Chapter 7. After Returning Home

Unaware of 43aab03f81 Serenia’s dark 54baf4bf2e internal calculations, 0c30b888ac Ain beamed b7c1a9a6df and nodded.98188c5685ec7d75

“Understood. I’ll come to pick you up here at 8:40 tomorrow morning.”3d12dea19dd98aea

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“Sure, do as you please.”71210fbda4db9e19

Responding halfheartedly, Serenia unlocked 87e96cb785 the padlock hanging on 59ec5e79c7 the Barishart estate’s gate.e75b7855424ffa00

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“Well then, see you tomorrow, Mr. Ain-Whatever-Your-Name-Is.”e2b1c8a8fa90b827

With that brief farewell, ab46faef1d Serenia swung open the 67ee89de5e gate.c1b739ffb66df308

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But before she d8832f6f03 could step through, 2947a68394 Ain’s voice stopped de899d9bab her.efa4d9ce0a2b390a

“Ah, wait a moment, my lady.”c0611cfc942dbc3e

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She turned back with 9628083ec9 a puzzled expression, and 2b696b68f3 he continued with a 00f3082293 slightly awkward smile.591528743d8fa3e5

“There’s something I’d like to give you.”29c90ba57fd57518

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He slowly 4b77c081a2 reached into edbc79f501 the inner 1c0fb8a890 pocket of ea53fa835d his coat c09bc588d1 and pulled 4efd0a2ffb out a 852efc3d9e small jar 278085b0cd about the 746f061a8a size of e950360aa9 an egg.3e22c869350305ac

The familiar scent that 9b5a99ee10 wafted from it made c29e342859 Serenia’s eyes widen slightly.54c1b41692fa7a8b

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The sharp, medicinal d28c5c9104 smell reminded her 63321e5809 of the ointment db5776150f her father used 1b25c9b3b2 when she was 850a0d6369 young—only this one 9580db0494 smelled much stronger.fc02e3348af4b1ff

Stronger probably 3cf7f8bea1 meant more 47aec67557 expensive.7c31c618fc9a0cdc

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‘Why is he giving me this all of a sudden?’75d0e1844e9fba91

Her gaze full c2424d5278 of questions, she ac77c0a689 looked at Ain, 05c822bf71 who tapped his 681e8889cd right cheek with 1388c8768d an uncertain smile.7c9a2b2d7eb645b6

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Following his gesture, she 00cdc175f6 instinctively lifted her hand 5093868738 to her own cheek.7bd845e8693b2108

The sting fc5e403b41 she felt b7240009cf as soon b273f98634 as her 62f576a9f7 fingers brushed 99caa27c40 her skin 5817e8b4c5 made her 7ad227456a wince.6a7c0e7c871822e0

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That’s when cf0d3aa88b it hit 3004284926 her.adc4b3d28ce15625

She had been 2a80ebb113 standing in front d47516cc7b of him the 8dee900d63 whole time with 8276bdc8d4 the marks on a36b32dafd her face exposed—red 99f88aed45 handprints, the chafing 6fb297cacb from her lace 5e2a988934 gloves, even her 0bb5c93cae split lip.32c537d7a365afc6

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Her face turned beet 3984bf8616 red in an instant.97a26e874a94523a

Unbothered, Ain 29b71249b1 handed her b1f9e4a916 the jar 1072480155 of ointment f86283fe98 in an 68a5cfa3eb utterly calm 62c637aa6b manner, deliberately bef6cdbc0a averting his 392ca59bbf eyes as d24ba15838 he spoke.ea8f1e8e4d683d2f

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“Apply this three times a day—morning, noon, and night. It’s a special formula that guarantees no scars and heals completely in just three days. I can personally vouch for its effectiveness; I use it all the time myself.”c28b1ad9cad9b387

