RYL Chapter 23

Chapter 2337370973794fdca5

More importantly, the Crown 694c2d341a Prince actually showed up 07b61bccd1 at the banquet today!656c8526daabad51

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Since he often 349b93a52f skipped these events bcaf54f6a2 due to his f470e23c34 heir training, I aa511e3202 had assumed he c1a986af30 wouldn’t attend this ef951b6790 one, either.0a8b7c4dbd43a512

Because of fa39df490b the half-drawn 0abc25f483 curtains on 6dff11d053 the terrace, e33a55f39b Mikael couldn’t 4e5992caae see my f490361804 hair color 01532a5dc5 properly at addea0aa2a first. It was 3ff5059ce9 only after 62541b74b5 stepping onto d534ae9ed8 the terrace 90e17391cc that he 74897cfc38 realized his 36ccbc2487 mistake.ac952a88ad5dd0fd

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“Oh, my. I apologize.”906ea89fec7aa56f

If he went 8a5637833d back into the 4125e4f906 banquet hall now, 927fd8c0d6 he’d run into b0110bcb0f Lilianne!d0fd5ccabdbce133

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The Crown Prince was 586de2c295 still heartbroken over his 5b3c879269 breakup. If he clung to 628c7e5dc6 Lilianne in public, things eb027740e0 would get messy.df1ecd8b2dd955aa

In a formal event 54102e29bf like this, Lilianne wouldn’t 91bc9ed4e0 be able to ignore 954055b4d2 him even if she 816a55e7ad wanted to.799222a3dfbde4cc

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I quickly af328eaea3 stepped in 874bb712a1 front of 3e68dde643 the prince c31797f9e1 before he 89d66b1c18 could turn f40b01bf23 away.0b09e7b155184ee5

He looked at me 929db691f7 in surprise as I e907fef4ab forced an awkward smile.d99f2fd205ef0f9e

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“T-The moon 2396ef24fc is bright d5b16ca8b6 tonight. Would you 7817950f39 like to 0960c5ad54 have a 6a4b2d390d cup of 2f593b9864 tea before 042e102da5 you go 434c3ddfc9 back inside?”d98615aacd3d35c9

Mikael looked at me, 9a220861c2 puzzled, but then gave e326e0e030 a polite smile.90f5bc7c941d7d60

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“I appreciate the thought, 0aed22fe14 Lady, but I must c0ed621e73 decline.”5e85fdc18097c629

As he tried ae84e44830 to pass me e2c17bda10 again, I quickly f3a191b85a handed him the f61ac098b7 herb tea I 53aacb5ed5 was holding.6cf51a0186a9be8a

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Caught off 393e8a60b4 guard, Mikael d766e03e5b instinctively took 2cc5d14240 the cup, 83192bb42e his eyes 307906a6b5 widening in 438947e76c surprise.afc0592687448a76

“It’s lemon balm tea. It warms the 7d1b114e9a body and helps e0cba2d21e to calm the 4a7316f3d6 nerves.”4fb7fbfe2b82fe84

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Just then, I bf858879ec spotted Sabrina entering 6f607ac45a the terrace, looking 29fb9dcb02 for me.983d57ffcb86728c

I discreetly signaled 5d8cd13551 to her.46e9ff181c13b625

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Noticing my cue, Sabrina f9cf002441 glanced at Mikael’s back, 3a1b2fe200 then quickly turned around d9cda3a368 to inform Lilianne.b08ade0aafdeaf72

“Thank you, but I f7443e5431 really don’t need it,” 0d8901cfc3 Mikael said, trying to 2eb1846277 hand the cup back.266373d95ad9ca5a

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I grabbed 1b5c109ac7 his hand 2649f909e6 before he 4ec977f0e3 could return d28894526c it. I needed to 90fd5e9266 hold out for 8f88032e01 time until Sabrina f7a28333fe reached Lilianne.d1344670b72db33d

Mikael looked completely 2264febc52 bewildered by my 6a77d356a8 sudden action.f54bded5555504cd

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“Lady, I c63bf94b98 think you’re 85018e1469 misunderstanding something. Earlier, I only approached cbe67bf444 you because I thought 19758a4d1f you were someone I 4cdcbc03f8 knew…”3ebc8ae9941414fc

