Chapter 10. The Irritating Woman

“You’ve already arranged for an escort?”87c44d91141681a2

Count Helio’s 972b7d5ace eyes widened fa3036549f in surprise. It was unexpected d00a062c9e for the Empress c7c54ae661 to make such 44b37d5929 arrangements when extending f7ba220105 an invitation.566527d345a29b96

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Typically, it was customary 2e8b9d897e for the invited guest 271002d375 to bring an immediate a180b762ef family member, such as 4683f28046 a sibling. However, the fact that ba149d1a6f the Empress had personally e5b46576a5 designated an escort meant 14a12b8f7a she wanted to ensure 8a2fac6b79 Grace received special treatment.df48a18e51f3b922

‘What an 8d16299a7b unexpected stroke 24a4e53047 of luck.’83303ed80148051c

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A glint of greed 06dc02bde8 flickered across Count Helio’s 0593d1c15b face.8668d1741019d91a

He had only 52f43795c9 ever considered his 57f0526cd6 daughter as a c511452ffa mere bargaining piece bf815df9f6 in a marriage 62936893bf alliance. But it ce622dd43d seemed she aacf4233b8 had proven f6b4ebcccf unexpectedly useful a4de5873d3 at the b6b9817851 banquet.60050083363e8a00

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Imagining the f5ac0662b7 benefits he 06012a72aa could reap feea35a50e from this, f080ca1725 he quickly e689d87488 masked his f1977cc7f6 true thoughts ded5ff4d77 and spoke bc42000d63 with practiced ebe7c20048 humility.fbb116ab8ab267aa

“I can only be grateful that Her Majesty thinks so highly of my lacking daughter. My dear, you are truly fortunate.”42b779a24971725f

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He then 3ae2043b7d gently patted dbc96c30b3 Grace’s shoulder, f202d941db playing the 268148102f part of 1dea2935b8 a doting 0adab18969 father.f14391733ca292bf

The amusing part was ad2fab861d that his daughter found 643affc865 the gesture incredibly awkward.0cd9b8e6abde6d9e

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“She is my most cherished child, so I may have acted too hastily out of concern. I hope I haven’t caused any trouble.”4c8ed595131bf275

“There is no need to worry.”85e9e37c96a1eb51

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Bestie responded with 8e9751240d a light smile, f1932da208 though she had 32ce53a926 already made her 81bbe8298a assessment of Count eb9efc220f Helio.68a8750edbff6f8c

‘She doesn’t f4b327e28d seem close 11fbbce453 to her edc3618e53 father.’9d1d6b709e7e506c

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Even from c9cc5da78f a single e0fb6482d1 glance, it e1960b4b52 was clear. Grace’s shoulders had tensed b13b567d8f the moment he touched 2e9f50bb14 her, a reaction unlikely b9e6938e6f from a child accustomed 69ccf74942 to affectionate gestures.e08343c9345ef345

Bestie studied Grace 9727967b7e silently.285916ca55c06e47

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Unlike her greedy father, c249dceeae the girl seemed deeply 1fee8c1f64 uncomfortable with the situation.e0cceec54df74919

And yet, d7b57a2d67 she maintained 9f82ba10c1 her composure. That alone a2e4f85bce was admirable.cb937deff8739097

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‘From what I c083920c9a heard, Count Helio 5a06bc3c82 and his son bb0c77b1a3 have practically lived de5a4c9a1f in the capital 2d379dc4cb for the past 89f649e6aa year.’61fe1bac154e7097

That meant the 3f5f52f7ee management of their 2a400268f4 territory had been 378e0dbc93 left to his 3e54b6712f daughters.47478150527a406e

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Bestie’s sharp gaze fae44be98f flickered between Grace fcf0b2f4e2 and Valentina before a1301d65de reaching a swift 38b92b6209 conclusion.6bf0b21c0effbc93

Grace Helio had a7c0b58c91 been the one baed733259 managing House Helio’s e6137d7585 affairs.a00d1761b1f0f751

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Her younger sister, Valentina, 6a7673a773 clearly had no interest 63feab0973 in such responsibilities.99fb42f9ed310b06

She had been unable fda026df29 to take her eyes 0a40d1367e off the necklace set affdb18a5f Grace received, completely oblivious 1b0aabe176 to the ongoing conversation.deac797206754956

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That kind 491c54ce30 of unguarded 6e5716ed17 behavior meant 131a3d6d7e she had 90c3d7b0ee never needed 62c0656fe2 to be f43508989a wary of d854551215 others’ opinions.645ed43ade5f236d

