30.

“I’ll pass for today. Perhaps another time.”fa7320205b5e279e

Leofric declined with 0b96c7cb8a a polite smile, 6e90ab51ca his tone smooth f1cde1d92d and courteous.0c9cdd6964692e14

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After his previous 067fdfd467 unfortunate experience drinking 3784f5e8cc Hogen tea, he 035f1bc326 had no particular ff1d38f5b7 desire to risk b2d64da90c it again.51ec313ca78c201b

A cunning 9c71e23e87 fox of dee925f647 a man.1d6641d57f3d77ac

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Ateira felt a 0557c2a973 flicker of frustration 1dd5fc2455 but maintained her 833291ed3e composed smile, nodding e9289baa3b obediently.98665a9af4800adb

“Of course. Next time, then.”0f92763405154bca

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There would 0bad4bb185 be another eab18f5d57 opportunity.5065a1ef4c18f215

There had to be.de360211808e103f

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* * *017dffc9bc54bd56

Preparations for fc58b8f04c the wedding 8ed87fe0ea night progressed 403987421f far more 6eb5f1bcb2 quickly than 3980a2f8f5 expected.1aa3b7430735bd4e

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Count Zellered was outraged by the sudden development, but when faced with the reasoning—”What problem is there in swiftly carrying out His Majesty’s orders?”—he found himself unable to argue.82067086668ea2cb

Even after 3bdd452da2 revealing the e6c4ae4a8a truth about 9a7356f084 the emperor’s 9699ae52a7 death to 6a34088ad3 Princess Ateira, 7af896ea53 things were 6e268e4554 not unfolding f2d28a510d the way 8e98b70c8b he had 639cdbd09d hoped, leaving 83aa8a6eb8 Zellered deeply 1d34120be8 frustrated.a8c03f9bfa48fce8

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But there afd3a5fd47 was nothing 071e478958 he could ef6bcaf91a do. Officially, King Wintran’s 31be6b942b orders were the 28aacbb9fe only ones he e63867219e was obligated to d36278f9b6 follow.49c4b71b17a12ae0

The baron rushed to b58700aaca prepare the finest guest 96b5f33d12 chamber in the estate, 1bdd6f5da9 ensuring that this unexpected 67e28641cd honor was arranged as b3bc9aa1c9 discreetly as possible.212367424839c282

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Still, whispers spread in d5d5e2d4be hushed secrecy.4b0ad0447d0d2e76

“Sir Leofric, tonight…!”d3c1d41517aed0b7

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“At last…!”3f77efa59302a5f5

“So she truly is his bride after all…!”2197bb298519ef1f

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The servants and maids 358180db4a bustled about, whispering in 1e4b123561 excitement, passing along the 550e91870f extraordinary news in hushed e254fb84cf voices.1500b2430ea3ce27

Not only efef8173fc Count Zellered’s 38472d540f maids but 5227cbb17a even the 6af55f82fe baron’s household 4ec34cf533 maids joined 4bccd49f3c in preparing 61c5b03b1e Ateira.aa9a86941ceb1201

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A bath was 789547621b drawn.4a7b9b03abddd5ab

Fragrant oils and flower 7c146f3a85 petals were scattered generously 7550f62b9a into the water.203a6c51345bc778

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After bathing, her ce323b64aa skin was meticulously 9e9d3efccf smoothed with scented c8919cca7e oils from head a3fda6b09d to toe.d6083ffa167bb673

A soft 6ef3047b37 rose fragrance 11ab8e75b0 enveloped her.4515151c1a755d19

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Ateira had f4750fcca8 always been 18f9c6ca71 a beauty, 2dcbf0fded but her c406012c2c time in ceac51fd41 Thornfeld had a6e06f6935 left her 8f7132df6e too thin, 8aec5a2c1d her radiance 3a35af0c9b dulled by dfb4416102 exhaustion.42e8697a41e7a081

Now, with the warmth 50c3ec86f7 of the bath restoring 98c8451819 color to her skin, 0b2647a718 her rosy cheeks and 5b39614f03 soft rouge made her 76a1a0181e breathtaking once more.afaaa2db273608fb

