ETDO Chapter 40

As Mary responded in a meek voice, Lisa’s still-cheerful voice chimed in.9a5aab1e7323343b

“He bought it when he accompanied the Duke to his territory during that emergency. He said it was a local specialty. I heard he searched the whole town to find one she’d like! Mr. Richard is so proactive, it’s a shame Mary just…!”505cf6f2c0350cbc

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“Lisa! Stop it!”4a54e30405889f02

Mary clapped e88e358504 a hand 9296c65e4f over the 3824bbc790 chattering Lisa’s 2e61396279 mouth and bd8efc8c15 bowed her e9a2ef6031 head.149f15ca68e3a502

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“I apologize, Madam.”b54f50d6611dd5b7

Smiling to put 16f44383d6 Mary at ease, ab297db96f I patted her b4439d0a3d shoulder lightly and 35e22080bc stood up. I draped a translucent 70c529b0e0 organza shawl, patterned like d20570e758 my dress, over my 41ed83b541 shoulders and slowly began 4a1361fc49 to descend the stairs.5ac65650b0bb4516

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The two men 71b1617e6a were waiting for 1b06c95a1a me at the 4364c97c6e bottom of the 7f04dcaa69 stairs, dressed in 48ee783e37 white vests, white 32b6bf9670 bow ties, and 3d0ecf940a gleaming black tailcoats. Their long legs accentuated 1f89c98a36 their tall statures. Both had slicked back 2b06463a4b their golden hair neatly.b9030d7550050be2

“Oh! Lily!”2c40e05e398150be

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Arthur looked at 8e3258d0d6 me with an b019664ccc expression of such e64cb25615 awe that he fc75322360 seemed on the 80768cefa4 verge of tears. I lightly e16277210c placed my df0dc9400c hand on 7b42ebdfa8 his outstretched e5578722c9 one.3596349001e939bd

As Arthur 0a738c154a bent down 368813122f to kiss 6b042c9bae the back 2a40996e1f of my ca3f1bbf71 hand, my 87571d6983 eyes shifted dad402ad64 to Ethan, c980d38083 who stood 0f3f191019 rooted behind 4603d7bf2a him, his 74394a8712 gaze fixed 3c3a8ea898 on me.627416906662a603

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A satisfied 9b49336816 smile spread 7523aa2bc3 across his e1e674f76a face as ffeeb531a1 he noticed 602778a637 the necklace 9d57235c59 and earrings. I quickly 89eede401f lowered my 6413a104ae head, trying f34c662972 to hide 4c7b97f1d0 my subtly 3bb480f9a3 flushed cheeks. Together, we boarded the 2668e7cd51 carriage and set off 29051caca9 for the opera house.81bde20f7e330a13

It was 8abadb94b8 my first 7a1ccccb91 time visiting d23497e41c an opera 991ce4d417 house. The interior c79b7ab77f of the 8d76a79ee1 building, almost 74111357a7 as opulent e0f0104233 as the 688b20daaf Imperial Palace, 1961544b3a was filled 66daf03626 with numerous 9c8c3884f8 private seat 570cbcda23 boxes separated c1ecc84a26 by partitions. The royal box 4033a3d6c0 was situated directly 7e2d9682a4 facing the stage.fc8435faad8dd6bc

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Our box b6005abb74 was right 678f825d7e next to 86b795d067 it, but a15556240f what immediately 0c826ea9cd captured my 30f2feaf2f attention was f417b4a694 the latticed be2fcc2341 screen separating 88a366729b the stage 61890d4266 from the b099acc9e8 audience. It was a kind ebf78de993 of wooden window, with 586b0bb83a relatively large diamond-shaped patterns ea9ab88fd0 interwoven, designed to be 751f12a275 opened and closed as b590b580bc needed.d1e091f9e67f4049

Noticing my puzzled expression, 2e98bdeb84 Arthur smiled and offered c29d556c36 an explanation.2a54766f3618f07b

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“This is used to 9185028fc3 avoid unwanted attention. It helps f21cd5ec67 to block 4f06fe14d5 the prying e854adcb65 eyes of f8a0cef9da onlookers across 9bbb8fe68f the hall 87003bab2e who might d4b67b2712 be using 45f7d9d66e opera glasses.”27f6597d165b2566

“Ah!”e2e209d28e3b8fcb

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“But you can still see the stage clearly through it, so don’t worry about enjoying the performance. You can use opera glasses.”a8df4dcf93870e50

