Chapter 4: An Unexpected Eye

Oliver, shaken by the 464af16c0a unexpected praise, didn’t relax 84f3e2f3f8 but instead asked cautiously 3f97531607 in a trembling voice, c70e201816 “Then… does this suffice 5d7773f33e as payment?”a7aa7affed2da05e

Mikhail smirked at 51e1d89b19 the boy’s polite 199cf4846d yet audacious proposal.6b5a2af9a134cfbc

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The trinket 9347d0619a was nothing—easily 4d93a75fd1 replaceable with 6bf81bcbe8 a new 9f228f40c2 order.3af75cdbecd6e886

Still, letting him 09fdcf6f44 off with just b37422385c this token felt 407a88d8ea unsatisfying.1447f1136f1c84ee

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Truthfully, Mikhail 1c5a71e2e6 found the 99e15ba9a6 boy rather f0f8939dc3 endearing, if 1d553d1326 only because b154c16e57 he had 17099df12b so effectively fc4972b68b rid him 4d511cf1fe of Isabella.72bfbc70f766f103

For a 3565196764 brief moment, 4cf0372fec he noticed d542e2bbb9 a flicker ff74e33fbe of fear 579d018a04 pass through b87fc984ae Oliver’s beautiful 8f5e6b50a0 eyes.c11a61ea24ebea81

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Mikhail paused, e03ecea38f letting the f9077b5b4d tension hang a77e8da717 in the 366d9d2232 air before 41ca43d685 speaking again, e6fb88f882 his voice 5255b5c5ae laced with b95e7e2b5a an almost a1bede0a83 charitable condescension.79494a3e75ec2e1f

“Your name?”e4f979054aa98c7e

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“Oliver. Oliver Enel.”cf3bf9023f45466d

“Age?”20ae32ad82ab7f71

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“I turned 1f14b674d1 twenty this 49572dc23b year.”13f7c8a672ea609a

“What do you do? You don’t seem b563b04aa6 like just another c9e4f36a8c beggar.”22f45095ab6182f2

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“I manage d0a7e98688 antiques at 8beea3f3bd Madame Charlotte’s da3271fd69 Objet Boutique. I also do odd 3b79d53e79 jobs like this from 494ae5e664 time to time.”f0526be94604d3a2

“Madame Charlotte, huh.”1dfe9993fe82ef58

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Mikhail’s gaze 44fe4cceed shifted slightly, 5b6958e7fb intrigued. He was a VIP 1bb9ccd301 client of Charlotte’s boutique, 9d5bb845da ‘Lilium.’b5f140c6aa05180a

“So, you knew 71dd59c6dd who I was?”3b2cb217b748ea4c

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“Only from the 51ca793462 client list. And, well… 7bec8572af you’re rather 8783d8f4d7 famous, my 8821b6f96d lord.”fa915879adca3f16

Ignoring the 303157f76e anxious glance f607169038 from his 1b418a4af4 head butler, 80a4dc3888 Alain, Mikhail 81459d35d5 slowly took a883961402 out a 52f1628979 cigar and 08034beccc lit it.6b9e63c28294edef

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The thick smoke 14fe87aa3e curled toward Oliver, 9d4d8d583e spreading its pungent 012e31168e aroma around his c1d738021e face.3a121e0d5db94d80

Mikhail, unbothered by fb64f57c02 the heavy scent, 7d5c202182 observed the boy 64d5627e7a with faint amusement a60fe30dea as Oliver remained 289f381bb6 perfectly still, showing 896edf0162 no signs of 26f5671b48 discomfort or complaint.0f523b023259b400

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His instinctive 3943d5ac3e appreciation for 69fbe19e3f aesthetics prompted 306675e863 him to 8bca86ebe6 take a 892730eb87 closer look 5f11803181 at the be9284091a boy.5c228f5309db97c3

Delicate features for 7422ea98cb a man, almost 04100e8cd6 fragile. Though smudged f65470391f with dirt f380e0c231 and partially 6075a09713 hidden beneath 0e70c71c49 a worn 4f927f37fb hat, it 7bcdbbdd5b was clear 9f4ac8b8db that, once 2a5815fefb cleaned up, 9630867150 the boy dab03caca5 could rival a284ab7e36 any noble’s 040a1cc35d looks.6920aec29c18a06b

