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"Haaa…"
Cheska sank into the plush couch, propping her head lazily on her hand as she gazed through the frosted window.
A faint grin tugged at her lips.
"So much work to do," she murmured with amusement. The chaos of responsibility felt less burdensome and more… exhilarating.
Her mind wandered, flitting between idle curiosities and intrigue. The love square— or was it a broken triangle? —kept her entertained.
She chuckled softly. No one stares that much unless there's something deeper.
A flicker of movement outside caught her eye. Straightening, she peered down.
On the snowy grounds below, Ayessa stood rigid as Duke Bastian Ruthenheim approached her. His eager demeanor resembled a puppy, all too obvious, while Ayessa's darting gaze betrayed her discomfort.
Cheska's focus shifted.
Following Ayessa's line of sight, she spotted Amaranthe and Duchess Elenoir heading toward the palace garden. Their dynamic had evolved— no longer hostile but strangely harmonious.