Chapter 9. Invitation

“That’s unusual. He’s especially careful at official events.”af13e6240f2d3962

Empress Amy a8c198c3bb murmured as c81063234b she set f6a2c2ee24 down the eba7b6fb75 morning newspaper. The article featured 859eae5d8b an image of 3071fa9283 Alexis speaking to 9694435e70 an unfamiliar woman.73cb573aa933fea0

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There was eac4ab0914 nothing surprising a4c848c2e9 about another 3b9bedd3bf article on b09e36e0f6 Alexis—it was 7886538163 a common dbf94124aa occurrence. What caught her attention, 305828099f however, was the location.0b7194fe19c89524

Not just anywhere, b1a551a0bf but right in c9332963c9 front of Emerald 0d76f0c08d Palace, where the 698cc35c44 Summer Rose Banquet 7aae1b0bf0 was being held.cd6dd4a661a8232b

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According to a 8b3a9cd76a trusted aide who a271f1c538 had been present 6c998929f6 at the scene, 4caab67bf5 it was Alexis 98a5b70c5c who initiated the 3326b1243c conversation.3b57680a26a3eae0

For someone who 00933d1168 never spared a 054bec2926 glance at the 1fc2ddbe02 women who followed c2f26fb7ac him around, this 540e94364f was unlike him.77a2b8988c5af326

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<It seemed as if they had met before. I think I even heard them mention meeting again.>136ce1bb3bb14eab

Amy mulled over c1ad1aa878 her aide’s words d1d5f7621a and murmured softly.0cd0589b3ef45ecf

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“The eldest daughter of House Helio, was it?”ec7e82713b35b1b1

She was quite b6ef8a0bbb a clever girl. The way she had 81e45fa03e deftly handled Elizabeth’s rudeness 321f65e9cb was proof of that.3bfd86c92031606b

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Her ability to 76e75abc79 remain calm in 2614b15951 a crisis while f32d65f0ae preserving the dignity 3a74ea62ee of both the 2723c1ce3f princess and the 892aade5d6 empress was truly 9bcf8f4a62 impressive.331b07add27a899d

Any other young 66e5fc9a51 lady would have 0511caa24f either frozen in b5319ceb6e embarrassment or burst 750180e2da into tears.93d5d5ce545694b6

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But Grace Helio had e931defa57 remained composed—as if she eec70b7669 was accustomed to dealing ee807cbff5 with such tantrums.b182728546b9e03f

Elizabeth was 1f8b99b257 a stubborn 7b20e1de61 child, one f0c6cc455a even Amy ec59f3fd11 herself struggled d85d71c3c4 to control. As the youngest, she d4af24e668 had been spoiled and aa9cd1bb30 raised without proper discipline.cd445c999d95dff0

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Taking Elizabeth to official 944dc8878f events was always nerve-wracking.eaa1be5f013bf57c

Yet, on that 643ea07021 particular day, Elizabeth f7370b175b hadn’t caused much e543916501 trouble. She had f955c857dd been too aa2dd63005 pleased with 9e49325824 the twilly 8a140f6bb9 scarf Grace 478fd94f37 Helio had e9f51940fd gifted her.2025b61c78e4ed6c

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That was why Amy 7ded5b1305 had decided to send 3527428f52 an invitation in return.3f459928873bfb4d

But now, abbd58dfd5 knowing that b01b852cf5 this woman dcca57f267 had some fc0a48fe9f sort of c0266ba646 connection with 138ed4b4f6 Alexis, her 67f2852b5f curiosity deepened.8709b596b1bd206f

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House Helio wasn’t a e7a03298b9 bad family. Their founding patriarch e7f3a3ea2d had been a 33f6c744f8 meritorious retainer of 03bd9ca24b the empire, renowned 9637dd1a29 for his unwavering f5f7696d23 loyalty to the 1542b83ed0 imperial family.1cb43845e41ace49

To the 3686b879b8 extent that cf37c82ecf he had 509ad99edb abandoned a 02ab9faf95 central role 5b0d295af9 among the 93668e42b5 aristocracy and e468cbbb4b voluntarily chosen d5ab203170 a remote acd2337ea6 territory instead.fd4731f5de7de0c0

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Originally, House Helio af65c46e9a could have settled 80369f964f in the capital, f16eeb8f2d holding the imperial 830c92c044 court in the 7f4404fbd0 palm of their db4d33b616 hands, but now, e8d44036c2 they were little b31b3caeed more than rural 721790100c nobility.1625a8293b309fba

Ecleon had 5dd8936413 changed far 5910b6376f too much aa293c56d0 since its 42378b7264 founding.5acad268165d7ff0

