ICBV Chapter 18

Chapter 184648133a1c551913

“……”58cd52a898c93294

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All eyes were on adab7341d5 Luna, and her eyelids 3e0ad229fa were trembling uncontrollably.2af150417336c0b7

The lies she 794fbbf499 had told had fcd36d9273 piled up like 490279f379 a snowball and 9c1c1b40fd there seemed to ab55076a5a be no way adae5d7a45 to fix the 492f2b91f6 situation now.4f61e06578642793

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What should she do…? Standing there with an expression that looked like she was about to cry, Aira let out a small sigh.954ef1721c800d56

Then, she 236b44da64 looked at 99aa256d93 Luna with c58ac08bd0 a gaze d0b299be6a full of 1503038cd5 disdain.f5d1dd2cf2a8445f

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As soon as 01c46adef8 she met Aira’s abdc83e9f8 eyes, her stomach f3f8f12f09 churned violently.604f9cdaff995446

This whole mess 7b6951beff was Aira’s fault.c453d99ea3baff40

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The reason she a317fe9b96 had to lie 220c3ec3e7 to them, and f3ead23168 the reason the 6882f9ce59 situation had escalated d5372ede64 this far, was 7ea55bcdd8 all because of 9a50938be1 her.ebb17eebba792028

If it weren’t for 4f446f10f4 that damned Aira, all d639a4fabd of Marceline’s treasures would 646313d0b3 have been hers by 25bce79d89 now, without needing to 10fdb5b11f lie at all.fa57dc0c08a0bc1b

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“…Get out of the way!”06f0820fcc298dc5

Shaking with anger, Luna c73458e125 glared at Aira and 6b3b219e6a spun around.b8f79f7e913fac0d

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She pushed 6cce711012 through the 79c3ce000a gathered noblewomen 0b6bf25a25 and left 45177e8fd8 the room.18baef0c911e34b5

“Luna!”c5cf8a70e9ebda0e

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Reina’s furious shout came f8125f01c4 from behind, but Luna 59fb062018 didn’t look back.3948fcd0672d8655

The murmurs of 331beeae23 shock from the abd12f0619 noblewomen grew louder.b2796d044afbd2c3

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**5534d2f83ff29813

In the dimly lit 2e15df6654 room with the window 8fb2923daf as the backdrop, Aira 4ee9d2920d sat across from Reina 6904845334 and ate her meal.a44ed6818a5b6149

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The Chesswig mansion, 4cce91e162 which Aira didn’t 34cd70e810 even remember when 4a38a2e2af she had last 99e0ec6060 visited, was grander 02494968b0 than the Marceline c3ce28d8be estate.e052fd347c4d0a8a

The Count of Chesswig, 826f1fd7bd who owned a vineyard 5a92b0bf1c the size of a d428d8f287 city in the central 1211470f28 territory, was famous for 479eeba873 his wine.aebdb500fa333ea6

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Aira’s glass was filled 184aaddb31 with high-quality wine.e15c435ee50015b8

After a long silence 8258766cb1 during their meal, Reina cee38fb4a3 finally spoke.2733cd81cdf6a206

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“I think I’ve 3e1c0fee81 misunderstood you all 2e438f2e21 this time. I’m sorry.”6a02daa69fd25c21

Unlike before, when she 905a2f5f17 always made her dislike 2003786b5b of Aira known, this 5b14268b20 apology was calm and 602a74b2ed sincere.b6cfa0274d8dfe22

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The reason she f7f2b6011d had disliked her d8e85ca491 from the start 5371077691 was because of a3bcae5d36 Luna’s schemes, and 9843fc4722 the subsequent attempts a1ee2ccf03 to sow discord dc954e8382 had also been 82ad42e732 Luna’s doing.1a1be082dba5c13e

Now, there was no 18b36c79f3 need to continue seeing 6bb7dae184 Aira Marceline, the legitimate ac0a9fc255 daughter of Marceline, as 21e7d66487 an enemy.f2c42f6cb6303449

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“Looking at it 2b05a43ee6 from another angle, e6c92dc13a I suppose I’ve 0b71a7996f been at fault 2646607ba0 as well.”0120b5229fb5ada1

As she cut e6a32a99fb into her steak, 64f320a7b5 Aira spoke in ae5d557a29 a nonchalant tone.12b2e7656b3a3573

