Chapter 4. Father’s Dress

“What circumstances? Nonsense.”289cb935f714eb08

“…Regardless, he’s still a war hero, isn’t he?”d589c966bdcbeb42

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As Grace 6f74fb1459 cautiously added 507747e38c another remark, aa7f199991 Count Helio ce368f0008 let out bee38b20a6 a scoff d49ff7f5fb of disbelief bf7bd2308b and snapped db740beafe at her.a9f836170add4bad

“That’s the result of a man who relied solely on his noble birth and failed to plan for the future. He should have accepted the Empress’s offer for military exemption. Instead, he foolishly went to war and ended up like that. Tell me, isn’t it laughable? That arrogance tripped him up in the end, and now he’s paying the price.”7213cd6082943923

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His words were e8931c7c14 brutally sharp—as if d8af8bccdc he were speaking e9155752b2 about a sworn 246252afbe enemy rather than ba41db0c6b a fellow noble.0390c9913c199e79

And yet, it 270aaa760a was Count Helio ca14752634 himself who had e5ebb443fd moved to the 6e6e29c27a capital seeking a f312684f33 higher status.6d6c71d6498d0efc

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Besides, how was joining 85ae770c79 the war an act 2645beda39 of arrogance?73bc61f4b85b77cd

If anything, b1192c9e28 it was 77351fed54 the most 6e0ff0fe89 noble and 49e9bec59b dutiful action 597570c9fa a high-ranking 4ecebee5fb aristocrat could 4c151c1847 take.b959d8216809dfe8

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Wasn’t it cae4524058 for the 1e6d52ee22 same reason 32bbb081f0 that her 4b22c6d94a father had 1955eb36b5 sent her f27e8a8744 to war c44b8bdaf3 as a 48dc611e3f field nurse?a411096c606fad4a

Grace had many things 7e2497014f she wanted to say, 70935bc62c but she hesitated.cad946eac324fd0f

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Her father detested 2a2f240b21 being contradicted.1c822544236eb225

It was then that 470025d52d Valentina interjected.56ed635ffe2d41c9

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“Oh, Father, come on. You know our sweet sister—she doesn’t think anyone is truly bad. She’s kind to everyone! No wonder Peter got the wrong idea and even proposed to her!”503ec8dbd61bf058

She had meant dcb192c3b8 to defend Grace, a11821ff51 but all she 9fc2bdf729 had done was ef312535a0 pour fuel on e6ab91c202 the fire.14612872138b0e6d

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Grace immediately tried to 103b1381a5 stop her.fdf8f0da637ba295

“Valentina, that’s—”69a078d16b4f2146

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But it was too b4c29326a8 late.1db15247c408b38f

Her father’s 5ef0ccf054 expression darkened 7fe5d84d16 instantly.03184455293b41cc

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“That’s exactly the problem with you, Grace! Not only do you question your father’s words, but you also lead on just any common fool you come across! If you inherited my looks, then at the very least, you should behave properly! How could a young lady act so carelessly that a man would mistake her kindness for an invitation to marriage?”6d0ca6012d18e75a

“Father, that was a misunderstanding—”ebd3a5aef26b0dfb

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Her attempt at an f75745dd8b explanation was cut off.7473057c0da67979

“I don’t want to hear excuses! I’ve told you before—I will erase you from the family registry before I let any man just waltz into this household!”c050d2b98cc59ce9

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“I’m sorry.”1411a57f0702d7d8

In the end, 45cc3535d1 Grace bowed her 8c5a0e3f8b head without protest.a36e09504efae7fb

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When Peter f0bd5eb04a had confessed e4bc928c90 his feelings, a179f95f83 their household 6b54925003 had been def61708e8 thrown into 64f93d5f03 chaos.7a95412213919869

She had 5b7780f52e paid the c63de42c3c price for 7a2d0c5b5f it.eb5421695c62980d

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Her hair 20c9f63b74 had been 7e728cacf0 cut, and 67e602f00e she had fc0433de27 been forbidden 185d1d02fe from leaving 0e474dfad2 the house e47f79c6cc for weeks.b039635e598f744c

