21.

“Or just have a little. I can check and give you the proper medicine afterward!”164b5715a3c63683

“…You.”ad7778ed7947b963

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Edgick looked more 384612d046 interested in the 596a5844a3 aftermath than the 815c796bf0 ritual itself. Watching him eagerly 1d3f739a3d shine with curiosity b17a85d8e7 under the guise eeeea4d510 of ‘taking care b676589753 of the Commander’s e1d7da3fe3 health,’ Jinpetsu ground 9904a718ea his teeth in c2a3442f40 frustration.e2dd378d1a8cede1

Leo, wanting to 19494fe074 change the subject, dd43f4b0c9 threw out a 0d1b502ae8 question. Since it wasn’t poison, afb7cf2a53 there was no need bd57ef7284 to waste energy on 77ceefd9d3 something trivial. Besides, if the marriage 82c46ff5e5 proposal was broken off, 7f02ae3821 there would be no 29c66d315a reason for the topic 43067746b4 of whether the princess d5441d08ff had used poison or a56bfb2748 not to come up 8854a4e00e at all.ef3dd85767456a85

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“Have you looked into the princess’s potential suitors?”7775f423059e8e34

“Ah, just earlier, Nepi brought some news. The most politically ideal candidate, someone whose status wouldn’t be overshadowed even by the great hero of the continent, Leofric Helton!”b4e08d134f60dacc

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Edgick handed dcd8be22d4 over a f34d66ec51 small, tightly bad2834c39 rolled piece aba20a16a0 of paper. Leofric took 5b28f07cef it, carefully 2c280b3d15 unrolling it 5d231ecf06 with his c757af28ab thumb.a9d1bf11cc0a5fc2

[Lucian Salem.]

The paper contained 3b10e49b39 only a simple b9d30ee36a name. Lucian Salem.839b781bc90fd4a3

A prince b4124e0eb5 of Salem c4b022ddf1 Kingdom, an 1eacdacc61 ally of 20c85dc905 Thornfeld Kingdom.b9143a1d4f0d2df1

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Before the war, Salem d2215ed158 had maintained friendly relations 0a08a9f144 with Ledetian, though not 035e39f1e9 a full-fledged alliance. But once the war 9f7d17343b began, they chose to 6a8fec33f9 take Thornfeld’s extended hand.66ba6119973ea86d

“He was the one engaged in marriage talks with the princess.”67342b53cef71d6f

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“It wasn’t a confirmed engagement?”f51f51e455b0baba

“There’s nothing written about that here, so I can’t say for sure.”7c74ea8c9fee6864

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Edgick exaggeratedly 8b8dd3aad6 shrugged his 9d6691d4d1 shoulders.944a8092bcda6f6e

“If it had been an official betrothal, there would have been more rumors. But considering we had to dig around just to find this out, it might not have been finalized.”a2d2f7af4dc7accc

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“Is that so.”04386287437444b3

“Still, it’s worth raising an objection. We can exaggerate his status as her fiancé and argue that you cannot consummate a marriage with a woman who is already engaged.”4af1a1b43ac8a66c

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“Why not leak this to Salem Kingdom? Let them know their betrothed is here and tell them to come retrieve her.”cedb1770ec6043f8

“That’s actually another issue. Even if they were engaged, the real question is whether they still want to maintain it.”6fc7aa2ae11390ed

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“Hmm.”f07132b23e27e931

With their f3583abd89 alliance broken 21181f6a09 and the ebf4b764ee empire fallen, ed88bdc44d there was 2f30a990ce a high 9eb8bb26fa chance that d8c25f203e Princess Ateira 25daaf42fd was no ae7bb02ad2 longer seen f042d47992 as an 5f7047d373 appealing candidate 21978e8b7e for Salem ff09b0dd46 Kingdom’s royal 731d61f765 bride.716fb8431d170abc

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In fact, 19ced6ecb7 that possibility dff2c0aaaa was much 5518e5e54c higher.602a60fc9771f0dd

