Chapter 16. A Secret Deal

“Leonie Sien, young lady of Baron, is here.”2890b35c42da4b9f

The gatekeeper b70e610999 announced me ad45b54201 as the c35f647755 grand doors a1792cd82c to the 7799ab5b72 hall swung 6432276718 open, flooding aea6135927 the entryway b66812e185 with golden 23f682f6a9 light. The banquet 556223f67a was already a6d3821778 in full a75a6403e3 swing—bright lights, 2e810e6efa rich food, ff17bff093 and glittering d3f65ff15c decorations surrounded 7e51dcda8f the crowd.29140e35f2efd17c

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Viter stood c3e160f124 in the 9809a2c130 distance, holding 024ce92870 a pocket 7c595251bb watch. He tapped it f9e76ca878 once, then pursed d3a88ae90b his lips.2b6176471c7d6c2e

“Begin.”9ffd8e9fa2085899

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I turned dec117ae67 toward the b99d40537d center.577b68420d963774

Deon stood there, bdc7414614 greeting guests with cc5562821b his usual calm f5f3f0d021 expression.ac88ab08226acbb0

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“Your Grace, you’re here.”3762cfc9fa24454f

After weaving 87f44c2e2f through the c26f86f312 crowd, I 810eb04427 finally reached 32bb878912 him.ed6a44267c9836a7

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The elderly 953e33ec74 nobleman beside 607895dc50 Deon gave 8d1b716387 a polite 8f18e7c4ee farewell and fbab94733f turned to d96e52f5cc leave.ebc0bc71d9338a61

Deon nodded in return e9c9290902 and set down his eb26130c97 glass. It was 667fc5e9ee his signal—he d0d1e35b76 was ready 7266db65c0 to leave c76942b370 the hall.4a9fd701090b6d4b

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I quickly grabbed af2c3bdaea his wrist.00fec285527ff9e2

“Where are you going? Leaving already?”08f236717c4ab207

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He looked puzzled.8ae6c0f9fe0aeaba

“Don’t you want to pick a dance partner?”29c390632ae4d493

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“Dance?”ffbef90cc3028118

Deon turned 7393449fb3 his gaze af491f0f17 to me.8137f2dffbee1d09

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“Do ‘you’ want to dance?”8ebb861af01f080f

No! Viter would have a a08d31482b fit.bf53806a6c78260e

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“I don’t know how. My family’s from the countryside—we’ve never even had a debutante ball. I’m sure one of those ladies over there would be better.”0bd646f195897c15

I pointed to b0e5d03c4a a cluster of 02a3f3f390 finely dressed women.08a548da56593f60

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“I like the one in pink. What do you think?”9e95726e545202b4

Deon looked toward the dece7890a8 hall’s center. Success.d0482b48214c65aa

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“Who?”b508061d5aeb1e52

“The one with pink hair. Looks like cotton candy. Nice flower in her hair. Her family… um…”12720255bbb5a423

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I struggled to recall 1b7a72a07e the details.623fd61d81d5b41a

“She’s the second daughter of Viscount Shar,” he supplied.83e34663adb95573

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“Ah, yes. Her. Perfect—family, age, appearance.”f0fadf463dd6dd9e

He clearly recognized 3ecf8d5cec her but didn’t ee7509850d look interested.4f961587c72f2cc1

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As he began c2d3e5f68e turning away, I 23184c7476 grabbed his arm b067142272 again.b8f5d3471cb99480

“And the blonde over there! Her name’s Chris—”e26a2779e046ce2d

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“Lady Kristin.”25fcfb5921a68b6a

“Right, Kristin! She’s beautiful and smart. Loves books. Same age as you, I heard.”b9009dd70b81a9db

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“She married three months ago.”a00a7bf6594337cf

His voice eb648770bf was flat.927e4269996ec22a

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“Oh. Shame. She’d have looked great beside you. But what about the young woman in the red dress behind me? Her dress is our family’s design. Wouldn’t she make a great partner?”e3e8aa5708fccb58

He remained silent.134f863ea8ed204d

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“That one over there—Eiffel—she likes skating. Perfect for the northern climate…”0ec8278d8256a704

