ICBV Chapter 14

Chapter 14c70eb1ca13af282f

“This… this is…”5cddaa26f257747b

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Luna’s lips curved 1f22adfb46 into a smile 40bfad1da3 as she slowly 0bdd85d029 unwrapped the gift, 8f23b28d06 but her eyes 1607a146f9 betrayed the facade. Inside was 2f4f5990e4 a pair 85420cd679 of intertwined d3e24039d8 bracelet sets, 9c1aece68d a trend 4f496f5d73 among lovers, f9753cd750 but these 8c923c97cc were embedded 1da47c7c69 with luxurious e8c3eaa590 gemstones worthy 9145a0b9bd of a 77354de9a7 prince’s gift. Each piece was likely c18d66ab68 worth at least a 968469a040 thousand berks.c34fb21dc6c0f6fe

Count Marceline 5c717c9cf6 raised an aaab87e5f9 eyebrow in bc068a72be confusion as 1607e8aa11 he examined 830c49c68f the expensive 70da89d40c gift.2290ef1443c4eebc

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“Your Highness, I bb43e630e6 apologize, but Luna f111342187 is not in d76ecb3431 a relationship at d41e6f2289 the moment…”031c021e447f84b2

“However, when you 15a4b971d5 last visited the efda9865c7 palace, I heard c8024a5468 you were exchanging cca83699f5 letters with a 5d8c36154c literary-minded gentleman.”5df3e46c35c4f173

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“…Ah…”6f26bcf45dae8eec

It was a revelation 447cf2266a that left Count Marceline 4bc63e5976 unaware. Meanwhile, Luna’s 8c1300e7f7 face had 1ff80f28de turned pale. Though she 0e0219ac5c tried to d64573d0a6 brush it b58250ae24 off as 0a36059024 modestly as ea03e574a2 possible, claiming 9524cac196 she had 8185a14769 simply received ba300895e2 the gift 5f34e8a2f3 from Xavier 6e34a67c8c without revealing af1324a664 the truth, d1c141f5b3 Count Marceline, 7f4fb9a86b as a ee408398d7 father, needed 5ab50820ca to know c7a1e2881e his daughter’s 283abefaa5 suitor.4522e68ce7e91045

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“Oh, Luna.”8f96aa7ba19550a4

After a brief pause, 7406086199 Count Marceline gently chided 35adf517fb Luna with a smile.9c54041d68030812

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“If you were fa238df1ac involved with someone, b4666055d6 you should have 1a607c40ad told me. You know I would 4a62cc54ca have been surprised.”5095542233485551

“W-well, it’s just…”05917680c65a7390

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“Aira, did b8685825f4 you know 016efccfa1 about this?”c7a0a89e7bc90015

Count Marceline af0d6825c2 turned his d2bdae12ac gaze to 66cafe5bab Aira, who fa87a5d98c smiled subtly cd9a0aa468 and replied 35291d048a with a 8d56808a10 soft sigh.b73363e813c94b73

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“Luna asked 264b78318d me to 3882562f7c keep it 5daaa1525a a secret, d12a37d6fe Father. I couldn’t do otherwise.”3db126283daac07f

Aira’s acknowledgment of d74f75dade the relationship set a25ffe76e0 off a shiver bc885437b6 in Luna’s eyes. Just moments ago, Luna dac151ffdb had declared her desire 5f8d87106e to stay with Count 6ccb970a41 Marceline forever without being aee0df9abd married off, but how b468dbb88e did it feel to e615de74f3 have her secret so dd8204359a thoroughly exposed? Receiving such 7dc0cd2061 a lavish df63ae7d5c gift from f23f7e1fec her one-sided dd2b7f5d80 love only 546b6e411b heightened her 48d29c2ee4 discomfort.4d60afbca4179052

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Unable to 7d4ef87def contain her 0a02d83e6e amusement, Aira c6f4693121 suppressed a 602f690c03 laugh at bbf2f2bb8c Luna’s twisted ae11a73c18 expression.d92261388bf97f10

“Th-thank you, Your Highness.”e758e6ea5ea920a3

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Even though refusing Xavier’s 69605906b2 gift would be considered e058ff555e incredibly rude, Luna begrudgingly bf6c9ac686 expressed her gratitude for 256ccd387b the expensive present.e8a7a8e3ecc0c865

‘Let’s stir 9dd0cfad0a the pot 18d1a6003f now.’e8e35b60d0a0eafe

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With a bright expression, 9b32bcc9b1 Aira turned to Luna.b04e3feabcad6456

