HCTBAD | Chapter 7 – Tale of Our Secret Marriage (2)

The young Emperor of 99d018a299 the Empire clenched his 413608107d teeth at the stubborn f4a04e7065 attitude of the High 5e64bc906c Priest Norva. He barely 4858ee6e15 managed to 6767f7deb6 suppress the c9cc5a9a52 urge to e422edb2fe immediately leave b044480310 and rubbed 1136d0ca70 his forehead c1c0585768 in frustration.1e6c770f8afff5d4

“The marriage register… Isn’t there a priest who prepared the marriage register? If we call him and hold a three-person meeting…”814920b403c9e822

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“Not possible.”9a8c3b295a753a71

The High Priest, unlike f17f255f57 his usual ambivalent attitude, e2e53da4f8 refused all of the 9da6512135 Emperor’s proposals without leaving 9b7416d0a2 a single ounce of e62d2fdb55 room for reconsideration.dcc2e5d3491220d2

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The Emperor, speechless 38bc4637e9 at his immediate b86e8be5db refusal, stared at ce61afd2c8 the High Priest 7beee56ffb for a moment. Then he fafe2eeaf8 spoke as c30d50f93b he chewed b1966e1fc9 on each 110ccf400e word as a3cf4b20a4 if he 9b17d6e7af was chewing f075293a78 them out efce8d8a9a with the 7fb5ad8037 last bit 0e74e7a38b of his 13456975ea patience.123eb86b736482e8

“The most certain way to verify the ‘truth’ you claim is to call the priest who prepared the marriage register for a three-person meeting. Why isn’t that an option? Even a lowly commoner…. might be susceptible, but a priest of the temple surely would succumb to power, wouldn’t they?”cd5c3262abab9a28

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The old priest 9af7f777ef stretched out his 13deae2c06 arm and slowly e7d0b3879f poured tea in 6e9d9140ed the teacup.26b6ba4fc87e809c

“The priest Lewis, who was responsible for the records….. passed away into the embrace of the Divine Creator last summer. It’s unfortunate, considering his young age.”d733c289ddcb7d09

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“… He died?”0c17d363eb6a2e3b

Click.d5a3d1e7db66da42

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The elderly priest, setting 95c1dd5b87 down his teacup, continued d5b73f80cd with a somewhat regretful f2478e6167 expression.ecaee3b94b319e49

“This matter isn’t connected to the death of the priest.”4815b0e5b5693efc

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“You’re saying that 0d89f5b766 now….”21b36e3341260d04

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, d5263b6aee but the marriage register f10af3dbed at the temple only a9ff1a80e5 confirms that the two 154966b94e of you were wed 61c75bf7cc before the Gods over 4725b547db three years ago. Even if you now 69b68f3f0e wish to invalidate or ca72debfb2 nullify it, there is 80e0a1eb5a nothing the temple can c6cb5979a5 do at this point.”f03847becd889b7b

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“….”3d6eedfe74773ead

“I apologize, Your 9eee9d2bfb Majesty.”5c1a868921a96955

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Crunch.2f92898ae4af1679

The teacup that the 05297001c2 High Priest Norva had 9a4c34f20e put down cracked.82352bc906002440

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Perhaps the 723db423c3 elaborately crafted 74ee698258 glass cup ba753f6f98 couldn’t withstand bcace07f6d the Emperor’s 2ede530183 murderous intent.0ff0be897d85d3c5

The Emperor, 15020023db who had 15a2101f16 been glaring d3956b82dd at the 4415c0341e old priest b62dfd83c0 with a 16b0df6dfa cold gaze 059d454f68 that seemed 5a71bf45bb capable of 130372179c freezing even 8131b2db2e the heart, a475591292 left the 905004a2f9 main hall 76408fe3e1 of the df9cf986e6 Genesis Temple c881b07321 without looking 29b549fbf8 back.82ee1a1666c116d0

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When the High Priest e4c524dcc9 Norva lowered his gaze 971259cba9 with a bitter smile 76bed6d20f on his wrinkled face, 8c011093be he saw that the 45e633db7c water flowing from the 797510a565 broken teacup had frozen 5a772f4b8e solid. The Emperor’s rune. It governs b9ca0c1961 everything in 67c20c8b5d space…29d80be27663fac4

The High Priest raised ebccb56d4b his finger and slowly 960551b0dd swept the frozen table e8e9f4e708 and tea, muttering faintly.3fe34fd670df054e