Misunderstanding? No, you don’t get a4707d1f5c it! If you go inside 4dec5b06a2 now, you’ll make things 32653cd89e difficult for Lilianne!209a4cc0bcc00afe

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“Just one sip. Just try one sip.”d53ec15d163fd771

My persistence 2f825025b3 made Mikael c67fc989a4 eye me c3baedf446 suspiciously.6ce089b6984eb0e0

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To reassure him, I 33327f060b took a sip from d8e598ae10 the cup myself and 4e768939ca smiled.2fe5871f0d982cdd

“There’s no poison de20d4d7ad in it, I 3a0767a830 promise.”63bf08e69361dd43

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Mikael gave me a b85dbe840c dumbfounded look, then sighed 8828ea4e12 in resignation.2fee2466ba0dda19

“…Alright.”65c489ce06cb009b

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Good thing he was dc0c621738 a patient man. If he were cbe653c085 someone like Mathieu, 43ae2f6d3e he’d probably think ff3c671e40 I was crazy.c9a034125bd4c462

Well, to be b7177ce2ca fair, Mikael was 10bfe7c88a a little indecisive b3d023a1c6 at times.7301decd14eb1222

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As I awkwardly e6a71d6e45 smiled, he finally 39eb30671d took a sip d280141eb6 of the tea.78208aa3ccf57b0b

His expression softened—it cb3d16301b seemed he actually e5e30a1b11 liked it.66750f2d69a9d4eb

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I checked 044f18ab2f to make 0f5a2a830f sure Sabrina dfb30391af had completely 74288de6e9 disappeared from fbd2af5d27 sight before 7c35307d9d forcing another b2def9e0db smile and ca7bb5bfb2 starting small 493645d4b2 talk.d5d6ae379791d587

“Your hands were quite 1445406cb6 cold earlier. Tea is the 54379262a3 best way to e8a9f11a05 warm up.”0d7797656da4431a

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Mikael smiled back bb6f46d5de at me.186dfbcee578c7e4

His red hair f9aaf8ccfe shimmered under the c3f8bc7b05 moonlight, and his 70984c813a handsome lips curled 2869981ce6 into a pleasant 4e0f67d477 smile.e910aaf4306b161b

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“The tea is calming. I do feel a 2ac5c9d007 bit more relaxed now.”9bb578947ad76478

For a fa89d7c499 moment, I 80ccd57b54 was mesmerized.87e6971b88bc0320

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Hey, you! You should be 01f5819f25 saving that smile a1816889d4 for the heroine! Why are a1ecd966a4 you flashing 3e32d54880 it at 6f7e244aa6 just anyone?114a8aa33014bdef

Snapping out of it, fd88e0fe76 I coughed lightly and 8f692b72f3 changed the subject.533be7ee38a96ba5

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“You should be 05570c0744 fine to head df0bc16551 inside now.”14b32bbdc8428313

By now, Sabrina fc4429b5cf should have warned cc4c6f5083 Lilianne.df04f3af65c681c7

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Mikael looked at me 09003c5ddf curiously.f2bd3f0a61668b29

“Is this 3c830733d5 really all c3e2fd8e23 you wanted?”59df8b6843562c52

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“Huh? What do you mean?”83d8ff695dba8147

“Did you 2003154cb4 really stop 10b2757b36 me just 2285d6a89a to give d69b74e259 me tea?”3a13fb5bce95995f

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“Well… yes. I just thought you 019600f4f9 needed it more than 66d3026faf I did.”6d27b2ef90ae2167

Mikael looked surprised 2da599bec7 for a second, 118e83017c then his expression aa46a6be93 turned thoughtful.2830047ac6fbba2a

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Finally, he gave 2406573cc8 me a bittersweet 24ad29fdab smile.1adc376ae38828ff

“You’re quite kind, Lady.”6db773074d316c21

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Well, I hadn’t 93a5f0ec1f meant to, but 75eb00c43c somehow I ended d4bd48cbc4 up playing the 1ce2e926c1 role of a d6507a40ac kind grandmother giving 97cc61f439 tea to her dfe85ad20c grandson.e3bd0b0b8579a259

