NRAL | Chapter 12

Chapter 1237ea468343e68f6c

 The Reason Nora Was e5d1c6274c Chosend636030f6c4a1b00

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Like a true b5a6086921 villain, Eleanor stepped c27a79351e into Nora’s room 30998a0d68 without asking for 560abecb9a permission.c4e0f7eb55c82840

Nora’s maids were shocked e989034934 and tried to stop 58f2d86ff7 her, but since Eleanor 92b99e79fb was still the Lady 973bf8b8e4 of Astria, they couldn’t a98871acf2 dare touch her.9946f450b457dfce

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Eleanor quickly 4a796e4ed1 made her 09ddc4ce36 way to 1154a3b205 the bed f0e9cb225c where Nora 63f44bf3a4 was resting, 840bd237fc leaning against 81780d7e36 the headboard. She greets her with cde78f7037 smile.f1842d99fc34a4be

“Hello, Nora.”11c061e5adf24843

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Usually, Nora was busy 3f1d2fe409 running around the house, c1d2c084f3 but today she seemed 51cd628213 to be taking a b5d30e96db break in her room. It was a good 4609dfb2b7 thing, as it meant 222bdb2641 Eleanor didn’t have to 57950f73e2 be cautious about the 25dc0fa963 conversation in front of 23f1b37710 others.372bda9163ec4ae7

“Is your face c133edafed alright? Oh dear, your 768a628591 lips are still 9f526703b6 a mess.”f0134ced440caed4

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Even though days 7cd6191ed9 had passed, Nora’s 708f13528e lips were still f850289092 swollen from the 674a9bc2ac slap.b1cc98e66aa73a69

It seemed that Eleanor’s ab234d07e6 powerful strike had done 2215979cc3 its job well. She felt a e645022bf7 small sense of b1287d45e0 pride in her 98e6e2fe7e strength.d7f8bdea895710bb

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Thinking back, even b2871d63d0 at the orphanage, 58e21f8c59 she had always 308d29f1bb won fights over b09a0eb46d bread with other ea31f45849 kids her age.e49d8f0997a796dd

After making 8652bb6a47 them bleed, d46b60e326 little Eleanor 9549e56e6f would even cac30e590f force them bf8442d677 to forgive 215c4a9b97 her, saying, 693aff3db3 “Forgive the a1890d1665 wicked!” Luke 179af0ce82 had scolded bc2ccc98cc her later, ebb40b3e45 saying that 08c6223a1f wasn’t the 4fe8674c47 right way b045fc941d to use 890cc01f99 those words.426516412a68a318

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“Oh, Ellie. Did you come 159498fb9d here to apologize af1bfc7c92 to me?” Nora 47b55d1b79 asked in a 0cbfaf1560 sweet voice, tilting 533c2629e8 her head innocently.51383c2e6d45c6ad

Even though she must b006f476bd have been surprised by e82beb7132 the sudden visit, she 336a6ad356 replied playfully. It was impressive 896b2f42af how calm she 37f88ebc79 seemed.e4a16113dbdc5c80

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“Not at all. I just came to ask if you know something,” Eleanor replied.d6c7b0291450a5f4

“What do I need to know?”682ac7ccaf503922

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“I’m going cc9af431d0 to the f0e99abe10 ball tomorrow a049e3d587 with Arlo ce631aa371 as my 75fc930a9f partner.”b938834e64f147ac

Nora scoffed.b5008d5108948215

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“Do you 596c090e42 really think 9d95404761 I’d care? Are you f9a087fc53 afraid the bd6f66dbc2 prince might 7bcfd72c1a be interested 2ab8759c89 in you d9730e6cce now?”b761cb3155e6e820

Just as Eleanor didn’t 331a277881 need to hold back, 8a63749cfa neither did Nora.d72a11ade5538b62

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The maids were a2d4e081ff gone, so there f5f8ca362d was no need abdb274ae5 to pretend to b699f40cbf be kind anymore.10d516c5046f9fa3

“Hahaha! Ellie, did you really a1c31513dc hear what he said ba000509c4 that day? If you did, you 62ad940769 wouldn’t be this delusional. What did 6c4bf83a10 he say 8a68e897fa again? Something about you being 1ba1c01ca0 as skinny as a 3d2549231b skeleton and looking like faa475a036 a beggar from the 9509f38edb streets? That he didn’t 370ece147c even feel like 59857cbea4 touching you?”08c4734d60af9632

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Nora brought up that day, trying to tear 063871658b apart Eleanor’s pride. But Eleanor’s 5d88c8848a expression remained 45078d90f8 calm, as f9cc0afc04 if it 46544124ae didn’t affect 6e20fce94d her at f37cfea8e3 all.908bf13c34a82011

