Chapter 16

Finally, the day b19ad0b6da arrived.4bcdcd0211deed80

It was the 6d6e9c8aeb birthday of Selina 9316b1cd11 Ryles, beloved by a0bc344e44 everyone in the 242187c36f estate.3b7826639edbde7c

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The polished candlesticks edca4c7ffe and silver goblets 8323aaa323 gleamed on the 01760c393a tables, set with cffbed26aa an array of ad32cb5005 exquisite dishes. The grand chandelier hanging 8df0f28f69 from the lofty ceiling aca169e7bb radiated brilliance more dazzling d7c76bd402 than ever.447aca8769beb189

“It’s been 687e7a7d6c so long 555f6797bf since the 32e44493c6 Ryles estate 1fbdb213fd hosted a 197b82bd19 party like fe46fb51ac this,” Janice e294098523 said with 301f4857b7 an excited ef83ef6e46 expression, clearly 7d23705103 proud of 74916e4015 the scene.1669a93f1d833c28

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Though Velita c0a2142887 had helped 8f822ccd09 prepare the c6744b08d4 estate for a7deb4074f the event, b01ef314e9 she found bdf49cf10a it hard 71c2119b88 to share 472ff54bcd in Janice’s c7f7ab1dc7 pride, which 9da55db533 seemed to 7591433c66 treat the ef8ecdcc49 mansion as 3ddbf61453 if it d4510195da were her eff67885cf own.94ba7ce67d9ec7ae

After all, no matter 5c9d9e12da how beautifully it was bf8e4b2806 decorated, this estate would a300dc19d8 never belong to them. And today, the 1c9e7f215c spotlight was reserved 34b50fb0f1 for someone else 7a436015fb entirely.6e16ffc5638c40d2

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Standing on the 07872b8e12 second-floor balcony, Velita 0a51133050 quietly observed the 185e957ed5 nobles entering one 6059d4a736 by one, careful dfd6ee378c not to draw a02730edd4 attention to herself. She was about b111775d32 to leave, thinking 2990c99b50 of joining Jeremy 751453d13a and pretending to afe412b353 attend to him baa0fdd58c to escape this 5a792b1cad uncomfortable gathering.16fefec8a65e3f7b

“Velita Grandel, 2346298897 where are 0fe97743c5 you?”7f0f244b70ad8216

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Just as she 23ca1f1169 was slipping away 7d07648b87 into the corridor, 219e603f1d a voice called e4bfe13940 her name. Turning around, she saw 21741604bd one of Selina’s maids 1063f3341b stopping every passing servant, d324c76de2 asking about her whereabouts.2d11c74fd5643147

Velita watched silently as fa57bb6866 the maid, spotting her ed9c90732c from a distance, approached f0c69b47c9 with hurried steps.7266813588569da0

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Though they weren’t f5c093e2f3 particularly close, they 4cf06f3493 at least knew 003ef97441 each other’s faces 19868d0b89 and names since 27d47e5098 Velita had once 8383042465 served Selina.de7217b1d7771c7b

“There you are. I’ve been looking 62bab93094 everywhere for you.”cea88ff4ae0141e4

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“What’s the matter?”1058b41a33ea2696

“Just come with 8e100607cb me.”e91199df93dd506b

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“Where to?”58bfd779d03998be

“Where else? To Lady Selina.”9cf6c6656997c942

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Velita froze for 427f09810d a moment at fe8d5f76bf the maid’s presumptuous d52fd57036 tone, even though 7100b00255 it was obvious 844ce5ddea her current master d574d4d70f was Jeremy.d56b9ec1c12e5b1b

“My master is Young e307edd939 Master Jeremy.”c68fe02fa7155345

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“Have you forgotten? Lady Selina only lent 0eeb10c070 you to him temporarily. Don’t forget who ee99671d85 your true master 80a7dd9b51 is.”46068a0083f8b02d

