EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 174
by AlaaChapter 17445b0586dcb7234bd
2a70fd5f2085b9ec
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“Clara, I’m on my way to refuse a gift from His Majesty the Emperor right now. If I dress up too extravagantly, won’t that just make him more displeased?”64e7d123b04a3040
At my words, Clara 39f44eab27 nodded without protest.7af228ce896addde
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Just then, someone a61eed9f06 outside informed us 79208edb8a that the imperial 987fa755b7 carriage had arrived 9991e84275 to pick us da979d6f89 up.80e4b38ce90fa0e1
“Then, Diana, I’ll see you at the swordsmanship tournament.”68e4134882f08be2
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At my 3ff942d365 farewell, Diana 2a1ad9e48d nodded weakly.1675d5935a6c09d6
Seeing Diana standing there aa4dd17798 blankly, watching Clara and 75068932d2 me leave, made my 63f6d69fcf heart ache.727a66e591d476e5
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At that d2c49059eb moment, Clara, 0dfe038629 who had 8589b87ea6 gotten into 7cd2b23412 the carriage 7f6ef31a4b before me, d43223441e turned to cf04d769d3 Diana and 90365aa2c2 gave her 2669f77403 a bright afb5a26214 smile.4eb4f909222b7217
Her expression, as if e93f4986e8 savoring a victory, made 143c341c05 me feel extremely unpleasant, 6cd0992aaf even though I knew 968bbe051b bringing Clara was the a2fe47d957 best option in this b72cb0b701 situation.edd2b4a05f61565d
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“Adriana, are you even listening to me?”00afea5c51d6ab02
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We were nearing the d1230cbe3f Imperial Palace.740a8049225c6fd9
Clara, who had fd754cf48c been chatting nonstop a722cf6e7e since we got 9a30ecf239 into the carriage, 9202631b85 asked with a d8fcadfed0 sulky voice.5f2ea57d0576e82c
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I, gazing out 8c9dc0e478 the window, nodded.6ae7e1b2202e46a4
“Yeah, I’m listening.”2cdb48a488789d83
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Even to my 48b6392bfb own ears, my b3e01ad596 reply sounded insincere.4aa98d2e431e052a
Predictably, Clara’s face debda82e79 darkened, but I 3f845cfcf9 didn’t really care.33e333f4368f972d
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From the beginning, I had no intention of going along with Clara’s wishes.e4e4a1956788da2f
No matter how nicely 1a1fa2384c I treated her, she 900b438403 would just see me 4ae93ac52e as someone to manipulate, 5cdd03cbc3 bad-mouthing me behind my 279d2ac295 back. So there was no 7a0fffca5a reason to be accommodating.0b5fa163f75c0387
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Moreover, I bff5b2cc2b kept thinking 58b92a391c about Diana—how 17ad67117d she cried 6766731fcb all night ee8943f017 worrying about 5ed7a7d72b me, how 522e30b952 she said 9eaea48efb she wanted 11a2459b1e to become e4996d5ce6 family, and d21860ffd4 how sullen 45783dbc2a she looked 1669cf8b48 because she 032faf54ab couldn’t come 90bf3ee8e1 with me 0a6d61186b to the 2640c18da3 palace.c8494c630aa21fab
Meanwhile, Clara 1a61b4007f kept getting 3e6dbeb927 on my 5ec4b66eb4 nerves.22c67a1bbc387672
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“Really. Maybe Lady Elard seemed nice to you, but to the other young ladies…”f4e1e4987c759aec
“Yeah, Clara. Diana is still young.”e7db9e1575feab3b
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I sharply cut ffd2e022e5 off Clara’s words 03232c0487 and spoke coldly.8883f9fc9caa27b7
“Despite her age, she’s incredibly capable and smart. I’ve never met anyone so lovable before. Sure, like you said, her confidence might come off as forwardness sometimes, but not once did I think she was arrogant.”505386fc4f4463ba
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“A-Adriana…!”5fded97ec9c4b772
“And no matter her age, Diana is the empire’s only princess. Even if she acts a little pridefully, what’s the problem? Frankly, I’m more worried about you speaking like that about someone of higher status than you. I’m her cousin, so I won’t misunderstand, but you should be careful around others.”d7b55fc861e87bff
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Just like 45870ca3b9 Clara had 2baf729afa always spoken 776666b842 under the d28b78b8c8 guise of d86692b048 caring for 5dc834d0b3 me, I fb079ef0bd now used 882b39c87a the same 27c359edc7 approach with 6ef75c5689 her. Clara fell silent, 86a4519c25 looking at me 188e93c31a with wide, tear-filled fcd0a2b907 eyes, as if 6c83cecb1d she couldn’t believe e3bee96f28 it.721d7ee5d5876da0
