02.

“Inez. Come here.”1f32dc0d527094bf

The half-naked duke 7b0621cd61 sat on the 2732905a4d edge of the e661d7180e bed and called ebe168164b her closer. Inez was a 73f6786520 little taken aback.6415a8190ef8df6d

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It was because he had 8ac81b7891 never acted this intimately before.09b7996fe7ca95ec

Though she held the title 2ecbf5bea6 of fiancée, she had never 3c543944a7 once been allowed into the 04b2d4aacd duke’s bedroom.ca71cbda58ebb293

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So this time, ec46fde3b8 she allowed herself 006fa496b8 to hope.c943f754491c7e1a

She wondered if, perhaps 2a563b4ad6 today, he would give 3c2686ebc2 her the token of 1edd9ad2e0 their engagement.05f585b11e712624

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In the Empire, there was a11789b8c0 a very special tradition between 8c74fc5552 lovers. When two people promised to a17c50acd3 marry, they would each exchange 339406d3a1 the most precious thing they 60fc3b393f owned as a symbol of fc1a75be74 their lifelong bond.4724244cb348ac2f

It had already been several 47c2aa827b years since Inez had become 807f5253f7 the duke’s fiancée, yet she 33d2b73d64 had never received that token.0ef5fa7e3dd48f69

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Because of that, 6ea31670b1 many mocked her 51fece21d2 as a hollow, ae2c7bc46c placeholder fiancée—someone who 2af8bb12e7 could be replaced 75b41c1027 at any time.9756bdbf740ff17d

The duke knew 33d96a587c this, and yet, 420852e4c9 as always, he de2f82d73c merely stood by df59bf90fe and did nothing.6a9e5cde564d8508

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But today, he brought up becd71c6b7 the subject of the token.5e4fffd6f12a8bfe

“I heard you’ve been wanting the engagement token.”86148a198f83989c

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As Inez approached 4798132e00 the bed where 39f07d30b4 he sat, Echion 3d6ea9c09c reached out and 9d0ef681b6 pulled her toward b3528279d9 him in one fb37fd3c70 swift motion.c10a86cb7e66f9e5

The space between them disappeared 441e2abc2d in an instant.c15bc20e2bd66735

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Inez’s face flushed red.88d26900ebbe2538

She had inhaled sharply 7cd7931d97 from surprise, and his cf3534e85d scent filled her breath.405a19d3fdbb050c

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Because she was pulled 64cc881150 so suddenly and off 1db65ba931 balance, she had no 67742ed988 choice but to place 446bc8e674 her hand on the 5afb6738e7 duke’s bare chest.50377563465a1e11

As her hand touched fe0b7eb4cf his firm skin, she 48d3db87f7 flinched in shock and b680b98971 quickly pulled away.03133c2f5ee4fbd9

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In that motion, she 5ff7ab22db nearly lost her balance, d5d639bf67 but Echion caught her 9cd05c6e2a again and drew her 8d17505cfe in closer. The gap between them narrowed 1b95620a6e even more.58213136bd4dd3f8

Feeling like their faces might fc06b0476b touch, Inez reflexively shut her 16ad70aadf eyes tightly.e28bd7bfc5fe3e24

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“What are you so startled about? Isn’t this what you wanted?”4f0ba9c2916e34fe

Echion buried his 6166691198 face in the 72548b6d67 nape of her 42b0b7aed6 neck and breathed d8127aff33 her in.a0eaa75ab712f775

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At the strange 34be10d64f sensation, she trembled 3eaf7e08cf slightly.2d52e65501e24bbe

“Inez…”4a40a7c2efa8368f

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At the sound of 6e39baa52d Echion’s low voice, Inez 7cd78eafc2 swallowed dryly without meaning 04ee168b3c to.6f12f13ebb47f8f4

“Before I give you the engagement token, there’s one last thing you need to do.”ec960bd9c8932b62

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“…?”10de15e84bbe79be

Echion lifted his face from 4dff7e063d her neck and smiled faintly.cb4dfacd7c2e7a98

