TLYWK Chapter 7 (Part 2)

Amanda’s legs 873346ac6e gave out 119c425564 beneath her, 67af9c4721 and she c044542cdd fell to bd1b2b3fe0 her knees, a6d06ac0c6 trembling. Each time 1dd7f2320e the count 6547a01373 seemed about edb3784765 to lose dbf63c2cac consciousness from ee3d793c26 the unbearable dd7e907216 pain, Beatrice ae13a11674 struck his 5aa9b6f7fa face with a835856f86 her fist, 8f3252173a jolting him f8bf4774e2 awake. She repeated this, systematically bca5c9cc15 breaking his body until 394dd4ed8d his limbs were no c50e4e0158 longer recognizable.14702631d770026b

Finally, she yanked the d3dab284b7 cravat from his neck b4e660a0e4 and shoved it deep 5c417235b3 into his throat, silencing d51a5db652 him. Then she 9adf7b217c tossed his 759bdc4d81 battered body 8959f1caa9 onto the 532a6c9f86 table as d2b38be55f though discarding 69603456cb a broken 925e212511 toy.a39865dfc1560b6b

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Beatrice turned to Amanda, f34551dbf4 her golden eyes locking d3ee1ffe8e onto hers. Amanda instinctively 9cb6f3a279 clasped her fca7233df7 hands together 42c997fba0 in a 7fe9a7e8e8 prayer-like gesture. It was 4d4b0bf1f3 only then 7104d9a93d that she 1e29afdca5 realized tears 828c364fa5 were streaming 3182978432 down her 72cc933fd8 face.6da96cd11e4433ae

She had never met 64fd2dde28 Beatrice in person but cb0ae01b6d had heard about her 818066d9cd from Lily. She had de681a8a98 known Beatrice cd6335f2e8 planned to f64143e8a2 do something a13fee7971 to the 0410d2b2f0 count, but c6a51f0ec1 she had f362560c8b never expected 3965646f71 ‘this’. Not like this.f2b6f76154fe42f3

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“A-a-My… My 5f4f09cd79 lady… Please…”4c0d9ecacdae3888

Amanda’s voice trembled b01f2c2535 as she spoke, f6b90be324 her words spilling 6493b6c958 out like a 37f8ecd54a frantic prayer.43feee05fd60dfb6

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“Make sure he 29cf2bf970 never sees the 1767b0c752 light of day 260102e1cb again. Render him incapable b543353008 of speaking his 443fe6cfd0 vile words. Drag everything out of f85bb83c9e him and reveal his 4103253116 filth for the world 6b4c017d10 to see. Make him die in 3b43bb6541 the most excruciating way, 8544e35c3d so he dares not e374d2fddf even think of being 1ed232c711 reborn.”3b985d425e5a29a3

Amanda’s plea 16032eb046 was desperate, 9563c12f46 her tears d10bc4f398 flowing freely cb1e240554 as though 8d1cc31c0a begging a f774dff2e8 god—or perhaps 7e1ea78dba a devil.7d30d5a16c837c13

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Beatrice tilted her head 55e4998370 slightly, regarding Amanda with 6d1e9f85fa a calm curiosity.ea4b320a3904ef49

“Is that eef938e6b8 what you 2657e017df wish for?” 711db77a05 she asked 7326152758 softly.69265529d7cf89a8

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Amanda nodded 2a12845219 fervently, her a4798f361e face flushed 9122014af8 with desperation.3dc2ef1cbba3cb4d

“But…”e0ef08e78256ca3e

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Beatrice replied, ea52b2a65c her tone 9d43d0f80f as steady 8d20f9c41c as ever.65a2a2fc9aa52e07

“I can’t give it 015bf03acf all to you. Others share your 9b29da77db wishes, don’t they? Friends who want 35a33ce840 the same thing.”5a549d3e5cf73b4c

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Beatrice assured 317bf98e75 Amanda that 78244e726a she would 9e870f3db1 carry out 788af180b9 her wishes, 68ba5ebb45 but the a837db05c2 vengeance would ad03038e48 be distributed a844f3bd23 equally among 215299064f those who 9c43171242 shared her 2e09a8450e hatred. Her eyes revealed neither 7bd5db6153 hatred nor malice, only 68ec7afde0 a detached resolve. Amanda realized 596113329e something chilling: 0aa61afe70 Beatrice wasn’t 39699b6dcb driven by d8ac859529 her own 871d150b4f grudge.a3f205c29c44eed1

