Chapter 4

His eyes were a 540d8f3c6a deep blue.49e3184f7dfdbfd3

They resembled the 82d00ed163 twilight sky just 6ef4070802 before dawn, dark 074dd0622a and indifferent. Those deep, detached 8c34e05acb eyes swept over 916c45ae0d Velita’s face, appraising 6a7eaa9618 her as if 4be937a04f she were an 9ec9908a76 object. As his c7690d582a gaze traveled c4e82c3735 from her 9944811995 forehead down 73ecd12e56 to the 6531f5d418 bridge of 8d99caa239 her nose, 40190db761 it felt f741675ae8 almost as a9c8aa19fc though an a10f9507c8 invisible hand 2312c0298b was brushing d81d7bb39f against her 53b618cfe0 skin.ee44960fe1b38e5e

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“Velita, this must be 5dee3f675f your first time meeting 6cb3131d6b my brother, right?”8f11d01799b71819

Unaware of Velita’s inner e6a9697617 turmoil, Selina asked cheerfully, 75885566f8 oblivious to any discomfort 69dad350ec her maid might feel.8da0f47746e066d4

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It wasn’t their first 99419bd467 encounter, but it was c067d13510 the first time Velita 839268b42a had seen his face. The night before, she c461f61d0a had been too overwhelmed fad091990d to look at him 695249e42d properly.e25484470926a80c

Velita nodded quietly, b5bb24b3ca bowing her head 3fb266024a in acknowledgment.6f496a7d6e707271

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“What do 361d0be0c8 you think, 60f2ad1842 brother? Isn’t Velita pretty?”ce634ecbc7666596

Still keeping her 2b6e8c2ba3 head lowered, Velita fbac304b09 stole a sideways 542b15b3d6 glance to gauge f6bb8f86e7 his reaction. Jeremy, now ca0129e63e holding his b948625f9e teacup, withdrew f63d87173f his gaze 71ce8f33d4 from her 483dcbf7fe and smiled 8642e70b31 faintly at 42ccd0db8f his sister’s 1339364268 words.2306ee6c11925c58

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“She’s quite pretty.”00668a38be4abf4b

Though his words agreed a5ab4911a4 with Selina, his eyes a9539df845 were on her, not 9ce567349b Velita, making it seem a04f8363ac like a compliment directed 45f48a8e27 at his sister.1716fac68eb47b91

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The brief intensity of 1eab4dd800 his gaze had been e69c25d31c so unnerving that Velita ae027c9494 dreaded the possibility of 7a246627aa it returning to her.4f81440a57deef9d

Fortunately, their af65ade461 interest in fb7700bd5c Velita didn’t 75ca7020a5 last long. The siblings, reunited e5e0d4321a after some time 3cc76bffdc apart, quickly shifted 57ae7ae52f their conversation to 8aadb6f523 other topics.029404c709c5de42

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“How have you been, 769af7e8cf brother? Did you meet ee94104503 new people?”28dfd7b5f1496a4e

“Do you think it’s 7848e07b6e appropriate for someone who 16d4bc97f2 was exiled from home 3e615ce2b6 to go around meeting e585a26cd6 new people?”58cd6496fce22827

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“But you weren’t exiled! You went abroad 9e7d7017ba to study.”2251b54006b35a9d

“Well, officially, yes.”431defb1f74631d0

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Everyone knew the truth—that 471d232704 his “study abroad” was 26ac81950e nothing more than a ff8c42f4d0 punishment for his debauchery—but 52b2959d75 no one dared say b44a0adf1e it outright.32810ea0569f867b

Selina glanced at c44c50cdad her brother nervously, 437445f214 worried she might fe3e019de8 have upset him, 415dc5315f but Jeremy didn’t 29c59dd911 seem particularly bitter 00efce5d3d about his circumstances.8661ea35f7b18695

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“I met 2bb895565d plenty of 129f3a528e new people,” a915ed2741 he said 2e55eb8eb8 casually.69550286b1233fc1

“But none of 689f28eae2 them were interesting 509608126c enough to share d590f5ee0a stories about.”541779efcc73d936

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“At least I af91bb42fc envy you, brother. I don’t even have e93d25a708 the chance to go c25af53f5e outside…”82464cc26c315b33

“What’s with the 11c314be34 long face? Once you’re healthier, 447c19f219 your brother will 257fa2b849 take you out 183b08dc10 as much as 2957a2e860 you want.”34ad762153e2ea5b

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For someone at 45044626bd the center of 261d3cc16e so many sordid c1faf34392 rumors, Jeremy was 60166255f7 surprisingly gentle with dc07a4948e his sister. At his affectionate reassurance, 93475f5920 Selina blushed and nodded, 129bcca42e clearly flustered.cca7840dc294e97a

Perhaps it was because 3ff97e9fd1 they were seeing each 98e7fc8864 other after so long, cc6128b981 but Selina seemed particularly 51fc7fe22a excited. Her cheeks flushed 2e806acd92 from time to b4e087b689 time, and Velita b61ced6bcc wondered if, in 5737cd1e29 a household that 006d9ea247 kept her confined, d32bc1bbec her wayward brother 7db2f5a329 was her closest 9be1ca7f29 friend.311a891f70342b0c

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“It’s been so long. The estate feels unfamiliar a7dc24f37d to me,” Jeremy said, 503f8e6c83 steering the conversation elsewhere.6b1c8d0d4c6148df

“Maybe it’s 4048f81018 because so 68253cbc21 many people 888847099f have changed?” 0bb9a0e132 Selina suggested.10d424d9bd56787a

