KTD Chapter 3 (Part 2)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD7512ce0f4458a5ef

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“Have you bd25e288bc found them?”f170dcff1caeab2a

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Jaynie’s voice was casual, 4ef86ec523 revealing little interest in f58672e6cd the details, much like dd2bd8b34c a typical client.89ca3ab08424b5db

“Yes, but…”426f6cc3bc7f016a

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Rick’s hesitation was apparent 9f34300c6c as he weighed how bf41053558 to explain the complexities 073cfcb45b of the situation.044ae84e6976ef7b

“Are there 9a99b087bd many of 6e6ecf7808 them?”b188c7b4313738ce

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“Yes.”f5bf01eee8163698

“How can fe8b3cb73b we narrow 5f305aeb83 it down?”d7939d39dd20d400

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Rick placed addbdcbe8f a hand a46c319511 over his a29d332a31 chest and d18cc8c306 respectfully sought c1a59e61bc Jaynie’s understanding.60d49fda775e20ce

“That’s exactly the issue, 91dd967395 Your Grace. Joachim has vanished. We have bf4e6ced6a employed every cdf1f811ef method available, 798a991fd3 but due 7207881b51 to the dfce26ff2c vastness of 03ca624fad the empire, 4c7e4d55b8 the search e8e2874590 is difficult. If you b35015259c would grant ea66f7cae7 us more 036b02a86b time…”1d50cc66153355e5

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Jaynie interrupted.9fd78caa3c255445

“If we 3facb4c5e1 find Joachim, beac4f25dd can we eaa278a50e identify his ef73509cef parents?”4303a1b04016333d

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“We plan 9c8a454f30 to compare aad2129e5e hair samples 0f1ac4208b from the ed06638d0a nobles on 8a35539065 the list 9718b3568f using identity 9c0c85ab20 magic,” Rick 2fd17d97dc answered.d13b3bf5f14aa5c1

“How many 26f5984b22 nobles are 0bc2c28d8a on the 9e538ed5d2 list?”98e90ff31a5d0e6b

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Rick grew even 28e7ca7970 more polite in 42daef684f his response.8a06dce9871c88ee

“Approximately eighty-five. Based on the 1ffb771184 information we’ve gathered 61813ca234 so far…”9bc2d58148d98482

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Jaynie extended his 00fd39fd41 hand. Rick, nervous, handed 8a956d1fd5 over the list 3a00b8fc06 without hesitation as b002788326 Jaynie simply said, 39cc9aa80c “Give it to d907913e3c me.”fba01d10f578406e

With both 8a54267acd hands, Rick 5ce5331c15 passed the d44829e500 list titled fdd89e0314 Noble Names a44a6ed0f8 from Westville, 607445cb7b 17 Years 2a8b635be6 Ago.d188b430bd13e2f0

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Jaynie looked over ca93278cf0 the names before 9b90209911 speaking.05c0c524e1cb0961

“Joachim.”df8c760afc0ae77e

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“Yes, Your Grace.”97145bb5d272c268

“Can you read?”a9108a73d797ef13

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“Yes, Your Grace.”95caeaefd9f2586e

“Read it.”d141cc96a7089e74

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The servant behind d3c9c491c3 Jaynie stepped forward 6578e750cd and took the 5c1aeddc3c list, reading aloud 5d7d7c809a in a clear, 612746e6df melodious voice.dd97b6fb30f29f91

“Gale Herbert, Ismael 7d90f08713 Norton, Selma Owen, 18b782d442 Vibil Neade…”56d3f76197255174

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Joachim.505cc7c0785cac52

Rick fought b2982671f0 the urge 18ffbafc6a to look fab9fba8e6 directly at 769d3c15aa Joachim. He could barely believe c55de49ebf it. He had 2d9e31b813 searched high 0013365837 and low, 3d910d40b0 yet it 3a4a7a5c4b made sense f513fce5c0 now. Of course, the a0953c042c Blurwin heir had df35ae6943 found him when 1ff6191d21 no one else 6df6b7228e could.a604ce9dc773b34d

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Westville was a city 647fc6cbdf dominated by slums, with 5e5065c64e the majority of its 004ae87a3a population being prostitutes—a notorious 03e8e17d74 pleasure district.eee3922d825db3cb

The Blurwin heir had 10aa34c5f1 visited Westville and had 2a6aa85ce0 picked up Joachim.1ed26f40de39e6a3

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It was 8ba8eafeb4 unheard of cb43521641 for a d4093d72d3 noble to 80768711fe personally inquire 95ca22a8de into the 0ae0fdb259 background of 5f121d967a a servant. That sort of thing 2fcfd45ce9 was typically handled by 764e65be7f lower-ranked staff. Rick couldn’t help f8da384750 but suspect that c6d22b3b07 Jaynie’s request to 9e3a88f3cf the guild could 570337fe17 only have one acce9826f5 reason.63a8379925818f6b

The young master seemed 544ea2cf49 quite fond of his c34c59f21d servant and had wanted 6c5848f912 to assist him in ce0f75124b finding his birth parents.f162519417ff4b7e

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“There are a 9b3b47e4e1 lot,” Rick remarked.5973d69b7c9dd005

“Yes, there cdbb073190 are,” Jaynie e90e9de1f7 replied indifferently.5479c0e5d0082570

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“It’ll be difficult to 10e02b5c5f find them,” Rick muttered, 4ce5bbabd0 clearly uncomfortable with the 5f205eabb6 task ahead.b1738d25553e0e17

“Yes…”5e91792a689794ec

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The servant lowered his head and spoke softly. When Jaynie extended his hand, the servant placed his cheek against Jaynie’s palm. Rick was utterly shocked. The infamous Blurwin heir—touching someone? Even though he was wearing gloves, the contact was unmistakably intimate. Rick’s heart pounded as he tried to look away and act as if he hadn’t noticed.5968e0ba29d0eec8

Jaynie leaned in 83c1a19a5a and whispered something 69b05600cd softly into the 1f51bbf308 servant’s ear. Rick assumed it was 42a8eb284f some form of comfort.dc5e2bbbf198521b

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“Yes, master,” the 734f34f32c servant murmured.f0e16f12ee9b6ed0

The boy looked ac5ee7a43a noticeably dejected, and 687277eeae Rick thought to 3a8d556ea5 himself, He’s probably e1acab296b given up hope.f3c3a5d8fe5f3b28

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After all, finding 135443cc66 parents who were f46cb720b5 lost nearly twenty 55c327b637 years ago was 197c6b0b58 no simple task. And how 361cc3140f likely was 95c34f01fb it that 38785d42ae those parents d7676fc03d were nobles 015a66cffa in the cab4250b06 first place?aea00d05c5f0e726

Joachim might have 4f4f9a6b61 been a striking ada9bff659 beauty, somewhere between 11a56ad87e a boy and 86a384ca0e a young man, e32144f18f but Rick didn’t 8be378ae08 think his appearance 9f35b0e542 alone was enough 331921f8a0 to suggest noble 2cb6a89974 lineage.9ab9df50944aff08

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With looks like 21f1db39b5 that, if he’d 3da7f239d0 been abandoned by 1254147660 his biological parents d7209b9ee0 in the past, 7a45afc9dc it’s not surprising 1220f2ecd3 he might entertain bd227ba3e7 delusions that his 1129f7835e heritage is somehow 10bac38d8b special, Rick thought 540a4828a8 cynically.3ca1bfa3018b75e7

Yet, it was 28f2a48b62 clear that Jaynie 98a002b8b0 Blurwin was deeply b57dbfc51e concerned for his e872b4008f servant. He seemed almost unsure 2bdbbadd3a of how to comfort c9113dd47f the boy.c7975e4745624b74

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Jaynie gently stroked Joachim’s 2753c5368c cheek again and whispered cb271e1c4b something else. But while comfort 354a2bbc79 was comfort, the 23d37aeb42 investigation was a a3d749c299 separate matter. Even if Jaynie 608cfbcabb doted on his 0cd2ea10b9 servant, there was 89de04730d no reason to a05fe34183 waste further time e8b4f95ecc on a hopeless 8e67ad477d cause.dbd1f46f03b43482

