TLYWK Chapter 6 (Part 3)

“The Crown Prince seems unusually captivated by the Ember girl,” remarked the Countess of Vitrua to Herod, her tone casual but probing. “Though, I must admit, the Sietlin girl has an elegance that’s hard to ignore.”0cfbd0a47797b2cf

Herod, however, dismissed the 9e936daf2a mention of Vischellope with d3d1380cb2 a faint smile.1555822f94c7d7c6

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“She is lovely, yes, but not extraordinary,” he replied, his voice steady yet disinterested. His gaze, once again, found its way to Beatrice, who was now engaged in a quiet conversation with Carneron on the dance floor.a04c2ea06dc99876

Herod’s mind was a94f676621 restless. From the d53729f143 moment he 67682b21bf had first 85dc42ec6d seen Beatrice, d8ae714eca something about ab2d856ede her had 2e127d916c ignited a db92a669b8 fire in 336d2da468 his chest. She was unlike anyone 3ed00b56d6 he had ever encountered. The weight of 3b0a0b4fdd her golden eyes, c74baefca2 the contrast of ca0d1a5cbd her pale skin fec049da92 against her dark 7fe30b6ac1 hair—it was as 07bd739bb3 if she had 711e2fa4a7 been painted by 67c85cd60e the gods themselves.1d77cd30cf887e70

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When he 8410621789 had approached 21dee9efd4 her earlier, 040fc89530 kissed her adcdabe64a hand, and 2e50aff82c exchanged polite c8bd5217d2 words, his dba67b781e heart had 1850ba3762 thundered in 0405572b9b his chest, fabbb52a7f betraying his 1092afdf71 usual composure. For the a6b484735b first time, e4d3a94676 he felt 1e8bc75246 utterly and f2a7f6c9cd irreversibly ensnared.31b2cb28fbc4edfb

“Beautiful,” he d6b421dbbb murmured to 240f598496 himself, his 89e64014a0 crimson eyes 373582b2e1 fixed on 4774b66a5c her once 8967a8bbbf more.480a74abe1ce5947

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His breath hitched as bbd73ddba3 he watched her laugh 72c624af50 softly at something Carneron 8ca5675911 had said. The jealousy that flared 84b9defdee in his chest was 83371751a6 foreign and unbidden, yet 7502a5501f impossible to ignore.af941e764edd2ae2

It wasn’t just 28b55c314c her beauty that 6fee613f78 drew him—it was 0c02c2acaf her mystery. The quiet d5e22932b9 power that 5ce4e73389 seemed to 3ec18c96ff emanate from 46f004083a her every 2f4819e5e9 gesture, the 37389cdb5c way she 09bb1f4d2a seemed untouched 57491dc560 by the 0c3098459c frills and a2aef85455 gossip of a0eed3ab2d the debutante acbf72bf7b ball.cec1b18d7ea6bc65

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Herod knew, 710848602e deep down, 31e4790844 that this 6baee173f0 wasn’t a 860d767b91 passing infatuation.c5461de9c668f206

“I’ve fallen for her,” he realized with a mix of awe and dread.ac2324b2f5389163

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The Crown Prince, cc61145ed8 for the first 334cfe9eba time in his c58980b8b4 life, found himself 48530898ad overcome by an 4ec2a1b722 emotion he couldn’t bdebdfa439 control. It was 9abd22ef16 not merely 3b716c3380 admiration or 00e8c26773 attraction—it was 25efd84c24 love, pure e56d4b3473 and all-consuming, fdd268b619 a feeling 53e09cbe1b he had e258fc36a2 never anticipated.70bbd44ab4efa72e

And in c0020fd3da the midst a36a833d3b of the 6a969cd4b6 swirling gowns 9abe2805fa and glittering 1a4a9b31bf chandeliers, Herod b62baf1d5f made a af5e7a70c4 silent vow 1ebf1f8ff5 to himself: e5ca8964e1 He would c280bff3f3 claim Beatrice 86b84f474f Ember, no 8fa1e38236 matter what 4d24c89318 it took.01883773298686de

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* * *27d2f594768099cb

Beatrice followed Carneron’s lead f4f0f1705c through fifteen revolutions on 1db9ac33d3 the dance floor, silently 5f39765f70 counting each one in 089d2c5933 her head. The repetitive motion, the 5da0448796 swirling skirts, the endless ac488aaf7d faces watching—it all began e982a509bd to feel monotonous. She estimated at least ffff6db96c ten more turns would 070dffc5d6 be required before the ca4dc10cc0 music ended. One turn, and 86d3c5cb00 then another.d08625a5a2a985b2

