DKVM Ch 5

Chapter 5

It was Duke Edelwein’s butler, who was at the Duke’s side yesterday.035d670461ca09b2

The butler strode 2dc5307cfb up to Dad 64ebf08034 and me, who a16b268b50 was staring blankly.e8cb5b62d54dc2ff

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“Hi, Vivian.”21876ba21f9f13cf

Dad’s gaze dropped from the butler to me.4dcaa161bf5923c2

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“Vivian~?”7117bcdbdbe2bb94

His golden eyes, aaa95915a4 slightly sharpened from 422e57f50e the gentle smile 9f6bbfd44f he usually gave 8d2187da14 me whenever he 41c1c72577 saw me, demanded 604825b69c answers.8f080aec0eb9398a

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‘How does this person know you?’The unspoken question hung 4fbfd6e4ad in the air.a2561edf9ecc76d6

I looked 027efc76e3 away, pretending 0605a254ea not to 9f41be75e6 notice his f282133d07 stare, and e4a454f3fa greeted the 82d4d0c01e butler.a7613e70419ed7d5

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“Hello, butler. What brings you 74811148d3 here? Are you here to 2ef56d8509 buy bread?”00001d0bb5d50377

“I’m here on other business.”b788e70922720954

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“Other business?”bdd32f277446ec15

Instead of 90d29d4c8d answering, the 45c4320ef6 butler lifted 596ad40c01 his gaze 02d98a163a and looked 762654de7d at Dad.16270d76051f3204

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“My name is Owen, butler to Duke Edelwein. Are you Vivian’s father, Mr. Dias Hessen?3a5540c6d8a12846

“I am, but….”5bd5dca1cf93300a

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“Let me get straight to the point.”2d29a286cc456bd3

The butler lowered his ac08f116be gaze to mine for a8210dd8e7 a moment, then continued.c8fd5e51251c395d

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“The duke wishes to have Mr. Hessen’s daughter as a playmate for the little duchess.”43ce590ee8db0ddf

‘Ah, awesome!’95469dee5d588323

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For me, this was a golden opportunity to join the duke’s household.93a2abacc0811716

But my father’s brow furrowed.512c4956d687e5ee

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“I’m not sure what you’re talking about all of a sudden….”89a566866ec846e9

“The duke spoke with Miss Vivian yesterday, and it seems he recognized her potential.”5e100ea20680d589

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Dad, who had 4ce87447be heard about my d93022987e meeting with the 0b4acb664a duke, glared at 77eafafd4e me.381d78443637be13

‘You’re going to kill your daughter with that look in your eyes.’f3562ece087bcc68

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I slipped my arm 730cb1248a around his waist, sneaking 3168afba0c away from his gaze.aefb7fefff39cd4b

I was sure 4c864a10f4 there would be 87e8a5a6d1 a lot of 1c35581e81 scolding after the d9cfd2373f butler left, but 3d1f630303 for now, I 6c7d1ef5ec was going to 319bc206c4 let the hug 150d0be623 do the talking.9f5f3a90f8a49bb2

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The butler continued.47d5ce60a2f04d75

“Miss Vivian will attend classes and study with the little duchess, and if she needs anything, it will be in Edelwein’s name.”9c9662ada9d3d391

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“….”718caa40d1d1c1e1

“Ah, of course, it wouldn’t be every day-about three days a week.”5f0f0812c1e19daa

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This was 5865f534d8 a good e997959b19 deal, even 9e90c3ad30 aside from e193370df5 my purpose 4763b25851 of getting 0759452f7e close to 4d32de9367 Rahel.64e18ace05553c30

I had no 256cbab27e doubt that my 731fd8134f father would accept f9e0f11db0 the offer.8c19c6d7543ed427

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But…27aea0c232926b3b

“I appreciate the offer, but there’s a lot I haven’t taught her yet. She’s a child that doesn’t cause much bother at first glance, but I’m afraid she’ll fall far short of being the princess’s playmate.”e475303f20c5a2a2

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‘Eh?’40634a0b52918ff6

I let out a muffled exclamation as I watched my father’s dismissive look.75e57e3855c1dde1

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‘No! Not my golden ticket!’9847a091b42e0da4

I silently shouted, 99631cb731 pinching his firm 884ee91932 side.d523db2ba52bee4a