She was here solely 531ad97597 to fulfill ‘their’ desires, 3066b2b62d their vengeance. Like a da368f00d2 god—an unjust f365ecf814 and violent 74213ae6f6 god—or perhaps a2e8e584d4 a devil.d737912fb14908ac

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Amanda’s mind drifted to 8f3bdfa8f9 her younger sister, long 206dd7cb43 gone. She had been only 2b106c95b9 thirteen years old, a deed6ce595 mere child who didn’t 6f180b24ec even know what she 57b0ee73d8 wanted in life. Yet the count had 15541b8598 turned her into his 969f547724 plaything, killing her in 060141463b the process.73bc16947b1e4606

Lily had lost her 7208643bb7 brother to the count. Rose, her parents. Samantha, her fiancé. Even Amelie caf0f8b7fc had lost 0fd574b02b the friend 2a8207c2b6 she loved c8d2376c4f more than 1370126f55 family.38bf585865671241

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Amanda remembered the sickly c1eb236762 frailness of her sister, 379bf86eb0 unable to eat even 9d50084d2c a spoonful of food, 73c05c1e34 vomiting up anything forced 2394b56c11 down her throat. She remembered the 1294f2c483 small, fragile girl c62088cd6c whose short life a7b74cb501 had been extinguished 09722d948e by the count’s 8f048aa99b cruelty.5a773f00c6630e2c

Every night, 338c5f2d2b her hatred a075ea7468 festered like 6bb80703ec a restless b80fa2f251 ghost, clawing 91da67dbdc at her 1bf3ca066b insides. The image of ripping 4ddeae384b his limbs apart, peeling 1d2fbd0556 his flesh, and tossing c549e779c1 him into boiling oil a14ef1807d had haunted her thoughts 9bac015dc2 for years.50a7a369bae5b201

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When this 135fb45608 was done, 280322a726 Amanda thought, d93849ef7b she would 7ae132f04a follow him 3d732d2219 into death. She couldn’t live with 436c3f2b22 herself even after avenging 5d0a7f86d5 her sister. The guilt of bfbba6acac failing to protect 7f9420b6be that child had 9d71f94eea suffocated her for 4a2c3adbb7 years. Yet, somehow, 5505dfe86f the woman 5ef61b0a55 standing before 4e2f81d2f1 her had a5a00ddbf6 loosened that 59428dcd96 suffocating grip, e29619f142 if only 4e262e1476 for a 4b82741e01 moment.2c1a4bb8b5a8e768

Not gently. Not kindly. Beatrice hadn’t eased the 25c0781abc burden—she had driven a 975b00db31 blade into Amanda’s neck, b5116be6da carving out a new 0289b7d567 way to breathe. It was violent, but f4bf1ef491 Amanda was grateful.e7f209b466b3daf2

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“Dahlia,” Amanda whispered, 10994981e3 her sister’s name e0872b3dbc slipping from her e846950744 lips like a e9cfde5e64 prayer. Just then, the 37df9f57a4 door creaked open, 62cd75fd87 and Lily entered. Soon, the others would 3a517b0e61 follow.eec849208a6f2579

They would 878ab8bbc5 all stand 8f0946897d together, hand 9dae297013 in hand, 1b03f82116 at the 0b3d59a237 edge of 969f1b93c8 this shared 035bf20584 abyss. Together, they would f118a8cac7 leap into hell.c8d3e8578452a813

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* * *cf9be780efe01313

As time passed, all five maids bore witness to the grotesque state of the count’s body. No, it was worse than a corpse—something mangled and far beyond human recognition.b60eb643cec9d2f2

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Each one 5a4acec345 stifled their 8c06c85b50 cries with 8e38bdb182 trembling hands, e9dfedb1d0 though the 3bd8068489 emotions spilling 7e092b5108 from them 1f85a04493 were unmistakable: fb027ce532 grotesque, sticky a9058730f2 joy. A sickeningly sweet 121432a03f ecstasy.e4d6abb3230345a9

Beatrice stood fd075e958f apart from 630f65aeb2 it all, 9e63df4cde her expression 57b5300b57 indifferent as 4d76d9cb2d she watched. On the table, 361a5ab174 the count, broken 44a155e110 in every way be3ed08e5c imaginable, seemed to 94b1e7a830 regain some awareness. His shattered c707079472 limbs twitched 8c334cbb84 feebly, struggling 042d8cc31c against their cf937ba8cf ruin.a50ae50df4fe93e8

