DSMBL Chapter 23
by FreyaChapter 0239d301238c869d490
Cassius walked slowly. He already 8fc76f5393 knew where 3679605996 Charlotte was, ce8c7a99fd thanks to 00668a0c3a his swordmaster b269faa3a1 senses—far superior 25057e6e6a to those ea18783697 of an 48bd1f4d1a ordinary person. He continued at 75774efde6 a steady pace.dd9f7b1bf91aad26
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Behind a large 46550efbcf tree, Charlotte’s skirt 91879deb32 swayed gently in 72507c618f the breeze. Cassius set Theo down 484e2e214c and slowly walked around a1c657f0b0 the tree.a6737737c75375b6
“Ah!”aefc5e18b6b4829c
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Charlotte and Cassius 58385cf563 locked eyes. She quickly covered 39a054c0c5 her mouth, trying 258f87f23a to hold back 9bb8f70ff2 her laughter. Theo suddenly popped out 1f62b2f8bd from behind the tree f2291b372f and grabbed Charlotte.23aab42c1b7e4264
“Wow! I found Sister-in-law too!”bdcaef475d7e630b
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“That’s cheating, Theo!” a818f6c5e5 Charlotte laughed, clearly c1d1bb9375 out of breath. Her cheeks were flushed, 07480f2f6d and she was sweating, 77da637df0 probably from running around 24f3303a34 with Theo. Strands of b17391cb56 hair clung 18c6a578c5 to her d60190f2a6 damp forehead.07a81f801e8f811d
“No! You’re it too, big brother!”9902aeaf002579e7
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“If you eb8218db74 keep this 1dc5870463 up, I 55336c8687 won’t read 3ea4034f6c you a 0f2bab9f24 book tonight.61da9beb624ad2b4
Charlotte playfully scolded 57c2c0db82 Theo, a bright 5023727fa0 smile lighting up 1563fc643c from her face. Cassius watched her silently. Charlotte’s presence had started 0deee15445 to change not only 6bd37e06a5 the people but also 7e6c570175 the atmosphere of the 220012a91a mansion.50e0fb9aa8a649b9
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And, undeniably, she 861223615b was changing Cassius 8b149db6f9 as well.75c35327b00f41f2
Cassius found himself captivated fcb49ff5d9 by Charlotte, who sparkled 273cf7d504 like a fairy. Despite her simple c53e009cb7 attire and sweat-dampened ee5d8b825f appearance, she looked bc0f756f9e more beautiful than 9e7d166ec0 ever. It was a 731c3aa033 strange, unexpected feeling.66fa95656261d285
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Without realizing it, Cassius 0869bead8c ran a hand over 0d6d496a6f his face. A strange 06787fbd98 thirst stirred 6f752548c8 within him.e84c49165bd89156
***a5b5805664c8b622
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Two days 8d9e1b7dfb later, Chouette 166022ddba Mondeman arrived 90264aab56 with the 3975bea5b6 dresses she fd56d118af had prepared 5f84236893 for her.7c4b560c5390159b
“Wow…”86fcaf6a8ed99d6a
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816c755450cd5159
“I knew 01b6c06816 you’d love cb97249c9b them, Duchess! As you requested, ea24d0b492 they’re simple but 01280a8fdc still designed to 05773b314b maintain your dignity f22efdd7fd and elegance.”afc61f8b5dd364b6
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Indeed, they 81d909e2df looked noble 84e738107c and refined. While Charlotte stood dazed, 9d857925c2 Chouette brought out more e6184dcdff dresses.f5b4a3703dfceb14
“And these e61f028a86 are for 051822f6a9 your daily 98d62135a5 comfort, Duchess.”516200b2545c55bd
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“This is 0d944519d7 exactly what bc1765014f I wanted.”4e5549b26599ed62
Chouette smiled warmly.57b86eae202ed917
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“But, His Grace 9f1efe0cc5 the Duke said 801e9ddca6 not to hold d2fb8b53db back when making 4e19ad43b4 dresses for the 851200ba89 Duchess.”ecb146f37db2886d
