Chapter 2 Part 3

“Miss, are you sure you can bathe alone?” 1dea4c6e4f174ea6

Olga asked as she unfastened Irina’s corset. Irina nodded, feeling a little relief from the tightness in her chest.fdf5ba33fa3c0e2e

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“Yes, I’m fine.”b5cdf0e1e989dbe7

“But…”76dbc2ac341ba120

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“It’s okay, Olga. You haven’t had a proper rest in a while either. Go ahead and rest now.”f7e863b779d6f829

“I’ve rested too much. I’m bored of resting now. I’d rather be with you, Miss.”c2c5d243090b9246

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Irina’s eyes softened at Olga’s whiny words. To Irina, an only child, Olga was like a younger sister. Seeing Irina’s smile, a smile spread across Olga’s face as well.a4bc4a42512858da

“I’m so glad you’re back, Miss.”ff900aa38d6f96a2

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“Thank you for saying that.”d4e24110cd045aac

“Aw, why thank me for something so obvious?”b41ad3d218c50d09

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“Well then, I’m going to go bathe and get ready for bed. You go too, Olga.”b3e3714f6cbfd91f

Irina clapped her hands 53b470ea21 lightly to ventilate. Olga reluctantly left the ef1d5e7441 bathroom, unable to hide 0ee2efc902 her disappointment.c7945f4dd93b17c7

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Finally, seeing 76238c3b7e the bathroom 9e352e6a92 door completely 7be839da52 closed, Irina f1e4f0e529 finished taking 08445a51ac off the 1078ae2c19 dress that abf99de03c Olga had b977940612 already partially 6854147afc removed.3385aa4d2df7946d

“Hah…”aaf960e5cac714f3

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The bathtub, filled b3b649ad64 with fragrant oil, 0fa4e5d36a emitted a floral 1566f0f7a7 scent. As she immersed herself e5609e125d in the warm water, 4f18d19cbb her body felt languid. Irina leaned back b25be40ee4 in the tub 1318d7d36d and sighed deeply.b963e5deda2100b3

The sweet, f392e1ebaa fragrant scent 17768dd884 tickled her 562ed694aa nose and 981d850f35 the shimmering b9ffd6d958 water pleasantly 89997bc463 tickled her f06744e825 skin. However, Irina was 7862bef51d not satisfied at 6b53687589 all.7b3e236d0a85e6e2

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Usually, she would 8603745375 be soothed by 66a133fdb4 the bath and 4e2dbb4535 would find herself aa6a643dd4 smiling unconsciously, but d9955883a7 now she was 92484cfb84 on the verge 42dca87147 of tears rather 159810b390 than smiling.b1ab08bd56fd659a

“What should I do…”a4a8420a24619dbf

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Irina mumbled to herself without realizing it. She thought she had finally escaped the Emperor’s clutches, but it seemed her troubles were far from over, now she was about to be tied to him in marriage. fca6d76456abd846

“I’d rather die than marry such a man,.”e5f392f69e4c758c

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The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She couldn’t understand how someone could be so cruel and selfish. For Irina, who had grown up gently, the appearance of the cold-hearted Emperor was enough to shake the foundation of the world she lived in.7b3d34bc276d18b7

“Marriage? That’s ridiculous… If only it were Rumpel…”dbf0de6d035b4a2e

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Irina’s eyes widened in surprise at the involuntary words that had escaped her lips. How could she have mentioned Rumpel’s name at this moment?52238ee41d754592

Flustered, Irina blinked b780493806 her eyes. Then, fearing 52221f9000 someone might 11f32e993c hear, she e7b77ad325 quickly looked 27aae9eca0 around the a178ae2edf bathroom. As expected, there afc96afdb2 was no one dbde857ba4 else in the 68a58ea2ec bathroom. Irina finally 8049a75a73 breathed a 7f483b7884 sigh of b9728e87dc relief.5f51b5d0f7bcf478

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“Phew, me too. Why did I say Rumpel’s name?”0fae7c27d0879eb7

