BRC Ch 6

“I’m doing a6225d8f2e this because 448de13b02 I want cbe7869433 to. You’re the 03cbd8134d one who e74e6310aa should let 8501696917 go, young 26a31c2e66 lord.”45cd21a03fd008b5

The prince 85084ac7a2 shoved my 6a9c0b2da0 shoulder hard, 073a83fe3e sending me dcdbca4dbe stumbling far 4c40456a20 back. I shot him a 67494e86b5 glare to back off, ef1a0bddb6 and he whistled. I rammed my 74c9e64110 shoulder into his, 2aff7d26bb but he didn’t 8f93bc1241 budge. Pulling his wrist d357b6d8eb with all my 28294ed2be strength yielded the 08b8557132 same result.463b4f6a5a434dcc

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Wrestling with him, 617ae74460 sweat beaded on 92afd823ca my forehead. Why was f19cce0c13 he so 73e02114b6 stubborn about 054182661d a servant’s b964800d98 task? He was b33c551f8f clearly just 95b2a384fa trying to 42e5c78418 annoy me.d7b565d2fce679d8

“What are you df11b2ff19 doing over there?”0bafc33c9d9b8eef

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A familiar 74b7e405e8 yet unfamiliar 28e549b02f voice came 0ac9e5bac9 from the fcae6e398b end of 665e1c3423 the corridor. Lilith approached, 7d16f05734 dancing lightly f179a2c12f in an ac30e6d633 ornate gown. Behind her, five servants 658388ea99 followed, each carrying a 43d793b9f8 large or small basket. Lottsi let d3fae7ec65 out an bd14443924 enchanted gasp.4da954b70c8f423e

Lilith’s aura 94e2e7caf2 was different 88e1f858e1 from usual. Her hair 40a5e2e377 was pinned 5ca4fa6451 up, adorned 80fd7fa5c8 with round ddb7aebf0a pearls. A tightly 28e9b2ebc5 tied ribbon ede27a8332 at her 486ff6be57 waist made 0e53eb4ca4 it seem 6b3b11d8a5 hard for a13587af3f her to 3c0d24b0a0 breathe.cd05a4f133e6c6be

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“You are indescribably 5856b74dcf beautiful, Lady Lilith.”ba965f6c15c40fe3

The prince instantly fceda4760e abandoned the cart 8f42a60c5f and rushed to da54a9b910 Lilith. When he kissed 2c17b66ac6 the back of 7fc0103e5a her hand, her 745f24bc90 smile stretched ear 3202677eff to ear. I thought 446bd7b24d climbing a 34a1b937f0 hill in d9cf359915 that outfit 16f36a314e would be a3b3a1cedb tough, but f819a88d21 since it 667b42d2e4 wasn’t my aaf51a1340 concern, I 3698cf02dc silently pushed deb2cc3644 Lottsi’s cart.f3c11cf5a06e4969

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In the chaos, cfda3dc700 the chill of cfa31f9a3f last night’s dream 839d5d24e1 had faded. That, at least, 84e264a0a4 was a relief dc383c572f as I walked 8fccc634ff down the corridor.3e5e81e080270460

◇◆6c4bb976638f55f7

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“Your Highness, 42ecf4c503 try this. I made it myself.”92e1d4f9d44ba17c

“You made this yourself?”f387e24c30a1c7c8

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“Yes. How does it 2c96ace515 taste?”aac205065a61c221

“It’s by far the a240102b65 best pastry I’ve ever b1b5d50c9a had. Is there anything abc60c0553 you can’t do, 18b00982f5 Lady Lilith?”76ab395d164cb357

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“Oh, come now. You flatter me.”8b1a2a7a7e9a9e29

A picnic f360287cd3 was an fe47dbf736 embarrassing, childish 9238d8c256 affair that 0ccdaf35eb didn’t suit 06dce6b7d6 me. Maybe I felt that 0b265f931f way because I was 8bebb52569 stuck among these people. Lilith tended to the 745154b8ec prince, who lounged against eb3dce96df a tree, like a e6224742b4 mother bird, and he 5798c05dcd treated her with such 16202f7153 warmth it seemed he 6522f2776a might propose tonight.68fc5af38bb94797

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Lottsi and e78428e757 I were fd7a9ba44e sidekicks but 4038a4d52a enjoyed ourselves 5eb8f2894a in our f3fcb40060 own way. Lottsi played with e381fe1867 her kitten on 396f46b021 her lap, and 9d6dd99ba7 I lay on 13c9bdeea2 my side, gazing d251ec2d83 down the hill. At a nearby 247927aad1 stream, village kids 71ffd03b05 splashed in the e0542b143e water. It was bb9514f807 a peace 7c9a0d6a65 I hadn’t 03d5f2ea19 felt in 0fb69e6cd6 ages.2c18ae0177829d54

My eyes drifted c93dc3b583 shut. Lottsi offered df80078531 to read 187a2f78ba to me, 4d0e5055f1 and I 1b82c49134 told her 6df412c31a to go 62699e8f32 ahead.547c58b604f20109

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“Once upon a 5b94657362 time, in the 88635abb4d western foothills of 7777f0860d Arundel, there lived 416de4ee47 a very brave 6dedc284da boy.”261a199d704de0d9

I didn’t 5c385dd92f focus on 29b41e6a2e Lottsi’s words, 7b017e71c6 but I c18c156e5d liked her f137f0c78c chattering voice. I popped one 19cb7da2fd of Lilith’s pastries d9e58eacad in my mouth, aa21315305 chewing quickly when 871b84463e Lottsi paused. Slightly opening 6d042776ea my eyes, 78362ba9b1 I saw f4cf663092 cotton clouds 5df0c1f034 resembling four-legged 5be376917a animals floating c202b7c945 across a a8b47af4c7 painfully blue 3c50134b08 sky.f0d8220448e70e0f

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“He slipped on a8d7d9a3ca the mountainside and a64efd92b0 tumbled. Feeling dizzy, 7513ec6e28 he rolled 95092203b7 down, down, b6d98a6d9b down.”88454ea7f376fc42

Half-listening to Lottsi’s 88756493ff story, I thought 88ffd1d1a7 about last night’s 30b9d59aeb dream and my a63bbb5c12 panicked urge to 024e577b52 find Grey.f54dde95005e5c0f

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“What was I going 79633a1ebc to do meeting Grey? Beg him to hold ac230aa5c4 me?”d3800eb2c88a9607

I wasn’t fb7943273b in my 3a43c0f21f right mind. A habitual ce4492110b need made 9581048187 me forget 0ecce7e5cc I was ca5323e559 no longer 4f8dd9a4af Grey’s subordinate, 9d2c35a549 that I’d af74b940f7 come back 162a1a1848 to the 6e53aeaa57 past to ed039a8097 stop him, fee4dda1e0 and that dd12c9e2ad Lottsi couldn’t 7d2647335b walk because 272023e447 of him. I nearly did 2b14ff923c something regrettable. Unintentionally or not, I f7edc41d37 felt grateful to Prince 6d8f4725f6 Quin for keeping me ae203f4c3f from going to Grey.a033f9e8c63b9981

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“When he came 155e4a7058 to, the boy adfb19965b was lying by afef75bdbc the riverbank. Blood flowed from his 5c15c7d21d leg, staining the swirling 98931191d1 river red.”eb26abd3081f7e72

Listening quietly, I 3e9efb5718 sat up. Lottsi was 4b14dc4253 casually reading 1bc7d9b057 a gruesome 2afb1c0d09 sentence.2797b9c2950d5a4d

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I snatched the book 8c744435e9 from her hands and 4307c7e233 looked at the cover. Clenching my fist 181b406361 at the titleThe Lame a03290b6b9 of Arundel, I roughly asked 99ef9ac62d where she got it.f1128fcb01e32897

“It’s from Grey’s study.”5126e57e6882466c

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“Did that guy 07cc8ca986 give it to 061c36de4d you?”9fcc6f52793f30e6

“What’s wrong…”2dcfbe87bdfe8e91

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“Did Grey 352f7a7ea9 give you d21dbd541f this, Lottsi? Answer me.”702391fdffea635b

