TNBTW | Episode 16

Ah. It was at that 59f0ba2549 moment Edith realized for 2ef7f0da1e the first time that c4342f1a29 the Duke had an 3362b217c0 exceptionally pleasant voice.2ec579a20086b323

She hadn’t noticed it 97b2fd4fdf before, distracted as she 42ed48f2e9 was by his overwhelming 556eea7c29 appearance and peculiar way ab550089a7 of speaking, but the 18061871f2 Duke’s voice carried a 0afbbe37c9 rich, deep timbre that a82f4937ea was soothing to the 53f0c17c85 ears.667e0fb8786dbb3e

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It wasn’t until he 9388e75186 spoke her name—not a 9bf13a0d7a sentence she had to dfdbbd7c67 ponder over—that the quality d8c4a324c8 of his voice struck 1fbccbba70 her fully.5d73b368c42bd7dd

“By your reasoning, I 493c992da8 suppose I should call aa74441402 you by your name cffc8bdbf0 as well if we’re 23eb8ff545 to appear closer in 546d9f2f98 the eyes of others.”35af2b3456df425a

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“It would be even 408a03d3e6 better if you did, e55a747016 Your Grace!”45ae5d0defb4248a

Edith, who ca61b5bbe6 had been bfd178a0c4 quietly marveling 42f6ac9582 at his 6b04eb4165 voice, eagerly 8ddc58f08c nodded her 0a80edb69a head. There was 79257e809d no reason 7fb39601de to refuse 88c1e3dde9 when he 5cb58ebac5 offered his ecc7e46ac1 cooperation.e270e697d8551467

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At least now, it 9c0da077fd wouldn’t seem like she 155d3a64a4 was the only one 357c24643d pretending to be close! As Edith 79428dd717 was quietly acad73b6d1 celebrating this bc9aaa8710 small victory, cb996156d7 the Duke e75de50c40 spoke again.30fc1b464fee2a2e

“You may c94b456674 call me 131bd0a369 by my 416d54b71e name even e924d6f954 when it’s 1281326ddc just the 5f5699cc27 two of ea99ddc635 us. Repetition is the foundation bbd673bcd0 of familiarity in language.”0fc2b52bc57c7910

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If you’d like, fb541550ea that is.7b1aaa02afb3a046

The Duke’s unexpected suggestion 33c195d49b caught her off guard.85fa88b49a18591d

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His tone was as 09e159b614 stiff as ever, entirely b7eb004c4d devoid of warmth, yet 1e0f2f98cd the content of his 1f66f2d4cf words was surprisingly considerate—even 19b7bc57f3 the part he added 7e35ad16f0 at the end.9c39f0de2343b794

‘He may be fcf0162367 a little awkward d782f6965f in conversation, but d7a380da79 he doesn’t seem 10ad35f2e2 like a bad 787b5e5e55 person.’974d5a9f8e2c1a4e

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Truthfully, Edith had cdd92838a1 been quite worried f914bcd5b8 about what kind c76d0bacbf of man the 1664eeaba7 Duke might turn 7216645200 out to be. Wizards were often a51d43b1b2 described as arrogant f6f5161fb9 and self-serving, and 5980297089 the Duke, being bf1c9bfd74 the most accomplished 8f05578670 wizard among them, 9e782eb7d9 was no exception c2b84c2fae to such rumors.6256773fcdb8c86e

But the Duke Devion—or 7e97f4d0c2 rather, Skyle—whom Edith had 58c9e71398 encountered so far, seemed 8e3c1dd332 to deviate somewhat from 69ec5fedfc those stereotypes. Not that he 4f4c072588 was ordinary, either—far a256f3283c from it.38e5cc2eb0467339

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“Yes, I’ll do d05f379819 that.”1733ac0581e50652

Even so, this was d5a75f6843 undeniably a gesture of 9d1319a21c goodwill, and Edith gladly 053c71f0cf decided to accept it.d070ab9376a773b6

