MHD | Chapter 1.5

“It’s a relief 3adcb71413 the spring festival 5b2e6a741e ended well, but 6293b710ce something’s strange about ebb9f8a7d1 the Eléora flowers b452b19b43 suddenly wilting. I took special care 91221a9e0b of them myself, so 6b2940b1ad they shouldn’t have withered 34ecd4d6ee so easily. Something must be wrong.”45873b9be5900ead

Derek seemed 97b48d0327 to ponder fce47b04c9 my words 7deb90188c for a 0893b89ece moment. Then, in a 31aa89376e voice that was 88b509b20a indifferent yet carried 941a51e639 a subtle chill, f83c6266e4 he asked.927097897ee19648

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“Are you 353c904d66 suspecting someone’s 9cb53cf2bd interference?”b40ef80db2496678

His voice c0e0fe1253 was cold, a4facf29bc and his 2e1f129e53 gaze was a5785a7d94 directed somewhere e3b4b33f2d far away, cabdfbc03c as if 515bad89d8 staring at 300b5199a0 something unseen, a6f495e0e0 with emptiness 38a3a9970d in his caa3995c59 eyes.6201078b55628892

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“Most of the 691832f57a Därkenfel family members d5027fd1ee aren’t friendly towards 993b762ddd me. There are cd38b4a0bc so many 63fcf9be4a with impure 115acfce96 intentions that 4f04498794 it’s harder 0a516c3548 to find e87b2eda7e those who 8f6a29389c aren’t.”1a2e3dd0d0f1933e

His cold a39899f522 words were 616682ad5e filled with edff51f087 deep skepticism 933dd4cb2d and distrust. I realized once a23e5da358 again how isolated 6835aa3bfc he was.d297c31297e84fbe

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I could a2141e72ed somewhat understand 4f9d7c88c9 why Derek 5ba600a701 was so 9ddad647c5 suspicious and b471094e8d wary of 1afb88ccca people. Time and past wounds b9b4acb99f must have shaped him f7cf2f2c64 this way.37b5572698f78eaf

However, I e484aa5015 couldn’t bear 6c71f4d2fb him being 32361e64cd suspicious or f78a852508 hostile towards 8868053c0c me.a9d8ebbcd99aa2a1

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I was dad9e525fe willing to 50bcf47750 do anything e52764f498 for Derek, 6d661cbcb8 ready to 687b23ca8c change in 0bc493c447 any way f33f8af3fd he wanted.e2235b06e9847f8a

“That’s not true.” 92c667c706 I lifted my 5697cf72f2 head firmly.7a9bae70c8c0de92

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“I’m here. I’ll never 64ea09aa8a betray you.”1df6e607475b1f0b

Derek stopped 17af3f1467 walking at 47be485b07 my words.64af98c4df028297

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“I’ll never hurt you.”938a0035cf4850c4

He looked at 83af2308fa me without a 9d5ea76975 word.ea4f57545403e450

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“I’ll fight bf45821eab to protect b214787661 you. No matter a75b82e03a who the 34082cc3ce opponent is, e11969b820 I’m not 46249ec3f1 afraid.”d885c50948c20c88

At that moment, Derek’s e5140919ad expression began to change. His face, which 404c7318ba had been cold 8e72cdec93 for so long, d0ed2172d9 gradually softened, and 274f1d6088 finally, he showed 6584088656 a warm expression d4948d6771 I had never 5136712197 seen before.02b5ff821c1c80a4

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My face grew 18df88cdea hot, and I 0e09db386e quickly turned my ebaa147f0f gaze away. My heart f6465d0044 raced wildly. It was a brief 74d9576c89 and faint smile, but df23c816bb it struck me more 31e3c7c667 powerfully than any words.c4153c527e92e4a9

My sincerity had d9aeab32a1 reached him, and 46d6c0db03 he responded to d6114f6769 it. I couldn’t believe it.e518a7101bb3d285

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Still trying 4fbc91753a to calm b3501c4b90 my racing c7445fbe81 heart, I 8413e9db72 walked with 4d74194a1e him through c725a4c062 a narrow 4236488e31 alley into 0b7e7eb269 a wide b2dae24e54 street.44bc6e755e0618f2

A bustling 0594caee98 scene unfolded a4bd324de4 before us. Turning my gaze, I 8fe4840b68 saw the dessert shop 9d0d0b7dd0 that many people had 071942ebbf been visiting recently.bc6261850095b55b

