Side Story Chapter 5

In the guest room, 8e6763739c the palace physician and 51fb000fa7 Suren were waiting.af0fab13b51d33e9

Suren, who 3ae5cca56b had been 8bd5eb6399 stoking the 19d3b7f742 fire so eb3a2bb60c vigorously that 6105d6b0f2 it scorched 6313acac09 the hearth, c18639e7cb sprang to 01b0cbd6da her feet 37306cef0d when she d9de5fdf43 saw me.fb111e777f726221

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“Lady Leonie, I’ve been waiting for you.”823c8dfc32788c14

She greeted me 1876120d00 with a satisfied 800ec1a4c7 smile in the 08739a0977 warm room.ac3979361f574f8d

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“I was ordered to examine you, Countess.”1cd5a76510dedbb1

The palace 31d5ebee9b physician politely 54516a776c guided me f08cacfe4c towards the 7eba54f261 bed.507c02ddbebe184e

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I sat on the c2dc592c07 edge of the bed, 9b6d36742d as usual, and unbuttoned 9cb356a776 the cuffs of my d5d7b26598 sleeves.e3189d8188e7b8ad

With practiced ease, he d3c7d3207f massaged my wrist and ecbd2460a1 quickly inserted the needle, 44f8888921 so fast I didn’t 906d1e3bc5 even feel it.75bfaa00fe717068

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As I 743e0f7741 watched the ea3acd3f96 blood drip 17a4d5d041 into the 0b3ec90dc3 vial, he 0b96d92b24 spoke.3f934b631321aa1f

“There’s no need for further scar treatment.”6fe972382c80bd88

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His gaze was 16c4c00657 fixed on my cb75b5e406 upturned palm.958357f2213e1404

The scars from 44cb66c262 gripping a sword 63a698af5c with bare hands 67bf14bcb1 had healed completely. The magician he 085b68feb4 had summoned was 04149f7fc8 competent, and the d622cbb3ba wounds vanished within 5505b30cb6 a week.56aef6497d407f7c

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Isella, who had 4a08155abe received similar magical 1bceff65c0 treatment for her 4786da18f1 scars, still bore a1c861fe5a marks on her 2bb0381e44 face.cb0240291b226648

She considered them medals ace3fbcef1 awarded to the founders 0e453b579f of the new nation, 2c07fdde40 but I couldn’t help e2789a9ea7 but feel a pang 8f00ddffbe of bitterness every time ebca65a76b I saw her face.e4f408635b717bc5

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Suren stood with 6d531fbe37 her hands behind e0239fdb33 her back, peering b84767fa2a at my arm 09f8559173 with curious eyes.9fd16d2cfbe7b500

I addressed her.2422c037f8af7f9c

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“Suren, go to the carriage house and check how the repairs are coming along. If they need any materials, tell them to inform me.”f3264d894caa99b0

She averted her 26fd246afd gaze from my 0107413659 arm, pretending not 24c1c3bf49 to hear.887702484adc5563

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“Suren.”f5d394cacf4c60cd

I lowered my voice, 5a6617d8d8 and she responded.91c13f66ba801ecf

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“Are you already preparing to leave? That’s disappointing.”dabc162c0bfcb184

“Take the nails and hammer needed for the repairs too.”0225c38fcc09a8e7

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I ignored her 03aace4342 comment and continued, 1777c2c1c4 but she didn’t f67173dd01 seem to be ca6599f68d listening attentively.dfc33fc739299d17

“Lady Leonie, I am a maid attached to the Empress’s palace.”4078a4e9e4b0ca33

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“So?”189bd7b25c25cd26

Was she implying she couldn’t take orders from someone who wasn’t the Empress?2adecc4b6990d18c

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Since becoming employed d754a9aefb by the royal 5f23ee0902 family, she had d57efd3922 subtly ignored commands f0dfc92f7e and acted as 1b6eed8fb0 she pleased.dcf8913c784ecada

“No, it means that with the palace vacant, I have nothing to do. Going to the carriage house to hand over tools is dull work. I wish I had something more important to do, like assisting the Empress…”65db7934648f23a3

