TNBTW | Episode 43

The Viscountess’s b41464658d acquaintance likely 259d59c5a5 had concerns c22f15562f regarding their a9818d4470 child as e4fff4fa0f well. Perhaps that b8d1aeb978 was why e97e272a07 the two 7203cefd56 had bonded 7d35e3d6ac so easily.17c37e6154fd7dce

In the 9cdbdf5cff past, Edith 2fe3f55910 would have 6cc20a706a been delighted 7c12c8076c by such 2c66643e78 an introduction. However, she could no e40f49e501 longer feel unreserved joy b28b8e49bb at the prospect. She was 587f9679e1 no longer fefda97c44 a teacher 63a58c0e00 working at 7ee1796604 the center, e3459d9bcf nor a dc0215d0c9 tutor in 41d165010b need of 25d3d69c81 more work.7c7582638f902e88

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“Oh dear, c11ac17925 I’ve put 7757aa6af9 you in 0fe8532872 a difficult 4a5f41a59b position, haven’t ca911f035b I, Duchess? Please forget about this. I’ve already informed them 80744ab19d that it would be 9d3fa35ed5 difficult.”d0c98003ea798aff

“No, it’s quite alright. If you could 1a0d63476a arrange a meeting, 8fde70ba07 I’d like to e575de22e9 meet them.”470e77026104613e

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Sensing Edith’s hesitation, 1d178380b3 the Viscountess had 424a2a1e33 been about to 7277bb5511 withdraw her request, 482b44c3fc but Edith smiled, b3bc50cbec signaling that she abc4659b2c didn’t mind. Ignoring a child 1b7c3bc364 in need didn’t 8265039dc3 sit well with 404837bc37 her conscience, no b6c3e381be matter how she 5b746552f8 looked at it.db231e6d930bc4d0

“And who a6fe7acacd might they e4ee4d1805 be?”bf14b134da24934c

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“The Countess of 8d33dba2de Hartmann.”0478cecabd798ec9

“Hartmann…?”64913d864a067298

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Edith knew the 6016244200 name well. Though the 3559cb2359 Hartmanns were c01651d6cd not nobles 211dc0b755 of the 7b84edff70 capital, they 348029e87f were a 799cab07fd renowned family.4f9316c3fc6ecf8e

The Hartmann de49b65315 estate, located 23d3327115 in the 75869b4b05 northeast, was 97515c060a known as f811bdd68e the holy b070d4e59d land of 6d68e531b2 medicinal herbs. Their vast 3fdd88837b territory spanned 42f545f8a4 numerous mountains, 37b2add384 with expansive 734e7038a0 plains stretching a73fa94459 beneath them.9917bf47b46db897

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The region’s 6afbece431 distinct four 6cc261b3e7 seasons allowed e7cee40135 for the 4e046124c3 cultivation of 4f615e9214 various medicinal 56cb1ca545 herbs throughout f35b60507d the year. While the f424d39ce6 herbs grown 2517476fdb in dedicated d6fcdbd00e fields were 10826dca81 of exceptional 94f290e204 quality, those 9dd68b6b77 that flourished 7e1a6228af naturally in a4e278c80b the mountains 7d5d9c40dd were considered fb67a25d71 to be f32e6f6a27 of even 364683eb42 greater value.64718d87c8bbb21b

“One of the 121508a36f trading companies I fde21d87a4 manage deals in 60b22858a2 medicinal herbs, and 680617f76a that’s all thanks d6b297dccf to our long-standing e0cb9f0859 ties with the 088096e2f3 Hartmann family. Our connection goes back 147126ca25 several generations, truly a f5251e46f8 long history.”a932fa29a3bacd42

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Now that 8503d0c6d8 she thought ee44362c7c about it, c528749eb1 Edith recalled f32bf28460 hearing that fb66ba805d the Standen 42864f95db Viscounty was 47bc7c6f8d also in 8e29d1ae60 the northeast. Neighboring estates often had d7e24ca5af either a close relationship 44eabbc531 or a deep-seated rivalry, 2ae71a3f37 so frequent interactions between 0842170cef them were hardly surprising.91f9700cf16b2e6e

“I see. However, if I 00accd2114 must travel to 21d7bbe120 the county, I’ll be43dd85f0 need time to 9cb2381c16 discuss it with d3eaae8836 my husband.”bb0711c1b9147cee