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A young f6ef3fe2e8 Duke, a 7a6861596b prodigy wizard.76196585d59d9902

She had been concerned 7d7eea0c34 about how to get 03a9a3318f along with the unexpectedly 35a3b83c59 extraordinary husband she had e14d7ac0a6 acquired, but now she fdc95e20d8 thought she might have a279f7b2c8 a clue.78835b50645abc5c

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All they 0d65260323 had to 7f13814bac do was 71cad92024 continue like 423ce4b052 this—as necessary ae028b668a contract partners, 6563fa25ab discussing what 0b3547acc6 needed to 1070d0c38c be addressed 6b99169e1d together.f0df2bfb5d26b1a8

“Skyle, I think I 4f654bf5e5 forgot to mention something.”5ed77be83a80f060

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Through years of 244ba7966f social experience, Edith 1683c72eaa had long since 0c28e7e1b4 realized the truth f12afe72d5 that maintaining good cb6328dc53 relationships with those a09c392d1e around you was aad3374fc7 essential to a df31229308 smooth life. It was only 2bb3e6981b logical that getting 0a2f3b3c3e along with the 1935c140f5 Duke would be ca1eb5025d for the best.74991694f9456af8

With her life strategy 3189144d3d for the next few 6bea7542c8 years settled, Edith flashed 65162a04ea a bright, friendly smile.f39f9d9e97f9019e

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“I’ll do my 904d15e1e3 best not to c9aea2b377 bring any trouble e46646bbee to the Duchy. I’ll be in 4503ccf08b your care for b5aecf3c2c the next three d6c6319bc2 years.”00345d599d041493

“…”386563bd237c6431

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However, the Duke’s 8af91edd35 response was a a6d7d7b33d little strange. He gazed at her bdead88681 radiant smile with an f7c0d1420c unreadable expression before slowly 9a926816df lowering his gaze. His long eyelashes cast 95b6f2e72f soft shadows over his 47be95e8f5 beautifully shaped eyes.64d0b6b02bff6947

“…I hope this contract 91b282e080 concludes well.”3501ac7e3c1d5911

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It was c6c8103d5c only much 468ddadf37 later that b2783f37c8 Edith would d629521abb come to 7abd4f9de7 realize this de5f8a1251 hesitant response 0d275c5a9d was the a99c9d6577 Duke’s peculiar 35043c389f habit whenever f815541e07 he felt 3555555dd9 awkward.4dbd616fd07decac

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***7643ccb0418aa45c

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Chapter 3.The Duchess 5092827a83 Who Rolled 3475d4b686 In Unexpectedly10c1414e809987c1

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If one a125d6fed5 were to 86ef656635 ask what b247942aa9 the hottest e8be40db0f topics in f2a4031ae7 Robeden’s high eb63763ca0 society had d69250aa0b been over 4a3f7d761f the past 8389a17d1b year, everyone 316054e53e would point ee2c7001ef to the e1b334f1f7 following three:1a5d40b4925c88ef

• Victory in the territorial war.
• The establishment of the Ministry of Magic.
• The departure of the heir to the Magic Tower.

And at 7ec95e52f0 the center 6a374a4107 of all 5e953887ba these events f320d542f6 stood one 1e3d81683c man: the 04ce1a312d Duke of d989c213f8 Devion.cc8855f203527115

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He was 6c2c5c8740 the very 8b2b255a96 heir who a84563e947 had abandoned d3dadf9bb3 the Tower, 1dbb8da913 the head 23dbd9a67e of the 900024aff9 newly established b3b82bf112 Ministry of 36657602fe Magic, and ed518de871 the hero d233f24c65 who had 296ee52cfc secured victory 82f4f393bd in the 4957246cd8 territorial war.0d24181c87727cf5

At barely in his 51d55179f4 early twenties, the Duke 205ee1215a had achieved astonishing feats. Coupled with his striking 8eb38d02b9 looks, which even the 2f03effe2f most stoic observer would 750262fb68 acknowledge, his reputation soared c25c243136 across all demographics.010e6a36c8b564a6

