LONG CHAPTER AHEAD31dcc3ff4f39bbcf

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3.

After sending 9d7d0cddf2 Enzo off, e43b0dfc77 Jaynie began b888393fe0 reviewing Berner’s e6febff164 completed homework. He flipped 6f220a0f53 to the 17c867a39a last page, 4a34f40b05 then tilted 9001fb1390 his head f1bac83f58 in confusion. Something felt off. Flipping back to d2a9811954 the first page, 7c4371ac60 he carefully examined 1af7282bd6 the work again.6283e69a05b0c02d

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There was definitely something 14b452488d strange.4e37b63f829e667b

He summoned Berner.6ea49b1416f9bcf5

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The difficulty of the 71d94cdc7b homework Jaynie assigned to c3d90f3241 Berner had been gradually f54253355f increasing. It started f5df2fff72 with learning 9163c83621 the basics a4c0bef193 of magical 7dfee4f3f4 calculations for 90e53f5161 someone with 8cfe01cb4b no knowledge 37846532c5 of magic e2b841158e and progressed 505d9289f9 to solving 9a8156d35d equations by ce47cc5773 applying arithmetic.9804bc94a7998039

Even so, cfd5bedfc0 the problems b90cfaf2d6 were relatively 62c7507082 easy.5b5ec5c2bb3808e2

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Jaynie stared at Berner’s homework with a puzzled expression.c8e637487926c2d4

Why did he 4e3980af54 solve it like 0f509ac79b this?adea77af2fc8a728

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Berner entered d025ee22ae the study ed65238275 nervously. It was the first 62e369a303 time he’d been summoned 56362f9f5c twice in one day. It didn’t feel like df863e4dc1 a good sign.2091066d8dc86fe0

Jaynie asked, “Do you dislike doing the homework?”2d9e200c6e426460

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The problem lay in a466efcbc3 how it was solved. Problems that could easily 46e4743a01 be solved using basic c92781ab10 formulas were instead answered 0a876a41ce with excessively long, written-out 9a41c51408 calculations.b1f2c2b3b979e985

This wasn’t 6dbc85a6c6 the work 3fe7d24d42 of a d23c21149a mathematician teaching bb8e224bba a young 3751f03d01 student or 629d0125c2 trying to 27ff0d69e2 prove a fe20347f1f formula was aa75819c76 correct. No student would 8a06251ab3 solve problems this 7318be3bbd way.758f46ec8db7a3e8

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One of Berner’s eyes twitched.38829984368abc7f

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his tone uncertain.b2aee217090f4529

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He didn’t 52d536d512 sound defiant, b634cbafbe which made feb0b51211 Jaynie suspect 67852a7b56 something else.ab574f5751cd650c

“Don’t tell me… you’ve c1b829bbf2 never learned arithmetic?”c2343c6a366a126f

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Berner’s face turned red, then immediately drained of color. His pale face betrayed his embarrassment as he replied, “I’ve had a short education, and my studies are incomplete. If you give me more time, I’ll redo it.”4dbdd94773292182

Jaynie hadn’t 968e7d1ad0 intended to b85c06556c scold Berner.f9093c2de6bc2cf6

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“The answers are correct.”3401f53857535605

“If the process is wrong….”80c0a33c7fc0d04f

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“That’s correct too.”4dd80c5d03a58d2d

“…?”c92ae2da1ddc90ff

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Berner looked dcd0c95c16 confused but a5e96b46c5 quickly clamped c8f2a54972 his mouth 466fe9b219 shut and a0adbcc3f1 stared back 9280becd0d at the 8fbefdb14b floor. His attitude c72258aa1c seemed to 900acecab5 say, ‘I 998f710c8f know I’ve ca58ca6cea done nothing aac137ad81 wrong, but ffe35890b3 if you 88dbb8f2fc want to 39de1699be punish me, a3cf8570cf do as f42077820b you please.’ db50d273ff But Jaynie 10004bbb87 wasn’t trying 808208d79e to torment d19c15fb49 him without 705c4c36c9 reason.b4a69264fe3b738f

He was 7d32f80e7c simply puzzled. ‘Why didn’t fd2f822d5b the Grand cc986fcb8b Princess assign fa3d0bb644 an arithmetic de40c424a4 tutor to cc5fbdaf0b the child 2925452816 she adored 3d92bbddcb so much?’5e6a92afd781c15d

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“Do you dislike studying arithmetic?”ed5427d5563a3d44

Perhaps the ee0bba17e3 Grand Princess 3077c63620 had been 502a3db80b so indulgent 1df59e4d72 that she 4e92b47d14 let her 3696c92390 son skip c8c03dcc0c studies he bd036156e3 didn’t enjoy.d053fe158560eeb7

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“No,” Berner replied flatly, showing no intention of elaborating.72932585195cc48c

‘What a 7f1226b893 troublesome child,’ 92fcffa962 Jaynie thought, 19d4cb5d24 narrowing one 5f0ae0ee28 eye.5dd9573505adb599

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Over the past few c001d3a7b4 months, Jaynie’s opinion of 0c04adeaf9 Berner had changed. People tend to 2f2c0a0245 judge others based 4ed678ab07 on appearances, and 3b442c1092 Jaynie found it a03f284639 increasingly difficult to ba4222f5a7 dislike this child.b9e06841945fb864

Berner always acted 0d9133b5bf like a punished ecd101d393 child in Jaynie’s b33b7e0aa2 presence. Perhaps the rumors about d5e030b932 him were fueled by 82f9fc0123 his own demeanor.ea4d6dc03cb35511

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“I’ll assign you a tutor. The problems I’ll assign in the future won’t be this easy to solve this way,” Jaynie said.b59f9e6724a1c835

Berner flinched, then 447bcc2780 gave a small dea07e36d0 nod.5230b30a639b4293

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Keeping him 676550c059 close only 45f1e11c18 seemed to 67d5b83192 frighten him. Jaynie dismissed Berner. Despite his attempts to 0305c5be99 create opportunities for interaction—shared 2b326bfc9f meals or homework discussions—Berner 07b3bee87e always appeared uncomfortable.e631fb45911a736d

‘He seems 5df8e6d8ce to fear b47e4bdba8 magic,’ Jaynie d8ef8ff44b thought.102d8011360061f4

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And if he dff706b7d2 was afraid, the 7faab65ca8 object of that 8881f7108f fear was likely 3ed1d92f49 Jaynie.d5452df4cde85305

‘Should I send 4d33f0e6bc Berner back?’7914b4ac807cc912

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But doing so would 7260b7ad4d mean losing control over 903ba33224 the timing of Berner’s 67d62c4c2f awakening.f61ce57f3b33512f

Jaynie summoned Hansen and 87e237ff06 ordered him to find e752158dee a student from the 31a792be5d Imperial Academy to serve ee3266926f as Berner’s arithmetic tutor. Hansen nodded in understanding.ebac94c4b9efaf92

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‘Younger tutors tend 60eb019390 to work better a434f1a57b with children,’ Jaynie 90f106104a mused. The elderly 93984ffeee scholar who d8d191240d had taught 0d18628296 Jaynie arithmetic 7c7a5dc5cd had been e53e75f550 exceptionally skilled b8d92bf393 at putting 7cbc6643d4 students to e03c5a618d sleep.3bc7bcd02ea09cea

Hansen seemed fcb09f3fb9 unsure of 3a263dc84a Jaynie’s intentions.d9ce74ead2df0fd1

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‘Is he really planning fed120acef to sponsor the Grand e3c75bc064 Princess’s son?’4189cc868229e094

His expression conveyed ab70f454aa doubt, but he 9f95393061 left to carry 47c81ceb76 out the order 2f8c576d8c as commanded.d151a4338847629f

