[Chapter 9] The Second Encounter

That evening 73b5fffdf1 at the 2b9c307054 townhouse, after 432836f2a2 enjoying the b57fab7913 course meal 69e37ed9e9 at the 809ee762b6 high-end restaurant.01525ab2a5bc1729

I had 53164cddde spent about eea2d2ee19 4 hours 665130242f enjoying the 57b8671d21 meal, so caf7805b65 I was ad5559f8ef nibbling on 219bfda4f4 some fruit 9776f95ed4 beside my d4ca902172 father. After finishing the fruit, 11342444f3 I asked him a f65acc5393 question.c9a0132824e13570

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“Dad, you know, 9522d0915c I heard that ec5cfc6f33 starting tomorrow, they’ll bc980d9e9a be distributing grains 56f6022e8d and food from e295e50c76 the Imperial Palace.”3553d5ce9feee6a2

“That’s right. My daughter, 8bcbcc258f you sure dadf920c46 hear things 851d0f91a3 fast. Where did 0770aa8a76 you hear e458bd0ee8 that?”fa90aab2ab265e3f

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“At a high-end 2a191cf0be restaurant where nobles 4c86135b50 go. And I have fdc21fc8b1 another question.”4d0aea44b3bdda6e

“Sure, what’s on 1b9da11618 your mind?”9e33376b1565309a

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“I’m curious about 60b813d637 when they’ll be c74c27dabf doing the ability 44b6172efa selection test, Dad.”8076ec83e8633232

“Well, I don’t 684d0b1c5f know either. I think they’ll 34c5e4bc7c decide it at d7881b9b17 the Imperial Palace d7327c235b tomorrow.”e42c86c86385a628

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“I see…”8c107ed07e73839f

‘Looks like I’ll 91e2eadf4e have to go 2a4a1664b9 to the Imperial 32a54cc7ef Palace with Dad b9aa86092e tomorrow.’b27fe72eeb5b2db1

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“Don’t worry. My daughter, the 78061dee40 ability selection test 40aa0eb830 is only for 1ba79f6e91 commoners.”b160120d58108cdd

My dad, sensing 00b4d2f2a6 that I was e79a6e06e4 worried about the 44c7b1d1f0 ability selection test, f9431b200c tried to reassure d479fa3e52 me. He then changed d0f3910001 the subject to 54b8691b21 lighten the mood.15ece44e6523638c

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“By the 45782a8b91 way, how 5fbc9baddc was your 9e05620620 outing today?”22ef6faf19c66238

“I had a 6fb085acbc great time shopping 4cb2097f59 and eating with 6b4f8a5f14 Meril and Lord d55bd8eee1 Walter.”2aeb056cb94e29da

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“I should go with my daughter sometime… but I’ve been so busy. I’m sorry.”069c6328adab0893

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m just grateful eebf704247 I can have c972d70500 dinner with you.”b49b2fa4a30bd0cf

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“Ah! My daughter. Come here d64a3da16a and give 3157804c10 your dad 3b674b69a1 a hug.”b02106d6a89ff03c

At my 6f2a1d3244 dad’s words, 6b529a3663 I walked 012778b215 over and 32b240efdb embraced him 325cad7db6 in his 97a14d5c8b big, warm 8ae7bb09f7 arms.c7725b14b631ea53

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‘Hehe, his comforting scent… It really feels nice.’dd4cb222b1a00f0d

No matter when 9f2ba12a05 I smelled it, 57f2568466 it always helped 92ff678af2 me feel at 610fd6debb peace. I stayed in his 29227f4e69 embrace for a while 27eab6c42f and then lifted my 0f2c45958a head to ask him b6f47f6c1b a question.f9cae28a690ae80a

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“Dad, I have c6416058e1 a request. Could you grant 0ac9edb55a it?”6d58919cb9ef6946

“Of course, 2feb06cece tell me c5ed47a40b what it 8d2965cecb is.”17ecdedf1aa806eb

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“I have two 9d516bce38 requests.”5ab80a54bb14e687

“Two? Our daughter, you 5250d1d84a sure are decisive. Go ahead and b2b9f44b76 tell me.”02055c2e9f3f41b8

