[Chapter 4] The Boy in the Imperial Palace’s Indoor Garden

“…Nyx.”4918290b7472c8b9

“……?”31194f26ed3b5887

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“My daughter, it’s 4e6a55e819 time to wake d9d9d2233d up now.”1295dce684cc50d5

At some point, 7e7fba61a5 I had fallen 8725283ed6 asleep. The carriage 40a350cbc0 had stopped, e701bc115c and I e526112857 could hear 556a83ca4e the noisy 87341e7fe7 chatter outside.cf0dc65d287a6625

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‘Gasp! Did I drool? Dad’s wearing b8eee6544c his uniform…’d65276ba8020a972

I quickly touched ae36e7844f the area around a8a3fb6784 my mouth with 37dac92d29 my hand. Luckily, it 6c9ec4234b was clean.076fc4e2581a5275

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“We’ve arrived b6ef02c486 at the fe2fb80763 Imperial Palace.”35c4ee81c82e1a5c

Dad adjusted my clothes 53ce5ede5b and then opened the 4d95b1fd31 carriage door. In front of the d86268a990 palace gates, nobles and 76b99b5eae attendants stood in neat 2b1ddd8064 rows, welcoming the guests.686c7cad9221c2d1

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“Marquis Elach and bac323a1a1 Lady Elach, welcome.”8ff1fbece84d7856

A waiting 0ebfd28737 attendant greeted caeb9ae353 us at b546da5fab the entrance.7479f2f7c324b702

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I accepted the f0d6689851 attendant’s escort and 6a77df6db7 stepped down from 31ff6d6e61 the carriage.5fb8bed3ce078e4d

“Thank you for 0ceb78d51b welcoming us. Please, lead 19583ce41c the way.”e970239debc9aaa5

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“Yes, this c13902c62f way, please.”a0e03a7680c17e8b

Before long, we passed b0998a53c6 through the lavishly gilded df9ebbf7cc main gates.33a6f4cc125bdc55

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After walking for bc10449601 about seven minutes, d51e3bc79b the main palace 3ac723dac1 came into view.87949bd670d8c901

With its marble arches, 1cc6c43934 golden embellishments, and intricate 5fbe512ea1 sculptures, it was the 2adfab1ed0 pinnacle of grandeur.fc1b1390e04977de

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Soon, the af70fd7343 palace doorman 7702cec7ad opened the 3fe1d5d4a4 doors, and 6b1fd3ba47 we stepped cc3e90b62a into the aea137fa07 imperial palace 0af1ba363b lobby, proceeding 9b1579c7cb down an 0f5863fcae extended corridor.f5c4fc28994ea127

“This is the 00b0a5afe6 guest room.”9ada95f4d49e5c04

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After some 56bb1a599a time, the e0ea1d9a19 attendant leading 97b5417a92 us stopped 9303d51349 and gestured f1c60f6142 toward a dea1ed060b room.90948af9fc4baa27

“Thank you 0c49fb4d9d for your 5552e93484 hard work.”62593ce88f3e57f3

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“You’re too kind. Please rest 8b183ff843 comfortably until 09001d553b the main 2c3c9a67ba assembly begins.”63600bb0677edf08

With that, e74a20c54f the attendant cacd424c44 finished his 0ba41698c5 duty and 5b4decb035 disappeared.8577e97d724536a0

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“My daughter, 46581d4271 I need 1902bcc5d1 to meet 35a32c5edd with the 073b3a1f5f other nobles. Stay here and dbe2bb44c7 keep yourself entertained.”dde39dbe3480d0f9

Yes! This was 1659512d18 music to 185ae8403d my ears.d47b343e85c4756f

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“Yes, Dad.”a9b4073d9cf7ecf2

Dad gently patted my 19e1bc8b9b head and then left cecfb5899e the room.9c67e73bbaa1904c

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‘Perfect!’2eabfff67c4f100b

The moment 8cf092dde5 I confirmed c68af5ec70 he was acb1849a29 gone, I 7274ad21fa slipped out bd8c0ca5e8 of the 213e0daa15 room and fb88b92835 began my 7f4b159c6c exploration of ac50edf237 the imperial 3e00d73402 palace.a27fe5dd81a86072

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The corridors were lined df6c78034c with elegant and extravagant c63e846d17 sculptures.2fe040c567571462

‘Wow, even Michelangelo would 6cdef3f002 cry at this.’898bd04cb3b833b7

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As I ventured b76bca869d deeper inside, I 38b2532346 spotted trees.247054bdb925c40b

