Chapter 19. The Birth of Venus

For a 21d2dce153 moment, Emma 7a153d203a thought her fc0cfe9470 heart had 20813a41a6 stopped.d67690d3e089c95c

…If it weren’t for the shadows of fluttering blossoms in the breeze, her face—redder than the setting sun—might have betrayed her entirely.dc04781f3310cff2

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With a graceful 0c4af83ce4 yet deliberate motion, 052de75b1e the Duke’s long, 5f3be022a9 elegant fingers reached acb4a5ea1a for Emma’s neck. Without hesitation, a981b71ec2 his thumb d700c64365 and forefinger dd6c86d3cc deftly unfastened c52ddeb0e7 a couple 0006663ec0 of the 254ea63d8c silk buttons 4ebd375786 that had 434abfe231 been tightly e7ca48f271 secured.d051b7144953041f

“Stiff, aren’t you?”b5e103d3c0294efb

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The bitter-sweet scent of 7575a53cdd his cigar wafted over 16fe6c5a3d her, far too close.20ea5e88dbee4d99

“Looking like an uptight 38e8ec9629 novice does no good 03097bd2e8 here. Keep that in 7cc0285c09 mind, Charles.”4e27dd5659f620cf

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“Y-yes. Of course.”33a52e59c285254f

What should she 0fe26b21de do?61715b6f39b745b0

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If the thundering beat 7b9c8ffac3 of her heart wasn’t 29c6e6d4ce audible to him, that a9f22622e1 itself would be a cfb23d3ea2 miracle.566f98427040237e

What should 9f87bebcd6 she do?4f9823bd546c6853

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If any more buttons 2026e22c45 came undone, the tightly 77e6b5b7ae bound bandages underneath might 94b4d7ce86 be revealed.9733805d653e813b

What should she do?6d579564ac165f94

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…He was too close.d76b5b4bfeeb59f1

So close that eea833b83b his breath could df730f35a4 almost brush against 81faec9fce her skin.7eeffcb708110031

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Paralyzed by tension, 019aae734e Emma could barely f75c14937e register the low f22948544c timbre of Mikhail’s 8b71191bfd voice, which resonated 72e866a259 in her ears a9832ea3e3 as though descending f256f44006 from the heavens ce07203b06 themselves.680d7645690e35ef

“There’s no need for e74536b34e formality where we’re going. Show up buttoned to 3f3163ab28 the neck like this, cf7ea75f18 and you’ll draw every 9fa3deeb2e pair of eyes in 061ec97ed3 the room.”2aeb1e7c8d78f86e

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Emma looked up dd7184c207 at him, her 1e07a9bca1 blue eyes clouded 20cdbaaf1e with confusion. He responded 498255def5 with a d6a4b7ddd0 faint, enigmatic facb4bf568 smile.801a016abfbef425

“…I wonder how long you’ll keep looking at the world with those innocent eyes, Charles.”b8d2e6ad02505998

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Before the shadows of 51ab25a30d the blossoms could fully 3e9aae0145 retreat from Emma’s frozen c171b44437 face, the carriage door 0ea3745587 swung open with a 8cc9b68551 sudden clatter, flooding the 9677ba43ab interior with brilliant light.b06542f3b380d21d

“Duke Ophilenz! Welcome!”ef7cdc47ab2433e5

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Mikhail, who had loosened f66c902769 the buttons on his 448d5ddb43 own shirt even further, a9867c8772 let out a soft 97664feb95 chuckle as he leaned 7cc15dfc7b toward Emma, speaking once 5b4321dab4 more in that dangerously c9965cc197 sweet tone.5e0331d37572f710

“Welcome to my playground, 945e24035d Charles.”30e74bc5314e51e9

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* * *cd806188cd07306d

“Nina, don’t 6493edb46d be surprised. Do you know b1b9f48c86 who’s coming today?”2e9611162f1186c1

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Nina Loren, ffff730af6 with her f8f3434a62 lush red c4abab11be hair cascading 3c3ebb7052 like waves, 939b3fd321 slowly blinked 199e9aa4d1 her deep 1526fad2bd green eyes, 8034ef1d5b shimmering like b9b6c528df summer leaves.b2869b3fe756ce9e

“Who could d79181d4ff it be? Perhaps a prince gracing fcf108c5a9 us with his presence?”ae4e38fc8c450ca4

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As the 8e25a761b9 black-haired woman b0014fcdce handed Nina 4837d9ef83 a silver b34f66416c shawl, she 614d45a319 leaned closer, 0661f6189d her voice 98972fe712 dropping to 4f48e13c69 a conspiratorial a20d94ce50 whisper.24ff4e7bd5e377e9

