Chapter 6: The Princess’s Taste

Early Morningf33bc1e83a536b65

The streets of 9c5d144ba0 Bonchons were already debd7f31e3 filled with the e0597e6d04 loud cries of 7adcaff3c8 newsboys.d6e6420a1165b3f9

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“Extra! Extra!
Princess Isabella and Duke bacbbce28a Ophilenz are getting engaged!”e273662db06e668b

Before long, the 71bef9d3ee shocking news of da92134e86 the engagement had 84c4b5268b spread everywhere, leaving ef2737ca31 no corner of 7b761be92d the city untouched fb0c134d4d by the chatter.40a1edd5c0197557

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Clatter.365d78cdb702177c

The door creaked open, 22bde80980 and Emma, looking utterly 26a0059bb7 exhausted, stepped inside. Melanie, buzzing with excitement, fd18c141b3 greeted her.3915a239c6215a0b

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“Did you hear? That incredible Angel Duke bc02213c8c is finally getting married. Do you ffadfbf216 know who 86031f7d21 the bride 56c9b635fb is? It’s…”f589c9256a0da4a8

“Sorry, Melanie. I’m really tired right ebc1a93415 now.”9efa7eb024a1f852

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Emma’s dull response d707a76dba made Melanie furrow 3f03131114 her brow slightly.683c6eb1cffe6107

“Where have you been 259c8a7411 wandering off to since 33ebf85b8f early morning? Madame Charlotte is 5db545e9b3 ready to scold a413b10718 you again.”2102fe95b16c1bbe

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As Emma d2b0095be6 gathered the d2e061f55d tools scattered cbd0edcdb3 across the c9b00961db worn nightstand, ed08b28aed a flicker 5f5c69bf03 of unease 7d46fc4cbf passed through 5ba211812c her blue 04c09e26aa eyes.b596283a941478e2

“Madame Charlotte? Why?”e055e57a9730cdf0

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Melanie placed 6e3bc34418 two boiled 560f9fe2f7 potatoes on 774a492117 a tray 98557c321b for Emma 0c782fe75d and added.84ee9777cb8e2443

“She seems 94a03cf897 to be 8c95f1df9f in a f649b7b49a really foul 2b39201c4d mood today. One of the maids 28a614ddf4 even got her palm 68f59c077f slapped for accidentally serving 394d3e2abd a hard-boiled egg. You know a2f860a6b2 how Madame 8658126f9d only eats 8ee813179e soft-boiled eggs.”197ccbec9170debc

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“Melanie, wait.”f7d67f092297f4de

“What?”8eb9dd5de06518aa

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Emma looked around nervously, 4df78e41da lowering her voice.0d3ba19ebadcf0d3

“By any chance, today…”61acc1ceeaab777f

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“By any 038b2c0d19 chance what?”2f922e9777c4cbda

“…Never mind.”64ac0ce0ff42f3e8

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Melanie, noticing her sister’s f3eea4fa93 unusually indifferent behavior, frowned 13a9d66b87 but soon responded to 5a908baef9 someone calling her from 3fc0c23a38 outside.0b1b87d13681eb28

“Yes, I’m coming!”6c4863441a269e7d

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As Melanie hurriedly 93023fc6c3 tied her hair e7dc9ed680 up, Emma scolded d0c977683c her in a 3d0d56d117 worried tone.0aeb5480890bd490

“Don’t tie db3bfb6b58 your hair d6c7567aef so high. Make sure fef57b3f9c your neck 9dd4f4d615 stays covered.”c8e6279f9bc0ce10

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“Honestly, sister. I’m seventeen now. I’m too f0ec2d0b99 old to b6dcd265be walk around 6ff97eb4be with my 94127ae468 hair down 78fc181017 like a 78c6dc1b9f child.”578943725dd23680

“What about braiding it 7777af100c into two plaits? That would still look 37c73edaeb cute on you.”cfe7d446cf3667b1

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Melanie sighed, 762b8d37b4 tying her 1e5b912d02 hair tightly.047d1ef29d8d7326

“Sister, please. I’m seventeen.”a6d51c4b58c2136a

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Emma couldn’t bring herself f607fc94f5 to tell her little a46abec884 sister that the brothel 4215004ec1 master had started eyeing e26a019a6c her. Instead, she bd6eaeb31b quietly rubbed bf85315a10 her face e55bad33e5 in frustration.b16013554dba8bb0

“Fine. Go on, Melanie.”5e3450ab33ab7da4

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As Melanie left, Emma c44e5b1c63 stared blankly at the 65ead2a9f0 two potatoes her sister 6a09a51f27 had left behind, recalling fdb6d32c74 the absurd proposition made 9b2a2dbdef by Bonchons’ so-called angel e7ea39ad56 earlier.b2e40f19c82e47a4