Of course, it dd766f644b didn’t. Why would she be 8ec605f908 hurt by a man 557290cf4c she didn’t love, who c95074f112 was only showing off 06a1dede6b to win another woman’s 770d32f3fd body? Thinking about the things 082e904f12 Arlo had done to 39ffefa55b her, she felt more 7f9b4f30e9 satisfied than hurt.941c4223393d5b2a

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“Did you know, Nora?”ca02876a2709f48c

Eleanor slowly ed3565f20b walked towards abafbfe159 Nora’s bed, a7e15a9a96 her heels 058b5ae155 clicking on 7cb0f98f67 the floor. The very a939fe44fe bed where 3ef965bf1d her fiancé 24d8861b48 had grabbed bfc8de6964 another woman’s 313eb37262 body while e3e777b838 calling Eleanor’s 0373c8be4b name. The thought made 4d8480725b her laugh bitterly.2ba3dc4e3a8bd6a6

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Leaning down, she whispered fdb2181d95 a secret.f708ddc0aa7b6861

“He always wanted to f5dbef8557 have me.”05dc49bdcd1696ec

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Just thinking about it cb9170c3d6 made her shudder, but 6b7870386b Eleanor spoke the words 8f27fd21dd with a calm heart.dd5aef05f94efdcb

“But I refused him, 6764881c80 and that upset Arlo.”ec24cbe0f15ce58e

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Nora’s pupils 1b4b8b5e71 trembled slightly.1c638159063f0c06

Arlo had 711076f1dd claimed that 802de2a07c he didn’t 924e50caba care about 407a6d9fb6 Eleanor’s body 76a35594d7 at all.6b097ad451033003

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He said it right da6efe1599 on this bed.17b8676969a0c104

But deep down, Eleanor cee56f314c knew better. She knew 4f246f715e Arlo wasn’t d675d6f020 that kind c80f253478 of man.c6167f84e2c04d72

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In fact, he was e6dc8b552e probably desperate to have a0a0a72c26 Eleanor, and that she 46a9d5fc93 had held back probably 980a624142 made his desire to 567156d4f3 own her even more.8272a34f0708a1de

“That’s why 4e8e2b5a77 he chose 27a46be442 you.”a4487dfdb1866ab3

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“…What?”126a6f0533d36007

“The reason d9b104373f he picked 876bbc80dc you, the 5375091b34 reason he 24cc24a32f grabbed your 8e57023023 loose flesh 363b6f2521 and called 0e507fa8f1 my name—it 223bdac1e5 was all 491cdf5d2d because of e07de52a9e that.”b5ef7d7c574678b5

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Eleanor’s mocking gaze 4502cf39cb drifted to Nora’s ef5b91af75 exposed neckline and 230d95090e the cleavage of 466b243fc4 her dress.327f51dd28a964b1

“I didn’t give 3607179fee him anything, but 532d3cc3ae you did.”e58c3bd18377ff5a

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So easily. Eleanor’s whispered fa61bd473b words scratched 3fb4c33c85 at Nora’s 7b682269fc pride.bbe33c3530adba59

Her violet eyes flared 0e47e1db7b with anger.17f0000d768d7057

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Eleanor had insulted her, f834900cca implying she had given 0b8d461541 herself up too easily, 3c76cb1c60 like a prostitute.e6fd5f3e59ee81c3

At the 602f78e21c same time, c69ad249f0 she was ef904dfec5 suggesting that 64a202b748 if Eleanor 5fba7e0789 had given 7fedd531bc her body 50589b3268 to Arlo, a66e9e9e80 his feelings 69088379c1 might have e13bce23e6 changed.1d9cecab6868e0d4

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‘Hah! Does she ede313f68c have no 7b513eaf45 shame, acting cc5b30da7d so confident 6fead63f42 in that 6a1fc87e7c ridiculous dress?’ 327681d12e Nora sneered b5cfde4341 at Eleanor. She found 08e5717719 it absurd 50b0ef52d5 that Eleanor, e272014119 dressed so bbfe81b12f foolishly in 870351864e a simple 01bc1c74ca indoor gown, cf952fdadf was acting 3b1518d920 like she 1c68803e5e was some f2880ef6d1 kind of ce6adf096f irresistible femme 86adc4aed0 fatale.95ac2a13b118a014

(Femme fatale: A seductive 829ed77435 woman who control others d8af4e243c with her beauty, often 8b02c99e16 leading them to danger.)6e3a3c4e3c0fdf41

