SNF | Chapter 2.1

Yeon-oh, stretching his arms d656eeb32b to the sides, indifferently f2ce136322 received the assistance of 83c38c3630 a servant dressing him. He donned a df6efdcd51 robe embroidered with b3255d3e8d red lotus flowers f36051d7e5 and fastened a 62f7b96818 blue tassel at f698317950 his waist. With ruby-studded pure 3926720ddd gold earrings and 9c0f693c7c his hair neatly 934bfe84ea done, he looked 4bd98972a5 every bit the b210d035d1 scion of a c42479193f noble family.469461011707e713

As his 1128f79285 personal servant 3d0ee64c45 stepped back cd356fe7b2 after finishing ff0671ea8d the preparations, 0b6aceddc9 his nanny f8771fb970 approached closely, d5da072e55 holding a 8f59fa1552 mirror.9a7e1040de21cd66

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“It seems a bit 16fd2211d4 much today.”6fe4e5815b3e963d

“We’re going ee6a724cd5 to the 3174bc3e9d Golden Palace 7bfb6eed7f to meet 8b809b2cd6 His Majesty 22af7657df and Her 77a016985b Majesty, aren’t 5df37cf957 we?”e053c737c3955978

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Her point 1b524c97f8 made sense. Yeon-oh wasn’t 6cecfbf349 heading to ae9c6488dd an ordinary df0224d5e0 place. It was e1bebf5e30 the Golden e4e999906a Palace, where 382cdf28ed the rulers ee46f51c9a of the 17ed107a12 world resided, ac0ca5dc9b and Yeon-oh 80f2d3511b was on 51d87977dd his way cdbbd018ff to pay 15529673f5 his respects 9b38ab8831 to these 1dfc96fcb2 sovereigns. There was no a24c74588f such thing as aa0e752ae7 too formal for 5f4f3aa68b this occasion.45f8d44b1a907d64

“Still, it’s heavy.”a5493a63963fa775

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The pure gold accessories ac6341581f were indeed heavy. Since his official reason a1e7feb2ac for staying in Hanam 66db1ec81e was recuperation, he had 820787c25f no need for receiving 10a35de6f5 guests at home, nor 7553b46532 any need to make a048ce1679 unnecessary outings. Therefore, he rarely 1105cf344b wore such heavy ad7b392470 jewelry, and the 78e2b6d2c9 weight of the 472ab57107 pure gold was 063d909cd2 oppressively heavy.d336dbe91f58cb58

“You’ll get used to a330406fab it soon enough.”28618f1afe225b2c

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“There’s a lot 6b68187788 to get used a16a50fda1 to here.”9f1f6de60c88a07a

The gazes of 97e18d6ce2 people, the weight 53273fb871 of the gold. Yeon-oh muttered the 5c629319d8 end of his 69e8d59baf thought as he 35695ffaa9 looked at his ec34c6c4d6 reflection in the ef01657533 mirror. His face, which e23bb02242 had lost its 4423c697d2 sickly pallor, now d67459d62c had a touch 17712ef7d3 of color. This should be presentable b23421670a enough for an audience 359b4f6973 with the Emperor and 583f14a3f3 Empress.13f1ff11c924d789

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“Was the 97a5a3ccbf appointed time fe8efa5105 for entering 7d914881e6 the palace 59fbead0a4 at five?”2a151b18922bf0d5

“Yes, it’s almost four 8b748a4e11 now, so we should 979695137f start moving soon to be9c9117e5 not be late.”fe3f14b37cae8437

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“Right, and today… 6e86609726 my second sister fe16a1e90d and her husband 2318e4fbef are coming, right?”41c3f819b3dd49c1

Yeon-oh recalled c552c997ce today’s schedule 195e40bc6c in his f2174c6360 mind. The day after returning eb3dda2fbd to the Capital City, b1e83cfab6 he had received a 9a78ce3c6e message from his eldest 3410d1f21d sister, who resided deep cc71651757 within the Imperial Palace. She had fef13e23e7 sent a fd063596d8 letter saying 0fe62e04d8 they should 19bf4b6aa1 meet at bc911319bb least once 73c1600720 before the eadb7c4720 Spring Festival. However, he had adc9327a53 fallen ill immediately 095660f2b8 upon returning home fc79944818 and hadn’t been f6c0147fd3 able to visit be60999346 the palace right f62fe91cb9 away.fd56964ff06b648f