“A prince, indeed—a aead13b0da prince from the d7ae970f3a Violet Castle.”8c437f436778bb7f

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At the mention of 6cbd282a25 the Violet Castle, Nina’s 05030b5b78 face flushed like a 15b8ef491d blossoming flower.72dbc0e439828e21

“Don’t tell me… the c8626147c5 Duke of Ophilenz?”25c6113e78481a20

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“Exactly! And there’s more exciting 486c198cbf news!”73e12280b6b3e549

Nina’s emerald eyes fluttered df9d21d206 rapidly, caught between curiosity 7894d6c354 and anticipation.2c6967cbf8816442

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…Could it be? Could there be joyful news of the Duke severing ties with that wretched princess?2686a13c9b85690f

Ever since the 9cca654a4e cursed engagement announcement adc42637d3 between Isabella, the c0e2798346 princess, and her 53bc841340 beloved Duke had 18aa721a34 dominated the headlines 3593026dbb for days, Nina 7c974f0162 hadn’t been able e1032562d1 to sleep a 65b507df41 wink.7f349334358972a8

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Princess Isabella—an empty 4261ae9bcf shell devoid of 1b27b545ce refinement or elegance, 2d55e7165d despite her royal 5d2e9dc734 veneer.4dea1989cbf604e5

The mere thought ede1dbd2c9 of such a 8600321c96 woman daring to c3708cc5fc hold a wedding e11f4dc570 with her radiant d4429a7bc6 Duke made Nina’s 1c66d87169 blood boil all 2f5ef91810 over again.33e7dcf0cdc4bf6b

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Unbothered by 7031e5634c Nina’s simmering 34574db871 rage, the ed56cc003e black-haired woman 09fc30ad67 kept chattering, 4b24257d13 her excitement 7e2f9308ef palpable.ab1c663b14ce5b48

“The Duke’s distant bafc713aa6 younger cousin is e7a629093a coming with him!”ecaba42f67d61dae

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“…A younger cousin?”f01a2dacfcbdeb46

Nina’s green 0ca49456b3 eyes dimmed, d18459cf57 her initial d95c7003d7 intrigue quickly 46216fca63 fading at 8f8cdadf0f this unexpected fd57a137d8 piece of dbb974eeea news.cb876a7293bb2435

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The black-haired 53c685f889 woman, undeterred, 3441ea766c scattered a 7115c7a762 shimmering dust b0a21f96ef of pearls 07e1cda1fe into Nina’s d30e6ca0fd hair, her 293b6a8c42 coy smile a6239df2fe turning sultry.fc898b9a427276d5

“I caught a 6e824f5dc2 glimpse of him 77bb357681 stepping out of 6d9b2d7206 the carriage…”9e83396fc03290e4

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“Hmm?”fbbc06609575cb8d

“…and he’s utterly breathtaking.”cbe83f54ee6e3b51

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The effusive praise 4a74ad4214 was so over-the-top 578a59c886 that Nina couldn’t 2728afe319 help but scoff.f1d56379262c5ef2

“Hardly. No one could outshine 15aa8ee183 the Duke of Ophilenz.”6200f5c637ffc5b3

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From a 50ed3dfe11 distance, the ddebcf2fa6 bustle of 544f52c9f2 activity and f6ff7486a6 someone calling 25881c0259 Nina’s name 3f6293798e broke through 7087048175 the conversation.3ea0afe11ff51638

“Nina, the curtain’s about b59ec0f1db to rise! Hurry!”b29b843d08b522be

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“I’m coming.”0adb9b8bd8add7e3

With perfect poise, 45a84a4c5d Nina Loren, transformed 14fd512502 into a flawless 2bede60d0b goddess, began her c434465b99 graceful walk.9329b60a84e051f1

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It was time 88f65dbff8 to meet the b4d3f05291 eternal subject of c32321b9be her unrequited love 34081f8970 and worship: Duke da236403fc Mikhail d’Ophilenz.874e27a177e59dca

* * *a766d5684547b4f9

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Emma discreetly darted her 6f23ecbacd wide eyes around the afa45f495d room, trying to process 5a7c0e9583 her surroundings.9fb0af25555f415a

…How could such a place exist?9082d957f16c13f3

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When she first 3a2645e3e2 stepped into the d1a8e12b47 garden, she thought 94abee130d it was simply 03a625d7cc an elaborate, well-maintained fa66bf94f6 one.fc4cd7d4459e777d

