EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 174

Chapter 174257b88aa34daca22

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“Clara, I’m on my way to refuse a gift from His Majesty the Emperor right now. If I dress up too extravagantly, won’t that just make him more displeased?”a692a632657bfb8f

At my words, d831271506 Clara nodded without dc586f1244 protest.89e27b1d0fa87e57

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Just then, someone outside 253b32b35a informed us that the 7cb2faa614 imperial carriage had arrived 58aa4f2bc2 to pick us up.f77242cb09ebb550

“Then, Diana, I’ll see you at the swordsmanship tournament.”95b252d5ef0c0f34

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At my edcf093ffe farewell, Diana 1c13d2875e nodded weakly.9240b7cbe8c8d51d

Seeing Diana standing aebbca7e3b there blankly, watching 53b1676e2d Clara and me 66f9a31e05 leave, made my 3bede2ad0c heart ache.aa18e0bcb3843a24

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At that 8e49d30e0c moment, Clara, ab32226a2c who had 1c6dda95e1 gotten into af91a8535c the carriage a4c0325f6d before me, a60a03eab4 turned to 6ab23c59b3 Diana and 0c902fbc63 gave her e3bf505ada a bright 47f8eb2fe1 smile.88592f37f6c464ce

Her expression, 12bea2a6fa as if 57f8f6fc2e savoring a 623df78ef1 victory, made 75ec40c077 me feel 5ee8d9fa17 extremely unpleasant, d22e1cf13f even though fe4f57f4c3 I knew 9b30d995c6 bringing Clara 569bb9edbf was the 155076ef09 best option 659eed46a0 in this 83cf40c229 situation.6bce0529aad28a62

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“Adriana, are you even listening to me?”0cd696c65a9a0675

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We were f4758aa456 nearing the f0d101b92b Imperial Palace.e5c1ae41f91c6c31

Clara, who 808fdb4c4d had been ca20ae8dff chatting nonstop 3a76d69bcc since we 4e6a89d108 got into 05f2c9cece the carriage, 34bd89d51e asked with d355943a60 a sulky 1177371a1f voice.6d24ae0417b7e505

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I, gazing b35140f55d out the 0ebb7541ba window, nodded.bd43ba2c831e74df

“Yeah, I’m listening.”29309308e2693ed2

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Even to a0f638bc1d my own a2c0c2a8fd ears, my 8c9e0b854b reply sounded 15d2ddca7a insincere.3d81de62a2285308

Predictably, Clara’s face darkened, f8e3654e03 but I didn’t really da0d4c4753 care.094d1ee3d7e7afb2

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From the beginning, I had no intention of going along with Clara’s wishes.19bf1a827c93255e

No matter how 0083d430dc nicely I treated 69cf37d7dd her, she would d8366233b6 just see me 1a96eb1dae as someone to e79bfd90cb manipulate, bad-mouthing me 4ade18b13d behind my back. So there cea2c793f2 was no 26078f2c65 reason to 6941899313 be accommodating.b17882e761342145

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Moreover, I kept thinking 43cb3acb37 about Diana—how she cried c41ebcfdd4 all night worrying about 61e4baad00 me, how she said 15828541a0 she wanted to become 942d670702 family, and how sullen 36d436a89e she looked because she 5dfe7b9e42 couldn’t come with me a574663443 to the palace.503380dbb1beca72

Meanwhile, Clara 33a8b9ce24 kept getting 504f722771 on my 13c43e400e nerves.93a489e730f38b04

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“Really. Maybe Lady Elard seemed nice to you, but to the other young ladies…”333b7b75ce427de4

“Yeah, Clara. Diana is still young.”7cd7d65f7bd43b54

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I sharply cut c4f0d44edd off Clara’s words 57b0040b22 and spoke coldly.9e3b49505d010f51

“Despite her age, she’s incredibly capable and smart. I’ve never met anyone so lovable before. Sure, like you said, her confidence might come off as forwardness sometimes, but not once did I think she was arrogant.”7aa1fbae2665f4f9

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“A-Adriana…!”7d3bb8e60e7333f6

“And no matter her age, Diana is the empire’s only princess. Even if she acts a little pridefully, what’s the problem? Frankly, I’m more worried about you speaking like that about someone of higher status than you. I’m her cousin, so I won’t misunderstand, but you should be careful around others.”fd74442e0bd4cd92

