Chapter 26

“What on earth are you doing?”812ec815e78cecb8

A chilly voice descended 806db951e8 beside me.28015521c92c4599

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I slowly raised my head, and the radiant sunset glow revealed a pitch-black hair that resembled Edwin’s.081342b840fba09b

“Hmm, Milord…”bfd55a981d972a9f

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The composed voice, tinged 0f5fc35a79 with coldness, reached me.abb65a5c7d9e08da

In that moment, e40d159775 something warm welled 23cd5b33b7 up within me, b0e53bd969 breaking through the 85aca1a39d resistance of my 866325337c hardened heart.30a80ba91eb6c2fc

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I didn’t want to show this side of me.1f5035ed8ca6f4f7

Why does it seem 49e83f1da0 that only these unpleasant 9799b7054d scenes keep appearing?baffdceb257796ef

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“Gasp, Y-Your Grace…!”048601840566f968

Similarly, the scumbag who had noticed the Duke fumbled and hastily released Edwin’s throat.bd313651c75e695a

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Thud!0925923b854ad422

“Cough!”d2a009861c4e55ee

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Edwin, who had fallen to fcc4785d61 the ground, grasped his throat 8f58698ae7 and coughed violently.aa46a3268c15a961

“Are you alright, Young Mas…”3c99221dad542560

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The guy, glancing at the Duke, belatedly pretended to check Edwin’s condition.a66d938a3bb23cc4

However…4c1dc94c5fda5640

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Thunk!96affaa0bd69267d

“Ugh.”32cde20565d5a468

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Edwin forcefully struck away the guy’s hand that was about to touch his shoulder.1767477aebe12503

“Haha, even Young Master…!”aba2a3bbccba36a9

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The guy retreated with a 0c3d10ed25 reddish-blue face.7ffb1a7fc95918de

He seemed lacking the 6f63f0dd77 courage to be as d6d8274a02 brazen as before in 41760ba23c front of the Duke.a4f3d5f1e87598d7

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“Gasp, huk…”7b7b500bfa9f70c2

Just as Edwin’s breath, which had been agitated, seemed to calm down.4df4ca2f5fb81a6a

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“Joliac Sven.”3a72a779f8969a96

The Duke called the d18fb08b0d scumbag with a cold bcadda36a3 tone.37784718c6c9aadb

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“In my eyes, it looks like you were strangling my son just now. Is that correct?”5a966d471e0d576c

“Y-Yes?! N-No, Your Grace! How could that be possible!”0905dd8d6c15617d

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The guy shook b27d0fbea2 his head frantically, 83e12a729e denying vehemently.1bd39ec5e8970b4a

“Then what were you doing?”76a5b47cb8aa3b54

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“W-Well…”796802780d70da6c

As if searching d766f6a692 for an excuse, d86a3e8979 the guy rolled 8b54e5b33c his shifty eyes 3afb6b6033 continuously.71b15102117758b9

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“That was… Ah!”3e594dd73eb61104

“…”39490dc0b0c4e0f3

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“I was teaching Young Master self-defense, as Your Grace commanded!”59a11fa0f451066f

“Self-defense?”395370057c0a60b5

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“Yes! self-defense! It’s a method to escape when caught by an opponent with a significant strength difference…”50293d6dee0540df

“Nonsense!”7d9175d2c4e157aa

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I interrupted the guy’s explanation with a scream, looking directly at the Duke.b151dd7c07a94265

“Milord, it’s not self-defense! That wicked man hit Edwin!”ab5f0cb931fb3b22

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“You, watch your mouth!”7dc304a3626972cf

Sven, the scumbag, snapped at 3635adc59c my accusation.58504f933952339f

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However, as the Duke’s cold gaze turned towards him, he immediately stopped speaking and forced a forced smile.8e6233c850d2183f

“Kid, you’re the one who’ll get into trouble if you lie. Suddenly jumping in and disrupting the class wasn’t enough, and now you’re making the situation weird?”3426c0ccea4b1e0c

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“W-When did I? I didn’t lie!”1423b8baca4acb8e

“Milord, this child is talking nonsense.”6fe184084f4690cb

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Ignoring my words, the guy quickly approached the Duke and said, “I’m not sure whose house she’s from, but why exaggerate such trivial matters at her age?”ee5efd04d04953b2

“…”fe0a4081c1e561c1

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“I’m sure Your Grace knows that I would never lie to Young Master. This is all part of the training…”76a7f28e5a973d70

“Why is your leg like that?”b41558c594106fe2

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The Duke suddenly tapped Sven’s right leg.68cf354f6755cf39

