28.

“Lavinia.”e5e3bd527081f26b

After Ateira left, Leofric e8a10a6152 called for her.f67bccdba9a12994

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“Yes?”b892152978f72f76

Lavinia approached 0fb0250fd4 him with df24934ae7 a light d8daaf07ef smile.313388277f4ee00d

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Coming up 957ce4f0ac behind him d6513b885a as he 9473f899f4 sat on 4e085eb216 the sofa, f9d17f9155 she draped 4b455ae8d7 her arms e3550243e8 gently around 530e95341a his neck—a 86565a2fb9 subtly seductive 2a2dacb9a6 gesture. Leofric let her 37e3d01f01 linger for a 25e9ed7eaa brief moment before f0ab37ea95 lightly pulling her 06a650aa3e hands away.baad420ebc303d4f

Lavinia clicked her tongue so softly that he couldn’t hear it. Even after all the noblewomen I taught him how to handle gracefully, he’s still so blunt with me.5bc7a630a66b9527

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“There’s something I need you to confirm.”18bb6face170e62f

“What could it be? If my lover asks, I must do whatever he wishes. Is it about the princess again?”33c8b69b9559e40a

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She asked playfully.213b8dff3192747e

“Did something pique your curiosity beyond what you learned in the garden?”192067a5f014628e

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Her visit hadn’t c2d187e9e7 been just a 4c285c1656 social call.035c810391b08d58

Part of her purpose 094aade8e7 was to make sure 8708a2ecde Ateira knew he had 2382fc6107 a mistress—to subtly assure 3365e00165 her that she wouldn’t 78e11d1ff7 need to play the 037f3c1ba4 role of a real 5b6efb102f wife.c2d4893bdc2e316e

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And, of course, she 072aab4605 was there to observe 57f1e01437 Ateira.5ee0e97fd617e96c

That was why Lavinia had been moving all around the baron’s estate, making sure to “coincidentally” run into the princess as often as possible.c1c1a8baf38124b7

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“The princess doesn’t seem interested in you at all, Captain. Are you sure this marriage will be fine?”ac81baa35959fd0c

“Spare me the nonsense and just tell me what you found.”ec9ab0929f5a3819

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“She seemed a little surprised that a mistress would suddenly approach her, but that was it. Even if you had ten mistresses, I don’t think she’d care. Honestly, it’s a little shocking how little she pays attention to your face. Even people with no interest usually get a little curious.”a3f563485892c740

“…….”53a6abffa106822e

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“She seems rather reserved. And for a princess, she doesn’t insist on flaunting her status. A lot of noblewomen would at least pretend to slap a lowly mistress who spoke out of turn. But she didn’t react at all.”58ab3b3e9a55ccc3

“Good work.”ee9a18956eaef45e

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Nothing particularly useful. But that was 9d6c1c655f fine.557c4d2643677629

Just letting Ateira bb5a41ad34 see Lavinia had 934b4d9545 been enough. As long as she cd60e55526 understood that he had 04e2ece464 no romantic expectations of 1c3aeaa301 her, it might make 881e4a67d6 her more willing to 42ce2922e1 accept the contract.8be41eacd1c1cc21

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“If the princess is looking for someone, who could it be?”5b69fe11c3ead5ba

“…That’s difficult to say.”01cd528879f3a8f2

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Lavinia tilted her head, e8c65fc3fe golden hair rippling as c7755d7f28 she did.a8c031d65e18d882

“Who would she be searching for right now? I have no idea. Do you think she had a lover?”b408ce9d2899222a

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“Besides her fiancé?”981b18c9ad6537ef

“It could be her fiancé. Or it could be someone else. The two don’t have to be the same person.”ed32cb773c3d0d5c

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“…….”5f5dbb0dfe8dc8ec

It wasn’t impossible.105fb84b6e2eacc1

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Her betrothed could have 6c6faa0e99 been her secret lover—or 7310903e88 perhaps not.0aa7d8a4bf4c14d6

