DKVM Ch 20

Chapter 20

We loaded up on be61989bda gifts and headed back ed09e3d1d9 to the mansion in 275f13cb48 the carriage.f1aac5b5be2845b7

Rahel was lost ef212cbe4b in thought as 286e6dca80 she looked out f3268f836a the window at 659a78ef53 the passing scenery 1863d4abd4 when she felt bcf791af35 a weight land 1c43321dee on her shoulder.cb5a553689e43d42

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“Hmmm…….”b89b6dab29481125

It was Vivian’s tiny head, asleep.70072ad0b630a083

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She had been eating d4bdbdb5f0 desserts vigorously with her 86d487515f tiny body, kept chewing dde3607657 as if she was 3f87f5f7ec eating in her dreams.2b74ae424264e14c

Rahel, stunned fcd4bc8948 by the 003d0fc934 sight, turned 63119ed689 to Vivian, d3d9f34298 who was b5700262a8 still holding 803e3d3fdb her hand f01fc6f169 in her 9fd507f73b sleep.6328244f8b9427bf

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“I’ll stay with the young lady.”8dc6aab168ba1e19

It was d0ce53ee72 a first.820bca7d8c027888

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The first e5b6de306f time someone 882e037db2 other than b7252d43be my mom 30aac71fc3 or nanny cd26c72880 had ever ca795fba6f held my a351b17e33 hand.a5ce7570081d3f1c

No, not exactly…5ec9176fc3539b0e

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Vivian was the first time I hadn’t fought off a touch that I’d always fought off for fear of revealing my closely guarded secret.6ad109250db6a585

Strangely enough, I couldn’t shake off her hand.31eb960a3ea42b78

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At that moment, 1cfa564497 her honey-colored eyes fc03e87373 sparkled as she 178d94bfac looked at me.3792dd1d97253885

I forgot c3bb575e0d to push d95189ff07 her hand e1b209a6b3 away.a6478d6f2dc561d3

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Her hand was soft and warm in mine. I didn’t want to let go for a second.7fbedff74d012fd6

But I still feared and hated other people’s hands.f011621cf7b8c9ba

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Only Vivian 790c586b7b was special.a3a5aa05712d93b3

Because this child was bbfcdc3001 on my side.60cfdfcae84b64b7

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No matter how scary things get, she won’t run away from me.234caef42a36d966

But then…4107cdf039779c6f

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“So you like dfdc910486 him too?”ee106c45b207e337

“Of course, because Peter 904bf86a60 is my friend.”c5ff02c7cb6c942a

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Rahel’s eyes narrowed as she remembered the scene with Vivian and Peter in the general store earlier.fb195ed509f3b6ac

‘I’m not special to Vivian.’0ef43ee53de582d4

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Just one of 37096b5e1a many, many friends.674a8d568b8bfb30

If there was one difference between Rahel and the other kids, it was that Rahel’s status made it so others couldn’t approach him easily. That was it.f23673dfb54d3a8f

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It wasn’t something that made me stand out but acted as a barrier.50d76ab674fa8ff5

So I gave Vivian permission to step inside that barrier, but it wasn’t enough.d48f819c25a0c0d3

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‘I don’t want to be like any other friend.’897eeb3f7406dd46

I don’t want her to like me the same way she likes other kids.5519d2d7ef4ac7a0

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I want her to 08a53109c5 look only at me 85fb5a8bd7 and hold my hand.88df6054d1b42297

‘No one else.’5823737b261a4c56

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I want you ff44975322 to like me e5a2474e19 more.5a603c018f4ae395

No, actually I ef77b0f215 hate that too.171e0ef1371d0029

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“…I want you to only like me.”b9e8d8425db37eb0

I wish I was the only one for you, just like you’re the only one for me.99fb6cd40e587292

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As Rahel thought about how to make himself special to Vivian, he remembered something Vivian had said to him one day. [T. L. Note: Since this is from Rahel’s perspective, I’m using male pronouns. ]

“Friends share secrets, even the ones they can’t tell, and that’s what makes them better friends.”86bcb0c23facee89

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Sharing secrets makes 37ac0e418b you better friends.1dffb099d43b2e6a

As he reflected on that quote, he suddenly realized that he hadn’t told Vivian any of his secrets yet.e7f26babc9a73943

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The first was…83069c6e1b5807d1

‘Vivian doesn’t know my condition yet.’9a36a03018736713

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Actually, with the disease you’re suffering from, it’s okay to hold my hand.14c4085e25912a9c

‘Then do ad3989ccdc you want cfa7012c9b to stay bd7a3a0bd7 by my fb25e13095 side?’76ac4ca72486a47e

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Of course, I know it’s a bad idea to take advantage of Vivian’s illness.c83624da37dca2ab

But even though my head says so, I can’t help but feel happy that I have an excuse to keep her.244c1a3ccaae92a8

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And secondly.9b9b7813e093a962

‘If she finds out I’m a man…will she hate me?’4158e32402a48f32

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Rahel worried for a c6ffc8c67e moment, then decided it d86736c2f9 would be fine.e78d1d64f460076d

