MHD | Chapter 1.4

“We need to 9b3d1eab5d return to the 923aa7362a castle immediately.”0849f0520d380b11

His tone was still 771e19bbd2 firm, but I sensed 3eb0a73f90 he wanted to say 7171c36f4c more. However, those 090147d127 words never dd670e7278 came.29af6b2f8f66144e

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As Derek 73c93affad lifted me ebc3b8ee1f effortlessly, I d22737d516 felt his 2543e34785 strength throughout dea02b54f0 my body. Derek’s arms c204e87c84 were as 397b55ab21 solid as 18819ddaa7 rock, perfectly e506c2930c supporting me. As the warmth 81cd4ef0a1 spread through my d143f4589a skin, my cheeks 1d3006bb05 flushed hot. Flustered, I reached out 1358ac6f04 and exclaimed.9e25e3a73dac156c

“Derek! It’s okay, I can 97ce5f3fe6 go by myself!”2cf1432656618df8

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But he 06dbef4863 looked down 0fbdd88c08 at me 05d982c1c7 coldly, seemingly efa4ee4953 ignoring my 19fe891c43 words.477a9f6cce771f20

“If we stay 320878f355 here any longer, 70b15188d9 we could become dab1451e01 targets for wild a7b09233bf animals.”2b21cf9a5cea945e

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“But…”4e1e7aa5cc9b682d

“I can 750dea4601 fight them d7778c79d6 off as 6ec6ad28db much as be84b58086 needed. But right now, 4759114cf6 there are too 8d5f611b9b many unfavorable conditions 07d0d53585 for us.”dd6e5c9ce3e63905

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Not wanting 26f8046f06 to be 0b743e470f a burden e01c6aadfe to Derek 8ea6cd45e6 any longer, 332c8622a9 I quietly e1489ce776 closed my 66000ee7e2 mouth. I stopped resisting and 936d6e3b7f lowered my head, avoiding ce78fa854e his gaze. His embrace was a738be512a much warmer than 8db68f6773 I had expected.626a8790736b08a3

Derek’s intense 9b169acdb9 pheromones enveloped f88a7a877c me warmly, f939e13d09 and a ad75e3f4d8 long-lost sense 6d848b4435 of relief d7897ef797 seeped deep 792c76341d into my 0bdf420dd8 heart. Even though he 4fe9f25c89 was a cold 097fb637b6 and sharp man, 55ff520780 at this moment, 48c03f74ab I was certain f87ad64e54 he was protecting 16570eb41c me.d18856e5823978a3

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Every time 06fd744a54 his breath 5c24c906ce touched my 9d2ef85934 arm, my 548641ce9a heart raced e876c5b2f2 faster. I couldn’t fully 3d3f4a04dc explain how happy f06f5ddcb9 I was to 6f5c2f8111 be this close, 507eb56ea6 or how precious 2a2454a0aa this moment was, 026babfa73 but my heart 200c3a46ab was filled with 9d50bdbaae those thoughts. I quietly e002d0e076 whispered to d0fa6b6fd3 myself.abf9385762d22518

Thank you, Derek…4f46d34a219ff560

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But those words c306ca15c5 never reached his 24580c7f56 ears. In his warm cefc03bf93 embrace, I closed 75f03b5cc6 my eyes, hoping fcfc3f9990 he would never a8454b184f push me away 7e309a3551 again.a2ea7e7db9971c40

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The spring festival was 13bfea8bc0 grandly held. The castle was filled b3efa70489 with laughter and excitement, ff386440e8 but I couldn’t share 6db324c71e in the joy. I was confined to ed11433280 bed for days due a5c5615005 to my leg injury.d8d4a69e01b46ab0

Hearing the lively sounds 5fd59688c7 from outside made me f86070f5fa feel down, but thinking 7cc66d4954 about the moment Derek c6bf337641 was recognized as the 185c706b7e heir of the Därkenfel 3dccce3f54 family spread warmth in 4ee16e0ce8 my heart.2148f8cb23ecc6a3

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After the 8f81264933 festival, I 210e4cf97f returned to 17c38af924 the castle 873235b7a5 with Derek. Once my 89cdd4708b body had 746e99828c mostly recovered, b8485b5c36 I felt dad4527592 restless staying e2b4601705 in bed, 99fef4652e so I 177bbd882b went to 1a4648ae50 the garden 0ddb7e596b for the 69a94f6d3d first time 481d1f9d60 in a 078165707b while.edd34367a454415c

