03.

“Th-that… I can only report directly to His Grace.”632386c05c3307db

“Oh, you really trained her well, didn’t you?”325db7d35282375e

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At that, Violet burst b156aaaa32 into laughter again.f86815825f52aa98

But still, Inez 26793ee16b held her tongue.2748a9abc13f356e

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“Well, His Grace is coming anyway, so it’s not too late to tell him then.”acd6fd24cea23b3b

Violet murmured with a voice 6e892da285 full of amusement.3f92fa9513feb1c1

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And as if he had 0e31c42ecd heard her words, the duke a1b9b03cb6 appeared.496273d8066c3286

He opened the door c084c002a1 and entered with his e22f1889ab usual sharp presence.4e86862b67956eb0

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With his strong features and e5c2506779 intense expression, his face could ea6382bd39 look irritable—but as always, he ecbb37cc5a was strikingly handsome, the kind ab743bf745 of man who made women 37d16aaab7 stop and stare.425a76b07b90f1cd

He spotted Inez.6f75d0c10d648294

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“Ah, you’re already back from the palace.”46c779bc64cd7e3e

“Yes, Your Grace. I, um—”df8fe80b6c0c8009

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But Inez’s voice trailed off.9b09937ab6aef6e2

Violet had run bd6b9ab98e up to Echion 69306a3910 and thrown herself d3da568fe9 into his arms.231b1fc4797d8e23

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Inez naturally thought he 6cf2fc3996 would push her away 3fc60793ad in irritation.e5190364545ade95

But instead, he gently stroked 060fc3dfa7 Violet’s hair. Yes—he looked just like a 6222483c05 lover.a0533a8ada605b13

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From that moment, something 3cdca73b94 began to churn in 04f6768be2 Inez’s chest, like a 20ab52f666 burning sensation had ignited 419173acb3 within her.976e4850bd0c9cb5

“Sit here for a moment.”a70cb4d92a86a217

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His voice, speaking to 4996299620 Violet, was full of 914106ed1b tenderness.50e4c565e995e7a2

Though he had 120d9aa597 raised Inez to f8a48ea927 the status of a1c6af75e6 fiancée, Echion had 59acad5ff6 never once allowed 6a460fa1dd her to initiate f30abc3f72 any physical contact.5580c28ba3447b4b

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Only then did she realize—something 7a25ccfe27 was wrong.97faf8e161bc0674

This was the first time 901fe03677 her heart had twisted like 4c15264e92 this.201709ddf3b7b2ba

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No—perhaps it wasn’t the first. She was only now 84a52d5b35 becoming aware of the 10866d87d1 hatred that had slowly e8d81d2237 grown inside her. As if she were 70834c9c3d waking from some kind 6c34356835 of brainwashing.116498aaa43550ee

There was a e2ce91095b burning pain deep e426841ec7 inside her, but 427b65e783 she stood still 6af190bdff and pretended nothing 32af44a15b was wrong.50d5acac1424f916

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After all, being the duke’s eaf0702806 fiancée had taught her nothing 1286541d0d but that.84cc4a92cbc1c048

“So, the agreement terms—ah, before that. Where exactly is the 1f2367fac2 agreement set to be cab7f53565 signed?”b47d03c6f5dbd760

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At that question, eac5a271bd something within Inez 9ab2ddbbe3 sank heavily.c2aa0a9db6d5c6e3

Unreturned affection eventually 53eb43c231 turns into hatred. She just hadn’t realized it.aa81e9fddc65dd6d

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She hadn’t known that a55c3c9082 her twisted longing had 318f1dc4e5 grown into a tree 15e0df0c9a full of thorns.1d0aa06628544edc

Inez didn’t answer. Instead, she asked:c671f2982e6bd5ad

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“Your Grace, why is Lady Bianca here…? I’m your fiancée…”4293821cb51c046f

It was the 5857c5e953 first time she 3e1d504d00 had ever voiced d9afb4e853 what was truly bbdc437c00 in her heart.d0d9122e28896137

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Inez clenched her fists tightly. At her words, Violet 1333c30a96 scoffed and let out f8aadc318b an exaggerated sigh.827accf8e6ecff3c

