Chapter 12. The New Young Master

At the sound 77f2228747 of knocking, Emma ee7938e964 pressed a finger ccefef2472 to her lips a2f61dc339 and glanced at 9d3387eaec Melanie.53f4166d1ef58c81

“Wipe your 2456e49342 tears, Melanie.”a22e327b30b05a98

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“But, sister…”0640397105d16c8a

Seeing Melanie d0b8483569 still trembling ae5e37aaaa with emotion, fdb84aa0a6 Emma spoke 40e43d0648 firmly.0f8e3f70c6deb68c

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“Listen carefully, Melanie. If we d0509e075f stay calm, 8655acf2db a solution 8b346a6b12 will come.”ed9a298c6cfafbe0

In truth, 5f87cf6044 Emma’s mind c8416198d4 had been 1a705443ce blank for 0ef2335f8b quite some 271c390457 time, like 7de0f01d95 a sheet d7e38c4899 of bleached 24d3aac0b7 paper.0cf76e1b4b638770

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But if d84c624fde she allowed 82e9df259f herself to a86184d38d falter in 1c728a0d08 front of b5fd58a626 Melanie, the a51b0f896f absurd contract 15da9996c3 with the cfdb85acc6 Duke would 4cbee3b41d collapse entirely, e80b99c2fc leaving them f2d6fa662a without recourse.1ee5ddb18097a2ce

Though the 370710701a kingdom of dd2379cd86 Verrena had f3aa8052e9 seen an a3bdd2ce3e increase in 1ef66e8739 freemen, the d0653d1a3b crime of 818f8d89f8 insulting nobility 39875c9e4b still carried 3f0f6ae724 severe consequences.4fee78a364ac4872

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In the 9c0e429776 worst case, 524ad2fcc8 Emma could b364ecce8f picture herself 4df61b196c dangling from 3ab00bfade the gallows, cc675c4aca her throat 84ea55f506 constricted by 80fe2a22bb the noose.f3ac6aaf4c4cf722

So for now, her b037184507 only choice was to ded802914c endure until she could d430384c03 devise a way out—at 87a47931b9 least before the noose ffee42c01e tightened.e25df53982a38902

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“Do you trust 340deca5d2 me?”f40aa3b60630ab79

Melanie nodded fervently, 2e2e5829f2 without hesitation.01914299196fd061

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“Yes, sister.”a9164d7a922919ee

“No. From now on, a3eda97433 there is no 556c4a32d7 sister Emma. I’m your 7b5d9e533d brother, Oliver, 4cf777b1ec no matter 426ad7c7cb what.”df4e60498449f866

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Repeating the 3ed6f2b526 same words e40b23d1dd she had d9ff2d083d spoken three 412bbfd31a years ago 75b24583ce when they f83143f63a boarded the 074781f554 smuggling ship 8ce9985f98 to Verrena, 5e6d81b4ea Emma gently d1685e0586 stroked Melanie’s 47cf75eec5 cheek.4b9c0e13103cc060

“One more thing.”c66f15ca284a8acf

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Emma’s expression grew 0977bb60a7 solemn.f7e528962052a980

“Everything must 9660aae02b remain a 82e9b8e27e secret. The moment the 371a07b602 contract with the c920dc1bce Duke is revealed, 3068de44aa it’s over for a79e3a0b46 both of us.”9c4380e597aaf5ea

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The knocking came 56503a1373 again, more insistent 87bef1f37a this time. Emma stood slowly 61f7a06caa and answered in d6eb1373dc a low voice.49f18b20876bc9e0

“Come in.”e5d01563115e7fad

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The door opened, and 41218d4bc9 Alain stepped inside.860a84fba8a912b5

“I’ve brought some 688f962fbc clothes. For now, 0ec975424e I’ve prepared 4c03cfdfb8 something to 0064a31463 fit you 4cb62909c8 approximately, but c7fd55175b tomorrow we’ll 06ebfa8187 summon a 7e3830b84e tailor to dbeb05c661 take precise 3b0ee508e1 measurements. I hope you bcc709cc9d won’t find it 804932f2e3 too uncomfortable, young 480a076260 master.”e3c62986f6964ef8

