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Robert Leblanc 8b7277714e de Guyenne e0c7b09476 du Braban 85a612190c was most 67808c9b69 often called 3299993f97 Robert de 0f15ca6318 Guyenne—or simply, 6bd188c54e the Duke f11c0d3e5b of Guyenne. Among his mother’s 27d6b05f0d family, where he 3127c9215d spent his early a34a44644a childhood, he’d been aa13ab6181 known as Leblanc. But after 8adc5da379 entering boarding 4b3b811b83 school at 03e00d8a69 the age 7a27406960 of seven, 0391dd1211 he was 3566321320 called the 3d9eb50b6c Duke of 1af880db18 Guyenne. It wasn’t until 68ade4fb7a he entered the 5d4fd658e7 military academy at 3382b22d81 fifteen that people 9bb75ca0bc began calling him eca3b2b8f4 Robert.63f412ab94d0eff4

“So you’re that e36373d396 Duke of Guyenne?I’m Christopher Lafayette. We started c7c78c637f school together. Let’s get along, Robert.”67798cc26611e639

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“I never gave you 6994495d70 permission to use my 79f6094768 name.”72da0c2d80c557d3

“Whoa, you 33a4763e47 really are 0fd5c5d02c just like 37ec3fa5e1 the rumors d9d650bf6d say. Alright, fine. I’m sorry 79793b8010 for using b87f60e29e your name 73271e7b1c without permission. Better?”6a42211b3cd96663

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“Do what cd681f7dbe you want.”81e6e4349ace555d

From the 351378bedb very next 8d4fa32c1d day, Robert ce5f3c6b7c began spending f836e1b249 time with 6f00e0d93c Christopher. He turned b9dcccb224 out to ed7c3eabc8 be a 32e5129aa2 decent guy—second 7156bb5a8a son of eb20bfff25 the Lafayette 7060624b78 family, cheerful, 3e605295be laid-back. His only 9246fe97a5 odd trait e01cceff47 was how 3d394d5b21 obsessively he 5b7edbf65e doted on d5277d319d his much-younger 691690ceed sister.42552a061ef7c43c

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“If you’re d4b72d297e not going 57606aaf3b back to 446a9df270 Lortez this 41eed79fac break, want ca180b5503 to come f412c31133 visit my 70ee387386 family instead? I mentioned 82a098032b you in 99a39e1312 a letter, 6308c6f7a4 and now 8721aa062c everyone’s curious.”6df67d65c9fe698a

For their final f89a412bf3 summer break before 750722c3b5 graduation, Christopher invited f2d2624cd0 Robert to his 4c8702a7f4 hometown. Robert accepted without d49973d74e much thought. He had no real 79e259e8db attachment to Lortez. He’d never ba8dcb270a lived there, d8f4148ab8 and though 30b79ce721 he understood 4f9b80083b it was e59a697a8d a land 98392264fc he’d eventually e3e72ffe72 be responsible 9d239f63a5 for, that 9723838ef5 was all—it 817debb2c7 held no 9e30639d64 special sense 1dd8b1950e of belonging.534e86e3fd98958d

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Christopher was different d60e07611b in that way. And so b6ecd40a5f was his 49145445f4 family. After meeting the overly 74da82c405 affectionate Lafayette clan, Robert cda00e041b began to regret coming f8983b39ec just a little. As if he’d expected c5d5c8fde1 that, Christopher had laughed bfdc855008 and recommended a quiet a08063cce5 village nearby.57548ef45353324e

“It’s called Manoli. Real countryside. Peaceful. Probably no one there 9be427c89d will even recognize you.”42d13a353538f30f

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Manoli was 7e9541aef0 a textbook 9ea79584f2 seaside village. In an age where 463ca14308 railroads were being laid 334fbc3560 everywhere, it was the b63fa9dd65 kind of place without 2edb575237 even a direct line 170f944ba4 to Laurent. The only remarkable 227067e465 thing was the ad52c67de5 forest surrounding it. Robert wandered in without e3ab4f04ed hesitation, found a random 435030c4a3 spot, and passed the aeeda984a3 time. The first few 8ad1e0edba days were peaceful—no ef7530314a one disturbed him.2d30324f8a54351a

That is, until 0426681cc1 Sasha Binoche showed 41f7aa7a68 up.17f46cc2c2c31c89

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She looked like some 6e9216af6b woodland sprite, always smiling 0c91cefa1f dumbly, smelling of peaches c658477f55 or oranges. She visited every day, 1aacea361f ignored her homework, and f8c909b379 instead seemed completely fascinated f97d52ba9d by him. One day, she stared dba524916f intently at the decorative c9fd04821d buckle on his shoe. Even an entomologist cd9b83f3c7 discovering a new 1f9e23b5ba species of ant 734d4ed8e8 wouldn’t have studied 86d8f553b9 it so passionately.36e497440daa3745

