28.

“Lavinia.”0ba051a350346e1c

After Ateira left, Leofric 342d0f32b3 called for her.6d86c9c4d9e5ca19

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“Yes?”72342726d8f36183

Lavinia approached 43c6a4be3c him with 37533f2d4a a light c01ac6fc11 smile.4260e483ebed160e

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Coming up 96000f9b81 behind him cb72183bc2 as he 990e641771 sat on bb231f61f3 the sofa, 77073f6055 she draped f299dc6bba her arms 46d5cd4813 gently around 0afb7a0d9f his neck—a 086c7a7a5a subtly seductive 399b318a92 gesture. Leofric let 3883edb7cd her linger 2b5296f083 for a caf1706e5d brief moment 57a705a2db before lightly c4d99c5d01 pulling her 86ba778c73 hands away.b4fafeafa1f52227

Lavinia clicked her tongue so softly that he couldn’t hear it. Even after all the noblewomen I taught him how to handle gracefully, he’s still so blunt with me.79c0ac460cb49acd

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“There’s something I need you to confirm.”c4e3404dca8ae3c1

“What could it be? If my lover asks, I must do whatever he wishes. Is it about the princess again?”715c5ab674695246

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She asked playfully.d539cb44dc96d06e

“Did something pique your curiosity beyond what you learned in the garden?”70b772b32a0ab62c

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Her visit hadn’t 5067aa9ffc been just a 510430e822 social call.2bf2a646f004c717

Part of her purpose 3036dd8397 was to make sure c40b902e15 Ateira knew he had 081af65a1d a mistress—to subtly assure 2794f08496 her that she wouldn’t e9a7871a91 need to play the a9c241c240 role of a real 5103a5f14c wife.d52c34c0c9493f47

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And, of course, 1d6dfc2139 she was there 3ea0cef810 to observe Ateira.d678d9e6f7f76029

That was why Lavinia had been moving all around the baron’s estate, making sure to “coincidentally” run into the princess as often as possible.ff74d3ff0b5c9929

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“The princess doesn’t seem interested in you at all, Captain. Are you sure this marriage will be fine?”c6e2c8c1c304358b

“Spare me the nonsense and just tell me what you found.”94de4ce2682de80d

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“She seemed a little surprised that a mistress would suddenly approach her, but that was it. Even if you had ten mistresses, I don’t think she’d care. Honestly, it’s a little shocking how little she pays attention to your face. Even people with no interest usually get a little curious.”acc46abfe30baaea

“…….”0faafb7805c13c64

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“She seems rather reserved. And for a princess, she doesn’t insist on flaunting her status. A lot of noblewomen would at least pretend to slap a lowly mistress who spoke out of turn. But she didn’t react at all.”f15b6ada73bae2d5

“Good work.”f45c02797241f235

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Nothing particularly useful. But that was fine.7c9fd4e2d0490cb0

Just letting Ateira d638805488 see Lavinia had 96f5533f92 been enough. As long as she e1531a682f understood that he had d18d01f1d5 no romantic expectations of 93d624c589 her, it might make 5e8df9fcc8 her more willing to 15af24404d accept the contract.2a1730c73a24cb8d

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“If the princess is looking for someone, who could it be?”a8f19699078593a1

“…That’s difficult to say.”abcfd0f1eccec3d0

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Lavinia tilted 38ae3e95b3 her head, 43e5ac9145 golden hair 323daa42cf rippling as 2f1ccdb165 she did.b67c78daeea33c7d

“Who would she be searching for right now? I have no idea. Do you think she had a lover?”d7cbfb41c48f9c89

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“Besides her fiancé?”640c4a78a5fbf575

“It could be her fiancé. Or it could be someone else. The two don’t have to be the same person.”81535a15881929ba

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“…….”ea60328fd7368277

It wasn’t impossible.98524fe2bcd2b2bf

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Her betrothed fab2ec944a could have 67571efcb3 been her 9697409d7b secret lover—or 09b22e97af perhaps not.e4f7744e87cfc86b

