Chapter 28. Proof of Love

The blazing d859a9e5a9 fire devoured 75c59bca90 the letters 9bfcf2d355 with relish. Forgetting her nakedness, 8a6a331fff Mine screamed and 09bbcdc41a dashed toward the ff355855b0 fireplace. She grabbed a vase 8577ac2630 and poured water over b429228255 the flames, but the f3d5a2f18c papers had already turned 34babc20fc to black ash. Like a 9368290086 child who 35132ce124 had lost d80b80ed2a her mother, e107ba881d she crouched bd96f5ffc4 before the 9b7a0cf981 hearth, sobbing.e7e52e97d57032a4

“What have you done? They were proof of our precious love!”fde6409d379d8ee6

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“Proof, proof, proof.”17a0e4b843b9c6d1

Even though he e86ea8f90c merely repeated a 4a76f6648c single word, it 487e810c83 felt as if 7b53d816df Neumonte had torn 8aba40eafe her heart to 1785284e45 shreds. As he dc672e6966 casually pulled eb5a2bb8a9 on his e06453ac7e scattered clothes a6c384b4c3 from the 53da6dc85b floor, his 36ee5c8f63 sharp words d46f16169d lashed out 5f8f4c94c9 like knives.eeb3dd37194efead

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“You always demanded proof of love.”74a25a2bedc84948

“That’s because… when you love someone, it’s only natural…”3524ecd36341adf6

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“And yet, isn’t that the most grotesque thing?”d9a004e6be28448e

“What… what are you saying?”c96680b6478099f9

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“An attention-starved woman, vain, and completely self-centered.”5bbe9308dd96a789

“You… you’re not saying that about ‘me’, are you?”510c98b4ff1374e3

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A cold 4412d17bb5 laugh escaped 5b662e59b9 Neumonte’s thin 8f55fc9b2c lips.c25a63f43f8ce48c

“Yes. I’m talking about you, Mine.”f4a3381aa4e78d83

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Now fully 8dace89668 dressed, he 2cec724a77 exuded an 50b62cf8cc imposing presence. Meanwhile, Mine f5c18c28bd was still 219f72e5a2 completely exposed. As Neumonte approached 6bc7078f4b her step by 2878c4cfe2 step, the blood fd28634783 drained from her bd659fc758 face.82e800f0e78374cd

“Even if the emperor of Ingberri himself returned from the grave, he couldn’t satisfy your greed.”e3152f5a4222d7df

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“…”5eae46888673ce8a

“Vain creature.”8dbb5d6e880d5600

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Vain! That word struck 0a1f303777 directly at Mine’s f5b30cdc9a deepest insecurity.8d1c46dc650af0f7

As a d5d108bd1b mage, she b87dff2959 had gained 553be5bf23 her father’s 9008743c10 superficial approval 916ea41c2b through her 23202140f3 achievements, but f88c883bbb emotionally, she 01783ca971 remained famished. No matter what 6c7acae843 accomplishments she brought, 5cab5073fc her father’s insatiable 0aab8a7a25 demands for more 5e4616350b left her perpetually 8d0ff3e623 unfulfilled. She still had ff8e5ab9cf to endure countless 9201ad3392 black nights, falling 4e7c449d5d asleep alone and b20702236e isolated.79d549cccf831968

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And so, she clung b8a5aa0e1d to appearances. Pricier jewels, rarer clothing, 44ef87ce56 treasures unmatched in the 235d3f470b world.bead3962a2b34b9a

Deep down, her intelligent a9a9562140 mind knew that material e7e96e6c24 wealth could never fill 74f3cc5f2d the void. It only amplified the 5bf93d69a8 criticism that the king’s 1f4b944757 illegitimate daughter didn’t know 9085305b9f her place. But what could she 11801dc17a do? It was the c89d68d40d only form of 081a0d30b2 validation available to f9582470a6 her.5db42b7abb9f5507

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‘Vain, vain.’ The word a1ca1e6fbf spun round and round fe4698d5c2 in her dazed mind. She couldn’t think. Only the painful memories 183f47a5a2 that had tormented her 3c26efe6fe resurfaced in a flood.602327776ecd3792

Her silent d0d3e5440d presence at 0f2954ef16 family meals, 30d43106fe slicing through 29aa9bbc5a tough meat. Sisters who avoided ea6b32dae0 her gaze. Brothers who recoiled 9fd9391152 as if touching 785cb4ded5 her would soil f6993f6a93 them. The stares of palace b3e8406aff staff who treated her 506fc0a0a4 as though she were e36c7d4645 a ghost. The condensed a6a97d493d sorrow erupted 54fdf6e074 into a 0e4a06ecfc maddened fury.83e486e3fc07e556

