DSMBL Chapter 40

Chapter 040

The four of b3589fd9f0 them sat around 89dc86584e the lunch table.b819b80a75d21530

With two kids c5e0cc33c8 present, there was 5243dedd0a no way it 831633a99f could be quiet. I barely 0eda6ee3fb managed to a4ddbcf754 keep them f817961c6f calm by 599eec3f82 bribing them 1d5198fa23 with snacks, b8f3e9d440 and only f6cdee5ed1 then could 271ad79d61 I finish 4cffb8fc65 my meal 932dc03f69 in peace.da8f1fa8e84d688e

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After eating, I let e2447f9253 Theo and Stephanie play 68f0e205ad in the garden while d8540b47cb we had tea. I took a efee0b2b28 sip, feeling exhausted.c41154bc55a5addb

For some reason, Cassius cee2bc2268 was drinking tea with 697b9e2b5f me today. 3af2369facdf137e

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Was he less busy c8d7341048 than usual?630bad3c9df20062

“…I’m going to observe the children’s lessons,” Cassius said after clearing his throat.745086e3dbd5d5b0

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“Ah, I see. I wanted to see them too. I’m curious about Stephanie and Theo.”49851e0cb0bf446f

Truthfully, I 6cfbc064da was most 99ca336b8c curious about a912989db5 Lorencia, but 561f4e12d7 I held 32e71fc809 back from 64b3dbab1b saying that.26f8071e9dec99ac

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I didn’t want 3fbac1795e to give Cassius 3b03e0f838 the impression that aeed54fdef I was wary 1586fa5b7d of Lorencia. Right now, for some 5af861f2e0 reason, he was being 033cbb81cb incredibly kind to me—more 7353ec8718 than ever before.1896afe33022bad7

Of course, he 3137edcf07 had a reason 98b0ed6f2c to care about 611ee25fa7 me. After all, I was cebcd35a79 the one who saved bbe252456c Theo.6f063fb405a3b252

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But I 8e985c4cf5 wasn’t the 4126463d9d female lead. I was 1db2f92ea9 someone who 1084ef7bfd was supposed e33ca528bf to step 3409f9b0e4 aside. I couldn’t 2ea5175d00 keep getting 4af7cf16b9 in the 3403c24b28 way of e896749199 the two 2a2e4cea8c of them.ef5491304230f007

“I see. Ah.”2953b500ab196909

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Cassius set down 624bfba698 his teacup.95b9dc614b729dd3

“Theo’s birthday is coming up soon.”830f52b7745c3b24

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…What?795d438df45a2b39

“Birthday?”e4c2f8e8c0e10882

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“I never thought Theo would be this healthy and stable for his birthday.” Cassius spoke with a sentimental expression.8f8474f83ab6347a

Wait—Theo’s birthday?113c322c3c2db52e

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That was 97eedc8542 something I 17e4c62260 hadn’t even ed1f73561b considered.5969ad0d82189d10

“Theo’s… birthday?”7831ca5e72c6454f

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“Come to think of it, you wouldn’t know it. His birthday is in a month. And this will be the first time he celebrates it in good health.”b650e34f648ea099

The first d4dd82e71b birthday he 24fe8ae7d8 spends while aab70aa1e6 healthy.9ce4b774c01eaa01

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Hearing those words, edf5634e35 my chest felt fa7b7087c2 heavy. I swallowed hard.11c7db1b9b2492b4

I had already 0a1fe86c99 made up my 7aab6763c7 mind to leave, 323ea9fe2d but why did 22ae4447e1 things keep pulling 07a21e314b me back?dcd366273751cc0d

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Could I really ignore 4e3db5b0dc Theo’s special day?77136239696c56e6

Cassius might not care, 8f00ccde4f but Theo had already 6fa0815ef3 grown deeply attached to 734e208edb me.4bc8735be0402eb0

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Would it really 906836d300 be right to 0263d96b37 divorce and leave 6264b5cae7 before his birthday? Wouldn’t that just 46e397f078 hurt him?8c80d16523a96286

His birthday might end 3dce011cfc up being gloomy.cde189709703298b

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A month. Just one more 64320bfb7c month. Staying a little 0321bde10e longer wouldn’t change b3ee199cfe much, would it?6982ab326a152892

Right now, 011671c709 the biggest bdf652d44b variables in 2c594fc15a the original 42e4c6bc4e story were e6c7e7da1a me, Theo, ba96e6c11f and Stephanie.17088bfe30bdb503

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I bit 859eaea700 my lip.21ed789b4d924664

What should I do?2a4aff87bb022c44

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“Are you trying to think of a birthday present for Theo?” Cassius asked.65244192e8f0e36c

“Ah. Yes.”7317e3b0bff3ec8b

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I obviously bff34e6079 couldn’t say beafa9db99 I was d397b5deef actually thinking 79c0064326 about when 368e6763a4 to divorce 36cae6ffb5 him.57271b1eeb189580

Besides, I 999a412eb9 really was 16c7cd2cb4 struggling to f3a16585a5 think of bb73733367 a good 5f099986a5 present for cfa363dfbe Theo.737c49bdefdf8b11