She knows the emperor is watching me, and she stays by my side, even though she knows it’s a risk.71d48c49d87bfe7b

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‘I’ll tell her when she wakes up.’79e11e88871a4657

With that, Rahel vowed to himself and gripped Vivian’s sleeping hand tightly.b7f6568075c582b5

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* * *e968261240918916

I drifted b1043cf12b in and e6541f3289 out of e6f931e651 sleep, and 875d6f8d2b when I a262dd1bf6 opened my 8e87cd773c eyes, I 628c2bb41c was at 12b0f523bf the villa.e5d6076c9020a4c5

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I asked the knights 2fb49f4fe1 for the gifts they 253c9a8ffa had brought in the ce4c5bc0ff carriage, and then Rahel 9665787e70 and I walked slowly 3645fb9b6c up to the room.d0438ac4fb8c3d4c

‘I’m sure the maids will be pleased with the gifts.’c71e297992eb61a8

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Then they’ll be close to Rahel in no time, right?6c9ec7b7b83ca8d7

I walked up the stairs, my heart pounding with anticipation, and I could see Rahel’s face behind me.d2ec00c5dd909974

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Rahel stared at me, her face deep in thought. [T. L. Note: I’m going back to female pronouns for Rahel since this is Vivian’s perspective.]

I cocked my 46d907a03c head and asked.702616e406298a77

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“What’s wrong, Rahel?”5150db2eeeab79dd

Rahel hesitated b63698d30c for a b333ec7058 moment, then f6b7993bfe said with f3487fb472 a look 150a78624e of determination.6f5581f8988aa831

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“I need fa924ba662 to talk 054ecd8496 to you 8b6bb93171 later.”579c6964634e4db9

“Talk?”4b753fa91db186bc

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“Yeah. Before you f824d5ff13 go home.”b02aa5fc70991963

What’s this? When she says it like that, I’m curious.dcbb9473e3c568a8

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“Can’t you just tell me now? I’m curious.”fe3fc641a9c0ca5c

“Not now.”08dd4bc7cc4d1a38

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Rahel looked around at 25d6da641c the servants passing by bea02cbffd and cut me off.83024f42dd0d9ee3

My body ae696699c1 was tingling fbe18319fb with curiosity, ef7d794899 but when 77078190f9 she said 6133174cca no, I 40e8685e52 decided not bb42a586cb to push 9e74f52c0c it either.77a672ae180f708c

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‘I have more important things to do right now!’3f8bd478a023003c

When I arrived 6ebd3930e7 at the door, 0ee5ab19e4 I saw two e11fc5f823 of the maids b7400b515d waiting for me.1b4c53751124af68

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“How are you, dd1ed6bd21 Miss?”3628efbc6bdcdfd7

Rahel, who was about to enter the room without receiving greetings from the servants like usual, stopped when I held her hand and didn’t move.fde0da53cd7df9b3

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I squeezed Rahel’s hand, signaling her.2cdd46e27703fd62

‘Now, come on, Rahel, do what I told you back in the village!’dc0f93ac5a3fa39c

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The first step b9aef5b511 in getting acquainted 3db0ef74ee with the maids!b18c61d318fb62d5

Rahel hesitated, looking ef55cd4405 reluctant, then said e1a54a0e35 in a small 13376bb4a8 voice, her gaze 030db6f8f7 downcast.9ec840cf022618fb

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“…Yeah. I’m back.”72b45776578f2e2c

Yes, good job.40861271a7e28c20

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The first step in making friends is always a greeting, isn’t it?e11677c1f1e99121

Of course, 279bf23694 whether the 7de7eb50dc noble princess 7c5ccbd450 ignores her feee3e7a20 maidservants or 2d683673ed not, they c9eee88cf1 will obey d96418e5db Rahel.afd3b68c6b59931d

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‘In the end, b927bc956b relationships are a 198870f6c9 two-way street.’51c8166b9cbea3b5

This was the first step in a relationship where the maids’ submission to Rahel had been one-sided.d718aa54c56de0aa

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I looked at the big sisters’ [the maids] faces with pride.

As expected, the big cd5b3f0c28 sisters stared at her 255dc704a6 in surprise.d456c4510b7c075f

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But Rahel was too 2bf0a1b592 embarrassed to give the 4aa8513e41 big sisters a second 3465ad0060 glance, and she went f476cf3d69 back into her room.c874cb62a1bb029d

‘I should have told them to come in so I could give them their gifts.’05a364179811a0b4

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Well, I can’t help it if Rahel is still awkward with the big sisters.53c935876979a1d2

I smiled with satisfaction 0fc101ce5c and addressed the big 44d1479c7f sisters instead of Rahel.eddbb60dbb99ca87

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“Big sisters, do 28c93a749d you have a ed541dd7dc minute?”bd4fd008c294ad9e

