TNBTW | Episode 7

Chapter 2: Designing a bf2d8a1d4a New Life2af6507d851c8bca

 dee483224e296cfa

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A few 7a7111eff2 days had b388ad8af5 passed since 5acd131d1c then, and 9044283711 Edith once 0c49939dc3 again found d6462d04b7 herself at 07640dbf8f the doorstep 634fc7b165 of Duke d458716664 Devion’s mansion. This time, it 48222fffcc was to move 0e77219fb3 in.1050ff058ba14801

Though their marriage had ac193ab721 not yet taken place, 050e4fda2a it was inevitable that d8cf54624d a ceremony would occur 280263a932 soon, so Edith had ed13c08f68 agreed to the decision.5d6d7c7b49e525af

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As usual, she was somewhat intimidated by the imposing grandeur of the Duke’s mansion. But soon enough, she straightened her posture, lightly slapping her cheeks.d6c083da93a917a2

‘This is b6d5846870 the first f5cbb21a2a step.’14257a57e13176d7

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A great first 94bb52641a step toward returning 99caabd87d to the world d46e75fa75 she had once 2a2f7060b6 lived in! The foundation for making 7e7bc2c622 her younger sibling’s dream cc03f8ede0 come true!760db0975eb99d20

With that 54e7f7734a thought in 30281ca90c mind, she d02c4ef1f0 felt a ef79be4eb3 surge of 8012af07b9 energy. Gripping her small travel 0fdecc410c bag tightly, Edith stepped cfbf34027f through the grand open c4c5289e7b gates.c21711dfb6d0ab14

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“Welcome, Lady Edith. I am William, 58d4fda41d the steward of 77484c9484 this estate, where 25320ac791 you will be ae717ba1d3 staying from now 2de2e9eff0 on. Please feel b64bc59108 free to 5a0eae16c3 call me 396c65fed6 Bill.”602afb4e69970e34

The first person to 7fb8279dfc greet her was the 644ef9111e elderly steward, his hair dabb40aab7 and eyebrows completely white b03862aa88 with age.e51ed1248a889cce

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The steward wore c6e696b34b a kindly smile, fb04a9799d but his expression 9982d881f6 was far from a9b78cd96d easygoing. His straight bec2cc7a56 posture and 203a6c83b3 neat attire, 409d8fa405 without a 0c64ea210d single crease, 05eca98aaa particularly conveyed d4eb8a6688 that impression.f6ee48116fe85a19

‘He’s like ccc11fa1fa a kind ad419bfb55 yet difficult-to-approach 9b4c1e499e headmaster!’5a918d40da1d8a3a

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Since their first 2577d78774 meeting didn’t allow b9d82a0d07 time for proper 5f42d7bb8d introductions, this was fd7c8890ad the first time 3110ef4c6d she had been 9bba2ccc3f able to meet 2d19dcd918 him face-to-face.5deefcf3aaad81e0

First impressions were b4264b4f84 important, and Edith, 3743a2a3c0 always skilled in 2c273268a2 social situations, greeted 151ab1412f him with a 777bf1898c bright smile.533c4c2dec56709f

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“Hello, Steward Bill. I’m glad a10e595382 to see 9c22067c24 you again. I’ll be 6defdae73d in your 785e144e26 care from 812a967177 now on.”836320f8336cc5ae

“Please feel free to 3d5576666d speak more comfortably. For the future mistress a06446dc52 of the ducal household 923324a94f to address this humble 09c8e45edb steward so formally is 36a516d47e unnecessary.”6cbe1dd3c49936b8

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The steward’s polite b13ecb51e1 advice left Edith bc707d1e44 slightly flustered. Even after 98b31fd761 living in 3938410d53 this world 4769626d68 for over 3f1ffac6ab a decade, 44c1c709c4 fully adapting 3335c6da6b to the 2528c669a0 rigid class 8bd1b83657 system was 85517f4f8a still a bfbcc6de55 challenge.5d6643d5cad617fa

