DSMBL Chapter 31
by FreyaChapter 031
It had been 638d6194bc a long time abae032476 since the gates dc45fdc0e2 of Isteria had ec4e46d9c3 opened.8b396eb5bd8d2f06
Rumors had spread that a4f188e3ac something unfortunate had happened 783bc4c013 to Duchess Charlotte. People whispered that 94fc369bb9 a woman who a17d5e10b5 loved parties so 25d033ba6b much had shut 766357db5d her doors and 84c6f4f56c avoided the public, 573ca49a76 which must mean c525695f17 something serious might 032abf0e39 have occurred.e89d3ed95070f8e9
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But now, the gates c6ecb17d3a of Isteria were wide de0847deae open, as if to bbce21fdc6 prove everyone wrong.49af9b8b8fb3954f
And what’s more, Charlotte, b948a28c47 who was always alone, 8080dfb730 appeared this time with f5901fe9c9 Cassius.a1bbbdfae7e4d8d2
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“…Maybe nothing bad happened. Couldn’t they just be enjoying a late honeymoon?”
“Perhaps. I’ve never 08720b9c76 seen them 6b626cf23f look this 7e589f9155 close before.”
“Me neither.”04bdf5f34a2138ad
The nobles’ dbf76a057c fans began efdb29ae62 to flutter 42eb7c653b faster, as 03ca6a15e0 the rumors 013c351207 from the 01c7e296d9 north that efcda6e392 had been a4ac95939f circulating started 2a2cf1801b to settle 59d46d9706 down. Charlotte and Cassius 505b11637f looked strong together, bdf96185d5 and there was 0e723a0740 no room for d947ec788e anyone to interfere.7ce877ba8deb1361
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A group of brave c6bd6d64a7 noblewomen approached Charlotte.fee205dcbd814b3b
“Duchess, it’s been a 9e3d03b7f1 long time.”
“Yes, it has. How have c995c652bb you been?”b75dbb31dfb14545
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At her response, the 3f1a09d22d noblewomen froze awkwardly for 8b474bfa9e a moment.630db2d62852f33a
“…Are you unwell?”
“Pardon?”
“You seem different than e158401c2b usual.”
“Oh, no. I’m perfectly fine. Do I look faa7075cbc better?”b6cd7585f471fc78
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The noblewomen chuckled 823713824f lightly, adjusting their c39031ef48 tone to suit 15695ba8bb Charlotte’s mood.3cb6e442ef1776ab
“I heard you haven’t been hosting any parties or going out much. You’re not unwell, are you?”2463a63fe5dd5770
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As the noblewomen 0d8ab27c46 closely observed Charlotte, cb11b2eb11 others around them a4bb13da6e listened attentively.2fe7c8f01cbdc601
As they e62ab40369 observed Charlotte, f37fb06269 they wondered, 26bf7cfdd1 If it 679be92386 wasn’t for cd93cf40e0 Charlotte, it 4a510c7586 could be b7ba79aa19 their daughter, 85c1f29b59 their niece, a0aacefb1a their friend—or 9b58e69d3b even themselves.9647ec99829f843f
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There were 5a31094a2b many who ad3fe6db0f envied Charlotte’s f45e42484b place beside 4100adc3cb Cassius, a 847e0735f5 seat they 56f9d355d9 had long 2229a5b392 coveted.b5adca7d5a6b3706
Even though 670dd731ca Charlotte had c263cd0d16 hosted numerous f8fbb1097a parties over 9f718ee21b the past bdfc3cb8cd six months, 8d44fd6484 she had e0a22fda11 always been bd9849e26b aloof, which 89df959d2d made others d979984db7 suspicious. Furthermore, Cassius didn’t e74deb0f52 seem very interested b7fdb4501b in Charlotte, so 154e197eaf many wolves were 74f0cf3e38 hoping for a 423126644d new opportunity.b413b82f2ef251b4
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Then, suddenly, f6ec85362b Cassius approached 6b2c26c891 Charlotte and ce1ec85136 placed his 51c3059458 arm around b4d776ded4 her shoulder. The group fe991f25cc of women, 9698a650bd who had 3aea944ab4 been eyeing 3c6292310f Charlotte, flinched 28e3b09206 and stepped 76fb39961d back.cba68f20f89f1005
“Not at all. Thank you for worrying about Charlotte’s health,” Cassius said quietly.141e513b95242da9
