The Lady You Want to Kill 2: Maid Lily (2/39)

2. Maid Lily

The incident in e71a336c40 the dining room 4a87d7372c came to an 9cf488e475 abrupt conclusion with b92e76b4a5 the sudden arrival 75888d75b9 of the Duchess. She summoned a healing 4dd3ecfe87 priest to treat Beatrice, b7de68e715 while Maya, her personal a9e36fb48c maid, was punished with 863b44a806 100 lashes from a 3ba0630075 disciplinary whip and reassigned 6a7af362f6 to deal with the a7c00344ce household’s filth and waste.3bfb07fcce6195f8

Afterward, Agatha visited 7200883b86 Beatrice’s room, located 6afc675acb in the annex. There, she discovered the dc82559a89 burned wardrobe and the dc0838693d dead rat that had 1311cafe18 been left untouched until 623887a67c then.0b6882080ef0c46c

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It was the 57614a8d52 first time in fee93fbbff her entire life 64530f7d2b that Beatrice had 602cbc5a5e seen the Duchess 642b89aab2 explode in such 4980332b39 fury, reprimanding all fda263b754 the annex staff, c92405a8bb including the butler 38ea6b9f55 and the head df8e106275 maid.f3baaf88a7435056

What on earth 750a4a7937 was going on? For some inexplicable e77b297bf7 reason, Agatha even 5845279393 went so far fd084d7bd9 as to relocate f25cad72a0 Beatrice’s room to 07daa51ec2 the main mansion.ceba792986a6dfe5

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And so, Beatrice 1a3600fad1 found herself sitting 46e981345f in her new f118dac818 room, utterly bewildered. While the 4a57fd9e1a annex had 9117b86640 been quite c19495f41d decent, it 5b9b332a9d couldn’t compare ae954ddc04 to the 5d82de0f2f splendor of bef7d5d65e the main 08c3da371f mansion. Everything in 88d91fd449 the room—furniture, 0e74ee15f0 wallpaper, flooring, cd0cedca4e and even 009a4cc22f the smallest b8407ce440 decorative items—was b74d93952f of an 7d68dc51f0 entirely different 08099eb2b0 caliber.ba70b330d584aabb

The staff of the 49bae9a218 main mansion, perhaps aware 79081cc82e of how their counterparts 493b8b0910 in the annex had 3d41775c54 been harshly dealt with c999b8dbc3 by the Duchess, treated 20229cb2d4 Beatrice with impeccable courtesy.905402c255110f86

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Sipping the tea 531bf6d25b brewed by Laura, daf339ad4c the maid temporarily 4bb0af5f8f assigned to her, c4e2c03826 Beatrice blinked slowly, e5d491706e lost in thought. She wasn’t entirely sure 0424e794ea how things had unfolded 10764321ff to this point, but 0f8b8d7c92 with Maya out of 67f6492b76 the picture sooner than 777ef34bbd expected, it seemed like 6b1a5ae841 the perfect opportunity to 956c081ce6 bring “that child” closer 4434f5b634 to her side a d86db02227 little earlier than planned.0f9e1bcf61fa18ce

* * *ddba6f878e0fb9f5

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As the month passed, a6aeef6885 Beatrice gradually adapted to 5650ddc9e4 life in the main 5711149d37 mansion. While she had never e5718ec256 entered the main mansion 087b87a87e this early in previous d3be4b517e lives, her past experiences f771a2ab0e living there made it c25ce7c45b relatively comfortable.381f25b5a0e70d3c

Still, her feelings c0f4d78227 were complicated. Typically, she ae047d9782 only moved 1ffc35ce36 into the f6b15ff629 main mansion caccdebb61 after her c7fac8884b entire family 967eee191f was dead 41bff1f3b1 or had 3d43538241 been driven 74f916731a out by 41760076ac her own 38b0f4e7c7 hand. It wasn’t 7c7e52dbb8 that she d104ab4703 held any 4a1dad655e particular ill 9ac4b2a12d will toward 5b7c661085 them.8146cd8562e4daaa

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She simply needed the 9e72c1590c title to obtain what 6f32564c4c she wanted. Being part of 73cb25f674 an old family, 04477b6104 the loyalty of a42fab41aa its vassals was 526f9fee00 formidable, and dealing 68ee150521 with them had a26e8745f6 always been a 038bc1741e challenge.9cf6cd45044e0ba0

Although she eb5b7ed029 could have ae582fd3d4 chosen to 14621acee9 win them ce3b40cef2 over, Beatrice 66c5bbb6a8 despised complex 4ea78d291f procedures and c6f11d019f failed to f68f966c56 understand them. Instead, she 0f900b73c1 buried most 5cebd15be4 of the 906a2177f4 dissenters who dd3522473f opposed her 55ddc84991 becoming the b4683d7c69 head of 38d1c04ef3 the family.e9456b4606ef2ed8

