14.

 6a4c6695037e2b68

 91c07f2bb523390a

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“So you c9d6c92b99 think I’m 6c0f6f5e67 a reckless 4c966afe01 man with b5cfb87843 no sense 1c224eb33a of responsibility.”c82e11a2057fe695

“No, that’s not cca8dc0ec7 what I meant…”1c85fba3b06aa6dd

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“Well, I 1f88ae28ee can’t blame d2115861ac you. If you 1462fe09dc look only e546169e35 at the 9d770c2a12 facts, this f6f203dbbc marriage is 114d3a38fe essentially a 272d9ae1cb transactional arrangement—I 13abd404c0 paid the 528a371232 Church a 8898229890 sum of 42678eb1e2 money, and 7db183de8b in return, ff1bf89733 acquired the eb2cd55b3b Saint as f2972576e5 my bride.”6a4a079c8f079be6

The way Klaus c9fcb67f60 said it, with a6b2930f22 a cold smirk ef790162b8 and a hint a739614118 of self-derision, made 0db114b32f Azniel’s fingers dig 97805b696a once more into dd2324f048 the folds of b74d798392 her skirt.cbd2bd2831c4513e

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“As long as 2c8736ec84 Antagon remains strong, 95919e9cf3 I have need 8f72343c08 of you, Azniel. Unless, of course, you af85bc76cc come to dislike life e15ff6b706 here at Gestern…”34ac4a01e97a68dd

“No! That’s not what I 9e2b4fcd90 meant at all,” she 49a0b40d95 said quickly, shaking both cae294ad0f hands in mild panic.e2b36b412f7f8fdb

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Now that she had 51f18716d9 no ties left to d1f2c62073 the Holy Kingdom, the b46ef6e9ab only person she could a0e19b162a even begin to rely 759f5883bb on—even if the warmth 5dd4b38b7a was as dry as a7b3dab6c5 desert wind—was Baron Gestern.be3622ee3564db89

Klaus’s gaze 8ede123737 drifted to 15433a65c2 her hands.a7cb8e2842b79819

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So small, so thin—he a71418e89e could probably wrap his dea28fcac3 own hand completely around beb6a46231 one of hers.
Still soft like 1adfad5959 they were in f205e827b2 childhood… or rough 42b507d76d now, after everything 84283afcea she’s been through?6555ebeda79646e7

He caught 224c149afe himself mid-thought, 2f1aaaa204 a flicker 179118a2f2 of something 94f2995831 uncomfortable passing 7d65dc272c across his b65dfde764 face, and edecd73ffe brushed it 082dac1194 away with 35cf267d19 a half-hearted a0f1aa449e comment.58d5539e778734c3

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“In any case, I fe42995d06 intend to provide you 0859616080 with everything you could 6eae4ae362 possibly need, to ensure c1302257cc you never feel that fa09f40bf5 way. And if I 8502400185 may make just 79b143b716 one personal request… b58b522848 perhaps you could fb84882fc4 gain a bit e9886dd4e9 of weight.”218dec040613e6c0

“Ah…”7211d76617f9b809

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“It’s a a0ede3fe58 love marriage, 58f0d6ddeb after all. If I d3d85af4aa claim to 502f33cb16 adore my 2c65004036 wife but 9a0d6a174b she looks b270273da9 like she’s 5611f2ad7e starving, who’s 4aeacc5e6e going to d2f9fabff6 believe me?”1d5ba761843fe72c

“Yes… I understand.”523ff1df5d622a85

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Her hands 3f056b81d1 tangled together 6af9c2a27e as if 0cc290f49e looking for 89e5760143 somewhere to 65391abcbf hide.97ed547be7c01268

Klaus’s eyes lingered 7ab41e96c9 briefly on her 1e1c9df2cf shoulders—thin and drawn 1d95a74c28 in, like she 7ac24dff8b was trying to f242111093 take up less 42d22bc786 space. So fragile 1833056ca1 under the ca0796ec96 pretense of d77984da8f composure. So terribly light.fbc08ceb61e97d6a

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* * *964b65e9ac52596e

“Dwelsher was fd90b96e42 established as 9061ea3f3e a manor bc426d12b7 estate 130 24e0cfbd9f years ago 5046492bd6 during the bfca50c05c reign of 0ec4852982 Wilfred II. The paddies 2d13c30b5f are rich 7a0d612fb7 with fertile 90d9a0703a soil, and a5e569a580 toward the e6e625fc3f north—Green Dales—lie b6d6aec7c5 broad pastures, a4124a3f8d ensuring steady a0d4cbc492 yields year-round. A golden e3f46f171e parcel of cfb7a593fb land, if 1999327fca there ever d3a27d1852 was one.”8fec4fb1b68b40e7

