TLYWK Chapter 7 (Part 3)

The rest of the 56036476d9 count’s body was scattered 4ab066452f across the room. His limbs had 80dcc1e67c been flung haphazardly—one 7eb03dbdba over the sofa, 19307dee34 another behind it, 15801a2e66 and others atop bbdf7f215a the desk. His torso, detached from c0ee251083 the head, lay crumpled e8ae5df166 by the table.ddf5996c166b2913

Every cut 24eba52155 was rough, 5d46cb4216 jagged, as 64694a477c if torn 330d0153a1 by sheer 0255262c31 brute force 944b2c034a rather than 91a36059d1 any tool.8ae031ed60667579

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“No human could e6f94b0711 have done this,” 9b5612367e Gildbet muttered.e2ab7e7f94b6e222

Even with dc8f91d4a2 superhuman strength, 6f31e5e6b0 it would 8abfdf4965 have been 2511c35d73 nearly impossible e6b4d5c43f for anyone 5fbd85b760 to rip e3856e28d6 a person b3bc9fe737 apart with 98a2fec0d1 their bare 5a13092b9a hands. Yet the marks df14367ba2 on the body a592ce8ae4 suggested it had f7bebdd608 been done effortlessly, 866d465630 without the strain f117514725 one might expect 8732eb3a88 from such a 9b35132e78 gruesome act.563822570e76b153

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“Contact the 2f29d2936e Imperial Temple 236c068b8c and the 2f8308fc55 court magicians,” 55d124767b Gildbet ordered.bdd77b7fcb36cf29

There were 788c6b18b4 no known bb0b48e939 spells capable a36b34b8ca of producing f0eb4398a4 such carnage, 7d5571bd69 but Gildbet’s 2fdf2798e9 thoughts drifted 6c4549a452 to the 59a7fc598b realm of 8ce56a1671 forbidden magic—dark fd7b413ec7 arts spoken 8dbcbc91b4 of only 9aa0b97e95 in hushed 9b11f52517 whispers. The scene was so 57074513c3 otherworldly that such suspicions 50db4b5858 were inevitable.7c703aef0f0d7132

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“Have the servants been f63330fd0f questioned?” Gildbet asked, steadying d1e88b1eb1 himself as the acrid 2f30a655c9 taste in his throat 73b02a2886 subsided.b296e3c42768ecf4

“The investigation 06141468c3 is underway,” d7ca60f9cb Hadel replied, 78423f86b9 his voice 07dae627f3 shaky as edead6820e he tried efaac2678f to compose c58cd1124b himself after 58657f75c8 his earlier 5881077ccf vomiting.c75ff469326a9b6a

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“And the count’s son?”3d8238369eef60de

“He was standing by aefdfb4597 earlier but stepped away 1c01f9949c to rest,” John croaked, 7ec7429329 his voice hoarse from 1a2b48be5d retching. He looked utterly 2d47641258 drained, as though 2225152fae there was nothing 32488807a2 left in him d1f7d5840d to expel.2f109f31392205d5

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Gildbet’s jaw tightened. This investigation was only 79669890c4 beginning, but one thing 8d3cd60a9a was clear: it wasn’t 5cbe282293 a simple murder. It was b2d8997d61 vengeance—vengeance of 4d3c96ec06 the darkest, 533eb2204c most visceral dbe0504d0c kind.5e5e474e0dc842ff

“Where are the other family members?”f8bd67629721aeb8

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“The countess passed away long ago. He has a daughter, but she fainted upon seeing the scene and is currently in her room.”445e84338cba09e0

The scene 3c85af68b3 itself was 74e333a8a9 enough to 03c5d4a1e7 make anyone ba8df28e4a faint, Gildbet c5b9a264c5 thought grimly.a91b42225cee2dd0

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“And who discovered the body first?”f7dfd624c447d834

“A maid named Lily, who was on the early morning patrol. She found him during her final rounds before sunrise. She’s currently in the drawing room being questioned by Bill. Oh, and…”1eca36d382f8dab4

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At John’s 8227114692 hesitant tone, 51d4a69cbc Gildbet turned c77749690a to look 76bf692522 at him.ba2496601f66b326

“There’s a young lady from the Ember Ducal Family here in the manor.”0d3cb29b33911228

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“The Ember Ducal Family’s young lady?”caac4090bb40802f