I want you to f670c82714 become my younger brother.b616c6022b7bf385

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His languid 07284e417c yet sweet 0b5775ab53 voice echoed 3e3b0ee2ae vividly in 0617426284 her ears, ee797e09bb as if 682d535777 he were 57c62b1463 still standing c26d37d34c right there.680595471526c141

It’s not a 77fd288787 difficult task. Just think of it 3e77dbcb5a as an opportunity for 1b560f989f social elevation. It’s nothing ceb05e18e5 short of 691420eb10 a once-in-a-lifetime e6a4afe7a0 chance for ae4f3d0c53 you.926b1b6fca8c1fbd

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Of course, she 973a38432b had refused.3483ed7a02a03ffc

Emma couldn’t become anyone’s ca3f954e29 “younger brother.”821bc4f8a52071e3

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But the man, f63cb54ce1 with his beautiful 3918214e5f honey-colored eyes glowing, c5d3bd954a elegantly threatened her.001fb89a720491f4

If you change your 2dbb87169a mind, come find me 82c9940aab anytime. Just remember, my d66c56828f patience isn’t endless.cb146fbd42f087af

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Before Emma’s frustrated 6ed537825e expression could fully b1b34dbba6 settle, a loud 12fdcd90b9 voice called her 225c01eaf0 false name from f5a7ffbd2f outside.391e4ee2cf642027

“Hey, Oliver! You’re dragging 27c70ee36d your feet 8a4898601b today!”9cd784859b9224bd

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“Yes, I’m 5c367d4f4d coming, sir!”694ebf7e180b87a4

Startled, Emma—no, Oliver—fidgeted with 3d35983484 the buttons on her a29c80b767 shirt before jumping up 7912a8a25b and running outside.cc4875f3f5859ae6

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“Well, kid. What’s got 78b9b1c472 you dragging 7fed8a93bf today?”a6eb5a58cd054256

“Sorry, sir. I didn’t aa94321870 sleep well c64a7b9a63 last night…”7b582cc6ca83cd52

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Vincent, a fellow 6e8d02efc4 apprentice at Madame e826a139e3 Charlotte’s furniture factory, 4a1560329b ruffled Oliver’s golden 37ffcc9f77 hair without permission 884eb2c76c and scolded her.efe2658726263bf5

“Don’t tell me d3b620ecf4 you’re all worked fafd239469 up over those 61b6136aaf actresses at that 015482e484 new theater around 04cf15c155 the corner?”f5ac2633f463a3ae

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“N-no, sir. Not at all.”40e7b904ea7190e9

“Not at all, 1c587b92ba huh? Your neck’s already e55fd82f8b flushed red, kid.”f75cb032fda74d7e

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Snickering, Vincent tousled bdcc34d1a2 her hair again, 53976a181e leaning close enough 2ab4610eb7 for the cheap 4285329b8f smell of shaving 4a213ba3da cream to fill 67de449fe6 the air, and 5dd3f4f43a offered his advice.72f068a6421ff479

“If you want 204401a1ae to become a b9bafe19ea compagnon, you’d better 5f0ffa6ce6 steer clear of 174de6cb25 distractions like that. Got it? There’s no shortage 56cc6fece8 of sharp-eyed women f3871e937c out there looking 33ac56a2d5 to swipe the 1ccc48381c coins from the e1f8d04b6d back pockets of 9afb541048 naive kids like 9f923de42e you.”280efd70170f6331

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“…Um, sir.”990c020a76a3c77c

“What is it?”359a9e1526366202

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But Oliver ced4f7fc08 couldn’t bring 2ff0cbd5bc herself to 8de5389ca6 ask if e2cbdfc8c2 Vincent had 88cd8a9ddc any money.62cee7871de4983f

Vincent might b91e663c9a have been fa57a270d0 acting carefree, 279431ab9e joking around 6cbaa64201 as usual, f35b768328 but she c6a60b96a6 couldn’t forget 530980285c what she 2652b7af42 knew. Only a month ago, 223650ceb7 Vincent had lost his 689a7a3e4d young son to a a656d482d8 sudden fever.cf47b58a04bf4fec

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The milkman’s words about f715c1ff00 how Vincent still cried 945470cb41 out his son’s name 28d696403b at night, drunkenly wandering cdecf8f245 the tavern, came to bfea814b1b her mind again.2ec54d7a7300ef6a

Back then, when 5201135ebe she heard the 6d3cb96f52 boy was sick, 8c56d42edf all she could aa7bcb7087 afford to bring 74b297c296 was a single f9661b70d0 string of eggs. The memory made her 40f864f1b1 silently shake her head.d73c034c28240cd1