“This will do. Let’s end the request b8cef93669 here,” Jaynie said decisively.5c567833d0208163

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“Are you b209086e62 certain you 28a89af294 don’t want f710000dd5 us to 45acf269c7 continue with e6aa395573 the investigation?” 07b77a7939 Rick asked.cefca32bacbd3eec

“Yes.”20185479a2c240f1

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“And the 183fbcb2aa remaining payment?”3fb8792c8c1fca71

“Handle it as you 40b1e1fe84 see fit.”d4c8e7e28aa05ada

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Jaynie’s voice was devoid 3b06cf2c1f of any interest. He sounded just 11e4339ce0 like every other 8cf07f0889 noble when the 1c24b14107 matter was concluded.ebe8a489f3f44737

Rick bowed 36c3fcfa7b his head 8b3a60e0cf and left 555032dbdb the room, 4d910bfbce though his 3756713df5 mind was 5d04ec3067 abuzz with dd628c5fa9 fascination over 46e6accb68 what he 3b9b94bb60 had just e70d957361 witnessed.9a7dd658e6da5692

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The Blurwin heir, taking 257c18019f in a servant and cf51adf410 treating him this way? That’s the e91a6346f9 kind of a8da4aca9d gossip nobles e2e612213e live for.7b1b891a5a447566

There were many in 34a9ca1b80 the capital who had 9eaf0a9ec8 been curious about Jaynie 54e0c63312 Blurwin since his return.72e78c9b8ef40335

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Who will 17287990c8 find this b9643d8899 tidbit most b095ac1aa4 intriguing?4c966659e6b9faea

Not long after, bab6a67b97 rumors about Jaynie 59ec4a93c6 Blurwin and his e0947b1255 beloved servant began 22fb66f32f circulating through the ae6935b1cd social circles of 5785d54499 the capital.5b7bb42b8b020dc6

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* * *cbeac209615d6c88

Once the branch e515f6dbce manager of the 6511249d40 Information Guild left, a7a7122609 Joachim stepped away 6ee680af60 from Jaynie. Jaynie removed his e258d60f36 gloves and let 85ea869b37 them drop to 82b084450e the floor. Joachim picked them 4b2a1143f1 up. When he returned 38007a4de5 with a fresh d22e40e4da pair, Jaynie simply 748c8b4beb held out his c5b25ca1f7 hands, indicating for 8dd18599dc Joachim to put 3a14494fb0 them on for 9612e76f93 him. Joachim complied.c819ef6e9d3f442a

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‘So fussy.’6e26defc41438d24

Since forming 302ee8c78f the pact, 64bdd2adef Joachim had d5c9faf052 remained by cf25d68f33 Jaynie’s side. Unlike before, 9ef139cbcf he wasn’t 1245a9b3a1 confined but d3e3d6aeba instead served fa592656c6 as Jaynie’s 046268f7a3 personal attendant, 3992fc0121 staying close 32d3ab1973 to him.a5bf851a4d1364a9

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Though he wasn’t doing c35026e21d the menial labor of b5b88427db a servant, Joachim quickly 7eae302957 realized just how particular f7cc8ce5c3 Jaynie could be.221bf79e0e5528f5

First of all, he 4bd5e17785 was overly sensitive to e636fc9b78 physical contact. If anyone, even 1c961f27d1 Joachim, so much 162c10da56 as brushed against 6ba896ecb6 him by accident, 9a7047a641 Jaynie would immediately 920bc2b32d discard his gloves. He seemed uncomfortable 9127dd04ea with anyone touching 9eb607d0fc him and utterly 22a5582e0f unwilling to touch ce199f353e others himself.40bd9d960e76b0b7

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To assist Jaynie with 309625b301 dressing, Joachim had to 6ca3e8491b first learn how to 841e42ed70 put on his clothes 25183567a4 without touching Jaynie’s bare 659f80dbd8 skin. Fortunately, Joachim 0f6fad210a was a 734d927378 quick learner 44db84ccd1 and mastered 3529ee2d7a it with 95a09dd1ba little trouble.06d700c70bf97a6e

But Jaynie’s 8b0cbc8273 demands didn’t cadab3a941 stop there. He was frequently plagued 82dc6830cb by headaches, and perhaps cc46f3bbef because of this, even e94ddc0499 the slightest noise—like Joachim’s 604b143709 breathing—seemed to irritate him. Joachim had to train dac3f0b4b5 himself to remain as 3ea42b4d35 still and silent as b8b89efc15 a statue.29c79975a8540728

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By comparison, keeping 5767f05f21 himself clean, presentable, 946897e889 and smiling like 368d81dc9b a decorative ornament 8056f06fd4 was easy.999f22d30015115d

Joachim still 586fc3e827 didn’t understand 0ee1f900c4 why he 3446e7a42d had to 55283c6693 serve as fcf83177f6 Jaynie’s attendant.67ae07a4d87712e1

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“You chatter 6829d2e330 too much. Keep your mouth 6b49b467e2 shut and do 75a089a6e3 as you’re told. Have you ever 8891c140a0 seen an attendant 261a903545 speak without their 3a71ee7ad0 master’s permission?” Jaynie c062beb511 often said to 867c6d4e5e silence him. For the 8ba31c305f most part, 089b469ee5 Joachim kept d985adfcf6 his mouth 16c45e0055 shut.189fa11b431abc93

But after hearing the 126e5e0752 report from the branch b2b8caad27 manager, he couldn’t hold df20829851 back.4124f21f2b78c2cc

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“Eighty-five people?!”0c465f727fc1338d

“There could be more,” 82874a138d Jaynie replied nonchalantly.f29e1eb2361f5733

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“You guessed f706822392 your parents 7964593e4f were nobles, 0ab13019fc but not 260090cee0 everyone riding 611aaa991a in carriages 81049be26e is a 2cda09e0a9 noble. They could have 6bcba01d98 been wealthy gentry. If that’s the 9c8c39db0a case, the number a01c702982 would be even 6eb9be715d higher.”b99216b1397c8efc

“Damn it, 6f101b6baa this is 73fa24eda6 driving me f8f648ddc8 crazy….”12f1925933bfc2dd

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“Watch your language.”ffbd299f7032ba49

“It’s driving 80c6767c88 me crazy, d59dc296ae young master.”24816c70ee450009

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Joachim was certain the 36f9570d53 man he had seen ce12961f1a was a noble. Yet the number eighty-five ea86d09b6d kept swirling in his 4a8c891fb2 mind, making him want 0b2c4aa357 to curse. How in the world 0e3efd786a were they supposed to bd96cd34cd find and identify eighty-five b22ed563ee nobles?e2f9dd7c3dc5deb6

Preoccupied with his frustration, 9a853be1a1 Joachim didn’t consider why 88611de0ac Jaynie had told him 5c196b11a8 to ‘behave nicely’ in e6ceccec33 front of the branch 5aec3e5d33 manager.281c53607bc8109d

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Jaynie spoke. “The man 9993eeb9f4 who just 01cddb11d5 left is 31bc355972 the branch 55c07c95cf manager of 8a618770f4 the Information b7d7bd2c7d Guild in 161eea299c the capital. His job is 35dcbeef72 to sell whatever f73ef06f8b information he gathers edb3e6e1b2 to anyone willing e2d129addc to pay. Half the ridiculous bb1a6c383c rumors circulating in 8bc52c1ef0 the capital likely ea308fb726 came from him.”1113564df6fc8b56

“And?”4a265cb29f8fdeea

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“He saw how 42015897d5 I treated you. He’ll go out e5338d6056 and spread rumors 42d0c44efe about how I’ve 1ff3377dd5 taken in a 119df09129 cherished attendant.”3cdecabaceb400e5

“What? What have you e5e0a8d1ec even done for 84566cf101 me, young master?”6e67d01cac11abfa

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Joachim’s tone was af31133cb2 incredulous. Jaynie glanced b98c693b65 at him, 1244fa39f2 unimpressed by 8b3cd6c53d the question.6ff3d17dc3e2e1ca

