The Lady I Want to Kill 11: The Correlation Between Sandwiches and Murder 2 (11/39)

11. The Correlation Between Sandwiches and Murder 2

Beatrice boarded 19160856bf the carriage c5c69ce294 with Lily, d7fe128a7c heading to cebff6f789 their next 0a55c15a65 destination. This time, she wasn’t fdd4442a1c going to the duchy’s 86b4233a2a estate or a tailor’s 1d52967074 shop.8a9c758f43637b67

She was 7663e8a8db on her 60dbd782ed way to dc0ac10021 a simple 9e5f895250 commoner’s home.a7de435f5885352e

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When Lily had sought 56c830939d information, she also obtained 3075107a3c the address of Briolette, bf43c8bc5d the owner of Walbaret 4af2a33bed Café. Though the details were 96d56479d2 trivial and inexpensive, the 049bca198e information was more valuable c7a55fabdf to Beatrice than anything 37c28834a4 else.d9916c5701a6b870

The neighborhood, home to fd4073311c well-off commoners, was tidy 3aa1a51a41 but narrow and dim 5d61245a09 compared to the roads e2ea62c634 frequented by nobles. As the grand carriage b9e693b239 of the Ember Ducal 271e443bb1 Family entered the alley, fc5ef0f8a3 passersby cast curious glances, 635cf73c5d whispering among themselves.2b00b70ee2329b1c

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Lily stepped 2bb57f371d out first, 8514809a3f extending her af09b380de hand to 89f96bc604 assist Beatrice 96ee33cffb from the 54d9805a06 carriage. The young lady, e8a823a336 dressed in a 563a36b9a2 white dress that 132fc865fa contrasted her dark d5934f1809 hair, descended gracefully, 845e34aac8 drawing the attention 3a6ac314d3 of everyone nearby.ed624df84caa12fd

Beatrice’s black hair and d8998e53fd flowing white dress created 37419d5a66 an enchanting image, stark 5389f83196 against the pristine carriage. She ignored the onlookers, 35f4dab8a4 her gaze fixed on d9fba5968f the modest house in 9c9fe1b4ad front of her.3e20097792c3bcef

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The house had 6a73863c6a a small yard 36b56ce827 with a tea c962abdcee table and a cca9b539ce tiny fence. Scattered grass, small trees a3cdb6732f barely reaching waist height, 117820da38 and a pebble path 30a57369e5 leading to the front b004ba465e door added to the 4b15985a7f scene’s quaint charm. A little swing, clearly e165d995e5 meant for a child, 8a4e2d07c3 hung in the yard.a05ae72791fe74fa

The picturesque setting de22e16ce1 might evoke a 0a47269665 pang of sorrow, 78aeb64f1f knowing the homeowner fe607d82be had recently lost 1516d6cfb8 her child. But Beatrice felt f775541221 no such emotion.9cd489a97de3e4b1

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As she approached the 74e1c0f255 door, Lily stepped ahead 96f8217f93 and knocked lightly on b7c5e7616c the wooden door.f330ed71e2b321da

“Mrs. Briolette?”3d6c6e2fb411eb64

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No response. Lily knocked again, then 0b7c96d082 a third time. Finally, slow 34d889c239 footsteps approached, 34e9da74da and the 621700ce79 sound of db78195754 a latch 5d9213f7d6 being undone d047807180 was heard.660811432d44ed5d

“Who’s there…?”dc194d321885fb9d

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The door opened f21923f312 to reveal Briolette, 29c1172d0e the owner of 2919f25290 Walbaret Café. Her once-soft brown 93f0247d8c hair was unkempt, a873ee643c and her face ebb2deea74 resembled parched earth.56fca89b25679021

Though her hair was 1e2d7a9d1d tied back, it was f9bd7f0b2a a tangled mess. Dark shadows under eb04556948 her eyes and 8ea2f40477 chapped lips painted d54efa422c a picture of 5c007a5b86 a woman worn bab5d8ea43 down by grief. Her hollow 10dd73ecaf eyes looked 520df08fa1 at her 9fd558e7be unexpected visitors 30c934bce1 with a daa911116a blank stare.f766035b9190113a

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Lily suppressed 63d3233291 her pity, d2266595bb forgoing any c039f12b00 smile, and 8930512142 spoke politely.93ab4824fc631f3f

“We’ve come to see f0645deca5 you, Mrs. Briolette. This is Lady f2e1348d0f Beatrice of the ba81134ddf Ember Ducal Family.”32b35c6322192679