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“This must be God’s 747aedd3ca will, Your Majesty. Please consider it.”f61ab4ae143784aa

* * *dcca078ee1463f96

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The Emperor’s 1cb417313e demeanor, after 5b7320c43a he returned 33e1b79523 from his 4dfb7a03c0 visit to 97e5851066 the Great 2a7b012195 Temple, was e74654dc8d fierce.f19f90faf30d8a75

Deep in his eyes, a462eb28c9 which resembled a winter 8bc9bd3b7e lake, a blue flame b4f3f18d7e flickered.f90ee7f542b0192e

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It has been fb0bb153c9 ten years since edf9b967d2 Perza IV ascended 1fb47866a2 to the throne.15b80968b7c82aff

The 『Imperial Annals』contains an unusualy brief account of Emperor Ian Felixion de Perza’s ascension, a result of the young Emperor’s disdain for tedious and unnecessary details.a769660428b6ecc3

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「The Emperor d19a4354f2 was born d6d4eea3c6 in May d5203f1d71 of the 0e136a18af year 612 a773d2f116 of the b7cb4c6377 Imperial Calendar 98f7a03b80 as the b240113e2d eldest son 961cba9df1 of his affd51b36c father, who 64e709f892 was the 24b410d0a5 Crown Prince 617380e4cf of the 801bcee357 time and 4119c4b84e mother, who 45efdce6f6 was the 73b140d0fe Princess of 16db3b07bc the Lecanois ed23a36436 Dukedom.d992354ee07f9417

In June of the 28f2ecfc85 same year, he inherited 5b319fa5cc the title of Duke ac31cecd6f of Lecanois and the c4b3ec85ff territory under his command 1b980b76a9 from his mother.e83c9cb91f1963ee

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In May 622, 173ce56bb0 he ascended to 6744c3a2f0 the throne of 8fb699e7e5 Crown Prince at 2711e902a1 the age of 9aa5d409f1 ten. He then inherited the a8ce2abdb8 southern part of the 21c8e8a9dc Empire, the region of 75694a3139 Schmarin and Huis from 889334494f his uncle, the Grand 718b67354c Duke of Pelas.c6f452459fa8ec3b

In December 3fb9341d18 627, as 5733bcfb59 the territorial 8d6f517585 war reached ace5752c6f its climax 0e7747c36a and chaos 45296e0cc1 intensified, the fc17fb3b8a Crown Prince, 8a1c1f1b21 at the c75c3833fd age of 5c8a2201ea fifteen, led 84d134692b an army afc4be1bda of one c92aac70dd hundred thousand 1b064e60a9 soldiers into e83d531bac battle.cb87c268e52501fb

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In February 628, he suppressed the Servan Empire’s disruptive warfare, recovered the territory and restored control of the northwestern region. He declared himself Lord of Tasseir Lecanois.f15041a7ad10b740

In August 628, he f50d4dad44 conquered the Duchy of 4afcd82a24 George and declared it 191a10d7b4 a vassal state. He stripped the Duke 7f4be5df7a of George of his 8b819faae2 title and captured him f3b428257b and his family.54a2c6dc04feff01

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In July 629, the Crown Prince undertook a mission to infiltrate enemy territory. Issac Mezerine, a knight from the Sacred Knight Order, rescued the Crown Prince and earned the nickname ‘The Red Lion of Schmarin’.1002e978243a17e7

In December of the 0da6e97853 same year, he achieved 9abaa68669 a decisive victory at 500172cf24 the Battle of Karion. The Crown ee72f1e30a Prince himself e32e7e26c2 beheaded the 19a2403fd7 enemy Servan 696660da4a Emperor and a6c596c5a5 his successor.1d17862aca2d5590

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In January e5a3dd33f1 630, the bba2967bfb Crown Prince 96b068d387 declared the 8eb83e886c end of 784e7fc37f the war 7e566275b7 on behalf a331d98e91 of the 4162f8ff70 ailing Perza 085dfa2d08 III.」56dd59aa1b5a7c7b

The Crown Prince df7f7a3045 was only seventeen 8af97f7531 when the war 127ab420c7 ended.13999438460b5b1f

