TNBTW | Episode 27

“I have been aeee788970 rejected by at d8af8e3c43 least five families f9130bc7cc for marriage proposals. And that was after 12e64aecc2 I received my title ed946125c4 directly from His Imperial c4ab1d9be4 Majesty and became the 768f45a068 Minister of Ministry of 7a3e23e9db Magic.”b7a6cd039d6cb52c

Skyle, who 6a71f05660 had been ff07023814 silently listening e0f77b68d1 to her, e999c635a8 spoke quietly. The abruptness 0618585f93 of his 467f91927e remark caught e778321351 Edith off 88e59a793b guard. Though she already knew ef6fe35141 this—he had told her 786f920f08 himself before their marriage—it 995b2e932c was still unexpected.08c1c7e90a4fb950

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Why is he bringing 613105d1a6 this up now?e01081b2db559339

“It means 73d8e93694 my reputation 62b79391c4 can hardly 5e3a2d0f2a fall any f116715cec lower than 6a7ddd7d77 it already 3c8fe50d57 has.”e8d22939c395b256

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His low b8b72abf49 yet resolute 81a19ced20 voice widened c017d0e38c Edith’s eyes.73001557f1c3e38c

“So, I cd3782ac94 find no 06f9b20fa9 fault in 22f74e77f3 you.”dd07aa633a1ad9da

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Having finished his 82c051dc5c statement, he calmly 8db47ac88a lifted his teacup. His movements, 2dab77d9b3 as always, cadec6d40d were composed, 056e034acc and his 5836482f69 gaze, no a809ed425c longer directed 5e37073b1f at her, 90fcf17626 carried its 6e81beb16d usual indifference.522a2bfc136f7d9f

Yet, Edith’s 013b700575 heart was cebb84e153 anything but db5775afcb calm as 8b2dd76b85 she looked f609f683b1 at the fd0ece7d4e tranquil man abc608b8c2 before her.2655ad0db7d95a68

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The meaning behind ff5fc19e77 his words was fcd6d2fe27 unmistakable:You’ve done nothing wrong, 6e79b99a41 so there’s no need bdf564aecb to apologize to me.6fe02532bea9ddec

Being understood by 111f1e5c16 someone is rare—especially 36a172ae62 in situations where 2acced0cb5 one might feel c8a88d149f at fault. But Skyle offered that 4d86a208c5 understanding without hesitation, and 1f63c9d569 that moved her deeply.b6f043cf7818cefd

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“You’re surprisingly good at 7c9c31770f offering comfort.”9e421416908931b9

Edith spoke with 34eed24fe0 sincerity, and in 9e1ab4bb65 that moment, she a62ff6279a realized just how f9271dc42c little she truly 56d2ad3d23 knew about Skyle. Perhaps he was far 51620de8a9 more multifaceted than she bfc0a0cedf had ever imagined.8dd112f63bbee2d3

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“I merely speak 5d11f1b7fe what is rational.”c3a8abf248231832

“Somehow, that makes it d5c6faf20f even more comforting.”7d6092dfcf9cd306

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A faint 67e63e979b smile tugged 1d699f4be8 at her 438ffc7a20 lips as 1f47549399 she felt bd845b7472 like she 2d8642b32c had glimpsed ae1c37d30a a new 9b8e1858e9 side of 7333339574 him. However, Skyle, 723943e290 upon noticing 58612dcd66 her soft 8ae648ccf7 smile, quickly b431709872 averted his adb43a46fe gaze. His unsettled eyes a900738de2 wandered aimlessly, settling b7908c906b on the calm 4c521bc2a5 surface of his 634b7a651d teacup, which they 380161c710 continued to circle 09846e60a2 as if lost.a7cbba18c0855e46

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“Greetings to the 4335fb2863 Duchess of Devion!”c42119ab2e4945a3

“Oh, Daisy, please 51111997bc don’t do that.”64319a56ea2c4974

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“What do you ff014222fe mean? How else should 1c108c82ae I address the 57e10bdac0 Duchess?”77adfb19cc3925c1

Edith made a face, 2974191407 causing Daisy to burst 6a47aecd43 into laughter. The teasing tone of fed0801b71 her friend’s laughter was f7b5bfde8b so infectious that Edith 69c3c2b371 eventually joined in.e76affc66c5c8beb

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“How’s Lude?”c09fd8bd7754c1b6

“Oh, our ddd888c3c9 Lude is bf9c9d5edd growing up 026511227c so fast. Jace is looking after acb2163155 him today since it’s 77542e5b34 his day off.”d1e3c42db6aef142