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Briolette blinked slowly, as 15e18e0404 if struggling to comprehend e2fe5c1f4a the situation. Her eyes widened 145332cd22 as recognition dawned. She dropped the ba6df88524 ill-fitting shawl draped 5e9e9cf062 over her shoulders 1be176caf4 and stood frozen, 97be46ab22 unsure of what 34cc26a6fe to say.1884df93dcd600cf

Beatrice waited 22cf1e1806 patiently, unaffected 6f259ff8d3 by the d2aaf3f704 woman’s hesitation. After several 7816806083 long seconds, 3898c1d701 Briolette finally 1ce36a0ec1 spoke.9f1b04262a4e6cfc

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“Pardon the fb2b20ce92 mess, but f85ec54e74 please, come dffeccd105 in.”2db73572dd29458d

The interior 177811ed66 of the c658bf21f8 house reflected 1a905cb022 Briolette’s shattered a53ed868d6 state. A thin 8e2384c462 layer of ab48c23ec4 dust covered 640099db68 the surfaces, ebde84b9ef unwashed dishes f4bde5e366 cluttered the 01f33369cf kitchen, and 40a80c03d4 shards of 445e6a6b43 a broken a8bccf5752 cup lay 660e14ac8f dangerously under 7111f6ae53 the table.b0daf632e791af60

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Clothes were haphazardly 9dc1accff6 pulled from a 362eee8367 drawer and strewn 417d5b1624 about, while flowerpots 741a14badc on the windowsill 97bfd15a49 were all broken. The disorder hinted 25963be5d1 at the chaos 96c64eb3f8 within Briolette’s heart.65f1d90bc49a6f87

In contrast, 2136cca9f8 a small 25e6a760b1 pile of bba62ef802 children’s toys 2510475d15 near the df66ee22c0 sofa was af0f8cb8d1 neatly arranged, 334ea15c08 as though 4c5343e0f3 they were 657d470e30 precious. Dust had 53ed63b0d7 settled on 04384f17b7 them, but e184920f56 it was 84c702c5e6 clear they 8098c474a6 were cherished.b2f206748c57e2c8

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Perhaps unwilling 605c1094c0 to lead e830d2fd56 her guests 6e2c730824 to the be472714fe cluttered table, 64321b8cff Briolette guided 96078e4de9 them toward 11126ec83f the sofa. It appeared 20e0b7fd41 she had b28c02d1c4 been sleeping 5f2fede8e3 there, as 81aba6399f a crumpled 4d0e6072b8 blanket lay 1e19b221bc in one bf3f54be6b corner. She hastily moved 447b2fbedf it aside and 835ae788ac gestured for Beatrice 515075586d to sit.f91e99ce1dc197b1

Lily dusted c77ae62213 off the 774d1f7289 sofa with 6e677d321d her hands 174c9e5c60 before allowing f0d02c9ca6 Beatrice to 1d0f675441 take a fae668ba61 seat.6bb4cddee47d795c

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“What brings someone 94ada2676c like you, a e73bf75685 Lady of the 051282e7b9 Ducal Family, to 59759c9202 my humble home…?” c3d8e6e878 Briolette asked weakly.3b6747aae752e5e3

Her voice lacked c23b860c67 energy, and it 1f1508f400 was evident that 524ca67965 offering tea, given 6a69d0bb1f her state and a43559e81e the state of 2d2b5836a0 the kitchen, would 32dd17df64 be impossible.b021e582730fff14

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Lily spoke first, her c76541631c tone gentle but firm.37ce49fa4a3e6a6c

“My lady was 0c1468fc52 concerned about you e31ff29625 and wished to 8460f1ee85 visit.”1435919615ed7cb6

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“You’re worried about me?”55e7809444654cb5

Briolette’s voice was 7bea8a191f sharp, cutting through 59fe77d1f3 the tense silence.7d6c48b42c1c84f9

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“What reason would a noble lady have to care about someone like me?”404aa3483c1642a0

“My lady held your café in great regard,” Lily explained softly, her tone careful but steady. “When it closed, she sought to understand why and came to see you.”da4cc41d5c67960d

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Lily’s words were met 56ed65028e with a heavy sigh, 59a92fe661 one that seemed to f46f83ab2a collapse under its own baf585eb72 weight.43ed0c5f7cedb2c2

