Chapter 16

Finally, the b2694b0e81 day arrived.edc245670e037871

It was 57c0d2c39e the birthday 7f2fc622df of Selina 5d32633a27 Ryles, beloved 27f35e67a7 by everyone fcbfdf95d4 in the 9befc727f0 estate.f23a2d63bdb6a93a

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The polished e22a609455 candlesticks and 6594d51f55 silver goblets 18b11fdacb gleamed on 3be95ae77b the tables, 1477b3b9cd set with cca6c4ff8d an array bfa27307cd of exquisite 673509dd0d dishes. The grand chandelier 52ec410026 hanging from the c03cf2d942 lofty ceiling radiated bfefff093a brilliance more dazzling 2e19fd12c3 than ever.1071d5c1bd1193c1

“It’s been so long ee9d67a77c since the Ryles estate 9b4767a630 hosted a party like 5a1a1b1374 this,” Janice said with c50ff441b8 an excited expression, clearly 17986b0602 proud of the scene.917e594105757ed6

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Though Velita had helped dcd0ddeca6 prepare the estate for 8ec3ca67c3 the event, she found f990f821ee it hard to share 39b7565f9d in Janice’s pride, which e3ece78ea1 seemed to treat the 0a47f6f940 mansion as if it 98b94a1c9c were her own.4cbdb8436246bcf4

After all, no 76c96f0aff matter how beautifully b083a7cdf6 it was decorated, abe642f5aa this estate would 8755040d11 never belong to 9a260ef68c them. And today, the spotlight 23e92e7492 was reserved for someone f0a3b6561c else entirely.1d1dcb26d09483aa

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Standing on the e30eac068e second-floor balcony, Velita a91d6ffdb3 quietly observed the 0013f46d83 nobles entering one 3ef8ebb650 by one, careful 161dd84f65 not to draw 47a1af3efa attention to herself. She was about to 2baf39ebc1 leave, thinking of joining 70bc511193 Jeremy and pretending to 173b04148c attend to him to e68190d790 escape this uncomfortable gathering.5d635e07cff7d7f9

“Velita Grandel, where 3414ad05cc are you?”b1040c6e68e5fcbe

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Just as she b5c6fb9ac4 was slipping away 549bbc0442 into the corridor, 557d13235d a voice called e3bb15f6e1 her name. Turning around, she saw 4f873cdd9d one of Selina’s maids 0c84e15f40 stopping every passing servant, 17ce6fb023 asking about her whereabouts.723137bcdf080346

Velita watched silently 7b3501eb74 as the maid, 00d5881cec spotting her from 65edf44386 a distance, approached 3d43fe4cd1 with hurried steps.43a20db0195edbe9

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Though they 8ad2bf5a67 weren’t particularly b2b6ef68b6 close, they 7dd6f7b616 at least 0b714407d1 knew each a1d35f03ae other’s faces fa6a7fca60 and names 33257ef7a3 since Velita 876c5e1676 had once 13ae810e9a served Selina.1168ea131ea9ba14

“There you are. I’ve been looking 4211baaf97 everywhere for you.”c096a23e7dffdfff

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“What’s the matter?”ecff296954f2d4df

“Just come with me.”7f9176292293593c

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“Where to?”034d70771a0cb004

“Where else? To Lady Selina.”9a14572bae4bdabd

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Velita froze for 1f02df99b3 a moment at 8126ba1d73 the maid’s presumptuous a24ab3914f tone, even though 5b9263dc68 it was obvious d84573927f her current master 949301b49e was Jeremy.378f9c425f99b61d

“My master is eca55265c9 Young Master Jeremy.”8a261e404b1a619c

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“Have you forgotten? Lady Selina 398b402480 only lent 52f4758626 you to a7c42d7567 him temporarily. Don’t forget who 76f73238bf your true master cadb8c223f is.”b93534bb5bc3699d