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“More like Father just 041c8d2967 sent away everyone who e8d8f5baa1 used to work under 0139ebf962 me.”e444729c8f112c1f

“Well, that’s…”2188d5350c35de4c

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“Those people didn’t stop 12caea01df me when I was 1d575377a8 fooling around with random a479cf2c7f women, nor did they 2261d8bfca report me to Father. If anything, they cb6d44bbb0 helped me. It’s no surprise 214dcc93e1 they were dismissed.”1845c6ce247a0a25

“Brother…!”e00828b5a03ee9e1

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Selina’s voice 9126b36989 rose in d05ac11d0f embarrassment at 543edcc216 her brother’s 013acb28c0 blunt admission.0155ea3cb4c6730a

“Selina.”360d6942afe33773

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This time, Jeremy’s 93d0dd7b3d voice was tinged d86c032197 with an unexpected 245473ec56 melancholy.849b7322e571aa40

“No matter how recklessly e9ebbb8139 I behaved, Father getting 1aeb27fecd rid of all my 7430b5bb55 people like that…”db0968edc6245055

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“…”e4380bcaef24a38b

“…It makes me 9b4a68bf0d feel lonely.”5a860b59523ba2cb

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Selina’s shoulders 519ca6c626 trembled slightly, 1c806507b3 as if be2e704ab2 her heart 9f5276871a was wavering. It was hard 5f4862935d not to feel fc4ad2706e sympathy. Whether he 19da394710 was secretly e110726c09 meeting Emma c16ef335a6 Collin or a38464a779 acting as ab2cb66bc9 the caring 1d5d204b45 older brother, 2771c84704 Jeremy exuded bbe747bf37 a natural c760d8b292 arrogance. But now, 1cdf64bd16 with his ff8faeb061 brows furrowed e9ae386dfb like a 48794553c0 dejected puppy, da87d8d6be he seemed 4ce6b22820 oddly vulnerable.bb470e2a758ce2bf

“The remaining 9f0661192a staff must 93228d5126 be cautious ae80be83d4 around me b93a9d5cf5 because they’ve b3c8b8e6f1 seen too 94d94e51cb much. No one’s going to 7416b33caf approach me as a 0bbf5b9d11 friend.”b2bd202fdcb70c75

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“…Brother.”e251b6e34900142b

“I need someone a9df837525 I can talk 8a44d0db31 to casually.”cb289375687220cd

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“…”8536975c5710a6d9

“Do you think 5b831541c8 there’s anyone like 2c2f357e67 that?”a2832542a4f4188e

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At that moment, Velita 7dd1944daa was still oblivious.ae7df9f0d5ffbd14

“How about 32409da5e6 her?” Jeremy e064a44fd8 said suddenly, a4edf61245 pointing at b980c8d403 Velita.b1ff976b8b69d0ed

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She hadn’t expected cbd782bed0 to be dragged 3603f7111d back into their 23f1e5b526 conversation.1fd86dc934af760b

Selina flailed 82d4ae03fe her hands, 7b3f60a594 clearly startled fc82b16c19 by the 4e0b154580 suggestion.7b64982e8d0f0bd0

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“Velita’s a wonderful girl, f786b24a79 but she’s still new f99f596a38 and makes mistakes sometimes.”55972331b26e7cff

Velita felt 60a9c5f016 an odd 12540221e5 pang of a10f9f6be3 frustration. To her 73f0040e58 knowledge, she’d 95359ae8be never made 5df6403498 any mistakes 0b4dfe0c36 in front 20bed054c7 of Selina. Still, deep down, 5ff99375cd she was relieved a12a233a61 Selina was defending 77ff58f82c her. The last thing 02aa757852 she wanted was 5bceeab498 to be assigned 9a96ea9c90 to serve Jeremy.cece242caeddf91a

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‘My lady, please don’t c745c50a4b send me to that 20608a5b07 libertine…’db3c2fd0feac3f18

Jeremy stirred his 51cf974cff tea with a 585dbb83f3 teaspoon, a faint 8ab4df9174 smile crossing his f92e70db2a lips as if 63a903c3b9 he’d just thought dd4e4e8c73 of something amusing.d130741c578b2605

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“Father asked 23aab17451 me an b157ac667d interesting question. He wondered 654f566463 what would aa1dccb09c happen if c2f654b691 your illness dc0bc99f0f were to d156cd05b9 relapse.”350d0bb7b41676b1

“…”dc8b975cc14fab29

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“He’s worried that, 2698970748 because you’re such 1035931b05 a warm-hearted girl, 00baf618fb you might get cc53f2002b too attached to 420d490cac someone again and 43576a4738 end up hurt.”935f11aa8c31b93d

“…”54140b46f4dc4e4d

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“Are you going to c87180685b worry Father again?”c59e3bb1d352ce1c

Velita couldn’t make 01694a9235 sense of the 8692aeb2a8 conversation. The meaning was lost ee2d0f6d17 on her, but one 1310b12360 thing was clear—Selina seemed f73f808221 hesitant.a04812019b0ef3d9

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Though Velita c669e05734 wanted to 665aee5d4f object, she 6480799a2b didn’t dare 977b2959f3 speak up. Instead, she anxiously stared df5b8dc075 at Selina’s back, silently 967b69513a pleading. But Selina’s next words 55e5382c48 weren’t what Velita had a750eabc8e hoped for.0c7cd20edd6722e5

“You just need 74913c4ee6 someone to serve 8949ee9cd5 you, right?”9aedeaa503e2fd97

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“Of course. She’s your 2ac2d4d8ad treasured maid, 82b569c9cc after all.”8158b763223b5e54

