The Lady I Want to Kill 11: The Correlation Between Sandwiches and Murder 2 (11/39)

11. The Correlation Between Sandwiches and Murder 2

Beatrice boarded 78b6786d45 the carriage 8fbb0dd107 with Lily, e083fb5474 heading to efdd9609a1 their next 28a70b0e06 destination. This time, she 627ad5efdc wasn’t going to f43a2e55f4 the duchy’s estate 6493d7ee4b or a tailor’s 6e0a70061c shop.906d1cd104843b40

She was 659c72ca02 on her 20d935d25b way to 903f644a1f a simple 2c7e19f0f8 commoner’s home.f76ff3143500768a

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When Lily had 1f61bd63e2 sought information, she 2d0ae055bf also obtained the 0550dc3409 address of Briolette, 028daf2bd7 the owner of 2a34a54fca Walbaret Café. Though the details 90d9e04d89 were trivial and 7cad1f2c39 inexpensive, the information b86ca46798 was more valuable 87f2f1b3c4 to Beatrice than f5fea42d07 anything else.19708135bf0aded2

The neighborhood, home to e56aeb11ea well-off commoners, was tidy 6a9bc1d95d but narrow and dim 6f341ed75b compared to the roads a8cade7620 frequented by nobles. As the grand carriage 05dd1b51e4 of the Ember Ducal 58660206e1 Family entered the alley, e01c577805 passersby cast curious glances, 49d7f4200b whispering among themselves.a235d006c0022d4b

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Lily stepped out first, 99fd5db023 extending her hand to 6f3f19999f assist Beatrice from the a1840b98ad carriage. The young lady, dressed 8beb2c05b8 in a white dress cd0bbf089a that contrasted her dark 6f79cd5e67 hair, descended gracefully, drawing f1797af9f8 the attention of everyone f86a0631bb nearby.aad92a7a790b5edd

Beatrice’s black 38a6b25dc6 hair and c6f239d515 flowing white cb9282ae75 dress created b3ca8bbc37 an enchanting 40108d1daf image, stark 56798958d7 against the 24c4f7ee69 pristine carriage. She ignored 9b093dd425 the onlookers, 49d1b3a2e8 her gaze e4755e3f33 fixed on ec186ed7c4 the modest ff5bcae6b0 house in b3e63ce6a1 front of 8c38e4ea87 her.554426d957703594

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The house had a1f0e08024 a small yard 1f76a56235 with a tea 2f8df491a1 table and a c4ce3730ce tiny fence. Scattered grass, small d028a6d77b trees barely reaching ca60c8765b waist height, and 26ebc49fb2 a pebble path 0c768b33d0 leading to the 46548246ff front door added a5079fd58a to the scene’s 5897168070 quaint charm. A little c87e7112af swing, clearly 371d43e09a meant for 216cbdbc00 a child, 5d4eab5ff1 hung in 6d96e8114f the yard.c033aa18dfdb21d0

The picturesque setting might 6b743a8e14 evoke a pang of 9b028addb8 sorrow, knowing the homeowner 5403101c9c had recently lost her 1e5f4901b1 child. But Beatrice felt no 0b5aaac321 such emotion.d42363306d590578

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As she approached the 8083246eb9 door, Lily stepped ahead 95e6ae579d and knocked lightly on 21d57ae890 the wooden door.ee040db52af694fd

“Mrs. Briolette?”78a5ab786f870a67

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No response. Lily knocked 1fabeed7e6 again, then 5bd73b4f93 a third 46d207397a time. Finally, slow footsteps ef301c237a approached, and the 55199e5df2 sound of a 0ca5c47156 latch being undone 33830dd3da was heard.5b3bbf796769be1d

“Who’s there…?”df8eef802b2865c5

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The door opened to 8d02f2ef76 reveal Briolette, the owner 7e24fb6ee3 of Walbaret Café. Her once-soft brown b1ba6e4c65 hair was unkempt, c6dc4a60d8 and her face 79a09e07e0 resembled parched earth.a69499ec9bb4ad32

Though her 1acd230890 hair was 3d8c9f9d1f tied back, daa4845145 it was 905a01b74b a tangled b16d1b6eb8 mess. Dark shadows under her 8e3b5a50b2 eyes and chapped lips 2ac2d6122f painted a picture of 207f4738c2 a woman worn down ee6ab8f36b by grief. Her hollow eyes looked e1bfad681d at her unexpected visitors 914205109e with a blank stare.ff0c30d501ee26ec

