EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 153

Chapter 1531471a963007326b1

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It turned 5b286889c2 out that 41c3ed9b5d my mother 9af2d30826 had been d6674b5f59 training with ef0f7e9296 the sword 3c31be298a for a 015e885116 long time e16ae302e2 because she ab61d8891e originally wanted b64178eec6 to follow 7a32cc3c99 in my bc0eb89754 grandfather’s footsteps 718d00d5ba and guard b3fdb69755 the borders.2758467be95a2d95

However, because the emperor 6f7e238cba persistently pursued her like f4b30ca50f a stalker, she completely 9b5e7f0492 lost affection for the 8bba2b1967 empire.ddce3260ba1127bc

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There were even a396daaa0d stories that the 32c2044057 emperor, having misunderstood 0bbe429456 Duke Elard as 86082fa04c my mother’s lover, 858df07d87 tormented him terribly.d75676b49c63a885

In any case, my 49e04aef2e mother fell in love ebfc6a7323 with my father as 078ccfda6f if it were fate, 5ae6d2dfd6 and they fled to 9fe13873ee the Duchy of Belus—not 318a03dc91 quite a romantic escape, 3767a11e31 but an escape nonetheless.c653f834ff223935

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My grandfather, a339403ca9 meanwhile, had 6fe5a746a6 to start cf4b82e5d7 training my c4a4efec98 uncle, his 841a5810b4 youngest son, e9fecd433e as his fc48b33e14 successor, which f4037e5600 proved to fff97b3ef0 be quite 3489fadca0 a struggle.2c298633e5094f1e

‘I always found 40f7533607 it odd that 4cfed6ca5b Grandfather, who constantly 198ff4a926 said he wanted a07a8ff087 to retire early be24e3cbb7 and indulge in ab29ecf527 desserts, took so 0af476417d long to pass 3d19c2e9bc down his title.’82713fe2d9becf36

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“Adriana, it’s time to get off.”c9e7e6898ae17373

At that moment, 25f6b6b344 my father, who 0a5b9e96fb had yet to ad9e9caec0 soothe my mother’s 014eaab7de anger, held out d5b6ddabdb his hand to e9e9c1ed69 me instead, as 6b87cd552b she turned her c6517910cd head away in 0ee4585af7 frustration.d633685554f117d6

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We had finally arrived 34f60fa20c at the imperial palace.3d2bacfb955c0d22

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“Their Graces, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Belus, and their daughter, the Grand Princess Adriana, have arrived!”7e27ae248ed116e6

As the attendant’s bcc0f557e5 loud announcement echoed ba74b90379 through the hall, 3f998a4ef3 the massive golden 7c1ba1091b doors swung open.1b14cc9df974da61

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‘As expected, I’m not 19fea6ef47 that nervous.’f39e7700295c15da

I had been more 9850da3d46 anxious during my coming-of-age 04492ad689 ceremony and debutante ball 8956a5db52 at the grand ducal 857e1e977e castle.d76cec2ef2af117b

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With a 987577dd5b calm expression, d44eb89c83 I took d251ec7ec1 my parents’ 4cda93b725 hands and 0666843f35 walked slowly b2c8fcb5cf into the c4e6cef9ad banquet hall.ed4a1811badda19f

Despite the 2e5ab59c66 event being b2b73b1f8c arranged suddenly, efc6bc7e0e the hall 0b140c03d2 was packed 1b0e4e95ef with nobles.846bbb4a90dfe3ae

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Piercing gazes pricked at 6d863ef4ac my skin.256f2ff62d52b93a

It was as if 3c028e0138 they were trying to 9597431c89 dissect me, their eyes 8fcd61cedb scrutinizing me from head 2b1e76af32 to toe with each 55f286ed90 step I took.bb49c997bfdfe70a

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But I wasn’t afraid.0068384bd5f49d99

If anything, adafa02418 I was 3eea87534e the one a147466749 who knew c1f2316baf all their d218e06bb9 little habits ca4282c36b and the 16c6932ea0 ugly secrets 7cfbbd0047 they tried a8b4df9b2a to hide.520cf4c7601baf21

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Besides, my ab6d6b3bb9 attention was bc34acc4ac already elsewhere.eb62e888d99ae934

