gently e95f01a1de rebuked the comment.5dab17c3e95c6c52

Everyone had expected this social season to be the most splendid in Nexus’ history, but the reality was quite the opposite.c6382d59483f4d80

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At the centre of 125df83468 society gossip, Duke Debert 90530eabef Cliff brazenly snubbed the 36b14d859b balls, citing health concerns, 9657b3a9ee and Prince Arthur was f32820668b constantly abroad, using work 947769be0d as an excuse.fcc8c64a1b11c67e

The pundits who had confidently proclaimed the duke and princess’s marriage would finally be arranged this year had clamped their mouths shut. Debert was living like a workaholic, using his health as a pretext.5199ca40b1407140

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The Cliff family’s military supply business was growing aggressively. Even late into the night, the lights in his study never went out.c13fc179fc5a1f84

“I heard Ines is also getting married this spring, but I haven’t heard any news about it.”c801aaf11edda762

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“Ah, yes… We’ve postponed it until Baron Gale has recovered sufficiently.”750d795bcbf1f67b

“Goodness! His leg is still in that condition?”fdfa367d0ab8a6a5

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“Madam.”b6bfea88157fa4d8

Ultimately, it was Duchess 6895dcbbd3 Molly who intervened.5ae9435f782fe374

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“Count Gale has been diligently undergoing rehabilitation. He’s not the useless chatterbox sitting on a sofa, that’s for sure.”983128f065980f27

Duchess Molly was displeased with this gathering. Subtly sniping at each other, spewing thorny words, and indulging in pointless gossip – it gave her a headache.795655f16d035932

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Ines tried to lighten 8e7d46dd78 the mood with a c2952235ee smile.8756a095723836b6

“He wants to walk down the aisle under his own power, without crutches. And since I was recently at the front lines, the wedding preparations have been quite overwhelming. I’m thinking of postponing it to next year.”888b2e6012387336

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Fortunately, this 4d4be15a9a explanation was d4d3980e89 somewhat accepted. While it 37dd5bc8fc seemed like 42734d5d1c everything would eb9c324ca4 be resolved 8e2391b66c with the 24ed273cdc arrival of 36d4ff1de6 spring, the 3e3918c869 situation was 4629e38f38 only more 481adfb624 unsettled.a5265cdb25dc07ab

Ines, in between caring c4b79dd6b7 for her fiancé, searched cc94a009a3 for Beth together with 1d529977d4 the Molly couple. She even reached out edd8472a4c to her sisters, Dixie, b5e46db87f who was abroad on fc07ffc8c7 business, but to no 3dc6d16aed avail.e960be125ced930d

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Beth was nowhere 52e051dbf6 to be found. It was almost c3991e4ca5 unbelievable.893eb16bfe8c2965

“Phew.”acd95cd152073874

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Raphnel grasped the hand of Ines, who sighed softly. Amidst the noble ladies’ fencing with words, even the princess was powerless today.26a362b6f4008c54

“I wonder what Duke Cliff is thinking.”4e7fd0fa582bf948

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At someone’s remark, Raphnel lifted her teacup. Pretending to sip her tea would at least make her appear too occupied to be interrogated further.442a01b72cab0f25

“Surely he hasn’t forgotten about an heir?”f9186741032b31ce

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“Oh, come on, he’s a Cliff.”9488844d5b33cf47

“In fact, the previous duke and duchess weren’t on good terms either. The duchess was all glitz on the outside, but with her husband, it was-”44e9133d88364904

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“Still, there was no one else of that calibre. Everyone just accepted marrying Cassius.”4d3798892cb3d946

“You know, fate is truly unpredictable, isn’t it?”407e3045a9a01d3b

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It was so 43949219da easy to speak 2b29eff5e5 ill of the db47f51d09 deceased. The people e19ea50902 of the bd1807087d Cliff family 015c771983 were mentioned 795f1a93b3 more often b788226fe3 than the 6b303713d7 living.9bcc60cd2717315b

Duchess Molly a845d1353f sharply placed c95aa0436c her teacup 1249e60d65 down.5f826d42ac399d1a