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Lily suppressed 31f1e9ec92 her pity, d9d6104499 forgoing any def10d6c73 smile, and 3b39f42f37 spoke politely.47737e77ea08becc

“We’ve come 3cb7532bc1 to see 30c6ddf143 you, Mrs. Briolette. This is 3aeaa009db Lady Beatrice f7b3566542 of the 4bcd7c3ccf Ember Ducal 5befc423f9 Family.”a523fa6c7052c3cf

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Briolette blinked slowly, 90c4a9f091 as if struggling ce8bebee4c to comprehend the c8dcd0b93e situation. Her eyes widened as 8f33a20639 recognition dawned. She dropped the ill-fitting 6284acfd03 shawl draped over her 52d54ba9d4 shoulders and stood frozen, a1672ca5d5 unsure of what to d64594f714 say.b7b0a1859392f49c

Beatrice waited patiently, 27a77a9fa4 unaffected by the 51dcfc2f50 woman’s hesitation. After several long seconds, e5dfa1084e Briolette finally spoke.777e5e03b7fcfbbf

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“Pardon the mess, 6c527d696f but please, come 57e4470378 in.”964a8b258a7d1c5b

The interior of 067e1b8c23 the house reflected 67a97a62c2 Briolette’s shattered state. A thin layer of 651924247d dust covered the surfaces, b9c801dcfc unwashed dishes cluttered the fceba2e8e3 kitchen, and shards of c0adc4ac11 a broken cup lay 577f8c5a99 dangerously under the table.124219889e61ced8

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Clothes were haphazardly pulled 953b0f4b30 from a drawer and 2c9dbffc05 strewn about, while flowerpots e154fedae7 on the windowsill were 57ea5678bf all broken. The disorder hinted at 94815a59a6 the chaos within Briolette’s a302b20358 heart.7ed6718ececf7681

In contrast, 0b801866fa a small 05871cba91 pile of e6209d114f children’s toys 99952e054c near the 32dd462afa sofa was b1888c7a18 neatly arranged, 65f2caa82b as though bfe5cf8f85 they were 4c5ac7e0d4 precious. Dust had settled 81981fa7ae on them, but 87ae3a064e it was clear 4b745255c5 they were cherished.a215db030077b1cd

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Perhaps unwilling b7828b135a to lead e81c8672a1 her guests 0f8483dafa to the c166cdc27d cluttered table, 6dce7a78c6 Briolette guided ddcb80f171 them toward 2c63874830 the sofa. It appeared 1771b62542 she had ab172035d0 been sleeping f291ac267c there, as 1f621697eb a crumpled ddb11c7eee blanket lay e690aa7209 in one 697d92f41f corner. She hastily moved it dfe2145b74 aside and gestured for 15ba20c4d6 Beatrice to sit.8fc0c092d8321613

Lily dusted 66ad2c2544 off the aaa68779fb sofa with 312b8d5f6d her hands e4486d36b2 before allowing ab8395c24e Beatrice to 3ae4239297 take a 9b7fd1b644 seat.ad5de34506a62e40

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“What brings someone like 627e1e12e5 you, a Lady of 38dd474791 the Ducal Family, to 98f25898de my humble home…?” Briolette 29b311e811 asked weakly.bc757c77754df95c

Her voice lacked ca90e704d2 energy, and it ab76be7419 was evident that 3e15c04219 offering tea, given eebd0ed682 her state and 2f86f9c596 the state of 062e58169c the kitchen, would 2b128d507c be impossible.ccb3e9a56cc6fae8

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Lily spoke first, 2e4f0dc883 her tone gentle df3e3f0de9 but firm.c9db842e8aee3d9f

“My lady was concerned 5e7429cd6b about you and wished a6659d4739 to visit.”5787624ab5b00b2c

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“You’re worried about me?”07011bd9bead216e

Briolette’s voice was 2e407a07c5 sharp, cutting through 2914bcf813 the tense silence.22832c561866eab5

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“What reason would a noble lady have to care about someone like me?”56c1600475d0e78f

“My lady held your café in great regard,” Lily explained softly, her tone careful but steady. “When it closed, she sought to understand why and came to see you.”97807bc7ab997828

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Lily’s words 0bfe047cc9 were met 66d4ffecd8 with a 4351553c46 heavy sigh, 2abfafbc87 one that c92c22cdfe seemed to a1642cb5b9 collapse under 0e4e778d8d its own 4b87a83f2d weight.3b373cb2eec2b90b

