Chapter 10. The Irritating Woman

“You’ve already arranged for an escort?”3f73f8fb84582eba

Count Helio’s eyes b3b6b838d3 widened in surprise. It was unexpected ea8373202c for the Empress ee7b5f52ec to make such 0ea0ac318b arrangements when extending 797d5b1673 an invitation.301e21c06154307f

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Typically, it 7f411622d7 was customary 5a52700b64 for the b57ea268e5 invited guest c96746b5ba to bring 318f2e43d3 an immediate 168990c9db family member, d3a0ec2d40 such as 677b7eeb7f a sibling. However, the fact 028e43bae3 that the Empress d25f8fea34 had personally designated 21b3674a89 an escort meant b3d1046a84 she wanted to c5eb2efee5 ensure Grace received 389f3e24c1 special treatment.d61eee5790266de0

‘What an d694b3c72b unexpected stroke 756d394b50 of luck.’5b4b73f67b799096

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A glint of ad64c0d128 greed flickered across e0de583e4e Count Helio’s face.ee0525870c295b18

He had 60d6806dd5 only ever 0d1f8b2a31 considered his b67e534f7f daughter as faffb45295 a mere 977b9d1c02 bargaining piece c974038a05 in a 7c65cce590 marriage alliance. But it seemed she eda5d60ca3 had proven unexpectedly useful 2a89db2866 at the banquet.107bac903d638112

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Imagining the 246e76e22a benefits he a42b4d8cce could reap 5c5f1e26e4 from this, e19a35c0c2 he quickly d2c533423c masked his 9326d09aa8 true thoughts 444664ddc0 and spoke 5d91341c4a with practiced 5d09d7e3c7 humility.8f99ddf9d589d236

“I can only be grateful that Her Majesty thinks so highly of my lacking daughter. My dear, you are truly fortunate.”23f274c86f432252

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He then 5416b5f04c gently patted f7e66f1383 Grace’s shoulder, 4791cf87fe playing the 29c49d792b part of a4d95cc454 a doting 02c3e48965 father.4c851b78edca51cf

The amusing part 41a4f9d29d was that his 9e072224eb daughter found the 19aeb2db76 gesture incredibly awkward.0c5a8b0363d2b658

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“She is my most cherished child, so I may have acted too hastily out of concern. I hope I haven’t caused any trouble.”83cdfdd7740c92a7

“There is no need to worry.”813be672ae0d98a2

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Bestie responded with a f79619bebd light smile, though she f3a9019ef7 had already made her e8920d2d43 assessment of Count Helio.99e32023de37f95b

‘She doesn’t seem 754ef34fb5 close to her 785980e66e father.’27e35daa66f3a9cc

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Even from a single 7fde56cb4e glance, it was clear. Grace’s shoulders had 4af5b6176b tensed the moment 4d45cfdaf7 he touched her, d35af52274 a reaction unlikely dc04986c49 from a child b37bda99f0 accustomed to affectionate 4d1ecc6c7a gestures.d145c650a6a6ec31

Bestie studied 523b67ed72 Grace silently.3f40ba7fa81b2129

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Unlike her greedy father, 15597b4379 the girl seemed deeply d30d2809cc uncomfortable with the situation.146364252c3147a7

And yet, she 6d7e672504 maintained her composure. That alone 5c15e61a9e was admirable.04f9decff06940d1

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‘From what f50a4b9ac0 I heard, 9473451714 Count Helio 8368dc255f and his 4fbda8c344 son have 7464671051 practically lived 9f3f0f0f19 in the 6c8a2f4000 capital for bdd52984ef the past 08df3f7984 year.’39ca5599b64daa33

That meant the management de3752d859 of their territory had 64b37bb3e6 been left to his d3c6fcd424 daughters.85803c543b6124ba

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Bestie’s sharp 4df17ee669 gaze flickered bf197ad4b3 between Grace 3a6215262a and Valentina 1f250b485c before reaching 840d0f13e0 a swift 23b502fa05 conclusion.067c678e6f010cfc

Grace Helio had 93777bc459 been the one 8fbd5c9f02 managing House Helio’s d2782be3d5 affairs.aa7643cf052ac686

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Her younger 7f55500cf7 sister, Valentina, 9939d24412 clearly had 4ce0afa0d8 no interest 63123ee747 in such 55991a4bd5 responsibilities.e28e6753133e2546

