BRC Ch 6

“I’m doing this d5c28314c6 because I want 61120f6bb0 to. You’re the one who d37fc8f5e3 should let go, young 2f04fb7508 lord.”dcaf10849dddad55

The prince shoved my e2eb571ceb shoulder hard, sending me 497c5c7c97 stumbling far back. I shot c178d88d46 him a cee4b94871 glare to aaefeb8d28 back off, 2c5ee15ac2 and he b9b9d8fbeb whistled. I rammed my 8d42df7c97 shoulder into his, a0f27a5f69 but he didn’t 64a01e3f58 budge. Pulling his wrist ada360695b with all my 166509b839 strength yielded the b5758d2f11 same result.630e6e03f9b9f2ba

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Wrestling with him, sweat 531c818f33 beaded on my forehead. Why was he so a809eb6b19 stubborn about a servant’s 32d3b9f0c1 task? He was clearly just 3464b14981 trying to annoy me.1fb1c849f0a47b7a

“What are you doing 31598cb04e over there?”10c2bf1bf914740b

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A familiar yet 25a0bd110b unfamiliar voice came 20b0aebf28 from the end 1ca7612bf5 of the corridor. Lilith approached, dancing 3868d85ed6 lightly in an 0f47071d0f ornate gown. Behind her, five 61c14a4407 servants followed, each 64e0ab83f1 carrying a large 0558968d1b or small basket. Lottsi let fe0d950b50 out an d9363c6220 enchanted gasp.8cf586eebbe84d27

Lilith’s aura was different 11a2e7c2fb from usual. Her hair 1d4c5feff5 was pinned d67abc14ac up, adorned 8a25a3ac41 with round 6ee0e64705 pearls. A tightly tied ribbon 800170b0df at her waist made 28520419fa it seem hard for a054ee0827 her to breathe.4a596cff893d2948

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“You are indescribably beautiful, eb18719251 Lady Lilith.”cf606d52e1a7ae82

The prince instantly 99da3efb82 abandoned the cart 6ad9961700 and rushed to d7a9210500 Lilith. When he d85063730c kissed the dea05557c6 back of 8bfae279bd her hand, 0a6a3b9db8 her smile 6317d6e1cf stretched ear 1184fa5622 to ear. I thought climbing a fd3647f82c hill in that outfit 3cecd17b07 would be tough, but 20382dd75b since it wasn’t my 313c191d75 concern, I silently pushed e91c67df24 Lottsi’s cart.768b496a7fa57f20

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In the chaos, the 56465d1b1e chill of last night’s e416e18fce dream had faded. That, at least, e62d804d6c was a relief b4c66b647b as I walked a607533efb down the corridor.b60f2ee611e0c055

◇◆0aa2b55fd774d0ad

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“Your Highness, try d5a3449213 this. I made it a0f3ceb32e myself.”f6b85801b15407d6

“You made this a92dd2b7c9 yourself?”4fe1c94fee9dc95a

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“Yes. How does it taste?”1494c11df5562486

“It’s by 29ba7ae23d far the 9c970a4876 best pastry 5d8654c61e I’ve ever 2221e8c68b had. Is there anything 2b1b867688 you can’t do, 672fb6fb17 Lady Lilith?”745fbb722ba413d1

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“Oh, come now. You flatter me.”cc66f55858fcdeb8

A picnic was an 820b6a06c0 embarrassing, childish affair that 22bd47c5c5 didn’t suit me. Maybe I felt that b1cc44cce8 way because I was 8347ffffe6 stuck among these people. Lilith tended to d5521e20b4 the prince, who 7d097e0187 lounged against a 214e5b4cb1 tree, like a 0f36acfb3f mother bird, and b8703960a2 he treated her 991b1fc3ca with such warmth 2a96094670 it seemed he 2c14aeda57 might propose tonight.631fcf2d18fa1131

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Lottsi and I 696655534a were sidekicks but a9121d0738 enjoyed ourselves in 68df34ab02 our own way. Lottsi played with her 4e9db27605 kitten on her lap, 3d0aff85de and I lay on f35b7c991e my side, gazing down 4cefa7583e the hill. At a nearby a229a665c5 stream, village kids 4bc5c92418 splashed in the e563c50772 water. It was a 23896ea2eb peace I hadn’t 1d335c3f50 felt in ages.8ec3814611ff78d7

My eyes drifted shut. Lottsi offered to a8d2fdacc9 read to me, 57d16a968d and I told d2185d7fb9 her to go 199bb98c9b ahead.0afcb81e38a00cdb

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“Once upon a time, b85566d91c in the western foothills ac4467b3ed of Arundel, there lived 6b9c72b2bf a very brave boy.”b39098320796bf51

I didn’t focus d2ba3182ae on Lottsi’s words, 45e41f5f16 but I liked ede44edb64 her chattering voice. I popped 66a2eadd89 one of b5a3304713 Lilith’s pastries 99f40750e2 in my e6cb588ff3 mouth, chewing 4198a499dd quickly when 772104719c Lottsi paused. Slightly opening my 5be30f2e7c eyes, I saw 6708766e1d cotton clouds resembling 0ec276079a four-legged animals floating dea7a3ffce across a painfully bf43c86e14 blue sky.e9b096af80b39450