“If you investigated, then you already know,” Briolette replied, her voice trembling as she locked her dark, sunken eyes onto Beatrice with a glare.2abc34005d3551c6

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She was a 70ab4eb348 woman burned hollow fac8c9b28c by grief. Sadness, once all-consuming, 886ba5a6a7 had left behind 96c17f6d61 only ashes, which 6b763616df now smoldered with e8918773bc bitterness. She resented everything—the warmth 711e584564 of the sun, the 8eceb20ebe laughter of passersby, even b1f6d7b3f2 the cheerful songs of 6ec1933ee9 birds. Eventually, she had e7c5fbb849 come to hate 69d331ce4a even her own 039842db6b continued existence. But above all, 0f2f28454c she hated—6047a3ce4b729f93

“A noble’s carriage killed my daughter.”fa0041313bb47439

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The memory burned in ae17e6d19b her mind, vivid and b99e31f07d unbearable. She could f8474604bb still hear 35aa592edf the panicked 894f7cfebf voice of 38f388c046 an employee d991ef8bda rushing to 3478f4f3e0 inform her.de0cdd13f4584ac1

She had 352460e394 thrown down 4920f004ca the dessert 17a9113038 she was ade7809d1b preparing and 7d86e64820 ran. What greeted her 103bbc057a outside was a 7e87d3eb0a blood-soaked carriage wheel, 29b76631f2 a nobleman gazing bd37929c21 at it with 9cb0b7e5de irritation, and—5e60e0ce67d425fe

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“My little girl…”5d2cc70fd949278f

Her daughter, 5ecd0ec04f crushed beneath d3a1ddf0e2 the wheels, bf06069b1f lay on a8e5bbe3c3 the ground, 78d6673193 a broken, fda878c342 bloodied mess.0b7a014f0969e49a

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“She died like that… and yet…”126fc288fdf422e6

The nobleman, clad in 376db26731 fine navy attire, had 0e1ea6dd64 tossed a pouch of 8a1c96ae9c coins at her as cf0ddab591 she cradled her child’s 59364cb46c lifeless body, sobbing and 7af93e55ae trembling.bb6964f34e4d9c35

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The pouch had struck her head and fallen to the ground. Dazed, she stared at it as he casually remarked, “This should suffice. If it’s not enough, go to Viscount Paralett.”f5eb35a98cc5a11a

It had felt 1298812fb0 unreal. Everything felt like 6618b7a447 a sick, twisted f4a3b1ef49 dream.a7ce5004235137ab

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She had 3fc5579cfc sat there, 85f7bb367e clutching her 2c27723b05 daughter’s mangled 252cab6060 remains, watching b870f4be0b the carriage bc85259318 leave. She hadn’t 6fa3976861 chased after 4104506a30 him, hadn’t a9fa74c50b screamed, hadn’t 09b0545fd9 done anything. And that, she regretted 534ec1844b most of all.c461dcfe5c94b28d

She should 2b5f3f568b have smashed 19d40f2a2b his head b193160504 just as 0c98d9041a her daughter’s 7d4fa0c1ad had been. She should have died 3a824d5cbf right there, alongside her be55ed5b01 child.bb3e3094f80661ca

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“…I couldn’t do anything, nothing at all…”cca010c025329289

She had tried everything afterward—gathering her daughter’s remains with the help of neighbors, pleading with the city guards and watchmen, even offering bribes. But every attempt met with the same response: “It’s unfortunate, but we can’t punish a noble for killing a commoner in an accident.”e115a7baa59b58e7

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She had been told 236603a494 that, at most, she 025955f2ff could demand a higher a53633c2f1 settlement. But how b1de9b2603 could she b1fdc00e9e put a 36772dd5c8 price on 2d828ca46c her child’s e98c0073ad life?68f6b18891002bf9

The world 7c47a4a8f1 felt like 0cf7716c81 a lie. Everything seemed 40ae786a80 to mock 25ee7ba53a her grief.eefa8847979cc823

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Her breath e837413f0d grew ragged, 5ddf14515f her hands e45314081e trembling as ab766e9264 they clutched 85ec7a2e34 the fabric f1519918d3 of her 10b4dc8c18 skirt so 7528d5682b tightly it 6e9f1a4256 threatened to 028d2f7ab0 tear.028845e3621fdf17