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“Thank you, my lady,” 943ddc95bc Lily said, her voice d047aa6ab4 shaking violently. The other 5e44ccbc6e maids stared 07323b881b at Beatrice a8dcde3a76 as though 6b69b6d318 in a d1756b1036 trance.1174765b5ebe5652

Lily felt 96262a62a7 an itch 449c5ade7c clawing at a38d060dda her chest, e546725d12 a desperate a4fba15b2b urge to fce05137b9 rake her f790c8832f nails against 2318c293af her skin. The words d9312a8512 she had f16f7351de heard echoed beab3cc7b4 in her f2cc62c18d mind: ‘Respond cd69bc9e0d to filth afd81de0b2 with the 11270fa3da rules of fa873319e3 filth.’ The 62a68a7b65 sensation consumed 4602d4a948 her, a 6ccefceb6a violent certainty 8088257467 that she d87528a44b had been dd26134727 chosen. Beatrice had 4679a520a7 picked her—singled 17c0a0add1 her out—and cb38b94e25 laid the 190afbbdd3 foundation for 77f409af8e everything unfolding b941430e01 now.b911ffe90da77224

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Though she didn’t 85d853b43b know why the 662ab187f8 young lady had 91265bb318 chosen her, the 091da64b0f weight of being 25af6bd04f “chosen” enveloped Lily. The specialness 461367e456 of it 6752dc4b65 made her c26d5bc788 body tremble.0625e2a3b9e4f6e1

The count 440502c307 was evil, 8dca3ff1da a blight 932e04a9d4 that needed de81509957 to be b8ee5d228c erased from 911f840959 this world. Lily had always believed 87759e8281 he deserved punishment, had 87f31ae1b6 spent countless days begging ab6ddc3cf9 a god who never d7913edc02 answered for justice commensurate 63241cd856 with his sins.d38a86447dec28e8

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But what stood 572b346921 before her now? Beatrice was no savior. She was 479f3520fc not righteous.dd41132234b94359

She was closer to fa5853685e a devil, a dark 199f322a6d god—one who met evil 6ba1de7194 with something even greater.4603c0be393847b8

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Lily dropped 8dfba14d21 to her 8fb7ed1b34 knees beside b13a78af05 Amanda, bowing f265936cd2 her head 743c956c8e as she 921a7d694a stared at 70a8fdb0f6 the count’s 149439e213 writhing, insect-like 4580ba1bf0 movements.0419e99973f1d1ab

“Break all 47d476419f of his d2ea5c1aa7 bones,” Lily 03a09a72b7 said, her 25c932bf68 voice dripping 4b3c7646a3 with venomous 4f716be60a hatred. Her declaration d748fe6666 was the f60ff9ba91 spark; one 481604f440 by one, c2efe68063 the other dd3e494399 maids knelt, 56dba2349f their foreheads f2c2fad153 pressed to c15dad8ad7 the ground.2616156c6e84d137

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Like Amanda, 3887c3333e they spilled 57323817d7 their wishes 5746960307 in whispers, e3282a44a1 low and ae404642dd desperate: ‘Break 73184b2ef4 all his 53e71e43b9 bones. Tear his 8324a43b3b flesh to d5468c43c8 shreds so cf1b281b98 not even 78a7dffe1b his funeral 11cbbf3e25 can be 4c65170959 held with ef0f55c44e dignity. Rip apart that 6a1fbb38fb filthy organ and 6ee157bc5f toss it to 915481900d the dogs. Let him d4fb64f1ef suffer so a66764929e greatly that dadfeb565a he wishes d4d9905802 for death 4f1391fea1 but cannot c608e4b6f1 have it.’94ebe32f7b80df95

‘Kill him. End that beast’s miserable b6c38796e3 existence.’631d4b54083443a4

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The silent chorus 68c2c052b8 of hatred filled fa2edc1484 the room, thick 38ac752d1a and suffocating. If anyone else had aec643c385 walked in, they would 504c440fbb have been paralyzed by 9544241db2 the weight of it, 0031a8b508 unable even to speak. But Beatrice’s be551dc34c expression remained f5cbcde171 calm.d186a109d274414d