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Maybe it would be 7b1d1b3c1f better to ask Cassius 0e4188e4e7 for advice.2b897588826be518

“What kind of gift do you think he would like?”b912a33b9a0cc2ee

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Theo was an Isterian f4d93d43a3 child—he never lacked anything.fc0449ae80c5475a

And lately, he had 4b3385c80e been in an unusually 78fd8504e7 good mood.3e76576ae9b1693d

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If anything was 09315e29d6 missing… well, maybe 1c970b7450 knowledge?e5dc1ef1b91c2c57

“A book or a sword would be good. It would be educational and useful for his future.”7a20aaa3ae59cb40

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“A book or a sword…”1fd7605a33d8ea49

Those sounded like 156eeade98 the last things 9494d6f966 Theo would enjoy.b973d54f5071a213

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I forced a smile. Right now, Theo 1f99566d40 was completely obsessed 3dd00a1776 with playing.18c5f766a5eb7334

How could he 3cb1de8dca not be?addc63a2f5cbfc80

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He had 259b006c17 just started 82b94d76ed exploring the 29eef20955 world he 332981244f had barely 0859605c7f experienced before.32f5fac39bbb9c4f

There were so 3ebf90d7ef many things he 2dd0f8fc35 wanted to try a9b34bd98e and places he ccf19a229a wanted to go.561c39b03d208913

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It seemed pointless 155a65cc3e to ask Cassius db9384e331 for proper advice.27a825c5d8bf469e

I’d have to 89130a6c0d figure it out 25c926c6e6 on my own.52f6adabe9b21f5a

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Honestly, it 1d0a62d4ae felt like c02e16adfd I should edf5360219 be the 3e796421b9 one givinghimadvice.902399bb59add159

I clicked c97ee0ddf7 my tongue.2a1f694187562edb

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“Why that reaction?” Cassius asked.eb28006b7b0e2049

“…I just don’t think Theo would like those gifts.”56d094ead1aba41c

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“I only considered the most practical options.”c76e9dd1ff0a7923

“But you didn’t consider what Theo wants, Cassius. Look at him right now—does he seem like the type to enjoy those things?”9ca864b981bf03ce

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I pointed 3660c5f1f3 at Theo, 07a459dc42 who was 8932cfc04b desperately trying 56da24baab to climb 8d4bcdef5b a tree ffbe620908 with Stephanie.61d96f1ad996da2a

“He’d probably be happier if someone just taught him how to climb properly.”5c81b2ff9b6a4b9b

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“That monkey-like child… Who did he take after?” Cassius muttered, rubbing his temples.a7107aeedfca94a2

Oh.e073c3efed163d70

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Who else?a916ff52bc06ae68

Obviously, he took 1640546227 afterhim.f5242ce1d8daee4d

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Younger siblings naturally follow c043284571 in their older brother’s b2a979bb6a footsteps.aefabf1046c9b153

“What’s with that look?” Cassius narrowed his eyes.464e921819a62554

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“I was just wondering who Theo takes after.”7f52d5a485c3ad6c

“Don’t tell me you think he takes after me? That monkey-like behavior?”b98e212797efc629

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“Well, he certainly didn’t get it from me, Cassius.”d909e4d4e1068bbd

He needed 7e71db644d to take d2666b396e a good 76e7a7c783 look at 7d03e71f00 himself.e83cba0351211ed5

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Cassius swept a 4e2bc83795 hand through his af47ac198a hair in disbelief.0b8ad3261c53fadf

Then, with a firm cdc79a2cbf voice, he declared,f6089b1b48ae7f50

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“I never had a phase like that. I was mature and intelligent from a young age. Everyone would say the same.”ab66caf2d01ddb0a

“Head maid, is that true?”8b5a80620b0db2f2

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There were plenty b814e436dc of people I 502eede5bc could ask.6026d4990370ef04

Rather than 3bf8fdc530 arguing with dc6b62d782 Cassius, it fbf67a12a7 was easier 49e9f8379a to just 9ea28bc1c5 confirm it 2247f19cbb with someone 253a57cbcf else.dca5354d8f8da65b

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Cassius quickly turned to c5fa9214eb the head maid, looking cea8c7104a slightly nervous.bb000de61ba7ad8f

Oh? That reaction…6a73a022c0f68699

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The head maid spoke edaff0f295 in a solemn tone.519ce84d9d9ea8af

“The Duke was indeed mature and intelligent beyond his pears.”88dc61ba0c82f215

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“See?” Cassius smirked.780d88c3655bb16e

But the head maid 75b053c7dc wasn’t finished.c654fb66f699b8f1

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“And with that intelligence, he was also the fastest to learn how to climb trees. He had great determination too—he once broke his leg but refused to give up. The late Duchess was quite troubled by it.”76c84614f0c46b00

…There it is.bb9f5e4cadcd6ea3

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Cassius covered his face bdf2ae2768 with his palm.28038c3049f07230