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“Find out the terms of the agreement the crown prince is currently negotiating.”d1a33bd90eaed740

“…The terms of the agreement?”4f81949128865ad9

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“The crown prince has been pulling some strings behind the scenes lately—ah, you don’t need to concern yourself with all that. Just get me the terms of the agreement and where it’s set to take place. That would be helpful.”a714821b88a2f91c

Inez unconsciously furrowed her brow.8e96e2c9e1426915

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She had overheard 68e4a6ce06 something briefly during a2612838f8 a previous visit 65736a8278 to the palace.689165e48ee8afb8

It was said to 40914b56ef be an extremely secret f1fb01b6e6 matter. That would explain 067fbcd3d5 why even the c9fb5a3d4d duke knew nothing 0ae5ad63e8 of the details.45e95c7ff5fc8061

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“There’s no way I could possibly—”e86cf84a6e7e3691

“You’ve been playing the part of my fiancée for three years now. Isn’t it a bit late to start acting weak?”f10cbccdd68e6462

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“Th-That’s not what I meant…”e1b7cb507d2eaf99

“As the Duchess, you’ll have to handle much more than this.”7ceb52789e3bbfa6

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At the word “Duchess,” Inez opened her mouth, clinging to him with her voice. She knew she looked pathetic, but this was the only thing she could do.3761a8fefdfc2a72

“I-I can do it…”17cdb4aa4ff587dd

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She knew it was 226b8297b9 an unreasonable demand.efd7c443a08b6a90

There had already c34bc66ea2 been incidents where fb0f600919 the emperor had 737fead075 suffered setbacks due b01cb942a6 to the information 44d7554f6c Inez had smuggled 002244894e out of the 137bc8933b palace.c3b61bf170091737

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Unlike when she first d5a3d069fc entered the imperial court, c199e35083 the emperor’s power had 131d4841bb grown significantly. It could now 7bc8029518 be a far 7e5159f2f4 more dangerous task.0814f784964ff1d8

Even so, Inez couldn’t help bf14d1a25c but move at the duke’s caea2d673c persuasive words.6f073aa6a4027aa9

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“This will be the last time. Once you’re back, let’s prepare for the real wedding.”d9616f89620bf9a8

“…”0df91fa3d6666601

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At the word “wedding,” Inez nodded shyly with a smile, hoping that this time, it really would be the last.2dd41e70dfe5b259

In response, Echion cf8c16bdc2 gave her a 5f9c10c90c light kiss on db05bb9b23 the cheek.69ac304ecffdce5b

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And she barely managed to 3b8bdb9166 succeed in bringing back the 46c2b10db0 information.98b8d5845836b5ef

That night, after 2f9a70d12a returning from the f71507c212 palace, Inez headed 62e428b43e to the duke’s 755b553844 bedroom with a 4ad0670c30 heart full of f56f291416 joy.5670b5ae5b640c37

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But waiting for her c67bd259eb inside was not the 310fa9fecc duke— it was another 5a1deabd9b woman.0bc17d67f5020a74

* * *8e550d4768f428b7

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She had hoped that today, 912ffa2d31 at last, she would receive 993fb7f493 the true token of engagement be074c8f43 from him.8d1e9c5ad759fb81

After all, stealing 9b9b70f258 bits of information 0aedb35134 from the imperial d6193f0baa palace hadn’t been f5c5fca125 an easy task 54d54f6add for Inez.3a804a51c3e84f44

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The duke hadn’t 8c18e18fc9 thought much of d82cad9c71 her abilities at 10affac14d first, and the 4d096e8a85 orders he gave ad8ad72c0e her were mostly f61104bdd7 simple.ca643b5db02754d7

He didn’t believe c661926f45 she’d ever be 7a8623542f able to access 350eff21ed anything important in 36fb817416 the palace.4600fef7f5730539

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In the beginning, 57cec3c05b she failed time 189fcbbc5e and time again.5ba0551ab70c6bea