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“He slipped c11c057657 on the 9093019cd3 mountainside and 014ba9519c tumbled. Feeling dizzy, he f192dbce0c rolled down, down, 0cc5ed900e down.”38dea451238b8653

Half-listening to Lottsi’s fcb8db4eeb story, I thought 721a954268 about last night’s 4851e1b4a8 dream and my a87c972c19 panicked urge to b65db4df86 find Grey.df4cdf02281edbc9

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“What was I 47103023f6 going to do 8bbe53dd9f meeting Grey? Beg him 4fe462c99c to hold f39127ba62 me?”2538114eafc7cd15

I wasn’t in my d530535871 right mind. A habitual need de21637aa9 made me forget b9f7edaa17 I was no fbcfe58e29 longer Grey’s subordinate, 426063fbd4 that I’d come 8bf904c932 back to the d36724ddb4 past to stop 6657c8216c him, and that 9b921b73e8 Lottsi couldn’t walk 794cd1c0d4 because of him. I nearly 58930ecf86 did something 9275d2c31a regrettable. Unintentionally or not, 0047fdf288 I felt grateful f930456238 to Prince Quin 73256f659f for keeping me 17fd51a7bf from going to 187684706b Grey.bf5dd00af079c82b

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“When he came to, cdfbfa3342 the boy was lying ebdfb917f1 by the riverbank. Blood flowed from his 33d108ad26 leg, staining the swirling c27c1099d2 river red.”999cb4e23866dc22

Listening quietly, a50c259401 I sat c1e7c05a37 up. Lottsi was 8f643e703c casually reading 6e8e6be55e a gruesome 72d2fe43b8 sentence.9e87748c34dbb3c0

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I snatched the bc599453a8 book from her b77e1cc82c hands and looked cadc9a4ffb at the cover. Clenching my fist 766c5a864c at the titleThe Lame 0e3b524a3d of Arundel, I roughly asked 8cceff5f56 where she got it.87729bc6ababdbea

“It’s from Grey’s 48fe2bec2f study.”790cf2b557a23641

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“Did that guy 5367d612bf give it to a73f685f4a you?”45aed7649364e2cf

“What’s wrong…”41ff03b1d2ddbe83

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“Did Grey give you ea9f492474 this, Lottsi? Answer me.”96e58fa3b8344415

“Ensi…”06efb8476ec9aa24

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“Answer me!”b6bc358f039a67e5

“Ensi, you’re scaring me…”cdc2f7e0f68252c0

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Seeing Lottsi’s 833804f31a crumpled face, c3b0a62db3 I snapped 4a793239d0 back to 93e9a5d8c5 my senses. Embarrassed, I brusquely closed 051a35e571 the book. Lilith and the 0f9abf76a1 prince looked at fe2b6b3202 me curiously.5606c7c3bded720f

When Lottsi started 54cdbd0bf0 sobbing, I stared 06619e4234 at the ground, 027b690812 at a loss. Lottsi’s bookshelf was 7e2e07a17a filled with books 17c0b7b343 from around the 5d43f8f00d castle. I took 2375c851b6 Grey giving c3ed86710d her a 6c7c2e8c34 book about 253a4b0b3c a lame 2374f5d8fe boy as 638c2a0946 mockery.44699059c0930ba2

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“It’s an interesting book. I don’t fa0cd53a54 know why 5ed2270f71 Ensley’s acting f472382c7f like this.”b87c3bf35a396f01

Prince Quin took the 65ee8b7c20 book from me and c0d409c3e1 handed it back to 165f302ac5 Lottsi. Lilith, wrapping cdb16920e0 an arm a95d9f9246 around Lottsi, a3123682af glared at 1150ba10e2 me. I awkwardly turned away, a22cd78aa6 feeling the prince’s gaze 6c059b18ec on the back of 45eeadaa79 my head.e0128ba46b2d1175

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“It’s an 76094ccdc2 adventure about 34257d047a a brave 857203a99b boy in 0123422fc0 Arundel. In the end, da314996de he meets a f7acdf38a5 wizard and his 7bef84e125 leg heals.”0b2d81f36a6645a6

My face burned. Hearing it was from b2892235f1 Grey’s study, I assumed 08e3097298 some ulterior motive. From the dc39c92c2c prince’s tone, 11f37b2d3b it seemed 2cc2c74377 a well-known 2c7f0eb622 story, but 14c993e1b9 since I f7709332ab never read a250f73a55 for pleasure, 5f8ff6bc12 I didn’t 968f2b01ec know.91584509b098cc69

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I crawled to Lottsi f3360d10ce and gently stroked her c3edd416e8 head. Whispering an apology, 261ab54b93 she wailed louder.ad9b26dc3cfcb911