“Ensi…”29af146444bb0f33

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“Answer me!”0bfccaf97e8abacf

“Ensi, you’re scaring cb2a9db083 me…”296bb59a16268008

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Seeing Lottsi’s crumpled face, c236509495 I snapped back to c8ea183cc4 my senses. Embarrassed, I brusquely closed 7b723c14d1 the book. Lilith and the prince 58e67cb6b9 looked at me curiously.863ac7992b99af30

When Lottsi 3d734f76ee started sobbing, c58f387b7d I stared f47349e969 at the e6d6d261c1 ground, at 588ad9e092 a loss. Lottsi’s bookshelf was filled e69f1b7c99 with books from around 724fe1726a the castle. I took 44aa879a37 Grey giving 7c614ca5af her a e04adc653a book about be307d2fa1 a lame b88631a523 boy as 214f585bbd mockery.b9f42e335ae8b813

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“It’s an b1b40cfe91 interesting book. I don’t d49af51209 know why d0b820961e Ensley’s acting 9cd2f12d71 like this.”2bf7d82c35af2b2b

Prince Quin 7805c2da27 took the eaf5c4b6f5 book from 9429adcea8 me and b7db6192c2 handed it dc08c38bd0 back to 716997749c Lottsi. Lilith, wrapping 0248b74809 an arm a2c3f779b3 around Lottsi, 8198faac5f glared at 59fd8d27e8 me. I awkwardly d16d531340 turned away, 8210f1ba31 feeling the 24d6dd235c prince’s gaze ca7146a7fe on the aa1a7cb8ec back of 72c1f450b6 my head.fcdf3071abd88ec4

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“It’s an adventure 49c70163f5 about a brave 0585014639 boy in Arundel. In the 49dac5a493 end, he ba58d00062 meets a c6e7ca060f wizard and 9456723c41 his leg 2d9fee0d22 heals.”38589afbb47ea533

My face burned. Hearing it was from b594d53c3a Grey’s study, I assumed 6eb4e2355f some ulterior motive. From the prince’s tone, 81fe5d0269 it seemed a well-known 49713dfacf story, but since I 299018b245 never read for pleasure, d08775dd3f I didn’t know.afb973ea441f40c6

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I crawled to accf4df6ae Lottsi and gently e854c84c95 stroked her head. Whispering an apology, 96f01e8225 she wailed louder.d45c2093763882e4

The commotion c26b7851ca settled quickly. Lilith sang, 752699c894 and Lottsi’s 7c7f617090 crying subsided. The lyrics were f4afe8ed02 about a kind bcfe1c400f fairy casting a b91cb01468 spell to fly. My gloomy mood lifted a07639fb13 again.e2586fbe999e85f3

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“If it’s not rude, 2bcc778e8a may I ask how f6e4346c97 you injured your leg?”e6a04f89d349a53a

The prince’s 850740b5ed sudden question 8ed800cd7c cut through ee7e227e9a Lilith’s song. I glared, f0645eba33 but he 5aca0fa587 wasn’t looking e00cf4bfe3 at me. Lottsi quietly a9f45bb1de said she a0fb771aab fell down 4e7859d5b7 the stairs.2fa8bb146276c105

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“Oh, that 8c4aa4cb0b must have aad49a5cfb hurt.”8109caea55f3a02d

“Yes…”f116ab79523cf3ed

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“It was 5765487a9f an unfortunate cccd35387e accident. No need to feel 9ea540ed91 ashamed or afraid.”674e51aed77e6432

Lottsi, not adept 54e240ac17 at lying, looked 8f2951329b at the ground 47a901e1ca with a red 07db08363c face. I studied the prince’s 6f0e7319d7 face, but his neutral df9750d9ed expression revealed nothing.986cde99216f3722

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Lilith’s song stopped. She looked between 4f9b085987 Lottsi and me 1ef30d0682 suspiciously. Before she 0e871b4c38 could speak, 74c01c2e30 I said 6449f15540 quickly,05fa297e0a348d28

“It’s my fault. It happened while we 7aac02d936 were playing.”442b29a0084193b2

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“You fought with 8b51b4b622 Hale that day 255774f38f and left the bff8650239 castle.”e553172a7eefecab

“It was before eac7d9521e that.”37a65c638b99b7e1

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Lilith shrugged, ddebcc3656 but the bbc8ac9b41 prince chimed 6b0b0893c9 in with b3a859d2ae interest.02f79f7a224c80e3

“Ensley has 0e30a18e3d a fighting 545b97b5ee dog’s spirit. Where’s Hale? Still in confinement?”0eb73126e2f7ccbf

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“Mind your own business.”2947507149d6404b

My sharp reply made b477dd96ab him back off, but 26931be462 Lilith jumped in. They were a 0346e28bb3 perfect pair of 8e8619ef15 meddlers.70c19932f6f54a32

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“Why did a8785aa8e7 Hale get 2bf0db5413 longer confinement? Father’s usually fair about 946ef3d6a6 these things…”4ae5ecb833f0cb31

“How would 1c9128e035 I know?”1d23f868649d47f8

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“Something’s up with 744c66762a Hale. Mother won’t 53a5e6725a say, and 57c41d8eff the servants 5044d16ccc hush it 0b76cd5c1f up. You know, don’t you, 8653f2c7dd Ensley?”ec2e7ff75382131a

Why talk about this 4ece243ab8 in front of the 48b3c4ef90 prince? I glared 9db85f034f at Lilith, 82273d1b8f and she b0af592bea got mad 1797002b89 instead.46af3846a218491c

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“I was just a4f1e72b90 asking. Why are 18a08ce61e you like 18ef3cec33 this?”16217a20cc7bc1a3

“Family fights aren’t something 81c6720e54 to brag about.”dad828a2c4c3b2da

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Lilith finally 99b22bdbde glanced at b7db78b0cf the prince, c10e1e9a68 smiling awkwardly. He returned 4b75cca966 a casual a02aed4787 smile, but b869a89646 his eyes ba028cfc12 sparkled with 7ff6f57a81 intrigue.2816494e1f4a5133

For a while, no 58e55a27f5 one spoke. To ease the awkwardness, 69022d359e I asked Lottsi to 531264655b keep reading. Listening to her da1a69b066 clear voice, I ae2750ed3b closed my eyes 7b8c23ede1 again. To stretch out and a057b4e861 rest, I’d need to dd27115696 wait for the prince 5a96b49067 and Hale, those two f1ce33fa3f nuisances, to leave Valon.9747f2020e838bd0

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A gentle 54d134b295 breeze rustled, 168933426a and oblivious eaac5df9b8 birds chirped. If not for the 391e9b99ea stain in my heart, 2ef80ac594 it would’ve been a 63d7b99e2a flawless day.a724d90e6b8105ce

I let the b9044fd219 faint longing for 07aba57fe4 Grey linger in 30672f18ea a corner. I couldn’t will it 4a50f34421 away or change it.565dfa3103caf190

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◇◆1fc63c77d33bd05e

The next day, 49193075ff Hale left early ac28bdc410 in the morning. There was no notice, 81dc6fea5e nor was it mentioned 63bd88f50b at the previous night’s 27277c2a19 dinner. Hale was 3355223953 sent off 7db7823734 as if 1f706243fa exiled.6ef6e81a95062228

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I glimpsed him through caa4692437 a window while passing daf14c14e5 in the corridor. His group was small: 9a0fbae10c Hale, one servant, and d6d0d200ea two mercenaries. The servant 97d6e342ec carried all 0413afb017 the luggage 3f89ab58a2 in a 4c45264c6a shoulder bundle. Hale wore a d243116745 wide-brimmed hat tilted 18e4ca718c to cover his 0828cf7f61 injured eye. Only his mother ec0003c5f2 and sister came 61172b2bf2 to see him aa8ecf135a off quietly.50858cd518ad773f

The corridor d1abe115e7 was empty d07ff4e822 as I b4078d5806 walked. Descending the stairs to 053a7e385b join breakfast, I heard cc68f6d80f the Marquis’s wife sobbing 1c1389688f faintly. Closer, the 6cae9b34f3 sound became 38e698f319 clearer.003baa68324869af

