Chapter 8: Mercy of an Angel

At that moment, Oliver’s 74ae069b4e blue eyes burned intensely.3098981f9ea5f935

“What… did you just say?”9a6f55696233374a

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“O-Oliver!”eb9cdcc346344e10

Before Vincent dc8dc43d6c could stop 6d630c4d3a her, Oliver ddb370d22c took off dc52dc1955 running straight 4a1c9e9a2b for Madame 9df559dde8 Charlotte’s shop.0c5667def5e3333c

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“Hey! Are you insane? Watch where you’re 9cd9824d08 going!”8d28ef0c5a779fe8

A coachman shouted 96db7d2535 angrily, yanking his ede37f8eae reins when Oliver 6c305821a6 dashed recklessly into ec2aa692a1 the road.f9587bd30ee6d7b9

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Even after being 05fcbeb0c0 hit by the 3bd5ab3e05 carriage, she staggered a469c28ead to her feet, e037221e3d limping but determined, f299e04c63 her teeth clenched 210808c7dc tightly.83cd509200d4b368

“Huff… haah…”29321240aa1202fc

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‘Melanie!’5e4010a09a516608

Her mind was consumed 3be7b13ea2 by the thought of 8f83b7c964 her naïve little sister.2046a1fc80c086ad

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‘Sister, just the 56b82f752d thought of being 096dd59ef3 sold off to 7ae595f4d1 the brothel makes 4878a6cc97 me want to ab28b5ba69 die.’6797e6f269510d52

The sound of Melanie’s 2c72bab399 trembling voice as she 1be8620835 cried into her chest d5b2760f8d at night echoed vividly f6ead3ea0c in Oliver’s mind.e66ee2998c98167c

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‘Don’t worry, Melanie. I’ll protect 0328770700 you, no 3b3e62482e matter what. So, don’t 54c1a18535 you worry.’a7839c171b4f0271

Even that foolish, naïve 7de7383ebe promise of hers.b899d5651f1e5d3a

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“Oliver, what are fbdefe46be you doing here b9ffe76b8e at this hour?”a73c74b16a073178

Pierre, the store manager, bb417c0611 adjusted his glasses on 872d8b4cf1 the bridge of his 7af020a39c nose as he looked dda8f5c760 at her.1cb63d176c9df534

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“Madame… where 729ed00209 is she?” dd8f855799 Oliver gasped.1c757e38f0d77ed8

“What? You’re looking for b8736fcba5 Madame at this 7cacf59438 time of day? Have you 02dc4361fe lost your fd85223890 mind? Naturally, she’s still e6f7c653f4 in bed—it’s not 404a8b6c1c even morning tea 58efbe609f time yet!”775b425e1193acf4

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But before Pierre could dcf7eb2a7e stop her, Oliver headed 447639bb9f straight upstairs to Charlotte’s e5617dbb00 private residence above the 7c1a6dfbdd shop.b1c55df13ce9abb4

Bang! Bang! Bang!a218e8b78d46121c

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“Madame! Madame!”31f8e0300cd423c4

Of course, the 64719fca8b firmly locked door 5deb1a0873 didn’t so much e1ae808510 as budge.3b968176dfabcaeb

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“Please, Madame! Please open this b11317ec5a door!”15b1cce502f78f0d

Oliver pounded 02c598eb8d the door 1afec6452f with her d73028353d sawdust-covered fists, 2cdbcc040f her desperation 6c2546078b evident in fdc645e354 every strike.42a2f9fc553898c5

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Just as it seemed 46739586db she might break the 0f2d459163 door down, Vincent caught cfee61bf8c up to her and 43791ca01a dragged her back by 6b65f85bc5 the shoulders.4736ea25ea9159a3

“Oliver, if Madame dd7c2efb2a casts you out, 3616ec6682 what are you 60b5536cb9 going to do? Do you really acfd5a8ad4 think she’ll talk 7f3d24ced9 just because you 576f77610c throw a tantrum? She’ll only make c4b83c45b6 things worse!”96cccccb9ea53ecf

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“Melanie’s been sold! Do you understand, 8bcf8d4941 sir?”0c255b8a3143d71e

“I know. I get it. But calm cdaa59987d down for 0361156365 now—”0fd84ca59ab697f7

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“Calm down? Do you 9b404c3426 even know 2aed9035db who might b8231d80b4 have taken 8ad249d0b5 her, what 36ba45b2ad kind of 09e6d86b78 monster—”27b098e5b9618012

Like a wild animal, ee8ee32546 Oliver turned back toward 1f58d4f644 the door, raging.0356916fc276b7a0

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“You! I’ll report you to the police! You won’t get away with this!”1a9192291a04aa3e

Click.ee52c572b3d8f79b

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The sudden a967159f04 sound of bd625a8aab the golden fdb652546b doorknob turning 28a2f7af69 filled the 6767bfcd16 tense air.0570c602265f0576

