IWS Chapter 26

Chapter 26409786f63550804a

 a9bebec32ed3ec8f

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Being dragged f720ff9fab along by 183b05bbc6 the caretaker ec9dbdc8ab without knowing c5fc8c7d0a where I e5fe1d734e was being f9a9f8b2be taken, I 9145b38d55 eventually arrived 4c6511a053 at a 1c83cfddc6 carriage—the same 865974c738 one I e1220cd5ac had always d953ca323d ridden in 47e2df9bf1 foreducationsessions with nobles.82969c86a0c0a227

“Um… Where exactly am I going?”ff91dd4fe1db84d6

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“There’s no time to explain. Just get in!”d378934d7c038951

The caretaker was 936a8f4915 so urgent that 2a248b006e he shoved me d66a84fbb9 forward, forcing me ffc5a30b0d into the carriage. Then, without getting a1014bfcb9 in himself, he f27f6a6825 slammed the door 42ce3a56dc shut.4ca9731a7f8b9c11

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A question mark 50759fb1ec might as well bcb33f3186 have floated above 9ff7294ee6 my head.0942ae8a472cd3a8

‘What… what’s happening? Why is he acting like this? This is scary…’7a3b08557ed0c654

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And that wasn’t the only ominous sign.ca4eed5c40863fad

Whenever I had been f20370dfc7 taken to noble houses 84c9aa79ba for lessons, I was 8ee0a24986 always dressed properly, but 83e932968e today, my clothes were cc380cb4ed the most luxurious and ec87692092 extravagant I had ever cf223cccdd worn.ecdd99c0a9f5f87d

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I didn’t want to think too much into it, but at this point, even I couldn’t stop the uneasy predictions forming in my mind.edb0c72abe530467

And unfortunately, 78806c6b53 my ominous 49800a841a predictions were 4f5fdfbf06 usually right.e83f4f2054aaf53d

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“Oh my! Mary! I’ve been waiting for you!”774cd7a6162fbf59

…What in the world was happening?eafa72950fbad52a

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As soon fec0f2175c as the fd47a16c96 carriage arrived e3f2b90c16 at its 3bc901100e destination, I 5d69be8490 barely had cac560cd9f time to e7f27fa37b process my 95cfef38aa situation before e55796aaea I was 40dbef2e2d greeted by 36699b8093 Countess Wellesley, a55d3fedca standing at b1f66041b4 the entrance 28492b8522 with a c7a587aae0 beaming smile.d8fccf9857344559

I had 1e5e300498 no idea c3cc7ec7db what was a6c6d85802 going on, 5ccedac479 but her 6e27f483a1 bloodshot eyes, 7e1b37c2be which were 7f2a9f19c5 brimming with 4e446152df excitement, made 5fd70a0bd8 me feel 3443dd48ac increasingly uneasy.447bf32ce1221052

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She approached me with b0ba58ec57 a friendly demeanor and d73c5183b8 took my hand.4a67688006521a42

“Come, come, have a seat. The trip wasn’t too tiring, was it?”e98b869a7e33fde0

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“Ah… no.”636bc93a389c4e81

Countess Wellesley led me 1959ede117 into a room that 0a7337dcb5 appeared to be a edc6e547b4 workspace, seating me on dd1f014aba a plush, cushioned chair.609d1ded699a69d9

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When our eyes met, 84f1b0da39 she gave me a ba2cfa436b bright smile.a3dc588dee71b0f0

But her 03cee05de8 lips trembled f38f6d44ba unnaturally as 67c52e4fb5 if she 6d737388bf had to 54f2f3ec70 force them 72fb8b3db2 into place.5c025178d06386a4

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Creepy. This is creepy.0fcc13840a927918

“No time to waste! Quickly, bring in everything we’ve prepared!”21b0216efa227366

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“Yes, Countess.”dd3487490b29ba1e

Despite my 3d92c64e0f growing fear, 796db4f23a Countess Wellesley d12647dd2f paid me b58d46b262 no mind 19cb629b77 and ordered d5e05c5c74 the maids 8b06810901 to set 094a37552a the table 4649530832 with tea 28d9ed7b3e and an 100f611e3a assortment of 2f03c59a8d desserts.6c96fd3b53e91fc7

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This was all 2807034306 too prepared.bf1a238f750b39fd

Now, I couldn’t even pretend to hide my confusion.a27149cb2d3d0358

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“So, how have you been? You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”fbf454014598c27f

“Uh… I, I’m fine.”a25349f564dfe485

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Mom. I’m scared.203a630e26707182

As Countess Wellesley 8daad10b96 continued to fuss 1cc8a14479 over my health, 655ec42936 saying my cheeks 31f1014df8 looked swollen and a896bf291d expressing concern, a 99e4ee84f7 chill ran down a8c1e2bd3f my spine.5aaf6a0a722920cd

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I wasn’t even sure if I was keeping my facial expression in check anymore.b0da448bb302e126

