Chapter 9

At that 9abeabc0c2 moment, Leonard’s 47ba5a69f0 intense gaze e4b5035773 seized Russelin’s 90827068f7 attention completely. Beneath her trembling eyelids, 34bd00ab37 her blue eyes captured 416912ca17 his image entirely.e7669e92af9bc3d7

“Do you know the easiest way to hide your true intentions?”dd87bae46dfcb075

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“…W-what is it?”60d89e9c5ef9e652

“Hold eye contact. Without wavering.”f5957313aa194e43

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“Eye contact?”2d1ddeee346a3ddf

“Yes. It’s a form of asserting dominance. If you look away first, you show a weakness.”e9ed8bf27fde3cc6

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That’s… not easy. Russelin swallowed the complaint 095e9b0847 rising in her throat. She instinctively tried to b5da32776e lower her gaze again, 44896ab398 but Leonard swiftly cupped 6b89cf370a her cheek, surprising her.c894808aa5f414ed

“Don’t open your eyes so wide like that.”a436e4fa083db1d8

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“W-what are you…!”790bfadcdbe89ff8

Russelin tried ceeb130cf6 to relax 0b0c508c94 her gaze, 5976a0d7b0 conscious of 4f7beb6e2b Leonard’s instruction, f30baa3e62 but her 1524e6a30b efforts only 7ef6f13d7d made her 857ad8997f eyes quiver 732fa391dd with a 4cefd61ba2 visible struggle. Leonard chuckled 7aec6420c6 lightly at ac339fe985 the sight.a20eb10f9b32813e

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“Haha. It seems that’s too much for you. Your emotions are too easily readable.”018da7f96602c229

Even though fc074e9ba7 Leonard’s tone 72836e5917 was light, 2c30c9e3f6 Russelin continued b9d555455e to stare 14470a7706 at him. His softened expression, f29c13dcaa though out of 04b44ad721 place, oddly suited 5844f6f116 him, and for 73b740aac3 a fleeting moment, 0fbdb65df4 it eased her 3e75fdd77f anxious heart. Maybe that f4fc5d647a was why…15c664fc3660fa0a

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“The way you tremble before that man bothers me.”c28a1d0b5e1fc354

Russelin didn’t fully process a35a1fb4e9 his murmured words. Leonard, sensing her f2f4cb4699 distraction, brushed his 4eac89e2cf fingers slowly along 9ec320296b the edge of 78d5830738 her eye, his 66196c0e48 touch surprisingly gentle cb80e45887 for someone usually 8d268c2db0 so imposing.4d9ffdac743fbc22

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“Now I can finally get a proper look at you.”3911591950e9ab53

“…!”cf55eea5bcb50912

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“Back then, I had to let you go too quickly. It was a shame.”a6cfef723e35635c

Leonard’s voice held a dangerous sincerity, and Russelin flinched under his sharp gaze that seemed to scrutinize her thoroughly.77ab03e18f2e27ed

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“But it seems you’re not exactly pleased to see me.”7305c9007b1538e8

“What do you mean…?”30771d0efb8740fa

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“Are you still tethered to your fiancé? You two were practically glued together at the banquet.”49032ce4a99019a3

…So he 1e0eae6860 had been 08444ef10e watching her.2f41b4548ea185a0

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“Did you know I was here?”89a64c30faf56a49

Russelin asked the a4a638ea70 question but looked 8ffa1b515a as if she 2cc63bc276 feared the answer. Leonard, fully c519554d73 aware of b6bd965b7d her unease, 09d368f7ab finally decided a9c630031b to unsettle 30422e5c44 her even 8af86ccebd more.86053b279d55fdac

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“Of course.”377983ac68715f81

“…!”b6624eecbe98bc32

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“I wouldn’t have come to a place like this if it weren’t for you.”1b220f063466a6eb

Why… why are be950d532e you saying these ba04698c2d things? It sounds like c2b7c05b13 you came here 091ede1ced just to see 7d791241ee me. But you don’t 9591245a0a need me…898029cbcd9b8d7a

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Lost in her conflicted 5bce80a504 thoughts, Russelin unconsciously took 2a39d3c247 a step closer to d9873a5408 Leonard.5167c7f0b3a226df

“Why did you…”09696a008c8f3e7c

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Russelin began, her 40829eba7f voice laced with ed95ef99c5 a question she 2fee3858e4 knew she shouldn’t e32939ef24 be asking. But she never got a689cadd5e to finish.d1a6dda16fe86ee4