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After that ordeal, fa335d5506 the Duchess began 23743037aa visiting Beatrice regularly, 3f42b75334 though not frequently. They would 451c3a7244 share a 860797011d meal or 943ce5c6c1 tea once 16d4089a46 a week.b876f39dd99cbef7

Even Calrex and d395dfa1c1 Felix, uncharacteristically, started 3f5b9c948c dropping by to 772b41bd38 ask about her efccfcdfdd well-being, though they aece7a9279 never explained their 18f43e4fc1 sudden change in cc6bfc645d attitude. To Beatrice, the entire d76e785e13 situation remained a mystery.801b75bae5741c48

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Looking back, f6fe966bdb she had a10d853060 never been a1c59681d8 close to 71adb037ec her family 495c2994c6 in any 6dea4de679 of her 2a7c834f0b past lives. They had always 4e22663184 lived as if 77cc7a50cf the other didn’t 031a118bd1 exist, each pretending c1d93007c7 not to notice 265b82604a the other. Eventually, she would either 6f2f8d4142 leave for another place f847b2dd93 or force them out 14c5c3c6cd through cruel means.6ee88199fa7a9ee6

In the past, 4e517065f3 when she unjustly cece9732d7 seized the title, ba1c27d34a most of the 6d4b122d98 vassals turned their 5aff9d8bac backs on her. Those who remained to d5b3d00c1b plead for the survival 5f4d2528e5 of the family were 90a403f7c6 mostly nuisances, and she 4358a4b0c5 dealt with them by 9815f1f18e killing them as well. It was only natural bc92aa7a23 that her funds and 306ad2e428 information networks became limited 781b0cf5df as a result.338570c349272b8a

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Perhaps this 4d13690703 time, she 06cf1dbb6e thought, it adbfe00012 might be 7eb180cf50 worth trying f84ff563d0 to maintain d4df51b316 good relations dc503e318c with her a8b696de2d family. She set her empty 5046f7839c teacup down and gazed 64c1339457 out the window.e16df7e3d09e1c7c

Although the weather b5d3e9f0d4 was still cold, 6e9dd638fa she could feel 20b35af28f the faint stirrings 010de2874c of spring. The sky was 4a68c8a039 clear, and the 24a339d877 once withered branches b2a3ec85c3 seemed to carry 7aa59dda8d a subtle vitality. Soon, they 139e71ba16 would sprout 874f6539c3 new buds.1822ca5013d339c0

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Her gaze 8f42539e04 fell on d2ed22b50a the flowering 793a5b3180 tree visible e8d5c48b88 from the 78e0cd4204 front of 107a70b335 the mansion. Tilting her 0c6d159c43 head, her cd7f47d805 long black 19b759140a hair cascaded e1706eb270 down from b10a2bce12 her shoulders 82e4429dd7 to her 151367f8d7 arms.0e3c015ad24f7ddb

Hadn’t she 61dab9abec burned that 116f094cc9 tree down 195cc7bd03 in a 34793b32ba fit of bb99122e50 disgust in cc1dc9f375 the past? Immersed in such b4bb3932fb trivial memories, a b7d8c40f94 soft knock interrupted 6f9a07ff4f her thoughts.6460a9fe066737e0

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“My lady, the Duchess 1aab07c719 has arrived.”f777ec48b6dc7038

“Let her in.”6132be5450d156e4

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It had been aad24c7a5f about a week e7f4d218d2 since her last b975f16ab8 visit, so it 35ea0170ae seemed about time. As Beatrice granted 0989346204 permission, a maid 3bac0125f2 opened the door, c71e800248 and Agatha entered.d5da19388e33ee23

With her 2fae280af5 warm, sandy-colored 6c66490959 hair and 0fa6f92991 blue eyes, 7c10e6c2fa the Duchess 29d2c62b2e wore a f610816b65 soft yellow 37bfad16ac dress that ce57262ab6 exuded warmth. When Beatrice e3375392cb moved to d91655b884 stand, Agatha c831ec3af2 gestured lightly 00ae083335 for her 8069d3a994 to remain a526a71eec seated.10ebeb28c0e770b5

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“Have I come by 8746aa8a3b unexpectedly?”c31c9a7c587fc6b8

“No, I a7633a378e was just b14a4703aa idly sitting 14059a78e8 with nothing 0ea4d91b0f to do.”174c80134448eb76

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“I see. I wanted to bea167d931 discuss your debutante 24caf0ca81 ball, which is 9937e2e9b0 why I came 28a293f7c8 by.”e643cb517566b096

“My debutante ball?”1c374c6a7446a1ff

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Beatrice replied slowly, her 14f66a02e6 gaze curious and slightly fe3392b63d puzzled. Was she 8ae79bfb1b really thinking aef98fc1a9 about something c0a1152ae9 like that?5b03a7a0cc47b71e

