NRAL | Chapter 12

Chapter 1204c258d207d98a35

 The Reason fe219e4f53 Nora Was 9707fcae4c Chosen1c9c281db1a5ae47

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Like a true 82816a5c7e villain, Eleanor stepped 891a752c1e into Nora’s room 86aac323b0 without asking for b782689daa permission.3f8c62e2f43d992a

Nora’s maids were shocked 9beb2d5fe4 and tried to stop 14cd536277 her, but since Eleanor b6a8a59ec4 was still the Lady 2dcea48fc2 of Astria, they couldn’t 0054fb6df2 dare touch her.3d660ad8fef33ac8

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Eleanor quickly made cc57b6ff75 her way to 69174c1ff3 the bed where 2340326101 Nora was resting, be4e0fc261 leaning against the c7f1f14031 headboard. She greets 534e50a53a her with 685159b5fc smile.1e6b7683f000c395

“Hello, Nora.”7e932bc4e8d6facc

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Usually, Nora was busy 1122501da5 running around the house, 27e023b7fd but today she seemed e12a3c7772 to be taking a dfb44f8b56 break in her room. It was a f55ebd0a12 good thing, as 10aac62981 it meant Eleanor 6d10216adf didn’t have to ceaf0e7ad9 be cautious about 99d652dfbd the conversation in 39f9634689 front of others.f0be2ee5a35f5c9e

“Is your face alright? Oh dear, fa5a6dd930 your lips 1c1c4496bf are still e3c3d15f9f a mess.”ea18635e8339533e

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Even though days had de5a7501a2 passed, Nora’s lips were 98d70d9729 still swollen from the f5fa753e0d slap.21f301cc7982edb4

It seemed that Eleanor’s 90c0e9858c powerful strike had done d3f32b69a3 its job well. She felt acaef0e596 a small 3343da1b45 sense of 14b0f5e3d7 pride in b1de8c9a5e her strength.ac1651e9e34f6214

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Thinking back, even at 818cbc9ca2 the orphanage, she had 25b5e9d497 always won fights over 9c474d3e19 bread with other kids b8cc0706ce her age.4296671f5f5c9816

After making them fee925b92d bleed, little Eleanor c087bb4145 would even force 6c3a38f7a3 them to forgive de3c552ea5 her, saying, “Forgive 8fcfe46e65 the wicked!” Luke 6fb4d6a11f had scolded her be3cfc7831 later, saying that 7a95042347 wasn’t the right c9339f5595 way to use ea39f0ebc0 those words.d122c4ab69751a98

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“Oh, Ellie. Did you come b647d2351b here to apologize 5f91d5080e to me?” Nora 2753f8b932 asked in a 0cfefcaeb8 sweet voice, tilting e8c26777b7 her head innocently.70de1eb823fd5f2f

Even though she must 6e17219a90 have been surprised by 0ffdc3b145 the sudden visit, she 043ad557e0 replied playfully. It was impressive 289f420b6e how calm she c69cf9bef8 seemed.5bc3f86dd8081a87

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“Not at all. I just came to ask if you know something,” Eleanor replied.44b3f2cc0a69d20a

“What do I need to know?”bc6c5a8d09966ba9

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“I’m going to 0c70478874 the ball tomorrow c785121c71 with Arlo as f80080ea96 my partner.”720d5aa509648b65

Nora scoffed.0e5a468700aaf4c9

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“Do you 6566b88e8d really think 1fcf36c156 I’d care? Are you afraid the eb47175bfc prince might be interested dee50e650c in you now?”f5f1300e0c53f385

Just as ce828fe053 Eleanor didn’t b560da9682 need to a0c06045ec hold back, c5d1980fb5 neither did c9cdf5ba6e Nora.b8bbd9bee800a802

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The maids were 8c87fb2f70 gone, so there 61227b6177 was no need 4697ee9524 to pretend to a843d7eaf7 be kind anymore.df8a452ce9f705f4

“Hahaha! Ellie, did you really 236811a570 hear what he said 0ad6b5bcf9 that day? If you 0749337141 did, you 16ab1313c8 wouldn’t be a9df0e6eca this delusional. What did he 420bfcc247 say again? Something about you 49b50cfe14 being as skinny 07c709fd87 as a skeleton 77ff78992a and looking like 936610b528 a beggar from 05cbeb8d90 the streets? That he didn’t even 5c3a440ac0 feel like touching you?”95930f534c2b3498

