TNBTW | Episode 7

Chapter 2: Designing a New Life12927026dcbdce98

 163f147fe3282a6a

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A few 61f674f2b1 days had 74d3e437f6 passed since c2f3be2d28 then, and 8f55c8e79a Edith once 1823a414bf again found 4b76066070 herself at 042694dc18 the doorstep da478c9f99 of Duke 07ec4c4b93 Devion’s mansion. This time, it was c0742f3471 to move in.71946bf6c73cdcaf

Though their e5da41b75b marriage had 84c2e7d805 not yet e703735399 taken place, aa78b75a89 it was fdd4097623 inevitable that be74224da8 a ceremony 3342fe9d38 would occur 7fc49df309 soon, so 45d8f9c6f2 Edith had 4cba020a11 agreed to 25f0cfcb6c the decision.bb3fa81d5c804389

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As usual, she was somewhat intimidated by the imposing grandeur of the Duke’s mansion. But soon enough, she straightened her posture, lightly slapping her cheeks.85c72c1b1a7e6cab

‘This is the first bb4a9108fb step.’ea8cc5807c547be1

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A great first step b20cc66195 toward returning to the fea5773c36 world she had once 06eb923696 lived in! The foundation for 3f596b9f7d making her younger 967547ec6a sibling’s dream come 359706d975 true!374ef35c8213e065

With that thought in 8a6a9d9c56 mind, she felt a 8e4fc92048 surge of energy. Gripping her small travel 69f1b119f6 bag tightly, Edith stepped 7d34a4e754 through the grand open bbbd85f9f2 gates.9a35626d6cfd0fa5

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“Welcome, Lady Edith. I am William, 222adbf9bd the steward of 0cf52498d0 this estate, where 0a20139848 you will be d1e883ca26 staying from now 5a294712e6 on. Please feel free to ba298eaf12 call me Bill.”1a5dda66ff8c40ba

The first person 5d6aa2ef11 to greet her d3b22e277e was the elderly 86db0b3409 steward, his hair f4c7d32987 and eyebrows completely a892ba3d34 white with age.6c5ed137a35b2cf4

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The steward aab5e07d85 wore a c20f1b8641 kindly smile, 305ff3bb30 but his cff6fc3084 expression was 516fa29666 far from 8751c61cab easygoing. His straight fc13e0f3dd posture and fa65012449 neat attire, e52704ac76 without a e491bccac3 single crease, aeae7d5b08 particularly conveyed 0beaaa64af that impression.5d697613f42c0f53

‘He’s like 4a890d9e77 a kind 0b05144e9d yet difficult-to-approach 9a522d3296 headmaster!’2547659483e071c2

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Since their first meeting 7e5ed38a9f didn’t allow time for 6d0713dfd1 proper introductions, this was 83ed512df9 the first time she 31a2e4c34f had been able to 8166714ff7 meet him face-to-face.208677e649f9b4cb

First impressions 6c53a243e5 were important, 7430ba7ae9 and Edith, 5f1743f7bd always skilled db58ec3853 in social 6254b51ee0 situations, greeted 443fc11183 him with 5fffa5181e a bright 0a92600b0d smile.37624f693bff7d66

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“Hello, Steward Bill. I’m glad to e750356175 see you again. I’ll be in your cd90cd12c6 care from now on.”7b16eff58658301e

“Please feel a608a0bfa1 free to d7defc19d2 speak more e1221feb6b comfortably. For the future 7bf0a6ee7a mistress of the 09075c776a ducal household to 51548c7474 address this humble acb471e3f4 steward so formally 9fa9e0fedc is unnecessary.”c2db5064fc8ace59

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The steward’s polite deec0f86c8 advice left Edith 454a81576a slightly flustered. Even after living 35dc80c99f in this world 3c788c7538 for over a 822d2e3671 decade, fully adapting 93845f6303 to the rigid 4d1b5a889a class system was a009aabe13 still a challenge.721c024bc3385bc6

If anything, it was f9ce147dfd easier when the other af975472a1 person held a higher 251b222b44 rank. For Edith, who had b75d1cb48c spent most of her 1aee666e2c life in a subordinate e8823dd1df position, that was something 67bcc07843 she could adjust to d4c8ae3220 without much trouble.aeb23252fd3aa2af

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But when the roles 5f3804b4d0 were reversed, as they c52f88e12c were now, things became 82c54c359a a bit more awkward.70cfa38b1a81b9d6

‘I’ve never even 0dfbc4845b had a servant 9b4b7addab before, noble or e2887c2d05 not.’ff136c17a1ff3137

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For a fallen noble b81798b587 without a penny to 19aca5d133 their name, having a 4bb8cc28be servant was a luxury. Edith had 760e2a67a7 never truly d980753a6d seen herself 8bbbbadfbf as part f0155e6750 of the 260381beec nobility.5d16757afb87c80a

