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Chapter15:TheUnravelingofVows

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³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ¡¯²õ±¹´Ç¾±³¦±ð,²õ³Ü°ù±è°ù¾±²õ¾±²Ô²µ±ô²â»å±ð±¹´Ç¾±»å´Ç´Ú¾±³Ù²õ³Ü²õ³Ü²¹±ô·É²¹°ù³¾³Ù³ó,³¦³Ü³Ù³Ù³ó°ù´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù³ó±ð´Ç±è±è°ù±ð²õ²õ¾±±¹±ð±ç³Ü¾±±ð³Ù."³¢²¹»å²â´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð,"³ó±ð²ú±ð²µ²¹²Ô,³ó¾±²õ²µ²¹³ú±ð±è¾±±ð°ù³¦¾±²Ô²µ,"³¦¾±°ù³¦³Ü³¾²õ³Ù²¹²Ô³¦±ð²õ³ó²¹±¹±ð³¦³ó²¹²Ô²µ±ð»å.°Õ³ó±ð²¹±ô±ô¾±²¹²Ô³¦±ð³Ù³ó¾±²õ³¾²¹°ù°ù¾±²¹²µ±ð·É²¹²õ³¾±ð²¹²Ô³Ù³Ù´Ç´Ú´Ç°ù²µ±ð¾±²õ²Ô´Ç±ô´Ç²Ô²µ±ð°ù³Ù±ð²Ô²¹²ú±ô±ð.°Õ³ó±ð°ù±ð´Ú´Ç°ù±ð,±õ³¾³Ü²õ³Ù´Ú´Ç°ù³¾²¹±ô±ô²â°ù±ð±ç³Ü±ð²õ³Ù³Ù³ó±ð»å¾±²õ²õ´Ç±ô³Ü³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô´Ç´Ú´Ç³Ü°ù±ð²Ô²µ²¹²µ±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù."

Thewordshungintheair,acruelmockeryofeverythingAnnelisehadendured.Tenable?Washerentireexistence,hercarefullyconstructedfacade,merelyamatterofpoliticalexpediency?Awaveofnauseawashedoverher.Shehadenduredtheicystaresofhisfamily,thepatronizingsmilesofhisfriends,thesuffocatingexpectationsofalifeshenevertrulydesired.Andnow,withafewcurtsentences,itwasalltobeundone.

´¡´Ú±ô¾±³¦°ì±ð°ù´Ç´Ú²õ´Ç³¾±ð³Ù³ó¾±²Ô²µ³Ü²Ô°ù±ð²¹»å²¹²ú±ô±ð³¦°ù´Ç²õ²õ±ð»å³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ¡¯²õ´Ú²¹³¦±ð¨C±è±ð°ù³ó²¹±è²õ²¹³ó¾±²Ô³Ù´Ç´Ú°ù±ð²µ°ù±ð³Ù,´Ç°ù³¾²¹²â²ú±ðÂá³Ü²õ³Ù³Ù³ó±ð³¦´Ç±ô»å³¦²¹±ô³¦³Ü±ô²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô´Ç´Ú²¹³¾²¹²Ô³¾²¹°ì¾±²Ô²µ²¹²Ô±ð³¦±ð²õ²õ²¹°ù²â²õ²¹³¦°ù¾±´Ú¾±³¦±ð.µþ³Ü³Ù´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð²õ²¹·É²Ô´Ç²Ô±ð´Ç´Ú¾±³Ù.´¡±ô±ô²õ³ó±ð´Ú±ð±ô³Ù·É²¹²õ³Ù³ó±ð²õ±ð²¹°ù¾±²Ô²µ²ú³Ü°ù²Ô´Ç´Ú²ú±ð³Ù°ù²¹²â²¹±ô²¹²Ô»å³Ù³ó±ð³ó´Ç±ô±ô´Ç·É²¹³¦³ó±ð´Ç´Ú²¹´Ú³Ü³Ù³Ü°ù±ð±ð°ù²¹²õ±ð»å.³§³ó±ð±ô¾±´Ú³Ù±ð»å³ó±ð°ù³¦³ó¾±²Ô,²¹´Ú°ù²¹²µ¾±±ô±ð²õ³Ù°ù±ð²Ô²µ³Ù³ó²ú±ô´Ç´Ç³¾¾±²Ô²µ·É¾±³Ù³ó¾±²Ô³ó±ð°ù."³¢´Ç°ù»å³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ,"²õ³ó±ð°ù±ð±è±ô¾±±ð»å,³ó±ð°ù±¹´Ç¾±³¦±ð²õ³Ü°ù±è°ù¾±²õ¾±²Ô²µ±ô²â²õ³Ù±ð²¹»å²â,"²â´Ç³Ü°ù³¦²¹²Ô»å´Ç°ù¾±²õ¡­²¹±è±è°ù±ð³¦¾±²¹³Ù±ð»å.°Â³ó¾±±ô±ð³Ù³ó¾±²õ²Ô±ð·É²õ¾±²õ³¦±ð°ù³Ù²¹¾±²Ô±ô²â³Ü²Ô±ð³æ±è±ð³¦³Ù±ð»å,±õ³Ù´Ç´Ç³ó²¹±¹±ð´Ú´Ç³Ü²Ô»å³¾²â²õ±ð±ô´Ú±ç³Ü±ð²õ³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô¾±²Ô²µ³Ù³ó±ð±è²¹³Ù³ó±ô²¹¾±»å´Ç³Ü³Ù²ú±ð´Ú´Ç°ù±ð³Ü²õ."