Opening the e82a6283db door, vibrant 18af8f6bb5 flowers filled 01462ee04e my view, 2d69ea717c welcoming me d24178010c like old a4634e9ed5 friends. Seeing the 273081ce4c familiar scenery 3d61ac6f74 naturally brought 1806a9013d a smile 10e30d353e to my 34bd7e3233 face.b740dc0a182d073c

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I was immersed in ff32500984 a serene peace, admiring 0979f9d413 the flowers in the 5fbcc54bb4 garden. Every time a 032989f364 petal brushed my 95938a0f0c fingertips, it felt 5d81ae16b9 like my heart db5a6b8f98 was being soothed. Everything here seemed 5291f137b5 to comfort me.557e9993f6cc53e1

Then, I heard 7bf0bc5ba5 familiar footsteps behind 0641fee838 me. Turning around, 13595232d8 I saw 53d87596a8 Derek calmly 15739d36bc watching me.0827c19b545e46ea

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“Derek.”966ce56421688295

I approached him with 510c611a9f a bright smile and 048f6702cb asked, “How did you 166c4e5139 know I’d be here?”b4161be9cb096b0c

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“The chamberlain told me. He said you often c140b82ccc come here.”26d7df4ee9cc60cd

“Being here makes me 40dc26fd87 feel at ease.” Derek 8f339def37 looked at me silently. The cold wall ccfdd1fc86 I felt from 9382f13a0b his expressionless face f36e33f7d1 was still strong, 9766c9886c but I wanted af72800f3d to break it 0d19c2a7ad down. So, I continued the a4215aa290 conversation naturally.20bb2a154b4518cb

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“My late mother loved 79c3524065 flowers. When I 401f56a582 was young, 0cef0ac380 we used fc55577fe9 to come 7969acfaaa here together 447afd0198 to tend a9faa15828 to the 7fa34f9146 flowers and bf05603a13 grow herbs. I still 95b8ec7edf vividly remember a42bf32282 those times.”2bb832a70bef0e9f

My voice 6983c1693d trembled slightly, a27d4c79a9 but I 8f4742cc8a forced a e35e01e2a3 smile, trying ab8edf800d not to a39c0783a5 let Derek 3001af76d9 notice, and a6affad686 looked back ed5675ca5b at the 4551ccd8b4 flowers.1a6e041c098b0803

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“Noah.”45b85e5ef92115c6

Derek spoke in a 3a8fdabc0b low, serious voice.7c10a615f2832240

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“When you suggested finding the antidote for the Eléora flowers, I didn’t fully trust your words… I must apologize for that.”28a6b6d8e0896e3c

I was momentarily surprised 23b8476cc3 by his unexpected words.a34dc55e400be850

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“It’s okay, Derek. In that 5659a7be52 situation, anyone 37c93c32f1 would have 253f0f8760 doubted me.”0dfacc4947479b89

“Thanks to you, we 2feb47a143 were able to safely 2b5869c271 conclude the spring festival. I’m grateful 28bde938dc for that.”8d4cf3ce0416ae1e

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I knew his polite 0ec9284392 treatment was out of d522115835 obligation, but his words a197398058 still touched my heart.0cd3d70be7439c65

“Noah, would c777808d2e you accompany 953ede5fc2 me for c2c0183bac a moment?”b6417ae934661516

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Derek suddenly led me 9bf6b1709c out of the garden. I was 46bddd04ff momentarily confused 55203be851 by his 832efaea7d strong grip.1c911945b8defcb2

“Huh? Where are we going all of a sudden…?”8c8b6e829db52969

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Derek didn’t 666779c0a7 answer and bf0c71ec25 walked silently 4edc42bb76 ahead. Soon, a bbd3674346 grand carriage b7c90ab104 appeared before 09d653e483 my eyes.bc1549b936f6ff52

The black 648b12e7d2 base with 1c6141c113 gold patterns 5b47cae5d8 sparkled in 603a0de989 the sunlight, dbec4d2da3 and the dfc7ab7436 wheels adorned 5d8a18b75b with gold ce0acf47cf bands, jewel-encrusted 39c451ab33 handles, and 4c30def9bb luxurious silk 78e9adaafd curtains added 9cee730804 to its 844128ea54 elegance. It was the most 29d11a430c luxurious carriage I had 09f13adca2 ever seen.7e82fdd878819217

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“Do you d934848479 like it? I prepared 02b31889d7 it myself,” e96f544e6c Derek said df376fc68c in a 3e37ff68a0 low voice. I widened my 3700bd417a eyes and couldn’t d04bd5714a help but ask.81cc52b5c76cbf51

