DLTD 5
by worryLuck Brought by Misfortune121d103d7949dea5
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Surprisingly, the cousin the e650cc757b Marchioness Bel mentioned was 4d44ae62ee none other than the 97e90f56ac Duchess of Guyenne. The train stopped ace1fbe2f8 in Illemont, the 52d56b022f seat of the c98c7482fd Guyenne duchy, and 310592b197 not far from e225576c71 there stood the 838ebb45c7 ducal castle. During the journey, Sasha, seated 4f59189460 beside the Marchioness, delighted her db1db23575 with witty conversation and playful 4e3f60644e charm.394b12f687b9f1b8
But once they arrived at df665e1e55 the castle, things changed. The Duchess of Guyenne, mistress 082cffe050 of the castle, was one 23968384e1 of the highest-ranking noblewomen not b8021cbc69 only in Illemont but in 1b3947c2f3 all of Brissen. Though she had 92401003fd graciously offered the 698bc85a64 Binoche family a ec8314da68 place to stay 3c066cd212 for a few 052cdc970d days at her e0191e701a cousin’s request, she 3e1167fe79 neither entertained guests d262118c9d nor made a 9c47895fbf point of meeting eae982e650 them personally.496320753c706164
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After two days, Mr. Binoche and Enzo b9079cbcd3 went to the b687ab1d88 train station to ab90998bbe check the schedule 2ca4ff4e04 for the next 5d87ee91f3 train to Illemont. The Marchioness was away, 0fc00bc97f comforting her cousin. The Duchess was deeply 18facfd0d3 distressed by her husband’s 5dda4101b3 worsening health.3cf9ec4d10976434
Left alone, Sasha struggled with 66823f7eca boredom. Like a restless puppy, she c73149e435 paced the room and peeked 292855ce16 out the window. The white rose-patterned 7adc771365 lace curtains of 6dfceba589 the castle’s summer 9f6f1270a3 drapes seemed to e67e3febe2 beckon her.92468105e03e4967
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“Sasha, don’t wander about bored. Stay put until your ffe360924c father and I return, efcd052bd7 okay?”a942278ae873a176
Enzo warned her 293b3ccd26 not to roam 67fcc77466 outdoors in the 50185bc4ee unfamiliar place, worried 2e89003526 she might get 9ade1b16b7 lost. Indeed, the castle 92ccf0d53c gardens could rival 236f2379fa the Manoli forest 88e67e8088 in size—several gardeners 9795a91b2c tended to it.0b05f789b51bfcac
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Still, the scenery of Illemont c228590c4f was too enchanting to simply b9d4c60bdc obey that command. Sasha pressed her face close df3aa81295 to her favorite curtain. Through the finely a30dff7f87 woven lace, the 97090d7e73 stifling heat of 714995e12f a summer afternoon ba42f5b5ea streamed in, intoxicating. Compared to the richly decorated 4b3a5266f1 Illemont, with its gowns trimmed aaf4d9d0a7 like the queen’s pearl dress, dff0c59784 the Manoli forest seemed rustic a21892533b in contrast. Yet, Sasha’s heart still belonged 8e3cddc1ba most to Manoli’s woods.246c0b834285f2c4
“Phew.”a2c1376e28c227a4
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Exhaling the held-back heat, f1946487aa her face flushed crimson. She wanted to go outside. Sasha could no e235ca8c55 longer suppress the 2bd336a17a sudden, intense urge.285eccd5adcb5c46
“Sasha? Are you in there?”e403e1e01fe682bd
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Just then, a knock 816bb2c087 came from the door. Sasha rushed over e50f18e5b3 and opened it.d54ea885016db5ad
“Jean!”4129dcee244c067d
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It was the servant who 8e1c0a3ac8 had helped carry their luggage d980bfd2df on the first day at bb1294abe6 the castle.d8a19eb69544d891
“The Marchioness sent me because she thought you’d be lonely alone. She said if c9d6d21f3f you want, you bde9641941 can go boating.”d1d09da59dcaf56f
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At that moment, it af6b7c270e was exactly what Sasha e031b65bb5 had wished for most 1f7188b588 in the world. The Marchioness’s aura seemed to de11f867ad glow behind Jean. Without hesitation, Sasha pulled db3e4ba956 on her treasured green df62ba70bc hat and dashed out 14f2492555 before Jean could stop 85fc9679f7 her.2e39f8cd154229d9