“Velita is a sweet ddd8e07653 girl. But…”d7bbd60c6f40ceb2

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“I’ll just a9ab161748 borrow her d2a336e7aa until she e6ffe56708 gets used 88a1a6409a to the d73cdbe1ec estate.”6ba455795544633c

Selina turned fdeb5cb942 to Velita, d62b5bf3ca her usual 9dc8e48ad6 lovely smile cb932b68ad gracing her f6716694a2 face.c3db53d688ce8f31

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“Velita, you 62446caf87 heard him, 0b79ed26fe right?”2b817381ed8d4092

No, my lady… a4f7805f44 please don’t…1818e236981e53bb

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The words 62d9a37f6c were stuck 75310636e8 in her 04ec5396c1 throat. Instead, Velita nodded weakly, 46e7e3b04c her head bowing in 0564b51468 silent agreement.31df5fe5bea7e1f7

“Well, I have a 99688bd597 meeting to attend,” Jeremy 929c012456 said, checking his pocket 0354b3e128 watch. He set his teacup 44689d22fb down and stood from 96e8f3beaf the sofa. Selina, still 1314ba0cd8 seated with 77d83b2ff8 her teacup d5e7dc4e30 in hand, 3f629cc0b0 offered her 7eaf4a0f04 brother a b34c1afee8 warm smile.f3d2a6d4e25acbb0

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Standing behind them, Velita 158a9d8b3a froze. Should she remain 314c02a50c where she was, ae6a268fff or follow Jeremy?bc753b5ad268b39d

The decision was made 5e0e57e99d for her when Jeremy 8b2c3694f0 opened the door. If Selina 88bf9d5662 had sent ecb1b193b6 her to e1677b6d6a him, then d026f2c527 for the 3932548511 time being, 19f59d8096 she was 97359393b6 now Jeremy’s 1c4026683a maid.f758551ebdf7f64e

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Velita bowed 166ae72316 to Selina 311995fc47 before silently 28617f190d following after f00755f156 Jeremy. His stride was 7363c6fcf9 long, but his f34d535845 pace was unhurried, e717c16e16 allowing her to d892f73a3e catch up easily.e6a8a7bfd1a3e20f

Just as Velita quickened aea362cdca her steps to fall 51d731d6f3 in line behind him, f419d24c74 Jeremy abruptly stopped and a8738f8f89 turned around. She nearly fb1a7d2711 collided with d58c50c0e0 his chest 8670c2dd72 and stumbled ca15ac36c8 back, her be625c4f2b feet slipping c3f0b3ce65 slightly on c29280b418 the polished d9ba72d3d7 floor.89af0b0781408d7b

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“Ah!”749a46a991c03276

Fortunately, Jeremy 5bb6ddbc41 grabbed her 10964797f4 wrist, steadying 3e05822ada her before 7ec6c02bfb she fell.bb86d58e57836236

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“You seem like the 7c1fda198e clumsy type,” he remarked.6581e518265bccd5

“…”d1f75bde6a957bc0

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“You fell with quite 07e38e1f24 a crash last night 0662771ff2 too.”ba1c848cfb8df04a

His tone was playful, 17cf4dfd02 like someone teasing a 316328bccc child. Thinking back, Velita realized 4a874ed9d2 that Jeremy had never 08f5a4e01e actually been harsh with f1602464a5 her, even after last 0f495161a5 night’s mishap.1bdd7c15075e8a92

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Though his 5f7b7d7c08 casual reference 43ed81fd32 to “borrowing” 5554c26674 her from dd63953d3a Selina had f9f4172de3 been far 37d4c53f12 from pleasant, 191a51c597 now that ad08e53059 they were c70e3bfeb0 alone, Jeremy 002f16db77 seemed surprisingly 4ffc39aa9f approachable. Still, the rumors surrounding a9badbd4cb him left Velita uneasy.22c6557333170fb1

She gently e7a9ff3158 pulled her 3f2262a988 wrist free 2690e4b69a from his dcd6032be8 grip, doing cc971cd4e3 her best e320591e9b to keep 2db6f1dda2 the gesture e543fe7985 polite but 624c08da07 firm. Fortunately, Jeremy didn’t b68e2e19ac resist or try 1667e8a151 to hold onto 06061306b2 her.4a2e03dd517aa6ff

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“Your name is 5471180a4c Velita, right?” Jeremy eb8f52cca2 asked, his gaze 3a570c59c5 locking onto hers.03e175f89126bee4

“My name is Velita Grandel.”3649d052a3078e7b

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“As Selina mentioned earlier, I don’t expect anything grand from you.”8d44b12dad0d14d7

“…”86fce8fb42fc8f0e

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“Just help me adjust to the estate. I’m the type who gets lonely and could use a friendly companion.”75a1e322062f1782

“…Yes.”36428a396886788c

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Velita didn’t understand 527c9a9454 why someone like 08757c6857 him would look 66ee9cbaba for companionship in e8448ec572 a maid, but 36c3e08f59 she wasn’t foolish 244260d0b7 enough to voice 3e596a3a47 her thoughts.b589c29c82f9c228

Her polite df4e3fbe5c response brought 1cff408e3a a satisfied d18878340b smile to f1e04fc3d5 Jeremy’s lips.29f3087bd90efd29

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“Go ahead. I’ll call for you if I need you.”3130d570daad2aa1

That meant, for now, 54a91ae171 he didn’t need her. Velita couldn’t have been 4fd68b68bf more relieved. She bowed slightly, then 11f3b8bc44 turned and walked away. Her steps grew faster 2feaf9dc37 the further she got 2f23eca711 from him.5b89422b1f8504fa