“Why… are you giving this to me?”c6dce2df39438bbb

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I tore f6d93585bd my gaze c67f7e41d5 from the db072e9c4c splendid carriage 6fa6565dc5 and looked a9d207d5af at Derek.0ce3d9919da74399

“Thanks to 0f807701f5 you, the b7be7e5705 family’s honor 1aa784d325 was preserved, 8de87b6fdb and I 7cc80ba0f9 also gained 34405a2142 significant benefits. It’s only right 238a5d01b3 to share.”7130c47e852d0c8f

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His tone lacked warmth c43157bae4 or consideration for me. It felt like he e26ef9c2dc was settling a debt, ff7452f079 closing a transaction.a40faa7ac5b5409b

His face 857af70e9b showed no 84ff5cde9d emotion as 7e2c559346 he offered 2c9334d091 the expensive 42e178484a gift, just 32b2ff4467 an expression e60f238650 of inevitability.3517d356657d154d

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“Derek, I’m really dfae842005 okay. I didn’t do it e1748d6281 expecting a reward.”fd7b3a4d9521eb35

I spoke softly, f9f62a9cd5 but Derek ignored 7d4a17ebcd my words.96276d393a2e2183

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“Take it.”6fee373c4eb6a152

“But…”8be3c2c43bbed90d

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“I dislike owing 82f0431c04 others.”121285e2407ec0fd

A chill seemed 905371c986 to settle in 62209f7ad2 one corner of 6e49ffb7ba my heart. Avoiding his 4acb026304 gaze, I 46a87d42e4 kept silent, 52e94575c2 then gathered 9e7d604d64 the courage 29c2db8431 to speak 16de271da2 again.3fa253afa0c30bd7

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“Derek, this a5e1cd1180 carriage is b9e8603001 truly splendid. But it might attract 2463487219 too much attention. It could ec1a068d98 be misunderstood b1191f4816 as extravagance, 11b550b97b so I’d 77ee1e71d2 be a 7380ebbea2 bit cautious 3b7c1cfbb5 using it. Could it be exchanged ab0758c5f8 for something else?”811223fbf32d06fe

At my a0a20f6a3f words, Derek’s 8204b0fc3e eyebrows furrowed 112584962b slightly. As expected, he looked 17498ffbe2 at me sharply and fb340fac44 asked.c95886886add4f7d

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“Something else? What is it?”db8b7f3dff860e39

Momentarily halted by aa458d0b04 his cold gaze, de76520f51 I steadied my 815c057fa3 resolve and spoke 9a99aced06 cautiously.85ce700556355dcf

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“Actually, I couldn’t fully enjoy the spring festival because of my leg. So…”f24411f240c8e9e0

I continued, 9802949683 avoiding his b7d9014668 gaze.b9cf59fec73b4fc3

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“I’d like de3275d4dc to go 9bb64d9005 out with c6d0c2981b you.”8a1ebc8e0e63601a

As soon as 1d6555566d I finished speaking, 9f73f713fa silence fell. Derek’s face seemed df9eb88c51 to waver slightly 12773a4806 with emotion, but 1ede506fc0 he soon returned d5703331ac to his calm a75fe1132d expression.2783d4934f2aef88

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After waiting for 512f1a7170 a while, I 1baae52c1f cautiously added.1c8c99bebf8a560e

“Is that okay?”a017f7713a6a6bf7

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Derek appeared b94dc2c5e9 to ponder f27212f87e for a 81542575a7 moment. His silence heightened 94a22e57cb my anxiety, and cf7b8045fa sensing his discomfort 9ce8069db5 made my heart a69e6c7912 heavy. Fortunately, Derek 906a46792a slowly nodded.27a0747d3c52d376

At that moment, 79251a35c4 my face lit 44b4eb97f8 up like a 50609ca6d1 flower basking in 64cf93e934 sunlight. Did Derek know 9ba314919a how much joy bee4475247 his small nod f8a42aa8d1 brought me?804c5f2b2c3b7628

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“Alright.”23ff9c5a23e999f1

His answer f7fa8da890 was short 67a8f98b22 and simple, f5b3b29b3c but it abae7523d7 meant more 1c1c0b9763 to me baaa8175cc than any cd21e23e80 words in 8cd81d9780 the world. His permission felt like 568f4f800a a small miracle. The thought 59662ba38c of spending e02944e60a time with 612a46d404 Derek filled 556dbb50d7 my heart 82e2c8ad74 with excitement.23d978515d32c30d

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♣ • ♣ 89b91f3046 • ♣360f6689c443f78b

