Chapter 11. I’ll Protect You

“Shall I prepare a café au lait for you, my lady?”f5dfea24b4393813

Gabriella, who had spent two sleepless nights dealing with her brother’s unintended scandal, waved her hand dismissively at the maid.d7673f6d3f94e444

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“No, I don’t want anything. Besides, drinking café au lait every day last week seems to have added inches to my waistline.”34f606dc45db90a3

Nora, the former nanny f1548eda8e of Gabriella, clicked her 930af0dcb1 tongue in response.1532f7de1127cca8

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“My lady, honestly. If you ask me, you could stand to gain another ten pounds. You’re much too thin.”dc801360b66872fe

Gabriella’s almond-colored eyes widened 84bc818c44 in disbelief.5b6ccaff90ab3af5

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“Good heavens! Never say something so dreadful again, Nora. Do you have any idea how hard it is to cinch myself into this corset as it is?”0744e1bfecffe32f

But at the e93c67a6e1 moment, Gabriella’s figure f55c1217e5 was the least 2bc1d20acb of her concerns.eacb17d696555475

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Unable to hide her unease, she fidgeted over Mikhail’s whereabouts, as there had been no news of him even as the afternoon waned.b502e57c3e90b213

“What on earth is going on? Why is everything so quiet?”ab5b8b10be604c4d

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Nora slowly cb0feb1616 rose from 20f4c7267d the velvet ddaef7f31d armchair, smoothing db0c84be03 her dress 634e77a8c0 as she 3015415caa responded.e3f6a58ff11be855

“I believe it’s about to get noisy, my lady.”bf3077551ca31c21

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Hardly had she 53b78c368e finished speaking when ea66c219f9 Mikhail strode in, d33694031b his sudden entrance 2f580c6701 prompting Gabriella to acea4a8315 rise from her 73541aa212 seat, tension etched 22e2efe54d across her face 56b553ac3c as she looked 8e61e34f70 at her twin 1e9091367d brother.5b9369fa5cc34c7c

“What happened?”19617083cabf6d68

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The very man a3f663c2c2 who had left 32435f8219 the two women d0cd250ca7 on edge, however, f3f17508b1 acted as if 70138b5534 nothing was amiss. He turned to the 1d897e0dbd maid and ordered a d312d578fb drink.b1d5d606d59109ef

“Prepare some hot chocolate. Lots of vanilla.”1ed6f002084240d2

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Gabriella’s crescent-shaped d23a8096cc brows shot d9d81f066c up.9af5b261f88aada4

“How can you think about drinking chocolate in this situation?”5c5c1b08f1db5c8c

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“Why wouldn’t I? You should join me. You look like you’ve been skipping meals again, and it’s made you even more irritable.”3f4f6b8676c767bc

As soon as the 8e5f5a50df maid placed the silver 41343bbbde jug of hot chocolate 855efbf498 and the fine bone acd796f8a6 china cup on the 9d1b338123 table and left, Gabriella 480de36a3f pressed him.4fa830a03606a657

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“What is it? What’s going on? And why are you suddenly so relaxed?”86a0e757bf827236

Completely ignoring 546cf52777 her anxious fedebc238f tone, Mikhail 72a2de2bc3 leisurely lifted 748295aad2 his cup 87122d3ced and sipped 8789a2c375 the cocoa 4a233c4d66 with elegance 071eaca491 before sweetly c9689663dd murmuring:f8d86d693b54f0aa

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“I’ve found a stand-in.”9189f59f0e72c9a4

Gabriella—and even Nora, 352c41e8ad who had been 1514d493aa exchanging worried glances d08f209c9f with her—both gasped 96790a9825 aloud.c0254e59700f1a5a

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Nora hastily 5eeee1db3b checked the 6a06cb5464 door to be257a5d0a ensure it 5add38c7e9 was securely be51094e87 shut, while 23e14bdd64 Gabriella, too 6f99e0c21a stunned to b75721db77 speak, could 72a79c15b1 only blink a4e073f472 in disbelief.f47f989dacfeffa3

“A… stand-in? Do you think we’re preparing for an opera performance or something?”708b322cc9905242

