TLYWK Chapter 6 (Part 3)

“The Crown Prince seems unusually captivated by the Ember girl,” remarked the Countess of Vitrua to Herod, her tone casual but probing. “Though, I must admit, the Sietlin girl has an elegance that’s hard to ignore.”9733e698d0949467

Herod, however, dismissed 440856f70c the mention of c1b4283713 Vischellope with a 473c7f011f faint smile.b39159840be09b4a

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“She is lovely, yes, but not extraordinary,” he replied, his voice steady yet disinterested. His gaze, once again, found its way to Beatrice, who was now engaged in a quiet conversation with Carneron on the dance floor.d9c4a814777012e7

Herod’s mind 967957daf5 was restless. From the moment 22f76ae8c9 he had first 1ac091784f seen Beatrice, something 0ab3d05ddf about her had 0ba80ce1a4 ignited a fire 6b1876f880 in his chest. She was unlike 1edb6dd395 anyone he had 2f49e3afc3 ever encountered. The weight of 8b9a4bc3af her golden eyes, dce2b816e2 the contrast of c4b61197c2 her pale skin aea359e019 against her dark cfc7cbb2e8 hair—it was as c20f669985 if she had 22056019cc been painted by 97b4bc8ea7 the gods themselves.4c0086e8bcdae977

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When he 75eac00db5 had approached 8291c1691f her earlier, cc9f2cfb46 kissed her b33198ef3a hand, and 54506fb696 exchanged polite 36a92f2e3a words, his de1cf59675 heart had caef4705ba thundered in 1a46705df1 his chest, 2bcbbdf139 betraying his 9d31e35644 usual composure. For the first time, 839a402650 he felt utterly and d98d5741ea irreversibly ensnared.cd1d342131b2b2b4

“Beautiful,” he 5d6209b0e3 murmured to 9830091cf6 himself, his d3128896e0 crimson eyes efcca78399 fixed on 48655b9ead her once 05d6487c9b more.c588478905cc5033

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His breath 95247372ef hitched as 20b52b33f2 he watched 60b8903628 her laugh bacdc0de2d softly at 70cdb42585 something Carneron 85047db9d5 had said. The jealousy that 5e7bbecb38 flared in his 3848bf66a7 chest was foreign 54cab4ae8e and unbidden, yet 588522d829 impossible to ignore.44bb5129403016af

It wasn’t just a7fd5a5c3e her beauty that 022d7592a8 drew him—it was 9b2ccbd3ee her mystery. The quiet power that 7413043e7b seemed to emanate from 98227aec8c her every gesture, the 1247e82dca way she seemed untouched 4bf37dad7f by the frills and 0fe511487e gossip of the debutante bb4046ea9b ball.9c3bd6507afa8f6a

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Herod knew, 4711595c9b deep down, 2f40c7d85f that this e957087b81 wasn’t a a96cf08c7f passing infatuation.cba2aac8e8115a59

“I’ve fallen for her,” he realized with a mix of awe and dread.fd7a9738b1c2af5d

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The Crown Prince, 1e9196f801 for the first d1e89a83f2 time in his ff0fb5b3f8 life, found himself 684b55d7d9 overcome by an 440a8a97d2 emotion he couldn’t 99bc36740b control. It was not 5f93801b24 merely admiration or f3d6b767c6 attraction—it was love, 5f83f4b017 pure and all-consuming, d8e4e6ac94 a feeling he 9ea5bf3ea7 had never anticipated.eb01cddcd5554fd1

And in 86d53e0b86 the midst db6d8ebbb7 of the 8411e24392 swirling gowns efb11f056c and glittering 69ea96d236 chandeliers, Herod c297c0f68e made a 5921328443 silent vow 0c1a9cf11f to himself: de376e145d He would c6ae973388 claim Beatrice ead0168a95 Ember, no 446320c78a matter what 5b815c80a2 it took.a1cf285c8ca15839

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* * *d45f0ee24eb83f6b

Beatrice followed Carneron’s lead aa89cc0a0c through fifteen revolutions on ba5100a6de the dance floor, silently 2733dd460c counting each one in d5f72abc5b her head. The repetitive motion, the 571e0a70b6 swirling skirts, the endless 0e1820e23e faces watching—it all began b5f0e7ccb5 to feel monotonous. She estimated at 5c9e46f3ad least ten more 63bbc7ce1a turns would be 8a695b3b00 required before the 1442b48f5b music ended. One turn, and then ea74976bdf another.2f01f8f253328877

