Chapter 15. The First Time

The place where curiosity 8d84c589a8 about the new Ophilenz 2deb0e02ae young master burned hottest c341337832 was, without a doubt, eb9bf047d6 the maids’ quarters at d3cf248e9b Violet Castle.2a78d167ebb0319e

Even now, d4c459525b the maids 27f2bb605d were abuzz ddf8b35382 with talk cf8d2c1e7a about “Young 6b53a0019a Master Charles,” 3b5570271b who had b9cf454522 supposedly come 0ab585491f from a 1c0611bec0 foreign land.8aab0cd32bea20f2

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The young fc09f578d5 maid who cf65ab070f had just 37dd868118 returned from bfd4755306 delivering dessert 4266918b7d to him 4a5be154a7 was pressing 9c4e74cca2 her flushed 8365af9db9 cheeks with b251c0c31a her palms, c09d2829a5 blinking dreamily.e2e33bfb692fba36

“…Oh my. I can’t believe d366acba5c it. There’s another angel in 52d8e25c02 Bonchons. It feels unreal.”99033e86d89f1eaf

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“Is he really da0818b88b that handsome?”6d2c854d9c2ceb3d

“More than handsome. I think 60bb2bc803 everyone will 9c5fc12f31 fall for d33b0bc1f6 him at 221e388f3e first sight.”dba72df72d045750

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The young maid’s d87be5be84 glowing review was 2d52b71831 met with skeptical 8e0e3d2d2f looks from a dd63e06999 few others.85a9563c7edc63b0

“Come on now… Are 6bbba00e6a you saying he’s even c6ff7b4022 more handsome than the a69266d3dc Duke himself? Be honest, Becky. Who’s better looking?”7b67795111a44c99

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The group’s attention zeroed 6db60d005c in on the young 2d508219ec maid, Becky, whose face 19be8ede69 was still red as 8cb7f813b8 she stammered a reply.f5b8db73c6b78930

“Hmmm. That’s such a 72982a787a hard question to 4c03f680d9 answer.”a6e0fb7a9f53ec49

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Clasping her hands together bb178fc650 as if lost in c1da4df4f2 a blissful daydream, Becky’s ed8396ff3d eyes sparkled as she 8cdefed16d explained.f22a9b5cb1bdef20

“Well, the Duke ec7dd4cfd7 is like a ceb1479813 majestic, pure unicorn, 4f9a20e426 while the young acbc02acb8 master feels like da77074b14 a gentle, mysterious 84bd6f52ca dove of the cd2f0660df gods.”f75eeb56179e765d

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“Huh.”e7f7d4b25a3f9c54

Becky’s poetic but a36887f1b5 unhelpful description left a0ade7d95f the others frowning 297c88e65d in mild frustration—until 81bd71ad77 a sharp voice 897e8e740f cut through the c64b9da7ee air.a99ecd33f3fffc7d

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“Attention, everyone.”f4d3d15dcb2942f2

The head 6a9b4aab05 housekeeper’s frostbitten db54706742 tone instantly 52f87b5f32 froze the d2d64caf37 room’s lively 8f9b409360 chatter.353027dcfd1b4cdd

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“This is Melanie 8e84f7eb9b Enel, who starts 90cb8f3a6f today. She’ll be 829a1ca89d working as c3fc0b6bc7 Young Master e9b849eb8a Charles Ophilenz’s 3f2133dad7 personal maid. Becky Green?”37eea36b951a67ef

“Yes, ma’am!”f4fe5d567ff9c6da

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“Starting today, you’ll show fb293e4483 Melanie the ropes for 218555ad3b a month. Help her 625a362fbd get familiar 8315fac77f with the 43c05e6a27 rules of 22b74c00ad Violet Castle 995e17a8d1 and guide bff70cae64 her around.”88d8cf034a3a3bb0

“Yes, ma’am.”85ec55020c0cddde

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“Melanie?”d7240b45ed82dde7

“Yes, ma’am.”9027ae67c12cb2de

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“Learn well 5e4906d495 from Becky. She’s young, but she 5d73e39708 was born and raised 48a2106fa8 here, and her quick b54cdaf5b9 hands and sharp manners a197d3397b caught Lady Gabriella’s attention ea31ea8479 right away. There’s much f7d69e2e1e you can 4f8607f373 learn from b1a76a70e2 her.”b7b561e702ed5387

