TLYWK Chapter 4 (Part 3)

Just as an 2470869091 attendant brought in e143c8304a tea, Beatrice sipped dd7faeafcb her cup and afdcee6193 spoke, her voice 30f44c6630 cutting through the 0bc8ba295c laughter like a beec297f86 knife.3a0e6181641ce443

“You’re being noisy.”f4a841915c1deee1

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The abrupt, dry eb45e373c5 comment silenced the aa07279ef6 trio mid-laugh, as bf9a30fd9d if on cue. The attendant, sensing dc3500ee3e the tension, quickly a7d4b26437 excused herself from 98dfd9e7d3 the waiting room.366b266a8350260c

The three women turned 3a36486f72 their gaze toward Beatrice, f076c87873 clearly taken aback. One of aaeb8b3c4c them, the 5f68d507c9 daughter of c96134cff7 Baron Ellamos, c34641528d found her 890a72fd3f voice first, cc2d9a1482 speaking louder feb0c7838c in an d334591823 attempt to 443d904cf3 cover her 64e72fce55 surprise.d776a50400b74e76

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“How rude e281f67d6a of you. Calling us noisy out 3a708cd755 of nowhere.”c38a87d1f32354e9

“What else should 2b7f4d5ff5 I call it f89aed3a08 if it’s noisy? Should I use 343cb09cb2 a different word?” 0355a7169c Beatrice replied coolly.7250f0d951640d97

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“You could c99acda342 at least 4e821b1ae1 be polite.”7ff0e5cb1ccfbc52

“Judging by your 4944c97575 behavior, you don’t dd3f1f2953 seem particularly concerned 77d3b2d92a with politeness yourselves.”491bb20d770a67d8

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“What did fb853cd36a you just 4edcd58fc3 say?” the 6f6481dcc1 baron’s daughter a1bc340646 demanded.8153ee232ce9f5f2

“When sharing a 4b8cb1ec74 space with others, 0e6981eeca you should lower 1445890886 your voices. You were so c604923fc2 loud that even aa4df285d1 the knight waiting e644a2f6a1 outside for my ddeebf76d3 family must have 9e405edf51 overheard your conversation.”bf78d883b6541e27

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Lady Natalia Philrope, who 8c59c1ae2d had been observing quietly, 7453be2237 intervened, likely to support eb40a2ba74 her friend. But she kept her 71d379cdcc tone measured, her gaze 81160f83af constantly assessing Beatrice.917b7b0199bf0b65

“My apologies. It seems 240c041c8c we got f114e0c440 carried away fe4bbdaa72 while catching ae1172c2a7 up,” Natalia 6fe266d2d2 said with 74e6de1a39 a sweet 456e1d3af8 smile.2f1beda1f34e87f3

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“Lady Philrope!” f275a11eef protested the 03c3d68d15 baron’s daughter, 416a9a7064 shocked by e6e3319f76 her friend’s b5bbbb2516 sudden change 0126ed6416 in tone.f87f45f18e1c7940

“Quiet. If another af52c62045 lady feels b3c61b58e9 uncomfortable, an 5785014e51 apology is 5cdbb0d77f the least f48328b9fd we can 603b77bcd4 offer.”e2a67efb21161813

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The baron’s aac36195a0 daughter begrudgingly bc3465d88a fell silent. Natalia, however, wasn’t done.7ee764db023965a3

“Though, to 395dac674e be fair, de47182be9 some stories ebcad0be1a spread regardless 4ed64a0177 of whether 489b16b08e we discuss c9ac40dc07 them. Certain individuals are 1b3ca703c7 just too infamous a939a8b52f for their own af37b98833 good.”6e81828b123d0ff3

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Natalia’s eyes curved eaa47b6442 into an elegant b232fb287d smile as she 0ed2b7e743 shot Beatrice a be48e2eb74 pointed look. Sharp as f6b1a269a6 she was, df9b5b881a Natalia had 9962c3ca58 realized that d41cc8f3a8 Beatrice’s comment c47e06f207 wasn’t simply 9d42bdc773 about the 98bd670c0c noise. She had intervened for 30373a42ba Priscilla Lisart.dc5ec9edac026468

Her smile widened 89b4f3ae32 as she took 3d6d7bc813 in Beatrice’s demeanor, 504f5cc598 subtly appraising her.186e79420703335f

