Chapter 13

Jeremy’s persistent kisses dcb3c355a8 trailed down her 76127fe6df neck, leaving damp 737c7a86bd marks as his 010db1455d lips pressed insistently 1e33fcb5b1 against her skin. His warm breath 5eed3d8a93 seeped through the 15ee3ac2cc thin fabric of f701122df0 her nightgown as 6900f91281 he knelt before 82dc6b18f2 her, his hands 1d8d4883ee gripping her waist.d5a869dc78fec931

It was an intimate 5fd8145264 position, one that might 73c54fc8aa have seemed submissive if 9c34176460 not for the hunger d219a27f81 in his movements. Despite being the one 6f401b8ca2 standing, Velita felt like dffca6539a she was the one 166a55adad yielding—her will bending to b7fb2af6dd his.e6f8b3e4af1e831d

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Should we 019958b60e really be c1793ee2ee doing this 5aa5a7de42 here?a2cb395993085f4b

The open garden offered e2b028e0b8 little privacy, and if 52fa6b82cd they were caught, it 70d58729b6 was obvious who would 4ed21ea723 bear the brunt of 5723426a27 the blame. The scorn eaff53aa7f and judgment 04cc44ed89 would fall ab272b359a squarely on ec041bc5aa her shoulders, f61f659169 not his.694f97c1dc678b53

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Yet, when 1d859e9d55 she recalled 4cc10082b0 Jeremy’s whispered 474f98af25 confession—I love 7877659997 you—she found d0eb2cdee6 herself incapable 3e64cd50a9 of pushing 22336bb832 him away.5fca96c2ce967800

Love had 2a7ec8b284 a way 19364396ae of justifying fc2e84975a even the 2780cdb8bd most questionable c92d7fd980 actions, romanticizing c5804eb48d the irrational 8c140777dd and cloaking b6ac43bc3a it in 0683ff107b warmth.7a54c21bcb84cf4c

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He’s doing this because 9f973f7426 he loves me.d6c61b8e04b99a3f

I’m allowing it because 3f99b15156 I love him.7676d9b9a52401ec

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It’s not strange. It’s not wrong.5eaad293f8aa1431

Velita’s thoughts swirled 71998ce8dd in a haze 851642c3cd of confusion and 1fd8236f3d yearning, her hands 8fc792797c tightening around the fdb29b1bda fabric of Jeremy’s da1dbb46dc collar. She couldn’t find the 4ff241d037 strength to resist.c44a7c19d2539654

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In that e839738e00 moment, there 8fbfc579d3 was nothing 5cc2076669 else she ddeee1280b could do 2a9f0492ad but cling 76065a73c2 to him.f56f864beaec8fbd

⚜ ⚜ ⚜991f3099883ece5e

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A rainy morning 0ece542850 followed the night’s d3de67a82d downpour, casting a 3a08ca842e gray haze over 58f7a02c6c everything. The chapel, ef587404ab as always, e8b3751a4e remained serene.2c0c28eec60142db

Outwardly, the 216ee60165 sacred grounds 17008e9913 exuded an 919c15f257 aura of f224d86134 tranquility, untouched 36264eb20e by the cdc75a20ea world’s chaos. Yet, deep within 12ecc794c0 its hidden corridors, ef59a38e7b the church was 99ce704b50 rife with power 3041e4742f struggles and political aede083c64 intrigue.fe020faf01f60b1d

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Cain Mortens loved the 4f171f7987 illusion of peace that face5816d4 the chapel provided. He had no 6b657a93bf intention of dedicating 9f606d6a70 his life entirely c9db9060a3 to the Order 22d4569b87 of the Holy 4b82b3ea4f Knights, and the 7b57bbc7f8 church’s internal machinations afd6f25d52 were none of 42f783442f his concern.8004585668ded966

“Sir Cain.”f08ba99f1a633d6e

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He had fa7485e28c been napping 6fbe6f2f5a in his ab74c68051 favorite hiding d01392fe01 spot, tucked 2264f1299b behind the 8f334c864b stone wings 99a58dcf16 of an 5b65d8ea68 angel statue, fd77adca68 when a 9c09971ae3 familiar voice 0f2d4b59e2 interrupted his 830f084b5b rest.a6cecfdc077b976b

