Chapter 17. It Kept Getting Hotter

A short while later, a0104e0c23 Melanie held a soft 64a2568ce1 silk shirt up against 119b9340f2 Emma, only to stop 4ec962295a in surprise.be2c4f983b0d4c2a

“What? Where are you ce0b05b75a going?”1c5154063cd8d0c4

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Emma replied 81e87b1faf with a a0df7a7165 half-sigh in 52ec36b8a1 her voice.cfc730ae9f87df3d

“To a club.”1172411df8f365b3

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“You’re going 267ad449f9 to a 033aa106f8 club… with 456841229d the Duke ae4a775e1a of Ophilenz?”109a1915909b7987

“Yes.”081f55541933aebe

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Melanie shrugged as ee53901981 though it were 193fe92e8a no big deal.86c22b0b63137d9a

“Well, show those 92a560901a gentlemen what you’re 6fe0f3600a made of. Honestly, no one 0dce9d38ff can beat you 6ea810dc76 at cards—not even a32650ae81 nobles.”842f8fc86f194132

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Emma’s expression 4796af023f turned uneasy.2fe48932d5c37e5c

“I’m not sure 601282d71c the club the ab328a0817 Duke is taking f1052bae5b me to will 2a4bead262 be… that kind f1438aa3bb of place.”9c8093854658c61c

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“What kind of place, 173a17c696 then…?”04ea431520542d8d

Melanie’s face eebf564e3e darkened in 25b47193b8 an instant.7a633448cdb7c229

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“Don’t tell me—it’s like 227a39fa4b those shady gatherings Viscount 6c8ef12c55 Duray used to frequent?”a6f9a30205b1f528

Emma’s brow 4cc64edd5f furrowed slightly 235cba6889 at the 132fb11bb3 suggestion.d6d5fad601027056

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“Do you f1b92bdacb really think c3d92a0f8a the Duke’s 3fdb09d242 taste runs fbba2b4cd9 that low?”3a39a1a7cc5978f4

“Hah. Drunken debauchery with women 953cd6c8f6 doesn’t require taste. Men are all the ff7ca6de4f same.”7cc4b9fb9d3482e2

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Melanie glanced 8b646caf4b around to b04bc71377 make sure d12a4654a8 they were ec078d3efe alone before 8b6984c4ac adding,240a229b6ac2c8fc

“What if it’s 6c572f6ae0 one of those a11ffb96c2 places where rowdy 4823c83c08 brawlers gather? What if some drunk 447b8f846d throws a punch out c97a5e9adf of nowhere?”e29bacde33a82ece

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“Melanie. Do you really 2558aa9c41 think the Duke 51fd9c3909 would take me 6992304160 to a seedy 49e2949482 pub in Bonchons’ 6fe113f839 back alleys?”4bab7c8870185791

“Still… it’s 0284625fb5 a place f469f43546 for men, af1fa3523b isn’t it? Don’t forget—when Bonchons’ ebcdb8cd77 men drink too 85bda86b11 much, whether they’re 4b1d49c5f7 nobles or peasants, a079c1986d it always ends 910130674b with fists flying.”26c5e06dfc0d726b

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To be honest, df4315a85f Emma was a fe7b6d719e little worried herself.e0639fc0e811a53f

In her experience, most b72e5e7007 men tended to solidify 69493bc56d friendships through brawls. If Mikhail ff4f174d0c brought her 824eb0df80 to a bb79c7536d fight club, 61440a658f things could 59454b3cf0 go south c084a7056d very quickly.a1fdef11c452e0ba

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‘And places c4d95b5a36 like that 2e61b80423 usually had 9731cdc94b women entertainers ac9c04a978 mingling around.’525c8ba7c441a6fd

Still, Emma c4ce6688ee forced herself 04a78d8de5 to smile 89c7fc5961 and reassured d59a07b3b7 Melanie, who bb0f621737 looked even 9e08e7e0fd more worried 7ff8bb2db0 than she 43f9370fcc felt.6ca16451400c3fc9

