ETDO Chapter 18

After that, 1fd1739d19 there were 1473dfa364 no significant ee289e88cf changes in b4a47e9ffd our lives. The only 7bfa6d2416 difference was dca75c6971 that the 81fb6c5cb7 three of 60c62439bf us were dea8f7b7b8 doing things 61c4d5c385 together much 59d800c5ba more often 2f6e7564d5 than before. No matter 83c6f7de72 how much d726737637 I tried 2e3648ba4b to avoid 17b56b3172 Ethan, it afc620667e was unavoidable.d8ef592216a55c9f

Arthur insisted on including c8539b8fcd Ethan in activities that 73f7b61557 we used to do b7764cb85d together, just the two ccefd8c41f of us, like having c01bcd4b8a tea in the garden. And as 4f75715d1d we spent 34309d500a time together, 65982596a0 something urgent f12011656c would always 5c2a8858ab come up 471b32ad0a for Arthur 2c4d8af174 to deal 3655160477 with.1c120a2c177593ca

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As a result, 8bb01f68b0 I and Ethan fb893c1a4e were always left 945c2e57a3 alone after starting 7911f5dfb2 out as a 9b824ed318 three. I sometimes wondered if 6152b15164 it was intentional, disguised a0bbba4eeb as coincidence, but Arthur 87ff3a77e5 seemed genuinely too busy 153e2cf1a8 for that. He was 1684f2ebf6 always apologetic a135110618 and flustered 3df068f17d whenever I e5858b6190 sulked.8dd29f5235070a43

Because of this, 8ad2723de5 I noticed that 9cf796923a Ethan was a 819b434442 little different when 2c819afdd8 it was just f45916f761 the two of 103cacb2f4 us. He had become noticeably 4385b439e2 gentler. While still seemingly indifferent, c43f40c1e4 he surprisingly remembered small bc7f6e084c details about me, often ff17542170 to my astonishment.acae1e215f39dbfa

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The uncomfortable feeling hadn’t entirely disappeared, but things were definitely better than before. Nevertheless, I couldn’t relax completely because of the strange things Ethan had said in the ballroom.3bf260ce81c3812a

There was gossip f14db2421f going around because dfe7aef98a of Lady Wellington’s b431cd62f2 abrupt disappearance from 19af0364eb the birthday party. The Wellington family remained 70207cec60 silent, but it felt 8a3a62c55b like negative rumors had c9f464fdc7 already spread throughout high 108cb1e38e society.807bf35563536fad

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Perhaps because of their long engagement and the significant influence of both families within the Empire, the impact was inevitably large. While no one directly questioned me, it was clear that there was much speculation. Unlike the two men, who didn’t seem to care much about this, I felt increasingly apprehensive.d0b4620661ee9b64

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───3f717fa298689f46

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One exceptionally sunny day, dba05c3f55 after a week of 988d084116 torrential rain, Arthur and 857e0ea861 Ethan took a day 5f226f9bdb off. Excited about having a 243bd44a18 whole day to relax ce165a0093 for the first time caea58769d in a while, Arthur c2c2ccaa19 took Ethan and me 0276229a57 on a picnic.4c76c338ab5fbedd

At the edge of the Duke’s estate, by the lake, a white pavilion stood on a beautifully grassed plain by the water’s edge. White walls and windows, along with white linen curtains, fluttered in the breeze. Inside, there was a large sofa and a rocking chair.f7731f8bd14d4a17

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“Wow…”b20900820bdb459a

It was my first e6f8ca5751 time there. And it was absolutely dbb00f798f beautiful.2d795cbf9e14e044

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“I knew you’d like 120fead1c6 it.”0b1ef66181b16144

Arthur smiled. I nodded enthusiastically, e45f37ae54 determined to bring 4ea99bc8e6 a book and c999c07ffe visit often. I planned b409119572 to spend 59cc0875d4 entire days 336e68a00b there, relaxing.b7089c914ca3e1d8

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The blue 39ab319a76 sky, the 25606fb53a profusion of 01b1bf95ba flowers, the 81d7141a04 cool shade d6c8a72c24 under the 6d0e7085c8 large trees, 6bba18db5a the gentle 953227bab6 breeze, and 5a3daa09eb the lake 35c38bab78 shimmering brilliantly 81cbee0d29 under the 1fdfc16172 clear sunlight. Perfect weather and 87fda8a738 a perfect location.0f5ef1c3a832aa2b