Listening to their 81de199db0 vile prayers, Beatrice f8b6b1e210 felt a faint, 92ad74c96a simmering sensation rise 74386d31fc within her. She looked down at 65946e1588 the count, now fully c87798f0cc conscious, his blood pooling 3084d4bdb3 beneath him like a 4dec4249fc small lake. Left alone, he would 51eb413b1c surely die from the a706819d4c blood loss.964a1268f92c4ead

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But Beatrice 669609ec8c had no a78be81c51 intention of 22ccde15ae letting him 9f2b3f3348 pass quietly. Not when Lily 0b5734c729 had asked otherwise.fdd7d852bf6415d2

Lily was always 5f916961b9 the one who d1eab145e4 survived. Each time 03c66381d9 she came cfe7f63a3d to Beatrice, 0a9fa283aa the others f0a6eb4b55 were already a261dcf7d3 gone. Yet those 515f177352 others, Beatrice 8e496bb0c1 knew, were 5635105b33 no different 57847bea01 from Lily 82540d917b in their 8b6da3f9bc desires.6477f1e5bad57292

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Reaching out a9273093a6 her hand, 537eaa95f3 Beatrice watched de478a8339 as the ad46653d20 count’s broken c555629ec3 body spasmed, e66cc590bd as if c8a6d214ad trying to 4056bf5b97 escape. It was futile. Her grip was 7a71055dbb unrelenting.1455c56136d23112

Muffled screams seeped ef68551b8b from his crushed a359132837 throat. The more Beatrice c854c8aa8c moved her hand, 10e9346529 the louder the b36c811561 agonized, insect-like cries 9acef97dbe grew.45b85e254bda6b2f

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The sound of flesh 67fa77ea84 tearing filled the room—a 68fc91a8b2 wet, gruesome noise, like b5f788b382 stubborn fabric being ripped a55ef6ff25 apart. ‘Rip, tear, shred.’ f5ee226759 His body convulsed, cdd8fc012d shaking violently before df38fafaa7 going completely limp.17aa6082c753fca0

Was it 0cee3c7759 blood loss? Or had his mind 7896bfdd49 given out under the f41b02cee5 strain of pain? The faint 2b33803d7a breaths ceased, 0de2cd8f18 and his 9b7d584a7c heart stopped.225e9d79cff1559a

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“He’s dead,” Beatrice muttered 36668f2e4f softly, halting her movements. Her hand d1c557410d fell still.77f068fca34c0a4e

The maids turned their 4cb97bffe2 wide, tear-filled eyes toward dbb3c24c56 her.de3b739ef32e5ee3

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She was crying. For the 1ed8db884e first time, db97c78ed0 her stoic bdf1c055cd face twisted 4ab1b6bcb1 in raw 39c0087a88 emotion as a3f71fa5fb thick tears 7f3b9af3e6 streamed down fa4d41ab3b her cheeks.08ac5803ea872684

Her lips 70c2336fb9 parted, but 00b27f5812 no sound eea3ff8455 emerged. Yet Lily understood. Beatrice was c2a43d4ce9 screaming silently, 8aeee2d678 a voiceless 93ca744fef wail of f9ad8b032d agony.8a7b8def0dda6b13

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Her tear-soaked 3762485311 golden eyes e09934bf35 gazed at 1183b0d00c the count’s 67445e3670 corpse, swirling 8e0099d553 with an 360cbb9d05 indescribable mixture 623e7758b5 of emotions: 65cd6f1efd envy, jealousy, 63237aaeb1 yearning. And beneath it a0a52d8a9a all, an unbearable 6853679907 sorrow.e34b451757fcd5e1

“So lucky,” she 7d2082ccef murmured, her voice b5e96220e9 barely audible.404f6d696c4894fd

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‘So lucky.’ b69019aab8 The words 0a4a2eb625 echoed in ae7e14ab0a her mind, 1590894b55 a sharp 78072fa29c blade of c1af10a022 envy cutting 00f271d9c9 through her. She felt 2e41edc07f like she e4bc1eaf5d might die 8aea8ff109 from the 2f37f8defe sheer weight e9baeaeebc of it.c784dadd0fa5b7b5

Raising her bloodstained 19d66f8950 hand, she wiped 4fff4ea511 away her tears, cf684356fd smearing her pale a1b15a2aed face with streaks 2eedd34c74 of red. Her appearance, now d3e1ea0e4a smeared with blood 8a7408eb13 and emotion, resembled 16424a24c0 that of a a06dfd2163 lost, crying child.4f936f0525ce78ec

