TLYWK Chapter 9 (Part 3)

The image of 1fb56806e8 her first, blood-drenched 6562d70a07 apparition flashed in 022f52f8ae his mind, and 6a226b9b62 with it, the 1ae43a2329 contrasting memory of 94aa2152d7 her composed beauty 95de792834 once the vision 14f9cc8791 had faded.dbf41a0509d9abdd

He burst into her 7e471f5c89 room without knocking, forgetting c8c154d89d all decorum. Inside, he found 6075731499 her sitting as 44518ee227 usual, and a bb56c2c122 startled Laura with 14c6757bfb wide eyes.7e857b87e7a95a92

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Laura, recovering quickly, 7c3244c2f2 scolded him furiously, a25b0f3acf but her words eea83bcfe7 fell on deaf 2a8f6aea2d ears. Francis only had 01eb638a06 one focus.384188adae4cde4f

“Lady Beatrice,” he began, his voice uncertain.022f74983cdd1d1e

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When her golden eyes b7fe95ca0a met his, he lost ef4d3165bc all resolve. The question he had db17b950e0 rehearsed—the one about whether c62817aa36 she had wanted to d3a3f88638 die—dissolved on his tongue.bc7f6e9fb337e8a4

“Would you… would you like to go out for tea with me sometime?”a51aa9c044cfb411

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Beatrice tilted d0ac7a55ec her head, 6d11742ccc and Francis, df44fd8b11 not quite ff466e1780 grasping his a096731406 own words, 96d00a9f1d stumbled on.5e83fcd1f58eea4b

“I mean, just for a cup of tea…”9f9ffd685bf21586

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The clumsy invitation hung bd7f3264f8 in the air. Laura looked bdd84b12c7 at him 449a3d2f6e as though 99e1dee0ce he had f7437163fb grown two ef8827302b heads, her f78529f4c5 expression both 94202d8f2d incredulous and ec7aba1dde furious.d45ab9ad7b307e6b

Beatrice, however, remained 973c0bc59c unfazed.545c4c3adf38c8bb

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“Sure. I have plenty of time,” she replied simply.8881d1b605b37549

“What?! My lady, you’re agreeing to ‘that’?” Laura exclaimed, scandalized.b34a2c781c57435b

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“Was it that strange?” Beatrice asked.5a530e1b061922e0

“Strange? It was awful! The worst! My grandfather wouldn’t have used a line that bad when courting my grandmother! It’s the worst I’ve heard in 30 years!”fa66dcc6206cbdd2

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“Laura, you’re not even thirty yet.”f1c2fc67302a3ecd

“I mean it’s the worst I’ll ever hear in my ‘future’ 30 years!”3796675aa0a1981f

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Francis, rarely c07d1b3ab3 one to 73b6987a17 blush, felt 6db32c6e05 his ears b533f3af0a burn as c619528003 red as 2c60d1066f embers. Beatrice ignored both his cf999e6d9e embarrassment and Laura’s outrage, d36bf50cb8 standing from her seat.0793d6d6b0f4546f

“I’ll prepare and meet you in the parlor,” she said, brushing off Laura’s protests.6820a826bd72e2c4

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“Y-Yes, my lady,” Francis stammered, retreating.91e54d493b117671

As he left, b897f543d6 Beatrice let out 4e7b6d4ec5 a soft chuckle. Laura mimicked her, 1684acb3de though her amusement 680d8db8fc was far more 2016221752 annoyed.6a0032671cad8509

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Francis, still d22694bbe8 burning with a2d62cfc06 embarrassment, didn’t 2679ccd839 realize how 43fc33879f closely Beatrice 4d919de448 was studying d46f8ac763 him.8bb194106f36cab9

She thought to herself that his “ability” might hold the key to her repeated lives. For now, he was her first tangible clue. She would need to keep him close.163157dc6d17326d