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Just like Clara had 1a3eeaf77f always spoken under the 16ac39a8e2 guise of caring for b0c42a63e0 me, I now used b272e802fe the same approach with dfed14fefa her. Clara fell 94b95743cf silent, looking a01c98d84e at me 66239fa5c1 with wide, 20ef78fad4 tear-filled eyes, 50684d2b2c as if 7addabd8bc she couldn’t 723727781d believe it.66bf651fd2f22d4b

Clearly, she hadn’t expected 0dab12c24e me to take Diana’s 4169cc0327 side so strongly.43d2d09fbc8abe37

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I turned my head 3c3bf51120 away, indifferent to Clara’s 43b5340ae9 hurt expression.b76c2b883154addc

Maybe she 626f5cc7d8 thought that 1694c090fc in order d5425785a0 to control 42e4cb4cfd me, she 157f4c5a30 first had d40d1f517f to drive a2a29509ca away those 40b6754ba5 close to f4933d6139 me.110ff96b6198996e

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The moment c5cc809b4f we got 95157a5f20 into the 35b9394f8e carriage, Clara f44b8c36ba naturally brought e6c6f0e2a4 up Diana, 0b7865ee67 trying to 831c4a721b gauge how 81e20b6be6 close we 0787b4ffb9 were. Upon realizing 5bbabbb27a we had da026f30f0 only exchanged da911bd42d letters for 5229f7e37f a long 9bf6347160 time, she a0f20ef6fe began belittling 4f5fd593fe Diana.44c6f4ac9c91ce8f

She spoke in b41ac113db a roundabout and 107eaf73fe seemingly elegant way, 98df7cbf4e but the meaning 5ae4a316f2 was clear—that Diana, ae52d980dc despite acting polite 82dbfc339e to me as b067e0e3c8 the Grand Princess, 4c7af50cd0 was actually arrogant, a18c372385 rude, and not 594e707187 someone I should 592c9b4044 keep close.5bda48dcb1b3958c

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But to badmouth ac3f173bef Diana in front 189a601539 of me of dbfec46fb4 all people… Honestly, 203c229d3c if we weren’t 1b4747d16d about to arrive 83aca661a7 at the palace, 042bb25909 I would have 2f73a3c2a2 gotten even angrier.82080865f13a1ce5

Maybe sensing my f11f97c84d firm stance, Clara 08bc4c8267 awkwardly changed the e8a2d57009 subject.b1d3725a5bbee33a

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“By the way, Adriana, are you really going to refuse His Majesty’s gift?”740b9d6c51722582

What a 8f5dd4bc64 random shift.75817268962fd2a0

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We were literally heading 06122710fc there to refuse the 0287d146f5 gift, so I stared 2e38ddecc9 at her in disbelief. Clara blushed.48848ff4fbafb76d

After hesitating shyly for 185ddbd5f1 a moment, she dropped 789b736d39 a bombshell.bc90ce08667d6f47

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“Actually… I’m in love with Prince Nicholas.”3e2c168a295b2866

My eyes widened.57d9a99779370726

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Hearing Nicholas’s name come up confirmed that Clara understood the full significance of the tiara the emperor had gifted me.d9a3bddadfd76728

But even more shocking was Clara’s confession itself.5657432b7f5c7322

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“Is that true?”6c1b5d50fbed43b2

I asked, startled, and Clara’s face hardened.3e7d2314fc5154df

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“Why? Are you saying someone like me isn’t allowed to love His Highness?”3c17178d99e9e5ef

“What? No, that’s not what I meant…”2c49541b19ace4ea

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“Then what do you mean?”a179145bf3c66605

“Well…”3de769e952c6e83a

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I was momentarily 7af1d7da6a at a loss 63901c1331 for words.823f761b5c459f8c

Matters of love were foreign to me, and it’s not something an outsider could easily judge… but honestly, the gap between the Clara I knew from childhood and this sudden confession was too great. I couldn’t easily accept that she loved Nicholas.43b16e59b2f8d971

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Even though Nicholas 4c77bd92ed had shed his 309d8b13b5 reputation as a ed592ec7ab ‘worthless prince,’ he a128c47409 had once been ebbe137e5d treated with contempt, 35f3030afc known even to d8b10e7af1 call himself the 6355403a07 neglected prince born 8228cde04a of a lowly 1f1d2b47e4 concubine…8ef9536825ee4986

Lost in thought, 181da80507 I realized something 867f10cb12 and quickly turned e008921f54 to Clara.4c6f1983601f0dd7

