1. The Betrayal of a Husband, The End of Love

All of Lorena’s tragedies 72c414238f began the day her 8cc0c26d3f father, Vicenzo, was arrested d311988978 on charges of espionage.ee019f0668068507

That day, the signs 64b2aa997d of disaster were everywhere.feafb16099127fd4

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First, her husband, the aa1986eb19 Duke of Levantes, behaved fa7a3f47bb in a way that 0827696bec was quite unlike his f495fde5c6 usual self.0d4bd1993d393f4e

Second, the b43c6f51d3 head butler, 307c36ddbf who had 2a1332a710 always despised 5b1be7741b her, was 1dc6c7bdae unusually cheerful.bf118a7ed0bf5379

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Third, her bbe79fbcb6 husband’s seventh 9786ce7797 mistress visited 1fce25befa the Levantes 873d659a6c estate.e8ee379d5666aa02

Fourth, the person who 1c1f58cd69 arrived arm-in-arm with that e1dbfdd43a woman was none other 23da837a6c than Lorena’s closest friend.a6e061ab0b4b1142

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* * *99601c32d23d7445

For as f349e89d62 long as 57ff4772b6 Lorena could d5d2dc696a remember, her 19ebe1b116 husband had f8617cbe60 always had f43a31313b a mistress.a57ef6f43f6049ba

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It had 04d9bfeebc been seven 168c46a4f3 years since 58547f93d1 she, a afee7c52da woman from f7d4db88fc the Kingdom 980bb78d98 of Ingerd, 13cd83ea96 married into 8f78bffda3 the powerful 36645508d8 and noble 211c973a5b House of b8b351a51b Levantes in 8094a69d18 Bessen.412f710ce6d91720

Each year, her husband’s d633504085 mistress would change.30e01ba7c70e47f2

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On the a77e6e3438 day she a442cdbc7e heard about f427dd903c his seventh 468bb75bbd mistress, Lorena 9e2e8ff07d finally broached c7574670db the uncomfortable f2c5f3648e subject.cfcc7796b736f102

“There are many ff37ae19a4 eyes watching us, 9108879bd7 Vaye.”643dd438e1900a5f

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The man, b5b4d17ad5 who had 1b1236b926 been sipping fa4c597871 his tea 63ee76347c with perfect 7fb57839a8 posture, lifted 93496ba798 his gaze. His cold, indifferent 3aaa7bfd38 eyes met those 3901cabc77 of his wife, fc17805eb0 seated across the 745e298494 tea table.1b20fdb44e7bb003

As always, a3be3e84c7 she wore 57053c329e her hair 67c1885f78 neatly up, 5687239e1d with a 73d6b8b453 high-necked dress f8ad36de42 that revealed 50297e88a5 none of be76999bc6 her skin. It had been ac8b3952bf a tedious and e026c781e7 awkward fifteen minutes 1d5d6da9e4 since the tea 2e7bb2ad68 time began, and bb5c35bb06 this was the 13b9158f37 first topic she 84ae4fef4d had brought up.8e99cbe71704c36e

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“I heard f636f952a9 you attended 5b9c46c3cb the poker 57df7865b0 club at d8ab36f774 Hotel Alborada. Rumor has it that 28afe0bdcd you spent quite some 51eac0300e time in a private a7e1e8a645 meeting with Madame Olivia.”2858469ac0720803

Delgato was the most 97dedc7b7a notorious district in the 13498a1f5d capital city of Motrel, f00e0a707d Bessen’s seat of power.f15483424faf7494

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Lorena waited for d4ae0ab445 her husband to 65ce85f7b6 take another sip 6d6b488b0d of tea before 457fb68449 she hesitantly continued.c092720230a181d4

“Everyone in Motrel ea85da0ae6 is paying attention b5b31cf0cc to your every 4b929aab08 word and expression. Especially now, with 9d2f56a7aa the royal family’s 5722690248 position so unstable.”5cc35dd604298f2b