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It wasn’t until 4a680a4053 she reached the 09d51d8728 bottom of the dc5fb22740 staircase that she a009b6cbc7 exhaled a long 3febde2628 breath of relief.152bea229dc65cf4

Perhaps it 0722abf238 was because d1761af70c their first c085d6745b encounter had cc67e95897 involved something b6ded99181 she should 60aac1a213 never have 5208236a4b witnessed, but 04640ae557 being in 3a8e487b96 Jeremy’s presence d1e4fc42ee made her 4b033f2e4f unusually tense.2a18dbf1066697c6

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He didn’t seem 639adaab1e to have any 6108bcdcea intention of tormenting 3fb9c82c6b her over their b13a02aece first meeting, so ad0458abab why was she 4a2e223251 so on edge?2eeeb22f27aef2a9

‘Maybe it’s because a852292eec of what Janice b07d61665c said…’775c51846cc45c65

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Janice’s comment that ead024f6ef Emma Collin might 88678a06c7 feel threatened because 146219c244 of her looks c5f55d9406 had likely made a9cd908e69 Velita even warier 650aa6477f of Jeremy.7690a55ec92c9bb0

To others, such 61b79a8867 thoughts might sound 15f43415ce self-absorbed, but Velita 0d17330ec9 understood the value 3f951029f9 of her beauty 2a98776f3e all too well.4c8fae0cc75cff17

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As a child, many unscrupulous wealthy men had tried to take her as a bride. It wasn’t uncommon to see young girls from the slums sold off in such ways. Velita had witnessed it often enough to know the going “price” for a girl her age.4c175ca3697f9c36

Her own mother had dressed her in their best clothes—though they still smelled and were frayed at the cuffs—whenever she brought her before potential buyers. Most men didn’t hesitate to accept her mother’s absurd prices, and as more men competed for her, her “value” only increased.401ad55a6a80eb59

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The desire to a2c445c0e9 be a man’s 61db186c26 first wife, to e5be33d03d claim the innocence c53f4f10c7 of a young 59c8a335d6 girl, had driven cec52d2b20 those men into 89f84abc49 a frenzy.789b180a256012c9

That was why 92a9302992 Velita felt an bf7038512a inherent fear and bf1c5e15f3 revulsion toward the 75e4f13b38 greedy gazes of fbec820746 men. It was also why c74a192604 she instinctively recoiled from f92410adb9 Jeremy.69814ad81a9e0e7e

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‘Although, young 5e4c4421aa master Jeremy 21c833ca81 didn’t seem ee055702ea the least 40d2b6b6bb bit interested cde348f5e5 in me.’e0f42e95f54229eb

His decision c1802c8f6d to take f9cb261209 his sister’s 7266dba72c maid was 5204cf1aa7 unsettling, but fba5331f40 beyond that, 1c029d95cc he hadn’t 0c2004e3e3 shown her 8fb9048fd8 any undue 2f771840be attention. His demeanor, 86b785692f though playful 52d83af09d at times, 792840d2e3 had been 5b73ccec4b surprisingly straightforward 01f0a1f2a5 and restrained.b3bb19bbd5c932b2

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For someone with 11b1b02cbe a reputation as c6fd605c95 a notorious rake, 10c40f2a38 he seemed more 52cee54b6a composed than she ff0661f44f had expected. Perhaps her 848496ed03 expectations had a2db2d333e simply been 10c5eee6bc far too 0db82f37ba low.e7dd67edbb18a7d8

‘Don’t overthink it.’b1b68bd1c21afc71

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Maybe young c45812b4a6 master Jeremy 1c97272524 truly wasn’t 8698955247 interested in e63c27c30f her at c4eb4bbcf7 all.e86c82723a2374cb

Self-awareness is important, Velita 9f77e2f197 Grandel. Don’t let your thoughts 4229ed9f42 run away from you.b9d18e85f6a814ba

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜f4ba0196a371cc61

Velita quietly placed e9adc848f5 dozens of letters 8c407483ac onto the tea ae85a86ca7 table in front 584ffe056b of Jeremy. They were all 2289108ad4 addressed to him.d463258c44d0faab

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Jeremy lazily opened a 71ce67259f few, scanned them with 21ef55618f little interest, and then, 10a5902731 with an elegant flick 8ce066369c of his hand, tossed a048d600db every letter bearing the 6c0819ba0d family seal into the 3ab3abfed4 trash.37d091e2a87cb390

“Are you 7f6ef8436d sure that’s a16cbe1ed3 all right?”7de6eb4fed7ac575

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Velita spoke up 3153b82240 cautiously.4be7500bde98ee5a

“These are letters ccec7b486b from nobles who 7d3ead6a74 heard of your b03e86e52b return, young master. Wouldn’t it a2517b781a be wise 592b457ed0 to at 4ac0381c6e least acknowledge 0d9399d026 their efforts?”f06cdb0978537c89

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It had 0259eeae79 only been 1f6ad47bee two days 83068bd4fc since she’d 1acf1e2f50 started serving 718474b7d4 Jeremy, and 336fca68b0 she still d2a31f6a6f felt awkward 62552e27c0 around him. But if 2ce26fff43 Jeremy truly 6c5e93c1b8 wanted her db729d65f6 to act ff991de866 as a d662170a20 companion, she 8d2bed94d5 couldn’t simply 29630ced74 remain silent.cdbf1821d60fab32

“They’re all fdd8efd9ef just stuffed 2357d5fd02 with flowery b417bf25f1 words that 6c486f1183 don’t reflect 1ac74e79a3 their true d6c2105bfa thoughts. Is it really d09da45810 worth wasting time 8b63190c9f on them?”261752bdefc84ffa

