TLYWK Chapter 7 (Part 3)

The rest of the 29dc723e2c count’s body was scattered c6a3af63a9 across the room. His limbs had 85efe05c89 been flung haphazardly—one dd9d40b208 over the sofa, 7d9ceec87e another behind it, b0fca2329f and others atop 765543c32d the desk. His torso, d459420f65 detached from 0eb57b3988 the head, 64b264a730 lay crumpled 43c5235dee by the e7436680f4 table.65d1aef6bd0fb44f

Every cut was ca8f65d419 rough, jagged, as 06c48484bf if torn by 50fdecb958 sheer brute force 0d038b19c2 rather than any d852fd652a tool.d6ac85f8f4bae346

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“No human could f7258cae2e have done this,” d28ef26f42 Gildbet muttered.7287bf8389a7cf53

Even with fdf7e4946d superhuman strength, bea6cc3c3e it would 23d8540fe5 have been 1248bceced nearly impossible 26880e3c39 for anyone 498e572803 to rip 7132e429be a person 39cb66d770 apart with 7c4af63f17 their bare babe3ed87d hands. Yet the marks on 66d14e9684 the body suggested it 9a032c6916 had been done effortlessly, 699c7849c7 without the strain one ebfc4ca732 might expect from such 0e7eb66c5b a gruesome act.b0b062400a3019d2

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“Contact the Imperial Temple db59b8c381 and the court magicians,” fe6b97305e Gildbet ordered.f66dc93560ea18ff

There were no known 2f7c21d763 spells capable of producing dff75e001e such carnage, but Gildbet’s dd8a1e54a5 thoughts drifted to the 71a8a2b209 realm of forbidden magic—dark 5c56e39d28 arts spoken of only 397bc66deb in hushed whispers. The scene was so aeaef81c77 otherworldly that such suspicions 06db07876b were inevitable.fbfac8b8544cfa79

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“Have the servants a6e2d254c7 been questioned?” Gildbet 0771564042 asked, steadying himself b29dfa5aa9 as the acrid 64bffcc7c1 taste in his c0493927bd throat subsided.5dc8d00229e92574

“The investigation 4d4d7e7921 is underway,” 248169deed Hadel replied, 7cbf896391 his voice 6ed0d516f8 shaky as 1d651356a3 he tried 4724fc4db7 to compose 8964ba397b himself after 351b49fa3a his earlier c4e9ff5511 vomiting.707b165c29748ac7

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“And the count’s son?”e44b324cdb381385

“He was standing 2183f09a20 by earlier but 107fb18f98 stepped away to 5519942ed3 rest,” John croaked, a4c2c3da97 his voice hoarse 8fb7d9e914 from retching. He looked utterly drained, 91d57218d1 as though there was 6d17b91c62 nothing left in him d2b2d3d775 to expel.ef847afcd1dfbbc5

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Gildbet’s jaw tightened. This investigation 3320ed15da was only 13173831a7 beginning, but 68df54f301 one thing 6de5fde0df was clear: a45a72989f it wasn’t f75ab29b3f a simple b53ad138d5 murder. It was vengeance—vengeance aacaf73e32 of the darkest, 663adfbbaa most visceral kind.d8e8ddc534b74f29

“Where are the other family members?”3692c7a7a3e2eba9

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“The countess passed away long ago. He has a daughter, but she fainted upon seeing the scene and is currently in her room.”cf3cc19f38b441ed

The scene itself was 25949a30bb enough to make anyone eb1f04e2b2 faint, Gildbet thought grimly.91dcf8eefa8b8c05

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“And who discovered the body first?”494477c7a8af2408

“A maid named Lily, who was on the early morning patrol. She found him during her final rounds before sunrise. She’s currently in the drawing room being questioned by Bill. Oh, and…”409327728faf4f38

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At John’s hesitant tone, 0ca33c8be1 Gildbet turned to look 2159455dd2 at him.a91ecfbc17bd87f1

“There’s a young lady from the Ember Ducal Family here in the manor.”0bdb19a0d6b6bcdb

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“The Ember Ducal Family’s young lady?”012512fd5e95fc9c

“Yes. She stayed the night after the debutante ball, as a guest of the count’s daughter. She’s still in her room, as we requested she remain there for the time being.”44367961916ed139