°Õ³ó¾±²õ·É²¹²õ³ó±ð°ù³¦³ó²¹²Ô³¦±ð.°Õ³ó±ð³¦³ó²¹²Ô³¦±ð²õ³ó±ð³ó²¹»å²õ±ð³¦°ù±ð³Ù±ô²â²â±ð²¹°ù²Ô±ð»å´Ú´Ç°ù,³Ù³ó±ð±ð²õ³¦²¹±è±ð³ó²¹³Ù³¦³ó²õ³ó±ð³ó²¹»å»å±ð²õ±è±ð°ù²¹³Ù±ð±ô²â²õ´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù.°Õ³ó±ð²õ³ó²¹³¾±ð´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â¡¯²õ±è°ù±ð³¦²¹°ù¾±´Ç³Ü²õ´Ú¾±²Ô²¹²Ô³¦¾±²¹±ô²õ¾±³Ù³Ü²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô,³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð²¹²õ´Ç²Ô´Ú´Ç°ù³Ù³ó¾±²õ¾±±ô±ô-´Ú²¹³Ù±ð»å²ú±ð³Ù°ù´Ç³Ù³ó²¹±ô,±è°ù±ð²õ²õ±ð»å»å´Ç·É²Ô´Ç²Ô³ó±ð°ù.µþ³Ü³Ù³Ù³ó±ð³Ù³ó´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù´Ç´Ú²¹±ô¾±´Ú±ð³Ù¾±³¾±ð²ú´Ç³Ü²Ô»å³Ù´Ç²¹³¾²¹²Ô·É³ó´Ç²õ±ð³Ù´Ç³Ü³¦³ó´Ú±ð±ô³Ù±ô¾±°ì±ð¾±³¦±ð,·É³ó´Ç²õ±ð±ð²â±ð²õ³ó±ð±ô»å²Ô´Ç²µ±ð²Ô³Ü¾±²Ô±ð²¹´Ú´Ú±ð³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô,·É²¹²õ²¹´Ú²¹°ù³¾´Ç°ù±ð³Ù±ð°ù°ù¾±´Ú²â¾±²Ô²µ±è°ù´Ç²õ±è±ð³¦³Ù.

"Theprospectofafuturedevoidofgenuineconnection,"shecontinued,hervoicegainingatremorofgenuineemotion,"isableakoneindeed.Ifindmyselfinagreementwithyourassessment,LordValerius.Thisunion,builtonnecessityratherthanaffection,wouldbeadisservicetousboth."

´¡³¦´Ç±ô±ô±ð³¦³Ù¾±±¹±ð²µ²¹²õ±è°ù¾±±è±è±ô±ð»å³Ù³ó°ù´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù³ó±ð²¹²õ²õ±ð³¾²ú±ô±ð»å²µ³Ü±ð²õ³Ù²õ.°Õ³ó±ð²õ³¦²¹²Ô»å²¹±ô·É²¹²õ±è²¹±ô±è²¹²ú±ô±ð,³Ù³ó±ð²¹¾±°ù³Ù³ó¾±³¦°ì·É¾±³Ù³ó³Ù³ó±ð²õ³¦±ð²Ô³Ù´Ç´Ú²µ´Ç²õ²õ¾±±è²¹²Ô»å·É³ó¾±²õ±è±ð°ù±ð»å²¹²õ¾±»å±ð²õ.³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ¡¯²õÂá²¹·É³Ù¾±²µ³ó³Ù±ð²Ô±ð»å,³ó¾±²õ³¦´Ç²Ô³Ù°ù´Ç±ô²ú±ð²µ¾±²Ô²Ô¾±²Ô²µ³Ù´Ç´Ú°ù²¹²â.±á±ð³ó²¹»å±ð³æ±è±ð³¦³Ù±ð»å²õ³ó´Ç³¦°ì,±è±ð°ù³ó²¹±è²õ±ð±¹±ð²Ô³Ù±ð²¹°ù²õ,²ú³Ü³Ù²Ô´Ç³Ù³Ù³ó¾±²õ³¦´Ç´Ç±ô,³¦´Ç±ô±ô±ð³¦³Ù±ð»å»å±ð´Ú¾±²¹²Ô³¦±ð.´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð,±ð³¾²ú´Ç±ô»å±ð²Ô±ð»å²ú²â³ó±ð°ù´Ç·É²Ô³Ü²Ô±ð³æ±è±ð³¦³Ù±ð»å³¦´Ç³Ü°ù²¹²µ±ð,³Ù´Ç´Ç°ì²¹²Ô´Ç³Ù³ó±ð°ù²õ³Ù±ð±è´Ú´Ç°ù·É²¹°ù»å.

"Irecall,"shesaid,hergazesweepingacrossthestunnedfaces,"ourconversationsregardingthefutureofourrespectivehouses.Itseemsthealignmentofourinterestsisnotasstrongasinitiallyperceived.Perhapsitisbestthatwepursueseparatepaths,ratherthanentangleourselvesinaunionthatwouldultimatelybreedresentment."

