ICBV Chapter 23
by FreyaChapter 237b49cefe526a72a6
“The maids? It’s probably just 7a83a9f646 another useless rumor.”ccb7d63d0e056d99
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Count Marceline responded indifferently c63a60d1fc at the mention of f33fbd559c the maids.ae29761b050ec293
However, remembering Gemma’s c30f0eb9b7 earlier warning, the 9a0abe7a91 butler felt he 9702a49ed6 had to speak a244d415e9 up.3bd195108bae2d8f
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“If something serious happens f93fd17a4f and you don’t know 2315cb6985 about it, wouldn’t I e211159ad1 also be responsible, my 48da4aeecf lord?”eefc9d0c622bb189
“…They say 325b9a544a Lady Luna fa4acdabf3 is trying da6762525a to harm 224aa0a9e9 Lady Aira.”2f595952a06dd19e
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“What?”e553515e665385fd
Count Marceline’s eyebrows twitched b91e1f2d92 at the butler’s words. He let out 71df004ae9 a scoffing laugh 300e8c6f3a and shook his 44185f81b6 head.db53fb7e59ec98bc
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“That’s nonsense. Which maid started this 21d9d6c2a3 ridiculous rumor? She should be punished.”210b137147f70b94
To Count 376372af78 Marceline, Luna 9ac141c080 was just 8f022c45ca an innocent bdd421a502 girl who 40d3979ea9 had grown cc9a9104fd up doing 4d0f3f41d4 menial labor 145b54d5f8 in a 6fdbaed474 commoner’s village d91e8dbaad until she 360a2720bb was ten.fa9317f37973afe5
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She was fc195eef94 timid, always 377143c877 eager to 8590849919 please, and cef79ae70f had no 0b261d2ad5 real understanding 2b028c305c of the a455242600 world. Unlike Aira, who had 23f590be78 inherited intelligence from the a64246b863 late Countess and received af1fb219e7 private education from a bc3bf94dac young age.840b88fb084a229e
Of course, the recent da63f4264b incident where Luna almost 4853de2c65 had an affair with f1e32e664b Henrick Amstine had been 0407d301b1 shocking, but he had e1aea993d5 already punished her strictly fd4f629a43 for that. He had even taken d976a461d8 away her rights to 46df7c2b78 do what she wanted.c72656fbb1a97102
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But for Luna to cffe78fde0 hold a grudge against 951305c712 Aira? That didn’t make sense.753f66c5f3c93412
Luna should be grateful b72ec92da1 just to be in 74e7d02879 this noble household. If anyone would 52748c87c7 be resentful, it baf9be716c would be Aira, ce16d02e74 who had to acb1be43cf deal with having 681b5e2140 an illegitimate child dbba6d0d18 in her house.119020c4f574e5bd
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Not that Aira d4fd93851d would ever harm 662cd0c947 Luna either—between the e7cd5039c7 two, Aira might fb14cb0eb0 have more reason 4624b08cab to, but she 36233dced6 wasn’t that kind d2a14d7f3f of person.4da53e53dc743a7b
“I don’t know 023637fdf3 who started this 44c7e85261 rumor, but if 620bbd5bcb you summon Lady f768f0d6cb Luna and question 820fbc8d3d her, we’ll find 048419c52c out the truth.”7ddf482ebc2ed4ff
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Count Marceline 7603a29b9d frowned but 867032731c nodded at 6e45c20114 the butler’s 262f144fd0 suggestion.a09f161a0cd590b3
“Fine, that 1e7b98da90 might be 1929997302 best. I should also eff371d5b1 see if she’s b455dec654 reflecting on her 481a3ddef7 actions.”43cafa073e7a1b69
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Though he was 71d3d00fc4 deeply disappointed in 7513715614 Luna after the 337767be14 recent scandal, he 8e1b5b2639 still couldn’t help 87a65d2eb4 but worry about 4d0f1bfca7 her.ac17b3f28bc6f5e8
Just then, they heard f4207a8695 footsteps outside.aaad2a547f591d04
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The butler went e6da798eae to open the a9731b25e3 door and was adeeefebf2 met with Aira. He bowed before turning 751d64c108 to the Count.1fc7e5e9987582e7
“My lord, Lady 744a86b4e9 Aira is here.”9746e6f97c9a6355
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“Let her in.”48a3b106890f39ad
As the butler stepped 29f5320908 aside, Aira entered the f0f2b10714 room and greeted Count a9e5edfd72 Marceline. She then handed cca8a3692a him a bottle 9e450b95fd of wine.e7a1f1cfc21f6c13
