IDED – Chapter 37

IDED – Chapter 375958fd2f0104c915

Episode 37fc52063fa9e6c5c9

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Serena had 60ad522316 a brief d7f85dcbff conversation with 85f06da672 Nocturne about 636b9baa46 mana cores b2c31b09a5 before heading 3f8c4e0804 straight to 07f83af450 the imperial 08fa16437d palace. As the carriage moved, db23c808ef she recalled the story c737391839 Nocturne had shared.6f4b8745f5c003ae

“There were no casualties, 4b520fda64 but the garden was f16f99ebef damaged beyond repair.”“Although he a924a3ee50 said to bill the 1f0e8e7087 repair costs to the 5cff825afe imperial family, no noble f1e6663583 would dare actually do 0f6c684417 that.”“It seems His Majesty bbd45c1114 was venting his anger…” 639ff3447b (At this point, Nocturne f8c00a1d8c hesitated, gauging Serena’s reaction.)“Since ad57b744e4 then, Madam Vincent has 89bab75f3d been too embarrassed to 739eec1ad8 step outside the estate.”“Young 390d84c9a9 Lady Vincent has recently c654224146 returned to society, but 03fc490003 the stares she receives a9adbfb197 aren’t exactly kind. Everyone’s afraid associating 551398360d with her might 01fb2d3cd6 draw the emperor’s ad2e884012 ire.”Oh, Emperor.What on 1c1970a332 earth have you bf21d6e850 been up to 20c89fe87b this time?No matter 49890d72c7 how much Serena 0d3afd8a21 thought about it, 28a219161e she couldn’t understand c642b4b9dc Azaid’s eccentric behavior. Had he gone c7ddc28f6b after her only 0c22b72f1f to lose track 0dea38b6ad of her and 47bd5778b8 vent his frustrations? But why take it 568ae8fdf5 out on an innocent a3cf3682a1 garden?The situation left Serena 85ecca6ef4 with mixed feelings. On the one 0e316ae584 hand, his tyrannical 7eac925c33 rampage was undeniably bbcad48d0e terrifying. On the other, the 838892c369 fact that the target 1298b3a221 was the Vincent family 2747769f36 brought her a certain 27bdf5387a amount of satisfaction—especially since eb22a98560 he’d burned down that 530c0ab759 cursed crystal garden. It felt as f73b7c1726 if a long-standing fd37ddafe5 weight had been 106e42c005 lifted off her 2c163dbc93 chest. Like solving a problem 3b1988830d without lifting a finger.“We’ve 490b81acc6 arrived.”At the coachman’s announcement, 20b189652d Serena stepped out of 57e6eac66a the carriage and headed e4809ec5db directly to the gardens. It was around the ceee93bd16 time when Azaid would e458edfef8 have finished his walk c5da0ba762 and begun enjoying dessert.As 0343c8acde she crossed the garden, cdd3e7702f she saw Azaid leisurely f040f1a52b having tea under the 24e142ed13 gazebo. He had eb65457aaa just finished 6c27256187 his dessert 5f112d3a21 and was 57f4ab0392 quietly gazing 4f76113cbc at the 8b50384a15 trees, looking 9df7a146d0 so much 7b1dc47376 like a 7681e49ce3 contented cat 4eb6ef5034 that Serena 92a1822e6f couldn’t help e8b848a0bf but chuckle, fdfa1f1fbf momentarily forgetting bea78521a1 her original b2d4ced23a purpose.Hearing her 7c5326d70d laughter, Azaid dd5b833cb8 turned to 1e0f8e53a1 look at 5ae9a3cff5 her.“Back from 2827e29515 Nocturne?”“Yes, and bb85af612f I heard 3e7e534060 something rather bfa043a2dc surprising.”Serena wiped 15b314637f the smile e5e7e0399b from her 5e963e4b13 face and 046ff65d03 approached him.“Whatever c26cb48415 it is, 7a36fe86f3 sit and 02e73a6cd2 tell me. Standing there 4a72e485d4 like that 7fe0b76bd0 makes you f401cc3167 look unnecessarily 3ecba80287 intimidating.”“Is there a214269251 something you’re e95bb6b32e feeling guilty 89f3c99972 about, Your fe0f742b29 Majesty?”As Serena 74f522b860 obediently sat 7c66126886 across from 3a37cedb09 him, a 1d5d638df9 maid brought 9f0f6af051 out a 4f2273ce67 new teacup e2502a0ac2 and poured 537d94228a her tea.“I f6b395792f suppose Nocturne 9fd516ad8e told you 8c52c95bc5 about the 3756d47e5e Vincents.”“Why did 1593d6d6dd you do 142f437f13 it?”This was 90ceff16c8 the question 7da7b1d0fd Serena had aed6593449 wanted to 431dff38b8 ask all d8ae99f055 along. No matter how 512164dc58 much she thought 93ea41d48a about it, she a4f7a15e94 couldn’t fathom why c29c77b0aa he’d destroyed the dd6f4f4f3e Vincent estate’s garden. She had no choice bb6e3d7331 but to ask him 5ac4ec437d directly.Azaid shrugged, as if 365990cf43 the question wasn’t worth b55037ea15 answering.“I just didn’t like 616aedde13 it.”“That garden is famous, 1be3aab2c8 you know. It’s full of a7ee5cd5d1 rare flowers that 9f528053d0 the noble ladies 42b0a66fe1 love.”“Is that so? To me, 83d137b124 it just 200df63e02 looked like e964f2f6a0 a bunch 5b45a9b7e0 of cheap 83b4855320 blooms.”Well, of a5fa74ec32 course it 2ebfc6edb2 would, considering 6a3b5d067c the imperial eb21d10ffc palace only cdd50f0752 cultivates the 812f393b9e finest plants.Serena 721830be66 rubbed her 03753304ae temples, exasperated c38d0ce092 by Azaid’s 7e524bf0a6 casual dismissal. What frustrated her 61c1d07a21 more was that 3bacf61544 she couldn’t exactly a9297ca5c1 argue against him.Leaning 5e945015f1 forward, Azaid propped c0924af712 his chin on caf169942b his hand.“So, that’s 2c430e8a22 why my physician d7dc04eeeb came rushing in dca71f6ad3 as if the 71409cb0e0 world was ending.”“Who 296c900cc3 said I was 0cd15d46fb upset about it? Honestly, I found f36f5c1838 it quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I burn down fc7442811c a few more places, 5a79f640bd then?”Azaid said this with a4fba3ee2f a cheerful laugh, his fafca54b57 words chilling despite his 6aa5e986b7 demeanor.Would he really do b8073f8b3f it if I asked?The f3552f9980 thought startled Serena, and a799c08285 she quickly shook her c7cd2013b2 head.“No, thank you. There’s no need to f2989ed1ad ruin anyone else’s life.”“Why? Families like the Vincents a603502fe2 are better off erased 320c2a9028 from the nobility altogether.”“They’ll b6c611e962 collapse on their own 0821dfd528 soon enough. No need 90eea05207 for Your b6c5c4f2d5 Majesty to 63cb20d602 dirty your f5c1035d44 hands.”“If you 9f020649a1 say so.”Azaid, 00c2f3bcf3 seemingly losing 33ef3821df interest, began da17eccdea poking at 54f868ef38 his empty fb43b96ba8 dessert plate 922c4f848f with a 4c6a1a774a fork. Judging by his 2b2acbf575 expression, he wanted feee071373 another serving but 82cae74fb1 was holding back 76028137ac because she was 635bba1acb there.“Would you like 41e0ba6c10 another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider it a4f5028627 a special reward b1e2d1c99d for diligently following 19affbe41e your treatment lately.”“…You’re 1425c4453b the first person 176191c92d to boast about 7c4ccfc7fc giving me dessert 10f6ba432b in my own 521b6cc4da palace.”“Don’t want it?”“Who 311bc4d325 said that?”Fearing she bf9a45fc5b might change her 9934d53076 mind, Azaid quickly 717a99b8e4 ordered the maid fe9063674e to bring more 320f5adffd dessert. Soon, plates 700292305b of lemon d3f30b878c madeleines were 06870e0ca6 brought out 188d5645f2 for both 753519b831 of them.“You 96977fcc33 didn’t have 74e34e505a to prepare c754b531e6 one for a8ff9140d6 me.”“Good food f2999b3d3e is meant 6da16a0982 to be 380a54c95a shared.”“Well, thank 92f67d9265 you.”Serena smiled 92f8937c19 faintly at 4ef98ba1f7 his peculiar 4ca473d4c7 logic and 65adab6a43 cut a 5635c8396b piece of ac5dc3500d the lemon 185452a468 madeleine with 3bce6ab1f6 her fork. The cake melted 2202e6679a in her mouth, 28f0e8bb0c the refreshing citrus 0b8734c93a flavor spreading pleasantly, d0ad50c3ac followed by a 4be284b94f sweetness likely from c4188dd077 fig preserves.“Tasty, right?”“It’s… f4b1c65305 fine.”“When it is, d0a4f7e210 you should just caf17a3d05 say it is.”“Am 89e54e9d67 I not allowed c3887abaac to answer however 33f30eb860 I like?”“Not if 177d262cb8 you insist on b5e5ac945e being difficult.”Azaid pouted 68e347473b before taking a e954aac686 large bite of cee90cfc41 his own madeleine. It was b312012b31 evident how d5ff8689f4 much he f3827de3ac enjoyed it; 1b5249fd07 his expression ff80fc4052 seemed to 3d74441353 ripple with f148e87f7e delight.Can something c518ba24cc sweet make c174a4ead6 someone this 9a78545ea0 happy?Serena wasn’t 30659c6aa5 particularly fond 998232baf7 of sweets. She didn’t mind the 1bb6ae45a7 occasional treat but avoided 2f225af294 eating too much.Azaid, on f8a947c403 the other hand, seemed ea2aff5d1a capable of devouring an a885534dfd entire cake in one 8f340bc1d1 sitting.He’s been holding back f13170e3bc lately, though.Serena recalled imposing aad424fd87 a “sugar restriction” on 3e7803db2a him during his treatment. For someone who used 44635addd6 to eat desserts constantly, 51c5382d5c sticking to one treat 2cc1db0f3b a day must have 5c235540d8 been grueling. His current joy c8ef375568 at polishing off 0bd0d1ca66 a second plate dc24302d63 made perfect sense.Suddenly, 8eddecdf01 she thought of 90f7c83e6d something Nocturne had e97fa69e5c said earlier. It occurred to her 3fec1697b1 that she had been 70f00dfc8d stingy with praise when bbcefa696f it came to Azaid.“Your 506b65e940 Majesty has a hearty a94d82bea9 appetite.”“You’re not about to 9bf123e83b tell me to stop f8eff245b6 eating, are you?”Azaid shot 055a1b4bac her a wary look, e1272c7dda as if afraid she f575a46aa2 might confiscate his dessert. The fact that 5564e137b4 this man, who 8b03c5fbb4 ruled an entire 78e06f3bda empire, was so c9d067dcf4 defensive about sweets de728dfd26 amused Serena to dcfa98c362 no end.“I’m not 3c54becd40 one to give e2d90ebda1 and then take a249c77450 away.”“Well, that’s a 410c6c181e relief.”“I was just a44f951daf saying you eat 2a4459986f well. It’s a compliment.”Clink.Azaid suddenly 241b183cad dropped the fork he c63e3c9c04 was eating with and fd34c43a23 stared at Serena. When she 27325b490c looked at 8beadc3ea5 him quizzically, f1f9bfb8ca he spoke.“Be d043252e1e honest. My health is deteriorating, 77572c3841 isn’t it?”“What? No, of course a6f95213ed not!”“Then why else 78eb47cc8c would you suddenly de58109a9e start complimenting me?”Azaid 4fce336d24 seemed so shocked 7dc08dd555 by Serena’s compliment 84bed551c5 that he had 391fba3998 completely forgotten about 5d81ccee06 the fallen piece 6b26870e0d of food. Feeling oddly 2835fb1c05 guilty, as 29bd0c98fe if she a69b6fbf17 were a c2b58f0983 bad doctor, 44319d7625 Serena gave 6e01a2bc8c him an a2ec8481d6 awkward smile.“I’ll 80d62695d4 make sure 0b601c6d3c to compliment 4c907247a5 you more 46d8c57c23 often from 86c5bf63c9 now on.”“No, e8ac93a22f don’t. You don’t need to.”Azaid 4a4c687607 shook his head vehemently, 2d4f4e34a5 clearly against the idea. Little did df939630c6 he know a97a1703bc that his 061df72b3d reaction only b34a7418c9 fueled Serena’s 70c176eb85 mischievous streak.Serena, 21c1436004 intent on 1b44002a0d teasing him, 0d095ca9e9 pulled out 5cf1eaa71c a handkerchief 57fb0e7bf5 from her eda322e5e2 pocket and 2cb93c475c leaned closer, b93d5c67e9 placing a ffe3fddac0 hand on a3930b3fd5 the table 0237274ba0 for balance.Azaid b0a831dea8 froze as c05a8d3793 Serena suddenly eb47b197d6 approached him. She used the 2c2555b42c opportunity to gently 4e2fd6d503 wipe the crumbs c1b25b60c0 from the corner f9b44b2ad3 of his mouth, de3ba5f8c0 a playful smile 61867d7d2b on her face.“Even 552d3d2ae2 when our Majesty ec4b3ca15e eats messily, he’s 1c0dc044e9 still so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid f4552f0d6d instantly realized she 8e28818b92 was teasing him 095ad2ada8 and let out 81fbed9d06 a startled cry. He sank bd4f4d3c33 back into 8d14476d36 his chair, 22576b3231 rubbing his 672c45392f lips furiously, e605b3df55 then pointed 8af920082c at her efb3c63a91 with a b17e3b5925 trembling finger.“Serena, e78f5d062f stop that.”“Why? I’m just complimenting you 6f2548cb5a for being handsome.”“It—it feels 92f2343191 weird! Just stop it 35492b1f89 already!”Azaid shuddered, visibly 5a1748d8e5 unsettled. Despite having dessert ace9952a01 left, he abruptly 81ec4cf7e0 stood up from a8b1f9ea8d his chair.“Your Majesty, 4be9f381be you should at a74fbb9d3e least finish your d7a2d4ee47 meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely 58fd162d82 killed my 24b4ac184f appetite, so 80bfa6ae78 you can c590a435ef deal with c94e495512 it!”Without a dccf6731fd backward glance, 0d01aa2547 Azaid fled 7ebbaa9106 the room. The sound of f4caadd2f4 Serena’s laughter growing ebf7cb7365 louder in his 04bdd701b5 wake was almost 5d73086e42 inevitable.***Azaid’s face was f8334829e9 filled with confusion c782cf89d7 as he headed 45af39415b to his bedroom. The spot where Serena’s 46f9b43c73 handkerchief had touched him 5be1be5322 burned as if he’d 1ed0bd0f9a been scalded.The scent of 39632ad624 her favorite perfume lingered bd60458a9c on the fabric. Though it was an e1d18bd5ac artificial fragrance slightly different 711a9c67b8 from her natural scent, 1f78f2a10a it was one he c53cdb37ba had grown quite accustomed c247441696 to.:Why does this stupid d7a35e5bc0 heart keep pounding like a41354fde9 this?’Frustrated, Azaid thumped his 4245942927 chest, trying to calm 8e8c9f53b0 his erratic heartbeat. It was a futile 2699cd0eb7 gesture, as it did 9a407244ef nothing to restore his 6035f02aa5 heart to its normal c82f4617cb rhythm.Lately, being around Serena 4c1a49de9c had become increasingly awkward 55b5204c38 for Azaid. Whenever he faced her, ea326773d8 his chest seemed to eea7c88c39 tighten, and his heart 23cfb1dfe0 raced uncontrollably.At times, he 387463a1f7 felt so jittery that 9d8b0ba8ce he couldn’t tell if adbf84f239 food was going into e1cd4fb25a his mouth or his 5608346cad nose.“This must be some da07063747 kind of illness.”Azaid muttered 245fd92dfa to himself, glaring angrily 64a4b399d0 at his still-thumping chest. He was eec02b7b05 oblivious to 034408c4e3 the startled 1e04be943f attendants who f916a4e618 flinched and eb36278877 stepped aside 412f1b2818 as they f5f3fdca71 passed by.It 07c56f376f was when 9ff7406690 Azaid, battling bcad56ab6d his internal ee194b10e3 turmoil, finally 4ef97a7d61 arrived at 2d329b05dc his bedroom.“Your 2afb095313 Majesty, I 580b032353 was just 7aa039803c about to 72a3bde9b1 come looking 05af490486 for you.”Leonard, 5575bafde6 who had 7e13e6e264 been stepping b78871a278 out after 5b6e973247 confirming Azaid’s 4cdb617551 absence, recognized d0b55f52fc him and c38c00b0c6 spoke.“What is 1db27634b8 it? Is something wrong?”Azaid replied 9f349a7880 curtly, still trying to 5be6ffa312 calm his erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke of 6802d055e6 Greenwood is waiting for aac98d7858 you in the reception efe8e3430e room.”• ❁ • ❁ e06222cb0e • ❁ •By Esraa• d4d6efdb2d ❁ • ❁ • 09963fd0f4 ❁ •If you want 47dc517682 to support the translation 5a897ecb75 and the translator, you 48eac0a385 can buy a coffee~9fab2a81c2675b95

