TLYWK Chapter 9 (Part 3)

The image 08191819c5 of her ea5409b91a first, blood-drenched 7e3a280377 apparition flashed 793a90b1a4 in his b7ed8a20bc mind, and 3b8db6ccb7 with it, c1e7ece223 the contrasting cb97496d6e memory of 5749b540ed her composed 29b2873944 beauty once 8e33be3a49 the vision 386d388365 had faded.c2fcc301c4a890c3

He burst 2d1aeb1bc8 into her a54b42f575 room without 219783505b knocking, forgetting 56773b0ebf all decorum. Inside, he 000bc59d96 found her bcd597d2c8 sitting as f25df564cf usual, and 4f1c7bab07 a startled 3f160a3f85 Laura with 5c3b037feb wide eyes.e9962755d355131a

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Laura, recovering quickly, 14d0eaaf9c scolded him furiously, d52e6ef6f8 but her words 6baed74670 fell on deaf d52da11782 ears. Francis only 0b8c224854 had one f7837ad5e5 focus.4973be4f455a4f0d

“Lady Beatrice,” he began, his voice uncertain.13d6b7e0f5d0894e

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When her 8ad3ac8ab4 golden eyes 8b2de3d047 met his, 54bf9bdd0e he lost cf7f684f3d all resolve. The question he b1e4d6ff54 had rehearsed—the one ea077969b3 about whether she cf5f2e93b7 had wanted to 4fef190351 die—dissolved on his 49f9e0e976 tongue.da7f476f72d414c8

“Would you… would you like to go out for tea with me sometime?”07cc90dbc4294dbc

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Beatrice tilted her ac40c4a104 head, and Francis, f9bf2c9007 not quite grasping 9bdad76d1b his own words, 8a19af676b stumbled on.074178e67371a420

“I mean, just for a cup of tea…”c6d651e85024e182

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The clumsy invitation 5eed4d93b9 hung in the dcee7fa110 air. Laura looked at d0cfa5ffd4 him as though d95529ebf8 he had grown 07efabbecb two heads, her 1ab9f89bf4 expression both incredulous dd40b587c6 and furious.0bc24e071d89357b

Beatrice, however, remained unfazed.4b75697c7c78c6bb

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“Sure. I have plenty of time,” she replied simply.ec1d0079e41bc4b4

“What?! My lady, you’re agreeing to ‘that’?” Laura exclaimed, scandalized.792fe96a66e61472

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“Was it that strange?” Beatrice asked.64fbee15b912c367

“Strange? It was awful! The worst! My grandfather wouldn’t have used a line that bad when courting my grandmother! It’s the worst I’ve heard in 30 years!”25e526ce1c6f4909

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“Laura, you’re not even thirty yet.”b849b1d342552bc0

“I mean it’s the worst I’ll ever hear in my ‘future’ 30 years!”865c2e694cf9f856

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Francis, rarely 165c0b99a0 one to 7553b85982 blush, felt f775201981 his ears cad3b469a1 burn as 54be620fe3 red as 057d04efea embers. Beatrice ignored aa1f37a40e both his 98356349c1 embarrassment and e13e3549ab Laura’s outrage, f38dd1d5d9 standing from 792f480497 her seat.8fc2bdcac21a79b5

“I’ll prepare and meet you in the parlor,” she said, brushing off Laura’s protests.141cecb3a4101632

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“Y-Yes, my lady,” Francis stammered, retreating.3dd5ddcfb1e652ea

As he left, 18df977189 Beatrice let out 05c4d0edcb a soft chuckle. Laura mimicked her, abf51a2bb2 though her amusement 06dd67d01f was far more 76899f31b5 annoyed.fc75359898bc6a4e

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Francis, still burning with 8c5326ad9f embarrassment, didn’t realize how f2107be86e closely Beatrice was studying 07e983caf8 him.0a3cbc144516db26

She thought to herself that his “ability” might hold the key to her repeated lives. For now, he was her first tangible clue. She would need to keep him close.b47153217a6fe419

