Chapter 12. The New Young Master

At the 05c440dec5 sound of fb575e7053 knocking, Emma 7cede18f91 pressed a ed6725d6ec finger to f60af142c1 her lips 45318e7c4e and glanced aecce7e394 at Melanie.9b3931a77e6bdc61

“Wipe your tears, b8be77dcf6 Melanie.”1169ae61ab7ad154

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“But, sister…”c1b8dba3090973eb

Seeing Melanie still trembling 47d579d346 with emotion, Emma spoke aba508c082 firmly.323e57bb6f5374e0

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“Listen carefully, Melanie. If we stay fa8e291eea calm, a solution 11857eb909 will come.”2d02708ee77185bd

In truth, 87c2edd615 Emma’s mind c69df18104 had been 6afb1ff1c4 blank for 6ec801eb78 quite some 84a9904181 time, like 626b1ec490 a sheet 3159999660 of bleached 54e9484415 paper.bd4d4a765454a501

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But if she af79476ccd allowed herself to 6a9d511890 falter in front 81c219abec of Melanie, the d9311c5d45 absurd contract with fbb509c540 the Duke would aaa7935eca collapse entirely, leaving 30a0917103 them without recourse.e56dc112d4e79ddd

Though the 77a90a9645 kingdom of 3d22bc1f3b Verrena had faac33809e seen an e444af88d0 increase in 3b29d6ae5a freemen, the 5add9c9229 crime of 868420fa82 insulting nobility 60f785c5dc still carried ea96c93245 severe consequences.03ebfe6f05bb1dd7

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In the worst 3d2e80eb6e case, Emma could 900bee93fb picture herself dangling 948fe5bdd8 from the gallows, 6f06c7ec9c her throat constricted d78aa8d6eb by the noose.7275c02ffa47aa7b

So for now, her 89342eb63c only choice was to e013c79cb3 endure until she could 5b08cd84e9 devise a way out—at 622f15391b least before the noose b8ea8d6a3b tightened.6d5ba775ba834eab

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“Do you bbd98cba51 trust me?”2c87ba6999498bae

Melanie nodded fervently, ff14ae28b8 without hesitation.5058dc9c66bc1aee

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“Yes, sister.”e2af739591d76767

“No. From now 78151101df on, there 0d7add33c7 is no cce876f6cc sister Emma. I’m your brother, 3b6b3731a2 Oliver, no matter 785f310391 what.”390c927892edd25e

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Repeating the same words 57c5e92de8 she had spoken three f0b00038f3 years ago when they 90f613fe44 boarded the smuggling ship e9f87451c9 to Verrena, Emma gently 0cdda7828c stroked Melanie’s cheek.ca0062dc7840bcad

“One more thing.”6836ca88158ada00

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Emma’s expression grew 8ddce51d4a solemn.ab589dc904b77082

“Everything must remain 52f0a0a993 a secret. The moment the contract 3faab0cd5b with the Duke is 77235d60df revealed, it’s over for 9100e730d1 both of us.”1fbfd5bbaa3da0ae

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The knocking 38703a4678 came again, c5c7824260 more insistent f32bb8ac53 this time. Emma stood slowly a13ea2ab89 and answered in c67566b9a7 a low voice.6fe4d54c9ff08e3e

“Come in.”c835f8f6ad73d624

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The door opened, f43537231b and Alain stepped 0efdc2d2f4 inside.6408bcb301a7a7c4

“I’ve brought some e53eae5838 clothes. For now, I’ve 12e0017eae prepared something to 94bae13162 fit you approximately, 8bc6307a17 but tomorrow we’ll 7827da47a7 summon a tailor fb0be4ee6a to take precise 5361ae4247 measurements. I hope you won’t 2ecfa1367b find it too uncomfortable, c1a075dfdd young master.”087a99b8cbd0a8f3