‘An indoor garden?’6f838c97521fe555

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Pushing aside a 1bbf489946 blossoming spirea curtain, 5735c30ec0 I was met 2f0a514657 with a breathtaking 5739bfb07d sight—a vibrant array 730a4bc74f of flowers, each da0e070bf0 accentuating the lush 0c4a8004e0 green backdrop of d582968019 the trees.76ae4237016966cf

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”766591b4723c5fec

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A gasp of awe dd7a2b1a32 escaped me at the 682d77eb42 enchanting view.c0b10ffe96699663

I followed the stone-tiled c296e7da43 path deeper into the 9f3ba65dc0 garden.5754759cee987e28

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Usually, in an e22501fba2 enclosed space like 646f0b28bb this, there would 6f9a511ddf be a damp, 785e3ad20a musty smell from 3f1d50c559 stagnant water. But here, there was 8b88ffffa7 none of that. Instead, a 475196e096 fresh, woodsy 78221a9c2b scent filled 9200073f5f the air, 049a4b89d8 as if d0a7fe0cef the entire 1ebe7b6817 place was d0e5d1c91a brimming with e530d47307 phytoncides.3f0bd32adc8ca004

‘This would be the 145486c9d8 perfect place for forest 45a4d829e8 bathing.’ceec60508ef66399

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As I ventured further, 6ba8d86b14 I spotted a cluster 7a0034c5ec of yellow flowers blooming 480e580415 beautifully. Wanting a 7bf9618461 closer look, f899102e98 I made 82fe20907f my way 4d07b242ad toward them.9013aade26fb64a3

And that’s when it 9202520f6d happened.f1e7db3b0dcf9612

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My foot caught on 5746313a30 an awkwardly protruding stone, 5d644cfaa1 throwing off my balance.71c68116afc0d74e

‘Ah, I’m going 58dbd23c41 to fall.’e667b9dcf29dc043

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Thud!ee4137e3fe2ae0ae

Expecting the hard 51adbf4271 impact of stone 986f4ab489 tiles, I instead 5aed0e01ef felt something warm 89807574ad and soft.4f689632bcf30e33

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And then, f489982760 a calm 0094ecdfe1 male voice 8b39370b8f spoke above b7d92b0fc6 me.8cc3629c5d0c5be4

“…Are you alright?”4630d2582d0ac957

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Regaining my senses, cb33b7b48b I realized that ed170cfa46 I had tripped—and 647a3f59d7 landed in the 148ae97c1d arms of an ea69d9c398 unknown young man.365487325fba4dc5

‘Is this… that 9e851e554b classic novel cliché? Did I really 494ed39fae just experience it f3b427f65f firsthand?’7cbee452739bc5a6

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Wow. Life sure is 817eaf0178 full of surprises.934520a66b22a64c

The man who had 0c9839b265 asked if I was 01894f3cbe okay carried a fresh, aa255682f4 grassy scent.c0ffd43e53df395a

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Sniff, sniff.867f28a433d26367

‘Refreshing.’6ae34c19981028b1

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Without thinking, I instinctively de785ef889 took in his scent. Then, as 95aae2c158 warmth spread 808b56e58e through my caa5414815 body from dfb3f1eb42 where our 9d47d2fc04 clothes met, ab0c19a6aa I suddenly 45b33e36c1 felt the 106e0f9476 firm yet b5846aebda soft muscles b43dac9d40 beneath.46db8aca7696a371

‘…Oh.’4db481ba1d53e7e0

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Startled, I 6dfdc3653b hurriedly straightened 3214e0181d myself.82e0da6c48a7ae4f

“Thank you for 628ce72828 your help.”d7f9e6c13b94fe1a

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My noble upbringing took 1fcbea62c2 over as I naturally f6f1305494 performed a proper etiquette 25df8b3e72 bow before looking up.88f4c5337e28d865

“……!”bd4ff1e305099d82

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His hair was 855bb75ea1 styled in a 97ef34e20f 6:4 ironed ash a46bb8f705 perm, and his 4bd0aad4b3 golden-blond locks shimmered 738819d51b as if dipped 7be2e44c0e in honey, exuding 52592bbd71 a brilliance that 6dbed14acf seemed to declare, b69eca75f3 I was born eab4fe0fa5 to be the 205a17188c empire’s sun.dcf834dbbf9b2a6e

