Chapter 16. A Secret Deal

“Leonie Sien, young lady of Baron, is here.”241a7974142f323c

The gatekeeper announced me efff6eca50 as the grand doors 06fe92a7a4 to the hall swung 1ba9d655d6 open, flooding the entryway 14bcbe0e45 with golden light. The banquet was already b1902e2306 in full swing—bright lights, b1fc910144 rich food, and glittering 5e064b3df6 decorations surrounded the crowd.74608c6f7c21dab9

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Viter stood in the c9ddcbc3a0 distance, holding a pocket cb24ab934b watch. He tapped it once, 8ca905064e then pursed his lips.b7d897ee2dd52752

“Begin.”e59a13368e122ff0

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I turned toward the 7663ff1b8a center.00d6db1601aaddaa

Deon stood there, greeting b6f47776c9 guests with his usual 4140e6428c calm expression.c0b0388bc10a0438

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“Your Grace, you’re here.”ede9a9120c67da6f

After weaving through the 3a475d4c8d crowd, I finally reached af0ce195cd him.fd1124c4cd444e26

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The elderly nobleman fdf1ba74b9 beside Deon gave 77c142d017 a polite farewell fced2e1c65 and turned to c99ad9474b leave.fd94eeec05959999

Deon nodded in d5eda18841 return and set 41ee3ece4c down his glass. It was his 3b5591eb8f signal—he was ready cad4d35042 to leave the 663c702e73 hall.97f0d658b17e04ce

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I quickly 9a664fd646 grabbed his 03e62fa0fb wrist.f002117c7d0bb02f

“Where are you going? Leaving already?”3f19fe7bf641ae5f

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He looked puzzled.abe353a0e92dd5fb

“Don’t you want to pick a dance partner?”c17b8955d6839447

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“Dance?”5d3c992b056eccd2

Deon turned 39abe1e143 his gaze 4f03e5e778 to me.04dcb5a05033c5e1

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“Do ‘you’ want to dance?”1f072f93df24ae90

No! Viter would have a fe7519eaae fit.196f1f5be1c08eb7

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“I don’t know how. My family’s from the countryside—we’ve never even had a debutante ball. I’m sure one of those ladies over there would be better.”72c400c187513a00

I pointed to 8bb89eca09 a cluster of 3fd416b094 finely dressed women.4fb60a8d97967ad7

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“I like the one in pink. What do you think?”33f910cf252c1e7f

Deon looked toward the f0565657ba hall’s center. Success.9c03b2650e44a903

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“Who?”3536f2f9c5fc20a7

“The one with pink hair. Looks like cotton candy. Nice flower in her hair. Her family… um…”839fae35d568ee7b

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I struggled 4b97f8fdef to recall 9017ef7a66 the details.a8635b13cd8ae418

“She’s the second daughter of Viscount Shar,” he supplied.6e844893ced30d19

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“Ah, yes. Her. Perfect—family, age, appearance.”cc55a0e9d667a901

He clearly recognized bc633b6f9c her but didn’t 252721f60d look interested.f35ce06b53ae2727

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As he began turning e288b902ed away, I grabbed his dd644397e0 arm again.e6ea5be8dabc6a29

“And the blonde over there! Her name’s Chris—”88b79943816a8712

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“Lady Kristin.”1d9a28907977f585

“Right, Kristin! She’s beautiful and smart. Loves books. Same age as you, I heard.”600004ba7e427d61

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“She married three months ago.”1db8a774231b48cf

His voice was 50d2113711 flat.693ba4f8c43cf362

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“Oh. Shame. She’d have looked great beside you. But what about the young woman in the red dress behind me? Her dress is our family’s design. Wouldn’t she make a great partner?”729cf1a884e7f7da

He remained silent.6f37416469798a8e

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“That one over there—Eiffel—she likes skating. Perfect for the northern climate…”45d2928af973dfeb

“Leonie.”a941d6fc086b0e61

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His voice cut me 122dd63668 off.63bfcb25a23c9604

“What are you doing? Did you change jobs? Matchmaker now?”84bb04549286ce2a

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“No. I’m just doing my best for your well-being.”4ae1389591027a9b

