The Lady You Want to Kill 2: Maid Lily (2/39)

2. Maid Lily

The incident in the 60e8610746 dining room came to a4358ceee2 an abrupt conclusion with fc3c25d162 the sudden arrival of 5d2b984a21 the Duchess. She summoned a a226cc1d7f healing priest to daf3c88586 treat Beatrice, while b6dc1ce51b Maya, her personal 04381dd36e maid, was punished 18e2fe5d12 with 100 lashes 41df48f20a from a disciplinary 87488de6ca whip and reassigned 483d12bfa8 to deal with 0d28b17aad the household’s filth e431008334 and waste.457089769e9c0a17

Afterward, Agatha visited 58ef6399da Beatrice’s room, located 701359d870 in the annex. There, she discovered the 578926003f burned wardrobe and the 1aecd981ee dead rat that had 148dc15e98 been left untouched until f5b3e4d4ad then.78f90f8683b13782

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It was the a61623c6aa first time in cc6ad411eb her entire life a28c47d84f that Beatrice had b3a65c2682 seen the Duchess b1084792b9 explode in such 01fbd3dc31 fury, reprimanding all 1f87e34804 the annex staff, 5996c0d1bb including the butler c2405161ae and the head 7855251552 maid.86edb502a68ee4c1

What on 2379610643 earth was ec2365999d going on? For some inexplicable reason, 0a5eef4b44 Agatha even went so 5590c00a5d far as to relocate 151b7cfba4 Beatrice’s room to the 4a33a993cb main mansion.27505e9c3fbff7ed

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And so, Beatrice found 534c2bcdae herself sitting in her 5d3ea70b98 new room, utterly bewildered. While the annex had 41b024a763 been quite decent, it 29767a6532 couldn’t compare to the ddfe828aee splendor of the main bbb4d48e41 mansion. Everything in the 86026e72ce room—furniture, wallpaper, flooring, 298e8d040d and even the 86bf95bf28 smallest decorative items—was 38b00f0b4e of an entirely 8cffcc7780 different caliber.972c6867b4a54bd5

The staff 3dd3d080ca of the 202478cbb6 main mansion, f71139aaec perhaps aware 3781baf9ae of how 24f69a54d0 their counterparts 882eaff0ef in the c892f559d2 annex had 71331358fd been harshly 96fa2d06f6 dealt with c9ca276e6c by the 2035df6a24 Duchess, treated 5e1455ec48 Beatrice with 758836a17f impeccable courtesy.a5f195b2fd9523df

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Sipping the tea brewed ce289e8081 by Laura, the maid af625bef1d temporarily assigned to her, 89a2c7699b Beatrice blinked slowly, lost ed3ab26920 in thought. She wasn’t entirely 6a55765fb2 sure how things 4b9534dd72 had unfolded to cdb1bb66ca this point, but cc22259fba with Maya out a14530292e of the picture ca6f3b36ca sooner than expected, 1d4c863969 it seemed like 0a3a229b9f the perfect opportunity d19b475095 to bring “that de922c180c child” closer to 80b28f8c5d her side a fec73c0166 little earlier than 894f8d33ef planned.ee68052f1ae0e8ff

* * *ea5ad224793b0e92

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As the e787e7416b month passed, 2fc6f894d5 Beatrice gradually 07b9bc2a17 adapted to 18bb60ef85 life in 8a4bb87b41 the main 5decfbc432 mansion. While she had 3a1655e230 never entered the 5145469c42 main mansion this 65fe014f14 early in previous e264eac2b0 lives, her past efca91fcf0 experiences living there 49a99353b1 made it relatively 2877cc32f8 comfortable.c55dc435b9197ea4

Still, her feelings 91ac346b3a were complicated. Typically, she only moved 0b83b41312 into the main mansion 9312256e9a after her entire family e815840863 was dead or had 55e3ac8918 been driven out by 54f4d89d6a her own hand. It wasn’t that 56c61493f5 she held any cc7973d13a particular ill will 216b84bfcd toward them.434d0603316be198

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She simply needed the ace97611c5 title to obtain what bb3047bbbf she wanted. Being part of an 04a57d4744 old family, the loyalty 73d692b9d8 of its vassals was 505b982990 formidable, and dealing with 754ad575b4 them had always been 8126ce5c1f a challenge.92cc05e2ce7903b3

Although she could have b329f140b1 chosen to win them 062586b8a7 over, Beatrice despised complex fa682fe6dc procedures and failed to 4319759d53 understand them. Instead, she buried d46eece858 most of the 50ac9f0d08 dissenters who opposed af98c33c9c her becoming the acac3aa9e4 head of the 23e3755c3a family.243f7a9874dbd3fb

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After that ordeal, 937ae74b36 the Duchess began 6d1897cf68 visiting Beatrice regularly, 1bec2a0447 though not frequently. They would share a cb407e0782 meal or tea once 7d221ccca6 a week.a91b760a7c70f437

