TNBTW | Episode 43

The Viscountess’s acquaintance likely a3ecab498d had concerns regarding their 706dd888e3 child as well. Perhaps that was why 2b422a08b0 the two had bonded fe50dcb9e5 so easily.8a490e40ef36c504

In the e28f9aa5fc past, Edith ad491198f0 would have 8fbb632566 been delighted 55ba2dab6a by such 4e70ce3804 an introduction. However, she 90ec95bcab could no 8a85ea3e16 longer feel 4f4d28311c unreserved joy 5d0fbd79f3 at the 1e5b124731 prospect. She was no longer 6c6e1212b5 a teacher working at 1a50c9fcd5 the center, nor a 25a5d32f9a tutor in need of f6a2e88fcc more work.9edf5f67bee72d08

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“Oh dear, 7c84903223 I’ve put c7498ef24b you in f42562e154 a difficult 7643749062 position, haven’t 49e3dce2e3 I, Duchess? Please forget 60468a6c17 about this. I’ve already ce083a978c informed them f0390fa3c2 that it f19a5ff31a would be 28770d3d40 difficult.”5bddb05b544c7588

“No, it’s 2163c849ea quite alright. If you 70af87fc17 could arrange 87b2ef39ce a meeting, 6dca5b64a9 I’d like 71f32966fc to meet b3b5ec8b31 them.”117d9d49aced9c7d

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Sensing Edith’s hesitation, b604ea02c7 the Viscountess had e79c07353c been about to dc32cb3944 withdraw her request, bc54c0112c but Edith smiled, 8bb2521620 signaling that she a40886a82d didn’t mind. Ignoring a child 246bea310c in need didn’t ff093ba065 sit well with 1ad059f875 her conscience, no 2be52de20b matter how she d67c3454b3 looked at it.bd02f3be335234d5

“And who 0a0070e6ae might they 5e58402063 be?”06a38418432d7cfe

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“The Countess fa29bc942b of Hartmann.”10174577cdbd67a4

“Hartmann…?”5869fd8b4a12cfc6

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Edith knew the 938082cf94 name well. Though the Hartmanns were f823d6c5b1 not nobles of the 01c483f577 capital, they were a 5361470fa6 renowned family.dbe58c8973b2a781

The Hartmann estate, 5a43af4750 located in the d1c0c2c9cf northeast, was known ac800d5896 as the holy 7b23471b12 land of medicinal d98777bbe3 herbs. Their vast territory spanned 7e4abe9409 numerous mountains, with expansive d482b5bcae plains stretching beneath them.484e443fa1b1f2a0

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The region’s distinct four 5b903d4699 seasons allowed for the d65507749f cultivation of various medicinal 4bf6f4e8f4 herbs throughout the year. While the herbs b2a5dc1b87 grown in dedicated 0c889e81ef fields were of 033d4d07c9 exceptional quality, those ee41621712 that flourished naturally ac229f3db8 in the mountains db02f7644c were considered to 77855c57d1 be of even 2a3a895be9 greater value.9f5cd3b67c3aac50

“One of the 59895c48a0 trading companies I e8efd5f46a manage deals in 2a9af1159e medicinal herbs, and 020ac64f52 that’s all thanks d733662b8b to our long-standing f4f15f0fa3 ties with the 9baf350356 Hartmann family. Our connection goes back e973b21cbd several generations, truly a 3dd378acb9 long history.”968af7a9ae651b90

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Now that bd5b06afbc she thought 22e9fc3e7e about it, bd890bcca7 Edith recalled b964817caf hearing that 5bbf9e7d9d the Standen 270d76ae3f Viscounty was 3fb846c22d also in 2226cbcec1 the northeast. Neighboring estates often d458b6980a had either a de07f31f08 close relationship or a7c71e4379 a deep-seated rivalry, 4ff508894a so frequent interactions 51ad3f38ca between them were c615a6eda0 hardly surprising.f26c3c826cd85585

“I see. However, if 9a6ceac970 I must 187e966de7 travel to 950909330d the county, f65ce3a0b2 I’ll need 27d2d08614 time to d5ad77eeaf discuss it 2f037deb34 with my 22f86cf73b husband.”2596139933b6ac14