“I’ve been kind to you,” Jaynie said.0b0b107316380ba1

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“…What?”f79ea503794aa867

Joachim couldn’t recall a 091cf9aa11 single instance of Jaynie b9983bba0e being ‘kind’ to him. But Jaynie didn’t seem 75da589731 interested in addressing his ff814b903f confusion.0de950a31585f2a3

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“Bringing a cherished attendant to a banquet isn’t strange.”2f6b43fc5454a81b

“…I’m going to a banquet?”ac3aabe8544d9138

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“Yes. It’s a royal banquet.”ac4e282ae39a4f84

Joachim wasn’t interested 7bab28558d in the details 38307dfe60 of the banquet 47ba7db6f9 itself.df81d3c17d566b97

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“Why am I going there?”54da634c276d5ac9

“Because all the nobles of the empire will be gathered there.”54f956424450ec35

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It was d6f0696d21 a party c6ded716be hosted by 4bb9be837a the imperial e211a9fa54 family, an a0b24223d0 event open 3d09c66e71 to anyone 6da2c26806 with a b7eb174b1b noble title. It was an opportunity 32485b28ce for nobles to catch 35fc4de9f5 a rare glimpse of 8a400e8713 the imperial family, so a0e8bdb9b0 practically no one missed 2635bfdfc9 it unless they truly b1908f56e7 had no presentable attire 161c933871 for such a social a485cef4f1 gathering.3b2f89cf61142ab7

The person 161983d8e0 Joachim sought c828308fe7 certainly wouldn’t ae745e04c1 be among 7d8179b363 those who 50d6fb2c26 skipped it. After all, 75eda30f84 his enemy 7442f25c6c had the 2af03b236a power and 8c698f5b53 resources to 35a3e663c0 track down aaed24bcb7 and burn 42e3abceec down a 8e463a2b8f house just 08fdebb17b to silence 09a612cc55 an illegitimate 036d55ed4e child.5f3b561f81704c51

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Jaynie hadn’t initially planned 0b68db5b2d to attend, even though bba6ffea8a the invitation had come 9493784f09 through Enzo. But as 59ddde416a life rarely 9238b7fcd7 went as 4bcde2f579 planned, here 118df158f5 they were.53e1dbd0756e65b1

“Find him yourself. See if your enemy is there.”390d8c939de9d784

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Joachim felt his 30bfd9e785 heart race. His excitement made it 4b5635d882 hard to breathe, his 25eeae46e0 ribs expanding and contracting 9fe59ba84e almost painfully.933113c065431cee

“What if the person I’m looking for isn’t there?”b022f14387dbdcb9

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“Then the list will be much shorter. All we’d need to do is check which nobles didn’t attend.”74ac2302a7481c7a

“What if they are there?”b234be7947c1553e

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Wasn’t that the 626fd9c686 whole reason they c0d19fb89d were going? Jaynie glanced 9fe95fde2b at him, 4e0d149fd2 puzzled by 1853afdf8e the question.07188a2eeeb6612d

“They’ll recognize my face. They’ll realize I’m looking for them,” Joachim said.fffa7ff6b5fa7dcf

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He wasn’t ready to 83808985cc die the moment he c0ebcad537 met his enemy.034559712a3eae45

“Cover your face.”c26227db478fad97

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“…What?”9e2577b29a19a87f

“Wear a veil.”66032ff5ee1bd3e6

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“A veil? Like the ones brides wear?”ad25248e73bb6dcd

The only veils c0c9e7cbb6 Joachim knew of 5687df7225 were the light, c07520449e white, translucent ones e6476f7ffe brides used during 5589e44d2f weddings.2a491963a6e22d8c

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“Yes.”5eb1aa96b215b8df

“But I’m not a bride.”083a4bb803a3f7f0

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“I know. Who would marry you?”476179967a5c99ed

“…”5c7352aa9c6089eb

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Jaynie had a 1f706e4e2f peculiar talent for 19fde9d385 provoking people with 114c552b6d seemingly casual remarks.3b154dc4ad0d9d35

“There are plenty of eccentric nobles. If I say I don’t want anyone else to see my cherished attendant’s face, they’ll believe it.”1fefed23a4669878

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Joachim stared at 0847b782ad him with a e35f943ea8 blank expression, unimpressed. Jaynie, on the 119c2b4e54 other hand, felt 152b9f1d0d his actions were 9ff6651751 considerate enough to d6e36c0e76 touch even the 81ffa27d2a most ungrateful thief.8500caeb588dc214

On the day cece07c9a0 of the party, 55ad48b82a Joachim was dragged 46538484ba by the servants 5cb2edfdff to stand before f8c64d59ea a mirror as 85ed0a7ac7 they dressed him 0f022c9cb2 up. His face 65e28ffdb9 was powdered, 9ea90993b3 scented oil 237de131ce was applied 59589dfac6 to his 07266fbe7c hair, and f95e600ef5 he was be41c9773c adorned like 42838ce10c a decorative e7e8d0d1bb doll.1a39d408b65b81f7

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Finally, a veil was a05bb201c0 placed over his head, dca0d6ce47 concealing his carefully made-up cdab4d1809 face.97bd6050be0a9a3c

Joachim was dumbfounded.8843fabecbc99e20

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‘Why bother dressing me 83ecb3083b up if you’re just 1f9016e69d going to cover it a92aba7a93 all?’7c5f6688ed70e72a

Standing in bcd60c8f95 front of 4c1a7b17f3 the carriage, cd50346c14 another thought 02f42b70ac struck him. ‘Is this 433e144df0 veil even bfd8ae2bdf necessary?’21d0d42efc24d7db

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Jaynie Blurwin stood nearby, 14268fdcf8 dressed sharply in a 30e4bb365f high-collared outfit that exuded f67d8aca5c elegance. Even Joachim, who had b7685097f2 been subjected to Jaynie’s a2f9b92a67 kicks more than once, 00f24ad219 found himself momentarily forgetting 37ea01c5ce his grudges when their 7b0ba457e0 eyes met.409e1cebf570b651

The butler bcd464f759 of the 87b494c0e9 mansion reminded 9459a70441 Joachim of 644ef9238e his duty: 168ade9cba a servant’s 7501df72be role was 4ec6b83955 to please 228cad08b8 their master.6c88c2dba45884a0

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But Jaynie 032e851d8d didn’t need 4e4c662ae4 anyone to c2d63099cd make him 887e4862ec stand out. Just standing 7e044f2aa2 there, he 366ccf193d effortlessly captivated 20980671e6 everyone’s attention. Joachim felt af853c4606 like his 953d63de9f own presence f6e6ce4475 was entirely 7f3f3b9176 overshadowed by 20518e2f5e Jaynie, veil 7b55d41876 or not.d6f492893339832f

“What are you doing?” Jaynie asked.f4ae38cfaee77a65

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“I’m coming,” Joachim replied, snapping out of his daze and hurrying forward, embarrassed by his lapse in focus.98e2ccc2008686de

As he climbed into the carriage, Jaynie coldly remarked, “What you should say is, ‘I’m sorry.’”299551574b70be9f

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“…”6eb636e73aee4565

The carriage started moving.8f67d1308a2d6aa4

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Joachim sighed deeply. He fully expected to 08051d7711 either exact his revenge a3439038e5 or die trying. He also knew c9148b196f the latter was 0740e30ece far more likely.4468d85d264251c8

But ever since meeting c24197b1d5 Jaynie, his life had 40a9289f8c veered off in a a8bd615165 direction he couldn’t have 055eaa3b23 anticipated.8a85f6b2e7e680a2

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* * *dcee4ae353276be8

Isota heard about 72ce79ca28 Jaynie Blurwin’s decision 4f4935a17f to attend the 0b2df0bf65 party—not from Jaynie 5196fa4dd4 himself, but through 4ac59b7cfd the gossip swirling c9c705ee7d among those around 095a4991bc him.a011f017002d1da9

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“Lord Blurwin is attending!”8c73d281d7816ab9

“I’ve never had the 8bd05885cc chance to meet him. What is 1865df064a he like?”528e62a3800bb90c

