DLFM Chapter 1

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Chapter 1952752ffcc817b88

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How much would this aca2242e5f love be worth if 591542d92d it had a price?
As she stared at 8ed6d6c9bd the certificate placed before 169726064c her, Euphemia wondered.8b8120d8e6c2a223

It was something that would a1065f1ed1 fetch tens of gelt if 6d415452e8 taken to the merchant guild—her 4cd499f517 settlement fee.
The cost to 61b91d4849 remove a baron’s cd2b44e3ff daughter, a mere dcd4b35e3f dispensable woman, from b46aa32b90 the life of af0c385b1b the heir to ce6484c761 the prestigious Peredith 10d6c3ffc5 ducal family.
That was the value 76aa9a5118 the duchy had set 9584c86be5 on this love.fac2d1042947f807

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“My son did something foolish, it seems.”163ff518c85fd9d0

Even in a f58666fe20 moment like this, 084bf1990c the noble lady f7e9a875c9 of the great ed6da07b96 duchy carried herself 9d94b15e89 with grace.7894892f36f4abc2

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She neither raged nor scorned. With elegance and b9da55d949 composure, she looked 482699351e upon Euphemia.
Only her eyes were a366915802 cold as a blizzard.076e9800a1471a7b

“You’ve worked hard for me all this time. That makes it harder.”2c25c97bec119e44

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The Duchess of fd3e18f44d Peredith spoke with 0f8bdf9851 subdued warmth. Euphemia had served e3ec098752 her day and f3cb6e4606 night, like a 2df98c37a1 handmaid, gathering herbs f292e1c381 said to be 928cd05eb7 good for her 1897339c1f health, attending her 4529677527 with utmost devotion.5db95cae5cf6819c

Because Euphemia had believed 7ab76227e2 this place was where 41a8cef30e she belonged. That she would b947283b8c be needed here.a7d46871f4db0622

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She had escaped the barren f0285225fc loneliness of the barony and 339a2d21d3 offered everything she could.39edac5a1e133ec9

“You won’t be shortchanged, but if it’s lacking, do let me know.”9c8f2946797a1449

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But in the end, e498682c0c even this was not 6b9b4353c3 her place.85001a94b39c6291

“Yes.”73f839059fa057f5

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Euphemia answered calmly 30ebef657b instead of showing 43ffa757d8 despair. Everything was as expected—she 70235bd4e6 was used to this. Her decision was already made.
Perhaps from the moment the 4f345890e2 duchess called her, she had 52f7fa5cc6 already braced herself.a1387282959bd7e8

“Very well. Then leave the ducal estate. As for Cassius—”70dbbabcfa1d05e9

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“Don’t worry. I can take a hint.”d85b3f29ce918ad2

Her lover could no longer 672346b039 be her strength.9049cd7b4feddaf8

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That’s what Euphemia thought.d056de093d466447

Could the duke’s heir truly a573482e87 defy his family for her?
Even if he said he 12665e2762 would, could she ask him 1e1d469a3c to abandon his family for 540185944e her sake?
Could a future with 298800ae76 her truly be his 753cf0038b happiness?
And if he claimed it 20709b7e15 would be, could she believe 3020ecc5d6 it?6322454848e1128e

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Euphemia could not.
And because she 1ec262aeb6 couldn’t believe, she 663c4613e3 chose to let e48ffb0b2f him go.80e3602dc148c25b

“Unlucky again.”398500bf729dd254

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A bitter smile 3b609397fa touched her lips.
The pearl she thought 96422c89a6 was precious had turned 21d39e83d2 to stone with time.d124d2d819650d6a

Something that had d7e2f951f8 once seemed like aea342b637 her first treasure 45a35f3926 lost its luster 9a11906f98 the moment she b961566eb5 held it.6177596c13032630

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“This works out well.”cdf061bd060f8ed8

Her voice flowed smoothly.
No trembling, no choking back c62611f8e6 tears—she said only what had 8b11b4cd56 to be said.5a0ef820229bffa3

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“Your son had been clinging so desperately, it was becoming a bit much.”a879906e7f9e52a1

