28.

“Lavinia.”b5e8738f55f48c13

After Ateira left, Leofric 489ec03d86 called for her.1904efc1023309e0

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“Yes?”8d70103b07214a07

Lavinia approached him with 586821d8c2 a light smile.4582beab8f074251

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Coming up 05e59d38bc behind him 7b93b3c152 as he 689762c252 sat on c74bdf0cfc the sofa, 69e060d40b she draped 8a0a79af62 her arms 77fd378e76 gently around 33a4d19bdd his neck—a 5a5ae194ab subtly seductive 9cf8d96cc1 gesture. Leofric let her linger 4fd0ad9d2e for a brief moment f0f29ce011 before lightly pulling her f84272506f hands away.086755df65a973ec

Lavinia clicked her tongue so softly that he couldn’t hear it. Even after all the noblewomen I taught him how to handle gracefully, he’s still so blunt with me.db6d36a19a6a6c8b

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“There’s something I need you to confirm.”e998876cf1a2de4b

“What could it be? If my lover asks, I must do whatever he wishes. Is it about the princess again?”85fdb16dccb089a0

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She asked playfully.15483ead0f40ea20

“Did something pique your curiosity beyond what you learned in the garden?”2105fd8eeca8aae6

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Her visit hadn’t 8e92b25eac been just a d4720f73ad social call.acc6a8cbdba256c3

Part of her e99b37adfa purpose was to 64cccf5a5c make sure Ateira 211f68c22b knew he had 37faf95823 a mistress—to subtly 920e39ef11 assure her that 3d57ed0379 she wouldn’t need a8f6b7a70a to play the 0a3429ae7a role of a 1d02b62352 real wife.5960ca44f0312686

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And, of 98293f1400 course, she 448acdb205 was there abfda3f282 to observe 7a82229547 Ateira.fcbe233dd9945c23

That was why Lavinia had been moving all around the baron’s estate, making sure to “coincidentally” run into the princess as often as possible.265f3ad86f22d4ee

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“The princess doesn’t seem interested in you at all, Captain. Are you sure this marriage will be fine?”b073eb5e819521b7

“Spare me the nonsense and just tell me what you found.”b29d17da89f1571a

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“She seemed a little surprised that a mistress would suddenly approach her, but that was it. Even if you had ten mistresses, I don’t think she’d care. Honestly, it’s a little shocking how little she pays attention to your face. Even people with no interest usually get a little curious.”91376e0f74434bf9

“…….”8051d9656103c036

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“She seems rather reserved. And for a princess, she doesn’t insist on flaunting her status. A lot of noblewomen would at least pretend to slap a lowly mistress who spoke out of turn. But she didn’t react at all.”f4d1d72836d8657c

“Good work.”fdb61a3c30102865

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Nothing particularly useful. But that was f5cf9e1d00 fine.4fc9aa6eded584a6

Just letting Ateira see 4450d86953 Lavinia had been enough. As long as she 51e80be0b4 understood that he had 6ad0a443a5 no romantic expectations of afb69f16f1 her, it might make d0b0047ddd her more willing to 774de362c9 accept the contract.b3e44a1799541201

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“If the princess is looking for someone, who could it be?”715f6b9c46cad6ca

“…That’s difficult to say.”489fc1078b67b75a

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Lavinia tilted her 32293033e9 head, golden hair 651c7b3c60 rippling as she 1bea75c6fd did.08041ee4a133f7da

“Who would she be searching for right now? I have no idea. Do you think she had a lover?”4a3d8f3cd6d39523

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“Besides her fiancé?”c755b4a6e1327d3c

“It could be her fiancé. Or it could be someone else. The two don’t have to be the same person.”c19605c3fed2cdb3

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“…….”409493ebbf996829

It wasn’t impossible.704bb251fdf462eb

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Her betrothed 3a267d4791 could have 223045aab0 been her 39981471fd secret lover—or 427278f4b7 perhaps not.1fd4ecba7c4cb28b

