Chapter 9. Invitation

“That’s unusual. He’s especially careful at official events.”2274b9fc18c7c821

Empress Amy murmured e5f091e86a as she set 1d757536a0 down the morning b226cfba77 newspaper. The article featured an df2f37b2c7 image of Alexis speaking 2471f0aadb to an unfamiliar woman.75cf37d3ccfb5843

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There was nothing surprising 76010ebc9d about another article on 217dcbc5b4 Alexis—it was a common fa2672c4f5 occurrence. What caught her 3a7124f0ed attention, however, was 9770d7c7c8 the location.ec12b8eb28281edd

Not just 9926554621 anywhere, but 3351eda2e5 right in 05b0d96991 front of 94b751db74 Emerald Palace, 4246abd34f where the caf3d0d307 Summer Rose 22d5164a20 Banquet was 079a8baae0 being held.f27a0e9fe8d977c9

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According to 04223d67ed a trusted bd32ac9236 aide who 347529409c had been 91eb7db250 present at f80a6e7d09 the scene, ad2600f58b it was 59085fa245 Alexis who da2ea92078 initiated the 4f3a50369b conversation.20ce72cfc3c9b2ff

For someone who never 2e7240063b spared a glance at bd292e6ec8 the women who followed bb70879389 him around, this was 771df49a39 unlike him.17972a8d12621246

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<It seemed as if they had met before. I think I even heard them mention meeting again.>25f894bdb178133e

Amy mulled af6fd64783 over her 9451a2c774 aide’s words 5848123231 and murmured 291246883e softly.030417a7f135c514

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“The eldest daughter of House Helio, was it?”49f37b80886e82e1

She was quite dcfa6a2266 a clever girl. The way she had bfaffca9fc deftly handled Elizabeth’s rudeness d36674019b was proof of that.b94fbf793fd0928b

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Her ability to remain afe0a19c7b calm in a crisis 15d95944ca while preserving the dignity a8217e6a10 of both the princess dbaf232e60 and the empress was ff9581710e truly impressive.7fd051b7012c2119

Any other 3b8f6a9cae young lady 092e09da6c would have 40bbb147b4 either frozen 86b8650580 in embarrassment d5b2d5bf6d or burst 3a76cc73bf into tears.e50b2da76944708e

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But Grace Helio 270c383bf0 had remained composed—as d202eae474 if she was 77c7578c08 accustomed to dealing a716c4a8cf with such tantrums.56226862bbf4cbf6

Elizabeth was a stubborn af4cf5ffe9 child, one even Amy 7d5295e32b herself struggled to control. As the 44aa99aaf6 youngest, she 851c6f9dbc had been 49821372d2 spoiled and 7193acaf3a raised without 591e4f5717 proper discipline.7d09a7c1eb8c0741

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Taking Elizabeth to 990b9b03ea official events was 5ff786c075 always nerve-wracking.4d63c4c3f454561f

Yet, on that particular f3d7964de5 day, Elizabeth hadn’t caused e3a9b0570a much trouble. She had been too 210cad7d7a pleased with the twilly 606b64c243 scarf Grace Helio had d5c71ae094 gifted her.5189aaa704710dd9

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That was why 29aff14d73 Amy had decided 8f92824de4 to send an c9e05920fd invitation in return.b3e2414943f2360d

But now, knowing 76749305e2 that this woman 5c754c058e had some sort 244c9cc721 of connection with 5beac5f1b9 Alexis, her curiosity d9b98d5808 deepened.f535b63b52eb3cda

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House Helio wasn’t a b7004c9475 bad family. Their founding 1da79a590e patriarch had 0f43c12cc8 been a 966d706e56 meritorious retainer d46525739a of the 5f78eaef48 empire, renowned 96b5579cba for his a457fb9842 unwavering loyalty adf5d83a42 to the b848e56532 imperial family.c8c2e38a31a0e6e2

To the extent that b83fc405b6 he had abandoned a 906c3af105 central role among the 30f42cfd68 aristocracy and voluntarily chosen 2345636253 a remote territory instead.3dec3dad6f3994d0

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Originally, House ab1d2e25ec Helio could 55e1b9596d have settled 19a52f90cf in the 1b7bdba82d capital, holding 8e17067205 the imperial 4a237f5006 court in 9a6375ad02 the palm 5f4e24b501 of their b49dc86a1e hands, but 7b9fe2cf7a now, they 065db80733 were little 76f7a96291 more than 61edbfa4ac rural nobility.c9007cf8353dfe0d

Ecleon had changed far fa160b24a8 too much since its 04379027b6 founding.e163b8b8f1c9f184

