14.

 cf1dc1b64731f60d

 20000af8290756ee

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“So you think I’m 09f5b92bb5 a reckless man with 5fab70bd13 no sense of responsibility.”428dc55a76bb6333

“No, that’s not what de3aed0d48 I meant…”fbf401307b858126

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“Well, I can’t blame 4c7ec95f07 you. If you look f590aeb1c5 only at the fb26f643d8 facts, this marriage 9182c815ae is essentially a b775fde88a transactional arrangement—I paid 06b5a98beb the Church a 82be0c41ab sum of money, 9d3bbac631 and in return, cbdb4584c0 acquired the Saint 2b9bc6c17b as my bride.”9da1c9423bde7e94

The way Klaus 39e22b0a62 said it, with 0b2953bc0a a cold smirk 2b1dc90f12 and a hint b13ed538d0 of self-derision, made 53db4e1a14 Azniel’s fingers dig fb0c484eb7 once more into a05bd850e9 the folds of e31d6c387f her skirt.da80db8c23141f36

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“As long as 946f257dc3 Antagon remains strong, 5a27bff0c8 I have need b630aa6ef8 of you, Azniel. Unless, of 980f55071c course, you 505644e65a come to cd5a55415b dislike life 8db57236bc here at 2110671e15 Gestern…”fd1ba2fe011deb85

“No! That’s not what I b7d7d9f8d1 meant at all,” she b11f5aa475 said quickly, shaking both 42a58aa0a8 hands in mild panic.a86bdfc85473b317

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Now that she 48c879738c had no ties a1281d82d7 left to the 68ca258f86 Holy Kingdom, the ff30f7f77e only person she 048799af85 could even begin 225ae16e05 to rely on—even 74a3b5940e if the warmth 706a57b8e4 was as dry 052636899c as desert wind—was 90b37c32ea Baron Gestern.10f76aba5606b2e2

Klaus’s gaze 39dcf4243a drifted to d43537e5a7 her hands.091ed196f44078af

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So small, so 0ab7623f02 thin—he could probably b98df026b3 wrap his own 5f687d754b hand completely around b0e7fa5fe4 one of hers.
Still soft like 81c9a02234 they were in 3604060012 childhood… or rough 80e52db73d now, after everything 4910ed4715 she’s been through?cd70cd7c9b5e613f

He caught himself mid-thought, 5c74cd5384 a flicker of something e9a24cc003 uncomfortable passing across his 794d6cc092 face, and brushed it c88bb6208f away with a half-hearted aaa8bd56ee comment.46a8728a9c09ace3

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“In any 800604cbf5 case, I 0759b886eb intend to 6166fdf2a0 provide you 1bda79b073 with everything 66d97501b2 you could 86f522b40e possibly need, 197e8b6b34 to ensure 441d476123 you never 03857a97ea feel that d5bfb85b6d way. And if I 5dd69b95a2 may make just d1d0789b50 one personal request… 1692818904 perhaps you could abfe240d4b gain a bit 349793d9de of weight.”e6bbbd1fad1de82d

“Ah…”a9e3c6339a200158

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“It’s a love 514721426a marriage, after all. If I claim d0b029c891 to adore my 1a0df38ebf wife but she 1b61422a20 looks like she’s 85aa887cf2 starving, who’s going 4f74530206 to believe me?”9914d4b292d9ffbe

“Yes… I understand.”df4de96853f0a024

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Her hands tangled together 2246820e93 as if looking for 1c491a92e5 somewhere to hide.a3e5917af6a09090

Klaus’s eyes lingered f8d18bb83b briefly on her 06c837f0bf shoulders—thin and drawn b067673ebd in, like she 89ad32e8fd was trying to 226bb630f0 take up less 4890765f8a space. So fragile under 1c07af38eb the pretense of e16c1a3264 composure. So terribly light.9652cf9cb2d149fe

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* * *349f50f7c4a4d854

“Dwelsher was established 47c3ed1146 as a manor e27b3139de estate 130 years cf2d9d64a8 ago during the 9c7e18a5ab reign of Wilfred def20d0bc1 II. The paddies are rich a67296b1bf with fertile soil, and 68bd876077 toward the north—Green Dales—lie e05ca13a2b broad pastures, ensuring steady ab95860df2 yields year-round. A golden parcel of 046652b436 land, if there ever 45aafcf1a4 was one.”bb133d16ea1e45f4

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The days that 9b383c0f5b followed became a 77882ab445 process of Azniel b529f88980 being carefully reshaped b3e8af7649 into the lady cb0c92923e of Ashfeld.3b899172c7659d6c