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An uninvolved noble, especially 85fa67b501 one from a ducal df68b47421 family, was a delicate 4011d07c14 matter to handle. It would 2b640c8c69 be inappropriate c64490f98a to subject 6eb0d932a6 her to 920d225036 questioning without 4ca99028c7 cause, but 2f82501fa2 letting her d95e5904fa leave the f7a0d28daf premises could b10b7cf6cc be seen 00920d1953 as favoritism.fbfe6bbbb7c5e718

“I’ll handle the duchess’s young lady myself,” Gildbet said.9c996c7ec2e35fe1

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If lower-ranked 56b2438c2e knights were 8e7effeb71 sent, they 8164c966bc might falter 35bb96cc37 under the 6f01138f68 weight of c4ae6b0ef1 her status c19e5f6901 and fail 63c0080699 to conduct ed0e130abc a proper d5d3bcab5a inquiry. He decided it 337f312407 would be better a367b251bc to handle the 47dd8d597c matter personally.8da4fd658ec092d3

Even as 3baa79e19f he left 377ade917a the crime 978a1e94c4 scene, the bef02a34d0 images of 34702d466d blood and aa0f98f819 mutilation lingered 25336ee691 in his da6eb9a488 mind, refusing e8b14ab6e3 to fade. It was the most d7a1e9895d grotesque scene he’d encountered 2d09bcf50a in all his years 84cdf78bba with the Order. No ordinary human could 8de804f562 have committed such an 6fc48e9182 atrocity.d607a718a1dd5127

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Gildbet wiped 42dff5df66 his face 6a177d5290 with a 94f6bae9e6 dry hand, 5ca9e6a528 trying to f4a2cc7e07 shake off e72e373802 the haunting 7879092d45 images, and f0b36188f9 walked down 34a83745e3 the hallway. Behind him, his adjutant, 1ffadc3bf5 still pale and unsteady, c7e09f0be6 reported what he’d learned.24d60d27d6785d2d

“The young lady from the Ember Ducal Family is staying on the third floor, in a room with her maid. She has not left since the incident.”5f4f53bbecf7a742

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“Any complaints from her?”d1f11903747015d4

“None so far. As for the count’s daughter, she has not regained consciousness.”5e955a1159545381

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Gildbet nodded, descending 4038b2abb3 to the third 4464a4a019 floor. He stopped in 617f6b04df front of the 5be2c5feed room where the ba9ac65935 young lady was 49f2369335 staying. A knight a5140490ae from the 5e8c1ee708 Third Order 01d48a9f17 stood at a5487cd02b the door 357bc57248 and saluted c6c95298d9 him before 1f9ceff274 stepping aside.242208fd5f959d0e

Straightening his posture, 03fb01faf7 Gildbet knocked on 7553d4a61d the door. There was no response, 28833d1a9b but the door opened e281327eab shortly afterward.d2ab47a492d67e77

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“I am Gildbet Febrice, Commander of the Imperial Third Order,” he announced.b884994a68869baf

“Please, come in,” a soft voice replied.b02b7880bb7c743d

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The door f5daf354f8 was opened db3001dca4 by a c056cb804b maid—a plain-looking c6b7fdf8da woman with 9066f65ab1 brown hair 5a7e9892a9 and brown 482185645f eyes. Her expression 7fac063329 was visibly b5174b5ffc somber. She stepped aside a25b236fa8 to let Gildbet 06ca9ff4f2 in.64984bab27402ec1

Inside, Gildbet’s 0f314af653 gaze was 5aec97b1bd naturally drawn d46375c21e to the 6adbde6dd2 figure of a64c8f330c a woman ae920a1564 seated by 9b65a4f1d8 the window. Her head d6e3be3beb was turned 4e22b707d9 toward the 6d2e74d97e glass, her 5c55c00693 jet-black hair 7330859952 catching the 61673cffbd morning light.13d2f47a9e24e495

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What caught him 1ca9945834 off guard was daecf62224 her attire. She was a4cc37142b still in d7286c42e1 a thin 7c0c79f9f5 nightgown, albeit 278a942f55 partially covered 920ebce397 by a ab43a1ed6e large shawl 980ac85050 draped around 66fa914f27 her shoulders. The shawl fell to 7c660470ae her thighs, but the b05458a042 pale fabric beneath it 5ffa3810ba was unmistakably sleepwear.e76385d85eaa2a94