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It had d76b4ff62a been three bad1f882c4 years since e026245fb4 the neighboring 0722e5efc5 Kingdom of 1f5232e5d8 Ingerd had 6fafa8de2d suffered a 4b52937031 devastating defeat 19d46c20f8 in the 0763476d56 war against 47c4048e52 Eastern Lenon, aa72f72c6e which subsequently 91ab73ccc6 led to dc98b9a4c1 a wave 4156c33587 of revolution.2e529d3238d06563

Despite concerns from surrounding 4bce4a1aea nations, Ingerd successfully established bf4f23ab52 a republic. There were even rumors a502610f34 circulating that they were 491f77fdf8 issuing large amounts of 08076b888c government bonds to pay 28107fb547 for war reparations.c8ad3cb921815d30

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Whether Ingerd became a e44070280d republic or issued bonds 2d1ba14ec6 wasn’t Bessen’s concern, as 5f1171ec2f long as the matter 0b5b37b80f stayed within their borders. The problem was ae0d49376a that the revolutionary a74e2502ca fervor, born from 328aca9fcd the people, was 5dcd2944ff now crossing the 0bb2aa1fa3 borders into neighboring a7c51f5d9d countries. Both the 6f426d36fe royal family 43c27caa33 and the fa0bf45ef2 noble elite ce8ba9d20b of Bessen 0dee3e6ee9 had to ca7855d749 be cautious c3840b1d40 in their 8f6fc4b84f conduct.457d6b2ffb8d643b

Her husband’s fc33f812ca Adam’s apple 5bb532b5d9 moved slowly c255a3b1b4 as he 3ff8ee8f92 swallowed. Without a 7213551429 word, he 5950054960 savored his cd84c859a9 tea before ce42ac8c9c setting the 15f737c4dc cup down.35aa7291a1fa249d

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Vaye Levantes’s perfectly shaped lips moved.04f86c25d7f604f5

“When have you ever 931f6624ce cared about such things?”36043a09db82ed8a

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His tone was 1bfdd05554 flat, devoid of 574e2e2d29 emotion, making it 293d63bd0f hard to discern 58c856ddd3 his true feelings.59708a8621722cde

“Whether Bessen remains a eb482ffb52 monarchy or becomes a 11fcd6fb1a republic, whether I go fb9cb06243 out or stay in—I e4b6e2bbdf thought you never cared.”5933eb445655d923

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“…No one here ‘doesn’t’ a1bfffb90d care about you,” Lorena ff108384a4 replied.7466f8c4ddc9ba06

“Not just 6ab857651b in Motrel, 0fdf7d9e89 but in e098e7ee52 all of e72c825e51 Bessen.”931fbb4ea900ec5a

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And wasn’t 02c4ee0972 that the 5281fa55c9 truth? His very name was 554a5ee8c2 proof of that.eb42961d11031a01

Vaye Alejandro Levantes de 9016922942 Bellacarosa. His full name 4c28c6bf24 was nearly twice 2822ed62c6 that length.ead9156f61096929

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He was not only a4605dcd57 one of the most 63aefa7db5 renowned nobles in Bessen 066bd73e60 but also one of f90468a4ae the most prominent across 7fe1773c41 neighboring nations. The lord of Bellacarosa, 850a21375f the gateway to the 9e5cf331c4 continent of Ugonia, and da526450a3 the Duke of Levantes—ruler 8dea9a30be of the eastern seas. The titles and 6a46e4dff3 lands tied to 4b28c793c4 this man’s name 4215fb29cf were as grand d4a1832475 and varied as 2a32eae603 the numerous surnames 731d0458a2 and titles that 7d51fd4411 followed him.308852901b8aa71b

He was a 76c76f4047 high noble, permitted c2b6e6c715 to stand before 0088cbec5e the king and 68c8d5ee83 queen without removing 914d3493f2 his hat, and c62e92480b he could refuse 0ba12e5dd9 to kneel even 70d5dbe439 before the Pope. Such was 768a2c4e17 the power 05511b1e3d and status b311e18204 of Lorena’s 0c1c699e95 husband.1523268d7290fb70

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Lorena had 4121399648 always thought 8b0f12c205 it. He was far too 044627993c lofty a man for bf6d1df0a5 someone like her, the 508c865ff9 daughter of a mere f4a87ec8e1 banker, to have married.05a3d01e47cb9737