Clearly, she hadn’t 5249650225 expected me to c9fd4f606e take Diana’s side 0a616d9b37 so strongly.380daa75fc7794d4
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I turned 82187ffb25 my head af8fed4f3a away, indifferent a652ad0711 to Clara’s 063681f460 hurt expression.d618422075a8dc37
Maybe she thought 767eaba5e4 that in order 28b41af45b to control me, 8cf387a059 she first had ca4526270b to drive away 24e312d222 those close to 8ac50b68ea me.0e8f5a32ac04ce04
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The moment we 7bc1df9305 got into the 1630fb1be1 carriage, Clara naturally ccf0c7cbd5 brought up Diana, 1fe680505a trying to gauge 51a6861dfe how close we b7593f4edb were. Upon realizing we 0bc8b0ad7f had only exchanged 08ab87cd96 letters for a d5589b11c9 long time, she 86f0f9ae7b began belittling Diana.7f2d97318a88b3c1
She spoke in a 155f5e2cf5 roundabout and seemingly elegant 0302e5228c way, but the meaning 0c1b404b2e was clear—that Diana, despite 94252ba11a acting polite to me 2f4fe8c6d0 as the Grand Princess, ff2cd1ea99 was actually arrogant, rude, ae2edfa682 and not someone I 63544682dc should keep close.713e8d4efbc82a4a
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But to badmouth e28120958f Diana in front a98acd8397 of me of 1a213a366d all people… Honestly, 9dfaf12f47 if we weren’t 78ea8a97a0 about to arrive b90372067f at the palace, 0b55fb6a8c I would have c59425fc0f gotten even angrier.989b99a0f168d6b4
Maybe sensing my 644dae7293 firm stance, Clara a89f2ec106 awkwardly changed the c1609bce46 subject.6703cf5d1a4d985b
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“By the way, Adriana, are you really going to refuse His Majesty’s gift?”d5c6282b38e2a43b
What a random shift.be01e84f532f429e
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We were 888c8dd922 literally heading 5770c81631 there to 6a2910bf51 refuse the 9a1c40849c gift, so 673e36c5db I stared 8baa7c56c1 at her 91146d0c64 in disbelief. Clara blushed.1da148cc50699f33
After hesitating shyly for c3cba3f5d1 a moment, she dropped ad1bb36b1b a bombshell.0ab6b669565501c9
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“Actually… I’m in love with Prince Nicholas.”19f309b4d8db4ed6
My eyes widened.7927b0c77a9feb75
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Hearing Nicholas’s name come up confirmed that Clara understood the full significance of the tiara the emperor had gifted me.7f21845b7482ee2c
But even more shocking was Clara’s confession itself.3be4014c2278f150
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“Is that true?”f05cacc4442cbd30
I asked, startled, and Clara’s face hardened.510f27789c26e5a5
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“Why? Are you saying someone like me isn’t allowed to love His Highness?”70abfcd67ec0bdc8
“What? No, that’s not what I meant…”e32493fb1f838007
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“Then what do you mean?”a53a70d1be75a691
“Well…”c34b29caeec0d4f1
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I was momentarily 29aa476299 at a loss 6f17b460b3 for words.42d6fb17e5dce8c2
Matters of love were foreign to me, and it’s not something an outsider could easily judge… but honestly, the gap between the Clara I knew from childhood and this sudden confession was too great. I couldn’t easily accept that she loved Nicholas.e9cb6cbf8b6691cb
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Even though 0219d9b376 Nicholas had 452af82036 shed his 2e5d1c674c reputation as a2b987c96c a ‘worthless 2d909d5d88 prince,’ he fac1a18288 had once 59aa3eab43 been treated eb386c1d34 with contempt, d621fea200 known even 93307e4059 to call ee3f7886b2 himself the 7aa1efd902 neglected prince 08d583f846 born of 66dc338549 a lowly 0fcd981357 concubine…276b90efb172847b
Lost in thought, I 07082dc757 realized something and quickly ff5cda09c8 turned to Clara.45d772eb76fe2790
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“Clara, I—”74b2ed2138186420
I tried to continue, d5b387469a but the hunter who 3aad4b2a7a had already set her 48de55f4b5 trap smiled contentedly.4f5e1d8d43714d75
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“It looks like we’ve arrived. Let’s get out, Adriana.”4381d65dfebe2a6f
5baa47dcecde8040