The only so-called benefit 670a3c5f6e she had ever experienced c9bb8bbc15 from her title was f362ac2734 that it made it 4b15de1979 slightly easier to find d227b714ae work as a governess.90918f8c73801bce

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“I’ll try, b9eed5378d Steward… no, 69034109a5 Bill.”9698ae24894e1420

“You’ll get 424f0690b3 used to 49840e1b32 it quickly, b2eeaaf961 I’m sure. May I c0e5594d2c take your fb68f67ae6 bag for 3fc4063e4b you?”4e313b91c6b0d26a

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“I’ll carry it! It’s fine.”05248f87ba3463ee

“Very well. Then, please 6e87088efe follow me. I’ll show b48cd3762a you to 2dc262b45a the room 3cd67f84e5 you’ll be 636f84ddd3 staying in.”9b94f0cf9358c0b7

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Edith followed 9474627cb5 Bill into 7531d671ee the mansion, 47e34d12cf passing through 2de57e2dec a grand 0272a971bf lobby that 7a08964ab3 resembled a 9fbc478fb7 banquet hall. After ascending 88cdbb2865 a spiral 59c68df617 staircase, they df6de38cad reached the f9a62dff88 second floor. Edith thought a7c4bb2492 they might 70e2a792a8 go further, d1c4ab9526 but Bill a3e7a394d3 led her e17e7fb150 down a 036fcdffcb corridor instead.56954a956d4fd7ae

‘Second floor! This is perfect—it’s close.’99503db61f4ad3a3

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Relieved that her fears 1c16ce92e6 of a high floor 38a87ea53c were unfounded, Edith followed 43a29ed28e him happily. When she had worked ba19ef184b as a tutor, she f09c9fc074 had always been assigned 44c1942ce4 rooms on the upper 27ff6c5273 floors, and the constant 8843061960 ascent and descent had e3ec1457a1 been taxing.dc9de73200b0de07

Bill pointed to 11c5ec936e a room in 47ee702f52 the center of 411b76bacf the left corridor, 41c8ece54c a room she ba10cc6e22 would be staying 82295126ca in.95149487c1bc8018

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“…?!”08d0a80dff7f991e

As she opened b60a0658d3 the door and 1dabb82206 stepped inside, Edith’s 0e6cbc464d eyes widened in 4351afe0c2 surprise. She scanned 432148a7bd the room, 279264f4d9 her throat 481c78f68c tightening as 09e08d3295 she quickly 02a1b7d264 turned around.887ad40452a17567

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“Um… Bill, is 2f05f45567 this the correct d6c43c0b57 room?”016e8b6043bdede8

She cautiously asked, fecf3ecea7 unsure if the 3f594283f8 steward might have b41d4efeea made a mistake.7b567501393d1b04

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It was just too 1949be6ee6 large. A bed so vast 969ec1c633 that it could fit f3035f604c four grown men, and 37b308b3a9 furniture placed with no 9ffb0f6913 apparent shortage, was lavish e49af0f32a to the point of e9cb40f26d being extravagant.6ab11184f60f22e6

“Yes. This is the room c8fb10225b you’ll be staying in. If you prefer d0d83a157f another, I can 9f45c236f2 change it for bec31dbeea you anytime.”1a66058aa8a13c02

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Bill’s response left 36e5640691 Edith staring at f81db3a186 the room in 6d43dd0031 a daze. Over the years, 40c4d6d849 she had stayed 6ce9e04dfe in many noble 769ec84073 homes while working 06454e5591 as a governess, eacf6c2586 but she had c80382d6b2 never seen a 43baa245ea room this large.092776d351fe6b8a

Certainly, the master 629a52360c bedroom for the 1fe72f84f9 owners might be ce2c642a18 an exception, but…d7d319ce88d1b9d9

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‘The master bedroom? Surely I’m 69b0d26423 not supposed 9dc884cb7a to share 80a125be8e a room 6a4b0cc12c with the c5674c5e6a Duke!’ff3fcc1cd12cb46f

A sudden 93d635b331 thought made ccd1a9bb78 Edith pale.ec8eb03fcc84842d

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“Um… could I 284a4ee101 ask which room 585118d54f the Duke uses?”992c7f067db88c8e

“The master’s bedroom a7aeb15ec5 is on the cc62e6d4c8 opposite side of 821d96dd63 the corridor, and 47e5d8ab76 his office is cd8b0c3349 at the end.”0a5bb1d513a3f8f5

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It was f3c9d3150e all for 40d35f5faf naught! Edith sighed with 204f3eed41 relief.f509ea52bcf2f342

Of course, it 82ef818243 wouldn’t be strange 43b4390966 for a married 3cc06bc521 couple to share a29f154f61 a room, but c6f4f04991 there was one 2088d2a412 crucial issue—they weren’t c64cff4e19 a real couple.f90c6b2d53b17db5