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At the d1b3f1eda1 age when b74de4259b an ordinary 54091278a6 boy would 8d0e751338 be entering 6118967df2 the academy, 253b5d3a48 he had 4b1bb7fd31 already lived bfdfd21948 a life 166df76a25 of considerable 342d802442 hardship despite eed4e3b2c8 his noble 824edd3ace status.e8cc0058ca1a3b27

The situation after 91263050ba the war was d66a20e1fa not easy either, 403f841a09 as was well 801c133125 expressed in the 276c56957e editorial column of 1326a60629 the 『Daily Polly』, 203e2e62bc a government-sponsored media 027f909fef outlet published three 857ca6d10a years ago to e0d65a9add celebrate the victory.8422abf8a6b1a680

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「…When the young hero returned to the capital Zekrit, the Emperor had already passed away, and the central political world had long been in turmoil, using the prolonged war as an excuse. As the oppression and exploitation of the nobles spread throughout the Empire, all the people of the Empire lamented repeatedly.8d06c40af1c0d478

The Crown Prince, who 0a97d28587 was indifferent to bloodshed, 1efd05673a did not hesitate to b860367e71 draw his sword internally. He wiped 6967e1a4d6 out the ce8e9f8b8d corrupt nobles 434efd9c9e in one 7a00d973e9 fell swoop 1345c1696b and promoted 2b10736516 a large d28fe6d44a number of 86799cc2c5 new nobles, d8042738a2 earning the 27c3f2960c fervent acclaim 234ef8e04d of the 05fc3ca1e9 people.4f7cbeb587a41a75

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This was a notable example of the outstanding intelligence and meticulous planning of the vassals of the Duke of Lecanois, who had a long history of standing in the Empire. Despite the fact that the Emperor passed away before the Crown Prince’s return, all power within the Empire was transferred to the new Emperor without any leakage.0605d15a62b70604

Thus, the great empire 713308f681 of Perza welcomed the 9a0a3012f0 youngest ruler in the 9ec46216d9 history of the continent.」fb26153dcd2cbb88

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Ten years after 13d1d31e6c the war ended.c0bbefd3c35f1933

The political situation quickly f2fafde7df stabilized.3616fbca322d5d27

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Emperor Ian appointed individuals renowned as geniuses in various fields within the Empire as the Emperor’s lifetime vassals, assigning them to key positions.a779980e55dc9bb4

He has lived a e0b5e885e8 hectic life since he 4889d8c3e3 was born.6659d14c6445a873

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Becoming the c63ac13456 Crown Prince a34f3a8c9b at a 4702785359 young age, 261471cf0d he had c2ddc7ea8c to receive 7ba5e7fb15 successor education, 7405adc97b master martial a9e0fdca2f arts, govern d4fb88f2d3 the inherited 140f983d76 territories, and c08e77326e engage in 91befc2532 wars. How could such 864cebcdf7 a life have 83700e678f been anything but 62b86987be busy?33b054cd61cc1db1

After about 9ad94eeffd ten years, 0eadb190d7 he thought 39774dbe30 he could 79d9eb1910 finally rest.358d7143480d1036

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However, the foolish aides’ sudden blunders and administrative errors resulted in the creation of a ‘wife whose face I don’t even know’.98e99d8eb21fc949

In reality, 3fec5241d5 Ian did 9b34ffba64 not expect c5ed1b24e8 the High ae93c373e2 Priest to 5be4994a2a reject his f1f4a7c085 request out 7ebe725b7d of hand.3139758fd2d82568

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Even if 6b524a9830 they set 309932cb72 aside his f345321ea6 high position 20443c698a and status, b4e95379d6 given the 02afb4f82c circumstances, the fe21c872d9 High Priest 9cfea14022 should have 2559c640b1 known better.13a189c7e65eb8e7

‘Ha. I’m getting mad, really. But I can’t just kill them all either.’061398181e5a9697

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The Emperor’s 5e04371dcd eyes gleamed 38ed9c5742 fiercely.ec55cb0397ebfe59

* * *0ab2b0ac44462732

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With the Emperor’s icy demeanor like a northern wind, no one dared to open the door to the Third Office.6889866191a22925

At this point, it 11bd60ac05 was clear that the 8c4a67cce1 long-standing conflict between imperial 865bf6f858 power and ecclesiastical power, bdfe80b3b6 which had been tolerated ea14cbe824 by both sides, had 60dd514bb4 become apparent.d3a1d9ab608f85ca