His sales b4f7e4fbfc pitch-like explanation cc25314a2b left Serenia 5626746bc1 feeling slightly 843531fd23 flustered, her 1923b17315 ears tinged d70524b17f pink. She could tell his 8bee6bdf72 gesture was a subtle 7ef00f171a act of consideration for 70d906d9e7 her.2cfe557811f3c3c3

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Perhaps it 862de019f2 had been 2f75f3e944 too long d167b082e8 since she’d 41f4ed1bbc last received e7804dc98d such kindness.dcb3761d927e2112

The feeling of something 8ec5b04cc7 ticklish stirring in her 5564a0ea16 chest made her cough 139832ae96 awkwardly before she spoke.78df59af84e63feb

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“Thank you… for your concern.”b670f33e0bdd4ae3

Her hesitant expression 79327a3051 of gratitude prompted 937c180928 Ain to shrug f215a4903b nonchalantly and reply edbcb4df2c in a lighthearted 98c28ff411 tone.0405b497334a25a3

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“It’s nothing. I’m only doing this for the money.”566ed1df9cc22f52

“…What?”2e8f6d87389e3114

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“Pardon?”384722fd01ce929c

“Because of the money…?”5fcd8e24e33397e6

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Ain tilted a7a873e03e his head bc6a811674 in confusion a0ffd213a4 at her aa9cc932b2 reaction, then 1fcc4a31ec suddenly let a11a1c2091 out a 4311e0d72f small exclamation, 7326b60db4 as if 5e4ece30c1 realizing something.5c26f8eebd020ad3

“Oh! Wait, don’t tell me you thought I was doing this because I care about you?”6cad0b4fab111a35

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“What? No, that’s not—”05d88131b87c6130

“Hmm. This is a little embarrassing. To think my efforts to avoid bankruptcy due to a breach of contract would be mistaken for goodwill or affection.”5303c8fc68cd2634

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“That’s not it!”9bf9e7a88136d2c6

“Of course, as they say, you’re free to misunderstand…”f545b0e6e83d28ea

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“Excuse me?”eb2ecff588fb5f6b

“Ah, that was just me thinking out loud.”51be3e687a1c3601

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“What did you just say?!”75c593b3c8da208d

Ignoring her sharp 345a7ca1f4 glare, Ain put 1d5cf7001f on a shameless f55273fa23 face and continued 1e9416d2d0 with exaggerated flair.354c021fece041b6

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“Well, with looks, wealth, and manners like mine, it’s no wonder you’d find yourself drawn to me, my lady.”943fd2312821ceb9

“What?”8af12f82a7a5e9c2

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Serenia immediately 3a197c3d5b scowled in 8540423502 irritation.7b2aad8c44e436b3

But Ain, undeterred, even 4f8494fec2 added a playful wink.d867e2063dd04439

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“Unfortunately, I have to remain everyone’s lover for the time being.”ce98f8b76b8e27e4

“Everyone’s… lover?”3dd56a08ce7f9b46

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Oops.8d3521ff910f41e5

Ain quickly covered his 0727fed085 mouth, realizing his slip.761c667b07a2caca

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Serenia, her expression dark 9bf25d5444 and suspicious, mulled over 8707206d90 his words before suddenly fa42e18d82 gasping.c359df6365995188

“Wait, don’t tell me—you’re not a loan shark, you’re a host?!”3a038cd72b11fb6f

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“…”f10bedd83c099987

For the first 0ac34f5059 time, Ain was 57ae335de4 left speechless, looking e59595ee1d completely deflated.8350cf37288c929c

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Serenia, mistaking 928ed03630 his silence b5537b08d7 for confirmation, f41bfbbaef recoiled in 7bce61afce even greater 3715359ced shock.87d580af21c1c58e

“Seriously? A host?! Really?!”82ed83c487dd3bd8

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The pieces clicked together 765078d33f in her mind as 4b400e0e80 she thought back to 3c09cdd394 all the oddities she’d 686b1fc530 noticed. The idea of him be5ab267c6 being a host suddenly 0bcc3979d0 made perfect sense.0d29d93cad62789a

