Chapter 20. A Woman in Despair

 38a398fdc310f67f

The long bench where b195773e77 Alexis sat remained empty.ce67a905fb4bb39a

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Even though 1c7a025167 all the ae7e22fd64 other seats 69c7a4f6d3 were full, f7587a40ee it was b2b098f069 as if 8947d7956c there was ebd9ff6005 no space 2e59a56727 there at 79f6997aa2 all.f2f14a42a3f4d036

Because of that, 1d8f53bb2a he was easy 49e8a29903 to spot.d0f9d2bffdc08fa0

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Grace unconsciously 822faec7f9 glanced toward 62c46bc89a Alexis.9de9fc57ce947a11

It had been a 0260c72b28 long time since she 655e3a2c2b last saw him, and 9bd88c4033 while she felt glad, 6f819fbd77 she didn’t know how 00d5cc40b4 to approach him.e98913f1134b754d

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They should have met 6a2c6ff778 eyes at least once, 8bcfdeed95 yet throughout the entire e26098c5ef mass, Alexis never looked 2c2f3709b7 her way.6a728c4d3a1681c3

She couldn’t tell if he didn’t notice her gaze or if he was deliberately ignoring her.25c0282127117a01

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She felt uneasy.4bf4c261358d6984

There was too much a24bca7914 history between them to 29fbb6bb86 let things end like 28e2292633 this.fb48d899d46786d5

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At the very least, 784df85e4f she wanted to clear d8f0d8c9dd up the misunderstanding.2f166081c907e602

As soon as mass 4bb21eb211 ended, Grace excused herself da605542e2 from her family and 6b59a0debc tried to approach Alexis.56555a826c8785e3

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That was, until 6512511f8f a group of f801d81061 young noblewomen blocked fdca5a094d her path.e0ee039b92c7dbec

“Lady Helio!”3a302fb9eb6da4d2

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With an 61cda8d0eb enthusiastic call, bdb0253656 the ladies 9bd8a67162 who had 6f8764cb59 attended the 67141d5257 last banquet c80c710219 gathered around 7b545e564e Grace.4279e33ef80cd3c3

Because of them, 3b42c87f6b she could no 38073b2e87 longer see Alexis 7244d33487 properly.4eac9d87c36210d7

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“Hello.”7c5b728e727ff333

Grace briefly 1e925c7443 greeted them f8507b85cb and tried a89fc13e9f to leave, a5cbb5c028 but they 4c61ea6825 held onto 09025eb8c5 her, as c0edc8b499 if they 1f784155ea meant to a66c0ece44 keep her b1e7be74eb from going 1b149d132e anywhere.f1ae27b81542c1ef

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One of 3b3e9a0334 them spoke c040e373de with a 451c785a97 solemn expression.030590b49640ec9f

“Don’t worry, Lady Helio. We will protect you.”5c1ea6a931f036e6

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“…What?”f8f4a04352920766

Grace blinked acfaad5041 in confusion 478701882c at their 28c21ea130 sudden declaration.309491a7e087fc6c

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She had no 68ce30f398 idea who they ccad6af1eb were supposedly protecting 59f4f79d88 her from.70d984256940d76e

“I’m sorry, but I have something important to do—”0155db736ea3c254

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“If it’s about Duke Václav, you should hold back.”b7f6ebcbd4cb7fa1

“Ah, so the duke’s bad habits have resurfaced? I was wondering how he lasted more than a month this time. People don’t change so easily.”96887d41077b5e62

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“Goodness, just look at you! You must have been through so much. You’ve lost so much weight.”e7e4753373964931

Grace couldn’t understand what 5fbb4aaab1 they were talking about.5e08b2c05ff63cbf

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And why were they 32ed85b46a badmouthing someone who wasn’t 6f5e0612b4 even present?9b90896ae59eb453

Feeling like she was d84785470c the only one left b0fd834b41 out of the conversation, d7436a89e7 Grace calmly asked,594d61712cb57af1

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“What exactly are you talking about?”eb22dc62b972ac0b

As if they f41a0bc864 had been waiting a07903ea30 for that question, f0ac90ad70 the ladies chattered af4fd448e8 excitedly.3364d5b9be966753