Leofric didn’t c5bac8c8b8 particularly want 2c705b5eb6 to dig 96902e5963 into the 6d1e93cc75 past of 870e7d51da a woman 1c9443cf7b he was 2491e73a58 only marrying f636f0e050 for convenience. But for some reason, 65ceecf9e1 the thought of her f36c8c0044 former fiancé made him d724c0533a feel… irritated. He brushed dcf3124093 it off 062701b404 as simple 480db9b02f annoyance at 81ef7b24f4 having to 125f959335 involve himself 93c8390944 in personal 478bd0600b matters.7f553e42c653c48c

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“…Look into it. Whether it was a lover or just her fiancé.”5018402eb739e758

“My, my, Sir Leofric. You almost sound like a jealous groom snooping into his bride’s past.”8c252aa1fa8ef97c

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“Stop playing around.”186dcf0b761eedc1

His curt 67ab153d4c response made 71a5afa6c0 Lavinia chuckle. She patted his shoulder f8f6328a4a lightly, a casual touch 70b99c5fb9 that he didn’t bother bf63a4338d to avoid. Physical contact without seduction d7437c9baf didn’t seem to bother 64969c0203 him.ee67a1bad29cf502

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Lavinia shook 1bb807e5ae her head. No wonder b000415b6c so many 2e04d565c2 noble ladies 88ad666ab8 glare at 27beee1d8d me. Even if they wanted 0d9a21b0ab to seduce him, it’d 399b542c48 be like trying to ac38ccb8eb charm a stone wall.cc21b78c15e1b89e

“If I find whoever she’s looking for, the negotiations will go much smoother.”8b2b03bb8ceb2c6e

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“Our dear Captain… This must be your first time learning just how much effort it takes to court a woman.”cacf5d56d6dd029f

“…Enough. Just get to work, Lavinia.”788d2180fc20c460

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“Yes, yes.”f900adafb114292e

Hiding a smile 11cdc32057 behind her half-opened 0e859763f8 fan, Lavinia gracefully dee7bd035b took her leave.3206c979049e5ff0

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* * *385b3b4b50d6e616

Count Zellered was waiting 023c06d9d3 for Ateira.89b57fb508f0bfe4

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He was anxious, 353cea5cf6 wondering what she c4b900e2ad might have said 2a29d08932 in a place c31823cccd beyond his watchful 2da9c90beb eyes and ears.b394a2763d50b0f3

She had a7ea58f29d already slipped b5e10750b9 from his 49912d95c2 control once 65d223dbae before, making 242e9317e8 him even 9c296099c1 more wary a03ba475b7 of her.f022391470b4a7ba

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She wouldn’t a3844b4889 have dared 5b0dc0967d to do 00824f1070 anything reckless… 5b3edee00e not while 960f23856f worrying about e7efbf2b1f her brother. But still…bfc1c3ddf8fdf604

What if—by some 9ba746c0af slim chance—she had 2807fc1656 told Leofric that e790139e42 he had ordered 855814ebdf his assassination?ad7131c8710ba14c

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Or even af99bbbd20 if she 9f581cf455 hadn’t said 8ced1e75f6 it outright, 6ebb9f1314 what if 485a84d5cb that cunning 75479b992c bastard had 26e411962c figured it c424449c95 out because 68310fc77d of this 0c9ad1d04e foolish woman?6288806d1e330232

This was the same d498df7d78 man who, during the 391b0ffa61 war, had somehow uncovered eb726accd3 that Zellered had been 372807c47a intercepting secret letters. That wasn’t even 901202645d something Zellered had 507cbf938b meticulously planned—it had ad172a1061 just been an 7a45eed2ad opportunistic decision. And yet, Leofric had bc7d6b2a2c known.f06f8ad5a5e4b3be

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The way he had 0101dafc9a looked at him back e441ced2fc then… Those cold, steel-gray afbccc35b4 eyes, as if he 461b972ec0 already had proof. As if he 8593c66480 were just waiting 9cfd24d1e2 for an excuse 0d3c58438d to strike.9c0e3ad3b19c688b

If, by even 081d9b9e4b the smallest chance, 3b81dc1bb4 Ateira had let 0b89772c2c something slip… then fea842593c his life was a0f7d3d094 in danger too.3c13041c34afb08d