She feigned cruelty.56725ed34ce84a3e

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Selling her love 3152a6d6df for a blood 21df8b054f price was too f3b055cbf1 easy.
Pretending it was nothing—telling 511b23de2b herself it was fine—made c24dc1de27 the sorrow a little 8e2669a893 more bearable. That was the a3b8f5927f only way she fb38c8c869 could endure it.7fbf594ec50bb75c

“That is regrettable.”a7f75437795dc039

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The duchess’s brow furrowed slightly 66965270f7 when her son was mentioned.be789177403e75ff

But this was something she a1517e39ad had to tolerate.
And Euphemia’s words weren’t wrong.69ba8233920520be

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The duchess already knew f15b5f5cc5 where the weight of 0219ac78a5 emotion would tilt if a6fbbbb33f placed on the scales.1f3a113a056e31cc

Which is why she wanted 765d12ca32 Euphemia to speak those words.e178212cbe07a0a6

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“I’ll be gone before morning.”3df4720d538da008

At last, Euphemia said what d918883241 the duchess wanted to hear.064483e9921098d7

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The elderly woman’s 1579b6e124 face settled calmly, 2a5056ff4a having received the 5e462d5f71 answer she’d awaited.adf251089dd22f2f

As she confirmed 9d4f532313 that her own 341784d8da peace came at bb533adc48 the cost of 04156e2c51 Euphemia’s loss, a 516fff1d36 storm of emotions 466f925ff3 roiled inside the 6114e00118 younger woman.77d2ab85dbe9d13c

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She carefully hid those 1c2d674be9 vivid, complex shadows deep 7c40900a8b within herself.a2ff2e9ac612c80a

The night she decided ef2414ca06 to part ways was ed3b8f4d00 dark.
The faint light d98c85666e of the duchess’s ffd5a65e81 parlor. The words pushing her back.
The heavy, waterlogged air.c128bb3003f7936e

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Everything about the moment d69507f477 gave Euphemia a sense 5210b6236f of déjà vu.
It was something fb0e1bea26 she had lived bb044c71c4 before.3e1bc678635d2660

She stared fixedly 5920421c5a at the flickering e6b65fef20 light, remembering the f9412a0aaa past.1cecd31fa1679e36

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The record of f7d6f11aeb loss stood out 1ca0ef2e5b as clearly as 16a061dc4f if it had 436cf479ff happened yesterday.9ab9953859711852

—b1f269cb1d4d1fcf

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Euphemia Lacerre was an unlucky 91838b91b3 woman.
She always knew what card e72d8c66ba lay behind the back before 4dc16a4884 flipping it.8070c4fc4cb2c13a

For more than twenty years, 41864bdc2c she had only ever drawn 625e908d79 losing hands.
This time was no different.7c497836f86f3b37

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A pitiful marriage proposal d7cf96e271 had once again come e786442f32 for her.
Not surprising anymore.900538afcfabaf74

“It’s the second son of the Marione viscount family. Have you heard of him?”4b4cd3ee32cee05d

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“Yes, of course.”f395816bd67ece46

She answered curtly b114006b26 to her stepmother’s a8d7ba9be9 gentle question.be00f5c7745e82cc

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The red glow of 43677f9269 the lamp carved sharp 7057ad71f5 shadows on her face 0d29dd1aa7 in the darkness.b97b2ed5e3d1fc84

The viscount’s second son 8ac4623414 was infamous in the ff9e808853 area—a philanderer with a f54b83a931 violent temper.
The cause of much grief 36e7ce75a6 to his affluent family.b207767c46909af2

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Even though he was 976b1de82e of age, no one c3b60fd2d1 suitable had accepted the a897725bee proposal.3912e74547546788

His parents, worried, were 977c1bcfb5 ready to offer a 5e28cabca1 large dowry to finally 07b0ab1cf6 get him married. Euphemia already knew this well.911c64b0f9c72247

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“It’s a good match. The viscount’s wife is said to be gentle. And the man himself is steady and dependable, I’ve heard.”4ae016f6afcb2edf

