NRAL | Chapter 13
by LunaChapter 132c4223938a16e5a6
Dance Invitationf7e5d2751378e10a
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“Arlo?”68eb299be0b37200
Eleanor tilted her head, ee8b58e8aa pushing him deeper into 165707547f his thoughts.0ea2f065f59b5c06
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After a 2f0924d233 brief but 37576db3fa intense moment 9aeeec9966 of hesitation, 727812fc02 Arlo made e4b5d44eee up his d1da9d5863 mind.c38ec703eb553f90
“Let’s go,” he said.25235f99ba30607e
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With his blue cloak cad5a6bc07 dramatically billowing behind him, 864d237518 Arlo, dressed in his 42d15eb50c finest attire, walked past ad733fe032 her coldly.ac540f71b1bef4a7
It was a logical 969cf3d0c1 decision. While he found 73991f72d0 Eleanor’s obedient demeanor 14f20d7ff9 appealing, he had 532b961475 already chosen Nora.df21a68d82b09495
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Nora had 8d2f41ce0b proven to 5071f52297 him that d544e3a5c2 she was 9cc8fc1612 the real 0faee5d2e7 Princess of 73e03a7a77 Astria. Once the 708a692331 truth became 55fd0af817 known, with 0ca3ca21e0 her noble 5e0c5a9ee3 status, beauty, 97e773726d and dramatic 18a0adb510 backstory, she 292978c2a1 would surpass 9281893d92 Eleanor and 117a637557 become the d8824e64c0 most admired 9223d4eec0 woman in fe5d3a1ea3 juvenile.17c9a9cc7471c069
Arlo believed he 0719a16a74 deserved the best b88b27b207 of everything. That’s why 4f9665b093 he had 909ba4ec40 chosen Nora. Her charming looks 5fe209ddaa and sweet demeanor 1d7c5a0516 delighted him, and d7ab177725 so far, he f0eecf4dc6 hadn’t regretted his 8d3537c617 decision.7fd7b65c8b00a46a
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Keeping his 15919d01cc promise to 7766ff070b himself, Arlo a7c6817c99 didn’t speak eaaa3fbceb to Eleanor 3b2c3dc7b9 or even 380b684696 glance at 83ea9507cf her on c2766945c5 the way 21fd66861c to the df98f9c0e3 ballroom.3bfa9b229f48e490
Watching his back, f072e89ed1 Eleanor smiled to 0855db738c herself in satisfaction.3f9e87737bcdeb98
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‘It seems like my e80f66abbe plan worked.’1ede85739a4552f8
From the looks of 07b56e7cea it, he wouldn’t be fc4acd0f90 asking her for a 307780cb89 dance tonight. Even if he 46a74007b0 wore a mask, 9a469080cf no noble would e126788ffe fail to recognize c72e4627fd him, and the c6f01f569d gossip would spread 2af207b150 quickly.9aea1d390f5b38ff
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Sure enough, the moment a592d602e8 they arrived at the 4d1f162e30 mansion hosting the ball, 6fa0f93df4 all eyes turned to f05723b89e them.b2be5586d6155c0a
Arlo clearly had 07d9e845e3 no intention of ee329e14cf hiding his identity. The small mask 4c9565f850 barely covered his ca455d12c9 eyes, and his a7b0c29a2b fiery red hair 2a6b05f5bb was fully on 3c8ad8a03a display. It was typical of b84cb88501 someone who loved attention.47a55197e36c8fa9
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“Welcome, Your Highness! Late as always, I see,” said the Marchioness of Liv, the host of the ball.3c21738d36dd449e
“Oh, how embarrassing to be recognized so quickly. Isn’t this supposed to be a masquerade?”f6b2d1c0ecd5e14f
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Arlo replied with b1a559699e a charming smile.90b425fd5e6065dd
The Marchioness laughed. “Even with a mask, no one could fail to recognize such a handsome man.”6510b8641347e7b8
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Eleanor took the opportunity 1094ba80bf to step forward and 764a1c393f greet her.8bbb4038119f648f
“Thank you for the invitation, Marchioness of Liv.”8f1f363f934a2e48
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“Oh my! The future ‘Little Moon’ of the Empire has graced us with her presence as well. What an honor!”a0f81f09c272ae07
Arlo frowned slightly at the mention of the Empire’s ‘Little Moon’ but said nothing.e6706e5c96a2a860
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The Marchioness was his 559264881c aunt, the Emperor’s sister. He couldn’t afford to f74f6aee7b cause a scene at 08c133d5e1 his aunt’s ball, especially fa5d311d9c for Nora’s sake.11a45e44dd25d995