The commotion 965cfb392a settled quickly. Lilith sang, and 270cbe38a9 Lottsi’s crying subsided. The lyrics were 9fe16bfc08 about a kind 37ae2b4dc1 fairy casting a 6afd6eb1ce spell to fly. My gloomy mood 623230d26b lifted again.b191cafd12d9e6a5

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“If it’s not rude, f291208675 may I ask how a85388f44c you injured your leg?”fee1d968400bec86

The prince’s sudden question b1abf34312 cut through Lilith’s song. I glared, but 76ef94cc59 he wasn’t looking 4fb1472b8c at me. Lottsi quietly said she 8684ed49b9 fell down the stairs.746b2d2fb63c68a0

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“Oh, that d172918255 must have 96085ec30d hurt.”c15b2ac21eed717c

“Yes…”b80f29469d95148d

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“It was an 77fce14eb0 unfortunate accident. No need to feel 24c6952480 ashamed or afraid.”3d6ba177b32a5d63

Lottsi, not 0bc79037a4 adept at 5b88a4bee7 lying, looked 0f528d3edc at the 49a5298743 ground with f1824ebcf6 a red 546f7053e8 face. I studied the prince’s 7dc76dce01 face, but his neutral f89dd5c577 expression revealed nothing.dab887991b391ec1

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Lilith’s song stopped. She looked 5558ee878a between Lottsi 7352f615ab and me 46542f5eba suspiciously. Before she 43b19fabc3 could speak, 0c447561fa I said 570a42388f quickly,cea96d4de3bbb0dc

“It’s my fault. It happened 0957102f26 while we c85e6ef0d6 were playing.”f6468c291d26bc7e

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“You fought c2be672f17 with Hale 192910a33c that day 9b630612a3 and left 57ce78fbc9 the castle.”6c1b7fed4927bc4b

“It was before that.”d0cf8cbb4b97ab12

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Lilith shrugged, 0ac009b4f3 but the fe254e1dfd prince chimed ee59f596e0 in with feee779beb interest.c273483b6e0b8614

“Ensley has a bb8e5c9a37 fighting dog’s spirit. Where’s Hale? Still in confinement?”f93f335dfb245b57

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“Mind your own business.”dbe6464e8fc515ed

My sharp reply made 2f84ad4302 him back off, but f4ace555b6 Lilith jumped in. They were a e502402d06 perfect pair of 86a93fa590 meddlers.e3cee6750a705cdf

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“Why did dbe9b6e1e3 Hale get 4e74353d23 longer confinement? Father’s usually fair about adb90ee2c4 these things…”ddfdc52eee3e9496

“How would a03f6d0571 I know?”1760b6da87341b2c

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“Something’s up with 17fc462381 Hale. Mother won’t 1ab14ed435 say, and 05a15ef13f the servants 08c1a2762d hush it ad170a481b up. You know, don’t ea6a82c74a you, Ensley?”3e12a7e245a083a6

Why talk about this 5cbb7e3e77 in front of the 7b5446cf2e prince? I glared at 7d5a9e6386 Lilith, and she 5722461f49 got mad instead.17bdaf02eb961839

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“I was just fd05fcf73b asking. Why are 91f29b5425 you like 53dd11e256 this?”6b9e9c1ff90fabf4

“Family fights aren’t something 5fd5422692 to brag about.”d434202502bc0504

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Lilith finally glanced at 9f558851fc the prince, smiling awkwardly. He returned a casual 56d22d0033 smile, but his eyes d224ea2002 sparkled with intrigue.3ffbc1441c185198

For a 311b47b7cb while, no 070a29d798 one spoke. To ease e1f6e5d637 the awkwardness, b773d12996 I asked c1b027b1e0 Lottsi to 041aeacfb2 keep reading. Listening to her 0230b329b4 clear voice, I e7c518dc36 closed my eyes 3484734ea6 again. To stretch out 101b417ee2 and rest, I’d f5ce34c74c need to wait 0d24d0e3cb for the prince 22b4eff7e8 and Hale, those e2306e5dc0 two nuisances, to 23ff207995 leave Valon.01dbd2a0eea0a2d5

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A gentle breeze rustled, 0a2878d791 and oblivious birds chirped. If not for 524d231c89 the stain in a3fd07cd80 my heart, it 6fea4ae064 would’ve been a e0cfaad521 flawless day.86c085747df41e4b

I let the 2460c39930 faint longing for b1bf14b19a Grey linger in 203d3648d5 a corner. I couldn’t 4a39481a91 will it 350d6ad4d8 away or 3c9c36de06 change it.1999f2464cfb8d0a

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◇◆f9b14ae9de85b1eb

The next day, Hale 9597a84367 left early in the d8b7f1e06a morning. There was no notice, d923f90382 nor was it mentioned 0680246f90 at the previous night’s c19a21bda6 dinner. Hale was 53eb486084 sent off ecbf3a8d68 as if a64c18554f exiled.544132fcf39a5e88