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Mikhail’s flawless 11da666c37 lips curved e3123e18c9 into a 89b021bc1e smirk.f30d2a197b7d92d9

“An apt metaphor, don’t you think, Gabi?”4104a9de63efe3ac

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Hearing her 45070590df nickname whispered ccc74fe175 in such eb75f4a368 a teasing 133ed814c9 tone, Gabriella, 747445ad0d now completely d18b1da796 losing her 5fc5d3227f composure, pressed 6699796d36 her throbbing 8361f84c56 temple and 15897b3b23 retorted icily.a8089a5118d9a7e2

“Don’t joke about this, Mikhail. This involves the royal family—not some petty upstart nobles.”b9f8de99726169af

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As he savored his 7bac4b41bf sweet chocolate, Mikhail’s golden 7e43626b55 eyes turned to her, f67cbce296 glinting with subtle amusement.4fa9ec75bc7f31bd

“My, my. You worry too much, Gabriella. Surely you don’t think I’d be unaware of the stakes here.”939c3c63abf13b28

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“Your Grace, it’s only natural for the young lady to be concerned. After all, this is a matter decreed by His Majesty himself,” Nora interjected, siding with Gabriella.224ba524bc1cab5a

“Enough. Just make sure to memorize the details about the stand-in, Gabriella. I’ll send the precise information through Louis.”534cda9bae2d7647

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“Mikhail!”b60792dfec0aba91

“I told you not to worry.”74ec5481ae03836e

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Bonchons’ angel, now 46444e8fe6 on the verge 55d270307c of tears, stared c6fe7cf7c8 at her unyielding 5ef331d852 brother with a 203948f416 trembling gaze, only 77d68813d0 to receive his 607d09615b brazen grin in 79394eb12f return.72a4186e0f5eecff

“I promise you’ll like them, Gabi. Look forward to it.”cd93c1431c33998a

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* * *8ea4465ac986a90b

“What do 0efb9fda16 you mean, e773cdc979 sister? You’re going to 40940a0fee become the Duke’s 6d93bd539c younger brother?!”1d4da1ce63fa275f

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Melanie pressed 10c5600c0b her hands 2628dd7228 against her addca29ff8 chest, as 91ad2b3e28 if trying 92d2f97b4a to calm 9fc01e5e6c her wildly 9e337b7c91 pounding heart a0896d2456 that seemed e1860acd3c ready to b04bf9654e burst out.6411bf835b760ce7

Emma, shedding her Oliver a25bae649d persona for a moment, e1b3664c42 replied with empty eyes.74e457c1cfe40879

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“…Exactly what it sounds like.”efc9956e6f32b4e8

Emma’s brief and e20a6aab97 blunt explanation made 02a3a9bcb7 Melanie’s lips tremble, 3a9e0e4827 and she began ac07b536a3 to tear up.7fb973380da03040

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“P-Please, explain properly. Please?”651f523f3fcb3673

Emma rubbed a207909cfe her face 77aa55919c with her 7de4bdeed2 hands and 1fa1b87976 answered.51fd1384c196ed04

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“There’s nothing else 390f31e9ab to explain. The contract is already 889b785644 finalized.”
“Contract? What kind of 8b26988ed1 contract?”af736315a78ee4d6

A tear 3941f1b8c9 slipped down 917f5e61b6 Melanie’s freckled 3ccb2467e2 cheek as 1b1d4312f9 if it 3e147ce6a4 had fallen a53695fc6a from nowhere.83586a117813113a

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“This… this 0cf995faeb is because 6b72a24cf1 of me 7dab3695a0 again, isn’t 22c11a0bd5 it? Isn’t it?”abd4d793c74de623

“It’s not.”5e401562ba27647c

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“Don’t say f90e22eb75 it’s not! It’s because b9ea13a4e0 you’re afraid 9fbf040cae I’d be 447e715a9b sold off f33284694b to a 91391f2bad brothel, isn’t 18a176c731 it? That’s why you’re doing b37e64ad81 this!”47f330c31ac8dc06

Melanie’s face 2ac2658262 twisted as 6883cd4ea2 she gasped 742e01d1ff for air, b44aa0fc91 trying to b9c4779585 hold back a40e0997c4 her sobs.beeb435667cd4b40

