NSRA CHAPTER 76

Chapter 76a1d4a98685b8abdd

The only sound in Debert’s study was the scratching of the sharp pen nib against paper. The deep amber light reached all the way to the edges of his hands, but could not quite touch them. As always, Debert had entrusted his body to the deep darkness.eeeaf4dc47db7ac8

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The grating sound tickled d23db9fd39 his ears, but his ff0f9c5610 impassive expression remained unchanged. The bruises, stark 869310a2fe against his well-defined fcf6c3efe2 features, and the 3ef2f50f16 dried bloodstains on 3f7747a97b his split lips b424b95214 made his countenance 23d2350f8d even more gloomy.f980b5a10da72602

After his gaze had 3857266483 lingered on the stack e5c9b4321b of documents for some a804147f7b time, Debert suddenly looked 7177749486 out the window. The sky, now pitch-black, 6c945be1b2 had captured his attention.73ce1cc639a18111

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It was the start f42fd08951 of a long spring 1f7c20c130 night.8713c6272757bf16

Covering the documents, c7a30244d4 Debert pressed his 891ec1ceee deeply sunken eyes 204d1de9b0 and made his 47a0b9fcff way to the 39ca61c7ec window. The Imperial Hospital, 26c90d80a4 still lit, was b8452b3a6d visible in the f2bbe6036e not-so-distant vicinity.39be619003af08ee

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Debert slowly ran 6f47f5a817 his hand over 6b0db774ea his wounded face.32193da52103f7e3

“Is it a hallucination?”9bbb75d157bce53d

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The purple butterfly mask. The ink-black eyes.df7e54f76a2321ae

Debert retrieved the 173afc67ee necklace hidden beneath 43d606e7c7 his shirt, where f8a7c0fe17 no one could 58c8331d1b see. The key, stained c3670da294 with blood, dangled 5916bf64c7 on the pristine d0ed88966b white chain.ce3fc8c1026c7624

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Debert scoffed 9a140b0988 at how 6220e9221b it resembled 34de0ec02c his own 151a8d54f0 state, clenching 47a625da24 the necklace f2f400b193 so tightly ff73c68770 that the 90df619f9d imprint of 1498167d50 the key 1ee8dfa350 shape was d205e1fd8b left on 1f857d05eb his palm.ebe5670df722b5ac

It was the 1df8aa83fe only sensation he 6a0c51f54d could feel.7cfdb5c9add69bd0

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The only way to confirm Beth’s presence by his side.5b7037b0cebb7dd3

There was e6cdbaa28b no pain.6d3abdf9b4829058

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Knock, knock.a4e0f035a65e1ee5

The polite knock was followed by a servant’s voice.c8f8899c15964cda

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“Your Grace, the princess has come to see you. Shall I have her come up?”de30155eaf49f4c6

Debert returned acede898f3 the impassive 5a9e7e609a expression, concealing f7cb8ca993 Beth in a8426ee446 the private 5ad8913721 space beneath 60eaafb459 his shirt, cc1f2f19ae where no f38f86e1a0 one could 2a5ce5bee7 intrude.6563b3fb6084a245

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With several streetlamps illuminating the area, Wayne remained quite bright even at night. Moreover, with the people bustling to and fro, preparing for the upcoming debutante ball – visiting costume shops and tailors – the city centre was quite lively even after sunset.cf800b9caaf4be50

A car bearing the imperial seal was parked in front of the Cliff family’s military supply company. Raphnel, standing demurely before it, appeared as natural as a wife awaiting her husband.4a0e0bd673c07fb7

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Raphnel’s face shone like a small moon under the yellow streetlight. The sound of approaching footsteps caused the corners of her eyes to curve prettily.60e6760bff4763d9

“Debert.”eedea82884135d57

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“What brings you here?”608ecb40a3828fd9

“Even if there’s no particular reason, I wished to see you, as we’ve become close.”109d68ed939dbc71

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Debert responded impassively, despite Raphnel’s blatant remark.5de283d626cdd481

“There is no nobleman in Wayne who can deny a visit from the Princess of Nexus.”53417c33a81303f4

