Layana
Stories
7
Chapters
115
Words
191.8 K
Comments
12
Reading
15 h, 58 m
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Chapter 10. A Tale of What-Ifs The quiet of the room was broken only by the soft splashing of water. Slowly, I peeled off my soaking wet, clingy clothes and reached for a solid bar of ivory soap, working it into a lather. It had no particularly pleasant scent—luxury soaps probably existed, but they clearly hadn’t made their way to the general public yet. As I scrubbed my skin, my thoughts drifted back to <Bitten by a Mad Dog>, replaying the story in my mind. A hundred years ago, the fall…-
43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 7. The Lullaby of the Wind The pale blue air of early dawn cloaked the village like a bride's veil, shrouding it in mystery. Mist pooled in the hollowed basin of the valley, which the villagers called the Winter Queen's breath. If that were true, then was the dew clinging to the crackling leaves her tears? Nexiard brushed the "tears" from his shoulders and suddenly thought of ‘that woman’. The one who had crumbled like a half-melted snowman, tears streaking her cheeks. On her ghostly pale…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 6. Let’s Go, Lady Nexiard devoured the food as if determined to deplete what little provisions we had. Smoked venison reeking of firewood, sugar-soaked apples, and half-rotten cabbage vanished in an instant. It was as if he wanted to flaunt his vitality through his voracious appetite. Watching him eat so savagely made it almost uncomfortable to even look at him. As expected, Mr. Kimber’s clothes were too small for Nexiard. Though their heights were surprisingly similar, the fabric stretched…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 27. The Notorious Freshman The central staircase leading to the attic was a spiral, illuminated by golden sunlight streaming through a wall of windows. Spring had arrived. In the gardens outside, lilac trees bloomed in soft shades of lavender, their fragrance almost teasingly wafting up as if it might somehow reach even here. I paused on the landing, taking a moment to steady my breath and absorb the view of the Academy’s garden. A white cabbage butterfly fluttered aimlessly through the…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 25. For the Princess With the Marquis of Ivelucia’s sponsorship secured, the Marchioness offered me a room in their estate so I could focus on my studies. “We’ve always provided accommodations for protégés without a suitable residence. Please don’t feel burdened by it,” she explained. Though living in the mansion until my admission to the Academy wasn’t part of my original plan, it was too good an offer to decline. Thankfully, I had not yet formally arranged for housing, so her…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 24. A Win-Win I smiled inwardly. Finally, the game I had been setting up was in motion. “You mean the formula,” I said. “Yes. Name your price,” the Marquis replied. “No, I cannot sell the formula,” I responded firmly. A furrow appeared on the Marquis’s brow. A young person he had taken a liking to was now acting like a shrewd merchant, and he felt disappointed. However, I had no intention of haggling with him. The Marquis stroked his beard thoughtfully, his voice…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 23. A Mother’s Legacy That evening was much like any other. Despite eating a light, easily digestible meal, the Marquis of Ivelucia still felt bloated and uncomfortable. He hadn’t touched his favorite alcohol in years. Instead, he spent his time in the small study attached to their shared bedroom, reviewing manuscripts. Sunk into a deep green armchair the color of crushed leaves, the Marquis diligently marked up the pages in front of him. His red-inked pen slashed through sentences…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 22. Alone Winter was nearing its end. The coldest days had passed, and people exchanged pleasantries while talking about the approaching spring. The Marchioness of Ivelucia carefully stepped down from her carriage, feeling a faint pang of guilt for visiting Rooney Orphanage after such a long absence. Of course, she had a reason for her infrequent visits—she had slipped on ice earlier in the season, twisting her ankle. This had confined her to her estate throughout the winter. Enduring…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 21. Another Purpose The employee from Livre Bookstore guided me to the Arabek Appraisal House. The appraisal house had undergone a transformation. It seemed Yona had been inspired by Livre’s festive year-end decorations. White elephant mobiles no bigger than a fist and golden ribbons now adorned the high ceiling, making it resemble a sky filled with shooting stars. As I stood dazed, gazing up at the transformed space, I was gently nudged toward the elevator I had used during my last…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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Chapter 20. The Scoundrel A few days after Neumonte Acarlipto stole Mine Molière’s lips, he sent her a bouquet and a bottle of perfume as a gift. While Mine, enchanted by the heady scent, fluttered with excitement, two women met their misfortune. The maid who had delivered the script to Mine developed a severe skin condition, her face pockmarked beyond recognition. Meanwhile, the maid serving Princess Agnès died after her tongue swelled from an allergic reaction, blocking her airway and…
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43.6 K • Ongoing
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