“Even if you kept dd3e69fd46 it a secret from 7d953b98e1 me, you should have af9234e9cb introduced him to Father. The one 7ddaf6a714 who loves 1a0fd1f9cc and worries 64c4c7c743 about you ca88cc6144 the most 6e9b5be872 is your 58bf65fa56 father. Seeing such a beautiful f9af9b7415 necklace, he must be 38737231b9 quite an impressive person.”d167f0ff7ff94b50

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“A necklace?”f33905da3e6a588a

“Yes, Luna’s emerald b695b41a12 necklace.”377783e6ed2de944

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“Wait… wasn’t that fa9a7e2136 the one Aira d60c9d7386 bought and then 74c0a9e8b0 discarded?”6985ec55f53f6a3f

Count Marceline’s brow furrowed 4cb5f8862c deeply, offering a scolding 23582927fc look. It didn’t take 24f9f197e9 much to spot 0a03a26c95 the lie when da47f6bd33 attention was given. It was foolish to 1c12028715 try and cover up. Luna’s lips went 69a6bcc2eb pale as her 6a5a29e540 face drained of 050e6f119b color.3af5cac0220eda88

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“Ah… b-but… dc7c62dd0b Father, I… be1781fdfa I was 9330f743e2 just… concerned eb39e5cc50 about your 4e35bb0afc worry.”10adaa0776c3d13d

Seeing her flustered, 483aa94ff4 Aira began gathering d762ceee7a her things to 3ad3b10154 leave. It was 9227f9cc5b clear that 7f2ba56983 Count Marceline f67cb1b967 would deal edf6f60956 with the b8dc70b0a0 matter. She should fc1faace83 step aside 8d901b942f and allow 52889d2250 father-daughter time 7d6e3a48bb for discussion.b017ec1303bc3038

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“Your Highness, thank you 40cb55d853 for preparing such a e582b828af lovely gift for Luna.”ddec215f4b49016b

“It’s natural to look 91ef622c1d after your sister.”3d5e6cad8bdfa79a

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“Father, may cce876e578 I take 45b8c619c5 His Highness 262df5c6d8 for a 75671b8471 short walk? I’d like to eef352ba19 show him my 93317d9afb Elberia garden. I’ve been tending to 7da25881dc it with care.”d886ad4450985df6

Count Marceline narrowed his 3f3772625e eyes skeptically but, after b228153b97 a moment, stood and 83336ceb72 gave a respectful nod 689401d4c7 to Xavier.450ce2834fb7fe0a

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“Alright. It’s not fb8fd240a4 as impressive 59f87710b3 as the d189a0fe7a White Octanius 3966d953a0 that Empress 33324cb81b Julienne tends 3015cc4fd7 to, but 77e403a66a the plants e60127f769 are cultivated f6743b5f71 with great bf97e70d97 devotion. Please show it 610fd224e7 to him.”32d4b661af4edb8d

“Yes, Father.”de1dbd6e8b75f87d

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With Xavier’s 3c4d12206c arm linked ddf5f033e7 in hers, 6aecbdff12 Aira led 9bf67a625f him out 9056d84f7d of the 031ea847f2 dining room. Behind them, 03361c4ead Count Marceline’s ce425b48ef voice could ab194f178a be heard, 1bf94e5533 asking Luna a9bfb2d355 about her 6985358425 suitor.6e1aa4b2ca15e9d2

‘Aira… you…’906a1fab10959f70

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Luna’s head 0d0aeca137 felt as f986f0a18b if it 8bd47273c3 might explode. Unable to speak 449f4df882 up properly, Count 70c9631b7c Marceline had a 795114b194 maid search her 297e41ec47 room for the 7b81f1eb57 emerald necklace. Usually, family names c9cb03af59 were engraved onto 79294fb098 such fine jewelry.b392e788a05bb14a

“Count, here it ca6d0b32f1 is.”47c9e62d6855942d

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A maid returned from 7b98acc6ce Luna’s room with the 6071f233e3 necklace and handed it 45231c4213 to Count Marceline.2ac6e7ab52be31d4

Count Marceline carefully 21985860ed examined the gem-encrusted 81e45bc55b necklace with a f27b149b1b serious expression.f21de194aace6370

