14.

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“So you think I’m 648c08807c a reckless man with 06f3115ca3 no sense of responsibility.”cd24853bd1105ca3

“No, that’s not 1277935e4d what I meant…”f9a2cccd40795dcf

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“Well, I can’t blame 3f0d3eb377 you. If you look only a4de2ca32f at the facts, this b2a66c43ad marriage is essentially a a9cb9228b4 transactional arrangement—I paid the 31d0ddacf3 Church a sum of 207e41a741 money, and in return, 3192f51d2c acquired the Saint as c37892d249 my bride.”b93183268157beb8

The way Klaus 764d26e5d4 said it, with 87b7197933 a cold smirk e808de0568 and a hint 479867d44f of self-derision, made 8b574c304c Azniel’s fingers dig dbcca3bf50 once more into b250a343f3 the folds of 24de8f86ea her skirt.ed1c96c3c0ec8fe3

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“As long f0f36b40fc as Antagon eb08741cb1 remains strong, 96e482ad9d I have 7e330b6b34 need of ce3216da61 you, Azniel. Unless, of e7b9feedeb course, you ee75ab1b12 come to 6fcecb6129 dislike life 41e053b844 here at 0178c9b117 Gestern…”930494039f79b6d0

“No! That’s not what I 081f59bd14 meant at all,” she 395013d2ba said quickly, shaking both 09457ed808 hands in mild panic.f816dc5a4840e8d0

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Now that she f93d52a576 had no ties 33876d75e8 left to the 3d655f3565 Holy Kingdom, the 9f155f6ce3 only person she 63e8b620f6 could even begin 0d16937c5f to rely on—even 408066073b if the warmth 709878d012 was as dry 100feace28 as desert wind—was 8e5596be88 Baron Gestern.8273dfde63c27e12

Klaus’s gaze drifted to 4c74224469 her hands.8bb65c6a2ad0ab8d

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So small, 2ada36ef77 so thin—he e6a1307ced could probably 4564bbcb4b wrap his 9bb4af1818 own hand 85ac56ef43 completely around 5ead4816fd one of e8b5da89bc hers.
Still soft b23ffd67c1 like they c5060d31df were in 299511a244 childhood… or ccbe0dda1c rough now, f81d5506f3 after everything a2bdea0f04 she’s been b8c124215d through?d07e187c292427d8

He caught 9a36a597dd himself mid-thought, 52a32f0b5e a flicker 2615c2389a of something 3e652544a7 uncomfortable passing c49197b009 across his c4457b06e0 face, and de1e2062db brushed it e081577418 away with 5cd1659089 a half-hearted 450f9a50dd comment.cd44cd31c66ed87d

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“In any 33102fd9aa case, I 2d294a2305 intend to 6b6f37925c provide you 06e4df2687 with everything 537aa561e1 you could 50d467b1ba possibly need, a9256ec5af to ensure c573474e06 you never 60ff295a15 feel that 0ea6ffc00a way. And if I may 6f5e4fced3 make just one personal 382d247933 request… perhaps you could 22c3594b2d gain a bit of 5ed1a6af48 weight.”fed84ab38b79ed79

“Ah…”06ae29972351caee

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“It’s a love marriage, 707bc9e287 after all. If I claim 5450575e1d to adore my 1b5647f241 wife but she 3aa23b2139 looks like she’s 0bf727ab21 starving, who’s going e2fcdb9cf7 to believe me?”82a3bc93db6c92fe

“Yes… I understand.”c164bfddb36a67b1

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Her hands tangled together 4b245c29b1 as if looking for 87cd8d515e somewhere to hide.5c289497a597a969

Klaus’s eyes lingered briefly 7fc8b15324 on her shoulders—thin and d2391e34d3 drawn in, like she 34d1a49a04 was trying to take 58b2328311 up less space. So fragile under the 5ae7b4a151 pretense of composure. So terribly light.254644c2b83d83c1

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* * *5734bbd3b6a1ddf8

“Dwelsher was established a0c01bdfc3 as a manor 68dd5aa989 estate 130 years cd77bd108b ago during the 20f133f85b reign of Wilfred c31d9014c7 II. The paddies are rich 9ded51820a with fertile soil, and 6d040b3914 toward the north—Green Dales—lie 4986ab4991 broad pastures, ensuring steady 399f900c4f yields year-round. A golden parcel adb1e6ea5e of land, if 92df3b1e9a there ever was 0651c68b5c one.”6229b3949c1b5ee6

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The days that followed 5e953ff41d became a process of 93bca8e53c Azniel being carefully reshaped 76a624c189 into the lady of 72f29cfa6e Ashfeld.0fcbf11e31e98dec