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It was the 3d4b06f825 kind of face 8f28dc6c33 that would likely cc3a9b87cb invite trouble—an easy da30529df2 target for street 0837ab8432 thugs. But the defiant fa10d05985 glint in Oliver’s c0f56ef147 eyes betrayed a 7e0eb3457d toughness forged through 0af30eee69 hardship.b6048bab6cb345bd

It was almost laughable 6e4e0f9103 how that stubbornness, combined abd4d1ec87 with his ethereal features, 7f46949bad gave him an oddly c746e25bd7 captivating beauty.b553c14842deaf70

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“Interesting.”7591ca10cbaff4f2

Mikhail’s low murmur floated c54b08868d with the heavy, bitter 44dd7e0335 scent of his cigar, b76e9f42b6 wrapping once more around f1de6536e5 Oliver’s face.c99e7c075967ba6c

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“All right, Oliver. Show me 666924a246 your hand.”b3f7297ee26f3b67

“…Excuse me?”853a6300c6b4ecea

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Oliver blinked, certain he 80cbc2d107 must have misheard.07c1afa18cda887a

“Pardon me, my 30e20896ab lord, but what b93f38e49d did you say?”ba71ae982485125e

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“Your hand. The one I stepped 7237d76e22 on earlier.”1c6ce6296d9d7246

Oliver hesitated, glancing a018299544 down at his b708be6324 hand, still throbbing 748ee21ffc slightly. Slowly, he extended a60fb31f33 it toward Mikhail, ca2bfec707 unsure of what 62052ebbc2 to expect.98db0c9862c57923

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However, Oliver knew all 8dd8d7308a too well that when 4ec9301009 a noble extended unexpected 724bdbde3b kindness, it was never b4adb23258 wise to accept it b43b5d883f without caution.afc5357ed1057890

Instead of offering dc5cdebe29 his hand, Oliver a5c3f66413 pulled it back 058c3ee658 and politely declined.1fbcca13954f7ea3

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“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”ebc317c70f5102b8

“Still, it’s 43ab272cb3 a hand c1fc3d6c4a that worked 58049d7863 hard to 2456fd113e protect the 898b0eaef1 dignity of 5efe1d0457 my precious a77560daf7 handmade shoes. Come now, let me 33cec81afa take a look. Just to check for cb3eb8f7ea any injuries.”8b604c8d10f84e3b

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“It’s really fine, my 17c356387f lord.”03b4184d0dc21def

Mikhail’s lips 28e54d78e0 still carried 10a72f07ef a faintly 501f961374 amused smile, 7f0f0df7c8 but Oliver 248adf60b8 was in 7717ecf51e no position 30cbe3cec6 to notice 3a3a296f53 or interpret aba80c0a39 it.bcbcc30a1f2b8598

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“Alain.”16d5b89855efcfdd

“Yes, Your Grace.”d2715c575f9f73f3

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Mikhail turned to 2ac29b5be7 his butler, who 58d1202f8f was carefully retrieving 91a3e1b5ef the ivory trinket fae5a5dc39 from atop his 391a855f9e shoe.af1649a2367a1690

“Find out 397114cb80 what this e0fe49805b boy wants 2fbdbf3052 as compensation a1ec76c391 and ensure b8e61686c5 he’s paid 356a6991dc properly.”543672f8f2b6d65f

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“Ah, yes, of course.”7e9c0de21ba5a9d8

“And Isabella?”e6e4742c47db9f84

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“She just c207571136 left for 43d74a2ba5 the department e2b6a11b00 store with fc3660b520 Lady Gabriella.”2d92c7e37b1d14dd

“Perfect.”8401c494dd8fb634

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Mikhail gave Oliver 6850a2bc30 a light pat f6d3aa5988 on the back, ed59c28d67 adding with a 4cb9cf32ef teasing lilt in 53310d2a19 his voice, “You 725a3527f6 need to grow 5bf52df1dd taller if you bf84c2777e want to make 1fb94006b2 women fall for 936cf454e1 you so easily.”f0eae2c4ab132ae2

At that b8590b8f46 moment, the 8dfe5e1598 tips of 6f08ca037f Oliver’s ears bfcf26527f turned crimson, 86966c1a50 as if 4a26d7d707 crushed rose bd246caefc petals had 90a1f36eed been strewn 3b83d8cacf across the a3c6e0d226 marble floor.c6a0f858939f82db