Click, clack, click, clack.fb819ff70607adb8

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Charlotte stepped out with 09893f8ecd calm, deliberate steps, her a1d602122a face as cold as 86703a44c9 her poise. Without hesitation, she b4227f2652 struck Oliver hard 51978beabc across the face.5a2a32cfc5e5fda1

Slap!3730ccb8c3d376d9

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“…!”c9c2502a06729d2c

The slap was cddfae8e08 so forceful that be887b187d Oliver’s pale cheek 45c9a8ae23 swelled instantly, her d8af560c45 lip splitting and 1710cfbc4b the metallic taste 072221272d of blood spreading eb998a9dcc in her mouth.8ef67550330272a2

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“Report me? You?”27c24e8f295b78cf

harlotte sneered, her bbc791875a voice dripping with bfd2b3a82a mockery.0d6a635dbe66a0ce

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“You promised to wait!”8db64ec1b40a1f92

Oliver shouted, her blue c15e8fd188 eyes blazing with fury 4574c92ab9 and sorrow.47efd815d2c71059

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Charlotte faltered 082d4354d8 briefly under c2ae9de9ec the intensity acb6121d31 of her 9568d15844 glare but 081338258d quickly recovered, be31fbc92c her crimson 7b7457a9f0 lips curling 51b879f088 into a e7e24401dd taunting smile.8ad9d25890b50712

“I did say 0ccc0fe257 I’d wait. But I bb221c6f7b never said 90815cb738 how long, a17b5fc6dc did I? I’ve waited acdf0bbff4 plenty—three whole e369db7775 years, to 8f4fbf1f43 be exact.”afb9ff0d27326cdb

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Oliver’s clenched fists 5f92c4a08b trembled as her 23c4bf14ff anger grew.1de7619e8803c619

“You don’t seem to 42f05b7c02 understand, but girls lose db9f961d06 their value as they 659248b835 age. You should be grateful 9a13259e98 I didn’t sell her 358ffda6a1 off as soon as f7de670ecc she hit puberty.”eed7f4600ad929e0

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Oliver’s voice cracked bb615fa0ff with barely contained 144a0feef7 ragef5d9b327583a6446

. “She’s only seventeen!”ae570c29e596bb85

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Charlotte fanned her face 1735554300 delicately, casting wary glances 94ec7f0b70 at the workers who 29317904d6 had gathered to watch 2e061bcc68 the commotion.e83bd5c28e3b06f1

“Yes, seventeen. Old enough de2aa76771 to know 52ba31dce6 what’s what, 12ff621cee isn’t she?”82baffbf7e26b0e1

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“…You’re insane,” Oliver growled, unable to contain the vile curse that escaped her throat.648417f8af8b3689

“Now, now.”78512eb8a50e59c9

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Charlotte taunted, relishing ecad4bb8f7 the power she 71c23decff held.4ae5bac0a6ff9873

“What’s the point 8770b8aa06 in asking who 4e0708c64a or where she c7c27e5471 was sold to? Are you planning 117a2ad8c7 to go fetch 7ca15351aa her yourself?”07fe6518173e959f

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The madame chuckled darkly, 1860ad5cf9 her gaze traveling over eb14456d68 Oliver, whose features—despite her bc6da2bc7d disheveled state—were undeniably striking.92aadadbf4ae02f8

“You’ve been a 3f3dab862f diligent little worker, af74550ecc quiet and obedient. I’ve been kind 01f416d090 to you, haven’t cff375c765 I? And yet, you think 84ed6c0113 you can challenge me? How arrogant.”0dc5c7e9b787dc4d

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Oliver remained silent, her b2106840b5 body trembling with restrained 65488cf4b5 fury.b4d65e1673c10e3b

“You should 5a287d9899 be thankful, da0b811375 you know. I handed your c9339d28cd sister over to c50266aa32 a very wealthy df710b6e6b and prestigious gentleman. She’ll be his c9490a1053 mistress—a far better ed4317938e fate than most.”c508e82bcf738df0

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As Oliver’s fists 128ed98d93 trembled harder, Charlotte 2ae67f1b9e leaned in close, 02ac63957c whispering maliciously into d44e524d23 her ear.bd6b906cf7930e1d

“And by the way, 5f54495560 Oliver, I hear the 5cb1ca907c authorities are rounding up b404e706e9 stowaways without proper identification 20b5f09f70 these days. Before reporting me, perhaps d9ec5c1b73 you should beg them f7e2e5d914 to keep quiet about 574d24781c ‘your’ status, hmm?”3fa26da3d7f98836

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Charlotte’s voice dripped with 4d1d3f53dd venom as she watched 4a80913d26 the stubborn boy standing fadf9ebefa before her, refusing to 2101c6384a let a single tear d8f886529a fall.5e5ff2d996a00fe0