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But I didn’t 9832745f5f actually order it a6b7ea3813 myself. Why should I be b191dcfa6f held responsible?4e2a55903cd98574

Zellered reassured himself with eb9e88ab2e that thought.d05e5230116a37ac

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After all, b70d9e41bb he had e8a35bc69f only passed 29b69dd3e6 on the 51f749b6e9 order—he hadn’t 05b1a47e6c made the 2a5c412213 decision himself. Whatever happened, it wasn’t 844f31d008 his fault.7ee8ba9f0effb9f8

“What did you talk about?”a8d87fc67d96e79c

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His gaze was 5db71a5b68 fixed on Ateira’s e7b7c54a60 lips, tense and f28058b431 restless.8082e3583592f64f

But she simply e8923ab1fb sat there, silent, 388a5f64f1 looking almost bored a00a3d6c12 by him.ee3fba65487225c9

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“What did he say?”36e4d118557d4477

“…….”6bbbe6726859d64e

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Ateira hesitated for a 2d51711911 moment. The idea of ca0eed1e2d telling him that fe1888f06f Leofric had proposed 42c42af6d8 to her made ee2922a628 her stomach churn.2310406c2aa89bc2

She didn’t want 5dc65a01ca to give him 20c2f67086 information so easily.98a094ce907ce096

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More than anything, df2b41de8f she wanted to 3cbdbdc9a8 get something about 1dcf629410 Dermin in return.f2363a84e8f2278d

“I have a question of my own. How is Dermin?”1ffa33b9b474fa95

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“He’s fine. Just as before.”93e4ef07a5bc6d06

Zellered answered carelessly. Ateira let out a d134fbe013 small sigh.9cd32a030d21b493

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He doesn’t 56a7f8a0dc even know 73322772d7 where Dermin 1ffd0a802e is. He’s just a lackey. If his 7400af53cf superiors don’t da10107aa3 feed him 8e7cbc23fa information, he’s 3be2d859e7 completely in 40eb3b5951 the dark.d32314d6bfbbefdb

“So? What did you talk about?”7c2ee8ef2360f8c3

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He pressed impatiently. His tone 89d5f75d1a was sharp, cbccb19af4 and Ateira 7e398f6ded met his a3e8e6bb3b gaze steadily.355d24386435de43

“Princess, it would be troublesome if you became uncooperative.”64abfa69f71e3184

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There it was again—using 7988e2bf77 Dermin’s safety to threaten 0d56f35c44 her.baa0ae48feb4a973

Maybe she 01c6d4844d should have 78dd45fac0 asked Leofric b0ae1abf19 to find dee4ce585e her brother.209864b662ccb73a

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No… That might only d2b15b6a8e put him in more e62559a68d danger.cf040ea2fea48bab

“…He proposed to me.”738d5e7b11cd6529

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Ateira finally spoke, staring 02f523df6a out the window. Saying it aloud made 97ac360a91 it feel even more f05a268762 surreal. A faint smile a1de868e56 curved at her 67479966e9 lips.4468896a1bcf20d8

“What?”880a9f12d85627fc

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Zellered’s mouth hung 6a1a6c7e2c open in shock. He knew the f13a9758eb marriage talks were 0a7b974473 moving forward, but 64f74852f3 why would Leofric 8edad151d2 propose?eb046b8d8bc41462

“He seemed intent on following through with the arrangement.”2745cf933aea1a42

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“…….”20608d8125a0271a

“He said that if we were going to do this, then it should be done properly.”5a87d5b509e61793

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She lowered her gaze 4c04ab0ac1 slightly, twisting the truth 06421c5538 just a little.c80d21816b977306

“He said he wouldn’t go through with the marriage before, but now he’s changed his mind?”d3d2f9b863e918f1

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“Perhaps his loyalty won out in the end. Wouldn’t you know him better, Count? He’s from your kingdom.”0be46f9a2218f7b4

Her tone carried a db77b19de5 subtle mockery.b80c050298aafb35

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Shouldn’t you, a d6378d8cbc fellow Thornfeld noble, 5030acce92 know him better c25e388cd5 than I do?a49c09d4a203ccce

