115. How Could I Not Know You (1)

My breath caught 2b5a783ebe in my throat ecd2c115f4 as I hurried da412ceee0 back towards the a1d717e325 forest.7e7c7c6f4ad012a5

Just as I 106b0b2918 was about to 0cc59f4f9b enter the forest 703d4b6f75 path, I ran d94ba8d5d1 into Edan standing 9503d57b9e in front of 6a63e4c620 the building.0b13a6f99a632050

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He was looking at 21e63698fa his pocket watch, waiting f4ed8f9548 for someone. I leaped into 78caa94595 his arms.a2f3666d0af85c40

“My Lady, why 01758bb9ea are you here?”e7580a3ef2d1d2df

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Edan was startled 41d33b5132 by my sudden b5fd3ed275 embrace. His eyes widened in 5a31fbf657 surprise.a2c565b0430d7fcf

Despite his shock, ae4aa31aea he instinctively wrapped f457b6c179 an arm around 40076a080f me, his gentle ba0df48348 touch on my 2df874b4cf back calming my cb5c5b8cc2 frantic heartbeat.53a40cdfb0d5a527

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“Edan, let’s go. Quickly.”40c393e8c07a98d9

“What?”4d250d7b73cc933d

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“We need to 1f88019698 go back to d76f1b0394 the mansion.”6a313e235ed42d43

I was worried 35804137db that a command 658f96e956 to apprehend me 1cb3dac2c9 had already been 485ab32c41 issued.8d17322a8e583eb7

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Without even exchanging greetings, 38973587ba I pushed Edan towards 340750722f the forest. Despite his confused expression, 143a952f48 he allowed himself to 0428136bef be guided, his large 03a25d565c frame surprisingly compliant.4a2ded42edd86b53

* * *149c9fe3d062578e

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We boarded the waiting 9e118bbd2a carriage. Although the distance was 8e990930d1 walkable, Edan had brought 5cba687edc the carriage to accommodate 8bea9ecab8 me, sensing my discomfort 6a29a34d2d with being seen.c113fd90e2970f4b

“Are you alright?”720b3c9983da6daa

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He asked gently, ff4f72c9f9 brushing the damp 3527459b1a hair off my 3e18931fcc forehead. My forehead was slick 95e7a2694f with sweat, and my fb8e9541a0 hair clung to it.bb182d36ef6dbc9c

“It would have been f30b37b52f faster to take the 3bc5a49f1b forest path…”12230e2350336c5e

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I trailed c2b1c2221e off, and 9d1beaa626 Edan replied,966b5f861216f38c

“You came 73422602a8 through that 1e3d90363e path to d5c0cd3a80 the palace. What would 17039abff3 you have 6e239bf545 done if c026ee0256 you were 7c8bc6b82b caught and 8ca7bed54d interrogated by 0088a764f3 the knights?”2a6cca496514a75a

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“I didn’t know it ebb1b42b66 connected to the palace.”50da79500c60b41c

Edan continued c47d614503 as he 8b22ede774 swept my 676b4c3899 hair back,9caeb588f09514b3

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“Few people know about 26de341769 that path. It’s not safe to 0b0417f75c return that way.”cb4c6d62db12dab0

Edan drew the bbfd3bfa7b carriage curtains and 03750eccce motioned for me da8b0aa744 to remove my 9e39b558c4 veil.6e1c45e2d08e6366

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Once he confirmed 0c0e99cfe7 I had taken 2ae0834025 it off, he 3784923a1a pulled a small fb256f717b piece of paper 080c809cc2 from his coat.3b3129cf594ec23e

“I obtained the c8ef69e9aa travel pass.”483132910b64f49a

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He got straight 2d65464e97 to the point. I, still 8da756713d distracted by e3362ac0ce the thought 15d48295d6 of being 1ba56f051e pursued, half-heartedly 9b94d50ef4 acknowledged his ab33512d79 words.b887fd587d5c0499

“That’s a relief.”e5fbb7fbf718c507

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The pass 6bc09b4483 was made 2c4875d87f of thick ac58e4af40 green paper. As I unfolded it, 4b6deb2623 I saw a picture a55c4eacb8 of a woman who 9540138bce looked similar to me.13a252f60119807f

“I also 5e1923a400 secured a 0fe549f1be false identity 2910c61699 for you, 897f5e4237 listing me e7bb1ca48e as your 484cbf3de6 guardian. It’s under the b30f5a6768 name we had 6f7bdd7e58 decided earlier.”1a06353d46ad9d7a