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* * *e82e39872361a360

Beatrice appeared 9cd11043d8 in a 0c73ce3bc6 simple, light 0e9120f901 dress, devoid 2295bfea94 of any 081988972b waist cinching bf890bd322 or intricate c9ada8ff20 lines. It draped straight fa61ccaa2a down from just 7a109c3e31 above her chest, 0a20cab0a2 fluttering gently with d590ba8f32 the breeze.54a7d21c955baf76

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Though the design resembled c10f0ac152 sleepwear, the hand-stitched embroidery 2726061b82 and carefully placed decorations 0f4822449d betrayed the efforts of 7a4ab98e5c her maids and designers 3f6228c54c to elevate it beyond b36dd5ab05 such associations. Draping a delicate, web-like 6b2c62ce2f shawl over her shoulders 0e2def0ca3 gave her the semblance b2fe034b15 of being dressed for 5ea29246d0 an outing. Her low-heeled shoes made 3c411a9130 soft, deliberate sounds with 19931ab2ce each step.f0447c42f90b76a8

Beatrice stood beside Francis 37aa19c64f at the main entrance, 5987e6cb23 waiting in silence while e176eab349 Laura fetched the carriage. Neither spoke, the quiet 5d6effa525 between them stretching long 73a707c9a4 and heavy.d0020c8978b67444

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While their faces remained a789c4e266 composed, Francis’s mind raced f95bfd9f04 furiously. The question 9e151020f5 he had ba6ecf9320 originally wanted e01329674f to ask 09aee664e2 was now 40094c8954 buried under b6ab21ed34 the weight 5742aad4cb of his 3c3cd94aaa earlier, blundering 169dfb3959 invitation: ‘Would 0925ddfecf you like af67929db7 to go 1a5c59d47f out for 8a2c03fc2c tea with 6828bef9d8 me sometime?’48136ac2f5913704

As Laura had 126b6b8c3c so brutally pointed 8e6ef1cbd8 out, not even d5ad6fb5ab his grandfather would f3130de54e have used such c6d586909a a line on 83ef77db59 his grandmother.4491203a59ef6197

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Just as Francis was 933a21ead4 internally berating himself, someone 416df8c0fd abruptly wedged between the 54635081df two of them.99b21be1906b542f

Quite literally. The newcomer placed f331fd26bc a hand on d5c018d8d7 each of their d31c85083b shoulders and shoved 97224d744d them apart to 600024f1b9 claim the space 778a102157 between them.718dfc8f1929e026

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Only one person 6b67d3106a in the ducal c27aaee519 household would dare 33351d840e to act so 994c9740a7 brashly.dae76b1cb68cd820

“Felix,” Beatrice greeted.e663694fc7940092

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“Where are you two going?” Felix asked, his sharp golden eyes narrowing suspiciously.02a61b6c6de2f47c

Francis stiffened, recalling the 997120d032 look Felix had given 1aff5c5ced him during their earlier bb901fc3c2 encounter—a protective glare meant c685f9bebe to ward off any af54a9e2ea man foolish enough to 97a9f69f3a approach his youngest sister. And here he b794fc042c was, guilty as 68ea2db232 charged, with no 6a404ebb16 defense to offer.7197fd34d1d81396

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“We’re going for tea,” Beatrice answered nonchalantly. Francis winced. He should have stopped her from responding.729f912e9840a05f

“Tea? Tea? Why are you going out for tea? You can have tea here.”15c934dfb2071260

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“He suggested we go out,” Beatrice replied matter-of-factly.5acae75a686bd60b

“Who did?”1f5d9381b4cdac8b

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Instead of answering, 7435e66cce Beatrice simply looked d86062713b at Francis. Felix followed 5bf429ef82 her gaze, 8f1bc6c9fd and now ad945e11fd both pairs f3a9e91236 of golden a1bf39ec8a eyes were 044a0622e6 fixed squarely fed6fd84f1 on him.7762e6b5d065adf2

