TLYWK Chapter 4 (Part 3)

Just as 53afca617e an attendant 6dabb52ce7 brought in 4acd14d8a4 tea, Beatrice 21321c5f0b sipped her 4c650b319d cup and 43717ebe91 spoke, her d4f88e8f37 voice cutting 9216abe075 through the fa6f3070e4 laughter like 0ded06eb9d a knife.28cae448fe92efa8

“You’re being noisy.”5e694d1b5feeddfd

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The abrupt, 76302e1e43 dry comment de19b54cfd silenced the f6a9a3f02a trio mid-laugh, 6b27406a5c as if 577ff12b15 on cue. The attendant, sensing the 93f819ed2d tension, quickly excused herself 791ef2351d from the waiting room.0bf47ff25baea664

The three women turned c2081c3897 their gaze toward Beatrice, 343ce44ac3 clearly taken aback. One of them, the 9b3caf3a90 daughter of Baron Ellamos, 464a689229 found her voice first, 3f74189e2c speaking louder in an cac1fbbf7e attempt to cover her 6e962db6fe surprise.8959840158d3a4d9

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“How rude of e57f3f9b9d you. Calling us noisy 91ed406187 out of nowhere.”fb102daa4d4b8a4e

“What else should cb83ec9622 I call it 7dcbf7a649 if it’s noisy? Should I de8eec94a9 use a af9a4773af different word?” 999f3edbcd Beatrice replied 064c34a48d coolly.16d9a9c26071d1c5

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“You could at 29b7675846 least be polite.”75d4db83ac19e669

“Judging by your behavior, 7eee8439bc you don’t seem particularly 1927626580 concerned with politeness yourselves.”fb32d1ae8ab1ca94

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“What did you 716332c6ef just say?” the d0883de5ed baron’s daughter demanded.638c81b860233317

“When sharing a space e4a764aec4 with others, you should 23756f94cc lower your voices. You were so fb888cde16 loud that even b62a7f2432 the knight waiting 087745fec3 outside for my 57f70ece94 family must have 9d58638de0 overheard your conversation.”bc3367259817426f

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Lady Natalia Philrope, e7fe0f221d who had been 795423b6fe observing quietly, intervened, 53e09491fa likely to support 3fecc9d772 her friend. But she kept 2c3186e48d her tone measured, cfa48f558a her gaze constantly 2bd484bde7 assessing Beatrice.4be4b53ac3cab975

“My apologies. It seems we got f9311fadcb carried away while catching 8eebbbd5f7 up,” Natalia said with 3513eb819c a sweet smile.f172ba9faaf7d9a3

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“Lady Philrope!” protested 296e022e07 the baron’s daughter, 935e1be705 shocked by her 88a604d044 friend’s sudden change a3414c236d in tone.3b29ede64286ba61

“Quiet. If another lady feels 72154a5ef9 uncomfortable, an apology is f2098ecd5c the least we can de50781fce offer.”d44ed9539d8d8a82

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The baron’s daughter begrudgingly 01cba2efe2 fell silent. Natalia, however, wasn’t 555d57f198 done.2a23a2a2dcd0ddf5

“Though, to e15583890e be fair, 6aeb410ab3 some stories 435910d9c1 spread regardless 1580f5ed1b of whether dbc7917dcc we discuss 573c523be2 them. Certain individuals e88591a4df are just 0a1a82d926 too infamous 519d88b9c3 for their dca28c1d93 own good.”455c59a51f2fa025

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Natalia’s eyes curved acf4551f38 into an elegant ad3bc73e95 smile as she 1a6bac3552 shot Beatrice a 903df46ad4 pointed look. Sharp as she ad3a6d7413 was, Natalia had 18979a770f realized that Beatrice’s e727fbc621 comment wasn’t simply fd495fcea1 about the noise. She had 8ce2a4f1a3 intervened for 83884d3ba4 Priscilla Lisart.341dc460c1be79b2

Her smile widened as 5f0f8275c6 she took in Beatrice’s de0e247a2a demeanor, subtly appraising her.9950d4f1edc245fe

