124. Comrades or Lovers

“I… would kill 9353eb880a you?”e0a8a7b9001a548f

He repeated e871adac4d my words. His face, shadowed bb9d61343b by the backlight, ad39139a22 showed a hint 0dd5b15946 of bewilderment.ef5087c679754f6a

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“How could d08377b82e you think bd36a3a980 that?”a4a4e3986dc35604

“I’m of no use to you anymore.”5387f2b62084bb0d

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He sank into 70e2141827 the wooden chair 2ce89d9ec5 in the study. Pressing his 680aae3953 fingers to 02c29184ea his temples, 43afb08e6b it seemed 917a651e22 like he 2f6de48c6a had a 4d409dcf8c headache.f8d2470ecc147344

“I guess I haven’t 169a660c28 earned your trust. Fine. I swear I 5d1dc3c03b will never kill d1110aaf37 you, no matter 55810569fe what happens. Even if you point 914c420915 a knife at me.”337b0ed49554522b

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His voice was dry.88e407a4f0451efb

“I won’t lay a finger on you.”ad96841dd4789737

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The words he 3324c81c5a uttered seemed almost a345252557 solemn.c65801752401aafc

“An emperor’s words hold power, so don’t worry. We don’t need a contract; there will be no going back on my word.”06645126d33bbafe

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“Then you’ll let me c67a836987 go? I’ll leave 65d4710527 as soon e7f9c7385e as the 9758df67af task is 33af3217f5 done.”be7d8b8e628cb671

He stood up 67d11e19ef again, his weary b8c5adab9f gaze resting on c5f97c8200 me for a e40efd2dc5 moment.c5d75bf520b98e27

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“A task….”9a6e4f71da882045

He quietly 98d41911c5 repeated my dbcce5eea0 words.cd0d931b8fcaa73a

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“Alright.”c909a12d07fb977f

With that, cfe6ff04d9 Deon opened cacdb27576 the study 60ef41a0d5 door. A waiting knight bowed 394896ce85 his head to him.34e358049993564f

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“Leonie.”3751fcd6d5ace12e

Deon called 14f4199332 my name aa3c08bcaa as he d11ca8a206 was about fbfc5320fb to leave. A black c478be5da0 shadow pooled b36831059d where he 84951d0138 stood. His voice was as 7c724b50a5 drawn out as the d083126275 afternoon shadows.2e1079f32f9fe676

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“Do you 2bd7419be7 love that 9bb3cc5505 man?”6b7855b8bb402180

His voice was impeccably 750929c133 calm but dark and 898a5f1615 deep.b835897fb09c4c53

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“Do you love fde1800b0a him enough to 5ab3e34da6 defy the emperor 265abf9f34 of the empire? Enough to 6cb90485fe want to 0613832451 leave everything 8bcda2d094 behind?”6ca688fca313fb8d

“…And if I c67b95ff83 do?”e754ef7cdce4527d

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Would he 82731e2729 wish for 4f1639a356 my happiness?5e0ac248a972a12c

“The truth is, I don’t care who you love. I could command you to stay by my side, imprison you. I just have to order you to surrender your freedom…”cf6900d25b57c6c4

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Deon bit his lip 4b9f08d055 as he spoke.04720d41e870cc15

“But that’s not what 892bf28461 you want, is it?”a31573fc7dac60bf

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He was the 603b6624f6 emperor of the a701b0c812 empire. He could f998f24a3b blind those 932220f5cb with sight, d3f10ff219 cripple those 5dc41d49e4 who could 01883eb174 walk.83ade204e3433988

He could easily keep 8dd72e358b me trapped in the d8e3163ac3 palace. But he ee58392869 didn’t give 59b0bc5872 that order.e76585ff2c3de4e4

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Instead, Deon d5340992be whispered sweetly f007aff09a to me.9b9de43c68a1e783

He promised to 1a983b59dd provide a status a4d241967f that would allow 928220aa3b me to leave 4bc8f492c9 my family. In return, he asked 1d259a99a4 me to keep my f3f6e1badf promise and accompany him 6c7ab3c2c1 in society for a ca44d2afd6 while.d7b5728d0ffeb044