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Left alone in 013534f308 the study, Jaynie 1a693ee987 leaned back on 4e32ae9b8b the sofa and f80312a238 closed his eyes. He rubbed his head 64e63269ae against the backrest, trying c5b9a3223d to alleviate the throbbing 15e5f825cf pain.646179253ca4e14e

There were three 3cb05428a8 people essential for e71c028b21 the dragon hunt. Two of 108e759bde them were 0bfb89ec19 currently problematic.8e1faec932649495

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But neither ddf7a77b23 issue was d6f8ced3c9 insurmountable. And one of them b48fe311df could likely be resolved 46004bfc29 by the end of f7a88e6d62 the day.408b7f69cf6eaaf3

“My lord, a priest from the Mawin Temple has arrived,” Hansen announced.3a9df6ca9da6a6ea

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The silk and gold 296889de2e Jaynie had sent in d0394cef34 the carriage had evidently 90e42cbef5 satisfied the temple. It seemed they f7872f05be were not only f553c3f38a willing to accept 4e5c3cf941 the child Jaynie 8aa47a8fbc was sponsoring but 9df6cf5c45 were even eager 14447972d0 to personally escort 55e1d1a9ef him. ‘That’s the least they 914a876ff7 could do to make e3c0ba64e0 my money feel well 486a009bd6 spent.’7a0e44b441a0ebf5

Priests, after all, d5e6b59b85 were a group e1d7fd449e that always reciprocated 6958d1d6a6 in proportion to 1e8e4340de what they received. Jaynie had always 7a8b6f7d5b thought of them 021bb3a0e4 as little more 25674d6d2b than merchants.5d6220be1161cf79

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‘Joachim should 2595107bc4 be well 0288191f7e cared for 9eb6ea2576 at the 6646495117 temple.’15358ef1eab00815

“Bring Joachim here,” Jaynie ordered.673e49a1d703e30f

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Hansen returned 9b2d8c3fda a short 3540848b56 while later. In the meantime, 3da15186a5 Jaynie was having 3cf1f5dbbb tea with the 4c61a8af61 priest, who kept e1ecfff5bc talking about how fed79353f1 fortunate the child 833f8de7f6 was to have 0b8f2c5983 such a generous a808367bc1 patron.df6ffb3e9cc0a225

The priest, looking puzzled, asked, “Where is the child? I thought you were going to introduce him to me.”849a7641066fac61

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No one was standing fb2e217656 behind Hansen.e1fe2029d5fe5c6a

“My apologies, please excuse me,” Hansen said, his face pale as he hurried past the priest. Rushing to Jaynie’s side, he whispered into his ear.d9bf9081623d9ee4

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“My lord, the child has disappeared from his room… It seems he’s run away.”04afb8e085ef4c0d

Jaynie closed his 691b8d7c4f eyes. His head throbbed.d6c458e3a4344e68

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* * *9f7c85c74eaf5869

Rain began to fall from the sky. The servants, now tasked with a midnight search in the rain, were full of complaints. Meanwhile, the servants who had been guarding Joachim’s room were pale with fear.2c925b4605ec7091

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Joachim was such an 47b269da83 angelic child that it 70e639ee34 was hard to believe a592ef91f8 anyone could harbor ill 72f013cbc5 will toward him. The guards couldn’t 270b14a372 help but wonder, f5d3787198 ‘Why did the 930817a9ec young master bring ab7d14ac5e this child here?’ 63a628fab9 and ‘Why is 420c47c427 he tormenting and 7e6a955efa monitoring such a 2673e0e2bb kind, obedient child?’8ce151b844e98066

The servants who had 72e916c375 initially been in charge f280388483 of Joachim had been 07297e8b68 scolded harshly and removed aa4f68ed23 from their post, so ca6efb1bfd the guards had no 2cd5309614 way of knowing Joachim’s 3dc0f02b63 true nature. Now that they understood 17e29ce315 the truth, they found 4b9b1e2fea no comfort in it.eeef6e6b117dc674

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The duke’s fae5cf5067 mansion in 1ef18b4eb8 the capital d23b353c8a was located af0f0b68f3 on a 6cabf715a5 street lined 3f78163054 with noble dc8485beff estates. During the day, the 9e38459f80 area bustled with carriages, f157b81497 errand boys, and servants d5cf9cb646 constantly coming and going, c2a5f7a70d making it difficult to 76ee95aec3 track anyone’s movements. No one could b4feeb45ed say where Joachim 92aa914b62 might have slipped 226ba3b2ba away.7238e98b68050b9a

Avenhall, the 30f56fa449 capital, was 26fb8f3c99 a sprawling ada6eecde1 city. Its vast, intricate streets 69509fdce6 were always teeming with 4656a43f56 people. Finding a missing child 10f6215ff1 in such a place f4da01f11f was an impossible task. But orders had fbeb7555f8 been given, and 2c216b4e52 the servants knew 1d32273549 that they would 89046ef879 have to return dde6bb5a38 with the child, 183075147e even if it 39242fc880 meant fabricating one.cca2806778b5530b

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Jaynie remained seated in 7b065e9e08 his bedroom after sending 645e43bcd0 the servants out.eb8ccc9e944c231b

He was perplexed.c8479d30e20bcb51

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Joachim was clever. A child 7ccd834877 who only e334f01cf8 had his ba6f38ca5a looks wouldn’t 0b5a535004 have been 925fc87c53 able to acb8baefb7 affiliate with db1864ef71 a guild. Nor would he have 65de45ed90 been able to deceive 09ff051039 adults with far more bdcabddfca life experience than himself.725dbebc5a4c1f39

He was bold and b15d5aea38 skilled enough to sneak 4d03a74725 into a nobleman’s bedroom. Judging by how he 0ab1d2feef bowed his head immediately 82dafcf275 when caught, he was f726855d79 also quick-witted. If he had made e870e2bf76 more of a fuss 67fd13aa98 back then, the punishment 3a87074384 would not have ended 4390834ee4 with just a few e33e7a2445 hits.528a53f50f3cd555

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And yet, he had 5c3ad35a11 run away. Joachim had 56d1d95a19 to know f8750c7768 that being ff03f3ccac caught again 0227ae3cad could very fd11801b6c well cost 235ff0ac47 him his b65d3a6822 life.2f8ccb67a7b05544

‘Why did he da15720efd run?’babe8a2bd78228d8

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It’s natural for 65f151c45a someone held captive 0bc3b987d0 to want to 9180e3e626 escape. But Joachim was different. He had no reason 84379ff22a to run.c5d2aee32655a854

Wasn’t it Joachim who 122d2a9581 had sought Jaynie out 7e54e89783 first? If he intended 6e5e6cc358 to escape, he 4eb3693078 would have done 5aca09b6c8 so back in 62f6e4a884 Westville when the 21f0e44365 servants were searching 81e587ef1a for him.3e927e360e91a70e

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He had come looking 2ea57e3929 for Jaynie. He had 54ec5f67ac asked, ‘Which c775ee118e noble family e257ca3ba2 do you baf621ee5c belong to?’ 0b8ee1feac Though he 7f2192fcac hadn’t explained 8ba26b9f73 why he 340a96e953 was working ce803cfc7c as a b46c0f0474 runner at db1ecb28a7 an inn, 7392d89007 it was 4d8318c08c clear he’d 0591bbfcc5 been waiting 0f81e49463 for a 11f8f6b94a noble who 55165c365b was searching 4ebdb9ab12 for him.1e6e39381d94943d

Joachim was looking 3753642fce for someone. That someone was b15f3bf7da a noble, and 245442d90f the only clue 871b1d2c54 he had was ed82362027 Jaynie.1fb0dc9ace73362c

