DKVM Ch 16

Chapter 16

The butler, cbb691762c walking a f09ee94936 step ahead, aa192fa19c stopped at d155e9bf74 a door.58fbde7bc9250ecb

‘This is the duke’s office.’0bb40d4adf46d2bc

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*gulp*1beaed2018ee4ba3

I swallowed nervously.34a0333b63ec6e0c

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I had met the 7edd3a11fa duke many times before, d5856ab7c4 but never one-on-one.b00e78ebb3e25d2d

Just as the da93ab3a2c butler was about 6f00d38e9f to knock, I ed45b690a2 remembered something and 62964e6889 called out.7275e51e38c78c72

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“W-Wait a 887e0134cd minute, Mr. Butler!”f005cef802180491

Very softly, of course, da91339ae3 so as not to a720faedba be heard inside the 78f2f5385b office.2f4a8f96212b8765

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I quickly checked my 34f0492e39 attire as the butler 57294f4f54 looked at me questioningly.defe519121169277

‘The duke doesn’t seem like a bad guy, but he’s a strict man, so don’t show any signs of weakness.’28e1b7ddc11fad5d

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Finally checking to make 56b7549d57 sure my hair was 532970efcb tied up in a 246846134e bun, I nodded.62cbaa5138345973

“That’s it, thank you for your patience.”352b772909d45a07

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The butler chuckled b4767c5477 quietly at my 1b866ef25c worrying, then knocked 45fd969c03 lightly on the 07c5f365ea door.6c226e5606a47ee5

“Your Grace, I’ve brought Vivian.”eda347bb021d19e4

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“Let her in.”3fbd7cca2dd8da95

The duke replied as d41642a4b9 if he had been 5e5444540e waiting.76a3f07401f512fe

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I stepped cautiously 7ae92669dc into the office.d2ffed605d09050a

The duke was seated 3b8548d3df on the couch in bed9ba7131 his office, with a 26ba3c952b steaming pot of tea d8e5eda6fa and refreshments in front 8b39c145a8 of him.185964fe0482079b

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The maid must 70a256ab40 have brought them 918eadb0ae in a moment 8d3c86cf96 ago.497c680bf13f845c

I walked over to the couch but didn’t sit down.d71ccc648d5f0ab4

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‘It’s polite not to sit down until someone higher up tells you to.’2a9c94e6aa024e29

It was 3070b872f0 something my 3b8169582c father had 60c81cc565 taught me 6b13fae8e9 from a f5a10350cd young age.243675acc9b23040

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If I ever met a nobleman, I would make sure I didn’t get in trouble for being rude.936c4c9c3d137efb

Instead, I bowed a0bdc91bde my head and 0c1acf2f87 said.599a6b570f946e53

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“Good afternoon, Your Grace. You called 2d86b2adba for me?”1ebd63e01f63b972

“Are you feeling well?”28fc3aca5b9ebabd

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“Yes! I’m feeling better, thanks to your concern.”bbb4e8a3f45af334

The duke 34b5cc5532 looked at d7dd4cfab7 me for be59cb2498 a moment b159eef5ae with polite, ac569c9f48 cool eyes. He was 728afe658b testing me, cc21b933b2 but it 5153a2c012 was only 5d99818eb4 for a 8baac320f3 moment.3ffb836e82b71307

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He gestured to the 5956a5a937 sofa across from him.a683fd3a58b32882

“Take a seat.”95df508f4fb329e9

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A cup of black 136a98c017 tea was placed in 3b577df5a6 front of him and ee35b4998c hot cocoa with marshmallows 6334123618 in front of me.256763aed8ced92c

‘Yummy….’3523eac802885bcc

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The sweet smell ab49f0ab3f alone made my c86f9e2bd0 mouth water, but 2b0e5d423f this time I 7c101a37ed waited until the 2434829d44 duke raised his b180f75204 teacup first.e14a00b233285faf

After moistening his mouth c3e814b949 with the warm tea, 904a131d8c the duke turned to 29ebd9beea me and asked.098f2eb90081f265

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“Did you know what 833809cad0 His Majesty the Emperor 174d453447 thinks of Rahel?”ac84e7c67232cf93

“The princess told me 9063794412 yesterday.”a79d87e4d6eb1309

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“No, before that.”fec6c6dbcedc3008

I paused as 578b860768 I sipped my d3f2e83f8c cocoa with the 3bfef2ffad duke, then paused af530d6297 at his next 40e4c6d912 question.3f39615e7eb427dc

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“I mean, 000aed64fc did you 054492f2fa know of 3c99077645 my relationship 70c8edae77 with His 0261b387f2 Majesty before 984f6199de Rahel told f473ac6464 you?”55907c0d31503d15

I had already ccd3e3a798 sent a report 790f6c24e9 so that the 0284b44c6a duke would not 543d8564e5 mistake me for 20183d8834 a spy.3c8b68e56b5b3b81

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Sure, I could say, “I’m suspicious that the knights are asking about Rahel!” but…7e59178ed57ea492