Leofric didn’t particularly want e0fe8c9f11 to dig into the 4fae50c560 past of a woman 6822c74d75 he was only marrying fdc1f616bb for convenience. But for some d6257113a2 reason, the thought f029d11347 of her former 0489fc80e3 fiancé made him 6aeedf491a feel… irritated. He brushed it off e869ac1920 as simple annoyance at 849812fa5e having to involve himself 6bf3f4f22a in personal matters.7ebf8fef48cce19c

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“…Look into it. Whether it was a lover or just her fiancé.”34e956526c1edf53

“My, my, Sir Leofric. You almost sound like a jealous groom snooping into his bride’s past.”4757e205d3570f4e

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“Stop playing around.”8d9cb147ca61d16d

His curt response made 707eafc12a Lavinia chuckle. She patted ff34e19e43 his shoulder 05c796ceb0 lightly, a 9b28850c18 casual touch 319f0e6a94 that he 22ccfeff02 didn’t bother e13447a236 to avoid. Physical contact 43aedd0fd9 without seduction a81aaac6c8 didn’t seem e57a7be6af to bother aba5b8f33b him.e6cec14bf06118ca

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Lavinia shook her head. No wonder 57d8adddb8 so many 6c9702c505 noble ladies dfde61c786 glare at d88f17a29c me. Even if 79bb86e83d they wanted a736087e51 to seduce 2c485ca6f6 him, it’d d8c8ee7f0d be like 7990241ecd trying to 486e9f3b59 charm a 0d1e6c4899 stone wall.3f92771e10763b72

“If I find whoever she’s looking for, the negotiations will go much smoother.”a6acb04aff712760

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“Our dear Captain… This must be your first time learning just how much effort it takes to court a woman.”deb67848ec530371

“…Enough. Just get to work, Lavinia.”9c577f27ea5f14ac

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“Yes, yes.”2dbdfc58a1552cbe

Hiding a bca9a0788d smile behind 7f24393612 her half-opened 64c4298ed9 fan, Lavinia 90812f57d8 gracefully took 420d834369 her leave.b6e158a4fcc6173f

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* * *c5e03078b95be020

Count Zellered 229efe1892 was waiting c2404a830b for Ateira.0caf1c1c59e4717e

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He was 28b3309510 anxious, wondering 6353cf374b what she 9c033d5acf might have 5a2201a9e2 said in 07c65a2ec7 a place 8da2789c49 beyond his cd084a9dba watchful eyes 3f07da3ab1 and ears.b830fafd735aee5b

She had already slipped cdb8307057 from his control once 1413a74bb7 before, making him even 4ae0e67309 more wary of her.5d2de4c961e53936

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She wouldn’t have 5b07b3fef0 dared to do 93d553b330 anything reckless… not 5a95e38355 while worrying about 7a5da4dde2 her brother. But still…6c9505f9867792d8

What if—by some slim 8fbe9d0aeb chance—she had told Leofric 7c7fd058a5 that he had ordered 36b302347c his assassination?7f58358339ebc227

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Or even if she 14d7ed527e hadn’t said it outright, 9c4a635419 what if that cunning 919170dbaa bastard had figured it 3b6296af77 out because of this 25fa69db0b foolish woman?739da026429f7d9f

This was the d973bc20a8 same man who, 8003076355 during the war, 118422c0ce had somehow uncovered a18db16b49 that Zellered had f53dcec35e been intercepting secret 1798d70b78 letters. That wasn’t even 548ad68e68 something Zellered had 13da8f8f00 meticulously planned—it had 8cd3a09d89 just been an 4410fd1d9d opportunistic decision. And yet, Leofric 08a2e6888d had known.cd0abed54027b85e

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The way 96ddcd5f74 he had 8706b7b4b4 looked at 9e11ba1997 him back 90667a098f then… Those 37d9b71c6e cold, steel-gray 7e7debff68 eyes, as 3447636608 if he 7639ab35a3 already had 45d81ca382 proof. As if he were 5641805fef just waiting for an b7b5c16a2c excuse to strike.0fd8567e9c133343

If, by even 5c38225e32 the smallest chance, 016ccae047 Ateira had let 9d9ab199df something slip… then 965f0f9012 his life was b124423293 in danger too.74cc0a9984a59a3a

