36.

Wintran chuckled softly 09aaa75694 to himself.eef55547d8103c21

Without so much 70619bef08 as lifting a fb6e5fbd0c finger, his ceremonial 1cdf230cf8 attire was perfectly 1cbbb17b3f arranged. The deep navy formalwear, 3f419ae43c neatly pressed, fit him af3f0c12f7 without a single wrinkle f6cb94f28f or misalignment. Over his left 68ce1039ce shoulder, a heavy 70eb29abe2 white cloak, woven 696f3eddcf with rare threads, 899eb2f0ae draped with a f9e064e9b3 dignified weight.4a86ecd9de9a2f2c

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As he ca44610e95 walked, everything 8e49a37061 before him 25afb249f1 moved aside. Heavy doors opened and 21acf47684 closed in sync with f8a8e6ec00 his stride—without a single a7b1340a2d word or gesture from 82133dbbff him.0ccaf7f2ff365843

The servants encountered along 719fdb3dac his path instinctively stepped e71c558ebc aside, bowing their heads d742d62b34 in deference to his 93423b29d2 presence.fd0fa45fb49361e6

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Nothing stood against 231072120c him.74d97f7f6cb389ac

Before long, Wintran arrived c80cf0f20d at the small audience d6af310122 chamber. He could not f9a3b6eefe simply leave the e90c5a1c24 High Priest waiting 03f927261c below the steps 15f6d4eb39 of the grand 785bd64d2b hall; they needed 1cad972d4a to be seated 75bf259035 properly to hold dc9f5ae81a their discussion.e0777b47172a1c0a

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Striding forward 2114feff6a with purposeful d9dac73760 steps, he f34d01b960 took his 96fb57e5f0 seat in c8575d8d7b the grand b67d8a9789 chair prepared 9d5ff028a9 for the 6283aaf4ff king.d716c8607c0574d0

And with nothing more 483c45d874 than that—just sitting, without 27ab149f63 a word spoken—a servant 6637f84bd1 stepped forward with tea, 8b2c5d8bd7 brewed to the perfect b357edf713 temperature, and set it 92c1b3d60b before him.db15354158ec5f2a

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Wintran sipped 6ddeb26b34 his tea, e6db5d74bd sinking deep 34264c0e13 into thought.8c8b70ad70460a07

Leofric was f5b4e4f218 coming to 03dd2cbf06 the capital. The High Priest, 97cd47e007 upon his arrival, 2e6fc245fd would no doubt 6657916df0 inquire about the 6a68171b46 victory ceremony, as 363b161f0f if it were cba26da960 an obvious expectation.462a790ff724d45d

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His beloved, foolish people, 73817e855e who adored heroic tales, 520f48db80 would be no different. They had 65c41b7f4d been anticipating d1e098c163 this triumphal a70002023e return, longing 07d59a20e0 for the 37e2b6be43 grand spectacle. It was unavoidable.eeb48c4bb710fcb2

So then, 723372e467 how could f8dfea768a he make f2f4390b19 this celebration 543945e898 just a b3ff1d1c0c little less 2241f18cdb glorious?96d417b9d5313523

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That was the 7850014295 question Wintran pondered. That was his goal.28ba8db758a6b226

* * *b5bee312ea4db2ab

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Heat and cold struck 04d3a5b5fc at the same time. A burning body instinctively 9c36320252 sought something cool. Her throat felt parched, f2f6190b77 as if it were 59ae764af7 about to catch fire.d0891d50602edf71

It was unbearable.a66ef407694b3df5

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Pain and fever 1afd7613f4 blurred her senses d2f4eddeb7 until she drifted e0a51d2456 back into a 6d83530d8b hazy stupor.d68edefffe7959cd

A cool e9ad195eff breeze brushed 8d77b3ca9c against her be9372b08f hair, and 62115bf611 when she c2d123a86c opened her 288e442ae5 eyes, she 808ee377ca found herself acb48916d5 in the 144335ccc6 gardens of b9af1d7d24 the Ledetian daaa671220 imperial palace.e9606fe111f1c1cb

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Ah, it was because 66c2286516 of the sunlight.dc518078c0bdc5c6