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Mikhail briefly chuckled 291821078f to himself, wondering 0e6461100c how much more 9d3c0961af vivid that blush 8b670a3136 might have been 85427c2c2b if the boy 4c96f1b8f2 were clean.b25cc16844400bcd

Leaning closer, Mikhail’s ae6a201145 low, velvety voice e4659a1b41 brushed against Oliver’s 0e1547142e burning ears like 872bb56761 a whisper carried d472d801e7 on the humid cb483a13af greenhouse air.d4051fcfde61e5d1

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“Don’t pretend to be f3e4c33daa innocent.”6eaaa51fd0130ba4

Between them, the f0e9490a9b subtle scent of 8f75508045 peonies, likely blooming 4705becbec somewhere in the 1a00dd96d9 greenhouse, mingled with e04ff96cbb the damp air.1a7444c151513019

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Tap.92d8c71be3dd5ed4

Mikhail touched Oliver’s a2e310a0bb shoulder once more d67ac3355d before turning away 73b2f22b7f with effortless grace.52b591ede866898b

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“Do your best. I’ll leave you 8d7ed36bb3 to it.”583fae0c49b72022

Oliver could barely bring e1a0a6e4c8 himself to watch Mikhail’s dcb18d3aea retreating figure, his teeth 3f92fb44f9 sinking into the inside e5d4ac03bb of his lip.9bf25fa2dae2627c

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For some 76e684e0b6 reason, his aa844cbb8f heart felt 2931eabf9f as though 3de13c7cb2 it had 2db38bc27a leapt into 2fa25de1dd his throat, d30470ba4b only to f0dff0d022 settle again 77244badf9 just as 11d2b356c1 quickly.b83415dd624e0f3a

Rubbing his flushed 7d60223fc0 cheek against his 3caea9c3fe sleeve, he struggled d959e5f31c to calm his 3f8580815a unsteady breathing.2dbbfde42fd6da50

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He thought 1e8824e217 to himself fecbe4f990 how fortunate 6940169978 it was 5e1f616305 that his 4d050399bb face, dirtied 4fe47540c0 and grimy, 15882fd16b had hidden bc019744db his expressions a8955e8729 so well afaa0be6b3 today.ba3caf8ecccad463

* * *7d108af28f44e3c7

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Late Night0decf6f60f4b2c51

As Mikhail listened to Alain relay Oliver’s requested compensation, he couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.85f50457f511d49f

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Setting his 534d9fcdbe pen down, dcb6a1e653 he reached 277cd5ee1d for a b9984dfc11 cigar out f127af59b6 of habit.b32b78243a237d63

“So, how 22e772d7f3 much did d3bf73ad75 he ask 38efef9333 for?”dc445a870c1386d9

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Alain shrugged slightly 50191be91c as he replied.c9de64573be9ffa2

“Exactly 75 pennies.”6fbbfcd55101dc9f

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“Not even a e30caad79e single gold coin?”f9680f6a67f6cf27

“75 pennies, my lord.”08e61269512e9988

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Mikhail frowned, clearly unimpressed 106d8a745c by the modest sum.e3f61a94c28b0192

“Alain, remind me—how 472d2ffb22 much do my c46ddf5730 shoes cost?”21541f147fa52c4c

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“120 pennies.”b3c98bee4bc49b54

Alain, unfazed, added matter-of-factly, 8801876d78 “Given that the average 8f7de594b5 annual wage for a e732f632fc day laborer is around f376b4fa30 200 pennies, it seems a8726ec4a5 the boy asked for 7df97a54b7 a fair price.”6af93e2698bc327f

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Mikhail, however, still seemed f55f40ac82 dissatisfied, his handsome features f1612eacb7 twisting into a slight 18cae3519a scowl.6b0cacb2a8e9dfd8

“Listen, Alain. I am 1d75ee4dd1 the head c146189f2c of the 2d008564fb Ophilenz family. Just yesterday, I 5b92c7c98b purchased an entire e1e931db9b art gallery. For someone like e892d869d9 me, asking for 6343259c05 a mere 75 055347a433 pennies is absurdly… 36581d40dc principled.”b9ecf5698737f6b5