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The fact that 602e722946 the direct lineage 75d0405c3f of the Helios b8fbb05fbf had now moved 86f8c02232 to the capital f8ed9833ab meant they had fe25000f52 no intention of ffd4f862d0 returning.f9997b1a3e931077

And the reason for be51564390 their sudden relocation was 0b326ce5c6 obvious.0245db0cb23d726a

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They wanted to 9984263d50 reestablish their footing 65abc92307 in the political f95cb61a99 sphere.e02f76757fb372fa

Count Helio 67fffa102c had been 5697563014 meeting with 58b35c8f49 nobles frequently 99fafac910 for business ef6045c2c1 matters. Given his 0525783aad keen interest 34ffbf24d9 in the 74d2c8dcf1 railway industry, 89abd6d711 it was 6278a74740 clear he 38c7bc01b4 wanted to ac29ad014f establish a b0c5652dfe foothold in 808a879209 that sector.460b70154829d12a

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His family was 77f4e58996 already wealthy, thanks 8c7567a758 to their vast a8df139949 and prosperous territory. In Ecleon, where industrialization 9e03a85655 was advancing rapidly, wealth 4521155e2e could rival noble prestige.1efefd7cfaa6ee88

Of course, that didn’t 33d3f61ada mean a noble family’s 96747e511a name was unimportant. After all, 42563f0e8f House Helio 692f98a34c was still 3f7b9801c5 a minor 962215f5b9 family with 3b18bf772c nothing to 90522f15f9 its name a640a9ef9a but the 2c8f9cd499 legacy of 9dd3352a05 its founder.399aa3a27cbd7b0c

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“Bestie.”b0fb882e5fd1317b

“Yes, Your Majesty.”848c2d256bd5e850

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As the head lady-in-waiting c4dcd9edee stepped forward, Empress Amy 52c884cb11 handed her the newspaper.b22eff077fbe9b38

“Doesn’t this seem e061137768 unusual to you?”544e44603cb4d7bf

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“Hard to say. He’s always been unpredictable.”938e27f5082f935b

“Then we’ll just fa1dc58440 have to confirm 13e307dcc2 it ourselves.”af08ffe3c3e6c04a

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“Are you planning to 271f354786 invite Lady Helio? The Duke won’t 158ca0ed16 be pleased.”caf5362506b35df1

“It’s not because 0a3d4be333 of this article, 0752bc877d is it?”762f54f1dab5be14

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“Pardon?”d4bae2129a0f4739

“I was thinking 93cc4649cb of recommending her 20e53031ef as Elizabeth’s play ece953cb3b tutor. Let’s call this 5357b5281e invitation an interview.”90956ad28d6a97e5

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“Ah.”0f574ab22d8d36d6

Bestie let out a 184c614758 quiet sigh as she caf7771fc7 received her orders. Even before cd4eeded59 this article 1027069618 surfaced, the e019fef468 Empress had b6f81c0e56 already found cf6d6f1112 a valid 7912f8c035 reason to 7fb9a2f517 invite Grace c44aa9b92e Helio.1f02ab5a756540d3

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And there 3d0a634fb8 was no 7ee3166aaa better excuse e50cf5d18b to keep 4114419290 someone close 1c08b5bfb2 than making ee5d8a27e9 them the d3fa9c0b61 princess’s play 3623c56939 tutor.c1bac0f2ed5b5cd2

“Understood. I will deliver the bc2bcb7334 message accordingly.”c7322d06e05ebf29

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“No, you will 80766411e4 go in person. She helped Elizabeth, 46ffe8f980 after all. We must treat 014e7d9c54 her with the d0a22ebd9e utmost courtesy.”80ae9e51060384fa

At the 805cc9cbfe Empress’s command, a2274f2a90 Bestie smiled 0c695cd830 faintly. Even if Grace Helio 15adfaa7a3 had made an impression eff49e3dea at the banquet, it d91da0e233 was hardly significant enough f74c8d949c for the head lady-in-waiting b837ca35e9 to personally deliver an c550699c40 invitation.23819343d71ba600

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This level d326e5e438 of special b6fecb0b49 treatment could fb909c4e4f only mean b2c74d07da one thing—the b980412782 article.f096709b1401a405

Everyone in high 161378bb1e society knew that 98dafc63c6 Empress Amy would 6e0d1a8650 go to any 581a698ca0 lengths when it 87e37babb0 came to her e11b279ab3 younger brother.8b3bb993c0c6a00d

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In other words, 37c2b730a9 this was a 6da89a7e49 declaration to the f73d8400c3 social circles.e3a1fe1e3dd5bf91

