Chapter 73

‘Breaking the rules?’79dd5741ca79e177

I was baffled by 29457068cc the sudden accusation.d97759c296934499

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But it seemed the cb8c0e8338 headmistress wasn’t making this c62484a177 up, as she looked bb1a4ba327 quite triumphant.90f0e65d8c65d9bb

“What rule do you think we broke?”87f2da4c2b6ef667

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Before I could 32254b5827 step forward, Edwin 47a57fce9a stood protectively in eb252d3610 front of me 0f4986c5e4 and asked.1747841c456528ae

The headmistress smirked and answered, “Young Lord Kallios being here is the violation.”44825521db44556c

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“Me being here?”b697c5704dd09772

“Yes. According to the rules, each booth is allowed only one assistant.”414fd043d149ab3a

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She then looked at d6c08b7f38 me, flashing a smug 3790c8de78 smile.a5f4d995fddcfd5b

“Didn’t you say that old man was your assistant, Belze?”8e368b6cae2eaa3e

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“Tch.”4add496c6299c36f

‘How petty.’b2f687fed9a50f29

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I puffed out my 34fdadc807 cheeks in frustration. Edwin had been here for 714314af6b less than 30 minutes.425dc3c158c6fc8f

It seemed the headmistress was still holding a grudge from the earlier incident about her “constipation.” Her expression was full of malice.fb4f4cf6c35cf121

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“But they’re blatantly having people help gather customers over there,” I blurted out, unable to contain my frustration.fa8a16e495c4de8c

Unlike me, Edwin remained 9663df7e56 calm and reasoned fairly.9b5e24d6c4714c9d

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The headmistress glanced 068471939e in the direction 157fae1b04 Edwin pointed, then 42a745f740 responded nonchalantly.6af9db8fdae2a45d

“What are you talking about? From what I see, Marquis Barelotte is simply engaging in friendly socializing…”fb4e56cae50808e0

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“So if I stay outside the booth, that’s fine?”417eeff4139a5552

“If you’re engaging in social activities, of course, Young Lord”e792fe3f7c2e522c

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The headmistress said with a faint smile. “But, since you’ve already been seen helping Belze, I can’t guarantee there won’t be more reports coming in.”e6a92f68fead91b4

In that moment, I realized 9a8c44e6d0 exactly who had reported us.9599268420f126df

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There was only one dd36da7063 person who would do 77cc079378 something like this. It would have acf631fbbd been strange if b651db7fc2 I hadn’t figured 6342459f7c it out sooner.68ccd4b5e6746ba1

‘That cockroach of a man.’41226cad5309a340

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I glared at 28a7e14183 Marquis Barelotte, who 250c0a287e was happily chatting 3aa4b9f531 away with nobles 580993ff80 in front of aeb46cf75b Diana’s booth.452c48ba321c132c

It was unfair, but there 496aa841a9 was nothing I could do. With a heavy 5e67d4a546 sigh, I looked 41ef573b4c at Edwin.21ef6cdc54f22b52

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“I’m fine, Edwin! You can go play with your friends now.”f6b9445ea596f681

Edwin frowned.30ea412d6a0f23aa

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“How are you going to handle things on your own?”c665d55e4db03c83

“I’m not alone. Grandpa’s here too, right?”f08ecdd2735e16ec

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“Exactly. You should’ve chosen someone who can actually help from the start.”4ecfafeddd7c11e8

“Please stop with the ageism, Young Lord,” Grandpa Gordon muttered, but Edwin ignored him.214807feb60fd571

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His expression was full of dfe031dca3 dissatisfaction and worry.02f4d219076da80a

‘Ah.’e2b95f4b0c3eedc3

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It hit me a 49f841ae77 bit late.dbb1aa840ac48370

He was upset a7155e6d34 because I hadn’t e3fb1767cf chosen him to b289b43348 be my assistant.5c1a695a18ae114b

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‘But… Grandpa Gordon is my business partner, and assistants are supposed to be adults.’75e832f382f9de33

Plus, choosing someone who 6d96e5ffa2 could cause discomfort due ce5f0fa210 to their high social a55ea1d5b8 status would also be 7b0118c38c a rule violation.e58830e021feba04

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I had plenty of reasons 88b2e91b13 why I couldn’t make Edwin f680e274fa my assistant.cbbd4fbb5b37310b

But seeing the irritated 2c70e87dac look on his face, 4a79a3517a I couldn’t bring myself bafb3a3bb7 to say any of c374712d20 them.60223f381a24bf1c

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‘He just doesn’t want to leave.’532a0d0c758a207e