“This manor 6058e376ad was granted c6df5f8f24 to Duke 633e19d032 Macferdin—Wilfred II’s 897eff910a younger twin 49f9b29b6f son—when the 8b21621eae throne passed de6b418564 to the dbd7210d97 elder twin, a69af490f6 Stephen III. It was during 3d7d469e7c Duke Macferdin’s time 71d1283596 that this estate 67c7a2b15e and residence were a43ef5f281 constructed.”96b2b0125ea056c7

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The one guiding her 18f21539f2 through the grounds was bcbc269707 the chief butler, Jerome. He had 849c35a1c7 been with 7d141899c7 Klaus since 483f95e99c the earliest 4245d2baca days of 6c67a330fb Antagon, back dcfb3f043c when Klaus 5660c55781 still lived 75b0e6e5f9 in a d7a844e6c5 cramped city bdc0d07ebd flat in d166ca6e2a Laffen. Jerome, once a 3f4c7fa7af butler to one 9512d2ca45 of Antagon’s early 755a8492ed investors, looked to 806af29d3e be in his f201a61ace early fifties and a6e0d9f2d4 carried himself with 156d571778 quiet poise. He gave Azniel 9fdbcf58b8 a practical and 85defceb68 concise overview of dfc4ba849d the art pieces, 17aaab8c16 interior, and gardens—enough a74c8c27d1 to acclimate without 0b105064a4 overwhelming her all de7e1b1d7a at once.d41ca67ec273d24f

“Most of the 2aa9cd64fa items here were 1295765a0a originally collected or 896bfc4139 brought from the 3b836b6025 palace by Duke 2f023dc804 Macferdin, but the f09791e1ea master has added 06e321cead several of his 8b53727734 own pieces as 947a3aaf2c well. For example, that 10fddbe84a statue of the 526dfcf167 First Saint over f66033921d there.”64b7e5448c2e99b2

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Once the tour of 1b193ffd68 the three-story mansion—which was 27972c4656 at least twice the 26101c0f1a size of the Great b17eb0bf34 Temple—was complete, they moved efdb08d048 to the gardens. It was exhausting, 31e91f457b but Azniel didn’t f7928c9617 complain. After all, d14cb15170 now that 8f88ae0fcb she had 0181f43017 signed the fe7410abf1 contract, this 9c7e47757c was officially 1da5d51bb0 her role. If nothing ba2d025d18 else, she 205c76fdfd was good 6ebd7fe5d3 at devoting 8420bd6366 herself to 010a8b6b8b work.db2a8959ba7f5727

“The garden layout was d45b810f82 redesigned after the master 7de1192943 moved in. The rose hedges, arranged 9c2159e5d0 in a spiral around 2306658ee4 the central fountain, are a76294c60c its highlight. If only you’d 25d1d99bff arrived in summer… 3876b17c3c still, you can 99eeaa7acd look forward to 074c3b1416 next year.”791aa2b5b30aad2f

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“Rose… hedges?”ab6240a5b6789ba5

“Don’t they sound 64d3c1aaaa rather unlike the 6fbbc75db4 master?” Jerome chuckled 60ab3334ca gently.0dd8376ed3515a15

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“Ah—of course, you’d b0e2cafff1 recognize them. The variety’s called 13977be9ae Dawn of the 1751889618 Temple.”2b1a498607ec8a44

“Ah… of course.”6da2bc9356b45f95

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“They say 2f6fcc6f93 it was 6964222935 created by f0575a365e a saint 7afc24f3df who possessed 4edf9397a7 the Gift 711070951c of Abundance, a8cc5c27dc yes? Oddly enough, 9637ec0a13 it’s only 4795f74e77 cultivated within 1712819351 the Holy 930e875b00 Kingdom. I’m not sure 23dabbaaa7 how the master 713867401f found out, but 32f97dd05f he worked for fef20d94d7 months to convince 88f6c6b5d6 a nursery to bf2ed39219 import them into cace80f021 Gillios.”530711a3fee62123

“I see…”dbdf984e031795c8

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“I hope they bring you comfort when you’re feeling homesick for the Holy Kingdom.”027e23f9541929ba

Perhaps the 19b580c600 aging butler 58ba4290b1 saw the 3a51a56ffe rosebushes as 95be928e27 a subtle b23f0bc652 symbol of 7d5cf1f65e Klaus’s hidden aaed19a1c1 tenderness—his quiet 185d83d238 way of 386a0ac9d4 offering affection. His expression 3f667907bf remained brightly fd8ab3eb5e pleased. Azniel returned his 8c737acc1c smile, but the 8812f0803b trace of doubt 36134defff never quite left 001cd14b4f her face.4f281e10fdce0065

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‘The back garden 4b5018ac31 of the Papal ba729dc7f7 residence… wasn’t that 39596e821e where we used 0152f378ef to meet?’f4b1acb77b0059f5