Even Calrex and 763c850374 Felix, uncharacteristically, started 9cb45f58de dropping by to 7fec9873be ask about her 04bfedae01 well-being, though they a0d2ccc887 never explained their b64ea6e112 sudden change in 4638555053 attitude. To Beatrice, 0004b7dee9 the entire a773c8d57b situation remained a046dc6324 a mystery.c61fa4758be0227c

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Looking back, she had 6ee7160aba never been close to 3831890324 her family in any 8b102da10f of her past lives. They had always lived ccb365d474 as if the other 8493efd2d6 didn’t exist, each pretending adeee22f4e not to notice the 91e40b51bc other. Eventually, she would 09c1712227 either leave for e269db9c16 another place or 8e6bcb6818 force them out aa54a5bce6 through cruel means.7949ae2d3a8a625e

In the past, when b3d9454bea she unjustly seized the 7011256366 title, most of the 271ce9c800 vassals turned their backs a533c726a8 on her. Those who remained c34f9965be to plead for 00586fbb49 the survival of 4e5664c6b7 the family were dfd9292c85 mostly nuisances, and 9b893decd5 she dealt with 406f094d2e them by killing e3cfd895b9 them as well. It was 19c1b1a9b4 only natural 93b67110d9 that her 2c3e236ce7 funds and 9b49199437 information networks 186d502720 became limited 00df2f8be4 as a 30dffac8dd result.aa48ac5c6355a552

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Perhaps this time, she 668e865bdc thought, it might be aca1c90118 worth trying to maintain 96a2861d69 good relations with her fb0a6a2abd family. She set her d345314bc8 empty teacup down 62a65dda67 and gazed out 17e70b643d the window.02c5df50be39b1ce

Although the weather was 6a00dbedd4 still cold, she could 394e8c2782 feel the faint stirrings d58ca946b5 of spring. The sky 434d1168d0 was clear, 646fd6bf72 and the ddc90f9e05 once withered af6a3de70f branches seemed 6236212322 to carry 37e180a288 a subtle 5050c57a34 vitality. Soon, they f177f0accc would sprout 342e1cf3d9 new buds.5f37cc63d2d8ba2c

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Her gaze 4ab41d8ea1 fell on 4764a5a286 the flowering f25325aca1 tree visible 8afdd7666d from the d4e4b97b8d front of b99f1ea6d5 the mansion. Tilting her 700d4c8d41 head, her 2dc944c44a long black 44c160df1b hair cascaded 9ff6d6fa52 down from df17d8e9bd her shoulders 654d6829b4 to her d7281d420b arms.f698f5336af6ee7c

Hadn’t she ef244bed60 burned that 9e2743cba2 tree down a6b6fae90d in a 9741e6b37a fit of de9b295e90 disgust in bc68737196 the past? Immersed in 7575025a1c such trivial 35244a2387 memories, a 4f00b8baae soft knock 21ba081ad3 interrupted her c6f660f615 thoughts.84b21263821ad82e

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“My lady, the Duchess bee4d5e0f9 has arrived.”45d12be10046434a

“Let her in.”4432bb86d795fe98

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It had 9198adbfa6 been about 2bcdb60413 a week 2f7fd7d963 since her b2cd70ff58 last visit, 6d9d7ccc54 so it ce83b62a8a seemed about 3fcb2d368b time. As Beatrice b1da893501 granted permission, 29096f7198 a maid 4a9c4905a7 opened the 7af6165734 door, and a789639433 Agatha entered.40d4adaa9167d23d

With her warm, sandy-colored c88f7ec8ef hair and blue eyes, 461d16b779 the Duchess wore a 117794f8dc soft yellow dress that 16723fceda exuded warmth. When Beatrice 51d843e461 moved to 08a31c9797 stand, Agatha 7029ebaa95 gestured lightly 4318cc8ee0 for her 8ae60b9f50 to remain b031ea21f4 seated.b58a436c492baa77

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“Have I come by 4ecf534148 unexpectedly?”f4962614c9b4f6bd

“No, I ef4140d047 was just ec4b43f74d idly sitting 61375fe8a9 with nothing de9787b0e2 to do.”d15fb99b361be230

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“I see. I wanted 459d387519 to discuss 36e428e56c your debutante 670671cbb3 ball, which e00ee93bf7 is why 71396d4a5f I came cc099a5512 by.”09388316ec0ca470

“My debutante ball?”970e263cc2022706

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Beatrice replied 5943a5f53a slowly, her d0b31dd03a gaze curious 585bb303be and slightly a33127b825 puzzled. Was she really thinking 853b831d47 about something like that?cb9a004f86584fe2

