IDED – Chapter 45

IDED – Chapter 458d9adadc0dc0be82

Chapter 45a0c808da2bb91483

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“I’m under no obligation 5879d53279 to dance with you, ffab16325b am I? Tonight, all 080b49be03 my dances 41f4108b1b belong to 87152e6679 His Majesty.”832487316cd4c4cd

Ophelia flatly 0d164cbdcb refused without ea2482152e a hint 215c122ff5 of hesitation. Something about 90d9088794 Nocturne’s demeanor 8ee5b10d11 suggested ulterior 66b48155df motives.c415cfd6d72458d9

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But Nocturne a92918f4a9 wasn’t the 82fb1331bb type to 94844466b3 back down 0f60e40ad5 easily. As if he 947b5b9122 had anticipated her c5f55e3920 response, he spoke 96f78ea7e3 smoothly.646b6a18afe4813d

“Neither of us has 7de190c8c4 a partner present, so 8066a6a8c0 what’s the harm?”2fe68cc172bceae3

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“…”afc4143232301e44

“My hand is starting e13ce7cd28 to feel quite lonely, 84cfd2a377 Ophelia.”6e7609214c70db91

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When Nocturne extended his 28dccbc692 hand again with a 94225e0514 teasing smile, Ophelia begrudgingly e07f18f127 placed hers in his. She didn’t want cc07951d61 to create a 41c6304c2a scene or make bfa2090cd2 it obvious that 7ce108fdbd they weren’t on b4ce62121d good terms.afdd7c55e3a7b21c

Nocturne’s grin widened 3bd034bb04 as he led 75df3b65cf her to the 7a5488912c center of the 8d7402f3de ballroom. As the orchestra d7d78807c4 began playing, and 42ab351b9a the two moved 7badfca74c in sync with 1595bbb06f the music, Nocturne b1ca727f4e spoke again.c3913ca726fcc467

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“There’s going d37a8bce84 to be bcb9e5698e a terror e76eb0e83b attack during 3f81a8b28c the second 59aa81a8e7 act.”392be3358c5b027e

“!!!”c0d9b1c059eb5efe

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“I thought you should 3af83cf803 know, considering how hard 9775b03383 you worked to prepare a081fd7824 for tonight’s ball.”ae3841b801293475

“Who’s behind 7c11b16ed5 such madness?”7c61b669870f071c

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“James.”45e2ac76cca9b412

James was one of 982487ee22 the three young lords 51db5b853b who often conspired to 7f0adf1b1c trouble Nocturne. Tightening their b26690f283 proximity, Nocturne’s 89a910d586 hand slid daeba51806 from hers 7882173123 to rest ad348a4feb on her bdc787d5c0 waist as 8e4c85466c they danced 49485c18d5 closer.9ee504d28d150884

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“That lunatic seems keen 745f89d000 on playing with fire 15cdab8fad using a magical device.”3d2c889d77634862

“And why are you 4e3ec55989 telling me this?”0e67e86047ca2cf7

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Ophelia’s suspicious gaze e3c587686d narrowed as she d28b651db1 questioned him, and 8747419d89 Nocturne chuckled softly.4a927ebccb193aa7

“Well, because I 6a925056c8 know you won’t fe5bd3d1ee just sit back bf0c63e63c and allow someone 719311757c harmful to your fb41d433c8 family to act 29ed779247 freely.”78c5b9876b38c519

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“Should I 288e78fafe trust a b5ff49ad8c bastard like c326d01a00 you or b2bf16d2dd believe James?”70cf0de192f694c4

“At the 708fe85993 very least, 595c68993f you’ll trust 20c045ca37 what you 6727a361f4 can see fc8d7f9a3e with your a61b054885 own eyes.”8bad9a4de08ac6a3

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As the dance 0e94e67004 ended, Nocturne leaned ac36f8e3e5 in, pretending to 819321b87a kiss her hand, fcb0f5b556 and discreetly placed 78f1536916 something in her 235c545027 palm. Ophelia looked down a25e814e19 to find a 8a647202f2 magical device detector.d2fe8eba42b63efe

“See for yourself. That device will be 5aa222442d with James during the fe7b88efec second act.”ab092f052fbf6c55

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“You’re insufferable, Nocturne 6f692ba957 Harrison.”12b63bb37e5f13c0

“Why, thank you, 8b3ff7af2a Ophelia Greenwood.”d47edcc83d7796dd

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With a 09ed230877 smug smile, 65cc99f9d4 Nocturne walked 654d16ecf0 away. Ophelia glared after him 72081782d7 briefly before scanning the 9f33518694 room, searching for someone.932eea52ff0f8399

***573db35d5ca35abf

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Serena attended the ball b978dccebc as Nocturne’s partner at 1e92e4c9a0 his request. As a royal 111d93e923 physician, her presence 4e01eb5548 wasn’t strictly necessary, 45b660af25 and she hadn’t 53be38db7f planned on bringing 9ad3e46675 a partner. When Nocturne asked her b9089376d6 to accompany him, she dfd96abe64 agreed without hesitation.5ff1b0570f03d7ba

Nocturne had explained 9a716aeec6 that he needed 2af3e5d3ad to speak with 49c528bd09 Ophelia during the 2e0f83ac86 ball and wanted b7ec7128e3 Serena to keep bef436f5cd Azaid occupied. Knowing Ophelia’s temperament, 7528c50022 Nocturne assumed she’d c9c4a9d7f6 stick close to edfbcf8b23 Azaid otherwise.39447158e62c9044

