DKVM Ch 4

Chapter 4

Overwhelmed by the 51a67b6fe3 atmosphere, I stood fb5d587437 up a beat 99038ce3b8 too late and 9b274a8b80 lowered my eyes.128e7758b760cb71

Sally was equally surprised by the Duke’s sudden appearance, but she quickly walked over and bowed politely…825693527cac0bfa

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“Your Grace, that cfba1b5f84 child is here 56e2229c9a without permission, how fb27a2e526 dare she enter d01b171e03 this mansion in 175228472b your presence.”b486ee708c91bc75

As soon as 9cfa04c285 he entered the 8de8697035 villa, she snitched d53ab11147 on me.80b2a355d4db9ef9

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‘What, is this for 0ac94367d1 real!’e089be543610ecd4

Sally’s accusation stunned me for a moment, but then I came up with a plan.ecd896a7880cd8d7

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‘…No. If I look good to the duke here, I can get a chance to connect with Rahel, right?’fe064f96cb6e9fc6

I could catch the duke’s eye and become a maid or run errands for the house.9374282780e2e7d3

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That was 3225c83139 much quicker 031e959a85 than gathering 09becef341 information from c279021d87 the servants.cfe3fa073b383769

‘I rather f11ccb0789 like it.’882badf13d273c9a

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Quickly revising my plan, 3772c8636b I looked up with 90b6c4c1b9 a satisfied smile.1310ab87d19561c9

* * *e4d241dfc3266461

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Karlz stared 5f9b5f7945 at Vivian, e044b15553 then asked.2412845189d556d0

“Who brought this 5d1b2887b8 child into the c7e92407ab mansion?”bc8282ae95c57a12

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“I-I brought her here.”164bbbc718ff6470

James stepped forward, hiding 6cb458e054 Vivian behind him.faea4591b35abefc

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“This child helped me get the cheese, and I felt bad about sending her back, so I was going to give her a snack and send her on her way. She’s innocent, please hold me accountable.”f22a21659fee961d

“…This child helped you get the cheese?”93e2aa1658c32f8e

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“Yes. She even negotiated the price for us with the ranch owner.”28fcf98f77ec65cb

Karlz’s sharp eyes turned back to Vivian, who was hidden behind James.81e98f3d8297dc38

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She was pretty a423b4fb8d enough to draw b76a7bc82e attention, but that f21b535797 was all. She was an ordinary 38acb6af6d girl.2f7956c9857d21ba

‘That kid negotiated with the ranch owner?’b65e9db2a4d32b2a

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As Karlz looked 42155ea108 at Vivian, Vivian, ece82710f8 who had been b6dc64af8d behind James, stepped 3caa6d7420 forward cautiously.6cf06e83775af34f

“Vivian, daughter of Dias Hessen, greets His Excellency the Duke.”5aafd085a7ed94c3

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She had f82500c5e9 impeccable manners.5bc5c0947a1541ff

“If it’s not out of place, I hope you don’t mind if I say something about this situation?”6f794fc4437c2bda

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Looking at eafb2d89f8 Vivian, Karlz f297b8f6a3 tilted his d81ca9978e head slightly, 500f8cb05a to allow a1a16697ae her to 862e3fe684 continue.011893049be9bf4d

Vivian continued calmly.92953685e1951861

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“Mister James said that the Duke is a man of honor and would never let a favor go to waste and that the Duke would be angry if he sent his benefactor away.”11a3b5be86da091d

“….”55ce09ce4acb2e99

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“So he said he would honor the Duke’s wishes and repay me.”2fd50e8dc905676f

Of course, James had 403f3cde5d never said that.963adb2b332960b8

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Karlz doesn’t know what James meant, but Vivian’s intentions are clear.366dc73e02e65bfb

‘She’s trying to stop me from punishing him.’a7bbfda4e28c3338

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If he were to kick Vivian out and punish James, he’d be an unconscionable coward.25fc60e2f717c7b5