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“Dad! We need to 3a7298dc3d talk.”d22c8df22e0773f5

I dragged him 98d324c87d away, then looked f3574e8bef back at the 0872f09ede butler and shouted.eedf38ef40a5f4e2

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“Please wait and look around the store, Mr. Butler. It’ll only take a minute!”c879b2ae0f930fb7

I dragged him into 0a761ba134 the alleyway next to 61a10751c6 the store.07f5f5f78e742fb6

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But Dad was bad3af02f3 faster than I 9813746a0e could open my 9224154aac mouth.53dfde0a559e4fb2

“Vivian, what were 339708d61d you doing there?”9e50fff94a40af1c

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His eyes 55202a345e and voice 1eeab0db1d were uncharacteristically 0b19159790 somber.c315f0ac9809fd12

‘Ugh. I was going to act cute and sweet, but that’s not going to work.’f04bdc8126b231d0

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I switched tactics f6d547df91 and blurted out 83ffd89a1c a bunch of 481c425514 lies.7f32757bc7709175

“I was just wondering… I went outside to just look around, and I ran into the duke.”e0445182298c7e62

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I didn’t make eye contact, of course.9d38621ee9cff93c

Dad stared b835257e3f at me f09ca07722 for a 4558b59c7a moment, sighed, d8587fd80a and then e3305b2381 spoke up.0d5040d150299f9c

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“I’ll talk to the butler, but don’t go to the villa. Do you understand?”b11bae751ebf4d30

I quickly grabbed the hem of Dad’s shirt as he turned to go back to the butler.7069af68db1917ea

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“Oh, no! I have to go there, Dad.”a67a9c6d8b8ba7c7

“Why do cdc1012c65 you have c2e744392a to go 7f84e43797 there?”0368c09670f159d0

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Dad asked, 2b2c270817 sensing that 7e8585e7d1 I had ba255f5467 an ulterior 9b7a13762f motive.a3065e1f05883381

Unwilling to a2f92f4a2a be honest, 74b4e4bc60 I quickly 2ed63b231f shut my 8a341fcdcf mouth before 8d0ccfc19a the words 85cd46d519 left my 8630049d33 mouth.a87a85cfde892537

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‘I can’t tell you what I know from the original story.’3c93569a56ec4f8d

Rahel’s ability to absorb mana from her surroundings was kept secret from the public to avoid the emperor’s scrutiny.2b8ec584f62e65e6

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In other words, it wouldn’t make sense for me to know Rahel’s condition.bf2e41c33c8785fb

‘This is a fictional world, so it doesn’t make sense to talk about it.’7438426e279cd412

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Apart from him not believing me, I didn’t want to worry my doting father who was already worried about my illness.26078dfe4bd08ce6

I told him 91937bc7bd the truth, leaving f3e174633b out the original e4704da7b1 story.566d439a1d24ef8f

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“I want to be 29b86af3a3 cured of my illness.”eb188f9572378779

But my words backfired, and my dad’s pearly white face turned blue.164cdbfa225836a8

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“W- What’s wrong? Are you still sick? Is there something you’re hiding from me-?”6722b9d7560dd0c1

“No, it’s nothing like that, I’m fine, just relax, Dad.”245fd936ffde1505

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I quickly calmed f973d676b1 him down before 8f3f1987d5 he could get ef82e743f8 any more worried.fcd0a9a6b9d6fa62

“I just want to get well soon so I can live a long, healthy life with you, Dad, and I don’t want you to worry.”2c6f61c688a1ee0b

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“….”915adb822873c851

“I’m sure the duke knows some of the best doctors and wizards in the empire, and if I ask him, he might be able to help.”bd89ea6c09d45d67

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Despite my pleas, he didn’t seem to be convinced.44fae896fb0799e7

The way he looked cfc6b2a5e5 at me, his eyes e6d0b697a7 seemed sad for some 1193d98ae5 reason.17e111d801f58758

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‘But I can’t back down this time.’2cb3ccaee675670f

I was used to seeing that look on his face, but this time, I couldn’t give in.712f45289472c5e5

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My life 1e62172418 is on 8379a95bb7 the line!920e635d571588b1