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“The first one is, 5f665a58c0 I want to go 95bc363c06 with you to the b722bb03fa Imperial Palace tomorrow.”e3e121ac011173d7

“Of course, 0b5930e4a3 that’s possible. But, my daughter, 92c878af52 why do you b30420c5a4 want to go c9e62276db to the Imperial a42a2402ef Palace?”7fb88f27fc8e73fe

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“I saw the indoor 79ed755f02 garden at the Imperial 1d6d21f896 Palace before, and I 09d46b41e2 want to see it 18bfb61dd8 again.”b96e6b3c422876bf

‘Actually, I want to 87569baf4e gather information from the c684a2ccd0 Crown Prince.’9de9e6d70eb4209e

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“…My daughter, once we 488054fc6e go back to the 4060f3f105 Marquisate, I’ll make an 777b81e7c2 even more beautiful garden 6773a542a0 than the one at 614de0bc70 the Imperial Palace. It will d2243e7bdc be the 64700b060f most beautiful 51d68dd306 in the 7488821066 world.”f75a9594d4ab6864

For some b0cd3e8f67 reason, my 9a874ea715 dad seemed f47ede46ae to be 2c69bc1de9 burning with 0809f6d092 a sense 1d6641a668 of competition 153eba442c after hearing 83f15fdb72 my response.9387c241175e4382

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“Yes, Dad. Thank you. Hehe.”4b3039a738b0a602

‘Well, I’m always happy 1e16266661 to have something beautiful.’aec22f455ef598a6

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“What’s the second 62bda3741a request?”b254c85c3a318212

“There’s a child I f265327b0c met in the capital, 3986185750 and I want to 9e017176ed bring him back and 1b699e164c raise him as a 9b3ede933e talent.”f5b4d83ff1a4150f

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“Who is 7fa373bf82 this child?”0e360b2ecb2cac82

“He’s the one who 47717353e0 saved me from danger. He lives a8b71427a4 alone in 5658195c41 the slums.”ada8c81fd4010183

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“A child 8b40381ab9 who saved a3f4d73ced my daughter? He must ba56adc9a2 be a 640366edd6 grateful child.”3017125275a51139

“Meril and Lord Walter c0d0bee6ca know him. They witnessed the 3c373ccd70 situation themselves.”62737fe38fc2ffac

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My dad 6987991aca thought for fa191c8b3c a moment, 382f6526e3 rubbing his b56e86243a chin, then 41bbddd76a spoke.903accb642ea78eb

“Hm, bring 01544d7486 the child ea412eefa8 here, and 47bf552628 I’ll see a3840d0c1c for myself c4210fc23d and decide.”0e1f4e3a39161dd4

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“Hehe, thank you.”e784396f041eecdb

Hug!6537d233729944bf

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I hugged my 7b56d54c07 dad’s neck and caa9802163 snuggled into his 62ae3130d1 arms.8acdab9285dfcc9f

“Alright, alright. My beautiful daughter. I’m grateful too.”9625d1f0e04b62bf

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Dad wrapped me 0550003637 in his arms cfefe9059f and patted my bb012536ce head. It was a dfdcee89db heartwarming night.f3072acd81fcee20

The next morning.01bb635f2374bc24

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Meril was b94ad327be busy preparing 2576ad3070 early in 15ca2db92c the morning 4ee6e89457 to send 1361bf533a me to 85482a308a the Imperial 03f17a7e7f Palace.9ec47891dec47135

“Miss, I’ve prepared a67ad213ba a deep green d1d9655b5e dress for you 78669590d9 today. How do 3e5bdd7172 you like 353ff8dda1 it?”3331f79cdd850095

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“I like it. We can add golden 52f985c1f0 accents to it.”bb50f3ada77016cd

“Ah, Miss, 8d79cf47b8 you know 149283631a how to e5c7ebeacf understand things. If you know cf96f80ec9 one thing, you e73cd96804 know ten.”af1e0e4f51f5f92b

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“Thanks for the compliment, 7434c7be94 Meril.”3cd1dea0f296da77

“I’ll tie 2ae0fc0a41 your hair 657c40fa93 half up ae8571fae9 and put e4475a48ed a deep 292f2ad53c green ribbon 3116872db0 in it.”cfdd3a940cb74be4