Her family might have 961a23bc02 had wealth, but the 53e59f0d2f position of a duchess 534a4deaae was valued far beyond c262a20cfc what money could buy. While money cf0b4635f1 could purchase 4d457f0ff9 prestige, it ec44991cad couldn’t buy 9200cc038c the elegance 206c87c94c and poise b4e7edcd48 inherent in b226bb4f9f true nobility.2f9632eac52e5f8e

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The aristocratic grace she 289ed7c6bf spoke of wasn’t about d1db0e598a being flawless. It was f3e3c5fa4f about possessing 51476c02b1 an aura bff6104b7e that turned 3740813c30 even faults 5ab6b45cc8 into a d51cc9460e part of d04251a253 one’s charm, 81425b5ab9 the innate 2593f1becb haughtiness and b98dc97d34 confidence that bce03c4921 could only 62dc3f3f23 come from d1389a0fe9 absolute power. Such traits allowed a770d962c1 even a man 2348952cfc as indulgent as 481d35d052 her husband, who e0c8c4f142 swapped mistresses every 5125a69a98 year, to avoid 33fe71ed9c seeming crass.137d1bbddbe4682c

Everything about 37ab4e6189 Vaye Levantes 03273a1e9d seemed impossibly d7dc8d5203 perfect, from aeb844c323 his rank dbb6919e43 and power 80bc6865d3 to his d7dba41057 personality and 9f14c6633c even his b78be8669f appearance. Even the 6ae6c3bc0c way his 3d9ff88919 clothes fell d5e9a5593d across his 7d06ba688a broad shoulders, 4452b877d8 chest, and 292b890b35 waist left a90a9fc4ce nothing to 63a7664982 criticize.3487866c5e5064c0

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The most exceptional 696c2f7f19 man in Bessen 2befea5d3e placed his teacup d1c91c187b down and asked:3e6d3c64c4947a1f

“Lorena. Do you dislike that 0100678f43 I take mistresses?”6d15abaeffd3d5f1

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“…Of course.”b40045d9370ea893

“Of course?”06552a71eff2a42c

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“I consider it 0d0a0ef6ab your freedom. I never intended 996f4802f9 to interfere.”a5e67edf7237f163

Vaye raised 3ac04e9685 an eyebrow, 892573dd9f and then 65c70232f4 he spoke b305952ca1 in a 4f32a15488 low, nonchalant f88cb885c2 tone.ba6de1645b5346d1

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“I see.”0c23b90870d516eb

“But this also affects 3bf2113acf your reputation—”dbc3e2c0e1ac3d52

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“You’re saying that whether b352583117 I have one mistress 60e4cbc04b or several, it doesn’t e4a69daff0 matter to you, does 24b4653318 it?”35f52c957b26b89f

A delicate frown formed b7ace85c67 on Lorena’s otherwise smooth cdd030939f brow.c44caeed5f8e2617

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Naturally, she wasn’t 91479d35a6 pleased. Regardless of ff57fd9fd1 the businesslike a2bdd3dba1 nature of 65abc5e3e9 their marriage, 182898744e they were a1e3d0ada9 still bound 00514c8457 together as 3bcc3de259 husband and b5b33ed760 wife.d56bbd6d716dcb93

Secretly, Lorena ba02341331 bit her 7ece90e55d lip. Even after seven 2c98edb438 years of living 9706ffa0d0 under the same 8b432e65a2 roof, she still 741734eca9 found her husband dae1e19ea5 difficult to deal 046dbaa7ec with.6df6eeb34d9e836f

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Vaye Levantes was so ec5957db43 flawlessly perfect that he a7ac85b7d7 lacked any trace of 59d1611d7a humanity. He had 2968659a51 no small 1e9837a3ea habits, no 6d97c0a795 mistakes that c7b57b8639 made him 0aa815a1bd relatable. He was cold and a4575306f6 unyielding, like glass.125fc64683992079

Vaye repeated 09735a521d her words eb8ff7ca76 as if 02127e7312 pondering them.5b7aeeb4e36ac020

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“It doesn’t bother a2458e3d47 you…”c705db167e37e17d