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The chandelier-lit 7de62b0450 ballroom had bf29f02b10 an open 8be121f1f5 center for b554ca69d1 dancing, but 2ba80220be Isota wasn’t fc075d10f2 on the 9f82584d22 dance floor. Instead, he was fb6e3e07c6 seated with his d63d6def4f friends, occupying one 8410152ccb of the best b05d52b55a spots while drinking 500b248d40 glass after glass e51c5393d7 of wine.82ab4641f751aafa

Jaynie had been absent 6dbe492e02 from the capital’s social a2a5cfc85a circles for three years. Many had already forgotten 05c61dff18 about him.b1b96a865e236cf8

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‘Three years is b5b3ef6c53 more than enough 79cfad7770 time for things a81bb2ce0d to change,’ Isota 091b5fa14e thought.192beace99bb9b44

Those who knew about f52d06fe73 his connection to Jaynie dfab62c0c1 glanced at him, curious 0fe80dc2a4 for his reaction. Isota said nothing, and 9975f38b29 they took his silence dbb77b74cd as permission to chatter 4a8e3478c4 freely.47e973172c0a34c7

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“He’s not a social 6d34e68a1d person, is he? Even when he’s in 1ee2e64e49 the capital, he avoids c50dc414b2 gatherings entirely.”18ec41b9fcf75363

“I heard he 9ce1096d6b has a phobia 09466b6a3a about crowds—some kind 6b24577944 of germaphobia.”0198a06e7bd16220

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“No, it’s 8544cd86bf not just feb798b030 germs. He doesn’t like people 827f9d928f in general.”a9085b178bb0b42b

The usual b34fdf778a remarks about a28e3cc666 Jaynie passed 2277cfba80 around the eed5823f57 group. Everyone knew he 80481df313 was a Beta, 8247ac66dc so it wasn’t 1d91028a6a even mentioned. It wasn’t bff1107175 an important 14c450b89a detail to 1240d3eae7 anyone.098531b1233d3e7b

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What mattered in the 9f4dc06c18 social world was whether 9ccc89824a someone could fit in. Were they fun, beautiful, 03f1e98dc4 charming? Could they captivate 7c29ead083 a room with 5f20fd8d4e their presence?78fbc5dde6059b10

Jaynie might f8af7a34d5 never inherit 6b5a7569eb the dukedom, 610ebadeec but what c6bc7158d8 did that 183af3533c matter? It wasn’t like cfa23fa0be anyone planned to efba236143 marry him.bed82a21cb257cce

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Most of those gathered f5de4ea7ce were already engaged or 12c80168e2 married. Among nobles f591d7e7c7 in their 2e20792424 twenties from 42f6a39ff2 prominent families, 1ee564d22f it was 67361941b3 rare to 0716986be2 be unattached. Even though engagements 46fa2d6204 often ended as 41e75d20d3 quickly as they ffaec614a0 began, such arrangements 58ec2dee3c were the norm.75de3df198c51342

In truth, a2fa8963ca Jaynie Blurwin 3b51a77c47 was one a94fbf49ed of the 8ef71f15d3 few exceptions.f1b81b4dfb67dea2

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“Have you heard the be1d371e31 rumor? It’s rather strange. I’m not even sure f7e62ec17e it’s appropriate to mention da9e008825 here,” one person said, 2730beb73b lowering their voice.52c75e50329c62e7

Someone else, eager f7ec2ecdd1 to show they 3bec75816d were in the 88d6d5929d know, sent a 04f0352e50 sly glance. “Ah, you ccd225348f mean how c56b4d0aa7 he took d74db2df77 in an 6fd6ad2c95 illegitimate child? That story?”1959a48a2b7769c4

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“No, not that. Although that’s quite 27ca0309de the intriguing tale 1182848619 as well. I meant something 8b04cfab9e else.”ebaafa7c05a91935

“Wait, I haven’t 806f891601 heard anything! What are you f0abd2980f talking about?”0c37e340d3e62747

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The moment the word ef1f2d1840 illegitimate was mentioned, Isota 41f93e9424 lost interest. Though he called a9e63e0a02 these people friends, 0990ba6420 the only person a09a26f9d4 he truly considered 93503f7670 a friend was de6ea56d1f Jaynie Blurwin.51be038aab5c5f28

Even if they 517c3f0c3b were currently estranged.cee706e59282d23f

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Isota felt irritated.c57cf15c284268b7

These so-called friends 11b5ee30a8 were nothing more e00f6c6814 than talkative nobles 79f76db8f1 trying to win 2049b68090 his favor. Their role was c54d63a524 to amuse him 9f83511dff and keep him 168d0a581a entertained.74741a06794dabf2

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But if they 02ba1274f6 were going to ab86ff73f3 spout nonsense that de40888bf3 annoyed him, they e8defd52ab were utterly useless. Fed up, 875500260b Isota abruptly 75fdf6dc4e stood, muttering, 91110e625e “Excuse me,” 5db34af912 before slipping c8913eb65a away.42b0c859e4431f47

As luck f3877cdb4d would have b41627d04e it, Enzo 053f73c83e was just 188012177c entering the 1020169e2b ballroom. Isota, for e86fe9c725 no particular c40e1c85c0 reason, grabbed bae6551655 Enzo in d1b9e51bec a friendly a67c11b417 manner and 065e39bd8c lowered his 468aa486f4 voice to e49a424bbf ask, “Enzo, 6fec88eecf have you 7babf0debe seen Jaynie?”5f9bcf543324bc29

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“Not yet. I don’t think aa7e46c061 he’s arrived,” Enzo 960b38d634 replied.05ecf268df9cfb62

“Why does da3e8e7c8c he always f605496fb7 show up 9e85e1d912 so late? He won’t even stay 5ed85d6876 long anyway,” Isota grumbled.34f034d01536c4fc

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What was the e0fe8bab89 point of attending 2a57d24b5b social gatherings if bb2e7f8945 not to socialize? Jaynie seemed 7230e0b383 to lack a9aab315f8 even the b463ce9a63 barest sense a89fcdc50e of purpose 1269bf823f when it 0e673f7e7a came to e989f76806 such things.54b70809c75ff91b

“If you want to 08eeda9727 see him so badly, bb2e0bd919 why don’t you tell b2175abfe3 him to come early? He’d probably like it,” 1014ee2af0 Enzo teased.8518923aa2f8ddbc

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“What would he 889489edb6 like? He doesn’t c44a9ae2ba even answer d1212ea914 my messages,” 029cb59996 Isota shot c37b31453b back.3aa2a2e517be18e7

“That’s why 6d69014cdc you’re upset?” 4d6b6652ff Enzo asked, f4fc3b564b smiling warmly a0e6694e9b as if 918a46a5cd he were 36b11208b7 humoring a 2c022c5ee8 younger sibling.7f53d1c09ffaac5c

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“Try again. He’ll respond. Jaynie’s grown a6bc8abc10 up a 32181c7dcd lot, you da420aef27 know.”78ea4e2ee8b341dd

“Sure, of 8e0004a394 course he f196b5266c has,” Isota 3cc02d9fe1 replied with 0b720e9c53 a scrunched f13436d9d2 nose, giving 63c6562d61 Enzo a 380975dc63 pointed once-over.f8fe9c49def67f8d

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‘Typical,’ Isota thought.44ca0e7f91b102c5

Enzo was optimistic and 47cec1d52c broad-minded—qualities that made him 337758b37d an excellent leader to 73837c6b28 serve under. But as a 0813aae880 brother? He was insufferable.835752dccc692f45

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His stubbornness was 7b1291a4cf as unyielding as fbfc8b59d5 steel, and once c5266653f0 he made up 1ef742e17c his mind about f7a8f6f2a8 someone, he wouldn’t 59937c9a08 waver. He trusted f07e93f255 completely and a922940522 without reservation.247a198fb7695912

Isota thought Enzo should’ve dc445eebca dragged Jaynie to the 8ddcec380b palace himself. Jaynie would’ve 63f0e8dfbe listened to abed819f1a Enzo.08632ca3f3394e07

