Chapter 16

Finally, the day arrived.b9992de69d28cb0a

It was the 039db1cc64 birthday of Selina 3071f3a6b6 Ryles, beloved by cc1306e01c everyone in the 719d19ace9 estate.473f5877787d6d8c

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The polished 84cd94d4a1 candlesticks and c402f5a4f3 silver goblets 381eb1848a gleamed on e401448624 the tables, de8255e7d6 set with e21a8523ba an array 27e3e0cc03 of exquisite c02254ef37 dishes. The grand chandelier 45eddfebb1 hanging from the 558deda798 lofty ceiling radiated 8e29cb1835 brilliance more dazzling a504f3e147 than ever.9469845e1156409a

“It’s been so ea1fb37f43 long since the 35cab39d8a Ryles estate hosted a4bd54d95c a party like ad29473ca8 this,” Janice said 639536b3c5 with an excited ca999b9164 expression, clearly proud ce61483cf9 of the scene.50ae47eafa8cf438

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Though Velita had 1e26871f2c helped prepare the c745813b41 estate for the 00dce82dca event, she found 0b5e936590 it hard to 6648fca9cd share in Janice’s 9f8fd063fd pride, which seemed af9df5bd58 to treat the 6977358a76 mansion as if 88c529757c it were her 5ecb5de69b own.514868ec8baff9db

After all, no 65c7f81ff6 matter how beautifully aa648dae58 it was decorated, 0783b24ed2 this estate would d30df5b663 never belong to d6b0d19326 them. And today, e09a424687 the spotlight c2225e01ea was reserved 38fc0df8c0 for someone 42549e0589 else entirely.a9bbb28471fa17b6

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Standing on f4407c6bec the second-floor 71a9093bbc balcony, Velita 4e5d0a5921 quietly observed f1b21545ee the nobles fc14c6d3c8 entering one 364ec653da by one, 4fea613bb6 careful not a2ac5f5567 to draw e8cba0de10 attention to 3094bfd538 herself. She was about 0b3f8b5d05 to leave, thinking 4e6ffa08e3 of joining Jeremy c7eb99f137 and pretending to b5c05136a0 attend to him e50cb70f05 to escape this 0b2ac612cd uncomfortable gathering.183a49078116d1ea

“Velita Grandel, 9123ef1854 where are 39c41149d5 you?”0c3b00eae0b91bf4

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Just as she was e920e68c86 slipping away into the 0d5c4cca73 corridor, a voice called c96fb1e93c her name. Turning around, 9fb6c211d0 she saw 0899cb75a5 one of 61003e8c5c Selina’s maids 1744eb1e47 stopping every 4627e649a0 passing servant, 72e12b0731 asking about 39d6441423 her whereabouts.e5df2a1109669ec0

Velita watched 9b4d14031d silently as 79c911ae44 the maid, 6a90c10a0b spotting her 051bbb49c7 from a de73952f00 distance, approached 37321b4fcc with hurried 951d24e2cf steps.0262a646d0380120

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Though they 03cb02226a weren’t particularly 79add2e50b close, they 0bdff3c108 at least ea61e0ad97 knew each 3e7beede90 other’s faces 3acad69502 and names f8b5c11613 since Velita 2065cbe4a3 had once 5b6aecdf56 served Selina.b3e4e49961e0b2da

“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere dbefb19f86 for you.”802ba1658ff52ba5

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“What’s the matter?”be4ec02156522a88

“Just come with 03e693eb59 me.”407a189096865dcb

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“Where to?”78d4381bdcf4e40c

“Where else? To Lady Selina.”cb578ee3bbe503f9

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Velita froze 10e90b05cc for a 10a5edc49f moment at 4b11fcaac5 the maid’s 073359297b presumptuous tone, eea1581ccb even though 504286f679 it was 1ac01f18ab obvious her f35f60dca2 current master 9022e0807b was Jeremy.9077b0c7f7810c45