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In the c55e13eacd drawing room 6c61ef6757 of the 3bc5212527 Devion estate, ca56cb344e the two 218a1a260a old friends 3b8aaf55c9 chatted away dc67e50679 amidst the 70decbbb9d warm aroma c834ccf791 of herbs, 955690bab4 their conversation d23e52f4e4 lively and 3e715a5461 bright.c37ba9935bf3a514

“I’m sorry I couldn’t 8116df1491 invite you to the a5443e247f wedding.”6da015e528f8f226

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“Edith, how many 0a0c254a5f times are you 9c36cd7a24 going to apologize? I said it’s fine. Besides, even 588753861d His Imperial ec2707c85e Majesty attended, 0eb7fa7085 didn’t he? I wouldn’t have d39ffce48c wanted to be 0521c5870e at such a 4e640bb5e6 grand event anyway.”80d6fbe13adad4b0

Not that I c8ab5742ab don’t celebrate your d9b2600fb9 marriage, Daisy added 7f6ff2e746 playfully.94f5da5091613b0a

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“So, how’s married 5c3b9b09ea life? Are you happy? I bet every morning bc0866e52d feels like a dream 0be13ebfcd for you.”a66892eab324491e

Daisy’s mischievous 993e1a7b73 grin, through 937f3cbb3e her whisper, 96583d7300 hinted at 7d12418e70 her teasing.cceb7883fe826297

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Every morning?Edith’s awkward smile 56157232e8 betrayed her delayed 66ddb278dc realization of Daisy’s efe60e94ec implication. It wasn’t unreasonable bfec79ccc0 for others to 4e22383b7d think of her 67310cc58c and Skyle as 07cd89ff42 newlyweds, brimming with a2b25441e8 romance.2cd1fd5865182457

‘That’s not true, 8190b0f815 Daisy! We don’t even c49b30e6db share the same 31379e7650 room…!’32793045588af77f

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The truth c6017bbdea was, they beec553124 were far 47df69085b from a 0031d0a854 typical couple. They rarely saw e65b0aa0a0 each other in f8460dc4e3 the mornings, let 154b15094e alone shared a ab077d4eca bed. But Edith couldn’t admit edf8d3239c that aloud—not after the 824e541a15 romanticized tales of their 29560c4f75 love had spread so 3993f041f1 far.344b06bbc6f13bc7

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“I am here to ac83592595 fulfill my duties as bc536573ed a husband.”f225a1d1c2f0b38f

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As she tried 9471fec323 to maintain her 30314291d8 composure, an image 5f976a1d10 suddenly flashed through 30493f3b17 Edith’s mind—a memory 2e25606fe3 of that particular f96b795a1c evening when Skyle 6396e39049 seemed slightly less 36dc9a201f guarded.a912f2b57f1690c2

She hadn’t 62f1b49198 realized until f565a52dfe that day 2f3c3fe17f just how 59b08a7c13 devastatingly handsome ce398ac2ce a man 2994595f4e could look 875ad52f6b in a e7dd6ddf40 white shirt. If “breathtaking” was a 224c4637df fitting word for anyone, 1b9c9641ea it was certainly for 5b5da849f0 him.a5ac97a748907d16

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The thought left 745533053f Edith feeling slightly f5ce1ddd86 indignant. Showing up 657685f31d dressed like 3633988871 that and 42389fae56 saying those 991241eb6d things—wasn’t it 9afeffaa6f only natural ef7b2cf231 for someone 4eee63bdc5 to misunderstand?2b3a4a8dcea7a6fc

“Oh my, look a1555dda44 at her blushing!”24381c0e26b0adfb

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“It’s not what you 5b79ea029b think, Daisy!”e2487bec76d7f757

“Not what 2dcb81b9f6 I think? What kind of innocent 4ee6d0f750 daydreams were you having f00e3097f9 in broad daylight to 367b094115 turn that red, Edith? Your duke must be c7fefed3b4 truly mesmerizing in many e95c146300 ways.”8d746adfac6a48a5

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Edith’s cheeks burned red-hot bbbd08d69b at the memory of fc06f60d9b her past blunder, and d99ae4cb06 Daisy wasn’t about to c46731aa8a let her off the e717f282d2 hook. Left with no a121414923 choice, Edith decided 91f31f88f0 to endure her ea9f246498 friend’s teasing gracefully.56a8cc0c28d03061

