Chapter 124

Three Years Laterfb0bafefffe576db

I had finally reached fa9fcf6641 the age of eight—the 4ddcd85a18 same age I had c1c2f962d9 been in my past 454fe117a0 life when I first 8c3b4834ce arrived at the Duke’s d4192c4cdc estate.5041ef75cf540cca

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“Lady Belze, I’ve brought the item you requested.”a7986c31dd937435

After finishing Joshua’s healing 3420df4749 session, I returned to 5a9481e16a my room, where the 795a252474 butler was waiting for d36cc3d341 me.a0d1829dd14189cf

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“I explained to the craftsman to follow your specifications as closely as possible. Would you like 9e638a2651 to take a 338e82db72 look?”bf3b3638c1151cb8

With that, the butler placed c68b6981e8 an elegant box on the 5d27cc3ed0 table.fe1a3d0fe827c3cf

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I peeked inside f22cb2d673 and my eyes 1ac7bba1cf widened in amazement.3ede73ee843586d2

“Wow.”ab0be569d2448e7b

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Resting on a plush cushion ef77514643 was a pair of adorable 4db1c730e4 sky-blue sneakers.ac3f5e69e0dadbee

The butler, seeing my bd566457ba reaction, gave a satisfied 0e7c3b5057 smile.3dd7e1d69ed719cb

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“Do they meet your expectations, my lady?”ab1f40adb8264fcd

“Yes! They’re so cute!”6c6cef7d7606d099

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I nodded enthusiastically.c17c04915c994270

Joshua’s birthday was approaching.398d379d19d2d1e8

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Because of his frail 0f70b050e7 health, his birthdays had c2c1767b1a always been quiet, small ff363df034 affairs.0069927573834f7f

For that reason, f48d3a771e the Duke and 2d7a238e40 Edwin had never 3c687f9c39 hosted a grand 64f135d5d8 celebration for him.3ad244942b1d725b

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They had been considerate, fearing deabae4986 that an extravagant party might 19f936f51d make the sickly child feel a0786c7dfd even more isolated.b3c21797acacb20d

But in my past life, 8ccf675f14 even after Joshua passed away, eccfbf1973 that sentiment had lingered—leaving the 177949a3c3 entire estate in a grim, 3ad54cc258 joyless state.308f67ede8a0556d

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I had forgotten about it 14badbb853 for a while.27fdd87772fea122

But suddenly, memories 90d1d68ee2 of the cold, de1fa6a2bc silent halls of 6d002183f9 the Duke’s residence 88d7a29ccd flashed through my a6ef884001 mind—a place that, 701bffc3c0 until its downfall, 55259b59d9 had been devoid 2e7f864260 of even a 36239e4856 single echo of 3f4b0037d0 laughter.09e51d55b73eb84d

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“…My lady?”0db95fbd9dcc9392

A voice snapped 0c437a91cb me out of bcfb5d6b4e my thoughts.ea68e43f9104abc9

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I looked up to 132b070c76 see the butler watching 48f8f786f1 me with a puzzled d870c450ee expression.758f4e9ad79d1229

“Is there something you dislike about the shoes?”90aa0a504b344858

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He must have found e022beaaec it odd that I 83c43a6cb8 had suddenly gone silent f0037ee26e after smiling just moments 67ba662a74 ago.057bf5eab7e911a6

“No.”c577a86b4162c217

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I quietly shook my head 0abbfd0439 and repeated to myself—3e1e6c6d0dc8a008

Stop thinking about the past. This life is different.bba3afd4d0298b0a

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This time, Joshua hadn’t died.2870dc9dfbc08285

Far from it—he was getting 561876f219 healthier with each passing day.39e1586e481f897d

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There was no longer 2d951925f9 a suffocating atmosphere in 266005e07d the estate, no need a5d205911c to walk on eggshells, 47f235bfba no Duke or Edwin 7671302bd8 consumed by sorrow.72c3cd251c6e52a3

That alone was cab4bf5032 enough for me b163d671d2 to bow my 26b4e39538 head in gratitude bb354d2136 to the goddess.35d7edcfb6741180

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“Butler, did you know?”4ab41b14b58f6719