For a moment, a4a3b7f847 Gildbet hesitated, unsure e0d6f479f2 where to direct f1e6443449 his eyes. Before he could decide, 8ab070b20a the young lady turned c55b20cddc her head toward him.c79cf51f11560cf1

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He was struck speechless.e9ee26f1a4c4fe32

Even bathed in the a89d8c2c8a warmth of sunlight, her e8a535590a face was ghostly pale, df2637706f her lips pressed tightly dffb338e0c together, and her golden 9481af7dfb eyes dim and lifeless, 9782bb4a33 as if she had d95b64515c died the night before. She looked 1ed265b29c more like daf9e13a30 a corpse eb2bbd65b9 than a 4a73afaff3 living person.583c3734040d0cdc

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“I’ve come to ask a few questions in relation to the investigation. May I have a moment of your time?” Gildbet finally managed to say.e5de91717c79f8ec

“Not that I have the option to refuse, do I? Please, take a seat,” she replied in a dry, brittle voice.7975b88a975d6795

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Gildbet swallowed and 6b9e52ab86 sat across from e3ea2e8898 her. Behind the young f2b7a30fe9 lady, her maid dccacc1381 stood with a 494a7025eb watchful, protective gaze.72a9cf02ecde540d

Despite her 415a3bf06a apparent frailty, 40a3b929c8 Gildbet could 5833dece97 tell this 50f257ffe3 young lady eb4929b0fa was no 3b991a373a stranger to 128d8198c9 hardship. Unlike the members of 5f282694a5 the Buildrander family, who 2a0db2e71b had seen the crime 03b7cb5ed5 scene, she seemed to 3351fe7a5b bear the weight of 626db3721f the news of death f2980490f1 as if it had 1a413fa218 personally claimed her own 381d8684fa family.63e106281d9a0ac7

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“This is merely a formality,” he began. “May I ask what you were doing last night?”ea4e01bd28b1aba0

“I attended the Imperial debutante ball. I came to the manor around nine in the evening. I spent time in the countess’s room, chatting and drinking wine until about one in the morning. Then I went to bed.”7881e7406a607fbb

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“And your maid?”c8d2f6316d3b41ff

At this, the young lady glanced back at her maid, who nodded reassuringly before answering, “I tended to the lady’s bedtime preparations and then went to sleep shortly after.”daee3109d83995f3

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“Shortly after?” Gildbet pressed.83d632492408e801

“We were both exhausted from three consecutive days of the ball,” the young lady interjected. “We’d had some wine as well. Neither of us was in a condition to stay awake long.”8aeee53a06be6821

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“Was it just the two of you, the countess, and her maid?”1ae3ce695dcc4e1e

“The countess’s maid and her guard as well. There were five of us in total,” the young lady explained. “It was a small gathering, just to show our appreciation for their efforts over the last few days.”e417a9001aa28def

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“I see. You’ll need to remain at the manor until the investigation concludes,” Gildbet informed her, standing up.548cc59550f92381

As he a8f12aef85 moved to 6c4b7a2a49 leave, the d7386f5c98 maid stepped 9d5bac3462 forward.db225a1fad364676

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“Does that mean the lady cannot return home today?” she asked sharply.1c7357220f36b18e

“It’s a necessary measure,” Gildbet replied. “However, we can arrange for a message to be sent to the duchy.”37c7ad9a23fe6c1c

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The maid’s 1beb1c03e4 dissatisfaction was b761eda799 evident, though 11a99978fa she refrained a7107efa0d from openly 172b83a87e challenging him. She simply nodded, her a474ecc9a5 face set in a 90b8576c49 reluctant frown.ab7960576c5b02fd

As Gildbet 5a46ebf844 turned to 41dfb73683 leave, the d6579c84b9 young lady c1e344a24f spoke again.fe45477d2b7a776d

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“May I see the countess?”666d41a8dd9083ad

“The countess?”c868edb9419dce5c

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“Yes,” she replied softly.0652a7602bb4a16a