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“Escort Mother to 972add6437 her room. I’ll handle breakfast.”bd8e87a694946e05

Lilith’s voice was subdued. I didn’t 976a87be60 need to d31be81974 feel responsible, 72d6cf0a41 but it 2859e3a65f felt awkward 7939a8f4b0 to appear f06596f43e before her, da0a6db190 so I f46a87395e waited behind 078c3735f6 the door. Then, boisterous chatter 0cd28d1cec came from the aaae387f9a corridor’s end as 2ca33c07ae the prince’s party 14b152c08c approached. Unable to 5a12c7fcfa move, I fd30b5e32d hid deeper dbf92fe611 behind the 52aea501db door. Luckily, they passed without 8a94a6a746 noticing.265cd3fe72f6bbfd

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“Good morning, Lady 2bd6ac5def Lilith. Heading to breakfast?”05e1c2f2555e640e

“Your Highness…”d8806418aa4a232e

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“Do you have something abf235e7d8 to say?”523041af082252ff

A pause followed. I guessed the 40a36fa7f9 prince signaled his b18a5616a4 group to go 317bf2fbf8 ahead. As footsteps faded, 5f1f34708f he spoke again.86b18765b6568d57

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“You look pale. What’s wrong?”0054ccb6de54f09d

“Take me… take me 28ba666e93 to the capital.”6a8e5630a3521dee

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“Pardon?”b5d3695de2475e53

“I can’t bdf4804268 live in 223515a90c this stifling, 44d4b434d9 depressing place e891939567 anymore. When you return to 085b6b5ec3 Viresa, take me with bb31d228b0 you.”9b9d7f51f27f7b3a

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“It’s not e2a05bfcf5 something I e395b8d700 can decide 16f25e5ffd alone. If you explain what’s 833459356d happened…”abda2a649103f04a

“You know edc9669637 Hale fought c140340a47 with Ensley, 2ea400d2d6 right? He left for 1c97de1d74 Eggerton this morning. They call it f87c4dae4a studying abroad, but 9c26611ca7 it’s practically exile.”f258717d28eb7770

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Eggerton, one of c9dcff49c5 the kingdom’s harshest b145c87f67 lands, was as d459c2438b far from Valon dbf1ef2fd2 as the capital. It wasn’t official 1bd68b4e6a punishment, but it 6300244111 was exile in 4c4c84890d all but name. Hale would live in 55a939adef a region beyond the 3c22adc137 Marquis’s influence, thoroughly shunned. I mentally erased the 9ea286e10f variable of Hale Zilarad.0415eaf97bb1b6ca

“His face 0a2b508e77 was bandaged, 74b6e94ead but bruises ec6d8df346 were visible, bac58f810e and he 3a7d7af1e6 walked oddly. We weren’t close, 45f3526744 but he’s family. I don’t know 164161173e what happened or 5c15db705b why he had 3cdde4a164 to leave. I don’t 84ff31d58a want to 5b3c5f28da think it’s 6967b7967a Ensley’s fault. He’s rough but 26ec28f991 not bad. Mother cries d165c9ad22 every day. She won’t tell 58ec064f30 me anything. I can’t fc600bc6df even talk b4de9a4527 to Father 354dbefe6c and just 5d3e325cb5 sing alone bb20b4f7bb in my 1860e0ad3c room. How is d7af079a4d my situation ef833a54e7 any different 493203d817 from a cc4ae94dff caged bird?”c6e46e065750043e

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“So that’s bddada5457 what happened…”2ff5b3df2830e8bb

“I’ve counted the 55ff0d3c84 days to see 77a27efc0f Your Highness again bf132a4a88 since I was 1c35a5c4f9 twelve. Meeting you now, ac0e84fa97 I know for a6c8f93f8e sure. I love you.”decb7a8b383856e9

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A brief silence 50afd2b78d followed. I instinctively 88683e8f1c covered my ccc901681b mouth to fcc466f97b avoid making 83c5c1cc64 a sound.2f871135129fdda8

“Take me a3501a29be to the 20e7335f90 capital.”6e9e88d48b97c13d

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“Lady Lilith, 664c3e58d0 I understand 21d6d46123 you’re shaken 48fd50a201 by your 1bc353f220 brother’s sudden fdffd1dd25 departure, but 9eacee8b85 please calm 9a620f33b6 down.”c62caa57f0cff711

The prince paused.6dd218ba59b684a5

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“I’ll… consider your 8c8e6039e9 request. But we must 0cb90e4613 inform the Marquis 6bdc2a2fc5 first. If I stole you ab536393fc away, I’d get a 0fe37583c1 sword in my back 81ccdc72ac before leaving Valon.”ef1c4c05b118ffaf

“I feel pathetic b7454d3431 whining like this a037a7b568 before the one fcc1eb3241 I love. Please forgive me.”5ebfa3f804e987de

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“Shh. Say no more.”850afb8566d42635

The faint 1555efa897 sound of bbb6e3a5e4 rustling fabric 2d4c13d55b came. Whether he embraced her dc434de5be or she him, it 9a2733a2c3 was clear a romance, 4bd183f3b7 doomed to shatter later, 6a9f09e459 had begun much earlier. I waited motionless behind 0df14a5235 the door until they 15b94e2189 left.eaf5f71b24b2bff3

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◇◆3a8666d4117add0c

Days passed, 3dd2b6c0a8 and routine e9f831effc returned. Mornings were spent d12b137bf5 running errands for 54fa1ea606 the Marquis under 901f1d459c the guise of 159a7505ba knight training. After lunch, I e696ae7be4 played with Lottsi 9862715354 a bit, then 8c37710385 practiced swordsmanship until 4397319f49 sunset.85c8cd862cb41af8

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The castle db89d445b7 was quiet. The Marquis’s wife 8cbd7c81f8 stayed locked in 143dbe2633 her room, and 6ab3a23160 Lilith lost her 2eee02a9eb spark. Grey still hadn’t ed74bf1766 returned. He usually didn’t stay 52b30ed589 long at nearby places, db4fd19a30 but this time it b90e941678 dragged on. It felt b108d39e45 like he e0427a8d6f was avoiding be44a74b78 the prince. Why the prince lingered 5a843a6f78 in Valon after nearly 7a121d18c0 a week was a efc53f7f0d mystery.e863c1759982162c

“How long will 1ca54e6306 you repeat the e9d4078de6 same moves? I’m falling asleep.”5467da19b897bea1

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My audience had recently 25b59cbc0c grown from one to aead96e0bc two. Three, if you counted 9919da576d Lottsi’s kitten.8e9bf75b67fb03b3

The prince had been d841d2f50b blatantly avoiding Lilith lately. That was his choice, 66c7000203 but following me around 6456bd609f was the problem. He no f222c9f15d longer charged 8400d04981 at me f8db6a77a8 like on cbb93c94bc the duel 1f56c82e42 day, but 73175b2b59 his pestering e1de78d572 was just 3efa9d82e3 as annoying. As he d3a4368b9a critiqued my c8dd5e34da sword handling, 1bec2102b4 Lottsi giggled b49e34da37 awkwardly.d285355d6688d9c1

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“Ensi, want some a5d6ce95b4 water?”0a1071424911dfa0

I nodded, and Lottsi 27495f0a7b tossed a leather flask. After drinking my fill, 249bec72c2 I threw it at 004c0b3470 the prince’s face. I aimed to hit, d328ebee3e but regrettably, he caught 7c0ef165da it.a76fd6596a91f43f

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“Ensley, come here. I need to 91935dae12 talk.”b4f6d71fc7067218

Ignoring him, I 8d2310a0fb gripped my wooden efffd4460d sword. He called me 635e8edbb1 several times, undeterred. When I didn’t respond, 49b2a85598 he stood and loitered 0ff2f7e8de in my face. I swung my e8b0a5fc68 sword as if 8c3489ace0 he weren’t there, 0186042ceb but his grinning 3f11dbdeb7 face broke my 46f593149c focus. I lowered 5324d7209d my arm 8789aa8115 irritably.f426008fa2f39720