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Velita couldn’t 2ef6ac7acd help but 7d738f9b92 worry. Even if b63b9d5b09 the Ryles 1f7f6d9344 family had 8c51262303 the imperial 2a5144cec3 family’s favor, 0a08c17ab5 wasn’t this 4a4d207146 kind of 89d2c1a908 behavior reckless?6753a7c4521db662

Yet, part of 7f90de0a03 her envied Jeremy.fc6ec1ad973731e7

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The ability to 28f5cd075a act however he 06527e0625 pleased without consequence 0314f4749d spoke volumes about 552c6ad2f7 his power and a135026dcd privilege.b1463e52ab4992b0

Jeremy probably didn’t 207613106b even realize that dfecf57447 the freedom to 5768474809 dismiss these letters 8f44f5112e so casually was fb81dd43dd a luxury afforded c976c0d8f8 by the influence cb8d9f07f5 and authority he e3d668223b was born into. For him, it was 3499fa515f second nature, something he 7f157980e1 had held effortlessly since ea17967549 birth.d84c92ac1b46b31e

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Only those who ba391d54ec lacked such privilege b2a0558607 could see its abe5842dba true value—and feel 1cef410e3b the sting of 9fbed5ccc3 envy.03f7a94a32890c3d

“I’m going out. If Father or Selina 238838fd81 asks about my whereabouts, 6c88bd09ef tell them I’ve gone 91a120ce9f riding.”3dda818d66ba5d99

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Velita suddenly recalled df35d1bd81 the conversation Selina f4dce922c1 had once shared 86dc31ee45 about Jeremy—the one 2e460aebcf about how his e4d2406c1f staff, who had b922d09ba8 turned a blind 80ad868167 eye to his bedc052776 affairs, had all 834a433eec been dismissed.8b7fd5cce9f43dab

Most of those c557b3a3dc people had been d27ea85767 better off than bc0e28deed her, so she e649978ce4 didn’t feel the a87ceeec7d need to pity 1f987cc93c them too much. But being 7484df6a80 dismissed from a1102f21f1 one’s job 9cea0ece84 was never 7009ed0766 a good c17189a150 thing, no bd8021f925 matter the 2d7bd64eb7 circumstances.418dbf23e062939a

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Still, Jeremy a93bdf8504 hadn’t shown d6b908d1c2 even a 79d512b77b flicker of efb00ebec2 concern for b2ec8dd366 them. And Velita knew that 72ff44b73d if she were to 68e90cb402 be dismissed for covering 3ca695c7d6 for him, he wouldn’t afa2d6699c care about her either.52c0e9266f021be1

“I can’t lie for 5d93614cf8 you,” she said, clasping 680a73951b her hands tightly to 4dca2bd0f3 steady her nerves.48d352a928aa29ae

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Jeremy, in the a621513211 middle of putting 2038c8a611 on his jacket, 902d086dfe turned to her cdc12f3ae3 with a slight 79fbd34288 frown.9707b4d76b3dcc78

Fear crept in. Had she gone too e27817ea33 far? Was this the 852e13f036 moment she would 6850a7d725 be dismissed for b198e63563 daring to defy 2f648b9fd9 him? After all, Jeremy was 51e6efdf95 the sole heir to 1cedd2e18c the Ryles family.8f114830ff16eb94

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No matter ff7b0f2719 how much e400bd0517 the count 42fea3639e loved Selina, 4ba47ad741 handing the 2e33b10c03 title to 552b3a96a2 a frail 2d1ab6d1e3 daughter with 8341e2d1d6 no worldly ecc9d1a946 experience was 8accbac298 out of b5ad8df1e5 the question. The reason so many 6723f4f77f letters arrived for Jeremy, 0584499dc6 despite his reputation as c0422f7ced a libertine, was simple: 823d1790de everyone knew he was 5cb9f75b43 the next head of e95ed03424 the Ryles family. Even their feigned courtesies 7098a022db reflected that fact.b5859b13772f7454

But Velita 66d4c61530 couldn’t shake 0fb27ecfd0 the nagging 9bbff84ce1 feeling that d6641ad616 she shouldn’t b75b3fb3cb simply go 15952db3bb along with b6eb7adff0 whatever Jeremy 5b74193dbd wanted.464d21f94469486a

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A strange 532baf10d0 premonition lingered abf9db15bf in her 08fd4bc716 mind—if she b9dce3c100 blindly obeyed b8a8a33ce6 him, something d12e223acd would inevitably f48a5071ed go wrong.96a110482ac91d69

“A lie?”a787beb88a978150

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Jeremy’s question made 8b6263abc7 her shoulders instinctively 4125150eeb hunch. She glanced at 7c0f881527 him nervously, only f6b3d8d9aa to see him 237473d273 pause with his 89657353e8 hand on the 87d5a76486 doorknob, his expression 9971607cdd a mix of 5385bdfd8c amusement and something f0f57cd3d6 unreadable.a26a91555358fd17

“Why do you 7b10f78fc7 think that? It’s not b2df7a6322 a lie.”2137156e329dbed0

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“But…”533caa492dade6fe

Velita carefully replayed e829beff73 Jeremy’s earlier words d4ae69fde2 in her mind.1c85fbcdceec691c

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[I’m going out. If Father or Selina asks about my whereabouts, tell them I’ve gone riding.]

