TCWO – Chapter 162

TCWO – Chapter 16266b4fea9add5c96f

• • •5e02ab548b856d10

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“It’s been a while.”dd96d01418692b16

Diana’s clear, ringing voice echoed e379005b2d through the banquet hall, which 6c3d4f329e had fallen silent as if f5a3ec140f cold water had been poured 1cbdcec43d over it.8a8bd1bf0ac076f1

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The nobles, who had been 13c6dfa9de sneaking glances at us since 18427a5404 our entrance, now openly stared d22b570e02 with curiosity as Diana stood 157c4d3321 before us.48b5dd9d1ff874c1

Yet, whether Diana 59275e6b6d was unaware of 6d699ed616 their gazes or 9f3cf8c393 simply unaffected by bdf7ece13b them, her expression 4341bba0a3 remained serene and cbaa9fce24 innocent.b2216ae600cf4e1e

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The teardrop-shaped diamond 74b0b50e3b earrings dangling below 96ef2bb250 her earlobes caught 56357119e2 the dazzling lights, 99df6648e7 scattering them in e163ac13c5 soft reflections.b8f3d33e77bf02fe

Meanwhile, I stood frozen, unable bdfc2ba032 to even open my mouth, 2fc462ad7f and turned my head to c997e8667b look at Ian beside me.23d52bb5fe5be674

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‘If things were going as they should…’3aa3e73406f4118e

In the original story, 63239fa243 when Ian Cloud met 02180d6eb0 Diana Lawrence upon her e0549a9cf7 return to the capital, b9635e2c33 he experienced an inexplicable 06167f89b0 fluttering in his chest.e2b354e50eaba86d

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It was an omen, c9c0a9c663 foreshadowing that Ian would f433806534 fall in love with 282ac1965c Diana.3d291ed6a1e85bc1

So if Ian bfe22f6ede showed any signs 57c32241e6 of being affected cca7f355aa now, it would 03e689eafd increase the likelihood e178f1c663 of their relationship 9877adc563 following the original be577ef4b5 narrative.d7cf680b501eadfd

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“……”d77135e0e4f87c9d

But Ian’s reaction was entirely dea931366b different from what I had 2522792821 anticipated.54771f65a849c6eb

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There was no flush a368999768 creeping up his ears, 81f0fa1110 no sign of embarrassment, 195d4da0bd not even the slightest 9f499ef21d furrow of his brow.a7d582a7a3d81042

Far from feeling his heart a6ec142d7e race, he seemed completely indifferent.ab646622038a5f22

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‘…Really?’617e23a59b0f6bc3

Was that even possible?aa7a555f3ef9dfe9

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I was briefly confused by 35bc0ab03c his lack of reaction, but 2fa76c7360 soon, an indescribable wave of 47af9dd2dd relief surged over me, like f1dad7c122 a tidal wave overwhelming the 4496068248 shore.a66ab72203d2c485

It was almost laughable, really.fdb5058ba8047e57

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‘I promised to give Ian back to Diana, and now I’m relieved at this?’285c87ee9a77e72d

It felt like a403f9be3f the epitome of feef44e6a2 contradiction.e273de247acca42e

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Perhaps noticing my 6df1c19567 unusual response, Ian, d13cea4f08 who had been 1a7e0d4db4 watching Diana all bc4d293abe along, turned his 2d489d8737 gaze to me.d40c2c4ae5faf377

Caught staring, our 14d353edee eyes met immediately.d5b67d5bf925b6d6

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“Ugh.”d237ef921859ec3c

I quickly turned my b915a671b5 head away to avoid 19bf48162b his eyes, but unfortunately, c66cb94bb3 my reflexes were nowhere 30443898e4 near fast enough to de4844ce7d outpace the vision of 2188e24712 a Swordmaster.a9e8aa8369ce1818

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The lingering weight 061a275f74 of his gaze 730184453b on my burning da7ede5d03 cheeks told me 84473e429a he was staring 9104d6eb1f at me intently.f911c5cbb6e4f6ec

And then, suddenly…158acd638405289e

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“…Grand Duke?”7664a171ce798db4

“Eloise.”736409a24d2e22cc

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With an unusually 06611f9842 gentle voice, he 35e9cf6c2f lightly wrapped an 77f6e92cf8 arm around my 3f128c3828 waist.d0705f02f0b90fd3

