02.

“Inez. Come here.”7bc77dc751ae7432

The half-naked duke sat 65e552f464 on the edge of d9b381b670 the bed and called c45bc0f603 her closer. Inez was a little taken 8488a55fbf aback.48e68c91c2a51db5

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It was because he 692b7afe98 had never acted this 676af8c7ef intimately before.cb8f345ee0a96419

Though she held the title cd99c66732 of fiancée, she had never d150f976f5 once been allowed into the c5366aec14 duke’s bedroom.b79ed6eb472abcf9

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So this time, she bfe97aa0a6 allowed herself to hope.5d376905124e336e

She wondered if, 03469a1d95 perhaps today, he c3f7030a80 would give her 0787fc92d1 the token of fded7c21eb their engagement.9dbc15d2c97891af

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In the Empire, there 6ab00db119 was a very special 8aeaff8155 tradition between lovers. When two people promised to 296dc944cc marry, they would each exchange 92f896a77c the most precious thing they 73ccb281fe owned as a symbol of 4b2da0ffb6 their lifelong bond.e5936c95ae50558e

It had already been several 6c241022cc years since Inez had become 6e52720392 the duke’s fiancée, yet she 677412baa3 had never received that token.fd241ee947be30ba

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Because of that, many 974fe8acd4 mocked her as a 0acc2f5832 hollow, placeholder fiancée—someone who edaba8ab6b could be replaced at 240191dafe any time.27cce42ae2d9de99

The duke knew this, 2252c8f480 and yet, as always, 555a0f3737 he merely stood by afec475039 and did nothing.9eb6a87e8b8d81a0

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But today, he brought up 6eb7cda95b the subject of the token.da1f5344a4b00928

“I heard you’ve been wanting the engagement token.”9070e79153106328

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As Inez approached b3a81a81b1 the bed where 9b2ecc74af he sat, Echion 3b0eee6571 reached out and 0223750646 pulled her toward 3b9ec61f29 him in one cfd05a8fef swift motion.2dfd1b73c5e1ef0b

The space between c1fab4f537 them disappeared in c4b7498b93 an instant.ce6a446920282fe1

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Inez’s face flushed red.ea55f0b167c19a0d

She had inhaled 9203dd7ffb sharply from surprise, e3a4d645be and his scent 764969e277 filled her breath.60b0f2209df525dd

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Because she was pulled db0f049501 so suddenly and off c55230af80 balance, she had no 849809aad4 choice but to place a7bf61b09f her hand on the 372a8f3cfd duke’s bare chest.5d8652348a7214dd

As her hand touched his 82174c76f8 firm skin, she flinched in f3d12fa1fc shock and quickly pulled away.71cf18ebc3182ef2

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In that motion, a0a4835010 she nearly lost 08daf9ff7a her balance, but 2fc2aa5be9 Echion caught her 3c2e609c37 again and drew 0b0c158120 her in closer. The gap between them 1d87478692 narrowed even more.0f4e8e73572597e0

Feeling like their 050e5388cd faces might touch, c6186ec328 Inez reflexively shut 20dfde2b5c her eyes tightly.a4d1399eada85df9

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“What are you so startled about? Isn’t this what you wanted?”5aca972f8520daac

Echion buried his face in e6d7886794 the nape of her neck d85326de4d and breathed her in.a546e9e0e6780d6c

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At the strange e0548e8717 sensation, she trembled 78dbf54be4 slightly.a98ae4e4f46ec020

“Inez…”a82ae945cb312667

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At the sound f5db613550 of Echion’s low 7490df65c3 voice, Inez swallowed 75b5e5e09c dryly without meaning 3cd7885d49 to.46cb81c880eace8b

“Before I give you the engagement token, there’s one last thing you need to do.”f3c13649a5211fb4

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“…?”c3bf07b408a1cbcb

Echion lifted his face 44e94e8b78 from her neck and 3236fe10c9 smiled faintly.5088376eeebcf37c