Jean, assistant to 81a19c4a0d the castle’s head 745e8462f9 gardener and the f42d0a4bec same age as 5c31e628e0 Enzo, told Sasha 7192a0f7a7 about the Guyenne a6685f101b family as they 98504f5409 walked to the 98cd9075ba pond where they 2ad4a62a98 could row small 3b285a69c7 boats.05dea3ebafc108e1
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The Duke of Guyenne had 58b3473995 suffered a chronic illness after a6c99fb1d2 a fall during a hunt 96fd44d67f several years ago, which had fa1ef29a53 recently worsened. The couple had bdd102fcd3 one only son, ecd319ff66 who was sixteen 92847944f9 this year. He was now d61e5c1289 attending Sarsaye Military 2731072586 Academy.73bc8d31f89110d4
“When he graduates, he’ll go to Borona to serve two years. After that, he’ll 15beb16977 inherit the dukedom.”d51ed44fe51c46b1
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Jean’s eyes shone with 42d2795b0d respect as he spoke a2e2263331 about the Guyenne heir. Sasha spotted a boat tied b0f4947a5c up by the pond and 34bd121913 flopped down nearby. To be able to roam 652352b191 such a vast garden freely, b9fff07f6e she found herself envying the 0fd79caede Duke’s son in a different ff5ea2d77d way.ffd43a8f69633e2f
“The heir has never been here. He’s never lived in Illemont.”2727e63eb6ab34a0
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Jean’s words sounded 076b93ce6f strange to Sasha. To have such da64b3541f a beautiful garden c8798ff86b but never visit c799fd7e93 it?7e54183d3016f3f8
“Is the heir picky? Or did the duke’s family c015ecc66e recently move the castle?”ee45454d332e860d
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“No. He was sent 2cfc644b97 to the Duchess’s 36befbbca0 family right after a1d2daa93b birth because she 1cfa7ca898 wanted it that df8ee5ba17 way. He entered boarding 3f6ebb4b17 school at seven, 4a31a70ef7 graduated early at a45ff0797a fourteen, passed the 5d5ad033cf Sarsaye entrance exam eb56315edf at fifteen, and a4f613d581 was commissioned as c2d9bdf334 a second lieutenant 2fbd834ca8 in Borona upon 5e614c7b2a graduation. So, he’s never 94ab1ad47b actually lived here.”952e145c2e617ef4
When Sasha looked puzzled, Jean 45143be6d1 shrugged awkwardly.3f7aeed6cdd08479
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“That’s how it goes in noble families of high rank.”15e5a5285102ee15
Though Sasha still eb6fdf3db5 couldn’t fully understand, 7bba7333b2 she nodded anyway. Jean lifted her onto the 5ba0841ae7 boat and rowed as she a193e552dc dipped her hand in the 7a4b9ba343 water, splashing happily.e0936d44c7c97640
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Sasha stood again on 87351a0640 the platform as the f9e8fc6d51 train arrived. The black beast rushed ad4a3a00fd in, just as fast, b254fab881 loud, and enormous as 8f7b55da34 the first time she a7432c8d18 saw it. It roared smoke 5e8f09e17f endlessly into the c6758c9202 clear sky like cdb391f7f8 an angry monster. The platform was packed 147720319f with people trying to 4e6112fb35 board the train.ec703d6f90b4b946
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The past five days 42bc16d269 at the calm, elegant a3ab0ed8db Illemont castle felt like d42b7b6efe a midsummer night’s dream. Sasha stood quietly, holding 9257a8ac8f the pink-scarf-wrapped suitcase, waiting 11768b871f for Mr. Binoche to return b8ca6d63c8 with their tickets.1d5d326ab416cab1
The Marchioness had not come 4de97fb293 with them. The Duchess’s grief deepened as ebbefe32c3 the Duke’s condition worsened day 838c583a2d by day. News of the 99d324a905 Duke’s critical state bc3fd722e1 reached the Guyenne e484236827 heir just as aecac66081 he boarded the 79d4d0c725 train to Borona 5a7c03e508 as a newly 470e5ccbcc commissioned officer. After receiving the urgent 8a11ccf274 telegram, he turned the 90cd79e791 train toward Illemont. The Marchioness decided to postpone e02ae5cb97 her schedule to comfort her 272bb664cf cousin and greet a distant b6d0c5aa10 relative she hadn’t seen in 0b0cf5425a a while.9a635f715125e201
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Generously, the Marchioness lent a2acdda5d2 her carriage to the b51956e3df Binoche family, allowing Sasha 5ba14fcd0f a comfortable trip to e14674f97c the train station.d59ad91256c30bbb