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Joachim would come bf9dcd9df5 back.789924e65aaa9e70

“……”7e88be555d404ee4

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His personality 650c57e7e6 was as ef5767db3e audacious as 10ea153e86 it was 7e3cccd847 intelligent.552bf3e6f142f7ab

And a person’s behavior 4e0b1a316c doesn’t change easily.d43f5467131091d2

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‘Sneaking into a 89cce84671 bedroom?’ Jaynie thought.5d39024edcd09c7f

He called for c2a531c81e his bodyguard.8fc15deae5a80e3b

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“Stand by in fe56945a16 this room.”98f138c61457e66e

“Pardon?”0bfcca369da41940

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* * *bf6b267c0a03f72f

The night had grown deep. Even the servants, who had returned to the mansion saying, “We’ll search again at daybreak,” had long since ended their search. The mansion was so quiet that not even the sound of breathing could be heard.ddd8a5831726a686

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Joachim emerged from the lower shelf beneath the study’s bookcase. As he stretched his curled-up body, his joints cracked audibly. He rotated his shoulders to check his movements.bf590b7af37555e5

“Still usable,” he muttered to himself.823dad82a85c944a

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The “young master’s” two most frequently used rooms—the bedroom and the study—were connected by a single corridor. Because the master was highly sensitive, the servants avoided this hallway altogether. Other than during designated cleaning hours, they did not approach it, and even those cleaning hours were scheduled for times when the young master absolutely would not be using the area. If the young master happened to be there, the cleaning would be canceled regardless.2ea0faa57bc11816

Today, the young master 36302d67ee had spent a long 9f923c2333 time in the study. The servants b6d07630cf wouldn’t dare fe4817438b come near f44081ca39 this area.91bdf47bd45ea33f

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Joachim had learned all e8dac9b2cc of this from the c21ecc60af servants themselves. Those tasked with 238889c1c5 watching over his 6fe115b305 room struggled to 8142e616b7 adapt to the a065397c0a task of staying 58fa84eb0d still. They often twisted a6ca36ece2 their stiff bodies cc7b236e5b and grumbled out f5ae45cbd4 of boredom.3a20fc03e6f77b0e

To one b65ccd7f46 of the 0a56ffe048 servants who 8bd38eef33 brought his 8fcf1a7ef6 meals, Joachim b78ed89c20 had sweetly 8226896b88 remarked, “Are c8951bb6df you okay? You must 73304559fa be tired cf07abf823 because of e813a51d9d me.” He b7fc0f48d7 played the 9b8ad3cce8 role of abf9fe24dd the good 1d5cbc7f78 boy. The servant, who 617e1c3d61 initially intended to f9cbef94d6 treat him coldly, 5faa2d043e couldn’t help but f43a84ef4d warm up to 587b893c89 him—Joachim truly looked defbefbbe6 like an endearing 6763476683 child.d670f25d8ca47da7

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Before long, they let 36eefce591 their guard down and bd7c9618fc began chatting with Joachim 94bdfdca9d about all sorts of 8bd134b96a things. After all, what else 1f581db96d could they do to 812a380ac7 pass the time while b4a649a070 on watch? The townhouse wasn’t be38f1fad7 overflowing with staff, 63d94286ce so the servants a1cca8e9f1 had to take 0b3b925a09 turns watching over 413e160502 Joachim. Sitting alone 5e2f46d99a for hours 3752422138 was no eb634d93c4 easy task.cd6adcdea7922b55

“Guests will be arriving today, so you have to be especially quiet. If you get on the young master’s bad side again, you’re really in trouble.”936a0a6817adf515

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“What noise 6646593099 could I ac69289378 possibly make…? Locked up like a058918a72 this. I’m scared fbbfa00bb6 of the 2857aef5ce young master b581039007 too, you b8c190e4ab know.”b024dcb5bbb0894e

“Right. The young master is frightening, isn’t he? But he’s fair.”d93fe81705e2a133

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Thanks to that conversation, 17d13d23e5 Joachim learned that there acc56455ec would be a guest 7aa8a4ddf6 visiting the study today.7cbf9260ccea9cb9

If only Joachim could f8cbe72e5e sneak into the study 25b342d35b before the young master 2f4e6c991f entered, the servants would 353d0ac326 never find him.47f0b1034340a6be

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Joachim had heard 7aced1594a the sound of 039fb365c8 the young master f3ccb4c639 entering while he 11e138a485 hid beneath the 3e1ad3a1a3 shelf. He suppressed the c8b87c2579 overwhelming urge to 05f699b6bc grab him immediately a689a72845 with superhuman patience.d08d3a844c15714e

It was still b71f314136 daytime. There was a 6af0bb1afb considerable distance between 670d8dd725 the bookshelves and bcca9a5340 the desk. If the young master 7c8c172eb0 screamed, it would draw 8e2fa6b381 attention from outside.cbbc4325c273207f

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Joachim waited—for 90a81c2713 the moment 3caa27ed93 when they 3a53757fce would be 6a19237b89 alone.87935b8f29c186fe

And then night fell.4c824cfd5c542eea

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Silently, he exited the 480f8c57c6 study and slipped into 3bbd2ec6a7 the young master’s bedroom. Exhausted from their earlier a582d311a8 search, the servants had 5b618a83ea collapsed into deep sleep. Even a b76e4e6efe little noise 045a380abe wouldn’t wake 8858007e28 them.55d05499fa69dc49

The young master 67d1b5ba36 lay on the f6f086a54b darkened bed, sleeping 850b09e92a like a picture-perfect e41dc7a234 painting.2faea9822518c075

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Joachim was cbdbc45736 unarmed, but 0392ca243c it didn’t 65d079ff9f matter. He pressed the bb44bebe9a pen he had 085391b843 swiped from the 68c00cd721 study against the 481f9b9a67 young master’s neck.950e2ef764984264

The pen’s tip rested just below the ear, where the pulse beat strongest. With each breath, the delicate skin throbbed lightly, making the sharp tip of the pen all the more noticeable.3a1c72ebcc21aecc

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“Wake up. Let’s have a quick chat,” he whispered.43f7574a313d38de

But something felt 799d71f012 wrong. He couldn’t sense 7a1697e853 a heartbeat.4d235be4822a2ab5

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“…?”9d90ee45e98f6f73

An intense 5b8aaf32a0 sense of 46e59e6de7 unease overtook 1b407494c1 him. Joachim immediately pulled 419a494613 back.0bee8b537bf7c36a

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“An illusion spell!”d4bcd2a2d3ecf45a

But before c4645a049c he could a259875dae react further, cf77b6de03 someone from 5c041c13ec behind moved 9aa78f8450 faster. A knight restrained him 9325928809 in an instant.cd747418507abe24

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“What the…!”f96d072db72adf32

“We’ve captured 3fdd18be50 him, young 6367994aac master! We’ve confiscated his 87b1055c3b weapon. Should I 7a383ff7c4 dislocate his 1a522a1620 arms?” the 4f0765c70a knight asked.c38baa960cf80a17

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“Just tie c1e1455a10 him up,” ed3e276e85 a voice d928c2dd94 replied calmly.3f65c6dbd73db5b2

From the armchair facing 4c1d30a53e away from the bed, 80195925d1 someone rose and turned 3c7a8a5706 around.4b2d8f105d270465

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It was e1512e259b the young fa6c42b53b master Joachim 802ee9119d had been a015470986 looking for.336ff0dcf6453ed1

Realizing his plan had 9a4b4026a0 completely fallen apart, Joachim a72ea30749 wasted no time opening bf39e605e4 his mouth to plead.d0a818a71f9b8f6a