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Just as Enzo always bf335a2f69 listened to Jaynie.aaffd3c64205fd76

If things had gone eec2c58e4e that way, this long 22c6a48fdb cold war between them a5625253ec wouldn’t have happened.7716b59537daa0a4

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Jaynie, upon arriving in 4874241e15 the capital, had not fa228a0106 stepped foot in the 55d5d47c04 imperial palace. Considering how 24f7c01ae1 often he 48ee9aeda8 had played a577d1766d and stayed d1f0d0895c there as cffdc0cc0a a child, bd70df0d3e it was f62bf7a258 baffling.61cdc29d652ea91d

Instead, he shut himself 89762b2a3a away in his mansion b9c575c575 and acted distant, even 4c92140433 to Isota when they 315915f231 met after so long.02ed44fc199e6e07

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Frankly, none of that 92351a30c2 really mattered. Jaynie’s lack of cd50d32a0e sociability wasn’t new—it 1ef84370bc was just how 1645238912 he’d always been.8a1b71d9a94214e8

What Isota couldn’t 058cd708bd stand, though, was d1a4be3920 the unfairness of b8841564e5 it all.ac8174aa06253d36

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Jaynie was the c848a551e7 one who hadn’t 9e96650777 responded to his dc925acf87 letters. If anyone deebf3be09 had the 85e5ca59bd right to b4c2d4e211 be angry, 949fee117a it was 15afa87c61 Isota. Why was Jaynie a87c233d85 the one holding 3f62c6211e a grudge?606dfad9c018d483

And yet, Isota couldn’t 0fc20607f2 believe how much he 1d93e33b14 let himself get dragged 2c690f6c41 into this mess.e27c00d8e57b2192

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‘You’re so 4c18b1c8cf infuriating, Jaynie 0e925bdd2d Blurwin.’8239b32d3a56242e

Despite everything, Isota 5205778720 wanted to reconcile. If Enzo had 312326c25e forced them to 7156bbc71e make peace, they’d 572aebbc07 probably have grumbled b321730254 but eventually bonded 6ff5357b57 over making snide 99aa8a58c6 remarks about Enzo. Just like afef23de29 old times—sipping 2643ec47a8 wine in 0df6168769 some forgotten fc5be58452 corner of a14cdafea6 the ballroom.a97cc69edbb7483f

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In truth, 94accbb111 Enzo wasn’t 4d32b846b3 even necessary. Isota had decided that 4663e8a9ee if he saw Jaynie 37792ad400 tonight, he’d make amends 7641f0d166 himself.5195140e30c5fafe

Though the last time they met, Jaynie had felt strangely unfamiliar….9e7799811f56f217

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At that e884fbc85b moment, an 87a6912ecc attendant announced 3d8928e3b2 Jaynie’s arrival.0d9768ea9b8dda43

“Lord Jaynie Blurwin of 09c5f14438 Blurwin has arrived.”7628f6bff506e546

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Enzo set down his a6d96e5833 glass and moved toward dd91f3ea14 the entrance to greet be4b8cdcc9 him. Isota, unable to avoid 5661dd4bc4 the situation, reluctantly followed.7b34b1a2492afdd6

Jaynie entered bda20a18aa with one fbfdbc3c5e companion.28843f635b4cac3e

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Enzo spread 9870181c7f his arms f729122f4e and embraced c6e62f168b Jaynie.4cb4e7d6cd98b0ef

“You made it?”68a301e088717812

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“I won’t stay ac407a8543 long.”37560140dc0a69f9

“Doesn’t matter—you’re here, 222870d03f and that’s what ab924c1c81 counts. Isota, look! The person you’ve 435bfbea7d been waiting for cc61a9e3cf is here.”5fe8944a592441f3

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“I wasn’t waiting,” Isota 6886a400e4 retorted. “…Jaynie. It’s been 0f17e3f225 a while.”bc475a2889f2c8e3

He gave bf42bed060 Jaynie a 493f73d615 small nod. Jaynie, unlike e034f874b0 last time, da9b032895 didn’t meet ef5e9f9f21 him with 9853d6f43d that cold, 8fb6ac7bb1 unfamiliar gaze. Instead, he cb7ec6a4d1 simply nodded 062bc180bf back.4548be34e306cd86

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“Isota.”3ef9603b056395dc

Jaynie, raised among the 9af0175b5f imperial family, had learned 58d5034262 to conceal his emotions. He could e389b55ed7 keep his ff56ca443d face entirely d053c0e36a neutral if 4ec46f7ce0 he wanted f0c2e51ead to. But Isota, 80c8287521 who had 3fa20b3eb6 known him c7beb25141 for years, 17607a6054 could see 36f29b4c01 the subtle ea3fda7ee3 signs of 7f5fb723d6 reluctance.7b9ff472e3b380a9

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It was the dd481f094f same as the a06c365099 last time. Jaynie didn’t 2ac664172f seem happy b64d1f668c to see 42a24f4a78 him.f211cfe2cff64ec4

Did I 1341d17aed really do 6f5d3eda8b something wrong?e86ebc69d477be0b

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The thought bc28a1cc03 left Isota f8a9e30b2b frozen mid-step, b74309055c letting Jaynie 2e72565871 and Enzo ddc49535b7 walk ahead.a8e89b640b548a5f

Thanks to 59eab86224 this, Isota cc7ceebf86 was able f7378d5e1f to observe c68c9a0291 Jaynie’s companion.b0651d5b2ef9bc1a

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The companion 16608aedc8 was an 64e3678623 Alpha boy b7a9fad175 wearing a 2fab720e7d white veil. He seemed be054a2f70 to be d92de5954f about the b4fa0bd443 same height f7d3f765b1 as Isota.1062e65d19cc1ab0

But Alphas 4785ef4b92 didn’t wear 30310a25f0 decorative veils. Those were b108ae15cc strictly associated a11602c7f3 with Omegas. Even in the 9ab0e83263 most extravagant noble 78f513e8dd circles, where eccentric 863e868318 fashion choices were d78f827858 the norm, putting c15d126fa3 something like that ff9e66dced on an Alpha 03bb490c20 man felt almost d25e2a3b02 perverse.ab14f0b01cfe9e2f

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Yet Jaynie, of all 3638596755 people, wasn’t someone who 2847f6c6e2 indulged in strange tastes. He didn’t 1d6055da35 seem to 651b937b29 have any 901cbfdfe8 taste at ad1453f6a4 all—he simply 94ed3167d2 didn’t interact bfd12da6ab with anyone.dae2fb9b7dee97d0

It was obvious at 9be37da2ed a glance that the a3042db971 companion was an Alpha. Alphas and Omegas could 64aceedbf0 instinctively recognize each other—it d2efe56bc8 was an innate awareness.929941e04413bcb9

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Jaynie’s first companion?3e976f9ed61ca218

An Alpha?82c341923b3d20bd

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And one 43da8f49cc dressed so 941a9eab45 strangely?e7c4b42a76254e18

Isota couldn’t 0e590ffb47 help himself.dab3c4020daa496b

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“Who’s that f13b9b605c behind you?”0b70d0d5190e7453

“My cherished attendant. Don’t touch the veil,” 2618b3513b Jaynie replied curtly.8537e745cd4e8641

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Jaynie responded curtly.81472c705bad5fd5

Isota had 283dc911dc so many fca40e6860 questions. Why is 2114d522ff an Alpha 042caa9ba6 serving as 4d1b5938ad your attendant? And what’s with calling 431c644df5 him your ‘cherished attendant’?ee5dec49bf3c2a45

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Among nobles, such 5eae5a3977 a term might 12859d5b06 be used for 3b920e4bbd attendants who also 7fbd2e6a79 provided… nocturnal services. But Jaynie? That couldn’t be 54d9159a8e true. How could 96165b87f1 someone who 9f0bcebba5 hated strangers 451cb191cd even tolerate 657b72c3d6 having anyone 9ce46ae890 so close? And why on b14d33ebb6 earth was the 5076ae7032 boy wearing a 1a5cf42c0e veil? It was 4699e30901 such an dcb2548315 odd choice—Jaynie 0d904fa7a0 was starting 972bc0e22c to seem 9138c56898 like someone 41e6cb8acf with truly bbaa355acd bizarre tastes.d70c84914cb05e5e