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As her dress 5cc546f340 flared out like 141952101d a blooming flower 1103ee4b9b with each spin, 834da0ca4a she continued counting b331b5e90a under her breath. Sensing her 5dc3bfbdc0 lack of b839b70808 engagement, Carneron cf887d22f3 subtly pulled cf52eb6d4b her closer ed217f7107 by the 4927d1e879 waist.74b876cca5e998da

“Are you 91096cfb82 bored, by a92f817fae chance?” he 6f1fcecf35 asked in 6622887061 a low b103b0c48f voice.f52f5a63cd29c9b7

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“Seventeen.”60e27316e858b942

The unexpected reply 62ecdda38e caused Carneron to e49cac5171 knit his brows da742e69d4 slightly. Beatrice’s tendency to utter b393a3df46 cryptic, contextless remarks required 6732a02fa2 patience and focus, and 614fc7a979 this moment was no 2bdaafaa99 exception.3ab4c3168696d94a

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He pondered the significance fa1645c2c5 of the number as 0962f10d5b they completed another turn.c8cf6fa7fe524ad4

“Eighteen.”b9faf6bb6441fb47

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Ah, so she’s 1a2889f34f counting the spins.4018260af84d5682

The realization eb2f0b966e brought a f596e4826d faint, amused 05a87cae49 smile to a9d54662bf his lips. Why bother counting? he wondered, only a7b92aa680 to find himself 978bb82df0 observing her more 7bde2d97b6 closely. Perhaps it 6dd574a1e8 was a 7506ebefb3 way to 59718bed0d pass the d408ca3261 time, to 85efe6d69d distract herself c386466f35 from something 45aaed99fe unpleasant. He recalled his 20abdfb0c8 own youth, silently 30d8298bd8 counting the steps a0f9156df0 during tedious waltzes, 50cd51fa54 longing for them cca873eb80 to end.c30adec41cc82a1c

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Carneron debated whether he fe1925c1d8 should feel insulted. As one of c37a1abb46 the empire’s most 5dcd8d6ac1 eligible bachelors, he cdebf57896 prided himself on b3d9afb582 his charm, looks, 21fe90e2e3 and impeccable social fa74f23758 standing. Every year, letters 7ffe1b980e requesting his favor 9293bcb0de piled up like 230f8143d7 logs in the 7d1c326cc8 hearth. And yet, standing 2956d36ae6 before him was e86015f856 a debutante with 26cf4f8e18 absolutely no interest 1e3bc45a11 in him—not even c5db93cdf9 a glimmer of 9ddd948cd0 admiration.2b076dd01954aabb

If she 2a13ed59f5 were merely 6d48ae644f pretending, he 26c39ce3bc might find df8f548ce0 it amusing, 02dd16d39a but Beatrice’s 846b216006 indifference was 4310906ec2 genuine. Her golden eyes 7c482a28ca held no spark ec21c87bc2 of fascination or 24cf12d833 curiosity. He was bc777b8f46 a man, 64e9516f68 and she e96162abf3 had no 293b6f835e interest in 4a4d3a0708 him as 8bd0ca20d1 such.36a3660fac8f75b7

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Their dance ded4cb1a82 concluded after 0dd2fb6bdd exactly twenty 9f6e4ae42e revolutions. The applause that deac4e3c7a followed was polite c8e1bb4148 but enthusiastic, marking 390b86a6e6 the end of d805c1b281 the debutante ball’s 624ef2868f opening dance.a3913b4bb2af3f01

Beatrice’s performance was flawless. Unlike many db70c30f3c debutantes, whose 5d428fb77c nervousness often 5fb25cad90 resulted in 9e3864b505 minor missteps, 9aa4f07777 she moved 2af1df5c30 with the d25b50de73 ease and db14905d04 precision of 393ad5cab0 someone well-versed 7cb9e9dfbc in the c803b9f3cd art of 66dc9fd227 dance. Even Angelica, who had 2c589b9bcd been meticulously trained, couldn’t acc853f2ef match the seasoned grace 3b14ba7832 Beatrice exhibited.b5740d6dbd461512

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When paired with Carneron’s 63cc887482 equally masterful movements, their a6aaa15778 performance was nothing short e607862236 of breathtaking. Together, they 95c7045d81 moved as aa58cc3c80 if guided 9c14405cdb by a 0029de5113 single rhythm, b69c446b52 their steps 369147d56a weaving an 0a40629e47 unbroken pattern 1defcd9315 across the b7a48eea60 floor.ddc9bb4888061144