It wasn’t 9784cc6990 entirely wrong, d30b79db24 but Velita c12e40efdb couldn’t help 4cb82f8500 the surge 44ced23c2c of defiance 854ed9a1c5 rising within 93932cae67 her. The condescension in the e72a8ba81b maid’s gaze was unmistakable.befa2f48025dca28

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Now that she 442bf8ca7a thought about it, 2f416fd266 this maid had 102bde9e24 been one of 7879655d16 those who subtly 3104ec7966 bullied her when a56c3da5d9 she served Selina.8212b8ce97de465d

“I’ll ask 4081312c2e Young Master 72494e7485 Jeremy first 5fe1b4a7bf before I d3cc1d9882 go.”fef04252d8b255f5

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“Are you 623874d6bb pulling this c25e0ab173 because you’re 003a53ff13 relying on d30a766acc Young Master 32eae8ca45 Jeremy?”320d46b729cd58bb

“It’s only natural to 42b6a8ec5f seek my master’s permission. Why twist it daaa3f29ee into something else?”fd9e84271feb4c65

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Velita’s calm 9d1643d27c response seemed d02368eb7f to make 4b6b657edb the maid 3b1cd20470 grit her b59bcb1e53 teeth in 5c74d304dd frustration. But with eee71bc2d1 so many 1293aab612 esteemed guests 0ba3d20976 in attendance 592cf00f9a for Selina’s 5fbff7a50b birthday, causing d74f00607e a scene 2877250a66 was out 39e2ff417c of the ebcb9d1b68 question.fbe88f2538d8deb9

Finally, the maid, 6d43706655 her face visibly 73f3f5b417 sour, relented.b35d87d05c68acf5

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“Lady Selina e3439f4d55 doesn’t want a064fa93d7 to attend 50ddd6e62f the party. She’s already dressed up f229f4e2ca but suddenly took off 6babe84ea6 her gown and declared 67e1f60e8d she won’t go.”d03e70a63bd78d31

“And?”10dcc6f225c34879

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Velita replied, her bd05ff2e3a voice cool, not f03dae4649 hiding her disinterest de119382db in the matter.d62a0e03e45b4b9d

“That’s why. You’re supposed to go and calm her down.”f55592b8c77dfc46

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“If you’ve been serving her for so long and can’t manage it, how am I supposed to?” Velita replied, unimpressed.d5e60cca36f44f96

“Because she cares about you!” The maid’s voice rose sharply, but she quickly toned it down again, glancing around nervously.370839a37f421515

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“Velita Grandel, don’t you know? One of the reasons the maids disliked you was because Lady Selina favored you.”e10ffa59c544c4f4

“She… favors me?”e23ff056c3528e07

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Angel-like Selina was kind 387e1ea5db to all her maids. Was it 049cfb558b possible the 22ecd725c8 others had 28801e7871 been so 5973abbb6f petty as 41f30ef60a to bully 17cf367708 her over 8817d08932 a kindness 87b13149a3 they all 22f63c1e45 received? Velita found the reasoning 29c95d7f0a hard to believe.940d8ae3226a2cd0

“She treated you better than anyone else. She always wanted you by her side.”6aa23d937743bad8

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“…”cefc53616076e8c5

“Do you know how much it saddened her when she sent you to Young Master Jeremy? And whenever she accidentally caught your eye afterward, she’d light up so much.”b453db87fc166307

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Velita blinked, stunned. It was something 7552302259 she hadn’t expected.0f61068469c20f28

She had always thought bc05fbdc9b Selina was kind to da9cdea600 her, but no more ac5ebf728d than to anyone else. Selina’s angelic ba92dd9162 nature didn’t 5d42066d1a leave much 861653e702 room for 666b8a4586 such distinctions. Yet, the idea that b0e84d44b6 Selina had been so 79ebebe14b affected after sending her 7ae0c76c77 away to Jeremy was df0fe1e35a puzzling. If it was such ed5c6e21af a burden, why hadn’t f64f268f53 Selina simply refused to 80fd2f5668 send her in the faf4415660 first place?0e4d93bc0f0a1110