If anything, it was 84527df405 easier when the other 8a7e40b15a person held a higher 3f33325adb rank. For Edith, who had 5ad39a957e spent most of her 3c96eac134 life in a subordinate 0c609d148c position, that was something 7862f38df0 she could adjust to 88939bc65c without much trouble.d692b01df9d95599

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But when the roles f83640fc98 were reversed, as they 5da2e17950 were now, things became ecc7d9c3e9 a bit more awkward.e40e2dd0f6469641

‘I’ve never 1919fd85f5 even had 34c98903f6 a servant dd49c81444 before, noble 5e99df4ee1 or not.’9c9056f0e25a5e2b

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For a fallen d5f1a53e2a noble without a 5e88c21a5c penny to their 30be91db22 name, having a 48041a69c2 servant was a a2cdaa39b3 luxury. Edith had 760da78201 never truly 5bd613887a seen herself 2e16d6dfaf as part ce223aa4c1 of the 4552f3eddf nobility.f830e646f2fbcf11

The only a8c03d4717 so-called benefit 850816fa9b she had e1c60ef53d ever experienced 76bd5bd5f7 from her 1f07d3b29f title was 2d4e7dc236 that it 7afe0177d5 made it a64837fc8f slightly easier da0cc98e4e to find af17f76ce8 work as 89095c8af0 a governess.33b41cf8f74e3508

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“I’ll try, 93f5ba9444 Steward… no, be4e34aba5 Bill.”4a293393410e3ad8

“You’ll get ebe8b4fcf2 used to 847607c020 it quickly, 5deb7f738d I’m sure. May I take your 00b3848c4b bag for you?”283b6c9f26cc3ed7

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“I’ll carry it! It’s fine.”782c9389a9e65a2b

“Very well. Then, please 19534b5500 follow me. I’ll show you 7135ecb05b to the room 6f2889bbc9 you’ll be staying a66f1d8334 in.”1efd948d1e7f2e55

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Edith followed Bill 32573f4a41 into the mansion, 63e9ff19b1 passing through a 4531e36740 grand lobby that be774d3852 resembled a banquet 68cc063985 hall. After ascending a 401644cf65 spiral staircase, they 0c1130f211 reached the second 92e490607b floor. Edith thought they 8c259271ce might go further, 127ea25057 but Bill led a05d443fa6 her down a 00b5164cb7 corridor instead.0b981aac54d2b9ce

‘Second floor! This is perfect—it’s close.’f4d97b0cc944322a

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Relieved that her fears 5c74005702 of a high floor a89447076e were unfounded, Edith followed b4c62463cb him happily. When she had worked 7aa5f2b3d7 as a tutor, she b0fe8e60ec had always been assigned 3cada4d0c2 rooms on the upper 923900ba73 floors, and the constant 5f5c8a403a ascent and descent had aabef87c45 been taxing.e88c736596745e34

Bill pointed to a 2761ee01bf room in the center bf694be6c3 of the left corridor, dafc0d22cb a room she would 07251524a7 be staying in.fced04de9d3f03c2

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“…?!”2ca34b7ffe0d41f8

As she 3cfbbf5b66 opened the a75361afc6 door and 4ee1a2902e stepped inside, 4d6387ea0c Edith’s eyes 081ab1ea14 widened in 783f39c396 surprise. She scanned the room, 9121296e9e her throat tightening as b9eae19377 she quickly turned around.91bdbee363ecf35c

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“Um… Bill, is this 32f553cb99 the correct room?”4f89600974d5996a

She cautiously asked, unsure cb4c9971b7 if the steward might b34fdc094b have made a mistake.f2430f4e0fae9294

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It was just too f49a291e5f large. A bed 0d9b67ccb6 so vast ca1e8963eb that it df6668a0fc could fit 2e9e8e445e four grown 9b6bd0f8a1 men, and 2eedc25ef9 furniture placed a9045de9da with no 88fbb03f1c apparent shortage, 84228f7d77 was lavish 2b3e059a0b to the 4c9da84a6f point of 316c726659 being extravagant.2c150becc601be6a