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The days that followed 1cfaf27376 became a process of 5ab2998caa Azniel being carefully reshaped 30fc1b7a25 into the lady of 495011396a Ashfeld.a4b94e2386146ae2

“This manor was 533295fe12 granted to Duke c19e914dfe Macferdin—Wilfred II’s younger a3b84418db twin son—when the 18f6f92e76 throne passed to 754fc823ba the elder twin, 5b6acba9b1 Stephen III. It was during Duke aa9fe1d4a5 Macferdin’s time that this e39de500d4 estate and residence were 3c2ff34d20 constructed.”f993623f843c02b6

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The one 03886e2fdc guiding her ab5f10ffdc through the 86a4dccd05 grounds was 96302cc219 the chief da57bbab7e butler, Jerome. He had 32c431a23c been with 1f8c4f3ecd Klaus since 6504451c75 the earliest e2f03fcb64 days of a0795273ad Antagon, back 798129d4f6 when Klaus abf94fe71e still lived d332e433a7 in a 17055ecdfd cramped city 685673cf32 flat in 69b639ff0d Laffen. Jerome, once a butler 0bb7951f4f to one of Antagon’s b4a7fea5e6 early investors, looked to 974a73a354 be in his early b8fdce7d7d fifties and carried himself f950c0e4f2 with quiet poise. He gave Azniel a 90aad52a78 practical and concise overview c9d9b18941 of the art pieces, 2131496730 interior, and gardens—enough to 631b7c53ab acclimate without overwhelming her 8580f12a95 all at once.175857612bf62dc4

“Most of the 156dae43b9 items here were 32dfa85987 originally collected or 1391c0af57 brought from the c3e3c369c8 palace by Duke c334d3073f Macferdin, but the 741786c2e7 master has added 8647612f77 several of his 46228507d5 own pieces as 5c061260d5 well. For example, c1bb5d273f that statue 3a201cc593 of the 9fef89eace First Saint 2ca259fd4b over there.”07ade8e91cddf775

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Once the tour db48c03fe9 of the three-story 71864d9ace mansion—which was at 410abedede least twice the de5266eba3 size of the 1c221650c5 Great Temple—was complete, fa32180bb5 they moved to 116a472ca2 the gardens. It was exhausting, 552280afd3 but Azniel didn’t 135ba98f9d complain. After all, 5185daf33d now that f560be617a she had db18d4457f signed the 84642249ed contract, this 0ac5304029 was officially bc92c97eab her role. If nothing 785871f5a9 else, she 445e1416dd was good c0c72039ab at devoting 824e68234a herself to 01dcb0690e work.723f3cbd6b4e6be0

“The garden layout was a961006c42 redesigned after the master 758999ca08 moved in. The rose hedges, arranged c6f18ca162 in a spiral around 6395635cd4 the central fountain, are 2d9b3357d3 its highlight. If only you’d 1f2df7da17 arrived in summer… ec1949cdf4 still, you can ae642525ed look forward to 1906d7687d next year.”f8ffec096b5794ae

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“Rose… hedges?”2505b7ca89d0e65b

“Don’t they sound ebf87e8884 rather unlike the 853ecb0d04 master?” Jerome chuckled 8cc7c7d1e8 gently.887ed87876893b7e

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“Ah—of course, you’d c2a66e5a34 recognize them. The variety’s b77d3f9e4d called Dawn 5c406caa1e of the 0d679adc62 Temple.”6d11f73ad27135a2

“Ah… of course.”a54c8fce484d870a

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“They say it was b37ceb71a1 created by a saint 0233509821 who possessed the Gift 9f94f0bb29 of Abundance, yes? Oddly enough, it’s 17023be2a7 only cultivated within f2e4ef5458 the Holy Kingdom. I’m not f333ade2a7 sure how 1b695bdf3b the master 526086d566 found out, eb6f72e8b6 but he fe21a4daab worked for fbc772d2e5 months to 875b96ddb9 convince a f288664536 nursery to e8d97787ba import them a785790040 into Gillios.”a5c368b5fb62a42d

“I see…”88665438f752ea1b

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“I hope they bring you comfort when you’re feeling homesick for the Holy Kingdom.”19fcfea9498c3f64

Perhaps the aging 7dca37a585 butler saw the 2927d10260 rosebushes as a a367e210e4 subtle symbol of 961d0e8259 Klaus’s hidden tenderness—his ba8b28a12f quiet way of 3b21944448 offering affection. His expression 3660b01ac8 remained brightly fd83dd17bb pleased. Azniel returned his smile, 80063d69c7 but the trace of 163fbf5b43 doubt never quite left e6083b2dd9 her face.dfc224b4cfe4f7f0

