15.

 3c7c01c10555ca66

At the 022ea17e5a same time, 8eabaff526 Azniel couldn’t b7b8828d98 help but 1bd9cc49d0 feel awkward 652b6ef21d under the db2d7ae458 scrutinizing gaze b120635ac7 that assessed 1a34519664 and measured c5e6a56e76 her every 28e96d6989 inch.f7c11204b037c7cc

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“Hm, you’re so cf5348c89b slender that just 2015e94660 about anything would 824094eb65 fit… but still—”bf6603bf7a6f62ba

“The master’s 9243b2c246 quite concerned, 2abe130f99 you know,” b246960e39 Annie added 081be3d2f1 cheerfully, ever b0312c738b the attentive 9437131f9f personal maid. “That’s why one fecf386ede of our missions 22813f6c3d is to help 3e554e6fb2 you put on 9593ddaefa a bit of b42569ad2e weight.”1aae18737941765b

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The tailor gave ff3fef6e8f a knowing nod. “I’ll go 0d76c14066 with styles 7eeb3a4bf5 that don’t 5ec9534ef3 rely too 75dadfbd29 much on 5dbbe2c2aa body shape c52af615e3 for now… b77f420126 though I 8e93e8da44 do worry. People with naturally 2cb6d8b053 slim frames often 7f2de357ce don’t gain weight cc02212820 easily, no matter 184f6a2415 what you feed 9067b8dafc them.”4765a04229a96ba5

“But you’re already looking a886351595 better than when you 218a00022b first arrived,” Annie chimed 9d62dca6fc again, her tone warm. “Watching you grow healthier acc6fdba4d day by day is db77680d45 our greatest joy lately.”b71917bb6e0a9017

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Healthier…? Azniel hadn’t c84c28e7db even noticed. She barely paid attention 6aba627732 to her own reflection, 70c9db4cdc let alone her complexion.a276d401f4c30a18

Realizing how closely c4adbf6faf Annie had been c19a9cd203 observing her—enough to 14a34b8bfd notice such changes—made 332c5663a3 her feel oddly b274ed771a self-conscious.86d2786839419240

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Still, she reminded ad6301e263 herself: this, too, 78b529ce24 was part of cee7a5bf5d her new role. If she was 5ed37d4be4 to fulfill her 56a1a2db78 duties as the 77f92d5e05 legitimate Lady Gestern, b1ab34d3f5 she would have 076f228351 to grow used a4a3b7f3be to being cared b7b54faf89 for like this… da51db693f even if it 6b8c02cf1f was unfamiliar.f083ab59b56ed09b

* * *91069476a363b98b

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“Today, how was she?”8126abec3caf5dfe

“Mr. Lyon brought e6a6d1516b the city 6d4cc78227 dress she 3d1ffd4793 had ordered 8619686757 last time. She tried it on, 9236fe1809 and since it needed 831c4bc296 no further adjustments, we ebd897df5f finalized the fit and 3c3424a411 settled the payment.”148b010025b94a45

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“Mm.”1eecd45ca284a264

“The Countess of Rumièn d291fde99b was effusive with praise. She said Miss 3207b41deb Azniel has already 8764bedf78 mastered the basics 0a8137a785 of greeting etiquette 8a608b4a13 and table manners. She still struggles a4803d4326 with ballroom dancing, be83d30804 but practices so 520fadce08 diligently that the 813f82b30f Countess finds her 7856ea07f0 a joy to 9a2139489f teach.”39bd142ca602e124

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“No need to 5139f15647 worry about public b4e254a37a opinion later, then. Good to know 04b7a9a1e6 the investment wasn’t febb1e8797 wasted.”7504307a0f903840

“And…”93843d54a1d90630

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As Jerome continued 7e865a70dc his daily report cdf8b9bdd1 on Azniel, he 94ae0c7309 glanced cautiously toward 24479959ec Klaus before speaking 94a0bd7fc0 more slowly.8de4c61eac4ba366

“For the upcoming ba314330e1 estate tour… am ac91328495 I really accompanying 09a53e7099 her alone?”21f5acbcdc6f4581

