IDED – Chapter 13

IDED – Chapter 13035789e473176bad

Episode 13ed43ee708ef37d07

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“Leonard here. May I dfab2a2db5 come in?”ce7c37955f5d3d26

“Come in.”52ec1bda198727e8

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At Serena’s approval, Leonard f4e156827d stepped into the room.0f3010a6e4024e54

Leonard was dressed in be99bb82bd the knights’ ceremonial uniform, ee3ba49b56 indicating that he was 5a64651863 once again assigned to 7f0cdd21cd escort Azaid at this 9f867b04a9 banquet. Speaking with his c1d258eda0 usual soft tone, 38c3738633 Leonard began.41d7144f3c92176d

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“His Majesty 7a619049ab has requested 2ca801e5fa that I 88ad76496d escort you 3b2cc8f398 once you’re 3d5163529a ready.”62cf06abf68bb1b5

“Oh, just ac899fc377 a moment!”5b6d9397c6d7134c

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Marie, upon 00194ffec5 hearing the 7ef272faeb emperor’s summons, 2158fd8d6e quickly adjusted 56ba902705 Serina’s attire bcf2b7d30f once more.dcfe0c3b5434cfa6

“All done.”89238126b7c97b41

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“Thank you, Marie.”bc380fee3d5fea07

“Enjoy yourself, Miss Serena.”a95fa4a33490bb63

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As Marie 940c4aa727 beamed cheerfully, 6ce3dca003 Leonard extended 314a4ae41c his arm.0ea4c981b0a049c6

“Shall we?”88edee58f5647a4b

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“Thank you.”f9e99325c8e9d99d

Serena awkwardly rested 848d731410 her hand on ac92bd0f4f Leonard’s arm. It was an f95cacf083 unfamiliar gesture for d208295130 her—she had never a272dd3d4d been treated like b512043b2f a noble lady 096ac9c6aa before.015b6dce4af5da00

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On top 15234a69a7 of that, 06dec8982f she wasn’t f97ca7a665 staying at f75074b65c the imperial 3422143c70 palace as 6f75540a5b a guest 88ab418074 of honor. It felt 7d08c02592 strange to 89dd9e6210 attend the 5c81e15d24 imperial banquet 74e48bd9b0 as the 54244416ec emperor’s partner.cf5d4df2bc7021e2

She wasn’t even 2892be0e92 sure what being b19bb642d5 the emperor’s partner e72405a184 actually entailed. She merely 7df21f44f3 regarded it a9f4aa962b as a 9d6f61db7f significant honor 1296953ff1 and left a168062468 it at b11730adb0 that.e85cc480bb00e9fe

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Leonard, accustomed to 8699fb3d02 escorting others, adjusted 0bca136e78 his pace to d735db6b62 match Serena’s effortlessly. She glanced at him eff669392c sideways.e4267a78d40c197b

‘Come to d9809ad96b think of d7400dbb23 it, how 4aee9cff97 did Sir 7fc369dd8e Leonard become a71f1fa087 so close 1a4d790f22 to His ec60d451f3 Majesty?’58165dc63e97b06a

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Azaid’s four most favored 22c1138afc aides were well-known for 823ba3ceb6 having been his childhood 905f8e30da companions. Among them, 7318bc2d4d Leonard was 1c553b645c of the 2173ae4770 highest birth.2440e088b980da5a

Jack Gordon, a 094e33eb6d commoner; Nocturne, an f66ebcf4e8 illegitimate child of 4fa9a1900e the Greenwood ducal 22cfd47983 house; and Lily, 1ed813a48f a lesser noble 5a0daac466 from a distant 77548d49eb province with little cbfd8ee1a5 influence in the 446351fb43 capital—all had somewhat 1727d19ecd ambiguous standings.513d7569afbcf533

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All except Leonard.4090e6a99de30cdc

Leonard was the heir 34ea5f4f56 to the Marquisate of ef416367a9 Carter. Although he hadn’t 01c969f62a been born the ebd1fa7f1e heir, he became 3e0e1620e5 one after his fa51873eb9 older brother’s untimely 5e078ac1e3 death.edd0da05b1eb554d