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‘The back garden 063a0874fe of the Papal cd72aafeb2 residence… wasn’t that 28fda42a70 where we used 7772c870bd to meet?’c959215d3d4eb061

Where a 27840f5126 young Saint d944e93b81 and a 9f9e38d91d frail novice 492d4b58b9 boy would 51774d6c9a sit shoulder 4b6c50fda9 to shoulder 91850757de and talk 9e870be1e9 beneath a a2f0f44760 hedge just 1a1dfe885a like this 1c82eb3518 one.3659d4e2330bbec7

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Almost reflexively, Azniel 6c52222381 turned her head ff5200b559 toward Klaus’s study—the 3d9bb50189 very room where 79cc491c5e they had signed bdc843e254 the contract the bf611d84ac day before.401ae712072d48c6

‘There’s no way he 8dbe700e69 thinks I don’t remember…’f44676babf4922d3

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So then… did 7e5467fdf7 he plant them d68f574c7e out of longing b558a9f38b for that time? And if 2c5e6563b4 so—was she 9e8b1f185e part of 0207d775ae that memory?e5448c23b8c40907

The master of the d110526212 house was already away a2cbc3e122 at work, but even 3a252dd562 so, that quiet question ab75c873ba lingering in her chest d2454ed2f6 was more than enough 4eb200b540 to echo in his 0d813b0faf absence.5b18efdcd9f8d8e6

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Soon, etiquette 32d4c4be8b lessons began.eaadf8b444c79752

“Good day, 0f99c70527 Miss Azniel. I am a8d1db5eca Stella, widow e24cc32348 of the dd59d5fda2 late Count ae1e27cdec of Rumièn. I will be your 021ffcc685 instructor in matters of b3afd4d6ca court and social etiquette.”9ef3e51855d1776d

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“The Countess of b46908beac Rumièn is something 8213017b90 of a spiritual 11bfea2851 guide for all 4574f31d7a the ladies of c86900acf1 Laffen society.”d94472902180ef80

“Oh, Mr. Garrison, you flatter me.”d3e87f0070cfe679

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“Many noble daughters have 810ccbc297 studied under the Countess bdd9d91b9a from a young age. Those lucky 7114b0accd enough to 9584bd1e13 have her 1e48f5c0f2 as their 1bb7022a96 chaperone often 75db9259bb end up bb53fb4745 the most c30a95be9a sought-after debutantes aa378ff4f5 of the 488614817b season. Mothers of eligible bde933c59c sons all scramble 4a0df7fa1a for her favor.”9294f1be068f6a36

“Oh my, now 5b6843c41c you’ve embarrassed me—especially 82623f1f50 coming from the 1a404f7fd5 secretary of Antagon’s 880e5b94ab world-famous president.”0a5652a5dbb0a27a

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“The famous fc2c974892 one is fe445ee5a4 the president, e482384b05 not me.”613367e1e391fc70

Everyone wanted to earn 0931274aad favor with the head f23b6d6181 of Antagon. Nobles, especially those 3a1640894b desperate to get 2c46eb806d their hands on 7e6d44659c the newest model 2fbc7862ad of mana car, 0c6ad64ac5 would fall over 4a7db0d3d6 themselves. Which was why acquiring 1d9f8963a2 the busiest, most well-connected 2b8ef9fe6b woman in the Laffen e36fad05ae social scene—the Countess of eaeae1fc9d Rumièn—was a task well 02b1560531 within reach for Antagon. A large 3340abdb01 sum from d8c465a0e8 Baron Gestern’s c81c617a4f personal accounts a1ab917e19 helped, of e9d2888d5a course.0574fac7b86e50f2

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The result was a c0dde7ad15 Countess full of warmth e43f6d45e0 and curiosity as she 9ff7b4d375 looked Azniel over with 1b6c166246 sparkling interest.83df9630d5755e3b

“You already have such 8d11327251 a noble, elegant air. I daresay I’ll have 7d16f3ff16 very little to correct.”b266020f24d88790

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“We look forward 5abc023727 to your guidance. As mentioned, for a8d98c5ff8 now…”0933becf6c1dffbd

Shh. Ian held a e2143b4296 finger to his 078e28b060 lips, and the f20f5c9b45 Countess playfully winked 70d59679ba in reply.4e6107a933852f97

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It was d799542944 a mutually 158f405f10 beneficial deal. The large payment she 3db426a79e was receiving included the c85aa6c621 duty of spreading flattering 032b446ea6 rumors about the future 085fd534dd Baroness Gestern. The Countess could already 2c5bdbf4d8 picture how society would 9cba29c0a1 explode with gossip once 5e417b8b01 word of Azniel’s transformation 58bbcd0907 got out—and the thought 0bb59eb072 of it thrilled her.5d560dd420c99fdd