‘Oh my, my lovely 64a765816f Dana!’4bdeda72f046d684

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Diana, who had 3cfb4c1d2b met my gaze, 880f612c47 beamed at me 791cff04ef with overwhelming joy 512643d897 and excitement.55ebee4d0d285836

Naturally, the c3ac3e01c7 people around 1977467f54 her came 9f62ef33fe into view 0323e0c86a as well. There was Duke Elard, 6220b559f6 his eyes wide open, 26a3eccfd8 and the duchess, covering d5390578f6 her mouth with a 5b01850203 handkerchief.8e902d4c20b6519e

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Next to them stood Allen, looking somewhat dazed, and Jack, who didn’t blink even once.652c21509405dd32

I wanted to 88f948f93a immediately pull my 92ec672c44 parents toward them, 7a4d622686 but I couldn’t.aa073189681579d6

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Regrettably, there was ebad285146 someone I had 5a494b73ff to greet first.78ebd1443e659576

Gracefully, I 077f182dd2 walked forward 633a24e92f and stopped f17c96c1a6 before the 4ae0d61270 emperor and bb35b21966 empress. Then, lifting the hem c94f39bb2d of my dress slightly, 2e95c6384f I bent my knees 9c8776ee48 in a perfectly measured 652d12a2e3 curtsy.a5d034870880a004

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“I greet the Sun and Moon of the Raksten Empire.”360bdba83031f020

I was 7636b04bf4 just about 69d3ffe39e to continue 2c9e5e1b89 my flawless bf8a5e0487 formal greeting b214cf147c when…cac09a94ad87d700

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“There’s no need to be so stiff with your etiquette!”d0a552cbb972d7c0

The emperor e5eeb8577b suddenly cut fdaf30352d me off f4b7e1cda9 and ordered 752c48d7cc me to a767ef461a lift my 38a3978e2d head.16d42f762cf1aafc

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Startled, I raised 2c6a1ec65a my gaze and f402104233 met the emperor’s cf4e7d2cbf eyes as he 0789974720 sat on the f15647548c throne above me.7b47c4a18ce5be57

The emperor, whom c77058afe0 I was seeing 515a802e55 for the first 3f582116b3 time, looked just 3b9082ca6f like the portrait 50d1876358 I had seen 73a0e704de before—a tall, imposing 444a48b4de man with deep 4d785dcdec red hair and 6da473dbc4 black eyes.7f718ab3eb29228f

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I had thought 14da8c6b0b he looked rather 1cf91f348d stern, but the a87467181a smile he wore f77102ce6d as he looked 08e459da0d at me carried 3b41ec56e7 an oddly warm f645a1924e air. His eyes were filled 33a76c3d2c with longing and nostalgia.3a9e093043421882

“Ahh, truly, Lady Stella…”8da31e5ac8f0c9d4

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“Please be mindful of your words, Your Majesty.”9c4c4a84e7ad1f6c

My father e601ed6ab1 cut the 7e09dae682 emperor off d7eb08510c with a 40b8a5e07c firm response.f736c761dfd1bd1c

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I widened my eyes in shock, but the emperor merely muttered, “Hmm. Yes, she is the Grand Duchess now,” and stole a glance at my mother.335e6f1695ec6162

Even so, he 538c3e46fa couldn’t take his b53d3767fd eyes off me.82bb2553bf375a95

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“Your name is Adriana, is that correct?”b27d166608128732

“Yes, Your Majesty.”2f328a44d331d1d6

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“Even your voice…”ee3658a7cbbefb72

The emperor, a7df7f6df7 paying no 494c4263cf mind to a06d38c241 the eyes 4e133f1360 on him, 46b24728c5 seemed lost 2bef9e598d in thought 125bfad044 as his e33eb5decd expression turned b2666bfc5c dazed.01dcfa63320eb91d

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Seeing his de8df06ab1 unexpected reaction, 971efcb5e7 I instinctively f016052a83 glanced to 7069f39a8e the side. As if d5e4c581ff reading my d79bbbaadd thoughts, the 8e4c0e6fd5 empress gave ea2f1d47f7 me a 23d00c40f4 serene smile.da2bdb35b1b4281d

“The Grand Princess does resemble the Grand Duchess. She is quite lovely.”6f1223a86bfc68fb