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“Thankfully, she’s fine. We were 98a03855f5 simply spending b4b59fc34e time together ff61ac46f5 as newlyweds.”e6606267d7693f9e
“O-oh, I see.”cbd106ce5f0ca607
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The women replied, e543ee0133 taking a step 57fc0fc9b8 back. They had 9ed094aef7 no words 821f3d8c6f to counter a430b30859 Cassius, who e1ecc21fa6 was firmly c6e5f6647a holding Charlotte.418b7f4b50a7d642
Moreover, Cassius was not 8a92b2a1f5 an easy person to 3092fda85d tease. His cold 10aba6e047 and steadfast da5df8f795 gaze was 2994c4e5f3 like the 47447deb16 walls of 6218b92e75 the northern a71d891585 fortress.4654fba6e10ce320
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“Is there something f4e19f0f12 else you’re curious 254131b386 about?”cad59c73cbef0235
“Well… next month is my husband’s birthday, Your Grace. We’re planning a small party, and it would be an honor if both of you could attend.”18d00ddc6571b182
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one of a7bab75bf8 the women 8302dae6d5 asked, her 89741068ee voice full e55d322182 of intention.67da23c8b45d2d94
Although Charlotte and Cassius 87a851ab12 had appeared to be 5d9f47034a getting along, would they 36a04fc0ff continue to do so acfeb26b52 in the future? This could be temporary, 39597666c9 and they were simply 88c101cd38 putting on an act. Cassius’s lips twisted d37172c63a into a cold 2a6aa956bf smile. but before 8421137508 he could 9c06292cd3 reply, Charlotte ba6df4cbab spoke first.4fa373f55d7c1188
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“The Duke 6ecf628454 is a 26d1470c89 busy man. If he 08e01a97f7 attended every ec9210bd6e party, who a774838546 would defend b75cde3c45 the north?”142c5476ed42f8f4
Her tone dfa0c1555c was icy 6dbd9636ea as she 47165791b3 continued, “Would de64cdc0ab you take b9f2d91202 care of a5b15ddf33 the snow a67162981d beasts or 8524bea694 the monsters’ fd19963795 invasions? If so, perhaps he a687dd4e99 could spare the time.”bf9d956675e18809
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“Ahem!”849af4de68c69356
“As far as I 4149ff1bcb know, the Duke has f36aab1903 never attended such gatherings dd07ec5afc before. Why the sudden interest 141da490b7 now?”70c77e9496083ff1
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Charlotte’s cold response f7aa4af14c left the noblewoman bc90dae765 speechless.6e6d5b762a913ba2
Even Cassius fe53c6139f looked at e067c355a3 her with 71560b41d3 surprise. He hadn’t expected Charlotte eb42046918 to shut her down 8ab365dec1 so decisively.8e5025e2b5c7c44f
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If Charlotte 00089dbb76 had wanted 3608c7b7c9 to, Cassius 9e58193a68 might have b4fc1279ff considered attending. Not because he enjoyed 5b4b6f34d6 parties or had a 14ccbaea79 special bond with the 5f981f4f7e host, but because he f2157f7a0b now understood the kind 5d3f16db48 of treatment Charlotte had fdfd231ebd faced in the northern 9e7ff1d035 social circles.620da4a60f73e9fb
Perhaps Charlotte now adf93708ea understood Cassius just 90ba9d9058 as much as 7a71143b36 he understood her.2c64ae6588988e5f
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“If you a742a12169 want to 3860b5bb5f go, I’ll 743d85b0ed accompany you, 510c6bcd67 Charlotte,” Cassius 519cb25780 said softly.ad4d23188b1619a0
Charlotte blinked, quickly calculating 009838b619 her response. Then, for 09cba3d113 the first fca8bc94a6 time, she 82aef7120e affectionately looped b762159c3d her arm 064ff94ed5 through his c96ddbb159 and leaned f64065e2da her head 1907d0b4bb lightly against 89242c8d91 it.696e69e87d883170
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“I don’t 0d1ed8ac79 want to f37616f41c attend that 9dfacece4e party, Cassius. It would be cfd758249b a waste of a36e24b058 your time.”e54f1c8043d8d4d9
