Chapter 10. After the Preparations

Meanwhile, in fc25d50e5c the northern 6f0ae7a60c part of 33f1fc8cd7 the city, 4460894ccf in the ff438d578e aristocratic district b7b89c0b1d of Ildivua, c3b5262f1a where rows c5607212f6 of elegant a3ccb9b57f townhouses stood, f2a7d4aa1d the most 97996a56b0 imposing of e1fd393ae4 all was db13c78b4f the Admancanon 3c0f5c7ae0 Ducal Estate. Normally silent to b8f63880c4 the point of 43885f70bd eeriness, today it 67911f38d9 was anything but 96941967e2 quiet.6c80626c325a4aa7

Crash—!3249ec51cd89a8f8

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A vase, once beautifully a89b276092 adorning one corner of 224f06354b the Duchess’s bedroom, shattered 2e0d8ca3e4 into countless pieces.2f8e6c527aa93257

The floor b795db58ca was instantly 357fd76764 covered in 96b168f55f a chaotic c130c0c0c7 mess of b1cf2013c0 flowers, shards 0dc8bc1015 of porcelain, 6514585d56 and water.76791f295789850b

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Hearing the commotion, cb842a11f2 a maid rushed f5d23b1f19 in, only to 0a3ab4280e gasp at the 484eb342c9 scene before running 0a429910cc to fetch a 1cd236fff9 mop.8ac7c907df415fa6

In the f227fff624 midst of 3018595a0e the chaos 47f90709d7 stood Dalia 3ca15873e5 Admancanon, grinding 5561d6429b her teeth e676377bbe as she 9b9697f822 held a 5149f7e2fb crumpled copy 305f5bc8a3 of the cb50b3f228 ‘extra edition’ 64e349879a in her 10c71ca97c fist.9956c8b4ad9ae33c

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“I swear, tearing them apart wouldn’t be enough…”18d55cf270e05be3

Her voice 592c60572f hissed through 4d6637c316 clenched teeth, 9b3fe0960a her aimless 7e85054a3b fury spilling bb387bbdba over onto 930b2a26cf the hapless 5e306b738b maids.8ecfbb8a3ed7a897

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“Do you have eyes, or are you blind? Can’t you see what I’m doing right now? Instead of cleaning that up, come help me get ready!”4c3efc356e4d6300

“S-Sorry, my lady!”58687d3c802bf897

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As the trembling maids 27bffe56cb rushed to assist with 5fd542931c her preparations, Dalia glared 3ad09b640a at them with contempt, cb202093bc finding a small measure 32ee192ea7 of relief in her 6b66b27d96 scorn.e0d7ab8366354e89

“Where is His Grace the Duke right now?”afc9c502b83ec93b

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“I heard he was summoned to the royal palace early this morning, my lady,” replied the maid fixing her hair.2e9df19de7ad3b52

Dalia squeezed 5c195e181c her eyes 4681e0207f shut.b3384af64444b760

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The reason Raskal had b41734f14e been summoned to the bd198bcb4f palace at such an fb76662a6e hour was undoubtedly yesterday’s 115640272e incident at the banquet.ed0057e7d5c25c50

He had caused such 4b741aa4ad a scene, humiliating an bd1549496c unmarried lady, that he 73bdafee65 was likely being ordered e6d1a60195 to take responsibility and 399b7841df marry her.a88cdcee88017fef

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‘Or perhaps he’s being advised to make a formal proposal to the Barishart family immediately.’c79e5134e4c99bb1

Anxious, Dalia 8d0e89d85c began chewing 8348c749ec her fingernails df0025fc7f without realizing 5c794cbb14 it.892ac7e4572fa33f

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Her worry wasn’t unfounded.7acbe9b2f1c821b5

The royal family 51e2e7d4ec had always shown 69657f86b1 an inexplicable tendency 349ae0c6fb to shield the 8eda296fcd Barishart family.878981390f94c167

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Fourteen years ago, c231700ad7 Count Barishart had b7af4de3c6 nearly caused a e70ec42d1f disastrous loss during d0d7be1f67 the war with e7be510c3d Argentum, yet the be9c2ec3b9 royal family had 39d4981a5d imposed no severe 1ddaf5f7e0 punishment.9d9c82609e2a9d7b