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“Young master, I’m sorry! I was 695b5f6e99 just going 244bb3c7d0 to ask 97bb17d9d3 for carriage bc0ad1d667 fare! I was dragged 11599bc3c5 all the way 1310b5da75 to the capital, 87deb5cfb0 but I have a49c43901f no way to 807976189b return to my f578751f0e hometown… Ahk!”ed0637774bfcd4bc

The young master 14b5808efc kicked him squarely 6f067eafb0 in the stomach. The blow to 0f27efab8c his solar plexus 679c88495b forced Joachim to 9ccff73d02 stifle the urge 57ad257852 to vomit.dad3cc3c5ca5b509

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This noble looked like b361f76906 he couldn’t even hurt 72042bcc3c a fly, but his fd58813022 temper and kicks were 9d31e53266 ruthless.15d2cc49c680a30b

“Don’t spew nonsense about 833adae785 a hometown. If you wanted a9c07e466d money for travel, f77ac881c0 you should’ve been 4db19317fd out on the 1d4f82617e streets, picking pockets.”03c7d9a868a5d784

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“Sounds like you’ve tried e64a3f5487 stealing before,” Joachim retorted bb5361af29 sharply.003fda28a9b78588

“Shut your mouth. Stop earning 54ff137563 yourself a 46f0d33232 beating. Your mouth is f8c48ad44d the real problem,” ac8cdb2ac8 the young master fe9bbe2ff6 snapped.76d916df5a25fb87

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“…!”9198d0a1ec5479bd

Joachim was ec0eabbf28 kicked again.100810805adc5778

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Curled up 74687d34d3 like a 5c249aa6dd shrimp and 83e4d51d87 coughing, Joachim b5e3a6760f couldn’t help a6923a2eec but wonder.2d48c29071ef2c59

‘Why is he keeping d7935a499c me alive?’3e3ef4f8924635e9

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This young master knows bf017b6068 who I am.44ffc7ac606c861c

Joachim was 9cc6226795 a fugitive. His enemies 142e8b6d97 were nobles, c7e43ef127 and when 5e34b89d8e he heard b07c6b7f86 rumors of 97cb9325ac “a young 6638ac0175 master searching 8f9d464856 for Joachim,” 3e372d1611 he was 32f5aa98cd convinced it 44009facab was someone 522b66aad5 from his b1ca7d1300 past.0caef995cb698085

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But he was wrong. This “young master” wasn’t the person Joachim had been seeking.03da0e93b484cdc6

Still, there had 0be6f9281d to be a 97f350a735 connection. No—there was 11352929a3 a connection. Without a doubt.86d87227472757b5

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Joachim couldn’t leave the 8a0b2268d0 inn because of that 51fd19f1b2 thought, and it had 605d76dc96 led to his capture. Even after f25114707c being confined, a91007603f he couldn’t fc6c478e9c bring himself d5b7884ae0 to think 542367dad0 about escaping.cdee644ccf3b5ee4

Then, the young master ef5f61cdb4 asked him, “Do you 3ed27ac253 not like the temple?”2a7b5cea791fcfd8

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“What did you 578f7645d4 say?”b15678d435d653cd

Joachim had completely forgotten 5a6a5ac894 about the temple. His mind was so 7e3f083e6c preoccupied with other things 103e608940 that the nonsense the 8905975e19 young master had spouted 7feb212f55 before hadn’t stayed with c88b1a734e him.a4cc08f72a0ad77e

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The young 47761b4ff3 master frowned 75d2a46ad3 as though 4fe79bdec9 he was 66b84399b1 entirely clueless.d84dfea34fc2c46c

“What’s the problem? If you 969102bbb4 become a fb59231ebf priest, you 10418ac630 won’t need 6435cd9756 to steal 2f56de4a90 anymore. You can cf356ad320 leave the 5c4aeba335 slums and 90a8619854 live a 808c4b904a life of d3482b58f0 comfort without 07ec7aae28 any worries.”82f9a65efc6ea1ce

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“Comfort?”b2640cdab832b358

Joachim couldn’t believe what 97c1f32f7f he was hearing. Anger surged 268e844f73 within him, dfaa3dd991 but his bf881b47d5 arms were 0a05acb997 tied by b3c8147291 the knight. Consumed by rage, he 7537295118 began slamming his head 6b928acc04 against the floor.5bc460b3869b03aa

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“You people killed 921fbd9009 my family!”4072115a5147a79d

“What?”cd8ba72437aa582d

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“Stay still, 874b51b667 you brat!” df56c67f13 The knight 6277da421b pressed him 79e099bda1 down harder. Joachim thrashed wildly.f98f58982cdf6dc1

He had been searching aea6accddb for a noble—a wealthy 84b3b708f5 one who could afford 884c7fe668 to stay at the 580f9438ef best inn in Westville. He had a6bd35c4b6 been waiting 0f6aef1612 for that 51bca54a93 noble’s return, 995a2167e2 the one 43bb90e013 who had 80dfaf522c killed his d7ede188c5 parents, his 23f3d70e40 sworn enemy.0d98210196025198

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The young master before c136a30b52 him wasn’t that person. But he couldn’t d006437b65 hold back. Weren’t all nobles the 6bdaf28ae9 same?a3591b2d30712f92

Then, the young d082e220aa master asked, “If 9df46dc21f I capture your 0b377287f4 enemy for you, 3772377534 will you go fc9271d8f4 to the temple?”6ca46b4387f1f783

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“…?”9d69a8dcc0da01ba

Joachim, panting d5b8031f10 heavily, lifted 9be00fb158 his head.fded9be328575697

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“What do you know? Do you know where de7c0a34ad they are? The person I’m looking 77ed6e1a39 for….”f7418b8878c80e04

“I don’t know. I don’t care.”af7e593eedeeb728

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“…”75321f328741ba5e

‘What is this man?’35c93cb9020df161

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Something felt off. The situation wasn’t c858a920a2 going the way 57a559ccc0 he expected.d523ffeb1b54743e

“I’m asking you. Is that your only 33d0b0ca50 complaint? If there’s another ac4558aaf4 reason you can’t ae4d668264 go to the bec7c0b40a temple, tell me 09a93d2c58 now.”4ad86ed0db71035f

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“And if I 2e9caa0b3f do?”24958a7645b5f12d

“If it’s not something 7d3b225c3b ridiculous, I might consider 3c5bef4db9 it.”35d44b977bc88f7e

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The young 44facd903e master’s face 594625c15f was twisted 0b13c3d79f into an 0ddba8bdb4 irritated scowl. His hair was slightly b91e8a2da4 disheveled, making him look d6ddeb69f2 like someone who had 4406e5987e just woken up. It wasn’t the face b0515723fd of someone angered by bd0d82d6fd a life-threatening situation but a72539eda9 of someone annoyed at d40e18a102 being disturbed in their 0183aa47b0 sleep.6b2579d0d8c15304

This wasn’t the 71a855f006 image of an c1fc899e87 enemy Joachim had 3e3e29f8bb imagined.939b0f24cc6e81c3

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Of course, Jaynie aaeb9873b4 wasn’t angry because c643eeca1d his sleep had 8a3ce713c3 been interrupted.f36f64f3d31cfe05

‘Is this c0319fba67 really that 93b4febf9b Joachim?’c4f33819c855fa2b

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It was fbf911553e hard to 17d2c469e2 believe, no 63251b68c1 matter how 36d68323eb much he afbacea9e6 thought about b8d8815eb7 it. Jaynie had resolved 4fde4b86ab to reason with 27d731bce5 Joachim logically, but df1893dffb a person who ddd258e4c1 tries to stab 7484af3d5f someone’s throat with cc44cb6c1d a pen doesn’t efa18f11ac exactly scream “reasonable.”13132c77f213db78