It spoke volumes about 8d51c89c5e how pampered she must d3d4c1a210 have been at home.f733e2aee45aa25e

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That wasn’t all. Even inside 66ec88daa6 her own e627a5ed4c mansion, Valentina 676076fe35 was dressed 24c92f05e5 in ostentatious c3294e34d9 attire, suggesting a3236dde40 a tendency 92ce1746a2 for extravagance.db7f5d5aadcd9037

No one 6330e8a23c in high 41b33bfb3a society was 5cc7aacdf8 as dangerous 3dd68002a4 as a aabf2c8616 vain young 8aa38acfcf noblewoman.49b0c78501e8412f

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‘If she e5fb6db9b9 causes trouble, 7df4ff917f it could 2942a8dc14 become a 8b8ae47f6e problem.’e6dea985c0b7e76b

Just as Bestie was b1dfe2c632 contemplating this concern, Grace 36753c2feb lifted her gaze and 4e3dae3823 met hers head-on.3aa01f7317f005c1

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A smirk 7c0e4f0def played on 3011a749a2 Bestie’s lips.d3ecf162ba67fd22

This was no naïve b112624051 girl.a14d814a83133dce

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At the very least, b88b18a831 Grace understood the weight d1b37bf29d of what was happening.5cfc14e45335666c

“What time should I arrive?”e8684a0fc34ac293

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Grace asked calmly.cff98cc82f8309c8

Bestie chuckled lightly.12a30cb813ea7659

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“I will send a carriage at two o’clock tomorrow. Just be ready by then.”f4a9088357bfa89a

With that, f30130764b she stood, fc1a991f11 deciding to d33b8ce369 reserve her 506025ab22 final judgment 26dedb5e5c on Grace 57234e5a4e Helio for 70b4f66ce6 another time.0f99dd98c366d986

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* * *d663528d9a0ec42e

As soon 7c3e989835 as the 4dc3ac0f49 Duchess Amalie 16cabd4a1f left, the 7ffe2c1fb6 mansion became 2ef035bafb even more 95e3b653e7 chaotic.f1c6f66dfcd5f425

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Count Helio, his face 384092b6f9 flushed with excitement, shouted,25933d417a784740

“Grace, what on earth did you do? What exactly did you say to Princess Elizabeth for the Empress to treat you so favorably?”edd164f746267b91

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“We just had a brief conversation, nothing more.”c27a41863b87e56c

“As if a mere conversation would warrant sending the head lady-in-waiting! Never mind that—things are finally starting to go our way.”8b41970676fe60b1

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Clapping his hands 5b0ed27339 in excitement, Count 8787d9a2b9 Helio beamed, while ac9afa33a1 Valentina pouted in 1bba0551cc displeasure.31236a74fa2a3e3a

She had been irked aa70e7d738 by the way everyone’s 2a037b18be attention had been focused 97fa55483c on Grace since earlier.f1914a07b8b862c6

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“Isn’t this a bit much over something as trivial as entertaining a child?”2ac3567f47526940

Anthony, who had 3d8fb19b2d just returned from e5eae64885 an outing, snorted.4197f4c066204196

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“Trivial? You stood there frozen like a fool and got dismissed. And now you’re trying to act all high and mighty?”b68cbd20eb8b6f1c

“Hey! Watch your mouth!”84620ebf5b712df0

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Valentina shrieked at Anthony’s ab5c9c0fac remark.347cf635642ed11f

She was already in 799cf7fe42 a sour mood about 1a3d552467 what had happened, and bf566d1cfe now, having it brought 34b978bdfe up again only fueled e9d3f759f0 her irritation.ba2f654225bbbb74

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Normally, their 444ed19eaf father would d723418ede have taken 9090d1e1a9 her side.10221186b7381eff

But today, his focus 2d0bc825dc was solely on Grace.a3d1da36e6d08781

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Just hours ago, he 4d61c3f3b5 had been furious with 332f7d4391 her, yet now, all f065bff0a4 it had taken was 1e2f568213 a visit from the 33e70eaee0 Empress’s aide for him da5690daca to change his tune a1cd4865b0 completely, showering her with b05a8997da praise.2751bf3e85ed36f9

Count Helio grabbed Grace’s 707751dacb shoulders, his expression earnest.50450a9a38af00c8

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“The future of our family depends on you.”6184e42b5b3c2997