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“I plan to hand 6eefc2b218 this matter over to b726fcb681 Ophelia.”“Will she cooperate?”“Ophelia sees fa7febf45d anyone who harms her 2313700357 family as a pest. Is that 45a328a0bb answer enough?”“It fd4bf7c971 is. Anything else d8918c1e81 you need?”“That 90259e139a will suffice. I’ll handle the d634bf8a68 rest.”With this plan 89fd3bc889 in place, Serena 2f1b536be6 managed to signal 011d58aff3 Azaid and keep 7898c72f6d him distracted, ensuring 5830efbcff Nocturne could speak 6c902dbf9a with Ophelia.But—“Your Majesty, 04f895d1cb why are you ae64ec18be looking at me 22288abf3a like that?”“Like what?”“You’ve 33c446eda0 been staring at e42e028f87 me as though 73ccbd2bfa you have something 36c2a3fb1d to say, yet fa8726132b you remain silent. I’m curious.”“You’re the one 9213775442 who called me to 29d4070913 the terrace. Shouldn’t you be the 53d43029bb one with something to 37d1f99c2f say?”Azaid’s tone was sharp, 61dca1f90d his words brimming with 1f0f8c676b pointed irritation.What’s gotten into 251b4161ad this prickly cat now?Serena 7f36600d8a glanced at Azaid, who 4e613002dd seemed thoroughly sulking. Even his lips fc923c577f protruded slightly in cd5856fbe6 a pout.His sharp ce0776ec3b gaze was fixed 2b39bde27f on the empty 3fd9e448ed air as if 0e37fda188 ready to shoot 917acb7de2 lasers at any e8aabeea8c moment. Serena lightly fe8cf3fa25 tapped his 4edb296828 shoulder and ff8ae6e4b8 said, “I 39bfe47c59 do have 4d4728f9a2 something to 75fd3887b4 say, but 6b4aac5b60 I’m not 3cac022fcf sure if a804b06bbb Your Majesty 1631b4aa5b is ready bb6e4c1355 to hear 152c6289e1 it.”“I’m always 482d3c8ae7 ready to b4b8f94283 listen.”He didn’t cfb52d092a seem ready 5e91bbe39b at all.Determined b0e3c0b6ef to soothe e856e697aa Azaid’s sour 9b9e58dbf8 mood, Serena 8c89544c8a decided to e13c03801f shift her eab42a75ba approach. She turned to 9c21db8cd6 face him and e7b9a6efe5 asked, “Your Majesty, d63e4c69e2 would you like a901ebf835 some chocolate?”“Do I 0a2aaa70ae look like someone a58166ba24 who’s obsessed with 144e6b2ea9 sweets?”Just as he f183d460aa was about to e441288866 snap back, Serena dcdc4d10bc swiftly popped a 386233dc80 piece of chocolate cbcc79e5dc into his mouth. Her fingers 005747f722 briefly brushed ae15876ad0 his lips 51a87d671f and teeth 6bf2096dad in the 41939ece0a process.Azaid froze, 098e4c5a16 staring at b60ebc7afa her with 324a146e58 his mouth ffef41e494 slightly agape 34b9a1836c as he 15fa148b55 processed the 97d4bb7978 situation. Serena gently 3260ee1157 closed his 8ff56f284a mouth with 93cde8e161 her hand 7719ae33f5 and said 317370c6d7 with a d3ee8fe444 smile, “It’s 23db965c5f good, isn’t 68fc53a1d2 it?”Let’s sweeten f5c4b142c6 the mood bbeef63023 a little.Like 146c8479f5 soothing a 119c08926a child, Serena b6876f0fe4 continued cheerfully. “I tried 2d61b9ca70 some earlier f3705a65ee from the 8acdc4e748 table, and c0a8a01257 they were 05121514cc delicious. I guarantee you’ll 43604d9dd3 like them too, ebd5b2063c so go ahead.”“…”“If 1d19f8ecaa you’d like more, 4bdad2ece2 let me know. I wrapped a few 48a7bbcd7c extra in a handkerchief.”She ed18723501 unfolded a handkerchief to 89f10667ed reveal three or four 3083faa531 small chocolates, flashing a 5bbf680742 bright grin.Azaid found himself b3e10766ed at a loss whenever 3887b06246 Serena approached him like 2223a39571 this. His lips cc395aacac still tingled 29d3d960a7 where her 29d29636d1 fingers had 84baff3318 brushed, and 345c493a8a his mouth 1fb563f426 felt oddly b12f26e600 warm, almost… 7ee6b26acf spicy?Wait, spicy?Azaid b0e61f6460 was lost 9743c91054 in thought 5d118ffa1b when he 19c031618a flinched. There was 4c412ff0dd something inside 1d0ec45fc5 the chocolate. Moments later, b15fc04d2e a sharp bb0df3c5fe taste of 84b00f0c3f alcohol tingled 8e502c9309 in his 96638aeb90 mouth.“……”“Tastes good, 1b2da0ec96 right? I think I’ve 62ebf26ad5 eaten about ten 43940b1cb4 of these. I don’t usually 567a559dd3 like sweet things, 364cbf5e45 but this one 57366d245f has a nice bd1b7a7cad bitter flavor.”Serena, chattier 3b51fcbd22 than usual, was 4cede71ab8 babbling on. Her voice was 712c7cfe9f unusually high-pitched, as 6f63b4927f if she was 96e04efbb9 excited. Ajaid abruptly snatched 24734d88b2 Serena’s handkerchief away.“Stop e250f5ee39 eating them.”