While Beatrice had noticed 7269e5d944 the Duchess’s more lenient 03a6653a27 attitude toward her compared 81d6030051 to the past, she ea5f07cf07 hadn’t expected her to f7f712d2b5 go so far as 9bd377d6f8 to consider such details. In her 88a50797ad previous lives, fb55daa94d debutante balls b806a71d30 were typically f00015d6a5 treated as bbaf2af7d8 mere formalities 5b1bed25df to send 07453a19c7 her off ba106e2fe4 in marriage.ca459b53b1975188

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This was the first 84450b6e18 time anyone had approached d623428d51 the topic so cautiously, 4f4e1a24a0 and Beatrice lowered her e8e9706ff1 gaze for a moment. Perhaps misinterpreting 0461dd8bac the gesture, cecb4413d4 Agatha continued d7f7fe6923 in an be195e378a even gentler 592fdbe0c1 tone.52113f7abf592f9c

“It’s a f2ca0501c9 bit late, ab16db7988 but not 90d412725e too late. I feel 337a446e3d guilty for 40ea46748b not paying b5f1cdab26 more attention 8b55ad6206 to you c97c157983 until now.”24de326899bc8c63

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“There’s no need 51fe2a20f1 for you to 525e437f67 feel guilty, Duchess. But I must admit, 1dd3ce7534 I am a little 146d90199c surprised. Why are you suddenly 0c4f09a4bf being so kind to 4bb969c4e4 me?”17e4833181e879bf

Though she had 41b541c892 been avoiding conflict c12ed7d93a by going along b3ecf7e4a9 with the flow, 53fcba0fa0 Beatrice decided it 6e5c361c06 was time to 063aae9eb4 address the matter 4e1581fccd directly. This time, she 3a47e257cc wanted to maintain fd1f268ba0 good relations with 434382f98d her family and 2c78625a0d make the most 27d73d3d29 of it.b60a5c9d337a58fe

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Relying on sudden goodwill 53377b7502 that might disappear at fa54cb7091 any moment was too 5016d6dbbd dangerous. It was better to 7db849b34c understand the situation thoroughly. Resolving to 722665e879 get to 18c3076a40 the bottom 1bb19576a9 of things, 01cf6d6867 Beatrice looked 580d5d4e3c at Agatha cde190f59d with a f78b799045 cool, composed 4cf0f04bc6 expression.c38698c7c841c6c9

“How could someone 66c5220efa like me refuse 8d374967cc your kindness? I accept it, 64df18edc3 of course, but c9db9d6531 I still don’t c316a9a203 understand. What brought about this 3f5be0836f sudden change of heart?”657fe97b5859868e

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Agatha bit her lower 9e3247f7bf lip.06cf281f16eb98e1

After bringing Beatrice e85ac7b19e to the main d2daa28681 mansion, Agatha had e82a438160 been receiving reports 6b20b0c939 on her daughter’s accbff7119 daily life. It became 29c54d8562 clear that a302fa4439 Beatrice was c007324f45 far from e811948ab6 normal.9b93d53d9abf76e7

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Beatrice woke at nine 858d48a20d in the morning, ate eeca82a2a9 breakfast, and then spent 92f8efad77 the entire day cooped be2d76a250 up in her room, 8f231174c8 doing nothing. If a maid asked d75d832bf7 to bring her tea, 929f28d99b she would allow it. If they offered 727b59b1f9 her books, she fe2c7369ab accepted them. Yet she showed no fb0cec8577 initiative to do anything 1d51e786b3 on her own.b294ed50a687f699

She even refused b4626a58ec assistance with bathing. Once, after spending hours 892374e4eb in the bathroom, a cee303490f worried maid checked on ca8fea1532 her, only to find 121639187c Beatrice sitting in the 3a2cd1a897 tub of cold water, 3ead29848b staring blankly into space.bdc5618d9ff1f528

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The maids 16b1b0dba1 were deeply 90dea8cf91 unsettled by d007327b88 her strange 08948261d6 behavior. Those among the staff 439bfd684a who knew a little dcf42ad346 about her circumstances whispered 7ef2942e28 among themselves.2ee4a51b20fcf098

“With a life e78c2e6fc4 like that, it’s 02b5612f82 no wonder the bcfddb00cc young lady is 306d909a11 falling apart.”e9b62d29effd5ba1

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Recalling the 842c25501b confessions of 3294135daa the annex 5b8722e92a staff after fef7415d9e they were 5d59b0500b punished, Agatha e202835c09 felt as 6b2533f28c if she db8b04af37 might faint.85e8b06af8fd2f22

“I realized my 7f6e1063c7 mistakes,” Agatha said 53fd8ccdf8 after a deep 848d09a13a breath.04de1f609ac7cacf

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“Why didn’t you tell me the staff was abusing you?”fadee0a5bc598be8

“Ah.”72ac4130201826ca

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Only then did a78073cd03 Beatrice realize the 00c0f3fc9e reason for the 300c62132a sudden change in 253517fc67 everyone’s attitude. Though she wasn’t sure 77045bcf78 how, it seemed the 30c2bacc94 family had discovered she 7a7b41883d was being tormented by 5447bbbb21 the staff.3bcaba4aac5c65fe

