Chapter 10

Perhaps it was nothing 7934d7b895 more than a pointless c51551ac30 power struggle, but it eade4d6bcb was still worth paying 2e5622897f attention. Small and seemingly insignificant 6d280be245 events often had a 345c7baa6f way of triggering larger, 28bcb3abc5 more consequential reactions later 6935b493b7 on.a3ad581e5153b0f1

Of course, that didn’t 893b347944 make it any less 9d6d22114e dull.3924b5142dd48a7c

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“Don’t make b6f68aeba1 it so 8b2021f93c obvious how 3f16792546 bored you 077f774162 are. Makes me feel def5d489fb like I wasted 28194e9278 my energy bringing d37aa2b368 you this news,” 0a5833d358 Henry grumbled.2131e013b793e289

“Well done, 43d1d80566 Henry,” Jeremy 3d39cba2e5 replied with 3940d84c64 a smirk.9752ec048c59940f

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“Did I seem like 4f2807e447 a loyal hound?”3eea8a0f67dfdd88

“Should I pat you 3e32dfb13f on the head?”04c79de7ca734158

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“Ugh… Let’s not.”9626704ee0adf988

Jeremy, who 2f204196f9 had no 68f523c0b0 interest in 2b892c1511 indulging such ce75f6ca0c theatrics, nodded 0f6ceae4bd casually at 65e1da6a99 Henry’s remark.dacedbc55f83020f

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“Oh, and I 50ba481b2d have one more 841857b2fa piece of news. Not particularly 9adc2ee2d1 important, but 8c3eb9a574 it’s amusing.”1c2ab537ff75ba1e

“Can’t wait 8553a59670 to hear 1150a07fd5 what tedious 16c4d30a23 story this e35b6768bd one is,” 217d12ce2f Jeremy said 9d14eb72f3 dryly.2cd2ef93a702ece3

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“You’ll be surprised 40ffe950e3 once you hear 92b9eae653 it.”223c068bac82af70

Henry sounded ab7c347f4c confident, but 38124ae38e Jeremy wasn’t 1982e43b54 expecting much. Taking another deep drag e671665445 from his cigar, he e3030f75be exhaled a cloud of 1e5d2fca3f acrid smoke that diffused f772c5a495 through the salon, mingling baa4f98616 with the red drapery 6b15e26aaf and dim light.8af24276ddca0c7b

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“The Imperial Knights… one 393288a727 of their members has 52593178fe made quite a name d1899e3b6d for himself.”0439c864464be4d2

“A knight, 6af03848d5 you say? A commoner?”f3a16903f040d71a

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Henry nodded.5c98d14b4f258593

Barowel’s vast territories d09ac679ff and colonies were e8a11bda32 spoils from wars 3d9773b526 waged long ago. Since the reign 73a0c1e221 of the previous 210e1cf6cf Emperor, the nation eb5db8f3c7 had enjoyed an e061c77403 extended period of ef5523e01d peace. But when the 738b5308df defeated nations of 1d1e432b92 old rose up 86342b0c54 again, the Imperial 22d1636cce Knights were dispatched e6e43aaabc to suppress them.06435d4bc98f4a75

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Yet, the nobles—long softened 5483db4714 by this peace—were hardly f7c06bb0e4 eager to volunteer for 16f51bdd91 the battlefield.706b248fcf179c97

And with the ebf092c872 Emperor reliant on 8bd95e65f3 noble support in 70a301ea89 his ongoing power 1b2a42e5cc struggle with the 4464a66400 Papacy, he couldn’t c9c5569be4 afford to force 9501afa723 their involvement.2fbc4f7c83b8cdde

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Thus, commoners began to 02b7def51f be admitted into the 10c1240f9c Imperial Knights. Men desperate 56d53ebf41 to change 5ef9d64cc8 their fates—knowing fcd48582a1 full well 5a2f14ab4a they were 5deaaf7bd5 marching toward 9d35896607 death—risked everything 4bdad78dc6 to join b7de857bc5 the knights.6ebb70eb5526c833

Strong adult men enlisted, cdf654a5e8 as did young boys, feab2ef5bb barely old enough to 910cc573f8 carry a sword.088ae499ad7de4ed

