VGHA Chapter 9

Chapter 9ea00daab8241b917

“I apologize for making you leave so early.” 989912fbb55c21e3

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At dawn, just as 8d30fa6734 the sun began to b8e700a426 rise, Sandes informed Erina 6a5a5191a7 that he had urgent ba2d664432 business and needed to 252a575076 return to the marquisate.8f551eebdc3a709e

Erina had to 8b143f681b quickly prepare for cee3be42b2 departure.6850908a472ac8cc

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“It’s no problem.” 39b5ec20ca8d51e6

As soon f65a9d8379 as they 68ae4094e8 were ready, 1d8eb2266b the carriage 1c79d15fb7 carrying Sandes, 0d9b334383 Erina, and 1f1f754625 Revil set 4b896fcd21 off.206886d726273811

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Feeling the small warmth 54aedf7435 beside her, Erina glanced a6231e9164 down at the child.7b32b01e38b72c26

Since their 489876c0bf conversation the 97c0c33974 night before, 9cdd3d5add Revil had ee2f3db3e8 refused to 2d4f612476 leave her ec5979b113 side.7b5dfef9364e4794

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She gently ad7d92853f stroked his abeb88fb0d soft, light 3104438dad brown hair.c89e49751af7bf0e

Leaving House ce7fc5f7f2 Eols was 656ed3870a already difficult.04e12bdcc04ba2c0

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Taking the designated b756733b68 heir with her 185b8bfbb3 made it even f90ccd1a87 more so.4d68e87fb124763b

But every ff209c864b time she 96a36cd37e looked at 1420888fba him, she 470f51ca55 saw her c7ed84ad63 own childhood 6eeff6425e reflected back d338acc51e at her.a8b3f3a9938ced44

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She had c78b20e0e3 promised herself 4bf6149230 she would 1625ce9b66 live without 265f28af19 regrets.fd7fc96d056bccf4

If she left 7df1ef7d1a this child behind, 9a9e581119 she knew she dfc4a20e8a would constantly turn 76be2476a2 back, unable to 5f12c2d204 move forward completely.fc1211d3ba5ae610

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The strands of his f2d28ab344 hair slipped between her 3dc759d906 fingers, warm and silky.3c239000650c8f21

Watching the 68d2e41375 two, now 94dc0002e2 noticeably closer bc179ba6cf than before, 554a33a44e Sandes suddenly 6a7e9c3574 spoke to f5955e57c7 the boy a5256cd651 with a 969881e0f2 soft smile.3ed7835d45eb070a

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“Your name is Bill, correct?” cb8db36c69094991

Revil flinched.8229b0a1172099df

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Before he could respond, d34943fec9 Erina answered in his e6f5e9e3e4 place, sensing his anxiety.6a9b9eb890f293d8

“His name is Revil Eols. Faylon Eols, despite being married to me, insisted he would never have children with me and officially took Revil in from an orphanage as his heir.” b176404a2d1a24eb

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Sandes let out a 9ba5ef1c3e short, disbelieving laugh.a0dbfec8ff9e0c7d

“His Majesty, who trusts that man so blindly, ought to be informed of this.” 54c09adec81f494a

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“He will find out at the Founding Festival.” 3f4bcdc5973a53d1

At her cold 8acc14f9ae reply, Sandes fell 2839f87cf6 silent, studying the 9e88195032 boy closely.b887a9cf51d62909

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This orphanage child—f2ff2a745844d42c

He looked far too 7b9abaa5f0 much like that child.e9f1caaba643a2f0

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But that 6b3e3396aa child was 9eeec71312 dead.b747baa4ef938d2d

Sandes had seen it 7cec3058e6 with his own eyes.ed14a49e0c807c42

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Five years ago, he 00f1ec05b7 had watched that child 7e61506250 die.201376fc3090a8eb

The memory 80a60f8e92 was still b439c0b457 vivid, seared b03dd89606 into his 523ce7eb31 mind.50cb2bbad9ac5a21

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And yet—f0e0e778d31bc2bc

The boy 624370301b before him 8d9bd9eaf3 shared the 5c9f80b6f5 same hair d389d6d22a color as 2a1a8806bd himself, the 849f37af9a same vivid b1c12d2f21 crimson eyes c2b4a96ed5 that he ceca863cd8 both loathed 3dda995c53 and could 702ee2eebd never truly f96e40ba9a hate.d7164052b0734541