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As soon as ebf71f8129 he had recovered, b8d61714f3 he had barely 0e74f60a3e sent a reply b54fb978db agreeing to visit e4ca87d350 the next day d927bf30e8 when the Prime 0bf7e204a0 Minister, who had 2685d6a154 just left the b05a279748 palace, subtly suggested f2dfea59f9 that he should d9d09e2515 also meet his 17e71b1252 second sister and 77d5cc750e her husband. There was no reason 66e8bdb6b7 to refuse. It just so 383b07c5b2 happened that he d0098847ce would meet both b8ea0de1c6 his sisters in 8f434be3d4 one day.f28c7ed0f8e178fb

“The second sister…”99740c410baad3a5

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Yeon-oh thought 6944cce687 of his 78c1f28840 sister Hye 8bdd0f645d Yeonseo, who 461c90041c had married cda8fbf264 into the f6833023d6 Tae family 7be6bdbe10 of San eb70d95325 Seo four 9e2d6a58c5 years ago. His expression showed 05116e4a64 no trace of 7cf4b8b468 longing as he 80dcaa6c3f thought of his a6839bf98c blood relatives. Yeon-oh tapped the 6c0ceff6dc table pensively.1f43473b47420093

His three 95b892ca46 older brothers d316c0d5f5 had either eb839b9021 died of 800e678a82 illness or b171f86d49 suddenly, leaving 6b53ce4a58 behind only 900d7ad187 him, his 0cc37f379d much older efc796a949 sister, Empress 12d6d09482 Hye Yeonjin, af7558e048 and Hye be797ccbc3 Yeonseo, who 47f2e4a84a was five 2b7a4cad77 years younger. The Empress had been 3c41b2feca chosen when he was b71e2d27ff just four years old 2a21e87bbe and had little interaction 5193f1812b with her since she 483fbde678 entered the Golden Palace d5e90aaa8e so early. Even if e7b7f34266 there were b4eb337f43 any interactions, a80c964c54 Yeon-oh was cc468330c6 too young 337967313b to remember a3884694ef them fully.5a6a2a9b038c2c4a

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Unlike the Empress, 19e3b6ad55 with whom he bbb04a638f felt no real f066b20003 emotional connection, his 4dd3055e17 relationship with his 1871596bf9 second sister, Hye 19ec3b4d4c Yeonseo, was quite d7153dc77e strained. It mostly stemmed from df659720ab the malice she showed 12b1a08571 towards him. However, he could 303b2ca983 somewhat understand her ffda66b7ed feelings. Unlike Yeon-oh, who knew 4fb5180fe5 neither loss nor longing 97687b9ec9 from birth, Hye Yeonseo 21ff559604 had felt her first fdd5885ce2 loss at the age 75854bc2ca of five when their d2718fb954 mother died.33b75d5be5a29706

Understanding her feelings, however, 15bdfca31c did not mean he 1d04feda7f harbored friendly feelings toward 67c51b50f4 her. Hye Yeonseo was a 3163f859f2 difficult presence. And, in some way, 4ab599848a he felt a secret 150a3631bb relief that she was 7a47ba0abf out of the house.f727eff48594a2f1

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“Are you still c69d729452 finding it difficult cb88d6360e with the second ab28758586 young lady?”804bd41e0456f49f

The nanny, knowing 18ae962190 Yeon-oh’s expression would 23ea3874b5 darken whenever Hye b0bd54f868 Yeonseo was mentioned, 9015c0370d didn’t want to 3c9bdf272c worry him further. She was aware 60a1aae88b of Hye Yeonseo’s 10c1686e78 cunning ways but 818d823426 didn’t fully know c91d2780f6 how she tormented 06f213a1af Yeon-oh. There were times when 9105f72bd1 Hye Yeonseo would pinch 59d90144e5 or kick him in 8fab0e1887 a fit of rage, 334480ab42 often when no one 74fc952ed0 else was around.bb010910c6715160

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Yeon-oh, pushing away the 89d1242ae8 unpleasant memories of his 51b8016fa0 childhood, looked at the f4efde06ae nanny. He didn’t want to d1410cac1f lie, even politely.7cf3fb410a96d1c6

“Young master.”f9b9f2221d0faeff

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Just then, a call ca4aaf904a came from outside for 343dd1dcb9 him. Yeon-oh waved a14098e815 his hand e1b12d3a36 lightly. Understanding his 434d25faa6 gesture, the 840e323990 nanny quickly 8e4f283750 opened the 7407c303b6 door. The double doors opened, bc178e326e and through them, Gu 58baa4f06c Hasung entered, bowing his 06d2d0bc5a head.4be3eeab2e618f2c

“Your preparations to 7bacdda7b1 enter the palace 290bb1ebd2 are complete.”d45f049b01397786