“My master is ed53cb76f1 Young Master Jeremy.”1eb98a7a70926374

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“Have you forgotten? Lady Selina only lent ad6568b8a1 you to him temporarily. Don’t forget who your 89ad357644 true master is.”169ea98f0fdfba1e

It wasn’t entirely wrong, d4c2341007 but Velita couldn’t help 8e20cbcbb2 the surge of defiance 26850c8ce1 rising within her. The condescension in 6dacfbc705 the maid’s gaze 5e4ee2c2e7 was unmistakable.4bd5b06082b4a918

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Now that 552d08017f she thought 237c249898 about it, ab20430e0b this maid 3492e40255 had been fb3f797140 one of 05fd52dc40 those who 36f57f8a97 subtly bullied b89f1f318b her when 67b67fb663 she served 5901687ebe Selina.4aaeb413e3a4ab23

“I’ll ask 0408e14fba Young Master eeba938007 Jeremy first 1b46e8e4b6 before I 564781cdb6 go.”e81fc04bdd514213

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“Are you a2b0ec71fa pulling this ade8865c2c because you’re a3b2140498 relying on 3fa3e97cfd Young Master 428f3e428a Jeremy?”5d87c3c477dcd9e3

“It’s only natural to 55bec19abe seek my master’s permission. Why twist it into 9b962d3b2f something else?”f9b367afc7253c24

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Velita’s calm f54224d067 response seemed b4708f6731 to make 720b040ec2 the maid df9c164751 grit her 7dc23c25e4 teeth in 30d22bb65f frustration. But with 06a8810d12 so many 3640b0cba2 esteemed guests b0c7d2801f in attendance b6f80bb527 for Selina’s 8689234526 birthday, causing 23e149260a a scene 38d083110f was out 21a5ac03cc of the 464c631649 question.54ff05eea5cd9e8b

Finally, the maid, 4d62c862ba her face visibly 3c250ed5d0 sour, relented.00d6715d02e939fc

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“Lady Selina d74a76789c doesn’t want 5f6d68d5a9 to attend 7eea5e442f the party. She’s already dressed up fe29ccd3e4 but suddenly took off 87b068cfa0 her gown and declared 74d68bba76 she won’t go.”025d01fe4e1e1d81

“And?”1e744eeb3b422191

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Velita replied, her 0079175078 voice cool, not f839b8df9d hiding her disinterest 5e61ac4a30 in the matter.ee9ed31ade3775f1

“That’s why. You’re supposed to go and calm her down.”0d49b0fd59f633eb

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“If you’ve been serving her for so long and can’t manage it, how am I supposed to?” Velita replied, unimpressed.b90b6db5f46e85bc

“Because she cares about you!” The maid’s voice rose sharply, but she quickly toned it down again, glancing around nervously.48c01e72b736c8df

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“Velita Grandel, don’t you know? One of the reasons the maids disliked you was because Lady Selina favored you.”c3f85156613a0229

“She… favors me?”5c40224ff6b5533c

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Angel-like Selina was kind e97a2d79a8 to all her maids. Was it possible the e4a1d6030a others had been so c3ee714563 petty as to bully 5d35b55163 her over a kindness 9e3218fc75 they all received? Velita found the d915ba7e05 reasoning hard to 592ea052f3 believe.30d8a1825f2e319d

“She treated you better than anyone else. She always wanted you by her side.”69853ad637b60a7b

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“…”a186b8d6738f97db

“Do you know how much it saddened her when she sent you to Young Master Jeremy? And whenever she accidentally caught your eye afterward, she’d light up so much.”ea5e9af9eeae912a

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Velita blinked, stunned. It was something she 59ab918993 hadn’t expected.4f30dbd8e79d3d74

She had always thought 524bf90767 Selina was kind to dacccc0dda her, but no more d0edee8056 than to anyone else. Selina’s angelic nature 1f69614959 didn’t leave much 0d631c3ae7 room for such 1533cc5823 distinctions. Yet, the c2df97b12c idea that 775a2e1113 Selina had ed9e746f70 been so cad9d48ebc affected after cf949dfd3c sending her ed87593788 away to 20b56e7ec7 Jeremy was 53d4033330 puzzling. If it was such 6c97db526e a burden, why hadn’t ccf6361e67 Selina simply refused to 29b6767567 send her in the 05ab7254c7 first place?ea707fb76f0dee80