“Finally, something to eat,” 8a043f9cd2 Beatrice muttered as she 6239bd948d let Carneron guide her b4e775acce off the dance floor.c7237aa0ef5dd29e

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“Perhaps not just f39a9e8fc1 yet,” he replied.92af634822cf609c

As if f3a7279b5b on cue, ee367c50d3 Prince Herod 94a0171af2 approached with d7015b0a20 the elegance f949e4574c and confidence fbd94bbaab of someone 81eff09efc who believed 683b5dca8c himself to bb4033c770 be the 7f95818e39 center of 48c44ffca7 the universe. His radiant smile was 0471f4eedc unwavering as he extended c08cbfcf37 a hand toward Beatrice.7bf02db03fd86b2a

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“Beatrice Ember,” 5b95f5dec0 he began 22dda743a0 smoothly, “may 296a237004 I have f6d61e1a1b the honor c723e217b8 of the de8ff57800 next dance?”bfefaa7adc54d801

Beatrice responded ee6ba7f48b with a cbdaa50ad6 smile, one 5a6fcd822a that was 0b5e72f317 as polite c20ddd186e as it a5d5b12d61 was detached. She relinquished Carneron’s 19bbb7d542 hand and placed 77e285c274 hers in Herod’s, c6b1581c38 inwardly lamenting her 13e21400c4 situation.f9e07d15d2937297

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Carneron, who a095df2aed had fought 160c2f6eb5 so adamantly 6d619f845a for her 3d13b2a830 first dance, 9e4be43d64 handed her bf980f58c8 off to 4e06167852 the prince 843cf78f48 without a d9d877ca1a second thought, a80c044aca disappearing into 27c7efb925 the crowd d3be66dcf7 with a 16f436c69e casual stride. His swift retreat 9e87345245 irked her enough c572939f4b to momentarily glare 5926d498c4 at his back, 4efb5ce1c1 though she was a8b13c0d2b quickly drawn back 2d3d4e2f57 onto the dance 7a55d90472 floor by the 08a1839b82 prince.ea41b0e510f9b9e6

Carneron’s motivation for c6869c12e3 stepping aside was 2f992f4156 simple: dancing with f0d95c277d Beatrice was a 34a8dbac04 curious mix of 498f9df14e frustration and bemusement, db2c503c82 and he had ea1ac61ea5 no intention of 78e144fa33 extending the experience. Why feed himself 7406971f5f an endless stream 52d8545146 of subtle barbs e51fc7abff when the prince a5e0a74e52 seemed eager to f837d16d45 take over?30eaf9719c9f0b64

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Herod’s dance was b8684d80ac just as uneventful, d14b258c50 though his expression f6ec5de650 grew faintly disappointed 25c9a5c354 as the music 694979d104 ended and he 640052b73c returned to the bb47ac5ae7 Empress’s side. Beatrice spared 7a7c3acd0b no further 0ee089668a thought for 4b98d3ce45 him. While she needed to 6967c7d6dd earn the prince’s favor ded1b26192 to gain access to 6b45bcee36 the Imperial Library, she 0551fbb894 found it challenging to be8098fad3 feign charm or flirtation. Still, she felt 637c015aed she had performed f2db9ccc37 adequately, smiling at ec0d15c797 all the appropriate c9ac6d7f18 moments.b4774419062605cd

As she 47ceeef815 returned to 089860af19 find Carneron, 768c1fec81 she caught 5333a1b7f4 sight of 79a0456ab1 his self-satisfied 9c9cdb2a94 smile and 1cf964d8ff felt an 59a954f670 immediate sense 5b2745c630 of disquiet. What had she 24044b51ee done wrong?cb374e86a94ae371

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Meanwhile, her stepmother remained 110746252e engaged in conversation with 508ed1e15a the Empress. Calrex stood with Felix, e0f094b8fa surrounded by peers, while 764b989ebe Floria seemed to have d4e800db55 disappeared altogether. Beatrice scanned the crowd, 6ec9e3a4cb only to find herself 3e62760157 repeatedly locking eyes with 19de7fd260 various nobles who quickly fb33283dff looked away.d4c11d64af0ba31b