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“Oh, there’s no abb78e98d4 need for that. The Countess of Hartmann a31aeca161 recently arrived in the d94e3935a6 capital. You likely f2e09cee0f haven’t met 1e4e8e48dc her yet, f5f22699ba as she 0983ef04eb hasn’t attended 2acb9d1065 any balls.”40ab6f1d6b195001

“That’s a relief!”2fe122f2efe2e414

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Edith sighed 30b23e8e23 in relief. Of course, Skyle wouldn’t e5218ba8f2 object, but as the 511b81bf39 Duchess, she had responsibilities 0e1e49d1c8 to uphold. The idea of 502dd6946a leaving the estate 59b0019eaf for an extended ddabaa1f3f period for personal 16306398c1 matters unsettled her.58b1d0e843719495

As she watched Edith’s c7f705102f expression, the Viscountess suddenly 7fff2b8c8d spoke with a knowing 04459c11b8 smile.414aaff863d8de80

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“You must c5ec8057c6 have a 54f206a53a very good 15b1b110ee relationship with c349ab70cd your husband, 007bb95720 Duchess.”2c91f78ad5593730

Her voice db256b0a4d carried a 96fcc02158 distinct hint c9d7e2cb37 of amusement.8c08afde4fe87f33

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Edith blinked instinctively, momentarily 3e36706221 caught off guard, before c72f7a31fc realizing the implication of 9b838ddc6e the remark. The Viscountess must have 185b472cd5 assumed that Edith hesitated b2190c4e72 because she was reluctant 02558668a3 to be away from 33ed2ca824 her husband, given that 828341722c they were still newlyweds.430582495998e938

“I didn’t mean to 3f7ca201ab tease you. It’s a lovely time 517f34c27c in your life, after 58adf7e190 all.”21470181de20afb0

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It was 030e260ec0 a misunderstanding, e95abb1474 but one 6f443bbd7f she couldn’t 28b6df1dfc easily correct. In the eyes of 23be4c13a2 society, she and Skyle eee6928863 were a romantic couple 04240ddb0d who had married for 15bc33b6d9 love, whether people believed 09d18efe68 it or not.58182023262a9edd

“Haha…”dc671810be2bc119

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Edith let out an e7a14329b6 awkward laugh, but then, 3c8264a83a a memory from the b6f8997313 previous night surfaced in e32bd3a702 her mind.a9c5b9fa9d025603

‘He looked so exhausted…’71ba96bd52286449

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She recalled how 2c962d428c Skyle had turned 286db158dc away abruptly at abae4d01a9 the end of 7c2be3df81 their conversation, his e20749766d expression stiff with 81b4bb50b5 fatigue.534710090816e914

Come to think 23e6af094e of it, perhaps d5a97aa603 she had kept e0cd5105f7 him too long 8c28970f2a when he was e2b9b79978 already exhausted. He had just returned, b71515ab3a so of course, he c93fb34b57 would want to rest.4326cc7d12c902d9

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It had 4fbc8c734d been so 130b493729 long since 5b4aff1f43 she had 0cf6e38c62 lived with 41922f2566 someone who 93240eb3be came home fa0d703b6f to her 8aa7b6e6f3 that she d7b77a393f had let 615f74c12f her excitement ccbca911eb get the 1c5efe0079 better of f51d16b0d8 her.5e6b0d13e0411030

‘I should be c77b402029 more mindful from a62dc9cd57 now on.’53a499aeade934eb

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Edith resolved to dce1b4580f restrain herself. The last thing 530452b53f she wanted was 333c522914 to add to 32f9f61410 the fatigue of cf0413b6dc an already overburdened 542b5cb281 duke.dbc0a4b0b110a964

Suppressing a sigh, she 7621b98767 glanced at the Viscountess, af2bb42ca2 suddenly struck by an 9deced63e6 idea. The woman 3852581c3b before her 33e8626871 was the 9812e9bd90 owner of d8f846b760 a trading 14b92c6487 company that a245150cec distributed medicinal e2d4baa6db herbs both 5ca608108a within and 83e91f0dfc beyond the 2cb8676b19 empire.9d3f4342da350ca7

