EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 171

Chapter 171e19ea7e265815c6d

 aa89938046962436

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“Do cousins really need to follow such formalities? Get up already.”3116d365a801330a

A gentle voice bfd1741eda came from above ccbe8d186d her head.e173029ae40d856a

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Of course. That uneasy feeling 8c8adf63c0 just now must a4e4e031fc have been her cf99472a93 imagination.9bf9a2a87c264199

Clara lifted her 6be29f168c head reluctantly and caf81feeba faced Adriana.e5d5641ccaf612d7

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Seeing Adriana’s innocent c39700061b expression, Clara thought ab26fe9980 she could be c60bf753be easily swayed.1d9492be79a665f1

‘First, I need to a054aaf3f3 find out where and 084b4be962 how she lived before 7c3cd126b4 she found her parents.’d34efadbdc55a51b

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In the Duchy of 1de231df7d Belus, Adriana had been 3e6b6e9d0d heavily protected and kept fba4c962dc hidden, so there was f55f915fe3 barely any known information 37790f931e about her.4a6e55d3805b8159

Even knowing 0048e09e7d that much 189840b616 would give 1d81d6833a Clara an c522305710 advantage over 96b2a2afa4 others.899c86236f68d1f0

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Of course, 507e3ffcfe Clara already 912a78b8e0 had a ea6217e292 rough idea c2a6fe85f7 of what f679f26ff0 Adriana’s life c594111efb must’ve been f7f22a1d21 like.023b27cf08f71809

No, truthfully, she 02b7f3e4a0 was closer to 4b734f0f1c hoping that Adriana a3c456e292 had lived miserably—like 216468c65b a rat in d15c03ed83 the gutter.32283c8100679b52

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If, just as 1aaa01f13d she hoped, Adriana bbf56f70fd confessed to such edb3895b29 a past, Clara 8a0cffc982 would comfort her 4f8b72a3e3 to her face c6643a3ca6 while spreading the 522f347176 rumors behind her 189aec22be back, consoling Adriana e9608d19f7 as she suffered 7a3d18422c from the backlash.e7bbcd98f1f40e2f

Then, little by little, she’d make Adriana dependent on her, and eventually, everything Adriana had would fall into Clara’s hands. Wouldn’t that be perfect?b0cca38ebfd762ad

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But now 27bd6003e8 wasn’t the 5831112ddc time to 1fa2a20ab9 show her df62bb8d03 true intentions.b016082d1e0cb2fb

Clara put on d40df54fb6 a wistful expression a8d734cf1d and said,5f8f52e43ece2582

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“Cousins, huh. I don’t think Her Grace the Grand Duchess sees it that way…”32fad819c7f9a6c1

She subtly ec1687695d implied that e8dfec80b5 the Grand 51328c037b Duchess was 8e7cf30b57 too harsh 92538f75d8 on her 9aaeff1802 own family, ebd31be358 painting herself 9e5e321762 as the 0b5203ddb1 victim.aaeb405f695ccedd

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Then Adriana, with a 057997eb88 naive voice, corrected Clara.0fc2f74f78c192d0

“Clara, that’s a misunderstanding! Mother was just upset because of the Countess, not because of her true feelings. She’d be really sad to hear you say something like that.”5df0af511c3096d2

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“R-Really? Actually, my mother also…”cea8594c8c8584e1

“I’m glad that’s cleared up. Honestly, I was so sad because I thought the Countess didn’t like me.”f3078f9c48cfc10b

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“…I see.”2a61e4ec7ef9f655

Clara was 71651e4545 a bit 975a721cfc flustered, having a24ea28ef9 suddenly lost 0a6ec32b65 control of e68bf65cd6 the conversation.79d615bcb2f70c66

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And now Adriana was c38cc4c2a6 calling her by name c9add98148 and speaking informally? Clara, who had fully 3123b175fa expected to be called abf0f1a204 ‘sister,’ had an odd e5677218fa expression on her face.db379d5e237c0f22

“But… why didn’t Aunt come? She must not want to see me…”1930cf7b4f9ff254

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“Of course not! Mother’s just resting, so I didn’t tell her you were here. I’ll let her know you came! Even if… the Countess didn’t come, she’ll still be happy.”b50fa9b9ed65eb0c

