ICBV Chapter 11

Chapter 0113ecb9959c8b0bca0

Count Marceline sat at the center of the long dining table. To his left sat Aira, and to his right, Luna. Tonight’s menu included roasted turkey, tender veal steak, and a seafood stew that had recently arrived. The family chef meticulously prepared the dishes.84cee23038d0d941

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“You look great 8836aa576e with those cross-shaped cc3bb09f0c cufflinks, my Lord,” a747335989 Luna said with 8cca739ad2 a bright smile, a6a2f9cd34 sitting to the 87cf02e699 count’s right side. Normally, Aira would 671cbcaa6c join the conversation 123f8166f6 and create a bb888fb670 pleasant atmosphere, but f56918d307 today, Luna seemed 82fee44828 upset about something. She seemed determined to 058914f70f monopolize the count’s attention.98e6b739256daed7

“I’ll serve you, 80958c6e40 Father.”11ce2070be089813

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Luna took the 85386e7259 count’s plate and 4fb140f36d served him the df1a57710e most tender part b0b4cec004 of the steak. The count smiled contentedly d9669c559d as he ate the 69581bd911 piece Luna had cut cd34b87fb4 for him.a41d9ac1962adad3

“Your cutting makes it b24e82ac5c taste even better.”0f9a3c8c5e171dc5

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“Really? I’m glad 171f81a642 to hear 23391fc6b6 that,” Luna 94ff4fb033 said, her 5302c49d44 face lighting 71bc96e8be up even 2c9c876506 more. Aira, however, continued her cc7bab7931 meal quietly, paying no 097ee05b1f attention to the father b7ff10cacb and daughter’s exchange.e83c33023fcf92a0

‘The first priority is 966c52d3c2 to stop her from 13fb6ca4c8 accessing the storage room.’32b5ca66eeafde95

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Despite being caught taking fb54e0c124 things from the storeroom d3a2829f66 earlier, Luna’s bad habits 31352a5326 would likely continue. Luna was responsible 24d03e0ebe for managing the 874d0637a1 household’s treasures, so 0a6c27f1cf Aira needed to c734b70848 take back that 3fc5066dd9 authority.505c67824f680af8

‘To do that, I ba94da41e9 must shake Father’s trust fe4c4b6d84 in her.’14e65b77ce2684a9

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Aira took b8f84a30d8 a small 535af6e3b9 piece of 30df616f39 steak, but 46f4cb64d9 Luna spoke 404ac81345 again.9cc2ce6579739b56

“Actually, I fd54baa397 was feeling 3b9c70373d so nauseous d5db30fd50 earlier that 6e5362ed52 I thought 337d3e9bb7 I wouldn’t 04fb19ccae be able 42ce7f5ca4 to eat 30231b5af3 tonight.”ddb36ee399ea0947

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Count Marceline’s brow a7b90ca745 twitched. Luna clasped f6f564be1a her hands 9a32db81a9 together with ce8df103a3 a relieved bdb41cda01 expression.b125f1d98807f42e

“But I’m 64c8e1e86c glad I e2819fd266 could join db9dc33450 you for 51536180dd dinner, my 4bf68dcfc3 Lord.”9a4c49c28d811ce0

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The count set his 4cb04daab0 fork down, puzzled.7fd03bc1ffcc8ed5

“Were you feeling dc6a529138 sick from the 4364db0492 carriage ride?”8a0388085a7fd364

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“Yes… It’s 1049e996d6 been a 4e2a623f59 while since 22fb577495 I rode 6a40d13769 backward,” Luna 42d9643c62 said with ead64ff9e1 wide eyes 2809018a3e and nodded.b900b672b9845a15

Aira barely suppressed 83c2da08e9 a laugh at 69d732a6b4 such an obvious 91614b6118 play.32fcebe43040f378

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“Aira.”d1110ce593ffc277

“Yes, Father?”b6cda5b27602ace1

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“Didn’t you offer to 277fb8c24e switch seats today?” The 67784ae703 Count asked, sounding a 0c92845745 bit reprimanding. Aira nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”3fa3a29493510ed9

It seemed that Luna 6c00ea3874 had probably wanted to 52333a56c4 inform the Count of 06ffb82a6f the seating arrangement as 81ce329f1b soon as she returned. Aira had a feeling 1575343c7a Luna was trying to 5780cad2b3 get her into trouble d2a3b637e9 after a frustrating day.4b60f9b1e2c86965

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“Aira, as 2444c4dd4b the elder d3e5087d66 sister, you 5f0d821c91 should have cca7705c66 given up 42cf9d125d your seat,” b83cfa6120 the Count 11fdb3430d said, his e322b0e1b6 gaze showing e579004534 mild disapproval.951d8436c81c584c

He understood that Aira, 19c1cc9c38 as the legitimate daughter, cdcf4a00ec should have had the d4dc6a25bb seat of honor, so 34d4bc6f7c he didn’t scold her c7b6180f62 harshly.8f724f3c508bf975