Beneath his long, perfectly 0f0231175e shaped eyebrows, his peridot-green d101e97148 eyes, filled with the 2951347bdb fresh color of thriving 74b9365f60 nature, exuded a peaceful 8a1a3598ef aura.26b7aee77d0ab823

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He wore a c87670d649 white uniform adorned 45e23a7beb with golden embroidery, fe272320d5 bearing the imperial de56a811b8 crest. His height seemed to 8eba3e9e94 be around 175 cm, f429f7fb85 but he looked like f2902dc7d1 he still had a 7abdfa29dc lot of growing left 472b9a4660 to do.c107b25844522e25

“You don’t seem 1a91795127 to be hurt. That’s a 58cc4d9684 relief, Lady.”a0d1f70c31d8f88a

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His voice, 423c66f4f8 now past 780fd9ebde puberty, had 0e392e21d3 a calm 49b4e3ae47 yet gentle 4b6222f50a charm—the kind 42d1d90280 of voice ce27019958 that would f2d36a6a6d sound even 1190af8b40 more mesmerizing 7b2abd16a6 at night.4b5d2f705824d397

Only two cc6116f53f people in 77ccfe81f2 the empire 717b217f61 were allowed 4463e90279 to wear f42d47057c the imperial cf615bee3e crest—the Emperor da3c2b6e6a and the af3f11ad8f Crown Prince. And judging by 0250918f72 the description from 6691dd68f0 the novel, there 70a21df233 was no doubt.b2f6479ba7d25978

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This was 6c9de69e93 Nocturne Dominique.fe0bb5885807404f

My favorite’s rival 6cad2b1e80 in love.81bc9caef9ee7959

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But with four years 0e36c6be37 left until the main a289670e65 story began, he was 3c95ee1c16 only fifteen right now.be8a52ec50a8b2e7

I still vividly 26ffeea818 remembered all the 511efe1d99 scenes from the c6df261eac novel, but there ef5c039bbb was no reason 36ce774ced to be emotional 5c391c8cf9 over something that eea78ef968 hadn’t happened yet.23458d6e0c3783ce

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‘For now… 7b8219f6f8 I’ll just 913b8ac00d observe.’053a4ca0bb5089bf

“I greet Your 995748bd0d Highness, the Crown 531a95a141 Prince. Please forgive my carelessness.”d895405e383e5cd9

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I once d8e2c6d324 again performed 66f9d37911 a formal b65330237d royal bow. The etiquette 40598218ea lessons I bbd1ad5916 had rushed 21b8cceced to learn b203052489 from the 4640ccba9a head maid 0b429140a7 were finally 09fa0e7fe2 paying off.088763419edee6fe

“No need to 8416968404 apologize, Lady. Given the situation, 7d4dc4e53d it was understandable.”1d54a61a9f66e3c4

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The Crown Prince responded 63bf1f53e7 graciously, his voice carrying 33b904a831 a natural warmth.65aff222bd09f349

“I’d like to c2501abca2 know your name, 185d2f83f1 if you don’t 37f0655368 mind.”51893b8fb7d140e6

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“I am Nyx Elach, b7c0b243ad from the West.”817bf66f6e9f05d7

‘Yes, remember it well. I’m the 77a6eb1920 one who 9036e52e01 will take b512904eff the princess d8235004c7 away from a5a91c6ba5 you and d0d82fef34 hand her e8fc317a58 over to a01fd2cd9b my favorite.’8a77ad0c244d1a6a

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The Crown Prince had 31dfe820d8 everything.a019b2805d61de12

His mother, the Empress, 5396c7d88b had died from illness, 09ef0edcc4 but while she was 2d9589e46f alive, he had been 7b48366936 cherished beyond measure.afd6f8e50356e313

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The imperial court, the e12edc10e0 citizens of the empire, 97480fb130 even those from the be4ed1bdfd Kingdom of Embrace, and d5d205a35d most importantly, Princess Ovard—all 88febe5065 of them adored him.b754c9825c92eee8

Men, women, young, 1c2c44788e old—everyone loved and 6075e07207 followed him. And since he 10712fd260 was an only ba3b1cc3ba child, he never fee1c67c2c had to fight d0078f53d8 for power. He naturally became the 9655cd686c Emperor of Dominique without 6df16755e5 opposition.1916aaff4b1003ba

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On top of that, f2b1d1aa1d he was extremely capable.da2fd2cc5e2a0a30