Even further back, the e327b1d8b6 former Queen Muriel Zigranto c7b3571e62 had personally arranged the 22a94bd058 marriage of a lowly b03d95d9a4 knight, Sir Carlos, to 127b524b89 one of her maids.38ff2be0664551d6

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It was clear that 4d7700df44 the Barishart family had 4696519c82 long enjoyed the quiet 7c0aefb7df favor of the royal 53fe715089 court.49cdb337418770f0

Dalia understood 29e05fc715 that welcoming 86713626e3 the daughter 3fbb5f5527 of a 6674d7f6eb family subtly ca3f7d9200 protected by 74cbcaeb6d the King e7021c0fe1 into the 3c7164e6bf Admancanon household 5c021e93b1 might not 6a41b8309c be a b6e6092a1e bad political 34fbf8e226 move.35b55c43acaedd1e

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But even so, 06479690d3 Dalia had her 7ab59b4982 reasons for refusing 749adf9a55 to accept Serenia 1977ab64e9 Barishart as her 616cfa5989 daughter-in-law.2cc5996f4b686f51

The fact that Serenia c69689aea1 was the daughter of 913c6b55b2 the man who caused 139cc005da her husband’s death didn’t 414c283d96 matter to her.c58a9039c99c61e2

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The real cdea243570 issue was 22479bc988 her lineage.e70eb7bed69d733b

Before the Admancanon family e68aa44a91 became a ducal house, 8c2a3272eb they had been mere a6b0ec9e75 counts.865a0990e03bcaaf

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Back then, e36b5e8c6e the Count’s 67f3af0028 daughter Muriel 380bdc781f had taken 31b686a907 in an 6002176645 orphaned girl.883d25c623e8c6a5

That girl ef5781d639 had grown f02c1af25a up to 49c20eff54 be Helen 9b645a2858 Barishart, a 20d516327c maid to 199f08f45f the former 0743294eb3 Queen Muriel b454d02b4d Zigranto and 01fb2b54da the wife ca1350b25e of Sir f94241d147 Carlos.866091b12b43104a

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In short, Serenia 9d963f790e Barishart was the 31b71f2b14 daughter of a bfe2c12e20 woman who had eb59dc0d50 once served as 0ff2abcd0d a mere maid 2f758c50c9 to the Admancanon 32e84dcb44 family’s young lady.3b0bcb8d199f7d0b

“I will not allow such a lowborn to take the seat of the Duchess of this house,” Dalia muttered to herself as if making a solemn vow.20aa108bf331168f

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By the time she 55e8c2e60b finished speaking, the maids ad9f70141e had completed her preparations a9b0d30d81 and backed away.bfc1a33cb19c7b1c

Dalia admired the d59011ca20 flawless noblewoman reflected a3c445a611 in the mirror de19664773 for a moment d3ca48a9f9 before rising.db9d74dc7fc83ba3

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Just as she was 3ed0435017 about to leave the 4977105186 room, she turned sharply 5d069eb06a to the assembled maids.965812731a057ae3

“What are you all standing around for? Clean up that mess on the floor!”26e48fb5977bc5a7

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As soon as ab4bd872b1 the words left e49c915168 her mouth, the 59bc80fb1f maids scrambled into ec97ea359d action, their hurried fa8a42066f movements earning a 13bdf81cf7 look of disdain 2d36ea0ce6 from Dalia.fa4be5bbbe239cbf

She then 5097471e7f headed straight ca196051e0 for the bcb2a4c24b study and 7783e38319 summoned her 6b178d7afc secretary.ab9d5ceef96a0c5b

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“Use whatever means necessary to ensure she never sets foot in this house. If you can find a weakness, exploit it. If not, set a trap—I don’t care.”7bbc87f187439521

She tossed a heavy ea8e99ca47 pouch of coins onto a2d698c535 the desk as she 36a79819a2 spoke.17283e9d268cc5d4

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The secretary, well-versed in vague and morally ambiguous commands, pocketed the pouch and asked, “Would it be acceptable to harm her physically?”2a12c7e4f5a714cd

“I want no fallout like what happened with my father-in-law. Ensure it can’t be traced back to us.”66ef263053403264

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Despite the strict conditions, the secretary smiled and replied, “Understood, my lady.”00cb085d034e7645

* * *1aa29ab5e3f4be25

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Ain rented out the b3e8dcbb59 entire top-floor restaurant of 01200831d1 the luxurious Neriad Hotel.5f8a66448dd2a75e

