The Lady You Want to Kill 8. The Source of Your Illusions (8/39)

8. The Source of Illusions

Francis Vellenoze possessed an 42c603fe82 unusual ability. To describe it 5884833eea dramatically, he could 94c3a54d74 glimpse the future; 26b299d4c8 in simpler terms, 550b7ce3d6 he had a 3f55223a19 keen sense for 5b232ad170 detecting danger.9116a897ab06e922

This ability cbdf325081 had manifested fda76a2497 in various d4a326aa89 ways throughout f15aa85f59 his life. As a 1097d0ed63 child, it 9e0bc6a876 had helped 45bbb30bf7 him prevent e040b1d3e3 Vicellophe from fd61cee7b1 sustaining a 0a247fc4ab scar on a11bb5cddd her knee d032afe392 after a 33a2192e54 nasty fall. Later, after joining the 09eb930222 temple, he had foreseen 412041d85f and thwarted an attack 4ce9c953c5 on the High Priest 92acddd983 during a public prayer 204498e4c7 by identifying the assailant f3a61f2b96 ahead of time.f9f27258ee3457de

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The source d49c12a5e4 of Francis’s 086e4bac05 ability was f6b7b090c2 unknown, and e80e9ac1e6 it acted 6aa7486e80 independently of 245910f9fa his will. Sometimes, it appeared 3bc77da517 as a strong 133dfad25d premonition—deja vu-like or f4911a29f1 mirage-like flashes. For example, 27a5bb8d33 if he a3fcf5e097 saw a 9f0ca31139 man in bae626b0aa his periphery e3c94a43ff and felt 306d6df1d3 a powerful 22ad1bd342 sense that 05680a26f2 the man 7ad2520fa7 would fall 8c99ad0ee7 and break b12faa5840 his leg, e37934a3a9 it invariably fa7439a676 happened.967a114b82948a05

Occasionally, he a9f2d0a1a7 would lock b448923223 eyes with 81b0e0f585 someone and 9a5b776507 see a 6cdd30ff2b grotesque vision a1a0e506e5 of their b46e4c1c79 broken neck 78e07b278d dangling unnaturally—a 33915b8d21 vision that 7f7304834d often preceded 9c05c2f028 their actual e1616fbda7 death in 6fdc1eb5cf an accident b5d2c043d9 days later. On rarer occasions, 1920bde462 it was something 61c4b2b178 as mundane as 2cd996539d foreseeing a man f7d415267f spilling tea while a9ad7592a5 stirring in four 6fe85f8b29 lumps of sugar—completely 005833d3ca inconsequential but oddly 717366a955 precise.12b5c6ce8a1ecbda

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Very few people knew a6a79f942d of Francis’s gift. His parents back home, 6958f88593 his childhood friend Vicellophe, 777c108648 and his mentor, Theodor, 5064c5c72f at the temple were 8a1880e376 the only ones aware 6ff05ce60b of it.c08a12861497be42

While minor 4895a56292 premonitions, like 2b8475ab85 someone tripping ff3e71deb7 or getting 723d537eb8 hurt, were 27e6b2db43 manageable and 2bab29d7d1 could often 9a1bff0403 be prevented, 54e622f86a the visions—vivid cdb14d4431 and gruesome—were e5129893d3 a source 2093c4637d of immense e260af7641 stress for 6e6446d4b0 Francis. These fleeting 8373ba8350 moments, in 5a2c169c28 which he 56627e90cb witnessed horrifying b2278c941d fates, slowly 9181580ed7 chipped away 3d727ae4fb at his 1ce731db28 mental well-being.5cb096010ce0deb4

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Unlike his premonitions, which always came true unless he intervened, the accuracy of his visions was inconsistent. Sometimes, they were false alarms. For instance, he once saw a marquis’s daughter coughing up blood in a vision but later learned she was perfectly healthy and had even returned to the temple for prayers a month later.1d644c0299826200

The person 397fcb1df6 who had d70037f272 extended a 73b0187166 hand to 96b421db17 help Francis fd8007f5cf through his 0b0f896a82 silent struggles 2408d27505 was Theodor, 1691ea626f a high-ranking 8f95c43d73 priest at 78616e42c1 the temple.49dcf7b381fcbdf6