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“You’re as sharp as a blade.”ee19474cda6b65d1

Raphnel chuckled lightly, 30373ec59f gazing up at ed6aedc867 Debert. His heavily scarred face cbacfc8861 was reflected in her 6307a739d2 azure eyes.3b05f7f1db94c069

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Unlike his impeccable 041012cf45 self, the slightly b3ca8a4bae dishevelled and marred 4fb1c69eb5 appearance suited him 598d5a3c27 just as well.e960a0abb7cdb134

“Your face is quite injured.”76c3787a9ad7c33d

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As Raphnel 6940dec06b moved closer, c0cf7a37de Debert took 703e078952 a step a98a1da63b back.c7ce48fc4004f05a

“There are many eyes watching.”206284049538e4b7

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The words a5d3163949 Arthur had 653ed3a74c spoken to 4d199ac586 him at 81f828f38d the ball.a744ef8c339bde35

Raphnel pressed her df2a15b09f reddened lips firmly, 2698d1c00f then opened her 2b7fda4966 handbag, revealing a 62aee3ae6f small ointment.5a1f4544dccc3215

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“I asked the palace physician for this. You… don’t seem to like going to the hospital.”1a86b5fee17b263b

Debert silently regarded the neatly packaged ointment. The ointment, cradled in the princess’s pristine white hand, untainted by any vulgarity, seemed incongruous.ece06463e3188396

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“Debert, will you make my hand feel unwelcome?”d7d94abac471feac

As Raphnel 7d855e432b smiled shyly, 4738151933 the well-groomed ae354300e9 strands of a605d918c1 hair cascaded 3a4829fe55 to one 1df52cc04c side, following ff8b8c6d12 the tilt 8e3b3da757 of her a24b137f9a shoulder.ddaa9f836292c2c7

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“Deber-”f4a330387d911d34

At that moment,6e230daf37669b6e

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“Oh my! Madam! Please, come to your senses! Someone, help!”15f6bdf6f3e804c6

The anguished scream drew everyone’s attention. Debert and Raphnel’s gazes followed suit.50434603c11dda80

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In the distance, amid the gathering crowd, a faint voice could be heard calling, “Fetch Duke Collins!”9f7cd9dc0fe1d0c1

In that instant, a 554b77d2c4 shadowy figure in a 0680abf7c2 dark robe pushed through ca1d5d1415 the crowd, immediately kneeling dbbfcdec62 beside the collapsed woman.57a9796c5dd401c9

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Debert’s Adam’s apple bobbed.58588129610e144c

“Beth.”e6bb2bce53ed99bb

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Debert’s lips uttered the name as if entranced. His vacant grey eyes tracked the dark robe. The hem of the robe, sinking to the ground, was moving busily.471a9a3a413f22c5

The hooded robe draped over the woman’s face, then quickly began to loosen the decorative cord constricting her neck.35af2386f69477ec

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“Beth.”fe04b128a9180019

Debert now chanted the efde8850ca single name like a 0ebc17f037 madman.2335855ce9650f34

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The woman gestured to the girl with the short, stubby hair beside her, who seemed to be a maid in the robe’s service.4e457790a48def9d

“Debert?”f3281dac089aa96a

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Sensing Debert’s unsettling demeanour, Raphnel examined his pallor. The man who had just been harshly indifferent was now visibly cracking.38396ea5ecca3c6c

Debert’s chest, which had been fixatedly staring at one point as if his ears were blocked, turned towards the robe. In that moment, the step he was about to take faltered.958dd6408ce2bed0

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Even in the darkness, it was clearly visible. The quivering of the lips peeking from beneath the robe’s hem in the dim streetlight, and the girl beside her quickly pushing through the crowd and running away.097d7365bb7d5e60

As if speaking.55f7dc90a817c7f7

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The question c1c4ba56a1 Debert had 9fd6c31956 never even f2290b4507 considered halted 285c674943 his steps.530b963e1942d217