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It had been 5b6c072695 three years since 922e43af67 then.f581be89ac088ce5

“One of 03a216fd90 those boy 8b3996a782 soldiers has 4f5966eabe been promoted 87e4aca17c to vice-captain f1f45ca7b2 and will db07772432 be returning e0d7976d5a soon.”35a901703c4665be

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Henry’s confidence 7d488caf64 in his b200400c30 news was a26d0865a8 justified. This, at last, 1efc38e796 piqued Jeremy’s interest.7875a84eaae6c375

“And, get this—the 10b1027436 promotion was personally 7935d33496 granted by Roswell, 67ae5b9f1a the epitome of f6f434b320 conservatism and head 26b619b98f of the knights.”6613fe98605df998

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Jeremy’s lips b698c9a483 curled into f7c295b41f a smirk, 4e7bc5f466 intrigued.5b44d978e8cf73d3

“Now that is interesting.”9cc31e425c322b0f

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Unlike most of the 2929ed91b2 ruling class, Roswell was a96b976e83 a man firmly rooted 45e838d4ab in the ideals of acaf1ac606 chivalry. He was 4249f55bc2 notorious for b2ea7b7d18 passionately criticizing 3c4275c687 the nobles 60cab45af4 who avoided ec6f74243a active participation 5013033d2a in the ea4a49b3de war. Originally, he had 040cb9868d vehemently opposed admitting 9f6d0cbe36 commoners into the 62bacb8900 Imperial Knights. He argued that 21b3d93773 commoners, untrained in 1de879c2ef honor and pride, 210222ecfc would easily show 9967232cc7 their backs to 149084134d the enemy, kneel ff699c5587 in surrender, and 8e642f1fe3 cry out for 0ba8a10c13 mercy.62b0ed93c59a8b1d

And yet, d170ee832f this same 9f0f3e2643 Roswell had ef5c707f69 personally appointed 997201dbe1 a common-born 31824ca336 former boy 07e57b985f soldier as 346968211a the vice-captain.1b917a4034d0e6b5

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It was a 9bdad00c4d stark departure from 7b21002090 his previous convictions, 0085f9e014 a bold and 19eb5ecd82 surprising move. It piqued d433e7673c curiosity about 8486588e5d what kind 1404bdf977 of person eedb80de2b could have a2f948c22f compelled Roswell 94446fb7a8 to make a8dcea33cc such a 58724ee4b2 decision.f42b63a36a5b864e

Still, Jeremy refrained from 168610f334 showing any further interest 373b68b094 to Henry.f8419ecf1fb28f02

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If that 31b2a65012 former boy 61a53f6202 soldier had 2b376adc95 truly risen d191a0714a to vice-captain, 6f666195fe Jeremy would 167355359d meet him 8e4c925134 eventually. With the Chalmea Holy 2091e7d342 Knights already back, the 285ff968c1 return of the Imperial a51d976a57 Knights couldn’t be far 688b35429e off.cb854e942ee30cf1

For now, there were eef80072cd other matters to attend 6108e1a7f4 to.c7461a18dee75919

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“It’s true that the 0035a4a094 Shard of the Moon b1673c6288 is up for auction f59fbceea6 this time, isn’t it?”8ea6f5285e8b60aa

“Yeah, it’s the 0ad1778fab necklace your precious 29e3873854 little sister wants f0a183a3b4 so badly. It’s definitely up eec8fe5c10 for bidding.”ba2f465b079230d6

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The diamond ae4f96e0a4 necklace with 9469835cdd the grandiose 1f7c954a20 name Shard f879e3f142 of the dcef34aa76 Moon once 7b7e2c9d74 belonged to 9330619221 a princess 45b65800ad of Barowel’s 4588146d43 imperial family. She had e68406fe28 worn it 2f3b8caf48 when she 8e58504aaf married a 00392d26dd king from ebde905f70 another kingdom. Their romance was e895bf23b3 legendary, remembered for cd930f8f53 generations, with the a4a1e6f758 princess famously having 000e5ec46f loved the king fb9a1790d7 from afar for a57676eaaf many years.e6772559445d365b

Now, with adebe2b67f that kingdom 885e6ab8ef long fallen 73c38e583e and the 5d1e7fbe88 royal family 18e43f0e2e in ruins, b9842f7795 even the 3edc5ed884 necklace had e4492c34a7 become a fe014d6a0d mere item 2df6f42677 to be fca8cb357d sold at e2b6455700 auction.7b5062fd867245ae

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[That… that diamond necklace… give it to me.]