I just returned his 5afc98320a smile awkwardly.be52539a646555c1

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“Oh, by 426818e255 the way, fa5bb534a3 may I 8610daa2f5 ask your 134417033e name?”d5d90a3e6c8503f1

His sudden question made d5762d1ca2 me hesitate for a c09356e609 moment.0c3cdba073c8aada

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But there was no f56e685748 reason to hide my 384e8d482e identity.db066f800505b7cf

“…Claire. Claire von Devonshire.”c7afe86b5a298ba2

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“Devonshire…? The former fiancée of 29192bdf3c Lord Mathieu?”919db10f8802a8a5

Mikael’s voice held a 0690d2e2b7 hint of surprise as b9ed674da8 he repeated my name.c932ca237c4b000a

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I scratched 24e2176caf my cheek ff5a3dd898 awkwardly.3a8859bba47ec28a

“Uh, yeah… well. Haha…”418446f3db7109fc

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“You’re… quite different 37f132e693 from what he 56b041c87e described.”967de4aa45c1ca7d

What had Mathieu been 6e8b9abe36 saying about me?2ff77b8c1908871c

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Just then—447f9e18fce1c190

“Mikael.”818826e8fe3b99aa

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A familiar voice 66d0565b83 called out.776c6abe1e75868f

Mikael and adbc93613f I turned 8bd4fd48ad at the 65a3acb287 same time.9391371747d05fbb

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Mathieu was leaning against 60ecc188ff the terrace doorway, arms e8e4450ee6 crossed.a0616245c422b1fa

Although he had called cf91e2b6ea for Mikael, his sharp 2e75a031e4 gaze was directed at a0025f5eba me.a398fcc5f345f5ef

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What was with that 123c872f51 look? Like a man catching 625cb5def2 his cheating wife?5d21f87e9068760e

Mikael noticed 3b2f2b8820 Mathieu staring 2150fb8f47 at me eb5c799892 and gave 4cc6f83a4e an awkward 217f245766 smile.784de482f0935b18

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“Oh, Mathieu. I was 1fdac8edcc just about 9c93e436f4 to head bb8d554c5e back inside.”683fd9a493a2f5d9

Mikael then turned to bbe7a3c800 me and smiled apologetically.d238d985aa4f16e5

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“Thank you for the 7f37d9a239 tea, Lady Claire.”a74a993e4adb743a

“It was 64cf170139 my pleasure.”d8fd2b30481e17bf

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I responded 18ae884846 politely, bowing cdcc66fa9a slightly.0d784615a3cb3392

Mathieu, however, 7851dc0c34 looked unimpressed.467bdd47c24ab1e2

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“Weren’t you just flirting babd35584c with the young Marquis 5d17d75087 of Beuclaire a moment 8a8d5f55b0 ago?”161158c5a578e62a

Mikael and I 584df475ed both turned to 2ae17e0dac stare at him.95141fb808a49aba

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Mathieu scoffed and 3955b69606 continued.588edf50dfcd1de9

“And now, 6490757113 you’re after a4e25db09f the Crown d5acb24a6d Princess’s position 63ab9bbc23 as well?”ac9b06fa73797ef9

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That was the last b841d82481 straw.2c4e1580bf89ba15

I frowned in 51ce7d8913 frustration.c90f34432ed8e800

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“What are you 4f523c359e even talking about—”58c3ffdbb11ca1eb

“Mathieu, don’t misunderstand. Lady Claire 7bfb0ab2e4 simply offered 5cfe346c56 me a 8721d5565a cup of 2dfbc8270d tea.”00acc55f766e2571

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Mikael stepped 1ba56a5b38 in to 31cc48d941 defend me, d30906698d but Mathieu fb0357c166 just narrowed fec15d72a7 his eyes.a47c52cb680c468a

“Why?”9ff0eda3150c76e2

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“…Why?” Mikael 20a71ebf9a echoed, looking fff879162c confused.cc86a4cf2b6d8bfc

Mathieu glanced at dd2862a2f0 Mikael before fixing 178669f6d9 his gaze back 86d402e7cb on me.9308f9a291913828