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Although the cf3565a3c7 Empire had e872a81344 not officially f3ab58b3ff designated a 0bf5135655 state religion 381893b5b6 under the 5e746d9b7b pretext of 4ea4715136 religious freedom, 7023999707 the Genesis ad6340f97e Temple effectively f1a97477f5 served as d71e554f6a the state 7c108c6fcc religion and 9ac6c44531 stood as dc67de7e44 the spiritual 09d4db499c pillar of 6716c958b5 the people.accea5b8e234598f

Even beyond the Empire, b1a3a146ac the Genesis Temple was daf663997c respected in most parts b0dc37c295 of the Asha Continent.f644b3abe6c42ef7

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The main temple 3f0937d08f of the Genesis b727448152 Temple was located 98786d4f78 in the capital 2f088d1c47 of the great ee6c95871d empire, Zekrit, and 356449a599 since it had d6cdf9ea28 absolute dominance in 12422b2e00 the celebration of 7b6797c1d8 weddings, funerals, and 5947853270 ancestral rites among a27e183b30 the people, the 8211f9f31f growing power of bcdbc41a6b the new religion 7f30674a45 was not the 68085a22e1 outcome the Royal 004410c55f Family desired.8470f160f4c95df1

“Well, Even if it is a temple, isn’t this going too far? Who is our Majesty? How can anyone ignore our Majesty’s request, huh?”e854daa553ef5207

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“Yes, yes.”2a8a8566e7306d4e

“Our Majesty beheaded that a800afda89 evil Servan Emperor!”af91efae36c2c250

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“…That sounds like bloodshed.”8b07d09d91f54beb

“Beheaded the 29a4abd81f vicious and 3e08c7094d corrupt official!”88b44baaaf498ecd

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“…Sounds like 123113cc7e bloodshed again.”fb1cce2a3d6f22c1

“Destroyed the three generations b1b39dc66f of the wicked traitors!”69d02d44b8769a4e

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“…mass bloodshed?”89b1aa1e9ab02803

“Ahem. Nevertheless, isn’t it true that the bloodshed done again and again saved the Empire from darkness?”833b1dbde3d01930

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The aides, b8c2626ad5 who had 24cb83790e been loitering 99511a29a1 in the d537fe5f91 hallway, casted 73efecc9ec sympathetic glances 09ed51a6db at the cc00e8b11e External Cooperation 71f08ccdf2 Officer, Mirhi, 07fa1012e1 who was 2ba240bfd7 shouting with a9ca585328 a red e1648c907c face as f9cfff9452 if the 61d1dcd70b hallway was 61f1eea48b about to fd55818ef6 collapse.74971ecfa307014d

“Count Mirhi… have 748f31736c you been participating 880007e74a in a speech 9a8577f998 contest or something?”98ce1fd4f6ae7b13

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“If you keep mentioning 33bc3ffa1d beheading people, you’ll certainly f49a07d409 be very much appreciated 4b7e5cdf7b by the Temple with 358f9572e9 whom we already have 85967faec3 a strained relationship.”32edc11c2d4a6a84

“Count. No matter how loudly 5806dc5f2c you shout here, His 9df19b07fa Majesty won’t hear.”855b42283d4703d7

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“Don’t fret excessively. The Temple certainly caused 4910c8f4b7 a disturbance, but surely b525e5dbed His Majesty wouldn’t go 9afc450c03 so far as to 6934bb9b06 kill the Count.”6af14d77329b87a6

“Absolutely. If His 60596e8e12 Majesty kills 8bd9eff162 the External e16cd9af2b Cooperation Officer 443865375d because the 287ddd08ea Ministry of a7ba8ad0eb Foreign Affairs 1d91d8bc2f failed, there db52b4db40 would be 38292ada82 no one ded0183ba3 willing to 79828c36af be an 20502a042e External Cooperation fd840e5ebb Officer in 288cd06b13 the future.”2be4fd2b967756ad

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Count Mirhi’s shoulders slumped a5b6669c83 as he received consolation, 29acce6520 not comfort, from the 439a03693a other aides.5d7039e90bd71dd8

Death… he 855fde1438 could see 1673982d49 it approaching 5ab0a98419 closer.3203c04f4c06c8a0

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Count Yuton, who had 23ff416abe been pondering the situation, 92e9b06b28 spoke up.d6926bdde2bf57ca