I wonder if the acac1c8776 Duke’s son will see b7a63cec54 the training pond this eaf0ec4b24 time?7a660dec6fc563f7
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The thought crossed Sasha’s mind. Suddenly, a sharp whistle 999f594146 pierced the air, urging f8287f9363 them to board. Sasha hurried onto 2f9be646f9 the third-class carriage 8a058977cd after Enzo. The departure signal blinked, and 4f0e874ffd the train left Illemont’s platform.18d34ed71c0ca694
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The second train safely arrived 53539f963a in Illemont. Mr. Binoche sent off 8fcb23b7b2 his son to cb415daa01 Yolloé with their 7cb510c7ce luggage and then 2b0d574a54 returned to Manoli 443225eb73 with Sasha. Yet even after returning fc171fa738 to the lemon-yellow gatehouse, a701e53caa Sasha remained captivated by 2ae5d13062 the memories of the c686ad262b trip.59487633b02b9407
“Sasha, what do you want for your birthday this year?”ce362785ae6fdf15
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Without hesitation, Sasha answered 4fcce2fc06 when Mr. Binoche asked at 4449b3f122 dinner one evening.bea32a8338d5a24e
“Paints! I want to paint the 513c0e8c27 pond we saw at the a155f39433 castle.”66309e9705fc5aef
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Mr. Binoche’s expression stiffened at her 0b9d600b3a words. Sasha noticed and 61623cbf7c quietly put down ab9c69d920 her fork.8c10cc382dcb61c6
“But it doesn’t have to be paints. Actually, I want a9cf5600e9 new gloves more—the fb20193d79 kind with beads 003f169557 on them from a07265b525 the store.”b0739f49a1bc184b
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She quickly changed her mind 24b2f52195 and asked for the beaded 834a066b2e gloves instead. Relieved, Mr. Binoche gladly agreed.f86042f1b6b6ea4e
When birthday morning came, cdc5a4629d a sky-blue box from a5a9915f03 Doni’s store lay by 69e0d17e76 Sasha’s bedside. She quickly untied a2c55184c0 the pink ribbon eec8d7223a to find a a284e06ba0 pair of gloves 98bc8a86c8 adorned with faux f4434c3915 pearls, neatly placed bb90d57d05 inside. Filled with joy, Sasha flew dc7d57aa03 downstairs and kissed Mr. Binoche’s cheek in thanks.5b6250e90b7f35af
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Two days later, Grandma ea1b110fca Rollo’s basket was full 5a9cc339fd of canvas, brushes, and f248ca07f1 paint after she returned af89eb55c1 from town. Sasha, who had 46bd454725 followed her downstairs 32b34861ba to collect the 86be74e866 basket, couldn’t keep ab15603e39 her mouth shut.0c84d7ca3f84ffb9
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“It’s your birthday present this year.”bd7adce08908c051
Grandma Rollo handed 5aca7a878c over the basket ca6b213da9 with a gruff 7559ca39a8 tone. Sasha looked up quickly 24517536fa at the tall grandmother.989d00517e020deb
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“But I already got a birthday present.”4fe43a64ea228e57
“That was from your father. This one’s from me.”dd54c91493140155
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Don’t you want it? Fine then.Grandma Rollo furrowed her brows 4cdcfaa3a7 and tried to take back e1c8006b80 the basket. Startled, Sasha grabbed it desperately. She put the gift down 4bba76cc1b in her room and went dd9ed91ad1 downstairs to thank Grandma Rollo, aeba97b865 but found the living room ab3890dda6 empty—the grandmother had already gone b6fa6e3a89 for a walk on the edb7caa3e7 beach with Grandma Elodie.473e8ca50ae05a91
Back in her room, Sasha 7913ce97fb squeezed paint from the tubes 7df325dc7d onto the bookstand Enzo had 37a3b2c7f0 left for her study. The familiar smell of 0c265295dc paint brought to mind ea2a5e7df7 a poor painter addicted a960a73c04 to alcohol and morphine.1f0d9bc215e0aa65
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The man in her 07699c0e06 memories often cursed Sasha 141d24f1ad about the studio’s dirty 3273f1a97d floor and unclean brushes. She had to a483556084 stay alert or cba4a51493 risk getting hit 5ae6d0df62 by flying objects 0f07611eee or kicked out. That man was none 14018a16ef other than Sasha’s father.3584394129923167