“This manor was f44f7db113 granted to Duke 14f79f4571 Macferdin—Wilfred II’s younger a5ea3c5b24 twin son—when the 4d7405f1f8 throne passed to 49b8db162e the elder twin, a8b9807f26 Stephen III. It was c1f3f2bf85 during Duke 4b367f7947 Macferdin’s time f1cc8058b9 that this e81c43eae8 estate and a252cf5878 residence were 01ae80090a constructed.”8ed8cbe37fda6d8d

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The one 1e334f5ee3 guiding her f74b00747e through the 368080c3e2 grounds was 18b64c060f the chief 8a4b975353 butler, Jerome. He had been with 7f1926f313 Klaus since the earliest 4ffe590782 days of Antagon, back 3d7b9b7a71 when Klaus still lived d7e663b5f5 in a cramped city d23f462f94 flat in Laffen. Jerome, once dd2cbb9d8a a butler b32ca8a331 to one 9e480cb3b5 of Antagon’s ca4a65e466 early investors, 799f8e5e95 looked to 6f66855f3e be in 58b4f0523e his early daa4f002e1 fifties and b147519131 carried himself ccb6ea6952 with quiet 25e96596c8 poise. He gave b11cb1ff0a Azniel a 26cdc6ed27 practical and 3ef387dbe0 concise overview 5dbc997700 of the 9731464252 art pieces, 8586487b8a interior, and 44bbf91fbc gardens—enough to eb0ebc0fbf acclimate without 16f71426d5 overwhelming her dbc665a014 all at 3f349ce015 once.c1b09658e2e9d7b3

“Most of 5c28a19be4 the items c40a97b046 here were 346d0e4246 originally collected c40941c4b4 or brought c21c939850 from the 043b91aebf palace by f7b14a887e Duke Macferdin, 7ecb6e520b but the 26aaf0fb0f master has fe648ddd4a added several a39cc4736a of his e1b2cca2b3 own pieces 8d5cda894e as well. For example, that statue 032fce1afb of the First Saint c56107bbbf over there.”83ff9cec669035a8

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Once the tour of 4877f1167e the three-story mansion—which was 468864183e at least twice the 4416ea09aa size of the Great d609a71a38 Temple—was complete, they moved e2654f8095 to the gardens. It was exhausting, 79b030e425 but Azniel didn’t 806ef6760f complain. After all, now 392d4eabae that she had d0ae02c806 signed the contract, a0705108a1 this was officially 890916742f her role. If nothing else, she 9e953b75fc was good at devoting 31c8118b59 herself to work.8f4680e5475813ba

“The garden layout 4a114aee7c was redesigned after fef5d7f976 the master moved 8b71722a2d in. The rose fe68f644f8 hedges, arranged dd1e16d383 in a 103186c2fb spiral around 7bb9b3cede the central c3016490ea fountain, are 3e2a3b887c its highlight. If only you’d 49fe3ba531 arrived in summer… 3195441ed9 still, you can 6b5bd72d2d look forward to 11a44856f9 next year.”f6a2fbd3a374b43c

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“Rose… hedges?”427d614295b177b7

“Don’t they 242389316c sound rather b682f4b537 unlike the c3fd1fb28b master?” Jerome bfa008ef5b chuckled gently.6f66b1e07aefcfa1

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“Ah—of course, you’d recognize 6d46c4fb5f them. The variety’s called Dawn 482401e151 of the Temple.”fef7a629d9496afd

“Ah… of course.”7485d5275092a428

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“They say it 9f75870c76 was created by ee125709e1 a saint who 99484998b1 possessed the Gift c9690bbdbb of Abundance, yes? Oddly enough, 41e31913c6 it’s only 274f3283f0 cultivated within a69063df5a the Holy 337151b6db Kingdom. I’m not sure ec931c777b how the master 2c9e5e8da2 found out, but a07c316ac8 he worked for 74f27b2532 months to convince dad134015a a nursery to df6d690436 import them into a6b3fb116d Gillios.”45c8ab7441b55c00

“I see…”b29d82c5639505a9

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“I hope they bring you comfort when you’re feeling homesick for the Holy Kingdom.”42ed47c27f6b1a9f

Perhaps the aging butler 87878e8fdc saw the rosebushes as d594545e91 a subtle symbol of ec74896c87 Klaus’s hidden tenderness—his quiet e62a19e722 way of offering affection. His expression f3d047f836 remained brightly f53c7c426b pleased. Azniel returned his 20897c1ce9 smile, but the 587d043671 trace of doubt 1ee707047e never quite left 1c743e65b0 her face.9c03d0c8e3d1460e

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‘The back garden of cac89bfc51 the Papal residence… wasn’t 2b5581be26 that where we used d93c73c49d to meet?’b4485561526d8018