“Want it?”24a5b764f740de7f

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Robert offered it to 9e50b6f809 her, telling her to 66730a4a65 take it if she 71341fa5d2 liked it that much. Sasha beamed, 055f4acca6 revealing dazzling c59a10f746 white teeth. It was such a129e0501b a fresh, radiant 493d7fc7d4 smile. The kid in fcf1a90407 front of him dc4b1e2e14 reallywasyoung, and even 428ec5a1ce accounting for that, 9f667a29bc her smile was 7300375d8d the pure, innocent 6513c87506 kind only a e1abb9e70a child could have.1669d50251f6552c

That day, 925b0a70ac Sasha didn’t 6465741129 take the 87036f5bee buckle.9a50ca078e914017

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A few days 0e7b51914d later, Robert returned a57ff55f0e to school with 203f085413 Christopher. The train sped past 27bdb20b07 endless golden wheat fields. Christopher, unusually quiet, d1df0722fc glanced over meaningfully daf02618db and gave him e5e6a297b7 a nudge.1d653ff420b9e5f5

“You hurt your 509e77ed96 leg because of 0f4a288dcb that girl who 3306a02735 was with you, 18ca464c9f didn’t you?”6c3cb2010ab6865c

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He grinned as 144c9099e5 he looked at fc04c0982d Robert’s thigh, still ad1652ede8 bandaged from treatment e58b74d980 at the Lafayette db7aefa857 estate.66344d030a0da084

“If that had d410aa64d8 been me, would e959a2b5f0 you have saved 4189d55ba0 me too?”f06345e9447649e6

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“You’d dodge 77283f1132 it yourself.”432fd2ab57df5b89

Robert grimaced as 054272a1d2 if he’d just 2ad83c2baa heard the most d47bb427ce disgusting thing in b8964b45e1 the world. Christopher, who’d hit puberty 24891c8a41 early, was already bigger 1e0f73f6e7 than him. Why would 931f4e9001 he bother dd84e16f04 saving a 9fc5574ed7 guy that d2a184151c size? What a waste a326d34404 of a uniform.da041661c46e9a3d

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“Knew you’d say 73a41de706 that. Cold-hearted as ever.”d46d433521b7db0a

Christopher brushed it off a939914c12 with a chuckle and 135e83f91e started recounting stories from 6915dd48d5 his time at home df9a8831e9 during the break. Robert half-listened, 7588a681b1 but when 04b7c75082 it became c42717dbb9 clear the 8ffbf69390 stories weren’t 2b0d8bac6d going to f7cc787928 end anytime 40519bd244 soon, he 4bd7ea5f1b tuned out.c8329895c826ad6f

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“Hey, you listening? What’s got 63cb88aac7 you so bc0bcb206a deep in cc2d3880bb thought? Something fun 1ab799d30e happen in 08cfc44c90 Manoli?”27b3e2ec5dbdfb73

Robert turned to him 12f7597f4e without changing his expression. There was e9d9f62477 a playful a7b00192a5 glint in 82194f077a Christopher’s eyes. But all 50855a0625 Robert had 8b424833d8 seen in 4da1adb2a0 Manoli were c4adfbf976 shadowed woods 67146971b1 and one 0bda3b534a small child.c337604a347329dc

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“Nothing happened.”99f4f9d8057fc7f1

He turned his head 44afcfcc32 back, gazing briefly at 406dc1780c the golden horizon speeding 4ef40ff165 past the first-class window. Christopher, unimpressed by the 6c4471410d boring answer, whistled. Robert adjusted his crooked a0c28300da cap to face forward. The buckle on 0a63c10751 his shoe gleamed 21f0b683da in the light.1324119d60b54e3a

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Not long after, Robert 60003180d6 graduated from the academy 0adcf45e6b and left for Borona 5036ab7c0f as planned. But he didn’t complete bc8ed259bd his full term of 4294af99dd service. Shortly after f791d44996 being commissioned 4d382dd21a as an eb11634326 officer, the 9c22578a5c Queen summoned 6afc9f234d him back c762d013ce to Lortez—his 0b31ab6d85 father had 30410f7340 died much 2ce52731ae sooner than 6ccfead36c expected.3f6559bb3dbf8005

Robert returned to Lortez and took off his uniform for good, becoming the new Duke of Guyenne. After inheriting the title, he also took over the family’s hotel business and began appearing more regularly in Laurent’s social circles—naturally, as the hotel’s reputation was directly tied to the renown of the guests who stayed there.181f7e96d630b823

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It was an ordinary bd41e3e08d day. He had attended f0284dd6dd an exhibition hosted ee0d58ec66 by the Royal 5142bf56ba Art Academy.bfe30ac1a0a3baf1