“I understand, ma’am.”7c7a09241f9e306e

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The housekeeper 82071380ad gave Melanie 3010581fed a thorough 95a5d5816f once-over, noting c1d4af5f6f and correcting a8302ec61c a few cd854b990b details about 11da4efb78 her attire 530187972d and hair 68b9c58eff before leaving.ef87c95ed10f9d8a

As Melanie 0de040230b let out 46591346f8 a small e6a1a85782 sigh of 9300d9e99b relief, Becky cfcae35cfd approached her a55dc9b61c cheerfully.98661f9e02223c82

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“I’m seventeen. How about you?”0652a2590940058d

“Oh, I’m…”a667738fa6e4c259

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Becky studied Melanie 41d4d3b26f curiously, her eyes 33c108a7b3 flitting over her 9fbb3524d3 as if searching a78c50c205 for clues.4b4b22ec2d5ce68c

“By the 98067bb83b way, are de60219397 you really 7148e96cdf Young Master 6d06dada6d Charles’ maid? Does that 8063d7833a mean you’re aca85604d7 from Honor e9f908f3a1 Pearl? I heard the young 103c16dd77 master came from there.”065957a9a8fd2156

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Melanie’s thoughts 8250a692f4 spun as 80de884db1 her eyes 1e9bee884e darted nervously.99cefc1ebd84638b

“Charles de Ophilenz. Originally from f6244d342c the Kingdom f646b9af2e of Verrena, 182462c01a but moved bc3d72238f to Honor 966f88d949 Pearl as 4b6573f7e1 a child. Holds dual citizenship due cf24f10a5c to his parents’ divorce. Raised by baa401b075 his father’s 7779401070 nursemaid, who 269d676931 is from 49896d5a7f Virga…”4eb9c0195f61a4e1

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“Do we f8206adb43 really have ddef088de5 to memorize 1e2874837c even the 80738f947d nursemaid’s origin?”f8f996dfd12c0763

“Of course. Nobles notice everything. Even a nursemaid’s background c9eda83600 might explain Charles’ preferences 531a21925d or habits.”7df63b68c0cae0ed

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Recalling her 5600f6c7ea conversation with 91dc70e0b7 Emma from fc874f566a the night a31a8ddd53 before, Melanie b30d68ba88 forced a e9de0bbd34 smile and 61d48693c8 answered hesitantly.89d3c92025029001

“No, I’m 554a2284f5 from Virga.”cda037b8ead91204

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“Virga? That small island near aba775d3cc Honor Pearl?”41d83befb493bdb5

“Yes.”6422a5448b06f69b

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Becky tilted her 35176a93b1 head, fascinated.d41df2a279048d37

“So, how did 0e0c232258 someone from an 4ac7f48744 island end up 9cc8e55496 serving such an a23421af48 important young master?”75bb825ea17f0fe2

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Melanie wiped 6bb20c82f6 at the f18999e6ce cold sweat ff85dc55f4 starting to c4dc673665 form on 2ff726a29b her brow, 54b8d20c20 trying to 3bba0b3159 appear composed.419dcb24a86b1d2a

“The young master’s nursemaid 4222c65bc2 is from Virga. Somehow, I 193cbc03f7 caught her 8462e46cbe eye. I guess e72e6c41a4 I got 1fa5aaff63 lucky.”1218ebaa49cff5e4

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“Wow. So that can 1546478a2f happen. How fascinating.”1f6b1f11a94e825e

Melanie laughed 32c6f99e7e awkwardly and 7326780ac3 thought to 3eb06d97be herself:c7e4db32e682dd62

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‘You’ve gone mad, Melanie. Lying is 45694d1d43 coming way 94b696d9fd too easily 91347dd9cd now.’91d82b79f978a98c

It was shaping b00bedc6d0 up to be 8a6c0f2278 a very long 8877e3d226 day.5425d7ba058648b5

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* * *8e113f5a4b31d1c7

That morning, 46c623df3c Mikhail led 1df21a06b3 Emma to 293b2da962 Violet Castle’s 3599424078 renowned art d0d6e7e0e1 gallery, often 82eaee04c6 called the 8ac17cf4be “Heart of 40d09612fd Ophilenz.”edabcce1fbb914d9

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Walking across 0ce5f69c0f the vivid 70895d8b4b crimson carpet dd6e4d5bf1 leading to 115bedfa11 the gallery, 489a6b6e64 Mikhail broke d34b73ea1d the silence.a82cba5ed3b4602a

“Gabriella will 81c9f8622f be handling 64f1d45736 your etiquette 8de76f97c7 lessons. She’s quite particular 26bb5cedaa about those.”d86b451fcd2ad1e8