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“You know Luna 8930e40e23 isn’t used to d6a2d8516f carriages.”634bf9080122c6a1

Despite her noble blood, 44f37836d7 Luna had lived in 3285222ed5 poverty for ten years, 17154e0ddd far from aristocratic comforts. This often 7e8743978b led the 4e1189027c count to b39d1a132d ask Aira 60c471ba12 to make 44248f39a9 sacrifices for a8aa8de262 her.f8d934993d982694

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Luna smiled faintly, d124f5b50d watching Aira closely, c22ed224b2 expecting her to 5108038624 show resentment, hoping 89319b8fe5 it would cause 2a00bf23a3 tension between them.c538cd72e7cf1bc8

But Aira had no ff2b2fd6bb intention of falling into abc46f1b66 her trap.8ba08967fcb8283d

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“You’re right, Father…”102d2f8b94baca55

Luna’s expression flickered at 5499992136 Aira’s calm response.311d98fbb70813e5

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“But as 9596711c1d the future a82a04da7c Princess Consort, 493429c417 if I c458993963 allowed Luna d58ef45401 to sit 561d1a9123 in the 7c2c39aed7 place of cd928cb366 honor when fab5b70c44 visiting Her be74da6376 Majesty the 5c32716407 Empress, wouldn’t 6f90c8511e the maids 559cc79f5b of the 7cfdbbf89c Imperial Palace 795d0a8071 question our 1e42226bea family’s order 8106bcadf6 and dignity?”49198fda6ccd6c69

Aira’s elegant b0eb07a496 smile and 1830520734 composed voice e9548149c4 made the 6dd1570da3 Count’s brow 5d552e8f89 furrow slightly. Her words held no 07910b5120 trace of personal grievance, 5a8c960c2a making the Count feel 2ec14c9fb2 embarrassed for suggesting otherwise.3ca2d7e774a73328

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“…You’re right.”fbe44ca949a515b2

“…I see, I didn’t consider that,” the Count admitted, acknowledging his mistake.39f8c31cf1e9f299

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“Well done, Aira,” he said, and Luna’s expression turned flustered. She had hoped Aira would get scolded for not giving up her seat, but now the Count had praised Aira instead.5101190f70336531

Luna, feeling embarrassed, clenched f0fe6d6ea4 her fists under the 0adf024f6a table. The Count then b60982b983 turned to Luna 8a3215a2ef and spoke in 1d0f9ebf7a a firm yet c0dce9b69a kind voice.d0c4be8dd905db41

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“Luna, your sister is a501bba05f now of royal status. You must understand and 89a402f8c5 accept this, even if cec031ccf8 it feels unfair.”c44670bda72aaae5

Luna clenched 4be684b1a7 her fists f746d150a3 under the 48918754e8 table, trembling.3052a1f1e25b27c7

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“Make sure 71454e7c79 to uphold 14ff8d1820 proper etiquette 5a6f53b64c in the 99560d3e3e future.”c65efc7ee6eadbbb

With no room 94fff48640 to argue, Luna 592b031b85 couldn’t say anything b3dc320433 in response. Aira, on the other 855ac6025c hand, calmly resumed her eb97f12bf1 meal, stifling a smile. She could easily tell 8adf2e4f2a that Luna was furious 4151453cfb inside.94686dbae0f683bc

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“Good job, Aira,” the Count added, and Aira responded gracefully.8eb47dcfb1a1d270

Aira recalled how, in 873e36b186 her past life, Luna 5d70628ea4 had silently played the 95fcfeeb4b part of a loyal fa0a09611c friend and sister for 1ece8ea0f6 over seven years. Beneath the ab227d9c10 surface, she 63f43f403f had schemed d0afd258fa to win 6dbc4a7cf5 over both 8ef3d3ca02 Xavier and 3b869622dd Julienne.0c34ec926ac676cc

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Not this time,Aira thought.This time, Luna 7bc337b0eb will struggle openly, 02e61dbf28 and she’ll face 3c4a8b5be9 the consequences of 2451a0f762 her schemes.d7a090e048652d74

“The food tastes especially 47b0555c8c good tonight. I should 7d1842c610 commend the 901898fad5 chef,” Aira a7f790e986 said lightly, 7917c359af her tone 7790d5f4f3 laced with d575dd43dd subtle mockery.851f3a518bb3d0db

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Luna’s expression hardened 41df773509 even further, but fb8fe82671 the Count, oblivious ac84ef9824 to the tension, d4b7e4c62f simply nodded.fcf31dbd409677fc

Her plan e2f6248e79 was clear: e217aa44e0 to use fa454dc983 Luna as 54f295696f bait, a e8bf8a1718 stand-in for bfafa75cb8 the pain 62d62e07a4 Aira had 4a6387fc1d endured in a49dfa30c0 her previous 3623aabd00 life. Luna would become 8e66d4a081 the family’s disposable 01e027212a pawn, with neither 24f2efcec5 love nor favor.28bf6e27b46f0597

