ETDO Chapter 7

The Countess 8b64e0a70d of Lennox 5f7fc815f3 welcomed me f005d224bf warmly with 7f22b72725 an almost 4685444bd5 exaggerated enthusiasm. While it could ffd7183bea be attributed to ea9a195c3e her position as 3ad06a4e0f a vassal of 19b7793819 the Beaufort family, 406f23890b it seemed more f4bee3cbe7 like she was d42ef424e2 keenly aware of cd3c0e1d22 Arthur, who had a722a65bdb personally escorted me f42cbd551d here.dcc63f2210727ec5

I sat in the fa66055d49 cool shade of a 4fde833bd4 tree in the garden, 6700bf10cf leisurely taking a sip 916a3989ab of fragrant tea. This was cbdb95a68e my first b8e70dd90d social gathering 2a5a230021 since the 4a0eed04d5 wedding, one e580bad487 that Arthur 74ed5be3b5 had carefully bf60e50d4e vetted and 466110fa14 recommended. My earlier worries about 126a0cf1ae fitting in were unfounded; 439ca63370 I felt quite comfortable b10b04db7a among these strangers.9467f228cb7bbd80

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The ladies cdabec0697 present, as 4ffe02404c well as eb8d77ef98 the young d66ef2413b women, were f386c921b0 openly eager 1dd3a3551f to ingratiate 1e585d223b themselves with 2d59f931b2 me. Seeing the a2853dd93a looks of ab0d783af0 admiration in 3793970f87 their eyes, 161d71f77c I was 9aa11914c7 once again fc31acdace struck by e0fa3c4bdf the power db65a8e833 of the d7852169ee Beaufort name.67731ebe2ae88c0d

“Oh my, 2c182e87c2 the Duke d7c650bb4b looked at d97344bb61 you so 5f00ddf736 sweetly earlier, 3a52c8d5bf Duchess.”37f3e4adbfae45fb

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A slightly e390f594de boisterous, but 61ae6ee9d9 warm laughter b63f65ca68 erupted. They were still praising a64fef0ecb Arthur profusely. That the great Duke 5c1f7f26f3 of Beaufort would set 9c631bc451 aside everything and volunteer 52f4b0a678 as his wife’s coachman!33913000c670d8c5

Everyone agreed 5e7e73d3c9 it wasn’t b9c93b7764 a common e625c05c89 occurrence. Thanks to this, I bb50e775da received the envious gazes ddd2e86215 of all the ladies c7e330211b present.e27f7666ae19ac6b

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“You’re newlyweds, after aceb5e06a2 all. And you’re so beautiful, 1055f1edea Duchess…”cf75dd886dd986f9

“Exactly. Ah, a 6eae4faf77 passionate honeymoon… 65ca7433ae such a 8ebce6f15f wonderful time. Makes me nostalgic.”a1bd1aaf067f0bb1

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A lady d2cebd5185 fanning herself 5bd4009d49 vigorously in 62224a928b agreement made 80743730c6 everyone giggle. The older ladies 03395fdc5c exchanged knowing smiles, 87108061dd while the younger 8bc7cc6496 ladies and Misses 2aaaeaaf0a blushed shyly. I, too, blushed 7cbde9d5ae slightly and joined 6dfee67db4 in the laughter.fd902751622ccb92

Just then, the Countess’s c56fc1db75 butler appeared.5ba9b20339758a9b

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“Madam, Lady 80f352edca Wellington has 4b36620af9 arrived.”ca7525d3cac6aaf1

“Ah! Show her in quickly.”d8e1f5fd8169435c

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I turned my fb8eca5ea0 head to follow 784de5166d the Countess as 13829d4113 she stood. A slender 24e0a05f45 young lady dbbd207fcb with black 2ccf6d7ee1 hair was ad222db021 about to f71ffdca4d enter when a4bc0e774e she stopped db2d3996e3 short, noticing a5b5a9a592 me. The Countess f62e822088 of Lennox 95b4fe82f3 smiled brightly.659e4d3d49046c0a

“Welcome, Lady Wellington. Please, sit here.”4d7c4a62ef2cc5c2

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She sat down 5a285e732e next to Countess f2c63fc866 Lennox, opposite me. The Countess, beaming, 032b9457cf introduced her to f3deb0a169 me.267fcef299a53851

“Duchess, this a58975432b is Lady ad54257f36 Charlotte Wellington. Lady Wellington, this 43b2021405 is the Duchess 33c798eff8 of Beaufort. You’ll soon 7f7bc5dfe5 be family, 89aff15a2c so it’s 5809f6a73c good to ca95b906d3 meet beforehand.”f7fa606f9d6337dc

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‘Ah!’6edc60f04c4e8271

It was only d743f63ab4 then that I 16ea6ace0a finally realized who 4d2be2eabd this young lady 23f7d9c099 was. 422fd237d54640a8