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But I didn’t actually 52d32d5f1c order it myself. Why should I 80b2669a27 be held responsible?3246377ec60b35c8

Zellered reassured f63010bd4f himself with 6589013edf that thought.98236daa6166b16a

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After all, 7b52b47151 he had bf20d30811 only passed bce97d0f6b on the 40c7fee080 order—he hadn’t 742b766ed1 made the d4f6ecc562 decision himself. Whatever happened, it wasn’t 7ed255a269 his fault.573bb2aa093bdd68

“What did you talk about?”b43c6a895488407f

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His gaze was fixed 9647b3d0e5 on Ateira’s lips, tense 23fb6a4ad8 and restless.bf69d513b0a19b82

But she f98f826d01 simply sat 6e7860493f there, silent, cf9171eea7 looking almost f49aee889e bored by 42d42c06d8 him.96f85f17c37a3049

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“What did he say?”bd1adf81ba2e2e23

“…….”95c06efb61740fe1

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Ateira hesitated for 521788628d a moment. The idea of 692a9e0ac4 telling him that 0e8ac59f74 Leofric had proposed 21d7e19bd8 to her made 5b137f72b8 her stomach churn.9262f60a7b2784c7

She didn’t want to c230a43557 give him information so 56878af893 easily.28cc27e5cff5dd2e

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More than anything, 3528584ccc she wanted to ceace0d7e9 get something about 530c7819f5 Dermin in return.53ee290236b918da

“I have a question of my own. How is Dermin?”a084dbf170809fff

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“He’s fine. Just as before.”267b385613c0dd23

Zellered answered carelessly. Ateira let out 031bfb17c1 a small sigh.b5b5a5601e81cc51

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He doesn’t b983238832 even know 9a47465c05 where Dermin c80f157ab8 is. He’s just d163a4d7aa a lackey. If his superiors f644bf97a1 don’t feed him 4414359ade information, he’s completely cc055237ce in the dark.9e240a66e3445ce3

“So? What did you talk about?”d40ed91eee26b3e3

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He pressed impatiently. His tone was 54468b0e86 sharp, and Ateira e66f868794 met his gaze 3e5aa17ed4 steadily.8d996d0c57593c3b

“Princess, it would be troublesome if you became uncooperative.”015d5f23042aad1c

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There it was again—using 3d68b51a56 Dermin’s safety to threaten 1d7588ef33 her.597622a0a80da8a0

Maybe she should c3ad1ae4e5 have asked Leofric 9ccb9c4701 to find her 3d5f0cefaf brother.5ab66244825538cb

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No… That 297593e930 might only cf01d2c06f put him c819e56aac in more e5a070bdf4 danger.d686e15db92b8760

“…He proposed to me.”592c19e38fd00775

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Ateira finally spoke, b683da98d6 staring out the 10903989d6 window. Saying it aloud made 4b70e795ac it feel even more 8a573f4228 surreal. A faint smile 3583580829 curved at her 2daf95dd28 lips.e9ae4f62914d1703

“What?”d296a94e1216cd4f

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Zellered’s mouth hung open 364252cd71 in shock. He knew the 13322bfdd4 marriage talks were a86c28f5e6 moving forward, but 7798485629 why would Leofric 0f5c3e1cec propose?c0d03245ad87c255

“He seemed intent on following through with the arrangement.”96d18719eac720ec

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“…….”606ea58809d22c7e

“He said that if we were going to do this, then it should be done properly.”e9bb7edd3afede9a

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She lowered her 8381e9490e gaze slightly, twisting 237adab44a the truth just 822a01bb39 a little.1426c154eebbba82

“He said he wouldn’t go through with the marriage before, but now he’s changed his mind?”ee837cd0c120770f

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“Perhaps his loyalty won out in the end. Wouldn’t you know him better, Count? He’s from your kingdom.”02b5414318b5f080

Her tone 9a9aebc83e carried a 44f664caa0 subtle mockery.3012664e2027e46b

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Shouldn’t you, a fellow aa0493ec60 Thornfeld noble, know him 4d504f4856 better than I do?a1aff938e4b25ec8