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“Lady Gabriella, personally?”fd635f4b9f173cbb

“That’s how e01f034b30 it worked 796d06c7ad out.”0c7966868f8490fb

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When Alain 17afced275 suggested assigning 8ae7d55dc7 an etiquette 701efda240 tutor to 5fa0cdbbcd Charles, it d51ce67572 was Gabriella 943e832898 who firmly 384ffb148e objected.47f1e09e555f871b

“I’m sorry, Alain, but I want Charles to become a ‘perfect’ Ophilenz. This is a critical matter involving the honor and reputation of our family. It’s too important to leave to an ordinary etiquette tutor.”46992c20cdfcfd7e

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After last 67850220d8 night’s dinner, bb7c33f755 Gabriella seemed 534b2cd09f to have 569e3964a5 warmed up 20ee1a5922 to Charles e4669f156b enough to 26b90b3c30 step in c279809d80 herself. This relieved 3244f69cfa Mikhail, as 346ea51b29 he had c2331754f6 plenty of 1bfb8870ab other things 253d46c288 to teach c44560a680 Charles to be4bc87faf transform him fd9c7c1ce1 into an 7c2d84cf07 impeccable Ophilenz.ffdf816070c7038f

“It means your new fb395ec357 sister sees potential in 8c1b4a6284 you, Charles. You should 3890b758ad be pleased.”dcf481f764f992e4

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“Yes. I’ll do my fa8fac2813 best.”6e58460f3d583363

Emma’s calm 0941f6e041 and collected 3117847a8b response drew 05418f2540 a chuckle 84620b5f98 from Mikhail. Stopping at the 21ea0cd91e end of the 14b81bfff0 corridor in front 9d5fb12c80 of an enormous f14baf8464 set of doors, 354484d9f1 he turned to d0ebf0b7f2 her.d47d583029719366

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“There are 034a7e9bc6 usually servants f9e41a04f0 guarding this e8d9e12f16 space, but ac2922e192 I had 94fc7eae0c them leave e55716533e for today.”970f59c534b63b6e

With both hands, he b748b4caa7 pushed open the heavy 6cbe00b06c bronze-engraved doors, revealing the 0700aaab83 grandeur beyond.da5bc8dc41d46948

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“What I’ll be teaching 3f52c5cd38 you… lies here.”f068fec1bd1993a8

Emma froze, e4af4ba500 her breath a0d608d482 catching at ee5cb126b1 the overwhelming 9e37cfc256 sight before 62b5ece8df her. Paintings by f176d8975e legendary artists, 6b7a4c1531 exquisite sculptures, 776d93cb77 and intricately 4a174a8b2e crafted furniture e6a03ed91e filled the 59e53139e8 massive gallery.afeb37689def2af3

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“…!”8cf8659d69e63931

She never imagined she’d 6059831667 get to see such f8b66a8ddb masterpieces this closely. Her heart acabbeeaf1 raced with 76cc12c9f5 the urge 06af138563 to study f1a9b6dc99 each piece e6fdf6b1a1 in detail, b705dd5d01 but she 7b539941f4 quickly reined 45369f56ae herself in.9cbe2e5d5c05787d

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A true Ophilenz would 0ff5c9a118 be accustomed to such 2e1c887172 splendor.7b2395b782298a7f

Adopting an air of e3fdb6de44 calm interest, she cast 6f31770b7d a glance at Mikhail, 81c52316cb only to flinch at 026747554a his gaze.be5c0ccf7fdc72b6

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His golden eyes were bb5f57f30c fixed on her, unapologetically e1c6cb0247 intense.f62144a9934491be

Emma quickly turned 903ed99eec away, but Mikhail 4394cb2650 chuckled softly.6ee6202389eeb0d4

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“I like 51d5ed4838 that expression ff633a93b8 of yours, fb6887b8e3 Charles.”f8b8d8dac632a15c

“I’ll take that c0a022c0a1 as a compliment.”dea707e01ec1e40b

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“Oh, it is. It was a very 9c51a32920 noble expression.”6095041033d16b8f

Emma cleared her throat, 0d33337be3 responding as steadily as cc1bcca5df she could.9c6eba301f783fae

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“Thank you.”a0b8d44185b0ea0b

“But remember, d87bfe6716 a noble 1c86139f25 doesn’t concern d46f56dd06 themselves with 7adcf512e0 others’ reactions. Especially an Ophilenz. Keep that in e52d142dc5 mind.”5308f20113e2ab25