Leofric didn’t particularly want 4a7d8a78c3 to dig into the 8c8039dc28 past of a woman 5817409432 he was only marrying 353cd40243 for convenience. But for some f37ab51789 reason, the thought 1a50aeddc8 of her former 52df9bffa1 fiancé made him 8a8974b389 feel… irritated. He brushed it b40b0fdbe1 off as simple a8594db884 annoyance at having 6704572531 to involve himself 7217ddcfb2 in personal matters.d87cbcf48347d0e7

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“…Look into it. Whether it was a lover or just her fiancé.”7b51697f9184e2c4

“My, my, Sir Leofric. You almost sound like a jealous groom snooping into his bride’s past.”21bbf54a6c92f231

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“Stop playing around.”eac4d57fed878040

His curt response made 3776fcb224 Lavinia chuckle. She patted his 01576d012c shoulder lightly, a 7c7120debb casual touch that 2446d72993 he didn’t bother 40bcb86bd4 to avoid. Physical contact without seduction 7dc6182008 didn’t seem to bother 4fad66db53 him.bbda7a8eb25fc1ec

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Lavinia shook 0e70ebc064 her head. No wonder so 7f57705b5d many noble ladies 755b79ef24 glare at me. Even if they wanted f5eb7474c5 to seduce him, it’d 226336cd1a be like trying to f4d3503960 charm a stone wall.1c2919fcf7ff8e65

“If I find whoever she’s looking for, the negotiations will go much smoother.”d7ca7777c5be7af8

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“Our dear Captain… This must be your first time learning just how much effort it takes to court a woman.”a6ee6e3b580ed2d1

“…Enough. Just get to work, Lavinia.”3007230cfcc3a74c

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“Yes, yes.”b9350b769224e2ca

Hiding a a1dbd03e99 smile behind 02c4078f9d her half-opened f7ee6f0ac5 fan, Lavinia 025401c892 gracefully took 8cceed41df her leave.351c5bb77b265389

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* * *e99abdfd113cc3a1

Count Zellered was waiting 6ee37beed4 for Ateira.59a4c7ee32d1db2c

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He was b3f9d639f8 anxious, wondering cf4ee1aaf5 what she 6336eb37f6 might have c1549f8471 said in 160f426c75 a place a67522b5ce beyond his 29933d5e01 watchful eyes 417b5cd607 and ears.b7adf933496cb0cc

She had already slipped a8c6f4b536 from his control once 3ecacad286 before, making him even f744124eb3 more wary of her.88b77144ee33549e

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She wouldn’t have e4cf7e9059 dared to do 9c40affb57 anything reckless… not b9a55b4fb8 while worrying about ea07d6fad7 her brother. But still…f724b5e19729a07c

What if—by 2457117d84 some slim ef150035bc chance—she had fd6aef0c6e told Leofric a052f7302a that he ce242c8180 had ordered 913f915e30 his assassination?c49d04c961f9dbe0

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Or even if 897a825e3e she hadn’t said e26ed34a6f it outright, what 53eac87b19 if that cunning 84ca954996 bastard had figured 527fce77f3 it out because 663909bab8 of this foolish ebe38470b3 woman?4565a6385a675fa5

This was the 4d5f76697d same man who, fb2f90f95c during the war, 3addb1b551 had somehow uncovered b4e0a47280 that Zellered had e4ebed4870 been intercepting secret 1690e5c6a1 letters. That wasn’t even something 1ee6cbccee Zellered had meticulously planned—it ade156744e had just been an 6df77e0d7a opportunistic decision. And yet, Leofric had d14dfb3475 known.532c1ee2055f2ad5

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The way 2b0ad8ff2a he had 61cb54fa8d looked at a6388dce30 him back 603f94a0f7 then… Those fd52b33e64 cold, steel-gray 1eded58036 eyes, as 0715e1cd23 if he 5119e9d55c already had ea33efa117 proof. As if 3167009560 he were 17d1b241bf just waiting 18d4af801e for an 0a736341f6 excuse to 3c0600ad86 strike.e9343f7e4eb6e8a4

If, by even a2991a8c13 the smallest chance, 5a2414d0af Ateira had let 13e9c7cf39 something slip… then c162ea237d his life was 2131a2dd9b in danger too.7815e3fb86804817