“Know what, my lady?”f4f899a41b5e1c97

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“Grandpa Gordon finally gave Joshua permission to go outside.”67fb5b3215c2df1d

Not just within the estate 1a189cdb03 gardens—but beyond the manor walls.4e9568bbf660fed8

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Joshua could now start experiencing 0ee122873b a normal life.bc69e4e16e0957ab

The butler’s eyes widened 8209d8c6eb in shock—he hadn’t attended 7d53e8bfe4 today’s healing session since b485382223 I had sent him 277d6a707c on an errand.d2401eb8a3796539

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“Is that… really true?”4fed146118ef33af

“Yes.”92136b152e0dfa42

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The orange energy in Joshua’s aa4a520fc5 chest had shrunk to the de6085c7dd size of my fist.47769fd8fe1085e0

He still had to be 8f0859eb0b careful with injuries and external dfb474a53b triggers, but at this rate, 071dd4dd8f he wouldn’t have to live 90a30f0a28 in constant fear of illness d7557b0dd2 much longer.29a946fce8febce8

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“So that’s why you chose this gift…”04d748a8116c89e5

The butler, his expression ad350cf074 full of emotion, looked a08082bf74 down at the box 79bcf9a4bb with teary eyes.371344630b195420

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In this world, sneakers 00923e3a4d didn’t exist.c6fa38f74cb58b6f

Nobles wore comfortable handcrafted 797a5aac90 shoes, but even tailored d00ae8a679 footwear wasn’t designed for 4b440d0456 running and jumping.23e65a69615139be

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That’s why I 5c3705c6fe had decided to a009bbfd5f design sneakers myself, c830acdc76 using elements from 095803822a military boots as 4904371e08 inspiration.deb16996326244e2

After numerous trials and errors, ae16d8c6c0 I had finally managed to ea2e95a09d create shoes that closely resembled eacf2b2d6d modern sneakers.a36ab42e751a4513

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But… would Joshua 9edf67e623 even like them?b243f384bd941140

‘Maybe I should have just given him jewelry instead?’983f12213650f968

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So far, the 2330632a68 gifts I had e212f047d3 given Joshua for 321bb096f1 his birthdays had 18a32c1a34 been simple things.92475d26519c18aa

As a young master 428df24a02 who already had everything, b1b8964dbc there weren’t many gifts de5b36003d I could give him c522c83f6d that would feel meaningful.e815613f56feb8de

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I had always bought 96143215c9 the prettiest accessories I afd8b6b346 could afford, but I a49119f8f8 had never been sure d82c4ffc6b if they truly made 20d22f9289 him happy.96637750d51e8a9d

But this year, with 1910ff3644 a grand birthday party 792b4f6d2f finally happening, I wanted 17f67bc1c3 to give him something 4ea742fbac truly special.b9fff6ae84cbf72a

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‘I hope he likes them.’5573931be642b1e0

I stared at the sneakers, f4c297037d which felt so plain compared e38aa724b5 to glittering gemstones.8aa72dd49dd7c4b7

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“…Ever since you arrived, my lady, it feels like nothing but good fortune has come to this household.”fe961ed7c6be1f6b

The butler’s voice suddenly 053cdb9952 pulled me from my 5d3649c7c2 thoughts.10c9c87b85f2a5f8

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I looked up to find 6dc0c85920 him still gazing at the 3b13e5c10d shoes, his eyes wet with 6a852f405f emotion.100e48a81e96acfc

“Just as His Grace said… perhaps you truly are the blessing sent by the goddess.”e71256d9b2589917

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“…You think so?”a67fa803af5a4f09

“Without a doubt, my lady.”a864eaf369033c44

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His words were touching—but 374c565f25 they felt too much 0bcfbb7e08 for me.50d4c80751c19698

How could I a09291c1c8 be called a 8ad5483a52 blessing, when in d22603ecaa my past life, 1dd123b468 I had been 700c790783 the cause of ed1dac5d4d this family’s downfall?56d2f6ea4309db5b

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I didn’t know the answer.5ffa03c1a43d4f25