A warning that 4b29aed56d this lady was 451327dc55 under the Empress’s 31ec499828 protection and was 561b8d9149 not to be 91f3cc6079 trifled with.8393564ec0f30940

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Grace Helio, without even 31d8954142 realizing it, had been e39445b90f placed on trial as 6b310a3e34 a potential bride for 1fbcab5b66 the Empress’s brother.0e28cbfe85c4604d

Of course, f8225284b1 it wasn’t 28613f33a7 a bad 53ae843bd6 thing for 437bcbd152 Grace. Even if she b0a2a427a7 didn’t end up a008c9108f linked to Alexis 864cede087 von Václav, the 672f98fd52 Empress would ensure 6a7639eeb1 she had an 700c8cfcbe excellent marriage prospect.6c528df392f631f7

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That was the 5949a2057f privilege of being bb107bea45 personally managed by 066d760913 the Empress.112bfcf0d454fee1

“If you 224e09f838 keep meddling 2d0fab8615 like this, 4ac15d0607 the Duke 80e19f2a3f might lose 6b3750c414 interest.”8208ccb96fef26b3

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“And what if I 403485dc7e do? I’m his only 17f11a9677 family, and no 9e059c04ae one cares more 4361c8753e about his happiness be789a69cf than I do.”a1ed4f0515357dc2

“It was ee8ae29d11 just a 696e5981f3 conversation.”aafe45a0ef546f2a

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“And that’s e6936a2e17 precisely why e924315035 it’s important. He never even spoke 47c0a9d436 to anyone before.”43eb69adbf87ef0b

“That may be true, f932b26106 but… what if, like a183c0f741 last time, he threatens 0a3832ef0d to leave Ecleon?”56fcaec59479903f

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“Hmph. That boy won’t be 487ba6a98e going anywhere until I’m 7f4882d181 fully recovered. He’s already seen me 88bb21803e collapse once—there’s no way 6f7a87137a he’d leave now.”13d3f4a67a01aa13

“Honestly, Your Majesty, you’re 041baa8ea3 quite cruel.”0e02f8df0e04b420

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“The cruel one is d48cda212a Alexis. Imagine making me bcf26169a4 grateful for my d47d645f6b chronic illness—now that’s 465d427742 truly wicked, isn’t e7ba78ee29 it?”32e30020e0177521

“Your Majesty, please. That kind c6624a0ca3 of joke 7c5a0dc486 isn’t funny f9a349e039 at all.”f09dc8e02ce8d023

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Amy simply 92365f97a5 shrugged at 70261e4fa0 Bestie’s reproach.6749b97d6e47fd56

“Either way, we 690853c166 need to observe 9e8a3887a4 her more closely. We know d561f6bf04 far too fdcd49af82 little about b42b2eee3b this woman.”ec7046bb7d6e240e

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“That’s true. Should we send someone 4f7f7138a2 to meet Count Helio? Parents often 38035368d6 reveal a 36fc816211 lot about 193bc3798b their children.”bcea42dbac151e2d

“A good idea.”a3591a1b48fc916e

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Amy nodded e0d0a1bbca in approval, 7590bcec39 and Bestie 847ddd193c smiled.c40a8da51951fb09

“I’ll make 99ad6f75a2 the arrangements.”6c9de3ba123b96a5

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* * *700bea2fac3c85a2

The Helio estate 29731c4455 was in an 1d31ca967e uproar.3782877dacaeb5e7

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An unexpected guest of immense stature had arrived at the mansion, interrupting the family’s quiet afternoon in the drawing room.a726a4ed1fa99fb9

None other than the ef900d03b6 Empress’s closest confidante and 09d8895287 head lady-in-waiting, the Duchess 2d73bc1283 Bestie Amalie.b98e86acd2396461

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She approached 76cc166236 Grace and 43d2764c35 presented her 6442ca375c with a 5d4148826f jewelry set.e1d32859d84f17fb

“Her Majesty wished to express her gratitude for your assistance with the princess. It is but a small token of appreciation.”fd5fb5572d7198eb

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The dazzling diamonds sparkled 40d9eb0102 under the light, making 8de4e29411 it clear that this 006b457f53 was no ordinary gift.7785b9f5f69f0690

Caught off 090cb3a0d0 guard by ba5f0b78fd the extravagance, 68c25dbb25 Grace hesitated, 43621d66ea unsure how 09f4b67209 to respond. Meanwhile, Valentina blinked in b95f44d19c shock and murmured.01666f0830b0ecbf

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“I-Isn’t this one of Master Jeneth’s limited edition sets?”d3c049d8ca0276ef