She was about 729c94b855 to cool her bb2a39eff1 flushed cheeks with c124e6ca27 her hands when 5880c1d510 she felt embarrassed 76a7fb7254 for no reason.04b65c81c83cd422

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“What were you saying that I couldn’t hear?”53895fcd18cfb0ae

“Ugh.”5d07fed4f6484df7

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At the familiar voice, 2c0e5d5021 Irina covered her mouth 0946d0c58c with both hands. Her startled eyes darted 4b35151585 towards the source of bde05d7baf the sound. A familiar figure 8fbddfaa18 was seen in 251d98ec72 her beautiful green 095a954aec eyes.6c4cdbbcbbf000ea

“Ru, Rumpel…! Uh, how did you get in here… No, no! More importantly, what are you doing here!”f72629fc40b5e7f7

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Irina’s face turned red when she saw Rumpel.b850af9dc65b2dce

Of course, f15824d19b it was 5cbeb6736a important and 5bb488eec3 curious matter 004c4b024f how he 1da48e1cf5 got there, b15dc74e69 but the dd0ea3c154 bigger problem f8cbecd425 was that 9c64a9bb57 Irina was 199d507afe in the 2d53cda968 bathroom and 24dc1f5746 was soaking bdfca2d584 naked in 0dee26dd91 the bathtub.3c58011c6d9a3a67

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Irina instinctively 2b1d73179d submerged herself bcc3f2d7b4 deeper in f59dbcc670 the bathtub 2d67aeed51 and crossed 6704133784 her arms 43a8f9f40d over her cb8a9a9f7f chest to d0cb106906 cover her 9244a38365 voluptuous breasts.72a6592f47c83978

Rumpel’s eyes folded nicely at the sight. He soon spoke in a playful voice.fa24fda539d7fde2

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“Didn’t you already show me everything, Irina?”62e4e629dd4132f3

“Wh, what…”87d997c0967a22b6

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“If you still have something to hide, Lady, you can cover it up. But I think it would be pointless, since you’re going to show me anyway.” be808cce28693879

His playful tone sounded f35b861f40 particularly lewd. Knowing the 151aac13dc underlying meaning 645ec58b1a of his eb411d51cf words, Irina cdc5e7f8b3 lowered her b63ebf7995 neat green 2b55986e77 eyes and 6697fd56ed avoided his 07b31e8d8d gaze.f25a1f7dd877dd3b

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Meanwhile, Rumpel approached her. Even though Irina felt 7ded023897 that he was gradually 13cefdf29d closing the distance, there 3ef5c0ff1d was nothing she could 69caf32c91 do.88d9d61d2b4c425d

Her body 7c167ad159 was naked 25ffa7812a in the 256918bcbf bathtub, and 3d48d1391d she couldn’t b769b446ad call for dcbf83f73a the servants 60c2db2258 because she d73ea8469c wasn’t sure cf73b5b18f how she 117e9746d0 would explain 75d0c71a5a Rumpel’s presence c36fb4cf9d if they f67ff54a4c arrived.f00bdc29e0909f78

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In the tower last time, no one seemed to see Rumpel, but there was no guarantee that would happen again this time. So, she couldn’t call for anyone recklessly. 5342374fddf80ea3

In the end, 7a8a528d61 Irina could only cf6615f91e curl up as 99a0290997 much as possible 022c92219e in the bathtub c76ad5adc9 and wait for 76bf4772ea Rumpel to approach 5d8842089e her.9b567e49ae77b35d

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“Do you want to marry me, Lady Irina?”e817de3fa3089759

“What? No, no! It’s not like that…”41ebd025b354d420

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Irina’s face turned as red as the beef stew she had eaten earlier at Rumpel’s unexpected question.4197b17c0b01acce

She knew he had heard his name, but she didn’t expect him to have heard everything she said before that.f5e2b75b9e7d9d9d

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Irina was so embarrassed she didn’t know what to do. Rumpel, who seemed to enjoy seeing her like that, slowly opened his mouth.df89c32e77e2d2bf