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If she had dfdaa4f83c somehow managed to 20563e9a35 pass on the b71e3cac9b doll dress through ef33e3a593 a servant or 62f2627772 gone directly to 030e7b6250 Chesswig to speak 8e735ed284 with Reina, she 6e2ee087de could have cleared cafa879da8 up her misunderstanding 04cd574eb3 much sooner.85fb1c03f0d80a0d

But she had 0164bd2e75 kept putting it 651eebedbd off, thinking they d137a98b51 could talk about c063513297 it eventually, and f5cca20994 now, the long-standing 5f194fabbb misunderstanding had reached 62b09e3d1c this point. She knew she shared acd58cd169 part of the blame.c8c9a76b1fd2221d

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“Luna… Why do you think she did something like that?”26ec00d7cc7319c6

At Reina’s question, Aira responded in a calm voice.d2439118a2fa70a1

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“……Well, I suppose… after all, Luna is also part of our Marceline family, so I’d like to apologize for her deception as well.”935d41a58e508575

“The misdeeds of a half-sister are something even you, my lady, can’t control. Actually, among my brothers, there’s one who lives recklessly and does as he pleases. Sigh.”2941003309a81d8b

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Reina, recalling the 880aef6915 troublemaker in her a35411f9a0 family, continued as 6bc69d71ca if she understood d72485fc2a Aira’s position.c23d9df6ef81ee47

“As you asked, I’ll make sure my friends don’t speak of what happened today, for the sake of Marceline’s reputation. But Luna, she will never be allowed to join our gatherings again.”a15faabc42f6a96d

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Probably the person most shocked by the situation was Aira herself. It was almost a betrayal by her half-sister, and what’s worse, Luna had even used her mother’s heirlooms without permission.f3d4f82e750ad4c3

At that thought, c8b6617213 Reina flinched and b47a8b10b6 looked at her 31ffeeaa86 wrist.65378c542ba3370d

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Come to aae9dd314d think of 06cc259b07 it, the 59985d0635 bracelet Luna bbfeee0d87 had given 21225486df her as 31b04567cc a gift e6e8836de6 was still 6e22da95a4 on her 0328f39fd1 arm.ad416bf5d6375cba

“Wait a moment. I’ll return this to you.”64c55b261b1f52b5

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“It’s fine, Reina.”9cf5accb004e6424

Reina was taken aback 47e39d9b09 at her unexpected words. Aira was refusing 58fa341686 the bracelet, which 1c27f19d38 had been unfairly 8eeef094a5 taken by her 10e06c6cb4 half-sister and was 73992a0400 now in Reina’s bbdb369288 possession.d04664759142f8c5

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“But…”57c0c7478f8bdd72

“How about considering it a token of our newly formed friendship?”396d13e9a923f835

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At Aira’s edad8f0855 words, Reina’s ddb7819d17 gaze wavered. Although she e52203ad1f was apologizing 019f045b58 now, Reina aca9e85589 had never 5ae5acf346 expected her 7e8751c448 to consider dcae0de682 her a a095bd1386 friend again. After all, a0273a6b5a despite being 978f97802f deceived by 5b47004cf2 her half-sister, c35998fed4 Reina had 351f87baac expressed excessive 9dff834c23 hostility toward c86b93052f Aira, even a35d418953 mocking her. She had cb48c08653 every reason 46dd5ba0da to harbor c7ac7dd151 ill will 3359ad2626 toward her, d1e128458a given how db324db6b5 petty Reina 12524647ee had behaved.9282f6b4a52eb809

“Aira…”d255ca40bc4aa5eb

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As her eyes 48e3851b95 flickered, Aira smiled 76a1603f6a faintly.3af4c5889bf202bc

One of Aira’s 975cb20588 goals after her f2f7fee877 return from the 35c4bf3aad regression was to a1af6763a3 restore her relationships 84f6266f89 in high society.c696929dd5fd984c

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Reina had a5db445873 been one f2467e5d85 of the 9ffc19cec4 people Luna 1d5eceea13 had ruined 04f81e7dc1 in Aira’s 12aa6d91f6 social circle, 3244531f39 and the d0b413f787 Chesswig family a845ff9b52 was set 09ca9814c1 to rise 99bd3df606 dramatically in 1aa02bc760 the coming cfbb687a4f years.03e143a4faa0bd63

