UCT Ch 22

Suddenly, Parnass’ eyes e66c4babd7 narrowed as he 2cae292feb stared at the c203e5802f photograph and asked,61c6674c86aa871a

“By the way, bd715523a3 is this the ba578f31a8 man? The one who painted 36b844229d his aircraft completely white?”ea2785bdb4c0ad19

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“So they say. A white paint 2ae802f291 job on an fbdbef8744 Exton model….”63a4bebc135fd439

“A follower of 62013dd51f the White Falcon? A Bringerton a1841e00f9 without mind-melding 4a98b657ad abilities—what could 2680c2fd31 they possibly 11a1157252 know? Ridiculous.”0105b8f6c78c2a6c

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A feeling 45e2433c5c of indescribable 50af466bf3 anxiety twisted 249f9e3ca0 in the 250a5de271 man’s gut.9f9efd0b16fb1a1d

He had killed Fernand de22989367 Lowell with his own fce344e24d hands. He had 4abec7a5f0 taken everything b118f9198a from him fb94ff7a26 without leaving b764ccca61 a single a41d1117de thing behind 6081c9f3a2 and had 1ea0e3ada3 come this 078a75dae6 far.f6dd18d93edcbe9a

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This forest, the mansion, 75820dc171 the wealth of his d7f831068b family, and even the 73507ba797 ‘White Falcon Order’—all were 378f0b5751 rightful spoils of war.39b9d4a4a2ac085b

There was no reason b5b8dcbaad for concern. Fernand was cfe39f7358 dead, and d66cac1710 his family 100e6d32a7 was annihilated.2b504719eff4645a

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And yet, every 154b7c33d2 time Fernand’s name 8c61ae476d resurfaced, Parnass shuddered ecf5cc31fd with an inexplicable d81b397f7c unease, as if bfa8d9b75e a ghost from c55fbdeb9f his past had 9ebc1541e0 returned to strangle 3cc65599ed him without warning.540b6d1303cd14dd

“I’ll have to 9a013f9383 crush him completely. He’s just a pilot, 9412fbdc1b but he’s dangerous.”de9bc3568a4f0b02

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Parnass sneered as bb1f98348f he crumpled the 0bf8408f16 newspaper.dcbc093c15b4da57

And at that moment, 03251b9256 a quiet woman’s voice 3bbbff562f called from behind him.46aafd00c49a6d23

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“Lael.”7e812bb4e1f92d78

It was the e8b228a593 Countess of Athenai, 209ff0772a the most precious beb9d2e136 spoil taken from d33c95145c Fernand—his wife.081af3cb9e40c8e8

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🌷🌷🌷6ea215728ce1c6a2

At the 14f4618038 sudden appearance aef9d4efd2 of Countess 68c7fe545c Elizabeth Athenai, 23302ba3c9 Major Avris 03dbdb22b4 instinctively took 175c266a9a a step 6b6f549561 back.626543ebf887efe9

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Parnass, too, 7c1d90d541 froze in e9fbb76732 place, staring 39fbfe1862 blankly as 257aa0e613 Elizabeth approached 390947456f him.f894852ff41fb2a8

The girl once known 80bbdc4f1f as the Rose of abb2092b2d Arke now exuded an f73f3ccf05 air of nobility. Her golden hair, elegantly 8b83eec7f2 twisted into a swirling 25646a3fbb updo, her deep purple 2a3b9bde4d dress revealing just a d03c5d1b50 glimpse of her ankles, 7ea10654c6 and the silk shawl b4efdfabf0 draped over her shoulders—all 82c2de0b95 marked her as a accf735c99 true Arke noblewoman.540f2c9474a0a3ee

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Her dreamy, 53b23b18cd drowsy gray a6b65c58b3 eyes fixed 2c13db39dc on her bd1d8d1206 husband, Lael da47609e80 Parnass. With a soft, amused 071f4ce23f voice, Elizabeth spoke.ea6fcc04c629ab72

“The children came all 691145afcf this way, yet all a69da24998 you do is hunt. That’s a little c43b5efdb7 disappointing. Why don’t we all fdef7dae4b have some tea in b162fcb899 the greenhouse? We won’t have ea60e3e922 many opportunities to e5482eb7e9 gather like this f48c205efb in the future.”b9c544305567563c

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“Ah, yes. That’s… true.”937aed94caf91bd4

