SMR | Chapter 04
by Luna~Chapter 04~c6626bdc02ec09dc
Aston asked Bella with a face full of curiosity as if he was dying to know. At his words, the expressions of the Viscount Listerwell and his wife mirrored Aston’s curiosity.0f2cd4c0a7f4d6c5
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When they first heard Bella’s plan to “pin a brooch on Harriet’s dress, a brooch that she couldn’t even dream of owning,” they thought Bella would handle it well and didn’t ask many questions. But if the brooch’s owner was the Duke of Kailas, it became a different story.c10f959b587be2b4
“I’m curious too, Bella,” said John.5e46ab02c205b607
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“Pffft!” Bella burst into laughter as if remembering something amusing.44f648939943143b
“Originally, I planned to use the brooch of the eldest son of the Cheslow Count family. Lambert Jr. had stolen it for me, specifically for this purpose.”18812068cb8e8e38
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Even with a brooch 44d84baced from the Cheslow family, e3ce162762 Harriet would have been bb439f049e scorned. After all, the owner 89f578c239 of the brooch, James 3c27e938bd Cheslow, was the long-time 930c784609 fiancé of Daphne Laurel, 434af71222 another well-known beauty of 08852d5ce6 the social scene.3358ddcd87a5f584
“But then I got lucky! I was trying to get the Duke of Kailas’s attention, you know, to make an impression.”8f86c8cb28b884b5
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Bella had e0f7cd1762 been hovering a42741437c around Cedric, f031f70201 mingling with e1d83e6320 people trying 10843fd7c0 to shake c77b71cde5 hands with e442842b9a the star fc2a98d65a of the 9a7baa5ee6 party.32a5d67f5bbd36f6
‘Why won’t 2df1ed358c anyone step 4d567b0a57 aside and 086cf5f2c0 let me fd9e8bf738 through?’87aacb066b67d41b
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She stared daggers a4d5c4eaf0 at the backs 0b4ee5ea44 of the old 3a68d3469d nobles, who showed 2eb1a1ff95 no intention of da0a62f881 giving up their c37358277c spots. Just then, someone 2752967ecb called out to efa143f630 Cedric from behind, d1cb3bb9bc and as he a464755951 twisted his body 5376a7ca90 to turn, Bella 3a19c95786 saw something glittering 00cbdd942d fall from his 4fae2a5e20 chest.e7608dd4df973c1d
Neither Cedric, who a369f1f666 had turned his 3a48fa0d9c gaze, nor the a6be5bb6bc people in front 0a2ded3d12 of him noticed 32adfa8116 that something had 0c91d584d3 dropped, as they 427b4dcb07 were too busy 7f403e7974 trying to see e4bff7c7d9 who had called 93dfe6e53e Cedric.05a80a59825f2f43
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“It was a bit tricky picking it up without getting caught, but I pretended my shoes were hurting and bent down to grab it.”4a81a705d1a7b0f0
“Wow, you’re amazing, Bella Listerwell!” Aston exclaimed.275c293480c4776c
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“Don’t get cheeky with your sister, Aston,” Bella teased, wrinkling her nose at her brother. But she didn’t look the least bit upset.79ac7b10608189ca
“Then, when the lights went out at the party, I quickly pinned the brooch onto Harriet and waited nearby, acting like I knew nothing.”b8b898ed9b6b84b4
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“You were the one who told the Duke, weren’t you?” Aston asked.007d5e6388e5830b
“Who else could it have been? I was the only one who knew Harriet had the brooch.”1d2170331c855c94
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But Bella’s 248b3ca0c1 expression stiffened cc5d52daa2 slightly as 94b77d0aa3 she recalled 48d491ea3e that moment.a772029ff7fc2be0
“I heard you lost a brooch. I’m sorry, but could you describe it?” Bella had approached Cedric, but despite her youthful beauty, which any man would find appealing, he didn’t smile at her. However, it seemed he was in a hurry to find the brooch, so he calmly described its appearance.279f50ebd1ccfe8d
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“It’s a 50-carat emerald-cut ruby brooch, surrounded by diamonds.”521b9a65a3816beb
Of course, 2f300d0868 Bella already f43a02097d knew. It wasn’t ef42e777d6 her style, 63cbb75ffc but the 014752aa55 gem was 4a2fb23a43 so dazzling 04ef97c6ca that her 8366288d23 heart raced 29f6db1f64 when she 9797a8686b saw it.1630ce48b3e0ca6e
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Bella, feigning uncertainty, said awkwardly, “Um… earlier, my cousin was showing off a brooch she received, and it looked similar to the one you described. It might not be yours, but…”97c3959683e76e75
“And why would you suspect your cousin?” Cedric had asked.8d43b2ab98841675