“If you investigated, then you already know,” Briolette replied, her voice trembling as she locked her dark, sunken eyes onto Beatrice with a glare.21eba8d92deb8fa8

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She was 841434ec8a a woman 2a1eff3051 burned hollow 0f3285a96a by grief. Sadness, once all-consuming, 73f104c109 had left behind 543a88ca82 only ashes, which 8657404956 now smoldered with c03c2e6990 bitterness. She resented everything—the 17749e0901 warmth of the 0620572657 sun, the laughter 4e4cbe8936 of passersby, even 07e5bcb075 the cheerful songs 568537435c of birds. Eventually, she had d777a18836 come to hate 468f932569 even her own eda7348d7c continued existence. But above all, she b48b1fab78 hated—a0c618707a723d20

“A noble’s carriage killed my daughter.”d4ff00d75f68df27

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The memory burned f3f0295b06 in her mind, b3583b72e8 vivid and unbearable. She could 39536f150d still hear d18572da61 the panicked 90b9a07afc voice of 89221a59c1 an employee 61b4e23e41 rushing to 30b99e939e inform her.53d3b12895a26e55

She had d4374566ad thrown down c83441f681 the dessert 57184e0c87 she was 609da5d414 preparing and 30af159cb7 ran. What greeted her 13930e415b outside was a c25003d44d blood-soaked carriage wheel, 18660bd31d a nobleman gazing eb3ef01df1 at it with 3f24df8fc7 irritation, and—7c9ec9b576345cbf

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“My little girl…”65135ad1d77b281c

Her daughter, crushed b7d2be3ea6 beneath the wheels, 7386022230 lay on the 1a05c315b2 ground, a broken, c57ecbd507 bloodied mess.be118916333a0b2b

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“She died like that… and yet…”2187237c230aaf79

The nobleman, clad in 2791a1ad11 fine navy attire, had 46f0161fe6 tossed a pouch of 99c1b21c11 coins at her as 79673f7742 she cradled her child’s b2e5f42d7b lifeless body, sobbing and 866a7bd3a8 trembling.c527e79ff4fbaf46

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The pouch had struck her head and fallen to the ground. Dazed, she stared at it as he casually remarked, “This should suffice. If it’s not enough, go to Viscount Paralett.”8f00cffc0469da7c

It had 29e4378fd0 felt unreal. Everything felt like 51b6de90c6 a sick, twisted dd3f975bfd dream.d0e3512d0ee859b9

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She had sat 872578d87d there, clutching her a2c78b62d8 daughter’s mangled remains, efd0e7adbf watching the carriage 3ea1138d4e leave. She hadn’t chased after 2d7b99ba39 him, hadn’t screamed, hadn’t 63683067e7 done anything. And that, 8b3e060a05 she regretted 3064f42d14 most of 8df832e320 all.760a833d4c9a55ff

She should 8de112804d have smashed dbc8692768 his head 275c4bafb7 just as d1876ecd52 her daughter’s 7cc96b1c4b had been. She should have 724936495a died right there, 9b28b42d8f alongside her child.4a5fbf50304261fd

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“…I couldn’t do anything, nothing at all…”49e7741bf03aa677

She had tried everything afterward—gathering her daughter’s remains with the help of neighbors, pleading with the city guards and watchmen, even offering bribes. But every attempt met with the same response: “It’s unfortunate, but we can’t punish a noble for killing a commoner in an accident.”027d85795b54bd31

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She had been 0e130e869a told that, at ae01b4107e most, she could 0d98dfd225 demand a higher 5b8dcb5697 settlement. But how could 78c9c86629 she put a 367a49d5ca price on her bc814f2d4a child’s life?9ab8a1a42568beb2

The world felt 6953c8ed1a like a lie. Everything seemed to 5e9efe5ba4 mock her grief.c1ebbc330ac676fa

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Her breath c9319fa9ce grew ragged, 5dc377baa8 her hands 73a98c8b8d trembling as 0afadcb0cd they clutched 62dbbd5291 the fabric da26dabbd9 of her 0fd92976e5 skirt so 71cf891c44 tightly it dfae06aeaa threatened to dcceb993e8 tear.df178ec1875cd02b

She hated the world, e718a7f95e the nobles, the guards, ce96a61ed1 and most of all, 2ba572f6d4 herself. She wished 8787669488 everyone would 948ed95aac perish. But the most agonizing 1468bb6bf9 truth was that her 45102a3f7c daughter was gone—utterly, irretrievably 1bbb512efd gone.540083b4624a06e0