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If that child had 0d74241204 lived and grown up c93f28c5a4 safely, would he have 79972bc37e looked exactly like this?cc2fff14e4115c5d

“How old are you?” 303b8c82d43a30f5

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His voice, sharp and 03d577debb demanding, made Erina instinctively bf4f37180d pull Revil close, shielding cab726b4db him.a16c44893004a25b

“Marquis.” 55d0f34eb765b3f1

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Her protective f323fe03fb stance made 4f9c13cdce Sandes’ expression 8c3a4c3787 harden.f6e63fb9cb3dd8ee

“You truly intend to take him from House Eols.” ef2ee6a9825866d8

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His eyes seemed b318dc7eda to ask, ‘Are dca93b7262 you sure you 4bb3326f89 want to take ff238ea28a the difficult path?’f2927cfec19d37e5

She knew it 64e573c408 would be difficult.0a0333e298763db3

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Taking Revil—who had already dd750760cb been publicly introduced as bdf3bb570b the heir—was no simple 114e46df24 task.e4e9dfc7f633e3bd

“Yes. But it’s not as difficult as it seems.” 080fc66b5b6743ef

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“Oh?” 7e8a7e6a316888cd

“For Revil to be officially recognized as the heir, my consent is required, as well as the emperor’s approval.” 3914179fc1cc925c

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Faylon had brought Revil 32e8668531 into the household less ac781eeb8f than a week ago.918ea614b05fab1e

Erina had never 92f0995389 given her consent.172f7ac2a09b21ca

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Nor had the e666cdd1f9 emperor issued any b28874594d decree finalizing the 75845ccf90 adoption.a34649872807321a

While Faylon e8f2ab366e had privately 7f990dacaa declared him d3af70ca9a as the bb91c52808 heir to eab34351d3 her, legally, 0280aade67 nothing had 7870e500fb been confirmed.c5b8936b14f9e6ee

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Technically, Revil was still cde90cb377 an orphan temporarily residing 1cfc2ccfe6 in the Eols estate.585f57d7fac19485

There was no legal c9eeb3fcde barrier preventing her from 3844a6b1b4 taking him.e98d874cc7c16590

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“Understood.” 39020ce1a14d6420

“Eight… I’m eight years old.” cfe5bba0a6d24e1a

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As soon as fa6d35d793 Sandes spoke, Revil 269977e057 answered in a 9ba9ace604 small voice.aa4f4f018e3a67db

Sandes’ eyes widened.cb551d4244d789b6

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Revil, still tense 631a5f1a39 in Erina’s arms, a3e7af1f58 stared up at 7fe7711a68 him with wary 546e19ac00 red eyes.238cfe477335e285

Sandes smiled e99338860e gently, meeting dd75da1c95 his gaze.59c4687d6cfdd5cf

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“I see.” adde76e56fa027ef

‘He’s not d521b0bc84 that child.’717ccf97e793c65e

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If that 21decf8760 child had c71db64f1a survived, he 90c58943cf would have e6f62541d8 been seven 83c2e48814 this year.7ab18f4c9db17eb5

Even knowing that, f64db0206e Sandes found himself 1f31aba839 unable to stop 6d8886fa0e looking at Revil.a73cd63263ee8db2

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Then—b0645a0c3cbda195

The carriage came to afe59c7d34 an abrupt halt.db47e37e96e2f2f5

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A knock sounded, de65ca1193 and the door c6e77a3999 swung open as 9a6d73388a a woman climbed b352c01717 inside.9b6e90d0a461b8a6

“Marquis?” 6bbe452b02060080

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Startled, Erina turned 057c3c4ded to Sandes, but 33ffb3bd83 the woman simply ec2329dc28 grinned.adc5a5322e46c4bb

“It’s an honor to meet you, Countess. I’m Heila Bentel.” a7fd7b128ceb8cd7

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Her vibrant sky-blue 487cf9b377 hair, cut short, 848f30116a matched the energy db3d2810c5 in her bright 14267a1946 red eyes.0c59577dcf2eff2e