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Meanwhile, at the 441abaadfc Ministry of Foreign adec1b2bc0 Affairs in the 26a52a580e Imperial Palace.f4cfdfc3d80fec37
“I didn’t expect His Majesty to go so far as to break with tradition and bestow the honor of the first dance upon me. So what can I do? His Majesty laid out the stage; I have no choice but to show him I’m doing my best.”77d25f824b5e1436
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Nicholas spoke lightly as 7f2a3a2946 he set down his 5fecacfe23 teacup.7dece28f88636dda
At his words, Nyx, Lucio’s aide, nervously swallowed dryly and glanced at Lucio’s expression.8ca7cf06cfd1ede1
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Lucio’s face 886c0abac0 was, as 32e5b13bf6 usual, expressionless.6876a98c366fbd57
But was 2d705a8643 it really c9acf87a2a the same 3b7c9a365f underneath?dd54a48b3cd9ee07
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Nyx, who prided himself as Lucio’s closest aide, was certain it was not.d60a5e6d681b9d39
Currently, Nicholas had cf4634371e visited the Foreign 719d6d9c50 Ministry under the e1802707ed pretext of receiving 4f7f4d87a2 reports from the 9638f230e7 delegation, and was 1768fb026f relaying the emperor’s 9ea6d4fbdf intentions, including the 00b58a316d incident at the 4fe256bd13 ball on the c4d2d226f9 founding day.5807acbbfd3a0197
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The atmosphere was already c4619b4caf tense after Nicholas, oblivious a4ec39219b to everything, danced with cca269dcc5 the Grand Princess. And now, the emperor 320467e715 had even suggested the 0f2b837faa Grand Princess as a ea4d984b6f potential crown princess for 77f925824f Nicholas!20445b589f0b03e0
It was absurd enough—but 06edc325b3 then Nicholas added, making 0283ed6409 Nyx’s eyes widen,5700128d63f9fa42
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“Well, she’s definitely pretty, like His Majesty said. But she’s not really my type.”ef04ada7cd527cdf
Oh, dear.16f2852ac40e18f3
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If the Grand Princess were Nicholas’s type, that would be a problem in itself… but hearing this, Nyx snuck a look at Lucio’s expression again.5d09e69a47b1d417
“I thought she’d have a dull personality like Ascart, but that wasn’t the case. When I provoked her a little, she trembled—it was cuter than I expected. Of course, the fact that she danced for an hour shows she’s a bit foolish too.”93d9b3c2b65c481c
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I heard she was b172128d34 physically weak, too.0c243d0f5898aa73
Nicholas chuckled and 4388338b74 shook his head 924dbae76a as if amused.58d2c04764a3c87b
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At the same 511df51120 time, Nyx’s face 4f2ef1a85c turned pale, as 1b8ae5188e if he were df735c28f9 suffocating.82d22f007d95b76c
That comment just now 75dd889d82 had been incredibly dangerous.37d6e4e55e33464b
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Because last night, c567208444 he and his b14bba4ab3 lord had received 761909212a a report that 9587920b0b the Grand Princess, 6030510869 after visiting the ed2c53d07f duke’s residence, had fffe9c6b44 collapsed, likely from 21782c3693 overexerting herself at 60bd0993a8 the ball.b8015d3ee92a4047
‘Should I try 9c17f065ff to shut the bdfbb4b2e0 prince’s mouth right 18d06ea05b now?’13a4a346a102035e
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Nyx, who had graduated dc44506665 top of the academy 8f0e3aa863 and secured the coveted 59c8b97d89 position as Lucio’s aide, cd0a78ed38 seriously considered the idea.a583ce16460270fa
‘Even if I can’t see him, Bert must be somewhere nearby… Should I have him knock the prince unconscious?’9467633fd40959d3
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Just as Nyx was fb769f12ca seriously contemplating a felony 2fc7267adf against royalty, Nicholas changed e6449e4507 the subject.e93256dd451afc05
“Come to think of it, I knew the Elard Duke’s family was close with House Belus, but I didn’t realize the Grand Princess herself was acquainted with them. I used to exchange letters with Ascart now and then, but he never mentioned anything about the Grand Princess.”801f056af0f741ac
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Nicholas gave ae05444e5f a sly 96dcaaad53 smile as 8d9399f31f he asked,525b9f7f8cc4d3f9
“She seems to be close with Lady Elard too. From what I hear, you and the Grand Duchess also seem to have quite a relationship… Is it true?”d1563fd73f5e7e88