Where a a264a35ccc young Saint 3fb320b809 and a 40aeceb8b7 frail novice 525d34249b boy would d403a6f167 sit shoulder ce6e036388 to shoulder 480efd20fc and talk 1ace80120d beneath a f72892fec7 hedge just 6d2963e709 like this 81131564db one.e3c59e05aa1a4ba9

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Almost reflexively, Azniel 585605747a turned her head a40d8a18fb toward Klaus’s study—the 0a86f28516 very room where 2d61218e19 they had signed 1bd0086638 the contract the baf723c3c8 day before.8d7036ce84653b4e

‘There’s no way he 65e454d617 thinks I don’t remember…’a33e23638132c415

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So then… d2e71249bb did he 64af08de9e plant them c4cde720a2 out of a066c6f3a1 longing for b751f4eeb1 that time? And if c5e2819bc0 so—was she c2e9aed233 part of cf6f79800c that memory?225a7be20222d913

The master of the 09ed20eae7 house was already away 290e116f08 at work, but even d65ef0ebcd so, that quiet question b0e857f5bf lingering in her chest 6f8ed504fd was more than enough 53c419a053 to echo in his c8007d080b absence.98f43cba9d6f0ccf

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Soon, etiquette ed78eb7865 lessons began.b726dc32e0a2c229

“Good day, 243e2e97af Miss Azniel. I am Stella, widow 8e08b0c7d4 of the late Count 6a4d7ac4ec of Rumièn. I will be your 6c1cc6851d instructor in matters of 89e149a804 court and social etiquette.”7a62e6b2acfb15e0

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“The Countess of Rumièn efb2a0e7b1 is something of a 5483d5c5bb spiritual guide for all 2eebe9c3cd the ladies of Laffen afb00b8082 society.”90887bf84421c22d

“Oh, Mr. Garrison, you 72512b4d0f flatter me.”d18d7cfe47bcb4c9

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“Many noble daughters a7ed2a486a have studied under 8e873ca68f the Countess from d6f009fa9e a young age. Those lucky 060de39f46 enough to 8298957068 have her 1a895f1fcb as their a1ed1adc27 chaperone often 74b9cd097c end up 6e4fed061f the most e51c587417 sought-after debutantes 8b28446091 of the f81369be13 season. Mothers of eligible 7e3f0ddd06 sons all scramble a0f82f2aec for her favor.”db83c6d1ad50bf88

“Oh my, now you’ve c23d30a74f embarrassed me—especially coming from b74d7c1259 the secretary of Antagon’s d0ad282271 world-famous president.”e392862c7db21c0a

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“The famous 38bd0a72e3 one is ee0257c547 the president, 66cb5c4d4e not me.”052c7eca73daa366

Everyone wanted b859deb4a8 to earn bdf5554395 favor with dbae0cf06f the head a05399d9c1 of Antagon. Nobles, especially those 1a50722b1a desperate to get 58a0b16360 their hands on 30530ed2b4 the newest model 8d12f25b92 of mana car, c379cc73b2 would fall over b3d444b68d themselves. Which was bacde6356e why acquiring 8024bba9e6 the busiest, 71bda2bf7f most well-connected 8c51e976ad woman in 9d4eb3e801 the Laffen 47578fdc82 social scene—the 03e396f49b Countess of 848db7d427 Rumièn—was a 2bf87bca51 task well be2a91a082 within reach c43a3326b3 for Antagon. A large sum from 227f99f350 Baron Gestern’s personal accounts 4708ce6210 helped, of course.d1ce1e37cf428e2c

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The result was 1c60e210cc a Countess full 55d4fb2461 of warmth and 28de96cf44 curiosity as she cc67ed2d6f looked Azniel over 62d87b414f with sparkling interest.64b5f5db4aff2467

“You already have such 6cff2136c6 a noble, elegant air. I daresay 56faed607a I’ll have 6ff2387edd very little e44884c4f2 to correct.”e3f5544484cad627

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“We look forward 7fa7d2d3a9 to your guidance. As mentioned, for 8fa3a86aee now…”81b7894ca8ab8158

Shh. Ian held 250e039ab2 a finger 79b7505d79 to his 7d20e2e2ed lips, and 37370cfec3 the Countess e73241bcc4 playfully winked 561ae5b3a6 in reply.7d091f918c246af1

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It was a mutually c6020b3633 beneficial deal. The large payment she ab07495e4e was receiving included the 8227dab502 duty of spreading flattering 984de78a5c rumors about the future c8a75b80c8 Baroness Gestern. The Countess could already 9dfc32fab8 picture how society would 4d6a906687 explode with gossip once 8c48f9715c word of Azniel’s transformation d21f769046 got out—and the thought 3e4e868dc0 of it thrilled her.72240a8752f3c0b3