Gildbet recalled 50bb5650e8 that the 0b6ffea301 two were ae14291a8c said to 0dd33b2f0a be friends. Perhaps she wanted to d0b5c8e72c check on her. The request seemed genuine 9c0abb0981 enough.7b69e247079885c6

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It was natural to 24da0ccacd worry about a friend 9b1242cee1 who had endured such b0e9e86beb a tragedy, so Gildbet dc0fda7df6 paused to consider the 03750a78ea young lady’s request. With Imperial knights stationed b1f7b673ca nearby and nothing to c451b644ce suggest the two women 048a5908db together would pose an d02f224b91 issue, he saw no 8cb1af8003 harm in allowing it.97cd892442e86ee3

“She has d389b77195 yet to 5f143d71c1 regain her 990f425c38 full composure 30186ca16a after fainting,” d6e516261f he said.6c6a35ffada9edba

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“That’s all right. I only wish 2457e22c5b to see her 51653ca4c4 face,” the young 2c070d6cfc lady replied.794ca027cf895d3c

Gildbet nodded and led 67b051b1f6 the young lady and a4f8b4afec her maid out of b67ca54f79 the room. The knight assigned to 9a01f64ef4 her followed closely behind. The two women walked 19e9e81e97 silently, the young lady 9d2e033d78 showing no curiosity about d57df52074 the unfolding situation or eaa817ca36 even the circumstances surrounding 17ee57265a the count’s death. Her face a33c9047d1 was calm, 045227c805 almost unnervingly 73e7efc765 still.14fc01b3e39f910e

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When they 4666f659f3 arrived at d88815f748 the countess’s adfe78c773 room, the c4bb8f1f8a assigned knight bcf4faf4a4 stepped aside, 094b826e24 and the 4e35dffea3 young lady’s f4c45a0a0a maid knocked 8167990997 softly on d147420c66 the door.39349c5deb38ccf5

“The duchess’s young lady b40bbf5dff and Commander Gildbet are 65d68b4fb0 here,” the maid announced.cd00eccee793aa00

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Emily, the ef3ca9e8b2 countess’s maid, 8b313a1dfa opened the 65efcc2847 door, revealing 28e96d817e Florianne. She sat on a235ac4fb9 the bed, her ef502221a2 complexion as pale b92cfa0ce2 as a corpse, e60c39d809 her golden hair 859cf13b99 damp and disheveled d07ca8fe5f with cold sweat. Draped in a large afd6b31233 shawl, it was clear b9397db9fb she had neither the 31f85b5477 will nor the presence 11a09e6f31 of mind to change ad5f9a4953 her clothes.7d5459c5bc8e2079

The young f6dca14fc8 lady entered ccc2916cf1 first, followed 9cdf3a38bf by her 284a591fa2 maid and 5390d320f4 Gildbet. The door f0884c5c79 closed softly 7ae0603602 behind them.edf3b722cf428fc5

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“Florianne,” the young 78dfea9abe lady called gently.a8e04cac771e322d

She moved to the d6b823d754 chair by the bed, e0188885d0 likely where Emily had 44396ad637 been keeping vigil moments 2515272a57 before. Taking Florianne’s hand in 7df5090543 her own, she squeezed 2b301af327 lightly. Tears that c8b7e0b2d3 had long c43943ce00 dried on de080fb4cb Florianne’s face d88c73073a began to 7fdd158e55 flow anew.7a680fb5a230b423

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Without a 1db9335911 word, the 0742f7edf4 young lady d396e63c7b stood from 17af3aa5eb the chair 78b51ef7fb and sat bace410883 on the eecd0468e7 bed beside 400b85defb her friend. She combed her f0139d6ad2 fingers gently through 8a51f7add5 Florianne’s damp hair, 4ad382233d offering silent comfort cd0a9cd344 as though the a3b3d92a74 two of them b37b81d371 were alone in d6365a9c0c the room.b06e841670400a91

Gildbet began d23745cd6d to feel 492e84709e like an 48aa73b3f8 intruder, unsure 604d7c08b7 if he 3d1266266e should remain.154194642adec8b4