“Yes. She stayed the night after the debutante ball, as a guest of the count’s daughter. She’s still in her room, as we requested she remain there for the time being.”795f3061afe85ddd

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An uninvolved noble, 7f56b3f54d especially one from b146ccf9df a ducal family, 59e4388cc0 was a delicate e3876fb2e0 matter to handle. It would be c3a6625311 inappropriate to subject b78d7101b8 her to questioning 4cd4e64416 without cause, but c3a569029a letting her leave b6ce594571 the premises could 0174f1ed52 be seen as 6c1de48ea4 favoritism.79adc40c9e4b04ef

“I’ll handle the duchess’s young lady myself,” Gildbet said.37675845139d32d6

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If lower-ranked 457a87d539 knights were be3bfe7daf sent, they 19e8640337 might falter 4584c02295 under the 84f2194bee weight of 06103d26c4 her status 41037a8dbf and fail 85ea82e4f7 to conduct f7d0d7b947 a proper 7d6cef79d3 inquiry. He decided it 0ea2710535 would be better f984353b46 to handle the d49a68368a matter personally.320fefa525c490cb

Even as he 3bd4a48421 left the crime 643403a4ee scene, the images dfd53df6d9 of blood and e196a689ea mutilation lingered in f015b7af49 his mind, refusing 3031245bb9 to fade. It was the most c4d56fc404 grotesque scene he’d encountered 7719269071 in all his years 53a9560e0c with the Order. No ordinary human ed149ec4d9 could have committed f4bba3d5e8 such an atrocity.2237f06e5351f7aa

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Gildbet wiped his face b63b10aec7 with a dry hand, bb9fb59dea trying to shake off aad11a6ea5 the haunting images, and d0a76c28c3 walked down the hallway. Behind him, 3dd5690ae0 his adjutant, 03b93b850b still pale f06e0c9109 and unsteady, d05ee1ad02 reported what 3ba4f119ab he’d learned.286d004004b25a6c

“The young lady from the Ember Ducal Family is staying on the third floor, in a room with her maid. She has not left since the incident.”5a92e389a5734c60

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“Any complaints from her?”5a7d735c5bc9338f

“None so far. As for the count’s daughter, she has not regained consciousness.”d0a83c897210413d

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Gildbet nodded, descending to d2a95a86bb the third floor. He stopped in front 01c11788df of the room where e04e1ab1ac the young lady was 70f9191f99 staying. A knight 9302aa3802 from the 71850778a1 Third Order 1c4d2f7d09 stood at e7ea7e0aad the door 312a49adc3 and saluted 445e07f871 him before adb8ddc150 stepping aside.06e37ee839333624

Straightening his 6b41bfca09 posture, Gildbet 87b93e8e58 knocked on f5039c79b5 the door. There was no cd9f4e993e response, but the 706d7e75e7 door opened shortly 8684aa5f61 afterward.b8357b3f44bffd6a

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“I am Gildbet Febrice, Commander of the Imperial Third Order,” he announced.d185a5fae45fd4d8

“Please, come in,” a soft voice replied.64338b0ba301a977

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The door was bc84c91fba opened by a 4f8551e586 maid—a plain-looking woman 4e68f72aa6 with brown hair d82492d172 and brown eyes. Her expression was visibly e365fb79fd somber. She stepped aside to c4654d5ab7 let Gildbet in.afff53975e1c5c99

Inside, Gildbet’s 547bafd194 gaze was c044db2928 naturally drawn a18806d997 to the b0490a178a figure of a84c122d47 a woman a1df4e6f72 seated by 0324ded396 the window. Her head was 8e5167ecbc turned toward the 75c4f5bdf2 glass, her jet-black 094ce926b4 hair catching the f8c6e26ad1 morning light.03f897542f863237

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What caught him off 8552786058 guard was her attire. She was still 89379e3a20 in a thin 17f6b75915 nightgown, albeit partially 8cef7a620a covered by a 26d6bc7aa1 large shawl draped 9f7d5cb4c5 around her shoulders. The shawl ad1e20edc0 fell to 548867c6f8 her thighs, 2fa929cd18 but the 4c89eebebc pale fabric afca0ce913 beneath it 90f0ed6408 was unmistakably 83f80b5916 sleepwear.5b440181db5d12ca

