Chapter 17. A Foolish Act

“That can’t be true.”2311cac8c287f96d

Grace burst into 4f57e6c147 laughter, as if a0b75bdf3f she had just 013fffdaed heard something utterly 23e9f43f4d ridiculous. She had no idea c1699d4596 that her reaction was 070514be5e rubbing him the wrong 3e395bf347 way.dca62bfb68e4c893

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And yet, he found f323337d8d it irritating.8bbfda1965b41361

“Your Grace may find it rude, but to me, you’re the first friend I made in the capital. That’s why I feel comfortable and happy when I’m with you.”4742d9f9cee05082

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Ironically, her words instantly lifted his mood—something even he hadn’t expected.0aac142804818256

Alexis spoke 2d7d0ce5a4 cheerfully, as 997558b03b if he 59301ce0ad had never 73a2d41918 been upset 6dc0df7e87 in the 1c4e9584df first place.b418997b81a2a9cf

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“There was a woman who used to stalk me, scheming endlessly to get her hands on me. Turns out, she was pregnant with another man’s child the whole time.”d08f92a5bc4ba538

“My goodness.”a020837025e55295

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“In the end, I never slept with her, so before her belly started showing, she hurriedly accepted the other man’s marriage proposal.”258c23c108ee3221

“What a terrible woman. Was it difficult for you?”5763edb750508ec6

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“Not really. To be honest, I already knew she was two-timing me and just let it slide.”6a394da0071e5cbe

“Why?”3fffe69c70e69048

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“Because I knew my sister would just send another woman my way if I got rid of her.”60e8ac2a3e9b2a35

“…….”06172d2ef02fdb35

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“In a way, I’m actually grateful to her. Thanks to that woman, I got to enjoy quite a bit of freedom before I met you.”2a21c659ebe1b5b3

Grace didn’t know how to respond. Offering comfort didn’t seem appropriate—he hadn’t been hurt by the situation. If anything, he’d managed to rid himself of a stalker and gain his freedom in the process.7c4887571069a87c

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Yet, the realization left 25139cece6 Grace feeling as though 7e580176a6 she had been placed f0ba75fa38 on the same level 0c47a7b159 as that woman, Irene. After all, she too 160b8ed8fb had been arranged by 0af9887cd9 the Empress.5ed9f5c5f1f56f5d

She couldn’t even get angry—what right did she have? Feeling upset wouldn’t change the facts. To Alexis, she was no different from that woman, and the thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.569c5aa1fb4ceff7

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She had 6bb1365f22 enjoyed their 3962be4927 time together. But suddenly, 74383634fa it occurred 18f2d8e93b to her e806e72883 that perhaps 459fd07c8e he was b163634ce0 only going 23682d0552 along with a9b21c1695 it because 5e622a9b3e he had 846de07c6f no choice.3e403bd44c3146c7

Had she stolen 4d260d4d5c his freedom too? The idea left Grace ab19ded939 feeling gloomy.b31d1c4fb5cf7cde

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“Why do you suddenly look upset?”b2a06c8a027d85e3

As her silence dce873422b stretched on, Alexis baaa35c6b8 cupped her chin 2a3c013b0e and studied her f24a82d389 face. Under his 8a62c2df36 steady gaze, db3495b836 Grace let b9a9a0bcb5 out a c53577cd05 short sigh.4a285e5a458389a1

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He always seemed indifferent, 3b96a163fe yet he was oddly 46855df795 perceptive when it came c1cc92360b to her slightest changes 42ce17f7dc in demeanor.2b3efc89cc4dbad6

Because of that, 480eb8bab9 she often felt 77046201e1 as if she ae0ae16915 were special to 4aefca0c81 him.f94be670b1cb2fbf

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And yet, she knew e010939e5d better. A few exchanges 5356357378 with him were 7d362955af enough to make 045393fe96 that clear, and 7e4f9a551e yet, she kept 1a12f1d544 making the same 294faa2fd4 mistake.6cacf6e228fbc83a