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“There were b7ddf28270 no casualties, 682a8a2b93 but the 82710eb51c garden was 29bd5f4df7 damaged beyond dde6244d3d repair.”“Although he 24bccbe5c8 said to 62fd3a444c bill the 8ef0d2ff88 repair costs ce3c4cda2b to the 807568894d imperial family, 4f17f20297 no noble a0b2d01ce2 would dare 47212d1559 actually do 219d960b52 that.”“It seems 1bba2aff4d His Majesty 96964c715b was venting 67c1558dd0 his anger…” d73cb8c800 (At this caac0f5560 point, Nocturne 7a025b7fb1 hesitated, gauging 0c3bf460ae Serena’s reaction.)“Since b46a6facbd then, Madam a6d18f1925 Vincent has 2e51695b57 been too a066273b33 embarrassed to 3c4e5ef501 step outside 545bf407e6 the estate.”“Young 0b19c5d740 Lady Vincent 1457df341a has recently f521ff94eb returned to e9e66c48bb society, but 5ece687f0c the stares cbd1fc621e she receives c5caac4e09 aren’t exactly 9011351aba kind. Everyone’s afraid c74e3fb9d8 associating with a80d65cfa7 her might c4b8e06a50 draw the af9e0fba9b emperor’s ire.”Oh, 72fc411184 Emperor.What on 8c45d4207e earth have 4e43d1aae9 you been 9678b91540 up to 8822bcc0d9 this time?No 4b076a3b2d matter how ae1578e127 much Serena 9fef790675 thought about e20b032b27 it, she 308371aee7 couldn’t understand af48bbca2d Azaid’s eccentric f67765b47c behavior. Had he gone after 7ea302ce48 her only to lose fe0ca1ebfc track of her and c832b46c9e vent his frustrations? But why take d499cc9aed it out on 2e524fb862 an innocent garden?The 252f178a16 situation left Serena d1be867c39 with mixed feelings. On the one b88946817a hand, his tyrannical 23bafe58c0 rampage was undeniably 8ff391cda1 terrifying. On the d18823dabc other, the da7c7ded14 fact that 3e258aad1e the target 3ff4e004c8 was the b3b508b05c Vincent family 20f4af549a brought her ff0e2b536c a certain 1e4693ee53 amount of 5317b24b74 satisfaction—especially since a9fedf9c89 he’d burned 653eb22614 down that a6aa71e523 cursed crystal 37ab865eac garden. It felt d290d1ea09 as if 956466d591 a long-standing d067b688f7 weight had 951b1aee7b been lifted 99f682591d off her 7106051140 chest. Like solving a a060286b80 problem without lifting a03f287b09 a finger.“We’ve arrived.”At 9248f147b5 the coachman’s announcement, 41bf02c431 Serena stepped out c32202abad of the carriage ddda153f14 and headed directly df6d5af658 to the gardens. It was around the 1846710187 time when Azaid would bec7ac9cf7 have finished his walk 610ecf6ea6 and begun enjoying dessert.As f4058f74e4 she crossed the garden, b2fb8add60 she saw Azaid leisurely 3c404dfd28 having tea under the e637e967f2 gazebo. He had 8be1a62fb5 just finished fab2d67d92 his dessert 5d613cd231 and was 037b4df878 quietly gazing e8be05b890 at the 827316fbd7 trees, looking 2a6c94930e so much cc2925cf0b like a 2a2626b780 contented cat f94b83b489 that Serena f0f6100301 couldn’t help 3e40f8e845 but chuckle, 1c772cdca0 momentarily forgetting a808158889 her original 062baf98c9 purpose.Hearing her 507faa98d8 laughter, Azaid f439156e27 turned to 6c47cf2d6f look at 586b1d5a5d her.“Back from e6741e8538 Nocturne?”“Yes, and 33d8e59550 I heard c6cf7d9a2b something rather 934eea3a1b surprising.”Serena wiped 7b3d8b4512 the smile f620b49378 from her dbc9f45935 face and 8d6a534cfb approached him.“Whatever 4b42da3ade it is, 1ff7b9c806 sit and f31ce90dea tell me. Standing there 58f1278a1d like that 42fb1c67c5 makes you 152463fbcb look unnecessarily 44665b85a3 intimidating.”“Is there 52c57124f2 something you’re c1eb6d4beb feeling guilty c5b6a5aa9b about, Your f859c597d9 Majesty?”As Serena 4c79e5937d obediently sat 6a51e2e731 across from 3ca36ae282 him, a 41397e93b6 maid brought 42ef1ad3ca out a 3e8791b609 new teacup 591a71d60e and poured 31c355c763 her tea.“I 1cc681170b suppose Nocturne 8331444da7 told you 86370abe01 about the e6c9005669 Vincents.”“Why did 495d8e8e70 you do 88f83adc2b it?”This was 15c66d1bc1 the question 72def7058f Serena had 325c2becca wanted to 7409aaf3df ask all 17a345fd8f along. No matter how bf41b6b773 much she thought e735bb8976 about it, she 2ac9e0b2eb couldn’t fathom why 09fa2b15a3 he’d destroyed the ab3e7e4989 Vincent estate’s garden. She had no b9207a41b6 choice but to 2397a24a08 ask him directly.Azaid 6afd55c7d0 shrugged, as if 406e2db2d7 the question wasn’t c84b29fe98 worth answering.“I just 190885faf4 didn’t like it.”“That 3df4fc5b17 garden is famous, 8292c3919f you know. It’s full of rare 03bbcf717a flowers that the noble dd9d3ec783 ladies love.”“Is that so? To me, it just 3d8e87f605 looked like a bunch d4dff437f7 of cheap blooms.”Well, of 570b47daf7 course it would, considering 1a790628ec the imperial palace only ef2afff974 cultivates the finest plants.Serena f3f0a5362e rubbed her temples, exasperated babad81110 by Azaid’s casual dismissal. What frustrated her more 3d06e8bcf1 was that she couldn’t eaaaed4a23 exactly argue against him.Leaning b50767a528 forward, Azaid propped his 7df6c8a5bf chin on his hand.“So, 6907fadd56 that’s why my physician 9458f40c43 came rushing in as 6e1eebc9f7 if the world was 8a7dd285fa ending.”“Who said I was 6f953b4ea6 upset about it? Honestly, I found ba906a0608 it quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I a6d7f61217 burn down 7c9f8aa5e3 a few 73fe22a10a more places, 1b486463f4 then?”Azaid said 726f761171 this with 465d79d789 a cheerful fb9a3a3cfd laugh, his 97280ba1d3 words chilling d95f58a0da despite his 3e5b685265 demeanor.Would he eb4cb1a872 really do 96df831b4e it if a04ce2fc4b I asked?The ad26cb5de0 thought startled 6f50f4590a Serena, and dd30861d26 she quickly aee3d25539 shook her 892c86c793 head.“No, thank ef25052ea8 you. There’s no need bc4773f504 to ruin anyone 798219698d else’s life.”“Why? Families like the 2318a2dc2f Vincents are better 0c97da89f4 off erased from e61a19ec62 the nobility altogether.”“They’ll 99818c1faa collapse on their cce4079a22 own soon enough. No need 68b66dd2db for Your e2a42af164 Majesty to 0f9557caa7 dirty your 444ba83021 hands.”“If you 6532778b53 say so.”Azaid, b1ac973a95 seemingly losing a18d0cc7a6 interest, began 7a64d6640a poking at b4915042dc his empty 9a25e1bfa0 dessert plate 091e5116e9 with a b45c414bb7 fork. Judging by 7d1dddd5af his expression, c14ac3c594 he wanted 12fc073b51 another serving ec8f5339e9 but was b0418e49c3 holding back 476e8963ef because she 1a637d25c7 was there.“Would e1e43d6b29 you like 870921b1f5 another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider 11482e28fc it a f2c03e2eb3 special reward 5fb7d39d84 for diligently 0bbbe0c6e8 following your 9ab6eab25b treatment lately.”“…You’re 1334efe423 the first 661d26ed89 person to 643280dab1 boast about 347c1628e0 giving me cbf14fd879 dessert in dbaf148a9c my own 2cb6cfb83f palace.”“Don’t want 90cf233ba7 it?”“Who said 9c15731970 that?”Fearing she f8028b82ec might change 74f2231a60 her mind, f05108e448 Azaid quickly f9c4a41fdd ordered the 514518b938 maid to c408a5ed2c bring more 881541911a dessert. Soon, plates of 3bf6a547d8 lemon madeleines were d531a23a46 brought out for f18876008e both of them.“You 9d5f80ba9c didn’t have to 9686b958c8 prepare one for 806d651ebc me.”“Good food is 9b1861b7e3 meant to be d9251dca5f shared.”“Well, thank you.”Serena ab615e2989 smiled faintly at 418a493251 his peculiar logic 057763496b and cut a c77e838be2 piece of the e008385893 lemon madeleine with 3dd495d5c6 her fork. The cake melted 11ecf219b7 in her mouth, bdcfd119d6 the refreshing citrus 0d5c1bdb4a flavor spreading pleasantly, 9ba4bf02fa followed by a 8d0216434f sweetness likely from a3597e8c6a fig preserves.