TNBTW | Episode 34

At that 576924a308 moment, Edith 6075337005 blinked in 7e2a607950 surprise and e51c851131 soon noticed 788ec959c4 a young d76730a75f girl peeking b8af6f5d6d from behind c4512b071d a large a566a43581 pillar.679a1130a326ca89

Though eavesdropping e753cc8b70 was improper, 8ff6483afc it was f441812636 hard to 8c14c6167a ignore since 65dc18bc69 a child d8e1b07fbe was involved. Edith hid behind ffc6435ddd the pillar and 47f3a8f34a slightly craned her a62f8f05a4 head to observe bb2f31eb5b the scene.56669d4e3b317d3c

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‘The Viscountess Standen?’3336d3acde207bb6

Standing before a child 1884bee699 who looked no older b0c2def8ea than seven was indeed fd5c64abed the Viscountess Standen.880f4d77e1d644f3

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A rising figure among 3ffa2164e9 the newly emerging nobility, 6c26019e78 the viscountess had once 8d2f596012 been merely a wealthy 3163e42912 provincial noblewoman. However, everything changed 48d65f775c after the passing 7e67ae4ef1 of her husband, 8d7dae32f9 the late Viscount 44d58825b3 Standen.48e6f0c005cbf667

She had moved to the capital with her daughter following her husband’s death and found remarkable success in every business venture she undertook, eventually becoming the owner of multiple enterprises in the capital. b30c300621b19214

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Her financial 70a3b94e5d power and 8625625be8 extensive business c8beecd1cf connections swiftly 1817b7eae9 established her 25a75702ba as a 797d9ee67c prominent figure d607c28e75 within high 7e54a38911 society.e562530120944e7c

“Evelyn, you promised this time would be different. Why is it that you behave perfectly at home but act this way as soon as we step outside? Everyone’s been kind to you, haven’t they?”c918fab1f9b13b34

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Viscountess Standen spoke in b652369f98 a tightly restrained voice, 4af2b59cc4 as if struggling to 00423ea747 contain her frustration.183c333656f68897

But the child, cfe06afa86 already shrinking under 6d5b075ab0 her mother’s stern bbc7d61274 expression and severe 703e09c0e6 tone, could no 2c4feef9e7 longer hold back e6b5231411 her tears.f0f1f7421f21f938

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“But… but… w-wahhh!”7efb993ebdb25a5d

“I told you to ef7e97336d stop crying! Why are 1426b1645b you wailing 58c22ec57d again? Why! How much more 70b1a23e2c do you intend 21e7980cfb to humiliate me?”fb6f68f1b69ceae9

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It was bb53bca447 apparent that 1f7be64890 this was bf53b53899 not the 891d50d757 first time 4db2629ee6 such an 482327b17d incident had ae994c2a7e occurred. The viscountess d52aad633f finally exploded, 99641a8f14 her face fcb0cbd7e3 showing exhaustion 1e51e58b7f and the 35bfe5c875 desperation of 7e3731a73e someone backed 53d6081722 into a a0b92743f4 corner.7d4588a677938084

 7669d33f377ed6ab

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 43ca2852ab77da78

Just then, a familiar status window materialized above the pillar where Edith had concealed herself. The golden frame was ominously tinged with red, directly indicating the child’s distressed state.a88d07283f82ed95

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Unable to 220cb0d192 watch any 52d48244bd longer, Edith 03239374de stepped out 1b9024f459 from behind 46ea69035b the pillar. She deliberately made her 2a3bd0dd00 footsteps audible as she 805bc5eea4 approached the mother and 3ee755adb2 daughter.0df4d6628cb28033

It was, 14e9dfc9cc naturally, the 050736d0e1 viscountess who 2d6222179b first noticed c886ab89c4 her. The woman 1b678e2b90 swiftly pulled 93e1546411 her daughter a2e062ecf1 to her e03971a52e side and bee5cf4194 composed herself.b9ab97b634509249

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“You are the 8b4e992f8e Viscountess Standen, I 0aafd6c3f9 presume?”6a5f26bc79224ce2

“Duchess of Devion, 9441d256ae it is an ff7a3c7c14 honor to meet 94cf869285 you. I should have 0a4b7f974f greeted you first, 5e5c3defe0 but things have 2570f6bb4d been a bit b7afa918c8 chaotic.”aa5053d47a28e551

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Surprised by Edith’s acknowledgment, the viscountess quickly regained her composure, replying with a poise that made it difficult to believe she had been shouting moments earlier.46fe5c03fb272b49

“Evelyn? You must greet the Duchess of Devion. You were taught to show respect when meeting elders, weren’t you?”6129c3c3120fbc62