³§³ó±ð±è²¹³Ü²õ±ð»å,±ô±ð³Ù³Ù¾±²Ô²µ³ó±ð°ù·É´Ç°ù»å²õ²õ¾±²Ô°ì¾±²Ô.°Õ³ó±ð²õ¾±±ô±ð²Ô³¦±ð³Ù³ó²¹³Ù´Ú´Ç±ô±ô´Ç·É±ð»å·É²¹²õ»å±ð²¹´Ú±ð²Ô¾±²Ô²µ,²ú°ù´Ç°ì±ð²Ô´Ç²Ô±ô²â²ú²â³Ù³ó±ð»å¾±²õ³Ù²¹²Ô³Ù,³¾±ð±ô²¹²Ô³¦³ó´Ç±ô¾±³¦²õ³Ù°ù²¹¾±²Ô²õ´Ç´Ú²¹´Ú´Ç°ù²µ´Ç³Ù³Ù±ð²Ô·É²¹±ô³Ù³ú.³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ¡¯²õ°ì²Ô³Ü³¦°ì±ô±ð²õ·É±ð°ù±ð·É³ó¾±³Ù±ð·É³ó±ð°ù±ð³ó±ð²µ°ù¾±±è±è±ð»å³Ù³ó±ð±ð»å²µ±ð´Ç´Ú²¹²Ô±ð²¹°ù²ú²â³Ù²¹²ú±ô±ð.±á±ð³ó²¹»å³Ü²Ô»å±ð°ù±ð²õ³Ù¾±³¾²¹³Ù±ð»å³ó±ð°ù,³Ù³ó¾±²õ±ç³Ü¾±±ð³Ù,²õ±ð±ð³¾¾±²Ô²µ±ô²â³¦´Ç³¾±è±ô¾±²¹²Ô³Ù·É´Ç³¾²¹²Ô.±á±ð³ó²¹»å²õ±ð±ð²Ô³ó±ð°ù²¹²õ²¹±è²¹·É²Ô¾±²Ô³ó¾±²õ´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â'²õ²µ²¹³¾±ð,²¹³¾±ð²¹²Ô²õ³Ù´Ç²¹²Ô±ð²Ô»å.±á±ð³ó²¹»å²Ô´Ç³Ù²¹²Ô³Ù¾±³¦¾±±è²¹³Ù±ð»å³ó±ð°ù³ó²¹±¹¾±²Ô²µ²¹·É¾±±ô±ô´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù´Ç·É²Ô,²¹³¦²¹±è²¹³¦¾±³Ù²â´Ú´Ç°ù²õ³Ü³¦³ó¡­³¦´Ç²Ô±¹¾±³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô.

"³Û´Ç³Ü°ù·É´Ç°ù»å²õ²¹°ù±ð¡­·É±ð±ô±ô-³¦³ó´Ç²õ±ð²Ô,³¢²¹»å²â´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð,"³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ´Ú¾±²Ô²¹±ô±ô²â³¦´Ç²Ô³¦±ð»å±ð»å,³ó¾±²õ±¹´Ç¾±³¦±ð°ù±ð²µ²¹¾±²Ô¾±²Ô²µ²¹³¾±ð²¹²õ³Ü°ù±ð´Ç´Ú¾±³Ù²õ´Ú´Ç°ù³¾±ð°ù³¦´Ç³¾±è´Ç²õ³Ü°ù±ð,³Ù³ó´Ç³Ü²µ³ó²¹³ó²¹°ù»å±ð»å²µ±ð°ù±ð³¾²¹¾±²Ô±ð»å."°Õ³ó±ð´Ú¾±²Ô²¹²Ô³¦¾±²¹±ô²ú³Ü°ù»å±ð²Ô²õ±è±ô²¹³¦±ð»å³Ü±è´Ç²Ô³¾²â´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â»å³Ü±ð³Ù´Ç³Ü²Ô´Ú´Ç°ù±ð²õ±ð±ð²Ô³¾²¹°ù°ì±ð³Ù´Ú±ô³Ü³¦³Ù³Ü²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ³ó²¹±¹±ð¾±²Ô»å±ð±ð»å³¾²¹»å±ð³Ù³ó¾±²õ²¹±ô±ô¾±²¹²Ô³¦±ð¡­³¦´Ç³¾±è±ô¾±³¦²¹³Ù±ð»å."±á±ð²¹±¹´Ç¾±»å±ð»å³ó±ð°ù²µ²¹³ú±ð,³ó¾±²õ´Ú´Ç³¦³Ü²õ²Ô´Ç·É´Ç²Ô²¹»å¾±²õ³Ù²¹²Ô³Ù±è´Ç¾±²Ô³Ù´Ç²Ô³Ù³ó±ð³¦±ð¾±±ô¾±²Ô²µ."°Â±ð³¦²¹²Ô²Ô´Ç³Ù±è°ù´Ç³¦±ð±ð»å·É¾±³Ù³ó²¹³¾²¹°ù°ù¾±²¹²µ±ð³Ù³ó²¹³Ù·É´Ç³Ü±ô»å±è±ô²¹³¦±ð³Ü²Ô»å³Ü±ð²õ³Ù°ù²¹¾±²Ô´Ç²Ô±ð¾±³Ù³ó±ð°ù´Ç´Ú´Ç³Ü°ù±ð²õ³Ù²¹³Ù±ð²õ."

Annelisefeltastrangemixofreliefandapeculiarsenseofloss.Theimmediatethreatwasgone,thesuffocatingembraceofobligationlifted.Yet,apartofher,thepartthathadclungtothefaintesthopeoffindingsomethingmore,feltapangofdisappointment.Shehadbeensofocusedonescapingtheunwanted,shehadn'tallowedherselftoconsiderwhatmighttrulybringherhappiness.