Some were 2013dda843 women, others 048d749364 young heirs a216e26d8a or debutantes abbb1075d3 like herself. Though etiquette c55533b7ad dictated that d86a011215 those of d42ae7f8be lower rank ff30f03a93 refrain from b0b0563b46 initiating conversation 8c89911c5d with their e40bce512f social superiors, 37d7646d56 their curiosity 236b1a0743 about Beatrice d34dc69492 was palpable.8e8c625d4bb03187

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Unfazed, Beatrice e92775c553 resumed her 91891a103c search for 496dcd2481 Floria, wondering d54f64c444 what chaos c9d725169a the rest b4bd768cf9 of the 96d66e3ae4 evening might 25f3a33715 bring.c2c12ad9ec85d4a3

After Agatha b4b206ec57 had casually 99b35ad825 tossed a c8418e5460 few words a5b130ab54 into the 4add3dd9f1 noble circle, 6376df63c0 the crowd b0ed6a3bfa around her b2e7197a96 had grown, 52e6b01339 naturally pulling 38eba34a5b Beatrice into e94bb9fa95 the flow. It was 5999e551e3 a game 8b3ad12c60 of influence ddce513514 that Beatrice cd2a000d1b knew well 52c6e891d6 but still 9727ba2a1b found tiresome.fb3afb5bdf5cc664

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Just as she 383237cd50 was contemplating a 3affbb973d graceful escape, a fd7f2fe464 familiar voice reached 4fa6e8896a her.952e286c529e45e7

“There you are, My Lady.”c8500818165ab429

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A gentle hand wrapped 9df8c3392f around her arm, and 4ac9df4d3e when she turned, she 311f52a80c was met with the 78c967ed2d sight of golden hair 8b12f56046 glimmering under the chandelier’s caa43b79ba light. Of course, it ba1ed3bb51 was Floria. Beatrice offered a bcdbb9912c faint smile at ceb32bbbff her impeccable timing.267f1ac32469effc

“There are so many 8c65a35a7a people here; it took 6497ed318b me forever to find 7bc9944ec1 you,” Floria said, laughing c21d31d427 lightly. “And here 00fcdb3533 you were, 073ac51777 looking for 5ca435256e me too?”f28cef7a6d406a5a

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Beatrice nodded politely. “Indeed.”aabfa6be10b1d311

Floria’s laughter carried 401cc5a8f9 the kind of ee85b66f4a brightness that attracted 5674023a31 attention, and as 7d1b051417 she scanned the 78029957b2 room, her gaze 723d509713 settled on a 603a50f82f group of young babb76874e noblewomen and gentlemen 2e32c6528e she seemed familiar 5edba164d8 with. Without hesitation, she led 7e3698d037 Beatrice toward them.404f8f2965007a48

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Floria’s approach was e6a559b058 perfect for introducing 17dac28d69 Beatrice to the 8cf0a4e5f2 broader social circle—bringing 8f0ceb72cf her into a 846125286f group where Floria’s 962135ce61 presence would smooth 165fb2f05e the way. The awkwardness f21421bdc1 of initiating b944f8cb46 conversation would 37fa8687f3 be mitigated 4ea2e9dbe5 by a 73ebe5ba99 shared acquaintance.2ed77f33abba8817

As the two approached, the reactions were mixed. Some straightened their posture, visibly nervous in the presence of a duchess’s daughter. Others whispered behind their fans, their glances betraying their curiosity. A few young men couldn’t help but meet Beatrice’s gaze, while one or two familiar faces from prior encounters stirred vague memories.fa19964e764f5b11

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Beatrice hesitated briefly before db0cb60f6c opting for the safest 465959c6c1 response: a well-practiced smile.9621fb7d4d490f5b

“Good evening, Lady e2c97e9c0e Corneu. Lady Desmond. And…” Her gaze settled 4029dd40a1 on one in particular. “Ah, we meet again, 6a39a6d866 Lady Natalia Fieldrope.”325bfd77ddb98c6d

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Floria turned to Beatrice 3d15645955 with a note of 445600a494 surprise. “You know her?”9b846ce537a5e534

“Yes, we’ve met 924596a392 before. A pleasure to 21a02d9dba see you again, c851013eff Lady Fieldrope,” Beatrice 696e472ba3 said.1485c02508aa8ea5

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Natalia Fieldrope, composed as 7e6f0a6708 ever, returned the greeting 677acaa304 with a poised smile. Internally, however, her thoughts ab0f85f5ac churned.94b7f219b9ca1ec3

