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    Chapter 7526453e6c2252c2a7

    “Debert!”a64843841eae47cd

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    Raphnel’s now considerably stronger voice went unheeded as Debert pushed through the dancing guests. The frowns that had initially creased the faces of those he had disrupted quickly disappeared once they recognized him.8ea968dfba8aa238

    Debert languidly 719aba3dc9 rolled his 944337126d stiff neck, e71f71ee2e approaching the eac78e7aca entrance. The only guiding 24b19fb604 light was the b3e7416b41 glimmering purple, shining f06e494515 in the darkness, 9f90ef2714 beckoning him.0ca1812a83e3e90c

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    The same purple butterfly 8fa1015ac0 as before.2f5073816e2a680f

    It was 655af7cdde no hallucination.f22ccadd1a450c7c

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    “Oh my, look over there.”6c861080b80f688b

    “Who’s he going to?”69e970a3d81c75e8

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    “Surely he’s not intending to dance with someone other than the princess?”785ce99f679555d1

    One by one, 3b0f7a5114 the dancing guests 3228de6f86 halted their movements, 43430e6560 their gazes fixed dc1f7d9a83 on a single 39cc2c97bb point.a8f9ed8349b66646

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    Even Arthur, who had 4bc3467ed0 been serving as a 46593019aa partner to a noblewoman 769716b8f4 in the centre of 1f55c8e4ee the ballroom, shifted his da05f3bd82 attention to Debert. Amidst the e402be8e3e grand orchestral dba579e245 melodies filling 7cbc58033d the vast 798ea50edf ballroom, the e585e89cfa murmurs of 52e9018166 the people cab6834eb6 gradually began ff3457b380 to swell.55769a35d738d74a

    “Excuse me for a moment.”a66799c6461bb99c

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    Arthur excused 1e32ac82ce himself from efa87d1338 his partner, c6541fee63 quickly approaching a07843f75f Debert.2449b21fba643a31

    The atmosphere 445e3fbab6 was ominous.75d3f0110b0e50ee

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    It was an instinct only one who had spent so much time by Debert’s side could possess.55300359d2e6b471

    “Debert!”7d89d9e0ef371295

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    Arthur called from 8f6edb92eb afar, but Debert 582fd6f142 did not turn 958b3eb7a6 back.9930351dcab53b78

    Arthur hastily scanned the direction of Debert’s gaze, but amid the throng, he could not discern who the target was.f05d3d5cf570b687

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    Even the dim lighting revealed only the intermittent glimmer of the ladies’ jewellery reflecting the lamp light.25300d1866fe6506

    Debert’s steps began to quicken. The determined strides were ominous.12f04d33e64181f5

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    His stubbornly 245464a37e clenched jaw 970666bdc2 protruded. The elusive purple butterfly, a2cfaad6ed tormenting the peripherals, was 6e5c7d9545 gradually moving further away.8182c4c987487560

    “Oh my!”fb9b3b1f45a32932

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    “Goodness!”a1c9af44b726d076

    The noblewomen clustered together cried out as Debert barged through their midst. In the momentary commotion, the butterfly vanished through the ballroom entrance. The trailing hem of a dress disappearing to the right of the corridor was all that remained in Debert’s vision.88dcefde134e433e

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    “Damn it!”f482936f877b044e

    Someone roughly spun 54e41b3c25 Debert around, just be5684e31c as he was 4278cf305e about to rush 20dee7f060 out.e810b698111a4afe

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    “Debert Cliff!”47515f4684a327fc

    It was Arthur.4a2c1949332ccbab

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    “What do you think you’re doing?!”647c1dda845783ae

    At Arthur’s roar, an instant hush fell over the space. The orchestra, hesitant to continue playing amidst the suddenly stilled guests, gradually fell silent.2f919f5ee35f1c45

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    The only sounds were the hushed murmurs of the people and Arthur’s ragged breathing.06853b7521e4db63

    “Move aside.”bbe57d6f64c8a270

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    “Debert…!”3b6ec10d8aabeb17

    Arthur once again blocked Debert’s path towards the palace corridor – the one leading to the gardens where Debert had collapsed, intoxicated.53533427db7b19cc

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    “Debert. Many eyes are watching.”b3269f19a645edb8