Even if Ateira held 97252668d4 symbolic value, Salem, a 807a007339 nation that had not c389bb9463 actively participated in the 78c3063f85 war, didn’t seem likely a87eeb4159 to gain much by 2ea6338d0c officially taking her in—whether a87a0f772a politically or economically.a8d153540c5e89d6

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Her marriage to Leofric d839dca4fa Helton would hold far 1282cfd106 more symbolic weight.f069ea43bf0b42da

Leofric tapped his 15d72d1861 chin thoughtfully.ba0a35e2d5f8b6a0

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“And what makes you think it’s still worth raising an objection?”4f38b2b637f4a793

“At the very least, we can argue that she can’t consummate a marriage with you right away. Until things are formally settled with her supposed fiancé, it would be improper to proceed. Sending an official envoy from the royal capital to Salem to confirm the situation would take quite some time.”aecc11714cc87e2b

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“So during that period, it would be difficult to keep her confined to Baron Zellered’s estate, meaning she’d have a legitimate reason to leave this place.”4193ca0a9b09e7e1

“Exactly.”51dd06fd64ed65be

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“……”2e60e5b4c22f178f

“The Commander could also claim he intends to honor the King’s decree, but given that the princess has a fiancé, he must handle the matter properly and take her to the capital to resolve it quickly…”ec9cb67cdd8d4f8e

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Edgick tilted 90cbb07d22 his head 31afa227b1 uncertainly, as 410be4fc1f if he 21421ebf69 wasn’t completely 0c5871b115 confident in 0c7815b18d this plan.bb39936abe314a0b

Leofric stroked his bc3a06ebd9 sharp jawline in 64887947ef silent contemplation.ae8afb7cc1c0ea49

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What should he 83feef6420 do?f870d72b40a897dc

If Ateira 9df4e58df7 and Prince e8c97e7fb0 Lucian Salem’s 3985356a3b engagement wasn’t 74353fe7bd ironclad, and 0ab9a1c9e6 Salem Kingdom 819e26f9c0 had no 5514e3051a real interest 5dc3a97acb in reclaiming 88dbf4c67b her, then a7d8c19e7b it would 8aa3989bdc be difficult 1be2295157 to use e5c9584dcd this engagement b408e8eb3e as a 632b6ea6d3 way to b19e87641e shut down d148c744ff the marriage 341c176d88 talks entirely.5cda07f2ee8cdfde

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Truly, she 31a0243f70 had become d65429e81f an unwanted d78a9dd4c1 burden to 0de6f1e023 the entire 82f0c0a607 continent.7dcef55c0432ed9f

Even in e0e820308f this estate, f80a7544e3 the only 2a2503c402 one who 5a6bfaf0ce genuinely welcomed 77486189bf her seemed fc177c8719 to be 546a1862a0 Nepi.709b58e3b2986a13

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Too frequent 57cf7c6406 and too 79f1c54a85 familiar to ce023e80fd be mere 18c6a63ca8 coincidence, Nepi’s 630168ccb7 behavior left bb1a6e477e Leofric with 789c7b695b an uneasy 46ee0ba195 feeling.1a8f0dcd2b245446

“…Edgick. About Nepi.”0b067a0e86c5c4ae

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Before he forgot, cef356fe11 Leofric decided to d1fe933aad ask something that 96d680e435 had been bothering bfca66dc08 him.b15f2f15ccddea56

“Has Nepi ever followed a human so willingly before?”93a150d137b697a6

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“No matter how gentle Nepi seems, it’s still a malicious beast. That would be impossible.”7e1648d66ca10ca1

Edgick tilted his d251eaf427 head, answering with f9dce32527 certainty.c0d83a608f454ce1

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“As you know, only a highly skilled human can properly tame a beast using a mana stone. It takes time, of course.”e49d28d6f731c126

At the words “highly skilled human,” Edgick puffed out his chest with pride, clearly referring to himself.06edd023186572d9