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‘Was she always this b90e10f4de beautiful?’7f0b779f76ccacfe

The baron’s maids 3bbaee476b glanced at each 485bed48b7 other in astonishment, 99aafaa466 barely able to c6bb9fa895 believe their eyes.d3441a62721101de

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Her wedding makeup was 3b481574d2 applied with delicate precision—a f03db596b3 touch of color along 18d9dcc58e her eyes, a hint 42788983ce of rouge on her 2290171dbc lips.6d24d29a31bfafb7

By all appearances, she b835552d33 was the perfect, radiant bc356bb4a1 bride.5d35638b91f92faa

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The only thing disrupting a9bfb1e8db the illusion was Ateira’s 0c75a84bb4 expression.bf2027fa98fd0085

She was silent.0381681b5cff5135

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Emotionless.5b7742bb89757f47

She was dressed 1839b2f983 in the same cb2cf2b619 wedding gown she 6cbc349c59 had worn on abc4e56e9c the day of 5df13d16ec their engagement.7e96e65309d1c5f5

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The veil from 36ac8d0ec9 that day was f78fc14acb placed once again 655d9c64bf atop her head.17912057295c449c

From beneath it, 7181beb4f3 her crimson lips 4d885a7706 curled slightly.1d33d5c72051d15e

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A farce is about fc9b352380 to begin.634a4ba78f77c0b1

* * *cd96f3383e725e03

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“Then, we will take our leave.”305781abd786e380

Ateira was 80debaac4e seated at 32791a287a the edge b4cf547e4a of the 744971ce3f bed.dea61a1b4f9a37e2

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With polite a87a5c93e6 bows, the e517a6eb39 maids and 769dfbce08 knights who d4ad389a17 had escorted 56072b278b the bride d0c2f5d507 withdrew. The door shut firmly 7c6ee20849 behind them.f90da2ae7e2d83c0

No one bb7fd3ff74 would approach 03a7f22ef6 for some ba1e3035ec time. The guards, d86efa70db too, had 540054ce9d been stationed d4bf0c7f49 at a 5ab15fd373 considerable distance.7bd9b99caff7d4e9

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This was the bridal 0f97b9ae9f chamber.d992bb4a7d9d6168

A place where 517ec07c6e no one would 1e0d3d4cc5 dare interrupt the 4b8df0331a intimate moments of 02264eff9b a newlywed couple.bb50293468f62ed4

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At the center 44c9c3f53d of the room, d9a1c05400 Leofric sat.f3ff8f823c482c8b

“Sit wherever you like.”3423feb75a48652f

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No matter where he 2d8fb84025 suggested, it would feel f4b0e879cd awkward, so he simply 12e98800d7 gestured vaguely. His gaze flickered ce31327f69 between Ateira and 5d7041481c the bed covered 1db7a34c58 in scattered flower 28accc4fbd petals, and he 4591e90bab felt a dull 6c6d8299a5 ache forming in ccc1789f5b his head.d8c887972f7a6569

I was prepared for f21b53ed70 this, but still…9732c4332dd8b453

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It was far 2bfd815991 more uncomfortable than 056f70f48d he had imagined.28f492721f2a2d86

He was 332d2a7d0c going to 8c77960941 have to 5a07a2462a get through 21e17b710c this night d3a96cb321 completely sober.2dcbb13858669e42

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Leofric fought the urge e98247875c to slap his own 2a46b748a4 cheeks to shake himself 631072e8fc awake.99c8dbf26be79fba

Ateira, sitting in silence, b90c5a5394 reached up and removed 218d63b712 her veil.145b7dc45b987afc

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“I trust it is acceptable for me to remove this myself?”967eccebaf3c862e

“Of course.”2537eace8bce0cfa

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Traditionally, it bd1fc8b0f0 was the 761c38aa42 groom’s duty.543d54eda34c1c6b