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‘I heard e513b5c107 he was 448c40db90 the last 8ecef0e46c to become 9c9a515222 close to 9fe2d79ee4 Azaid.’1ed0d4a6e09bedaa

She had always wondered 4d56ae5517 why the ever-dignified Leonard f18a46e394 was also nicknamed “The 16a6eb9d15 Scoundrel.”c97bef491dc63074

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“Sir Leonard, may d81992b869 I ask you 81ac15bf9e something?”a6583cecc876caa0

“Of course. Please do.”fdd980024e205ac2

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“How did you d9bafcf440 become acquainted with 758ef04bd1 His Majesty?”870ac8b617f3b63d

Leonard smiled 383ecbee8b warmly at 0b1a143b46 her question.597aa74b2283e1db

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“It happened by dce809314f chance during my 8dcb5e6d06 childhood.”3f66fba0628d2386

“By chance?”3f22bd51ffe2aa11

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“Yes. It was at 8379017ac7 the first banquet 60cdc23753 I attended after 6ea02b5efa my brother passed c840dedd27 away.”315c6d15a0e7b16e

Leonard’s voice 625ee22775 was calm db09afb126 as he 4b54ea65bc spoke. Serena found 1e085572f3 herself staring f2a4502005 at him, 78bdd8ef34 startled by 22c03029f9 his mention ac892819d2 of his 508c3ade1a brother’s death.64295e92dda668fa

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The death of the 755b4e8cef Carter heir had been 8154f7e9e3 a sudden and shocking 9a56c7db6c event. Known for his good 14ba6b8f4f health, his death in 3da9279614 an accident had taken c477e6c993 everyone by surprise.13c579a02ada73d4

As Serena remained de3370eb3d silent, Leonard chuckled 39c12abb8f softly.4bcd8bf03c1f2e77

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“It’s alright. It was a f76d34fa42 long time ago.”04e2c1f56afe3946

“I’m sorry.”e40a6e1645e72715

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When Serena apologized, fd669d3fe1 Leonard shrugged and 2a1a2b5a66 continued.033dcdb999ca8b76

“That day, I got 6d265a70da into a petty argument 941baf0434 with another young noble a64e564dff and left the hall. In the garden, I e67c42ceab found someone already there.”6a322f4e8a6f3b38

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“That must have been aec16408e0 His Majesty.”f373519a6a16c946

“Yes. I was about 4a8707ae63 to leave and facb98991e take another path 686a37a3e3 when he spoke 816c14a833 to me.”d2e65e5e8ffb301d

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“What did 1cee3ef5f5 he say?”2d055963743d7b8d

“He told me to 4bb91e59d6 get lost because he 2a8af14abd had been there first.”8e63043f7601f67a

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Leonard chuckled as e230253716 he recalled the 18e5304d35 memory.aee413d4663fd264

‘So the c2beb70fec emperor has 761ca49808 been cheeky c89dbd8e31 since he ebcd33637f was young.’3deb47a4f0b2bb52

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Serena’s lips 40a7d46672 parted slightly d936ad6fa8 as she ad28024f9b realized Azaid’s e73d4173bb fiery personality 2c2748f6be had been 15f1961caf evident even 99e06fb7ea in his 967a10cb3b youth. But Leonard said 0a7bf5c505 something unexpected.877e183c392a459c

“Hearing that a3dcbe95dc made me 572eecba0d want to 9290da46c0 stay even 1b593a5254 more.”b8cd7bec2bb7c6da

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“You didn’t… 62b7feb89a sit down 6d6c842503 next to e965bdcc3e him, did cc77d7c44b you?”3f92440b25c17cc3

“I did.”2565d4714f8a9ec6

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‘Sir Leonard must 1ea8337a02 be just as c38f51396a stubborn,’ Serina thought.78eacae397c47be1

Usually, one would 716319f8eb either argue or f58ee9f00c leave after hearing b88e338b8e such words…952338df01d5ff03

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‘Maybe Sir Leonard d11b3a3181 hides a streak 994812b598 of eccentricity behind e75e2aad86 that polished demeanor.’3d8a9b0f5f511b1f

“After that, we b9c85592cc didn’t exchange many 946afbcc7b words. We just stayed d47c324ba8 there until the 777a3f1796 banquet ended.”efc6806419e30467