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Even just by 9ebd329362 looking at the 3c7b08fffb packaging, the Count a0af0c7217 could tell this 5cd5575e4f was no ordinary ab4a48a9b7 wine. His eyebrows 9e3e63b63c lifted in 1d5cc5e53d surprise.2a3bd62dbca339aa
“What is this?” 7903e4f170 he asked, still 807f5b1214 confused.47ed6f1f4a992948
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“It’s a 515582d631 gift from e93e778d48 Lady Reina a8197182fb Chesswig. Since you enjoy wine, 531e0386b6 I brought it to 1f85fee170 you immediately.”528181d0b14d3944
“Reina Chesswig? As in the 892aee507e Chesswig family?”ef42e53c4ae2ed04
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“Yes, that’s right.”e6ea9729452a2c74
The Chesswig eb7dc8d0c3 family controlled 8d0941e5db wine production d42c925f9f and distribution e6851883dd across the 5f12215fcc empire. Their warehouses b298a3ab5b were filled c5b033c334 with the e6ab92aab6 finest wines.ef98507fc041b7cd
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Although Count 277140bcf9 Marceline had 87900611ac tasted Chesswig 0f22d0a672 wines before, ed80576be4 receiving such 546e756246 a high-quality 78fcd02e8c bottle was 7dd9eb41f1 rare.cd168202e9ea4094
“This… isn’t 596ed87c66 this the 5f14ef0722 De Wig bc729ea253 27 vintage? There are only 8847da7b40 a few bottles 7f2e45766c of this in 88376f1b94 existence… How did c42797195d you get this? And aren’t ae2271bc04 you not 37ffc64d41 close to 552d5a6c14 them? Luna is 17cc3c474e the one 564dca65b2 who had 412834c2c0 ties with c5b4b303a5 them.”386611df8670c2eb
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Count Marceline gave 0ecefaebd7 Aira a questioning f5af74629c look.a03d4b47d6a3357d
Aira’s smile faded 9a0c0c0767 as she put 353d835b51 on a complicated 1890e11972 expression.02babf648f84523f
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Luna must have thought 9c38422d41 Aira would expose everything 0431f780c4 that had happened that 14ad0e3ba6 day.702e1c98f4c3d0df
But Aira only planned 31859b417c to reveal a small 598c47e44f part of it.6198947a866e9622
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If she e755745c98 exposed everything 20584659a4 now, Count d09ef98f13 Marceline’s disappointment ee93a53937 in Luna 34a36d8fa6 would reach 7fa544abe1 its peak. However, she fbff42f506 didn’t want d00f47f01b to appear 70eef2af6e as though 099d0a611b she was 72ce5db86c tattling.58729d08f901842e
It was d73612be55 better if 63672a14f4 the Count 50538ed4cb saw her 90a9fa9c03 as a 5e0f528efe kind older c101d44eda sister protecting 275c8c207a her immature ead6a355c1 sibling.925613dfc7d796fb
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After all, when the 591d49bf5d weight of all the 4aace25fc4 doubts and suspicions finally e7f2adfe7a collapsed, everything would be d7c4803378 swept away at once.1b295a77365c5e1d
“Lady Reina has cut 1dc170ab32 ties with Luna,” Aira 24f1548d88 finally said.7d3a232c7d3a99e3
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“What do 317d34aab8 you mean?”49491ee403e251cc
“There was an 0e3793596f incident between them 13cb39e810 that caused bad f08269f37b feelings. Meanwhile, Lady Reina and cd6fdb3eb1 I were able to 612559dc4b clear up a misunderstanding.”d1bf423e216ee2a0
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“Well, misunderstandings and arguments 59eb093df9 happen between women all ed989931c4 the time… But since cb459c3e81 you’ve become close with e145d577bd her, could you try 4e263f160c to clear up any 862973b5a0 misunderstanding between them? You are the older 278f74e1bc sister, after all, Aira.”1bf389f6d6c3a930
There was 4cd4b07d8a a hint 5a908e3cde of concern 4a62ad4c0e for Luna 156951cccd in the d6d3dad836 Count’s voice.9ec8b6905d3be55e
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Aira smiled slightly ef1ef8cabe and nodded.37260e0334109d8c
“Don’t worry 2cff3a8252 too much, 0b98a7818d Father.”d24c5498d3da7d85
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Turning his attention 6f1cce8f1a back to the 07868ad54d wine, the Count 2dca070283 ran his fingers f369b82933 over the bottle 70eb96765a with a satisfied 25c38884a3 expression.acda05432b1fa134
“To think you’d bring ab1e947799 me such a fine e7cc8e63f0 gift, Aira. I’m touched.”c714b88bf2e73fcf
