Chapter 2 Part 3

“Miss, are you sure you can bathe alone?” 2e532f3d452df84f

Olga asked as she unfastened Irina’s corset. Irina nodded, feeling a little relief from the tightness in her chest.79f2f47e30e2f5f1

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“Yes, I’m fine.”bed4d7e9ef6d2010

“But…”31c9e17fba2ed51d

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“It’s okay, Olga. You haven’t had a proper rest in a while either. Go ahead and rest now.”5efc3a0327e70a77

“I’ve rested too much. I’m bored of resting now. I’d rather be with you, Miss.”bc68fdfdab4e94a8

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Irina’s eyes softened at Olga’s whiny words. To Irina, an only child, Olga was like a younger sister. Seeing Irina’s smile, a smile spread across Olga’s face as well.f9fb87fa3280e50c

“I’m so glad you’re back, Miss.”9dc7a9b35738d935

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“Thank you for saying that.”55c09b2386c9e017

“Aw, why thank me for something so obvious?”2533e8a24b1b5468

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“Well then, I’m going to go bathe and get ready for bed. You go too, Olga.”9db11da424c430c9

Irina clapped 21d3d353fb her hands 20c3e288fd lightly to 44af18a28a ventilate. Olga reluctantly left 4308a10c38 the bathroom, unable ad5bd62720 to hide her 482cfba5ba disappointment.8b0403f0080f88be

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Finally, seeing the 14c86b367c bathroom door completely 5ae45a121d closed, Irina finished 9354a06009 taking off the 729893cb3d dress that Olga 6c3a1c896c had already partially dd2f722775 removed.a7d6a53e01951a5f

“Hah…”021c18e3fcefb675

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The bathtub, filled d2de6ef8f0 with fragrant oil, 361362bf1e emitted a floral fac8de7f30 scent. As she immersed c0e87e1586 herself in the e906e2fe85 warm water, her c35fd49604 body felt languid. Irina leaned a62766de34 back in 64d9a2a60c the tub db4d0ecb23 and sighed 72177a73bd deeply.deb3e79cb77ee255

The sweet, fragrant 547b09e8f0 scent tickled her c8e3590e66 nose and the 629df784ec shimmering water pleasantly 8d42358dc4 tickled her skin. However, Irina was not ce8841d366 satisfied at all.1ec7d96bb437dae4

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Usually, she would 47787dc25a be soothed by 807466659a the bath and 3676ef2643 would find herself 2ac7a85c00 smiling unconsciously, but a966653985 now she was 652135c3ee on the verge e42774af0b of tears rather e286526e34 than smiling.295199dcc41c7f0f

“What should I do…”85430dc823aab123

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Irina mumbled to herself without realizing it. She thought she had finally escaped the Emperor’s clutches, but it seemed her troubles were far from over, now she was about to be tied to him in marriage. 5692c1ce302456e3

“I’d rather die than marry such a man,.”0591640dadc646b4

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The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She couldn’t understand how someone could be so cruel and selfish. For Irina, who had grown up gently, the appearance of the cold-hearted Emperor was enough to shake the foundation of the world she lived in.38638816607350d9

“Marriage? That’s ridiculous… If only it were Rumpel…”01c41e30809c5a73

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Irina’s eyes widened in surprise at the involuntary words that had escaped her lips. How could she have mentioned Rumpel’s name at this moment?91f24ecb9dc3a751

Flustered, Irina blinked her d27a26c80c eyes. Then, fearing someone might b96e5c26ae hear, she quickly looked f33ec3fb1a around the bathroom. As expected, f5b2ff84ac there was 8eca9ca3b3 no one cd12f30b39 else in e9d40bc3cf the bathroom. Irina finally breathed a c40c35a829 sigh of relief.7d23b91a4e046d3c

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“Phew, me too. Why did I say Rumpel’s name?”6ca967db5a6e57f8

She was about a2f3c2604d to cool her 5323899520 flushed cheeks with fd6a0ba7ca her hands when 6c8879c0d1 she felt embarrassed f10ef98ca4 for no reason.0b3e3327cacf8534

