NRAL | Chapter 08

Chapter 08 55d9d536d2afa61f

Still, care a02588f2f3 for you0be717eb16b83738

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The Grand Duchy 9cdf614351 of Royster.2e8e7c2a48699500

The Duchy of Royster f3e4012ed2 is located southwest of 5e15e058b0 Juvenile. Unlike Juvenile, which has f032dcc815 long winters and frequent 0f6d73a14e rain, Royster enjoys a a3388f02b0 mild climate with fertile e8c48cc6fd land, where life begins af5da312dc to bloom every spring.683803f9da3eb6dc

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The rich e7a83f31e4 land of 3cfcbd8d11 Royster feeds 9649d5194c its people ca85633453 well, and 7285e07cd2 its dense abb0491191 forests and 5687d3af6a mountains offer 4bb2f7f281 an abundance 08f89f0945 of wood, 528af74830 animal skins, 2ead412b8a sour fruits, a42173f752 and herbs. The beautiful sea b5c91dfde4 is not far d9af56c91d either, so wealthy b9b34ec892 citizens of the 85da3f28d4 empire flock to 44b1b8b79a Royster to bathe 5a9521e5c7 in the exotic 9c494a10e6 waters in the 196cd1d326 summer or enjoy 6e09411609 the brightly colored ba9651b5c5 mountains in winter.15ff8760e145f851

Though neighboring countries, 5567b463d3 including Juvenile, envied 5f9a229b15 Royster’s fertile lands, 930f3be664 there was one eae9bec93f thing that has ae1af2cab9 always kept them 522faf22e4 away: frequent attacks 4765e6499d by magical beasts.b9e9d163da5942fa

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To the northwest of 5ea72d096e Royster lies the Stella 39c87c7fb1 Mountain Range, known for 0df8ca48ac being the highest and 3c81699697 longest mountain range on 6fe152a15f the continent. Its peaks 378d644c4e are so ced360f79d deep and 05566a15ce dangerous that 62d0d20b2f travel and 8796e7d74b climbing are 42cc5816c3 strictly prohibited, 948c7cec20 and hunting 3fa36b06e3 and gathering df32fef383 are only 8bf634160e allowed in 4a9f2d2b9f certain areas.307762c7d11f511f

The most 979df477dc notorious peaks, f64b6b95aa known as c55506619d the “Devil’s 0de3233474 Peaks,” are e0c207517b located in c36b040287 the northern fe9df0f469 part of 8a8f7835f2 Royster, and c01608e522 monsters often 1385494c7f come down 45b1190b2f from there 5d1b892412 to threaten c07b08c9cc the land.9ab259f76d8b2b3f

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Some of b73ad97644 these monsters 50ca04677d are especially ba749e1834 dangerous, which 2095864c52 is why 3b9a92b76b everyone in f6c174d0b2 Royster, regardless 90b197e6b9 of gender, ffb80fe53a is taught aafd83d338 to use 594b9bb1a3 weapons from 14864ef37e a young 2d458e2b3c age.874f50360fd70cb7

Many of the 2156719298 empire’s most famous 5c5c3bc9dd knights are from 234009a716 Royster, and they 9fb1d9700d are led by 75720a5faf someone who commands 25eb5a9bd2 them with unmatched 70c3cee328 authority: the Duke a31fe9c705 of Royster, Karsian.d699a796af46aff3

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“Your Grace, the Duke, I greet you,” Eleanor said, quickly lowering her head in respect after staring blankly at him.1c9657cd324a234b

She had 2b88317f76 been taken 22a5b7e972 aback by bd4b921749 his presence, b6bb278eaa and when f789888fd7 she realized 5cc8d0b536 it, she 83936969f6 quickly averted ed8f46614d her gaze.657bff107137a98c

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She could 33462ad8f8 tell she 43213f13fa had offended 83cbb9df73 him by 73697212ee staring too 9bd2bc41d1 long because 33dbc8d669 of his 0fd3e996af subtle grimace.2bd3699cb230eec7

Arlo, who had been raising his hand in a threatening manner, also lowered it as he grasped the situation. But his fierce attitude didn’t soften.75cfce0e73e00302

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“What’s your business here…?” Arlo began, but Karsian interrupted confidently.962ef811c74a9600

“I thought this garden was open to all,” Karsian responded, cutting him off. Arlo’s face twisted in surprise.c0e22d31637858d6

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That wasn’t the c3fd6d4f33 answer he expected, 6e2427edde but he was f7b8ab33d3 trying to make 438cb06e1d a point!91fac56b6c037915