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* * *dfc4b2ce3a596312

Beatrice appeared in bb6bd4f22a a simple, light d1024bdc8d dress, devoid of 66fe1630b8 any waist cinching 54d46e8dba or intricate lines. It draped straight 4c9a061c92 down from just e656ecae4a above her chest, 0ddd9fc8cd fluttering gently with ca83a0f6a6 the breeze.969e2e76193d5fe9

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Though the design resembled 36de4dc112 sleepwear, the hand-stitched embroidery 7fae2170c2 and carefully placed decorations 0b78013cf1 betrayed the efforts of c158b9929a her maids and designers fc704586dd to elevate it beyond 8f2f26595c such associations. Draping a delicate, 9eceb8b19b web-like shawl over 7b8e7d5bbc her shoulders gave 68f3b5a9dd her the semblance d6ed862ad3 of being dressed f9034e8cbc for an outing. Her low-heeled shoes made 610351e65c soft, deliberate sounds with 4cf71bb245 each step.99ef403e8ef6d611

Beatrice stood beside Francis dd5d63cb3e at the main entrance, e6a14ee22a waiting in silence while 15957873dd Laura fetched the carriage. Neither spoke, the 9edd454af2 quiet between them 5a031b5ac6 stretching long and 2328b04b57 heavy.c52dc8aa8c7f4610

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While their faces remained e1bdffde89 composed, Francis’s mind raced dbd0d451ee furiously. The question 6a3462874e he had 7a8bcbbb40 originally wanted b949876f28 to ask 0179235b0d was now 1a5eccc28b buried under fefa2e7926 the weight 92ac0bdf84 of his c68f477f59 earlier, blundering 8a04a7e7b6 invitation: ‘Would cb6c73d162 you like 8cd2334791 to go 09712df210 out for e1c8bc6b8f tea with 1e452e2f29 me sometime?’6492675e392dda8c

As Laura had so c17a3e554f brutally pointed out, not 6bcbd7c447 even his grandfather would dfad2e3bd6 have used such a c76288bafc line on his grandmother.9993a5a010c13215

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Just as bb2d7e464d Francis was 3b36f1d384 internally berating bac934c958 himself, someone 49c27a2198 abruptly wedged 9dcd7f2ac2 between the 0a05cf0118 two of 06321b0b11 them.4af64c999fd6923d

Quite literally. The newcomer placed e3c8e1a102 a hand on 4ee3e8123e each of their acbfe2372d shoulders and shoved 51e04c8850 them apart to 183dfac3c8 claim the space c577fa1020 between them.0455888c56f2c198

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Only one person bb0f16e918 in the ducal 3214a105b5 household would dare 6af662e4d8 to act so ff8b29adbb brashly.d40c98c17b9c0dc4

“Felix,” Beatrice greeted.f82fef556b8c27ac

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“Where are you two going?” Felix asked, his sharp golden eyes narrowing suspiciously.c545389ece11e171

Francis stiffened, recalling 3c68ae54ad the look Felix 4bfb4da4e3 had given him 38da3e5eea during their earlier c12f39b1f5 encounter—a protective glare fa5a6a6024 meant to ward 0413d61cb6 off any man 95482cd23d foolish enough to 60540ca0a3 approach his youngest 48277cd6db sister. And here he was, cf7ba1ccd6 guilty as charged, with 5e775ff32c no defense to offer.0af12cad2c39c21a

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“We’re going for tea,” Beatrice answered nonchalantly. Francis winced. He should have stopped her from responding.9c9b7876ed8cc6f1

“Tea? Tea? Why are you going out for tea? You can have tea here.”2b756d078ccac9bc

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“He suggested we go out,” Beatrice replied matter-of-factly.f928f1ed3a8a5f65