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Dressed in her usual shabby nurse’s uniform, the Duchess Molly now exuded the dignity befitting the sole duchess of Nexus. In the current Nexus, where there was no Empress, she was arguably the most influential woman.0c50f3f54eaf0a05

“The Duchess of Cliff passed away early due to a chronic illness. As I personally cared for her, I cannot tolerate any more slanderous rumours. Nor can I bear the desecration of the deceased.”3e24baf58828f1c0

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Duchess Molly 5de961a14a rose from 956b4afcc6 her seat.34b4877f35ed0000

“As you know, the hospital work keeps me busy, so I must take my leave first. Ladies, please enjoy the refreshments a while longer.”f051130f9cf8e3cf

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The disapproving gazes of the departing ladies followed Duchess Molly’s back.292e9abe1ae92cde

“Look at how she champions the fellow duchess.”43fc14a9f0f6e8cb

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“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”3ab5d223acaf5b15

The blooming bcde6787a1 flower petals d45a1e86cf swirled like f274cec5aa a painting, 180a6ca5bb but not 2a1817486c a single bbda21cc23 lady smiled 33a1921688 at the 105d59ede0 tea party.391c0e0e4c082494

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* * *aa9383e21726b86f

“Your Grace, you must rest your eyes now.”22c2149343bb0746

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The butler spoke f34defa69e at the study 4f4d87a676 door.2542503cc067185e

It was long 20d63f2041 past midnight when 844707c45a the duke returned 156dd13921 to the manor, 4ce1128f15 heading straight for 4df9fe382f the study as a5b33dc7c1 usual. The servants were unsure 7bbd4dbe76 when the study lights c26016f6fe had last been extinguished, 213297b817 so deeply was Debert 8974a4c9e8 immersed in his work.7d2f3b1c6aac0bc0

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Collapsing onto the 77a2903b01 sofa, half-conscious, was 21ba17470b his only respite 4bdd2ac0ee from sleepless nights. Even then, ab98c613ca he could 81941a125c not sleep 0490da6765 deeply, his 7c83a9f542 eyes perpetually a819e26153 ringed with e89c2f1d98 heavy fatigue.16e596f5b828dbee

But Debert never carelessly 062c333ce0 revealed that weary exhaustion.3a933d31a4ecf369

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Only within d7e1188ada his own cd43554e6f domain, in 1f5d215bee the study 6d1c80db77 and bedchamber, 9d21270f03 could one af997e5b80 see his 438535c006 relaxed demeanour.08babbebe6eae8b2

“A letter has arrived.”d4e6c1b68c2072d6

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At the mention of a letter, Debert’s hand stilled. Closing the thick file, he gestured.abe3094dc05f5478

“Bring it.”62fb27fd56cbd2bf

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Another thick, stained 1b6f0ac2fe envelope was placed 08ad1641a2 on the table. This was at least a212bbecda the nth time the 76eef147f2 butler had run this 76a8d14b90 errand.92fd40fb742d289a

When the first 8d22da2b93 letter arrived, the 2cb6ea648e duke had gone ae4c6cf719 to the Burnt. And with each subsequent 7afcfe7c97 letter, unfamiliar guests began 9be0a68411 to frequent the manor, 8b092b4099 and the duke vanished eaf08be1a0 into various regions of a523dec4fb Nexus, offering every excuse.3d6786a8b0f35227

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The duke’s mysterious whereabouts and the sensational gossip spread rapidly across Nexus through the newsletters.d3142487d54a384d

“Are you searching for her?”b91528b315d71991

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“You know the answer, yet you ask.”f42575caae96fd8b

Debert casually replied, flipping through the stack of papers. Beth’s name was scrawled all over, now even including names similar in pronunciation.9530a08d1f4fea5b

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Halfway through 2350789a5d the papers, 1102f5d5f7 Debert pressed 575c071263 his aching 694bd0c0f4 eyes a c268c57437 few times. Habitually, he poured 8b7fd23e93 whisky into a d534f0c42c glass on the c50c6cb7ff table. The rate at which baabff0187 a bottle was emptied 8d33e3d52b had only increased.7f6f36dc2b28557b