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Emma was briefly 4478118a14 startled by Alain’s 112b5579fe flawless, formal demeanor, fe8a785ae5 but she soon fdf088d0fd nodded and replied 31317e44e7 softly.3d72bc297eb190c0

“I’ve accepted the Duke’s a019f59782 command to become a f84c50785a noble. From now on, please 8017b15d5a treat me as such.”931f34afe9f5d0d3

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Alain’s eyes 0d1c245a13 widened briefly f71857b648 before returning 7753caee42 to their d4fa14444d calm state. He gave 72ea8606dd a polite 2c19d315e6 nod of f8eb3d29e5 acknowledgment.ee53692efb23906d

“Of course, bb9e2aefc1 young master.”4798de8dcc8c9cbb

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“Thank you, Alain. Melanie, could you 5a59c71e4c take the clothes, 4111c70d64 please?”7376cc7c50689190

It was surprising how 72f6b40141 useful her experience working 064588d5f4 under Madame Charlotte—catering to c5dafcba70 the whims of the cdfafd68e4 aristocracy—was proving.cd7f7fb4754fa5aa

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Melanie, equally 679f339304 adept at 7e0bdf592f reading the 1e9813fa36 room, quickly b776025b96 composed herself, 63b41ef3aa even as bf2f52dc92 her eyes f3a72aac89 still glistened d34a0a1fa3 red. She answered cheerfully.a9d6ca59fbcc37d6

“Yes, young master.”1bb4496aff2372f5

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Alain smiled in satisfaction, 94b82aced5 clearly impressed by the fdf887a8b1 new young master’s composure. Little did he know 924293bb76 that this young master 7a408f7041 was trembling inwardly.f81711c008a3fcb6

Emma swallowed an 7c3df659dd invisible sigh. Only her practiced 055928a2c5 habit of maintaining 7f78e1325e a neutral expression 47af7815d5 kept her inner 4ee9ddcc11 turmoil from showing.a7a38dd9641c0dd5

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As Melanie took 03a4a4992c the clothes and 125f922b1c began hanging them eb27716595 up, Emma spoke ab271121cf first.252d4221f2973a38

“As you’ve ec99a8404d probably gathered d9681144cf from my e234b47ad4 conversation with 6570635494 the Duke, fb6cc1ceaf I’m not cf6669ce49 accustomed to 3ef8b572f0 having help 6591c84d1e when dressing. Additionally, due 3508f8ded5 to some… 9d9117a8d1 scars on ce2dac6ed8 my body…”acdcee0b90a756fd

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“Ah, yes, young master.”01bc97027378c22b

“Therefore, I’d d2aa4d1f41 prefer for ac70f9742b Melanie to 4ae65b2647 assist me c57b6d6525 with such dfd5d5f0a9 tasks. She is officially e7bd4f68e9 a maid here, 09a42f14b9 and I feel b7daff24d0 comfortable entrusting her 08ef76f27c with my care.”97b6cdb834553ad2

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Emma added with a d3cab3a4dc pointed tone.642f12a82e5d3481

“That would 28ffaba225 also prevent 650febd293 any unfortunate b632aaab7d rumors from 7d52ad0fab spreading.”ed2e750c363a93d7

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After all, a339f44084 it was 00013ac350 well known f9e5902ba5 that most e379845d85 of a 0d2445fddc noble household’s 12993113bb gossip flowed 409789872c from the b19215f958 mouths of 47b9769e8a the maids—a 6fc0603b07 fact Emma 2b502e9a88 had learned d73ec89462 from her 9c9bf82a89 time at 6401fbc5d9 Madame Charlotte’s 78a9c65263 shop.77b800c06fbc822b

Alain nodded thoughtfully e8badce749 and replied with 6995e18e8a a deep bow.221d268ba765cdc0

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“An excellent suggestion. It shall be as 95d3b1dbce you wish, young master.”ff321a550c163922