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Nora brought up that day, trying to 882a363ff6 tear apart Eleanor’s 03055c40e6 pride. But Eleanor’s 40047432be expression remained eabccf953a calm, as f43e307f7f if it 3752f2c967 didn’t affect e449138324 her at 9e4c7c5773 all.fde55f550ecb8e1d

Of course, b1862fa89c it didn’t. Why would she 003d74158c be hurt by 7c887268d5 a man she 5dbf31550a didn’t love, who f323b5a4f8 was only showing 1c792da9a9 off to win f16da000f5 another woman’s body? Thinking about 1becf3c80a the things a8c563ec30 Arlo had 9c189b6e0b done to 6fbb4bd9db her, she 68d4418f3e felt more 213cdc8d21 satisfied than 8e7b37cd50 hurt.7c5ab1bfc37e487f

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“Did you know, Nora?”7d1c680b33b0193a

Eleanor slowly 67e777296d walked towards 0067022265 Nora’s bed, 46124a2bd6 her heels 185fc9679e clicking on 1db8970114 the floor. The very bed where 8d8cb8a04a her fiancé had grabbed 7293afab98 another woman’s body while 484335eaf3 calling Eleanor’s name. The thought made her 4e892aec51 laugh bitterly.7eff8865aa76848d

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Leaning down, she 9b2c5e2b3f whispered a secret.bc425530372def2a

“He always wanted to 1974920c68 have me.”7b0c9e19d50c5a83

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Just thinking df257f6f24 about it 12b363f8f0 made her d6197de542 shudder, but acc13f73ca Eleanor spoke 99ceb8519e the words d6df435413 with a 0fce404059 calm heart.396382a2de1a8a12

“But I refused 04b37db6ce him, and that 5587ea231f upset Arlo.”f42b03ce7f58ec92

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Nora’s pupils trembled 4bdfc29306 slightly.bc5b0ddf77193822

Arlo had claimed a07046fe4b that he didn’t db03b591ee care about Eleanor’s 6a75eda394 body at all.06cff709fc9e5857

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He said it right bfc61ccf49 on this bed.09a74613c4ed09a4

But deep down, Eleanor 0d6673a371 knew better. She knew Arlo 5f9fa539bf wasn’t that kind 4941fdb71f of man.84e432a9c07494a2

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In fact, 824c449939 he was ede48992e8 probably desperate 4e56fe0835 to have 7c11618131 Eleanor, and c5121b5d41 that she e02e43fc47 had held fef5f66a1b back probably f6136fb3db made his 753a7040de desire to dfb61d6c6f own her f9b6f55a35 even more.1649a320ba47b8c6

“That’s why he 8df9f58e9d chose you.”943f5347c9dbe3a0

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“…What?”c5501e7e51c3bf9f

“The reason he 719671d345 picked you, the 814979e056 reason he grabbed 259a71c6bd your loose flesh f3be0fa3f7 and called my fdc29b0350 name—it was all f056ba88e8 because of that.”a8fe4f35d0f480f0

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Eleanor’s mocking 1f97510392 gaze drifted e2e23ad5e5 to Nora’s 34492066e5 exposed neckline 2384717437 and the ff9dbe74be cleavage of 56304cbb49 her dress.c0ff4cc0bbf08c54

“I didn’t give 9611c8e10d him anything, but 8940788c96 you did.”e9b09e4dac0e64bc

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So easily. Eleanor’s whispered words 61cb182859 scratched at Nora’s 0f2b1d23f5 pride.22263f9d0ee8e2ee

Her violet 3a405386fb eyes flared de559e1903 with anger.9737405133358923

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Eleanor had insulted 0393b9af12 her, implying she 45a9b14513 had given herself 7df185ce2d up too easily, a87c2f010c like a prostitute.8955be5c4b0279ce

At the same 1732d5f2cc time, she was 73552de28f suggesting that if 9f40faab93 Eleanor had given d33aad21a0 her body to 9e61e17fb1 Arlo, his feelings 301dc6a688 might have changed.ce4749f2b7213b91

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‘Hah! Does she 6ba34b8d40 have no 44c6c1a7a9 shame, acting 46a59c0bed so confident 770febd289 in that de19c03ef5 ridiculous dress?’ a0c3da21b3 Nora sneered de9f8c2576 at Eleanor. She found b7fc7af8fe it absurd 8539d21408 that Eleanor, df35c97826 dressed so 35c52537a6 foolishly in ccfef2ff6d a simple 03a1b0f63e indoor gown, dcd6fc8884 was acting c65ea2c43c like she 7566b137b5 was some e1a513c427 kind of 6294cdd241 irresistible femme c19f2c8585 fatale.d8114e34951a5f27