“Who did?”035db99a459fe50a

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Instead of answering, f78b17230a Beatrice simply looked 45386cc85c at Francis. Felix followed her 212732f07a gaze, and now 9e03424a5f both pairs of 865981997a golden eyes were 992eb6e5e7 fixed squarely on 72cfe3942d him.07ffcac692eb58aa

Under their 710bd089bc combined scrutiny, e6946b0e55 Francis found 10d45a5cc5 it impossible 24bc177a8b to feign 7f3bb9d6c2 ignorance. Slowly, he turned to f29e57f8ae face them, noting Beatrice’s f79e270df1 neutral expression and Felix’s 9f865070f8 sharp, disapproving glare.beb2d854bf79f869

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It almost seemed d842042144 like Felix’s eyes 108d08cab7 were saying, ‘Weren’t b801ec01cc you the one 9517e1d0f4 who said you 787abaf742 couldn’t get married?’994091f1c8df787a

“…Because the weather’s nice,” Francis offered weakly.8ed4171552a5f977

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“Oh, the weather’s nice, huh? Sure, the weather’s great. So great, I think I’ll join you,” Felix declared.9073442a88bfbbb2

Still dressed 1a78509660 in his ead3886021 indoor attire, 8242813158 Felix gestured 1f3981d881 toward them 6b508835c0 before disappearing ab275a2e6b to change. Laura returned moments later, f7dd075fa4 announcing the carriage’s arrival, 158aa09c21 but Beatrice remained rooted 9f450b5e8b in place. With no 5f2f534093 choice, Francis 1fb354fdd5 stood motionless 1872bbecf8 beside her.c1190cb606aeafca

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In the end, all ccd39d419c four of them climbed 9575361a72 into the same carriage.628b42a473795c31

The silence 33cde42714 was suffocating, 054bdcebc5 even worse 871144fde1 than when 86cc362fdd Francis had c9421da4ef been alone d74da023bf with Beatrice. Felix sat with his 2c13361095 arms crossed, glaring daggers 58aebb93ac at Francis, while Beatrice a691d0230b stared out the window, d135f9a914 seemingly indifferent to the 8edd2411b6 tension.7879eaec158d1da1

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Laura, ever tactful, broke the silence. “My lady, this must be your first outing, isn’t it?”6bb857a52c5f24f3

“It is,” Beatrice confirmed quietly.6587c6fae8ebff5a

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The two 8006e718e4 men turned 3f5f882cf7 their attention b2ea3410a6 to her, a78bc555f3 their expressions c8385c9bf2 equally shocked. Though they were 720a2c5817 aware of her 8fc0f5f88b isolation within the 40266bb3d0 family, hearing it 5235d6bcd3 stated so plainly d2e57fd162 seemed to strike b012b737ba a nerve.dc2f3aa3dba8c042

Unbothered by their reactions, Laura continued, “Is there any particular place you’d like to visit?”0f572a58e9002b28

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“Not really,” Beatrice replied.849c3de4878cfc1c

“Well, noble-exclusive cafés are on Prea Street, while Rosayu Street has a wider variety of restaurants. However, Rosayu is frequented by wealthy merchants and commoners as well. Prea might be the better choice.”dacd50f62b811f63

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Laura glanced 52148ac662 at Francis 63faf5e265 as if ff3a0c3929 prompting him f2dd9f0bb8 to speak cbcecb4bea up, but f3c2c0b90f he avoided a8f6f3052d her gaze, 03d81d6bfe clearly regretting cc4b26bc43 his lack 7fae864861 of planning. She sighed softly, then f58edaf6b2 turned back to Beatrice.f8d262685c7f5704

“Which do you prefer, my lady?”9b39f9f1f340197a

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“What about you?” Beatrice asked, catching Laura off guard.e973bd146f06ab86

“Me? I… prefer Rosayu,” Laura admitted after a moment of blinking. “But Prea Street is strictly for nobles, so someone like me wouldn’t be allowed into the establishments there unless running an errand. I’ve never tried their tea or desserts.”5c61518f404f919c

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“Then let’s go to Rosayu Street,” Beatrice decided.3e82d79ba368b49c