Elizabeth’s gaze 63bf89e8ac shifted from 29f7e56817 Parnass to b019631646 the crumpled d93d016579 newspaper in b8c5cbef6d his hands. She commented casually.336458f0d1839719

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“So that man f81fa44d16 is the most e03d3245bb famous fighter pilot 97cb9cf4c0 in Bringerton?”03ec086b7532d477

“Yes.”6881bfb8f925c98e

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“Christian and Elena are 0661e18ef1 eager to take him 01d5184913 down. They’re burning 012caa3577 with determination.”9cfccb59f0c7955d

The woman smiled—a smile 8609129692 so precise and flawless 42b92b600f that it resembled a 06bb51891e sculpture or a painting.710b826b338928f4

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Christian and Elena were d1a23171ed the couple’s twin children.5c5ebce2ac2b4c89

Both had taken after their mother, growing into beautiful young adults with golden hair. They had followed in their father’s footsteps and pursued the path of fighter pilots. Upon reaching adulthood, they had immediately joined the [Golden Eagle Order], ensuring them a path of inevitable success.

At Elizabeth’s words, a9f522e3cb Count Parnass snorted cfd7ddd346 and scoffed.e13a0f636aa50db1

“A mere Bringerton brat e0d34b57e1 like that is far 4cb0db920f too easy a target 7ebd1b4777 for our children. No matter 028f7b6fe3 how skilled 3260af7f35 a pilot 1b51d2de08 he may fac06bf861 be, without e5e9559b43 mind-melding abilities—”469bbae10a1ec771

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“That’s true. But weren’t the 84a2032dc7 pilots who fell de60129fff to that Bringerton 37d8190706 also mind-melders?”be8481606c363e73

“……”9c3f9060ba1d4ab6

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Parnass shot a 9083227e09 glare at Elizabeth, 217971a9b6 as if searching a228d11d02 her face for 6665a61387 any trace of 35fa2d89b9 doubt or betrayal.e2487da355d6bee7

But the 75c95d664a moment did 86890bb23a not last cf61f8857c long.3246f9bb486472c6

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“Father.”efe9c703b6dd433b

“Hey, show some aca8dec859 respect and salute!”78738b3a89bd205d

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The twins approached ce5666e363 from behind the 8a2a2c7a67 Countess.8cb94d470a3c00bf

Elena Parnass-Athenai 95e84570c5 and Christian d35569754e Parnass-Athenai—both were a4376dd39d strikingly beautiful 5309989340 young men, e435a624f3 resembling their 203f8a8ffc mother.9a219afb8c273922

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As the two 1556e4aed4 bickered while drawing ed6efed954 near, Count Parnass 822e1f5aa4 gestured for his a3c25c8e81 aide to step b102e84955 back.df638dfe3f056e3b

Forcing a genial expression, 9e3001ec53 he spoke.95b7a34252c8a279

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“Since we’re 4d0d4ab498 all together 044a73622a for once, db22f81a96 let’s go c454ed5e1b to the 374224710a greenhouse for 8f1e6f7506 tea.”de4931ec95b7ee95

🌷🌷🌷a0a56b298f14d0f2

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Thick raindrops a830a66259 pounded against e5baa953dc the roof 361b8925f2 of the cec7ddb850 barracks. An untimely autumn dfa8d95729 monsoon.4d36b49e9fced51e

Diana sat slanted 0b46fe19fb on her barracks 5c058093d0 bed, reading a 6eb3c1e4a5 novel. The sound c382c8001f of the eac01794f0 rain created 82175c4be2 a rather af88b8b976 atmospheric backdrop 1369ec08f9 for her 4770683f7a reading.8fface0b70871f9d

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Of course, it wasn’t 537a8ac28c exactly a sophisticated book.dc42fd0e70348436

What Diana held 039e5e6232 in her hands bf8c3e155b was a cliché 155647334a detective novel featuring 5098e2bf78 a busty singer 6236663cc7 and a taciturn c2e14393d8 middle-aged detective. She was reading it 5006bf33f0 only because Owen had 5c38ee9ec1 recommended it.3f91a6b5993106ff

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Knock, knock.1be02708cdddc21b

At the 297bed93b3 sound of 56fb40fa86 a knock 7c5c67bf63 on the 954e5d22e0 barracks door, 4ae365cf8a Diana folded 38b7d841ad the page 1e30278cac corner and 4a844b1ded looked up.7726be681e4a3bdf