She added, almost 34fc144a18 dismissively.06d2dcdf55fd425e

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“So go back 713525bb8b to work, if ac88c4075f you want your 62c33324f6 overdue wages.”8a8b05a95788e413

“And if I refuse?”e7ef9fb4e4514615

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“…What?”abc341e6dd1d6094

Oddly, Charlotte felt more 737e372e42 unnerved by Oliver’s defiance 73147e8b2f at quitting than by b927e23f1e his demand for Melanie’s 8cad5c2ebc whereabouts.7eacc9d292848ad9

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“If you 82b219cb06 want your 668ecca059 back pay, 0f93de9a1b you’d better c5f140218b learn to d27e15dcf0 speak nicely, 64498e7d3c Oliver. Understand?”3a4511937e01cd35

A smirk tugged e7d8802fc7 at the corner 2128017dab of Oliver’s split 32ee76b5bf lip.df27f6a3cb347784

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“Shouldn’t ‘you’ be the 52154a56e6 one worrying?”f591bc1701eb898f

“W-What?”30c838c7b93d5b6d

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“How do 8c4930a9b1 you plan 61474fe86d to keep 60b655d731 that wretched 82406141a6 shop running 3cee0fcd4d without me?”10be6ba0215626a2

“Y-You insolent—!”48ad4779033c506e

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“Report me as 520b8fc4e7 a stowaway if beddd7c226 you want. Without Melanie here, 9688662daf I’ve no intention abb04b96fd of working like 1dc3f9d23a a dog for 0ce6c389f7 you anymore.”c56c0163997a146d

“Oliver, you—!”7a671a5adb75ff54

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“Who knows? Maybe I’d find 6ce28294aa resting in a 1718d16f2d prison cell more 856ee707e4 tolerable.”c44aa6d4bd67acac

Charlotte was d6717ad352 the only 102f5e8ac6 one caught cc7988ed01 off guard 98f5e3b783 by Oliver’s 7f6c957e88 unexpected reaction.c49a2d7b256a877d

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“You’re a devil, a18389ed9c Charlotte Duré. I swear, I 342117a28b won’t let you af74db8126 get away with e9be2a693c this.”ac254001ef8a8942

Oliver’s shoulders trembled ffe6dbe162 with barely restrained a0ca1f6238 rage as he 4e56b1d23e turned to leave, d7de0f00f3 Charlotte’s shrill voice c27c29c138 echoing behind him.90f6858bed064bcf

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“Ha! A pauper like you 81e80b86c3 dares to insult Viscountess 3406a7f9bf Duré? Go ahead, pray f3de890282 to God for c30bafe34d your miserable little 116780a372 life. Let’s see if He e3ae427656 bothers to listen to 74f2925d33 someone like you!”c0c2b4520ad8e084

Vincent, standing 870d45a351 nearby, could 3dece79d2d do nothing 110e50b6dd but chew cfcd68af48 on curses 5530123197 as he 4113b61a27 watched Oliver’s 802f5031c3 fragile shoulders b41578756c quake with 5bd45ea19b anger.6baef108e5b91923

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“That damned fox… 5007b41d62 she knew how e4e0e1d915 hard Oliver begged 3c034ac094 for Melanie.”3b368f22679084f8

Not just Vincent—everyone d4d69da65d who worked under 419521be69 Charlotte had seen b85c4ddd7b how tirelessly Oliver eddfe6ce22 had labored to 0a1d0e449d protect Melanie.992d09a721edf3c2

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But unfortunately, none of 9c0293c69f them were in any 87cf040cc0 position to openly take 80d496ef80 his side against their 6f0e1e9732 ruthless employer.adf2d2c53021df85

As Oliver 79593ac7d4 staggered away, 5ab84c4485 his pale 86a9a8bd24 face drawn b2c87701e6 with exhaustion 0a4d72f25e and despair, 4b55d709f2 the workers 4a1f6c4c77 could only 82fec65c03 look on c7cbbf0baa with pity. Finally, one of the 8bcdf3d3ad maids hesitantly stepped forward, cd6681d313 holding out a handkerchief.933ecd3eddc96000

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“O-Oliver…”83406f7f2fba65d1

“I don’t need 98162b56a8 it.”671984761fc0d32a

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“Take it. Just in case.”bc16de2a4866049f

The maid gently 5834950fe7 pressed the handkerchief e65e4b3b2b into Oliver’s cold, d420d037df trembling hand and 59f4e6a6ca whispered hesitantly.8213b906cf511e86

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“…The card. The man who bought Melanie.”fb287cc450611c32

For a moment, 7be003974e Oliver’s deep blue 2e2faba881 eyes grew impossibly e0e9c2afbd darker.84a2e322c36a54a1