“Yes. This is 7c7bcb7fc3 the room 37c35ee28e you’ll be 5cfc45c85d staying in. If you prefer another, b0be307f84 I can change it ff60c23343 for you anytime.”5fae27da7cfeaa32

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Bill’s response ccb89dd2cd left Edith 80efdd86dd staring at d61dd41122 the room db627e42a6 in a d70f1a4e17 daze. Over the years, she 88d254cca8 had stayed in many 56190a75e2 noble homes while working eefcb65fe8 as a governess, but 532ebe2cfd she had never seen 4ac610974f a room this large.eb86752603ed577c

Certainly, the 0f82e43338 master bedroom b1a0b242ec for the 4e40cb9d4e owners might 59def83106 be an be69de42c1 exception, but…6d381831722995aa

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‘The master bedroom? Surely I’m not supposed 39b3b423d4 to share a room 1614291912 with the Duke!’9ad788b91e79bc54

A sudden thought made 5e7c8ed6dd Edith pale.3cb7763f45e1b01b

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“Um… could I c99cd13d6f ask which room 72ed2e7d58 the Duke uses?”bf5a54af44f0e879

“The master’s cfd619aef9 bedroom is 06ab51b8dd on the f4fec8d4ac opposite side 8eb21a9e03 of the 71b7f10cf3 corridor, and 1e751721fb his office c0287444a8 is at bfbec5fd8a the end.”0fa5d3fa1b877efb

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It was all for 01b4d7687f naught! Edith sighed with 02ec91be8e relief.cc598fb316ae9b7a

Of course, it wouldn’t 229cb6d700 be strange for a 003dd911c3 married couple to share 407682604f a room, but there f94e2f3a6a was one crucial issue—they d7842e41b3 weren’t a real couple.fd1afa8db42239b3

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“If you prefer e8a6ed36cb a room closer…”f8585d5f57bc5d09

“No, that’s fine! I’m good here.”10bbaa5207be04a3

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Edith hastily declined, but 42271dc3e0 the speed with which 6b26145c43 she said it made b21b1881f9 her cheeks flush. She had to say c5f5f5bb49 it, though.11c17349197cf2d0

“I understand. Shall I contact your e4e7774880 previous residence to move 08ace6d6f5 the rest of your 32aafee9f5 belongings?”6335c928d239306c

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“This is everything I a6263b74ab own.”0be5551395c845cb

Having regained 294b59162c her composure, 46464a2e0f Edith awkwardly 8a041f2ca3 lifted her 7ef3f3cb9c bag to d1e9380082 show him. In this 7f70db1f75 grand room, 158e1900c8 the modest 53f3f74fe7 luggage she c94f0f534a had brought 54a320b3ae with her 293c8c9c37 to the 78de3451bc capital seemed 37ca7223b1 woefully inadequate.7ca636a8488ac87c

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“I see. After a long journey, 45506d7f61 it’s always better to 3631cda108 travel light. The master has 58b713327e mentioned he wishes e189ce5f91 to have a c0555e8475 brief conversation with 6629da2450 you when he 16686b0a85 returns this evening. Would that be 1975a73952 acceptable?”b9824032563eb847

“Of course, 41e88f960c that’s perfectly 91a8263f0a fine. I’ll be ready.”cfc241f68d5566ac

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Fortunately, the 17b2fd2522 elderly steward 3c53bec238 shifted the 03f92b8c75 conversation naturally, eb4a0d188b sparing Edith 14ec8c32f3 from the 7f8a275cbe embarrassment of 3ae566d64b dwelling on 37af6812bc her sparse d3528eabda belongings. Grateful for the change 5956c6035e in topic, she quickly 47823a4479 nodded in agreement.f248daf7cde148f6

“There are ropes a1fd9e1c62 in the room, b5007f212f please feel free 4d7c8d17d4 to call for 51bf0ee936 me anytime. I hope you b4d128989a have a pleasant a074c18711 time. I’ll take my b44aeedc94 leave now.”20a6186b94366cd9