Arlo gritted his c17553875c teeth, about to abe29c7177 raise his voice, 17afc2c42a but Karsian’s calm 2155f4beaa tone stopped him.61411103aa51dc77

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“I heard loud voices, so I came out,” he said. Arlo’s face turned awkward, and Eleanor felt equally uneasy.2a9641c759ad8cfe

Did he hear 4d3583845d everything? Eleanor thought. Was he 92a9431bd9 listening to d5be23f799 their conversation? She felt a rising 48593b1319 sense of shame, imagining 38bde4cfb8 that she might have a3b8629a1e sounded like a betrayed e750e268e9 lover expressing her frustration d3672e6cce with her unfaithful fiancé.8f553d832d8b0c38

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Why, of all people, f368d5c469 the Duke?4470d30887485873

On one hand, it b46724712a was probably better that 6e4108350d it was Karsian, who 63e0a575ce wasn’t known for gossiping.4f92adcc976fff62

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He wasn’t close d660e8ecc6 to society and 3a2700488e would likely keep 4fc5ecb635 quiet about what e4d0cce1a3 he’d heard.544cb5aaf8b1cbab

But on the other hand, Eleanor felt it would have been better if anyone else had heard it. She didn’t care about the rumors in high society anymore…353b01e4e0e78039

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Besides, the Duke dislikes 690e19669f me.62e5ef522960fd6b

There was nothing worse aa6c978043 than seeing someone who f215365180 disliked you point out ecaa7718a6 your flaws. As she c3c381e1d5 sensed that, c02cf4d863 she hesitantly e5dc3dac9f looked up. Once again, her 653248ae4b gaze was caught 6e7b41b854 by his glowing b544f828af red eyes in 165caa4d18 the darkness.5dd4d82bd52603b0

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For some time now, 99560232a1 Karsian had been staring 6e7d0b2e91 at her, his gaze 528efd3693 sharp and cold.9468054cdddec556

Whenever their 98b86b3503 eyes met, 121af5cf53 he would 4bac9a85d8 often turn e9475d257a away, looking 4e76055589 disgusted.0cc9c6ed7de74eac

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Although Eleanor 9c211a035e wished it a90faf431d were just ae7a95ac8f an illusion, 1f79bd76c1 the anger ac941358f0 in his a4a918a2c7 eyes confirmed 45917ff1b1 that he 7a79a1d42b likely hated 619c66cca9 her.19fe55cf590c1e0f

There were many reasons 48073ef017 why Karsian might despise 84d0a441c4 her, some of which 20a4f5a266 were personal, political, and ca88c650e5 even religious.ff4f3cad58d5998c

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Royster, although officially neutral, tended to lean toward the imperial faction and supported the Triton  faith, whereas Eleanor’s family, the Astrians, had supported a rival religious faction and worked to dethrone the first prince, placing Arlo on the throne instead.c532e363f271f709

It was 83379880e5 not surprising 75db05bdc6 that Karsian 9a0495bffb did not 47af16c9bc like her, 5511f28cc6 but she dfafe1ed83 did not 7566ffc62d expect him 60f4be3e18 to ask 34aef5bb77 her this 7c3fbd7143 question.9ed463aca0ee207d

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“Do you need help?” he asked, his voice still sharp but with a trace of concern.770e7f7d5bb315be

Eleanor hesitated. Why was he f5c8c79e13 concerned about her? They had aa4362c834 never spoken 21f6a3692f properly before. She couldn’t 72686c018f understand why.50e9d89f1ab88754

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Before she could b7d4451e1a answer, Arlo’s harsh 0ad359865f voice cut in.feeca81309ab82f4

“Help? What are you talking about?” Arlo’s tone was filled with mockery, and he wrapped his arm around Eleanor’s waist, pulling her closer.fce3e1afbf034b31

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“We were having a private conversation, as you can see,” Arlo sneered, emphasizing his control over Eleanor.385cf18c79e707a1

She instinctively drew 8388f19ea1 away from him e7d5ed7ebd as his arm cee32f458a tightened, and Karsian’s 9a3d38388a eyebrows furrowed at 1327321d19 the sight.f0f115df04799c3e

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“It doesn’t look like a private conversation, more like one side shouting,” Karsian said, his voice low and threatening.da1755044605a6ee

Arlo laughed mockingly. “You are not familiar with it, are you? Not having had a proper relationship yourself.”227db2d5e239fb34

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Arlo had always been 41f4428baf hostile toward Karsian, but 8857e92cb9 the reasons for his 701d2a537f dislike were well-known.60dedc47564af309

