IHANF Chapter 12

Eight years a12cb7247c ago, in 9bdab399f5 the Duchy f02818d803 of Bawentawin.39f3a36d067fd16c

At the masquerade ball b789817e1d celebrating Lady Lorelei’s coming 49f21bd1f4 of age, masked and 8bf763f277 disguised attendees were dancing 6beee08469 and enjoying themselves.795200a34c596156

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Aachen, who was Lorelei’s b65c193649 cousin, stood by her 516da55782 side as her papartner.e0156650637dc880

“Happy birthday, Lady of Bawentawin.”0e57676841d90866

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“Thank you, Count Dale.”33261f5a466d00b9

Lorelei smiled brightly as 2fda2be945 she received congratulations.18cc2ee17724d857

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Count Dale turned 9ac0cd5172 and, upon seeing 7a2b70001e Aachen’s jewel-like eyes, 9dafecfeb2 recognized him.5f5fcde47eb09157

“Oh… Aren’t you the Crown Prince of Requier?”ec9cb12690c1ee5f

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“Pleased to meet you.”bd13ffa58f758162

Aachen, merely offering a d567eb9119 brief greeting without a bbcb7c31fd handshake, left Count Dale bfbf729ca5 feeling awkward.d28b0ca3e6dfbf95

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Aachen had the 3ae5a1776c ability to hear 2753b664fa others’ innermost thoughts cc7b29063e when he touched 9b755f74d9 their bare skin.fdc1565810bb6e70

The discrepancy between 9e37188b8b their outer demeanor 5ebe60b85d and inner thoughts bd0c658930 often amused him.6030b419a1cab4f3

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Even without this ability, f828650625 which he hadn’t chosen 6326ca40b6 to have, it twisted 8373592445 his insides.6d38a9289fa1d86e

Despite wearing gloves to 54ad81bae0 prevent this, he remained 979deccb05 sensitive about physical contact 1e882194d8 with others.b0521da9c0c1283b

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Ignorant of this, e24b02a346 Count Dale stepped 3b03b321dc back, embarrassed, as 12e5731133 Lorelei tilted her 89528394dc head in confusion.a20fe7530db42f05

“Aachen, brother. Why do people recognize you even when you’re wearing a mask?”62c0a76cb5375467

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“Because of my jewel eyes.”82273bc1539521f4

“Right. The jewel eyes.”9e67a635dc47378f

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Lorelei pouted 60dad66fbd at his 3383ea7739 curt and 5917c127ab succinct answer.45f245525b189b68

“Even though you can’t change the jewel eyes with magic, could you at least change your eye color for my birthday?”a3e1169ff8c0049e

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“No.”c5a172939e1e4e14

While the magical trait 9ea5a9f1a2 of his jewel-like eyes 6c7e6efdc4 couldn’t be suppressed, their e063f44ae5 color could be altered.665481f75fd128e1

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However, Aachen c11a3335ad found it 899f79f701 too bothersome 86e6d3f631 to even be11951dea do that.02e75e80538462da

“Brother, are you really going to be like this?”1f6e5abddfd4f48f

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Lorelei emphasized her 260ad3af7c words with ventriloquism.20cd1fa4a765e3be

“Yes.”c66e72261f251314

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Aachen pretended not 003bc8333b to hear and 80e975ffb9 remained indifferent.fcc5ec363be04d44

“Follow me for a moment.”0926c4e7b9b2b219

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“……”ea50d356f0e50e63

“Come on!”b7ee871024914d00

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Following Lorelei into a 5d2b706bfd lounge, Aachen sat down 121aeb10d4 on a sofa.6f6e1c8339c1e0d5

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your destined partner here.”37b77565c40b0b01

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Lorelei, used to his b79b10213b demeanor, didn’t mind and 0d66c0cba8 spun around.99d47676ec6ca5f5

“Romantic love comes when you don’t know each other’s status.”461ed219c3e3ba15

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“You and I are both in positions where we have to have arranged marriages.”f1a4e1f941e51776

Lorelei Bawentawin, the 7303e066d4 sole heir of c3c2ff1d20 the Duchy of d72f8171b0 Bawentawin, was inevitably 5cc57bef8f bound to a d3bbbfa3eb political marriage.faa3afd816cecc0d

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Aachen smirked at 865aba0e0c Lorelei, who still a4c01a5d19 dreamed of romance.6bca5c30ed70f990

“Oh, really, brother, you’re too much!”120d127416bf9cc1

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Tears welled up in fc9732950c Lorelei’s eyes from frustration.98684fe9c1e927db