Reina was 4f8b3d80ae involved in 55d322d9f5 her family’s 2eb41c2cf5 wine business, 51e52176b7 and rebuilding 498b3d51d4 their friendship 9d06429280 would be 0bade0bbe0 beneficial for c85f33476c Aira’s future d16f8479a4 plans as 9f539a5d4c well.a8db39edcd23d850

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“……”6de1c4d1cecaedba

Reina lowered her 7bc37768ba hand, which had 42b29135cb been about to 3bd2624b80 remove the bracelet, 6449a55d33 and nodded.81d6356b983caf7d

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Then, instead f36515d6e9 of the b00d4ccdd9 usual distrustful cc9327a80d and hostile 4b5305d492 look, she f637a066d6 gazed at 6e5be95537 Aira with 55789a25e8 an expression d86853259e full of 12d2e68675 trust.56f70c0b4ca61caf

She now understood that b90669f80b Aira was not the a1590a4545 cold, malicious woman Luna 80d9a1b2be had made her out fee4ce25dd to be.80dffcd8a21a1d9d

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“Alright. I really want to be a good friend to you, Aira. From now on.”3675566f1b5c20f1

The doll 2d1c3c94dc dress Aira 72ad429d37 had belatedly a6a081cd42 delivered melted a834e25f75 away all c627637ce6 the long-held df0d33711a resentment, and e461dba156 today, learning fb1ab56d8b the truth 48a03c3720 about Luna, 0e64421585 Reina regained d35a6c9f3d the sense 2327a22dce of camaraderie 855214c06f she had 24043dd49b once felt 9f05ad73f2 as a fadd28f095 child when 0f584dd4e1 she saw f9be045810 Aira’s doll-like 1d0eba066d appearance.7943c819770c3fa2

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“Then, may I give you a small gift as well, Aira?”34921165675790c5

Reina gifted her a bottle of the finest quality wine, with only 24 bottles produced. Of these, fifteen were delivered to the Imperial Palace, six went to the Duke’s and Marquis’ houses, and the remaining three were kept at Count Chesswig’s residence. Reina had a right to dispose of one of these bottles, and she chose to gift it to Aira.cf47f3575d1589b5

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Having spent seven years in the Imperial Palace, Aira could tell that the wine was worth at least 5,000 Berks. Despite her initial reluctance, Aira expressed her discomfort, but Reina insisted that the wine would be sent to the Count’s house under Aira’s name, to make up for her previous impoliteness. They had specialized personnel for luxury wine deliveries.93990aa62c4c01d4

‘Father will c5ce4c526e probably like 5e74386ce1 this.’7606af3c0335ae63

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As Aira walked away, 3b97f0d734 escorted by Reina, she d28146b39f thought of Count Marceline’s c84dc791e8 excited face. The Count ab9ffd73bf was a ea242fc8bd wine enthusiast, 8f19dbec40 and the f29f7e6c94 wine that a575b4ac21 would arrive 54feaf1312 at the cc52a5d10e Count’s house 6a8059e64e the next afc73c17cb day would 96f964e6c4 likely be 8eb1ef4b27 the most bbb1ce64aa precious in 9d2e955c27 his collection.c7bd50481c953412

Anyway, today’s objective 778acbf3c1 had been thoroughly fbe2921eb2 accomplished, and it 1a516ed937 seemed even more 5fdf34080f successful than expected.bf48f4fa87a0da89

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Smiling, Aira 835a3a1431 was descending 305ec953eb the long e5c45c0fea outdoor stairs 97a78298bb with ivory-colored 99ec26f45b railings, rounding 65e9fb0f0b a corner 2fce064e30 when suddenly—22d3a068769eab73

“……!”8b1092d72a649127

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Aira’s forehead collided a350085cab with a man’s b9e4cf72e1 chest.2261af60cc38a42b

Startled, Aira d73f1a4c35 slowly looked 5314f9f933 up to a0dbe3e0b7 see who 4a750d213b she had 06090fca1f bumped into. The man standing with 4ae28c671a the soft moonlight at 406306d0e7 his back was someone 7af3937ce2 she hadn’t expected.e629be1d4000655e