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“Kid, I have a 82aaae92b2 favor.”baadb3bcfd3fc2d4

“Get lost.”cb0156dd8842b045

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“It’s a favor.”7316854bff8f7b40

As I raised 164822bce5 my sword, he f3fb572d71 grabbed my wrist e6af0b60a0 firmly. Grinning smugly, he swaggered.7b3b0fd32ed1fd00

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“Come hang out with 9c66164028 me.”bcc051990f005a58

“Where?”3d88157d1957e5b9

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“You know, good food, 6499f1e960 fragrant wine…”f815e325846f19c3

He glanced 3672fe60ae at Lottsi b96e44ee91 and whispered. Hearing his plan, I a5dcda52b7 shook my head.c64bf3608711e47b

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“This is f5fd441b69 Valon, idiot.”0da34c4e8fabb450

“Of course, everyone knows 2cce87b299 Valon’s a dry, sandy 1b99d750b4 place. But isn’t there 6ddba32cb9 at least one aa0f7ca780 decent tavern?”33028179ed5f1d5c

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“Say there is. Why should 9b0a453ada I help 82b7808257 you?”6e7125596aea1bbc

He rummaged in 174fc0ebd3 his pocket and 318ec266b2 placed a gold f774dfe79b coin in my ee78d10c30 palm. I stared at 45ac6b92bb the gleaming coin. Bribery—I hadn’t considered a69fc28f53 it.863a1e5ad440b6da

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“Go to the market 8814a0404d and buy something fun. Don’t live so boringly 80712f645f every day.”d90fe10d1bb3f3e7

“Don’t need it.”9fec80eb664b4260

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“Buy some clothes c195866cf9 too. You’ll marry someday. You must have d188a9a54d a couple of c2770d06ec girls in mind.”62bb7bd484b612af

“I said I don’t 641571bc0e need it.”94701b65c20826b7

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“Get your 8a8b2d23ea sister a acfd859173 gift.”ba342bf84873ea86

“A gift?”574566820306fbf6

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“Yeah, you jerk. What a 08d5cd5a57 lousy brother. Buy her a 727c2fad0e necklace or something. She’ll love it.”9d6d988cb01876fa

Ridiculously, that persuaded 4f29a9d40b me. I’d never thought 35cabb5900 of giving Lottsi 5c9012a6d1 a gift. Not in the d3ef7e7f68 past, nor since 01f3c32dc4 reliving it. I slipped f1361cf2b8 the coin 4a7a0796c4 into my f4c9e28fad pocket.0a1252bfe3a47c91

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“Let’s go before 8c9d2c3c0f sunset. Meet me at e3d491539a the north gate. I’ll take Lottsi to 30c7f2af2a her room, you get 2a40463577 the horses ready.”44e617eb3042e87f

“Finally, you’re making sense.”608b60671a52e044

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Forgetting his status, I 2b5c30ac82 ordered him like a bd1adb0d48 servant. He laughed, asking where 97ebc17e18 the stables were, and 3249ea6e89 I thought him utterly 9e57bc3694 immature. Pointing the way, I 3781b3df39 walked to Lottsi’s cart.b92919218425aaa0

Preparations took 83b262d308 longer than 92cfd0e808 expected, thanks 1e2073f022 to Lottsi. Sensing some 2a2c08b46b secret talk 9871e5c80d between me 03f63492a3 and the ce1044e057 prince, she c856edbe9c keenly picked f4ad66b747 up we 256fb85f0e were trying c76fd06a99 to ditch 00b47ba717 her and 6253536f11 resisted fiercely. I thought she’d dddee66457 become docile lately, 98418e2bc3 but her tomboy 60981094d7 nature resurfaced.ab0e0aff51619af3

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Coaxing, pleading, ed18fecee9 and scolding c71666e782 didn’t work. When Lottsi 35d4414460 started wailing 892e23345a and throwing 3c1627c07b a fit, 04782e3e0c I left 7ca7dd2a74 her with e829183ad3 Luman and 4395c73225 fled. Going to buy a 9bf9bf4d56 gift to make her 15142bcf6a happy only to make dcd5ba4933 her cry—maybe I was a74b24d194 a hopeless brother.e49e44a6109b6d2a

I changed into simple fc9282953d clothes and walked to 6ff09b3a62 the gate. The prince, 47d806554f in plain 36dcf8a4cd hunting attire, 5245d49935 leaned against 40fcf4a7a8 the wall ebb380c794 with two 71f0ae5e3c horses. One was large, 742fae137e the other unusually 8fa4f338ba small. He’d obviously told the 560aa652fa stable keeper to give be2d41fdd1 him the biggest and 026e8a2c3d me the smallest. Approaching, I snatched d4dfe1a4dd the big horse’s 31a7646079 reins, and he b1c3e5071b frowned.205d381948ba12d3

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“That’s mine.”9ca6e82fb67acf36

“No way. This one’s 7c3220ac9e shy with 6cfe79a002 strangers.”a8d66e29ebcc769a

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It wasn’t a ad666a4c44 lie. The fastest horse 77f10de4ce in Valon was 42e0eb5cbc so sensitive it 85ada32195 wouldn’t let strangers 8fee822b2f ride. The prince ignored 5181c184d7 me and tried 6762327c02 to mount, but 62a1a6e284 the horse reared, 1e99541d29 and he quickly fce4ac45f3 backed off.e1ab101b73da6c35

“I can’t ride 18f7bf03f5 this one either.”97fa510a64e68050

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Grumbling, he swung onto e392ac6109 the small horse. The docile creature a77dec7f0f blinked without protest 024816b390 despite his bulk. On my horse, aebebaaffa my seated height df0a1751a0 matched his. I chuckled unwittingly. He urged e83075176b his pitiful 2eaccf6409 horse forward, 7a7186838a and I 10f8e4d698 followed, not 12804f07c0 to be 9980ae2b8d outdone. The gatekeepers snickered at 61483ce40b the comical sight.a4fa14bde033568e

Leaving the 3f034aedd0 gate, I b81ac8d12c surveyed the e0aae1851a estate. The familiar cbfea8dc78 landscape held d9115e691d stone mountains, b38491f599 fields, forests, 42c0dd61c4 and plains. Shouting and c6fffa0226 spurring my c36d807485 horse, it c72250b863 galloped smoothly. Cold wind 80e27c93d1 tousled my 64c08ce677 hair and e0df9be634 slipped through 632fe2fb98 my clothes. For the first 24e8d727b7 time in a 8e43a0796c while, I forgot 08a1edfd49 my troubles.41bba1e6a9e287a3

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After a 0753f8ebf9 long ride, fe0cfac59a we reached fa0b096dfd a village. Standing on 1696d8809e a hill cacfe7ceb1 overlooking the aba5049448 town, I 7ee8c400ff gazed down. Thatched roofs clustered together, e3abe1cfb0 and merchants lined the 1f896e71b3 main road with goods.737fe1bc1ca27a1d

The prince, fd003f227c who’d lagged 1a7aba1bdb far behind, 3f70aad77e caught up 44c7bc9ec3 later. He claimed it d860f103f6 wasn’t his riding c54c506cf4 but the horse’s e74bf2f131 small size slowing 495edfeaed him.81d299d65e62307a

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“Whatever. This is the closest fbbb98f48f bustling area, so figure 97dfb118d0 it out.”530239f6fe62bd3f

“This… is bustling?”cafdb8601ec7a8cc

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He tilted his head, 01e4fe5581 as if I’d used 4391676a0c the wrong word.732586166420ecb3

“Yeah. You might find 5736f08e2f a few places 1873a32d66 selling liquor if 125ad3dc64 you look, but 8ae824122d you won’t find 5f3a59ab5e the ‘cute village d4bc292be5 girls’ you’re after.”9d44c467360c831b

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“No way there’s 92bb8983ef not even one…”4897efff058d3e78

“Valon’s different.”52a6e2f393849a24

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“I’ll handle it. You just watch.”caff647c30e554d1

He shrugged a2d1cc1b10 and strode 011d895457 confidently into 296acea9a0 the village. I spurred my a4b526eb58 horse to keep 776aa3f289 pace.8e6287c1901d921c