‘No wonder! He’s way too good-looking to be a plain old loan shark!’42e184e3804b1420

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Serenia slapped her ca17e0c9eb hands over her 25cbfdca30 mouth in disbelief.b2e5541d978068ad

‘That’s why he said it’s not a long-term gig! And it explains that shady, gangster-like business style too!’19f53a52c31960b8

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As she 7b9835df3d nodded to dca2d5aeb1 herself, thoroughly eadcc33700 convinced, Ain 4fb06986c0 finally spoke, cfef67f1a9 unable to 09915d9fa0 bear it 607d09aaa5 any longer.c1c37ad14450e801

“I am not.”a8a58d32ee06f32d

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“Oh. Okay.”cf669f0f77e80b9d

“I am ‘not’ a host!”914e797dabf92e10

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Ain’s vehement denial only ef973b0628 made Serenia shrug nonchalantly.5a529f8ea26b0e41

“You don’t have to explain yourself so defensively.”862ee039add23be4

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“It’s not an explanation, it’s—”2063fad05e3a7926

“Really, it doesn’t matter. Whether you’re a loan shark or a host, it’s none of my business.”7286ccd4e6f45dd0

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Her dismissive response b814fa4910 left Ain momentarily 659f9728f8 speechless before he 53cc35804a sighed in exasperation, 9b5b0382c9 almost like a a6d5057b30 man resigned to e7ad59ac8a his fate.5ddd6101b9ae17bc

He resisted the urge 26b3adbb32 to reveal his true a1a23414e6 profession. It wasn’t the c776ed1b2b right time yet.e164f68b7e398627

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‘…Maybe I should just roll with this for now.’c176a6c5a312e3fe

After all, 83afebcc02 her reaction aadb2bd53c to him 97c80287ae playing along 531c511e6f might be f389c3861c more entertaining eadda1515b than continuing 3a0cc424c7 to pretend a7cf5980b3 to be 3e9fdb6ef0 a loan 265fc00177 shark.96fb921e80cbfe2f

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With that thought, Ain’s 5a196058ca expression quickly shifted into 3c10ad6a07 one of mischievous amusement.9e825a68711543ce

With a languid 3f440c777f smile and a 0ea317ab3f seductive curve to f2a5e30969 his lips, Ain a92c00b279 lowered his posture fca39b9caa and looked up c46999d204 at her, speaking 10bfcb1787 in a soft e2f9cff786 tone.fdbd11f2f38f33f6

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“If that is your wish, I’ll gladly oblige.”f959f4f146b60327

Caught off guard by e7f0a6fad6 the sudden shift in 53d52fe515 atmosphere, Serenia froze. Before she could process 3fa900301e what was happening, Ain 746320bb7b reached out with practiced a4ae5f261d ease and took her 8ec03013fb hand.e530e14f81396ad2

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The movement was so b3ebbd7f2e natural that Serenia didn’t dc99839dea realize what was happening aedac3a449 until her hand was eaffa5bce0 halfway pulled toward him.8947d87b496b5c91

By the time she 8ec78a8ed6 registered the situation, it ac705f1a4e was too late. A light touch brushed 511a23e082 the back of her 1d90f4946e hand.9e01df0a014bba90

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“…?”d271adc3896fe2ae

Though she 7419cc6dea couldn’t feel 7354ea7fd8 the sensation 73dbc8b0bd through her 9b5f16ba27 cheap satin 4d1ecaa0e9 gloves, it 928b02f9fd was obvious 6f7b32d0f8 what had e693e62273 just happened.2f6cc1ffba2d854b

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‘This shameless host!’cab034b54d020156

Her eyes widened in 401fc412f0 disbelief as she stood c1872d65c2 frozen, while Ain remained 90b15249d3 kneeling with one knee 5dabceb422 on the ground, his 51ad133bbc voice smooth and deliberate.32df0b29010c201c

