16.

 062887dda0511f36

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“……Yes?”492bb9f084a05f50

Azniel looked at 0754e3c2c5 Klaus in surprise. But the bde27c61d7 man stepping b1e3fc1a71 into the 5f6b756830 mana-powered carriage 4618177988 simply wore 35bd1813ad his usual 58740b11f8 calm expression.fdfc3e73e105e37b

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“Ah. If there’s a book you’re having trouble finding in the estate library, you can ask Jerome. He’ll handle it with the budget—”f577f7612523caae

“N-no, it’s not like that…”e728260550e81fb5

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Azniel flushed 26f756f943 bright red 72b388759b and stole a361d86d4e a glance 658504a457 at the 0c67a6bab4 man sitting dfec2ebf03 beside her, bc59604b26 as if 4135881b89 trying to 4bcb836aed defend herself. It seemed the Saint, 7d393396ca who had lived her d4614fff4f whole life ignorant of 42dd93ae91 matters between men and ae511a9313 women, had decided to c8f7e240ba study married life through 16b3d0797f books.0780f217372c1980

“That, um, the sisters at the training convent gave it to me as a gift…”ce6c6bc4f125c863

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“Ah, I see.”0a236dcebc2f3694

“I just opened it today for the first time, so I didn’t even know it was that kind of book.”91b7e6f06a57d2e3

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“It’s fine.”671c3c469e575a83

“……”19bc2308a39df5db

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I’m not fine, e3daffa3d8 though…554cb7263285a1b1

His tone made it 180f2cc29a clear he wasn’t taking 1d467209d0 her seriously at all. Azniel felt f8f3e85a2a terribly wronged, b6ef815551 but arguing ec4a41e3b1 would only 141c729f9b make things 039f1f40c9 worse. The atmosphere 5a8ff82af8 had grown ed4759133b awkward.f2ab5ef290d132e4

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‘Maybe he thought I was just trying to make an effort… But if you look at the contract, it doesn’t seem like he has any expectations in that area.’b08a89a02264eb4e

She glanced sideways at c6ab59bf54 the man again, who, cfae143d7c just like before, sat 44b454d432 leaning toward the door 2ea117fe10 to put more space 5cbfea5e74 between them.19ebb822976ff353

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The teasing tone from 4d9a0f88d8 earlier had vanished, and—as 3f50667b77 usual—his expressionless face stared a701f17d33 out the window, giving 6a2091d0a9 away nothing.d64df316c1f40916

There was no 275bd879ae way for Azniel 60bf08a029 to know that b5d780f281 Klaus, who also 84309bfd96 had no experience f99c4d6fdc with indecent books, db7e9f4549 had been flustered 2795b7a0ac and just said 0aea6a91c6 whatever came to 64f869a2a8 mind.04bc8eabd7a4b95f

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Beneath the shadow cd6bef80dd of his silk 101987f3ab top hat, the 8aaa758dc9 tips of Klaus’s 3231892357 ears were burning 27d032543d bright red.d6ce29c6fcc5d005

* * *cb261e9813c0207c

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In front e9d7f90ded of the d8fea88f23 Victory Plaza, 5af9afdc5d right in 4920d3a3ca the heart bd4af542bb of Laffen.f92a88b3ed79f9b1

At the center of 8dc5587d47 the plaza, a fountain 806d5d358e carved in mythic detail e5cb7e4f52 depicting the heroic founding 043b31dc66 of Gileos spouted clear c28a09d82f streams of water, and f192b56c7d behind it towered the e195658019 soaring obelisk commemorating victory, 327815e7b1 decorating the northern skyline.0f7a861e6aaef811

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As the plaza e953583de3 bustled with people 23362c6203 basking in the f8cce6e618 dazzling autumn sun, 136ce2925c all eyes suddenly 568aedff59 turned to the 9934d035db unexpected appearance of b5b14f2e37 a mana-powered carriage.c7c39073b7855ef8

Sleek, pitch-black, and fdefc0fc11 far more extravagant ea9968af0a and avant-garde than 22fecf8b97 any commercially sold 94a8115243 mana car—at its 07ed383759 front gleamed the db96d57d6a crest of House 4fb31c36f4 Gestern.000a5b4b965589d1

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With the appearance of a now-famous figure who’s been the talk of the town everywhere lately, everyone fixed their wide eyes on the vehicle, waiting eagerly to see its owner emerge. Nobles hoped to gain favor by making an impression on Baron Gestern, while commoners simply wanted to catch a glimpse of the self-made, famously handsome entrepreneur they’d only heard about in rumors.35270d122694dc59