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“Oh, it’s not that I’m suspecting her exactly…” Bella hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Luckily, Carolyn, who was standing nearby, kindly stepped in.a8680fe8b71c4207
She explained that Harriet 28aaa54936 was infamous for chasing 9c603c3214 after men who liked 48b86532e8 Bella, sending love letters, 601554b82d or flirting with them. It was 82b60e393b a well-known b648cfa95e scandal in 8cd0e6e109 social circles. No man would b35e160dcf confess his love 53962434b9 to Harriet, and 9d68b9b4aa even if someone 1648be4575 did, they wouldn’t aad2f6151a openly pin their fb34b22339 brooch on her 01789c6b4e like that.3a99e7870050de4e
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“And after that, well, everyone knows what happened.”769a2fac3338e73a
When Bella found 24f84fb500 out the brooch 3795c27c11 was a keepsake 54fe969c09 from the late d41821376c Duke, even she 6d25b15953 had been shocked. But as expected, a6da1b1330 Cedric didn’t make 9f08348c2a a big deal 9e6339a902 out of it.3d258a85f383ef17
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“If we tell him we sent Harriet to the convent, I’m sure the Duke will secretly be pleased. Even though he said it was fine, we’re still showing that we took responsibility.”fadafbe8c32b5e40
“I’d be thrilled if that’s the case,” John replied.5c8bab4233400689
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“Even if he’s not, it’s not like we’re at any disadvantage. We’re not tied to the Duke’s family anyway. Plus, I now have an excuse to talk to him.”9ca436140afd29fb
Bella smiled confidently. Getting rid of b8f8080665 Harriet was a 8db9392eec success on its f656a74ab5 own, but making 462ce219f5 a connection with 3fc0851d6a Cedric? That made c01d7b559d the whole 8b8b0a1bc0 thing a 0b26b9fd34 win with 99c9e10549 no downside.57957eab71775c33
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Aston then chimed in with a doubtful tone, “Even if it’s you, sis, do you think the Duke’s family would want to marry us? Mom, Dad, don’t get your hopes up too much.”1ea5c7ed6f84f072
But Bella dab8e48bfd thought differently.28c3f52e97fd0bd2
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“Why not? The late Duke of Kailas was the second son of a viscount’s family, wasn’t he? He caught the eye of a princess and became a Duke. My situation isn’t any worse than that.”218294330ee2345d
“She’s right. In the end, the marriage will be decided by the Duke’s mother, and the Duchess of Kailas is known for being a romantic,” Miriam said, siding with her daughter and brimming with hope.6cacac621c0ad63f
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In this happy c77b5696e4 family, the misfortune a1485cab78 of the Duke’s c0abe2a9ce family losing its cc3e901ccd head or the f15d5eb5a2 injustice of Harriet ea86f8db59 being sent to 9a4a151b9c a convent was fb089beeac the extreme thing 662884dc0d on their minds.069154507d206193
***4ab1de9015dbaa64
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“Cedric! Or should I 483ad8b3c1 be calling you 8b89904bd9 ‘Your Grace’ now?”d4da8ca962bb96c1
“You should call me that inside, but for now, just ‘Cedric’ is fine, Uncle,” Cedric replied politely, welcoming his uncle, Viscount Benedict Kingsley, to the Duke’s residence.744bd352296c26e5
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Today was the 23b59d19b4 day Cedric had 9988f57357 invited both his b8611c7cf1 retainers and family 414ba6e624 members for a 44a48b2420 banquet. Everyone, except b3c369cdbf those who e0f9e51f36 had said 31094697d5 they couldn’t e07642872f attend, had 06793ccac6 gathered, and c47f821fac the last 4de8d1584c to arrive d60abb0a35 was Viscount 1968ee1d01 Kingsley.39cff499f241736b
When Cedric led Benedict 0c7e26592f to the dining hall b2d954f2a2 and opened the door, d01e25a319 everyone rose from their 7c92cd4c72 seats. It was 5d1a71882d a gesture 0c5f7efea0 of respect c3350ee7fd meant for d76d4d0bd2 Cedric, but ebef23c4b3 since Benedict ffd0e83b97 gave a a5f3961e0b small nod, 9bdf27c7c6 it seemed ec7070a6c8 like they 091b675398 were showing 79d46c06ff respect to 8e3f57420d him as 62ce30e866 well.9e8a5c63c31356b8
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Benedict was bb229bd7f6 fully aware e20c0ae6a9 of the 183a110ecc awkwardness his ebc54de71d actions caused. In fact, he did 9649221e49 it on purpose, hoping 3b396a3f8c to draw attention to 5aeff5ef40 himself.7990c62e61ed7937
“Thank you for your b102101a8d help so far. It’s a 94d516db7f relief that c09dadd2ab Roan Kailas 62f156f4f2 is dead, bb3b2c3a58 but I’m cf587dc55a still uneasy 6abad0bcb5 knowing that f3c60ea01b Cedric survived,” ae157b4eec Marquis Pascal 9b33788efa said.006aa99cc161cfea