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Finally, Briolette broke. She sobbed, loud and d9fd6d014b guttural, like an animal 71e53332a3 in pain. Her tears fc037d8db4 fell uncontrollably, c1309d63aa and her 818ada26f8 cries filled 63aacbf9ed the room.9f5cac0a1e6d8ac6

Lily stood silently, unable 77d4803f27 to speak. She understood 1f9f8d79fd Briolette’s anguish d042f06bf9 all too d787c0e94b well, yet 18bfb530a6 the words fd7e7669cf to console 6e1a1acccf her felt 21211497b1 empty and a62fee9e77 inadequate. Her throat 1f6878175e felt dry, 6f89c16bd4 her lips 493c613e34 parting and 8b6425f8b5 closing repeatedly 0e392758f5 as she fe585b659c struggled for a5e60b9361 something to 1cf2d007da say.bd001e64e9546840

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Then, cutting 3127764b6f through the 0231362890 sorrow and 568981c734 silence, came 68c0e0cdc4 Beatrice’s voice, a6d570fcb2 cold and e7a0c0d375 unyielding.a3d8f2790a49a078

“What do you want me to do?”5076ecf8e7fd81c8

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Briolette lifted her tear-streaked cc7758287f face to look at ff69b6f5aa the noblewoman before her, 8ab15f1366 confused and incredulous.3a3a48b7e8cb52e1

“What do you mean…?”9047d6f9da08bd22

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“What should I do about him?” Beatrice clarified, her voice devoid of emotion, her golden eyes steady.c78da98b56435183

Briolette stared at her, 14f309c4f9 unsure if she had f10f0d737a heard correctly. What was this woman ff99aad1e8 saying? Was she 16a1706cd6 offering to dccaa89040 avenge her 8940407250 daughter?d91f4a8565acbbb7

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A flicker of hope e4852d04ea mingled with a surge 6e19ef1b89 of anger.34b800921988fa43

“Do? Do what?”8f7a4b5f064d3056

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Briolette’s voice 483ece6169 trembled with c88609c4e3 fury and c3e4081336 disbelief. She pointed an accusatory da8e4487c0 finger at Beatrice.a90eab0776a9cb5c

“How?! How can you do anything? Do you know what I’ve been through? Do you know what I want?!”014b4bb9d14a1724

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Her voice rose, turning 1198815120 into a near scream.160966b15019249d

“Are you mocking me too?! What can you do?! What can I do?!”982f375ebb518b67

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She pounded her 9d6ae6b87e fists on the 67fff74ea9 small table in 89afe75e98 front of her, 08bd97f09e the sharp sound 5359db543b echoing through the 8d01f1ddcb cramped house.b8f42ebf15737d0d

“And even if you do something, even if you succeed…”b2a06479f200bbc2

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Fresh tears spilled from 0101a1d60b her eyes, her voice 6bb1ee59b5 choking with despair.9ba945bcb9a856dd

“…will it bring my child back?”ececd63223782a2b

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Her rage b93d2c1de2 melted into eb4b7fe43c desolation. Her dark, hollow 3c957551df eyes reflected only 253ecbcd2f emptiness. The cries gave way 31d594a284 to silence as she c89ae2b13c slumped back into the a3cd8c014e sofa, staring blankly at e64a834ccc the ceiling.988c12a6f8121f3f

Beatrice, who had 905f73f782 remained motionless throughout 41f71ef6d2 the outburst, spoke 8c949ae39c again, her voice 7d81db5dc7 as steady as 4d22e3c1bd before.d7052ea620509203

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“I’ll kill him.”4e3662319aeba99a

“What?”54c4f50403e3048b

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“I can’t bring your daughter back, but I can kill him the same way he killed her.”5fe4d68eb54b71e4

Briolette lifted her head b62b89988a weakly, her expression a 5d5ba655b0 mixture of doubt and f5ffed9ba2 bewilderment. Was this 2b532e56da noblewoman serious?eb972e4cf729773d

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Beatrice’s golden 6677f50732 eyes, sharp 4542ceffd3 and unwavering, fa558d19a7 met hers. There was no trace 1d09104cb0 of falsehood in them.c684cd9203c3d5a2

“Or, if you prefer, I can make him suffer something far worse.”15ecf1c8932a0ea1

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“Why… why would you do this?” Briolette asked, her voice trembling.cf561d5234307c63