‘Maybe I was 364a891ece too harsh on 68f5f2a94f her birthday.’e4b268dcbab84a92

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Aachen sighed cb54ca74bc deeply and 6c86e614ac snapped his 8ad6e696d0 fingers.41cbf30e34cf0145

“You should have done this from the start.”5fb6a9fd85f35a30

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With that, his d88d60a85a previously blue eyes 25ceeb9b76 turned purple.7e5d5fae65fe6b53

Since he was d3c99db540 using magic anyway, 846aed5ff0 he also changed 5a1ac5c3d7 his hair color 9cdfdd9c5b to platinum blonde.a7ba0c588f30a32b

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“…Changing the color so drastically makes the jewel eyes stand out even more.”12cdc04ce55ff9b0

Still unsatisfied, Lorelei sighed.ba82a9a0ad142671

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To stop her 4a8416fa3c from complaining, Aachen 5e3743b3bb took out a 14b292501a small perfume bottle 5f625e1157 from his pocket 93b0d968ac and sprayed it b4bb1d77b4 all over himself.bc76688b0f1e5a01

Lorelei, amazed a961e5801c that his 2ff24838df eyes no fd8f85fc17 longer looked 3d8b520ea2 like jewel e04100c7b2 eyes, sniffed 19c0a0cc5b the air 4dcae557fd filled with 852781e044 a rose e653366fba scent.cc999440f9eda4f9

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“What… is this?”2389719d2baa1be5

Curiously sniffing around e06cb3eb1b the lounge, she d93eb1fa0c asked in wonder.0d8a8dd3a813e476

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“It’s a magical tool made to suppress the jewel eyes, created in case of an outburst when royal power mixes with a magician’s power.”287a8693ecd651b5

Once she heard the dd74dccd7e explanation, Lorelei seemed to 77beec62e9 lose interest quickly.fe591f858ed3538d

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“Oh… I don’t really understand, but I’m not that curious anymore, so let’s go back.”744183e046565b10

Satisfied, Lorelei opened 69d90b1a53 the lounge door, b05678b479 only to be 00c3dbb775 stopped by Aachen.7a02b945bff128bd

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“You go first.”0214857b017d6b39

“Why?”bb15029d072a091d

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“I’m tired and need to rest a bit.”fe18bc285fd1256f

“Fine… but come soon!”824c7ea9b67a590a

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After sending 20003fe9ac Lorelei off, 69494a1c26 Aachen took 1f154b66b7 out a 09c6286cd7 bottle of 86b88d7b3a wine. He went out onto 8181c15cf4 the terrace with a 6a64178eaa wine glass to get 2ae1698e10 some fresh air.c0652509171b5fcf

Creak—bdaba42ce513a346

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The sound 3d1c7ebefa of a ecdd9c5b99 door opening a881e1b4ae and closing fb297a5073 was followed cfe1dcc425 by the d02dab74a5 entrance of fa6068db9b a woman 312a15f2d9 with blonde 4fa7517eba hair and ca0afcaebe bright green f8449ffeec eyes.2ac787a687f154cb

“…Who are you?”533bf7fd04cd27f2

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‘Blonde hair and green f2133faf35 eyes…? Is she wearing a ff230d7f43 wig? Which noble family could b98e9d4e87 she be from?’f6b2a142369353d4

Since it was 6a90664866 a masquerade ball, 8766eddb29 it was difficult 00a0c5d0cc to identify anyone.0ffdaaa03c9acc3c

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The woman, not 058c5b023c responding to his 363a4752b9 question about her 32b951ae65 identity, stood beside a6d9504450 Aachen.8dd1f6668e0653bd

“Care to drink with me?”763b8f1d353cd0d8

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She smiled, 45a4078ca9 her eyes 866e9cbf23 crinkling as 4a21834ba2 she lightly 8aeb3baa1c shook the 4c25e8c732 wine bottle 9421b0a3e2 in her d9df9ea54e hand.662a303b8cc6c64b

The faint 1b40bc0e53 scent of 4a8e0270e5 alcohol wafted 680affc009 through the e2e4be2da4 air.6a969fbb0c2421d1

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“You seem to have already had quite a bit.”267ded38882ccf27

“Just a little,” she replied.1077f5e59e16adeb

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“Hah.”f2e841266c8e9d38

Aachen chuckled at her 8a18a97249 boldness.b412209b8819ba14

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‘Perhaps she’s acting this 6becf5914b way because she doesn’t 2d5b9a12f5 recognize me.’25b178b04cf4e047

It was oddly add286e893 comforting that the 6a381b6a2a woman didn’t know f2bf5019fe who he was.64c964aca13583df