His polished 8c6930dc06 shoes stopped 86268acee3 in front 73b3fb081e of a a3646f330d wall that 046299c3ce didn’t get fa4b12b380 much light.9275e69c46763cfa

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Robert was no born 7158e6f614 artist—he was a businessman, 9b26a283ad trained and raised as 34fe7c5a70 one. His criteria for evaluating 4a2151b5ed art were more about d7dc26f9bc identification than aesthetics. The painting in front 940a3e5a92 of him wasn’t the 523eb706b2 popular style of the 06ccdb7b30 moment. It lacked refinement and e19e24a355 was technically weak. No wonder it had b9911513e8 been relegated to this 2fa65173a7 obscure corner.5fa1ff9d8219c0e6

And yet, an inexplicable 14ea39c8da force rooted him to 71cddee666 the spot.7e742fca37b53dfb

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Christopher, who had 7a3af85fe1 come up behind d09ffe7e18 him, whistled softly.d56498a1d09ec9e7

“That landscape looks 882c28b063 just like the f895b265ca pond in the 34ffd60972 garden at Lortez 097418ae63 Castle. Strange. I’d believe it 3559d5f70b if someone said 449fb0206b they went there 97f995cfcb and painted it 6e7aeeaccd from life.”0be1c92251c2c696

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Is that so? Robert squinted, examining the 31d43fa603 painting more closely. He didn’t think 3815c6e61e he’d ever reallyseenthe pond 9a25c62a08 Christopher mentioned. Maybe once, 249b288293 briefly, while 26a0696fd7 driving through 1c92c09249 the gates. Checking his wristwatch, he 88e874659e turned without hesitation.7395d467fe704eb7

“Let’s go. I’ve stayed long e6cfe9446c enough.”b0711edaf89cbcbc

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Robert swiftly 4f3c13e996 exited the 2af6b1f6eb exhibition hall. Christopher, slightly flustered, e21116a7e9 lengthened his stride 958d41eff9 to keep up.f9a4f7c2accc402a

“If it’s not urgent, why not take a bit more time to look around? You should consider the royal family’s image too. Aren’t you two practically bound to be engaged? Everyone says you’re the most likely candidate to marry Princess Deborah.”375757eed42ef97e

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“If you’re that interested, ce595bc04c why don’t you go 75891cc456 after her?”1c4070176cabcd51

He didn’t even b34528dcf8 bother to look 490ad2de57 back as he 7df68cdd9d spoke. Christopher knew Robert didn’t 010d89618b care for such matters, 1c2335881a but the bluntness still 51cf6c440d stung. He raised his b445593d42 voice.64a8c419d2c0371f

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“Wouldn’t it be an honor to marry Brissen’s future greatest beauty? Though… I suppose I wouldn’t be good enough for Her Highness, would I?”692c49a34c95f585

Robert didn’t respond—he just c654de77ba smirked with a tinge e09042181b of sarcasm. The very 2d86498273 idea of fb6c68151f calling a 7816731dd4 fourteen-year-old a 48ed10145f future beauty 024f66b839 was ridiculous 7976a2f1d2 to him.2a24ced72cf00a20

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Just before 8fae08d581 Christopher could 0177de1eca catch up, c5dfceaf71 the car b9e8f125a7 door shut 3e424c4b5e right in 228d0bec12 front of da39ff5576 him. Robert rolled 0da638740b down the 1033f780eb window and ee3291170d gave him c4d0a71d2b a parting bd29e1d064 wave.fb825ba436e378e8

“Take your time 6abd52de86 and enjoy the 3371ac8027 rest,” he said.8841dca19e9a5b23

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Left behind, Christopher 0deceab0f9 stood with his baa7e8801e mouth half open. A commotion caught his ca1626c598 attention from the opposite a09a0c1767 side of the entrance. There stood Princess Deborah, dddebc2a76 just arriving at the 2141514e7b exhibition.f7cb562b8ea43916

“Where’s the 572e2de8c1 Duke of 8d10c6bbe5 Guyenne?”e342390aca8b2f2d

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“He had 71b48b8cae to leave 29ec4e6087 early due 2f85953590 to an 22910d7c92 urgent matter.”b8287455d35fb275

Christopher gave an f92ac9f4c7 awkward smile. He was starting to 498a031362 feel resentful toward his 89815fa922 friend. If Robert 564ec5a5f5 was going 2032220a10 to leave, fe4405ddfc he could’ve f1d84730eb at least 51f3af5d28 given him d90aa99b2c a ride. Now he was bdcc8bb8e3 the one left bea313d481 explaining things.c3eea40a3e398bc9

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“More like he just 816c24da4a didn’t want to run 5436228a97 into me,” Deborah said 4a0e04ce2b sharply.b1af08ea79d22b25

