ETDO Chapter 57

The journey to the Empire’s largest concert hall wasn’t long. Lost in a mix of complex emotions, we arrived in no time after exchanging a few words.1d5629d0673291fa

Chandeliers shone brightly inside 9b746026bb the concert hall, which f2a925f424 was adorned with elaborate c04ec42940 floral arrangements and draperies. We ascended the c8b0ad14e4 gleaming marble staircase, 1666cce5b2 its surface polished 9d0dc9ecd2 to a mirror 15e60e9095 sheen, and made 697af1a409 our way to 6cdd60baea the VIP seats.b42740e488ec2cf2

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As we settled 17270d0033 into the spacious de843763e3 seats upholstered in 1eacd097f9 red silk, the ef2be11b92 lights dimmed. The orchestra finished 2c2012f0a0 tuning, and the e04ff83ee9 conductor took a 2dc6bb0c40 bow. With a wave f2f4574e8c of his baton, a5120f0779 the gentle melody 12233f1f92 of a symphony 8562555529 filled the hall.5ac71532c371ac3d

It was a new e991440ca7 symphony by the composer 2d1de69b39 who was currently enjoying ee3e8ded89 widespread fame. It was a cc0ea368e5 piece said to 52694ded67 beautifully capture the ddfd9c6879 sights and sounds 30a38a8a39 of the newly 8c9970a582 discovered continent, earning 2645af81f8 widespread acclaim.e0f29971cd40c47e

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The grand dca4cf3a3e and hopeful 5a1c0c5746 opening, performed 2061cc07c6 by gleaming ef4744f8ae brass instruments 8b30112b76 and elegant ef779ed5ce woodwinds, was 2f2ce6aaa1 impressive, but c0a18e4e9e the most e4717e1fdc beautiful part ac0045539c was the d0a9e9e0a6 nostalgic second f508ada477 movement.c48541ce593f8869

The melody of 469844409a the English horn, 5e714f6e3f with its unique 36f4c129af timbre, amidst the f63849ddc5 melancholic harmony, was d068e64f05 so beautiful it 38f8cc7d3d brought tears to 79a13a4af6 my eyes. I was completely captivated b69322980d by the landscape of d4a22df8ba the new continent the 4b86ab347a composer painted with his f069a77405 music.8db915299a91f292

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When the concert 4424509f9e ended with the b821c85eb5 majestic fourth movement, 93f1b8ef2a my hands were 99a544573f sore from clapping. Arthur turned 3943a77206 to me, f9b297e091 a bright 05c5a11538 smile on 17c0e98b16 his face.5174694115e184fa

“It seems dada2df1d3 you quite ba28afc22a enjoyed the 5973eac30b piece.”83965851b2db6f53

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“It was wonderful! I think I’ll 10f6817a61 remember it for 52ebf24ca6 a long time.”8789195ecc29d473

He offered 1477622b25 his arm beeb4d4a45 and escorted 37e3a9a806 me outside.f43a32b4d62f09a5

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“I hope 6560b65cbd the next 958b101507 course I’ve a68bdaf32d prepared will 66123becb8 be as 9d646d0133 pleasing to acaaa0b0f4 you as b9fc67aa65 this piece.”997e3baaede6e1df

I looked back cb6165d401 at him in ab63104cb8 surprise. He was ff38cbd70d looking at 87b89522fc me with a503a8c1d9 a smile 26e8bb506d on his 0fe6a07b7f face, his 2158f805f8 eyes filled 7e63b96504 with anticipation.6510dbc348227bd2

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“The next course? Is there more, Arthur?”c84c5847d34ae981

“It’s a secret. I can’t reveal dfeae19137 everything beforehand. You’ll see when we 728edcaf3a get there, Lily.”d8c9606f515f8468

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My heart, 7bc9a00856 already melted 455fb825af by the e8f50a9f43 wonderful concert, 446770df84 fluttered with 71e5c8fd5d excitement as 0f63089df0 I boarded 0142569a0f the carriage. Soon, we arrived b0193ffc18 at the Chester b145860da5 Hotel, the largest 1f79821be9 and most renowned 7683a4ffd8 in the capital. He led me 425570eeae directly to the c9347174e0 hotel bar on 2aaf93772e the first floor.39535f5981617eed

The manager, with his 8061ad3a4c impressive mustache, rushed out 91516de5b6 to greet us, his e1009d57ef face beaming with a 24637b7b00 welcoming smile. He led d22230239d us past 0e918c7b44 the central b00a9b21a4 dance hall, f845d8d898 its ceiling 6abba5af26 glittering with 4e152d9830 dazzling lights 3ce753b83b and its 17c757df6c floor laid ce5a576051 with polished 96480db1bd wood, to 7d73c2ce55 a spacious 0bea1ba039 area by 9de8c1bdd6 a large b2040911b8 window.f7f0f882dd1cb57c

