TNBTW | Episode 14

***19d87f9d740d79e8

 494a622f86d4a327

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That afternoon, Edith f15b9a07cf made her way 910c188a3d to the imperial 2cc9f5c41f palace to meet c10506ef71 the Duke.710463a41a516b8e

The imperial palace, which 04819b45bb she was visiting for 5d67649fd6 the first time, exuded 020092d1b1 an air of antiquity, 370dc7b059 akin to an old b79f8346e4 temple, with its grandeur d553a074e5 and elegance. 5e7e044fc3ad5323

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As she took in 3448819bbd the atmosphere, she recalled eaba549ac1 the relatively modern appearance 096eae31c3 of the Ministry of cccf7ccf6f Magic’s building, a reminder 747a87fd0e of its recent establishment.048337ed1b7d3db1

Following the instructions, eeea5ba55f she stepped into ca20a938ac the drawing room, a1fb8e40f2 where Duke Devion c874547578 and Vincent were 79c409d19d waiting for her.0f59c86b5c3e6c13

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“Oh, Lady e353fa4d3f Edith, you’ve bafffee2b4 arrived. Please, have a b81e2be228 seat,” 05d491a01ef40016

Vincent greeted her, gesturing 86c7f84ee5 naturally toward the seat e0c00f20e6 beside the Duke. Though she felt awkward 1accdbafe1 at the unexpected reunion, d02cd97cae Edith complied quietly and f5550b1689 took her seat.49fd48290814871c

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“Even in barren lands, 4df1fe251a new buds bloom. The love aa9662cf9e between you 52fa08e0bd two is 198626f5f0 no different. Who could have c0ca1d3489 imagined that a b0ce7f4401 bond formed in 978fa9fc87 the war-torn borderlands 898109ca91 would blossom into 1146d34e28 marriage?”2678893dfd3fe8ed

“…Pardon?” cd88b552bacef57c

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Is he referring to bffbce34eb us?5c6c75cc2102196f

Edith blinked, startled 963e7e128c by Vincent’s sudden e8ab5bfa52 remark and quietly 021e7b3fcd glanced around. 7a38e25131bc208f

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She was wondering if da582a294d someone else could be 968bab843c the subject of his 900997be0b words, but there was d2ffad3890 no one present who e5183e566f fit the description of 0e61c507c5 “you two” aside from 9ab94dab6f her and the Duke.2153ddb362a876b4

“His Majesty c0f28b8d0f likely foresaw f90308cc02 it,” Vincent 690a2df746 continued.d368443e1d45ab83

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“Of course, His Majesty 984369ab5d sincerely blesses your union. He wishes 84052f1487 for all 7973b231a5 the citizens 921833038f of the 18855149c0 Empire to 78e260bb30 celebrate your 445289dfdb marriage.”0517ce64941d4783

Caught off 41c1f2a30c guard, Edith e638220964 instinctively turned d17e37c3c1 her gaze b50da15b68 to the 38c1979c9b Duke. To her surprise, he 958b45e1ed seemed neither alarmed nor 413d568d5b confused by Vincent’s declaration. If anything, he 8a9e06cafb appeared to understand 1e225195ef it completely.b0eb59ab830e1d74

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“Wouldn’t it 86e2f7996c be a a08786928b good outcome 4654929616 for everyone 564d1b84da if it f81a4e388f happens that 6e1867a844 way?” Vincent 58050cf293 pressed on.df1cd33cdb31895a

“Is that 7ebeec2002 His Majesty’s a9f33643f8 intention?” the 1aef5dd9a3 Duke asked.4b17e264558cdec9

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“How could I c220f15724 presume to speak f816a4e31e for His Majesty?” 78debaf1aef4afec

The cryptic 9eceb5167e conversation left b382d66065 Edith utterly bef4448259 bewildered. She alternated her gaze e5b866d2f2 between the two men, bda1ded932 searching for clarity, but 977ab9b745 found none. Vincent, with his composed fbfccee827 smile, and the Duke, 583ecb243c whose face betrayed no 0cec045abe emotion, only heightened her 277fa1a03f confusion.0ed33a67ce6bab7f