Of course, I was 9d27196bc5 happy he had stayed abda654b67 by my side. Truth be told, f82b733453 dealing with the 5a763c4e7b Marquis had been b3f4fb29c7 tough, and having c4e6919c1d Edwin nearby made fd921ba271 me feel both 25bd5f0979 secure and proud.a135299b92c56ef5

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‘But rules are rules, after all…’eada3fad51e18f7c

As I hesitated, e82f8469ce I squeezed my 26d4c3f690 eyes shut, stood b97a86d651 on my tiptoes, 6fdc4cf238 and quickly leaned 56abb8eb46 in.1fd55c5e4d6e5cf1

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Something cool and soft 78c4fc02f5 brushed against my lips.2194c8ea68026d6c

And then—84010d66f7820ae6

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*Smooch!*61ad5e1966568331

“…Thank you for staying with me, Brother!”c485fe987e3c431c

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I planted a 385ebe74c3 swift kiss on 1533800826 his cheek and, e259738822 hoping to ease e172ca499c his frustration, hurriedly dc5d0cc4a9 blurted out my 29d519edf7 thanks.8dcd82641ad457b7

“You…”9eeef7953ab0cce7

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Edwin stared at me, cc69c542f6 looking utterly bewildered.7aa708cb93cea91c

It seemed he hadn’t fully e7f01cd26e processed what had just happened.65def4e27b033784

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Slowly, he raised a 2b2e39c8da hand and touched the 4319ef4acd spot where my lips 9421baeb6c had landed.cff3a0cfd4ac749a

Suddenly—fa084a019be5b0c3

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His face turned bright 5725a6abd5 red, as if it 68680dfa51 were about to catch 2087d65790 fire.c97063e4f501d3e7

“Brother…?”8d88aac6d04e4665

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I tilted my head, surprised eda0334767 by this side of Edwin 50090352ef I’d never seen before.1a89503731bf8162

Then, in a rush, 77e138460f he covered his flushed 278f3eb1f2 face with his hand, 995dd09c18 hiding his burning cheeks.c6804256bc15ad91

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“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?”879960125b48e4cf

Edwin snapped, his eyes 4e80f8978d flashing as he glared 1d79198978 at me.cc770809ad059a33

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I had suspected for a while now that Edwin really hated being called “Brother.”484d0fc24176950d

‘I just wanted to show my gratitude…’a678af1904700ef4

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My attempt at cac52c70ef being cute failed, 15a263aaec and I puffed 7f86eaf800 out my lips 72c521dadc in frustration.e0a947e6a4af5348

Then, he suddenly ed24414394 narrowed his eyes 42dd5d73e9 at me again.c8a6816188d5e846

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“Don’t even think about saying that to anyone else.”ad73d75026b16783

“…I won’t!”b9dab29e338ebdd6

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“And put those lips away.”c48b3513893c75e1

At his command, I d16188d839 quickly tucked my lips 448bf194a3 inward, feeling both embarrassed e06ec07b43 and annoyed.a4c5054ae1a6c238

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‘Well, what’s done is done. What’s he going to ebfe772207 do about it?’fc57387fde4f7112

I looked up at him d90380c8da with a defiant expression, and c31bfb0e7b he let out a long 6541261282 sigh.7e96b5820f93077a

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“What am I going to do with you…?”98f00383d42273d1

He often mumbled things 9244d83810 like that, as if aeea3e9855 I was some sort 29a17a8d0c of puzzle he couldn’t 549abf7bdb figure out.075930fdc1ea9283

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But I was the one ca057aaede feeling wronged!aef565f384a26ea3

‘I’m the one carrying you through all this, you know!’670a428af8a11aae

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Still, I was always the 5f60a6cc3a one at a disadvantage with fdfb547996 him.546a1229c3215ed3

As he turned away without 40a9547fad so much as a goodbye, ea38dad32f I awkwardly waved after him.e0190f28daa2fd41

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“…See you later!”ee45d18e0e54752d

He paused for 89541ca01c a second at 6569aa8ab0 my words but 4deadd2330 then quickly started cdd6962dfa running off.2f9deda1f0596c03

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I watched him go, feeling 112020958d a bit disappointed.5dc2a387552ecef8

“…Was the kiss really that bad?”b03ecabd12e884b7

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“Hah!” Grandpa Gordon let out a disbelieving laugh.c50c96ca56d3248f

“Grandpa, do boys usually hate being called ‘Brother’?”fedb58979329bdfc

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“Good grief… It’s like the Duke brought a little enchantress home.”cdb68a09825cfd3e