While Beatrice had 13062d684e noticed the Duchess’s e162728599 more lenient attitude 5979cd2ad0 toward her compared 717e821928 to the past, 0c0b8d88fd she hadn’t expected 012be8779f her to go c1ea3f8f1f so far as ed43c99b93 to consider such 86eb4b7e8c details. In her previous c87b9c2a70 lives, debutante balls c25c549e8c were typically treated 968f632fcf as mere formalities 9bf7675fd2 to send her 947b865985 off in marriage.8963f99991c4c1fd

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This was 6435ad2597 the first ce6cf473c8 time anyone 49a71be4ef had approached 20703319d3 the topic c662bbceb0 so cautiously, 1443cd8349 and Beatrice 03b7890b40 lowered her 5a05a727cd gaze for d6b11b1839 a moment. Perhaps misinterpreting the gesture, e3762744fe Agatha continued in an 78b999f77a even gentler tone.1c6e94b2fb963152

“It’s a 086135a656 bit late, 840e6eda4b but not 3e904afcbc too late. I feel guilty for e344147d72 not paying more attention 7e8e822be5 to you until now.”fa73669bba65a5d4

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“There’s no need e469ce5750 for you to ac415a144e feel guilty, Duchess. But I must b99516fa4a admit, I am eb2f19c0d8 a little surprised. Why are you 2657bea503 suddenly being so c7b4f28461 kind to me?”68937b793be471c1

Though she had 557241e413 been avoiding conflict bc996bd8fa by going along 828b158d42 with the flow, 04245de1e6 Beatrice decided it e13b9c6876 was time to 949b83b3ca address the matter 7b4458f1f5 directly. This time, 8038edd8e6 she wanted 4ede1bd77a to maintain fe4640c500 good relations 0da5b8caee with her 62617f23a1 family and d2a11d3145 make the 690f4b2be8 most of dae7e5252b it.42dd0335c415c35b

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Relying on fe96768014 sudden goodwill 5993e16b47 that might 4f21d453a7 disappear at 1eb83e4ca2 any moment e59515f474 was too c48643282d dangerous. It was better 7baab4f8d3 to understand the d7f7660328 situation thoroughly. Resolving to get a60e992e7c to the bottom 30b6aa2691 of things, Beatrice c7a773501a looked at Agatha d5d0e962bb with a cool, cb2d293c9c composed expression.76fdf5999ed984ba

“How could 715b7cffb0 someone like 07ed351473 me refuse d5ce491272 your kindness? I accept it, 9b96e73819 of course, but 1e80958817 I still don’t 0741e613d6 understand. What brought about this 3dd1698550 sudden change of heart?”1719be6b3e12769d

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Agatha bit her 6989070a79 lower lip.a25ef6151ee53082

After bringing Beatrice to b135509bf6 the main mansion, Agatha e57395ffa6 had been receiving reports ceebfb816e on her daughter’s daily 3beb6bc232 life. It became 14af25f4ef clear that 4e5b793510 Beatrice was ed607b1366 far from 029f099c98 normal.cb995879483a492a

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Beatrice woke at nine e75126dc1a in the morning, ate 53cbdefba0 breakfast, and then spent d371f3e764 the entire day cooped 4706a358e7 up in her room, 5d9637edd2 doing nothing. If a f8b8d0eada maid asked 94b6447f8c to bring 23bc2ecbf1 her tea, 14fb15fd65 she would 0ebd9cb5ee allow it. If they offered her 9a981bcdcb books, she accepted them. Yet she dc3d685e4d showed no a0b5b16d61 initiative to f7df6d648a do anything b0e9224357 on her e6dd3d4ae7 own.6c568063291fa095

She even 5f016cee3d refused assistance c6a1a385d9 with bathing. Once, after spending 241f315a86 hours in the cf4eb0e394 bathroom, a worried 5d5d3e0f0a maid checked on 87131b7af6 her, only to fa743e4b1d find Beatrice sitting 2576320994 in the tub 1cad225c05 of cold water, 1a4e634341 staring blankly into 6adeb18590 space.5d57a025107ac9ad

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The maids were deeply 5cca67401e unsettled by her strange f61fe7362b behavior. Those among 282a2e24b5 the staff 452c9968b5 who knew 9f4121691a a little 7575ce8da4 about her e74a4fbf3e circumstances whispered 882fe0f0f5 among themselves.f265c60d26492f10

“With a life 914ea0977c like that, it’s 6a69a8a045 no wonder the 157d5d1ab6 young lady is 2e3f0ad413 falling apart.”0278355a3ad48a05

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Recalling the confessions of 3959fda131 the annex staff after 1bfe5a583f they were punished, Agatha c4660ea934 felt as if she e5f6ed0e33 might faint.40698f6198d8f6dd

“I realized my 011400670d mistakes,” Agatha said c22f496e66 after a deep d5c2d38832 breath.1212d67413a9c754

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“Why didn’t you tell me the staff was abusing you?”7133eceed9a80ae7