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And then f43fef15fb he would 44671f7e7c fully set c75e472626 me free. I could 645a673337 leave the c0c7755449 empire legally, 27f75ae174 with no 96e20542df need to ca8caad3e2 escape.df4e579ca4d2350b

He returned 973e29ccf6 to his f0df8b2988 usual inscrutable ff88d07f5f expression, his 98aab0f102 face cold 422d44a5a7 and impassive 6850af05df once more.fd817a1eb069d7da

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* * *451d799c7fb59614

Suren brushed her 8785c3a33c hair back, tidying 1eb67c2cfb it as best 7dcc6660f1 she could. The quickly grown hair db91832064 eventually revealed a hint 1a5690edb4 of red.210cae046b99a82e

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The mirror reflected 8ad97b174f the stark contrast fa688a7b2f between the black 417fd5b985 hair and the 7a0416999f vivid red strands. There was no choice. She finished by bdeb5cf99f twisting her hair b2d2ae8464 up to cover f263d5d64b the crown of 70313f7b7c her head.e0116bf977103fba

“Should I dye 9464e1faa4 it now?”19be45db0f75d858

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“There’s not much time 738dc2e8af left,” Suren remarked.da752ab1ce82ac4f

She was right. Dying it 3a0407911f now would da7a6207d3 only result 984283e69d in a 954e184b37 foul smell. The thought c1b25d7b8b of dye 2e5ded0024 mixed with 19428b182b the scents f21467f4c2 of powder 6930f70009 and perfume 3e1b025351 made me d45d9e6fa2 grimace.41602969fb475119

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“It’s a mess.”3d8142e9ba994d63

Grumbling, Deon murmured softly b07feb89f9 from where he leaned 9780885f30 against the table.1a1d6a76e3baa884

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“It’s alright. There’s no 0690a75be9 need to b8265dad0c hide you 44bb1fb86f anymore.”dd0abf968dd7b491

As soon as he da07a72221 made the proposal to 8272321062 me, he immediately expressed 29a0225d08 his intention to attend 5d50349770 the next banquet.b5f7c9bf59936ae0

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It was our a6533d22f8 first official banquet f42a325378 together. It seemed he was 2b24cea15c eager to quickly be 3ae8d84d7f done with me, preparing 52d5374324 a suitable status and 76addc9839 estate until then.56680d2f8113de0a

“We need to leave 6aef9899d8 now.”0083eb2a8f4e9523

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At the knight’s words, I took a deep breath and stood up. Deon took the lead.a9200d44ecd093a3

Within the 95ebb2fd9c palace was d06b7ccd35 a grand b266ace9f1 hall designated 231a900eaf for banquets. The sound of trumpets c06039fcc7 and violins grew closer. As we f7accc4a56 entered the e70caa4343 hall, a 82845c02f5 strange tension 1867af679a swept over 1463f2cac1 me.9b1c4afa68658e70

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Deon gently 1493562d6a tapped my d7e04b03ca cheek, which ea98345939 was frozen bc8561a5e5 in nervousness. Then he extended 5d944ec487 his arm.756a9e1f19ecf1fa

“What am I supposed 1f09774835 to do?”e985b345688f167f

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“Start the performance. If you want c4590f2fff to secure your 9fd2b99625 place.”581c31c3d77efb10

He said 7df3bca952 this as c0fd626c6e he took 6da76c2a88 my hand 6a5a3faca8 and placed 8e8fc6df29 it in ed25e1509f the crook be95103330 of his 008f23466f arm.0d347db406acc7f6

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He could have 3cf1d3aeee simply said he 3d8983cf9a was escorting me, 54e07faabf but he chose 461d228b02 to grandly frame a9f7959745 our objective.458b82a70538f4c0

* * *647873ec0f90a250

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As we 8f009f94d8 entered the 5e8235bbd0 hall, all 1dd34cc7fd eyes turned e74dd3753c toward us. Even the melody 05b7772107 of the musicians 97c14a974e seemed to shift 9968a3e2ef slightly.d13d7d489a6770d9