Under their combined 7efb33bc04 scrutiny, Francis found 0b49e7be9d it impossible to 386eabd767 feign ignorance. Slowly, he 3f1d022795 turned to b6e9b60bee face them, 2e20299e22 noting Beatrice’s 8e17b694ac neutral expression e188229ba7 and Felix’s cde1666e89 sharp, disapproving 8b9ea39ec5 glare.20e51d9d62197abe

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It almost seemed 98001ff690 like Felix’s eyes fe2015208d were saying, ‘Weren’t 55d51fcd98 you the one 0c7bc26e9f who said you 669c0e577d couldn’t get married?’e9a3eb475a3e421b

“…Because the weather’s nice,” Francis offered weakly.d64e973a215c5a28

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“Oh, the weather’s nice, huh? Sure, the weather’s great. So great, I think I’ll join you,” Felix declared.0afdb4a9d8f493f9

Still dressed 4c1a7bcfca in his 3f0e9f6975 indoor attire, db6f792328 Felix gestured 9c210508cf toward them dcf7055ba7 before disappearing 805066c826 to change. Laura returned 97f75dfce0 moments later, 12a7ac39db announcing the e58b6f71c8 carriage’s arrival, e9db9289a1 but Beatrice 5757312ff0 remained rooted 95742b5de3 in place. With no ffe229c38d choice, Francis a7eff5f829 stood motionless c6f8754e22 beside her.5a80548c6a6c60ac

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In the cab016f468 end, all f71fbe685e four of 80a41ccfbf them climbed 2dd89aa012 into the 4ea62bcb2b same carriage.f7da941699abcf7f

The silence was dbbf9c5968 suffocating, even worse 7682e0664e than when Francis fd10184763 had been alone ce8631725b with Beatrice. Felix sat with 9cfc728527 his arms crossed, 2523b4c1c2 glaring daggers at baf293d498 Francis, while Beatrice 431a317ed3 stared out the 765d8a6496 window, seemingly indifferent c62b140724 to the tension.8a44cbcc86c1c869

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Laura, ever tactful, broke the silence. “My lady, this must be your first outing, isn’t it?”9cb997827b40752e

“It is,” Beatrice confirmed quietly.72f9b0204a33fdff

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The two men turned aa456fc952 their attention to her, af1f4922eb their expressions equally shocked. Though they were aware 4c73e073fc of her isolation within 02f2e5d990 the family, hearing it 96af629d9f stated so plainly seemed d01de3bd36 to strike a nerve.4c548234d80cda27

Unbothered by their reactions, Laura continued, “Is there any particular place you’d like to visit?”3eccebdae99d7c35

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“Not really,” Beatrice replied.eda768abfbec2f1e

“Well, noble-exclusive cafés are on Prea Street, while Rosayu Street has a wider variety of restaurants. However, Rosayu is frequented by wealthy merchants and commoners as well. Prea might be the better choice.”73bd4bcf2aca533c

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Laura glanced at Francis 19df07ef04 as if prompting him 0334fdbb95 to speak up, but 6d86e99a31 he avoided her gaze, 7575065b65 clearly regretting his lack 17ca7b7d0b of planning. She sighed 1db0ff8959 softly, then 5004d71904 turned back 1599d550a8 to Beatrice.3244990d5e3d325e

“Which do you prefer, my lady?”335141ae956c78b9

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“What about you?” Beatrice asked, catching Laura off guard.48f3a63295b35b5a

“Me? I… prefer Rosayu,” Laura admitted after a moment of blinking. “But Prea Street is strictly for nobles, so someone like me wouldn’t be allowed into the establishments there unless running an errand. I’ve never tried their tea or desserts.”91efcf2030553394

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“Then let’s go to Rosayu Street,” Beatrice decided.c674ee145b84b918