Walking along the path 9009340670 lined with golden mimosa d27b9029eb flowers glowing against the 7f08e70112 night had been mildly c8f13ae7db surprising.2f50221d104a3b7c

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Then came 99b590337a the path 603c901467 flanked by 502a0b19da towering marble 22bffa0506 columns, their 8c87f68db1 sheer grandeur 7d3c33ed30 slowly chipping 5a1111adf0 away at 4886f53d71 her composure.a476ab3c7ee07585

But stepping through cff4c1b66e the massive doors 338c2bc2b4 into the interior, b61d65751f Emma momentarily wondered 7ff3d04c0c if she had a994c8d94b wandered into another a2320b7a46 realm entirely.692f20f5f82960a0

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The air was 2569318fe4 thick with mist, 0c1094ef2a giving the place 616f5211c8 an ethereal aura ad1cff91be reminiscent of Mount e396d9845c Olympus itself.df53ca9028e6c013

Women sat 433ebaf98c scattered about, 5ca08660eb strumming lyres 4012fadada and playing 872d5c28cb auloi as fe09dc79e8 though they ccab074d66 were real 0d0bf977fe nymphs.8a653a5a49ae5e6a

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The heady, almost overpowering 524ccb0dde fragrance of blossoms filled 363eaa87a6 the space, intoxicating her 0e8d04c0d4 senses.4cf1aaa2abe9a52c

…It was impossible to believe that such a place could exist in the heart of bustling Bonchons.d1dab042fdd27790

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Mikhail, his eyes ca31d2c74e gleaming like a c8b295836e god of the 3bb18ae008 arts strolling through 9ad5eee7ac his temple, explained,c512f239973c6a48

“You’re aware 678e346786 that our c6247fdbc6 family invests d2500f0b67 heavily in 9258e37d86 archaeology, yes?”81739ca4dc2b68e3

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Emma nodded, 25b89809b5 mentally pulling b03f783834 up the 4860fa5813 extensive list e438918fb6 of Ophilenz 445e9a6ffc family ventures 8f6ac00cc9 she had 8ea32d470c painstakingly memorized 5f360dab81 just days 7970aff214 prior.7752c212218462a6

“Yes, I know. Especially in 2082979205 ancient artifacts.”1af9a18ffca03ae6

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Mikhail gestured to one a78e97387b of the colossal columns d91950d499 standing beside them.cd4ee83383e77260

“Do you think this 6f5b936c08 is a replica or 374534ecd9 the real deal?”6630364af6855a9d

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Emma hesitated, 557e3ad35e her trembling 4f20eebf90 hand cautiously afc8dd60c5 brushing against 7cde7e98af the column’s a55c83a67f surface.cd082dce4810db60

Mikhail watched her sapphire-blue f2c6f9b592 eyes grow darker and a923f7ddb1 her pupils dilate in e8791aa625 amazement.d0cceca8fcb021fd

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“This… this is—!”26ae549f1c1b5557

“Yes, genuine. How did da60bf1c28 you guess?”abc5113543728468

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“Well…”a3efbee04c4b4d64

Emma managed to suppress 38865aea4b her excitement, replying in 638234ccd3 a composed tone.e71cbef82416d5bc

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“No sculptor, fc60413878 no matter 429b084f09 how skilled, 9dfb34e73b can perfectly e0f5cf3a5b mimic the d0dbb77da9 passage of e5fc5be689 time.”c8e6ca12c9cb62b6

She pointed to 9687d1f96d a neighboring column c26a4b599e and continued.7021203f78ed1dbb

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“Even when an artisan a3971bef19 tries to roughen the 9e32b7000b surface to imitate wear, dca13b6bc1 it never quite rings 6da4e03bc4 true.”fccc369ec3952ea8

For a brief moment, 94b1174923 Mikhail felt an almost eae3b1f0ec overwhelming sense of pride 2cee17e6c0 and elation, as though 5f4f784fe2 he were soaring above a8b2845c82 the clouds.17e21d6babbd4933

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Of all the 1fc9f956f3 nobles and archaeologists 3a62508f85 he had brought a80b689ad9 to this sanctuary, 7365997b13 not one had 685cb039b3 dared to declare 6d700f928c these columns authentic.84034128489c7747

And none had guessed abab0ec255 the secret that only 23e0094e7c he knew—some of the ec288736cb columns here were indeed f098c69b3a replicas, placed to deceive.d9409fac768a0aa2