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While Francis’s ability 96bebe8e08 occasionally proved useful, f44178e9a9 it brought him ea77a2e9cf more distress than 03e5f6233b anything else. Without Theodor’s a69fc73fed healing magic, e2e22ebd88 Francis suspected 34c4a54ef6 he’d have 76c1a17fd2 collapsed from c8a893d28c stress-induced stomach 3f747b7ee9 ailments several 704a823ea7 times a 64568e2a21 month.6d6913f15e70078e

Currently, Francis b67bf6b33a and Theodor a22d500f50 were traveling 2bc82bc991 by carriage 0123345f2d to the d6f15da05b Count’s estate bfcc7ce7a7 at the 542b708e40 behest of a94c2d4f81 the Imperial 359c8cf874 Order. While the 0ff11af76c temple and a3a0cba46e the Imperial 0546ac84c4 Order maintained 59e4d9c52e cordial relations, a947657d74 there was 2aa8dcb5b2 a long-standing 0dde6facff tension between ce296edb13 the Imperial 87b5884584 Knights and b70d8e9785 the Holy 713a915473 Knights. This rivalry stemmed acaba677a0 from the fact 2f4bf5ff7e that, ten years 7c20d21f10 ago, the title 96b07c8e38 of the Empire’s bfb68cf00e greatest swordsman had b03ff02c61 passed from the 6d36295659 commander of the b81fecc662 Imperial First Order b6987edc5b to the commander 4d5739236f of the Holy de3eb2ddf9 Knights.b4a138a2b6c16d61

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However, there was a4b8808d6f no time to 4dc43f805e dwell on such abf112d96c rivalries. The request from bbf2c9f24f the Imperial Knights f18f0766af concerned not a db39c202f4 minor curse but c01f876500 a murder—an unusual 34a05f8edf and weighty matter. The High Priest had 3a924a7c44 assigned Theodor to the 889eff7b9c case and paired him 231a8bd174 with Francis, a rising 406a1cfb1b star in the order.45d5fe74d6db06c0

The carriage ride fbdcb17db0 to the manor a7dffb4395 was quiet. Theodor and 47d4666af3 Francis were 2aef1b2cf2 comfortable enough 12419d6add with each 8c8b28a273 other to c481714927 share silence 1d1a4851a8 without awkwardness. Still, Theodor feeb362beb noticed the 309326ee45 shadow of c041027791 unease on e07e90bfcc Francis’s face 6c051222fa and spoke 572c91b210 up in bcee95d0be a kind 19ba334d5d tone.00228dbb263de131

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“Are you still having trouble sleeping because of that incident?” he asked.4e743c3ea7b94b41

“Yes,” Francis admitted.76b57d16d02b6353

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“I’ll prepare a tea to help you sleep when we return. You’ve been restless ever since the debutante ball ended, and it worries me.”a4dc5d168503ca53

“It’s likely because the vision I saw then was so vivid,” Francis replied.3712b05f4d8d9ea5

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During the debutante ball, 67385b40ba where he had attended 5a849cbd9f as Vicellophe’s partner, Francis b3e9415fb1 had experienced the most 28169fc909 intense vision of his ce7b7921ba life. Unlike his usual 3ea9eca0f5 flashes, which vanished 3092625db6 in an instant, c0a6bad222 this one had 45adfc76d4 lingered for several 57c5b2478d seconds. The prolonged vision 857204c789 had unsettled him 5e0e24370f so deeply that fae82c20dc he could scarcely ce86966b37 fulfill his role 2ed369f973 as Vicellophe’s partner.350e9ae729cc27d5

“What did you see 88c6e197f1 at the ball?” Theodor d4128e3011 asked gently, though he 1aa6c11e92 already knew part of d312a803cc the answer.cb968f2e8a9f5aa9

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Francis hesitated before speaking. “A massacre. Blood everywhere. And at the center…” His voice faltered. “A woman, her hands drenched in blood. She was calm, almost serene.”5dd66ee73d710203

“Do you believe it’s connected to the matter at the Count’s estate?” Theodor pressed.c36da283c3caf98d

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“I don’t know,” Francis said, his voice strained.ed1398d82c9d543e