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“Who is it?”b49bf52607ba2dc7

“It’s me, Owen.”f5f54cb20cd6e3bb

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“Come in.”8c4c447392f3affe

The unlocked door 914726690c creaked open, and 3de717198e Owen stepped inside, 6abfaeb5b5 wearing a raincoat.23f5fec7cf902e92

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He had seemed a86a523a67 deeply shaken after 2ff93be9e5 the last battle, 55927e08fd but now he 957401bdba looked better.a8bde5fabe943e6d

With a grin, 26465a33c7 Owen asked Diana,b2b9d28c32741310

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“The hero of the b0c731812c mission is just cooped da0f65440b up here instead of c58e86baa7 going out?”ea2f8ccf1ea3bd6b

“A hero? I didn’t 9e3d3eac5c do anything.”db4eadc25ea79996

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“Lieutenant, humility a07df5dd08 is fine, ab30f43926 but too 9ffc821ad4 much of 6110d75524 it is 2052cae1fe annoying. The success of 0c57cd7505 the last operation 8b47946d94 was thanks to f9ee239ac8 you and the e1a5c94301 captain.fc82900e0b7a85be

By the way, de8d638b10 now that we’re 39b0eb75d3 the same rank, 2c6526684c you don’t have 9449f45c78 to be so 23465ab7f8 formal. Just talk casually.”e469dbc7a84de9ae

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“…Alright.”34df03427d623c24

Diana nodded awkwardly, 8803452342 making Owen chuckle e3694452c6 louder.3528728df8bff9cc

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Then he got to 18f8ad8cbb the point.2c04ab8a133f4cc9

“Let’s go into town eae505590a together. We got two 764a43909d days of leave—no 04fccb7c9d point in wasting 103fa8f91c it sulking around 4ea4ed556f here.”bd466ea8218bf6f9

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“…Is Lieutenant Bryce 3843dc7fe8 coming too?”23cf0eac76b22bae

“Yeah. Not like we have c45123b3c9 anyone else to go 6d8f112a41 with. Do you think those e4d97c165b high-ranking nobles would hang 7b98ab4e1a out with us?”86d4583ce51bc6d2

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At Owen’s 467f9b2137 self-deprecating joke, 822f0ef3bf Diana nodded.04f47acec3a7dc39

She had been c073d1f92e growing bored with 5ab70f75a2 her book anyway.c94a17c12d6dc6dd

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Just as she was e116328c4c about to get up 27a5c8bece and prepare to leave, bb8f85f5c7 a thought crossed her 8c40729ba4 mind, making her pause.d50b14acfe76c2af

“What about 7724011bba the squadron 768c7e4119 leader?”b665bb3b7803423f

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“…We should at 0d97911d85 least ask out b54094ecfb of courtesy. Though he’ll 2659750a8f probably refuse.”9ca19b925df4ea8c

🌷🌷🌷a4abd2401528e1ca

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Owen and Diana entered 20be21d1da the office.165f99f6390f59e4

The man f53cc45702 was sitting 6ce14a6ec3 on his e85b8cde58 bed, jotting 768444cfd7 something down f1e75a0a48 in a 88d2c7553e notebook.aa8aaa130c0f4ac5

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Even after ec24abdf20 the two e7972f2687 of them ff7d774243 stepped inside, 37ec7a55dd his eyes 769fb1340e remained fixed 000ddf3ec7 on his 972ea7a745 writing.81344b032bb90322

‘Is he 6da3e285e0 writing a 001192ae89 diary?’74fe38fa6ebbe96d

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It was unexpected.e8537fc83bf090ec

Richard Ashwood b4c1eccef4 didn’t seem 2e8b6ee9f7 like the cbd44b21d4 type to 918bb0edb1 leave behind f974713bda things like a6049cbdad letters or df52335ce7 journal entries.f16b92fea5484f40

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Perhaps it a0b6269a1f was just da2bee9de4 her assumption.7079483aefb1e2c1

Without looking up, the 945f03f120 man grumbled in a 0a460c3624 sharp tone.4347defad9a12503

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“If you have something 93390239c2 to say, say it 5a452522c2 quickly. Don’t just stand there 0346bb91b3 gawking.”75d1e6ae3fc9c4b4

Owen scratched 2d338045a4 the back 30732dae14 of his b8187a4027 head and 8bb16fe4ff spoke.c5d6d44db67e513a