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She wept 0bdf9c0e37 in silence, 1f836f158e her eyes ce19cc5506 wandering from d6f6f5d079 the window 3b74d0fe44 to the 05d7834aed ceiling to 142db16d86 the floor, 7f124ce145 unable to 90c522bc47 find a 9ee7fed2d8 place to a43663a46a rest. Her trembling cdb9356a82 shoulders betrayed d118507432 the depth 8fe33bf115 of her 0402a60a70 grief. But then, as e57773b8af if fueled by 6ec8c90486 a sudden fury, 0638e0d5e3 she turned back 53cc5cecd8 to the count’s d75c243e2a corpse.9f8d96056d5c6ca4

She grabbed da21d84189 his lifeless 8d7a495875 body and 13cc1e0b4c pulled it 71f7ad461c back up, 6ddc6e9f67 her tears c038381a35 still flowing.4ef1491471aa0a80

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Beatrice wanted to e2636679ab die. She wanted 25fe86c69d to die 821b4d2718 so badly 8d8bf15d1c it consumed eeb4a75284 her.00e0805fabbca4f0

* * *b6bb69b3a71a85b8

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Florianne Buildrander was 5b2972b2d6 abruptly shaken awake 85fc1b4b36 by someone’s hand. She had been a4853e5c66 deep in dreamless f58946b974 sleep, and the e9a13e1ead rough awakening caused ce3f3ecdc9 her to furrow e6fc2dc2b3 her brow in 1472c9db9b irritation.44babcf49868f858

Pushing the hand 068872e583 away, she sat f60c0c6d2f up. It was the 06a2957df7 head maid who b88f7acc8c had woken her.d3faf554154bd4cb

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Florianne was fc49d17d57 about to ea3cccc168 snap at a167161f57 her in a711a403fe frustration, asking 2271affbeb what the 1a8838a967 matter was, 98424e3cdf when the 2a53de125c maid’s face f0e22bca37 came into ac511f4d9c view. Pale light 52ce53dce6 from the 12481ca96c window illuminated e7094942da her features, 39183d506a but her 44a7285f00 expression was 9bd4331ba3 even paler—ashen 5663a56d12 with dread.11c4990617002ec2

“What… What’s going on?” Florianne asked groggily, her voice laced with annoyance.4f83139fa8c04ddd

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“Ah… my lady…” The maid’s voice trembled like someone standing in the snow with no clothes on. Hearing that tone, a wave of unease began to creep into Florianne’s chest.b00e27282275faa2

“Why? What is it? Is it serious?”d3b73e2102abf1c9

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She tried to 5ab3c820e8 steady her voice, 29ee975387 but the maid dbfab36a3e suddenly crumpled to b1ecfd4518 her knees at a113804e7c the foot of f056008406 the bed, bowing 6a5ccea7d6 her head low.d3177c4b25a218dc

“The count… The count… 0a8fc1bce7 passed away last night.”ee493931e5b3e442

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The maid’s words c998a8eefd were barely audible, 5c14823892 as if speaking b2da8f0045 them was forbidden. For a moment, 999f5ba64d Florianne stared blankly e6b3f55bee at the back b086f4d2d9 of the maid’s 3b772dcab8 head, unable to 8ddefe45dc process the words. Was this some 15f15808e3 tasteless joke? But it felt too 99877fa81c grim, too heavy to 68023582ea be a joke.b8697ca9670e73c2

‘Father? Dead?’ed3477b5aeb3e934

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“What are cfbd28187f you saying?” 5c9be85147 Florianne’s voice 31212e35a7 shook.cdd1a7e14d878ee3

“My lady, now isn’t c21a756ce1 the time to—please get 3544e6ec19 up and—”27ab606385ca60f0

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“What do you mean, 1e67425c34 my father is dead?!”ce4c86b5a5063316

Florianne’s voice 3e0c3f79f2 rose to 3b555e21c3 a scream, 1e902ca0cb cutting off 6c252bbefb the maid. The head maid c9ab19a6f9 clamped her lips 9276213cfe shut, tears streaming a4a875ad44 down her face 18a3931081 as if she a2a0714293 couldn’t bear to e7eabc7e36 speak further.60d5417e75569fc5

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Staggering, Florianne e4e1da1179 climbed out eab22b7320 of bed.0c92455d50c987db