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“I’ll expose our relationship!”648fffc076c61db8

“Be my guest, if you want to be branded a harlot.”7df49762ee3a884d

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“And what about you? You’re a piece of trash too, Neumonte!”5245756a75636917

“For a man, is that ever a flaw? Thanks for the compliment.”c7818f0f35ce915c

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“You… you bastard!”db31bb06f2e2200e

Mine lunged at Neumonte. With a sudden surge 029d17f9ef of strength, she pushed 5979adcc76 aside the arm shielding ab044bb8b3 his face and slapped c42f106318 him hard.6e6577676e57d9a7

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“Argh!”db49ab7f9ad1ba97

Her long nails left 57666e19e9 scratches across his smooth d50517fa4b cheek. Droplets of blood welled 5fbcac0cbc up, and Neumonte’s eyes 8b418fa48c flashed with rage.f14437eef4f2512f

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“You crazy wench!”1e04775441b0dfad

“Ah!”43d101d94f020c99

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Smack! Mine’s head snapped to ec4734a60d the side. Neumonte had struck her. His face 71b32ec65a flushed red, c02ef63ad6 he heaved aeaa25254d breaths that dd23ebf66a seemed to 01bc882c80 reek of 7c32594e08 fury, raising c01c42cf0f his arm d4437fe39f again.10f0990bd04caf40

“Hic…”cc2515ef4f6dc717

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Mine instinctively covered d82b916732 herself and squeezed 03f857d341 her eyes shut. She was terrified. This wasn’t her 5b93b6ff4a first time being 7ab7851875 struck by a 5b15ee49e9 man, but to 2c810512e6 be hit by c214b0ff47 someone she had 5cf651af25 trusted… However, the b6653fe4c0 familiar violence didn’t df28ab2125 come.afc09b5323e91146

“All the time I tolerated you feels wasted.”d9e80453afcf4d9f

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Neumonte spat venomously 702109a645 and stormed out f8b5b736a2 of the room. Though an uninvited guest a69de4a6ac had barged in and 41cb915768 now left, the palace bcfafb760b staff lowered their eyes 02d04009cd in silence. They acted as 9c7c831e90 if they were 01c45c75e8 deaf, as if 8095f23dd4 the princess’s wretched a728d1f34c sobs seeping from e907e7abf2 the room were 671fb84aa1 inaudible.cff1ed1163a79cfc

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Love wasn’t such a 57872fbe21 simple emotion to give 90c8db95a9 up. That meant 0816a91f16 Mine Molière 15d4df8283 continued to 83f57cb466 debase herself c142ed0229 afterward. She hated 519779cc3f Neumonte, then 7625dca880 begged him e89513e7b6 tearfully, then de8912fb6d charged at ebb4cf7947 him as 97c69ea811 if to 963ed93bc1 kill him, 74da350e2c then clung e14ecb0490 to his d51617a6ea feet…56b55ce62b221d8f

‘Neumonte couldn’t have 214f437462 changed on his b959598dcb own!’0419e0a83e9829bb

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Eventually, Mine 2881639b57 directed her 371b1d6000 blame at e1caf6cd45 Lanafesia. That brought her some 6c9e9e3784 solace.b4143a69f881c51c

‘That fox must 15895be50b have seduced Neumonte!’26e957cb3ac331eb

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At least now, 10d37fe0c7 she didn’t have f98a05119c to hate the 43ef524646 man she loved.83033ee6b368b136

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I watched Lanafesia 5a48786cd6 intently from the 3fa15ddc27 window, my emotions fedb39937f in turmoil. Ever since I had 13a2e580c9 inhabited Mine Molière’s body, 432090d049 I couldn’t help but b58c48f443 feel the remnants of 1f28dc714e emotions clinging to her e95c88ca33 soul resurface whenever I 5a05b53288 saw her.92200bd4e663a809

‘I can’t e9e4ac8769 let myself 6e123b7f7e be swept 220daefad2 away by 08732df897 Mine’s feelings.’6a350c7989e17fd6

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I had 5ee6fb01d7 to live 43139d7c22 my life 0348d06f1d coldly and e73cc44b99 rationally. I needed to 8698f14420 achieve my goals 5ab972be4c based on my f8c8fe9405 own thoughts and 431f6df877 emotions. No matter how pitiful bc221be424 she was, I wouldn’t aeb6267800 let myself drown in bf8695cab3 Mine’s sentiments.76882330a4d4e256

Lanafesia was c41c6759ee the woman 54f25a36d7 Nexiard loved. The unfortunate second 66ee91842a male lead and 782d93cb64 the equally unlucky da8fc290f4 heroine—what a fitting 393189a0ae pair they made.3beb3cd4b0911d67

