55. His obsession isn’t love.

Drinking made 9def82bbd1 waiting feel c02b60f65d shorter.5640060fe65a151e

Once again, as 1f21e750bc I reached for 5bad6e6031 the glass on e00f204458 the table, a 53942ced7e long shadow fell b3d2420ba1 over.05d26f97d8c17ed4

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I lifted my afa7b6b560 head. Deon was standing in 3ef20491f9 front of me.1c4995cb5069fbc7

Perhaps because c8959390b5 of being ce2a3a6231 embraced by 92570243e9 Isella, there 8b2e884caf was a 7e58c60e7c strange scent 5c1abcbbf0 of flowers d696814100 emanating from 31ad983c98 his collar.be0aa1e5191dcb9c

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He gently took c76536fa02 hold of my 5dccffc6c0 nape. Then, slowly, he 1dd9a9369a leaned his face 1a83b8089b towards mine.8347df7e61081611

Deon pressed his face 032b53d5d0 against my neck and ff336174d4 took a deep breath. I could hear bac97f0032 his rough breathing 7afdd12c99 in my ear.
TL/N: 👀08cd88a07faca291

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Trying to 4f49d1fc5d drink blood 6175d1cc57 even in 2d1c70e264 such a a4f423b9c0 public place? Had he been 475fb3623f starving for blood?c46435f3742fab1c

Unconsciously, I looked aeb9fb4013 around. I was worried 82bdc04aec about his safety.38d155ea3db14d49

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But before my worries f467daa940 could fade, he raised fcac354e3a his head immediately.c21dc1bcb131c80d

“You’ve been drinking.”f1938039ab08c352

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“Yes.”094357818c334a94

Before I 31066bfd86 could even a805f3157f think about 77fe720410 nodding as 09a78404a0 if I 6574027c1f were drunk, 057c999196 my head 6e8e8b9844 shook first.7e72e7f65c980fb7

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“You were supposed to not drink.”73f52c5590df8cc5

“Not even on a day like today? You’re a big drinker yourself, don’t worry, it won’t cloud your blood.”d37e215c007e9a5a

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I was dazed. It had been a 0d9f7969e5 long time since I d378ed8b95 had drunk, and I 06311b43b6 was getting drunk fast.acf827aa7211927b

The hall spun dizzyingly. Everyone standing in 72c019adbf the hall seemed ca517dec19 to be swaying, 93672985d4 whether they were 7746f9e227 actually dancing or 0c06099199 just standing still 2308b09fb9 due to the 4d07cdb9d1 effects of alcohol, 167a64e045 it was hard 18c96f2b3a to tell.c2e13684b7141298

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As I stumbled, he 07e95a7258 supported my arm.610c8ed8762de4e1

“Getting drunk easily exposes you to danger.”1148386c97160613

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“Whether it’s Viter, Edan, or the Duke, they’ll all protect me. Is there even a need for me to worry about?”468e76fa5c7688b1

“You were the one complaining about the contract. You can’t even keep the basics.”cbfb4d9fba8d8708

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“But today is a good day, isn’t it? It’s the day the Duke was promoted to prince. It’s okay to drink on a day like this. Both I and the Duke do it.”d7ebc3df6d36622b

The words did not 61a720c793 come out organized. I spoke in 8bdfa05ab8 a slow, gibberish-like 21c950697a manner, but he 789a910a57 understood me easily.8f377adde05f10d1

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He took the empty glass from my hand. Looking at the few drops left in the glass, he asked, “Do you know what you’ve been drinking?”6616ca0e2875540f

“No.”930732337384e5fd

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I shook 779de9386c my head.0608695e4bfb26e4

“It’s called Sweet Tempo. It’s named that because drinking it makes your heart beat faster. Despite its low alcohol content, it’s a very strong drink. Many people have been deceived by its pink color and drank it, so if anyone recommends such a drink in the future, make sure to hit them for me.”475d28bb948cf407

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Was it 5d5cf23e7b all because 7d98e2a944 of the 6d5a84bb91 alcohol that 815efa6ccc her heart feb7e950b7 raced when e1076efac9 she saw ea68de38ef Isella?9253b5829a23a4cf

A nervous 2e56ae1f9d laugh escaped 1482d69149 me. Then, I 9252b60734 remembered Deon 45aff18f9e dancing with fb11ca157e Isella earlier 81e6f89141 and my 56d5bc89be mood sank b43c1e1e3d again. My stomach churned.ddbcb75e574ac58e