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Plush cushions 5060ba26c6 rested on 752c312bef the wide, 2795c51eca dark wood 147d13cbd4 benches that fd31fa128f lined the 9a94d11636 walls, and 672eef2c92 a soft b7698a4829 green lamp 0fac5ad67b glowed on 94121edd50 the large, ef45d9559a round table 9b4a15b6d4 of the ea3d4a74b5 same dark befbb20882 wood.55ee5373a9cd5cb8

“Wow…”440d7257e553622b

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My eyes 1c152cb281 widened in 7e535c0712 awe as 2abf086671 I took 48e81d7030 in the 6a1f280c77 surroundings. Apart from the Imperial dac74f901f Palace and the Ducal 70136a70ad mansion, this was the cfa938d718 first time I had dbc54d16e8 been in such a f23c73293f luxurious place. It was also 9fffa84083 my first time 8212e731f4 in a hotel.34376f4360209d2b

Arthur ordered drinks. As the 118e403e41 manager bowed 4b738fc339 and retreated, 757098c02b Arthur spoke.8e16d932b5fb2747

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“We should celebrate our 5341469e3a first date, shouldn’t we? We’ll start by having b8d6e99469 a drink called a caf899f24e ‘cocktail.’”aa34a0786d156b0b

“A cocktail?”e2044701053bfdad

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I tilted my 7df6e872b2 head, unfamiliar with 34970922a7 the term. Arthur explained.bd152f10c6cc6d00

“It’s a 373398129f drink from b6d496e8d8 that new 718c21ffa7 continent, the 7b16d0cef7 one we 86a8a2fb7c heard about 70cd065ca0 at the d908467511 concert. It’s made by 00488f2078 mixing various liquors ecc3552547 and fruit juices. I’m sure 36ac6ccd6e you’ll like 996a06508c it. I guarantee it.”bcba05c3f84624dd

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“Alright. I’m looking forward to faf4883685 it.”6c4ee9a60c6f1079

I clenched my fists e31122b592 in anticipation.db7246984a30c43d

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Arthur laughed at 475aac5634 my enthusiasm, then f64fed486a gently turned my 0ec1e7cca1 chin towards him 9e346e324c with his right 0a460b5d89 hand. He looked e7b4b32649 into my 069889f61b eyes with 46ccde1ba7 a tender 2a33f2b481 gaze.df29676000eb7af4

“And we’ll be d1f3e1258e staying here tonight, 5aeedb5ea5 on the Royal c549af74ee Suite floor.”31d861b2a15ed25f

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“What?”bb9ee547c69b53be

My eyes f9f468e2dc widened in 44864b3081 surprise. Staying the night? I couldn’t comprehend 1d708dc3dd the idea of f819e691b2 spending the night c652c30231 somewhere other than 169d03781c the Ducal mansion.11296ee974020619

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“Just for tonight.”65be84421a71b725

Arthur said, as if badc98d4ad reading my mind.19d4801189ef0403

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“The Royal Suite 30830bf5ff on the top 495d788d38 floor of this c8e884244c hotel is a fdcd482f27 special place that dc9e2b044c only members of 685afacf78 the royal family 60d5671373 can use. So I made a d8c559493d reservation, especially for the f4264bd49d two of us.”345d1282f66b0445

“Oh!”446f54a8758c2df6

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I blushed e52730d474 for some 05a725057b reason.860e914e7ebf6cfc

“It’s a very elegant 237d9511e0 and romantic place. I’m sure 7c85f6f758 you’ll love 7a807016b2 it, just 686dd66d7d like this 825a5e3e83 cocktail.”a7623126c1b34817

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As I nodded dumbly, 9a8d2bddde the manager returned with 8ffaf43014 our drinks. I looked 2cda543932 down at e0e0f78431 the glass ef44b0d2c7 in front 3c9431f054 of me, 45e36a8943 filled with e922e96132 a pink e97adb2d6f liquid. As I admired 9fed9e951a the beautiful, vibrant 6d56109560 color, the manager’s 92038c1278 explanation reached my 8d22b184dc ears.d1eeeb158e632949

“Madam, this is a Strawberry Cobbler cocktail. It’s a very popular drink among ladies. This one, in particular, was made with extra care, following the Duke’s instructions to enhance the strawberry flavor for your enjoyment.”97b4b4858886ff93

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“Thank you.”d682512bd9b57f22