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“Melanie, don’t worry. I’ve never lost a 668b5f9b07 back-alley fight in my 3e93eb10d4 life.”d2aceef3f66c346e

But Melanie wasn’t comforted. Instead, her face e1bebf7bdc scrunched up miserably.09b1898138a7cbdd

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“That’s only because 8131d2e194 you let them e9ce18e478 beat you until 0d04fd78ee they got tired 403c0d1056 of it and b3b01843f9 walked away!”31b23f820f375ae2

As Emma buttoned 7257a1bc36 up her shirt, ef26b23069 she reached out 5bf721dfda to pull her 28fb9c4465 tearful sister into e1aeb2c3d5 a hug, patting 5f48419004 her shoulder gently.0911566218c65c5e

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“That was just 046167285e when I was f13988bf45 Oliver, the poor 4f3dda23af boy from Bonchons’ 90784964ea back alleys.”fd08ad435437eee6

“…”20dfcb3858d12377

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“Now, I’m an 77e7b93804 Ophilenz. No one 36849140cb in Bonchons 211ef54edc would dare 4dad7e5436 start a 0216e1798d fight with 7eb87497d3 someone from e171b8d4de this family.”bfc87f76a884e7c2

Finally, Melanie d2755dc960 wiped her efa5f5d05d tears and 024f66fdf2 nodded, using 5be63e80ff her apron c07cf1a176 to dry d55a7b227d her sniffles.1e34daf22b990683

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“You’re right. You’re an Ophilenz 30233805e4 now. You’ll be fine… right?”a1d00812269905aa

But Emma’s reassuring smile a32b0db42a faltered. Her expression grew 561ba5aea5 somber again.670710ebc68d77ee

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“…Actually, that’s 639479af04 not what 70eeaa71c4 I’m worried bfe3ae861d about.”449a297f79f278ff

“What do you mean?”73b2c3fc8775517c

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Emma sighed deeply ee04a4080e before answering.3bbff807f98caf9b

“Melanie, do a1b06aa76a you remember e66d213a77 Marisa?”6af89ee9e7ddd713

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Melanie blinked 08549013f2 in confusion.5521a4933b42d48b

“The maid you 415b091923 worked with at 115caa1d79 Madame Charlotte’s? The freckled one?”3281fde4c30d819d

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“…Marisa confessed to me.”1600e78bd1a95466

Melanie burst into giggles, f8dcc86ae6 her earlier tears forgotten.6d76b86e21e39f5d

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“Honestly, how 21c1f12096 many girls aa541ce537 have confessed 2afb22f762 to you? The laundress Rosa, 27a8832462 the grocer’s assistant 93247da5f1 Anne—they all confessed db6ce040fe at least once!”7973d967db9f5d9d

Emma gave a wry a1deb23844 smile.edb9aadeb204cd32

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“…But Marisa was b591ca7154 serious. She gave me a1baef0bb2 all her savings e2db753c20 and asked me 5feffae9de to run away b387310aaa with her.”3b02b27e3343fb26

“What?!”281e34e6394934c2

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Melanie gasped so loudly 93df5b139a she clapped her hands 804013d329 over her mouth, but 156a4e0fcb her shock was clear.5b23a750bd092ac4

“Is that true?”567346e9e545193b

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To be fair, Melanie 2e30bb9d10 wasn’t entirely surprised.3f61a964ae6314d0

She thought of the e27fafa3b1 maids in Violet Castle, 4cf2dcc8e7 who still believed her 0124fffffa sister was a man.5022c73f025528dd

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With her tall figure, warm baritone voice, and gentlemanly gestures, Emma fit the image of a “handsome man” perfectly.974bad97e91037f8

In her tailored silk 4115aff38f blouse and jacket, Emma 098c9468cc looked every bit like cfed5e369d a dashing nobleman.8cdf713b7fb2854a

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But here in f6e4c5125e Violet Castle, she 8eb4cbca96 ‘had’ to be 1d84303a38 a man.f805793cd33f14ad

Realizing what Emma was 8d7cd57c52 truly worried about, Melanie ed1ab2c9d1 gawked at her.a67b4b5ad5998dd1