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A black 6052d6dec5 cloak fluttering 2135b5a843 in the f5d75da97a night breeze, 4a112dd752 black hair 6e9b459d0c swaying gently, fba2a32f12 and sharp, 06c7e22076 pale gray 3e6c190ae9 eyes.e35347632cbff111

She had met feeeb21b31 him not long cc4b6eed7f ago in the ed575d74a8 Imperial Palace—Valter, the 1169be59dd Crown Prince of 3dbe6c4c78 the Empire, also f1bbf95d71 known as the d630988230 White Ghost of 26e3ec104f the Snowfield.ca602d342563e62b

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As Aira 381fdf74bd quickly tried 8f49e9ed4c to pay 7b155581d9 her respects 57009fed2b to the d6ac6f3c21 royal, Valter 6a3e7137e4 moved before 4a6202e3c3 she could. He bent 160b306330 at the 987ad28131 waist and 3460e8647c gracefully extended 6aa894082c his hand 5d89c3f78e toward her.d0d16edab580262c

Aira flinched as d0ea3f5895 he reached out, 7f7335922d but his hand 147bd80ba0 came to a f545524ce1 stop right before a68d7ef0bf her feet. Then, he picked 8561bf210f something up and 2636fa6288 straightened himself.908b24839772ac32

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Once he stood 37fb8f6b60 up, the difference 9280b25e20 in their statures aa45fff272 became evident, the d28364f4e5 imposing height and ce3778d3a3 presence making an d976ab6487 impact.404dad452c967b1b

Valter slowly 4f3511b088 raised his 4b11f32fe9 hand and a52f14d417 took her 4eb4c04a32 left hand, 22ac326dd5 lifting it. He gazed into 9f302158b3 her trembling eyes 0f94b3ee6e and slid something fda4e9145c onto her ring 9b942a818b finger.694f9c7192cc4703

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“……You dropped this.”ea6756f47fa44163

His cold voice came through as Aira finally regained her composure. She saw what he had placed on her finger—it was a ring with a woman’s engraving. The very ring Luna had tried to auction earlier, the heirloom of the Countess.3dbe165c3628cb16

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“Ah… thank you.”10e316f9e785ebd6

A cool night c2368f409e breeze swept between 54aaf61b8f them, and Aira 81579f6fd4 could feel her e9b2018e9e heart racing with 1a8fa08384 nervousness. Though she had always 350910787c handled things calmly and 339b364933 logically, in his presence, b1e8817c2e it felt as if 48a6c99c21 even the aura of 9516885ef9 sacred objects couldn’t serve 857b2606de as a shield.2a7277c7770d0d07

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As she prepared 90b7839b7f to walk away, ab25f60224 his voice whispered 3b174458c6 in her ear.8abad1e88f80d491

“Within that delicate body…”34c677d0812c3f3c

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Aira froze, and Valter 8d92d55142 added, his tone cryptic.6a084799af23d410

“A storm has begun…”7c85125568400a5f

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A chilling feeling ran 73863a1dd4 through her, but Aira 14c3dc81b7 focused and took a ac7df9aca5 step forward. Was this comment meant 89b3acaa1f for her? Maybe it was just eff6ef52a2 something he said to 5513d1fc17 himself.680c42053fea8845

“You’ll need to remain quiet. For survival,” he said as she walked down the stairs.23c2a2a59a081e65

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Aira’s face a66222d9b7 had hardened, ff181f869c and her 85866e7952 heart continued 569a27497f to race.8626c2cb033892a4

Valter—did he 4c39ba86ed perhaps know cb25bf5aff something?a49fae5577390a42

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“Miss!”10888878647ff557

Just then, Gemma, who aeca4ee6eb had been waiting nearby, 66d454ec01 rushed toward Aira as 419a873bef she spotted her. Hearing the 2574ae00af noise of 3388526c93 the crowd, 6ae91fcbbf Gemma’s eyebrows 8d027cd68c curled into c40d77844f a mischievous 6e835d9f07 smile.8a9e6f50acbaeaa9

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“They say you gave Luna a good scolding today,” Gemma said, then added in a whisper, standing on tiptoe.4cea90a8f21c5ac0