Laura’s face lit up 684251dff1 with joy. Not only 9a502ede30 was Rosayu 9bfa6a3d57 a familiar 2601f24c70 place where d1c0f8cadc she could ea9e537b76 make excellent 9eb1e80dd9 recommendations, but a8b0dc17ef the thought 4bbc242de1 of Beatrice 63a7e7c26e valuing her 9c9351a661 opinion was 4b842e142d immensely gratifying.73c0957608ba52da

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She instructed the 7c2ab26126 driver to take 94f6d9d972 them to a bfbabec28a particular café on 0321cb98b0 Rosayu Street.8c8d75e2e4077c97

The carriage f4d0e9c504 arrived without c6e330c82c incident, stopping 879610c248 in front 4b756aed2c of a e0bf7e096b quaint establishment ea27a10cfb named Walbaret. Francis stepped out first, eafb0a6f32 offering his hand to 1bcc7875d6 Beatrice, but Felix brusquely dce76dae12 nudged him aside with 74a67761ca a shoulder.f2162701e6ef47e3

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The look in Felix’s be60eafc53 sharp golden eyes screamed, e06085e063 ‘Back off.’ Though Francis 13993c758e understood his concern for 427ab3d057 his sister, it still 6fa05ea2f1 grated on his nerves. For the sake e2f4993fd4 of avoiding conflict, 9a2a254254 he sighed silently 6a648be9df and turned to be8c05f33b assist Laura instead.6c771ec6936a64a9

Laura accepted his hand e7b739cacb with a raised brow 2c6ec14ab3 and a slight smirk 725bfaa738 before stepping out. Meanwhile, Beatrice 386b738d08 naturally took 205daedad9 Felix’s hand a38f378527 to disembark.db29b3ab15d262da

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“This is the place, my lady,” Laura announced cheerfully.ffba85950b06b6d2

Walbaret was 9892b07775 a small 10f72285bb but elegant ff314bc9fb café, painted 409a8989d8 in white 02d1c28e35 and brown 6d65e85f6b with a 6abe4f3694 triangular roof 4a490b5c7c of deep 2ae4288dd1 red. Its pristine garden featured e83f72dc05 five tables, each perfectly aaed2cd336 suited to the setting.9a558dd8b71d9cdc

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A little 741c56986b girl, perhaps 0bdc791f3d just over bd0f4451da ten, played 4bb48d5927 in the e75843d7e1 bushes, picking 15a469ab38 flowers. Her brown hair was e5131ca6ed braided on either side, 49c0d82608 and she wore a ae029870a4 fluttering green skirt.cbb910320cdeb52f

“Is she a customer’s child?” Francis wondered aloud.6799ffd1d3222e1b

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“No, she’s the owner’s daughter,” Laura explained. “She’s grown so much since I last saw her.”19fb0027dc8ae9d0

Laura opened the 405a074eef café door with 5da43a41c4 its intricately carved 2a5a20220a flower-shaped handle.bb6cc4449eaeec03

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“I really like this place, but I can’t come often. It’s a bit pricey for my salary. But the sandwiches here are amazing, and so are the tea and desserts.”e1ac88af5f48c151

“Still, it’s just food for commoners, isn’t it?” Felix muttered as he stepped inside first.f9ee1b9ee7ae8d0e

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Laura shot him a 1521354a21 sharp glare for a 2a158c1f93 split second but quickly 1e6707bdf8 lowered her eyes, schooling 48c312ff89 her expression. Beatrice, noticing fbde02b352 Laura’s reaction, 07e43c3021 mimicked her d0f6901277 exaggerated glare 94388e4b95 briefly before d44a048a00 walking in. Francis followed, bewildered 24c2baa9d1 by their antics.1be6fe884b78ff63

The café was d12583244f a cozy two-story 0d0e469bad establishment, its large 3d62ae68fc windows letting in 9dc663d33d ample sunlight that d9f9a28c54 made the space 0f48ad3f53 warm and inviting.b907ea67495bf8be