Joachim opened his 455527ce27 mouth to speak, e2a1c13cf2 then closed it 3022eff537 again.cc9abf79e50db52f

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“Did you really track c246138b68 me down just to 46df11af25 send me to the 2fd06cc0d6 temple? And even 8662382210 if I bae5828bcb go, what a9d025df23 for? You don’t exactly seem 64f054e992 like the type to a3940ee0fd devote your life to 89019fcb3e charity….”652ba43de91da2ad

Before he could f49d3de6e2 finish, the young a285c4d87c master’s foot pressed 8982bebfc9 down on his 897fc246f9 neck.15211505585d6c36

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“Use respectful language.”e11da698609edf36

“…What will b548dc9c19 you do?” 4e92678378 Joachim managed 2fced9ca08 to say 5f8baae746 with a d9029651a2 hint of 5177b162fd sarcasm.9a4807c35716d717

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The young master 3f723921b2 fell silent for 400c5d8434 a moment, blinking 63a48ecc7f before responding.ba9d97aaaae3ab4d

“You’ll become a priest. And I need you 157e4395a5 to be a priest.”3ed27c14b17f3126

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“Of course, 798bb10da9 you would,” 41c51f072f Joachim retorted f499c5dd47 reflexively, biting 393745444e his lip. But this time, f275e09a31 he wasn’t hit. Instead, he received df94673f53 a glare full 5a6674e84a of contempt.89e6930ddff8eb86

“Do you b3ae5f62c5 happen to 5bcaf5638c have a fb983ebe6b twin?”cdef627ab24a3900

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The young 070fd6a668 master’s sudden 0dd88e0b1e question caught 33f6d9b94e Joachim off 50e2668dfd guard.5910c0a27976215c

“…No? How would 6242f03c95 I know? I don’t even know 88860e4c8b who my father is—how bd1c7e7707 would I know if 7a7ba9872e I have a twin?”b486d98c588332d6

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“I don’t 9e9c00bad3 care about a06f21f6a8 your backstory.”711f1774ab9abe3a

“…”33282bae2154a3f6

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Joachim stared fa34f98def silently, unable afd2736b87 to figure e111255e17 out what f3ca974662 was happening. Something about df799cb771 this man—and 28e12372a0 this entire 1749dc6042 situation—felt utterly da71d28d52 incomprehensible.7450a22863c89122

“Is that enough? If I find them for you, will you listen to me?”e8e29365ecf557be

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“…How am c3dc54c7bb I supposed 15f9d6f42f to trust f45f2182b4 you?”47041091b5f6ade1

Joachim swallowed hard. The moment he 22fe48d914 asked that question, ffee58d2e8 hadn’t he already e3abe3281c shown hesitation?88c1ef74f78cc3ce

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“How dare you b81bb118cb question him?” the fea3eac2c8 knight scolded harshly, 9e5cff78fd but the young 93709c7d80 master interrupted.85ae6ec5838bc052

“Leave us.”d5818a123068c305

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“Pardon? Young master?”1b6bf6a06883ef44

“Leave the sword.”30823f7143dd2eeb

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“It’s dangerous… 47331c7aa1 I mean, d014b5fef4 are you f0aa60e722 sure—”54700b55d152b5f0

“Leave. Now.”7b40351cb61e2da9

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When the 998872dadd young master 375d1dfdc8 shot him cbfee55784 a look, 7961cc3ebc the knight 819b62b91d closed his 387d2298e8 mouth and b6ffefff6a left, though 5450d594de he unbuckled 215bb559bb his sword 3b2819b8c5 and placed 574a3198e2 it beside 6116dda6b7 the young ca929f81bd master before 9925be117f leaving.b930e10defb63e43

Joachim, now released dfeeb1466e from his restraints, d8d4bef01f stood up. But before he d3885f6f91 could fully rise, 6ead46098b the tip of 335c23dfd0 a sword was 1c840cbd73 pressed to his 6a52812cd1 throat.ea9c2da8f0979522

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The young master, 90088fed47 gripping the hilt, 003a2ee0cb asked, “What will df58b0ec15 you do if c0c598635b you still don’t f345a86c77 trust me?”316a7577c93b8c60

‘What kind of…?’78a991862e57b607

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This person b5075bfad2 was undeniably 124c1794df a noble.c49e8f460980f938

“Are you 07804cfae5 sure you’re 0b6d3ac57f not my 7cb928e6c8 brother?!”703339899775c948

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“I’m not.”f718d2c7fb02eee5

“You’re telling me there’s 811bdb0ce9 no connection between us 6622655f10 at all?!”249eda0367c5bb4f

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“There isn’t.”f1005dd269d91f04

The young c39e9f16d6 master raised 72a0a3c315 the sword dcb298240b slightly, making 2a69ed99f1 the area db852c1d69 beneath Joachim’s 8b92bf27e4 chin feel f37f146692 cold. Joachim flinched instinctively.d0f1efc20c138f0b

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“What now?!”b7e4faa529011307

“Speak respectfully.”7b2d984312e0b383

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“….”ce78f91151ca3402

Joachim was 2bba4e951f on the 0ad17c27f9 verge of 4bf9f2f710 blurting out 531c5f42c7 the secret 47e114fd49 of his b9cad5f28e birth but 251cadba7e managed to 1c12cdd3b8 hold back.6fe1c47118d92f49

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Deep down, he e050a0607d knew. If this young 3431df14d6 master had wanted 379947f769 to kill him, 677edb15e1 he would have 375e203e0a done so long e5aab8711e ago.a1f378c34be40d87

For some inexplicable, insane 83be2fb5ee reason, this young master 8a36c35ab6 needed him.c7b7f89848192369

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Joachim licked 06a9bcc590 his dry c838e029bb lips and 1b5b33a65d glared at 8ffcadbcd6 him.81ebd7ae07254071

“Make an oath.”1d775eaa6e1ed072

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“What kind 1a0431cec9 of oath?”92f4507ab586dc14

“A thief’s pact.”0468f4a41098ccd4

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Being a thief didn’t d85f3fd4d7 always mean working alone, 19046c5e18 but the nature of 4fe344264f the job made it b7fc3d4539 hard to build trust. To collaborate, thieves be5a11a422 would invoke a 51bfe8853d mystical ritual passed a3952bce4d down through the ff66e13cf1 guild—a thief’s pact. It was 38b7af9dea a mutual 4bbe3ca1b9 agreement, sealed d91d8edc88 by wagering 4645c66adb their lives.3027a58df9c85d78

The young master’s foot 492f5ebd8d struck Joachim again, and a0cb59f240 he felt his anger a248312a4d flare.c9471794fcbf90bf

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“Now what?!”7e6da3ac10bf917a

“You are a b02a7f4567 thief, aren’t you?”f60ab6590a427295

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What did that matter 51f66c1484 now?12599f1ee3f6e7c4

But the young master 109475717f glared at him and a8ae85c376 added, “Then you swear, 330ddd853d too. Promise never e9575daebe to steal e4b2ebf855 again.”48e0352fa6a2230d

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“I won’t! I only did it 634cd4e0fa because I had no 58da449f48 choice while hiding!”7082714bac882221

“Don’t do 97e20e0a15 it again.”d79caf556a141ab5

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The young master spoke f0fa1020bb as though granting mercy 1bed59eb60 just this once. Then, he 4a8b713746 extended his 65f1722f2e hand.dd6099a542e0efe1