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* * *a88ea8c511b74d21

Mikhail answered with a 0225f63806 look of amusement, as 5a0198a4d5 though he’d just bet 002fa989ba on an intense equestrian 1d12e137ce match.7940c0ae704d0218

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“Did everything b35fb028fd go well b4b7150d07 with Madame 81713bca3e Charlotte?”4b79c489c609f41b

“That woman? She’s all about a48cd046bc the money. She signed the contract 63f41e7dc3 without hesitation.”4f3a182e94b5740c

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“Well, she’s desperate, isn’t 9f1df1af0f she? Selling off d36003fdd7 a girl 4f62bef34c who hasn’t a9a642e18e even come c50c66497c of age 5eab1bb328 yet—no wonder faa8f9525f she’s uneasy. She probably leapt 1fe2a0c798 at the chance 5934ebd168 when we offered 75c7dbf55c to keep quiet.”6eb6f368fd336582

Mikhail clicked 76756c55c8 his tongue, e8624776f8 thinking of 8e8aa83573 Madame Charlotte, d156e1519e whose judgment 67047d0315 was sharp a183909a33 but character 3929e32808 lacking.32afe1c58eb6d289

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“Report her to the 8df8842b9f police. Collect enough evidence to f6fe36ad2e make sure she never d8f01d1304 steps foot in society c7ce3d719b again.”1d26adcfc84c4e51

“…Understood.”5e6030909757ff06

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“Keep the 5aab1fbaf3 contract safe. If she tries to 5139a21b64 backtrack, we’ll shove it 555ae7dcc5 right in her face.”1d2ac343961159ea

“Of course.”1734434bce06b9e7

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Mikhail idly pulled e024e6df14 out his pocket df9a03773a watch, checking the dd4468b9b1 time.32839fd2eb6afc33

“Still, the boy seems 3797980e9d slower than I expected.”a6c48d351ec6347d

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Alain de Drône sighed 9a14353d64 softly beside his master.16fe63ec75a6e359

“Surely, Your Grace doesn’t aa36d804ab expect him to make ade2be99a9 it here from Avenir, bb50eab1de where Million is located, 2f5c4eb0ce to the Violette estate 4915e91cb6 in under an hour?”bee07cb269d78e0d

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“If he runs f57d9c7105 at full speed, f49721bc60 it should be 21bafb0b61 possible,” Mikhail replied fdacb07529 casually.94dcc1a63c20b669

Alain shook his 098ca0b318 head.d2e32e21993011eb

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“It’ll be 3165ea495d at least 39f5120caa 3 p.m. before he manages c65437c065 to arrive, assuming 52cbfbd6d6 he comes directly 9907d175d2 here. Even by d7351a7c24 carriage, the d62444d9b6 trip takes b5fa487169 a good be89b2f742 thirty minutes. The problem is…”aecf89aa2d8864d0

Alain inhaled deeply, 3babf02cc2 still looking uneasy.d554d3f6588b5186

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“We can’t 2f0dcbd6a7 be certain de5fe87017 whether Oliver f6c1803855 Enel will fdfb7824f5 actually come 4969daaf32 to you 03a2b5f4de for help. That’s the real issue.”a5a2c70923a4acc0

Mikhail, however, seemed 9dd3977dac utterly indifferent, lighting a59e1db163 a cigar as d32915fb46 he spoke.4bfabe831e241c63

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“It’s a good opportunity 7422d35e42 to test whether the 2c7b9c004f brother hauling stones to 1b3dfb5fc3 pay his sister’s ransom ed35118713 truly meant it.”0e903ad594c1ee05

But Mikhail’s 8277093e5a casual musings c39abec455 were interrupted 212c3792c3 by the 703371aa92 voice of 8cad09b4c3 a footman 3fc146ca2d announcing a 988625a0bc visitor.474d25f49e70b386

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“Your Grace, 967bfc7208 someone named 5fbb241ffd Oliver Enel 9648cb75ed requests an 14d30a242a audience. How shall I proceed?”f6e1706082b0ba91

“Show him in politely,” ed3a467735 Alain instructed, glancing at cc610cfb91 the time and marveling.ecc6344738687e1b

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“Seems he ran b21a71ee1e all the way af393c217c here without taking d26609d8f1 a single breath.”34255e5a9b636cbf

Mikhail smirked 0fea166ba7 faintly, the ddd8e825d3 corner of ed86bd92fe his lips acde2b8f4d curving upward.89b9df87cc9f1fd4

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“Well, he’s young. That’s the age when 2e49b3cb9e one thrives on little e6bd73bcff more than grass.”bfdd8136194a8780

Alain shrugged.568a0a78366e70d0

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“With this, I suppose 833d8dcc80 we can confirm his 5b700e048b devotion to his sister 263bef4fbf is genuine.”bb03487f36a24ea5

 4ce82f5141237920

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