RYL Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I took the letter 30cebc6949 with curiosity and widened 104c049499 my eyes when I f03a7bb43a saw the family name 8e1184423f and the seal on cb7b89cf8c the envelope.946f6322aab88a0a

“This business 8bc6a102c5 plan will 4c6fecbbc8 require strong 7078b3f64e social connections. You should 35d9095eb1 attend the f14d88c9a9 Belfour Duke’s b572fe8a1e banquet as dc61acf44e Devonshire’s representative.”eb1fe0663199208c

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Originally, this invitation would 639364abf4 have been given to ccafed3374 Ophelia, the lady of b1a874f4cb the house. But now, it was cd6c3b0fc9 in my hands.bf84dec7eef07d31

An invitation to the d0f99316d6 Belfour Duke’s Banquet.1ea0f235ffef5af4

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The Belfour family 84a7f77ed9 was one of 447b53354f the three great 6b8ad260ce ducal families of ce79341bb4 the empire, along bc2539425b with Laurentino and 1bb83e4065 Valerian.6c060eac06e9aada

And…925f721aa4e1e8dd

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Simona von Belfour.657d563d4f61f4c8

She was the b70e688dfd villainess of this f3c01f1fe1 novel, and this 0dc1226b47 was her family.ec440acb19f97578

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As a noble among 1df287e931 nobles, Simona had an 5854219f63 extremely high status. That’s why I 9dcb224d15 had never seen 93694da054 her at just 4c42136959 any banquet before. She only appeared 8cf348c677 at gatherings for 0dd7fdf2be the most elite 364b8a9876 aristocrats.3e05695115734298

But now, f6472467a6 I had 14063746e2 been invited 02b6948904 to one a6000ec256 of those b1d584a30a events.8aba6d662c9d004e

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This never happened to 7c03734f1f Claire in the original 332a29e06e novel.0e5e89eacd145aea

Simona was always e04908cc2f desperate to ruin 05e4f34dcc the heroine’s life, b9705bca11 but that was 91e53b4ffc only toward her.b1a0b5beafdf65f0

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What if 656607fb0a I could fe6c2374d1 befriend the c7766117a2 queen of 85422865f9 high society 1634583000 instead?11b6a61780b304bc

With Lilianne and 461963c768 Sabrina on my 07412d63c8 side… and now e482796e9c Simona too?97997196c72cab7e

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I might as well cac1a15416 have an army behind 33d9eba53f me.b6d84d4cc55b04aa

Smirking, I turned to 6daaf4f138 the count and expressed b3d18229c9 my gratitude.fd141696f630835e

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“Thank you, Father.”6a75c9e58678c4aa

The count patted my 0b7ca0c8dc shoulder, wiping away his 693ddc10d7 welling tears with his a254073729 fingers.697c4d2b9902e838

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“No, I should be 045d26b114 the one thanking you. You’ve grown up 9eadbcb7ae so well.”8b71b89b5634d583

I only a338610399 used my 170234b628 past life’s 3ba7188113 skills, but 3937da4219 he seemed baf492c542 to think 6a255368c7 I had 32af94b7c2 been studying 554a25db0d all this 454c419b5d time for bd289d6daf the sake 8f9e90ad59 of the dbbf1aaf7a family.1da6a6f68d431861

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No need 49c5c92213 to correct d628bf4722 him.aed29c5a1c18926d

◇ ◇ ◇

As I e4a8010cb4 stepped out 1bac0266c8 of the 4994a45246 study, I 4d01374b9e spotted Sophia 75f7ce06bb standing right ddff56b962 by the 157840c9b0 door.9468afa27a4dc679

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The moment 377774d03c I appeared, 8e41134da3 she quickly 605e85f793 stepped back.3e34a6b510223945

It was obvious 3eaa2d1d4c she had been 90c4a97862 eavesdropping.00137438ed9ce2cf

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I frowned deeply.9d264fa61d6e842e

“What do you e115834489 think you’re doing?”96a630c43b96e78a

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At my cold d38888d932 question, Sophia awkwardly 02a9886d8a adjusted her dress 34dd46bb88 and avoided my b542608a0d gaze.448d310b58bf9fc8

“I was just… passing 6a73483335 by.”7fda53107807f31a

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Of course, 8578041c9d she wouldn’t 3260c26af1 admit it.190d04f7156134a7