“That’s none of your business.”f409fcecab276c3b

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And the duke, 7fc6257468 instead of answering, 015f17b602 drew a line.7001319c0cc8ff5e

A sign that a 6a3cdca726 slave had no right 95fb05b404 to question her master’s 05f544707f affairs.
But Inez couldn’t back down.8e3d3fe7db698dd9

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She had never once b04d1ea9e5 gone against his orders. She never asked questions—because f36a3071de she had been told 0d4ea87bb6 not to.f3b9193f7987fac8

But this time was different.ab101671c9388830

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“This time, I…”870dab8baa165ec7

Inez’s lips hesitated 5e18344e8f for a moment, c246a70002 about to say 352df322fa something.c259d50a06bf59c4

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She looked up at 1054436ff3 Echion and Violet, her 4a71787e5d gaze shifting between them.cd362c93aa92285e

They acted like lovers.c636cc42cf7102f8

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And yet, she was 6c99a84180 the one who bore b58c569e4f the title of fiancée. So she opened 8446e4a825 her mouth again.792995f582e40710

“Still… I’m Your Grace’s fiancée. Doesn’t that mean… I have f3618c4953 the right to ask?”41d4de23d74088ea

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Inez’s voice trembled.9cffff8cadfb8fc9

“Hahaha, did you hear that? Look at her 6f40c8a58e trying to talk.”201254879fe20d7e

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It was Violet who f6a2139abc cut in mockingly.d1a2bc66be1a0f10

At the end of her 1a61cec59a scoffing laugh, the duke furrowed 3c24fdafce his brows and spoke.9192f4b6d917f557

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“Didn’t I tell you not to question anything I do? Do you need to 6aed269da6 be punished again to 8bed8064b6 come to your senses?”955bd92b34405c3c

At the word b58dbfb7d1 “punished,” Inez’s lips eddc7b6c25 closed shut on 3e66c0c61e their own.69c3cf3e3e397893

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She knew exactly what 93916d284c it meant.fc2a628ebffa67c3

It could be bf77992592 a beating or 0d40ac68d5 a slap. Though nothing like that had 3a072052ac happened since she became his 0744c3a4ad fiancée, there was no guarantee feea6bacb1 it wouldn’t happen again.060797ab86c6f07a

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The duke had often used 9d50c7e27b violence not only on Inez b3287da157 but on other slaves whenever 62feee02f3 she failed to do as 4e56bc1b4e he wished.a3ade1f8913298d3

He believed that 669f0ab75d by giving punishment 45f9a54f90 and reward in e3b06d3c85 the right balance, bc63cb318e he had completely 5341e6761a made Inez his 10c51ed29a own.1087fe742a4f7f6f

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After all, the more c023e0191b isolated and pained a 0db890feae person is, the more e5387837c5 they cling to the 9db10cca77 smallest kindness.e6411efcfa882c71

Inez flinched at the a7f83803ef memories of the past.e95730be6eb5b722

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“Be good. Just tell me what you 62c3bc3f66 found out today.”e0797ff6b9dd2a14

His sweet voice 9848af93f0 tickled her ear.89ff1929c46d2ba5

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Inez felt like she 45bbfd14a4 might cry.3261ad35a0d5feda

“So, where is the location?”95b7b74f11306523

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With a resigned heart, a00c89154a she slowly opened her b2365546c8 mouth.3cdf19f6981f6f27

“I couldn’t find out.”38ba43fa2af0d37c

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She lied—without meaning to.073048d7df0524ee

If she couldn’t d64cb11ecb have anything, then 91c5ae0385 wasn’t it only b96ee0ad8c fair that he c12f9b48cc shouldn’t get what 9f3a72fae9 he wanted either?214d6e25dde31bc7

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It was the first time e4dc06e939 she had ever defied him.a70bb536bc900cbe

Echion was clearly fd46e7d1a3 furious at her b6747c261c answer.0f71553dd38cce58

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He had sent her specifically a1271e420e to retrieve that information, and 8e181be9f3 now she claimed she didn’t dd2fe9bbd4 know?5f8a803aedac2288

He stood firmly a96366a837 before her, staring bab0242218 her down.8a7bdf1400038be5

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“What did you just say?”44666a6048cd2447