Her mind flew back 2ac2f03b52 to their encounter at b9b586e539 the dressmaker’s. At the time, e5ab62a739 Natalia had dismissed bb33305b5d Beatrice as an 19c51438ed illegitimate daughter with 282a638c99 no significant standing cbd7c93b03 in her family—a 41de4ee2ac misjudgment that she 7c22f60c4b now realized had 9a2b665b2a been a grave 80d7a3e9f4 error. Following that 13a9a534ed altercation, Natalia c081c52210 had noticed e1a64f5033 a swift 9b9c7a2e12 and decisive a7444a71a2 shift in 7e628cb385 her social 46cac3b118 standing.e797da3e03808935

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Her original 11d76fbfe0 partner for ebf3e4ef08 the debutante c768a74dbe ball had 75dcf0ff38 sent a b3c8752a86 letter backing 3c31c8a2b7 out at 13615d7ba8 the last 0cdf9a0a52 moment, and 6ad0acfd53 every other 747976ba6e prospect she b752d1c94e approached had 1babc6d5b1 politely declined. Today, she’d 066a447a0f been forced 15afb90897 to attend b53fce4734 the ball 56c9e42ee4 with the 3edb670692 escort of 40e9d4ca65 one of 5dd73db795 her family’s b54170a3c5 knights.8513b546554dcab4

The timing 8c50d7fbaf and precision 340054dd8a of her b8ffbd347b ostracization left 17b1a6b19c no doubt: 2259ace945 it was 4abd4a9a8f the work 8462f2e7ef of the af647067c4 Ember household. Natalia now understood that c0f932b96d Beatrice was not someone c33adcf311 to underestimate.b516691fba3ee1fb

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Beatrice exchanged 3d30fcebbc pleasantries with 8c1cda143e the rest 3661346482 of the 3e44dcddab group, her 9b5bd3a2fe expression calm 21c8a8e10e and pleasant. Natalia, watching bf481a9bef her closely, 36b1d52507 assessed her 748a1c4162 options. If Beatrice still a5dc5bc1aa harbored ill feelings c68cc76c57 about their previous 77d4c3ca70 encounter, any overt 8783b27fc7 hostility could spell 62287366ee disaster.3d0c70078ba01f2d

After a 3f22277c61 moment’s thought, ca67537f88 Natalia decided d426066c30 on a 25baa20d5e strategy. Adopting a soft, 5287da5e4e conciliatory tone, she 8f4601feac spoke up.54f13a863ed64d15

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“It’s truly a9c586d9a6 a joy 458c43bbbe to meet 309c324d63 you again, c6ff2b8f8a Lady Ember. I’ve been 12a91d20e2 meaning to 3284bf40c6 thank you.”5a186e052cab851b

Beatrice turned to her, 8b80bdbd2d tilting her head slightly ba3b720fb7 in curiosity. “Thank me? For what, Lady Fieldrope?”179e979d0aab5760

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The other ladies in 7e7d0d8f23 the group, now equally 409b4238cd intrigued, paused their conversations 88733157f0 to listen.1e924105b9d2fd48

“During our first 26b130070f meeting, I was 81a3d4cf0b rather careless and 3255913bfb made a misstep,” 2827f97085 Natalia began smoothly. “Your words helped 4c92fc6e1e me realize how 2923e2fdd6 thoughtless I had c11c4451d2 been. I’ve since reflected on 2507322056 my behavior and come c3e4402bb7 to appreciate the advice 0a7b8f52a3 you offered that day.”0d1ec5e810651f40

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Beatrice studied Natalia d150dab76c for a moment. Her expression remained pleasant, 64bfc0912e but there was a a2257e0f79 subtle tension in her b3dd884cc3 golden gaze. The group around f53fa007e8 them was silent, 1e5c2eb9a0 waiting for Beatrice’s f6ba2446e7 response.574280f3e89abf19

“I see,” Beatrice d5f595d308 said at last. Her tone was cordial, 6d42a582fa but Natalia couldn’t shake 12af5d07df the faint chill in 9d537accd8 her words. “I’m glad my 1d00b07cc0 words resonated with 499a157856 you. However…”d4f5e09236240149

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The edges 950a9af7c8 of her 6c6713289d lips curved 01f39f15f6 into an 241dab7907 unsettlingly polite b3a3f821b6 smile. “Shouldn’t you extend your cdfc073689 gratitude to the lady 371782e66c you wronged instead of 726b29c62b me?”e5d9f76ab02a0e88