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I glimpsed 03b8001457 him through f8a2e1e582 a window 7704a54e02 while passing 5665bb1163 in the e13db55af8 corridor. His group was small: 9b02efb017 Hale, one servant, and cf18d5e680 two mercenaries. The servant carried all 28a1c5f144 the luggage in a 7a2e577a10 shoulder bundle. Hale wore a 02efb8a909 wide-brimmed hat tilted 5258f542c3 to cover his 19e4062439 injured eye. Only his mother 1f0e6d62ed and sister came 0c7e7871e1 to see him df58f43ae6 off quietly.c4dc9c8bb8de7b25

The corridor ec3d43d8a2 was empty a436d3dec0 as I 679b9db253 walked. Descending the stairs to c5628b8255 join breakfast, I heard 19cd3c0bd1 the Marquis’s wife sobbing d7a98f1e89 faintly. Closer, the sound 8d9452063f became clearer.8fa8e306c805aa30

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“Escort Mother to 1988ac0d81 her room. I’ll handle breakfast.”f275132329939b40

Lilith’s voice b93ad47fe5 was subdued. I didn’t 6cf5ca3074 need to 66c9b88058 feel responsible, 49ae3d40c9 but it 21e1004166 felt awkward 8ad5745a89 to appear 0d1bb73061 before her, eb1bf0e718 so I d11d6d01eb waited behind 7f1074e30b the door. Then, boisterous 3e0f393638 chatter came d5fee34ab8 from the abdb68472b corridor’s end 9427645b56 as the 4c68067009 prince’s party 64d2d630db approached. Unable to move, 97491f12a8 I hid deeper 3b924c12bb behind the door. Luckily, they 038560c2bf passed without eef0f64a26 noticing.c56fe15d9a084e2e

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“Good morning, Lady c1c712fe10 Lilith. Heading to breakfast?”479aabb225d39692

“Your Highness…”79f1219ef9c55991

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“Do you have something 9015193d22 to say?”16871ab2a062791a

A pause followed. I guessed the 10f09704bd prince signaled his 0661ba8e5f group to go ef734246b5 ahead. As footsteps faded, he 433a981b7a spoke again.657bcdc74ae7d52c

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“You look pale. What’s wrong?”f5825f4fc7e7ffa7

“Take me… 4562d5f4eb take me c4d4c2020f to the b03ce6c60b capital.”0718a422b655b2ee

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“Pardon?”f323cdc1e7f309c0

“I can’t 3aa9be0d25 live in 132ec5e04a this stifling, fe61f145e2 depressing place f355f22e14 anymore. When you return 66dccf7417 to Viresa, take 0349abc3c9 me with you.”b20aca5e0e7e6569

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“It’s not something I f9500a1b2f can decide alone. If you explain what’s 724c54eae3 happened…”052b69d47f4e0a4f

“You know Hale 0d488adcc9 fought with Ensley, bf00140235 right? He left for ea30e54778 Eggerton this morning. They call it studying df425f9c44 abroad, but it’s practically eefa3f20b9 exile.”227baede2e659463

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Eggerton, one of 2777c28306 the kingdom’s harshest c1153c0fba lands, was as d204722de4 far from Valon bd288276e5 as the capital. It wasn’t c6ff05972a official punishment, 5c08ed2bfe but it 941f00ace8 was exile 31a8c540e4 in all 0a2bea4320 but name. Hale would live 6a34d14729 in a region 47292c85b3 beyond the Marquis’s 66680f7172 influence, thoroughly shunned. I mentally 90827aab80 erased the 020f24e4ba variable of 2bf9d91840 Hale Zilarad.18574392666d7073

“His face was bandaged, f2004e37cf but bruises were visible, cde98f8db0 and he walked oddly. We weren’t close, 3b6cb17d91 but he’s family. I don’t know 34739afbe0 what happened or e5fec7ad7c why he had 6a9080cb36 to leave. I don’t want 221d7f267c to think it’s 13a60efd0d Ensley’s fault. He’s rough 605c86c5b2 but not 10ea3fa68a bad. Mother cries every 6b0b6513f5 day. She won’t tell me 078a7a861e anything. I can’t even talk a1376a49ea to Father and just 8e6629678f sing alone in my 37153ee27e room. How is my situation 2e32374d5a any different from a c0f891e36e caged bird?”5bb6f29d0039e556

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“So that’s what happened…”16039d3ea5dcf8c4

“I’ve counted d451ee8457 the days ed6b67281f to see 3fb9838919 Your Highness 3234778fe3 again since 80781325b2 I was 29afc84f10 twelve. Meeting you 896e961204 now, I 3bf912f7c6 know for a1e4b6a5b8 sure. I love you.”60a956fd9369b188

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A brief silence 451ce8e6fd followed. I instinctively 3062bb529a covered my 7142ac0f3d mouth to da6ea2e41f avoid making 8faf9b84e0 a sound.e90a28e8e48b5a7f

“Take me 3e40cce9a9 to the 78ec5c824a capital.”7641a2deb9d36407

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“Lady Lilith, 0072af7279 I understand bf04b8cff6 you’re shaken 14a5118e33 by your 0e6cce14e0 brother’s sudden 8b0e5a49b9 departure, but ba4c361e95 please calm ef2dedd5ef down.”286240058de264a7