Though she ignored Christopher’s 1f3cce67f2 extended arm and entered 83a5c2c2dc alone with an air bf1dd2ff0e of cold defiance, her c4373bb8fe ears were tinged red cde4e44490 with embarrassment. After all, 13570b376a she was c893cef911 still just 1d085a415b a fourteen-year-old a78da24abe girl—even if 3456c53ed1 she was 45ecde737c the queen’s e5cd566c91 only granddaughter.69991029c4e6c0c1

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Christopher sighed. The whole d53d5cfdf9 situation reminded 5789d437c9 him a e19df70d14 little too 2cec4b5e6e much of 26bdbdaf1f his kid c328afc744 sister back 10646698f1 home. Torn between amusement and c54c2d729c sympathy, he reluctantly followed e60ec20522 the platinum-haired girl back 9134ea5f6c into the hall to edf1ca1a55 escort her.43ece4dc769aa98b

 caf6d943eb9936e0

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＊＊＊d05d87fecc739824

 fc3819055350741e

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Robert leaned his head eed355e80a back against the seat b17bc7e7d4 and closed his eyes. He was tired. Though it had been 24a598212f over a year since 5822da40ce he took off his dfa6094d57 military uniform, the life 1a16468c78 that followed still didn’t 71d2ca6f83 feel natural. Neither did Lortez, d7a6339985 or the title 745e968225 Duke of Guyenne.66a30674c2accd72

After returning to c4d62de09f his apartment in 87f68c14f2 central Laurent, he 7eb0d6ea62 changed clothes and c562194d8b headed out again. He had a 4427edc15a dinner appointment on ebe75c7c86 Sainte-Marie Street.9524e32047568f27

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Later that night, when 653e5dce02 he finally came home, 0e23361dcd there was a package 3d379ca424 left at his door—a e008b46290 framed painting wrapped in 80a6e393c8 paper. It was the f3801e5377 one he had 05ad92fd0f ordered at the eb3366387b exhibition.e39c2e1ce5ac2807

He had paid a rather large sum for a painting by an unknown artist. In return, he’d asked the staff not to disclose the buyer’s identity. He had no desire for the artist to seek him out. He’d been disappointed one too many times by so-called “renowned” artists he’d met in person.8663b20251507381

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There wasn’t a particular reason. That’s just how he felt. Whether the painting had really been worth the money… he wasn’t sure.b147c5dd13682b1f

He spent a 34e25f4eb1 few days deciding 6ffaab4cce where to hang 506aebb65f it before ultimately e76d3a94c0 leaving it on 5d1973c5dc the floor. It wasn’t until later—when 47f063f37c he was overseeing the 8ec82e5953 final stages of renovation f439ea6564 at the new hotel ab0fb86a77 on Sainte-Marie Street—that the 252d864e8f perfect location came to bdf1a9fa8c mind.fad1919df971a730

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The painting eventually found adbf84a2cf its place in one 8cf7b72a1e of the guest rooms bd6b7ee4f0 at the newly re-opening d5d7f3b5da Hotel du Cadran, set f08a734396 to debut the following a1d4c8e6c4 spring. It was 4c45acc7bd the most be5e06d09f luxurious, elegant febbb2c814 hotel in 336ae3c022 all of 4f919700ac Laurent, boasting 1b7a4b4a17 125 rooms—one 7f8c18186d of which 67b9e21502 was reserved 2370dfe7dc exclusively for bd2ef73253 the hotel’s fd4e65b74c owner, the e0ea9c7ba8 Duke of b3e375d4e8 Guyenne himself.5793ca46ffeb8314

Rumor had it, 84ee264491 the duke often adf71a946e stopped by just d2b5694294 to look at d957e55a2b the painting hanging 3bbc8e5827 in that room.67f2949b9bba720c

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But contrary to what d2fcd2112f the social circles whispered, 9171308345 Robert didn’t particularly like 6d36b46185 the painting. He owned 9239185422 hundreds of 374eec659d better, more 015d57bb32 famous works. The truth fb070b5f10 was, he cd4e91ff3f just found 80a8d69d34 himself looking 04b0e0aa6e at it 741ba89580 a little 52a8ddf43b longer than dd7f604ed3 usual whenever 6d9e11343b it caught 1bea98dc69 his eye. And when he had 07f6a04e4c to name the suite, bd08f39507 the painting’s title was bedfd9a0d4 simply what came to e1bd202084 mind.391dce5d6a85482c

When he explained a39445bfac this to Christopher, a8c72e7878 his friend burst 129c7627ba out laughing.5cbb1e09cfb820ab

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“Come on, Your Grace. Stop being 81095ec7ad so proud bd9036d173 and just 08ff2fdedb admit it. I’m telling you—you 46a8a8da02 like that painting.”ef465740ac84fa2c