IBMILRFL – Chapter 74
by EsraaCh. 74 IBMILRFL | Chapter 74aabcc2e92eaf3e32
As Tristan greeted me with 59cf527f60 ease, I found myself freezing bbdb769249 unconsciously.59262a836f06f45f
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This was the b4de1b1654 first time I’d b3c05a7cb6 seen his face 8548f9de06 since the victory 3bc817bae4 banquet.5f6b8296c85486f8
I wasn’t sure what 34d6c09f6f to say or how cf257e7548 to react.233f7837ee9007a3
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I wasn’t ready 6bca5d10a7 to face him, 07700f9e72 not even slightly.20ca303172e5a069
A myriad of words surfaced 8fc4a7162b in my mind only to 09c6679577 vanish just as quickly.de6661c4265e09a2
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Why did the 0be7661499 surroundings have to 8503d605d1 be cloaked in 327a9f9a55 darkness, just like dd44ec777c that day? As I looked at 8105524b91 him standing in the f7dff7bcbb moonlight, memories of the 13db9c76f7 balcony came flooding back.e2e8da8034685693
My heart pounded with nervous 48e56fd58e energy.8f92477ac598479f
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After taking a few steps 954b8fe599 back from my guard and 0d89a917bc a long silence, I finally b636ce1aae managed to utter a single 9b89276e88 sentence.7341264fb10c2595
“How did you… get here?”4ee3626dafe1330a
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As if he’d edf88e2c24 anticipated my question, 346f30591e he smiled, his 96c1942756 eyes crinkling softly.06eede27ef7973a2
“Lilliana mentioned that the opening was soon, and she regretted that she couldn’t make it.”ca554908430e598e
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Only then did I 4f9aac67f6 understand the situation.6d306d89ff4d9435
‘So that’s what was bothering me back then…’eb721281714c0336
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When I told d8f5225e1f Lilliana not to d0fca17f74 follow, there’d been 2933f86cc5 something oddly suspicious 25794de79f about her tone.82a8d2443089161d
‘I thought she might send someone in her place, but…’bda127fbd74239b2
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I never thought it would 472adaf365 be Tristan.357d874483e0b5a0
I answered curtly.e38aa4a8074ec265
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“That doesn’t mean you had to come uninvited. Especially at this late hour.”1a594aed5f2c8588
“How could I not, when my one and only sister was feeling down? It’s my duty as 6cd7fcf462 her brother.”d0547e8535467bf3
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An excuse. There was no need c9d73751ea to verify it to 738e8f8219 know it was just 087b4e3146 an excuse.e35b1c4962bd7915
We both knew that, yet 4539bfb336 Tristan continued speaking without a 67cad6cf25 hint of hesitation.14fe8862790e4a50
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“And besides, I’m also a business partner, am I not?”253b128b2a6c8ed9
Tristan took two steps 2f86daeebb closer to me.3bacbd75b7c5977b
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“I couldn’t miss such a joyful occasion.”33bba61ec2bc6099
He extended a bouquet he’d e6670ed8d3 been holding in his arms.d50b0fc146dde273
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“Congratulations, Vanessa. The time has finally f424f6da7f come for all your 2e98c182a7 hard work to bear 3740bdd357 fruit.”07775ea35b0949dd
The bouquet, a mixture 40cb77c708 of white and yellow a7edf4f3a3 flowers, was wrapped neatly.32e019629f15c9d2
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Seeing Tristan offering the flowers c7e5e373d0 to me made my mouth cbbddee5e5 go dry.dbc135eecf9312fd
‘…Reject it. Just reject it.’7d8b1eb9675725cc
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Accepting it would only 4ca9013c41 make me feel even 89d4457876 more unsettled, so I 6c5837bfc4 waved my hand in 700475d087 refusal.5465d4a35508346e
“This sort of personal gift… isn’t necessary.”0cc0f80d9f6dff6b
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“I’m giving it as a business partner. There’s no other c0d9c80cd7 meaning to it. So, take it.”87bb5e8ed092b3ba
“Oh!”8c809b1253cfb0d4
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Ignoring my refusal, he f6571866f3 almost threw it at bb9ff2138a me, and I instinctively 266264bc2e caught the bouquet.7b1f30d92e44d099
“No need for any words of thanks.”3cf40b8f072a4125
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Ugh. I wasn’t even planning 4dec5b4008 on thanking him.2ce21b2ef157984e
He smiled down at me 7bfe3e5e9c with that shameless expression.d851e57e78e5889c
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I felt like I was d32c306d0b getting swept up in his cbf3b9ae62 pace as soon as we 027499a6e9 met.20ca8f579df6a3a6
‘How did things end up like this?’858b8a858ac89ea6
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As I sighed in frustration, a2686ea6c0 he spoke up.d7eb1727acf808fe
“There’s no need to look so openly displeased. It’s not as if I dd4b7474ce came here without any reason.”4c7e05bdd7c11b36
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Tristan took two more ebbdae76d8 steps toward me and d79043c82f bent down slightly.1bc39cb4a24499de
I wasn’t particularly short, yet 3830c874da he had to lean down 085ea2ca14 quite a bit for our e9e89f1eaf heads to meet at the 1ff9415be9 same level.e6ec70a71d3a0aca