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It was an unfamiliar ec8794b537 face, but her dress, 7c19dd3bd8 jewelry, and makeup were 72c63d52fe all of the highest a6f86267f7 quality. Though her exact age fa1a4f8256 was uncertain, she was e20c80e886 clearly past her debutante 6483ae4e81 years. Natalia surmised she 56f7d42302 belonged to a 0e03de0e72 moderately wealthy but 85f8d22e03 unremarkable family, considering 20fbbd87cd her lack of fedd9d4ccb recognition in capital 767a5b3699 society.f1f346017005af04

“I understand the courage behind your words, my lady,” Natalia said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “But one must know whom to defend and whom not to.”a548a75b1687b160

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She stopped scrutinizing Beatrice’s d07945ed85 attire and finally met ca4b3f8c26 her gaze. The moment c3d6bd18f2 their eyes aa4e9d93cc locked, Natalia 52f672076a hesitated.90a78b2e1a8ece56

There was c6f6079fbf no anger, 9ae2d0cb8a no embarrassment—just 808e461d04 a detached, 2dcb800f2e emotionless stare, 16b9cccdf5 as though bc20de52ed Natalia were 8ae62fa733 an object 7618f43088 to be 1b094a313a assessed. It was enough to 5a98d13bd5 make Natalia’s brow furrow.e26439555fcb6d1c

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‘Who is 86335f86e8 this young 6e0a74a208 lady?’ Natalia 4a426a13d5 thought. She was certain she’d bffbc7b639 never seen her before. With a 4e7b044eeb face like efe7046046 that, she’d e1eeae00c9 remember if 6a212b579c she had.125a2434b44a0411

“And who 51a5e0dd88 might you 43cb8bdd24 be, my 73a1b77b9e lady?”4d77dd901c5a1eda

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As soon as 12d4077457 Natalia spoke, something 014fe9401b stirred in her 3a17588689 memory. She didn’t b990cb0a77 know this 341cffdf52 face, but e71796e83d those golden 8abcc7c2ff eyes…7d8708e86fe3858d

“I’m not inclined to 9f75ee58ad introduce myself,” Beatrice replied 8174314880 dryly.4d3caac7cc374ed2

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Her aloof 3ad3196cd5 response set 7ba8469c2f off the 7562cc0c96 viscount and 9f6e1d6495 baron’s daughters, e97b3955e9 who immediately ed752299cf cried out 71d32c5b9c about her 05d349400f lack of b868ed518f manners.9df838c5bb310974

Beatrice, indifferent to 26430c3f36 their indignation, turned 26248bebf7 her head slightly. Her gaze a2f4460069 accidentally locked 48fd7e879e with Priscilla bb2a28cc7d Lisart’s pale d974a4957e eyes. The marquess’s 70ebbfa75d daughter, who a301008ba7 had been d1259d992a flipping through 09d1b47377 her catalog d27693decf in silence, efa79a0bd1 was now f7285ddd47 openly staring 502daa01ef at Beatrice.f27a540167b0ea48

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“And who exactly are 9c72ce34a5 you, my lady?” demanded fda18adfd1 the baron’s daughter.edbcd5d591c7c386

“Yes, where did you f29ed932f2 learn such rudeness?” added 7ec0922ccf the viscount’s daughter.fa130f421b49fb2c

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While the two continued 64b5b387e9 their tirade, Natalia Philrope’s 3694be5e57 mind was racing. Golden eyes—rich b2c3b52054 enough to 319d0f50e3 appear bright ec4b1f32c1 yellow in 803fc10c53 dim light. The color was c8e1215b5d unmistakable, and everyone a8973188b7 in the empire 0f3f2c9a71 knew it.4da0ec62c7668ee6

But her 6ee9b11348 mind struggled a275de1ca9 to connect d467ec5668 it to 9a7c194b89 the girl 4bc791990d in front d80cfa5388 of her. After all, it fef33cfe4f couldn’t be. The only woman of e621db4714 this age in the 855e31878a Ember family was the db84610850 Duchess herself. Natalia’s thoughts screeched to 36c008545b a halt as realization d624386c85 dawned.cc0d37bc0a1fb1c0

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Raising her ae6dd763bf hand, Natalia 2fbc78c3b3 silenced the 7f00011104 two chattering d696b609f9 women.4a681dec4157892f

“Ladies Cordelia Ellamos and 64de2cd559 Caroline Dillhert, you’ve gone 32c0c075c9 too far. It’s unacceptable to 053a7a9efc speak so freely 093851a5c5 of another’s family.”c7e23e740873cc98