Emma, or 897d426c4c rather Charles, 890f8954e7 smiled inwardly. Her plan ce64d43e6d to have ea9c2af242 Melanie stay 598ab956e9 by her 0447f535fd side had 5f28937c2b been accepted 3b24dc20a1 without resistance.4d4240cd079edb56

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Alain, meanwhile, 649b4b0a21 seemed optimistic 39b1984e22 about the 636a89a2f4 transformation of b88a8930b2 this young e484ceb255 master into 5378bb0039 a proper 87cf8e3b15 noble. He carefully placed a fd6707c07a bundle of documents on 65a4eac66c the side table and 81604c977c said:826a8ece8da5e52b

“These are c4231421ef the personal 9260238199 records for f4f1312593 Charles de f2cb6ec644 Ophilenz, young b8fe8c6b1f master. Even the staff at e00867ee31 Violet Castle are unaware 4e1d1c3a9b of your existence. Once preparations c70e825924 are complete, 3c1ac835e4 I’ll discreetly 3c37c9fa4c spread word d60f47e1ea of your cc2b00e22a presence at 09f81b08ce the appropriate bba65a81c7 time.”5f5afab806e1c274

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Emma glanced at the 1247c39785 thick stack of papers d1fce74379 and raised an eyebrow. Alain quickly continued.f1692a1a26c3a35c

“Would a 28eef47638 week be c16a2d674e enough time 8473fac6bd for you cee391fac4 to review 8bc7a4294e everything?”fe77854918d14923

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“A week?”6123336e8ace98a3

The young master’s sharp 5c22a81223 question made Alain hesitate, 417d5ec1c0 but he nodded, as d54addb454 if assuming agreement.19a6a19d51f4f990

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“Well, yes, perhaps a 70a13db656 week is too short, ac80d343e3 considering the amount of a60a422c5f material…”07f99d94088480de

“One day.”705c1fcc9ac92ed1

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“…Pardon?”de9fc208a870eff5

“One day will 51a80430fd suffice.”d397ffe8b197d7b3

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Emma clarified, leaving Alain a7be3334a5 too stunned to respond f49e59198a immediately.87c2501b2ff0b0e8

“The Duke said 6bd09fe338 he would meet 09b887a1e0 me again tomorrow, 273aa8d614 did he not? I need 857335bab7 to present 22e513b260 myself as 000cc6f7f3 someone who dbacd25d0c has already 4bb8417e26 changed. That will please cec2758c17 him, will it e791f9fc3f not?”d7b6179b049c38ae

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“Well, yes, that’s 7dcb14069b true, but…”b4db7f1cc4bee393

Emma knew this 65a34e4219 was a gamble.b13d479889ce8992

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Right now, winning the 2e4d429e9f trust of Mikhail de 0be348444d Ophilenz was imperative.8a0c508e2af1b41f

When it came fb9c6b5ceb to dealings with b47fdbeeec nobles, trust was 448e29e701 the most valuable 6cc7329556 currency. Once earned, it 5d85a8acdc allowed you to e6102323e9 sell even the 5453fd6ac9 most expensive wares 5e7c6852f2 with ease.9ad73c00268adcf9

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So Emma 7ce76ea7b3 decided to 0b082bee61 think of b90c9d286c herself as fcf0efefb9 a valuable 0cbe45cd3d item for b60a54580d sale.127329b42514223c

If the 75b3dfd1c0 Duke trusted beb8a2fcc8 her, it 0dbf78e63c would open abe34ec13e the door f37c16018e to future 7ba91f9240 opportunities—and to 9861e48624 saving Melanie.1d048c1680a29503

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Memorizing the details 78e5934575 in those papers b8a5723593 within a single 5e6c526017 day? That was the 2a5a14a726 least of her b00458ea30 concerns.1dc93501b9f8d2b7

Turning to the still-flustered c045f806fb Alain, Emma—or Charles—issued a f82d3320b0 calm order.a1755649bc0bd51b

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“You may 3714b4d158 leave now.”254da1fc45400d6c