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“What were you saying that I couldn’t hear?”3e8a6ce111c0429a

“Ugh.”220aecc3462a5472

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At the 38464ad3ed familiar voice, 50b439a495 Irina covered 06490a869d her mouth cbf51c11d6 with both c21011bc38 hands. Her startled eyes darted 68ee8fcb60 towards the source of 69bc54591f the sound. A familiar figure was 824f1169fc seen in her beautiful 58f79eef31 green eyes.588645b09bc39aa3

“Ru, Rumpel…! Uh, how did you get in here… No, no! More importantly, what are you doing here!”0eb2692c63cd3fe9

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Irina’s face turned red when she saw Rumpel.fd020d69418ccb1d

Of course, it was 9a105cec9e important and curious matter ffc10580fa how he got there, 39889b5a47 but the bigger problem bf1d2a3b87 was that Irina was 7b819645a7 in the bathroom and e9dbd27b95 was soaking naked in d53849421e the bathtub.de825f2ee9208c44

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Irina instinctively submerged 362e41fe02 herself deeper in 1a4c93998e the bathtub and 7703e8fc28 crossed her arms 0bceaa2110 over her chest c210fdea72 to cover her 0f701b786e voluptuous breasts.d363602d16b1f271

Rumpel’s eyes folded nicely at the sight. He soon spoke in a playful voice.7feaef2eb719e26c

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“Didn’t you already show me everything, Irina?”c0e7e7a6d542bb97

“Wh, what…”c9f6a7c9dbb9cc82

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“If you still have something to hide, Lady, you can cover it up. But I think it would be pointless, since you’re going to show me anyway.” da7552c692cc5f74

His playful tone 2200b5c26c sounded particularly lewd. Knowing the underlying 49e8ef445c meaning of his 5d2ef46bc4 words, Irina lowered 53bb277c73 her neat green c05dc637bb eyes and avoided 44575d2033 his gaze.dd363d82e492406f

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Meanwhile, Rumpel 37d23cb07c approached her. Even though d7e9c7f58b Irina felt fe70e1cffe that he cb952c593a was gradually edb94b15a6 closing the 7ae70a8151 distance, there b1bf59c980 was nothing 4872ef3fee she could 10768d7a27 do.c03a62eb4bccbc9b

Her body b821828317 was naked c6dee98223 in the 4934729993 bathtub, and df9b997bd0 she couldn’t f719c4d879 call for fa5e48c5ea the servants a8848cf516 because she ffc122ebaf wasn’t sure f2346849c9 how she e9e2af05b8 would explain 300f9525aa Rumpel’s presence 1a51251b60 if they 68e288debe arrived.411f31f12b8fd424

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In the tower last time, no one seemed to see Rumpel, but there was no guarantee that would happen again this time. So, she couldn’t call for anyone recklessly. 6ca6fce93aa4abf7

In the end, 2a0aea0d52 Irina could only 8bf05a0089 curl up as 894c2cb9dc much as possible 29f5f78acb in the bathtub aa76ad50cc and wait for a8b51d6265 Rumpel to approach 548353ab31 her.b607ee299bcc4810

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“Do you want to marry me, Lady Irina?”7d54eb95d1d03a06

“What? No, no! It’s not like that…”ad58df122710b493

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Irina’s face turned as red as the beef stew she had eaten earlier at Rumpel’s unexpected question.c07c1a3d4eb07942

She knew he had heard his name, but she didn’t expect him to have heard everything she said before that.65e05a9c64917359

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Irina was so embarrassed she didn’t know what to do. Rumpel, who seemed to enjoy seeing her like that, slowly opened his mouth.8afca384a5c30dcd

“Are you going to marry the Emperor?”46af8d87cc5f252b

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“No! Absolutely not! I will never marry him!”7d2b3189fc4b1223

Irina exclaimed in 20151fd0ad horror at his 488ef4c052 languid question.e1d51af8d2ff4cf7