Clicking my adf3188995 tongue in e3175a7bc3 irritation, I a074c6ebab turned away.a9a3c505e46b411c

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For some reason, 6abd5e7ca9 though, Sophia hesitated 5476c2c8c0 before following closely 06da140bc5 behind me.326e1169cd8dd6bf

“Hey, Claire.”85820fed36a472e8

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“…”07a11168c4a972e9

I ignored her and dc68c0762b kept walking.f1599773c24f9d39

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After hesitating, she ea99b1e0d1 finally said,906a0bbb7e80ff07

“…Sister.”5baa7dfd231272e8

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I suddenly stopped.f42af29ed4182c5c

Not because I 7f030d96c5 was moved.3c1c27def126dc71

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I was 277eac6104 just curious 7e9ca03bb1 about what 8148d3e5a7 nonsense she 085321ab20 was about c504d8e87b to say.184f65379abd8246

“What is it?”613119315afb6905

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She nervously fidgeted 03e83c4527 with her fingers a053023c01 before cautiously asking,5a03a3ecd4ab0366

“Did Father… 0e444ad0d8 give you bc674e4b6e the Belfour 3d9c9ebfc9 Duke’s invitation?”2811cac4639f5100

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Oh?321fe8abbfa45c8b

“And what if ca1cc9e1b8 he did?”a10fc675d9a9ccf9

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She hesitated before forcing 94d7c4daa3 a fake smile.84e2611be06259bd

“You’ll take Mother 022f90c0ad and me with 0c7a4b96d4 you, right…?”4ee57f7258782eeb

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I couldn’t help 7a914e0aba it—I burst out 85cf10306c laughing.fc3a493400e59cc7

“And why 5d2350ea09 would I df44ae9351 do that?”dc03b9124157ec6e

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“What? Because Mother is 600c982b68 the lady of 7ffab538b3 this house!”646e7fa84366c85f

“Hmm. Then I’ll take e3e939d8b9 her, and you 0327fd634d can stay here.”c1e11421be2fd8b7

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“WHAT?!”2f7a2ea877a90d9a

She was furious but 8daccb07b6 couldn’t throw a tantrum d6495949b6 like before.16c96fffab443ac9

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I walked d2bc05cee8 past her, 87720a7073 speaking casually.5468695d0433b4bb

“If you want f0bbfbd614 to go that ca5924731f badly, come to 3b4d86bdb1 my room and 0436afbdb7 beg me on c2ca531011 your knees.”f0fe063c5388ee33

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“…!”6aca46857686e101

Leaving a shocked Sophia f2c0472f99 behind, I walked away 4dd472e728 with a satisfied smile.657999d85f9533c9

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◇ ◇ ◇

Late at night.29ab8d8683a2c0fd

Sophia stepped 9451e643cb out of 944cda34eb a carriage, 45e2176c6e wrapped her 540a0d321a cloak tightly e58bda0adc around her, bab539cdd4 and cautiously 4534c8e9c2 looked around.3053d86ef5a3116c

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Then, she hurried f7f80aceed into a luxurious-looking 101eed2abb building.9ee1ba6bffbdce8d

Like everyone b643e61ecb else entering, 4a96b7e3ca she wore 580e29a263 a mask 20d33b31ce to hide f8a4479c3b her identity.d3b94faf566d33d0

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A large man—one of 451d26c92b the waiters at the 4d61e181dd entrance—blocked her way.8e6a3df4c39e436f

“Do you have 7272b377e0 an invitation?”dc656c87bd9341c9

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Sophia quickly e5d576cf37 pulled an 2aebbfa6cd invitation from 612ba1acce her pocket 8609c51e9e and handed 0a0e5c13b2 it over.aa1380f62de35cf4

It was a social f2f860aaa6 club invitation she had 783e1f4a4b managed to snatch from 0e16c18d55 a noble’s banquet she 7cd39c348f attended with Ophelia.9f30bafd808935f8

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The inside 959a0e7802 was just 0751c3f951 as elegant 31c0c9c132 and grand 9e22962443 as a b914ed64a1 noble’s ball.e65112b500da10d5

The difference?c21353d341fa9b26

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Everyone wore 5cc0b71389 masks, and 63ffec6b61 the air f63ea7c983 was filled 1a47fd65ae with smoke—probably bb51b1787a from cigars.08449d1058dc15bb