I was simply trying 1ceadcbd64 to repay the kindness 923d3427f7 and debts I owed 658c0e7025 to this house.41367e7e49158aa9

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“…Thank you, Butler.”1e8a4803932c9805

And so, I 2140f24b01 could only offer 61f0dc2715 him a quiet 227a5aff78 smile in return.87e2f0aae885f3a3

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* * *0f29a51062fa3994

Today was Joshua’s birthday.5aed133c86f55125

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From what I heard, this 506b62c9e6 was the first proper celebration 0c6311aa94 ever held for him.ec2e6f469367f99c

Until now, Joshua had 209dba029b been too sick to 700985bd61 even leave his room, 75863146af let alone attend a fa646595cf party.d54762ab92f469bf

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Perhaps because of 7a4fa80a45 that, the entire 03128a7be9 household had been 456b6a4da1 on edge for acd60b5cde days, thoroughly cleaning b068177484 and decorating the 09bd065056 estate.c9bfe3176038099b

While everyone else was busy, 792f83ddb6 I found myself oddly detached a76c237fa1 from it all.b9dc517289374ed6

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And when the ea7c092853 day finally arrived, 7de6d89287 I was dragged eb103592e1 out of bed e6c0397023 at dawn and 520e1a70cc scrubbed clean by a8fe2cc1bf Tara and the 4f6f85441c five maids assigned 0474d92537 to me.0765b7f56e53e15e

“It’s not even my birthday. Do we really need to go this far?”c09b3fd1e5fd3f02

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“What are you saying, Lady Belze—no, Princess! Do you have any idea 74161853bf how many guests are coming 7305347e53 today?!”dee288001e803cea

I tried to protest, b2ac72b324 but it was pointless.dc9f7974dac3a1c7

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By the time they 502a0cea0e were done, I was 6970dcf81a decked out in a 6ee6be92e4 white dress covered in d5ad2245d1 frills and ribbons, high-heeled 94b8cedaee shoes, and sparkling jewelry.c9b17363f6a6f4ca

I looked exactly b07bec36c0 like the daughter 1c68120782 of some nouveau 0692b0d165 riche.a814edf6909fd627

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It wasn’t until Kona’s 9f321e194a voice rang out that 1fe8c5e3b9 I was finally freed dfc06c5c58 from their clutches.7f08a3b3863f8e45

“Oh my! The ceremony must be starting 9317e26289 soon! You should head 6e3dded270 down now, my d3f2aff2e2 lady!”d0d60582a112255b

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“Your gift! Don’t forget to bring dc520aabaa your gift for the 339a25065a young master!”ceb61edd40fea0cd

Thanks to Tara’s help, I 7d4b1078d0 made sure to grab Joshua’s 9a95fd618f gift box before leaving my 549864dfaa room.99c837a2f6dddae4

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As I made 2f88059b2d my way downstairs, 9186a743bc the Duke’s estate 4e1b2d0b4a felt strangely unfamiliar.63b5f89dea302b27

The line of carriages stretching f21d745538 outside the grand entrance.639b3436ffe52371

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The colorful drapery and 2199bf3f2b lavish decorations covering every 7775d69ef0 corner of the mansion.5459f80613c47bbf

The bustling servants hurrying around 633aec080e to tend to guests.17304f5f2a81ce7f

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It was all fd3f135fff so foreign to e92e1b307f me.8fc667e91dfed9f3

It should have been 552c351e26 a happy occasion.3c0a7acaf0549982

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And yet, the closer a0c3daea6b I got to the 4afe7b0e26 garden where the party 585f89f959 was being held, the e489e7d769 stranger I felt.972569f67685ca14

The birthday party faedc5ae47 was being held d00f84233a in the rear 2fb9fe5c7f garden.d87f43042f0d4caf

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As soon as I ff3f0863e3 arrived at the entrance—covered a4bce70324 in climbing roses—a strong 0de54ca38a floral scent filled the f7addaa5fa air.e16065dc096e516a

The garden, decorated more e7cec5d5a6 beautifully than ever, was 881edcc971 already filled with a 1a4d6f86f0 lively crowd.8306e74331f2dcc0