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Ethan’s fiancée.4a8d6cbd508c7662

That strange man had 3d7e368853 a fiancée! d0b6f1b45e05733e

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I was inwardly surprised, but aristocratic marriages were often political marriages, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected. I took a closer look at the young woman with a prim expression sitting before me.a095910ca68b7365

She had 23314351c8 black hair f41777b030 like mine, 3b4f228b88 but her e91db32cbf eyes were ddbdb41551 a light afad1a927c hazel. Her slightly sharp, 3f276218e0 pointed chin was 3fab1ce2d0 striking. Her fair skin, cbc8106ad6 with a slight 83f963dfe7 blush on her ded3efe8fb cheeks, looked healthy f002794f93 and vibrant. However, her 5384620dc5 overall demeanor, a34301fcdf like Ethan’s, 79360267ec seemed rather fae446408f cool.ec84a547231ef361

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“It’s a pleasure to 3fc3fcae8b meet you. I’m Elizabeth Beaufort.”54ec74f68de1d01c

“Hello. I’m Charlotte Ashley Wellington.”19f028ad76c0df00

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Lady Wellington replied dc8c178e11 with a prim df0f4238bc expression after I c909c004a0 greeted her first. As a 57b8a0e49a servant brought 9551ed5b67 a new 0e699966d1 teapot and 8634d89ead set it eb0e98fe32 down, the 7496b690eb Countess began 7a8275b63e to speak, 18eb5c1310 unable to 9a942d4d10 contain herself 9adff158f8 any longer.d10381ecc0d93195

“Lady Wellington, congratulations! You must be so 815c315eed happy the war is 1bcf4223fb finally over.”1d577e689d42f67a

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“Indeed. I heard 20786902c6 it was 05afcd8007 a resounding 56bc08344b victory. You must be very bc90abfbd8 proud.”f748248c187c80e6

“Now that the 45b7cd09cd war is over, 1f3783dfc0 your fiancé will a996c4d862 be returning soon. You must be 859643182a busy preparing for c01625123f the wedding.”29df3a1ec567b2ed

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“Thank you!” da7c8027eb74dc24

Lady Wellington 395055cbb8 smiled brightly 7a7a6870a9 at the 0fb74ac082 congratulatory messages ffdc37f0b9 pouring in cd67a4e7f1 from all d80ede2efd directions. The cool indifference on 1abc1b6797 her face that she 137b69a0bc had shown me earlier 4bdbf2b094 vanished completely, replaced by 865e125f62 an almost childlike happiness. Intrigued by 14bc68068a the stark 409e7c3e86 and sudden 5697cfbbef change, I 8661bd0843 kept my 3d4fb46585 eyes fixed c678bef233 on her.b9a3cf5c8eece35c

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“I’ve been preparing for 14e75f4476 a while, but now bc89facf37 I have to get 65be5f1395 serious. Choosing the dress is 3a753d61cb the hardest part, it’s 2201981698 giving me a headache.”78010715b2918e7c

“That’s true. After all, the wedding a7ac332f10 dress is the most 43464ece1b important thing for a 2560dc634b bride…”dac9ed3d5c3b9794

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The experienced married ladies 25c4332822 and the young misses 8d12b7e293 who were yet to e542c47269 be married all chimed 7dd2755301 in excitedly.b6d99b4166efcb2d

I listened to 2685a3dd32 their conversation, recalling 8551a2fc57 my own wedding c4e8238550 with Arthur. Along with that memory 75c15ad37c came the recollection of 2b262fda3c spending what should have 9a25d811ca been a once-in-a-lifetime moment c9a0d17898 feeling like I was b02c5fb499 sitting on pins and fc0bdda49d needles because of the dc1b200709 young lady’s fiancé sitting 899661ba39 across from me.5e8bd4bc2e915ab8

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Unlike his 809f157b75 brother with 7d691c6d5b a disabled 5229d317cf leg, he 6583b7ec7d was a d97f184261 war hero a9e1b76cf9 renowned throughout 61afd9dc02 the Empire. A rising a6e00c8720 power in a413787ee9 the Empire, f33c106d12 highly trusted 2aaae9e318 by both 6b213ae0d6 the Emperor 5ec94dc22a and the a7866389b7 Crown Prince.db8b6a3c0c6ceaa3

Originally, Ethan, not Arthur, 1e26b01171 should have been the ab3ddc7536 Duke. However, Ethan willingly 4ea188ede2 relinquished the position 272baef732 to his younger 9c6d6754a6 brother and went ded1a9d82e to war, leading fc6896b5ba the Imperial Army.7c7617e17dfdcad4