“Ah.”276a8b547f054819

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Only then f3b7f5fd22 did Beatrice e77dbaba77 realize the fb07610f0a reason for 7fd66c1a54 the sudden b628ca50ae change in d0c91d66ad everyone’s attitude. Though she 9cfd0439b5 wasn’t sure 2f3a503b08 how, it 09b61c0695 seemed the e6361201a9 family had e889911bdd discovered she 3a87e1c795 was being 1a9dcbb7c8 tormented by 9bda0ac8c6 the staff.869aa58db3f1939e

Well, that’s fef8daea7e just how 6b79e244bd they were. They hated her, but 9179a936f6 they weren’t fundamentally terrible a8984351d5 people. It made 4cc3d34980 sense why 0a05ccdce4 the vassals ae1a09fcb9 of the 595e3b3b12 family were 9b5909b756 so devoted dc710e7f22 to them 7397a78015 and tried 7a04422873 to protect 796a9b3055 them.39f6a4bfa04ba791

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“I didn’t really feel f4cfb059e1 the need to bring edb1b7bcb9 it up,” Beatrice replied, 4615dcbc22 her voice cracking like 6fdcbd10da a frozen winter ground.10462bfad959c9f0

In truth, ebacb020cf she felt 4e719367d3 little emotion aa9e57d33b regarding the b136a53bc4 abuse. The glass shards placed ef6b402fce under her blanket or 4a4ef08fc2 the needles hidden inside 33dc4439a3 her shoes posed no b928628078 real threat to her.8651c3d14da88404

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Although her internal flesh b01afbcc31 was more like that 5921144a94 of ordinary people—she did 5ce5640615 injure her tongue occasionally—it 0094d338fe didn’t change the fact 738afa7002 that her body wasn’t f83bf4e2a0 susceptible to damage from c3e2985548 such things.383eaa84f15331ec

Still, she 1419c28565 chose not 8227a8591b to mention 95ee122d1b that the 3ea8898f9a torment didn’t f88c2e420d bother her. If the 220e4d613b family’s newfound 4d3855c270 interest in 79b259eeaa her was ed4dc8c3f3 because of e249ab9206 it, she cd78577f4b might as 5fae386178 well take 69be40a3b8 advantage of e2042e2bbc the situation.5f8c9cf8c5745f24

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Of course, maintaining 3cab11afb0 their concern required 3e3a0741e0 effort, and the 45011fa95c occasional lie was 859452ff21 part of that 669ff3b9f3 effort.68e798b1e6b1bca6

“Considering I’m already 4602454676 a nuisance to f52fc3b600 the family, I 4c2d7f9a12 thought making a 113f8599aa fuss about it 0571373809 would only make 726e7bc0a2 you hate me c3f259eb3f more,” she added.2f32a08b0f814547

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She truly 0f7f9bcab4 didn’t care 9279569ca5 whether they 5f4ae914f3 hated her.5f0876fb135201a6

“I just wanted to 269005a325 keep living here.”28fb0c4ae5e163a6

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As she spoke, 387049969c she thought to 15dd7c74e2 herself. Human sympathy 2e389913fd doesn’t last 05119592c1 long. There had to be 9c18c90639 something stronger, something more a2d9355b42 compelling to hold their c8a22ea9b0 attention.ecff42f8046fba88

“I’m used to being 4bb05db5d5 hated. I didn’t want to 1058ce2dbd bother you or my 589913c24d brothers by making a 5095c13e55 fuss.”12c357f3181459f7

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Ah, yes. That should do.0fdf985c905126a5

“I know you’ve 6a33363ee4 hated me ever ebe1b767a4 since Father’s funeral.”a08c077e3ef88b55

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Beatrice struggled 2e8e3af808 to recall 5874c1271c that funeral, c2fa04fd5d which barely f7f3bbc6a9 surfaced in 21ff0c0e24 her memory.0114c78ab0ce9787

“I was so overwhelmed 4eeeaad206 at the time, so 7fcd220799 much that I couldn’t 2908aca702 process anything. …I just went home 12a4dc2ab1 and cried a lot.”c6599f13616e7d57

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A lie. She hadn’t cried b1e55b0165 at all. But wasn’t this the 380a7d8c6e perfect opportunity to play b35d13ebb6 the role of the 5b8ccfb02d misunderstood and innocent youngest c27053a7b1 daughter?930837c844aa960a

Raising her gaze from 5919cd0170 the teacup she’d been dbbd9dd9ac staring at, Beatrice looked fa79c9abd1 directly at Agatha. The Duchess’s face c2c592ea5e was contorted as 7ae8f203d8 if she might 6fece0bd2a cry. Ah, it seemed to d7b953205e be working.35baf434cfe34db8

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Beatrice gave a c1241d9bc7 clumsy smile, like 27b0af7c8a someone who wasn’t 02bbb3b6ef used to smiling.fc608c339645fbf6