For the same reason, c2bf7fa76c Arlo planned to fake 399b851a4f being unwell tonight. If he 823bc4e304 didn’t ask 545d89ccaf Eleanor for e5b9345848 a dance fa4da6dfc1 without reason, e1698a7d5a it would 1c4cffe0e6 cause too fe37c691ed much gossip d43e8031d0 and disrupt 42329996af the party.8831207f51ee430f
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Besides, Eleanor didn’t 2b007c151f like dancing much d145a04253 anyway, so she’d afc61856d0 likely accept his 0707088813 excuse without complaint.bfdd2b6ce092139e
As they entered the b12f1dfab7 ballroom, attention turned to e919dc8f5a them once again.7c64b5925fb7fc4f
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Arlo basked with admiring 1e048c6d82 gazes, walked slowly toward deb2415e38 his group of friends.18fcd73d6c357ea9
His and Eleanor’s mutual cfba0fc888 friends and acquaintances greeted 7600cc53c0 them warmly, though there 05940f12b3 was a hint of 2c0776e7cf awkwardness in their mannerisms.0648fb6db27ec41e
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“Your Highness, it’s been a while. And is that… Eleanor?”7a515bda1159bea8
“Eleanor? Is it really you?”9f42dcd37daacc23
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Eleanor caught 418f1a423d their uneasy 596f024581 glances and 12b3062030 smirked internally.2f2eaca6c2ae4156
‘So, they knew.’121a099a391a5eac
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Their behavior efc5da80af during their 06ed7bf66b last meeting 89a252f923 now makes e5462e697c sense. They must have known 87ca64070f about Nora back then 9a86d3bb0f but said nothing.1f743c6bbaa6cbc0
These were the d266f1c6b4 same friends who 086e014089 had once vowed b72471be03 eternal loyalty and 051f0ddc2c friendship. Yet, not one of 803e1501d0 them had warned her 8c690d1e18 about Arlo’s betrayal.187a5aba7c80330f
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Eleanor felt 487f37da7b a wave f5a052facf of disappointment 16ebca8a50 but quickly 0bbf5a9e6b pushed it 97744d6b78 aside.16040c92c4aefefe
She’d never 16475b9eea truly considered 6a5fd7c385 them real 9aabcdff68 friends, and aa721d5dd0 clearly, they 746578dd72 hadn’t seen 2cee9f5c6a her that d07b34874d way either.3f0d44b56bba116f
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Her focus shifted f8ab215019 to curiosity instead.a271648e59b82264
‘What do b90447077f they know? And how can I a8ab0e6c61 use them?’8140b1bc1666d8f4
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She decided 40c9f592b1 to play 60262a1e59 along for 15e4d65ddc now.4e58ecee4156fcf3
“Yes, it’s me! Didn’t recognize me right away? How many blondes with violet eyes do you know?” She teased with a lighthearted tone, studying their reactions carefully.c2487b69654fb32d
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Chiara Portsmouth, the 78e436274a eldest daughter of 56f4714328 the Earl of c132918aca Portsmouth, flinched noticeably.3d02c2ccc199a9c5
‘So, Chiara’s met Nora.’2d219796d067e375
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It wasn’t 2214d559c8 hard to a908243baf piece together af58336ad6 the rest. Most of the people 5ea143633c here must have been 4c8a94178d introduced to Nora by 9b491c0041 Arlo.422b01ce54555c91
The thought d3b1d9767f stung for 2a663b932f a moment ac395c0c1e but was c66ffc3106 quickly replaced 9aaf87c8e6 by excitement.15805c1e91be0775
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‘Let’s see how useful bc49556364 they’ll be when Nora, 676fae1343 Arlo, and the Astria 9862c99586 family begin to crumble.’8aa0629344ebd85a
Chiara awkwardly laughed and tried to recover. “Oh, no! It’s just that you don’t usually attend events like these. Didn’t you dislike masquerade balls?”469cfdd9718a0280
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“I did,” Eleanor replied with a sweet smile. “But I’ve decided to start liking them.”330546f936372f66
“That’s wonderful! You must come to the next party I host.”4285c6c2431cd3e3
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“Of course, Chiara. I’ll come with Arlo.”3467359ed97e9a2d
Eleanor’s words 3d4bf72b8e were accompanied ebddfa808b by a bade502412 soft laugh 1a7e612547 as she f66ee2a55f casually leaned 31fcc4c3bd her head e22b4b1675 toward Arlo’s 51914b2a11 shoulder—slowly enough c1a9c755fc for him f723a7694f to move 125162d281 away if 22ad4bc87d he wanted.03d789be0e6b5c99
