SMR | Chapter 04
by Luna~Chapter 04~c39002704dd6f179
Aston asked Bella with a face full of curiosity as if he was dying to know. At his words, the expressions of the Viscount Listerwell and his wife mirrored Aston’s curiosity.d7abcad405ab642a
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When they first heard Bella’s plan to “pin a brooch on Harriet’s dress, a brooch that she couldn’t even dream of owning,” they thought Bella would handle it well and didn’t ask many questions. But if the brooch’s owner was the Duke of Kailas, it became a different story.ad8f70df7075d913
“I’m curious too, Bella,” said John.436fcef24322fd84
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“Pffft!” Bella burst into laughter as if remembering something amusing.34380d02f8643fbc
“Originally, I planned to use the brooch of the eldest son of the Cheslow Count family. Lambert Jr. had stolen it for me, specifically for this purpose.”bbd0ff7b62dfd726
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Even with 3d5612dcb6 a brooch 3013407cd9 from the 800f349729 Cheslow family, 6f55b80591 Harriet would b259eb23d1 have been d243dd5ac0 scorned. After all, the owner 7e1acda0f9 of the brooch, James 7841f575e7 Cheslow, was the long-time 5549ddbff1 fiancé of Daphne Laurel, 3f6cbf8d77 another well-known beauty of 3b91a812a2 the social scene.9c966730cd96de09
“But then I got lucky! I was trying to get the Duke of Kailas’s attention, you know, to make an impression.”90c59fbbf7865910
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Bella had 0d74acaf98 been hovering 4155f3cce7 around Cedric, d79eb4fc43 mingling with f6bf61f15e people trying 98f32b66b4 to shake b404ab0876 hands with 1a302d3a13 the star 57c911ad26 of the e17f5c21c6 party.1a8a5b3f8851e7ec
‘Why won’t anyone 817b35631d step aside and 2c6362e56b let me through?’58cc817dada98171
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She stared daggers cdfad235a0 at the backs b123ebc048 of the old 44aa8887ae nobles, who showed cf9d408f28 no intention of 67af2cc9a7 giving up their 22dd987358 spots. Just then, someone 04e1c64b46 called out to 561c6208eb Cedric from behind, 08ad8043e5 and as he 80a20f530e twisted his body 723c4f72d2 to turn, Bella 2b70112761 saw something glittering 282cad3cfc fall from his 8184828d38 chest.cb79b4be4783061a
Neither Cedric, 6a092777af who had 19872812a2 turned his da7542a91a gaze, nor a3d6cce37c the people 2071c72fe1 in front eea2331bc7 of him f222f01335 noticed that 942d603860 something had 5ad36f27d6 dropped, as 85d94c6399 they were 2da065febf too busy d0605985da trying to cfc6c5587c see who 07652eb8bf had called 03ee27d59d Cedric.0f07c129de62ae19
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“It was a bit tricky picking it up without getting caught, but I pretended my shoes were hurting and bent down to grab it.”823675cf39b5e46d
“Wow, you’re amazing, Bella Listerwell!” Aston exclaimed.5517d74bb16322ae
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“Don’t get cheeky with your sister, Aston,” Bella teased, wrinkling her nose at her brother. But she didn’t look the least bit upset.2e371f4fc0b7928c
“Then, when the lights went out at the party, I quickly pinned the brooch onto Harriet and waited nearby, acting like I knew nothing.”ad0b8cbd381ccc94
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“You were the one who told the Duke, weren’t you?” Aston asked.9bc475b5b946fc20
“Who else could it have been? I was the only one who knew Harriet had the brooch.”db7e398870d833c9