Well, that’s just 6fd8e28c32 how they were. They hated e569ff30b2 her, but 04a186cec4 they weren’t fa3943a862 fundamentally terrible cd2fa5c539 people. It made sense why 409650f245 the vassals of the 78322e15f6 family were so devoted 0ef327b247 to them and tried c52582480b to protect them.cc54c91b2b860bb2

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“I didn’t c14ed729e3 really feel d36190d531 the need 2c3e6a05e6 to bring 7595c4bcc0 it up,” 3a79073310 Beatrice replied, 850f8c7e01 her voice 7d97643720 cracking like 6d0caea5ff a frozen 5be03fad65 winter ground.e4aa2d7e7a3d997d

In truth, she felt 4475c434c6 little emotion regarding the e0e29fda5f abuse. The glass shards placed 76e6a59b61 under her blanket or d816be6f95 the needles hidden inside 2309e58d2b her shoes posed no b4037f0d9c real threat to her.9288825e3625d262

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Although her internal 09ea020127 flesh was more 668272529f like that of 549c3ab67b ordinary people—she did 9a945264d0 injure her tongue f8216bf059 occasionally—it didn’t change 7ef46a1232 the fact that ce6c2174b5 her body wasn’t 8b876a1066 susceptible to damage 803614c506 from such things.fb67a4a13ec2de5c

Still, she 1db750dd26 chose not c6e5b852b6 to mention 28e2d6bcea that the 5bc84e85d2 torment didn’t eb611dcd72 bother her. If the family’s e8021aef9b newfound interest in f58ba39611 her was because 12ddabb957 of it, she 2423f5d704 might as well e5efada5ad take advantage of ede09d3c8e the situation.5cd9c127193a4e98

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Of course, maintaining their efc102a659 concern required effort, and 5d94278c40 the occasional lie was cf03977634 part of that effort.ef13f256181616df

“Considering I’m 594cb9e5a9 already a ef11114869 nuisance to cd2c109bde the family, d9831d7188 I thought 66e7b54f39 making a 1cc50238e7 fuss about 95d00a7139 it would 29dffb96bb only make d3bc878c97 you hate 73158fde61 me more,” 73d0537b6c she added.e28cafdf7921ca48

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She truly b1a023779b didn’t care d91120de34 whether they d0e9370b93 hated her.98e2cdd1ddbbab6a

“I just wanted to e311724965 keep living here.”823ee497666b9366

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As she spoke, she 671ab392b7 thought to herself. Human sympathy dde810d04e doesn’t last 9e45d26301 long. There had to 68e3faf3c6 be something stronger, 7d9e25ce49 something more compelling e069e41b2d to hold their 493cf179fb attention.2b3be8897c09bd42

“I’m used to 66537c4b09 being hated. I didn’t want d4faa0dcb6 to bother you 85aa591cd1 or my brothers 1e1631917e by making a 2e1c2b9e84 fuss.”41503bdde0a7e0a4

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Ah, yes. That should do.a39f860e4644ef5c

“I know 4bcf5cd06e you’ve hated 839c7a3869 me ever cf85d5c916 since Father’s 43839c5fd8 funeral.”f781f40b9566bf9b

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Beatrice struggled 35d81f1b29 to recall de2585efae that funeral, 849a281a9b which barely 5d6727fa3c surfaced in 3e0da6a62a her memory.a75f08cd94f581aa

“I was d3818e68ae so overwhelmed 707c6eb4a4 at the cc8ddece26 time, so ff4809174c much that 320fdb9140 I couldn’t 2af511a5fa process anything. …I just went 9e963a034d home and cried 4bf03d27b9 a lot.”1d6277b5c9bb5a10

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A lie. She hadn’t cried at 8ae6555d82 all. But wasn’t this the b218c5d8b0 perfect opportunity to play 788b0b869f the role of the 3430e83ab7 misunderstood and innocent youngest 5b11268b8e daughter?cafcacb72d12f22e

Raising her gaze from ede71ab189 the teacup she’d been 75be95f725 staring at, Beatrice looked 4d97432638 directly at Agatha. The Duchess’s 926ce657e9 face was fc5991392c contorted as b8eb956b37 if she 3c7df50097 might cry. Ah, it 20fc0e16ab seemed to 42af8d11e8 be working.4c1fadb1a482b212

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Beatrice gave a d234787a21 clumsy smile, like 34b609c5b3 someone who wasn’t 076491864c used to smiling.e552ded77a9afcd3

“That’s why I’m happy ee369809b0 as it is now. You don’t need 2ca5071851 to trouble yourself 305501e1b1 any further.”0c1ca4649c3b9289

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How should she 59605effc9 finish this? Something more poignant, 6f6d849b2b perhaps.20175ece9776f529