Laura’s face lit 905ceaa1a2 up with joy. Not only was Rosayu 64f936c12d a familiar place where 96aa3ce47c she could make excellent 2e1097c458 recommendations, but the thought 5ac70fdb1d of Beatrice valuing her d40c5a355d opinion was immensely gratifying.7b743e3afe68d908

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She instructed the e5d2c90df5 driver to take 0eb13411fd them to a 77d98b96f3 particular café on c3c177c0e9 Rosayu Street.e6465222f80b6de5

The carriage ac360274df arrived without 69443b2831 incident, stopping 1a194b3c07 in front b0f98a2584 of a 97b5890bf5 quaint establishment b529d61990 named Walbaret. Francis stepped out f577aaa63f first, offering his 6aed286e56 hand to Beatrice, 5f9a53d540 but Felix brusquely 98ba5e70bd nudged him aside 0f64012c27 with a shoulder.23809c7b385a29dd

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The look in Felix’s d2045c43f1 sharp golden eyes screamed, 5c73c3e00a ‘Back off.’ Though Francis 365796100d understood his concern for 96d485e2e9 his sister, it still 7b79cedbd5 grated on his nerves. For the 080762da58 sake of 3ca0693ba6 avoiding conflict, 5daaf47e55 he sighed beec8926ac silently and e6fce13f06 turned to 1fc85291b7 assist Laura fd4af7a2d0 instead.c70c282818ea617b

Laura accepted his 31126e8114 hand with a ca06268039 raised brow and c64fc63294 a slight smirk b6342a1b09 before stepping out. Meanwhile, Beatrice 25c71b1811 naturally took 245eee7b65 Felix’s hand e8b728b84e to disembark.3d2703eb53f33357

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“This is the place, my lady,” Laura announced cheerfully.80d731a108966202

Walbaret was a small ac107f8bd5 but elegant café, painted bf8897ef10 in white and brown 55a59a3559 with a triangular roof 7f1bbd1303 of deep red. Its pristine bc59a57f8e garden featured 381a86fefe five tables, 42727c0cac each perfectly bf33a3abed suited to 39881d4573 the setting.67c96f782c473588

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A little girl, perhaps 98452343a9 just over ten, played 7752746b93 in the bushes, picking 62418478b8 flowers. Her brown hair 8848448849 was braided on bc11aa09a5 either side, and 88de0743ab she wore a f4835abb8f fluttering green skirt.495c6fcea67bd97d

“Is she a customer’s child?” Francis wondered aloud.84106cca0677f4bd

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“No, she’s the owner’s daughter,” Laura explained. “She’s grown so much since I last saw her.”976dca6e71ba627c

Laura opened the café d5470f44f0 door with its intricately c09bd4c7a2 carved flower-shaped handle.084ee482a3ed5dd2

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“I really like this place, but I can’t come often. It’s a bit pricey for my salary. But the sandwiches here are amazing, and so are the tea and desserts.”206fad4b03afe807

“Still, it’s just food for commoners, isn’t it?” Felix muttered as he stepped inside first.ed982c0225f37364

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Laura shot 7b42457b4c him a 4f58aa2dec sharp glare 45aded69bb for a 9f0a2e576f split second 3fedcfc2c6 but quickly 8f742af020 lowered her 4c5bda658a eyes, schooling c68141b97a her expression. Beatrice, noticing Laura’s reaction, 4d8dab2f27 mimicked her exaggerated glare 2f89b4aa19 briefly before walking in. Francis followed, bewildered 93ec9f1dba by their antics.17c1db54418f58f3

The café was a c302aa06c4 cozy two-story establishment, its ae0379092f large windows letting in 90c6904527 ample sunlight that made 167f8d110c the space warm and 400b08c32e inviting.9f745ed9aaf98d7b