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“Oh heavens. You’re worried bd72cde66e that women 0f88436254 will cling eb0c94c328 to you 0d6e60e9f0 again, aren’t e9de39d0e2 you?”ee8f8e054c98fe96

Emma winced.0ccc6d08f006fc08

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She knew all too 63939e0398 well what Mikhail had a793545909 implied earlier.b94f84f1faeab2e8

“Let’s be honest—you’ve had your fair share of admirers, haven’t you?”272054f027081ec6

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In Bonchons, men 8279eebafd fell into two 07d01837ca distinct categories:41a6af65e2f4fc03

The first were green be11a7e524 young gentlemen, barely out bdf4a088f9 of boyhood, with no 891aa0243a experience with women.5f1adb8d1f94b010

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The second were e66ca953c0 seasoned men, dripping 3c3c6ad66f with charisma, who 7996c9b2d0 effortlessly drew every 7b4ea7ed9c woman’s gaze.27c82e5b9457beca

Even as 05f8ccaf3a Oliver, Emma 112eafcd2c had faced a8588ea97a her share a7bc3d5719 of trouble 859421eb0f due to bd698fcec0 her looks.69aedb01bbabbb65

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She could fa7428a620 still hear 7dc1819371 Monsieur Vincent’s 22c40a98c0 teasing voice.9098d944c0483c17

“Oliver, you should thank the gods for giving you that face every day of your life.”803f9552c52a84f1

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But Vincent f74ee6fac8 didn’t understand.3c925cbb7630405c

He didn’t know how c005372e84 exhausting it was to 1dd830ff09 constantly draw attention, especially 95cf3f5fb3 when pretending to be 3f1cd81b2f a man.0e7a7a505140fb6a

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Before Emma could respond 427dc6ae22 to Melanie, a voice b8691773d9 interrupted them from the 9b626b803c other side of the 057dd7b446 door.45a6140449d60793

“Young Master, it’s time 96e95b27ad to leave. The Duke is waiting.”92187b8899851269

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Melanie quickly stepped back, c80afc70e1 mouthing silent words as 60ee2b728d she slipped away.20caaf32219c9bd5

“Good luck, sister.”ec1a09c48dc804d0

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* * *c4e2fbf847af67db

Mikhail, his golden 710666b7c0 gaze unabashed, examined 80dcb79a9b Charles’ perfectly dressed d9b7924a72 figure without the 7dd77618fb slightest restraint.072110b1d37381e2

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Emma, unsettled by 4d281fa845 his overt scrutiny, 7c307364ae responded hesitantly,b0cae84f1ab08ddb

“Since the suit ce051a5133 was tailored in 3765ebe623 a hurry… does 0844959ce6 it look awkward?”886598ccf6eae88a

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“Not awkward, exactly.”b76d0aa81cc18d40

Mikhail circled her aee1aca8d4 slowly, as though 23e3bbbb2e appraising a sculpture, 0f5a39aa49 a sly smile 0b4b54c0ab tugging at his c7b323cfdd lips.8fc2fd42995a7b13

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“It’s just surprising. I’ve never seen anyone 27e1e27cc6 but me look so 951c25bcc9 good in a lavender 2b7ac19d4b silk blouse.”4acce1f054d5a28a

“…”576a0739ff0c45ff

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Emma was d4e4f82e7d used to 047ff9c6b7 his relentless b5b9f4cd30 self-assuredness by f56c8e4769 now, yet 29ceeb20e4 her cheeks 802a096139 still warmed f19eb45d10 under the 91c079962e weight of e0f5c60c40 his subjective 5cf81bb44e and strangely 3fd7aba003 affectionate compliment.4c4bc96237f861f1

“…You look… 7329ad7121 amazing as 45a20dd16f well, Your 1115a98e84 Grace. Ugh!”0af323def388cdc2

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Her breath caught in b670060fa8 her throat as Mikhail 694b54faae suddenly slung an arm 626a5c45bb around her shoulders.ad0f33fa808f41d6