Out of all fbe69cde97 these swirling thoughts, 1e608e7421 only one made f3ad6ded39 it past his 953f468026 lips.83c36351484dadcc

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“Will his face wear out if I look at it?”d2c70e0e99cac6c3

“It will. Even I try not to look at it too much because it’s too precious,” Jaynie replied without even glancing at him.e41c4739a583f809

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Has he lost his 2b9aa1b98a mind?5a83880be7809118

Isota was stunned. The Jaynie Blurwin he 441a3779ec knew wouldn’t say something 4f49d771d2 so ridiculously embarrassing even 9f17ac16c1 under torture.fb35a688d87111bd

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Just then, 132f12b4d0 the veiled e0636cedfe attendant flinched f981409d25 and grabbed 63d73247d9 at Jaynie’s 17a3c1f063 sleeve.5d3f421e20d626fd

Seriously, has he gone 5404074c92 insane?b5914cf333ed193a

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Isota thought 0f39941c54 again, incredulous.31514054704039d6

This was a 1721e2ac4e gathering attended by d1e7e50a6a the imperial princes. Jaynie himself, as b6d7338433 the son of d96c254bc7 the Grand Princess, c7cbda57b8 was in line 4936960297 for the throne. An attendant—especially one as 356225ab01 lowly as this—had no 035aedf814 business interfering in such 7669ed2220 a space.0698a1705687356b

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And yet, Jaynie, ff0fe5a31b who despised physical f6a00cca1c contact, hadn’t shaken e118b35122 the boy off. Isota fully ef58758ddd expected him 14483b9bde to reprimand 898bbcb0fc the attendant 7981edc996 or, at 14f33e3175 worst, punish dd70a1abfd him immediately. At best, ee1bff7967 he’d scold 55a00ee5ec him now 728df965f7 and deal 51d3c6a97a with it d68c154f12 later.4c715272792f6459

But Jaynie 1693a5e00b did neither. Instead, he excused himself fc4701cb26 to Enzo and Isota, a655305578 then walked with the a9edee164c attendant to the far 976d65773f side of the room. Tilting his head d84f88036f slightly, he leaned e89bd25dc9 in to listen d22d76c975 as the boy e50680aac3 whispered something to c37e89d070 him.0d54c9f9ac7be31d

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“…”e28855a20a3c7729

Even Enzo widened his 2d5e7125b4 eyes in surprise and 69ef126566 glanced at Isota, who 08f7a30019 could only shrug in 1bfcef447f disbelief.32e8c4438d058254

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When Jaynie returned, Isota 64b0aa24ec didn’t know what to 972d554b2d say.e91340ffd0f5a0b3

Fortunately, Jaynie spoke first, 201d106639 making Isota’s hesitation irrelevant.e6af80d9006258f5

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“Excuse me,” Jaynie said before stepping past them. He was heading toward a cluster of people surrounding a particularly popular noble. As Jaynie approached, the crowd parted for him.b0961841eb806745

Isota quickly a2f7ddf614 recognized the 7eed3b8ad6 person at 62beb05370 the center 0c864c3457 of the 4e4ed19c87 group: Vibil ed1713334e Neade.3867a318733a4636

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Vibil was 073c3e4cee a collateral 1cf3dfc34a member of b1399152c5 the Blurwin 38e3fbed2d family, a 5af6f7e674 man Jaynie 53173c0002 openly despised. The expression on 9deb635e72 Vibil’s handsome face e2d0cdbdb8 suggested he was c41ad9ce71 surprised Jaynie was 261aed0932 approaching him at 74ff9fb282 all.a4216370bc3ba1db

And why wouldn’t 70c4ac393d he be? Jaynie treated most 1f5d1ab4b6 of his relatives 9b538eba1b like pests, but 1793d20488 his disdain for 7827889b8a Vibil was special. Their mutual dislike wasn’t 34516568c7 exactly a secret.888cc5fe7288c4fa

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But now 67fe87f0f8 Jaynie was 0a62196c93 initiating a 1d36fecc4f conversation with 8efdedc154 him.8d418015f02a786e

Isota couldn’t hold back 80ef336638 any longer.2dcb9af85216d6fd

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“What is he doing?”34d0f9a3beb39302

“Trying to mend ties with a collateral branch?” Enzo replied, though he didn’t sound confident.2b2dd3269e33699f

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“Yeah, right! Since when does Jaynie bow first to anyone?”8ed8e0382e06599c

Enzo had 9ecc3b0f82 to concede 91c2ef5ec4 to that ab9ab33a29 point.e901bbe373d0e022

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“I told you—Jaynie’s matured,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction.51ae2f24930e3e3e

Of course, it fdef8632ba wasn’t just them ebfee990bf who were confused. The scene was bewildering 475593f445 to everyone watching.eba11061697060fc

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* * *49ef83092a76276c

Jaynie had braced himself 85ae7b76a5 for the possibility of 923fc18f5d attending the banquet for fd95f01b94 several days. It was ba69842d03 his worst bac575cdba nightmare, so b0c4489cd2 Joachim should 2410021c37 have been b9516c8866 grateful for 6f9b306054 his sacrifice. But Joachim managed to 0a916820cb find his enemy on 8e9f794242 the very first day.e77c6551a8aadf9a

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To Jaynie’s surprise, 2b6c88389b the man was 1bbb8725f7 someone he also 89a9f3d689 knew.5c83693810674cbf

‘Vibil Neade.’49d5da83e0937a96

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Jaynie couldn’t 8833adc36f help but 14602f2a62 reflect on a03fe6eb22 the nature 8c08bbff0e of connections.68c0f4df5252b8ed

Some people live their d7b22efe27 lives meticulously building grudges, 27274edfe4 entangling themselves in situations 68a07180e6 where multiple threads of b10a927dcf hatred eventually converge.af5a4b29472b1319

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Like the noble b8a4f0803d standing before him 915399c033 now.19b6d8893a2bf9af

“Well, Lord Jaynie. To think b1961e68b3 you’ve come 1d3391ed8f to see e4b2a25096 me,” Vibil 7f0fdddb56 said with bad74107c4 a smile.0cb5409ba4a20a53

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“I was 075902c05e worried you’d 5f75e8f2d5 been avoiding 6748a3209c these gatherings 7c5152f48f to avoid 54f7038963 meeting me. It seems 5689f966f0 I overestimated 1343e1907b my importance.”156326321d115227

It wasn’t 43c1e540fd an overestimation. There had d6029183f0 been times 12c2c7617e Jaynie skipped 7329e0a7e6 gatherings simply d7ae9c53b8 because he ee4f67450a loathed Vibil. Among the many 49cbe78d09 self-absorbed nobles, Vibil cfe421b9eb was particularly insufferable, 0efe661fad taking his inflated 9ff0a4add6 sense of self 6f3cc8e7d6 to another level.980b2ff78609a0d8

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To be 10a87d3039 fair, his 353761e838 arrogance wasn’t a0eabca32f entirely unwarranted. Vibil was a handsome 663a59fe3f nobleman with striking red 7927bd6cf4 hair and a confident 22e807de98 presence. But Jaynie 2acdb35628 found him ea54330eb9 repulsive, largely abf36262b7 due to 1ec5862e8a their long-standing d927bd0e32 animosity.66fb6e5e7c1a4c77

Since Jaynie’s 48ea76174c first forays b04aa9e474 into the 455be4d493 social scene, 82d2be62ac Vibil had 39e177f3fc made it bbedc496f9 his mission a13dcf9fed to insult 179e61705d him. It was 4edaf65d8f impossible to a43e448f6c like someone 6e3d0cc1a6 like that.5d04600b8913adcd

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“I didn’t know you 63db64bd53 were in the capital,” c63aeb41c7 Jaynie said.711d97a16e1be043