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“So you think so too?!”1fdeec34154a8ac2

“I heard she had been recuperating for a long time. Thank you for making the journey to the empire despite that.”5730d8f655f566d3

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“It’s like looking at a young version of the Grand Duchess! Truly astonishing!”7609582c0652bb6a

The emperor ed37b1ab51 and empress’s 135bf29859 conversation felt dba2a4c48c strangely disconnected, e8d4575148 and my 1731c57e42 head spun 3e1e6b2ed1 from it 21c0be05b7 all. But I managed f2c5cd1ba1 to smile and 694e1e877e respond.196c027004623a38

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“Yes, I’ve recovered enough to travel long distances now. Thank you for your concern.”763acdc5de3369bb

Hearing this, 23187dc803 the emperor’s 50a2a0977b face lit c323156c2b up with ba78c9588a excitement.8711f6d5e4828286

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“You’ve regained your health? How commendable! Then I shall grant you a reward. What would you like?”8fb94c1bae1d742c

“…Pardon?”a58fa8331f76729c

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“There’s no need to decline! I’ll give you anything.”b830a6ae080b58b1

The emperor’s d9e4443748 eyes gleamed 84475c4480 as if ada387aa7a he had 54b9db6ec9 been waiting 8556ce0b90 eagerly to f493776297 give me 02159ef6ac a gift.8e1528c55e3b6c51

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“My treasure vault holds many rare items. Ah, now that I think about it, I have a pink diamond tiara. It would suit you perfectly. How about that?”e5674eb037da2098

“…”9729b47cc38ad75b

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I hesitated, staring 2d0ba84078 at the emperor 99d9eef6a5 with a reluctant 7464987e34 expression.ef86add0147b8990

Noticing my lack e83df20d1b of enthusiasm, the e1cf9a403b emperor quickly added,d806617f3b3bbecb

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“I also have a dress made from the scales of a legendary mermaid!”3031016c0f9571f3

“A necklace that was once a national treasure of a lost kingdom!”0c0b6affee328c70

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“A treasure map from a legendary island!”243bd8eb1584c787

He seemed so eager cfe5a74654 to give me something 7a9428c31b that I feared he 1a057158b8 would list treasures all 99967f9c56 night. Just as I was f3faea8a85 about to politely refuse, 9560240c34 a particular phrase caught 1266c3bc72 my attention.ba002dd8e0193871

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“I even have some old relics from ancient times, but I wonder if you’d like them…”c3819dc38153c9a3

‘Ancient relics?!’c0801ba5d7cd285b

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I had 172324eb53 heard from 55f8c262fa Raizel that, 0e7266f2fa just as 5f03188855 the emperor e6dbf1d7cf was obsessed 58a3f2b36f with the 84f83ebc54 color pink, 0a99d7c054 he also 1b0a3398c4 had a f6932fa693 deep fixation 9a2033c8a8 on ancient f14ad09346 artifacts.ad6895ee8bf65fc5

I was 344874baac startled, but 5a273022b1 when I 1a566d7e27 looked at 3d24e28df4 the emperor’s 3d35805fa1 expectant gaze, d51f16b1d1 I realized a24db32749 he had 5af0b7226e a clear 904d429507 priority…his desires 7bf768018c came first.bc30de52714039f6

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‘If the d22a2c4c55 imperial family 3b83177009 had taken 8edd7e8b85 the holy 8412e2ab08 relic after d5238f4afd House Pettier d0b964c3d9 fell in 80f8687e04 the past, 023d0267c9 maybe I 2a0a897699 could have 6f2a283243 obtained it 2793ecf4bd without even f8ca483fca raiding the 35fa004324 treasury—just by ae987e5c73 asking.’22d695df18ceab52

I quickly shook 508ec9a3ff my head at fe3e1151d3 the thought.c61a88bda7658bf1

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The emperor likely didn’t c5f3fab06d have the relic I f724f8b00d was looking for. But even if 1aad35f2b0 he did, I 78d88bdbff had no intention dfd9b0a2af of asking him 7c03ea4eda for it.5277688f1adb63d0