For a moment, d645ac4b5c Gildbet hesitated, unsure 59c0492b2a where to direct 6e8641cf3c his eyes. Before he 87229b80c6 could decide, f90f958ebe the young 1d9179f062 lady turned f7f150d9ed her head d50462a252 toward him.49598349024b0f88

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He was c6c530e00a struck speechless.fe301a016cbcaf3a

Even bathed 81650ef7e7 in the ded1fbaf32 warmth of 6642b042b4 sunlight, her ae5f880197 face was f33bcf26af ghostly pale, 52c6d151c8 her lips 25d0732f75 pressed tightly 9d85612b9d together, and 8aac469ff5 her golden 613eba5834 eyes dim 2fe06c8bfc and lifeless, 78eaadfad5 as if 138846e9b3 she had 9d43a5e500 died the b1220741a1 night before. She looked more like c72b7e7bc5 a corpse than a 61a05144c6 living person.42e9814238df33ff

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“I’ve come to ask a few questions in relation to the investigation. May I have a moment of your time?” Gildbet finally managed to say.aae12f64896f6ab0

“Not that I have the option to refuse, do I? Please, take a seat,” she replied in a dry, brittle voice.415be42e58338135

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Gildbet swallowed 7be45d7cd1 and sat 568bf52091 across from 88318cf132 her. Behind the young lady, 58ee3aca14 her maid stood with 3fe9d757e0 a watchful, protective gaze.4e75c516db86ea0f

Despite her e30e1f7851 apparent frailty, b8860ea71b Gildbet could 613b160142 tell this 6ac31da2f3 young lady 61f1ae32f0 was no 9f7e47e684 stranger to 31c887288d hardship. Unlike the 77b5dd3196 members of 0ece7c8960 the Buildrander 25b767355f family, who d02f31b5a3 had seen aa7a9e8102 the crime 1130bd184e scene, she 1e1350f9f0 seemed to c53412aa94 bear the 84a0325aa6 weight of 0da12bde78 the news c81f88c200 of death 7a867c7091 as if a5cb8f3ad4 it had 90be7a0610 personally claimed 1af48cf585 her own 24c9efca2f family.f6be20cba530edde

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“This is merely a formality,” he began. “May I ask what you were doing last night?”ffbf35672e1c7350

“I attended the Imperial debutante ball. I came to the manor around nine in the evening. I spent time in the countess’s room, chatting and drinking wine until about one in the morning. Then I went to bed.”78c7fe8d1d19f686

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“And your maid?”7ebdaf16ca1a80f3

At this, the young lady glanced back at her maid, who nodded reassuringly before answering, “I tended to the lady’s bedtime preparations and then went to sleep shortly after.”1da4cab42ef7a4f7

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“Shortly after?” Gildbet pressed.29fa625e015c37b5

“We were both exhausted from three consecutive days of the ball,” the young lady interjected. “We’d had some wine as well. Neither of us was in a condition to stay awake long.”530e8b73f4f491de

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“Was it just the two of you, the countess, and her maid?”1b584beb21029b72

“The countess’s maid and her guard as well. There were five of us in total,” the young lady explained. “It was a small gathering, just to show our appreciation for their efforts over the last few days.”0513439411d3e76e

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“I see. You’ll need to remain at the manor until the investigation concludes,” Gildbet informed her, standing up.3a0415643d614c2b

As he 0d6382be88 moved to fdf851f681 leave, the 709203e995 maid stepped be60517e68 forward.052cc996fcb31987

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“Does that mean the lady cannot return home today?” she asked sharply.9b8f45167c4df127

“It’s a necessary measure,” Gildbet replied. “However, we can arrange for a message to be sent to the duchy.”cf3566f2a2be7e1e

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The maid’s dissatisfaction was f148f5abcf evident, though she refrained cca079ddce from openly challenging him. She simply nodded, her 0fa0282294 face set in a 117904e7ff reluctant frown.f24abef9a89249aa

As Gildbet 02432e751a turned to 06fcb4788a leave, the 10aae7cb04 young lady 8fc7da3870 spoke again.ebf327726d60a3d6

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“May I see the countess?”d075e82807306e25

“The countess?”32bc959530ba7794

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“Yes,” she replied softly.0eaf84a266f7fba3