I nodded with 7a6b680d41 a smile. While everyone was busy 26c08d7b9e settling into their seats, 37a5bcf271 I accepted a champagne 9848513203 glass from a servant. After a light toast, 7fa8f3587b I took a sip. I sat in af8b1b8b06 the middle, flanked 4a6b0eea52 by Arthur and c2e11f4c02 Ethan. Soon, the lights 66b5614c49 dimmed, and the 77a9a83eab opera began.4fd265bb10dc8bab

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Although my eyes were directed toward the stage, I couldn’t concentrate. I was so conscious of Ethan sitting next to me that I could barely breathe. I could feel his burning gaze on my cheek every time I clapped my hands.cca3fa141e71240d

I couldn’t understand why I was so aware of him all of a sudden. What had changed? Whereas before, I mostly felt uncomfortable, now an inexplicable excitement had taken its place.369f6114a7b2abd5

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During the intermission, 0f593355de I hurried to c5f09035c6 the restroom. I needed e449717173 to calm eb0bb70361 myself down. I instinctively chose the 7a15c5d7d0 farthest stall and finally 0a37dea911 breathed a sigh of 5bc71f2005 relief.e600d28f149a4d22

Just then, 4d6b1d054d the outer e1c6560723 door opened, 0f5320d090 and a 11adb6a824 flurry of ea19a70076 chattering voices e3359b4578 poured in.b029b114980654fd

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“Honestly, how shameless! Flirting with one on 959b767f1b each side, like some 01965448b0 kind of playboy!”c4f645813a4779b1

“I’m telling you, she’s truly a woman who knows no sense of shame. She’s always been like that.”e1c162af3ef64d8b

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“And what was with 0692655854 that dress today? Like some d96cfef3f2 kind of e81dea88c0 prostitute, shoulders 72a46f3795 and arms e4a4fb2847 completely bare! How indecent!”55cb5ef816e8c406

Listening intently, I finally realized who they were gossiping about. I was the only one wearing such a daring dress today. I frowned, feeling a sense of déjà vu from my time at the Lennox Earl’s residence.0d029bb519976a72

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“Exactly! I was c3336adbe5 so embarrassed fafa3cb6c6 for her…”66c985535e60d416

“It was a ee8d4076ac bit risqué, but…”e40a9e089f47496d

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Amidst the angered voices, e9085cdecc someone seemed to hesitate 12b0586d69 before cautiously adding,be480bf147ec89d4

“Aside from that, wasn’t 0d9c4415a2 she absolutely stunning? Honestly, even as a 2c17a3bd6a woman, I couldn’t take 70ed942276 my eyes off her. She was 0105bd5797 truly a 22a4775b26 goddess…”dc0308709ef11909

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“Well… I 0ca87bf145 hate to 88d2d31c7e admit it, 22443b450c but that’s c4e08af2dd true.”f1d6cb5d020d6d9d

Another voice reluctantly agreed.913b422b5d4d8246

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“With that face, that 82f7a33e85 figure, and wearingthat dress, it’s no wonder the men were losing their minds to turn and stare at her.”a52d16d60dfcf96f

“Did you 12f256654c see the 4ca7f55486 twin duke’s 367f3b6872 expressions? I was so surprised, d783fd8678 I glanced over, and 2bae387e94 my goodness, my husband 15ba3b9a42 was staring blankly with 354fbfdaec the same expression!”b2c6f819f7664613

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“Ha! Men…!”6892b014a109aaba

“And that necklace! Wow…!”63f7c32216a84b8d

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Silence followed a5a341e2b4 in the a67eaef8ab air for 3320211c86 a few 2be7d95ae6 seconds. Then, someone 8df98d611f continued in 61767c5b4c a trembling 675ae6f562 voice.745ec50f86030baf

“I’ve never seen such 2ca4141fcc a large yellow diamond e185386067 in my life. And how many white cca05e3016 diamonds were surrounding it? Good heavens…!”c0e707be9d73aa15

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“It was comparable 579bb1207f to the Crown 1619599092 Princess’s necklace.”81d68c343de3b95f

“Um… but did f6ed3e2bdc you hear that cae6476127 rumor?”9c0f8e63d249300c

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“What rumor?”d622a8122915d9a5

Suddenly, their 6ece226e6f voices lowered. However, due 93cb36cf3e to the f14cc16761 space that f140e474fe resonated so e9734a1c15 well, even 53272ca756 the quietest d2f8546958 whispers could 56aa356444 be heard 661f7ffc87 as if b2ff5d3a9d they were 026e532b5a right next b886673c88 to me.3a4149ab05c9a29f