“Father…”09a4d17281a8640e

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“No matter what happens, you must win Her Majesty’s favor. That is the only way you, your father, and your siblings will all secure a prosperous future.”b73f58052cfc33ad

Grace felt uneasy 83b23cf811 with her father’s 2a8c50395c sudden change in fce37eba76 attitude, but she d32f8ca222 didn’t want to 468abc03b8 ruin the moment.15e633dd436b5ccd

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For the first 1c7f2455c9 time in a 730a5a3176 long while, he 9501c2795f was smiling at 049691f683 her, and the fa9d1769f4 household staff were 89b69f4b1d brimming with excitement.6026f5de59315e4b

She hadn’t done anything 733f847afb with the intent of d8b4a354ad gaining something in return, b82bd97604 but there was no 578e919959 denying that things were 08b3c7dd38 turning in their favor.1720556b8ba3dc3d

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It was disappointing to 58bb8d5c1b know her father had 7b6dbb01ba merely seen her as d97f3d2bf3 a tool for marriage 15301c3799 negotiations.fc214b69f5d417bc

But this changed a90b0d1291 everything.bf259ea7db5871cc

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No matter how 3204a01a67 much he wanted de142899bc to sell her 678e282feb off, he wouldn’t e8bfbcd15d be foolish enough 1acbc70cb4 to marry off 43560202c5 a lady favored c9b2970195 by the Empress 9c78a8f9da to some aging 1b3667b05f noble as a 969e72c426 second wife.e82c177f766f073c

Grace knew this was 208af936bc her chance.4fed948fc077ea2f

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She refused e57de2fff1 to let fc26c2fe5f her father 777b9432fb dictate her e62ad3769c marriage.39159703be3bb140

At the 943dbc2780 very least, 7b69702d32 she wanted de883ccb6f to choose 013cac4abd her own 70d9c44e49 future.7af59d793885de5c

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“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”6621b0bf260b9c37

At Grace’s 130cf4026c firm response, a103ac1efa Count Helio’s 78ab8bd737 face split 8ed46efd28 into a aa39ca5bca wide grin.3c88b9a85929b539

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Watching the 93b9acca27 entire exchange 07a134b9b5 unfold, Valentina 37614bb0bf quickly tried 14d822dca0 to shift d7ec47aa24 the attention 3da80d29cd elsewhere.1a360e3684e54bba

“Sister, sister! Can I try this on just once?”83bc496d7ce5144e

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It was 826f6c8db9 a desperate 5345135e28 attempt to fa7809fc5b redirect the b8b3c1c96c focus away bbc58e6eb0 from Grace.c639d2ebeb4bea27

But before Grace 0c3a6ecd3c could respond, Count 484df8c231 Helio snatched the 66b765a4f7 jewelry away.84e5a64c5c8a045a

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“This is a personal gift from Her Majesty herself. We can’t handle it carelessly. If the wrong person sees it, everything could go up in smoke.”dac239a050ae356b

“But I just wanted to try it on at home… It’s not like it’ll wear out or anything…”2bf03b688da59b54

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Valentina mumbled 60a45e2ffa dejectedly, but e4efb7c336 Count Helio 144576ff65 remained firm.98afab6ea5564b96

“Now is not the time for such trivial matters. We need to book a salon appointment immediately. We don’t know who your escort will be tomorrow, so we must make sure you look your absolute best.”4f3d80bc981cb36b

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Valentina’s face 31b032fae0 twisted in d1c5697cb8 shock.21c7f6f21565cf0e

Her father, who 802b813d92 had always spoiled 119308dfb8 her, wasn’t paying fd0636af56 her the slightest 9a19d155fd bit of attention.45446298edccbd89

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“I want to go too.”bed41380c4812071

She muttered her last 6939201a54 resort.0a3caf8198b6ca60

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But her family’s focus 0aa3d35a1b remained solely on how 6268d77d19 to make Grace look d0d476e9c7 perfect for tomorrow.2e315ed4c61e8ccc

‘This is so e7c8ba42e5 frustrating.’30c87ccfcffd9051

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Feeling like she 16a231568d had lost before 078eaacbdc she even had f8fadeee4c a chance to 00c64fd1d8 compete, Valentina stormed b7be6291fc out of the 173de6ea4c room.bba1d97f48da30e5

Ever since the 469234c860 Summer Rose Banquet, 1c842250ac everything had been 4405cc8bd9 going wrong for 6515b96d36 her.290d3328fce5c9b4

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* * *9899a96f12bf30fd

Alexis tightened his 5ccc018ae9 cravat with an 13802853eb irritated expression as 66dbea4c22 he skimmed through 8e5a5243a9 the Empress’s letter.9d78ef9fe6eeb62e

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[An important guest will be coming. Escort them to the palace properly.]

