91. Calm Threats

He sighed briefly and 2cbec4d90b leaned back in his 92122f8876 chair, but his gaze 30ae60447b remained icy.25b32ccbd4d68d67

Facing Deon, a304c80fdf I could 3340b739d9 read the 16c1770171 narrow furrow e7e5383aae between his 513c9904a7 brows.b791d4191c270c7f

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A frivolous woman. One who indulges 02c483aa29 in vanity and 4e41aeefea wastefulness, constantly plotting 09d460a5e8 ways to escape 7d744911f6 him.5964c345253f713c

His cold eyes seemed b8991311b5 to accuse me of 55071ff563 all these things.fc1ff8240f3f8c39

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“Alright. If you say so, then it must be true… Bring it.”25d545f7940bc383

Instead of 304d389bd2 interrogating me b653d91f51 further, he 4e68732d78 gestured to a8b59d109b the attendant 3d2819e251 behind him.534daefbc4093c65

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The man, 44cacba3cd who had 8edd240859 been holding df56bd0602 a long 18582f3cd1 black box, 97b60f8ceb approached the 543666788e table.e41620a3cebfa6dd

Soon, the long box bf9c37f4a4 was placed on the 9953d6aa5b table. The attendant 5ada87fe11 positioned it 57c3cbdf80 in front bd8ef75a60 of me 800a1023fc and made a99e0a17b0 it easy 4e30381a01 to open.149f104bedd352bf

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It was a sophisticated package. The ribbon was tied in a way that would easily come undone with a pull, but I hesitated to do so. I couldn’t bring myself to put my hand on the box. Deon gave me a look that urged me to open it.f0d4d3039901d2c7

“You’ll find what you want inside.”335889c87dd5d7a3

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What I want? The only thing d7f6e56779 that came to 42e1279ed2 mind was money 95c86ff2bf to help the f744924682 servants.7877c13d90fa7373

But it 9c999ada0f was unlikely fa0796ae3f that money 043a055cab was inside e9f9a64636 this long 38916510b2 box.8afaf1a955888e50

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With a 71c0e3e6f4 wary glance, 75973514e5 I pulled 73db0e8f21 the ribbon. The silk blue 8f9423ace8 ribbon unraveled smoothly.224275629a73baa3

I lifted the lid 01a1603daf of the box.e2b9b491baacdb78

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Inside was something I had once desperately wanted, but now I fervently wished it wasn’t there.240e7983e09d7da0

A neatly folded dress. It was a plain 16069ddbb6 black dress, but small 6ea1a8657a jewels adorned the bodice, 0482ef2bbf making it sparkle beautifully.c9ace9c13358d9da

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“Luckily, your excuse was a dress.”e68509d5d5dc2ec6

Now, as he said, be42654132 I had no more 790963fc12 excuses. I hesitated 1c38331251 to speak, b6d64b1246 fumbling for bf4bdd6362 words as 91a7c335d3 he stood f48bb953e6 up.8af70550b9954a3a

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“It’s late. We need to leave now to reach the palace in time.”bb432916ae64f294

If we’re late, he can just find a new partner. There were plenty of women who wanted to be by his side.11be0817ec1c1d33

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“Did you ask Miss Isella for her consent? No fiancée would tolerate her partner attending with another woman.”5cd275b789e2dc69

I was 7e5433c155 desperate to 6529fac63c avoid going 452218dd05 to the 4689f8a90f royal palace 68f1c9c765 with him. There would b4d413e744 be countless 2e45a4ab09 nobles, grand 9bb7ab3e14 music, and f87acebbc9 glittering jewels, 43d94418d6 all praising d3b89ef4ff his grandeur.a5c7e89479a70b33

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And among them b9837a753f would be Isella. I did not 380c7d3bf5 want to face 0f0821bc2b her.7407451a9719ab59

“Besides, the invitations have already been sent out. If I go, I won’t even be an official attendee.”2fdb0a02e9099d98

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“That’s not something you need to worry about.”d721cf993c3eb3b7

He replied calmly.f8d9df513eecc8cd

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“I don’t need Miss Snowa’s permission.”98bee29b3249cb6f

“Why?”02d7fe10e68da7a9

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“Because you won’t be attending as my partner. You’ll be there as my guest.”e6b560e3353104f2

His words 8196009bb6 made my 712fc3bfee heart drop.7d6a32d84b0de608

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“So there’s no need for you to dance.”8795e565c2b071c1