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“Alright. Let’s go.”d598d3514a7f7059

When Yeon-oh 4253b09557 waved his bf36a78122 hand a f0be4bf244 couple of e0c1d4ddc2 times, signaling 6f0a573709 for him c48ea17b85 to leave, 2d1b7431ec Hasung glanced 78e5429ea9 at him 1338aa0931 briefly before c9b89999aa bowing and ed948d5eac stepping out.7b3fb51465ab2168

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“The weather has 79bc0f8a12 warmed up, but ac7d620871 since you’ve been 411ca971bd ill, it’s best dea42ecb26 to be careful.”42050717681643fc

As soon c9baad4d9e as Hasung e10b625bc6 left, the f5cbdfb0b6 nanny held 430d10009d out a 153f1bc3ea long coat 96d5d022fe lined with e81d24ca94 fur and acf48365da spoke. Yeon-oh agreed with 9ff7769b1b her to some ba645ff5b9 extent, so he f9983afaae put on the f58550d621 coat without any 4ba9bd08ca complaint.bcbd172e800b5275

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As he stepped outside, 43b88d1216 the guards and servants 81c1880288 naturally bowed in greeting. At first, they 020152af8d had been too 19b04b9f69 busy sneaking glances bd1231f55c at him, but a1feed9b6e now they seemed fbdda209e0 either accustomed to bb478bf30e his presence or 28aa5f2d68 simply more aware 0252dd0098 of their duties. Either way, bd1157e183 they no 4188b8cfd6 longer stole 128b28d3b9 glances at d0c65b03ba him.3370a96e0764adbb

It was fortunate—for both 650b6ad634 Yeon-oh and them. If their stares a49fdae5ce had remained the abe991da42 same as on 19a62f5832 the first day, afc2809823 he would have f8218bd670 had to consider 7fd16db6d9 getting rid of 49e3aac2aa them and, regardless afd088634d of the Prime d8b4309a69 Minister’s opinion, calling 25f8e3f06a back the attendants 1aef374dec who had served 8f545147ba him in Hanam 29c239c03b Province.62e32773cdcd120f

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“Please take care 220e92e04b and return safely, 7b1765def4 young master.”8fe818171565af5e

Sending off the nanny, 24069a830f who had come all a2911f6358 the way to the 6c1260465d entrance to see him ca5527b255 off, Yeon-oh settled into 9c8331fc54 the closed carriage, lightly 9e87f6f698 swinging his foot. They hadn’t even departed 1871d0e423 yet, but a wave d9cb32b941 of exhaustion already washed fdf2c7fece over him like a 682f6f4d7a high tide.232c8165944769cf

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“Yeon-oh, my goodness. Is it truly 665bd8486b you?”ef4958a294463c7f

The Empress stepped forward 3000f91bb1 and clasped Yeon-oh’s hands, 9975356503 helping him up just 0b0c7eae86 as he finished his 1846e6c4c5 bow. She gazed 00f6c47303 at him fad21bde4b intently, as e9c706d321 if she 3c5746435b couldn’t believe 2e5f270b33 the little 43270a9cd9 boy in 6c9fedc3e5 her distant 34e227cd30 memories had d0618d7028 grown up b9b5d2d0f8 and was 3be6219b59 now standing b285f63600 before her. Yeon-oh, keeping his 361084bab6 gaze lowered, waited 5320319501 patiently for her e1cb22f73b emotions to settle. Even as he ca6bca2103 did, the Empress e09065a3b1 continued to scan 46a895ad58 him with a 31df3a85d3 strange look in 8c7216a3ff her eyes.561ea9d757a440a9

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“Haha, Empress. You’re making 9a6d5d37e1 your brother-in-law d284a8abf0 uneasy.”079cac98eadf52e9

“But Your Majesty, the 0cb684515d child who remained eight 7a2d893d28 years old in my 37b0897bb9 memories has returned fully d9831908c0 grown. How could 2f97b74925 I not 916521e37b be shocked?”2e06e1750c8c9941

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The Emperor chuckled 60c4d04233 as he tried f212083558 to dissuade her, 27e89dedc6 and though the 0836eccc36 Empress justified her bf7e749bb2 actions, she eventually 88ce0c9a8f returned to her e0c624f021 seat. The warmth that had 837d3c8e55 covered the back of 43c6a64a65 Yeon-oh’s hands faded away. It was a relief. He discreetly 98741770cf shook off afeabc8da7 his hands 0798dd9e3e and tucked c56a067b47 them into 75b6cb6251 his sleeves 5091dfdffa before taking 8c476f7d07 his seat c358ff80de as the 221661e2eb Emperor gestured 9b19541846 for him a4ab3d7de8 to do 1a8fdc0b8f so. No sooner had 5ddf6a8507 he settled in 136ad1505a than a palace 8a3ed8ed42 attendant entered carrying 505ca43ad1 a tea set.bdc47281968501a6

