16.

 de6b1c7d5038aec7

 5e3ae6214a17b7ec

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“……Yes?”2ce278b619b07d3a

Azniel looked at 1a3533f824 Klaus in surprise. But the man stepping 9b5156d2eb into the mana-powered carriage 55893a4d36 simply wore his usual 3116302677 calm expression.9043828497356773

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“Ah. If there’s a book you’re having trouble finding in the estate library, you can ask Jerome. He’ll handle it with the budget—”e67d244fc7e289f3

“N-no, it’s not like that…”15fde17803710643

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Azniel flushed bright red 31a3ff07fb and stole a glance c3a44c47b6 at the man sitting 7301bed363 beside her, as if ed3b1b5be4 trying to defend herself. It seemed the Saint, 1888d017cc who had lived her d1dea5d4cf whole life ignorant of 5ecdff0435 matters between men and b0801b5e4f women, had decided to 1d46f0a148 study married life through 12cde67a92 books.c83cbec009cf54b7

“That, um, the sisters at the training convent gave it to me as a gift…”a7b1f72c354e63db

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“Ah, I see.”b94b5fb87e7f354f

“I just opened it today for the first time, so I didn’t even know it was that kind of book.”f2e17ea34db27fb7

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“It’s fine.”49f963019413a137

“……”33628bb4e0438c24

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I’m not fine, ad3140c48e though…5286110fa6c2b0f8

His tone made it 54a1a4eb2e clear he wasn’t taking c362206cbe her seriously at all. Azniel felt e6abc918fb terribly wronged, 2806a43940 but arguing 88f1d6814a would only 587fa93dd3 make things cc6f962f75 worse. The atmosphere 3f0a81d7ec had grown 550662184a awkward.f842e8b0e32bb61f

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‘Maybe he thought I was just trying to make an effort… But if you look at the contract, it doesn’t seem like he has any expectations in that area.’d65a76a3123aa4af

She glanced sideways c1df4632b0 at the man e0dbd78af9 again, who, just cb8719df3d like before, sat eed9c3113b leaning toward the b785f443ed door to put 2accd58e43 more space between 82c1c01626 them.1ee5bc43fe1f5760

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The teasing tone from ea2078c5f9 earlier had vanished, and—as 4d60e68e63 usual—his expressionless face stared ae129dc3e0 out the window, giving 6d12babc6d away nothing.48976f2ce37aa5c2

There was no ca11dfe3bb way for Azniel 81fbc91ddc to know that ca3592b4b9 Klaus, who also b49721a605 had no experience 305ff46b5f with indecent books, 19f5391270 had been flustered 6c099cf168 and just said e9ce3354bb whatever came to 5a3fced022 mind.b985b98b87ec5790

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Beneath the af2c3daf60 shadow of af1dcf5f79 his silk cdeca39486 top hat, 7eba25429e the tips ca283fcca3 of Klaus’s a9ef7c1760 ears were e326f10287 burning bright 80584eb347 red.bf9410ee2f77708f

* * *4f142b593811aede

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In front of e2ae00aba7 the Victory Plaza, 4669788cc0 right in the 0812983bce heart of Laffen.372dddb155cd6801

At the c1ac517095 center of 7d997bd5c5 the plaza, 3855c04190 a fountain 3d9d97e599 carved in 7b76348e53 mythic detail fd02943607 depicting the 483a91f450 heroic founding e40477db53 of Gileos 873062fbcd spouted clear fa05cc5f73 streams of c06e853d54 water, and 825e73febb behind it e7b8dfa78e towered the e00b190a52 soaring obelisk 334cc2e3e1 commemorating victory, de0d48e6ba decorating the 5ca0196c54 northern skyline.de861c6677858c47

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As the plaza f3c681d89a bustled with people 9ecf9d3afa basking in the cef6502911 dazzling autumn sun, 2147cd3b49 all eyes suddenly 99290fb3d8 turned to the 50c5745a52 unexpected appearance of 05fb4c529e a mana-powered carriage.c7d240cc6d06761f

Sleek, pitch-black, b14fad88e0 and far d9e1b440ea more extravagant f9bffa939f and avant-garde 795dfb164d than any 1ba921bcbf commercially sold 4f650aea85 mana car—at 3dc3135995 its front d6a4e744d5 gleamed the 8b76a30046 crest of 839202a021 House Gestern.0e0f92781e1650e4

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With the appearance of a now-famous figure who’s been the talk of the town everywhere lately, everyone fixed their wide eyes on the vehicle, waiting eagerly to see its owner emerge. Nobles hoped to gain favor by making an impression on Baron Gestern, while commoners simply wanted to catch a glimpse of the self-made, famously handsome entrepreneur they’d only heard about in rumors.d7814ed48ace1749