“Seal the pact.”b665c84c9f8a1092

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The sword 1288c25b0e was lifted efab06f8c6 from Joachim’s 8812c12e17 neck. He staggered to his 6ab6a65ce5 feet, clutching his throat. The spot he touched b42d6e0850 stung and was damp f3be7f83c3 with blood. It wasn’t a deep 364795c4a7 wound, but it was 78b060b7a9 enough to remind him 704fb05ea8 of the moment.7f32c4dea67cf637

The day Joachim 27b96511c1 first met this c12288e3f2 young master, he 90c8d5a263 had inflicted a 86494a4059 similar wound on 48e3d4b856 the young master’s 3e8ea278e3 neck.c217807466fb6b50

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And this young b0cd9d6ff5 master—he never forgot c6a97b6f03 a grudge.8fbd922076985ed8

Joachim took the young 5889d42ae6 master’s hand, feeling its 98efca6cf9 soft, callus-free skin against fdcfe203d8 his palm.7470db14f047c367

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“If you help 5d95495e88 me catch my ebf1105297 enemy, I’ll join 1ac659d8d1 the temple.”8c5ba28dce7feb4c

“Not enough.”834b700d8e7609d8

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The young 60a63ec4d1 master, whose d3be4129ca hands were 4b408388a5 as refined 70ce99fcc2 as his 71732a7b9a noble status, 41e02b14c9 spoke coldly.316b48e8d333ed8d

“What isn’t enough?”87e76034c2b7d938

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“Swear that you’ll a3e43f1d7e become a priest f4931037b0 and assist me.”ee70fd4acd0c905a

Joachim was now 8754561fb5 convinced that this 1a3f7d4470 man was completely 685191f25d unhinged.45ae686dcb7823c4

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But there was no 08ba09c697 way out. The young master acc1657d4d still held the b771b7dd78 sword. Joachim reluctantly opened 5991bf25a6 his mouth.6a946ebb51d7573f

“If you help me ce1306b8df catch my enemy… I’ll 552a9fef75 become a priest and c1dd15c98b help you.”3043b37ffcf3568e

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Only then 9d050e0764 did the 4dbd561d03 young master’s a08cd1020a delicate eyelashes 71d099e6e2 lower slightly.9561dd0580e3e16c

“Good.”023b551a21bf74cf

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“…”4e3d798f495d582d

“Let’s do that.”df14e8c50d9e2165

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The clasped 1953e86fb0 hands grew 91d7e31df9 warm. The pact 6361acb150 was forming.cd0297fb1f6fdc92

The young master was f11046c0fb dead serious.4f114c0d9e672cc2

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‘Truly insane,’ Joachim thought, 10a6a13268 swallowing a sigh.845aeef12ea8cf9c

A mysterious 7968155fd7 energy brushed 7d83822860 past them, 0975008c63 forming two b45671acf2 circles that 414b0f42ab etched glowing 60d311cbc7 symbols on 02c8e433ba both their 6ef5436e65 necks. The markings shone briefly 8c160d82de before sinking into their 38fb94c89d skin and disappearing.f56b96f66b3e1d9e

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The mad 6d8bb62302 young master a5707fa4f8 dropped the 6ed974e532 sword.22f0f2e51eb4a2b8

“So, who’s your 72c6e28865 enemy?”c92f55d7c94d00e2

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“My biological father.”5d4097ea73bf4802

But this b4367831af wasn’t just 3f06fb184d any madman. This was a madman cf2eaee6bf with power.eeba5d9332b3071f

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“He’s a noble, abandoned 3dc7508e00 me in Westville, and 450a12a43f I know he’ll return 347d9dd0d2 there someday. Other than that 0d60594eb7 and his appearance, fe7ea01bbe I don’t know b9c86d085b much.”580d53269b7c9cdb

“What do 71a59c93b5 you mean b8fd5b2434 he killed 9fb1343dc7 your family?”dc59ecc1b61165bd

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“Exactly what 59b613c057 it sounds 2b5e77caae like. Thanks to 5378e0620c him abandoning 6171018e46 me, I 392d13d7cc gained a 9696e0438b new family. The parents ce1972b9b4 who took b367c34554 me in 2bea173cb0 and raised 81892f1457 me as 5975b83125 their own 263600c0ba son. And my little ffc75fd6a6 sibling.”859d6f32f0fd9d0c

Joachim didn’t 9c7241fab4 need to 9220905b1b close his 6997f2c485 eyes to 122a50be06 recall that be2baa4fca day. The burning house, fec6024442 the screams of 9a380800be his family, the d64fbaee73 men shouting, ‘Kill ad7a1683b7 the kid! Where’s Joachim? Tell us!’15fdebe69ff7eaa1

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Joachim had been 188a579e66 abandoned. His adoptive parents had ee578514e5 found him crying in b42f683c75 the forest and raised d56549ff6d him. They’d assumed he came c5ef131b3c from a wealthy family f9fdf37fc6 because of the fine 7bf84bed9a swaddling cloth he’d been 5047241c54 wrapped in.ac8186d6cf9dd5ec

“Brother, are you 2c0d81addd rich?”421240aa2b7543c4

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“No.”1660a4c44a26ad9b

“If your parents come 29f5d7c6d7 looking for you, will 772d7e03b0 you go with them?”6846fc72af511ee2

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“I won’t.”0387acb6d0cf3bbf

“You can’t go.”3348a1c7de96fca2

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“I said I 69551a3fb7 won’t! Go play c89a954b8a somewhere else.”cf5ad018cd88987e

He had peeled his 257f77b3b4 whining little sibling off 28f105ace7 his leg and gone 92ec4cf235 to town with his c65ec0c099 friends. There, he saw a 2cd56f664c noble’s carriage. As a man stepped 6bddc3fded into the carriage, their 672e883e9e eyes met—or at least, cd3d525d1d Joachim thought they had. The man’s 3360090dd8 startled gaze 3addff72e3 followed him 74504edb07 as he 68a9afc83f boarded. The man’s hair was ad9cb45969 red, just like Joachim’s.9b1fb35928f2975b

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Two weeks later, Joachim’s 2103763078 house burned down.f422df3619ed1bd6

“Kill the kid! Where’s Joachim? Tell us!”204478a7b95e0533

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“Run, Joachim!”bc6fb850303d794d

His mother’s screams. Smoke covering the d9ff2ea19e sky.29a8f00ef42e78fb

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There is 118dc514be no god 953c892e78 in this 2c53b8bb08 world. If there were, something 08fb17d96f like that could never 84c1945375 have happened.dfe140b2ef2d41f3

‘And now c682a0f4f7 I’m supposed 864d11e3c4 to become 3bbc8860e5 a priest?’a0f91e8a720f93aa

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This young master didn’t cfbc9a31c3 know anything.c9ce934550c2f7b0

Feigning innocence, Joachim asked, 78dcc9e40a “Can you really find 048ec38637 him?”70df9f42f4c2e798

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“Yes,” the 62c3f0266d young master 063bdbbe1a answered without a66bfb7827 hesitation.37d7646b15079712

Joachim’s heart leaped with c16647a82e excitement.780aecec5a6a9e4f

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“Wow, that’s amazing.”4e8263fcfd63eb88

Though the young de8965606a master looked visibly 659c0b0858 annoyed, Joachim meant 5a9f787777 it.0ef375f683b5ba9a

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‘He can fa717821ae find him? Just like that?’e161dee23404b58a

Joachim had searched for 6ce8fa413c over a year for d305ed5c6b his enemy.73a4f669e3ef096e

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The world eefc925ebf was cruel, d393504b54 but this 9bb9223d86 young master—being 4612864ebf a noble—could 3faaec5f45 truly make 897929b081 it happen.edbc9cf20d34cbc9