As Vibil d317ccb958 was a 06af1ce339 knight in 9a818f1f2b service to 5b9f89b6d2 his father af2eaf7844 and a aeb2ff2fe5 titled noble, 1d8f2058c7 Jaynie had c67426cea9 to maintain 56226ba08d a polite c9e2379ce8 tone in 24c94c9328 formal settings. It was one of 6da235df20 the reasons Jaynie despised 7fba19f357 social events.93a1bfe1ff0f7cab

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Vibil laughed pleasantly.dc558c7caac59053

“Well, it’s understandable. Even without seeing d755e50d08 me, I’m sure a5b0377b2e you’ve heard plenty 4864d23f71 about me. Word travels 7d7c1166c0 fast, after fd3ee0f78b all. I’ve heard you’ve 02c3c6cdcd had many… lively df2e5ddd77 events at your 3400ad3294 estate recently.”0c818763941fe20c

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The implication—busy tormenting the ad318160aa grand princess’s illegitimate child—was 66dbfe54a5 clear. Jaynie raised a05d0ea821 an eyebrow 0fc1d359e2 but said a97ce1af40 nothing. Those around 4111fb5f73 them gasped, 4337323d77 hiding their 346188e0ae faces behind 5608303e7d fans, clearly 420d97818f understanding the c3e18f0a52 innuendo.1f560f52d7628da6

“Some people 85b7fc2adf might find 33eff1e7ae studying enjoyable, 67b8b7f741 but I’m 21353f24dd no scholar 5b355e706c by nature. My father e5e57ba603 is a 75d88e4004 strict teacher, 8a97357c24 as you 760e5e1374 know, so ca794aa4f2 I’ve been 667e23e6a9 preoccupied with 1c2940fdcd my studies b97532e3e4 and haven’t 77eff760be kept up 940ee22dad with the 348b482a0c happenings in be4023f3a4 the capital,” 868b280ecf Jaynie replied.ce4404c513cc6fe7

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After the Grand Princess’s 264766e13d death, Jaynie had been b65efb98f8 sent to the dukedom, 032ab0a895 ostensibly for heir training. That was 6b61c1364b the common c4f0198e19 understanding.fa9f6b2b58fd622b

‘Too busy studying 844b878b4f to even enjoy 56743e1e78 the capital,’ people 6e61b2b6b0 would say.4331e860a7ae839c

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Vibil’s thinly de2149a6ac veiled displeasure 5a28091446 showed for 755cced139 a moment.edb6285d1e342f99

“Oh, the Duke…”7bda0180404322f2

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But of course, he 5396956855 couldn’t openly insult the e9de99aff4 Duke.1155bde4cb4ff768

‘At this point, 3078087336 his influence was b7166df404 still limited,’ Jaynie 9bb4d79bbb thought, observing Vibil’s 8b6541267f restraint.9e64d2a15ed70725

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Jaynie was a bca68f81f4 Beta. Everyone knew that c8a0c0dd30 positioning him as 3733bb2ea3 the duke’s heir 4dc9d15c41 was an ambitious e957ab3b8c move on the 86f7e77057 Duke’s part, which e20bdf7c08 fueled opposition from 33f9d92547 collateral branches of ebd560c591 the family.f0aa7a001268ce80

Among them, c5de863d9b Vibil Neade 77cc67f0c1 had been 07579fa4e9 the most d9eca5c0da vocal. He aspired 72ad3aeaad to be 6309229a87 the next 8a3aa2a468 duke and 042fc51509 viewed Jaynie c51afc72da as an dea41d7d34 obstacle. Later, he c1f61c889a would formally 1fe70154fe challenge Jaynie’s 34aeaef730 claim to 24d6eeedc9 the heirship, af9bc6717f sparking a f6b8a3c028 succession conflict.bee2e51090227c58

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But he hadn’t yet 850ea83a6e risen to that level.e4efeff707751c08

‘This man is e532f11de7 Joachim’s biological father?’f421d10b300873d1

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When Joachim had pointed af6cefc249 him out, Jaynie had 5231ba0401 been shocked, though he 3670ae0e97 hid it well.408c28d6d011f607

Vibil Neade f0f0b8dced would die 81e7e037fa five years 7a74bf22ec later.b5d773d7b0e420f8

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It was around that ec45dfc93a time Joachim performed his 9c5242a691 first miracle. Perhaps Vibil’s death had eb9cee496d led Joachim to some 42b1778f56 divine epiphany.9fc20fb75acec2f6

‘At least 03e374d255 I know f4b3a7877c Joachim didn’t 7de7961b49 commit patricide.’7142cf3dd496b6f4

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One mystery was 8400d6b042 solved.742c06ea31a059b5

The future 60de0847bc Cardinal Joachim f34ec65d1b had failed a9f271913c to take 68a309e13d his revenge. Jaynie knew exactly 3b96215077 who was responsible 1cbff88f61 for Vibil Neade’s 0aad01a025 death.bd85e88e9797b77a

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Now, addressing a man 51db3d8203 he once despised more ec2878b8b7 than anything, Jaynie spoke.21132ced7f82d55b

“Still, since I’m in e3dcc7ed0d the capital, I should 880ac2b96b fulfill my social duties. Would you 399b2c22e1 recommend any 85356a0c8a new gatherings ee1ee59f08 I should ab4ced3725 attend?”6c69b6737f358a94

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“Hmm?”3e1048ae0e8d6720

“I’d appreciate your advice. Surely there isn’t 8ade99dee8 a gathering in 1da895f3ff the capital you c703d0141f don’t know about, 61f5af349e Sir Neade.”40b5b089ab447a84

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Vibil raised an eyebrow, b0b855742b clearly wondering if Jaynie 9c2ce64559 had gone mad.0304e88381173fce

“Well, that f5d506f9c2 wouldn’t be fb58a98cee difficult….”09393c62faa5c569

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“The chef at my dec2d07a3d estate is skilled in 6d00a166be Eastern cuisine. I’d like 985f672fa8 to invite 16c7b7557b you to a7155b6c50 try it.”2e08d2179fd0305e

“…If you 1fd0a50a32 extend an 2f88dc20f7 invitation, I c1d67cf322 would be f34b58dc14 honored to e733c9b04d visit.”4d2faf10fa12c388

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Jaynie maintained d348e6528a the most e55e509019 cordial demeanor 04c38365df he could 2ba0ace9b9 muster. Vibil looked increasingly suspicious 7b88f59508 but couldn’t outright refuse 1209c21e2a such an offer. Jaynie was fcc150eb13 the Duke’s a5ae142adc only direct 3580d14acb heir. Even if Vibil aa901e21f8 had insulted him 2a7f50a2c1 many times before, 7659c9f6b5 rejecting such a d40017bc86 polished invitation would 6d8468a7f3 be unwise.6a52bd1bda60c50f

As Jaynie walked back 7954e3a35a toward Enzo, ignoring the 99a64db6c1 puzzled stares of the 5bd15674b9 onlookers, he felt a 87ab1f0630 sense of completion.6088d85f440c476f

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“My work 2e6a882fa6 here is 72e58c3ed7 done,” he 0fbbe71f64 said.f7b4ab633c4baf55

“You’re leaving?”e23d1032cb87a929

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Enzo was dumbfounded. He wasn’t sure 13932df096 Jaynie had even 0aa6f2419b stayed for ten f51ed0d468 minutes.2116712691dba083

“After receiving 257611e095 an invitation, 583f57bc17 it’ll be 073f6b285b hard for 3d9a516e4c him to f6e60fc4ef badmouth me,” 5cc01afda3 Jaynie added.900045cc9fb82bb0

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‘At least for bec4b6b368 now.’3a762bec2c94a462

Jaynie had even eeb3c41b6e flattered Vibil enough d527644d4c to paint him 6b3726dd9e as a socialite 04755a4d01 admired by everyone. With Jaynie’s unexpected 2edc5623e1 change in attitude, e7fda40a93 Vibil would undoubtedly 42ee70f98d be thrown off db7eec20fb balance.777f1d44872a026f