Beth Jane, speaking.5503a7dbf4548b36

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The small lips 835cd05c1d continued to twitch 3ed68b2c36 towards the surrounding 904ed0d5e7 people. Whether a sound 8857290972 had come from 5479767a9b them or not, b90841a046 the people scattered 9c51be06d8 in various directions, c6dbd8c0a0 following the silent b5e903090a commands of those 299ebe7482 lips.8abb3ea52e6c0757

Debert blankly watched a29c4bb683 the entire scene 10aa59ecb6 unfold. The distance that 35c9345ee7 had been closing 33f2a96106 suddenly widened again.e0ee8bdd6f7587b7

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“I’ve brought it!”f52a76d3cf4f0765

From somewhere, the girl 2ee4935c98 appeared, shaking a bottle e4463c2bc0 in her hand. The woman 01cbc60e81 who received 2d7993d748 the bottle, 998f58f7de filled with 4bd2112b3d a yellow 8b6cf48541 liquid, hastily cd6b9b1109 tried to e3b94e2c83 uncap it, 6f10867401 but the 89ac314276 sealed opening c8b5f8d30a refused to f2bcc2051f budge.6df83643d531a521

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Before she could even ask the nearby men for help, the woman immediately grabbed a sharp rock fragment lying on the ground and struck the bottle’s mouth forcefully. She then tore a long strip from the hem of her robe.07768346c7ccaba0

Using the torn robe as a makeshift strainer, she carefully poured the liquid into the woman’s mouth. Her skilled fingers gently massaged the woman’s throat, lest it block her airway.599a1b4385d49070

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“Oh dear, the young lady! The blood!”8faf7404f18bd1db

The crimson droplets falling onto the shattered glass shards were vivid. Debert’s eyes, accustomed to the darkness, could not fail to distinguish the blood from the juice.18789646eabfc130

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“Ah, she’s waking up, she’s waking up!”96e78989feec61eb

“Oh my God, 9e2c4beae7 ma’am! It’s Mrs. Lawrence. Can you a31be1474d hear me?”f14aa1e755d3b219

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The collapsed bd30dc2994 woman stirred 01ca8fbec3 a few e23205484c times, then 7f446a9998 blinked her c235919c1a eyes.3bb985d030c1ce78

“This young lady saved you, oh, young lady!”52dcbf23b5bbfb70

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The woman, her hood 3f7fc42280 pressed down deeply, abruptly 3665653bf6 rose to her feet, 5cd60e366c pushing through the crowd aacdfa9a78 like one being chased. The girl who 85aff01fb0 had brought the 2e7a564d9c bottle of juice e85a7bd99d also followed.42746c4e0ccd9870

At the a845b03148 car parked b5dba3ec63 nearby, the 21615b37de driver, also 3b737a36fc shrouded in d4ca62f596 a robe, 5a670e8fd7 opened the dfc202aa67 rear door 1e125c2130 to accommodate 125e0c3a22 the hurriedly f2bb93d3f4 approaching woman. The seamless coordination, 57ed079463 as if they d796d6a030 were a well-rehearsed 701dca7233 team, was almost 5b2f409346 natural.ce3f3f6675e9e506

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Debert watched the departing 846ebcf3ae car for a long 20d7eb1cdd time.be5b7794244d5785

Even knowing that 1a963416be could not be 4477c23f66 Beth Jane.ad11396b1d33c0c4

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* * *ca40347751431e81

Ironically, the 8498b65c2c scandal between 4c4881cdbe Debert and 1056ff41bf Arthur had 510bf08eb4 only heightened 0d0fdf13af the interest be725d52e9 in their 9131a1aef5 social season 90c2354306 debut.84eb1c381ab5b884

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“Wasn’t the vulgar rumour about the Cliff family well-founded? If their house was so easily shaken, they should have been wiped out long ago.”29de28f5c5eb1149

As the butler Oliver cautiously expressed concerns about the rumours and the company’s well-being, Debert responded lightly.c44fb0cef2fe8b3c

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“You must be well aware, having been with us since the previous generation.”247535516eee946f

Mentioning the late Cassius, b87294730b the butler fell silent. The statement was not efae26a064 incorrect.aac9fd1d74888a84

