DSMBL Chapter 31

Chapter 031

It had 5d8a12bfc0 been a 7f3604f3a9 long time b9b4541825 since the f11130693d gates of 43a0ba881e Isteria had 74e72990a9 opened.7e82011166b456bd

Rumors had spread bb105319e0 that something unfortunate 2185145fe8 had happened to 7975d9808f Duchess Charlotte. People whispered that a e4a49ad972 woman who loved parties cce684bb9f so much had shut 1a52c7912c her doors and avoided 797a7632b2 the public, which must 47d6536e3f mean something serious might 0f97120209 have occurred.1ab32b70402e3f44

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But now, the gates b1464518ac of Isteria were wide 737390e6c1 open, as if to 3249ff5a37 prove everyone wrong.ee5bca389d5b4101

And what’s more, fcf206e65a Charlotte, who was e1974af602 always alone, appeared 58f7bef8cd this time with f34e570cbc Cassius.2f1660039022e482

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“…Maybe nothing bad happened. Couldn’t they just be enjoying a late honeymoon?”
“Perhaps. I’ve never seen 4ba2a02e97 them look this 907e32419c close before.”
“Me neither.”282524527de34477

The nobles’ fans began 03e7c1dd05 to flutter faster, as 43eab0e965 the rumors from the 420a4cc71e north that had been 13b2cf42d9 circulating started to settle e175fb7834 down. Charlotte and Cassius looked e466771beb strong together, and there 0e490a4cd2 was no room for d806d0c367 anyone to interfere.c5f21d8c09c1550f

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A group of b460ad245c brave noblewomen approached 491a07a5cc Charlotte.88bea06a3ea96814

“Duchess, it’s been a b9d78fa2e4 long time.”
“Yes, it has. How have you been?”66a630065de8bcf1

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At her response, fac457ac4f the noblewomen froze 315e9f2e11 awkwardly for a 4f66264fb5 moment.912de5fa7087635b

“…Are you unwell?”
“Pardon?”
“You seem different 6e0fd59acb than usual.”
“Oh, no. I’m perfectly fine. Do I look better?”f3dcd3f92413077b

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The noblewomen 6fb7283549 chuckled lightly, fb52cd5e0d adjusting their 47293d636d tone to 9d04caec54 suit Charlotte’s a59a45cfa8 mood.d94b87d8c242779a

“I heard you haven’t been hosting any parties or going out much. You’re not unwell, are you?”11a9ed89b4b13a8b

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As the noblewomen closely cf8fa4162e observed Charlotte, others around 84d1f933af them listened attentively.c7c4eeb0eab4ee42

As they observed 3e5b2a80eb Charlotte, they wondered, c819784f43 If it wasn’t 23dc371b82 for Charlotte, it 0a1c5f7ea4 could be their df7dd8e954 daughter, their niece, 1512cf79ad their friend—or even 2fac29416c themselves.6cf5f3ac96ab09ee

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There were 8e7acc8c16 many who f655d94ed4 envied Charlotte’s 15219a5f06 place beside 842b2bed14 Cassius, a b3ad86fa5a seat they aba35cda0c had long 224f068778 coveted.324f8e47faea45b0

Even though 99ffb4efb8 Charlotte had 2a12d89d82 hosted numerous 3d1a873014 parties over 94ce6fb9c5 the past fed7ec677d six months, a27ecbf925 she had 655c11a465 always been 6640b57b09 aloof, which 7833e2948e made others 007539af60 suspicious. Furthermore, Cassius didn’t seem bb77414adf very interested in Charlotte, 1cc2fbff8a so many wolves were 6e408703e2 hoping for a new fc24037815 opportunity.fca59f2452e3e1c8

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Then, suddenly, Cassius 83e6376293 approached Charlotte and c26684f558 placed his arm 47b3a7ef61 around her shoulder. The group 90df74c7ad of women, a6bf725d8c who had d8967c88db been eyeing 88a4992700 Charlotte, flinched e821751a0c and stepped 700fe4f4cb back.576ee2cda690b968

“Not at all. Thank you for worrying about Charlotte’s health,” Cassius said quietly.ff108e37b2703b9f