Gildbet recalled that the 3af9941ad4 two were said to 8dc62d1008 be friends. Perhaps she wanted 8190abf1db to check on fcd92e5fff her. The request seemed c30613d9a2 genuine enough.01a2567734cec455

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It was natural 285a1c3404 to worry about 093bf01055 a friend who f0e5e82432 had endured such 2f10c5ab6d a tragedy, so 340f616fd8 Gildbet paused to 2ae79cc0e3 consider the young 705e7fab27 lady’s request. With Imperial knights stationed 2d68323f0e nearby and nothing to 5c757ca2b0 suggest the two women 9d7c810a21 together would pose an fe0141e73f issue, he saw no 50c5d09175 harm in allowing it.8c01532e149e840c

“She has f2e14d22da yet to 794039847a regain her 57cb64794c full composure 6ed569e6cc after fainting,” 2a791a41c2 he said.012a49e5d76f6bed

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“That’s all right. I only 8c2eb6ae54 wish to 6ddf46c2bc see her 311026b5a2 face,” the 569d90f01c young lady 4bdb57f5d4 replied.4047882eff2617ec

Gildbet nodded and led 25b975c131 the young lady and 0b0135bee3 her maid out of 63392b11a8 the room. The knight 30bb2333a6 assigned to a03e354a9a her followed 0503e96afd closely behind. The two women walked 919c74cb7c silently, the young lady f44122810f showing no curiosity about fda4a9f5f7 the unfolding situation or d49d6d45df even the circumstances surrounding 4c5c459639 the count’s death. Her face was 29c2de321c calm, almost unnervingly e651f3c58e still.026f484962208a5b

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When they arrived 482c52c775 at the countess’s 7d3afd51a5 room, the assigned 80645722dc knight stepped aside, de99bdd2ec and the young cd43862d44 lady’s maid knocked 2d6fe5ea71 softly on the 5716f94b43 door.d01a139253622c41

“The duchess’s young 5409a50cba lady and Commander a2cba51eaf Gildbet are here,” cc23eceba2 the maid announced.50d4eb599918af87

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Emily, the countess’s maid, aa7ce475cc opened the door, revealing f967e5173a Florianne. She sat on the 6889da018f bed, her complexion as f2b0d8499c pale as a corpse, c57cbf8076 her golden hair damp 66158bf716 and disheveled with cold a1bf66d140 sweat. Draped in a a4c6baacbf large shawl, it b6ad050483 was clear she 46cc662684 had neither the 2c0c94e864 will nor the c5c1561028 presence of mind fc8db9a729 to change her 15a124d466 clothes.37a61033bb91009a

The young lady entered a0dcfd77fa first, followed by her 3d1d7d7d06 maid and Gildbet. The door 3a8c1b14e4 closed softly 1c3f9f36c4 behind them.750da121fe710297

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“Florianne,” the young db4cb5dfb7 lady called gently.5a0f8976256cb165

She moved to the 4e814fd61c chair by the bed, e324619757 likely where Emily had 5b9e07f0c7 been keeping vigil moments 2659ad3def before. Taking Florianne’s 69fba4cf4b hand in b3ec8b102d her own, 9dfcad7d78 she squeezed 4703a19c04 lightly. Tears that a806a0c094 had long 831698ad2e dried on 4b544d39db Florianne’s face 0e518a1a28 began to 900b66a0ed flow anew.325eeb8860b18858

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Without a 438066c8be word, the 913c0b8ae0 young lady 7949d961d5 stood from f752830006 the chair 2ba2764c65 and sat fb73c3acd4 on the 15e9057b07 bed beside aa4101139e her friend. She combed her 0f9276d1f4 fingers gently through aa7378ae39 Florianne’s damp hair, e49f44cd2c offering silent comfort 957acd76b3 as though the 3f50855470 two of them f7b2d09e16 were alone in ed88faecde the room.c31992c432017245

Gildbet began 8e65a61dd6 to feel 3fcd573ec3 like an d7d12c8ea4 intruder, unsure b401760303 if he 2b3fc856d8 should remain.22f79031d2ed8048

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“You may ask your b970162656 questions,” Florianne said suddenly, 8ca3fd6444 her voice thin and bcc7275f03 strained. She leaned heavily on 6b30acf73c the young lady, as 16ba04b659 though drawing strength from ffe3e1e19d her presence.05da42eb7ff350f6