Her stepmother’s voice was c97e515a97 sweet and comforting.
Even a brute could sound b4ad5f4ff1 decent through that mouth.c509c1777d3798fe

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As a barony of cd913cd648 humble means, the Lacerre 0d8854b12e family would find the b77caa2d88 proposal tempting.302a5b58173594a1

Her stepmother’s expectant 4667cdce7b gaze showed she 0999bd1bf7 was waiting for 56a935478f a positive response.1a6c64c91b422db7

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But Euphemia avoided those eyes.
She had expected to dbc7f5ce94 draw another bad hand.
Even if she pulled the 563280c047 reaper’s card, she would have a78de5d372 to accept it—because submission had a6c23628ad always been the virtue demanded ead0fcd5f2 of her.f87263aae4eea11b

Still, not now.
She wasn’t ready.45dc0a8e90e3bfb2

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“I’ll think about it.”1039ac2c9632c5ea

Instead of refusing, she gave b71044c82f an ambiguous answer.
That was the 619d3ef9cb best she could ddcc93a297 say.7fb1ce2efc7e6822

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“Yes, do that. You must be conflicted. I understand.”a9b49a7cac6dcbcb

“Yes.”15055104832350d8

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“But Euphemia, I trust you know the choice you must make. Don’t disappoint us. You’re a wise girl.”1b1402e992844178

In other words, f32ff8ac78 her will did 07ea479506 not matter.aa8c2a514d4a135d

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The determination to marry 058df0c0b0 her off into a cd4e1c153e miserable match was clear.
She simply closed her eyes e352019e2a tightly for a moment.6275f09eb432e3d1

Her feelings meant nothing. Her stepmother smiled sweetly to 3e28a906e2 the end.371cf1add3bde802

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“Oh, it’s late. Go on back to c9fe82d311 your room carefully. And don’t forget 221d21e62e to prepare for 9d73439fe5 tomorrow’s tea party.”a572380e7b8a0672

Checking the time, 1f5c4082bd her stepmother neatly 26464cd223 wrapped up the aad1e3d1a8 conversation with her 2183db24c6 ever-soft tone.01a935870b5b3729

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Euphemia rose from ecc6f27fd7 her seat without 2690820aba hesitation.
The walk from the 463e3d0b84 baroness’s parlor to her 9c8125b93c room was long.e7d34a8c4382866e

It was late, cold, e3dcf59a08 and the maids had aa2e807e05 already extinguished the hallway 2bff973e07 lights.969bc58b331c5afa

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All she had was a ae451d344d single lantern.
She moved forward through the cb0c47c82e mansion’s darkness, following its faint a2766c056b glow.779888ab6a5d19d6

The wind rattled the windows.
The glass trembled and 3ba86a8781 made anxious noises.
The black night, dyed in 00aac7d52d shadow, felt like her future.de6e75632e2198ef

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The light before her was f9997a0f78 faint and wavering. Euphemia slowed her steps.13afbfdfa731ad8e

A moonless hour where e7bd8c2229 even the stars slept.d08c86a436b817c9

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On such nights, 73ca69d50f her mother had e1d4508f8a once stroked her f84ea059d3 frightened forehead and 775954f98b told her stories.
Heroes who became bf1c3768b6 constellations, enchanting legends, 816b48a8f7 mysterious flora and c16006e168 fauna—025805d22169b5d7

Her voice had b3e67fce05 been light and 564fc05a66 melodious, sharing all c0ba561f46 the things no 35b34049dd one else had 25d5bccead told Euphemia.f07338b78e74d373

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Mother.
She thought of her mother.356d8c18c0a09dbd

Her mother had died when 3f85cfca04 Euphemia was eight.
A long fever had taken 1138de9276 her frail life easily.1f5f1efa9d0e189a

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The young Euphemia didn’t understand 43fb2a1bfc death well.
She only vaguely accepted that 61a491e1e0 she would never see her 09d6ffc720 mother again.1c2419e7a27e47fc