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But this 0786d32bee boy had 206060290a unraveled the 614c8e9bde truth in af0f15a07c moments.882ad8f1ad0fec52

Still, Mikhail restrained 1dd3f6481b his emotions, choosing 37ed8bcaf4 to savor his 3de7b76e25 private triumph.495c380be7246693

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There was no longer any need to test Charles’s eye for detail. That skill was already proven.26436b2008fe9274

It was time to fd84d0d79f shift to the real 931e5ab78d purpose of their visit.917bccfe16c7d7a9

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It was time 8cf2af4035 to craft Charles ce95b38a00 into a second d0dee1d8e2 Mikhail—someone so captivating b094d52d18 that Isabella wouldn’t 749f7c4f79 stand a chance.4ddc85e5647dc510

“Duke, it’s been too 7ab9667165 long! I thought 1d9c2dea42 my neck 9ff21f0a8d would grow d2e29d9ceb long from 43c43031ea waiting!”6720b81426f82cf7

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A woman with a 1da51a91e6 bold, flowery perfume approached, 487eb55c06 draping a red ‘chlamys’ d33f75cd8b over Mikhail’s shoulder.3bd2b18c5c7e31a4

“Well, I’m 633af79d7c here now. Where are 5057a93d71 our goddesses?”467519664e6658c4

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The woman’s f1a418449c gold-threaded netting 5e883f51a9 jingled as 5ecf93fe01 she laughed 8933a7736f lightly.38df6bb6f28a1379

“Of course, they’re all b50ae830ba eagerly waiting for you. Let’s take you a3332348f9 to your seat. The performance c9f9511119 is about 39ac5439dc to begin.”57755b48862804e2

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Her sultry 8a43127b82 gaze shifted 126b5f05fb to Emma, 88944aa15b curiosity lighting 4c6b6e7691 her eyes.b670b4d9575c11a2

“And who might a631e7d7c0 this beautiful boy 32ed4859fb be? Narcissus himself?”1188936cfa7aa448

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Without waiting for 314fff73d1 an answer, she 964c5fb005 hooked her arm e07b2b3cc3 around Emma’s and 0622dae929 began leading him 3a6bc191fc along.d47f4647bb8d26ce

“This place,” she said 01755f63d3 with a knowing smile, 1152278d33 “is the Duke of 3b9542ff14 Ophilenz’s temple.”5d26e28118f5fa3b

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Emma suddenly 95838342a5 recalled Mikhail’s b167be23a1 earlier words.ca9fa5f9419a5809

“…So this is my brother’s playground.”514f80aad6320f98

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The woman burst into 38486ae0d1 laughter.945117da5289d225

“Indeed. A truly exquisite playground.”90e7bdb92a6f3362

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Mikhail, flashing ed0ed8a7f1 a sly 24927dd9ae grin, leaned 51bc837c06 close to 1fd6f16e8a Emma’s ear da65eecdbe and whispered,1291c39308bfbdf8

“Don’t tell Gabriella.”62af7ab8ffb805cc

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The shimmering 0676b6926d silken curtain 03cf795867 on the e28cc24cca stage began 4e193be072 to rise, 9bdfa64d80 and Emma’s bacf035952 lips parted f001a2812b slightly in 1dda6ad208 awe.469daa7c662e6715

“…The ‘Birth of Venus’..”ea4fbb66c5cecf3f

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Onstage, the masterpiece had 108b56cce2 come to life, with 7d0af6f530 actors recreating the scene 948001e081 in stunning detail.295ae7bc97c5ec3d

The flowing hair, the a09a853db2 delicate floral drapery, the 5cf61085b5 scarlet cloth adorned with 579531ef8f countless blossoms, and the fe275270be foamy waves supporting the cc49f0effa giant seashell—all were flawlessly aad5b1ac71 rendered.cde0e27118911bba

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Mikhail watched c888b4c394 with satisfaction d8e1f2567b as Charles’s 2c41ed3d29 mesmerized blue a562fea287 eyes remained 52db414d63 fixed on 003539876b the woman 9ae79e4fc7 atop the f5e6388466 seashell.547c68631db9d33f

Draped in translucent silk 6cf7bda4c4 that accentuated every graceful e84df4cdf5 curve of her body, 25cc405e14 the actress exuded a 4ab05540ae radiant allure.232c1c07bd3e031d

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She was Nina Loren, Bonchons’ most celebrated star.290b569d82d207d1

…And she was the one Mikhail had chosen to introduce Charles to the pleasures of the night.b27554144b79beb7

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