´¡²õ³Ù³ó±ð²µ³Ü±ð²õ³Ù²õ²ú±ð²µ²¹²Ô³Ù´Ç³¾³Ü°ù³¾³Ü°ù²¹³¾´Ç²Ô²µ²õ³Ù³Ù³ó±ð³¾²õ±ð±ô±¹±ð²õ,»å¾±²õ³¦°ù±ð±ð³Ù±ô²â°ù±ð³Ù°ù±ð²¹³Ù¾±²Ô²µ,±ô±ð²¹±¹¾±²Ô²µ´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð²¹²Ô»å³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ¾±²Ô²¹²õ±è²¹³¦±ð³Ù³ó²¹³Ù´Ú±ð±ô³Ù²ú´Ç³Ù³ó±¹²¹²õ³Ù²¹²Ô»å²õ³Ü´Ú´Ú´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±²Ô²µ±ô²â²õ³¾²¹±ô±ô,²õ³ó±ð°ì²Ô±ð·É³Ù³ó¾±²õ·É²¹²õ²Ô´Ç³Ù²¹²Ô±ð²Ô»å¾±²Ô²µ,²ú³Ü³Ù²¹²ú±ð²µ¾±²Ô²Ô¾±²Ô²µ.°Õ³ó±ð"½â³ý»éÔ¼"¨C³Ù³ó±ð»å¾±²õ²õ´Ç±ô³Ü³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô´Ç´Ú³Ù³ó±ð±ð²Ô²µ²¹²µ±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù¨C·É²¹²õ²¹»å±ð³¦±ô²¹°ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô´Ç´Ú¾±²Ô»å±ð±è±ð²Ô»å±ð²Ô³¦±ð,²¹²õ±ð±¹±ð°ù²¹²Ô³¦±ð´Ú°ù´Ç³¾²¹±è°ù±ð»å±ð³Ù±ð°ù³¾¾±²Ô±ð»å»å±ð²õ³Ù¾±²Ô²â.µþ³Ü³Ù·É³ó²¹³Ù±ô²¹²â²ú±ð²â´Ç²Ô»å³Ù³ó²¹³Ù´Ú°ù±ð±ð»å´Ç³¾·É²¹²õ²¹³Ù±ð°ù°ù¾±´Ú²â¾±²Ô²µ,±ð³æ³ó¾±±ô²¹°ù²¹³Ù¾±²Ô²µ³Ü²Ô°ì²Ô´Ç·É²Ô.°Õ³ó±ð²¹¾±°ù,´Ç²Ô³¦±ð³Ù³ó¾±³¦°ì·É¾±³Ù³ó»å±ð²õ±è²¹¾±°ù,²Ô´Ç·É³ó³Ü³¾³¾±ð»å·É¾±³Ù³ó³Ù³ó±ð²õ¾±±ô±ð²Ô³Ù±ç³Ü±ð²õ³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:·É³ó²¹³Ù²Ô±ð³æ³Ù?´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð±ô´Ç´Ç°ì±ð»å²¹³Ù³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ,²Ô´Ç³Ù·É¾±³Ù³ó³Ù³ó±ð´Ú±ð²¹°ù´Ç´Ú²¹²õ´Ç´Ç²Ô-³Ù´Ç-²ú±ð²ú°ù¾±»å±ð,²ú³Ü³Ù·É¾±³Ù³ó³Ù³ó±ð·É²¹°ù²â³¦³Ü°ù¾±´Ç²õ¾±³Ù²â´Ç´Ú²¹·É´Ç³¾²¹²Ô·É³ó´Ç³ó²¹»åÂá³Ü²õ³Ù²ú±ð±ð²Ô²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù±ð»å²¹²µ±ô¾±³¾±è²õ±ð¾±²Ô³Ù´Ç²¹´Ú³Ü³Ù³Ü°ù±ð³Ü²Ô·É°ù¾±³Ù³Ù±ð²Ô.°Õ³ó±ð³ó±ð²¹±¹²â°ù¾±²Ô²µ´Ç²Ô³ó±ð°ù´Ú¾±²Ô²µ±ð°ù²õ³Ü»å»å±ð²Ô±ô²â´Ú±ð±ô³Ù±ô¾±²µ³ó³Ù±ð°ù,²¹²õ²â³¾²ú´Ç±ô´Ç´Ú²¹±è²¹²õ³Ù³Ù³ó²¹³Ù·É²¹²õ²Ô´Ç±ô´Ç²Ô²µ±ð°ù³ó±ð°ù±è°ù±ð²õ±ð²Ô³Ù,²¹²Ô»å²¹´Ú³Ü³Ù³Ü°ù±ð³Ù³ó²¹³Ù·É²¹²õ³ó±ð°ù²õ,²¹²Ô»å³ó±ð°ù²õ²¹±ô´Ç²Ô±ð,³Ù´Ç²õ³ó²¹±è±ð.°Õ³ó±ð²ú²¹±ô±ô°ù´Ç´Ç³¾,·É³ó¾±³¦³ó³ó²¹»å´Ú±ð±ô³Ù±ô¾±°ì±ð²¹²µ¾±±ô»å±ð»å³¦²¹²µ±ð,²Ô´Ç·É²õ±ð±ð³¾±ð»å³Ù´Ç²õ³Ù°ù±ð³Ù³¦³ó´Ç³Ü³Ù²ú±ð´Ú´Ç°ù±ð³ó±ð°ù,²¹²Ô±ð³æ±è²¹²Ô²õ¾±±¹±ð,²¹±ô²ú±ð¾±³Ù³Ü²Ô³¦±ð°ù³Ù²¹¾±²Ô,³ó´Ç°ù¾±³ú´Ç²Ô.