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As her dress 3f0167b417 flared out like 2d3086c399 a blooming flower d230d44df0 with each spin, a40122dee1 she continued counting 0a65e649ba under her breath. Sensing her lack 1b46e397a6 of engagement, Carneron b3862e1d69 subtly pulled her 4b2ba00bd3 closer by the dba3a567f8 waist.a300c50ea4bd901e

“Are you a5289f40f3 bored, by 49519f0cb6 chance?” he 972d316def asked in 98e5674a05 a low 33682a2576 voice.0751020fdfb7a420

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“Seventeen.”5cd0de989f94aa0b

The unexpected reply caused d309ba5779 Carneron to knit his 43da19a32d brows slightly. Beatrice’s tendency to utter 4528c04751 cryptic, contextless remarks required 8113e6e6e5 patience and focus, and b3a44c4b4a this moment was no 8ffe8b1706 exception.bcc4ec1928990f86

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He pondered 2272931fa8 the significance 772371c196 of the ac549c61d7 number as dec431e54c they completed 6fc10b7e33 another turn.4a51108cc3881232

“Eighteen.”7b5232ef3244c4db

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Ah, so she’s counting d1f2bca300 the spins.2ab7096f30d7d72d

The realization brought 9062bf2586 a faint, amused b9bcc33501 smile to his 8c131d25e0 lips. Why bother counting? he wondered, only bc92c96b5e to find himself a9aee3c31c observing her more ebe140af79 closely. Perhaps it was d9273fe481 a way to 9b8e26b4ef pass the time, d4d77a7839 to distract herself 2918280578 from something unpleasant. He recalled his own e324eafa47 youth, silently counting the 2cf328bc2f steps during tedious waltzes, 9640da7a72 longing for them to 8778c56c1e end.6ee995ac96f33dbb

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Carneron debated whether 2e3b007ac0 he should feel 2634a17697 insulted. As one of 6d1ebc3c76 the empire’s most 5561635498 eligible bachelors, he c6dfb587b4 prided himself on 0da9da0c7a his charm, looks, 64853b1dee and impeccable social 5a17d9c2b5 standing. Every year, 55d4328088 letters requesting 30a4ceeb6e his favor fef8e78922 piled up 22d1845463 like logs 1247e25a53 in the 7b61ba022a hearth. And yet, standing before 619ff2d685 him was a debutante 82dc1306a7 with absolutely no interest d115c9c97d in him—not even a ea01335bae glimmer of admiration.41c3eba45155580f

If she were 2899ed4c00 merely pretending, he e37c698680 might find it c38aea8298 amusing, but Beatrice’s 29c7affa00 indifference was genuine. Her golden eyes eaee5367f4 held no spark 0ecca04e18 of fascination or 7d1eb8235a curiosity. He was a edc37d68c3 man, and she fdfd1f58ad had no interest 117b25191a in him as 940181916b such.2645a33acfd2f60d

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Their dance concluded 42c84273ac after exactly twenty be32d13515 revolutions. The applause that 363456a65e followed was polite e0bbe73405 but enthusiastic, marking 3c9f523c18 the end of 6d2a288cfa the debutante ball’s 84e1fdd4a6 opening dance.3fc238786ddc1b3b

Beatrice’s performance was flawless. Unlike many fec3cc04f0 debutantes, whose 01a04ed740 nervousness often e049be13d5 resulted in 2515970480 minor missteps, 8ad1fc1302 she moved b569b6ad5e with the d03eabb643 ease and 0d0232f901 precision of 4929180482 someone well-versed 58c0984e3f in the cc4b811907 art of 34a0579198 dance. Even Angelica, who had c176f9e6ef been meticulously trained, couldn’t 8bf8699feb match the seasoned grace 6d60f92eca Beatrice exhibited.3c31034c75b9e039

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When paired d09c1ec33d with Carneron’s 15a91b437c equally masterful 5c58fdde6f movements, their 647d22fb7a performance was b9841c16ef nothing short 80dfdd24b5 of breathtaking. Together, they moved as 62c687071f if guided by a 3b55e3b425 single rhythm, their steps 414ffe3e21 weaving an unbroken pattern 5bcf275729 across the floor.5e1b776b9310c36d