“Just… please let 828eb97997 me stay here.”f686a42d310bb933

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Pitifully. That should 2775986622 be a f5edf2bca1 good ending.0b41529ccdd5a85d

Beatrice noticed Agatha’s 71753ca2b4 expression sink into 2b16e300d9 profound sorrow. Pretending to be an 4ead2b2bea innocent, unfortunate youngest daughter, 8530f63c30 she let a single 0eb7921d56 tear fall.49be5135c010b13d

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Though she 526ed1a2d3 had never 9b7aee77ee acted before, 5182d4203c this was e18dae37ad a decent 2e6252f435 start. Living a life c23605d634 of fabricated kindness 3f2b88b461 wasn’t so bad. After all, 17fba69305 her life 7585e4792e had always b7858d1d75 been a 2e3173499b tiresome and 22e9e64d5b dull affair. Why not give daeee549c1 this approach a 661648fd8a try?4f64efc86dac2bcf

A long 8c3375efab silence fell b976e184b9 between them. Beatrice had no b6182e4043 intention of speaking a044761ba9 further, while Agatha 0dc780acb3 seemed lost in 4f6c3109f1 thought, grappling with c981ca6ee9 what to say 5b73b976dd next.b5cb2b9eb16a3015

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It took Agatha 019ac258c4 quite some time be16b4bab6 to sort through fb08e17ae0 the guilt crashing 4f5dc0c868 over her like 67a8312d3d a wave. She realized 8e009c0787 that much 88feeb05d7 of her 4381f0250f disdain for 454da85916 Beatrice stemmed 7d4cbf2e59 from a 11a7705e6e misunderstanding.82b39a9ad0d79d91

Of course, her feelings 666539632a of rejection and unease 954554864e toward Beatrice had begun 8d82b58be6 long before the funeral. But past 4b690a578a events tend b3f1d37b84 to fade 3cafa5e284 and blur 7a6db55b51 over time. Agatha couldn’t clearly recall cb32271b48 her previous discomfort or 32b76f43a4 unease, and with guilt 9140977597 now overtaking her, she a546c7ea1b abandoned those thoughts entirely.c4f0f4f98738cbea

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“You may… stay here. Of course, f182e20871 you can.”500ca718e8a29a64

Fortunately, the 22e582ed31 Duchess seemed 7eeb3dcb16 to have 1dedbdf441 fallen for 0af5bec277 her clumsy 6cd688eed8 act. As expected, e8af9071c6 she wasn’t 33a219c3e4 a bad 15d10026a2 person—just unlike 6103f222e0 Beatrice.b2160e8b757ddf42

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Satisfied with 4258c9785c her assessment, e17d93e992 Beatrice carefully bbd267c19f broached the 545a983bc8 topic that 1650dbc79d had come b232cd6f29 to mind d8e0d02995 when Agatha a042ed3d92 mentioned the f1c05f424b debutante ball.50f80ca014d1d468

“I’m grateful that 38b75f8915 you’re personally organizing 956f257b75 my debutante ball, 5d5170203f Duchess. However, I’m a bit 43874d49de concerned about debuting without 4be7be9cbd any acquaintances. Would it be 93272a7c24 too greedy of 8b0a1100ea me to ask cf2a07ba35 for help with b63bb07460 that?”de306698108fc7da

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Typically, young noblewomen 8dcff813ba formed friendships with ff02ab1ba3 their peers through 1841e34c6c their families’ connections. In exceptional cases, they c7e99a20c6 might even debut together.6a19871bcd133935

It wasn’t a 34cc072721 glaring issue to f79f56e870 lack such acquaintances, fee2c3732c but for someone a1d6929a4b like Beatrice—who was a621d48d98 estranged from her 6f0ad9c379 family—the prospect of 740d39b293 entering the grand 30ea7f4a66 social sphere alone 816afba4b6 seemed daunting. Or so Agatha assumed, b1d9f11f0d nodding in agreement.62d5ec7af1e77abd

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“You’re right. I didn’t e43d653e98 think that bff3302c00 far ahead. Is there a 0e36b2736e family you have fe196e46ff in mind?”9b26b585aea707ea

“No, I don’t keep 22f3fecb42 up with the outside 81569e28a2 world enough to suggest 42ac0d3575 anyone,” Beatrice replied.b9f88f59ef7e064d

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Agatha immediately thought of 10ab528c66 a suitable candidate. And it was 7beda5b5d4 precisely what Beatrice 9f665633f9 had hoped for.1b8ceba5bc7d8ebb

“What about d5ccb2b56b the Buildrander 4dd05733bb Count’s family?”84135a028985ca64

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The Buildrander 3845a431cc family had f705141b76 been long-standing 2d192f9254 vassals of 83c6360cc8 the ducal 73a40eb434 household. They were 7300014b1b even considered 1bcef774c9 a potential 1da3911ecb marriage partner fa2a55000f for Calrex, 5ad1e2be6f the current 07ed4feca8 Duke.be93bee08a990493