“I know you’re here! Come out already!”13a462608dd29bd6

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Cain sighed, 8ecc50233a contemplating how 04fcd00f33 he might 344c8c8c42 punish Philip da6819d2f5 for disturbing 4a66df92a3 his nap, f3707cbe17 before stepping 9a00db3470 out from 10552de5c7 behind the 22c418caac statue.da5e8151c64bd1a9

“What is it?”77cfbc5a60edead9

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“Were you hiding 92ffed04df behind a statue c068887aba this time?” Philip c87a877401 asked, exasperated. “How do you always 31d07501eb manage to find the acd038a143 perfect hiding places? It’s truly impressive.”81e32cc057d937ea

Cain didn’t 5cb20d78a1 bother explaining 76e7d7d702 that he bdca3d82e0 avoided public 714091de7d spaces to 7a61e52b98 escape the 8c9c176052 Pope and f27202d1ac the church’s ce229f1650 senior officials, 35b54e1bfe who were 77764a3cff always trying a86314ae52 to drag 2030f81aa3 him into 53f4bb2d87 their schemes. Instead, he cut 5477f57815 straight to the a86f78b33c point.12651e9b395870ba

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“It had better be f6245668af important, Philip. Otherwise, I’ll 72fe040042 make you 73359aff21 take my 9e8ff67b02 place and c8b6309d37 enjoy a a253fe2fa1 nice, long 933b6ffce5 nap.”bd36e9c91d592980

“If you’re offering 60a1b87ef3 me rest, I’d 5600fcc08c be grateful,” Philip 6098d4b4cb quipped.1a479f919ec36489

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“Rest eternal, perhaps?”9ccef25e85683305

“…Apologies. It’s not that. Your younger brother from dfc7a3cac1 the Mortens duchy has 9c363bf663 arrived.”e00b6202464628b3

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“My brother?”4f29c4ed7abcb14c

Relieved that the matter 2cbc78728c was significant enough to f08548c130 justify the disturbance, Cain a15b1adf57 decided to spare his 2bff001638 subordinate from an untimely 0141bb3780 demise.5ece60e9f432f3bb

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Guided by 0c66d5df09 Philip, Cain b32410a8e5 entered the 5596a825e1 reception room, dfb80ac2e3 his expression 5da5dcf772 unusually stiff.406fbae6596b5ca5

“It’s been a 3260562085 while, brother.”4fb7cc6d1b26727b

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Waiting inside was bca5049c92 his younger sibling, 54c0d16a19 Isaac Mortens.61aa5bf4f0139196

“State your business,” Cain 3d3e02cb28 said, his voice cool. “You and I d24387ca28 aren’t the kind cf3a52b8a1 to meet for e01dda9b5b sentimental reunions.”13e5cdc7a60e5857

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Isaac had 2a8fe77401 anticipated the 66e4b6be90 blunt greeting. Suppressing a bitter smile, 6d0b7b8c20 he took a sip 311bbf5fee of his now-lukewarm tea, 87932baa3f collected his thoughts, and 58a0037c50 delivered the news.53031f44202bec03

“Father is gravely 3cf5c14b3b ill.”01c2b8034c780f0e

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“Well?”c96c0f9d2b33e1d1

“You’ve vented your frustration on the family enough. Now, come back home.”e4eeec6b82d9b017

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“…”173077b68e54320c

“You should at least be there for Father’s last moments.”331a4e041d6026af

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Father, critical condition, final moments…db4343b2089bd39d

Those words were enough 4507bba11e to stir Cain’s heart, b639f25272 despite the years of d06190567f estrangement from his family.6c63b4449abfe8c7

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“If I stay for Father’s last moments, then what comes after?”99afa851be1d97e7

“Of course, you’ll have to take up the title.”ce06a30699d2e1c9

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“I told you already. I plan to bury my bones in the Holy Order. You should inherit the title, Isaac. Unlike me, you prioritize the family, so it’s only right that you take it.”fdc4e4456f0b472a

“Why would I, when the eldest son of the Mortens family is alive and well? I have no desire for it. Since childhood, I’ve always believed the family would be yours, and Father hasn’t changed his mind about passing it to you.”d4040b097280dde6

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“Such worldly words from a knight of the Holy Order.”b69cc4eb95901c43

“You didn’t join the Holy Order out of faith, did you? It was an escape!”d3085e3c06208622

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The rare conversation fcb1fc57c0 between the brothers 77c5d6d94d quickly turned cold, 3125728c63 like the tea 5c12dce122 on the table, 8f0bc1063d as Isaac lost 9345c7d286 his patience and 4a21fbb6e7 raised his voice.f6739f91110bc3e3