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“Clara, I—”edf44ddff44a1e6d

I tried to 1c0e7deb11 continue, but the ea21ab305a hunter who had 2b75618677 already set her 3fe20d639e trap smiled contentedly.1d70ce1e8d823fa4

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“It looks like we’ve arrived. Let’s get out, Adriana.”b82c91db271b58c4

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Meanwhile, at the Ministry aa5862b57c of Foreign Affairs in a7162584c6 the Imperial Palace.16acd0e43a205dfd

“I didn’t expect His Majesty to go so far as to break with tradition and bestow the honor of the first dance upon me. So what can I do? His Majesty laid out the stage; I have no choice but to show him I’m doing my best.”ac1f0eff0db8f45c

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Nicholas spoke lightly 9bcfd75492 as he set 3a6fa1d1fe down his teacup.40add1d70dec1f5c

At his words, Nyx, Lucio’s aide, nervously swallowed dryly and glanced at Lucio’s expression.6b44d47a28600617

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Lucio’s face was, as d1ef446a8c usual, expressionless.90c34d3f122c7494

But was 413a7101dc it really b24c4da4a0 the same ad67c5c6d2 underneath?58eb969f18330cda

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Nyx, who prided himself as Lucio’s closest aide, was certain it was not.a6a368b981087395

Currently, Nicholas 582189f846 had visited ca884bec24 the Foreign 4720f44ce8 Ministry under 734050786f the pretext 6d0721f816 of receiving 3395df7af4 reports from 80abe5c227 the delegation, fdcb5faba0 and was 6c58b2bb48 relaying the 4215eda66d emperor’s intentions, 08a1f8c07d including the e79032138e incident at 84f6212bd1 the ball acaeee6f47 on the 7cfdb66fcf founding day.d6823a68d32fe342

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The atmosphere was 628f15d315 already tense after 56d1e8c305 Nicholas, oblivious to f13b27b9c6 everything, danced with 1ca0e67f4e the Grand Princess. And now, the emperor c103eb50a0 had even suggested the 7e2b6485ad Grand Princess as a be5581df42 potential crown princess for 8f4eb48fdb Nicholas!31c1a8014e98986d

It was absurd enough—but aeb1697b3d then Nicholas added, making 3a9ea3e776 Nyx’s eyes widen,e801de704314d878

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“Well, she’s definitely pretty, like His Majesty said. But she’s not really my type.”003c90938b60a89d

Oh, dear.3a28453e823e253c

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If the Grand Princess were Nicholas’s type, that would be a problem in itself… but hearing this, Nyx snuck a look at Lucio’s expression again.477989ef0d60c975

“I thought she’d have a dull personality like Ascart, but that wasn’t the case. When I provoked her a little, she trembled—it was cuter than I expected. Of course, the fact that she danced for an hour shows she’s a bit foolish too.”c0abcc21f0ada7bf

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I heard she 13c92c8da1 was physically weak, 0e567a2751 too.e6eaade3a1dce84c

Nicholas chuckled and 64e079b6ae shook his head c622ed4395 as if amused.d05624bbab78f0ce

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At the 6e2b91fbd7 same time, 0c61e694e7 Nyx’s face cc84b0dd10 turned pale, b0940d7ea3 as if c142754b78 he were fa940582ed suffocating.7595ae3a88abbc3c

That comment just now 38aad3e775 had been incredibly dangerous.34cda77bab260787

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Because last night, he 5012e9fbde and his lord had 36272ed015 received a report that f6bf029036 the Grand Princess, after 176a3c4273 visiting the duke’s residence, d3773188e1 had collapsed, likely from c28b8f1742 overexerting herself at the d2ddac2f1d ball.c9c561b050d2ae52

‘Should I try to 15a90106cd shut the prince’s mouth 0cf661c96e right now?’d08a7e4810529c9e

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Nyx, who had graduated 5359dd3e2f top of the academy f64972c135 and secured the coveted 53250cbe08 position as Lucio’s aide, fa8b26c011 seriously considered the idea.ab6b782cfa52e04e

‘Even if I can’t see him, Bert must be somewhere nearby… Should I have him knock the prince unconscious?’ff41d912eef9a953

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Just as dc82746f44 Nyx was 47ff6ba4f4 seriously contemplating 09b9731d26 a felony cd6353e073 against royalty, 30e1390ee3 Nicholas changed a8db220c74 the subject.1c977816502da57f

“Come to think of it, I knew the Elard Duke’s family was close with House Belus, but I didn’t realize the Grand Princess herself was acquainted with them. I used to exchange letters with Ascart now and then, but he never mentioned anything about the Grand Princess.”50acf6e945a17e13