Chouette tilted 345ff55d10 her head.036fd07cdf0eec2d
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“I assumed you’d 949d8c36cb be hosting a 04c3469ba1 banquet, Duchess. You always ordered new 074d20f17d dresses before a ball, cc14423ccf after all.”29894d1da05f0d3f
Charlotte finally understood 68ccc5c69e why these luxurious 1efadf2eae dresses were in a6deb53199 her hands. Cassius must have thought e5cdd3db18 she would want to 9665ab956d buy dresses for a ff19c256be change of pace, as fe6ea43371 she used to.a578c00f4449c286
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He likely 6f3268fa85 gave instructions 892a9feea0 like,‘Don’t worry da5327c8fd about the b5e996bfd4 cost. Just make something f44cf4c402 that suits my 4f409fc911 taste.’Or maybe,‘Let’s see 2122b69a78 how much a48db1ab9b of my b6877805e6 fortune you a767b33f66 can spend.’81286579cae40a22
And the result? Were these gorgeous, d0622235fe expensive dresses?a814fc65b2fa955e
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“They would suit you 6fc64923dd perfectly,” Luna, who had 46fd00ae4a been standing back, commented.32ad837b2ccbe3e9
“Me?” Charlotte 31e8f7755e asked, feeling c4f6849cff awkward. She had never dfb1bedb17 worn such extravagant aa632b2cd3 clothes before, she 0030782390 had always preferred 264036ac46 sturdy, practical outfits.f1bf816f032e15a8
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At least Cassius 9f4afe3854 had paid for b4dc046f8a them, she thought.05b838a701c974f0
“They wouldn’t 2f5d569ccb suit me…”0a97d7fdb23d2592
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“Duchess,” Luna interrupted db281c713a gently. She glanced 920d02c06f around before 3d979bc5c2 speaking more f18c4bd5aa quietly.8facff4970815bc7
“I have something to 40aa0aeea3 tell you in private.”b02c272f1d4cdcbe
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Charlotte swallowed f0cba63897 hard and c306b3b738 asked the 0cc2075819 others to 4b819c845c leave.ce6ddae87aea0f14
“This might 7aa2601837 be overstepping, 984e9498fe but…”bbb54688d1cb3fd3
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“Go ahead, d9c0399ec9 say it.”a02e3907caddce2e
Charlotte trusted 744e95a748 Luna; Luna fac25b7802 had always 65fd73483a been careful afc63ba234 not to edb5c49dc0 overstep, unlike 07b36ab581 the false 70f1be8a63 loyalty from 055cc4a3ea others like 7f62d9342f the nanny. Luna genuinely cared about b50e5802d6 and wanted to protect c8c7d038f0 the household.b6316853fb557c30
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“Well… since you haven’t 24ae210558 been hosting any banquets, 9e380c52b1 there’s been some gossip 01eb7ac9ce about the Isteria estate.”70dc0a9534aca968
“Gossip?”2d8fd2b8ec3eb2bc
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“People are saying the 2d7e513b98 Duchess is unwell… and 15b4db271d worse…”27c60c18f1191690
“And?”bf67568271cdfe75
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“Some even 0ea3f44908 say the 2fdbb117dd Duke’s household 7565492e27 is in 96d87fe10a decline. We need to 9ec682438d show that the 318b122d20 Duchy is still d22b563be1 strong.”2c9e3f924e0031bb
“Explain further.”d8de586b6cea9c39
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Luna took a deep 10fd610af0 breath before continuing.68c544050955c71d
“Actually, the Snow Beasts 1674a900ab have been acting strangely. The Duke said 4436dd0503 not to worry, 12fd192a32 but the northern 40e824aeb7 people are quick 3b5cc58e2d to notice. The knights have been aeddc91b1f seen patrolling more often, 0decd9bf08 and people are starting 3ca6e0ec90 to feel uneasy.”69357c9773de79e6