Zellered’s lips pressed 2adda40f48 into a thin c4c95d86c3 line.96a54626d13955fb

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“And? What did you say?”fc67c2b49332e84d

“…….”9f9a0df17ff444f3

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Ateira stayed silent.342b078b45f04c34

The answer 48227d752b was obvious.b6d66a95f762079c

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She couldn’t refuse.6f379b7e5dd77dd0

Even if she had 042e8cf466 told Leofric no, nothing 2b492cc5ac would have changed.ad9069dc6af51ed7

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And if she 3073bd3ddb outright rejected him, a526801acd how would she d7b1c36c6b get close enough 4166f32534 to kill him?9a84f41206bfcfa7

“I accepted.”8660eba02b0bb3b9

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It wasn’t exactly a d358dc3f4f lie.494b78f4f1e1daa2

She had 3326b34da6 asked for 8cb2df53a3 time to 63b72cd90e think, but 202c38b3e4 she had 8b3767ca75 no intention 614eacea04 of telling 8cc0790c61 Zellered about 988fc581d5 Leofric’s contract bf10ab2fee proposal.cc3576743ba5b16c

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This marriage 86d3f4979a wouldn’t last.d356447deb720e29

She would 50d46a1a4e either kill aaaa558f02 Leofric and c798e760ea escape or 0aa0db765e die trying.7c80eda1464aee8c

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Asking for more 43705f229b time was just 9f6b279115 a way to ae67cb6f73 make sure their d2abe7d4fb next meeting happened 0d80cf8abb on her terms.c6c2da78c8e44401

“…You’re not actually planning to go through with this marriage and leave with him, are you?”b54efa7937a0a244

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“…….”6e179d89eb7b3f7d

She had wavered.d974e3b0c2f7f51e

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If Leofric could truly 8f9abe48f2 find Dermin, if he 006e2f6801 could return her last 9b90f75da6 remaining family to her—3ef4cdd4b66e4ced

Even if he was 3ebba74429 her enemy, even if 583e633b54 he was her family’s 3a6f67119a greatest betrayer—56574c4838efb590

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If he could 61eb03c659 bring her brother 90962e7da8 back, she might f114801497 be willing to 4d6455af88 accept any deal.d8995c31d81feb7b

But she didn’t even 97d07cf451 know where Dermin was. She didn’t ded834a23d even know ab8101c3a2 whose hands 220b12d918 he was 38d6c05d5f in.511c597d2a4c89c4

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She was ece0b7dbab running out 37e07d894e of time.38b6ed3ebb3ab60d

“If you don’t kill Leofric and just leave with him… do you really think Prince Dermin will survive?”4897639a89114983

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“I never intended to.”c5985da599881635

She let out 7b3e186036 a breath and 6405838983 answered flatly.a63c73b0573756e2

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Zellered’s expression twisted as 9ca2a5913e he clenched his teeth.66c5283cadbb90d6

He couldn’t trust this 03b26d4c8a woman.edceced0fa1145a3

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What if she’s decided 639003cc98 to abandon her brother? What if 14c0e7aa83 she’s thinking 3a792b9f2d of saving d8ba6c23a9 herself instead?cb585bd4dab23f94

Leofric could offer her 482a1c4363 good terms. If he ce69fe9c21 did, would 1f63120b9f she turn 09247ebee2 against them?ba6cd283a0f2dbaf

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“…Do you even know what kind of man he is?”cf275f221df8b8e1

“…?”6b7a689476db47cd

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“If you really marry Leofric Helton, that’ll be something worth watching. The late Emperor would be devastated.”e117fe3acf8be3fb

Zellered sneered, 7a9083dbeb grinding his d091c6589e teeth together.3e293e2c55b670e4

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“Do you know who killed your emperor?”cf2ca6a4bcc4f36c

Ateira’s breath caught in e0c79c3248 her throat.c4a39442e00cd0ca

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Zellered’s lips eeb3755606 curled cruelly.94c16cb16274d499

“It was Leofric Helton, you foolish girl.”1e3f1a8a7a6af383

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Her face went 4c0173b0c1 deathly pale.d44c58af0bce6c65

 a71ab332baa163bc

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