EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 176

Chapter 1760a95811ca379d7eb

 c7cdfe51decc2eeb

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As if drawn by 53e2e05033 something, my head turned.38ad9f2bf3ead19f

In one 0fc8b1f1da corner, I 6d45fb2601 saw an ea301ac53e old object ec9707a80c about the ce1b773a58 size of fdaeeadf52 a palm.5d6713d6a3ed31e6

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Its center 49155df19d was slightly 202eaa8b9b concave, and 11ca03e8b3 its round 3b1fdf3f87 shape made 95e815cb37 it resemble 7b65b388ac a compass 7b872727ca at first cc984e70fe glance, but 3b55bc12c9 since it caf3c36887 lacked a 148d0dfac9 needle, its 5816f4f508 exact purpose 5d547ba291 was unclear.00a4d13b07392f2a

Yet, I 6b9cfce735 could feel b3ba4b76e6 a tremendous 015bac9399 magical power b14d5c453f radiating from c5ba9e50a2 it.3f0cd92e00134473

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The moment I 24c66abe24 became aware of c0401688e9 it, the stench 2108c11079 of blood pierced 219241f132 my nose.1b576ccadeeac225

Only then did ff7c53b5eb I realize what 39fa03ddcb that object was.67f05de5a698bc2c

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‘A relic 9fbf63c094 of the e7c28e76d7 demon!’98da303d0e8949b1

The unexpected realization made 8a9aee1bce my breath catch in 49bbe2ebc7 my throat.e6f71a9dd312e099

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I already knew the ea77b103e3 Emperor possessed a demonic 8773785e92 relic.c1b13c92645c0af0

But that I would recognize it…d1801168f58fce01

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“Adriana…?”ec288475da433520

At that moment, Clara, af14127ad7 who had been following b519662fc2 the Emperor, called my fe77f7ee4e name.ed1651d5e963f82b

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The Emperor, who cc20491a0f had been leading 01d4c439a6 the way, also d8d5267d6a noticed I had 1fc814e16b stopped. Tilting his head in 2c3fe562fe confusion, he followed my c7f777f50a gaze—then, startled, he exclaimed:015234d22f45e28d

“We’d best leave this place now.”7d60566ed30d1d14

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His tone was different from the calm demeanor he’d shown me until now.28280185f91deb5a

There was something b1e21477f6 hurried in his fbf5fa793b attempt to conceal 8a9221fd45 something, and it a558ce2544 left me with 8f965fef8d a strange, uneasy 549de16cae feeling as I 084088d92c slowly began to 8b25620ce8 walk again.0200c8a230f36da9

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 8b0aa26b47e90e69

***dfe22a7b14e435f8

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 4f6887739c0d1e5f

Meanwhile, at that very moment…c37b01782da52cb2

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Upon hearing the news that the Grand Princess of Belus was having an audience with the Emperor, another uproar broke out in the Princess’s palace.77aa04eabcf97f51

It hadn’t been 9349e92094 long since the 4338e44994 chaos that followed 2c3ded7650 the ball on 024ca3db22 the first night 2b2020f39f of the founding 068bdf192c festival had calmed, 1a7ab47486 and now, without 98546755c9 a moment’s rest, 712cc812a1 the Princess was 730c72e980 throwing another hysterical a333674554 fit. The maids 8c348ae85b anxiously watched a179c72c72 the door 041c7336e5 to her 4ad3bf005e bedroom.f30b4beb0a8ca032

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Crash!39f159e6e897fd6e

Another sound of 8d352616d8 something shattering to 2d0893f3cd pieces came from f83564d5e4 inside.f2096fa3995a0761

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“Sh-shouldn’t someone go in and stop her…?”edb889b41ec89898

A maid who 22d338c633 hadn’t been assigned 4c4bd0fc89 to the palace 803cd74ccc for long asked acea52d995 in a frightened 46dd34e84e voice.14ee89479d7ff905

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The other maids stared dda2ee3374 at her with cold c1aad2675a eyes.3668ff1f61c53086

They were clearly 8ef020e21f thinking, ‘You go 052e50b11a in there if 094faaf702 you’re so brave, 055ff4e122 none of us 4172847c10 are getting torn 17a7c749f5 apart today.’f7b398ffe9fd2cb3

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And their 1e695d84b4 judgment was b162a95b39 spot on.45488c0a6c199d12