“Tasty, right?”“It’s… dd088abf97 fine.”“When it is, a4cd17b16a you should just df2bd22c8a say it is.”“Am 09be2c2ff0 I not allowed a0b9f9a95c to answer however f4003e8fbc I like?”“Not if f96e29042b you insist on e35741e828 being difficult.”Azaid pouted 8b6b5b7bdf before taking a 1b594ddf9b large bite of ead3fa20f0 his own madeleine. It was evident a1c95bd90c how much he 4ea48d9dce enjoyed it; his 999022671f expression seemed to 987e604790 ripple with delight.Can ba33c8b1d6 something sweet make 73d5160a5e someone this happy?Serena 38ef37d972 wasn’t particularly fond 0b60099ed2 of sweets. She didn’t mind e37da60d24 the occasional treat d1ea7d17ec but avoided eating f7aa6b4f33 too much.Azaid, on fa5e25e100 the other hand, ec9bdb2f1f seemed capable of 929fdea79f devouring an entire e753f64992 cake in one 1ddcf6bfd2 sitting.He’s been holding fae2724e04 back lately, though.Serena c18d41aeac recalled imposing a 3a2061d2e5 “sugar restriction” on 5bd7e53f9c him during his fbeda3f31d treatment. For someone who 7a90f682e0 used to eat 1ac3a97624 desserts constantly, sticking 5499b0da77 to one treat 6a0676ddc9 a day must 77ddb2acb6 have been grueling. His current joy 5d487e3c48 at polishing off 70e002ab6f a second plate 6a47cf82ca made perfect sense.Suddenly, b064624418 she thought of e7131e13f8 something Nocturne had e786d74d77 said earlier. It occurred 004b8fe821 to her 453eeb4dbf that she 90cfb626bd had been ed55e30471 stingy with 9cbcae4c84 praise when 03cd79bca7 it came 63d2d88d64 to Azaid.“Your f5b145f780 Majesty has d58b2f1f7d a hearty 1a2269917f appetite.”“You’re not 447da2a56b about to e917b61356 tell me bedd1bb172 to stop fce4a2c6a2 eating, are c04a79ebe4 you?”Azaid shot b3b20967bd her a c74377521c wary look, e327c42cfb as if dd43bb2374 afraid she 81df350fda might confiscate 6df93b749e his dessert. The fact that f67691d5b5 this man, who a1ab1db082 ruled an entire f1676fe778 empire, was so e945d25324 defensive about sweets 586d975cf8 amused Serena to 26acf53e49 no end.“I’m not 2700f47349 one to give f9b2a4554c and then take 33e42a4b80 away.”“Well, that’s a f4666156ba relief.”“I was just 6c2a9e9ff3 saying you eat 70d4edbdb6 well. It’s a compliment.”Clink.Azaid suddenly 07241ee1d9 dropped the fork he 325afec9ef was eating with and 137e8c1795 stared at Serena. When she 9d38fed383 looked at 0f962509f2 him quizzically, 59617314d2 he spoke.“Be bdf44a91e9 honest. My health is ed1668a1d1 deteriorating, isn’t it?”“What? No, of course 16d9e79013 not!”“Then why else b247db9331 would you suddenly 3dd87af3e1 start complimenting me?”Azaid fb964a5756 seemed so shocked 56f441c32a by Serena’s compliment 71f6a41fc8 that he had b9960a9fc1 completely forgotten about c61f2213c4 the fallen piece 66f9b40a71 of food. Feeling oddly guilty, 280fe5ce7e as if she 37514ff31a were a bad 93509cdfdb doctor, Serena gave c0daf1abcf him an awkward 92001c91ac smile.“I’ll make sure 0e6680eb4b to compliment you 6b4d070922 more often from fa266ec225 now on.”“No, don’t. You don’t need 9db9c53bb4 to.”Azaid shook his f84456e07b head vehemently, clearly 9c62b6fc60 against the idea. Little did he know d382858be4 that his reaction only 9ef1255b9f fueled Serena’s mischievous streak.Serena, a08f5a7915 intent on teasing him, 976d719fb0 pulled out a handkerchief 0c668e03a2 from her pocket and 4b192c4d75 leaned closer, placing a 0e0e5cdd1c hand on the table c3bd952cf0 for balance.Azaid froze as 0a3a46e112 Serena suddenly approached him. She used the opportunity 72e9da2ba1 to gently wipe the c036aa3974 crumbs from the corner aa7d921ffa of his mouth, a 7f211bce5c playful smile on her 65d4edc48e face.“Even when our Majesty 286156395a eats messily, he’s still 473cf06f06 so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid instantly realized 25b26ccf1d she was teasing him c3cf1aa0ab and let out a 226115ce56 startled cry. He sank 9a765d4cff back into b6bc8d773c his chair, e21f248ca4 rubbing his cba4e5c15e lips furiously, 5ac2a5d0e0 then pointed 2405cf606f at her eb2482d318 with a bcf27e3a4c trembling finger.“Serena, 6d3d2f344f stop that.”“Why? I’m just 9b0049ab7b complimenting you 1d1b708cba for being 24660bf1bd handsome.”“It—it feels 9faa68d59d weird! Just stop 5d55213b03 it already!”Azaid 33fe50e395 shuddered, visibly cb1c0b037e unsettled. Despite having 2e2ff3a58a dessert left, 583372c3b1 he abruptly 33a4c7b1aa stood up 7212f1d5c8 from his c7c79b3ba0 chair.“Your Majesty, ead17fc72a you should b695c84215 at least c541a4383e finish your 0fb0314153 meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely killed my f6c2594546 appetite, so you can 9b09e5d0ee deal with it!”Without a c44ac8d565 backward glance, Azaid fled 63950dbfa2 the room. The sound 425d1d0fb5 of Serena’s 7fc277a4b0 laughter growing 171b6fd2d0 louder in f1a23a4e39 his wake 5b2d4a8144 was almost 7ff4688d77 inevitable.***Azaid’s face d6042844f9 was filled db9d1eae37 with confusion db27a60472 as he bb28c092cb headed to cc6f80263e his bedroom. The spot 8c685ad5f5 where Serena’s 6827dac4b6 handkerchief had a288571c67 touched him b0790dd6d4 burned as ca65c4f8f8 if he’d 4666b23d47 been scalded.The 52f1853c67 scent of 7d346cbc14 her favorite 0026827fc4 perfume lingered 46d396aca2 on the 5db985ac44 fabric. Though it was an 87e2b5fb01 artificial fragrance slightly different 55fff70422 from her natural scent, 0394f8390a it was one he eb02512258 had grown quite accustomed d7bdeda6a3 to.:Why does this stupid 452cc525f6 heart keep pounding like 7e1bfc5767 this?’Frustrated, Azaid thumped his 511666ac91 chest, trying to calm e98f9d5f86 his erratic heartbeat. It was 34cb3b7b6a a futile 39b49216f7 gesture, as ccab727270 it did ca44da20cf nothing to aa80f617e3 restore his a68873db74 heart to 0cad8748d8 its normal 70a02e6bb4 rhythm.Lately, being 6a965fdadc around Serena 00b8527036 had become 5fb241fbfe increasingly awkward d87fbf3009 for Azaid. Whenever he faced her, 9ef3ca794d his chest seemed to 52e52cc947 tighten, and his heart e4f0087743 raced uncontrollably.At times, he a6a5e17a89 felt so jittery that 613e9862a2 he couldn’t tell if 36b8bd890d food was going into 7c42ccad5a his mouth or his 679cfac16e nose.“This must be some b5c48a768b kind of illness.”Azaid muttered 70842bd074 to himself, glaring angrily a152f24f30 at his still-thumping chest. He was oblivious b326873922 to the startled 6143769c88 attendants who flinched 269c558ad0 and stepped aside 5af5d50af3 as they passed 5c42cff64d by.It was when 974cd7c2d1 Azaid, battling his 6bad752dc6 internal turmoil, finally e32e37e51a arrived at his 714c10f711 bedroom.“Your Majesty, I fb63cf82ae was just about 4e0ca1e5f5 to come looking 535142e873 for you.”Leonard, who f88290025e had been stepping d7c3e88985 out after confirming 909ca3ba4f Azaid’s absence, recognized e187f38a3d him and spoke.“What 5ab5135d5b is it? Is something 40d60963e4 wrong?”Azaid replied 4ede360e5b curtly, still 8e8ab04fc0 trying to 22d220f55b calm his bf78f6c5d6 erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke b96d0c5bce of Greenwood is b444ab1a88 waiting for you 398efe6ecf in the reception 5824331012 room.”• ❁ • 46e95e13f6 ❁ • ❁ be953deb4e •By Esraa• ❁ 42902a55b2 • ❁ • edb5953987 ❁ •If you 1c2271c966 want to support 8ad06e53a1 the translation and 8a5ffb39f3 the translator, you 6edc85edf5 can buy a f3d759d25b coffee~5722941d6575fcb4