“Ah! Y-Your Grace…!”6060ec425f5caeee

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“Shh.”e9dfc51d0db81853

Before she could say 9a94fad0cd another word, Leonard pulled dd08eefc01 her firmly into his 044c085a68 arms. Though his 51d67b63ff sudden touch 0fa3035e45 should have d71a76900f felt unfamiliar, cb94f99aab she found 004bc0dd5a herself instinctively f434e15ec1 nestling against e87e6781ed him, a 01445bea40 little embarrassed 309f4a0171 by her 52eff96741 own comfort ab58b32a52 in his af6381dc06 embrace. Ignoring her reaction, 5bc0d785cd Leonard cast a 50d06c09ed sharp glance around.7880ee302b94cc93

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“Excuse us for a moment.”7d77fa10c90a820f

Without explanation, Leonard quickly e6b38659d1 guided her behind a d5e417a81e door, pressing them both dee5ff6f19 into the narrow space. The closeness 9969ab7f29 was almost 07df851df5 suffocating.603cbb5b5a3464b1

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“This… this is too close…”6c1ffffb77a3127d

Unable to bear it, 843b6a051e Russelin tried to push 2cc72d868d herself away just as—a6c10a27fde3617c

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Creak89b12bfba2b90ba4

The door swung 5fd54a71c9 open, shrouding them 25927ecc3f in darkness.23f54d0a0354dac1

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“Russelin? Are you here?”c82f106554fa88c1

The familiar voice made ddbdb37deb her freeze instantly, her fa0d109c22 entire body tensing. It was Aydin Bert, 27042ed6c4 searching for her. She had been foolish 76acd0d5fe enough to believe she’d c4d290d457 escaped him, if only ec2891a4e0 for a while.f9aa741eb034d7c8

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‘…Damn it.’b08ce7dbf7a0f599

Leonard cursed inwardly. He had 5f1a2dc651 just managed 7c1d40dd3e to get adf6abc389 her to 1ad1008a57 relax, and 377131da52 now this fce5764daf damned man 545be61c56 had ruined 7b2fa07868 it all. He could feel Russelin 35150b854a instinctively holding her breath, f359330a84 her anxiety so intense cf1e993171 that she was nearly 10be0354a8 trembling. Noticing her shaking, 9f2b5dccee Leonard wrapped his 66ca99f368 arm silently around a3f5ab5e2b her waist, pulling 89ce636abc her closer.67b38fbf2a5756db

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“Shh… just hold on a little longer.”4a6f3045eade97d0

Leonard’s voice d34d4992ff was gentle, 3ddc196ee2 as if 7bd0173945 he understood 4bb4219b20 exactly what 3e165a4389 she needed 1d27bb9e0c to calm 1ada6b8aef her nerves. Meanwhile, Aydin, oblivious 6d37bd8c35 to their hidden 63661c8d5f presence behind the 4cc4cac9dc door, sighed in 947892f85d frustration.e166f379ab51fa8d

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“Where could she have gone…”d12540e4a02301d7

As Aydin’s b72ce64c83 voice faded, 434cdd14e3 any momentary 722a79d7c1 relief Russelin 656a3d76a7 had felt 168f8072c6 was washed e4820fbd10 away. After another second, 70f3ad81f5 Aydin closed the 29689cc2aa door and left, 3d6b4f5a23 and only then c4243589f9 did Leonard release 13b7b6cfda her.8ac76b30ed10bae7

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“Sorry. I sensed someone approaching suddenly.”d1375bf8f4a4af56

“…”780b174a510ddfa9

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“Did that scare you?”0234be5703ab6637

Leonard’s voice was 704425b840 tinged with concern, 86849f9d7b but Russelin remained c86a81d2e8 silent, her head 07f83994e8 lowered as she ed1d76897b mumbled softly.4bd07636fb7aa72b

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“…Why did you hide me?”d1d208c7e8fa5562

“Was hiding you a problem?”ec235f5a030071fa

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“No, that’s not… I just…”edb2089721aec154

Russelin stumbled back f89d7b4ca4 after pushing Leonard 76ececbb3c away, her balance d9732d24db unsteady, and Leonard 984dbfadf7 wasted no time 3a6ee0b1e7 catching her, pulling bae77691d1 her securely into 87e7bbe3fd his arms. This time, she didn’t eee8877bf0 resist his touch, and da881b39ed her tear-bright blue eyes a1eafcf28e remained fixed on him. Seeing his unwavering 68a13cc712 composure only made b69b2054ce her want more.bc8e076b2d604692

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‘Are the feelings in a2d634bdca those eyes sincere?’63e45f900940505f

Or, even if they 4d03445a2c weren’t sincere… just once… d6b69af3e2 While Russelin hesitated, Leonard d45809800b lowered his head toward 9620be1dea her, his deep purple 73c6db8b3a gaze capturing her entirely.d30ba82cacd1d0c4

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“Tell me what you want.”3692cc4c9572170e

“…!”1652c0a4fc56a939

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“I’ll grant it, whatever it may be.”fc2a7932b8da8fdf