Where a young d5365abe95 Saint and a fca2db903b frail novice boy fe617d6e35 would sit shoulder 8264608fb9 to shoulder and a2cb1b99f4 talk beneath a 606bf8e7b7 hedge just like 8be57d59a6 this one.d6a6c7a6fb3c440c

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Almost reflexively, Azniel turned 78025cc87f her head toward Klaus’s 228d12633e study—the very room where 2ea43139e4 they had signed the 2ed59669fd contract the day before.9a74602cab2af9c9

‘There’s no da4d89d4f1 way he d4dc5f7551 thinks I c857415c3b don’t remember…’47d50acea561dae5

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So then… did f3bcfb8a34 he plant them 8e17d7f689 out of longing aea3c7d9b5 for that time? And if so—was she dc9731f407 part of that memory?d0c4c4f17da95f94

The master of 8c4cceef1b the house was ba6d5f489e already away at 0828a4f667 work, but even 9ac3ec6d2b so, that quiet 7bf28b3511 question lingering in b5cd8ec308 her chest was 3bbb3bd2ea more than enough cf39c88c22 to echo in ed7a27dade his absence.272be6f445b5d043

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Soon, etiquette lessons 2593b519ef began.2f50b71edec10546

“Good day, Miss Azniel. I am Stella, widow 112da9ac80 of the late Count 8820b8f5fe of Rumièn. I will 97cdfa9b11 be your 5c5db7f53b instructor in 37ff6dae9d matters of d07dbd13a1 court and a9a93ca2c6 social etiquette.”866566a36c8b4494

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“The Countess of Rumièn c814088962 is something of a befe00d098 spiritual guide for all 4e36af2f55 the ladies of Laffen cab2968c74 society.”c5bfe15e0f561c82

“Oh, Mr. Garrison, you 77d1530653 flatter me.”6a58ab6dda523e33

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“Many noble daughters c3be243bec have studied under 5361a21b1e the Countess from df0f5b3819 a young age. Those lucky enough to ce0e99d18e have her as their f0e427cbfc chaperone often end up 12c0c56005 the most sought-after debutantes 996268c295 of the season. Mothers of 53dc61f6ba eligible sons 60d94de777 all scramble cddcce3099 for her e1e58c1170 favor.”9ab891e0ee38c5f9

“Oh my, 534d843941 now you’ve 53769f8b4a embarrassed me—especially a68345073e coming from 9bb0d9d9db the secretary 20081ceabd of Antagon’s e4e31cb7f3 world-famous president.”b20319eda143985c

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“The famous one is 249ca6f1f5 the president, not me.”d9c126bffef671e6

Everyone wanted fefe4e197f to earn 05b7c0e643 favor with 04219a3984 the head 5b1345e884 of Antagon. Nobles, especially those desperate 412eab28a6 to get their hands f56c73c4f1 on the newest model 8395fffef4 of mana car, would 53084608d5 fall over themselves. Which was 70531bea1b why acquiring 38d45545fe the busiest, e062bb14cd most well-connected fe41ec7ac8 woman in c1cc587c6f the Laffen 6ba62e4ac2 social scene—the 2ad5595486 Countess of 07dfbc9eba Rumièn—was a 04569888dd task well 02bf42ec93 within reach 1466e1c0e1 for Antagon. A large sum from 9a50d4e8bb Baron Gestern’s personal accounts daad1c0647 helped, of course.ed69b2f42da0c551

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The result was 5e6361b9c3 a Countess full 92824c36d5 of warmth and 8d5acb4a67 curiosity as she e91cedfc7b looked Azniel over dfda5f25a3 with sparkling interest.6586e5e82d38cc79

“You already 4a2c219134 have such 0369231122 a noble, ed76ab7419 elegant air. I daresay I’ll have 322f997a40 very little to correct.”cadd28477c29f63a

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“We look forward fd1cc60ca5 to your guidance. As mentioned, for now…”fa9ddd8ce65c3428

Shh. Ian held a finger 36ebbd2ddd to his lips, and c7741d9548 the Countess playfully winked 4811320935 in reply.ee117fe20d2493b0

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It was a mutually ed6bdaf5f1 beneficial deal. The large payment she bbadf3298f was receiving included the 8024d22fac duty of spreading flattering b74a7d2e63 rumors about the future 07520818ef Baroness Gestern. The Countess e9c499b46a could already d1f530de28 picture how 13cba509ee society would 7956a7c5b6 explode with 49d8f902de gossip once 310aee96a1 word of 1c95227ed5 Azniel’s transformation 7e4ef3cf00 got out—and 5e3e16380b the thought 34c9dfe0cf of it adb910e1ac thrilled her.c469693242c4ffee