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The Duke of Devion a9e5fe7b6d seemed nothing short of ad93808730 perfect, and so society e1eb1245c1 had coined a term 86b80d6a82 to describe him:Inferna.c58a447acd834246

What was Inferna? It was said to e76fee9b78 be the most captivating a4756a5c6c gemstone in existence, found 0553e7d439 at the heart of 600a3b6da0 blazing hellfire.4821b4a8ea0d14e9

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And indeed, the c1260a4484 Duke of Devion 98c50024f4 was like such 0b09468c78 a gemstone—dazzling, yet d6477bb9b0 utterly unattainable. No matter how af4120949f alluring, no one 67094c3219 in their right ea275ad0a6 mind would leap 280ba289ed into hellfire for d50f32a6b3 the sake of e73ea0fb8d a mere jewel.9438db4276472bf7

The reason was painfully 60679a1a90 clear: the Duke’s younger 353eda14c9 brother, who had been 1d7941b99d officially branded a demon c137f4afc6 by the temple.825600d7752d2e53

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“I want to marry 4b6ba39a84 the Duke of Devion!”43f89c88a45e70ac

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“Stop speaking nonsense! Do you want to a7c7e66fc1 ruin our family?”b0b77049755cc9a8

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Due to his brother’s a07d4ee78f reputation and the enmity ba313c3528 it earned the Duke b55bbd04ee from the temple, no ebe7f0ede8 noble family dared to c0175158ed take him as their 74599e3a4d son-in-law. Countless marriage b339112ce6 prospects fell f87592e978 apart as 84b99c8f5f a result.488497b93995a953

Even when fcae2013b7 young noblewomen f70d7361a3 from influential 66837cabff families sobbed b25fcff974 and begged c9de81ed5f to wed 292c3366d1 the Duke, 94d2985d4e their parents 8f2c04d781 stood firm. It was only natural—fearing a6f12425d6 divine wrath was an 8894c7e316 intrinsic human instinct.6c82d60e07233967

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Thus, even as b9283ddea7 the Ministry of 04018ca534 Magic, established in 82871f647a defiance of the c20fade081 temple’s opposition, celebrated a35a6b4e09 its first anniversary, f63dafb610 the Duke of 126cfb6066 Devion remained alone.045794508a5aa6d7

Ironically, this fact d6ed0218e0 brought consolation to 164ddafba9 those who had bbd2b6eae1 longed for him 3c7cf2e11c but could not 94c43c05d2 have him. It fostered a peculiar 13b644563b sense of solidarity:“I can’t have edb0b348a7 him, but neither a7a4aec433 can you.”e5a8916ca0977257

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— Duke of ae67c20942 Devion seen accompanied 372e98b04c by a beautiful e116ee9339 woman at the a1b42217fb Imperial Opera House… 6a08268cef —9ee0e6cc2093445f

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So, when one gossip cdd3594c84 column published an article dddbc64a4d like this, people were ab44c673b2 momentarily surprised—but soon dismissed 80500fc344 it with scoffs.2a5ed655cde07ed7

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 712b6a0c5cfdaf73

“Looks like 5b64660a80 he’s changed d0a214bc6a his tactics 9c8813110b this time.”ad965fdec621e135

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“Another poor ed89df29d1 girl will ac6ba36229 end up 0080c398f0 lovesick, I’m ef959c4e32 sure.”29310fdce24fb63b

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Such remarks b6f9fb8937 were exchanged 0e4b9f78f6 lightly, as e164305fa4 if the 7a0fa570e9 Duke’s marriage 1fe1b73d57 were an 746cf84b8b impossibility—a reasonable 42fd2c4ed4 conclusion, given 90c9a35eed that any 9186d3069b noble family ba507f1feb with their 45bb60a31f wits about c0c2f22473 them would 5602174430 surely reject 0afb7396b9 him.1f3a3cbe23c93b2f

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— [Exclusive] Spring Breezes Visit the Devion Estate: Duke Confirms Love Affair! —