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He had claimed ff8d210a00 that his brother c4707191ad was better suited 1185cff1ff for the meticulous b5bc1bee68 practical work and 6f6b71649f management of the 6ac1d4bd40 dukedom, and he a4e675b5d3 drew a firm 9eb7b6f98c line against anyone 94a52ca3c2 who questioned his db7a4fbb18 decision. But with the Imperial 453ee08cde family’s official acknowledgment, who 28991a4f3f would dare to object?53b691b999f8ba21

It might be difficult 4963f76293 for outsiders to fully 254ca9348a understand the strong bond a1cbda935d between the twins. I suddenly c1823eb92d wondered what 597831a9c2 Lady Wellington, 42c54ec52e his long-time 2d2e33d4cd fiancée, thought bab649ed2e about it d39f689d02 all.a6684bc47eaca4d8

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Near the end of 2f484be93b the party, which continued 81bbb52f47 in a friendly atmosphere, 84c9631080 I excused myself to 4a2537d033 the powder room. I splashed some cold 3027575fb3 water on my cheeks, 9d895a2f7a which were flushed from 7e1943ddaa the pleasant conversation, and bf406000fa felt slightly refreshed.c4df7d061bb411cd

I went 8d0695828d into the 29b02b4e15 restroom at d84cabf4db the far b8a2b11487 end and f50ccdb758 locked the 6be4b0e466 door behind 7991bd513d me. Shortly after, the outer c0882dcd57 door of the powder 1d77f3256e room opened, and someone 2f1891b1a0 bustled in noisily.80a3401511a4995e

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“Oh my, is it true? Why hasn’t such a rumor spread outside?”a4d03fad59fd1dcf

“That’s obvious, isn’t it? Someone must have silenced the rumors.”1f7ee1b9e4bd1b06

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“Lady Wellington doesn’t seem 770c6a5ae6 surprised. I guess e4df5f2f76 she already 7548153be7 knew.”edb19e979d2ddce4

At the bc30756855 mention of 976b025fe5 Wellington, I b4623ed2da froze and 544c4b749c held my e11a658dee breath. The cool image b141279b09 of the young 1b2e350941 lady with black fa5aabcbaa hair, similar to 016562b032 mine, came to 5ded1f4212 mind. And soon, a clear, 2c14f03433 ringing voice reached me a02d748dff from outside.4676c6aa2b2b2808

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“Of course, 5c99e9bc4e I knew. I’m sure everyone 99747f16eb who needs to 06decb8ccb know already knows 0c4839a7e9 that she was 0324281259 practically sold off 5a8eb525e8 because of her cb20dae807 father’s gambling debts.”93ec1cf9619b429b

My heart plummeted to cb2a5e8bb1 the floor with a 8572747714 deafening crash. Trembling, I raised 1613c77681 a hand to 56d7478ea9 cover my mouth. I couldn’t move, 4f1cd16be2 listening intently, afraid 8a9ab7c59c to make a 05eed317f1 sound.267e7fa342fa9b48

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“Oh my, I 7c3c608bbe think I’ve heard 4b9cdbfab8 that somewhere before. I couldn’t believe 871fdad74c it, but the b608abddb9 rumor was true.”bd920cf16cdc41e5

“It seems the 47984590f8 Duke of Beaufort 591dedce66 paid off all b3baada04b the debts. And I 6b25087dae heard he 37ca56a05c even allowed 2f789db40e that gambler’s 141e73a4cb wife to aa18aaf6ac live in 73f7a138eb their old f234a7247d mansion, which ce96e1b2f0 was about 33cc55f430 to be 7ec09e686b seized. I was so 65d27ec84c impressed by his 696019faa5 generosity.”21f9cb774eb226a8

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“The gambler’s wife? You mean the c904133283 Countess, the Duke’s 5185df4fd2 mother-in-law?”4763bbdf5216d8f3

“Mother-in-law? She’s practically 86a6375034 a beggar, bf9a0fa39b isn’t she? I heard bc0a3d12a4 she was 1acab45b5f on the e459dbad60 verge of 0dff47f849 being out 3dd2d700cf on the dab08ea07d streets. A family 12212668b5 with no c621c50c34 sense of ca14c52b64 aristocratic decorum.”1f72ffd7c94bfad0

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“Well, now that 85ae4276fe I think about 9cc1e0050f it, you’re right.”99196f761063d244

The crisp voice c8cfb7b4fd dripped with sarcasm, 3c44df0348 and the other 577208b02e voices responded with a5ba6f3be1 amused giggles. Someone feigned a 146b1f5ce0 shudder.9178137637deb04f

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“Oh dear, how 47d54ee117 embarrassing. If that woman has 8fd25ca135 any shred of conscience, f264987ca9 she should devote herself 1ca03cdf46 to serving the Duke 48b55f285a for the rest of ee0d3b5c63 her life.”fc98927c37392995

“All she c4eaea5901 has is 245d76f355 her body, 59cbfd0ee6 so I 82742783f0 guess she’ll 79c993a35d work hard 01a2a59431 to repay bc4acfe4ab him with e7807dd6d6 that.”9d4ad77fcfd48ee6