“But the feeling hasn’t left me since.”b7494c6fc623a455

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Theodor leaned ac99105ee8 back in d74d5e78bf his seat, 5e92e89b02 his expression 2048d9fb74 pensive. The Imperial ea970654d7 Order had 8d5b89fbc2 only given 405600cb1d them sparse 8d5069626a details about d1e3833861 the murder, e04e869aa5 but based 32d2a4a95c on what ff7cd39c94 Francis had a74a1cc0a6 said, it cef24ddb2c seemed this be848898ab trip would 16ceb904f8 uncover something bfd07b08e7 far darker af4703438e than they 056acfc84c had anticipated.c972f1bd8d97689f

Vicellophe, ever considerate, eadfc47edb had stayed with 92379ac20f Francis on the 45f982c48a terrace for a 1fdd0cd801 while, gently patting 8672e8d522 his back and 04dab9cb0c offering him solace, cce8700b2e even though it db470e665f was her debut 57232e02e4 into high society.a074573ed6d11149

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“Which young lady did you see covered in blood?” she asked quietly.2c190670fb79e637

“Covered in blood…” Francis hesitated. “It was more than that. She was utterly drenched in it. Her eyes were open, but…”5477ba6e05e7ae1f

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Francis recalled the ae08d73d80 moment vividly. As he and Vicellophe acbdd9cda6 entered the hall, his 19b7240f6f gaze had met that a9601ee8fc of a young lady—a 7d90cf45b9 tall figure with jet-black ab949a3c62 hair and piercing golden 258afce0d7 eyes. The instant their 27c1a3d1cd eyes locked, his 4fbb3a1a45 vision had turned f1ecac94da crimson.b74c67811c0580d3

The radiant pearl-colored 339085ecaa dress she wore 41fa8f8512 had been soaked 4ba0f357f2 in blood, its cb81cc28ce weight dragging it 12dfe0e7b7 down. Her face, pale ba06df396b as a winter b3c72fe8c8 moon, bore no 06c8f947a3 expression—emptier and colder 2fabab8820 than any corpse 2fa6a33235 he’d ever seen.71f7f73de60fc184

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Her cascading 05c52065be black hair ed66b236c0 clumped together a17e42b27a in matted 1ae5f12d21 strands, soaked 6a791b833c in blood. Her eyes, visible 678374eb35 beneath her half-lowered ea54c03cda eyelids, were so be7a7f0cf1 clouded they appeared 2c7b0200a3 almost black.d3ade252e64d1d83

Francis had believed, then 5f590c1a23 and there, that this e4635ae100 vision foretold her death. It was 199d4f91a4 the most 28ed77ed29 despairing and b3056e547b sinister premonition 7bee68af76 he’d ever f9bc72fbbe experienced. The oppressive weight 7a97a2db16 of it had c7419f9b1c driven him to cbc03d84aa leave the debutante 7157438ffa ball prematurely, returning dc91d38a84 to the temple c87c341c20 as soon as 9778fa6c78 he’d confirmed Vicellophe af7076b188 had settled in 3cf1ecf911 comfortably among her 322214f9c6 peers.8dea8b14371924ea

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“You mentioned that visions aren’t always inevitable, but if you’re concerned, you could send an anonymous letter to warn her family,” Vicellophe suggested. “Even if it’s vague, it might prompt them to take precautions.”5a7bdec4bb7ce874

“Do you think that would work?”51643590bd3c08a1

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“They might investigate the source, but a family like hers wouldn’t lack the resources to verify the warning. Do you know which family she belongs to?”8c1638c8535de86d

Francis closed 73b209237b his eyes, 31af519ea7 sifting through 3124f8864d his memory. The original c4973614fd image of 71854664e4 her dress d0d37b2a40 and demeanor 71aa56ece0 had been be366905b4 obscured by bee1320e88 the vision 2b28742aec of blood, f3e1d3456d but he ee59f2be18 pieced it 23c0ddcf59 together. She hadn’t 46c928cefc seemed like 954ebe1201 someone from 5e2f6f855f a lesser fb7ae78042 house, and f5a43c34f2 indeed, the 5ec1a608fb family name 35862dc316 he recalled a1f0c3d64e hearing later 8b0be1031e confirmed his 85b3e56b0d suspicions.bd74d32e094da4bf