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“She cherishes you so much. If you go to her, she might at least tell you why she doesn’t want to attend the party. Young Master Jeremy will understand, so let’s go to her.”4ff5af765719c209

Velita had stubbornly ef37c3b4fe resisted the maid c60fd595d5 out of spite, b3eb581c88 but deep down, f885589c23 she knew she 1c27a07bcd should go if 1a1d54ee58 Selina needed her. Without another 46740fcacc word, Velita db03ba28c8 followed the 3253838b8a maid to f254390b40 Selina’s bedroom.5b99f546d43d5522

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Selina was far too gentle to throw a tantrum without reason…e4066d314799ec1f

But when 5273ec98b1 they reached 3961389e87 the bedroom, 08a306167f Velita noticed 731eb3ce94 a group 520d7914ce of maids 89ba9ef475 lingering outside, ce72cced06 all too cc4651f578 hesitant to bcadef0c59 enter. Something was clearly 18235a53d5 wrong.6c92bd33ebee0b85

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“Lady Selina sent us all out. We can’t go in,” one explained.5305fb148249c1aa

“Does anyone know why she’s acting this way?”917fb127d429eb59

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“She spoke with the count briefly, and afterward, she suddenly…”b05fc63c6cc370a1

“And no one knows what they discussed?”644a91f9e07bac57

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All the maids ef3eb0decf shook their heads. It had bfb193d9d4 been a 8ffb19d95b private conversation a2d8784b6c between father b62a855677 and daughter.410cc1f1d737efa3

Velita exhaled 05a05b7b18 deeply, still 2467351d78 struggling to 539b21a447 believe Selina 4598fb680f truly cared a193adc226 for her dca8791b22 the way 4473cb7ba9 the maid 8973f47034 had claimed. Taking hold of the b2773b09f0 doorknob, she let out 8eb88ac7ba a sigh. She doubted her c5ef0bffa4 presence would make 2483a66f07 a difference, but bdfdb02a25 after coming this 734a72fa9b far, she couldn’t 09d55b3aaf just leave.16fab0cee75e76c8

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Taking a deep breath, dc6deca8b0 Velita opened the door.c3b38690f3a2ac26

“Lady Selina?”c93fd462d8b57d81

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The room was unnervingly ceb4152238 quiet. Her eyes scanned c310c97ddd the disarray—a cluttered 7edcec2ed5 vanity, a discarded de94aba09e gown on the fe47296882 floor. Selina’s presence was 8748928b67 evident, yet she f30362dea4 was nowhere to 7427517530 be seen.0a76e2fc9c989df0

Then, a faint sound dc9db2a1b6 reached Velita’s ears.2e442d3e75642877

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She moved silently, c2afc98c14 following the noise. From the dressing room c467229fa0 connected to the bedroom d75e5a008f came the soft sound 09f0bb2ae1 of muffled sobs. Yet, even there, 47e4b4ef4a Selina was not c3a8055f4b immediately visible.4b4a3f30dac9829f

Velita pretended 33c9dbc8cf to leave, b54921edc5 her steps 84ac837be6 deliberately loud e25b7eaa00 as if e155175aa5 exiting the d240778b1d dressing room. Instead, she 1565e6c055 quietly closed 164f2392be the door fe739ff3d3 and moved 3094aa7166 toward the 6355336550 wardrobe, where 0a76ce48c7 the hem ada5a42140 of a 5832eb3f7b gown grazed 1c3ebcec06 the floor. Without hesitation, 8b08c483ea she opened a96f3fd0a5 the wardrobe.1e6bf42616f73e37

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“Get out! I said I wanted to be alone!”6792f38c292a6e36

Selina’s tear-streaked face appeared, de043051ae her voice breaking with 0a20869274 anger and pain.3276ece441131058

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Selina, hidden among the fa1eb92fce dresses, wildly flailed her 0fa558ed4b arms and shouted without aa1f31efe5 even checking who had 6f9d5ed0ed opened the wardrobe.09f6bc331123044d