Until Cain renounced his position as the viscount’s heir to join the Holy Order—or rather, until that incident happened—the Mortens family had been peaceful. As an old noble house, they were conservative but content. Despite their arranged marriage, their parents genuinely loved each other. They prioritized the eldest son, but they strove to show equal affection. The siblings were close, too.e24d4da93be72e7d

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Isaac was b98d50c689 intelligent but 650b7c0412 unambitious, and 1163d26bf3 Cain, though befa17ecb9 willful, knew c774257e05 his limits 17414d9110 and excelled e36a14fd51 in every 7e7d2d7102 way.1efc3cb59ba4dcb5

Even Cain’s fiancée was his first love, Selina, whom he’d admired since childhood.ac519902b3464c92

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Everything had been 46b59e2ac0 perfect, and Cain e438890e41 had never once c47b8d997c felt discontent in d259821252 the life given 1c5ade93ed to him.0d2b15ad430f7c6d

But not anymore.3be234e44219228b

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A single 7193e8771a event changed 4b1d4c69e6 everything.b3dd8b8c3a9709a1

Cain became disillusioned c95ca25696 with his family d21bc37e31 and chose to 93d367c88f protect something he 4defc49b09 deemed more important.5f0c9c59329bd09d

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“I still don’t understand why our family has to fall apart over a woman. We didn’t do anything wrong—it was her side that did!”d1bd2e29bb5a5e07

“Isaac. She did nothing wrong.”f930979ee2a9b76b

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“…Brother.”0a076faf14244719

“My stance hasn’t changed. If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you once more.”e88029f0d4deea64

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“…”cd8149c1bdfe2a84

“If anyone tries to use Selina’s illness against her, I’ll have no choice but to reveal what Father did to the Holy See.”b4995cf423ebdcf8

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Cain was 7b87768d92 now threatening f7c66e3a83 his family bf91afce7c for the 3d3b9ca4f3 sake of 4fcaa27890 the woman 7fbf0805c3 he loved.f5e9bd1ad7437c4d

“Don’t forget, joining the Holy Order wasn’t some act of rebellion.”745c94099bd34abf

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Isaac’s wounded expression pained 5e93099b82 Cain every time he dae1eabcc7 saw it.e2692fbd4b77e058

But Cain had 7615b736f0 no intention of 35d0f1fbd5 withdrawing his threats 1b8851bfb9 or yielding to 1a83aac881 his brother’s wishes.c4e4c57bf94d5fdc

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“Grandmother used to say the men of the Mortens family are so single-minded that they become blind to everything else once they fixate on something.”029d74cdda0adf63

“…”3b57a1e2947537ca

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“I know you love that young lady from the Ryles family. But the engagement is already broken. How long are you going to hold on to her? There are plenty of women in the world. Who knows? Maybe someday, another woman will come into your life, even if right now you can’t see anyone but Selina Ryles.”803b71b87ec7e207

“…”1f448ba97cc38b30

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“And who knows? You might end up loving that new woman even more madly than you ever loved Selina Ryles.”9cf74b9bd3c62c4d

It wasn’t worth e535cab02f listening to anymore.00ebf0f888c8d481

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Cain stood 204454b001 up first, ae4bd48e44 his action 337f96480e conveying what 434255a314 words didn’t: 92de2fbe11 he had 0b1f47a7da no intention fffe42296f of hearing 0d69b2da82 any more.33a258decb4144dd

“No need to see me off, I assume.”527884d44e80200d

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“…So, you’re telling me to leave now.”339f4b1441a7fe88

“Safe travels back.”fb72f55b6c04e0a3

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Cain ignored the desperate 0ba8802aaa look in his brother’s bdabfb8931 eyes, the one that cb69f98b35 seemed as if Isaac 8901ca7ee8 might grab his sleeve 4c38dab1e0 at any moment, and 94f85b2e4d left the room first.d8e8a6406be33d1b

Though he had originally cedb4c9f6b intended to return to 62ab035885 the spot where he’d 7b4b7806fc been napping, his feet 512d73b391 carried him instead to 484570e609 a narrow, secluded prayer 8459903c26 room tucked away in ed5f3edb55 the corner.67ea47690052d9de