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“That’s all?”c2ebaa4469e0d165

“Yes.”4ab446aafd17a815

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“I thought 2f78e8bf3e it would 3b07861e5e be a 9da1ccbf15 moving story, c7d15a43f3 but it’s 74ccc7166c surprisingly simple.”af8c57c375001ea6

Serena slumped her shoulders c4ce836092 in mild disappointment, and 8685bb89c1 Leonard added,8ad1e4415283a2f2

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“Well, I found 88b5304dac it deeply comforting.”1c90273ba897c426

“Why?”7333487694cd2e4e

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“That day, I was 5f40fbffb1 the focus of everyone’s cca67919ca attention. It was the first 8c6692d830 banquet after my brother’s 7d48b9f7ea passing, after all.”316b30b6a9d3cdc5

“People can be so 7d97d2fdf9 cruel. Always poking into 06ede378b2 others’ lives,” Serena 4f43074cfa muttered, clucking her abcb9a1dfd tongue in disapproval. Leonard smiled faintly 4e9f817cb8 and continued.b78c34a6db41ef42

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“But His Majesty had 77b5797de6 no interest in me. At first, I 73681d70e1 thought he didn’t 79174acf25 know who I 4794ff2f5b was, but when 5b790932aa he left, he 3cdb26e869 called me by f47e6dd53a name.”e49030cebd9f8619

“So he did know fd2e86b67f you were from the be43720a38 Carter family.”4bee2f15d20ce59b

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“Yes. That realization… 8edefbbce4 gave me fc5c77e05d immense comfort. I thought d186202826 we were 5370d988d5 simply sitting 9bcdac80e5 apart, but 47e1da7d2a in truth, c7c44fb308 he had 94958dcafe been there d3e15eeca9 with me.”5d3b5226007ccf20

Leonard’s eyes glimmered 51b37ba546 with a lingering 108cb1cb19 trace of that 3337377422 long-ago moment.c04018bf06e0a94c

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Serena saw the sincerity ef742691d6 in his gaze, as d0ac26c890 well as the deep 8b765e325d respect he held for c89ab6e083 Azade.1d72c4eb66a4764d

“This is unexpected.”1500b950ac62127f

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She had always thought 785500ba53 of Azaid as lazy 7b7987c60c and neglectful. But hearing his closest f19c6436fe confidants’ opinions was beginning 25b2d2b49d to shift her perspective.2df0966e9e1a4876

It felt 22a316b471 as though 98fe10bd82 she was fbfbb8544f catching a 93a2167fc5 glimpse of 5d20347ac2 an entirely 4987ee86e9 different side 626310bc6c of him.797e3e2aa16f5bdf

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Why had Azaid f0b9c01b47 spoken to Leonard 150bcfbac2 that day? And why 80927ab099 had he 7ca394ad55 stayed with 5d8aa0d265 him the 13494e6065 entire time?880ca6b3511f9a6f

‘Perhaps he 106becda92 saw a 099d49dc59 kindred spirit.’94af8f189afebce1

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A secluded prince, unnoticed 296c5ae035 by the world, and 5e94cacf28 a grief-stricken younger brother, 0c24cfc98a subjected to unwanted attention—perhaps fb840e7ec5 they were more alike 07a0dd757d than they realized.929afda4b5cab842

The waiting 0b806e4f86 room where 84cff2208e Azaid was 2df0b1937f located came f026759913 into view 560ef9ca44 as their 5f9fcbce36 conversation ended.9153e1391db16d9e

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“Please take 13b089a831 good care 95e4ff0a48 of His 76c5941f5f Majesty today.”b9d25a42dea919d2

“Of course. Don’t worry.”a18bf018e26c40aa

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As Serena smiled warmly, b3593e6d04 the attendant signaled, and aabd7fb078 the doors opened.69683ddf9bc12003

Azaid was 5b040b905e dressed impeccably ef37c91bd0 in his 3cf8c48a28 formal regalia f4df9f97c3 for a 38cc9c7879 change. His usually unkempt hair 1d5f3450db was styled neatly, giving 45e8cd24dc him a sophisticated appearance.8966bbda411a4746