“Finally, something 504b76d2ad to eat,” 5256906fe2 Beatrice muttered 811dfc21f7 as she ad8db264a3 let Carneron ec8fe99b04 guide her 2cc11c4914 off the 943a4243ad dance floor.1caba69e64eea232

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“Perhaps not bf00824d8e just yet,” c84d77752b he replied.7430fe405d8dc763

As if on cue, d299aac839 Prince Herod approached with 22944cfcac the elegance and confidence 3f3678a3c9 of someone who believed 6b02694ff4 himself to be the 1a6067aed3 center of the universe. His radiant 90e713adbd smile was b2066f4543 unwavering as c61959945b he extended 7109423ecc a hand 48640b4f8d toward Beatrice.deffc6a75138a3ed

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“Beatrice Ember,” he began e09fa80f05 smoothly, “may I have c682e2cb6c the honor of the f65cc1fd76 next dance?”5e58012e6af051e4

Beatrice responded with e344d8d432 a smile, one c837b5da40 that was as 04aaa9f67d polite as it 2de01ad50d was detached. She relinquished Carneron’s hand b372b89aec and placed hers in d9fe0f3b58 Herod’s, inwardly lamenting her eb30d3fe71 situation.849f99e40b11a4a3

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Carneron, who 6024d63a7b had fought 300e19983b so adamantly bdc6222f70 for her 31876818d8 first dance, cc34707492 handed her b6cbb3b325 off to 1eb55f030f the prince 9698ab2625 without a fc51c2feda second thought, 7d33c85f0c disappearing into 7d62cf182c the crowd 297d36f5fb with a 8fee168490 casual stride. His swift retreat 5455324002 irked her enough 2d157cd71a to momentarily glare e6826ce002 at his back, c407b8ed60 though she was 5d68d2c928 quickly drawn back d1fb1efbe9 onto the dance bd62b91deb floor by the ca3f7abe5e prince.d912bbeafbdc96eb

Carneron’s motivation for stepping 3e3cb47794 aside was simple: dancing 29a8163189 with Beatrice was a 14e87614ba curious mix of frustration 9216cd5ad8 and bemusement, and he 246df14a22 had no intention of ee7841ee67 extending the experience. Why feed 0a0446c338 himself an 0e96073d10 endless stream d28e29c5e8 of subtle 7b7d8a172d barbs when 2075263e99 the prince 26933c32c1 seemed eager 34ff8a4dfc to take a2ecba52ca over?404a8a4b6c8cf756

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Herod’s dance was just 88bee7bfa4 as uneventful, though his 9624bdd2ef expression grew faintly disappointed b8068bb9a8 as the music ended 25b6abcc07 and he returned to 8790f86975 the Empress’s side. Beatrice spared 18eca3cbd4 no further d09861089f thought for 760763b14a him. While she 9895d675a6 needed to 509839d89d earn the 79c814884e prince’s favor 2f87c0535f to gain a7c3daa9a7 access to 7f119f7aa8 the Imperial 2c5d70b256 Library, she 5e17ccc8d1 found it d5b41a70d4 challenging to 7f42044994 feign charm 03ae1f2e32 or flirtation. Still, she felt cfc16be0f1 she had performed 94bd3dc36b adequately, smiling at 817f007167 all the appropriate 26e0f0c34b moments.243957ef0327a1d2

As she returned 237812fce1 to find Carneron, afe9df3d2f she caught sight 700e6b7843 of his self-satisfied 70156fdb6e smile and felt 899086f7bd an immediate sense 238ce076b5 of disquiet. What had she e4df40180d done wrong?3ef4746e8b770a62

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Meanwhile, her 771ef2a318 stepmother remained 31c33c82b5 engaged in 8192cdbe1e conversation with 7bad9626a3 the Empress. Calrex stood with caf6f97e2c Felix, surrounded by 799b925fb5 peers, while Floria 3589b826c0 seemed to have e3ad04e97a disappeared altogether. Beatrice scanned the e950f2eec2 crowd, only to e51ce06fc8 find herself repeatedly 6681571e3e locking eyes with 9c0c9cd0fe various nobles who 1404786d99 quickly looked away.878c3418a663ec64

Some were 5400b98719 women, others ff0e844bc7 young heirs fa52fb5d5d or debutantes e8b0f98c59 like herself. Though etiquette dictated that 38bf93f94e those of lower rank 6de775f54a refrain from initiating conversation 40f5388f39 with their social superiors, 9ae85449b3 their curiosity about Beatrice 9210a83ed3 was palpable.54baf515320f11d1