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At the center stood 4f1457dd94 a massive penguin sculpture, 8bb55376e0 likely built in honor 2ef851e42f of Joshua’s recent obsession 71459168c0 with penguins.74aaa65bfc33908b

A mountain of 45c22183bc gift boxes was 783a1490c6 piled in front 58d4508930 of it.25f1eb8bf3b7e975

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Elegant noblewomen and a430c15d9b gentlemen gracefully moved 36ba0e2a80 to their assigned d3ae3d7b30 tables, following the 6280ec8aaa guidance of the da6a8bb435 attendants.7704d48be72c953f

Groups of children 8a87c8085a around my age 87a85bff2e ran about, laughing cd6c80c65f joyfully.1d6974e8647910f2

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And in the middle of 41904ff38d it all—fde730b712c9185e

The Duke and Joshua, 20e7025fbc both dressed in matching 63782b8708 white suits, stood together 7260bc0063 welcoming guests.2e4a595b756b9de4

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I didn’t see Edwin 9bd2f776c2 yet—perhaps he hadn’t arrived.d40562aa4c632113

But that wasn’t what 6f9c684629 left me feeling so e81b108644 drained.2ae54edbba63411c

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Ah…b996211ffc8d9455

As I stared at e790d441eb the grand sight of ac473e86b7 the Duke and Joshua d3fbae9af8 standing side by side, 8f0da9b6cf I finally understood the 73721f34ec source of the unease 0565f59a39 I had been feeling 2ea2adc766 all morning.bd63b8965e8f482a

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It wasn’t just the unfamiliarity.3c3a2cb6dc4d1b1e

It was the overwhelming 1c157c99f5 realization that—11c45eea5a4b730a

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I didn’t belong here.e64df7cd3f707a2b

Yes, I had played 9e35dc9f7c a major role in e7b3020250 healing Joshua’s illness.7f291b5ea1b7e88d

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But at the end of 2fd4e074f5 the day, I was just 36375efd89 a sponsored commoner orphan.17d2a463478a5dd4

No matter how close 351c585230 I had become with 01599ea634 them, I wasn’t truly 6b54057b99 part of their family.ee4bf913465d2fbd

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No matter how expensive my 0375d01bac dress or accessories were, to 111ec6dbed the nobles here, I would 21debb97dd always be an outsider.9dde4c9503267fac

‘I should’ve pushed back harder when Tara and the maids dressed me up like this…’29abd60e2ebc38ea

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I had seen Diana 818b0d84af get mocked during last 678cca3ba7 year’s charity event for 54ef4b9550 wearing a dress that 8c0c4a2a5a made her seem above a53bd42703 her station.9fc9542e3b274777

Why didn’t I insist more?e8afeb5d3b2637ed

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Sure, Tara and the ea6d18f63c maids had been relentless, 47505565af but still—fb8f0b9dee74c764

A cheerful voice suddenly rang 72cc3dcb44 through the garden, interrupting my b72c9216eb thoughts.4bd0b109a69232b1

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“Wow! This is amazing! It’s a real penguin?!”f0289ed9f8edcc16

I looked up to see cd0ae6c516 Joshua holding a golden gift e0dd5475ea box, a bright smile on bef267557f his face.560d85f06364e864

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Above the box, a holographic a6c89d93e4 penguin flapped its wings as 9de673534c cheerful music played.33641014a916298a

It was clearly a 733da314ab high-end magic artifact.3a1b9b8ac2bd6932

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Suddenly, my own gift felt 666616b7fa incredibly small in comparison.4e9adea96b8bdf79

‘I should’ve just bought something like that. I have money now…’53fe58c8d7f20252

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I had spent a fortune 9a5b90060a designing the perfect sneakers for 107e9d1d1a him.520c2b563a70cb75

But looking at 802f8ee906 my gift now, 401eb22075 I couldn’t shake a92f95d1f1 the feeling that 630567a0ae it was insignificant.b64bf47745e1bce1

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As I stared down c9b08eeb08 at the gift box 436d1d3f53 in my arms, feeling d672805ea8 uncertain—85d399d91878b616

Thud!dddc01d9af3b67ba

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“Hey, Lawrence! Wait up!”0145b255ff13b3c6