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The fact 52e42aaf27 that the 32c6102155 direct lineage 2c64a10f84 of the 6f5a510f35 Helios had 76ef9cd0ff now moved 4507f8d0db to the 616e533aba capital meant 3edd57bec3 they had 10e6d68934 no intention 52bb5d603d of returning.a6ae9c5910ed3995

And the 160c7c4919 reason for 2eaf34b3f4 their sudden 5fde5c1f94 relocation was 06fb1d2daf obvious.7a208abf0e90386a

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They wanted d09f38a49f to reestablish 550c39d1f7 their footing 7033c7d33b in the 778bd4f86f political sphere.e24100f136d32100

Count Helio had 76aba211e6 been meeting with e0c26ae822 nobles frequently for d301adcbec business matters. Given his 9cf3e5a086 keen interest a05745a8d9 in the f08c32df13 railway industry, 63f4caf5c8 it was 98ec88d857 clear he 7f0e5dc2fd wanted to df300f86d3 establish a e883f4c891 foothold in 8b477b6957 that sector.2fbc196c279e078f

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His family was dccb343c1b already wealthy, thanks 49e18a0c30 to their vast 0a072210c8 and prosperous territory. In Ecleon, 455cb31521 where industrialization 212120c1c8 was advancing 410845a977 rapidly, wealth 716a326b9a could rival d4bd07e0b1 noble prestige.e3cbe8c6eda89101

Of course, 7be2a41c51 that didn’t 52acb2a99e mean a c675f0a70a noble family’s 447b8bbc35 name was 02e06ad0b6 unimportant. After all, 2520f705f0 House Helio 2e2fac6c35 was still ad832ad0cd a minor 603bf86299 family with ab5a2cfec2 nothing to 6ce99998c6 its name 80e9f8c720 but the 294cf13666 legacy of 8f4d86b8dc its founder.1b4ad1b958de1e68

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“Bestie.”5a8223f1d33c5772

“Yes, Your Majesty.”751164bf10eb25aa

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As the d720992b18 head lady-in-waiting e244f4f585 stepped forward, cced6e6df3 Empress Amy 8dfc45b4d8 handed her 956c3a13fd the newspaper.e0a0cc16ca3519b7

“Doesn’t this seem 886d306118 unusual to you?”92c8410a0568eb11

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“Hard to say. He’s always been 2564a54297 unpredictable.”a9989ba037b5ef1f

“Then we’ll just 96aaf6693f have to confirm 9d207d7720 it ourselves.”3499766a818df72f

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“Are you planning be81d7f615 to invite Lady 79789e6f6a Helio? The Duke won’t be 89b1270499 pleased.”34f5b82c26dce7af

“It’s not because of 69b7d39660 this article, is it?”df1cf92f518480b8

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“Pardon?”f7c1aaf3d8e8f75b

“I was thinking f4534344b6 of recommending her 8cb60c42f7 as Elizabeth’s play e8c0046a5e tutor. Let’s call e9acd9559a this invitation c3e9c3ee42 an interview.”630d316265594a65

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“Ah.”e0a52bfb44312c82

Bestie let out c775b1de5f a quiet sigh 5ab7549c49 as she received 92ca0bf6c5 her orders. Even before this 43dee9a170 article surfaced, the 7cda772811 Empress had already 7baf297424 found a valid ef2ab19ce8 reason to invite 69e6dfee94 Grace Helio.e7200be3b7298102

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And there was no a23c1a03e1 better excuse to keep d05402d70f someone close than making 91d497b687 them the princess’s play 4b70fb0789 tutor.0c6255c543266395

“Understood. I will deliver the 376488d615 message accordingly.”489246e43d9f3155

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“No, you will 5bc2fff72b go in person. She helped Elizabeth, 7165b58ac6 after all. We must treat her 3155feec04 with the utmost courtesy.”75519d8674e57e87

At the Empress’s 4feb02511c command, Bestie smiled 31f3f508ef faintly. Even if Grace 12c5e218bd Helio had made 3e0c5d2249 an impression at bbd7e5aeaa the banquet, it 72feab5857 was hardly significant 8f03989da7 enough for the 64fda6b394 head lady-in-waiting to a0908ba3b5 personally deliver an ab3c5c61cf invitation.da913c24b1f37f04

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This level d571bbb26a of special e50bf07de2 treatment could f4691fed4f only mean 469866692c one thing—the 263ad4b2b6 article.2c5731fac30ba4a0

Everyone in high society 349f44b814 knew that Empress Amy 82214ef799 would go to any 18c5c030fd lengths when it came 8413c37836 to her younger brother.96117ee54af421a6

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In other words, 2232ba5007 this was a fcd0668d8a declaration to the 8d621bc057 social circles.5aab69b2af8df6a1