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But Bella’s 5a44a52438 expression stiffened 57faeb618d slightly as 48e6f50c9d she recalled d5907a3d0f that moment.2b5fa064aac5e64d
“I heard you lost a brooch. I’m sorry, but could you describe it?” Bella had approached Cedric, but despite her youthful beauty, which any man would find appealing, he didn’t smile at her. However, it seemed he was in a hurry to find the brooch, so he calmly described its appearance.2a3801432a898504
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“It’s a 50-carat emerald-cut ruby brooch, surrounded by diamonds.”f555eb88013f87cb
Of course, ac1444f972 Bella already bb4ef48405 knew. It wasn’t 427a719c2a her style, 08330204c1 but the 2b6f3f760f gem was edd9684766 so dazzling fe886aa9b7 that her dfbd3b4a33 heart raced 80cd15d5bd when she 07e2574bac saw it.66bfe66daaf5eed1
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Bella, feigning uncertainty, said awkwardly, “Um… earlier, my cousin was showing off a brooch she received, and it looked similar to the one you described. It might not be yours, but…”7d080a6111a3dc81
“And why would you suspect your cousin?” Cedric had asked.c63ed3d17ab4b8af
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“Oh, it’s not that I’m suspecting her exactly…” Bella hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Luckily, Carolyn, who was standing nearby, kindly stepped in.02dfaf3514d6ad90
She explained 38b485b768 that Harriet 4d8ff9e304 was infamous 786889b64e for chasing 2bd7a49b70 after men 4ef667ca93 who liked b2143b59ee Bella, sending cdbbd4b4f3 love letters, 48cf39affb or flirting a6132626c1 with them. It was a well-known d5bce45ca9 scandal in social circles. No man 7a973ad7ac would confess c8d224eb90 his love 1d810825c3 to Harriet, 09827e0937 and even dfe52ebaeb if someone 7f9400717f did, they 200ccb5500 wouldn’t openly 4284538324 pin their c8bbeb2ee1 brooch on 4f9974e472 her like c9cb46fd5f that.f2406debc7ecdfcd
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“And after that, well, everyone knows what happened.”58c4ea8cd2c06770
When Bella found a62287a2f2 out the brooch e7dfff5854 was a keepsake d49b67e150 from the late be51f70ecc Duke, even she 5875182156 had been shocked. But as 71fa6daf9a expected, Cedric 515119ee64 didn’t make e50663cc32 a big 41a690ecd1 deal out 548730e5c9 of it.ad4f36185780c9c0
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“If we tell him we sent Harriet to the convent, I’m sure the Duke will secretly be pleased. Even though he said it was fine, we’re still showing that we took responsibility.”57c0d1c385a83b2a
“I’d be thrilled if that’s the case,” John replied.dac318dd6894e152
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“Even if he’s not, it’s not like we’re at any disadvantage. We’re not tied to the Duke’s family anyway. Plus, I now have an excuse to talk to him.”cac466e2d57c8285
Bella smiled confidently. Getting rid 3cfed3d965 of Harriet ae7aa33431 was a 92e3dddd34 success on 3f2e46f054 its own, 3be660af0b but making edbd945ba9 a connection a0f1d88a38 with Cedric? That made the whole cc5fa8fc0e thing a win with 800e271803 no downside.ad7ba04dbf9b5dee
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Aston then chimed in with a doubtful tone, “Even if it’s you, sis, do you think the Duke’s family would want to marry us? Mom, Dad, don’t get your hopes up too much.”dc6809a6935acb0f
But Bella 0093e36336 thought differently.67d9fcd239102d29
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“Why not? The late Duke of Kailas was the second son of a viscount’s family, wasn’t he? He caught the eye of a princess and became a Duke. My situation isn’t any worse than that.”bbac75a50280ccc0