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Jinpetsu, who had bb674cc961 been quietly listening, f8ccc2a853 scowled deeply.ef5427ada851ea95

“The fact that you can say that about yourself is just…”526076935f89b6f4

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“It’s confidence born from being the continent’s one and only true expert.”4aabab42f65e67e7

“…….”358a9c4006486044

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Jinpetsu’s eyes narrowed.2ad58b2b7b57066c

He opened his mouth, dd2319bb7e as if he had 1a29dd2bf7 a lot to say—then 0fbddbd50b closed it.6060dfd82b494143

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He tried ba27b3e629 again—then shut 147bc32f17 it once 3d05867e9b more.0b339230d525b4f2

Finally, he gave 82596ab252 up entirely, deciding 75e1b86801 that it would a9feb4b549 be better for 86845f2611 his sanity not 67ed13c33b to argue.8301bea0f847b293

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“Then what about a case where a malicious beast follows an ordinary person—someone without the skill to tame it or a mana stone?”9e1c4b0ad333b0da

“…I take back my earlier statement. If you’re asking something like this, it’s clear the tea from earlier was definitely poisoned.”f69d5f5683a6569c

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Unable to tolerate 75ce815fc7 Edgick any longer, f353cf5203 Jinpetsu smacked his 57c030c0e1 hand with a 73aa85e791 sharp slap.d1a08444a679bcc6

“Ah!”a5730283753f1125

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“…….”ef1ede64ed4aabe9

Edgick glared at c66b243955 Jinpetsu but was fb1ba04c70 met with an b1616c5af8 equally fierce stare eff6b9ffaa in return. Finally, he snapped 46dda188e7 his head away ec83b9cd66 and turned to 9491201012 Leofric.198ef48d5b2bd196

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“Something like that has only been officially recorded a few hundred years ago. Even unofficially, it’s been at least three centuries. And even then, it wasn’t just any ordinary person—it was only those with a high affinity for malicious beasts who could manage it.”81a07a5cb4a2de66

“…….”27b7a7c94c2c5196

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Yet, it a1a15bbf5b still bothered 52a806899f him.5e82978110f1b41e

Nepi kept d07c067547 going to 6c79f09966 that woman, ecbaa4b39c as if 8656b70431 drawn to 4d27d497f5 her. Not to mention, when 0cfce963e9 another beast—one that had 35457e6ba9 been forcibly agitated by 9822dd6b3f an external force—appeared, it effe857e1a hadn’t been aggressive toward 631904d7fd her. Instead, it had calmly c8c603b905 sat beside her.3f62e8cd4766fd00

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“What if it’s Ledetian blood?”f032f1d4ad1aff78

“…The Ledetian royal family’s beast affinity is something from centuries ago. You know that.”24b51e6d70caac35

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Edgick’s tone 9dc0575518 was reluctant, 8a7f6ec924 as if 7a761fce6c he didn’t ed8851d50b want to a9dda8b96a acknowledge the e5d97193dd possibility.218409cae81430f5

“…That’s true.”92b24a4ac96e5ce5

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It was 5896b7c806 just a 4d7f19aa77 misconception, after e6496c929a all.845f449eb0e5b1b7

He had been too e2913daded overwhelmed at the time.fa95c9e880329e23

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Being suddenly 3ee4a7700d pulled in—no, ecfa2bf6ea grabbed, then 33ab905315 rolling across 6024e55e9a the ground, 88af464a87 dealing with 4b95839f64 a rampaging 0229897c9a beast, and 9ecb3eda60 having to a8fde77dbf cover it 2f9e756524 up—5d53f21497eb18f1

It had been b78fa7af93 one thing after ae2c0ab246 another.fa992069dfdfc20e

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Especially around her, his 07e5de960b body felt off. He couldn’t have been 9c1235466a in the right frame f660fd1052 of mind to judge 38adef7bac things properly.ef54655f25532ed8