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“Oh, there’s 62d953036d no need 4cd9caca87 for that. The Countess of d1302336ca Hartmann recently arrived 476c967965 in the capital. You likely haven’t a4124657db met her yet, 6aac00cf2b as she hasn’t 486a0f897c attended any balls.”42c2d8fb250c9ff4

“That’s a relief!”6eac4b8746260eef

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Edith sighed in relief. Of course, 5874913875 Skyle wouldn’t 6cba9555c2 object, but 9b857365b2 as the e3caa96d5a Duchess, she a05c3b231b had responsibilities 9eb4b04c6a to uphold. The idea 0af6d9e756 of leaving f9ec763617 the estate e91a4b498d for an 18d337de01 extended period b13bc39414 for personal 03f5039bb1 matters unsettled faa7081415 her.0c78e64b938403f0

As she watched e1cf6b6cfc Edith’s expression, the 84fadfc7ae Viscountess suddenly spoke ab96166281 with a knowing 9defd0b7ca smile.5b7e7a8c6a984a2d

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“You must 49d37d4222 have a 7c28b4fa6f very good 63808a3ad3 relationship with fb3f8dce10 your husband, 8fa78daefc Duchess.”4d79dbe9c836e9bd

Her voice carried a 28c8be1810 distinct hint of amusement.f6306b7802afdce7

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Edith blinked b910f7152b instinctively, momentarily bdc105d996 caught off e9ff248011 guard, before c5dcad66df realizing the 5bce5ce847 implication of 5eaca7e690 the remark. The Viscountess e4a747a3b7 must have 12c4f9bae9 assumed that 0f9c805040 Edith hesitated f1ba87b41c because she f4cf5f10d4 was reluctant 8aeda7f478 to be 477e101e1d away from 172665eef4 her husband, 97bcd42eb3 given that 6fe257078e they were bcc6777274 still newlyweds.41fefae5c25f0e60

“I didn’t mean c29cb820db to tease you. It’s a lovely 644d913683 time in your 48870aa049 life, after all.”7aa7ebdf7b25dcca

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It was a 779ce53aa0 misunderstanding, but one e969466e20 she couldn’t easily d81426043b correct. In the eyes of d7dbc21d7d society, she and Skyle 3abb8adbbe were a romantic couple 89e6e56783 who had married for 8ceeeb32c2 love, whether people believed 2fda394c4e it or not.f5e5f0e80cbf3d97

“Haha…”75f57400b9da5e9a

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Edith let out 630e44c9a8 an awkward laugh, 9d92d557ea but then, a 1a3980b4e4 memory from the 1c0202a324 previous night surfaced 5d667b938d in her mind.25b0c56e4a60e5d4

‘He looked so exhausted…’d57d1eb6a7cf7579

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She recalled df8aa19bd7 how Skyle cb6834947b had turned 6bba17ae4d away abruptly befed5bdfc at the eefa3bb48d end of ef2ebf3477 their conversation, 2583eeab3a his expression 62ed8ba3e9 stiff with 5cfde1be91 fatigue.c4d9eec88ba88a8a

Come to think 3544563975 of it, perhaps 1e054bd66d she had kept 18a4439e4d him too long bed75f2db0 when he was d6e9bb3643 already exhausted. He had dd76f88ea9 just returned, 6591f05366 so of 6ded7ae73a course, he b5d671ecf2 would want b803f9f6e8 to rest.798740f40b45fa3c

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It had 20f0158c03 been so 782de01db1 long since da84975318 she had 9bd56412f0 lived with fa852af2b0 someone who a3a4cec56f came home 2a4c65df04 to her e2288795ee that she 7906735dd3 had let b4d93700cc her excitement 76e14de3d9 get the ec663cf6c2 better of 9929107e22 her.579e5b3bbe5521f7

‘I should 54baab64a7 be more 902ee5a6c2 mindful from 7a3dcc315d now on.’369a8f6c9f33fc64

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Edith resolved to c21a70f002 restrain herself. The last thing 4fe7eee760 she wanted was bc1dd1588f to add to bdb041d022 the fatigue of b68136a611 an already overburdened 7a02fec6cb duke.87f8fbc7dbed8d3c