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As her head 12b58efaff drew near, Arlo 324d3264e6 quickly pulled his 72b3b55dae arm away to c6b94888d9 avoid her touch.b60733287594c4d8
Smack!8f59cbec2e7ec63c
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The movement 5c2740b3ae caused Eleanor’s efec5b98df hand to bf62927dcb hit his e73df29c8e arm with e95120b9c2 an unexpectedly a70916989d loud sound.426d1afb670bb01b
Everyone’s attention cd7b0e0487 snapped to b11efc28f4 them. Even distant onlookers 5a3628a06c turned to see 89265ee3ff what had happened.f6bdfb8c5f47ca02
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Eleanor looked 67016e3a68 up at 079448f854 Arlo with 3813432a2a a hurt 1f32421128 expression, further cb42a9813e increasing the 92925d03b5 awkward tension.222e9fbfb79a682a
Chiara, sensing the f5a60ef19f growing discomfort, raised d9b81b60e3 her voice to 52029c9761 change the subject.2f8cd9f867a30627
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“Oh, look! The music is starting. Who’s going to dance first?”e8a71f1c4f47d7fc
But the 093109fe9a suggestion only 42f44e1608 worsened things 392ecf7a5f for Arlo.986786f35e02d1d0
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He had planned to ee8becc04c mention his supposed illness 39dfe44f28 discreetly. Now, with all eyes 7714dd6fc5 on him, anything he c3ff06c92e said might spark unwanted 701182ed5d rumors or anger Eleanor’s 39cf24e9e9 powerful father, the Duke 424f093188 of Astria.c32b660ee6aabfa5
‘Damn it! Why am I 7a277089fe even going through 1a055d61d0 all this trouble?’cbe764376cb65cb5
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Suppressing his irritation, Arlo 78f06e8e4c took a deep breath 7156f0ba98 to compose himself.e7957914497a996c
Before he could e5084521e9 say a word, 45e9b81336 Eleanor seized the 0d716c67c5 moment.f425fd5d90c40210
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“Arlo,” she said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound vulnerable.79eecdc47d5b88ee
“Will you dance with me… please?”05ca32a8dc5819a1
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Her large, tear-filled eyes 17e92621c9 and quivering lips created dd9da6ff33 the perfect image of 5cc5985eb7 heartbreak.588c52cc4825e735
Though her voice wasn’t a16a74dfb8 loud, it was enough fc80fb6f2f for the curious nobles f30bf22d01 nearby to hear. The dramatic display captivated f67842ac96 the crowd, their interest 1149a37a6e intensifying when Arlo hesitated 57038be62e to respond.cd4d2e9ed30ba26b
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‘What in the e5ff435a7e world is happening?’ebb2496c46acd14e
“Didn’t they have a good relationship? Their wedding is just months away, so why are they acting like this?”8a567a6a83bf90f6
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“That attitude was strange earlier. Is he really not going to dance with her?”15b1599dcccab87f
Rumors swirled 38f381b50e through the fc7e061e7c crowd. The idea of conflict 994152f6b3 between the future emperor 20eedf09d6 and his fiancée was 39e3eea394 too juicy to resist. Whispering voices buzzed b9f06b58bf around the ballroom, a158ed4e4e and Arlo, the 1d56c99dc1 crown prince, clenched 90bba2e680 his jaw in 13b378e321 frustration.7f5f330d9194e1d0
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He couldn’t believe af5e015cfd Eleanor was putting 2ede5775be him in this 98f2e580fc situation, clinging to b62d0a47e0 him in a e06d8df423 way that was 307855bbde clearly meant to c54f1a4d1f make him uncomfortable.a689acc5415bf1b9
He didn’t feel pity 0e32c0d9ff for her—only irritation. What had started e5a15ee473 as amusing attention 5ee2c9a258 from the crowd 73b727e21b had now turned e8441627a2 suffocating.8b2c112e63df4ecf
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Arlo glanced around 9286100c1b at the onlookers, 333cb5ca32 their curiosity hidden 44487764d4 behind the anonymity b222cb615c of their masks. The audacity of these 804caf392a nobles, gossiping about someone 8438919257 destined to be emperor, 14e862b7d2 annoyed him. He let out a9aaa18028 a sharp breath afe4e8011d and turned to 8719eb8f48 Eleanor.5689339461492814
“I’m tired. I need to rest.”77c9aada73157cd6