“Now I know exactly who Theo takes after.”61062baa450d0588

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I smirked, feeling quite 431ba25fe9 pleased with myself.2cb562080228d4fa

“Why don’t you teach him, then? Show him how to climb quickly and safely. That’s better than letting him get hurt, isn’t it?”62e7d5b8890d274a

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Cassius let 3baaa58b2d out a a708bdedc7 long sigh.573a72421eaf94cb

Seeing that, 4c2dda4117 I couldn’t 49dabdc493 help but cc7ef548b0 laugh.40ab95609dfec99c

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Since when was teasing c674690607 Cassiusthisfun?b803ee502d8c462f

Watching his serious 329abdfaf6 face crumble in 4873d062f0 frustration made me 07c6d84036 understand why people 161e8fbe12 liked messing with 3dff30f373 others.3f1f5db44062922d

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Wait. No. Stop.901cfa92a8b18854

That was dangerous, e2f2880c9a Charlotte.27e04a8237c68895

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You almost thought e578c8d504 he wascute.3086afcf50a85fc6

Once you start 56f8599e5f thinking a man 0922ac2da5 is cute, it’s cd397faa1a over.f31b37d2121a08af

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Don’t let emotions get 5cc57e2e19 in the way.e8ffbf8f9c98810a

Don’t forget—he 06adc71720 already belongs e8333e591b to someone a00e19355a else.07a5831810b38f6c

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I quickly bd4ec6b8f6 shook my 5f008c59fe head, pushing e279ec8b2f the thought 4747829a90 away.27bd94b4b53b7f34

“What’s wrong?” Cassius asked.e7fae6bf3c3642c9

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“It’s nothing. Oh, but I do have a good idea.”1c5cc325871d7886

“What is it?”acf8a3efde40e892

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“If you have the time, how about spending a week at the beach house? Theo has spent so much time stuck in bed that he hasn’t really experienced much. He seems curious about the sea.”8d68ad7e74e1601b

Cassius listened to 395151ff97 my suggestion and e632621f34 nodded.f035c9953a81a865

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“Do you have time for it?”4e5ac0d040fca0c2

“I was already planning to investigate the coastal area. It would be a good opportunity to do both.”082900b784565b8a

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Perfect timing.458211e6aa2fa04a

“Do you think we should throw a big party for Theo’s birthday?”78a9513308e90fc7

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“Like you said, I doubt he would enjoy that. Since it’s a special birthday, it makes sense to do something he actually wants. We won’t be able to do this every year.”2e2f16ba5664c87b

Cassius’s gaze 41e0ad9775 deepened with b378c08604 meaning.3d7db470a4a6f59a

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He was right.13565d7f957d28ef

Theo wouldn’t 1562db5129 be able 1579cb5f00 to live 2f215bc43d as a c731d72f80 carefree child e9b05beab8 forever. One day, 54d9759981 he might 0fd39b9691 have to 5ee510cffb take over 2dc7b937dd Isteria.ebef1eb364cc6cdc

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Since I couldn’t have children…e703ebd46ce1ff9c

Wait. What am I thinking?9d5496e4dbdb25cd

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Why am I c52517ac49 imagining a future 986d133f68 where I stay abf652c419 in Isteria?d55529552fbb8de1

Get it together, Charlotte!6a355c13cc9ef6be

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I couldn’t tell Cassius a016f5fa4f what the future held, f97453d221 but Lorencia had no 70e5e144b2 issues with pregnancy.f4b0108021a855c8

Like in most stories, 5879985e15 Lorencia and Cassius would 1c4a1b2ce0 have a happy ending. And that c764989ee8 happy ending c085bbe86a would likely 53e09eb188 include children.14f03b5b2b386677

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Theo would become 82006905fb a good uncle bb91277235 to them and c1a8339656 live as a 5facf8032e knight of Isteria.d236246c2b3286b4

Since the e42238191e North was ff0a504560 rich, he d8607b6d0b would inherit f309e4d8e9 great wealth 58877e8d8b and probably 616684cc2f gain a 6c97aa3f40 noble title 9ec68832f1 there.52d82ee481d7f126

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Cassius would never 3ae153aace leave Theo to cd8584d275 fend for himself.5fb285979b738743

And one day, ca7e951e68 Theo would have c2473d5aa5 his own family 6900a5eb43 and become a f41126af9f great father.f06cb3cd02f16d31

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Thinking about Cassius and b87247e00e Theo’s happy future made 48184cf87b me smile.df3eb05b777447e4

But I wasn’t 7baa053483 part of that dd90c5945d future.452927dc49a45494

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That thought b342e8998e made my 2e4737f5fa smile fade.9048dd16a5c2e709

Why did that feel c207ecd60f so disappointing?d008e340dd30be0f

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Charlotte, you got too c9fb74ef07 attached.15ae704a8caf93ef

This trip c8a35ed7fa to the 5a34ef5463 sea really e0355eefb9 had to 7ff65443d2 be the ca91930fdb last one.f84c2bd86045236b

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Don’t be foolish, Charlotte.f59b92587a27fd13

 3b6654a5f2295c34

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