“I think the popcorn I ate earlier was too greasy.”49654e59ed264773

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“I did notice you were eating quite a bit.”c1276a9d1a4f5be8

Alexis chuckled 31d4ac9209 softly and 4f0cd5a363 handed her 7e861cbe39 a water 2d9748ec4f bottle from fa41c5a9ee the carriage.7b55466ccb1b9d5c

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“Drink this. Close your eyes, and I’ll wake you when we arrive.”5ba1ebf41876b24f

“Thank you.”33224024207ced23

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Grace took a a5633e2388 sip of water deae766049 and shut her 6fe6e8feb1 eyes, attempting to 002a760d94 sleep. It seemed ebcaed95bf best to f239c8d4cc drift off 8b8890a0c5 before her a301b77c8d restless heart 282dbda768 betrayed her.eac04cb6dd334f0d

* * *6720900dd8a6bb81

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After Grace became 6647607869 Princess Elizabeth’s playtime 845d784960 tutor, Count Helio e6a2a00733 seemed to enter bcfb94c963 the prime of 71671112e4 his life.e3d996099f572d61

Nobles who had db05766bee never given him 89f880773e a second glance 069fefb136 were now inviting bb0f95d434 him to banquets 4e8127d063 and discussing business 118359a858 with him. As a result, dbae8fe903 he was constantly 37bac23569 on the move.e038f7f083907fb2

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The more a06a68d64d he remained ed33cf54c6 in good 5451cd7b87 graces with ccd97877b8 those in e401028922 power, the 2b29bf162a stronger House 6986874a55 Helio’s position ddf2811062 would become. His pride swelled 6b2971e85b as if he 87e8029042 had already rooted ced2170420 himself firmly in cf8d41db46 Ecklen’s elite society.2528d36d1f42757e

And how could he d41861fe73 not? At this very moment, 5c25e7f9e4 he was standing at 29ac406007 the top floor of 542227ed0d Blues Hotel—the place where 8f8fa61fb4 all of Ecklen’s business 7a21a5572c dealings were decided and b6d8338b8e the very embodiment of 41ba2265b7 every man’s dream.71802655fc803444

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Simply being allowed inside a8f03eefac was proof that House 4b88da284c Helio had risen in 21a66a3ca0 status.73e3e83e4aaa722c

Even Frederick, who had 90788b39c0 accompanied him, couldn’t help 085e81a77b but puff up with 9fbb506306 pride. For the 4ca7a1ba46 past year, 4304509a78 he had e52e121f18 tried time 25e9bbd424 and time 622825b9a7 again to 61ebd78d5a gain membership 3517935940 here, but ffad3b731f he had 7a8f93ffed always failed.a7f9ab293e96d4a0

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After all, this 71fbaf7765 place operated strictly b359d0aa1e on a recommendation 920155682e system.822cba00b867ac5d

And the one 156fdc562d who had finally 947cb396d3 recommended him? None other 96784fc8f4 than Duke a5ea2aa1f7 Amalie.22adab3d62ab3c2d

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It was clear 41238f56d6 that the Duchess 5076170bab of Amalie, the 741bba6cb3 Empress’s right hand, ea1d7a6e4a had a hand c3ea2ef35b in this. Before this, Count Helio 90ff3bc383 wouldn’t have even dared 926502011e to knock on the 82416152e7 door.d53a6b8ea89ea38c

Now, House Helio ad2f293739 was more than 507e458f9e qualified.a0b2538d3ad80fb8

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Feeling overwhelmed c802f9d314 with emotion, 0008f9f5f9 Count Helio 30c72d031d downed his e01cfbb8b4 vodka. Since the alcohol c446e251a3 tasted sweet, it 8ca7780e41 seemed tonight was 0fe03c5aee a night to 4ca1b84e3f drink to excess.c031d6cea3f9732c