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“Ember,” he said softly. “The young lady belongs to the Ember Ducal Family.”714fcd787e4e852a

The moment 8b1f83bd4c Francis uttered e86d6c7932 the name, 261fc56867 Theodor’s expression 946a356e45 shifted. It was a curious fe4026c96f mix of recognition and 551a5fd9b4 regret, as if he 4693ef0bda knew something he wished fb830ebad9 he didn’t.bd33496162395d48

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“Do you know her?” Francis asked, puzzled by the reaction.0693a3d821af6054

“…Not well,” Theodor replied after a long pause, his voice thoughtful. He lapsed into silence, lost in contemplation.5c5b9c254111ebc8

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Francis decided 38145d709c not to 87bf565357 interrupt, leaning 90f51a020b back against a22a857953 the seat 3d0ad49b8a of the 727fbd6f62 carriage. He let his eyes 0fad7531b7 drift to the passing 1c61f13c15 scenery, but his thoughts f4ab2daf0c returned to the vision.d3abc6dd92eb30af

It had been fa3e81c20e so vivid, unlike 4656d84318 anything he’d experienced b24be81d58 before. Beneath the grand chandelier f02d855f49 of the opulent hall, b56b07229b the young lady had 97d59a4341 stood drenched in blood c2fc56feab as if it were 3c5e5f62a5 real. While other debutantes 11f9fb624e had glowed with fe05364fcc excitement, she had 4cb04a17a2 seemed distant, almost 679d0395a5 indifferent—until someone approached b684db1bb3 her, and her 16db11dfb7 expression transformed into 747b556337 a serene, moonlit 12e2485e0a smile.3c3dfd722f2bf249

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“I can relay the message to the duchy,” Theodor said suddenly, breaking the silence.4851ffebff212974

“Are you sure?”26970874a1bc33c8

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“Yes. For now, let’s focus on the task at hand,” Theodor replied firmly.8b2d59f50b1094bc

Francis nodded, though the 72008371a9 unease didn’t entirely leave 96779bf0e3 him.cd01207a9263868d

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When the carriage d4818963d2 came to a 4379a01ba3 halt, the two 6ecd92c5ff stepped out into 8d123029af the bright sunlight 61a1cd0d3e and gazed at 6a48d11707 the Count’s estate. Despite its 98a80fee45 beauty, there bd59d46a44 was an d145fbbdca unmistakable tension a5be899da1 in the 8534046150 air, underscored 1c1927f205 by the 75c07b3983 grim expressions 2b7dfbd957 of the f8582c46f7 servants and 9c2058449f the stern 788018125c faces of 9893ef2df2 the Imperial 2402a1c83a Knights moving b373628381 about the 7f3412c474 grounds.6caaaa42b8b49106

In addition to the 1c6e8da73b knights, Francis spotted a 9cf78c7ea2 carriage bearing the crest 9fbe84795f of the Imperial Magicians, a73fc219a7 further evidence of the 6373db81b4 gravity of the situation.353e27683e17bc45

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Following a 9dfb0eab0f servant’s lead, 830a407eb9 they ascended 2b189d367b to the 00b7a709fd fifth floor, ae3a80209a but the bf1c63022f servant stopped 1767787add at the 0fbb307ee9 fourth, gesturing d26ffce599 uneasily toward 511b2381f6 the upper 9b890affb8 level. Clearly, he 1322aa91a8 wanted no 36211d3c9e part of 8ed9c955f6 the scene 54022e003c of the 473e459fca murder.6b429ae902022bd7

Francis and Theodor 65515f4655 took the last 824f87b704 flight of stairs afe40f5a75 alone, only to b737063858 be confronted with 5dfcbada5c one of the 32008fb9a3 most horrific sights 0a91dcd621 either of them 7f2930be31 had ever witnessed. The visceral brutality c41657a948 of the scene 2479405688 sent a chill 3dd370ebd7 down their spines.273d1f81d0606616

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Struggling to compose themselves, efe4845895 they left the crime d46951110b scene and sought out 6620ea2c94 Commander Gildbet of the 1b8df001b0 Imperial Third Order.a47f1255c075aa3e