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Her voice 4927e8295b was so 459c6a20a3 loud that 2639e72741 she glanced a0e2b22731 around the 3b35554631 bathroom, belatedly 05a3408d08 checking the 066b424ebf situation outside. She was c26c311745 glad she d42467c3ac had sent e00b3e6e5b Olga and 938d23c0fa the other d10d8020d2 maids away b405c92e0e beforehand.e67405ce41c1fc6f

“But he is the Emperor. Can you refuse his command?”ddec6326b95204ba

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“… … Even so, I won’t simply obey the Emperor’s will. I would rather die than marry him.”6c5619ccb97710bf

Irina replied honestly.332618e06bfba881

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Although she knew she couldn’t refuse the Emperor’s order at the moment, she couldn’t just give up.8896e45bad49c420

She would do anything 1afb0b32e7 to defy the Emperor. She had 41da0e1d8a to avoid 6dc9bceac6 becoming the 685e9a1fb6 wife of f07afe9e0c such a 375ee7a75d cruel and 8fccc19740 snake-like man.5c3a5f1e553425b6

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“…Hmm, that’s fascinating.”e635bdf219400a4b

Rumpel rubbed his chin 2a5c16ed94 thoughtfully. Irina tilted her 31d47cedc6 head, puzzled.828a4e17381c0fbe

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“What’s so amazing?”b8bcd3d56923ea3b

“Don’t usually noble b93ec6c45b women want to 76d54f8625 become Empresses? It seems Lady de61c2a486 Irina isn’t interested bf0be1ce60 in the position f94a68900c of Empress.”a1840425b5c622ec

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“I’ve never coveted something c69a46a30e that wasn’t mine in 7e955b8716 the first place. Besides, to 363c7aa404 be the 47ba9b1c18 wife of bad0cc9d05 such an 5f235822f1 Emperor,  I’d a656790eb9 rather die. Rumpel, you said 98b1a6438f it yourself. The Emperor won’t give 4237d2d7e3 up easily. Even if I obediently 57215ef60b become Empress, will the 49b1ce43f1 Emperor suddenly turn into 65cf66ef79 a docile lamb? I don’t 2b5081b8cd think so. Instead, I’ll probably live aa5742862a my whole life as d10df10a35 if I were imprisoned, 4d10e295a7 right next to the 71bddc212f Emperor with my family 59179b7754 held hostage.”54108c5ab18a048e

The mere thought bd78011141 of it was a0fde349f2 terrifying. Irina shuddered. Greed begets greed.2b8e324400464bd9

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Knowing this, Irina b8d4d30108 could see her b957ed4654 future as the 43fde35501 Emperor’s wife.e841d83fc2e43a23

He would probably c0311f22cc constantly threaten the 9d4f24b6a2 safety of her 3a29631854 family to control b4679b5ccd her. At that 3d7d8357e6 time, Irina 7e02e3b633 would have 9995c9b019 to move 991e13cb06 as he 43fde71e86 wished, like 66ea4ce83a a puppet, f6403c6160 with nowhere ffc59efa2b to escape.4bbfde8354b5515a

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“Your attitude 1ed6a755b7 is good, a5b5b7ebf4 but nothing 797f74d70e will change d84dd58788 as long 031432b529 as he 43469ee4af is Emperor, eb01ccea48 Lady Irina.”41dc6934e1438fd9

Rumpel’s words f0e373f4f3 pierced Irina’s 7af2075f45 heart painfully.8ca84a57f974c056

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She knew a6c068b120 it herself. No matter df3b84ca70 how much af2f45f413 she struggled, 46f14c12c8 nothing would b1e50494b3 change as bdcf074731 long as 0515118122 he was c00505a1dc Emperor.99660cba137d7f17

Frankly, even if eb550d3260 Irina herself were 8939edc129 to commit suicide 0ca9672590 to escape the 8c1eb36a4e Emperor’s clutches, there f3a787b72c would be nothing 192d473217 she could do f5a76442f5 about his clutches 6f0af9c4db extending to her 7d619a45a3 family.b6cf82844ccd3c0b