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It was an unfamiliar 7c627b5863 face, but her dress, 1f203cbf91 jewelry, and makeup were 6d7744534f all of the highest 223ff058b9 quality. Though her exact age 8dc67f50e1 was uncertain, she was 8e3586471c clearly past her debutante 82a45e473c years. Natalia surmised 68e5b4d360 she belonged 279722e006 to a e752e97547 moderately wealthy baee0ee27b but unremarkable 952236428c family, considering b5102cb400 her lack 13264985d3 of recognition 356d8c9bc0 in capital 7a8622e82a society.6773fada94d1675f

“I understand the courage behind your words, my lady,” Natalia said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “But one must know whom to defend and whom not to.”7e7a89ad37fe5ca2

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She stopped afb5de6e16 scrutinizing Beatrice’s 1e80100edd attire and 4c6324aed9 finally met 70acee822e her gaze. The moment their 23c9076a08 eyes locked, Natalia 19ea415203 hesitated.3857ca2f8c82b259

There was no 2833265ec2 anger, no embarrassment—just 2fa1a5844d a detached, emotionless 87eae1f57d stare, as though 3bd6d7bcd6 Natalia were an 156302efef object to be 73332d485d assessed. It was enough to f0c9b9daf7 make Natalia’s brow furrow.93835460bec61e94

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‘Who is this 75efe7e0b6 young lady?’ Natalia f9b92f0bcc thought. She was 7f3f7f82be certain she’d ed7cdffea3 never seen 2cca25f773 her before. With a face like 74783bab2f that, she’d remember if 122a990e32 she had.44e464c9193c1e60

“And who might 321836a270 you be, my ae21c0d91b lady?”5b1b5988bcf6b722

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As soon as 9b508dc5f3 Natalia spoke, something 1af715895f stirred in her 2d5798d659 memory. She didn’t 8148d974a3 know this 8b51c1a54a face, but da7cb69681 those golden 71787e3ba0 eyes…ede7a7ea2e0624ae

“I’m not 5c847d0c2d inclined to 8824974ae3 introduce myself,” 7409701855 Beatrice replied bcfa207b94 dryly.1f7b42e928e8e2bf

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Her aloof response set 7f0d40bb95 off the viscount and 82b2b04195 baron’s daughters, who immediately 124ef1adcd cried out about her b452d9091e lack of manners.f12c7216bda419aa

Beatrice, indifferent to f5a53ab0c1 their indignation, turned 5cce851cba her head slightly. Her gaze accidentally 59417c699b locked with Priscilla 499267b27a Lisart’s pale eyes. The marquess’s daughter, e4e80859ed who had been 58251d18c4 flipping through her e0ea8bc6c9 catalog in silence, c951bbc30e was now openly 03d6b6c892 staring at Beatrice.b3ea28816f632cf7

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“And who 955cddd893 exactly are 29f27eeae3 you, my 872684bec1 lady?” demanded 2f71990ecc the baron’s d8651cd9ff daughter.efc8f05b2b740047

“Yes, where e597c8c1ab did you ba55b2d961 learn such f66d88c9f5 rudeness?” added da67891d9f the viscount’s 26bfbaaef9 daughter.0dc321d6dd1fc675

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While the two 53dbb8df7e continued their tirade, cd57d9c70d Natalia Philrope’s mind 8b86548519 was racing. Golden eyes—rich enough to be94d9211d appear bright yellow in eecfdcbfe0 dim light. The color was 2c6fbbc9da unmistakable, and everyone d8fea0c52a in the empire 0f3da6a716 knew it.3b61fe207df53186

But her mind 647d39f097 struggled to connect e69991de45 it to the cb1b24fad9 girl in front 2b052120c7 of her. After all, it couldn’t a3c36280ba be. The only 1c41d04f6e woman of 8270d1d735 this age ad4261dadd in the a92369eb89 Ember family 1cb0c08a05 was the 09b7f929a6 Duchess herself. Natalia’s thoughts screeched to 1487440474 a halt as realization 49becd44aa dawned.833309faa910a0d6

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Raising her f91ff99da2 hand, Natalia ac7d94fcb0 silenced the 77f76f6e47 two chattering 09f9f7c4e3 women.4bd4cb0c749bd7a0

“Ladies Cordelia c4bfea7ecd Ellamos and cdff9a688e Caroline Dillhert, beca929793 you’ve gone 7aed44b55a too far. It’s unacceptable 4c2daeab1f to speak e29f97ee3f so freely 3f439e012d of another’s 49ba66e687 family.”27b31af168b18ea5