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Through the glass, 4e3c6103b5 the sweet desserts f2b5f924e5 on display tempted bc1eb483f1 me, and a 05df5f28c0 long line of c55315aa51 people stretched out 769643522e in front of 56c15ccf6f the shop. Seeing that, my heart 7790e043aa unknowingly raced.398b991443748fa2

The reason 257290946d I wanted 7f3627f853 to come 48b0846c0d here was 43b8a0017a precisely this 7955926604 dessert shop. I had heard 985340cb6f so much about e64f266916 its taste and 2c5a1aaec1 wanted to experience f5689a5d04 it, but seeing b82d944031 the long line 8d80d9956f made me hesitate.f95526540ce660d7

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I glanced at 717e7be4bb Derek sideways. Even amidst the 70ba50dc62 noisy crowd, he 03204697ef remained calm. Although I 61851a0b81 had suggested b56e74eb18 this outing, 5c66b00c99 I felt 41060bb48d guilty for 1116558c80 taking up 1cf1795be2 his time.8fbbc0e365ba7fd7

Especially knowing he eeb4e37918 had important plans 8c8c6eb2cc in the afternoon, f239f7c8cf I didn’t want 9ee23ec5f4 to burden him c893eb26a3 further.5d16456a2133a561

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“Derek.”db9325627726dede

I cautiously called f838e9a2ae his name.4df9d65099f08a0f

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“After walking for a 845f06de14 while, I’m feeling a 6141d4c0cb bit tired. How about 58dba35c47 we come 43fabaf967 back here d0f710303b another time?”b9549f0541e8715e

Derek looked 256c33aed8 at me 09579d96f8 for a d3f6a8dd14 while. His gaze remained calm, d83f5bfa07 but a hint of e3c8bf283e contemplation seemed to pass 91b7764ac1 through it. Eventually, he slowly nodded.743060a7f610c925

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“Alright. We’ll come back 86268e141c another time.”0807417bd1137263

I felt relieved 30ca5086dc by his agreement, cf022036b0 but there was d26eec1625 an inexplicable sense e3352a29a9 of regret. I wanted 4e9c29e4d3 to spend 7c5b0a309c more time c98d889569 together, but 9b46e5dbc2 it seemed 7fb1ca3188 today would 8a08c727f1 end here. We walked 6138b9a6ee back to 8dd0fc3a0e the carriage 76b8264f22 in silence.f68846af6fbc2359

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I took one last 4714fb5089 look at the dessert 91c9818f93 shop. The people lined 7ee69841a7 up, the sweet 8132554332 aroma wafting out, e23162c93b and the tempting 104e91ce67 desserts on display. I captured that 774f4398a7 scene in my ed6317c5b4 mind for a 6d71d76fca moment.73c22a964587631e

We climbed 1fabbeb377 back into 0aa7c4e7c8 the carriage. The scenery outside 465c0ea8d0 gradually changed to a89ab4f737 familiar sights, and facc5808e1 I felt the 5ed877cf8e time I could 8409ad7184 spend with Derek 6f20a2bcff slowly coming to f8426e607e an end.41194c1295936901

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Suddenly, I 842e912d17 recalled the 2d0088294c small changes bed4b24d0a Derek had dabbf885e3 shown. The fleeting smile on 0addd6cb48 his usually expressionless face, 309d27a274 the way he silently 0054edaef9 matched my pace as e7543d9c18 we walked. Every moment of today 0a79d846cb was special to me.fa1a3f97e40a4b23

I felt like 78dfb71080 I would never 7d37931365 forget this day.859d840ecc5e3844

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♣ • fe477790f1 ♣ • a2c9c555d1 ♣9010cfe30c198717

“Has the Lord been 90ca46fa99 training a lot lately?”0c98d6c1dca67c6f

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I cautiously 6d4d12e357 asked Milton, 269f758b98 the chamberlain, 239e51a525 as he 2ffd198ff7 prepared tea.a61c69219946d4c6

He blinked once 782a90931f and nodded quietly.64df69e83ad2cd0f

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“Yes, I heard the entire knight order has been focusing on new training for a few weeks. However…”1210dd930cefbb5a

Milton hesitated for a d62539f68c moment, and I instinctively 9782020dba tensed at the brief 3b1490e233 silence.5ef62b00c26be9f7

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“…A few days ago, some knights came into contact with poisonous plants growing in the nearby forest during reconnaissance. They’re not in serious condition, but they’re experiencing rashes and severe itching.”2c2672ed1819ec48