“I saw her running out, pale as a ghost.”82278c58ae8ccdbb

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“……”f699e613a353ef8f

All eyes were 9a6eef8efb on Luna, and fdef11fc30 her eyelids were ad319f4862 trembling uncontrollably.6934b486fdc9ea55

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The lies she 54705de3f3 had told had 1b609fc2ef piled up like fa9a758571 a snowball and 33b4bd99f4 there seemed to 9fa9db7bf1 be no way e300cf635e to fix the f6fb66a45f situation now.2871be3003d0c7f3

What should she do…? Standing there with an expression that looked like she was about to cry, Aira let out a small sigh.49df2842b975a478

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Then, she looked 666742a208 at Luna with ef4baa2cae a gaze full c2ed450e42 of disdain.4a428b19b0388bc1

As soon 6d9a0276bf as she 58d4fc4499 met Aira’s 7319d83f57 eyes, her 329d7b87dd stomach churned cbe6bf3e52 violently.8be93f7311c86d77

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This whole mess was 9e365248f4 Aira’s fault.08c94a53dfb1ef55

The reason 4845643097 she had 400880bb0b to lie 578d735130 to them, 995c4d67e2 and the 647727ca5f reason the 4aad5a6dad situation had c56730dbec escalated this a7ea9edf94 far, was 8e8a21e6a1 all because 35468c5dc3 of her.3fb9c91bd7a216f3

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If it weren’t for a45ec3d762 that damned Aira, all 8f6bb65409 of Marceline’s treasures would a44a2a9748 have been hers by 521d7caff6 now, without needing to 1929d9b0e2 lie at all.41a75b20717e5ed9

“…Get out of the way!”6fc9f2eff1a4f955

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Shaking with 2ac57455bb anger, Luna 92ca194147 glared at a786781748 Aira and 090f2153ed spun around.2f40ccf926f36b02

She pushed ff1732b4f3 through the 5db8a3e630 gathered noblewomen 92ebdbc01c and left 027a958afe the room.e47dc4c870565933

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“Luna!”2c2a2bc9e22d1364

Reina’s furious shout 870c2740de came from behind, 399972ed0c but Luna didn’t f4422a463d look back.57e0ecbbc487c402

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The murmurs 33931c0f38 of shock c699ad3fd7 from the 1cc7265239 noblewomen grew 88b8afa4ac louder.2b89ec6cb7e3fecd

**4c2f8fdcffbe4eb7

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In the dimly 339cd11497 lit room with 2f299f4c72 the window as 7676876435 the backdrop, Aira 991cae6cdc sat across from cbeca7106d Reina and ate 8128e09554 her meal.85aa0bb86ab52261

The Chesswig mansion, 0ebeb42f7e which Reina didn’t 97bc9aafb9 even remember when 4ebdce22f7 she had last 8daff96d8c visited, was grander 194fa3dec5 than the Marceline fa254e783d estate.ebd8f2cf4a4ef9ca

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The Count 3d9b6cc26c of Chesswig, f189f053f8 who owned 25912bfbcd a vineyard 77ec0bb963 the size 030282e514 of a fe6052cc0b city in b05c41494f the central 6326e77bef territory, was 215782b11b famous for 657a0de288 his wine.52e66ea3ae37f9d2

Aira’s glass was filled 6ee14a7f6b with high-quality wine.a945989f5a4eed56

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After a long 041835de6c silence during their f1eca41395 meal, Reina finally 0050c51d2d spoke.b2575adf22704a4b

“I think I’ve misunderstood 7d23d0938c you all this time. I’m sorry.”c58f4dbf52f49bfb

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Unlike before, when she 52a768720b always made her dislike c66067d364 of Aira known, this 5ae3600958 apology was calm and d302c1a2af sincere.190a964303094952

The reason 404ca8bc21 she had e6d47e0e83 disliked her f6025e6377 from the 0987eb8303 start was 8aaa9ec4b8 because of 5cbbef4785 Luna’s schemes, 2bca1f34ac and the 6dee98245c subsequent attempts 0367146c14 to sow 9ffb175e02 discord had 8a8677cc1f also been a94c310d2f Luna’s doing.240216761eb6a247