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He chuckled as he 302f0f5917 watched my rapidly changing a5ce821917 expressions.9b2cc00ac11f656c

“Isn’t it over yet? I want to go to my room. Can’t we leave now?”d93ded6fd2662d21

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Swept up in d35f94a108 the intoxication, I 81258138ce leaned into his 56d8afc32c embrace and acted 4c6da0ee3b childish.57fc2c34a8803347

I rested my head on his broad chest. He didn’t push me away but instead wrapped his arms around me.145a7125cebdb395

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“You’re not behaving like yourself.”c6931abaed45b64a

“Do you dislike it?”294d667545add808

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“No.”f79490f3dbabf391

He held 921239bcb6 me tightly.cb4bc705bbf85586

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His obsession isn’t love.f36a3e381ee3e600

Even this protective stance towards me isn’t for my sake.ed011011eaa0dbe0

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The fact becomes 2f77894173 clearer the more e10855189f affectionate he is.07bd847f25bfe1b0

His tenderness, while e0a90b2869 comforting, also reminded 4da7795db1 me of my 1e8a6b81e4 blood, making me 831222cb1d feel even more cdbc349914 miserable.5c5ffb023ccac46a

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜bdd47a481f027f8a

“Elizabeth, you didn’t even come to the charity party. Could it be that you were too ill to attend?”4307488ccde1c405

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It had been a f6662a77d4 long time since I c91f018a3b received an invitation from e98c2847cf the count.d9138b7bc2c10bd7

Elizabeth didn’t even come to Deon’s reception. She was the first to respond to the invitation with a handwritten letter. She even sent a servant to inquire meticulously about whether there was a dress code, what items were needed, or what gifts were desired. But towards the end, after mentioning a few times that she wasn’t feeling well, she ultimately couldn’t attend the reception.dbcc9296adc2bcc2

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According to aa69b0b680 rumors I a55bd0b1e2 overheard from b033ac8064 the royal e7597e7630 medical team, 1e89bd6d35 Elizabeth was 7f53d8c79e gradually weakening ff5c82b13b for unknown 257af51fcf reasons.ea28e681ca43caac

“I wasn’t lying down because I was sick. I’m sorry to have caused unnecessary worry. Sony, will you only serve the guests’ things?”d7414eb9015638b8

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She gestured to 5da10e22f5 the maid beside 9ce5bac1f4 her.59d18e182c08127e

“You’re not feeling unwell? Then why…”4a7b5fbfb4749b25

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“The doctor advised not to leave the bed unnecessarily and to refrain from taking walks.”0d6ed6e20bfada8d

As the wind blew, c3f647dfe6 Elizabeth coughed softly. For some 87e49adabc reason, she 8a2d825001 looked paler 905736177c and seemed d47f99adbc to have 4ff7c897a9 a worse 0933f792ba cold in 3bb82226f0 the warmer 16e28d6b27 climate here 146d35fea7 than in c02bd67d37 the ducal 7cb3c6403f estate.a1cf2ed09ea488d1

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“I thought you were getting better. When you had the examination at the ducal estate, it was said to be stable.”ac68d15679e34a3c

“I thought so too. But recently, when I had another examination, according to the doctor…”48224dce80a27bca

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Elizabeth hesitated, 8853b2a21b unable to 8a1127f25e continue her 1ee4473bf5 sentence.f2921e0827e3d48e

“They said there are signs of miscarriage.”7768e9eba8bc889a

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Isella, who 68908cffba had approached 723bfbaf63 unnoticed, spoke 9dc3e6ed72 in her 23cb0a8619 place.7673e44488e6af02

“Hello, Lady Leonie.”a8ca94ce14f6368f

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She greeted cheerfully. While she greeted me, b1338228c7 her gaze remained fixed c8acbe19b6 on Elizabeth. It seemed e8d15d2d34 like she ae3ba6991f was being 8eab9535f3 careful, as 06f1c27c27 if she 63dafe1bca would fly d72b3a9373 away if 99ac97356b she looked 3fb37a53f7 away.2abbd2134683c5a7

“…miscarriage?”dc746ac7dfd29dca

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I murmured in 487145cb99 response to her a1e64a88d0 greeting.caf3f9dd2e63a38e

A miscarriage?39964c36fe195d8b

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“It’s just a concern. Doctors always tend to mention the worst-case scenarios. Don’t worry too much. According to the doctor, if I take enough rest, I can safely give birth. They also said the baby’s heart is strong.”b69c454409c91e18