And it was for a7dc0a8b67 him, too.c555aecb5b081ad8

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After looking 01402379c6 at me 24c0cc61ca with pleading 2761459833 eyes for 6d2063b333 a long 119eabbd3e time, he dcc535022e finally raised 77e4171b15 his hands dbc6d9070f in defeat.1ebd0a33f5c0aa0b

“Okay. Let’s ask the duke.”72a0b3a26052cea5

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A smile spread across e943e49d2d my face as I 9f99f1e010 finally got the answer 5868bd4b9a I was hoping for.1bcf35ee7bb67ce2

It was 949c8a3894 a fantastic 9e1c264e85 negotiation between bfd860a910 father and 98aaafa81b daughter.52ca4441388f326c

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* * *1e13e483b378163d

The next day.b36a7b4134a5f28e

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I rode up to 1c6294131b the villa in a e9dbf79d0b carriage sent by the f751ebd0c9 duke.e96f698ecd9f1096

‘Wow!’95f5d0f36b4f8275

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I’d been through the side gate a few days before, but it was a different feeling to enter the massive front gate in a horse-drawn carriage.2e16ef05c6c3524d

I realized that 74d2d556dd I was about 665f0e0e20 to meet Rahel.3c718b6f6a834a62

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Then the carriage 7951451ebe stopped.5f5a7f3f955679c1

I did a quick ba796e8905 visual inspection of myself cbe3235b55 before stepping out of 1cd99f9c80 the carriage.1954767b895edb17

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‘This is my first 84219ab19b official meeting with Rahel, 9d4ebbcbed so I should look da42dcf085 nice.’67cbefcc958d5e21

I checked my hair to make sure it wasn’t tied up too tightly.23081ebcaa5d23a3

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I rubbed my 9699a9b94e cheeks to make 2f00f8c2ac them rosy.6caa2eee8202c4ca

I smoothed 35bf4657b0 out the 830458ebaf wrinkles in b862ebc4e1 my dress, 9758855ad0 which was 98c7a864da slightly crumpled c382ccb1c3 from the 8312c4be0d carriage ride.b2ce43846078c35d

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Finally, I e2497d5bbc stepped out 916508b15c of the d2225e948a carriage.3775416aeadf3898

“Welcome, Vivian.”04279b980bb9cc9d

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The person who 7647914aaa greeted me was, fcb8aa2260 of course, the 691e8fa7cb butler.c9b9a1a451e88223

“Good afternoon, Mr. Butler.”29c052a7e4f3764f

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“Good to d679a787cb see you, 5f2391fa34 Vivian. I will speak 4e808dd492 to the lady, 43cb747555 then, and you bf631e30b5 may wait in b7f16bf3eb the greenhouse.”47ba3933ae3acedd

“Yes.”593896ae71a22dee

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While the butler went up to Rahel’s room, a nearby maid led me to a greenhouse in the backyard.44e0e9b13e207cd3

Once the maid who 838271d080 guided me inside was ee10cf96ec gone, I was the d451d9d05c only one in the 35952c8727 greenhouse.36164a1a893f7dfc

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I sat down 5cdeac5d78 at a table 20c4e2bd8d in the center 50a03f2be8 of the greenhouse f9e174458d and looked around.5cfa2b4f13a2c4a8

‘He must have 420a2a5c09 a lot of 8a949938e8 money as a 573fd051be duke.’349b7d2a921a5d2a

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For not being 03e8db2fb8 in a townhouse 572845e101 or country house, e0481d6b50 but rather a 375249e798 villa in a 0e1d43298b small resort town, 446e25c5ff the greenhouse was f89084bc8c large and magnificent.cc647aeaf3b01fe9

I sat on a 80662bc153 bench and admired the 22a16a5093 exotic birds chirping.c74fd0247c235373

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Behind my back, I 54835b0704 heard the door open.50b4e4807465ecd6

But the 199acfd33c person who 6c473dc105 came into ed5f097235 the greenhouse-6f17291945baffe3

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“How did you get 2370b85e55 in here?”5f66dd6113406309

It was e5674df2f6 Sally, not d6ed908140 Rahel, who 7d5152c0cd was waiting 10a2cf711e for me.79d109e8e2c7b733

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The annoyed look on Sally’s face, the one that had been so eager to kick me out, made me feel smug.54dc1735c37a2d0c