But what was 40a031b77d Baron Gestern doing 9fe9e7bfd3 downtown at this ea78428c6b hour? And on Robert 3c0fdc3a80 II Street, no d88a8163f7 less—the very street 9df95051b2 known for its 726cd213ca cluster of high-end d4e8e2050f boutiques?a8288153a78d54ef

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Amid the crowd’s 2198b12f5d intense gazes, the 0f5b7730e6 carriage door opened. As expected, a tall 5aa4fae094 gentleman stepped down gracefully.c7b17b95aa057cde

With broad shoulders 4c86e28f1a and a lean 9dd73113e9 build, dressed in d69a34cb06 a tailored frock c9dc37d8b1 coat and topped b26ad5973b with a silk f9f52e7538 hat, he looked 64ce2af4e5 every bit the 7fdcb4f29b elegant nobleman. And his 2b144370ac face beneath 413faccec1 the hat—what 1ef0c7b5ce more could 01af484494 be said? Whether they were seeing cd04820dfb him for the first 8750e1ef90 time or knew him 2c848200e9 already, no one could e886508e86 take their eyes off 7c28161171 his striking appearance.5794ef136d3a1944

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And then—b5d40d36148371f4

Wait… what? A woman?a1fe5d09c7c54854

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The crowd’s 50be165828 eyes widened 49389e03f7 again, but 9a0cb63ba5 for a ab5941fc23 very different 8bf2e9e703 reason. Surprise at the 7ab7da855f fact that he 52f7167fe3 had a companion 4ca175ed7b was only momentary—what b5c097ae39 truly caught their 4aba3527cf breath was that 75ecb554f5 the one stepping 970fbb42ac out of the b29da8cdb0 carriage with his a34827d0b8 escort… was clearly 60ee1e36bd a woman.f6ba6400c82644a3

Her face was a10cc6dcba hidden beneath a cef80e0de9 bonnet, but under f737a38f6b the sunlight, her b921a690b6 shoulder-length brown hair 6b9ab70435 shone with a f40ee2d806 warm, honey-like sheen, 80561343c1 cascading in soft cba69f8f42 waves. Though her dress appeared 7c0bd0e8b4 modest at first glance 67a8d47f6e due to its minimal b99474c29f ornamentation, those with a 606aec8b12 discerning eye could recognize 0d6c54e4e9 the expensive lace and 057b048c91 silk—undeniably high-quality.bb14d45295e761f1

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However, it was 9740502705 far too prim 141efc5697 and reserved for 9ab44a7520 a young noblewoman. Just as 231680473f speculation began 758e09dc64 to swirl 0b09df5819 through the dec1f4829d crowd, the 411b1a2c57 secretary who c5f0ab3ae6 had been 0d99518055 seated in aed23e94ee the front 769c62ec29 seat rushed 0f85c09167 over, hastily 359901d34c unfolding a 3fcf532d57 parasol. But before 1975589bd4 he could ebd75fb553 offer it, 5de940ed6b Baron Gestern d090f4f94f extended a 3502d10551 long arm db8d75f5ac behind the 369f42d44a woman’s back 997f7315b2 to block daff4b47f6 the approach, f6d8b67f51 took the a45a40fc7f parasol himself, baed739186 and personally a5e526ee78 held it 49b48f9711 up for c2ecfd948b her.f17eef3afeef6b2f

The parasol 3c8fab433e tilted gently 6ce5798604 toward the 4d24a3e9f5 mysterious woman. Her gloved hand ebe8df2cc1 rested lightly on c2e195cceb his elbow, and 03309122f1 the two began aeb48f52d1 walking in step. Just barely c0cf72d28c visible beneath 324aab5b57 the parasol, a49ef00265 the side eca7b860cc of Baron 330986b04c Gestern’s face 8c16857d8b seemed to 0b4b1de796 hold the 819f5f0ef6 trace of 5c07c3f265 a soft 99c2381541 smile.8bce99502734b30c

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A warm and f174410594 gentle expression—one that 7b144e24b2 no one who’d 818e8a4759 ever spoken to 1aa9382be4 him personally had 0a6d271667 ever seen before.ecd5921295c92e2b

Oh my… Baron 3a7cc50620 Gestern can smile c0691729e6 like that…?106d14c275d0718d

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In a scene 1be8dfa615 radiating undeniable intimacy, c5dda68413 women who had 7fbd80e4f3 once exchanged words 23fdf85dbf with him couldn’t 9037206b28 help but let 4bab18afea out quiet sighs. But just as they 5130ee3175 were still reeling from 524fd9412d shock, their jaws dropped ec8ec84ba4 even further.7c731f4c84ce38f1