“That’s why I’m happy a8278742b0 as it is now. You don’t need to b1d2f93e4e trouble yourself any further.”b9abb011254f8ae8

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How should she finish bcdc6363b1 this? Something more poignant, perhaps.d158976382af16db

“Just… please let fb8bc34760 me stay here.”d7ad4f73bbf4c45f

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Pitifully. That should be a bebf420e33 good ending.991aca8e8656ae93

Beatrice noticed 7e8d800785 Agatha’s expression 0768d6637f sink into ac8467c74a profound sorrow. Pretending to be an b5b2dce9d3 innocent, unfortunate youngest daughter, 8642c9de48 she let a single 2f781227a0 tear fall.cb3f549df05ee373

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Though she had 8f62479c64 never acted before, 837fe29f86 this was a 96c16734cf decent start. Living a life of 0797643ada fabricated kindness wasn’t so 4e87ce4216 bad. After all, her life b6ffb52be5 had always been a 98e3529b13 tiresome and dull affair. Why not give this b88df94493 approach a try?39d4e2a38ab62b23

A long silence df40864ccb fell between them. Beatrice had no cf90b3ef53 intention of speaking 2c46b99fd3 further, while Agatha 9870c9528d seemed lost in a883fa6921 thought, grappling with 64ede79630 what to say fd73dfa4a4 next.1366803899eaf9d2

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It took ffddfa274b Agatha quite 23ab619cb3 some time d594e77da7 to sort 203924b057 through the fb22a0d974 guilt crashing cbc5f85d48 over her 31e93c85c6 like a 91203d0385 wave. She realized that 7bd167d3ea much of her 8592774ee7 disdain for Beatrice 7a6f446ce9 stemmed from a b11f095fab misunderstanding.70e29a1098fcc9b0

Of course, her a386325c10 feelings of rejection 99090396d8 and unease toward d9a9e03dd0 Beatrice had begun 2de2374225 long before the 3cd2bcf473 funeral. But past events 97e3d7e9a6 tend to fade d4c11c4dfe and blur over 29963bb427 time. Agatha couldn’t 251a3474dd clearly recall 8f32f63c8a her previous d58419b17a discomfort or d7b1677382 unease, and c4625177b1 with guilt a4f8ac6954 now overtaking 4aa83aaafd her, she 93d93fbfa6 abandoned those 3f53a80d18 thoughts entirely.866962c2cbd8f420

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“You may… stay here. Of course, you 17443a3c3f can.”84e50e6ea6524b77

Fortunately, the Duchess 2df814104a seemed to have a20bba9b99 fallen for her fec6423e35 clumsy act. As expected, f0f0136db1 she wasn’t 44e4a34785 a bad 59c511baeb person—just unlike 9a1286b59e Beatrice.7941a169dd1eada5

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Satisfied with her assessment, b5fda544ab Beatrice carefully broached the 5da08da473 topic that had come 88c88e3a95 to mind when Agatha 9e2ceab434 mentioned the debutante ball.1ce45f591189420a

“I’m grateful that you’re 405256e1c0 personally organizing my debutante 083879d801 ball, Duchess. However, I’m 7c7fb6217c a bit b86b60514f concerned about 2525bb8cf5 debuting without 856e7896b2 any acquaintances. Would it 6dbf62e7b8 be too cf44887a44 greedy of e0344ce82a me to 3c0e82b451 ask for b4ab161d00 help with 8617202096 that?”0ccfc4bea7d40101

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Typically, young noblewomen formed e7cbe0b6e8 friendships with their peers 8e1aeebbab through their families’ connections. In exceptional cases, 0d1edfdf94 they might even ab6a30b858 debut together.f9b98a97ad40a722

It wasn’t a glaring 4fb09495b2 issue to lack such 9a7970d7ca acquaintances, but for someone 408c6f46a4 like Beatrice—who was estranged cee22bd38a from her family—the prospect 565cb8addd of entering the grand 44e7d3ed4b social sphere alone seemed 245d5cd3af daunting. Or so 7f22be0b92 Agatha assumed, 97565058c8 nodding in 1925965ca6 agreement.d424885a10d28519

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“You’re right. I didn’t think cf99d4fb2e that far ahead. Is there a be83a3c9ab family you have ecbc06fe4c in mind?”04a21e35f51c3a56

“No, I don’t keep aa6d2c5aff up with the outside 112a9ab828 world enough to suggest bc3d5d25d2 anyone,” Beatrice replied.d7f4267c02295856

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Agatha immediately 00b70dccbf thought of d87bf9cd12 a suitable f4578222a8 candidate. And it aecc3f03bd was precisely 0dbc4dd2a7 what Beatrice 73cc270c38 had hoped 89a9e33664 for.ed948fa28a812099