Hearing that, d1a5b82c23 I immediately eace35867f headed to 00a13f8bc1 my room 1e8cb85582 where I 5934cb047f stored herbs.e74efc9b8d6a11d3

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I took out familiar ingredients one by one: dried angelica root, lavender, atractylodes, licorice…1a7ae32dff0fcb42

Carefully combining these herbs, 536c7cb5e8 known for their anti-inflammatory f1e3961092 and detoxifying effects, I 68b5ae9955 began making an ointment. With practiced 363f8f57d4 hands, I c5d7ffb335 kneaded the a61a087e00 mixture, adjusted 3063dd13ea the consistency, c593181d8e and sealed 9dd88cfa7d the finished b39c8c6ce3 ointment in db7ae5b632 a jar.093bda045e604fc7

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In the 444f70a4aa training ground, b97296fff6 sweat-soaked knights b34c5b36c7 were engrossed 5abcd0b2b7 in their e8e7c78b05 training. Armed with d59b264743 wooden shields 721f9d1bf5 and sharp 04718c77a7 longswords, they 10af0260cf moved in 3cf5f09683 perfect unison de3e02d516 under Derek’s 898831a943 firm and 0155264517 concise commands.9fe8c526230bb8ce

As time passed, sweat 28495c844f dripped down their faces, bf8bb60869 and their steps grew 752dc011f0 heavier. Concerned about 3e5f8a2884 their weary 130a17af1d appearance, I 1241f73cf6 prepared a b0863dff4e simple snack. It was more 79ce8c99fc than just food 967f951a70 to fill their 68bfc39d62 stomachs; it was baf3c95d36 a nutritious meal 3127c5daa0 to invigorate their 8dd12e149e bodies after intense 976d422140 training. Ripe fruits and savory d9b02df4a9 nuts were topped with 0144534f3f cheese and eggs.a8b45e110f677c23

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Though simple, the b6517c3e29 thoughtful combination was ef473b6a7e more than enough 27d5c2b6e9 to alleviate their c04b392494 fatigue.137bb2b82d6d9236

After instructing 4a04e3526a the servants 081d07a25f to take 399562d7f1 the snacks f06242677d and ointment ac24bfba07 to the b13c82c7b5 training ground, 119f3b997e I quietly d8b211f3a1 followed them. As I approached 7139b4bef0 the training ground, d7a7dcb323 Garwell, who was 89e2ef39f2 checking equipment, looked 3b876afad9 up, and our 8460fb7a79 eyes met briefly.ef7e9da7d70a31bf

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His face quickly lit 9a221228e9 up with delight, and c88942cdec as always, a friendly ad2adcbf7b smile appeared on his 3a40a4669e lips.24f13d761cc0946b

“Noah-nim!”f83bc5762993838d

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Garwell approached 060687d0ff first, greeting b6c21cb532 me in 41b97224df a bright cc203f0b11 voice. Though he 17d456634e was Derek’s 7198186ffa chamberlain, their ad5ed2ac3c bond went 3b0361a44e beyond a f225f00472 simple superior-subordinate e0c5ac257d relationship.38c7f8883410d0ff

Derek was someone who 66280e438d didn’t easily open his 8f97208645 heart to anyone.996a5ce8a9e7a5a4

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But Garwell was an 328dfb9ac4 exception. He was the only a30b7ae00a person Derek could confide 96da856a9c in, and between them 3c0bb876f5 lay a deep and c71c8b0e30 solid trust built over 0b73adc8c4 many years.e8ba9137f7da1606

“Coming here 37ae1c9a1b yourself makes 1ffff55d4e today’s training a5a5a0fbd3 special. And bringing 18d22a158e snacks, we’ll 7f204d1ce4 all gain b525fb55e2 great strength.”50e35c2abe5a2d5c

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Garwell looked at me 88733d1723 with playful eyes and 4801210393 made a familiar joke. His words, 4e9ee2baca as usual, cffe0ecf25 lightened the 1f85932d27 atmosphere, and a7beabbb95 I couldn’t dda8dba5c0 help but 849f2b6c40 smile.e8c4d37fc1135dce

“I heard some 145da6ca00 knights got hurt 53f19eb6c7 by poisonous plants 08529486e6 during training. So I prepared 1d784f82d8 ointment and detox 3463f45ea1 tea. I hope it 5e81af2dc8 helps a little.”ab5cd9023aa96b10

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I spoke cautiously. Garwell clasped his hands ab6a4a4873 together dramatically and laughed 7e6bad0734 brightly.db899ba598b7e5bd