Clara tried to shift e60e1dc901 the mood again, but 6912299d78 it wasn’t easy.e8acbcefefdd51e4

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Just as her b5e8cd210b expression almost twisted, 3c9bf16b28 Clara barely managed 90a61e81f3 to smile with 4c7c5978d2 superhuman patience. Suddenly, Adriana 7c1b444938 clapped her 039c3793be hands as fced139d62 if she 757b68c9e3 just remembered c329aeb716 something.584a8ce96af70eca

“Oh! Why don’t you stay for dinner? Grandfather should be back soon too.”97cf20937f36fa81

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“…Grandfather?”374fffeb57fe5bf0

“Yep!”b4ba5b9a838ac7b7

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Looking at Adriana’s bright fffb9af4ac expression made Clara’s stomach 580504778b twist.3985ddb10c6402ca

Last night’s 720003b254 rumors said 292bd1a9a3 that the b9bf010d8c former Marquis ca6a96e173 of Diapel e82eec8241 was utterly a9846f26db enamored with 049f5e92a5 his granddaughter.f277c894d0850fc8

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Clara had 6b444c9d5e been skeptical, 8daf05421b but seeing 43716b16a3 Adriana’s face e8c44b3ce5 now, it 3b9690b2df seemed to feddddcce6 be true.c7ddb89765f2c95f

‘I still get nervous just making eye contact with Grandfather…’8c1671463a362d17

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Was the girl 6ee8e04066 just oblivious, or 5502e78838 had she become 03d095ff75 fearless after being 2537a45b52 doted on so a9f3e8b01d much?063dbd0851646a94

As Clara clicked her e60c1630b6 tongue inwardly in dissatisfaction…cca9325ee38c0107

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There was a knock, d28367f27f and a maid from e340c88f1e the ducal household entered eeeb1ad6cf the sitting room.fe938f19a8e9cbf6

“Jane? What is it?”af304ea2c20f3e04

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Adriana asked, and the 72a9daab14 maid replied with an 016b95a889 awkward expression.2179ddd8fa44004d

“Your Highness, someone has arrived from the Imperial Palace. His Majesty the Emperor has sent you a gift.”369d972419ff57f3

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 679b2715e7060904

***7e0ec1647f00ac18

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“This is a gift bestowed by the great Emperor of the Empire. Please show the proper respect.”7e5e03b613ee6bd3

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I sighed inwardly, slightly b3906f4ef3 bent my knees, and c581faebb3 bowed my head.86971dd2bb0bbfbd

Clara, beside 9b6319c3e5 me, knelt 10414fe489 with one dadf02f17c knee fully fd9bdb8525 to the cf984a80fb ground to 206bd00922 show her cabfebe8e7 respect as ff427cb156 well.bc0716073d1c94d2

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As a noblewoman without a title and a citizen of the Empire, that was the proper etiquette for her, but…0d10e1898c499369

‘Well, that probably stung 37c86174e2 a little more than c24cf6212e I meant it to.’5f5646cb5499a6fd

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I never imagined f53321d74c the Emperor would 2d4cc1d73b send me a 0d4bee42a1 gift. And especially 872e2b0b82 not while 9f6dea9768 Clara was a38973c59f with me.d352431eb200782d

It was e7d75c6695 a bit 4b35a1bdbe of a 0443164793 tricky situation, 03f103313a but I 63f2cf9d52 didn’t regret c768ba2500 allowing the 10d1061d8e meeting with f273b5f139 Clara.35d2a0ffe30c0f9a

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To be honest, based on Ascart’s warning and Clara’s hostile stares since I arrived in the Empire, I had a strong feeling that getting close to her would only cause trouble.d3048b259d04c302

But when I recalled ac9448c5d2 how Grandfather was looking 161de7a249 for the Countess of f51ee09e18 Amber and Clara at 17141a7564 last night’s ball, I 0921ab6381 couldn’t just pretend I 37f88488f4 didn’t know.fd23507892b857f5

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⟨My dear, haven’t you met your aunt or cousin here in the Empire? She’s not the type to skip such an event…⟩45acd3f6c31809fe