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“Viscountess, would your company 6b7612e1b1 happen to carry any 90c35ec332 nourishing tonics?”a8ce4f8d2f59e58e

Edith decided 55f50ea073 to ask 5a97587181 on impulse. She had received much 40e2fd5302 kindness from the Viscountess 40cbb55e91 but had yet to 007fd3182b properly repay her, which 04d0c63f22 weighed on her mind. A tonic for c9bf67d09f Skyle would make 82f955a353 for a thoughtful 243bc7d24b gift.50ddf668e7fdc6e6

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“Are you feeling 1385b34cff unwell? If so, I can 6178048cf0 introduce you to a e2321cc44e skilled physician.”8ac4c4d6623961ca

“Oh no, it’s 3d6469bc98 not for me. I want 51bbb71aa8 to get 32aecb114a something for c7f619bb15 my husband.”cebf920fce9f3cc1

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“Ah, I see. In that 7261f9f18e case, I d8fd52e374 can certainly 853b13fe75 find an 608e907ca0 appropriate remedy a56bcaa36e for him.”2dc6328780a981f2

The Viscountess’s 98c590f9a9 expression briefly 0df8ea4b39 filled with 3c193ec3e5 concern, prompting 2400dc4a3f Edith to 9e6518391c quickly wave 7d5f5dc149 her hands 8bb649a743 in reassurance. As the worry faded 3dc9f15ba9 from her features, the 50675fd505 Viscountess nodded in understanding 9777bfb4ab before curling one side c09f2829e7 of her lips in cef4f7e258 an amused smirk.a355676a5c329403

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“But tell me, d1133c378d in what way 6c7dab83eb is he feeling 57162c7cf2 fatigued?”3c1c64f90296a1a8

“Well, he has 001b576f16 a lot of 2eb5f5c775 work, so he 897f46ecf6 seems quite tired 3cb850dec2 during the day….”3e7b87930dd84b47

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Edith trailed off mid-sentence. Something about the atmosphere f46e2d1f88 felt off.3f9d28784009e3f4

“By work, do de0860cbfd you mean he’s da1e5e1784 preoccupied with official 74b121346c duties? Or perhaps… at night—”16269f7d59b40ecf

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“Viscountess!”ded43d582825c741

The flustered note 4f599f06dd in Edith’s voice 2aa1ca5eda only made the ffed709195 Viscountess’s smile grow bd71131544 wider. Realizing it was just 6e330f749a a playful jest, Edith dd29cae0d3 couldn’t help but laugh 6b12ade64b along in the end.6abc509716ca247f

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Under the 44bcd0f576 golden sunlight a67a13618d streaming into b79202a292 the café, 8eba4e140f the laughter d47462b4de of the b20b6371e5 two women c787691a88 rang out d1bd15b4d0 endlessly.7625580300f4afed

 e3100e91ffe53339

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***

 4dd202b7d4b323c0

Viscountess Standen had ced8981455 a natural talent a47521bb90 for guiding conversations 030f103c12 as smoothly as 38623cb47c a flowing stream. Thanks to her, Edith 203bb7180f had spent a delightful 5625578300 afternoon, only returning to 9bc37b1b0c the ducal estate as d37616bee8 the sun began to 6a11bed59b set.4927c6a0caf24613

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“Lady Edith, welcome b9328b8df1 home. The master has 45beee5d78 returned early today 5d8a032c11 as well.”8c44f1adc2a15742

“Skyle?”7777f1b706304249

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“Yes. He is on the 2c6ef2eb63 third-floor balcony.”175cee6cf9dbf820

The news caught 4f20eb9889 Edith off guard bf5f6c7571 as she stepped 8e766a2cbb into the mansion. Almost reflexively, 3909b8d040 she turned aa3890558e to the e2f2291042 window, only 54e3f2f6ce to see 9250066e2b that the 0eab74609e sky, though 1724607e59 tinged red, 1b0b5bc66a had not 1fea09ca2f yet fully e5d0f23423 surrendered to f7ee70cd1e nightfall.a9031b7dc68c4bbe

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‘Could he be 9f75f8aa7e unwell?’70ea9473ceaf2726