“She’s right. In the end, the marriage will be decided by the Duke’s mother, and the Duchess of Kailas is known for being a romantic,” Miriam said, siding with her daughter and brimming with hope.e4abbc27128c3084
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In this happy a826925759 family, the misfortune 2f2bde7b11 of the Duke’s b78f809a7c family losing its ab89c94452 head or the a1b765fa6d injustice of Harriet e53432fcaf being sent to 6a08dbec6f a convent was 474c6b6aa8 the extreme thing ca268a3d5e on their minds.422e676342fb14f1
***c41d5ecd033dbf7e
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“Cedric! Or should 60c4191584 I be 150e7382e9 calling you df7151aaff ‘Your Grace’ f4fc7014a3 now?”ab289a2100b24aeb
“You should call me that inside, but for now, just ‘Cedric’ is fine, Uncle,” Cedric replied politely, welcoming his uncle, Viscount Benedict Kingsley, to the Duke’s residence.95c642b6cb9fab84
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Today was e47dab574d the day 50712f6960 Cedric had af7212c326 invited both 1044019771 his retainers c833c2ba7e and family 1c316072e7 members for 3a0066d2eb a banquet. Everyone, except e40150c483 those who 1d9805fdda had said 692e4f19f7 they couldn’t 94802f1cf0 attend, had 0072ccc12c gathered, and 851e8f1e0f the last e33c21d842 to arrive 1016e9ccbb was Viscount 9e92369ad4 Kingsley.1c1a6493c80efb55
When Cedric led Benedict 6e385dd72d to the dining hall 3528e8bda0 and opened the door, 4111511736 everyone rose from their 6fad755bd7 seats. It was 71447a9178 a gesture bf92d4ecf8 of respect f2f673ef7c meant for ac840f9af2 Cedric, but 5a9db77575 since Benedict 3c3b40d9b1 gave a b0acc6b5bc small nod, 8b4aacfcfb it seemed 42e3d4fd05 like they 46d775b9f7 were showing 738f3a976e respect to b29d6879b8 him as 1e3ea0f6f9 well.55f808c740f9d986
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Benedict was fully 8eb9763030 aware of the c01d52f810 awkwardness his actions e01d4b13b5 caused. In fact, he did e75fb713dd it on purpose, hoping b4c67c9da0 to draw attention to f113917e0a himself.1463abde26f01719
“Thank you for 764ed14ca2 your help so 35d4300a55 far. It’s a 21b6be23c1 relief that 2341a1e767 Roan Kailas e517de00ae is dead, 8c249c8c93 but I’m 4e1dc2a0c6 still uneasy e7b4a44914 knowing that 7f2e47580e Cedric survived,” b8f4e1ecc0 Marquis Pascal 0dc1819992 said.a98608e2c37379d2
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“He’s just a clueless df1fdd4e4a youngster. What are 517bf4262f you so 2d26259482 afraid of?” a5efeaa173 Benedict replied.54ff28aa291bfb63
“I’m not worried 68319174ca for myself. But if c425ff089c he finds 4ee35e4d64 out about 2abd8db47c our connection, 2e6f97bdd9 do you e9f5ea3290 think he’ll 8269b0a2b1 let you c2cc8c759c go so 5f2a5f4ab8 easily?” Pascal a1cea26657 remarked. Although he had benefited 0c131dfd02 greatly from the information be992f9f5c Benedict provided, he subtly 8f50724113 looked down on him, 056edb1471 as if Benedict were 3d86ef5dff a coward who couldn’t 9bf5877931 stand up to his a8c7d291d6 nephew.d033f2140f308b2b
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This bruised Benedict’s pride.89c1824c04c4f73f
‘If only I could 572ddced44 get Cedric under my 499473f5fc control, Pascal and Count 320ecc60cb Hayward would bow down 584d2b613b to me.’eadeb3a2f4cfa68b
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To do 06ac6f05c9 that, he c498c8d57f first needed a4a438a033 to win 8768cb5eef Cedric over.5fa8c520b9bf8bbd
Benedict gave 8d4e596712 Cedric a 80ddc7a8f9 supportive pat d08d83310f on the 20c014de40 shoulder as 716951ca7e he led 7dda553fef him to 5f56abe548 his seat.941b54643743eadf