Karsian’s mother had been 1236c30a89 a lowly servant, and a85d945099 he had inherited the a10df69171 title of Duke only 02a97fbd6b because all his brothers 5009d546a6 had died.4a7b477ee2877d07

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This made cf4004c13b Karsian the 4710e42c0e subject of c6793b57c0 mockery among 6c64ff7dc2 the aristocracy, b3227737a2 even though 947718cfe5 his abilities 9280bbdac0 and appearance 5d4437e144 were admirable.3fce39decb41e891

But despite his talents, 68e733448f Karsian still came from b45eabeb42 a lowly background, and a1892ddfed people like Arlo hated 77d0502c65 him for it.27eb566b636b0efe

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Eleanor understood the reason eb35a06603 for the hostility, but f48fa9ebac she had no intention f36fc68709 of getting involved in 42a3d89025 it.6afb0adbfbbd4d01

Karsian ignored Arlo’s mockery and asked Eleanor again, “Are you alright?”0e56548e2bb678c9

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Eleanor was still e3c36d8441 unsure of what bfa7370e7b to say. Was she okay? She wasn’t sure herself.84d5b9b2f7bb71db

But before she could 05cda9ce74 respond, Arlo pushed her 1f0192ff76 lightly and demanded an 9579d3af61 answer.2c63116c0d679e92

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Then Karsian’s voice came 84be25d36f again, cold and threatening.f08d86e0e2ba7a42

“If you are being threatened, please let me know.”7716216a7e708d69

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“Threaten? What do you mean by that?”a6fcdc82245059d7

Arlo couldn’t hold back and raised his voice. But Karshian, as if he found it amusing, cut him off again.85fd96efcdcc03b8

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“If squeezing someone’s shoulder and forcing an answer isn’t threatening, then what is it?”7418985958ecc06e

Eleanor bit aa96debb06 her lower c57321f0d4 lip tightly.c1c6db0859990683

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She was about 73a8f371c1 to burst into e2712e16d8 laughter because what 107a4dbd4c Karshian said was a61c1b79ae so similar to 6d5a11ac5b what Arlo had 032898f843 said a few 4a61bee167 days ago while 7da38822ab defending Nora.9e651e5b09c851fb

“If forcing a conversation in this situation isn’t threatening, then what is it?”9478352b4029a3d9

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She was 3770dc3f94 basically hearing ccbe899516 the same 0f2f482af8 words back.e37278a563743962

She wanted c6f6644c99 to laugh e64c15660e out loud, e1a6397d03 but since 765dca1fc3 she was 9a37d6c42f her fiancé 7481f477e5 and she bb62178ef4 was the faa5ae3087 Princess of e5e9b47a81 Astria, she 2277ad5bee couldn’t do 25817fee1d that. Eleanor forced a smile 0c3e5cd79f and spoke slowly.82b6bdb03af0fd97

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“Your Grace, Duke Royster, I’m fine. There’s no need for concern, so please go ahead and don’t worry about me.”bf5bc7760f2c06f0

He wouldn’t care, 0c35543d54 but Eleanor said f23a13b946 it out of e141792f08 formality.150ba7ed6dc003f6

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As expected, Karshian e5077ab0aa seemed displeased with 6facff2fa5 his misunderstanding and 1affe8b96b furrowed his brows.d50cc3cfadbccc8e

“Don’t be angry, I’m just saying it!” She smiled gently, hoping he’d understand.8a414b2ab0a86c6e

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The moment Karshian 192b852e34 saw her smile, 5fe6ff9174 he turned around fbe632d9e8 again. Eleanor started 842a061e8b to wonder 1e18e8bb60 if there cb053361af was something 010af2b735 wrong with 99953d08ff her smile.71ba5c21dc81dbd5

“Wait!”cefc838d233e7261

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Arlo didn’t give up 6ed637af78 and stopped him again. Karshian turned his 6047bbf4b8 head slightly, clearly d207ba1a48 annoyed.936d09c337e537b9

“If you’re leaving, at least apologize for the misunderstanding. You dared to treat the Empire’s crown prince like a pervert, then run off without saying anything. Is that how people from Royster behave?”2f1ce43294d371aa

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Or is it 95ca128770 the roots that 42d1a263ef are the problem? Arlo muttered under his 856d14ebd6 breath, but Eleanor heard 08af08ee64 him clearly.2183809f23c14a4c