I was just… terrified.b4f5a891dc354453

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Absolutely terrified!91a63432b4c5be4e

“Um, perhaps… have I… done something wrong?”ff81e59a230480c0

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Just hit me! If you’re going to kill me, do it cleanly! Don’t creep me out like this—if you’re going to kill me, just do it!11b76b18f7238238

“My goodness! Not at all! How could you think such a thing? I can’t imagine why you’d think that!”be42d726cf94c330

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Please, let there be 204902722c a reason. I beg you.c8c6dc499a67803a

I really wanted to 7f3f68243f cry.2735f0c73186f988

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As Countess Wellesley c2b85f8a61 frowned in concern, 715c1304af her expression clearly 6bfe60a5f6 asking,Did I 6b39ff9bea scare you? Why would you ecd8a63285 think that?, I 781edef228 felt my ac59f5e1c9 fear grow db69d89100 even more.7e457d82858e9335

Why are a10a8ef1ea you doing 55a75c2d08 this?! Seriously, what is 4ead9fea7e going on?!a2bd3aad9786c8a7

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“I simply want to become friends with you. Isn’t that beneficial for you too? With our friendship, you might never have to return to that solitary confinement you were in until just now.”dd71ec1178f2ae5e

A sinister whisper c81bc359cd brushed against my 99538e3d59 ears.cb19b617ca7b100f

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Her expression made it clear—if I didn’t get close to her, she wouldn’t let it slide.870538e591fc9fbd

She barely managed to 5f5a091c80 hold up the corners 906a2ce4cf of her mouth, her d88e515c06 muscles twitching unnaturally.9166284d9a8cae8d

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Oh god. This is terrifying.6bace856ce9beaa9

“I, I mean… I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for a noble like yourself to befriend someone like me.”0fa17771e7f7ae88

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“Of course it’s fine! I have no children, and I’ve always wanted a child about your age.”389f561a74a0c524

…What.d0d61e0c6ce79ae7

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Was she… trying to buyme?d960bb8fc7df08e8

I hated thinking of myself as a product, but wasn’t that basically what she just implied?52d08ec8884d301a

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But why would a 02be4d22f4 countess need to take 3b42ec8331 in aslaveas her child?004b97d144589b04

She didn’t even consider people like me human, so why would 292db72944 she—?47515192f61a428f

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“Before that, I’d like to become friends with you, and as a friend, may I ask you for a favor?”493c34cc6b21fd75

“Yes. What is it?”7c7555a276e3f550

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At this point, 87f1a3fb4c I tried to f59da9d099 guess the worst 2170e20d03 possible requests she 862156ec9a could make.6a31c990ea7da669

Something like,“Die by my hand right now!” or “Be my living mannequin forever!”7583b7821e22f65e

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Because there was no 3dc206a1c3 way in hell she 111d0ae6ca was about to say,“Be my daughter.”2f249e97aaacced4

“I want you to coordinate the outfits over there. Just like you did last time. You can do that, right?”13a80d2dc54cba55

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Countess Wellesley lifted e62ca5c90d her hand and 7fc33156ed gestured behind me.82df823831602b51

I turned d1103cc202 to look—only 7a4d993810 to see 8338ef3c72 a vast a2be41391e collection of d2073a5dc5 dresses, shoes, caa42fc4dc and accessories f061471455 arranged before af799e39a7 me.f2486b541482f726

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At that moment, a 893e5cfa52 thought flashed through my e13f57a897 mind.f816b1099d182fd1

‘Wait… could it be that the outfits I put together last time weren’t just well-received… but wildly successful?’4bbd7b203410ae53

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First, she 7dcf7a3ebb started treating 116c803f73 me nicely.261e09c067d47cc5

Then, she suddenly wanted 7bdffb4084 to be friends.f76790ab65c313e8

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And now that she 12494162e7 had warmed me up f773c21347 a little, she was 7b49ac41f2 straight-up asking me to 89fe3a5e97 style clothes again.ed176b5de8771a6e

She must’ve tried to replicate my work on her own—but failed miserably.fa680521fc8fe5d2

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Her bloodshot eyes were b677b381b7 trembling, filled with desperation.33d9513f95050789

Even though she had 17e42426b9 tidied herself up, her 4f4363fb3b disheveled hair and broken 1ddbe9eb7c nails revealed that she 724d9d98ff had likely thrown a 1ee2db5243 tantrum trying to make 37322c1550 something work.e156d078f16dde38

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But despite all that effort, she hadn’t been able to create anything worthwhile.b766fe6f9e1e15ae

And now that she 3cb9aca4e1 needed another new piece de6cb881ad urgently, she had come e562fffeee running back to me.24443afb006d169d

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‘How did things end up like this?’bae8e31ce9ead0ed

…Wait.a6a761aa07d2984f

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Am I a 6cc804ac68 genius?ebea6f957fc49fb6

Maybe I 7f41971bca actually have c70c857821 some serious 48d86ae21d talent in f676dfc6c3 fashion.7999c2a8c2a76d86