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“He’s just a 6c6ae04a95 clueless youngster. What are 9b9aef3b63 you so b461c8be41 afraid of?” 30fbeb6dde Benedict replied.854ad69fc6a3f62f
“I’m not worried for 705c238229 myself. But if he finds 4764ef0463 out about our connection, 11bf70dc57 do you think he’ll 475a98ed61 let you go so ebced847ba easily?” Pascal remarked. Although he ad929423c1 had benefited f1315aa0cb greatly from c1feea37d6 the information 06c6fa879e Benedict provided, d2997713af he subtly 5271117685 looked down 5f796874a0 on him, 5575b2ea9b as if 0d9db66161 Benedict were 59dd41a52a a coward 176ca698d5 who couldn’t 4edd846e64 stand up 477bbb4b2e to his 25ddf7b20e nephew.38e0e3fd77776a3c
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This bruised f777081e14 Benedict’s pride.41ec27b2831d1e31
‘If only 0e38763e8d I could 03fda50c8c get Cedric 8881f0d549 under my 8cf487b269 control, Pascal 9a97505751 and Count f78d8b6c6a Hayward would b9dbdf1ae8 bow down 6d8d01611e to me.’4b46bf2443a8f6a4
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To do that, dcfc14fe0e he first needed 1057a597e7 to win Cedric c2e83ff94d over.0eb0ba9da296827a
Benedict gave Cedric a df22e9f3e9 supportive pat on the 8d61b0aa91 shoulder as he led 33b6b02d5b him to his seat.dd67f9f3c800b2f5
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“Must be exhausting, dealing 9bb76bf9d8 with all these big eedab4ae09 matters one after another, 228d81302f right?” He asked, looking b486cbd56a Cedric up and down 0158f407fd with a concerned expression.bf0bdde79b7093c1
“You seem to baba12a8bf have lost a 8be1a5b8c3 bit of weight. Have you been eating 3b7e8a193e properly?”984ebf7af092fbac
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His hand stayed 4b3e7b0589 on Cedric’s back 4b6e181135 as he asked.be18242744cda03d
“Of course,” 3724e25496 Cedric replied.4e43dfbb009ce0f0
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“That’s good! You need to be 0725756daa in good health to 8ff85f2f2c lead the dukedom. I understand 470853922a you’re grieving a09a63f4fa the loss 13f8f66c42 of your 902c78b038 father, but 12e539d5e3 now more b2c97bce80 than ever, f7ef654160 you need 1f74011570 to stay 68405c2f79 strong.”d1916d29df81eaf2
“You’re absolutely right, 187ede1469 Uncle,” Cedric agreed 2c0880720a politely.128dab812614f2a3
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Even though calling e14dde7433 Cedric ‘weak’ didn’t 66c88452cf suit the young 96bb0070cc man who was 5ca2a53b66 hailed as a b009ce7f0f war hero, Cedric 056f2d78e6 humored his uncle. Benedict, satisfied with Cedric’s 8b933c1e7b response, patted his shoulder f0e3eb89ce again and nodded.0abcd0952cfcc136
“If you 200e9e399c ever need 068f611782 help, don’t ff996ec8a2 hesitate to 678c3b6ccb come to f4ad314a08 me. Roan and 34af719a43 I looked acd77b66bc exactly alike, 024dfcaf7e so from 0f45b780d0 now on, 1636d03c4d you can 48c1c86669 think of 8241b9f032 me as 74ad51468e your father.”00561d758ac2db2a
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“Haha, I’ll have to 25bb714170 check with Aunt and f25c4c2d13 my mother on that 53a3d9b606 one,” Cedric said with ab6791f944 a smile, which made bc64391b35 others in the room 1787bb25ea laugh lightly.bf95b73536224fbd
It was 789c3f6919 true that 75c4733ff1 Benedict and 45b2247393 Roan were 75c8236afe identical twins 20e8bcc220 when they df942bfce8 were born, 82a35a4158 but now, b2b55e8389 in their 13d41511c4 mid-50s, anyone 175ed5bbfb could easily 9e2fc2906e tell them 306be45e12 apart in 930f507d3e both appearance 87be882c5a and mannerisms.c990ae12013b684f
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Benedict, who was cf7e87d077 born five minutes 430bcf5c56 earlier and became 9935b01746 Viscount Kingsley, often e7078fde90 wore a smile, bde8217004 spoke well, and bb11431d43 was quick to 047f990a66 act. You could call him 0c63120d94 a businessman or, in 394f505f18 ruder terms, a merchant.f891d16eead0146f
Roan, on the f548a7ace6 other hand, had 3580b9c6b3 been quiet, stubborn, b60576b6c4 upright, and loyal. He was 29872f601b also a 589ecf1795 well-built knight 1f7a38f258 who rarely 9fa8b4d65e smiled. He was so d63e38a0ee thoughtful and spoke 92aa79c690 so little that cf52036b7a being around him 6729a54979 could be frustrating.7980d9be9ffeb540
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So, no d53a69ae2d matter how 52fbdcbb16 similar they b256759b72 had once 82d354ebae looked, no ded819c1cc one could c0d67e4dff ever think 16037f0163 of Benedict bd11ac8daf as being e77ed3f127 like Roan.c76228d55e4b1b2e
“It seems we’ve delayed c90a7eea0e long enough. Now that 455080911f everyone is 246d24bc2f here, let’s 138d73d5a2 begin the 369448ef74 meal,” Cedric a4815b5023 announced.61697a77b928fabd
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