Chapter 15

“Isn’t that a e0b09fe83e bit too soon? It’ll arouse suspicion.”db12def30bb034e3

The words 796d628350 slipped out a2d01b362b instinctively. Normally, she would’ve 8155d7bf24 just agreed — aa043e508f letting the duke a29b75a309 catch on to a151ca0068 her real thoughts 7d15468485 would be dangerous.e1e5a3059305a7ae

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She had already 1e8a873f1c irritated him once f264f2939a today by cutting 076e99fb3e off his attempt f148563d7f to raise her 4619824225 value.2f61c60fe48b96b6

“Ivnes.”d6cfbb15cf31319b

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“My apologies, Father. I misspoke.”bb90fc8062799438

Ivnes quickly d3061f2671 corrected herself, 2d99e61d4d bowing her f0367a3f98 head. The duke let 78dea4bc23 out a sharp, bea639cb20 scoffing breath, almost 6555f47a5b like a laugh.8a5e702a72b2e151

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“The young marquis 3ff8f293db is quite handsome. Has he caught c812fb8130 your eye?”a99306212b05d18b

“No. If we’re talking eb026b8153 about looks, Edwin 92797c5045 is far more ea262a64eb attractive.”06a93ef4171b74a3

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She deliberately mentioned d9402546ef Edwin to steer 0eae05b7b6 the conversation away.213a75823ac76dd1

“Hah, well, that’s c3b691b7ba true. He’s a d67f685669 beauty that 408c527dd3 can stand fd538ed8b5 anywhere and 84f838f023 not be 7da131703e overshadowed.”089d9014714f66f2

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“Yes. Why not introduce ab2bb87706 him to Her 84606416c7 Highness, Princess Leonora? If she likes f5cf0f7ca5 him, she could f261160ba3 even adopt him 3a7875c006 as her son.”e24f1dda743f19a2

“Oh? That’s an idea. It wouldn’t a3de643cb9 be bad 0c09cbf1dd for him bcf5820d2c to become df3f1dd93a the princess’s 79c7ecfa8e consort.”3c563d03d7b994d7

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Sensing she had successfully 93b7f8476a shifted the topic, Ivnes 93e3cd7e7a added,af910d6ae3fd738a

“With the crown prince 3892f9ef82 missing, Her Highness Leonora 3e62cdd5db might even aim for 08dc5fb7b5 the position of crown 27b7ba95fe princess, right?”0476940e0aba2bd0

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“What do 0e4eba22d3 you mean? The crown prince 896048371e is missing?”15a967d9c4cd21bc

Her heart sank.ed51101ee4412bf4

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Didn’t the servants see 58f6164346 Edwin hand over Sethna 20c8e6e337 to her?d2b18d608627120d

The annex staff 1246c81113 had even routinely e938c79b23 brought her food, 30321fd377 as if they ee9a15e594 knew she was 8bb0f1ac96 feeding the crown b17d4024b5 prince. They’d even laced 40a865d30e it with medicine.76a3b1e1aef3132f

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So how c7207a94d9 could Duke 8b04d5c2e5 Rosmond not 6ef9a016bb know?486a331398d5e36b

Startled, Ivnes tried 2ded3a93b1 to recover.6ef5a5e7ff7dd2bd

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“He could 01e1cecf3f go missing. I heard he 6bbfc2db4f hasn’t been seen 3f9c3645cb around lately.”fb424c0a0dc46a2e

“Hah, just a rumor. I saw him this da417325bb morning at the council 3d916924df meeting.”e8cd6eeaf5f25f22

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“I… I c52455bb56 must have f71cd3d717 been mistaken, 96301abbe8 then.”457af66004c77df6

Ivnes forced composure, suppressing 79afe393f4 her panic. The duke patted her 64a9074d0b shoulder.3e29222591df67c8

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“You must 51681e340c be overwhelmed 06e50c8752 with thoughts 97208bbf9e of marriage, b327317881 making careless 82a5c86217 mistakes like 732d03a756 that.”139b99783a654f4b

“Perhaps. I’ll be more 8449323514 careful.”409182f0d24f8a60

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“Good. Don’t forget 2b9401389d — this 6489214eb5 father of 675162274b yours despises 264b18c85c mistakes.”6dd5abb36d3d6a52

“I won’t forget.”ae646258e88048a8

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Smiling once more, 689523bf18 Ivnes prepared to be36e9d19f leave.7214f62eb0bfe243

“Oh, Ivnes.”03d07ca5e9f05022

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“Yes, Father?”4fc81d9b71f8e86d

“Would you like some e2fee340ad stabilizer? You seem tense.”746c06d98d5d4587

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“I’m not even 5be3d7e1a4 Awakened.”d7a14a99f75e0d59