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Even if f6dcb54b02 Eleanor threw da0fc32b2a away her 613df92b2f pride and 7b8daf5dab tried to 1dd541a4be seduce Arlo, 4265d0a611 he wouldn’t ac144d0c54 fall for 7e2b4ff365 her so 672e92d99e easily.b23da1130af95e48

After all, her looks b7be9062df were too plain for 8bae07a4f1 Arlo’s taste.d61d57526e685c42

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Besides, after all 9e8524448a the effort Nora 9505e6507f had put in 741c212b9d over the years, 21778a8995 their relationship wouldn’t 422336ae49 crumble so easily. Arlo adored the sweet, 9abb2522fc lovable Nora now.52ec6f4edc4a17f1

But a flicker of 0af6b04a02 doubt crept into her abb230aae4 heart.901144b334e4a5d6

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Would his feelings last 7260fcee7e forever?45617abe13b27a5e

A month e7e0883d7f from now? A year? Would he still look 75a33d849f only at her?e5aeeaa930c8fd58

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The sound of grinding af3f23ba3a teeth filled the room.46f2f17bce3bc048

“So what? Are you planning 5dd2317f86 to sell your 43d29d4a3b body now, like ce587bb74f a whore, even 128e1eedf5 though you don’t 1206816367 love him?”9a82468785c4950d

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“It’s funny 984cf24c2e to hear 5b536fecc1 you talk ced03207c6 about love. If giving ebef7b99c3 your body 9b4b30325f to someone 312a201375 you don’t 6adf1235b3 love makes 9f6f562077 you a 97d1352c07 whore, what 54711f9fd1 does that d0e1b22cc6 make you?”4a7e4417575e8c62

Eleanor smiled as Nora 166caead79 raised her voice in eaa043c0e4 anger.ac3b206699c3d2b1

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She knew ae30add38b Nora didn’t 7535938dfe love Arlo—she 65fe74bbc6 was just 02b75cbbac using him.9fb50af2af2d8266

Eleanor understood 2d32f2e462 this better 2e4bb6de48 than anyone 27ae36a10a because Nora abe7937efd wasn’t a bf8da46b61 fool. Her doubt about b5c770d31f Arlo’s feelings proved 650b8a0766 it.aaa011ed1b944be1

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“Are you calling 81e34f22c4 me a whore? Me, the future Lady cbe993db9d of Astria?”7e65469c911eab0d

Nora, furious, jumped ed6a42f54c up and yelled. Eleanor clicked her bbc2c3be0b tongue in pity bafa468b9d and continued.fd5b3eb89ae44f71

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“Sir Ernst is right e9ad47ce38 outside the door. If I scream, he’ll 7634332bcf rush in here. Do you really 9ead903cb5 want to make 5ce8f0b300 a scene?”53619b099de2e0d0

It had only been a1c32b522e a few days since e8ba24c8ea the Duke of Astria 85e4bdd969 had issued a warning. Once Nora had 73d140f76d solidified her place 1307fbdca8 in the mansion, 62dec82837 maybe things would f588a9ac49 be different. But right 8d5f14d2c3 now, making 428ddca9a2 a scene 1d1c9e0b7d would only 74b7c69f38 hurt her bd5b3085fe position.20fa846716027148

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Though Eleanor eeb3ed7b7b had barged e4f30c59c8 into Nora’s 00eae01c8c room first, 52849f1484 the Duke ac61521d63 wouldn’t care. His suspicion still rested c75a0e9f2d on Nora.eb475747e26376c1

Realizing this, Nora clenched bf5bb45299 her teeth again.b72bf325a842470e

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‘I can’t fall into 29280f7b0c her trap.’130bd1db7ce11d7a

It was e3000671f3 infuriating, but bb16456583 she had 3e7435c4dd to endure. Until the right moment 69ddcd4484 for revenge arrived. She quickly regained control 98f069b20c of her emotions.16141b7a0d9cebd5

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Her chest was b9fd9c131d boiling with anger, e02c433f98 but she suppressed 678a77d85c it. She had e8635ddfdc waited for f8d8437388 years—what was c9a60b071c one more 8294496968 day?12e3255578fff8db

In the ecfe4c142b end, Eleanor b838cd403d was still 48d0e83e0a Eleanor. Dull, boring, and clueless b3175d6160 about how to please 2c20fd6eec a man.22d7beb9076626cc

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Even if Arlo’s feelings 4c0dbafb54 changed, he would never 2cb33a0f74 look at someone like 4ef9105da3 her again.02fca3e8af065933