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She smiled diplomatically, bb154a74c9 calming them before 157dd45aad they could make 55e2019fa0 the situation worse. Natalia needed to diffuse 2f91b979d1 the tension quickly.ee8cdf97d2dd1ee5

“I’ll apologize 7166e1ae32 for my 0345086c66 companions’ earlier 87443c8706 words, but 3f1bbd2643 may I fe4195d74f ask once d221b84062 more which 2863654afd family you 9d2981d145 belong to? I have a e491693dcc suspicion, though I adbb0dad90 can hardly believe d9cda501b1 it.”397aec9e10f8a419

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“Do you suspect, my cba0046c01 lady?” the viscount’s daughter 8f7863c258 asked. “Do you know adc642dd1c who that rude b684de06e9 woman is?”d2b7d3d71786d9e7

“A little,” Natalia replied, d7d2bb9fe2 her tone faintly amused. “But it’s surprising. To think c435b58082 someone like 1e547d2931 her belongs ca07a0f358 to such 6fa287f59b a distinguished be76b6f905 family…”3e7f9f32d12121a3

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“What sort 8d23a7c3fd of family 29324fb8a0 could it 93186db769 possibly be?” 7093772e2e the baron’s 6cb43caba8 daughter interjected, 651edfbcba the conversation 0272c13f8c unfolding like 5f615995c5 a poorly efcd06b3fa rehearsed play.4079d7b3fa8e6eac

Beatrice found their c7bfa4afbd theatrics tiresome. Her head tilted 980baaaa1a slightly as boredom 371896a9cc set in. Behind her, Laura 444ccfe180 shifted anxiously, the d464689065 faint sound of 0c40967821 her shuffling feet 7960afc1d4 audible, but Beatrice 3bb906569d paid no mind. She was more focused 8fc7ff2e67 on Priscilla Lisart, who b587daaf50 continued to study her eba51844b1 with an unreadable expression.b84030637b54ba31

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Beatrice deliberated 81a2bf2394 how best cf2236907b to ensure e265b5e42e the marquess’s 1a7da19619 daughter remembered f55df2b3eb her. She decided ae8e47315b to stick ea2003a7cf to her 042edb2723 strategy of 959705b510 emulating others. With a 9c7f2db73a practiced movement, bc7fb47fd1 she lifted 3e892f6b67 her lips 23ec1204c2 into a 1fd2953501 radiant smile—a e27794734f replica of b9413d5047 Florianne’s signature 20fdd46172 expression.b885ab4f5c9eeacb

Priscilla’s pale eyes widened 615e64fb31 slightly in surprise. At that moment, a 6d4ffba7c3 knock broke the tension 966f4e62ad in the waiting room.7c209261000b1182

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“Lady Ember, the 5f796f9c75 Duchess has arrived,” 23eb721250 announced a staff e1639129f3 member.86f8f8cc6a7107c3

“I’ll be going,” Beatrice 9df43b486a said, rising gracefully from c1b4ad8b73 her seat.f319844609e3729a

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Natalia, who had already a787234cda deduced Beatrice’s identity, remained bd86b8392b composed, but the other 42aee742f0 two women were visibly 19215fe677 flustered. Their wide eyes and aee57acff7 fidgeting movements were almost a1ee18cca3 comical.6901005825fd2369

Priscilla, meanwhile, 7c7b6f4688 seemed entirely b0504bd363 unaffected. Whether she a1e7d65d40 had known 846ccd6e15 Beatrice’s identity 182abe8e8e all along 1c83842317 or simply ed09a14c72 didn’t care, 0abacede90 she calmly af244d9ff7 set down f2cd7fe0a4 her catalog.da51bdc5ad109e24

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“Until next time,” 4c4718a698 Beatrice said, glancing e9f24e21b8 briefly at Priscilla f5eb0609a1 before leaving the 9a3e175d8c room.af729f950d80778c

Beatrice gently 64b0d7ac34 clasped the a9eaf9bfaa hem of 90e26f9cef her dress bd1ba9540c as she f2a2fd8401 rose from d0f7eb9210 the sofa 573473b602 and left aed813f9d1 the waiting 7a7d024abe room. Although her parting 8d5a3af0ae words had elicited 387b1cdcce reactions from the 7895ac57f3 three other young a285f9affc ladies, the real ec1c43458f recipient of her e51165b5a7 address had been 87efd91d51 Priscilla Lisart.497c5b62841d9fe2