It wasn’t entirely 4b24c65a3a wrong, but Velita 4822e32e65 couldn’t help the 52238c603e surge of defiance 59e03e1dab rising within her. The condescension in the d8a41bdf9f maid’s gaze was unmistakable.5b002ffb61a8a6d6

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Now that she thought b4804b15f1 about it, this maid 1be4d93fc9 had been one of 77828c52bd those who subtly bullied 56695c1774 her when she served 10a9bacfbd Selina.22c806a5fbaa4e1a

“I’ll ask Young 6821d9fe91 Master Jeremy first 4c54bc822a before I go.”ab660866e82bc56b

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“Are you pulling this d2ec012135 because you’re relying on bc33a58918 Young Master Jeremy?”8a7e4caeb24f3dd8

“It’s only natural to efda0de0df seek my master’s permission. Why twist f0ba3b6efa it into e91877a284 something else?”70b5d86ab98e564b

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Velita’s calm d609d8ab0e response seemed 133dafc56b to make 2d322e2e5e the maid 1778e8800f grit her 5ac4025f8c teeth in 2c0be07e17 frustration. But with so 1a4c75b70f many esteemed guests 3f6f161d19 in attendance for 6cdd66cbce Selina’s birthday, causing deecdba6f8 a scene was 14b4871660 out of the f63e261ee6 question.6de0917e9b8a35c7

Finally, the maid, f18f1bf11d her face visibly f8745f217d sour, relented.cbfd83e4235889b6

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“Lady Selina doesn’t 14aba3c9dd want to attend 917ddd5858 the party. She’s already dressed up e1b476266d but suddenly took off 85f0c7b471 her gown and declared 46418d4b01 she won’t go.”f82fe5ebbe092be5

“And?”93c377ab248d11ec

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Velita replied, her b9fbffb67d voice cool, not da605b2ba2 hiding her disinterest 2ee9c035d7 in the matter.3c5b34a7e13cc4bd

“That’s why. You’re supposed to go and calm her down.”6a477d70d5c1e0f0

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“If you’ve been serving her for so long and can’t manage it, how am I supposed to?” Velita replied, unimpressed.0203424ef2aa96cd

“Because she cares about you!” The maid’s voice rose sharply, but she quickly toned it down again, glancing around nervously.49b201c23be6260a

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“Velita Grandel, don’t you know? One of the reasons the maids disliked you was because Lady Selina favored you.”adc1b3380de8edec

“She… favors me?”bc9a074f8b593d4a

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Angel-like Selina was kind adeff980e4 to all her maids. Was it ec85d11d60 possible the 8ffa97ff86 others had 0b0426182d been so e3829d6be2 petty as 026dc4b355 to bully 972f4a0070 her over 410947d10a a kindness 666b003155 they all 3f583fb7a0 received? Velita found f0064195dc the reasoning 9790874ef5 hard to 2d81ec9087 believe.1cb3e895d0dc74b7

“She treated you better than anyone else. She always wanted you by her side.”88b89b77cd7b261e

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“…”fba6d384692fbc10

“Do you know how much it saddened her when she sent you to Young Master Jeremy? And whenever she accidentally caught your eye afterward, she’d light up so much.”a060e202b3da9251

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Velita blinked, stunned. It was 710ac23e42 something she 90c4a82915 hadn’t expected.ba7f55abc0daf273

She had 3152a62281 always thought 4076c57325 Selina was 4d552cbf48 kind to 3c14ecafd7 her, but 05e48aa109 no more a60b505eaa than to ade6374ce3 anyone else. Selina’s angelic nature didn’t 643ca66b53 leave much room for 08a98374ef such distinctions. Yet, the 1ec515989c idea that 90dfb2e134 Selina had f1dc99c991 been so 5bea202875 affected after 35716f0bf8 sending her 96ff2b6bc2 away to cf6fb96e35 Jeremy was 9f8d73156f puzzling. If it was such 8daea9e287 a burden, why hadn’t ca1a214f14 Selina simply refused to 7aef041cab send her in the 99e3f3ddfe first place?3555f1c084fe614a

