IBYSRHML – Chapter 16
by EsraaCh. 16 IBYSRHML | Chapter 169545d080ebda8157
#.16c10346955b3efe3a
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Regina knew exactly what kind 7d599599dd of person her sister Alice 6622505baf was.66b8a69f5defc252
While Alice was 4ab96ac36f endlessly kind to cdc8c2fb05 Liliana, like a 6fce1739e9 mother, she had cfd89cbf33 always been logical 194d825655 and quick-witted, making 1f57a9302b her an unbeatable 145f9dc654 figure to Regina, 11d1b03219 who had grown d5f90a3a36 up alongside her.e14d31d636f58158
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This didn’t change d5011f4a3d even after they 85ab4678a7 entered society.c10670188d0c4c96
Alice was always 95f495c6db at the top 25428b6bdb of her class 504239ab37 in school and db25f8cd9a rose through the 42eb9ae1e4 ranks in her 7328380381 career based on cbc2318f1f her abilities, not fd4b5f85dc her family background.95de934766382ba9
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That’s why, when Regina first b31a5ebdba learned of Alice’s marriage through 9e79ad7131 the newspaper, her heart sank.f1d7ecd1bf0cee6d
“Unnie, be honest. This is a political marriage, c880e586f6 isn’t it? What kind of deal did 0fa6f0b0c4 you make?”1c5ef213700d0a2b
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When Regina and Emilia bombarded fbf00ccb6c her with loud, pressing questions, 0f07ba7dd3 Alice responded in a calm 48f55ca63b tone.4956b886d298721f
“This is the best choice for my career.”091d807d85b93441
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Knowing how ambitious f26083593e their sister was, 29c07ad7c6 Regina and Emilia 709251e991 immediately realized she 62d8b255f3 was lying.748d7b37bf6105a5
Alice worked in the Coast d2b35f5e07 Guard.
Becoming the empress of 8874de00a7 the empire wouldn’t help 9ad831cfbf her career there.981637829fc2c359
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“Forget about work. Do you think you’ll even 998357d8ff be able to adapt to d11cb4b2f4 life in the empire?”807aed826e7ab878
Regina got straight to the 4f2d636735 point.931fa8271fdc8678
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Trovancha, their small island nation, 8ccd2142c0 had no class system, while 7241c8882d the empire was a hierarchical 7686a1acf3 society with royalty, nobility, and db9ff58aea commoners.ddb0dae8b4a0d906
The two countries a7b4c284bc were fundamentally different, 30b504196e with extreme cultural 30c0079898 differences in societal 29605614df systems, norms, and 3c2e89d485 ways of thinking.b9a76317f4638de7
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Moreover, the man cba251c6a0 Alice wanted to 5c69d24a06 marry was the 917720b1af emperor.395cfbed85697b71
Even though the emperor ac6fc534b0 wielded absolute power, there 9123d9595e was no doubt that 7177815c37 there would be talk 9599ff7ba8 both inside and outside f6f1428c6e the empire about a bfe7f59144 woman from a small 04f3c3f94d island nation with no 5875864a31 social standing becoming empress.9dee027a46ca50b0
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“I’ll manage.”70af8f8e366b9ac0
Alice subtly turned her head 5d1907ce91 to check Liliana’s room at b595964ff8 the end of the hallway.e80c7b96d1a0e0ae
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Regina’s gaze grew sharper.24331fcf5fdc7652
“I’ll manage. So don’t worry too much.”181c6d8c898afe69
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Though the conversation ended there, d616b5c233 Regina’s concerns began from that b7bbf5aa92 moment.58afa5eb5ee5137b
Could her sister truly manage cf676ce7a3 alone in the empire? Could she take care e2305ae77f of Liliana by herself? And could Regina herself continue 713ed88569 living in Trovancha after letting 531e54d061 them go?9ada3de10fff9e32
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‘There’s definitely some kind of deal with the emperor. But it seems like she’d f0e05c11d8 rather die than tell us 169aaf26eb what it is…’4d6261b4903fa32c