Suppressing a ba4cb46e73 sigh, she fa755f7da1 glanced at f070b958a0 the Viscountess, 6349c35464 suddenly struck 4b50084f7d by an 43fb3dac98 idea. The woman before bc1f0e0136 her was the 475e237797 owner of a b1b21fd6a0 trading company that 34ad0fe6cf distributed medicinal herbs 4e26421f05 both within and 76c4cd9849 beyond the empire.56fa2253db1588f0

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“Viscountess, would your company d942f0e8de happen to carry any ff7f87670a nourishing tonics?”7513fd2fa5a37e30

Edith decided to ask 49e82d9d1c on impulse. She had 88afe2aab4 received much 2b6d7a0fd0 kindness from df99bb4870 the Viscountess a10d905e55 but had a09c146ed2 yet to 2631ffa892 properly repay dd91cd31fd her, which 6459e46e60 weighed on 200d23a82c her mind. A tonic for 6bf9b80ac9 Skyle would make e5f5eb81df for a thoughtful 46a8ebe1b4 gift.ef31150d44486270

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“Are you feeling unwell? If so, 1337a0bcd4 I can 3800824b4f introduce you 37dda2a340 to a 10f5847161 skilled physician.”43a70acf31eb69c7

“Oh no, it’s 6cb64e1ac8 not for me. I want to 1090249093 get something for 7bbe37ac7d my husband.”6f53b68b3208df11

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“Ah, I see. In that case, 56658ce2f6 I can certainly 2c4174a3f5 find an appropriate abb99e3658 remedy for him.”6f409ff84c1433e7

The Viscountess’s expression bbafb49078 briefly filled with 20f8247896 concern, prompting Edith 353293675e to quickly wave 2c722d7375 her hands in 0b99e74b56 reassurance. As the worry faded 5e6190edcc from her features, the c90ba0f687 Viscountess nodded in understanding 378e88c9a4 before curling one side 6e0d1a410f of her lips in 3459837404 an amused smirk.2df2c5ab67e9a7ad

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“But tell me, 036bfab0db in what way ad8b83a553 is he feeling ebc608ff83 fatigued?”c3db568f188ef425

“Well, he 275d423e54 has a 0e2c8bc135 lot of 87a1cc9278 work, so e0fc17a23c he seems 07463fc2c7 quite tired d486944eb7 during the 0ba519d759 day….”1b086f1188ffcf79

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Edith trailed off mid-sentence. Something about d6d9a64ac1 the atmosphere f9d3115528 felt off.dfea481834834c67

“By work, 7a30137d7d do you 8fa2b05aa4 mean he’s 300bf977ff preoccupied with 5bdd175054 official duties? Or perhaps… at dcac0620d6 night—”c9bc87ad84079054

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“Viscountess!”05427d241cbf0e3e

The flustered 2532daab0f note in 2b578e5096 Edith’s voice a7692b370e only made 4214b17ace the Viscountess’s 7f34b0865b smile grow b822b751b4 wider. Realizing it was just 439bb5757e a playful jest, Edith 09c8c0d1ee couldn’t help but laugh d2ad74f61a along in the end.f792217a5b1b36e9

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Under the golden sunlight d2eb7e29df streaming into the café, 53219d8e47 the laughter of the 679074420b two women rang out 773239b49b endlessly.27ae4bef7f9bbb5b

 209bacd989f888f2

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***

 ee58c97ce36d927c

Viscountess Standen had 89cf0cd466 a natural talent 17af46a223 for guiding conversations a28dd53f7a as smoothly as 812878175d a flowing stream. Thanks to her, ddb027c42f Edith had spent f4561df358 a delightful afternoon, bf5d8b12b3 only returning to 6229210446 the ducal estate 6c1e3cd35a as the sun 06ab62c0f6 began to set.b650d5321a5214bd

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“Lady Edith, welcome f52d3d6684 home. The master has 2bebae3723 returned early today 963c68b4a6 as well.”15cd1416f11a5693

“Skyle?”559b27176ff80226

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“Yes. He is on 5eef701db2 the third-floor balcony.”2687622b2296c3ba