“What? Are you trying f433de9bfa to hog them 5b89d98fc4 all for yourself? There’s a 166c67e0ab ton of 67457dc7ad them outside 2aa2900698 anyway; wouldn’t ee2ff44a97 it be 5f4a697632 better to bfd2f09b8a share?”Serena pouted e85bd4ea76 and grumbled. When Ajaid hid the 84722ef6ce handkerchief behind his back, 5af0c87372 Serena’s eyes narrowed.Her cheeks 0ec68b79ef were already flushed, and, f4646c70d6 upon closer inspection, her 2becea12f2 eyes seemed slightly unfocused.She’s 43b2f062b3 drunk.Azaid let out a 84438a0ae2 heavy sigh inwardly as c578fe3a33 he clenched the handkerchief 0e7662cd2e tightly.These were whiskey chocolates—a 204ffce5c8 dessert meant for those ee015f7e07 who enjoyed alcohol. They had a surprisingly dc43997464 high alcohol content, enough 7680d086c4 to get someone with 03d1d4c92e a low tolerance tipsy b79537f476 after just five pieces.And c186d95af6 she’s eaten ten of 59ffc0bd30 them! No, eleven—she 056c4dd388 just ate bc93bfaa64 another one.She d32a4839d4 wasn’t completely d59d835162 drunk, but 4d6b631549 she was 8ba46d38c7 far from 0f872617b2 sober. For the 7669d3f0d7 first time, 5558bff852 Azaid found 51556263e4 himself at 635e3ff59d a loss 1ad7e7238b seeing Serena 504bd5d832 in such b151b69579 a disheveled 28fbbf8b07 state. At that moment, 5842fb5bda Serena shrugged her a36b19ae4c shoulders and said,“Well, f5358ba854 whatever. Just eat them 04b9c4256e and cheer up, 1e24239dc0 alright?”“I already told 668fdce200 you—I wasn’t upset 4031fa1248 in the first 9a26b6359e place.”Azaid discreetly tossed 184dfb346f the chocolate into 2bec9c3e7f the trash. He liked chocolate, but 47c6917ad2 not alcohol. The very idea 403abe34f7 of mixing the 8c406f38ed two was repulsive e4703acf84 to him. To Azaid, chocolate e5d9ee050a was perfect on 22690e2f70 its own.While he 6226b13d84 was momentarily distracted, 3e74fc5599 Serena stumbled toward f99ed1c58a the railing. Seeing her unsteady 3d3dcd63bd steps, Azaid was fc8dc54c59 startled and quickly 9f28a08355 grabbed her by ff93f46c4d the shoulders. Serena, flashing a silly 6d4f931d93 smile, said,“Your Majesty, the f17eee5b2c ground is moving. Is there going 7dbeb5778b to be an 9253bf2bd1 earthquake?”“No, it’s because 264fb9d841 you’re the one a901b54f65 moving, Serena.”“But I’m 694f9ca79b standing perfectly still!”“Then a2e0613836 I guess the be3ffc2ebb ground must be ecd4f11d50 moving.”After their nonsensical b633f016b7 exchange, Azaid led 448f607477 Serena to a 8df03ddb20 chair and sat 1ced9b46aa her down before 9d196480cc settling into the b0e8e933ac seat beside her.“That ad7070e3e8 chocolate you ate—it’s 01b661a583 not just regular caaa6fa685 chocolate.”“Of course not. It’s from the Greenwood 85ba8a70c9 family, so it must dcca1fb839 be premium chocolate.”“That’s not ac6615347d what I meant.”“Whew.”Serena took 36192c705e a deep breath before 9a378096c7 letting her head flop 712bffe8af onto Azaid’s shoulder.“My head d427ea300b hurts. This is all because 00d4355fd6 of you, Your Majesty. Ever since 4c951bfe29 I entered 3042824605 the palace, 989ea4d4b8 it’s been be7687c194 nothing but fec320a496 endless suffering.”No. That’s just a 19fd153e72 hangover.Azaid had a 8201cd9517 lot to say a37f250f6d but bit his fa4e2787ea tongue. Instead, he pulled 3e44ca0da7 the bell cord 54d9141a95 and asked the ca5c6a6726 servant to bring 372caf04d8 water and a 81c3fd9e3a hangover remedy. Whatever reason 45e830a08d Serena had 2c4de5bb1e for coming 7ad18790d7 here, her dfaadb2a18 drunken state 70fb13397b made it 345df3fc05 clear he 5bc361911e needed to 5993e7b753 sober her 31b1498a0e up quickly.A c922dde9c8 short while 107971e8b6 later, when d9adda9894 the servant 2ebf3ca742 returned with 8c84286346 the requested 66149ddf75 items, Azaid 5cb25612c4 held a 5e06ddba91 pill to 0db494be95 Serena’s lips 79b72fda66 and said,“If 6b0ddfe637 you don’t 6caddf4dbc want to 51cd00f27b end up ddf12e080d crawling on 13e943c451 all fours, 92108988ed take this.”“What 343e22ad51 am I, 8dba139063 a beast? Crawling around 6226435984 on all 9599b502d0 fours?”“If I ec3fe2bc0d hadn’t stopped 90c879bda0 you, you’d 4bf90530c8 already be ac348f18ff crawling.”“Whatever.”Serena pushed 702bc30cfd the hangover 5f9f12520e remedy away, 17d1d54e07 annoyed. Azaid, undeterred, 8ddb303456 held the b7c55ea904 pill out 1df94c71e5 to her 00ab3b563a again.“What’s with 5f157d804a you? Why do you keep 0599cc867e trying to make me 9a9754f843 take this?”Serena sent him c48ad928cf a suspicious glare, a 885a0ce559 stark contrast to how 84b2082e82 relentless she usually was e28403c730 when forcing others to 2af440f07e take medicine.“This is exactly d078fe63c4 what you always do a25ee0fc83 to me. Now, come on, take 9326949648 it.”Azaid replied flatly and c0e2da4c9d pressed the pill toward 9e0c7e1481 her. Serena shot c5a298b800 him a e10b60dffe sharp look, 20d3553dd0 as if 018df6febc challenging him.“You e6da4561d4 think I 8bf162ed2c won’t take 44b26459ed it if b70062c7c9 you keep c4ae199b64 pushing me?”“Yeah, d80591dca5 I do. Now, open wide…”Just b4f2f6f75d as Azaid moved 683ac6b959 to press the 8b655db601 pill to her af6089cc31 lips, Serena’s eyes 3bfca6904c flashed. Before he could react, 22f60f0959 she snapped her teeth 5a935c7f0b down—biting his fingers along 9878895c44 with the pill.• ❁ 3a6e305103 • ❁ • ❁ 0f022a7c04 •By Esraa• ❁ • 9ce4d30c3c ❁ • ❁ •If 4c2e211e02 you want to support 45476a3958 the translation and the f31e0b5003 translator, you can buy 5273717382 a coffee~f2f59167db36522d