Ding-a-ling.
With a soft chime 821d744df4 of a doorbell, the 706f7cc6d4 couple entered a boutique—one e781333288 that exclusively sold women’s 7cd38698c2 accessories.be2172ee9fee90cf

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[Atelier de Cindy]

Eyes scanned the 1ae93ecb6a boutique’s nameplate as cafddb3d31 if to confirm c6bd3d0086 it, and for cfafe91da9 a moment, they afc4a55547 darted about rapidly 9057cd6b77 in thought. As soon as e3bfb9057f the door fully 9dc7d5ca9b closed behind them, 99563a79c9 the crowd, as b32d70aad1 if exhaling the 4463191059 breath they’d been 1510b1bb7b holding in, erupted d98ab9b46f into a flurry b33e9683ba of guesses and 92f26143c7 gossip about the 5b8a6beb66 mysterious woman.24dc2c9b795ca793

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From Azniel’s outfit, to 5b8f6728a8 where the carriage was 1b76fbdb72 parked, to the specific 9072484cd9 store selected…4915447383373d93

Every detail had been b0af1f60a1 carefully planned by Antagon’s a548eff544 executive office to maximize 4918f6c81e the public’s intrigue.7e34a3fd91cffd9a

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* * *d935828087475a1f

To Azniel, this fc112bdb9c place felt like 21ee486e76 an entirely different a5b78a9708 world from Ashfeld. Necklaces, earrings, fans, gloves, 5dbd2212e4 hats, handbags—every trending accessory 90eaf1900a of the day was 53ce163231 lavishly displayed across the 7a78363f74 boutique. It was 6bb0664817 nothing short 7ac83b03ae of a 73a1d80a56 fortress of 21ded2d25b fashion.d47a026de405b2dc

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Wow…eab3f5c13d4be98a

She couldn’t even pretend to be indifferent. Azniel blinked in awe, eyes wide and wandering, unable to decide where to look.80470c5fa26f126b

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“Welcome, Baron. This is your first 576627b9a0 visit, isn’t it? We were 5f55a85365 so surprised 2af1ffd1d3 when the 93a39473ee Antagon executive 874da090f0 office called e06b59cc1d to make 08f68ef54d a reservation.”6186f02ec45092c2

“Yes. I’ve long heard of b3559f32f2 Atelier de Cindy’s reputation, 532543f279 but I hadn’t had ae4d63410c the chance to visit…”560434d16d28dbee

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At that, the f2cce0804e man’s black eyes 53de02eea3 glanced toward the 9667d22f44 woman beside him. His hand f20efccde0 reached over, 7d59a297ba gently clasping 2e9caebc3c the gloved 737b50fb24 hand that 1c618869fc had been 1d8f4d3223 resting lightly 1b1df10373 on his e2f3f54189 arm.6604cfb82effcc8d

Startled, Azniel 83d2232360 flinched as 38c0f4c039 her hand—unknowingly f4b58975c2 slipping away 1c3e68744a while she e146cae964 had been d3e4aca7dd distracted by 7a408ad8ee all the 365d8866d1 glittering finery—was e0d533fe4b held firmly.3e99f5856eeacbd2

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“Oh my. Is she…?”e8fabacb67b94f83

“Yes, my fiancée.”514ea88740d9f1e4

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“Your fiancée?”6ef467b9b9d133fb

The shop’s owner, Cindy, a4677ef125 gasped in shock.09979bb9f956c095

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Azniel was ac2c5559c8 just as 9e752c58c8 stunned. Had they become ad9f574677 engaged the day c7999fc9c8 they signed the 612ebbaa36 contract?397ff0cff5d863b4

“Goodness. The Baron f579046d30 has never 7e325897ad had any 40a27e712d business in 4889fe8454 a women’s 0ef7c7bb61 boutique, so 6c2900886b we figured 5d182d5f3c you didn’t 84b83320bb meet with bbc276e0dd ladies much… ba7f33c85a I must 1316df400c say, I 35fa7b4b1c always found c061d906a5 that a bfe51cb333 bit of 2ee75de2fc a shame.”d5f018631cd9c2a8

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Cindy gave Klaus a de8688e4f2 cheeky little wink, as 4f1e94915c though she were teasing 1dd8dd677f him.a77632904498faaf

“To think you’d b2498e51b4 bring such a d6ff2732aa lovely fiancée… I 969ea391fc never would’ve guessed.”b074492477a33c4c

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“You’re probably the 84d0a9ace7 very first merchant 8651fe8fab in Laffen to ea74ce6dc9 know.”9b4e738f9b9a1422