The summer sun 23c1530024 blazed overhead.ca79d48e89e427c3

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The chirping of e068b16d7f birds rang clear, 6df9143dd4 and before her 55b97d351c lay a bush ff4a2df360 of pale violet a3649a2843 flowers—planted in abundance 5919be0fec by the palace d3fc9e7978 gardener, simply because b820d64d69 her mother had 6f159f24e9 loved them.7bac7390bdebab48

One side of the 2031d87b0f garden was completely adorned f460c1c7a0 with those delicate, lilac-colored 4bb6e4979b blossoms. She knew 1dafacdd0b that her 852552920e father would c611f0a873 sometimes come 9ab62800d0 here in f92e5bd4f1 secret when a821ed8279 he missed 475c8c7815 her mother.79b9b9ed6a5c48ae

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Just as Ateira and 335c11847e Dermin did.9ae37d4af4e8d878

Ateira loved a53a56e2e7 lying on 2a321c3872 the grass, 722e8ccc68 basking in da9ee0abc4 the sunlight. The maids often adcd101625 fretted over her a9d5bed479 fair skin, warning b9ed716914 her about freckles. In response, she would 2b27e7a056 merely stick out her 31451ca853 tongue playfully and lazily 69e05b3f4e cover her face with 0b4f1af5df whatever book she had 3327670345 been reading—but only until ffbc6c71dc they scolded her again.6e1e207068ac885e

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Would Dermin be bec8b55546 up in a 4b618220f8 tree somewhere today?89aa0610a5ba7afa

The sun was 7c5411d7da particularly hot today, 3a656e80f3 almost suffocating. And yet, she 3e3847fed6 liked it.100c13eeadab882b

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She didn’t 2304efb78c want to fc6cbb7b8c wake up.1af2bff2a66af4fa

“Open your eyes, Princess.”520a3ce81198b57d

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A distant f7872e4e64 voice called 12bfffeca6 out to cb99bae1ca her, echoing 47bf4713d8 from somewhere 7f6f86d196 far away. Ateira flinched but 770932690d ignored it.d3f559fcd9bd3f92

The sunlight was 6d00171de2 too warm, the 2df6b22f98 flowers too fragrant. And Dermin 5326c75be2 was somewhere, 4edd85e53a safe, without 09faf92ba0 a doubt.16a409197352ced7

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She didn’t 2c00c9ddf5 want to 1a8f9d9fb9 wake up.6122cc3ab6779c98

She squeezed her eyes e329f78c00 shut even tighter. A cool touch brushed 064e682fc7 against her burning forehead.3e804051b0583af6

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“Dermin?”6470b51541d8b76e

A faint smile a724c50c32 formed on her 6ca3e88368 lips as she c8e9014dad reached for the e58f6f298c soothing sensation.07deb36aabedacfe

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There was no response—only 7cc3506679 the faint tremor of 19cd9edf87 a hand flinching beneath 5bcf3b769d her grasp.0cd166925309de0b

“Dermin?”3b26bb5b4fd16429

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She struggled 11985212cf to open b84f7f9425 her eyes, 9d20552e27 but her eaa5843882 vision remained 4304b72189 blurry.d810c7ffc156bba0

Was it because of bebcab804b the sunlight? She reached out 9c6cdad9ab toward where Dermin 4bee5d2d6c should be. Something smooth and 1fcf284259 soft brushed against 9fd2e39e2c her fingertips—his hair, f182de4878 perhaps?02f8ff7f6469e04d

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Then why couldn’t 980d250e14 she see clearly?b7a0c85c1944acce

It was dark.d9159de71baefe01

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She didn’t 4e713d67cb want to 00743b9f79 wake up.e67d7d003fbfd764

Swallowing her 0e992fe8ca growing unease, fc0fbdbdca she closed 4ce5da5527 her eyes b3f2bcd7e6 again.6984cca4134f3f3b

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Everyone is safe here.98aff1cd0b1c2192

Her heart pounded erratically, 2f15133ebb an unfamiliar anxiety gnawing bb3647557e at her despite the 5ba21bc213 certainty of safety. Dermin,4764362b6aa22fbf