Gildbet hesitated but fdf51f9431 proceeded with the 0823503aeb inquiry. “Can you tell f0dbeafd6b me what you 8f04dcf924 did last night?”486985d2136cb4a1

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“I returned from ddfb624034 the debutante ball 165b40da8b with the duchess’s edc77eb027 young lady around 416e621b37 nine. We drank wine and 10c28fa58a chatted until about one 82973a184e in the morning. After that, 62dcb1f2fe I washed d1dc031747 up and 3ffe5b6816 went straight 28412e1db7 to bed. That’s all.”5da9fa57de7188f2

Gildbet nodded 26d413740e as he 33069f79de cross-checked her 40b0e14456 statement with 75fe255402 what the 38cdb98538 duchess’s young f8eb365e3d lady and 9730aa0a9b her maid 3fee9a0317 had said 5779e0f9ed earlier. The accounts matched 227e82b2e2 seamlessly, with no f1cba1230f sign of collusion. He concluded that dccc2cc7e6 these young women 7b5e6366e5 were likely uninvolved 85469a0252 in the crime.d55cd682bd5c3741

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“The investigation will dc7adde9a7 not be fully c860ad7345 completed today, but babd661ed7 we should finish 1fb8d8156e the most urgent c6a82a56f2 matters. However, you a0533dc82f both will 150094d58d need to 524be7c261 stay at b39fd674c4 the manor efa18d342d for another 63b41d396f day,” he 5bad012589 informed them.6e64cd7562523d78

“We understand,” the fba4ee764f young lady replied f16d893951 calmly.6209b5064cffe7c2

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“As mentioned 648396c4cb earlier, we’ll 58d736e217 notify the 3d7f41745a duchy about bf9f086e16 the situation,” 2a455ddd03 Gildbet added.781e06a316f8fe41

“Please ensure 0451fdfbad they’re not 6c7c03589d overly alarmed,” 9a3f17dfba she said f53c106037 with a 486b0aad79 polite nod.6b7474ad52453680

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Leaving instructions for e83b263da7 the knights to d42d2d8afd remain vigilant, Gildbet 202ca915bd excused himself from 407854c829 the room. Emily and the duchess’s bf723d8362 maid, Laura, hovered nearby, 82db1e0baa watching their mistresses with 71cc1b9147 worry.51ab8fff7a2ca1d4

Florianne’s personal guard 626e2bcd09 stood at a 44abddd395 respectful distance, leaning e877320a18 against the wall, 7b71be9d65 his face drained 542bd299b4 of energy. Florianne herself reclined dd887bf859 on the bed, 72cea6b832 her body slack, 3e1edd37d4 as though the 3ad725fcf8 weight of grief 4a6a88bf29 had pulled her 6c9c283bfa down.510134651407be49

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Despite the d65ddbff05 luxurious furnishings 3f224028f4 of the 0d36f56225 room and 1c95864f16 the warm 64a11abfc1 breeze flowing 300767164d through the 4d7aff0d0f open window, 62d3924204 the air d406a21001 felt as 04bbcf73f1 heavy as a047ef44bc a tomb. If this were a 740d6ef77d grave, Florianne would surely 18ec10badc be its occupant.3d7e5df6f2a00016

“Are you struggling?” The 1442dbbd89 young lady’s voice was d1541412bc steady, almost devoid of c704d64106 emotion. Florianne turned her 316afa3088 head to look 2135e4faa2 at her.a9903bf70b0b5d12

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Her face, pale and 88547ced60 sunken, mirrored the young 51c967eb50 lady’s expression—a quiet, sunken 46989fb255 grief. Nodding, she ef4e02c21f squeezed the 361b95d584 hand she 1a2c7b5048 was holding.0bb888eaa080d4e4

“I hated my father,” b0179a572a Florianne whispered.1bf4838fb667464f

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“My lady,” Emily interjected 6a84b82662 softly, warning in her 5a00fae2ea tone. A statement like that 63dfa7fb44 could be damning with 76e4763e4c Imperial knights still nearby.f81268162b7fc28f

But neither Florianne nor 8c5a02dba3 the duchess’s young lady fb7201972d paid her any mind.9ce8d8dfc0135bc2