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“The shoes 70b09b08ef from yesterday 581e961c9b will work. There was a bbf96eb0bf pair in the 123297ca94 same color, right?”98e4593ae841e377

“That’s right. Miss, they’re shoes with a6980445ef a deep green base f7ab2f4693 and golden ribbons.”437875f84eb3d960

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“Alright, I’ll 69b27aedb0 wear those 0e76bf8f00 shoes.”b3199fa45b151d3d

Meril finished e4973ad6e0 adjusting my 40d1486b48 outfit and e0014beb3b completed all f859ce580c the preparations.1813343a54c3d956

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“Wow, Miss, today you’re 99ebbc1e35 a lady overflowing with b15406a432 beauty once again!”f7c3e8df84d0faf9

Meril looked at me 06e64607fa with a loving gaze, 88a14282ba full of affection.06574c4754e0b23a

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“It’s all thanks 6485600013 to you, Meril. Thank you.”49e9e23c1b55f571

“It’s time to 2c77574953 head to the 31527bd346 Imperial Palace now. Have a safe trip, c8f06a6cdb Miss.”44c78efe2e3adb89

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With Meril’s farewell, my 95638937e0 dad and I got e7d68a47db into the carriage and b123e15baf headed toward the Imperial 14e2b8790d Palace.152cd1ad8d9cdefb

* * *b9081405a5f6f8df

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That day, I once 8d4a6728f0 again encountered the dazzling, ae5a09eebe sparkling gates.13e1cf267a90fb1a

“Since there’s a 7c6f906d67 lot to move, 375658e2ab everyone hurry up!”5112ed4b2495c1fa

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I heard a 2129c834a6 sharp voice urging 74db63685f everyone as I a9891760c1 got out of 55c7492236 the carriage.51b1245a3850d0a5

I looked toward the ebb0c7b301 source of the voice. In front 90d6dbd815 of the 502924d83d Imperial Palace’s c08a40875c main gates, 6eaf94b7a9 a pile 79e35d0906 of grain 6caa921b4e sacks and d36a9a6644 containers filled 10bb68edc8 with food 3faab3fdf1 had been 523ba9af9c stacked neatly.09e8c25dacbd9004

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In the distance, e786715b2d workers were carrying be3df74cd9 the luggage, and 225aef2fa2 coachmen were gathered, 666189dfc6 creating a busy b60a53e156 scene.3431fe136b25b6d8

‘They’ll start 5d32673051 distributing the b1fc7c02c8 food soon.’456a220b250505f4

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My dad and I fc6171939e entered the main palace.f6cf3863c508340c

“My daughter, I have 4d871270b4 to attend the main 36864aaed7 meeting, so we must 65064d330e part here. Enjoy yourself in 7ba707779b the indoor garden.”f95f55f3e29d520a

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“Yes, Dad. Have a 38fbe8790f good time.”038a7e27aa92e193

I hugged 0793d074fd my dad 5c7b81533f tightly and fd6ea38eb3 walked through 5b08db5459 the long c0a4f40ee0 corridor toward feca5e54b0 my destination, cf0a168b48 the indoor c8d9089a7e garden.ef23f4c2e1568664

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‘According to 25c8a92d9e The Iron-Walled 1d210d36c9 Princess, the 727cbc69e3 Crown Prince’s de4fc8baea favorite place ec8c3eacfb in the fa6fcf6bc6 Imperial Palace 85a6b0804a is the b4c9fa4358 indoor garden, 6ea8f9a821 so he 1f1970ea0d should be 6d4f407e32 there.’5754b1a231916f7f

Softly, softly.736827a1df02a570

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I pushed open 9f61fb0316 the door adorned d905c41f52 with snowbell flowers. I breathed 5e278b61e4 in the 706680b60d fresh fragrance 0b90be13a5 between the 4e79230034 young green 1fdfe92054 trees planted 2f9a21ebc0 in the 5f331daba2 garden.2065956259f9eaa3

‘Hmm. Ah, the f11512c12f phytoncides are 39a5028605 so refreshing.’4e5e5576cede69c9