‘The duke is 82c3580b7a not such an 865ae956a2 easy person to 534bee6a4a convince.’bc750e5c0d4fe5bc

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And I’m not that sort of person.b52e74f370e3b84a

Instead of 69ccafd97e lying, I 84b51244a9 opted for 7828263fee an honest 31ad5c7f0c answer.10d0df2b7118dd99

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“Actually, I fa1a8392c9 knew about 68f8bf4e2f it. I overheard the a10ce3c5ee adults in the 412e57c10e village talking about 58ebbfde26 it.”f42f3f1c96b8bdb6

The duke stirred 815a13c512 his tea with 4c72f25aaa an amused expression b65e941a80 as if he d1782e42f9 had anticipated my 107ec24b90 answer.0a6a126e1e74e459

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“And what 8f474b03e4 do you 1154dc2ce3 think of 24be411126 His Imperial 6fc11a373e Majesty?”e69687ac37405a67

*choke*eadbab7c8642e821

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I nearly 0d545b28cf spit out 56e4092755 my cocoa ada98cd5b3 at the f90bb6f196 unexpected direct f8562b0e5b hit.fc4893c35a75da3f

But the duke, 58b8e13622 who had just 328551b403 dropped the bomb, f73327897f calmly sipped his 6c34393296 tea and prodded 292e265d45 me.38d63fd2742c8912

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“Tell me what you 37dfde3c18 think.”8e08df2d5a82521a

I froze, nervous, and watched the duke’s eyes.d8f0c64e6f019c94

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‘Am I allowed to 050c03954d insult the emperor here…?’3c8d2cfe72b5e684

The duke 25c0e6ffb0 is not acb0c8c9d2 on good 5595fea4e0 terms with 2201d26bf4 the emperor, bcaaf6f455 but even ed137569eb so, he a0e415e326 was the 4212435dcb emperor of bc9a1d0bcf our country.9d080007b2799f3e

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Can I curse fe8dd1ba2a as soon as c257bc1372 the topic is db5289e12e brought up?c9eefc7b9ae95613

‘Is that 32c4aa4a52 really the c683a779f1 answer the d4380eb267 duke wants?’dd350e4fff526269

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Confused and 8909bdfeb7 unable to df1fd62269 grasp the 8fc8f2c9c5 meaning of 6cac149995 the question, 8171d783f0 I spoke 0746730637 up with cc9b2a7cde difficulty.8088c44eb1c32ba4

“Actually…I don’t really know.”96eb2a312728ccd5

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“….”21b644eec333014c

“I’ve never met the emperor.”5998c3c1a73f9cd9

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“You should know better than that, I didn’t ask the question just to hear such a lousy answer.”24eeec9d0a4a8dd7

My answer was met d973b6f50b with a sharp response, 450d0f46a0 but I was undeterred ae4c39104d and continued.5bc1c678c009c409

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“But I was taught that it’s bad to judge people based on what others say, so I never thought about His Majesty the Emperor, but…”82906e542115d79d

“…But?”456300c90b301b47

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I’m not sure what answer the duke wants from me.9ffc17f9299f8aa0

Does he want cc5c8aab0e me to flatter 3a2160f194 him with the 6be7b7e126 stage he has 52df310128 set up for 11d694bced me, or does 46a77dcb4c he want to a804c99891 judge my worth 4615be17e8 by how well c0aa3ead57 I flatter him?2af62292a8f52227

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But I…3cc8abc3356276e0

“One thing’s for sure, I think it’s bad to ask a child to pay for the sins of the father.”acbb20713cc304ea

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These are my 3ca8edb2d8 values.d060d4220647853f

“That’s why I want to be by her side.”a58f8fcc8cc50ed8

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I chose c7331c54ce to speak 1b7b4ce4f6 my mind.9f23e99dcd51d0d4

The two other 99f3db70f2 answers I gave c8c84af28c the duke were 42f1c9d7aa not right.dd0a8f9a541bf9d1

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My answer was unexpected, df1982e7a1 and the duke laughed, 135e80d96e as if amused.a195988b38938eae

“Do you feel sorry for that child?”e7325740124cb1c8

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I didn’t answer.ded2f00b404fcb7b

How dare ef4dc4ca1a I, a 4d17e699e3 mere commoner 16fcf13e71 kid, feel 60788aef8e sorry for c671f37291 a princess, 795edb1982 he might 0e7aa6997f think me 13b12a70bb presumptuous.6ee71dc69c7a51d7

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Luckily, the duke didn’t force me to answer that question.e3ee054ac153bf0d

“I like people who know their own mind.” [Duke]

“A person 1a518da8a3 who knows 041e0d3b6f their own 9a57e333f0 mind?”f06e295926c2c5db

“Yes. I feel that dae3f1256a a dog who 0f69f8a537 merely wags its f390864e80 tail is okay.”cbea38bc89d00f9c