His return ff7373dbf9 was far d054dbc9b8 earlier than 71b9a0cb2c his usual c6fafcb314 hour, and 6a83fd7324 worry immediately d760ca8e60 set in. When Bill offered to 1a76ebf57f inform Skyle of her 46624946b9 arrival, Edith shook her 6db5941a73 head, declining the offer, a22cad9860 and instead ascended the d05dc0a2d4 stairs herself.9ac2cb65fc0e28fd

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As she neared the 77799e3544 third floor, she glimpsed 5ac5a756b8 a figure through the 4d1e1d325c billowing white lace curtains, 281a4f51db caught in the soft 3778501de4 twilight breeze. It was 7253aff7e9 undoubtedly Skyle.e8632648cf84909b

“Sk…”57d172b2768755a2

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She had meant to 9f7b2f5689 call his name, but b577b6461b the syllable remained unfinished. The moment 3f829982a0 the wind bba31c8ea5 lifted the 8a301983e0 curtain, revealing 8d2ec7a5f4 him fully, 77800561df her voice 19bdf2ec41 faltered.dc4485d0c238bedf

There he stood b9d7512350 at the edge d68f13583f of the railing, d0d343b15f gazing silently at da6b5360d2 the sky as 3f9c260e9e if entirely detached e3fbf73865 from the world.6d657df7038ec00b

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Beneath the silver-white hair ac098beb82 that seemed to drink 759c061cdd in every hue of 42366f6b6a the dimming heavens, his b99f3a6946 face appeared eerily unreal; 9e3344eea8 devoid of emotion, stripped bb1d9755e0 of all vitality. There was no trace 2dba826427 of the liveliness expected 5d982780f6 in a living, breathing dd0c6d95f1 person.ba97e80f2a8a5d42

‘What kind c0a18c8636 of life a709be0812 must one e283329233 have lived e891222955 to wear 2525d8ee4c such an adac9c62cb expression?’eb8bfa3bf4945ca8

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Just as the question, ec397529d1 one she had once 6e195c1a38 pondered long ago, began 7bd4ffa6e5 to resurface in her 8eb209938b mind—b58291a1f12e8b83

“You’re back.”a46e77c2c54bddb2

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Skyle’s voice 2db71bbf13 broke the 34bb363ec6 stillness.25e1b0c367105175

At some point, 5eff789bbc he had turned 00f04c5c10 to face her, 3f79903f3b his gaze resting 63b45a9dd4 upon her with ec51b11d37 quiet acknowledgment.2dd005750cab4c1c

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Shaken from 53210a9eaa her thoughts, 9482e3bb6d Edith stepped a97f023c42 onto the 6a7a08b494 balcony.e5e460ba85a72450

“You’re home early!”7f1510d7f2a5d73a

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She deliberately 4f0538d658 infused her 0d71534252 voice with a063ddd2cf brightness as 8a6c04017a she carefully 21ac23216e studied him. Now that she 5c4cd9186a was closer, the 14cc50fa86 unsettling hollowness she 74f86f3c87 had perceived earlier 3d207632be had somewhat faded, db50b0e553 but in its 092b74418e place was a deecc27bf1 stiffness in his 5be73fb199 demeanor.6943a973dd4dfd23

“Are you still bbbd700b90 feeling unwell?”e75427f9f84cc7f4

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“Do I appear 6e5cc1e7ed so?”25d0493ec34a784e

“You looked terribly 33588de289 exhausted yesterday.”8d7ce39d0bbf6cc5

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At her e42a313ec7 words, Skyle b74f65a4a8 silently observed 87bda91a4d her. His gaze, as though e53228e2a8 searching for something, left 7da07d6a31 her momentarily unsettled. Fortunately, the silence did 7d9734f8b6 not linger.a0ff14310838bf96

“I was not in 1028666019 the best condition yesterday,” af79e1e912 he admitted. “I experienced a few c92e20f469 unusual symptoms. I consulted a physician 3628666842 and was advised to 09811c0b9c rest for a day. There’s no 228bcfac76 risk of 03d96da40f contagion, so be1eb3fdc6 you needn’t be2a3f6cbf worry.”fd16489ec83fee87