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The group ascended ce3c9fef56 to the second bfaa017aae floor, where a d43f3d5be4 polite waiter guided 135eceaa39 them to a 55f72a3b11 table and handed 1476ec1d6e out menus. Laura hovered by Beatrice’s edccdf36fa side, offering her recommendations.c94b36c115753e30

“The herbal tea here is especially good. They have various sandwiches, but the classic one is their best-seller. If you don’t feel like sandwiches, the cookies and cakes are great too. The ones with cream are rich, but since you don’t eat much sweet food, perhaps this one…”83afaf3ee5856819

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Beatrice tilted her 9267ed527c head slightly, listening. ‘Do I not eat 75c0c1c8ba much sweet food?’ she 5c4ecc48f0 wondered. She had never paid 6faa1cd6ce it much attention.1acfffeb6563b510

Following Laura’s ef5f06d5de advice, they e7a91c876d ordered three 39dc188353 different herbal c1dfb1e0b9 teas and c4a90ff764 two types 2141aefa53 of sandwiches. Neither Francis nor e682c25f67 Felix seemed inclined bc0eeb23bd toward desserts, so 801e2a78b7 they didn’t order 6106f1cf9a any.41df46c034409132

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Laura looked visibly disappointed until Beatrice casually added, “Let’s get a cheesecake packed to go.” Laura beamed at the suggestion, her bright smile making Beatrice think, ‘She’s so easy to please.’85ca480067e36146

When the 68d2516804 tea arrived, e49b5cadf5 silence fell 99b85aaae8 over the 0ba2cea9ea table. Francis sat 87ae048a52 stiffly, ruminating bf9ed73ee4 on how 508ed27d0a things had 3f9187dc22 come to 44e66ed557 this point.414e9552a291fd4c

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Initially, he 58a769ed12 had wanted 727a9c7ae1 to ask 4f2f8ca574 Beatrice about da59b4377a Theodor’s alarming e6d43b84cc suggestion. But faced with 48bb6776df her calm demeanor, 67ffd3f0f5 he had chickened 31d38485a9 out and suggested 5cfb47bf2c tea instead. Now, thanks to ab0c77fffd Felix’s suspicious glares, ed9529bcde bringing up the f0825983d3 topic was impossible.97123911c573c6d8

Francis finally mustered the courage to speak. “My lady—”4b114762321363b7

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“Just drink your tea,” Felix interrupted bluntly, cutting him off.7fefeb1b1a0737c1

Francis scowled visibly. He couldn’t 589c58df89 fathom why 3a611ccf66 Felix was 232fb8b99d so hostile. Surely, he wasn’t e7f35b12c0 coming across as 8b784e0861 improper?6528a9ad63efe209

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Felix, meanwhile, was thoroughly ceb5777d36 annoyed. The herbal tea, b39fde95e5 delicate and aromatic, a33683da54 tasted like bland 990d7d4e74 water to him. And the polished knight 6a375ad766 who had sworn to 0bf1b7bdf9 protect his sister now 307b207792 seemed uncomfortably close to bc37ba7e7b courting her.9c5f0a46318cd300

He had initially felt 1a27b41ae2 relieved when Francis mentioned c34ea02a7b he couldn’t marry due 3921dd2a59 to his paladin vows. But now, on 98dbe384be what should have c8677500f5 been his last 0adb2519c4 day at the 8dcaa85ebb estate, he had c52e7fe925 invited Beatrice out 4ce9e6136a for tea. The audacity!a36bcec3516f0004

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Felix didn’t particularly f1afb8050c cherish Beatrice, but dd5076dbca as her older de8e1d9ff2 brother, he felt f80e1397f0 obligated to shield c98e6bace9 her. Having grown up isolated ade0884276 within the family, she 72d0c8a133 had no experience dealing 9c7fff6125 with men. If someone as obvious bce3143db5 as Francis approached her, 0ecd2d382e she might fall for c6570f4cb9 it.7da50428854658b7