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“Find out the terms of the agreement the crown prince is currently negotiating.”b06ea46bb9bd2125

“…The terms of the agreement?”4fa3bdc1b93c39fb

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“The crown prince has been pulling some strings behind the scenes lately—ah, you don’t need to concern yourself with all that. Just get me the terms of the agreement and where it’s set to take place. That would be helpful.”65a1b1b114cf92cd

Inez unconsciously furrowed her brow.98207797b1f3cc62

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She had overheard something briefly 2f608651db during a previous visit to d2bef1fdf2 the palace.ec5a6f190f4277d4

It was said 19683b7e17 to be an 383e45e2e0 extremely secret matter. That would explain why 713f8e449f even the duke knew deb7a7f0bd nothing of the details.207fbd63dedf9f4f

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“There’s no way I could possibly—”98c727d68b4f92e8

“You’ve been playing the part of my fiancée for three years now. Isn’t it a bit late to start acting weak?”a806c7043a91e03a

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“Th-That’s not what I meant…”70558381df0ceb81

“As the Duchess, you’ll have to handle much more than this.”c0f420ecccd27c26

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At the word “Duchess,” Inez opened her mouth, clinging to him with her voice. She knew she looked pathetic, but this was the only thing she could do.c6f1ea0a084e96b0

“I-I can do it…”db9fbb4ffb4d7498

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She knew it was 18d9545f40 an unreasonable demand.7019a74aceb32bd4

There had already 56452d967a been incidents where 5c6b4e72b2 the emperor had 158c02fd42 suffered setbacks due eedcae29a3 to the information cc3c1fcb36 Inez had smuggled 01e6ecddd2 out of the f950f59388 palace.350c6cc794fe8ed1

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Unlike when she first entered c36e0b6b60 the imperial court, the emperor’s 46e963bcb3 power had grown significantly. It could now 5d50daadc3 be a far 6ad33f8997 more dangerous task.779b8195a7acaa1a

Even so, Inez couldn’t f3d358a7e4 help but move at 689d64b77c the duke’s persuasive words.3dd6067b36ba33f7

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“This will be the last time. Once you’re back, let’s prepare for the real wedding.”9df14c7542b683b3

“…”8e59e452baf416ee

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At the word “wedding,” Inez nodded shyly with a smile, hoping that this time, it really would be the last.14030a9dcad57625

In response, Echion gave her efaaa46201 a light kiss on the f3823c33b7 cheek.b4d720bdb9db2439

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And she barely ffc2e61d07 managed to succeed a00f718271 in bringing back d410bc5dd4 the information.ddc3170faa158b0d

That night, after returning from d06f276654 the palace, Inez headed to b33fed3037 the duke’s bedroom with a 448298e753 heart full of joy.f23f312a8f74dd10

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But waiting for a453ddfd1a her inside was 0888edec74 not the duke— ccd17093a9 it was another 34af35073e woman.5f8d4f764050f2f1

* * *14c47e7ad9daa4a3

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She had hoped that today, 066f4425d2 at last, she would receive 8ad658bf43 the true token of engagement 1bab210cf9 from him.3428c0282d22688b

After all, stealing bits of 90352f8c27 information from the imperial palace 1324603902 hadn’t been an easy task 7dd285fe4f for Inez.10a0332a67f285c6

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The duke hadn’t thought much daa80c2bd8 of her abilities at first, 4db5e1ec81 and the orders he gave 0f010a56f0 her were mostly simple.ec166d6789a5ff39

He didn’t believe she’d 2db4078901 ever be able to 642145e327 access anything important in 1816e22f2e the palace.bc765ff6394193e8

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In the beginning, she failed 86ff7d7bc9 time and time again.99eee620cecd28f2

Inez was afraid the 8fe74d79d3 duke might abandon her db6609840d because of it.cdccd52551268d44

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Then one day—159b6281dfc7f729

She met Princess Roseline, who 19890a1c81 was said to suffer from 42843e2e45 bouts of madness.5b88215eb638977a