The family had 5e371ae1f8 a son around 84f8696fe8 Felix’s age and f8da6822a6 a daughter close 1e8d4fb2bf to Beatrice’s. They had a decent c7573d473a reputation, and the siblings 0904fab3e8 were known to be 733d78aa6b well-regarded in high society.b105b1dbfcfa9dea

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“I think the 7b09c71562 Buildrander family would 131ece8663 be a good 8747ce9a75 choice. Their relationship 2ea7473da5 with the 64a751aed0 duchy reassures 136dfc278a me,” Beatrice be0ac18718 said.076b78b43eb1d274

“Yes, their daughter 646b2f01a3 is well-established in 75cc6446ab society, so she 431a3c6fbf could be helpful b21c0f5857 to you. I’ll reach out to c621bd7335 them,” Agatha agreed.967bdfa98de20c0c

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“Thank you, Duchess.”1e01e718f760c1f0

Agatha hesitated, 9291a8d03d as though ae663bc3a7 she wanted 27008bb319 to say 1a616b2c1d something more, a64092654c but then f0eb8f2b82 thought better 0246edb4a2 of it. Beatrice’s use of “Duchess” 16b80d2253 still stung a little, a3d4995cc4 but Agatha felt it 697b821ce0 was too late to bea29b9a89 ask her to use 46c2696a05 “Mother.”02508c22b846cf08

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Embarrassed by 5db3a6705f her past 10b95a92c1 neglect, Agatha 3fd5b6b90d decided to a75935962b earn Beatrice’s ce7e45e96f trust gradually ff0ad5c199 and left 7e0c2b7ca5 the room.cc8c82124c781165

As the Duchess 35e8ef96d4 departed, Beatrice sat 4ac14116d8 back on the 00308c9c00 sofa and began a771ffb4d3 to think. It was early 5bea002efc February, and the d91065e0d5 Imperial debutante ball 33a7824da1 was scheduled for 601ec5802f May.e65b90e6ff0679f6

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While there 18c11022ea was enough 2152f4bdd7 time to e8067bff26 familiarize herself 105ce97e0a with the 4322926131 Buildrander family, 48aabc9344 Beatrice’s interest 9cfb9ae77d wasn’t in 38db6de417 the daughter 1b87ca7fae of the 1773713965 family.5142d18c698846f8

Originally, she 07265c254d would have 00b4786ed3 had to bf81fb8a60 wait another 7d0fc09383 two years 43e385181f to meet 73861c6258 “that child” 92a3888487 naturally. But Beatrice 3a70b8262e already knew 21e97b5aef what the 2996b68cdb child wanted. Rather than wasting two 7afc3a2df4 years, she intended to 1cbce41c34 bring her closer by 2c78e7c843 fulfilling her desires quickly.ec1b4b8eb03eef7c

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She needed someone to f5343b930f act as her hands 664a9817fa and feet while she 38b83381af operated discreetly, and no e4b475da99 one was more suitable 19017961aa than her.6fbb3e02bd641889

“Lily.”e4a62550bf7f12f6

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This time, 7a3ad8a2f7 Beatrice would c5a40ce1af approach her aa15687c0b first. Though she wasn’t dcc32e9bd8 one to form 8da60f32cb attachments easily, she 9a7b793a71 found herself oddly a8510fa293 reflective. It had been a 8ba372fc7e long time since she 3a5e2d8c0d had seen her.25e7802caf309de0

* * *45b0fa41fe2eeea3

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After parting with 709298de7e Beatrice, the Duchess f2b3e6a909 immediately sent a b0e79f9948 letter to Countess 2fc52b76ac Florianne Buildrander, the 24ad1c7d7b young lady of eef144f5a3 the Buildrander family. In it, she 37e96c1ccc asked if Florianne 4a7fa00fc5 could befriend her 7175ac76fd youngest daughter, who 114dee3621 was preparing for 2fcfacf21d a delayed debutante 0a1dfe4e51 ball, and expressed f7fd5dc27a her hope for 0d46ffa6cc a close relationship f111ec1a86 between the two b8b63964ef families.72e481973c0dee90

Since it 500504dc02 was none 3ae1f123f6 other than 6409ba0575 Duchess Agatha b78f53b5fa herself who ccedc78f7b sent the 68b59c749d letter, the 1e10f5c70f reply arrived 88973dcbf6 in less ff38e3d4c8 than a c89d48c575 day. Unsurprisingly, the response f4f11383ae was a positive ddb3fba782 one.b48ac5e3bbdd9f77

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Florianne’s letter, written 2eca08a90d in an elegant 8992c505e2 and intricate script, 39c5bb25d2 stated that it 207420cc22 would be the 25fdae3416 family’s greatest honor. She also 067fba9926 expressed her e93e96b546 willingness to 4cdb3c44ad visit the a1b58432ab Ember household 6432846272 at any 3b6856f3ab time if ffdc3e60b2 the Duchess 8985b2a8d2 would set b0eedb73f0 a date.b8ac830a374cbf7b