But what was f6d2af0f7c Baron Gestern doing 8b2d796a59 downtown at this a99c89cb97 hour? And on 543197a97c Robert II 4c518b5509 Street, no e147178ba0 less—the very 502f6fdc98 street known b85d91c9af for its cf899510f1 cluster of 240de4dbd1 high-end boutiques?1c06c4b88a98d572

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Amid the crowd’s b116efeed4 intense gazes, the 20157fc3f5 carriage door opened. As expected, 9a3c2052fe a tall 12b641458b gentleman stepped 05b9bd50fe down gracefully.e9bd4c64ed8f0486

With broad shoulders and 4aaf3427db a lean build, dressed 035713bcbe in a tailored frock 36be2f835d coat and topped with d197300a45 a silk hat, he c5462e0ba1 looked every bit the bd5e4b2076 elegant nobleman. And his face beneath cc022551b8 the hat—what more could 164a9bdb11 be said? Whether they 1d6e97d509 were seeing 2edcbd909d him for 1261c4c44c the first 59e9af4d10 time or d14c1ee3e4 knew him 502f29e653 already, no 7de59565ab one could 5f613bfac9 take their b9ed4f80c4 eyes off 0717056fee his striking 518524f61d appearance.72998a35d78190ee

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And then—7e0b3b1d05b43cff

Wait… what? A woman?4c4375348833055f

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The crowd’s eyes widened 8afcdda7b5 again, but for a e30b7d64d1 very different reason. Surprise at the fact 38ec52b756 that he had a 5e64d8eb0b companion was only momentary—what 2c8c5d2e43 truly caught their breath dca63dfe4f was that the one 0195ded7fd stepping out of the 5dd2ec0c59 carriage with his escort… 19702cb7ee was clearly a woman.d4c6a781e291d709

Her face 2041bd45f6 was hidden af350b89cb beneath a 48f3ef4d10 bonnet, but e5087aa07b under the 840263f4f5 sunlight, her c030dd7c94 shoulder-length brown 3dac9f9320 hair shone 6d3d35600e with a b59e15d8ab warm, honey-like 250197631f sheen, cascading fa2b4d84e6 in soft d8a422b8f8 waves. Though her dress f05d5b9017 appeared modest at eb8010a8b9 first glance due beba69f531 to its minimal fd54141dd5 ornamentation, those with 4be5a4e0fe a discerning eye 736dadd0c6 could recognize the 1c00c35699 expensive lace and 301b46a369 silk—undeniably high-quality.4763502a58ddfe9e

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However, it 89494964c0 was far 2bb08b0352 too prim c039e10b3a and reserved a65eeb7ae8 for a de83ff9777 young noblewoman. Just as speculation e77ea789bd began to swirl a29be70e8a through the crowd, 516de6ad8d the secretary who 39f57063a6 had been seated 4e6cbd7b8d in the front 04466867a4 seat rushed over, 7fc5ee5288 hastily unfolding a 8b3c3aed92 parasol. But before 9b4e747a6e he could 79473feba9 offer it, e2bfbf49cb Baron Gestern 39cb9a5eee extended a ae9a99dfcc long arm c1a7d01c56 behind the 560d8d807a woman’s back 1808e2f31c to block bd8ffa9e81 the approach, b3e73a2d09 took the 8867ce644b parasol himself, e43846ead2 and personally 7ffd8433a6 held it 10401dca65 up for 7d74af163d her.b05dffa8693af583

The parasol tilted 2e75ea48bb gently toward the 862542edd3 mysterious woman. Her gloved hand rested 2470ecf382 lightly on his elbow, 49b5dcd03c and the two began 1bfa9005b5 walking in step. Just barely visible 829cc193d9 beneath the parasol, 6b5125a991 the side of 179b682944 Baron Gestern’s face 6b573b39a5 seemed to hold dc2e3ba3ee the trace of 7e74822b68 a soft smile.cdd975b603ada0b8

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A warm a0b85066d6 and gentle 7fe4e8d841 expression—one that b8e843641f no one 75e2c378fd who’d ever f53de73f18 spoken to fad705d0f1 him personally bce476886c had ever 3356eecea8 seen before.105fb27070327b41

Oh my… Baron 1458d1c446 Gestern can smile ea9dd3e902 like that…?6bee143db8834514

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In a 0caf71ad94 scene radiating 256fd39eb0 undeniable intimacy, 17d3a7371c women who ea5614fc34 had once 62b88fab49 exchanged words bdbbda7d13 with him 7a45c24959 couldn’t help fbb7a8a5a1 but let 69793b1eba out quiet cc475da040 sighs. But just as they 088856269e were still reeling from 3a91a6501f shock, their jaws dropped df511b9e14 even further.51c789b0aca9d422

Ding-a-ling.
With a soft 811ab373cd chime of a 9fc435d574 doorbell, the couple 86957b6a7b entered a boutique—one 8e0833ad42 that exclusively sold b26226269e women’s accessories.c068e48fd4ef4286