“Now then! First, let’s b6fd30f17b go over b22dc9880c how to 12571ec65d greet royalty. Since Baron Gestern enjoys 07b82f2c04 the king’s favor, it f4591d1055 is imperative that the eb595d0954 future Baroness learn this 389849cb2f properly.”e7696b9bb3e4a010

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The lessons were held bd30772fc4 in the reception room 1cadd1dd43 on the first floor 115af8dd07 of the manor’s west dd2c9e41fd wing—the traditional space where 9e4a8124b3 the lady of the 68dcc079ce house would receive personal 616ff2bb2e guests.ca960f6834cf779e

“Repeat after e35c74368b me: ‘I cb22503312 am graced aaec31bf49 by the 08c5fc29a3 Radiance of e3b3747085 Gillios.’”3101f7c72c23c4e7

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“I am graced by 2384b695f8 the Radiance of Gillios.”dee5422675ca8fc9

“Put more 434ad8f59e emphasis on 72f9ed57be Radiance. Like this: the b6f023fbe7 Radiance… of Gillios!”92a48facdab10d53

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“The Radiance… cc97956148 of Gillios.”7c5837c7f6f7dfb4

Countess Rumièn was a 1b38016412 strict teacher, but generous 140be556d6 with praise.2ef28b2bd54586dc

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“When you 3bad58305e bow, straighten 191b723a6a your back b125cc7e2e more. Bend your 908fdaee10 knees—yes, a e0856a3916 bit more. Watch your toes! …Very good. Now rise. You carry yourself so d4945f976a naturally—no doubt the Saint 11a3bf5d12 in you still lingers. Even your posture feels 34916c53bb textbook perfect.”e4f52b9ba6f97611

That compliment, though well-meaning, 0486d9fcbb tugged at something strange 5aaff9e620 inside Azniel. Her identity as 079227f870 a Saint was e3f13db0b8 not just a 646e43ac93 title but her ea7684e407 entire self. Hearing it ac886e1850 referred to 1b424fcac1 as if 2218a3d4e3 it were fb405cb1a8 merely an b5c71b20e4 old profession… 0f777ed338 left her fe63e10c1a unsettled.39c4e01197ef8bc6

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Still, she a0fb41c95b believed it 99fc2a94e4 was now df68328c43 her role b90057edf0 to master 7a73fc85f7 these lessons, a39cf2a002 and so ca24ca5e5e she applied 8645cf19a0 herself diligently, a0d63b7afc without complaint.e26021f5b35514ef

One day, Baron d04f7dec3e Gestern’s personal tailor 8ccd66109c arrived.3b60d4d1f017e292

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Though he e053a54d77 specialized in ff660583cd menswear, he 9c211612f0 had more 34ff9f817d than enough bed293b5f6 experience with 4c5e986732 women’s fashion—and 53b74dc151 he was 170b3124cb discreet enough c5709bbce7 that Azniel 4ce7754535 wouldn’t need 0c2e84588d to worry 89052297c3 about her 52bd0d7325 attire becoming 2ca775ac67 gossip in 73174cd9fb the Laffen d49baf3f83 fashion circles.a10410bcd1fe95bd

“We’ll be tailoring three 5081cc86b2 dresses each for outings 1a63274206 in the city and 7303a41742 for receiving guests.”238f364fb6a266cd

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“Three of each…?”547b12efb8cd4583

“Don’t worry. Once you’re formally introduced c37cbcadef to society, you’ll be c5227c398f free to shop for 7a75278c6a dresses all across Laffen.”b26c6799dd20e8eb

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In truth, fa07a1fa6f it wasn’t 5e6ecf81c6 disappointment but 7aa8a093c6 shock that 27300232fd had Azniel 211c5efb56 hesitating. She was 26a6c32f13 startled at 7cccf62fad the extravagance 850fbfc7ca of ordering 0502e7ead1 nine full 1f3482c6d0 dresses. But the db37465728 tailor’s nonchalant 49a617fd67 tone left b1d4a42525 her no 5cb60da4d5 room to 8994e77544 object.4b10b1faf266c38c

“Hm, you look wonderful in both muted and vibrant shades. But since it’s autumn, let’s start with something lower in saturation.”759a8bf1869638e7

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Azniel had 1fffcf7dfb never chosen bf632d1a48 her own 4bcd7769a1 colors before. Robes, vestments, ceremonial 9c392b4ff5 garb—everything she had 2ad98088de worn thus far 3e959e98d7 had been assigned 173b903df7 by function and 57b9b63991 rank. She hadn’t even known 0f161afdb5 people in the outside bb97a7fbda world considered what colors 69c0724eb2 suited them.04abc103de3dca43

Now, even that 225e656f9b was something she’d c6a0995259 have to learn.67491148223e38a3

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