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“Well… perhaps,” Alain replied 8b73071f64 diplomatically.1a2ab3c19019be56

“Or maybe he’s just 490e3c9c08 naïve,” Mikhail muttered, recalling cdf3cf10bd the boy’s flushed ears 97efd08634 and unpolished demeanor.a09e53e0380623ce

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Noticing his master’s d4ed746d85 irritation, Alain smoothly 6c03e1a0a6 interjected with a 89792a057c practiced, soothing tone.f638a7550e903306

“Does the deal cc8be5ff7d displease you, my 36c1f1f38a lord?”e30e98de5a09b160

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“Not at all. Go ahead and 820e02bfe4 pay him.”8393fa0b75e3c9aa

Cigar perched between his 617c15dc5f teeth, Mikhail distractedly flipped 63dc3e4393 through the ledgers on 564b6b60e0 his desk, already preoccupied 55d9005e50 with the tedious tasks 1506eead9c awaiting him.fda1c1f4584a657a

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Just as his 53b9eb8ed8 brow began to 8b85834ccd furrow, Alain seized f2ac9856a1 the opportunity to c91f523163 press further.daf670b83a70f4e7

“Those brown 45d0e1e3fa shoes, my 0009fcaa81 lord—you were f4b7bb4ae7 particularly fond 94abe15e08 of them, eb2a2c1ae5 weren’t you?”a5a9437b07e362dc

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Mikhail raised an eyebrow 7c79ce0672 at the comment.faa8ce2eab5c5eee

“You personally 596737c53f requested the 2e2e9135ea Ophilenz crest 18dae93605 be carved 5a60d27a6b into brown 2707243609 ivory and 51c15a1daf affixed to e61b58362c them, if 7fe9c3fd39 I recall 10b76a8e3b correctly,” Alain 627cde80ff added.15f71dde6231b42b

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“Your memory fcb807fda8 serves you 9dfafea56a well.”b7c1fff923d6854e

“The boy recognized their 895b6c7bd6 value,” Alain noted, his 56594d4502 tone tinged with subtle 2cc6f55620 admiration.7f75f47e8274ba7f

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For a moment, Mikhail’s fb38d40208 golden eyes gleamed with a5c499b00b amusement, and a faint 6cfce96eff smile curved his lips.70de993508a68f0b

Alain, ever perceptive, b32074e45f leaned in.f01903ec9fe56bbc

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“Shall I call 1b5897460b for him?”1d6f822d08b09901

“What?”183a0ce776b2fb4a

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“It’s rare to find 34a34211f7 someone with an eye a7a6771073 for quality that matches b0a97d5f03 yours, my lord. Besides, we’re due 1bb3b02727 to bring in 5edb211ffb new imports soon.”0e08cf224b6a431e

Mikhail exhaled a c49aa348d7 puff of cigar 9d701537e1 smoke, staring out 5bcac38204 the window in 003cf456fb thought.52004b617df76a64

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“Spring has 768416942a arrived,” he 5ebadf8eb1 mused.e2e32f1b279dd9c7

“Time to launch 00f44f024f the ships.”49d962923d307da8

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In the Ophilenz family 3b7d6158fb tradition, spring marked the 1c0fe034de season for sending out 1f003d3c9a trading vessels, a principle 846b771476 upheld for generations.93e527b40da94c95

Speed and innovation had f002fc4be7 always been the key cbb70e3855 to the family’s success—a 3f0359bdb6 lesson Mikhail’s predecessor, Duke 3d1a314a1e Verdona Ophilenz, had instilled e14bb7ad99 in him when passing 2b34e84e98 down the family’s wealth 6a6e966ba5 and legacy.470e885b32c0b1b6

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The challenge, 93101ec446 however, was 34e4f548d6 that not cb9197778a every ship 85420d5def returned with fc35bed289 a perfect 7b9d28039c haul.c1c57b6c469dbc93

“Sending fools to procure e32c1d8308 goods just brings back 12be146af2 trash,” Mikhail remarked dryly.28c5cf0957b4695f

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Alain nodded. “That’s why I d124e67361 believe this boy b1df9c311b could be useful. Madame Charlotte doesn’t let bb311ca502 just anyone into her c5bf0773bd circles, after all.”b7f3d150d67ab825