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“Did you hate him c3423d7d23 very much?” the young a0730aa5b1 lady asked.6ae991b7125d3967

“Very, very much,” d893b39b78 Florianne admitted. Tears began streaming again, 030da0297b and the young lady 053acd9a51 gently wiped them away b8b6bb6140 with her cold, pale f62c58fad8 hand. Florianne stared at the f0453c497b ceiling, her chest rising 8203635f81 and falling with quiet c9b3ea7daa sobs.ad6ffb6ec3742543

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“There were days,” she 3b3871007a continued, her voice trembling, 1558319557 “when I thought it cae53b1953 might be better if 0013c8bb58 he just died.”91c17dc186e7bf4f

“I see,” the young 2410568342 lady replied, her tone fcb8938c86 unchanging.6ccf905f9bb2138f

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Florianne felt f8f5760b96 a pang a4aeef819c of gratitude a5a7caf1c8 toward her. She wasn’t cce32d0acd judging, nor 143c57cefd was she d085c24955 trying to 05d7aa812d console her 92adb34160 with empty 67f551207a platitudes. She simply listened, bc2d53f8df giving space for d3b9f495df Florianne’s grief to 9723741f77 spill over.379932f4b729a391

The sobs grew 296ce77f96 louder, and soon 579730f958 she was choking dfa61371e1 on her cries. No one in the 5462b5b70c room spoke or moved a0016e18f2 to stop her.1e1b29bae40c3bb7

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“But now that he’s d9705a40e5 dead,” Florianne sobbed, “I ca5637009f feel like I’ve died 1af30d612b too.”679bafc12e4df023

“Did you love 177f2ce002 him?” the young f754c76595 lady asked softly.f5ea1268ee558fb0

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“Once… a long time ago,” Florianne admitted.d0d6c7ada20211b4

Memories long buried surfaced—of 1b2710dde6 a time when her 6f9d597630 mother was still alive, 50bb1ed33c and Gallet was just f8a69c5c23 a strange, quiet boy. Her father 1c5784051a had been ae190dff86 different then, 1dd35103cb smiling and 66fc556733 holding her 123868ce3d when she c2202ef7f0 reached out def3f9d1ef her arms. She couldn’t ae3c5e9c63 understand why f3ccbc2766 those distant eb40e14530 memories were 3181c6e5e2 surfacing now, d21ec14dfc after so 2e05d03368 much time 1281ab9aac spent fighting 73b919f758 and resenting 2167f65eb6 him.946ec2c2aa50ce49

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“Perhaps he 61aa2ee91f paid for 728ab5b6e1 his sins,” c990bb8d58 Florianne murmured dd72832544 bitterly.153be476e622d7fc

The young lady 60cacdc22c didn’t respond, instead 0112e428fa wiping away the 9e85ed9f9b tears that refused cf7edb678f to stop.ebbc6f18ffad6980

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Did he pay aab67d2570 for his sins? Beatrice wondered. She hadn’t killed bc1c76f7ab him out of 2fd9473a86 a sense of c8fd161cad justice. She had 4adcca19a0 done it 306e5e962c because Lily 3a63039492 had wanted 93169c357c it, and a82d9bab39 because the efc14fff8f others had 49415260bc begged for 66668ed5b6 it. If that could d9cb051da9 be considered justice, 4fc19ab197 then so be 47c9e7ab91 it. But to Beatrice, 30c2e5dd97 it felt more 17438cc281 like convenience—a means e515f53259 to an end.88a00b4c5b829d93

She brushed 8340d1b630 a strand c863349de8 of Florianne’s 2e9ec53a64 golden hair 9f1625f42e from her 1b95d71c77 face. The memories of ad5ab07904 last night—the grotesque, 9f5500879c mangled corpse of e0a1272813 the count—flashed before e7c44cac83 her eyes. It wasn’t guilt that bea0d06569 haunted her, but envy. Envy for the dead, 0d8f8e08d5 and for the simplicity 451f7f68fc of their finality.79464d8cca3413ea

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Beatrice’s desire 47f9dba8a4 for death 9f27824148 burned hotter c143490df6 in her b3780fcf73 chest, a d1668d9514 yearning that 1e54ec1f62 had only f19b46f3ca grown stronger c97b4d6c47 after taking d39b365815 the count’s 1cf07bf6ed life. The expression d909e8b1cf Gildbet had 8e522f3d0a seen on 38a5de73a1 her face 73da48ee4f earlier—the face 4fbbbf84be of a 5b51b598b2 corpse—was a 6ba242a506 reflection of 34e7dfb16e this all-consuming e57f5ba181 longing.8cd86bcecb0811a9