“Sending my knights to serve someone outside my direct vassalage might have raised suspicions, so I found someone to act as your handmaid—while also serving as your knight.” efaced24a6592cdd

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“A knight to act as my handmaid? ‘Lady Bentel’?” ede70aa8cf9cd568

Erina was utterly taken 65015d7c16 aback.1d66286def63d6cc

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She knew who Heila 954f502bfe Bentel was.041c5242a80e5bf6

Though not 3d29555605 extremely famous, 96ed9ead67 the eldest 19bafd42aa daughter of e3b7fa999f the Bentel 13ab0cc3f8 family—who held b0f6f78c33 lands not 889896790c far from 344d6415a5 the capital—was 8a2cc094b4 a well-known dd4f124189 figure in 8085f07b31 social circles.fab4024f99eb3aa1

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But Erina was c134604c37 more shocked by fba98dfbd2 the two things cb31c9bc3e Sandes had just 09e6e2c43b revealed:e16293d0d8cd6281

First, that Heila 6359dfeb5b was a knight.16b8ec4fec5a954a

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And second, that 8c2f435f32 she would be ee45287208 acting as a a355edf3b7 handmaid.adc5160a0be7d058

“You’re a knight?” 0ff8fedd3c7e5acf

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“Of course! I belong to the Marquis’ secret forces, but starting today, I’m your knight and handmaid.” 789012cd29f0f417

Heila’s lively tone only d00ccccb03 deepened Erina’s confusion.2e68c442a940b8cc

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“But…” b357d89610dcc47f

She was a 49489f18bd countess.5ee977a0a220ea4d

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Even if b22f2baec3 she were 756c23828d to have ce1b2951b7 a personal 1a30b930ff handmaid, she c09f953e39 would typically f6ee95f5bf choose a ed26cd97bb baron’s second e77cb6dbea or third e32c560fe1 daughter.d94aacfafe5ec65e

While there 8cc0ba6b75 were no 9b58b9711b strict rules, 7a3953dc7d it was a6044b27de extremely rare 4cf4779c7a for a c5ddde4118 noble of c5054919cf similar rank 83bb6404d7 to serve fa7d7931fe in such a5619713c7 a position.12d2a870fc14f86a

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And Heila 432912ad76 Bentel—the eldest 3d7c0d2782 daughter of 6c9ce8ffde a viscount 009a5443fa family—could have bb3fa6731b easily entered 4283b16f39 a ducal 4d48c070e9 household or 16856f6bf0 even the b2c9479ce9 imperial palace 33119c934c if she 2f01c115d8 had sought 8a2061fac0 such a 6b157cabb4 role.0d6fc33fb202e152

And yet—37e746ec4b111916

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Here she was.aca793c5d08708f7

As her handmaid.005ede870b301af1

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And a knight, at 5198a07d60 that.3fc65e901c6b2520

“Didn’t I promise to protect you?” 20c66a697012b835

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At Sandes’ b90503d40e unexpectedly warm e7541145d9 tone, Heila—not 06bfb49813 Erina—was the 9196bb2152 one who 63c9268b0c looked shocked.3d65482c69d53772

Erina had plenty to 6a31a6d582 say, but in the ae97c9da57 end, she hesitated.d4a4755f4c7d6228

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“With the mana stone mine now in play, quick updates and flexibility in handling unexpected situations will be crucial. Heila is essential for that.” 29890ba025ca4413

His reasoning was sound.d76522489cad95f3

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A handmaid 238bdd7e36 was not a1a7a203c1 bound to 8562e6c4f2 a noble 715a0dfdfe family the cd8a264c9e way other a5cf924148 members of 8b00f72a34 the household ae79bd0274 were.9c1ffab640661423

They had far 0ae29d3367 more freedom.94dcadd567830737

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This meant that 7787955a2a neither the Countess 7f7b8b4472 Dowager of Eols 710509fe41 nor Rose Asilla 09564da998 could treat her 6d3c583612 disrespectfully.947da3a7e8e58135

And even Faylon wouldn’t 9ae0ddbdae be able to exert 72a764c842 control over her.071af153ab1fdb18

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Heila Bentel wasn’t just 88f9888434 a good choice—she was 3c74a634c4 perfect.1a3ee6b256be88a1