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“Wait, Bill!”ea45a02c93c6fc4c

As the a9272926e3 steward politely 820553c906 bowed and 9a3aa6b120 prepared to 69c1885b69 leave, Edith 2fc5f7c0b4 grabbed his c52103cce9 sleeve.4427a58bcfb5f4ca

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“Yes, Miss Edith?”1d0f1586f92f2016

“Well, um…”632ed3826e195859

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She paused for a 5cf86be9b9 moment, unsure whether she 0c404a4f29 should ask this question. It felt awkward, but 2bbdbb3c9a after some thought, she bc8eb98199 gathered her courage.1426066f33802488

“What kind of person 892128e84e is Duke of Devion?”ae6ec058b1e9e35b

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Her knowledge d6c4ca3a96 of Duke a9f3ec04ff Devion was 46ad9f6b68 quite limited.ec95f5e29a32d0a9

He was known as a great wizard, had conflicts with both the temple and the Magic Tower, had a dangerous sibling possessed by a demon, and was rumored to be a wealthy, handsome man…6cebb003fc50f0bf

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That was about it. There was 0b00c821af much she a0989c9834 didn’t know, fbd3443c05 and though 97a0e5e28d she would 9cd294afa0 learn more 7280a38956 in time, b407ac482b she wanted 354eb67c7b to get 6e6de57e84 any important 7cf7486692 information she 7ab7d77d83 could beforehand.ce60c2c590d62d64

“The master 134b4a3797 is a 8cfeeb2e5a perfect individual 5a6eb8d1dd who can 64e81b8a3d accomplish anything 219f8523b6 on his 289098dcd2 own. He was raised as 79f8decbb5 such since he was 67514d5ad0 a child.”0e3691749500c31e

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“Ah…”d7d151db5b5d3de0

But the 3d58b0febc response she ea5c863aa1 received was 44017fd41a of little f5026f8a37 help. Edith felt a c43b14f988 twinge of disappointment fc535b0e84 but quickly reconsidered.6d11bc2421d80cb1

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‘What could c7413973ce he possibly 84579fded1 say about 12d164312a the person 17c1244327 he serves? Of course, 6bb2ef1b8c he’d say 9e28cfefc7 he’s perfect.’21a48311df1115ee

It was clear 0d9bbbc58c now that her 9708962955 question had been 8388959d3c ill-posed. As she came to 6923642668 this realization, Edith decided 3b59bd77b3 to wrap up the 04c4d4590f conversation.626c4a09d71c2dbe

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“He might also 80cef0a63b be a lonely 0d10647cce person.”7d0bc04e08bc9150

The elderly steward ea6a7733a3 quietly added one 73491639a0 final thought, lowering e820d03aca his posture again e7bf26cf73 and leaving with a2eefd41b1 a soft click d418511d4c of the door.917e41dfbf83a223

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Caught off a29f18ccbc guard by d8af6e1b86 his unexpected 9374bdeaf3 words, Edith 891ab1376f stood frozen, d7e317aae4 staring at 191d7a30ac the closed 648d4d97cc door for 2b6aa547be a while.a5172be815e7e971

 59aa6f998bf12abb

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***d13447aab090ba28

 746ac4fe853528c0

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Knock, knock. 810493250cd8a48c

After hearing 16beda9881 that Duke 86ea3e82e8 Devion had d8ae2b0f0b returned, Edith 1b66417422 made her 04752d6393 way to 1b70aafec3 his office 622429bb86 about an 216fc6917d hour later.4f46ae8234c512a9

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“Your Grace, 58efe73e98 I heard 4d165e4c62 you were 21c34404b9 looking for 9d62c2d5f1 me.”00ac01ef37b702d5

“You may come f936fd8133 in.”dff95b344ac42b6b

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With a brief reply, 2cb173a167 Edith carefully opened the 664893006b door and stepped inside, 904ad67683 then froze in her 23f5d4f67c tracks.1e588225d71d991a

