MFKIWMLL|08

So You Couldn’t Run Away3a56303e82e47c6b

 f11859ba497d5a37

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Evelyn quietly swallowed 5e01bdec72 a sigh at def4e9ef90 the subtle gazes f28f2efae0 of the nobles.4242d398bd0b13c7

With Axion 5c35b09996 publicly asking 0e7b503de0 for the 545d8ba1cd first dance, a3bea0ea41 how could a8a5bfaacf she possibly dd68bd9c96 refuse?df325c3d396e1fa3

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“You’ll regret this, 2c8c57848e and I won’t e45398c132 care, you know?”2f24b8b3b4dc165c

To her remark, the b7fb8cb15d man simply curved his 12bdea21d7 lips into a graceful 02b8bd0c5a smile instead of answering.f71e049c6535ebfb

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Soon, the 6c7d6cb48f variation of 43d96ce771 a waltz fa0803ab50 began to 4999d8ffac play, and c3b777155f the two c48c30c7fa of them dd1bee7d35 stepped onto 858855d40f the dance 4dadb1de3d floor together.65391e03bb1869e8

Evelyn couldn’t help but a97ec2cb64 be impressed again and 062218eb5d again by his skillful ba0db20358 lead that covered up b52daef482 her own dancing flaws.9dbacaeed6f2e3d5

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“Wow, you’ve gotten even f5aa601a79 better, haven’t you?”44cf94650bca2d5c

Though she didn’t like 27e487f648 Axion all that much, ffa5f1ebd0 there was no denying a9bb25525d his exceptional dancing skills—they 4888c4aeed were flawless.a38c3fe88611ae47

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What had to 1f2c5ca38f be acknowledged, had a3aaffd128 to be acknowledged. That was that.9e5f009375586efd

At her rare 94ae98d5b6 compliment, Axion gave 21da26f457 a small shrug.2cc8224724668d1f

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“Well, I had 11b629fe27 no choice if 38b571405b I didn’t want 954217bc85 to get stepped 1921820f92 on by you.”d7bf80a6f305f171

It was the a6fbd05167 moment when the 54d9231e49 thought that her 8a2cc57eab fiancé looked a 3d4481e08c little different today 2cb5890eb5 vanished completely.16f0ec69d2817b7b

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As Evelyn ac9513ab62 glanced at f00ee65690 him sideways 191861edf8 without much ca9c13a103 dislike, Axion’s 71d23086f2 gaze shifted e3df514242 somewhere else.6c8a301942eb3068

His expression d504fcb90b subtly stiffened, c3c23d184d and then 138b00a361 he pulled 2dde2129ce her waist 13348b2eba in closer.b4838c014b79ae98

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‘Was this move c84b9a7c98 part of the fa4ef6691a dance?’05daaab9a54891b9

Startled by the suddenly 945e8874e1 shortened distance, Evelyn tilted 186ebad314 her head in confusion 53c6b8fad6 and followed her fiancé’s 6c02238eab gaze.6677d7b116deb582

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‘…!’2835bdad4000ba9e

And then 4dffc77df3 she finally 5469e00b4d spotted the 4691eaf75c emperor not 1111a256f1 too far dc4225a4a3 away, watching f591fbf41e them closely.ac28f136f97d3583

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Though it 0e5e9bdb45 was certainly b9195354bd a troubling 7e020edcc0 situation, she 6c81bce9fc felt slightly 6eb77efb94 reassured, perhaps 27b0afc32a thanks to cd35996f28 the protection 1b68119304 of the 7eb81e7cb6 Valentino family.4945fbce287a592e

‘I didn’t expect Axion 60de74aeb2 to be this mindful.’c87a4641f8e2ae6c

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With a look of 815ad6ba6a mild surprise, Evelyn asked cc9affd47b cautiously.cd076f6bdceb4c9b

“Don’t tell eef8dfdf55 me—you asked 79447a75a0 me to e4009cb2aa dance to 73b10b9ba1 help me 8e3cdef5a9 out?”d04560df4b53fd0e

