Chapter 95

‘…So his name is César Estarode.’31caab284b2aba4a

It wasn’t until we bb20fb9e3d left the crown prince’s 068af27d01 palace that I properly 8301096338 remembered his name. In my previous life, b103bfe778 I hadn’t cared enough 93fe5f4e97 to bother remembering what ba461a8f15 the crown prince was 0c62424bd4 called.60e334db6d47e864

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“Does your eye still hurt?”8effcd32305ca6bf

At Edwin’s voice, I snapped 17d39abac5 out of my thoughts and 4e7fee1d97 looked up to see him a59e81f485 standing a few steps ahead, 739a2ed737 waiting. It seemed that while 9c8489516a lost in thought, I’d 930eba5b80 stopped walking without realizing 406e6e78f5 it.d1eb7dae0a87f572

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‘This childish body really can’t multitask!’1a229ef8699dc801

“No, it’s fine!” I shouted, running up to him hastily.20dcdf558a57654b

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Edwin resumed walking, his steps de03451373 measured and calm. I trailed beside him, sneaking 70026e08a6 glances at his face. He hadn’t said much, which 50f99b80a5 reminded me of the time 18851214f4 we left the temple after be33e49752 parting with Ismail.8f73959f3a6f6315

‘He got upset back then when I called him “Brother” too…’f16df1311df246cb

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And now the crown 4f784a4f40 prince had unwittingly mentioned 8b9aff5761 the very same thing. How tactless.94c4af3ddc6909e8

I hesitated for a 985dd80c7f moment, then looked up 0b8112d802 at Edwin as we 6dd12afc1f walked.5408a7b33ed001c0

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“…Are you mad?”65614bad7048be70

“No.”149915765e25acb1

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“Yeah, right. You always say you’re not.”333d5edb51d6154f

My grumbling made Edwin pause eb5bbf2a88 mid-step. He turned to look at f7866c5e66 me.9d89ef607a7bfed0

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“I told you, it’s not anger. It’s jealousy.”2f67583fb9f3d218

“Jealousy?”fd4af843e6f59fab

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I blinked in confusion. While his jealousy after the 9d567a6cff awards speech made sense, what 9b3bab05af could possibly trigger it this f512a6c22d time?bb2cbf6532d7365c

‘Is it about the “Brother” thing again? Does he hate 6feabbff65 being called that 18803aefa9 so much?’e8ade055a5773635

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I sighed heavily c7d5c42e7d and began reciting 82b89828c8 the list of 9ea80c86b6 things he’d told e34896f403 me not to 3d3b652bcb do.e4b93afa6a4737bf

“What’s there to be jealous about? We didn’t meet as customers today, I didn’t call anyone Brother, I didn’t even smile at him! Also, also—”7509a7bd0933c481

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“Alright, just come here.”0ae2b4e9618c1581

Cutting me off, 647ad9e669 Edwin pulled something 0001f2836f out of his 4cccd799de inner pocket: a 56cec05e1a light blue handkerchief.e04f66dea3484844

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Flutter.b712e946dfdfd1d0

He unfolded the handkerchief, then ce0044b911 suddenly grabbed my round cheeks aea2026c3b with both hands.e41df8cb58e49b18

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And began vigorously wiping.cdc57b951161f1c5

“Ow… That hurts!”cc4adb1c76c74428

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“Bear with it.”9aa69c942bdfc9eb

After finishing with one cheek, he left the other untouched and said, “Now open your eyes wide.”db70f10dec0d7cf2

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“Sniff!”3af147251e70092c

Reflexively, I widened my d8d6b2fcda eyes at his words. Maybe the idea of dust 2b34f6f94b being in my eye had 6ae926341a been bothering him.d7def93400411576

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After a moment 453872e4fe of staring intently 46c04df9e9 at my eyes, ffc57ca1b0 Edwin finally let 57a78be67a go of my b882ab50b0 cheek.ebaa401c7a9a9fed