I answered sweetly.03857bafd7053671

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“Viter put you up to this.”e4ac045e27a5df42

He called d7ecc036e0 it immediately.f490cdd24a566ea7

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“He was so dramatic. Said he’d die if you didn’t find someone who liked you.”10a94354b2b7805f

Deon chuckled.d1a64b9985726958

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“You didn’t have to. I would’ve figured it out myself.”bae5088063dcf1e8

“Exactly. Love happens in a moment. Just… try to make someone like you tonight. Give Viter something to cling to. Maybe glance at the center of the hall like you’ve found your soulmate.”e127ba1aba61bc55

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Deon sipped 2d3a21bc40 his champagne 2cb3427e10 in silence.15e9175c168a75a6

“And if there are two finalists, give me one.”ef3b20652367cdde

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He swirled b5aed59d0f his glass ee3eeb228e slowly.79bce605cd03e822

“…Still haven’t given up?”81ad0a3fb3ce6f0b

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“Why would I? There are three seats left.”b92f15b51a922f9a

“Even though you clearly don’t love me, I’m curious—who’s this secret admirer you’re picking brides for?”b32e3a14883f7350

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“What makes you say I don’t love you?”16d8a5d8030f9c65

“What kind of woman finds her husband’s wife for him—and compliments her while doing it?”b4a8105a7c750595

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He stared 6765cd4388 at me. I quickly f0cd6aeec0 changed the ada812f820 subject.575a77a2daf6f83e

“Tomorrow’s the dance. Anyone in mind?”2fffa8fc9f461456

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From across df43832027 the room, cac72627da I spotted 5e6b5f43de Viter gesturing, 716decce56 likely checking aa7b1d091e his watch. He was probably counting 6dddba75cc seconds. If I fell 648e9efa37 even 30 seconds a8d8ab004d short, he’d call 5b6b720940 it a failure.1767c652b3e351aa

Just as Deon eef92ba292 turned, I grabbed 2c77695456 his sleeve.f97aa9a02cba7ec5

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“What is it now? Another introduction? I’ve done enough—”c58d9b00c1677056

“Then pick me.”9de1e8098c6e64ec

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“What?”7a3975be480afc68

“I have to dance too, right? I’ll use the time to scope out a man. That one in the white suit by the champagne table.”b6fc981d78b5d4c7

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Deon followed my gaze 68ef47ba04 and frowned.dcc27285051889f3

“Him?”af58f62c7979e587

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“Yes.”6a0e5d1633cd6c82

“What did you two talk about?”c57934e9d1028e42

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“First time seeing him.”0d22adeac2c72197

Deon set his 750670ed4c glass down.29fff30954796b40

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“Count Cruse looks glamorous, but he’s drowning in debt. One of his ships even sank recently. If he offers you jewelry, it’s fake. Don’t be fooled.”762e07daf4d7dd9c

Right now, the most romantic thing is someone who helps me escape. ‘Escape’ is the sweetest word.222d6cd974f461e1

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“Okay, what about him? Silver hair, standing by the window.”f4afbbe718cf354d

“Is he your type?”a09dbd91657c77de

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“No…”dd68afa578cefd81

“Then don’t accept if he approaches. He has five illegitimate children.”97796df49277ac99

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“That man next to the piano, navy tie?”f9a304521cefc7ef

“You really do have a thing for married men, huh?”e9879b0b16e09edb

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How were so 566e29222b many married men 52a4608a85 invited?66e8d3f0e0b6eed7

Deon continued listing ec3bebefac reasons each man 6b4a93910e was unsuitable until 4952fea67a he finally left 8b5938f657 the hall.2efa2242f875919f

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Much later than expected. I thought I’d be done in 10 minutes—it had taken far longer.b6db0a15b4b9d70d

I approached 3b79a83a61 Viter, coughed 0e01bbe595 subtly, and ea766be9d4 extended my 210ae5b168 hand.1eb5db1b9dc9a292

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“I filled 20 minutes. Where’s my permission slip?”84603dc22cdb079c

He stared 62e3a9e722 at me, ce3489b67c then raised 0d71c67924 a stopwatch.722581399c96d33a