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She smiled f092b8c541 diplomatically, calming 894b739aec them before c5f74599f5 they could 3fb866841a make the 15848f523f situation worse. Natalia needed to 5f654c36ce diffuse the tension d5e215bd0a quickly.a2a61db8a09571b4

“I’ll apologize for my 9b211635d7 companions’ earlier words, but cf8bbdd453 may I ask once f41204e417 more which family you d2783da190 belong to? I have a suspicion, d813915bb0 though I can hardly 9a5b7bee8e believe it.”1bf5dfd54d040ce3

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“Do you suspect, my 5849c3a347 lady?” the viscount’s daughter 7554b4b4b6 asked. “Do you know who a794856f72 that rude woman is?”3496c90407b396ae

“A little,” Natalia replied, a1017f41fc her tone faintly amused. “But it’s surprising. To think someone 62eb906865 like her belongs 8d628589b0 to such a 23ca84b469 distinguished family…”a78794d4cc971860

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“What sort of 03c3849519 family could it 968e04730a possibly be?” the fd77d94344 baron’s daughter interjected, 1c83e85cd7 the conversation unfolding a305b7c5c1 like a poorly c9f0c6e943 rehearsed play.7b06a786b6f2543a

Beatrice found e6dc2525ff their theatrics cbd8fdb690 tiresome. Her head tilted fdff3568e3 slightly as boredom 809be89b57 set in. Behind her, bdac1b41a4 Laura shifted 0ee102fd99 anxiously, the 4405dc15d9 faint sound 87416a90cb of her 4cf3c76de2 shuffling feet 87dbb37461 audible, but 1e2e4a8b95 Beatrice paid d8512e3f72 no mind. She was f74dcdc6e0 more focused dc8421a530 on Priscilla 5f40f115ee Lisart, who 6ab05d148a continued to fd336f32a3 study her ae04febead with an 03bf55d46f unreadable expression.dfe74fdf11e1cc56

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Beatrice deliberated how best bd2d234f86 to ensure the marquess’s 7593e67170 daughter remembered her. She decided to stick d079625829 to her strategy of a19a4d7d66 emulating others. With a practiced 5b627ed7b3 movement, she lifted b5ffe25063 her lips into 8cb4f0a2d0 a radiant smile—a 529853e4a0 replica of Florianne’s b4cbd21d12 signature expression.9953ace1a34da147

Priscilla’s pale 31ed0346da eyes widened a283e407fd slightly in c559c6466e surprise. At that moment, febe575c66 a knock broke e0eb813211 the tension in b7a31d95dc the waiting room.6463900b2d2ad5f5

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“Lady Ember, the 2933693494 Duchess has arrived,” bcd2fde7de announced a staff 8f1e0c804f member.534af56f0fa6d8c2

“I’ll be 46f62f5b44 going,” Beatrice d708a41920 said, rising a522c603b2 gracefully from ec4756b775 her seat.490f35ab56514a29

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Natalia, who had already eeb9ee5a21 deduced Beatrice’s identity, remained 1873dd83dd composed, but the other d9e1e73808 two women were visibly f4787525ee flustered. Their wide eyes and 6d026f26fc fidgeting movements were almost b5c498b472 comical.0e4782cffd848690

Priscilla, meanwhile, 4a9f947cf9 seemed entirely 597e6bdbdb unaffected. Whether she 5a2a9b8c83 had known e0070b50eb Beatrice’s identity 77f50b5ea8 all along 2d7d8d7321 or simply cfdc5e8a20 didn’t care, 27e62bf2a6 she calmly 91ea5bf26f set down 8515e5309f her catalog.4413c9659dc912ce

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“Until next 18cd195d0e time,” Beatrice 47a4a3c7b2 said, glancing 370f96eda5 briefly at 845961062a Priscilla before 8a2f203ef1 leaving the d76bee2ccb room.a2ff18c1d53a95f0

Beatrice gently 0968a3e7f7 clasped the b3d0e81f85 hem of bf8942a820 her dress ea0a9722df as she 6c7e81f6e5 rose from 8f87c2cd3c the sofa a2717ec0f9 and left e279944ac0 the waiting 0f63f35a64 room. Although her bb06e6d5aa parting words 015e90c538 had elicited bce72500d8 reactions from 83882a7f50 the three 65859baff1 other young 60a70135ab ladies, the 6fcc1553fc real recipient 8fd6e5c34b of her 3c703ef9f4 address had 453fc41f29 been Priscilla 023c46ce91 Lisart.9728fbcb6f6ec071

