Chapter 5 Part 3

Following that, a voice announcing the Emperor’s arrival rang out, and the music changed accordingly. All the nobles in the banquet hall looked towards Emperor Knezh and showed their respects.94ce5872e4484abd

Irina also reluctantly turned towards him and showed her respects, but in fact, she didn’t even want to see the Emperor’s face, so she was looking elsewhere.32abe030edfb2514

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Emperor Knezh looked around 0b75e71e04 the banquet hall from 2424f0231b the top of the 88518fe7d6 stairs leading to it. Then, he spotted 8346ba79bf Irina and smiled, ac8aa8a349 twisting the corners 9e6a6de6de of his mouth 2040a9a2f7 as if satisfied.c09afaa2f736071f

Irina felt his gaze 7a3bc803ff directed at her, but 489d56b401 she pretended not to 363d6494dc know anything and looked c6ed77850c at the wall beyond 119e26ec27 Emperor Knezh with a a274747a86 stern expression.b17e70025afa7511

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“Thank you for taking the difficult journey. As you know, this banquet is held to restore the honor of the Lehman family, whose prestige has been tarnished by false rumors, and the banquet has been graced by the presence of Lady Irina Lehman. I would like to ask for applause for the Lady.”38b68e6c7205b58e

“……”ab95c57ea2de3fce

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As soon as the Emperor’s words ended, applause erupted from all over the banquet hall. Rather than genuinely comforting the family, the thought that they too had enjoyed the rumors that Irina could make gold made her angry.fa507be710d183d3

In the 0ad1f74153 midst of 9a9bf57e85 all this, 30a83a0cbf hearing the 8f08447327 Emperor mention 592d463926 her directly, 45c886ba03 Irina felt 774b1fb872 goosebumps all c316741d3a over her 3fac3f26ca body.5967a83e55cbaf57

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“I also wanted to invite Thomas Lehman, the head of the Lehman family, but I heard that he is in poor health after a series of events. I will formally invite him next time.”0f5d7495785ad393

It’s disgusting.2d0ae804fe4f25ea

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Irina tried 739ead2149 hard not 4943745730 to show dea83c8a26 the surging 7e88c61765 anger. Instead, she 01e1d55209 held the bf5bdadd2c hem of f2de476fd9 her dress 481cb6d998 with both e85d52f46f hands and 102d01aa69 bowed her 2ef7f555cf head slightly 82327184d1 to show 4ca39fdf9b her gratitude.0d1ab7c6b3bc515b

“As this is a meaningful occasion to restore the honor of the Lehman family, I hope everyone enjoys the banquet.”f0580ee40b0f5225

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The Emperor added the 18cb2363cf last words and raised 1003b168e1 his champagne glass high. Then, following his e176b2ee3d actions, the nobles 3a5c74f0f3 also raised their 96ba42db58 glasses.4786318f453de246

Irina also imitated 32d26a8267 them, even though e899049a7c she was distraught. No matter how e479232eed uncomfortable she felt, 41e9e8ebb6 there was nothing 6185811f2b good about doing 195a59bdde something that would 09c67ca095 stand out alone.fc1f069702503ffa

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After a brief 49e85bc883 greeting, Emperor Knezh ef121350ec began to walk 1d675c5b54 down the stairs.e537db0d5758ccdf

Irina watched his actions silently for a while, then gave a quick greeting to the three young ladies in front of her and quickly began to walk away. She realized that Emperor Knezh’s destination was herself.5f75d65737e43c02

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She only wanted to run away with all her might, but she couldn’t possibly do that in front of the Emperor. Instead, hurrying her steps as far away from the direction he was coming from as possible was the last thing she could do as a noble lady.e67597bb1b3cf64f

When she glanced f22387cd3f back, she saw d7c5cad5ad that Emperor Knezh e07e588015 was also quickening dff24194aa his pace and 85e051f24b chasing after her. Irina hurried out f53037cfcd of the banquet 76b49a213b hall without even 628554ac39 looking back.5a9334c08d6ec157

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Irina went straight out of the banquet hall and headed for the back garden. It wasn’t that the back garden was her destination, but it would be more appropriate to say that she ended up in the back garden as she went wherever her feet took her.b21d2c81b24f3b3d

“Haah…”fc3b714b2a0cf7b7

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“What a sigh, Lady Irina?”6ec124aed7922b8c

Breathing in the outside 15b97d8bea air seemed to help 881ffee523 her breathe better, so 8b25e1fdf9 she was taking a ed8d5db03c deep breath when she dc1f8c5692 heard a familiar voice c0c16f6ec2 that she now even 6bf5ce2259 missed.c7eb15d44601f1da

