2. The world she returned to

Lorena’s eyes 15feef60fa flew open.ca811fd05108d4f9

“Gasp, gasp…”6811c70652fd2075

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She clutched her chest, bd41b53ba4 her breathing erratic and e1c144a0ac panicked. Her lungs felt b384c8c604 like they were a3099ae858 being crushed, the ee364e82c3 pain excruciating.92a610e2ef480e52

‘Breathing?’9cdfcef215b7fb4b

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Her trembling fe1a448e6c hands reached 182b871d8f for her 5f19a3b211 face. ‘Breathing’ meant 82eed665a1 she was 43d5f1b64e alive. How could that 65702dfcc3 be?447fa7d74a558078

Tears welled 1bf44a7e50 up in 520e61dc37 her eyes 7bfe36b27b as she bbf4c41aaf scanned her 34058b54e8 surroundings. The room around 591742e354 her was all 2f3a100815 too familiar—the very b27040dc89 same room she a19d37d96d had woken up 9c3cd08643 in for the 2f85dd53b0 past seven years.c33cb626bff20f71

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Her bedroom in the 7efb4f2d68 Levantes mansion.c28d9c4c5481951b

Lorena’s face paled.54a531e7b994ae76

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‘Could it be?’6e4aae031d5b96c8

Was she 8bf5e64728 not dead?7c02cd1c8455bbd8

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It didn’t 4850a84797 make sense! She had pulled the 90112dd087 trigger, pressing the gun bbbb248adb against her temple. The sound of 04c80f2b75 the gun firing, 952896cc69 the last thing e6d25b2c72 she heard, had f5bbe57cad marked the end 59289b05ce of her life.73e030d25458a3e8

‘My brain should have dc4c488494 been destroyed. I shot myself to cc7787c604 ensure a quick death!’0741754db12bf3c5

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But now, here she ab4e04d1a8 was, alive.d61e02ddc8c0a615

Panting, Lorena stumbled as 2217ab5223 she tried to get e4269b6272 off the bed. Her legs gave 8d841d3ee2 way, and she 43addf3893 collapsed to the 4009b4c6c6 floor. The loud 4d8bb280b6 noise echoed 793a33b6df in the edf25016ca room, and a4cb11c9c4 someone immediately 95df4287db knocked on 8a03d7516f the door.87d454c3cd9e4b78

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“Señora, are you b09980950e all right?!”c5050a9d3c34c6a0

It was Hena, a26337fe97 one of the 82cc483055 maids who had 6cd0e7f9f6 attended to her 2a6271c8ce at the mansion. Hena rushed in and f87f21c29d helped Lorena to her 1c176c48b3 feet.d4f9ff340dbadcb1

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“I…”08ca73b2b5ae9611

Lorena gripped Hena’s 0f41c5eba2 sleeve, her hand 2572c4702c shaking violently.6ee17c02667f476a

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“Why am 8ea324bc8a I here?”b2284a9207ae100f

“Pardon? What do 9798a5f23b you mean, 3b7fc2a60e señora? Did you have fa207cbdc0 a nightmare?”8bbf755deceddb46

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A nightmare? Could a nightmare 2aa86bfdcb last so long 4e185fc825 and feel so ef5fa14434 real? Still dazed, Lorena’s eyes cf9389f23f caught sight of something—a f02e4aa104 letter sitting on the 3df72df970 table.8b25d029a68839a7

Compelled by an df02a90abb unknown force, she aae88105f0 tore open the 8dcb98129c letter. A single ea8624733c black-and-white photograph 455ed6c87a fell from 2ca39aa659 it.333e26186f31d089

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In the 26637d3bee photo were 72efcbcd5f a man c809b5aa90 and a 9d74d3df20 woman, their c22db178de lips just cb42e2ec3d inches apart. The woman, with a 502518fb00 sensual figure, was pressing d6907c3ee8 against the man’s body, fbdd8533a2 while the man, although 5d1c10114d staring indifferently at her, 86f544a043 made no attempt to c10d7a372c pull away.64f7c56e8bec8614