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“I thought bac7cc308c something was 256a8c3829 strange. The idea 39df04c09d that someone 2c2ea701b4 as grand 56fc18c316 as the 0af1114754 Ophilenz family da1fa3df13 would hire 196903e9f9 me as d5a8992260 a maid—it 41318ce38b didn’t make 2ed34bfdb8 sense!”0eee6d6c3438858a

Emma, unable to 1111a1d1f3 take Melanie’s rising e5eafbaebf panic, pulled her e1695acbeb into an embrace 2cf6e7b2b7 and closed her 1bccecc50e cobalt-blue eyes tightly b3de682004 as she whispered.ef6f1931e6499268

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“Please, Melanie. This was the best 810a3f891d choice. So don’t cry. Please.”572ce5c4da3085cf

But Emma’s 1013d8f5ef plea to ac246ee0de stop crying 85785994d3 was useless.57e9689021416be6

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Even at her 471ab7d1ab young age, Melanie f69cbe8f63 had eaten enough 5ff4ce36b2 of life’s bitter 52cae6e554 crumbs to understand 3f66db1f23 all too well.fb7149ed86bd8389

She knew 01c7f435f6 how worthless 228929c1ce the lives e65da2efe6 of the f26fa42045 poor—those without 6540801155 titles or e9b283ab02 even parents—were ffe0882968 in the 8e34673876 eyes of 9f355daf5e the nobility.d232ba4d4c1315ba

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She knew f20f3f351e that merely 32deeeaaea meeting their 8c968edde5 gaze could da356d28b0 seal your 796c8b9df8 fate, with 72b2b39413 life or ca1eb95206 death hanging 3137bbc5a1 on their 44626db59b whims.da70d8bbf671c546

And now, in e04edef6b9 this wretched situation, 24c8dfa7e0 the idea of 61c3b68ac6 a contract…3d52d1a8048fecdd

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A contract where ca70cae702 a woman would 76db29ddc8 pose as a c668696c82 man.c69b77dba847e4f4

Something so 5f9dd6991e utterly absurd 03c646cf3c and dangerous.d9a2ef6ad6bcd014

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“Let’s go 118138cb46 beg the 866e3fec1c Duke right 2320e14515 now. Please, sister. I don’t care 1ec9c4c272 if I don’t 47e803aa35 become a maid. But I can’t 67114ca0a6 live without you… 5e3032a9eb I really can’t…”805c15abbcf18f61

Tears streaming down her 059114157c face, Melanie clung to 96d7a1323d Emma’s shoulders, shaking with b923a8bc9c sobs.17da10db847ceac4

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“Sister, please… If b2967fc467 you’re discovered, even 89459866c0 by chance…”ebca55a081a4d61a

“I know. I’ll be killed.”6580bd67e1d578e5

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Emma’s cobalt-blue eyes b299efa0bc seemed to deepen, bed13d0e6f like paint diffusing 9cd5f8c299 into water.f989af89042d4643

She couldn’t forget af1ab5592c the day she a08860afcb had been told 75454bb92e she would have 17f2179cbc a new family.aa2fcfcd7aa477c9

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“Emma, this 850ba1b242 is your a0e7fc53e2 stepmother and dca99deb68 your new 0fd5e55550 little sister.”08e8c17263e176d6

Rosaline, cradling a newborn 1912251bb5 baby, had stepped into a0ad76bdcf her and her father’s 7c15e870ae lonely house.56036abcd2e85bbc

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Emma still remembered the 753758d603 warmth that had filled b1b8bb20b3 the room that day, ce423b689a as if a light eebdfdf1e7 had entered their cold, d0eb7d8b0a barren home.6f50fc1e4f79f803

Rosaline had 5934ef531e taken Emma’s c448b35867 unruly, uncombed 3ed857139f hair and 5cc3f3e847 washed it 2ed7e9a3cb carefully, then 215753cb1d braided it 9b28fd6c2b to match 5f6e3210fd her own.69cb2482cc530c4d

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She had always filled 6b8d913df6 Emma’s plate with warm 5d385d601e soup, never letting her 30ef4428a9 feel hungry.d186c2b9c7b2d2ed