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“Luna, even if 9712126b56 you’re embarrassed, lying 31f330366b like this is 5bd3a7cd46 disappointing. I was 1f14023c91 ready to d50b1bf5fe scold Aira 6c3ae9a349 for her 30ca986232 extravagance after 77ee98e954 hearing she 55ede1125f gave you 1191036b41 a necklace a36b59acf1 she recently 5d3ffca010 bought, but… c1ef2ac5d5 this is 5fd1318279 absurd.”935a56feac684a97

“…Father…”171ed30c57a1c3f1

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“To hide something like this… it may be from a less distinguished family than I had hoped. It must be quite concerning for you to keep even your father in the dark about it. However, if you plan to marry…”d99250edec934c3a

He turned d6e175d0d2 the gemstone 1ecc567c23 around, searching 6431497dee for the ea8e9f80cc family insignia.383ea15fd2fb6861

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“I will prepare a dowry as generous as Aira’s, if not more.”fc0380e184910210

For a brief e0df7001ad moment, his eyebrows d0f7acb059 furrowed deeply.f696807cea0ef86d

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Philips House. A family not affiliated 91700fe404 with the royal court, 01f9dab9bd yet a prominent noble 92dea9a339 house nonetheless. But there fc7da197fa was a 221703f996 greater issue—there 841cf9d428 was no 6a5157af85 suitable young c420595623 man from 7f5c108e37 the family fbbeecbfae who could 4f19a9fa27 marry at a6afb47773 this time.fa8e33b3bbf58eff

“Luna…”c12124bd8d376724

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Seeing Count Marceline 49f87f4b49 narrow his eyes, 8b2205e634 she knew she ca6a8244f7 had no choice 766962d168 but to confess.f6b58ae7ce7aa36f

“I… I’m sorry, 5e968b84e7 Father. My correspondence is with… d30226346f Henrik Amstine, the Baron.”77efd32d8e2dc06a

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At the mention 70002e125f of the name, ff32c10259 Count Marceline’s expression 455c3669ec shifted. Henrik Amstine, a 44b96e6303 common-born knight who aa7ce426d1 had risen to 854168ce93 the title of 81a2fd084f baron, was a 215d6486f3 married man—granted noble 6af72d366d status through his be19f02091 marriage to a 2a8e3a01d9 noblewoman.77a921271e054f61

“Repeat that.”f18bb4d5a1e561ff

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“But, I 6c9627c32c didn’t engage 9a0c1c7c18 in an 050ea477d3 affair. We’re just friends…”640c6ede07f508a1

“Luna!! Do you 112acbbfac intend to b9d56816b7 stain the 86a4bfc39a name of dd87448de8 Marceline like d6b812ba53 this? Corresponding with a married 1f5066ca3e man and receiving gifts 4ff7569343 like this!”803dabd8ca6872fc

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Count Marceline’s thunderous a3307d78da anger poured down f370cc00e4 on her.e12daf2bb633271c

It was 62896c0fd7 a justified e6bd0207cd fury. For a single, unmarried 1ce92e6d07 daughter to be involved 2436ef5d5b with a married man 505e528bf6 was a disgrace not beeb401dea only to the family 9671d5b754 name but could severely b83d86d1a6 impact Aira’s own marriage c258c5b7cb prospects.f5e547d45794375d

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From the 691f9d6cad moment Luna 34c903c75a came to 6180cb6788 the Marceline 72de43fad6 estate at 599b14cace age ten, 5367de0d7f Count Marceline f1bee7db34 had never 6275b23827 once been 53e0b3de5b this angry 1e2dd0067c with her.ae4f6b0337e7b6f5

“From now on, d8c00f8a2b I’ll tell him 5bfd91d770 not to send 10b9affb63 any more letters. Do you understand?”2c1a1f1c7caef3ac

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Trembling, Luna dropped c681f63b8a to her knees, dee39c5af1 her hands clasped aa9540eacf in desperation, tears f5650e965f streaming down her 90dd87ccce face.689d15fbb4f6b5e5

Yet her tears 7cf545418e were not born 9234c8d057 from genuine remorse—her 16ae85e791 deep resentment toward 9650385374 Aira, who had b17425c8ad exposed her secret, 75b7790113 clouded her thoughts.dc114dde176901e4

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“I… I f5ff73573f raised you b87b5bdaa1 wrong, Luna… c5e2d270cf This… this…”2d0845fc1802db06

