TCWO – Chapter 162

TCWO – Chapter 1621c3aaadc69dba3c4

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“It’s been a while.”f5617b565af40c24

Diana’s clear, ringing voice echoed 7617ce477a through the banquet hall, which 7f9ef21d2f had fallen silent as if 9f52d4334c cold water had been poured 9fc5e6b380 over it.87eb194fa6dd46e1

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The nobles, who had 7aeb9b6b1d been sneaking glances at 38c710620c us since our entrance, f5248d4d46 now openly stared with c4f7f7241f curiosity as Diana stood 536fa9c465 before us.8717ead23ff2cb58

Yet, whether Diana was 6071aeb158 unaware of their gazes 0c913cadb6 or simply unaffected by b74bf65fa7 them, her expression remained 0ce18c871b serene and innocent.c7ed4481ccf351f2

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The teardrop-shaped diamond earrings 7a0b4a244f dangling below her earlobes ecda10386f caught the dazzling lights, bd35f320dc scattering them in soft 5e7d1669b4 reflections.1fe16a58fd890001

Meanwhile, I stood frozen, unable cb581811f0 to even open my mouth, ecdb3b72d8 and turned my head to c2e5558204 look at Ian beside me.c5e6973578eb30d3

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‘If things were going as they should…’1dee7b95d538d18e

In the original fb832aeb71 story, when Ian 37ba5d3170 Cloud met Diana 4594a4e01a Lawrence upon her 6d6fc66a73 return to the 397ad82769 capital, he experienced 26574e50ca an inexplicable fluttering 518210c338 in his chest.5afc92d37b2b3974

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It was an 7b45d8265b omen, foreshadowing that acc4fcbb58 Ian would fall 0751eb8646 in love with 39dd2e6ff3 Diana.44ecf0db69ddc31d

So if Ian 44f46d8b41 showed any signs d1ef148cfd of being affected a01c930a76 now, it would 6844af1661 increase the likelihood b00ddb8b43 of their relationship 527dbd874a following the original fe5daa7be1 narrative.646fd05137b4807a

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“……”cdd045b52615b585

But Ian’s reaction was 141f52283f entirely different from what 88dd7e2519 I had anticipated.77cfd2ee8c230f8b

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There was no flush creeping 4fdd87345e up his ears, no sign 8196b63807 of embarrassment, not even the fcbb196cea slightest furrow of his brow.f7e20b7ca749da9f

Far from feeling his heart 05ead5a795 race, he seemed completely indifferent.60e450a3655837e0

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‘…Really?’2d19d4c4aaf41ea0

Was that even possible?996418459f3a029d

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I was briefly confused by 071fa1d17b his lack of reaction, but c867212ecd soon, an indescribable wave of ac0e20d022 relief surged over me, like 0b42f28842 a tidal wave overwhelming the 0746e21c85 shore.9fe6ea25fc84b5bb

It was almost laughable, really.1bf0cb0f3b344d9c

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‘I promised to give Ian back to Diana, and now I’m relieved at this?’f884c7843a6f35bb

It felt like a47654c0cf the epitome of 1681112f86 contradiction.f61d2dab87036c8b

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Perhaps noticing my unusual 0bf9d6dce8 response, Ian, who had ce9758d24b been watching Diana all f68e4485ea along, turned his gaze be3782f631 to me.18f1078a5a557d5e

Caught staring, our eyes met ba3799c044 immediately.4e87cd6bea2fb081

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“Ugh.”a838def596ec4390

I quickly turned 16bbe6a588 my head away 19054f2c43 to avoid his 49fa25ab08 eyes, but unfortunately, ce3cbded87 my reflexes were 28a855e1c5 nowhere near fast c988df6896 enough to outpace f8bdc3b97f the vision of 20e19ac8d9 a Swordmaster.7dfeafdbda712ec0

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The lingering weight 1aed829b6f of his gaze 51ec97e917 on my burning 0f09bc20a5 cheeks told me 7f45ad3fe6 he was staring cbad246053 at me intently.68fd7c19ba1953ca

And then, suddenly…9dac34babce9098b

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“…Grand Duke?”930f86a5c98bb76d

“Eloise.”7b26c99b54f38c55

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With an unusually gentle a9b117a792 voice, he lightly wrapped a0e0bdca18 an arm around my 2680be6998 waist.2f9a0a89acfa611b