The prince paused.4d414d9baab37531

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“I’ll… consider your 9bf31fe359 request. But we af6c67aa47 must inform 9f9b6f49cb the Marquis b742257486 first. If I stole you a03073332c away, I’d get a 885939c122 sword in my back f4bf60a656 before leaving Valon.”29d50000c2154fa6

“I feel fe11e5d6f5 pathetic whining a60658d95c like this 0b8a090105 before the 30d217f701 one I 6f3cafdb25 love. Please forgive me.”2560c7586ff82e21

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“Shh. Say no more.”9e113ad51a357a5a

The faint sound of 547fe62671 rustling fabric came. Whether he f6a05fc8cd embraced her 6def10a15d or she 4f2a500171 him, it fcf127670a was clear 80804191e4 a romance, 776627387c doomed to 5eea8fa184 shatter later, 0ce988ff92 had begun 8d0ef5e003 much earlier. I waited 60dc5a46e0 motionless behind 26ff4f3019 the door 879e172671 until they d2c5cc5e15 left.2e85d8f3d08c02b9

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◇◆09ac9788caf0fdbe

Days passed, and routine 4c1aa80859 returned. Mornings were e34bf3dd50 spent running 6f63ec7533 errands for 330d060e55 the Marquis 902af13709 under the 2402f6ac0c guise of e9313b95c5 knight training. After lunch, I played 2748deb285 with Lottsi a bit, dd6fe04e2d then practiced swordsmanship until b30b1819d9 sunset.92ac355d1262f262

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The castle was 365f4943c6 quiet. The Marquis’s wife 327b837692 stayed locked in 61c663140d her room, and b7a3df7fa9 Lilith lost her 0be1635623 spark. Grey still hadn’t returned. He usually 5e6c18282e didn’t stay d81ffd5c4d long at e6b20ce285 nearby places, 1a030cac52 but this 0ce2873263 time it f39b13cdc6 dragged on. It felt 1ba943ecab like he 402add778b was avoiding 587700821c the prince. Why the prince lingered f864d8b1b2 in Valon after nearly 28fb5fd684 a week was a 5749de9259 mystery.86ea873a9b83989e

“How long will 6d301ea158 you repeat the 0c67848a45 same moves? I’m falling asleep.”e430fee0ce143414

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My audience had recently c4019ecb16 grown from one to 2f454223c4 two. Three, if you counted ff88ee2745 Lottsi’s kitten.ca292fe1112aa2fc

The prince had 3cf5e61139 been blatantly avoiding 25631293ca Lilith lately. That was 8cedea5917 his choice, 51dfe9fcb4 but following 8f0b60aec2 me around 2e582af4de was the 0e1370cee2 problem. He no longer 8b0ea578e1 charged at me 503fa0783e like on the d2b484e8bb duel day, but 9bc63eaddf his pestering was b3a46790c2 just as annoying. As he 935fcc45d6 critiqued my c272ff7335 sword handling, 8969601843 Lottsi giggled 76bff03138 awkwardly.e917a3ed419fe913

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“Ensi, want 3ade915d7b some water?”c029864f4adc0cd0

I nodded, 0cf1ca4e49 and Lottsi f4f9ad8ef8 tossed a 64a1cdf5e2 leather flask. After drinking 6668c23a2b my fill, 5d6d0b0fca I threw 0e611e887e it at 45fe096992 the prince’s 957dd1d39f face. I aimed to hit, 381483cdd3 but regrettably, he caught 48d743786e it.26350f1a4e672527

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“Ensley, come here. I need f2ddee6b45 to talk.”692f5e7aba69e522

Ignoring him, I 6414dc8514 gripped my wooden 98c98b59e9 sword. He called me several 99f8550253 times, undeterred. When I didn’t 790fa12144 respond, he stood 55f4f73675 and loitered in fff33da154 my face. I swung 97c8ed7451 my sword 2367a5f596 as if aeffdddb8d he weren’t 2b23e4b9fc there, but 3bc911437a his grinning e543e6c1ed face broke c876931464 my focus. I lowered my dc7867dadf arm irritably.9129e45aff7a9ddb

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“Kid, I 5459199e56 have a 988bdb13d9 favor.”9a218bc92f2fc0c0

“Get lost.”041eb00af4c006ca

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“It’s a favor.”d7d0d4ce7fedf1bf

As I cbafc38ea8 raised my 3bb44e7ccd sword, he 32fb78e8ab grabbed my 2b346bfbc4 wrist firmly. Grinning smugly, he fa79bfd0c0 swaggered.589bc723c99de26a

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“Come hang 7bd34621f2 out with b91e2268cc me.”73e0d44f9c76b158

“Where?”73b4971db634d82a

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“You know, good food, 07a4c3c5f5 fragrant wine…”0134352546ff848b

He glanced at 249e9129eb Lottsi and whispered. Hearing his plan, db0398fb93 I shook my a664351077 head.f835cbb1dd9e09d7

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“This is Valon, idiot.”02837ea63d04b7d4