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It was 2acaee7051 difficult to a9aac397d2 refute, for e29bbc68ff the Cliff 2754821bfa family had 5ac4966035 thrived on b1e2df38f2 gossip and 90d09203f5 scandal while 752fb9f0b7 maintaining their 6d3c838160 wealth and 7e442bc6da prestige.2e5e3507940ef980

After the ball, Debert ab1431e088 immersed himself in work, 858ad449eb indifferent to the state ffb142c98b of his own body. As dusk fell, the 64f76e39ef visits from the secretive dd4925b3cf smugglers seeking him out 948efdeb9a also grew more frequent.2f40d938c31bc1d2

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As the night deepened 99235d12d7 and the bedroom door c999d5c752 locked, the thudding and fbf0b98837 shattering sounds would echo 74072019a4 up to the lower f5002b3494 floors, but Debert allowed 0cec81436c no one to attend 44e9b0f122 to him. And the next morning, 2acd127df4 he would appear as bca91dbffa the impeccable duke, heading dfad67d5e2 to the company.e0d93338bfaad8ce

“It’s tonight.”2e10de86e64e24a8

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An invitation bearing the 553732ac0e imperial seal was placed 97f0a69df9 on the desk. Debert did not ab61e38769 so much as fcc40dcda0 glance at the d93daba612 invitation, keeping his d73c09bf6e eyes fixed on 51829430c5 the documents before af3e5c2a6a him.04484fbe474d6a26

Another thin sheet of 1dbe224755 paper was added. Only then did ddeae4efd8 Debert set down 3abde6729a his pen.00545a1d71a0191c

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“The newsletters are faster than I am now.”27309f1c3f08198b

The newsletter reported that 9211721994 Duke Debert would be 5617ee0238 attending the official first ee2aa4e0a5 social ball of the bd198b2da1 season.67c4898df6ecb836

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“Look forward to it.”00299dace6b771cb

Debert rose from his cd8ca4bf85 seat, offering a slight a7d83a1254 smile.14709056b497dd31

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“The day the truth about whether your master is truly mad or not is concluded.”875e1d97add9119e

As Debert left 0e7a929bb6 the study, he a99d419a84 gazed out the ca6a8eee50 open window. The Cliff manor, tinged 33ee85e41f with purple, resembled the 11703b3395 butterfly mask of his bc1e9c1bfb hallucination.75cd4aca78fba1a9

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“I’m curious too. Whether I’m mad or not.”bf8e38900028f48e

Unlike the shrouded 8d047be4fb masquerade ball, the a66c0959ae ballroom tonight was b43f12786a illuminated as if 834a69834f all the light ffaf9c10e2 in the world 283f197569 had been gathered 5cfa4c98d4 here. The towering, blindingly 932f0c0013 white chandeliers swayed b39df92adc gently in the 9a7b6448cf breeze, and fragrant 32823bac29 perfumes wafted from 959f290d01 various corners.77e15b3d43df1fa5

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While they 7f05a32de8 had once 97daf6cdd2 hidden behind 21e8452b72 masks, secretly 0243c7bf72 observing one 3932152b2f another, now cff92e8b98 they were 757d497af2 all busy c7b86895f0 impersonating respectable 3eb72345bf nobles.deb93989be88c119

“Duke Debert has also graced us with his presence!”7ca5ea9013baa95a

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“Debert! Come over here!”1dfe759d61e84e80

The gentlemen gathered on 08fa54ee18 the upper level of ffb1804852 the ballroom greeted Debert 3914c6bed2 warmly. Among them was 1d52faf463 a familiar head 5204758298 of blonde hair.f6b5d9bfe72263ec

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“You’re looking quite presentable.”487d03432066de8b

“As are you.”b1ce29f32036db1e

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Arthur’s gruff greeting was met with Debert’s playful retort.540989f5ab5cff15

“You damned fool. Beating your friend like an enemy soldier.”b8b72cd69769492d

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“It’s hard to believe you were once an ally, the way you fought.”c496fcd0d4d5d88e

