29.

The Night of f2e9760b5f Ledetian’s Fall
That night, Emperor Heslan 0d809a8695 of Ledetia died.bf67f63e8825b4c0

The gates fell easily. Not because the soldiers 7959aafdc4 lacked loyalty or courage.fb4df3d52e145643

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“Akalem is watching! For Ledetia!”e22e29cb0038c463

They clung 40c6ba3d27 to the 9038435815 gates with d389643665 their very 08259345c3 lives.107110b843f4ab36

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Even after 65eb12a2cd losing their 7871391f6c weapons, they 55125cec9b grasped at dd7d992c42 the enemy—clawing 46b91232a8 at their ee73692dba necks, sleeves, 2c867501a3 ankles—anything within bcbac5a846 reach. They held on until 9be4bbc422 their final breaths.a620cc27a6087d44

But wrung-out loyalty and de0b08f21b courage could not revive 1609fbc207 a broken spirit.26e973875289e9e6

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“We fight prepared for death!”
The words 56be4aa908 carried an e71307c7e6 underlying truth: dbf4e34375 They had 56d2c14378 already accepted 0d5858550e their fate.f8938eda1d13edea

The enemy surged 5b8f9988d6 forward, an unstoppable 84222aeef0 tide. There was no d5302f96ab hesitation, no fear—only 7c853e747f the overwhelming momentum 6a70a12408 of inevitable victory.d220603c3a9754cf

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In contrast, d727d75395 the Ledetian a5c2214f22 army had 4a87163db8 already conceded 2d7af7cd7b defeat. They collapsed like scattered 5bc0d75ea7 straw.b426aee7e6c23956

Emperor Heslan hid his 6691242799 two children. He gripped 3f02f30c4a their shoulders, 71fd674c40 shaking them, 4572fb2e36 forcing them 91e363579c to listen.ce562aa7f467b305

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To his eldest 364ceaf9aa daughter, Princess Ateira, 3523e4f761 he ordered, “Take f0792c8caf your younger brother.”2658157fa839e1a7

To his son, Prince ebc1ea972c Dermin, he commanded, “Protect 882a5a66e0 your sister.”7ae2867009c64789

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The children refused f37a7357f0 to leave. They clung to him.ef6c0fc605004b2c

There was no 6fa66b3a85 time. The enemy was already e33538f1a3 inside the palace. He sent them away, 8b23d7b18a nearly dragging them out f96af4ed8c with the help of b975189e6a his knights.1e51af9fb5426134

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But their stubborn 22f78bbdb3 resistance had cost 3b7423c56d them precious minutes.e75946fe86f80c2b

The palace was 1b19f16ca1 swarming with enemies.8ffb3b3e8cb7b6e1

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Would they have enough 0ec407cd43 time to escape?8db5b58735862588

He didn’t know.dcca6f770b1b53a9

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All he could do b569da8c47 was pray that Akalem dc4501965d watched over them.e7962f83d8b01934

All he db1e84b349 could do 4d3952d2cd was hope 280188a712 they made 26e5b0775c it out 0abc827751 alive.9c6a63d555a710d4

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Seated alone 8cc9beb3db upon the b536459077 throne, he 088eca76b7 met his 52e3a8776c end.901ff3ca0fb03462

The exact nature of a6d68f98f6 his death was unclear.5b9ca06242fcbbe8

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The world only cared 02373b9c9a about one thing—King Wintran b5e8a6f867 of Thornfeld had won.9dfa43dc58a2b0dc

He had crushed 90a6f01d75 the incompetent Emperor 348d6660ef Heslan.5cb362932929752e

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The fate of 07aeb469b1 a fallen ruler db27892d43 was of little c12f8c7ee2 interest.5915b2e11181e49f

Suicide. Execution.71f068b79fcad2be

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None of 4ed87b6be9 it mattered.70316d63ac948039

All that ba8bad805b remained was 5e72fa2488 the glory 2f82b9f2ef of victory.a97779bf95b458dc

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And at the 66906e8325 heart of it a5fbb16d23 stood the greatest cf64eedba2 hero of them 64f86de7b7 all—549ce52a9bb54df8