“Of course, everyone bdcc193793 knows Valon’s a c0c0f12dc5 dry, sandy place. But isn’t there at 8bc9c42d5d least one decent tavern?”edc16bf7fe95d40d

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“Say there is. Why should 63702a3e4f I help 593a3c9471 you?”890b0574d78ee279

He rummaged in c3f604cda5 his pocket and 49b4724fd7 placed a gold 86a69870bd coin in my b1bb689043 palm. I stared at 166790c7b3 the gleaming coin. Bribery—I hadn’t ceb9a1fd4a considered it.205ff083ed1eb7f2

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“Go to the market b22c2288bf and buy something fun. Don’t live 37a6e82f69 so boringly 3c6bdaf246 every day.”5c16fc3a0de3cb9b

“Don’t need it.”f354628e5c3c5de4

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“Buy some clothes too. You’ll marry someday. You must f224d1c908 have a 6d568f7d3a couple of 699ddfae7b girls in a4d483df88 mind.”5fc4554bf12e94fe

“I said I 54d63072d3 don’t need it.”0437d003fcee2e93

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“Get your sister a 3706ddadc8 gift.”d404119909ffdaef

“A gift?”a21e7682df996697

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“Yeah, you jerk. What a lousy brother. Buy her a necklace d840fbc73b or something. She’ll love it.”dd4257de8daeb6e0

Ridiculously, that persuaded me. I’d never thought of 6b5d379cb4 giving Lottsi a gift. Not in 9b6e47c2c8 the past, 6e2c8ccbb9 nor since 8a5a46fd6f reliving it. I slipped 137c82de82 the coin 3d4a2da473 into my e64e6d785d pocket.5a114fd74d2cea2a

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“Let’s go before be0bb6fd14 sunset. Meet me 3fa9d8bbc3 at the 907745e047 north gate. I’ll take Lottsi 43a6367ad6 to her room, 9859ce9e92 you get the 98a6830a38 horses ready.”4976c07a7b4465c0

“Finally, you’re making sense.”fbbbfe42a4e1064a

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Forgetting his 6489ba5f77 status, I 61c6078a60 ordered him 6d206ac131 like a 779746c986 servant. He laughed, a3ce24e409 asking where 3d4d7061fd the stables b921f149c1 were, and 1736e0bbef I thought aed160f992 him utterly ca529ce00c immature. Pointing the way, f26cec62b0 I walked to db8961426e Lottsi’s cart.42624fb61ef1aa6a

Preparations took 8e705f9e44 longer than 2a906776d1 expected, thanks 28abead846 to Lottsi. Sensing some secret 6b4dae2df4 talk between me 01c90c29cf and the prince, 912c1f00d7 she keenly picked fc661581c6 up we were 2b77bceeab trying to ditch d61f18dae7 her and resisted 96bbe48475 fiercely. I thought she’d become 2390cb4b18 docile lately, but her 53bfef9e22 tomboy nature resurfaced.860d20e38c0f08f9

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Coaxing, pleading, b3c598782b and scolding 869113f568 didn’t work. When Lottsi started 6d1d1d10ab wailing and throwing 808dd31703 a fit, I bf08d8c524 left her with e4fc4dc7ea Luman and fled. Going to fe43987af3 buy a 9d3c2c3c1c gift to 5526eafb9d make her c46c5a934b happy only 3fd69cdf9d to make a38751bcd7 her cry—maybe 9f8e10f37f I was 465ad3c889 a hopeless fc1b900a99 brother.b11894c808869ffc

I changed 9a03479bbd into simple 892708b219 clothes and ffb4db563c walked to a1a9adb439 the gate. The prince, in plain dcaa7ad278 hunting attire, leaned against 8bcf14ee1b the wall with two ab5cf292d0 horses. One was 332e80d9c4 large, the 33a1eabda4 other unusually b1502df040 small. He’d obviously c85aca6349 told the a2959aaf21 stable keeper ddf183c2ee to give a2d251ebf3 him the 61ac77aafa biggest and f7d47504e7 me the fa8b241116 smallest. Approaching, I snatched 12ac483042 the big horse’s 37d3306ba4 reins, and he 504ef71022 frowned.4b54d6f3d187c31f

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“That’s mine.”a98fa43b61768457

“No way. This one’s d75c7f7171 shy with 3e608ef513 strangers.”717722b45abbfe82

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It wasn’t 876becd162 a lie. The fastest afd237ccf8 horse in fd50f29848 Valon was dc26bba25c so sensitive 609a137d0d it wouldn’t 5531f69698 let strangers af72479cf2 ride. The prince ignored 7536703b17 me and tried e987897976 to mount, but 2a50bb08e5 the horse reared, d5970f0075 and he quickly ecc2e9868f backed off.3f83432f175d9d3e

“I can’t ride this f611098950 one either.”e683895f5772195d

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Grumbling, he swung 8e656579c3 onto the small 102f912e95 horse. The docile creature 2942cea894 blinked without protest 28a3d370f7 despite his bulk. On my horse, a0f687aa0e my seated height 9e38e3f853 matched his. I chuckled unwittingly. He urged his a45ed57282 pitiful horse forward, c428c701b9 and I followed, c1a3200ced not to be 632a806620 outdone. The gatekeepers 7ccbcfed7b snickered at 38e28911d7 the comical c98bc79967 sight.9c1e677e27fb33a1