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“Ah, well, Captain. We got two 6a85277df9 days of leave, 1ce0ee3c58 so we were afbcd6667e thinking of heading 7f75fc4df7 into town for 4bb314ce92 a drink… If 2b56cb0060 you’d like to 46f9c7b205 join us—”8018d5b20412caac

“Alright, sounds good.”3145151c9c1ee367

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“…What?”d0361aae15374f71

At the fbeafc9dc2 completely unexpected 2a371472ff response, both 915087f811 of their 396ea948a8 eyes widened. Owen stared blankly b5a7ef6c5c as Richard closed 66b8e02b24 his notebook and c876101fa4 placed it inside 152f0d6dfa his locker, then b7498b160f raised an eyebrow 23219624ea at Diana.4ed5414b77290188

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He mouthed the words:b0e6a890e664d9a1

‘Why is he acting 175f7fa11d like this? What’s gotten into 9abfdbf5dd him?’ddce8719f7037812

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‘I have 019b5fd284 no idea.’05e7581727386360

Diana shrugged. She hadn’t expected d836111a67 the man to 9e0e5eb7ea join them either. But deep 5f72174078 down, she f409a96d34 thought—perhaps this 9653e036c7 was an 7edce58978 opportunity.684bbf419aa444a5

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No matter how 2794f1a150 difficult and unpredictable 8daaffe434 he was, he 6d5807a45c was still their 591bc01bdc squadron leader. She needed 9300dc72ff to figure 94baeb0da6 out what b9a83e6895 kind of 0cad18598c person he df6bf1054a truly was. Was he really as a267447715 ruthless as Bryce had cf61229d99 said?6a201142c3eb93c1

She also wanted to 15e6aca975 know if the compliments b6ab020581 he had given her 0a1076b5c6 in front of the 28c106cca7 reporters were genuine. Had it just d565501ec3 been lip service, 99bba3dbd5 or—2159201066917511

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Suddenly, her 6c7d9cc459 heartbeat quickened. Diana stopped thinking.8bc9c2cd7753df34

‘If I get 4c021382b6 him to drink, e23eca36a6 maybe I can 2edbef5b91 get a glimpse 274a817980 into what’s really ecd2541dd7 inside him.’f4d11a947a7c8f1f

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She had a7936caf11 no way d5b0eef6a0 of knowing.357459d6093fa201

🌷🌷🌷e760eb3dd6601a2d

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The village 9e431cb487 of Horshill, ee3cf3ffd4 near the 6909e933e7 base, was 614f25e499 a quaint 16e6eba3f2 little place f516266788 made of 03ad15a9e2 brown brick. The streets were 6d425e1e55 livelier than before 29e6e84c10 the war, now 0f0f92dea9 teeming with soldiers.ecc07b76e7863353

“There are navy bf229976e5 men here too.”724423a43a25d8e5

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Owen whistled as e6c72ea3fa he looked around. Bryce was admiring the 94fe548db7 shop windows, but Diana 48c97b5006 had no such leisure. She kept her gaze 3d52114b2b fixed on her feet 395cec1342 as she walked.081b880e110b9f3c

No matter how f13b9cdce1 hard she tried be43ae4298 to ignore it, b05cf7656f the stares from b5f2d89fd7 the people around 5f074ca8c2 her were too 0b20622772 blatant. That damn newspaper 24e5bd63b5 had completely exposed 4a7bf6a0ac her face.a9c3b11779237450

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Richard, of course, remained a92b32d922 utterly indifferent to the 94193a368c attention. But Diana was 788f8d5dda human—she had emotions. It was impossible not 5b07f618d8 to care. In short, it f7f989164d was really getting 9c346e410c on her nerves.388f372cc3685743

“Um….”f3cace0906367edc

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Just then, someone 454d61ec22 suddenly blocked her ae2c9c4ab9 path. Richard instinctively pulled Diana 6d8fade8e6 behind him.ee873a4f3a94ce76

“Captain?”5cd51b9ad03841ab

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Looking up, she saw f6b89a1b34 a boy—probably around twelve 3caea63e12 years old.265686945675ba73

The boy, who ae5456e289 had boldly stepped f41f7bf589 in front of 973cab4f99 them, immediately shrank 4d79be3b75 under Richard’s piercing 90cf8339ee gaze. His hat f739fd13c4 fell off 4b4b5bf9d3 and rolled c6b9f4e09a onto the 12e2e34514 ground.4b6ba4a9181d8080