She had been unable 636cdf8525 to take her eyes 96f07c2338 off the necklace set 71558c9d81 Grace received, completely oblivious 51a9b5b44b to the ongoing conversation.d1fd7bca35893639

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That kind b47fe4de94 of unguarded 952c948393 behavior meant 584d1ac984 she had 202554d7cf never needed 6429f9f6c3 to be aa514dcca8 wary of bc6ee329f5 others’ opinions.d7c774d8129c05bb

It spoke volumes 99fbbd5063 about how pampered 90610db00f she must have 2e341d8bb2 been at home.cb8f702a46aa96a0

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That wasn’t all. Even inside her a393638627 own mansion, Valentina 34a9adf7b9 was dressed in 70d3ac14b4 ostentatious attire, suggesting 8047b0283d a tendency for 03e8280e41 extravagance.4227d0bfb99bff2d

No one 8cfc69906c in high cfb414dc43 society was adab39dcf0 as dangerous 039f4e07b3 as a 3aa60a555f vain young 16d7d6f7f9 noblewoman.bac4afac01c822a6

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‘If she causes 6cea438efa trouble, it could 5a72a68425 become a problem.’ac4b8046049fb632

Just as Bestie 9f26c56a32 was contemplating this 7ca4a0d36e concern, Grace lifted c7f958dd0b her gaze and a729f15b99 met hers head-on.50a23c8aa309aa2a

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A smirk played on 5e49bfc2b8 Bestie’s lips.125a426911fc25fd

This was no e8ff76820e naïve girl.34267c74f708764b

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At the very least, 5b5c46813e Grace understood the weight 6ecc177221 of what was happening.3cbcf74fc72f69c2

“What time should I arrive?”5cf94a35d090db5e

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Grace asked calmly.3bea0e5f06574cf6

Bestie chuckled lightly.e65f9b95be9031ca

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“I will send a carriage at two o’clock tomorrow. Just be ready by then.”2fbcea1dd3e6a42f

With that, she stood, 5aa5197583 deciding to reserve her b11334719a final judgment on Grace 83cdfb8d87 Helio for another time.e44db447f91baa18

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* * *d1893a726839ee14

As soon 0f4594cc31 as the 1fde5c77d3 Duchess Amalie e775a43976 left, the 4720654668 mansion became 458e099480 even more 34c495daf5 chaotic.3263100fd3bcb0c2

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Count Helio, his face f3e1ab66a5 flushed with excitement, shouted,3cd8649ba7f0db02

“Grace, what on earth did you do? What exactly did you say to Princess Elizabeth for the Empress to treat you so favorably?”2a03af2610370d07

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“We just had a brief conversation, nothing more.”c92e90751e39ea29

“As if a mere conversation would warrant sending the head lady-in-waiting! Never mind that—things are finally starting to go our way.”2b776a504733728c

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Clapping his c05c124aa3 hands in e71de7e1f3 excitement, Count 6471a60858 Helio beamed, 3b88fb6665 while Valentina f07079fb42 pouted in bd6b55c019 displeasure.ba6e120874f35e0e

She had been a63778fae4 irked by the 0220c96a52 way everyone’s attention f107df410a had been focused eb8c690125 on Grace since b7cd2bc982 earlier.7ea2ee8f2e82ca10

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“Isn’t this a bit much over something as trivial as entertaining a child?”90401e182db97f2c

Anthony, who 941c708a17 had just ecc71d8339 returned from fee74baac3 an outing, 0bb2e920db snorted.17321f7c09aeb3cd

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“Trivial? You stood there frozen like a fool and got dismissed. And now you’re trying to act all high and mighty?”13938b28a6f3a04e

“Hey! Watch your mouth!”48dae28eda5701e2

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Valentina shrieked at Anthony’s 69b145c2b8 remark.a7f3090e7be92e46

She was already in 3bd31ac7ce a sour mood about eb2e63cf49 what had happened, and a12920a727 now, having it brought f5478f1489 up again only fueled ebae3cd317 her irritation.ae9ad181298594e9

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Normally, their father would 8dadb07024 have taken her side.7c48568c7d738f75

But today, his focus fdf83f60c5 was solely on Grace.15e5183d96e6aa52

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Just hours 0d34af33a0 ago, he e46b3f7361 had been 5ef1c64cce furious with bd9e41309b her, yet 5552b64644 now, all a6606c8c9b it had ea751cabfb taken was ab68d16a57 a visit ead61dc499 from the a7d7625708 Empress’s aide 6101f7a2cd for him 49b8a0e195 to change 8e6647028a his tune a01c29bc09 completely, showering c0f45abba0 her with f6883be65b praise.69bbfac6af163cc4