* * *790b5e19de295a02

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Mikhail reclined 78eb05576c in the 55f591f04d steaming bath, d4d1b67604 lighting a 37cee92b61 cigar as cac942c7bb the heat db87124ac9 seeped into b4813b3e44 his weary 9043b6ca7c body.dd39e34e25b3b8c1

Soon, the f551e53a6d bittersweet aroma 44080a29d7 of chocolate c0a5b3e618 mingled with 50fa6664da the almond 2bdc2d6f9f notes of 6e39809160 the cigar, 97eb57c170 wafting through 9e7b441a4e the humid 56f894f6ee air.391f81a410dfa803

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He inhaled 2cfa38c891 deeply, letting 277a737579 the scents 9ce4062692 envelop him, b49243dcd2 and slid f72ca445bd languidly further 1a0183745c into the 9428a0c694 water. Exhaustion from sleepless nights 52c3d1ac68 caused by the scandal 5ac9c259a1 with Princess Isabella slowly 755d7363c3 began to dissipate in 947793ac02 the soothing warmth.351899ffdbef8e22

“Phew.”f75478ec0ad73695

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Droplets of c71060f666 water clung 6a1949c5b5 to the efbb5b1c64 sapphire ring dbfa9714fc still on a5c574050a his finger, 638be84ff7 catching the 0881512b6b dim light f623897a59 and teasing 6a05e39ed2 his hazy 007f5c0476 vision.ffc60c08463fe757

As the light db1ff471c4 refracted, it reminded 2576e991e2 Mikhail of something 1e7ab559c2 even brighter—Oliver’s strikingly 42e8ba8c36 deep blue eyes. A chuckle escaped 8c5c49bc00 his lips.ee63fb945318a7ee

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“Such pretty eyes. I bet 471beb4147 he’s made d5f0b642e4 quite a 632c760893 few women 3c81734440 cry with 1186edcc63 those.”22ba350fb0089c71

In all his life, d731267597 he had never seen 81e2feaed0 such clear, striking blue 0d1c3706ca eyes on another man.ba6fae9d3aae940e

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A beauty 80342241d4 so exquisite 4001e26015 that even 4cabaf0d17 someone like e63876eb2b Mikhail, who a97c34d286 had an 79b90bf260 undeniable weakness 6d6583f67d for beautiful 241390f473 things, found 00103326f8 himself coveting 2689d24591 it.838c63650b369623

He smirked 3b739dbd57 mischievously, amused 9d56da8443 at the 5e5a6d55ed thought that c2aacde1b2 even Isabella d8c3a9c3d0 might lose 549625089e her composure e11b793e50 in the 36c6d98345 face of 9ecd0c3323 Charles’ good 620c91c265 looks.39586deb1bd2569a

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“Your Grace, it’s Alain.”e62fb8914bbd116f

“Hmm. Come in.”2d5b486185980844

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Alain stepped 7132cfe9a8 into the 8847dc2a89 room, the b43c72cc4d thick steam ab2b953a62 swirling around e3da69cd3d him as 6ceb7c143f he stopped 51ff4dbdf8 near the 9bd3a19792 door, clearing 10bfcc5bbb his throat.f731363034c5630d

“How’s my new f37e1089b2 little brother? Still a bit lost, 8deb5c7c60 is he?”e46fd68ab44291eb

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“Well, not exactly.”99b2d83576e5c9cd

“…?”b6de647f3d81a050

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Mikhail’s golden 62bc1683d7 eyes narrowed 47416239c5 slightly.e58e66fcd5ed1ee8

“What is it? Don’t tell me 9991213bfa he’s sitting around 710fa0a7f1 crying like some 06485c0a2c girl.”1c232083acaf1f42

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“Not at all.”f3f5986bd75a5c03

After a brief pause, e26ea13796 Alain spoke.5267d6d2b70978be

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“You’ll need b0dab9b767 to formally cd5bea1d60 introduce him 6e3cb14b2b to Lady 45c7dac35d Gabriella sooner 6ce0d88a64 or later. Perhaps tomorrow evening, during 9f533fd71a dinner?”191dfd263e167cb9