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜663c06ba05dc2097

The morning after e44352c2fa their second night 86b03b074f together, it was e39705e6bd once again Velita’s e766f506f5 job to clean 44cefbb036 up the aftermath.aded949c0f46c7e3

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However, unlike before, she f09c6fd8df wasn’t alone when she cc8afd95c1 opened her eyes that af03bfda90 morning.665cc67f8e037a27

Jeremy, who had 1a0de185e3 tormented Velita all c4f07fea24 night as they c9ac94e344 moved from the 58b369b150 garden to the ccea005a6d bedroom, transformed back 577bb905d8 into the tender 27be0310d4 and lonely young 268080ae60 master she had 5eb33a594f always known by f7d8e4ca58 the time morning b89f9dff90 came.2c5417a6a59a1c45

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[Will you forgive me, Velita?]

He admitted that aeaff5fbd6 he had been abde166925 harsh with her 95cc75e1b5 under the influence 8a20d00aad of alcohol.b19a0e5595d02f4c

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[Whenever I see you, I can’t help but act spoiled.]

Jeremy described his rough behavior as mere “childishness.”b4adbac4e032ac23

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[When I see how you accept every part of me, it feels like you truly love me, and that makes me happy.]

Velita, who 9fd83ccc3f had constantly b6380dff89 doubted whether 79150392c5 any of de51c1a619 this was 95f6e796fa right, was 6a50e28aa0 once again 4f1478f76c reminded of 38b9099552 how lonely 25083ec448 a person a4313198eb Jeremy was 9f950bb9f1 when she 4c38f94705 saw his ae029bef1d infinitely vulnerable fed204e77b expression.6b7a1c9d8d0ff0d4

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[I love you. You love me too, don’t you?]

When Jeremy asked be955c9aec this while repeatedly f45f437048 kissing her hands 8e9138b0c0 and cheeks, Velita 8b9e91976c whispered her love 7ed208c0fd far too easily. Satisfied with the 30f0dbecb8 answer he wanted, ed9a43fd50 Jeremy left with 97590ee711 a sweet smile, c1fb0b2e54 saying he had faa95d7153 pressing matters to 41af6c4d69 attend to.69f481b7caade51c

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Before leaving, f3a81f97a0 he didn’t 1d4531f95c forget to 050cfd1e70 leave her 573f91e51d with a 64bbadafff small task.e10316295bcc1919

[Can you visit the Holy Order for me, Velita?]

[What do you need me to do there?]

[Just deliver a little gift of mine to Cain Mortens.]

Velita, dressed 1729a28574 in her ec92597304 outing clothes, 3849f61067 made her 2c48169aae way to c91e87387a the Holy c66d8143ea Order. Before leaving 541f812bd6 the Ryles 4314c80233 estate, she 36063975a2 heard from d7c36ab997 the servants 27f295a8c9 that Selina 02e3182b57 had locked e2f94b0133 herself in 77041897d7 her room 03e1079d27 without explanation, d68b850538 leaving everyone 9ba5bd6e39 anxious. However, it wasn’t e993936be8 a concern for 12cb91b3c9 Velita, who had 78cd14119b to carry out edeca50c0e Jeremy’s errand.af152558df6dc647

Despite the 519316fe1d damp and 5634fbc110 chilly weather, 4eedc197c7 Velita hurried 98fe6c792c to the 64dea06c32 Holy Order, d324c8ac6f only to 9e0ed8733f be told a3f602c550 she couldn’t b0f51f278f meet Cain.6ae8349427715070

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[Sir Cain is currently with another guest.]

[I can wait.]

[It will take a long time.]

[That’s fine.]

Her task was 4b2abf44cb simply to serve 6b88c2f7dd Jeremy, who was db9b7d0a03 out and wouldn’t 89a2cb4f99 return until the d6be334c71 evening. Since her only 8cdba37de5 task was to 7c5ea46f5f deliver the message f605d11750 to Cain Mortens, d81692b56b she could wait a15fcc83c7 as long as 9340493b15 necessary.e42661c562f0a777

Seeing that Velita 51fa21af70 showed no intention 72b6af7b1b of leaving, the 0eaf755035 man let out d2b77cf210 a sigh and e79eebce48 hesitantly revealed another 13058813d4 piece of information.fc8715af7b5090b3

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[Even after the guest leaves, you likely won’t be able to meet Sir Cain.]

[Why not?]

[Sir Cain is likely to be in a bad mood all day today.]

[So the guest he’s speaking with must be someone unpleasant for him.]