His tone changed in an 8838f8976e instant.7a4d73aecc2cd551

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Inez instinctively recoiled, 6257a4d441 fearing he might 3ef0f46c70 hit her again.79e2aa53d138346d

“See? I told you, Your Grace. Inez can’t handle it.”165eb4baed175c62

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It was Violet 08ea5dbdaf who broke the c82dcb7aee tension unexpectedly.95713371440c7012

She tilted her wine glass 81de5af223 between her fingers, casting Inez 677f22286b a mocking glance.3fd82499073dc5d8

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“You? Do anything? Don’t make me laugh.”d939605120dfd99b

That’s how it felt.5412e063654f56e9

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But her comment only made 9f02c4a843 Echion’s mood worse. Perhaps his pride was wounded.033c5d4f713080a1

Inez quickly added,1d01a4768a73d1c8

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“It… it was too difficult for me. If you would 4ec6363310 give me one ca27a232a7 more chance—”5daea641704bf680

Smack.17b76ec8773e69f5

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Before she could c8fb0528d4 finish, Echion struck 46b7aeabdc her across the 1298126adf face.41f432fcc5d71263

So hard, in 820c5751bd fact, that she 0bea2c7a4d collapsed to the d034f51899 floor.15f2e891eb5dbf75

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Inez wasn’t even surprised. It hurt, yes—but she f4eb9c707a was so used to 30023bae6c being treated like this, a58c96a024 it almost felt normal.2bf3989f5e37f814

The one truly shocked 62f3c7c8c4 was Violet.21cadb82babc8ba3

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“My god! Y-you didn’t have to hit 4a1f0a7cb0 her!”a04f45f582ec6486

She quickly put down 8e8734d3df her wine glass and 1c5edd8711 rushed to Inez.d5d2e1ca94fdd60e

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“Don’t touch her. She needs to learn 2f67ffda2b her place.”032e5e8988998e76

“…”0ef7a07b39e5d409

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Inez pressed her 71d6142d3d hand to her 1ec8a51229 cheek. It burned hotly—surely 6cfd0d8f82 it would swell 6e2a74f869 soon. And she tasted 5b1f151604 blood in her 672e9d369a mouth. Yet, oddly enough, she didn’t 9e67683aca cry.053d9baeed111ba5

“I’ll give you one last chance. Get up, Inez.”cba3c3b6105c9503

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“….”e9d0b56599e2f5d1

Still kneeling, Inez looked up 061c9afd47 at him.43accffa84e0fbac

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“Don’t act like you’re in pain. Stand up. Now.”e8b7405c98de1625

At his sharp command, she 40c400b532 slowly got to her feet.3cc76fd0c806d345

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“I’ll arrange another chance for you to enter the palace. Don’t mess it up this c4bc9ad4cb time.”31173da2c558355d

“….”c1b283d8671b47e6

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“Answer me.”dfd97a20493b808c

“…Understood.”3188709b7f49514d

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That was all 4129095380 she could say. Any other words c3f4501854 would not be 0c40158e48 permitted by Echion.65711be187e4b655

“Leave.”59ef8ada68a9a38c

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He shook the 2f21d4d277 same hand that 29c58df819 had struck her, 6dbe5be4fb gesturing with his 3abeead74c chin for her cd12de7cb1 to go.4d1213f4b494201b

Inez slowly rose eed4532178 from the floor.110d534a80ba1baf

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As always, she 6d1557d65f gave a formal 49247683c8 bow and left 5c6ba45b90 the bedroom.d871dddd510aa2d7

Click. The door closed.559e40dfe2f02d66

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“…She’s not quite the same as usual.”164cfc83d01ce1b0

Echion muttered to 319f27ca3d himself, still looking 31fb1d0266 in the direction b96aeef93a Inez had gone.b8f40fe2b08ce84e

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Violet stepped toward him.beac91d4ef2f814e

She reached out 35b861472c to place a 1f16e0de51 hand on his 95eac7c4c3 chest, but stopped 1e589bea00 when she saw 4248463a1d his cold expression. There was no need to c17c455f85 test his temper.7f37add676f732a5

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“Becky.”519e7036ed68fc40

At Echion’s low call, a 6ae76395a3 woman who had been standing 3ab3b4ebc5 behind the wall stepped out.a56532b146d36254