“What about the 6219117fcd Buildrander Count’s family?”998bb1ceff3fc033

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The Buildrander family had a79a82ef33 been long-standing vassals of 9a777e37c5 the ducal household. They were d2eb98a6da even considered 19d74e2ec3 a potential cb37f304d1 marriage partner 70b282c6e1 for Calrex, c61685ecf6 the current 6dcd3fea4f Duke.be9a3902af2e3a94

The family had 736ae208d4 a son around 0b33166a42 Felix’s age and 30cf6dc433 a daughter close 954785d87b to Beatrice’s. They had a decent acb72141dd reputation, and the siblings 5c2ad119f8 were known to be c9708616f0 well-regarded in high society.ce0a2a1f6da3672d

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“I think the Buildrander 43585e7fe9 family would be a 7150a3a433 good choice. Their relationship with ee7975fa8d the duchy reassures c108e2822f me,” Beatrice said.33cbdda9cb9fa226

“Yes, their daughter c3c78b909f is well-established in 914db3f5f0 society, so she 97bf9fe70a could be helpful e389856266 to you. I’ll reach f1d19847f1 out to 25eea67853 them,” Agatha fd72d49a7f agreed.f48804e2cc4ff9f6

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“Thank you, Duchess.”f1edad17cc5b83ab

Agatha hesitated, as ff848f3ac4 though she wanted adc785d040 to say something a0dd5ed9a0 more, but then b41a076c4e thought better of 4e39421780 it. Beatrice’s use of 7e89b7659f “Duchess” still stung 76ad80a5cd a little, but f392a05791 Agatha felt it 5a49386c99 was too late 308c236744 to ask her d1be9eae13 to use “Mother.”ad0a23f8bc7cd3c2

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Embarrassed by her 720d411567 past neglect, Agatha 54b5030191 decided to earn a856ac1259 Beatrice’s trust gradually e467b0bbc2 and left the 920785e481 room.84c1461e31d389a7

As the Duchess f58acf4036 departed, Beatrice sat 7da113a247 back on the e367ae36f8 sofa and began 038dff26e8 to think. It was 551d22440c early February, ab2b054e96 and the 8984fdbc08 Imperial debutante e96bf22229 ball was e19d0e8222 scheduled for 86d23651ea May.f82dfbce5979e6a5

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While there was enough bbea7fb596 time to familiarize herself dacb6568a0 with the Buildrander family, 1dfe919694 Beatrice’s interest wasn’t in 3428f9e3c5 the daughter of the 27dfbe0daa family.eeccfaa0b0a905b6

Originally, she would c7af5d034c have had to 1f73b5cbba wait another two fc1441d1a5 years to meet 3fba3a538a “that child” naturally. But Beatrice already b477e8d441 knew what the 42bd0d7c6c child wanted. Rather than wasting ef34ae51e9 two years, she 5e8aa6c1be intended to bring efd3f14c0e her closer by 41ae406585 fulfilling her desires a9495ec5f9 quickly.01c3c0e3bb21d9e2

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She needed 1ab9d9504b someone to 36e26835da act as 2860d5fd91 her hands 8d6877c09d and feet 3bc36fdd7f while she 8863d40a00 operated discreetly, c9fef8133f and no 86a758a4c3 one was df9e3eccd1 more suitable 5eda0977e9 than her.ff942d9c40842d9a

“Lily.”800e30f7b5bd5194

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This time, Beatrice would bf075eaab7 approach her first. Though she wasn’t 84d6a6621b one to form 43f11b4754 attachments easily, she 1eafa23cf9 found herself oddly 78c06b5d39 reflective. It had been a8bf644ab9 a long time c772b5d5d4 since she had e914c29e12 seen her.ce07de19e72ed92a

* * *051e94da16f4fcb6

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After parting with 1c3ba6f1ea Beatrice, the Duchess b022f237d1 immediately sent a ee69766137 letter to Countess d84c852906 Florianne Buildrander, the 9394423cf0 young lady of 39e501dc10 the Buildrander family. In it, 4ca4f6a04c she asked e4629caf7f if Florianne 01efb674c7 could befriend 02537f63b5 her youngest 2137d46183 daughter, who 877028cdbb was preparing 2c03e793f4 for a b424894147 delayed debutante 3200e72633 ball, and 0c86ac2076 expressed her 4b284d3049 hope for 0c17686ba0 a close 8c2d5f4b35 relationship between 6f19e852a4 the two 1c22b671f9 families.d892fb606a603186

Since it was c28b3b5e45 none other than 3bfc5f9696 Duchess Agatha herself 595b681d5d who sent the 90635dcb70 letter, the reply 6d65fb7952 arrived in less 44438e0935 than a day. Unsurprisingly, the response e524f1d03b was a positive 23a38cd802 one.8d8c9c20cc59b849