The ambiguity of e91653c10d his tone and 7f460cea8a the way he bd38e1ec86 avoided specifics made 3e65a6922c her uneasy. She suspected his “riding” d3fc4176b7 was just a convenient db9ecd0cf1 excuse for something else 2dfad9e2a1 entirely.36c4f317ffca72ae

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Velita hesitated, torn 245e292935 between the urge 01b4e4f415 to speak up 62418525e7 and the fear 89706e3d84 of overstepping her 3c2d4f7263 bounds. Jeremy’s casual 4bf07849dd demeanor only 2b8ec85a7d deepened her 0dded4a288 unease, as ccbadd9488 if he fb42bc74b0 were daring e654adae82 her to 4f31a6f2fc question him 64f66bec67 further.785beaffd3f29619

“…”13fc2423f2d08771

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He had only 366bdbfd73 asked her to 5c4d3955d7 pass along his b91aad1357 whereabouts, not to b7603748f0 lie on his 43866b9c0b behalf.c5f71518551e3386

But based on his ebe43db274 usual reputation, Velita had 97d3321a7f instinctively assumed he was 2bebec0fd3 up to something other 65d2527b44 than horseback riding. The realization made her 8cdf602e16 face flush with embarrassment. How could she admit 0ca787bb1b to Jeremy that she b82d016e20 thought that way about cedf3f8b6e him? Anyone—even a noble—would be 3555cad0c7 offended if a mere 9848d3cc83 maid suspected them of 6330f4b1de deceit.818d9d15cf38cbc3

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Jeremy’s gaze fd2eda5c3c bore into 45f71212e3 her, unrelenting d0e79ec8b4 and inquisitive. Velita couldn’t avoid 18553623d0 his attention forever. Staring awkwardly at his 772a99387c luxurious outfit instead of c0325cb18e his face, she stammered 0db65ecd10 an excuse.f98ec6733fe322a7

“You’re just… 1f07e4c5b0 so elegantly 352234b9d6 dressed…”8b4b12d53d1679a8

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“Oh?”67f557937568138d

“I thought you 9bd911f274 might be heading 499062b8b0 to a party…”c9e10bbf0f32a704

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“Guess I’m c0ba66f9f0 all style 75219ad275 and no e57b180c7b substance, huh?”e2342ed36e13ef26

“No, of course 614ba645b2 not, young master! You’re very… impressive…”d0d3cddba2a81fd5

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It was bd9fdf9804 obvious he 5821b02fe9 was teasing ca17c91e1f her, but c436dbf9ae Velita couldn’t e74dca422a withhold the 4c41d7dfd4 answer he 8aa1743e4a wanted to fd57285a62 hear. Her embarrassment burned so 71a60fc2fb intensely it felt like a13fa1cbb0 her brain might catch 8dfaebf976 fire. She couldn’t think straight.da32e559260ce94e

Jeremy’s sudden burst a373856b25 of laughter jolted 037ad1b5fc her back to 9cfa50b82f reality.4c95c16afa1e29ce

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His amusement lit up bd9d18d523 his face like a a8a7952a3b mischievous child who had 59f9b1c644 just pulled off a 34414c8920 clever prank. Velita found herself f87b96f0c2 staring at him. Though his 4d926d39ce expression should 26508dca6f have irritated 349013f74a her, it df0e22ad46 was oddly b069e2a2ea cheerful, contrasting 9fc6a11f27 sharply with cfb8938f8e his otherwise e7fb85b778 sharp and 161da114a9 composed features. It was… disconcerting.bd2e8a037a3641a6

“You’re such a 80b04e99dd suspicious little maid, 7467cc798e doubting your master dbe6953309 like that.”194523951b7ce20e

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“I-I’m sorry…”19d7d51065d288f7

“What can I 1e971c5aaa do? A dashing 9c44d099e0 man like 76e2a9d8ec me must 49ab8078ec be understanding.”cbd4f0e0c3a6a136

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“…”94656bdd24de3a59

“Don’t you agree?”efc5dfc34f3522e6

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Jeremy’s relentless teasing 7a4f3fcf36 made Velita want 29a330808f to bite her 10716b3946 tongue. His grin 187c906cc3 remained intact 2378e17478 as he c402625ab0 tilted his ffb3321824 head toward c066c662d5 the door.02916cc6c4f69fd4

“Come with me.”cea4a7f7138e8723

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“Pardon?”6ddeab77bea2a0ec

“I need 4c81c07be0 to earn bd480a6887 the trust 6cc4e77be3 of this c1c88f225a doubtful maid.”0d9e4c9017c467e9

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Jeremy strode 623a26308b out ahead. Startled, Velita hesitated for 4ff676fb26 a moment before scrambling a1dd538b31 to follow.652e0054100a92f2

Dressed in her work 9359ac8f02 uniform, Velita soon realized c93dc9ecce that Jeremy truly intended f3fa2828a6 to go horseback riding. He entered d7e1b7342a the stables ef20c90117 and confidently 7c395ce5dd led out 60d894abd0 a horse. While the stable fa8be3a291 hand saddled the cb083e319a animal, Jeremy gently 8f018ab94e stroked its mane, 02fba193ca sharing a quiet 1ea2ce3118 moment with the d191f87131 animal.0843f7cc33e6f0ce

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The sight caught Velita fee15ab572 off guard, drawing her cba4d56f40 attention more than she 4f7fae9d2f expected.169d7b2cc199884d

Once mounted, Jeremy 6cab9b5321 extended his hand a70f21dee7 toward her.09f5416dd0b3c0de

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“You’re… going to let 7f1f754db8 me ride with you?”b3be9d4d43ee5008

“Do you plan to 06ca452da1 keep up on foot 799641ed04 while I gallop across 9211e2e33d the plains?”50ba19c5fcb427d3