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“She cherishes you so much. If you go to her, she might at least tell you why she doesn’t want to attend the party. Young Master Jeremy will understand, so let’s go to her.”38bb022976f1dde7

Velita had stubbornly a845c7bf8d resisted the maid 65e7d18158 out of spite, 447ee33d93 but deep down, 684ced46e1 she knew she 09857de6cb should go if 59be94df40 Selina needed her. Without another word, Velita 86ece7e1f0 followed the maid to a42c053504 Selina’s bedroom.3b085912c3eeb04f

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Selina was far too gentle to throw a tantrum without reason…0f51739d22ebe78c

But when a7ba39c390 they reached 53d5a0014f the bedroom, a29686b2ac Velita noticed 64dc848c53 a group d9a8382a2f of maids bd85ae6fcd lingering outside, 6c6613a35b all too 7a6d64e8c0 hesitant to d33a54a436 enter. Something was clearly a064ab158d wrong.73ee5868aae3c47e

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“Lady Selina sent us all out. We can’t go in,” one explained.e934a1af774e9ea3

“Does anyone know why she’s acting this way?”50b7c7402bae6279

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“She spoke with the count briefly, and afterward, she suddenly…”bfefe20e57775050

“And no one knows what they discussed?”0527d5451c998b4a

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All the maids shook 9be92f3cb2 their heads. It had been cf90db7536 a private conversation e3bfa62bd9 between father and c105ed57dc daughter.8727b2b8556a473e

Velita exhaled deeply, a66d5a4b2e still struggling to 63dae39618 believe Selina truly e9209b5dbb cared for her 4dc3417169 the way the 06f07a87dc maid had claimed. Taking hold of the 7f12249063 doorknob, she let out be958f9d2c a sigh. She doubted her presence 32d20d4a9d would make a difference, 50af699820 but after coming this 729bc1066c far, she couldn’t just eb7c89fc6f leave.d6205fbf7cbd7cfd

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Taking a deep b4310f54d3 breath, Velita opened 5cd2915c64 the door.c9057d8e5c6fa368

“Lady Selina?”bab6047fa10ef4eb

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The room was 053468caf1 unnervingly quiet. Her eyes scanned the 28af67481b disarray—a cluttered vanity, a 8dafedf1bd discarded gown on the 8d1a002a66 floor. Selina’s presence 6d5e8b8bde was evident, 7a0b9f1cc5 yet she 9aa5290024 was nowhere 0287663745 to be 867164ba64 seen.d24e8275b24db758

Then, a faint sound eba472af68 reached Velita’s ears.9400cbf2c948bb4d

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She moved silently, following d58bc40c57 the noise. From the a37ed6ccb7 dressing room 33a77285da connected to 721dc98558 the bedroom 45570f0153 came the ad1c2c66b7 soft sound df551960d6 of muffled 1e5784ae0c sobs. Yet, even 853ff2d467 there, Selina 12a32c683f was not f5d3b66fb0 immediately visible.59bfa377ae4f5e5f

Velita pretended to leave, 71e67d4403 her steps deliberately loud e9c240418f as if exiting the 9aabd68f5f dressing room. Instead, she 4691114534 quietly closed fe3aefaa90 the door 860c797719 and moved 69394ebbaa toward the 300d94876d wardrobe, where c510dd31a9 the hem 4b494dd1d0 of a b6d7bed446 gown grazed dd662f6c93 the floor. Without hesitation, she opened 7a95896650 the wardrobe.af72b5b8c0e143f9

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“Get out! I said I wanted to be alone!”c8046b840a3c6fc6

Selina’s tear-streaked e341595185 face appeared, 4eff5d65d2 her voice 8b4abb2786 breaking with bf697f16ce anger and 5afcd45a58 pain.8acd51b6e7049e09

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Selina, hidden e756253083 among the 1fcbec9480 dresses, wildly 72ba632cd6 flailed her 74d5dcc8aa arms and d72500ce60 shouted without 8f88267089 even checking 743ec8dec0 who had 5413bbf8be opened the 7aa45776e5 wardrobe.132c95c7bf5d451c