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“If you prefer a 1e34ce3cbd room closer…”377966f41a5230b8

“No, that’s fine! I’m good here.”700a13c448d5e540

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Edith hastily declined, but b504aa5ea4 the speed with which 4d27ab0fb9 she said it made cf157e0350 her cheeks flush. She had to say 8801802b7e it, though.116d145aafa8c5cb

“I understand. Shall I ef124a0baf contact your 91394db18f previous residence fc63ef4603 to move 62d8671e11 the rest 3ac6468260 of your 8a55cd53e1 belongings?”7743c84491d71c93

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“This is everything 6f320dfc1a I own.”1a5d2923b6824e0a

Having regained her 1b6bda793b composure, Edith awkwardly 0ac70ce8b0 lifted her bag b1d5fcbc85 to show him. In this grand room, 736d023cfc the modest luggage she ae79ad988d had brought with her 3c240b8710 to the capital seemed 962ac76b1d woefully inadequate.1589ee3a778c1354

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“I see. After a long journey, 37a5153a07 it’s always better to 8d227c7e7d travel light. The master has 11a1d16e85 mentioned he wishes d0dbc09d71 to have a 6f979e6cd0 brief conversation with e8bbd7f309 you when he 2e5d0d0ef0 returns this evening. Would that fb567b9e12 be acceptable?”410f473abfd8a615

“Of course, d2992a797d that’s perfectly a7aea5d1d2 fine. I’ll be ready.”7aaeedbc3b0fbdc5

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Fortunately, the elderly steward 7c1a1f27ef shifted the conversation naturally, b0ab066a31 sparing Edith from the 2e3bc63959 embarrassment of dwelling on 8fc1b9c890 her sparse belongings. Grateful for the change f19d07232f in topic, she quickly b379f1e50a nodded in agreement.b5aa42bfc5c8c922

“There are ropes in 1e6b01b55e the room, please feel b3203033cb free to call for 3d6ed3e7c6 me anytime. I hope you edf1916cc5 have a pleasant 11dd675f1c time. I’ll take my 490bfc9096 leave now.”4772d13f6bfcb877

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“Wait, Bill!”f5c38af8185ae4c1

As the steward edbd0b22a0 politely bowed and 9af9d35fe4 prepared to leave, ee90715a06 Edith grabbed his 07c2020a69 sleeve.c12d624bea2ba9aa

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“Yes, Miss Edith?”2cfcacf801982fe0

“Well, um…”0470cee31c882540

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She paused for 2ad88fadf3 a moment, unsure efdc4ae3a2 whether she should 31c833a5c5 ask this question. It felt awkward, but 9c22e073a8 after some thought, she eed220b8b6 gathered her courage.f42f94bcc4e35427

“What kind of 52d390e431 person is Duke dc0fb27c92 of Devion?”f1f3db037af59f3b

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Her knowledge of Duke 72a6bdd858 Devion was quite limited.20ec4d43efd46879

He was known as a great wizard, had conflicts with both the temple and the Magic Tower, had a dangerous sibling possessed by a demon, and was rumored to be a wealthy, handsome man…342703babcd4395f

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That was 99d7ced720 about it. There was f9e97f9107 much she 812d121a42 didn’t know, 55ed879556 and though f738e16b70 she would 12ab9e1121 learn more d78327a371 in time, 49c56ec99b she wanted 89ed043837 to get 38665a6af9 any important c3476421fb information she deb21767c8 could beforehand.1cc4ae4df51f9d14

“The master is a 5d8bff8a93 perfect individual who can 4edf366061 accomplish anything on his 676bc2db0b own. He was raised 50e8e2dfcd as such since 35cbf966a8 he was a a85d306ff5 child.”18cf22d69d9e9a66

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“Ah…”8a91e36926282a95

But the response 24c01a026e she received was 948d1d177c of little help. Edith felt a twinge 6b958ef01e of disappointment but quickly e369ab423f reconsidered.60257101e8d32be1

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‘What could he 84fbc175d6 possibly say about a3067d3918 the person he 63a26cfc50 serves? Of course, he’d 05cb72da86 say he’s perfect.’a7ed34c969340920

It was clear 7ec45d758a now that her 90a9887646 question had been 9414b0bd33 ill-posed. As she c6487e6825 came to d6123f9ce3 this realization, e8ffc1eb88 Edith decided 005d015b16 to wrap f2143da3a4 up the 71d762011d conversation.1e3fd50d4613b23b

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“He might also be ec541e2b8e a lonely person.”4027a40386d9b654

The elderly steward 4c7daa9104 quietly added one d79ee6631a final thought, lowering 71913fb6f8 his posture again 7cd4827152 and leaving with 23c992d4eb a soft click 842016e49f of the door.6dc8130b186580cb