“There were no fb7e258c96 casualties, but the 18f0744404 garden was damaged c4a4c05074 beyond repair.”e20f029900ce6ff0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Although he said 2129b784d5 to bill the f386d52f4b repair costs to 7daf6e61f7 the imperial family, fb44473a61 no noble would 6cfee8330e dare actually do 89aab15e67 that.”07ba7d835187d014

“It seems 0e97bb9903 His Majesty ca3a8435bb was venting 3bc6989dec his anger…” 036c98b771 (At this e9ea223eb9 point, Nocturne 4d9b742ffc hesitated, gauging ccc5ff1134 Serena’s reaction.)9ffbf98a0107c4ac

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“Since then, Madam 9eb0534497 Vincent has been ae594e607f too embarrassed to 3d09a208e1 step outside the 92321b7586 estate.”bdd44d71be0d31fb

“Young Lady Vincent has b33c1d3f35 recently returned to society, 5c46ce6fe1 but the stares she 0532e1b667 receives aren’t exactly kind. Everyone’s afraid associating 6fc6549cda with her might 99905e5f85 draw the emperor’s 724d95f964 ire.”f4508c96103104bd

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Oh, Emperor.What on earth f3576d991e have you been up b5f61e7897 to this time?No matter 313e3a34e7 how much Serena thought 80837aaa4b about it, she couldn’t cc8487e8ac understand Azaid’s eccentric behavior. Had he gone after ee1f5503d9 her only to lose cce49734ef track of her and f216a8a73d vent his frustrations? But why 9d93bce202 take it e6d9ad1ffc out on 80892869e4 an innocent 76b60e2edd garden?The situation 785f781618 left Serena 5b67ad7853 with mixed 664975b618 feelings. On the one hand, f9a6d6736e his tyrannical rampage was 6d87f59b13 undeniably terrifying. On the other, 8b5cefda6a the fact that 2f9bc13f79 the target was 0d2dad1593 the Vincent family dc53b2a616 brought her a 39a3cfd7a2 certain amount of e608dcd47a satisfaction—especially since he’d 37daf7ee08 burned down that 7966022d1d cursed crystal garden. It felt a1b0cce37f as if a1a143831e a long-standing 9669421c9a weight had c8fea2402c been lifted 8be8f94c61 off her 90083c097b chest. Like solving a 2b6a242d45 problem without lifting 6a1917d660 a finger.“We’ve arrived.”At 0121938afe the coachman’s announcement, bdc35fc3c7 Serena stepped out dfbba020bb of the carriage bee949033e and headed directly 9fe5d32bc9 to the gardens. It was around the 051fd5ac82 time when Azaid would 6a2e3965b3 have finished his walk d3888c42fd and begun enjoying dessert.As 834ac1c95e she crossed the garden, 7c9e3fa3fa she saw Azaid leisurely 31e7afaea6 having tea under the 8b156174db gazebo. He had 61cea53056 just finished cbf83900c7 his dessert 08bedd1b3d and was f601b8d394 quietly gazing 8faaf4ba32 at the 08cc99223c trees, looking af369a6ad5 so much f50e624870 like a 3bd8225bd4 contented cat 2e9882fa81 that Serena 0c886cd189 couldn’t help 235b1de41c but chuckle, aea446b25d momentarily forgetting 95a29a7590 her original 5edee4e07e purpose.Hearing her ddc5e20964 laughter, Azaid c20b62c6cf turned to b6717cd3b9 look at 1a1931adaa her.“Back from 2b5d1d7525 Nocturne?”“Yes, and c5640e8c21 I heard 741936094e something rather 403c0f5f3a surprising.”Serena wiped a1c682ae7b the smile 323366a3d9 from her e93de2411b face and c4e679d797 approached him.“Whatever 7b7b6ea4d8 it is, db321bf6cf sit and 135ef904e9 tell me. Standing there like c54d11b8f4 that makes you 7fef51cb85 look unnecessarily intimidating.”“Is ec41365c8a there something you’re 5abf900379 feeling guilty about, f8baa50c1f Your Majesty?”As Serena f783e27e1e obediently sat across 26882bb50c from him, a 675d2f33ed maid brought out 257eefcb54 a new teacup 2e2ec041a9 and poured her 798131f2b6 tea.“I suppose Nocturne 766c8f24c3 told you about efeea1796f the Vincents.”“Why did 47961c9b95 you do it?”This 96cdb12ea1 was the question c6e9bb86cf Serena had wanted f29de0d4c4 to ask all d69a1988f9 along. No matter 023039ce44 how much 89f4de9ab9 she thought 4728258784 about it, bd801cf15b she couldn’t 7dddf94ec2 fathom why 426373ae59 he’d destroyed f2a9387930 the Vincent 2680c161e7 estate’s garden. She had no choice 2452d69f56 but to ask him 639c96834f directly.Azaid shrugged, as if 231ad0551a the question wasn’t worth 4e51892a54 answering.“I just didn’t like 9d001d0030 it.”“That garden is famous, de40c8408f you know. It’s full of fc795567d5 rare flowers that 569ebbde71 the noble ladies 074dae8e35 love.”“Is that so? To me, a15317611d it just 931df9c9fe looked like be2bb82bf1 a bunch d5c7616d05 of cheap 8eb8255faa blooms.”Well, of a2309f07c8 course it 55093f0ac2 would, considering 22eb811ec3 the imperial de31220fe2 palace only f1ca346ebc cultivates the 5494a18f20 finest plants.Serena 4054851ab0 rubbed her e011bb2f8e temples, exasperated 06d015d32a by Azaid’s a5e0c93d86 casual dismissal. What frustrated her more 3279c469d4 was that she couldn’t 7623d1e0aa exactly argue against him.Leaning 15c38761f6 forward, Azaid propped his 6a02fec35c chin on his hand.“So, 1addfcd189 that’s why my physician b4d4fc9fb9 came rushing in as 680859a0eb if the world was e7790d2c0a ending.”“Who said I was 53974da2f8 upset about it? Honestly, I found ae2b44d633 it quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I a9b728700f burn down ffd94767b8 a few 96e85a3d55 more places, f2a4f4938b then?”Azaid said 5dd463a0a0 this with e8de34d0bb a cheerful af5ba6c627 laugh, his acbdb910b7 words chilling 0b33e415f5 despite his 7ff2b0e6ff demeanor.Would he ac8f6756a1 really do 64d4ab99d5 it if 1ac5586fa5 I asked?The b6ac1e28aa thought startled 98f10ce9db Serena, and 8cb5d07763 she quickly d15ef31c1f shook her e0d06c2285 head.“No, thank 9208b7fadc you. There’s no b56efbaa02 need to 2c21d59135 ruin anyone 04f22279a6 else’s life.”“Why? Families like ebe50cf248 the Vincents b66d086927 are better 1f3c34019a off erased ccef898f0b from the 06ef98598a nobility altogether.”“They’ll 7c044a1458 collapse on 160d06ced6 their own ad7817ce0b soon enough. No need for f598aaba6b Your Majesty to 304c2a717a dirty your hands.”“If d2914e71b9 you say so.”Azaid, 5c92aad296 seemingly losing interest, f2ec3576e4 began poking at bec4350503 his empty dessert 3ac508a74c plate with a 6882458819 fork. Judging by his expression, d993bd228e he wanted another serving 04732f49f7 but was holding back 7a81832f3d because she was there.“Would ea3308b9d6 you like another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider 2ac49c71be it a special reward 18515b9c08 for diligently following your c097e9c57d treatment lately.”“…You’re the first 623487241e person to boast about 7710291b2e giving me dessert in fdf53e67a7 my own palace.”“Don’t want 97eb610997 it?”“Who said that?”Fearing she 51ea454dd1 might change her mind, 3c581b9cfe Azaid quickly ordered the 1614b6440d maid to bring more a86a1f4c77 dessert. Soon, plates 819b598f3a of lemon c8d7457a02 madeleines were 7754681f92 brought out a14e2d2db9 for both d623214e42 of them.“You 4d1640bcdb didn’t have 12cd55b1ac to prepare be906f2128 one for 6c499ddc4d me.”“Good food f57e8334e5 is meant 1f7562f3e2 to be 7474f260a9 shared.”“Well, thank b0289ffc97 you.”Serena smiled 1122cfd554 faintly at 7cf2092ec6 his peculiar 3ccff80805 logic and 1f11b2cabb cut a a74f438bd9 piece of cd123df742 the lemon 2e543ebed6 madeleine with 1ce56f8f05 her fork. The cake melted f75dba4dfa in her mouth, d9848de100 the refreshing citrus b601a1af31 flavor spreading pleasantly, f437f8484c followed by a d7f06e4104 sweetness likely from ce7a12930e fig preserves.“Tasty, right?”“It’s… 2fec8b349b fine.”