She hated 3deaeee140 the world, 1ecbf16a21 the nobles, a388ac0273 the guards, 6391cb922e and most c46ada17a2 of all, 835d7b19c3 herself. She wished everyone 9e3092eea9 would perish. But the most 7d6a7521ff agonizing truth was 03cb00fc0e that her daughter 2e251ae9c2 was gone—utterly, irretrievably 39d58bb19f gone.3abea4208bd80523

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Finally, Briolette broke. She sobbed, loud and 0329ac13d5 guttural, like an animal a53ad32391 in pain. Her tears 3498024027 fell uncontrollably, 0cf3e7a75f and her abcfe8d4f7 cries filled afd328f014 the room.3c3cb4095d18f5b8

Lily stood silently, e3f7a0e001 unable to speak. She understood Briolette’s d25e4696df anguish all too 965894fcd8 well, yet the 9c882e3f22 words to console 8d800a39c9 her felt empty c76f859e76 and inadequate. Her throat felt 6d819279cb dry, her lips ebc891a721 parting and closing cdc60e129a repeatedly as she 2f945b220c struggled for something 6eecca5c7c to say.2f06e4eb3dfee364

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Then, cutting 1931eed954 through the db050a3351 sorrow and 5d5eecac21 silence, came 73a42159ed Beatrice’s voice, 8060b0aa35 cold and 61f854f5bc unyielding.2841e44ff5d8b653

“What do you want me to do?”d8f5fbad04fa0577

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Briolette lifted 5bdecf816f her tear-streaked d6a99411cc face to 14be90a89e look at 93261420a5 the noblewoman de4658c7c7 before her, 314637b8aa confused and 4587f3d7d1 incredulous.e5f98b363e74a547

“What do you mean…?”a1a66d3dfb1368ee

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“What should I do about him?” Beatrice clarified, her voice devoid of emotion, her golden eyes steady.35f125b340e0e5f6

Briolette stared a5addc5c45 at her, 9b27e873c4 unsure if fe0bbf52ac she had af6592abb4 heard correctly. What was this 0f6fb7c66c woman saying? Was she offering to 0c2bf118a8 avenge her daughter?5addbbf6f0fbc7ca

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A flicker 07b1b57542 of hope 9be2fc7c14 mingled with 3d55e5416b a surge c796c01635 of anger.09d4f6da1f3f6635

“Do? Do what?”654f14e5c419e30d

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Briolette’s voice trembled 77fa0f5c62 with fury and b1f653670d disbelief. She pointed an 46e5c4278d accusatory finger at 3598ad7da9 Beatrice.7616c812fbc35733

“How?! How can you do anything? Do you know what I’ve been through? Do you know what I want?!”62398454fdc7eade

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Her voice c9ac037196 rose, turning 19c8faf737 into a 53e72eefeb near scream.5b70154b72611c63

“Are you mocking me too?! What can you do?! What can I do?!”e2e069fd81839aa4

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She pounded her 5683394b5f fists on the 0c68f3ca37 small table in 8b0da31987 front of her, 0186abd3d7 the sharp sound 3d2c32ab3b echoing through the f0ba81a32c cramped house.9098034f3fbaa2f4

“And even if you do something, even if you succeed…”dfec8254bb2ea7e5

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Fresh tears spilled cb5f3d7cf1 from her eyes, 00b33c3dde her voice choking aa08314143 with despair.7a251e066da0d876

“…will it bring my child back?”1687122bad7da015

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Her rage melted 298fa8e1b5 into desolation. Her dark, hollow 4d6964afd6 eyes reflected only 41cb85a5ec emptiness. The cries gave c584568990 way to silence be13d7105e as she slumped e9ece6af98 back into the 205a99369f sofa, staring blankly b0f3784f1a at the ceiling.2f5ca2660ecc2cce

Beatrice, who had remained e6a71c7c84 motionless throughout the outburst, 6df11dfb62 spoke again, her voice ec96c0fd06 as steady as before.a637379e543e0829

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“I’ll kill him.”14828746ade21585

“What?”bd7698e216aecfef

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“I can’t bring your daughter back, but I can kill him the same way he killed her.”aaf7eac507accd98

Briolette lifted 1e728d7ba6 her head 2b85dde709 weakly, her 370c4ae30c expression a e9c53b195f mixture of 2343dc854f doubt and 9b80faffe5 bewilderment. Was this noblewoman serious?9e217c3ce18979ac

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Beatrice’s golden eyes, f09dfdc82c sharp and unwavering, 504ca12e70 met hers. There was 08d0689a16 no trace 4ef42b574d of falsehood 47f3f01f25 in them.1c94085a3b15ac1f