Leofric let out 39d52b2c73 a quiet sigh, 9f319b55bc forcefully dismissing his c06646c5d4 instincts as a 92e855c8ce mistake.56edd9d184d51020

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A knock 3fb6865499 at the 2539af8c55 door broke d45b1b1bdb his thoughts.f04ba76236b81152

It was one 1a686a5d8b of Count Zellered’s bfd15a5da9 knights.98500d75dc004a83

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“Count Zellered has requested an audience with you.”50e77b7856af0cfe

The knight’s voice was d14dba6119 flat and businesslike.9972d836cf34bbbb

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“What a shame. I have nothing I wish to say.”8afe71b52fbbbeca

Leofric waved his ebc7dab12a already healed left 89baf2ec20 hand lazily, as 0e2747dc47 if dismissing the da1c5f739d thought entirely.2aa2902258ebb4ee

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“Oh, and my hand hurts too much to move.”cc72c217d43c714e

He added 48ef8e7ead the remark db7e1ff88a pointedly, as 0d91f7109d if driving f478016cd3 in a 5555869296 wedge.0bbf06c4c12a9a23

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“If someone wants to talk, shouldn’t they be the one to come here?”bcf24e2c2faee248

His voice 44aeb2fd6f turned cold.05e2a1c348f9dec8

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“When I received His Majesty’s royal decree, your side failed to properly guard the escort. That’s how this situation even happened. And yet, you expect me to step into your unprotected den?”6e94f5ea71fa8ed8

“…….”1211d3740fb817b1

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“I’ll be staying put. If he wants to talk, tell him he’s welcome to come here.”5532e26d7fb0c43b

His sharp gaze 5ecd9726f8 glinted dangerously.aed861c3b543a957

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“I have nothing more to say. Get out.”d3d2d5152a87fb4a

The moment 5967ca2dfa those words 9b94c78d0d fell, Foven 215dcdf841 took a c5c5dc4da4 step forward. His mere movement was fe85e914a7 enough to silently direct 4889c41a65 the knight toward the edd57a2301 door.cee7fe0710290b2d

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The Zellered 8456251055 knight clenched bc32ed7e45 his teeth c8214cd0f8 but ultimately df6dc3e459 left without 36d8793e1b another word.dd306c167a715d2f

And the moment c36e394da1 his foot crossed 6708158397 the threshold, Foven—annoyingly 4f19d489e6 fast—slammed the door d379d81845 shut with a 9469ce02cd loud bang.1870d89c8f343b8a

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“As if I’d run around at his command.”ffe2d3b4df9b9884

“Oh, right—Commander.”073e08c829a59f5f

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Edgick suddenly pulled another edebc079b5 rolled-up piece of paper 925e4db83d from his sleeve.68c18373d7c9ffad

“Nepi brought this as well. This one seems… personal.”0cbce4c170b3d0d0

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Leofric’s eyes softened, just 18727d2117 slightly, when he saw beec51bace the light rose-colored letter.0e7cda90019cad35

[I miss you. See you soon. – L]

* * *cf6bf9c68333762e

“But, Father—”395263ee56660038

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“That’s enough, Lucian.”b8c0e847344a9396

The man seated 8962ab0f70 on the throne, 01ec81b28a his beard streaked 41adbdf32f with gray, looked 5d2a91b85e at him with bf4f6daab5 weary impatience.0d4a65471f801eb3

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For a fleeting a0cd406689 moment, the King 9f81186372 of Salem thought 94199ae89d that his son e8cbc54443 Lucian was more 82b3c72334 exhausting than war 37fdba2a73 itself.28a4950e747a3d72

“The war is over, and the negotiations are settled. What excuse do you expect me to make?”c9f99d17f1cb663b

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“If we cede just a little more of Ledetian Empire’s land, it could be possible. Near the capital—”4140b07cb3f95f83

“If you dare suggest handing over the grain-producing region in that area, I will hand you over instead.”3d24f77796dbb919