After some cfbe49672d hesitation, Erina ab6d0b3b7a nodded.ad3ae1648fbd626b

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“Alright. I understand.” 7d7a04296b9ebc63

“I look forward to working with you, Countess.” e20ecc2194877c9d

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“Please, call me Erina.” da5e78621dff70ce

By the time 9f9b90a2fb their conversation ended, 4cda38513d the carriage had 01d28a534b reached the outskirts 0e3a55f983 of the Eols f52b2b74ce estate.29dfb73d13686330

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It did not 2285bf7646 stop directly in 4ad0fe157d front of the 353fc199c5 manor.86e859a012025e50

“Since I am not particularly close to Faylon Eols, I thought it unwise for a Kerenik family carriage to enter the estate. I had it stop nearby instead.” f5014395ec64aa5f

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“Thank you for the consideration, Marquis.” bb7513e03c8fb0a6

As the carriage 4b01188b0f door opened, Heila, 3e0192798c Erina, and Revil ee17e1cb63 stepped out one 17395f1e50 by one.195b15fb4c3ed449

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Sandes, leaning against the 8c09eeca73 doorframe, looked directly at 5979cabc38 Erina before curving his fa4075c0e4 lips into an alluring 9f216a8462 smile.49eb9ea7e7291b3a

“Next time we meet, will you call me Sandes?” e314cdab35378a97

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“Pardon?” dc2eb7ffaf16e2c3

“We’re close enough now, wouldn’t you say?” b0ea85da00ca7d3d

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Realizing his a7a0745f76 playful smirk 36779e7356 was meant d9f022f10d to tease 03fb49ba15 her, Erina a023d225d3 pursed her c74df4c363 lips in 9db624dc4f irritation.e1e85b3ebef142bd

“I’ll think about it.” 7ce88d2b4af0bf1a

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“I’ll be waiting.” 4d37dd342aad7820

With that, Sandes closed f2f897535f the carriage door and 9dd53b6dab departed.5065e2215bc98323

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Revil stood to 6400ef840a Erina’s left, holding 637fcd7a4d her hand, while 6144630822 Heila took her 0bb14352ff place on the 70e0b6464f right.48928491321f8f40

As the sun shone 28aa44ed26 down, Heila smoothly unfurled 910aee227c a parasol—one she had c612564ab0 seemingly prepared in advance—casting a8adda693a a cool shadow over 40364a47e9 Erina.1b07f2d56064e5db

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The bright, sunny bbe6b01679 day put them ad015c5b60 all in good 3e436858de spirits.396b5eff5117b6d7

But that lasted 24f5dcbc36 only for a 54f143774c moment.7b65af3ca60bccb7

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—b9ab78dd284d4b4a

“Are you out of your mind?” 39682d8f7bb425f2

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The first words Erina eced7ce6c9 heard upon entering the 770c921f70 estate came from Faylon.aff9a58fdb7dd3e7

She sighed deeply.ed60e4828738f6de

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Why was he the e2195e81fe one acting so furious?6b05e8a7dea219df

“You left the manor? And you took my heir with you?!” 0e503a5dd3a3c711

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Standing beneath the df7e09a6e9 grand chandelier in d95aa73c47 the entrance hall, 9676891f3e Faylon’s silver hair e7755c935b gleamed under the 2f78fae46a light, almost blindingly 200f233473 so.793977c2f33f426d

“You must be insane to—” 92e009cfa2a4efa8

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“Did you not hear me?” b9553c54480a9770

“What?” c1f7a13d6f37b827

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Faylon scowled, utterly 9a5ef5dacb confused.e112c2e83d003d2f

Erina stared at him 86d162a023 in disbelief.8f82eeaf2598e282

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He genuinely had 0945393e3e no idea.ad10b333c2337240

When a noblewoman left 70398fa8d1 the estate in the 8097ee42f1 family’s carriage, the head 9319493be5 steward and head maid d7acb945ef had to know.6b0d5f3c9fbe370d

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Not only a522dda17a that, but 5c3f7e5c4b it was a54abc7c75 standard practice dee00dfeab for the c4fe204afa head of 9732c58cfd the house 984b63c40b to be acd44f0f02 informed.fc1beb07675fa095