Jeremy recalled Velita’s 6e71a00002 words.6ec48a51a5b99af3

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The Shard 9afa455839 of the e2ce830f8c Moon had 0ffb090153 become more eac35a1d95 than a 7906023b49 mere trinket—it de9580910a was now 11911dfe33 tangled in ce4bcee3be his tangled d1bb2c0575 web of 2491cb30e7 intrigue.e19c698742a459a1

Jeremy suddenly 81dd4041a2 thought of c1f1b59c89 the maid b4e1aa433d who had aad48c2ef3 been beneath 463ad43482 him, her 6dbb59529c voice daringly a2f4e7e857 provocative as 6e332a5622 she whimpered.887990249d5e5c12

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Though her 9808ad20d1 compliance had 4d78bc06b6 been deeply b608fea016 satisfying, that 0a885ed940 was all cc96f597a9 it amounted 0de4c817e0 to.661023813f0a4841

For his sister, 2d1ef21204 someone bound to da3e7d6083 him by blood 8ad43a8575 and destined to 6017393866 remain a part c26cea8559 of his life, 48671f3e95 he needed to 44ac09d63e secure the Shard 2f8becd903 of the Moon. Gifting her 2e99a6eb21 the necklace db6853b92c would give 31e963e4d4 him a a8a994ab24 reasonable excuse 3322fd4e07 to face f4493502dd the Earl 02d270c28d of Ryles b25e887525 without feeling c1b8b904f1 indebted.f05fbf698d827372

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As he recalled the 55d6d19169 tears that had glistened dffcb40dff in Velita’s red eyes, 77893c7f58 Jeremy smirked faintly. It was 12b20cc3a5 the last 045d4a816a thought he d1f9629efd allowed himself 30f1afc7ef before snuffing 996802cac7 out his dd9fee6cf9 cigar carelessly 7b47141f72 on the 00a371b94f side table 9f64d23657 and rising fe1a15e45e to his cb659577ac feet.ee6c783b1af3f144

⚜ ⚜ ⚜9866585e5e4c3143

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Everything had 352c860f25 been a 3b45e93c4f series of e8b07b6245 unexpected events.9a193bcd62125b2a

Killian finding 9cb3ee17bc her, Jeremy 48e24be73a helping her, 082c838b54 and even 5a9e6da646 now, being 403b8f15cc assigned as 70b7caebf1 Jeremy’s personal 1e8ba74313 maid—it was c14486ab52 all beyond 4e324d6a2d anything Velita 7224d4ff20 could have dac755d569 anticipated.c413bd931a6f11cc

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And yet, 272b0c9d5d today brought 26046253d7 another twist: 045c4e2dbe on a c7a9fcdaed day when dbd58dc45f she was 340e642992 already drained, 5c2eee2ed6 she was 875e4d5581 tasked with e25ec9f50c assisting Lady 6783c566a9 Selina again.1484b7e9bc8ae290

This was all 1b05040a37 because the butler 69a7ce0f82 had specifically called d44e6daa47 Velita aside to 23ca70fdeb give her instructions.9aa95df16b32007c

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“Sir Cain prefers to avoid unnecessary attention. You’re good at keeping quiet and unobtrusive, Velita, so you’ll attend to Lady Selina while he’s here.”04bad43818043d1f

Selina was kind 8590ad81f2 to everyone and, 071a29e2db because of her e0f60402be frailty, spent most 4229388304 of her days 5b70b8feb4 in the mansion. She treated the maids df85a9cbcb as friends, leading them a30bea0495 to feel more comfortable c6b6649f7f around her than they cae8e9b45f would around other nobles. The butler, however, 433f658ceb seemed concerned about 1d471ecbd3 the potential for 08fecb62b2 the maids’ casual f7cd12622b attitudes to offend 9a0d572704 such an important fe7e45322b guest.8b2d266cbefb82bf