I blinked in confusion, bab73a42a9 utterly bewildered.405f250c3cfd58c9

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At home, he ff44efc1df constantly called me fd0db4fc13 “Eloise” or “my ead7f7e4b7 wife” to the 58f44203b9 point of annoyance, 1c7988faf7 but in formal fd3d56b066 settings, he had 7560ec7784 always been scrupulously 5575f95dd4 respectful, addressing me 3b2613e114 as “Grand Duchess.”1938b2cec6b9f9eb

‘What’s with him now?’a6fd7d11d5cfcb0a

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His gaze, which had rested d15d04728e on me, shifted back to 9d4b9dc459 Diana.6f3441a6e48b4f7c

“…As you can see, I was in the middle of a conversation. What brings you here, d8f66da6ff Lady Lawrence?”c3ecd840053eb0f5

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His voice, neither warm nor ed28dedd28 cold, trickled out in a 5693c86ec1 dry and detached tone, devoid 325cbdd5b4 of any emotion, like an 615701a69d inorganic substance.1f3ae8ded9bb0496

Hearing it, I was 948f946b2e startled in a completely ec36a4df17 different way.3efea955aea9d862

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‘Did he just draw such a clear line with his childhood friend in front of all these people? On purpose?’766e3c2a6217e1b3

There wasn’t a single d9e4b182f6 person in this banquet de2b7521ef hall unaware of Ian 9af92b3f77 and Diana’s relationship.89d7000fed773ec8

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Granted, unlike me, 460726535b none of them f4224e6238 were readers privy 28a930b613 to the original db77242282 story; they only f6d192a9ed knew that Diana deecd5bbd2 had once relentlessly 09c8f737c0 followed Ian around.9e17f277dba82b78

But even so, calling cded2b9ac6 her “Lady Lawrence” so 666f8feed5 formally and curtly?cd3ea7dba782caab

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Ian showed no afbcb591a7 hesitation in emphasizing 1fe754d8f0 the distance between 00578f5b1b them.015810a953d8ff7c

Meanwhile, I, unable to hide 8df0f9e22c my astonishment, turned to Diana 07c2fbb8a1 in a hurry.3c8ea5530e5a806d

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Even though I had come 255aca9ffa to like Ian, I didn’t 94342e4d33 want Diana to feel humiliated 2bb51c73ae in front of so many 34c7c27c57 people.63d81ab3e4103771

But Diana’s reaction…1797efb836336427

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“Haha.”b99e25d9d9e8a406

…She was laughing?dc823041a39112c6

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Diana let out a 67e89fc1de clear, almost pure laugh 6c3653e11f that filled the quiet ee9981987e hall, her eyes crinkling 8477da063a in amusement.e409244ab25ec050

“Lady Lawrence?”7d8cfe3968f81cdd

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“Your Grace hasn’t changed a bit, I see. Well, I suppose 2aac61939c a few years 60eebf2c2b isn’t enough to 93bab79551 alter one’s nature.”5dc810ea1f4f00d5

Diana shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.92ed539c832a3112

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Her gaze swept lightly 52d53fb71c across the room before 5a67dbe6ca settling back on Ian.4fc2f37a38bfc9d7

“I can understand what you’re wary of, but there’s no need to worry.”b48f66891d634a25

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She smiled brightly, tilting her 8d4aa450d3 head to the side.eeb5be49fa3d190a

Her pink side locks, 5fa446e579 intentionally left loose from e240656a6b her updo, cascaded softly 0735b0f772 down her cheek as 449ed99e41 her bright blue eyes 6bf63f41e9 gleamed like the surface 930ecd3be2 of the sea.30c5a392da466468

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And then, she 2940cc6b46 turned her gaze 42f308c26d to me.5c6683f56aba9055

“Most importantly, the greeting I just offered was for the Grand Duchess.”fc31819aa55467d8

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“For me?”9c4ee94fad1c9d5f

Surprised by her unexpected words, d24f1ed467 I furrowed my brows and 7d731c551e asked, “What do you mean?”644c2ffc491b6aeb

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Unlike me, who 6367af37fd couldn’t make sense 3cab60f520 of her statement, b411509b5e Diana nodded without 4a6b1abb2c a moment’s hesitation b98dc80aa9 and smiled bashfully.121d85c46867af7a

“Yes, Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”7f0a025dbac6801c

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…Was it even fair for someone to look so beautiful while smiling like that?5cc00a6e7eee8fc1