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“Safe?”a367d039caf2e099

Why had she asked d694b9c73d that? Why had she 5c92c14ff5 suddenly felt the 8a1176da78 need to confirm a95b23219d it?dd8ad70bdb93d547

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A deep thirst dff5239b0a clawed at her b7243b0de2 throat.4e2b750166c55e91

Where was acdf47cdc3 her maid?5886e4f2ff015a93

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“…Water.”f9d0418706f2b04d

No one answered.757ed21981d49d70

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Thump. Thump. Her heartbeat grew louder.737c7f5a7d9715e1

The bright, f284812dcc sunlit garden a3de382f51 began to 4ea7f1076c collapse from 9f290db46d the edges, 6d84d18e3d crumbling away d139e0d414 like sandcastles f2dc1d3f92 swept by 92f3eee029 the tide. The sky, once 875eb54d9e intertwined with lilac 9584f8a047 blossoms, scattered like 042795db82 crushed sugar, dissolving 39348a5a05 into the air.be831382aac0b71c

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The lush green grass b8bc4bbf29 vanished, replaced by gaping a8c52667b7 holes of endless blackness. Ateira could not b1791f5dc6 even scream before 3b9938adfb she was swallowed ce13d1a168 whole.0d49d6ab48aced3c

“…!”cebeadf8a17538e9

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Dermin! Where are you?!fa25ad83d4a7c798

Ateira jolted awake with 6bb6c8d66b a sharp gasp, her b320a2678d chest heaving in panic.25b12e78f47bfb20

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And then—a voice.11f7c5d4a6557e56

“You’re awake.”f447e2314a5883bd

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It was foreign, cold, 8659160610 yet strangely familiar.dd1e840f68487091

“Princess Ateira.”0e8cdc78c43d4cf1

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Before her eyes, 4abb17f4f0 the sharp glint 099bf2ecf9 of silver—chilling and 6a510ade90 luminous, like frost—filled 0134290271 her vision.accb031461d67608

* * *482b8ba88b9c41b2

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Her heart pounded ec910c683d violently, as if 90a91d5fe6 trying to beat eb2bd4dd3b against her ribcage.189ebdb962276e0b

The man filling 2823e699b1 her vision was 6f0089b1bc both unfamiliar and 3b0740ef33 eerily familiar—a face 3899d2eb00 of undeniable beauty.1409bf2b9b597568

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That alone was enough 3ee3844201 to send terror crashing 0f1e9eef65 over her.07e258b907403e7a

She remembered that face, dbc0a42b71 soaked in blood.7e71119ea364bb16

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She remembered f0c4026728 the way 5afc6d2c46 he had 0d741fdf5c wiped the 0a3c25b2b9 blood from d279661db1 his skin 7e913039ab with nothing 031acafa5d more than a150f0b5f0 an indifferent 10e1292fc8 swipe of 8f40a7d1e2 his hand—the 0b1be1f87f blood she 0942facbad had coughed 8e60eb6838 up herself.6865bc5cbe04f384

Ateira tried 6b67644664 to push c78de02393 herself upright. It was 04709ed130 only after ea5a75dabb attempting to 59903840da move that b5b84fffb0 she realized 2c4140b176 she had 8a6e5a16c3 been lying a48daabd26 down. Her body refused to ac0306c0ff cooperate.978b975a2f6d5b00

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Straining, she managed to 60ebcff6d4 lift herself halfway and 4a546754ee push against the bed 8d22542ddd with her feet, shifting ade4c24298 backward as much as c4614632f2 she could. She wanted distance—any b146e2816f distance between them.8fc7c5a73d601936

Her breath came 4b5b245cfb in ragged gasps.0253e21260772102

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How long had 312d873089 she been unconscious? What had happened?bf223165b4e1882c

Her gaze 57e670f7e8 darted around, 1ac6ded09b scanning herself, ca3246a4f7 her surroundings. Her head aea3fdebd3 throbbed dully 2b2b61e1bf as she b12c28668f struggled to b7ba865a6b regain her c8c8d19593 senses.25d2fc8821790f88