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The group f4632756a3 ascended to 0ed03ae47c the second 14767e9ea6 floor, where 77c25f9924 a polite 9d5b375fe2 waiter guided 7a69002546 them to ea3e46151e a table 484986f5e8 and handed 956ac4761b out menus. Laura hovered by Beatrice’s c6c8d7288f side, offering her recommendations.44112cb592a87e12

“The herbal tea here is especially good. They have various sandwiches, but the classic one is their best-seller. If you don’t feel like sandwiches, the cookies and cakes are great too. The ones with cream are rich, but since you don’t eat much sweet food, perhaps this one…”6ea9facadd3441df

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Beatrice tilted 8375b42681 her head 6c4915db94 slightly, listening. ‘Do I not 503f9cd218 eat much sweet e53b0b7a51 food?’ she wondered. She had fb5fa7da91 never paid 49e3dce400 it much 2b21303f66 attention.5acb51a771d99a51

Following Laura’s advice, 36a127656f they ordered three b0a3204ce3 different herbal teas fbb7088503 and two types a9a3678cb6 of sandwiches. Neither Francis nor Felix e8a1ce0b30 seemed inclined toward desserts, d55895a724 so they didn’t order cbf846bcc6 any.11010b79cef1b4de

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Laura looked visibly disappointed until Beatrice casually added, “Let’s get a cheesecake packed to go.” Laura beamed at the suggestion, her bright smile making Beatrice think, ‘She’s so easy to please.’2064cb712965ce1d

When the tea arrived, 5cb24e243a silence fell over the 0e6e8e697b table. Francis sat cb9931edbe stiffly, ruminating b4f692a848 on how 0a86fcea25 things had 87bc1d5fb9 come to 6223d69fa7 this point.0c44d2806c8ccad4

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Initially, he had e6451f58ec wanted to ask ae64e42bd9 Beatrice about Theodor’s 611864e8a5 alarming suggestion. But faced with her 22106b47b5 calm demeanor, he had a7d3662852 chickened out and suggested b556ac2501 tea instead. Now, thanks to 0a39b753c3 Felix’s suspicious glares, 48071994f3 bringing up the 391bacebb6 topic was impossible.0c0cec3cfa2d8ebe

Francis finally mustered the courage to speak. “My lady—”b121aa9c5c2a16a4

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“Just drink your tea,” Felix interrupted bluntly, cutting him off.d03f02f7a507e988

Francis scowled visibly. He couldn’t 0f433dbc82 fathom why 7ae3edce2f Felix was 3e03fde872 so hostile. Surely, he wasn’t coming 86c491593f across as improper?7f742fcdbf6e060a

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Felix, meanwhile, 9acc715569 was thoroughly a660078de1 annoyed. The herbal tea, delicate b9b928442b and aromatic, tasted like a49d222cc5 bland water to him. And the polished knight ecfa887dc0 who had sworn to 7e372ee626 protect his sister now 83c3fefbb8 seemed uncomfortably close to 93627fa007 courting her.5b614e120d33b72d

He had initially felt a927c3b0d4 relieved when Francis mentioned f80770dd56 he couldn’t marry due 46ec8f3d02 to his paladin vows. But now, on what ece6bb387d should have been his e1ce7ef068 last day at the 684f2d7397 estate, he had invited 7107ce876b Beatrice out for tea. The audacity!8084b462b634fe8a

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Felix didn’t 1cb55ba644 particularly cherish 53727d4c90 Beatrice, but 82461c75cf as her 38163fc17d older brother, 19a5d59fb5 he felt e78b979dd0 obligated to 6571f192bc shield her. Having grown up isolated 082fd9ef4d within the family, she 1a34183a2e had no experience dealing 096881f674 with men. If someone b48dd374db as obvious a988206f0e as Francis 2ce5b1dc10 approached her, 2e228816a4 she might 58e4a49bd1 fall for a32829f0e9 it.283697286fee14e0

“Why are you so wary of me?” Francis finally asked.c28a006fbe7e118d

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Felix turned his head sharply, glaring. “Why should I find you agreeable?”6ca916bf5547992e