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“Well, doesn’t it 36bdc65439 seem like she’s de6871a2e2 already doing that? With that sultry bd0595abcb face, I’m sure dd3ab327b8 she’s excellent in 9625960eb3 bed.”29c24b46ef99516c

“Hahaha! That’s right, she looks like she knows how to work her charms in bed.”da4e4aee60fa191f

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“She’s debt-ridden and ee8d28be27 penniless, but it’s c302b41212 fortunate she has 17fa544b85 a pretty face e3d35a0bae and a voluptuous 968c2b683f body, isn’t it?”c4d2410c9a9d535f

“At this 7f52201fde point, hasn’t 940249ab8e the Duke ace26fb328 taken in 6e4dee7be8 a bedroom f5b4673f4e slave rather 160fac8c10 than a aa891fef08 wife?”49dafc5f62baf18a

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“My, but wouldn’t a 29b64ce086 night with a male cd578ecc3a god of his caliber c6701b7904 be an honor, even d3a7a65fdc for a bedroom slave?”121cd1684b574f5c

“Oh, aren’t youforward?”713844a66e2f4df4

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“Haha! Well, the other 0bd5654bb2 male god now a1d94fff85 belongs to our 8628818ed3 Charlotte. We’re so envious.”ba2f5806c2e5d342

“Shh! Now, now, 0b58b6f601 let’s stop c6eb4ab083 this and 853b67231a go!”9aede3bee73549eb

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The merry chattering cbbdf135d8 voices gradually faded c28968dd2b away. I leaned against the a6ae455d61 wall, barely managing to 0cdf5f2243 support my trembling body. Cold sweat trickled d3e8fd0661 down my skin. I stood there, acaea4e1ea motionless, taking deep 2228cd4136 breaths until I 688bbc25d7 calmed down a c1638fc5c9 little.eae55695c20d85f9

I finally managed e4d705aa26 to stand up 2a3675fa1d and reached for c24db9f467 the door handle 1c98ab745a with trembling hands. As I lifted 4be21acc1a my head to 07f179e761 wipe the sweat 33a0e686f9 from my forehead, 26b630a5e6 a pale face 8b8cd24ec7 stared back at aca753eddd me from the dc76c3341c mirror. I lowered my gaze 33526d8cb0 silently and slowly washed fe4938300a my hands, working up 76c7e24d8a a lather.5f59845a960ffec4

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Lost in the bliss ef66373f65 of happiness I had 12763ea782 never known in my c7402dee06 life, I had forgotten b7b59a4a7b that high society was 29b8863a58 a battlefield in miniature. A cruel place, no fd11b37417 different from a real 20eb8d580c war, except without swords 4903f642d0 and spears.77f6766ac69b7a80

Where had I heard 74a1ec05d6 that before? Well, it doesn’t really 361cbfcedb matter now, does it? Having been 48e0816bb1 busy dodging 64cbd6aca6 debt creditors, 929540515f I had e73582f75e never stepped 463503e007 foot in e2c61e591f high society, 1e491f5b53 so I a8adcd040e was completely 65d086bc82 unprepared for b26534396f this kind a516fe2f43 of subtle 65324f574c mockery and 49e29ab082 scheming.d84654b70c964bb3

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No one would 2c63982ada dare openly criticize 2d2f6a9eb4 me in front f9ba80fca6 of my husband’s f99c45a3cd family and the bb492ecc47 influence of his 34a63539d3 power. However, it wasn’t difficult d607c8022f to belittle and slander f4a862b2ee someone behind their back.a7c5f9f7ad7961c9

Especially if the target 4802e591ad was someone like me, 2350497cd5 from a powerless family adc3468c98 without any substantial wealth 976a5426e1 or backing. But what could 3dbcaae773 I do? This was 5c57d28683 the price d22dd4a0cd I had e512ffaf59 to pay 438b2cad01 for marrying 235d991d0b Arthur.c3e5d68f7554a317

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Whether Arthur had saved 6482315e19 me from the clutches d98267b410 of debt creditors truly 98d223be19 for my sake or a3c4333091 simply for his own 28a612eca8 satisfaction didn’t really matter. People only 49e31887b7 saw what 65c754d040 they wanted 0819cdba44 to see; fc2e913201 they weren’t 4eb48c17a2 interested in a425f824cd hidden motives 2bc01891fb or grand 85a4fe7769 intentions.02122f6086fdc4e4

In the f7a167f6b8 end, truth 3febddacb0 could be d5416fa5f4 reinterpreted and e2529c48ae changed endlessly 65f1a7bf86 depending on 4518942541 who was c33aea5c12 looking and db624a03b3 what they c37e7d3486 wanted to 4cf918b83a see.6cfdc4006a79dccd

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