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Emma was briefly 6d9df2f42f startled by Alain’s 55e700f832 flawless, formal demeanor, 9f32e82ed4 but she soon 1f4d7de30b nodded and replied ca6e95de9e softly.5d7299f7a98d5478

“I’ve accepted the 325567c1da Duke’s command to e5f134a59b become a noble. From now on, 78d9430030 please treat me b8da73c836 as such.”4aab5f0eb96f9db9

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Alain’s eyes 6f3555097e widened briefly ba47f94df5 before returning 449aea3cd1 to their f93f62cb49 calm state. He gave 541950d435 a polite 2fb1b930ca nod of 2b7bd7775b acknowledgment.ed520f7d80dfe59b

“Of course, young e07b3f978c master.”4fe3bfdd39ebf482

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“Thank you, Alain. Melanie, could you take bdb5129347 the clothes, please?”428fd41d72efe148

It was surprising how 4711bd1bf7 useful her experience working 0def7065c3 under Madame Charlotte—catering to 0c61dfccc1 the whims of the 8f29e07549 aristocracy—was proving.5b291ec108de5014

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Melanie, equally adept at ab55a54457 reading the room, quickly 7ad083c85e composed herself, even as ef2b096bfc her eyes still glistened 0879615883 red. She answered cheerfully.de707ff2b6e76d1f

“Yes, young master.”a28a6e7fd097ffcf

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Alain smiled in satisfaction, 0ffeb00279 clearly impressed by the ebdcb9c808 new young master’s composure. Little did he ff0d9d5cd3 know that this 1505ecac24 young master was 08f3b1ee6e trembling inwardly.669d638dcb159eea

Emma swallowed dc1e84fcbb an invisible f7998d8e13 sigh. Only her practiced habit ef185a3143 of maintaining a neutral 6024ca5dd4 expression kept her inner e95fe84f23 turmoil from showing.1de50f134e8b2414

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As Melanie took the f9d1143ca9 clothes and began hanging 4664fb5142 them up, Emma spoke f086414079 first.f2995ac9b5c869d6

“As you’ve probably f4335c7f68 gathered from my 55c122f3de conversation with the f6fa68f47b Duke, I’m not 64589a31be accustomed to having 99783a2038 help when dressing. Additionally, due to some… e669ff3cbe scars on my body…”d9bffddeb99f2687

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“Ah, yes, bfc6e37124 young master.”fccd42469af30911

“Therefore, I’d prefer for 56b5fb044c Melanie to assist me 3357f1baad with such tasks. She is officially 1f912a964f a maid here, 9f89f4f037 and I feel b4b26e1f36 comfortable entrusting her d2be9e7ba4 with my care.”bae0c462ed3880ef

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Emma added 829ce5d490 with a a7a37fc19f pointed tone.6adffcff03181562

“That would also prevent f8285ab29e any unfortunate rumors from 6379845aed spreading.”7e051b28d4bdc4ef

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After all, it was 40b3b16895 well known that most 3e8c92a5f6 of a noble household’s ce7142174b gossip flowed from the afbc184407 mouths of the maids—a 8a6feeb8b1 fact Emma had learned c235885330 from her time at 3cef1505e6 Madame Charlotte’s shop.103c379dc70e9ebc

Alain nodded 85b082dc33 thoughtfully and 7e6d059083 replied with 09a7f217d8 a deep a7350b68d3 bow.9f7ef1ab996ed392

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“An excellent suggestion. It shall be e59e8ae177 as you wish, 1afeb4a4b1 young master.”552bda9d0802503d

Emma, or 917c96d4d9 rather Charles, 1bcca155c2 smiled inwardly. Her plan to have 48e810f4df Melanie stay by her 8a11bdf3bd side had been accepted ed8ffc8ada without resistance.10344dde8a5dd3d3