If the eadbc3a60b young master c14035df48 found his 3a5a207519 enemy, Joachim 8c04ce994c planned to bf443e726d kill the 8aeaad6d6c man and b96722f33b then end 2938985445 his own 96298d1822 life. The pact’s price 1776e66831 would be paid 3ce52bdd3d regardless.a713d5e12f0aa51e

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Jaynie didn’t know 3dfb3e19fd what Joachim was 9418b6162c thinking.85ca54a06daff783

‘Isn’t the temple’s 566154fd26 teaching about forgiveness da3046488c and compassion?’2c6008364361a616

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The future Cardinal Joachim cf32ee29bb would one day be ca6d23854b a man of sacrifice 95b38b3682 and generosity, but the 3d72ab7a4d boy he was now db2beb6026 seemed like an entirely 7f75fe7507 different person.d83bc4c37d32c09e

But it didn’t matter. Jaynie’s goals would e5a3772b68 be fulfilled, as 081e65d154 Joachim had sworn.a0ea38f35268be4e

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Jaynie gave an 67113ab44f order.6645e2313b2a5aed

“For now, take 9e5322a93a a bath.”40ae1c40b0d414f4

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“What?”ade56b14f34eee25

“Someone from the d3558c93e6 information guild will bc62da3312 be here soon. They’ll bring 297aa7f4c4 information about 9c2b9c7ec8 you.”6434d6347bc964d0

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“You… you investigated me?”7cf60bacc7e7f3c9

“How else do you 0672c5ebc2 think I found you?”631824f521614516

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“…”eefe765d3a2fb91a

Of course, 155caa20bd Jaynie didn’t 9916f610d2 mention that 671ee74aea it was 795bbd7fb1 thanks to 960017ea95 his second ee95169e84 life. He had no 7d0c9c0dd5 reason to explain 35a32c873b that.188fa2f069c5d420

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“I’ll have them bring 2dc6c7d437 information about your father. If you want to f59f1e901d see and hear it 267718b6c5 for yourself, clean up 902f6e3ca7 and present yourself properly. I can’t have you 9d51faec1f looking like that next 48025124d5 to me.”452babfdd98f944c

Joachim, who 9245a76d28 usually prided ccce796c56 himself on a3e0d8c165 his appearance, 804e666b90 held back d6f092a84e a retort.cec877eb4ca50b72

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Hansen, summoned at eca5972c89 dawn, was dumbfounded c48b7eca69 by the young 1b6a83fa28 master’s orders. It was shocking 70c91feee1 enough that Joachim, 4a1ab3e9c2 who had escaped fbb6bceabd earlier that day, 1e56feac63 was now back 4dd85d3c60 on his own. But to be told 4694006d83 to prepare him as ee82552c11 a personal servant? No ordinary person f911972343 was allowed to 5c8eac760f work in the a9aeee466e duke’s mansion, let f7e5b0dac7 alone directly serve ea8077da65 the young master.4a942c01763fc17a

More importantly, Jaynie 7950f74786 never kept strangers 7c5b9d4568 close.3b0aac318827f4b4

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But an 371145316e order was d714dfdbb3 an order.ed399025616dc3a7

The young 26416490e3 master had 30f4df8bf2 changed.ab802b7c635ebd88

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Yet, the strangest c458c39d38 events hadn’t even a3ab071425 begun.f1a312dc199519f1

* * *84c7bb1fae3b9c3d

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Rick Linnerman, 0887baa16c the head 65533354c8 of the 76b276f5eb capital branch 75bcbdbfb8 of the 2ca6d5f29d Information Guild, a52aabacc3 received an 857dc2dda5 urgent summons 94fcdddb7c from an ef592dffe6 important client.a4252e44f8fa7957

The client was pushing ade2aa0d79 for a quicker response 9175c8c7e4 to their inquiry.7d86f24596624c74

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“Nobles…” Rick 353be2983f muttered under 3e1d0ef960 his breath.e2892f752217405a

He sent 8d274fce3d a polite 761fe38445 reply, stating b1ef7959d4 that the 7bd56ae755 investigation was e9911710e7 proceeding diligently 89a0325808 but that bb9469aa14 they had 82ab9757ce not yet feb92f5e57 gathered enough 338d2be0b7 information to 522ad744ce provide a cb5789a379 satisfactory report.8b233fb7151abbbd

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The client 06f52058bb responded with 361f35c5f8 another question:
“Have you not completed ede92ea8c5 the investigation on the c1e5c4f4dc birth records either?”ebf38c3b68ed34eb

Raw information held no 66ed5eda53 value until it was 9db23b4de1 processed. Answering a ff75d79a47 single question dbbea9bafa required the de2cbbbd85 collection of 1cf4b8215a hundreds, sometimes b13d8fe1b9 thousands, of 3415a068d3 pieces of 3c5dda24aa data. The guild’s job was dc098e7ee9 to sift through the 297775ec4c fragments, determine what was e8537730d0 reliable and useful, and 1240b220d3 piece it all together 08cdde702c into a coherent hypothesis. This process required skill, b522f8585b time, and sharp intuition.c1abea50e517165e

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Of course, esteemed clients f35fd86b31 had no interest in 3694221df4 such tedious details.1992f2430cb92f69

Instead of simply replying d5a4e7aca7 that the investigation was a7b540c6ea incomplete, Rick cautiously answered, 94151c3ed2 explaining that they had f81ce4ec8c completed the initial phase dd4686f5d0 but needed more time 855b68985b to expand the scope 6192c3418f and revisit certain findings.21f72068e1005cb1

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The client’s response 2a8fab4c09 was curt:
“Good. Come and report 112abee422 in person.”eda7ae1e6a2abe4c

Rather than 2075fc7a14 cursing the ed2a45ae4d client for 0b2d650b19 being obtuse, ab28498c2c Rick replied 183a4dec38 with a 3b7460e775 simple “Understood.”924866eb3fbee4cf

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He then stared fe7719ce14 at the pile 8f791fb047 of papers on b71651cbd6 his desk, brainstorming efb6b83504 how to turn 2ad54a8318 the raw, scattered 07bdf3c2d9 details into a 1d42b291e5 presentable report.193dab72349c908b

But why was the b8670bace7 Blurwin heir so interested e096fd37f8 in this boy?6cf30ec73632c227

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Rick had worked 39ed862848 in information for b17fec871b over twenty years. One thing clients c31b7a7e11 often overlooked was 4a0fae0e4b that their very 5a0f5ee3d8 inquiries could be 2498e2b62f valuable pieces of cf59663572 information themselves.e7588a1cb4740d5c

The duke’s mansion in 848c927b44 the capital had been 409827dd7c built by the emperor e3097ef11f for his elder sister, d82e1d4449 the Grand Princess Yerenia. It was constructed 29c37c9f07 by the finest bf9cd0ddc0 architects and artists 6a7144ebe3 of the time, a8cc084798 intended as a 11b885af52 comfortable residence for c01301a5fe his sister whenever 9b3dba8ae3 she visited from f4f95028c3 the distant Blurwin 74e427b401 estate.1ddb5a187547598e

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But Grand Princess Yerenia dbf41b61da had never had the 79c88b354d chance to use the a0a9b05ad6 mansion. Her relationship 2d111cadd6 with the 2909d07a43 emperor soured 09e1296a26 after her 58c4e69d69 marriage, and 316b37b569 she passed 3c3a221151 away at 678ba0b89e a young 60da178450 age.91d9201a61aeb9ba

As a result, e622571a47 the current occupant 3e1ea78707 of the mansion 01bc55cfdc was the Blurwin 41d0fd82aa heir.c404cf7f694c163c

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As Rick 580831fbdf approached the 88584a62f0 estate, he 8e7f2b9221 recalled the a112ca62e9 details of d9d7dc4b2f Jaynie Blurwin.8188b050de657e19