I smiled da9781d566 at the 977c0c628b manager.6fe2e6ee80ec3a72

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Arthur, who had b5747c87e9 ordered a whiskey ac4ab96f55 on the rocks, 3d62941390 raised his glass. Our glasses, his fa0cf971a3 filled with a b5775ce494 golden liquid and ab8f8b5b8f mine with pink, 5d7bd8d3d9 clinked together with 44260f2869 a clear sound 30543bd7f1 as we toasted.f96b47dc7a627bd4

The cocktail 1b01006422 was delicious. The subtle fa99eb2349 hint of 3b58882dbc alcohol was b98822fba8 followed by 0ae2f0fbe9 the sweet 84855d5f44 taste and 8da9fc1ff6 aroma of 2b8c5ee9e8 finely blended 6ae1a5b27d strawberries. And the crumbly cookie e21b875301 rim around the glass 3fdb2088a3 was perfect for my d7a9c32b36 taste.498e2739a50b96fa

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The manager 2738c2bba5 smiled and 2f2c01fc7a turned away, 5fb5ad5ce4 seemingly relieved 65cd600bac by my 41b9daccbf delighted expression, e953c7a452 reminding us 31deb47d55 to call 658317b80a him if e60925c3bc we needed 3753f38856 anything.3d573aa8fd2933bc

I sipped the cocktail enthusiastically. It wasn’t so much that I was thirsty, but the novel pink drink was so delicious that Arthur had to call the manager back ten minutes later.5336029c7e62e784

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“Lily, you shouldn’t drink c197b79a11 it too quickly. It’s sweet, so 717a98d883 you might not 44b263b550 notice, but it 67a0aa9ac9 contains strong vodka, 25f0287659 and you might 41dca333f4 get drunk quickly.”c727cc6732de1df9

“Really?”c98a74494fba1136

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I blinked. But I didn’t a7db43db94 feel drunk yet.8bc4ce4ae33ad0f6

“But if I 7ff5ecc0b7 do get drunk, 8e83933ee6 I’m sure you’ll f9d7b0a1fd take care of c951e4eed1 me. And we’re staying here 847c4528ea tonight anyway, right?”d65e1b5a54595bdb

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Arthur burst out fa4fea95f4 laughing and nodded.5daec159273eff24

“You’re right, 712326c50f my dear bd2f4be49b wife.”0047adfeddaa9741

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We sat close b3668020f3 together and talked. When I expressed 7a70916525 interest, Arthur told b0b852795c me about the 85a92d678a hotel.94922280615abc65

It was the first b964148ecf hotel in the Empire a4152984e3 to be illuminated with 3b8dce9b85 electric lights and the d92dd2232a only place with an e7d079b0b4 electric lift. He also mentioned d2bc597295 that all the ffcbf08c5d rooms had marble a729fcf72c bathtubs with hot cfa362e4f3 and cold running c85d9e8c64 water.6d94ab86c0d0dc6c

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When I came to 69297157b2 my senses, I realized 4637811f1b I had already had 07166d3bba five cocktails. After gulping 9cd554e5b1 down some ff94dabaf7 water, we 5c55835c3b took the 7f26bffb69 private lift 5448397716 to the 80d4c4d731 Royal Suite 6d3b732ccf on the a3fc081a9c top floor.d62f85422ce9d488

The suite boasted 9447c09ffb a large window 52d35dba6b overlooking the panoramic 95b8903543 night view of 0aaadf5f72 the capital, a 0d8291d854 grand reception room 27116549f8 gleaming with gold 37290dc6e6 and marble, two d0709bd5ec bedrooms, each with ac644fe609 its own bathroom, 8515fc6f21 a large office e504b5024c and a study, f2bb3aa5da a lounge, a c7b911bbcf minibar, and a 66f7c7e3a0 dedicated chef and 4b881cdb3a butler on call.fe4fc723d07ecaa2

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I gaped as I leaned against Arthur. Even the Ducal mansion wasn’t this luxurious.3db616463e79028b

Mesmerized, I staggered be9d7f835c towards the window. I only realized it 3f8dbc2bf2 was a door when 77a6e2eb41 I saw the handle. I turned the 841fddbb18 handle and opened d3393ed21d it.b7d0f7678103b123

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It led to 3d784f9027 a large balcony. The cool night breeze 397c124c40 greeted me, along with c38576254f the breathtaking view of e943dceb49 the capital, its lights c29fe7daaa twinkling below. The River a7edbb60b9 Tees, which b45b687c1b flowed through a107e5c62f the city, 2f364f1dd1 snaked through 42fba89ff2 the landscape d156128934 like a 234e81753e giant serpent.fca465aafb42d5dc

Slightly lightheaded from the 7e83ec8ff7 alcohol, I stood there 84ed320f42 blankly, when Arthur embraced 66fca422a4 me from behind. His large hands wrapped 861cace2b0 around my shoulders, which 69dd10a950 had grown cold in 8ade9f5f97 the night air. His lips bfac9184a5 brushed against 38db241aad my goosebump-covered 0b51c998f3 skin.5817ab6feedcbd2f