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Now, there 137a75b9ea was no 0ed2f68e3b need to a93d0a739f continue seeing ba6a53157e Aira Marceline, fa38a80feb the legitimate 60ff739bf4 daughter of 74a823ec3e Marceline, as 70dcf747b0 an enemy.108ae4e8a469ce5b

“Looking at it from 9313e70eaf another angle, I suppose 0fa8e3252e I’ve been at fault c3817e6ff3 as well.”d1645fb8fc2583df

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As she cut into 67542985fe her steak, Aira spoke 5f45c45d2a in a nonchalant tone.d06a4670b77428b9

If she had somehow 3983d37590 managed to pass on 0c10d09de5 the doll dress through 560fce4fb7 a servant or gone 9ac08ae1a4 directly to Chesswig to 6b4f582a19 speak with Reina, she c20d5a29e5 could have cleared up 750c00e6ee her misunderstanding much sooner.302e9c7ec916e878

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But she 45ba59825a had kept 46c097735b putting it 6e1f320785 off, thinking 5ce9d3d0e2 they could 8c9fea5b1c talk about 1a3f5799ce it eventually, 9090224c7f and now, 0617c42462 the long-standing 4dd8cfd427 misunderstanding had df97197505 reached this 45e1ddfe15 point. She knew she shared 1768bc60b3 part of the blame.23451d93f85cf650

“Luna… Why do you think she did something like that?”567f2fdc7e78b409

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At Reina’s question, Aira responded in a calm voice.21d12814e9abfac2

“……Well, I suppose… after all, Luna is also part of our Marceline family, so I’d like to apologize for her deception as well.”32381bbfce5980c1

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“The misdeeds of a half-sister are something even you, my lady, can’t control. Actually, among my brothers, there’s one who lives recklessly and does as he pleases. Sigh.”63b62847be8b1ae6

Reina, recalling the troublemaker 426fadbffc in her family, continued c6b0c015ec as if she understood f3c8eff083 Aira’s position.d9c43b2cb40f7af1

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“As you asked, I’ll make sure my friends don’t speak of what happened today, for the sake of Marceline’s reputation. But Luna, she will never be allowed to join our gatherings again.”bfef4debb570d63c

Probably the person most shocked by the situation was Aira herself. It was almost a betrayal by her half-sister, and what’s worse, Luna had even used her mother’s heirlooms without permission.cea4de6fbef9acc7

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At that 635e619ed0 thought, Reina 787036ff55 flinched and e9fff9d95f looked at 315eb02c90 her wrist.5ca6d7c063e8e345

Come to think of 27d38ea63a it, the bracelet Luna 07f2f0d123 had given her as a2cb611c5c a gift was still 08b922dc2e on her arm.c2ca2450b31089a4

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“Wait a moment. I’ll return this to you.”52733726321955ea

“It’s fine, Reina.”c61fcae66e9f2d80

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Reina was taken 87f62fb19d aback at her d4543aa5dc unexpected words. Aira was refusing the 27d8b2f19c bracelet, which had been 649314a1be unfairly taken from her 178ed93260 half-sister and now was 4060304738 in Reina’s possession.f8924d38d4e63c18

“But…”9f4debe4d0cd8cca

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“How about considering it a token of our newly formed friendship?”249860e539d52cf2

At Aira’s words, Reina’s 913d23d50b gaze wavered. Although she was 26dc4707c8 apologizing now, Reina 26b4a04340 had never expected e20bea1eb3 her to consider 98c2dfab86 her a friend 1c19a18bc5 again. After all, despite being f44cd374c1 deceived by her half-sister, a7a7b609f5 Reina had expressed excessive c99d657d73 hostility toward Aira, even fb963b96b2 mocking her. She had 4df50e5bf1 every reason ffcf9cebee to harbor 5ae82e1224 ill will bf4a408522 toward her, fafc76effc given how 88dbe73496 petty Reina af69b9792e had behaved.025293f72555cb2e

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“Aira…”4de8ffbdb72dc83b

As her 553ff61a31 eyes flickered, e15e8322c2 Aira smiled bb6ff6254b faintly.8343acd8f7393dd6

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One of Aira’s goals 4edf1b325f after her return from aec27956aa the regression was to 51c8647ae1 restore her relationships in 8e6c502607 high society.fe7bf7fa0db493f3