“Aaaah!”73e056d552478555

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Serphin, panting heavily, looked a786719a69 around her wrecked room 9e9dfc91d4 for something else to 401dbd5385 throw. Unable to 7fa833f4b7 hold back 0a10e6dede her rage, 12c3cc5591 she screamed.06f809e244fe2f62

She felt like 6532ff54a6 she was going 4d02965413 mad.85f80f11da5e299d

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No matter fbb8941fdb how much bca6afa6e9 she drank, 365f34bc5b she couldn’t 5374a94949 get Lucio’s 4fbf3555c4 face looking a48440af5e at the ae291da71d Grand Princess c8891fc636 out of 74db3afcbe her mind.b9e9fc5e357c36c2

A beautiful man, yet d33dd42ea7 cold and distant.42b02ecd75f4f527

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The Lucio she knew 5e26c3d916 was someone who would f3aca0dfb3 never accept anyone else 2bb6ee89f2 into his heart.e2713861675329a8

But the Lucio 0415832db3 she saw that 3197c361ce day wasn’t the 02401d491e cold, unreadable man a6617e7153 she remembered.894ab19ecee96c29

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The affection in 0fb1c5a9d4 his blue eyes, f9ed6962b8 the gentle smile daf3594475 tugging at his 19a3ec2e1a lips, it was 0b8f12c300 all unbearably sweet.db168f0a784a478b

The moment she 88bbb036be saw that face—one cb8378c456 she had never b47c51606c seen before—rage surged 86fd310754 inside her, uncontrollable.0962343bf2736a1b

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She wanted to slap 2c7765b74b the Grand Princess across a698161f16 her sickeningly pink-haired face.9847a6d73cf95823

But Serphin hid 613086cafd her twisted anger 35e222ba6e when confronting her.85ec3e897f5d9127

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She wasn’t 7e7fc3cf70 foolish enough 07382d16f0 to lash b55e32e63a out at ad3a4eb3ff someone untouchable.0b4efe948e89c9c9

However…9c31705b4fa9283b

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⟨For this 165b920f7b year’s Honored 96d09ea8f8 Dance, I 6265685da1 choose Nicholas. You’ve worked hard this 47b1cd1e2b year.⟩ab3ad0f10cf5e3c5

⟨May I request a12f06d239 the Honored Dance 2026e8a044 with the Grand b46707cf0f Princess?⟩d15f74a92b781e48

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The moment the Emperor af341ecdd2 bestowed the Honored Dance 646c5e6ca5 on Nicholas, Serphin sensed 39c9a7a197 something was going wrong.dcd97f6b72075bea

And when she ade298001d heard the Emperor c60fa9ec71 had gifted a 8f7c2668e9 tiara to the e13bc08a06 Grand Princess, she dc0ee044b6 immediately understood his a5dfba433d intentions.cb02746a3971547a

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“I always said he was mad—but to think he was this far gone…”d424eac2e04a9317

Serphin cursed her 2f370c0ed9 father, the Emperor, 61b99f24d2 under her breath, e5a83c2d02 clenching her teeth.9690324ee1406341

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Her mother, who had 50f16a207b no love or expectations 569d4f9965 for her husband, didn’t ecfba602fe care if he took 6df0da00a1 a pink-haired woman or cd96f47602 had an illegitimate child.fee60c6a05e098e1

But Serphin was different.62308ef5c9c27b55

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“He doesn’t care about his own daughter, but gifts a tiara to someone else?”eb64ab484e2a06a1

It was 09e7ca2e81 beyond frustrating, 0ff99d2de3 it was 8caa019e4f outrageous.468ef10a1767f3bc

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“Is he trying to put that woman in the Empress’s seat in place of the late Duchess?”84dc0e9bebbdeac9

She had 292efedcf1 already been b0623c945a displeased with c7c372047f the Emperor 02480fc942 involving Nicholas 1d0982cacd more in 8546dc2707 state affairs, 4522ce62d1 but now d73f8b61f8 this?c1a1c63d664c8208

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Serphin’s eyes 9fea87035b burned red 85519a8733 at the b3a1f61ea5 thought that 32dc682d44 she might 7f97e480ac lose the 573db58dc6 throne she da70d2eeb6 believed was 6a5082a118 rightfully hers.3b2c3ae375566f4f

But…0ffd852ee82c9a66

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“Lucio. Lucio Elard.”126d7ec76cf65cff