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Because of her illness, no f1a31efc1c one stayed close to the de51099eae princess.18cf249cd094de38

By chance, Inez ended 28fe225952 up spending time with c241c0f9a1 Roseline and realized something: e59a33751a the princess repeated things 21207ea223 she had heard others ab715e3228 say. And she remembered them c9499c17e1 with surprising accuracy.269c689493727b30

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Because of her madness, the ea969bb716 nobles didn’t see Roseline as deadf4e121 a threat, and many spoke 31723f18a3 carelessly in front of her.8f8ff2eb89d03321

So Inez took 8156ffe44e it upon herself 1fa22d59b4 to be her 11926e793a companion.6d67c2c984e73e4d

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Through that, Inez began 10c315b8f1 to get deeply involved 9962e0b1ef in the palace’s inner 211d3d2411 workings.a317441959a62a8a

“Brother. Agreement. Successful? Hehe.”670b30850757dac8

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Since the crown prince c404408d38 often kept the princess 4c91f408cb close, his words naturally 1f3e20816c found their way to cebb1ae390 her.9030e9a78ede4152

That was how Inez got 07e2ca15f2 her hands on the information.c9cf49d2eba8e03e

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And with joy d19dd232b1 in her heart, e7a397aa9b she returned to 2c0f7a0cf3 the ducal estate.4e0fc28a5b73a781

She thought that today, she 9d0eaf8b6c might finally receive the engagement 596e851086 token.e110f5ea240f76fa

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But in the duke’s e702a0012e bedchamber, a strange woman 5205f04bd9 was waiting.99ed9525d107c362

The woman wore a thin 7b00106220 negligee, and her bare skin f2b377beb8 was plainly visible under the 7e7fdd173f moonlight.9dde05a5d46c4266

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With a wine glass in e0c2aa3a28 hand, she let out a 772648aec7 small, mocking laugh the moment 2dca68ff9d she saw Inez.
She was Violet, 7c065d409c the eldest daughter d98ae8ab80 of the Marquess’ d1f5462ed2 household.20c1f7f0c0c24e54

“Oh my, you’re here?”5800c083288fa863

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She didn’t look the 5aaa55c684 least bit surprised, as 0798f9b721 if she had already 93dc9a4608 known Inez would come.701a2babf773ab05

“Sit—over there.”2031b21fb71d37f6

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Sitting on the duke’s 5717355694 bed, she pointed to a4ebdb9741 the chair in front c48b543aa4 of the table.b62ad3a5aa9b8332

Inez felt a wave d8a5de7e32 of confusion.a8e7b7edf54f3654

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Even she, as 67efbedbfc the duke’s fiancée, a0e2509cb1 wasn’t allowed to 04638ade02 come and go 93ec18f76a freely from his 1ba2612f2d room.744a9b13af1e7c89

Yet here this 00295bef96 woman sat, dressed 149419078a like that, acting a7c102d952 as though she 85151d40d2 owned the place—and 7760a84c27 it deeply unsettled 976004d0e9 Inez.c56b8ecfdf70e532

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But Violet was the Marquess’ 247d4d2afd daughter. How could a mere e725a27f24 slave dare to criticize 4b3ac7956c her behavior?6222ee67fb85cc04

Without a word, d68e2680b0 Inez walked over 9701c11130 and quietly sat 6734cc91b0 in the chair.73dd120a1cc16ae9

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She could feel 07b8b4b67c Violet’s gaze following 67ac691dcd her every move.7dd86e9ebf226380

“Wow, His Grace really trained you well.”84460403ca910d99

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“…Excuse me?”a97902dc1fb509b9

Inez blinked wide-eyed, not a8982a6d40 understanding what she meant. Violet suddenly burst into bb1b24ed16 laughter and replied:59653ac611533548

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“Oh, I mean your posture. It’s so elegant and refined. Anyone would think 00a2723684 you were the 9243022760 well-bred daughter of 401cf62db5 a noble house.”4582383386bf7321