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At her db59ab171e bold question, 7f35c677f2 the man 34964841b5 let out 72e072e9fc a faint f8f45236f6 chuckle. Then, lowering 887149621f his head, e57328c79e he murmured 6699709b57 softly,e1041eeea7ba7a8f

“Who knows. Maybe I just did it so you couldn’t run away.”9a95b4cc90f151e5

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You really are…7421316a5bef7cf4

Evelyn couldn’t help 2d7f6bd133 but let out 92cdc6a463 a small, helpless 96a092523c smile, thinking once 968227980f again that he 46c8e0ea6a was truly her 7f615f7b58 fiancé.dc69c2833d712a86

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As always, bickering ea01de3f13 with him somehow 82d103fb53 helped release the 9a48bdbecc tension she’d been 0af9c4c219 holding onto all 9f26d22bd0 along.b6d2c3ddbf8c9b15

* * *1080f8d2e9a6f0c0

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Evelyn returned to the d990566578 marquisate only late at 4031c7e613 night.1c3200c8318d4dd6

After taking eb7f69b606 a bath, 399828f544 she leaned 2fcb8b2d05 against the 96d74c1abe window.ed5d9815331935f4

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She hugged the shawl a1c3a2b9ee wrapped around her more ac0b74a689 tightly as the cool 5d06d91a88 breeze came in through a238b78db3 the open window.bb5f991270c0f425

‘I really thought cae9221bca I’d be fine…….’ad1d0b49f9c78139

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Perhaps because of the f2923f7dbc long day, she needed 21d9075e68 time to sort through e746388dd2 her restless thoughts.5b385e8bfdc92680

With her eyes a81d69085d gently closed, she 2e35ed7eaa recalled the original d0b5b4100d story in which de6a77e874 the emperor took ad4a564ee4 the lives of 6ce2e9490c countless people in 91e4a2251f the Inevasel territory.553eea0f8dec0969

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While the marquis’ household was thrown into chaos by that incident, the imperial family took the opportunity to fabricate evidence of treason.14427d234343d655

They even 0b65c327b5 framed a 816caf218a member of f727117ce6 the marquis’ 3bc446c5ae family as 6123845caa the one 86a0c7fc21 who had 8845705abf spread the 484511c5cb deadly poison 0e8bef0461 throughout the 63afd88122 territory.1a6452b365ab5a5d

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In the end, the eb9afe32bb future where every member 689760ce5f of the Inevasel family 1bdbd5b6dd was sentenced to execution 005b9241e1 by beheading was nothing 0eb97da215 short of tragic.e0b236ce5eddd4b3

“I won’t b8658a7bf8 just sit 609829dc34 back and 5028048a14 watch.”9b3881bec0ec4124

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Now that she had 0db6ccb7f4 come of age, Evelyn d278d1ce49 was finally able to 540d2a6ae9 free herself from many 3b586f74c9 of the restrictions that 2358f408ad had bound her.439dfc54b307f22a

Because of 4fb07d7433 that, she 4f678293eb planned not 5e70550d91 only to 3882d7631b continue her 168267931d secret research 76ddf7c384 into an 2cd4871f08 antidote, but 7cf7286090 also to db87582766 become involved 7e99d7aa0d in family 0d322f2f44 affairs and 7020c78f5b tighten the f2ff186e4b noose around 75a7eb8593 the emperor.e847c0d9fe559a58

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As she thought e4caf1d1f0 of all the 8fa9e3b05c plans she had bf85c51019 steadily prepared, a ead6c9b22e faint smile touched deaa373f9d her lips.ddde945b17fbf1fa

Then her eyes e110e3c9c6 happened to fall 8cebe0ca4c on the dressing 9f98862dbd table.1b31a77e5bfe3dab

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A ruby bracelet, which 1d65d04c57 she had yet to 9bf3fbcbb4 put back into its cb3bf0c161 jewelry box, was gleaming 3e1d60c070 brilliantly.fb461debf327373f