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The spring 8db32dd2ac breeze gently 30575fa9b7 played with 34bfb5b757 Lanafesia’s long ddce5eed5c hair. A strand brushed 821fac1433 against her eye, b05a72bb47 and she closed 5eb410d129 one eye to 5969f38957 pluck it away. For some reason, a017372ad9 she looked around fde4042639 before suddenly raising 36eccc39c5 her head. Her sapphire eyes, pure 167241fbd2 and untainted, reflected a c829677edd soul without shadows.1da9d66db252434a

It felt like 47d787635f even that was 757714d8eb making Mine miserable, f9985a7e03 so I couldn’t b4a9256059 help but pull 2cca394807 the curtains shut.0b5d7ee143d69ca6

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❖　❖　❖b711a44ce9cf751e

“What are you looking at, Lady Dottney?”c57c3671985e0824

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Cruvella asked. She had tried 2bf8c51ab3 desperately to cover cf3d9330bc her freckles with 4bfa525e82 thick white powder, f89e914b9c her animalistic instincts 4338240c14 keen as ever. Like a ghost, 269d9319b8 she immediately picked a8ba0a21e9 up on the 5b6f083c4b direction Lanafesia’s gaze a8a86fc24e had lingered.f61a56ee09d94dea

“Oh, is that ‘it’?”cd09a50b5c545fa4

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Boasting in 1957222be3 a haughty 93b8209927 tone, she 8f4af209ee seemed to 30b0262b62 expect admiration. But Lanafesia shifted 3260903ef7 her eyes away 2a1799747d from the attic d3571d9445 window of the 4c736dec89 dormitory building. Someone had been 47efc7c349 there—a pale woman, 1168a005c3 her expression carrying f8726eea13 a strange sadness.e084f1a4b02ac17e

Lanafesia asked, “What do you mean by ‘it’?”5d1e4ebf49a55d01

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“They say there’s a ‘crow’ among the new students.”fb3bcde3fa891afa

“A crow?”d8eddd9e12422622

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“A commoner.”59aea11224658e16

Another young lady in e1eeb8295b the circle quickly intercepted cfa33027a8 Cruvella’s reply. Cruvella glared b091338f69 at the 6ecc265197 girl with f47186f0e5 displeasure.183d1e6717ca03ab

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As the tension of 7a359c11ed a subtle power struggle 239b90f184 unfolded, Lanafesia remained entirely 6e4723f7db detached from it all. She could be b81e3faf88 likened to a 28473d66d2 pearl in the 050906885f mud. Her purity was evident 3e6a68bba9 as her eyes sparkled 55bf6891bc with childlike curiosity.336ab55b74b1f362

“Oh! That extraordinary person!”8edf99f7eba5d662

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“Pardon?”17527062d958f1ff

“The one who took first place in the entrance exam, right?”1e41d7e1bcd17464

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“Well, yes.”204f403a3c47322a

“It must have been incredibly challenging to study in such an environment compared to noble children. Isn’t that remarkable?”64a7fc0590640dc5

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“Assuming they studied honestly,” Cruvella sniffed dismissively. Lanafesia’s expression remained puzzled.b25f28571121e919

‘Honestly, this girl fc21cf7aa2 knows nothing about 805238f1e6 the world. A true 1834d623e3 flower in f3aa9bc4db a greenhouse, 4374e8dd7b if ever f417928715 there was 31f1f9cf41 one.’bf2db842c042cdc0

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Thinking to 1095bc4dce herself, Cruvella 58bda7c00f offered a bdaea2cc1e patronizing smile 92fb4a3c9b and added daf314493d an explanation. Treating Lanafesia like 5801e40e00 a child she 8e3f8d1b55 was teaching made d653269065 playing the role 77aeb6ff79 of a mentor 15f297b8f2 feel somewhat worthwhile.630eedbb59b866b5

“They might have had a recommendation letter, but what’s to say they didn’t get a sneak peek at the exam papers?”6f5cde0f830f93a5

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“…?”3a2da989d08b29b7

“Oh, Lady Dottney, you’re far too naive. How could a lowly woman possibly receive a recommendation letter?”38a187ed59ebe17c

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“She must have accomplished something great. I heard the Evellucia family’s digestive medicine, the one that’s been selling like crazy since last autumn, was her idea.”8dded83c94e8ceb3

“…”cf06a8412b3f2db7

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“They sell it cheaply so even commoners can afford it. I always knew the Marquis of Evellucia was a great man, but I admire him even more now.”d1c6711de33eba00

“Ah… yes, of course.”0b2de55faf49e254

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This was not the 4fd3ab1997 direction Cruvella had wanted 2ca3ad8512 the conversation to go. She had prepared extensively b1f3849531 to ridicule the common 0130eb6e87 woman. She had hoped 200907cbd1 for a scenario 3aeef4ea6c like this:5b045b6b644b947d