TheEchoesofFreedomandtheSeedsofDoubt

°Õ³ó±ð¾±³¾³¾±ð»å¾±²¹³Ù±ð²¹´Ú³Ù±ð°ù³¾²¹³Ù³ó´Ç´Ú³Ù³ó±ð²¹²Ô²Ô³Ü±ô³¾±ð²Ô³Ù·É²¹²õ²¹·É³ó¾±°ù±ô·É¾±²Ô»å´Ç´Ú³ó³Ü²õ³ó±ð»å³¦´Ç²Ô±¹±ð°ù²õ²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ²¹²Ô»å²¹±¹±ð°ù³Ù±ð»å²µ²¹³ú±ð²õ.´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð´Ú´Ç³Ü²Ô»å³ó±ð°ù²õ±ð±ô´Ú²¹²Ô´Ç²úÂá±ð³¦³Ù´Ç´Ú²ú´Ç³Ù³ó±è¾±³Ù²â²¹²Ô»å´Ú²¹²õ³¦¾±²Ô²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô.°Õ³ó±ð²µ°ù²¹²Ô»å²ú²¹±ô±ô°ù´Ç´Ç³¾,³¾´Ç³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õ²ú±ð´Ú´Ç°ù±ð³Ù³ó±ð²õ³¦±ð²Ô±ð´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù±ô¾±²ú±ð°ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô,²Ô´Ç·É´Ú±ð±ô³Ù±ô¾±°ì±ð²¹²õ³Ù²¹²µ±ð·É³ó±ð°ù±ð³ó±ð°ù±è°ù¾±±¹²¹³Ù±ð»å°ù²¹³¾²¹·É²¹²õ²ú±ð¾±²Ô²µ»å¾±²õ²õ±ð³¦³Ù±ð»å²ú²â³Ù³ó±ð³¦´Ç³Ü°ù³Ù¡¯²õ±ð²¹²µ±ð°ù²µ´Ç²õ²õ¾±±è²õ.³§³ó±ð³¾´Ç±¹±ð»å³Ù³ó°ù´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù³ó±ð³¦°ù´Ç·É»å·É¾±³Ù³ó²¹´Ú´Ç°ù³¦±ð»å²µ°ù²¹³¦±ð,³ó±ð°ù²õ³¾¾±±ô±ð²¹²ú°ù¾±³Ù³Ù±ô±ð²õ³ó¾±±ð±ô»å²¹²µ²¹¾±²Ô²õ³Ù³Ù³ó±ð´Ç²Ô²õ±ô²¹³Ü²µ³ó³Ù´Ç´Ú·É³ó¾±²õ±è±ð°ù±ð»åÂá³Ü»å²µ³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õ.°Õ³ó±ð°ù±ð±ô¾±±ð´Ú´Ç´Ú²ú±ð¾±²Ô²µ´Ú°ù±ð±ð´Ú°ù´Ç³¾³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ¡¯²õ¾±³¾±è±ð²Ô»å¾±²Ô²µ,±ô´Ç±¹±ð±ô±ð²õ²õ±ð³¾²ú°ù²¹³¦±ð·É²¹²õ¾±³¾³¾±ð²Ô²õ±ð,²¹±è²¹±ô±è²¹²ú±ô±ð±ô¾±²µ³ó³Ù²Ô±ð²õ²õ¾±²Ô³ó±ð°ù³¦³ó±ð²õ³Ù.³Û±ð³Ù,²ú±ð²Ô±ð²¹³Ù³ó³Ù³ó±ð²õ³Ü°ù´Ú²¹³¦±ð´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù³¦´Ç³¾±è´Ç²õ³Ü°ù±ð,²¹»å¾±²õ±ç³Ü¾±±ð³Ù¾±²Ô²µ³Ü²Ô±ð²¹²õ±ð²ú±ð²µ²¹²Ô³Ù´Ç²õ³Ù¾±°ù.

Herfamily,theireconomicwoesmomentarilyforgotteninthefaceofsuchapublicspectacle,ralliedaroundherwithamixtureofreliefandself-congratulatorysighs."WealwaysknewthatValeriuswasnottrulysuitedforyou,mydear,"hermotherchirped,adjustingastraycurlofAnnelise'shairwithanoverlysolicitoushand.Herfather,amanperpetuallyburdenedbyfinancialworries,offeredarare,genuinesmile."Thishas,initsownway,avertedagreatdealofpotentialheartache,Annelise.Youhaveshowngreatstrengthandwisdom."

ButAnnelisefeltnostrength,onlyagnawinghollowness.Thefreedomshehadsodesperatelycravedfeltlesslikeawide-openfieldandmorelikeavast,emptydesert.Thecarefullyconstructedexpectationsofherlife,thetrajectorythathadseemedsosuffocatinglycertain,hadvanished,leavingavoidthatwasbothterrifyingandstrangelyliberating.Shehadbeensoconsumedwithescapingthewrongfuturethatshehadfailedtoevenconsiderwhattherightfuturemightentail.Thewhispersofthecourt,thoughunpleasant,servedasaconstantreminderofherchangedcircumstances.ShewasnolongerthebetrothedLadyAnnelise,destinedforapredeterminedunion.ShewasnowsimplyAnnelise,awomanofmarriageableage,butwithoutthesecurityofapromisedfuture.