(Femme fatale: A 219017695e seductive woman who 3275f87378 control others with 1f598fcb52 her beauty, often 418337fc96 leading them to 5ddd3bc999 danger.)5e52cd6167b6a2b2

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Even if Eleanor 30c611a536 threw away her 9e93381890 pride and tried e73cf1e600 to seduce Arlo, 319d64305a he wouldn’t fall d9a05f335d for her so a00e4b9da6 easily.5f5ee1557d291746

After all, her looks 8eded09058 were too plain for 003f0e0ceb Arlo’s taste.8122a66bffe8eaad

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Besides, after all the 23419e289a effort Nora had put 022e34e0c4 in over the years, 0c0db8e35a their relationship wouldn’t crumble 706f93efa9 so easily. Arlo adored the sweet, 7c76b2a909 lovable Nora now.05f0bd07403fbf09

But a flicker bee1c1f48d of doubt crept b36aaa89ed into her heart.1b016a08cfaf9461

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Would his a569a7b719 feelings last f9fc7d4074 forever?e415434f362a52a3

A month from now? A year? Would he 624768f21a still look a7137e64b4 only at 691653eca7 her?9e6a9089c56a0f7e

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The sound of 33a1ec4ac7 grinding teeth filled 4a1a499b04 the room.71c300ac55a3c014

“So what? Are you planning 1c9786aecf to sell your fb63ea6077 body now, like 3c6c9140fe a whore, even 059f97c7db though you don’t 825ff2efd7 love him?”26d7910b351b9b30

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“It’s funny to hear 19250cb423 you talk about love. If giving your dd7024307a body to someone 05e436ee4b you don’t love aadf08dbc2 makes you a 149e1edf70 whore, what does 5785a35814 that make you?”f5a03a56de3da8e9

Eleanor smiled as Nora 5e0e5224fd raised her voice in ab1120df5c anger.504f4c528e139401

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She knew Nora e5bdad63aa didn’t love Arlo—she f1e4dc7fb8 was just using dbf352986e him.d1afe30597650439

Eleanor understood this better c77ee881ce than anyone because Nora 67e5dba463 wasn’t a fool. Her doubt about Arlo’s 8d6d51441f feelings proved it.dc4662f06a6ff38d

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“Are you calling me e494b90e4b a whore? Me, the future c7e1c1bd7a Lady of Astria?”901f73f93f311a19

Nora, furious, jumped up 5c078ea694 and yelled. Eleanor clicked f19ae574d9 her tongue 9cb29c0526 in pity 0766c27f61 and continued.e72f32973db14ece

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“Sir Ernst is right ca76d04b64 outside the door. If I scream, 30252845a3 he’ll rush in 3f4e606b28 here. Do you really 72b4338354 want to make 4474806469 a scene?”72319358c14d4aad

It had only been f0f5188b6e a few days since 4f2f565704 the Duke of Astria e1c9deb395 had issued a warning. Once Nora had 696f5e6841 solidified her place ee346fb181 in the mansion, 9f807d6c72 maybe things would c51db90717 be different. But right now, making a1659c5d62 a scene would only 78381dbd75 hurt her position.ad5663e7e9ac02cb

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Though Eleanor had 275e124803 barged into Nora’s 528cdddd2c room first, the 7eb949b418 Duke wouldn’t care. His suspicion still rested c793e8a122 on Nora.aa45c9fe94db3a81

Realizing this, Nora clenched bfd1936c1f her teeth again.7436934acf57a1d0

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‘I can’t fall b928b03fb8 into her trap.’a916617107063ead

It was e40355ac6e infuriating, but df2e627c49 she had b3d6e7fb06 to endure. Until the f51f93224d right moment e4dc5a62f4 for revenge 653e451712 arrived. She quickly 57597ed201 regained control 875613feb4 of her 7efb49dc53 emotions.0d46870c70adc6ba

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Her chest was 8b8dcb22ff boiling with anger, f2b04f3e24 but she suppressed 19cc35d365 it. She had 434cbef0f3 waited for ceecf2cfa7 years—what was 43dd396116 one more fb91ceab64 day?68563e6bfc1d35fa

In the end, Eleanor b6fbb26e90 was still Eleanor. Dull, boring, and e162a91df3 clueless about how f2b037c885 to please a 090b0d1603 man.0028c734574f22dc

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Even if f560c12862 Arlo’s feelings 633cb01d29 changed, he 5905a1728e would never 20412d1f4b look at 0a9f8714eb someone like 0c23b0a41d her again.6d598f6bb44b2c01