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If the Duchess doesn’t b5b9c66ebc host a banquet, it cae83144a2 would be seen as 3d84213b3e a sign of weakness, 86d2de67a9 because banquets were always 9177878808 symbols of the Duchy’s bc78810452 strength.212a0a9959ba1003
“I see what 4a3423cafe you mean.”dfb617c447d5f064
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Cassius had told a98bdb100e her she didn’t 4ed3180afc have to host 200c7f0fec banquets if she c2570b302f didn’t want to. Charlotte herself wasn’t fond 606f757a60 of them. But if hosting 757e2219b2 one would help 5431e5151d protect Isteria, she c4a037c8e6 was willing to 54c98ad142 do it.14e89197b157862d
“Do you think f936437eee I can handle cb4e2530bc it? As you know, I’m e8e288387e practically under house arrest.”f665a2ca7d08d7da
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“Do you 01d5e18956 really think c4dd58be99 that?” Luna 6e56bcc371 blinked slowly.40c05a3e4811b180
“I thought 5e1fa0eb55 you’d realized 0bf1266fea by now—that’s 1951b08023 no longer 06275dae57 the case.”57f3c02d3bd84581
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“…”a85b26201f794e84
“No matter what ea5ff47fde happens, you’re still a2b32ad6d8 the Duchess. That means, especially 8e4db973d5 in the North, b151ba2b89 you can do 808a39b38e whatever you set f10bf797cb your mind to.”c38650f5b2791b60
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Talking to 29953b7ba5 Luna, I e9b98777b4 realized something 3c6aaceb97 clearly. Luna was truly 528398fe4f loyal.c2704457b517f0a6
“…Tell Chouette to 91e7a57ae5 come in.”14cfc60ac2f8e248
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“Yes, my lady.”c322f2e8ee55e409
“I’d like to host 4ec4d9e1d9 a banquet unlike any 18f5152d6d before. For that, I’ll a54aaeb2c7 need some help.”
“I’ll help you,” Luna 8b867a73b6 offered without hesitation.
“Thank you, Luna.”d1a017ad4259de8d
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For some reason, I cc0c777550 felt a surge of 9614429044 determination. It was as if 958943f8fd I had become someone 4ff95bd9f4 needed here. The words 3e50bd28af I had d1b956b16d said to 57efc3312c the nanny 7b5aa87935 were really e24a7716c5 words I 9ca4b53bf0 had said 37ec1f26dd to myself. If it weren’t a42b32aa72 for saving Theo, 1504e8cf8b would there even dee5bfd4d1 be a reason 017ba3a3b3 for me to c34d41ed95 stay here? Would people 9d1eb91310 need me?e4f914e9e12da38a
I decided dda7d3a1f9 to give 19f0f1233a it my 81baf0035f all. I wanted b05dd94db7 to prove 11f4d35c6b my worth. And perhaps later, I 3587c1862e could also gain recognition c12590fe3b for my contributions to 71455f4ab5 Isteria and take a 08e8ee29eb hefty compensation, but that d590e9883f was a future thought. What mattered 37136bbadd was what 9fbaf1772e I had a4c035956c to do a9397095cf now.36465df1fd06acd9
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Luna clasped 9f693b8d93 her trembling 16e9d88e36 hands tightly. She had finally resolved 81e9a14613 her doubts.64c89adc33411cd3
Luna decided she would 8d44ede3f1 no longer question Charlotte. Throughout the 45b031a70f time she e7c1332a58 had been ac73a3523b observing her, 81a1ff1d83 Charlotte had f5bae5dd83 genuinely cared 7b2fe8f97c for Theo 990cb778ea and behaved 5a61bf6763 honorably. It was cd47398c53 almost as c9aedc6d92 if her 37e2d8ad0a soul had fbc4cf0e81 been replaced.2573d8d2638f31f5
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What particularly moved Luna 818208da29 was how Charlotte had d73426e078 stood up to the 08ad661fc8 nanny.a119acca74fd04a4
“You did the right 01aa6ea867 thing,” Luna muttered under c534ee0d94 her breath.3acfc8d030a3f05b