She was always 37e7e9f087 graceful and elegant, ad0ff6c662 yet had an de90630531 air of naive, 86f470fae4 childlike innocence, blissfully 6c4bd005bc unaware of the 241a982324 harsher realities of d45c53ffdc the world. But seeing 421f392999 her now, a44ac94a10 huddled in f39a55e771 a wardrobe, 10e52da920 crying so 840c3fcb10 hard she 1f205b46c0 could barely b89f1db536 breathe, was 5b56cc5932 a sight 3b89495cd4 Velita had 8ccc088ad3 never expected.6c703dfcd821c62e

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After hearing what the a600b7403d maids said about Selina’s ab239e173f feelings toward her, Velita 26f772d710 could no longer feel 62e06a6be3 the unfiltered admiration she b21ffefb26 once held. The sheltered flower before 2d59391f9a her now seemed more 04d5b062f1 foolish than enviable.cc19fe8b8e212473

Still, one truth remained 9828c80bf9 unchanged: Selina had been 8492926e5c the one to pull 1455e2af7c her out of hell.8ef8a26310b1a5e2

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And there was 3da092dcde something about a 4e5f27955a fragile, beautiful woman a99e743bfa in tears that 9efceb3e48 could soften anyone’s 71b66ad0f7 heart, regardless of 3648b2dd8d gender.071b05c8768e6554

“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita said softly.d52e387adf776876

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Selina’s body flinched 0bf56e6fca at the sound 68452d684d of her voice.bd4220569736c90b

“Ve… Velita?”1b1deffc488e7440

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Selina looked up, her 91b7ff5d52 tear-streaked face a mess 82ff2647c2 of smudged makeup. Staring into her 0958da5a34 innocent, wide eyes, 42abfee2ef Velita felt as 9953e1991c though she were 71d6ec301e dealing with a 161b39c963 genuine child.66ad09144cae4db1

She knelt d1c94785e0 down to 6b7956b18e meet Selina c222ed271e at eye e2b116c05f level.3a44cbe2ca5b4480

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“Why are 49826c5147 you crying dceba3a9f2 in here? You’re the star 9baaa705b9 of today’s celebration.”c617c31be7f148ff

“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning sharply away to hide her face as she roughly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.a8a8bb3552bdf0ec

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“You should be with 7081d9a00b my brother.”1fa0a3941c19f6f0

“The other 5704efa0f8 maids asked 8036b48fbf me to 36d5699dab come and 9638033f3a comfort you,” 23c429ac19 Velita explained 685f8d19cb calmly.0a79b6e5344689d2

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“…So you 276b79c9f7 didn’t come 45d99e389b of your 9073adc4d3 own will.”4d0abe0f3d016c68

Perhaps because ef0ac62218 of what b39a19c52c the other f34e32bede maid had 1c9c9a514d said earlier, 3bafca6799 Velita could 090c141627 sense that 3caadb7941 Selina was 702683a6ce feeling hurt.05582becfeb7b95c

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“No, I came 50dd445f03 because I chose a81f8ef778 to. I heard what they 52e0801a5b said, and I was 416e6a3bc2 worried about you.”a4444f0d0d2eec70

Selina’s head tilted slightly acaecc167f as she glanced back, 1f582bae65 her lips pursed in 5c2353d097 a small, petulant frown.889af2fe75ea0da6

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“…Why?”8482cdb8f5ed1241

Her voice trembled, e2eb6e41ec hesitant. Velita waited patiently, 94fa2ae5d2 sensing she needed 481ee58140 time to gather 380b5226d4 her thoughts.8e2f9c544187b7b7

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“Why didn’t you look 1af103c511 for me?”f9ee5c0752a02310

“What…?”35a5b59371dde6d8

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“Was my 2cbdff4038 brother a d2f60abf8a better master 68f80f961e to you 0e4b40a4c9 than I c2e7c6b060 was?”bd1d9b84cdcef826