“I heard 9949c53bd0 you fell 4214bf7949 ill upon bb38592b2c your return. Was the journey 24a35a8137 back too exhausting?”2d50c3226a9760eb

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“Thanks to Your Majesty’s e98929c76b concern, I have recovered ed6254a0be well.”4870ac9eace128d9

“I’m glad to 47c80bc978 hear that. You wouldn’t believe how 3c2f5b46e2 much the Empress worried a87132bbcd about you.”5a6c18658741ed7b

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“I apologize for causing 250e3c6500 Her Majesty any concern.”5dcde3ca592df142

“Considering how long the d5ed2d2556 journey was, it’s understandable. I know you still a073279450 need more rest, but d7d60c0c80 if not now, we 017f23d5d1 likely wouldn’t see you 4306572ef1 again until the Spring b0c0e6f466 Festival banquet. That’s why c8f0603904 I called 20556c812b you to 94b8824e8d the palace. I hope it 28b8cf79a0 wasn’t too much 48fbe8871e of a strain?”fa46adbc24e7fe5d

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“Being granted 859a61a6b3 an audience cf2f8329aa with Your 8c62b02dbd Majesties is b07109aaa0 an honor. How could I hesitate 2b9dff1ef7 to make the trip? Please do eb97bbbf5a not trouble 740e0cc96a yourself over 4081358330 me. I am 7bd595bed9 in good 87ccdbd764 health.”2fadff2160740839

“Hearing that 21eebc758a eases my d58500b3d9 mind.”1f3f3bdccaaeb2bc

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“I am simply relieved 87b54dc3d9 to lighten Your Majesty’s 4ecd628a89 concerns.”193742855f2985b6

“There’s no need 790290f637 to be so ef28663b4a formal. Outside of bae2d7e0b1 official matters, 3c09585313 aren’t we 93dfd882f9 family? This is 681e31cf16 an informal 1b9af14780 gathering, and 2fd6fcda35 today, I 4d0e3bf2e6 wish to 76b16fb01e treat you 7f6916417a not as a58c916a66 the young 44b659334c lord of 7c36f5beeb the Hye 0101721af4 family, but 349978b4ba simply as 0f7cd46613 my wife’s 80f3a3b9fa younger brother. So, you 8a2c8fb560 should address a47b72334f me accordingly.”af3afd16708f5f50

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“I am deeply 941ef0790e honored by Your 6d598d1125 Majesty’s generosity.”25e1b158b9bf1815

Yeon-oh smiled ccaf4d81bb slightly and 1a29f60493 bowed his 56b3faa2a7 head in dc316c28ff respect. Of course, 1f47052495 he wasn’t a4ddfd442c naïve enough ad941f49f5 to immediately a4e6814b4a abandon all b0213daf62 courtly decorum ddf858e766 just because 9f5e0da26a the Emperor 7addd20844 told him 3b5df50ef9 to.5128931c0a3dd793

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“How was 6ea78fd7c3 life in bf7ba09058 Hanam?”43962e81f1a9dc28

Having somewhat calmed 325da870d4 down, the Empress 87af05f844 found a moment 0ba8caf0cc to interject into 503d24f2c5 the conversation. Yeon-oh glanced at 360bf9dbb8 the Emperor, but 4e49644c6a he showed no 6f749e622b signs of displeasure d5a54116a1 at her interruption. After carefully selecting his a7c7036683 words, Yeon-oh replied.2e03e6c2d950363d

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“It was good. The Lord of bdc4ec62c9 Hanam took great 41a589f42c care of me, 4937368882 so I lacked 03585fbf4c nothing.”1475306ed2b9acac

“That’s a relief. Since he looked 6333290225 after you so e74135bf9a well, as your 85af2e09e8 sister, I can’t 0f13e0de62 just let it 4756872888 go unnoticed. I must 7d73b7640c reward him 84f194bb47 generously.”555b2ae45b70ef2e