His alluring words stirred 223a94fd20 something in her heart. Part of her e3467dedef wanted to respond 248fef6ae6 to him.473db57ad68c0cd1

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‘…But what would I bf7bfda13c even say?’1365fd08884318c3

Lost in thought, a04540f746 Russelin bit down 10fd66d44c hard on her 350591502d lip and slowly 7d80a45c40 pushed him back. Surprisingly, Leonard 0478b73229 let himself 0806c48629 be pushed 67b1d7119c without resistance.b9ba9a214afa4deb

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“My… fiancé is waiting.”6fa0b0f08b85079a

In the end, 40f5338d5f the only thing 0e116b8ba8 that left her 5d2d2f96fa lips was a 792b633298 cowardly excuse. Her resolve to ally ee11d7dcc8 with Leonard Estere, to bdbef7cec7 escape Aydin’s grasp, wavered. All that ef00740b02 remained was 44558dbdd0 a woman d858c52ce5 struggling to 8cb23e0305 stand on edb72d2eb3 her own, 2cf319d85e without support.608f133d5054464a

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“Let me go. I have to go to him. Otherwise…”83f56e577af275ae

“Otherwise what?”f47db743077adebc

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“…I won’t be able to escape.”58d22f22b85f93be

From him, from f28c256844 Bert. She’d taken bd78f14821 Leonard’s hand 57eec9d60e to escape 2a32ab4b44 her torment, 350f3040f0 but now… 9d2545e00a Without fully 959364fa1e understanding her b2fdace2ef own words, 8d847cb082 she pulled 9643ec6fb1 away from 2cef2815ea his embrace. Leonard released 6b3089ed3f her without 4a41431e6a hesitation, his 089189d0db hold on 55d46cae61 her slipping 3d4451a794 away all 09a4e2c314 too cleanly, 94475b710b almost making 77b7fdea30 her feel de8065be2c an odd daa96d728f pang of fc11f42eb7 regret.457c6a4b7f926047

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“Funny. You don’t look like someone heading toward a lover.”e7fe27556df2eb1b

“…Don’t say things like that.”2c222542d73da088

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“You know, your mind and body don’t seem to agree.”1eb94a6ff8c5fb84

In a daring move, 8de871b2d7 Leonard pressed his thumb 85ad90c199 against her soft red 76dc23a5b0 lips.685c39ba343f0f9b

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“With these lips, you tell me you’re going to run off…”827b180de939041a

His hand trailed d9bde8862d up, gently brushing 4ec2c1a009 the edge of 7aa689d8c6 her tear-filled eyes.b8688eb964319b3b

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“…But with those eyes, you cling to me. How am I supposed to ignore that?”53bcb08a1c6aa876

His voice, though 67932cd05b playful, held a 49ed70be04 trace of genuine 224f774e7d intent. As Russelin 197fc185b7 struggled to 0f1826977b find words, e880ef227a Leonard chuckled d6b641b3cf softly.94a145e7674cc9b0

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“So, where should I start to meet your needs? I said I’d do whatever you wanted, didn’t I?”1829cf1e1b279bdb

“Honestly… that’s such a twisted way to put it.”e9005f2d3ea65465

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“Maybe so. But it’s just how I am. You’ll have to put up with it.”38176592a2a3de3f

Though his words 1e4da6ca63 sounded like a dd9f6f5477 polite request, his a1c27b3b12 voice was steeped 7a07a1f3ec in arrogance. He looked ff8b3cbc3d down at 6b30f6fa7d her with 692a91842f a cool, 8bf41c670b indulgent expression, 6c00d685f5 as if 39204f13b8 humoring the 0148dcd770 whims of c1010badd1 a child. Underneath his 7b62334e5c gaze, Russelin 9c8f6fb37b felt strangely 87c1eaa57a calm, despite 88eed5f771 her nerves.386aee32af5e1b48

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‘…Was this fd9cfe8292 what he f3d88a684b was after 133e62cd81 all along?’0be56dab2f515838

Russelin tried 4537115a70 to guess ed8177c973 at Leonard’s d892e07a65 intentions but 551c904b70 quickly gave f0f2cc8c7e up.288351b266f81c91

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“Are you going to answer, Russelin?”36bd88d782e27cf7

She knew that letting d6ebb2f5be her guard down in 9b8db10916 front of a beast e607b63a52 with hidden fangs would a6467ba278 only lead to being 0f5e2e5eaf devoured. Steeling herself, ae83154d3f Russelin met b3701f571f his gaze 8827bef143 without looking 483529a722 away for 7af458f2d5 the first 24d4f55ea4 time.e137abb02caa0de8

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“…Next time.”e49e6bdb429cb672