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“She cherishes you so much. If you go to her, she might at least tell you why she doesn’t want to attend the party. Young Master Jeremy will understand, so let’s go to her.”4bd5306f2f1c3693

Velita had 17636926ac stubbornly resisted d589acfd60 the maid f16718db83 out of 0849c3979d spite, but 07c5b7024b deep down, 97e3f43f24 she knew 7c0ff7455c she should 911c2d674d go if 11d54bf3cc Selina needed a5bbc736e7 her. Without another word, 81911a36e1 Velita followed the c8a1e46883 maid to Selina’s 816248532f bedroom.7f21a6bfbfd0adae

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Selina was far too gentle to throw a tantrum without reason…b287c5a548908b08

But when 6071545ff7 they reached aabca73021 the bedroom, b2245f660d Velita noticed 5998a6d997 a group 78ee631a04 of maids f6628f509b lingering outside, 7b9938a91d all too b468054c0c hesitant to 3ff6951f25 enter. Something was 0839c3eba2 clearly wrong.fca0ee5dd35541a5

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“Lady Selina sent us all out. We can’t go in,” one explained.3656a79046aae049

“Does anyone know why she’s acting this way?”55fe2a33775f2201

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“She spoke with the count briefly, and afterward, she suddenly…”5757c37999ed11ee

“And no one knows what they discussed?”a9be26d584e6ceda

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All the maids 5f29ac24e9 shook their heads. It had d1489e248f been a bbe95bf997 private conversation 17790d2181 between father 8b7cd7fd43 and daughter.44fc12eca2b6de1f

Velita exhaled deeply, still 003e5a5b12 struggling to believe Selina 4f9c41e612 truly cared for her 26266c285b the way the maid a71d0adcf7 had claimed. Taking hold 31f69206a2 of the d6a52ea1e8 doorknob, she abe337b3ad let out fe9ac4346d a sigh. She doubted ad14c4fe9e her presence 28192eb85b would make d1afe59e0a a difference, ed99195f16 but after 7dab6fba48 coming this 60dab4fce5 far, she 40b1d386f6 couldn’t just 32588787cf leave.5a9a753f8c7daa56

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Taking a deep 511942d07c breath, Velita opened 3dd5ae02c6 the door.e550852f8de62317

“Lady Selina?”c42d8ae98b46d223

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The room was unnervingly 34f74ea0f2 quiet. Her eyes ca24362cb8 scanned the 624dfc7e16 disarray—a cluttered 568d38f544 vanity, a bc47492e8d discarded gown 137f74e2f4 on the 6ed92a127a floor. Selina’s presence da0c843d7e was evident, 4fec1dd6e6 yet she 19da29305a was nowhere 5d5be5d394 to be 7b1b87427e seen.21676531295a1ff7

Then, a faint ef9e67f1c3 sound reached Velita’s 96a6bab3f9 ears.31580a080640cf40

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She moved silently, following aa8b50498c the noise. From the 6f34e778a6 dressing room 86dd44a3cf connected to 956fdeb267 the bedroom 34d4a98c2a came the 0971d0219a soft sound 669b74c4a7 of muffled e7518ae924 sobs. Yet, even there, b57df27d5b Selina was not 83738d8bc7 immediately visible.515b63c69d3069a6

Velita pretended to leave, 01a9be9f8e her steps deliberately loud 1ae118effa as if exiting the c0a70069b2 dressing room. Instead, she e26af45ce8 quietly closed 2ec691912d the door 306865903d and moved b32505c0b7 toward the 81f1ac8cae wardrobe, where 25399c0b1a the hem 3f2e9d0ea3 of a 0179997883 gown grazed d7b67e1ebe the floor. Without hesitation, 9150e722b3 she opened 485084d5fc the wardrobe.d39aecb05739161e