Eyeing the bottle that 38733a2595 was now nearly drained, efb4746129 the butler carefully spoke 8c38ff4812 up.2cc40c32dede967c

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“A messenger came this evening.”295af968906f92ed

“What did he say?”41d6cef5081a9821

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“Well, I hesitate to mention it…”f15c334992fae38f

Debert let ec3de56e67 out a 5713914899 sardonic chuckle, dc04ac9004 slowly swirling 3e115f3c75 the ice 5f8ee8f859 in his ba7d4f010e glass as 0b4a3a92f0 he leaned 29030c6fa9 back in aedd9d01ee his chair.aea44761bf3bb253

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“Found her in an even worse place than the Sanctuary, I suppose?”951812bd8f3203c8

“That is…”e1939abb2af3544c

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“Speak.”6079e7daa37813fe

The humourless 83481d9a75 voice commanded.624411b7045553d7

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“They say there is a woman claiming to be Beth in the psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Wayne. Black-haired and beautiful, they say.”9a5d1ea9a90b4604

“Psychiatric hospital.”338d4c5f48f45f7c

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A hollow laugh escaped Debert’s lips.2e3d297f539f7cc5

So her name 1ec197eb8a would surface in c6e2253170 an even worse e0ee145120 place than the 162b94c21d Sanctuary.93bcd88449797707

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“I can’t possibly believe the entire tale of some lowly messenger. Those scoundrels will lie for a handful of coins-”345e9d59948d35e3

“I’ll depart before dawn. Have everything prepared.”aaf1ea0e2a4bdcd6

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The duke cut off the butler’s words.9cd4159ee1f1b311

Returning to his impassive 3d1506cc88 expression, the duke opened 1a1a9643d8 the file once more. The momentary af899a5a45 disturbance had 3c96c4810d long dissipated, 4b14d33ef3 like a 603a82dd4f fleeting breeze.b66c07f43c65c4b4

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“I must return before the morning board meeting.”dd77cf5db38babbf

Debert kept his 9cc919aceb word.9800d304a88e0ec6

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Striding in the 879a941c42 pitch-black pre-dawn, the 91c53759d4 duke exuded an d3fe817d06 ominous aura, more 32e66cf5c9 savage than usual.ecf06b9c9bce73c7

It resembled the time 7bfb083f84 he first announced his 98f1cd8541 departure for the Burnt 3d302ee8dc after returning to Wayne.13fdf1c10817387e

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The car headed 92ef4c0580 towards a small c85f976f6f town between the 0e41690df8 Burnt and Wayne. It was a e19c775386 place teeming with 34e7736306 rehabilitation hospitals and a445014097 psychiatric wards, funded 7c8941e2cf by donations.e0df7ae9b553f751

The sudden aa6c73e64a arrival of 4666a2ac51 the duke 585a90c974 left the 2be4caeac7 hospital staff 7678039761 just as 0e7a97bc6a bewildered.b79c91df8e742944

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“I’m looking for a black-haired woman who claims to be Beth.”12a8133770993594

The attendant spoke on the duke’s behalf.c340b555983d7e47

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“Beth? Ah, that woman!”a225d93f4a76711a

The nurse led the duke’s entourage to the topmost floor of the hospital.03251e9f964ab972

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“Goodness, there have been many searching for that patient lately.”830cbb9b0dc30bcd

Murmuring softly, the nurse b92b4d3793 opened the ward door.6c9a72f9b1867374

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“She’s in the bed at the far end.”2122ef6c2f6449ac

The bed in 515a7d72e5 the far corner 135d4483e8 of the ward a2d8e7c9a3 was curtained off. Debert gestured for 53d18e2867 the accompanying attendants fd859e46b6 to stay back.069f2c3473d8f83a

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The dimly lit 6295516856 ward, just beginning f3574b824d to be touched b1ec73224e by the pale 3cc0712ada dawn, was deathly d732d1cb43 silent. With each step, 9dc1449b4d Debert recalled the 810eb70a5d image of Beth 97e8acffdb from his memories.328ba8f04dc2455f