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Her hair swayed dbbfd6e4d9 gently in the b6f8dc4a5c breeze.e3e1f60f6a0424c5

“What’s your name?”b01c653ee661aec6

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When Aachen asked, c9fe4083ae she put a 3101a51f7d finger to her 8a68f763c7 lips.11dbdea8141c6222

“That’s a secret.”ff63f93113217041

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He had no intention 7b94d12c36 of forcing her to 4c0932baf1 reveal her name if bc49bec7eb she didn’t want to, 116bd7d650 so he turned his 53726e4933 head away.a9915f8184e43000

“Why don’t you ask further?”8be9822e41fdd84d

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The woman poured him c8676a1c0e a glass of wine 3757808bd2 and asked curiously.19f0d08ced83254d

“Because you said it’s a secret and you don’t want to tell me.”082cf066ee0c779c

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“…It’s the first time someone’s respected my wishes.”052ad40631b07fe4

“What kind of life have you lived?”ac957c6436d69dd4

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Judging by her jewelry, b77c634005 she seemed to be 6db65d12d7 from a prestigious family.9600edd789cae3d6

‘It must be e6eedb2f6c a complicated family eee4f211f5 situation.’f9d7fc37b000882e

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But to say it’s 312efcf4ab the first time someone’s 4ca7a5fa49 respected her wishes was 98d9d3d53f surprising to Aachen.c4b6c2731407c520

“Indeed.”2876b3c4635d47d9

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The woman, staggering 311a7c89d4 slightly, dropped the 2d6160d8c1 wine bottle from 5c4d75580b her hand.8b5b6123de7c846c

Crash—ef45cd0366015323

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The bottle 9324277a1a fell and f2b67b0051 shattered instantly. A shard of df0600121d glass grazed her 5d48621b31 knee, drawing blood.19c2d35c1f059ef3

“You’re bleeding…!”6d8fda90a611eec9

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“It stings a little, but I’m fine.”6d5c2c718413ea08

She shook 838433a356 her head, b275e4e39b indicating he af3dbe3ae3 shouldn’t worry 6da59360cf about her.1b0c5e3056a3dcc9

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Glass shards were scattered 8cc9bdae75 across the floor, and 857e5b9ac2 she limped slightly.15d9d23cb432726e

“Please excuse me for a moment.”8ec9b2075d0b8a64

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“?”e7dc60b24c11e9c4

Aachen took c5b4c2a592 off his 359ff8316c jacket and 394c488d88 draped it b93c4581f2 over her 3b074b947a shoulders.1fa53dfb91e5357b

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‘She’s light.’52cab472d71c2afd

He then carefully lifted 8f4625ca60 her and set her fad8d5af0b down on the railing.8f2bd97ac5a2074f

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“Ah!”93c8a15ca6bb40d4

Surprised by effb4abd81 being lifted, 5ad399415c she yelped, 18b4bd9319 and Aachen 1afc8f67ab asked,6af5ed7732f41c4e

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“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”54188b824a7054f5

“No, I was just startled…”8a99cd9da707ebd6

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“I’ll hold you tight so you won’t fall.”6d66406d9dd2d7af

Holding her f79e7ab202 securely, the f7c78a1578 veins in 507299a1a3 Aachen’s pale 90917a5d6b arm bulged faca440f7c from the 5fc312558e effort.7435321ab28480e2

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Her cheeks turned a 0895a3fb23 soft pink.0e4b6da6cc7606fd

“You can hold onto my shoulder.”b196d421d87eaa8e

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She gently placed 7805cb345c her hands on 2f91206dc7 his shoulders. The bleeding on d792083145 her knee bothered 504ddc0025 him.eb64f53961017f63

As they were about 62ac81824f to enter the lounge, c6fdac325e voices could be heard.6580822183db4640

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“Your wound doesn’t seem to be stopping. How about we go to my room to disinfect it?”e43459f397cb71a1

“Y-your room?”32bdc8452e9f96b8

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She stammered, her 7dc2dcddb2 face flushing.ff26997944c0f0b8

“Hiccup!”06a6eeb72f93af6a

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She even let out 7fe617f49a a small hiccup. Aachen gently patted 19f0be97d8 her back.2fac1e7e3b109d41

“I have a room assigned to me while staying in the Duchy of Bawentawin.”d937d2df26835953

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“……”91a81d0082d4ead4

“It seems there are people inside the lounge.”a5f601e777edc460

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Oddly, he felt d314ef1eac good watching her. It was f60a95f088 a feeling 00a1504ccd he’d never a6696db0e9 experienced before, 853b906d89 and it cbffa8ee4c made him 605c37809a feel restless.0c0055bbd72d9823