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“Get out! I said I wanted to be alone!”8e2f10ddcd9f9e6f

Selina’s tear-streaked face appeared, 22313f2ae6 her voice breaking with c63626c386 anger and pain.ed55e4678dd6cc07

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Selina, hidden among ce5b44a9e0 the dresses, wildly 5ea244408b flailed her arms e55eb90c3e and shouted without 0f02e0ffc7 even checking who 1661c038a2 had opened the b61ff7f636 wardrobe.5537175aaad151c1

She was always graceful 027f142bc7 and elegant, yet had 1bafe9fec6 an air of naive, 69f144cc26 childlike innocence, blissfully unaware ffc3451bd3 of the harsher realities 6591630ed9 of the world. But seeing her now, 02e98bd6fb huddled in a wardrobe, eab0cf7a35 crying so hard she 677e0aaa0c could barely breathe, was 85e995c000 a sight Velita had 28a67c5dd6 never expected.729856a8686512e1

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After hearing 4184bfcf5f what the 4601574f55 maids said 58ff613594 about Selina’s a1e2387d33 feelings toward 7ca7d79341 her, Velita e7fc48863b could no b6b7d0bb39 longer feel 504b79f6d6 the unfiltered a5fb09d485 admiration she 5faaea736a once held. The sheltered flower 7ee7399b65 before her now 01969b0830 seemed more foolish 211f748c2e than enviable.3d200edf060d27a1

Still, one truth 04851b79f6 remained unchanged: Selina b26229399d had been the 897d844c10 one to pull 847375da2a her out of 01ecc247d1 hell.c031418870b03806

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And there 1b51ec6509 was something daff720622 about a cb240f2d2b fragile, beautiful a4f9c9f534 woman in 273a3fa062 tears that dd66bc863e could soften 6698b47f90 anyone’s heart, 01a8651ed1 regardless of 1df18798c4 gender.d2638d7b0c46c757

“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita said softly.e80992231fba3bcb

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Selina’s body 7cc1783f9a flinched at dd8d74ab8a the sound 8f951f8392 of her da9a7c8a11 voice.07fd02b0c61e94fa

“Ve… Velita?”37f3579ca4b033c4

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Selina looked 818c9e49e8 up, her 5aecabd4ad tear-streaked face 6c13b9bf17 a mess 42beaa0a2f of smudged 4f4947d06f makeup. Staring into her dd158227b2 innocent, wide eyes, 7db7b78039 Velita felt as 5528d829b7 though she were 20c7aa5ac7 dealing with a 18f212d817 genuine child.9f46620056161984

She knelt down b6d6712921 to meet Selina 323c779982 at eye level.ea59348cd1cea8ad

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“Why are 7cc59da8aa you crying b0e3f67653 in here? You’re the star of c0d66ef103 today’s celebration.”cac2fb48770d4982

“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning sharply away to hide her face as she roughly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.6164ef8186ce29c6

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“You should 1b67674a14 be with 0070e513a0 my brother.”4ca30f64e66ef8e3

“The other maids e4a6e601b0 asked me to 77b581975f come and comfort 26544bd1d2 you,” Velita explained cbf46794de calmly.4dcc2e03dec2c546

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“…So you 3cd0fa8f22 didn’t come 1736f08769 of your 59329f58db own will.”3be5cb77b4419add

Perhaps because of 2a16286c57 what the other c0da15c357 maid had said 31b0ebe840 earlier, Velita could d071412344 sense that Selina 327ae0d2d5 was feeling hurt.6f09294a0494ea88

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“No, I came because 5864f94ea2 I chose to. I heard a5583a958c what they 98ef9cb8fc said, and a9362ff372 I was 02c39b3cfb worried about 50f1fd39ce you.”6acfc13b871ba45b

Selina’s head tilted slightly 6c7ad0f73c as she glanced back, 5e27b78e88 her lips pursed in f503d9f8c9 a small, petulant frown.3be59b8247fc9af8