Grandpa didn’t answer my 70711472f2 question directly, only shaking 65289c0f72 his head and muttering 2916777b1a something under his breath.3dea0e152c7d803c

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I guess asking someone like c77b8c551f him, clearly inexperienced with romance, 7612698285 was a waste of time f1b4df37c5 anyway.f28c2b4556b40dab

“Ahem! So, what are you going to do now?”392d47284b7251f3

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It was then a7a74821fc that a familiar, d304177b08 unpleasant voice interrupted.39a734b23181b31f

I turned to see 4b3be28b18 the headmistress still standing 6e8060156a there, watching me with e285b7b4ec an impatient expression.ee345aa6608c8f37

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“You’re still here?” I asked.0a6b3dd602b0d8db

Her face twisted with annoyance. “Where would I go?! You broke the rules, so you need to pay the fine!”a383631e97b43c38

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“Fine…?”c0578936a0695877

“Yes! Unless you want to be disqualified and kicked out!”b1cc1cdf360dd364

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“I didn’t see anything about a fine…”eb397122effd5c7f

The headmistress waved 03907e1e53 a paper with 3a89d54053 the rules in 3252c75097 front of my ac8a37f583 face.52467d0361bae803

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**Rules for the Temple Volunteer Event in Celebration of the Goddess’s Birth**6b6a153a0285274b

1. The organizers strictly control access ff413598c1 to ensure the event runs 5d0f8adad3 smoothly.5879cd42a8a3d28c

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2. Each child participating a3d80aa542 in the event 2e4cb95415 may use only aa4f39ab90 one assistant. The assistant must be an 32c3e82123 adult who does not cause fb3d9e9b7c discomfort to other participants.698e7ee12964590f

….baa36d52b5f7cccc

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14. Anyone who violates these 1f59fca249 rules will be disqualified 987a696a9e and expelled. However, as this 6484c9a46c event is for feae69ae1e children, the rules ced75ad9b0 can be applied ae0950d1e0 flexibly depending on fc4697f305 the situation.061f359de5ec014b

“See? It’s right there!”cb1d77e17f5727c6

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She said, pointing to a180fc1a85 the small print with d381af015c her finger.f76d7dce4feb0c8e

“I’m being lenient by not kicking you out immediately and settling for a fine. You should be grateful!” she added, clearly trying to appear magnanimous.37117326336bf9f3

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Reading the rules again, I 39889fac9d wasn’t entirely convinced I had b38750e928 broken them.888e4190289738c1

‘It says I can have one assistant, but it doesn’t explicitly forbid a friend from helping for a short while…’41a357ff647235fe

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It seemed contradictory, and b3e6aefe46 this was the kind 4bfb2bc71f of situation that should af359aee07 have been flexible, as 048157c79b the rules stated.415f20f02ad5a5c3

“And how much is the fine?” I asked, deciding not to argue for now.ff48ca5892a6a0b0

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If it was 14250dc2c6 a small amount, 69f39af4db I figured I’d 4fefd17b68 just pay it 5f54f73b31 and be done 9a20599c11 with it.36f8fdb7015acf26

But then, the headmistress spread 41dd0b2f96 her fingers wide with a 33fa74b744 smug grin.773a30d5513d4347

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“Fifty talents.”fa298e59f45acdd9

“F-fifty talents?!”3a987175fa6b3413

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My jaw dropped.b457f38fd633f37d

‘Is she insane?!’861b3de024ebfbdc

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Fifty talents was the price 672f9f1388 of one bottle of Fairy 85bea4a813 Herb Hair Mist! That amount was 406f671d58 outrageous to demand a46060c565 from a child.2bfb271ed8a811b3

‘Not to mention, I don’t have that kind of money!’9225cdc99e23a051

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Shaking my head furiously, I shouted, “I can’t pay that! I’ve only just started selling. How am I supposed to earn fifty talents so quickly?”01d4f7369c9d8801

“Oh, stop lying! I know the Duke gave you 100 talents. Don’t think I’m unaware.”c16b3c39040305a9

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“Ugh…”5d99b5c94a74af9f

Her words hit me hard, 3ed5c1b4ae and I instantly shut my e6dc8e4af0 mouth.bbd6ecd858a6ad54

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‘Damn it.’1babdff2397d2bf0

I hadn’t realized 220458fb48 the rumor had 54e7dd1c51 spread so quickly.2346c80c941e5cfb

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“Humph! If you don’t want to pay, fine. But you know that if you get disqualified, we’ll confiscate all the remaining talents too, right?” she sneered, watching me stammer in shock.c2f8c6eea940169b