“…”34fc9cf392e36497

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“Did my brother…?”8b5c43504d4ec03c

Selina trailed 4e8d694ecb off, but f84d1f04ad her words 5dca333213 hung heavy 9046c2f5c8 in the c007dcecdd air.5218b4cb07320bbb

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There had been a time when Velita trembled at the thought of speaking with nobles, unable to manage more than a simple “yes” or “no” in response to Selina’s kind questions. But those days were gone. Velita had become someone cherished by a noble, someone who shared his nights.aee4afedadfd2c5f

Once, she 927d4dab37 had felt 9beb1d9d03 intimidated by 82c3d2cb67 Selina’s presence, 8dbf0a3c6b but now, 4d76a89f06 looking at cac190d0e5 her, Velita dece96909e could only 637197213a see a f05ba4f334 lost, fragile facce5309a girl. She finally understood how a28a8bceac to handle her.7c5eed13de7eb090

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“Oh, don’t even get 64020577eb me started. I’ve been so 27e80e0ffb upset,” Velita said bfe1e72da4 with an exaggerated 2efed4b7bd sigh, tilting her 4b44f0af25 head as if 657b9ea309 venting her frustration.17af8d0f3691df5d

“…Why? Why are you upset?” 972accb474 Selina asked, her curiosity 49a7309e2d piqued despite herself.1c4e9b7d21850e2a

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“Young Master Jeremy claimed bd4c23d05e he was lonely and e716619ca3 begged you to send 72f472e382 me to him. But after all that…” 95acc42a57 Velita trailed off dramatically, 0828aeb9bd drawing Selina’s full attention.dfaf719c60f88313

Selina thrashed 56d171c900 through the 216a4c74bc dresses, shouting c7c8106f8b for whoever b7673368aa had disturbed 3f0eb87898 her to a31dbb2da5 leave without 1f44559d7b even looking 58868f1cd2 to see 9e53f4b34b who it 9bd1445b24 was.47e5ac7247519c2f

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The Selina Velita e54d5817ad remembered was graceful, e5c8fb1ce0 poised, and yet 48a4284f8f so naive she 4013c06c53 seemed almost childlike, 3c99b9fae9 unaware of the be78e99067 harsh realities of 1dfe1e4a0b the world. But seeing her 2fc7d9a68e hiding in a cf5d46dd62 wardrobe, sobbing uncontrollably 3341c75b59 like a child a425c8c3b3 throwing a tantrum, 0e1bd33419 was something Velita 9570a21c91 had never witnessed 204797e2b2 before.92b247d8a4b82e80

After overhearing ea79a8cfe4 the maids’ 02a7aad5dd comments about ba0357ffa7 Selina’s feelings, d58618e96d Velita couldn’t d11b245853 bring herself 11e1d4f981 to admire 9a9947c7e6 her the 218f6346bd way she cf589bad7e used to. The delicate flower sheltered 4148ad82d8 in a greenhouse now 32044e9684 seemed foolish rather than 1679b5c76f enviable.98a0e7bc7224a2bd

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Still, one 43d27d8541 fact remained b166c04b05 unchanged: Selina f3cf52a0eb had saved 348d7c67b7 her from 77503b51df a living 8da5980c35 hell.f745e770c69f0f1a

And there 4040b4f9dd was something bed652097c undeniably disarming fad4c63450 about seeing f318f9386a a beautiful, 9c1210310f fragile woman 956b697807 crying, capable 2d83434f1a of softening 7352bdb617 even the 4fad54490c coldest heart.37a4255df9440d94

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“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita called out softly.0c971669e75d79d8

Selina flinched, her 0a0cbd9818 sobs momentarily halting.6a30240bbc999fa2

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“Ve… Velita?”762c2868d0cc8486

Her tear-streaked 6ec9413f75 face peeked 14ba317a8f out from 7b7f846104 behind her ca40029d67 hands, makeup 58017074eb smudged and 70d522c708 her expression ba6ef04142 pitiful. When Velita met her aa4e79a7e0 gaze, Selina’s innocent, watery 432acd3a11 eyes made her seem a204d565cf even more childlike.9e02543ca0ff1ecc