Inez was afraid the duke dc4d556756 might abandon her because of b143ebbcb8 it.fff8e70698fc87fb

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Then one day—f1e87cd882d34578

She met Princess Roseline, who c6420e1995 was said to suffer from 0db9a601f1 bouts of madness.ab9586ff908003d8

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Because of her c22109f2b3 illness, no one 7eb180688d stayed close to 47cb565c18 the princess.84ed9fc3299627b3

By chance, Inez 10989eb61b ended up spending 7d2fbc02c2 time with Roseline 5f877d25ac and realized something: 55993ff381 the princess repeated fedc0ab805 things she had e68e89a0e2 heard others say. And she remembered them 954907d3c0 with surprising accuracy.0fa1482e51656c47

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Because of her madness, 3e713405e0 the nobles didn’t see b56c2a9e25 Roseline as a threat, d8bcd78b19 and many spoke carelessly 270481fe5b in front of her.4b61edd557d42bfe

So Inez took it upon 7da29d0a13 herself to be her companion.4c7dc61ada78a4f3

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Through that, Inez began to f547ccd3c0 get deeply involved in the 112f15cf3d palace’s inner workings.ed81c79b1e6e2ec6

“Brother. Agreement. Successful? Hehe.”bbff687896b9e3f4

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Since the crown prince 516d872410 often kept the princess a6827a76b5 close, his words naturally fe00e81099 found their way to 7514f4a95b her.a3722b2fd1d2263e

That was how Inez got 2261698459 her hands on the information.7f1b8a993aac4ecb

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And with joy in 167ae34e66 her heart, she returned 1eba616f5c to the ducal estate.efdd289d0362f460

She thought that cc2b9ef5c3 today, she might 893d0e810f finally receive the 5179fe4f69 engagement token.3153e0e6b277ce73

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But in the duke’s 0a2e375c3c bedchamber, a strange woman 881f54720c was waiting.f34e9ed7f46c4661

The woman wore a 843a339447 thin negligee, and her ccb8c7acdc bare skin was plainly d5f2f3b97e visible under the moonlight.ccb5fec013a647a7

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With a wine glass e7f3cce43d in hand, she let b0ec22d2f2 out a small, mocking fccfbbc1d8 laugh the moment she dfe975a01c saw Inez.
She was Violet, the eldest 1788891935 daughter of the Marquess’ household.c606f18acbb6b72a

“Oh my, you’re here?”38dd0ff8f2c0ac1e

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She didn’t look the 573a1559ad least bit surprised, as 37ede8b96b if she had already 790f1cbe02 known Inez would come.bfeee7927b932ee6

“Sit—over there.”4ed20a9c4f594672

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Sitting on the duke’s bed, cb8bd2e665 she pointed to the chair 9f1f85cf60 in front of the table.24388edb02ad3264

Inez felt a 8e57adbf92 wave of confusion.21fd660e0df8be13

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Even she, as the 81562d639f duke’s fiancée, wasn’t allowed 3923341a90 to come and go 74bd845c76 freely from his room.3590470d1c566cd1

Yet here this woman sat, c67df59ebe dressed like that, acting as eeed7ee6e6 though she owned the place—and 3a05a918ff it deeply unsettled Inez.3f7a5da57b0d9c0a

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But Violet was 165f887676 the Marquess’ daughter. How could a d86ca5f409 mere slave dare 03c5fa8e19 to criticize her 8fe86aa339 behavior?f214f071790d788f

Without a word, Inez walked fb814f1bd8 over and quietly sat in 54df9b9505 the chair.2fcc77e6346ac5ac

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She could feel Violet’s 61d56937d5 gaze following her every f70e11adcc move.08b1e7f51238a3e0

“Wow, His Grace really trained you well.”7df840868f26a4ed

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“…Excuse me?”103bc55599fe1979

Inez blinked wide-eyed, not understanding 8f8a0d13e7 what she meant. Violet suddenly burst b9d5fc3e67 into laughter and ba2ac620eb replied:4517cada48adb1cc