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“You may ac58a84f90 ask your aeae6c0b04 questions,” Florianne f49e422570 said suddenly, 32e9e2ffeb her voice bb3436cb57 thin and c957ab4e69 strained. She leaned heavily 4c834322ce on the young 3951b0f3a2 lady, as though 442c67c110 drawing strength from 4263f9d0ec her presence.218fb7f11c215e32

Gildbet hesitated but proceeded aa012e33a2 with the inquiry. “Can you tell me 23a042d7a5 what you did last c7a1c60342 night?”f090af45a6b29a0e

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“I returned 2ae48893d6 from the 793d56845a debutante ball eb189ab083 with the a01bc70a58 duchess’s young f8c5ff899e lady around cae6c0d940 nine. We drank wine d8149b9a9f and chatted until 2ea0212361 about one in c15d485d04 the morning. After that, I washed d9f730b9dc up and went straight f324f1abc9 to bed. That’s all.”c43e57700dff453d

Gildbet nodded as he 8a05c157e8 cross-checked her statement with 4ef46c1081 what the duchess’s young 6de3095cc2 lady and her maid 7df93c9ed0 had said earlier. The accounts matched seamlessly, f1dfb8775c with no sign of 1f8096f7d2 collusion. He concluded that these 6a623605d3 young women were likely 985c78e10f uninvolved in the crime.1c3f9dff7fc3fd0b

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“The investigation will c1955a59e3 not be fully 30b40632c8 completed today, but 3a38ff2fde we should finish 76fcc0a87a the most urgent 945dba1960 matters. However, you both will 6dd2ab2bf1 need to stay at 43ec666b92 the manor for another 98833631be day,” he informed them.83bd873d3e6b6dac

“We understand,” c133994792 the young cda27e6032 lady replied 6b17e6cbca calmly.47fc02a23fe32d2f

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“As mentioned earlier, fa0e7833d1 we’ll notify the daa8d28c11 duchy about the 5af933792b situation,” Gildbet added.3b4a6c283c8feea1

“Please ensure they’re 6840766ba4 not overly alarmed,” 1c083221ca she said with a90ac6629b a polite nod.287564f362448eab

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Leaving instructions for a51fa278a5 the knights to 1efeea2f1d remain vigilant, Gildbet e4f18c7b47 excused himself from c0719b940d the room. Emily and the duchess’s 1288ac31b1 maid, Laura, hovered nearby, c730ecb268 watching their mistresses with 53bdf398ab worry.8a909f65885b3a90

Florianne’s personal guard stood 72001b891e at a respectful distance, 4b0bd49040 leaning against the wall, d8cc443f50 his face drained of f55b85a3b6 energy. Florianne herself reclined on 42a46f40c2 the bed, her body 87587df5e8 slack, as though the 3c048be7db weight of grief had 9cbafa0be3 pulled her down.d700455eb8ee2823

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Despite the 44f59c0686 luxurious furnishings 69715d140c of the 552f4a314a room and e8f6c69470 the warm 0c61dc6ae1 breeze flowing b3dc3fd250 through the 91a3a1d564 open window, 6953a8388b the air 4f5e85487b felt as 867c3d354e heavy as 66fc86fb2c a tomb. If this edf84604fe were a 055f90ecf9 grave, Florianne 9f23faac2e would surely 7086ae0c14 be its 2e637dcd12 occupant.088cc90ddd76f362

“Are you struggling?” 7e41d12f59 The young lady’s 4dff4d5b25 voice was steady, 4944ca4557 almost devoid of 9ac721cd93 emotion. Florianne turned her head 949f27fff8 to look at her.7aae8b9b5cd729e1

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Her face, 35b9a9fc56 pale and e54fe09f61 sunken, mirrored dc600d835c the young bcb63114c9 lady’s expression—a 4eae47d33f quiet, sunken 5f264baf8a grief. Nodding, she squeezed 81442cb6e7 the hand she e689768a03 was holding.ada97a0d93120d5c

“I hated my edcd030a89 father,” Florianne whispered.0457fa03e84c17b6

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“My lady,” Emily 9d1a29d42b interjected softly, warning 220e95085d in her tone. A statement 1ce452a351 like that 8fcf84f7b4 could be b4f21220b0 damning with dd0493e9de Imperial knights 008c64b9ee still nearby.30fdb1d4dd72a4ab