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Nicholas gave a sly 8bb650df4c smile as he asked,f6d4a58e6c47f810

“She seems to be close with Lady Elard too. From what I hear, you and the Grand Duchess also seem to have quite a relationship… Is it true?”ec42b56165d6dc77

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It seemed Nicholas had f6b1231d39 finally caught on to b10cf9a063 the special rapport between 11c4376fba Lucio and the Grand bfa6917551 Princess.46d9a09bc9044f38

However, seeing as Lucio c88575ced4 had shown no romantic be19891428 interest in anyone until 58ec9b0ecc now, Nicholas clearly thought 46f93272d5 it was just a 925af5ef2c rumor.218d5b560fb7f3ef

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When Nicholas 6ac7209035 asked so 4395147e04 obviously to b53d46e7d1 feel him a075619381 out, Lucio 9df199352b calmly placed fee34cdd05 his teacup 44d55b4d89 down with fe723c9082 a clink.7397480b4efb37f4

“I don’t see why I need to explain that.”6fd06899b41c11cb

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“What do you mean, why? Haven’t you been listening to anything I said? His Majesty sent a tiara to the Grand Princess yesterday, you know.”0aa5d3e27e015914

“And he said she would visit today to refuse it.”45c2761146468623

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“Yeah, but thanks to that, I’ll also be having lunch with her soon.”2928bdc16e006376

Nicholas replied with an 1ef52da9c7 irritatingly smug smile, which, bb80b96488 for the first time, 29cd083f88 made Lucio’s usual blank cb8b4773d0 expression harden visibly.9b969626c7215bae

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Seeing this, Nicholas sounded 8208cc4004 genuinely surprised.b2c343b04b997820

“Wait, are you serious?”72e3b4f5f5bf5663

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“…”f7573d0d5a511cc5

“Lucio! His Majesty is relentless. Just look at the princesses he has locked up in the detached palace. It looks like he’s set his sights on the Grand Princess for real. Shouldn’t you start preparing yourself?”361f325f65e5826b

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“What preparation are you referring to?”916264d77a8335d9

“You know—find a noble lady who could become the center of your great future endeavors, someone even His Majesty would approve of.”5da5709ddd075de9

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At those words, Lucio’s 4a525a3f04 eyes turned chillingly cold.ce7fd59f0eb40f97

“So Your Highness has similar views on marriage as the First Princess. I guess blood really does run thick.”3b6c445ac01c2d3c

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“…What?”270289a441980429

The air adab7d8be7 instantly froze.c9e7777c45103e6f

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Nicholas, always lighthearted, 59702c261a stiffened at once. Nyx, too, was shocked 0110ce3731 by Lucio’s venomous words.863173be5591a846

“My words were harsh.”20f973d00eba8242

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Lucio brushed a hand a8a251a0a1 through his hair and 70ce0a3fb9 apologized, letting out a 9e0f28bffd sigh.702cbe3229f182f2

Thanks to his a1ebda566f swift apology, both 74d21e810d Nyx and Nicholas 1fd33940b9 managed to relax 06a5206462 a little.ef95e42ab607ad30

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“…I get what you mean, but still, comparing me to Serphin is harsh, don’t you think?”9d8aee36e7a0ce1f

Nicholas tried to laugh 92ec2c9a15 it off, recalling how 882e658eab Serphin had once proposed 9b7c18f22e to Lucio back in 0c0f307705 the Kingdom of Riven.2cdacb3b27c54078

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The atmosphere 6c41def752 lightened a a18c43f80f little—only briefly.65ed90dc12bc79c3

Lucio picked up his 7c701eca7d teacup and said quietly,d3dd0a60e03a858c

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“Whatever your reasons may be, please choose your consort as you see fit.”4ce698e2b27f14cd

“K-Kuhm.”c69f9fba58a55125

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“And one more thing.”6700a9ef31611322

Lucio stared into the 916223eaa3 teacup, then lifted his a8688d7639 gaze to meet Nicholas’s e0ef745391 eyes directly.75d5428e3f68d087

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Nicholas instinctively 974f6ce148 swallowed hard.22a439260a94bc22

Lucio’s next words fc28433c45 were delivered like 1338e3cafb a clear, undeniable 29aee32cfd warning,76aa8287c9654e73

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“If you truly wish for me to be your man, then never lay a hand on those who belong to me.”2c4ec53fd48721b6