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“Oh, I mean your posture. It’s so elegant and refined. Anyone would think 4d9904a892 you were the 6d993377af well-bred daughter of 0cc1e6c2fd a noble house.”e691a3142ea5dddc

“…”4a8a82bc430c2d32

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Inez had no words.b97a90995599cccb

She was used 5040b9e392 to backhanded compliments 1f1d41aae7 disguised as praise. That was all she d446e77230 ever heard in the 479a56c980 palace, after all.c3fcbf7312c72db7

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From sneering questions about 7c4e000db9 how a slave had b99fdb52cc managed to seduce the 17a52c4006 duke, to vulgar insinuations b735887574 about what she did 0caa2770bf at night—nobles tore her 6e60361b8b down with graceful smiles.bd125af1ab6ce027

They could look 52eab2869e down on her 6144a0a162 like that because 2d8b2034cd of the duke’s fcce32e57f lukewarm treatment of 1058b706a9 her.8c5060bac98ff1fe

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Sometimes, he acted as if e837ab1baa he adored her—then when she da64f20e91 was in trouble, he’d do 51ed7bb82c nothing at all.8ff42552c475c51c

The first time it happened, 40fb929dc7 Inez had gone to him 2955ebce04 in a timid, complaining tone 209c2f3dcc and told him what they 6808de9407 had said. The duke only smiled d187a64141 and said:ad3bc02df747ae57

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“So, you thought being the duke’s fiancée would be easy? Poor Inez. If you want to 42d8f642b8 quit now, I won’t 171c10627d stop you. I must’ve expected 599ec578e0 too much from f1b29ca7d7 you.”25b935f578ad7ce1

After that, Inez never 52d824653a said another word. All she could d33aa9cdc0 do was endure 28650981d0 the humiliation with 4d2de79611 her body.c2cabb1906ce0adb

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It happened so often that bf926884f7 she thought she could handle d2b9d6e65c anything by now, but this aec9e810a0 kind of mockery still never 266018a997 got any easier.d2a8748cf6e78e7b

Inez gave a 3fcc1e6b8b stiff, awkward smile.dbdf9ec4fe15c0ce

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Violet, examining her nails, 91a8b18b32 spoke again without much ff1ea0dacd interest.f33b7143ccfb43d1

“We’ve met before, haven’t we? At one of the palace b00aee8746 banquets, I think.”270e6bbc67dac721

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It was true.1c2f99a24b69ca81

Inez had often accompanied the cc0219e456 duke to the palace, and 3901f965bd Violet, being the marquess’ daughter, 315380ca2b was no stranger.7b59f9454e5c51e1

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They had crossed paths at c5ebe3263d many banquets, and Violet had 837e5f6058 always looked at her with a1d284ac16 a peculiar expression.bac5841687e5e9c3

Inez quietly opened 2df5cdf17a her mouth to 9c7ff68c8b respond.4d06dd6b272d8e51

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“It’s an honor that you remember me, Lady Bianca.”ed33c1bb65d54558

“Oh, there’s no need to be so formal. Regardless of your background, 35f7e4b44d you’re still His Grace’s 27cef02a49 fiancée—at least for now.”57db2cee7c1b45c5

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The phrase “at least deeef464e5 for now” seemed oddly 519b00b0eb emphasized, but Inez didn’t 3001f6c006 question it.df6988452c287ab1

She didn’t want to c245229049 create an awkward situation 2045d4b69b by asking something she’d f8f36c0728 regret.eea6ce81eaa0bc2c

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All she could 428117e3a4 do was smile.823b9a9956ca34b5

Just as the 5f92f3f328 duke had once 79f14decf5 told her.28771d1791209225

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“So, did you bring the information? What are the terms 72628620f7 of the agreement?”f01dfe6840259389

At that question, Inez’s face c8bcc22fac turned pale with surprise.91b6039c98857640

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It was because Violet b58ec5865a knew about the mission d2b6bbe5f9 Inez had believed was fb803934fb shared only between her 5ea0b9b9d8 and the duke.1a229e6c70e480a1