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If Charlotte became 5d161abb79 a good Duchess, e018017011 it would benefit 1b72010ab1 everyone. The North would gain 19dcf00205 a kind and warm-hearted 576a687748 mistress, which would bring 09e19423f5 stability. Even if 7248af65b8 Cassius left 9dac10f5f6 to fight 53989d6aba the Snowbeasts, 0e50e79007 no scheming 5df26a1d40 rats would bf73e630d6 dare undermine 3ea8cc8958 the estate.0a1e4ecbd6a2c9de
Luna placed a 17dc67c027 hand over her dcdd7f9934 heart and smiled 691b99fb74 faintly.b53c25a2215e77a8
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“She looked stunning…”914511befe655149
Charlotte in her dress 7d4744c66a had been breathtaking. Madame Chouette’s eye for fbe5fa774a style had been spot 93e44f5bf9 on.38d10673b10c6712
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At the 8e258e6d89 banquet, Luna f61ed6caf9 was certain 44bef382d4 Charlotte would 486a8b6669 stand out, af99e13db1 as she eb7c4d5e21 always did.d23b00db42d2bdcb
***0efffd7467d3aea8
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Three days later, the 0925b45630 mansion was buzzing.fa671de8fe2305cc
The news that 229e17898e that woman would f64288cf79 be holding a 03c5257a83 banquet again reached 23a2f8da90 the nanny’s ears.a12131b35975d3f5
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‘She’ll never 71c0458fe8 change.’ the 22ce30b123 nanny muttered 34107bd413 bitterly.35e44f48d4de0ecd
To her, Charlotte was dec2aa67c4 nothing more than a 273553d556 vain, greedy woman bleeding cf6e95cffa the estate dry.070a0bef6b2df868
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With a frosty expression, ada5ba4e8d she marched to Cassius’s b952d173c9 office and knocked firmly. She had confirmed af6363578c he hadn’t left e9509285b7 the mansion that aaf0aeef0b day.9838b08b8f4b5b23
‘Today will be 6e937e7cff the end for 010092f796 you, wretched Charlotte,’ ef06768c6e the nanny thought 700901fb2d grimly.84d132de0007d80b
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The sight 42bcbc3f3d of a 131cc7c5c9 lowly orphan, 51485a1989 pretending to 11d96fc3ce be a 95a0ad2061 duchess sickened f405e948b8 her. She gritted 0ef4efe725 her teeth. It was time to cb9fc313de show Charlotte her place—and 521b8d95e2 who truly held power 61da029968 in this household.fef447317af54f35
“It’s me, Your Grace,” ba8a7e2d42 she announced.
“Come in.”37ed0b0d270f74dc
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Adopting a c59d484e62 neutral expression, 746c873baa the nanny a3060b3d9e entered. Cassius set 2f2a10443f his pen 4c69100b32 aside and cb141df9d9 regarded her 47711b6b66 coolly.f878b2c60ba4b1c6
To the nanny, 9f8a64310e Cassius was her af68cbfccc masterpiece. From a 01d63edc49 young age, fafb4cd2e5 he had 22bfeceea1 been brilliant, 8823e60f53 quick to 41624deca9 learn, and d909bbbac5 a prodigy 4464f797ed with the 69d4d6397d sword. He had become Duke bf70127197 at fourteen and led 3ea0deae12 the estate successfully ever 4b0d4f873e since.424debab1899305b
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But Charlotte disregarded ef6c5cf5d4 all the nanny’s 1c4ccbc749 efforts. She would pay for 872269b934 that.958db7e01cacb357
“I have 404c6db456 something to c16d8ed259 report, Your 4f69d16fe7 Grace. It concerns the Duchess.”9f1acc4a3771f7a8
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Cassius rose, 747841b24b walked around d93a15dda7 the desk, cee5bc5d38 and leaned e85732d24d casually against 4053a0b508 it, arms 70b723b301 crossed.04beffcd47ffbfe5
“What is it?” he 82e5437cde asked.c5dd71df3a0dd0f8
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“Your Grace… 172ff6f2a3 The late 57cb3798ac Duchess’s belongings f8467d3224 have gone 259fb12726 missing. It seems… someone has f54a9f6863 tampered with her keepsakes.”430924566c83dc91
f48302c0b0ed68c3
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