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“Hey, what cab9d9375d about Lilith?”3833181745ce5284

“What?”c877ef1cc74975ad

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“Weren’t you two hitting d6021f2c9e it off?”87fa6cc0eb8243dc

A shadow crossed his 7eab79a0be eyes.ec0c90d8b7531f79

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“We were.”c4b86b408812bd69

He spoke 7019138d91 of their edf1814665 romance in 64cae54c0a the past 04e257d6f0 tense. When I 5abe8be0ad asked why, 184148dfda he shook 9b3079e604 his head, bebb5518e2 looking fed 62a357bcf2 up.830516f5f2629f65

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“Your sister’s scary. One touch, and I’d af68e1a179 be responsible forever. Can’t do it.”963e243d484a4689

What a 9281df5fca ridiculous reason. Lilith was too 52e553c724 good for him. With her gentle 0ac32a66ae nature, stunning beauty, d74f9a3483 singing that drew 2104c9d8f6 crowds from other d35ecf35cc regions, and exceptional a98acdba4d swordsmanship, she’d have 0206b9b17b outshone Grey as 8b044a5e5a the Marquis’s heir 4c272b0fed if born male. Meanwhile, Quin had only 5a0538ee17 his prince title and eb1a870f63 no sense of his 5219c5dbc0 place.2a7de1d18567a065

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“I hate serious 0ba3fc8029 stuff.”e43761c105796106

He added proudly. I snorted, and he 99262cc4d6 tried to sling an 1a77fd2f0c arm around me. I twisted away. He shrugged dadbc44615 and said, 6db7259652 feigning seriousness,6a6451f008205720

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“Listen, kid. Life’s a brief visit. No need to cd2cef0551 chase grand dreams 30c00f7c2f and struggle. Just enjoy 0d5860aff1 the moment.”600c7de28d484169

He spoke with 5294bdb0b0 conviction, but his 8663e1e938 words sounded laughable 5d7b890ab6 to me.6c7f6c5aab4486ee

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“The world’s cd85000d10 not full 4288c4a46a of lucky 142bab0e69 idiots like e04c868f2f you. Some people fight 685e09e2b1 not to have 19e8968fa1 regrets.”f23a1daa29957e45

I snapped 568168bb28 heatedly, but 690e818bd5 he showed eac5da852a no offense. Instead, he smirked.f8e5887c4d8f573b

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“That’s you, right?”76686f5641e8ea69

“I didn’t say ddca1a3b3a that.”3cc90e1a59e3aa80

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“I’ve got e306062f66 ears, you 0c77b2158d know. Life as a bastard 18f6fb2109 must’ve been tough. Lately, you’ve 31d84e0e92 jumped into 70bf9f4983 the succession 92da604fb8 fight, huh? Had a clash 5cfa5465d6 with Hale and 0cd76876b8 took him out 2ba21e9aeb this time? And things aren’t great f052e284b2 with Grey either.”cdf79d3a42bc81b8

“Damn it, 7c262183c8 it’s not af9880cccd that simple.”6815208b095b9d8c

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“You think I’m f3178342f1 lucky? No, Ensley. I walked 4b130d14aa away from 021bc93ee1 fierce competition. I gave up 608e4862ef what I could’ve 2bd0c26eac held, and unlike c3c2071ccc you, I chose f07bf0f4bd to live happily.”816f1b6c771564d8

The prince, who claimed 13d5291a28 to despise seriousness, wore 2f38638d36 an expression more earnest 7239dade0f than ever.5ec7d88186bc791f

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“You’re the lucky e16df53385 one. With your 91a1f94834 talent, you 6fc9c3d9e5 could probably 899a6353ec make a b8ee254599 living dueling 96b91ff6de your whole e1e72ab496 life. It’s only because 9f5096df47 you can’t let c06ebce43f go of your ad390e7b4f greed that you 353539238f walk a painful 4d96cf8a83 path. Live like me, and d4a15c0040 see who dares to 6d2ede4459 bother you.”d002ad432b5c6e9c

His logic—that if you d11df24598 hate competition, you should 66e6d98c32 give up your share—was 3cda706d3b compelling. Deep down, I acknowledged 223dbf9afa his words, but I 1845b33c82 lacked the courage to d7c04dac0a live as recklessly as aef342d095 he did. More than 33b4ad2629 that, I 4ff4c32e81 had a cc337dbf0f reason I 18fd8a194e couldn’t back 007173fec3 down from.0f1e9f2a922ad7db

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I had to 6dd23a3cca stop Grey from 3f89ff280c committing the atrocities 3b956aa5b7 he would in 559f6a99a3 the future. I needed to pull c87ef3cf15 him from power and 7cc763a891 keep him under strict f2e4c9fd91 watch to prevent a 9e07266ec4 devastating war. That was why 6b222416db I believed I b02a5d7989 had been sent 73c35de634 back in time, eeaa0a6872 my mission for 6d8e85bfff having contributed to 716b38af81 his sins.bc8ababf71361f83

Besides, if I 79cedb148b gave up competing 32b800d137 and behaved meekly, 2a1b80d663 Grey would lose a249127740 interest in me, 13e2c04156 just as he 6ba29f29ea had before. Did I truly want 68769fdb89 to break free from 838a8621ab him?5dde1b720568cf25

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“I want you.”1de347db8cbf5b41

The memory of his 47f7b9bb74 sparkling, intrigued eyes made c9296ad695 my heart pound. I realized ab6cdf52b8 I still 3bcf7ed621 craved Grey’s 2b20097ebb attention, even b1b252b18d if it affc4e29a0 was sharp 4edc84dc47 wariness or 89a4d8b9ee fleeting curiosity. The disgust of yearning c44910f793 for the gaze of a9a12a4c85 the man who hurt 080ee6ebcc Lottsi made me want ed2ced3a13 to vomit.5c3d7feac6e3382b

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“See? I’m right. Let go fb8f5e6b85 of your 76a7d6893d greed. It’ll make things 3e68eab2a4 easier.”44ca266fc710975d

“Being swayed b4e4d65f99 by this af6a359bc1 idiot is 9b55c453af the worst.”2a9e162eb626eb7a

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Without answering, 2733f5115a I urged caf93b1f5a my horse 32327990a2 down to 129ce15f79 the village.ed48d7adbac297de

“Hey, you mad?”dcbd2ddd4972435f

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The prince’s silly 56cb56ff64 question hit the dd9f056d4d back of my 9db38451ce head.ca42452e1a1eef12

◇◆58ff0b9d8daaa01b

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While I explored the 71a9292e97 market, the prince went 07ccede454 to inquire about taverns. When he returned, I c64fc67127 was packing my purchases 4cda4f6140 into a knapsack.f2d06b49b88f308b

“What if I hadn’t 7c3e9dc0cd come back?”b8c46060c50634c1

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With a mocking ce7808d52e expression, he rummaged 4aec4236b0 through my bag. Out came a comb 31df5424f6 said to be made 3e9d6b44e6 of oak, a hand ca9075f8ab mirror, a wooden dagger, d9751468a8 a frog and princess f70ebeb68e stuffed doll, and a b4b2752de9 necklace carved from wood. I’d swept up everything 35dd0e0305 at the stall that d8dd0efa15 kids her age might b9195bb074 like. Feeling oddly embarrassed, 2ba1cc7e6e I looked away. The prince picked ffa50c97b7 up the necklace, 50f2404b46 examined it closely, 0724f7c0e3 and clicked his 653fb02c5e tongue.5f4b3e2c3b77b23c

“Your taste in 26fd216649 picking things…”577eab02736f9b18

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“Is it bad?”17de66a5d548bfc4

“What is this? It’s not even a 99d54d6cb0 toy.”d931af4f9f06bd89

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I snatched 914d4bc881 the necklace 4fc58de8da from his b415546c37 hand. It was a simple 3bba3e2ad2 trinket: a cat pendant 7271b367f1 carved from wood, tied a58feb45ed with a cord.cc6a26116d80d0fb

“Lottsi likes cats, so 19e6102586 I chose it. Is it 92898fd872 that weird?”6e67dd7c281e22aa