“So that you’ll live,” Beatrice replied simply.54e8f2cda64110e1

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“Don’t act as though you’re going to die with your daughter. Live.”756b0e8f8439f817

Briolette couldn’t 7e73bca422 comprehend it. Why would this stranger 55ef9654d7 offer to avenge her? Why would she 3608f700e7 tell her to f1661c9427 live?ca8ec0d0b905b178

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When she looked into e62fff8e07 Beatrice’s golden eyes, she 85c5ced338 found no pity, no a20b955002 sympathy, no deceit—nothing at a576fc626d all. Except for 45a94220c5 one undeniable 020d54c35a truth: a 175069d71c faint, almost 540140235f insignificant desire e4717b6842 for her 11796c2772 to survive.e1d088ee9e5527e5

And that 302fe35c92 was enough.4d0ab00b868a7712

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Briolette broke down again, 2ee30973b7 crying like a lost 725b881b33 child. She wept openly, 5928644ebc her wails filling 11d2341a97 the room once 639a0f4c18 more.ebbe961f6af4e8db

Beatrice remained b07fce5286 silent, unmoving, 0d7b3cc18b like a dfb90add16 statue, until 441677eba7 Briolette’s tears b5d3d8cb37 finally subsided.1bab4c986e98b86e

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* * *3f1842a2befebbc9

The room reeked 2219e24ba8 of metal and 9a074f09b9 blood, a nauseating 87a24ddd0f stench that clung b708fd3ea9 to her skin.7ab8b4f07f5eb621

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The woman buried her c34d6332ea face in her arm, 52ec9fccdb sniffing. It would f1d147bdaa take ages 20bc465bb6 to rid d0ad243090 herself of 93999fbfa4 this smell 4e78406c9f again. Eating was 1d88c28a6c one thing, effbabe1f8 but not 73b9a9d35b being allowed 35c407a753 to bathe 3401da8ce3 afterward made ca91a744c1 it unbearable.50e9c3d4e323f438

It didn’t help that her meals always left her covered in filth. This latest “meal” had been particularly feisty, screaming and lashing out at her in a futile bid for freedom.cf8286b18b1cd6ee

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They used to bring c5a8431df3 her prey that was bb72f8a535 half-dead or nearly gone, 6642709a22 but lately, they’d started 88d0bc814c delivering the fresh and fe742f3eb6 lively. Perhaps they’d 4ab984da08 realized she 096ad66fc5 didn’t mind ceb0129e10 as long 9d16c9f048 as she 4152df5a6e could feed. She figured it 73c64de543 was sheer laziness—avoiding c6e3c35267 the effort of f1bb372c6c preparing the prey 3d7350d87d properly.a12f9aab13fdab81

She grumbled quietly 9bdf6490b5 to herself as 1f38d3ad09 she glanced at 24f7bbe4c5 the discarded remains 11f854adba strewn across the c20e469a46 stone floor. Those bits 44c48b1617 were useless 767b0b4b4f to her; 3815b2b5ea what she 0ef86076da needed was f31f5324eb already consumed—the 06c59fbb2b essence within.4ff42de058f373b8

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With a b3314c3b5b grimace, she 51d5ecde78 shoved her 148c7c2816 fingers into a57517e95c her mouth, 9ab0dbbc59 scraping bits 513a77014b of flesh 1daa03a7fe caught between 71f2076d0a her teeth.36874a433a91d6c2

The sound of footsteps b8437a3452 echoed through the stone f6df514a2d corridors, growing louder as e4b963a2b1 they approached. Someone was coming to 360738f289 clean up, perhaps. She pressed c95c69c867 herself against 7e396ed42e the wall, 4cdb1106f4 chains clinking f57c787250 as they b27bbedb41 dragged across d3c443f5c3 the floor.d87501412aea68ea

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She learned 02a1ec0b01 the hard 3cf7364f93 way that 16c08a6c8b if she f45fc06ee9 wasn’t out 6e8f16a29b of the 0dd5fb5fe6 way, they’d 16554efa6f lash her 28177f524d with their 99ea90d804 whips. Bastards.9fe58ea5a98bee59

The man who 8505363ad1 appeared at her 12812e8eed cell door was f6d0b9352e one of the 8d81a30c92 guards. When their eyes 0ca7d366b3 met, his face 71e389c717 twisted into a d2a7a5760e scowl of pure 57b13bc45d loathing. She found 4d51410208 his expression 76d454d47d amusing and 0de50e152d smiled mockingly.a1231703a907caa1