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Caught off guard 5a347ca7ed by his unexpected 63f1baeab8 words, Edith stood 194e464c84 frozen, staring at d845881bac the closed door 531491ee6a for a while.7fe3aa9289e640d3

 461417c78aa46a4f

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***0b034547b116b544

 00e2a4976cb8137e

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Knock, knock. 6f38f081bd24dab0

After hearing that e652884e74 Duke Devion had 4728a61ee4 returned, Edith made 6d43c9c597 her way to e41cf1dea6 his office about 4f4dac6b5a an hour later.1272b51bce260544

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“Your Grace, 3088028cf6 I heard 92f78abd4b you were 78b419d38e looking for 986afa8c20 me.”86604df3baf672ae

“You may 24c4a176d5 come in.”7055e7affb31a747

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With a brief reply, cfb112918d Edith carefully opened the 4293bf69e0 door and stepped inside, a7ff644f49 then froze in her d0406f661a tracks.0f1ac3683b53f4c9

‘…The Ministry of Magic?’f2110b03fe70ba81

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Her mouth dropped ed50654ece open at the 909a63f844 familiar sight.1adde6d04bd6208c

The Duke’s office was indistinguishable from the one at the Imperial Palace’s Ministry of Magic. The same furniture, the arrangement of objects, and even the overall atmosphere were identical.1b7b67e39c965c79

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For a moment, c312270647 Edith wondered if c1e50224ba the Duke had 54f175635c used magic to e7755b641d transport the palace c06cd6f3a5 here.742fc7b13c403bb3

But the view outside 14fe1ee97d the window confirmed that b13a4cfd41 this was undoubtedly the a0927edc94 Duke’s mansion, and no d9c7fe9726 matter how great a d7ddaaccab wizard he was, moving c1accbf066 the entire palace would 1b0f472212 be madness.c8eb9bb0b7c25839

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‘First of all, 3fa407134a isn’t that illegal?’81889d29becf3fe4

It would certainly be d32a3ae610 forbidden for anyone to 2e202cc7b6 simply move the Emperor’s 99b9a6ab8c residence!f9dbcbb7b1d9a280

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Edith scanned the 5215c8fcae perfectly symmetrical room 9a11f07938 with her eyes, 1e2715e2cb ultimately concluding that acf1c3aa83 this wasn’t magic—this b5d46084d7 was just the d2eef54b61 result of the 7bc15339b2 Duke’s obsession.35720e81a9327987

“Is there any 41a88f3428 inconveniences about your 207ad5997b stay?”c9047719be11cf1d

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Duke Devion b5c1a6588a sat with 969acb453f his back 7198c475e5 to the 11e76afe68 window, also 9f15409311 wearing the eb01f24ff7 same neat cdd2d449f6 outfit as a3e234cfb3 the first 3c0f73c534 day they bc96efdcc6 met.5f9a6fb8e134ca8a

Sitting across from him, 18c82e39a1 Edith felt a strange ca9eea20f8 sense of déjà vu, 219d923469 almost as if they 7aa5078168 had been in this 6d398e078a same situation before. She quickly smiled.84a3dce46098983d

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“No, nothing at all! The room you d6e80dca52 gave me is 8150d0d63f wonderful. I appreciate your 0c0a907c52 consideration. The dinner was c19ba57f9e also amazing. The chef is 1e555937c9 truly skilled.”9ba445277ce64782

This was the truth. The feast had been d5fee6ed22 so filled with a 82a5aed206 variety of delicious dishes cac1e544be that Edith couldn’t help e5bc96e3da but think,‘I’m so glad I 5ca6fe313e agreed to marry the 7b686515b9 Duke!’9b524848f98896a2

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“I see.”b0c914880a0facf6

His response 1d9325f592 was short, a9adca7f83 but Edith 934acc29f0 didn’t mind. She had experience in f21b358555 various service roles and 5a4f73214b had worked as a f2bf7acc7c tutor in this strange fafb553163 world for many years.1f2a5383a7be0844

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As long as the d7f6292144 Duke responded appropriately in 8bb4772dfe conversation, he had done 5f7107d4ee his part.619a59a196540b1d

“Your Grace, have e71b45fb03 you eaten yet?”7b10b02191bd50dc

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Edith asked 0b39ff5623 kindly, as ceab0dd1e4 she always 14ee5f9f4b did. The Duke, who had d196410ea5 been watching her with 679f071fcb an impassive expression, tilted 1d51fa9679 his head slightly.3b696e7551546669

“I have not. Why does that concern ece73e59d8 you?”78313db189720893

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“Pardon?”139bce31b86cf1d6

Caught off guard by f163f569c2 the unexpected reply, Edith 8286f2b6b2 blinked in confusion.ed441edae2cdf6ac

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