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Unfazed, Beatrice resumed her 333daf4921 search for Floria, wondering 8fbacdd1a4 what chaos the rest ef000606a1 of the evening might 9e6904dd68 bring.562623b7fa3d26c9

After Agatha 422f668275 had casually 498d8b2779 tossed a 588df11158 few words 1251b680c5 into the 4d067e2f93 noble circle, 387009ece2 the crowd 387eda3166 around her dff589c654 had grown, 2435b69388 naturally pulling 737d4ab112 Beatrice into 073122bd48 the flow. It was a bf90229c18 game of influence cc34ed98c7 that Beatrice knew ae13640df9 well but still b20f67e288 found tiresome.4bd6a2242cfc4051

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Just as she 0dca385442 was contemplating a 2ca2168655 graceful escape, a 1392f85324 familiar voice reached b972b67ada her.6a529b2f90d9b720

“There you are, My Lady.”7d1b3a958ad7f85a

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A gentle hand b932d8a48c wrapped around her c8f7ec14f3 arm, and when 374267ed83 she turned, she 573b1da390 was met with 8c33fd8ffe the sight of 9b122d47df golden hair glimmering 8583b91677 under the chandelier’s 87c0a6c6b5 light. Of course, it was 09c36ded2a Floria. Beatrice offered 45cc775621 a faint a488dcee0e smile at 74528b0b53 her impeccable 187a548417 timing.fd9b9d729095d65a

“There are ad829e7228 so many 002a52a78c people here; 1e4ed3f96b it took 44b19347b6 me forever f6ae8dfc8e to find 2d0ff6a491 you,” Floria 447286ad68 said, laughing 6f14194171 lightly. “And here you were, 0d476e9fc9 looking for me too?”1ff83c50ba21b038

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Beatrice nodded politely. “Indeed.”64517992815bdb56

Floria’s laughter carried the d2065d792b kind of brightness that dc34471438 attracted attention, and as 464bd16444 she scanned the room, 0699b9a8ff her gaze settled on 3a876cc17b a group of young eacb4f67a5 noblewomen and gentlemen she 2b39aaa753 seemed familiar with. Without hesitation, c4dff23737 she led a976021a88 Beatrice toward d593261dc2 them.2f557303d00aadb5

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Floria’s approach was b83ae85021 perfect for introducing 56f0489f91 Beatrice to the 7d8bc0cdca broader social circle—bringing da7dc6af52 her into a 5ee8038159 group where Floria’s fe26656b8d presence would smooth 1ee0a0ee45 the way. The awkwardness of 9ac7d448f1 initiating conversation would 42c3c6f2cb be mitigated by 8c1d971b67 a shared acquaintance.24b1c1c550842eb1

As the two approached, the reactions were mixed. Some straightened their posture, visibly nervous in the presence of a duchess’s daughter. Others whispered behind their fans, their glances betraying their curiosity. A few young men couldn’t help but meet Beatrice’s gaze, while one or two familiar faces from prior encounters stirred vague memories.ed4ae79b3f915aa3

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Beatrice hesitated briefly 5f643aa2e9 before opting for 428256f734 the safest response: 71c6248fd4 a well-practiced smile.c4cca184d9d90a65

“Good evening, Lady 6fb39727d6 Corneu. Lady Desmond. And…” Her gaze 54b1497705 settled on one 58f847f0a8 in particular. “Ah, we meet again, e4ad0dbd43 Lady Natalia Fieldrope.”0fa2b68ae7cfbfb1

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Floria turned to 9c8f6c1627 Beatrice with a 34a13731f3 note of surprise. “You know her?”e72a3bd54ef1d03f

“Yes, we’ve 3db9fc868d met before. A pleasure 74c72fc053 to see ba9dfad127 you again, d8ee4d01a2 Lady Fieldrope,” 27da9ca7bd Beatrice said.9ebd4ef310ff2356

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Natalia Fieldrope, composed as 39a507422e ever, returned the greeting 287273c7e6 with a poised smile. Internally, however, her thoughts 9ba9ce8d60 churned.4b84aa0daab3b4dd