“Are you going to marry the Emperor?”9f66e7249e4b47bc

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“No! Absolutely not! I will never marry him!”45dec90f52518da0

Irina exclaimed a68cf6935a in horror 39b206a0a7 at his 7c8acfb110 languid question.ecf16f47dc02ef53

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Her voice 1585682868 was so 6a6f1b1910 loud that b758d51900 she glanced 09a71d6ad4 around the 50cb74225a bathroom, belatedly 5be56704f7 checking the f858791f97 situation outside. She was glad she 3bbb18776d had sent Olga and c387498fe3 the other maids away 6616fb3565 beforehand.eba1f0459f2a350f

“But he is the Emperor. Can you refuse his command?”2e402b47d6ef520e

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“… … Even so, I won’t simply obey the Emperor’s will. I would rather die than marry him.”34791fa4df3aac33

Irina replied honestly.e8ac89892e089260

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Although she knew she couldn’t refuse the Emperor’s order at the moment, she couldn’t just give up.9268ce32e2840444

She would do anything 0e0e2cfd0b to defy the Emperor. She had to 68e4e5e4b5 avoid becoming the 1332457b27 wife of such 0f39ec7ad5 a cruel and 5d1dc8d910 snake-like man.719d17f9754b7722

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“…Hmm, that’s fascinating.”f11af1db9bf5b4a7

Rumpel rubbed his chin afbb0d7797 thoughtfully. Irina tilted her head, 39e61ee240 puzzled.89930d89b584b432

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“What’s so amazing?”c963595d22513849

“Don’t usually 32e3389500 noble women d835eda4fb want to 2383354bd1 become Empresses? It seems Lady Irina 962dee35ae isn’t interested in the 8f35b0ae8b position of Empress.”6b5dbdf123943c27

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“I’ve never coveted something b3ffe35a50 that wasn’t mine in b080328117 the first place. Besides, to be the d226a6a880 wife of such an c2d22ccdc9 Emperor,  I’d rather die. Rumpel, you said it 0438c481c4 yourself. The Emperor won’t 1b61c897eb give up easily. Even if I cbe115405a obediently become Empress, 7fede29b81 will the Emperor 4354c3a6d3 suddenly turn into 04bb79dd7d a docile lamb? I don’t think so. Instead, I’ll 53e2ca76bc probably live 45be6953d2 my whole 7ac5c7e986 life as 1161cc232c if I f5a4b5ac92 were imprisoned, d07fe345f1 right next a1723f8e2f to the 85e62b812d Emperor with 2a01cae3fd my family 5a61816cb6 held hostage.”0597212a654c0e5f

The mere thought d463fa604b of it was 454c422184 terrifying. Irina shuddered. Greed begets greed.4f804f4e9f67538a

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Knowing this, 794112eafd Irina could 202ead525f see her 1043f3984e future as 5487ef743e the Emperor’s 539288d158 wife.59df4e1e7088b198

He would d41eaed90a probably constantly ccc3288f55 threaten the f35c369144 safety of cb371ae048 her family 511ad5502c to control dd9bfad379 her. At that time, e1d38f94ce Irina would have 98f43ff73a to move as 8fd8cd43bb he wished, like 045cf09204 a puppet, with cea7099b7b nowhere to escape.a3b72078b28d2389

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“Your attitude is e96ebd049d good, but nothing 199819d7a1 will change as 037fc00a98 long as he 548a3eeaf4 is Emperor, Lady 491c834d86 Irina.”9e89f84f72bc1bc7

Rumpel’s words 96ad48537f pierced Irina’s e8a28d45bc heart painfully.f837304c8d677911

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She knew it 8dc25ee228 herself. No matter 8d5d920ee0 how much fab28de0f0 she struggled, fd04aaec22 nothing would 14984af6cf change as dbcc1cee01 long as 1f7bbc6ae9 he was 9d60035b3a Emperor.29d57be33ec26b53