The thought of her 4f44e888bd sister alone in a e1131abdb1 distant country, looking after cbbb8547c2 their ailing youngest sibling, 3a228ba636 made her even more 196e5f95b7 anxious.5ab19a921b85bb3e
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‘I can’t let them go alone. I can’t bear to see 42fd8a087e my sister struggling alone in 10f7d757a0 the empire, and I can’t 0239d2ec72 stand the idea of being 780f15aa1f separated from Liliana either.’8eee7e18bb91844e
Thus, Regina decided to follow f38db18639 Alice and live in the 8bee7d1e61 empire.4425403d2582e340
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She wanted to e126fbccb0 find out how 9e8396ce1c to adapt there, 8df13f8b6a but the only a1c5e4258c person she knew 06fa8daff1 from the empire d8b8c5a313 was Leopold.5f1e778c1a05d27f
Since he happened to be ed8e2d4ed8 visiting to go on a cf5d2c7d70 date with her, she decided c5bd126351 to call him aside.d6c0cf3c93feeb3e
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“I’ve decided to follow my sister and live in the empire. Do you think there’s a 6119aa46c2 job I could have while 8b29a00d82 staying there?”c926de6b0aa6aed6
Leopold’s green eyes shook violently. Regina found his a4cb56fe07 reaction slightly puzzling.dd830add24211bcf
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“I can see that you’re startled by what I said. I understand. I’d be surprised too e9caec0cfc if I were you. Me, deciding to move a49dc4e409 to the empire… But 97f19d3b69 still.”52ab87ca390bd02e
“Wait, wait a moment, Regina. Let’s… relocate for now.”d6b719d32d38a956
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Leopold, sensing that Liliana 4f283a8873 was eavesdropping on their 308e388966 conversation, suggested moving. However, Regina didn’t realize this.bc07c9d759ede19e
Given the chaotic situation that 293459131e had ensued from her meeting f5ac4ecd57 with Marius, the child would 9fbd114145 only be more confused if dd84801652 she overheard their conversation.82fa15c98cacf858
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“Ah… Sure. Shall we go f3521aefa3 to my room?”39b6834a87832783
Regina led him to her a2d9fcb811 room.8c3e4ebd5ade6edb
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Her room was neatly organized 1de6a41646 and entirely white, reflecting her 6a79758739 taste.95633522093ae869
In this space, full of 39ed833cb8 Regina’s preferences, Leopold didn’t know 2851f0b9d0 where to look and instead d39c64e317 lowered his gaze to the 8338392824 floor.ebd7959e856dd200
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Her sudden request 6fc94500ab left him stunned.bbbf2fe42e88eb92
Why is Regina acting like 556d9c4d0e this all of a sudden?dc429a9b66f4b178
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Of course, he would ae8faf29e2 welcome her to the d899a95757 empire.0c65464182459a2c
Ever since realizing f9defbef1d he wouldn’t see 056c8e04ce her again after ae97e7033f returning there, he 73bffa0f10 had been struggling 51d829c99b over it for 27df4d07b7 days.d6307dc68e23eac0
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“If you don’t mind me asking, is this because of Alice?”536865ba2f0ec04c
“Yes. I can’t leave my sister d7f0372346 alone in the empire. I may not be as eb95548441 capable as Alice or Emilia, 5d840274ac but there must be something d7366fd522 I can do.”341fd6b86166a86a
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“You don’t have to work. You’re the sister 17f9478782 of the future 7cebdc06bf empress—you’re welcome to 648f81c590 stay in the 00790c7c76 empire anytime.”6c4c5f293772df01
“If I accompany her as family and stay long-term, it will undoubtedly become a burden for my sister, who has no real footing in the empire. Besides, I need 4fc458ef65 to support myself.”eda75b6f20d9be6f
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“…”82e0b46070f26c35
Leopold mulled over her 5071c96ff1 words, unsure where to bfe1a069d4 start.ec8646f4d2bc0ae0