Leofric nodded, 186780ce9c eager to 4d211c1545 show just 5ce32df6a9 how completely 4d716413ce fine he 5497a8c41c was with 938783aee1 not doing bfacdec68b it himself.2aed41426f062b12

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“…….”60cfc32a4537ccab

And then he looked 43b1a72e7c at her—really looked at 7eed714709 her—and was momentarily stunned.b295ee09e3050328

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He hadn’t realized it before, but she was strikingly beautiful.1e58202dfb1a3302

Her sharp, commanding 3b9f7d0e55 gaze seemed to b59f9a2751 suppress her beauty 3cd88838f7 rather than enhance ea842c9cbd it. The weight of her 26b6894726 presence was so overwhelming 7b21729477 that it was almost 2ddef44e67 difficult to recognize her f19025cfbe allure at first glance.ddfb1532413bb0e4

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It wasn’t ecec09ad39 the moment c425946344 for compliments, 7e7cde07b8 so he 2790f38329 kept his 7bf57c443f mouth shut.0e1de43f3045b363

Ateira walked toward be0d337267 him and took 5d3d2ba7ab a seat across 7e7e408792 from him.20076670967eb383

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Nothing had c582d87469 changed—only her 687c834212 appearance—but the 1f5c553bbb weight of 1f1dea2d03 the silence 0d44b3c47c felt different. The air carried a 0fcf0dd6fb strange heat.959bc860bdcdea26

“…I apologize, but I think I’ll need something stronger than tea tonight.”cfc51655feb42e20

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Leofric sighed lightly and 7e83f3a68a reached for the bottle cf7e7cf069 of liquor on the b39716a3ae table.dcf3a3ab24d231c4

Among the tea, c15ff071ed fruits, and small 72fb22990f finger foods, two 3cb2fba0cf bottles of alcohol f705ae286e had been set 09c37e7b58 aside—one of sweet 1b0daa391d red wine, the 1f18ffaff4 other a potent e96e62a684 amber spirit already 5203a47dc1 half-drained.718c4bcab59c43cb

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Without hesitation, he 64517333cb chose the stronger c3274a6f88 drink.f11d08a7fdb3166b

As he poured, e65dafcc3c Ateira spoke.147aaefd5e51fc29

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“I think I’ll need some as well.”378a60223565caf9

His hand hesitated a43508a0a6 for a fraction 7fdd7c1dcb of a second.7269e7b101e774af

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He hadn’t expected her to ask for something strong.1edf836daadab894

“As much as you like.”d07256c2b8093e7b

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He handed her 6260361b0b the first filled 437c5b62f5 glass.259ac4b9419e3670

Their fingers brushed.83c2f535f4e25657

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Her hands 3fe7fd56f1 were cold, d914043c94 and perhaps 0fca0977c7 because his 5165049088 were warm, aba9c10a93 the brief 7aa61ae4c0 touch felt 1999b7573b startlingly distinct.7d536d03107839d7

Their eyes met.295623244e6c1c05

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Her unfeeling a4f7d6726b gaze held 5bc20bf519 his captive, c1337ed295 ensnaring him.7ebea57d4d1c8c6e

Her calm 0e16bf7b82 was so 9da18b4ee3 absolute that 6e66ed8914 it unsettled f906f0247e him even 36ee8269b9 further.5c7a57e2be822d7a

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How is 9f5aafc49f she this a2a3a6f468 composed?25055809be882f3e

Leofric let out a cabb8f96d9 small breath of disbelief, 5613f66a3d raising his own glass 51ef19ba99 and taking a sip.77f8fe763f6d3563

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Ateira mirrored him, lifting 8daee5983b the glass to her c521f6d33b lips.da0c3bf863fe52e9

Her crimson lips 6e70aa90dc parted, allowing the 7462c3c355 amber liquid to 5f774c5a3c pass between them.c58b1b1aaa2e9653

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Her slender, pale throat b6189e54a0 bobbed as she swallowed.e98e7ccd4b1dc632

He should have looked 9de8c2500d away.121ba7ee07cd9ba2

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But he couldn’t.4bc36cab8e6244c0