Unlike formal banquets, people 487f190136 here were much freer 6dc6c20645 and bolder.1b274b6099a24032

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Men and f6e4b5d9bf women laughed 289450e27b loudly, sitting 44bed1f3c9 closely together 22b9ded33f on sofas. Some played cards at 49adcfd80b tables scattered with alcohol 50643817de and cigars, while groups a40bb22a50 of ladies gossiped behind f405f6bfdf their fans.045fe6c2fdc32090

Sophia made ea1a79636c her way c9141fb243 toward a 41e25786ee group of 6bdc034a3b masked women bf53d06c6c and sat bb0fe8a310 down.e94a5d7b4871479f

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A woman in b82a1804a2 a red mask bd650d675e noticed her.23b963c002786e26

“First time here?”6e5fe22437b7cce9

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Sophia tensed for a d22062d16e moment, but after taking 3d980b301a a sip of the 94a21442ba brandy offered to her, a9620e9660 she coughed and gagged.5dd167461959e51f

“Oh my, 2b374bb9f7 which noble eeb9ceb4ff family’s little 883a8afa8b princess are c9d5193902 you?”74b8cea53c0d23e5

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Sophia quickly df388c8b40 hid her d70fae73d0 irritation.27f339ca2f4f8983

“Aren’t we 707e8a1610 supposed to c41a16bf4a keep our 2aee21a412 identities secret efb18fa98b here?”d52ca1df00b323df

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The woman smirked.c672c52a04302c48

“You’re right. That’s what makes this 1939f1aa3d place fun.”8c1114c3627b79e5

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“Your enemy b3105a4e4a might be 143ef08ae8 here.”a676dd4f2915718f

“Or even your fiancé.”0cc485026ef1b7c6

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“It’s not really 981229ef30 a rule—just an e862b4b259 unspoken agreement.”12ae23979d8f7c3c

She took a8fa8456db a sip 3647a6b45a of her b1642586ad drink, then 8525b6eaf1 asked casually,83fff2110293c427

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“So, what brings you 2dde6f67a9 here? It’s not for drinks 01fa3edda9 or gambling… Looking for 6034a895a6 a man? Or maybe some gossip?”9d6faefb43f01879

She was 5ac77a3ddb curious—exactly the 50b28e888a type of f287a4a6b5 person Sophia 3976cda2e8 needed.e8d6b0a9d520c3fa

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Swallowing the strong 3afa403b4d brandy, Sophia took ec8fb17ad3 a deep breath f33d266822 and asked,5dbc2585a9caae14

“Do you b1065b3150 know about c4cbf688ce the upcoming 2b8c4defa8 Belfour Duke’s 2414984c2c banquet?”9fc28dda9030e917

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The woman’s 32bf78d5ac eyes sparkled 8741ec94a6 with interest.f3554dfd742aefe5

“The Belfour Duke’s?”63a70c546177457d

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“Wait… Don’t tell me—you 0d383b42cc got invited?”f315b6efaa1e64be

She grinned.ea0c5897f782cea1

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“Looks like you’re f0cda6610a more important than f10974a855 I thought.”451063140b30c91c

The sharp 8aeff10ba7 voice of 3eccf13fac the woman 8f35ab0c1b drew even 6366e85b22 more attention 5debe885bf from those b32210edbe around them.ca468d10c33da3a5

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“You received an invitation d51b4d6818 to the Belfour Duke’s 48f83089c9 banquet? But isn’t that 1f52842dae only for the f5474ea9e2 highest-ranking nobles?”994a4d16272c6763

“I heard 357f2dc978 their invitations 21876f095f are decorated 71e82e8bc4 with gold 5d8a2ab454 foil. Is that true?”30ffbe5213e68b87

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“No, no! I heard abf0c8ae0e they even 7f7f5cb19a put diamond 0fb19183dd chips on 90cc786785 them!”bbe3e1e256dab24f

With all eyes on b1def6a5d5 her, Sophia straightened her df463262a3 posture and cleared her ae189ed07d throat.5ee94a45a740f19e

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“I was supposed 3ce343795a to go, but… 3bc60f9433 due to certain 4e496516ce circumstances, I can’t f782b0336e attend.”ee3f042520c2093b