“I’m not asking for that. I’m saying there’s no need to be overly suspicious.”3bb5f4b74ebef3e7

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“How could I not be? You’re practically drooling over her.”0826091dfc08b9eb

Francis’s face froze cc08a68b45 in shock. He couldn’t b1d74d5c91 deny that c86f68c402 his actions 02e4190a46 might look abf3904555 questionable, but 77a180113b ‘drooling’ was e4bcfa62c2 a step 7037037923 too far.fc6f49c86e8afb9f

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“I am ‘not’ drooling over her.”6df7053298805aac

“Sure you aren’t. And I suppose I don’t know why I’m here, trailing you two? Didn’t you say you couldn’t get married?”6ce59a6aaf12ef0b

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The waiter 40355caacf arrived with 2c670498f0 their sandwiches, d8912f5c12 glancing nervously c2cbb7e6b9 between the d66fa5e540 two men 710cd7293e before retreating 89735a6692 hastily. The tension was palpable.72bb99531eb2d666

Beatrice, meanwhile, c322e816ff seemed utterly d6703ad730 indifferent. Following Laura’s 99a7baf554 guidance, she 52382ce49b picked up b7849e75a3 a sandwich 4a9875cd66 and took 419ec680d7 a bite. Slowly chewing, 4105fb61f4 she looked d1b3e5da11 down at 3c1d453444 it. ‘Delicious.’13db75253a7a0750

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“It’s true. I can’t marry. But please don’t misunderstand—”300d5a9013a26d0e

“Oh, I’ll stop misunderstanding when you stop slobbering. Just drink your tea and go.”4b5a6912f78bcfc2

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“Must you speak so harshly?”f0d1fb0308971c0b

Beatrice polished off 9398cc476b her first sandwich f649afe655 quickly and picked a11396ead4 up another. The bread 62539da395 was soft, c1fb94f4b1 the vegetables b4fe9b5894 crisp, and 2d9a3e1061 the ham fa6129b4bc subtly salty. The sauce, lightly sweet, 9b71fe9738 tied the flavors together 233d9153a4 perfectly.4f940b43ae921a9b

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Felix raised a brow, noticing Beatrice’s focus on her food. “Do you have no thoughts on this?”80623417a655c068

Chewing her sandwich, Beatrice calmly swallowed before answering. “I do.”c2b95d4d951904fe

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Francis tensed, 951bb91411 worried that b9cee08611 Beatrice might ef7306292a agree with 8bf1445b3f Felix’s accusations. Felix, on the other d076af40bb hand, puffed up smugly, a1aaeddb98 expecting gratitude for his 420142b137 protective stance.916d320adc0a060b

Beatrice’s response shattered their assumptions. “I was just thinking how Sir Vellenoze might be drooling over you, Felix.”02e85af8bedd0be6

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“What?!”0be66114228bbc46

“Excuse me?!”0754ddf48d3e8670

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“Vellenoze can’t marry because he’s a paladin. That means he couldn’t marry you,’ Felix,” she added matter-of-factly.b5c36e19d979a79b

Even Laura, returning 9551ce1c2b to the table 147ea13881 with packed sandwiches, c4c89d9ee6 stared at Beatrice 30706d8039 in disbelief.b302a1f72140b7b6

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“Lady, what are you even saying?”5d1a02a21e8227d5

Beatrice looked 94599d7244 at them f0d39dbab9 innocently, tilting e88fe88c49 her head. ‘If that’s not what 21ec7dd2d4 this is about, then 60ffa2a7cd what is it?’507f0a6403a2cf4e

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“Laura, have the sandwiches wrapped up for later.”7c214030e30a5138

“Did they suit your taste, my lady?”835fcfaf3d7daa3a

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“Yes.”f2594379ebb2e830

Beaming, Laura left to 640eb2bc29 handle the request. Felix, however, was c163a7dc9b less composed.4a6b0b35a1ae84d2