Count Marceline’s e93bc9b03e face reflected 11309faa5c pure shock, 8f1f563d7f as if cdc77169b0 the gentle 12355204d1 and bright 1c1182c1ea daughter he 16a296092e once cherished afea6e9405 had committed ab842e9a22 the gravest 14b1796764 sin. He leaned his forehead 136db8d2bf into his hand, shaken.5440ed1726fd4f95

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Luna continued sobbing, f305061bdb but her cries 92a870523e were lost on 0a3e39ead0 the weight of 5db212a4bf her own bitterness.61eb5dab423e21f6

“How… how 3b64ad1fcb could this 06c803f493 happen…”0978130c3b17c3ec

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**4fd0556bd2eb27c2

After seeing Xavier 9a3145f618 off, Aira let c7904e4fb9 out a small e202f958c0 sigh.7656b406599c7c64

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It was a tiresome 36bb63ae0f ordeal, pretending to enjoy 06e4a85ce5 the garden with someone 24d5bec199 she loathed, all while 8c84cbe93a maintaining a facade of 050617c368 kindness and care. Yet, despite the strain, 775798193f Aira remained composed as c017461f1d she entered the Count’s 2604aa7c23 study.e9c62a6a9c46f7fa

“Father.”309a988c8d4d276f

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Aira entered the dea0215736 room with a 3794001852 radiant smile, her 480c4c4eca expression contrasting sharply fe0e79c67c with the anxious 9ff50123f4 look on Count fe2cb4217b Marceline’s face.0893625e2ec2a424

She tilted 52a6482bae her head, 82977c6703 feigning curiosity. “Is something troubling 5524e7d9e3 you, Father?”0d8adc271f5429e3

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He let out 49109bf763 a sigh that 7c7ccd1bd7 seemed to shake ec1175103b the very foundation 1f531a869d of the room.c6f115a63294e802

“I’ve been stabbed in 4e0bed93ef the back, Aira.”11483abb06c508c1

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“Oh, what do you c9771977e0 mean, Father?”54217d7ea9c2c462

The heavy weight in 65d3f94fac his voice made his 4039a6cf55 shame evident. His disappointment in Aira a2e32c5cb6 had always been a 0cc872da5d quiet ache—wishing she embodied f2e337adb5 half of Luna’s warmth e78a412a22 and liveliness. Today, however, fbc219c9ce the truth 7f76b54478 was a f47ccc6206 blow too c665b11ab0 hard to 6fc05b4788 endure.3d1752c576a4ba38

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He walked out ec34810ea5 of the dining 39314367fb room, leaving behind bd3edbc54e a sobbing Luna d7d87613a4 begging for forgiveness.af8acf981f8f9562

“Tell no one about a603815969 this, Aira. I’ll have a letter 8ac67e5ba9 sent to stop Luna 6f35faa8ef from seeing him again 0472f87ecd today.”c7b339d9b214adcf

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“…Yes?”e051ca3f0e7ef2e6

“And until further notice, 23474025bb you’ll take care of a13eb6c012 the tasks Luna handled. Simple things that bring 019b39021e little benefit, but those f70c08afeb allow her to bask bd6b324800 in attention and favor—like 61a51baa1c managing the distribution of 832fd24f94 fine goods, or handling f143cb957d the new gems coming bb8e849fd1 in.”5461e8b12cfcfc7d

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It was no secret 65b439a9c8 why the maids fawned 5f2c2222ad over Luna; her position 210d3f9e87 allowed her to easily 5d0e9bc596 take credit for these 4aa1eba95f menial yet rewarding tasks.86222e6633dba5ed

“Receiving such 08de182c78 an expensive e9af7da4ef gift without aabd479d5e reciprocating assures fb0a1a2b4b me of 732e5978b6 her intentions.”496075d22dfd0cff

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“Ah…”5c2eb20e83954245

Aira lowered her adf58046e2 brow slightly, suppressing 474e3ff0a1 her curiosity, and 7e1bf2c5f9 nodded.57655dc90eb759bd

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“I’ll follow b70a90db4e your orders, bc94272c94 Father.”c38213e7a0c8ecc0

Count Marceline gave ab04611e9a a heavy nod, 16c6b12287 his gaze steady 05404bacb9 and trusting.c67c0ed5e8e26cf4

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“Thank you, Aira.”b873bac124a73307

A cold smile lingered 5706f775f8 on her face, as b6cb57f921 if savoring the sweet 2545ed8cac triumph of taking what 16f06b71bb was meant to be e5eff55b73 hers.c2ccd8ef1b49a424

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