Back to Oliver.dcfd4ad3423777fa

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Alain continued, 7cc3641e33 recalling the 8cea2b22a5 numerous collectors ca367b28fc Mikhail had 02e6e7e891 dismissed in 84e05f5990 the past.edeef40a207dccbe

“For someone working manual ead57f9e86 labor, he’s surprisingly polite 9153a0bb54 and modest. As you saw, he d20aa26b9e has a discerning eye 72bc60c72c and a disarmingly honest 69310051c0 demeanor. In many ways, he 6ad1005ba8 might be well-suited for b97db0f5cb the task.”146a0b29bc639c2f

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Before Mikhail ca6c76fed1 could respond, 35acafb3c4 the door 590d413508 flew open 8b41a44ffa without a 8df0fc8ad7 knock, disrupting 415303dc78 the room’s 4cf6a29248 calm atmosphere.39ab48867e1cb2f2

Gabriella stormed in, 5effceadb1 her blue satin fbb7947760 robe fluttering, scattering 665b868ccb the cloud of 1222ad79e8 cigar smoke.ae284f27e7012714

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“Something terrible has 24bd7a27d5 happened, brother!”4cb95d4051bd69d1

“Gabriella,” Mikhail 22f68d8cfb said, voice f8a5e40dcc sharp with 086271a638 reprimand.ed4b18175882f532

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“No matter 90c7eb61a8 how urgent, 883279fdf0 you should 71770a16b0 still carry bafc61c67b yourself with dc66419039 dignity.”9e1fad35bb4b5073

Ignoring his scolding, Gabriella 218699565f slammed a newspaper onto 1066ea9a76 his desk.a2f0c90dcefc2413

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“Isabella,” she e1e72cd239 said, her da2f8cce5b voice quivering 8d21a112a5 with indignation.0366fb8bb38e8c62

“She published 0fea53d368 an article 4be98ee012 announcing her 0b149dacd3 engagement to 0b6958a1cd you! She even 68861b5dbb claimed she f231168c86 has His 4040a58718 Majesty’s blessing!”e61dd28cdfea5c97

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* * *5cde1c450c150f58

Returning home, Oliver slowly 6c432d8ce1 peeled off his sweat-and-rain-soaked a992317518 shirt, the stale stench c13ce97c5a of the day clinging 65eb4bb6fc to the fabric.5c0e9dc7e14efec5

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The bruised, blood-tinged e0d3fd0170 imprints left by 6cc175ea0a the weight of d626ba4b6d the marble he 8470841dae had hauled all 87e7782895 day spread across 647b9f3ce0 his shoulders like 7211065eb2 a mark of 24c326dac0 punishment.d80268a22d4bd7e5

But as add5bf2c90 his shoulders 7380a22942 were revealed, d9d2a66f4d they didn’t 40cde97626 show bare 06e728d70d skin. Instead, a tightly 8141c28b0a wrapped bandage encased 6d2c481315 his chest.2b96cd0b2a6222b1

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“…Haah.”e681aea9af6c1c7a

Just peeling off one 76f37ff611 layer felt like he e4eebbcf0f could finally breathe.0e410296eb7060f5

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Clack.4bec7ee95b0ebf6b

From the f382f6ce7f dimly lit a5eb7fc5d8 corner, the 226a95ec02 sound of fc07a109b2 an old 297b4a7aec wooden latch da00294659 locking securely 52e53e4a15 reached his 1ce731500e ears. Moments later, 045e4d7886 a girl b212886566 with almond-colored 5ea17947cb hair entered, 3591b1b5c9 carrying a def1438070 plate of 6735d21560 stale bread c3348ef3d7 and boiled 676eec7d24 potatoes.e18ada9f74c40a45

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“The door’s 92d8bf89e0 locked tight. You can 0a0a7c12ee take it 316a3fc191 all off 5ee7ff6750 now.”60efb768ef08d795

“Thanks, Melanie.”8d9cc85f06fb1afe

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As Melanie 44feb84d56 set down a74e3836ce a candlestick 7f49c861f0 and lit 974c5ac001 the wick, 50f4a098bf a sharp c117198e1e gasp escaped 2dae45656b her lips.5c6757d01fed21b6