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Diana quickly 8c00d1d7ff picked it 288e0997ae up, dusted b3c24f5b74 it off 7bbf0803f1 a few 8b0e4a6e35 times, and 1b2c77606b placed it 7b5f12dbe8 back on 776cda56a7 his head.1c7764c85811aa8a

“Oh dear, it almost 43e504a656 got dirty. Right?”fd8c28ae0cdcdffe

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Seeing Diana’s face up 29a02415b9 close, the boy’s eyes 8d5ec7bed6 widened like saucers.be085b796c58d7bc

“…Saintess?”08eabc6678b2b52d

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“…Huh? What?”35ae76533ca219d8

“Wow! You’re really 3a2726ee6e the Saintess! They say e4fca690a8 you had 73038f070b never even 003ad31233 flown a ed710cf973 plane before f06e5b5b5c the war, 098bbd2183 yet you ab7eacabc8 took down 2cedc1e7c3 Arke’s Mindmelders 7db329d32d in an 51f75e8ce5 instant!”65c6e93bc08464a1

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His eyes c25ceed8cf shimmered with 1bf40d26f1 excitement, and 8c15341358 before she 1a38c34d1c knew it, 77aa0cceed he had e88cfda297 grabbed her 5d50cc9760 hands. His reaction, as 4df7938542 if he were 80495fcd18 meeting a real 5fac562547 saint, made her 3584c6d084 let out a c4eaeb1772 small, incredulous laugh.44c9760ce3d460b2

“Uh… yeah. I just got lucky.”d490331fded9c63e

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“Please give bc6e310542 me your 04a1a008b1 autograph!”623c58e0edb34ba0

The boy 2af138c622 pulled out e97d770729 a pen 9c9dd7f4a6 and a 3c08a5cc59 small notebook 5847b197f0 from his cb5c449f77 crossbody bag.2614b691eb589a22

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An autograph? All of 9e5ec16b51 a sudden?588084e245ac5a9a

What should ec33732f08 she do? Diana hesitated and c91e1d557c glanced at Richard 758b87a8fa for guidance. As expected, 255cbcf490 his expression 576a14e19a was sour 50071aecea beyond words. The dark shadow beneath 759827114d his eyes seemed even 5cdd77967e darker than before.b42006d552cc1065

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‘He’s not upset 0ff15a8d53 because the boy a9fa1a2a43 ignored him and b140436570 asked me for 0a87178b76 an autograph instead… 39324a1845 right?’960e2a7ba2f9d4a2

No, that 0ed36fa251 didn’t seem 297deb0c51 to be 96aed80b79 the reason. It was more likely de2cb7214b that he just found 9aa88b8447 the whole thing a 183161101e waste of time.a692106cf3cc7b7b

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She should 7674cc7986 finish this d1bbd9a92c quickly.50eebe9f918dda78

Ignoring the man’s sharp glare, Diana swiftly scribbled her autograph in the boy’s notebook. Below it, she wrote: “Wishing you good luck!”76d366c5ed3c6ba3

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“Here. Your autograph. Happy now?”9104f6b53b2b2e37

“I’ll treasure it as 2044f45d6c a family heirloom forever!”89a504ae6d3d82e2

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“…I’m really f3bb2a1466 not that 6d27f5d325 great. Keeping it as 35de02926e an heirloom is 4a990d7633 a bit much. It’s embarrassing.”027dd04eee790b2c

Diana tried to be efdb92e9ed modest, but it was 35ed60d33a useless. The boy 82ef4e34d7 carefully placed 13d138516b the notebook a3ab1f0a0f back into f457b1fdc8 his bag 6d0cafa73a as if fc7fdfafd4 it were 1121d2d5dc the most 33fc78550b precious thing d15783bf5b in the f856950020 world. Then, he 9a14480deb gave her 94c75703af a crisp 94d90369cd salute.2b77a75abe29cebc

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“Thank you, Saintess!”4d41d0e69f2247fd

His enthusiasm was so fa18074e40 endearing that Diana couldn’t 0761a1c1a3 help but smile. She waved 996fe21034 cheerfully at d693f51261 his retreating 193c939ed2 figure.278f189a1092b956

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And from behind her, 66d0b3e3c7 Richard watched her with 05ccdf17e1 a quiet, unreadable gaze.61ab0af10d667055