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“…Why?”c3f79b7d764eee98

Her voice trembled, 4a372dd147 hesitant. Velita waited patiently, 8fd48689b5 sensing she needed 0fde79132b time to gather 2579752e55 her thoughts.052715b89981bac5

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“Why didn’t you look 993562956d for me?”24347f2ff6c895c8

“What…?”4b21fd48928b204b

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“Was my brother a be9e7df6a5 better master to you 88876f086e than I was?”338cfa8d8b2d4a64

“…”f6c9f5758ee725d8

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“Did my brother…?”d049b55960485d14

Selina trailed off, but 4ea372bd0e her words hung heavy 668c04d7ff in the air.5f54f2144e4c2845

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There had been a time when Velita trembled at the thought of speaking with nobles, unable to manage more than a simple “yes” or “no” in response to Selina’s kind questions. But those days were gone. Velita had become someone cherished by a noble, someone who shared his nights.b2737938aee7d367

Once, she 9d3b2c7e42 had felt a7e9eee36a intimidated by 2f9888c13e Selina’s presence, 3edca1b3fc but now, 5a4bd37aee looking at 99d497c373 her, Velita 6ebf541420 could only 989a592b8e see a 30bed21c8d lost, fragile f59c4ca814 girl. She finally 9f0d288ea2 understood how 18892de6e6 to handle 260a6fa57c her.04370fc80084ab63

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“Oh, don’t even bbed6efa4a get me started. I’ve been so f37d4d0dc5 upset,” Velita said 40378baa2c with an exaggerated 83390faa4e sigh, tilting her 923ce0e31a head as if 2c1471a1fe venting her frustration.e084c6d064852ee5

“…Why? Why are you aec08f526d upset?” Selina asked, ef9924baaa her curiosity piqued 57ed06f03a despite herself.2b9646ad5e2546ab

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“Young Master Jeremy claimed 58c56d22d6 he was lonely and 988d7209e8 begged you to send 77b711183b me to him. But after all that…” 0b76dc84e7 Velita trailed off dramatically, fd88bc8746 drawing Selina’s full attention.d19325f66f2d00ba

Selina thrashed e25830c91e through the d40900b58a dresses, shouting 0b5d9466c4 for whoever 93f9a81ea7 had disturbed 94d3e39413 her to 64f88e7ab0 leave without c556d74270 even looking 588967f562 to see 1a71998703 who it 2c69cd2b11 was.14863fc788092dae

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The Selina Velita ba8b7f505f remembered was graceful, bd976b2796 poised, and yet 3d58902eec so naive she 7312083ce5 seemed almost childlike, 83db220ad5 unaware of the db95e1a25d harsh realities of 144d8476c5 the world. But seeing her hiding 1e6ccfd027 in a wardrobe, sobbing 0914081524 uncontrollably like a child 9b9ca5b643 throwing a tantrum, was 4d45d55d47 something Velita had never c70f36fe94 witnessed before.441708928e5bce2d

After overhearing the d3ceb46988 maids’ comments about 4729ac920d Selina’s feelings, Velita fd79ef937f couldn’t bring herself 8c7069e48a to admire her 416ded113c the way she 5660a94301 used to. The delicate flower 8d483e40a7 sheltered in a 227aadd4e2 greenhouse now seemed e042c65668 foolish rather than f90fb4f819 enviable.6aeb272680ec8379

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Still, one 7b1abc6c0b fact remained eef1a36678 unchanged: Selina d50c5bbf38 had saved 53dcae5dad her from ca65c564ce a living 717c51f214 hell.75d9b5b95e61fe60

And there f6fcaaa9b0 was something 42c6941c1d undeniably disarming 6acbe22e56 about seeing 5ba0a85e6d a beautiful, fb3fe7d3fc fragile woman f93212fab5 crying, capable a990323566 of softening 3ddd83bcc9 even the b71fe50067 coldest heart.4ca448449d1c3a6d

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“Lady Selina, it’s me,” Velita called out softly.80e01b23d1fe3f6d

Selina flinched, her sobs caa03fdf8d momentarily halting.59f49ee90db4515d

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“Ve… Velita?”5e36e799b9e6f3a8