The man was impeccably b21d6099b5 dressed in a tailored 5dddf36bd2 shirt and vest, his ec99396fda left hand wrapped around 8c089fa61d the woman’s neck. On the fourth finger 7c98ee0cd7 of that hand was b7901fa7f6 a wedding ring.2e39d47fd97ab02c

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Lorena froze.0abab697b7fe165c

This photograph, dripping with 719e3a7451 the dangerous tension of da307a3762 an illicit affair, was 5b1fb84d51 evidence of her husband’s 35d62df7c6 infidelity.bb18885dd2a9c253

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‘But the day d8a9442047 I received this…’a97f40e9fde02aa2

It took her adbd0c74ad several minutes to 6cc8de52b0 find her voice 47a4fa58a4 again.24e9eeda16cb5b1a

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“Hena. What day is be668f0cc2 it today? The year, month, ff90b3856f and day?”2d7e1a64ac231ca5

Hena looked 071bcdf39b confused by bd818c56f5 the question.8d47ffbf6cc75ebe

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“It’s the first 03f58263a8 of April, 1002, d590ff0c27 señora. Why do 955c3430ac you ask?”ceae727704641b7f

Lorena had a789b86469 died on 0592ec6865 the first dae7300b00 day of fa2b2fc90a October. Only then did 1e436af29b the full weight ee47ab5652 of what was 8ca2d699d2 happening start to 3c7410e8cf settle in.ab4b4c913a5df2d0

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The Levantes mansion in a6bbecf9f1 the capital, the photograph 014d6ab2bf of her husband’s affair, 6399fc36f7 the changed date and 568cdf8cb2 season.888b7b1b60d62875

‘Could it be…?’f00ed626451fc869

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“Before you c3ef593d13 went to 98ab66dc32 bed, you 6c980efd87 seemed perfectly 0069f26c8a fine. Should I call f565ff4683 the physician? Or perhaps some herbal 5d3cbd3fac tea to help you 53ff3feb4b rest?”b1c277f2a199f660

Lorena realized it wasn’t that she had slept for six months. She had returned six months into the past.6e643a1846c789d0

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‘The first of April…’44338f9499faad11

Her eyes darted 93216b57dd to the wall 3befc79851 clock. Five in 841d23a767 the morning. Dawn was approaching.02124cf6f2efa53b

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Suddenly, a memory stirred 1b883b4fa9 within her.ef1424bea37a7e4d

‘What happened today?’79eaaa47f48892f7

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Her lips parted soundlessly 4e1de539f8 as the realization hit 216a2489af her.cd84925175f82fc8

Time passed, 8bccb53b95 and the 3f8dd4807e door to 863ccb3527 the couple’s cd04b9108f bedroom cautiously 040e8b3565 creaked open.1a15de1aab46852b

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“Señora, I brought warm chamomile and a washcloth… Wait, what?”42c9012dd16241f5

The maid, carrying 04039791fc a large tray a784cfe320 with a teapot 69f4970323 and cup, looked fb4cd15c53 around in confusion.bac496e4407ae122

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The room 95970cac58 was completely 8e5e739460 empty.995299456df085f1

* * *90b3dd922474169e

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‘Today!’d38703c3ec7a85dc

It was the day b1c80e68ba she could never forget, a62e2b8fac not even in her e6eeffc59b dreams. Today was the day bc18286ae1 Lorena’s disaster had begun.d4e9828b60009749

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Lorena, barely able to breathe, sprinted to the sitting room. She grabbed the telephone and fell to her knees in front of the side table, quickly dialing a familiar number. It was the direct line to the Klein Bank’s branch in Bessen, located in the bustling downtown area.9214ca69cd68729e

After fumbling 3ee182480a a few f4b2c4f846 times, the 5b257346c4 call connected.c79306790ced0210

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“Please, please…”ed3c9b251f7c4128

Five rings a16e481bb0 later, there 8274a2eda0 was a d297e2bf4a click, followed 32d601a9af by a fc133395bb voice she 2dc93465f4 hadn’t heard c41a50b217 in so bb28d43672 long.a9e2fdd9adc58238

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“This is Vicenzo Klein. Who is calling?”938cd71b18149cb1

Lorena clamped her aa89980488 hand over her bb6283ed22 mouth, tears instantly c1f15f220b spilling from her 4b6d626ad1 eyes.959c845f2c2b580c