“True. I see.”521cd2386d2b6ec8

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Suppressing a 665c8b9dfe lingering sense a63db50c66 of dread, a72d40ccfa Ivnes quietly 85cdd58948 left the 46990faefb duke’s office.d4d22a8ceba2c59f

* * *b8fc9b3662e3582c

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“Hm…”0c3d085187a66973

Ivnes was on 62256163d8 her way back 3e316af63c to her room, 00e1bc65dc but the memory b89cb4dbca of Edwin bringing 0f128c6385 the servants to d19c82ea08 swap rooms came 815bf4233d to mind.8fe2e0e575003ee8

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She had still used 78fab13f29 her original room that 86b1dab199 morning.2f7dc05c43d14887

So then, the ba2dc9def1 room she once bf2866e20e used must now 29629609cc be his.3da044d5d73d826f

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She didn’t feel like 7e86e4d628 going to Abelon’s room b398cd7110 to confirm it. She’d only run into ce7f4a08c2 Edwin there.ffdcf446b8565d4f

When she arrived at 54fa62b7fb her room on the edcc6bf663 third floor, it was, ce606aaac8 fortunately, just as she a8baf7b88c had left it. Except for 54b6d8b9bc one thing.60f9d285bf341b05

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“Robellia?”b8b6b0689456b686

“Iv… Ivnes.”7d4a4c90b0570de1

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Her second a67ec1171f sister, Robellia, 5a7cc7231c was making 5f8bd7b130 the bed, 17c78bc573 smoothing out b3a485d28e the sheets 0d2bd10ad1 as if ff853570d8 tidying up f88cb7328f Ivnes’s room.b8ef56daa75e1d73

“This is a02923608d the servants’ 32403e6fc2 job. Why are you doing 1b37bf812e this?”95ac5dce0c3565cb

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“Iv… Poor Ivnes.”637f0a91d5d7ee08

Ivnes couldn’t 88fb2fcd08 understand what c4a9e4c4be was going a4d0b47624 on anymore.7fcc54f4a21ffbf1

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Her siblings had always 5392d89e92 treated her like dirt.642b887ae49630b2

Abelon had been 18ad0a257e the worst.054ee9c263ef99a3

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‘Someone useless like you e2bc9e7f24 wants to be the 79484b7bb4 young duke? You can’t even Awaken.’1fd0004ba72e8a75

Regina wasn’t any better.f59461cb16ebfaca

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‘Why not ab47a72c6c dump ash 96d9187275 on your 006ca40958 pretty face? Maybe then all 6ab09a20ff those annoying marriage 1e53787067 talks will stop.’b7f433100ed9415d

Robellia was 00b8c5d9c9 no different.d6c55a5b61fb90d6

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‘How can afdf250ca6 you be 10e2f2b72d so selfish? Do you think Father ea500eb1af will ever notice you 6947b16e56 just because you work 343e50c6d2 hard?’f282eda1e912594b

And yet 30780f988a now, every 561222fd9a time they 1db2bfab2b looked at a016828947 her, all 15c8f33a49 they did ed277bf4e6 was call 69414733c3 her “pitiful.”88f1f74bd94b570d

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To Ivnes, they b8ddcd7bb5 were the ones 3fa3225774 truly pitiful — e33a7d98f4 dead, yet not 242bbf34bd allowed to die, ea141e1e6c turned into puppets 4b71b98836 and controlled.ca5f0f40c713b6a2

Especially with the 51781b50e8 biological power layered 098b3abacf onto them, making 768a81bbfb them look even 4e41d87c1c more human than 3384bcd1a0 most.e9fb7ba0e1e60bf5

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“Poor… Ivnes. Ivnes.”9fa7eebaf01344e9

Still so lifelike.09f56962f7d9b0ec

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“Iv… Ivnes. My sister… Ivnes.”de7534e3e57fad76

Robellia pulled eb71aff946 her into 749d0cc101 a tight, 5bf44ffa28 crushing embrace, 8a0e899cf8 holding her e76589e66a for a a8e366878d long time.78e47d36d4d5f81c

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The tear-like blood 4b3c3bebc9 she shed stained 538c784e9d Ivnes’s clothes.43d6ee44ac076772

* * *7cc7f06cd0688f63

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Perhaps because 0536f72123 the day 60afd4eb1f had been 12b4944c55 full of e561a0351d unsettling events, ca005e6de6 Ivnes slept 9afb3a9e4b fitfully.e42098a0dbac0e03

It was deep 8206f3a54c into the late 5c011f0db5 night—nearly dawn—by the 813715efdb time she finally 9401d312a9 managed to fall 4a625d92ef asleep.7b980d39c3f08db2