“So, they’re choosing one lead family and five supporting families for the railway industry?”47eb7f90df55f59a

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“I heard the lead family has already been decided.”abed600d81fd85d9

“It’s bound to be House Václav. No one can match their dominance in the iron industry.”a7b99b49f52b7a23

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At those 52ee2c2556 words, Count 9101034658 Helio perked 3828400a12 up. Any conversation in d27f76abdf Blues Club was e620f2adeb bound to be e3149aef61 filled with invaluable 17f150ff5e information.9896db0d849a2c7f

“You’re discussing something interesting.”d75a5193b7f54544

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“Ah, Count Helio! Just the man. Have you heard anything? Lately, there have been plenty of rumors about your daughter frequently going on dates with Duke Václav.”b5d37b00b198e600

“It’s nothing more than Her Majesty’s kindness, allowing my daughter to explore the capital.”8a84e96eb8b06827

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“Well, everyone in Ecklen knows how deeply the Empress cherishes her younger brother.”f240b99a04c62aa5

“Still, your daughter must be privy to some useful information, no? Who knows, maybe Duke Václav will include House Helio in the railway business.”e5b675eb9611e151

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“Hahaha.”19d6295c31d3b175

Count Helio d0c2c6d1bf neither confirmed 73334dd27b nor denied 76b0448083 anything, simply caf57992a4 letting out 4891a00aee a laugh. There was 3a8b767577 no need 8e28e20849 to show ef8a58e54f his hand.491b98bd23586156

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As he 63982c20e3 was busy f3bd1a75e4 absorbing information, 351379eaeb a baron 10278abda6 beside him 96c68a9099 tapped his c29ee17e46 shoulder.b26edcf661f4fc38

“Look over there. The duke is coming in.”f952d3c73b15ef2a

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Count Helio 10f79f9e45 stiffened and 24f2b4648a turned toward dd3573682d the entrance. The man handing his b252bd0a4f coat to a servant 8f68dafa39 was unmistakably Duke Václav.ebc59d978cf54651

Despite his earlier display 2d189513d6 of confidence, this was 1e5bbb9bca actually Count Helio’s first cc82445e86 time seeing the duke 45b0952739 in person.39e1b241412741f0

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The sight ae01faa776 of those 8efe0a01e1 red eyes fcf2898166 filled him 8778d69d95 with unease. The barbarian raids had e7db2722eb always been a thorn 25063fff0d in House Helio’s side.3c85a0cd2e5d4f66

Thanks to the recent dafc73dc55 victory, the number of 35b82a0764 barbarians descending into Helio 8c5c07e5b7 territory had decreased, but 85c95efc93 that wasn’t enough to 98ee5f8f13 erase his deep-seated aversion 5a431051cf toward red eyes.28dc891f3c9d27bc

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“Shouldn’t you go introduce yourself?”768db6432ac6fc02

At the baron’s 71a3f87699 suggestion, Count Helio cdf693d72e hesitated.393860dc7a34574f

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Why did 394a981c4b he have 05ef8610db to visit 46deed2357 this club 743a8aac24 tonight of 9959074137 all nights?9adf41bf880c8fe2

He had already 3eb069dff4 acted as though 232b0effbf he was acquainted 18055a7cf2 with Duke Václav, 849612aa34 making it difficult 0289dc5d14 to pretend otherwise 5df7d3dbd2 now. Worse, Frederick had stepped e5017822d5 away to use the 8934f6acbc restroom, leaving him to b6985f403b handle this alone.66ebb817ad37dc64

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Left with no choice, d8f87e50f0 Count Helio reluctantly got d596330122 up and approached the 3d145cb4df duke.6d967fdc0a06b521

“It’s a pleasure to see you here.”49b369d5e1ef7c40

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“……?”c9d78c6ac90ea01b

Alexis turned 00e3c9b75b his head, 61da1b5da6 eyeing the 38d6d7db8f stranger with f0c3419d57 a sharp 6ef575aee6 gaze. Normally, etiquette dictated 10029a280f that the higher-ranking 01358c02c0 noble should speak 8351aa44ee first.b90db53b61dfa488