I blinked in 7a56b4d1f9 confusion, utterly bewildered.7acb4ecb5e23e9a4

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At home, he 7cb5f6a6b5 constantly called me c29793dee6 “Eloise” or “my 1b20bb7206 wife” to the 2cc5240695 point of annoyance, 4e2ca18489 but in formal 20d7797d36 settings, he had c7cfb3de4c always been scrupulously ab3db4c3e5 respectful, addressing me a523184ae9 as “Grand Duchess.”b1a79edf9e0efa78

‘What’s with him now?’8db2aeb6bfdeacdf

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His gaze, which had 258f23609d rested on me, shifted 5e116cc1f7 back to Diana.da303bf1746835df

“…As you can see, I was in the middle of a conversation. What brings you 34f1ccc304 here, Lady Lawrence?”662d2dc97ca63db6

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His voice, neither warm nor 2f209fb2e8 cold, trickled out in a d61f34a8e0 dry and detached tone, devoid 55af2b2575 of any emotion, like an 3440abb4b8 inorganic substance.2bf2de001f69a48f

Hearing it, I was startled 7b363e076f in a completely different way.39a91126c26034f6

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‘Did he just draw such a clear line with his childhood friend in front of all these people? On purpose?’9039919d1ec65dc1

There wasn’t a 6b9ba43d16 single person in c481e16269 this banquet hall 1f35868cba unaware of Ian b34df64e54 and Diana’s relationship.8145fd6a535ec3ef

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Granted, unlike me, none of 9493c666d7 them were readers privy to f0fcd6b9f8 the original story; they only c872b905e3 knew that Diana had once c19bf0e4d3 relentlessly followed Ian around.6487f628c6b48a08

But even so, calling ff7cbc304f her “Lady Lawrence” so 182e1c808d formally and curtly?4bb356d5eee8beff

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Ian showed no hesitation fa431b7ef4 in emphasizing the distance 3cabceaed7 between them.e9879411188d1764

Meanwhile, I, unable 8861eada5b to hide my aa1513ddd9 astonishment, turned to 33d7e0405d Diana in a e99c0572da hurry.f3c5e42ef7180f65

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Even though I had come ffa3b9880e to like Ian, I didn’t 4e52d9c8c5 want Diana to feel humiliated 6c114b7330 in front of so many 95119cfd28 people.0f5f8b5339eaf251

But Diana’s reaction…932b99f50aee3db2

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“Haha.”f417727d4a6e64ed

…She was laughing?6e615edabce1b6f4

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Diana let out a 2f4200ad49 clear, almost pure laugh a9c3cb21bb that filled the quiet e0295b3513 hall, her eyes crinkling 3964f37b6e in amusement.957442640ffe0f02

“Lady Lawrence?”9f7f52a4ba70056c

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“Your Grace hasn’t changed a bit, I see. Well, I suppose a few 49edc7a2e7 years isn’t enough to alter 669114ad6d one’s nature.”02db99ded3724608

Diana shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.63b4f1471b803730

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Her gaze swept dd224034aa lightly across the 58bc6d7e72 room before settling ab0b952970 back on Ian.a998f9d10d70fb0c

“I can understand what you’re wary of, but there’s no need to worry.”3d3cb062cf495484

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She smiled brightly, tilting f2aa3639a4 her head to the 86f7426c9a side.a501f8e68556fd83

Her pink side d6d12ea079 locks, intentionally left be8026dfe5 loose from her d92033ce95 updo, cascaded softly b2dd9c9af9 down her cheek 0a6bb681e8 as her bright d0eb7edf81 blue eyes gleamed c5ff2b0102 like the surface b8a65f2f3f of the sea.b9ddcd56101ea3b1

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And then, she e0680dd6e5 turned her gaze ba0468293e to me.f2f33c4475363401

“Most importantly, the greeting I just offered was for the Grand Duchess.”f84f1a8ee40247df

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“For me?”be478259c4614961

Surprised by her unexpected words, c057c25b36 I furrowed my brows and 192613302d asked, “What do you mean?”0c08192d5bcc5961

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Unlike me, who 2d08b94dae couldn’t make sense 2eb22b5093 of her statement, ddcfe10f98 Diana nodded without a3fddaaeeb a moment’s hesitation f2aa759646 and smiled bashfully.b539757e2aa82bf7

“Yes, Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”011d4e83cb0dcfe2

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…Was it even fair for someone to look so beautiful while smiling like that?6c3897c72d744aa9