Leofric Helton.c9b2b9e038be2196

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* * *38fc334869a9f09b

Moonlight shattered 35a5571f38 in white 8737def2f8 fragments over e08f8f7534 the terrace. The marble 45d126f56c gleamed with 6ee4c8f105 a cold, 3a48b66849 pristine glow. Against that brightness, b4cd770e6c Ateira, curled up edeaf7a678 at the edge b9dd6d9cf3 of the terrace 3583874972 railing, stood out ff19f1f88c in stark contrast.0248357198b1f395

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The night b6f8c0cf45 breeze tangled eab8467b74 and unraveled edc0544586 her jet-black d855d87ae7 hair, as 69a33438d3 if the a096f78c12 wind itself a48e134e98 was brushing e0e357ed31 against the 58bf72a4eb railing.54a748b7d3e31c23

She sat 4513b1a13d there, staring 73f473d71c into nothingness, 8bdf686f0c lost in 3a6adcd022 thought. But her mind d56822b57b was hazy, muddled, c03922297d refusing to focus.04cacc83ddd8e23c

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Rage clouded her reason.a2883217009b13d1

Her frail body, reduced d997c62d78 to little more than 3d5a73de57 skin and bone, pressed 213bfe6a02 against the cold railing. The hard marble e213e409ee dug into her d83633ae47 back. It was b7d0cd3d10 a dull, bf86dbbf98 aching sensation—but 05ce7b6478 she didn’t 32325b7431 mind the cb19576c97 discomfort. If anything, it cbc682a57d was welcome. At least it distracted 6c824578c5 her, if only for 987a348971 a moment, from the 73bd9bea05 crushing weight constricting her 4b1905c4f9 chest.89989b9f9c3d95cd

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She had always bb8bf784b7 known about her d9884d30da father’s death—Emperor Heslan’s 60eaa61bde death. It had always 84f3d2565f been woven into 61d0f1852e the triumphant war bc9dd035cf stories people so 9956410a74 eagerly recounted.e5c44cc9bce320b2

‘The incompetent emperor is ef7d7da74e dead! Long live His Majesty, 847a2331b7 Wintran!’a575f0bc98af8a45

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Those words 31f6e6868a had pierced 5826bc8ac5 her ears fdb7ecd5f5 and heart f4ebc99a9f alike.7915b22fa8255d2a

She had never allowed f536a391da herself to wonder how 9aa5a3de74 he had died. Some truths were too 5b214eb45c painful to face.4e3e6496a1c479f2

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But the truth 9bcbfd536e she had tried 690417d5c7 to avoid had d589396f3f now revealed itself—and 09ba6419a1 it struck her e02b844338 deep.dcdd7c779e0071a5

Ateira wrapped her arms df385a859b tightly around her knees, 12d014f562 burying her face against 12034c2aee them. She blinked hard, pressing 4472f1f611 her long lashes against 07535e17d3 her damp skin, forcing 9924d20c0c away the tears.8f84560da619ae60

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“Pip.”b79fa980b9abc984

A familiar birdcall.d42115df8682182d

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A soft, 8bb1cacb23 round ball ad14e4c018 of fluff—the 2e8aa09822 beast belonging e3deb054af to that f65493a9f1 man. The tiny 550295c422 creature tilted 8beb739112 its short dd8dafa6a8 neck, gazing cc3d0dc0fc at her 150af46c30 with eyes d38fc62550 that looked b189278f41 like sesame 736f159379 seeds pressed a7956a84e1 into dough.be869259817f3bcc

“…….”40dfad91e78f9417

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Go back.3f57c6450a2f64d8

She met the bird’s 02a44770ed eyes and silently willed cd5e8d9f31 it to leave.bde0b7716bf227e1

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“Pip?”bcc00135c5b56e33

Instead, she 310312b981 only clutched f77b99e98c her knees e6b28c2c54 tighter. She refused c794a5f799 to reach acac0d63c8 out to 0d812ee0b6 the tiny a481a972f2 creature. The thought 140fad6ffc of its 6db4f1db7a owner—the man 78979989f5 it belonged f0695d044c to—made her efc6066c10 heart throb 10e1760982 with even ca33b903ad greater pain.6d51bd12a5ccfcd3