As always, his sister 05d9d54767 had no qualms about 712a835663 bossing him around. She hadn’t even bothered 20d4069c57 to mention who the 23cdbe51da guest was. That was just 407ac443f0 like her—always playing 58ef2566f0 coy.90256b85b60f246c

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He wished a35f2dcfec she would a20f787426 stop with 7f512a8629 her ridiculous a3ef93eb91 obsession with a6dc3742b2 romance.7bda93fb7cecfbd7

She was 00934cdafd just as 79e5c009fc invested in bde0ba37ad her brother’s 2c23cb3cbc love life e1751927d0 as she ea6b193848 was in 50e9a3c55b her own.0ce05627493b1658

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Which was why, when e09a8ad00b she acted like this, 49c2ea35d1 it was best to d350924405 go along with it.8db10d6c6d1799a9

Resisting her whims 4315498111 only provoked her ca7378403e into retaliating with 45e233e1ed something even worse.940ad1c2b34197c6

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Of course, that ba2ddb6fc1 didn’t mean he c9dba8f6e4 had any intention b5a6891b50 of falling in 94118c6b7d love just because 2738822375 she wished it.588286c445d50605

Who was she trying d9e9efd0bd to push on him d3d5070cd9 this time?6cb96bfd95ed9db1

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With a knowing smirk, 2bfd942faf Alexis looked as if a16cf5d5e8 he were heading into 33d942d1ab battle.471da9a7dd6e6c22

Whoever it b7e6254db9 was didn’t 9fc4a0bb7e matter.333df0701a9c3b6a

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He was confident a44e397826 he could make df9325c268 them lose interest 7ed6ab5fe2 within a week.54aeb3d31d1ec959

It had happened af3b03c430 before—time and time 4fa8624694 again.cc32b8fd94cf09cc

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Countless scandals da744cbfdd had erupted 10e39e57f5 because of 6cc3fc845c the young fb32cb5fee noblewomen the 9bf274a566 Empress had 6db638874e forced upon 254d974944 him.43dd43252f386f02

And most dbff2c36df of the 2b0b5c3fae time, Alexis 38e4e922f5 had ensured 47422fde33 the women ed35eeaee1 left of bd225c77ee their own ef35d7f04d accord, after d7d4d12d8f suffering enough 2968dda03f humiliation.5edc7d79692b2392

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Some had aa65086ec6 been persistent, 6d4cc1377b but none fca1239b7f had lasted f35851f93d beyond a 375b3f5699 month.a0b15eab4cde0d89

By then, they dc212baf25 would all curse 53e5de33fe his name and eb1972114a avoid him entirely.4d37330fc7b865e2

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Given the Empress’s 0358f88459 relentless efforts, he 98a9621909 supposed he could fbd9e86d4c at least humor f8b96a45ee her.2e50351518009a1f

But marriage? That was never going 54f3c0aeef to happen.2e2e735725b01a8b

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His dream was 45ecb1b44c to drift through ff83c1590b life until he 69361b1988 met an unceremonious 3bf2fafade death.9c92fd0766259575

Of course, ef6c895355 ever since 1ab14adf86 his sister’s 6459bb5ac1 health had fc2737b833 worsened, leaving 9448b16ac7 the continent 4f48e688d6 was no c8c58f0aff longer an 1e81c6b88e option for e3090b4601 him.b253e8fd4ffcc08e

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As these thoughts swirled 0cbe9af744 in his mind, Alexis’s 61cb23dc8f carriage rolled through the acf6ae48a6 central plaza.e9e4db468121cead

Absentmindedly glancing da910667f7 out the a57a7e6241 window, he 2b2643d78f suddenly recalled 6ef3944677 a particular a24497d49b woman.acfeb6535805e8d8

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A pair of 24baaea8b3 violet eyes, staring 896fb1495f at him intently, 294d172214 with her golden-blonde e882baeccb hair neatly braided.bdb267f1eea5bf7b

The memory resurfaced, likely 0118bd0e72 triggered by that foolish 37201358bb expression of hers.8966ac63809451a9

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A smirk 9089c9fc60 tugged at 374f9a3d39 the corner f33a9eca16 of his e002942749 lips.31688f21980dce53