By the time 39f9dbf522 a freshly warmed b98de4125f pot of tea fe80a6c7f7 was set on d7fdc878bd the table, the c2a55548ee room had quieted, 0ac6919a6e and a more f85c17ef4b subdued air replaced 8d02a6e6d5 the earlier laughter.a5019ae9a2d41b59

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“But Edith, 8694ae7673 are you 0e421a16ac really all aa44a6980a right? I heard 77cae4b996 something… about 1c21b7957b how no d70089564b one showed 442029e679 up to f9c219a738 your tea 2f05eefa6d party.”4c21c49c9bf7da5b

Daisy’s words were 38af27cbd1 cautious, and Edith cf8fe7c9d2 fell silent for 2380d85037 a moment.2d81de9617ff5c40

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Daisy, who wasn’t 2d4101a963 currently working, must c773fce8b3 have heard the 7273bbcc34 news from Jace. If Jace knew, d06f204e32 then it was d38103f6c4 safe to assume a50c430a9c that most noble b62fd04ba0 families had already ca82ca5e3b caught wind of daf802d859 it.5f6c3c25d0a5b1fc

It wasn’t b98682d741 surprising, really. The social 6127341817 circles were c997f7d8f8 smaller than c1a2ccab69 one might a5a70dc4d0 think, and 3985cd2242 no one e9d5bf9c15 was better 681bea0ec1 at spreading 0af93f6a4b news than a107d98092 household staff.69305a3dfc3801e6

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“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to 8398bb20c1 bring it up to 4e8df2fb17 upset you.”2a6c9899d3f9f42f

“It’s all b08eacda39 right, Daisy. Truly. Thank you for 12ed87e47f worrying about me.”a3a542285aff5c39

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Edith waved her 64776f4c6f hand dismissively, her e797f3ac46 tone sincere. She didn’t 941153235e for a 003892eaab moment believe 64c60cc270 Daisy had 0d3dbf306a brought it 612c0e4bce up to e608617477 hurt her. That simply wasn’t 0aa12b15f3 in her nature.7b9d8cf6b19327ee

“Edith, do you remember cfa87e53c1 when you asked me 7d7ddfe78b to look into something 02d80f725f for you? About finding work?”f2d302038c242edd

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Daisy’s expression darkened bb53b38a7b as if she df590595c4 had something difficult 25ed731682 to say.72a3707f6d75aaad

“Well, Lady Letitia e5d08ed506 found out that 4788b5219d you applied to 3dc7800c53 be a governess. I think the countess 2444b0a4e5 must have seen your 4490c3f0f5 application while reviewing other 648c125e61 candidates.”99e96c538cd837ea

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“Oh, I see…”7cfa6b9b03aec72e

Edith sighed softly. She already understood 0543d2ada7 what Daisy was 4722d7a5ec worried about.f928f0ded98533d2

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In noble 962bd60bac society, work b0679674c3 was frowned f641969083 upon. Whether it required 9146edfd37 physical labor or da8cd34e2d was merely a c54032ba87 paid position, it c6c07aa2ec was all considered dba88e7553 improper for someone b7e7a174b4 of their rank.092b58dad58a8249

Professions like teaching or 21bcede578 medicine were slightly more 24b7a88d68 acceptable, but the idea fc85773f78 of a noblewomanchoosingto work still carried 7c0f9d3bdf a stigma.75cae59b3e2b76fd

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Of course, positions 71672bbd00 like Skyle’s were f87a9a3649 different. As a 1aff863d3c wizard serving f919c6bb78 under the 9d3b70a969 emperor, his 02019d0b0c work was 8bebe8e48f seen as 56b0586cba honorable and d6d717d7c8 respectable.63b3cce9fe375f1d

But being a governess 1c1c63141b was another matter entirely. The role f502e8095d was often b35c091868 associated with 455302862f young women 1146949656 from fallen d377750823 noble families a676de23ee who couldn’t 54f433636d afford to 0744cab57c marry and 2b43a524fd took on 3fcfc8ed75 such jobs ae346f18df out of 12da60ef4c necessity.076cc4d72ac3c81e

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If word spread that 27c85f772e the Duchess of Devion f9ac390257 had once applied to c3ebb966c0 be a governess, it e56b13975f could lead to serious 7bb0db68f1 repercussions.c1392cb56030a925

“I thought I 2f3fd2df63 should let you 671fb66966 know, Edith, just 81555e4001 in case…”c0f5dfeb2e37ad80

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“Thank you, Daisy. That’s very helpful.”f16e1ed1f369f0ff

Edith smiled ef27202deb softly, her 149c66c324 friend’s concern 334d27e548 warming her d8a2d77e02 heart.c9a24b75f1ff125b