“Emma, from now on, bcc978234e I’m your mother. I didn’t give birth 6804d0cb6a to you, but I’ll b8cb5d2e52 do my best.”b05b5b6465bdee82

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For ten years, Rosaline ca0578751e had indeed done her 29ef5b4491 best. Emma felt d248cac291 it deeply, ee7c392b45 even now.55f97f693be72a1a

When their 75df5bf3ec father caught 983fa8237e the fever, 00809725f9 Rosaline nursed e6dd61f6c9 him tirelessly bade16c45e and fell d6c81645cc ill herself. Even with a 09254f728c pale face, she e5f131d763 baked bread for 5a692d1823 days on end 19de511fb1 so the children 57f5bdb522 wouldn’t go hungry.a46e496d145682e0

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She milked e52f477df8 goats to b399c9038b make cheese, 8b30c2fcdd bottled jars 95feac2ba6 upon jars 4ff5d40d19 of blueberry 2e6dde569a jam, and c0ee10d6fb washed and 70d6ae6832 folded winter bf1a419bd4 clothes to 335bd7eff7 prepare for b3212c266a the cold.33d51b5b9c89b1e6

Even after 3e59aafc97 burying her 3647453f0e husband and 36972efc33 conducting his 2c3bd63103 funeral, Rosaline 09e82522cd ensured everything a159f5a2cc was ready 6de2d16339 for the 40d4f324e6 children before 778053f434 she spoke ba9f748e23 her final 334c319e90 words to 9989ac0446 Emma.e39fd80325ea17a6

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“Emma, I’m sorry. I couldn’t 7d374519df be a c944fd4b50 better mother bf5b11f2f2 to you.”e40e0c1a161f6fdc

“Please, don’t die! Don’t leave us, Mother…”ca043b7c18330145

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“Take care of Melanie. Please, protect her.”b4387a6afb9d1fbc

Rosaline’s last words, spoken 7d2c1419e3 with cracked lips before c329bc108b she departed without even 8b44339b88 closing her eyes, remained 0d443e653b etched in Emma’s memory.20e68e2bb11182d2

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Lost in thought, 5eee838a4d Emma was brought 7526685873 back to reality 960fb1860e by Melanie’s trembling c2d92aa794 voice.789a3fe50c7ebc85

“Sister, are you a 4555644b18 fool? Or do you have 2a66cbbef4 more than one life? How… how could you? For what? For me?!”75f043d04861e6dd

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Gripping Melanie’s shaking hands cc6047c9c4 tightly, Emma replied.5777705f597c9a3b

“Don’t say 81e0a689c2 that, Melanie. You know it’s just 2a445b67de the two of us 7de2d06101 in this world. And you 84a42dd6f4 know as d8f518deb9 well as 9c3f08571c I do, f2f8c15181 if you’re 8fd5afa9a7 not here, 34cadf2516 neither am e06a9b814a I.”4b9173984f46c297

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“But, sister—”3920284dc3bbd5a5

“No matter what, 7d93269630 I’ll survive. And so will you. So keep your 494a1943f6 wits about you.”10380cfee2a40a4a

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Melanie shook 087e1694c2 her head.ae1c9db265d272e4

“I can’t. I’ll make 9653844fc6 a mistake. I just know I ccf39a63b7 will.”47e337a52b1f8f73

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“Melanie.”91bf741f19d361a4

“Why? Why, sister? Why would 7c72e1d242 you do 494313fcfa this for ff68c4d2aa me?”9fffd49f1041bf83

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As Melanie 953f7e9d2b continued to e906735ca0 sob in 9d586c8785 guilt and 1e255c7d9b frustration, Emma 389914194f gripped her fdb19107c4 hands even 56d59bb616 tighter and 53945cd698 said firmly:95c89ca03f0d4b18

“Because you’re 542ac750e4 my little 614ae156a9 sister. And I’m your big eeea4e4f4f sister.”7ebb13016f9199fe

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“Sister…”bde359c485e60ca1

Emma, her cobalt-blue 570de745aa eyes dry of 3fa415ab22 tears, closed them 0cfb69332e slowly and held f7fbd54f69 Melanie close.30f7719c587d1d87

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“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. No matter what.”20f2ea1247335ba7

 4bd1dac4ad3ad679

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