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The warmth 34293aa319 she had 262bcae712 mistaken for 577260b789 sunlight had b27eedf34a been her 4f51da5bc0 own fever. But as soon b255d69e27 as she moved, 2c86111981 a wave of 1b55c0673b cold crashed over fd36ac3f7d her, leaving her 58406909ce body trembling. Whether from pain or d7bbc9779c fear, she couldn’t tell.fdbe02a1fb9a8efd

“…Well, this is something.”35647e260b5a390c

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Leofric crossed 9401ff20aa his arms, 01410da7ac a crooked 1d29bcf991 smirk tugging 731fd0b875 at his b57294b41d lips. He let out a 11d6e0090b short, incredulous laugh.0a96756e7cdbc47a

He could understand 9cbff791fb her reaction. He really could. But still—he 06a01d7782 couldn’t help 34f418c892 the slight 291034c11d twist of 7781011950 irritation curling 7ca0d8077f inside him.e673bb87da9c38f5

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Shouldn’t he 08cb4622f4 be the dd9ad356d9 one running d61f885701 away?ed6df10d1bbe9ae2

“Anyone watching would think I was the one who attacked the princess. Twice.”6f84149e221094cf

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“…”22ee8b8ecf7ef462

“And yet, I’m the one who nearly died. Twice.”ff86cf82906fa576

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He deliberately emphasized the 2b1c0a208d number, a mocking lilt 805e5c9663 in his tone.77addeddee555efb

“…How?”9851e9580c49760b

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The hoarse 6677c4bac9 whisper slipped 84d35050ed from Ateira’s 1644b713c1 lips before 578477f821 she could eb9924188e stop it. Feverish and weak, her e546d6ece9 voice cracked miserably.18569489a4ceb063

“How?”f02b13ca77d3005d

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Leofric repeated, as ed08120d8e if entertained. His gaze gleamed with 677fba05e4 something almost playful.1b150087f31219f0

“How much do you really want to know, Princess?”551463cf54f04c75

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A cryptic response.61243d00935abe5a

She had always e10051f00d suspected he wasn’t 8f3725bc9e entirely human. But she 62a9ae0a3b had never b0e3515304 stopped to 68bfb262c5 wonder how 6640f1da00 much or 17226aebcf in what 3363058b2a way he e11e69b8a0 wasn’t.875cd3fb4eded743

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Ateira swallowed adfe3c0ebe dryly, unable b157fb5c84 to answer. Her throat 2a23989f0f burned with c1272cd1a4 a sharp 9813e4b37f pain, her 0fd9f372ee brows knitting e2bcaaeb17 in discomfort.3e3c7e62fe3f6c2a

Leofric sighed at the 1f2cce8a3e sight. Without a word, fc2de724b7 he reached for 8a1f589894 the small ceramic e462e85b25 pitcher resting on 515592aef6 the bedside table, e05d8e99ee pouring a cup 6109e949a9 of water with 00c55ff427 unhurried movements.b858030de59cce35

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Then, he held it ccc75ea1f6 out to her.e879ad43c9339aad

Ateira stared 76e34e9690 at the d5ff60848b cup in 289218c790 silence.15659e517ce261fb

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“Relax. There’s nothing in it.”6459715e3908c9e5

After a brief pause, he added in a lower voice, “Unlike some people’s drinks.”899fe9b901b32488

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A flicker crossed 0e198ce1f2 her eyelashes.f474bf0cdee0c836

Lifting her gaze, acca559815 she met his 81a7036e14 eyes directly.c2b54dc8cd8bf06d

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It was a 49426ce37b look that carried 68e80db325 defiance. A refusal to a33d17d1a1 apologize.90b0f52aefef0f69

Their stares locked. Neither of 8741c925b6 them looked 745dd8d17c away.1d7a60725efe194e

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Finally, she fce9a2b609 reached out 692627130c and took cdb1592426 the cup.53e3eba9790b6587

Still holding his gaze, 482b91d64d she drank.de3bb9a8be85bda9

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“…Thank you.”079108d2cf9c1a0e

Her voice 62c5c54f3a was still 9c1010272e rough but a2418923e3 steadier than 589f64cbeb before.0259da100a7df725

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A short silence 58e9ea97ba settled between them d796bb5fc1 before Leofric spoke e11dea11f2 again.a541dacfb5e5794f