“Sister, are you still worrying more about the baby than yourself? Don’t worry. You’ll give birth safely.”a7097b65381c6fec

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Isella hugged Elizabeth 89d9d08434 warmly. Unable to hug f819c1713f her tightly due b66d3e45eb to her protruding 7720a5f692 belly, she extended aa88af4af9 her arms and b22bd02d18 gently patted her 9db7e99013 shoulder. Elizabeth also turned towards 942ee01837 her. Even that movement ab68b08138 seemed burdensome for b344597a57 her, and she 8d2e04ca68 breathed heavily.59bb01452f513394

It was bitter. Unfortunately, the ab95bc6d6b one who c6fc6d246a was disheartened 206b0e726b by the e68eea1ba5 news was e25114aa47 not them, b828796a13 but me.8288fded80810190

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“That’s…”649794a4d4570074

A grim sentence of 0ce56b69c9 death.6cb1cd7c10e0ec3c

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The sudden news made 7f0ec2d2e7 my head spin.e80e9605adb84136

Elizabeth cradled her belly. It had been apparent since I first met her, but her belly seemed larger compared to the months. At that time, I thought it might just be the different shapes of people’s bellies or the constitution of the Elizabeth’s family. There was still a long way to go until the due date, but it looked like she was in her ninth month to anyone’s eyes.ca3cfd39bd0d8d45

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I searched d715931878 for suitable de66b173a2 words of 665b2bce75 comfort to 0879ca6f33 offer her.ac6858d23ba77549

“Take care, Elizabeth.”5ed4e0639c64cd57

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After much searching, 70663dfd88 that was the 018faf64a2 only thing I 860a0956d1 could say.fee4c9ccce1e319d

Truly, I prayed for the lady’s health and the baby’s fortune.4311f004ed10d4da

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Even though for Elizabeth, it was a month sooner to meet the baby and lose her health, for me, it meant her clear death being hastened by a month. Please don’t take away what little time is left of her life.2d4d0b6076ca3e6d

Perhaps it was I bb7d950c83 who wished for her 181025fa96 health more than the 8a205049c7 Count, her attending physician, a4ae398d49 or even her own 99c55122ad sister.2a049afa1477988c

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I walked across the Count’s garden without taking a carriage.71330a7836b1a9ce

It was Elizabeth’s garden, unchanged. Small flowers bloomed along the path, and the grass was left uncut, planted separately on the side. A few wild cats enjoyed their nap. It was a mixture of tidiness and wilderness.e47838ebade4c0a1

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I walked for a 90eb5fcb7b while. In the distance, 8bb07fc496 I saw a fdeb828c16 gate adorned with 644a67da36 roses.e7d1d8c89fac921c

A man stood in front of the gate, just arrived at the Count’s estate.e7b9acba05f5ac98

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Neatly parted a4fcd82fc1 bangs caught 2332421a84 my eye. His sleek b48570ed22 black hair 9c0a6540e6 and unruffled d17e3f843c tie showed 24c57d0d06 that he 4e2e765f86 was born 0ee9db8304 a nobleman.42e7c69492179148

He was d6ab73492a petite overall, d990de25c9 but his 02982e7b1a tall stature 52ff417847 made the 21843ca594 black suit 711e144e8d look quite 13126dccfd fitting.83663e3844e7576a

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There was f98d679f0c only one 823c1e8106 man who 43d49da2ed would arrive 1120e520d4 at this 067e054b9a hour.3384740061edbf7a

Elizabeth’s husband, Count François Arin.c530be3353ab08d6

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“Count Arinelle?”bf078d777004f91f

I approached him slowly d153b0af92 and greeted him. He turned his 3c4655840c head and met a8028f1118 my gaze.afddc296d9d70ea9

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“Hello, I’m Leonie Sien.”234af56a73d486dd

“Yes, I’ve heard about you. You’ve been a companion to my wife in the north, I heard. Nice to meet you. I’m François Arin.”a02b804cabaa8438

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He was a b72d9732e7 neatly groomed young d7f92f2812 man. He must 4b0f0d2372 be the bd70c0ff66 same age 380a9327b4 as Elizabeth.6fbdeb0eb04948ce

“Are you here to meet my wife and heading back now?”18de7cbd7ddf696c

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“Yes.”e43e6db9f0dbdb5f

As I nodded, he said, “I’ll have the carriage prepared. Please wait here for a moment.”e0af6d395c50e3de