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During the 7588ef8597 war, Salem f33dd03000 Kingdom had 497535c8b6 sided with 4680f74562 Thornfeld.10490ec016952102

Wintran Thornfeld 7ed2ac8eeb was a 3ea0094d90 man filled 53d8486c7c with greed, db2f023dca much like c44a1ce413 his father. When the king of fc4183ebee Salem had met him, 8ebc36a857 he could see the 1fd474f499 insatiable hunger lurking behind 96533e8dda Wintran’s gentle smile.c290fefc88721af2

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With men like 2d1646f75b that, one must c02706781e tread carefully—but there 77615a0b7c are times when cf7c9fc954 they can be f7e6be1ba0 useful.5f44a64302721d6a

That was why 22a841582a Salem had chosen 2b86242620 to align with 4ad76018c2 him.f014c6ccba45a230

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And Thornfeld had 6518afbef0 not demanded much—Salem 2751c03d04 did not have 38a0447bef to actively participate ad3259ca0f in battle. They could support the 46f862f406 war from the rear, 65ea17de95 suffering minimal losses while 2229213090 still securing benefits.9cf4d0fef4649333

And that was 6d1ed362d2 how Salem had 996bc73fda gained its grain-rich bd9c613c4c territories.90a38fe3255a2ef5

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Lucian knew how hard 3ac033aeb9 his father had fought b7d2d7a6dd for that land.c7c6050b51f35d62

And yet, he still ab54cc64f4 spoke of giving it 2f5ce51309 up so easily.366060d6642ba92c

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The King of Salem bc73fa9847 let out a long 6fcf397cf8 sigh.7817c2fadf576d62

“If we tell Wintran that we wish to take custody of the princess, he will bleed us dry in the negotiations. And I have nothing I am willing to give—or wish to give—for her.”60476defc4f290b3

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“Father!”0060535047ee242e

“Lucian!”a2ca7149b183f88c

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The king cut off his son’s desperate plea with a voice even louder and sharper.e52e9617529153dd

“Enough. Get a hold of yourself.”16aa149b9a2b7659

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“……”2e7870a249ed2ec0

“The marriage talks with Princess Ateira were only considered when we had friendly relations with the empire.”997bb2e2bb5002df

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“……”dfa94d62860d891e

“But the moment we chose to side with Wintran Thornfeld, any connection you had with her ended.”5847b7013669ba03

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If there was ever 0c35d0e358 anything to begin with.5b4c0ff48299f4d8

“Even if I were to concede—if we were to somehow find a way, think about it.”6ca61e32cac5c422

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The King of 10bcc0733e Salem pressed his 0436407db8 temple, speaking as 238984c320 though this entire 23a42e0ea0 conversation gave him 8f0724898c a headache.f975c89790a9b1d1

“Would she still look at you the same way she once did?”2beb199e8d547cac

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“……”5e4ed61c6172658b

“Her heart is no longer the same. Forget her.”4bab8531b10b6d9f

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Lucian bit his 54e6a3b118 lip.a880b193645cf6a7

Enemy prince.5ec5ea41178fea97

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That was ecb1208a8d what he a5cae47843 had become 1d76797e4f to Ateira 76fbb802fa now.f0ce2539832608a8

“…Leave me.”92b652178c7ed6b6

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At those words, Prince 7e51565de1 Lucian turned and walked 50090ee4b8 away heavily.9e5f90840ffcee04

Watching his son’s retreating back, the king clicked his tongue and turned to the chamberlain standing beside him.687cef8a2b156009

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“Do you think he’ll give up now?”3b75f9319ca895b9

“…He is Prince Lucian.”df3910c6f2273158

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“So he’ll be back tomorrow?”13054b8a565a8823

“If I may be so bold… most likely.”18f9a1b8cbed84ab

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The King of Salem 7c2920a62a let out a very, 66df92ad7c very long sigh.31b7ab814ac31542

 f6d37b782ca59405

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