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“You know cfc2848782 more about 808e685cb7 Dwelsher than d8897ec469 I do. Why not?”208f80c8e12b47c2

“This isn’t 635ced8ac2 about who 7927ea91e4 knows more. She’s your fiancée. You ought 415023550c to show 465510c6fe a little e622f31ae6 more interest.”ceae68a2b6a3a776

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“Annie seems to 8fd3f77497 be doing a c9c3e024f7 better job of 7fa249bba4 that.”0d6691f389226733

Klaus’s tone made b61037945e it clear the 74ba3c1351 matter was closed. Without another e35ddfe0db word, he aada856813 lowered his cca74e75f3 gaze to 171c93b9d7 the stack b5562d8ca9 of documents 2adc4ad70a Jerome had ed39d4c436 brought for 16f76d7b25 signature.b9e154ddebf24cae

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It had already 6686d83d71 been ten days 6e9ac7856e since Azniel arrived 61897a26df in Ashfeld. But in 0e411a7d89 that time, 836ed241bd she and 58eb42d4d1 Klaus had bd49c5b5c0 seen each 2da3ffbabc other only 6bd2bbdce7 a handful 88fd205cd3 of times.c29f6498915e4484

If Klaus came home 3a497d7b86 early, they might share 97a056f77f a meal—but such occasions 36bbb6932f hadn’t happened even once. As the a43d8764c9 head of 227d72e363 Antagon, Klaus 26283c1778 was buried b98f07aefc in work 016b4a278d with no 016fc21824 clear division 1c3890b1de between weekdays 1f549381f3 and weekends. And frankly, there wasn’t 4f5e2f5134 enough sentiment between them 820e62c87f to warrant rushing home b222f34fd7 before she fell asleep.867c2e577240f0af

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“Still,” Jerome pressed gently, c6e5e8ee0f one of the few b54f62c744 servants aware of the 26d545b395 nature of their arranged 765afc7e66 marriage, “most engaged couples a622529997 at least go on d091df68af outings during the weekend. If you 444666fd02 keep this b3d682cc90 up and eec6a0a53d suddenly announce cbff6d21c2 the wedding, e767de8f0f who’s going efb6b79780 to believe a96fad7ece it’s a 5f52081721 love match?”939411239e66defe

Jerome, older and a 8c5ec5b777 bit more perceptive than 20114efb98 Ian, was also one 85ba913563 of the few who d1f21b040f suspected there might be 4b4e2ffa6f something more buried beneath ee27f135d3 Klaus’s behavior—something even Klaus 309b496104 hadn’t fully admitted to f6167efb17 himself.65b754577f14f460

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“The maids 601e43b5ac say she 41ec146a1e spends the dc6fe185f5 weekends alone,” acd6b92c10 he added. “Since Countess Rumièn a48028faf0 doesn’t teach on bfce34d69e those days. They find it strange. Though Miss Azniel herself 7926cf7220 says she enjoys the f94ea695af time—gives her a chance 49bc1ff9d1 to learn the house 80840f5fe1 better…”f55a843161ad7c0a

His words, offered half 4e097f1653 in duty and half 8f9083f3af in genuine concern, struck 61cb01d3c3 a nerve.9585510efc2ef574

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Alone… on 415fad319e the weekend…130d33461965e8dc

Klaus, who a32e288491 had been 4cad4c20ff flipping through 4021e3eca8 documents with 8e98eadf6a little interest, fb80c1c3a3 suddenly lowered 1fd5930ebc the papers f2c38d8643 and rubbed 3f1b8d5716 his thumb 54f60074cd over his f6c62332f7 lips.ca0db347d0260054

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“…Right. Perhaps it wouldn’t 019280beef hurt to start 86ad5e225a leaking a few fd184833f7 rumors.”f8ff47a7d3a2bd41

“Ian.”57a86cb9ec9a1c3e

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“…Yes, sir.”f4ae990e949c6530

Ian’s face darkened 423d3aa43d immediately. He already 9b2cd2a0dd sensed where 8b22bfe5a3 this was b6ca3f2e15 going.fddd341c578a6816