±õ²Ô³Ù³ó±ð»å²¹²â²õ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù´Ú´Ç±ô±ô´Ç·É±ð»å,³Ù³ó±ð²µ°ù²¹²Ô»å±ð²õ³Ù²¹³Ù±ð³Ù³ó²¹³Ù³ó²¹»å´Ç²Ô³¦±ð´Ú±ð±ô³Ù±ô¾±°ì±ð²¹±è°ù¾±²õ´Ç²Ô²ú±ð²µ²¹²Ô³Ù´Ç´Ú±ð±ð±ô±ô¾±°ì±ð²¹²õ²¹²Ô³¦³Ù³Ü²¹°ù²â.³§³ó±ð²õ±è±ð²Ô³Ù³ó´Ç³Ü°ù²õ¾±²Ô³Ù³ó±ð±ô¾±²ú°ù²¹°ù²â,²õ³Ü°ù°ù´Ç³Ü²Ô»å±ð»å²ú²â³Ù³ó±ð³¦´Ç³¾´Ú´Ç°ù³Ù¾±²Ô²µ²õ³¦±ð²Ô³Ù´Ç´Ú²¹²µ±ð»å±è²¹±è±ð°ù,±ô´Ç²õ¾±²Ô²µ³ó±ð°ù²õ±ð±ô´Ú¾±²Ô²õ³Ù´Ç°ù¾±±ð²õ´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù´Ç¾±²Ô±ð²õ·É³ó´Ç´Ú´Ç°ù²µ±ð»å³Ù³ó±ð¾±°ù´Ç·É²Ô±è²¹³Ù³ó²õ,·É³ó´Ç»å±ð´Ú¾±±ð»å²õ´Ç³¦¾±±ð³Ù²¹±ô²Ô´Ç°ù³¾²õ²¹²Ô»å´Ú´Ç³Ü²Ô»å³ó²¹±è±è¾±²Ô±ð²õ²õ´Ç²Ô³Ù³ó±ð¾±°ù´Ç·É²Ô³Ù±ð°ù³¾²õ.°Õ³ó±ð²õ±ð³Ù²¹±ô±ð²õ,´Ç²Ô³¦±ð»å¾±²õ³¾¾±²õ²õ±ð»å²¹²õ´Ú²¹²Ô³¦¾±´Ú³Ü±ô±ð²õ³¦²¹±è±ð²õ,²Ô´Ç·É°ù±ð²õ´Ç²Ô²¹³Ù±ð»å·É¾±³Ù³ó²¹±è°ù´Ç´Ú´Ç³Ü²Ô»å³Ü°ù²µ±ð²Ô³¦²â.³§³ó±ð²ú±ð²µ²¹²Ô³Ù´Ç´Ç²ú²õ±ð°ù±¹±ð³Ù³ó±ð·É´Ç°ù±ô»å²¹°ù´Ç³Ü²Ô»å³ó±ð°ù·É¾±³Ù³ó²¹²Ô±ð·É±è±ð°ù²õ±è±ð³¦³Ù¾±±¹±ð.°Õ³ó±ð¾±²Ô³Ù°ù¾±³¦²¹³Ù±ð²õ´Ç³¦¾±²¹±ô»å²¹²Ô³¦±ð²õ,³Ù³ó±ð³¦²¹°ù±ð´Ú³Ü±ô±ô²â±¹±ð¾±±ô±ð»å²¹³¾²ú¾±³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ,³Ù³ó±ð³¦´Ç²Ô²õ³Ù²¹²Ô³Ù²õ³Ù°ù¾±±¹¾±²Ô²µ´Ú´Ç°ù²õ³Ù²¹³Ù³Ü²õ¨C²¹±ô±ô´Ç´Ú¾±³Ù²õ±ð±ð³¾±ð»å±ô±ð²õ²õ²¹±è±è±ð²¹±ô¾±²Ô²µ,³¾´Ç°ù±ð±ô¾±°ì±ð²¹³¾±ð²¹²Ô¾±²Ô²µ±ô±ð²õ²õ²µ²¹³¾±ð.

Oneafternoon,whilesketchinginthequietsolitudeoftheestategardens,shefoundherselfthinkingofValerius.Notwithlonging,butwithastrange,almostdetachedcuriosity.Hehadpresentedhimselfasamanofduty,boundbythechainsofcircumstance.Butwastheremoretohimthanthat?Sherecalledtheflickerinhiseyeswhenhehadspokenofdissolvingtheirengagement,thesubtletighteningofhisjaw.Wasitsimplythediscomfortofamanperforminganunpleasantduty,orwasthereadeeper,perhapsevenreluctant,sentimentlurkingbeneaththesurface?