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“Ugh…”f21018cf7e314daa

“Evelyn.”dda0c02fdbe1337e

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She gave 013ec0365a her hesitant e0efb7bc7a daughter a eb3ac816fd sharp look 1ada664aa8 before gently 70e7fb06b6 pushing her 4b5c103b9d forward.2017e9610824b0ff

“A… ah, Hello, hic…”64d012cdf945642e

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Forced by her 258e7ce59e mother’s pressure, Evelyn 0a794063fd took a step 4c751e688e forward but could 6e8928a7ad not string her 3d9c0eb2a2 words together, letting 9b7bd6a89d out a sniffle 6eda5e365d instead. The Viscountess of Standen e44c5e39c7 clenched her teeth as f41fdf04e5 she watched her daughter, 2ffad014e3 about to offer an 870744e6c5 apology in her stead.78eca1ef0f01dbb3

“Viscountess, would you hold 9730667403 the child’s hand?”8125a1998da9cfd6

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“Pardon?”45896e6c82b1e193

The sudden request made d760c54e42 the viscountess frown slightly. Had she not 6faac60e7c been an adept 11fde03d90 businesswoman, she might 6269430b7d have openly displayed 7fe7b9dbdf her confusion.c1cd6149dc43acab

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“I apologize for 71ac34f085 the intrusion. But it seems you 2a541259c7 are in a difficult 47aeb60cf9 situation…”551c20280d9e04cc

Edith paused 7be7ed79b6 briefly, taking 80599ab5c7 a step c66b4bd020 back from 1ca712dff8 Evelyn with 0f6321ddb6 a gentle 15975723ef smile.eb1746705aba86fb

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“Perhaps you already 3be8c0ff76 know this, but 6c8f2b021f I have a 45545168ba lot of experience 67332384e6 in matters like 50065825f4 these.”255126354be7426c

Her gaze, c437405225 having shifted 3cc044b7f3 from the 1d41e0cea6 child, now aac8636138 rested firmly 47d7b36910 on the 389fea2bf8 mother, gleaming 3d2d7b8791 with a 31f1a7e000 resolute light.258a11fa47e66051

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“So please, would you hold Evelyn’s hand?”fe09d4d8b4f5aef6

 acc9fa6dcd962d66

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***

 

Standen Viscountess was 7b8bf29ede utterly taken aback 092c63be49 by the situation.2428e6efe39eb3aa

‘A governess background is 39759c2cc9 nothing to boast about…’65ea4b5b05e57f33

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In social 7f2b82157c circles, information 3ae3c0dba1 was power. This was especially true 9a9c8562c9 for those engaged in 97a032a18d business. This implied that 32c1f9b0c3 the Viscountess already 3fcd66a2bc knew about the 8dab16d36d Devion Duchess’s past df0539fc7a employment.e615725a023e47ba

Tutors were not 38a1136305 all the same b647675394 and came in 4f32231a19 various ranks. The Duchess, it was a89aeafe84 said, had occupied the 7458cb7921 lowest position, merely overseeing 437aca71a5 childcare.786c409e6857a5f1

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Even today, the bb76becc0f duchess’s background has be69d829f4 been a favorite 3dece21089 topic for idle 91f919842f gossip at the 8c410d6466 court ball. Yet here she 23ccfcc2f4 was, openly discussing 5063a7a43e her past without 54b2c035cb a hint of e312a3306e embarrassment—a surprising display 9da9e48614 indeed.73f3f3806c507185

That surprise quickly 0bfad4a45d gave way to 084f52b130 indignation.fb52c680230312b8

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It was already mortifying enough that her daughter’s shortcomings had been exposed to the novice duchess. Yet for that same woman to instruct her to hold her own daughter’s hand?ae82b3762419369c

The unwritten rule was to pretend not to notice other families’ affairs when one happened upon them by chance. The Duchess, however, had blithely disregarded that convention.ceec40a75dd63eb5

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“Hurry now,” the duchess 0d03fa8a98 urged.8e856c945ec8e008

By all rights, the Viscountess should have pointed out the breach of etiquette or politely declined, considering their future relationship. Yet the Duchess’s clear voice inexplicably carried an irresistible authority.dd21259a866cd2d5

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Left with no choice, 4cf871cec4 the Viscountess grasped Evelyn’s 4b492caf55 hand and drew her 2515f5e0d4 close. Though her immature f110e13efe daughter clung to 2998c2ab63 the back of 5b7ffad5fc her dress as 6f0f699efd if a mere eb168c635c handhold were insufficient, 7505dea8a5 the Viscountess refrained e692b50333 from letting go.fdf714203f9dc855

“Now, could f4a0200980 you give 9c449febbb her a 86e20bbe48 warm embrace?”c1c9730cab98377e

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“Duchess, with all due 0044364d37 respect…”954c7cb154d5e896