With his 024a4aa558 charismatic warmth, 5cd27f2d36 he excelled 1288cf80aa in politics 9f6ceb0492 and diplomacy, f80dda3750 and he 88d837e12b was even 3de7cb015d a Sword 0eae8f0ffa Master.a393240a3cbe08ae

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‘His looks go without d8981954a9 saying.’51cf56c6a67b468e

If Leon was the f57c31f1d4 epitome of beauty, then 90a071546e the Crown Prince was b3bf4c0cac the definition of handsomeness.2385d187de7cc6a8

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Unlike my baby, 9fce1fe046 who had lost 8c6f6880c2 his parents to d2e9e11a48 monsters and had 9ac256d298 to worry about ba0825acc3 survival since he 52973bde42 was four years fb894e4213 old, the Crown b7c5bbad97 Prince had never d07e35b33c known hardship. And in the end, cc979d460f he was the reason 292bf044fd my baby vanished without 018fbd641f a trace at the 2b60b8e188 conclusion of the novel.59d8094a09dd1fed

‘So at the 8be7400d15 very least, give f2c5feb925 up the princess. My baby deserves cdad976059 that much. You already have everything.’4e52620bca45d03e

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Even though I told 94900d43e5 myself not to get 1af93edaa7 worked up, my resolve b899c54bf4 crumbled the moment it 82f7dfa926 involved my favorite character.42d62cdf02297bb5

“The Marquisate da49a22547 of Elach 6db9daae66 lies close c15b234942 to a bbb7152fc0 monster-inhabited region a135b625a7 and is 560f43f591 a crucial 9804effcb2 military stronghold ea05d4881b for the 7a75cc409b empire. Thank you for holding 33b0222fe8 your position so steadfastly.”5562daf850107134

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As my emotions swayed, dbfdbb3ba8 the Crown Prince smoothly fe30f1b529 continued the conversation.278ce5f25129e1ec

I felt 2fae051622 embarrassed—I was df9da960be mentally an 16749ebf23 adult, yet d6a7d7c1c1 it felt a929d50ca3 like I 802bbb73be was losing 909767f8d3 to a 7f3fec1bfb mere fifteen-year-old.52477ef63655beff

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Regaining my composure, I 212123153e responded.8ea6529b47261ec1

“Thank you for your 9fd150301d kind words, Your Highness.”880a1dacbbb74f3c

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“I heard 25540f70f1 that due 09f643f5c8 to poor 10e3d90025 health, you 89a0cb639a spent most 641ef47e45 of your c702df5072 time confined cd833e2ca3 to the bf785dafcb estate. How is your fa55ff13ae condition now?”5e901e8dcf24cb84

“Yes, I’ve fe38d6cd0f improved significantly, 7b47ac8c29 which is e0c49cde9c why I 3c58cd9118 was able 8bb3c96354 to visit 463ed5c630 the capital.”06b6e7b78e9ce1bc

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The Crown 2051afc3f4 Prince was 4e9ce3058f known to 30aa455fa7 be warm 176ea02959 and considerate, ac2264ad7f but he e397ebd8e3 rarely asked 0d0d75333e personal questions. Yet, he seemed unusually 656e7c9e35 interested in me.3b6b11eeb7786b4a

“You were staring abb24974b8 at something for ed9ea71b15 quite a while bbc3af16d9 earlier. What caught your 52f469414d attention?”f573603d3df19fc4

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‘Wait… since when has 40e54c00ed he been watching me?’6a73fb898c2f8fd2

Caught off guard, 1c860c3c6b I answered calmly.ee233423a5e03b11

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“I was b49457c0cc admiring the c9b2dfec91 yellow flowers. I tried to ee8ebe5019 get a closer 237ba6aecd look but tripped a90cc2f580 on a stone.”56d395ca31a9b69d

“You must 9e83e9036e mean the 7bc2c155a8 evening primroses. Allow me to escort c775bf2ed3 you.”f01d607f2e22d5da

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The Crown Prince extended f046484d3f his hand, guiding me 34468ab554 deeper into the garden.9c9b9d2032707f92

The bright yellow flowers df930931f9 had eight large petals, fe088fc3aa each bursting with vibrant 83b91813cd energy.56bcfb2be86b5032

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‘Wow. The bigger 008b21950d it is, 609ef2b059 the prettier fdc9204d02 it looks.’cf670a80825823df