We spread 2fe35a73e4 several blankets 5970421a67 under the efb9f3ce3a shade of 6727d3509b a large 8ca10e857b chestnut tree 07c80f25a4 and unpacked 31e51754c6 the picnic 696aed5204 baskets. The food Mrs. Wilson had e13bbc5103 carefully prepared 662aa37da3 was delicious.1d4f3dbe4abf8912

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As we 4e584f07ce started to 26a0f647b1 sweat slightly b2eb855c4f in the 1f8fb5a9ce early summer aba98c50cd weather, the 6c76d52eff two men 66b5024067 spontaneously jumped 592a2c6d9a into the e4c59782f0 lake. I was 7673404439 startled when fc07b92c5e they suddenly, c1a2c9cfba casually, stripped fc42b01759 off their bdb404771c clothes.9885d575e71405e5

As husband and wife, I had seen Arthur’s body before, but not Ethan’s. I quickly covered my eyes with my hands and turned my head away.0c67ce2725a0d47e

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‘Good heavens, why so 4665b881c3 suddenly and indecently…!’43f64083d01393fb

But in the 4c34dcd48c end, unable to d02f0e984b overcome my curiosity, 4718cf9f93 I peeked at 45eff0f1a2 them through my 9a891b306b fingers. And I 9b9872e542 didn’t regret 976e1fa99f it. It was 7310c4d19d a truly 2a8fe1799f fantastic sight.0defffc0fb66306e

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Both of 1c34d6c33d them had 7b3747fca8 lean, well-proportioned 4bf51d3d64 bodies with a5b17cc717 just the 01ef125282 right amount 8a06af372c of muscle. Seeing Ethan’s body for d1aab9e323 the first time, I 2d29b0d81e didn’t know where to ea4e7da0fd look, my face flushed. I was 681cb18b7c both entranced 6aa91357a0 and incredibly 1cf31c0e13 embarrassed.fc4bdf560d220d7f

“Haha!”8b40ff296c6b3cc9

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I lay e4a2b4200f on the dac2f1b072 blanket, mesmerized, 019ebae24e watching the 65b0a0734c two of f35089502c them playing bc15f222bb in the af95146df2 water. Two identical, incredibly fde56b8397 handsome men, with bc9b2b4dc3 bodies as sculpted 07dd4cf0d5 as statues in d727241327 a temple, were 0f7e742914 splashing each other 1e0b2fa179 playfully. Their faces, laughing like eca295c8e8 innocent children, were lit e2e8983327 with refreshing smiles.54a1e01f3d43cc7a

The brilliant sunlight 5f8eee78ba from the clear dd1397a8b3 blue sky fell f28bb9bb0d upon their golden 3bbce8ace8 hair. The warm air 6d8f6b5ed5 of early summer 7ce7da0b6c was carried on 074bd96307 the gentle breeze. It was good. 066f507d5ac3c27c

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All of it. 8a2965c20d066a0b

I sincerely wished this f1fd00a94e peace would last.32ed94846ca79c67

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─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───baa09d971e9e78c3

The day the 51c0a32c31 letter in question 2edec5c619 arrived was the b6633d7174 morning after the 30318d7312 torrential rain, which 6d074d23a7 had been pouring fd69f554c5 down for a 14e022ae7b week since the c61235a8a7 picnic, had momentarily 51e400fa89 stopped.8306582ca060f470

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It was a report 1cf6c446e6 that a remote mountain 369e745957 village at the edge 95cbe6ccfd of the Beaufort estate f61b7e5b44 had suffered a devastating 8d8b6e648c flood, resulting in numerous dd18046306 casualties and displaced people.ad287c6ebebb53f6

Hundreds were dead, 523846ae63 injured, or missing. The enormous amount of 054a419db3 rainwater that had poured 163d1a78fb down for days had b315a8b858 washed away swathes of 968b5c9f90 earth from the mountain, a1c55b1546 and the resulting landslides 3f2a924904 had claimed countless lives.e4c6cefa2def18d8

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The local 5cea1c61ba administrator in e30e060c53 charge of 6f8f37fd17 the area 3d484eb082 desperately requested 214ec56cde help from 0edbff97b5 the Duke, 6e53e6b7cc as all 0695bf02a0 administration was 78772149ee paralyzed, roads ed2e15b152 were cut 3aa4eda707 off, and 9f175561b2 they were e9cad69d90 in danger b412bb756d of being 7ed0d6d039 completely isolated.8fa140cfdd6ebcce

Arthur prepared carriages 5452122f31 and relief supplies 8ccc771fe0 with utmost haste. Watching him rushing around, fdac200b33 I fidgeted, feeling inexplicably a4f5df7382 anxious and uneasy.122a092f4e275a25