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Florianne’s letter, written 34fcedcd9c in an elegant 3ddfecc443 and intricate script, 8ee3d575a3 stated that it bdbd88f571 would be the 121025ca1a family’s greatest honor. She also expressed 061a236cb4 her willingness to 63556d9505 visit the Ember 0514e0e81c household at any 4e28e7a337 time if the a8e004bd18 Duchess would set d2f41cfdf8 a date.66366c55597df633

Although Agatha had intended a7b5b5cd0c to invite Florianne to a25ab40a94 the Ember mansion to 2170f0f248 accommodate her daughter’s lack 7889943d14 of experience outside, Beatrice 1ab640faea shook her head at ce72b0b364 the suggestion.3b274dbe1a2d2498

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Instead, Beatrice expressed a 329c2fb4b7 desire to visit the 6fbf262e45 Buildrander estate herself, reasoning dfac867184 that she’d spent too b8118bb33d much time confined at 871fe3c4e5 home and wanted to 991dda2f47 experience the outside world. Agatha, clutching ef43c2bd33 her handkerchief, 1ba08ed85e relented and 8bb4a2faf0 agreed.72043fad1b360696

The date for Beatrice’s 18f32a6641 visit to the Buildrander 4531ca4ed2 estate was set for 8b1c1959ed just one week from 09b9f4f3c3 the exchange of letters. That week b97f9ddb00 passed in 6f16904a02 a whirlwind.9d7aefeafdc95ba8

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With Beatrice owning very 5f237f7df9 few dresses, a tailor 8d04d88f44 was urgently summoned to 3eceea0bd4 create six outfits. A jeweler was 0db5720f86 also called to 9e13199ef3 the house, and 32b39762e4 they prepared twelve a21e9b8356 sets of accessories. Beatrice selected about 3c298a1086 eight pairs of 024942e573 shoes as well.53065bcfd116394f

When the Duchess suggested 9f9e0e1919 they focus on the e764edd0c1 most urgent outfits for 048a1c1433 now and take their d9bdfb4731 time with the rest, bf74a84be2 Beatrice nodded in agreement. Although she wasn’t particularly faa1363cb0 interested in dresses or e0dafa078c accessories, she had grown 90ef9e17fb accustomed to such things 89b3df722a over the course of d828078981 her many lives.0d769b9600e3a2d0

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In aristocratic society, 82e6929099 a noblewoman who fff3e2c618 didn’t tend to 353b7cce36 her appearance was 9f1129b03d considered lazy and 80735f8347 rude. In one dbede3b490 of her 3da175911d past lives, 75aa3ac42c when she d97d23f3d4 lived in 714d6b6593 a distant b9c20c2b31 rural estate, dfcf0c64ab she had f014b3d85e enjoyed a 333c46a137 rare sense e2efa7821e of freedom 40ed361091 from such 6d12ec5e3f expectations.5c681d1009658b4a

Dressed immaculately, Beatrice stepped f59b6cfe32 past the mansion’s grand 5484253552 gates. Standing before the c8d993d66a largest carriage of 89837463a1 the ducal family, 36af88f7f4 decorated in brown 27f0273e78 and green, she fe8c4e357e took the hand 05a0f0882d of a knight 1146842305 who offered his 7cab1fe0d8 escort.9169d565dbc7a6ef

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Once inside, Laura, the c88a2958d8 temporary maid assigned to a687e644d2 her, followed. Laura, originally the b5e8f37dd8 Duchess’s maid, was e373aa82f2 tasked with serving 72a9ddfd1d Beatrice until a c0e0eafb5a new personal maid 3260f706bc could be appointed.a84bb38f493e6133

After the coachman d30c30f90c calmed the restless f01397e297 horses and the 7e54c731a0 carriage began to 708b630011 move, Beatrice straightened ab147b8a45 her back and 735b718db3 lowered her gaze. This was her 0c10c5f20e silent signal that b5dcde0075 she wished to d0775fa4f0 think quietly, a a6b588e4cd cue not to 70476c73b8 be disturbed.bf8813a4481e0ff5

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Laura, quick 659e80bd9d to pick 7d8ce4fbed up on 41b938ffec Beatrice’s habits 341b594a78 despite her aef2bd8113 short time 84699dc3cd with her, e2c4685170 sat opposite 9a14d4e57e and remained 6cafe3ca39 quiet.5816cc4052eb7f34

Lily was a maid 5a21cc2179 working for the Buildrander 2f0e1ede5d family. She was likely 5090d5337a sixteen years old ad73699fe6 by now, probably 5dc6662eab sharpening her metaphorical 2f34ee8813 blade in secret. Lily was one 4bcda48398 of the many a913ab1ea7 victims who bore e140bd4317 a grudge against aa35fc94c7 the current Count, 4d5976d6a4 Heliette Buildrander.493dc2eec7120dc7