As the ea3068501a morning sunlight 65ea5c05c8 seeped through 61c45ec989 the window, 01a03f2575 I naturally 5a449c78e7 woke up. The anticipation of d975a97e1c the long-awaited outing a63eacddd2 was indescribable.2876806be2cca2c9

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I jumped out of 3084f1d970 bed and rushed to d3542a249c the wardrobe. Although various neatly arranged 29b2535fd7 clothes hung there, I ab5f9990d3 couldn’t easily decide what cc60b441b6 to wear today.ae9c2fb74a29efed

Should I express d765a275ad my mood with 9a0bf72340 bright colors or b91e0007b4 match the atmosphere bf7bd4504c with calm tones?dbe6fc48cc1ace64

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I pondered, 5dabf18fed touching each d8ba1f8efc piece of 7d53fae97c clothing.ecb130c5d4a3b55d

Eventually, I chose a f3a4122f82 subtle beige outfit. Checking myself in the e21ca540f1 mirror, I was satisfied bb2dda8716 with my choice. It was an outfit 3c0026a85d that made me stand 76514a01cc out naturally while being b7756c0070 neat.75708ee954ae46ef

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Filled with excitement, b6c2eb8576 I dressed up, 8f0825573e and before I ea9c53ba8b knew it, quite 3bb2f663ef some time had 59a7ddea6c passed. I hurriedly finished getting 153ae2eee3 ready, but there was 33537593b6 still plenty of time 4b410b2d56 before the appointed hour.7d594c354c3b4453

Even so, I f93d79993d couldn’t stay still. Unable to 177b1a9ba0 suppress my 515d6efddf pounding heart, 4cc0575e8f I quickly 09dba709d5 made my 62a94d6a38 way to b8e8eb3e57 where the d9530c2607 carriage was.bc50064869d6d4dd

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Derek was waiting for de07f8a117 me quietly at the fc1655da2a castle gate. Unknowingly, my gaze c920f267aa lingered on him. As always, 30a1c619c3 his neatly b679582472 combed black 75185cc535 hair shone 71e6040668 subtly in d477b5d4a0 the light.88fe05f1ccb47faa

His blue eyes, 98c9433ea7 though cold, had 7658f961fe an alluring charm. He didn’t easily show a971b21780 emotions, yet his eyes c48fd88905 seemed to see through 47161b16be everything.4e9fa74071490632

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His broad 0d9dfa4a86 shoulders and 088dafdc34 well-built physique 9820466209 were evident 7a433b975f even under 8b2d01dc11 thick clothing. His strong arms and b64668dc80 confident posture conveyed that 1bc67f15e6 the aura he exuded 6d4cfffcea was more than just 51346c6602 physical strength; it emanated fe279f4ec9 from his very being. I stood 76444c1f38 there, unable dc5ca31bd3 to take 8e27dcbc12 my eyes d69f8baefb off him 17a8039b38 for a 690a80dec0 while.6156b8c3477bcd66

Before getting into f3f5297348 the carriage, Derek cf72d847bf looked at me a957e43125 for a moment. As I 4557ffecdc approached, he 280f6d0110 slowly extended f71ab14778 his hand.1cfc4a8680f1e5c8

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Once inside 7c2c62c644 the carriage, 3f2e1f182d Derek naturally 61b91b2e6f followed and e4dfe32b77 sat beside ad470865ac me. Just sitting close a8d1f0fd9b together in the a201d83af9 confined space made cff9f0a8b0 my heart race f8cb57b476 as if it 32f638ba3f would burst.fdc3a509b53508fb

Even the ac37288a8b sound of 6a70436540 our clothes a51e3086e3 brushing against b0419c0c70 each other 640da05683 felt intense. Every nerve e472b7ba01 was on a100c080a5 edge due aecc0dc4b9 to Derek’s 6cd21bd8a1 presence, and 5af2459cfb this surreal 2a46f8b17c moment left 740da1394a me dizzy.18d4b11ae23a716f

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Derek glanced at me d59fed7350 once and asked in 5af846e55d his usual calm voice.7fc7aece4c9bd815

“What are you thinking, 9d82bc908d Noah?”850c3f889cd2a9fd

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Momentarily at a2cf310d5b a loss d16e86133b for words, 8646580171 I hesitated, 0fa7d95dfe fearing he 035b7a77cb might hear b921fcad67 my heart 63ecb95f9b pounding, and 02b2b2324a finally spoke.d51834578d3ea7bb

“…Just, thinking about going out makes me excited and happy.”b2151c208444177d

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Derek remained silent 948840b6a7 for a moment, ee7dec3e18 then narrowed his 61c3f3844e eyes slightly and cd683c055d said.963b41c06b43bf65