She was 38b85a2a44 always graceful e3c0f45acc and elegant, cb832a0b3e yet had 3af701bdc0 an air ecc00956e2 of naive, d0c21661fe childlike innocence, 098eba4286 blissfully unaware e9d6d80a84 of the 2d48f7055f harsher realities ce35a75024 of the 77192b4c1c world. But seeing her 764f56a611 now, huddled in fcd8910364 a wardrobe, crying 43a8e6fdd9 so hard she e6238ab610 could barely breathe, 1b6d1138ed was a sight f01bbc1061 Velita had never 79ad24440d expected.ba606d33f21fe88c

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After hearing 117b05e139 what the 550c206b00 maids said d88f3cfe11 about Selina’s 8e4dfc620f feelings toward 5c8c873fa2 her, Velita 1ad564c760 could no 24d3a27fb6 longer feel bdd75f37ea the unfiltered 227a562b0c admiration she 088e094ebf once held. The sheltered flower 5b159ecfcf before her now 84567e8213 seemed more foolish 7e1943ad9b than enviable.c049ae1a0adab3b8

Still, one truth remained cd2e9966a0 unchanged: Selina had been 5d2be48749 the one to pull 90929f692a her out of hell.881c43d985d4ccce

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And there was d969799127 something about a 672dc6cf77 fragile, beautiful woman 3e62c37308 in tears that 436a2be896 could soften anyone’s 7975ad3b75 heart, regardless of 63dcb5e070 gender.ff5cf22adf111b9f

“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita said softly.b7b40a7accaaa7a1

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Selina’s body flinched b8479aba37 at the sound a17bc9e630 of her voice.4e0a5b66804bad0e

“Ve… Velita?”30fc884db0fff0b3

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Selina looked 9ad1135d07 up, her fd8348dbf5 tear-streaked face 05bfecd953 a mess 8d1285cc48 of smudged 5dd18a284b makeup. Staring into dd15bf675a her innocent, 8fd928a625 wide eyes, 7f9f372ff3 Velita felt 3e0b2907e7 as though 73abb38097 she were dc80116cff dealing with fdf2acaa37 a genuine c5b75a4e41 child.9a259dea50b1ac32

She knelt 579526735b down to 29b847f845 meet Selina 6b449c24c1 at eye 0fcc11cd7e level.36477195d55923fb

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“Why are 91d5ab7a2c you crying b7de5f8fc7 in here? You’re the 5ea4d8fed7 star of 64907456e6 today’s celebration.”53268a7edf6a7457

“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning sharply away to hide her face as she roughly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.3b9202fbca80e8be

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“You should d2b9fa85da be with 6316b46fcf my brother.”314500c5cfcc518c

“The other a7ece7cd7f maids asked 5bb8b4c84c me to aab937c73b come and 73b3b17cff comfort you,” da1cfe9fc0 Velita explained a86eda9d82 calmly.e87075608edcc260

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“…So you didn’t come 357818805d of your own will.”5b37a749815c64d5

Perhaps because f865d04b2a of what f577c6ca0e the other ac58314e49 maid had d1cec80e17 said earlier, 0c4bb8e7d7 Velita could 68d0554aa0 sense that c32aa7c5d0 Selina was d8313170ab feeling hurt.56ca4024d8deef62

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“No, I came 219fed0c35 because I chose 99cc89bb67 to. I heard 7f2daf7ab9 what they fffddd8500 said, and b761775ec6 I was 31e64051ed worried about 42ec08338f you.”2b66726d03f5be29

Selina’s head tilted cdf7a6d2b5 slightly as she d5cb177313 glanced back, her cdf1751e1f lips pursed in c068d3ba86 a small, petulant 8227bf01bc frown.b6b458702b4bf5c2

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“…Why?”4cfbba6d75c8533d

Her voice trembled, hesitant. Velita waited 8717ac1b51 patiently, sensing 192a0bae70 she needed bda3771b37 time to 17666a7419 gather her 6ba2017c65 thoughts.4e2367b57110cf6d