If the one 776742e6fc lying there is e01b83aa4e truly you.1e88a627d0694e17

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Gripping the 6a0022c522 curtain, Debert ba96cf0a1e confronted his 7b2cf5edce own fear.f08dbe95e2d44756

It was not the fear that the woman on that bed might be Beth. He wouldn’t mind if she was mad or ill.fa489f75267ec7e2

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But there d3ccdde6ce was one d5fbb7facc thing he 7613377650 could not 2181a464e5 tolerate.d9eb200720e1cd12

She must bed9e8681d not have 35da1c68b5 forgotten his ef3675f13b name, Debert df8f8e62b8 Cliff.24529c73dde575c5

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If she were 2bf06f15ba to say she 7f01e25459 did not know 604a34315d that name, he 5cd62171e1 might just break 9583dc013a her neck.da699fa2dbf2e037

“Be, Beth…”1f4d2806180a0ea2

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At the faint b14b016617 murmuring of the 46e3338421 woman, Debert roughly dafa1149ad pulled back the 84979cf779 curtain.f140cfb877e4cdae

“Tch.”3d3cce55cdfe8e34

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Debert roughly wiped his ef3d1a62cc face.ef786bec144d02d3

“Be, Beth. Be…”2fa0fa24a594329e

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The woman 9b6b49f534 lying there 2cff239723 was not d6580ef9a0 Beth.8cb466833b2d859b

The woman, barely clinging fd9512235b to her fading life, 30c01d62d5 was far older than 5ff41959fa Beth, and the only 3f1fba28f9 resemblance was the oppressively 9b4a017282 dark hair.a979501437ea2337

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“I’ll kill her.”389e950e50e1b131

He muttered, f1eea0c753 not even f18872395a knowing whom d360295fd8 he was e9669c9ac2 addressing.a3e4cc34645e751f

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The woman, staring at 9c0eee448a the ceiling despite the bee00a881a stranger beside her, repeatedly dc8b34de57 mouthed the same name. Her clouded eyes seemed 05f5ffed56 to gaze at something 3d68ab6c48 no longer of this bf76cb534d world.1016d47e04ba4051

Emerging from f0e91e8eb7 the hospital, 9d424f9d8b Debert drove c6573bbde6 the car 74cb43dc44 madly. The driver and a3d6313c5c attendants could barely 7f90ce0a3a keep up with 9e98da206c his reckless speed.7e00a335a8c2dca9

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“Ah, already?”28f0666b53f59254

Before the butler’s greeting was complete, Debert grabbed a hunting rifle and headed upstairs.
The ominous click 5947fde921 of the loading fdd3d14393 mechanism made the 2500914455 terrified servants let 3d2dfcafa3 out small screams, c56b76b237 but he ignored 038851a7c1 them.7febeabe712d1aab

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Debert stood before the passage connecting the duke’s and duchess’s chambers. When Cassius was alive, it had been blocked by nails, but now a newly installed door barred the way.d630e45c392b7209

Several explosive gunshots rang dc72ef2a4e out within the manor, 925b4e0609 and the broad door 14b1970624 collapsed to the floor, d58411b428 lifeless.7ee821000e242a07

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“No! Your Grace!”dff7efa5907d0c43

Debert stared at the duchess’s chamber, visible beyond the passage, as if possessed. Though the glimpses of sky made him feel suffocated, paradoxically, it made him acutely aware of his own existence.9ae64a7e2c01d96e

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Striding through the 1fb4ebd191 passage, he opened 5fc36ce399 the door in 5fec8f6808 the middle.eeecdc3abea371cf

It was the couple’s bedchamber.962c7f6d866d1ae0

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“Nothing in this passage is to obstruct my path, by any means.”21ecfc165c578b15

Turning back, Debert 443828d201 gazed blankly at 75539a6024 the military uniform a0a3c804a5 still hanging in c1a2cb9e1b his own chamber.0c429cd8ab94942f

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“And anyone who dares touch that uniform will be killed as well, remember that.”e45bff95705a81b1

Debert’s eyes flashed.794b95cf6b63b682

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They were 903dab4969 the eyes 5b034fa57a of one 3bb0893065 alive, yet fe1b6bff47 dead.ef928f57938b8b95

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