I found myself momentarily 40586cca1c entranced by Diana’s smile 414e4b4dab but quickly snapped out 4f5d141aa4 of it with a 682ba5253c sharp intake of breath.77cffd5b975882c1

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This was no time f85637ed8c to stand around in 8f74b3c0b8 a daze.823f03fa82b72231

I wasn’t the only 273f1aac46 one who seemed bewildered fb15cd2266 by Diana’s actions. Ian, whose expression had frozen 6f11dc19b7 stiff, as well as the 307e1d41dd nobles watching this scene unfold c77b256dcb with interest, all turned their 7417dcadd1 confused gazes toward Diana.bb1b7e5dfa2713e2

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But Diana, who must have 096f20b599 been fully aware of the b6e4f5fcd8 attention she was receiving, kept faf7677525 her gaze fixed solely on 6f0e2a31b6 me, ignoring the nobles who a1466d5ef4 were practically piercing her with afc7b2a449 their stares.7c54d863adf88834

“If Your Grace would allow it, may I borrow a moment of your time?”ab8b51df620b6bcc

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“…Huh? Me?”57121935aa584060

“Yes, I told you, didn’t I? I’ve been wanting to meet 9e02263b4a the Grand Duchess for some 1f9df05b8e time.”bf0465203a65b04b

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Her calm response left me ee42874c9f even more perplexed.a2186b3e5b5d24fb

‘Why me? Before my marriage to Ian, 78c6b8bba6 we’d only crossed paths at b9ec56f284 a few formal events.’69a7cadf6df2dda7

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As my mind raced, 32c71de8da a thought suddenly struck 109da4e7e2 me, leaving me momentarily 2ffc804880 breathless.31887d3143e5a439

Could this be that?4947001a7f896655

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You know, like in romance 1261e1cedb novels, where the villain and 1a65e20d3c the protagonist have a fierce 40dbefb22d showdown over a man?fc2b8bebd85bcacc

Of course, in this world, 88a28a5707 Diana would be the protagonist, 3767b7671c and I would be the 5d330c0ed4 villain.ccd0e34e7e0f1619

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‘Wait, no. How does it make any 5ca2c2ff58 sense for me to have f373b9467c a showdown with my favorite 7d225c789d character? I can’t do this!’3774c846f6e977aa

While I was battling 432a8d3957 inner turmoil, Diana continued 1ba3283c5c to look at me 152484e8d3 with her guileless expression.c40874a9d003fe16

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The real problem, 974e4e575e however, wasn’t just 5a7a7cfb26 Diana but the dd72402e88 many nobles who b1d5c65ad8 were also intently 30b1f28b03 watching this interaction.c15a3c660d029217

If I declined her request fcc0aedcb7 now, I’d only end up f8be8b4bae giving them more fodder for c344f91229 gossip.b58a63a0f7c0df2d

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In the end, 338002efff I cautiously opened 4327608f2b my mouth after f85a74625d a long pause.61a9c4c8619459de

“…Alright, let’s do that.”e32bdb96f0831d54

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There was no d3da93c0b1 avoiding this, after d71f66f4f0 all.100b63b7ac050b1d

Diana’s face lit up 31557d83f6 at my answer, but e5167c1323 Ian, standing beside me, 5fd24c4a59 looked as if his ce23a22551 face had turned to eae64ea0b1 stone.b4572ab55fc52fc6

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Just as I a72aefe179 was about to a5506da8e4 follow Diana, someone 7182aa6405 gently but firmly 98710a628a held me back.c22a9c13b808e36a

“Ian?”cba9cbf3ff21c0ca

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Without a word, Ian 53f7b3681c alternated his gaze between 6b0044c15a me and Diana, then 344d3dea7e clasped my hand and 0c7d30fc73 kissed the back of b69156669a it—deliberately, as if he 95707e4a19 wanted someone to see.535e8f412db64ce4

Unable to bring myself 448778473d to look in Diana’s ff1bcf8bb6 direction, I held my 5cd928f09b breath. Ian spoke in a 91c296168c low voice.5e956b2a1b6596ce

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“I’ll be waiting for you.”15f2e5854b5adeda

❖ ❖ ❖153da93814bce09a

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Crunch, crunch.739d4c09de5b064c

Now, I found myself aa0d51dec8 walking alongside Diana, separated 9689fbe6c4 by an awkwardly close 7bcd8bf685 yet distant gap that 5d212bb665 felt utterly uncomfortable.aa47749af8b2fb46