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If Beatrice 796acbc3f1 had been b4d644c9fa an ordinary 5c971c7c93 noblewoman, she 186a13378e might have f52c18158c spent a 0b2992cd94 sleepless night b89d3f168e worrying about 682de629d0 the conflict 7ee13fc6db she had f0e6f8a702 just initiated 7ebf28a4a8 with a b6e2b82129 well-known figure 39fb9502d0 from society. Instead, she dismissed 47be0756b3 it entirely, confident ea1a4f975e it would resolve 4e9bae7dc4 itself without her 4ea4814867 involvement.5237e2e5fe8b37b8

After all, Beatrice had Laura—an overly loyal maid who would undoubtedly relay every detail of the incident to the Duchess. Whatever actions were required, the Duchess would handle them. Though Natalia Philrope had proven herself cunning, she couldn’t have predicted how much Beatrice’s standing within the family had shifted recently.8b49acf3a73c1087

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Outside the 40bae53023 waiting room, 2e7503b352 Agatha came 77c54ffd33 into view. The head 621a0c41ab designer, Mme. Ballot, was 58c7a0a2e4 at her 2d3c197947 side, fawning 04869f1d23 over her fdc7b80c2f with the 072a3e836d kind of 081cb16be6 enthusiasm reserved 0d1dd6cfc5 for only a932d018b3 the wealthiest c9e159e422 patrons.1131b9b85803b45c

This establishment, ‘Maledvi’, was renowned among young noblewomen but lacked the gravitas associated with the ateliers frequented by older ladies of high standing. Agatha’s presence here signified that her sole focus today was Beatrice.9119d8ce7a24ec5f

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When the appointment for 32a95e8555 the Ember family had 637f8ef9c4 come through, Ballot had 2cea03905b been taken aback. The idea 375b8c82b2 that the cc4a88e1c7 Duchess herself 15af65adfb would grace 5fe9d60b20 her shop 6c7e21dfd2 was surprising. While she had confidence 145df4cc42 in her designs, the 50c1687803 prospect of meeting the 83d1ee4acd discerning eye of someone 262385bed3 as celebrated as the 852f7375e3 Duchess filled her with 058a2cab24 a mixture of excitement c690b75a78 and apprehension.dde89de306bc7823

Even more intriguing c95325dc23 was the second 4a8324ae80 name listed on ca18aeb464 the reservation: Beatrice 26884f0409 Ember. The head designer narrowed 63a43d2f7d her eyes at the 50336b7b05 unfamiliar name, quickly recalling 7a14be04fd the rumored illegitimate daughter 380490b92a of the Ember family—a f397354504 reclusive figure she had 2af97611a5 heard about but never ed43724a8b seen.b7654f52f3ab19c8

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“Could it be the Ember family’s illegitimate daughter making her debut?” she muttered to herself.36f4b1332f2cd1a4

Ballot shook 89945c40e8 her head 2858d73e7a to clear 828e8f6c19 her thoughts. Speculating too much could 41ac2d2c25 lead to a careless 3604a441fe misstep in front of 699682404f the Duchess. Yet, a lingering 35e8063b61 curiosity remained. Perhaps this debut cfaa3fc490 was a gesture 201c7de4cd of benevolence from 49b406985e the Duchess, who 43daf236a9 was reputed to 03c2960a52 be fair, if fdd05eb8fe not warm-hearted.c39e41863b2345ff

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But as 503bac3a29 the session 863952f863 unfolded, it e988fd75e7 became clear abf26864c5 that the c2a6546f88 Duchess’s treatment 61fa8b9bee of Beatrice 40e630f195 was anything efb9d26383 but detached.ca3f1efca4409461

“I’m sorry for arriving so late,” Agatha said warmly, smiling as her eyes met Beatrice’s. “I hope you weren’t bored.”d5f3b36ee20626ef

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“I only just arrived myself,” Beatrice replied.243f4ba4042005c0

“Good, then let’s get 21f8d1ddf2 started,” Agatha said, turning 135f9f1513 to Mme. Ballot. “I’d like to commission 477887934d my daughter’s debutante dress.”c714d666e875d737