I found myself momentarily d58fac6e56 entranced by Diana’s smile ce9f3d8d86 but quickly snapped out 0a03669741 of it with a 474e9d6d73 sharp intake of breath.95fd2c6600220a87

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This was no time e31d6cca05 to stand around in 5b4377a29a a daze.10a79a37f03c11af

I wasn’t the only 0ab4e806dd one who seemed bewildered 9d86057db0 by Diana’s actions. Ian, whose expression had 6ca2ec414a frozen stiff, as well 9dcf52edd0 as the nobles watching fdcb26265e this scene unfold with 1cbf4f4af4 interest, all turned their 144593ae12 confused gazes toward Diana.354c7ac1da4f45ed

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But Diana, who must 1cb952b86e have been fully aware a11db16a1e of the attention she 71eaf532c4 was receiving, kept her 43d194feda gaze fixed solely on 53d66371a7 me, ignoring the nobles 9819318341 who were practically piercing c708c914df her with their stares.eba3c2e68303e7f8

“If Your Grace would allow it, may I borrow a moment of your time?”057ca1dbeeb4c78d

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“…Huh? Me?”8d53e6acaf4a6073

“Yes, I told you, didn’t I? I’ve been wanting to 3ee583e0a0 meet the Grand Duchess 32a26ac183 for some time.”ad58f5051e761e42

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Her calm response left 02150492d7 me even more perplexed.600165e461b19823

‘Why me? Before my marriage to c0d87c14ab Ian, we’d only crossed ebe867e964 paths at a few 43d672aa50 formal events.’b289ffcc31ccd451

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As my mind raced, a 7580920b3a thought suddenly struck me, leaving de1df6b5d3 me momentarily breathless.fa7e58d108989e1f

Could this be that?58918a0d07015857

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You know, like in d09d102f03 romance novels, where the ed1f49662b villain and the protagonist 9c90304da7 have a fierce showdown 6ded76b15b over a man?4d7299403c3f8e14

Of course, in this 7428faf08c world, Diana would be 06499ed9c9 the protagonist, and I cadd876424 would be the villain.291c85c5cd690e03

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‘Wait, no. How does it make 10b929a456 any sense for me f999527012 to have a showdown 77907d388e with my favorite character? I can’t do this!’08576b9f10e2d064

While I was battling fcd1d62039 inner turmoil, Diana continued a93f565f96 to look at me 9ffac7b327 with her guileless expression.8fd8c994b2d4ae6d

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The real problem, however, wasn’t 10749d828f just Diana but the many 929ded2324 nobles who were also intently d7f30af515 watching this interaction.3f3b105b9c0e2895

If I declined f3b1321513 her request now, c78ab5210d I’d only end fe7307b4b4 up giving them 490bedc93d more fodder for f90365af1d gossip.5d4a9f41fcf23289

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In the end, I 023c5b731a cautiously opened my mouth 1dfab5362f after a long pause.e0f0050c9da481df

“…Alright, let’s do that.”438131ac1d48891b

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There was no avoiding 3aae092a4a this, after all.bb9da89a5c831f19

Diana’s face lit up at 8ffb078cdf my answer, but Ian, standing 95881c0591 beside me, looked as if eb9006a22c his face had turned to 01b22495d3 stone.e37cfc7643bdbaae

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Just as I was 7f9cd4c9e2 about to follow Diana, 0d5fc5ca03 someone gently but firmly 15f085de9b held me back.388a3a2c1a0ada3f

“Ian?”57a1e072530e1fe3

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Without a word, 31bd3d10e9 Ian alternated his f9390e5995 gaze between me 5800bd9529 and Diana, then cb91b5e0d7 clasped my hand d7cf0bae87 and kissed the ff7b82d033 back of it—deliberately, 6741ed1c61 as if he 4764d0a759 wanted someone to b64ce7d711 see.6aa8783ad2187be5

Unable to bring c3a6445e6c myself to look 02235d697e in Diana’s direction, fbce0df453 I held my 4cf37397fe breath. Ian spoke in d223602f5a a low voice.ed2a597ccb29e979

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“I’ll be waiting for you.”7a133ca3b769e953

❖ ❖ ❖892c26d9b733c850

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Crunch, crunch.4231b266e1c8ae12