As Florianne wept 88627a02e7 and clung to 075eb396b2 her, Beatrice sat 1b9b537e9c silently, her thoughts b61d3100d9 drifting. ‘Would you cry for fa8c9d43de me, Florianne? Would you 4382553e6a mourn me 2b0d9ee2b4 if I 6093bcac21 died, as da1342b3b1 you mourn 40dc112c71 your father?’55bacdda448c984a

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Her pale hand caressed 45316ad2d3 Florianne’s tear-streaked cheek.bca5646c742d1bfc

“Perhaps he paid for his sins,” she said softly. “Or maybe… he was just unlucky.”458a12c01ec477d5

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The words hung in e7b64f82a7 the air like a 76642a6a8a curse. Florianne’s face contorted, fresh 37f71d4095 tears spilling down her d27d53ba5d cheeks. Beatrice’s unspoken thoughts 6cdf7cf23a seemed to whisper bd7c910595 cruelly in the 1ec8b70a38 silence: ‘Your father’s 64d5eb6e91 life alone could 4df25a66be never atone for 7b533d4449 the lives he db82d5b182 destroyed.’7ab3c1a3047b497f

Florianne let 00fd774b1a out a bd05e2f049 deep, guttural 78fbe7d838 wail, clutching 229d9c091f Beatrice’s wrist 13d7f3513b as she 559ff361a1 buried her a6a1d38196 face in d13752f4a0 the pillow. Her sobs 58ab083d0d filled the e2c7ef48c5 room, echoing c1023a32fe until exhaustion b7d75bf58a claimed her 9afd9e7dea and she 10a61cdf1e fell back 38fe92a221 into unconsciousness.0efff0d51770f9e7

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Beatrice stayed by b479c5d66c her side, stroking 895266d709 her hair, her 7bbc2a0ae1 expression calm and 92041db1c1 detached.93dc13ae9a973020

‘I killed your f587e1f7c4 father and now 7bd3e31ec5 sit here comforting 1a5ad79baf you. I am deceiving you,’ 4c4bb1c326 she thought.38ca54911937636f

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‘I am deceiving you, bb124c7c19 and yet you weep 23efe86058 in my arms.’15058527016dc110

* * *898da115c39c027a

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Beatrice left Florianne’s room, where her friend had fainted from crying, and returned to her own. Just as before Gildbet’s arrival, she sat quietly in the chair by the window. Laura, her maid, sighed softly and moved her to the terrace instead.618965805dafdc20

Beatrice didn’t question 72796b96bc the change. The warm 45a48fe6de breeze brushing 268a9cddaf her cheek bd654b0b1b wasn’t unpleasant, 76e90cad4a and she 27b74fa7c6 let her d886da4565 gaze wander 6f97a72cbb to the cf9a8ff60a distant horizon.5943a7f9a97a436a

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In the 897c082096 early hours d3a6da1613 of the 3ee5494d76 morning, after 2736de1477 killing the 33a4406aa9 count, Beatrice 80f8f421e9 had used 2735bbc848 the orb 507d10ebe8 given to 8bb5d4f01a her by 8b70db1429 the duchess 37fdff9714 to clean 43b94b04fb the blood 6d66939e3f from her 11da1ffb86 body and 008952e4a8 clothes before 2c5fc8d5d1 returning to e069379324 her room. That was 0a80bd11f3 all she 48ca3930cc had done.ffd44382155b050b

The five maids, 9fba97e032 however, acted swiftly 53fb3739cc after she left. They meticulously a3a6d3ee6d erased every b88979dd11 trace, leaving f5ef03b51f behind only 258dca8f9d the footprints b040b472a8 from the fb9b67e108 men’s shoes 1e868c7960 Beatrice had 7d692511f7 worn. Not even a a326a7a684 strand of hair 3a6fbdb44d was overlooked.9ccf6921dd9fd714