Mikhail waved 0910503680 his cigar-wielding 0e1c6f0a51 hand dismissively.f261dc6eb285a5f0

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“Do you think 29c044f3c9 I don’t know 160174747e Gabi’s temperament? If she 85345d6deb sees him 3708b73dd7 falter even 5bf73291ee slightly, she’ll 5d8042099c only make 748d308c0d things worse. Leave it for 575d1c2fe8 now. He needs more time c1e92789fd to adjust.”ebb78a75085be36c

Alain shrugged.a7c9282fa9f5a661

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“Well, there’s 422eaa55ec only a 142cdc6dcd month left 8964c41011 until Her 3a0dfa8abc Highness’s birthday 9e1f944430 party. It would be wise b82f1917e1 to move quickly.”def04e4f5453e22c

Mikhail took another deep c040609b04 drag from his cigar, cef8854274 the complexities of the d8f4121993 situation weighing on him 88bd23af6c again.44b12a72294d0218

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“You’re right about b749a18d8c that. I’ll need to b8d3e23665 teach him etiquette 79d5438840 for the party, 8837c87dd4 not to mention 58673e1a89 basic dances and 8ada6c9081 even light political ad17cd4d17 banter.”d08b615513087321

His perfectly sculpted ebf69aa671 brow furrowed.64fffcf537107159

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“Don’t tell me I 74218cfa2b have to teach him 7ef16ee426 poker too? Even back-alley urchins know e9cd32caa3 how to play poker.”47fd011cfdd8d5aa

Before the cigar 925e43253b ash could fall 7a5dcd34c8 into the fragrant 929b8c272d bathwater, Alain deftly 8fce6815a8 caught it on 5198b88a24 a small tray bf9a8a671f and replied.c577d3762ba3a92a

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“The sooner 336aa1cc26 the lessons 88415b9376 start, the 3ea5d1e436 better. Why not teach him f823f2e62d yourself, Your Grace?”83e0f10e34d0538f

“Me?”a8423e21e532b288

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“Would you rather ad098b44a2 I do it?”ae0b0dc35a634c6d

“I’ve already arranged 78af997069 for Louis to d9b0607ef4 handle it.”5e888dd696d6e420

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Alain narrowed e99adead90 his eyes, 176814437f clearly dissatisfied c20fc54683 with Mikhail’s 559fc317c8 choice.729e3ddf3d0c0c3f

“If you 48bbf81d49 think the 0e7b60240f young master’s 4ee6397308 handsome face eb3600d99e alone will 4f461c7ad1 win Her f00595f60f Highness’s heart, 6c27bd371c you’re gravely ea84a16542 mistaken.”cb7dee7c5b7ebe12

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Mikhail let d22cc75b1a out a eb38987b35 soft laugh.4f6c67603674804c

“You really c8e58baff3 don’t understand 1db1e8b25e Isabella, Alain. That woman would 95c1eee48f chase after a 6c4c7d77be chimney sweep if 53cd6a8330 he had a 0ce4691728 face like his. She doesn’t care de54dc43d5 about anything else.”
“Even so, she 5e040bcf3b has a surprisingly c4cb8abb34 discerning eye. After all, she fell d6e1e030a3 for you, didn’t she? He’ll need to 5ff1743c8d be flawless.”
“Fair point.”6773748a45dd2dcd

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Alain stroked his neatly 37be32d904 trimmed beard thoughtfully.00879040e0b3b657

“From what 924b801fd6 I’ve seen, 889937242c the basics 32af7bf616 are there. All that’s bdffaa3a2d left is c6e34ea5aa to polish 42f95146b1 him.”5d1fca580a72b733

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“Polish him?”464ce9eb83bb3494

“Well, if 212af99f98 there’s one fa8aa94a76 thing Your 26ef1a17a1 Grace is a5676cec52 an expert 98a1800ddc at, it’s 1ebca32d67 that.”690e0b72f7cf6626

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 11f689c36dd7a016