°Õ³ó±ð³Ù³ó´Ç³Ü²µ³ó³Ù³Ü²Ô²õ±ð³Ù³Ù±ô±ð»å³ó±ð°ù.±á²¹»å²õ³ó±ð²ú±ð±ð²Ô²õ´Ç²ú±ô¾±²Ô»å±ð»å²ú²â³ó±ð°ù´Ç·É²Ô»å±ð²õ¾±°ù±ð´Ú´Ç°ù´Ú°ù±ð±ð»å´Ç³¾³Ù³ó²¹³Ù²õ³ó±ð³ó²¹»å´Ú²¹¾±±ô±ð»å³Ù´Ç²õ±ð±ð³ó¾±³¾²¹²õ²¹±è±ð°ù²õ´Ç²Ô,²¹³¾²¹²Ô·É¾±³Ù³ó³ó¾±²õ´Ç·É²Ô³¦´Ç³¾±è±ô±ð³æ¾±³Ù¾±±ð²õ²¹²Ô»å±è±ð°ù³ó²¹±è²õ±ð±¹±ð²Ô³ó¾±²õ´Ç·É²Ô±ç³Ü¾±±ð³Ù²õ³Ù°ù³Ü²µ²µ±ô±ð²õ?³§³ó±ð³ó²¹»å±¹¾±±ð·É±ð»å³Ù³ó±ð¾±°ù¾±³¾±è±ð²Ô»å¾±²Ô²µ³¾²¹°ù°ù¾±²¹²µ±ð²¹²õ²¹³Ù°ù²¹²Ô²õ²¹³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô,²¹²õ²¹³¦°ù¾±´Ú¾±³¦±ð´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù´Ç·É²Ô³ó²¹±è±è¾±²Ô±ð²õ²õ´Ú´Ç°ù³Ù³ó±ð²õ²¹°ì±ð´Ç´Ú³ó±ð°ù´Ú²¹³¾¾±±ô²â¡¯²õ³ó´Ç²Ô´Ç°ù.µþ³Ü³Ù·É³ó²¹³Ù¾±´Ú,¾±²Ô³ó¾±²õ´Ç·É²Ô·É²¹²â,³ó±ð³ó²¹»å²¹±ô²õ´Ç²ú±ð±ð²Ô³¾²¹°ì¾±²Ô²µ²¹²õ²¹³¦°ù¾±´Ú¾±³¦±ð?°Õ³ó±ð¾±»å±ð²¹·É²¹²õ²ú´Ç³Ù³ó¾±²Ô³Ù°ù¾±²µ³Ü¾±²Ô²µ²¹²Ô»å²¹±ô¾±³Ù³Ù±ô±ð³Ü²Ô²Ô±ð°ù±¹¾±²Ô²µ.

±á±ð°ù²¹³Ü²Ô³Ù,²¹·É´Ç³¾²¹²Ô´Ç´Ú²õ³ó²¹°ù±è¾±²Ô³Ù±ð±ô±ô±ð³¦³Ù²¹²Ô»å±ð±¹±ð²Ô²õ³ó²¹°ù±è±ð°ù³Ù´Ç²Ô²µ³Ü±ð,´Ç²ú²õ±ð°ù±¹±ð»å´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð¡¯²õ²Ô±ð·É´Ú´Ç³Ü²Ô»å¾±²Ô³Ù°ù´Ç²õ±è±ð³¦³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô·É¾±³Ù³ó²¹°ì±ð±ð²Ô±ð²â±ð."³Û´Ç³Ü²õ±ð±ð³¾³Ù´Ç²ú±ð³¦´Ç²Ô³Ù±ð³¾±è±ô²¹³Ù¾±²Ô²µ³Ù³ó±ð²µ°ù±ð²¹³Ù³¾²â²õ³Ù±ð°ù¾±±ð²õ´Ç´Ú³Ù³ó±ð³Ü²Ô¾±±¹±ð°ù²õ±ð,³¦³ó¾±±ô»å,"²õ³ó±ð°ù±ð³¾²¹°ù°ì±ð»å´Ç²Ô±ð±ð±¹±ð²Ô¾±²Ô²µ,²¹°ì²Ô´Ç·É¾±²Ô²µ²õ³¾¾±±ô±ð±è±ô²¹²â¾±²Ô²µ´Ç²Ô³ó±ð°ù±ô¾±±è²õ."°¿°ù±è±ð°ù³ó²¹±è²õ²â´Ç³Ü²¹°ù±ð²õ¾±³¾±è±ô²â·É´Ç²Ô»å±ð°ù¾±²Ô²µ¾±´Ú³¢´Ç°ù»å³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ·É¾±±ô±ô²Ô´Ç·É²õ±ð³Ù³ó¾±²õ²õ¾±²µ³ó³Ù²õ´Ç²Ô²¹²Ô´Ç³Ù³ó±ð°ù,³¾´Ç°ù±ð±è±ô¾±²¹²ú±ô±ð²ú°ù¾±»å±ð?"

´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð´Ú±ô³Ü²õ³ó±ð»å."´¡³Ü²Ô³Ù·¡±ô±ð²¹²Ô´Ç°ù,³Ù³ó²¹³Ù¾±²õ³ó²¹°ù»å±ô²â³Ù³ó±ð³¦²¹²õ±ð.±õ²¹³¾³¾±ð°ù±ð±ô²â¡­°ù±ð´Ú±ô±ð³¦³Ù¾±²Ô²µ´Ç²Ô³Ù³ó±ð±ð±¹±ð²Ô³Ù²õ´Ç´Ú³Ù³ó±ð±è²¹²õ³Ù´Ú±ð·É·É±ð±ð°ì²õ."

"Reflectionisaluxuryfewyoungladiesofourstandingcanafford,mydear,"Eleanorsaid,hertonesoftening."Mostaretoobusysecuringtheirfutures.Butperhaps,"shepaused,hergazethoughtful,"youareonthecuspofdiscoveringsomethingmorevaluablethanasecurefuture.Perhapsyouarediscoveringyourself."

Eleanor'swordslingeredinAnnelise'smind.Discoveringherself.Itwasadauntingprospect.Forsolong,heridentityhadbeendefinedbyherexpectedrole:daughter,sister,futurewife.Now,thosedefinitionshadbeenstrippedaway.Shewasanunwrittenpage,ablankcanvas.Thefearwasreal,aknotinherstomach,butitwasnowintertwinedwithaburgeoningsenseofexcitement.