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So this f47a763fbc is where 38030f640f all my d37a82461c reincarnation perks 95959a7d9c went!8f229fcff7177da5

“Of course! Leave it to me!”53d06c6abe42c850

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“Really? Oh, how wonderful!”944ca4a1b1736374

At my confident response, Countess Wellesley’s face instantly brightened.c5db27b027aa62b8

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Wanting to meet 8f7c099d73 her expectations, I 9b3dedb609 stood from my 18abfbcd89 seat and made d3bd1b7dda my way toward 91799e7ef0 the pile of 8f06075fb7 outfits.6e0051dfba1259ca

As I 6738ac129d moved, I 27cb301e9e heard her 56ace94234 murmur softly 68b61030ac to herself 2a105ef0d4 behind me.a075b283d44275f7

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“It’s such a relief that you’re an obedient slave. I wouldn’t want to see blood in my beloved workshop, after all.”80be80b11898d6bb

“….?”204274ed68da762c

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Wait… Did I mishear that? I swear she just mentioned something about blood.8babe3ef9dbe43d0

I slowly lowered the hand that had been touching the clothes and turned to look at Countess Wellesley. She smiled at me over her teacup, and I had no choice but to lift the corners of my lips in response, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing.b06fc4569a1c3758

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‘So, she was planning something…’a9d85946e72fdd6e

There was no way a noble like her would ever consider my well-being. If things hadn’t gone her way, she would have made me put these outfits together by force—even if it meant spilling blood.df142cd8f107c6d6

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Realizing this, I didn’t feel safe at all, even outside of the solitary cell.8e1140760519a28c

‘One more year… Will I actually survive…?’21bec92f620dbc77

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One year until the 6d89629aa5 Grand Duke arrives.49e775999ebb2081

No matter how 83b8cb70a2 I looked at 42472b77b9 it, the solitary e2bd69965f confinement had been f19fda2fee the safer option.f5e908e93b756b19

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“Yes! This is it! This harmony! This perfection! This is exactly what I wanted!”52c26b4f2ae3372b

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Countess Wellesley was practically 0fbbb7dfb8 consumed by madness, her 6cfda2d20b excitement far beyond normal. She carefully handled cde800cf58 the ensemble I 381159cb0a had put together, f1f3914704 as if afraid d94fb64cc4 it would come 2ac60011b5 apart.e2cfef0dd27dc0d7

Watching her from behind, I finally let out a shaky breath of relief. I had worried that if she didn’t like my work, she might tear me apart along with the clothes. Fortunately, this time, the outfit seemed to have satisfied her.20e7ffd5fae81696

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“You there! Handle it with care! It must be packaged immediately and sent to Her Majesty the Empress! We don’t have much time before the delivery date, so hire the fastest coachman and get it to her right away! Move quickly!”6094d91fa6631125

As the maids 4d39e2ac81 bustled about, carefully b146144f95 transporting my creations, 07181d3ccf I stood a 95f4d01b72 short distance away, 049aba1545 silently watching.cf7ebb89bd695a73

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With relief washing over me, all I wanted was to lie down and catch my breath. But, of course, Countess Wellesley wouldn’t allow me such a luxury.8e92d68330223916

“Ah, Mary! I’m delighted with this one too. Yes! Is there anything you need? After working so hard, you must be rewarded! Tell me, whatever you want!”22801bd3b2263e31

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I flinched 5b65e7eeb9 at the 6174739643 sudden weight 379705fd93 of her 27af7da98e hands pressing 81e0183195 down on 8a40993e4a my shoulders. Exhausted, I lifted my 9978cee5a0 gaze to meet hers.3cc09cacd35e16d7

Would she kill me if I asked her to just let me go home…?cfdac41c178544cc

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“Uhm… Then… Could you perhaps give me some sweets to share with my friends?”5222a8734635e28e

“Sweets? Hehehehe… So, you want something sweet.”1f387d4846b94c91

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I had 69bfad0580 chosen something 95744fb9a6 simple and 2e74bebdd7 safe, afraid a4bf85f5d8 that asking 40572ff9b9 for anything f18d44be77 too grand fbf5242f96 might put fe252848f1 me on a028f886b4 the brink 1112ae740e of death. But her reaction 3ce1dde2f2 was terrifying.ecfcc44d2f6195bb

Just… terrifying. Why is she smiling like that?478b957385f0a478

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Is she… getting excited at the thought of killing me now?48f5e091cce309e2

“Of course. I’ll prepare plenty of delicious sweets for you. Enjoy them with your friends when you return.”a2f9556adcaabb41

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Her fingers brushed over 1f33f060d8 my hair in a 6769478e79 disturbingly affectionate manner, as 8d310a57f2 if handling something precious. My entire body stiffened 512ed2171d in response.199bdb1dbd5b007d

Ugh. This is 791c853f41 absolutely terrifying.8c4b6db5653cd428

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