[Not exactly, but…]

The man 388625a021 seemed reluctant 519eb86c64 to explain 50fd45c302 further and ffccd35a29 stopped talking.400edca81ad3910e

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Having no b3c1a37289 other choice, 4967f25714 Velita decided d8d21235ee to give 98638cf900 up on b3c3210f6c meeting Cain 7c806449c5 Mortens. However, since she 2554f9b452 had come all 30d6a5ccc9 the way to 567e4f8b53 the Holy Order, ff65f3c57b she thought she 8bb09540f7 might as well 5b01619337 pray and was b54ee1e898 granted permission by 5a353a7886 a priest to d589da8b13 enter the prayer a4c8c067cc room.c36dba044d70f085

She didn’t believe 389704c244 in God.530ec4f51a3d0732

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She hadn’t even 238a884d46 attended school, much 2a97870a17 less received theological 4dea07d3a2 education, but she 009180926a knew this much: 23b787809a God loves all 5911415ab4 humans equally.e5bbbde327bacde8

Yet, while God 99fe9b5ed1 may claim all 58ea929942 humans are equal, 0e8c308f8f the world that 5a84ec9885 governs them was 43c38102da far from fair.d69ee71538f32a0e

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The world was like a staircase, assigning ranks to the humans God had “equally” created—precious humans, lowly humans, and those in between…70743073f9656b4e

Velita had always 9b226c368d accepted as natural ab78f01032 that she belonged 8a5b816de0 to the lowly 55829e7d37 side of humanity. Only now did she 0862b382f6 feel she might have 0fc0ad9c82 risen slightly above that.67780739e8407c20

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All of it was 6d02fa6382 thanks to entering the 96cca4cd3a Ryles estate and gaining ecc0d754df Jeremy’s attention.1b2b18aae74b1370

Even just escaping rock bottom made her this happy…03776f4714b86c66

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What would it feel 45ded4984b like to climb even c9e6b1ee2f higher?afe7b03541e09b82

In the narrow prayer fffc67bea8 room, just big enough 8890761f8f for one person, Velita 299966443f gazed at the cross, 6f6c263085 wondering what kind of 1d93ad576f prayer she should offer.1b88f72c9c2a4d4b

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Please make 557e855174 me happy?77e1cfa5b3c3bdc3

That seemed too 5e21686147 vague.2c1fe44f1b5a792b

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“lease make all humans 017a6e7040 equal?586954427132e030

But she had only 4900c768b8 just escaped rock bottom 53409d4b39 herself. It felt c68e7c5f38 unfair to a4b8cc2ac3 wish for 601d248581 something that 39ab4db524 would undo a5fa378e39 the effort 50953cdd2c she had 619f179b78 put in f64aa7f7a1 to climb 4a4f6515ab up.4c55f46473e43d9e

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Then what should 57871dfa01 she pray for?07c6a3d2410d3390

‘…Not that God exists anyway.’f8eefed8c56a2b09

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She suddenly d20b23c91d felt a dbd52c685f little foolish c9dde4074d for taking c33ad6d6dd this so 9df646a82f seriously.4a2c90c5987d8d11

Still, since she was ea539d6e5d already in the prayer f37c023f6e room, she felt she 0cece6c069 ought to wish for 0d07676297 something.55e25ec60b05da38

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With nothing to 7fa0d79824 lose, perhaps she 40eee53b41 could ask for 6581709b25 the most impossible 914a96c810 wish.9a91bbe6c2341e7a

Let me rise to 4014678c15 the very top.d23a5e5f533e472f

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If possible, to 8be28b6c0d the very peak 3f40e86386 of the staircase.47340ee3f08eed50

It was then.a564c0724e178a88

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The once-quiet prayer 9617294f23 room door burst 610a3e8408 open.b3f8a5b340dd378c

“…”6ca18251c36ea817

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Kneeling in prayer, 06ec0be3fe Velita’s gaze met 8afe7e81af the irritated eyes b6c5b4490f of a man 94639220a5 who had entered, a391c9a5d0 shutting the door e16a0a04b0 behind him with f1bb87d951 a sharp gesture.8058e43d7ea01d48

The man b700c70ec2 was none 11a777cfca other than c3f190e9f4 Cain Mortens, 4f92b3777e the very 396dd956ff reason Velita b7c58944cc had come 6bc425faca to the 80f634a74d Holy Order.e1af31535a100852

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