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 “Thankfully, she’s fine. We were simply 49bc6faa57 spending time together 4f32457c17 as newlyweds.”0aef4644e024845d

“O-oh, I see.”e1d8c91e5217c3cb

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The women replied, taking 92df2b21e1 a step back. They had no 912bea9f4c words to counter 3334ae94bc Cassius, who was c8385af1d0 firmly holding Charlotte.33eb726cdad2f2f0

Moreover, Cassius was not b37a243c0c an easy person to 816926e578 tease. His cold and steadfast caa8e8b12e gaze was like the fa6768db3d walls of the northern d1d74b05f7 fortress.a051dfa816c663a6

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“Is there 0d34a2dd38 something else 8bc5731e5f you’re curious a28dd95e9b about?”56fbe65a74422e7e

“Well… next month is my husband’s birthday, Your Grace. We’re planning a small party, and it would be an honor if both of you could attend.”163a4d3e4081ed57

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one of the women ee8ff53a3f asked, her voice full 90e9bbd810 of intention.b62c039aa80f1262

Although Charlotte and 237bae8918 Cassius had appeared 45f65afab0 to be getting 480d7c4b89 along, would they 5093b31d99 continue to do f7a083951c so in the 4bef1e4818 future? This could be 032ffa6043 temporary, and they 80e43cce67 were simply putting a2116e7069 on an act. Cassius’s lips c5e30493f1 twisted into bb79ad9e0c a cold 2d346ef80e smile. but before he ee3c37a44d could reply, Charlotte 1c60155f62 spoke first.4a11d74b248d02e7

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“The Duke bd10b13650 is a 0c385009ce busy man. If he attended ff00ba850e every party, who 98aa9f6df8 would defend the bb511d9c72 north?”35dc678e62c664e6

Her tone was icy 93e74f20b2 as she continued, “Would 718befb713 you take care of f3be16c21b the snow beasts or 1f57454e4d the monsters’ invasions? If so, perhaps c5436d64f1 he could spare c094ae6eef the time.”0324a55d686d3e41

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“Ahem!”b2f4447f5cf6acd3

“As far a0439150c8 as I ecd5100f96 know, the 6b79f2bfa6 Duke has d1af73810f never attended 73a9d8d434 such gatherings ca897383d1 before. Why the sudden 52e8cc2bfe interest now?”ac5a834f9a1b92f6

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Charlotte’s cold 64474b4ad6 response left ac90e03ca0 the noblewoman 52f39bdd56 speechless.9b46985e3da09fe0

Even Cassius bf2848c155 looked at dabc579b4a her with 71373b8b1b surprise. He hadn’t expected Charlotte da070325c8 to shut her down 77072150ac so decisively.9a23ddf20e4edad4

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If Charlotte had wanted fcd8be6684 to, Cassius might have e6720bda88 considered attending. Not because 27aed52705 he enjoyed be7423c9ba parties or 5b1921539d had a fc5e87689b special bond c2f5da8e56 with the fb384c7ddb host, but 1caf2ca91d because he f5e8b6aaa5 now understood 665490e2ae the kind 1cd896e739 of treatment 205a81873e Charlotte had 174cf6bf70 faced in 08d970f6ca the northern 7e96a6e39e social circles.2d033c93c6c33cc5

Perhaps Charlotte now a30e595ca7 understood Cassius just 6eff9b1746 as much as 6125a2a7a0 he understood her.1c934a0330cbff9e

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“If you want to f030479b22 go, I’ll accompany you, 76e797f566 Charlotte,” Cassius said softly.6d034ee25037d9e6

Charlotte blinked, 948a664736 quickly calculating cd9b209139 her response. Then, for the first e7913addf7 time, she affectionately looped f31e45c7ba her arm through his 6b666777d8 and leaned her head 9fbe1397d8 lightly against it.215d49905ae67db1

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“I don’t adf7aa7e5f want to 6b028da5fd attend that 690500242d party, Cassius. It would be d8e8ca03b0 a waste of 144400f289 your time.”b91250439f17ce25