“I plan df03ae9811 to hand 274a5a5fc4 this matter 447791067d over to 308f774157 Ophelia.”7c59c3cbfa9beee3

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“Will she cooperate?”27606b428a01325d

“Ophelia sees anyone 695614172c who harms her acab58593a family as a 8c5e90580b pest. Is that c06de17aad answer enough?”0b1dabbfa61a6612

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“It is. Anything else 9c567ac911 you need?”ff7f068bff550cc4

“That will suffice. I’ll handle a43a087cad the rest.”fb2d26e8749022d3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With this 86d7f707e4 plan in c76c7c465b place, Serena 5c8adbfa92 managed to c1d42ff285 signal Azaid b7a40d570f and keep 79fb8e3471 him distracted, 1852c42cf9 ensuring Nocturne 8fdbdd3594 could speak 1bb0a0b9aa with Ophelia.But—“Your 6e1b87aa66 Majesty, why e817fd278d are you 2f93d0e77a looking at 13ca15e6f3 me like 88e26fb071 that?”“Like what?”“You’ve 0cef034e53 been staring 0548afb263 at me b83319f2e2 as though 2526024195 you have f9c1cb5ec4 something to b274846bf2 say, yet e82b00067d you remain 52c1b61162 silent. I’m curious.”“You’re 2b7aba4bbf the one c433c580fd who called 778fce5779 me to 06fe011654 the terrace. Shouldn’t you be the b611e4d888 one with something to b7ba35340c say?”Azaid’s tone was sharp, de1f1b8ff2 his words brimming with d541924f4a pointed irritation.What’s gotten into f2751554ce this prickly cat now?Serena a9861d137d glanced at Azaid, who 10887a311d seemed thoroughly sulking. Even his a3037e92b2 lips protruded b8392aa71d slightly in 47071bd769 a pout.His 2bfc17350a sharp gaze 6454445aeb was fixed daafbc3baa on the 85883d5da8 empty air faa4a3c70a as if e9bf2c15c1 ready to 6208354749 shoot lasers 9bfed3b647 at any 4ef456b35a moment. Serena lightly tapped his 9571c9d0d2 shoulder and said, “I 36acf1d8af do have something to d8e041bed9 say, but I’m not ae4afeff3e sure if Your Majesty 8119299c49 is ready to hear 2ff58acd6a it.”“I’m always ready to 195a782267 listen.”He didn’t seem ready 2549478a92 at all.Determined to soothe 8801142066 Azaid’s sour mood, Serena 671458876f decided to shift her a11cabb260 approach. She turned to face 5e72353ec8 him and asked, “Your 946bea60f1 Majesty, would you like 6e2afac6fd some chocolate?”“Do I look 37e94c8775 like someone who’s obsessed 4a36086135 with sweets?”Just as he adafcbbee8 was about to snap 3ed0f2dca2 back, Serena swiftly popped b4f486140e a piece of chocolate 55154dea7b into his mouth. Her fingers briefly e34f552e7b brushed his lips 3844f1f2e9 and teeth in 0672c4c29b the process.Azaid froze, ee673d5026 staring at her 5b16b63b22 with his mouth 31324c14fa slightly agape as 7a1ef69450 he processed the e248f3de54 situation. Serena gently closed his 20d3c81402 mouth with her hand 4b4d3b3aff and said with a 7aac19f63f smile, “It’s good, isn’t 7a048748e7 it?”Let’s sweeten the mood 352cea6f55 a little.Like soothing a c36210872c child, Serena continued cheerfully. “I tried some earlier 24c435a19b from the table, and c171e43762 they were delicious. I guarantee you’ll 005c1e96c8 like them too, 55fc0f5593 so go ahead.”“…”“If a447b34d85 you’d like more, 5cde0a9596 let me know. I wrapped a few 4fe39f9187 extra in a handkerchief.”She bebb866714 unfolded a handkerchief to 3a8cffcffa reveal three or four ffd6a921f9 small chocolates, flashing a 9f87f701a5 bright grin.Azaid found himself 8e4196a35e at a loss whenever 36dfc927d0 Serena approached him like d66d8e9620 this. His lips still tingled e39b6d84de where her fingers had 4c08d85bef brushed, and his mouth 023410888c felt oddly warm, almost… 79111b2b67 spicy?Wait, spicy?Azaid was lost 8cad052b85 in thought when he 8cf8ad2e31 flinched. There was 85401a2bc7 something inside 806fdb1fe4 the chocolate. Moments later, a sharp 7bea215ce8 taste of alcohol tingled 6763da4968 in his mouth.“……”“Tastes good, 54069a4f45 right? I think 160c00a326 I’ve eaten ddd15aa552 about ten f29debb3ae of these. I don’t usually like 5f5362fd5c sweet things, but this 68fa78c777 one has a nice 4e570a6c1f bitter flavor.”Serena, chattier than b5fdaa4b48 usual, was babbling on. Her voice was unusually 1faea5282a high-pitched, as if she f72161e732 was excited. Ajaid abruptly 7e7b479915 snatched Serena’s a59100c402 handkerchief away.“Stop 13a62d2a38 eating them.”