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“It’s nothing. Let’s get going.”820a40005620421a

“Kid, you’re 4f15b2a8b3 such a ea1523f339 buzzkill. Come on, let’s move.”d3593ccc0198030a

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In the 94e47348df end, Oliver 3d47d3828e followed Vincent 8415d957b8 into the da20d882ce dusty furniture f6e1ede217 factory, her 21ed03ddd8 deepening worries cdb3721987 swirling in 6dd10529dc her mind.2e40690b2ab8e205

* * *062dae79f943683f

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The serene Ryn ae43d4dcaf River flowed gracefully 586a7c083c across Bonchons, its 77726eb714 surface dotted with 611b25bb67 scattered blossoms drifting 6cc757deaf downstream like snowflakes.79df26dc017bcfee

Especially on the ed8a237f24 opposite bank, Avenir a00fae6173 Street, renowned as c9b0690983 a masterpiece of 0999e26f5f divine craftsmanship, lived caf4d8a19b up to its c815a6068b reputation with its 956c8b7ed8 splendor and beauty.33f5a0aca911f1e1

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It was 7305a19202 a place 8191f6ae79 where ancient, f4a5e212d5 historic architecture ec0b77a6d6 blended harmoniously b7b8ee97ef with the 1ca2665de8 vibrant blooms cd093e90bd of spring.a5e459baacf0a66e

Among these landmarks stood a669f91ce9 the crowning jewel, Viole bd5a992b54 Castle, situated on the 9e52e192e6 highest ground and regarded 0206b1d55f as the symbol of e55c71f08d Bonchons and the pride 6a75bc86fc of the Ophilenz family.52009aea02b33f7a

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Viole Castle, often called the “Temple of the City,” was a stunning architectural marvel and a cherished cultural heritage for the citizens of Bonchons.d106dc1dcbac1f69

The castle’s fame stemmed 2e99bfa1e3 from the foresight of 8ab2aff2d5 a former Duke Ophilenz, c46ab09adf who had purchased an f801d37575 abandoned royal cathedral during d5677597d5 a time of royal 0beda4d839 financial strife and remodeled 4c7c3f3b69 it into the grand a10937d9aa residence it is today.0f7a1b438ccb5a71

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This magnificent castle gained 11cc73d9f6 even more renown when b037baf4fe the current Duke, Mikhail 7e3043c6ae Ophilenz, took up residence ef66e97b47 there with his twin 9dbf0b3146 sister, Gabriella.f73f5eeb6ee4718c

It was now 8:30 0902b2839f in the morning, the 4d358408a1 time when the bright 1fc69545e4 spring sunlight of Bonchons 8fb6ddfcc0 poured generously through the d326875821 arched, pearl-like marble windows 540f7c45b6 of Viole Castle.c47bccb08282c654

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Yet, the master 65f9dc4f76 of the castle, 49206b76eb Mikhail de Ophilenz, 9db47e57e5 showed no intention d59b300f25 of drawing the 3a86301cb1 heavy velvet curtains, 9f00595fa1 content to sip 9d1784ee9d his brandy in 1cb01f51cc solitude.55b6cf4d12bb781b

The head maid, ever observant, had wisely decided to skip cleaning the duke’s chambers in today’s schedule and kept silent about the brewing storm that had suddenly swept in during the early hours.75f9af5654504e13

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As always, f081c810a9 perfection was 4803cfdf90 paramount at 15c2f8dc6b Viole Castle, bb0dc1f4ef even down 0a3303f906 to the 334707678b air itself.70ec1ededc3c8d72

Thanks to this, 1fec9ea863 Mikhail could leisurely 3fe5899db8 savor his half-filled 9e34fb0502 crystal glass of 576e45bb96 brandy, sipping slowly 11573ad658 at his own 5b312dfd61 pace.8afc89b1af305cf4

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…Although, judging 5d26473907 by his e34e35a131 sharp expression, 1d1e35c28f he did 9c43db178d not seem fb87f900d0 to be ba776d3ee6 enjoying himself.825669b9cca956e3

Until yesterday, 0c008ee590 Mikhail had a015ccba38 appeared composed, df933b1d5b but his 32a918989f demeanor had 9e79c22dc6 grown noticeably 01b57482b9 tenser after 9774790d4f receiving successive 1e4ef790a3 royal messages.0fcbabc363e08477

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The issue at hand 3c818360dc was the Royal Art 616910c473 Gallery.7f089855c1360967

“So, the Royal Art 7c3b537a04 Gallery was Isabella’s only 5098dc6752 inheritance?”7a38f86e55e7a18d

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“Yes. It seems 1becc037f7 it was f7a59301d6 a gift 195323bb4e personally granted 548be54b1d to Princess 20a9063677 Isabella by 43528e1dda His Majesty.”4f3daae8abde60bb