I didn’t hear his next words.3ba3e56b80c7c802

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“You mean… you just want me to be there as a guest?”50f25a48600cdef8

He didn’t respond. His serene demeanor, usually a trait I found admirable, now only fueled my anger. I felt a wave of nausea.30e4b42d5d7e0a6d

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“Your Highness.”dc9ee86b481317a7

I ground 4533754968 my teeth. Curses slipped through aaaebfe268 my tightly clenched 72ea6baed8 jaw.81e9cf32e79ec11b

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“Do you take me for a fool?”f4d886a719875388

I closed 4aee7f04eb the lid cdba167935 of the 158c0ef861 box containing 018abfde7d the dress 9f5225b487 and lowered 1e25ef2230 my voice d265909f67 to address 26375e9b0d him.7f581ae20e7dc3ac

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“Have you become so immersed in your performance? Did you really believe that because I treated you warmly and you played the role of a loving partner, it made it real?”917f3028a304894e

His hand, which was 7dc2a02680 adjusting his tie, paused.7a17ded23d2c21e1

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“Do you truly think… I was your former lover?”fe7610c200e01c47

Do you think 50e6cf5c79 I have no e1c6f8c077 pride? When I go 2c1af9fc21 to the capital, e12509ee3a who knows what 9e512b358e people will say. His invitation held 0e57416bb6 not a single f5232875fa ounce of consideration d371af2f20 for me.b82d72251e05d41a

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Even if it reveals 482b3dfcf7 my flaws, I still b91030bd24 feel the humiliation.a0cdf96673d2f3c6

My body trembled. I barely managed b20ebc030e to steady my c90d4f87fb shaking hands by ac5c9ea912 clasping them together.c1e22d0e95c35448

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“You are trash. Do you know that?”63965f537b174090

Harsh words 2919fce5a1 slipped out a88c547af0 from between 7fd7ef77f2 my lips. It was 10e8d50ca6 a vulgar c437570220 accusation, but e66fb9c0dd I had e7330249df no other 7b03537fc2 words.cf8c69f24025fa3c

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“Do you realize this is disrespectful to both me and Lady Isella? And I am not your mistress, nor your plaything.”939873bd47ac0044

I was not ba99a1e146 his lover. The gentle touch I 1de1d1ba92 once thought was mine 1335e1519a never belonged to me.954a8377e3d33172

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Every word I uttered a70c85f513 stabbed at my own 89addc28ca heart. It felt 950ac56e80 as if f554d14ec3 I was 24063af164 driving a b4930b7822 dagger into 8de3de4455 my own f4002766cc belly.484a1cd5dd041ae3

I knew these words would wound me more deeply than they would him, yet I couldn’t stop.1b806f3c222bb32c

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“I clearly told you in the North that I would decide my place. Why are you trying to control me?”2e63e26ba89df26d

I wanted to scream at him to leave the mansion immediately, but it wasn’t mine. Even this rundown house belonged to him.96c6681e686f4103

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I took a deep 4f487791ee breath and continued.8fdab9359a78e709

“Even if you gave me money when you brought me here, I am not your possession. I still have the right to decide my place.”ed7c0086dc07bd8e

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I bit b1b1254411 my lip 3398c41efd and finally 831d5c78a4 let out 34aa3317f3 the words 102fcc5183 I had 3c280983c3 been holding f5180de886 back.04d4cf5f961943cc

As the harsh a971d16577 words spilled out, f00384bc75 I saw a c591d9b319 flicker of emotion 654b8ea419 in his eyes. He stood still, as b91920eb82 if he had forgotten 6c4ddda878 to breathe. But that was all.a2c7e4987c55a8e7

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“Have you finished speaking?”77a5fa298df1a6a3

He asked calmly.9230ed1774137a8e

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“Now that you’ve let it all out, let’s get going.”02eab0fe8bf98f4e

He resumed tying his tie with steady hands. If his jacket and pants hadn’t been wrinkle-free, it would have been hard to believe he had been waiting so long.acdd9287d24accf9

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He calmly 183d0888bd adjusted his 64d4561905 clothes and 4d7582b445 then extended 19742e3c91 his hand 84d6c3e1b3 to me.894e2ed27fff30f4

I was the one f1f27d7fdc who had harshly rebuked 58366e8bbd him, yet I seemed 5fa67f2774 to be the angrier f3081911cb one.ce4068ec6d911fe9