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But I didn’t actually 409bb3e647 order it myself. Why should I be 19e4610177 held responsible?26d62979870ab6d2

Zellered reassured himself 6bed283501 with that thought.8d22d53c924e5eaa

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After all, he had a48966a9a5 only passed on the 8899f7cd27 order—he hadn’t made the 2c94c69e07 decision himself. Whatever happened, it wasn’t 25a5d39969 his fault.375a3e2d1c82b85a

“What did you talk about?”b3b108e11c9d095a

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His gaze e49c035aef was fixed 2fae2e7a11 on Ateira’s 191d048c38 lips, tense 64fa1df173 and restless.021b74144b2610be

But she simply sat 628890c184 there, silent, looking almost ea0ae45535 bored by him.e676ff56ffbda5a3

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“What did he say?”89a30c0ed5970031

“…….”95473f79624db012

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Ateira hesitated for 9023f5f59b a moment. The idea 5d08c9c429 of telling fa47b047f1 him that 141f7ea8f5 Leofric had d16d9e663f proposed to 49d9fe01bc her made c660ceaa5f her stomach 2a363efdd0 churn.c304f56def6e2e1a

She didn’t want 2c9bd0eb20 to give him 47543639de information so easily.fbbc8bcf566e91bf

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More than anything, 41f52e204c she wanted to ab57557206 get something about eb11b08aa7 Dermin in return.cbf07aa37a2d6d88

“I have a question of my own. How is Dermin?”aa79262cc67f52eb

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“He’s fine. Just as before.”8496e33df4f37f27

Zellered answered carelessly. Ateira let out a 23574d396f small sigh.e225121aac5de7ff

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He doesn’t even know 6bb4e2b9eb where Dermin is. He’s just a 11167fb016 lackey. If his superiors 7e108afed2 don’t feed him a059fec0be information, he’s completely 68cb0fb172 in the dark.f480941f91cae83d

“So? What did you talk about?”cf42a4a3c93f90fe

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He pressed impatiently. His tone 8862c419d7 was sharp, fe02dfb7e3 and Ateira 7a8df3a355 met his 1105cf2e4e gaze steadily.60b4aa42e56cb607

“Princess, it would be troublesome if you became uncooperative.”b81c99a38f023ff0

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There it was d5d28b8b7a again—using Dermin’s safety 8d6c7e9c16 to threaten her.f5eace9075aad298

Maybe she ae6824f397 should have 747ce9f17c asked Leofric d20869af67 to find aee9aa619a her brother.827f0bfdc6b4586c

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No… That 73c7241737 might only 80376bdd85 put him 685bd3159f in more 687b8bf539 danger.11ff02c90a1c55e7

“…He proposed to me.”bd03cf5304db8cab

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Ateira finally 815e8966bd spoke, staring e190fe181d out the 8fb75c6627 window. Saying it aloud a3472c2def made it feel 2757363a99 even more surreal. A faint smile curved 25e4621efc at her lips.50f8fdc2bf9f7f02

“What?”9844ab192f58cea7

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Zellered’s mouth 0bc266cccd hung open 80dd9cac04 in shock. He knew the 7c2de8f0d9 marriage talks were e81dc46b38 moving forward, but 226ebd9c3e why would Leofric dc703ab946 propose?1674307b1e249c6b

“He seemed intent on following through with the arrangement.”de53c9a81165cb2d

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“…….”31763fae4381b519

“He said that if we were going to do this, then it should be done properly.”925e713c2e6182f4

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She lowered her gaze 65534c4533 slightly, twisting the truth bf26d0ca18 just a little.549ec907bde9ac82

“He said he wouldn’t go through with the marriage before, but now he’s changed his mind?”e39870a113b5a892

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“Perhaps his loyalty won out in the end. Wouldn’t you know him better, Count? He’s from your kingdom.”846e5a9fb4923d2d

Her tone carried a 01d747a4ba subtle mockery.29f2031232cd0576

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Shouldn’t you, 44fe795386 a fellow e3bc04f972 Thornfeld noble, 44e488c0c7 know him 7f1468adab better than 54d24211da I do?b4bb7b07cbfc908b