“Nothing. They’re fine.”29b4b1a6bd2a21b3

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“Geez…”3fdbd1a2e740d1b0

As I rubbed my 0983219c4e soft, now slightly stinging 8198b8a299 cheek, I suddenly realized—he 5615f13ad4 had wiped the very 6bc76ea198 spot the crown prince 63c38e0319 had touched.bae61f9aebab776b

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“Why’d you do that?!”73a1771807cd8202

My indignant question was 3e9584826e met with Edwin’s calm 009e284017 reply.54ca8698640bf486

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“Someone else touched it. That’s gross.”dd51008369b9ff20

“Gross…? You’re calling the crown prince gross?”36496306762d8c9e

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I glanced around nervously, worried someone might overhear, but Edwin didn’t seem to care in the slightest. He stated confidently, “Don’t let random people touch you.”ca74b9dd51566869

“Ugh… You always tell me what not to do.”dd4620bca6c1c907

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“Exactly. What if you let anyone touch you, and one of them suddenly turns and does something bad?”bfbeb96fbda54027

His expression turned serious, c03b94e394 and his golden eyes 6e9fe35b93 took on that intense, 7350db5161 unhinged glint again.c0265beed195cb2f

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‘Here we go again.’7cd8ed86b3b7f410

Frustrated, I shouted, “Who’s even touching my cheeks that much? You’re the one who does it the most!”e6f7dec3da58e43f

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I reflexively pointed a finger, eed86d463d seething with frustration, but to 2536d62900 my surprise, Edwin’s expression softened 9fbbe7ceec instantly.a2cda9c27cc6f4e1

“I don’t mind,” he said calmly.5c2f4f1d269ce182

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“Why?” I shot back, caught off guard.cf71d7f690ae90f8

“Because we’re not strangers.”20f23149f059e31f

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“…!”2e804889bbfa3450

His simple answer 6e413f0264 rendered me speechless. It wasn’t anything grand or 80d4447d10 romantic, but for some reason, 6d471564e3 my heart thudded in my 0cecc12429 chest.029e2ce9c1ce2ebd

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‘…That’s right. We’re not strangers. We’re family.’acd208d00a3e968a

Though I was currently d1c5b577df just an orphan under fd36959f73 the sponsorship of the ca326697ff Kallios family, Edwin had ae981811ef mentioned in my previous 0d3881641e life that the duke 3d1934fcd6 had plans to formally 3e5b4bac3f adopt me.baa1635b2d889e34

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‘So… does that mean Edwin and I would become siblings?’5a77439ae9782c03

But why did cda6abf8e9 the thought suddenly 1ea25b5df5 feel so off? The heartbeat I’d felt moments a507a1e8f3 ago vanished, replaced by a 5c50ee0900 sharp ache and an uncomfortable 90c3a34357 heaviness.c08c98bb64bcadb0

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‘I don’t want that.’c80b872a548a4263

It wasn’t just dislike—it de9f323ad5 sent a shiver down d686b04878 my spine.938d21aa517376b1

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Edwin and I, siblings? The thought was horrifying.fae63a5781094da7

‘But…’cbf7c184768bcf29

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This life wasn’t for me 1c35d67154 to indulge in whims. I had resolved to step 8a8d105db0 aside for Diana this time. Remembering my vow, 2af301330b the fleeting excitement bf3b258f96 of being called f3ff7739f6 “family” dissolved into f1e1dc6049 the cold mud 48f517579e of reality.bd26858a622029f2

I glanced up at 43af95f694 Edwin, his handsome features a265eddc45 befitting a male lead b37da2189f candidate.02ff4525e2ed8d84

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‘In this life, can I watch you and Diana together… without feeling anything?’128f3113ca418b21