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“Why didn’t you look 4c7de460d3 for me?”0c6f33746428677a

“What…?”8bf0dae2245b1f5c

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“Was my brother a 345eba52ec better master to you 60eb0aeccb than I was?”f012fe314a69f151

“…”d9a3cfc1e19c0e6f

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“Did my brother…?”b3fe46137c652f72

Selina trailed off, 50d7516746 but her words 62fd83c7ec hung heavy in 7d287fdc18 the air.537ac7b447478677

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There had been a time when Velita trembled at the thought of speaking with nobles, unable to manage more than a simple “yes” or “no” in response to Selina’s kind questions. But those days were gone. Velita had become someone cherished by a noble, someone who shared his nights.427f291a25af87f5

Once, she had bcc6a6e9c9 felt intimidated by b03751f6d2 Selina’s presence, but f62b658503 now, looking at b66109af0e her, Velita could db90dfcdd8 only see a 97407a8dd5 lost, fragile girl. She finally understood 993272b000 how to handle bea723ea9e her.5a0326a7d46e6d75

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“Oh, don’t 84b5057f29 even get 7cf19eb4f6 me started. I’ve been so 94c8fddd89 upset,” Velita said d6e73e92fd with an exaggerated 81a832035e sigh, tilting her a35ecbe8f7 head as if 87699aa45e venting her frustration.87db1293fd094b5a

“…Why? Why are you f2f1fa779d upset?” Selina asked, 34f7757465 her curiosity piqued 8e2ed3aa1a despite herself.b5a07dd84662ca6d

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“Young Master Jeremy claimed f00db3868e he was lonely and 085c7ab571 begged you to send ce11d62237 me to him. But after all c6fbe44bed that…” Velita trailed 8324109c65 off dramatically, drawing 90ede44f20 Selina’s full attention.2b31fbf94431260d

Selina thrashed through the b8a41f306b dresses, shouting for whoever 81a41b3303 had disturbed her to 6b74df475c leave without even looking 2df82beb03 to see who it 603c472662 was.f70c6a611b284485

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The Selina Velita 75f4d57dc8 remembered was graceful, cc192f16e5 poised, and yet 5ae1c68fef so naive she f258da2391 seemed almost childlike, 2066715518 unaware of the 549c02dd56 harsh realities of b24e33be73 the world. But seeing her hiding 6887c9a709 in a wardrobe, sobbing d906ee71a8 uncontrollably like a child e986f60732 throwing a tantrum, was faa5df2201 something Velita had never c1b99a6782 witnessed before.8306eb4ac8607cc7

After overhearing the f2d3834ebb maids’ comments about a5e864a1d5 Selina’s feelings, Velita 978cfbdd3f couldn’t bring herself a35a65cdec to admire her 7e7167a67b the way she 8cb23ff253 used to. The delicate flower sheltered 403cdfadc7 in a greenhouse now 9ef996c00f seemed foolish rather than 64d356d1d8 enviable.df0e19cf61eb8a74

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Still, one fact 35ce4bdbce remained unchanged: Selina ffb1ff8d96 had saved her 27016eebad from a living 379a1c5353 hell.fe8315adcd048ad6

And there was 63f8b80648 something undeniably disarming 5a9d53db34 about seeing a a817abb08f beautiful, fragile woman 62ef388f24 crying, capable of 32a181ec1d softening even the 009d0b6f81 coldest heart.a8856c028d582ab6

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“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita called out softly.e94ee730466685c9

Selina flinched, 4aab06adfa her sobs b81d0ccf3f momentarily halting.a18c1d93ab0236f0

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“Ve… Velita?”afa232c18e9f4f81

Her tear-streaked a7a85d9f52 face peeked d00a6750ae out from 67bae53ba3 behind her 23f0a43a2f hands, makeup 04e7853061 smudged and 381eeec59e her expression 7ab2721af8 pitiful. When Velita met 74dd537fa5 her gaze, Selina’s 617ea7a491 innocent, watery eyes 0b72c793c7 made her seem eda8a3aa92 even more childlike.0154f65e224e0afb