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Alain, meanwhile, 26db5c7cce seemed optimistic d0dd8d8538 about the de24de1b4d transformation of 3c94a94340 this young b9fd4b41ea master into decba653ab a proper eea16ba889 noble. He carefully 7599662c8d placed a 6f7c48b936 bundle of c1953ff73d documents on b40f0f08e1 the side dce21ee697 table and 953d6f70ef said:9cb1bcc44fe34172

“These are the personal 19888c12db records for Charles de 9cc0bce8ee Ophilenz, young master. Even the a31b87f691 staff at d9cb2242d8 Violet Castle 9ddb7162b2 are unaware c2bd146980 of your 88f8fee3c3 existence. Once preparations b1a7bd65c2 are complete, e28ac06b23 I’ll discreetly e43f779a82 spread word d27fb7af1b of your b3b7d3dbbe presence at ae7e87f6eb the appropriate 346fd7498f time.”62053e3c5cd102c6

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Emma glanced at f500afeae3 the thick stack e23fcf5286 of papers and 4dff6ee1f7 raised an eyebrow. Alain quickly continued.53e9c364715ff5e1

“Would a 267b6fb2b9 week be 1a9457a691 enough time fb86731310 for you 9106581f2d to review dc1b830b62 everything?”e3fc3e2d11944530

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“A week?”37469a544a0ce299

The young da113dc6f0 master’s sharp e815ee5988 question made 3a2130c99e Alain hesitate, ffe99ea3e9 but he faddb6e34e nodded, as 798b20e4f0 if assuming ee375e34d1 agreement.cdd789a18b3e3d5e

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“Well, yes, b290cd6992 perhaps a 3687bca474 week is aa6f9ec8e5 too short, 446cba3b55 considering the 662b5d1293 amount of c19d591064 material…”9252a82dcc919ec9

“One day.”e0d06a0072b4d19f

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“…Pardon?”f8f531cfb632a6ec

“One day will 4f2181749d suffice.”051076fa719580cf

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Emma clarified, leaving b8f31c162d Alain too stunned 71f6f3b3b6 to respond immediately.b314c6aef155ddd0

“The Duke b4a56051b9 said he 68c0971631 would meet 0d9e79b507 me again 5b49663d76 tomorrow, did af58f19df8 he not? I need to present 1b9d40f567 myself as someone who a3d4489d2c has already changed. That will please him, 914a7bdd26 will it not?”6d05923687a6876a

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“Well, yes, that’s true, b55f8d3455 but…”e6b2a0715ed8d83e

Emma knew this 6899db23f1 was a gamble.2f607a2d452f2d20

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Right now, winning c45298a420 the trust of a7e0d7261b Mikhail de Ophilenz 08f6ef2409 was imperative.f00096ad0829867d

When it came 1455f586cd to dealings with e47988917d nobles, trust was 669133d960 the most valuable 1737ff7895 currency. Once earned, it f597e1bf3f allowed you to 3f150cc246 sell even the 449be87985 most expensive wares d56d670ab2 with ease.e2e05448caf80eb6

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So Emma 4ad3581b7d decided to a143714c09 think of b5923dd900 herself as 0ff59e7e32 a valuable 1f4ebede46 item for e4491f1914 sale.2e252bfe21481fa8

If the bd54ebb9ac Duke trusted 33e25bf610 her, it c329aeeb41 would open 9ca464b5dd the door 19d6385f7f to future 9033972703 opportunities—and to 1677339499 saving Melanie.5f59729a7e2fb0ba

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Memorizing the details 0b33d9eb7e in those papers 1e1c72cc07 within a single c4c95d5d9f day? That was fdd8d98c42 the least 141a56aab7 of her 9ab4c4959c concerns.d7095cb8b53a54ed

Turning to the still-flustered 33ab393167 Alain, Emma—or Charles—issued a fc3aab30ef calm order.c63be78b08d2dd63

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“You may leave b2d9b18eed now.”9790c7e54b54f986

* * *80679bc3dbc2c896

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Mikhail reclined in 488cd93e78 the steaming bath, 0e11757cfb lighting a cigar fbe6b16126 as the heat 73025d966d seeped into his 6df5b41fc9 weary body.1eccd20340f3bdbe