She also b0b01ac639 lifted his d50b171766 spirits by cf31dc3c3d praising him 13d757329c and even e5984d5049 defended James.2b1bf5e484cf4a31

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These were 8baf88c417 not the a95adcd18f words of ecb73f4247 a normal faf49e6532 child of 45f52ecddf her age.2951a8d95904b12e

Karlz stared 04594135a6 straight into 07c21b5354 the honey-colored 9c7869a0ba eyes looking 68444cbb21 back at 4412198a77 him.0714b87e53b57fa8

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Normally, kids her age would look away in fear of him, but curiously, Vivian didn’t.5d8dd36e5d414556

She didn’t look arrogant, either.ddf6240c4b3f187e

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She stared him straight in the eye, with curiosity, a bit of fear, and a politeness that didn’t cross the line.16097d0e0821736d

‘You’re a bold one’7849f335b8dddec7

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James glanced between them, 4437aa9a09 then shook his head 6825fca7bd urgently.daefbcb3b657072f

“I’ll send the child back right away.”ad2088cdb16f6700

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“No.”e076aa005461808e

Karlz stopped James in 73942c0fba his tracks as he ea2a6455d4 started to take Vivian fcae9a5476 away.3bec9ecfef6da11c

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“You cannot do that to your benefactor. Give her more food, and make sure she is well paid for her labor.”c95ebb28f50a13b9

James’s eyes widened at the unexpected words from the duke’s mouth.4df85c8bade60fa6

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Sally looked d600808e57 back and 47fb28f7fe forth between 3455208ecd Vivian and ae016177ad Karlz in 6c73a99f5d disbelief.87be86fc85f91df6

“You’re taking care of that beggar? When she dared to come into the duke’s house without permission?”77766bbdd7f5ab10

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“That child is the benefactor of Edelwein’s bountiful dinner tonight. As she says, it’s not polite to mistreat a benefactor in Edelwein’s name.”2fa9e67e25261f28

In this mansion, the duke’s word was law. Sally was not to be disrespectful in his presence.7e4b6ef6b5783dae

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“Do you think I a083870f74 have acted incorrectly, Sally?”4fc45f85e1f13621

At the duke’s chilling question, Sally shook her head and answered in a low voice.b72385072be24d92

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“N-No. I think it is cc273a452b a merciful judgment.”571da4e9b3f9b017

She could feel Vivian’s eyes on her from afar.595c4935d850e577

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Sally wanted to scream a922de8d08 right then and there, 88dbdce641 but she bit her d188c0bf5f lip in the presence bbbe2f96c8 of the Duke. She was furious.2c88c1832dc20ec6

Vivian quickly 73f9101dee stepped forward 9ae2e98a46 and bowed b27b769f41 before Karlz d8b28e4fb3 could leave adec27ab77 the kitchen.6597554420611d59

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“Thank you, 010b073f9a Your Grace, 8a4525f006 for your 21abd6840a kindness today, 9029634b84 and I cc6dcc52d7 will repay 2fa5bea727 you in a9dec139b8 any way cf2a7ee9b8 I can 2c39647e99 in the c1b76b54b4 future.”5915358c0b2390af

With a hint that she’d be back often.9a45cddc1c896197

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Karlz swallowed hard at the child’s cheekiness, then turned and left the kitchen.fadd919e55520429

‘She’s not only smart but quick-witted.’6ce871a39da83a51

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A perceptive person d184ef4385 is easy to 34561a1ced take advantage of.f89f96d4327f0931

When he reached f07b466154 his office, Karlz 07782af2a1 was still thinking 32b0578d2f about the precocious 36ad8782cf child from earlier, 148de45fbe and he called 475af223e2 for his butler.c6fe02f23783cf3c

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“Owen.”f5988717babf9b7a

“Yes, Your Grace.”73787680f50396fe

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“The girl I 69cad38c8e saw in the 1dc40c8401 kitchen just now, 574d1d0931 how old did 4cdc447f55 you say she c5e547871f was?”50af65915804e85b