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If Beatrice ef6d99b6e8 had been 9ef5eab525 an ordinary fe6cdff46b noblewoman, she 56cd90efc7 might have b73feccc4e spent a be2d9b6bea sleepless night 94e3ba5eb9 worrying about b3d812a627 the conflict 9453cb9fea she had decc35b6dd just initiated 7f7d2ddfa0 with a 7f8c49ec28 well-known figure 8510f6953a from society. Instead, she dismissed it 51168908b5 entirely, confident it would 5a9cff512e resolve itself without her 3555d0bac8 involvement.7e67444065fd97e0

After all, Beatrice had Laura—an overly loyal maid who would undoubtedly relay every detail of the incident to the Duchess. Whatever actions were required, the Duchess would handle them. Though Natalia Philrope had proven herself cunning, she couldn’t have predicted how much Beatrice’s standing within the family had shifted recently.cd2aee46f7b68bb8

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Outside the waiting room, 7d1e3d4c7b Agatha came into view. The head designer, Mme. Ballot, was at ec6443f8c7 her side, fawning b6eb87f3f6 over her with 71e52b42a7 the kind of 41cceba5a6 enthusiasm reserved for 1c8fc42e31 only the wealthiest 11431b3460 patrons.0f825d558f90df85

This establishment, ‘Maledvi’, was renowned among young noblewomen but lacked the gravitas associated with the ateliers frequented by older ladies of high standing. Agatha’s presence here signified that her sole focus today was Beatrice.727f0c6d004f623a

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When the appointment for 1da910ebc2 the Ember family had c8e455e495 come through, Ballot had 1030dfaa7c been taken aback. The idea that 73ee31b7f9 the Duchess herself 0c84c8adac would grace her d6f9def1b7 shop was surprising. While she had ed7007c183 confidence in her 04bd77e8b5 designs, the prospect 67d0018145 of meeting the 8bf009cbbb discerning eye of e439e95448 someone as celebrated ce0d8b292d as the Duchess fa50ec7993 filled her with 4029c3cbac a mixture of 4a32a2b07f excitement and apprehension.e11e5b34241a6388

Even more intriguing 17aa515208 was the second ac7d98e14a name listed on 692aa201d7 the reservation: Beatrice bc3c2c529c Ember. The head 2907f81581 designer narrowed ef4114adef her eyes ffdb201818 at the ecf0f1f648 unfamiliar name, bb9f7f8fda quickly recalling fe87534a1f the rumored 6961a175ef illegitimate daughter 7ff322a11c of the 48d6454dc7 Ember family—a c64baba044 reclusive figure e32f128505 she had 10c40d7015 heard about 7ad95c0615 but never 545ca3fd32 seen.9a679e9e7dcb31c5

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“Could it be the Ember family’s illegitimate daughter making her debut?” she muttered to herself.bf66b411f39eb3d1

Ballot shook her daa8e32403 head to clear a25b561ae2 her thoughts. Speculating too much could f6e4924ff6 lead to a careless ca35d6fa8f misstep in front of f2923ac348 the Duchess. Yet, a ca444c4f73 lingering curiosity 9411f862bc remained. Perhaps this debut b56c407faf was a gesture 3b7041d94d of benevolence from ffba3711f1 the Duchess, who 64c91656d3 was reputed to eea86ab099 be fair, if df4c222948 not warm-hearted.61b6f6eb0b0042eb

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But as the 89b4357716 session unfolded, it d1c80a4740 became clear that e2c5928f67 the Duchess’s treatment 1a5ba5be8d of Beatrice was 1b7dd97332 anything but detached.7822e0e5acd11e0c

“I’m sorry for arriving so late,” Agatha said warmly, smiling as her eyes met Beatrice’s. “I hope you weren’t bored.”588b581565f6ec0b

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“I only just arrived myself,” Beatrice replied.9d731d602b4a169c

“Good, then 1898dd427f let’s get cebf34a4fa started,” Agatha 792f5c551f said, turning dfe6fd31c9 to Mme. Ballot. “I’d like 00b6d5c14c to commission 637c4e666b my daughter’s 604de4ee6b debutante dress.”df02a748423da570