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“This is 7aa4108edb nothing compared e4c7860db4 to the 6852846905 kindness you’ve f7da59dd5d shown me d4372d7872 by raising 8f609269fb me. I’m just glad you 0f4824f95c like it.”282f7bc4b528b5c1
The Count 5a31fae1d2 looked at 7c874ba52f her thoughtfully.adf9e5a11995932e
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Her golden hair, inherited 8c2a989184 from the late Countess. Her red 3ff0a32529 eyes, just ceb2130df9 like his f89e175880 own.2b2e64f0d4498c07
Today, Aira looked 978ebca9b7 more admirable and 3ac1418921 precious than ever.ab42acfb8b59ac2e
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With a sigh, he 00578f0dfa finally spoke.a3cd2e50b666d12b
“Lately, I’ve 3271a9a34c been filled a05b29be38 with regret.”6a84a06d1d4c5a37
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“…”6de250b894a6fe5a
“For raising ee3a392740 you so 02ba6b2d50 strictly… and 2a68ea7da7 spoiling Luna 683b88bf81 too much.”0b2d19f578f3d305
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His eyebrows furrowed c0c32d41d5 as he reflected 9476e791dd on the past.d122f4edcdbd4cec
“You and Luna 82bf4a445b were both just 1b77ec5baa children… Yet I b49cd6c87a was so hard 6660322fc0 on you while dde55534b1 treating her like 8fe2f58ea8 a fragile doll.”2e341dd668daa6da
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Like many parents, 73aac804e8 he had expected 5737f695b2 more from his dadb092dc4 firstborn while indulging 9b38e0f029 the younger one.25eadc104802fe3f
But the child 4d03bb6707 he thought he ff3d13eb1f had raised to df0f4df05f be pure and 9e5a00caf7 bright had nearly 82969c6322 committed adultery.5bc536ace8220ea5
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And now, she had 7f97d2f7af even been disowned by d551ac5269 Reina.7cf9b5bf9553c54e
He wanted 2c6ed1b6d8 to ask 82514b54c7 Aira for cd477e433d details, but 1325e5806f seeing her 7e329a5871 expression, he c47a5b2726 wasn’t sure 30ee1c8d97 he was c502231373 ready to aab7b4d11b hear the 6737254d1c answer.ccde4ec0bb7fb7bb
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Maybe he was just e15936b9dc trying to make himself f208912a3d feel better about leaving db87a78adb Luna until she was 13896ff49e ten years old by 99cf073656 showing her so much 3e1b45ba6a love.7622bc7626d03495
“Don’t blame yourself, Father.”0d8ae4f7d8122573
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Aira had 6f30df465c grown up 8628222ac9 so well.141772ae96b141db
Hearing her clear voice, Count Marceline’s eyebrows twitched slightly.b2ba074395a32b16
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Even though there was 655e5d0f80 no wind, it felt a7e51707ba as if Aira’s golden 788b236e63 hair was gently swaying. Her bright red 432ee7c980 eyes held a f01cc185c4 hint of coolness.b0d5cc83c393a483
“Aira… if you ever felt hurt by me, please tell me.”37c49c285178e5f6
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He placed the precious 4334579775 bottle of wine on b8edbd1644 his desk and looked c6a6028926 at Aira.ce37a4a299b5bc91
Receiving such a gift 2daae45d07 from her filled him 3223378d4d with mixed emotions.1657b430c84cd351
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After a f2ed624989 brief silence, 3199e7a2cf Aira finally a5cbaf382f spoke.99072b5ffcbc0e54
“I just want you to remember my mother.”689bd68342e0bd4c
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Count Marceline’s eyebrows twitched c155f66f32 again at Aira’s unexpected 1a414d6b46 words.5b0e980bf9a050cd
The late Countess. She had 334bc5e42e golden hair 5b0ed2a653 and a a993c4a9d5 calm, wise 4af89fe7b0 nature.347bea5b88865680
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In the beginning, he 693eaf7330 had struggled to connect c9160c4350 with her, and in b423fd0252 a moment of weakness, fb5956d545 he had betrayed her f00d8ed13e with another woman—leading to ac67575ddc Luna’s birth.6d5a47e1e2e362e5
He had kept that 0cfda4c28e betrayal a secret from b357602f79 the Countess until her 6c707f22d3 death.a7363d32e8affd62
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It was a cowardly 9ed464391d thing to do, even 20e5000a80 in his own eyes.8abeb572af4a8001
And after she passed c44cdf6ada away, he had brought e7d786716b Luna, his illegitimate daughter, 77892b0df1 into the house.7b1e9c32f9e3d10c