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Step, step.b347cb18d842bcc5

Following the stone tiles d7ca65ce2b laid out on the 8fe3ab7329 path, I headed to 1d31ec827b the place where I 6ce7d0e1b8 had seen the evening 6e4b41e15f primrose last time.6004d3c92814edd9

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‘Hehe, I was right.’7deff26792d1c9b1

Crown Prince Nocturne of b9770623d3 the Dominique Empire was bdfcd0efff sitting on a bench. When he c511cb8cfb heard my 367f75ed30 footsteps, his 012da84feb luscious golden 1e2a8c4639 hair, like d260180490 it was 9f7f9346e2 dipped in 8d2f7bc7de honey, turned 7a0bc1b90f to look bd2e55ed48 at me.be514d7a7ce55dc8

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“…Lady Elach!”be0342b2f008453d

His calm yet gentle 0315e08f65 voice called out to 4d7657b3bd me. Surprised by my a13b75da8f sudden appearance, the f7d73df145 Crown Prince’s eyes, 1d0d198078 the color of 4b0b7f1776 light green leaves, 13a379e008 widened.6a489eabd843de8d

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“I’m honored 02e7a1a449 to meet 530e6e6d6e you, Your 2574acca65 Highness.”550bc042c7d9dca9

I met his light 6039c53551 green eyes and greeted 40dff06e02 him with the proper 43cb28fc18 imperial etiquette.fc25499355d3d97e

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“I’m so 738aaa3aa0 happy to 1facc55074 see you 65c3f4a34c again like e6b9f22264 this.”df66ab7c9e8dfa11

The Crown eb8910abf3 Prince’s eyes 366ad76708 curved into 6145dd1493 crescent shapes, eca81f8e03 and the 59f1be7bec corners of 10f214827c his mouth 125b780e02 rose as bd82be37f8 he genuinely fcc37febd1 seemed pleased 4d27ba3c6f and happy a1e0b108c7 to see b4ac5ca288 me. He stood from his 834bdc5a95 seat and approached me, 7a678d0968 asking,bc4203237f317690

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‘Today, he’s wearing d4645cd445 a justacorps.’dbf8d1248d08e41c

The Crown Prince was 079e85cabc dressed in a soft 1264e03a9b light green justacorps, adorned 9793ce6ae8 with golden decorations, looking e742cf60a4 more comfortable than the 86949dfa7e uniform he had worn 33e5132312 before.c09b0ac7b9f8e5fd

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‘What’s this? The colors 88dcad0947 are so 3c55c6cfce similar…!’7df870c88a6b4c84

Deep green and light 42987fade7 green, and both with 97c75fbb13 golden accents. The outfits we 9acf9d7a76 were both wearing d43f231576 looked like a d9af00088e couple’s matching attire, 60bf4bc525 which made me f45d53cc03 feel strange.1b6f8e9a509672ec

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‘…I’ll definitely b05bef183b never wear 24702891ed this again.’3e22e7d0b23f8755

“Welcome. What brings 3a241c33e4 you to 3de46b5da3 the Imperial 642f5adf68 Palace today?”9045134c6bf7c86e

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“I came to see 023536cdf6 you, Your Highness.”c40d42937dba42d3

‘He’s probably here 2970f39ac6 to ask when 76328ff812 the ability selection 17d6662f90 test is happening 1ae8e9f844 to help save 7dfdbb02a2 my baby!’cd7a2118fb50edec

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At my response, aeef27739a the Crown Prince f2fcecadc8 smiled brightly, as 2d412c9b20 if the trees 09a90e7025 in spring had 335a4976fb bloomed with flowers.c4e77f8e019aac3d

“It’s an honor that 9b151815a2 Lady Elach came to 17c60ab275 see me.”c498d598cf30d634

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“It’s an honor 50dd514f1f for me as 047ddffe6b well that you b276d0e6a2 care so much.”414049fe25410c08

“We didn’t 7695f222cc have enough 35ce7c30d3 time to 3a8d142c4c chat at 092e707ef8 the last 50ce564f36 luncheon, so ec8418cac5 today I’d 62f4c8853c like to 4d53380067 enjoy it 2d4abe4798 slowly with d2c65cf2c3 you. Would you like to e76683f351 have lunch now?”b658b6d48f0ab55c