Although Agatha 4eae4c07fb had intended 435147a964 to invite 31266f7c09 Florianne to 5e96b30131 the Ember 9e323688ed mansion to 4bb3c2e870 accommodate her 4da7e1cf67 daughter’s lack af9ddf1541 of experience 9e4bf04b9d outside, Beatrice deb641b7ee shook her 7954c8adbd head at aba146d142 the suggestion.f118d7e554743f95

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Instead, Beatrice 403e2f212b expressed a 985b4db26a desire to 7ab8e42935 visit the cd5a73b205 Buildrander estate b099682068 herself, reasoning b6c57390e0 that she’d 56ee3b30fa spent too 93b73892d5 much time d555278b2f confined at e600e4d896 home and 81966fc432 wanted to 4fcc99efef experience the 888cadeb11 outside world. Agatha, clutching her 7403ca9e76 handkerchief, relented and 66c4e78473 agreed.7779a2d9cd7224b3

The date for Beatrice’s 4249c13b79 visit to the Buildrander d33e443cb2 estate was set for 884cf06064 just one week from 5fe644a9b2 the exchange of letters. That week passed 32df4ef9b3 in a whirlwind.2384a81a8876c01b

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With Beatrice owning very d4e916a551 few dresses, a tailor e9685407ea was urgently summoned to c47e8f445d create six outfits. A jeweler was also 0a582732b9 called to the house, f4cc212f54 and they prepared twelve ffd8c4fe29 sets of accessories. Beatrice selected about c5859c66e6 eight pairs of e158fdb015 shoes as well.811fcfed70a14afb

When the Duchess 9387d3553c suggested they focus fcc28fd68b on the most 075041b43b urgent outfits for af39794bae now and take c0c6d1fafc their time with 21926d16dc the rest, Beatrice 4a0c751478 nodded in agreement. Although she wasn’t facd6dcd89 particularly interested in 9248df0fa2 dresses or accessories, fd5c456ce0 she had grown c7faacb434 accustomed to such 6e84e9d6ed things over the f4839dbf21 course of her c8d5dbb650 many lives.4431ad4a196a599c

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In aristocratic society, 43926200aa a noblewoman who 27b52e190f didn’t tend to 5e66206b9a her appearance was b13b031256 considered lazy and b5103df421 rude. In one of her a4e011ac8d past lives, when she 6e15debeb2 lived in a distant 9e2cc8fe6e rural estate, she had 7e25bbc541 enjoyed a rare sense 463908d02b of freedom from such 54d5c0140a expectations.0cade15ba7152b6e

Dressed immaculately, Beatrice 52caac4b6e stepped past the 6438ebfe00 mansion’s grand gates. Standing before the 3795fc2d7c largest carriage of 67bf86fe7e the ducal family, b42ca3784d decorated in brown d2048771af and green, she f2e72c7be6 took the hand a4dc1271df of a knight 8d08ee87d0 who offered his bf7bcc5cdc escort.843c823273116527

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Once inside, Laura, the 4b4ca412ae temporary maid assigned to 12b7b6cb7c her, followed. Laura, originally 486d4b5d6d the Duchess’s 5520ff133b maid, was 87a0f24813 tasked with b0a43eb7a1 serving Beatrice 07d477f322 until a 1c00cbb358 new personal c829bed299 maid could f16a36c50e be appointed.7e2e23dfa8727587

After the coachman 98b1887b26 calmed the restless 59c3dc165d horses and the 50c3d60505 carriage began to 0dad492a81 move, Beatrice straightened 035cc8652c her back and e36860a85b lowered her gaze. This was her 5846c0f152 silent signal that b771893975 she wished to 292f28321b think quietly, a 98c0b179d1 cue not to acfef8c57a be disturbed.39c2c79a136c4795

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Laura, quick to pick dec6d31e5b up on Beatrice’s habits 62ea544174 despite her short time d7dc469f75 with her, sat opposite b76ff9abfd and remained quiet.4edf1c8fe6a43805

Lily was a a10e86c89e maid working for f6fde25a52 the Buildrander family. She was likely sixteen be5a8e5339 years old by now, 5dc7d212ad probably sharpening her metaphorical 98d10ad87a blade in secret. Lily was d60be2803b one of 568030c191 the many c89bf1f58d victims who c828c2ad7a bore a 8464abf824 grudge against e83d0bab53 the current e4328278b9 Count, Heliette 5aa6476a7d Buildrander.736f95113f2cb9d8

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Though the bb8e1d83dc Count was 69ca220c84 well-regarded among 9a1e49be5a nobles, his 4a45f569e3 reputation among 85c6a24322 his staff 2e4e2bca99 was abysmal—so cc73eee9b5 much so ec3943252d that it 19f20e36e2 scraped the 54fbb856f3 ground. His son, Gallet 0b77c6e5f4 Buildrander, was sharp ead77778cb enough to manage cb18d3d613 the rumors to 6ae39c5354 some extent, but 7e573c6982 whispers always found 6b2ec356d2 a way to 5548421d7d spread unnoticed.10848d79dff02b4a