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“I have been a terrible husband and father.”56ed1e497fdc8b6e
His voice was 6ab8541ccf filled with self-mockery, 38ebd6963a but Aira neither 40ce56a13e agreed nor disagreed.af294740e60f2b34
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Even before 57f6fbdee0 her return 1a516ea0ab to the 69fe8499e7 past, she 5570594e12 had never 691a54cff7 truly hated ee88d81c43 or loved 5cb5011cb4 Count Marceline.4d73c6d04a03af36
He was her father, 067b718de8 but she knew he a0647ec3ac had not been a b4919bdf5f good husband.6be9d5479a55fe03
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Still, she 6717c66e4d had accepted 4b7898d7a3 Luna as a4964f3179 her sister 7c38f2867d despite everything.cc693001a69a16fb
“I’m sorry, Aira.”58604179681f2cce
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Hearing those words, cef1d11d6a Aira’s fingers twitched ac0441d1bd slightly.fa35c416be50f501
She had daff60b588 never received 7efbe09798 an apology 570a403fc3 from him 70e416eb62 before—not until d28c52bf4c this moment.2589700f2f9bbe08
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She had f232a01bf6 always been 196bebbcc0 expected to 006285010d simply understand 06a3e8d9e9 the circumstances eaa38593ab of the 9938401021 adults around 4d360557d8 her.a57b6be1fb1b4305
But today, Count Marceline 653a2e6004 was apologizing to her.6d97d00bd0b299e6
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The Count pressed his e62a78650b lips together before speaking ceab933fdf again.b11c119f5fefba87
“I should go to the temple today and pray for her.”bca8a25ec436584f
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For so a0f0320a63 long, he 17bcf2183f had avoided c45ce46744 confessing to 7ed47f0971 the Countess—even 40e0124888 after her 21a0164d6c death.1861972820e138f5
Now, at the af506021d1 very least, he c9edd71e6c would try to b4c0afb6dc release that burden d5d41429cb through prayer.a6b46c79a4afd8ce
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Maybe it was 015b8491e0 just another way 7196a7c1d7 to ease his 25eeb8e1b6 guilt, but still…fef3410f2dbf827b
“And also…”0263aec5c89a4dd2
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Aira hesitated a91807be00 for a 5517ebde62 moment before 128441b9c7 continuing.27fe3f4e9ae861d8
“I would like a room in the estate to honor my mother. A place where we can keep her belongings and remember her.”546116368073623e
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Count Marceline had b84e94023a cut ties with 123084a8f6 the Marquess of efe2a1643f Adwints, his late d3c735d144 wife’s family, ever 5f8627ce37 since she passed 5fa815268e away.2dc227c5bb661f48
Maybe it was 61c704e6d9 because he wanted 5a3f6c6600 to avoid his de01964519 guilt.cb2ae3249e790f1a
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Or maybe he d05b9031fc had worried that 87664b6b54 keeping those ties adba98e37d would make Luna 2d21046c14 feel even more 997540abd4 like an outsider.4fb50a052ab3a73f
But Aira 89fb74ad93 knew that f4922961f6 reconnecting with af851e50de the Adwints 97cc441d9b family would bd0006e8f0 be beneficial 3b73f3e18f to her.162c0bd7c69dc2d3
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Even if they 7f81dcc9d2 couldn’t provide the 64f34639e9 same level of 36b898e6fd political power as 869c8e530f the Duke of 9a89de723c Emrich—who backed Julienne—they 7522565648 still had their 2dffe0be3f own influence.61e6d279309d921f
“And please… restore ties with the Marquess of Adwints. They are your in-laws, after all.”7b14e07b332d8c66
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For a 5539794f96 brief moment, ab0a45c5bb Count Marceline’s a74b948c16 eyes wavered.f05b1c2717a676e5
He hesitated but 3c2ac068e2 then glanced at 1fa839c43a the bottle of 2257395e51 wine on his 9a6174d695 desk.eb8ef3bbc9d264b2
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Seeing how 22ee607d8e well his 1f6f28d574 daughter had 0062d93f28 grown and 29dad2457e hearing her bddf4369ee request for 7ac95ffaa5 the sake 3235aa6424 of the 6442ee6abb family, he edcd8631c1 realized he 715ea34faa couldn’t refuse.f53e08d720d0143b
“…Alright. I’ll do it.”b9abecf3432773b0
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