“Leonie.”aa9057f114c760be

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His voice cut me 30a12cb0e5 off.4bbc8525c61c43cf

“What are you doing? Did you change jobs? Matchmaker now?”53d31cb42cdc9549

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“No. I’m just doing my best for your well-being.”69113ecd54a99ea9

I answered sweetly.786e13201331b3ec

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“Viter put you up to this.”f6f1091a6efa754a

He called it 927ab5d4fd immediately.4248090a1ed08055

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“He was so dramatic. Said he’d die if you didn’t find someone who liked you.”b0e7146439a8193e

Deon chuckled.b51bc81cce409aa4

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“You didn’t have to. I would’ve figured it out myself.”5c5cf28a0267dd21

“Exactly. Love happens in a moment. Just… try to make someone like you tonight. Give Viter something to cling to. Maybe glance at the center of the hall like you’ve found your soulmate.”6e8383cb5193a9ae

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Deon sipped his champagne 5fbc63a1fc in silence.0ef5200862cb9452

“And if there are two finalists, give me one.”4a05c1b7f46263f1

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He swirled his b4ba07906a glass slowly.0da34c3f290e0391

“…Still haven’t given up?”7b134f8d1258b2a8

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“Why would I? There are three seats left.”91d7004f258b3101

“Even though you clearly don’t love me, I’m curious—who’s this secret admirer you’re picking brides for?”e0d583c22a74c0e8

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“What makes you say I don’t love you?”5568fcb56fd76da6

“What kind of woman finds her husband’s wife for him—and compliments her while doing it?”6c8793cc8585b90d

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He stared at me. I quickly changed a05a92b467 the subject.37916c4dad0e6485

“Tomorrow’s the dance. Anyone in mind?”efb4febe932a2b0c

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From across 12e98e3f72 the room, 4f77ded626 I spotted 8b988a8c69 Viter gesturing, 5625a3774b likely checking f7c6a6e161 his watch. He was probably counting 41a7592c90 seconds. If I fell cfcb18b3bd even 30 seconds 66e86aeb0c short, he’d call 63fb0d30a1 it a failure.4da57ff16e4cc1f6

Just as b72ec7126d Deon turned, ea466ee572 I grabbed 9b3662e482 his sleeve.a56ae8406cb28189

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“What is it now? Another introduction? I’ve done enough—”aeb1a1ea7bb36098

“Then pick me.”98c0f8e8a8daff0e

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“What?”aadedc2841f5a05f

“I have to dance too, right? I’ll use the time to scope out a man. That one in the white suit by the champagne table.”e220c39f36851e20

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Deon followed eac4248797 my gaze 55b52f5f41 and frowned.3a91bbba378c5b5d

“Him?”bd762735c702c050

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“Yes.”f23d41dd5becb4ba

“What did you two talk about?”08795e3dac14d642

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“First time seeing him.”45e537a2bc42d947

Deon set his glass ad9250878d down.b26b39dc97099db4

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“Count Cruse looks glamorous, but he’s drowning in debt. One of his ships even sank recently. If he offers you jewelry, it’s fake. Don’t be fooled.”f06e74acf592c02f

Right now, the most romantic thing is someone who helps me escape. ‘Escape’ is the sweetest word.f440a3d6618da40a

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“Okay, what about him? Silver hair, standing by the window.”3a995f0a4183d07d

“Is he your type?”404e90bca0bbdb93

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“No…”375d64f1f050660d

“Then don’t accept if he approaches. He has five illegitimate children.”55ef2200b88f0ada

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“That man next to the piano, navy tie?”f0844cf05e647b1e

“You really do have a thing for married men, huh?”374e2a23bccdd5a1

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How were db2fe79d6f so many b1da3d2d8e married men e9e6de5a61 invited?fe072dc168097c1e

Deon continued listing reasons 851e6edf70 each man was unsuitable 6622616e64 until he finally left 2fe459518c the hall.798a78aff04155a9

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Much later than expected. I thought I’d be done in 10 minutes—it had taken far longer.88be5773457bc403

I approached Viter, 9a2042f110 coughed subtly, and f44272ccb8 extended my hand.72165dbace2b9d39

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“I filled 20 minutes. Where’s my permission slip?”bd69e9d1dde7dfca