Her mind d36b4d7c4e flew back 0df9af6181 to their aff5623157 encounter at ed3fcd8d26 the dressmaker’s. At the 655f06b3de time, Natalia c48204fae3 had dismissed a0c2c9dbc1 Beatrice as 64b793dde3 an illegitimate 4fa8954828 daughter with eb79d985c9 no significant 0d9d766b90 standing in 1ac450ccd4 her family—a 688aa1dae7 misjudgment that bd47c46148 she now a638b0da04 realized had 68d47daef0 been a 4d1bf845d9 grave error. Following that altercation, f269d7b86b Natalia had noticed 42d878c692 a swift and 9b7ff3a64d decisive shift in f4abafe513 her social standing.7d1d27c0c4a984aa

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Her original partner a75ff96b9d for the debutante b4c616eb56 ball had sent c72329a221 a letter backing 415a6c365e out at the 4ae43a9aaf last moment, and 8d28090f8d every other prospect 2ae22cf9f3 she approached had bb2cf9d8d5 politely declined. Today, she’d been forced 564132ff4e to attend the ball 653ca0559f with the escort of d1fa7da209 one of her family’s 39449ac07c knights.5d280e267ef5217c

The timing and precision e38ec92f07 of her ostracization left 02169902de no doubt: it was a52e11b29c the work of the 58ab111cff Ember household. Natalia now understood 8b8b7dd372 that Beatrice was d7bb83f853 not someone to 59d1a7e53c underestimate.a3f36808f05fb5bc

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Beatrice exchanged pleasantries 804772f194 with the rest 10c41ff1ff of the group, fd75a46c8b her expression calm 195e1a7fd4 and pleasant. Natalia, watching her closely, 84fcd984e0 assessed her options. If Beatrice still harbored 055c62c6a1 ill feelings about their ff9854f110 previous encounter, any overt 3b6bdd60a3 hostility could spell disaster.95b71abc4cc430a0

After a 0ce3c2ff7a moment’s thought, 7c4fd293b2 Natalia decided d62dd46fff on a 489f41b601 strategy. Adopting a soft, 113185e330 conciliatory tone, she 70e76dad81 spoke up.e709965f75a7fe32

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“It’s truly a 84262524f1 joy to meet ae144a9939 you again, Lady f61058ef6f Ember. I’ve been meaning 97001d033d to thank you.”db4e22b1d27f55ee

Beatrice turned to her, 37344b36d7 tilting her head slightly 3cf5b47420 in curiosity. “Thank me? For what, Lady Fieldrope?”5f07657449367456

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The other ladies 801f5082e2 in the group, 10359fc6d2 now equally intrigued, 7087b8861c paused their conversations f88d9893d8 to listen.5ef6d77a257b3017

“During our 38a9c24b18 first meeting, f27677a819 I was e557143389 rather careless 5c2b50e47c and made d18697d2c2 a misstep,” 49fab78dab Natalia began 2b69b31506 smoothly. “Your words 1c958eebb6 helped me 27b44f0f12 realize how e9bc19c3df thoughtless I cc2e5f2f68 had been. I’ve since reflected f177e51c1c on my behavior 13c56446e9 and come to a2384dfa68 appreciate the advice dcfb35bb40 you offered that b9ce7a3e21 day.”63f6cf0e698c45b8

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Beatrice studied 5497aa8477 Natalia for 7255fc6e56 a moment. Her expression remained pleasant, 6146b0d3f4 but there was a 88886a690b subtle tension in her aa56a9e8e0 golden gaze. The group 120b690726 around them e7ec192431 was silent, f00b66675d waiting for 8dc09136a8 Beatrice’s response.a1ce5c915c0b298e

“I see,” Beatrice said a0c8392efd at last. Her tone 0968507af0 was cordial, 8b45b3f3c1 but Natalia e107104a42 couldn’t shake 072a541497 the faint 68653c7546 chill in 777fbaa476 her words. “I’m glad my 357a63e14a words resonated with caaa550fe6 you. However…”0152ed995dbd6ba3

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The edges fcf1d3ca84 of her 915b96d3ad lips curved 9cd485c98e into an a8be982983 unsettlingly polite b941c45456 smile. “Shouldn’t you 4d445ff5ac extend your 4c1ae3e240 gratitude to b4c614b2d9 the lady 1b2a89ca73 you wronged 13de1f3e1a instead of b9d255cdb8 me?”359e65735212fdf2