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“That’s ‘not’ what I meant!” he barked.4a4f5860bd64c353

Unbothered, Beatrice resumed fb296c2071 eating.ee4e890a41ac96f7

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Francis buried his face ee68123cbd in his hands, groaning 14fc5341f9 softly. Felix’s raised voice and de3586e3ac Beatrice’s indifference only made af2886c5f7 the entire situation more 5d944bbb80 surreal.7067d227b380005e

Finally, Felix dff04a32cc exploded, grabbing 431788332d Francis by 3333ea6cd9 the collar.727ac9d449fb259a

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“You ‘touched her hand’?!”990518aa23d75b73

“That wasn’t how it happened!”14a37a5dda6f2827

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“It wasn’t?!”17c2ecadc5aec67b

“It wasn’t inappropriate!”da7638069f0d7ec5

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The two began 933d3fd97d arguing loudly, their 0760a84d6f voices overlapping in 419436141d a chaotic mess. Laura returned just in db92759c08 time to find Felix 5a9f113e5e gripping Francis’s shirt while 7b24107289 Beatrice calmly finished another 01b5ac7433 sandwich.596e2752b9dfc454

Though the 27ecc4f51a scene was 46c38b4b50 an utter 89872bb868 disaster, Beatrice 1dab2313ba mused to 1b2ce9e429 herself: ‘The 8c50d3d26b sandwich is 2736268f4c delicious.’42503638fe006efc

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* * *a804a8642c5abb10

Once the chaotic situation finally settled, Beatrice climbed into the carriage, gracefully holding the neatly wrapped cake and sandwiches. Francis, looking thoroughly drained, excused himself, saying he would return on his own. Felix, smiling smugly, told him to “get lost” before joining Beatrice in the carriage.0a03efe28d10e516

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Beatrice handed eeefaab7d1 the packages 4235de684f to Laura, aee4e41352 who sat 1977ec8c34 nearby, and 9ab09b814f opened the 79dcb97cb6 carriage window 52aeb758b9 to glance f21f10857b at Francis, f980cccb6e still standing 18f996d65b beside the fe8a373d98 carriage.b378528a39ff8af8

“See you next time,” she said.23d6c490b17465bb

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Francis, fatigue 90b6070260 etched on 6d057cb530 his face, 8d492a6ad6 looked at ec2abaa96c her for 432500c7a9 a moment cce3c9a552 before nodding. Given how today’s outing 32a7ace5db had been thoroughly ruined 09aad71465 by her brother, arranging 5496bae179 a proper meeting next 0dd226cb00 time seemed like the 4757112de5 best course.1af4b2416cb1e634

“I’ll send you a letter,” he replied.331e944f0427309e

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“Can you send one?”c1c1fdb72f6ad0e2

“Of course. There’s something I couldn’t say today, though.”2a480af9907b0580

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“What is it?”4a8316546ff7df49

“Next time we meet, just call me by my name.”8c4bf2cf9fdb4eb4

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Beatrice tilted her 2645e73ac4 head, puzzled, but 25e51a0b3e nodded once. It seemed dd303e731d like such 6f9457c31f a small c97ade32b8 request, but bd6aca91d0 Francis felt 938e9922fc his ears 3d7994d74b heating up. The thought of 7f1f7f9f99 not hearing his 6facf33fba name from her 1d0ccb1473 dry, detached voice c9214e9be8 anymore left a 11050ab846 strange ache.f1a262d87d0e05a5

He didn’t fully understand why “Sir Vellenoze” grated on him so much, but it did.a7ee35963fda246d

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“All right,” Beatrice agreed.63c20c3901a6295d

“And drop the formalities. I’m not someone who deserves your deference.”9ea14a2e0a9dc717

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“Fine.”fc93e0ed8dbec71a

“You—! That bastard, again!”b58f2d2f9a4d0a55

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Felix, overhearing their conversation, 9030d45711 exploded, leaning out the b3936599da opposite window to hurl a6d0faa038 a string of curses 046e32b4da at Francis. But Francis, seemingly 583613f881 immune by now, 25435fba05 didn’t even glance ecc64d1097 his way. Instead, he 5663e791f0 bowed politely 3c6189183b to Beatrice.b985685996fd7335