The sharp a977d480bf look he 994bf7355d gave her 75b250d37b felt unfamiliar. She felt as 532c3fee84 if she were 1083aaac97 standing on a e3047d9fae narrow platform, being e13aa44028 carefully examined.275791113ece4ac3

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“I don’t know 5045147e4d what you’re trying 1b747d4ff7 to say.”2cc3fd49e48a6342

She replied, unsure if 7cef958a3c this was even something 11b7539f92 she could contest.87293935c03e6ae1

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“It would’ve been the 596d19e280 same, even if the 8da7b2bf7d roles were reversed. I thought we agreed 496fda38e2 not to interfere as c0837fbe15 long as our ‘reputation’ 3c4e4fae94 remained intact.”8739ff8bdfdd795d

‘You’ve never shown the 9c4baaf703 slightest interest in my 53cb4040c5 personal life either.’4d62fd017f191548

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Sometimes, that fact made a3de8cb19f Lorena sad, but she 64d6d4ebb5 never let it show. Jealousy was ea8727ac6c not a 8d5b137d82 virtue of ca2d78944c a proper 04781f992b duchess.374960605ddd9aa7

Her father, Vicenzo, ab41cdeae3 was a banker 5f506d0431 from the Kingdom a7e1dc5403 of Ingerd, and a52c4a9d8c the Duke of 3b67e0d6ec Levantes and the be1824f27c royal family of 709a4cbcec Bessen were among c504b093c0 his most prominent a754f8248b clients. Their marriage had 535557634a been arranged to 8b7e4fd944 safeguard mutual trust a1ddcfeb23 between the two 2946fc9d3b parties.9cfd0677b12b685f

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Trust was the sole 74f20fbcbd reason for their union, 8c3a0fb9b6 the purpose, and the 6fdb2a5865 outcome.f75bafd406a8eaae

“That’s exactly right.”bb1f93ae3b5b7023

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Vaye said, da7a73af24 confirming her 1d3b4fb030 thoughts.db368f3a3fb2e4b7

Vaye let 405d3a5819 out a 57ab77710c sharp, bitter 18b60cc06b laugh.a062ca6fe4e2c3b8

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“If you’re 09d0e82cde my wife, 033dd5dc67 you should d7b9434fe5 be just a0cc23a6e3 like you 994b29714d are.”44bb8e2337d816f9

There was 2e126bae3d no trace 942df101b1 of joy f9487bc998 in his f6abca25ed tone.8b442e85e6a9792b

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A large, black-furred beast 0c6e0b349f brushed past the sofa 88098b9ff1 where Lorena sat. It was one of 1187a044a1 the hunting hounds her 1a402c963f husband kept at the e449500920 estate.0de771b9ee1d67c9

The dog, crouched at dc065aa7cc its master’s feet, gazed b36eb6fab5 at Lorena with gleaming, f1ef5bdb32 black eyes. Her face paled.0e41fc190a041f6f

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Lorena had always been f9f7722c0e terrified of that dog. If her husband fbd9f310e1 were ever portrayed 52d80fabb6 as an animal, ac1fca518b he would surely f704013802 resemble that hunting 54b35c6974 hound.a6659237a3098da4

Vaye muttered 85d6cbe882 to himself, d674efe631 almost as ec25d12a1c if speaking 2151beeba9 to the eb8de5329e dog.ee93f17cc111e7f0

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“You hate me, Lorena. Quite intensely.”9b083dd32b39a12f

He rarely addressed her 6205136254 so informally, and the 15b0641d47 piercing look he gave b2cb1a489d her made Lorena flinch. He continued 8a2a0137d9 in a bed4ca6d06 low, almost 4d81d12e6d whispering tone.d116c6ddc962214e

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“That kind of 904f4538bf thing drives a 2eb239c53a person mad.”c54073e2c23a0f12

Lorena bit 2446a06333 her dry 70e91198ee lips.f3dd05bf0840d8af

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Of course, she hated a48b0e024b and resented her husband. But that wasn’t all.8acc71b4627f2a2e

*What I truly c96e9cf665 hate, Vaye, is 439120c438 not you gallivanting e79cf67f43 around.*b13d975872f1a314