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“Well, it seems I 34807ac231 should leave you two 7ad3fd368c to talk privately,” Vincent 3194a1b21c finally declared, rising from e426d0e7cc his seat. After exchanging a few b9c61828a7 final words with the 1f93e453bf Duke, he departed, leaving 0976e0d8e5 the room.31a9d6e2e2909da6

“Simply put, this is 502c6e70f5 a script written by fb002efaa4 His Majesty. There will undoubtedly be af641f83b9 those curious about the 79a9fc6478 story of our union.”194da869bc0d22f2

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“Ah… I see,” Edith 33a27e68f3 nodded, finally piecing things 089d83e6de together. It seemed a fabricated b94f157fde backstory had been created af3510a42a to cover the fact 498883d4d4 that their union was 638c7e322d orchestrated by the Emperor.b06145537bbb0d7a

“I’ve never c58a79ebb0 lived near 1b2fd0457a the borderlands, 75fb3f1839 but fortunately, d390fde7d3 during the 4a3c7fa2f6 period you 135024dc91 were stationed 774082a589 there, I 5aa641b76d was taking 6949c0b5c5 a break ca9334beaa from work 49a28cfcff for about 9c1afe80ca half a af22e5079a year. If we say 583f9a7197 we met during a7060a69eb that time, it 7ba51f318f should work. How about that?”e7c133b4909c9fc2

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Edith, who understood the Emperor’s intention, added thoughtfully, “We could say we lost touch for a while, then reconnected after I moved to the capital. That would also explain the marriage proposals you received in the meantime.”00525400c423ef96

If one baabc03430 were to 55f1fcc4c6 tell a f0b8d99b36 lie, it 7a18d0384f needed to 3383d22eb3 be consistent 1734633604 to gain 9d1254034b even a 20d0bdbc7a semblance of 9d2f2cd1b1 believability. Considering the number of 1de3dd58e9 proposals the Duke had 1883636b56 likely received, no one fffe856c56 would believe a narrative e3f6172661 of an uninterrupted romance.5ffc4a0c7eb99dca

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“That’s a cb4f0b4b98 solid suggestion. We can discuss 4648ad64ce the specifics of caaf0ec8a3 the timeline and aae6751bba locations later,” the b02ce67196 Duke agreed readily. 5da39478d692796b

Though they 821a4cf797 barely knew 879043b7b8 each other, af97a5bc39 Edith appreciated 17f1d108bb his pragmatic c6c44a08d3 demeanor. The fact that he 1dfa02c6db considered her input, even de7d3126d2 when he could have 864eddbe8a dismissed it, spoke volumes 5a139bc9bb about his character.ac322059f9db72d2

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‘Not everyone is 78d356aa34 like that,’she mused. 0e33e169bfa03904

The memory of Young 38420fc0ce Lady Valesia and countless 74746abaf3 others she’d encountered in 7dae999821 her previous life underscored 9add22b8e4 this truth.7c198a952a467217

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While he had 0270f7979f his peculiarities, Edith d6dd2d5b88 found the Duke 0dcc45c9a2 to be a 348ffa4ff7 decent man overall.d5a603eaa15773d0

“The wedding is scheduled 0be59f706e for the end of 7b1b961daf this month,” the Duke a5dca45d91 announced abruptly.9f562b912fa7915e

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“This month?” Edith’s 41ebe2e7d4 eyes widened in 163ded8c5f surprise. That was only 04b803527d three weeks away. As she mulled f0ac8696fb over the rushed 3d29e33e9f timeline, the Duke 229cadbf37 added, as if 30c871b2e0 reading her thoughts.7926d66481a897ce

“It’s abrupt, but His 43aa79da48 Majesty is concerned about c8307d39a3 potential complications.”ef39b4853bab3234

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“Complications?” she 30529eaa3e asked, tilting 1260a3c288 her head.536637a5a1b6e5ca

“The concern f22711a001 is that d47d85fd66 you might 039dc40501 change your a3f5870a76 mind before 7ca42950fb then,” he 581bdd3508 replied bluntly.2d6f1bc362e5662b