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Though the Count was de9139fd71 well-regarded among nobles, his 6f3a40e357 reputation among his staff e45c5fa123 was abysmal—so much so f2e3a780a1 that it scraped the 0d854c6d10 ground. His son, 57631c3324 Gallet Buildrander, e66b85e5e1 was sharp 8806e4e41c enough to fc1eeffd1c manage the e4d3267454 rumors to 92efe4ff3b some extent, 47447ad8f0 but whispers b311e20b13 always found 328fa93502 a way 34b1770440 to spread 0681e104d7 unnoticed.b776d9a17431965c

Lily was bb17ad3b04 the daughter 555488a55e of one aa793b03cf of the 216c7b0eb3 Count’s victims. To exact ebd7839631 revenge, she 985d19c56a infiltrated the a47bce0d1d Buildrander estate bb4a9ddd7a as a 507ea50fd8 maid. After enduring bc255b9888 five long 127a555027 years, she 6925ee0f94 eventually succeeded 33a635cf9e in killing 8e4abfd808 the Count be73e6d28a and escaped.f9a6cb270b596b35

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While fleeing the Count’s e39dd8960c knights and the capital’s 06b2a323dd guards, Lily was found 8b95393b91 by Beatrice, and their 515f148093 fateful relationship began. Recalling their first 52b03e4164 meeting, where Lily a72c35b6a6 had resembled a af3954899b filthy street rat, 442eb6f4fe Beatrice couldn’t help 536e7761dc but smile faintly.99cb1c2b12f6158e

“I look 0652d62126 forward to de11f1b09f meeting her cfc153ccbb again,” she 5c29c25989 murmured.510391e7c44e053e

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“Are you that 13fa3e16e4 excited to meet eaccddc7ec your first friend?” 6d1d8b47bb Laura asked, seizing 74273f5f91 the chance to be2f262387 break the silence.58286cd99609d1ee

“Yes.”906a3e8f6b92e46c

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When Beatrice finally spoke, bbf42363de Laura responded eagerly, as 7c48624b0b though she had been 2bc83a1e0d waiting for a chance 0fb6a2eaea to converse. It made sense—being stuck 6879504c24 in a carriage with 70355fb355 an unfamiliar lady without 8ac41572d5 saying a word must f4d8af311f have been stifling.1be1c9b7080e2b06

Beatrice pulled b8275af521 back the fdc67327c9 curtain covering 0e2d792aab the carriage 233b095200 window and 27537dd586 looked outside. The pristine c325dae39f white roads 50b079a88f of the 2b6361e0d5 capital gleamed 01f5db5674 under the 3db815231c winter sunlight, 6438612c78 so bright ddf5d042f1 it was 95ff1f62e6 almost blinding.7bff44338699bdaa

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* * *06c4fbe21fd51abf

“Is it true 369716c7fb that the young 9081bd23ca lady from the 16784dfb27 Ember family will 935a643ea9 be visiting soon?”c133ff6e15f511ff

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“Yes, that’s correct, Lady 9613fd3617 Florianne.”f86294e56e6fed10

“I was so taken 22321b0156 aback when I first 8a0f9c3c26 received the letter.”90438a8dc21e2859

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Florianne Buildrander recalled the 47c110e1b2 Duchess’s letter. The Ember and bb049b7942 Buildrander families had 17e544cbb5 maintained a strong 93865f3705 relationship for generations. As a result, Florianne, d95a2c56c0 who had interacted with c20ae473e5 the ducal family since e417a59342 childhood, knew both Calrex, 8a230c5c85 the current Duke, and f2d93897c5 Felix, his younger brother, d87849c134 quite well. However, she had e74ada944c never once seen f5a77c5748 their youngest daughter, 1ba9318fec Beatrice.d858ca7531a22098

The Ember 088e380e2e family was 1ba6509dd8 often regarded 7904609c2c as the 6013242327 most powerful c4f63f3ef5 family in 12eb95be5d the Empire 88263e69e4 after the 296aad1f94 imperial family. In fact, one of d469686983 the previous dukes had ba94c7ef12 married a member of 52e8bcfaea the royal family, which 0d3b9e8417 meant the family was e0120ffef0 treated almost as an dc1c4c7933 extension of the royals.28f7be6cbc10ae2a

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And yet, the d625d0eeaa illegitimate daughter remained 14a00f6ca1 the sole stain e9b4e7b7a5 on this illustrious 45054c11e5 lineage.9b1ef8b67b880fee

Florianne had 09628e401f heard rumors. Beatrice was the child 8bea593fc5 brought back by the c03691f692 missing Duke, a girl 3270c8ae3d who was strangely never ba89c1df07 seen in public. After the former Duke’s 2637631017 death, whispers suggested she efa2f9e7d5 had become a disgrace 18892374b0 the family didn’t know e48e4be0b5 what to do with.027db8da10b734f9

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