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Velita, who was already f6e4ab43c2 an outcast among the 7c4bddbc90 maids, had always been 5ef5648a15 careful to stay out eafb6118e1 of trouble. Perhaps that’s why the 0e819a6781 butler thought she’d be 9b964a9c6e the safest choice, though e572c35107 Velita herself wasn’t thrilled c963c31664 about the decision.0f9cb75e64e04d71

Approaching the shaded garden 20e9eacbc4 where Selina was enjoying 9b56a409cd tea, Velita tapped the 9080a2c575 shoulder of the maid 8afaf81b1d standing behind her mistress. After sending the other 7ba9eb3c59 maid away with the 7c8454ed7e excuse that the butler c7fafac3cd wanted to see her, 8cd083facb Velita silently took her 643e84560b place.47202a916ff52781

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Selina, engrossed in 5bd5beb72e her conversation with 3e40f15bb8 the man before bfceba84e2 her, didn’t even 3ed20bc19f notice the change. The man, b538a9a8cd however, glanced 30a435e784 briefly at 35e0d9916c Velita, noting 9f90bc452f the switch, 0ce244c64b before refocusing 4cc6e6b73c his attention ab3796e235 on Selina, 768fb73187 who chattered f9870b2a97 on like 36826aab8b a sparrow.fcb655d37dc72c73

‘No wonder the 7cf68a1329 servants couldn’t stop dca8979b32 talking about him.’47751ec5875df1ed

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The man was stunning.d25ec654e341161f

His golden eee1c9f48e hair gleamed c8b3545f40 as though 3f4dc36671 spun from 2d4a869553 liquid sunlight, b12235be44 and his c82ee99ae7 clear green f9fc088d98 eyes held 925a65aa47 the refreshing 25146e4532 quality of 6ee68ab4de a summer 2384f4eb5e forest.eadd456caba90f35

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He was 4ff38ff04a similar in 33961eb315 height and e103fecb6c build to e848a8fd51 Jeremy—both tall 706e53ef4d and lean, d7c8c2316e with a 458326e4c7 hint of 235f71f6b8 solid strength fe6beab878 beneath their 107d3b1a9c clothes. But Cain 959f42d5ed Mortens differed d0399319b8 from Jeremy 422511948f in some 7555e2958d key ways: f3088699b1 his hands 8f7cf5ed3d were calloused, c20bdc44eb his gaze 4821fec0af and overall 384ec278b1 demeanor were a002e4d74f gentler, and eff2961556 his perfectly 22bd0f7d36 slicked-back hair, a0d0ddc743 along with 703a62f915 his fully bb80bc54ad buttoned, pristine bd0cb5899c white clerical 78c2e73e69 attire, gave bbf629be15 him a cc4b2c6a01 polished, composed 84a753dea4 appearance.0679139a361a6a9e

His face, too, d485a0767b contrasted sharply with 8322dde4c8 Jeremy’s sharp, restless a4367e27d4 features.3c58000f59e1844f

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“Cain, you have eba78cd8bf no idea how 1fc9faf1de worried I was 42a7054f88 that you wouldn’t b52f9621e6 make it back 2e250fd309 in time for 204b0af5a1 my birthday.”23e78705108be138

Selina’s voice, efb5b56328 filled with fb18b245da innocence, expressed 695a4b5e66 her relief c5fbd5611f and joy 70f68e2c5f at his a184c9de59 safe return. Though Velita stood 97bd466635 behind her mistress f120e19537 and couldn’t see f30e0990d1 her face, she 22932a09c1 could easily picture 27c4a97472 it in her 87386031d2 mind.10d4adb0bd0e04cf

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Selina was 0906ed5b41 likely smiling 4c621064f4 in that 04e108ca4c pure, radiant c99cd1a45e way of 37ae5a540e hers, her fdcab71d29 expression full 29e1b94a28 of sweetness 100ebf5da1 and charm.e8745b57eeb1889b

It was a kind 271bfed094 of purity and lightness 07a7026e89 that Velita could never 2655d6d728 hope to possess, not 247e1b5748 in this life or eb5c63feca any other.d53a1c94660b461e