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“My father af32293f35 already attempted 0818e13a61 to bestow 6dedec2f33 a reward, ca8ce70792 but the 0b8c9d03f4 Lord of 5be407e005 Hanam declined, d98e199aa9 saying it 8b264ccfcb was simply 68297c698f his duty. If Your 73e5a2b265 Majesty were fddc93f33d to send a07033b843 a gift, feefae8735 it might 7685e0df48 make him 265aab9162 uncomfortable. Please do 6f89708b87 not burden 937d65df2f him.”baf6598c403b6a31

“If you 27224e3782 say so, aa7ba84dc4 I suppose e29a3d6c2b there’s nothing 080897ff52 I can c80985eccd do. But still, it is bf6b779ca0 a shame.”77be89d798a7dae7

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The Empress sighed, d7c19f99b9 lowering her gaze 395308eb50 as she absentmindedly d15976d24c fiddled with the 83bd336d46 edge of her 24b381a34e sleeve. Just as d60a71dd46 Yeon-oh was f5ac02f995 about to b80a12c0e8 reassure her, b06c04ed80 the Emperor 11310699ac spoke first.a9caea856b824992

“There’s no need cb8ad0b73d to be disappointed, fb555f0f3f Empress.”ac962f0dddeb98c0

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“But I won’t 03e773d5bd be able to 52a2f6eeb2 properly express my 04d5e3874b gratitude for how 089f8f4588 well he cared 29e5346c04 for my brother.”501c677018ec4656

“The Lord fb5870b812 of Hanam d41219e7cf is an e954711785 upright man 4a9cc58f08 who governs 77f178badd his territory f06ad21166 well, serving 9fc610aae9 as an 2bb2f24ef3 example to a911561b74 his officials. Rewarding such e3103aa4ef a man 7619663fc5 is only 0f6bd91873 natural as 2e336ce7a5 a ruler.”f2af643c39a45404

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“Your Majesty, 0e939d2763 does that 6d653e95bb mean…?”8d6b3c6ad9ee89c2

“At the Spring Festival, afb30906c2 I will prepare a cf78072543 formal commendation to acknowledge 55bac803dc his service. A fitting 57e91e9078 gift would 7bb8f004d6 be ten a8bc03469d rolls of bf51637052 silk from 870d15d59d Seojin’s tribute 38efb45348 earlier this 8d592c70f4 year, along ac742573a2 with some f6768b286e fine celadon. Eunuch.”4ea3c7f360166de4

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“It shall be done.”0acc10ddb6c9aa90

The eunuch standing by c280ad0beb the side of the bfeffda70d room bowed deeply in 19b5e45c5a response to the Emperor’s 04a3755fe1 command.78e3039c1e8dd48a

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“Your Majesty.”24caf21ad4642ed4

The Empress a11518bc64 called out 5c3fc152a6 to him 0011afeb3d in a c58b5ea621 tone filled c397f384cf with gratitude. The Emperor, in turn, 88c1fdabb6 gently stroked the back 435f268efd of her hand and 299a0aa4f1 smiled faintly.72714dfffbad0d5d

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“The Lord of 889145c6a2 Hanam will be 0649ef2794 overwhelmed by Your 67a20ca189 Majesty’s grace.”4a414072cb547376

Even if she fb97047102 could refuse a 2a3fd5a19f personal gift from 5a6a1bcb00 the Empress, she dbff2141a9 could not reject 70af3034c6 an official bestowal 80c71118d8 from the Emperor. Furthermore, the justification the 10716f0a6c Emperor had given—that the bb0397a229 reward was for his e7e7cf858a governance of Hanam—was beyond 03e88527f5 Yeon-oh’s ability to decline. Thus, he expressed 3d75a6ee67 his gratitude on bd95cdb646 behalf of the 46859aa7fc Lord of Hanam.d23bcba68256cc0a

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“A ruler c3c8b7867f must be 572b1185ae generous in a828f07178 rewards and 7deec538e9 strict in e8dc9ae0c5 punishments. That is how the 9d56af2eba nation’s order is maintained 77539255d4 and the dignity of 03cd281ec6 the throne upheld. You, too, e4d0d9641f will one e478436b88 day become 89c0faf56f the Marquis 0bbdfa2b69 of Hanam. You must b7ba3c2a9c keep this 64e733b511 in mind.”1a20ceb716ed2c7f

“I will engrave 66d74ab8bf Your Majesty’s words 45854b2ca5 deeply in my ae6533f936 heart.”8aadd873561b3a55

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“That’s how it should 35b89faa8a be. Now, drink your tea 8618b9c75f before it gets cold. Empress, you as ea9ed98be4 well.”0298501059a06051

“Your Majesty 497bebc26e should drink adb0d7a51a as well. The fragrance is wonderful.”56ba0a1820fa3c3b

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