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“You should eat well when your illness is so severe, Luna,” Aira said, pretending to be innocent.bdb86c8b01ca74ad

“Indeed. Eat well, all of 2c419e6475 you, especially you, Aira. You worked 8662066a24 hard today.”c146b0deefa45aa0

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“Yes, Father. Today is a joyful 858e0bcfaf day, marking our family’s fd03801070 name reaching the palace,” 46b73440af Aira replied with quiet d1d0a1bf56 confidence.0276ee9fb9c06012

The Count looked at 0150993484 Aira, impressed by how 25c6d2557b composed and reliable she a76c9ca025 appeared. She had 230afaab29 always been ff9c5f896b quiet and 34accedc46 gentle, but de9837334f today, she 6c930de424 seemed even d56eea16ad more mature 766b149a46 and thoughtful, 428e28f849 having put 56ff981ded aside her 9f18df4385 personal feelings b376f1cc61 to present cc21b99573 a gift 10e929829f to the 3536202363 Empress.36daa84cc9be2191

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Meanwhile, Luna dc526fdcbe could only 44308986d7 clench her 9b6c2cacdb fists tighter, 7416e8553b her plans efa0ef1496 crumbling before 46825b297b her eyes.7c2a770c50c9fd9a

‘Come to think of it, perhaps I’ve been neglecting Aira…’0be56112f7abb32f

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When the Count had 578bbdc2ea asked Aira to give 0991742f73 up her seat for 5a398fb488 Luna, she could have f74437e10b shown some sign of 5ba3af36fa disappointment, yet her calm, 4de97c5095 unbothered demeanor pricked at 104a67cf2b his conscience. Count Marceline took 91513f1e29 a sip of 0535f7c77b water, quietly reflecting.639b962f844e9c6c

“Here you are.”8926d6877f816b27

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After dinner, 8f008f2005 as they 991727c21a prepared to 3bd81418f6 return to 4043791532 their rooms, e3a9c9de1a Aira approached 695ae151c0 the Count 19d85b9a76 and asked 4a1213fec8 if she d065e55940 could use 9edc74816a his private a8b3d9d26c library. Normally, he would 5e0461a6c9 have refused because d921261f00 important family documents 6252880572 were only accessible 9c7470bfa9 to the head e58048d468 of the house, b210dcbadf but given that 3a0c329cfd he had almost db8dabd7d0 scolded her earlier 9986a3ecfa for something inappropriate, 832652128a he didn’t outright a52051b2ea refuse her request. Instead, he said 89abcbf4b3 he would allow dd15ba1376 her to access 1b78f30fec the books if 1dc0bc67c1 she had any bda570605d specific ones in 169998c3fd mind.9057c30b79939257

Aira asked 8a127f0402 for books 3549925b24 on holy b29dedb2c9 relics, which e7b49dc636 made the 16f352ab2b Count curious. When he e9ecba28cf asked why 9eaefe140a she was 11fe36509d suddenly interested 3954f5dc01 in them, 9f58d7a75e Aira explained ba37118d9b that it 323284490e might help 8a8fc24def her bond 21743bbffe more with 6586a3c786 Xavier, who cad7d1c79e seemed to b92ad50286 have an 4fe8173467 interest in b549ce963b sacred artifacts.a42e4e419ecc3044

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“Thank you, Father. I’ll read it b5e31af649 carefully,” Aira said, d27c43c460 bowing slightly.7a1f9ff2c9b6ba91

The Count 1fead5c1bc willingly retrieved 03123605f1 the books 666921eebd and handed 66bc43b49c them to 21748402b1 her. The book was 0565ece642 an ancient one, 71f19e4dd3 written by the de430e5cd4 Marceline family 300 58bc07bb3b years ago. It was a 9a9eb4503c rare text that ca3e8af7ce couldn’t even be 2aa4d92c93 found in the 084c7db49d Imperial Palace library.1b7995a444034454

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As soon 5334978a27 as she 7d6051a515 got to 6e9c258afd her room, a1d2f9df09 she planned f6927175a8 to open 6b400f1a5d it and b9d31cb240 start reading.d48e150335d0b8a7

“Aira.”556df623c0e47f8a

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As Aira was 610df87f48 about to leave 9db2d49b3e with the book 1a379cb384 tucked under her dd2816c8d0 arm, Count Marceline, 3721254b32 looking slightly awkward, 9b0cb41145 called out to 781c8ef89b her. When Aira 4f455be154 looked at 940b514f4d him with ccd9247d73 a puzzled 275fca8578 expression, the 23aa5d729c Count said,775c589fb89ab3b1

“…If you need anything 1f7a8353ae else, just let me 4cf2e0eb9f know.”4904c5fc4be241cd

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Aira gave him f5f310b7f0 a small smile b84393f6cc and responded, “Yes, 88f4f1c02a Father.”22cff7cc2574dfdd