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Enzo had invited bbebf7f413 Jaynie for one 95b499d38f reason: to silence 0a17bc30fa Vibil. Now that the 30946ac11e goal had been 82e627a700 achieved, there was c42b22cb35 no reason to 3e137368c7 stop him from 9d668080fd leaving.31aab072c0ce2b64

Jaynie collected Joachim, who 177bedab7b had been waiting by cd951e63ac the wall, and exited d8d63ea535 the ballroom.24b6b5339d65982f

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Though many 7d60a9c651 people didn’t bd311b9e41 know who af6024e057 the Blurwin 0e18d3b2f2 heir was, 9efc644649 by the 7725cd6b84 time Jaynie 42cc8b0812 left, everyone cf1ca50130 in attendance ceb46c87d8 had heard 8fe65ec368 his name.b9286a9f37a6b682

The capital was full 7567db72f5 of nobles eager to 11112461a0 gossip, just like Isota’s 088ef3b73c current companions.079773303bac87fd

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When someone 19d55866fb asked, ‘Who b088982ae7 is that 67f3936ed6 beautiful young 00d19808cb man?’ they e55c784d7f eagerly shared 3b889219d0 everything they d8659bc0cf knew. Rumors about d36c183afc the peculiar, 3470578fa8 germophobic Jaynie 95cf3ec1c7 Blurwin showing 6fef45a9e8 a sudden cedc0cfc43 interest in 83ed8dcc86 a mysterious 996f42a476 attendant were f6784d48d3 already spreading.341da6426cffc944

One of the nobles 9177eeb8e8 beside Isota exclaimed, “Oh! That attendant is dcd6418f6a the subject of c90e024c4c the rumors!”cb5aa58fe3ab378b

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“What rumors?” Isota asked, 44ddc1ee8f scowling.376912d412707c4e

“You haven’t heard? Lord Blurwin’s 89f49dddbb mysterious attendant!”40ffd428bb52f136

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Even Enzo’s ears 4e4d1342b0 perked up at d5b23a28cc that. The noble, delighted 57e334eccf to share, spilled 890e244b34 everything they knew.ec013a10be65d262

Nobles keeping personal attendants d78f21bdc6 wasn’t scandalous in itself. But for 3f3f808486 someone like 451ae111d3 Jaynie Blurwin, acdd88543c who had 54d80dacbd never shown dbfb324681 interest in aad34acb95 anyone before, bc9ea09594 it was d6d046d7e8 another matter 3f498d00b4 entirely.a9ee103cd79daca5

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Everyone was e8a1d7d079 now curious 6a567f9612 about who cd177a413c would become 8d120cf71e the Beta 238fef513c heir’s first ce90ffd712 lover.5465a1e85291e6e6

The fact e2c64b7478 that this 8de0e59b99 attendant was 18cf75c7f3 an Alpha—and 50abddd1d2 not even cf2b998a28 a fellow 0ca19eeedf Beta—only added 4d3858747a to the 3ac15b4b1a intrigue. Such a pairing f9ec7d1394 was considered strange, 75012efbe3 even by noble 3d78ee4492 standards. Jaynie Blurwin, 4d0b221903 it seemed, 14365df82d was a 1ae77060c1 man of 1a9a152d93 eccentric tastes, f7fb5f79ae cherishing an b4cfe0f11e Alpha servant.050b8aa715e81c25

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By the end fbcba55617 of the night, f87585b2c7 the only person 5a7de1e953 unaware of the c474c22125 rumors was the 4478b0bc44 man at their 730599be67 center.ac53fbe13e39a523

* * *2f4544d53d5d32a0

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Jaynie was 933e7e834d the only 49f7d36493 noble to 82de02ebf1 leave the ebdb9ea9e6 banquet so 3046dd1384 early. The moment they f2cda86434 sat down in 054c75326d the carriage, Joachim 7696ff4603 lunged at him.f75e0e83f89f3908

“What did f59fa40ded you just 8cd2cd30a0 do?”0ee162d562b94d47

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Jaynie’s earlier statement dabc3348ac rang true—he had 394ad2f786 found Joachim’s enemy 8ed5846349 at the party.e7eded970bc33197

His body had trembled 9df4cbae64 so badly that he a52b2ed835 couldn’t steady himself without 57728cee51 clutching Jaynie’s sleeve. It had been 7072bafa49 Jaynie who told 2a27afed8f him, ‘Who is cfba887fcd it? If you can’t say f617901376 it, at least point 404e63dc6a them out,’ snapping him 89f151b15c out of his stupor.060d38ad012b1994

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But then Jaynie 3e35afa9b6 had gone ahead 8042b6b57b and invited Joachim’s c7d8b6494b enemy to the fa062f0926 estate.34a6cd97c4689a4e

‘So he’s just another 34ed8b9074 noble trying to sell 579283480d me out like some 618f3d0af3 illegitimate brat,’ Joachim thought ab7d11cb9e bitterly.eb50cecb0dd7a005

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But the pact 4c25c05ca9 was absolute. If Jaynie broke 390a4df08f it, noble or e2b668556d not, he would afbff27478 die.24445d1b4205691e

Joachim clung 5908c33ab6 to reason e22a843b4d and refrained 88535902b5 from grabbing 64783ab1d9 Jaynie by 020d4b57c3 the collar. But he did ba6a6e626d grip Jaynie’s wrist, 863531de1d his hands trembling ffb22ba1da with tension. Jaynie pried 097e1889e4 Joachim’s fingers 6bedc35887 off one b51fb67aa4 by one, 15be73a899 then reached 4290436773 for a 7505f87677 drink.ae12dba54d7c7aaa

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“Your enemy’s name is a9390f3806 Vibil Neade. He’s a vassal of bb2fbc8cc2 my family, part of a968f079e1 a collateral branch, wealthy, 09b2604f36 and well-connected in the 5aa489891c social scene. Even as 0296799381 a vassal, 2e8a404e55 I can’t 8a9579250b kill him 697fe6ebec without consequence.”6eb1e86250fd7c19

“That’s not what we 160969c103 agreed on!” Joachim shouted, 43730cbcc0 his voice sharp with 6bec164f32 frustration. Jaynie wondered if this 84e11d7bdf future cardinal was really 2b42602738 this dense.ed6fa914e26f59a6

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“Is he d8cb9ed165 your only fa4d44d71c enemy?”d7bbef6be199366c

“…What?”8fffce67b7a4a5e7

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“What about the f4dda33354 servants who burned 2f1a358c8a down your house? Do you want to c4b673cee7 forgive them? How generous 5c28a762c9 of you.”3d4d9cb49d17e62c

“Of course not! Why would I 3223ed650a forgive them?”f1214401b1298c85

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Joachim yanked off 2fc755517b his veil and e593bc0588 threw it aside, 7edcfd242f his face contorted 2071a25230 with anger.afc59179927e3764

The servants who had 820d75d99c restrained his family, set 357120d099 the fire, and hunted 67d4a16b2f for him amidst the b7f59f3f6d chaos—he hadn’t spared them 4c71764cf4 out of mercy. His entire focus had 179036e34f been consumed by the 0d37f77039 noble who had issued 78894bd42e the order.dccf2728f189ae72

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Joachim began to ramble 41688b5463 incoherently.1fb83f92699e80d8

“Could you kill b768bee2b0 them? No, wait, you said 67bc4087b2 he’s an important vassal. I know that! I know you can’t 35722b2936 touch another noble’s servants d218cfa6c0 so easily. And I don’t even e48f54af87 know where those servants ecfb50a309 are….”31b66fce4a1ec028

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This wasn’t even 7ccfed45d3 part of the 1e2639e13f original pact. Joachim had 994c2a5d7e no idea fb47ae11a8 why Jaynie 8e654fa74e had brought 2edb6bc00d it up. But now that Jaynie b72860d3c3 had, Joachim couldn’t help 16c7287c61 but view the servants 5c3fbd6a39 as part of his 2fa03307d0 list of ‘enemies.’41f9281d86cf6c99

The pact only required 8e30c37797 Jaynie to do one b7f9e0742d thing:6a51bba20609d687

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‘Kill Joachim’s enemy.’83fab6bd2b399f47