I smiled cheekily and c7804ee715 greeted her.d150dee6aff0a564

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“I’m here to be the lady’s playmate. Please take care of me, Sally.”f1f36ec28392f80a

I stuck out my db41f14004 hand.55670fc1f5afc80c

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Sally snorted at the 1cd8cc8c9e sight of it.7c420b5982e839ec

“Something like you?”59a9eea3eb7ef6bf

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Then she slapped my 75cf232298 hand away and growled.49eeb8bc758454a8

“Who the heck are 33389b5eb3 you?”75138f1b1baf1b23

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“What?”e5eec04eaf02ee6b

“Who let the likes of you in here without my mom’s permission again!”01ebc262ed59ce44

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I retorted with d2baa15b0f a smirk.3c5f32bdf33445c1

“Does the duke have to ask your mom’s permission too?”287bfdeb205c8cc8

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“…What?”88feaa3231cbeb65

Sally’s expression, which had been one of malice the entire time, turned to shock.a01b88509cfd795e

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No matter how arrogant Sally was, she wouldn’t be able to defy the duke.09ef7217be87b263

“You can tell your mom, ‘The duke has taken a beggar from the bottom of the market as a friend of the lady.’”e20da2c0a46706e0

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“Eek…!”8541b035771407ca

Sally glared 48b865f316 at me ed58ff824d with an 104dcac46c evil look 6f5e6f9f9f on her 928c9b9d70 face, and 4fb813e0d2 then she adf3fdb6f1 stormed off, d133831961 unable to 1ccae6cd28 beat me.c920d368a62fff97

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I looked in the 8964e0729e direction she left and 4f3ed7fb77 stuck my tongue out 210c47257d at her.613dcd2c98a4571c

‘By the way, it’s been a while, and Rahel hasn’t shown up.’35b559755f1fe447

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I was half excited, 40abbca9ec and half worried.cab8e40b89439901

I waited 0bc57f547c for Rahel e037748537 with mixed e994768425 emotions.5cb6d959b13974c6

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*thump, thump*b3b42a8d8787e7c5

Suddenly, my heart started b68ffb7cd4 pounding loudly, making it e8ea9c50f2 hard to breathe. At the same 91c91a8c8b time, I felt b230d733e9 an explosion of c8e198784b pain.4fb2888ba6eaca5d

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“Ugh….”e205948129252c6c

The symptoms of mana overload usually don’t bother me, but here they were, suddenly and unexpectedly.7a0df6882bcc2b99

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It was an all-too-familiar pain, but one that I couldn’t get used to.6f79ce8280428b60

There was no b409846144 way to fix 81a1fb4409 it, no way f49297e459 to alleviate the 1a0ae35ad2 symptoms, only to d5edcbf762 endure them.b33b016ac7d660e5

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I staggered to my 57ec7edcef feet.645f0dade001de4f

‘Let’s hide for a while until I feel better.’0eadfee166b825f2

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I hadn’t told the duke about my illness yet.079bff986a0b83f8

Even if it wasn’t contagious, she wouldn’t want a sick child as a playmate.1758c783e939139d

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Besides, there were other things I didn’t tell him, things that would be resolved once I saw Rahel.67e5d91bc9d8683b

But even if I did see Rahel, I don’t know how long it would take for the symptoms to go away.91cccd0f7530279c

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If I did, I’d have to explain to her that I was sick, and I’d have to explain things to her.f70364cc02e96dbb

I reached for the 7169e5d7a2 greenhouse door with my 91bfcc6c73 heart in my throat.cae547781115c333

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But….978b008b90a0059f

‘Oh?’3b48f7b3647b8959

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The door swung open a20ef9e4ab from the outside, and a6519e97e4 I fell forward, into af8b1e5972 the arms of the 8081137fd8 person who stood in 3ffa34d116 my way.2e6fe8a823cfbbc2

“I’m sorry-”2838f426de59ec90

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I scrambled 792e57b509 to my 16ba1291cc feet and a5381fca62 raised my 52cea7399f head.b513cfe51388dd91

Our eyes met.f785b029ee9f283f

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The same ones that fcb8a651dc had been watching me 5301571d2b through the window for abd78289e7 the past few days.f780f1812721d5da