“Or, if you prefer, I can make him suffer something far worse.”7e1f206c3746cbca

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“Why… why would you do this?” Briolette asked, her voice trembling.97a6b93220778f32

“So that you’ll live,” Beatrice replied simply.80d2e0a2e2451685

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“Don’t act as though you’re going to die with your daughter. Live.”b5a3439ee3293d95

Briolette couldn’t 65f5f74aa9 comprehend it. Why would c47cfab351 this stranger 0ad2d9a10f offer to 8211d68649 avenge her? Why would she tell 2d221b16c7 her to live?2586d260125772d2

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When she looked into bee41e6d2d Beatrice’s golden eyes, she 17043597cc found no pity, no dcd610c746 sympathy, no deceit—nothing at cd76b1f65d all. Except for one undeniable 62532effe7 truth: a faint, almost 621bcd2025 insignificant desire for her d557d54d69 to survive.e541311b88c0ff0d

And that was 728965bf0f enough.fc538574c4cd883c

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Briolette broke 26b417d9f3 down again, 61e6f7e62b crying like 4983354226 a lost e6e6be211b child. She wept openly, her d39a7f7d48 wails filling the room a7af14b919 once more.5a03465f1a9fba19

Beatrice remained silent, 1a95866c10 unmoving, like a 74e6cc986e statue, until Briolette’s 6d32bf3cc7 tears finally subsided.88922be8dd0eef68

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* * *8fe234c0a542c54b

The room 8646a5721a reeked of be5d443ecc metal and a87a257a79 blood, a 0598233e7d nauseating stench 3a26a27821 that clung 4a815ceb60 to her 62b54c5935 skin.9f596423c9f6ed3f

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The woman eccdb309cb buried her d9c85edc3c face in defad36228 her arm, ba32412c9c sniffing. It would take d6060c39d9 ages to rid 0cf7c88d02 herself of this d40b7ef82c smell again. Eating was one thing, 4bf0452223 but not being allowed 886d6f7794 to bathe afterward made 4f71c14149 it unbearable.7447d7d8d5c621fb

It didn’t help that her meals always left her covered in filth. This latest “meal” had been particularly feisty, screaming and lashing out at her in a futile bid for freedom.ad950c635e90656e

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They used to bring cc7736ce1f her prey that was 1a841be995 half-dead or nearly gone, 1352c23f95 but lately, they’d started 27ac70a64c delivering the fresh and 710eceba34 lively. Perhaps they’d d48a2e455b realized she 99f089a5cf didn’t mind 8664efb99d as long bf3b3ff8ba as she b268080063 could feed. She figured it 70607f4d1d was sheer laziness—avoiding e3143b2085 the effort of bda626879b preparing the prey 0b27029525 properly.9cfc4b4f6124a7c0

She grumbled 86ec9aa83a quietly to 86f3464eef herself as 9a4c0d09a8 she glanced 3bb2d1659f at the f34049f728 discarded remains f56ae19441 strewn across f9b36a3726 the stone ddc83033f8 floor. Those bits were useless e4b224c28f to her; what she 08a12aa71b needed was already consumed—the c30a69e061 essence within.658cac7d680a7aac

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With a 393a81f8f3 grimace, she 9db78a632f shoved her 57de02960e fingers into 5f1353da73 her mouth, 2ba95ee9ce scraping bits 9643746179 of flesh a43720fded caught between ff5cb86b0d her teeth.737963212a9473ce

The sound of footsteps 2c08589872 echoed through the stone 1fcf3f469a corridors, growing louder as 025d79dd03 they approached. Someone was 6f92b94433 coming to 1555db6074 clean up, e528799533 perhaps. She pressed 5225b0f1ab herself against 2639ca86fb the wall, b959014c32 chains clinking 5b8c7f07f3 as they a2f35975ed dragged across 1f897d7e3f the floor.cc52b2cf8fd174fd

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She learned the 795d3f1752 hard way that f35c774eef if she wasn’t f2dcb3d298 out of the fd3cf0f5f2 way, they’d lash e3db300838 her with their 3558196b85 whips. Bastards.973db89a4df7742a

The man who appeared be500760f2 at her cell door 9406636e67 was one of the 1ac3254bde guards. When their eyes met, c2502a6d2c his face twisted into 62d209f38f a scowl of pure 288a0058b8 loathing. She found his expression 93f9498fd1 amusing and smiled mockingly.2b09b2c75f8eb32f