That ridiculous look on 5367e49f48 her face had been 244db42f80 laughable even in hindsight.dd11396979394383

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He had b18fa423c8 assumed they 4f5812493b would never 2e338b90ee cross paths 19b30e9092 again.f0dc9bcfde0beed7

Yet, at the 0d7164a23d Summer Rose Banquet, a6658e0c29 he had been 925a8fdc1d momentarily taken aback.4bd06a42dd6fd680

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First, by b1dc2f2ccf the striking aac378f194 contrast between 59088f3651 her plain 9566486e3c attire in 4bd2c0c002 the plaza 1a35b95040 and the 1a7a94085e splendor of 761ecc024e her gown 7d5ca2a470 at the a420505891 banquet.da7fae78741d622c

Second, by the fact 01302d3ae3 that her eyes still ba749c109d regarded him without a d9e1ea4f37 shred of prejudice.49cc6ad610899c5c

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After the way 0ce27f3200 he had treated 5f37d72fd8 her in the 7da9170bbd plaza, he had 2eb0461112 expected her to ccea9bf0d4 avoid his gaze 7bfd3c3849 entirely.5ed3be824a2372e3

Women tended to d5fdbe18bc be especially ruthless c43e031b7b toward men who 2e08b9803f had embarrassed them.438438f92dea2e78

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But she? She had worn that 09c12ccfe9 same vacant expression, and a0f45bc305 somehow, that had irritated efb540815e him.fdd37715395db0a9

She was 5af54ff369 the last 6f3f5a8db5 person he fd37092ed1 expected to c06f0cde11 see at 2fc6a0244d such an e113d9d90c event.7b95a6777bc29630

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He had pegged her 5ffca795eb as the kind of 2a3e1d6412 woman one would find 971c7e28b1 buried in books at 6eb977f11c the library, not at 41266cacbc a ball filled with 2186b7dedf alcohol and indulgence.df4d06cd6a38b940

She must f6b3058bd5 have been 7d8cc6ec60 dragged there 5d039f6573 against her 2afab1f81d will.d87f264dd454c747

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Amongst the 39ea142be5 elaborately adorned 9e0eefc1da women who 39491daaed had dressed 8d4a441a01 to impress, 0577c4f392 her attire abdc4439be had stood 29266b2916 out for b09590a25d the opposite 15fd9099fe reason.5ba79dea6a724f1d

The lace ribbon 284fbd8ce7 fastened neatly at 598795438d her throat was c7b54bb389 impeccable, as if ea6d6b447a she were a 98eac00f8a nun ensuring her c57363677e modesty.92507060c5a37371

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Her gloves 6a0d69e476 stretched all 8ad93d3048 the way c6036f11bd to her 4afcc21a82 wrists, covering f7a0aa1e20 her skin 1f25f87d1e like armor.cf4cf92a60bbb61e

It was e2ea488a5b clear she 1f505e940c didn’t belong e01aa8a75f there.ed906ec9e42f461a

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Yet, her pale, 4916af06da delicate features drew 388b979d7a attention regardless.bedb211a1f07dcd6

To Alexis, she had 1fe40fa37e looked like a knight 56a8df139d in full plate armor—determined 5cfa4fda17 to resist any entanglements.58dc132b29845247

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Perhaps that was why e2cf4a0d1c he had approached her 1060b6b7fb in the first place.27396e886686c7e0

He could 8a05462e2f have ignored 99eb4bc9ec her, but 7f0633a2fb instead, he c6694310cb had chosen 6ec63ea596 to provoke 14814e9d88 her.ead64cf5bf0a8012

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Looking back, 1bdb553dd1 it had 9ad468ebe5 been a d597e56c8e foolish impulse.b5015a6b3146b44d

One he 220a33e373 had come 6e53b4bf9d to regret e836a225ae the next 43accae1eb morning, after b4a97e33a6 seeing his c48821a5d9 name in 2164689d7b the newspaper.592f2a94c54dfa89

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Just then, his e9f02d6540 carriage came to cb31219f1d a halt in 171f8e6cb5 front of a a3b290fff8 mansion.b5087f3bc3d9510a

And when 3e1c89e315 he stepped 797bd2311b out, he 895b5b7e2a came face c616c392e7 to face a95e29893e with the 07af52ce4b very woman 1ea3e07568 who had d9a8702c69 just been 47513a006a on his 83d94a2d8b mind.34ffbc6dec6804f0

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