Just the 79064ab0ce memory of f48002b831 it made 8963861b52 her sick 6c07117397 to her faa0d34ea4 stomach.ff7f5a0f4479c42f

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Meanwhile, Valentina stuck out e0f170c834 her tongue playfully, clasping 35a7a25c6e her hands together in 6ac709d2b8 a mock apology.f4ca1a36773b8787

As if a simple “Whoops, my mistake!” would make up for it.08e668f5bf949e28

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Grace found it impossible d70caf183c not to find her c76e90b951 irritating.885b2ad35f0210db

Moments later, their father, a73d3e2314 still fuming, issued a 4045ea1f3f warning.d9bea38303b887a7

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“If I ever catch you behaving that way again, it won’t just be your hair—you’ll be sent straight to a convent!”fa4e5d0147df7ed0

A tense silence 49dc46338c settled in the 11d1cd9c05 room as Grace 180a751beb lowered her head, 18b6d91ee2 enduring his anger.abe00b2139a094c2

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Then—2916b40b5d178c28

“Oh, come on, Daddy! If you keep scowling, you’ll get wrinkles, and that will break my heart!”9e6acbeccfa66ad2

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Valentina switched tactics, 7f86809e50 draping herself over 0e0ea0c5f7 their father’s shoulders ec2cceba45 with a sugary ce7c1f7b58 sweet voice.8ebcc62ca244e923

She kneaded e616870bb0 his shoulders a9d7d78df4 playfully, attempting a124d1a1da to soothe 2ffec1068e him.99390c0dd21120fa

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“Do you really think I couldn’t be angry after what your sister has done?”a631b1477ae08c8e

“Grace is just too innocent and kind, that’s all. Now that we’re in the capital, maybe once she experiences the real social scene, she’ll change a little?”ea8e5a646c2c0cc8

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“Ahem!”ba3a48b94acbafd9

“Anyway, I just can’t wait for the banquet! It’s an official summer gathering, perfectly timed for the blooming season of the roses! Imagine meeting the one in such a romantic setting—how wonderful would that be?”a2cd27e60982264a

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The youngest, 33a7f54afe Valentina, clasped fe32d51111 her cheeks e02564821d with an 528196d1ce expression of c83b219d5b pure excitement.5bfbcd60b298a63e

It was almost impressive 798906b615 how she could behave 087cb06243 as if she hadn’t a7c92f28e6 just caused a commotion 720fe8ef16 moments ago.7a3fa66c8bda0e39

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And yet—surprisingly—the count’s 0731482fd5 irritation melted almost 2ecc1f00ac instantly.25342bbbbc4c40a6

With just a e65e64f474 single act of b173c5e177 affection from Valentina, 429c072d30 he had already 847dcaf95c forgiven her.e1408f21b6e5be00

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“Why don’t you just stay with your dear father forever, my little Lettie?”43bad446f556964b

“Oh my, no way! I’m going to marry a handsome prince like the ones in fairy tales!”1d7c1e5c8ead93be

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“But you always called me your prince before.”3185955a523c24a8

“Oh, Daddy, you’re not a prince anymore—you’re a king! How could I compare you to a mere prince?”4b40f0352e3ed5da

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“Ah, you sly little thing! That sweet tongue of yours always knows just what to say!”bf9959850bca3a2c

Count Helio burst into 5d69e40475 laughter, the once-tense atmosphere b05eff9209 turning pleasant and warm.aea660b05ee045c4

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That, more than 5d9241ea53 anything, made Grace 25426c6954 fall silent.2a883c45f148b360

She and Valentina 6440981f39 were both his de6c0cecdc daughters.afc16cbb30b2f2d6

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And yet, her father 5ac9d2f16b had always treated them 6a362aec8f differently.695b9f52cca1bd2e

Grace knew very 961a6c30c9 well which daughter 6b377d4e54 was less cherished.5e07656db10bfa1c

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“Hahaha!”791c74d675a338e6

Whenever Grace spoke, her a70bbbf045 father only ever scowled 4ae7055473 in irritation.9e6a4b4aef494f0a