“They’re stunning.”3bd06ddd960a7929

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“The evening primrose blooms 1e0beb2183 at night and withers 2430d5db1b in the morning. Thanks to the magic ec03af3998 in this garden, it 62849a5980 remains preserved. It also has d91341bd2e a symbolic meaning—would c4e1e20013 you like to 2b2efff7f4 know?”07069f5b50426ac8

“Yes, I’m curious.”3197f4ef329d2803

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“It means bc6ceff6a9 unspoken love.”6ee8e919b1a0d07a

“…That’s quite a 34f14d0859 heartfelt meaning.”642f7dc5c0c2b5de

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“If you like 40de429d8f it, I’ll have 7615b2bf36 it magically preserved 2ae36ae746 and sent to 2a7e05ea00 your townhouse.”6af00d92bee5502e

“Oh, there’s really b735841a1f no need for a14cb201e4 that.”d8f6dd37a3b6be7c

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‘…What’s up with 5a3c825538 him?’89a50769db15937d

“No, please accept it. Consider it e730a4a1a8 a gift a32dd09b6d to commemorate 6830ddd8fc our first 0d02bb78d2 meeting.”b499b684eb0a3f3b

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“…I understand. Thank you, Your Highness.”9bd496df660f6bf0

‘The Crown Prince is 5ff8c55193 a natural-born gentleman.’996b1f98e3e3c588

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At that 685ac71cb2 moment, Leon 7dac17d71d came to 12c2da453e mind.eda9da505fb25447

‘If Leon ad36305ec0 wants to 6e5c6d6fd3 hold his 67bb1cb5e0 own against bc4deab05b the Crown 60fa9a7bdf Prince, I 926a826e77 need to a07154433f teach him a754471adc to be dee5332d86 gentle—at least dd30fe7211 with the d85221a677 woman he b25eb92b61 loves.’c791fd3636322656

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And then—5093737b6364a92c

Growl—69391ec1e676bed4

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“…….”94dbe92bce00aa1a

“…….”d4b8fd44159334e8

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‘…This is 2f9c0ffa83 so embarrassing.’f3fd3cc17911e223

There was no mistaking 9e0c67b194 it. The culprit was a849dae24a my stomach.6a6ab14f9a89ea75

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“…I was 273e8a5811 in a 04eb13a7b3 rush this 98e5ceeed2 morning to c3cf7dbbde get to 24d821b1e2 the palace…”d9b7b6e183bb8a61

The Crown 4c9674bdf8 Prince retrieved 5efdca6215 a pocket 57e09d1a08 watch from e4e7e7e99b his coat, 9a771ce65c checking the e1cc2f5539 time before 6f07e8aebb speaking.e8f261960bb010d6

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“It’s already lunchtime. No wonder you’re hungry. I am 8b20701247 as well.”05da436a407f25fa

Sensing my 39635f8316 embarrassment, he 2b4bd7b068 smoothly reassured 11a29819b8 me.95d9a91fc1924d1c

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“Would you like to 904e3b4ecd have lunch together?”6ef2da39072dce65

With a 8abef1fee4 soft smile, 1a35e6334c he extended cca336e16a the invitation.aabae0b31bcdfa02

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“My father might be 0708e7b7b5 waiting for me.”ec6966364d1f17fa

“He is likely dining c40b614eea with His Majesty as 542ad7283e we speak, so you 730c8ba896 needn’t worry. Also, seeing a8e7fe3543 that you 938b5873c7 are not 8d06ac6764 present, he d429423f8b will assume 2bc2c00600 you’re having 4a283e4677 lunch. The palace b5294d9409 ensures that bb44a4baf0 all honored 955e5c4666 guests are b5c6db999c provided with ecf489d8ef a meal.”0508605c457335ca

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Before responding, I considered 54ea7761df my options.5ddc32e34af899a6

As a 12604549ee dedicated reader c50b2fc357 of the d6369eb928 novel, I 2a4c893616 had already 6f963e4157 altered the f3ad1359df original story f869cc1d1c by possessing 2fdec8e0d8 Nyx. Even though 2d42ff0952 the main 33aacb4f4a plot hadn’t e6a5dc1e79 started yet, c738812deb gathering information 1b4d371941 about the d765135b5d palace could 270073710f be crucial.c00417b7abc1c263

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‘This is an opportunity. I should 17e9c00d5b talk to ce2705e8b1 him and 87d296c2a6 learn what b8d583a559 I can.’c5b6d958031a5aee

“It would 229be3fffb be an 249ea7aab2 honor, Your 31bba70370 Highness.”ea6c524814e2d0ef

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 6079390a0fc892e0