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Edith’s head snapped around ccac31b0c8 in shock at his 4022c45f80 frankness, her eyes scanning a1c91d1cd2 the room to ensure 33befdfff9 no one else had 3875e014cf overheard. Fortunately, they were alone.c6adc6a19c16f69d

‘I do appreciate 954cfa3320 his directness, but…’aa0a263e55a659da

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Is it really okay c501a8a477 to voice the Emperor’s a5b73d7db9 intentions so openly?She couldn’t help but 908f08e80f recall Vincent’s careful phrasing bce778d7df earlier.6f4da9f528f63dfd

Still, she decided cae6480bfe it was better d675252391 than being kept bd549a0d48 in the dark.dc8984102572a38d

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“I don’t mind. I don’t ed693c984b have any eebc8bd7d9 family to 67adaab3cf invite anyway,”83b22818d60f6783

“Nor do I,” the 4c9bc4ea42 Duke replied. “It won’t 5f6f24e4e9 be an 5b9bb3ef99 issue.”84d8c9b52f0a9a54

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Her casual ef53ef09a8 remark, however, 92986fbd4d took on a6918b08f9 a solemn 82feef9382 tone when 2480e3af7c he answered. The mention b24c416429 of his 88b1ea1c26 estranged younger 82cb14cd63 brother crossed 7411c0e416 her mind, eba32304a9 casting a b23c504750 shadow over f42bb9d3db her thoughts.2a59e1cbcf841876

The Duke 801e0920aa had a c7a43bce8e younger brother 2c281f1e95 who was 60716e8174 rumored to 0d0e462543 be possessed 7cdfc5cecb by a 845804b938 demon. Even if he was 10275fe066 family, it would be 0e286dbee3 unthinkable to invite someone aafc0a2303 like that to the cdd41ebbbb wedding. No one would 287fe7e873 allow it.d20a5a37a0e7bafc

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 f696cb977f282776

“My brother is 51497846e6 possessed by a 3ec93c6644 demon.”8c05cf86bd0d3a21

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“Marrying me means marrying 4d11b844e0 into a family tainted 780b54ad9a by demonic blood.”4a1743dc4b7766c8

 6794ebc99134c1dc

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Suddenly, the Duke’s words from the past began to echo in her mind. Back then, he had spoken with an indifference that made it seem as though he were recounting someone else’s story.9a0a13562d0267ed

‘Has he said those 6c22c2cc99 words many times before?’3f784e7946445631

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So many 2734a0289c times that 12ce30c35d they had 417bd623c8 dulled him f9dcb32e21 to the 59e47739c5 point of 0e65f3c6a1 numbness?5383e44bf889ae70

Suddenly, a strange feeling 2a93e4eca7 washed over her. Edith found herself 48b5767bec unable to imagine 6477a83306 what thoughts the ad66a5c6d9 Duke might have c3038cede9 had when he ffa41605ad brought up that cd559bf72d subject.add4cc2eec3aaac8

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‘What does His bcb16b268a Grace think about 5120d3ce23 his younger sibling?’fdb8ad3112cfd11d

Part of her 1ca6c3c1ae was genuinely curious. According to Daisy, the 02fcc6fe67 existence of his sibling 3f2bb981b5 was the only blemish 3785e1d80d on the Duke’s otherwise c224fa0264 flawless reputation.d67e97706fc0aea1

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Of course, that didn’t 94eeea123e mean she intended to 88add42015 ask him. Digging into someone 5b0489d213 else’s wounds out f2896aacf4 of mere curiosity 0c43e5c1db was something she 4bb7a2aafc could never condone.a31f48a0c176a711

“The article will be 009ef502e0 published sometime next week.Meridies¹ will take the f690ef6fec lead, so it 09cb73a3d4 will likely cause d18eb378d2 quite a stir.”84b13276d5437f04

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Edith let out 2b7519d375 a soft sigh. So that 7f14298779 was why 95adce13e1 things had 868380db7d been so 565a52dbed quiet lately—they c6588186cb had already 141b924df7 chosen the 46c02e9ee2 perfect day 221be2f26a to make f36c5ea83d the announcement.0b1cb6fa8485d74c