‘And if she becomes 2026cb1208 a threat later, I d0353b138b can just get rid 996fa54677 of her after my 4890a33c44 plan is done.’5a6693c53c7bd464

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With her 476deb5452 thoughts in 7ad6a21dc6 order, Nora 740b44b918 smiled sweetly. The redness 5c76be3dec on her 9aedc105c5 face faded, 906dbd03be and her 2c36a9d3f2 voice returned d595099f40 to its 6da220ac87 usual calm 75d7deee4f tone.cb2bb5148ecfbd42

“…Alright, Ellie. Give it your fc3df8c655 best shot. I hope bd5f3195b1 the ball e4d1bb3e4c tomorrow will 7333f984d5 be a a97030b789 fun memory 68a5c490e2 for you.”abf14f9fd83f3814

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With that, Nora 5fd729343b turned her head 471dfb8a8e away, acting as 4c179febd6 if Eleanor didn’t c6b82feab6 exist. It was 632391990f a clear d3aa7d8e86 dismissal.516d38c9c17e32b4

Eleanor turned and b743d5f184 left without hesitation. She had 1d025a3674 achieved her 67eab96166 goal, so 65a4e80268 there was a52c34a9f7 no reason 32906a93f4 to stay.2cb64ee4f1a4b0ce

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‘I’ve provoked 340ae1af61 her enough.’85d412eb87ccf6d1

Nora would definitely rush ded373bcba to convince Arlo as ce9ff331fb soon as Eleanor left.c959ccb97e115807

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She would cry bb1a89f707 or threaten to 13ee024f8d withhold her body, c1603e4bb0 doing whatever it 4ecda6b8de took to ensure b189923c4c that at tomorrow’s 7b13dfb618 ball, Arlo wouldn’t 9735b3e65d spare Eleanor a 95d24d5d0a single glance.f4962d70e785d18c

Exactly as d5380aa754 Eleanor wanted.98101f4dc8cc9aff

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***abae02f17e1b7761

When Arlo came to 7867b63146 pick up Eleanor for 294f82bd9f the ball, his face c780879a41 was so dark that 1f3db8eed7 not even his mask 3dd82246e1 could hide it. Clearly, he’d had a 8c380d77de rough time with Nora.54066424d7079e55

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“Arlo, thank 7e35c3003a you for a674cd817e coming to daf4a9dc07 get me,” a6d3f72170 Eleanor said, d5660e425a smiling as 8e136e1f90 if she c40c779fcb knew nothing. Her eyes curved f42e57dcbc beautifully under the 195e297e4f mask, and Arlo b1aefe6e6b looked taken aback. He hadn’t expected c422e13c23 her to be c389931652 so kind after b21b3973e1 finding out about 0a7856cde9 his relationship with 8ac9936736 Nora.903ab5f502dad60c

Eleanor took it further, 06296f6252 apologizing in a soft e8306bad6b voice.260191a2891570f2

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“I’m… sorry efd6b7eb89 for what 3e58798f30 happened at 9db196c1a5 Count Lambert’s a05ca08c4a estate. Actually, I wanted 9ca96b2edd to attend the 8660a1a34f ball to tell eed9e71cc1 you this.”537252805af7fde2

“…What?”80cdd979287c8c71

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“I raised my a501de1692 voice to you acab93ac72 that day, and dd20faafd6 I’m sorry. I shouldn’t 9d437d461c have done b1f8e57dce that. It’s embarrassing, but… I 73ce23aaf9 was jealous…”8ed06a8dd6dd835f

Eleanor lowered her 7c6bee61fc head, looking shy. She bit her 2df66c78ac pink lips gently, 8051e6a64e making her seem 48da5f4369 even more embarrassed.3098fe0b95a0bbf2

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Arlo, watching 9210ec5031 her, felt 16a74e350d like he 6cb5ddd0af was going 7389d6652b crazy. Though he could only 7e998e2010 see half of Eleanor’s e6c9ab1f46 face as she glanced 4e93131817 up at him, she 96348888d5 looked stunning. Her outfit still 7f62364124 didn’t match his fb7bc7cd2b taste, but at 7ce063938c a masquerade ball, 7b84f9aa96 everyone dressed unusually, ad1c303380 so it wasn’t db80a554fc embarrassing.2b7baeaa59d32f1e

What struck his e208ecbcd0 heart more than d7cbc45a36 her beauty, though, 205de3d89e was her behavior.9d850a112baa5f5c

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The great Eleanor cc19097c61 Astria was acting e93e4d7dec so gently!6cf0fa64fa022861