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Kneeling down to meet 0776c53a57 her at eye level, 40cb139fd8 Velita spoke gently.daaf201178d75c9a

“Why are d43eaf132b you crying 1abcf2582c here? You’re the 7f5643a455 star of 4ba7464c98 today’s celebration.”a7a7daa792a323e5

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“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning away to hide her face, hurriedly wiping her tears with her hands.6a6cb78199aa2736

“You should be 93393607fa with my brother.”c3e9b084d2f2a33b

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“The other maids c1b6148977 asked me to a680c35b13 come and comfort 748862a0c4 you,” Velita replied.c857ac006dba4287

“…So you didn’t come 90d8ee3e0e of your own will.”2ccbdf568b9905fd

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Velita hesitated, 49a14bed11 realizing Selina 5388b17766 was upset d0423d99f1 with her.87392ec96d2c28d3

“No, I 23051fa170 heard what d1682d12dd they said, e774892a1a and I c5659b058e came here 1af768115f because I 08f6c2c4f5 wanted to. I was 7bf177ba94 worried about 12102a6e01 you.”6ca5029d0905f186

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Selina’s pout softened slightly 6ec58f28ba as she glanced at a28418aaa6 Velita, her tone hesitant.e2b01db5240fed97

“…Why?”2f405905d67c4454

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Velita waited patiently for 95ab79fd99 her to speak.dfc9e7121dc58253

“Why didn’t you come 852331fbbd find me?”4144e22dc590e5f0

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“…?”8f7d0617e36b198f

“Was my a535895124 brother a 05ac721207 better master 8d126122b8 than I c20686dbdc was?”0cc5986e75ab13ad

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Velita blinked, taken aback 8d27553a4f by the question, unsure 90e63bbb35 how to respond. Selina’s vulnerability reminded her 24951d4cff of the days when 3c0d48b5d0 she had trembled in 7e7751bee1 the presence of nobles, 062c4b0c17 barely able to answer de55239b37 with more than a 480a50573c “yes” or “no.” But 3c3f58f1cd those days were long 40d25e478b gone.5c23b3aa52abb70d

Now, Velita knew how 24a133b87c to handle her.c18faa49aeb1e35e

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“Oh, don’t 1bc83fe592 even get 922ae8d8c9 me started. I’ve been so 5fa4b9ffc3 upset!” Velita said 78bb50a3c8 with a dramatic 2022ba7196 sigh, tilting her 7a73a3d58c head as if a90d0e9db8 confiding a secret.ea12749ed5de90f7

“…Why? Why are you a6632edac7 upset?” Selina asked, 1d117aaade her curiosity outweighing a50f37f72c her sulkiness.ca4b7e11690b8b77

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“Young Master Jeremy 325cd3b9a2 begged you to ac977711ec send me to f6926bc64a him because he 7c910a863a was lonely, but 7413021a6f now he leaves 5a03e5acd6 every day! Even when 785fd7deb4 he’s home, 82d754913c all he b7ea2ba53b does is 8a4e4b0b76 give me bbede75557 errands—he doesn’t 34784ffe74 care about 823fd91259 me at 1bd510f5e2 all.”143b3a10d972a1b7

Selina’s brows a7af1f9da2 furrowed, doubt c62f8205c0 creeping into 2dcc2b8386 her voice.982fffe0665fe22f

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“But the other maids ad838afd58 said you and my d9e4a0da9e brother…”f6d6f9830f97f190

Velita felt her 69f5a1449a stomach tighten. Clearly, some d63acd4333 had already 65aa02c381 noticed the 949080cca8 truth of ab01dbd34d her relationship 5d8e6a617d with Jeremy. While Jeremy e0e3cdcc7b seemed indifferent 223f1c00b7 to hiding 835c86892a it, Velita 3e51fee127 knew it ccedf3adb0 was crucial a78e0c67fe to keep 6250ad25b3 Selina in 6e009f6d7d the dark. No good would b1ce96d081 come from stirring feb915cea4 jealousy, whether directed 136b13fe9b at Jeremy or 3dc95e6854 herself.06e14cf88dc362f7