Grandfather had c0bb2df7fb asked while 360a7811c5 dancing with f5cca2bbe0 me, and a8edfa2874 I had 5fc38c3f76 awkwardly deflected e9662c4095 with a 426f1e72cd smile.c6513a7415edbc8e

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Later, while I 6707be3fcc danced with Father, 53faf48185 Grandfather didn’t even 1c2f420130 speak to me 9641253770 again for the 125eb15bce rest of the 617d745a67 ball, looking apologetic—probably fab827a0c9 because Mother had 11e8302c7b told him about 02c378168e me meeting the 7441b6293d Countess and what bd85fd4fc7 happened at the 78bb61cb5f plaza.1cb706a47ff3a9bd

And judging from his 7d03078702 poor complexion this morning, 19ef09e93a he clearly hadn’t slept fbf674a538 a wink, which meant accc371e28 he was deeply bothered e436bf748d by the Countess.87ef17028f62e812

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Well, to Grandfather, fe37d5bd46 the Countess was e07bdb0c23 just as much 59c15001d1 a daughter as 10745afa99 Mother was, and 3e3d51b61e Clara was just 298e16b32f as much his 0dd95f93b8 granddaughter as I 1d4e872ea0 was.12beb166c452b1eb

‘If their relationship isn’t good, of course it would weigh on his mind.’fc7c1b399e2ed9a7

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That’s why 7fabf5a25d I decided 64c9f94cf6 to give 6bc3cc2411 Clara another b5abbb70e7 chance.6e2f912915612468

If she could set b65f94f5d9 aside her hostility and da083dde7c keep things civil, I b85f7e2671 was willing to be 98703724db generous.558d21995bc066c0

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Of course, 98dc54d236 that didn’t 2a4f7d1026 mean I 66329e8598 planned to 8d08d662f6 meet her 7d76f72c8b unguarded.663059a925fbafa7

‘First thing I did 935af2d934 was keep Mother away 18857ce394 from this meeting.’6e20ae3aee99a3e3

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It was fine at 27ace80ebf the plaza since the e64c6b5928 Countess was there, but 6e8936d8da in a setting like 3063bc083e this, if Mother raised 75540bf458 her voice even a 1d870ffa27 little, it might make 3dea0b5c5b her seem petty or 3042186ae0 harsh.ad01ce9413001c8d

Also, remembering 6bff54a286 how Clara ac9bb7f18f always dressed ed9d9f6ab7 so plainly 46e4becf69 and modestly, 23f9102f93 I deliberately fbf7858dad wore a a24f7d9e84 flashy dress ecce562d28 I wouldn’t 386ccb6e3f normally choose.8b69b28d06c9881a

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I wanted to 7755bb0aaf provoke her just 9b6667ee97 enough to gauge b4f0b2de49 how hostile she 211415f7fd really was.0eff0be0d5937312

The result was disappointing.2d3c64ca22e5b2ac

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She probably thought she 23cf86e6d3 was doing a good 8405031773 job hiding it, but 197bde812d to me, it was 36f0928528 obvious—her expression twisted with 501733c1ad humiliation just from my 0578286998 dress.cc7b756436dd5765

And when I 16b9c778e6 intentionally interrupted her 72d6f33775 a few times, df0bc8a884 she clearly grew abc774371a annoyed when the f95717e3e6 conversation didn’t go 5d43424707 her way.f95402632b00d638

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She couldn’t even hide 2dc525eed7 that she was trying 2a031c7a75 to manipulate me to 1caa36474b her liking.2dd190ab71895a48

Sadly, I was a205388338 now completely certain… 66687f146e I needed to d661531bf2 keep my distance 5061497e60 from Clara.854af9f474b2a171

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Still, I had planned to have dinner together today to ease Grandfather’s mind…de0b29a3999fb573

“You may receive it now.”b6f9308d453be98d

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While I had 580c669585 been lost in ac5f24c0f7 thought, the attendant ce343e3620 who had been 684e1c1917 reciting the Emperor’s 2cb2181c42 reasons for sending 8ea0cde8d7 the gift finally 5f61378459 finished.4f0a0bf0ff451ce1