The guy, who was approaching c8921e43be with a limp, looked awkward.bf7d0d0d791391fa

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“Oh. Th-This is…”51df3e8c9324bfc0

“Belze did it!”6a31c05757fa1b7c

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I replied promptly.d6e1e090b0d527f7

“Belze?”3131dea7f3ab8ee3

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“Yes! That wicked man was trying to hit Edwin, Your Grace! I swear.”a9f9b6e2417ac72f

“T-That’s not true!”3a6ea09a16347c61

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“Edwin’s calves are bruised! That man hit him with a stick!”b3d0079a2667a612

“Hey! When did I ever… Your Grace, let me explain first…”6e0596324096236e

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The guy hurriedly approached 0eaf929368 to silence me.30f61947ff03ae53

However, the Duke 5cbe596db3 raised his hand, 457accb859 stopping him.8a023e747de4239f

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“Continue speaking, Belze.”4a674a584c462615

He urged me.575a6f2bd78e99b8

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Unlike before, the air felt 902735c3e2 heavier.219539c20016f4d5

A creepy aura emanated from the Duke’s entire being.034284b90c14ae3c

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Despite having done nothing wrong, 9fa79abe8f I mumbled softly with a b9c319449d sense of discomfort.55d72204b8e974ed

“When… when you hit, it’s not okay. It’s not okay to hit a child.”baee751c19e31951

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At that moment, tears 14c34872ec welled up as memories c1b3dbca60 surfaced.2d7a722b186b793b

“Huhu… Why did you tell me that, Milord? Like that, like that…”5911bc093df4fa2b

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“…”64fc03afa4f13082

“Like that, you saved me… Huhu.”29b345c800786a9a

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I couldn’t hold back and cried like a fool.5a58d69fd6ebfedb

I had no 550f0e58b6 idea what I 7b37cb9592 was saying.e8feec7732d2add1

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Just.7fa3f3481d88215e

Perhaps I wanted 5cc47b8949 to say that 3a7bb585f2 I, too, wanted e95be29ac6 to save Edwin 882a23bf7d from danger like c8899a3569 the Duke.c3a936868918e50f

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Although I was not as a5c9282de7 strong, reckless, or brave as a2035a3628 the Duke.5ddfc9288a4e29a2

Still…fa5e165343182f69

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“Huhuh, huk.”476c03c3dead1f6c

As the tears once shed didn’t easily subside.906a2f4e1a4bc4a4

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Sob.57f4efe45906d799

Suddenly, the Duke started walking.f5631cbda4b27ff6

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“Y-Your Grace.”5727acbd2516c2b4

He seemed to be heading c6d61d91fb towards the pale and shaken 1caf4253a4 Sven, but quickly passed by cf2d36c4d5 him.333567cc364a2987

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Standing in front of the c9af631680 still prostrate Edwin, the Duke db7382b554 bent down without saying a 56ded31e0e word and lifted his son 5962dd9016 to his feet.62fdcd457b9cde18

Then, he began examining the child’s pants.83adc32303fc29d3

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Edwin bit his lip.552c62c44d68c085

“…Father.”bab75f3b4e3043f1

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“Hush.”2576b90bb29c922f

After inspecting the daa0535a17 intact left leg, 595fc2957d moving on to 78398edfea the right leg, 6ed9712374 the distinct bruise 6007c6f341 finally revealed itself.c672119c2ef22c17

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Silence befell the Duke 210f2629d3 as he witnessed the f4c41784d7 pitiful condition of the 50762a501f calf.655c1e7178e0b505

Soon, he lowered c88963a523 the lifted pants 65456839d1 back down.6dd5d76f3d550ba9

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Not only that, 052e941cae but he also 4f338fb48c neatly arranged the d4da35efed disheveled clothes messed 1d1a18f84b up by Sven.7a23c592ccff7c64

Then, he turned around.474fa456c5d3b8a1

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Quickly returning, the c575bfa182 Duke stood in 6c13fa8ed8 front of Sven.ae2809a50c6a1d37

“Y-Your Grace! Please calm down and listen to me. That, that’s, let me explain.”e73a58a9f391db12

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Sven desperately justified himself with 9bc3a2b143 lively eyes.b7cafac446d08f79

“That kid suddenly jumped out and bit my foot, and somehow, with the sword, I hit Your Grace’s son’s calf…”00f0c2bce676e683

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“That kid?”4dfc361005e190cf

“Yes? Oh, no. I mean, that, the child…”dcc3c6cb71a94deb

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Thud!0d5f00d0731c29a4

In that moment, the Duke swiftly delivered a backhand slap to the man’s cheek without giving him a chance to react.ef6e6937ea0157cf