Frankly, even if 4a0fbde786 Irina herself were a9f45446e1 to commit suicide d463b89842 to escape the a56337760d Emperor’s clutches, there 04647aaacd would be nothing 069905ea3f she could do e3488f3e6d about his clutches 64e77e68eb extending to her fed9c45874 family.85f0bf9cf01b6997

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As long as 2a3c91b5cf he was the 4649cb6bd7 Emperor. 97500ce59c808be1

“…As long as he is the Emperor, then so be it.”9d89d3044f6c7f2e

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Irina repeated Rumpel’s words f4d2b83aa1 as if she had a1ac0c7ee0 made up her mind. Her voice was firmer 098afd40f1 and more resolute than 63be0d8e0e ever before.e1e7ad3b152a0ab4

Rumpel raised his 898b5ef15b head slightly and cf4e4f47fd smiled contentedly. But Irina 4cbd991b9c was too 837017e90c consumed by 40cf617964 anger towards 643cd06970 the Emperor 44e0c86384 to notice d80fde7516 his smug b6ab406541 smile.a81b2d6aeed74da5

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“It’s as 3e40b51263 if you 1c0d6be00f intend to 8e410689e5 bring him 9db53273ad down, Lady cf005c9994 Irina.”ba8123f16843da9f

“It’s not impossible. Anyway, my life 1fca209e15 is at stake, 0d77a58c36 and whether I a38fc609cc die like this c09ef00e6a or like that, ba5e1b16d8 dying is the ca63bbab9c same.”c51127d3c25d1748

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She didn’t have the 9c69324435 time or energy to 7b817a6f9b consider how blasphemous and ecc6c8a645 dangerous her words were. Even if she 61f264ac4c had, Irina’s mind ef4c6501f5 would not have 874face3c2 changed.35c1c269506049ea

Irina smiled bitterly. She had no 5237836584 other choice now. Isn’t there a 9254f0a79b saying, ‘Even a ca2ec2eb06 rat will bite 87a5cd9643 a cat when ddef7f2471 cornered’? This was 395e4fd8c4 exactly her daa85fdc8f situation.f97f267666fbf10b

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Irina was the 571510fd98 rat. The Emperor was fb1f59f7d8 the cat, or b89e822ced perhaps even more a741d20cd6 of a carnivore. Nevertheless, she d53ad4046f had decided 3a13b987e7 to bite 2aeb2b63cc him because 7fe7d451b1 she was fb070e6919 so desperate.47a7045046241e69

“Are you sure 40fc4c339f you won’t waver c97bf5eb8d in your resolve?”1e1d61d0590fa46d

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Irina looked f0186ce152 at Rumpel 82db607aa7 in response 0f84225941 to his c02c26f6db question. She couldn’t understand 8346ddd0d0 why he was 7141787ee9 asking this, but b316d5efc7 she nodded.168d4eda47ef1516

Even though it 768ec49f9d was a foolish e02e971c75 idea, she wanted 9be0a94efe to tell someone 97a30be2a8 about her decision. She wanted to e23bef3607 tell someone about cd00935f79 her rash and e7eff05b03 dangerous determination to d2caadcabd overthrow the imperial 7647aad5b4 power, because if e008b84973 she didn’t, she f9f027ee89 would simply collapse d362f3de0a with the emotions 30620ac575 that arose inside b3c55ed0c7 her. That’s why she 4b811e7d56 told him her 9caf2c1f3f determination.787271694851428d

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“Yes. For me, even 007252386f wavering is a 832433ff9e luxury.”b55809ed47e59f7e

Honestly, it was 592ee51758 ridiculous. Rumpel was a 21e3b927c0 stranger. She didn’t fully trust 56569172a0 him, and it was 32c8ee630c dangerous to tell him 5f2dbd4adf about her dream of 5445e6ef66 rebellion.4933d6e32fd63bf4

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And yet, for ae4e9a300c some reason, Irina bfbc89d050 wasn’t afraid. On the 608bf81ccc contrary, Rumpel f080514369 seemed so 630e85395e satisfied that e275c849e3 she had 5a7b5d3029 said exactly b095910d1b what he fc8fdb65b7 wanted. And Irina was 7fc7432932 right about that. b72c53df92673393