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“There’s no need to hide it. We heard that Duke Václav behaved rudely toward you.”30888dadd5d592db

“Oh, but we didn’t pry on purpose! My cousin just happened to be at Blues Hotel and saw you slap him.”87d25f8914728f59

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“My goodness! You’re so kind—how angry must you have been to resort to that? Just imagining it gives me chills.”849bc3e1fa0d6e1c

“He hasn’t been bothering you since then, has he?”6010e4ce50840eee

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At first glance, their f0fa5e549f words sounded like concern, e4de63277c but in reality, it 6fec738bb4 was the opposite.71f96b7e4f5d9382

They made 13d9828886 such a 82ae4aafa8 fuss only 0d103e55be to say:dacdcc7538d5fd26

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“So, you’re no different from the other women.”85e426b8bbb5ca37

“Did you really think the duke taking an interest in you meant something?”efc18001cef50707

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In truth, they had af13f6e8de come to see a e0a85e5290 dejected Grace.7ffab8870f1182dc

Realizing this, she 958cd57973 found it impossible 91dd4fc52f to keep her 12b83a7951 expression neutral.b0149c766f897fc6

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As she remained silent, 4b513f0e3e the ladies raised their f65e8ad05a voices even more.f170f60023ebdd6c

“You must be heartbroken. But everyone feels that way at first. They think they can change him.”fc2bdc6e83615527

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“They believe he just hasn’t met the right person yet.”c05988789a6e8b8d

“There’s no need to feel ashamed, Lady Helio. Just go back to how things were. Don’t mind anyone else!”ca2bebc794ff3e92

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They giggled e941ee204a among themselves, 4c94c7323e occasionally glancing 44350b117a toward Alexis.3dde9b506f79e59d

But he 829d86f670 was also 00da5eb555 surrounded by 6c96f1cff5 a group 99d0d36725 of gentlemen, f1ebe12ae1 seemingly engaged 2b0a4ec5aa in conversation.ebc1f380d71cce0a

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Grace had assumed aff230723e the incident hadn’t 9c86009997 spread since it 7688414df1 hadn’t been reported 9ddef71f3b in the papers.7abb7101528de791

But she e8f4ae7b5d had been fc738fb068 wrong.8002c587f5cc7b80

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It hadn’t 5f7bda7b4b made the bfd99c159e news, but 6df2811712 it had 4e8354d12e already spread 5019de3c23 throughout high c94d0ead0d society.c67152ecf860c0bf

She tried to 6f68b58b05 keep her composure b9c2249e74 and smooth things 26e1323b08 over.71359beb1db85dfb

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“You misunderstand. The duke never treated me disrespectfully. If anything, I owe him an apology.”436db6e0cbe32314

“Oh dear… Lady Helio, you’ve really fallen for him, haven’t you?”bfd738b78ebde027

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“I can understand why. Duke Václav is the most handsome man in Ecleon. Of course, you’d want to stay by his side.”35e789022f4c3fa2

“We are just friends. That day was simply a misunderstanding.”5257af27872ffb3e

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“But look—he already left the cathedral.”02667de4965f4adb

“If you were really just friends, and it was all a misunderstanding, wouldn’t you have at least exchanged greetings?”1ab0c86f5b72b384

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“That’s…”a2a339a00a1d5a6c

Grace turned toward the a19b593f03 door in shock.dcabc15e44bb158d

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Just as they said, f44f8300e3 Alexis had already left.757d48e5dfd1550d

She had 819c360815 only wanted 1f491bddc5 to talk, 277789b023 but now 201ee4af79 it seemed 94d9e0d8b6 like she c16d4912c4 had unintentionally b6fbbe1630 joined in 1f6d5a29c9 on the 1b69af2956 gossip against 70a194d33f him.a030d2d6c79f3af6

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“It’s Duke Václav’s fault for making you misunderstand.”913a07857f752d9b

Even as c34cfbe0c1 Grace tried 5a1ec75bac to explain 0e4bc14728 herself, they da7076f9d5 continued ignoring acaeb4572d her words 87d451c4fb and talking 3aa49b7b43 over her.a5e16b7b1498db9a