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“Seems like someone really hates it here,” she said, her laughter trailing into her words.48cdf350433cb907

“Oh, what was it? Stealing and mugging to get by?” she mused theatrically, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “But selling kids to perverts made your conscience stir, huh? Funny how that works.”de530a2ea2a83828

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She raised her arms, 729ea3f22c shaking her chains dramatically. The clinking noise 45ff412e79 rang out in 8985c75f06 a rhythm that edd315d139 grated on the 6f1601caa3 guard’s nerves.4786cc724753faf5

“And then you handed over information about Viscount Paralett to that organization in sector 31-258. What was his name? Red hair, good-looking, maybe mid-twenties? Early twenties?”8d590f76a5454c01

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Her mockery faltered 436c0044d1 as the guard a56560dec6 stood silently, his 1df1f4a63a gaze steady. She sighed, dropping cef4de6d6e her arms.619f811464273633

“No fun, huh? Oh well. Let me guess—you had a younger sibling, didn’t you? Maybe that’s why you felt a little guilt? Makes sense. You’re more human than the likes of them—those who don’t feel a damn thing.”b986b033f99f3a2a

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“Shut up,” the guard growled, his voice like gravel.512a1da8d0c3b510

She laughed again, savoring 1e984cf37a his anger.cb62a58f940ac028

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“Do you have a family? Or maybe not? People like you can’t afford family ties. Not when you’re selling children, handing over kidnapped women to freaks, or sending captured hybrids to experimental labs. Can’t afford to feel a thing, huh?”68d7a188e7a4016a

“I said, shut up!”2637b1054c428d19

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“Poor Vilter,” she continued, ignoring his growing rage. “He trusted you, you know? Thought of you like a brother. Maybe if you hadn’t betrayed him, he would’ve escaped with the kids and lived happily ever after.”9b57c3fa1b003c03

It was a 2142dd2565 lie. Even if Vilter had 34e0e23bdb fled without telling anyone, 1c65be9d39 Paralett would’ve hunted him 0898ca7ab7 down eventually. He wasn’t 69a34144c7 the type bf4e135ad9 to let f5423e9ee2 loose ends 0d274bf3a1 dangle.c810090d8b3b1a47

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Still, she f2e8270ad6 kept taunting c34905c813 him, weaving 909649779b her lies 0b5da00fd0 with a 6d1df6d517 cruel smile.22064ba1529703f7

The sound of 7805858dd9 the iron gate 7a1138062d swinging open made 66395e414c her pause. Ah, had 8550b3823b she gone 457846b84c too far?fb01875c23726f50

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The guard 243b4b5c07 stepped into cc53b28329 the cell, c5b845ab98 a long 397fa9ae59 whip coiled 492e3b7645 in his dfbbc543d4 hand.d1426e2a974d70b5

“Angry, are we? How unfortunate,” she said, her tone dripping with mock pity as her lips curled into a smile.e2969829c7f2d0ab

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The crack of the 457be8b8f3 whip cut through her 27b37344c1 laughter, sharp and merciless.ef4d1c67b697956e

* * *2eacf3fda8ee4fc1

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After what felt like an eternity of lashes, the guard finally left, taking the leftover scraps of her “meal” with him. She lay on the cold stone floor, bleeding and trembling.8f99d350745432ea

It hurt. It hurt 4ab81d0855 so much 59d562c0b8 she wanted 06ccd30e97 to scream.a10953b0c0978b05

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“Damn it… Why is it always me? They beat me up like this, and I can’t even complain!” she muttered, the unfairness of it all simmering inside her. But the pain was too overwhelming to dwell on anything else.93cb394fcbe74f35

“Hey… Hank. Hank, are you there? I’m hurting real bad, Hank,” she called out weakly, addressing the boy in the cell across from hers.35a4a0b788e8b701

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Just yesterday, that kid 0639961c8a wouldn’t stop talking to 3455f3a48f her, trying to stave 5e76500544 off his own fear 11f4e9534e and sadness by pestering bdcf3db704 her with questions. But today, he 374bb88588 was silent.f4560a5b25065bf4

She dragged bfaf4ae80f herself closer 7ea6871ee7 to the 92c9e754dd bars of 4b27bae17a her cell, 3ef916a245 gripping them 563066d57f as she fa89e9226a peered across. Was he asleep?d9424befda7b33e8