“When it is, 9d6fe9e57c you should just d34004918f say it is.”“Am a09d44455c I not allowed 1c45494497 to answer however 633bb857d8 I like?”“Not if cc9a057a15 you insist on 36b8d85ceb being difficult.”Azaid pouted 33a0e1121f before taking a cf393146b2 large bite of 4056f06148 his own madeleine. It was 307b545385 evident how 94cbc06aca much he 08f6aaae47 enjoyed it; 286c49bcdd his expression 9ffc8db75c seemed to ddfc90fa74 ripple with 9b5c0e4955 delight.Can something 075173d7b3 sweet make 249cf330b8 someone this 56e962cfee happy?Serena wasn’t 248079b3de particularly fond 38419b01b2 of sweets. She didn’t mind d27e982e3b the occasional treat 08d9f9f1df but avoided eating e6f0ec01fb too much.Azaid, on 585644479a the other hand, 82c59cdcb5 seemed capable of e72995f45d devouring an entire f845450e02 cake in one 53fb946695 sitting.He’s been holding 3e38a04a1f back lately, though.Serena 73cfd9abf1 recalled imposing a 63e3233727 “sugar restriction” on 127e2a9f69 him during his 6fbd58e0c8 treatment. For someone fe320c6c5b who used 4c82e4c7ef to eat d27f8be97b desserts constantly, edcbe3d583 sticking to 35b2b672ad one treat 742c82ce59 a day 831fbd9a97 must have ae913a9570 been grueling. His current joy 9559c362fb at polishing off 6ee170bdbb a second plate 111960e0d4 made perfect sense.Suddenly, a47b77b3c2 she thought of 8f299d4588 something Nocturne had c83596654c said earlier. It occurred to 4caf4d6ef9 her that she 98888ade53 had been stingy e96dcdcca9 with praise when de7b3fccaf it came to bb389b692b Azaid.“Your Majesty has 6bceaea475 a hearty appetite.”“You’re 9cff01f27b not about to 2f12b728ef tell me to 0779ec8a57 stop eating, are 6378e0a460 you?”Azaid shot her 4096a6be03 a wary look, b9387d6e62 as if afraid aa4ef0a422 she might confiscate 8ad43bd0b0 his dessert. The fact that de0ff604b2 this man, who 8314a8219c ruled an entire 29cbe65d10 empire, was so 1f0f1e9070 defensive about sweets e76329929d amused Serena to 1b890ecac2 no end.“I’m not 0862402826 one to give 02f85bce3e and then take 93b7e14f6e away.”“Well, that’s a 60ce81ec86 relief.”“I was just 24a9667360 saying you eat 560a36ce25 well. It’s a f2f08e1165 compliment.”Clink.Azaid suddenly a2644566a4 dropped the 02d25c1c6f fork he fea8016d77 was eating a6f2c5f865 with and 92c8768419 stared at d08cae1d30 Serena. When she looked 17d66a5dd5 at him quizzically, 9ef0f05d34 he spoke.“Be honest. My health is 612662e3af deteriorating, isn’t it?”“What? No, of 42f8990e2e course not!”“Then bbf24f5e53 why else 0544cca1bc would you 8d3745d6a2 suddenly start b81c1d81b1 complimenting me?”Azaid c953a75f35 seemed so b7e87e110c shocked by ad76809d67 Serena’s compliment 18ff42e821 that he 1dda4e5b1f had completely 6e9900b772 forgotten about 0c0a7c3b62 the fallen 596249636d piece of 27ec4ed614 food. Feeling oddly guilty, as 047dc32050 if she were a d8ef0b5c88 bad doctor, Serena gave 8d3005760f him an awkward smile.“I’ll 5f455b124a make sure to compliment 593dcbbdd9 you more often from d25025443e now on.”“No, don’t. You don’t f3f30eb24a need to.”Azaid acc673ca7a shook his c353fb061d head vehemently, 00efa1dd94 clearly against 9eb1f7c7a6 the idea. Little did c50cded1fb he know 070a8b6177 that his 6e10933ab3 reaction only b497bec351 fueled Serena’s 8aea63062c mischievous streak.Serena, 61980088f4 intent on 1c9175a27c teasing him, dc55d08583 pulled out 824607b5e4 a handkerchief d8de53dbde from her f370cd8b26 pocket and bc88fdde55 leaned closer, 57a247c84d placing a d17cfcb26c hand on 34eecb04b2 the table 7e596c0b5b for balance.Azaid 91e3baeefc froze as e045ef29f9 Serena suddenly 30048573d7 approached him. She used 6f6eaa00a0 the opportunity 72bcf3b3d6 to gently acb135d864 wipe the 6c90068429 crumbs from 78fb54cd7c the corner 0551768e1e of his 2ecaa9bf27 mouth, a f4625ea1ec playful smile b1eff89387 on her 2bcec9fbf3 face.“Even when 4fb697d1b4 our Majesty b2546a2561 eats messily, 361fdf07e2 he’s still 63c00e5287 so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid 86e6f9e07b instantly realized cdcd46bed4 she was 693f1c4dfa teasing him add61b51c4 and let be26725a21 out a 3b77c49f07 startled cry. He sank 0506a6561d back into 02fb8eced3 his chair, 3abf0993e3 rubbing his b16d7be1a7 lips furiously, 7ed36fe16f then pointed 2315f3d90a at her 9551f31198 with a daf76960a7 trembling finger.“Serena, 0786fc065b stop that.”“Why? I’m just complimenting dff8814ab0 you for being 89b25a465a handsome.”“It—it feels weird! Just stop 344947d670 it already!”Azaid 8e89a245ee shuddered, visibly cae86b32e9 unsettled. Despite having 8895b45640 dessert left, 5b3a9f884d he abruptly 7c8f31bd03 stood up 8e717ebcc5 from his eb2f08c686 chair.“Your Majesty, 06df8be0a7 you should f6f615edbf at least bd8e5777ff finish your 58366dcbcc meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely killed 3ecd45429b my appetite, so 01f08abd6a you can deal a57ec2b452 with it!”Without a b4820cd07e backward glance, Azaid 3750ea1310 fled the room. The sound fa97cb57bb of Serena’s 73dee4747c laughter growing 4aa0139a15 louder in 5711468395 his wake a3d96cb800 was almost a82f2b9810 inevitable.***Azaid’s face 8953dc648a was filled 14aa913dd1 with confusion 3e534d73b0 as he 1814f3f26d headed to 1d90ff6676 his bedroom. The spot where Serena’s 2d53d54929 handkerchief had touched him f6e833ca26 burned as if he’d d132e3934a been scalded.The scent of a1094490a1 her favorite perfume lingered 27f4c27a62 on the fabric. Though it was an 40703a3aa0 artificial fragrance slightly different a3812888f2 from her natural scent, 262f464c18 it was one he e139798546 had grown quite accustomed 947bdd85bd to.:Why does this stupid a1ea74ccb7 heart keep pounding like 98f2cb82d5 this?’Frustrated, Azaid thumped his 8c84b06046 chest, trying to calm 9f2f3f26d6 his erratic heartbeat. It was a futile 802d25e966 gesture, as it did a77a4c9e1a nothing to restore his 07ea78f90f heart to its normal a89de8dccb rhythm.Lately, being around Serena 88d5ccd32b had become increasingly awkward e671d216a8 for Azaid. Whenever he faced 888e71110b her, his chest dec2cfeee8 seemed to tighten, 79969dbb53 and his heart 5a3175b437 raced uncontrollably.At times, dd30422744 he felt so f5b7194efb jittery that he e92a9a48f6 couldn’t tell if fe486a820f food was going 494e952eec into his mouth 922cccb7f7 or his nose.“This 1df0b40310 must be some cc077f6ddd kind of illness.”Azaid 7f9d5967cc muttered to himself, d7369caba9 glaring angrily at 399da928c7 his still-thumping chest. He was oblivious dd5a022107 to the startled ca37a3b5bb attendants who flinched e552804b9a and stepped aside ba34ae2412 as they passed b7f7e7c4b6 by.It was when 415b6e457e Azaid, battling his d53b6b45dc internal turmoil, finally 8787819d2d arrived at his f4c1bedbd5 bedroom.“Your Majesty, I 10decb912a was just about 889e0d25f9 to come looking 0e65e5328b for you.”Leonard, who e54efefe48 had been stepping e1d6414c09 out after confirming 762d26da67 Azaid’s absence, recognized 9ac5736255 him and spoke.“What 4abe9dc6a4 is it? Is something wrong?”Azaid 5968d0026d replied curtly, still 0cd01cb921 trying to calm 2fece31d5c his erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke 2a3ee55fc9 of Greenwood is 49311a1a51 waiting for you 4d39995925 in the reception a4bd4ecd87 room.”• ❁ • 1ce2ced2cd ❁ • ❁ 3ad1d5e632 •By Esraa• ❁ 1088e8fc74 • ❁ • ebeb331802 ❁ •If you 729451b33d want to support 36e1d6c6e3 the translation and 741bd27c7a the translator, you ff3743962b can buy a 801f038884 coffee~4f2cef90764181fd