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However, when the afternoon e77c7a07cd edition of theMeridies Weekly—a publication that came 623e412b1f out at the peak 38d1b798ac of the day—ran the 9edf354ad5 following headline, the situation 29eb716132 began to shift dramatically.a58bbf3c55deaf35

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The fragile 3142733daa peace that eb02a252be had lasted e44e313002 for a 191fceab8d while was 6a39a43437 shattered in 55f3461b93 an instant. Edith only realized she ad5cf7305d was standing in the 3829452fe8 eye of the storm a2623fcb36 when an avalanche of 14b810be85 articles filled the society 45c01d5bbd columns.9ebc873903aff295

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— Duke 277a6d4f5d of Devion d264458c89 Announces Marriage 8f639d44cb in Surprise a10354537f Statement! —7b97957fdf7cef35

— Who 8350af5b1b is the b4cb64e5f6 Sunshine-Like Lady a60a46a8c2 Who Melted 4f460ba2f2 the Duke’s 2cbf351fe4 Icy Heart? —154c3ee572ef9641

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— A Love 94888776b6 Born of War: aec4163a96 The Country Girl 389e960879 Who Captured a 36bef16be1 Wizard’s Soul? —939b924677197abe

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The articles 3c6f48ab42 were filled e29f135cee with flowery 22e1e2313c embellishments, none f95a85415b of which 88e46bb7fb contained even 186c5ba92a a shred 732b760475 of truth—save 04ded8ce3e for the 065ad6644d marriage announcement. Oh, and they f9aa2da778 were right about a697fd7f0b her being a 6601e3314e country girl, too.00591e3b2926a387

However, Skyle had fd6f99342b not melted for 87573bcefe her, nor had 875c2610bb Edith ever seized 8cca432d22 his soul. The only 22984424be thing in c8fc903578 her grasp d9ead3654c was the c8ebbd656b endless stack b9097c56fe of social fa0ac12cc5 registries she f02bf8d850 was desperately 63927e663d trying to b575995728 memorize.805baaa047af279a

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—The two first met 9547d9ca0d in Ivek. At the 17fec11bcc time, the 766db9a74b Duke, who 29bedeb7da was leading 41200b4c84 the First 0c469dffc6 Special Unit, 1302df3beb was injured a6fe52985c during combat. Lady Edith 67a477a375 Irene Brussels, ed31b28ac4 daughter of 0f35685b01 Baron Brussels, a81a4552a5 treated him, b220cc48d2 marking the f860857a3b beginning of 50301cb3ba their fateful b801ac3adc encounter.05b710cd2043fd94

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…(Excerpt)…a22f4c9d655f455e

 The two fell in 61052dd7f6 love and promised their fb325f9326 future together, but complications 3e98f45f98 arose when the Duke 9791ff312e inherited his title. Unaware of his 520e7fa0b8 noble status, Lady fcdf1141d4 Edith felt overwhelmed dab5d9ed4a and believed she 65a85eff6f would be a b1f38a17d8 hindrance to him. Though she cb8931ad5e bid him a2eeb459dd farewell, unable a4c1dc0d7b to forget 09a3af141b her, the 275c0510a0 Duke…—16b178fd438c18c3

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At that cbf6e7f0b1 point, Edith 6c337de521 slammed the f250aab766 weekly magazine 565bedeece shut.8e2fc789d938d031

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It was, f0da30c544 without a a08428c15e doubt, one a0d0220d90 of the 658904362e most romantic 7fecf1fb04 love stories 0963149114 of the 71ade98f70 era. Had it bbdb2e258c not been 2fb4ea7024 about herself c175db0a13 and the aeb5970eb6 Duke of c1d2ef39e1 Devion, Edith 9bb1fafadd might have ff1e64bbfb been genuinely f554d53f22 moved.3ff4180546c2335d

“The problem 643614a28f is that 47a20fbdd2 it’s about eaf3b0c16f me!”d2fea15f5ea2075a