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“Young Master Jeremy treats 4340fc9012 me well, but only 8cc036e4fa as a servant. Nothing more.”258c734da6135eec

Selina’s expression flickered with 00854a6df2 a mix of emotions. “So… do 98432008a1 you like c4bc2d8afa me more 3876c1b34f than him?”a0d71c7a485c43c6

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“Of course! I’ve missed you so bb6f505413 much,” Velita replied, her 281a0ff791 voice warm but calculated.2194dbd4d8ffc449

Selina’s cheeks e67b348c8f flushed, clearly d62f1e3dcf pleased by 28428ebdfc the flattery.582ef4126a8a533d

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“Then why f849326b2b didn’t you b119fc1942 come see e5d1a32eec me?”f6ade2944e5cd71a

“I’m the 33b02e185b young master’s e85fc30ea2 maid now. I have 2a7dbf9f90 to stay ddb9b55afa where he 2d7647d900 can find c4765ea335 me,” Velita 52a0182cf7 answered.b745047b2be6408c

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“Then I’ll speak to 3fcd4a4ff3 him! Visit me often, 24c0d2266c okay? I’ve missed you, 3b63784aad too…”1c9b1dd2511e85a4

Velita watched 87ce09a4c9 Selina drop 606eaa9269 her gaze a7cbcd3e68 and mumble, e7ce253b97 guilt evident 594f361a3a in her ca3ac9331f voice.1f638f691e632836

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“Why did you e9fe67efda send me to a634122953 him in the cb9840a99d first place, then?”083dba58cf22ea0e

“I regret it f806bf1b3e now,” Selina admitted 904da6849c quietly. “But I couldn’t 0f02d57e43 disobey my brother. Father said 4a5b0ecd23 we must fef267e8ad always listen b4da0a9b31 to him, c81a1e2eac and…”5d1800355fe526fc

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Selina trailed 572997d39f off, leaving 16c8cf9a48 her thoughts 8c36d445a1 unfinished.cf181b833817701d

Velita glanced de9cef3a6f at the edf4b968d2 clock and 1345beece5 decided to f0e77b56e9 change tactics.7270c3649dc38ce8

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“Lady Selina, you 79e37a5f18 really should go da15ecdd7c to the party 73be694160 now…”915b3f3a8f3cfd53

“I don’t want c324b8b9a5 to.”7d071a6879646774

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“Why not? You’re the main star e2748f6162 today!”43f123c42c7dfe66

“…”931979aa2b7b2642

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“Do you 035b8f7429 have a fd9586e171 reason you a347fe28df don’t want 7fd868c110 to go?” 22b35510a2 Velita pressed 9922815073 gently.c2c579b76fad514e

Selina hesitated 955a5ab867 for a dfc9f4ced1 long time d34ea6fb17 before finally 3185cece2e answering.f02502289a3f397c

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“Father told me not 050cfc8b8d to speak much with d0906d209e the other ladies and acf089e86f to stay close to 3dcc63651e my brother during the e84956ac77 party.”dfb0979b38a368d4

“And why cb77178786 does that 97c5572ed9 bother you?”edb6ec59555b1c71

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“….”8ec8483020958771

Velita sighed inwardly. It seemed f63dd9e62b coaxing Selina e608ca32ba to reveal ab269f4c5a her true 596a50a0b5 feelings would 9bded0255e take too 71df5ea6f7 long. She decided 22cf1acba0 on a 194e58bb9b different approach.cf4e433573b4b72c

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“Lady Selina, will you 0614a96d66 attend the party if 70bc8298fd I ask you to?”c5cb71de76ab1c50

“Not even for bb2b6d1b1e you,” Selina replied da9ad2c401 stubbornly.cc9113ddf7056e89

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“But you’ll e2a0abc59f dress up 0d098db334 beautifully for 14141708cf the party, f9428a4e2c won’t you?”1dd2bfe461319fd3