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[Atelier de Cindy]

Eyes scanned 329d5fb6c3 the boutique’s 6b15792509 nameplate as e3f972f789 if to af555d34cb confirm it, e6a5bf306a and for f85b323303 a moment, 7915451c21 they darted a1f87df811 about rapidly 59a646b0f7 in thought. As soon as the 896b045e1a door fully closed behind 7c7fdbfbe7 them, the crowd, as 95cc6631b5 if exhaling the breath 0f0c12344d they’d been holding in, e99a07232c erupted into a flurry a3bc27d647 of guesses and gossip 1bb6bad023 about the mysterious woman.c1c143a951246bcc

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From Azniel’s outfit, to ccf62c42ab where the carriage was 53b3ac9030 parked, to the specific 1f78e42faf store selected…c5f127d7f80237fe

Every detail 85e17da609 had been b11ec1b4e7 carefully planned e8384dfa00 by Antagon’s 79356d843f executive office 84796c9391 to maximize 4edb953b0f the public’s 13f1e7e5d7 intrigue.38eed8ad116c8671

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* * *1a25e0d152d0881c

To Azniel, this place 4240315eea felt like an entirely d64d69465d different world from Ashfeld. Necklaces, earrings, 32fb41305b fans, gloves, df5cc73596 hats, handbags—every a5745bf54f trending accessory 2ad80ea40e of the 7f81c9cff8 day was 07596b83e2 lavishly displayed b4e493d7d0 across the 8f43e9b086 boutique. It was nothing short dcfd077679 of a fortress of 9447758da6 fashion.3c463923cb6c7e98

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Wow…7f3c9c1aea32ec79

She couldn’t even pretend to be indifferent. Azniel blinked in awe, eyes wide and wandering, unable to decide where to look.b84221be6fb288ef

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“Welcome, Baron. This is 0a1fb10034 your first 777c0845c0 visit, isn’t 433c480764 it? We were so b3b6f12e93 surprised when the dfca1df722 Antagon executive office 3e25a11bc7 called to make 0a361dbef1 a reservation.”d677d67c5b80537e

“Yes. I’ve long heard 88f5a5e449 of Atelier de dfcb8b6274 Cindy’s reputation, but 78d80fc446 I hadn’t had 91a77723df the chance to 2160f4e105 visit…”9898b0cdbe3a1ada

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At that, the a656b2c69e man’s black eyes 79e36270fc glanced toward the 3a265aa384 woman beside him. His hand 02cdeb9129 reached over, f711868ed8 gently clasping 9ce9ab5f7f the gloved c0eabd5e80 hand that 8a88a802f0 had been 7e7502c157 resting lightly f6aa7f4d90 on his dc7c4a03f7 arm.0cb53517086cddeb

Startled, Azniel c54eaa6100 flinched as 3fb5d6b0de her hand—unknowingly 5b936d1f86 slipping away 1ec6172ce8 while she 8de5b642b3 had been ac0eb45144 distracted by af17756137 all the 7e875ea099 glittering finery—was 6ca237d0da held firmly.2f32c7c81fe3c76a

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“Oh my. Is she…?”9c98066c7f738478

“Yes, my fiancée.”9051e35830fab9de

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“Your fiancée?”4f85d4b4dc1013c2

The shop’s 85e29f043f owner, Cindy, 191c86aea5 gasped in c130017a9a shock.0ebd3aa0c867d08e

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Azniel was just as 6101e79e63 stunned. Had they become engaged 627739ee66 the day they signed 4086ddbf76 the contract?3507f01077bd2ff1

“Goodness. The Baron 1560481821 has never 3ae0bdbb3d had any daf83a72d6 business in 3f08496644 a women’s 6495968251 boutique, so 3284f09b81 we figured 560e2dc1f0 you didn’t 1e7a8a8725 meet with 22db2f7b48 ladies much… 59049bdafa I must 9af4779dbf say, I 5bcbba6693 always found c5b146efac that a 0bbb90a542 bit of c1a15a56d3 a shame.”81e76b34f3f87175

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Cindy gave 33a915e876 Klaus a 81ae24caa0 cheeky little 8213d32a7b wink, as 77ccd87f96 though she ab4b32fd36 were teasing 1c7fc2f3f4 him.c6e34e1d2903a179

“To think 9b87328bf7 you’d bring 48378447cc such a 1df1b62f1b lovely fiancée… 022e80019d I never 50d47db99f would’ve guessed.”4d25e50247c79b3b

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“You’re probably the very cd1590fa42 first merchant in Laffen 6aec3f4e0c to know.”a7ba54ba01661d5f