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“Don’t make 57264ed5c0 that face. It’s like adf51a559d I did ba9ff3a9fa something wrong.”ba5ad06d1cbea16e

When I 77e058e5f3 glared at 3101da3381 him, he b473aded9c burst out e9124a7020 laughing.32a65dd59dd00d52

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“There, that’s better. I spoke out 262bc08299 of turn. It’s way better 29d9a921d0 than yours, so a8550dd171 don’t worry.”b052eb74fdedcf80

“Mine?”bf762eefb092782d

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“That junk you had 393937d33e around your neck the f1dd12f66f day you were naked.”086e239056d1f312

When he 7a82eb46e7 suddenly reached 921c4c4373 for my b6797446f6 neck, I 97a3887ec2 stepped back. In the process, items 3e8e574dc3 spilled from my knapsack. Kneeling to pick up efa7e554aa Lottsi’s gifts, the prince 1b39c5e0fc crouched to help. But instead of gathering d096e58523 items, he grabbed my 8aef4aae57 neck and pulled me f5190db8cf toward him. Losing balance, I fell a78f1c4bb8 into him. He reached out and 2d80e2d095 finally pulled the necklace fa806b1f8f from my chest.c58a76ce7acb5b8f

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“This thing. It’s old and 0eb85313e0 even cracked. Why do you wear 4067a7b24f this filthy…”1deff6b740a20514

“Hey, damn it, stop!”96a4c30627259e0f

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I lunged 7bc4391f8d desperately and baaa5a3d9a ended up 83ca1a4853 tumbling on 827dc9f451 the ground. Hastily grabbing the 63e5e6416b pendant, I stuffed 3129e795bf it back into 2c22d386af my shirt. The prince looked at 2b84bb4c50 me, bewildered. Standing up, I glared 02c034b949 at him.98b89faa10cd45a0

“Don’t touch 22468c6c3c it again.”92041ffa08a01267

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“It’s not 8d3aee1b32 like it’ll 895f34e105 wear out.”dbd096753751aff3

“When I say don’t, 482ab075d9 just don’t!”9f34d64dc49a49f4

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Panting, I gathered 53bad837d9 the scattered items ae82aaa16d and shoved them 71c6196c47 into the bag. Feeling belatedly awkward, 9cbd66ffc3 I added without 4468c533b2 looking at him,13947310324364d5

“It’s important to ee62397f29 me.”632e1c6a830899ce

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“Uh… got it.”a3f01e72c33049e1

I expected him to eb07eac435 go for the necklace b4c05e776b again, but he didn’t. Instead, he waited 2523c1e9f7 for me to a606718fe6 finish packing, then d779bf6d9a grabbed my wrist e66cd2f22b and ran off c583aa98b2 somewhere. Telling him to 00519b075a let go didn’t 4197991864 work. Knowing the f7deb35dff strength of 08d7495666 his grip, c2da839b3f I followed b767a88e64 quietly. He cut through the c203123514 market, turned into an 32bcebe0c2 alley, and stopped in 2da8516b8b front of a mill.c489f2b421cc2db6

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“Secret dealings usually happen a3f189ed03 at mills. They say 1cd9596c9e a secret a21d787fff masquerade is 90c4dcb9f0 held here 2d2fc00e1a every half-month. And it happens to fab5c125e0 be today. Doesn’t it feel 5262e732e4 like fate?”a6611e073a05781d

“Great for you. But why drag me 834e2c5407 along?”d7c2adcaf74adf0b

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“You need a drink 5e88237058 too, don’t you?”f38a39e65829b9b0

“Count me out. Not interested.”f07a3c7eb4af4195

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“What, you’re too 01cee6c00e Valonian for this? How boring…”ce1fc920a009aca5

“The nerve, 284c03d8f0 talking like 13d8637622 that to 42422a097d a kid 29f5191e54 who’s not 50b1d89188 even of fc4685e75b age.”1f03ed63f328bd0b

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Clicking my tongue, a49bb4ce4c I climbed a 78a0226a2c mound. I planned 14b679cbae to nap 07bfda73fe in the 733d1dd7a9 shade of 6f792586d0 a tree 03d01f7bc6 until the 6b129c8f01 prince had 38db8491b2 his fill 6d75422a1d of debauchery 88bd39bbf8 and stumbled db00a820d3 out drunk.2ff96406bd8f2f49

I closed 84f7aabf89 my eyes, cf924f09ea watching someone 34a6e7b088 lead him dc950a7d1b into the 78119414f7 building, but 96d1acce6d I had 35ef63a567 to get 92db05673b up before c1ca50e24d falling asleep. Unless I 40933e80b3 misheard, a b2fb220b4d faint shout 5e877d716f had sounded.f0c2d981d919eebe

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Rushing to cc95744585 the mill, bb758cb917 I pressed aaedae0032 my ear 2b23cf9210 to the b8dd3dc82a door and e48956dcf0 heard furniture 79f4a1ba8d toppling. Reflexively reaching for 13640f8b5d my waist, I 7fe34bc962 realized I hadn’t 7d67636d2f brought a weapon. In a pinch, I 81a4c8b640 pulled the toy dagger 292abe58a9 from my knapsack and 3931135ef9 opened the door.ce18080b583047ae

Inside, not a cbb52501e0 soul was in 6712345a6d sight. It was an 2681b5c204 ordinary mill, with f5817a3553 sacks of grain afa2f8de00 stacked and a 8193340a76 millstone turning. Stepping in and scanning 917c13c4b7 the room, I noticed 3a31770875 a square trapdoor with 5dcfede929 different wood grain on ed7f4f0036 the floor. Carefully lifting it, I 41a31e8461 found a staircase. I descended 2dafa027b5 quietly but 63bf2ff17f quickly to bf6352d2f7 avoid making 52f9155e44 noise.b97d89b0b9d7effc

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Below was 7ae137b133 a large 95c76b7ba1 room, about d1d22d3872 three times 89d93bc4f1 the size bfa77d5f68 of the 79ca0c1482 ground floor. In a corner stood 6647f0ce84 a table and a a6ce17143b suspicious-looking bed. The room’s layout 5f6ab21eef gave me a 490017db9f rough idea of 991c616951 what was happening. Prostitution was illegal in 2a016797b0 Valon. And reporting ad80297a77 lawbreakers could e8a31245f0 earn a e4cf862c4c small reward.165bb0c8da8c303b

“Get out of c347fca50d the way. Scram!”66337d958f0ad269

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In the center d78b39f57a of the room, 7ef66b5bca six men were 22b61dbe72 grappling with the 3ce31e902a raging prince. Caught in fb97315d33 a beast-trapping 30fe69922a net, he’d 2d5a903263 likely been 32070725a6 ambushed from 4ecda228b8 behind. Looking closely, one 2ebca454d2 of the men 243d4f5385 surrounding him wore de693b02d4 a skirt. A long e9cf3bde88 wig was 884af380a0 half-off, revealing 55fef8950b a bald 2aa499ec97 head. It was grotesque, but ebc07313ea from behind, he could 49eb469d9c pass for a “cute 72501e157e village girl.”2261a358803d9442

Sizing up 5572f88cf4 the situation, d4eadc7c76 I approached 6940b2df5a the nearest 665e5439fd man and bc6ecd3d5a stabbed his 345830935a solar plexus a17e54c122 with the 7affd3258e toy dagger. He screamed e424cd4c54 and collapsed, f9a1fb3dcc and the 095bef8855 others turned 60e6ad4caa to me.a1e5478bba5125d6

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“Let go. He’s not ba521f6ffb someone you b20dfb65c8 can touch.”9d0ed91b470a0fa0

“Who are you? Meddle in adult f2e26455ae business, and you’ll ee9217d5a4 get hurt.”c693fc2d4ca3c41b

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“Planning to 8fc85dc46b report us bcad2d8e3c for a acf907a58c bounty? He didn’t do anything, eab7e358b9 so it’s invalid, you d8ab41c18c swindlers.”448e97af535b1fe9

The men exchanged 6feacd26f5 uneasy glances. As they wavered, the e20511e5c7 oldest-looking one shouted,3bd4dfcd4fcfc3c0