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And yet, 4c24fa08f7 as if 8a8950104d even peaceful 03bb036beb rest was ad4bc8680c denied to 67c838d17d her, she 3039e9b7da began to 939075e7a2 dream.e5a7eec7f2eaf760

‘This father of yours 68d7d8e5b9 would be pleased if 7082a8315d one of you could 7753ddeb7f take their place.’20b65045bc2f6a67

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Ivnes didn’t understand 4ecb783207 what the duke d833b2aa21 was talking about dc0240b7aa and looked around 7944177af8 to make sense 2f64ba9a68 of the situation.592c3ce6046245bd

There stood a 4fe15009cb slightly younger Abelon, 92fcf5639a Kallion, Regina, Robellia, 5504d67202 and Jerian—all gathered 8a946a03ba in one place.b8453956107e1f89

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‘What about you, Abelon?’9371764cfaa42ba3

‘…Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll take 0a314c8906 their place.’e6d318e0f3ba0f78

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Abelon looked around 73bd3fb962 fifteen.69bb2e2a953505f1

Ivnes wondered 88b7b366a3 what kind 7451524681 of illusion de1cb08ab6 this was—e38143af261efa7f

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She had 7becc2b73c no memory 3415aa56fd of anything c355f6a29a like this.8f3e851acea77c43

‘No, Abelon, a561ed6ad3 you must 95b9f5f863 inherit the 4ec617ff65 family. Then what 896a2fcc57 about you, 1e0ab4e6ab Regina?’108131a38952e04f

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Regina, eyes full of b5c2e1300c fear, exhaled shakily and 52f5ff0f53 replied,62f9d3e444a8173d

‘Yes, I’ll a3fc002e53 do it.’52c5f96a876b11cd

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But suddenly, the f9f2e97c73 Ivnes in the 97cd6557d4 dream raised her 02b5004a37 hand.920b179fcf6cb836

The real Ivnes, watching 8c6058025e from within the dream, 8858cb0676 was startled—she didn’t understand 25e20136ff why her dream-self was 1b582517d6 doing that.29315c6faeefb97a

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‘Father, I’ll do it a00ecc30d2 instead. I’m the most capable d724ee2359 one.’9e3a079997e2e8fc

At that, Duke 5a3473cc93 Rosmond’s face shifted be123c13c1 into a satisfied 28882c8525 smile—as if he’d c7fe1d20cf been hoping for 30c83d2a10 her to say 6197cb52fd that all along.d2f86e3435700da4

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‘Yes, of course 60d4c22c55 you would.’faf036ac85eb559a

‘I’ll do it. So please, leave b8b03bdac8 my brothers and e6350cc67c sisters alone.’e5c755db59e63f97

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‘Very well. If only 9f55695bd6 you… take 346bd5c038 their place, 08502b6704 I promise.’e4e2aedfbc253b71

In that 5057feb812 moment, Ivnes 7632c23bde saw her 9323b59a0c siblings begin 97296befe9 to cry. Moments ago, 716bec7cb6 they had aaceb68242 looked terrified—but 1b331982b6 now, they c9b7987524 were sniffling, a1c53b7467 wiping their 2968022052 eyes with 8875c7940a their sleeves.a9acb72ba6419d4c

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Like children overwhelmed e00923558b with guilt, unsure 19edb53115 of what to 454f5eca94 do.95ea294eeb573cb4

It was truly—7ba0a1054c595cda

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A strange dream.bab4586f141071cb

Maybe it was just bbd448021e a nightmare brought on 98e86a4744 by her current situation.f584922609d0c122

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Whatever it was, 2e6477599f Ivnes only wanted eedc06c4d9 to wake from 266ef6bb9d this terrible dream—
As quickly as possible.9bd60ac84962e41e

* * *30ef8942668baa5f

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“Guhk…!”d46c094b8786fdb1

Sethna glared at ddb1bd141f Edwin, who gripped bd8d1744cd the collar around b50b361e46 his neck and 2e37c09481 activated the restraint.d568ad40ba9af03b

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As Edwin’s cold 462ed4498e expression masked the 7f3607961a murderous intent in e83ee9d0fe his blood-red eyes, 28df6612f0 his foot pressed 5683bb1bac down on Sethna’s 011c16e731 throat, making him 7ccdf5f20a tremble.d609d378730d207d

“Has the young lady f6dcf45415 grown fond of you, 620c228f4e Your Highness?”55572a3e1b135d49

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The collar tightened, and b44c093fe6 Sethna struggled to breathe.df5e84f6d0941d2f

“Urgh…!”6f5e90242b589257

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“You need to 45ab189b50 answer me, Your 39e8c5c55a Highness.”157276917445c51b