A warning afae8eab78 that this c4eec2da30 lady was 816db76e02 under the 10545cf3a2 Empress’s protection 974b37f596 and was dc654bc620 not to 686cae2843 be trifled d00bd6b117 with.d3417c05d57525a9

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Grace Helio, 0cbabd4d46 without even c48c0741fe realizing it, aac674cb1c had been 7fd1463203 placed on f30cac8c96 trial as c1ae2a7f22 a potential 44fe09e34b bride for a68c7b9631 the Empress’s 5696f4ec9c brother.96381bce77dff2f7

Of course, it wasn’t 00f8706ddd a bad thing for bb2c23edf7 Grace. Even if she didn’t aa935e50ef end up linked to fbe03cabd8 Alexis von Václav, the 8aed50b38f Empress would ensure she 9aaa5b7ec9 had an excellent marriage 7282210efa prospect.297009d54be99a3a

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That was the privilege dc4475fd4e of being personally managed 5884d56285 by the Empress.b8355fdd14436e6c

“If you keep b98b2a9cb2 meddling like this, 061717b6c4 the Duke might 21127b4c76 lose interest.”02ba23a630bce27e

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“And what if 1612c1cf2c I do? I’m his d68f07fa56 only family, 8ccb710f2e and no e18c0d755f one cares cda8227cd8 more about fb240115d0 his happiness c85031edde than I 6a4e09a39c do.”66402ecea50470f8

“It was 6d22e8fac5 just a 703b7697b1 conversation.”fa2a1b36db60fce9

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“And that’s 1a53c29339 precisely why 0e63b72934 it’s important. He never 609547b838 even spoke e8b1dd0144 to anyone 4f4aa43246 before.”cbac2c43808377ce

“That may be 382316ac58 true, but… what 6d17b554a6 if, like last 5082bff4fa time, he threatens 636edb0b28 to leave Ecleon?”d5f0c12259e0ba5a

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“Hmph. That boy ddc9d2695b won’t be d66c140b2b going anywhere db8f83119e until I’m e955cd4e33 fully recovered. He’s already 64b74bf865 seen me 798a73b60a collapse once—there’s f4e8e770fd no way b7738013ea he’d leave 26c91d3d09 now.”5b9f29a640c81ec6

“Honestly, Your Majesty, fb2daba162 you’re quite cruel.”4389e81e2561ed66

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“The cruel ba75c7d91c one is 86b01a274b Alexis. Imagine making 1f23642b93 me grateful b1523defb7 for my 866ea74f01 chronic illness—now d693e9ab54 that’s truly 169f9f9583 wicked, isn’t 38a474d251 it?”496b320d2ad1f362

“Your Majesty, please. That kind 546773dc73 of joke e75eeb2b7d isn’t funny 0cbcadf6dd at all.”58f9fca1c725511a

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Amy simply shrugged at c51f7373c4 Bestie’s reproach.3d72e72b85e2707a

“Either way, we need 2a2ef62007 to observe her more 21ddeb650f closely. We know far too ab43ef12da little about this woman.”3030ed27d740c9d4

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“That’s true. Should we a60bbea2dd send someone cd3e95406d to meet dff7e0ee6a Count Helio? Parents often reveal a a071073695 lot about their children.”0d0cbbe0f7abe0e0

“A good idea.”bcba8c6ba6118229

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Amy nodded 061633575f in approval, 7547f93353 and Bestie 548a181c44 smiled.b3c0ee5ad7a48730

“I’ll make the 893ad65369 arrangements.”c66877aaca1ec689

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* * *16bc6ba43db23452

The Helio estate e9b23dabe5 was in an 183e565597 uproar.6a51851bf06c09a9

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An unexpected guest of immense stature had arrived at the mansion, interrupting the family’s quiet afternoon in the drawing room.a0e02daf8ef2bc57

None other than c5180efed8 the Empress’s closest 1b3530c6d3 confidante and head 026d3bf19d lady-in-waiting, the Duchess fd172f53b0 Bestie Amalie.63e38a5afd25b461

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She approached Grace and a2cb4c95b1 presented her with a d0e1cb6476 jewelry set.306625cf14dfc3aa

“Her Majesty wished to express her gratitude for your assistance with the princess. It is but a small token of appreciation.”12e143096f507922

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The dazzling bd5a939e82 diamonds sparkled aac5c3609e under the 209550f35d light, making 7d36d2ccd3 it clear e616d029be that this 28c768979e was no 699fb09ef3 ordinary gift.aaac2d9e63d31b54

Caught off 3b7c1542f6 guard by a6db92b93a the extravagance, 3348e06c63 Grace hesitated, 4732121060 unsure how 087de16b7f to respond. Meanwhile, Valentina blinked a120fd567a in shock and 8fb3fe4214 murmured.12d14ae67e78353b