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After a few 3128c1cc06 exchanges of polite 4be3a9f319 words, the Crown ea504aab2a Prince offered me 956955c829 lunch. Since the author 3fe86f074b of The Iron-Walled 990672ea10 Princess was Korean, 537e2d66ef some elements of afb2c1a267 Korean culture were bb316bb188 woven into the 5ccbb07d47 story.aaa3d51da77b35f0

‘As expected, 92c1b4ca23 Koreans start 940fcc6cb5 with food. Gotta feed 701df7541f them first.’4035680a805820c4

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“Thank you for 90ff15b22c your warm consideration, 2fed7dd174 Your Highness.”8cfa13abe1e9409f

I accepted the 07c3e7e3fe lunch offer, and 52b804a9a2 we headed to 711fa6d548 the Crown Prince’s edc7d52e5f room.451a4d1b0bb2ce7d

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* * *56d9e8b27352fb9b

The Crown Prince’s a035c1e800 room had large 0a4449be76 windows, and sunlight 58922cf13c poured in, filling c6baaa7e38 the room. Despite the room 4f002f5676 being vast, it 3a611ca02f looked like the e83e558c19 light could reach ddf3ea473e the opposite wall. The dust in 75e17c9b01 the sunlight made 80ba50f84b its presence known.6916f51e0408abd7

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‘It’s warm.’16e12d3740316457

Although the indoor f45649284e garden had been bc3e65f17a a bit chilly, 882c4cd34b it felt warm 1f5d66f06d now, with the 5752e02233 sunlight pouring in. The attendants and maids 365f3c905f swiftly moved the trolley 8c8a150048 and placed the food 1b3cbb830a on the table.5780aaef2089326e

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The Crown Prince and a1734ae06f I washed our hands 61f45c2e1a in the water basin da08843fee and began the meal.c02c4d069afa2dbe

“Your Highness, I have d6a0d3852f a question. Is it alright to 8351273e2e ask?”addc77bd8cab6f65

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“Of course. If it’s 118f31cb04 a question 5680ea78d6 from Lady 9910e130d7 Elach, I’m 4feb33ceb8 always ready d57dc5f29b to answer.”eea96afcd9763df3

“I saw the 597d9e494f coachmen gathering on 9eef46d800 my way here. If the food distribution 2d7ec095ae to the Empire’s citizens 82249b1888 starts today, when will fbabb18c59 the ability selection test 78ad941947 take place?”3e8000b4f619afa2

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The Crown Prince answered f5750c5405 with a pleased smile 8ba27458aa in response to my ba0b819772 question.f162b5b183c280c6

“I’ve noticed 47c22c334b before, but 3405a97787 Lady Elach 47d551834f seems very 0d40c960c7 concerned about 5e5df84a46 policies affecting e002d3e2e7 the people. It’ll likely be 9c8ed78fc4 in 5 days.”a66bc30c36a99419

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“Likely?”951e492f22a17fda

“I’ve heard a0c7980ce2 His Majesty’s b9f79b6ccd orders, but 3c9c02c140 the date 22b56fd0d3 will probably 4c8ca8744e be decided e722e3952d at today’s 46dcf3dfa8 main meeting.”878cf0c6e0f37dc2

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His words 71dfc49030 made me b5e5303f12 feel uneasy. The ability selection 34c05af479 test being carried 074798a2ca out sooner than 85f4383276 expected could cause fe2eb8d027 issues that differed 1b0f4ca011 from the original d7e4eb025b story. And with 266ebe85eb only 5 758aa337c3 days left b4b47a26a4 before the dace4afe06 test, after 7b523d6a9f the Founding b4a3b0db79 Festival ends, 7009f6f332 I would 6b0111dc74 return to b976731904 the Western 1c42fee497 Marquisate.7a2c640b63566354

Although it was 6ae4130bce before the events 3cb6b3c1c1 of the original 2f6f0efd99 story, there was 00f51c7097 no guarantee that a5844121cc I would meet e3c66633ab Leon again, even e3be2d6d6a if I returned 1537b62e3b to the capital 6b0413dcbf next year.f88264bbe70287fc

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‘…This might be my last chance to bring my baby home.’6017755780fcaee3