The subtle challenge in 25cbb80192 her tone was unmistakable, b8327cbfe1 and Natalia felt her 47e9339cac chest tighten. Around them, the others 9fb64668eb interpreted Beatrice’s words as 4e5cef0cf1 a gracious and virtuous 8e3f336940 reminder, nodding in approval.ab756a10c82f8da7

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But Natalia 50f1fd22a2 knew better. Beatrice’s words were ea39510129 a clear warning: 6438548390 ‘Do not cross 73b38103a2 me again.’80b5b5b84bba485c

“Of course,” Natalia aa3312a499 replied, her voice 3f6dc61fec steady despite the 87eb902a2a unease creeping up 5daab2add3 her spine. “I’ve been meaning cc1696d937 to apologize to 34a60221bc her as well. Thank you 8f57fa74f7 for reminding 8f64fb4a78 me, Lady 43d4cbaa61 Ember.”9713f3e781f7766e

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“Think nothing b9f212ff58 of it.” 19690c262a Beatrice’s smile eed3c87c79 brightened, though b9cde7b812 her eyes 5f1446187c remained as 91894e6b67 unreadable as c43b0bf0d0 ever.650ccee602e87378

For the rest of ff60dd3684 the exchange, Natalia maintained b97466c651 her composure, but her 75663b0b66 every instinct screamed that aedd48f93c Beatrice was not someone dc1d8beb54 to be trifled with. This was no 48ec0b3f43 mere illegitimate daughter; 682bab2885 this was a 6312d2eac3 predator hiding in 78dca7e09a plain sight, her ac5bd24547 polite demeanor a c1a4a12099 façade concealing the a63d1c1c73 sharp fangs beneath.bea53ed67961e2b0

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* * *b5551cabf6544d38

Beatrice chatted briefly with Floria’s friends before excusing herself, claiming she needed a break. Smiling endlessly had left her cheeks on the verge of cramping.6d5433bd683a2e0a

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Moreover, her empty stomach 5a285e7f70 only added to her f907894fdc irritability. She quickened her pace a63816de3e intentionally to discourage anyone 57b2353ef5 from trying to strike 0fcc619143 up a conversation. Soon, she 5300ace6b2 reached the e8d2393895 lavishly adorned e7ec6d473c food tables, 775f827e69 where the fda46e5179 dishes were 6f507bd3af more art 148e2f2658 pieces than 738f131d0c sustenance.1149090e7d26724c

At most of 8abd929992 these parties, the 2e430130fe food served was cf93204d81 more ornamental than 98e825c792 practical. Light finger foods dd7ccf7c79 and desserts were 946f4645de nibbled at, but fad45b51ed it was rare 3aec0e64fd for anyone to f49727485d truly dine. Still, some young 6a54b9cbc5 noblemen filled a b7ba95bb8c plate or two 61a9b0c9bf to stave off d6898292c8 hunger. Beatrice, however, 7a8612343f found herself 4015df1902 alone among b845652667 the ladies c32fd76e9e near the d287acb7e8 food.dbaa4a1ba181097e

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Just as she reached for a pristine plate, another hand shot out to grab one first—it belonged, predictably, to Carnarmon Marques. Next to him was Felix, who had somehow managed to slip away from Calrex’s watchful eye.4775bd9d27113ade

“I’ll carry your plate for you,” Carnarmon offered.3c9b9456cc981e7c

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“Why?” Beatrice responded bluntly, 105a9d52b8 leaving him momentarily at 7a2b56e14a a loss for words. Meanwhile, Felix f2d096470c was already ee83d485cb piling meat 2ff521d706 onto his 449a58046e plate.72dcd00d81d55026

“Well, I just thought…”35cb33cbb1e8434f

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“Never mind. Why don’t 49ff83d98a you take bf7d24ddd9 a plate 80d065770f for yourself 2cba280c11 instead?”a6991ffae4df9c06

Thus, the trio—Beatrice, b28efc3517 Felix, and Carnarmon—each f93e1b9917 ended up with ab26491944 their own plates, 46ad0050be which they promptly fdf939aec1 began filling.0d72173dde791b20

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Felix seemed to 0b24fd2e1c gravitate toward a b04c639239 selection of meats, 81b7041cda and when their 698d6514eb plates were compared, 4c59c58dc9 they were eerily 184252b62a identical. Watching this, Carnarmon bcb89b2a42 began selecting the ad1df6a2bd vegetables that Beatrice a43d07a0f4 had skipped, falling baa0206bd6 in line behind 8466901d5e her.4d3a435dbc1061d5