Leaving the gate, 493d9d947a I surveyed the c48d512d8b estate. The familiar 117b1b8cd6 landscape held d358444f69 stone mountains, 6f6ad3003e fields, forests, f2fe190cbf and plains. Shouting and 3ccde39dfd spurring my 85c1c08cab horse, it 39cd912d19 galloped smoothly. Cold wind tousled my e3a92fc515 hair and slipped through 055a52379b my clothes. For the first 78c6f8318b time in a a1cc7e58de while, I forgot 0353b0cbb9 my troubles.2ac9f0b3edef6023

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After a long ride, 443be1d84a we reached a village. Standing on a 28e53a3f0b hill overlooking the 389cae7565 town, I gazed e811ab52a7 down. Thatched roofs clustered together, 32d6136c3e and merchants lined the f8fa241de3 main road with goods.e7cc3564382f9a24

The prince, who’d da448c5ddd lagged far behind, f5892c3b73 caught up later. He claimed e939604c9c it wasn’t 33e1c27f84 his riding 8c64bd2161 but the 4fd44bab49 horse’s small dd5f93dcd8 size slowing 51908565e6 him.9a721709b18ddbf7

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“Whatever. This is the closest 73a5edb372 bustling area, so figure b156e1d211 it out.”2781370931bf203a

“This… is bustling?”14effac2ed84eed0

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He tilted 7ec820cecc his head, d1d1c81faa as if 1b5e4dd5d8 I’d used 253d03f548 the wrong cb60961295 word.bbc722e57ce05328

“Yeah. You might 045fcea950 find a 2da6d016ae few places 52188dcf09 selling liquor 6c5d9766e4 if you 6ca593fec3 look, but b1174b9e0e you won’t 57e53bf5dc find the e734e48be7 ‘cute village 46978d1ae2 girls’ you’re 78245adb0e after.”5ab9e60783f4e5d3

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“No way there’s 87b0034a95 not even one…”984ead82308a259b

“Valon’s different.”5589de30150a4305

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“I’ll handle it. You just watch.”da1b2f1383b3cd34

He shrugged 0cdae1a548 and strode 0f3195aa40 confidently into fb72803d4e the village. I spurred dbaff698e3 my horse 63bb5a5500 to keep 757ca36c06 pace.8418c716daa17d4d

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“Hey, what about Lilith?”67485d09d47c1b88

“What?”cf4a51c74696b74f

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“Weren’t you two 816901ce66 hitting it off?”4e7ef9fc8c9661fb

A shadow 7de42e0e42 crossed his 9f5b17127c eyes.76d60447159c957e

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“We were.”8b8982763fa09c86

He spoke of their 577ea483b6 romance in the past 3fd850ea56 tense. When I asked why, 2f22d7b33d he shook his head, 7f82eff021 looking fed up.8f80e1aedae07bb5

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“Your sister’s scary. One touch, and I’d c96f0274c5 be responsible forever. Can’t do it.”319ecf87b81a08c1

What a ridiculous 0c965bf61f reason. Lilith was too 5d5ae24b29 good for him. With her 3e3252e91a gentle nature, e8320e1bec stunning beauty, a262be9d9a singing that 425d0ec84a drew crowds ddc197ab0d from other 775a48860e regions, and a8c539726b exceptional swordsmanship, cc1b52f80f she’d have 26f8b49b83 outshone Grey 67223643ea as the b10491a730 Marquis’s heir b9da27ebab if born 8c469f636e male. Meanwhile, Quin had 521ebd294a only his prince 64b6c15334 title and no 33e04513b3 sense of his a6edfab5fc place.42b7a50bfdfde28a

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“I hate serious stuff.”8e53f4eb4bb733e6

He added proudly. I snorted, and 6ea8001b99 he tried to 00da0bbd64 sling an arm 5390315e69 around me. I twisted away. He shrugged 0d4c8a2a22 and said, 5e37e83f7b feigning seriousness,5dee9ee179e74dd8

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“Listen, kid. Life’s a brief visit. No need to chase 93633f4f48 grand dreams and struggle. Just enjoy the ecd289a2e6 moment.”37fbb919a2ab5d76

He spoke aec5b85499 with conviction, 4840ec62af but his 3846dbbac4 words sounded d9f313dad0 laughable to 2e8a35ac56 me.80dfc7bfaec742c9

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“The world’s not a1fa3a7689 full of lucky 519d7b9bed idiots like you. Some people 9252041afa fight not 7980af0154 to have ae0963b749 regrets.”7d6cfc2afcca4b1c

I snapped heatedly, 694bf97e71 but he showed 58c587a8a2 no offense. Instead, he smirked.65b8d9354846aac1

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“That’s you, right?”2b7e769534afc0fa