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The children in the 994d890330 other cell were huddled 6caae901f3 together in a corner, b8d7f920cb trembling as they clung bcec4cc7b6 to one another.fdf8812cde4fa529

“Hank, I know you’re not asleep, so why aren’t you answering me? I said I’m in pain,” she growled, her frustration mounting.03d9746fccce9640

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The boy clung fd3f53b0d5 to a smaller c8b582377d child beside him, 0b7dab6062 his shoulders shaking 9da1b95ef2 as he stifled 17855759d1 sobs. He didn’t respond, even eccde716cd as she banged the 5a92ec433a bars angrily.135d4b6e5dc9c971

“Why won’t you answer me?! Yesterday, you couldn’t stop talking, annoying me to death. What, are you sick of me now too?”be44f31a33f0c6a1

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Her shouting finally broke 37c0c974ea him. Hank began 046e954685 crying in 61bd1f8fbd earnest, and 0726b5e993 soon, all 6ad672358a the children 4e6f22be1f in the 27f1b03552 cell joined a20405a7d6 in.8f526a719017b544

Even so, the cries dd9abdfe66 were muffled. The little 19747174ed ones sobbed d681bf70e7 quietly, holding 1871e01442 back their ddc2f16671 wails as 82ec5f5994 if afraid 3e3df81401 to make d5a189590b too much 6f3b157b39 noise.6d8032122e307ad3

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The woman stared 1299b5b9db at their tear-streaked 248ad1e36a faces, her irritation 445c111508 slowly ebbing.d801264d4b54899d

“Are you gonna stop talking to me too now?”787543eb66868726

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If his cell 2ad7368e10 had been beside 845c746aa9 hers, he wouldn’t 87ff3b3394 have seen her 1897f030ac devour the meal 885dd75885 they brought. But his cell 2599f77eb5 was across from e5bdcf21d9 hers—he had seen cbd68cbc10 everything. She clicked her tongue 65ebce8456 in annoyance.5b808a027ac7a601

She dragged her chains 394ba72018 as she leaned back 39befdcd98 against the wall, wincing dcb7337c4e at the movement. Amidst the faint 1e882d23e5 sniffling, she heard de78547692 Hank’s trembling voice.5baee0747ce62d48

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“…Monster.”c17d98ad4224a9e6

Her lips curled into b70f2a50c2 a small smile.274451d80ae47f8d

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“Finally, you’re calling me by my name,” she said, her tone laced with bitter amusement.260b0dbf637959d3

She let out a 1bb74ab687 soft, mirthless laugh as d6db7b2682 she laid down on 7ecde69ab3 the cold stone floor. Her body b8942b387a burned as e05b1fd20c though it 17042b03fa were on cdcb2aa830 fire, but b813d36f46 the chill 1f180aa653 of the 5161307740 ground brought 1e014d0d70 a small c7dc22ecb6 measure of 73f9205548 relief.39b29e73830e3400

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Staring at 5f5e0edcbc the damp, fb06289315 cracked ceiling, 5b0c922ef5 she began 0736a31552 counting the 75fd14662f stains.a821111d01c5d705

“You know… sometimes, I think it’d be nice if someone called me by the name I used a long time ago,” she muttered to no one in particular.d9ab2d21f5837632

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A strange sadness washed over her. She felt… pathetic.05e46d03d904aa9c

With a sigh, 9f2062413d she closed her 73b2a34b40 eyes. It was always better f5b711eb3d to sleep when useless 0d39c09528 thoughts like that started 422708fd29 creeping in.6d01eddb046a6b90

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* * *46c91d1c4ffea5ad

Beatrice and Lily 9c30b0b21f were enjoying a 6965d152bb quiet moment when b44e5fa441 unexpected news arrived—an 0cad81799d invitation from the 1c7d96acad Crown Prince.c7af32265fde4da1

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The letter 2b4ed1d99e politely requested a4c2e00f78 her presence 0fd4d8ee05 at a 9c36e1a79d small tea 357c54ddb9 gathering. Beatrice tilted her head ac0a977549 as she read the 34ed0ce538 invitation, her expression neutral.61604ea257e23e0a