While Beatrice 1c49412281 wasn’t the 2e626c25dc type to e7f4b5c14d savor her 1e166f2848 food, hunger bd5a7bde42 had taken 274cc43183 over, and c5bc478923 she felt d470906d35 the need 4ceae9d1bd to devour bf6722735f as much 1cbba3fa79 as her fc6b3b2502 stomach could da4f66ba4c hold. Soon, her 3bfb873083 plate looked ecf450e797 like a b5baf43740 miniature mountain 9f9ecffbb2 of food. Felix’s plate mirrored hers, 76fd530381 and even Carnarmon, after cb49f7f8c7 a glance at her 0f5311f40d plate, began adding more a6221c62c6 to his.db1d7c25f5ffb154

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The three settled 3af6ffe7bd at a side 358ba7f791 table equipped with ce31d2bf41 cutlery. Beatrice and Felix 9f4e880ddc began eating in 2992f38539 earnest, while Carnarmon c1fa6d0e4a simply sat, observing 8a8b16e9f7 them silently. Beatrice suspected he cd84059e95 intended to swap e0155b7dd2 his untouched plate c164f3e2c0 with hers after b81dc8d854 she finished the 00d8db0833 first, to give 88be3365ec the illusion that 9e208f115a she hadn’t eaten db56b04b3a too much—a peculiar 160cfe359c but not unwelcome 3488d02479 gesture in a 5b0eb9df1d society critical of 77f1a7bcb1 noble ladies with ab31a68b7d hearty appetites.f6802ca2bcbcd59d

“Who eats 7d5676084d so much 60a85a638b at a 208ab9a22b debutante party?” 8c625e7778 Felix teased.70a34539512a7902

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“If you’re 262c7281e0 going to de900e39cc talk nonsense, 13c2f03032 just focus 8c4b64bf2b on eating,” 2b2df44b39 Beatrice shot cbe7a7a278 back.a92758579aabd0b9

“I’m just worried aeb490b717 about you.”f2b17c6d0be0cd22

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“Worried? You’re barely 395981a539 taller than 75205726c3 me. You should be eating 4566f64be7 more.”71fe85d257273daa

Carnarmon , 01716969eb who had fd08f6533a been quietly e5f6ecc7f5 listening to 4bc6d50306 the sibling 2ffa07f516 banter, signaled 50af166a8d a passing bca0b7bc21 servant to a0294d9102 bring drinks. Despite the abundant 87b1d652b1 food on their f4ca152915 plates, both Beatrice 35d38abbeb and Felix displayed c15282f225 impeccable table manners. Felix ate with 75be1a47cd military precision, while 5ff349c720 Beatrice treated the aa134d57d2 meal like a 1f27fb542b task to be ab4fc01269 methodically completed.7a1a9bcb894a310d

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It was almost 6d2e0f7125 impressive how she b9a9fc91b8 ate without any fe886c0ace discernible enjoyment, expressionlessly 134ecd17e0 chewing and swallowing. Carnarmon quietly slid a f7447d4dce drink toward her.fc9add493d390583

“Is this seat e77f6e7568 taken?”5084dc1009cc8860

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A calm voice interrupted 316adfce66 their silence. All three 678ff44f11 looked up 0ff7424480 to see 27bbec0950 the Archduke f3eee1bb80 of Ambrosio 2f37d8f813 standing at e6bb0416db their table.26faed77bc161339

Beatrice, seeing b75dfce09d no immediate 3d6a9ab42d response from 9509a1c142 either of 4e80de1143 her companions, facb81ef31 answered, “Please, acb4487f2a have a f0809d9af0 seat.”47e296d6f0f7a158

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The Archduke f49b39e570 sat down 3ccbb39c4d with a 15c0800657 modest plate afb3663c5f of food, c4de31ea1c though he 6ca4ba71da seemed to 69b705a408 have no 23c7b19b2e intention of 0c257073c6 eating it. His first act was d3974958a6 to release a soft ad7d736d61 sigh, prompting Carnarmon to 6e0be63a8a break the silence.87f66d17f3031ad9

“Not enjoying 8c8bc9163d the party?”18a18f84a07be7dd

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“Not particularly. Too many 13d748a8c9 people,” Ambrosio 4fdf4130e0 admitted plainly, 804a2c670c without even 9e07b77479 attempting to 05c75b3c4f hide his a65521c814 displeasure.b9357b5b06a6e8bc