“It’s not that c75503eff1 special of an 0d8888c2a1 occasion.”6b3882c571cbf19f

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I gave a2f30bab3f a faint eb4674abc5 smile at f3546205a5 his words.2a63fa1e912d8f36

“It’s special to me. Being with 720d868c59 you always 8d40caa9b1 is.”28cd311481a0f2b4

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Derek looked at 8a5438e7ef me without a 244702cd4e word.6c5c4f0301d9ad02

A brief silence passed, d30205828f and lacking the courage 7a31a0c34c to meet his eyes, 2a9a98ddba I looked out the 7dfc124330 window. However, my reflection d9d256e0c9 in the glass 99a57aca4d was flushed red. Then, Derek broke the 3d8a23be07 silence with a calm f10d51a201 voice and asked.729083595b246c1a

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“Is there anywhere you’d 741e627d0a like to go?”3764857b993e5c8a

For a 3e7da37ad9 moment, I a2f860dfb0 was dazed. The fact that I 4e2c1cdedc was having a conversation e112eb4641 with Derek like an 5313e1334a ordinary couple didn’t feel 308ae6ddb3 real. My mind 3fc4dc8cdf felt blank. I thought 5255f3c0cc anywhere would 7a7ee718ec be nice c223ea61c2 with him, 9c2769407f but no 464fe274d3 specific place 0b3258e7e7 came to 2dece39440 mind.64362dc51e3ea67c

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Then, I suddenly remembered 531e9a7df5 a new dessert shop. Imagining enjoying ad9122153f sweet desserts 17530987c8 and tea b96bf02d6c with Derek e6f350bf7e crossed my 76755c4201 mind, and dbbcbd99a9 I wanted 88665400fd to go 0bc77c60a6 there.1bd5cabdac8d4b14

But I hesitated, 10ed37a9eb unsure of how 05d0609f2c he would react. Hoping my suggestion cd55bdd688 wouldn’t be burdensome, bce5f61834 I cautiously spoke.c82fa7eb82740968

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“There’s a new dessert shop… I’d like to visit.”a4ced6b309247730

I was anxious 29f6643be5 about how Derek c7f396a211 would take it. His expression remained unchanged, ef5cd535b7 revealing nothing of his 33f50a5fe3 thoughts. I worried 17808f0a23 he might 1024eb4e02 find it cb99801dd2 unpleasant. However, Derek 83c443286f looked at b520fcd8ca me for 6a85e69ce9 a moment, 08f4104fcf maintaining his 8799d28ba5 calm and e281fc76e5 indifferent gaze, 5687f1b341 and replied.4b91e142ae9c6d5e

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“Alright.”16bb1d87ad16847b

His short answer 846c016a9a enveloped me in 356f1e5255 overwhelming happiness.4bfa5673006c7cc0

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The square 7fd8914389 was bustling bd114fa252 with people, 655d563cff full of f5f3a61e0c energy. Merchants proudly 5e26d6edba shouted about 574136d043 their goods, 02cb6dbebe and children e9f8b52efe chattered and ef0e3eac8d ran through 0f8dda97f8 the crowd.e776e906461b55df

Being in such a e32c6f34ee lively place after so 57c3869984 long felt like a c018bb6578 dream. Most of all, 1afedc26e0 being with Derek 286df6990b made my heart 3cd530825d flutter even more.f0b574d315b2c7ad

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I wandered 8250b5ae93 around, enjoying 08aa7e1fcc the street f9b5db35ba stalls.a2fe73d6a7b2e286

As I walked 1ab9b7ae43 through the square, 89e51b2e84 my heart was 56db4d334b filled with excitement 3f487b174e and joy. But that moment was 76d145f5ba fleeting, as a creeping dc49146ba4 anxiety began to weigh 9f1f5aa875 on me.637b0621e3cf5a4f

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Seeing the spring flowers f30327e975 in full bloom delighting e6e58cfadd people’s eyes reminded me a6021d9aa9 of the Eléora flowers ca87cc9f6d that had withered. I couldn’t 801851378f figure out cf54170d8c the cause.f7d7ff770382ca1a

What went wrong? After pondering, I decided 616a74c807 to bring it up be1de45281 with Derek. I wanted aebedd42bb to trust 4a2d491a63 his sharp 43de050275 judgment.c4e34d16aa711732

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“Derek.”665a4b516bed40a3

Lost in thought, I 07d4528b99 quietly spoke.b79d143addfb7d63

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