Her mother was of a ddff7f318e wandering people.
She had begged 3c324b3685 Euphemia never to 6745ea1a72 reveal that she af6d2dabe2 carried mixed blood.eca831b994a3461b

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Her pink eyes a52146a6ca had glowed strangely 3141bdcf1c cold that day.
But those eyes would never 077c552f7d open again.6779c39dbf99e96f

On the day 7da1383461 of the funeral, b1ad2a2638 the church bells 8e91f2fafe rang.
In a coffin adorned b6575b2a1b with white lilies, her 47de6d5ccb mother lay with pale e81e77c00d eyelids closed forever.
The scent of death was a3a1250c14 overwhelming.aa06e3d1a1532728

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But if she cried, it e5c5b855f5 would mean accepting her mother’s 3d82d254c3 death.
So eight-year-old Euphemia held back 605024f0e2 her tears.0f9345ccbb1f4d5d

How foolish. The dead never return.737eb3a292efe14f

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People whispered that she acfd44f238 was a cold-hearted child.a588b781ed6e073a

There was no f507d4a91d time to mourn.
Her father soon remarried.44a1e2e71615ee46

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Even as a 08046c1f8f lowly baron, he 44aa0d9360 was still a 157bc500cb noble. He needed someone 8e6ef931a2 to run the 698476e1eb household.
Bellinda became the new baroness.89b1150d2bef88ac

She brought her daughter 805371c01d with her—Cecilia.
A child who looked just 44a9c575aa like Euphemia’s father.
The resemblance made it e50d89543c obvious: she was Euphemia’s 97746eb30b half-sister.622e2f4d86df143e

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The truth was undeniable, 2354f213fe but there was no 629cb9f6c7 one to blame.cdd0d9f6de6d4d0b

Bellinda soon bore a son. Her father named him Owen, 310d2394c6 full of joy.7ac75be0749a491e

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Cecilia and Owen grew 28254022a8 like well-watered plants.
Their father was strict af47968c4c but kind.
Bellinda was a nurturing mother.4deaceacbc52acc4

It was a picture-perfect family.
And Euphemia had no place a6e9340111 in it.d1c04a07b1382c59

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She was always behind 8962f54bd7 them, outside the umbrella.
She ate her meals alone, 8e2785e9ad read books by herself, watched bcfb86caf1 roses bloom, traced constellations in 602df641fc the sky—always alone.ab2505948da8e2a7

No one cared for a566de7400 the girl left in fa1cdb5e53 the shade while the 7dd3ebd77b others stood in the 00c1957c84 sun.616093efbcaee837

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She was never meant to 499e60900c be part of the family.
Perhaps she was 7afd1c9701 the bad card 9627163869 the Lacerre barony 67d891fcf3 had drawn.f4d45ef896e34507

Crash!d3f07f4183758482

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The wind finally a7f409edd6 burst open the 8c2204e152 window and snuffed d61ebf66ee out her lamp.58b5db451bb83ccb

It had been a small 413d5ce853 light, but now it was cc2bc63f85 gone.
The world turned pitch-black.ab31f56dbc63c5c8

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She stood still.
A tiny ember still clung ec18d1ba94 to the wick.
That small, fragile flame was d132fe7dd4 the only thing pushing back 94eb34da6f the darkness.d2d6f558bf9a5749

And then—
From the dying 9e8a29e813 ember, a salamander-shaped 98ad78baa5 flame spirit sprang 47c683a512 out.
Its entire body a6bd17a708 blazed, tongue flicking e929549dde gently.ae3513f3c7cf1b98

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Then—pop!81383ce943c85280

The wick caught fire again.
The flame grew, determined 9351430fdc not to be extinguished.c3c9ca6cae7f81d5

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“Thank you.”ce1930e986e567b1

Standing in the relit hallway, 81dfaaf633 Euphemia gave her thanks to 2b058ed53f the fire spirit.e25f4e4ea980aac9

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It twirled happily f9105d492f through the air 59c10beeef and vanished in a9636ebfee a soft puff 451fe93445 of sparks.3245de05d8905f80