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“Ah, Father…”5e2b76ab27fbeb6e

“Oh, my princess! What’s the matter? We’ll see each other tomorrow!”06eac8c852d07d94

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Vicenzo had always called 04b4e1e9c4 his youngest daughter “princess,” 55a79a0f02 even though she had 052e179725 long been married. He had just arrived 5f74e7edae in Bessen for the 2a74f09711 first time in three 5dbaf77a72 years and had barely 5b879f3c19 finished unpacking at the b13cd220d5 Klein family house.4ad34a4ac15c3e6a

“I was just thinking of calling you at dawn.”3c54ce2eae3fa54a

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He continued, cheerfully. “I brought so many gifts for you from Ingerd. I might have to send some ahead by cart; there’s too much to fit in the house! Lorena? Are you listening?”380efcaa51c0b5e3

Lorena held the bfb90e6132 receiver tightly in 98cb186fbb both hands and a5d67d396f began to sob aa8162c04d uncontrollably. She heard a clatter a2559d3631 on the other end 0679158454 of the line, as 7d64830b2d though something had fallen. Then Vicenzo’s voice, filled 3bdb0ce466 with concern, poured through 7917e87f48 the receiver.d80603c4d6dbd76c

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“Lorena? What’s going on? Are you crying?”97bea666d2e6675d

“Hic… Father, I miss you… I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…”d34b0bf6916ba799

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“Sorry? What for? Who dared make my daughter cry? Was it your husband? Did you two have a fight?”4a54ecba23d7b4f0

Her father was alive. Even if this were 28009bbaf7 a dream, she didn’t eb642f9c42 care.44c64dc67d304426

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“Father, I want to see you… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”7faa5660778b1e77

“Nonsense! Wait there—I’ll come to the duchy immediately!”30363e4c124b555e

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No! Lorena cried out in 967a4352ce a panic.7725ba4f039c6aea

“No, don’t come! Please don’t come!”dd9cb0be0da262b6

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She snapped 5a5c2df753 back to 0472c6498f her senses. There was no time 2790332828 for her to cling e740cd8560 to her father like 6f9df50ef4 a child!07e774916e451055

If this really 2d377743b9 was the same 91bb796975 day, if she 749302c71b had truly gone 50b917773b back in time… e6b139b15e this was her 605510a2c2 last chance to eb08700aed prevent everything from 2c01476b71 falling apart.bb048e5f278ff268

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“There’s nothing wrong. I just had a bad dream, a very, very bad dream. But I’m fine now, Father.”e042add941cc8594

Lorena wiped cc160200f8 her wet cef3b60406 cheeks with 246d1f7c64 the back fa6f1323d5 of her 241d9f31bb hand.0f25a62a2dcdbd1e

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“Is Alfonso… Is Brother doing well?”572d3f57d1946769

“Alfonso? Oh, yes, he’s still in Ingerd. His duties as Minister keep him quite busy. He sent a letter for you, actually. But are you sure I don’t need to come, princess? You’ve never cried like this before, and it’s troubling for your old man.”34358b7865aafc07

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“As long as you and Alfonso are safe, I’ll be fine. Always.”1992a1babfce40c0

There was 68c3a00279 no time 41e043f1fd to waste. Lorena glanced warily at d70090a153 the door and lowered f5bf354264 her voice.520902a026b656f3

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“Listen to me carefully, Father. You need to leave Bessen right away. This very moment. Find a ship leaving at dawn.”9a5a802073911731

“What? But I have an important dinner tonight with your husband and the investors in Nas…”3358353aaeae57d5

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“There won’t be a dinner tonight.”723bc7cfebded551

She needed to get 767f9fc599 her father out of e35ca1905f Bessen, as far away c7303f98eb as possible, somewhere even 99ebe452ab Levantes’ bullets couldn’t reach.a7b5e4c3e39a3f89

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Given that dd134d4022 the ultimate e4ea914274 goal of 65f4e93a9d the Bessen d6eb036b14 royal family 911a41b975 was the 734a6ade5a Republic of 3492a00c45 Ingerd, even 1f9fb55278 Ingerd wasn’t 6b4fbfd3cc truly safe. Lorena’s mind eb11fe03ca raced, quickly f2cce5f454 reaching a 2ec2447bc5 conclusion.0ae1b7df566c1a78