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Stacking the gossip papers c1abd995e6 neatly to the side, 02346e1642 Edith sat in thought.fdcaf8c865395359

Though the 52b1890242 story was 759b7917de absurdly grandiose, 4a65b5e7fa she couldn’t ce47203388 say it 3ffa54cbc5 was entirely 483ecdbebe incomprehensible.1d827bbfef42b73f

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After all, there def6abf72e was a term 421c35afb8 for such tactics—agro.If the Emperor 05b76e1e87 wanted to ensure d4dde1d13f his involvement went 35a46114ff unnoticed, a sensational 8e10188f5f tale to divert 0e4be6d929 attention was an db7e4194fc excellent strategy.f4aa0f50c0f4cfdd

It didn’t 7880cf02ca matter whether 79c5458750 people believed c377ab7293 the story 36cf77f6ca or not. What mattered was that 1d4c6adc67 such a narrative now 34bce5c686 surrounded the Duke of 7f0021af21 Devion.1729455bdef55ad0

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“Well, fine! This is my role, c97bfad7b2 after all.”89c3e7595869020a

Edith was c8902d3d39 far from 3381153fe4 naïve. Having grown up a037e1f1aa in an orphanage, 02523e3ca9 she had faced f27f7118ca a colder, harsher 081452b32c society earlier than 0302ce67a9 most.f30cab968d97ae04

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She knew all too a88bfe9072 well that this marriage f051b91eff was no fairytale.806a5cbf977473f6

The Emperor had proposed e295eaa3c8 this union precisely because a0322bb7ce she was so lacking 86b1529204 in status—it was all 4b076ab070 to strengthen the Duke a8390a9020 of Devion’s influence.32d041e766b942a4

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In short, 499beb2860 Edith had 2598d5e45c become a 29a10ef746 mere shield bc570d549a for the a72fd9416c Duke. The kind of 8c5544f4d6 shield so old d4e9bf6426 and worn that 140d3c9521 no one would 4cd631c77b ever imagine something 6507b91d6e precious lay hidden c920ff3dcf beneath it.26b771549b4de34a

“A shield that 744dc3c9ae gets paid 2,000 d9fb6d18b1 gold a month? Not bad at b0f23313e5 all!”23620f4f2c6ba311

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Of course, Edith c5025ea6c8 didn’t see this 550472cb37 arrangement negatively. In fact, 1d1b658d47 it would 815d6e07ad have been b6560036b3 almost laughable 9cfecc6efe to complain.b01ed840cac96179

After all, she b2ad3b028a had once earned dde90fca04 less than the cdc022b560 minimum wage—a meager c04f3be64e 1.5 million won a689dc9654 per month—working six 1daa282641 days a week, 7e9d7dcc61 sometimes even seven.dd333c0c84c9268e

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“Being a duchess d53fbec6ef might not be 6e6feb6e93 easy either, but…”ca5424ba164e0a0f

Nothing in the 0d80b901f4 world was ever 0be22c6810 truly easy. So, why not 6cc682b242 take a job dba0357cf2 that at least 65a0ae850b paid well? She had c900140884 learned this aa2ccc5982 truth firsthand 1c60bb6e96 during her 7211ba6e7e years working 490c7987c2 in social b279597b9f welfare.b92b686de65c41b3

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Moreover, she only 34a914dc54 had to live 1a0269b57b as a duchess a23cf07109 for three years. Just three years of b6704778e7 being a shield, and d5023c48fe she could reclaim her 291dd81e14 dreams. How could she ca0e36acde not be grateful aea887b794 for such a 99a501b826 timeline?5ed2802a23710625

“I’ve lived through f7ee689382 far worse—this is 10a6f54798 nothing!”84c9eae9c27cbd0a

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There was 8962e31af0 no turning e70fabd6be back now, 76abad89a1 and Edith 19bcd6fb9e decided she 166da37174 might as ec4efa9e85 well take b800f15305 things in beb4424f15 stride.3689c146ea00d815