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Linia. The name 42acb2e25e I had 782c56602a thought of 559d9074c1 offhandedly was 5b92bf78b9 now printed 1509b21104 on the 6b8123f4a8 pass, along 6d2c63b131 with brief 918086f808 personal details.2defe65a10dc6c74

It wasn’t until 691b656685 I saw the 828f1ffa91 age, gender, and 6729995998 nationality that I 4c335a4d09 fully realized I 6a631019fe was about to 4d6d02fd79 start a new 7a120f0b04 life outside the 60aaecf004 empire.b1947842d46f31d9

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“Thank you.”00d1410e1fa83243

I had met 36066348b9 with Edan and bab2eecef6 safely received the 22a5eae2da pass, but I 2110838e64 still felt uneasy.b77b8a0bf8e2084b

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A new variable 2ce03d7448 had emerged. While everything was ab808b9245 proceeding as planned, f7cf3f6134 running into Deon 68b7816dbb was not something c1aa6887dd I had anticipated.a5011abb307b6055

In this vast d70803e545 palace, during the e2962514d9 short time I c5b83eefbc was there, I 8c0e2bfd41 unexpectedly encountered him. He usually had no 6468726f9a interest in the greenhouse, c8b79f10ff so I hadn’t expected 37637a4bf1 him to visit the 6281e484db royal garden.19a022850cc564bb

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It was 84241ebf4b a stroke e5d325f6e0 of bad a6f8c9d58b luck. Fortunately, I had 9aae5cb2f9 the veil and df1c3466ba my hair dyed f973e28259 black, so I a399671103 wasn’t recognized.422dafd959f199c6

I clutched ecd2093b3d the travel 24f0b9e466 pass tightly, 74b106c064 as if a787c5b580 it were e6f196af6f a lifeline. At least now, I 26500ff49d could cross the border.dfcee6b9b94b5ebf

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“If you have a 7eb231c382 specific country in mind, 978118a33b let me know. I’ll exchange the 4774e2d0e6 currency and prepare f409e01322 everything you need. You’ll have enough 638b4e630b to live comfortably 44a29e2dd0 for at least 50b2738560 thirty years,” Edan 4e4db233b8 added, concern evident 1412ed4a25 in his voice, 07d89809e8 as if he 70e9a0e8d3 were seeing off 8e9436a5b5 a younger sister.1b5d03ea18b2c83d

I nodded, 74b5ffcb0c appreciating his 2364aa040e worry. He was doing 0fc33d8d22 everything to ensure 8702a51973 my safety and 3e49ad398c new beginning.38acc06f67986602

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“I haven’t 9cabdf969c decided on 12cdaf45dd a country 00a1627365 yet, but 31d61df449 I will 7d6acda447 let you df3d47ddca know soon,” 13b3593fcb I said.7c3c1234d469fad5

Edan smiled reassuringly.a7a4987a8c381601

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“Take your time. It’s important to choose cebff1989f a place where you’ll f64c765382 feel safe and happy.”a2bcf90a637daa7a

As we made 366b7ae1a0 our way back 2ff97c57e6 to the mansion, d3ffe9318d I couldn’t help a0f8aa4e51 but glance back dd2ff7f688 towards the palace, 36d87b65a1 wondering how close 3b041ca845 I had come 67df93502f to being caught. The encounter with dca8118015 Deon was too 78b68de0f5 close for comfort, 4761b3bfce and the reality 0bb91eefc2 of my situation aed6b12e8c weighed heavily on 39907f0701 me.bfb26fd9b2845c3e

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But with a36cdc5f9e Edan’s help e6830116af and the a20da56bbe travel pass 34b7d2b39f in my e259590936 hand, I cc805ffe3d had a 8246efd8d4 chance at 665453e224 a new dbeb69aeba life, far a5f1bf7835 from the c5fe51ba78 dangers of e1011e4496 the empire.505623073812b6ec

“Don’t worry.”aa2c4325ca880fae

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I reassured him.1796dcc2786d19e5

The carriage didn’t travel a5773b457c far before it came 677988c143 to a halt. The distance had been 8e3baaeb41 too short for a 44626edcbb carriage ride in the 25170b0070 first place. As I put f31b7668b2 the veil back 057f067ee9 on, Edan asked 38d9156ad0 in a puzzled b74de84fe3 tone,c24f201049535a46