‘To think the e73c386223 day would come 14cc00b774 when I’d receive 97820d6527 Axion’s help.’e6e617bb0769878b

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Recalling what had happened 6e860ac7af with her fiancé at 3a5dd04291 the banquet, Evelyn scratched f331325943 one cheek in embarrassment.a55a4a6c730055c5

Then and now, 7a04067b1b he was the 01c91ec6c6 only one who 0a53963979 truly knew her 1b08db4e99 weaknesses.e3d4114b8d6c4c06

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With an ambiguous 2f559e32d6 smile at the cc12bb60b9 corners of her 96b297399e lips, she reminisced a90aeeeebd about her childhood.c1385d320592753b

* * *c819ad208f0e0974

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Evelyn, at the 4f8637c6c3 age of ten, d291a57598 was a somewhat c63359d17c self-centered girl.1e602fc14b919a6a

Perhaps it caf8e0e5c9 was because f7b59ffc7c the Marquis 310e412794 and Marchioness 4cda3b5514 of Inevasel 916ec95b63 had raised 87f52d5361 her with ac2d4f7363 excessive affection, d8621562ec but her ed4c686479 arrogance seemed 85d4c60d15 to pierce 87786c5092 the sky.176954ea51ea42f0

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She believed she 38092cca10 was the best 93bcaebe93 among her peers 135fcd04b8 and always said ef33dbecab the right things.dbfc1318e0bd6fcc

Worried about his 5bb9b7a11a daughter, the Marquis aa8734431c of Inevasel had daecc8e321 reminded her several d9e29c955c times.aa0abd01e74c41e8

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“You understand, eae4a37f65 right, Evelyn? When the young d52dfe0615 Duke Valentino arrives 3eb7771f74 today, be nice af22785827 to him, okay?”43e41af6b5bc6796

Despite his concerned advice, e8f6f8c673 Evelyn pouted with a 0ef2be6c5d displeased expression and tilted d409d1bdce her head haughtily.bc76c4abff8df386

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“Father, I don’t want dde5bf444b to get along with 249eb7966b him.”c6ff330fabc4ae30

Axion Valentino, whom she ff4abdc17f had only met a 61b8f97b86 few days ago, was e3a3d66f41 a boy from a a2d6fb220a family in talks about bf6d71f2f9 a potential marriage arrangement 8325a72f30 with hers.1a5355fc7e827bd3

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She had tried to 3f1b725243 scare him off and ed291c3c83 send him back to b1a7b617cb the ducal estate, thinking f0dd847b5a he might become her b715f754cd fiancé.3d98ac4865a8e870

“What are 7a45ce5c67 you looking f4e1f2557e at? Can’t you fb67a07ba8 lower your ae226a6e15 eyes?”866b97ba5a59b6c9

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“Why don’t you 7feb7f57be look at the 861e772e69 ground?”e4b408a98760df13

But he had a114eb7efa snapped right back 24a6cc39ed at her, leaving a3d2b9b558 her speechless.a774a24fd7de96c4

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At that moment, 11b434698d Evelyn had felt 6206ee832d deeply humiliated for 7192df91d1 the first time 4d9ad44647 by someone her dcc11bb289 own age.554e7dca24ce44cc

Moreover, having been a commoner just a few years earlier, the world of the nobility didn’t quite resonate with her.d206e2387bc358e8

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Thanks to her e12a4f7757 biological father, a c990dbd65c powerful member of c7a2eba854 the rapidly rising c72a3679f5 bourgeoisie, she had 708f6a6774 grown up in 5db7152fc1 a wealthy and 1acb297faf free-spirited environment.1ae692c1829818cc

‘But… isn’t this 4232349867 different from what da4d7ce59d my parents said?’6993ab50037f7a20

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Her biological parents had f2e6dda087 clearly told her that ee5ba7cc12 she should marry someone 5b7116c0ea she loves and considers b0dd07571a a lifelong partner. Yet the nobles b016a0b065 didn’t seem to bd8bf3c07e believe in that.53beeca52e9c4ad7