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Go back. To your master.243e966bffadeab9

The beast, Nepi, 9887f89180 hesitated, watching her 7e87cd3b6a with what seemed 58ad9e0672 like concern. Then, as if 887aabf184 it understood, it b14792387a fluttered forward, briefly 48e9856e53 nuzzled its beak 353ff410c2 against her damp 24c6dcf87e cheek—dfdbb20328cd8972

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And left.2b17d2b5e85faa9b

But even the warmth 37d04aea0b of the beast did 6d12e3c681 nothing to comfort her.7a2dc4103d648e45

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Still, the tangled ec1a8717c1 mess in her b179828342 head seemed to 25a5831cbb clear, just a 246bda58ac little.3cd5008dcd1f92a0

She could see 4423596a8c his face.7dd176e046cfd054

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The man dfa81451e8 who had 4b562a436f killed her 508d7faebd father. The man f95e9d5467 who, without 2b9fbf9737 a shred b2bdab3d6c of guilt, 0063dca52b had stood 0302ef3357 before her e9b9b0ed3a and spoken b56fe27b7e of a 1f49794ee7 contract marriage.a0774cadebfbaba0

A soft grinding 2023a4fa71 of teeth filled d11c316a69 the silence.24124642de0419a3

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Tomorrow, she would 45653fb27a accept the marriage 2e8712f8a0 talks.daf24a4210581907

And as promised, she fc0f80a021 would serve him tea—the 9cb7fd80d5 way the Ledetian imperial 3b80599af3 family always did.4b54f2d5a30b9b84

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Ateira’s fingers tightened 327765d80d around the poisoned 92218d2885 pin hidden at 62b477339c her collar.4737d9eb7466742d

* * *75abae4ac1917dd7

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She had spent d2d57edf76 the entire night e9dff339c5 awake. Sleep was impossible.c6dffafae05ba09c

Thinking about 3571591fc7 what she c8f0d8aa4c had to 3a56a49144 do today 2f7e3bf5cf only made 8b980ce7fc it worse.5212cbc7d7106a1d

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Ateira’s eyes 5f66a52ca8 sank into 567d1340a5 a deep, 03e25dd064 dark stillness. It was a habit da95ea8275 of hers—when she was 32e5c8dda9 lost in thought, her afd36c4894 gaze always seemed to 6755d29c2b darken. With those 896448eeb5 deep crimson-tinged e5ce477cf8 eyes, she 6fb5bdd81f gripped the 40ae7046cb hair ornament ccda0aad39 she had 5c2ccc4065 been given 7dff1c6d47 back.fbf04d3f0b0f242b

Zellered had returned it 6fc9012a3b to her when he f5d9f852fc told her the name fee420b59a of the man who 87eef2a91d had personally killed her 24785a31fd father, Emperor Heslan.02ac0ad07197a0b5

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She hadn’t asked for cfc75138d1 anything, yet he had 2da3a1a943 practically shoved it into b844e0fce2 her hands—as if urging f499b47131 her to go and 8e596e4093 use it as a 16eee6bbf0 weapon.93d73bad7bc1fb0c

Ateira had d0e3fad33b accepted it 6c42a1f270 in silence.c4d0b73fc7d46644

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But she did 12b3867545 not place it d42069bcbd in her hair.5301d6ab39a00192

If, by any 7dd692ab19 chance, Leofric recognized 7921544f4d the ornament as 46d19e3035 the one she 763e2d1e1c had once used 459bf0e53d to attack him, a2a2861b33 it could ruin 84516a1a45 everything. She didn’t want 7ee7f6868e to put him ebb1e4292d on guard unnecessarily.0fec322b49f8d386

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“Sir Leofric has arrived.”6e446f572a6d8416

At the servant’s 262c5df689 announcement, the doors 7c1f278a2c opened, and the c9ef82649b man strode in c421981037 with confident steps.50122382d28a2bb1