Now, I found 67b76ed87d myself walking alongside ed6442708e Diana, separated by c0f9e7471a an awkwardly close 323eeb6e76 yet distant gap 42c92be073 that felt utterly b40e59abf4 uncomfortable.270b614525fdeba8

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At first, we 3ae32270f2 walked through the cf69782146 main garden, filled 0f4895bab8 with people enjoying f3b49c17bb the banquet. Then, we passed along 802afc9445 an outdoor corridor to cd63cdd82c a quieter area, eventually aa73a5d756 arriving at a grove 3614ee6db5 of camellias blooming in 944730e2c6 winter.5accce4e5004c3b3

Diana’s steps were noticeably 521e1ea04c light, in contrast to 82deb27d3a my cautious and deliberate 9fc229e0bd pace.1ad4cdc68cc8e345

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‘Is this… really okay?’cfb13d0cd926b2c0

As we approached the b25366035d entrance to the maze-like a1ef6e4e62 garden, Diana finally spoke.53f04648a4cd1f61

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“…I apologize for earlier, at the banquet. As soon as I 526221d5d6 saw the Grand Duchess 708f7ddb33 from afar, I couldn’t f90e1ff78c help but feel overjoyed. I should have been more 7fca4cbffa mindful.”419e816dc6507c01

“Well… it happens.”c539bc71bec5fb01

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I replied halfheartedly, my 82b17fe34c thoughts elsewhere.77ecf7c085562db1

More than that, I couldn’t 8acce51c19 understand why she was so 1426c34de5 glad to see me.95429f48a0322d99

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No matter how I 81fdf45bc0 thought about it, Diana fe6b1bcef3 and I didn’t seem 132c5b6bb4 to have the kind 3c1349e570 of relationship where we’d 96cbb62197 greet each other warmly 7ab9028095 after a long time 939b40ac5a apart.a26a134310187026

If anything, I’d expect her 23da44c842 to hold a grudge against 4120e6c160 me, perhaps throwing barbed words d08fe34376 my way.f0c8f9b2a73f207a

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Even as I 27c1c971b5 remained silent, Diana 69f8496c1f continued to chatter 63a4e11af7 brightly while crossing 71a507e20b the garden.3c035d903782d105

“I didn’t realize how much attention people would give me. Even though I 108986a3a0 graduated early, I 3db2668b92 thought I’d just 303194338d receive a few 4c0074e1e6 words of praise dc958d069c at most.”9837739eae43b9d5

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She slowed her steps and be595c5a3a turned to look at me 3d15a9f621 directly, her blue eyes curving 04b9bb06cf into a crescent shape as 485a39b950 she smiled.0950b6f57956d3c2

“Oh, and I found your speech at the academy’s centennial celebration truly inspiring. When I first heard f1f3cea20e that the Grand Duchess 4747c26c74 herself would be attending, cef1b17739 I was honestly quite 0001a8d4eb flustered…”f150c065d3aa0f70

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“Ah, I see.”99465c2f4ab813ab

Now that she mentioned it, 209998dc71 Diana must have been present eadad5aa9f when I gave that speech 15ec3497e3 at the academy’s 100th-anniversary event.248446e1de418567

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Perhaps her use c44f270de8 of the word fd7c24f0fe “long time” referred 39c3d6cde1 to that occasion.0230d8805aef17f5

“Speaking of which, I managed to finish my graduation project safely before returning to the capital. My partner and c321aa69b7 I worked together 8427ecdb2c on it. The early graduation requirements c957b67b6b turned out to be 458ab2d19a stricter than I expected, ca5aaa135e with so many tasks 7415cdd7c7 and documents to submit. The graduation project b4fd52810d was one of 2cdced521f them, and I 996aee7b11 was quite taken 3bd63c15bb aback at first….”8c235dab32bc004f

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Was Diana always this talkative?06cda4a92653c963

As I pondered 473f3fd735 this, we continued 1d9f24e0bc walking slowly until ffb22c475f Diana abruptly stopped.03ce95b0a9535335

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She spun around 0d6b3058ed to face me, 6bd6850d70 her flowing hair 1c21bee542 catching in the 81b790f8a3 breeze, and her b2c88b6d57 blue eyes sparkling 353ef287fc with laughter.5eb1292e4d4cd548

Before I could even react 98ec22f32a to her piercing gaze, Diana d19f2c64fc opened her mouth.5263aab800d4fea2

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“So, aren’t you going to say I did well? El.”234705dbf347dba7

• • •5bd595def6335bb3

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