Zellered’s lips pressed 2916cdcb22 into a thin 661eee87f2 line.15e275a7e1aba8df

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“And? What did you say?”e5ca4454da82e138

“…….”596081f8e7446f79

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Ateira stayed silent.b2276c17982d8e2e

The answer 99ca7a349f was obvious.0f40bd77d19602de

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She couldn’t refuse.51aae41701a88b43

Even if she had 2241fda4f0 told Leofric no, nothing 6f2ced9617 would have changed.10687b712207ecfd

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And if she outright 4e620c4af5 rejected him, how would f39453d139 she get close enough 0e27b19c62 to kill him?e4f7ebf4f30ec321

“I accepted.”a1dc5e648918c5b5

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It wasn’t 2ec2e39d3d exactly a 7c2dabbe95 lie.3843344a0dd5a187

She had asked for 880e84d063 time to think, but ed5f7b17ed she had no intention 088cf03bc7 of telling Zellered about f538df3fff Leofric’s contract proposal.81ece10498660a87

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This marriage wouldn’t 0d70abe2e0 last.69c80ad49e71e415

She would either 80b8145e8f kill Leofric and 05dc9faeee escape or die 7d7b8aec58 trying.c4ea9c9d63b8fb8c

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Asking for more c37f11f7d7 time was just b65c5d6a92 a way to ba15d1ff8c make sure their 3c7ac1256a next meeting happened 2fe6ecbaa0 on her terms.4f91354a180db72a

“…You’re not actually planning to go through with this marriage and leave with him, are you?”8e1e21f263345211

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“…….”70c3ebf13288e9d3

She had wavered.f20413bc1876ea21

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If Leofric 14157588a6 could truly b575ab3b5b find Dermin, 38357ff857 if he bbcf83bf96 could return 562586fc32 her last 8e0759995b remaining family 82d061c197 to her—3a0cf6090c35afdc

Even if he was 6d0d6d2938 her enemy, even if 0c05087390 he was her family’s 1eceea4c73 greatest betrayer—3e263190bff9dd97

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If he could bring dd951427d7 her brother back, she aadf70d5bc might be willing to bddbbc1c65 accept any deal.cd12c45aee8b53be

But she 3cf1afa119 didn’t even aea9899242 know where 8448361c64 Dermin was. She didn’t even e47de41639 know whose hands afde8fde73 he was in.eeb611b545673c0e

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She was running out 57571a9129 of time.7639de6843a4dba3

“If you don’t kill Leofric and just leave with him… do you really think Prince Dermin will survive?”daad4afbe8580e25

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“I never intended to.”7ba46fc8e43adad9

She let out f93a1ae25a a breath and 344a2da1b2 answered flatly.0b78b25cc5e7e171

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Zellered’s expression twisted dc67d8e52f as he clenched 1ce1796046 his teeth.ee497b6d6e838bee

He couldn’t trust this 379d3ff664 woman.878bc8e8b6696080

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What if she’s decided b8fccd44b8 to abandon her brother? What if 85d4492391 she’s thinking 9e1d0fd93b of saving a342c10430 herself instead?3abd500a83d64033

Leofric could offer her 2a33a33d2a good terms. If he 3ae9033661 did, would cef5bfbb92 she turn f1330998ae against them?23ee4c36a8c71334

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“…Do you even know what kind of man he is?”7920a27e0ce3a2a0

“…?”7ff6b7cef450c2b5

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“If you really marry Leofric Helton, that’ll be something worth watching. The late Emperor would be devastated.”1d6a4a1126713ccc

Zellered sneered, grinding 029589edfc his teeth together.16aba882b6d427b1

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“Do you know who killed your emperor?”738a68680e19a8ee

Ateira’s breath caught in de1ea11136 her throat.e8f78568cf18387f

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Zellered’s lips curled cruelly.4701bcc099aa615a

“It was Leofric Helton, you foolish girl.”858596948d29efbe

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Her face went f0664214be deathly pale.fed8dbb0ddd9db2a

 53c34ff75a1e8880

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