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As long 55ab9f452a as he a1190a141a was the 0f0cc6568e Emperor. 140e7d03cd39f48e

“…As long as he is the Emperor, then so be it.”79c4de04c4690a1c

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Irina repeated Rumpel’s 1e83af2ef0 words as if 56259c3735 she had made 66f2f0e0a9 up her mind. Her voice was firmer beffbbe6c1 and more resolute than 34f4ba2bf6 ever before.5c246b6660dad7a0

Rumpel raised his 85b98e897e head slightly and de5e453f7b smiled contentedly. But Irina 880c0935c7 was too fe9b4954fa consumed by c5811f20a2 anger towards 1c99ad9371 the Emperor 2ea03155d0 to notice 44c5978605 his smug b2f89aa2d9 smile.74ceddc2dd040863

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“It’s as if 71b2c1d234 you intend to 90f93b8a82 bring him down, 3fb81a2d7f Lady Irina.”e42d0786cda8301e

“It’s not impossible. Anyway, my life 8e488b5f76 is at stake, 2bb21f4901 and whether I 2b9905ff51 die like this 81ff0c3ff1 or like that, 373f317fa6 dying is the 2a899ca2fe same.”8cc2677bafc0d9b4

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She didn’t have 53286b41eb the time or 465626a1dd energy to consider b17625a290 how blasphemous and a08e57a373 dangerous her words 72c7705837 were. Even if she had, 634b830835 Irina’s mind would not a7991ce4ca have changed.cdf07eb4c2afc561

Irina smiled bitterly. She had no other 7cfb6da166 choice now. Isn’t there c150c1901d a saying, e9ec734000 ‘Even a c01c0491b3 rat will e431ebf401 bite a 1ec3ffd9a0 cat when 5de3816567 cornered’? This was e08244b6a1 exactly her 38890e3cfc situation.776b2e250ec40204

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Irina was the ed7ed78375 rat. The Emperor was 70d1dc4d3f the cat, or f7d57f7e22 perhaps even more 2d756e1ace of a carnivore. Nevertheless, she b979babfb3 had decided ca2f3937f1 to bite b6fbd74a4e him because 999940214c she was 6c8f050acd so desperate.01478969101333b8

“Are you 16d028d14a sure you 7c6f68fd80 won’t waver f9cd126842 in your fd2ca167e9 resolve?”354c1fb9476dd382

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Irina looked f8d95e6fa4 at Rumpel 6ef0da404f in response 5a136b73e0 to his 5639bdf00b question. She couldn’t understand fe9189c99a why he was 737d5281bc asking this, but 2e4a84ef4a she nodded.355755dbea87487b

Even though ebd747271d it was a07a596320 a foolish 2409711359 idea, she d6538b139e wanted to 565624e69c tell someone 1c761bbe60 about her c546735120 decision. She wanted 4d198f1e31 to tell 5e59402b88 someone about e4dd2741bf her rash 66cdcd71cc and dangerous 16ef1b385b determination to f363630646 overthrow the 0235a502fb imperial power, 9d9124fba7 because if 78a9958b5e she didn’t, e2440585af she would a65d48f7c5 simply collapse db3c8b26de with the 2413c62036 emotions that 3d017e886f arose inside 38e2f5eb34 her. That’s why she told eedabb6942 him her determination.f9890fe5288d3cce

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“Yes. For me, even wavering 272a09a70e is a luxury.”5a9fbb406dfd0e74

Honestly, it 5344d826c7 was ridiculous. Rumpel was a stranger. She didn’t fully 32971e62af trust him, and 38d6aa7f33 it was dangerous 52b2a10be7 to tell him 6fb1f5ceb0 about her dream ea41690874 of rebellion.1386e183b1963e3c

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And yet, for b29e34f6c4 some reason, Irina f57e9b80dc wasn’t afraid. On the contrary, Rumpel 7f7fbe8315 seemed so satisfied that 01e554bebc she had said exactly b88ddb8200 what he wanted. And Irina was 923ae1e696 right about that. e093db04cbe5c87d