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I listened for 0cf5e372d3 a moment, unsure d62a325885 of the reason 0b5dc37af8 for the abrupt ad05c29a1c change of subject.4bebdc4955fcc573

“But I’m not looking for a dog, but rather a person.”e697f532b43e4fd0

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“….”06b2816824ca0bff

“Someone who can show me a different path when I’m lost. Someone who can stop me when I make the wrong choice. Someone who is smart and assertive.”6e4a62987ab4ec27

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“….”99c314c12a87bb5f

“Dogs are loyal of course, but you can’t expect much out of them.”8a363e0551aed0e5

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As he spoke, bdfbf3c07b the duke exuded d453753c7d a sense of f05f6ef37e authority.2f67c6c6cf3cbb2b

He was a dcfc29d735 man who was 25265afe9e born with a c65b3a0be0 strong sense of 124287562d power and was 972bba27a3 used to leading ba528fb9c9 others rather than 3496203e23 following them.e38614ffacef6335

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“That’s what I like about you.”23f652e8507a07e6

“….”231b366f8062b8d4

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“I’ll sponsor you.”a9be6f0c1660ace2

Wait, what 321417263f did he f6c12b321a say?!84880f4a21018d3b

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At the duke’s words, my eyes widened in surprise.b8df3efa78a6a641

When nobles found a 7aa5bc08f9 promising youngster, they would 3a8a76213c sponsor them from a db8fea8c55 young age, raise them, 67f15caebc and then hire them 004617e0b5 as a servant.3a7884581596b230

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The Duke 07b9965276 was now e1bc078b3a offering me 167b84b464 that patronage 3d281ddfcb system!1004f9095bde709d

“So be useful 6609868c7b to me, and cddb8302d2 by extension, to d81aa46fa8 Rahel.”e8eb8164fe7c9913

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The duke’s eyes, which had been ice-cold a moment ago, loosened.b7d3ac2a6d6923a9

‘Of course, I thought my illness would be of benefit to Rahel, so I didn’t think he would turn me down…’a686fbbba227be3e

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I never thought I’d get a sponsor!3cee9737e66dd176

“Of course, you will a457f0aea8 have to come to 175a194985 the villa every day 1b36812977 to take lessons and 0da313a2c3 study with Rahel. Do you mind?”061baa085406ee7d

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The duke’s expression as he asked for my decision was casual, but somehow it felt like he was worried that I would refuse.1f2ca05c8331e5c1

My eyes widened 56ead6d33e in surprise, and 4957a3f5cc I answered a 0ef493424d beat too late.9b7b8df4caaeb6bf

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“N-No! I love it!”0bc16a4c1215d60c

I exclaimed, jumping da75bec359 to my feet.7185e00df1f4559c

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“I’ll do my best, Your Grace!”e61c1fc83919b9db

The duke 2ac6570545 looked at c05517f813 me, fists d239b37084 pumping, and c63f8f825c burst out 08807232fd laughing.005a90dbfed82b48

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A smile tugged at 70f7e6dedd the corners of my cc480d957c mouth as I looked 000bf559a6 at the man with 8b19d5ad5f a loose smile on 01376be04e his face, instead of 66728849c3 his usual cold expression..b0ee5ee643a38a09

* * *f9137928ed4d041f

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Moments later, as I emerged from the Duke’s office, I stamped my feet as soon as the door closed behind me.acd60732e0356a2d

It was d00ae54aa3 a stomp 5fa5ac3566 of joy.4216f6acc042f1cf

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‘It feels so good to be recognized by someone!’c7c35bf3ec1ffc1b

Of course, I’ve been recognized by other adults, like Dad, Lauren, and Karin.21017936c0c6917b

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It was dc1e6dbce1 a different fed7eda612 feeling to f71f507a39 be recognized 8eedebed1b by someone 487a4b249a who was 0360ede5c4 particularly strict.315919a22607b0b5

As I was giggling at the door of my office, I heard Rahel’s voice next to me.a40db5131000b2de

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“What are you 7c7aa561e8 doing?”4405a926701b6f7d

“Ah, Princess!”1942cf1bb560d022

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Rahel gave me 54da2b7c16 a strange look, ea652a667c but I ran 87c51914be over and hugged c4739b13f1 her, unable to 667f3b1fa8 contain my joy.c9927769c1dc55f0

“The duke is sponsoring me! Now I can study with you every day, won’t that be great?”117c17c2bb142ab7

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As I shared my b6aa898230 joy with Rahel, I 88e0f0edc7 suddenly noticed that her 1e1837f412 face was redder than 83d90201b6 usual.8d2d44dbd4bcdb36

“Huh? Are you sick?”dee7fd62cc688f51

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“That…”89127e48dff55a82

Rahel started to say, 9bd352fd9c but then looked at 914ff3b13a my face, which had 33c1124953 gotten closer, and pushed 4e8c9f2b56 me away, avoiding eye 6b661b6f16 contact.7f8ef4081279f5ae

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“Just …… get away from me.”72acf42b46fbe5ca