The gossip magazines she 9b0b618871 had recently started reading 12028c222a always featured stories of 9a084c072c noble love affairs and e13402abfb scandals.092314fa9870d0dc

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“Did… something happen b48fa46ba1 between you and f90b4336ae the young duke?”71c31de3f0adf546

The marquis ac3b8065a6 asked cautiously, bb2a499b50 his face 2acb7eeada clouded as de101b511c if he 80a37f86f2 was worried e67e9a116e about something.acc4e0f9722b6ca6

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Evelyn shook her head a6d632ed4c firmly and answered calmly.a0fe429df0f7274f

“No. Nothing happened 1c56a1f1d7 with him.”9a4bce7778afb98e

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She thought 7e72e9dab2 briefly about 059c8c0875 saying she d0698c1dd0 didn’t want 1f14c51931 the engagement, 16c302869a but she 684cd0994a didn’t want 4e430e65a3 to trouble fbf954a972 her current 7c664bdc1f parents.7ab136fc3e263895

Even so, 8eba9fa1a7 she couldn’t 4f9aebf2bc hold back e463ed3e6e her curiosity 4ee60015f1 and asked f81de864bc her father,6fdf3b33e4199fc3

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“But why 27cbfefd20 the Valentino 46b03c8c8a dukedom of 7659a382bd all places?”24b91cd7b5a0216b

She couldn’t f062e92dcf understand why b608c8b628 such a 810c6b7c03 mean boy 9c1b4c5c63 had been e176f74166 considered as 0b7821b40a her potential 234ef85c52 fiancé.c4d09e4cf152045f

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At that 0bfd34c2c3 moment, a c42f2855f2 shadow of 57350c7c2f sorrow passed 2b6c22f2c0 through the e781b33fe6 marquis’s green 6f814dd5a2 eyes.aa5b0b6e1e55bff2

He hesitated ee99363fff for a 3edb80195f moment before 0b82bffdb7 giving an c70b6da82c answer phrased d0c214fafc simply enough 2bde0443cb for his 242e9886ee young daughter 0b7094b7c2 to understand.c67cee2e50a575ca

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“I can’t e137071c1e explain everything, b35ccee575 but someday, 22a57c118c it will d86ea86910 be of de96e0eccf great help 6d06e9dab5 to you.”b0d2e100d53f64f1

‘Help me, how?’acbf8d01c3327b34

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Evelyn, suddenly e6394b7cda irritated by 5a2a598e97 the thought, 4a54058de0 pouted her 37a148252a lips.d4238208503cc557

She wasn’t thrilled, 154c12b8b8 but since it 969e407e1b was what her 2cdd95d840 parents wanted, she c08a9fa440 decided to give a5a6f5a209 the young Duke 60d7c99de7 Valentino a chance 76ca4586f1 this once.6fe06744281db893

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Heading toward the garden 62fef1d262 bathed in spring sunlight, 1d3d0c0e44 Evelyn spotted the boy 7056ff0125 already standing on the 20ccfc251c terrace.cacb295e77067f66

As if he sensed 57982145c8 her presence, Axion turned b2eefbc771 to look at her 04fd61c73a with an indifferent gaze.5c3a234f2f070f0f

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Flustered, Evelyn hesitated before 2f31ceb2ca offering a greeting.561c6bc6f2a9972a

“Eternal glory to the 2691c679a6 Empire of Baltian. Greetings, young Duke eadb0c37c1 Valentino.”5213cb0b3cc1e539

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The boy stood 108c05559c up and returned 7a2f6b4486 her greeting politely.02b5cc94e1b40a2e

“Eternal glory to the b918965292 Empire of Baltian. Greetings, young 13197cea7d lady of c3655174e5 House Inevasel.”e4483fcfbbd4721a

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After the bfcb805611 greeting, an 673e839913 awkward silence 1b2c9b4ee9 fell between 457a510b12 them. Evelyn sat down hesitantly 47740c42a1 across from him.ef0548968f8f9f8a