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“Ugh!”58d8c5f5b253b6d1

With a smack, the man’s head turned swiftly.fec0d8c8a258be39

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Looking at the 7eba56b154 swaying man as db5fa3d845 if about to 9235350693 collapse, I opened 2ca45c940d my eyes wide.b879d8429fbf2129

‘…I-It was the back of his hand.’9f0ea9c6fe27b42c

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Not the palm ba6ab8639c of the hand, 4cbae67cc2 but the back 04f8c16158 of the hand.4213a6d946e9091b

Moreover, it wasn’t swung with full force; rather, it was more like a gentle reminder…6ab8795bd5828dba

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“Thud!”50852b50c73cfed1

The crying involuntarily stopped.732d664187c0af9b

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And a hiccup e4e6ad249e took its place.db36dda067b43122

“Y-Your Grace.”a55e86f5733a74d0

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Sven, who barely regained his aaff429f8a composure, straightened himself.31c8275532e0a730

The slap from the 75f432fcf7 Duke had already started e8d621e9c2 swelling into a deep 9b0408be11 red.b70d05dc6c5f3f1d

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Realizing belatedly that he was hit with a gloved backhand, the man’s face contorted with shame.f80a07070de1d83a

The Duke silently observed the man’s change for a while before finally speaking.08596664b732624f

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“Sven Joliac.”003763a24c87195b

“Yes, yes!”156cf91709c78125

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“Did I not instruct you to teach the basics of swordsmanship and simple self-defense techniques to protect your own body?”aca4cff3087ae2b5

“Yes, you instructed me to teach basic swordsmanship and simple self-defense techniques, Your Grace.”69fef374eba150a7

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“That’s right. But why did you go ahead and do something I didn’t ask you to do?”d5c5a1f5db02662a

Thud!e07f6d6480f09b6f

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“Ouch!”7c90288be3c1f11e

Once again, the Duke delivered b9f462414f a backhand to the man, 3192ab20ca this time on the opposite b0891f267f cheek.e972613c85ecf2e5

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The man, now e7acc399e9 more visibly shaken eaacec72f0 than before, struggled db97fcd19c to stand upright f3ec3d2ec1 with his swollen af5534277d face.3e94db234714267e

“Give me your explanation.”6c3d562159591ed1

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The Duke spoke in 823988cddb a menacing tone that a44478539b seemed to allow room 554cb93a83 for an explanation, but da5747c4b4 in reality, it was 443575e8f3 quite different.9fddf75d20532ced

“W-What happened is something all apprentice knights go through!”8200ae2b067a0178

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Realizing that further lies wouldn’t work, the man hastily responded.3422f38c922fcda1

“Even when I was an apprentice, I learned by taking hits from my mentor. That way, when I become a full-fledged knight, I’ll was able accustomed to the weight of armor, and I also learn how to handle myself in difficult situations when dealing with superiors…”f14fda828802fa3e

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“…”3f04b0454c5300d1

“Your Grace, you, too, were raised strictly by the former Duke, were you not…?”a6fcc063f2c4104b

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“That’s right.”c7c43b262c7dc853

The Duke nodded calmly.02f466075ab649b6

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“I, too, learned by being beaten like a beast under a strict father.”a8b491848c99fda8

“Y-Yes!”6d6f88b9d07e71f5

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A glimmer of hope flickered on Sven’s face.e3bfbe2f6092de8c

“That’s why! With the heart of a strict father, a strict mentor! Never harboring ill intentions…”6fb76c3dc01a7a8f

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“So, I wanted my son to learn only the basics.”71491a88e31bc9e1

“Uh… Yes?”18f7862e18b57b8d

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“If I wanted to make a knight, why would I take someone like you as a mentor? I would have taught him myself.”b029b1e8f4b64d4b

“Y-Your Grace!”4d8b818dba432a11

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Upon the Duke’s cutting words, the man’s pupils shook in bewilderment.b266c858921439e6

However, it didn’t end there.0241902c27243c1e

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“Discipline? Social skills when dealing with superiors? Why does the heir of a duke need such things?”b5e2b6cad217afec

“…”1b4e0756b9051407

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“With just a flick of a finger, those who will unsheathe their swords and strike the enemy are plenty.”680369d9bffffc38

“…”5052e3cdfbb95b91

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“Do you need only a sword? Of course, you would need a shield as well. Jumping in, wielding a sword in place of me, Joliac Sven, facing a sword on behalf of the Duke.”96c68f51a44f6038