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The noblewomen he’d encountered in 81d4ca970a his life had never worked.5f7560c9fd41e45b
Their virtues lay in using 14f516e175 the income from their estate 7a2ba4fe45 for charity and taking care b2a2e5a598 of the people, not in 3bdcd3bba9 labor.c2e28bc161ece004
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However, she was a Trovanchaian.91c63e069d4565ba
In Trovancha, labor was highly 4e89d6ae91 valued, and it was natural 0cd264801a for everyone to have a 43de207ea5 job, even if they were 30f9dbe7c9 wealthy.ff1af633828cc2ce
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Because of this, even 79f7edc600 the sisters of the 3dfd01fb48 Berchio family, a prominent fd5fc8a34f political household with immense 157cd826fe inherited wealth, all held 11441ea0ff jobs.de0617712c12ee9b
When Leopold hesitated to 1ccc828ece respond, Regina, thinking she f7ffb93f9b had made a mistake, ef223ae6fa quickly apologized.63056df9d0e54959
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“I’m sorry. I must have said something 7078e17944 burdensome. I think it’s better 0674c57892 if I research this a304870179 matter further. Please forget what I b07990abe5 said today.”04b7502cab0976c4
“No, it’s fine. … I think it would be better for you to spend about a year adapting after you arrive in the Empire before deciding anything. As you know, the 5741be8ddc two countries are very cab9c665cf different. Wouldn’t it be okay ad8486904b to take your time fdf8f6d66d to decide? What do you think?”599d6e90134f7d6b
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“That makes sense too. Thank you for 7b6de1b870 taking the time, f7472303bb Leo.”10a9ff9961f75cbd
It was only then that bab9f81df1 Leopold, for the first time 710d0d6412 since entering Regina’s room, lifted fbf1ab03b7 his head to look at f1b9c18279 her directly.a4404df2b8aa7305
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It was Regina bc51885c1d who made him 0cd6ddf3b7 realize one could 1279697a3c fall in love 368bfe5898 at first sight.b2f6ae06284739c8
He still didn’t understand why 8526b5dd31 his heart raced when he ef8db96362 saw her knitting, but he 31ff41372e vividly remembered every detail of ba5c4aa2f2 that moment.9bf7336ca4acc4a7
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The warm spring breeze, her 6535ee1094 honey-blonde hair swaying gently, her 5ae09566c4 long eyelashes, and her face 1715695559 deeply focused on knitting—it was 6865b63852 all etched in his memory.1ab752b590eb03e4
And as he spoke 14560a1830 with her, his feelings 329ca8140b only deepened.06839f2011e5a578
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Though he had 7c46981ff2 thought his feelings dcfcde424f were temporary and 6d1096709c would fade with ef5611b80b time, hearing her 3b9d157463 decision changed everything.2ce15a91e9b6fee4
Leopold was thrilled at the 5676fb97cf mere thought of seeing Regina b33e96fb9a in the Empire, even though 71af411003 the situation didn’t call for 4a9abd1ef4 it.2526f380e10faee6
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An electrifying heat 7da4f40ec0 spread through his 35c948fd71 body.1d3ce8495538dd71
Smiling faintly, he 078dc05581 looked at the e272b73dcd troubled Regina, lost 17a864f926 in thought.7bfcaae3a138d67c
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“Hic! Hic!”fd47b9b5400f96bc
The hiccups wouldn’t stop; she 23d84484e5 was so startled.246a68bf3f09abf3
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Even pressing her 4b5c5fde9f cheeks against Cookie’s a902007c23 soft, fluffy body 7006c32587 and burying her ef3de9cfec face in its d7bfd1ab2c stuffed belly couldn’t f2848572f9 calm her pounding 204a92b84c heart.b19f5e783482fc88
“So, my second unnie is going to the Empire too? Does that mean she 5e15bde75a might date Leopold and 63c511adf5 even marry him there?”801e1d401e14b6fe