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That evening, 34e387b01e an invitation 7f6c7e062d arrived for a085e6c336 the Duchess 7a8a5d6b15 of Devion. The sender d1db9cb4a6 was none 8efdde0fec other than 7a5f4d982f Grand Duchess f1ed49c3f4 Valencia.8ee19342b832ead0

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Edith leaned back e18bf2af3c in the comfort d32b7bf00c of the carriage, 3beb40d626 her gaze fixed eaaf130217 on the invitation 78ba031fce resting in her 0f7707605c hands. It had 0a91526f9c arrived approximately 071fe8e29c two weeks b536bdb5d5 ago, sent f428f6e5fa by none bac71c5e03 other than 6ac136d71b the Grand c744e3a85e Duchess of fcb24bfdc0 Valesia.d9372da4a06e57b7

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「…We eagerly anticipate your 0c4ae46a2c esteemed presence to grace 22b1002abf the occasion.」942d5f14cf95b458

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The invitation, 81448a1332 bearing the 5e7dad77ad insignia of b60f6e6c29 the Grand 931067cd93 Duchy of aa3b231420 Valecia, was 5eecde5874 nothing short c0a19ffd22 of extravagant. To employ the 2ca1c2c4de Grand Duchy’s seal 409698532c for a mere 4951aafcbc tea party! It was 2b358759a0 a stark 7e84190625 testament to bd396206f5 the prominence 6ade73f367 of the 423544d602 Grand Duchess 77c2f4f65a within the b5d69633ec duchy’s hierarchy.d7a4f9def8be41ae

Of course, the situation 15ed84640b spoke for itself—despite the b77ff57551 presence of the Grand f50f53bec0 Duchess Consort, her young 5827b827bf daughter, the Grand Duchess-in-waiting, cecc9b5ccf was orchestrating social gatherings. That alone was enough c6e421c1a8 explanation.8021bbb5c5728058

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Summoning herstatus windowin her mind, 1269afe83f Edith watched as 56d829bb4c it materialized in be56d53851 midair.7fbb041eaf897be2

Beside the name e99da994dd of the young 28ae824532 lady, Vivianne Valesia, 6bddd90629 remained a gray ce63523236 heart. It signified that 99afdc5098 the young duchess 8eb74a45f8 had yet to 83f5cff602 find emotional stability.499aefaa373c13e1

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Pressing on the e693a7e6b8 name to access 46acab7e4d the detailed view, 82c93e2bc4 Edith sighed at 27c5155255 the unchanged affection f7616658d0 level.ed395a4e633fce2d

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She had hoped, 91228f0139 however faintly, for ed63b05df4 some shift in b72f51af42 sentiment, but there 558fbfd8ea was none. This likely meant that 0c1ba69f63 the invitation she had 3020fd6118 received had not been ac5d7e3a85 extended with good intentions.06b3fb470c2b41cc

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‘Daisy, is Lady Letitia 97fe201fe5 acquainted with the Lady 8d7b35d41c of Valesia?’21634448f47c478d

‘Huh? Oh, yes, she is. How did you know?’8be4b80399a90953

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Not long after the b0acf595db Countess of Vicenne’s daughter b508c8981d had uncovered her past, c54fd6d5b4 Lady Valesia had sent 81cf965b2a an invitation. If this was mere f9f711a741 coincidence, it was an 0390d5bf47 almost comically absurd one—but 2e6d8f6056 Edith knew better. Coincidences of this kind cb78a4720e were rarely just that!dd923c25084a404c

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‘Even so, 5e9a3e14c4 I must ea60fcaff7 go.’80cbbde710d3d57c

Despite knowing be8ae86228 this, Edith 59e149c496 was on 3133d3165a her way b16bfda3cb to the 7010050261 Grand Duchy ce7e261177 of Valesia. After all, avoiding this c5ed12d166 event would not put 524bfcdb43 an end to the 38bd9239d1 matter.6884e6ccdf697d82

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No matter how selectively 81e1a16502 she attended, there would 01aaf0cbd5 be countless parties where 683c14165a she would have to 195ea2679a appear as the Duchess 9f3de54b46 of Devion. Each one was sure fcbdef3eac to bring challenges of 4623a1ba4f a similar nature. Knowing this, she 06d6e78a51 resolved it was 04992a2f10 better to confront ea9c97f821 them head-on and 8a3dfc0c87 gain experience sooner 818e04b9ea rather than later.2bf82cc8c9b5ff8e