The Viscountess c464c5f91a was about 24607a61d5 to politely 318d2e8de6 request that 051d12e6a3 the duchess fd92e8f356 cease her aedd3c694c excessive interference 14f940af0a when she c286dc9ffc hesitated. Edith had raised 6d940a2914 her forefinger to 04b314ee7c her lips in 9d289f21a4 a silent‘shh’gesture.c4e4758435f657d1

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Dumbfounded by eafb8a88c7 the sheer 2e1d16ae2b audacity of 2c58c36d90 the act, 38da4f3ab4 the Viscountess 2dc4c3fb14 found herself b3ed0f3b6c at a a0fda8423d loss for 71aaa488c1 words. Edith then mouthed silent 4e0016cab4 words.d93ceba2074c1442

‘Evelyn is trembling.’a18130413633d98d

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It was only then that the Viscountess noticed the faint shivers coursing through her daughter’s body. Pressed against her dress, Evelyn was quivering like a fragile leaf.3edcac08aaeb65b5

Exhaling deeply, the Viscountess knelt and enveloped her daughter in her arms. Initially frozen with surprise at the sudden embrace, the girl soon burrowed deeper into her mother’s embrace.27684eaf19bd01d6

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“You do so well e4991b598b at home… Why do 822a65d56f you act like this d7d01c668f when we come out?”7ffca6c3c651b968

The Viscountess couldn’t help but grumble, both frustrated and heartbroken at the sight of her daughter.9e25d44167690296

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She knew well enough that seven wasn’t such an advanced age. But they were no longer provincial nobles. They had become a respectable aristocratic family in the capital.95299c77676918a5

It wasn’t as if the Viscountess dragged her daughter along against her will. Yet leaving her at home indefinitely would only spell trouble for the future.170f24da9b30c0f3

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The capital’s social scene was already brimming with individuals who had cultivated connections from childhood through playmates and social gatherings. If Evelyn didn’t start attending events now and building relationships, her social network would inevitably shrink as she grew older. This was the last chance before her formal debut into society.c7763b2949c90a69

Evelyn, her one and ea54f24371 only child, was a d458c5efee well-behaved and intelligent girl b29407eba2 at home. From a young age, 18aabbc154 she had been praised b82a48e49e for her quick comprehension e92ad1bbe7 in lessons.173d2b7fda491ba1

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Yet, inexplicably, she 0c5372dda3 would become anxious dc3759f268 and shy before 751eecf6d1 others, sometimes even 5e98cb9df4 bursting into tears 06b6a8695e as she had 40bce99f4b today.0c9af740e874b8a4

The Viscountess had initially tried comforting and coaxing her, but nothing improved. No matter how many lessons she gave, the result remained the same. It wasn’t as if Evelyn lacked the proper education—she excelled in etiquette classes. The cause was simply beyond comprehension.be3abc7af6e4fd6e

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But they couldn’t keep her secluded at home with family forever. Just thinking about her beloved daughter filled the Viscountess with frustration.864bdfe0fbf1df82

“Does Evelyn often get anxious when she’s in crowded places?” Edith asked softly.f885e2c3464d39ac

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“…Sometimes, yes. Especially when e61cc2d904 we have 367935d198 guests at fb2a413a9e home.”b9a1c7eef89243e8

The Viscountess sighed, her 4522a7cb43 tone subdued. She was deeply d6b83f25d2 ashamed to reveal bfc3b3c9c9 this to a 907dfcf538 stranger, but pretending 7e6f07a307 otherwise now seemed 2f1028906a pointless.b366be5e98ce6006

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“She’s always been rather timid.”e2c1ff2c1350fe0d

She had assumed 61ccc04bc8 it was merely 42e409f8ea a matter of 29c8e921a9 shyness and sensitivity. Had Evelyn been a 3ba1606ecc boy, she might have 08bdbe4d43 been more concerned, but 731b99b632 as a daughter, she 1ef8256cae thought it might be 6297ee753a acceptable.f25ac3e6113d8caf

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‘If only I had bcda52c930 paid more attention back d80e7231bc then…’4f55fa22678ab079

The Viscountess was tormented by the thought that Evelyn’s current state was the result of her own negligence.39c5c5b6a2cbd346

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Even as 23cbfcf44e precious time 1c6aebed53 slipped by, c90470654c the nobles 5456c8990e inside were 2abf35ec59 mingling and 0d76125221 conversing, forming 485d78ad72 invisible connections bb53f99e3f among their b15188aac1 children.b20a1d05c9ce9f10

‘We’re already starting behind the others.’3def4e30df145090

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Her head throbbed as facaa369e1 frustration once again gnawed 89e53ea3bf at her.527467af55951ed2

“It’s not timidness, Madame.”9ee2c7affe8afe4d

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A gentle voice 7e98be878a resonated through the 1638487bb7 space.a87d046fc256e87a

“Evelyn is afraid.”866367b7acb24b7e

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