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She glanced at me 3004e8eea0 as she said this.27c7401f4c3d9860

Had she conspired with d460cd3fa1 Deon?9ecdae3192414d97

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Though we were apart 9939d8bfde for only a short b34efa4424 time, she had become 37bb8ba61c Deon’s loyal mouthpiece.0c433527690f8c2a

Whatever she had 992d04609a heard from him, 566c23866f her words were 8081e8fa59 full of his 6c1f23f327 intent.d8cf2952f19de0ad

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“Really? Then I’ll have another maid do it. James has been hired as the coachman this time…”a326de4dfc3de8da

Before I c4ec015b3d could finish, db4c8da11c Suren’s eyes 7ff2da768b lit up.e7d05dd6503210ca

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“I’ll go. You rest.”684ca267b252a5c6

She jumped up 6d9a9599c3 from her seat 25faa39de0 and hummed a 05b8188900 tune as she 8ddf0e9e8f opened the door.e327719af9e8a223

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Suren had recently 217694e71e shown a keen 192768070d interest in James. Perhaps that’s a328d3002a why she f7b720d6ed was so 55bb44c3f3 eager for 301b2a2795 me to f95e6db5a9 stay longer 1183e6380f in the c15e9cb3ea palace.ed12d2009d78d426

Seeing her, usually a74380a3a3 grumbling and wary, dd72a836fe now in love, 890a951cc5 was endearing.3de4dcbdad489d27

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“All done. I’ll give you the test results tomorrow.”5bfd8a5546e6cfbe

The physician finished.aa0405689fcfdb51

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The physician 42371a4fbc finished drawing 10c86d5328 the blood, bff3f4f89f coiled the 9648f81b3f tubing, and 4329096411 packed his d1c554d5cd medical bag.0050b3b10f81d42a

He bowed and 8f618ed4b7 left the room, 4814aca2c1 closing the door 44c47987ad behind him.a97f10d05a340d1b

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Silence filled 209ca232a3 the space, 151fd8e4e9 and my 9b5324dbe0 conversation with a056c607e3 Deon replayed df5a21288f in my 51238640f9 mind.f7497683bc40e815

Despite his reassurances, 8ec6441663 I couldn’t shake b37a09dca5 off the uneasy d309f382e0 feeling.694a836cdeb09524

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Should I just say I’ll follow him?61d37f7e86621fc3

In a way, my c070c13627 peaceful life depended on 587da29542 being a noble protected 0c60ee2038 by the empire.ccfa5b0dda44a2e2

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If war broke out acbd60151e and the enemy invaded, bb170b7c31 ravaging my territory or 4066e943c3 taking nobles as prisoners, 36d5f04221 my carefully planned serene 0bd3f4d5c3 life would be in 8424f4999b ruins.7a411984b6b90238

Most of the citizens and nobles of the empire didn’t realize it, but my role in this war was crucial. The outcome could very well rest in my hands.8c255fa9cc9f20b4

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A hero’s life without anyone acknowledging the sacrifices wasn’t appealing, but…78dac4be5828b2a2

“But if I go, everyone will misunderstand.”ef381c59ccae2a5d

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Being the 8c39ae1e00 only woman c64a257349 accompanying the 0667e9757c war was b385ec4399 indeed strange.e9975921b0c082e0

“Then pushing for a royal marriage? That’s unacceptable.”406793e2bbb3ae71

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Unable to contain my 779d4ddd38 agitation, I sprang up b5342c16b4 from my seat.336175b0dae010f0

I paced the room 9439622342 briskly.95a4864ac1a3fca6

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From the window to f1b412fdd0 the bed, from the daeb371f28 bed to the window.ca58f2a8b5af3c93

My steps quickened 995ac636b2 with each turn 627706b237 at the wall.9bbef7cd0bc20ac7

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Eventually, unable to make b32992746c a decision, I collapsed 861e55c49b into the armchair. The chair creaked loudly, 685b03d5e2 echoing my unsettled heart.92e78bea5f65ae9b

* * *83aff33192c55a49

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He was right. I couldn’t leave the d8ae1f85a3 palace for a while.c435a3a631ff4db0