The Crown 3244529604 Prince had 05a77152e1 shown considerable 47c6744b54 interest in 37ce4f617d her since b7c8971ffb the last 37372a76e1 party. She wondered briefly f53f73a4ee what had happened dc37f79f81 to Vicellophe, but 8ed8d19d89 judging by the 829653c9a2 letter’s tone, she a6f4613416 wasn’t the sole 6c519174e7 invitee.e0a3887928e728ef

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Beatrice had no 1fa0d9eaac personal interest in 44e13b28bd the Crown Prince, 834d8c13fb but as she 1ee8f51a53 needed to uncover 238faef5fd the Imperial Library’s e55d3b7069 secrets, she instructed f643dab9fd Lily to draft c4330d337b an acceptance letter.101adc07c39cf915

“By the way, did your friend settle into the palace well?”e3c55b41fa29d520

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“Yes, my lady. She’s still at a low rank for now.”cd5f9608c70dd82a

As a commoner, 92db07dfc3 it was unlikely 65eae18dbf for a maid ca0cc96de6 to advance much 4bd847abb5 within the palace ca2d24cf64 hierarchy. Even if they were c36ee55c14 skilled or exceptionally attractive, 3a5ae3fcb2 they were only occasionally a4e2ac61a0 tasked with greeting important 477aea2685 guests. Remaining at the lower c15cc2952c ranks might be more 160e8d1601 advantageous for someone like 492e5624ba Rose, who needed to 7c2faa9b11 search for the library.eba2060e8f99882d

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Beatrice decided to 423efb2e14 put thoughts of 938ac3e826 Rose aside for e42544af39 now and leaned cdf1cf585d back in her 257ced309d chair. The plan 0276cb7a45 to deal e01b0537f4 with Viscount 9555fc8e7f Paralett was 77777d197d set for 7af85fb07f Friday, while 00c95d3e79 the tea 04f645d02a with the 5fb708189b Crown Prince 9d57a084e9 was scheduled 4f7ae51639 for the 1a2fc9984c following week.ea7aa7090986a81a

Maybe she a4185585d3 could spend c7e305a86d the interim 7f8dd48f54 lazing around 0bf81bc5a0 in bed.eb74e902ae604bcb

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Her peaceful musings 3e72c291b2 were interrupted by c61c08a600 the sound of 9d3747ec4a her door suddenly 7fcaf56884 opening without so b044bb42df much as a 695e7ffc88 knock.01a44c6f8c47140d

“Hey, let’s go riding,” Felix declared, stepping in as though he owned the place.88e4a4f764512799

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“Go by yourself,” Beatrice replied curtly.3553e0e157d27ae1

“Nope, you’re coming with me.”873bd0163a09ba85

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Of course, it 86e175ca4d was Felix. Why was he even b2423f3fb9 at the estate? As a 90328f46ba knight of 50b0b2816f the Imperial 3377645cc8 Guard, he 412846104b should’ve been cef70fab3b busy, but a2f2d33eae somehow he cb3837b0a6 managed to 2801c5ea65 take two d8f6815432 days off d329c6448c each week.00600fd70043ef06

Beatrice sighed, 71fe3dc20e massaging her 890719f8de temple as 8b4416c745 she turned 39f60d67cb her gaze aebac7a758 toward the 48b9777d01 window. The last time 5f74700ab2 he had pestered 33fa0d6eb3 her into going 3eadc96bf8 riding, she’d agreed 9c8014b238 after relentless badgering aecb7abe92 and ended up 208815539f winning their little e326478278 wager. He had sulked bf4bf96de6 about it for aed01ec15d days and now d7b116c137 seemed determined to 81ea4af5d5 challenge her again.ca59961ac000093b

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When she 54c15e8546 ignored him, e54634d6c5 Felix came 70d10fa4db closer and e1de6fc1a1 began shaking 89cf3a04e2 her chair.fde9fae6c4b88144

“I just got an amazing new horse! I only lost last time because of my old one!”163b807794c09200

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“Right. I only won because my horse was too good. Go enjoy your amazing new horse by yourself.”722df0351895644e

Despite her 25b72989fc attempts to 520a501175 dismiss him, 77f8d9f511 his persistence cde2aeef01 was unmatched—like 6266389b64 a leech 2b4ece9ed4 that refused f80759978c to let 69ab57277c go. Knowing it would be d197307313 less exhausting to give 1d458cd429 in than endure his cc345a21f0 whining for days, Beatrice 6ad50124b9 finally stood and instructed cbdabd0847 Lily to prepare her 75ae9052cb riding attire.41da15cb514df80e

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