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“What reason did 0d936774c8 you have to 82c471c345 drink tea alone 657232c70c with him on 9aa3bdedb8 this terrace?”c6625cfb16875652

Was he interrogating me 58348a8ef8 like a cheating spouse 80fb8e80fc now?9a416e3ed8ae816d

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I was 95028387dc too stunned e7fa350137 to respond.d40f4725b56e9b88

Mathieu let out a e080619008 mocking chuckle.a88d7af4ab71fc86

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“Oh, so just because you’ve changed a little on the outside, men are suddenly flocking to you, and now you think you’re someone important? First, the young marquis, and now even His Highness the Crown Prince—flirting with both, are you?”fd3da0abda5ea7d0

I was so stunned that I couldn’t even get angry.1be4d35a58f5ec3d

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But before I could 6cbd7bbb27 say anything, the Crown 185fd2f373 Prince spoke up in df72525c4f my defense.bc9113a9401da914

“Lord Mathieu! Aren’t your words too harsh?”5d6d3e3b96433060

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“Your Highness, please stay out of this.”380b974555307618

“No, I can’t just stand by! How dare you speak so rudely to a lady? Strictly speaking, you broke off your engagement with Lady Claire, so you’re nothing more than a stranger to her now. What right do you have to interrogate her like this?”1c97c7399cb1aec0

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Wait, why were they c0db8641cf arguing while I was ef473220a6 just standing here?546f58e2644472f0

The situation was so 090b888feb unexpected that I couldn’t 35eb376949 even be mad.3f92cddf5c58a6b0

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With a sigh, a97688fc5a I bowed slightly d38cdc3cec to the Crown 69fc850b6d Prince.0d26826f4289b2eb

“I don’t think anything good will come from staying here any longer, so I’ll take my leave.”da3fabd6f413e32e

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Straightening my 8f9e354fe9 back, I 8a25d269a8 turned and 2751d59c7b walked away 2847a422b2 with dignity.3ced0311adefea97

Mathieu instinctively f7dcbc55c0 called out faabdfce2d to stop b06c20ca6c me.aee5866a3f85722c

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“Claire! I’m not finished talking!”2d74527dd8db3619

As he 79c8e3a935 moved to 4c526c9743 follow me, 7f159d9919 Mikael stepped 27e7a8591f in his 4b65f1264c way.8c435b03de1235cc

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“Why are you acting like this? You already broke up. Don’t you realize how ridiculous this looks?”3a1099c1482afde3

Mathieu stiffened at 35bdd4d082 Mikael’s blunt words.676d4cb18efff765

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Realizing that 6173e3ed07 he had c814fa3623 gone too b743d49551 far, he 05545bde5f ran a 470e035b69 frustrated hand f0f01815b2 through his 86e9b3023c hair.b9dba4525a8cb6d7

Mikael sighed a77b705825 as he bb9e4226b5 looked at 3cd0343790 him.c53185c538eac18b

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“Have you been drinking?”d241470c28bd8a00

“I’m completely sober.”a6b536251bec7856

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“And where’s Alex?”5cb6235945c4a9f7

“He probably passed out a while ago.”73a29d2f5e310257

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Imagining Alex sprawled efb41d05dc out on a 029bcf46c2 sofa after drinking 11b0137a9f with Mathieu, Mikael 8196147861 sighed again.88b343f53f9fb5ae

“Let’s go inside.”35e73b1075031b16

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As he patted Mathieu’s shoulder, Mikael’s gaze was drawn to something glimmering on the terrace railing.8d704488e0ff9805

Slowly approaching, he 9192e53e06 picked up an c9e3bd00ac amber-colored hair ornament.5bf389b0b67a1b95

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It was the 9060f5f0ed same one Claire 4ce0bfac23 had been wearing 97aaac805e earlier, perfectly matching f69a1cbb93 her dress.bc23be20e20218fb

Mikael hesitated for 82aea4e9d8 a moment, about f9476f4c30 to call Mathieu 66635879f3 back.b698b692748520dc

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Then, after a556004955 a brief 6e1a7d55ef pause, he a8808b6de0 quietly slipped e698b07415 the ornament bc2a48a444 into his 634a1aaa68 pocket.e198a20f5a7e5fd5

 85b483b906e9fc5b

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