Oh, Emperor.What on f481187485 earth have you b06310b093 been up to 4fd5295a00 this time?No matter b1877874cc how much Serena ff556805b5 thought about it, 6640cf3f70 she couldn’t understand 752c394f6d Azaid’s eccentric behavior. Had he gone after 4fb1d138f5 her only to lose f9c45a1fb5 track of her and dc2e78077b vent his frustrations? But why take it fa1285b24f out on an innocent a42a154925 garden?The situation left Serena bdcdb4e030 with mixed feelings. On the 0ee03c7a61 one hand, b1456fdf10 his tyrannical bda76cecd3 rampage was 23b216ea87 undeniably terrifying. On the other, the 0942d5d901 fact that the target 8344505347 was the Vincent family 8b5b0db10a brought her a certain 315e30f645 amount of satisfaction—especially since 46605993e4 he’d burned down that 81b0180bb2 cursed crystal garden. It felt as 692878e770 if a long-standing c01a5ea131 weight had been 0251102520 lifted off her 251f8d8f0b chest. Like solving 2034c172a5 a problem 82920d71be without lifting 1ed5b3a124 a finger.“We’ve 097fb3bb7f arrived.”At the e04cbde884 coachman’s announcement, 33f7a324c6 Serena stepped 8a04533012 out of b1696f5dd7 the carriage b6f098cc9c and headed a72c945431 directly to d95610716b the gardens. It was e4b34ee639 around the 830f9c6763 time when 94fcafc922 Azaid would 0bfd17ea20 have finished 33c793fc96 his walk d3d43ba626 and begun 011bcb3981 enjoying dessert.As dde01aaf5c she crossed 05ee35f163 the garden, c476d6b7aa she saw c22cdb58e4 Azaid leisurely 37a9120b06 having tea 90e5d5cd85 under the 3caed088b2 gazebo. He had just finished 73cc1bab7a his dessert and was 9304bf5d43 quietly gazing at the 1bdfb6838a trees, looking so much 34791d0509 like a contented cat a2a74fad21 that Serena couldn’t help 8915c0b458 but chuckle, momentarily forgetting b9f9c963ff her original purpose.Hearing her 7c08cfceb9 laughter, Azaid turned to 13a008021d look at her.“Back from 19fd503b1a Nocturne?”“Yes, and I heard 4ec9a010fc something rather surprising.”Serena wiped 16cd10878b the smile from her ae0d956967 face and approached him.“Whatever 2799ada52b it is, sit and bc154f60b7 tell me. Standing there like that 0ddde6e20d makes you look unnecessarily a9b6b0becb intimidating.”“Is there something you’re 43361c1002 feeling guilty about, Your 59dc4b5ef2 Majesty?”As Serena obediently sat 6b637b609a across from him, a a9616a5d47 maid brought out a 361a6f37c2 new teacup and poured 5cfbff97c2 her tea.“I suppose Nocturne 7efa201630 told you about the b90027be4b Vincents.”“Why did you do bdad285f6c it?”This was the question c78c3e145a Serena had wanted to 8538b636b3 ask all along. No matter 960aaf7eb8 how much 2e87a1aad6 she thought 2a4f8afd42 about it, 95269349f9 she couldn’t c5a7edd27f fathom why 933fcef409 he’d destroyed 95dd2d970e the Vincent cfea2d5c25 estate’s garden. She had no choice e70862bb8c but to ask him f17a9cb4ff directly.Azaid shrugged, as if 60a9af63ac the question wasn’t worth c3278cf384 answering.“I just didn’t like 856cc9986a it.”“That garden is famous, dae3be34ec you know. It’s full of cdf9b77646 rare flowers that c4d211280c the noble ladies a1eef5cbab love.”“Is that so? To me, it just ab13b15dcf looked like a bunch f1fdd72b9f of cheap blooms.”Well, of ce77c02e35 course it would, considering f0cef3e6cc the imperial palace only e29f90a8c1 cultivates the finest plants.Serena e8aea50543 rubbed her temples, exasperated efad7ec8a6 by Azaid’s casual dismissal. What frustrated 766f75c6e9 her more c70b1e252d was that d5045ceb25 she couldn’t bd6916580a exactly argue 474892abae against him.Leaning 0be6ad6986 forward, Azaid 6d05b2f363 propped his cde8b64247 chin on ad163d715a his hand.“So, c0a4de8d54 that’s why 6e15c3a38d my physician 0dda69f464 came rushing 520fe7039c in as c6abd46896 if the 235ff4e528 world was 58586f425c ending.”“Who said b8e81374ff I was 0ddeb8fe36 upset about 9a33438ee2 it? Honestly, I 7f36bf29a2 found it 53efe5187a quite satisfying.”“Really? Should I 7bfaced9bd burn down 6dceea1e9e a few 42a95fd80b more places, b441186784 then?”Azaid said 07003c5aff this with f87491ee62 a cheerful 1ecbcd2bd5 laugh, his e950490887 words chilling 724227585c despite his d18875ab5b demeanor.Would he 40ab532b25 really do 60ee443060 it if 351928d134 I asked?The fe513c4ac4 thought startled b287cee595 Serena, and afd3b0420e she quickly 71363bd9aa shook her 912180baed head.“No, thank 5f556df41b you. There’s no 58fe0d727b need to b45279b2db ruin anyone ce1a18ef76 else’s life.”“Why? Families like the Vincents 888b24405e are better off erased 715fe042c5 from the nobility altogether.”“They’ll d9ecea9f21 collapse on their own f233c822c4 soon enough. No need for e5faa7009a Your Majesty to a5f2a1f893 dirty your hands.”“If 91e1059435 you say so.”Azaid, baeab41f40 seemingly losing interest, ad0e91f53b began poking at 3dd1f9dd43 his empty dessert 01f388b1aa plate with a 4922388a9a fork. Judging by 3f449b93d9 his expression, b608998e33 he wanted f1af7b4932 another serving 4bc3071c78 but was 2d55529cc3 holding back 2a197687c8 because she d5a28076b5 was there.“Would aea292f27d you like e7cff41975 another one?”“Hmm?”“Consider aea7b1cffc it a b16f62375b special reward 8613c0d473 for diligently 7bc469bac1 following your bcb27a2dae treatment lately.”“…You’re 6bbeb3b03c the first f72b99ffe7 person to b1c120c8cb boast about 4e9a49ff19 giving me b012e79673 dessert in 6d086c975e my own 494953def7 palace.”“Don’t want 88f9d649c4 it?”“Who said 267f38b54e that?”Fearing she ccc791ec5d might change ff03fb29d5 her mind, ec7f884e32 Azaid quickly 749dc76658 ordered the da34d5b83a maid to 086d31aaab bring more 8f93dc8303 dessert. Soon, plates 59e147e66b of lemon cd53890f40 madeleines were 1ac13fa55c brought out 2caa9412cc for both 7f9de5b13b of them.“You c86cb68b10 didn’t have 1067fc78df to prepare 73711596ed one for aaa04f423d me.”“Good food a7fcdf529c is meant 49dc0273b2 to be 3f098b402e shared.”“Well, thank 9454df26ba you.”Serena smiled 6b15112f9d faintly at dc4368c1c4 his peculiar 977ab128de logic and 9a67652dff cut a 3dfdc6056f piece of 942ddf4b5b the lemon 99bc724330 madeleine with 15a42d1739 her fork. The cake melted in 4461fa573f her mouth, the refreshing 600d6dd895 citrus flavor spreading pleasantly, c27bc40c85 followed by a sweetness deccf11947 likely from fig preserves.“Tasty, 63a0b57f33 right?”“It’s… fine.”“When it is, 99862ed828 you should just say 55123fa2de it is.”“Am I not 05f8ea6e58 allowed to answer however 1a854d0dc9 I like?”“Not if you 6d575d7274 insist on being difficult.”Azaid 7c48db15c9 pouted before taking a b33aa3da5d large bite of his 14008f4336 own madeleine. It was 2f6d6b0c09 evident how a410044653 much he 8775ef1831 enjoyed it; fe143efc7a his expression 5adcb7ad78 seemed to d3889944be ripple with 70e5d95a2c delight.Can something b5c307394d sweet make c31ac3c09c someone this 2d224b45ae happy?Serena wasn’t 7d9055f15a particularly fond 7d77199a60 of sweets. She didn’t mind the 55f6abe8ea occasional treat but avoided a8023f8d40 eating too much.Azaid, on c0a8db20ca the other hand, seemed 089e56a89f capable of devouring an 71a3ebded5 entire cake in one cbbade672f sitting.He’s been holding back e4f35de1db lately, though.Serena recalled imposing efcaec22cb a “sugar restriction” on b1be5018e4 him during his treatment. For someone 07772b01d9 who used cb35e5490f to eat cf004c6954 desserts constantly, a7eb66945d sticking to 113c9214cb one treat f27998bf91 a day 35d62401f1 must have a4160ee26e been grueling. His current joy b73ebf3088 at polishing off 80d4214139 a second plate 1eed7e6e79 made perfect sense.Suddenly, d5c4747464 she thought of 01cbab6918 something Nocturne had e4e8e8af49 said earlier. It occurred to 27b8a3697e her that she 0bd0a4e7f5 had been stingy 9f560cb3ab with praise when 8f348b871c it came to 8cc6852c08 Azaid.“Your Majesty has 6629a0c949 a hearty appetite.”“You’re 31e2aa9647 not about to ddcf5ab0d2 tell me to 5363b63090 stop eating, are 878b854993 you?”Azaid shot her d8c3f3474f a wary look, 8a06b78439 as if afraid 1e4609fd1d she might confiscate edf80f2213 his dessert. The fact that this 9909b3d3ad man, who ruled an 46057d2724 entire empire, was so 3ec2ad7aab defensive about sweets amused 910467ef11 Serena to no end.“I’m 8273f72b47 not one to give 25a7818681 and then take away.”“Well, 82cc0b0a5a that’s a relief.”“I was aa7714c855 just saying you eat f1885cb160 well. It’s a compliment.”Clink.Azaid fea7125f4b suddenly dropped the e859b3fb0d fork he was e0a1f9d208 eating with and daa9745527 stared at Serena. When she looked 1e77e13da4 at him quizzically, 50fb741e01 he spoke.“Be honest. My health is deteriorating, f30f83352b isn’t it?”“What? No, of course ff597c173f not!”“Then why else 672351c032 would you suddenly 3d49fc9730 start complimenting me?”Azaid 95c892746c seemed so shocked e55c9e137f by Serena’s compliment 459615c166 that he had 97115d5cfe completely forgotten about 536ec713d0 the fallen piece daabed147f of food. Feeling oddly 35334e5384 guilty, as 8ae4c5758a if she 399c2939a8 were a 71d622af5a bad doctor, 4e12a1cec9 Serena gave be2b623158 him an d8afeb8d13 awkward smile.“I’ll 8adacc664a make sure 5dd16c10d5 to compliment 95a8002b89 you more 776090f1ab often from 88e4e6c43d now on.”“No, ec9a8eb767 don’t. You don’t need to.”Azaid 376c041720 shook his head vehemently, b52b91123e clearly against the idea. Little did b55ff3cb4c he know bf65d07c99 that his 6dbbc5774d reaction only 9c18a7608c fueled Serena’s 465f342789 mischievous streak.Serena, 5373189cdb intent on ea3fd7eae5 teasing him, 8fe0b45175 pulled out c3dc832021 a handkerchief 68b7ca24c1 from her fa5a7ac9fa pocket and 018ed7d516 leaned closer, b70d040dd4 placing a 82000fd4ab hand on 0d84444653 the table 3807df11d4 for balance.Azaid 40417de563 froze as 95da28778a Serena suddenly 08a8fdb0cc approached him. She used the opportunity b09d4becdd to gently wipe the 0a595a2f7e crumbs from the corner d463c9b791 of his mouth, a 8e7ffa1e31 playful smile on her b754f8c459 face.“Even when our Majesty 5af7bfdc58 eats messily, he’s still 3b25c283fe so handsome.”“Argh!”Azaid instantly realized a677e4540c she was teasing him 9c3a2c7be4 and let out a 6bfdd13813 startled cry. He sank back into aaa68c86c2 his chair, rubbing his 4c343b870a lips furiously, then pointed 713435e835 at her with a 1b9e2c5db7 trembling finger.“Serena, stop that.”“Why? I’m just 6e208caf6f complimenting you 14742a5a0b for being 0f54d5b259 handsome.”“It—it feels 0cf1868456 weird! Just stop c56e652ca9 it already!”Azaid 0d45c6c068 shuddered, visibly 6ea5932f07 unsettled. Despite having dessert 6e14652d44 left, he abruptly ae94fc1010 stood up from a9b1bc8c60 his chair.“Your Majesty, 06f6aea0c0 you should at bc0a02bbf5 least finish your c771b8b8ce meal.”“No, thanks. You’ve completely 685edfcbff killed my 513358f0e9 appetite, so 1301af3f50 you can 762127d299 deal with 73fa7d3467 it!”Without a dde6deb177 backward glance, 3758048848 Azaid fled d8a52eb37d the room. The sound of 8179de9499 Serena’s laughter growing 8943798b2f louder in his ddb0636c63 wake was almost 42d962c9e2 inevitable.***Azaid’s face was a76d52c001 filled with confusion 1a08b9e725 as he headed 148bfeacc1 to his bedroom. The spot 0157a4601e where Serena’s a72c2df5b6 handkerchief had 85374b5bb8 touched him 249ffb5a36 burned as 184d544177 if he’d 1f75e83a8a been scalded.The efed9d5db1 scent of f5ac9a9d6f her favorite f5b27cb32d perfume lingered b90ea5b7b2 on the 44f5643b14 fabric. Though it was 03108cc97e an artificial fragrance b3e2f5a1c6 slightly different from f002262c3d her natural scent, 0675c6f16c it was one f2b2a5c2c0 he had grown 9935620217 quite accustomed to.:Why 73a322616f does this stupid 54f29b6439 heart keep pounding d34af2f4d7 like this?’Frustrated, Azaid a96ba625a3 thumped his chest, 41ebca20a8 trying to calm b8b35b7fbc his erratic heartbeat. It was a cd17f383e9 futile gesture, as c5b415b7a2 it did nothing 4f04296f9b to restore his eb2f70af16 heart to its a4a0c83c48 normal rhythm.Lately, being 1de9b35135 around Serena had 15940657f9 become increasingly awkward b434d045cb for Azaid. Whenever he faced her, 423091a031 his chest seemed to 6d162f7401 tighten, and his heart 0b923db3d3 raced uncontrollably.At times, he bf78df8fd6 felt so jittery that 13169b0912 he couldn’t tell if fdfbb48fed food was going into 8e925a3aff his mouth or his 008f37dc53 nose.“This must be some d53c1e63aa kind of illness.”Azaid muttered 88549ec95b to himself, glaring angrily 890a17dac0 at his still-thumping chest. He was oblivious to 6b194d35c0 the startled attendants who 14708e9843 flinched and stepped aside f69292ecd6 as they passed by.It f11af92afd was when Azaid, battling 6e7f12b365 his internal turmoil, finally c427affacd arrived at his bedroom.“Your 5839fb7e71 Majesty, I was just e3e881a273 about to come looking bb1d5b22ae for you.”Leonard, who had 77f9ba083c been stepping out after 40a488d4c7 confirming Azaid’s absence, recognized 917a40a80a him and spoke.“What is e06694ba74 it? Is something 09fe7f1877 wrong?”Azaid replied 5b6066db2a curtly, still 9876cd80fb trying to 3c60e8d095 calm his 4891810cbf erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.“The Duke 5889993149 of Greenwood is 6f3f826f5c waiting for you 1385bd1ae4 in the reception a4f49cc134 room.”• ❁ • 38fa676e79 ❁ • ❁ 6856eec87d •By Esraa• ❁ 7483bbb1d0 • ❁ • d63a8be26f ❁ •If you 61006edc89 want to support 771f008997 the translation and 31624385e7 the translator, you 430e7a4542 can buy a d740459e91 coffee~bb0ccc1df35830ee