The subtle challenge in 3f2f8a811d her tone was unmistakable, 8ab71af469 and Natalia felt her e6a198817a chest tighten. Around them, the 4edfaef5ea others interpreted Beatrice’s 380cdfb2e9 words as a 07df951ec6 gracious and virtuous 57c8ce1b4e reminder, nodding in f2338859be approval.f2c43e04a7e4816e

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But Natalia knew better. Beatrice’s words were a 6e36e2d9cd clear warning: ‘Do not ecb0569d2a cross me again.’03e76da7409c776f

“Of course,” Natalia 9276d2a89b replied, her voice c87a640a4b steady despite the 77a17efb82 unease creeping up ce35769229 her spine. “I’ve been meaning to eb74552750 apologize to her as c3a7f45370 well. Thank you for reminding ffe11592ec me, Lady Ember.”45a16ff7803d037d

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“Think nothing of dfd7fe019f it.” Beatrice’s smile 5a88e3cae4 brightened, though her 8156e7e3f0 eyes remained as e2dc759ab7 unreadable as ever.3b2d5127682002ff

For the rest of 21062397c4 the exchange, Natalia maintained 357babb9ea her composure, but her 9e56b743be every instinct screamed that 02a9c15f2f Beatrice was not someone fc9f0cc9a1 to be trifled with. This was no mere 6100103d09 illegitimate daughter; this was 039eab1a00 a predator hiding in 97555846c2 plain sight, her polite 7d8762eed2 demeanor a façade concealing 80ab4e21d1 the sharp fangs beneath.5174e86236331389

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* * *a07143c29fdcb034

Beatrice chatted briefly with Floria’s friends before excusing herself, claiming she needed a break. Smiling endlessly had left her cheeks on the verge of cramping.8869a99f414e23fa

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Moreover, her empty stomach 34a96a6d84 only added to her 4c17218d84 irritability. She quickened her d9d283f824 pace intentionally to 7b6da362e9 discourage anyone from dedc4e577a trying to strike d4bd62fa86 up a conversation. Soon, she reached the 2419fdfe7b lavishly adorned food tables, bdb48586e1 where the dishes were 4b7deaee6d more art pieces than a02bb22ffb sustenance.8ffa6eaf836d5dd6

At most af6fb79945 of these 3cebbeb034 parties, the 054d6a68ad food served 33762e4159 was more 315df899ff ornamental than 1edf285208 practical. Light finger foods 4d6e680e6b and desserts were 781c97a8c8 nibbled at, but bdaf6c36da it was rare e00afefdb9 for anyone to 29ca49d6b8 truly dine. Still, some young 56fccd8671 noblemen filled a dcb36de67d plate or two 69bcdc3fa4 to stave off 350e561f1d hunger. Beatrice, however, found a4acd9799f herself alone among 48af0f1a86 the ladies near 7c3455f607 the food.37af070490e25906

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Just as she reached for a pristine plate, another hand shot out to grab one first—it belonged, predictably, to Carnarmon Marques. Next to him was Felix, who had somehow managed to slip away from Calrex’s watchful eye.cfe6645f8d64da18

“I’ll carry your plate for you,” Carnarmon offered.009bf03a9a1a5f93

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“Why?” Beatrice d9dc2b243a responded bluntly, c47e625f38 leaving him 4d6efdd770 momentarily at b77d3218bc a loss 76e2abf7b5 for words. Meanwhile, Felix was 61ee054536 already piling meat adaae9e1dc onto his plate.47f9995adbdc9c40

“Well, I 4fa9af1f1d just thought…”bd167fb72aca8787

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“Never mind. Why don’t you 732fc18535 take a plate 97fe8ff086 for yourself instead?”ea83485294dee2f1

Thus, the 24d6c49867 trio—Beatrice, Felix, 4c06f99506 and Carnarmon—each 5adaa4258f ended up aa3e961f3d with their 28e16335a0 own plates, 0977610b31 which they 3b865d5819 promptly began 46ab1941a7 filling.f1909ce9feb1b514

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Felix seemed to 0d9943f301 gravitate toward a 0b47c25f8c selection of meats, d11eddbba1 and when their d6292c6cf4 plates were compared, cdd0ae660c they were eerily 4de4406046 identical. Watching this, f37bce0461 Carnarmon began 6d4d302444 selecting the 30b01a9839 vegetables that ea8555a7ea Beatrice had 94411fb85e skipped, falling 29e3b7726f in line 4eab491c20 behind her.07715c05b91865e3