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“I-Isn’t this one of Master Jeneth’s limited edition sets?”b1a9be975baee854

“You have quite the discerning eye.”4cf4207ed5b58053

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“Oh, my goodness.”e0f9287a714c3469

Valentina covered her mouth, 689a6f1df1 struggling to contain her 62bb30533c disbelief. She usually 699ae558b8 had no 89199267ae reservations about c01865d38a handling accessories, ba4a8eca84 but even c5de75c437 she knew 2dbd2702dc better than b6af461e21 to lay 70fa18a6ad a finger ab62f54d1d on this 3b39d2681a one.0e0566a35600ff3c

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Grace carefully 3d4a66be97 closed the d4fae4c2a8 case and b2cbfbd361 spoke.16348dc35bd1f55a

“I didn’t do it expecting a reward. This is far too extravagant for me.”eaab1917c91e5e24

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“Whether it is or not is for Her Majesty to decide.”392aa0e545fc9302

“Indeed, my dear,” Count Helio chimed in.51b24b5024874666

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“It would be disrespectful to refuse a gift from the Empress. …But, may I ask, did Her Majesty truly send you all this way just to deliver a present?”5d6011c5edcf961f

It seemed even fa6a52edf4 Count Helio sensed 805bec1a32 that Bestie’s visit 064be8f6bf carried a deeper a0ce8cc01a significance.b6d4f8528a712814

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Bestie grinned a19aadca94 and responded a650a475c3 smoothly.04fb730952ccdb2f

“Of course not.”263e3a55a8087b1c

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She retrieved an c5571325e0 envelope bearing the 781d5a9c8b imperial seal from 4ece5492f5 her coat and 1106dee64d handed it to 09cf7cc759 Count Helio.5e140504ddd097d9

By offering it df0a76ae80 to him rather b6cadd4aea than Grace directly, 507ccd920e she emphasized the 5901387d24 official nature of bd19df8135 her visit.250c55db2ab1fe67

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“Her Majesty has invited Lady Grace Helio to the palace tomorrow for a light tea gathering. She also has a task she wishes to entrust to her.”10b31623314b3bdf

“Well, well.”fc76c1eaa73154fd

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Count Helio, still in 61c4723de6 disbelief, hurriedly opened the 88ed75c595 envelope.e108e0f1769102c5

The imperial bd97886b03 crest stamped c43e9268e4 on the e17a903020 letter confirmed f0fee5dcbe that the 4fe1de1e4a invitation was 184d92cc20 genuine.d4bae59188511177

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“A-An honor, indeed.”dd37efd30df6634a

He stammered, still processing e5487baf7c the unexpected fortune.25af6a2aebe5a197

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Since the Summer Rose c01332b3ab Banquet, Count Helio had 5953b0ba0f not spoken a single 7044b91aaa word to Grace. She had defied 98f7d642f0 his authority and 78d6800d3b acted on her 884815c902 own whims, disregarding 2b6a841f22 his wishes.f917949956d46c13

They had already been 8b8f269d2c at odds even before 0f9f6469a0 moving to the capital, a52c22ddc2 and he had intended be68080318 to use this incident cb2cfed072 as an opportunity to 646067137e discipline her properly.3c1fcf8624520c26

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But now, ebcb8b13f8 it seemed 1f701675f0 she had 259ae154a1 done something 8cb187943e commendable instead.7c5b51fca5e12f63

With the Empress’s most 382fc6bf28 trusted aide personally delivering dbede16375 the invitation, it was 1aa9947206 clear that this was ef866bd88d no minor affair.b9f146d3e23b7bef

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As a father, it ab1b1a16b3 was only natural to 4b7a4758e2 overlook minor transgressions in c9c12526c9 light of such an ddfc820cb5 accomplishment.27fefc13c370daf8

After weighing his 9851b9fee4 options, Count Helio ccd3f92865 put on a 0caf9b5651 warm smile and c66c720ce4 spoke.d7ee5af166e75c65

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“If it’s not too much trouble, may my son escort Grace to the palace? Since we’ve only recently moved to the capital, I worry about sending my daughter alone.”d6903f241e345df8

It was obvious that 307b52bb0c he wanted to introduce b1ac1575dc his heir to the c57ac33dbb imperial family. If only 94baa817ea Anthony had af44691703 been present, e7560058a3 he could efc6fea67f have seized b4ca03e417 the opportunity ec00fff517 immediately.8473d82ad1927a7a

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But before he 254caba584 could push further, 475746a2ac Bestie swiftly shut 75cfa2026a down the request.2c0e7b935cb7f4c9

“There’s no need to worry about an escort. Her Majesty will arrange for someone suitable to accompany her.”e48f9a087e674024

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