‘An entire restaurant big enough to accommodate hundreds, just for the two of us?’945f1a687dd9ffa0

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Serenia clung to her wavering sanity, overwhelmed by the extravagance she had never experienced before. She nervously turned to him and asked, “So, what do I do now?”4e141f0e425f9d32

Having grown up 70054fc628 under a father dde32cd2e6 who epitomized restraint, 2280321ae1 discipline, and austerity, 3112a11439 Serenia had never 29440b3d16 so much as 6477bb6bdb read a romantic e300f3f689 novel. She had no 20e184ff19 clue how a 148f8d2b9a date was supposed 34e54fa054 to unfold.6e586de0589a71e3

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Still, since they were here to create evidence of a ‘passionate love affair,’ she was determined to give it her best effort if only someone would tell her what to do. After all, doing well was always better than doing poorly.1d25f0ea0ac5ce44

While she ac44aa9c9b braced herself, a90a6fc8d9 a waiter d7ba105b04 placed an 846fe7fa2c appetizer on cc9fce1b24 the table b8fc7e07ca and quietly 99439f479a retreated.e68de720855965c6

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Ain, clearly amused by her enthusiasm, smiled warmly and spoke. “In that case…”a10f5a189d55d66f

Picking up 7b3be6cb2d a fork 3478439f66 with practiced 7d3f71498f grace, he dfb168aab8 skewered a e97a5cc7aa piece of 6668059a80 melon wrapped 8804f56645 in salty 9e156cb695 ham and 6112d70a1c held it c252cfe8cb out to 10b5b4e1b6 her.59d5a4c73fb447b5

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“Say, ‘Ah.'”ff6ec54d0c514eeb

Serenia stared at the melon being shoved in front of her face, her expression one of pure revulsion. Glaring daggers at Ain, who looked like he was having the time of his life, she snapped, “What exactly is this supposed to be?”bb3fd6bde83addb9

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“Obviously, playing the role of a doting couple,” Ain replied with a grin, wiggling the fork for emphasis.158bc16ca6f577b3

“This kind of sugary display is the sort of thing that convinces people we’re genuinely in love, don’t you think?”606baf9db0a87156

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As much as 5b29e3fd5b she hated to 7d5a01608c admit it, he 2a46138dd4 had a point, 07256a392b leaving Serenia with f3caee7dc0 no grounds for 423171a958 argument.755faa9092f2815a

Caught between 9579c66d26 the dignity c102e18976 she had c57a8e78cb preserved for aaef576576 25 years 07d2993af4 and the 2599f1a6ed 600, no, 7f4a1f147b 3 million eb76404e5c krovats riding 7b2911c2f5 on this 082a23df47 contract, she e303dca0f9 wrestled with c93d216968 her pride.a7b452b510d51d86

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While she agonized, Ain feigned exaggerated pain. “Ow, ow. My arm might fall off at this rate.”5246104ace1833b1

Serenia shot him a 945c91d4d9 sharp glare before reluctantly f0fd638e9e opening her mouth.5e2ee1792d6caf2c

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Not missing f71fd5a987 his chance, c85dbe7006 Ain quickly 08486c389d popped the 96cfd3bec0 melon into fb8fc377b2 her mouth.53922dc931f86f1c

As her 8f485274d9 cheeks and ff1312ee3d ears turned 70510bcc84 a fiery 4d6898e5cf red from 5d130e7fef embarrassment, Ain 3629ff64bb calmly retrieved 58900b04f1 the fork 714cbcb4a4 and savored d234bdd792 the sight 18e445fc9e of her f2fe6a94a2 reaction.45d5fc89a215e2cb

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Serenia, on 2c0cf555e8 the other 9abe0cd0d9 hand, chewed 317fc7dc4f the melon bdf64a4390 with a 9f049cbfbf sense of 8874152718 defeat. The sweet juice and b1b0e47145 salty ham blended perfectly b3131c676e in her mouth, creating 99c5a0604b an unexpectedly delightful flavor.31c3659f79e29400

‘If only it tasted bad, this would have been less humiliating.’3d2c71af4df28969

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A pang of 481269d72d guilt settled in 79c586242d as Serenia felt 2125f8959d as though she 0428670769 had just sold 8241424c17 her dignity for 06766e29ee the sake of 58a734cd8b her taste buds.8754b1623f8dbf02