Serphin trembled.3d15cf033ef46166

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The fact that he cf04909784 loved the Grand Princess—that, 240be08e35 above all else, was 306f19d2ad what truly drove her 6e6a7a392a insane.92b6acc9457a30ec

She hated bbf1af25b8 the idea 671c691f68 of the 2d4962d10c Grand Princess 0250c7a011 marrying Nicholas daf4898edd and stealing 87f8d3679b the throne.5e3efcc3a7d5d008

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But more than f4d5f36770 that, she couldn’t bd8e979aa7 bear to lose 6b616309a6 Lucio.378f2a53d7fb4600

She wanted both.39b46c10689cf98c

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She wanted them both 3b658b740a so badly it hurt.eb814e51b0496e5c

“Aaaah!”9db4920d62394aaa

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Faced with f9ce281665 an impossible cba20fa089 dilemma and aeb9cd7203 emotions that 6127f56e6e wouldn’t calm, 9a6b2b5895 Serphin screamed dae4745234 once more.2269110fe1007005

 659226c3b8dc71e1

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***2d7426302c3cc9bf

 9af6bf9f5d3f7334

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Meanwhile…c8ac09fcd012ad83

Nicholas appeared ef8f59b3ed at the d52e8d243e luncheon at 77bfbdfb67 the exact 9ce9663811 time the 4d83e06b28 Emperor had 0fd20fa162 hinted at e402fd8dfb beforehand.f4aa21358aed5f3c

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Throughout the meal, he d48908790c kept stealing glances at 2e26553638 the Grand Princess sitting 13db78d429 across from him.b0a0314a9c5654c6

He had known a8fd272417 Lucio for a 686a029d45 long time, but 22c57f1c4d had never once bd218adcd8 seen him reveal f18520c78c his true feelings.2b53405cd80f14cf

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But just earlier, Lucio 0b1ec21bd6 had unexpectedly spoken candidly, a458dbd82e and Nicholas couldn’t help e9f3c505ef but smile and feel 6aa94b5437 flustered.204353c0f5b2b9ca

Yet, at the 4ec4ee128c same time, he 8a8d528bd2 felt confused.84b9b21e322a4d08

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He wasn’t sure 8a323ae303 whether Lucio had bcd49f9ac0 meant the Grand f2401af004 Princess when he 16d4b9c070 said ‘my person,’ aaea07562d or if he 2ef67c271d had meant Lady 94fa30b943 Elard.c600f95f0f5bf381

‘The Grand Princess seems e051bf1f27 like the obvious answer… 95cdcc44af but didn’t he also 6a73d8d170 say I should choose ba73d74639 my partner freely?’c032c8c27348f541

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Unable to shake the ed077d780a feeling that Lucio may 977fd0e3df have guessed his intentions, be19696b7a Nicholas found himself too 4fe0e4f2d3 nervous to ask who 05c53c9973 he meant—and simply nodded 8c43d68f7e without thinking.6d3525cabbadad6d

“Hoho, Nicholas. If you keep staring like that, the Grand Princess won’t be able to eat properly, you know?”5af472daa594700b

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The Emperor c644a1e5be laughed heartily 0e34104e9d from the b0471c60f9 head of 9835f19323 the table.843aec5c49d74109

Startled, Nicholas quickly 12ec630f06 turned his head.136a9fd14e7158b2

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He had zoned 30b2335bb3 out and ended 8cb75c37db up staring at b4cca7499e her far too 0a9132ac0b intensely.ddf69417ce983b5b

As his face d186af37f5 flushed with embarrassment, 96094da8dc the Emperor laughed 5a47614bec even louder.387e48bf7ea7e510

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“Ah, youth!”17da5ba03bb98937

Nicholas made a8343bf5c7 a bitter 1546123b5d face, then 24d6620e59 glanced back ad3f2b3484 at the cbfeccc229 Grand Princess 68407f560d like he 65f13f8b34 was gauging 32e7e5390a her reaction.ad942fda40fa0d5f

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‘Her name was Adriana, 10c347307e right?’3cb2e91e69c3419b

Thinking she ed08af9c81 might be 1122cf76db Lucio’s special 9b3f30b5df someone made 18cfcd06df her appear ce86e758d2 different to 1ba332582f him.d3abd21b13953148

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‘Before, she just 20c5b265e2 seemed soft.’fe03205ae3899949