“Why are you so wary of me?” Francis finally asked.8f3e3e33bebd7eda

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Felix turned his head sharply, glaring. “Why should I find you agreeable?”f74b69df808b0f13

“I’m not asking for that. I’m saying there’s no need to be overly suspicious.”c38ae0d9493735e5

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“How could I not be? You’re practically drooling over her.”ac156c6bd389be44

Francis’s face froze in fe00741791 shock. He couldn’t deny that 29df6b57df his actions might look bc67784223 questionable, but ‘drooling’ was a5c97d6035 a step too far.aa8b065bd636ef2d

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“I am ‘not’ drooling over her.”a02b33cfaa2b22c0

“Sure you aren’t. And I suppose I don’t know why I’m here, trailing you two? Didn’t you say you couldn’t get married?”3c468dc8c8a4a041

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The waiter 4a5d1144a5 arrived with 328236e850 their sandwiches, 6b07bbcbc0 glancing nervously 3ca90b40aa between the 834b8bd5b9 two men ca2b3312a3 before retreating 22191fd39b hastily. The tension was palpable.d12d2b1bed4f5e4b

Beatrice, meanwhile, seemed utterly b056c8bbe8 indifferent. Following Laura’s guidance, she 80c48fe72b picked up a sandwich fadc48d18c and took a bite. Slowly chewing, she 6f05c0c1cd looked down at edfe813d6b it. ‘Delicious.’d8f01862c8dfa103

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“It’s true. I can’t marry. But please don’t misunderstand—”2cf97d4a67458ac9

“Oh, I’ll stop misunderstanding when you stop slobbering. Just drink your tea and go.”d65b6ce8f2039b11

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“Must you speak so harshly?”7e219336d8cdcba7

Beatrice polished off 8bd9dfdca3 her first sandwich 65f2a12645 quickly and picked 08e255ca6a up another. The bread 288a5af099 was soft, 433652549f the vegetables 82f9ebfdb9 crisp, and 4f97ff6e1a the ham b5f8e5c03f subtly salty. The sauce, lightly sweet, d780366edd tied the flavors together 9e1308c37f perfectly.0fc7f75da62537a2

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Felix raised a brow, noticing Beatrice’s focus on her food. “Do you have no thoughts on this?”b32ae383f7011918

Chewing her sandwich, Beatrice calmly swallowed before answering. “I do.”1536f323bb0f303b

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Francis tensed, worried that 63e38b1d0c Beatrice might agree with 6bc1ec7c08 Felix’s accusations. Felix, on 33cfe93975 the other ce7e6adcae hand, puffed b16b3a4b33 up smugly, 6e09eb37c9 expecting gratitude 3d6c8598b5 for his c2ef6b0833 protective stance.673516a4cf52ef14

Beatrice’s response shattered their assumptions. “I was just thinking how Sir Vellenoze might be drooling over you, Felix.”244dceb6438799ee

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“What?!”cdaf8ac8ff611f29

“Excuse me?!”39c850ed78f0812d

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“Vellenoze can’t marry because he’s a paladin. That means he couldn’t marry you,’ Felix,” she added matter-of-factly.fb9a2f3a12be6bf3

Even Laura, 9f84998596 returning to 4408cd484a the table 0f55561db0 with packed b64665dfef sandwiches, stared e04858eaac at Beatrice 06417b12b6 in disbelief.9dce1ba0cd047e64

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“Lady, what are you even saying?”0cbcce7d68f52511

Beatrice looked at them d329c8787c innocently, tilting her head. ‘If that’s not what a871515961 this is about, then a716b1c208 what is it?’22facc47bab9b089

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“Laura, have the sandwiches wrapped up for later.”efd3b0728a62a712