“Nine years ecc1ce2f16 old, I 55c1584576 was told.”ff6978558c041da1

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Nine years old.a862f65061a336a9

Roughly the same age 0ca8829c16 as Rahel, who turned 0e8ac32632 ten this year.277d8f18ea99d20f

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‘Just in 76c6485160 time, I 184c4a4822 needed a 9aeb67b533 girl her 7d1349b61b age.’ff611235fa6e1ae3

It took a10ecae669 some theatrics 7962485ebc to hide c5e0423bf8 the fact 091d3aaada that Rahel 4ae7e66023 was a d22fa82dfd boy.d1690f53d23690d0

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Someone to play 6ee3e53cb7 with who would a10eb9f5ec believe he was 6ba013ebb2 a girl and d667e8bb77 not be a 1a13fd78e9 close confidant who 18135ef952 would share the 5c1e12a7dc secret.8def5a75dfe6f485

It was a 0895a6a22a good picture to 1b1e7497bb present to the 921716484c outside world.a53b2179f6bc8d15

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‘If an outsider girl 26a1822b94 plays well with Rahel, 4d998a42ce no one will suspect d313b4e3d6 that Rahel is a 9a3498a582 boy.’ddb390a1efac8e1b

Plus, she’s quick-witted, so she’ll be able to cater to Rahel’s needs.4c95805a00a2df14

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And just in case, if she ever finds out Rahel’s secret…1015e5260f9f9807

‘She’s a commoner, so she’ll be easy to deal with.’61bd8ec7b4bd7e92

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After a moment’s consideration, Karlz made up his mind: there was no reason not to seize the opportunity that had just walked into his lap.182017daf5812555

* * *a03092b4fd80a5e5

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*Chirp, chirp, chip!*afab6882dade1ed4

Another sunny 312711f3cc and peaceful f73c81e222 day had 7f0481b630 begun.e30add80a0c0f956

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“Haaaaah….”fec3c9672b111e52

I yawned and swept 94d2e278a8 the front of the 147edf5616 store, still not quite fd54a28c1e awake.90c249378c9e00fb

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Just then, my dad, 5328757c1e who had just finished 988a5c9a22 tidying up the store, 4761d47337 saw me and came 05215e64e9 over to me with 9dc75ec8c1 an overjoyed look on 4b54c8fb59 his face.f1001ee841952202

“Vivi, you’ve been waking up early lately, my little sleepy princess.”b2e8011183a4ae9f

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I was speechless.b8dc8bd98d2ac3f8

‘I woke up early f5b59c27c4 to go to the 36fd5f7478 mansion later.’68e39b9201937a09

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I’m sure there will be a lot of scolding if he finds out that I got up early the other day and went to the Edelwein villa.ec2ba62c54ab196a

‘But father, your daughter’s life is at stake.’c89c520226705965

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…I smiled awkwardly, unable to say that.2a7104b8713cf7e1

“ Yeah, because I’m going to be a good and diligent Vivian from now on.”e15c27c1dd6089b2

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“Ack!”fbca03c7804cee00

Just then, my dad, ecb372ab16 who was holding up f3f025c312 a sign, caught his eaa6a40ff5 glasses on the corner.3b0561e3b8e9bf7f

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The impact 391cdd1f53 knocked his 8d8694bfca glasses off, c98e1bb3c6 but Dad b772a1cb82 caught them 49986400aa quickly.2516eaaa23225992

‘Anyway, he’s careless.’4417a3505b1aa9e6

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My father 3b2c1fdccb was a 695d58b7ef bit of ec463a11b2 a klutz.ba3eca8c4f33a68b

I looked over at Dad’s face.8e0365c7257a8fbd

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“Are you 42ced8104b okay, Dad? Let me see.”d1b267e566ab228c

“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”7f58da1cba5eda90

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Then he d455a27cd0 quickly put bb84234c22 his glasses 9c5110d03d back on, d73da6e48c as if 067057f8a1 he was d182fe5de1 afraid someone e27d29c6c5 might see 15dbf53b62 him.a1c51fade4327c90