Cassius’s eyes ba936f19a2 widened at 4474f435cd her unexpected f07d838d6d closeness.494bb07c4572000a

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But he was 3aab1c67ef quick to adapt 4c0b027739 to the situation.a68a94e8f1e5f7ba

“Understood. If there’s ever a 77b81eab5a party you want to 86dd6f5a32 attend, just let me 40ed63c66b know. I’ll make time eeabbe124e for it.”e6865c08395ff8d9

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“Thank you, Cassius.”722c2709e5371473

The rejected noblewoman’s face 6d92dfa3fd turned bright red with 882df0f639 embarrassment.d1ca59cee954a28d

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It was d6e11c196e a pivotal c315b62a0c moment when 78dfe0e53d Charlotte’s status 7661c24340 in the af5931a0a3 northern social 915d1eb17f scene shifted 447edd318a dramatically. People began 2e3be12ab7 to see 33110fed15 her in f733ec4bdb a new cc84b21db3 light.0a26a58c43ca152b

***9a4833b368a38273

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Meanwhile, after e60a120547 Theo’s first 576cbdc3e6 lesson, Lorencia b791a71e10 met with 0be6b9a8c4 Janice. At Janice’s signal, Lorencia 82ee3a79e8 followed her into an 8b2e11aa79 unused empty room.6e52cd0c080b70d5

“So, how did it 1d16c7d51d go? Did you 9b6a3aa102 do well? Do you think you 2b388d151b can win that child 523890a61a over to our side?”e77ae21fbb00a1e2

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“Ugh. There’s someone glued fa26b52e21 to him like 0e399ed3cd a guard dog. What do you expect 0ef9cd966a me to do?”e4dd005cc89225c6

Lorencia muttered irritably.1fa8561214093e86

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“Lorencia. Did you 711ade3042 not expect 2976805b88 some obstacles? Did you 83c4d83721 think everything 69bcd75671 would be 4aa0fd2433 handed to d292f2d958 you on 0837942c33 a silver 1ada8bea6d platter?”4bdbd80f8383eefe

“You’re the one who 713933faaf promised to make me ed29567d53 the Duchess. And you’re the one d305b9cb6d who broke that promise.”bf4847613f921480

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“I’ve done 2f20de8d8a my best, c6f19e85e0 Lorencia! I’m still 44d7de45ba doing my 737252098a best. Without me, do a7a6de9d50 you think you’d 3e7d05120c even be the 6c36d6dbc0 tutor for the a771862bac Duke’s household?”cf38c690de3490d2

Lorencia’s face turned red. Janice was right. With her low social 7a30c1faa6 standing and lack of 15a87005f7 education, she wouldn’t have b93445fa22 secured this position without 9b73c6b8c2 Janice’s help.9fa85364d8f9ecba

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“…The Duke is very fond of Theo. You’ll have plenty of chances to see him. Things aren’t going well with the Duchess right now, so getting close to Theo is key. One word from that child could change everything.”6f6c0559018ac569

“Fine, fine. I get 74f5a3855a it,” Lorencia 63e574bd6d snapped before 67121e63de storming out 24d857fb02 of the c318c9dd1c room.76d0c0cbdd16905e

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As she walked e9d7465221 through the garden 8e5e00ee92 to cool her be88028a5d temper, her eyes 0fc6165fe3 fell on the 079086e563 outdoor banquet hall.5cb3376cf704a198

“What’s going on cef512235a there?”15193e1dde41090a

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The lights were a57d9ded11 still on late d9ceb80665 into the night.5bef415cf6d493a9

As Lorencia 5b8d81fd6a moved closer, 72bf6ac7b4 she saw 53481f0601 people laughing 6dac2610b3 and chatting d52535992f inside.afcc3ee632a4c0e5

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“Oh.”fced9c2499a24e3b

It was be754096a6 the legendary beec80030d outdoor banquet e89f1f4ea4 hall of c0f04b17e2 Isteria, a ce52b4cb11 place renowned b6793edfa8 even in 7e50fc54b2 the capital.4b81ec75e7bd0351

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Anyone who 8ccf5e3f72 had attended 6704e24401 one of db944fadb6 its events 1cbaba29a7 would never bb5424308c forget the 35d823f893 experience.cfe2ae556c3253b1