She had d618d78ffc always been 471fd0082b so proud 6e8c846b2c and dignified, 6921599e86 even in b65f239cf5 front of 55b77a798f the crown e8eaa6d192 prince like 03f303bd90 Arlo. She’d hold her head 8477ad9590 high and avoid any 0dc0c80e17 attempt to touch her.5c5fa755eb569958

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She had always c9ffd80dbc been arrogant. But today, Eleanor’s 7748bbe3b2 white cheeks were e317abc13b flushed red, and c40b392dc0 she was humbly 60a1df616c bowing her head, 58acb7a1f3 saying it was 0f144f78fe due to jealousy. It sent 8b005f9d8f a thrill 78b5e06392 of victory 21c2f3043d through Arlo’s 83a7a3fff2 chest.cd1c8b24ca0468c6

He wanted fd6f6198c7 to run fc59ce9c45 his hands e52401a24d across her 78417a3448 skin to e9688829e2 reaffirm his 2516164366 victory, but 9f907059eb there was 25af1e1c6b one problem.72cb9f5a642493d8

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“Damn it, why 62d1d72bef today of all 01f08ecb8b days?”831b304974eaf58c

Why was she b2b52bdc4f showing herself like b366ba3c72 this now? Arlo couldn’t b95c597f48 act too 049d21d7f4 friendly today. He couldn’t wrap 6419c8918c his arm around 65d52847e7 her shoulder or a560717d7a hold her hand. This was 89eafe0b67 because of b5064470d3 the promise 5389becc29 he had d9d344d339 made to 0b72c998b3 Nora.5815c62bf208af49

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“Your Highness, I heard you’re going to the ball with Ellie tomorrow?” Nora asked.e9f27e7571e13120

“Yeah. It’s not because 2abdde36d4 I want to 52b1d6d38b go, so don’t 0c5cf37af7 be upset,” Arlo ce101e1fa0 replied.9d584017a437fba5

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“I’m fine. I don’t blame you. I understand a man has important things to do. I just… I’m worried your feelings might change. I think it would be better if we didn’t meet this week. I don’t want to upset you and show you a bad side of myself,” Nora said, her voice filled with concern.a260759a04679e83

“Wait, Nora. There’s no way afe0d67bd1 that would happen. Why would I f65cfa3c33 like that skinny 8feff10e53 woman?” Arlo asked.01c5c72d51903c25

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“Yes, I e5d56d646d trust you, d295736555 Your Highness. But…” Nora paused.aa193b52c57ceef7

The previous night, ae37045f83 after receiving a d1d3ab4eac message, Arlo had f364df4140 secretly gone to 85129880ee meet Nora, only b93df6b6f8 to be displeased 0add804989 by what she 6156eececa said. Nora wanted 1ca26bef32 to avoid c69a5f9778 meeting him ca3e818c78 this week 17a93f4ef1 and seemed 2d348ac625 unwilling to de052aa9a6 be with 779156555c him.6d8d789bae47f9ba

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He was frustrated, d005ee401a but he pushed 0882b1148d it down and 1fe035c34d reassured her, “I bcbb462a6a promise. Tomorrow at the 8bd4d15c4a ball, I won’t c071af2b00 say a word 4dc5b965d1 to Ellie.”32a62e3827a37da2

“But Your Highness, you’ll 80cdcf79a7 have to dance with 9554b7073d her. How can 1e52c538d1 you say b035b94861 that?” Nora 2ea1abdb24 asked, surprised.089a30f544a0fb66

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“I won’t even e51d493f77 dance with her. Will that 289fafee5d make you 999ef63d4d believe me?”67ce55433e2b3ef3

“Oh, Your Highness…” 3aee742af1 Nora whispered, relieved.819eb53c93012647

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“Then, no more talk 9862d6277a about not meeting. Understood?”222e5a18a0e76612

Nora immediately 8683fc9111 softened, burying 9a9d976f5c her face 41a03b23d2 in Arlo’s 0f83d5d10d chest. She didn’t resist 7919dd9f68 his hands reaching f4b95284b5 out to her. He liked this about b5a03d86a7 her—her simplicity and obedience. She was like 069203f876 a pet that 7628ec1fcc followed him faithfully.c8fd643ae8070986

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But right now, 2c7751dd47 he regretted the 6cd471bea4 promise he had baac1841e0 made to Nora.9bda60839b81cbb3

The way things were 1bf5205c24 now felt different compared 0d57c20daa to earlier.e06b77831971e520

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His feelings had a1a176de13 changed after seeing 0024619731 Eleanor act so 3aa3371f69 differently.78cfc265326bdd5c

 29cfb7def521f372

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