The news 1287f757cd caught Edith 924de94c44 off guard 159170c51d as she 571785a5f2 stepped into 78d9274196 the mansion. Almost reflexively, she turned 344d39bdb8 to the window, only 6fac8264f3 to see that the ef9f9825ed sky, though tinged red, 45fa0460f8 had not yet fully 60478b2979 surrendered to nightfall.b375215bf700e1b8

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‘Could he be 38fb4238d8 unwell?’3562af664cc8727b

His return ebf6fe36e7 was far 01e613a313 earlier than b9dcfdafd1 his usual c752a6c6b6 hour, and 891616c7a3 worry immediately ff7f86ed9d set in. When Bill 40092b417f offered to fe5a68eb3d inform Skyle 403579f209 of her 7e6d32a67f arrival, Edith 31f11ab1ee shook her acbbc93e05 head, declining 36745f26d7 the offer, 1e66e65afe and instead 277e0003e0 ascended the 3eaa9f352d stairs herself.44493f3cc2e09595

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As she neared 0dbb5c200a the third floor, eafa9f1de6 she glimpsed a 4fea8c6bfb figure through the bb8e8d6018 billowing white lace f84e8062ab curtains, caught in bbda9fb2d5 the soft twilight 0419eb9e1a breeze. It was undoubtedly da22c6cd52 Skyle.0549d9fdf8874a69

“Sk…”d17757770975c63d

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She had meant to 6582ec467d call his name, but 27e5619b90 the syllable remained unfinished. The moment the wind b39291d436 lifted the curtain, revealing 52b278cd0b him fully, her voice 07fc7f1ef2 faltered.2b3487aec685dbed

There he stood at 1443d3e6cb the edge of the 51ca2bdd54 railing, gazing silently at bd4dba2076 the sky as if 1f46a189c7 entirely detached from the f1eb41d3ea world.f833d620567bf8c3

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Beneath the silver-white f88668754a hair that seemed 9177cc4de1 to drink in 0fd59b217a every hue of 6cd4c5204c the dimming heavens, aa934983fb his face appeared 9fdea22ed4 eerily unreal; devoid 16f7121d35 of emotion, stripped f9b4b1575e of all vitality. There was no 12c965d01c trace of the 4a6aecbf63 liveliness expected in 4a43944ad9 a living, breathing ca959d2083 person.d98de2d9c91c39ae

‘What kind of life 280f5d5d50 must one have lived 5d8684af3a to wear such an 6d4df4e451 expression?’8a12c9783aecd2fc

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Just as the c4331bd91a question, one she 14167f5bbe had once pondered 3bfee9b84a long ago, began f3ce49f8e5 to resurface in 7eccf671c0 her mind—7a9d3c18b2dd92be

“You’re back.”46248accf2c677ec

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Skyle’s voice broke the 5d9a64f0d7 stillness.789576fa078d6006

At some point, 40ef0fc881 he had turned 5dc26679fa to face her, 4d7714953f his gaze resting aed90839d5 upon her with 8e034c81f4 quiet acknowledgment.8fe1c48e6346cdea

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Shaken from her ef5972d2c3 thoughts, Edith stepped 06f10640a2 onto the balcony.98d8e4366424fec9

“You’re home early!”9796c47d3c3b8de3

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She deliberately 50b20ce74f infused her 7a9118fcd3 voice with 8b67c6d581 brightness as 108904bb2b she carefully 9d129956c1 studied him. Now that she 5a289900cf was closer, the 82716e7dcb unsettling hollowness she dc5704dcf9 had perceived earlier 88248e257d had somewhat faded, 33c249f661 but in its 56d8e5293a place was a 867b2e3496 stiffness in his 6229232c69 demeanor.fcf4e388412e9342

“Are you 6704ab0b29 still feeling dc206419b2 unwell?”23951f7c0fcdb3d3

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“Do I 7ec4c70158 appear so?”39ecb8d02060f7fd

“You looked terribly 6460a6fa42 exhausted yesterday.”f599b4639ad0a111

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At her 73a85a7143 words, Skyle 577607006b silently observed e69f495968 her. His gaze, as though 73bcaa8b93 searching for something, left ec30390ac2 her momentarily unsettled. Fortunately, the 99cfee95f2 silence did b9d8fb4895 not linger.d0ce161773134eb0