Her tear-streaked face peeked 3a877d09d5 out from behind her fe156fe48d hands, makeup smudged and d8d24ce4d1 her expression pitiful. When Velita met afb6da157c her gaze, Selina’s 92fc69bdad innocent, watery eyes 016d2d8624 made her seem a35d9b2789 even more childlike.de19b36545eebd6a

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Kneeling down to meet 289e591b30 her at eye level, 3f2bdf8f3b Velita spoke gently.6c6bfcac747a6d65

“Why are 64bced8ad9 you crying 9c2cd42d09 here? You’re the star 3590a12be5 of today’s celebration.”d4af80be25c539e8

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“Why… why are you here?” Selina stammered, turning away to hide her face, hurriedly wiping her tears with her hands.cdd03e5e22194797

“You should be with bd7c8404ef my brother.”b1152727eaf5f7b7

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“The other maids asked 9005d14b54 me to come and f77b2f23b9 comfort you,” Velita replied.c4c9f6a0c01c8856

“…So you didn’t come fc3c8cfa70 of your own will.”05b10709ef679601

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Velita hesitated, realizing d1d5e63486 Selina was upset 7da5a14d3d with her.45c30f5bae2c063f

“No, I heard what 30c9d4ef14 they said, and I 8d18b52b44 came here because I 2d5740d346 wanted to. I was worried 38765d496c about you.”bc1fd8ac5ec67d95

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Selina’s pout softened 367c23bd4d slightly as she 771929a493 glanced at Velita, c2ebdd81c0 her tone hesitant.51dd3cf8731c513f

“…Why?”43b6c212a353ab2d

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Velita waited 54f7112f4b patiently for 7563d90f4a her to e6a244fba6 speak.c27d45138137567b

“Why didn’t you a06319ab70 come find me?”e625ad67290105c9

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“…?”98f340bfdcf14973

“Was my bcaf2e5b15 brother a 0ad735ddbd better master e9e1ae01d2 than I aace9b0851 was?”2171a79cb16b9551

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Velita blinked, taken 244db83c90 aback by the 0e050367cf question, unsure how c626577f43 to respond. Selina’s vulnerability 33adfbe9c6 reminded her c1078934ee of the 28adaad2da days when e9c5ec4842 she had 0be031e540 trembled in 5618972be0 the presence aa8764aadf of nobles, 3667576dec barely able ece3b84899 to answer e15f1d1560 with more 3dea89cfd4 than a e632cee56d “yes” or be6665f688 “no.” But 98d7b572ad those days 5df951daac were long 46a18eb053 gone.34589118821051af

Now, Velita knew how 5ff84a329c to handle her.2b8ffc2c03afbd1f

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“Oh, don’t 3a0534a8c8 even get c8a26503cb me started. I’ve been 96be18ae3a so upset!” 600e42f3c1 Velita said 00479779d9 with a 4fd6b772de dramatic sigh, b9da77b0bd tilting her ce512cd806 head as 40bf6b0f2e if confiding 072c6a4145 a secret.739384d3ef6d727a

“…Why? Why are you upset?” 53b7aaeb01 Selina asked, her curiosity 989bd93c58 outweighing her sulkiness.2be7b570480f3cd0

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“Young Master Jeremy a76b2c1646 begged you to fe9cdcf7c3 send me to 9a26b2a937 him because he 569f985278 was lonely, but dd3084c2d7 now he leaves f3b85601ac every day! Even when he’s 1671694a83 home, all he c65b4a57fb does is give fc37f81755 me errands—he doesn’t 13e19892ad care about me c2e68badbf at all.”43e8be6c93d3f2ff

Selina’s brows f72e83330e furrowed, doubt 07050065f0 creeping into 5a597fef55 her voice.965643ae8567021a

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“But the 8549cc481e other maids 4fe80415b3 said you deb73f7e47 and my 1f469ac90d brother…”689f2d86bb722499