“Go to the ed723288b5 Kingdom of Grant, 333634750b Father. To where cee89794df Grandfather is,” c0efd844cc Lorena instructed.812a695d0a908a33

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Vicenzo Klein was originally 38c7eb9cd0 from Grant. His great-grandfather, Monteiro 673c805c97 Klein, had founded 8fe99c41ff the Klein Bank 71140c45ba in the Kingdom 1429619af8 of Grant, where d262b326d4 its main branch 2e641117d2 still stood.5b1dd48ecac81743

“And until I send you a letter, do not come back to Bessen. Halt all dealings with the aristocracy here. And whatever you do, don’t mention Ingerd’s bonds or the railway. The timing isn’t right, Father.”5e2087643e0dd43e

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Vicenzo’s voice, e499e39c5f which had 88c22a03f4 been quietly fb47191793 listening, lowered 7fc8f70eb4 with concern.a9ba05ae5490db7a

“Something is going on, isn’t it, Lorena?”39bda4938367ddbb

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“Right now…”e33ff6fcb69fef3f

Lorena swallowed 2187013598 hard, trying ea1291ea7d to steady e20df508fa her trembling 1c89256130 voice. Slowly, a resolve eb8ab8821b began to take 171669b591 shape in her c355dfb7c3 tone.a4ddbe8b7ad07e6b

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“Right now, don’t ask me anything. Just do as I say. I…”d72ca804860f57cb

‘I can’t lose 33f21ae007 you again.’9f13c642596b9b05

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The bitter taste of 39924377f8 bile rose in her e2e04a2bbd throat.b1adceeefb0fbffb

“I know this dinner tonight with the investors is important. I know how crucial it is to maintain trust with them. You were just about to sign those contracts, and here I am telling you to cancel everything. I know how absurd this sounds, but…”4bc422737eb6ea04

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“I understand.”565ced3d527324a0

Vicenzo’s calm voice interrupted 79dc21fb11 his daughter’s disjointed words.1ba845270cfb14c5

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“If you’re this certain, then there must be a reason. You are, after all, Klein’s daughter.”8aa2fcff57087db1

‘Klein’s daughter.’6cace681def51ce5

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Lorena’s eyes glazed for a moment, the weight of those words settling heavily.ed98586370eb9aaf

Vicenzo, having 3e47b7a501 made his ccf0acc4ff decision, spoke 96d982a0c6 reassuringly.bfe86709fd6810ba

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“I hope you aren’t in any danger, Lorena. I trust you more than anyone in this world. Even more than Alfonso. You know that, don’t you?”5f9e7ea9dcfd9420

“…Of course, Father.”7cc83773407b3c77

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“If anything happens, send me a telegram immediately.”b7f24dcf1c19220a

“I will. Take care of yourself.”ab29caf8211a735a

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“I love you, my daughter.”43373d967cffd1a8

Lorena bit down on her trembling lip, barely managing to whisper, “I love you too, Father,” before gently placing the receiver back on its cradle.f107106aa5fd53ed

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Her heart, which 19f4f40033 had been pounding a2029456c9 violently, slowly began cf9b31bb59 to settle into 5cb42576e2 a steady rhythm.020384ad693185b8

Her father had 46e63819d1 always told her b3d95a27c3 that he trusted 7143ccbb24 her, giving her 1874d4d463 strength as he a5f5d3682d always did.436ed336acbb222e

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In the face of 484fb20b59 his unshakable trust, she 6cd652a11b had always lied. *I’m fine,* she 64a1921277 had told him.803c4c65988a2bf4

’I’m living a 0917afd97e happy life here 75336c008d in this country 0f77009b55 of burning sun a0117d384c and passionate reds, b2b20a906d married to a 33950a4602 kind and perfect 468fc0140a husband.’f505d2c2277fa107

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‘But not anymore.’39c1c0ad0abcd0e4