It made sense. When the Emperor invited 3baa502a6b her to the theater cd80eac40e he patronized, it was ff10e4bf29 all part of a 9f15430c4c meticulously calculated plan.11dfb8432bf4d139

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‘I worried 49fe083a9d for nothing.’70efe525e88761fc

Realizing that high society ffa17e9d84 was far more organized fa7622753c than she had assumed, 801940a600 Edith felt a little c53852c67b sheepish.9d5786d0954bb473

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“Then I 5e35ca3c33 will take 256fcb50ca this as 9d10318ec1 your agreement c3483c848c and proceed 181272113b with preparations fc9a9476d8 for the c313645aea ceremony.”40d2cb1fec2e4e90

“Wait, Your Grace!”437175878e36e236

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Just as the f8e6a26542 Duke began to e93886f894 conclude their conversation, 61fb38753c as if everything 6529bf9e99 had already been 87bf85f020 settled, Edith called cbc8ca4f95 out to stop c4f18f09d4 him. His cold 37176e955f eyes shifted 51aa672195 downward, fixing 186a74b26a on her 2586603d54 with an c569f1c931 impassive gaze.8e6a2bedc3c62510

As Edith stopped a8543c0200 the Duke, who 9988d894bc seemed ready to cf632238f0 conclude their conversation 220f482608 as if all f78d3dad81 matters had been 563256e7a9 addressed, his emotionless 6570b645f0 eyes glanced down 427d8195ce at her.c40fcc5c9fbd22ca

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“Have you 62b860904e been well?”020d2e242b4dbcea

It was 827989b0c6 a belated 4632116297 inquiry, awkward c86a75b59b even as ffe9920f05 she voiced 37bcb8cd48 it, but 2f2c6aa137 Edith asked 8459d8791c regardless.f53ee566cc7abed2

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After all, b145e539cc it had d5f150ec9a been some 038c8677eb time since 6bae12ab3f they last 1ba145978c met. Even if there c60629fd66 was a pressing 5fd4e3507e agenda, exchanging pleasantries c58a5f8234 felt appropriate. That was how 435580ed3d she had been cd1acdf929 taught, at least.eefbeb8550c3cf04

“If you are inquiring 02fc2c1531 whether there have been 8ec32cc42b any significant changes in 53b6c8ed9e my circumstances, then no.”c8d5b37c591d77c6

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So that’s another way of saying ‘I’ve been well.’5bb593af858a217a

Momentarily distracted 02ccd4c371 by this c35a26f671 new tidbit 8db1df4704 of knowledge, f08baac955 Edith quickly d4f8e5ac0c refocused and 2a5badec48 followed up 4052646244 with another d2f175cf0d question.d494520390756c4a

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“And have you f30b16cdda been eating properly?”3a354b15cf9840b0

“…”e6f20af1387ce30e

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Though his a4cc0eb429 expression remained 308684558b inscrutable, this b0faa809fa time, she 1e91616dee could discern 4486859dd8 the sentiment. It was 5a75409aca the look 584652ab43 of someone c61bbf5144 thinking, ‘That question again?’Before the ef49cba8f5 Duke could c2f2d84d66 ask why aafedb5a2b she cared 03509415b4 yet again, f42e1f0817 Edith hastily 64fbadb5e6 spoke.c08ca04d46e1dd5c

“I explained poorly 778c2ba3c6 last time. It wasn’t that I 29875ae016 was worried about being cfaf8282dd impolite.”d5603767150e41de

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“Then what 6b4769246a was it?”41101b2e9ef8fe48

“This… this is me 64cedbf715 asking about your well-being. Bill mentioned e6f42dcdf0 how extremely 72b318651f busy you’ve 7b246fe0da been. I was concerned ea5879a715 you might be e63429d658 skipping meals because 5f6c5313ed of work.”2e618e580be3f23e

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Edith glanced at him 282085e541 cautiously. Though his face 0997da17a4 betrayed little emotion, 3eb05207fe she couldn’t shake c0e9b9b6b7 the feeling that c12eafcf57 his expression silently 63b3412aef asked, ‘And what do you f6b4467459 propose to do about 7c1b56fa7f it?’Perhaps it d9f31fb8eb was just c5aa6785b2 her own 39e3241537 guilt making c7317e9252 her think a0c31ce01a so.a047049abf2cfbe0