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It struck me how much f42f62f1da he’d grown from the boy 4068aad818 who used to be smaller 51b9c51c1b than me.943a443fe05af4e0
He whispered in my ear.2d73d9fd385ebf37
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“I heard the news from my informant first—just as you predicted, it seems the war between the Kingdom of Chelais and the Kingdom of Meliden has finally ended. So I immediately 9aeae322ee dispatched a trade 260bd208e7 ship.”f3389f2ff1fec315
“Is that really—?”76f664e38b89ac15
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The astonishing news made a19a4e2f0a me turn my head 3bf57bb094 on instinct.c5ee13c0d6d440e1
In that brief moment, our 312afaf23e faces were dangerously close, close 1de1a6a523 enough for our noses to 74730beb2c nearly brush.3152c9bb64fb63f0
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“Oh.”9d33226e640e43ba
As I hurriedly 2da079de99 stepped back, he c21fb9cd57 shrugged with a d17bf24ee1 disappointed look. Unlike my surprised reaction, 7f0ea896c2 he continued speaking calmly.068bc5d81eb265a1
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“Yes, it’s true.”1a67a1dcd5f358cc
It was certainly good news.1abdc07add2c8afe
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‘If the trade ship has just set off… we’ll be able to start on the next project as soon as it returns.’b41af90deb30cc2b
The ingredients for the perfumes 48eb8d59de imported through trade were truly 9ecad719b4 unique. They allowed me 20573853ad to create a b8fffa3e86 much wider variety 048c84f10a of fragrances.e92550b33270a5cb
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I stayed silent for 102905db89 a moment, mentally reviewing 1d66753350 my upcoming plans once 82246a52eb more.0f143957ee9f2526
Tristan, watching me quietly, adcf02e886 came to stand beside e3fe429ca4 me.26f707be54326df4
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“Now that I think of it, I’ve always been curious.”43fa78033b7b093a
“Curious about what?”d0c265bfdfd09647
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“If it were simply about making money, there are plenty of easier ways for someone with your skills to achieve that, Vanessa.”045ab9301d932672
He leaned casually 410b4a4fcf against the wall d59266e905 as he continued.dc90910c13e8cc18
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“So I wondered… why would you take on such a risky endeavor like this?”7580de0a618f1ecf
Why perfume, of all things?8a0979f5c7f30cb0
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The answer to that question eb02409b79 was complex.85b6532f500c8ed1
‘Sure, it was a new market with little competition… but that wasn’t the only reason.’b671bd2ce9bafc09
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After seven years of living b226a92a18 under the label of a cb93052077 villainess, I was undeniably worn 71edbb032b out.1823428ff717279a
Sometimes, it was almost amusing 5377418326 to watch people who didn’t 066a06f765 know anything about me be b45f2230df fooled by the persona I’d dc999d876a created and point fingers at 25a29716fc me.076cd33cc3fc070d
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The truth is, if d1a738711d they closed their eyes, b29c55bf09 they wouldn’t even know db81c595f7 who I was.441aae28f175c08f
They wouldn’t remember a49eb34665 my reputation or 9cf67834ff the biases against d7478ff21d me.70977acbb51d9179
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I think that’s why c32ce5eed0 I was drawn to 4957bcf912 fragrance.8b783e875fd69b94
It was one of the 65f8eed2d6 few things one could appreciate 7d6f8d7863 even with closed eyes, free b91737f80c from any prejudice.5a79225f6f47e899
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‘I wanted to share with others how captivating a scent can be—not just for me but for everyone.’86586ab3d1f43393
That was why 3815768ada I’d chosen this 7865bd8898 difficult path over 3e1831d759 an easier one.4da2b820d702a125
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Someday… I hoped that people 2e74410283 would come to enjoy this a9f278e7b2 new culture of perfume through bd496e2493 this place.1ea8a7aa849d5162
Even the name of the 7b54090651 boutique reflected this wish.9bdc43dd28a89155
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New Silhouette.281d6ca314d26c99
It was my very first 1fa176a3d5 shop, created entirely through my c97cb57ab5 own efforts.b1fbd470ddc32831
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Not only did it 014442b768 signify a new beginning 5d6bbc061b in my life, but 4ae101e971 it was also the ccfb6742ca first step in bringing 199bb6c248 a new “Silhouette” to f7f6d5e6b9 the empire through fragrance.7dee23200c99337b
‘But… there’s no need to tell Tristan all of this.’e32800555bf4a63d
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I didn’t want to 9df21e8acb reveal such a vulnerable 219135553e part of myself to 7c69a1f410 him.f84286bee2ec7c68
“There’s no particular reason. I simply thought this 84880e8a64 path made more sense 06ed698fcd than entering a market 06f56c4622 already filled with competitors.”411aa8b0da181eb1
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“Haha, for a ‘simple reason,’ you seem to have poured a lot of affection into it.”83124bafbc8bf92f