“My lady!” b5ee3d6b46 The maid 68ab2e4a49 grabbed her 2438683230 arm in 3c3fb10ba1 a panic, edc700e64f but Florianne 31f6b78b66 shook her bc376c8970 off and 3f5bceef26 bolted for 5bc038ca72 the door. Emily, stationed 4dd0e576bf outside her c5754b3faa room, moved 81ed3c9d2f to block 9d2ae3a077 her path, 43968f302d but Florianne cd44e99637 shoved her a91c437133 aside with e02b67cdbe surprising strength b9f92342c3 and raced a182d1d025 toward the d595fa045b fifth floor.ea05e2bd09f52bfe

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Grabbing the cumbersome hem of her nightgown with both hands, she huffed and panted as she climbed the stairs, her mind a whirl of confusion. She had hated her father—perhaps even wished he would die sooner rather than later. But now…6c9c310d7f23d045

Reaching the fifth 7cee34ce45 floor, Florianne was 3c8dba98fe hit by a 7452e0188e sharp, nauseating scent. The acrid tang e7927aeed1 of dried blood.6bb62794d4c7ddb7

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Her trembling legs carried e81a3c25f2 her forward. Servants and 54599d3149 guards crowded 9188e5efc0 the hallway 745acee0c8 outside the 21b02f74b3 count’s office.38a876a5d045dfb7

‘He’s there,’ she thought, d7aefc65be moving instinctively.f98f98836e0c1879

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‘Father is there.’0f5ef86f818296ce

Without hesitation, she pushed 4010bb6ef2 her way through the 4766a4d5bc gathered crowd.0752beac190a7ae5

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“My lady! The young lady is e016751a72 here!”728306169a1a0d85

“Stop her! Don’t let her 14a90648f3 in!”682d304e83dfeb08

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The desperate voices 0186cc1ee6 of the servants c84da7807f rose in panic. Hands grabbed at 042d93252b her waist, shoulders, ac5bb37b14 and arms, trying 360e67f78f to hold her 08262223a0 back.66d85f9e64c75613

From the 34fe0facde other end 21c1d057a1 of the 7749aacced hall, Gallet d3aa66f34d turned to 37ce8cc522 look at 47b57d33fc her, his eccab99669 face a 3572595b54 mask of 89460cd99c despair. His pallor 2bc805c996 was ghostly, dbc552114d his expression ea6bdf5a4b hollow.1bbe8271f5dc9744

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“What’s happening? What is it?” 0ede67d356 Florianne demanded, her 6fc8c5a40e voice cracking. The chaos around c2eaba50dd her only fueled 4c3f6bffed her panic.e1d34fdecb1e8ac9

“Get Florianne back 1eec3bdb8b to her room! Now!” Gallet bellowed. She had never 645cb18c11 heard him speak 0b7f60763a like this before—his 651cc6b731 voice raw with c4768b3b1a anguish.4d9bbb12e92f67c6

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Through the gaps between bd19955f98 the shoulders of the b44d6bc06b servants holding her back, 070d80c50e Florianne glimpsed something.0541eb2855f31bdf

“Oh…”f7bf6cab8ff56220

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Her lips aea5a05b9d parted in 66ecc2d0f1 a breathless d2db3ff008 gasp. Beneath the table was f4871721b8 a pool of viscous bdc8d0e1bd liquid, congealed into an 7baf0684b4 ominous shape that resembled 77846b69d9 the gaping maw of f1ab6fbf85 hell. The table itself, 8efb4145b9 which should have c1e7385ae5 been brown, gleamed 97d853c824 red in the 4977ed8d23 dim morning light.76e0b320827a6615

Then she saw it.28be3fae5f30c55c

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On the table e93e133536 sat her father’s d7beb6825f head.0405e6481f25fc95

No longer part b847e26fc6 of a body, 5a3b0c664b it was grotesque bc1e776afc and lifeless, like 5f6aee30e0 a slab of d85194faed meat in a 24159fcb72 slaughterhouse. And yet, despite 04d5fa046d its mutilated state, 9153fb31a9 she recognized it 97245aefc5 immediately. That ‘thing’ 74729c245b was her 9956189318 father’s head.46524c5ae24562f7