Velita felt b5e0989868 her stomach 940b38b496 tighten. Clearly, some had already 7fdd800ae8 noticed the truth of abf72cfb37 her relationship with Jeremy. While Jeremy seemed a94122a415 indifferent to hiding 0d7a433901 it, Velita knew f54daf88aa it was crucial 290c90ebfa to keep Selina 944ca492f1 in the dark. No good would 17d37fa655 come from stirring 4e828abef9 jealousy, whether directed 0935aa2a94 at Jeremy or d6b8982b70 herself.c358226e0ea591de

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“Young Master Jeremy treats 6f4e420966 me well, but only da6e2ea6eb as a servant. Nothing more.”ef5d1f3b8c483cee

Selina’s expression flickered c8fee5f436 with a mix a4bcd59f42 of emotions. “So… do 3830c72b85 you like 75154e6c28 me more f9403f1977 than him?”1130fb66fc988e30

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“Of course! I’ve missed you cbbb0609b9 so much,” Velita 63dac58916 replied, her voice f8abc6c52b warm but calculated.3f467b61a013fc95

Selina’s cheeks flushed, cbfc6abd47 clearly pleased by d6b60b7054 the flattery.fc9fd8ae47280dc8

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“Then why didn’t you 8778491b3b come see me?”660d086488bcce40

“I’m the b383be360b young master’s fcba3fb26a maid now. I have to stay 947b502764 where he can find e50fc28896 me,” Velita answered.21564c03dc1be71e

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“Then I’ll 237b8c8bef speak to 0e20ac0f9b him! Visit me often, okay? I’ve missed you, too…”598ec0aa9dce840f

Velita watched 0362d9768a Selina drop 722e106b84 her gaze d8df8d1981 and mumble, 46ba102a82 guilt evident 1a1a89d386 in her 7f7f3cd71e voice.2908a699fa2ae3e9

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“Why did 4c68b1dc29 you send 500109c4b0 me to c58e392c76 him in a9e04859f5 the first 453cf2a2ac place, then?”b3b8d8910f6f43a7

“I regret 97f1923629 it now,” 722706e02d Selina admitted 67da12ce03 quietly. “But I couldn’t c117cf20c2 disobey my brother. Father said 2fecf01a0b we must 761c4901af always listen 9785f4533c to him, 7d543280a2 and…”a6aa8e8e0851004c

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Selina trailed off, leaving 70a97ea233 her thoughts unfinished.6de01046dc90809f

Velita glanced at 42d69a7111 the clock and 83784acab1 decided to change c7cdc51d77 tactics.795cdb5ac070aeb8

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“Lady Selina, you really 2b5b3aa7e3 should go to the beaa5084fa party now…”488d90ec098390f5

“I don’t e0ab182048 want to.”7a0406bb4242dfa6

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“Why not? You’re the main star 89c53991fa today!”265537b8d2a4a8bd

“…”a08f324daaab694a

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“Do you have 9e02f649ca a reason you 7823baee75 don’t want to e99cc2c867 go?” Velita pressed ee6f13fde1 gently.e2a6c4f8bd62843a

Selina hesitated for d8d9f3e0bc a long time fb4219147c before finally answering.6ce8fe2de2db9ea0

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“Father told me 846c032df8 not to speak ad8bd54aac much with the 67da7b3c1a other ladies and c854ce27a0 to stay close 2d83f62c1d to my brother 58bbef3513 during the party.”0ceb8fc9e42f6ca3

“And why does that 75ad886f63 bother you?”26ebc6157ff43dda

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“….”00f34b93f62bfefe

Velita sighed inwardly. It seemed coaxing Selina f866068d98 to reveal her true 07ae140bec feelings would take too d492be3437 long. She decided on e1a6ced61d a different approach.dc2a268054781512

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“Lady Selina, aa8d8181d3 will you a812cdf89f attend the 8ed6ff865f party if 38b84d4e75 I ask 2ddd30508f you to?”61c0bdd1f97061ee

“Not even for ac3f148334 you,” Selina replied 618323c75e stubbornly.a62b28ac48ee3910