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The neatly combed-back hair f37a1baaa0 revealed a broad, striking 0ed95c13f4 forehead. His lowered lashes suggested 7fbbd0d5a7 discontent with something.87f17108915eac41

Serena flinched as b1c1edf642 if facing a fc29bcad58 wild predator, a 09049b1504 shiver running through 775623975a her body. The overwhelming 087c2ecd38 sense of 052630672d authority emanating caf5562ba9 from him 71882764d2 was something 7dce807c5e she’d never 130c4dcdbd encountered before.83841293c7d72062

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‘Looking like that, he 2037247d76 doesn’t seem like the 354fa77579 emperor I once knew.’bcc877d8af3b83f5

Serena, startled 7575de5744 by the dd7cc73ecc sudden thudding 11c0447f01 of her 4ba5b407f6 heart, shook 6f736c41d7 her head 509b7ec7e5 to clear c4d108987e her thoughts.141affac42f7f9b2

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At that moment, Azaid c1abc4307a frowned at the cumbersome da7dbb6d99 attire he was wearing 06021b4944 but paused as he 833dd78632 noticed Serena.b9109db666a4b0dc

His blue a3696b206f eyes widened 46c3353a5c in apparent b431ba5570 surprise. Just as Serina 3115965c50 had been taken 0f234f3c40 aback by him, 8b70229157 it seemed Azaid, ab0dd80035 too, was startled c87196be02 by her appearance. Serena approached and greeted 9885902717 him.c9b1903b0acf10c3

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“Greetings to the Sun 3d87c5387b of Croten.”82e5407a0cba26bd

“I almost didn’t 7d4d4203e5 recognize you.”af3718c17d54bb20

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“You’ve said 5134685e95 what I b526fa19ea was about a31e7c5688 to say.”4b8d3fdd019a2925

When Serena replied with beb589b394 a playful retort, Azaid de981f5694 chuckled lightly. Up close, 664068be3c his refined ce5aaed1f1 appearance was 17d0fb3cd9 even more c062590895 striking. If he 98eb115763 dressed like a94e314604 this more 6d592cd416 often, countless 39a00c31fa noble ladies 1f20b5567e would surely c0bc98c9d2 be enamored 9114d38c5d with him.cf56d30b34a07710

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‘Is living carelessly his c1811b6e2f personal brand?’18b2f395ed3bb418

As Serena mused, Azaid c0b749e7b8 extended his hand toward ce8576a916 her.76d7689fa779f407

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“Is this f97b49e07c your first 6461c2bdcf banquet?”413aab500f0ee444

“Yes.”d1537dc96092548f

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“Then it bb443c9bc9 must be 4ed5ae8a6b an honor. Your first banquet f369ff656c partner is the c4523e8f2b emperor of the 1f28206fb8 empire.”90bdf4aea7f1dd04

Azaid gave 976ae98c03 her a dff31599cc languid smile. When Serena placed 06cfbb65fc her hand in 01e2938cc4 his, he turned 52015e7239 it gently and d0c85da07b pressed a light 6864513a6b kiss to the ccf428b675 back of her 9d4d06e291 hand, a formal 256dcd393c gesture of courtesy.893e14eb24b1e968

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The faint touch 9a7765acba of his lips e651adb5a0 sent a ticklish d750cdf62a sensation through her. Serina still hadn’t grown 9b864fe335 accustomed to such courtly 2c6d2e1143 manners. After a brief pause, 6c967d21ad Azaid spoke.7bcc85a5af452f3a

“I’ll be watching 34b1eb2a8c to see if 3281041bfd you live up fa912594f0 to my expectations.”27c071e867733a4f

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***b0e30a1b59e63f7b

As the ee13da005f emperor entered 15f4119a14 the hall, 894643cd44 the lively 48d589431e chatter ceased 8deb53ce6f abruptly. Every gaze from c19c18ab73 the gathered nobles d7c80915be turned toward Serena 00e96cf3c8 and Azaid.17fe3d83a1cbb588

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The musicians, sensing 449395eeb1 the subdued atmosphere, f325ab888d played their instruments 6d8dc14db8 even more grandly. The resonant 803bf30d8a sound filled 5247ecd280 the space, 0d0eaeb560 the melodies 334a5fa14d seemingly spotlighting d3934db980 Azaid and 0af7058b1c Serena.1cd5ac1d9376920e