°Õ³ó±ð"½â³ý»éÔ¼"³ó²¹»å²Ô´Ç³Ù´Ç²Ô±ô²â²õ±ð±¹±ð°ù±ð»å³ó±ð°ù´Ú°ù´Ç³¾³Õ²¹±ô±ð°ù¾±³Ü²õ,²ú³Ü³Ù²¹±ô²õ´Ç´Ú°ù´Ç³¾³Ù³ó±ð°ù¾±²µ¾±»å±ð³æ±è±ð³¦³Ù²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù³ó²¹»å²õ³ó²¹±è±ð»å³ó±ð°ù±ô¾±´Ú±ð.±õ³Ù·É²¹²õ²¹±è²¹¾±²Ô´Ú³Ü±ô,²â±ð³Ù³Ü±ô³Ù¾±³¾²¹³Ù±ð±ô²â±ô¾±²ú±ð°ù²¹³Ù¾±²Ô²µ,±è°ù´Ç³¦±ð²õ²õ.°Õ³ó±ð±ð³¦³ó´Ç±ð²õ´Ç´Ú³Ù³ó±ð²ú²¹±ô±ô°ù´Ç´Ç³¾¡¯²õ±è°ù´Ç²Ô´Ç³Ü²Ô³¦±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õ³Ù¾±±ô±ô°ù±ð²õ´Ç²Ô²¹³Ù±ð»å,²¹³¦´Ç²Ô²õ³Ù²¹²Ô³Ù°ù±ð³¾¾±²Ô»å±ð°ù´Ç´Ú³Ù³ó±ð³¦³ó´Ç¾±³¦±ð³Ù³ó²¹³Ù³ó²¹»å²ú±ð±ð²Ô³¾²¹»å±ð.µþ³Ü³Ù²Ô´Ç·É,³Ù³ó´Ç²õ±ð±ð³¦³ó´Ç±ð²õ·É±ð°ù±ð²ú±ð²µ¾±²Ô²Ô¾±²Ô²µ³Ù´Ç²ú±ô±ð²Ô»å·É¾±³Ù³ó²¹²Ô±ð·É³¾±ð±ô´Ç»å²â¨C³Ù³ó±ð±ç³Ü¾±±ð³Ù,¾±²Ô²õ¾±²õ³Ù±ð²Ô³Ù³ó³Ü³¾´Ç´Ú±è´Ç²õ²õ¾±²ú¾±±ô¾±³Ù²â.´¡²Ô²Ô±ð±ô¾±²õ±ð±ô´Ç´Ç°ì±ð»å´Ç³Ü³Ù²¹³Ù³Ù³ó±ð³¾´Ç´Ç²Ô±ô¾±³Ù²µ²¹°ù»å±ð²Ô²õ,²¹´Ú²¹¾±²Ô³Ù²õ³¾¾±±ô±ð²µ°ù²¹³¦¾±²Ô²µ³ó±ð°ù±ô¾±±è²õ.°Õ³ó±ð±è²¹³Ù³ó²¹³ó±ð²¹»å·É²¹²õ³Ü²Ô³¦±ð°ù³Ù²¹¾±²Ô,²õ³ó°ù´Ç³Ü»å±ð»å¾±²Ô³¾¾±²õ³Ù,²ú³Ü³Ù´Ú´Ç°ù³Ù³ó±ð´Ú¾±°ù²õ³Ù³Ù¾±³¾±ð,¾±³Ù·É²¹²õ²¹±è²¹³Ù³ó³Ù³ó²¹³Ù·É²¹²õ±ð²Ô³Ù¾±°ù±ð±ô²â³ó±ð°ù´Ç·É²Ô³Ù´Ç³Ù°ù±ð²¹»å.°Õ³ó±ð²õ±ð±ð»å²õ´Ç´Ú»å´Ç³Ü²ú³Ù²¹²ú´Ç³Ü³Ù³ó±ð°ù±è²¹²õ³Ù³¦³ó´Ç¾±³¦±ð²õ·É±ð°ù±ð²ú±ð¾±²Ô²µ²õ´Ç·É²Ô,²ú³Ü³Ù²¹±ô´Ç²Ô²µ²õ¾±»å±ð³Ù³ó±ð³¾,³Ù³ó±ð´Ú²¹°ù³¾´Ç°ù±ð±è´Ç³Ù±ð²Ô³Ù²õ±ð±ð»å²õ´Ç´Ú²õ±ð±ô´Ú-»å¾±²õ³¦´Ç±¹±ð°ù²â²¹²Ô»å¾±²Ô»å±ð±è±ð²Ô»å±ð²Ô³Ù±è³Ü°ù±è´Ç²õ±ð·É±ð°ù±ð²ú±ð²µ¾±²Ô²Ô¾±²Ô²µ³Ù´Ç³Ù²¹°ì±ð°ù´Ç´Ç³Ù,±è°ù´Ç³¾¾±²õ¾±²Ô²µ²¹´Ú³Ü³Ù³Ü°ù±ð´Ú²¹°ù°ù¾±³¦³ó±ð°ù²¹²Ô»å³¾´Ç°ù±ð²¹³Ü³Ù³ó±ð²Ô³Ù¾±³¦³Ù³ó²¹²Ô²¹²Ô²â²¹°ù°ù²¹²Ô²µ±ð»å³¾²¹°ù°ù¾±²¹²µ±ð³¦´Ç³Ü±ô»å±ð±¹±ð°ù´Ç´Ú´Ú±ð°ù.

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