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“Rumpel!”2bb71faa9afe765a

Irina stepped 2519975427 through the 01ee083d01 garden trees. Sure enough, 1d27fb716c Rumpel appeared a29d3df058 from behind 6ef8c510c7 a well-maintained 55c26dbd37 tree.5e41afac10fff8f5

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“It seems you’re happy to see me.”2a8fc12fb12c75ea

“Rather…”265ad9ed374fa5b5

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“Oh. I was happy to see the Lady, but I’m the only one who feels that way.”a29df6d3e3706f5f

Irina hesitated, feeling somewhat b3d9081f73 embarrassed to speak directly, fe23a5c6c3 but then Rumpel muttered 79a4fd9060 as if disappointed. At his dejected 7e6d7d245a voice, Irina was 34ce3608fd at a loss, c967a83276 not knowing what e2e202c496 to do.f19b0ee7e4b7ae57

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“N-no, it’s not that… I’m happy to see you too, Rumpel! Really, it’s true. Rather, it was good. I’m glad to see Rumpel. I was surprised….. Anyway, Rumpel isn’t the only one who is happy, so don’t get me wrong.”0bf1f0ff8f27f3b6

“Really?”3c1471673f8faad9

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“Of course… Ah.”9decd34a073abadf

Seeing the corners of Rumpel’s lips slowly curling up, Irina finally realized that Rumpel had said that on purpose to make fun of her.73e67ca8358a5557

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The anger at 9622e0b3eb being deceived was fff0580593 replaced by a 30a27762c7 second problem: shame. She thought she 710d5ec796 might have said 7a44cac5f4 too much about 0216e9d766 how happy she 29416a4ef9 was to see 689b33a5a7 Rumpel.f55c7e83dc73cd09

“The dress is really beautiful.”ea7eaa66a6d07815

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“Ah… …Thank you.”f6f4db66e04ab57a

Surprisingly, the person who 28ea127be8 saved the embarrassed Irina 466d6ccb77 was Rumpel. She was 09356a0066 glad that 8bc18b13f8 he changed b8fe69a30d the topic 3501362b7c to the 8992a3982a dress so 244855d2a5 she could b90f319fee talk about 071e2acffa something else.5b7df3c5e1085ac4

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He looked at Irina f828cfa838 with a strange look e8b37d24c5 in his eyes for 918969b117 a while. Trapped in his 968d926e09 sparkling golden eyes, baf18a2cf4 Irina swallowed hard 7be5b8c13e as if heat 3bd7a9ce6f was rising in 592517e08d her body wherever e7a6519d16 his gaze landed.afc152b1acd133c3

After watching 9c2dd57a1c Irina silently 1efcadbff6 for a 24c5def64a long time, 8addffa018 Rumpel looked cb150fadc6 at her 0c36206c61 and asked bbee3dd11f in a d67107ebd3 sweet voice.21f4b654f2a4282c

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“Lady Irina, how does it feel to come to a banquet hosted by another man wearing the dress I picked out for you?”abf4abb01b0575f6

“Well, that… …”761050789c6546b0

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Of course, it 4cb03aeadf was true that 81b659e992 Rumpel had chosen 7ccbdbd115 the dress for f001de9b05 her, and it dc58baf0cc was also true 859f12dd35 that she had f82f9a039c come to the b67a808771 banquet hosted by a95d90e021 another man, Emperor a677734831 Knezh. But when Rumpel said 12a2cf55ad that, Irina had nothing f2619718d2 to say and could e41a77d6de only move her lips.0aeaf97574520bc7

It felt like… he was jealous.0207513586d4aaf6

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“Perhaps… Rumpel.”98de2959be8a39c1

“Yes?”7a421b07f1f62aee

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“Are you… jealous?”3b0ce2f19c7456c3

“…… Who? Is it me?”b84d930c1672a390

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Nod.36a6a2dc5050c1ab

Irina answered with a nod instead of words. there was a look of bewilderment on Rumpel’s face.1c03b9c413574bdb

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At his uncharacteristic reaction, a sparkle flashed in Irina’s green eyes. She thought, ‘Even the great Rumpel can be embarrassed.’35b532c72364a251

Rumpel’s usually pale cheeks even seemed to have a faint blush. Irina even had the frivolous thought that she wanted to make this man embarrassed more often in the future.5af162739d80d5b8

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“Jealous? It’s absolutely not like that.”b76e12f6ec984d50

“They say strong denial is a strong affirmation.”a45ab71e5fd51ba0

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At Rumpel’s words, Irina barely held back a spreading smile. Then, Rumpel raised his voice.29312850e13c3eee

“Anyway, it’s not, Lady Irina. I don’t get jealous or anything like that. Not at all. If you felt that way, you’re mistaken. Got it?”fbe93346edb26e18