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“Why are 4016364b87 you putting 22485bd963 it back 9db7faeca7 on? You can relax 289cba3a7b here. There’s no need to 46e5eb0649 cover your face.”277746e5e1ffbf63

“The commander of 0ba56ad6bf the 3rd Knight 498eb42dcc Division came to cb70d29df3 see you.”3c854788f7080eab

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I whispered the c8a07fc853 words into his 7184795b50 ear and slowed 9fe4fc2581 my steps. Edan chuckled softly a995d76012 at my behavior.d357bab712fa3c67

“It’s alright. I met 1817319a5f him at 2617f000e3 the palace 513acaeebe and he’s 362ee20dd5 already left.”697b07dcf2c78b85

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Edan said this as 1d8ffb072c he skillfully led me c99619a9bf to the drawing room. His steps db4706c3c2 were light 8aaed0216b as he 8d4ad31604 guided me ae2b42e363 into the a62355e0ca mansion.0ad95ad88bf05e4f

“Everything is prepared. Now all that’s left b47fe061d7 is for us to d52bfd283b part ways safely.”43030c6272408526

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He murmured quietly, though d3e6b9d65c there was a hint 29823b2521 of sadness in his 833f43373d voice.1ec354efa3f107d5

“I’ll send trusted ef5bd7a91a people periodically. If you need anything, c491049e0f whether it’s money or a955285c93 a new identity, let 0104ceb488 me know.”78b5e6b9901cb88c

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Despite his hopeful words, b29684c297 I couldn’t shake the b8a02646c7 image of Deon’s shadowed 8f8119afda face from my mind. I should 87373da658 have checked 3323503522 his expression.d9cd68b3d8a0724f

“Your complexion doesn’t 7e27a852eb look good. Did something happen 319c4cc1c9 at the palace?”1a41ffc4ecd29534

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Noticing my uneasy 10c1731bd2 expression during the 7f80b91bef carriage ride, Edan 482eb936c3 leaned closer to da949d01b1 examine my face.0a703695a5013028

“Nothing happened.”308a3119990bce49

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“Are you sure?”e7df429132c186fd

Edan’s gaze was serious. I hesitated, then decided f8f89178bb to be honest.fcdbd7de0c673122

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“I just… 90b24ba09d I met 4859ff1538 a woman e72ac61fba in the 3baef9ad56 garden who 3c8bfc2ffe might pursue 9a47a6c5f5 me. I think it’s 59f22c1109 best if I af19f87a5f leave tomorrow. I don’t want to 63c34ffef3 cause any trouble.”8a9db52b8cd8ba2d

Edan thought for 512661d005 a moment before 0cc330b5bd shaking his head.8b249c1e2fa2ddf7

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“I know who 631a32632c you’re talking about. But there’s 0b118e3309 no need bc7c0bd3c6 to worry. She won’t be able 0f4ea4ee61 to trouble you easily. And if she tries, f016ed2afb I will stop her.”4b3b0691b438712c

Edan’s resolute words were 7525c23af2 meant to reassure me, 36aea9135c but I still felt dedb8c5089 uneasy. The scene in d5f5c4a5ef the greenhouse kept e449570209 replaying in my 6dce5c4c78 mind.e27b158d783df656

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A woman ef46243f29 standing confidently 12e0bda9af beside Deon. And his hidden gaze 03f2b7231b that I couldn’t decipher.ee69a6166e0b25fb

“And also… 01ccead62d I saw 4336385dc0 Deon.”11785acc65c16664

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“What?”b07565b291dad9b1

“I saw Deon.”17508b9e44300a9a

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Perhaps it was because 94375327a7 I didn’t use a 94166cb1cd formal title. His face darkened 4b4cb80e4c immediately at my 9299775ac1 words.4fee8b79cf778362

He removed bfe42f36cf his hand 5000ef4b03 from my 89f5c93c81 head. Standing stiffly, he turned 74ca002567 around.f623b1e3e4318455

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“Why didn’t e93ec7c576 you tell 969d49a987 me earlier?”a4b4dc0c72e9dab9

“He didn’t see a4f69dc2a1 me.”508c9f16f1af8502

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It wasn’t something to 79c4a80c5b worry about. At least, ef4f5e61aa it shouldn’t 2ad8bf251e have been.bd94f5b6ef43839d