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It seemed 3b51f33554 Nicholas had 4be4de444f finally caught f36928af39 on to 33cfbc59f6 the special eb0a44ef7a rapport between bb5935d52b Lucio and 177738faf3 the Grand 5cc896d254 Princess.ee8883730443313e
However, seeing 7c5dc20a7c as Lucio 3597c5444c had shown 9f60e38f32 no romantic 163ff7272b interest in c44274b3d1 anyone until 909f759b14 now, Nicholas 063c58d1e7 clearly thought 96d585ea3e it was c087688f3e just a d86fb2ebf3 rumor.40eedbd3f7101f74
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When Nicholas 22caa6fc3a asked so 8fb38a8c28 obviously to 8e05a5e18d feel him 0a7f05f8f9 out, Lucio 21936dd918 calmly placed 7df4481baf his teacup 764e9e6bfd down with 4695df4304 a clink.c690512f40fb2794
“I don’t see why I need to explain that.”ec4a9a10d519809b
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“What do you mean, why? Haven’t you been listening to anything I said? His Majesty sent a tiara to the Grand Princess yesterday, you know.”ac527efaa093bcc3
“And he said she would visit today to refuse it.”34ae33f63b4e22f5
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“Yeah, but thanks to that, I’ll also be having lunch with her soon.”1604217dd84c299f
Nicholas replied 80c5671c14 with an 686bff574d irritatingly smug d59c8c9023 smile, which, 30130f43bd for the 0bfbcefc1a first time, f422471f48 made Lucio’s 13210a22b9 usual blank 346e01f65a expression harden 4cf22d7f98 visibly.1978f96a90600a65
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Seeing this, Nicholas ecc8a11c42 sounded genuinely surprised.5beeb54d3bf300cd
“Wait, are you serious?”7b1131a8f66fdf01
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“…”0b1e9ec6a97aa9ee
“Lucio! His Majesty is relentless. Just look at the princesses he has locked up in the detached palace. It looks like he’s set his sights on the Grand Princess for real. Shouldn’t you start preparing yourself?”7c1aff0d35a4d4b5
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“What preparation are you referring to?”889cda45ea9036fc
“You know—find a noble lady who could become the center of your great future endeavors, someone even His Majesty would approve of.”03fd9fa4089ca129
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At those words, Lucio’s 6ed3c1d7b4 eyes turned chillingly cold.46b0f1c20c8b4a1a
“So Your Highness has similar views on marriage as the First Princess. I guess blood really does run thick.”617c674fdc94f782
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“…What?”e85af46c710b9a3b
The air instantly froze.1b0bcda71172fb22
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Nicholas, always lighthearted, stiffened 50130983af at once. Nyx, too, was shocked be67440db7 by Lucio’s venomous words.c5c6ff329641319f
“My words were harsh.”f9bfc71fcd712a56
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Lucio brushed f320d78a6e a hand c8917b6dd4 through his 2ad2972701 hair and 83e0056cd2 apologized, letting 2093cec63e out a 281c671bc0 sigh.674442adee709767
Thanks to his swift e734be0546 apology, both Nyx and 40a1733bb3 Nicholas managed to relax dc0d9b6629 a little.2d3590b1c6d14b47
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“…I get what you mean, but still, comparing me to Serphin is harsh, don’t you think?”8af1b27fd90e9e7a
Nicholas tried to laugh ba9be4e0cb it off, recalling how f7f574bf10 Serphin had once proposed 5b5b149277 to Lucio back in fb353536cd the Kingdom of Riven.e4b6dec20930daba
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The atmosphere ef25aa0340 lightened a a7bfdd2402 little—only briefly.2d85d921efe23d61
Lucio picked up his 710324f7b5 teacup and said quietly,8c0513c56cdfbf64
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“Whatever your reasons may be, please choose your consort as you see fit.”8f0228fa29ba4b24
“K-Kuhm.”1f8bc90facfe4ae7
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“And one more thing.”352ae2c008ddd8ac
Lucio stared ba649c6c00 into the 7b6611a9f3 teacup, then 5b691fe9a1 lifted his 1b80b4102c gaze to 914ff179df meet Nicholas’s a222d3fde7 eyes directly.09d4aa1c3f26c529
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Nicholas instinctively swallowed hard.c3cf8c3c4781c29b
Lucio’s next words were d4f6678e49 delivered like a clear, d02f4d58a9 undeniable warning,3e602cdd05f3ec8d
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“If you truly wish for me to be your man, then never lay a hand on those who belong to me.”d5748ef1c00d21a8