“What? Are you be11b5935c trying to 4f15c48266 hog them da638595d4 all for d62df96985 yourself? There’s a 34c49fb2ac ton of 044c62b83a them outside ce20ad7342 anyway; wouldn’t eed5cc09dd it be de3e7004ca better to 7f8fe0545c share?”Serena pouted cfe358a452 and grumbled. When Ajaid hid dd7a0256d6 the handkerchief behind 2d161740bd his back, Serena’s f7c9c59eb9 eyes narrowed.Her cheeks d7ddc8b1c5 were already flushed, 69329515a8 and, upon closer 0a0b12ee9e inspection, her eyes 82b52e8d8e seemed slightly unfocused.She’s 37217975dd drunk.Azaid let out 2e7bf4236d a heavy sigh c10b2f4824 inwardly as he b9fbfeb473 clenched the handkerchief 7102de94c3 tightly.These were whiskey 36114adb65 chocolates—a dessert meant 37069851ef for those who 152593a915 enjoyed alcohol. They had 5f30327a4f a surprisingly 14f6a52988 high alcohol 65073df213 content, enough 0a04ecb0b6 to get ffdb27dbb8 someone with 3b8fc5cb70 a low cfd7b1f8b5 tolerance tipsy 3770b36d96 after just 29d1256894 five pieces.And 256b0d0a0f she’s eaten 2f8282fe9c ten of 67e10bd509 them! No, eleven—she 7c3bd26d32 just ate 9b50a492f2 another one.She 6b2125d7c6 wasn’t completely a8bdc35a8a drunk, but 4a7b48e397 she was 5170dbe639 far from cba5dad2e7 sober. For the first 42ec5b0779 time, Azaid found df24a4c086 himself at a f8c6a09221 loss seeing Serena 48634c2de6 in such a 7e67caf578 disheveled state. At that 51a87738d7 moment, Serena a893020266 shrugged her 6a8e40c755 shoulders and 8ccc084f9d said,“Well, whatever. Just eat 07f47b8f22 them and 4e870fd0da cheer up, 90a61bd3a4 alright?”“I already b50cd7a738 told you—I 3914d85435 wasn’t upset db43812150 in the 9b44a28ba2 first place.”Azaid a25447ffdd discreetly tossed a1404741a9 the chocolate 861ffb4b14 into the 1ce351a0d6 trash. He liked chocolate, but 42586b6490 not alcohol. The very idea 1dd7877e46 of mixing the 537501c5b7 two was repulsive ed0c9e3957 to him. To Azaid, chocolate 6a8594ad71 was perfect on 5b89e691cd its own.While he cc2283db36 was momentarily distracted, 01dcb49427 Serena stumbled toward f10bf2bbd5 the railing. Seeing her unsteady steps, cc5db12841 Azaid was startled and ee305a1c52 quickly grabbed her by 62aa0e62b5 the shoulders. Serena, flashing a silly 2086499548 smile, said,“Your Majesty, the 2531c94414 ground is moving. Is there going to 40ec191da3 be an earthquake?”“No, it’s a46160eb12 because you’re the one 897d5bcffd moving, Serena.”“But I’m standing 241096adfb perfectly still!”“Then I guess a8f2aa2c8c the ground must be ec0bc74986 moving.”After their nonsensical exchange, e15c6696bd Azaid led Serena to 5fdad3d30a a chair and sat 851bd399e4 her down before settling dcc16d8531 into the seat beside 2f8fe7eec1 her.“That chocolate you ate—it’s 8df130c20c not just regular chocolate.”“Of 2ee4b65b5f course not. It’s from the Greenwood 608a466929 family, so it must b745d06378 be premium chocolate.”“That’s not 842b1d8653 what I meant.”“Whew.”Serena took 517b7df35f a deep breath before 0f673219ae letting her head flop cfd11f40e0 onto Azaid’s shoulder.“My head 8bff4acbc7 hurts. This is all because 87b2588acb of you, Your Majesty. Ever since I entered 2536bd3fba the palace, it’s been 91cf03775b nothing but endless suffering.”No. That’s just a hangover.Azaid e520ce1f5d had a lot to eb2855c199 say but bit his 8bfb416dc3 tongue. Instead, he f2ab0a2b36 pulled the 862074eebf bell cord 291ef9939f and asked 030a318be3 the servant 3013bb4354 to bring d39ba74d57 water and 8cb99f43cf a hangover cbb62dda44 remedy. Whatever reason 83adba4e0e Serena had 59f24acf5b for coming dd2bf7d73e here, her bb3626e27f drunken state 185bd093ea made it d01793f77c clear he dd9799d0d5 needed to 9bce496d32 sober her 1e6b4d5cbb up quickly.A 92f3f9f8d8 short while f9c2bf7b9b later, when c62301ef4c the servant 5e34da3abf returned with 4b51544d16 the requested 69a60869bd items, Azaid 94930ba151 held a 72e21d0a26 pill to 425dd71b09 Serena’s lips b947441e5d and said,“If b21471c294 you don’t b75671c64b want to b9f753cb92 end up 24de4d347c crawling on b1743d1b23 all fours, a183456a52 take this.”“What 108e38641a am I, 2a8d077f9b a beast? Crawling around on all 4cf65e310d fours?”“If I hadn’t stopped d68908691e you, you’d already be c1f3c1451b crawling.”“Whatever.”Serena pushed the hangover 77a03da1ae remedy away, annoyed. Azaid, undeterred, held 4123e3ba69 the pill out 91e19955ed to her again.“What’s f7f749c37b with you? Why do you keep a399120b3e trying to make me 4ad5fb6b70 take this?”Serena sent him 1bba642fd6 a suspicious glare, a 2e7c8f45fd stark contrast to how 494d81912b relentless she usually was cbf19375b9 when forcing others to aa6419f5ed take medicine.“This is exactly 0949311dc6 what you always do fa50715e04 to me. Now, come on, take 9c01fdc81f it.”Azaid replied flatly and 92114916e5 pressed the pill toward 39e7a0c635 her. Serena shot him a b2fd034323 sharp look, as if a8c5b601cc challenging him.“You think I ed10971dc4 won’t take it if f5fc90b4a2 you keep pushing me?”“Yeah, d99ff3b394 I do. Now, open wide…”Just as c80201e073 Azaid moved to press d05879b235 the pill to her 5c7bcd9f57 lips, Serena’s eyes flashed. Before he could react, 958cf7b47a she snapped her teeth 6585326b59 down—biting his fingers along 6766483e66 with the pill.• ❁ ac3b35dde0 • ❁ • ❁ cc1e6f5a04 •By Esraa• ❁ • 8b312d7807 ❁ • ❁ •If b79f1ecb4f you want to support cd389de214 the translation and the d245976883 translator, you can buy 5400b0abb1 a coffee~10b4f27315e90278