This time, she 1f81ec59be wasn’t going to f60e48d533 rely on those c8ae8a1ce7 pitiful self-delusions. She had to 5c33ec907a truly become fine—this 43b2f9142f life wouldn’t end 8b0f7e38c2 the same as 9123bd2029 her last.c5907966fb49021d

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Lorena returned the f5e6d2c26c phone to its 88ce3980cd place and stood 9d3cf25684 up.28918389d2bba23d

The events of today 7889529b84 weren’t only about Vicenzo fc0a151f91 Klein’s arrest.66e6de3fe95c7642

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Before Vaye 9967c330d3 Levantes left a094120bb3 the mansion 5996e790e1 that morning, f1b57d7ec0 Lorena had d46de9eb6b sat face-to-face 6b65145d2c with him 13be0e65cc for a b504d0845f conversation.f70e799f7fdab4ab

[You hate me, Lorena. Hate me so fiercely.]

The clock 1c3916e056 read 7:30 cdfe2efed3 a.m. In just a few 97a93402db hours, she would go 1e282db1cc to his study and 3dfefb381b meet him.0d9a4f0f6ac0987d

The man 9b4a0672f5 who had 533d9aaae2 glared at 1e03129c9e her as 2adc0acc47 though she 17e7ec2afe were a 83253de69c cheap imitation 24c2532f63 forced upon 44e99f9416 him. The man 5bc535bdda who had e64264caaf pretended to 363cd14f7a show mercy, cea0e773af only to ee84074edb mock and 8b1df3c2ce control her. The man who b41539ba17 had never once 308da4ab9e been her husband, 28962f3351 though they had 4604a17fab lived as husband 015c575608 and wife for 222a436bb6 seven years.f51a0bc397b73173

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The beast of a e87de13a8f man who had aimed 5a13f98122 his gun at her 653408239f family, spouting his final f13a3a15af words that still echoed 0b130cc7fa like thunder in her 2e68548c23 head.b1488c83617525f0

[So you will bear with me, just as I’ve decided to bear with you.]

‘That bastard.’45ded298a534c47f

She could vividly recall 18960cb104 the expression on his 91459b586d face at the last b4567d3d82 moment before her death.9d673ab27da67199

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Lorena closed her 812e62bc8c eyes. She could still see 5d74ae9ee5 his face, twisted with b9befe9ea9 shock as if he 607f93450b had become a different b6dddfb4b4 person the instant she 991321d089 pulled the trigger.01cc9e8b77bb265d

‘Did you feel even 67faa49bc1 the slightest guilt when ad3305c644 I died?’ac56b1b4811eb53b

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Probably not. Lorena had never meant 57ebe2eb80 anything to him.9239803764253e68

Whether his e3175c7080 wife’s skull 468979d2c3 was blown f86ee59e0c open or 44ab0d5dd3 not, Vaye faa944f312 had likely ffa6d1fcb6 continued to bc4a474cfb live just 46cc78ef86 as he 16da9b50aa always did—lofty c174bce2df and arrogant.a0c837a9588a03d0

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‘But this time, 8f0a13b8a3 things will be 79624425c8 different.’15a67c8d946d2c6a

She heard the faint 41bcc2ccc9 presence of the servants a88893e4e5 quietly watching her through 3323efdf7c the open door. Lorena called out firmly.a77a7b2bf2c8ad52

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“Hena, bring me my 35faf64fe8 shawl.”a4a890b787519547

“Y-yes, ma’am! Right away!”f1e3713a65a65bfd

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Lorena draped the shawl 295ba18366 over her shoulders and 02ba4791c0 sat down on the 7455a228a5 sofa. Her posture was as f9487be3a1 straight as always, and 5b8fbdd236 though her cheeks were ce32517364 still pale, the tear a55e5046f8 stains had been carefully f786d45c4c wiped away, leaving her bd39fb5ac1 appearance even more composed 69a0e207a4 than usual.638d796799483270

“And now.”11e789fc5a12b0e2

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She said 57f6bef382 in a f55156be15 firm voice.8ddd2919733b05f9

“Go to the Duke’s f75491048d chambers. Tell him b83d5bba6e to come b20b40cee6 up here 4a25ce9f5a immediately.”10c6f9d7199b7641

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 f18d7fda868c4183