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He was waiting for 4d1edda10f me to calm down 31635389b6 and then intended to db4878282d take me to the a9c66a1a06 carriage.92621fabe395c4cd

I stared at 964939c7c8 his hand. It was white and 2a7e460536 smooth, despite having wielded 453e5fe331 a sword in battles. I brushed his 82b3157393 hand aside and 6e99b097c4 stood up.432c777e04dd4251

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If I didn’t go willingly, he would force me.6a0306c656d44754

“Let me ask you one thing. Is there a particular reason I must attend this banquet?”97c400e9095a5bfa

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The rumors had already 65453b33e7 spread. Was he planning 471d74e737 to announce his 006c3a3079 union with the 1d8f7edef5 Snowa family and 43631564e6 officially disband his f49c74b05f mistress to solidify 48c744ec7e his authority? If the purpose 9885f1e40b was to humiliate 027084f83d me, it would 4c68d71bde be easier to 8d6107323a know in advance.f34ceae5481fba55

“If I go to the capital, will I stay in the prince’s domain and leave this mansion?”03ca2885dc6453b9

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“No.”1cd81b80b4e1aa1c

For once, he responded 1b316c0db0 quickly, not avoiding my 939d8f07fd question.67f2fe98faf62c93

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“It has nothing to do with the banquet.”4dd6290efd3a860a

He continued to look 3cfc520ba1 at me steadily.6f95c1f6b5694822

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“You’ll stay here until everything is over.”ca4384737354fe54

“What situation are you talking about?”0e3deee08c4e4a33

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“You don’t need to know.”324e4d3438e76a3d

A bitter laugh escaped 9cfba877c3 my lips. Even here, e105610ecd he sought 459fb7c3cf to exclude 7bbcab19c7 me from 017296eb71 whatever plans 1c8c266822 he had.34864924f7b241fe

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He wanted me 1b932026d8 to wear a 31f82ed847 dress he chose, 84aa226f91 attend a party b817a9f74c he wanted, and b03d169638 stand there like 07554cc611 a borrowed decoration db5a2155ef until it was f0fec1be19 time for me 40d4890411 to leave. For how long?8634fba970eb308a

At that 9a3440115c moment, the 32368fdac6 front gate c9853c6328 of the bbea4148e1 mansion swung 82cd25ef73 open.55b43e3e17f089fd

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“The carriage is ready outside.”4261c9dad3cf38ca

The boy, looking nervous, b4fd9e307d hurried in and spoke 7c5d03f1c4 to Deon before rushing 56c21728e5 back to open the 5d0aa657e9 gates wide. The night wind swept 8d62a10c9f in, swirling my dress c89df1ad46 around me.a1f9c0431d6a339d

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A large 6544cec751 royal carriage 07c6422f9e stood imposingly 108cb883e4 outside. Its grandeur 38f64d0da9 and magnificence 31078ac956 were intimidating.ea00549d7c6c44bb

I hadn’t even agreed to get in yet.872089dd5bd35c0e

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The boy opened 115f74e05a the carriage door. It seemed 20343d735d like a f0e171b1c3 calculated move e93ab5c8f9 to eliminate a18f82e34d any hesitation.b348d1d3beafabef

They must have thought that by sending the carriage, I would reluctantly comply. But I wasn’t going to give in so easily.fbd4481b3cc4c90c

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I clutched the hem aae4e1c063 of my dress.f06c7ca1fca56d05

“I told you, I’m not going.”1a6e1fc90d5a97c2

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I made 4a063a98c5 my stance 1863684ef3 clear by d393d4484d holding onto 0a48b41ea4 the dress.f4b17c35568ce5d7

I stood 51ac98207e straight, determined dc44559601 not to cb3098f2bc move even f3389cbc1b a single a8038d8b15 step.1f82e88001caf548

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At that moment, I wasn’t afraid of the fierce glare he directed at me. I felt confident that I wouldn’t tremble even if he drew a sword.ea1d1f60099e1207

He looked at me 33f1fc3f41 slowly and then spoke.cb22ae1155cec689

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“It would be better for you to come. Unless you want to kill yourself.”45e2feb3919dcde5

Unless I wanted to kill myself? I couldn’t understand what he meant.61301172574fc65a

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Did he think 885f12d624 threatening my life 4d31c950f2 would work?a3830009ebe9f1f4

“Do I have anything left to be responsible for?”2f712524725defae

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What kind of game 1a443f22bd was this? Suren was here, d20d1f3865 and there was 61d7635e46 no one in dea8b42d1f the mansion who 15660dc65c was on my 5e0f7056c0 side.280119e89e37e59d