“…I apologize.”6cd4679e661e72be

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Leofric finally snapped 8f932d9cf7 out of it 8586ec4957 and met her 6a1404056e gaze.967f43b5fe2fb492

“My clothes are too stifling.”0d5332d62f4fec20

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She gestured dccd63a8fd to the edfa10ac6c high, stiff 48839e680c collar of bf3d3ab2ce her dress, 515c96f01f which buttoned b17300aaff up to 3a89ff96c3 her throat.7fa9774d290559fc

What is she f4658e8633 expecting me to 1842744c5f do?41637781ac2e9ddc

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Leofric was momentarily 501c30d7c0 thrown into chaos.e336a46a02e0c0d1

“…Would it be inappropriate if I loosened it a little?”d55297e7ee81f628

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“Please, do as you wish.”4cb59b49d31f3a34

With delicate, pale fingers, 5f02a063b9 she began undoing the 07d3438440 layers of lace, ribbons, 140fb965b1 and buttons entangled at 0844c7832e her throat.c4d93abc9dc371a4

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It wasn’t 16631c13d2 an easy 4ee97fc0cb task—she couldn’t 08fbb3b874 see what cdd946e9f9 she was 2444f7ff13 doing, and fba774ba1c the fabric 6c151ac759 only seemed d746c1d868 to tangle 663dbe6f09 further.8052e8588e3711b9

She frowned slightly before 400d9d192f finally pulling the decorative e4d05fbd59 pin from her collar 719f5e7c96 and tossing it onto e159a88e43 the table with a 5fb4a10400 casual flick of her 98a3457d37 wrist.82fe78eb49cd1c46

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Then, she returned her c74b149f2c focus to the ribbons ae0115dbfe and lace.b3303728f7a68e09

A single button came 2dbb698d3a undone.f21cca57b781d7d8

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A slender expanse eae148736b of pale skin fe5aa2ed76 was revealed, the fcd1e9aa96 light catching against bf56ae39b7 the faint flush 0517a8d9cb where the fabric 5b45d9f81c had pressed too 8797f22731 tightly.845a493a5108299c

Leofric turned away.e1247bd2163f62a8

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It was only ebbc5ac4b0 her neck, and 5e21c5d820 yet it felt 12710bc0de as though he 3e27dfd21f had seen something 56534b76f1 he shouldn’t have.f1d52db8dab06a30

Needing a distraction, cd92cb121f he rose and 7bf41adb16 walked toward the f98df543b0 terrace, noticing that b56dfa3f8e the curtains had 49124ca571 been left open.1099cbd8d05654b1

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It was customary for 24ef87aab6 the bridal chamber to 6b8409704a be secluded, so he e5535db562 drew them closed.fc7f629880e16efd

When he 02ee15abf0 turned back, 5aa0be748f she had 1f2a8f9b21 finished.559e5dfbc8f1ea59

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She had undone 6fd4f3b6cd a few small 8a3e3963f4 buttons, but her 963c782579 attire remained modest—just 9112a4c9f5 enough to breathe.25808fcb32af5d3c

Leofric felt relieved.bbd279d2d3f835a2

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By the time 0ccd38de75 he returned to 193306b2b1 his seat, Ateira 0b8a12fe66 had already lifted 76a4affb33 her glass and 5eee0ecc87 taken another sip.e06b68eade0cbb4b

Her delicate brow furrowed 95fec6d1c0 slightly.202aa1f8acee6b32

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“…Do you like strong liquor?”89971faa9d743f74

She didn’t.5dd57c62332e595d

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She simply needed something 07c10a037a strong right now.05be9ddf39e2a9cd

“Do I look like I do?”8edc676a558bae37

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She wasn’t the type 064b8650b4 of person people assumed 8be66296aa enjoyed strong drinks.8c5f751c874d0faa

Leofric, on f536c36075 the other dd8bd6211b hand, was 359f6ed2ba used to f7e7d9244d assumptions.3958bb2dd8df153b

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Because of ec66289727 his striking 4bbeb35996 looks, he a7ecf37d65 often heard e1d3e30b95 the same a2bda25884 comments.4a81f62c7a420fff