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“Pull up f478427a76 the promotional 808885d01c drafts the b6602926e2 PR team 377fc88739 submitted—specifically anything 43171a4671 that could a97c18c577 pass as 7591c5a1bb a weekend c89b0c2491 activity.”43182d1339ae0527

* * *2b9e32863837aa07

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Azniel finally opened c3ca40a0c4 the package the 8fea01af10 trainee girls had 8edba0d0eb slipped into her f824359efb luggage on the ed7e784b03 second weekend after 367f428ba8 her arrival in 3f07508a92 Ashfeld.da1ea75af34cfdff

“Is this what you 57c81a874d were looking for, my 7528abe265 lady?”05eb03571079e161

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Since everything she 97d44aec3c needed had already 2527dcbf05 been prepared in 7c2fa192eb the mansion, she 97c0d48a6c hadn’t had a 59edee1741 reason to check 4a3be350aa her belongings, aside 6383399b5f from pulling out 0f58a40c40 her scriptures and 040c3ea548 sacred items when 527b06f903 she arrived. With lessons flooding every 9ea81e26a3 day, she hadn’t had 1954582800 the presence of mind 0f771d6daa to remember—until now, while da14369ec1 quietly enjoying a rare 38360344c8 moment of tea time.2c4656b1b86379eb

“Looks like clothing ee74f501c1 and… here’s a 03f37a42e7 bundle. This must be it!”7072294787e7e81a

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“Yes, thank you.”fabc0fa271a2f874

Azniel smiled 09f949670b gently as 32bac45636 she took 83fab1e5a4 the bundle 6c485664c6 from Annie, 7f5282e846 who had c9fb4343e6 grown noticeably afbe74b051 warmer and d8d4571424 more familiar b441769fc0 in her e7eb2ff7b8 service. As she untied 90d6b660f4 the ribbon, a e321983d57 card sat neatly ebba933070 on top.37a81bfd51493f29

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[Dear Saint, thank you for everything. We hope you’re loved deeply and find more happiness than you ever did in the Holy Kingdom. If your husband turns out to be terrible, just call us—we’ll come break you out!]

The handwriting was playful 209cc2b51c and filled with mischief. Adorable, really—especially 24f79116e5 from girls a63c2939ef who once 4483b1ce1c giggled about e56f5466bc the “famous c40108093a Sir Klaus” 0224e93958 with hearts 250174fa5f in their 0bf35e2332 eyes.e3a8cf1261b3b550

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[Still, we hope you become a blissful couple, so we picked a gift that might help. They say this is the most popular series right now!]

Still smiling, Azniel turned 3cac30f4e4 her gaze to the a5faed0bce “gift” mentioned. Annie, who’d 38901f181f been watching 7379a54bcd all along, d06e389c9c let out fe5b1d1538 a suspiciously 7ed00fdca9 amused hum.123bea616cb3ec06

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“My lady, 4636a2c179 your friends 5db11d9ba9 are quite… 114bac3d89 spirited, aren’t e60a89d5b5 they?”4d05a85c637aeb8d

“Pardon?”3b22ff685bed4c4a

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Annie lifted one 9cd2623f33 of the items b53d5a7bab from the bundle—and 89f8a125f4 the cover practically 1609f33126 glowed with embarrassment.c93b699a87a00c4a

“The Countess Can’t Be 6c2e2e1c86 Satisfied…?””5c41d895ce65e3fc

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Rainy Nights in 91640d9738 the Duke’s Castle
The Passionate ee1e705686 Bedroom of d962c8351a the Duke ead72f52b5 and His f2c5dfa2d3 Wife
The Knight 0440d6947e I’ll Never b556c71a42 Forgetd9b9722cf63725a5

Azniel couldn’t 549ca8f534 begin to 7d4ab040cc guess what 63dfe7218c the titles 29d1b7a4d5 meant, but 472b7020ca the illustrated ee35bcd23a covers were a7afaecb4c clue enough. Her cheeks flushed fe00e90cf2 hot with realization.c7f0ab01f1010f9f

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“N-no, I 98c9bd9e2e didn’t ask bd607671e1 for these…!”9377b83e254e100e