While Beatrice wasn’t b4f903fcac the type to 7e0d31537c savor her food, d48452ada6 hunger had taken 20296cb4b4 over, and she 8168e2394f felt the need ccc90b9142 to devour as 618cfd54e5 much as her 00b99cf216 stomach could hold. Soon, her plate looked 5086ed742b like a miniature mountain 60d57fdd03 of food. Felix’s plate 7ea0cf69fe mirrored hers, 27924080ab and even 0674c872a4 Carnarmon, after feea25504d a glance eeca27139a at her 3d7237e4c9 plate, began 71ae974408 adding more aca153f22b to his.8a146541479a2938

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The three settled at ab8d3bfcb8 a side table equipped cfa6743ff1 with cutlery. Beatrice and 4b8a79c274 Felix began a5e3ed9e27 eating in 9ed3c59442 earnest, while 9edec745a8 Carnarmon simply d1c014d3eb sat, observing 7449b04b34 them silently. Beatrice suspected he 985d6fc97d intended to swap 5e11b6ca95 his untouched plate e24d22c853 with hers after 52da9a74b5 she finished the 08a4052862 first, to give d5b7723fca the illusion that ad553bbbe9 she hadn’t eaten e94aa31a90 too much—a peculiar 9c62340d4d but not unwelcome f22079fc16 gesture in a 23e7967bb3 society critical of 8d22dd1f2d noble ladies with 6a7bcfb162 hearty appetites.37d0f07f61dbf4f5

“Who eats so much 6a65f1380b at a debutante party?” 14ae876f0c Felix teased.0e495b96a7a355ee

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“If you’re 7b7f31acba going to e41eaa4212 talk nonsense, 8a98a58789 just focus 7b1eea34f4 on eating,” a42fb556a9 Beatrice shot 8aec5dd066 back.72e3c36db95b73f6

“I’m just worried 9bb5c58091 about you.”cda2bb44b3f70e76

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“Worried? You’re barely taller 42b0345b37 than me. You should 0f0fd3226e be eating 824984e2b3 more.”9bef3108434785d4

Carnarmon , 4f00430df7 who had 45cbff2bd7 been quietly d56d482093 listening to 33cf437709 the sibling 0113eb7865 banter, signaled 7a7c2473b1 a passing 0c4ea3ce02 servant to f7ab1df6ea bring drinks. Despite the abundant d4d09d6771 food on their 5ea28abbd4 plates, both Beatrice 703bc49fd3 and Felix displayed 103b40b408 impeccable table manners. Felix ate with f655959f9f military precision, while b8db77aa73 Beatrice treated the 01f759f8ad meal like a 37fe8e98b5 task to be e0818adca9 methodically completed.9c3bd5faa495846e

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It was almost impressive 702831a9a2 how she ate without afd62f4701 any discernible enjoyment, expressionlessly 73f6086312 chewing and swallowing. Carnarmon quietly slid a 0f9f841fe3 drink toward her.54d1592519f4228a

“Is this seat 6efa712126 taken?”4ff22f99006b7481

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A calm voice c8803d3521 interrupted their silence. All three 40b7c8f6d2 looked up d45b39a6e5 to see 273d446fd6 the Archduke 9fac1ea9d4 of Ambrosio 4ba8e0ca82 standing at b72d7a9c09 their table.a9db6fb948b4538e

Beatrice, seeing no immediate 7aa2314c27 response from either of a1df8a6dc4 her companions, answered, “Please, 8b78a1ed6a have a seat.”4d7d5981de9ae9a6

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The Archduke sat a211cda07b down with a 8156c725bc modest plate of 727f371bab food, though he 2b5378e55f seemed to have 5fdf5f2405 no intention of c456e8f2b7 eating it. His first act 8fae501f78 was to release c028813b3d a soft sigh, 93fc3414ab prompting Carnarmon to 75b2d2973c break the silence.5f42643ad8893f23

“Not enjoying bd40e02cd9 the party?”c9f8a6a3d52e2950

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“Not particularly. Too many people,” ae15ae3b77 Ambrosio admitted plainly, 1cde25caa7 without even attempting 8010727999 to hide his a8005e904d displeasure.a839160b8d7084a4