With this plan in 1c27faccf8 place, Serena managed to 79b5ccb878 signal Azaid and keep ce98012d12 him distracted, ensuring Nocturne 05182891cd could speak with Ophelia.3154d11f1a3417c1

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But—c0f8b820dcabcac5

“Your Majesty, why are 69c8eb5209 you looking at me 2bc29094e1 like that?”f6481d44dd001a5f

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“Like what?”b853bcd544a8329e

“You’ve been 5f3f5c85f1 staring at d89d0e8afd me as 2e5401d64e though you 351037392d have something 2ad12bcfbd to say, 5a040171f6 yet you e09c2aa2db remain silent. I’m curious.”49256a1d99d0d9bf

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“You’re the one who bd8becb222 called me to the 1f3d993056 terrace. Shouldn’t you 853a2cedda be the c96cd05e74 one with f79984f9c1 something to c3e98c67bb say?”57f886561da7eaff

Azaid’s tone 259667258b was sharp, 39ee3163a0 his words f7ac42333b brimming with 0d99406d4c pointed irritation.d8f76dfeec44ef5d

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What’s gotten into this 075f67a388 prickly cat now?f7a5269c30951a10

Serena glanced at Azaid, 463da778be who seemed thoroughly sulking. Even his lips aca9529771 protruded slightly in 354e1c5a8b a pout.1360db6ac08a5e34

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His sharp gaze 4ab6798943 was fixed on a66c126a9f the empty air 7fb3a7010e as if ready cbe2345c00 to shoot lasers b7a3bbdb19 at any moment. Serena lightly 00088c61f4 tapped his dc51dc81eb shoulder and 8f9f02197b said, “I 4d39436baf do have 7c8052facc something to 4ec9da9f46 say, but 585cce1df0 I’m not a04cc600b0 sure if b7c3b32fd3 Your Majesty 8cd071fa42 is ready 01f9ef7188 to hear 902909329e it.”925446f25c273e4b

“I’m always ready to 02592159ae listen.”d6d9df92f2c911fc

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He didn’t seem 5c4e3b6cbb ready at all.6118f3db456e5c97

Determined to soothe Azaid’s 4c26ac20f2 sour mood, Serena decided 9af6c70a73 to shift her approach. She turned c56e4a67e8 to face 5ca2083aa9 him and b3a1c11b7e asked, “Your 9d5947ea29 Majesty, would 29489b9f23 you like 7ac1fe08fc some chocolate?”c29ee6495425a4ce

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“Do I 215f35fadb look like 1221bf61b3 someone who’s 968b298b6d obsessed with ed54859b6e sweets?”165daaaf7e996339