“Oh, what’s the 6c05e14bce harm? Maybe noble ladies 55431d9de4 don’t admit to dd98026ba0 it, but we ba9c5d2eab commoners learn plenty d6537f952d from these romance f4cf5177d2 novels.”6dbe50569920867e

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Perhaps because a03f5bff8e Azniel—usually so c0d89bdab5 composed—was blushing c4f3263f09 furiously, Annie 36b3363fdb took the 6166dcd0f4 rare chance bb8b85465f to tease 52aa2cfe89 her with 3b54999df6 even more d4f89e29ed flair.32e1b8dd8ed637e1

“Whoever picked them has 4ae354a0c6 great taste. All the classics! I guess you 4a842787b2 wouldn’t know, but 55e95fc131 honestly, they’re essential 58f080162c reading before the 06762328b6 wedding night.”ce3aa342c91f2246

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“Annie…!”e314396dbf8ac523

Azniel was so 5945d3e75c overwhelmed she nearly 552c1362b3 blurted out the 5e325635dd truth about the ae0d7727ca contract.b41c32eb50e18ee5

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There’s no af8744ed24 clause requiring 6302e65f9c children, and 51862b1896 the one d4d0727a53 about conjugal b0e43e298a nights clearly 2ebe27c78a says it’s b5b95811f3 up to 90d987a1cd me. I don’t even need dbb82155f6 to know about these 9d6e369eef kinds of things…!d2a70839cbc27940

She held 495bdd6006 her face, 71e445281a flushed and ace945c328 hot, trying ba6a5c11e7 to press 75fb1eda26 the panic 8d3e98f043 away with 7f0393fa98 her palms.6f49b0dc56cc6baf

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Knock knock.54be79d9614c775a

“I’m coming in.”e25425bf5b091feb

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A voice rang out—without 61dc9210f6 waiting for permission—and someone d82916dd76 stepped into the sitting c2f480e18a room.a89aa1aea64d48c8

“Azniel, if you’re free d9fceee9f6 right now—”f4efba64552124b6

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Annie scrambled to clear cc5b4dd458 the books from the a735f800e8 table, but the long 45bcf6937a legs of the uninvited e4aefcb0bb guest had already stepped eb9ec6f712 onto the carpet.248d73b57e170437

“Ah, that aacc809915 is, I—”5be7b474cdd021e5

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Thump.535b9f7b9c6dcc7b

Annie hiccupped ba04ca6cb1 as one 0204ff90f3 book tumbled 43591892aa from her 302b47d50d arms.95f5a6c56845814f

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The Passionate Bedroom a9b576e7ad of the Duke 180e176186 and His Wife7e6207ad5409b89d

“…”f5e0452edd47ee4d

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“…”7344423bad03f029

“…”f9948e258fe87b49

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Time froze 46108447cc under the 974a3647dc crushing silence.b9696abec031855e

“W-well then! I’ll just—go sort 2e0f890fec some things upstairs!”848dc181fb484a0e

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Annie barely 5488fd4f29 managed to f36c0999b8 snatch the c49366ba8b book up 5f3898dcc5 and, flustered 7f9deec574 beyond belief, 6156f41cd3 bolted out 3ed2c13673 of the 7d37bc82fc room. The door clicked 5dcfceb1ea shut behind her, 81821fa0b5 leaving a heavy, 6a06dd7643 awkward stillness in 821fe96ec8 her wake.f50580b51af0281a

The first 6aa8f7af58 to speak—barely—was 8fb1c6944b Klaus.de92e76c3e0978e2

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“…My apologies. I didn’t think—this is feb54433b8 the sitting room, after 703e44ddf1 all.”25fd72d927b2c233

“N-no, it’s fine. It is 2dd02af52d your house, ec292ab4e1 Klaus…”df61de023bb4d000

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“No, really. I’ll be more f5d680febb careful next time.”0216c81da01fca6e