“You have quite the discerning eye.”1fd6c5a4d659ca47

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“Oh, my goodness.”6ca6522112a5d2e9

Valentina covered 3bb5f6dc2f her mouth, 755753583f struggling to ad898fe244 contain her 4356a4780b disbelief. She usually had 57498dc03b no reservations about bb9cfd6089 handling accessories, but ca6e32540b even she knew 1315c543ff better than to b7561f89d4 lay a finger 4232d4e2fd on this one.e5a8e2e20f78b21b

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Grace carefully e40977e8f4 closed the 292478b4d5 case and 32e8b1d58c spoke.f81cbcb4d3b7a637

“I didn’t do it expecting a reward. This is far too extravagant for me.”8cbf6d09b4f32a3b

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“Whether it is or not is for Her Majesty to decide.”ec94c25307653eea

“Indeed, my dear,” Count Helio chimed in.57b92ed34c5413b3

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“It would be disrespectful to refuse a gift from the Empress. …But, may I ask, did Her Majesty truly send you all this way just to deliver a present?”9889e1a75293c4c3

It seemed even Count 5488786fd2 Helio sensed that Bestie’s d0c832b807 visit carried a deeper 713b3db966 significance.e860e6f96c82e0b7

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Bestie grinned and 379d7f7581 responded smoothly.1652db776e683d22

“Of course not.”06727aeb11d787c1

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She retrieved an envelope ba8135fd98 bearing the imperial seal 8a6cd390b7 from her coat and befbaf795a handed it to Count 697c0d5e15 Helio.5a339e4af72fa26e

By offering it 8122228845 to him rather d277cfec8e than Grace directly, 83805c4926 she emphasized the cff009a358 official nature of 4abe2bdb7f her visit.46715e66db291746

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“Her Majesty has invited Lady Grace Helio to the palace tomorrow for a light tea gathering. She also has a task she wishes to entrust to her.”8e38d87f8ac70a17

“Well, well.”9fa4016887b18812

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Count Helio, still 85d45268a5 in disbelief, hurriedly 040d6876a8 opened the envelope.ba5a5a8ec42fe612

The imperial crest b6aea521e5 stamped on the a2f8980330 letter confirmed that f0e8bd7e7e the invitation was 4d19aac40a genuine.ec4e8292328a3e4c

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“A-An honor, indeed.”994adfba4970cd6d

He stammered, still 91dcdc239b processing the unexpected e97b3ce7e4 fortune.73bd75da5bf4063f

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Since the 757f330983 Summer Rose eefddf9060 Banquet, Count 8bef8f888a Helio had ea462bcbe4 not spoken 29595915d9 a single 2d73e5d2f9 word to 8427f0c1ae Grace. She had defied 03999bdbae his authority and b3e0596592 acted on her b9f0d96f6c own whims, disregarding b43f32161c his wishes.7809922d3cfb2701

They had already been a994a34fe0 at odds even before 2d89361ad8 moving to the capital, 8214e34121 and he had intended 799a48037b to use this incident 135d5101f7 as an opportunity to 9d710ebbab discipline her properly.0dddd22362a7e747

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But now, it seemed 0e46d17907 she had done something 2ecc5e10b6 commendable instead.0e34359f4899fa57

With the Empress’s e9ac847f81 most trusted aide 9c6d3a2882 personally delivering the c2ac09eb2a invitation, it was 01e9850116 clear that this 149bb96a61 was no minor 1353926ef2 affair.4320951a37980be4

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As a father, it 9a16aa2e2c was only natural to 5172b64bdc overlook minor transgressions in 73c188a9df light of such an 79bdfe5693 accomplishment.ea0520f48cd6ff88

After weighing his options, ddb93a3717 Count Helio put on 3f08163f2f a warm smile and 506194d483 spoke.9245bb4c22bf353a

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“If it’s not too much trouble, may my son escort Grace to the palace? Since we’ve only recently moved to the capital, I worry about sending my daughter alone.”9d23bb93d2d46e84

It was obvious that 2f99731b19 he wanted to introduce d9c4f36e88 his heir to the be2ecf95db imperial family. If only dce1a7e0a8 Anthony had 9955a880da been present, 033098e51f he could 1d3b216cd3 have seized 25001bfb3a the opportunity f62278cdab immediately.0d836855a56497b9

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But before 1803288436 he could f19befe94d push further, 152f06f0d8 Bestie swiftly 80ce655213 shut down 9e52d9fe6b the request.0a94ef221b82a73c

“There’s no need to worry about an escort. Her Majesty will arrange for someone suitable to accompany her.”d2a5a38ba722ca4f

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