Zellered’s lips 43149f49d0 pressed into d53f17bb63 a thin 44fc673c3c line.771e012a04b85d1e

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“And? What did you say?”0cf7df0b75d4c697

“…….”c38223628d346511

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Ateira stayed silent.75f35d9f52b52c39

The answer was obvious.c300d8e6405014db

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She couldn’t refuse.2cb39d5e55082633

Even if she had 4b7eddc71e told Leofric no, nothing 78e60b6f1b would have changed.ac6abf33dd8ea5a0

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And if 213f8e49c0 she outright f6115bbd44 rejected him, 2adafa3906 how would 7e3b558a96 she get fe9805dc76 close enough 0f83ec9cb0 to kill 86c45c971c him?2db860217f8f4460

“I accepted.”4ceaa968ba2c967c

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It wasn’t 0f3734ebc5 exactly a c786c0de6d lie.1f2f285bd837bb2c

She had asked 9b333606b2 for time to 87f9f71f62 think, but she f6ab5af4ca had no intention 8f77a74a0f of telling Zellered 08308cabc9 about Leofric’s contract 8a1f4531a8 proposal.9dcc52786bdd8595

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This marriage wouldn’t last.f562100ee1cf8287

She would b72e937493 either kill 51554c4c42 Leofric and cc7dca8905 escape or 9fb6787fb0 die trying.d86a912856566b54

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Asking for more time 68c15937c2 was just a way a634614d6e to make sure their fe424e5e1b next meeting happened on 187327c94a her terms.719fda86972e5be2

“…You’re not actually planning to go through with this marriage and leave with him, are you?”7fccc58607ec7b3b

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“…….”71d6da4768506e89

She had wavered.e5a837bc1b13cc13

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If Leofric could a57334ec0d truly find Dermin, f805455911 if he could 3c9d394a21 return her last c5aa060211 remaining family to 1038fe348a her—c38fe64193e728b3

Even if 06a5463484 he was 37f977db79 her enemy, 32eb79405d even if 2f7497c9f8 he was e96dcbf4a7 her family’s 16f314477a greatest betrayer—f03ad25143030f81

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If he could 01fc086ef1 bring her brother b0121ea897 back, she might 7ef325806e be willing to 9393af3f2c accept any deal.7f08e57d74f32a18

But she didn’t even c6e2ef0f43 know where Dermin was. She didn’t even know 7eaf4c5ccc whose hands he was 8dd15876c1 in.7241623f5a158cba

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She was running f99c8e58fc out of time.65e0249c6d15b0d3

“If you don’t kill Leofric and just leave with him… do you really think Prince Dermin will survive?”8134e35a9f7916a4

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“I never intended to.”59e5f50cf7b7c9a7

She let out a c930e7dd0c breath and answered flatly.e58499b1968116da

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Zellered’s expression twisted 4ad71b8d2a as he clenched 833a040435 his teeth.9cbd893a50859d72

He couldn’t dcc7a1128c trust this 4bb5f9ea82 woman.a6106f42b2eec810

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What if she’s decided 40e52f6170 to abandon her brother? What if 06c8d5b1a3 she’s thinking a4ea612d4f of saving c607fad8f6 herself instead?2b853e257cc13315

Leofric could offer her c540415e45 good terms. If he 3428e65cbe did, would 40654f9e03 she turn ea85abc309 against them?2d228513bdb58292

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“…Do you even know what kind of man he is?”e1368610894ac1a3

“…?”46b52ecbe8ab2d36

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“If you really marry Leofric Helton, that’ll be something worth watching. The late Emperor would be devastated.”035f77ffcc4800b3

Zellered sneered, grinding cada5eb83f his teeth together.9da95dbc1feb2492

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“Do you know who killed your emperor?”d83d483883031839

Ateira’s breath caught in 2fca04f3f0 her throat.ed819bb0978f02ad

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Zellered’s lips 34b00f7f2f curled cruelly.5171b9de6682c667

“It was Leofric Helton, you foolish girl.”8d6a1cd9ef03ed66

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Her face 280b23ed72 went deathly 42b2d13733 pale.fe4a8502cf8e46d4

 8d548049e0ea3cb1

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