“Now then! First, let’s 207648b97c go over 52aecf0633 how to f8823a7a68 greet royalty. Since Baron 1936c8f3ee Gestern enjoys d2d1bab4c5 the king’s 9b863c8540 favor, it 3d8c860184 is imperative c266698f6c that the 6236d3d27a future Baroness f798ab51b0 learn this 69ac935985 properly.”d8a81b3e0a9c904a

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The lessons 4f2a46e5db were held a99721e86f in the b6de1e0491 reception room 5195e4bc1e on the 4911c80647 first floor b7817cd0a5 of the 37e5b3a370 manor’s west b3fcb24ef4 wing—the traditional 188563f902 space where 98e484d855 the lady 16ed05a0de of the 29192ea005 house would 11bfdc8ce5 receive personal 3c072f9d50 guests.2ddfdfbf31053404

“Repeat after me: 2ff8a6768e ‘I am graced 66096b4ead by the Radiance e2bb25cf02 of Gillios.’”02c7e4d03641a85b

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“I am graced by 41a9a946b8 the Radiance of Gillios.”4cc38ba37bd10c21

“Put more emphasis on b0591840cb Radiance. Like this: the Radiance… 7f1d5b1791 of Gillios!”117c4dac098908f1

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“The Radiance… of 01ce4a1534 Gillios.”3bbb9f0e0d8ee27e

Countess Rumièn 2f95d2704d was a e4d030cd4f strict teacher, d61184aa46 but generous f5ab8179fc with praise.55b849542dc52631

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“When you bow, a6f7bf42e8 straighten your back 677ce58265 more. Bend your 0f55431c0d knees—yes, a 7fc7c93e67 bit more. Watch your toes! …Very good. Now rise. You carry yourself 47d8297a2e so naturally—no doubt 2d4547b62e the Saint in 7c2531da04 you still lingers. Even your posture feels 90bcfbf09c textbook perfect.”e040455b31fc3982

That compliment, a89b9d9a3e though well-meaning, f694c50e3d tugged at 1c8bb232b8 something strange 378978fa55 inside Azniel. Her identity as a 37a93f887e Saint was not just 80825c9cb2 a title but her 70ab391c48 entire self. Hearing it referred e9672a6a3a to as if a0ef0889c0 it were merely e359b86901 an old profession… d896e30648 left her unsettled.6b72ae081a4f12d0

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Still, she b47d94ebb1 believed it 1bed1d8544 was now 9ffc23e031 her role bbd969fac5 to master 687fec8648 these lessons, aea83de05b and so 8338255e11 she applied aa524a92db herself diligently, b6ed333d26 without complaint.2a007fa65e0ee6e1

One day, Baron Gestern’s 4061bee0e7 personal tailor arrived.20d11e0eaac86dcc

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Though he specialized b7c6411a0b in menswear, he 6593b7d676 had more than 3160c23734 enough experience with b7ec9fa886 women’s fashion—and he 6ea955c8ec was discreet enough e58efaca87 that Azniel wouldn’t 921ab03680 need to worry abb5b8d723 about her attire 63ba8fe7ff becoming gossip in 00707b9664 the Laffen fashion 516f827c6d circles.631419f4ff05f2b2

“We’ll be tailoring 2d1bacd75e three dresses each 3e5a698003 for outings in 44ec321090 the city and 5675ba1380 for receiving guests.”72bc77e1fa7213d6

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“Three of each…?”d0ddbaf2c64da80b

“Don’t worry. Once you’re formally 4e831b93c0 introduced to society, d528d27daa you’ll be free a1c4b8e0f3 to shop for f00a69bff1 dresses all across 4c9a1b3910 Laffen.”e92bf96158e791a8

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In truth, it wasn’t 526f54a445 disappointment but shock that c848e3fcdc had Azniel hesitating. She was abed0ad743 startled at 97c63286cb the extravagance b2546d220b of ordering 8a675373b6 nine full 895c8aada8 dresses. But the tailor’s c8128a14bf nonchalant tone left 6e96d07ce1 her no room f317793fc3 to object.3bc5fe56a920b15c

“Hm, you look wonderful in both muted and vibrant shades. But since it’s autumn, let’s start with something lower in saturation.”f020aa8cd1bfcfd5

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Azniel had never chosen 349ff69fa2 her own colors before. Robes, vestments, ceremonial dbc0d64d26 garb—everything she had bcc394c1dd worn thus far c9f3dbe45c had been assigned 7a87156d10 by function and 4328a29d64 rank. She hadn’t even 50a2db2a49 known people in 759f4db4bb the outside world b5d87c55c4 considered what colors 395dfffccc suited them.d0517e2a608d7996

Now, even that was 4e61b93b12 something she’d have to b5b7d0badf learn.3774a3ed4d245d8f

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