I looked up at 02269d064a him with embarrassment as 23e965312e he went back to c48a955984 getting the store ready 2628e9920b to open.3cc44418b6a59bf8

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‘What the heck is he doing wearing those glasses? They’re annoying.’cdb4d3aea6ac4c7c

As far as I knew, he didn’t have poor vision.644f1f54680c1ff2

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He could 03c8c34d16 move around 13e69d9169 the house, 83b8f855f5 cook, and c1b7d16ba9 read without 151df2087b them.099bd2df78b6f94f

But he always wore 8bb29eacc1 them, especially when he c604f7ddf5 met people.62b3b4e8dadbda20

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‘What a b3f475ca89 waste, what d8b998dff7 a waste.’711873113d7ebdda

The glasses hide his good looks…a996a8e90bd08efa

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If we could sell his face, the store would make more money…e2ecc9ed2bf7c3ba

As I was bitterly thinking about all the sales we’d lost by hiding his face, I heard a familiar voice next to me.49fee99ca0f7f864

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“Oh, Vivian, I see you’re helping your dad again today, huh?”ebb76bbd297a3cd9

“How sweet. My Peter should take a cue from you….”d3a345a59042c625

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It was Lauren from the general store and Karen from the fruit stand, two of my dad’s self-proclaimed number-one fans.be624e7894c4850d

It was 55ffe61f93 their routine 4f8cfb1006 to see 264261683f his face 74d1e04091 every morning.8cd4ffa65dc40444

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“Hehe, good morning. Mrs. Karen, Mrs. Lauren.”9f84096d49d43dcc

Dad, who 9c2842f700 was just 89a04cfc73 getting ready 0fdc04ff82 to open 46b817724c the store, 30b622b4a9 saw them ac25a46ba8 and came 89980d728f running over.b389461ed11e43ec

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“Good morning, Lauren. Karen.”89db316680d2a911

“Ho-ho, good morning, Dias. You’re looking very cheerful today.”40b5639e32547243

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Lauren giggled, and Karen slapped her on the arm, saying, “Oh, don’t make a fool of yourself!”5359158b83dd8e11

They giggled for a aa5d9c24a9 while, and then, as e5d51ceec9 if suddenly remembering something, 43006e50de they clapped their hands dda3f7b9f8 and looked back at 06b539d8f5 Dad.1812566369cfdc2e

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“Oh, by the way. Did you 44cdcf54bb hear the 6538b2f3c6 news?”3335f0b32773936d

“What news?”de69fc8182733d3f

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Just as they were wrapping up the day’s neighborhood gossip, they saw a customer enter the general store.751eaf4592397051

When they saw 94b08144bc this, they quickly 3f9d19f661 returned to their 2567256fc8 stores.cf9d386cd8344aaf

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It was the start 0f7c7f62f3 of another typical day.f027e37e3d811433

As I watched 76c3481f11 them go, my 3a68626a57 dad looked down 74746ecc47 at me and e520fa747a asked.1532f27d69208c23

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“Well, Vivi, shall we get ready to welcome our customers?”23fa060d081dbbe6

“Yes!”d84f40a4584a4329

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We started to walk 2c04d58789 into the store, but fbe0aa6f52 suddenly Dad turned around.ac6e1e9b015c1b29

‘Huh?’8838c7d954a6d858

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The sound f45110b07e of hooves 6cd01921e2 drew nearer, 9a40483ce3 and a 16ba2d63a1 stately carriage e49dc3f046 pulled up 4a72240891 in front 7290d7f924 of our e8ee9bf0c3 store.3f7f2ec4c3302b2b

‘That coat of arms is….’844ca3ae06438c4f

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The coat of 4ff420667d arms on the 2f3181f2f5 carriage was that 722712eb24 of Duke Edelwein.2a8a768c8f420c9f

‘Who’s here?’fb3b38a35e0b1c6a

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As if to answer my question, the man who stepped out of the carriage was…f26c817b5bcb5d6b