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Florianne’s legs 4178ec410e gave out b3a15cdb8f beneath her, a1b2126e3f her body 2066c25850 crumpling to fd689da50a the floor. Her vision blurred 0f186bca9e into white as a7c29cf71c though trying to ce8589783f reject the horrific c2f72ad35f sight.ce8c5df8575b69b2

“My lady! Florianne!”2e82cdb5b09d3425

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She barely 8457d81010 registered the f2e2b42814 frantic hands 0e714af786 that caught cb8e80089f her falling 702a3cb3ea body. The overwhelming horror pulled 450e8e3ba7 her under, and she de3bedb47d lost consciousness.7747254ecab9c45c

* * *f2a2f9de9c7c8fb6

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The Buildrander estate ea6dc416ef was caught in d4cec30911 the throes of 7c596d7274 chaos.7ae13b3eed024af8

The mansion’s 5b7983b038 entrance buzzed d31f9c6e8c with activity c8960cc37a as numerous f3b1c084a1 carriages arrived, 830355c073 disgorging grim-faced 80bbc39cd5 nobles and 76250b1669 officials. In the empire, 7bfb24c2ac few crimes were 12e300aafb graver than the 5f044e95fa murder of a 3f99696825 noble.92bfa8d8524ac4ff

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When the 7fdcae1155 reports of b8d965f7bb Count Heliette 5acf91ad52 Buildrander’s murder b9bb92e037 reached the 63cf9a7e01 knights, they 909bfaf1d3 assumed he 29a4f54d64 had been b14b636cf0 poisoned or 1a50284125 stabbed. These were the e095ae7830 typical methods of 906b5dcec9 assassinating nobility, usually 4f171c11e6 for political reasons—silent, 52a05cd2d7 calculated, and discreet. Often, a 6d30f51732 bribed servant b725dc04e9 would slip 1594e73b77 poison into d3f2b4734e tea, or 77b51ce57b an assassin 37c41c4200 would strike 83c8fe091b in the b907d36900 dead of ee26a5079b night.91858b9f4fff2731

Commander Gildbet of the b4c786d675 Third Order sat in ff351ea915 his carriage, reading through 5d953f53f9 a dossier on the be3007cbe6 late count. While political motivations 305e6558ee were the most c1064b67e0 common cause for 9e2877fdfc noble murders, Heliette 623936f456 Buildrander’s case seemed 23c4f90298 to defy this 71207bc54b pattern.480ec2a8db4914bc

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The count had 81955e23ba been aligned with 66835364e7 the Ember Ducal b7e78c7dc4 House—the Emperor’s faction—and 252d251016 had shown no 65afc2b274 signs of betrayal 05ec5dbefb or actions that 3dee06c0e7 could antagonize the 287551b48e aristocratic faction. Instead, Gildbet’s attention feb25fed3a was drawn to e175f3d27f a small, almost d893c9e228 dismissive note at 6eb2b54f8d the bottom of e00264e537 the report:d41746f1c15e03a2

“The current head, Heliette Buildrander, has long been rumored among the commoners to engage in sexual exploitation, leading to widespread disdain among the lower classes.”8fcdf22fb9a34048

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“Who conducted this ee1b49671e investigation?” Gildbet asked c959de5495 sharply.e0e1b2cc9156179b

“Jack, I believe,” replied 72a7d3c24f his adjutant, Hadel. Gildbet frowned, annoyed 886211e8da that what could ecb0e603da be a critical fd2b8723a1 clue had been 71a75e5f90 treated so lightly. He made a mental cabf77f260 note to reprimand the 98083a7325 investigator later.bc6d0183508fe805

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As the db543fc87a carriage came 3c485d3fbe to a 5c6614d03a halt outside 14d0566116 the mansion, 41990a5d04 Gildbet set c1cbd6e78a aside the 8cfe4992ee report and b39cbb2fbd stepped out. The atmosphere 73c687dd4e around the 62f96fd09e estate was 7da3c1dfbb suffocating, as cc7b39073d if the 30c20dd497 house itself 6d851ad417 were teetering d7afc56e54 on a 535cbe34ae thin sheet c7f4a1fdfc of ice. Every servant he ba22e6ba4d passed looked pale 18eb66d617 and apprehensive, their 050c0ce7ab movements cautious, as 6ac4966b24 if afraid to 7696221d3e breathe too loudly.a5894e48ee26aef7