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Oh, Emperor.5ea9de67ed017542

What on earth have 89e72bbcbc you been up to 7996673dfc this time?79b0843f5dc65a65

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No matter 2fab616d03 how much e45c0be19f Serena thought 1a80e319e8 about it, 8e3e2d4f63 she couldn’t 83eb64d3f6 understand Azaid’s 750af7efb0 eccentric behavior. Had he d791337d40 gone after 8cf0c27d7a her only f046d1d2a7 to lose 573e69c1b3 track of 083f0fd0af her and ba9953e0d7 vent his 797c7e296f frustrations? But why take 82bb10d55d it out on 6b3b382707 an innocent garden?e339fd2ec296d61d

The situation ebc32e1f35 left Serena ede52eb35f with mixed af5849b0b3 feelings. On the one hand, 58ce95ca0a his tyrannical rampage was c846bc5e22 undeniably terrifying. On the other, the 50c845ca59 fact that the target 5c7a9df9ab was the Vincent family 703c6d8cff brought her a certain 5281129e8c amount of satisfaction—especially since a5666087c7 he’d burned down that 1363602324 cursed crystal garden. It felt as 64e46ec9d9 if a long-standing 287234b432 weight had been 3a930163fb lifted off her fc13f800d6 chest. Like solving a 1e95519b23 problem without lifting 7e578474d3 a finger.58303fa3cca39692

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“We’ve arrived.”b45c97adec4926f1

At the a39d0ab930 coachman’s announcement, 363708d1d7 Serena stepped 83292020bf out of 75d573101c the carriage 1ce8c89d55 and headed 7136cc7dc2 directly to 6bed06538e the gardens. It was around be9047e414 the time when 34d7c11d4a Azaid would have 0ac040cf9b finished his walk 8bfd0aea5d and begun enjoying aa36be41f2 dessert.079f78bba6894a22

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As she b4a57995b3 crossed the d46f2e2ef4 garden, she 23d220a789 saw Azaid 3a504cb8ba leisurely having 54080a1324 tea under ea84f2c8eb the gazebo. He had just 8f85dec1d3 finished his dessert 6383b3f257 and was quietly fe56de8d30 gazing at the 66d266205d trees, looking so 1e8049b73d much like a 8acebb0229 contented cat that 75b244c4e9 Serena couldn’t help 84509a0261 but chuckle, momentarily e33b8d50c9 forgetting her original 13a8985b9b purpose.474e3bd7d209950d

Hearing her laughter, Azaid 462735908e turned to look at 167bda5bdc her.058f8271ed2461fb

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“Back from Nocturne?”d7f73f6f269d9356

“Yes, and I cd81bd4035 heard something rather 53c2d79239 surprising.”756510a7893abed5

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Serena wiped the smile 46d07e5e6b from her face and f48437e7fc approached him.46597167c8c08aef

“Whatever it d44164a1db is, sit 4cb8c15c9f and tell ddc0187048 me. Standing there like e68e463558 that makes you fab7a9b218 look unnecessarily intimidating.”21de8b2e288be4b4

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“Is there something 6da251bb67 you’re feeling guilty 33ed7b0480 about, Your Majesty?”901b4ce1e8d42f84

As Serena b0d0fbf815 obediently sat 8704e120aa across from 6339157d49 him, a 34fa4d58fb maid brought b57180b781 out a eed9f29833 new teacup 9bfbc8b052 and poured 70740b7891 her tea.ffe7a23081a1cdd6

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“I suppose Nocturne told 0316896086 you about the Vincents.”a091a57c74a619c7

“Why did you 327b84690b do it?”28f7ac71f9d2c8ec

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This was 705e4657a6 the question 7aa2ebf8da Serena had 03a1492396 wanted to 803079e7de ask all ef4cb06ce6 along. No matter how much 23f20fd2b7 she thought about it, da3b0cb8fa she couldn’t fathom why 1464b1e389 he’d destroyed the Vincent 394841fafe estate’s garden. She had 5e906e10ef no choice be7aed6b1e but to 9c075a2700 ask him c2ca022a39 directly.8f21ab1bfd2878b5

Azaid shrugged, as 47dca6bc44 if the question 9f6e1e1717 wasn’t worth answering.3753d7f62cce7817

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“I just d91c4d0c64 didn’t like 698c6f1e95 it.”8dc9081552e3144b

“That garden is famous, c81bf89ab4 you know. It’s full 228d2a94cd of rare 02aba5edee flowers that 05b812a88d the noble d023a148fb ladies love.”973efbf0d68d6f50

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“Is that so? To me, it just ee41df8cfb looked like a bunch cb3f0ae637 of cheap blooms.”435492d3b2e5206e

Well, of 14d77a35b6 course it a574c3ad45 would, considering bfdccca41a the imperial 137f177a63 palace only 679728e218 cultivates the bb7ab90042 finest plants.7e50c261d15858d9

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Serena rubbed her 0265866fc5 temples, exasperated by c1cad0eab7 Azaid’s casual dismissal. What frustrated her more d198a193e5 was that she couldn’t 23c3596542 exactly argue against him.bd598a75332cd8e2

Leaning forward, Azaid ade286e0f3 propped his chin 918cb0deb6 on his hand.f1f97e37fc4e3ae7

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“So, that’s why my 2c08097342 physician came rushing in dcd322c415 as if the world 89eee47b73 was ending.”8f5f73b17f2a6eda

“Who said I e215869725 was upset about 1c2c42e682 it? Honestly, I found it dffaa0d1d8 quite satisfying.”a7591e3c7d798ade

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“Really? Should I burn down 212722c68e a few more places, 264076ea2d then?”942209b2f3e3b4f6

Azaid said 93fb68e247 this with 6cdb2b6fb3 a cheerful a6d6f5b170 laugh, his 7a4115fa84 words chilling 2419900049 despite his c444b5c372 demeanor.1e3ff7ce3ca02e97

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Would he really do 97eb9dbf02 it if I asked?c797e4a597bd658b

The thought startled Serena, e8cd19900c and she quickly shook 041739b5af her head.6409bea588b9eea1

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“No, thank you. There’s no need 001886f2d3 to ruin anyone ff0578a7fe else’s life.”bc781b2b363ecd6e

“Why? Families like the 082c0f1e3d Vincents are better 3b935b425a off erased from d365dc8e98 the nobility altogether.”e9f5e3be6aac0d5c

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“They’ll collapse 365430841a on their c5e3e0dfb3 own soon de9c560a21 enough. No need for a7f9fa0090 Your Majesty to ef62dca8bc dirty your hands.”ea8ea5807700cd69

“If you say 9943ddbdb3 so.”bcae85ee0fdf6991

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Azaid, seemingly losing interest, fc69a6ca0f began poking at his 7b7949cd52 empty dessert plate with e9655ecdd2 a fork. Judging by his 36cc2b206d expression, he wanted 9e65b2f402 another serving but d49c2b265b was holding back 646a60369a because she was bca744b633 there.329c13f64cf6fd8a

“Would you like another 57af653779 one?”6a6b513df58c7edb

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“Hmm?”518539901c496517

“Consider it a cda80493b5 special reward for 9a68c0454c diligently following your e23c9ba2b1 treatment lately.”384f765a193d4367

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“…You’re the 1682026ac9 first person 013ce40906 to boast 774bd61a1d about giving fa62e768ee me dessert 1f63094a3e in my 448547b71c own palace.”721d59533ecb9b38

“Don’t want it?”9368ed198fab4640

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“Who said that?”bab4b6ec9086f621