Despite my sharp words, 9f9653a63a he remained calm.6f9700c22dcef5bb

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Deon leaned 5de3dae7b6 against the dd0980e1a2 wall, crossing 7da0a8c6c0 his arms. He spoke slowly, as 269d55abc5 if he had an d99263bede irresistible offer.486d5068d6dc08ac

“Your bird hasn’t been eating.”2511a22474929a6c

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I jerked my head de788b147e up.0014f057969478c6

“What?”85d91ab34e453a53

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I replayed 778446fc45 his words 1cb6aa8432 in my 733c843029 mind, dumbfounded, 33d65541c1 until I 4749775c1b suddenly realized cda265c398 the gravity 85105cf1aa of his 52b17536a1 statement.9b9eec1d06a9f01f

I had shown my surprise too easily. If I wanted to stand firm, I shouldn’t have shown any reaction, no matter what he said.acc9b7272b7b6ae6

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Fortunately, his face didn’t show a triumphant expression. He merely looked down at me, waiting for a response.2dfc21ebad833f11

“Why?”d05869683db1da0e

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I tried to keep d572221af1 my voice steady, despite 1fe2698290 my trembling lips.780faa9ec0c3720f

“I’m not sure. Maybe because its owner isn’t there. It’s been sickly, not eating. The palace does feel quite desolate.”7f58237f98e437a1

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“Really?”b1c29e196945bc57

As I tried to 075ab8cbfc hide my agitation, he 1178236062 repeated himself.50819a912862df65

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“It’s starving.”89d50149c552ac18

“That’s no longer my concern.”b62cfaab937f87d0

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“Is that so?”9b584f96a58bc43b

As I remained silent, 7b14772834 he leaned closer.6ead2c1cc77c67ab

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“Is it really none of your concern?”d65df2f9ebf80674

His face drew 1c7746c6a3 nearer.5b8698ebe710822d

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His face was cast in shadow. I hadn’t noticed from a distance, but up close, he looked weary.94c8cab4a553dd19

It was late. Even someone as 62bee7b565 resilient as him 285184a596 would be tired eca9dea3ad from waiting and eac7124e1c trying to persuade 1cd3d303d1 me.fecc69e98aaa1538

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A lot had happened 4ca5e3f812 in the capital in f56f6f24c8 a short time. He might 413c2032f7 not have 7d233eb31e realized, but 75392d54de I could 7afc895702 tell from 14985ca7d6 his haggard e71c864afa appearance that 7029d26cb8 he was d0fd3eed7c exhausted.16d004cf6e0c83bf

As he approached suddenly, d2b21cc33e I took a step d4824f333e back.1ab3c8dc1c7d9e2b

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“Leonie, are you going to abandon your bird?”05997943447e7dda

Deon, scrutinizing my bc1c4131a9 expressionless face, clicked 5215da7514 his tongue.b60d92a29d710bd6

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“Poor thing. Abandoned by its owner.”d1dcf6dfaef96c67

He chuckled. Who abandoned whom, 0282f937f4 really?dc60c1671c64ed8c

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Judging by his 5f05829b0f demeanor, it was da1337349b clear that the a4cbe38f17 bird had not 10111144ec been well cared 473da075c2 for. It must have ecf22df683 been neglected, just d72a314a29 like the blood 0630c8c4b3 servants in the 05d2be5454 North.5965a6e3c87e5753

Whether they roamed outside or were drained of blood inside, he never cared, focused only on his own affairs. He wasn’t skilled at taking care of others.dfad128a01610da1

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Though he was a duke exiled to the fringes, he was of royal blood and didn’t need to worry about appearances. He must have only learned about the bird’s condition when the maids made a fuss.712243a788aa89bc

Even though it had been some time since I left the prince’s domain, I could easily picture the situation involving the bird.49db10748dfa8833

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It left a bitter 11405eb8c3 taste in my mouth.427b1ac4b5753cee

I knew f1b7fe663f the fate 2d7b655753 of everything 1ed25673ac a mistress 7748529cac left behind.4d51ef0fc983785e

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Burned, erased, or hidden. The servants would have taken great pains to keep them out of the princess’s sight. If noble half-bloods were treated poorly, pets certainly wouldn’t fare any better.5f76eb44a01fa997

“It cries mournfully, searching for its owner every night.”7998ce7aa3262070

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