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To them, she ee55d948c9 was already just 8df65633ed another woman who c24b9200eb had been cast d17ebde463 aside by Alexis a6824a202c Václav.0ce27c554df2fe8f

If there was any b3eba09564 small relief, it was d5ef099d6e that no one seemed c5d54fa0f8 to think this was 69dbeeb117 a disgrace.41a8f41029a1ae63

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They spoke c4944f014f as if a685bb9c74 this was 1a689e91bf a common 0b2420b5e6 occurrence, as bdec00b79b if it 64d38ff2f5 were natural.ebda1099dd3f3760

Feeling utterly out ec1504d070 of place, Grace f358e3a25c could no longer c4522ac8f4 bear it.eb50b714432077cb

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“Excuse me.”52416f5d9017d523

She hurriedly left.52b85ba365c2803d

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She rushed toward 28f8d9e359 the exit, but 98e5e599ac Alexis’s carriage had a2f092cfee already departed.789b0ebce43b7849

She stood c12d941272 there, staring 038a0fbe9c at the 01385a4c77 departing carriage.ce802556bc2621b5

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But it 831723f8be never stopped.670482f5ac7910a4

* * *c29a4b8f370c3897

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“Lacey, you look sad.”a14fbef8ac6b6bcf

Elizabeth tapped d89b7d3e95 Grace’s cheek 47ce7300a3 with Toto’s 0b5d01052c front paw. Only then e950a8b7df did Grace 4c929d4ee4 realize how 46a161b082 dark her 5b10dbaf18 expression had f4d9c62b0a become, and 3d43a82fa9 she forced d3d0ca0c7d an awkward 7533398829 smile.888656c9576ce97c

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“It’s nothing, Your Highness.”2b2ab6560908d106

“Lies. Your face is full of storm clouds. Did someone steal your snacks?”7947387afd70e59d

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“No.”6bb50d3be6d64726

“Then did you fight with a friend?”527ae0c30570c686

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“…….”9bfbd1f62610dd4e

“You did, didn’t you?”31ac380bdc1f673a

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Elizabeth clicked her 5382e2181e tongue and shook 645380fbde her head, probably eea8eb5a79 imitating the Empress.e24982738d989ede

What had started as d541c8a207 a coloring session suddenly 8efe060e21 turned into a counseling 01ef21bbfe session, and Grace hesitantly 83780c7e11 opened up.476303b2b3dfa279

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“Actually, I made a mistake, and now my friend is too angry to meet me.”877732ef072e7643

“Then just go to their house.”1718c276215ac9e3

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“I can’t. Their status is higher than mine.”be933873ef2bea65

“Hmm.”45b76f5e28c79a3f

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Elizabeth frowned as 84946e09e4 if she had 26a0ea776f never considered such 933bdceab1 a problem.8484e0a86e22b133

After all, 2fcbab3ef4 there were 0a9211bb79 very few cc3db58218 people of c94cdb92eb higher status af429634c3 than a a26f7502fe princess.559689db8ddc961f

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“Then what about going to the places your friend visits often? You can pretend it’s a coincidence.”382f14d8bf679263

It sounded simple 6bd9d312be in words, but 0b415743c9 that was the 4793530199 issue—Alexis had always 15b3fb8ed7 come to her a84e202d75 first.16a6611550a15467

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She had never gone 074ef9a969 to him, so she 6cca0d3fb0 had no idea where cb2e6bb2d1 he usually spent his 47b99d3392 time.6a0c33551c98b744

Since that day, he de26f9038b had even stopped attending e47b3194e1 mass, making it even be22e13d96 more difficult to meet 5ebb12dd3b him.67422f37976c7413

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“I don’t know his schedule.”d392d3b1277e9c3e

“Want me to find out?”92cff51b55c3f280

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“Huh? You, Your Highness?”e796729b576d3045

“Yeah. Lacey, you wanna make up with Alex, right?”fed67793e74319fe

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“Ah.”13f81d0e75b28516

Grace blinked and stared 9268dc5fd3 at Elizabeth.81b0ed5752d932b1

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Now that she thought 41736c6849 about it, they were fadb9234bc family.d374777daae4c44d