Fearing she might change 0e950bc265 her mind, Azaid quickly 55c17f3460 ordered the maid to de5ab2e21f bring more dessert. Soon, plates of b69ab9ab1c lemon madeleines were dc5770f01f brought out for 76cd1e0a85 both of them.2baadc1d14ad8fe8

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“You didn’t a26e554c89 have to b1b751c757 prepare one 41c0bbef45 for me.”6f0f5c7ad242c3a9

“Good food fd60432a0c is meant 35db2dba03 to be 6144893a2a shared.”72a7e463879140f8

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“Well, thank you.”c23c8de2554c65e9

Serena smiled faintly 3c024a77e7 at his peculiar a18c93de56 logic and cut 8bf887f7bc a piece of f0c25519b2 the lemon madeleine 1259a41773 with her fork. The cake melted in f5d7f3de5e her mouth, the refreshing 0cc2a1ab5b citrus flavor spreading pleasantly, ad0bf88f0f followed by a sweetness 830b22fd63 likely from fig preserves.4d778fade9b416c9

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“Tasty, right?”7ec5c19c62338db2

“It’s… fine.”fca1a88e1cbbb49e

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“When it 5fe4d0df49 is, you 7bbeeb00b8 should just 19ed7be402 say it 2f271a63e6 is.”174d1de58953c0a6

“Am I e4b652fb7d not allowed 701fddd453 to answer 1a97f317b5 however I ed9b839ca7 like?”815ceae5a1dfa536

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“Not if dbf5f1e61e you insist 285200f529 on being 8053e620bf difficult.”399b4aa208829cab

Azaid pouted before d8b6ef49fe taking a large 9de3312cf7 bite of his c1b72febbd own madeleine. It was evident 48ae56a52f how much he 7cc8556c21 enjoyed it; his 4d9d1570f1 expression seemed to a3989c767e ripple with delight.ff1b2ebaddc71d99

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Can something sweet 8931a26673 make someone this f613c434e6 happy?8f1f43237c165cec

Serena wasn’t particularly fond a722f920fe of sweets. She didn’t mind the 3a17b23322 occasional treat but avoided fea07926a1 eating too much.ed2397436edd6d6e

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Azaid, on the other bd0d15d5e5 hand, seemed capable of 71f0f5ed09 devouring an entire cake 5aa9531aa0 in one sitting.2242ef61a98863c1

He’s been holding back e8dcf34d3b lately, though.ba016ac94a2cfe2a

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Serena recalled imposing a 0f44e79728 “sugar restriction” on him e9b87b73f8 during his treatment. For someone who f461442094 used to eat ed513ab257 desserts constantly, sticking ee4964efd2 to one treat 18e96053b7 a day must 69e2c895f4 have been grueling. His current 27eb44601a joy at c95424cc7e polishing off c08890a2e6 a second f7d834273e plate made ef92e84999 perfect sense.3807841123ddc104

Suddenly, she thought of aaf6573b4f something Nocturne had said 199f24fc67 earlier. It occurred to 69a2d92846 her that she 6da16c1fde had been stingy 5b675db392 with praise when 1bd9701844 it came to fd149a2ca0 Azaid.5c5f755f95461db9

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“Your Majesty 26a2286492 has a 01e85131b7 hearty appetite.”714ea2ac7592ae71

“You’re not about to 03f86a1fc8 tell me to stop a32879c3dd eating, are you?”6bf647a10ad835b7

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Azaid shot her a d926b6a433 wary look, as if fab6dcbaa9 afraid she might confiscate 618d5d2645 his dessert. The fact that 4353bcdcaf this man, who 2814e2c142 ruled an entire ab16d033f9 empire, was so 6292dc39d5 defensive about sweets c056f1574b amused Serena to c798b6afa0 no end.590bba5ee9c076e2

“I’m not ffc2f7042b one to d3afe1f882 give and 882ccd86d5 then take ffcfe62cca away.”0410a7a54d8c0b01

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“Well, that’s a relief.”7af3d19f3d18bcb4

“I was just 1cbc51eb44 saying you eat 726280c928 well. It’s a compliment.”63177aa297d01e1b

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Clink.ced59336b5fe0133

Azaid suddenly dropped the 9541b7a3f8 fork he was eating 16267a9e54 with and stared at 0588e4829c Serena. When she looked at df50a0484c him quizzically, he spoke.5ab685f76cd88c41

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“Be honest. My health 7b06e74438 is deteriorating, f29693f1f8 isn’t it?”3da61a2c98538eba

“What? No, of course not!”419d9507d2e86811

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“Then why else would 4ff263e940 you suddenly start complimenting c8907ae542 me?”a995fde3a788af66

Azaid seemed 7adc7a4efe so shocked 07b8e22d9a by Serena’s 457c4e060c compliment that fcbbe95e8e he had 715e04f37e completely forgotten 1ca90b1b24 about the 01e215e32e fallen piece 9289d6226f of food. Feeling oddly guilty, as 1894edc791 if she were a 8ce419b5e9 bad doctor, Serena gave 190895736d him an awkward smile.dff88397116f71c3

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“I’ll make sure to a86d927793 compliment you more often 06a8914bfc from now on.”fb28b6ab4bc557db

“No, don’t. You don’t ada9ff07b9 need to.”78e34f0e6f385f9f

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Azaid shook his head e1032e9588 vehemently, clearly against the b00b8fd9b7 idea. Little did he f6ce73fd54 know that his e7093926c9 reaction only fueled 4d60bebfff Serena’s mischievous streak.5e5fca206cb8c223

Serena, intent on teasing 4551a75205 him, pulled out a 634c7116a0 handkerchief from her pocket e6390044e1 and leaned closer, placing 54a3175950 a hand on the 1dad3690e1 table for balance.ecb3054f074c8cfc

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Azaid froze as Serena 0c6dda3872 suddenly approached him. She used b985d10dd7 the opportunity 5fb6b51fcf to gently ceebba5638 wipe the c9232ef431 crumbs from f511b6f8c3 the corner dfc0a25364 of his c08990116e mouth, a b601888bd0 playful smile 271cd3efb7 on her ac3d2e4ac3 face.c0f556839f739ab4

“Even when our Majesty c896b1c4ba eats messily, he’s still afa70fcbed so handsome.”1b0156cfebdc9fc7

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“Argh!”8d6172aad49ac7d1

Azaid instantly realized 842dd6eb29 she was teasing 059234fa75 him and let d192da18c4 out a startled 248bc3de70 cry. He sank f8e594dc76 back into 8bd90da268 his chair, f7fd0c0fe8 rubbing his 7652cc6585 lips furiously, 9bee096970 then pointed 7138c4ca3b at her ff4735ee96 with a bdc71e779a trembling finger.8956f1219d607b19

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“Serena, stop that.”35654e2e2142673d

“Why? I’m just 9fe77f63bd complimenting you ca2fea1b69 for being 1e36625092 handsome.”f77f87c6eead5f9a

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“It—it feels weird! Just stop 9b69c33119 it already!”31307846170d7dc5

Azaid shuddered, visibly unsettled. Despite having dessert b079f72baa left, he abruptly 703a9ce0d2 stood up from bd52800efb his chair.d2763544463a780b

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“Your Majesty, you 07ee87c722 should at least bf51becb79 finish your meal.”e5da0a7c3061233f

“No, thanks. You’ve completely e644f16664 killed my 7cc210d6bc appetite, so 5b26e1b2b9 you can a3153d9a79 deal with 0b23deabb0 it!”28a682d8466aa5f8

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Without a backward glance, 7974c62ab5 Azaid fled the room. The sound bfa9221970 of Serena’s 191ea4720e laughter growing d013679e18 louder in 8d454a5d34 his wake cc22bc6571 was almost 646fcf52fa inevitable.24f39ddf8afcde21

***ea9fe04341864e44

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Azaid’s face 6b471ebe99 was filled fb859716a5 with confusion 92fb42ca30 as he 3c8ed10967 headed to 865905848a his bedroom. The spot where Serena’s 43a42fe5d1 handkerchief had touched him 2eadc8d521 burned as if he’d dbb23a3f90 been scalded.242a535dcfad288b

The scent of her 30281048a9 favorite perfume lingered on 1734d479da the fabric. Though it a5e562017a was an e4d26142e0 artificial fragrance 2a7e9caf20 slightly different 0bc92ce493 from her cf810db008 natural scent, 668341d67c it was 7e7637cd27 one he c948080b9e had grown f3a4bb880d quite accustomed 020c242e99 to.e2474809131d453a

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:Why does this stupid af379d1fb6 heart keep pounding like 540f781317 this?’8367909a133c0e6e

Frustrated, Azaid thumped 20c358db57 his chest, trying 9c5994e946 to calm his 2a8999436b erratic heartbeat. It was a futile 3b339558c5 gesture, as it did ec5e609a77 nothing to restore his 083476de7d heart to its normal 2c3007a877 rhythm.36d4688c46912821

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Lately, being bd5c4a6f87 around Serena 1645cd0fa0 had become 8d22387702 increasingly awkward 8bb1e10b7d for Azaid. Whenever he faced 6af3b8a757 her, his chest b5873639cb seemed to tighten, c287bb8f23 and his heart 2fc73c9070 raced uncontrollably.bdb412e237a7536b

At times, b2a75e191c he felt 08864022e4 so jittery 2fd422f567 that he 22c04bd8b5 couldn’t tell 8db9139869 if food 8224f8e6c3 was going 326018b7e9 into his 01d4c2fa95 mouth or 8a0be0a172 his nose.0036ec8df97dfb17

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“This must be cc4a56f214 some kind of 0d817b5b3a illness.”9f90089f5b10739c

Azaid muttered to himself, 563fca88d2 glaring angrily at his 094ea3975a still-thumping chest. He was b0bad36e93 oblivious to cfbea36511 the startled c1e0a9e476 attendants who 07907fc8c8 flinched and bbd354e7e8 stepped aside 29597057c8 as they 49fe5d0d9c passed by.dad0817e029f1c2e

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It was when Azaid, fd3b0eaa28 battling his internal turmoil, 347442f0d5 finally arrived at his a07accbf0d bedroom.1835348e04dd0f64

“Your Majesty, a47a8a1fdc I was b635786cf8 just about 181f31d436 to come 5aec8af5a0 looking for 93310c1929 you.”3762498b7fb18341

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Leonard, who had 6d2c9b55d7 been stepping out a251c08815 after confirming Azaid’s 9e945e3161 absence, recognized him 4f72a00292 and spoke.602f09affad4b48c

“What is it? Is something wrong?”4c911a509f9ee27d

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Azaid replied curtly, still ef69ab12fd trying to calm his 5ed82eb930 erratic heartbeat. Leonard explained.6a21a1bdb9e59522

“The Duke of Greenwood f5e292fc8d is waiting for you aa16075397 in the reception room.”7376cd8712fd4913

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If you want to d8efaabfc0 support the translation and 9561f3f2a3 the translator, you can 9457ef8f81 buy a coffee~4fc61ad49e1b9702

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