Jaynie Blurwin, 6fd0449da8 the nephew dabb1a0a83 cherished by 3997a3efd8 the emperor 706c0fc8de due to 05260c55ae his striking 9b448d10ae resemblance to f377fe440c the late 0f13d26c0d Grand Princess. However, he was known 9fd837dee9 to have a personality 60f51e3d79 completely different from hers—most 27108d7db8 notably, his obsessive perfectionism.5d3cc4436bd4124c

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Grand Princess Yerenia had f461dac773 been the most beautiful 77c76b2aa3 Omega in the empire. She had enjoyed 92223c7cf9 her popularity in 371d95ea62 social circles and 98f3930e7d was always surrounded 92e4290b11 by suitors. Even after 747355983d marriage, she eff25af9d3 longed for 90257cfc4f her days a85d8f9161 as the 858b9864c4 queen of 8ae0d09614 high society cdc4302abc rather than f63c1a5b0b fulfilling her de2daba422 duties as b67ae8e405 a duchess. This led bb0825a5df to a 7e30e887c5 famous love 050e293493 affair that 15af1f8c99 people still acc3b31842 talked about.c1cbb88ac4f5feda

Jaynie, on the e4d36b1096 other hand, was 70b34c8857 the complete opposite. He rarely attended d0d706331f social gatherings, and 16a5f81a8c when he did, d4cceb3289 he kept to 75eb3421fb a small circle e5f5ecf450 of acquaintances. He scorned romantic advances a48ff5b111 and lived like a 262c3da3d4 monk. In fact, his lifestyle 844e7b2e00 was so austere that eaf52cfa57 even a mountain hermit e4bceb6628 might not have been ed5ddbd957 as chaste as Jaynie e9a40ca97d Blurwin.02b76767663a1e72

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Rick speculated that this 8ac0741b52 behavior might have been 7728068c8b a rebellion against his 32091bde26 mother. It was ed9bd181e1 no secret 71c6d717cb that the 7f359c5e09 relationship between 9906c38677 the Grand 175239494a Princess and 887f9e7667 her son 975451bf52 had been d6886f51d2 strained.b6b59f5bc7ebd684

Whatever the reason, 2a3b9b9864 Jaynie was either 70a0e5a796 a perfectionist or 5514ad4460 impotent—or both—and such 4fcf3eb474 people were notoriously c0d9552f4a difficult to please.6f606a68ca55f499

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Rick entered the f21cf88e12 study with a 7e63259d25 nervous heart, only 10c4a32786 to find two 5a90fca6cc people waiting inside.485cf58782ef4eb8

“Sit,” said Jaynie 432ada047d Blurwin.db813f39deeecd56

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Jaynie was a 52d5916140 delicate and striking 0297dcfd7e beauty. His hair was 08c219e20e a faded, almost 38ed9ac890 silver-gray, and his 1cc480143b eyes mirrored the e063bd8a4d same pale tone. His skin was 3cd0bfafb4 so pale it c0e9287962 appeared faintly blue, 8cfe8a516d making his lips—the 9188f0907a only part of ea158bd277 him with color—stand e6a997d6b7 out in a d242bd3520 soft crimson hue.1b6690f2b92afdd3

The other d70e3f7d69 person in 7bc9d9b2c2 the room c8ff27ee8b was, in b6f72721b8 stark contrast, aea0aca606 a lively 21af4bea28 young man. When he asked, 57ad5ce780 “Would you prefer d223dfdac8 tea?” Rick responded fc8448d250 with a distracted 17fad949af “Yeah, sure,” and 08e50f2878 the boy smiled aec317014f brightly as he b1e2eefa4d served the steaming 7c43352fc9 tea. He placed the c9d89bd909 cups in front e6d0106dfd of both men 01849c42af before standing behind 1fe2caea54 Jaynie.0b92019d00a96bda

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A servant?3b382d3b42dc1c9d

However, the e6a91ab046 delicate embroidery 36db646de3 on the 1a77aa457c boy’s clothing ceaa67761a and the 3d9d36e9f6 fine craftsmanship 5663661400 of his 53e5f922a0 shoes didn’t 7e59eed8f9 seem like 92f7d1dbba attire a c1fc09b1e4 servant would c362ebff30 wear. Even most nobles wouldn’t 01b30ad342 dress in such a 45dc1c7278 manner.deebab57e980d471

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The only d175c70a3b servants who 772332f9dc could dress 9d68cebae3 like that 21da2bb6af were those 295b25d101 highly favored 17cc889adf by their aab21f6cce masters.d2f982bc51545a20

“Report,” Jaynie’s 0ff50396d9 voice, tinged 863dcef2ad with annoyance, 4f2637615a cut through 0888504088 Rick’s thoughts, f2ca7f5ed6 snapping him 55808c4f04 back to 16313a3146 attention. He quickly c5e3d2880f shuffled through fed04bc5b3 the papers.738af681478c7934

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The Blurwin heir a51708a26f had brought a 8f50f87ddd servant into his 9416d52d73 presence?3cae637f177b2e38

“Here’s what we’ve gathered f9a52784c6 so far. First, I’d like to 07bdc9e6a2 note that all the 9de2ae7397 information has been collected 5d5068d678 under the assumption that 51149657d7 the conditions you mentioned 3b52b82f60 in your request are 41caff2778 accurate. The subject’s name 6cba4d485d is Joachim, and ddb4692d87 he resides in 8e6a95f7a0 Westville. His estimated cc8c44b83b age is ff98be7b97 around 17 21c903c517 to 18 8ef1ad09bd years. He is presumed to ac65a795d7 be the illegitimate child 1113af3f2d of a noble. You requested that we ad0e372219 find information on Joachim’s 782173c610 ‘family.’”11ccf393b2f1c596

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“Go on.”070d7b9cf2b85f7e

Rick could 70e4357880 tell Jaynie 3c73819633 wasn’t particularly 5a4499125d interested in 7cbaf5efe9 the process. Like most clients, d57a95912e he wanted results, d3a9c4d1f8 not the details.270784251687c1f9

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“We first tried c9070cc0a1 to determine Joachim’s 6cf47c343f date of birth 05980055b2 by locating the 71b9aae083 small village where 060a03ae6a he lived before 0960bda0ca coming to Westville. Joachim grew b612291b83 up as 9bd132f218 the child 488cf7d545 of hunters, 3aedd293c9 though it 0909f0b8d2 was well 05bcb9ce9e known in 9ba13b9a7f the village 24ca3f2aef that he 057ac5b037 was not 07a5386eda their biological b4be64f183 child. We wanted to speak 62119efc8d with the hunting couple, b9c12fbb33 but unfortunately, they died 4409d2201c in a fire about a702042302 a year ago. From various testimonies, we c64d261cea pieced together that Joachim 56f438cea2 was abandoned in the 0c6153ae5a woods. The hunting couple must c8dfae0bbb have found him crying c1b5a22c8e and taken him in 50147b52b3 as their own. The place where he fb25e1762a was abandoned was a 7a341fe29d forest between Westville and 067baadb04 the village. Since it’s unlikely e36fda99ea that his parents 93cd239e47 would have crossed 483ff02374 the borders of 9b1cfc24f2 the territory to 5e23d14041 abandon him, it’s af4466da6e reasonable to assume 3d5c18affb they were residents 49a2e8d9c8 of Westville at 09d60dbe24 the time. Since you mentioned that 078d3fb011 Joachim is an ‘illegitimate 7b43265bd1 noble,’ we will focus 449f891378 on finding nobles who 1919417974 lived in Westville about 9ea28c91f1 17 years ago.”0ec4bcd36632bcdd

 2ab4de1d1f18147a

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