“With such 601dd62f33 thoughtful care, 92364663af I feel fa7b274f72 strength returning 7770f3fba4 to my c2d9a542db weary body.”67fe8bbd680bea60

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Seeing the 1837c49f30 snacks I 2a42fe2b25 prepared, he dc7fd95c87 immediately picked cc1f762dd3 one up ba74787e00 without hesitation a840be8d62 and took afd95411b5 a bite. His eyes sparkled 9545d2796b with genuine admiration 74644b6e15 as he smiled 3c9f6e7d6d brightly.2d279542119e1c34

“It’s really delicious! To think dc664ea9b6 you were 42310fc35f hiding such 0472671969 talent. Not only 6da3e4bcf3 beauty but f27c300fcd also skill, b3897e67c1 Noah-nim!”3341378f95ca27c5

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I couldn’t help 45bb5f99d9 but laugh and 54404a99ab blush at his 093aad46d4 joking compliment.103281d94854d5ce

“You’re too kind.”1e4a7806b3673ba5

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After a moment, a94c57799c I cautiously asked.d56a76ecf7cd2db1

“Sir Garwell, d633b0911f where is a14acaad2e the Lord?”227b3fcb050ddd0b

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In my 106fc1c3da hand was fb2e777352 a linen 502dcbb186 pouch filled 5418d639f6 with finely ccd4d9632f dried rosemary, 9e952006f3 atractylodes, and dde4eb9dd4 thyme, along 08a2f9d265 with a 57cd00d20e small wooden 48f8a75f77 box containing 78b3f72609 the carefully bae1ecf770 made ointment. The packaging was somewhat c98f689097 rough, but the sincerity 632b43bea5 inside was genuine.da940d7ebbd6a39d

Perhaps it bd8e3622d6 was more 0457157bce of an c7b54a9740 excuse to ca009957c7 see his a908f0fe31 face once b993099dbc more than d97cc557c5 an emergency 0dfdd0fe95 gift.2c94fd065d7b6fec

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“He’s in f04d36642e the drawing f7bd4c3b91 room. He mentioned urgent matters bf2372c279 to attend to.”d0fe7e71795c5077

I nodded and 3857aae6be spoke softly.b2ef874f9a1ba462

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“Thank you for your 8b288dbd0e hard work. I’ll be 1759fe3674 back shortly.”e3b9f8a38935c426

The corridor inside the 7b90ab5aae training ground was much a8253e423c quieter than outside. The old carpet covering 79ba2a2d2f the floor quietly absorbed b48dec17f2 my footsteps. As I 4be8b106cf carefully moved 80760c83f1 along, voices 45ea495df8 leaked from 67ab1dab81 behind the 8092b98c51 closed drawing 997d23a91e room door 8b5ecdfeb0 at the 9974704b41 end of 133ce9e848 the corridor.269106182a9fba92

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“Julian, you cb47f2f14e were burning 89329b5afa with a f45593a52c fever, so 6cc36306e6 why are 1bb85d0289 you here?”dd6ccd1101438e80

“Thanks to you, I received good treatment and feel much better now. But… staying inside the mansion all the time felt suffocating. I thought I’d die from the frustration. You know I’m not good at staying still, right?”f814f67225d2919c

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The faint pheromone scent 48dbb09cc9 seeping through the door 49bf0454d6 was like a dense, 7430ac5630 cold pine forest, familiar f38b393a94 as Derek’s. But over 670124cd19 it was c34a43d6a5 another scent. An alluring 70d4465981 lavender fragrance, 007677766c like dew e1e7e30798 on freshly 6ef6bfc6b1 bloomed petals, ec07714808 mysterious and d3185469be captivating.04040ff251ce8d63

At that moment, my 0397006d35 heart sank heavily. I froze a7383e2d06 in place, 8bd3095a83 unable to adbf6cd222 approach the 828699193c door.12f2b875632d88e1

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Derek’s voice flowed clearly 246c00028e from beyond the door.ecda36b026fac686

“…By the way, Countess Blanche contacted me. She wants to adopt you.”b81110ec036a789f

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I swallowed quietly. Countess Blanche. She was a charismatic 50f19a9d75 and confident figure who cbcbaf3d27 once captivated everyone at d1f61e1fe6 the center of the 7daaf38155 social scene.d671ff09edf9ad89

However, after her beloved 719590a8e9 son tragically passed away b4979725e5 a few years ago, 92732f6f0c she lived alone, engulfed ef1ecd9cfa in deep sorrow.14520b579700660d