Clears throat.2735a4e472f11e08

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He let out 4741705bc9 a faint, unnecessary cd44f29c3f cough. In truth, 27c3ab75e0 it had b3e298ee07 been a 89b904ec91 long time f216eac40f since he’d ac7437f5d0 lived with 5b84689ce2 anyone—Jerome had a183169113 managed his 9c36d2f225 flat in 8215443452 Laffen for 8fcc04f200 years, and 0775ff5a70 Ian had a322e3436b handled the 9e2623f97d Ashfeld estate, 6a2826b210 but having 7437cd0e5d someone not fdd5f2cbac in his e510e2e48f employ living 8b09a4d146 under the 1e11ee4a76 same roof 85ec1e53d3 was… different. And this was af73ae27de his arranged bride, a754a9eb1e no less—someone he 8e9efac32a had barely seen 777c073f8e in the ten 3b9087a2c0 days since she 65436173be arrived.dec5a3b77f24c5ca

“So, um, 2734cd7f9d was there c0288e9b53 something you f7af85c1d0 needed?”165eafad407fa658

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“Ah, yes…”1ffd03308843734e

Still looking aba7cb7f10 slightly flustered, b42f0feb75 Klaus finally d3b17ba78a got to a2b66e04bc the point.b70c1080bcef46f6

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“Would you like to 4641180f9d go out today?”3af4ec40f6279feb

“Go out…?”f1d7bf9060e4e775

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“It’s the weekend. I thought… maybe f907147ead we should go 6701fb208a on a date.”5641581d787380b6

“…A date?”df676598ba9dcbf6

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It was a word b30d4fd775 Azniel had never thought 00afbdeeb4 would have anything to 36f2fe68dd do with her life. She echoed it back 99772a7f8e slowly, like a foreign c2fb766ee3 term.55cefa853c18d2a0

* * *c0804dd8d72379b6

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“Today’s magic car looks bb504caf65 different from the last b67b8aa5fd one.”c444803e059e4f78

About an hour 4aab35b554 later, when Azniel ee82a9a69f stepped outside fully 7036c8e6f5 dressed, what awaited 0b08138d89 her at the 7a0f764fa4 entrance was a d0a270260b sleek black magic 6ecd9d71d6 car, ornately detailed c7095222e9 with gold leaf 3706bda35c embellishments.d2ea9a045a915cad

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“Yes. For the Holy 6f8f5e0cd4 Kingdom, I chose 6911120edc something more understated… 6e8e0f84f4 but Laffen City 78529b1008 is a spectacle 6cea1af9c5 of extravagance. In that world, 7adbf2eccb the most eye-catching c145e6869d thing should be 5869dc1fef the head of 7867bf139d Antagon.”5f1e436c6be4de04

Klaus’s lips b2c99c851e curled into 0b9bf26a12 a smirk. The dimple that showed a7bf8e0fd6 only on one side 5431c68783 reminded her faintly of 1158051b63 the boy he used 75c1b5ec5d to be—unexpectedly stirring a e7de54f1b9 sense of familiarity.0e9b010f5ff36146

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As he 316c5f3293 took Azniel’s 6368b7bd7d hand to 8a36eb2c37 help her 556c272011 into the 30dad8a347 vehicle, he a01f1aca5c added, “Later, 1c9ffaaa5f I’ll have d0ed0a2933 Jerome show 445d17906d you the c3468026a6 garage out 4aee963057 back. We use different cars abac766015 depending on the destination, 850e095379 the status of the 1e21dd8efe guests, and the purpose 978505a29b of the meeting.”34419d699612c875

“…I’ll make 1dad240a4a a note 8e5e6df306 of that.”6d364021ff0120f0

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Azniel’s choice of 20432e536b words was stiff—make a3fcd35e25 a note, like 9e2bed1fb8 she were logging 6bd4326c25 a report. Something about it rubbed acab5ba84d Klaus the wrong way, 034080ee37 and on a whim, 4e91c7f829 he added:f645e7b5ab58ca5b

“You know, you 8f15db205b shouldn’t speak so a08f0a4f48 formally once we’re b7dbf81d48 in the city.”eaaba4778f34bd5c

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“Ah, yes…”5e9952f2f79f05c1

“Didn’t those romance novels 270e20f762 cover that kind of cb1ec67975 thing?”de7895704f75d975

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 0cd38ddf33e54762

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