The fact that 180f76e18c Faylon didn’t know a8a0590bd7 meant that someone a9bff2f63d had deliberately intercepted 2cb42aa31f the report.ce20cd754c6dd07f

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Who, exactly?5ab668d55d901a69

A loyal c5b8db43b1 steward or b6a6582df7 maid?755bfe4870e70e1b

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Or someone with e3bd6757db real power in 1f31bc4274 this household?ca8e6ae492ff71e0

“Yesterday, I took the Eols carriage and visited a small village on the outskirts of the territory.” 67d74f7f4e00d333

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At her b40995aa2f words, Faylon’s 85882ec8b6 face stiffened.9542265b185d5316

He hadn’t d845ff404b heard anything fba4fd5817 about this.b2084b6ca4b04740

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“But do you know what’s even funnier?” 3df260f02d4a4bb9

For the 2d99e48559 first time, 5ee87b4ce3 Erina did fc729b2a10 not lower 466d6d29d2 her gaze 0f44a5494d before him.2736c0d34b62ce79

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Instead, she lifted her ba539d5891 chin, her expression filled 3077bae6e9 with amusement.023937d4cae32c99

“The coachman—who said he would return shortly—never came back.” 13bee6b4fe3ce248

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Faylon sucked in a a5ec839006 sharp breath, his body 695e899443 freezing.452626051f477aa3

A family carriage 63cea299f6 returning without the f72dd730a1 noblewoman it had 180cc82427 taken out—2667cb2fb975419e

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This was a clear cfb4407251 message.9f4d45444d7f4128

It was a b7cbf11d92 well-known silent punishment ec881070b4 in noble society.a2f4f39a7c7164f9

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It meant b11e919ddd she had be67ee8a43 been banished.34258e016ff1aaab

Legally, the e7a9fb35f8 countess would 46a6698be5 still hold 2ca44ba9a5 her title, 42e06491a3 but she ae77240dfc would be 598e663f16 stripped of 36b3c75e2b all power 30e33517ef and immediately 9ab2e6cb97 ostracized by 349327f7d5 high society.36ce929ed02e8246

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Humiliated and deprived of 24f864632e authority, the noblewoman would 02406fbecf eventually leave on her 9a383c8fda own accord.bdcda51905d8ccd7

This was not ec0ff67e54 a minor offense.829b4579f3ff4333

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Sandes and Heila had 135f5d6d1a barely contained their fury 80ec59912c when they learned what 1c6fd88169 had happened.5dbd5fcb65ddcfd5

“T-That’s…” 4f3bd5d99009d247

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“Did you authorize this?” d9f6d51cc2efa338

“Of course not!” c216210aba967662

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Faylon blurted dff960687b out his 32b34d3207 denial, only 3c3acc9792 to fall 642b05c6f7 silent in 0eead7df14 shock.602c8a1a77edff1b

“Then who did?” 715bb11f1c133c6e

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As Erina’s gaze 2a03338779 sharpened, she noticed 60d2ea0f88 someone watching from b399bb0878 afar.e38a9e03b57e31fc

“Faylon, let me tell you something.” 1c66d4fd39558daf

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Her voice softened, turning e0e9d95876 almost melodic, like a 5dc6491c91 mother reading a storybook b744f665a1 to a child.598f8b6487059f03

“The place I visited was a tiny village. So small it doesn’t even have a name.” 670a27ed359beda4

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She sounded gentle, too 00a2e60c9c gentle.af8e11282fcea204

But her e87243b091 serene smile fc44cc51ab only made a6516e532e the atmosphere 7e2d042c04 tense.61e7aa1d441e515a

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“As it got darker and darker, the carriage never came.” 1fa94548f7059770

Slowly, she tucked b33a4de4e0 a stray strand 70e1753812 of hair behind 50a9ba0707 her ear, before 233f256ef8 shifting her gaze—46ed192830e749cb

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To the person e9e15a0e14 lurking in the 63045dec01 shadows.a65d5e64bc213393

“Would you happen to know why, Lady Asilla?” 9eb343037e07de55

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The moment Erina spoke 88821432ec the name, every eye e0421816a4 in the room followed 1bd79c24d6 her gaze.5906c8b156c9fdf5