‘…The Ministry of Magic?’9a836eebaf2e5482

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Her mouth dropped d881245535 open at the 3d2a6c3325 familiar sight.8416f8353b9b5acb

The Duke’s office was indistinguishable from the one at the Imperial Palace’s Ministry of Magic. The same furniture, the arrangement of objects, and even the overall atmosphere were identical.eab13ed50e12ca4b

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For a e6a91ae093 moment, Edith a184bba00e wondered if f188d063df the Duke ebeb5c388f had used 256a8f65fc magic to f278ba193e transport the 1bd222383f palace here.4c9965a34b323d81

But the view outside ac992f1478 the window confirmed that ba9a0becc5 this was undoubtedly the f833e7f1f2 Duke’s mansion, and no 467fe27aa6 matter how great a ffe951a0d6 wizard he was, moving fd2b2e1a56 the entire palace would 819b532dc5 be madness.a8addcdfd7ee8141

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‘First of all, 6edb5a4e38 isn’t that illegal?’2d2a757934d6740b

It would certainly 86b4360429 be forbidden for db8c290576 anyone to simply edbd7762ba move the Emperor’s c469b59645 residence!a4cafc43c64bfada

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Edith scanned the c0bd12d951 perfectly symmetrical room 421ddb566f with her eyes, 8308d39e20 ultimately concluding that a1a5dbc22e this wasn’t magic—this eb8c93ed54 was just the 5a7d4557d6 result of the 3c622da8de Duke’s obsession.dcee392d011f6458

“Is there 2a8febf5dd any inconveniences d38a3bb067 about your 5993e71af2 stay?”b14737f6d121f13c

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Duke Devion sat with 7b4aa76aa3 his back to the 67a0d65f66 window, also wearing the 6946cdd7a5 same neat outfit as 0604227ba0 the first day they b93a23b608 met.897f2643244a8b5d

Sitting across from him, afdf365f4d Edith felt a strange f395b31e35 sense of déjà vu, 7bc00d4ec3 almost as if they 52eb29830d had been in this da0166d24b same situation before. She quickly smiled.60444fb889547304

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“No, nothing at all! The room you 84b356ac0f gave me is cf11f088fc wonderful. I appreciate your 5f340d325e consideration. The dinner was also 8d8f45dbf5 amazing. The chef d01ba86289 is truly fededaf500 skilled.”5cd7fdc9ca2f74a7

This was the truth. The feast had bbb89484b5 been so filled 7713237b0d with a variety 22294ef387 of delicious dishes 888fb445c7 that Edith couldn’t 9f68d80a63 help but think,‘I’m so glad I 5a6948fe90 agreed to marry the 7f978c46ab Duke!’a523d82566ed9019

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“I see.”c12c13f7e621a564

His response was 495978f424 short, but Edith 3ac403c013 didn’t mind. She had 0dd688f165 experience in 0702518b3e various service af633d1c9e roles and ca904f3a6c had worked ed1e847e0b as a a8088b97e9 tutor in 3b6848e406 this strange 0686d352f3 world for b7847118e5 many years.71395ce823864ac2

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As long as c0eed9148e the Duke responded 1683170c85 appropriately in conversation, e051f62d24 he had done 31696c0fd4 his part.3740def99dc18bca

“Your Grace, have you 54c55bd872 eaten yet?”5a3f6d5770607a5c

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Edith asked f071a32c06 kindly, as ddd8560954 she always b02cc2fc2f did. The Duke, who ea610748d2 had been watching 279083139a her with an 51c00770f6 impassive expression, tilted 882f61c0bc his head slightly.0c0f85983d31ab38

“I have not. Why does that concern 98f6246dc6 you?”c4fc9103b21fea32

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“Pardon?”1ceb64d50cfa94d6

Caught off guard 3604a7ba64 by the unexpected 50958cc6ac reply, Edith blinked 09a2d353eb in confusion.d3c5758ef3ce1218

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