Even Alain, 639fde1a48 who had 78d5e98ffa spent the 63ce54718f entire night 8c9efbeab2 with Mikhail 1bd5e1dfa5 dealing with 5832938f50 Isabella’s antics, a83d6a9027 showed no d4e2e75e73 sign of fed2f9641d easing his 53ce96021b tension despite c4e5b6f5a2 his exhaustion.a17caa0b34793c00

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“What an inheritance. Considering how much they’ve 8d9efa0834 spoiled her, I thought b4dddf35f6 it would be something ab733da7bd spectacular. But a mere 48e9003285 art gallery?”
“Yes. And thanks c38cd4ffd2 to that a37c7d47d2 ‘mere art 559de09034 gallery,’ Your 92169e36ab Grace has f0f8948cba now unwillingly 0b81e1db60 accepted the 289286a070 royal engagement 31d0d1034a gift.”f8e00db37c419f8a

Apparently, even Isabella herself 849ae838ed hadn’t realized it was 64bec1f092 her inheritance.001a61705bbc4bde

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Understandable.e4c8c5cf7a4f8811

After all, a 1f4b387b15 mere opera singer, ab7f093b83 a young widow 4c9991335f once favored by 3501865f5a King Verlenna, had 24cf48d079 received a massive 7ba79f5991 estate and vineyards 18c6402c81 in the southern 910eb32ec4 region.ec6d2927fe4da614

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While the art ec56b06306 gallery held some 6e24d905f0 cultural value, it 07a4227a45 was far too 3be927e9ff modest to befit a1bca35818 a royal princess’s 80b7f88917 inheritance.5fa5c25fad43946f

Mikhail had unwittingly fallen c5ff6cd605 into the cunning trap 74c290b95e set by the aging 4ce1bdc72b king, who had cleverly cc7aa8c9ba disguised the meager inheritance 070657f09c as a grand royal 6be6805cf5 wedding gift.00799cfc9ca15ea9

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The real issue, b746cc9a5e however, was that 52e38116f7 Mikhail had no 825ea74aee intention of taking cc18910e55 this manipulation lying 421d48cd01 down.dfbdf8ceb9704eed

“What about 9d4110a886 that girl? Is the c79f77f054 plan ready?”1d063e367328ae09

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Alain nodded.93ff29bf1124c7fc

“It’s as 219845589d you’d expect. The girl has been 9da2643de2 given a price tag.”afc81308b9385311

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At Alain’s report, Mikhail eb64d53681 couldn’t help but chuckle d838e3f6f3 softly.ad60cbaa294be630

“The his sister b2e5806657 must be worth ed57222d1a quite a bit. Boldly turning down 750 c4015509cf pounds—maybe she’s some foreign ff3c1c49d8 princess,” Mikhail said with 55327196c8 a smirk.2be45d64cd0c1957

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“He’s probably 93bcc5a1bd just naive. Receiving such an offer 6a30541550 out of nowhere, it f7a667d913 would be hard to a38bd309a2 accept right away. Especially when it involves e2110126c6 becoming Your Grace’s younger 564959983c brother…” Alain replied, exhaling 16cf5b86b9 a heavy sigh.61d9e45af6da8ba6

Mikhail, with 75703d5e7f a graceful 87be949fd1 gesture, swept 91e1bd0197 back his 6277ec43f9 flowing golden 12a6e5b1fe hair and f01e44bf0e responded calmly.1048f44d5a3657de

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“I’m simply giving f2d11809c8 the king a ffc8f74835 taste of his 01a43ffc5e own medicine. Don’t feel too guilty 980b7696c6 about it, Alain.”2220d08cff153adc

“Even so, fa69d97f9c this is…” 877aee92d7 Alain hesitated.70baafd2eaad1376

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“It’s not 78111b5f69 unreasonable,” Mikhail aaaabad29a interrupted.c10f1dc706b85519

“What’s wrong with showing 2a1836eef0 up with a fake d05226e009 younger brother to match 6263c62f9c the fake engagement gift?”7be7dfda65df7071

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“Do you really think 646090afe5 Princess Isabella will fall 2922b9e287 for such an absurd 23a916774a charade?”197ac1bbc57876e9

Mikhail’s honey-colored eyes a7621f4f97 glimmered suddenly, like 4693024a95 precious jewels.4a01e2413c63019c

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“Of course she cb4b8601ae will. He’s quite striking, 7d820b75ad you know—exactly Isabella’s f3c18f49c7 type.”
TL/N: They are talking 771ad25b94 about her sister Melanie 219173521d you guys will findout 6677094ed7 in the next chap fc4caa951b why2ed02c7469d05a7f