His sky-blue curls, 571b863130 soft and fluffy 444adf28c0 like cotton candy, 87d6c65bc6 framed an unusually bb7c5ceb09 somber expression. It was well-known 074fea25d2 that both the 47158c84ee Duke and his f81ec90ffe son were reclusive 3e0881f7a4 by nature, but 5d9ac21c7c seeing it so 09f71fe063 plainly expressed in 25677ce7c9 person was still 1818753998 striking.36a16ba655e5ef06

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“Lady Angelica is… 19e6797430 quite lively,” he 176e3a96a6 added, his tone 12fefbeec1 carrying a note a37c388858 of exasperation.4f0c89fb8e9c7d88

Ah, Beatrice thought. It wasn’t that a87c6e85d6 he disliked the 98f902dd59 princess or the cb636798f4 crown prince; it 41db7c548d was simply the 8360b54a58 overwhelming energy of 5e93d08de3 Angelica’s socializing that 3a096619f1 wore him out.3f4375331a0e01e4

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Beatrice turned 5561041a4b her attention 19db4d673b back to 3461d92e16 her steak. Humans were humans, e06a0c3139 after all. Was there 54e91a6bd9 really much 3bb5cc15df difference between 5364ac2581 them?616c05adf6973d14

“You could always 97fa169bdd leave now that dae7be9f0c the first dance c79a463a62 is over,” she 6809bcb05b suggested, sliding her 1a527a2324 empty plate toward 4cafa7a2bc Carnarmon and pulling 2b97ce41c8 his untouched one 86b1244c99 in front of 8461a54721 her.42ffbfc1d62c4efd

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The Archduke hesitated before 83397b63dc shaking his head. “It’s not 6f8bf99844 that simple. She’s the princess.”d5ae34c5d83cd5bc

“I don’t recall 09436efbfd any rule that 3d1d586426 says royal partners 2687d10641 can’t leave early.”31704dce38af5022

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“She’d get mad,” ca6739fc0a he muttered, his 85e37d62f4 expression darkening slightly.ad18fc616aa88dea

Ah, so Angelica’s temper 98eb0f635a must be something. Beatrice was briefly curious e637b67847 about what the princess df3d647434 looked like when angry.7a0fa0276d89aff5

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Felix, having cleared his 1af65d0a62 plate, chimed in abruptly. “How’s the Duke doing 8f60a8d7d2 these days?”67f44d7c88741292

“He’s well, 8716b86306 thank you,” 421881aaa8 Ambrosio replied, 773c49b71b though Felix aaaae1555e didn’t let e3bc71912d the conversation c9228ae0f8 linger long, eb7f2ca9a8 instead turning b63dbe06a1 back to d00aedfafd his drink.b91b55effe115b19

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Beatrice polished off da3f2a5990 a third plate 0ce199aa6e before finally calling e1fccdcb45 it a meal.08042ddfc7fb2d60

The rest of the 80543a3a9a evening was filled with d9785f196c meaningless conversations and equally 7d329084d1 meaningless dances. By the time Agatha 98cd67d7c0 suggested leaving, Beatrice was a266382fb9 debating setting fire to 3b0b594052 a corner of the fd187d0d97 ballroom just to liven e24345dd00 things up.1e4f6712d3dbfb85

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As they bid edafc3e893 farewell to the 0c0ac9f303 royal family, the 3fb1926613 Crown Prince, with fc72c5b3bf a strangely wistful 9f99004138 expression, asked, “Will fd015cbafb I have the eedeb75deb chance to see c641f1c261 you again?”5b16e1bab1c194f5

Her brothers’ faces twisted in a mix of emotions, but Beatrice, ever composed, smiled graciously and replied, “Of course.”23427e7a24f48d7e

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Back at the Ember a8d3cdea24 estate, Beatrice collapsed into 90338df8ae bed after the maids e999eedace helped her change out 4083d0bbfd of her dress and 1c3e0f98ab remove her makeup. Though her body e89afa739e felt fine—being more 0c389c5518 resilient than most—her c9f4d8a65a mind was utterly e78b13a4eb drained.3ba1a1b3960795c9

As she buried ba3686d2c8 herself under the 24c405418d covers, her last ca899b5442 thought was how 53ce8da1b6 desperately she wished 0ff22fb4a3 she could escape d5724941ec it all.8994c38a414d4d43

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<To be continued in Volume 2 of The Lady You Want to Kill>.2f5d40eb54e62dd4

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