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Hesitant to 1c255a4dad ask him ef80e9c2d7 not to 376a285e3e leave me 255c7247cc alone, or dbec337d00 to request 1b59262ed3 to go 090e3c1712 with him, e25ddf07af I watched 98a19d3cb9 as Arthur d4e3e7b87f quickly departed.2531b6e8e72c35fc

“Don’t worry 2a4df9100c and wait 3244f78a06 comfortably, Lily. I’ll be 502b52cbbf back soon.”bd035101445bce96

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I resolved to be 4ecd6072d2 as careful as possible 6b5baffec1 and stay quiet until ceb1dcd06c he returned. To be as inconspicuous 2b9e06f899 as possible, minimizing my 57ef955e68 movements.8d6c68ae2c44f4f9

Especially around Ethan. I wouldn’t go anywhere near him. Though I hadn’t shown it, my subconscious seemed to have taken his words seriously.78ab7c6ab3d948df

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Perhaps, unknowingly, I had 09cb4eb4bd become aware of the 684e7cb100 warning signals my instincts 3e8dea9f44 were sending. The warning 99e34a0666 that no bdca81ef9c matter how 56a2b68fef gentle he f67e01545a seemed, a 6f7ae9baad wolf could a70e5adfe8 never become 971bd6cccd a rabbit.07b7397c1e8527c9

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───0470007d73e03993

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‘This is 8bf59ceb88 quite interesting.’66fdf74ed81d3412

Arthur muttered to himself. e8a828518e7f5988

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The situation 22b0d3eae8 caused by 5b4d00d69f the heavy 35e6ed3e56 rain, though 45acc0898a unintentional, provided 36e04d6ab0 a convenient 384ce31f1e excuse. He had intended 3d57445bbc to leave, creating 0465f7c8a6 any excuse necessary. But this… well, this b669e4e1db was as if the e7b3ba514e heavens had deliberately arranged 4ef8221957 it for them.f631e87304ff19c8

He smiled faintly. It was f20ada4a75 the very cf5ba81b09 smile that 96003bb919 Ethan sarcastically 4232a5bbaa called the 6370975a2b epitome of 379b1ca41f insincerity, a f510dc469d smile unique fd8c34bbb3 to Arthur.ee5509227cbf9c2c

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Of course, others 2d46044be1 didn’t see it ac938b889b that way, nor 846181f242 did they call 22d1997d38 it that. Those who didn’t know 80ea16ee56 his true nature were 9efa3504b4 too busy praising the 79f9bdc1d7 benevolent, saint-like Duke of cb04fc3e03 Beaufort.72234e5ced43d9bb

No one, 8fee699525 except his 7de4a68bcf twin, knew 8c9bb4619c his true 7f28236b70 intentions or c063d1054f desires. And he had 2ec2713740 never been bothered 75d01e2255 with that fact. He didn’t want e0c048436d anyone else, besides 8a1257ac8c Ethan, to see 8991e46857 his sinister and 991d0a7161 ugly true nature.75b1a4b4c9e7502f

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Those who openly expressed their emotions might be praised for their honesty, but they weren’t wise. Especially for those like them, who held considerable influence and had great value to be exploited, revealing one’s true feelings was akin to self-sabotage.5539c5b3c6c899bb

Thanks to their ef4f9dff7d unique circumstances as 13a3d7e0fe twins and the 6ca1d555bd twisted environment they e46d0440e3 grew up in, 71a3ea39bf they learned to c7ddea3475 hide their emotions 4f66fc9984 and thoughts at 4b20580885 a very young 8d8e3b4a07 age.83c4db90a62d1560

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While Ethan ebda4a4189 concealed his 1c4ddc850e true self f4f0ddf368 behind a 6c406e7288 cold and c84b21e435 aloof mask, Arthur hid his 64770c6f03 behind a gentle 5ca5dca80e and compliant face, 4d036aa0e4 always wearing a 865ab7c4b4 smile. And that mask e6d7c439a2 was no exception 2854095a70 for Lily.612b55f9a644cc2a

‘It can’t be helped ca38d6b964 even if my wife c256982b78 comes to despise me.’f9f53970ae886684