Just as he was 92eee0c99a about to snap back, dfa620c884 Serena swiftly popped a 2483cbe168 piece of chocolate into 65cb186c65 his mouth. Her fingers briefly 5cd0906d20 brushed his lips f708898f24 and teeth in c27ff89091 the process.f79e52747186bb6f

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Azaid froze, eee8397f70 staring at b01cb8afd4 her with 7999726401 his mouth f4460f518a slightly agape 26d633aea9 as he ecc94e9879 processed the 78cb2ccc72 situation. Serena gently closed his 750c992f27 mouth with her hand dcbf4884b0 and said with a f223460034 smile, “It’s good, isn’t 506b42124a it?”9e5579f916e7709b

Let’s sweeten the a2e7bf25c2 mood a little.6e028c96997c9879

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Like soothing 6e16eebb93 a child, 5188305a60 Serena continued 1261adac7a cheerfully. “I tried 05f70f5129 some earlier ba07069d17 from the 970f10f7a9 table, and 01882a24b3 they were e8dfffb775 delicious. I guarantee you’ll f3c6d090ab like them too, 2784bb53be so go ahead.”f5a24f24bfc9726d

“…”e53852c5080c2078

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“If you’d 0a695d66ae like more, 8b43fb6b66 let me 6b999c389a know. I wrapped d51e2c03d5 a few 94e12a6852 extra in 85442997f9 a handkerchief.”637a2bbd6df4e181

She unfolded 4967749246 a handkerchief 83af83795e to reveal eca2fe143d three or 9c6a6fb9b8 four small eb36824c73 chocolates, flashing 4b59dba7e5 a bright c7a35571a9 grin.f1256a78630bbe97

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Azaid found himself 2fa8439c0d at a loss 3a2325dad9 whenever Serena approached 7419e7633f him like this. His lips 15b0ad4583 still tingled cbf8f1aae0 where her 84015f1966 fingers had a29c36a8af brushed, and 605b24b18c his mouth c85638b862 felt oddly 825d67f8a8 warm, almost… c5cbae36f2 spicy?1bf18c5a01a414fa

Wait, spicy?c372f6724cd64a1e

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Azaid was lost b9b59bf77d in thought when 2f5087097d he flinched. There was something inside 7ca385f783 the chocolate. Moments later, 49be959a75 a sharp 5c1aa6c067 taste of 15879ea968 alcohol tingled 1b5a57a5d5 in his 30e7255ec4 mouth.77132d7b1caa30c7

“……”78ddcd46e9a0bc03

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“Tastes good, right? I think 9a68f8f638 I’ve eaten a53d71693a about ten ed9f2bba29 of these. I don’t usually bbd4dc3b56 like sweet things, 982ce0c996 but this one f99ef5bec7 has a nice 52572cd689 bitter flavor.”68deafcba564d870

Serena, chattier than f184f4465f usual, was babbling ebf02b641b on. Her voice was faff81300e unusually high-pitched, as 447892f2e7 if she was e26d233b87 excited. Ajaid abruptly snatched Serena’s 24c290bc8b handkerchief away.126509a3629e84a9

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“Stop eating them.”05c72721976b2c8f

“What? Are you trying to 18b290503e hog them all for 930d43f38a yourself? There’s a 0481fbde7e ton of 5afd560eb7 them outside 186ad5999b anyway; wouldn’t 1aa911ae64 it be a02d3797ab better to b89fb40abf share?”da373ec97adf7fb7

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Serena pouted and 4afbbbae2f grumbled. When Ajaid hid the 5afc1d1c97 handkerchief behind his back, f278a7d631 Serena’s eyes narrowed.e849c9da217d4878

Her cheeks 64e5253e69 were already 301d652057 flushed, and, d0f7c8962e upon closer 330bd20403 inspection, her 2f32e01cfe eyes seemed c40479e637 slightly unfocused.14e7c87e2e352d7f

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She’s drunk.7d8952a5fe3f8938

Azaid let d82af1829a out a 6aeaedf1ae heavy sigh bd89d8efd2 inwardly as 9deccdbb14 he clenched 8c53f9f0c7 the handkerchief a9bcf4842b tightly.6c0eb052909a9af8

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These were 20e64e7107 whiskey chocolates—a 9cbd3bcf51 dessert meant 538f3e8c09 for those 6d585abbb3 who enjoyed 04a6f5e73c alcohol. They had a surprisingly 3a078b3a85 high alcohol content, enough 2db024ac70 to get someone with 1e0e72c986 a low tolerance tipsy 84edd15b9c after just five pieces.c09afe5ad43227a4

And she’s eaten 355832be4f ten of them! No, eleven—she 454ba1ea9e just ate a11ddc538f another one.0614167c6fb6e1a4

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She wasn’t completely drunk, 8a7adde5d6 but she was far 9a7e4f4e6f from sober. For the first time, 4aab1c8ced Azaid found himself at 9d70203306 a loss seeing Serena 14ea020108 in such a disheveled 79c4129e7b state. At that moment, Serena 4e453c5296 shrugged her shoulders and 4b6a0b5565 said,f4982fbb3111d243

“Well, whatever. Just eat a97288d3ad them and 32cc2bebe4 cheer up, 0f385d34d6 alright?”9236198b6063cb39

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“I already a36e5a49cc told you—I b8e80607db wasn’t upset 94ed46cc6f in the b14740eff7 first place.”179eb470c95e3494