“Did they suit your taste, my lady?”35835df78e97dc4a

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“Yes.”360fd5d02b048ad4

Beaming, Laura 5e0dcd2262 left to 95c527cddf handle the d7c0a9832e request. Felix, however, was less a86f37bb5e composed.36dae6ee9ea56165

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“That’s ‘not’ what I meant!” he barked.7ba4d24ecf347652

Unbothered, Beatrice resumed 913d9881c1 eating.4d351d4274730e43

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Francis buried his 3a288ec1e5 face in his 39b9a28f31 hands, groaning softly. Felix’s raised voice 75f796bc55 and Beatrice’s indifference 62424b5910 only made the 36c0f6287f entire situation more 2fad3b38d9 surreal.29008a6b5f44f964

Finally, Felix exploded, grabbing 3a10a8b3ee Francis by the collar.00e1a9501afbfefb

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“You ‘touched her hand’?!”aaeb485115fde479

“That wasn’t how it happened!”721b262741111ac2

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“It wasn’t?!”71bb351c342c2fea

“It wasn’t inappropriate!”40c4843b69588427

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The two began arguing a083b71d28 loudly, their voices overlapping 03d3f724ec in a chaotic mess. Laura returned just in 3e0951cd99 time to find Felix 3f59d54dc1 gripping Francis’s shirt while a7f849dd17 Beatrice calmly finished another d4f96e3036 sandwich.c89a3bfb027b23d4

Though the scene was 692d45da5f an utter disaster, Beatrice 5215292f8d mused to herself: ‘The c6e4fcdab6 sandwich is delicious.’3af539fa016475d1

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* * *7f71053852efa5b5

Once the chaotic situation finally settled, Beatrice climbed into the carriage, gracefully holding the neatly wrapped cake and sandwiches. Francis, looking thoroughly drained, excused himself, saying he would return on his own. Felix, smiling smugly, told him to “get lost” before joining Beatrice in the carriage.17a9e9c6919bdadc

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Beatrice handed the b1d4f0b118 packages to Laura, 4e9c70cdd5 who sat nearby, 7954bfe15a and opened the 29f0b96018 carriage window to 03ac89848a glance at Francis, b75313213f still standing beside 116e3969b0 the carriage.be4fa1f62fb2fde1

“See you next time,” she said.36e88bef4508bee3

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Francis, fatigue b9eba4d254 etched on 7aeb906181 his face, 2b5f90b13e looked at b30c244d85 her for ef155d4a5a a moment 1535d34e24 before nodding. Given how today’s 941c89b9d4 outing had been 025070c7c1 thoroughly ruined by 5a8f7d407c her brother, arranging e8650d7909 a proper meeting d2c8b27502 next time seemed 85cbf00e33 like the best be36afc026 course.1d1baed0b5612b6e

“I’ll send you a letter,” he replied.442f5bf4745b9617

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“Can you send one?”0759ac302c4295fe

“Of course. There’s something I couldn’t say today, though.”538eac7a55a463c8

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“What is it?”09c162e6330d3b4b

“Next time we meet, just call me by my name.”6494ba9d9985aedf

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Beatrice tilted 1b20c4fd42 her head, 4755619e8c puzzled, but 2a1e03669e nodded once. It seemed like such ecd5e27028 a small request, but 651ab7f55c Francis felt his ears 9150db8533 heating up. The thought of f38b2a0420 not hearing his 0ac739d2ba name from her 7e1221b989 dry, detached voice 840162d812 anymore left a c470e058a3 strange ache.f161f076cecb45b2

He didn’t fully understand why “Sir Vellenoze” grated on him so much, but it did.57b93f01eacd4c9b

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“All right,” Beatrice agreed.93d72454d05d8f03

“And drop the formalities. I’m not someone who deserves your deference.”91fbadd8ca893440