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“Isn’t the night view magnificent?”98ae22eda5d04f42

I nodded. I turned around, e3e02e107a and Arthur smiled, e0ae21d177 kissing me lightly 9f7d70eb0c on the lips.833c140f4986a706

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“Are you feeling nauseous? You seem to b09ac41e15 have had more 5b85e89fad than your usual 0d7f44196f limit.”e1d0133b60c1eb6a

“I’m fine. But I 89de0a6d1c do feel 55be72540f the alcohol 9cc9b45aaf kicking in.”46c381b9e0210db3

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Arthur chuckled, holding c589db891a me close.315d9dccdec69bec

“That’s to be expected. That’s why you shouldn’t drink too many cocktails at once. Let’s go inside.”a020664f081abff2

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I followed 901ef6b50b him into 7595fba794 the bedroom 33176fe1b0 and gasped 0994631134 in surprise. It was a room a4cdfb9f29 of mirrors. The room, decorated eecf236c65 in gleaming black d3cf9b975c marble with gold 0dcb55aecf and cream accents, ee1154fb23 had mirrors covering 4cacfd810a almost every wall.906a6cd6321364ea

“Wow…! I feel like I’m 222ca04689 trapped in a maze.”cab9fdcc0e1cff1f

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I marveled at 5b36885866 the seemingly endless a73376465a reflections, the mirrors c872ddf9b7 facing each other, 4911e7a574 creating an illusion bd2f4ed4ed of infinite space. My own reflection 2860d9e613 was replicated endlessly 20f17ef538 within the mirrored b7b6b37b13 surfaces.7df5a4179aa93490

The ornate 98dd2e6f75 interior and 935a9eac8e the lights, d1a590c2a0 reflected in 31de449c43 the mirrors, 57fc9beafe made the 6f7b110b6f room dazzlingly c3eafc7c72 bright, almost 289ff24894 overwhelmingly so c27053b80d for a bdaad1dc10 bedroom. I wondered if 7a26296282 I would be 24ce6d91af able to sleep 7d8f6a9d76 in such a 6f3354b809 bright room.ab8b758cda33612b

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“It used to 24986be3cf be more subdued 328bbe7eae before the renovation. But it can’t 3c83f45837 be helped, this 2493e36c6d is Edward’s taste…”acd0625f2d5c73f5

As it e491ff9a0b was the 77f07422e3 royal suite, a9d51b56f1 the bedroom 104d3e4ca9 entirely reflected 973201802d the Crown 5b6695499e Prince’s preferences. Arthur walked over to 2c55fb5cc5 the bed and sat 480aabb676 down, gesturing for me f6252c4903 to join him.658246e3a3f7bf65

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The bed was cab8ea1dce situated on a 132b3e7723 raised platform, almost 0552f8746d like an altar, b7960442a0 with four round 4f362e82b3 pillars supporting a 36092876f9 canopy overhead, like c90d224ca9 a grand temple. Thin curtains c2abf2c8af hung between 1c292fbff6 the pillars, 2d60dabdc4 swaying gently.27e52568ed64e9ff

As I sat 1b6be101bd beside him, he 2c5ba595cb pointed upwards. I followed his a7957e2b53 gaze and gasped. Even the 7fc7264643 underside of 6157fe7585 the canopy d0f784e367 has mirrors!6fcdb0051e48a78f

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Arthur chuckled at my 1437f95cfd astonishment and turned my 8eea159375 chin towards him, his 3e2247637c hand cupping my jaw. He smiled, looking into 2e913849ac my slightly dazed eyes.b785323dc34694ab

“Do you like 33bd029a86 it?”986961c95a2b6e73

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“It’s amazing. But I bfdfb708ac don’t think 70413d3811 I’ll be 025b55d2cf able to c377d802e4 sleep with 0c9cf98bdd all these c011898b04 lights.”b572b706626dfbf4

He chuckled, ab84c3ec99 as if 535bb6a122 anticipating my d2cd609298 response, and a6ef1aa54e kissed me 6ccc0b902a softly, whispering,54183a2c99c1d318

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“But you’ll have to 0e69d9bbbe wait a little longer 8e694c250b before you can sleep, 2e525a7f58 my wife.”d4b108d28fdad29b

As his dfbab3b95e tongue slipped 0c30090305 between my 41de619298 lips, tracing 1d8457f1a4 my teeth 491a9827be and lips, 45582328a7 I finally 86659878d4 understood what 75fb89e494 he meant. I wrapped e30a1e50a2 my arms 0e5740cc1c around his 9d466bbfe3 neck.641b4f0b4a2e28c1

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