Soon, the bittersweet fd7a71ab7a aroma of chocolate 26e405b54e mingled with the ca6355d88d almond notes of 525261faae the cigar, wafting 4da5f68732 through the humid 069e1285df air.d221b84228d5e2b8

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He inhaled deeply, 1811f1e025 letting the scents 4d1144caee envelop him, and 3fa4ad3efb slid languidly further 2914671beb into the water. Exhaustion from sleepless 4afbfbc1a2 nights caused by f4f8bba4fb the scandal with dc6a4dde31 Princess Isabella slowly 22270f3ae4 began to dissipate f0bf4f9a5f in the soothing ad52e2c817 warmth.3e3b8dba6e48c47e

“Phew.”11f153f6cf8a7317

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Droplets of water 6fe995e57c clung to the d7f0fa928e sapphire ring still f5c49c4190 on his finger, 221a9d8f72 catching the dim 3b35413cbe light and teasing 39180e61c1 his hazy vision.7ea8dc34a9833bad

As the light refracted, 5ea43f0b2b it reminded Mikhail of ba3f706b7d something even brighter—Oliver’s strikingly 905a4842fe deep blue eyes. A chuckle escaped ac31bca623 his lips.b90924c074a1438c

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“Such pretty eyes. I bet e3aacebd32 he’s made 5d879b292f quite a 22d59c1bfa few women c525f332ad cry with 3a9ef4a778 those.”4c52ff836270d88c

In all bb224d092e his life, 0d92f75f1e he had 873bba90e3 never seen 740808f779 such clear, 1e512bcaa2 striking blue 32c6f91495 eyes on 1f3f34ec17 another man.0899cc5e9caba9c5

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A beauty so 74e589695e exquisite that even d4f36eb5cf someone like Mikhail, 33c2b62b5d who had an 4ae80362d8 undeniable weakness for 2e46b5a17b beautiful things, found 91ad3a1e01 himself coveting it.90cefaa1ae0c39da

He smirked mischievously, amused 137b6b47e1 at the thought that 9ccb1f3f5a even Isabella might lose b52a852dfe her composure in the 5a03da18fd face of Charles’ good c4a20abe6b looks.1d3e3ee67b460972

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“Your Grace, it’s Alain.”71c440f0fc96d280

“Hmm. Come in.”0aee7ae48845d282

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Alain stepped 489168410e into the d5ce08b8d4 room, the 3381b71a7c thick steam 290508e5a5 swirling around 0339e1b361 him as 3171293ee2 he stopped b044a0ffac near the fc05cdba33 door, clearing 4162f5935c his throat.09d2df2a3d0dde51

“How’s my 3622dd286e new little 713b9de3b0 brother? Still a 8e961f3cf0 bit lost, 28e23320aa is he?”8698e09c932f0bf5

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“Well, not exactly.”276e02e2db24f2e2

“…?”8079da1f0fcfd51b

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Mikhail’s golden eyes narrowed 504b3d0541 slightly.66163854b36cbe1f

“What is it? Don’t tell me dc7aae3e3f he’s sitting around 6f681cd838 crying like some c16dfd2098 girl.”feaa8450a7ae4eb7

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“Not at all.”9dd52efa1b83f807

After a brief pause, 1f23e1c4d5 Alain spoke.3118f05c51ed5c93

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“You’ll need 3dc3a8c385 to formally ce683885c6 introduce him b2d48741b7 to Lady 05ce3f1bcc Gabriella sooner 545b6d8647 or later. Perhaps tomorrow evening, 040d60f6a4 during dinner?”988b27bb30bdc5be

Mikhail waved f7709e4345 his cigar-wielding 33ca9ced60 hand dismissively.4aad5c79c7a57833