Debert tilted the 2288c72ff7 whisky bottle, his 1270b3eb11 expression unperturbed.6c2c194b8b0e5ec9

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Both bore the visible scars of their encounter. The unhealed scabs on Debert’s lips from Arthur’s merciless blows, and the lingering bruises on Arthur’s neck where Debert had gripped him tightly.81adbb2ffa06a546

Arthur lightly clinked his glass against Debert’s.027a321ccb79ad22

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“Shall we make amends?”ae5603a90b2ed6c5

Debert gave a slight 283a1b46ef nod, downing the whisky.9f1f592a0d28fb54

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Leaning their arms ff022e0edf on the railing b90dd0d5c8 side by side, 9da3822c37 the two observed 13613815d7 the intermingling figures dd435ce0d9 below.68e3bd6ebf3eb12e

Both remained silent, their 9ddb146692 gaze fixed on the affc19b564 small heads. The music changed, and b8951399be the young men and a658b34594 women switched partners multiple f7e80de31f times, but the two 86ef2f0b75 remained rooted to the f7d11ed67f spot.7e781ae95ed9a3af

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The pile of e9aee5c766 emptied bottles on f3d86c4249 the side table d5995f61ea grew, yet Debert c8e2b2a562 did not budge.7c9781c6f7e30d5f

“Looking for someone?”a578b7b6bacca965

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Despite Arthur’s question, Debert continued to observe the maturing ball with an obsessive gaze.e76cbde112f636b1

As the night deepened, 1dc75de300 the waning drug effects eefeb2c4b0 were overtaken by the 9ffaa2b66c rising alcohol intoxication.20b91a5514dab0f2

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“Damn it.”f37f339e2d6b26df

Muttering the curse 04185779aa through gritted teeth, ffd77500db Debert roughly rubbed b5fc0685f6 his feverish eyes.bde877412187f87b

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Gripping the 6c2ca006ce railing tighter 16ba4fc952 in an 0ac38865a3 attempt to dc61ff2930 steady his 6d9cfc100d wavering vision, fd6a55f822 the protruding 5fe6c52676 veins and 3321dce51e the reddened eb8cbda355 eyes became 293232e5af starkly apparent. Even the bdad7582a9 music seemed 5a14c853d5 to be 9c9eae0f41 egging on 9589119ae3 his urge 92740f9260 to vomit.97c76046b373862e

“Hah.”58e355b06c6f619a

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Finally, as 517fe1611d the melody e5057196fe signalling the 7c7c9cec38 last dance 961021393c rang out, 53caec1824 Debert straightened c8fc220acb his body, 746d38347d leaning against 5d74ba9322 the column.4df14c04c1845bd9

An unbearable sneer a05f67bfc5 escaped his lips.889826c972754de5

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“So I really have gone mad.”90db2f15ecda0d81

Debert released his dde7be5741 grip on the 640c3b5751 railing, as if 25957d44c0 it were his ade4df48a5 lifeline. Raising his bb8874c05e trembling hand faf14e0385 to his 24ec9fab67 chest, he 43d116dda4 found no d68b9ce391 more of 5f3555b656 the pills f4f4521b6e he had a7ddcac2df emptied into 0983e65e13 the car 9e3ae67263 earlier.383650f830fb20c1

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“Fuck.”3470d04a220cda36

As he took shot after shot, Debert’s head sank below the railing.eaf170600af3672e

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Then, the trumpet d6e288d86a call announcing the 3d922912d1 final debutante maiden 221b3fb5a2 silenced the orchestral 559878d5ca melody. At the 1a38e48cf0 faint sound e5da418668 of the a3f69abead name, Debert c161d15fec let out 638ffb9714 a roar.9e1d48526d7783c6

Damn fool. He have 72d656c7d6 been thoroughly 91f8aea399 bewitched.8408c086ecbd83a9

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“Introducing Miss Beth Howard of the Howard family.”551e7a17837d1f73

Beth.c6022a61dc780fdd

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That name clung 5900b59aa6 to him, like 2cd9ee219e a viscous hallucination.bc5815a2bf6dabb4

 02ef35006f3e9706

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