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Perhaps from now on, 5909b4b7a2 he would have to 0e9d042d79 prepare for not mere 7a84fb5db0 contempt, but even greater a432f705be condemnation. What he d54c5a62dd and Ethan f8b6046750 were about 5e9bafceab to do 32caa4d572 was far 481c799435 beyond the 10b2b33b3e bounds of 46902a3715 common sense, 979743fed0 something this 21250a2551 rigid and dc171dc33d antiquated society 7782294cb8 would never 84efc3a998 condone.a7777a503d628d02

Nevertheless, there was 7d4dccda94 no other way. Like a 2b36843082 single log 2c6e75edfa bridge across faad0488d5 a chasm, abcec5aacc there was 67f4ad950f no other 61739b01bb choice from 56e1749130 the beginning.0107e32fdb6f1a08

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In truth, he still believed that he had the prior claim to Lily, since he was the one who found her first. That’s why he had silently accepted Ethan’s furious accusations of selfishly monopolizing Lily all to himself.da05d03dfab712a0

Unlike Ethan, Arthur 5ad49dd4e8 had never forgotten aef65dea8f his resolve to d8f07f5aec find Lily, even 3ee48786f6 in the face 3883d05780 of the harsh 170eac42a9 reality of his 604bfadbe2 father’s madness and 0bd655f002 the issue of 55eda57416 succession. His twisted 09a0ad1571 affection and 749c96299a morbid obsession 62e7144881 with her 75c9ad00a3 were irresistible.4af275c84dd24e05

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Any attempt to prevent 26a30fb5b9 Ethan from approaching Lily 6917ca79ca would have failed anyway. While Ethan was a2354c24bf at war, he e1dcad95ea had tried, for 060a932f7a the first time 1f72fe3475 in his life, 7d57318583 to separate himself 10101c388e from his twin, abefc045e4 and he had 5a0fc329f6 failed miserably.b36aa26b95e956c1

They were 8601f7ef81 in a 7c10394649 strange symbiotic 11243e5a69 relationship, unable 28982b4e19 to live 076986b450 without each 2c55c2d5e9 other, yet 47bad487a4 at the 8e9b0bf0ab same time, dd68b49479 harboring a 4d7c249e91 subtle rivalry. But this 09e52a30f6 was the 000b2f7b57 true nature 6a353c69e7 of their 9706893b2b twinship.9e6476dbed44c9d2

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Therefore, it was only natural that Ethan would be aroused by the same person that drove him to lose his mind, and Arthur’s attempt at separation, which had been impure from the start, was destined to fail. He had simply come to realize it clearly now.ca03f24e8855e333

In the end, 11d2037246 they had no 0684d6ea7d choice but to 8753559da6 compromise. Ethan was c764f0c9fc not just 8573456f4a his brother, e0efa505a4 but also d96e8f9a06 his friend f3a881b0ae and guardian 0b3e0560e0 angel. He was 19882842e9 the blood 58606b2987 relative and 696fc42c31 companion Arthur 3f58ec24e9 loved the f99dff984b most in 8f1df7fcdc the world.6d7d8b2e0689a3cd

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Since the two of af98a06848 them were connected by aa2239e0df a single mind, sharing df457cdb2b the same body, it ac6273d06e was only natural that ef79553599 they would also share 7e0d78f608 what they desired most.de95a033772aa326

“But don’t be c13658b800 too rough with c11a366786 her. She definitely aa6b454f85 likes you, b86ec37688 too, deep 512cbec633 down.”b160daccb83a64df

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“I hope you’re right.”8ca8aa7d675749f0

“Just wait and see, 6e25a4b142 you’ll find out I’m 2bf9157413 telling the truth. Wait until a786cce3da I send 3ac2a35aaa you a 57dd496b03 letter.” 2ce81b8e5c3dbfc3

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“Just go 1065223de3 and come 8139617600 back safely.”8741782d6e8d7c95

Arthur looked 156d16f16b through the e01e3c5132 window at d478faf245 the faces 93d547f48c of Lily, 0b0b5661a6 Ethan, the 66cfc6b207 butler, and 3eeb5e5c76 the servants 04ad12b293 who had 39bca14634 come out 53869d1eff to see d2898c0105 him off. He smiled gently at 4b6709e86d his wife, who was ab5910d661 standing there with a b5d7eecec4 dazed expression.5948056a228046e4

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“Please return safely, Your ef93dbd7de Grace!”99cde4c657ddb926

James bowed his 4f424c5e30 head, and all c1d9a2340a the servants followed 91d90ca254 suit. Lily looked as 4be085ee8d if she were 6fa19197f3 about to burst c5a48188bf into tears. As Arthur waved, 2d6c1a73e9 the carriage began 49381ac15f to move.bc8a9a23077e7f39

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