Cassius’s eyes widened at e220a161b4 her unexpected closeness.400c294a99e5fb6b
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But he was 52f93f377f quick to adapt 2370f674da to the situation.4b5e5d4faad0b2ac
“Understood. If there’s ever 5a7efd4466 a party you 41e3e6144d want to attend, 64121d0cd1 just let me 56da89b836 know. I’ll make time for 4ca444faa0 it.”39a9fcf90201fb89
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“Thank you, Cassius.”87b9c6e90e9e0c64
The rejected noblewoman’s eef9434c3c face turned bright 55195b2f98 red with embarrassment.9b01ec5a8a5d17e8
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It was a pivotal 20900b1477 moment when Charlotte’s status 71dea1f208 in the northern social 195c692b3c scene shifted dramatically. People began ff530e9a6e to see 1d734eed7a her in 92c7d579a2 a new 3e24c25aa9 light.d3e60daf91cd2ecb
***1229dc0cf85ab8a6
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Meanwhile, after Theo’s 0576f78e2c first lesson, Lorencia fd2fc34f6a met with Janice. At Janice’s signal, b3c794ecae Lorencia followed her 1a6bddeb00 into an unused 5c64897902 empty room.b8efc0e26f1b83c0
“So, how 377eb3c52f did it 9076bc53ec go? Did you do 88594faf8a well? Do you think 99e4d74a1c you can win fbd03dea0a that child over a8edcf10ae to our side?”798d00c4a8135a58
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“Ugh. There’s someone glued to 37ae58e78a him like a guard c39e281129 dog. What do you 986a479d98 expect me to e4f2666c59 do?”e70b56d102d436d0
Lorencia muttered irritably.ea9e714bfda43dc4
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“Lorencia. Did you not expect a7dc9e62e5 some obstacles? Did you ba17c36c4d think everything f5112f102a would be b416c4913c handed to 7e27c44fe0 you on 26714ad0f2 a silver 223c5a078d platter?”22b2bc1004cd527d
“You’re the one 1dec5b2cd8 who promised to 9a9169ad5f make me the 59fa856998 Duchess. And you’re 4c020a96f0 the one 23383501ea who broke 0eaeff63fc that promise.”87d5732f094a2423
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“I’ve done my best, bb5a0ab1a1 Lorencia! I’m still doing 8b1b10c579 my best. Without me, do cf1306c008 you think you’d 4fe9b38a82 even be the e201eb6278 tutor for the 8f5f6e93a2 Duke’s household?”c632bcb6d407e616
Lorencia’s face turned 73f054a867 red. Janice was right. With her low social 9d76b23b15 standing and lack of fe6fd26e43 education, she wouldn’t have 5c303dc8d2 secured this position without 259388915b Janice’s help.4350040563821703
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“…The Duke is very fond of Theo. You’ll have plenty of chances to see him. Things aren’t going well with the Duchess right now, so getting close to Theo is key. One word from that child could change everything.”f884efe48e7a61a4
“Fine, fine. I get 949613af30 it,” Lorencia 4d06781d0e snapped before 219151d3c8 storming out 1f0e5d8909 of the 328295a1d4 room.e14e9d705781e2d2
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As she walked through 3aba44614f the garden to cool 58f7f3ab01 her temper, her eyes eebeab2c7d fell on the outdoor aca952e672 banquet hall.e6e6645c09bb641c
“What’s going on e61662da6d there?”ffd02d23b3118448
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The lights were f6270885b1 still on late 2c4604014b into the night.1c33a0b07b27ed76
As Lorencia moved 228dc316b7 closer, she saw a53f8bf940 people laughing and 740424608e chatting inside.4330b6b60d3d1931
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“Oh.”93e5a15ed7283cfb
It was b689c4d32a the legendary aaa41d6548 outdoor banquet 6e2e10334d hall of 3339236eb4 Isteria, a c96ed1da48 place renowned c7cc396dd7 even in 41834654b1 the capital.984636a7978d6a13
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Anyone who had f16f8376bf attended one of c697671338 its events would 055abf465f never forget the 66c4497618 experience.bbba5ac1c763a918