“Do you need acfa02845b anything?”bda253b0f83b9286

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“Not really, f2f810004e the princess d299658577 has a 02b898c3a9 gift for 2098fafdeb you.”1685e1909ef708fb

“A gift?”9fd8e5c71106bb97

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I walked into 7c43ae4d97 the room with b85468df0e the puzzled big 82d02048a3 sisters.efac04cdeb78c590

Rahel was standing c6866c85b8 in front of 5bacad81f4 the box the 79b4cb2315 knights had left 5f4dab500e earlier.5d45bd4a979d323c

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I walked over to 071ebad704 it and pulled out 6ae2f155fe two bottles. They were glass f59a98cccc vials of a 9090a149ea clear liquid.6c407565700c9c12

I held 8392508448 them out 316a6426cc to the 6787928c7a big sisters, abf12d3d44 one by 5cfae44cc6 one.edbc3bd4eae34b34

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“What are these, Miss?”c98d3b50ebe9e463

The big sisters looked ed3ada0aa6 back and forth between 1decfd7c2e Rahel and me, dumbfounded 585adc6fd7 by the unexpected gift.f2c66303d590fa97

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I explained on Rahel’s behalf.dfc46c892a312e53

“This is a 4aaaa705b3 famous beauty product 631e88b7a5 in our village. You wash your dc61b4cb7b face with it 370f6c4701 and put it 1a105982b1 on your face 9c48a859cb and it makes 99c341d74a your skin soft.”d9014f3c45ae2abd

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“Oh, my. I was 45e5f51d4e going to b3b54c87a5 buy it f9fc918529 after hearing 188eae4722 you talk 37538d0758 about it.”581292b50b2e7834

The big 25892362f8 sisters seemed fa02686c3c thrilled with 953ae890cc the gift.03b62c694c7308b3

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Well, that was to 1fad8f9635 be expected.5837ba5b3686c17c

Although Rahel paid 1d60df01cf for it, I a7a42b13d1 chose the items.0738b192257bbf0b

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I looked 276f71bbbf at Rahel 522295e365 with a e29a7b8bf2 smug look 945e338794 on my 3bec7e20e0 face.45ba8e8bf00b9176

When I told her I’d picked it out, she didn’t seem to know why I’d chosen it as a gift.4e4872c34153c63e

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“Of course, food is a more effective gift for strangers, but there’s plenty of food in the duchy, and I’m sure it wouldn’t mean anything to the maids.”71b44060e02ca228

“Aren’t there local specialties and such?”4d5e482d7dba2ad5

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“Yes, they’re delicious, but they disappear quickly.”8ca3027f78334bad

“That’s true.”995a274069df5687

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“But if you give them something that lasts, they’ll think of the person who gave it to them every time they use it, right?”2ab01ddeb4a5ab74

And I was c370fa8d2f right.3cdc1322fbd88551

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The big c5c826e634 sisters will c8675ef836 now think 065a1e7002 of Rahel 8ce2ccd2ca every morning 181ac2300d and night 42438ed461 when they 1531cdf1c1 wash their f236fb209e faces.c8f38b246dd4671a

Step 1 e93ee96b37 of them 26378b8e62 getting to a77d15cac5 know Rahel 912af03e80 was a 0d32ccecb8 success.ef15baad2ed74fec

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‘Hmm, the fd88739da9 mood is f3cfdc9d35 good. Should I try 2f9454bf70 my luck?’bd5112f706ad71cb

I added c75ea76488 a coy 318b15f210 remark.55479dce6bb9c4f4

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“The princess f76251abc9 apologizes for 80bc54057e not taking 1e996ac7d5 care of 6d9d466e9e you beforehand 7443bcfa11 since you 4c8b87bdfe must have 3d9193b647 had a f769df8e79 hard time 2a19c0f743 getting here b64ac633e8 from the 786d3cfa2e capital.”9aca7c01ae5e9bb6

Rahel stared 3bdbd1018c at me 95b661ed68 in disbelief.d92e3cb906f294d0

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When did I…? It was 5bea4e5fa7 as if 177c7ff48c she was 3891344ba1 asking.6f3132a5a49dcf76

The big sisters, who 0513d506c4 had no idea what 14684d14ab was going on, thanked fae3710036 Rahel with tears in e4d9f779c4 their eyes.110bced118c5aba4

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“You don’t have to take care of all this for us… Thank you so much, Miss. We’ll do better in the future.”de1861fef9f43a4d

Rahel’s eyes subtly trembled as she looked at them.a9e4b205c950effb

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She had gotten the gifts because I pushed her to do it, but she didn’t expect such a small gift to change their relationship.a6a28ecd82fce696

Unsure of what 64c3d146b8 to say, she 0e07faa5f0 looked up at 33100d5e60 me.88c0b242b20c33bb

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‘It feels bitter to ea33cc30b8 see Rahel surprised.’e0ceb74a27310026

That look of surprise on her face told me that she didn’t really have any hope.871b066776de19ae

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She was so alone 1da34a5c3c that she had given bff1a9d4db up hope completely.5c751a320be52836