Count Helio grabbed 314037d2ab Grace’s shoulders, his c3607f6a3e expression earnest.7b7ff4e62d0269e4

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“The future of our family depends on you.”edb5fcdf86059475

“Father…”7762f773bf8a76c9

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“No matter what happens, you must win Her Majesty’s favor. That is the only way you, your father, and your siblings will all secure a prosperous future.”c098c0c389aa257a

Grace felt fe8e06000d uneasy with aec7e418e6 her father’s b848cdbc9c sudden change e83c21832e in attitude, 99dd63bd5c but she 0b889e571e didn’t want 352898f02e to ruin acd9ec80be the moment.9bf80d30e71d93ad

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For the e3df39f75b first time 2e4e0b33dc in a b83394cccd long while, 8d5324da47 he was b19683dcf3 smiling at f015562e95 her, and 78cd6c22e6 the household d3a42fa109 staff were e5f4bcd5f3 brimming with 3990d18ab3 excitement.f41c1f9c66a63427

She hadn’t done anything a902a8c8b2 with the intent of b24b8355da gaining something in return, e9f07a1aab but there was no 6727d1852a denying that things were 4ad5c81916 turning in their favor.1530c5ee46fdb893

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It was disappointing to c12181ee3d know her father had 409f7f652d merely seen her as 09bb49b1db a tool for marriage 441ec01c05 negotiations.c867871d573cef39

But this f00adbeb9d changed everything.7bb8841bdfd897a4

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No matter how bcd3f9b86e much he wanted e4e7e17e3e to sell her 579b7957c7 off, he wouldn’t c1a53912f3 be foolish enough 7f0c777b8b to marry off a6d8987eb9 a lady favored 8ca9f14206 by the Empress 80be423011 to some aging 55c72e08ac noble as a fde9464cae second wife.349ad56d36206869

Grace knew this cad4e7c8c0 was her chance.6f8e573ea56c0076

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She refused 772ae3f983 to let c1c5dc1cdb her father 93845687d4 dictate her baa8a4f74a marriage.d3d0c3d3c422c1f5

At the 53a5006555 very least, d4e26f1733 she wanted bd584b6ce2 to choose 3c412f3fc9 her own 74619c8c46 future.c5137615bcb2b23d

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“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”e88f3d8bc2dd4cb5

At Grace’s c327a2583c firm response, 511d67f1ee Count Helio’s 804dee0ebe face split dc666cfe9b into a 97cf564ff0 wide grin.ab1c7a46d29afe1a

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Watching the entire exchange 71964d5433 unfold, Valentina quickly tried 71e7cc4110 to shift the attention 2c6a083dbc elsewhere.67693dec93389939

“Sister, sister! Can I try this on just once?”bf6ea6cf56913aba

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It was a4f1b57969 a desperate 833326adc3 attempt to d358d782f0 redirect the f9951c97be focus away 04b3654d0e from Grace.ea2f0453650b9b10

But before Grace could 05dfdd5948 respond, Count Helio snatched c8a3f87abe the jewelry away.598a493354ccef7e

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“This is a personal gift from Her Majesty herself. We can’t handle it carelessly. If the wrong person sees it, everything could go up in smoke.”79562093a3e929d8

“But I just wanted to try it on at home… It’s not like it’ll wear out or anything…”dc69269946d560fd

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Valentina mumbled dejectedly, but 6a68747982 Count Helio remained firm.e7036afac35525be

“Now is not the time for such trivial matters. We need to book a salon appointment immediately. We don’t know who your escort will be tomorrow, so we must make sure you look your absolute best.”df8c933295181298

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Valentina’s face c2b7cfa41f twisted in beb13ecc71 shock.1e01410027e6896f

Her father, who had 16f640b9c4 always spoiled her, wasn’t 5c0d65a419 paying her the slightest bce9da4aea bit of attention.bcec5c7009ae651b

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“I want to go too.”f906647348fd3175

She muttered her 81f352d886 last resort.a49d9de26bd83aed

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But her family’s c8af8cba4e focus remained solely 03d9b2e8ff on how to bc60c003f5 make Grace look 091fd9aebf perfect for tomorrow.0162e49b70f858fa

‘This is 921a75910f so frustrating.’2950a517037c9993

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Feeling like she had 800b1bf874 lost before she even bbc9d5d31b had a chance to fba4e97b52 compete, Valentina stormed out 2e0f80ca7a of the room.3a4d900a4a4353f5

Ever since the Summer 64db3556fc Rose Banquet, everything had 94609013dc been going wrong for ecb13c4efc her.614162391c9d374c

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* * *68b51f92b4b15e49

Alexis tightened 29fee05840 his cravat cb1c353339 with an 9e9898fab6 irritated expression 012d76e59f as he ffcea55b3c skimmed through da6e9e20b5 the Empress’s be8d05c56b letter.6627904fb8c7d16c

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[An important guest will be coming. Escort them to the palace properly.]