But now, 74b6283211 she exuded 2772ea27a8 a cool, 10ec74d43a distant aura—despite 8e05b7d15d her gentle 02cbfc4bee appearance, she c8fd4f415a didn’t seem d7ba057366 easy to 0fb3af69cf approach.c6c461817fd3ef1d

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Seeing Lia avoid his ce10040bd6 eyes, Nicholas suddenly regretted 58127ff429 asking her to dance 0d57fa265d five times at the 35beaf638e ball.22bdd65c9be54207

Tsk, tsk.5ccfab9f8663da94

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The Emperor clicked his 144125341d tongue silently as he 4307f15ddf watched Nicholas, feeling pity.7fd55d6a8088275f

He assumed a1d50c1042 Nicholas was 5a4360c122 sulking because 6a599ae37e Adriana wasn’t 740cfebc18 showing interest 6a674d0eff in him.5a0486225ae3e45d

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‘He’s a man. He should 163ffb4d27 speak up 4cce517fef instead of 85a34d72fe just staring 0fcbddf4b1 and brooding 1133f1380a like that.’79a02deba05aa0eb

But time passed, and bcae92478c soon the luncheon was e7cd826b7c coming to an end.173986e9be5293e0

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Judging the a9ee73a3be mood, the 9c3664846e Emperor opened 3fef90e0bc his mouth 2ca7731536 naturally.4bd707759d3bacd4

“Are you all heading to the finals of the swordsmanship tournament?”2ceb71ee09f501e5

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”8731a9c93199f472

“Ah! Perfect. I plan to go straight to the arena as well. Since we all came by royal carriage, we can…”66cb83dd49ba18c0

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“Your Majesty, forgive me for interrupting but I’ve already arranged for a carriage, so there’s no need to trouble yourself.”d0ffd3012e4b81f2

Lia’s polite 1854bc2bf6 refusal made 457d24a68f the Emperor’s 5ddc71ac22 face stiffen 646a3a0f46 awkwardly.b25fb70c939bd075

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“Adriana, I wasn’t informed of this…”83033e46726422d9

Clara, flustered, 3abb4dce78 quickly added 8158338efc that she 988c010e96 hadn’t heard 948cf20406 anything either. Lia nodded and cc8f7327c3 said,2b3739b5bf63413d

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“There should be two carriages from the marquis’ house waiting at the palace. Take one of them ahead.”2a26966939922315

“What? Alone?”9c2cb4ac23e210aa

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Leaving the stunned f8d19c8019 Clara behind, Lia 02fbf22e04 turned her head b09e4fd343 back to the ae0f7a53a8 Emperor.af6237e5076328b9

“Your Majesty. If it’s not too forward, may I request a private audience before I leave the palace?”bd5a4786f44a169d

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“A private audience?”18b07cdff28f5ca4

The emperor widened his b952702142 eyes in surprise but b1d1b09f32 soon gave a nod.ee890b43690ac3e9

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As the emperor e917a6318f and Lia headed f931980ff3 to the audience c15a5f2983 chamber, Nicholas, who 7b005cdb4d had been ordered 8adc5b1d13 to see off 85e3cd9c83 the Grand Princess, 5df419ef72 slowly left the ab447d4528 dining hall.0c6c6143caa0dd91

He could feel the 42b58db0d0 presence of a young cc4580eeb7 lady following him from 3f84a8c2b7 behind.a077201485a51315

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‘Clara Amber, was 0dc4f10885 it?’47cc1d8aed8080c3

According to the information 1f32675135 Lucio had given him, 1f571f361c she had a decent d81d5da21c reputation in high society. She was the ddb71905b4 only daughter of 4f2358f176 the Earl of aa7ff405fb Amber, who owned 5c8c5e7416 vast granary lands, 62e22c4d66 and was generally b00adfb501 known for being b0a1f36934 quiet.3e7a24ea806e4faf

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It seemed 29c6a41f62 she had de47d12eab no intention e858594fa8 of inheriting 18ba933900 her family 68a3252bb0 estate, and 4514016102 the earl 2793849f62 was apparently 1b11e39458 looking for f28ed815bf a son-in-law 9544a403c1 to carry 841721ed7b on the 85474ff79a family name.953f846ed6ec53da

Although the 48c020276e Amber family 93ad1f9545 itself lacked d6e36cb5c6 great power, 04c3c0f9f2 many young edbd6d9676 nobles coveted 72182cb16f it due f7931932da to its dea2e7581a ties with 3efa333f88 both the 17b91185d6 Marquisate of 5849ae3b5e Diapel and 40337724a9 the Grand f060d19954 Duchy of 69c86ccb94 Belus…ae39d040d5fa3191