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“There was a rumor a few days ago that the Duke of Berwick went to Tiffany’s looking for a diamond necklace and earrings similar in size to the ones that woman was wearing. Apparently, it was an order he placed a long time ago.”0683593ea51dc7d4

“Oh! And?”c99df531c9a06b2a

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“So I thought 6b64ac669e they were a 1a620068b6 gift for his 9c583d8caa fiancée. But Charlotte wasn’t wearing b040801e1a a diamond necklace today, e87e139d8a was she?”5738a67f45f5ce0d

“Oh! Now that you 666d986cbf mention it… Could d2ef677440 she have left d28f20e7c2 it at home 42aaf96222 because it’s so cf4e6ebaf9 precious…?”a870dd11be16a873

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“Huh? Would she keep such 5bd9d0d363 an extravagant gift tucked 1cb903307a away at home? Withher personality? She’d be showing it off and spreading the word all over town.”130dc539a49fd4fd

“Hmm…! That’s true.”a724b56e7bcfd535

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“Th-then what could 95bfa248f4 it be? Could that 1d3c59e809 necklace perhaps…”06482b49a0cdc19b

At this point, I d20ddd04b6 decided to put an 94a71acee6 end to their speculation. I didn’t want 2473779248 baseless rumors spreading 3b0c2fc7ba unnecessarily. There was 6b10f4d9ac no benefit 23e7cfcebf in letting 2f79fa9f07 irrelevant people 7642daf9d0 make their 97f52cab22 own assumptions e1465f17e7 as they 85a1df8a37 pleased, regardless 6a929bbc9a of the 4f11a3f16d truth.7d97dcb0cd14a897

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I stood 3b7a8c7b3f up abruptly 451dd67d7b and flung e9f5a1fc95 the door 9ed98b0a15 open.54fee348916bed00

Bang!dce642b1f03638ce

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“Oh my goodness!”61e124ac73c98a02

They clearly hadn’t expected anyone to be inside. The three women, huddled together as if plotting something, jumped in surprise. I approached them with a faint smile.441fb30dcc5e7409

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“My, it’s 2e46c62935 a bit fd95f60f08 stuffy in 6d3b2490a7 here, isn’t 21ba8bf4d8 it?”56b9cbc30212b572

As the subject of 1ba8b52029 their gossip walked towards 00192a842f them without hesitation, the 1d05ae9851 three women’s eyes widened, bf1947603b and they stepped aside a282c54d25 hesitantly. I went to the 770e6e9a0f sink behind them and 6b12394d61 turned on the water.ca067af4199dcf40

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After washing and drying fa1dc350f1 my hands, I looked e130106e54 up. The three women 7e14e0fda5 were staring, mouths 4d38a10e09 agape, their eyes 82280cd24b glued to my 575b0a64c4 necklace. Looking at their 5be0f52aa1 reflections through the 22347abb6b mirror, I smiled 90d994b80b faintly.a291c84b043c37fb

“You seem to like b3c3ce22c8 this necklace.”a91c3a9e09e0eca7

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I turned to e3844633be face them. Given the 09d82827c7 opportunity to 3a52204461 admire the 66fa3b0097 magnificent necklace e8af61d4b1 up close, 3824d93c91 they moved 94343fb9a9 even closer aab956a794 to me.54794a047d030b49

“Yes, yes!”9e2df96ae3995584

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“Goodness! It’s so beautiful!”3788a139d86ca8e2

Their eyes d8c2f611e7 gleamed like 6fda66bb60 predators eyeing b7744befef their prey. Standing before them 08198c66c5 as they huddled 4dfe3d2f95 together, I lightly baabfcdd9f touched the necklace, 02ce137c59 playing along.8c39cd0e7f7e81fe

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“Isn’t it? To be 369218dc47 honest, I 2098924c39 was also 5352e469a8 quite surprised. Arthur suddenly 860e2ab4fd gave it b5ad07f825 to me e906b31bfd one day d255336fcf as a 1d559e982c surprise gift…”659e5878ea4827a0

“Oh my goodness!”9620d41565321aab

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“Was it d3f8950de5 for your 0f085711e9 birthday or e3b64905a2 some anniversary?”1dde0296880e4a65