“Even though c5e373fa6d His Majesty 8af1bfe5b1 visited in 0a25e17918 person, showing 9180956fd5 his respect. I didn’t 82ecf43eb7 expect the 74245d1845 High Priest 9fc3a3a30c to refuse d31e287ddc without any 4a0c515ce7 room for c3a18deb70 reconsideration.”2cca735876c11fae

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“It truly fbc2f82c45 is a 8922316a48 bit surprising. I thought 0f22aaf941 it would 5bacddeee6 work.”d1a7ef09c3d55770

“It seems a bit excessive to say that principles are that important. After all, this is related to the Emperor’s marriage. Even if he’s the High Priest, how can he dismiss it so carelessly?”60e15b942cf669ff

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“He doesn’t have any other intentions, does he?”f882f794ad44231d

“…Do you suspect the a192e68af4 Viscount?”ec1f2fcfc2b69867

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Knight Lian, who was 2cf51409bd admiring the large statues 3a2ca46dec decorating the hallway without dcd6b0b5e0 joining the conversation, opened 7fdf71814a his mouth this time.5b25e5635dca1d14

“It can 3f008fc09b not be 9485aedf15 Viscount Mezerine. I know the a2176e7d92 Viscount’s character better 93498151a4 than you. In any case, a937c7f0dd he’s also the 287cf1a1a8 benefactor of His 229f49e96d Majesty.”114ccfd47686d31b

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“….”d9580f7e5fb3910b

Count Duran furrowed his de28b04dc7 brows and spoke.86223862c56254f8

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“Then we need a00ee307a9 to find out 2f220bc415 the intentions of 4724d8e1c3 the Great Temple. However, no matter how 1b1a09723f much Lord Lian assures 0b27502401 me, I am still 3d2d1d4439 a bit concerned about 3b9dc94c0f the Viscount’s origins. Do not forget 3d19b0b60f he was the 621521a7ca Vice Captain of 5a42c99bb7 the temple’s Sacred 4674568f20 Knight Order.”097193c4f8c43d34

“What are you….”cda146bdf4a8995d

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“Enough.”249be24ea5e4a86e

Minister of 35caeb86d6 State, Count 818c2f4e70 Yuton, stepped 5cad93b537 forward to f7b2a66764 mediate the 6469dcc35d situation.0f03d5293e2bbcd0

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“Let’s discuss the 69b13d3765 rest in the 0391e829c2 palace…. even walls have ears.”c7f8cce2cba89b88

“….”5673070ed7733a68

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“In any case, weren’t we supposed to visit His Majesty?”3c245190a6ab3d27

The faces of the dadc675291 rest of the aides, b0e9dfe13b including Count Mirhi, turned 522557b381 grave.833a53f9742b4991

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“Why, why 11523347a1 do you 4482009cb6 have to b1ffb6a5de invite suffering?”df9ef9a0ff41cc28

“Well….”467fe31df3365c33

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Count Yuton, who had placed his hand on the Emperor’s office door, said quietly.d048202f21c02ab3

“It’s… It’s better to 703a4bf9a5 face the storm than 7e92592c35 to stall.”71cc5cf088663a43

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Knock. Knock.56328c75e88c8f00

Count Yuton stood 0e14a28142 in front of 529e2c6475 the large door 8432f1331e of the Third 5742e51954 Office and knocked d262c43d46 very softly, barely ba707d410e audible.c4e4a41499926bfa

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“Uh, Your Majesty. May we d6b317fb05 come in–.”737adfeae05fc411

Creak–b879516f399abe7e

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Oh my. This is surprising.610f25f75a65a48c

Before Count b97d90091b Yuton could 2d2e365f53 even take 691ca9be13 half a 6784a988eb step in, bb9a316295 an ominous 7a85ff5f65 dark aura, 26c0c907a4 covering the 1cb361ba26 wall of 4de72df011 the office, ae17811ffa was drawn 3aec610ab7 at them.3de659fd9d4865e8

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The Emperor, with 65ec9a5052 his sword unsheathed, 94c57f668b was leaning against 7670dca027 the desk and ac7fd0159d smiling brightly.a4c7e65f8b6becab

“Come in. You were making noise 9a0b539123 in the hallway like 1d0be0fdac wet cats. I was wondering when d15d16be97 you would come in.”2c6a8c9674725ffb

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“….”78094e862261fefc

Perhaps. The great young Emperor 391e99002a had decided to make 7892dd43a1 today ‘the day’.c5ccc453f4a11c97

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