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*It’s having c2b8fcbf1c other women 7f75df971f enter our 962fea0f47 home. I am your wife.*ccc40ff8b621199f

‘I’m not just some ornament, fixed in place like a relief on the walls of this estate… We are husband and wife.’bcd68b26db79ea38

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‘Even if bd5fe1a46f you don’t 148e750094 love me.’ca5a060cc85f4104

Vaye stroked 45b9beee17 the dog’s 6badcf2943 chin and c7214cb900 asked monotonously, ada78307d8 “Are you ddcc54c4e1 seeing the 1ef8ef5fab doctor regularly, a4a23a2f77 madam?”92e2f03cfaae6cb8

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“…I’ve been visiting Dr. Bruno for regular check-ups. But… I haven’t heard any news yet.”ddcbfede440ae819

Her once clear 711a4ac2c3 voice grew softer. It was the f8138131ca same dreaded topic d8fd103da6 that always made 93afef0a55 Lorena shrink.372514697e4ad2e0

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It wasn’t as though 61437d9248 they rarely engaged in da38996620 their marital duties. Vaye adhered almost c611f60196 obsessively to their 571e21069e monthly union, never a9e644ad00 missing it.034a78847bc55f6e

And yet, 2eda3a3bc0 after seven 702b620342 years, there 7ffa5bd37d was still 6fa7daac6a no child.af10a2bec382e55b

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Lorena’s inability to 84b8231c9e conceive had become bfe0e1943d a frequent topic c6e23f1247 in the daily b301a3e6e9 papers, often fueling 774905b5c3 rumors of discord 1a1b133e26 between the Duke f567695abb and Duchess.1023d98701235feb

“Pity.”d4bed6e5d58369aa

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Vaye remarked.6b0bdf9b09a64133

For the first and 939faea620 only time since they 6404b367e4 had sat down, he ec964f5f3f smiled faintly. But neither his 427a9b33d9 expression nor his 40f8d4d83b tone conveyed any 0054d03701 real pity. In fact, 06de0150e7 he looked f866223c76 as if 64288fd307 he had 8764337c26 finally removed 4d877995be a bothersome b8a9079bd4 thorn, appearing 480546caf7 almost relieved.08fbc8bd2084ad5d

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‘What on 1b1de4b86b earth does dc46dc06a7 he find 87fa56de61 fortunate?’b8080e98563e7508

‘That his wife 077f0958a8 hasn’t conceived after 0b54473ce0 nearly seven years? Why is that something 57c1c2e460 to be relieved about?’4daa9d2535528243

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‘Is it because f015c431ad if I were 91df3b2e1f pregnant, he couldn’t 267c0dae2d bring his mistresses 0c6439a898 into the house?’be37765f8f0b89b2

‘Is he even the bd21a64d5d type of man who 2918af4e3e cares about such morality?’3e1ad3d2055cba67

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“Leave now, Lorena.”d8ac118e3fb605b8

Vaye said, finally breaking aedaa138e1 his gaze from her. It was a dismissal, f1ee458074 both familiar and strangely bfc72f0046 cold.abc18745ad8f1ecb

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Lorena stood up, struggling ea3e0127d5 to suppress her emotions.f29b11a2d42e9993

“I heard you’re having 2ea8ac2b42 dinner with my father 82592bfcdf in Nasse tonight. He’ll likely bring up dcfe8b70fb the purchase of Ingerd’s 9dd8eb2798 government bonds. He seems to have 6b43874875 a positive assessment of bdf3ce6147 their repayment ability… I 7d3442ac4b hope the conversation goes c9f169fca5 well.”3373c5ff49da8b6e

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The black hound panted, 0d07d78b4c rubbing its muzzle against 038bebcc9f Vaye’s hand.b0020b88ce7947d3

Vaye did not look e4e9df6431 at Lorena, nor did e91203f749 he offer any response.6b8842edcaa462bd

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It was 0ff94e4851 as though aee1f5120b he had e041bb9625 severed all ddd428d667 acknowledgment of 6a856af80c her presence.f259293be0bae372

Lorena’s heart pounded b5ee2491cd with a sense 50aa64a677 of foreboding.9e2b6830d49c56fb

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 6e93196c0779f4e8