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At first, we 72aa5f6349 walked through the d836e82ea8 main garden, filled 022f1c846a with people enjoying 491c7f1ce1 the banquet. Then, we passed along 5e6977df2f an outdoor corridor to 0f1bc572c5 a quieter area, eventually ee05a693ee arriving at a grove 1792335654 of camellias blooming in 2856dbd850 winter.0caa4c91dfc5d02e

Diana’s steps were noticeably f0802a1677 light, in contrast to eb16e0da0a my cautious and deliberate d03d29d423 pace.a51c0f315a601ef1

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‘Is this… really okay?’3fef44335604cd88

As we approached 587ef9e0bc the entrance to 9ddf7439c8 the maze-like garden, d7f792d0ea Diana finally spoke.b81fc6b20ca0264d

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“…I apologize for earlier, at the banquet. As soon as bac9b2f9d4 I saw the 7127d309bb Grand Duchess from 05d484dccb afar, I couldn’t a35daacf0b help but feel 7d391686f4 overjoyed. I should have been more 893fc9136e mindful.”7fa77404ecf5fa15

“Well… it happens.”90c42005d63adf7e

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I replied halfheartedly, my 191972fecb thoughts elsewhere.908c2d86fc3a129c

More than that, I 7b4b691fbb couldn’t understand why she 9292449874 was so glad to d1b21ac4c1 see me.ca78c339427a0e69

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No matter how I thought bca40afaa8 about it, Diana and I 8d206458ff didn’t seem to have the e40e27f818 kind of relationship where we’d 8a8bdac615 greet each other warmly after 18243b5b92 a long time apart.1f94d4c75b7d8398

If anything, I’d expect her 192f2a3ca0 to hold a grudge against 79ebe955fd me, perhaps throwing barbed words ef3d08d6c9 my way.5e00c1c5a85acd73

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Even as I cb112efc4e remained silent, Diana d600f5ed8f continued to chatter 07ac134785 brightly while crossing 700fd22aaa the garden.b4d5a6991da83e92

“I didn’t realize how much attention people would give me. Even though I 8668860625 graduated early, I 23aea2ac69 thought I’d just 30dd1c0023 receive a few 450e1a9f1c words of praise 6a9aef0ae3 at most.”c7b492b0b3002745

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She slowed her a804342f25 steps and turned 8415224cd5 to look at ccf5aa2311 me directly, her 74b97f1d2f blue eyes curving 7f6127ef41 into a crescent 4cf9355991 shape as she d38fc2c064 smiled.9fb973af54fad44a

“Oh, and I found your speech at the academy’s centennial celebration truly inspiring. When I first heard that abc67404e1 the Grand Duchess herself would f14f8acf80 be attending, I was honestly 916b56297f quite flustered…”8a5d1d92032d0cb7

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“Ah, I see.”fb1a73ad240f4cc3

Now that she 84c80981ae mentioned it, Diana 18b3e0889f must have been 66b1e38564 present when I c855743658 gave that speech 593d1b9cfc at the academy’s 3f75e9e82c 100th-anniversary event.379dd6c927d68fdb

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Perhaps her use d38e2df7f2 of the word ca53c97525 “long time” referred 5899427676 to that occasion.cdd653cbdefbc1b4

“Speaking of which, I managed to finish my graduation project safely before returning to the capital. My partner and I worked 32caf53653 together on it. The early graduation requirements turned 72da031e0e out to be stricter than 7a90e02d08 I expected, with so many fe448b7518 tasks and documents to submit. The graduation project was 3e83e856ed one of them, and ce895e196b I was quite taken 343c3266e4 aback at first….”5b5b9e0dc51efb8c

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Was Diana always this talkative?6e2a9c5ec74a351b

As I pondered this, we e54c8b6bc5 continued walking slowly until Diana dc628f1e8b abruptly stopped.f94f96b09f847d9a

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She spun around to face 5a43fe1574 me, her flowing hair catching 835ec79dde in the breeze, and her ca0cdcd0a6 blue eyes sparkling with laughter.f8bda81302c76110

Before I could 98991f62ef even react to 254cdb35e6 her piercing gaze, 132cec5641 Diana opened her 8e124cf05c mouth.00b25f0f20a3636c

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“So, aren’t you going to say I did well? El.”9ef4087804ac0e03

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