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“I hope I’ll be fortunate enough to join your dreams tonight, my lady.”0176bbb5915c8c72

Serenia’s expression twisted as ac340ca22c though she was about aeb7274b6c to retch.6f27056b5217c08b

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Seeing her reaction, Ain 567248c873 finally broke into open f2f2567c21 laughter.13094a14f0aba78f

“You’re laughing?!”1f47484092278f9e

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He released her 1c56df9567 hand lightly, climbed 358e9835f8 back into the 1386f1ed15 carriage with ease, bcdf86d6e7 and gave her f44f0a43db a sly wink.a87890b597395180

“Until we meet again in your dreams.”a7d5fcdd193003c9

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With that, Ain 13d7ea461d left her fuming, 68fe9666a6 disappearing swiftly with 068b5ecc74 the sound of 21a9dcc513 hooves echoing into d7e0834b8c the distance.aa1a6fb6b10b735b

Dong—d73d87d308f8ae8a

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As if on cue, c13f84f375 the distant chime of 6b7c2b3b54 midnight began to echo ea2fac5180 through the still air.9f19cecf5e348499

It wasn’t until 6292bb40a2 the chime and a54f2051b5 its faint vibrations 3b0645475a faded completely that 790ae9473e Serenia finally snapped e0433b33d2 out of her bdc5b701e7 stupor.aa9ffc558d73efcd

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Letting out a deep 2b348301e1 sigh that seemed to 36f5f8a243 sink into the earth, f94526c13e she trudged into her edeaebb31f dark, lifeless home.89af920b85542bbb

* * *de856d972338ad99

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The next 8526ec6716 morning, Serenia 2895f0e8cb woke abruptly, 79272311ca realizing she 45758cd22e had overslept.d737226dcf535d76

Judging by 13fed6d47d the angle d49783d123 and intensity 71d591fab0 of the e6f6aea125 sunlight streaming 9da1d4915d through her 3a8b7f4c00 window, it 1d75996a21 was already accb37c8e6 around 8:30 80b7154cc6 a.m.23264a7784c3da46

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Panicking, she threw off e30441caf3 her blanket and bolted d42ffd227e upright.53d4ad3b81f8ce55

After a 74ebdb4680 hurried wash b26766ed27 and a fd498d1327 change into 12b71ab8fc her outdoor fe56cbdef4 clothes, she b37c560b3b was in 3c6873101f the middle acf17ac5c4 of taming 0bb41d35aa her disheveled ec341e3acb hair when 1db1d0a8ed the jar 325d65e6db of ointment 55ce59c524 Ain had 79cd09dfc5 given her 0975e019bc the previous 1fb2004b0c night caught 7be9b9587f her eye.bd83937822096542

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She hesitated a38e0d3867 for a ce3ae1fa5c moment before 2fc09d857d picking it e8f9ee3db8 up and 0746f006da walking to 033a836da2 the window.0e8e7b50b8486c0c

Using the 86413df24f glass as b1b99e5265 a makeshift 492a9b1268 mirror, she 80fe8e041c carefully applied 40fdb12544 the ointment 93dea723a3 to her 8c3ec21a79 injuries. As she did so, b02d301345 she tilted her head 9783b4e454 slightly, noticing how bustling f2ca7e2257 the atmosphere outside seemed dbacb165ab to be.3c5376b88038701c

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It almost d04abf35a5 looked as 94b407ed22 though something 9352563cfd was fluttering 4010fac198 in the 0c58be0515 air.8b542df32ff0c3af

“Is someone having a snowball fight with last night’s snow?”07a243df91684e59

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She muttered to 944aafecfe herself while meticulously 616499e71c applying the ointment dd0b526e00 to each wound.4ca2304f8939a215

Then, with 69cb1ce8c9 a sudden 6cc809cf7b gust of 590bab1a12 wind, something e71ced915e smacked against 62e0148041 the glass f2196dbad7 directly at 9c32480072 eye level.c277906e0b088ed9