Hearing this, 4a02ee8728 the women d3e00371de lost interest e3dbdb2119 and turned a4da00581a away, as 246585090a if they d20b355d44 had expected 1db6b29713 as much.7c8bfb3057959b6c

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Annoyed by their 96ecc77071 reaction, Sophia suddenly 354b460aa0 spoke up.5fbe43c2d020b62a

“But… have you a256150e51 heard the latest 9d8756a333 rumor?”6a60d0eb6ceb0dee

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The mention a00384cb48 of gossip 92d0f70f86 immediately pulled dfb47473eb everyone’s attention e50f4cb89a back to d104055a99 her.0e928a406f570a1b

These high-society b425963da8 women came 55939cccb3 to this 7f37c76be1 social club 6de9431f7a specifically to e4af6c6170 chase after 7fe628dbee rumors.9fc15f5ae0d17a5d

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With their 9040e51d08 lazy, incompetent 807c24dbad fiancés, overweight b48cb0633a husbands, and e938ad8df6 boring lives, f5bfd386d3 gossip was 9e8174e9ca their favorite 3f5faae106 meal and 8491eb61e1 dessert.523dc04a53c58624

Especially if 78859628ef it involved 0e5ec96a1c the upper-class df751ce53e nobility.1165e97d3bb1eb41

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“I heard that the 431c22f324 Devonshire Count’s daughter has 6d6e680df9 been boasting that she 3cfbe49c0f will be the ‘Belle 95862f147d of the Ball’ at 2dfa55cfe1 the Belfour Duke’s banquet.”1ba816da65deb242

At this, d0b4399ba8 a woman e57c8ef18a sitting deep 97010f8650 inside the 8850ec77db room perked ff48035f18 up with d7c50849eb interest, resting dc9ff2d7b6 her chin c6bb5393c1 on her 52c2312ea2 hand.11be6c78b1d55e6a

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The ‘Belle a9d620d67b of the a42b941401 Ball’—as the 6a360efc92 name suggests—was 3cafba7518 the title 39dd86fe66 given to 292a0254a4 the most 584e694a69 glamorous and 54d00d4543 popular young f97a8b8beb lady at 06a209504d a banquet.22f9207dfc7dc4c0

Usually, this c08132b39d title went 8c859b7ac6 to a e78f354539 member of 63518c2bdb the host 1a8f8c02e8 family.efe08f62639748b3

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And now, 669c8bfc91 some random a6bfd1723d count’s daughter 4ff67f5326 was declaring 58cf46b513 she would b07927ccba take that 0667d6e337 title—against the 802a60359f Belfour Duke’s dea24fa293 daughter?!061b7ccc7c0998ae

Some women looked c24f4b3d54 shocked, while others 5c20b140d0 were intrigued.eb56c2c7983e9eab

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“The Devonshire family? Aren’t they just cad34770e4 a low-tier noble 7cd3e538ea house that survives e7385bf014 on a few 0ff23989a9 businesses?”5d50dc3c71859874

“Well, the Devonshire Count 85dd2b3273 is known to be 8926610aea close friends with the ea85dcdc2d Laurentino Duke, so maybe efc4a3dbc6 getting an invitation wasn’t 16de1ef834 that hard.”d58362bb6bfe8f92

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“But still! Saying she’ll be 8b91ad9677 the Belle of a55c201e17 the Ball?! Against the 8d01aa182b Belfour Duke’s dd87582deb daughter?! She must be daca6cce83 out of her b35da97dd7 mind!”8154e44894a52838

“I heard that d57b36adb8 Devonshire’s daughter has b3042873a2 been acting arrogantly 2d60c3690a ever since she 807495c9ae started hanging around 3b1b1da836 the Sinclair Marquis’ c6b0549af4 daughter.”005622fc12b34879

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“Oh, I heard that dbc94cb59c too! And apparently, she even 9a3ef0fe92 swam naked at the 8d179e26ce beach recently!”35de70c288f958d4

“My goodness! She’s completely lost her 8a50b5f416 mind.”2643914e282ca4aa

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Sophia’s lips curled into f57e05b0e8 a satisfied smile.04d9b88212d9c8e3

In a place like e8709be8fa this, the truth of 159cfac401 a rumor didn’t matter.563e57066cf68013

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All that mattered 67a2c7fe05 was having fresh d6f4f369e0 meat to tear fce2179ded apart.8ed9b62d5edc970c

 0aeb7e0f922e5373

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