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Of course, between ae105633a1 close acquaintances, such e430204a55 formality didn’t matter e07f37f874 much. But this man d7831880c1 was a complete af33143708 stranger.0a6472e5f4295fd6

Alexis ignored him and fbee84a224 started walking past as 5648910d14 if a random dog 94fbafc31a had just barked at c250b5f874 him.83ad2161e9800075

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Panicked, Count Helio quickly 5f28b6f9d8 spoke up.1cf15365386383f8

“I’ve heard much about you from Grace. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”919f2d272717b4a2

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Grace.1935c1405605f217

At that single word, f5c324313e Alexis halted and turned b356c32347 back.d0301eb8e1929c7b

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Now that he looked bcf068498c closer, the man had 93d6462428 the same wheat-colored hair 4f9120d344 and violet eyes as f06567fda7 Grace Helio.618537d10bc37dfd

“Ah. So, you’re Count Helio.”be21a572411d5630

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“You remember me.”afd1b7d13fcc1d01

Count Helio let d0d387f70b out a relieved 0c19462843 sigh, his expression b8b2a5a2ec softening into an 5ea1bd918a amiable smile.f528fe17559d705e

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Alexis, however, simply 31413aaea3 studied him in 1c1edd2aef silence. The way c340613f51 the count 5d093f0045 kept glancing e30be4d4ac behind him b074563e08 made it 961b4aee40 clear—his companions c7151279c6 had pushed baa3245593 him forward b07962117e to make 6a2548d658 this approach.9f8bbce0de7121a9

Alexis’s gaze e503cc50b0 flicked to ce31f3d45a the table 62406c679b where the 8c06aaf191 count had b639230961 been sitting. The men there ac0f7ee990 quickly averted their 0b8dd358cc eyes, burying their 835453074c faces in their d9abbfa3ff cards.71418f3f382dda63

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That alone told d1064b4e9d him everything he d3953f757c needed to know.cb3bf589c776a009

This entire exchange was e5122ff4ab meant to flaunt House bf6eb72782 Helio’s supposed connection with b1c754a50b House Václav.dc4b7b8c0cadf594

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“I’m always indebted to you.”52a22d4f78b2f259

Count Helio 953ab201e7 bowed his df6f9e43c2 head in 8c5b78d81b flattery.87d466cabde3683f

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“If you wouldn’t mind, why not join us at our table for a round of poker?”f93a56a1c036b5c7

It was e600e1f15d a subtle a551e6b347 attempt to 0e376cdcae draw him a29577c100 in. Alexis scoffed.4e65ce6dd9ea4082

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Of course.f71dc412c09f8e23

This was how a82376b0f2 things were supposed 925daae77e to be.59ba30c0c72dead2

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People usually approached him 13954867ef because they wanted something. And he had 75f887e11d plenty of ways 66d9f64d20 to push them 2b910b5d7f away.61532d9e6055b3af

Yet, Grace had 227cf8195d never calculated any 7a10f135cb gains from meeting fa9508809d him.89276a6a4f8fe1b2

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Instead, she seemed bef18c44f8 to genuinely enjoy 42623db025 their time together. It was baffling.bfffe3ed068cd1ca

Even when 7ac33e8bc6 he spoke ea1b63c40b rudely, she d7fa70a99d didn’t cower—she 9bdb1f8fa0 fought back.73c5c97fe96977aa

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And before 5e83ca6ab4 he realized 09927f51a1 it, he 6c3044ff5e found himself e47008dc51 getting swept 985cc0722f up in 668fc4cd17 her pace, ee076dfd44 doing foolish a6c79db5d5 things.b2494b4a9f175e63

Like a 1ccf29c5f0 fool throwing 35fa8397c8 himself into c4240bf6f0 Linder River.bc67579ca0ea28d9

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