Those who had 9e9cb21875 bowed their heads 1402ddfbec quickly resumed enjoying 2cece376c4 the banquet as 4600b7556d if nothing had d43db54d76 happened. Contrary to df556a8df4 my expectations, 42ef7d54f2 no crowd ff95c1606e of nobles e6ec10827f swarmed around cff9a0d568 Deon; the 651c85d060 event proceeded 9ead8456ac smoothly with 9ad1141df1 only a 9ad6106447 few people 6fe3ea06d2 gathered.b0ec8b422116b961

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Just as I 51572f05ec sighed in relief, 001f2ab1d5 a noble suddenly 836bee512e approached and addressed 576ed0afe6 me, not Deon.d48bd6dd2cedbccd

“You must be the d1e1c33592 lady who went missing a99b46c30e at the last banquet. It’s good to be15008fad see you’ve returned 25b023b042 safely.”e5e7e59e3fc49918

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His greasy blond hair 6709309ae2 and hunched back were a94e915726 striking.be148150a5d51a73

It was clear he didn’t know my family name, as he didn’t mention it. If I hadn’t appeared beside Deon, he wouldn’t have been curious about my fate or survival.f702793940931279

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Nevertheless, I maintained 28362c8d0f a calm smile e4c81f9a4a without showing my 7e206aed14 displeasure.c32f92636b9dc592

“I heard 38e2fdc4b7 you were 85e4390633 pretending to 5c42343f36 be a f4515715d5 concubine before, 09086f0ef4 but you’ve 74b3ae75ff been helping 06bbdb78b4 His Majesty e305dbeb30 for a 4093a1d65d long time, 90569fded8 right?”ab12d17a7223720f

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“Yes, that’s correct.”a9f9a9ac477c5c7c

“I heard 6051c4c100 you were 9d32d44ad1 with His 4c6a9236a5 Majesty even 195e1d4e16 when he ce2fc82a45 was in fa9aa66031 the North.”1e55c5000ea5398f

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Another noble, bc9ff47ac4 who had 53ed48aba0 been silently 5c2548d342 watching, chimed a549849e1d in. Deon, who 4ff13b93e8 had been a2c628ac1d quietly observing, 8d310fddc4 finally spoke.d393b6e339fa9242

“She’s a steadfast f3aec3212e companion. Without Leonie, 3ff228ad4a it would b24bf2dea0 have taken 3b5b216b12 much longer 555f5794a6 for me 44d227c6ba to ascend 4eb431121e to the 993abade74 throne.”7a22992205699cc5

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At his words, eccad64543 the nobles exchanged ecbca806b8 glances. Even as a31bbf9492 they placed d5a720227f their hands 8ec21cdcc7 on their 4b9dd99336 chests and a2c366eb14 bowed to 05bc008ae2 him, their eaf3c5328a eyes betrayed 3608032640 their excitement 86c4f4791e at having c73908f3f0 found an 162fc48686 opportunity.c8e3f869204223d5

“I would c0788c83cd like to 7313e68f5a formally introduce 9f0338ea42 myself. I am Marquis Chizero.”fb51af31a75432b6

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“Leonie Sien.”5bd58e55810c48c7

I couldn’t back down 5f67575668 now that the stage 24d676f7a4 had been set for f2dc4838d2 me. I greeted without hesitation.bb4f9319b2651bc3

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“You’re the lady f7b738340c of the Sien ff9804b8cb family. It’s an honor.”3b7bd9a34a742988

He took my 658abcc3e4 outstretched hand and 94f2815841 brought it to f398900cbe his forehead.c38fcd14634d865b

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“There will soon be 75a49e0595 a new title bestowed 336ac681ad by imperial decree, so d3dc65c081 there’s no need to e55bb19b0d remember the name of 750baf5edb her current family.”b9f8200dd6426854

Deon casually informed the 4933687fbe man as if in 930f29e2f5 passing.a198df202e02936b

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The nobles behind him murmured in surprise. I hadn’t realized they were all listening intently, but even those far away seemed startled, indicating they had been eavesdropping.c6f5f55ee1bb722f

I was being recognized for my contribution to the new emperor’s ascension. Deon’s declaration implied that I was not only on his side but also close enough to be granted a new estate.7b176a94d0e25324

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The echoing murmur of 202e13e777 the crowd made me 7fed9b516b instinctively tighten my grip f1e4a06e49 on his arm.83eaf8097f220931