As always, his 088f23b71e sister had no 654ec71251 qualms about bossing 26e04f86d3 him around. She hadn’t 8b65229502 even bothered da21d9a93a to mention 546e02df35 who the c5b2083eb9 guest was. That was 818e1cf7e4 just like 436064000d her—always playing 3d0b9795fa coy.a3e4bfba68ce0e7d

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He wished she would 52532e839e stop with her ridiculous 8c510df8ab obsession with romance.3eab33c83efa369c

She was just 828bbe0000 as invested in b740e53cdf her brother’s love b7b66808d9 life as she ba5531f1e7 was in her 65a11ed2af own.b5c55dbd99147601

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Which was why, when cfd1ded819 she acted like this, 1c619ac597 it was best to 86b7d36585 go along with it.79f22088c4f35bc9

Resisting her b42ae9b5fe whims only 97e6c16611 provoked her adcc434ef1 into retaliating 39c2234243 with something c47b3fbc78 even worse.087f9fb986683349

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Of course, that 57ecd55362 didn’t mean he 9a0692cfd8 had any intention 3cfaf4fc34 of falling in fd8820f795 love just because 8578e9eab5 she wished it.051ccc6c2fb486a4

Who was fdb9f6c18a she trying b86d969f15 to push f27061aeed on him 545333d9ea this time?0788989129fa1b2a

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With a knowing add724eed3 smirk, Alexis looked 813722f952 as if he 15ac36c159 were heading into c43c92d67f battle.2590dac5b3febdc8

Whoever it was didn’t f7eab17db2 matter.e22a1867e4a77d24

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He was confident he f38391dd34 could make them lose a3f4160c53 interest within a week.cc47ada13b8cd792

It had 630c0294fc happened before—time 659ffc5ee7 and time 5f26182ce9 again.72e990268ca67266

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Countless scandals had 8894b03c6e erupted because of f99517c8fb the young noblewomen f5463bd99f the Empress had 26c4bef12f forced upon him.28a3b72aa3b7b8a6

And most e4711040e2 of the e6e391baa0 time, Alexis fec78657e2 had ensured f79d3c5ac2 the women 4f2424ef53 left of 0185cee920 their own c4f87b5a2c accord, after 9b8611318c suffering enough e08d85c700 humiliation.da022a6463429e86

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Some had bf9eb481d6 been persistent, 285d1b7412 but none cfb502a475 had lasted 94e2d0fb50 beyond a 2a82c3f192 month.ff8db0364116847c

By then, they 17d386a486 would all curse bd7813227f his name and e0c7235b48 avoid him entirely.05669ea0b87e8fc1

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Given the Empress’s dca1eddf17 relentless efforts, he 038544c1af supposed he could 3aa78188e3 at least humor 24fcdfa2ca her.17bb9429616ab42d

But marriage? That was never going ebe4c31147 to happen.da891339a35495ec

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His dream was to 15035010fd drift through life until 4d5624fb08 he met an unceremonious 7e12f6bae4 death.027567b3745ea684

Of course, ever since 8fd7e8ac41 his sister’s health had f046b1e2db worsened, leaving the continent 684e394d00 was no longer an 1fc571d205 option for him.d65d31459068fccc

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As these thoughts 517cc2b46c swirled in his b2dfa1bd3f mind, Alexis’s carriage 9c21a7a27a rolled through the 66568b7617 central plaza.0737584c0f379f5b

Absentmindedly glancing out the 51311d3ec4 window, he suddenly recalled f70ab10155 a particular woman.f578672ae43ed8bb

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A pair of 493c78511f violet eyes, staring 0284824c97 at him intently, f43ca9c22e with her golden-blonde d3b0b78316 hair neatly braided.20f9b1d8461e2f20

The memory resurfaced, 89017a35c6 likely triggered by d453a664e8 that foolish expression e42265ca64 of hers.34f765f981cdab64