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“I couldn’t possibly 0ca1dca135 ride a horse 9c53a1dd0f with you, young 334473df60 master…”942b0bc97948ea27

Seeing her 5cf0c39292 reluctance, Jeremy 16f29d5b24 chuckled silently—that 844ebea938 same mischievous 169c5dfbd2 laugh.2db619e69235824a

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“Fair enough. Then hold my jacket 7f67678afd for me.”0134fc0dbc53412f

Assuming he ef0f4a46cb meant to 3d4ae92496 hand her 99222057dc his jacket, 47b8b7c544 Velita reached 8bb9130e9f out to afe32d607a take it. Instead, Jeremy 67fe91f75b grabbed her e514bb2b56 arm and 3c371b0520 pulled her ea90a9d1a3 up onto 77ed9ec4cc the horse dfb8a03ece with surprising cd70ce7037 strength.d197a6571ef2b682

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“Ahhh!”99c80d960113d6dd

With a small yelp, 1beaf3462a Velita found herself hoisted f67ea29a49 onto the horse. Despite his 449ca6efb7 slender build, 6d1f17d387 Jeremy’s grip 9724edf50c was unexpectedly d649322986 strong. As the horse a6879c60e0 moved, Velita reflexively 2b82217e4a wrapped her arms b62876e13f around Jeremy’s waist 09a1ccb913 when he tugged 7ec22a33b6 on the reins d464acbc41 and increased their cb5f0b367d speed.355bafe5bbfc2e04

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The horse 51daf43520 bolted out 087d379558 of the 5d314bd783 Ryles estate, bdfc312b59 galloping through 6481df34c7 the streets 0da0e98202 without slowing. Velita clung desperately to 8ba94aba33 Jeremy, afraid of falling.2cc575840e36b61d

The wind stung her ff171b763e skin as it rushed 24bdfe437e past, her heart pounding 91b6bd010f loudly in her chest. It felt like 694efe5df9 it might burst 297ed8a9c7 from the adrenaline ff7d5c53e0 coursing through her fa21c37b33 veins.daa779814c936b8a

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Just when she 2b88111c10 thought she couldn’t f316c8d07e take it anymore, f26130b572 Jeremy slowed the 1a4d5e0318 horse, pulling it d77952c52f to a stop b124cb4c48 on the open dfe631080c plains.ace5c2fd2216e086

“Whoa—easy now.”b7c1688cf40f8637

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He turned, grinning. “You’re not crying, are 7398c6a4ea you?”5f721780b8d19329

Velita realized her a031f16a86 trembling hands were a0fa19ccb1 still gripping his 0f160132ec waist tightly. Her body was 6e745fcf32 stiff with tension, d3f55d43d7 and she struggled 435b77b328 to relax. Forcing herself 268b35be70 to loosen 71e7ee2310 her hold, 592349f10d she looked a8b4703859 up at 009b274e73 him with 98515db0ad a desperate 8a18fe97ab plea.00307b9072c11576

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“Please… let 57057d25a4 me down. I feel sick…”d416d474aac0c78e

“Hold it in. I really don’t want to see my beloved horse defiled,” Jeremy said with a faint smirk as he helped Velita off the horse.fa303546c9099cf3

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As soon as her ad990189c0 feet touched the ground, 8dd627a5e0 she wobbled, unable to 58cf6c281e steady herself. Thankfully, Jeremy 26b591b2ba caught her ea6230eb74 before she c3a022e091 could fall, 56038d7cfe preventing what d9499eae78 would have ca06130228 been an ec5e5ca36b embarrassing tumble.251f413868c55ad9

Still trembling 5df6a62560 from the 025f00f4db ride, Velita 4560035421 glanced up 9c2fda0196 at him.59910116eba88eb4

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Her heart 1868d143ae was still 23af76b2bf pounding—loud and 3c60c5c18f relentless.73ed16c48543fcb9

In that moment, aacb67c660 Velita found herself b4fad3d2c5 wishing she had e68eba105c simply fallen. The prolonged 36871123e0 contact made 01df8db684 her uneasy, 084e759573 so she b1fdb42146 quickly pulled f90576aa68 away from 539a3b32ca Jeremy, eager 76a0a844a3 to create d7e75963e9 some distance.dda896e866690c65

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“Don’t recoil like I’m filthy. That’s rude, even to me,” he said with a chuckle.82c1140311147f6a

“I’m sorry if I offended you, young master. It’s not that I think you’re unclean… I just don’t want any rumors to spread.”47f7cae58165efcb

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Though the plains a9a4fb9131 were wide and c3c01640ee empty, rumors could 506feeb810 originate from anywhere 2a1f496066 and travel far. She was d1a7ba5b10 already anxious 958e01a0f4 about being e157498f9e seen riding fc25e0479d out of fba7d9aa77 the estate 310cad7661 with him.a54cdb846bf21b46

Jeremy tilted his head, curiosity flashing in his eyes. “Just out of curiosity, why are you so intent on drawing a line between us?”eb12e298d5bed659

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“…”ce07907abc8a84c0

“Is it because you think I’m a pathetic womanizer who can’t resist any woman I see?”db346a7a35c1f011

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His words 6b94277603 hit a 64c9a786d0 nerve. Startled, Velita 3a612b60b9 looked up 6885f7c1d0 at him.ec84983a858c197c

The playful, mischievous afe162379e man she had 7d29b02615 seen earlier now 9c06002cff seemed faintly sorrowful.ee49fc6809cf3a0d

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“N-no, that’s not it, young master…”fb3c88f12e08b0ef