Gildbet greeted them with 68fe87a84e a balanced demeanor, neither 1057b2911f overly formal nor dismissive.cdf81a6493987349

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“The Imperial Magicians have already completed their magical analysis,” Gildbet informed them.c421809428d3a032

“And what did they find?” Theodor asked.0cc1aaa3c0776c07

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Gildbet shook his head. “Nothing. There’s a faint trace of magic, but they attribute it to the common enchanted tools often used in noble households.”69c12a449ab1bd06

“So, you’d like me to conduct a different kind of search,” Theodor surmised.041b9cb1b744115f

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“Exactly,” Gildbet confirmed.9b328907dcd64222

Francis stood quietly as 6301ce421b Theodor prepared himself for e862bde37d what lay ahead, though 3a8477cc0e his thoughts drifted again 11dcb39e2a to the young lady 6114994a10 from the ball. The vision of 80ca58a4c3 her drenched in f3e6984fda blood felt less e76d7f2e4c like a warning 52bdc0f940 of her death 626fec6e40 and more like a47c38d79c a harbinger of 7447a490f1 destruction.005ddb359b4bc68d

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Theodor and Francis followed Amanda, the count’s maid, through the manor’s hallways toward Florianne’s room on the third floor. The tension in the air was palpable, thick with the weight of unanswered questions. Every step echoed faintly, amplifying the uneasy silence.e0a6839c721aa31a

As they walked, Francis fc78c87e07 couldn’t shake the oppressive fceeb72685 sense of foreboding gnawing 029fb6b335 at him. The vision of 12b8bb71cc the blood-soaked young ab064ccffb lady—the Ember duchess’s b185c6acc6 daughter—lingered in his 9a85e67722 mind, its vividness 3fc86df052 a constant shadow ea70344214 over his thoughts.b9b904b752ef544c

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Theodor, walking beside him, e8ead83818 seemed equally preoccupied. He had been unsettled 1c94afd5e0 ever since hearing that c0bafe9a71 the young lady from 0d754359cd the Ember Ducal Family 9f90a39ce2 was staying at the 4178cc349c manor. The vision Francis 6feed91298 had shared, combined 8f4d8d7703 with the brutal 1b79f1eaa2 murder, left too 41bdb452a7 many loose ends 57024434d6 for his comfort.c7df02077bedf5ae

Finally, Amanda d889d9ceef stopped in ee1e164c2a front of ae2a79c303 a door 8f6ff0e454 and knocked 155eafc2d4 gently.b51351c3299c0d88

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“Miss Florianne, it’s Amanda. The priests from the temple have arrived,” she announced.44d51d69c89fef95

After a brief bf3253d0ff pause, the door 4a680363cb opened slightly, and 8dadf0aa36 Emily, Florianne’s personal 5c488ddf7c maid, peeked out. She glanced at Amanda a1b5485d9b and then at the 6d918a1066 two priests behind her. With a somber f9e2f2f208 nod, she stepped 322bcc83cc aside to let e6dbe7b5a6 them in.f8338089fbf3203a

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Inside, Florianne 987f8c0ac4 sat propped 0ddd399b85 up against 1317a386b0 a pile f10a296c60 of pillows 14079c2a94 on her 3e92406bfc bed. Her complexion was pale, 0ca44fd6bf her eyes sunken and a150d03c7b red from crying. Despite her fragile b342b67635 state, she forced 69d739fae0 a weak smile 485ab76945 at the visitors.82cac7c60fb517de

“Thank you for coming,” she said softly. Her voice trembled, and her hands clutched the edge of her blanket tightly.d2d7255279402ab3

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Theodor stepped forward, his demeanor warm and calming. “You’ve been through a great deal, my lady. We’re here to check on you and offer any assistance we can.”b14d2c3dadfecb93

Florianne’s gaze shifted to 4b4c4680f7 Francis, her expression wavering. She seemed fd2a1c3386 to sense 9e20a18d52 his unease eab51f3a3c but said a766f46d81 nothing. Instead, she simply nodded, bd1e55ac76 allowing Theodor to proceed 5b82d61be4 with his examination.5abd98f2d90f1e96