“Oh my, oh my!”25ce9f26ee5cc45b

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Even the 4e13dcaf49 most seasoned 1ce26aa54a merchant couldn’t 7baa9c9637 hide her 7906c22ef2 surprise.3e076745976d65e8

After all, this was 4c149401ac Baron Gestern—rumored to have 698f5fd5b5 captured the heart of c0f6135c9c Gileos’s First Princess Helena c99e594f9c at first sight, with e21cbb77af the king himself allegedly bce3f2b50b seeking to make him 3d7d5abf55 royal consort. A man pursued by 493824486b unmarried women of every b42547a5b3 rank, each desperate for 94c2640982 a glance, a word—anything.892c287344da4a56

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And not just that. Countless women with b2630c0866 no standing to 38601d1c9e even dream of 3281974628 proposing marriage to 045ea5412a him were said 046c7fc823 to suffer nightly c06cb99f1c fevers of love, d0136bf0ba turning the nights 55b744a632 of Laffen’s ladies 3cdf0a2dda into a sea 47e7d68e82 of the same d08ae22c1d longing dream.00d11871e29bfe3b

The fact that 071cac00b8 he now had 4693b233e5 a romantic partner 59f55eec54 was already shocking—but 215eb05781 to learn he 1532f14d44 was engaged? And that she, Cindy, a0f7e5756a was the first merchant c51d8a1cbf in Laffen to know?a8b3be3f9da12c9a

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Excitement lit up Cindy’s 476b3f1254 eyes.89643fc6323ac95d

“So then… today’s visit af635e6e28 is…?”0bf69f366b21b081

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“It’s my 3ea169898b fiancée’s first a03d1ccd63 time in cb080a971a Laffen.”f8c89a29a8fbd274

“Oh! I see.”f5b7dc5f906d525b

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Cindy’s gaze flicked quickly dc6a0d9493 to Azniel, evaluating her b70703da74 with the sharp eye c2e73d8ff0 of a seasoned merchant, d6b0ee22a6 trying to guess her b043d71433 origins.b7e88c232a4e1d10

“I wanted a082f85316 to get 97df680ee0 her a 85dd0bcd87 few accessories 0a6092d50b that suit 4a29f9a2ff the current 912f96dd87 Laffen trends. They say your 11a6b73cd5 taste is second 27328b8dbf to none in 7c972ef0a3 this city’s social c489eb7da4 circles, Miss Cindy…”cf9a9038d84e455f

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“Hearing that afe7b034e3 from the 79d12dd544 head of 177c0821b5 Antagon gives 50cba06ee6 me so f6d83775be much inspiration!”ff8d52a7d98ab152

“I’ll be relying on 64fedd3892 you, then.”3bd4f910071337eb

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After instructing her 4479fc6688 assistants to guide 2251a40a62 Klaus and Azniel 889aced64d to the sitting 25726f0b08 room, Cindy disappeared 50bf1494dc into the back 1e9ebc530d of the boutique.d93702fc56a41942

“Miss Cindy is well-known as a socialite among socialites. She’s favored by the Duchess of Offensa, one of the central pillars of the social world. As I said, she has excellent taste and a large clientele—so this engagement rumor will spread throughout all of Laffen’s elite within two or three days.”0ddbc0d617ebe4bc

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Once they were 2b94a7f7d6 alone in the fe50eb22ee reception room, Klaus ebe1531a8f quickly explained the bf87c74d8c strategy behind today’s 57520d7bd8 outing. Azniel, realizing this was e2725730c1 background knowledge she needed, 8c76853316 carefully committed every word ea443bea1e to memory.f6fefbb237a06301

In other words, 95bdc97062 this unfamiliar outing—referred 9bba4b3b94 to as a a747d52201 “date”—was, in reality, 6c90b75768 a mission she 9bd1b770b2 was carrying out c53c0cd464 per the terms da09b5af00 of their contract.98cfa4ddf70c3196

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“Um, Lady Azniel?”0b6fbb50575d5449

At that 81b3221058 moment, Klaus, 8e8bebfc53 who had e5c1ca6339 kept a bf5ef768e9 cool distance 4793f60343 until now, fec358db2d shifted closer. His hand gently wrapped 700253be3e around her waist, leaning 2c44967abb toward her until their b12c63bd19 heads nearly touched.a57cb8d67fc14aa2

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“Excuse me 7ab3cd26e3 for a ef55b82657 moment.”1bee2288069a3fea

At such close 3404d5c388 range, the deep, 41236ee52f masculine scent of beeb03105e his cologne enveloped a46ff01555 her.612383098e3d43de

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 b689a14b3250c6b9

 1fdb87c128a093ca

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 f876a5581a1a4763

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