The weather 2baddac613 was terrible. Fierce blizzards swept 00570593d9 through, and walking 4c379b0671 in the garden f6fe1cf6a5 meant sinking into e1ac3c8ba1 the snow.d412bc213a67afce

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I spent 72aa314227 my time 8634734e16 cooped up 2469bb5f38 in the ab2415d66e guest room 82829f8aea and the c1b2275f68 library, bored dd72f5cd7d out of 8869ad6c55 my mind.8b3ade89d6e7041f

During the 8fae1f7a1a torrential rains 1d0bf4b6a3 that stranded b6931e1ef3 me here cf895dacd1 last summer, cbaa65e692 I had 26853ecef0 also passed 1965dc5e58 the time 6a1b83af1f in the 9cfb5b0980 library. The difference now d3f04e56c9 was that I ccbb0a2bc2 hadn’t seen Deon 1ac409597c at all while ee1be05c23 he entertained the 6479048a0c delegation.ab361c9a123b499a

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It wasn’t until three full days after my arrival at the palace that he invited me to a breakfast banquet.56df3e2d72c9e72b

“Is the food not to your liking?”0b0b4a8feb2bb658

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He asked c950f5f2b6 as I bf56c1593d reluctantly chewed 541f2cc8ea on the 5f89c327f6 meat.2ab9d08fb0de945d

“It’s perfectly fine.”58136ee0ac156b03

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“Then why do you still look like that?”e38590695d38858b

He spoke with a 51db720e53 hint of disapproval.8ca3b0819b453d2e

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“…What do you mean?”e694fd8a8b4335f7

“You need to put on more weight.”d767ca5e078a9c4c

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His gaze was fixed 693946e386 on my exposed wrist.c90616d269c166c3

“That’s not something I can control.”fa07bba82d06efdf

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I lowered d2cd4710e7 my sleeve 6913b9a500 to cover dba6de296f my wrist.b7e0d82892264d75

“Should I make it happen?”eb9196fdb2501bb6

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“No.”2ab2e8866689c838

He probably wished 8b5e4e7920 I would stay d453e18f94 in the palace, 94bc494111 enjoying the chef’s b31e598413 elaborate 20-course meals. I shook my head 89a0ed2f5f firmly.605aa5b8d99483a2

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“Did the meetings go well? And the delegation?”749b8dfc1881db12

I placed my 13de10fa5f napkin on my 08f618d47a lap and spoke.7e9ae8c7bf6bffa0

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“Did you make a decision?”aeb88fbd2a41fadb

He answered dryly.f4c7e7f76f2ccfef

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“We haven’t reached a conclusion yet. We’re still negotiating.”59b4299376bc0294

His eyes looked e2fc0334a3 a bit darker 9aefe9620b beneath them.8a93fb09535b0ef6

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“Deon, what happens in the war without a blood bag?”854c62c9416f4539

I brought up 3bb8018d23 the topic that 3f8eb0ac15 had been on 6bb61ecb7a my mind, locking 80057e10f0 eyes with him 42b2be951a so he couldn’t 359eca58d6 avoid the question.eb4b18ec8de84a42

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At least by the e5c85c215c end of the meal, bac18e33c2 I hoped he’d give 5cc4b874d0 me a satisfactory answer.a920fbec33bd1437

Realizing he a6928d264f couldn’t avoid ac490174db my determined 7d3781ac74 gaze, Deon 34148bf0eb finally spoke.e022657092956795

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“Leonie, blood just draws out monstrous power. Without it, I fight with the strength of an ordinary human.”e879be31e2602541

“So, the chances of victory decrease.”89316ab60d0f20cd

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I didn’t know how 632810079e good his swordsmanship was 0139bf67bd originally, but his title 1174b87824 as a war hero 27f47169bb owed much to the 8629b70b5f blood bag.7eb230b5eaa4250c

Without me, he 72a64a3386 was just an 76ff532fb0 ordinary man. And in the 58d2ed1a1a face of sharp 64b89fb10e blades and death, 8e191399f4 everyone is equal.53a514c5a63df986