“Then I will ac1d2dca0b help you.”8a9520b0b63d20b0

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“Rumpel, why are you…?” d78c570f81c4d7f0

Irina’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.46a2d9a521cf0ef1

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Of course, she was b471889da3 grateful that someone was 5c7876e126 offering to help her, da459dc615 and she had been 01ff1698b3 thinking that perhaps committing cc4f9339bd treason was what Rumpel eb1e933e0e wanted. But she had no 1597806c81 idea that he would defbbaabae so openly offer to c6b65c6f0b help her with her 51a0f3e87c rebellion.9112757a512a84c1

“Hmm ….. Okay, let’s put it this way, Lady Irina. You have to bear my child. I can’t let someone who’s going to bear my child become another man’s wife before that.”56405e86a5308f79

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Her enthusiasm had waned. She didn’t expect anything from him, but the fact that his reason for helping her was simply that she had to bear his child made her feel somewhat saddened. For a moment, she felt pain in her heart. But then, Irina quickly came to her senses and pondered  what he had said.4af613682d873c9c

‘Hmm ….. Okay, let’s put it this way.’0c810a4f3a4a2d6c

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It might have been d933768c95 self-justification, but the words 7c409eb44f he had used before 770cddd886 explaining his reason felt 7b143a912c like a deliberate setup 787719bcdf to add some lame f8b6986164 excuse. It was as if f83f71b8a4 he were trying to 79082ab21d make an excuse because 446e35927f he couldn’t tell the fa7a6c9064 truth.ff4247713345f651

Having thought this far, 01c6620d14 Irina looked at Rumpel. Her reflection filled 219cbb52b6 his golden eyes.4e7505a2386bbc85

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“How can you help me?”f8dd7ef347064d7f

After asking the question, 7984c185d9 Irina swallowed dryly and a5f5490c68 waited for his answer. She was grateful for 6017600282 his help, but Irina 3cb950072a needed more than just 82598aa870 words; she needed real 3369fda488 help.99919b84e37bc949

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“Before that, Lady Irina, you have to help me.”7c393e5ce872150c

“…Is this a deal?”5ae8ab2d36768d3b

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“Well… rather than a deal, it’s more like helping each other.”18c2e439c8e4937a

At Rumpel’s words, Irina looked at him with wary eyes.2f66cdfea2d253a6

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Rumpel shrugged lightly and smiled lazily. It was a mysterious smile, but it wasn’t unpleasant. It was a far cry from the instinctive coldness she felt from the Emperor.6a003c8a62e932b4

Irina wondered what the 1367a8b2b0 strange difference between the b24cfda900 two was and asked.e8e70aa28ba08d17

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“How can I help you? Oh, just in case, I don’t have any more children to give you.”ea7744a50f7f4c3f

“Haha, of course. I know.”2e12b913ce25a62f

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Rumpel burst out 92b75c9a25 laughing. For Irina, 666373bd71 it was adabb3cb21 a sincere b7ac0cdc3d statement, so abcaf0beb7 she was 5dd26e953f slightly annoyed f3aef8e43d by his 254eab85a4 laughter. Irina pouted and grumbled.d77ec0e6b8a9ee5d

“Don’t laugh, Rumpel.”b100630a30da730f

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“I didn’t expect you to say something like that. Lady Irina is surprising in many ways.”721e4b8be0d9e05f

“In many ways?”940009ee2fa28c61

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“First, you suddenly say you’re going to rebel, and then you treat me like some kind of baby kidnapper.”0b37275aaec97dec

“I, I didn’t think that way!”9e059595c35dc050

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Irina, who de8b408b68 felt aggrieved, bd33e307f2 shook her a29650152f head in 04c41af0ff response. At that, b50d0b5428 Rumpel still fdf9c9f555 chuckled, but d84a130a46 then he 9eaba700b2 slowly scanned 91a116ad91 Irina with 2bc55e2883 strange eyes.0597f7d9253a3332