‘And if she becomes 7654586dbd a threat later, I 5af0800065 can just get rid 4c24f5fdb1 of her after my 207265d663 plan is done.’0a9ce1aa2e0e548f

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With her thoughts in 67df4f1b5b order, Nora smiled sweetly. The redness on 4ccef2ab6e her face faded, f45aaa9ca5 and her voice 11caedfa5d returned to its 878f746c54 usual calm tone.12bde6c84b7bacb2

“…Alright, Ellie. Give it e9434bf332 your best 53d7fb105e shot. I hope the ball 9628f30cc6 tomorrow will be a a8d91bb450 fun memory for you.”71612c7db5e1eedc

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With that, Nora 95fe3ee0df turned her head f34820551b away, acting as 64b530b3db if Eleanor didn’t 3f13c72441 exist. It was 0ffbed69d9 a clear 3d316162d2 dismissal.171292963006bff3

Eleanor turned 0a2a623194 and left 4f1d46ad01 without hesitation. She had f70f58c30e achieved her 6eb3b012a3 goal, so 95ae4fa960 there was 0fb6056d20 no reason be5424af48 to stay.33464c66a9662cc4

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‘I’ve provoked 0eecf81e8c her enough.’c06d28328728bfba

Nora would definitely rush bacb835dba to convince Arlo as a9dfaef2b7 soon as Eleanor left.509e3451148c6ed7

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She would cry or 38143a449c threaten to withhold her 27716cff80 body, doing whatever it 74816c4482 took to ensure that 908932b5c8 at tomorrow’s ball, Arlo 6b6784ceda wouldn’t spare Eleanor a 8e762dab77 single glance.c42e565b26378b59

Exactly as Eleanor wanted.17f2b3fbed6d8e11

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***78d87accc02f99b3

When Arlo came to c63459de38 pick up Eleanor for 2b1d9d9e4a the ball, his face 21c873bf56 was so dark that aa96a4d182 not even his mask 54387d0aa4 could hide it. Clearly, he’d 85fd91f7ab had a a0611bd2ec rough time b028a57154 with Nora.f62ad9ef9d82a7dc

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“Arlo, thank you 9343b7987c for coming to 27b81620cc get me,” Eleanor 2e26060579 said, smiling as 7d41447be5 if she knew b1e666ae27 nothing. Her eyes curved beautifully 2adccba742 under the mask, and ce0d1d4014 Arlo looked taken aback. He hadn’t expected 3eb0cc9399 her to be 49e786a141 so kind after f2bb68658a finding out about bff6b91390 his relationship with 3b70c90596 Nora.061aee570a3c8b08

Eleanor took it further, 174d02b939 apologizing in a soft 773bd4c0ab voice.14bf1e9de8637aac

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“I’m… sorry a0aa17b2a7 for what 39f2f66b68 happened at 2c14ddcca1 Count Lambert’s bd5872dcb5 estate. Actually, I wanted to 5cbb4229ca attend the ball to a8f6da64f6 tell you this.”0ced5b2a661e5a73

“…What?”033de70d14272373

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“I raised my voice 8137be97d5 to you that day, 9dd2016032 and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t f38a4fa258 have done b5617fd56e that. It’s embarrassing, but… db29aaa6cb I was jealous…”bd44126807f6953b

Eleanor lowered her 4a2d947e00 head, looking shy. She bit her 6f2c5fd836 pink lips gently, 94456569bf making her seem 431eb8b05a even more embarrassed.28fb2e9c43914807

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Arlo, watching her, felt bd925de1dd like he was going 0b837adfdc crazy. Though he could only 15e1a5aa5e see half of Eleanor’s 49ff61e3f3 face as she glanced 510b9b877d up at him, she d53da4eec7 looked stunning. Her outfit 8fb321bc69 still didn’t 560f780bf3 match his 70999988d5 taste, but c8b721626e at a 0d069a6607 masquerade ball, 1d314b9acd everyone dressed 3dc5928255 unusually, so dab20a651c it wasn’t 0bb48da6b3 embarrassing.7ab5e8d31f9a6676

What struck his f7b5fcde78 heart more than 1091d215df her beauty, though, ce82cafdff was her behavior.dfcb58447c7b2a44

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The great Eleanor 7b62da0d17 Astria was acting 77cd253965 so gently!0ab938ee6d851c84