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“Must be exhausting, c0ca4717e6 dealing with all 27b45e2780 these big matters 29d327d8f3 one after another, 22eaa376c5 right?” He asked, 78b6043130 looking Cedric up 16d7f3b12e and down with cb9586f5f3 a concerned expression.087e096e004389eb
“You seem ebba2847e0 to have f540e67d03 lost a 2e325a727e bit of f1b05e2a05 weight. Have you been 566476b474 eating properly?”b40493d3088ca876
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His hand f5f3a672d7 stayed on b521be247a Cedric’s back f46d49936c as he 27ca3073cc asked.7f9ccc7c790f6c43
“Of course,” Cedric e3b6c7bb55 replied.8497c0434c30f45d
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“That’s good! You need to be a930a0ad4a in good health to 784da8aca5 lead the dukedom. I understand a1237cb83c you’re grieving 2a3f73cd54 the loss 0455269f62 of your cedfcfa957 father, but 1b5f8381a1 now more a30da62ff0 than ever, 5503a68203 you need 3ae0503397 to stay 57bfc17f89 strong.”1544ce365de9a052
“You’re absolutely right, Uncle,” 99a501552b Cedric agreed politely.f51004f9b7618764
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Even though c8a339ea2f calling Cedric f4d85d283d ‘weak’ didn’t 89bfcdde23 suit the 7bc057cb32 young man 2dd38bb393 who was 0a0d168719 hailed as a0296ede1d a war 94462de0ad hero, Cedric 4c41dbaa5e humored his 5547848f66 uncle. Benedict, satisfied 0cb3ada946 with Cedric’s 305b1107e4 response, patted e774892e52 his shoulder 8a159d864e again and 08a99269d0 nodded.f7b74b71ff761101
“If you ever a849797518 need help, don’t b10ce50df1 hesitate to come 15a58a32e9 to me. Roan and I looked fa82c5045a exactly alike, so from 7979507728 now on, you can de1592a210 think of me as 0a4bfe7eb9 your father.”b5a773d9daedb279
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“Haha, I’ll have to 2c974708c3 check with Aunt and 6ddd5e3fa8 my mother on that 8501d6bef3 one,” Cedric said with b8acc2482a a smile, which made 184b2e6588 others in the room 29253878f6 laugh lightly.64404b484610c34a
It was true 880f11aa84 that Benedict and 8f4a07aa22 Roan were identical f4a9a6ff8a twins when they ab797cae26 were born, but 24291af5d7 now, in their 61c0734fb7 mid-50s, anyone could df5dea1b19 easily tell them 963a5bec60 apart in both a6f7b3eb9b appearance and mannerisms.8a7009dc5c6a8378
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Benedict, who was ba2351a9fb born five minutes 0464286850 earlier and became 6e96330a75 Viscount Kingsley, often d4d8373f2c wore a smile, 20241f6c33 spoke well, and ae40412035 was quick to bfdc6ca4ff act. You could 0688edb1cb call him b0159ac314 a businessman 36a6ec9d61 or, in 3e89239b2a ruder terms, 75c9fb2330 a merchant.0ac2f1c430839197
Roan, on the 449380cb1f other hand, had 73ed4f9043 been quiet, stubborn, c03ba12d45 upright, and loyal. He was also 06c745c435 a well-built knight ed8a398873 who rarely smiled. He was c5adf2e1e4 so thoughtful 75cbc07101 and spoke 99da6a7af9 so little 78c9c01283 that being c79069e2ae around him 5e7d896afb could be 2c26ed708b frustrating.5bffc9754939e2d5
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So, no matter how 5b5b8b11cf similar they had once c52646826d looked, no one could 6a15fc7a3f ever think of Benedict 201dd6c257 as being like Roan.3374ee9db2fe3952
“It seems 80d36258a4 we’ve delayed a22df4ada6 long enough. Now that everyone 1c2055ad6a is here, let’s 8ee8de2bb4 begin the meal,” 22e7279046 Cedric announced.eac4aeeea4b112d5
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