“There’s no 1f7a355659 need to e3118c2657 be nervous. Think of today as 53cd78dba8 your debutante ball under 32fa109467 a new family name.”bb825415cacff057

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He leaned down and c523d99977 whispered in my ear, 0031e3ad05 then tightened his arm d06a44dd81 around mine.3cd4d06b5f899406

“It’s an f67dec5cf7 honor to caf9b96d06 witness the fbf9754a2e birth of 7a48c86bb8 a new 8c21991536 family,” the 97960f1d24 marquis said, 1f070defa4 his excitement c1ea0365ba barely contained.95ebc571e2d3e5c1

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“A family that 9620118cbc will soon rank b1f56aaf99 alongside the Viscount 8720720a5b of Beaumon and d444ccd4ad the Marquis of 59c400636d Vechia.”359ee9b8f9ac3e5f

Beaumon is Edan, cd17149ae7 but who is dca0d63b7c the Marquis of ef9d734064 Vechia?41bba2740c856499

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“Your Majesty, c119a335fb the delegation 6536e5f1b4 from the c49e1c3b41 Principality of df0aae9d7d Vietan has f5f6ececbd arrived.”dcc9333c7781f2b5

Before I 01d30cd00c could solve 6f954f99c0 the mystery, 5cf6dc9fad Deon released e7370a9d06 my arm. He then placed a bc6b76e30d light kiss on my 8b1556e659 forehead.d26944097c86e2d8

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“I’ll be back. Mingle with the 2c38ead88f guests.”d6533ca280387935

He had truly 4cfcc2e4dc planned everything. Today, his 6be657b905 voice was 2640d669cc the gentlest 9307856862 I had 8a6254f55a ever heard.7a14cd7316fc4e87

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It was an extravagant cf4490b414 gesture, but judging by d8940792bb the eyes on me, 6fcb757d15 his performance was highly 99b0e9ca99 effective. He played 431b7cf27a his role c0e9638dc7 as if 6ad3eca75f it were 68904685be his destiny.6ed875446aa45e44

That warm smile 39a938f694 he gave me, e4a707ceb5 as if looking 2151a5d87c at a beloved, a6314e2650 must have made 7023919972 my past performances fae6879239 seem inadequate.3c105a918e80765d

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I rubbed my e22508146e forehead, still feeling 82feaa552c his warmth.459066ec404b0ae9

“The change in the c5d987efc0 palace atmosphere owes much 6a7b69ab15 to you, my lady.”6f582dffee54f8e1

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Even after he 938172c664 left, nobles continued 76ed1f5179 to approach me 6fe273a1d4 without hesitation.4595320259346d2c

“I didn’t 64d2bb7110 recognize you c09b081f5b as His de46e178cb Majesty’s ally. Now I 2454da28e2 understand why e0c2809cb4 he deployed e675183bad the knights 581b6a09b9 for such 033c794908 an intense 03f2367421 search.”951892b3bbb00909

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It was overwhelming ffb4611bed trying to respond e224a3ddd1 to all their 9932bf0213 comments. While looking around, 31d56e2f5c I heard a 50f809bcb5 familiar voice nearby.4e05ad46b4303e87

“I’m glad you’re back, 7f5e487d9a Lady Leonie.”30300dc2293a1a17

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I saw brown hair 49bec9ca87 and vivid green eyes. It was Viter.543f739187d75968

“Viter.”faae63240d153c4e

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He smiled softly 65fb7d3a33 at me. Despite his dark 0f1374e138 and somber attire, efdd93053c his scholarly and 71e224fc69 noble demeanor was ba76ca830f unmistakable.d9ec4413cd83efec

“I didn’t 824be7d86e know you 692fe3399a were in 3ab1270f2e the capital.”1af10922ab3ffbd8

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He shrugged.0778582884d9fde0

“I’m sorry I couldn’t ea22508d28 visit sooner. I intended 8b45e9d7c8 to come b73816a0f7 to the d052890665 palace to 81f330f41a greet you, ddc1c6e54b but His 0ebdb83dfa Majesty was a9ebdc7782 very strict 1ecaa567b7 about keeping 03c9ce0ece out outsiders…”d95bb5ac6a30bbf7