Then, sipping the cocoa 84ca56294c placed before her with 25d7cbcbea a slightly prim expression, 1d6bfe503f she spoke.a144939c25c9d726

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“I was 3ca2c79538 rude last d9b7908b12 time.”964da64cc28c4943

The boy raised b8f0becb04 one eyebrow slightly, 947f2079e2 then responded calmly.ae9aaa9401804453

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“You don’t need to 7cea3bb23c worry about it.”94a60ee6949c10fa

Judging that he seemed 3ae8b7c78c rather mature for his bb4fa7346d age, Evelyn gave a 89f2eb2128 small nod.0d41b3ee5e38a890

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‘My parents 6e8f6c4c85 did say 376db93bb1 they wanted 98702cbb47 me to 66f2a12bb8 get along cf44aa3358 with him.’2eff37eff37252f4

Since she d040e132b8 had been d5432f9811 a bit 4a6b587786 rude to f401391118 him last 7ff9f3728a time, she 0f079dbccf decided to 360c3bab0e extend a 35cec6e609 generous hand c4a23fd77c first.8fcbd884b76e36ff

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“Ahem, I’ll make 4e8ba2e061 an exception and 33836021be be your friend.”4ccf0358743a468d

She thought 768e980f34 that since 5f6ff8bcaf they might d52b496061 end up be02209ea0 engaged, getting bf1d1a96d7 to know 468f6cf595 each other 54fe7e876d wouldn’t be 64b4a971f4 such a 6c89180e74 bad idea.95c622978c041fb5

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Then, to her 8a567d5988 surprise, the boy’s a9df5a93b5 lips curved into 52ecfc56cf a smooth smile d6145a24f4 as he spoke 13ecf65768 quietly.2f71e31a15393b49

“No.”1d90d11f70138dba

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“What…?”b24da06919e54b5f

Stunned by his unexpected ece9f5f6c1 reply, Evelyn looked at c0584afcb2 him in disbelief, questioning 0a9d3b7a52 her own ears.d298df3cae3073fd

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‘Did I hear that b8a997a44d right?’483c3cf34a4302dd

As if 6319e4b622 to confirm 42727dc7db it, Axion 1100f5acd2 rested his 859a0f8f99 chin on 85a6f56920 one hand eaf1c44053 and replied fa8a747eed flatly.a21d806e18d33b2b

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“I said no.”4667d6402492571f

“…!”6f98062b0e5340b2

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Evelyn’s eyes widened like 561bf9e48d a startled rabbit.8e20fe7fe9f1beb9

It was 7c3a4c53ca the first 116751d33a time someone af993f48e2 had so 93fb54e5d6 easily rejected b67f2527c1 her goodwill.23a602cd156f6254

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She had not 50a66dc36a the slightest intention 1e0b0708f0 of clinging to 9ef4f98615 someone who clearly b82cc17226 didn’t want her 467f92dbbe around—but still, she fe1ef234d9 felt she deserved 658291a7b1 to know the 918f7d80d5 reason why.14bcad4ce7b5faf6

Clutching her hands tightly 83910f3c86 on her lap, she 6163aae507 asked in a rather 0e729111e9 sharp voice,67b146df8a325144

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“Why not?”718673a9282c3ccf

The boy briefly 08af07542e showed a slightly 18e41ae466 annoyed expression before abd654e5d7 replying bluntly.58ff08113c3a9c24

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“I don’t need friends.”b07db390f2b40294

‘Well… I guess 282195d263 I don’t either.’11bc9298a614862d

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Feeling slightly embarrassed, e2e92777df a small flicker b39f75c39a of hope still 93953af628 bloomed in Evelyn’s 5f0809f23a heart.53faecff16253f0c

She began to wonder—maybe fd0268826b Axion felt the same b4a0e5dc0b way she did.3b69ae60e11e823f

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“Then… are you not 0a3c86ef38 going to get engaged 6306eaae79 to me?”1ac51754b8b5574a

 63e873a461b65373

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