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“Pfft, I understand.”c5d18b89b76a0453

Because of Rumpel, who even spoke faster than usual and snapped back, Irina finally couldn’t hold back and let out a small laugh. Of course, she quickly hardened her expression and hid any sign of laughter, but it seemed to be too late.e8a07aed784e4bc5

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Because Rumpel 4510173393 was staring 456b1170a3 at Irina ad8c9d2029 with wide d8d3ecedd8 eyes.07014440b8df1525

“Why are you laughing?”714221bec568be6c

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“Me? Didn’t you laugh?”718abb98695e48cc

“You just laughed. ‘Pfft’!”09fc8b8048eb05bd

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Watching Rumpel get so excited and imitating Irina’s laughter made her feel better than ever.3f61f7a58f828103

To be able to laugh while attending an unwanted banquet hosted by the cruel and heinous Emperor Knezh, in a situation where it was uncertain how he would put her in trouble. It would have been impossible if it hadn’t been for Rumpel.0afe9362a82a874f

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Come to think of it, Rumpel’s strength had been a big help in enduring and holding on for the past few days. Apart from simply turning straws and stones into gold for her, it was thanks to Rumpel’s constant appearances that she was able to regain her composure when she was about to collapse. She couldn’t deny it.3b38e89e98905c10

Irina looked at Rumpel with affectionate eyes, feeling a renewed sense of gratitude towards him. The setting sun bathed Irina’s green eyes with a warm red light.0e8dd99e7f5fef02

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“Thank you.”e6703e004efd1321

“… … What are you planning all of a sudden?”45100ef8df744112

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Rumpel asked suspiciously. After all, Irina c21c2cdcd0 had been teasing f61f5b7ef2 Rumpel just a c69b0ad974 moment ago.38aef70d62c506b6

But she was sincere when she thanked him. That’s why Irina smiled sweetly and took a step closer to Rumpel.d1bb2bb285dcee83

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“There is no intention or anything like that. Don’t slander my pure heart.”f7bf2fb77d70fb71

“…Hmm. If that’s really the case, then Lady Irina, you can’t just express gratitude in words.”d5714466bce1aaca

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“Then what is it? Ah, ah!”808a7a7fddd37273

As Irina asked, 972f6384ff a thought suddenly 09d5cd97b0 occurred to her 412e5c4d10 and she rummaged 1d1429384b through her bag. There was no way 6f4c7076f5 she would have brought 2455e13b33 gold coins with her b1129ad8d5 to the banquet.85de8648ce10c8d6

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Irina worried if she 24b5ce3ceb should take off the 08df91e81a jewelry accessories she was 80083fee3b wearing.48f410fcf384d933

“Really… … Lady Irina, you have a cute side.”07290a882b06fff1

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Rumpel laughed as if he had figured out Irina’s intention to give him jewels, even though she hadn’t said anything. Then, with a smile on his face, he slightly tilted his head and slightly bent his waist to be at eye level with Irina.713de14fa200cfd6

“Jewels… I want you to give me something better than that, Lady Irina.”80474181194f059c

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“What’s that… Ah.”7e03b7bff2434eed

“That’s right. I’m talking about the child Lady Irina will bear.”775a24c607008eaa

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The atmosphere suddenly e97f82caf1 became strange. Irina quietly 9b3d7c39a7 looked at 9c8444b4b8 Rumpel with 96eb5d1d69 a face de469450b0 as red 593eca0a36 as the f1e3ecd82e sunset.0364ccd832888896

Rumpel grabbed Irina 7739789cd2 by the hand 5db466542c and pulled her 4d22428169 into the back c15b6ad90f of the trees.8c6925a13d6b30c9

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“Y-you want to do it here? What if people see us…!”24e8d7a2a3eac221

“Are you still worried about that?”f0cd3ad6ab538410

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“Ah…”c3963742ee40df55

Irina quickly understood what 9aeeeb3aa4 Rumpel was talking about 77f38800e2 and agreed.0852ee832441095b

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It was Rumpel who had a history of making them invisible in the changing room so that others wouldn’t see them. So, even if they had intercourse here, they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone seeing them.356c70153f62ffa2

“B-but… it’s outside.”c8883a6ea394f806

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“Then what’s wrong?”90cc522789a425ef

“What’s wrong…”2911d59824a05bfd

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Irina trailed off in embarrassment. It may be funny to be picky about the place now after already having sex in the changing room of Madame Resa’s salon, but having sex in the garden of the Emperor’s palace was an impious and lewd act that she had never even imagined.3e431a49ea1fc9a7

“It’s okay, I’m not going to strip you all off.”9a992b22ce407c10

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