‘I wasn’t considerate enough.’bfcf5e2df3b73a43

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It was a completely 2c0c55b5d1 innocent suggestion.694123246c0a78fc

Aachen realized belatedly 9f1e9d42a5 what it might b4fb948aee mean for an b87f0e8e99 adult man and e402948e97 woman to enter c0a9ff3665 a room together.3561fffa73bb89a6

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As he was about 57cf463628 to apologize for his f4a370b361 lack of consideration, she 5323d63beb nodded.338b1f4a0ec54e77

“I do need to disinfect it. Let’s go to your room.”2b9dfb47e5be5444

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Her surprisingly willing 5eff2f1a5f acceptance reassured him.ce60c9c5b7f8a925

Aachen carefully placed 6553640aa9 his hand around dd64c5526c her waist and b12c634ea5 lifted her. She was 367d5110e0 petite overall.43993fd00a1335de

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“You’re quite tall.”cad576d401ae9924

Her eyes widened, c7a2847b52 and Aachen found 705da14827 her expression endearing, df8bfb8c86 making him smile 236e128981 inadvertently.003157f94678a222

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“Why are you smiling?”d374131a74f29243

She squinted, 1ae312b6fd crinkling her 0bae223b58 nose.86001e6f9e88ea20

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“I think you’re the one who’s small.”36fc6d30d5e77486

“…I am not.”e9b5525bc252db71

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“Alright, maybe I am tall.”1c6a2e0db7f33883

He soothed her c554be6a9c gently, noting her cf4d1863bb seemingly pouting expression.dae43ea895727fae

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“I’m not actually upset.”8d25f95f22c55ea4

“Are you teasing me?”a4919e2993867e5c

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“Yes.”2f15f07f230c9a82

Her confident 08f6cb0892 reply made aedc2751a2 Aachen laugh 138b7881df again.c20450afa68e228f

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‘If we 57b28050e5 go this 0f75b0c166 way, we’ll 569553de85 be seen. I should take another 50c1085f51 route.’cc477684f9cb1cd9

He exited c456c4c33d the ballroom de65c9d7db through a d343f9ab0c different doorway.7ac997b25cd8140f

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“Where are we…?”e5473160d7cef61a

“This is a less frequented path. It’s a bit of a detour, but it’s better than running into people.”24456bab6689fd8a

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“I see.”1dc2f73d63dad6ca

Seeming pleased, she 39fdc2202c hummed a lullaby 05718a05f2 softly as they 7ed2fdd0cd walked down the cfec8d04bc corridor, tipsy and c1f5997eef light-hearted. It wasn’t unpleasant.71257fd2dacd86a1

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Her warm, c279e1c067 music box-like a7747e79b5 voice was b07af5a7a9 pleasant to 5a7b3a225b hear.c690d403e1f157ed

“Let me know if you’re uncomfortable.”9592a0e7e7c47ea6

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“…I’m not uncomfortable.”39ff71a2d3cbceb6

To prove her ebc74d3167 point, she leaned c27bd49420 comfortably against Aachen’s 3431e8d9cb shoulder.72c4637d5ccf2a37

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‘!’30f669a42d54a0f9

A refreshing 38986ab4d2 bergamot scent 5366ef5e19 filled his bc1f8af830 senses.3f82c0139132306f

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Now that he thought dd6287b650 about it, physical contact 9b1027ce0a with her wasn’t unpleasant.4cb1d173b1fb94c0

Normally, this fc36d12692 would be 4840e1204d intolerable for f29cde2717 him.62443fd1806beb70

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Instead, his heart raced. Aachen took fc7f1bb15b a deep 1ac1b98a75 breath to 56b65b0e22 calm himself.d647919504523908

“We’re here.”65f072a573ba6cf2

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Finally reaching the room fc3a5e51cd at the northernmost end, 8ce72639d5 Aachen pushed open the 6ad36380ea door.527766b9b1cbcdd8

Walking to the bed, 992f8298eb he gently set her 922639db36 down.e829b30e79de66c4

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“Wait here for a moment. I’ll get something to disinfect the wound.”b461521df69a7121

“Alright.”51197686c2bcfe62

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He opened b1db670887 a drawer e9992f0c40 and brought 7c4000c78a out tweezers, 1e80a6061e clean cotton, fecc2ca2b4 ointment, and e09e0309e3 a small a2d846d2ec bottle of 5a4dae07a6 medicinal alcohol. He knelt on 025950518a one knee.8c044bae6dba00d1

“This might sting a bit.”acf4b1a0e5386f3f

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“…….”d3bd22ea8aef4edd