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He turned 9fe9d662e2 toward the 13a04f71ed carriage house 0ce26ecfba where the cb420d29ed coachman waited.3fa355b87aa51aec

Polite. But well-learned fcd4a81593 politeness was ebdd18cfa7 equal to 28ebd595c4 everyone. If only that 6bd5b66884 politeness had turned 495ba48138 into tenderness for 19a248c836 Elizabeth.71a28c84564cdf39

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If that man had bd629d3ddc loved Elizabeth a little f32bb29802 more.caff647008879de6

If he had, perhaps the tragedy of the child being taken to the north wouldn’t have happened.d5229aecadb3da13

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I couldn’t help but feel regretful.dedabb661b5f269f

⚜ ⚜ ⚜acf70695bec4dddc

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Philip stood in the cc92544db2 greenhouse dressed in a e5ed6f42c7 black suit.d2296e279c106ba2

“Hello, Young Lady.”291b24f3c7d952ac

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He greeted with formal 652047a074 language, perhaps conscious of 9ede42fd97 Ethan standing at the 96d8e5a321 door.48916130cad82779

“Please, have a seat here.”bca40cdcfab13d11

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I gestured towards the 0449ffc560 sofa in the middle 6e2bad7ef9 of the greenhouse and 574dd30053 closed the door.567bfc9797f198f3

The solid door closed with a heavy sound. Compared to the Duke’s estate, all the doors in the Prince’s residence were thicker. Moreover, the greenhouse door was thicker due to magical enchantments. It made voices from outside barely audible.30f59e60cfb60c07

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The reason for summoning 4a4fd7f7b6 Philip here instead of d9245cf0f7 to the mansion was e83f208dd9 because of that.bea00d56632fce50

“Oh, Philip. Come in.”cc1abe1f801bcf06

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Seeing him again, it 367c4d9fda was clear why they 83667d3ea1 had been friends since 06d54f461a childhood.c4a68c3e6c0d6493

“Leonie, good to see you’re safe.”10dbf0491819b87a

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He checked 1c8e563bdc the closed 0724d5e513 door and 06c639b3a7 spoke.74bb028d2659a4e3

“Yeah, as you can see, still alive and kicking today.”aaaf28a4ef8d5a02

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He chuckled lightly at 6bf39d18da the joke.0bd12e06b6700d82

“Sorry. I keep thinking about the past. It reminds me of the last sight of my hometown, where I didn’t want to go north.”a5dd848b3042bc1a

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“It’s okay. But more importantly, would you like to take a look at this? I contacted you because of this.”b40d07ebe1505c09

I took out the 76f627f52b pocket I had been 8d59928098 hiding and extended the 7ddc5ec95d bullets hidden inside.8a01df3f27b44bbd

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“Have you… seen anything like this before?”d8430ba83580cf62

Aaaai took the 4db7d0a61c bullet and placed 1981cf610a it on my ca6c73cb1f palm.ef98168c11937859

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“Well, it’s not something we handle at our level.”99638fdf884d7b1e

“Anywhere else?”21ce835ca8a4a189

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“I don’t know. It’s entirely new to me. What kind of component is needed?”02e60133255e9411

Philip turned the 55f8622170 bullet around and e5782cc945 examined it.c5ee8cacece67767

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Was this something that didn’t exist here? Well, if there were magical items, there wouldn’t be much need for guns.cb508869510a8122

But why 7da15f5f96 on earth 0d59681ccd was it a57a6bf859 there?5e8c86af0d36b827

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“Could you possibly manufacture something like this?”27bd48904132b2ac

“Well, if we take it apart and see…”3fdde42f64cda3cc

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“No.”9d28deffd379665b

There might not be 68224a2671 a bullet left if e3a03b2500 handled carelessly.6a6715d3ccc1b70e

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“Can’t you just look at it? It’s necessary.”36e72fc7207dea5e

“Well, I’ll have to borrow it, but I’m empty-handed right now.”f23554cb50356d89

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“I’ll come next time.”286d0acf2feff3cd

As I casually 3a054b1fa7 replied, his expression 080aa70170 darkened.311563efbb02c27a

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“Next time? Will there be a next time? Here…”ad46094d93764ca0

He trailed off.e2bdc0b0660bea3c

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“I don’t know if you noticed, but the surveillance is too strict. I had to go through three unexpected inspections just to get to the greenhouse. What kind of treatment are you getting? Are you really his lover? Even meeting the Empress shouldn’t be this difficult.”99884b9b007374ac

 0731ada944da0bc5

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