‘How could a lowly f3d7951462 woman possibly receive a 450f9fa4e9 recommendation letter? Naturally, with cafb146f18 her body, 3150e234b8 of course! She must have 1b40ff6ff6 slithered into the d8205a40d3 old marquis’s bed b1bca07e58 like a sly fae1836b95 fox, whispering sweet 8b8d9bfbc0 pillow talk. That woman 220b2621b1 does have 1a04334ded quite a a3df3047c7 figure. Well, I suppose one 8efcc79b4a could call it clever 834e677c48 to use the resources 5b529ce87d she has at her ca3834691c disposal, but still…’bb23ff9ac0b41ff1

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But Lanafesia d82cc6d022 left no 401462b4cb room for 4b9e138fae Cruvella to 7f6e9652cb elaborate. With her innocent 0061759ad6 and lively expression, db9f928075 she cheerfully prattled 41a041faae on about how ef2758298f much she revered 839c164206 the Marquis of 48f64e4e31 Evellucia. To accuse the 4fb7ab9295 woman of impropriety a36644b483 would only make 59723b4fe2 Cruvella appear strange a85947234d and malicious in fc2b645b01 contrast. Furthermore, spreading f16f6cde69 rumors of d05e086ef6 an affair cea2728300 would tarnish 20fce23be1 the marquis’s f45fb3d1df reputation, which 78aab4b6d4 was undesirable.c80ed9b00818785a

‘Tsk tsk. No wonder she 5748ab7f85 struggles to navigate bd7168474c social circles with 04abf8cd8d such little tact.’a66737e6fd24ec1d

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Half-pitying, Cruvella quickly changed 9b678bb8bb her stance and began 838011d295 nodding along with Lanafesia’s ea39304ca7 praises.d9532ddc34787b2c

…Perhaps she would 4c67adb550 never realize how bee06daf4e arrogant and misguided e566ecd409 her judgment of 07a080b49a Lanafesia had been.b30f69d2881e25f5

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Lanafesia, who had b6ee0bc232 maintained a bright 026c99656a smile to the a1f2973878 point of muscle fc93f2097e fatigue, only allowed ea8fcc4dc0 herself a small 753a6c8064 sigh of relief d8958be141 once her friends’ ecf589a373 conversation shifted to 7d43531baf the great noble e69829578a families of the 996b01f0dc Republic. She cast 4b646e8bbe her gaze 0e3709a958 back toward 2954c5b86b the attic 3186f13e2e window. Her expression was c309b107f9 chillingly blank, as 7a433ee9bd if carved from 3a1fd54a24 ice.0a7c7bf6b37f5fca

‘A woman everyone points 62b6c868ef fingers at.’5252bb5994c9dc37

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In some ways, 0050bdf4cb she stood at aa81c7c5be the opposite end c4d46d2b06 of the spectrum bc86d7f981 from that woman, 2c0066896d as someone who e6d7cd650d received admiration from 35f194424b every young lady 670523c604 her age. But… people 02818c17c4 didn’t know.ecb94c929eadedba

‘Damned loneliness.’40d424f2a49b592e

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Even the spring breeze 2e524b046d caressing her cheek couldn’t 67f9c55a1c thaw the cold disillusionment 0db8c36c3f that had frozen Lanafesia’s 7d7f6c3d36 heart.839397c7d23c7d47

‘A caged animal.’47aaf4347b8a4faf

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She couldn’t 02d5bda451 shake the 5744f5711d belief that 7ec2821357 she and 9b9da6bed9 the woman 1889275e3c in the 278a8a9f5e attic shared 9ba4712c21 a similar 0785d2278b darkness, a 6116d71523 kind of 401b5fef11 fundamental despair.8773d4b72ef5e718

“Lady Dottney! Were you even listening just now?”2d83a005db1d1719

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“Oh, sorry. What were you saying?”191d27cb75c3439b

At the 6d67851c89 insistence of 714bf8d49f her friends, debc602ff1 Lanafesia pushed 3ea64d3b8d thoughts of 73c446885f the woman a48e3be4d1 in the 345626a390 attic from 5811a54331 her mind 64b786a033 completely. She skillfully ae2d3bc086 erased any 811cbd0f74 signs of a9e09708d6 weariness from 1de7fe6f33 her face.46f68c4cfcfc47ce

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‘Not that it’s e9a32c7c1d any of my 05da421578 business.’8a5770dddeee26a9

Of course, Lanafesia 9a62dba1e2 had no idea a8eb6795bf how little she 84c7384ce3 understood of what 6c402027ed lay ahead.965c890846627a76

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