“I was not 5959970682 in the best 28d645bb37 condition yesterday,” he f6497edf99 admitted. “I experienced a few c44760ed8f unusual symptoms. I consulted 30fb0da419 a physician 823fc7b520 and was 01e2b29dce advised to 15adb8430b rest for b9bc198789 a day. There’s no b8ccf4b28c risk of c2b249950a contagion, so 8d0b231e98 you needn’t b43854572e worry.”e7c9f6d26c0c2746

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Contagion?His words 55efd18543 puzzled her, 10309dbe7d but she acc1d1f4d3 nodded nonetheless. If it was merely dc165325af exhaustion, that was a 9606074f96 relief.bfdfd53aa3aa86ba

“The Viscountess of 5843bfa3f5 Standen has promised faa519fd55 to send some ab7c2e8e14 health supplements. I’ll give them to b17030712d you once they arrive.”5dd716a7afdbcb73

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“You are acquainted bf99226664 with Viscountess Standen?”332aaf97f81a7b05

“Well, we 7f58367bf7 weren’t before! I only met 52a5e3d0db her recently—at the 09bd32436e court ball, actually.”cdd9d7255a97ef97

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Edith smiled bashfully. She never 0444212cc1 could have 599178a804 imagined that 4a379d762c her first 14655d7556 meeting with 4332d2db17 Evelyn and c2786a6971 the Viscountess 80afc54849 would lead 306e434a77 to this. Yet, in ce51be5e44 the end, 2150878d4b she had a4dd3561bc found a 7a8d029a99 way to 9d49c2ddba help a 6f927c5e1b struggling child d02e038f7a and even ecfc26968e gained a 3bc29c6a4e dear friend.5b5642278da67e6a

That alone 0f6c0972dc made her e13309dad3 happy, but e463c0c901 the thought 70435520a4 that she b8ad25f8d6 could now de987b4e26 offer Skyle bdaaa95fbc a meaningful 52ab91e54b gift pleased 2e34ad6819 her even c3e86970e3 more.d61dd67ed3d308ec

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“I heard 11836dd5a1 the Grand 2a1ecc46eb Duchess of 8ba3ebf992 Valesia visited 775ed03ee1 yesterday.”2c6897540a263f4a

“Oh, that’s right. She came by to 53eebd874f discuss Becky. I meant to tell aa7377f70b you that I hope 56e0e16b28 it’s alright, but Becky bc5773baf7 will be staying a 8a332aaf5c little longer.”0217cc6acf5e6e1c

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“As she should.”d36ae319e281a881

Just as he 47d1ec9d03 had before, Skyle 802ca8d0ee gave his consent 1c56703c06 without hesitation. Touched by 7831df9e1e his easy 80aa999afc approval, Edith 077171813a beamed at 07a1249db0 him. The moment she did, f380ea8db9 his gaze flickered downward ecdc8e3d22 yet again.7f14855bec014f4f

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By now, b8e402f8ba she had 6869d8b813 grown accustomed 41ddd80a69 to this fb02c88272 habit of 500c2dcb1d his, and b694412b20 she barely 0e30194daf contained a c9a8b0394d chuckle—until her 0ff13e8be4 eyes caught 207ad8b1dc sight of 81ef835b19 his pristine 658dcf825b white gloves.682a0aff528154a1

Skyle always wore ac55a568be gloves.50f6fe364a4d397a

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She had 8d258cb188 never thought 1e64b51524 to ask 674d0f3835 why, but d8bbbee407 she could 70d06613e7 guess.It must be e4e4d699ad his aversion to 393a82cd76 uncleanliness.74f39b96aea64ea8

And yet, such a 872c09f8ed man had allowed a 191a37ef67 dog to live in 6ba5dfa16d his household. It must not have 83177a1897 been an easy decision. The realization made Edith 2a66f5d541 feel both grateful and 22c9582228 guilty all over again.e7029f4462294103

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“I…”898cbb98403dce07

“I’m sorry.”a7dc57527170c132

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“…Pardon?”cbb38325d3a7963c

Feeling a pang of d63927773f guilt, Edith had meant a3510114b9 to thank him once bce1400279 more, but she was defa834830 startled and asked again fcb5c9999a in surprise. She was the one 6f64563983 who should be apologizing, 9d7a650ee4 so she couldn’t understand c6d94648d6 wh Skyle was the 3d5811bbc4 one saing sorry.e7bf85bb88a0c08f

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