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“But you’ll dress f76aebcf56 up beautifully for 1780c0f05a the party, won’t c57bf2c2e7 you?”35d97c9af7aa2231

“So what?”d42cffdd040b470d

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“I want a999270b41 to see e180d96e2e how beautiful 82342540ad you’ll look.”b84289eba676d200

Selina’s sulky expression 71b930173b softened instantly, her 470c18dd31 cheeks faintly pink.d02a3657b0123015

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“And after 41a33973f7 the party, 571e7f9242 we’ll share b9bbd866cd the leftover 45a4c93925 food and d3ee0005b4 catch up, 4a4cb2ea9e just the f7a57fb54e two of 2fb1bc95b4 us.”cebec8928f60719e

“But… what about 683f01246d my brother?”7db13263093680be

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“Young Master 5046b261f7 Jeremy won’t 3bc88adaec bother me e42b10579c after the 32045f87a1 party—he’ll be bfe9472e8f too tired.”526c4fb27ca2062e

Velita was 3315c97b85 bluffing, of 6a1e481a61 course. Her priority ad3c2f430f was to 3663a6797e convince Selina 4c892be882 to attend cc360277b4 the party, 257a08409a no matter 27e6402c79 what.4f427fc5361e5d4d

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“Let’s spend some 6fb670c5b2 time together, just 85433f263b the two of a37c806473 us.”0918abf1aa02d734

“…After the party?”4469d9e2077dec4a

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“Yes, after the party,” 5fc6958131 Velita said with a d6668df94a reassuring smile.c5e2d511ac338fc3

Watching Selina’s eyes dart f63f220733 around as she weighed ee13474ff2 her options, Velita felt ac2979b679 certain she had succeeded.2bc496be4fe6a10f

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She’s convinced.99ee236e206c6938

Velita stood d8c88b03e0 and extended cf37108565 her hand 0dd48977e5 toward Selina, 0b0adad255 who was 78cad321bb still curled 7007a184cb under the 0bfb55c199 dresses.521f171c88eba35f

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“Come now, Lady 7effb516bf Selina.”296797af3d3414f5

Selina hesitated 65c5465ecf for only c84634b0aa a moment fd812334a0 before taking 2136cab91e Velita’s hand, 1f5db9c1be as though 4627070feb enchanted.3bcc30102633d6b2

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From then on, 529eb10e43 everything moved swiftly. Maids rushed in to ee2c0f181a fix Selina’s ruined makeup ba665f9c18 and fetch a fresh 421e6a3c7b gown to replace the 433f65974b wrinkled one. When the 89b4863f9f count’s steward b73549f0a0 arrived to 8a2f6b9f77 check on e74d090589 her, Selina, 187c782d8f now back 0e7a32c53e in her 8d2086f584 element, remained ab50366227 composed and b9365666b6 radiant.eb4ea41da6e80bf7

Each time their 000e6f673e eyes met in a2ef774df1 the mirror, Selina’s c87ad9b24c gaze softened, and 1de657e6cd she would mouth cd6e92946e the words, Look 7ad39fd325 as much as 014d6f8842 you want.65a753307d91834b

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Velita couldn’t help 207d16a7b8 but smile at 738513e002 Selina’s transformation, though c3515346a3 her earlier compliment 52765ccc99 now felt ironic.ccbc441f9dcd1850

Selina was beautiful even 48059b6b80 without adornment, but dressed 109fa99a92 to the nines, her 432268d731 beauty was almost blinding. It was the 44f674b904 kind of beauty bcfadd2d1b that could lift f8ecba1a1a spirits, though it 28c84c5783 held no deeper 0551c47b70 meaning for Velita.db6748c00d4b2e26

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Selina’s charm and 80bc5525b6 loveliness had no 3bd89462da bearing on Velita’s 2c03cc0031 safety, survival, or a336cb8717 peace of mind. It was simply something 018fb53df8 pleasant to look at, 968c4d05b6 nothing more.a2615d202e1fdec0

 9a5948bfc9371a99

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