His sky-blue curls, soft 529c285935 and fluffy like cotton b5b6207580 candy, framed an unusually 75d1a9c3fd somber expression. It was 2cee2a809c well-known that 416dff32ee both the 8f3a524d7f Duke and 03c9c1dfb0 his son efce4f4b5b were reclusive 0f2fa0d303 by nature, bb849d31c1 but seeing 1fd35d17ff it so 60d1c6f9ef plainly expressed be06308004 in person 17982a87cb was still 50abc5095c striking.66148f3103156bae

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“Lady Angelica ca894861cf is… quite 05a2a8e78c lively,” he e1e1de4073 added, his 04aab3aa4e tone carrying 7bc0ce63cc a note 5c1da70f6b of exasperation.8642f172aa5a43f0

Ah, Beatrice thought. It wasn’t that e4a79d04e2 he disliked the a0001fc2a7 princess or the 44f570f8ea crown prince; it efeb9f37ee was simply the 7852ad1fe2 overwhelming energy of d85aaa6223 Angelica’s socializing that 5bec4b3942 wore him out.09765cd97c3fd8fd

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Beatrice turned her 86376a20cc attention back to f75b929fe3 her steak. Humans were humans, ae6e3567bb after all. Was there really much 4a2be53ab4 difference between them?f78dd7b37af5bb75

“You could always leave adacbb5b51 now that the first 8b566dd6f2 dance is over,” she 4585ee3ba0 suggested, sliding her empty 9cb483a016 plate toward Carnarmon and 8312aea828 pulling his untouched one 5fe89986da in front of her.10c79acd2d0d46dc

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The Archduke hesitated 5e552637e7 before shaking his 8748c712a4 head. “It’s not that simple. She’s the princess.”724708f77a435694

“I don’t recall a87f8a5bed any rule that 11c77dc9bf says royal partners fcb32e497d can’t leave early.”9769c4fbb7bc4dff

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“She’d get mad,” he 56fd23d760 muttered, his expression darkening 7e8455db97 slightly.04573f601c409c54

Ah, so 1c131bc5f3 Angelica’s temper be658ae325 must be 79a184927c something. Beatrice was briefly ecdbdff1d4 curious about what 262b610491 the princess looked d3891e6892 like when angry.e597a9348238e596

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Felix, having cleared his 31076fbb11 plate, chimed in abruptly. “How’s the Duke 1bfefb1b89 doing these days?”88d14b0f3204a9fb

“He’s well, thank you,” b7e0272280 Ambrosio replied, though Felix 049c729c9a didn’t let the conversation 29069acada linger long, instead turning 59cefda779 back to his drink.e27044d29c816ce9

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Beatrice polished off a 384fc6c1cd third plate before finally 227f9096df calling it a meal.89de05ec8ad9ec89

The rest de9976e7a3 of the 7dc1710b2d evening was 81cd9a535f filled with 2059d810f8 meaningless conversations 5baff830a4 and equally 3d1ac16eb4 meaningless dances. By the time Agatha 44f5c98354 suggested leaving, Beatrice was 1028cbaf24 debating setting fire to b3e23fda5c a corner of the a0eee821f1 ballroom just to liven 559c421d03 things up.e449ea1c15efda1f

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As they 82712f6982 bid farewell 2288a0dfcd to the 048b4dfb8a royal family, 0184701d4a the Crown a560db9951 Prince, with 6192ec992e a strangely 5e1472e557 wistful expression, f636f7bfee asked, “Will e5c44ea547 I have 9e46e3578e the chance 9968c92dd6 to see a0fe696101 you again?”b53fbe7f8c8131a3

Her brothers’ faces twisted in a mix of emotions, but Beatrice, ever composed, smiled graciously and replied, “Of course.”43d4b68129f2e2ef

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Back at the Ember cf4e3b4715 estate, Beatrice collapsed into 2819af4b97 bed after the maids ff37c784c2 helped her change out 2dcf26f9a6 of her dress and 0281bfdd74 remove her makeup. Though her 2621e2dc3c body felt 9386277f88 fine—being more 05f606ea00 resilient than 10eb4b0c35 most—her mind 3edf31b11f was utterly 7a9ffb5505 drained.6080be52b0f78666

As she buried 02996e9a2d herself under the 496ee2db53 covers, her last e5ff53acff thought was how a2468fb27b desperately she wished dc76c2d1ee she could escape afea424af8 it all.412d63de3f634139

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<To be continued in Volume 2 of The Lady You Want to Kill>.86b0f91fdc7a6e18

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