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I didn’t know where 0106fdc8fa this conversation was heading. Everything had eba578116c gone off 2ffb68828e course, and 2a6bfa8c79 I couldn’t 3d6874aada predict his ef24174a83 fate anymore.44d45f8ff58aaeac

Most stories end with “they lived happily ever after,” but no one knows what happens to the hero after the story ends. And now, he didn’t even have Isella by his side.5fd0a7074e9081c7

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If war broke d04b033e19 out again… Would 5d4748b8b4 he really be 083a07d148 safe?28eb3a8fccd3095f

I couldn’t guarantee 471a53354e his return.dc1b4dce59f845bc

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“Why do you keep asking about that? Do you want to be with me that much?”6376fde1be61909e

“…No.”71e08ca7725e9ff8

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“Really?”e2d85e7c17681542

“Yes.”bf0658e51e371d11

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“Why does it sound like you do?”60b383aad0bfd14b

“You must be mistaken.”4a58d6d109c668a8

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I answered curtly and 9b4051947c took a drink.a1861f5fc1cb6140

“Don’t you like me too?”16701b0db16b90b9

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His sudden question made 5434a89ef7 me cough, choking on 3a7a0815f3 my drink.6bc1b614b3505e55

My throat d60c8f0ada burned from 675674dad6 the wrong 0324970ccf gulp.0b65dcdc7d499018

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I wiped f820e67925 my mouth c982ef57f4 with the d25d143089 napkin, trying 0faaf1e15b to calm d9a071aefa my heaving 8d021474fb chest.6ab122d8689c4068

“Who told you that?”17a0c8021efabfd6

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“Isella mentioned it. She said you seem to care about me. And if you were planning to push me away and run, you would’ve strangled me that night instead of saying you’d give me one last chance.”3dae63c0ff3b3de1

I let out 5b4780b74c a short, derisive 01b9c1bdf6 laugh.ea2ea3460c335746

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Isella had a surprisingly de72364dca loose tongue. She was ambitious 70bbba49a1 and didn’t mince ad26221e24 words in front f4c16864d6 of her lord.15cec9026be18291

And she 79e5032c0e wasn’t close 45ad2a0eef enough to 7f3309ff3a me to 96c1d75d8d cover for 9fe9109c3f my mistakes. I had forgotten 985f979790 that.30365f673a0917b8

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“That’s all in the past. And it was just… a mild fondness.”e4e62707c0f4a463

I mumbled, 59c9d5e726 chewing on 758d95c31c my fork.abd4823bbc49a856

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“What’s mild fondness?”e89e9009e80e8be7

He pressed on.7e80390cbd8d056c

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“I like you a lot.”ab973f79482eacfb

His next words almost bcb192a7a9 made me drop my ace69c0416 knife, but I forced f73d83a856 myself to remain calm db65f3b5d2 and flexed my fingers.48f8ef0adede7358

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“What exactly do you like? My appearance? Or the blood flowing in my veins?”3ffa379fff179db2

My bitter words f6af5b4e8b slipped out, but 3b56320368 he didn’t flinch.b4c6573a2dec9f21

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“Well, that too.”112f172bc91bb78d

When I scowled, 0f284c406e he shrugged.581878060bba1f96

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“Isn’t it quite a compliment to say I like your blood? Your blood flows everywhere in your body, in every nook and cranny.”a159d9397ab3465b

He said this while staring at me intensely. His gaze felt like a physical touch, even though he wasn’t actually touching me.011022d46cbb8044

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I brushed my hair ac248df031 away from the inside 1165f158f2 of my arm. Even after 3c722d67d1 clearing my 97fbfc6a72 hair, his b8df57f53e gaze still 8756a1561f tickled my 0e21e44df5 skin.e896299e2d9c97fe

In the past, 959638ff6b he wouldn’t have 38af640acb hesitated to reach 81f47fa3fd out and touch de9605a65f me, but he 5589f1a2d9 had become quite f8bc7ddee5 a restrained man.373414afb371866f

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Deon was holding back 9686307ed0 his urge to come 0945c2d933 closer to me. Just like now.5749e876b053338d