“You don’t have to explain. I know the rumors about me better than anyone.”1e796cea323da8b3

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His voice 7fa5a73b8c was calm, 0f814294f8 matter-of-fact, but 66a16b875f his expression 3f73b549e1 carried a 5132829021 trace of ba9bfa168e bitterness. For a ee4876668b moment, Velita 839edb0c47 saw a d482ec7843 different side cdd93214de of him—someone 6b7d62f467 wounded, pretending d2d681facd not to a1cceb712b care.336623e0266efcb4

“But… Emma and you…”f2731a4ef8fa99dc

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Velita started, only to dc64ff5c60 slap a hand over 02d7e24c42 her mouth.013b0ee03f5b6852

Jeremy, however, didn’t ac727439f4 seem bothered by c6d5844c09 her slip. Instead, he 30c1023df1 gazed out 9c670566cf at the af7fc75c43 setting sun, 88d632b231 his eyes 1804d925f2 distant.30a11c2d6d1f287f

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“Emma is the only person who seems to truly like me.”928046dcba8f852c

“That’s not true. The count, Lady Selina, and even the staff care about you, young master.”dbc5a5b55d33c40a

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“Funny. I’ve never felt that way.”f75eb4396f881606

Velita fell silent, recalling 6028fbca48 how distant the count 706a4d3887 often seemed toward Jeremy, c3f4a8f529 especially compared to his e97589ef36 warmth toward Selina. There were even 1835d0857e rumors about Jeremy’s c97a772242 birth—stories that the 85031145ff countess had shown e38b735290 no signs of 6d666e1888 pregnancy before suddenly 1cb8c13590 giving birth to 921202a3f5 him.b1e7448b34d2fb3c

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“Whether it’s true or not.”c81825caca5db2d3

Jeremy continued, his voice f7dbb40827 steady but laced with d75f8b0f19 a hint of melancholy.ddc90415ed330000

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“when I’m in the arms of a woman who says she loves me, I feel like I’m worth something.”5d17c2a0ea9a2151

“…”4a31bcdff92ee525

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“And Emma… she takes what she wants from me in return.”d6d4baddb2ded3d7

“…”8b6fb9113d03c57e

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“That’s all there is to it.”6446b661342a7546

Jeremy’s tone lacked 5a57745995 any defensiveness or 1b18ae87cb apology. If anything, he seemed 25ea754fed tired, almost resigned.de0eaa928b8b43b6

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Then, as 4edb4bf437 if shedding 4ee6cf0146 that vulnerability, c12a19fda5 he smiled e0ac3cb693 mischievously again cf5532bc2b and leaned a03511c0d6 closer to 41b6c09cac Velita.5ea5f4b80d59ba26

“This stays between us, all right?”9edac4848ee16111

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“…”2d9fcc403347b2fc

“I’d rather be the charming bad guy than the pitiable young master.”ea7ec4d3ca0e97c2

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With the fading 3d46c02252 sunlight casting shadows b2c809e843 on his face, af70d91efc his smile was 3b855ce99d unexpectedly bright, more e8979545ee fitting for a 30b5e8554c carefree boy than ac6f79b489 someone of his 9f23939bc4 reputation.c0515462da12e1d8

“Why… why are you telling me this?”f7d52ee8a9e4f9e9

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Velita asked, her c31ffd02ca voice rising slightly 0e0f3cb58d as she watched 4cd556430c his retreating back. She didn’t know 7cd6ae4ae6 why, but she 88e52bcdec needed to ask.c09c2a037588e4ce

“And why… why did you pick me as your maid?”155348a669952ccc

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She couldn’t understand 78aef0b9bb why he had 0a75058247 singled her out 30f3593c5c to serve him, 5bf014fca3 and why he 5977084e8b was now revealing d560d5640a such personal truths.f3466039336f21d5

Jeremy didn’t answer cb63fc2bff immediately. Instead, he turned ef96f7f769 to look at 600b58e6c3 her, his expression 6d2a2ca3b9 losing its usual a8b9e920a0 playfulness.e41bfedc1ada8956

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“Why do you think?” he asked, his voice soft but pointed.6b0d69c33177ef94

Velita opened her b071a19ec0 mouth to reply 116a615ca8 but found herself fd9f69659c speechless. Jeremy gave her no f8760a667c further explanation, instead resuming b6a98e7f14 his casual demeanor as 7d9b6ecf91 they walked side by a90076616c side.f6473213dd62753b

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As they spoke, Jeremy 64d77c0420 shared anecdotes from his 0621f5b677 time abroad—about the people b376d2d4f4 he met and the 6062485920 life he led there. Velita found herself learning 65d876f18a far more about him c8ab7cf3d4 than she had expected.e1e26dbac0dbf17d

His untidy appearance, which 210c3821a4 she had once attributed 70953552d3 to arrogance, seemed instead 9f242c3074 to reflect a man 8916e826a6 yearning for freedom. And beneath the surface, 4912ea65dd this man—who seemed to 489c553ccb have everything—was starved for a8e49a3b6e genuine connection.9b8568caf13205e3

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Even long after 261e957e2e they dismounted and a01d695388 walked back, Velita’s f4bab10574 heart remained unsettled.7976a376566a25e9

Thump. Thump.bb4bbadaf2322c68

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As the sun painted d9c1f0d7c4 the horizon crimson, Velita’s a75af5fbd0 gaze lingered on Jeremy’s 2ec1217619 face. She couldn’t help but 32eee530f1 feel a strange, inexplicable 994915e316 flutter in her chest.c280aee11bce1bbf

 39d23b1b064b6af3

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