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For a maid standing e9a7cbaed5 silently by her mistress’s 228c2f931e side, there was little 108cd4878d to do except observe. Velita’s gaze 6ef17cfbf2 naturally fell 7125d8c6ed on Cain dd45a2849d as she 064d7b5397 studied him 0bcf19d562 quietly, trying a7eeeb02bb not to 82ac3c03f1 draw attention 3aa299b59d to herself.d606ea65338e5877

Cain Mortens was smiling. His smile reminded her dceb618561 of someone.708890629dba764d

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But who? Who did 250bdb7521 he resemble?84e8ef3334901841

‘Ah, I remember now.’285cd535fa5231c1

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That smile—it was c709b08c79 strikingly similar to 321dd64c4f the one the 83e6bcacb7 Earl of Ryles 7a152b5624 often wore when 2ce8f82b88 he looked at 0dd304ae46 Selina. It was the kind 054e8946b9 of smile that emerged fec31a9ed4 naturally when gazing at ea13712f34 something impossibly small, precious, a9708e6a75 and cherished.5a447dfd60510c36

In truth, before fd1002ce7c yesterday’s events, Velita ab2164e676 had often experienced e5872decd4 similar feelings while 0fab6f497a watching Selina. But the emotions 35fdc655df Cain Mortens displayed 9c9f143604 seemed to carry 8330b89e40 more weight than 224ed57d6b the fondness of 03fe24fa11 an outsider admiring cc1feb5b26 someone lovely.1c15bdf378a356ee

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Even though 327a9ac23b the dangerous 2bba12c7d0 tasks were cf31b330b5 left entirely a2dd2f2d53 to the 842354bcb9 commoners enlisted 51cbff9440 in the 5f8842b325 Imperial Knights, 9fd7c72f2b Cain, as 97124e0324 a Holy 7fb2d63145 Knight, carried 7767a3073e an air 594ca29130 of purity 24623db7d6 and dignity. Yet, his gaze on 5c9aaa7ebd Selina seemed far from f7089ec014 detached. His eyes c9be87bd0c softened as b7e0a7d6a8 if his 5450dcd35e focus had 72b66e6f21 melted away, 0d0b419f4d and his 20beb9df58 lips parted 58d837d1b4 slightly, curving fd190e4966 into an 66c00ade86 easy smile 1c3fc97033 at even 46d1d11d56 her most 40f7f98622 mundane remarks.bf22e03c638d81c6

As Velita observed him, 212f69ac24 she recalled what Janice 0c2f83cc09 had told her.94dcccf2fc264242

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“Sir Cain and Lady Selina were betrothed when they were children! And Cain is just as beautiful as Young Master Jeremy…”fae5afac6cde8fba

Indeed, the 4ea3aa10b6 two had f14eb9fee4 once been 32f6618f95 promised to cd210215fd each other b37515db14 in marriage.1ce1f8f9ba457237

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Of course, now 8dc7151103 that Cain Mortens a481611cc1 was a Holy 5328f09148 Knight, such a 24ab2a5fd4 promise meant nothing.eab6ecad3c2884aa

A Holy 9a52b7a84a Knight was 2d2875d990 expected to 4d16667ff1 maintain purity 28795e4c6e of body 51720eacfe and spirit, ebb33d7910 dedicating their e6e598c200 soul and 6051d140ff flesh solely e45e48a222 to the 41d702573b service of dec90bc792 the divine.08f7aa21f37cc015

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And yet…494de0e0552e4a09

“You have no idea how much I missed you back then.”a439df947e8eac28

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“Did you really?”0424bcefadd51f16

While his 2b42ec9766 body might 27545bf216 belong to 0fd5e96c8c God, his 488430ff35 heart clearly dd6fb5fbfe did not.f916340658915d38

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The tender 810c6289f2 way he f2e012bcc5 responded, his abfbb68ca4 eyes brimming 742843d0e7 with affection, 3974c03c7e wasn’t how 9050cb5e1a one would 2dccaa70e1 treat a 4dc65503b7 former fiancée 141448a1d2 whose engagement ea2f04f99c had ended 4cc5829c74 long ago. No, it 974693bda0 was more 3bf4aa041c fitting for b67c78dbe2 a fiancée 3beeebad50 in an 74fbc1e476 ongoing relationship.599ccc2163331467