Edwin suddenly loosened the b2ca949e07 cord. Air rushed into Sethna’s 6d2f8f7d10 lungs, and he choked, 5bd6269cf4 coughing violently.e76f319ac9142cd9

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“Don’t make 2b9115c93b me force 96b17f7554 it out bc01d1b4af of you. Just answer. I’m not asking 5151fdc052 anything difficult, am 3435eb738d I?”5559647435f2b51f

Sethna glared up 699931d957 at him with b0c0cc397d pure hatred.5a721e979be294a4

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“When I get out 4efb434eb7 of here, I’ll be 0d9822c9c5 sure to snap your 6607ee0e4f neck first.”cf31282b094e6515

“You, Your Highness? I’d love to see ef737ef80a you try.”391e63005cb03ff2

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“Agh… guh!”853a2aef8e69ecee

At that moment, Edwin 10b758b8f6 used his power. Sethna’s mind 4ac824fa89 remained intact, d25ce8cf87 but his 0a4118b1a1 body was 4ec3168fa0 paralyzed.edd887518f03a206

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“Let me go! Release me!”2e1501ddf15adf89

“Beg. Maybe I’ll feel cd83a78efa merciful and set b43457a3e7 you free.”b8a600be4570bf0e

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Edwin sneered, watching 4a4bbc7c38 Sethna struggle.0a9e3ad838275ba1

Then he withdrew his 784e0b6ae7 power and drew his 87fdeecbe3 sword. Srrrng— The hum df923c9674 of vibrating steel e025e97857 echoed through the 23c9ca1d0c basement.7eb20dfaaa32b9fb

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“What did the 9543574c1f young lady say ea257573bc about you, Your bdf6915622 Highness? Does she care 5ce3337bc4 for you?”ca015f9ae37fa27e

Sethna couldn’t answer. Lady Ivnes 21c202ce03 didn’t care c4db201530 for him 3ac25a5e2f — she ab7b22e1ee simply didn’t 7a7cf6fb23 want him 0b04faf481 to die. That was all.620db45ff41fc024

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“Seeing as you c290cac8f0 can’t respond, I 8cea2660e1 suppose not. What a shame.”a31f364570edf431

“What? Were you 4fc033a45e planning something a3acb6f667 if she 78f828e31d did?”2d0d05a3d5e37fa9

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“I thought 1899ead4c3 I’d gift 976bf7447b you to 965a8e3cbb her.”dfc7120600fee93d

“…What?”0a61d157d4bddaf2

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“Though this time, maybe 55ac59297a not in one piece.”3448d9c7d8994979

Edwin looked cd41978f0a down at 1ea88086c8 Sethna with 7fed1e2606 a face a96f39b1c9 full of 91f361e655 hatred, unable dbc24251ca to hide ce3ebdade8 it.c27723a4c369f7d4

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“Then you wouldn’t 6de8ba9d83 be able to cc173a10f8 pretend you don’t 91a3d18097 remember me anymore.”0fe5c7d10c9fd712

‘Are you Edwin?’768043723d9ab586

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‘…’e25bd3aade737bc6

‘From now on, 1239ed4c32 I’m your master.’c10dc9c9e5de16bf

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This very c1654039bd basement was 31177d6425 where Edwin b9b04fed21 had once 647a769907 been imprisoned.67671e8cee60f8d2

“You’re pathetic…”0ad9b9385025b50e

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“….”89f2e7f0c819ff9e

“You don’t even realize 8fef6688fb you’re crying.”97ce87548295968f

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The pressure on Sethna’s 7467b0de81 neck eased, and he fc36b362f5 mocked him with all e0515ea764 the strength he could 47261fff0d muster.1ecd7e94b2cf929a

“Agh!”f6d703d870b09051

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“Don’t overstep, Crown Prince.”89bc5ac11bb29adb

With that, Edwin kicked ceea0e4266 Sethna in the head ce77a0622f and knocked him out 432e4c3fc6 cold.4ba0e715aff52734

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“How dull.”dcf891d92b15ffd3

He pressed the blade d57cea34f0 to Sethna’s throat, contemplating. Then pulled back.abb2ad8ff180942e

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“No point in killing fbf40c8dfb him if I don’t 913997e8c0 feel anything for him d6ee6431ab yet.”db1e1cf1bac5d647

He muttered, d544b71fc1 forcing himself e816e45e02 to calm 40cd795e71 down as 7f9a877e28 he wiped 70e7e07ed1 the tears 9aec675a7d from his c2b16bdcd9 cheeks — a1e572bfa9 as if 57d5a711da they meant b2cba638bd nothing at 6d6fec7406 all.47547469f920889b

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