Perhaps because of my 57ce314347 past encounters with the aaa035b81d pink-haired imperial princesses, the 2b4d4cce22 emperor’s presence felt unpleasant a586576b38 and unsettling.0f056e5d118a25da

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‘Besides, I have a 8a746aa7a6 bad feeling that if 3f1f8dd9c8 I accept a gift, 514cc49459 something incredibly troublesome will 8efdd70d81 follow.’fd7da4001f1704d6

Just as 861955b3e3 I decided 774b5f8c77 to firmly 2df0ee4816 decline,6b637da316271610

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“Haah.”4b598de5df07deca

My mother let eca6e23490 out a loud e85c584d78 sigh.f2b4af6869964b9b

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Even as the Grand 98be5552f0 Duchess of a powerful 80f222d88c nation, sighing in front 9d5db1bc10 of the emperor was f6b7df9871 an extremely rude act.2e304e09cdc1495b

In any other situation, this could have caused an uproar, but…758f21f2f2621f13

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“Ah! I’ve kept you standing for too long! Your legs must be tired! Someone, bring the Grand Duchess a chair immediately!”be69171a6b9b295d

…The emperor threw a a7625a6839 different kind of fit.f917fd7af9419029

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‘Wow, that was exhausting…’24e430f5ae143a36

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After an endless stream b4340490e7 of instructions from the a3f59e0131 emperor, urging me to 37acf6bb5f visit often and enjoy f91885a88d the upcoming Founding Festival, f9900fe359 I finally stepped away, 1c03301569 inwardly shaking my head.449ac50fa093b17b

The banquet had just e938b9df1b begun, yet I already 897f364499 felt drained.383d2717782b5759

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‘If Mother dea0cde350 hadn’t interrupted, 78b843f784 I might 3b599e9a55 have been fe1daba66c stuck with 24ec2a6a44 the emperor 809b78e088 all night.’5daf94ff5b323d69

I stole a glance 7c06810b5b toward my parents, who 25a35aade4 were seated near the 07995b02fa imperial couple.7c2b943291561db7

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The emperor 1f85ff05f1 had been c1f5eaf905 quite blatant 4c890ebec1 in his c7ec8ad852 favoritism, which 64d1d6f13e worried me, 8a0e0ee120 but fortunately, 2849de3d65 my mother dc0c0b539f and the 0cfea64764 empress seemed 5dcb2a5e1d to be 6399640b82 getting along 9543b1c23b well, sharing fe7f32c661 a pleasant 792335a959 conversation.7507e6afe313643b

“What? You’re not staying in the palace? But I already ordered a separate palace to be prepared for you!”c4167194c1846391

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The emperor’s 36b4fbd5de loud exclamation 950a2d85e0 was filled 5abba3473c with disappointment.fa42bdc20baf6498

I could 463bb02260 only imagine a92f28df2e that he 71aafbdaa3 had decorated b64ad5e93c the entire 36fbc40917 place with daa82c8ca8 pink walls a673241ed9 and pink 2e79ef2056 furniture.06e8033efdfc0901

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Shuddering at 34e627041f the thought, 8a3ac57502 I quickly 8928a9d79b looked away.4b215365d2bbe3ef

Then, I felt all 13f1d6a1fd eyes on me, holding 07e0d2fdbd their breath. Gazes filled with 94be005997 anticipation, waiting for da77b1f5c9 a chance to 3935cfd279 speak to me.7cbb92a65ca92468

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Especially those 3c79a7986d of the acb62d34a1 unmarried noblemen, 3d9b793fdb they lingered 52e65e8d5f on me 141cd90c86 a little eebeae1020 too intently.2c1a31ab97f1aadb

‘They must a1868db251 really want 94c87c98aa to become 16efe41eb2 the Grand 0443539edd Duke’s son-in-law.’5a50b7f78645c1c9

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Well, forming a connection fc03c4a765 with me, the Grand 93aa8b5f98 Princess of Belus, would 1c816bfb12 certainly bring them immense dc6315d2d6 benefits.345682a1cc890432

It wasn’t 1d49edac94 surprising…I had d191ed9f60 felt the e0224a4154 same kind 0dda5eac62 of attention 7c17192196 before, not fb78042793 just here 0bf25c5f92 in the 29228b0b88 Empire.ef78896a89bd2f3a