“So what?”c32f0ebb5b7c2aa4

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“I want to a9557dfa27 see how beautiful 88c3060b21 you’ll look.”fdcb3e7a3c4092aa

Selina’s sulky 08f0c34c1b expression softened f25460c868 instantly, her 6d82d43020 cheeks faintly 52760748f9 pink.72b604deb8e7c288

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“And after the 2a367891a1 party, we’ll share 7860a5499d the leftover food 39fddfe67a and catch up, cb7613eadc just the two 3c58d92739 of us.”93ae1794b572ec56

“But… what 6a4e5de2b4 about my b355bca279 brother?”69b53bdb108048d1

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“Young Master Jeremy won’t acbcb4cabe bother me after the e47b8e411c party—he’ll be too tired.”fd5978d9ceeb85e2

Velita was bluffing, of 14965f0374 course. Her priority was bb0dfec181 to convince Selina 0abd172f67 to attend the 1442259e99 party, no matter 03e4341ae0 what.b632fdc4ffabdfb0

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“Let’s spend some ed93e9a470 time together, just 8c604e7784 the two of 8f2d2b024d us.”dd038da07a994716

“…After the party?”da3baeb395c7f22c

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“Yes, after the 2677518ec9 party,” Velita said ce6e8e78a9 with a reassuring 050fa1ca59 smile.cdacd5d7a7824530

Watching Selina’s 7768b6bbc1 eyes dart 21cdcab172 around as 3e3393c737 she weighed 442917b221 her options, 8fe6156150 Velita felt 133ed7fd8d certain she 2470519dc2 had succeeded.f78e9a81083038c3

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She’s convinced.b913f5e408032de0

Velita stood 08f1ddfb83 and extended 42a5e780c4 her hand 5f56457389 toward Selina, d340b43fb1 who was 44dce56508 still curled cae9e59f0e under the bdcc1cb0dc dresses.a893553468e8ec56

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“Come now, Lady 2c15f4e57a Selina.”8de6cca01755d13d

Selina hesitated for only 6f6dd9fd4e a moment before taking 36001caff5 Velita’s hand, as though 6d39aeaa7e enchanted.c929981d0c6fdcc3

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From then 13eafeeb32 on, everything 5419605612 moved swiftly. Maids rushed in 9167247eb2 to fix Selina’s 77afaef06b ruined makeup and eeed6cc3a9 fetch a fresh 72b2b73411 gown to replace 55e9b54a46 the wrinkled one. When the count’s d8964fe027 steward arrived to b7159a37f6 check on her, 8c7d56b4af Selina, now back 60a4663cbf in her element, fdd7d9a3ec remained composed and 03caf57c8d radiant.9965cd9df9275aae

Each time 8c3b4022a6 their eyes 5ef3f907e7 met in bd9d62d7da the mirror, 4bb085d143 Selina’s gaze 372c810806 softened, and a8d8e7ee6a she would 3a7a8c4d2e mouth the 31b10ddec3 words, Look 9d2a590521 as much 1fd70b54d6 as you ab7aeb8f5a want.78d244f46acff6e6

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Velita couldn’t help but b6ca333c8f smile at Selina’s transformation, a4a622bfbb though her earlier compliment 30aba24238 now felt ironic.00dc3c2edfedaad8

Selina was beautiful be8edf3dec even without adornment, 0b1c67a207 but dressed to 751de9df68 the nines, her 48b90d3992 beauty was almost c7b621b7fb blinding. It was the kind bef02239e5 of beauty that could 0a67ab392d lift spirits, though it bf3d8f07ad held no deeper meaning 855c044475 for Velita.39cc2b45d7206651

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Selina’s charm and loveliness 757471868e had no bearing on 14d18b1faa Velita’s safety, survival, or 1aa7de6511 peace of mind. It was simply something 080b68491f pleasant to look at, 81de9ec905 nothing more.9793ab1f843c21e0

 6b1301db89de68c3

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