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“Actually, it was 18 minutes and 42 seconds.”40ede2486f5a8764

He showed me.cf8e0607eb4a3c4a

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“Still, it’s the longest the Duke’s stayed in the hall.”367ee69837871c6d

I blinked b73a3d3380 at him, 0960b37501 pleading.c688abc767a8e0cd

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“So? You’ll give me the pass, right?”5fe291907c845724

“No. But I’ll give you another chance.”07c1135882acb703

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“What?”5faab713ef27d0c4

“Just another 10 minutes. You clearly lack information about the young ladies. Take a break, have some tea, talk to them.”1d8cd514e51456bb

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“I barely made it to 18! If we’re missing 1 minute and 18 seconds, can’t we just add that much?”bd69ad1c6260230f

“This was a bet. I’m offering a second chance. Or you can focus on the dance.”962dc6cd0a41386d

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He walked away.3f4df0eaad5c5a1b

* * *fd038bd4fc0c5f4b

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I collapsed 5287ead841 onto my 9b8b976fdc bed with 3c9ac1ebab a groan.bcf7f400689a3c44

Suren was fussing 30a826e42a over wrinkles in 9e075486d8 my dress, but 770d2e1b8c I stared blankly ca4a8d98a7 at the ceiling.25bd1384c3aa645f

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I hate how my face gets flushed—but I hate the nobles’ judgmental eyes more.aed8bc5a69666954

Every conversation starts cd577da7fe with questions about cc4a980acc my background. And once I be224fd1f0 say I’m the e6c1615333 Duke’s secretary, their defb60839c eyes shift, avoiding 2839781c33 me.b4a67aa3fdcefb1e

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“You’ve been there a while. Find a companion?”c7723f9df653c844

Suren handed me bf78dd5431 a bathrobe.22fa1079b255b62a

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“No. That’s not why I went.”39b377fbe6fd386a

“Really?”9e2e8a2d11333fc2

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She rolled 1a6df9087e in a 6189262f05 makeshift bathtub.04484eeb142d1e8e

I stepped in. A red-haired woman 4618ba3b5f stared back from 2bdefe126f the rippling water.6b11ff86f38f059d

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At first, I’d been 5c7742d380 startled by her. Now, I 473d910152 was used 610cf07ec8 to her.4c2f4263d86fe1a2

“Made a bet with Viter. If the Duke looks toward the center of the hall for 20 minutes, I get to go outside.”161ce716891ac035

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“That’s easy.”13484c15fd5cc9cc

She tilted her 324a7a403c head.5777ad7b53932cbd

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“What’s a better way?”cae81b54de4ee9cd

“Stand in the center yourself.”a807f65e7d0f4fc5

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“What?”c82efdbf20525da2

“The Lord always watches you when he’s not busy. If you stand in the middle, it’ll look like he’s watching the hall.”1848b644705bca5d

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Deon does that?af32f1bae8e8ee2c

“He’s probably watching.”afe99551de93b578

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Suren nodded.2ca7862e2611bfa1

“And now there are rumors. A man and a woman walking the halls late at night. Hope it’s not you.”5f16afa1b2cc564d

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A man 3180981588 and woman? Lots of secret meetings, c192bc818b apparently.1c2b7b60d214701f

“Don’t worry.”b2613d76b4bfe207

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“These parties attract trouble. Nobles get carried away. Watch out—illegitimate children follow festivals.”c55e17fc5ee6a153

“I’ll be careful.”313e53aa0466c836

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Suren removed my f6a1bb47d9 pearl jewelry and ec7f5c7819 wrapped my hair.eeb940c473b52680

Warm water made my 68d4cabaa4 limbs heavy.32c0e63ee49c61fd

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“Don’t run off now. It’s too cold. You’ll freeze. Wait until spring.”27a538cb793be5af

“Spring? There’s no spring in the north.”c3821a10238115e3

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“Exactly.”e5c78b4901f0fbad

A subtle way 82bc55172a of saying: don’t e0b60ef1db leave.d5116d407f5aadbb

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Even if she dcb14e5ff4 says that—I will.64449cc9866aa58a

Definitely.b6c569211b393afe

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