    Arthur whispered, barely audible e7fd0b938d to Debert alone.b01c979c3851f21b

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    But the ashen b6246dda5e eyes behind the ad48e12468 black mask seemed 4c7a4b7cbb oblivious to his 4c90d352a7 words. The renewed 2e2d514556 steps towards 0662d42bdc the gardens, 1b4ff3a1f1 like one 99a328a848 possessed, proved ab36e90028 it.001fc4c50ecd7e7f

    “Duke Cliff.”6216874679a57f5a

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    As Arthur barred his way again, Debert’s gaze finally fell upon the prince. The hollow eyes wavered erratically.3c9d601a66b94c05

    “Prince Arthur Wayner. What do you think you’re doing?”31cfc66526de97c3

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    The fury 238e15b3bd in his 747155adf0 muttered words b114da47f7 was palpable.66d22af45005ea07

    “Pull yourself together.”0d61c5cd32626426

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    Arthur replied calmly.df0358b7aa648f22

    “Pull myself together…”0f89ea9f670a9c0c

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    Repeating Arthur’s words, one corner of Debert’s lips curled upwards in a clear sneer.f3df2d6a36b45f00

    Debert removed the mask covering his face. The black butterfly mask fell from his fingertips to the floor. Arthur’s gaze briefly followed the fallen mask.16a0df0ac25ba78f

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    The immaculately groomed 424741f6f8 Duke Cliff looked 6c0beab364 down upon the 1640cc12be imperial prince.e5342ce75dc3e588

    “I’ve told you before, Prince Arthur Wayner. Don’t get presumptuous.”eee8995faa7e6313

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    The haughty rebuke caused the brow beneath Arthur’s masked face to furrow.5f6309a8aa0f715f

    “This is not a time of war, Duke Cliff. Observe propriety.”eb0e57d27c4e2f48

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    Arthur retorted, 98e10e44c7 refusing to de18d3aacf back down.6e1393922915c420

    “That woman is not here. If you want to prove you’ve not gone mad, then cast aside those delusions.”291fc4bcede5644c

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    Arthur ultimately spat 85048d25e2 out the final f4dcbdf987 words.c9bb9c804bfcc816

    “That she will return to your side, ugh!”8fd82144d9005587

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    In an ded25350d6 instant, Arthur a5659e6976 was seized 40f2446043 by the ccd5e81f98 collar and 04d598d637 slammed against 6d8446e3b9 the wall. A lamp, struck by 6a990bd3e4 his broad back, shattered 624ceb09c5 with a loud noise. As the staggering 38725787be Arthur tried to 68d2908212 rise, shards of 693e39aea8 glass embedded in dbed627d0f his palm.878004d8a77a2296

    Debert ruthlessly yanked Arthur up by the collar. Helpless against the brute force, Arthur met Debert’s gaze.4a6b642cba9324dd

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    “Have you gone mad?!”ffa8cd24f15052d0

    “Keep spouting your nonsense.”1b6efe803a4f90ea

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    Unlike the excitement that had permeated him earlier, Debert’s eyes were colder than ever as they bore into Arthur.88efc9764b867a32

    “As you know, I’ve been mad all along, haven’t I?”b6935f86e1a8d4ab

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    Debert whispered lowly, right into Arthur’s reddened ear.d4440fda6fef4e55

    “You’ve seen me descend into madness since I was eighteen. So why, why are you so desperate to keep me from losing my mind?”f9134755f46d8830

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    Debert glanced around 5d573ee05c at the surrounding de1d0269a8 crowd, his lips 8ff1d47fd5 curving in a d25bf85590 slight smile. His voice had dropped 7eea4f8c9d low enough that only c0c82e040d they could hear.2ad7114278a52c2d

    “Useful as the Emperor’s mad dog, but now the mad beast is unwanted, is that it?”a1a95f31b2a187e9

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    Debert contemplated, caressing c6492bcb8f his own lips 6e924aeb70 with his hand.81de196059c9a798

    “Or is it c88c5da18b at least a 0a974d1baa sense of responsibility 5d20313417 as siblings that 8bc471a024 you cannot marry 12561e7d3c the princess to 9ce0c76647 a dog?”5901994980f14346

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    “You damned fool!”5d6be5ca74fe61dc

    Unable to restrain himself any longer, Arthur swung his fist. Debert willingly accepted the punch, collapsing to the floor. He offered no resistance, simply allowing Arthur’s blows to rain down.2d9e8b2f8fbf85c0