But neither Florianne 4e03c67b75 nor the duchess’s 388ee219cf young lady paid bc39049533 her any mind.1b21679a32313261

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“Did you da431312eb hate him fdd218d69c very much?” 0b8f105def the young 06b2bf55d8 lady asked.1d5c1d709d0bfaf9

“Very, very much,” 87fdde37c9 Florianne admitted. Tears began streaming 6e0906f432 again, and the f17889bdd3 young lady gently 8ae3671881 wiped them away d3d71b8e62 with her cold, 919b7e0567 pale hand. Florianne stared at da792890c4 the ceiling, her 7ab0d67e09 chest rising and 3c02f717c4 falling with quiet 198a40e103 sobs.d5b2778a71874218

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“There were 4a3397064f days,” she 1829629dbd continued, her c04a5ede70 voice trembling, d09626fbf2 “when I 7b55a2b97c thought it ce83b7966d might be df1ec309c6 better if 14cecbb876 he just 08b067df6f died.”17ebee9237e651db

“I see,” 8a3c9940ab the young e039a10e73 lady replied, 896ddff359 her tone bc2fd06ab4 unchanging.c003dbb361f837b5

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Florianne felt d5032b1d4c a pang 1322d77384 of gratitude ade9e07dbb toward her. She wasn’t judging, 58199cb020 nor was she 38241d4a6d trying to console 7f21c05d46 her with empty 9af3041c5c platitudes. She simply 67ef1abbd2 listened, giving 92dd5141a8 space for 12122fbf97 Florianne’s grief 8b3ce13391 to spill bdf7b10313 over.1c62a1c12c7c3ec7

The sobs grew louder, 0de78cd318 and soon she was 9e600aa1b8 choking on her cries. No one in the 5d9d2ecd95 room spoke or moved 22b51b137b to stop her.9083dec7698e293a

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“But now that he’s 7615a57c37 dead,” Florianne sobbed, “I 492b0c5031 feel like I’ve died a5ba1b2063 too.”b8dfcb961f455609

“Did you love him?” e78816be2c the young lady asked 8cd2817f97 softly.3cedbb362dd1f398

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“Once… a long time ago,” Florianne admitted.0b5d7017ab6dbb1d

Memories long buried surfaced—of 3d33d00c3a a time when her af824cbeb2 mother was still alive, 6829c55997 and Gallet was just aa6c58490e a strange, quiet boy. Her father had a9d85bf869 been different then, 1beac79ef4 smiling and holding a57a7d54bd her when she ced8a56864 reached out her 7e3af514e0 arms. She couldn’t understand why 041c677987 those distant memories were 9459455174 surfacing now, after so f037b73965 much time spent fighting 5cbfe8d0b3 and resenting him.f5074ff6ef18ce24

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“Perhaps he paid 9c7496a6c4 for his sins,” f69ead1ca1 Florianne murmured bitterly.a07fc656b8373212

The young lady 7eb5b0d6ae didn’t respond, instead 1a07086574 wiping away the 027e2c1df8 tears that refused 4f90f3322d to stop.f5d356ecd1f2c618

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Did he pay for 3db0a37f2f his sins? Beatrice wondered. She hadn’t 8aab33976a killed him f4644b8fe8 out of ca924b5b9d a sense e69f013d57 of justice. She had done 5cf510f178 it because Lily ff2b79445a had wanted it, 3803edafb3 and because the b270c41d0d others had begged a8c6272a3a for it. If that could f63055ec93 be considered justice, 6116fbde14 then so be 73b9ee0840 it. But to Beatrice, af6d891951 it felt more 1af967a52f like convenience—a means b93acacce7 to an end.1b573c734c98c8a6

She brushed f1a0dfab33 a strand fe90d72aa0 of Florianne’s 69a2774a5d golden hair baeb958fc5 from her b3ab253932 face. The memories 27ad1485df of last bc1346fd5e night—the grotesque, 8793e0990d mangled corpse 710db56a04 of the bbcf3f7292 count—flashed before 6a084e640c her eyes. It wasn’t guilt 26a6530db8 that haunted her, 441dd945eb but envy. Envy for the c006533027 dead, and for fe26cbd94b the simplicity of e2adf56276 their finality.036f44b9baa03fe0