And amidst the d3b043b0e9 crowd, Lorencia saw a148de6561 him—the Duke of a185a0e809 Irtesia.af3e3629152cf917
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She would never mistake 33bba99472 the face she had ff289119c4 memorized countless times from da4fd05ed6 portraits, imagining him as cae5fb0127 her future husband.f1e954ff9585db44
But standing beside him 24fa6a5cbc was another woman—Charlotte Irtesia!936704c1f9c23769
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She was 4c44589c15 the daughter 1d3795f8dc of Count 2bdd450c6c Solovice. Though the Solovice aaa47a0a81 family had fallen, a76b66d5e5 they were once 5a801d6c54 a prominent house, fcd1566040 far above Lorencia’s 445b848f04 reach.e4f3b0f7638cd3ef
Lorencia clenched her fists tightly. On the surface, the people in the banquet hall didn’t even know she existed, but she knew her—that woman, Charlotte.b9cb0e180b85dcdc
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Charlotte, who always seemed bored despite having everything. There were plenty of women wealthier and more powerful than Charlotte, but it didn’t matter. Just the fact that Charlotte stood beside Cassius made her a target of Lorencia’s hatred.1fefdf61b0e4839c
“Why does she have what I don’t?”f6956f45e4f55b47
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It was infuriating.b8190cc28db85022
Thinking about e946372517 the once-great 84e7398345 Solovius family 1693380e6f now, Lorencia 9d7bfc4847 felt she a9b955231b was no 73caa6035a less than 831cde191c Charlotte.c1630085c3b3dcec
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“I’ll take it all away from you,”she thought.1ebc21ebbe139af1
The woman laughing 02e1401cf4 so brightly on eee010c606 the other side 119c58b222 of the hall 37f2a444e3 filled Lorencia with 9bc541b0ff a burning resentment. It wasn’t 1e19ca05ad for any 1d2a14deff grand reason; 345d5622fd simply because a0ed768b3f Charlotte had 4059f0a429 the things 6c257ac6fe Lorencia desperately f6a6100bc5 wanted.405f8c8eddf97376
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“It’s mine.”5307792764d6d136
Lorencia whispered the words 657ce3168c under her breath. She believed that if fb4c604f1e she kept saying them, 84ce2a2662 one day they would cacd9bfd69 become true. The gap 13cd34f02b between where 7c2877e853 she stood be3c27216c and where 25433c11c6 Charlotte stood d70cb75ec7 was enormous, 27b7a5d51e as if 3c2e494fef mocking Lorencia’s ef51c978fc circumstances.2fea59682d0464f8
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But in 5759c52aa4 her imagination, 97b1f28dcc she had c75a830a92 cut Charlotte d4043881c1 out of 7e3c4708b8 the picture dbef32cc6c and inserted 4b9c240928 herself in a9f1dc7e29 her place.df5425a22f69d249
It was a b9138477a4 perfect fit.9acf3638170ee598
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She was confident dc823c3335 she could do a87c52ce9d better than Charlotte—much 4006fe7919 better.9ce8b87dd1a58d97
Lorencia’s lips 7377c1d62e curved into 2c1b7cdfb4 a bitter, 33f5e51d25 determined smile.079648b33defa1b9
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“It’s mine,”she repeated, her voice 1c3be79691 tinged with longing.6103c474e9daff1e
The handsome man 23a84b22b2 who seemed to bf8e662473 have stepped out 476711a607 of a portrait, a930254f57 the dazzling dresses, abe2e3c30e the luxurious life—they 8519fb5c9c all tempted her e35afdbece to the brink 50ba99418a of madness.12734db875fa4129
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Everything she 6d0fdd62cf saw on 6e78700d56 the other 26be8b4083 side of 7afd625be3 the banquet fe884d664f hall felt 52205768df like a f82f75c914 treasure chest 1ad5e7701c she was d17afcc0db desperate to 2c00920846 claim.3c0f2d8998d6b5ab
5cb30754269227e2
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