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“Seems like someone really hates it here,” she said, her laughter trailing into her words.1bef17a24d6b9f1b

“Oh, what was it? Stealing and mugging to get by?” she mused theatrically, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “But selling kids to perverts made your conscience stir, huh? Funny how that works.”9bd05d0e119c75da

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She raised a3f76f442e her arms, c00177a898 shaking her 3a0d8963c4 chains dramatically. The clinking noise 2baa587c0c rang out in 7a9ee01a6d a rhythm that 602c101a2f grated on the 26e703bab1 guard’s nerves.ece8c427c4c5a076

“And then you handed over information about Viscount Paralett to that organization in sector 31-258. What was his name? Red hair, good-looking, maybe mid-twenties? Early twenties?”6a047bcd97f4f69e

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Her mockery dad9cf9827 faltered as be32103689 the guard 4f75a9b3ed stood silently, 26909ed98c his gaze 5193848d59 steady. She sighed, dropping her abe6b1a568 arms.98fc91be64ad6dba

“No fun, huh? Oh well. Let me guess—you had a younger sibling, didn’t you? Maybe that’s why you felt a little guilt? Makes sense. You’re more human than the likes of them—those who don’t feel a damn thing.”f427fe90e5e6f349

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“Shut up,” the guard growled, his voice like gravel.1ff8038e823d1f62

She laughed 1902b372bb again, savoring 36815ec3c5 his anger.53fa1081bb041edf

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“Do you have a family? Or maybe not? People like you can’t afford family ties. Not when you’re selling children, handing over kidnapped women to freaks, or sending captured hybrids to experimental labs. Can’t afford to feel a thing, huh?”f94f2dda9f7ba791

“I said, shut up!”806565490e891d3b

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“Poor Vilter,” she continued, ignoring his growing rage. “He trusted you, you know? Thought of you like a brother. Maybe if you hadn’t betrayed him, he would’ve escaped with the kids and lived happily ever after.”2e4672520b84cf93

It was a lie. Even if b0439e65c5 Vilter had 0e65977d4d fled without be6bbc94ba telling anyone, 1293b44fcb Paralett would’ve 7a9bad9360 hunted him 4df9983da0 down eventually. He wasn’t the type 0f15f55b29 to let loose ends 93f7495c1a dangle.92c2321fcab28599

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Still, she kept taunting b412fc1ed8 him, weaving her lies 6f2a801f43 with a cruel smile.28a84668caedf292

The sound of the 7631110600 iron gate swinging open c226615355 made her pause. Ah, had she 82b8037912 gone too far?2be4413b8520b333

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The guard 41f734a83b stepped into bbb41a758d the cell, 00403b902b a long 57cb7e311e whip coiled d734ff7a91 in his 466dfe2e35 hand.da0bdf126779906b

“Angry, are we? How unfortunate,” she said, her tone dripping with mock pity as her lips curled into a smile.78c3e4469e95d4f3

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The crack 1c6d29e32d of the 338c398d79 whip cut 2c1650174f through her dea7f4df1c laughter, sharp 94c3a771c0 and merciless.f47b710899a64640

* * *49e842c1cd30f4b8

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After what felt like an eternity of lashes, the guard finally left, taking the leftover scraps of her “meal” with him. She lay on the cold stone floor, bleeding and trembling.1f3764bf6707ee7f

It hurt. It hurt de3dcfab36 so much bac9c393a0 she wanted d2c79b6131 to scream.7bec55ce2289ba0f

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“Damn it… Why is it always me? They beat me up like this, and I can’t even complain!” she muttered, the unfairness of it all simmering inside her. But the pain was too overwhelming to dwell on anything else.df6c6397b7fefbca

“Hey… Hank. Hank, are you there? I’m hurting real bad, Hank,” she called out weakly, addressing the boy in the cell across from hers.cf480e6045af61fa

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Just yesterday, 866a3ff783 that kid 9856400cfe wouldn’t stop 4ab03e6212 talking to e5ef2e2fdd her, trying 6e38e1b83d to stave 20134d91e6 off his 4fde446791 own fear 2abf1fa262 and sadness 2a2c0853bd by pestering b29d5927f7 her with ba0f2d28ad questions. But today, he 2c6d544be6 was silent.06e5d91bcfdd60d0

She dragged herself closer 568b17f806 to the bars of 1e7b1084ae her cell, gripping them edbb026f66 as she peered across. Was he asleep?b9d2ae7f5e37140b