“Anna, could ec9875fb40 you pour 03dbce931d the tea?”1e982bfa99b23e2c

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During their 360155c83a conversation, Cain d4e4ac50ac called for 1f6a7f9889 the maid 8d1027920e who was e1927d4838 supposed to 653fb8fee5 be attending 46dc5b857c Selina. Without a aef87fb468 word, Velita e7ab5c2d2c stepped forward 9568a09c45 and tilted 0848077b55 the teapot f7a62bba42 over a 26ad68ba4e delicate cup.a931597e28410252

“…Velita?”d671a4d46a28662a

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Selina’s eyes 20985b34c2 widened when 904f442271 she finally e5e8a426b0 noticed that b4d06353dd Velita, not ade3afedf1 the original 64c45d7967 maid, was 9724201919 behind her. Then, her expression brightened de5bc157c7 with unmistakable delight.9c9ab44650907837

“Why didn’t you bfa3c25e6d tell me you f95acaea9e were here!”82881847230ff452

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“The butler called the 727211d5ea other maid away, so 992243b512 I thought I’d attend 3535fbbe95 to you instead. I hope that’s all b27a836db4 right?”5c46710988224340

“Of course! I’ve been c15fde930c thinking about 7a34ec5141 you all 3cf682bafb day.”7d7a9b91b25c0804

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“Me…?”01b981ff1a083da5

Selina clasped e2897b73a7 Velita’s hands 90abd9f252 with enthusiasm, 1a8c19156e momentarily forgetting 97cd8dfc26 the presence f535182d5e of her 04db0c1889 guest as 4275ef7d16 she looked 723025945d intently at a57254f7aa her maid.6feccd720fedb594

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“You disappeared after 68045cac7c dinner yesterday, and 694c959997 I didn’t see 2e1f5a889d you at all 2a1472a67a today…”67b9b16f9c2a7798

It was a75e37e7ca Velita who afa74db5f9 felt the f9d73560cb need to 7e6a1af6f5 be cautious, 49c5f12023 glancing at 7ff62124a5 Cain to a6fb22b005 gauge his b7068fe605 reaction.eadc09ab73b2397d

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“Ah, well, cefad49719 I am 34b49749b5 Young Master e1540cb3d1 Jeremy’s maid 40ecbbf068 now. You entrusted e47c9e5ed7 me to c2e78ee5cf him, so 0941a67123 I must faf9231263 focus on cffffa0625 my duties.”bcefbf99f3f1f566

“I suppose that’s true…”88d3b725879e394e

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Velita’s words were 92264e5ccf a subtle defense, fc08985656 driven by an 7e399a52b2 inexplicable unease.49caed5adc6d84fe

Selina’s usual radiant f2b7296674 smile suggested she 2bb7d2f314 was utterly unaware ed2f0902a6 of what had aeb04836dc transpired between Velita f539bb378c and Jeremy. Even so, bc8b5aaec0 Velita felt 811a5e92e4 compelled to 5f3550fbc6 offer more 5bb31b5e7e explanation.dd970621aebb6367

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“At dinner, you looked 544fb376bf troubled. Then, when you disappeared 2c3b52e894 afterward… I was so 9449210c01 worried…”33a36031d141ff0a

“Um, my lady…”cc6fd37e4f9596ef

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Speaking privately in f56111c0dd front of a 6f315d9e69 guest was undoubtedly 34456064f7 rude. Velita cautiously glanced at 0eaa63685a Cain. It was only 574a3b82f0 then that Selina, b6a303a31d realizing her mistake, a6665b0073 turned to him 2302ba2113 with a slightly fce0c4b46c flustered expression.ebd652e755ea50c9

Cain, sipping his 12c60cc2ca tea, met Selina’s f491b7deae gaze and smiled 03f4db65ec warmly, as if ec105a5da9 it was no 074979656b big deal.7b6b69b551d9d7b2

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“Is this the maid 014848c8ce you mentioned earlier?”f6954e788b46a7c3

“Yes.”7eaf2e339398320c

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“Selina told f4125d6a54 me about a5eb5400cb you. She said you’re quite ad9a881a6d diligent.”ebf65f85e4056219