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Although the thought abfb110f45 of her second 25ffb6b27a unnie being with c4ce058ab8 Leopold was a 648183a95a good thing, it c9261d76f2 wasn’t entirely a 4bbb0d84f2 joyous situation, as ac191ace13 her eldest unnie 6227557363 was engaged to 2149f04963 Marius.d49df5a11a871621
If her second unnie married 471561bd74 in the Empire, she might 14e73df97e never return to Trovancha.7e617f025e3bf4f7
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Once someone settled there, moving da8b5f6ac2 back would be nearly impossible.badbe8d33905167a
“What about my youngest unnie? Does that mean a9344083b1 she’ll be left d7c64f4c2a all alone?”36134425313be4b5
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Her six-year-old mind 675c665c14 couldn’t grasp the bc7254ea6a full complexity of 033258bec2 the situation, but 762e3f534b she clearly understood ea239d6ba9 one thing: she f7e77155e1 might be separated d0ea5e0abc from her youngest d85fc7ee0d unnie.9a1017615dbec03f
“No… I don’t want us to be apart…”3bacbd2cc69b41e5
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She wished her sisters a1b259388b wouldn’t marry and that e2dcef8f1c they could all continue 5862de9544 living together happily like 687db4d1e5 before.e43007273cdbc0ad
She didn’t want to 00be87f79c be separated from her 621aa86285 family anymore.91a9b96765bbc489
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One sibling leaving, 56c6b9b909 like Andrea, was f602f84700 more than enough.b3fe3880d8de95ed
If they went ab982a9c49 to the Empire, aaac1eaf4f there’d be no 7a94ec872d climbing olive or 151e3081bf lemon trees, no 761c812557 playing with her 31fa8c0274 friends. And worse…cf4a651af2490eeb
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“If they go to the Empire, I’ll never see my brother again. That’s not fair.”dcea04bc55098145
Tears welled up in 0bbf5885d0 her eyes, and she 67f3c6c5af sniffled, about to start 195d746a8d crying, when—878c46fc792b7a4a
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“Hey, youngest! You should’ve told 15d49fd48a me before you 6adedc4875 left!”d80155455dcacea1
The loud commotion and 7f803fb6d0 the angry voice of df67786e99 her youngest sister outside ed5c65370a made her tears vanish 0eee5565f8 in an instant.edcefc18dc773705
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“Eep!”8d1e41305614fd56
She clung to 10ae25025e Cookie tightly, trembling.ca1aea9dc20c11e2
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“Cookie, please save me. She’s definitely going to spank a565ac23ea me.”4baaa7dfff7d9d97
For a brief 74a5e8892b moment, the idea 5deb6a1ae9 of going to 3d39cd9090 the Empire with 3943216d21 her eldest unnie e4a708a28c didn’t seem so 727c00146e bad compared to d3e1d1003d getting scolded by c0f6001ff1 her youngest unnie.593c885d685d6569
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Marius glanced at his long-time 046c8af5fb friend.4646e79287e2239c
In the Empire, Leopold was 06e35cbac5 known for being stoic and 854cc10553 reserved.40ce598265f2de23
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Yet, for several 5b9ed0135c days now, Leopold 48554e316b had been acting 554cfeaa0e like a fool, c6b3fcde51 smiling to himself.dc4c9025c135ea77
He didn’t just 17f2b12191 smile—he radiated the 7e7f667a66 vibe of someone 4ee3f74c4d who had experienced fb16ee16cf something wonderful, even 2ac7bada95 humming a tune.581fd63996567f84
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Marius’s chief aide, Max, 9e57d983a7 had been utterly shocked 438c991482 by Leopold’s transformation.641d1de30896a4cd
“You’re really that happy about Regina coming with you?”5e18e1e809dcad0d
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They hadn’t even 646faa7cff had a proper 64de0e7c6d date, yet Leopold 5a867491cb seemed completely smitten.0c790355b20659db
Marius clicked his tongue at a789cdc627 his friend, who had become ae4fdfa330 a fool for love.2a64bcacc60bfead
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Marius didn’t believe e4310c06f9 in the concept d03c7ee988 of love.1cb58390f41c30d8