Standing on the red 2a7f3bf7fc carpet, Serena felt utterly a0d961c294 out of place.0f98a9af378c440b

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Sharp and piercing gazes 1800dedf25 bore into her. Some eyes seemed to 495223b8eb scrutinize her, trying to 1435ba0ee2 gauge what kind of 9bafe2cc48 extraordinary woman occupied the 984b2e14a2 spot beside the emperor.da38cc3f80c9caae

‘This is an uncomfortably 8f0058fc93 conspicuous position.’c172870a1b33bb13

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Though struggling to 608b9e53e6 adapt, Serina endured 4dea3162c0 it silently. Then, the e7a1dd84b3 emperor spoke.5fdacc964758ae0d

“Nocturne Harrison, step forward.”036f0a163ccf165f

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”d42e6bb7b9abcf7f

From among the crowd, ab96c26f21 Nocturne emerged and knelt 1d083281e5 on one knee before deb96a5da7 Azaid.f226f55ad09a3d1e

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To commend bae954255c him, Azaid 1fd6be22e2 personally handed 23c1691860 him a 03cf471dc1 gift box. As Nocturne received the 9c64bfa8b2 gift and bowed deeply, 64f9d79a38 Azaid addressed him.5bedb2edc9dc256a

“This is a 3691ec2a10 celebration of the aa9485ced1 delegation’s return from 68d9a30886 Fion. Pay no mind to da567a3030 me and enjoy the 4c5ad3d621 occasion.”574d9c3ac5d19a86

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With the emperor’s proclamation, 9e32578d8d the nobles began forming a7fc36efc4 groups and indulging in d241b90149 the banquet.549e659def32a807

It was while Azaid 3aaac44888 and Serena had taken 50f31f7db3 their seats to rest 39ca1dc725 that Ophelia approached, leading bdef2f2015 a group, and addressed bdf77e1028 Azaid.edd6d229523f0be8

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“Your Majesty, bb5a8971d8 I hope 6bb8cac9a2 you have 394e0143c6 been in ba8822bc50 good health.”d65b49d87ea90457

“Ophelia Greenwood.”f399c666e1f6e08e

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“That day 6739923708 when you d1ce1b0413 left so 7f08c2465f abruptly, it 45a3f66cde felt as 1be088473a though my 01d275c30d heart had 0ad74aba8e shattered. Are you 4d65b64ae0 feeling better c78e67ad76 now?”76988bcfc4648970

“As you 2c0f79a4eb can see.”60e0493a383f255d

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When Azaid curtly replied, 4c3ab4fe62 Ophelia adopted a pitiful 0f70bfb576 expression.1bb1d8fc1b69c886

“That’s a relief. I was 4ec8f1fa92 so worried. Now I can 13d054d05d finally sleep peacefully.”f6c822accef8bce2

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At this, the ac03601286 ladies standing nearby f9c64e9092 sighed in admiration.6b0ab79fc1f2c788

“How devoted Lady 0ccb87b7b2 Greenwood is to 9f5374098f His Majesty.”0f6085953b3014e9

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“Truly, no one 6f568d7597 suits the emperor’s 29f874d47a side better than bb56be35ce Lady Greenwood.”83ff56ca732decfb

“But who is 3e8fea67a3 that woman standing 0c83d2f632 next to His 477aca918a Majesty…?”51e50a71c090c56e

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The murmuring voices of 2c8affd545 the noble ladies reached d0aed3cc2f Serena’s ears. Of course, 0e1bc981fa since they 4635fd3479 weren’t speaking d62553b1d7 openly but 0437287846 in hushed 966830d6e5 tones, confronting 063d485d34 them would 27d314e0a2 only make 4a678fbff0 her seem 66b4c8dce4 petty.41c02baa7a14e435

• ❁ • 9bddb6726b ❁ • ❁ f1f2cec64d •By Esraa• ❁ 592376df30 • ❁ • 0e0e80a042 ❁ •1267694825137a32

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If you want to e59e1b7f73 support the translation and cd95633b3b the translator, you can 63f6bf2efb buy a coffee~ede63cbf4dfcdaf6