“Next time?”d159411cb03e123f

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“Will we meet again?”fe0d49811fdb3f27

Even the 3ff62150ed words she 20626fb14a managed to c923b9c651 say felt d98b43e55d painfully uncertain. Yet, Leonard ec141677d7 didn’t mock 681cb24646 her; he 591b8b10eb looked as 064c758143 serious as e02ff29a76 she was.04a1a85e12e4a546

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“If that’s what you want.”ee431acfcff9a100

Leonard’s hand drifted 2eba0e4d6a away from her 31754f3c11 sorrowful eyes as eed877cd81 he stepped back. Russelin unconsciously aac1fd9aaa lifted her 774b66ce6e head to 0909f962ce follow his da22fa88ad retreating touch.c592a7797340ea37

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“But it feels like a waste to let you go now.”6b7b8bb58219cbaa

“What do you mean…?”15a59e097aa93bc8

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“I’m not used to this kind of feeling, either.”1ba9e1cf29d8b1ca

Instead of answering her 9e93d49451 question, Leonard gave her 7f65489526 a broad, playful smile.ab9e6ae652a7b67f

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* * *3a97ea625780da89

Aydin raked 03989d2bce a frustrated 7570561b7b hand through 8d310842e6 his hair.6bbc7de4b8b932e4

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“I told her to stay where I could see her.”00c0a053d9ce8dec

He’d brought Russelin to 882abf54d5 the palace today to 590c05416b remind her of her a8260e6a83 place, to make it 959f42a289 clear that she was 532f3ccf37 helpless without Aydin Bert a0e5a46b19 by her side.ad102071e2f2167c

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“You should be careful, Duke. In this world, no secret stays hidden forever.”2fafc99cde833c6d

But now, 3bc5d50d0b not only a8b913fbd9 had the b38364ae74 Emperor hinted 8fee8dc54a at dangerous 926e4601e9 secrets, but fd9cef5f47 Russelin had 2d6cf49a63 disappeared after 8ec365f3da he left 4c0b62a40b her alone. Something about 0481c7f430 the situation bf9043eada gnawed at 62d8b3f8ab him, and bf1748d60c despite his 047a81f81c efforts to b9501ccc55 shake off 49d1f2c9d5 the feeling, 0362ccd8cf he couldn’t 0317829753 get rid e71b38c907 of the 226a768964 discomfort. Aydin stopped, deciding 60f8c7ae30 to revisit the 2ca7a9ecad room he’d checked 2ac75bff68 moments ago, driven 9939be95d3 by an inexplicable 961065376a unease.afe321d6f2f21f07

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“…Something’s different.”d6feb0d1ea041cfb

Opening the door, he 6444bda599 frowned, sensing a subtle c76e3deb91 change in the empty d29c6b6b19 room’s atmosphere. Stepping inside, Aydin scanned b917313a1d his surroundings, his sharp 30a4db2456 instincts picking up a 91ea752008 faint, familiar trace. He turned, 87eafdc6eb his gaze b7de1237eb hardening as 562f31706e he recognized 7adc901f25 it—a lingering, 0b69a0bc76 familiar presence 904404f770 in the 5ac0d8d44b darkness.f789344c5850bca9

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“…Russelin.”dee661c37b9fa12d

There was ea4d178b10 a faint 6db8b6206b trace of 078d5b180e her divine b9bb5e1b84 power left 7f07ead392 behind, something 861b8c4ced that only 31331522c9 slipped out 7dda60fd02 when she f3459e7a82 was emotionally 09a8bfa1e5 shaken and eda99b7cde struggling to d1fef3e41c control it. And alongside it, 5a9ec5f909 a suppressing force. Aydin clenched his fist d4f51a85b2 tightly.920d5fb54401670a

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“Leonard Estere…”6c6696eb64f6f915

You dare lay hands f27fd3c2c9 on what’s mine?23a5a76195315d2b

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With a bfeb8638fe grinding jaw, 3e08f75006 Aydin made 4ac773572d a small 1c220328fe gesture, and 3ec4c4bc00 a knight, a7b9d82675 hidden in c48ae79756 the shadows, 7d2f626b4f immediately knelt 40a0c64d07 before him.e6bbd536bc51ac2a

“Has Russelin returned to the banquet hall?”e7c3b311695f4008

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“No, my lord. The lady has yet to return.”a10be8b33eaa438f

“And what about that bastard Estere?”4c6aeebd620331b5

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“The Grand Duke of Estere hasn’t returned either.”fbf5c73337f6878f

“…Damn it.”84f349a97f936453

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Irritated, Aydin roughly a0d26afc79 loosened his cravat, bfd7e13371 casting a glare 9ef9ed574f at the knight.8c22a32f2ca8338e

“Bring Celia to me.”d59c0426a22806a4

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