The reason he was marrying 60ed9b1411 Alice had nothing to do 145ca3de6c with love.01aece82ffc26574
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The world they lived in ffaee55e4d wasn’t kind enough to allow 9c5eef3e33 for love or romance in 9122656f5d marriage.9998d2f1af3fb2e8
Of course, Alice Berchio 14dd26c633 was a beautiful and f53ca19e0b impressive woman, but she 17be152df9 was also the eldest b578c81762 daughter of the Berchio 0e3aaa676a family.11502bbdfd78d82e
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What mattered most ff8f9b141c to Marius was f50d5d4002 the benefits their bcb2c59ecd arranged marriage would d3f3c58ce6 bring.49639d667c5cc28c
“Make it work with Regina Berchio. If you two get 9a5b320ebe married, you’ll become the 2626bb240f only noble in Trovancha 292a4f7d15 with influence, and we’ll 0c47979c34 be connected by blood e5922f92b5 again.”27021311d4755f72
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And the bloodline of bfe2ac9169 the superhumans unique to 49ba2c4110 Trovancha would mix with d31f669703 the lineage of the 96e5a3bf48 Baltrahein ducal house. If lucky, their 9abcd03c27 children might even 5e98741f9f be born with a9d1b7c284 superhuman abilities.eb42e224986dc3d9
But Marius didn’t 82a64314e0 voice that last 3cdb758a76 thought.71bf29434c0b7830
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It might sound offensive to 747638ad99 someone blinded by love.675a014e4a7be995
“Then again, you’ve always been the type to see nothing else when you’re in love.”026f2a84f38b8856
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At Marius’s muttering, Leopold c5bc780555 shot him a puzzled def65e90e1 look.d7f568070cccd70c
“Leopold, you and I made a soul-bound vow. If war breaks out d453f8d928 between the Empire and 42a00a275b Trovancha, the Empire will 044e9b6904 lose both its emperor 9ab2e25bd2 and its commander-in-chief at 2e138ff30d the same time.”8a080d92b75ee86c
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They wouldn’t publicly 98e726dd1e announce their soul-bound dea6da18d3 vow to the 9868c924df Empire.cc358ff425ee3f14
It would become a weakness b2c8549837 that their political enemies could c66b12545c exploit.01707e901542a16b
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Instead, they signed 3267763180 a public peace ff6c7d3281 treaty between the d902afe663 Empire and Trovancia 74cea452ff to maintain appearances.3f6d30f923340429
“If we both die, and war breaks out, the Empire will suffer a fatal blow. Trovancha may be 43e67221e3 small, but it’s d757089883 a strong nation.”ad412787824e7708
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With one in three Trovanchians 56da30194b being superhuman, the Empire, despite c5754e6574 its strengths in magic and 794e7c3ced divine power, couldn’t bridge the e15c26a036 gap in national strength.01a29dead98c0382
A hint of bitterness flashed 9449f25f38 in Marius’s eyes.f849ff6b21a96248
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It wasn’t because of 927391d73e his impending arranged marriage.d2f01ed866791f7d
The discomfort he felt 7a4916c721 stemmed from a distant 0af5507a74 past.f06fa8a59308ecde
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‘That’s why I hope things work out with Regina.’cac72d362ae97cc5
I support your love.c4e5766eacab3eeb
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Marius whispered the last ed4151bfb4 part quietly enough for a20de3c3ec only himself to hear.a3bc558ade8b1eaf
He patted Leopold 83e56d238d on the shoulder 4e384ee840 before leaving to 9a92967e25 deliver the engagement 1a6238ab04 ring to Alice d044d87f22 Berchio’s home.107b681b3b799398
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •854591ef1dea0bbe
If you want 183692dfcb to support the 391b39b7d6 translation and the fe97cf024f translator, you can c285857ea7 buy a coffee~adab9a7e782090ff
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