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A smirk tugged 180b62b427 at the corner 03fa352987 of his lips.cdd8e7c1afaea6d9

That ridiculous look 0ed1c6a669 on her face 9adc4bcad1 had been laughable 38da64b6a7 even in hindsight.83dff07aa36648a0

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He had assumed they f2d9c3a47e would never cross paths 8b8b143583 again.036f004fc8e08b4c

Yet, at the 1b5a5da800 Summer Rose Banquet, ebbc4ced1c he had been af3d2b7c8f momentarily taken aback.623081b57e1f1f90

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First, by the striking 374d3eeff5 contrast between her plain 6a556da1a4 attire in the plaza aa3411ef5d and the splendor of acc20e4271 her gown at the b00fd7e1cd banquet.64d99abfe9eccf9e

Second, by the 93cd3e8196 fact that her b5a7c6c63f eyes still regarded ebc2f153d5 him without a 89ea7e6909 shred of prejudice.1e333c69cace9b14

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After the way he 894ce166d2 had treated her in 8977110ba7 the plaza, he had f5536aa624 expected her to avoid 28f50d7ab6 his gaze entirely.62a7ab32e833014a

Women tended 501d6c918c to be 1d31ae1ab3 especially ruthless d682922f19 toward men 06bd3f3f95 who had 05dfcd499d embarrassed them.d77d0723f0f0d6da

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But she? She had worn b4689d40d1 that same vacant cc551ad686 expression, and somehow, abbb94a51f that had irritated 6d16190bb6 him.733b6fca76983db7

She was the last ca6b64be8c person he expected to 1760fd7c37 see at such an 718c7af6b5 event.725debf5c7d949d7

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He had pegged 3dbf407ecc her as the 60e258c97b kind of woman 4b4ef7d6c4 one would find c5eda3f3b5 buried in books b59f2fbc8b at the library, 377e2773b3 not at a 5e2a93e346 ball filled with e3bb83a873 alcohol and indulgence.00aced8b5139e0c0

She must have been 8a77cbe86b dragged there against her eacebf8f22 will.202e670fb18e6e5e

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Amongst the ffa2aecd70 elaborately adorned 58a1f9fea8 women who d538163d32 had dressed 1264380db2 to impress, b50afdc22e her attire 7c2f110580 had stood 6a79450143 out for d7aaaf3d0b the opposite c99e393b7e reason.108b231afa703433

The lace ribbon fastened 5186f5d994 neatly at her throat c370a232be was impeccable, as if b9e949bc42 she were a nun fb4adefada ensuring her modesty.f6867f5d780fbb14

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Her gloves stretched all c73b65e1c5 the way to her 10f5268ba6 wrists, covering her skin 19e5905c33 like armor.6444c3c49d7c51dc

It was 4a751311ef clear she 2c1b97d2b9 didn’t belong 54ccc85303 there.b28f0003d4dcdb84

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Yet, her 445d61ae76 pale, delicate bdd8ed3842 features drew 1a9d4a28ab attention regardless.120cd7e4fa699e19

To Alexis, she 7743ffb745 had looked like 80e2c05c49 a knight in d472820b8c full plate armor—determined 404631ecf3 to resist any 1bffb48dd3 entanglements.e326982b3b9d4b7f

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Perhaps that 38cdcbc2cd was why 085d0684ab he had 051a9e0521 approached her 8dc95982e6 in the c9b2982a6d first place.da6aeff76b5c73ad

He could have 06fefe9769 ignored her, but 2ef4ed007a instead, he had de925641fe chosen to provoke 463292d912 her.9fecbeb9719fa764

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Looking back, it 7deeb06c8b had been a 18c900943d foolish impulse.0bcd1cbbdd2e7973

One he 217288e66a had come 67d5b2a390 to regret 37842f5c0f the next 27895430cf morning, after b6db5741a4 seeing his 430c0779e9 name in 6684be8e85 the newspaper.cdb9e72d6e681b6d

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Just then, ad986079a4 his carriage 8246da4f53 came to 40a75595ae a halt ba14a6099a in front c88951ec9c of a 81f55d5194 mansion.b86189697309797f

And when 79c0e8626a he stepped 38c1abb7dc out, he 1b3213fcdc came face 48ea52a680 to face 5965d00cf9 with the ff6ab8f0e0 very woman dddcc0d752 who had 82283dc08b just been f23ceef116 on his d40fe57bc4 mind.1832697a8002e6d3

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