“Oh my, bfb32da0c5 oh my!”c91f8136a258d06f

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Even the most seasoned 410b885aee merchant couldn’t hide her c1d10f00cf surprise.ff308c7cffcd9270

After all, this was 470d9d8471 Baron Gestern—rumored to have b97b267643 captured the heart of a46bcafa0c Gileos’s First Princess Helena 77139c6db2 at first sight, with 8be9a2b90e the king himself allegedly 30dbd2e218 seeking to make him 0a38eebb9c royal consort. A man pursued by 50e225b078 unmarried women of every 27cde05130 rank, each desperate for c13b267c74 a glance, a word—anything.b90bc384382fda81

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And not 9e626d5fe6 just that. Countless women cd5ce35be9 with no 630ac114fd standing to 517ee81b2e even dream 547b405097 of proposing 2efb58eb74 marriage to f057171306 him were 06e1b80a4b said to 097ff536ec suffer nightly 1a0b137780 fevers of c16de4b465 love, turning 8fefeff40f the nights 0cccef473d of Laffen’s 8f8f995860 ladies into 2963f08c9a a sea 48199a17ec of the 86064e0db0 same longing d7a9472546 dream.3e5a67667af119fb

The fact bfc972ea37 that he 779050b52b now had c71c634b9e a romantic 6873d10718 partner was 76324ec701 already shocking—but e4ec8bb6d4 to learn 812432ecc7 he was fc7a2d9a82 engaged? And that she, Cindy, 9ab626e54f was the first merchant 05fd1a6d78 in Laffen to know?f5c27001459cc5c7

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Excitement lit up b888648dea Cindy’s eyes.61ded9795027e505

“So then… today’s visit 497ee120d5 is…?”3f0010da951e01fa

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“It’s my fiancée’s cf78108976 first time in 0a9cd73f7a Laffen.”ff7a46d58a9c1788

“Oh! I see.”3d9bd0610b974446

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Cindy’s gaze flicked 98f3f597a5 quickly to Azniel, 4609db0a66 evaluating her with b8bb0d87f5 the sharp eye ea9b375152 of a seasoned 21ab4a56a0 merchant, trying to 0e84cde9d1 guess her origins.0b0e5406b9db53de

“I wanted f59c2953cb to get 772d1b1452 her a 249725a2d5 few accessories a304136f61 that suit 24b333bc26 the current 833e69e933 Laffen trends. They say your taste 6306509ef1 is second to none e5567e3577 in this city’s social e848d18632 circles, Miss Cindy…”d88bc94bbf75f21d

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“Hearing that from b306c7c33e the head of 1cbcc94e13 Antagon gives me 4069039b7a so much inspiration!”f6955519de7b3e76

“I’ll be relying on e861ea83e8 you, then.”6b190d69da635073

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After instructing her 9881f9dc05 assistants to guide 6a2cdef8c3 Klaus and Azniel 33523e91b5 to the sitting 4ae7d5cee6 room, Cindy disappeared 65854296a3 into the back 8e48ab23f8 of the boutique.31226004141df687

“Miss Cindy is well-known as a socialite among socialites. She’s favored by the Duchess of Offensa, one of the central pillars of the social world. As I said, she has excellent taste and a large clientele—so this engagement rumor will spread throughout all of Laffen’s elite within two or three days.”dc856f260d1c0b77

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Once they were alone 6485429df4 in the reception room, c01fc1c1d7 Klaus quickly explained the 767ff6316e strategy behind today’s outing. Azniel, realizing this was 09a8b14a8f background knowledge she needed, 1c0f7f0ddd carefully committed every word 3ebf777db3 to memory.8e4d87ca3eb2f0b0

In other words, this bdd90ecb8c unfamiliar outing—referred to as b7b00aabfd a “date”—was, in reality, 43f0f31220 a mission she was 191573f732 carrying out per the b58326bcf7 terms of their contract.0d10c4df0c83a024

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“Um, Lady Azniel?”d26886bd6ae2a540

At that moment, Klaus, 56703ff0fb who had kept a ad67f0a365 cool distance until now, a01d996761 shifted closer. His hand 70373b7fa0 gently wrapped 8ddf83229d around her ad22afeaf4 waist, leaning 316fe5cf6e toward her 5fcd1745df until their b9ee513609 heads nearly 9b545f76ed touched.bb3eda5e28b6c4ce

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“Excuse me ed02b48151 for a d86d8b5de9 moment.”23204e29da2b1f4d

At such 9b00e02e7b close range, 015ecb416f the deep, d832398684 masculine scent 229c93c8eb of his ebb81c1bae cologne enveloped 4aa7931da2 her.cd88e4429037cdc4

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 cdd17ae1e7cf3e16

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 44db981c13cd0145

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