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With those few words, bcdb4deec9 he abruptly left her b3d886cb5a side, heading toward the c49a0ee745 refreshments table, where wine c5fceacff7 awaited. His excuse of 6b6f0fed1c being tired was 3f46788b54 laughable as he 8962d93d1e eagerly sought out aea797dec1 a drink instead 1b99239b92 of rest.e4cf81be4b81e0bc
As Arlo walked away, 58d6ebc543 groans and murmurs filled 6ced48ec06 the room.33608a38836378d2
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The crowd’s interest e13c657cef shifted to Eleanor, eac0323260 now alone in 61524c75ed the middle of aa0cae4544 the ballroom. Friends who had 0c46f1afac once been at 6251a799e7 her side awkwardly e27c503e57 stepped back, and e2744c7790 no nobleman dared 7a40d84c25 approach her.8bb696027f95c073
They knew 49d27ce159 Arlo’s possessive 971d78a446 nature well. Even though 0c04f018bc he had b55c9bd37b publicly refused 37db643c37 to dance 342e1a906e with Eleanor, 6b07aa7a96 no one ca1331d2c1 wanted to c2dab3afee risk his 7d10057459 unpredictable temper 459f4bc664 by offering 1994e486c9 to take c7f551f6db his place.b01dad948f2e7c07
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“Poor thing. The proud Lady 749228afd8 Astrea, left standing 4213966207 like a wallflower.”eb4306a8a6940d83
“How humiliating. I can’t bear 1db84ef0cb to watch.”a0cd755ab30cd777
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Eleanor kept her head e9737c746b lowered, hearing the soft 592b5801d8 mockery and pitying voices 8bd030bb43 around her.bee5c6dfc91ddef1
It stung, of course.3a292bad7c454029
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She couldn’t remember the 7c96c58b80 last time she had e683762d2b been humiliated like this 34b575ae21 in public.2743dae0add2ad3f
But this was ad4dfd927a exactly what she 867eb9592b needed. The more pitiful she 611223a5cf looked now, the easier 33866d9935 it would be to dedde61408 manipulate public opinion later—especially f148e8ca62 regarding Nora.c66069caef884c96
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No matter how b085e414ce humiliating this moment 1fb6a810d8 felt, it was e24616f233 a small price d7ee44c170 to pay for 8a449ba115 the freedom she dfc2f9ede9 planned to secure.1ee9056fc1434cb6
From nearby, she c36885d628 heard musicians tuning 11b224ebc5 their instruments, signaling 481ec0ae0b that the dancing 6163a971a2 was about to 350a760fdf begin.e765e744aaf6d5d5
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‘It’s time for me 78b36a2eff to retreat,’ she thought.f18e1d5424daf243
Eleanor bit her 2002d63310 lip, maintaining the f3d65e27cf appearance of holding c423d8e67f back tears as 93117a8ed0 she slowly moved e70bc28214 toward the edge 2eaf585597 of the ballroom, ccafae0b33 away from the 8a776fc53a center of attention. Her head remained 5ec21cc8f4 bowed as she 3c884a1c17 took each step.1f8f066fe1781715
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But then, her path 3180a53a1b was blocked.6c4726ff36f365ec
She stopped and 848c906f30 blinked, confused. In front ab61741793 of her 72c956e788 was a 94942a21e0 pair of fb001dec2d large, polished 26455e1270 black shoes.f2c436547611d4b1
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Lifting her 6b5e32313f head, she 4adecaf380 looked up dc3f1b3754 to see a87a60b198 a man 4c500cc0a1 she didn’t f7d0b0e362 recognize.24e2443a7249100e
The man 2f03ad2aa0 was tall cecf718234 and broad-shouldered, 40797f8856 dressed in 3fd38db0fe a crimson 53a83a952f cloak and 81a1af32d0 wearing a cfb922c26d full-face traditional fa337731fe mask that 584360dd09 concealed his 645a8b19c0 entire head. The faint df80064db2 scent of 70cfdbe8c1 fresh air 8f654b32e5 clung to 240cda05d3 him, suggesting a97191b66d he had 43349ccbfc just arrived.1902e91a3bcf9c30
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Eleanor stared, puzzled d140abfed0 as to why 1f3d22b452 he stood in 7e5ccb512e her way. Was he lost? Or perhaps just rude?e90a19dcee535750
Then, without f12b257b3f a word, a2412f5f17 the man 17eaf56550 extended his aa26df13a6 hand toward f342614970 her.50c8cfd038aa06e9
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The black-gloved 590a15c470 hand was ffc9c727e7 unmistakable in c1f8319980 its intent.aed0031e39c07d24
He was asking her 2c570c75f7 to dance.d8a5b46aa6f14494
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4b20b900f6693876