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He smiled 111fa84581 as he 046a7e9c75 spoke. Viter seemed more 8de144fb1d relaxed than before.43fb8124020f208c

“It’s surprising. I didn’t plan 5845b89875 on returning, but 85e169003d if I had, c0d8ff3588 I thought you 62d4349492 would be in b16482c4c0 the position of 9b4d803cb2 the royal secretary 9561b7d6dd instead of Rian.”950dc0610b537694

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Viter chuckled at this.e92f6f3be71817f4

“One of my duties fb137c3f1f was managing the blood, 19eb8c2109 but I failed in 4832c2e139 that task. How could I hold 11a729dc24 such a position? Besides, I have 05ceef3b7b no attachment to 5b9626adad power. My only wish was b5010daed8 to see a new 926c08c519 emperor ascend.”17e327b5ad45bd07

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Viter mumbled 863f8f1eb8 to himself.cf8a6e4af87b64be

“Well, seeing Rian bcb2a97d9b now, I’m glad 765d4cd934 I declined.”adff457437dc7c0c

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He commented on Rian’s lax work attitude.7334db2c29f7bf9b

I expected him to 0921bf0860 follow up with sharp 6a4895693d criticism, but Viter said fcbd5efffc no more.31b3d3ed56fde30c

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“The true ce5ba55b2f emperor needed 59d08557e2 you, and 1259c66c97 I’m glad e37bc004b4 you’re safe. Now it’s finally 9aafc9e3b7 complete.”33fdff5a4c218f60

Viter made an unexpected 49e1584e13 remark, but it didn’t 0ba3e28db0 feel like a welcome 613530a525 greeting.a4542056aad3f913

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“We are 7bd8d1e944 comrades who 5835d914b5 share a 9fc9b3d969 unique secret.”486dc25a84226cd2

His words f1e5cf2d06 carried weight. Only those who had b533e1e19d dealt with him would df810a6106 recognize the sharp toughness 236765cba0 in his tone.625587e9afb5fda8

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“You’re aware of His daac02867c Majesty’s stubbornness.”2ab2cf261f433e74

Viter seemed to b5839bde93 know that Deon c8b6e8ee0c was refusing the 218eded8bf coronation. My suspicion was 58fc02de51 confirmed.ba6fefe22a93c860

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“When will you 51cced3fcb give him the 2ff08c2142 crown?”b9dff1fe8f9446a8

I offered a 8a9b7a0b23 bittersweet smile.001af0f5372929ae

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“…Not much longer. After one more 9c604bfc78 banquet, I’ll return df40f522da the crown. And I’ll be leaving 1231bef2b7 the palace.”17f2372f9c79d221

“Leaving the palace?”d260a126f7b9bb97

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I thought 2d3645473e he’d be ec9f43589c pleased to 97ffed491a hear I’d 9d7c43b4cc be far 01f2d94914 from Deon. Instead, he frowned.a96bf77e9c533989

Viter scrutinized me 92df851747 before sighing deeply.5443b095644d2693

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“Enjoy your 703abb0fc7 freedom today. You don’t e5081b6818 have to 3c7c874d1c entertain all d96cf598a6 the returning 40b198673c nobles. I suspect 65a235db4f you’ll be deb81a4e92 staying in fb66c33914 the palace 7c4a5225a5 longer.”38419fed69c7c48e

“No matter what, 58e2815f12 I’m leaving.”fc1d3470d72c66dd

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He stared at me 20b9333fa2 for a moment before 81812bd5f5 laughing softly.f8e88a84559195e5

“My lady, there aff09ab9e9 was never an c1e32feea7 ending within my 2ff1aa17eb boundaries that included 4d59211b24 a blood bag. I have 778be3ced6 a strong 3666675bf6 feeling it 0060006837 will be e11e89cf70 the same e8b42380f0 this time.”14fd5d0e0e624981

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With the 916c9af20f grace of d4b66ecf88 a dancer, 1274ac2488 he bowed b63ec162ad and left a7a011b77e the hall. I watched his retreating 7145e5215c figure, unable to stop dd85466b4d him.b2a2137cd0a7091d

 dd7a82442a6a5a5e

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