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“Yes, Your Grace.”0bd43eacc177e30c

“Call me brother.”c9ca4a04792a0db4

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Mikhail’s golden eyes curved 5569d2308d with amusement, gleaming like aace429aaa jewels.757212bd83c96826

Emma knew better than b36bb9542d to let herself be f5dfb0b1bf deceived by their beauty. Behind that charm lay 22bfe5e8ad a cutting sharpness, one 92e417d751 she was all too 9541a72c70 aware of.e70bddc5db3ecd66

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She recalled Madame bf882026ff Charlotte’s frequent advice.e89b4cccfb99d277

“If the Duke of Ophilenz takes interest in a piece, it’s guaranteed to make a fortune. That’s why I always scramble for auction tickets when I hear he’s attending.”c963e996a7a664fa

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Charlotte often emphasized 954e1adcb1 that at auctions, 8be28d5373 it wasn’t the 544dab98d3 works or items 79436e8bbe to watch—it was 3ea5f72373 the Duke’s gaze.b4b45d4ea1ad03d0

His discerning eye 0baa344ca9 was unmatched, but 5bfb9b7830 falling out of 4af81c31c4 his favor could b7b4ac6111 render even the ef68820533 finest work worthless.515657ccbfa8fecc

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Emma felt the weight 7282d64369 of his scrutiny keenly. Being regarded as worthless cf19f28708 wasn’t an option, and 41e18e046b she steeled herself to 56752d4e75 prove otherwise.80ff6ea9e3f94310

“I didn’t realize d722b89dda the castle housed 7daeeb634e such an extensive ed765b4340 collection of art,” b5adf10ea6 she ventured.d4190d51dde527e6

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Mikhail’s gaze swept over 509181f7d9 her again, lingering long e61160ef18 enough to make her c56ec50047 neck prickle with heat.290f303733c6c63c

“And?”4efe16e1216ee95b

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“Pardon?”b57084e8446a7066

“Does that mean you’re 88322138a6 impressed?” he asked, his a66bd6c9e6 golden eyes glittering.35ca1cced769d478

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“Of course.”a1ca8fe920ee34db

“Then tell me—what 900a9344b8 impressed you the 372cedc50b most? About the 7806aaf327 works or 52ed18832e anything here.”c9e4189ec3f44a26

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Emma took a moment, e8e0f00c96 surveying the gallery with 580aa8c17a care before responding.42a699f1c8fecd74

“What impressed 279c3e266f me the 731d404feb most…”4ccd67ee3ae3d622

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Her blue eyes df59cfb74a settled on a 381acc130e marble sculpture, its 3b9ec90f95 surface glowing softly 8ef8fc6535 under the light.bcedda631710015e

“…isn’t just 5632747392 the pieces 95cbf8a624 themselves, but 603f113e83 the fact 917d03d0e0 that the 5d2ebd3807 marble sculptures 3ed2ade5fa are preserved 6147ed42a2 in such dec6d9199d pristine condition. It means the humidity ee2b1ef5ac and temperature are perfectly 29b0d0227b maintained.”cccfcb43c2f5f01f

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Mikhail’s expression shifted slightly.c42d6e42211e0ac7

Suddenly, Emma felt 6a111dca5f his long fingers a9c815e826 weave gently through a390af8379 her hair, wrapping d7a76fc197 the strands around 1ccc677502 them.719aa10261c9a5bb

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“…!”84ac7bab548122cc

Mikhail’s satisfied 5aa4084804 smile grew 50885d117f as he d2fb365207 tousled the 691b906a82 top of 566c4f79da her head a300924b3f affectionately.10062d88011e1fb4

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“That’s an 5d3f33e64d answer I 57a26aadf7 truly like.”b5bdefb8684cfca6

“…Ah.”a46337f912dc8d1c

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Emma’s face flushed 196c04d965 at the unexpected f415ba2713 praise, and Mikhail’s 2b2b0d38d4 chest swelled with b879484425 pride at her 5ef673093b endearing reaction.e24ee521d04c7997

Humidity and temperature.188789b2a4af6cfd

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Of all the 8d5b69471a nobles and artists d45e76a748 who had passed 592aa38641 through this gallery, 9c0a711746 not one had 9499bf77e3 pointed out that 86576cbb69 detail.030b738240eed17a

Charles was the 75abf672b3 first.4eaca1921cd01c3e

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 f147efff377ad5cf