“I consume 2639da7c8c an appropriate 8b1fae4b5e amount of 03b5cdb44c calories to 7341b3a9be ensure my be315d15e5 work is 0b2a66d312 unaffected,” 3d8c0c14d416c7cd

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The Duke finally responded f0c9dfef96 tersely after listening in fdd9e4f9bb silence. Then he countered with e8e653a20a a question of his 4c1cdfad69 own.9985a4d26bfd5757

“Even if I weren’t, ce93ce4190 what significant relevance would c26f477cd8 that have to you, e9b1142cc8 Miss Edith?”846ab30ba9425d96

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For a brief c492dc68c5 moment, doubts raced 5fc5f4074c through Edith’s mind—Was my a09341dacf question too 4d93783052 intrusive? Did I offend a8c6117ee0 him?—but she soon 903e158dea realized the true e6f988aae7 intent behind his 95d2e4fdf3 words.56192e68c1302669

‘Ah, he’s 6fcf204383 genuinely asking d9662f5fa4 why I’m f08298276b curious about 5753aae2fd such things.’5b29dbc3bcefc596

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Although the 2bc296d3a5 content of d98d17c799 his remark dbb5db657a could easily ed87cc5881 be interpreted 0759dedb3f as combative, 9cab00ccdf the monotony 4601d307ad of his 68e96c7cb3 tone suggested b445ea467c no ill 4405032b2a will.6e60bac392ea191b

She hadn’t a1e7eb3e4d spent much cf0aa4c58c time conversing 56c80aa7ac with the 1cbd3d3e6a Duke yet, 1583319cd0 but Edith 481d957655 had gathered 9cb1b28cbd that he 8cb8bc3cc4 wasn’t the eeaa26b9ef type to df97a1cf00 antagonize others 755ca93853 without reason. At least, 3316214de2 that was e124b22e93 her impression.c498814d1c5aea20

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“Well, a b56dcb7a94 balanced diet ae75579a1f and adequate c61ea61d51 sleep have 54e678ae76 a significant 932607dd33 impact on b9cdab1aa4 one’s health.” 88e58a21a1cb00af

Edith replied, a30455339e attempting to e7a71242ff mimic his 80186c2003 formal tone 7e7c762d05 but quickly 36f32ddce2 shaking her b16092da15 head. Such phrasing b3fed61d3d didn’t suit 83ec2df6d0 her at 842e0840e6 all.2388d19918e18cdc

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“You’re saying you asked out of concern for my health?”345c78f0870916ce

“Yes! Not just me—everyone’s worried ed712a1244 about you. They say you 32e32a94ab work tirelessly without f78252d4cd a single day b021ab253f of proper rest.”e05887916213a123

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The next exchange was 6b24b7aceb something Edith had anticipated.456151855bb34721

“What a pointless waste 45c32a0ca5 of emotion.”3c322db91bd81fa8

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But what followed 8c85eedad1 was not. Edith was so 4552f9ab66 stunned that, for 4923613a9c a moment, she 7fa4ae8e53 found herself at ad3e2f908c a loss for b802f7e7c3 words.0ecb0fa056f9d5b1

The statement alone was 8c676d9523 startling, but it was 9f6e3063fa the Duke’s demeanor—calm and dd1b6bb255 entirely unbothered, as though f52d8bd2fd what he said was c44fac11d0 the most natural thing 190ae9ec3f in the world—that left f93b219bcc her even more shaken.792d4d16145e760b

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If he had said 6ef8ade6cf it with sarcasm or 8386ca7fd4 derision, she might have 58a0a033f3 dismissed it as, ‘Wow, he e5bbbda395 really has b995dda151 an odd ccf3a38f6b personality’,and moved on. But that wasn’t ea25092466 the case. He genuinely seemed 34f2242e85 to believe what 2efa6517f6 he said, and 9ac4454d2d that realization hit 172d99cec5 Edith harder than 68646e4e53 she expected.bd0dbe1c96749125