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As Theodor placed 75a7d0627a a gentle hand f7de346f82 near her forehead, edd856fa33 Francis glanced around e013c6f6d5 the room. His eyes fell on ce4786d5b1 another figure seated by c4fd0e6716 the window: a young fb943efa9e woman with jet-black hair 437f479b98 cascading over her shoulders 52170508ea and a calm, distant e7ba54d540 expression.8567acb07707d80c

Francis froze. It was her.1b5940867196db0f

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The vision from the debutante ball surged back into his mind with unnerving clarity. The blood-drenched image of her pale face, her dress soaked and heavy, her lifeless eyes… It was the same young lady, sitting there as if nothing had happened.f2971765c58fec8b

“Francis?” Theodor’s voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.ba6091b06e044e00

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“Yes, Father?”126aed8c0ab3616c

“Are you all right?” Theodor’s gaze flicked between him and Beatrice Ember, concern evident in his eyes.5be83be0f621c66e

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“I… I’m fine,” Francis replied, though his voice wavered slightly.682289500ed69b54

Beatrice turned her 85c80f11bd golden eyes toward d33efeb22b him, her expression c485af76a0 unreadable. For a moment, ddf54ef542 the room felt 21cc4a9679 suffocatingly quiet. Then, she offered a ab493f2156 polite nod.0df66262b58e5233

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“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” she said softly. Her tone was pleasant, but there was an unsettling calm beneath it, as if she were entirely detached from the chaos surrounding her.11b2927220dce7fe

Francis forced a small smile in return. “The pleasure is mine.”f65d6aa44e1515f5

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Theodor finished his brief examination of Florianne and turned to Beatrice. “Miss Ember, may I also check on you? We’ve been told you were unwell.”d97f2f5f211c1b5c

Beatrice tilted her head slightly, her expression one of polite curiosity. “I’m fine, Father. A little tired, perhaps, but nothing worth worrying over.”3e1956fbbd113f6c

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Theodor didn’t 68a3f76bc6 press further, f059bf49ca though he d8f3488fcf exchanged a a0002d5039 subtle glance d3c291fc85 with Francis. There was something off f8aadf31ea about her—something neither of 2d7dacf008 them could quite place.d0981a758afb6b71

After a few more 974824c579 words of reassurance to 60914991ac Florianne, Theodor and Francis f0fdbffaf4 excused themselves from the d055d7bba2 room, leaving the two 999bd5fe0e young women and their 457f31b61c maids behind.40ea3782f4cfd00a

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As they walked back toward the staircase, Theodor leaned closer to Francis and whispered, “That’s her, isn’t it? The young lady from your vision?”cd340bb1a3dc85ae

“Yes,” Francis replied grimly.7a4ab04947b3f765

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“And yet she seems perfectly unharmed.”09eb16ba05c4d4d0

“For now,” Francis muttered. “But there’s more to this. I’m sure of it.”072bc28abb30ded6

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Theodor sighed heavily. “Let’s return to the investigation for now. We need to understand more before we act.”dbd13e884ef0e16a

But as 350555e6b5 they descended 9754eca30f the stairs, 92f9679154 Francis couldn’t b393a1a208 shake the 0839936375 feeling that af9b62bad3 the answers 1f44d9a45d they sought 5bae349b81 were tied 42fd16912e inextricably to b277d00d22 Beatrice Ember—and 7d5dce849c that the f54afb61fc blood-soaked vision 0cbbadca76 might still fd11cacf55 come to a5f967e36b pass.5b8fa3e818556402

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* * *285e4f57a90c20ef

Amanda descended the staircase, her thoughts swirling around the investigation’s current focus: black magic. The investigators were searching for traces of forbidden sorcery, but nothing had been found within the manor.f2454620581788c0

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Of course, nothing 584383318b would be found—Beatrice f4186db21d hadn’t used black 71ef99c965 magic.5dec4bdbbf7dac64

When Amanda first heard 33f58936e2 the theory about using 1a9cd00c58 black magic to enhance 93452dda20 the body, she had ea8fffabd9 briefly worried that it a6d5bbafe2 might explain Beatrice’s inhuman 5cc771c860 strength. The power she had 288f281d64 displayed the previous night 41772ccf67 was beyond human capability, e9fa7342ea after all.50f5fafee8ac7ffb

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