I smiled brightly and 633388bebd shook my head quietly.df4c1f60f06a3444

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“No. Arthur often gives 4ff823a5fc me gifts like 0374d7e3b1 this, so I c9c894aee1 don’t particularly remember 041d115396 the occasion. That’s why I c298fefba1 was even more 1ad34216eb touched.”9486f60ff26c51aa

“Oh my, oh 132e7a0fb9 my!”169793e3f2578e69

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They were now 5fa797ee23 so impressed by 9e9e27e13d Arthur’s generosity that 836031ebc7 they covered their c4a64925b7 mouths with their e871121eb4 hands.2bd0a4c84b27f794

With a smile, 943a2bf389 I nodded and 95781f3816 moved towards the 4e16969134 door. With my hand on bab006adf7 the doorknob, I looked 40dc3b2e3e back at them, still 8380b0362a staring at me in 7bdd0e9785 a daze.20d9432fc745697a

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“It seems that money trumps looks when it comes to an ideal husband. After all, a man’s looks are just a bonus, but financial stability is essential, right? Perhaps that’s why everyone seems to secretly desire to be a bedroom slave to someone rich, even if just for a little while. Of course, I don’t quite understand, since my husband has both looks and wealth, and I’m a beloved Duchess.”8f5a748cffc69578

I flashed a bright, bc9885e75f sunny smile and turned 0fb08453fe away.0e8b932a2671b3f8

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“What? What is she 92c92ae22b saying?”4db1beaaf81647c3

“That’s…!”ef26f628711105a4

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Behind the 4b0bdba8f6 closing door, 29baa244a8 I could c21080af5d hear their 9ac2f408b0 murmuring voices. Stepping out with 4c46e0dc77 a light heart, 24dee6e5b1 I bumped into ee3f89b9bc Lady Wellington just 87d12e3fd2 as she was f2ec7f81f7 about to enter.3926524e30b71922

Her eyes widened at 7bdaa41434 the sight of me. I gave her 672b0055e5 a curt nod 0a8d0d314c and hurried back 12649eddcf to our seat 5aaed3740e box on the 7ef50023f3 third floor. Although it 4784422e6e wasn’t entirely 7f18749db2 satisfying, I 952dd4d88f decided to 4d59ac9b3d be content 9ba5f9cfe0 with having 35c8e5cd73 returned the 087456614a insult, even 00c96f5095 if just 9386d9bce8 a little.81f1f11ea53f0036

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A chime sounded, 3c45d9e917 signaling the end 9b04422de4 of the intermission. As I entered 44640853ec our seat box, 743f315882 Arthur was standing d1b153f11e in the middle ac8450e511 of the room, f5ec027b5f frowning, with his 07fcf80ad0 head together with 1028fecd0b his secretary’s.44aa898d943da018

“Damn it!”9b4034c8e0fe58f9

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What was his d05765a431 secretary doing here? 8b2f59a75ce285f0

I hurried over to d0a3915f1e Arthur, who was running 9336dad181 his hand through his 59159eece9 hair in frustration.5fa5d5eb92a1ee45

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“What’s wrong, Arthur?”f6836091e9b41cfa

“Oh, I’m sorry, bd1d3eb9e4 Lily! I just received ab411334d3 urgent news that b1a31b11d3 one of the cd6c827dc4 steamship investors might e809e3f082 suddenly pull out. So I 53fc90469e have to 0aa9247cb3 go quickly. I came to 910e381547 see the opera 6eab8efa34 with you after 00cd93f0e6 a long time, a44c1589ba and now of 34b0a153ad all times… … 931effcda3 .”bd6a95482d27f0dd

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“Oh…”288c0c9226dd31d1

I nodded and replied ce466eab90 calmly.22f2608401456b5d

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“It’s alright. Business is more f95c980e4d important than watching 9a2593bad3 the opera. I understand. Go quickly before 7ddf8835a3 it’s too late.”ca1cf05acb74fec0

“I’m really sorry, c02331fadc Lily. But Ethan 2aa5204c31 is here, e95f663d92 so don’t 54a8d845cb worry and 95d8b1d4de enjoy the 0acd287f3b rest of 410a547a9d the opera 77ac273e38 together.”27604ae1a0939ea7

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“I will. Don’t worry, Arthur.”9e1d6ea60c9f7ee9

“Leave this to me 725257616b and take care of 429a3d953a it.”e99a8aba76cbb079

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Ethan nodded as 9865e13c37 well.2506b977357ce28e