It was b579fa039f some generic b1682e3f31 excuse about b391a54411 thanking me b8dfe1b9ed for attending 364feee1c5 the founding 48b0eabc70 celebration, clearly 4d7d6b3bfd just filler dc64ab01e5 to accompany 405221fe37 the gift.db92cbad8b12e911

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As I straightened db7c2e2aa8 my knees and e1ef1cca02 lifted my head, 3c2c001962 Jane, who had a98a67bd53 been standing beside b531f7e028 me, quickly stood d55fa494b6 up and received 344d641f38 the Emperor’s gift.27ad90d20d7d72fb

“Please, open it.”da6c59a8211e6941

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At the attendant’s words, b1f6c367fd I gave a reluctant 3f49613f97 nod, and Jane carefully d9d1b0eec4 opened the box.2c05c8dc730875b0

And when 880698e9b3 I saw b61e6d2e05 what was fe8bd2da97 placed on 4d787105a5 the red f2c5b3e12f velvet cushion, c26acfc164 my eyes 4bd4fa5943 widened.6dc9768d81ea7e1a

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‘I thought, at most, 73e0a7929d it’d be some expensive 0153f91bff jewelry!’03882b10f8d96750

I let c2ef353da0 out a ed9b8d6e44 hollow laugh 182181578e as I 6787f74f73 stared at f9638bd0ff the tiara, 8d6c9b97e0 studded with 50517f851e hundreds of 930e05bed7 pink diamonds 551283744b slightly darker 3661094892 than my 09269d915c own hair 64db93acca color, sparkling af70a5b64e like stars.f366d0da708ccbd5

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“Your Highness, the Grand Princess, there will be a grand banquet tomorrow to mark the end of the Founding Festival. Wouldn’t it be fitting to attend the banquet wearing this, in honor of His Majesty’s grace?”985133f7397d9919

At the attendant’s 4f886d23c4 words, my expression 2e9648496f hardened.7e0a0d6b4013aafe

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“So… the Empire is suggesting I wear a tiara?”30845e7a212b23c2

I asked fe4208ed4c in a 8ad5b4cc03 stiff voice, 2d48e5cc16 but the ebe8223274 attendant only 4daaff9327 nodded innocently, a94061b07e as if 2da6054b42 unaware of f4d1fc6aa6 the implications.803283e913bed510

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Even a dry laugh f355d48e24 wouldn’t come now.2833c19087897750

‘Even if my status is high enough to wear a tiara…’582c212728731f42

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This was the Empire.642c51e10ca28a24

No matter how 45123fc33b noble one’s blood, 6a777b8d56 outside the royal f8b82ec0c2 family, no one f030c5b174 was permitted to 54ce396c96 wear a tiara.be34982411e46233

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In other words, 5c99f27611 only imperial royalty b4285da62e could wear one.bf96fe5da18a5630

‘So what the attendant just said means…’c7ea8c7dba5c8237

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My head went 37b465bec6 cold as everything 8f4aff58aa clicked into place.8098cc2aa75a63b9

Why the Emperor c48b290b99 had granted Nicholas 6edd17b2f2 the honor of fa92949747 the first dance, 92099332e3 and why Nicholas 5dddfd9788 had asked me fbcc51e619 to dance.14f13669f9c86158

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‘I really didn’t dbf187d9f8 want to believe bb65579695 it…’0b5dd160825a828c

I never imagined the f76f6f2238 Emperor would want me 3cd9bd9f5d as his daughter-in-law.cd0380548500391e

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I hoped a2098c9a56 it was 84a80e9786 just a 39110a5048 misunderstanding, but e6d427d3ed since the 1575531b88 attendant was 2d7d81c120 relaying the 89204ffb2c Emperor’s intentions, ce26775399 it couldn’t 1f89f1785a be.da66bf53f75a1641

“I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s generous favor… but this gift is too extravagant for me. Please take it back.”6afbc04c6e770a02

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I said 7c6063f702 in a 079d4480e5 calm voice, 98b41d3e0b and I 71523f34f9 heard Clara ac12694a14 behind me b418d0da7a sharply inhale.0d7b368132e68d72