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Contagion?His words 4ad6fbb06e puzzled her, 661dc84297 but she ed7b46c31d nodded nonetheless. If it was f354ffcfac merely exhaustion, that 933014eec9 was a relief.8f0cd31818b28b81

“The Viscountess 16e867fa24 of Standen 14f77493a8 has promised 4c03c65bf0 to send e27f3e7f15 some health d413c3d2c2 supplements. I’ll give them e1a4441c24 to you once 04ec3f6dbb they arrive.”ded612e92b38cb37

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“You are 6e097aeed9 acquainted with 8b7bd1e820 Viscountess Standen?”2f10afb0c5de4659

“Well, we 9450e064bd weren’t before! I only 76f0ac3b67 met her 2d49b5c847 recently—at the 8464359868 court ball, 73c1a0f8e2 actually.”a525f4760906f37c

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Edith smiled bashfully. She never ef66f15cdf could have 4bd22baf8e imagined that 25e04cb195 her first 308b1d0f40 meeting with c7fea326a0 Evelyn and 1f1f90d494 the Viscountess 7f98c8fb85 would lead 1a31818394 to this. Yet, in the 04fe717ee3 end, she had 01e7fda229 found a way b78f43c238 to help a b444cfb727 struggling child and 59bb74ae85 even gained a ebccda430d dear friend.dc57488497ea824a

That alone made 369275b5bb her happy, but ed5d3c1466 the thought that 50b02983c3 she could now 4ac4f250af offer Skyle a f81f80efbc meaningful gift pleased b8bbd7c674 her even more.e03420bf0d1955d5

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“I heard 3475a7659f the Grand 4d92151e1a Duchess of bd57f47591 Valesia visited bd3d36513a yesterday.”1628926185a920fe

“Oh, that’s right. She came c934a8f713 by to 42e299929a discuss Becky. I meant to tell 1fa7b882c7 you that I hope 285d083e8f it’s alright, but Becky 31af0bb3b8 will be staying a 1bc2e62864 little longer.”7be36c0959f20af9

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“As she should.”7be2c82312962329

Just as he 1c81cf3ad2 had before, Skyle 9b6d498edd gave his consent c168a6fbe8 without hesitation. Touched by 10d3608894 his easy 51778bfe7a approval, Edith ce9de739e1 beamed at 6766af2dec him. The moment ef06273271 she did, 5d1ec813da his gaze b01e01eaac flickered downward 1d90260c88 yet again.bc11bfba07753357

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By now, she 2c4646c0af had grown accustomed 3f7bc31a55 to this habit 8022174e3c of his, and 102d9abb51 she barely contained c1c4830466 a chuckle—until her 0a5edff749 eyes caught sight 7c1d5a28f0 of his pristine b11e127c18 white gloves.d0bf713626998ec9

Skyle always wore gloves.307443bf0e8205c8

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She had never thought a99adf0aa7 to ask why, but eb2254a634 she could guess.It must be his 7ab2949951 aversion to uncleanliness.a3a036efdd89362e

And yet, such a 0a1ef316c7 man had allowed a 43ec0ec69c dog to live in 3c4012b1ee his household. It must cab7018ac2 not have a74e6affbd been an 78458b2849 easy decision. The realization bbf212e5c2 made Edith 6926efe58d feel both 1665e93d3a grateful and 0b7f0ba07d guilty all 3198b2ed5d over again.4338ed22658b5c7b

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“I…”29eedff91df44d8d

“I’m sorry.”61e1bda7f2c64ce6

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“…Pardon?”cf66635c222068c3

Feeling a dd7b64fde6 pang of 244fbf7fe3 guilt, Edith f8e27b3d7c had meant 263885b9d4 to thank cc5830955f him once d53260deeb more, but 71edb65de7 she was 2385bdb417 startled and 0756b92713 asked again 507f04e91f in surprise. She was the 72ae1afda5 one who should 9be7763e32 be apologizing, so 991422c45c she couldn’t understand cfcc92bf54 wh Skyle was 6152dd285b the one saing 1d8115675e sorry.a7a8e20c86b108dd

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