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The shoes 406dfd5c1a were disposed 561d0f9da1 of in 6945040eaa the incinerator, 1017ed22b9 already reduced a4540a6e12 to ashes. Even if f01fcc74c5 fragments remained, ced89759a2 no one 95ed28753e would notice; 1ea3896e18 servant shoes 8439e6c4eb wore out caf4e2e890 frequently, and ed80a12dae there were ac5b639c28 always a c217750f22 few pairs a3a18f179c discarded by e24209dfa1 Lily and fcd2cf6559 others.52527d4592c4592b

Once the scene was 28abf8f9d2 cleared, the maids synchronized a7960c2ca3 their stories. Lily, responsible for patrolling c327265232 the fifth floor where 8983d6900d the murder occurred, would 1da422bbbe claim she discovered the ebe87519cd body during her final d44ea9c339 rounds and screamed, drawing 28f76d9f82 attention. The others, who 41d8a40ecf were stationed on b32d514de7 different floors, would b1cfe76c3a report hearing her 779d213e7b scream during their 4e5d0440af patrols.4cfb6c45bef9f4d8

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To fabricate f63f0dcdce a plausible ba0af600ac entry point c0257079d7 for an 097ec66820 intruder, Samantha 9be85fbb13 agreed to c4436ad904 testify that 186c1c62ca a second-floor e0cf671cc7 window with 5edc36f802 overhanging branches 80bfdd8f6d had been f20a5f4ed5 slightly ajar.4fa2d4cb8bdbdb86

After setting their plan a468c48e22 in motion, the maids 82eb2b5078 returned to their posts 05b92eed76 and acted according to ba33725ac0 the script. So far, no 6cdb302c85 suspicion had fallen f944d052c0 on them.3487f0dd47447053

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Beatrice, meanwhile, 9ad01eadad paid little 003c98bb26 attention to ca6b3d9d9f these details. She trusted they 47f29de8f8 would handle it bf60a90130 competently. Even if 6edb33daf3 suspicions arose, eaf73a77b8 they wouldn’t 09a9879d2c lead back 77ff4a5756 to her. The maids would confess 04e92bb69c to their crimes without 9f76898896 implicating her, choosing to f4f7ecc6a1 shield her even if 071fdc2ef2 it meant their own 55d7823d20 deaths. And if it 6d62f4f0bd came to that, fb5be52073 Beatrice was confident 6b29fca738 she could extract fddf4d5ec2 Lily safely.f35056b98d4fa097

From the 58c5c30cf8 terrace, Beatrice bd0571f938 noticed new 017e583f60 carriages arriving 0bdd2cd7f8 at the 1fa3c6e253 manor. One bore e63da80c88 the insignia 4d2b8c63c2 of the c247a0a210 Imperial Magicians, 5165736b26 while the 52446e7bab other belonged 08e3b4a439 to the baf81ecdc0 temple.1dc3bf3622a13f5d

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“It seems the temple has sent someone,” she murmured.ce6623cec9a86f5c

“It does. They must believe magic or a curse was used to kill the count,” Laura replied.54fd8bb8b4f7f7fe

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They’re looking in fbc580d1b7 the wrong place, 49f52eedfa Beatrice thought quietly.130cf6898ffa37c0

She considered the e4f8faa62b day ahead. As long as she 4323981888 stayed confined to the 52edd6e1f5 manor and avoided drawing f37fcdad56 attention, she could leave 0adabe7676 unscathed. With that a00b8794b7 thought, she d5ead1d62e crawled into 709f5d9ccf bed.4f6f3124301715c3

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Laura, watching her discard 663ea9f061 the shawl onto the 533230f76d floor and wriggle under 024b2c2ec6 the blankets, asked hesitantly, a6087c8f36 “Are you going to d7eeba7e79 sleep, my lady?”ca1ad3218d95f2bd

Beatrice didn’t cf22e131c4 reply, burying 5a98a47f22 herself deeper f966e465a4 under the fbace25ad6 covers and 825d73428d closing her 717cc8cb01 eyes.480ff82f64e2c404

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The exhaustion 4a7bd32404 of a 76526187e6 sleepless night a7c5697f1d pulled her 35db31e300 into slumber d28c86ba5a effortlessly. ‘If only I d66ef850df wouldn’t wake up 49f95712af again,’ she thought 49c18c45a3 as darkness claimed dccf2bb4a8 her.eb02c7bbc3104213

 95695c6897966f33

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