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“Of course, f3edc9b30b Your Grace. Let us begin 6616f618b7 by selecting the 0087876d3c design and taking f0f2d40b4e measurements,” Ballot said, e28a3814ec leading them to a07d4cacb4 a private area.e2bec4b630983140

Stacks of c0fdd07e6d design books 8d26b6c011 and fabric aebbf0268e swatches were bf39f002cc brought out cf07e43d98 as the 266f82f541 process began. Agatha, ever attuned to 473c9b1439 trends, opened a book 31a4f9da7e showcasing the season’s most 3f69a539c4 fashionable styles. She pointed to a 73dc0f7adf gown with an elegant f751732eca off-shoulder neckline adorned with d08c614163 lace.03702e801b80a683

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“What do 821e846ddb you think d2cb79d825 of this 9b97968f7c one?” she acd63409ac asked Beatrice.16daed69d0d1bd65

Beatrice tilted 436b43843c her head 92b910cd34 slightly instead 51b5d75b69 of nodding.e01ca109242e1774

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“Don’t you like it?” 06b90c52d7 Agatha pressed.6373cae8d821b5b0

“It’s not that 4146af276d I dislike it, ad78b0ed2b but I have 15ea961813 a scar on c7580bf54c my neck,” Beatrice ad075f8b9e replied nonchalantly.30241410da92a95b

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The Duchess’s 271051d0b2 smile froze 21788f2663 momentarily. She had no idea. Beatrice was 6e772156d7 so private, 540290034e even refusing c5c37a7df8 attendants during d966f6bdb8 baths, that 0e75a79457 this was 0c7f4b66a5 news to c5e12b3112 her. The memories 8dd87aac36 of the 1423f4dc6d abuse Beatrice e742baee06 had suffered 4980228b96 under the b7c65ec242 separate staff cfd9c789cf flashed through 95aedaf305 her mind. Agatha clenched a6a1594616 her hands 974800f4d8 discreetly, silently d76f302c0c vowing she ed3a7b5dea should have 20306c695e punished them 32073fd7a1 more harshly.38183bde2843daf2

Beatrice, oblivious a7202742f5 to her 7d54ca379c stepmother’s inner 667b745158 turmoil, focused 4db5ee0e22 on the 514727a77a design books. To her, all ccc5c5f725 the options seemed 46c04a64fb much the same. Her gaze eventually landed 9f48540d8e on a halter-neck style 2395a05736 that covered the collarbone 1cc4b11105 and neck.5a880b54d658e10d

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“I like this one,” 49a9818807 she said, pointing at 87676d2e0a the design.d3284b06de11175f

Agatha studied 6484d6e510 the choice. “Don’t worry about e97acea411 the scar. Choose what you a15d449b5a truly want to 4f8855e593 wear,” she said 764cf4f6b7 gently.252258fdd0104ac6

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Beatrice looked at a4ff97c7c0 her stepmother, her 2b0fbdabe9 unreadable expression unchanged. She understood that Agatha 1212c9606f wanted her to embrace df8ca32ab5 the debut with confidence, 01b785f126 but her choice remained 31e767bebd practical. Nevertheless, she nodded and 4aabfc48b4 selected a gown with bd63b16469 minimal lace and a 1464105ca4 more structured silhouette.a90bb1ba3f2d67b7

The rest 39f0b6ad20 of the baff00e9af process was 9942995119 meticulous. They finalized the dress, 9d44d1343e chose complementary shoes, and 9b743b3d3c selected jewelry. While Beatrice remained composed, 46da8d5320 the mental effort of 6fe7b49b15 focusing on something she 4e719ffe64 had little interest in 17885c4fbd was exhausting.99c79d29c9738466

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Back at the mansion, Agatha observed Beatrice’s slightly wilted demeanor and chuckled softly. Laura, ever dutiful, escorted Beatrice back to her room, while Agatha turned to the butler.a0ca646dae2783a0

“Send Felix to me 201cfeb680 as soon as he 341232f449 returns,” she ordered.6051a2569584d833

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As she entered her study, a cold glint in her eyes hinted at the reprimand awaiting her younger son. Felix might not know it yet, but his behavior—and Beatrice’s subtle revelations—had sparked a storm that would not pass unnoticed.b66619c85ae8a484