And amidst the bfb321db6c crowd, Lorencia saw eabbf890bd him—the Duke of cb5228f00a Irtesia.5a334ed792577326

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She would 52ecf37df0 never mistake 9593f882e0 the face 6a3c6fa4ac she had f7ba410bcb memorized countless e59a7d056f times from a29bab2213 portraits, imagining dac37c879e him as 24724c52be her future bea0a5511e husband.7ba79f581ab24147

But standing beside him fb88ef1eb1 was another woman—Charlotte Irtesia!4165ffcfe2a619f7

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She was 6d9431cb8d the daughter 6befa557cf of Count dfe3e9e953 Solovice. Though the c89c2230cc Solovice family 7b41a78b9c had fallen, 9e4af0f7af they were 41a7553782 once a 391cf95961 prominent house, 44be6d99b9 far above 020504d220 Lorencia’s reach.3b330085ed61e13e

Lorencia clenched her fists tightly. On the surface, the people in the banquet hall didn’t even know she existed, but she knew her—that woman, Charlotte.de7939cc5fbf52c7

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Charlotte, who always seemed bored despite having everything. There were plenty of women wealthier and more powerful than Charlotte, but it didn’t matter. Just the fact that Charlotte stood beside Cassius made her a target of Lorencia’s hatred.a971a82c841d82d5

“Why does she have what I don’t?”bb69cf26cee27a7c

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It was infuriating.12d1aae9381edbc0

Thinking about the 91b021b55c once-great Solovius family 1ece7658c5 now, Lorencia felt 25a2838497 she was no 295b49cc2e less than Charlotte.a92c031abd368bc6

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“I’ll take it all away from you,”she thought.8d91dad8d6107aee

The woman laughing be6e3609cc so brightly on 0baaef6741 the other side a4a6d8bb36 of the hall 147f386abb filled Lorencia with 733745fa96 a burning resentment. It wasn’t for 7189243dc9 any grand reason; 828ea6b863 simply because Charlotte 76ee12f307 had the things 9579153e29 Lorencia desperately wanted.4081d0aa04cd3098

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“It’s mine.”efe64a24a94266f6

Lorencia whispered the d8e6bbdd4b words under her 68a52b05d7 breath. She believed 5eaff8fd19 that if 77dd000419 she kept 0b00b20b00 saying them, 02c7060e68 one day f390914540 they would 5259a44870 become true. The gap between 5ee5a7481f where she stood d2848b30c4 and where Charlotte a5b232fe7c stood was enormous, 567e63f1f3 as if mocking 82a26377a6 Lorencia’s circumstances.332880ed490a9713

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But in her a989273cbc imagination, she had 2f0ffd7b27 cut Charlotte out 7c51555b68 of the picture bc28c78925 and inserted herself de9cf0ab44 in her place.1b508cb64e3aa51e

It was a d63493530f perfect fit.82799178da7997c0

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She was e1a2d9129a confident she 5dd4ab9fa4 could do 3728343936 better than 45e4fd6e5b Charlotte—much better.e98bc1548536f0d6

Lorencia’s lips e2c10783d3 curved into aaf50d21b0 a bitter, 9a3ccd390a determined smile.f3d5ad776c881b07

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“It’s mine,”she repeated, 7b69ecb3a4 her voice e87c85c615 tinged with 87075dda1d longing.6015f925909e986b

The handsome 080b0d31ba man who c6042897c9 seemed to af7c7eabac have stepped 74416f6a54 out of 51f6f93cc7 a portrait, 2785ab13d2 the dazzling 9fd0c7a9d3 dresses, the ae765c6273 luxurious life—they 6f15674d38 all tempted 217f8c7e32 her to b507ab61aa the brink 661f505ff1 of madness.b1a65a66db69d6ab

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Everything she saw 247d453c92 on the other e357865281 side of the ff7d4f4397 banquet hall felt 6dad58c0f7 like a treasure 28286b8eb0 chest she was 670cba76a6 desperate to claim.8138242e77337e71

 100486fd25e2841f

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