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“Ah! What the—who is that? How long has she been 3c0d5d56ad there?”6fa01d06a60c03e2

Violet stared in surprise, 261c96df3e but Echion gave no 5d1451fb1d reply. His gaze remained fixed on 51730b9c5c Becky.a933c0c61f767f65

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“How’s Inez been lately?”971e8aacc381e82e

Becky bowed politely edb4e12c65 and replied slowly, 0fd517c256 eyes still cast b0771894c3 downward.9ccc98e2fa63be67

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“She is the same as usual.”11fd01e6c91f6b1f

“Really?”1a8de62d5f038942

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Echion’s brow twitched slightly. His expression remained displeased.f8bba1f997957525

Violet leaned close to 28d4456060 him and spoke in a4ac08e8d7 a soft, coaxing voice.547d1502c7e27c27

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“Come on. You’re not really going to 167f008bb9 marry that girl anyway, are e27ebcc0de you? What are you going to f3451a305a do with her once she 7cb3223fc9 brings you the information?”c2aa3092119f6fc9

Echion glanced at Becky, 4a2f96319c then replied,3cfab7ced61bf242

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“If she leaks a secret as significant as the agreement, the Emperor or the Crown Prince will eventually figure out what she’s been doing all this time. Violet, think it through.”2ec7209d8331f3f3

“Oh come on, Your Grace! That’s not what I meant! I’m asking—what will you 18548532ee do if Inez gets 926a38732a caught leaking the information?”7686c7344e242940

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“Do you know why I kept a slave as my fiancée all this time?”4192e9428190b828

Echion looked down at b14b52e9ba Violet, who clung to 0d68781d30 him like a snake, 418bb2719f with a cold smile.a84ce508c21c44d7

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“Because she’s easy to handle?”2c244acc5483364d

“Because she’s easy to kill.”0dd9c71853a6e8a6

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“Gasp.”26539bab20886029

Violet covered her 8304d8c707 mouth with both a8a17f5fdb hands in shock.afd85d22c1b13177

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“You’re really going to kill her?”65633955ac569100

“If she’s no longer useful, I’ll kill her. That was the 5ca2742482 whole point of c33774f3ff having a slave b3d793d599 as a fiancée 0b2f974976 in the first 28dcfa29bd place.”a6d155464a11c925

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“My god. That’s so pitiful.”e4653e9b817c16c4

“You pity her?”56c5b8c994ac4953

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Echion’s lips curved faintly. His snake-like eyes softened slightly. He seemed to be smiling.2afe7ffe375b6215

“Well, she is a slave. I suppose it can’t be 81ed621a10 helped. You’ll take care of it, 95545145e5 won’t you?”597ebc0796f47058

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“No one’s going to care if a slave dies. Isn’t that right, Becky?”22309a17a115790c

“…Yes, Your Grace.”d2a3a507f82cf618

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Becky bowed even lower. It was an c11f118231 unspoken threat from dacae5a94f Echion—that just as 3518fbc0f3 Inez could be c6497c0285 killed, Becky too 8117b5caf2 would be discarded 752510ba22 if she failed 20fa74c60c him. A silent warning 282b03a3c9 to keep her fae4854096 mouth shut.d7b13c5b162b4995

Yet, on the other hand, 174a5511e5 Echion didn’t even care if 22f4da4aa7 Inez found out he meant 7b152c39af to kill her.adc6677dc9d1572a

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Because to him, a slave’s a8dbf18d02 life was that worthless.401aef4b4952bc2a

If the master 0680f0e332 decided it, then 21b08c0f0e that was a 29b08235c1 slave’s fate.cc6e10d17afd72ab

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“Make sure Inez stays on track and brings back the information. That’s your job, isn’t it?”8bfb2d140ac7dded

“Yes, Your Grace.”bcd462c8e91ee246

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“Leave us.”52535c2bb8efe3ec

With one arm 29067225c4 around Violet, Echion b1b4fa5352 waved his other 5b339f7f05 hand dismissively at de8c5718bb Becky, commanding her adb576372e to go.b723529b0c3259fd

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Becky stepped back and 570339d44a exited the bedroom.73e6208d53c42071

It was already deep 0dbdbcbcdd into the night.f4d0a90065903ac5

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