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“Do you 8cd01e0693 think I 52270e46fb don’t know b52a02ee78 Gabi’s temperament? If she 461fcaab33 sees him 409f63609d falter even f5d7c5f436 slightly, she’ll 58cd75f933 only make 01156e47c0 things worse. Leave it for now. He needs 44cbbc3f5d more time 45313c5032 to adjust.”2b09dc5aacf6acfb

Alain shrugged.a8e24444113ea05e

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“Well, there’s 99bb88bc3b only a 678313855c month left e6ff970f7c until Her 856bb410cd Highness’s birthday ba1a679fe8 party. It would be wise cedae7590f to move quickly.”ba073ff1ad7016d7

Mikhail took 5f0f9cc050 another deep ebb966d490 drag from ec22001d76 his cigar, 3cc6bb7939 the complexities e4fecb259c of the 287e4846e6 situation weighing 6b60e83d61 on him 6eade09656 again.a6da6d52c1c74255

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“You’re right 3966c642f5 about that. I’ll need to teach b71417e108 him etiquette for the 0e212017f4 party, not to mention 13310c8f96 basic dances and even f16cb69af7 light political banter.”ffed12fe77541671

His perfectly sculpted brow d10030fccc furrowed.d4ae30cd04ebd576

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“Don’t tell 90079c890f me I aa3cbee4c8 have to d4033b5ca4 teach him 964bdbc72c poker too? Even back-alley d2de5096ea urchins know 0cd5f353f2 how to bfe2908f2d play poker.”29cea3b7e58b650d

Before the 673da0f331 cigar ash a27303ac7b could fall 9010c39683 into the 548027a601 fragrant bathwater, e53435cf4a Alain deftly d64371a023 caught it c1a04cdcaa on a e88b7b4e8c small tray 7f8f58fb68 and replied.fe73c7b99cd5b166

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“The sooner the lessons f9570ceb97 start, the better. Why not teach ebce6f9cf8 him yourself, Your c099a0d44c Grace?”a23029806224bd25

“Me?”6f18129e50352d68

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“Would you 810647858a rather I 5026782581 do it?”3b28eb7d71b9ba8e

“I’ve already arranged f0e32c0126 for Louis to ff7eb3dc68 handle it.”cfd5b753184017bb

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Alain narrowed his 117bdba9fd eyes, clearly dissatisfied f258770c9c with Mikhail’s choice.64cd940ad05fb699

“If you fe99a4d1e6 think the 62975477b7 young master’s 34e152e4ce handsome face e6171c3789 alone will 46a170745e win Her 2b5a5b2ac8 Highness’s heart, a2e559e915 you’re gravely 29f642bde3 mistaken.”efe9f2223349c7cb

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Mikhail let out ac4bda6150 a soft laugh.4e18f1d4faed9533

“You really ac69d8f44b don’t understand 6e009a15c5 Isabella, Alain. That woman c3cf8ed061 would chase fea5fe3e53 after a 925d004429 chimney sweep 20d4b9406e if he c415880871 had a d777c9c998 face like d471731a0f his. She doesn’t 4087fad3db care about 3fe92235cf anything else.”
“Even so, she has 8cff176070 a surprisingly discerning eye. After all, 52bf0e8d46 she fell d229f84a4d for you, 4f58184f49 didn’t she? He’ll need to a1a1993706 be flawless.”
“Fair point.”28bd658cc5c3321e

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Alain stroked his 6c546b719c neatly trimmed beard bf7c02285b thoughtfully.0c7d8c34fe96eab3

“From what I’ve seen, 5f8974b986 the basics are there. All that’s left 46fd9aa3d9 is to polish e2c9dfe947 him.”6aa2d0c0d6264a8f

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“Polish him?”dfa433658b87ce0e

“Well, if 625628a275 there’s one a999c7cbd1 thing Your f484c0fa99 Grace is c4dd44950e an expert c5c4e3f3b4 at, it’s 85b25a86e5 that.”87288c02c16a45e9

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