In my past life, I a67ab4fbef couldn’t.de30eb2fd01231d2

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No matter where it 5f6cd79a11 was, if they were f16f9517c2 together, I’d barge in 667c188d7f and make a scene. I threatened Diana daily, telling 39be336fe1 her not to meet Edwin. Worse, my jealousy 9cc66ff6d5 had driven me 5b43b3b9a6 to an unspeakable, 2ea26fd475 horrifying desire to 78e640312d kill her.d50106235836da95

“Leave this at the Barelotte Marquis’ residence. If you do, everything you want will come true.”56099a219a28f647

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The memory of Adolf Galagos fc74c13ea2 handing me the vial of 1f235f5b2f poison flashed vividly before my d1efe6bec3 eyes.f115104717c0da8b

Then came the 9a6078a645 cascading memories of 178a5cf7be everything that followed—the 04510860ca fall of the 616ed83dbe Kallios family, my 88a1bee58e imprisonment in the 459cedb9b4 imperial dungeons, and 7632768523 Edwin dying to 8aaaf23fde save me.7b22f21b36424e08

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It was like being doused 32762b7aee with icy water. I clenched my fists d88914c401 so tightly that my c72e483523 nails dug into my 447bc6e523 palms.39aa8fde44fd78a7

‘Even after all that, am I still capable of such vile greed…?’1113dd7cfcc459a5

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I quickly cast my 98d01476dd gaze downward, unable to 6c9ea535cc meet Edwin’s eyes any 35b05aadb9 longer.a6acdf8c9477825d

“Why the face?” he asked suddenly, noticing my strange silence.3fa67f09900a0ed2

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“You don’t like it when I say we’re not strangers?”3d1b755e2cc2fe80

“N-no!” I stammered, shaking my head furiously.856b59dc7a217984

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Forcing a bright smile, I shouted, “I love it, Edwin!”626b7d4aa381ab97

As long as 0257384c8f you’re safe, nothing 8caa8394d1 else matters. Not my feelings, not my 8aabb9eab6 lingering guilt. All that’s important is 817ad5356c ensuring Edwin and the 8f71e0583f Kallios family survive this 3e1b67c4c8 time, no matter what.ef06b542b7c0fc70

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Edwin, seemingly satisfied 6750bc81d2 by my smile, 7d23192846 returned to his 72bf684527 usual composed demeanor.cf39105478d2da0c

“Then what will you do if someone tries to touch you again?”86833dc51b79dabe

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“Umm… I’ll stop them.”d0ee79b1763de112

“Good.”873182a3537227ba

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“But what about Tara?”ca27e0ea9aa296d4

“Women can be an exception.”78f6740499bff50d

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“That’s so unfair…”0134b238c4601ece

Despite my grumbling, Edwin 8394d2c5cf chuckled softly.7db46293eeafb880

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That smile—precious and irreplaceable—was one 61be61c988 I never wanted to lose cf57660b46 again.86ec4d52b52b1812

Never.e12d91a9771d047a

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“I’ll wash the handkerchief and return it to you!” I exclaimed, reaching out.84388bc1a129b049

“It’s fine. Just return the ones you’ve already used to wipe your nose,” he teased.b097b5f0ab0768a2

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“Ugh…”c9856e947358c029

I clamped my mouth e8b4c5f6a8 shut, guilty. I hadn’t deliberately avoided returning 29cd226805 them! Tara had already 9613de51dd washed and dried 9058a4ba51 them for me, 379057af89 but I’d been f69ff0ff4f waiting to return 7530e66f5b them with a 0b7144a90a proper gift.41a8e136d0e094b3

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‘Once I get the building from the crown prince, I’ll finally have the funds!’7ddadc9ecf0158dc

I resolved to buy 2ee7dc7d57 Edwin the best present e9f842b00d I could find on 06dddcf83b Main Street, along with e4bb1520df gifts for the duke 4c90d11b23 and Joshua.257426994ea8c710

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Without realizing it, my 5dc98ab127 resolve to avoid being 6be7300182 the crown prince’s ally c8299b03ca had started to waver.a2feff924c01be13