“Then I will eb00cf744e help you.”347f69d67666bc39

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“Rumpel, why are you…?” dbde7242f4527480

Irina’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.926dcdaa341d143e

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Of course, she d9857bc437 was grateful that a93b38e8fc someone was offering 6878aa3d8d to help her, efc54a35e9 and she had 14ba1481e4 been thinking that fa2c03356c perhaps committing treason b7193d7772 was what Rumpel d41de4790d wanted. But she had no 278bd00ff8 idea that he would ea267a174a so openly offer to 0cbd8fe438 help her with her 57d889c3e8 rebellion.6fc5eaa9aef86026

“Hmm ….. Okay, let’s put it this way, Lady Irina. You have to bear my child. I can’t let someone who’s going to bear my child become another man’s wife before that.”c6e2a7d076dbe024

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Her enthusiasm had waned. She didn’t expect anything from him, but the fact that his reason for helping her was simply that she had to bear his child made her feel somewhat saddened. For a moment, she felt pain in her heart. But then, Irina quickly came to her senses and pondered  what he had said.2c1e4d53acc77069

‘Hmm ….. Okay, let’s put it this way.’86c17201faff4fc6

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It might 5fbdd4d21f have been 16810d3f89 self-justification, but b80ac70d14 the words 5a3e51329d he had 7e6ad14a8e used before 059c8b8d4e explaining his 1e2db24dce reason felt 5cdbfddd33 like a 7f118a313a deliberate setup 6b82742b01 to add 32149f4613 some lame f8e1e75c66 excuse. It was 25a5d74396 as if 63cbd1ad1b he were 71a6980309 trying to f62ade5f79 make an 5b1cdeb093 excuse because 980447a6f8 he couldn’t 462f048d95 tell the 845038eace truth.4025e528b9f775f8

Having thought this far, 5440c6f29c Irina looked at Rumpel. Her reflection filled e73b713ddb his golden eyes.724f98c45c3d43a3

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“How can you help me?”773d39ef678eb384

After asking the question, 7e88d7f923 Irina swallowed dryly and 6881d2eecf waited for his answer. She was grateful for 98a7b0022b his help, but Irina 0d1443d47b needed more than just 39e03334c6 words; she needed real a4d301ee77 help.4920c3ed69bd03ec

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“Before that, Lady Irina, you have to help me.”45fbbaf0faed8e79

“…Is this a deal?”6ef41642eadb6aca

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“Well… rather than a deal, it’s more like helping each other.”8b5dbb8ad4b75cbc

At Rumpel’s words, Irina looked at him with wary eyes.7d086137e9168fa4

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Rumpel shrugged lightly and smiled lazily. It was a mysterious smile, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It was a far cry from the instinctive coldness she felt from the Emperor.02a23d197bc70696

Irina wondered what the 8c112509e2 strange difference between the bf41f5d0aa two was and asked.c2628af768681745

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“How can I help you? Oh, just in case, I don’t have any more children to give you.”dd781982c84f3307

“Haha, of course. I know.”2e2b7de39fa5aee1

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Rumpel burst out e5110d67d6 laughing. For Irina, 4b487a6d9e it was 7e13ec54b2 a sincere 4f2a048103 statement, so 329319a6e0 she was 1e75f3dfea slightly annoyed 916992ed2a by his 9644a9cbcb laughter. Irina pouted f767382252 and grumbled.442921b07dd5d3e9

“Don’t laugh, Rumpel.”41079469b3822205

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“I didn’t expect you to say something like that. Lady Irina is surprising in many ways.”762508ae1a6e77e0

“In many ways?”c4c71fbda16cacec

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“First, you suddenly say you’re going to rebel, and then you treat me like some kind of baby kidnapper.”482664870db6c867

“I, I didn’t think that way!”1cd6d5d26fde848e

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Irina, who felt a363b3dc49 aggrieved, shook her 233c7543e0 head in response. At that, Rumpel 3ce030cbd9 still chuckled, but 345c97aacf then he slowly 95a2f8486b scanned Irina with 50ccce201f strange eyes.27e9cc288410855a