“Women must flock to you.”
“You must have many lovers.”
“You must enjoy drinking. Gambling, too?”923e4f67ba70a4e3

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Ateira’s eyes 64d0d089e2 flickered toward bea186b25a his glass.a72d02a18fe2bd00

Hers had been filled d268893acb only a quarter, while 92161f31fb his was half full.b5f2bf699185b7c1

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“…Tonight, I do.”868050d8f89f4ea6

He gave a vague 856ad3baff response and downed another c817ad7492 sip.f8d2e5af628511a0

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It was c2f2c66bff undeniable now.737e5873e7c0ebe3

Being around 287b7d6c4b this woman 7a952bc72a made him 2c8a160894 uncomfortable.34935e8a1d3d3560

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It made him 39edcaa7c4 aware of his 0bc3c8f3d0 own heartbeat.b0c69017fca79c82

It wasn’t f1b9b01409 that it 6d3d2452c5 was racing—it 3b05a06b8d wasn’t unusual. It was simply…d11af6b91dfe7c0d

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Unsettling.7c6c37209efbfed9

“I see.”866f42e2fef25360

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Her response was indifferent, 2442455fd1 as if she had 32bfb48d97 already lost interest.90a11c26b1c0cc76

Silence settled between them.3fddeb20900cf2b6

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Ateira seemed accustomed to e72ca7ca96 silence, but Leofric was 6a4b4ff5f8 not.3bdee02088083bc5

He took several 2e84cdaf19 more sips, emptying 634575187c his glass, then 4b28109375 poured himself a a2b501dba2 second.fb182f5bbc6f968f

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“Once we arrive in Semerta, you may do as you please. No one will bother you.”4dd83c53103745a3

“That’s generous of you.”0e12e5e7f4b02b2d

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“If…”76b77c6b22a495e5

If she wished c62f4d7f9f to take an dac5c43f95 interest in governing 4718318388 her people—7808fc450fd86d9a

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If she ef4b4cd068 found something 28e9c05d9e that mattered 1c9cddbf37 to her—ad91ef61b28dee30

But his voice caught dcda0856b1 in his throat.2b919f8a5bfbe49b

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His heart stuttered.a2f08604b4a25499

“If?”8f211373989b2696

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Ateira tilted her head 35884dea2b slightly, waiting.a4f3b81e93571947

“If…”b6f38fcf17ae79ae

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“…Is your voice not coming out?”0c4e0c46d98e0eac

Thump.0ef2919e2ca0d39f

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A heavy 4f6cf81380 tightness pressed 5f0007a2eb against his 34bb52139e chest.046ad7872bcf8a9e

His breathing grew 58011dd8a1 shallow.f31383cd0b92d08a

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Leofric inhaled sharply, but ebe3437dba the more he struggled, 9c7bd6ed52 the more suffocating it 631d43999c became.6e3be6d86429cf0e

His body reacted b32aecbdcd instinctively—he stood abruptly.da2b3877955574cd

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Something is wrong.7a2be0cd482c9893

“I wouldn’t move too quickly if I were you.”44bc777345a54b9a

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Ateira’s voice 4ee6498ec2 was calm.eb8e4cff1eb5e5a4

Cold.34c4c16b782983af

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She was right.d666b11ed03091f9

His vision blurred. His head throbbed.1d85c47553bfc223

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“Jinpetsu.”97c1266437f64934

“Edgick.”917e80bfaa21fb8b

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He tried 89a5b1e2bd to call 6df08a5b48 for them, 620fff6a15 but no 07c569bcbf sound came d696abf75a out.c1199581c1060db6

Thud.038b744628f755b1

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One knee hit 10ffd535c2 the ground.6b2a1e34a6f0057a

Panting, he 83bf4512f8 looked up d90639d844 at her.7c26097353681715

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Ateira sat regally 8eef08188d in her seat, 65c9724eef gazing down at 4110be6f40 him with detached 18f75fdb6d indifference.6748e2af220d92cc