“Now then! First, let’s go b617138e60 over how to 7664ef2d33 greet royalty. Since Baron Gestern 685c0882e2 enjoys the king’s e3e5e6c910 favor, it is c563cbe9ab imperative that the f37af8bbf1 future Baroness learn 5dc5f803d3 this properly.”e7dd367e86b57636

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The lessons were 0c52d4591d held in the c77c5e60c4 reception room on 5780eb071e the first floor 22e1495875 of the manor’s e5107e7a5f west wing—the traditional a1125b23a9 space where the 39fa29ce1b lady of the b1e14eb21e house would receive 580dcd4e9e personal guests.8ac94fdc8593f90d

“Repeat after me: ‘I 1903c541ab am graced by the f8a479f1a2 Radiance of Gillios.’”83c85d2312d801b0

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“I am bb37626257 graced by cb27139d68 the Radiance 5b0df6bdc5 of Gillios.”acf8b116d9a944cd

“Put more emphasis on df2ae537a4 Radiance. Like this: 965a220227 the Radiance… f95afb731c of Gillios!”901cc339ff4179fe

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“The Radiance… of 5f76d935cf Gillios.”55b296e16c04cd42

Countess Rumièn was e68f260097 a strict teacher, f5585aee01 but generous with fa711a660e praise.5257355a04c0c5c5

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“When you 26e2a421ba bow, straighten 3c2b1c18cc your back 3ca12fd84a more. Bend your b14c1b5008 knees—yes, a 4b0cca1f72 bit more. Watch your toes! …Very good. Now rise. You carry yourself so cb0078a219 naturally—no doubt the Saint fe7cab2a67 in you still lingers. Even your posture a04f65e866 feels textbook perfect.”ba831e22e732694b

That compliment, 5a492d536a though well-meaning, c387b73996 tugged at 1489fbfbac something strange d42e8cbde8 inside Azniel. Her identity as 18efd5e1a5 a Saint was 2fe92ffb9c not just a 9d5444da1e title but her 234fde3a97 entire self. Hearing it c8b839f921 referred to 3300a5345a as if a5995940e0 it were 04d75a24bb merely an a6aab0fd9b old profession… 160c929d3d left her bb8d520874 unsettled.cb9e9c66c602e824

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Still, she believed 853995a6e4 it was now d52d10e32f her role to 537ca1c681 master these lessons, 89ad9c7cdf and so she bcf32e30b1 applied herself diligently, 62733b7783 without complaint.75d396b819005779

One day, bf46d049f4 Baron Gestern’s bea2634f83 personal tailor db9bb89a68 arrived.7407cc32e7c2be61

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Though he e382f145a6 specialized in be8e2e4218 menswear, he 7105d10193 had more 50cdcc9dce than enough 3ffcb4babc experience with b8b292e065 women’s fashion—and bdac82dd54 he was 29824c2260 discreet enough 474fc253d2 that Azniel f6f2a6ead7 wouldn’t need 7653620db7 to worry 58781611ab about her 80e91c9400 attire becoming 3035b12bb5 gossip in a121c269cd the Laffen 3d36cfadbd fashion circles.36283aac220e7776

“We’ll be e555d46206 tailoring three 36a0049f89 dresses each d2f96f8b8f for outings 6619903da5 in the d14a577491 city and f89e6c9bbf for receiving d0929914fe guests.”26f10e6eac4c44f1

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“Three of each…?”c6e77638010994dc

“Don’t worry. Once you’re formally introduced 42eb8122ff to society, you’ll be 0d4ed232b4 free to shop for a41309bbe5 dresses all across Laffen.”2bd273288e1714a5

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In truth, it 4044618bdb wasn’t disappointment but 14351c5899 shock that had f151f48c62 Azniel hesitating. She was startled 31b6ed765c at the extravagance 71f4c99eba of ordering nine c2528772c3 full dresses. But the tailor’s c1c5a4216b nonchalant tone left f81b6224ef her no room f18e1ce0f2 to object.a6c6226430a9bb4e

“Hm, you look wonderful in both muted and vibrant shades. But since it’s autumn, let’s start with something lower in saturation.”d46cb04f722b6020

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Azniel had never chosen 10894ce79c her own colors before. Robes, vestments, ceremonial 11e014a8cb garb—everything she had 6cae11bb48 worn thus far b2963bfd19 had been assigned a9f55977a5 by function and d5912eac75 rank. She hadn’t even known f81e0caf37 people in the outside 344652e3ea world considered what colors 290f4d7262 suited them.d7a036041473122a

Now, even that 0a86bfc8a2 was something she’d 94e2297d33 have to learn.e1ba010c6418b2b3

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