Reina had been 400dc27be3 one of the 390fd630b2 people Luna had 68100b4494 ruined in Aira’s baf0894b24 social circle, and e4c181a138 the Chesswig family 31135a7851 was set to 550c070c9a rise dramatically in 6392667db9 the coming years.c4a1ca39f2b8b2d0

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Reina was involved 4a91d1bb7a in her family’s 7d411b50d8 wine business, and 12f6f80718 rebuilding their friendship 8fa18626e5 would be beneficial 6898164235 for Aira’s future c6ea058736 plans as well.a0b0ec6a2df3d8ac

“……”d2820705b95348de

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Reina lowered her hand, 0911b7169a which had been about fb9b458c32 to remove the bracelet, 4a660ca67c and nodded.f9c1d0cb8ec0a6bd

Then, instead of the 68625da45e usual distrustful and hostile 557fc7f8f5 look, she gazed at e6c5e756e8 Aira with an expression a1f9134a75 full of trust.c0d5045db3c5f602

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She now understood that b99287052a Aira was not the a8350e12d1 cold, malicious woman Luna e3bb58d7c6 had made her out ac77779854 to be.48cb94aac40b935f

“Alright. I really want to be a good friend to you, Aira. From now on.”73fada2a98d40a52

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The doll a0f956fdfe dress Aira 08aa8f1b29 had belatedly 0dfab305b4 delivered melted c95f306406 away all ae4a44ea27 the long-held 33ba213969 resentment, and 9490e34af6 today, learning 0c7103f32e the truth fefc633fed about Luna, 774a76fe95 Reina regained 581bf3d326 the sense 3cc52f2ac8 of camaraderie a51d188e85 she had 94f57f57d1 once felt acb38174aa as a 68129b13ea child when 0d30d48bb6 she saw 615c08bb16 Aira’s doll-like 674f806ee7 appearance.131fdc96619f398f

“Then, may I give you a small gift as well, Aira?”36819652b8c7dc99

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Reina gifted her a bottle of the finest quality wine, with only 24 bottles produced. Of these, fifteen were delivered to the Imperial Palace, six went to the Duke’s and Marquis’ houses, and the remaining three were kept at the Chesswig Count’s residence. Reina had a right to dispose of one of these bottles, and she chose to gift it to Aira.4b1ae44c8638d97c

Having spent seven years in the Imperial Palace, Aira could tell that the wine was worth at least 5,000 Berks. Despite her initial reluctance, Aira expressed her discomfort, but Reina insisted that the wine would be sent to the Count’s house under Aira’s name, to make up for her previous impoliteness. They had specialized personnel for luxury wine deliveries.e825e58258680cc4

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‘Father will da46c2684b probably like 63b0d1db56 this.’dd2e6efb0309ca60

As Aira 5eefcb749e walked away, cb9f2b0564 escorted by f8627c3384 Reina, she 6f5675c0dd thought of 8058be17fe Count Marceline’s d62e11ba4e excited face. The Count was a71cbd6485 a wine enthusiast, 0854aad727 and the wine 2d503fa1ee that would arrive 3c191bd4ce at the Count’s b65ee01a5d house the next 7edd3afbd8 day would likely b853822fd7 be the most 19b449ca6d precious in his b140652efb collection.eef8ca310a57f0a9

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Anyway, today’s objective had 52f099d571 been thoroughly accomplished, and 60457ee953 it seemed even more 906d75e897 successful than expected.1f6798077297961b

Smiling, Aira was ca99514f9a descending the long d9f48ba244 outdoor stairs with c39ec21f1f ivory-colored railings, rounding 4e7cdf9632 a corner when 1c8da972c7 suddenly—a2f59b4b72d33b7a

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“……!”b4d48430520281f3

Aira’s forehead collided c2bdf8787a with a man’s 9cef44c94c chest.9cc15f9068de8cb1

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Startled, Aira 5fc777f3e5 slowly looked 489d0d6b15 up to c1d45efec5 see who 99ad478cbf she had 7c34eeb060 bumped into. The man 00a1cc95a7 standing with ee92952c9e the soft 17bcadee9f moonlight at b3d39a4886 his back 8902a8ea87 was someone a9d24b24c6 she hadn’t 6d5bd4bef8 expected.aed6c1df26a74452