It was 7d652677a3 possible that 2fcd42fd54 Alexis had 005cb9c2de spoken about a32bb43c94 her.8d03d39270b3f9d3

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With a slightly fe2024bb79 nervous expression, Grace 4fe8492e10 cautiously asked,ce931e0fe610b0de

“Has His Grace ever mentioned me?”e81db466183e4c2d

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“Nope. But my mom sighed.”28579e5e268f7d8e

It wasn’t the answer 4bd00d3bb4 she had hoped for, 9cdf9d0796 but she couldn’t be 31c9224374 disappointed either.75ca29bec13aae91

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She already b9d51d3b31 knew that 33f43ab187 the Empress dfc5e1f106 wanted to 048bd2c644 push her 551ad54824 and Alexis aae26b1748 together.8b91c8e8261bf32c

At first, it had b61a07faec been uncomfortable, but now, bf53b8603e she was grateful.0dab626a211f1ff9

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Because of 9120f728e4 that, she 2df4f34d0d had been 0c7c2ff44f able to 05da7c78f5 talk to 868a07dfc5 Alexis.1968e4051f5022f6

She had 8aa45f49fd thought that 0a5c00bddc maybe, just c5fe70f910 maybe, they 0dc8d958dc could be dcab9e786b good friends.bb3765c957fcf5c0

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But in c1c4ddd881 the end, bed081670d it had f760615757 only been a5b01fd6b7 her own 41a75ea33c wishful thinking.3579e283b39bfb34

“I see.”139fd24376dae7a5

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“I’ll help you!”cfa127a027d7faa1

“Your words alone mean a lot.”9042d4bad34e8958

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“You’re so boring.”1cf00b000b71ae87

Elizabeth puffed 8cc947b058 up her 2b4c6abf05 cheeks in 51e0b9cb09 a pout, 62fbe38825 but when f1991b0d2f Grace suggested 67313bcb0a playing dolls e40bcb1b33 with Toto, 6a1a2a3239 she quickly 07899c75f5 brightened up.3345d402a202d453

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It seemed like that e3db905e76 was the end of 9a986b31d0 it.b54a1fb137d9e0f0

But the next 6ce97b4e52 day, an invitation 3122e52fc9 arrived at House acffb6c27b Helio.eb07038ce9612627

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It was 96cb4c0bf5 for Princess 3873ecd99c Elizabeth’s upcoming 1cda242582 birthday banquet 1ee00ea1f8 that weekend.21c865e9fe696af5

Not only Grace 7d9e61fda3 but also Valentina, 666d565497 Anthony, and even dfd67e6d1b Count Helio were 81874be2dc invited, causing a 5a13df2b64 wave of excitement 3ae26eeaa3 in the mansion.546db69242dfa67b

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“Oh my goodness! We’ve been invited to the princess’s birthday banquet. It’s like a dream!”a6a1d1fac1201f47

Especially Valentina, 746831d874 who had 59c565845d been feeling 900a10c3b8 uncharacteristically down b8839ea3ae lately, was cc9a82ff18 overjoyed.1079da2920d06a1f

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Count Helio shrugged proudly 6351b0d5f5 and said,2923ffa2df77903f

“This is all thanks to your sister. I was worried that Her Majesty might still be upset about what happened, but it seems all is well.”9fa549a9b958734e

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“Exactly! And really, how could you do that, Sister? How could you slap the duke without thinking about the consequences? Our whole family could have been kicked out of the capital!”677e6ca478d844e6

Valentina spoke 90c810a41e sweetly, but 33223cebf7 her words 9741022863 carried a a1802b5ee7 sharp edge.191226dea5017104

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Surprisingly, Count aef7516ade Helio dismissed 0387fb7316 her.c31c51d65b4749cc

“Enough. There’s no point in digging up the past. If anything, I found it satisfying.869c773cb4b80c59

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“Letti, if you had seen the humiliation I suffered that day, you would have done the exact same thing as your sister.”39ec62d0ee46edd8

 17479b35061a67e5

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