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But with Valentina, his baa272932a face was alight with cc806a9a33 joy.c36d8cc1556a9f3e

Watching them, Grace couldn’t help but feel bitter.f089c90cb124bbda

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Her father doted fc48fddbf6 on Valentina because ee9746e76a she looked so fbcc04d7d0 much like their 4bf4d44c5c late mother.0d40af0ab72fbb73

And beyond that—she 93407b44fb was objectively beautiful, dc478b01ed effortlessly charming.660af80ef86a3615

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It was natural for 69108a63bc her father to favor 7f5b31c10a her.587be29a5bea6943

Grace, on the e60cc755b2 other hand…f839a0fca81529a7

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She had been forced 1b9e0277f8 to grow up too 60dbda52d5 quickly.4b263e086bd8cb0e

After their mother’s 0e6c7bbdee passing, she had 0dcdec78cb taken on the b077d6c7b3 responsibility of caring 90c1d1b470 for her younger 77d312f57d siblings.b9c9e45f83ee50f8

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Her father had 2c7814fc52 come to expect d1e509c96d her to manage aa45658a50 the household, treating f57dd99b4b it as nothing 5da212c9cb more than her 8f6da7776c duty.dac116c51df4e6e0

Her younger brother, Anthony, 88c83cc65d was the heir—so he 9d93c43c86 was spared from such 241cb04ac4 concerns.bd5a03fdbf153dc6

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And Valentina?20897effb591b9fc

Simply by existing, she 8b5a41a616 was pampered and adored.e91bae4733cac9c0

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It was as if 3786ac55ed her father forgot that 3a2b21b8c9 Grace and her siblings 7ce12fdc93 were only a few 65835953fb years apart.e78efdd7a5da7706

She should 17822fb1a4 have grown 41db266a4a used to 45320a68e2 it by a6314a9d1d now.530bcd0825ee2fcc

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But every time 45e2b6c5a9 she witnessed these 3224412193 tender father-daughter moments, 46db87927d a part of b58240e843 her couldn’t help 261793eda6 but feel… left c5cae5543a out.e01713c8e89fd164

After their mother’s death, 24afc3edb1 her father had never be08dabdf2 once softened toward her.3f7771d18a4bf013

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Instead, he 95bcb1123f had relentlessly 55c4e50a50 trained her 4a12a5c6dd to be 74deec3cfc the perfect 874f099ee5 lady of ba80916ea0 the house.9d0e039bfd80610f

She had been only 88375b98de seven years old.975ff735be1e3596

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Just then, eca11339d6 Valentina caught 1442606a33 her gaze.2e084a25e68e5dfb

Grinning mischievously, she a39a321920 winked before silently c04e9c9ee6 mouthing:956b5d31dabda18d

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‘I just 7b2126b6bc saved you.’b60b5c45dfec4881

Did Valentina even realize 26f5159e18 how contradictory her actions 80afc980a8 were?575857dae66079d3

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Did she know 63530613ad that she was be76f5cc74 the type to a38f39a008 cause a wound 870a8e3cd8 and then soothe 2b9391d7bf it immediately afterward?2d43c1bfb1a5b119

Grace doubted it.a0864e6f2d3d1808

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And perhaps because a7d1ed03c9 her sister’s actions 5b88faa15b were so innocent, 889eb04692 she felt even 04b076ac40 heavier.67c83b3044f094fc

No matter what she 64ed9bfae5 said now, it would e1f3907955 only make her seem ce56f78d92 petty.ed8c334aa858081d

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She felt ashamed of 6f040c16ca herself for even feeling 7733c9788d jealous.b4cf83d3bfb81e3f

‘I can’t f586582437 believe I 7474d25d28 was jealous bea4642371 of Lettie. To Father, both of eb67a9d0fb us must be the 598247dbd5 same—his daughters.’ac9746627f3c43e4

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Pushing aside the 4c3c978d95 shadows in her be4a00fa09 heart, Grace forced f9d6516d8c a brilliant smile.b4ea679890edc529

Just then, 18b731f823 Valentina looped 658979525b her arm f90d156375 through Grace’s 35cc4dc1ed and chirped,5c4670d8f7a094b7