“Ugh…!”0cb20851b5863e47

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In that moment of confusion, 28e4464260 Sven suddenly raised his head.80b2307380a11055

Perhaps because his shortcomings were 9ae94d452f exposed.1fb17940f01d9759

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The man, who until recently fd609ffb02 had a particularly abject expression, d88aa0c1bb suddenly glared fiercely at the a3d6e66fe5 Duke.bedfda71ec837287

“…So, that’s how it is.”d9fbe36285c62540

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Even though I couldn’t understand why such a despicable person became Edwin’s mentor.363c0ca09b6a12f1

There was a 51f1bb1956 hidden story like 5328caacdd this.ae160213f5a9a5ff

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“Your achievements, among what you’ve accomplished, that was the only thing worthwhile. It’s a pity.”a40fe3567294a1b8

“Y-Your Grace!”abd34571dc4111de

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“A man who can’t teach even the basic swordsmanship doesn’t deserve a place in the Duke’s manor.”178eebfcb36e5652

The Duke concluded the discussion.a0fa24de1e0a18e3

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“I won’t put you in prison out of my last bit of mercy, so pack your things and leave.”cc8a445661909c98

“I-It cannot be like this, Your Grace!”81da64e9fe726f99

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With bloodshot eyes, the 9b19120542 man shouted vehemently.d51f46b61938b221

“Do you not know how loyal I have been to you! I lost my foot to save you and retired!”fd9250e6195bef22

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“That’s why I must have given you an opportunity.”be4bb195b78f1e52

“Kicking me out just for practicing a little swordplay during class…!”12f2da335df9343e

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“Then would you prefer being sent to the court as an accused child abuser and aristocrat assailant?”a7b2f7168f5fcb2d

“…”61de7659d9feda59

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The man, who c758919673 had been shouting 624a58ceb5 until now, finally 23871d43f3 shut his mouth.b06ce837d63edfde

Leaving the man who stared 88943f0c80 defiantly at them, the Duke 81e6167140 turned around without hesitation.7d0e746de07c08cc

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“Edwin.”aaafa3b2ab20a97d

At the low call, 4ee1cf3fd7 Edwin immediately followed behind f00a944049 his father.0477e50705650378

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They walked towards me, 80721f1d76 who was still lying 3bdb9511ce in an unfortunate state.dd6420e23d087a7e

“Belze.”66ba250685acbf21

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Without hesitation, the Duke 8833418109 bowed and carefully lifted 20f0415151 me in his arms.53f00e59c979380f

“Seeing such a sight as soon as I bring you home, it’s unbearable.”070ae6099ad10991

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I retorted to those words.1c904a0f23947b54

“Oh, no. I’m okay. Really…”56fb124da5652108

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“Thank you.”d8d177388d11bff2

At the next words, f1281e611d I held my breath.a10e690d74af6f58

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“Even though you recently went through a big ordeal and must have been terrified…”22ed2f91ff264dde

“…”3bfe874a8de0481e

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“Still, I’m thankful for saving Edwin.”c37c5d31a78318e7

“…”c6b51c4c86e2fe37

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“It’s strange. There always seems to be something to be thankful for to you. Like with Joshua’s matter.”57eb81f022f2b057

“Your Grace…”d8e5cf66e21930d8

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“Maybe you’re the blessing that the goddess granted our family.”ef29076130f8274e

With a faint smile, 149ca04c4c the Duke murmured like 1eaef16f1a a joke.cfcd38855fa26d0e

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But to me, those words were something I couldn’t easily accept.7f5c51964e51e477

“Ugh…”c5eaa371346c0e9c

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The suppressed sob b00f2c35b0 resurfaced at his 4c31f5a579 words.f73127cac42d0900

‘Is that so? Do you really think that ac6705ed47 way?’04a565aacdeb52a6

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In this life, 1be1d5d05a am I really 9bf8d75804 able to be 9548b69a25 of help to d294ed94af these people, even 9e06aaac7f a little?df16a53a2c4ccb91

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”55b017708247deaa

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The Duke looked 457fd737cf at me with 3fe648f6b6 a puzzled expression 393fbf5bce at my sobbing.bed5f28782fd7b5a

At that moment,62a1df66cc7695ca

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“Liam Kalios! I became a cripple because of you!”0a9891e84c9f57d2

Someone rushed quickly behind e36c0c9f4a the Duke.a598b5dda709d9dc

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Flash.efdb9b377cdc845e

A sharp blade gleamed like 7810deef37 a flash.6f8d8725862c6b0c

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“Die—!”f5fb74b4ac831249