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    The dull thuds 4a0b15e074 drew screams from b82452b40b the onlookers, but 8a963813ca no one dared a3797fc17f approach.f964112ba0b0eb20

    Raphnel, at the forefront of the crowd, watched the unsightly scene with a look of disgust. The guards glanced her way, ready to rush in at the princess’s slightest indication, but Raphnel merely furrowed her brow, observing the repulsive spectacle.6cbdd4b79d490369

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    Fools. Raphnel cast a contemptuous b276604e91 gaze downward. At least this f4a62ca306 ruckus happened at cf25a0b6d2 the masquerade ball, 89fd4e9536 where the darkness 02b05e227d provided cover.350a7d8faab9f142

    “Ugh!”c2cba3ccdd9b2725

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    Raphnel’s eyes lifted at the sudden groan from Arthur.1787a73bca1530d5

    The situation had reversed. The veins in Debert’s hand gripping Arthur’s neck were visibly strained.0690c5b5952c70ac

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    Raphnel finally cast 2acd4ddd95 a glance towards 30bed42992 the nearby guards. Catching her unspoken 6519914a9e command, the guards a16114944c quickly approached the 1e344d0ec4 entangled pair.ecc416d8330d9bdb

    “Gah…!”731661d863aeaacf

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    By now, Arthur’s mask too had long since fallen to the floor.cc437fa3caa8c0c8

    “Step back.”62ddff06281f717d

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    Even before the guards febd20eed6 could lay a hand 39622dc86e on him, Debert rose, ae86a83f7b brushing himself off. The blood on 2471667b3a his lips was a40c059fc7 stark in the 47f85b8a02 darkness.25dd39574037b659

    With eyes 2e213de68f reddened by 30ad6a05f8 bloodlust, Debert c8dc8e3ec7 resumed his 5cdda89d6b steps towards 93856778ba the path 2aac37aa77 he had 28021955df not yet ad6ecee719 taken.47666350c6e48a1e

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    The one leading to 5711c8b2e8 the gardens.238c41ab424a0d69

    Behind him, Arthur’s ragged breathing and the bewildered murmurs of the people echoed, but Debert paid them no heed.af7112dfb129fd77

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    * * *1f13aa454ad10f5e

    “Debert has truly gone mad.”4b256d2c36cc64df

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    The newsletter slipped from Hoyden’s hand.7948edc6f901f47c

    Summoned by d4c66b1456 the Emperor 3165a7805b in the 468bc64253 early morning, e6037ef991 Raphnel sat 7c10aab6e3 at the 71349725f3 dining table, c97aa560b1 lifeless.ecc0407db6abfe4a

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    Fresh fruit, still glistening with moisture, had been placed on her plate, but Raphnel’s hands remained unmoving on her lap.86cf09ae288ceeb8

    “Why so silent? You witnessed that spectacle as well.”31c9ef1502a1b982

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    It was understandable that the summons had arrived so early the morning after the previous night’s incident, but he hadn’t expected them to be alone.cc5067f751ed4591

    Raphnel had deliberately d2f5519b4f adorned herself to 5506383a98 appear haggard, but 6a3ed4f33f Hoyden was not c9eba8791d so easily fooled.2862bbc61c6a7e2b

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    “To have gone to the trouble of sending Debert a personal invitation, tsk.”07075ce5a7a4a322

    Raphnel bit her 12ffcc5517 lip.794438e15bc0a0a2

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    What a weakling. While unable 361c40e478 to so e2644f16d7 much as f159e7b1df utter a e1a7e27e5e peep, lest c42f3a0f06 the military f20538ff31 supply contract 9d2fe17631 be disrupted, f3af3b4183 he was fba55c9cd5 content to c428e3413c simply torment 7af4e88390 his powerless cb30d2c051 half-sibling.54281dab9dfd40d7

    Suppressing the urge to smash Hoyden’s skull, Raphnel continued to chew on her own lip.2a840212640c256c

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    “Idiots. For the imperial family’s reputation to be tarnished by a brawl right at the start of the social season.”df2073a05f203ee6

    Hoyden crudely toyed with his knife, the grating sound of metal against porcelain making Raphnel’s nose wrinkle.c56786ee3f26053c

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    In that moment, 655f767d91 the unpleasant cutlery a12a1b8ef6 sound ceased.95a53325c1822b27

    “Why so gloomy, Raphnel. Are you also uncomfortable with this?”4a5a4df8edaa86bb

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    “No, Your Majesty.”01f1c6193f8ed2fe