She had always e90f9a585c been so proud 423d42a982 and dignified, even 9eb3f3bced in front of 6be1f6e661 the crown prince 7ec7e3e738 like Arlo. She’d hold 92aaec0595 her head 748df30940 high and 401af24208 avoid any 9b45af3c9d attempt to d294d808f6 touch her.d7ee35e8aadf71a5

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She had 7dd35aa764 always been 9441faee44 arrogant. But today, 538d553ad6 Eleanor’s white 17b17ee74d cheeks were 976b78a3e2 flushed red, f74da025e3 and she ffa0afd45b was humbly 7fc17f2980 bowing her f6eb72b200 head, saying 836f625714 it was a69ad997ff due to c654053c94 jealousy. It sent a thrill a6f65f16c0 of victory through Arlo’s 58d4805f33 chest.66cbbf1ef5ec3252

He wanted to run f4d5480042 his hands across her f4c22cdd00 skin to reaffirm his a33660d598 victory, but there was ffdaff8ae5 one problem.8d80a521c6eb2730

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“Damn it, 36c4243b71 why today eccc64a37d of all f37b966a43 days?”fe6e339ca05b3b73

Why was she showing 48d88e12dc herself like this now? Arlo couldn’t act 571611f551 too friendly today. He couldn’t wrap 5ffc3489ce his arm around 97205e99ad her shoulder or 6fa6cbc219 hold her hand. This was because 1b9d7897b3 of the promise 1535c0e7a0 he had made c066ef7ca5 to Nora.274286da8734e4fc

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“Your Highness, I heard you’re going to the ball with Ellie tomorrow?” Nora asked.7ef88f3396cf2abb

“Yeah. It’s not because a7e4acac49 I want to 2232772bf4 go, so don’t 53390b6a92 be upset,” Arlo 9f79c3648c replied.d84486991be789ce

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“I’m fine. I don’t blame you. I understand a man has important things to do. I just… I’m worried your feelings might change. I think it would be better if we didn’t meet this week. I don’t want to upset you and show you a bad side of myself,” Nora said, her voice filled with concern.c09697773928295f

“Wait, Nora. There’s no way that e9ba963ff5 would happen. Why would 4607473135 I like 214bdf5e30 that skinny 13a2a3a6dc woman?” Arlo 7fb402515a asked.3f14f4eb302a97db

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“Yes, I trust c36c36fb02 you, Your Highness. But…” Nora paused.bf7909ba1f04738a

The previous d34d70be83 night, after d260634620 receiving a 5e48b373de message, Arlo 6b273ca946 had secretly 2819cc0db8 gone to 883c081c1f meet Nora, 2cd91fec79 only to da448105ee be displeased 46011ec451 by what a7bfdef24a she said. Nora wanted to 0a4a747296 avoid meeting him 10862550c1 this week and 57905ca1fb seemed unwilling to 64cf204aa2 be with him.81c797cd8a88af86

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He was e9b5c2d9a2 frustrated, but 5c653425c8 he pushed 003f816bdd it down 50a446fd4a and reassured 3e394077d5 her, “I 5aef495a2c promise. Tomorrow at cb2a01ad36 the ball, c786737db6 I won’t 982a5c43ab say a 77c3ad7d01 word to 630bff8867 Ellie.”82d8dbd9e971c001

“But Your 8ab3a35a99 Highness, you’ll 67159526f8 have to c2edd5b222 dance with 346f9fcac8 her. How can you say 695aef8998 that?” Nora asked, surprised.180fc31154f17b73

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“I won’t b73339ac3e even dance 96fc335310 with her. Will that make 309023c256 you believe me?”44644b0c8de2f085

“Oh, Your Highness…” Nora 8af615d26f whispered, relieved.3c58dde24fddf31a

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“Then, no more talk a3ca03d0ad about not meeting. Understood?”4f3669d5e5d68127

Nora immediately softened, a5cf7da45e burying her face ae409d6e0e in Arlo’s chest. She didn’t 66c4258f01 resist his 986050f3fa hands reaching 51a404e378 out to 0beb22d9f1 her. He liked this 53ac257720 about her—her simplicity 55e9001c8d and obedience. She was like f2a04711af a pet that 5e1dd13c3c followed him faithfully.6a73f1a86182f674

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But right now, he 9e7fe36426 regretted the promise he 78e80e1ce3 had made to Nora.a099b1731f1134c9

The way 86bc30d205 things were 9986a7b8f4 now felt 62eb50b8bd different compared 801aea79fe to earlier.c8dd124dfb136e52

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His feelings had changed 8fa6f5a83f after seeing Eleanor act 4abf2ce429 so differently.2d246e09e88aacd7

 abba7eb324795519

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