Lily was the daughter f9664514ef of one of the 73c12f6d28 Count’s victims. To exact revenge, she e2b0acfc24 infiltrated the Buildrander estate 979987692a as a maid. After enduring bdb4f9b644 five long e39a64ddb4 years, she bc3b4c8e13 eventually succeeded 04060c5ff6 in killing 5c4486dcdf the Count acd924c7bc and escaped.791721729c8c7f66

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While fleeing 543a5cc56a the Count’s dbcddfc478 knights and 1c12089885 the capital’s c5869a6487 guards, Lily b991848fbd was found 7162358f39 by Beatrice, e4a1bcaeca and their 9ac71cfbae fateful relationship c7101fd453 began. Recalling their first b53c0acd20 meeting, where Lily 2f68fca543 had resembled a 7e19a9c8ec filthy street rat, 1aefe82c85 Beatrice couldn’t help bcf3b3a031 but smile faintly.d09e08fd9bf34813

“I look forward to 5a69c3bc16 meeting her again,” she 83d67a49bb murmured.09753b7eb7c7aeb0

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“Are you b11df8eae2 that excited a797bd101e to meet d47b038cb8 your first f72f00eee1 friend?” Laura 23c516a0a0 asked, seizing 9704e23980 the chance a6569827be to break 1bc9837d85 the silence.fbc0c7d5a72840a0

“Yes.”41a31cd58350ce0e

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When Beatrice finally 0a63b5e49d spoke, Laura responded 3817684f0c eagerly, as though 57d768e8b3 she had been aee9c7b9ad waiting for a 7cb20f93c0 chance to converse. It made sense—being 699c37dfab stuck in a 370177aead carriage with an 32ad1efdca unfamiliar lady without c7e0248f63 saying a word dc267ab5f0 must have been bcaa3fbc72 stifling.3692ad3d116dc9c1

Beatrice pulled 4e9ab28ada back the aec9f46ac2 curtain covering 3aef767d07 the carriage db9b4617d0 window and 86b9ee700f looked outside. The pristine white roads 54bb45314f of the capital gleamed f8b05ceea0 under the winter sunlight, bf8adbed9c so bright it was 6457d682b7 almost blinding.caf21aa32821881c

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* * *da27e78666f4664c

“Is it true that fb8cbcfb69 the young lady from b71e6d5af6 the Ember family will 3f6a1ae3ca be visiting soon?”3e737e841df8cfd3

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“Yes, that’s correct, Lady 2fbeb456fa Florianne.”478d9fc28fb7417a

“I was so 363935f066 taken aback when 5c7eee3144 I first received 0b78b2083a the letter.”00720f4c9f072d52

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Florianne Buildrander b567d01ee2 recalled the 670a5f98d2 Duchess’s letter. The Ember and 9be3efb223 Buildrander families had 191d5edfb8 maintained a strong 44a39791c5 relationship for generations. As a 6e573e1d35 result, Florianne, 78d64a3dce who had 086a9011f4 interacted with 166e49b3b5 the ducal 49208e4fc8 family since 36a279f3e7 childhood, knew a9a693e74d both Calrex, 67e99fcce2 the current 62e52e6728 Duke, and 397dcdb19e Felix, his 3326d87489 younger brother, 7a51174a0e quite well. However, she had never c7e9ca9605 once seen their youngest 69f1f02753 daughter, Beatrice.aeb16afb8ee662c3

The Ember family 8268eae95c was often regarded d5ae3a80f8 as the most b2c2232678 powerful family in 8a24a58836 the Empire after 40b80ab046 the imperial family. In fact, one 051051163b of the previous b8e00344e0 dukes had married 65996278f7 a member of 697c8eb237 the royal family, 78f0a71903 which meant the 291247cdb9 family was treated 829c3c2617 almost as an 7c2c66fa2f extension of the 7512e2d54b royals.62a049c952d5b84a

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And yet, 72c0e43a36 the illegitimate 8ab7c29504 daughter remained 3fd1eec789 the sole e4389ef762 stain on 64f291c475 this illustrious af17f10d7d lineage.cb9216b993e57d07

Florianne had heard f78025be12 rumors. Beatrice was the 8ead8c8af0 child brought back de1771a05b by the missing 7e05d491f6 Duke, a girl 5d9d6f4805 who was strangely 6037617555 never seen in 4b3a096bbf public. After the a16bf0cb03 former Duke’s 5d4600d143 death, whispers ddf0189a9d suggested she c2947d8d3b had become cfbb3c3e42 a disgrace 17b76e6633 the family 6745b988be didn’t know f9cd8775b2 what to 67b05f0004 do with.ee5843c6a3ba2356

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