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The children in the 2445f9bc18 other cell were huddled be28e5012c together in a corner, e5071dd437 trembling as they clung 76a1b70d51 to one another.06a8bb27aa4cbe6b

“Hank, I know you’re not asleep, so why aren’t you answering me? I said I’m in pain,” she growled, her frustration mounting.bb4c88b9618f8dee

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The boy e173251450 clung to befe644922 a smaller 49f3387a33 child beside f46cd5c9a7 him, his 09859ef8fa shoulders shaking 8599734877 as he f2b02b0a14 stifled sobs. He didn’t respond, even cbd1996d65 as she banged the 86fc0c81dc bars angrily.23ca5a441c39a2d9

“Why won’t you answer me?! Yesterday, you couldn’t stop talking, annoying me to death. What, are you sick of me now too?”f42b9d8df7654943

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Her shouting 30c37a992c finally broke b5341245d3 him. Hank began db258a90b7 crying in 9f912b4442 earnest, and fa7c3d4f68 soon, all 66e9e06f87 the children 4261f1a357 in the f2dc5be388 cell joined 851c2c54e2 in.d86841df46c05ad8

Even so, the cries a7872bdbeb were muffled. The little ones sobbed 170da3055f quietly, holding back their e2bb344102 wails as if afraid 46848fe764 to make too much d5f2a712c7 noise.348fd0b1423142dc

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The woman stared 06a232be40 at their tear-streaked f398247af4 faces, her irritation 20b61c6294 slowly ebbing.e3893ab2262c68c3

“Are you gonna stop talking to me too now?”feaab908cbe04c7c

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If his cell had 9e3efa3f7e been beside hers, he e30fc6146e wouldn’t have seen her 5dae008ca3 devour the meal they 58bb231964 brought. But his cell was 3d288796dd across from hers—he had 57fdf1b89d seen everything. She clicked f3621884d2 her tongue 34af6ae086 in annoyance.027867cd36ec0879

She dragged 5c2b057c05 her chains 2abf2ca135 as she 831a204232 leaned back 5c03033f93 against the 49fd868390 wall, wincing 7ee87f7681 at the 2e93a1db0c movement. Amidst the faint 3ea85b460c sniffling, she heard 5b62805770 Hank’s trembling voice.5f3f1bce57c80991

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“…Monster.”088c61f4e3927c53

Her lips curled into b38291b559 a small smile.6445359e94583af9

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“Finally, you’re calling me by my name,” she said, her tone laced with bitter amusement.55603e550169ccc4

She let 68d4b318d8 out a 952e3e7837 soft, mirthless 9ab623b573 laugh as 4330497039 she laid 475d50cb5c down on 3568795a34 the cold efe276d975 stone floor. Her body b30c1aeedd burned as 45931260e6 though it 628df5390e were on 9f9fadfe97 fire, but ffa5992353 the chill d0cd5e2a24 of the 6d9ef969e7 ground brought 3df6f96699 a small 5ee0cece01 measure of 906b2b92e2 relief.4da71eccc00d1eba

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Staring at the 6a816e4b85 damp, cracked ceiling, 433db9bb1c she began counting 72dcc4697a the stains.1cad22fb8b6fc84a

“You know… sometimes, I think it’d be nice if someone called me by the name I used a long time ago,” she muttered to no one in particular.a4f6c5529b605a2a

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A strange sadness washed over her. She felt… pathetic.12cb07cea0abbaa8

With a sigh, ab84b4c1ca she closed her f8138201d2 eyes. It was 21a04f8521 always better f505bbc57c to sleep d0100d983e when useless c9b8486f20 thoughts like c578d9752c that started dc72c61dbc creeping in.c5ee3351f2b330db

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* * *5977667c31deaddf

Beatrice and Lily were 47f8116341 enjoying a quiet moment 5a27f34893 when unexpected news arrived—an cf2f95b31d invitation from the Crown c534e26f20 Prince.f9a9687574716618

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The letter politely adca444d24 requested her presence 5b166d9a72 at a small 5b98c6ef78 tea gathering. Beatrice tilted her 27db9323b8 head as she 16e0a9e2ac read the invitation, 37ad2af050 her expression neutral.d25b9081b4f3d189

The Crown Prince 184c75e60a had shown considerable 3d340e2840 interest in her 983af2ec5b since the last fabdc0f5a3 party. She wondered 1c517daf41 briefly what 024dbb8a8f had happened df8a363784 to Vicellophe, 9444c9db05 but judging 1dfd3790cb by the 74e598b201 letter’s tone, da709a968b she wasn’t 1345329226 the sole 94cb283986 invitee.e48bb00cc6952fad