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“You’re coming to the 9e233a834b banquet too, right?”7e580aa2a0ab77ca

“I’m fine. I’d rather a2febf6d90 focus on 0e470dbf6b learning my 13edd628e0 way around 1fba850206 the city 8f8e19611d first—”efeea4389559b410

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“Oh, come on! You can do that later! It’s a royal banquet! They only hold them four times a year! And you’re just going to let it pass by?”5b2d88fc7eba542f

“I don’t a766ae2f2e even have 300d8ed5ff a dress 179b4d3615 to wear.”04edac28f8b1228b

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It was f1b1cbd765 a half-hearted 92e6239f1d excuse, but d5fb01c776 to Grace’s ffbed4c513 surprise, her 7205a6d5c3 father responded d20f3e4fb5 instead.5f4c0fafd1916203

“You don’t have to worry about that.”2a1367ca1f4d6488

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“…Pardon?”3d6a003e6f9bfc48

“Your dress has already been prepared. So don’t even think about skipping the banquet—you’re attending.”5ccd85b671002b8c

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“Really?”44905b79e2a78d2a

Grace’s eyes 90bc60ee2c widened in d932729f7d disbelief.ea258ff4c9e3c961

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Never before a573e13442 had her f50e216c58 father gone daf8da5c1f out of 244f319ac5 his way 779c7b178a to prepare 765d000c52 a dress 07c14eb921 for her.3736641d5a6ce77d

Feeling a twinge a294268098 of guilt for 771ea07f6d resenting him earlier, ff22db3dcf Grace lowered her eace379e80 head and murmured,95c2165741302ece

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“Thank you, Father.”0a75f16d01c432de

“What is there to thank me for? What kind of father would I be if I couldn’t buy my daughters a dress?”66199d87926e9f6d

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Today, her f03e67b5cf father seemed 47c6be9bc0 oddly generous.6fa9b9dbc1d5dffc

At that moment, Valentina a254c89327 puffed out her cheeks 3dd5abc089 in protest.4500ea82b9fbfdcd

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“Daddyyy, what about meee?”51f5b41e0b9be9cd

“Of course, my dear Valentina’s dress is ready as well.”fff031f42f431b33

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“Really? Thank you, Daddy!”8cc7860234046af9

Smooch!4e6d3403498cb051

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Valentina planted 3249e4bf05 a kiss 9046de7fcd on his 66d787c346 cheek, making aa667ef6a8 her father f01d6e0d89 beam.f4a651d37f605add

“Hah! That was quite the expensive reward for buying a simple dress.”f5d9d8d0b8a74066

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“Then… does that mean you’ll also buy me those Elérémont brand earrings that just came out…?”521a7972057703e0

Taking advantage 2698955424 of the 6241efdcba moment, Valentina 6a8f2e5d0f pressed her 91bb976421 luck, batting c8575151bb her eyes ac66881adc dramatically.9b91ae873f47b2c9

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And, of 96643f27f5 course, when c11034441b her father e07d198fb9 nodded in d353046d2c approval, she c7da3bcf3f bounced in c5f7be58e5 her seat 76ebf06b9c in delight.a1023dd0f91559e4

Then, turning back to 13908b91e0 Grace, she leaned in 3254b27768 with sparkling eyes.cd349a97eb808cd6

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“That means you’re definitely coming, right?”57c8c5771bc29784

Her father had 15c94cb7e4 gone out of 193e7c5cbb his way to 724ef4a235 get her a a64684f5f1 dress.8ab14256c10a156c

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Surely, she c1a36caa81 could afford 0e8e9e0893 to enjoy 0bb76163a6 herself for 90f1bf28cd one evening.84169fbc1ceed876

And truthfully…b9dfed4ec93168ca

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She was a 45aa28ecca little curious about 9cc5d72547 the banquet.a69548d9c35985e1

She had 2d7ed72c09 heard that dc2a8836cf the Summer bcffd6c932 Rose Banquet b1fd423285 included a 5faa2c5f21 special opening 8cae185483 of the 68d271f14d royal greenhouses, 5f834982e8 where the cd8b85f4ac Empress’s personally 13c687e928 cultivated roses 202dbae103 were displayed.41987e9535e1fb75