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Kneeling down 82653e64dd to meet b56b9ff447 her at 17097a277b eye level, 6518163648 Velita spoke 5f81e3e8a3 gently.0dc04457dbe564fe

“Why are you crying 6e5dc5ba6a here? You’re the 64e56f9a15 star of 44d2727eed today’s celebration.”4ebbb20ade5c909e

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“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning away to hide her face, hurriedly wiping her tears with her hands.00fa741a90e7ceac

“You should be 9096a9f1f4 with my brother.”b70911f1aaa6b97f

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“The other maids asked d3068af834 me to come and e5444801d8 comfort you,” Velita replied.3df16ddb2b020e35

“…So you didn’t 646208478b come of your 4a18ea54e8 own will.”253417ed1ce9cb22

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Velita hesitated, realizing 1bc916c483 Selina was upset 0ede665a2a with her.d0bd7bb75975e568

“No, I heard 67c0533b9e what they said, 8558ef75a0 and I came a2640842fd here because I f432475519 wanted to. I was 880445a853 worried about a43aa9eaad you.”be83a1d891fa43ed

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Selina’s pout 8ce313fdbc softened slightly 16f1ebc310 as she 740a272f74 glanced at 6488778a5d Velita, her 81238e6007 tone hesitant.1644a780299ba642

“…Why?”9a5c2c9377f20936

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Velita waited patiently for e34af27f47 her to speak.c41cefce4688ec81

“Why didn’t you 436dbc539d come find me?”7d123630ae3d7c6a

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“…?”f2841b83f59219a5

“Was my d4551760cf brother a f1c990fc04 better master 7462c7278d than I 91c5f78257 was?”b7ed7b5c8a2b833a

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Velita blinked, 4aa2a00b25 taken aback 62a7acbd15 by the 58c51cf0c0 question, unsure 9eed6b7083 how to bf124dc92c respond. Selina’s vulnerability 2a96b88eaa reminded her 1e9dbfcd30 of the 30de0358e5 days when dd9b522bca she had 1bc8bdc6c8 trembled in 5db093820a the presence cd2b319844 of nobles, d0eec71fc2 barely able 8a7c952f28 to answer f8d707fa48 with more 41face9ce0 than a 8eec6cb12e “yes” or b8cf08bb93 “no.” But 38cf667d0a those days 8adedf82d1 were long 484b6df634 gone.d5422bca889fb83f

Now, Velita knew 77afff6898 how to handle dee3bb686d her.54f13b974f55004e

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“Oh, don’t even get b7085800d7 me started. I’ve been so upset!” 59ef35980e Velita said with a ac2c3d9df1 dramatic sigh, tilting her 4db4251904 head as if confiding 6e136703de a secret.ced8333420285f07

“…Why? Why are you 76d71577dd upset?” Selina asked, b406d7d865 her curiosity outweighing 81ee1898c4 her sulkiness.78ae0b5b6a61651f

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“Young Master Jeremy d273f2d3e5 begged you to 47cb142cea send me to adaad6a680 him because he f12c042db5 was lonely, but 9b7f7245ea now he leaves 5fa658d88f every day! Even when 9108748a36 he’s home, a08d375fe0 all he 4eb6b7fbae does is 2250bd9ac5 give me 05cfa83c37 errands—he doesn’t 1021efd6a7 care about bf89892dee me at 5e607ad745 all.”90ce4cef3479ff6d

Selina’s brows furrowed, doubt 8be3e63e46 creeping into her voice.861b1fe6ecd376c3

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“But the other maids d3c2429e24 said you and my 4be5cf7d19 brother…”b4f4f76d71fbdd67