The countless landscapes 1878fb9700 she’d seen on 784f56744b the last trip f1e2bc8c88 clamored in her efb7710ea1 mind, each demanding 23b6078da9 to be drawn 4787c82a78 first. After finishing her first 74c7122977 painting, Sasha showed it 7e82e37339 to Grandma Rollo right a4e29d880f away.79fedae848f711e0
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“How is it? Do you like it?”fc001460c92633a6
“…It’s amazing.”f285902e505cb0d6
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After a long silence, Grandma ec122b8752 Rollo finally gave a short 58540b7a01 compliment. Sasha felt proud when 2382686a6c her grandmother’s glasses, hanging 0672aa0878 by a chain, swung e0f20656b6 gently as she lifted 14586b3ab9 them to look more cff0aa6209 closely.34d2ee898c3f3740
“But who is that?”fb6d52510b97a7c9
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Following her grandmother’s pointed finger, d7d203ff44 Sasha’s gaze shifted to the 2babfda74a beautiful lakeside of Illemont depicted fd4da59c3c in the painting. There sat a boy 8971f1200d with black hair.fc096aba14d0553f
“That’s the Guyenne heir. He’s the duke’s son who cd4aea48f1 lives in the castle.”a3d9b83fecc5fee4
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Sasha hoped that even in 39b415fc2b the painting, he could see fd60df8c93 the training pond.6e619dfc6d7fc825
But I don’t e083c4c8c9 know what the 4c2843cf36 Guyenne heir looks 7e5c82e027 like… what should 81a9230b25 I do?3816b1c39cea7ed6
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Lost in thought, f8482a9235 Sasha recalled the 3403b1b212 boy she’d met 86c40fb621 last summer in 8d693a7fff the Manoli forest—the 673c66efec one who shared 46131c3c40 fruit, helped her ee98fd37bd with difficult homework, 89f122fd04 and saved her 3a62b39689 from the hunting 665edf54d1 dog.c4059e3466f433b1
For some reason, he came 26c1f6d265 to mind. Maybe because he was 47d4f2b3ff the only unfamiliar face 38baec32e2 she truly knew. Sasha used that boy 780de8db3a as her model and aa2ffd925b painted the Guyenne heir 81fa1d091b by the Illemont lakeside.ed622b5d5220dfe0
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When Mr. Binoche saw the painting, a0e81f81d2 he thought Sasha should 2f7e7b98c3 enter the Royal Art 41ff1389d0 Academy in Laurent. He submitted her work 843196f8d1 to a competition held 3a9ca02f81 by the academy, but 98b5b139f1 unsurprisingly, she didn’t place.0bb20bddd7278fed
“I’m okay with that. I never expected 4ac6907b79 to win anyway.”3cd46c3e3b49662f
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Though she didn’t get b65c155546 into the Royal Art 76327add7b Academy, Sasha wasn’t disappointed. There were plenty of joys 3298587bad besides painting. Above all, Sasha loved Manoli. She didn’t want to leave.35a3be127fbaffc8
The painting resurfaced as a eb5f0ef455 topic when the Royal Academy 2219cebccc sent a modest compensation letter. Stamped with the royal 40b019680d seal, the letter explained ad4ba4be08 that someone who had 0ba5154a93 attended the exhibition liked e381d129f9 Sasha’s painting and bought ab8b7f0400 it, so it couldn’t abd197a5ab be returned. Instead, they enclosed a payment.16bd3a9a4860301a
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Sasha happily went 972bb3183d to Bertrand’s—the only dd8b312ca4 art supply store 2db25f01f7 in Manoli—to buy e786598908 new paint. She was a little short 1724dfd5da on money for the ones 0b506ff425 she truly wanted, but she bb903561e5 sang as she rode her d4be1eb070 bicycle home.bcb2ff4c88bd4fab
Who could have bought my 16137576b4 painting at the Royal Academy 1c6b49f2cb exhibition? I didn’t even win f66426f9f9 an award, so why a0559223c0 buy mine?520d4b019c470a50
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Sasha pedaled hard, slicing 609fc61c58 through the refreshing breeze, 695f824a38 wondering if she could a2b7a11ada meet that person someday 16a53edbe6 and ask why they 4f80999435 liked her painting.5f3d0f0c836c10cb
At the top of e14eb7fa3e the hill, Sasha stopped 03c292c073 pedaling and coasted down 04bc2dd60f the slope with a 7420ebdf3e smile.0673fac006f8e1cd
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