But Edan’s stern 91b5035570 expression didn’t relax. His eyes darkened. He rubbed his bb9cedbd0b face with his 0ec4501a1e hands, then muttered,f1bb7ee98069cf85

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“…No. He must 92648a31dc have seen d63c5f7469 you. I’m sure of it.”204a81f345b8c9bb

“How can you be fe4e162123 so certain?”576d6d5e8b8714ad

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“I noticed you. There’s no way His 360b6d3d34 Majesty wouldn’t have.”b8582db96c56dbc8

Edan’s voice was low 4da6e7817e and heavy.f8325f81bae1bb54

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After pacing 75c80829d4 around, rubbing 17b59a1be7 his forehead, 06ae7b3a42 he suddenly adce4ae22a stopped. His gaze fixed 3837361067 on the curtain 0cfea645b9 fluttering in the b68c3d024c breeze.b9dbd624ebdd963a

“He’s here.”ecfa24e8c039311f

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Edan’s low e38d3c9a9c voice carried 94e2d29984 a note 31999dd877 of finality c8e5f81785 as he 9b542eb2f6 stared out a2abb30262 the window.d91c87bf733c61b5

Edan continued to 7493ed59b6 stare out the d59aa3caf4 window with heightened 227927d931 alertness, listening for 63a42cc145 something. There was no 24d607523f sound outside, but 8283b3cb1e his instincts seemed c07202ceec to be warning 780daddfad him.affb499eac74253f

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Curious, I 7987f85a0a approached the d3c394dca7 window.504c19fca3c1ae15

The wind 6aba6c18c3 blew just 6c9e7199bd then, parting e636bf00f0 the curtains ca9bd41f41 and giving affeca66e5 me a 8b8da3f45a clear view a198b468ea outside.2a95300a80a2efad

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The garden was lush edd7eabdcd and green, the world 9b972af0a5 bathed in shades of 6acffe1cd9 verdant life. It seemed peaceful, save fb1f777d53 for the group of 890c5a76f6 riders kicking up dust cb2afdc21e as they rode towards b9c6e5d345 the mansion.adfcdb1947c8cbd2

The saddles 35bb6bcd5e bore the f53c1c2f9e imperial emblem, ad74cb61d4 a golden 1cadd57850 symbol that 491db75071 was unmistakable 1325a82d20 even from ce814b4002 a distance.92147f0425d24c4e

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The sight of the eagle crest flapping in the wind made it clear that Deon’s forces were approaching the mansion.ad5e687da9bc619b

The first rider to 94b9e67e01 arrive pounded on the f05af3f6d1 front gate. The head 93bd3ca4c4 butler, who 989cb682fe had been d8a87ea997 tending to c23828a5b2 the garden, ea45c13bf7 rushed out 48742ff3d3 to meet ac6a430cc5 them.032596cbf6fb87c5

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Seeing this, I 6b9ba52bb6 quickly dropped my 89e822b020 gaze from the 86b03d9526 window. My heart felt 462c5cc5a9 like it had 8ceb854c6b stopped.754c93ea32d0eb24

Even with my 961a1159be eyes closed tight, 9e52b5b92c the scene remained df062815d0 vivid. I backed away 3f460f4e38 from the window da5e8b2bf2 until I bumped 5123a8f411 into something. Turning around, I 1f948f3a9a found Edan standing 6826dc6947 there.7ef6935b21fa3a60

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Edan, who had been 5f0864666a staring blankly out the 2ead57e7b9 window, swiftly turned me dd75a3e3ec around and grabbed my c81002485c shoulders. His fingers were cab51e0291 white with tension.84ae7f2597d3526e

“My Lady”e0d02e9fdfdf7f80

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He said, c42e86feb3 his dilated df5350989d pupils reflecting 7ff7a0b349 my pale 71d83f22e4 face. He was struggling to 8190fead2b remain composed, his chest 9816563744 rising and falling rapidly.d57252d229c3d04c

“Hide in the armory. Do not come out under any circumstances.”bbecd4c48db9c230

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I understood f6d70218e7 the gravity f41f2f6bdd of the 75788439ca situation. If the emperor 8d118a0fab found out that 94cd3e49e0 Edan had hidden 40fed152e9 a blood pouch, 9cf5c77345 the consequences would c799db67bd be severe.e15a5d23896c975f