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It was a half-page 57fdf4ce87 newspaper insert, an ‘extra 4bc3f8e734 edition.’dde88bebeaafbed3

The paper flapped 1899fa86af against the glass, 0f7e1bec13 the bold, chaotic 8672d12596 headlines clearly visible:457f28b74eda2fdc

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[Exclusive! The Duke of Admancanon’s Secret Romance?!]
[A Love Transcending Generations of Hostility—A Legendary Couple is Born!]
[The Countess-to-Be, Serenia Barishart! Who Is She?]

“What… What is this?!”b90cee06d2f6d549

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Serenia screamed as 9505ffe088 she flung the cf4bf739c5 window open.0ae70205f9ee16c0

The sudden movement sent 2ed161171a the newspaper soaring into bd89003fc6 the air, fluttering far 4b61bdf7e7 out of reach.26ac1bea4c25fde1

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Her hand, stretched d789081f84 out to grab 7695bcdac5 the paper, closed e0095a3f0e around nothing but 75ae1f8f2f empty space.a5a5d8e919a6a851

Whoosh—cd10cf6f30d42011

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A burst of cold b1709291b4 winter air rushed into 972d25fe00 the room, and in 111ffe76f1 that instant, Serenia understood 37c79b6bbc why the outside had dcb82229e1 seemed so chaotic.0b7c6c7630b749b6

“There! Over there, she’s out!”90f2337478f6ed6b

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“Where? Where?!”9a9043eb4f3fe5f1

“Second-floor window!”3d3200ac4a35c23b

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“Get the lens! The zoom lens!”4901f105cc20c366

After the special 6aac4e1baf edition had spread 54f5ffa3ee across the capital 78ac476a82 that morning, journalists dc03a4baaf had swarmed the 937bd50d95 Barishart estate like 04bb56ba8e ants, desperately seeking 3df92af9db a scoop.3129a6ea55c78629

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Paralyzed with d18303eaf9 shock, Serenia 2af97ebc19 stood motionless 18889558ff like a 2618a231d7 statue.ff38531d5e9c325b

Click—!63cd236eac85a386

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The sound b22ee8301a of shutters 6c7b80abd7 and camera b5fd4f5249 flashes erupted 644080ad79 like a 0f7233cc34 thunderstorm from 74313e86f1 every direction.87179df68f9af91b

Hundreds of photos were af67050a91 snapped in mere seconds 605670f77c before Serenia finally regained 72c380ace4 her senses.bb525f036e129ab5

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She slammed 9af59cf8ce the window 0ec8552fc3 shut, bolted dc041b18c1 the latch, ebd2b588b7 and drew 75792f0182 the curtains 22e82a9b42 tightly closed.b514e1db84c25742

But the determined reporters bc101a3b8e outside didn’t relent.5d006e42cd51ec7c

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“Lady Barishart! Just one interview, please!”a4c04d74fc85ddf3

“Can you share your thoughts on this morning’s news?”f72d35c5ca8eb1ef

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“Show us your face again!”160dd966f2a7a3f7

“We demand the public’s right to know!”a7a88c54dcbc5d8b

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The noise 6c1874118b seeped through 2c89eb2a74 the glass, a73c7a50d0 filling the 62e12690a1 room with 29d3809b2b an incessant cabfc61e66 hum.7373e9d63bb74400

As if the 5e0b593e1e chaos wasn’t enough, 81cf7b554d the distant sound 0e0b056e64 of horses neighing 814374cfe2 began to grow c390fdc376 louder.7e3a0167b8eefb02

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8:40 a.m.a94afc33d7375825

The time Ain 02da2c57b9 had promised to 35350c8911 return.e30ccd095e1847da

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Serenia murmured to herself 78563ca7ac in despair.666928aa2c1ab806

“I’m doomed.”4146893a932ee80f

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 861c211836594c8f