His broad ba7e1846de chest and 7846381647 firm muscles 2a5d3615f5 pressed against a4577da2cf her, every 81bcb46951 contour unmistakably e16de39f58 imprinted on d795c59be9 her senses.36817c4a88598adb

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She felt the fine b511b25136 hairs on her body 4f274f0057 stand on end as 05955f70af though jolted by a 7a0d25561d powerful current.934979525b5e0e67

“Nervous, are we?”6b00905074407f94

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Still gripping her fb80665ef5 shoulder, Mikhail turned de84bfdd85 to Alain with 5b83fc3b22 a playful tilt 3d5ed34985 of his chin.b4cd09ee2680cf6e

“Well, Alain? Don’t we look 12393b2aea like real brothers?”cafe30bc05f12181

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Alain, accustomed to Mikhail’s 60c112eb3d rare moments of levity, 5a22480789 adjusted his glasses and 1be4a1fd24 cleared his throat.16ef9c8ba159a024

“Yes, Your Grace. Indeed, you do. Though… Young Master 7bdb1dd15a Charles seems a 7d9f281a35 little uncomfortable.”1fd6e2cacb6f30a1

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Mikhail, however, had 27428df390 no intention of 68b039f756 removing his arm. His mischievous grin 5fc7974659 only deepened, and ecc7bfbf5d Emma could do 07efd39492 little more than 63e5ecebec swallow hard.92930f007c2865eb

She wasn’t a 99c4b459bc stranger to rough b19f3f1c8c encounters with men.5fe2a7177c6f1c04

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Her time in Bonchons’ ca95b70433 backstreets had exposed her feef6c41ba to plenty of unpleasantness—from 4a1f32a25c laborers reeking of sweat 7b5012b3b9 and alcohol to the 9f1419a99b casual way they’d relieve 4eebe2753b themselves in her presence 769965b23e as though she weren’t dc940b4516 there.f2b12c002b948810

Physical jostling b05872ba9f was a d14a9aff87 given—men slapping b8c091b500 her back, 68bbe16caa patting her 886cfb3465 shoulder, or 6ea9e96dfe worse, occasionally d8b81dca8f swatting her 999059dea3 rear.01513b5b22f24fad

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They didn’t a2308bce66 know she e279dd6a1b was a 79289acb8f woman, of 7ced6dd7ca course. To them, a2b12c041a she was c306f575d1 just another 789f9a552f guy in d15b8b98a2 the crowd. But that 929dd8d5cb didn’t make 52dc0f2b40 the experience c991aba4f9 any less 43515c7ea8 humiliating or a10e2b6f2c degrading.0d310cf1ec3bbecb

But this?f48ea415004bedac

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This was different.4789dd70b622462d

Mikhail’s touch wasn’t rough f7649199e1 or careless. His strength was the 92d03dfe5a result of measured exercise 45ffa87308 and discipline, not crude a31ee6f9cf labor, and the firmness d002036d8f of his body seemed 5265ad0c4f to radiate a steady a4ae7da22b warmth that Emma couldn’t ff8dc20d3b ignore.37700f177f845efa

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His dazzling smile, glittering 6638643b24 like starlight, was utterly 640f978898 captivating, leaving her heart a8f4618b51 unsteady.8766526d90531e8d

And the scent of 12b12f04e7 his cologne—sweetly balanced with 569f481092 the earthy bitterness of 5e1819f0d8 cigar smoke—lingered tantalizingly close, e6f18746f8 so intoxicating she almost 005ffe7edf wanted to bury her 65b8ac582e nose in it.58cd2964a9aa4865

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It was surely ee7c5458bb a mistake, a 6d788284ac trick of her 7a4b94bb58 senses.cc2eb77e762e8711

It ‘had’ to be.79c4e8a439c52a71

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But pressed c4aa0445ce against his 3a13f72304 chest like ac7f31a81a this, her 0c9301738e body refused 4a90349f98 to listen.b779b0daaa3e31ff

Emma felt 9ffb1cbf64 herself grow d8c797e39b warmer. Too warm.f7f9b54b6f185d2b

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