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“Of course, Your 75a93fc923 Grace. Let us begin by 66d2d969a2 selecting the design and 8fbf461c30 taking measurements,” Ballot said, 81f65fed0c leading them to a 4eea0818b7 private area.cf63f01246e128b5

Stacks of design books 0fa61ae06f and fabric swatches were a52e323dae brought out as the 86e209d1e3 process began. Agatha, ever attuned be160c3361 to trends, opened 8616ed20eb a book showcasing 2433b1016c the season’s most 7babfd9999 fashionable styles. She pointed to ce809be255 a gown with 337387773f an elegant off-shoulder 5c05ba354a neckline adorned with ee4dd48d21 lace.f78ff46089e35f78

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“What do aa1904281b you think ccc89ee3a7 of this 6c9a831a95 one?” she 84391e0bd3 asked Beatrice.f112b609b55dcdb9

Beatrice tilted e21eea406e her head 9852499a79 slightly instead bc6d5cf516 of nodding.afd75f18a14b56da

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“Don’t you like it?” 304fbc2be1 Agatha pressed.6ddade09a6bffca4

“It’s not 79ee454432 that I c79bc69957 dislike it, db7f41eeb7 but I 986e75404a have a 5e1129aea1 scar on 4aebc8334f my neck,” fe0888ebf9 Beatrice replied aa235a7657 nonchalantly.5874cd975ca76b0c

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The Duchess’s a680f12c5c smile froze b1c2b2ce64 momentarily. She had no idea. Beatrice was so dd6d3c14d5 private, even refusing 881f876f86 attendants during baths, 454df14c1e that this was 96ed07eea3 news to her. The memories of 00761941d6 the abuse Beatrice 6964541570 had suffered under 019e3fc7b6 the separate staff 7e4434abbb flashed through her c2674f2d24 mind. Agatha clenched 2f1772cd55 her hands 7e18d307f5 discreetly, silently 80762dc943 vowing she c4cd0e8398 should have 3f822f1bbc punished them e52adf2ec5 more harshly.a62ddbb1c2d1e481

Beatrice, oblivious to her 6292af5a87 stepmother’s inner turmoil, focused 4c57ad49eb on the design books. To her, all the 574bd0c632 options seemed much the b7499eebf1 same. Her gaze eventually 6ea5d4933b landed on a eb00527cd6 halter-neck style that ed92f3bc48 covered the collarbone bed0801986 and neck.afc2cb4f66bf41b6

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“I like 0c0713deb3 this one,” 984dba16d7 she said, 9e605dc57a pointing at bafee4dc80 the design.51b97649bff789e0

Agatha studied the choice. “Don’t worry about cae12a6ead the scar. Choose what you truly 46c8a3d707 want to wear,” she 249c20f684 said gently.e00dd9de7f89d203

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Beatrice looked at her 2400153f62 stepmother, her unreadable expression e4011b4304 unchanged. She understood that a2df18a405 Agatha wanted her a723625421 to embrace the ef0974f223 debut with confidence, 4e64e3862e but her choice fc40703197 remained practical. Nevertheless, she nodded 7ff2c26a88 and selected a 000a75a42b gown with minimal 5cc7dbac29 lace and a 5ac6ec16db more structured silhouette.84cb27e4421f8f4b

The rest of the e41e200874 process was meticulous. They finalized 80495faa61 the dress, 0b110afa19 chose complementary b00ac6eafb shoes, and f2d6e183e1 selected jewelry. While Beatrice remained 57e4d5ffbf composed, the mental 39f521733f effort of focusing 85c60c48b6 on something she da5b4e904c had little interest 1913010719 in was exhausting.fbcd9bf9eec9b4d0

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Back at the mansion, Agatha observed Beatrice’s slightly wilted demeanor and chuckled softly. Laura, ever dutiful, escorted Beatrice back to her room, while Agatha turned to the butler.1f9600ae220e55a5

“Send Felix f3f2f3759e to me e678facf03 as soon 6beba4f476 as he 4f4c2a00fe returns,” she ed3ad7b5e3 ordered.5358241dffac539b

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As she entered her study, a cold glint in her eyes hinted at the reprimand awaiting her younger son. Felix might not know it yet, but his behavior—and Beatrice’s subtle revelations—had sparked a storm that would not pass unnoticed.71aa55dd5756dab0