Velita felt her stomach 2fab88a42b tighten. Clearly, some had already 3fdeb5a2cb noticed the truth of b4fd89d9e7 her relationship with Jeremy. While Jeremy c770037c95 seemed indifferent e8ed1c3f7b to hiding 69df3bc6ec it, Velita 5e26d635e5 knew it 4fe0c28dbf was crucial 3bc94b0d55 to keep d29b717021 Selina in e5744b7ca1 the dark. No good would come cc4dd836f0 from stirring jealousy, whether b812f6ca78 directed at Jeremy or 9dff33dbb1 herself.6d3b70ac49b79184

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“Young Master Jeremy treats f3354461a0 me well, but only c0765abda7 as a servant. Nothing more.”b612a0cb695dbb14

Selina’s expression 3edcf1ad07 flickered with 259126a83c a mix 0296cdd19d of emotions. “So… do you like 32ad264730 me more than him?”22929adae7b05a7f

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“Of course! I’ve missed you so 744a5bdabb much,” Velita replied, her dbc89b0270 voice warm but calculated.6e242403a2f1673a

Selina’s cheeks flushed, clearly dd45cc9b9a pleased by the flattery.da10f0f0cd45d052

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“Then why didn’t you 4cc1d54a3b come see me?”0452ea1289d1533c

“I’m the young e28cf3108d master’s maid now. I have to e41527b734 stay where he 71ddaba28b can find me,” 54075c6850 Velita answered.f65d5e811457e376

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“Then I’ll speak to 244c21a80f him! Visit me often, okay? I’ve missed you, too…”ff678cd22d23ddf9

Velita watched Selina drop 0df83609d7 her gaze and mumble, 056eb71fdc guilt evident in her b47d2e6169 voice.6ffab0abfd55e0f9

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“Why did a52fd40da6 you send 5fe9782985 me to a7871032b1 him in 413da7ed6f the first 47975a5e84 place, then?”c36208ceb24a9cd5

“I regret it now,” be8407cf3d Selina admitted quietly. “But I a7a0b19697 couldn’t disobey 1acc205ca0 my brother. Father said we 458599888f must always listen 6c2afe5d6a to him, and…”70bd6a0621cac8f6

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Selina trailed 54b561eb81 off, leaving 7fa25899e8 her thoughts 01e3e89c36 unfinished.94ca374f20e127db

Velita glanced at 85afa3c9ec the clock and ee0ad27b0c decided to change 79190bfa99 tactics.73d1e30413169042

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“Lady Selina, you really 3a4645c0d7 should go to the ea2e91b256 party now…”a31e5b1ae342ee34

“I don’t want 3d38da09e9 to.”a45b2ffd20fb9814

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“Why not? You’re the main 0b568f4960 star today!”2a6d239bf5eb991b

“…”f9b8cacfc4459052

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“Do you have 207be53b41 a reason you 7063068396 don’t want to ba34befc47 go?” Velita pressed 060674c9b7 gently.2168171873c53c55

Selina hesitated fe0619103b for a b5d4f9d0c7 long time 291844efa7 before finally 4eb27f5964 answering.314099f9f17f57a3

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“Father told 40a8177496 me not 6745a38ddd to speak 8b0dae1802 much with 23befc01f7 the other 021e8f5eef ladies and 5b1e91721c to stay a4e0e181ed close to d8cfc27ade my brother 7ba3fbf6bc during the a8c4274484 party.”31af8f4db5565a29

“And why does c0fc29dc3b that bother you?”3f933e395ae18d78

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“….”c5db95fc231c9b2e

Velita sighed inwardly. It seemed 8583f06293 coaxing Selina 2837dfbee2 to reveal 142ff31c25 her true 6c90496f39 feelings would 00c3737892 take too 13df7c110a long. She decided 1cff3ca96c on a 615c69bea2 different approach.b0e4d694d27adabf

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“Lady Selina, will you 6d8527e185 attend the party if 0e100734cd I ask you to?”ea1b680014da8580

“Not even b9155e006f for you,” e1878647be Selina replied f79fcec778 stubbornly.22be408b1e5a1bf8