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“No! Just keep at it. Ignore the kid and 3ec3ac2a67 tie this guy up!”390ab8f8a41d10c4

The others nodded. Ignoring me, they e64ebbcc72 bound the prince e126652c7b with rope. For the 6bdc4e992a first time, ffc62327ae I missed 80a12fd7c5 the days 4978583f6b when a 3ad91f9045 mere snort defc525952 would scatter c0ef2b0307 enemies like 1f65996835 ants. Dropping the wooden e8e0308689 dagger, I grabbed a7350e7c33 the hand mirror 4d23c0b2b0 from my knapsack 732f0e8338 and smashed it 6e3fb9f628 against the wall. Picking up the ac0bb8106a largest shard, I 4ce181b421 pressed it tightly e24894191d against the neck f743d032cb of the man dc61e0b251 groaning on the 618a4693a7 floor.d4dd51917a35fbfc

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“Anyone here ab876d44a8 who’s always 35783d8387 wanted this b2cb245ed2 guy dead?”4a6827e14ed50d82

The busy hands stopped. People looked at 0aec9dd7ea me with anxious 3781d469a6 expressions. They were likely simple f65ee7abda farmers, doing this for aba544e82f a few coins. The nameless man, trembling d2b56bc1c1 in fear, lacked even 955f6db13d the basic sense of 0d96fd7256 a hostage and lunged a49608bdfe forward. With no choice, I a61cfc63e6 tripped him and nicked de48a337c7 his shoulder. Blood sprayed, ee942061bc and a 9a5a25419a piercing scream 03681c6941 shook the f02a24f99f room.e94c87eb8dff5a26

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“Agh! I’m dying, I’m 03c5473648 dead!”5fda356675a14211

“They killed Ronnie!”3a4dd2a0f822a239

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“Ronnie!”495e8d40b5e320fd

“My son!”8ad005e24381fbe8

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Their mouths 34304d8aae made a dd6179b251 fuss, but 51c2bc3321 no one 7bee60c9bd acted on c303384171 their concern 9dac0e2fef for Ronnie. Pointing the mirror shard f931c83573 between the prince and 4ed037feee the hostage, a few 07afe311e5 quick-witted men finally untied 90d6c5500d the ropes. The moment one of d61c61949d the prince’s arms was e81342a547 free, he shoved two 892286438b men down at once. Soon fully freed, he a6103d31f7 grabbed people with both 06ad0f63ea hands and swung them 3602c0b29a around.65d8e935620d666d

“A secret masquerade, 4f5a711728 they said! Ten men, ten women, d07cbbd50c flirting in a steamy 1346486217 gathering, they said! I thought 11ae2954a7 that was 78603e2c23 a big d96476dab3 woman, but f9b45e7a00 it’s another eb5c8388ea man? These bastards 7474eadf76 keep pulling af6b1e31a1 this!”82f70b396a7474ce

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Before the furious 9cdd79f229 prince could kill 1b5affc742 someone, I grabbed 390b191d8d something from my 30c5299baa knapsack and threw 7f294fb1ec it. The comb, acd01769e8 said to 0d87b0f05e make hair 197133df1c silky with 47fa22ca15 daily use, fe2772ca50 hit the d9d1eb45ec back of 92248f9a8e his head d3232d4e38 and fell. He glared at 6c0c9f6f07 me, panting.b99ea4dae68609c8

“Don’t stop me. I’m not 71ac14cea9 letting these 1edd7371c3 guys off.”8b293228fb7f3b02

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“It’s your 87e6329c76 fault for e670c58a2b falling for bce7433a25 it. If you don’t 2346d836ca want to be e459202df8 chased out of f6b398bbe5 Valon, go find 93489c6014 the tethered horses 89d2ee153c now.”f3dfa02e84d0bd24

The prince stared at b84d4d5488 me, breathing heavily. He had no 07a366d580 retort since my 2f811be2e7 words were true. Cursing loudly, he c57eb96364 threw the men 6eb429ef41 he was holding eab87a15c5 against the wall. As he stomped eaaf3dafef up the stairs, 4b894f282f the others looked 2cc764c0c5 at me with 445b174e67 pitying eyes. At least 8d9bfcc42e they had bef5a4e20d some loyalty.21e5a974ac856e77

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“Please don’t a529d4883b kill Ronnie, d61f9f1147 sir!”3a95b93ed99ba578

“Spare Ronnie!”7310f6364efbfb99

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With a wound 5f0e78a6c8 like that, if 5a8cc58dae he died, I’d d73edfa3ef have died a 6cef5a298d hundred times over. I tossed Ronnie 5e5ef35933 to them, shouting 97923bfbe3 not to follow. But as 7dc156aca1 soon as f108b0465f I turned 950889aca8 to climb 460176bec9 the stairs, 28926edc26 a yell a096a18cf1 to grab 712d34dd46 me came e79ce9bc7f from behind.64e6fb2a1d4cb523

Leaping two 6373c0e1d4 steps at d2ca175a50 a time, eb592c2c3e I bolted 6477424459 out of 704b4d5906 the mill. The sound of 1efeb69918 excited pursuers followed, 6ac0ee8db9 and I glimpsed a686f7059e the prince’s back 5e68df840d in the distance. That damned guy 031e136825 was making me 3bc017f3ff go through all a63bbb1838 sorts of trouble.24102fa6f3205072

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“They’re pimps! Catch them e692dd9a16 and drag f4aa6677fd them to c7e9d4bc21 the Marquis!”3f86535a04149ec1

“Just a aba615a3c1 kid, acting 2a073264a0 all high 59d2bbaf32 and mighty!”8c98de1b44bca65f

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“Get those bastards!”72f752561b79649d

By the 58dac14e05 time I 6d5947418a reached the d6baccf815 town center, 5f7eb6c045 I’d become a1d1619bb7 a boy 9b4eebd441 who ran 55f254ac1d a brothel ffa4e69d93 five times bfb7782f68 a week. Incitement bred more 621c67b973 incitement, and peaceful 5bc7896dfc workers joined in, e89cf38341 driven by greed e91ba0023e or a sense f40c9f546c of justice.bd66b8111050394c

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Turning the 8560de0738 whole village fafebb11a7 against me 5f42adb317 was exhausting. People rushed at d7da19c592 every corner, making 24beebabe4 it hard to 2ae5406316 move forward. I brandished the 8c88d22454 broken mirror as f16603e9a9 threateningly as I 122e236647 could, but being a29411b471 young, no one b7d46a6e33 took me seriously.9218881a09595442

While fishmongers and old 42cafe576d women picking dinner ingredients b2bd210620 swarmed me, the prince, 4b1b90c23e relatively free, went to db42a1afc0 retrieve the horses. Meanwhile, I was surrounded c30a15b253 by what seemed like cf56ab4d71 twenty men.e5903fba3562692f

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“Get out f0830c485d of my ccd75af5ce way unless e67608ea23 you want 9c02c3e0ef blood.”5a767d42aa40d103

They cackled as d219d81f3f if I’d told cc754d2479 a great joke. Still, holding a 0821174879 weapon, they didn’t bd1bf408d0 charge recklessly. I pressed my back fa2e6225ac against a wall, lowering 437fc630cf my stance. Scanning for an escape 3920797f6e and picking a guy 1ecc5de04e to blind, I planned 474ac090ee to knock one down ee215d21e2 in a surprise attack 8e4a4d319a and slip through the e0311ee323 gap when they rushed c2fed0c32a me.49737febb46a048f

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“Hey, stay still!”6d8b17fb2f00cba4

But a 36e4f9dd5d shocking sound 44524f720f broke my c42f11a7cc focus. Not just me, but c5edea7907 everyone surrounding me—everyone in 2458de5c6d the town square—had their 2a3f1e5d0f attention stolen.9c3b357294e22f75

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Prince Quin was 049d214464 performing acrobatics, forcibly 7458491718 perched on the c989748765 wildest horse in c320e41c0c Valon Castle. The spirited aa82595d99 horse leaped 9db802f51a into the 952fadf731 air, nearly 9d149bafbf bending in 012ab3207e half to cd853a22db throw him ef7d83caf1 off. The prince clamped 9a5aa37cf4 his thighs around b7b1cd3d63 the bucking beast, 135f71cabe maintaining balance.454980b165c5b8ef