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Beatrice had 00a2457894 no personal 2b194eaff3 interest in 06ef1c8d79 the Crown d7f65b0297 Prince, but 015fb0ad2f as she ced4401baf needed to cb29699e82 uncover the c41606c163 Imperial Library’s 79e65653ef secrets, she 40ed2ac53b instructed Lily 0b900254ed to draft 701480c286 an acceptance 669e7d1cea letter.55a9e5014e16371b

“By the way, did your friend settle into the palace well?”f2ffe4ecdbe7d261

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“Yes, my lady. She’s still at a low rank for now.”4276ae4fa3975fad

As a d522118006 commoner, it 9cf35414df was unlikely b033434a79 for a e916b0ab61 maid to b1c3d87907 advance much f271f2f5dc within the 46f44b72a3 palace hierarchy. Even if they 9756c08bb0 were skilled or 850675211a exceptionally attractive, they 5b85022da5 were only occasionally a6e26e13ee tasked with greeting 1b0baed6cf important guests. Remaining at 420c856a0a the lower 7592dbceb7 ranks might ca2ea7ff9c be more cc6d1bb591 advantageous for 1b4b324029 someone like f5c16e820b Rose, who 2222404e21 needed to 868507c6a0 search for 239465cf29 the library.7d8836fb7ffc328e

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Beatrice decided to put ea837b5c03 thoughts of Rose aside 30aa62efe0 for now and leaned 81959040c7 back in her chair. The plan 38d360229b to deal 386ccac3ef with Viscount ff2958432e Paralett was e54232f1bf set for 919da0b63f Friday, while 2203863f6b the tea 0b34a14c8e with the c12263da61 Crown Prince 305a8faf38 was scheduled 2066e0049a for the c07b20d98e following week.98f164964c85c278

Maybe she c818a07dd7 could spend cf1ae21db1 the interim cba303421a lazing around 4eeb146d92 in bed.2778965e1029811f

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Her peaceful musings a2051c7f24 were interrupted by 6024866228 the sound of ef736ce378 her door suddenly 96b82c0bf6 opening without so 4478395d49 much as a 543bfb1d9a knock.5deb04205a089852

“Hey, let’s go riding,” Felix declared, stepping in as though he owned the place.99941c2eca6d3f05

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“Go by yourself,” Beatrice replied curtly.ef988e7cd24fe91c

“Nope, you’re coming with me.”18dc8645a24dca89

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Of course, it 32d19ae767 was Felix. Why was 26d787e45a he even 12ab5eef19 at the c7aef42868 estate? As a c53073980c knight of c0e2ad816a the Imperial f45d2895d8 Guard, he 05f9c930c0 should’ve been cba927bde6 busy, but 4a2324f08d somehow he b1f0bb83da managed to 1b7e4cc651 take two c83fc3995e days off 97111d819f each week.52b52ad6539b5aca

Beatrice sighed, cf52318dfa massaging her 404ed7ab77 temple as d339ceb643 she turned b25d4404fc her gaze 97fdf693b3 toward the 6e39470985 window. The last time 35fa74b8b8 he had pestered 9e59c83839 her into going 66e36f5ad5 riding, she’d agreed 03c32cfbcf after relentless badgering 43f299cd2d and ended up 9a68749e06 winning their little f85c29e205 wager. He had de0d889cfd sulked about 691d8caaf5 it for 125be8ff64 days and 3bbf907df8 now seemed 53549b933f determined to 26c09b85f9 challenge her 3c029091d2 again.af9da5ac1b4da48b

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When she ignored 4486a931d9 him, Felix came 6b1eac29ec closer and began 17a5d2ad43 shaking her chair.3cf0bb7b7a21514d

“I just got an amazing new horse! I only lost last time because of my old one!”4a14f16445a5df90

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“Right. I only won because my horse was too good. Go enjoy your amazing new horse by yourself.”6feac2461c5ea39a

Despite her attempts to 56a1457568 dismiss him, his persistence c9e8c5d7c3 was unmatched—like a leech 7e2e974f27 that refused to let 515592f727 go. Knowing it would be d9170588a2 less exhausting to give 838c604558 in than endure his fb94c73527 whining for days, Beatrice 030002b39b finally stood and instructed eecb8fa87e Lily to prepare her dd41b4479b riding attire.5937b5ec114347f7

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