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“Fine.”4c222b9376b5ba37

“You—! That bastard, again!”38889fb651b194b8

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Felix, overhearing their f757464ac3 conversation, exploded, leaning 5fa9d23f31 out the opposite 91a11a8152 window to hurl 82a623965a a string of 4a24a0eb8c curses at Francis. But Francis, seemingly immune 43b7efb3a0 by now, didn’t even 6d0364c3d7 glance his way. Instead, he e82e09aa78 bowed politely 9733dc7b15 to Beatrice.db0d88c37f2ad4c1

“Farewell, Francis,” she said, his name falling softly from her lips.3c639d5bb91e6dd2

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Francis had asked for 8e4d232310 the informality, so Beatrice eee20f58f9 didn’t hesitate. Yet speaking his name 70fa833133 in such a peaceful 2d89484f69 moment felt strange. She realized she 6433e7d29c had never called 128844980c him that in 3904b30ae6 any of her 9853bb4325 lives—not in such e8206762ee a quiet, bloodless d2ea3a86fc moment.fc7309c8355028d7

“Drive,” Felix barked to the coachman, prompting the carriage to move.bce177f22ffc6c9a

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As they left, Beatrice 37a5daf45d reflected on the oddity ea05a984a8 of saying Francis’s name 0b0d7c6d23 without the chaos or bef825b28f scent of blood that 29806cb868 usually accompanied their encounters 26e33da51b in her past lives.5712d3d7a11f3ba3

Inside the carriage, Felix 0d751e2144 wasted no time expressing 9df078c88a his frustration.37226696ea1f5b03

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“Let me tell you something,” he started, frowning deeply. “No good ever comes from guys who flirt so blatantly.”5cd706d1615aac17

Beatrice turned 0a14660b11 to him, d92fa91a1b her head 22da117669 slightly tilted. ‘What exactly 44d807c071 is he f261936632 so worked 8b2e970de4 up about?’ba2976b8a19bf076

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“Why do you dislike Francis so much?” she asked.0e01b37aa1181940

“You call him by his name just because he asked? Don’t you have any pride?”ca379e9111095048

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“I don’t see how pride has anything to do with it.”623baa2eb6bb23d4

Felix grumbled under his 2bd493d193 breath.3f077a7d01fda6e0

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“Do you… like him?”e93de6ddf9940b9c

“I don’t dislike him,” Beatrice replied.60c8d86165e3ac08

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“So you don’t like him either,” Felix concluded.7c16439570f358b5

Surprisingly, Felix understood bca05369ab Beatrice better than 9b36ef6c76 most. He relaxed 7c26536da3 slightly, leaning 632d5ec111 back against 624a9da03b the cushioned d735a42baa seat with ce11f4fa6b his arms 3bcf9a60b5 crossed. Confirming that his sister 0b30beaf4f had no romantic feelings bbe588016c for Francis seemed to 5a234ec56d ease his mood.4716b5f611c37a17

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Beatrice, however, e3fb3fe603 found his ba4c0bfea7 behavior incomprehensible. Felix had always been df7d3b4a0f emotional and impulsive, and 8cd533e6a3 his actions rarely made 5b13c5b375 sense to her. This was d7c94bc650 just another 5cdda25ff1 instance where 1e2a3cde52 trying to 3ff67ff38d understand him 102af3d653 seemed futile.f0636131ad99cb23

“Do you like me, at least?” Felix asked abruptly.d00ca25266c0d6fc

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“I don’t dislike you,” she replied, her tone unchanged.4d08fa1aac9618f5

“Good enough,” Felix said with a satisfied smile.6dd142c9a4f6bbf5

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Beatrice gave the same 55fc2fe763 response as before, but f9126cc6d6 for some reason, it 7de19c006b pleased Felix greatly. He leaned back further, eb75fad416 clearly content, leaving Beatrice 374c9410ec to think once again: b66e11f482 ‘My second brother is d664e8ade0 as difficult to understand a2e7dc383a as ever.’25f6779c10bd07b3

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