A black 574113284a cloak fluttering 1e7c8ba4bd in the d9c956955b night breeze, c10905f628 black hair 5a048895a1 swaying gently, 60f840af29 and sharp, 712a1d16ca pale gray 65e4434be1 eyes.b0782cf5d2e29aae

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She had 345e37800a met him 4084a1663b not long ddcd07e6e1 ago in efeebe6368 the Imperial afe66f6fdb Palace—Valter, the 050ae06425 Crown Prince cd9cc035d7 of the 696f0b6669 Empire, also c6e89b3970 known as 2a92ba5f20 the White d2188cafa0 Ghost of 2dc373c859 the Snowfield.9996bf305e0ae449

As Aira quickly 3517490c22 tried to pay a310908e62 her respects to fd2c1e4165 the royal, Valter 0c78cab61f moved before she ffb811f346 could. He bent at 9833db18e6 the waist and 2dd35367bc gracefully extended his 2936d2bcca hand toward her.4df3ef546cd79930

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Aira flinched as 78d4a73275 he reached out, 0baba41786 but his hand 7e43784a93 came to a 6e54b46622 stop right before 2ab90b8ba2 her feet. Then, he picked something 800bfa00ff up and straightened himself.a1c228a965f6b8fa

Once he stood up, 9797cffe4a the difference in their 76676ac0b1 statures became evident, the e775042a48 imposing height and presence 2a73441815 making an impact.398cd1580560dce6

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Valter slowly raised his 77a6939c7b hand and took her 88eacb3b00 left hand, lifting it. He gazed 889bf467f2 into her 3fdf577619 trembling eyes 143f372a2e and slid 68c5664da7 something onto 4ea12f5297 her ring e7e6d824d2 finger.a6a401259f54b0a1

“……You dropped this.”ff2938bca286d4ef

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His cold voice came through as Aira finally regained her composure. She saw what he had placed on her finger—it was a ring with a woman’s engraving. The very ring Luna had tried to auction earlier, the heirloom of the Countess.c20149834fe6ac44

“Ah… thank you.”7029a788acc058c6

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A cool night 87525c3ad1 breeze swept between 02482d4334 them, and Aira a8ceaeb301 could feel her 1062cec9b5 heart racing with 54773c34d5 nervousness. Though she 439083d7a1 had always 2153b5d27f handled things d6a07c1be6 calmly and 4fe51810ed logically, in 4ec21c1423 his presence, 93911ccf11 it felt e9fb0f019d as if 177e1d3192 even the bb264fe16b aura of 6d42bf1c60 sacred objects a7115241ca couldn’t serve 529275d735 as a 2bb45a6e29 shield.4eb4eb94ba08b266

As she prepared 2ead2ed13c to walk away, af34f02e70 his voice whispered dc666c7156 in her ear.ecb98cd75abdf850

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“Within that delicate body…”a194cef14b15c7a4

Aira froze, and Valter 83f1d85322 added, his tone cryptic.ed80e626bcd82c13

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“A storm has begun…”88ef1797a48a7617

A chilling feeling ran c96f2cdec7 through her, but Aira 1b52485018 focused and took a 9ef6640521 step forward. Was this comment meant 14dee55d69 for her? Maybe it 843364492f was just e0ef7c8f55 something he 70c48b9221 said to 7a186f2dd0 himself.a44bf4b1144a4b84

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“You’ll need to remain quiet. For survival,” he said as she walked down the stairs.0e086c24d1b594d8

Aira’s face had hardened, 7926ffa9e0 and her heart continued f2d8399ea9 to race.98fa4cdf252f602b

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Valter—did he perhaps f862e53770 know something?e21672765d44dbad

“Miss!”d358e1e62bd562b3

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Just then, Gemma, b515e08eb3 who had been 8bf23f3a0c waiting nearby, rushed 6ec7d0c76b toward Aira as f817772176 she spotted her. Hearing the noise of 7d25514da8 the crowd, Gemma’s eyebrows 61143f9842 curled into a mischievous 555e9ad8d0 smile.de90e7bb7550bc04

“They say you gave Luna a good scolding today,” Gemma said, then added in a whisper, standing on tiptoe.4dfb52f46f63fae0

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“I saw her running out, pale as a ghost.”a9cefc4542cee491