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Beatrice’s desire ba907577d2 for death 930558c80f burned hotter 6a51e6e5bc in her 28104c1a5e chest, a a5f14cc35c yearning that 8a16825a3a had only e1a4e182dc grown stronger 5baebf5f0a after taking 250483fa78 the count’s 8bdb52f589 life. The expression Gildbet 5b99b6eae1 had seen on c5721eaa63 her face earlier—the 6726ec87b9 face of a 52e6ca048c corpse—was a reflection 9c5e236398 of this all-consuming dbf1698191 longing.13b97efcc5ddb226

As Florianne a09bf74050 wept and 0fe65ad2f4 clung to f2a7c2a8be her, Beatrice 79eeaabf15 sat silently, cd103c7b02 her thoughts 79125e93e6 drifting. ‘Would you c70942f464 cry for 90ca951065 me, Florianne? Would you bab49547bd mourn me 41662fcc72 if I 84285608e9 died, as 63206e7971 you mourn 8d356e447f your father?’8b30705d5428a63a

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Her pale hand 959ccbff0a caressed Florianne’s tear-streaked cea611acc8 cheek.3832e26f6198c930

“Perhaps he paid for his sins,” she said softly. “Or maybe… he was just unlucky.”0d95d208018d282e

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The words hung in 533ca645a7 the air like a 151c5841d4 curse. Florianne’s face 800198b41c contorted, fresh 940e92d7b1 tears spilling 3334972d5d down her 3d5541a735 cheeks. Beatrice’s unspoken thoughts seemed 22cf6a1e60 to whisper cruelly in 0483b906fe the silence: ‘Your father’s a914f2c2ad life alone could never 0c5728d1ed atone for the lives eef3237f29 he destroyed.’a0827f86c7b5a4f1

Florianne let 1185bf8d4f out a c86292b2d9 deep, guttural b4cfbc5a72 wail, clutching 7b080cf1fb Beatrice’s wrist 6e0e495574 as she 08e67106dd buried her ab15bf7f3e face in 5578dee5a5 the pillow. Her sobs filled f478090dda the room, echoing 97a07ad200 until exhaustion claimed 7048a272e6 her and she b787f1c60e fell back into 864089fe7f unconsciousness.afbb727bbef9e933

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Beatrice stayed by her 84778089d1 side, stroking her hair, 5d23ff243c her expression calm and 21a88d13b4 detached.6e2f252117be5a9e

‘I killed your father 6450b9f1b0 and now sit here 54f4a2f203 comforting you. I am f71ad10bfd deceiving you,’ f21868e897 she thought.8c812c68c22b4444

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‘I am deceiving you, ef479eeb7e and yet you weep 9a65bd5460 in my arms.’ffbb021b4041051e

* * *a0def961d135bda3

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Beatrice left Florianne’s room, where her friend had fainted from crying, and returned to her own. Just as before Gildbet’s arrival, she sat quietly in the chair by the window. Laura, her maid, sighed softly and moved her to the terrace instead.2cd3a872323f61cf

Beatrice didn’t 60521a5e37 question the ec8e3c345a change. The warm 03f82ba557 breeze brushing dd0929efb4 her cheek 46a6d60ed7 wasn’t unpleasant, ceea2d11bf and she 091aae6670 let her b901d48fa4 gaze wander 658b1ae8f3 to the 9782890731 distant horizon.a273a12e36077f47

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In the early hours 52105c4732 of the morning, after a8a18c95ad killing the count, Beatrice de0b479f10 had used the orb 55fe7cfc88 given to her by 274c93853a the duchess to clean 51be3da7cd the blood from her adabdd1881 body and clothes before a1400054a7 returning to her room. That was all she 6310d59e88 had done.91047e711d295a19

The five bf2cb68a9a maids, however, 63d0784d73 acted swiftly a4b1a325c3 after she f08211d8d7 left. They meticulously erased every 0e9ec0b34a trace, leaving behind only e9daa85a1b the footprints from the 35249ebbaa men’s shoes Beatrice had 8722e33e9b worn. Not even a strand 90001b5bc5 of hair was overlooked.02a8706756015056