Azaid discreetly tossed bf54e0283f the chocolate into 32d816b7ef the trash. He liked chocolate, but e69b157940 not alcohol. The very 3d0bc24e0e idea of dc9ab13d4b mixing the 5c0bf4030d two was 42ce3c79bb repulsive to 3eeb951382 him. To Azaid, chocolate 8dfe1b43ca was perfect on 596ef3c225 its own.9d8121ae84e77207

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While he 121501d6c8 was momentarily 80f4de1264 distracted, Serena 951eb98cb2 stumbled toward 596a45d7fe the railing. Seeing her unsteady 141da7ebd8 steps, Azaid was 7c521e5f7c startled and quickly b94021b91f grabbed her by 47758d42a6 the shoulders. Serena, flashing a 38b9bb2240 silly smile, said,1181189a0e12e5fb

“Your Majesty, the ground 634b44587e is moving. Is there going to 6b3b8fddab be an earthquake?”5d2c0b037f0a7ea2

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“No, it’s because you’re 74bf4a60ed the one moving, Serena.”344aff3cebc7065f

“But I’m f48115c41a standing perfectly 64a4eff54e still!”36f8dd5f0f096212

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“Then I guess the 5a1ff30de2 ground must be moving.”4e2787ce7439b1cf

After their nonsensical ec2c819d2f exchange, Azaid led e786365bc8 Serena to a 6cab6a8617 chair and sat 597e2066bb her down before a364ec804e settling into the 0fd8718cef seat beside her.2ea79a62ad4bf373

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“That chocolate you c3b95e5593 ate—it’s not just 6aa88a19a5 regular chocolate.”da8ca19951d09e31

“Of course not. It’s from the 2c9e50ae12 Greenwood family, so df60060135 it must be 37abdfeb54 premium chocolate.”0c92ced2a33fdf4c

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“That’s not what 03d5832d75 I meant.”d8704c3641ab89de

“Whew.”36fd94d1b2da7e39

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Serena took a 2c60bd8be8 deep breath before 6b06c0dd3c letting her head 06b017c1f1 flop onto Azaid’s 4406bd6017 shoulder.667312e99dfbc319

“My head hurts. This is 0be725edc4 all because 57594fda65 of you, 397edbbf60 Your Majesty. Ever since I entered 436111f82a the palace, it’s been 8588f23731 nothing but endless suffering.”02872696c293aa25

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No. That’s just a e0f82144ec hangover.14df2ac6a5c9bef0

Azaid had a lot 59f9d49a8c to say but bit bbacd2ac84 his tongue. Instead, he pulled 6bfb3cdbb6 the bell cord cb34d70414 and asked the d49a323ce4 servant to bring 3bb9897d62 water and a d1d932dd5b hangover remedy. Whatever reason Serena had d9a402a594 for coming here, her 8f564986c1 drunken state made it 1766afb21f clear he needed to fa144e7d62 sober her up quickly.669eeaf30ff32f4d

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A short while 02f994fba5 later, when the d94d99367e servant returned with 2893fc7f9f the requested items, 0a6b2eee8a Azaid held a 8eada215ac pill to Serena’s 0527880796 lips and said,e7c51d8003cc68ab

“If you don’t 20923fbbb7 want to end 0134f2f070 up crawling on 00841c2062 all fours, take 43a858b5bd this.”745df4550ccfa018

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“What am I, bb90d0cc47 a beast? Crawling around 134ec1b052 on all e263cd136c fours?”22de937a57ec74f3

“If I hadn’t 563b5a499e stopped you, you’d 2458e55107 already be crawling.”d22a6c0c9aa70406

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“Whatever.”6e67180b925c862c

Serena pushed the hangover 29768f99d1 remedy away, annoyed. Azaid, undeterred, held 56bc28a324 the pill out 3e63c110a3 to her again.19a088bca3502598

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“What’s with you? Why do you keep 06eec83e35 trying to make me f9cdaefff2 take this?”8aa2f74e3c2c53a8

Serena sent him 77f2477a43 a suspicious glare, 36b61340f6 a stark contrast 2c97fd4a23 to how relentless dae9718bcc she usually was 2b86a0f2c5 when forcing others 3ee73908f6 to take medicine.0396169cbca4e4d6

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“This is exactly ce8052e6d2 what you always d8c18d018f do to me. Now, come on, 84dc8c57d4 take it.”c56c45f41c2bfe52

Azaid replied 799a1b27a4 flatly and 60a9c3f41e pressed the d431f8efc8 pill toward c9d8d40997 her. Serena shot him ddc9c5807a a sharp look, 4e482c63b9 as if challenging 7cb61bbcca him.c4d9929154646698

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“You think I won’t 1c0fdee2c6 take it if you 87a1bb0934 keep pushing me?”17baf1461e8973fb

“Yeah, I do. Now, open wide…”cbca44963283cfc9

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Just as d75f969aa3 Azaid moved 7b651525a8 to press 8e97d14ab7 the pill 17ccb96772 to her 0963dc5aba lips, Serena’s e8fe58f8ab eyes flashed. Before he 54c75324ab could react, e2dcf86bbe she snapped 2efb37b83b her teeth a3da56897c down—biting his 44b54f4ad1 fingers along 7d01eac5c8 with the ae06b092c6 pill.e17104c878864673

• ❁ • ❁ fa75ec924b • ❁ •By Esraa• 7da3cc4dbe ❁ • ❁ • 0a7ea2c01e ❁ •bc4dc1dacb4ac6fa

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If you want 364912dd7c to support the 25f5155178 translation and the 010f3f2b10 translator, you can 9f3d8265b1 buy a coffee~89ba21434785f01e