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“But you’ll 772c691cf0 dress up c871206b96 beautifully for c96f42503f the party, ac2f86aae2 won’t you?”7da976ef5d27d3d0

“So what?”38622d34d8163e88

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“I want to f9eca57ee2 see how beautiful d60cefe50b you’ll look.”9d02febd9c4d282c

Selina’s sulky expression 1691a545ce softened instantly, her d86efb6427 cheeks faintly pink.1e4b5d35a4c9db68

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“And after the f751c2155c party, we’ll share e30b77aeb2 the leftover food 03c7789155 and catch up, 072afed084 just the two 6c4dc39cc7 of us.”587762c687f0bbc5

“But… what about my f023b57b5d brother?”fdc7b636b0262452

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“Young Master Jeremy 8cb0cd8a1d won’t bother me f2e216b76a after the party—he’ll 98fc28cbd0 be too tired.”f4bfe970ed8deebf

Velita was bluffing, of 66d8efa5d3 course. Her priority was to 6a77c669e0 convince Selina to attend 7383082c5f the party, no matter b2954f05d0 what.4789cff5d9eca269

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“Let’s spend some 6851cf196c time together, just c2fc204bcf the two of 9c722ad6fe us.”3a1b0ce24751eef4

“…After the party?”79b01f7fef8f1a99

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“Yes, after the 55a2b8e4c7 party,” Velita said 66b6bd999a with a reassuring 1a69ee61f1 smile.802813a2ec34be4b

Watching Selina’s a332d038c8 eyes dart 4d4453f47b around as 2f0c220cd5 she weighed 8c606fb62d her options, 495513525f Velita felt 86a93fbcd0 certain she 6b5b607f2c had succeeded.588cf72d6a78c26b

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She’s convinced.257601eef076f337

Velita stood 0c90169f72 and extended 92e7a0908f her hand b906f59fab toward Selina, 1fd452cc7a who was b869bccdb9 still curled 53ef6346ea under the c86785ae46 dresses.51cc3493587336db

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“Come now, Lady Selina.”87199d99bed144ca

Selina hesitated for only e037c5fc30 a moment before taking 53e1620f18 Velita’s hand, as though 92d040f10a enchanted.2dd537cf5e33acc0

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From then on, 8abdd4dd64 everything moved swiftly. Maids rushed in to 47a7a35f13 fix Selina’s ruined makeup fa6be88e79 and fetch a fresh 9da12a7935 gown to replace the a047f339ef wrinkled one. When the count’s 0af7e3b082 steward arrived to 38bdb2b094 check on her, 3678e8f057 Selina, now back d47bf826a7 in her element, 25123d1f6d remained composed and b00a667c2e radiant.bfa9036b0e108c5e

Each time their eyes 5753417bc8 met in the mirror, aae206072d Selina’s gaze softened, and c77d9d04da she would mouth the e4590597a2 words, Look as much 88e9942c1b as you want.9aead9cc56f23844

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Velita couldn’t help 47b6f884a1 but smile at 2273750234 Selina’s transformation, though b22b81fbe9 her earlier compliment a7f5398b6b now felt ironic.d1e9cdaac77ab801

Selina was 4c2526da6d beautiful even 2c9ee67379 without adornment, d38cd57570 but dressed 7535c30865 to the 7df5f81910 nines, her deee0988a8 beauty was 2cc620bc99 almost blinding. It was the 9b010e61ba kind of beauty dc99e4d601 that could lift bce7c6c80c spirits, though it 9082c54958 held no deeper 387d6e0dec meaning for Velita.c01ba2cbfae8aca7

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Selina’s charm and 2d487f0fb4 loveliness had no 9e396ce58c bearing on Velita’s bb5b8a3fcf safety, survival, or a4abf8dba7 peace of mind. It was 9d35c5ea34 simply something 5b50b10a7d pleasant to 3ed6a01001 look at, 83617ec11c nothing more.b67a6ed7b6a055c3

 b33551e42acf6312

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