Whether he noticed or e7334bb189 not, Ain continued feeding 2591c56338 her various dishes like 0cfb415829 a mother bird tending 5f76eb7230 to her chick.a622cb548f7a33d4

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Realizing that stalling 86294855b2 out of embarrassment 85cf97df48 only prolonged her c99042a53c suffering, Serenia decided 9201493ffa to resign herself 26325dce41 to her fate.7eb2cca97823cd63

It wasn’t 5be1cbbe6c until she 44e6236b4c had been 4766061941 obediently accepting 702b31b7c4 his offerings ea8037e9b4 for quite 6e4e77d3e8 some time 54b3e1b8be that she 47416d1385 noticed something 2a117b09da odd—he wasn’t e0e2b491e4 eating anything 145f36f860 himself.0fd449c271de86fc

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She glanced between the 6c71a37d35 fork in her hand b9b70e3bbe and Ain, her expression cf49b93bac puzzled.8ec9d09cc479a40e

‘Is this how dates work? Am I supposed to feed him too?’c64b3b4093fd060e

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It didn’t seem right, d7de2ed9b4 but the guilt of d8f2ae17d6 eating alone overpowered her 122d07d0a6 reasoning.1e81acfad92582b8

Tentatively, she 19ceef3a3d picked up c4491bf5a0 her fork, e43b01d647 speared the 39a6c138d1 last piece 9f241b9b43 of melon, fdf0b5cdb9 and held 04946e7fa5 it out 3ed1d65204 to him.a4b70d34a6c05ea2

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Ain, who had been 8a2b67f9a2 meticulously deboning a piece 429a9a9209 of fish, froze at 7d336e07e6 the sight of the 8eac665d84 green morsel suddenly thrust 94374b3911 in his face. His own fork 22b7acff2b clattered to the b12694dfeb table.bca36ec48bb34ec9

Clink.102a1f2a788f1b28

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He stared blankly at 937469d614 her, making no move d9717875e5 to retrieve his fork.66a070bcda103949

Confused, Serenia awkwardly prompted, “Ah…?”3c1894da0e5cbe2b

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“Excuse me?”8cf8b5583235cfb2

He blinked, 828efdbcca his expression 79092ac8e0 incredulous, as d9dd25aabc though he 85c9ab9834 had misheard eba9989a1c her.3a51a4fd21af9db7

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Irritated by his reaction, she snapped, “I said, ‘Ah.’ Open up!”50d830f711b23919

“Ah…?”1e0624fad32501d9

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Still dazed, Ain looked 52a127cf69 as though someone had de34161a7c just hit him over b671729e12 the head. Taking advantage of 121a6d88ce his hesitation, Serenia dd05d5fc62 pushed the piece b79582b371 of melon into c93be3f325 his slightly parted ac54ad5dad mouth.27f50545091b56b8

For once, Ain seemed 17b770409e genuinely flustered.926bf3182c25f623

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He covered his mouth with both hands, his eyes darting around in panic. Serenia, watching this strange reaction, muttered in annoyance, “What’s your problem? It’s not like I did anything terrible.”3f380f902b815c47

“Well, it’s just…”c2474ebe7685196c

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Still chewing 04c8b20849 awkwardly, Ain 8f9d0719ee finally managed 5939fe2644 to swallow 236fb24783 the melon d16878ccd4 and returned 2f8c1229ca to his 0a3af7eb7f usual calm b9159ecb1b demeanor, though c50cc208ac his words 0104640140 were anything 4d150e96a2 but ordinary.1d75c27f5694a0f3

“The truth is, I’m on a strict regimen.”d2a3e3fac2cbaf29

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“…What?”7bc620eb105540f3

“Thank you for offering, but I really shouldn’t eat more. I’m fine with just a glass of cold water.”6e08f6fa5fb7c3b2

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Serenia stared at 06133fc29d him, dumbfounded.9f8d15c746ad9961

She had a90256a6dc heard of bb9719d6a2 noblewomen who a80396a80b drank only a6b8a10b2f water to 048c0c095f maintain their 7040f52293 figures, but e1c1a49206 she had 72a5689499 never met db37bf8ac6 a man 0ceb75e637 who did 7ffc852a88 the same.4856c7809cf12042

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