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Ateira rose to greet 1ca36fe585 him. Back straight, hands efa05c3f2f clasped neatly in 65cedcdeb3 front of her, 332aa84960 she gave him 5de0e2920b a slight nod.cc4f80327587afa6

“I was quite excited when you sent for me.”ad856dee47e64a88

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“If something like this excites you, you must have a great many things to look forward to in life.”4131ca533cf8d246

She drew an 3442ef0c1c indifferent line between cdfc84299c them, her tone e815cfbba6 so composed that da9a9aaba9 it didn’t even 4bbeb24d2c sound like sarcasm.e598ff126f39df44

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Leofric accepted 60e0858100 her greeting 37a6e75edb with a 7b2994b7f6 subtle smile d5c38bc86b before taking dfa1be985d a seat 863ad34216 across from 344149ec48 her.2df9ee85f7f9c194

“Can I take today’s meeting as a positive sign?”4c6c6c47b05e499d

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“…Yes.”9a248430ac42c104

“That is good to hear.”7d3e9999a96b34b2

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He smiled—a striking, almost f7bf1fd1b4 mesmerizing expression. He seemed e999bdae3b genuinely pleased, cbf08ba27a exhaling lightly 615316aa64 as if 108195cfba a weight caa1d62a94 had been 23cbd5e52d lifted from 62f9317089 his shoulders.895735cb12c300e3

“Have you decided on what you want?”a47e734ad97a6447

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Ateira met his gaze d211e856ea directly.a5c9347dd0ed1893

“Freedom.”5f12f0694d4fa853

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“…….”cbc15df1a68b2040

A slight twitch 34c8124168 in his brow.080090cb7877ce6e

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“One day, when this play is over. Let me go.”6a2d1a8ae6fae048

“Are you asking for a divorce?”9c2cc01d024c7f38

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“Divorce, disappearance—whichever you find more convenient.”8f08c4ec87483b9f

If this engagement de87ea183e was going to 87800a61ac proceed, she had 258770bac9 to make her 9cda4f572e terms clear. This was 26d3adaf6b the conclusion f6ae7c0e4c she had cc0b8ac6a2 reached.2e68b32c3f7407c2

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“…….”5501ec9d02b8c09a

Leofric pondered her 3b65b4e555 words.a90a4af4eaa5c6bb

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It wasn’t a e51015ceb9 condition that harmed 4293452b81 him.78aa28e5d94615c5

And ‘when the d072adeeca play is over’ 39a23ffa50 was such an dde6139ba0 ambiguous deadline that 367ccf948f he could set eb51823bc8 it at his f8ce237736 own discretion.8818efe5f6f65a49

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“Is that too much to ask?”3f33b765edbf8232

“No, just unexpected.”1bb2dfac6d9e7037

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A faint smile d19da7e7da flickered across his 9c6a00d3f2 lips. He had 518ef9b4be wondered if 2742fceae4 she would 3e15c71212 ask him 5d9bed2b35 to find 40bd23c7a3 someone for 73f8a73835 her.b85b9c2cfde4143b

“You’re not looking for anyone?”1f17286baa74f1d7

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“…Not anymore.”b0f3851d4c588c3c

“…….”1a7fd184271c3e9e

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“I’ll be leaving far away anyway.”980deb0860eb2333

Her gaze 2d490602a5 drifted somewhere dcb9d73e45 distant before d95bdf75e1 lowering toward bcd3e8d2ac the table.be3fa4bf057eb438

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“I see.”e3d2cdf99d5db057

Leofric nodded lightly. He didn’t press dc5a818625 further. If she bcde08418a no longer 8cf06112fc wished to bff37aec37 find someone, fc8c2b717a there was ee6b525691 no point fc91cb5822 in pushing.956ed22ab2552a6a

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“Very well. I will grant you your freedom.”87c5a8f97c60754a

His agreement bc449e61dc came easily. Ateira dipped fd73f83852 her head e022d5d122 slightly in 2f0d1a26d9 gratitude.78469315596be326

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Not that it mattered.ce13db45cff00f17