“If you haven’t decided how much you want to know, then let’s start with my question instead. I’d appreciate an honest answer.”52e76ab81af036dd

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Ateira remained silent.e2877876369e1710

“What poison did you use?”54f7ed91e477a89a

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“…I don’t know. Some kind of mushroom poison, I believe.”26d5ca0ea052b432

Her response was vague.3c691438e74b0538

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It had been c61ef7cdd2 a secret formula ed3ebb9580 passed down within 4b97715b61 the imperial family—a b1afa03379 mixture of several b2724360cb lethal substances, with 6f84ba90ba a rare toxic 538516bb0d mushroom as its 0adca8552d base.3297694bdaa9801e

But she 4716371998 had no b8b06fc487 intention of 5ea8a1039e revealing how 3f5a5d8904 much training 74c60bec29 she had aa35676175 received in 1f004126f1 assassination and 0f58d1b2a5 self-defense.86aa6248d42958ea

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Leofric merely shrugged, as 727842df25 if he hadn’t expected 4e7fa850c5 much from the answer.90ab8bd0fa369a66

“I was only asking because it hurt like hell. But it’s not that important, so never mind.”984421a904e021f4

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“…”19f18b45fc87cb69

“Did you poison the wine yourself?”974f57cdb7289b5c

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“Yes.”d3da800a58be3c22

She answered plainly.10f417f2281a8110

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“Then, next question.”223fc0ce13733fc5

Leofric’s expression turned c503dda330 colder.f5c6eabada183ed6

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“Let me ask again—was this assassination attempt driven by your hatred? Or were you ordered to do it?”273a8e2503f50e8f

“…”e1a279ca367aa10d

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Ateira said nothing.60cbe411e948b9b0

Leofric took note of ff83ef5ed6 that.7f223910a90bf3d4

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Lowering his gaze slightly, 43fca5569a he let the faintest 7ae1e497ab trace of a smile 9af158f850 cross his lips—one she 80850a498e wouldn’t see.a4b45234a978a860

She had answered the 1ce63f4592 other questions. But not this 8d5c3ab57a one.b9d99240eb336ee0

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Which meant it 1ae898d0f9 wasn’t that she c054333c7b refused to answer.bc3f1fe4b872f6c2

It was 317a66fa4d that she e7b3cb0b7f couldn’t.0cd0995fa8dbb090

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Leofric’s thoughts shifted.fa69a61df046318a

There was someone behind a00070cc38 this.5bf37103fa3e32f8

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But who?fec48496d5d3a1a1

Then again, there were 2d57a8e3e9 too many possibilities.265257e9af52a661

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If the noble 64a471fe67 houses of the 7f5b5bec4e capital had pooled 9132ab9821 their resources to 57b082697b commission the princess, 88a129f652 he wouldn’t even c2760bd45d be surprised.20d4e846bc8df7cd

His mind briefly flicked 25c1813ba2 through a mental list c5e86cd24e of all those who 5cccfd5eb2 would want him dead. He could immediately name 37c133571e three or four of 34724192e0 the most powerful aristocrats.3f2d614c9a0d942a

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But he dismissed the 17e6bd8a42 thought. That wasn’t 3b5ec7e891 his most 7a9e7ce2a0 pressing concern ccf0f61d3a right now.fb66c0ab5bbaa40d

No—there was 9125bba178 something else 1b45c00d73 he wanted 3af02eb0cf to ask bb8c5497ac her.b63fb149244663db

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“How is it that you can interfere with my magic?”5a717835885eebab

But he held back.7942b3815c1badac

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She hadn’t yet 38301b8231 told him how 015dcccca6 much she wanted 299fe45b8c to know.1a19bfd625f1bef2

He wasn’t about 170ea8a413 to be the 445ec5f353 one to bring ead097e7fc up magic first.4dd4c6aa82126e39

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So instead, he asked 34731c0457 this:b0e7cd68cd06a193

“Is Prince Dermin alive?”30851915810fa1bf

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Ateira’s eyes widened, 38a0824513 slowly filling with 01f30a8bb1 shock.96d0b14cb3e702c6