“Farewell, Francis,” she said, his name falling softly from her lips.99730ea5b18c1fb2

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Francis had asked 7286570f54 for the informality, 893366147f so Beatrice didn’t e32dad48e0 hesitate. Yet speaking his 74c622c8bd name in such 7f98e91600 a peaceful moment 1dbd3065ca felt strange. She realized she 241676f5ba had never called ceb9efa71a him that in 1c54bb34be any of her ea5223f132 lives—not in such dd487cd420 a quiet, bloodless e6c1859f2c moment.8ac08814518f32c2

“Drive,” Felix barked to the coachman, prompting the carriage to move.751fb08cf80d9099

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As they d908c6e40e left, Beatrice 76ae1d6619 reflected on da61ad9374 the oddity 6ca1929c05 of saying 85298f3a97 Francis’s name 9b8667e8c4 without the a359da5788 chaos or 06ca753fb0 scent of 630740e7b1 blood that 014fe73042 usually accompanied 52c41c1f5c their encounters a7cfba8b18 in her 148f7bbde3 past lives.973ec66cb9e5e44c

Inside the 719b772554 carriage, Felix 07e1146b89 wasted no a3d6d7f761 time expressing 36f4f3a165 his frustration.b28475e1b1297cea

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“Let me tell you something,” he started, frowning deeply. “No good ever comes from guys who flirt so blatantly.”d7bf2c4294cedb27

Beatrice turned 3bb4d18306 to him, 30634b89b8 her head f26ca6a0ca slightly tilted. ‘What exactly 7878288bb8 is he 5235413d4d so worked 5601812ae4 up about?’76698126e39d893a

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“Why do you dislike Francis so much?” she asked.8e36c6c998d087f3

“You call him by his name just because he asked? Don’t you have any pride?”70780ef511bc1a64

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“I don’t see how pride has anything to do with it.”f4ec7c91799eee63

Felix grumbled c3e86eefdb under his 5030cd458c breath.95b1c52ca5ac4cc3

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“Do you… like him?”2efa66195345e4f3

“I don’t dislike him,” Beatrice replied.3b4f93f52f1ceaf2

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“So you don’t like him either,” Felix concluded.6e67ebc6b73fb822

Surprisingly, Felix understood Beatrice 199f972b1b better than most. He relaxed slightly, leaning 52190d323d back against the cushioned 8e93cef532 seat with his arms 987b0be9cf crossed. Confirming that his 11e0b9e97e sister had no 40c5b13b96 romantic feelings for d66c087fbe Francis seemed to f987146f43 ease his mood.0cefd19ebbaf1578

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Beatrice, however, found 1c2257d789 his behavior incomprehensible. Felix had always been 2fe04c4594 emotional and impulsive, and b0e4a9e811 his actions rarely made 50cf8a7fd7 sense to her. This was just 4e185251e9 another instance where 700b336fb0 trying to understand 762b5fb222 him seemed futile.d214d5a66f8dacfe

“Do you like me, at least?” Felix asked abruptly.13d94cb15c27978e

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“I don’t dislike you,” she replied, her tone unchanged.9df9a6d6f19dc0aa

“Good enough,” Felix said with a satisfied smile.44a1139dcca6e754

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Beatrice gave the 5493c2a6d1 same response as 1ca37a8654 before, but for 9e2cb28e3f some reason, it b152f9826e pleased Felix greatly. He leaned back c22b8cba9b further, clearly content, 1459edf8c6 leaving Beatrice to 7448d58ba0 think once again: 9468d99497 ‘My second brother 890bb0343f is as difficult b6b3eb1ffa to understand as edc65ad802 ever.’8592e9bf7ea6839a

 f606e70669ef933f

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