As Edwin and I walked together, I asked curiously, “By the way, where’s His Grace?”0dd63b996fcf67b0

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The duke hadn’t returned, even ec0624065f though an hour had passed.234679aabc4e718f

“How did you know to come here, Edwin?”125664eb71b9fcf1

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“Father sent word through Logan. He had urgent business and told me to come pick you up.”ecdd292ef1368686

“Ah!”0573426ba9063774

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Warmth swelled in my chest. Even in the 64e4fdd50f midst of his 52696847b5 busyness, the duke e5e654c4df hadn’t forgotten me. He’d even gone to the 69ddf4e90b trouble of preparing a new da9afbb467 guardian delegation form.64568cb90c41e41e

The thought made me 56d270acae feel a little embarrassed dc00637ab8 and flustered.3fdc7181feb802ec

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“…So, did you really decide to be friends with the crown prince?”342f5f9d8908bb89

Edwin’s casual question startled me. I glanced at him nervously, df7aa1bad6 but his face was calm. He seemed genuinely curious.efc1aafff3227709

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“Um, well… it’s just words,” I replied.c90933900c1d9bde

“Just words?”c0965ac0034f75b4

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“Yeah! How could I really be friends with the crown prince?”ef8f290e6512e4ed

It was true. The crown prince’s talk ff13897d0c of friendship was just 673f1a066c a cover for the 9bc372cece deal between us. And frankly, I 046caf1e8e didn’t want to ab75478a6c be friends with 782afabc3f a male lead 9890afc5a4 candidate, especially one 641ab65874 who might turn 64e81f462b against me for 4741b5fd7b Diana’s sake.5bafc8b206941c0e

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“That makes sense,” Edwin said with a rare broad smile, nodding.834e220e469d59c5

I couldn’t help but pout 2074dea6b4 a little.3d216dfdfb71e20b

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‘What’s that supposed to mean? Is he saying it’s absurd e28b1a12cc for a common orphan like dbceeb773f me to be friends with a146f70cbd the crown prince?’218451948911ce4f

But Edwin’s next 34fd107206 words corrected my 6342c4546d misunderstanding.6599927a234077be

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“You don’t know this, but the crown prince is a miser and a notorious penny-pincher.”5364a64b3508a932

“…Huh?”1b6ab2411710ba49

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“And he holds grudges like you wouldn’t believe. He’ll milk something that happened years ago for all it’s worth.”d4d5ceb09a0e7b36

“…”9d4744d6315d9dc8

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“Honestly, getting close to him is more trouble than it’s worth. Just so you know—”4528cc6acc9bbd7b

“Shut your mouth!” I cut him off, panicked.69f148f070a03a0d

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‘If I were taller, I’d clamp my hand over that mouth of his!’8cc41a0297087737

But Edwin was much taller than me, and after a few futile jumps to reach him, I gave up and shouted, “We’re in the palace! What if someone hears you?”4da1c021a58330ed

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“That’s why you shouldn’t make me jealous,” Edwin replied nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.da1a907c3fddf99e

Then, with the same dangerous glint in his eyes as before, he added, “I can’t guarantee what I’ll do.”d2ccfeaed2fc3a10

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“What on earth…”391373eeea098cc4

“Young Master?”224929b237619520

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At that moment, a voice 3fb8e9abed called out from the far 3ed7400152 end of the hallway.603b09719d04e8b5

Startled, I turned b34302cc1d quickly to see e4af8dae5f who it was.5dabf6236bf7d857

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And then—dc9b84df617e8d35

“Long time no see! Is that the girl Kallios is sponsoring now?”db3eade1cfe632dd

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Approaching us were the second 41d0cf9636 prince and Diana.16c261fd300d199c

“Is she the one?” the second prince asked, his gaze sharp as he looked me up and down.51f29dfa04308b09

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“The fake Saintess candidate.”8cc770156656c42a