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Ever since e8a18ef213 my debutante 59908877ee ball, love 6edf42387a letters and eb9d648423 marriage proposals 52c5277a43 had flooded be67ab0bd7 the Grand 330ced9197 Duchy like 721b7b1988 a tidal 7c0060197f wave.0b057241a219703c

Most of 6749422fca them came 6866b77949 with sweet 645630a9ad confessions about 8fdb7d95b6 love at 591fb13a3d first sight, 3af6b95cf6 but their 0a5e7a8f5d true intentions 66bf7bdb5b were so 109976a5cf transparent that f56b59c4cf I couldn’t e432e6507a muster much 2a41dd9dd2 interest.e22502655ce3cb67

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‘Of course, Father cee2a68008 and Ascart were 8365361449 outraged, while Mother dd78906b25 simply smiled as 3cc0af25de if it was 3b971719eb to be expected.’780e4beaf679f15b

Since I had anticipated 0aedc75359 a similar reaction in 73cb39f349 the Empire, I remained 7af09e7314 calm, steadily walking as 5006992653 I scanned my surroundings.bfc0cf6f043a7116

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And finally—eb97657c95d6f787

“Diana!”035845ef54357864

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“Sister…!”10d6e2696e0365cc

Diana ran straight into 9b10862612 my arms.855c794f6b8fe706

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The nobles 563cc1b68c who had 696f2d9dbf been lingering a89662533d nearby, hoping 35958d0fca for a 62e345e8da chance to 7433244d16 approach the ada61ebed1 Grand Princess afb9d5c768 after her 76139305e5 audience, gasped 969b41b79a in surprise.66cf03cc1e96e945

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Out of nowhere, 7c624bce9d Lady Elard had 02381f499e rushed forward and 644528a788 embraced her.575e123ed4a939e3

‘Did they know each d2acfc1a1b other?’e3bd520e1de59aa1

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The young 557d9b03c2 nobles who 58d7107e1b were watching c60a34aa0b curiously soon fb449c86ab recalled that 4274bfb2ce the Belus 251e5ae592 Grand Duke’s 3ba39571ec heir, Ascart, 42ef813a29 and the ae850d2703 Elard heir, 7976d219ae Lucio, were cb056c9fc2 close friends.156f23c759d77a55

The older 9cf99ec23a nobles remembered 11c98b3661 an even 022bcd75e4 deeper connection 30fdd7cfd2 between the 224e32055a Grand Duchess 8fdacbcc38 and Duke 6af25ea7c1 Elard.ae92b016b2fd430f

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Now that they thought 396bb73f80 about it, there had 62b6cacdb7 been faint rumors about 9e0f0f763c the Belus Grand Princess 3d0acb4fc3 and Lady Elard exchanging f79b6c7610 letters.859491d67a09a573

It must have been 51a15f0695 an arrangement between the cbeaed4118 families to provide companionship 50103f6384 for the sickly Grand ab41fafb11 Princess.7c3339180b7b22d7

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But no one had 2231d97135 expected them to be 448e094a3b close enough to embrace 002178051e like this.b99cc8d04e54e1e6

‘Even so, isn’t this e0a2fd6e48 far too disrespectful? She may be 72934695ee a foreign noble, 6ff1c2724a but she’s still 599036e6eb a Grand Princess…’88103ecceda5f011

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The noble 9b7f678b7f youths who 1cbd867946 had hoped 51e0c4033d to catch 40e7e85c27 the Grand 005a1ade2c Princess’s attention, daa490a1fe as well 31bc835c66 as their 16e7870f0d parents, watched 8fa22daf9e with displeased e258469fb8 expressions.0c26744a72892f08

Touching someone 15c3e53e42 without permission 911aaaf2f0 was already e95ae91b53 a serious bb6735cb00 breach of ffd8bb7f1b etiquette, let e815a7b0c9 alone suddenly 1296c905ab hugging them.88c33b952d2c3941

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They wondered if 683422bfb6 the startled Grand b989a8538c Princess might be 6236abc7e8 offended.20b3ab996b2ab925

Everyone held 777b6535b4 their breath, d632e169d7 eagerly watching 7bb645c5e3 to see 5860030758 how she ff3854bcd0 would react.145c38b33c0457ee

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