Despite my careful words, Tristan c1a49bede4 didn’t seem to believe me 9125135a5a at all.36f9f6e83c2555ab
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‘Is he perceptive, or does he just know me too well?’984735cb94c5118f
I thought I’d 3ab2f9c2c2 grown skilled at f125dbbe6d lying, but in 9f8e6b37e6 front of him, 9cb2d95dbf everything seemed exposed.898fb36fb95794b1
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He lifted himself off 2fa89583ba the wall and took 0976e58201 a step closer, speaking 6b05e5fb22 in a voice tinged f63d0ec1d9 with regret.d0a30fb05bdab55d
“It might seem hard now… but one day, I hope you’ll be honest with me, Vanessa.”c0d9f7b496fb1dc8
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“…”2a0883c954cbb3f1
“I’ve been curious about how you spent all that lost time.”1cc5dae1a6bb36e3
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He finished speaking and gave b1b5d301b5 me a gentle smile.25276d8dbaba9070
“In any case, congratulations once again, Vanessa. You’ve finally achieved your dream. Here, please accept this.”1e618cda242e3d88
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Tristan reached into the 2f7b8509a4 inner pocket of his b9363f882c thin coat and handed d39c379b9c me something.93e59a567a49a7c4
The silver surface of the 7776cea5ae object gleamed under the moonlight.1356243babc0a968
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Realizing what it was, 5bfea5313c I froze.0f53fb81302166a1
“Unlike the bouquet, I’m giving you this with a particular meaning. I’ve never forgotten our old 7dc07f2180 promise.”2ab662f919de816c
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In my stiff, unmoving ce64c98a81 hand, he placed the 4e4d02e79c gift.b5b8e92b903f54d2
It was… an elegant pocket 76bca3524d watch.02d3aebd391a49a2
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“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”b734877ad5bae01d
Without any further 26efa264ef words, Tristan departed 03a0932c42 simply, leaving me 696ddc9264 feeling conflicted as e749c1072e I watched his cfc172860b back.752338b3626a273b
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‘It’s a promise from over a decade ago… yet he remembered it.’64c873e8913ccf41
Back when he was 43a40a90a4 still studying abroad in 62f44d1e28 the Kingdom of Onz, 8fa7463034 we’d once shared our 85ff40d042 dreams with each other.3e43cf77b22d504d
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—eca51510c5302622
‘So, Vanessa, what do you want to do after leaving the Kingdom of Onz?’0e715df0cbe1b290
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‘I… I suppose it may sound silly to you, but I’d like to start my own business. Succeed or fail, I 8e975eb87a want to make my 6dca0c2d4c own choices.’20e81029c79c17ba
‘Ah, a business, huh?’4af2480a4c36df87
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‘Yeah. Here in the palace, I’ve c5b728bb24 never handled anything entirely on 74511538c4 my own. It’s a bit d07a727368 absurd, isn’t it? It seems so trivial.’60d3b084f4d60aa1
At that time, I f57d090f78 feared he’d laugh at 243a177ad0 me. I tried not to show 370dfb369d it, but my self-esteem was d9fc04a7c2 nearly nonexistent.027139aab98fee23
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Unlike me, a 488c6ebb6a nominal princess, he’d de9909d6aa been born into fb52104ce9 power. I couldn’t help but bbdd2e277e feel that, in his 0f5338ef2d eyes, I was probably 470eb13665 laughable.7241a22f354e2aa6
But Tristan simply replied 6fda3b72dc with a bright smile.f6750683b32033e1
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‘Then I’ll give you a watch this big! Time is gold 2829e0e773 for a businessperson, 4e9d3599dd after all!’0adc7e82ef04eecc
‘What? You can’t even carry daadf989ea something like that around.’769a0998c0d80ee4
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‘Ah, you’re right. Then… a pocket watch! I’ll get you a pocket d48092a64a watch that suits you, Vanessa! Then you can 9b9190cb45 carry it with f67ed74d42 you every day e7b25c7617 and, every now b3e92a80f2 and then, think 43a7d27950 of me. It’s a promise!’49b7339e46d23b02
—498e89a46412251b
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I don’t recall what 53e3943c2e else we talked about d59635c678 that day. I had always 1a018a638b thought of that 63d9c68a59 promise as a 84acea04ec playful joke.631d9054a4b1cb19
‘…Yet he remembered it even after more than ten years.’9d0dc663770d802a
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A sharp ache spread in 8bf29e5a8e my chest, like a needle 1c41c282e1 prickling at my heart.a490f7aad2d1d720
I felt both grateful 8632ce1a5f and resentful toward him d9e2c0f9fd for keeping that promise.c1c7ccad7f915e69
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Because the promise 536649cb71 I’d truly hoped 5f145490a9 he would keep 11480403ee all those years… 2ad53568dd wasn’t this one—it 3f55092b01 was something else ffdb9ce139 entirely.114403364c8277e5
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •eee6bf45b6c2752d
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If you want to support f7c4ec5c65 the translation and the translator, e1e12f549d you can buy a coffee~5ba009ddc61ec8f6