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Grace had always loved 070e0d91d4 flowers.c2409a41c6a4f59e

It was fb2a9e6ef7 an irresistible c78ded2caa temptation.bdd4fbd06e8193dc

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Finally, with 1dfd101d55 a small a180113a40 blush, she afcbb8ec2b relented.03a2a070f9e13a88

“…Alright. Let’s go together.”e06bd00b7c3d1b3d

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“Yay! This is going to be amazing!”23fac333f531c419

With a 6b8da6cbc9 squeal of 2594a96432 delight, Valentina a50b316fc2 practically jumped 8c519ae063 into Grace’s c485c416df arms.394ababed99c882c

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* * *0c003a9ea83e2629

The next day, a6bda1609e Grace found herself 941cee7380 at a loss 4d8e335d50 as she gazed 56bdb3d097 at the dress 4259553279 her father had 4f027acd9b gifted her.3bb641b6db4f5c33

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It was b461464527 far more 83b570554f extravagant than 3ffcf0bb60 anything she bb0afb6b4a would have ab34753e00 chosen for 5886951e42 herself.9460d1de79aad742

Of course, it a0225e855d wasn’t surprising—her father 60f8e4a12f had never bothered 40e860b027 to learn her 7b81e547b9 tastes.f36a461706e0baeb

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Still, it 0a43f09612 was undoubtedly a03a65e596 an expensive 93376a5630 gown.2d2fe1fd08f84036

There was no questioning c494d6cea9 his sincerity.6fa02bb71159882a

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What troubled 9c685f3085 her, however, a3e97125d3 was the a61ca698b9 scandalous design.0314031701177893

‘This is… quite 006255abbf revealing.’91e0b9d8ba0af4b6

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The off-the-shoulder dress eb6318e1b3 laid her collarbones b9f4b3b5ba completely bare.5bfadbf3eac54c3f

‘I feel 1d9fbe3341 like my ea217fbcf4 cleavage would 0aba4ac2f1 be on 23f9eb00c7 full display.’543d835841598c17

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Worse, the back 97926c8440 was cut daringly 12f362d53e low.b2f100fa1a76e369

If she 0f96e23264 danced, there 9080e686b0 was a 527e50cbe0 very real 06dc47db44 possibility of c910c1ca8b bare skin 2c35f30f35 pressing against 1407db5563 someone else’s.56430ef12ecb46a8

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On top of bffb1b33e4 that, the dress 5d801b7287 was tight around 75f84689c6 the waist, emphasizing 4874fa4e62 every curve.0173682477bfa131

As she hesitated to b4d19f8b9e try it on, Valentina 2c6b8f5ab3 suddenly walked into the e0e8ec0a19 room.33506c2c1cd22b83

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“Sister, what are you doing?”8033570f3f943bfa

Then, catching aa728bc378 sight of 4df3cccf06 the dress eb5f692620 on the b86dd62a8f hanger, her 8d68f23c79 eyes went ecf803a853 wide.c0bf2c3c774a10d6

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“Oh my gosh, did Father really give you this?”0614d8616be58c7b

“So, you think it’s too much, too—”a9fcdacba93d699e

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“It’s gorgeous! He bought me a suffocating, nun-like dress, but you get this beauty?!”f003ef037ed77ebd

Her reaction was 472d14643d not at all 00db67d8de what Grace had 58a3aa3441 expected.e238dacd337e683f

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Blinking in adc215fd1b surprise, she 31ac4f836d watched as 1fe3dc95b2 Valentina inspected 43b0bffcb7 the gown 8ef044ca47 closely.9c5ee71251a7ee57

And soon 21b2f0ee1c enough, her 6fd4d19d97 true intentions 6a053b421c surfaced.dbc235e7aaf39113

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“Honestly, this dress totally doesn’t suit you. Father really has no sense.”11284fcb1defab6a

It was obvious that 140e3fa79d she wanted the dress 6e7341be9d for herself.7d4be563cc46bce8

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