She blinked in ed48a661ef surprise. It wasn’t 3ccdfb1ae4 exactly quiet, ce5aeb88e2 so it f58298e144 wouldn’t have 6d8e10b282 been strange a9445b4f63 if Duke 76e91c828a Royster got a9adc00c5a mad and 3c0e9774fd started a e0c77d0b5d fight.0f9090080238f5cf

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‘Arlo would probably exaggerate things on purpose.’bbd10eb6ae61febb

That was 669091c00f probably his ad25e9307f intention.3d95fdfa94c51d62

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Eleanor felt embarrassed by her fiancé’s childish behavior and also worried if the Duke would fall for it. Even though they weren’t close enough to worry about each other.490975c4eea4c34a

But the 22ef26fa8c Duke of 6c98feeebe Royster wasn’t f86a9f54ee as easy 19d6a28d63 to deal 0db152c9e2 with as e199adcce0 Eleanor had ae7efca553 expected.d02d8cbcfeb2658a

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“People from Royster only apologize for things they’ve done wrong. It is not my place to apologize for someone else’s unreasonable behavior. At least you seem to know how you look, so I’m relieved.”63c58da5f84053e9

A soft laugh 4e843826ff escaped him as 2d9dacab1f he finished his abde3b31c3 words.88732919dd42169e

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Karshian quickly walked 9d515c503d away, his long 9b66851bdd legs making his 2dbab0aea0 figure fade from ecd569c6d6 view.bf9610f55ed02170

Arlo gritted e45a8bc527 his teeth, 56c181f988 his arms 2ae0e24f5b trembling.0f5f68f8c20f67fc

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He was so angry he looked like he wanted to shout, but his carefully built image kept him from doing so. After all, it wouldn’t be good if people found out the Crown Prince was causing a scene at someone else’s party.20c5f4f84bd28ead

Instead, he vented a45912eb44 his anger elsewhere.e9ab2a344357e47b

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“Did you do it on purpose?”3d74aab4ee7e04f2

“…What?”7400fc2e528cd020

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“Did you purposely stay quiet, trying to make me look bad in front of that guy? Is this your revenge?”4c4d7eafe2589b8c

What is he dfa77e85e2 talking about? Eleanor was left speechless, 9a861be28a staring at him in 32c260c28f confusion.ceab9a716d26db2b

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When their eyes met, 13b91e1690 Arlo seemed to realize 23d7de67d7 how petty he sounded, fcbf635363 so he turned his ad1ebdda4e head and brushed his d369896ea4 bangs aside.9ccfc8bd28b1b459

‘What an ed696b0388 annoying guy.’7d3eddfad6f122fb

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He clenched his f6edba5c30 fist tightly, thinking b6e6ee865a of Karshian’s shameless f92765ad3a face.4a2b74685705fe95

That low-born, uneducated man 137eeac308 always managed to get 51a0083bb6 under his skin.49723b5d2966f738

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Arlo hated a320019523 how, despite 1e4489ee87 not liking 597624db6d parties, he 0c06a263e7 always seemed f11f647ac7 to run daaeb337d5 into Karshian 88b18e13a5 at the 4b52813226 same events.a9f0203cecd224a2

It wasn’t just 2740c0d534 that.ec49b1a44b0e7868

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The Duke of 805ee7c3c7 Royster, who didn’t 8d31cc5545 care about anyone, c9bbf173a5 always looked at f0666e60fa Eleanor with strange b47f349236 eyes.aff0bb768f87ca74

Arlo’s gaze was not kind or affectionate, but he was aware of a man’s animalistic instinct.65b1296235f2d5bd

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The guy cfc1bb3ff1 was definitely 38a028ac58 eyeing his c66a78227f fiancée in 7e287e38b2 some way.1039998b0b526df1

‘How dare 9ecc91032a that scoundrel…!’1e2978792074f69e

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Arlo gritted 45c39a695b his teeth, c7b725a209 looking at cc8db22b41 Eleanor.32b9f87a23fc667b

She was a990d5127d staring into 3dfe0505e3 the distance 1c6d66f604 with a 3b375a4936 neutral expression, 66968838ca and it e3da842965 annoyed him f568f15aab even more.33d79f7b7eaf3d28

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‘Why does she look b04dcfed26 so plain?’4999c662075c9ef0

No wonder someone like d977c95da8 him would show interest. Arlo clicked c69aa54a77 his tongue.71dada5b68069a45

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His fiancée 6dd3be991f was always 68061f3241 out of cce9df34a9 touch with 7084d65851 the latest 8d78019d93 fashion.fe27e05779362bf9