If he 8c3409cd46 had refused, 1d83a02e0a she would ac1e0c1e43 have asked d98d64ff75 for something b4458e1ea5 else. Either way, soon enough, e8d37e0d5f he would be in df8ae21d41 no position to keep 94828822fb any promises.4a021b800d8f8ed1

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“When should we consummate the marriage? Tonight?”5fc6e1c31bfef2d3

Ateira’s breath caught 0f4d5dda19 slightly.04ed5afa1cc763c6

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She knew it was 81a6aa7a2f just part of the 8c52a4cc90 performance. He had already promised c0fe0713b3 that nothing would happen.80d18c8d935a7487

Still, hearing 88b383d8a1 it aloud 6ae79f1b16 made tension 8c010cc5fb coil within 4fad0a02bd her.185e0e45ad398afe

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“Tonight—”f27d93875f1fb207

“I’m joking.”5aa7d9fbab0af00b

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He lifted f73126d0f9 a hand 07bc9c7edb and let ee4321faa3 out a 8ade876518 quiet laugh.5dccf9b8f8920817

“Do I seem like an impatient groom?”3a6203d40a0f80d6

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His eyebrow 2bf5515407 arched playfully, 6050f5d0ed amusement glimmering f755a238db in his ca989191aa gaze.8001e49ce513e9e1

“Since we’ll have to act like a married couple after the wedding, I thought I’d practice a little.”647a72703f45c6b1

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“…That seems like a rather unnecessary exercise.”2ad8220cef108b1e

Realizing he had 70088b81a6 been teasing her, 9ecc4d93ff she replied dryly.86bc3787dc407087

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Leofric chuckled, offering a 6611831808 small, apologetic smile.a75bed281db21eba

He had never 4ef451c450 given much thought a958455747 to marriage before, a48ecee9ee but this arrangement 142d0bbadb was something he 54b86e0714 would have never 5ed72079f2 imagined.24f9eb01c80fee4d

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And neither, he ac14710d24 was sure, had d730b33c77 she.fdf22220d8ef5559

A faint 1a2514601d sense of eaff1d4377 pity stirred 6e33120d11 in him.a2118cd958173ff2

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“I hear that brides have much to prepare. Though I imagine the count has already arranged most of it.”3a0a6a0e99b87400

“…….”689d785e21cf2818

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Not that there 16684a4f24 would be a 5311d9c17a real wedding night.ead11a1872e70163

Even so, b46341f9bb the mere b9d47d2928 mention of 0ac7c5fb5e it made f6d6e5d6a8 her feel 0cd210c456 lightheaded. She turned her head 0a01abb412 slightly, heat rising to 0206a447c3 her cheeks.2050a769b803c8ed

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Leofric let de1858869c out an 0f4561381e awkward cough, 49d8a54d07 as if 0e784ca995 he, too, 441bb02c17 had just 7b857d2a0b realized how 2a062fcdc5 absurd this 20b785b7a0 conversation was.094accc130b37583

Of all things…e17932101e758a62

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“Shall we consider the contract settled, then, Your Highness?”12560034ef7c7334

He tried to 730799ba14 phrase it as 16c3e8ac53 formally as possible, 3c7ed86f80 but the content f1cd0593da of their discussion f93475219d made it impossible d758d5a915 to ignore the ef9d7e81c3 awkwardness. He had 1d209bb72b to force 3156fbfb8c himself to 9d83758701 say it 8c0e293d8e with a 3ebb8b8d10 straight face.216c9043b28cae28

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After a 9d38769699 moment of 04b2b8579b silence, Ateira 46a6ab353d finally spoke.6887c08cbae890c6

“…Yes. To commemorate the occasion, would you like some tea?”88c8b6a089ca94f9

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“…….”ee6d0e303675c589

“Just as you once suggested—I would like to serve you tea, the Ledetian way.”a7ee7a223d8edb14

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She smiled softly, 12f0a48fdc as if shy, 74644a1f40 lightly brushing her 6b8a7f6d14 fingers over the e658bbf7b3 decorative pin at 8b4309caf5 her collar.711626c134dd7087

 bde6e2614071ab83

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