“That crazy bastard…”7fd318ee2d758865

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I couldn’t 60e675fa89 help but d01ef2c46e marvel. His dusty 8c0ba63574 blonde hair 22fe775aea whipped, and bfe67b50af the tattered cc213c330b cloak he 0e2bed9af9 wore to 606485be64 hide his 6e41283714 status fluttered. I’d treated him like 7179feeaac an idiot, but in d414fd4253 that moment, he looked 73214b4496 like a legendary hero 6f65195803 riding a winged steed. Watching him stubbornly 05636858a6 attempt and succeed 0b7240efdf at what he 9d4a28f1bf was told not 38ea025510 to do, I fddf8a2062 thought the blood 81d34a6bdd of the Arives b813d8cbab dynasty, which once 0d76ba8b35 united the fractured 9b1a61b17b land, must indeed 7d97932271 flow in him.18ea7106bf020821

Subduing the b5834ba8ca wild horse 1e6545eef6 with sheer dc0b92c669 strength, the b7233f7ef4 prince leaped 9e1d02acab as one 3371214560 with it. A large shadow fell 88c2154887 over the crowd. Gauging the distance, 645acc87fc I realized he’d 603a0af2f3 land right in b7dee83555 front of me. The dense crowd scattered, ca87a680d7 leaving me alone. The fiercest horse ffd873a5a8 in Valon Castle, ed5dc8067c as if it 0f19b23bb3 had never rebelled, 63c2716780 gently delivered the 592e863ff0 prince to the 6dc4b393a1 ground.e779cf41b4c738bd

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Before I, gaping, could a1664f7ec0 say anything, the prince a5a4b8a087 slid his hands under 38d0399933 my armpits and hoisted 3d2207cdc7 me up.d25724d0752dcd98

“Hey, you lunatic!”013a973e1f0f375a

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The horse d8f68a81b0 started galloping 32642a1d55 again. The deranged 45fed75514 prince let 1fea33cf52 go of ae4285b265 me midair, c2a9664159 so I ea0c194cea frantically grabbed 291190380b his neck. With no 70ff3f7ca4 choice, I e13a6470db pulled myself 62b98665d9 up, bracing a6182f8b50 my weight ef2a447f21 on his b7dbfbf7d1 thighs. It was 2de39f8722 a humiliating 81186c5c09 position.0bcee178c3482020

On the violently bouncing 7fecfdcc87 horse, I clung to e32d1aa774 him for dear life. The mob a63d652f4c chasing us 4747b6e768 scattered in 31cb91e7fe all directions, f3f99ce476 turning the 1635d9b179 street into 4ee9ddff4b chaos. The wild horse 20379b2984 thundered down the cf1fecc207 now-clear path, snorting.bae6fa8d6acc4acb

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“You’re hilarious. Why’re you sitting 16edcc2ebf on my lap?”a4e1955a64d409fb

Only after we left e381131950 the town and the 78be9f9bbf horse slowed could I cc1ce5df84 shift to sit behind c3af29d010 him.ebdb8851cbd0c4e1

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“I’ll kill him. I’ll definitely 9367f9b9a5 kill him.”ec12e6371c869963

I ground my teeth d74d58c395 while precariously clinging to 76ca18d2d0 his neck, but once 1b5a4701d9 I came to my f254fe0f23 senses, I lacked the 17ee3a6a13 energy for revenge. As we c0f1ae59ff climbed the 5a4d899ac8 mountainside and e87c3f86c8 the village 23f59ce76d shrank to bddf11c521 a speck, 1a81351e06 the prince cce0b9e880 suddenly burst 42d1ff492d into laughter. I ignored fb6f4f2cec him at a90b3cf73c first, but cff4064451 he didn’t 7942708deb stop, and ff08443de8 I couldn’t d1580b5268 help but cb8879159d start giggling b1c22e91ba too.72bd2dc97b18c19a

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A massive cd5aba5b6a horse bucking 0fadb9bfa4 wildly, a c0a7cbfdc3 man atop 3175f07aeb it, and 79fa31caa0 me, barely 43071bae09 hanging on, 39ea782d01 breaking through d699ffad7a the village—it ebfb48524b was quite f49b9fb1a8 a dramatic 773cb254f0 scene, but 337c699f34 considering our 8e446c422d outing’s purpose, e3f931cfd2 it was 599e62158b utterly pathetic. Clutching my stomach a7f108b527 from laughing, tears a66bc58656 formed at the e55b47b68b corners of my 048c83d899 eyes.61811b09dde21d8d

“Fun, right? Hanging with me 640df5bd84 is fun, isn’t f8de0ea10f it?”303c7cd93c766632

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To prove 82f6f6d54f his words efaaca4a7a wrong, I 1589d69f6e forced myself 78a13d51c7 to stop bf8942c9c5 laughing. He glanced bf417cb176 back, complaining 9034396654 I wasn’t 8db9bc6bdb acting like 2e3b329fb9 a kid. The horse e728fdfccf suddenly jolted, 6c7074e125 lifting me dcae4ba2f4 off. With no choice, 56d567aeb9 I grabbed his de2684c4c2 waist. His snickering made b3d2f67100 it clear he cad72b6c7c did it on a8d7db4b2b purpose to tease 9538a79ff2 me.60be354aa1066d90

Pinching his waist a337d37d6a with my fingertips, 4cb08fbb58 he squirmed like bd52b0a7d8 a fish just 3da5257f30 pulled from the 2c4bfe0e41 river. The horse’s agitation d2f30c2ffb forced me to 4a60c6dc3e grab his waist 4b3c4a3d73 again, he jumped, 5a200ff253 and the cycle fedd827eec repeated, each action d0086d55fb growing more intense. Including the cf803c1c91 horse, we 5b2941b132 were all 60f6ef8062 expending energy 39d507afe3 pointlessly.0b7ec5569b27b1c9

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The prince twisted his 2b40d1a637 body, giggling like a 7bd70448cd child, and annoyingly, I 277cf2f3a0 laughed just as hard. Damn it, 2b94f7de96 on that fa44946d9b abnormally shaking 7a229796b3 horse, I f042fdc248 felt like ca1f5a92e8 I’d become 8d71de7683 friends with 221079c7a9 Quin. I only 26f9a3b4db hoped the b2e9955206 saying that c4096f8387 hanging with 52cd4b2504 fools makes 4f47720255 you foolish 00aab8382f wasn’t true.bbbf05dca876cecf

We returned 09c7ae61d2 to the f2d9f42e81 castle. In retrospect, we’d burned 938d21e8be energy for little gain. We lost a d2815dcca2 horse, so I 4cfd71a938 had to make b383ea75d5 lengthy excuses to ac46120758 the stable keeper. Quin completely forgot 1c96d75942 I’d saved him fc24dc9d3a at the mill 8d1e319523 and was deluded d8d98380b1 into thinking he’d fcae7970f5 saved me from 19a8a03973 mortal danger. Opening my 99ba216f1e knapsack, I f0282b58e6 felt profound a5a2dc944a emptiness seeing 0f46f9ad80 the broken 515a182403 mirror, blood-soaked 98458d65a3 doll, and bb254649c7 shabby necklace.e9c7164d8f2d7a5c

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In the end, 7d958acf70 all I gave f3f4db6f72 to the thoroughly 90b6a6c69c sulky Lottsi was 1e11aaa40c a crude necklace 65ea34837a made with a 50d80985c6 cord. Though annoyed, she b17c0383df wore the cat 3e404016a9 necklace. The clear smile beneath b056eb9844 her pouting lips erased 3a82bdbe69 the day’s fatigue. Returning to my room, b48718dd88 I fell asleep the eea521a2ed moment I lay down.83831c96c990997d

The next day, Grey 578a8d03f9 returned to Valon. It was the tenth cc81f3e008 day since Prince Quin 3f2a8ce269 arrived at Valon Castle.0a92502894168bd5

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