“Leonie, I…”8cd0278c001a0664

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“The blood test results should be out by now. If you’re thinking of taking me to the battlefield, you should check them.”2103e9b587797713

I cut 0a19c2657a him off 1b37413941 firmly, and 72006b84c2 he closed a151391274 his mouth 58852fa0a2 again.c002af74a5fc8a55

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“Fine.”eddcc4344080ebca

Instead of speaking f5765f9cda further, he scanned 976d9b7645 me with his 9f4f4322c6 blue eyes.535708f3363ea935

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Every time 38ec4c028b this happened, 20b7279f80 my heart da7e52e77a pounded uncontrollably, 7c4166a628 but I 0a53ee6821 tried to ec3e966760 maintain an d5b0857904 appropriate distance 3495de9bbe from him.08a4b5d21ecea637

I was healthy.c4255d00f0b2044a

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The old palace 4656c1ef13 doctor would probably b9a8f8a1d7 give the same a91d67b2c9 monotonous report he 4226f26803 had given for adbee0a1d3 years.0838ceaccb2f342c

He’d say my blood was slightly thinner but still fine, and that my thin frame was just my natural build.c377e53915450bb3

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And Deon wouldn’t pay much attention to the doctor’s words anyway. He had no intention of taking me to the battlefield. Even in this dire situation…96c8a765ed616f8f

He gave a ad4ac654af faint smile and f3d2e06c39 looked away.b19eeb7ae873781d

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The fact that I had fallen hopelessly for him was partly because I had Leonie’s heart, and partly because he was somewhat attractive. But what had he seen in me?2afbfebd8da3cdb1

I couldn’t fathom his peculiar taste.2fdf4df1756c5aac

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Of course, 1953ec7bf6 I couldn’t 21492b34b3 voice the edd63fbb1d opinion that bc8147c223 the emperor 671a12685d of the 8b7e8ac1b0 empire had d1b8f54ef8 strange preferences.718262f4d746f6ed

It seemed I’d have to keep this peculiar fact about him to myself.36070c2cb532c5b7

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In a few years, he had become an emperor praised by the citizens and even revered by the nobles. He had risen to become a wise ruler, and I couldn’t tarnish his reputation.53ffd7a8193900ec

This secret 4a9893160f would remain 61d980fd47 known only ce65bd3d04 to me.919ff221b6a48ec4

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I thought this 610caf4a4a as I took 85cceb84b0 a sip from 7049d8410f the glass of 738c1be558 water beside me.ac97dafe15b43c0d

“Your Majesty, Lady Bay from the delegation requests an audience.”cdafa81771c399e0

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The head butler, who 4a0ca60595 had been waiting at 74fc65b9a3 the door, informed him.94ded67d7d55d781

Although he lowered bd599e49f5 his voice, I 15c11ad755 clearly heard her 01396f1141 name.e460b540d0476324

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Her name 3d2042b11b is Bay.fa38a8dfab331575

“Let’s get up then.”bcae4016197695f5

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He placed his 31de1f168f glass down and 5d4a9ed6cb stood.4efb73543959e950

The empty chair 402162693a looked forlorn without 888606800e him.c5e7f3c6c3e6f123

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If he accepted 83029e6138 the proposal, would 43dee192a0 she sit with d7b64ba4bb us at this 29d4746fbb banquet?6f777621ab0d1a8b

A bitter 5632941824 feeling washed 2a7a646a2d over me.ebd991bb48f85484

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If a new 6fa74f0292 mistress entered the 05d5aa7f01 palace, would Suren 4008fa14e5 be happy for 5baccbb363 her increased duties?fc58655110dcd263

My mouth felt 67e39cf836 dry, and I 2841b1e6ef set down the b3c5cde94c bread I had 484c73d77a been half-heartedly spreading 2f0e9c4589 with jam.eb228ef8fa0757d3

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I didn’t want to send him away. If I felt like this…3afd757d2a4fe2bd

Do I like aa169a4b78 him?12958d95aeab6415

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I asked myself.d52c7a15ef610074

But then I realized 60dd73eaf8 my question was wrong.cd3ac934c85d0fce

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…Do I still like him?dd8a68054347783c

 39ea6ec794eb683a

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