    “Then you should have done it right from the start!”f7379cf01ff61ba9

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    Hoyden slammed d30fb26f19 the table, ac54a7a143 as if 991d811165 in a 75fe71e184 fit. The shaken wine glass aac6a50655 toppled limply onto the d65a91398e tablecloth. Raphnel stared ffd96a19ae at the 05f0ed08e0 reddening fabric, c4eafb98a1 pressing her 8f0b138981 lips shut.69022c22ae791731

    “Can’t even manipulate that madman like a piece of candy in your mouth! Both you and Arthur are useless!”e6d578b6d2981a6f

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    Hoyden flung the stained db9c13584b napkin towards Raphnel. Raphnel regarded the 2314e6e64f soiled napkin, then 6afe9c8d58 gestured to the ddfa15a380 servant standing at 6759ace1e9 a distance.5f75cf91172237e2

    “The only reason I’ve acknowledged you lowly ones as my siblings and allowed you to take root in the imperial household is for one purpose. To be useful.”b981c98dea5a03f5

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    The servant dc69919d0d approached, refilling 6a42821a2e the wine 98ee613de8 glass.cfae2e77c2b7af9c

    “If you wish to bear the imperial title, then at least be of assistance to the Emperor’s authority!”4eb573ced3b1eba7

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    Hoyden drained the 5ea4dd82f3 refilled glass in e263a444a8 one gulp. Grimacing at the potent 76631fa1d8 alcoholic fumes, he suddenly 12c7122d28 softened, coaxing Raphnel.8426b576d0ea3ee2

    “Arthur has fulfilled his role in the past. He’s rolled around the battlefield in my stead. So what will you do?”67d9d8963437eb2d

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    Raphnel silently closed 1a9f79422a her eyes. If only the 5608d83365 foolish Arthur were 31176b6cf6 here as well, 827f325c61 it might have 4bf09d3fc5 been a little b261b27754 better. Voicing the f82d6bfa5b useless speculation, eac85211da she moved 44c039bdaa her lips.33eb14395677363d

    “I understand what you’re asking.”3ebb0a2e313e6fce

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    “Of course you do. You’re intelligent, unlike your mother.”38c57bc1dc2d9ba2

    At the mention of her mother, the impassive expression on Raphnel’s face cracked. Raphnel now glared at the wine-stained tablecloth as if it were Hoyden’s neck.f2dd034bcc900885

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    “The debutante ball will be held soon. You are aware that it marks the official start of the social season, are you not?”8ec4c4afa8ac6ac3

    Raphnel’s fingers, tainted with anger, viciously tore at the hem of her dress beneath the table. The knuckles, drained of all colour from the tight grip, trembled faintly.bacbb986961ef3f2

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    The faint 35df599ddb blonde lashes 4db1dff456 flickered a 4df0ed2ca6 few times e215e9fd6e in the 4fb2a89908 air before 79fccc6219 Raphnel turned 39e61e1be3 to face f22438824a Hoyden.dc97c2a6f6fb88cf

    “Please send Debert another invitation. Invoking the Emperor’s authority.”d3296b990f49c6a7

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    Starting with the debutante 0cef4825d7 ball, marriage proposals would b691c665f6 begin circulating throughout Wayne.495ed673101352f4

    This time, dc8fa42216 it must a5f4746a57 be accomplished.d01e211a006c0997

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    “And then?”4168182841bd7241

    Hoyden’s eyes narrowed. The scrutinizing gaze of his half-sibling gleamed with greed.b247a2fce129911f

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    Staring directly into f975bf2dda those serpentine eyes, e4dba2e169 Raphnel spoke in 25c3a9371f a clipped tone.ad5dbc980d35f1d6

    “I’ll do as you wish.”26620be98bd4754d

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    A charming smile soon 40151d9ffa graced her features.8d6119a3ac6301c1

    “As you know, I may have inherited my mother’s good qualities, but I’m not as foolish as her.”0d21b0a4a2200307

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    Satisfied with the response, a flicker of anticipation crossed Hoyden’s face.d396d442978862d0

    “Trust me, one last time.”b509dd7437000f4a

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    Bright morning sunlight 6a0e3d2f11 spilled over the 44946f1b96 table where the 82d83457ff two conducted their ff3e71fddc covert dealings.cb54e345cbdb1709

     08431d226d9bfd93

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