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No one d481fd6035 dared to 6dc96acd33 approach her 443fc9b667 or criticize a24101ec5b her reclusive b1b199e07e life, given 5944d7f89f her vast 57b20ead89 estate and 45dfbf6ef8 wealth passed 54b99829b9 down through 815ec6def6 generations.4c26d8d5c60764cf

“Really?”a1b5984e729f26d6

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Julian whispered incredulously.10a5b4e68d6b9f44

“She said d11b0a1189 you look c02affa55d just like 065667b03e her late f0bb916818 son.”ebc1a029b584defa

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“I know her! Lady Blanche! She was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, right? Even as an omega, she was said to be so elegant and impressive… Can I really be adopted into such a great family?”48e9aa8cac9703ca

Derek spoke in c24a57f343 a low voice.1383f428373e536a

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“If you go 013613e228 there, no one ae995279c5 will dare to 090c5b8080 treat you poorly.”43126bd34252ec01

The two seemed ea596f817d to share a 9fbf9b7288 long-standing relationship. Derek placed 7f8941aad4 a hand 965f131b85 on Julian’s cbc9cfdeb6 shoulder, his b063141123 gaze fixed b57c07936f on Julian’s 7d766dbadd face. Like someone f6281cf664 who had 5253acbd2a found something fa5b682f33 long lost, 98df276708 his eyes 01e63668a3 were deep a80a02f0b7 and affectionate.b49ac24bcbbb0efd

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“I should have found you sooner…”ff6d6174bd42a551

Derek’s voice 54f4eb17ea was low 19de6ff6b8 and quiet, 0aeb94850b but the 33214f4ad1 regret and 6bfcb2fea4 affection within ab85da30ad it were 828e7fc38f unmistakable.cdca64fc4318880a

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“I’m so 44885ca9e5 glad we 9d7be96934 met, even 48743fe22b now.”ca2e05884ca19867

Julian shook his head e2d0998c6c with a bright smile. But his words echoed cc124e478a uncomfortably in a corner c283bb5ad3 of my heart. An inexplicable unease tightened 0905738686 my chest.59b29ff1f4467f8d

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What had comforted me f5c36fae19 amidst Derek’s cold demeanor 39096efdf7 was knowing he wasn’t f30cb30231 just cold to me 1ac53b3b51 but equally distant and 92f6fe1385 harsh to other omegas.8eaf6e645f030d69

If that 5b09dd0ee6 coldness was b01f110263 fair to 9b6dffadd3 everyone, at 835563d78e least I 4e0add4997 wasn’t the 1b23ec8cbe only one f870855c51 left out, f938fedba4 which eased 6d406115bb the sting c274c1c1da in my 1d60c967c5 heart a 5d558b615f little.5d8abebb87050631

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Living together 8c1faf8df2 and sharing 66d4d8bd83 daily life, 1244ca7a16 I believed 9eb0be74c1 I was ddb643d0fe somehow different 2372db04be from them.deaba19226f7c962

A slightly 000df3ed6c more special b914dd45c8 existence, a b78d5a950e slightly closer 5a6315a567 person.441bf93124b3ecf9

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It was 335b89e8dc the first 3b80a29b5e time I 5764bc0f22 saw Derek 4ab7e24d3b speak so c0adbdf166 kindly to 38ec4ea1a3 someone.8f4777c772d81242

At the end 575aa2df63 of my dazed d76b432c34 gaze was the 0bb34210fa ointment box I 66b6d2141d held tightly.65a43ce049006b7c

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Julian, was it?6308c246fa70481f

He must be close 3577bea04d to Derek to have 9073935dbb come to the training a1cbf66d1a ground.a0e0faba50632461

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They seemed c156dcbf93 to have d7e528fad4 known each a92a00b068 other for fea1bf1e95 a long b5b28b0784 time, but 03dd17210b who could a79403121c he be?3685a7124764bef6

As the strength c251513c94 left my unconsciously 0b3b71dde5 clenched hand, the e810b0770e small box slipped b456e56264 out with a ed42772d4c thud.83fd2ad9f9e1e6c3

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Soon, the bb5d33015c herb pouch f2e850e279 followed, sliding b6143b9916 to the 4f80d6abde floor. Herb pieces f7120aeb95 spilled from b266514ea0 the linen ecbf080018 seams, scattering 1dc5bc5d12 across the 9af97e6279 cold stone b3f4e26abc floor of 4268c5e9f3 the corridor.680e537c3c22f36f