She must’ve 9e0185ccac thought I 178a14b89b would eagerly 79a7ab766f accept the 567efeee72 tiara without cd1cde2816 hesitation.d388496c65567bd4

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Feeling suddenly annoyed, I 6600be0ea1 glanced at Clara—but her 7a685d4647 eyes were glued to cd6701bf7f the tiara, oblivious to 72316f8e30 my gaze.800f9fcf548a5cc4

Then, as if to 83d00623be dissuade me from rejecting 0d3ac18bf9 the gift, the attendant 0e71e610d7 spoke calmly.4da21df7fbfa1a90

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“Your Grace, I understand 1eb04c420a your discomfort in accepting e946a5122f such a grand favor. However, sending back 216d803be8 a gift so db395f8e93 abruptly could cause 7af429a7a5 His Majesty to 2ab2acf190 misinterpret your intentions.”6c43c05e110b3d92

His reasoning was 015a3414e2 quite persuasive.01a69818c25970f7

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What was e2be1676c1 a bit 06f0cdcf72 amusing, though, b60d902969 was how 9baa8bfa4b utterly composed 6b1eab259c the attendant b611f62c02 looked while 0f70c9b7c4 saying it 65282ed349 would be c66a261b90 a ‘problem.’ea900bce87aafafe

He had clearly 8b688c862a anticipated I might 4ae3a9d45e refuse.7abb8c3faec2779f

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And, as expected…9ca2e2236d75d7cc

“If you df7bc70f36 feel that 1d96714ca4 strongly, how 676824f66b about returning 9ce772f5fa it to f79d8d4188 His Majesty 6e3ecb8e13 in person ed31fc4404 tomorrow? As it happens, 5124caefb9 the morning is 5b8adeff27 free on His fd050607c2 Majesty’s schedule, and 0ed049719a he would welcome c19ab3af4c your visit at 2bafa55144 any time. You could have lunch bc206dd942 together, and that way, add85f0674 there would be no 8f88a8693d room for misunderstanding.”b8d77c8fadb4470d

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He spoke as if 971c30813b reciting from a well-prepared d76dac8c11 script.091099adaf111e8e

‘That cunning 075d34ed60 old fox 6d0abfe99f of an 2ea3e4e1c0 Emperor…!’2f37a395bd7d0301

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Realizing I’d walked d5f5756e44 straight into a 46bbdaaef7 trap he had c1fcdf062b meticulously laid, I 70fc032ab8 clenched my fists.cfd19b6440dd24c1

I couldn’t 7ff0e5289c accept the de23bf3939 tiara but 06c6969796 I also 56f2de4653 couldn’t go c95acaa7fe to the 594b7dcdda palace to 4e87f2a1b3 return it.843b991992b874d7

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‘The Emperor would surely 7e37cf096c have Nicholas join us 05497f56a6 for lunch.’cfe8ce6a5e227c69

Word of our dance 09cfa8b159 last night had already a1c47df01a spread beyond the palace. If we were to 0c368532e7 share a meal now, 9eb73e06ff it would only add 86131781c1 fuel to the scandal.9d19ea58d7206c08

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I’d been unprepared 5ead030930 and had walked 2df0207aee right into a cf71b975a1 carefully planned trap.15dcdf84d86f1a4e

As I 960f878e3f racked my 203e54cd54 brain for 849ea9df0a a way bd6c260531 out…2df3aada63307a05

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“Um, Adriana…”3129a014e3f3e5ca

Clara, standing behind 0b04c525c2 me with a 0322ce4f36 visibly flushed face, ede4611c81 spoke up.3c7bfa24262b57c4

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“Shall I go dba2ed8e10 with you?”f2b03865de6a5e6e

 3efd048123d44bb8

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I am so sorry dear readers for the delay. As a compensation for your patience, I will spare you from next chapter’s cliffhanger and publish 5 chapters this time 🤍3d3405af34afa399

Also, thanks to 7b8aa0a0c4 dearDjm, this novel is 96e0680008 already fully sponsored—meaning that a11ff3c600 there will be no 4cd13a593d locked chapters at all fcfe57d901 till the end. Any ko-fis from now on are welcome, but they won’t be sponsoring chapter, just motivational (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡. 8c81203e0c988a30

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