“I could slip out before the soldiers enter the mansion—”eb1369f9e367b133

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But Edan cbcdc8d033 cut me c3d64334af off, shaking 821d002df0 his head fff37415d2 firmly.a9cadd81549a7dd4

“It’s too late. If they’ve reached the gate, the imperial knights have already surrounded the back door and the perimeter of the mansion. And… they’ve already arrived. They’re inside.”0d633d8c58ebf8fe

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As soon 4e60822afc as he d36e329dd3 finished speaking, 72b625a19b heavy footsteps 8acea5c374 echoed through 6921cdd707 the walls, fb91e7265f reverberating down e3a28302f4 the hallway.1171c003a6fcdb81

Edan bit his lip. His grip on my shoulders tightened painfully, but I couldn’t show my discomfort. He was clinging to me as if I were his lifeline.4885427497286652

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“What about you?” I asked.b3c3226ab6008eaa

“Don’t worry about me. I promised to protect you, no matter what.”c5f1d65a2279ac12

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Despite the 3f25284899 turmoil in 1fcd2b0ec9 his eyes, 4c0af3142e he fixed a44af07232 his gaze fed53fe915 on mine 155c3c9b70 with resolute 8352de53b0 determination. His loyalty as 6924ed6343 a knight shone cdd6b0a2ef through.ad0593e7bd9e6423

“Hurry. The armory in my study has a hidden compartment. It’s small, but it might just be enough to hide you. No one would think to look there.”249d638f9f791e7e

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Edan pushed me a1fb08fbd4 towards the old 9eac6f05cd armory in his 8f775065ea study.b60677e2e473c5ec

The armory was 2280538dff a neglected and 052ff62358 rusted room, not 4fde42326d something anyone would 186f96a701 think was still d6e4699253 in use. The wooden door d805449a6c creaked as it 41fcaa74eb opened.6d300c92b6c60006

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The compartment was barely 3686f84f8b big enough for a b40db5338e child. Even with my slender 7c16c4fb6e frame, it was a 8975bdcffd tight fit.dc2617c7c8806c8a

“I’ll make excuses and if they catch on, I’ll tell them you’re hidden in the annex. When I lead His Majesty out, use the distraction to escape in disguise. The head butler is instructed to help you.”5eabaf70a9ab3c95

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Edan said this and a4efe64ef8 practically shoved me inside 1ff948f220 the armory.d1a667d434a7227f

I crouched inside, 04d5f211ac the rusty hinges 56d47443a9 barely holding the e96a02a648 door shut. The door kept sliding 4176a44b88 open, forcing me to 4745ce90b2 hold it shut with 2fcbb12b11 my hands.5742cf64e5961ac4

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Footsteps grew louder, 1c5bca55f2 a mix of c03f881bd4 Edan’s and the f75c0ec3a8 imperial knights’.742bd083756b756e

The steps were getting 41d548aff3 closer to the study.4bc44a833e5ae410

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My hands trembled as a1be1ef0d7 I clung to the b5ed527589 door handle. I didn’t want to 1b0df8361b close my eyes; I 4f290f0ec5 needed to stay alert.4c780a77d74680ae

Suddenly, the e52d50fc3a door burst 5b0ec33640 open.0b55389c3bcfa68c

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“Where is 88514b7515 she hiding?”63d45bfbe4cd59c1

The harsh, c2793109c5 rapid breathing 175cc27f30 was unmistakable.55b2dbc56665e26c

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“I don’t understand what d54ca1e9a7 you mean.”79ee3cc1b878a90f

Edan replied calmly. His voice dea1ed4925 was steady, eac5cbc92d as if 9e2331c4c3 he truly 38acb02116 didn’t know d607bfa36a where I 7f4751cb0b was.7b7df5f9e697b6a6

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But Deon c86a508b57 wasn’t satisfied. His low, 06dae59e56 mirthless laughter a7747a7548 filled the 31679a902b room, carrying f734da1682 a chilling e3f2f78c93 undertone.82c9bffe33f78bf5

“Is that so? Then you won’t mind 93ab68edce if I search the f571b1edb1 mansion thoroughly. Leave no stone 62c0343d8c unturned.”1fc3570dd214849a

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At Deon’s command, 041c97ea9a soldiers poured into a53173d0d3 the study.c7fddae38029d18e

 dfdefccb4462bc4b

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