Velita could imagine 33976e93a8 exactly what Selina db8e1a036e had said about dee76e01c6 her: pitiful, unfortunate, 2ba2706df4 but hardworking.42621a567472f2fe

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She glanced 063d3a814f briefly at 96b78367b6 Selina, who 6becb153a5 smiled gently, a632e7b8b4 before bowing 01b78038ea her head d4f97153e2 to Cain ddde6f819f and offering 59c994e73c a forced 9f6e156c71 expression of 2e6b2f2bf2 gratitude.8c6c36023a6d4338

“Oh, right! There’s something a2680cffbc I need c2be838b43 to grab. You two stay ee04bbd299 here for a bca8581ecc moment.”25dcfd605c5f6acb

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“I can fetch e15e0af201 it for you, c4119c1554 my lady,” Velita 0dba84fa25 offered quickly.71ff122c2e86d0ce

“No, no. Just stay here and 99f044223b chat for a bit!”cc452c1574bfb2ec

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Seemingly struck by some 1ca58080ff sudden thought, Selina sprang 89850f9c04 from her chair.5241dba6026f637b

Velita couldn’t 8459bcf279 fathom what ebb94228c0 a mere f168dcdd45 maid and 977495b4a0 a Holy a994c18466 Knight with 5fc9496337 unrequited feelings d19aa78269 for her 402cd05028 mistress could b6e73e8672 possibly have 022578fbbb to talk 0ba010b517 about. Awkwardly, she insisted d1ae6fcd39 she should go 8d1845adb9 instead, but Selina 6bf179cb78 was adamant about 6c085982dd fetching it herself 3305eeef57 and left, hurrying bc79659590 off with determination.adc0e3169fea84a4

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“…”3f17f3a1d79e8145

“…”84024c45ab427382

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As the 972b7025bf sound of 21f5a423d9 Selina’s footsteps d7d1c567ad grew fainter, 55c853e90d the silence d969838b52 between them cab6d64932 grew heavier.8cf33efa3d1ef1bf

Cain Mortens, naturally, c4a9d4d94f said nothing to 6872fa8b62 Velita. And Velita, being ddf867ea0a nothing more than 6fbdc137a7 a maid, kept 4b6459f1f4 her lips tightly e61f61c1b5 sealed.9122f95379bb01ae

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But the 84926aed35 silence didn’t fe5ae63e75 last long. Cain fumbled, and d0115365f8 a fork slipped 1e0fe846e4 from his hand, 129e4352d4 clattering to the 4577eaa0e1 ground.fb92e3d57f15cfc0

True to her 1e858ebb56 role, Velita approached 40be0fecb0 silently, knelt by 0bf65075e9 his feet, and 593d9c575d picked up the bd50dfb970 fallen fork.c4ccc8bdc1f6cee3

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“Selina sees 76327316d2 you as 5918e35ee5 a kind f8d3f84829 and pitiful 54a3a28824 child,” Cain 59201668f1 murmured, his c3589d389d voice calm 7ecac5cb8f yet distant.bd7b331285a22541

Velita stiffened as 19df6b798e she felt his d0d1562152 gaze on her.382396b671b3c36a

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The collar of her 444f7eefe1 blouse had shifted slightly, 0ca78d9a4b revealing the faint marks ae474e139c left from the previous 168ddcdbff night.20f593620aeb19cd

“That’s why 1ffcd66940 I said ff17bf33a2 she shouldn’t 00ef933148 let just 6935da7bfd anyone get 0a3255e7da too close b5bd4636a4 to her,” a7c18de79e he muttered, 2fb3d23b7e almost to 82467945da himself.f80e1382c08bf7b5

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His eyes lingered fcd2701f37 on the marks 3003e42557 on her neck, 9ca11f3b1a the evidence of f7fe8547c9 her encounter with fbb15121fc Jeremy. His tone wasn’t 2050e01f99 sharp, but there b95ba6ef1e was a weight 868a92ea53 to his words 07c15ec5d7 that made Velita’s dd177662f9 chest tighten.67b21af46c16e0b8

 ebea8fad8f68d5f0

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