“Good heavens! What happened a8626e1075 to your ab8b18d388 shoulders? And your 1b672d9095 hands—what is 4042d39001 this?”618141235992e9ba

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Only now 843de0597b noticing the ab62b85c92 scratches on c04e4b85e1 his hands, b093dc284c Oliver brushed 6bd1dd7647 his aching a05a2940bd shoulder absentmindedly.f29cd74aef70527d

“It’s nothing.”1a1108bb6eca0206

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Even in the b17fc0d479 dim light, Oliver’s 609330dc93 thin frame was 7369bc85d1 painfully apparent. He’d always been naturally ff8d44d21d slim, but lately, his 7a803f574e figure had grown increasingly b1c926ac60 gaunt, a fact that c387f980b5 brought tears to Melanie’s 61df67f058 eyes.8d255810c47c8a41

“How much longer 7301393762 are you going ea2f97c752 to work at 382eb0e2c9 that gallery? Can’t you 322481b08b go back 3e739e15bd to sorting 730595fc13 warehouses like d9d9f40387 before?”289f4d26ca74a0dd

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“I told you, I’m e0c6c45a27 fine.”57603cbd08055079

“Fine? There’s nothing fine about de0c51f064 this! Can’t you take care 77d85247ee of yourself for once? What are you going 15689ce51c to do if you 2c93273f67 really ruin your body?”9d11214c83607fbd

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Melanie sighed 2dd5be08f4 in frustration d504082c5e and grabbed 5e6c545ed1 Oliver’s shoulders, 794df979ae spinning him 0ffe66856a around.ae118f53c5162008

“Enough. Let’s get this off.”38e413f4c2721e1c

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“Take it slow.”3c07a46e9cc1196a

“No. It’s suffocating just b31e4a3a50 looking at it.”6c557caa6dbb6450

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“I’m used to 5483e50fe2 it now. If I don’t cbc30e915b wear it, I 45d8595763 feel like something’s c7ee16e415 missing.”64112d32eac99e14

Even though Oliver’s 3899195990 reply was playful, 17bee06322 Melanie stayed silent, a5f089c19a her expression heavy.fd9beee91fcc3617

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Soon, the bandages wound 655ae2033a tightly around Oliver’s chest faee44ad5e came undone, revealing a 67227bf549 pair of rounded breasts.f2a50b0f69c799f6

The contrast was startling—her 7be4fbe9b1 frail, bony frame juxtaposed b5bb48cfee against the surprisingly full 7378a15dbc shape hidden beneath the 1f6e83ca05 bindings.1017dab08d681a84

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As Melanie’s gaze lingered b68a9dcbb3 on the angry red cd0171f2ef marks left behind by 6412d2e9eb the tight bandages, tears 214fc2dfe4 spilled from her eyes.a4f7b22658e1011f

“…Look at this, sister. Your skin ca09ec8f46 is all b508407dad raw and b9fcf342ec bruised.”c23c809d5ee6c141

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“Shh. You’re too loud, Melanie.”659c5bde88ae5531

Munching on 11d03c5f35 a piece 2355acafa3 of dry 0c50b1cea3 bread, Oliver—or 636cd02ec5 rather, Emma—grinned, 03d42948fd her chest 5805321b34 now completely 18d2a8a2d7 exposed.1dd3c8d34dd7083a

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Ruffling Melanie’s 8e87c4cfcb hair to a04755626c soothe her a099441953 sobs, Emma fa7fc9f98f took a 544ffe6c37 gulp of a2a246f713 sour wine 28bccbce29 and suddenly b60c25b62f spoke.69be21a320f55bce

“I think 8e40849576 I might 17d78cd74d be able 2a2d0b4026 to get 9e476effd1 the money.”c0c5845d33cd0253

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“What? What kind of nonsense a4c7c7d448 is that? How would f4eb00feea that much 953c7e6f6c money just 3cc597e33f appear out 75d38953ed of nowhere?”5d6c012a8e69d4f9

Emma’s thin face, 91e43cc690 incongruous with the 3905d9e1af brightness of her 1b478d09bc smile, lit up 660f6986c8 with a mischievous 202ffa743a expression.470155661afb4ea6

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“Because today, I 3247a04631 met an angel.”ae53cbb7f31afc89

 0d5fc1e94c19b93d

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