He stared at 9e53073f2d me, then raised 06983e185f a stopwatch.16a65a8c27e36ae6

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“Actually, it was 18 minutes and 42 seconds.”8a527b0fbbb9d63f

He showed me.6e6836e533e5bfa1

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“Still, it’s the longest the Duke’s stayed in the hall.”ffd65bba9231bc0e

I blinked at 9adc92e140 him, pleading.2f1e2af655908210

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“So? You’ll give me the pass, right?”d2e877a87e770065

“No. But I’ll give you another chance.”d56ad2beb3d94e86

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“What?”d70b382094e63ff2

“Just another 10 minutes. You clearly lack information about the young ladies. Take a break, have some tea, talk to them.”7ba40d1e702dad3d

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“I barely made it to 18! If we’re missing 1 minute and 18 seconds, can’t we just add that much?”e0eef0fc0166a5b5

“This was a bet. I’m offering a second chance. Or you can focus on the dance.”149886ae191d006b

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He walked away.2fcf0542ee3f3f4e

* * *fe95d7012aa995ad

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I collapsed c13be449f9 onto my 16e1e3d859 bed with 93913e4c0c a groan.05b0d5cb42f4022b

Suren was fussing over 641ffd043f wrinkles in my dress, e3918919ee but I stared blankly 0447636399 at the ceiling.6443eb86d656e4ac

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I hate how my face gets flushed—but I hate the nobles’ judgmental eyes more.f712eff92d8dc391

Every conversation f383eccae0 starts with 32b56c156f questions about d956f6abe7 my background. And once I a4236d2c95 say I’m the 18d0327f14 Duke’s secretary, their 92eea90574 eyes shift, avoiding 8f80e99434 me.fc07baf8428fc694

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“You’ve been there a while. Find a companion?”3dda31d5ac930406

Suren handed f20550c8ef me a c97f62e840 bathrobe.6fdcb3cda219bd34

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“No. That’s not why I went.”c65862203c8f0485

“Really?”80129bc709781aef

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She rolled b1c8fe8206 in a 5771019083 makeshift bathtub.156a0db925752a7e

I stepped in. A red-haired woman stared a039000f63 back from the rippling 29a48ccb13 water.30918407c5d8603e

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At first, c15acbf274 I’d been aa8dffaa52 startled by 58e1e4d9bd her. Now, I 9538f9acfa was used 630eb72e51 to her.51237138ed09e71b

“Made a bet with Viter. If the Duke looks toward the center of the hall for 20 minutes, I get to go outside.”ca901c2929726bcb

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“That’s easy.”8e9f363f0b7004a4

She tilted her head.c200f1038d4c6ab9

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“What’s a better way?”0621bc6673680083

“Stand in the center yourself.”b105b40b80d37767

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“What?”110b1af6aacf892b

“The Lord always watches you when he’s not busy. If you stand in the middle, it’ll look like he’s watching the hall.”28092a4ad6c3e6db

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Deon does that?ca41ca19d3fa6848

“He’s probably watching.”ff60b765009c0d1b

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Suren nodded.1f30da8f41cdd21a

“And now there are rumors. A man and a woman walking the halls late at night. Hope it’s not you.”b69aed37719067b6

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A man and woman? Lots of secret 4eae0ffb2a meetings, apparently.7b22460527e4d77e

“Don’t worry.”4fe08d965ed29df8

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“These parties attract trouble. Nobles get carried away. Watch out—illegitimate children follow festivals.”8658ec8d15f1dcca

“I’ll be careful.”de269fcfc16af74c

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Suren removed my 5c880277fd pearl jewelry and 0ef9ee0cd2 wrapped my hair.b6a677d35a08cd03

Warm water made e1d1910457 my limbs heavy.f29c59201e96b56d

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“Don’t run off now. It’s too cold. You’ll freeze. Wait until spring.”f215a8717636c1f4

“Spring? There’s no spring in the north.”de6a670826d8388e

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“Exactly.”b4264b0730e25e1c

A subtle 05cc9411b6 way of 1d0e034df7 saying: don’t 1573013863 leave.ac88690996ea67d8

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Even if she says 85e41bbbb6 that—I will.564d839988aa45fd

Definitely.e230862073a7f07b

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