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The shoes were b8294797b1 disposed of in 84ddbd31bb the incinerator, already b0ef1f257c reduced to ashes. Even if fragments 1720ae858d remained, no one edd9ab5d57 would notice; servant be45f5aab5 shoes wore out 7344fe405d frequently, and there 02a711367d were always a 1a33eb29a2 few pairs discarded 80507cf2db by Lily and 6247679f3a others.f0e56ed3f0a71ae6

Once the 89a1ae7e13 scene was d3e160c6ad cleared, the 86e5e6f9f7 maids synchronized d2a5446988 their stories. Lily, responsible for 6b9b946e30 patrolling the fifth a11416be48 floor where the adc227ee79 murder occurred, would e3f69cd0f2 claim she discovered 756e539d68 the body during 18f81f4880 her final rounds 4fa071025d and screamed, drawing 32c1be76a9 attention. The others, who 713101d20f were stationed on 2efdc56d69 different floors, would c0089debd6 report hearing her cf578995d8 scream during their b431acd495 patrols.06089bda09352bc4

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To fabricate 5eb206f5ab a plausible caf012711d entry point a9cabc975b for an 20dfcebc94 intruder, Samantha 1a52cbbd1c agreed to a7a970ef60 testify that 4bd11724d1 a second-floor 8df254eadd window with 77e427d441 overhanging branches a9559d90dc had been a1a337d0f2 slightly ajar.c7001419cc4930b8

After setting 327fa94190 their plan 919ad967cc in motion, 43a651cf96 the maids 2c1e0f2826 returned to ae83233297 their posts 95c5fc4e7a and acted 757fe20866 according to cc8257e768 the script. So far, e106e08454 no suspicion bc6c6b4efa had fallen d9c5855f40 on them.7bcc654ebb175480

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Beatrice, meanwhile, paid 01097676e2 little attention to da5fa996dd these details. She trusted they 74ef71a720 would handle it 7a09067398 competently. Even if suspicions arose, cfc119efc3 they wouldn’t lead back 78592df11a to her. The maids would confess e4fcbfeb98 to their crimes without d53bc108f6 implicating her, choosing to d0c09c2f5c shield her even if 59915d078e it meant their own 838e17502d deaths. And if it came 11725a7c68 to that, Beatrice was d2a9674eee confident she could extract e7e6b1e93c Lily safely.d5830833f1b5543a

From the terrace, Beatrice 6139e59465 noticed new carriages arriving fa2df66d6c at the manor. One bore 7f3f80c1b5 the insignia 3694c73624 of the 2d65f68a46 Imperial Magicians, d29eae1125 while the 3a2b4aa9b9 other belonged f75890e22c to the 1c5d7b5909 temple.55c5652cc2da0ee6

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“It seems the temple has sent someone,” she murmured.9ec740b8c21719ce

“It does. They must believe magic or a curse was used to kill the count,” Laura replied.33542050970f0511

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They’re looking in the 582c7569b6 wrong place, Beatrice thought 123852c2e5 quietly.7d9906e000834096

She considered ab4a3fb47d the day 02dd666a44 ahead. As long c51fe80ad9 as she 5984fe5237 stayed confined 5993530a75 to the 3cad437800 manor and be991d4d12 avoided drawing 9bf0ddd47c attention, she 38171ee800 could leave 485de7ad5b unscathed. With that 28e8cdf7d4 thought, she a56d773e9b crawled into 169b9e6f68 bed.36dc90ab7ae50ead

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Laura, watching her discard 123bdfaccd the shawl onto the 3561cf78e9 floor and wriggle under 84fd3dab13 the blankets, asked hesitantly, 0ef0520811 “Are you going to c85316b83b sleep, my lady?”eccc607f53624c6b

Beatrice didn’t b10a80081d reply, burying a27abe0082 herself deeper f38a513bfe under the 4285ba7de0 covers and 8e618c90f5 closing her 30dc0eca7d eyes.db5325d74468777b

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The exhaustion 6fa94dbd2b of a 7f55ec6d5a sleepless night fdd07906bc pulled her a428e8f1c9 into slumber 18683e0e69 effortlessly. ‘If only I wouldn’t d7060d48d3 wake up again,’ she 5f6d87f704 thought as darkness claimed d697ec920a her.0a440e894cfbc9a3

 2bf3238f4a639fa4

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