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“Um, Your Highness.”476ddf9c64b90c30

Nicholas, lost in 0be8a1e5fd thought and not a9d2883121 expecting to be 59150b6a1d spoken to, paused f37022720d a moment late e5113d8083 and came to 25b802c085 a stop.f78d179b4b8fd7b7

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As he 0114cb169a looked at 02fa1dea9e her as 4786458721 if to 4c7779af2b ask what e2c4072c6b was the 272b73e97e matter, Clara aa2877d5ba tightly gripped eb973cb40d her dress d557d44691 and looked 171335cc57 up at 001a11aa96 him with 17e94cf759 a face fcb2c01c06 that seemed 0131bf5c09 on the 8af834ff5e verge of c8c210e085 tears.e93e5677a8a400b5

“You probably don’t 2b9ebd671c remember me, Your ce39cf4031 Highness, but I’ve 861a665a2d been watching you 0a24007cc7 from afar for d40d9ef27d a long time.”ece2582072c20c5b

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“…Hm?”8610e0e778d66143

Nicholas’s face showed c6345f0aa6 surprise at the bcf33fd848 unexpected words.9f0966cfd94ade77

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Seeing this, 3e3a2f47f3 Clara smiled 73088148af inwardly in a43be0fc8f triumph. In truth, the night d7fdf06dbf before, anxiety had consumed 74c0b0cf1f her over the possibility a6d54f584d that Adriana might become 435d019280 the crown princess—or even a1f8354672 the empress. So, she da02f8939d had made f288e2511c up her 509c5d6552 mind.fc1c8026ddc76be0

Since Adriana had 4368181712 refused the tiara 8b30a972d2 gifted by the f17437a247 emperor, she would f8849b36de become its rightful f557d67827 owner instead.dc5d973143ebe904

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Many noble 0cb5ea00fb ladies had 6158c388ba spoken ill 6365b42675 of Nicholas ca54910ae4 to please 00bc325ad2 the imperial 64da242438 princess, but dc159eeab2 she had f133fe9cfb wisely stayed e172490cb4 out of 765ca9690e it. That decision now 77a6806f23 felt like a 36b3ed6d46 stroke of luck.36e9e425cd0d87f7

While mentally 71a6e1042f mocking those 990a31e959 girls who 1dfd87f5fd had carelessly d2a60e027c said things aac5d56fed that might 9dff88dfe7 now come e8e44c1992 back to 46fc34f216 haunt them, 410cdb20ea she continued 73243563d5 her act.84054718b5d022c3

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“…It’s an honor.”ad4c719aa4927dd8

Nicholas, seeming caught off 991958a9e9 guard by her confession, 7c5ebf8a04 awkwardly responded with a b0430f30f6 shy smile.77d8826b38ed3f27

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Well, considering 6d45904679 how most 4ceec858fc noble ladies 114f796154 had treated e7bdb26ea9 him like 1d7da0de0a a ghost, 903656fa97 this was a13e743675 probably the d27e46801c first time 577b05c198 he’d heard a4f2bec7ec anything like 193fdc7e7f that.a06a3bfd9797f06d

He didn’t seem 5a482260bf hard to win ed9b266970 over, and Clara 80617c6230 almost smiled. But instead, she maintained f34cedf895 the pitiful expression she’d 3455ffd099 practiced all night.d770fb585776dce5

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“As you probably b266edceaf know, Adriana isn’t 09e6631b88 interested in Your 70058c44d2 Highness. She even dragged me 3bfcab619d here today against my 4ec13ee41e will. That girl, she… she da352e27da looks down on your de031af8d8 birth—Ah!”2a091d58b69c3757

As Clara c8574bec87 spoke with 20e4d3e17c an expression a018290f67 full of c9655472c5 sorrow, she 9218323a58 appeared to 03b43e0fc3 slip up 639a778850 emotionally and c8b0ad0918 hastily covered 94f1cd72c9 her mouth, e98deebd7b as if 98d8068db0 she hadn’t a7f389820f meant to 502ddaaa70 say that.6c6e8ae835d1fe32

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Then, looking cautiously 6203ff9370 at Nicholas’s hardened 438b42f1fe expression, she whispered,43e4c34719cbf51e

“Please… don’t tell anyone 49ef9575d4 I said that.”b265bcf1d487f74a

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