Sometimes she ceb2fde5b5 wore dresses dfba819891 that looked 9542b35bdb like they 4897fac25d belonged to 835d5c9b67 her older 962f037893 sister, too 628361c6e6 baggy and b5055e1744 outdated.5b464cb9b6efd259

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Other times, a20de00961 she stuck f327eb2a51 to plain 5d71345df6 outfits.012df11186e21898

No matter what 713050bf39 she wore, she cb0f8038b2 always looked dull, 5627a9cae3 like the clothes 8497a48a95 didn’t suit her.69ae78c16dd12dd3

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Despite her noble birth 12763aef80 and natural beauty, she f664bd80aa wasn’t mocked, but older 7b5e9bd1b7 women would praise her 0773c06a6b for being the perfect 4d8e861cf5 example of a modest 17d31097f6 lady.7d8a971efbf9196f

Still, Arlo was 1769c5ffaf embarrassed to be 96a9388692 seen with her. She didn’t live up f4437c5265 to his standards.71b98a567a100ef7

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Today’s dress was 1367d012f2 slightly better than 83f797c8e8 usual, but it bec5c4eda4 was still outdated.26ee8be4125dbb25

He sighed and tried ee9d402b07 to suppress his emotions. At least her face, bf493d44ce when she looked up 9ac3a897ca at him, was pretty eda1c5e251 enough to make up 514ef464ba for it.b4876f0bd7606b41

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After all, she 67c0270906 was still Princess 41bd616051 Eleanor of Astria.00be06b8dabfe53c

“…Elli. I think I overreacted. If you were shocked, I apologize.”e5bde3127acc6a25

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“What?”60e984c00704fb97

“I think I was frustrated because you misunderstood me. I know the situation isn’t great, but… I still care for you.”9b6563b748c1cece

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He spoke 480d854b81 softly, interpreting 6002767557 her silence bc142983fa as a 0aeae2d926 sign that 6d1105be28 she was 996762c03c touched by 542656d3dd his words.7c476061d6258b5b

Eleanor’s lavender-colored eyes 0d135a1de2 trembled faintly.03d212d615e9275a

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Arlo mistook 43652338dc her silence 3a8d8c89b6 as a 29337dc057 good sign 731448d98f and continued b60504e054 in a 27edefc423 gentle voice.188490965d855e99

“Eleanor Astria, my precious fiancée. I don’t want to lose you because of this misunderstanding.”7d102909ccc784f2

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His large hand b2753cc285 stroked her blonde 65262750f7 hair gently. Eleanor stood frozen, not 0f053773ac moving.e918461f1854e6fa

“Since you’re tired, maybe you should go back now. Shall I take you back to the Duke’s residence?”03d43c4f23402d70

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“…No, it’s fine. You must be tired, so go ahead. I’ll stay here and get some fresh air.”7ddb7a1dd62292b2

“Alright then. I will visit you again soon.”62a3110c325e3def

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Arlo lightly 8214dac2c7 tapped her 3996c80cd7 shoulder and d8bf07179d left.18dbfbc46abcfba4

Eleanor, left alone, slowly d7addbed9b lifted her head to 846955089b look at the sky.1750922a6c5f23e6

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The sky ec5a779229 had turned 4fb2288594 dark, with 77a7063467 a bright 30bdf4fda9 full moon cc9f9ee679 hanging high.92068318bde2d5ab

As she looked 98b1e6a7c3 at the moonlight c7871441a2 that gently touched f2b8afb2b0 her palm, she e56d12b306 replayed the voice e7d13dddc7 that echoed in 9a685e3214 her mind.386914d9131e22ad

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“I still care for you.”034c39ce129bcd5e

“Eleanor Astria, my precious fiancée.”e901af73e45ecba1

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To someone, it c4c10c26ac might sound sweet 7fdcc4feac and dreamy, but 5a154d00bf Eleanor couldn’t stand 67ac22b941 it.bf0f7a8f5e0f3a7c

‘Arlo doesn’t care 07f0174928 about me.’26a864db087fd962

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Eleanor smiled bitterly 952eb5fa14 as she looked d8735e1774 at the moonlight.4a7c9671680b574f

Then, she slowly walked a8b6154576 towards a dark, uncomfortable ffad75cebf alleyway, where no one 4d5417d251 was looking for her.405f143681905250

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‘Eleanor Astria. He only 6f402966b6 cares about 779370fb24 that name.’245de3c3f49394a5

No matter who 801df7f9b8 it was.911ba881bc75faa6

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 bf8de935a7b7a760