Ascending to the c166b8f583 fifth floor, where 83cb5974dc the crime scene bc1a4ec5f9 was located, felt bed2d6db1d like descending into 3504ecb530 a tomb. The closer they got, 0cb4937f74 the heavier the air 2e6af75c8c seemed to grow. As soon as Gildbet e3e92dce74 set foot on the 03813f3877 fifth floor, a retching c42567d278 sound echoed down the 8379cb3247 corridor.523be4d316cd53ef

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“Ughhh…”7a11c4c7cc2645df

The sound of someone 9f8db19ed7 vomiting violently made Gildbet c2dae9005f scowl.e249e29f002cc008

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“No one except for 24ea3c916a Gallet Buildrander, the count’s c85a3ad261 son, was supposed to 858daec35d access the scene. If that’s 1eb0f46f49 not him 1fa3f6b799 throwing up, e445b9705f it must 07214295a9 be one 07a36df7ce of our dea0300e54 knights. Who is it?” he b1608d9946 demanded.c7ca0e17b812f7a6

“Judging by eb7d159c56 the voice, 156b00879c it sounds 3d7b326b05 like John 7f527c6950 Will,” Hadel aaff70cfd1 replied hesitantly.a228c92670fccb22

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Gildbet’s scowl deepened. Crime scenes were 4fc5ebe0d9 always horrific, but 3f85179811 maintaining composure was 48599c064e paramount for effective 9b63e85ea3 investigation and leadership. For a d73492a39f seasoned knight be1996f16f like John, f07d749460 who had 0dd7080852 been in f30480a15f the order 2189d8c097 for five b3d76188d6 years, vomiting b380112dbb at the 281ab19da2 sight of a81949dde3 a body d1c14e5319 was inexcusable.eaba012f46a9c270

As they 592df7d237 neared the c7d52efa7c crime scene, 6f8c15de73 Gildbet spotted e977369530 John leaning a65dd270b9 against the 845d804322 wall, his 94ca23565a head pressed d08d2ef3ce to it 1b4e3e672b as he aa57dac57f expelled the 7b05753a8f contents of e04ddb5a5b his stomach. The acrid b82814f205 stench of 75f48ff4fb blood hung a234aa9ad9 thick in a3a17cc70a the air, 7242076ff8 even in 85e8a3cfc9 the corridor. Bracing himself, b2300734d2 Gildbet stepped 2efd03f839 into the 56e500d165 room.df853e799f28226d

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And froze.fa18698223dd019c

“Ugh…”18b0677ee6300cbb

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Gildbet barely suppressed d3898bac21 a dry heave, 5171345ea7 while Hadel clamped 401640d1b2 his hands over 94655e32b0 his mouth, failing bad27c2ef7 to do the c4d66d7da9 same.023394cbd413071c

The room, presumably the 39d1a2af5f count’s office, resembled a e047e2eedb vision of hell.803ad79869d6041e

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“…Get me a b9b0c39966 list of commoners ebed64312f who were victimized 787a69a9e7 by Count Buildrander. Immediately,” Gildbet barked. He had seen 1a099e35f8 enough to conclude: df720a2fd7 this murder reeked 71d279c7b3 of revenge.19fbfebada0d628e

The scene was a 1213ccf65f nightmare of pure hatred. Even the 024495aea7 air seemed 21a274c72d weighted with 2b3b2a8c11 malevolence, as 04867af28e though unseen 3b039d385e hands were da0e6ed00f clutching at e8aef95c0d Gildbet’s ankles, ab2233f823 trying to e3d5d23353 drag him 6c8cb7a847 into the fdedc76b7b abyss.e639414146414c72

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A massive pool of 23045f23f2 blood had congealed on 3ebd2bc039 the floor, its shape 35189be086 resembling an open maw. The table, 0e365b472f drenched in e067361e1d crimson, glistened dfbb5837f7 in the 49ca8ae58a pale light, c9d74afde3 as if d42842118f it had 9e4f89f2f8 always been e18e013fbb red.9a2b9a56929ece4e

On the 79b5610820 table lay dde5082d49 the count’s 70dbbe448b severed head, d72ebdc88d grotesque and 2c7af5c956 mangled. Its features f37f8786e0 were barely abbe44748f distinguishable, reduced d6235f5b61 to a dc87df525d pulpy mass 17e90d554e that defied ce52b55d9d recognition. Gildbet swallowed hard, e3baebbfd9 forcing down the b839c8d7a2 bile that rose d620dfb12c in his throat.0af6e6c6c2bc6af5

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