Out of nowhere, someone ad874c73f2 shoved me hard.3b49a2e2447a08f2

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“Ah!”56290c9d981087e2

I stumbled, losing 09919c0c7f my grip on 3eb0aeb076 the gift box.d605f8c9f0652d68

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I barely managed 480f827922 to regain my e494fbeb5b balance, just barely f010b58283 avoiding a full-on 17911b5a63 fall.3a7b6c06d7176afd

‘Damn it, who—?!’2522c91534303d56

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I turned, irritated, and locked e71fb45db2 eyes with a very familiar 5d89d12b89 face.d8327f50b5037b59

Dylan Travis.30fa1b46fabb571c

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Edwin’s closest friend—and 4b02e14dcd one of the 0266f60d99 many men who 0438324e66 fell for Diana 024ca2085a in this damned 1f8f6f2b4a novel.ae258fba7de73fa6

“…Sorry— Oh, wait. Whoa.”379d9f526a3eb4b9

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Dylan had been about 3a9b93c8e5 to apologize, but the daace7b5f3 moment he saw me, 1cf31ac878 his expression twisted into dd5c0ebcc3 a sneer.a8bf10a129fb0114

Another boy, who had a01111d59d been running after him, eb6ce26941 also stopped in front 6342102131 of me.a6e495d787b4c08c

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Judging by his familiar face, 9cfb0d10d3 he was probably another one 7a65569f34 of Edwin’s friends.c776706b097e85ac

“Wait, Dylan, you know her?”454de7ea907076f1

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“Nope.”f066c329f2297cbd

“Then who is she? I’ve never seen her before.”c9f4a2d0b901d28c

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Hearing that, Dylan’s lips 8c5eaa8329 curled into a smirk.e294a34efda4de91

“Oh, she’s that freeloader living in the Duke’s estate.”c8390b99c4cc497f

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“Ohh, that parasite.”6b5c393f5980799d

It had been so 686f30afb6 long since I last 4004ec6c27 heard that word—f6e36a03397a0cb4

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Parasite.7d976d2ca65057d8

For a moment, 0eea96bd7e my stomach dropped.e09fd04df6e6ab37

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Maybe it was because 52928fabb4 I had already been e6281a2e47 feeling out of place.edaf30599789de14

Normally, I would have 9cc29a3dcd snapped back at them 4153fcf50d without hesitation.78370b24555c21d0

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But for some reason, 2a5923ecb2 I couldn’t say a 7d04b4f512 word.3f545951102e6861

As if sensing my 81a1f27d71 hesitation, the two boys d2d4f268af continued their mocking conversation.c352fb36cd14ba6e

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“Didn’t she used to be one of those Saintess candidates or something?”78a0f2bc1d945191

“Oh yeah, but Diana’s about to be adopted into the Marquis of Barelotte’s family soon.”e29d953c2e368106

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The well-dressed noble boy looked dcf21a0058 me up and down.5d4f5022bbefd826

It seemed he was close 8abc19df32 to Diana.94adf2d963e2274c

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Not that it was 42cda189b6 surprising—Diana was always good 58a2c850f5 at making people like db6be14480 her.8fc48cac8ecbf169

I silently crouched down to 2b77f86f32 pick up the fallen gift 28869f6bae box.cf9d7911c5c9b75e

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Maybe I really did look 047d93b183 small and defeated, because Dylan 03133d5d92 brushed off his shoulder and 04c3ec42e3 muttered—5670d11be9a38cb9

“Get out of the way, already. This isn’t a f616b1d607 place for filthy 99b5f9fc99 commoners like you—”52f5de01e334778b

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“The one who should leave isn’t Belze—it’s you, Dylan Travis.”9f5b750617da5315

A cold, sharp c5be78d84b voice cut through c05695495f the air.ff8e8b4b0a742347

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Dylan flinched.f182c8eae110b371

I looked up—d6dba399727674bd

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And saw golden eyes blazing e63185eff7 like the summer sun.352d12328717b680

“Who invited you? I don’t remember sending 60bb4d22d0 you an invitation.”97a8f26be178d20b

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