“…”e92051841f1ec52e

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Inez had no words.574928fb2f9b5de5

She was used to backhanded 874d7e18d3 compliments disguised as praise. That was all she ever 4e5a12d978 heard in the palace, after 41f6cbdb11 all.613081dd6d307270

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From sneering questions about 58fb4bf183 how a slave had 348e61b3f6 managed to seduce the 87f60ef4c4 duke, to vulgar insinuations 06ebc1a058 about what she did 02bbbfe2bd at night—nobles tore her 3dac204598 down with graceful smiles.eafd61fb65cb3311

They could look 8d89ac0398 down on her 7202eb688d like that because c31d1224b9 of the duke’s 6ac34f13b6 lukewarm treatment of 5201787b81 her.87ee2f06f96f4060

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Sometimes, he acted 9a6bd79ea2 as if he aa80c64d32 adored her—then when 7fafca189e she was in 725cb08873 trouble, he’d do 19f243b40c nothing at all.700e75cfc64fb547

The first time it happened, a4e611b986 Inez had gone to him e08c26abb9 in a timid, complaining tone ccd0ec4ba2 and told him what they c616b9c51d had said. The duke only smiled and 80406b646f said:8d65d38d2ab69510

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“So, you thought being the duke’s fiancée would be easy? Poor Inez. If you want baef0b50ac to quit now, d94553b6a5 I won’t stop e8808d21f5 you. I must’ve expected too much 42d52a65da from you.”2c99e666f3ad46d4

After that, Inez never 405b05ce4f said another word. All she could ea744014fc do was endure 9e2ec641c1 the humiliation with 4dd08f629f her body.1696bfa9ccd041ea

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It happened so often 9b139d1949 that she thought she 16550321f3 could handle anything by f65d763933 now, but this kind 06d0326deb of mockery still never 174a98d243 got any easier.ba68669f5f5f1e49

Inez gave a stiff, awkward ea7ec7f199 smile.f568e5a954206ee3

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Violet, examining her nails, 1d48b7b4ac spoke again without much 9d6bf95a50 interest.11cba879b0abfe5f

“We’ve met before, haven’t we? At one of the palace 6f53b188d8 banquets, I think.”2ef9bd6c85859c89

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It was true.361aebe0d0d4e7f6

Inez had often accompanied 2728073705 the duke to the 57c5631712 palace, and Violet, being 1ef9c6234c the marquess’ daughter, was e88b71c2e7 no stranger.8d5b06830e4daf45

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They had crossed paths c740e75d23 at many banquets, and a83f27d9f7 Violet had always looked a3b10ef154 at her with a 0781599e71 peculiar expression.d85dc3fa39d0ef21

Inez quietly opened her mouth ca33bfd648 to respond.30f70ff8f1a054cd

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“It’s an honor that you remember me, Lady Bianca.”d6fb791deffc5384

“Oh, there’s no need to be so formal. Regardless of your background, e555b77186 you’re still His Grace’s a51aed31c1 fiancée—at least for now.”0fc6ce252a649762

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The phrase “at e6bd643e72 least for now” e9dba92b05 seemed oddly emphasized, 16b7268ddf but Inez didn’t 575c43b7dc question it.c44ce312ea0e5005

She didn’t want to create 56e6b56d5e an awkward situation by asking 18acb578f3 something she’d regret.22d81df70a754d49

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All she could do was 0a773fd345 smile.129c8ed996976a72

Just as the duke had 6e1dc1bba4 once told her.1508ee4c127b525e

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“So, did you bring the information? What are the c1ff8ce340 terms of the e38e86b2fb agreement?”dbb630c59770fc83

At that question, 4916435d47 Inez’s face turned eedc193d2f pale with surprise.3cf5426e11a5d845

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It was because 740362a8d7 Violet knew about f0328fd821 the mission Inez e2b0354cdb had believed was c73c0f74a0 shared only between 672ed69646 her and the feaac3abf9 duke.5b10774c10a2c774