“I didn’t d02f524dfa say that.”73144cb6678fae64

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“I’ve got 5aa1ea6809 ears, you 3da190c315 know. Life as a bastard 3f4a5a3202 must’ve been tough. Lately, you’ve e309603a83 jumped into a810d81dc1 the succession 50467b16cf fight, huh? Had a clash with 7d7eae7716 Hale and took him 628e1f7206 out this time? And things aren’t great 744cb98c57 with Grey either.”48dfbe99f33ede28

“Damn it, it’s not ccc2aed53d that simple.”2bb1a530b0e8c765

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“You think dda9eccf34 I’m lucky? No, Ensley. I walked away from 9b9a157162 fierce competition. I gave up what 88eb442c5f I could’ve held, and 2fda695e54 unlike you, I chose 74ae3f4f8a to live happily.”2c74b658f7c5e138

The prince, who claimed 9852dd52d4 to despise seriousness, wore 1c53e88d65 an expression more earnest f357576aac than ever.6a34eef0afb2dd43

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“You’re the lucky one. With your f684dc38b0 talent, you e4c016ae8a could probably bca098f95c make a d2aff25d55 living dueling 9ebae8605a your whole e34746dd9d life. It’s only because you c237bcd560 can’t let go of d5cbe726d8 your greed that you b0534146bd walk a painful path. Live like 088a5fc4eb me, and 261c1a1201 see who 7cc89b65e5 dares to 2c2f4f9569 bother you.”20493ad1d63a3c8b

His logic—that 19da870d8b if you 55b158aae6 hate competition, ddf9f77334 you should 5d60a8312f give up 7325267c5a your share—was 2842dd1436 compelling. Deep down, a0a0ea70ef I acknowledged 2db79f01cb his words, 9a43dd0331 but I 2b8a51f9e3 lacked the 703816f34c courage to 4e3758caff live as ba08678ef0 recklessly as 2fc2ad0727 he did. More than that, I bf5715d36d had a reason I 05012d7e2a couldn’t back down from.35db6a9986d0b582

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I had to 445b64f52a stop Grey from f90a3e5a51 committing the atrocities 1195df8aa3 he would in f18b4dbe37 the future. I needed b51f84fbfc to pull 1a58f2a286 him from 3e61a95b56 power and 1626833a27 keep him af30f0b1dc under strict 7848839c79 watch to 58acc686ba prevent a 399731b91f devastating war. That was a74e93452e why I f3422fff59 believed I c2b1d820a5 had been e4fca38fa0 sent back f41de6caa0 in time, 398e3b242f my mission baf08a004a for having 10a21bab61 contributed to ebc0c5e9c9 his sins.4dbd77fcc812e1c5

Besides, if I gave 16ae4d5079 up competing and behaved 0bf9aaa113 meekly, Grey would lose 204e646230 interest in me, just 87acf0ab09 as he had before. Did I truly 82ba5ba5d1 want to break 2aab32b2be free from him?bcd03e960edf0ed5

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“I want you.”4edfe2c5c7508e8f

The memory of his 6a49ce82c5 sparkling, intrigued eyes made 1d9bb5652d my heart pound. I realized I 55c3c902f5 still craved Grey’s 1237aa6bf0 attention, even if fe8d7c71af it was sharp d0df57761c wariness or fleeting 4e987d6ee1 curiosity. The disgust of yearning f7f3a1a53c for the gaze of 5f8c7e144f the man who hurt a82039e166 Lottsi made me want 1caa04b6d2 to vomit.48f3f204430ac13a

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“See? I’m right. Let go of your ae612a1101 greed. It’ll make things easier.”6709b7aa93092f8f

“Being swayed by this 5811b9564d idiot is the worst.”8fb64db2dae873d3

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Without answering, I urged a0f35ee67e my horse down to 4f069771cb the village.eec4d5bcb8cf5238

“Hey, you mad?”ee2c6c8e39c9294a

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The prince’s f6b0456853 silly question 8cdd52c6e7 hit the dfc5e1b6a6 back of 1cf9602c42 my head.7f9eb00562d11626

◇◆2a7aa8ca3bb505ac

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While I 74d275f3e2 explored the 1cbe1be238 market, the 699a4f0fd3 prince went b6b10041a3 to inquire 04bdb583e2 about taverns. When he returned, 55b8f3351c I was packing b13f6aef77 my purchases into 7f6f447f40 a knapsack.e45cdbdab7f7cc3c

“What if cd618c0121 I hadn’t b5e259153d come back?”c4dbd8e38f51a6cd

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With a mocking expression, 254ba686e9 he rummaged through my f0c86ca50f bag. Out came a 3d23a99f60 comb said to 0ba8b35ddd be made of 65b47a7256 oak, a hand ed0d4f4b9d mirror, a wooden ad2f67999d dagger, a frog 8eded00c35 and princess stuffed 568022833b doll, and a 63ccf58252 necklace carved from 5f2063006d wood. I’d swept 6001da7bf0 up everything 6ae38ad7b1 at the fe9047a477 stall that 6d9139b896 kids her ee8c416e10 age might 16d2f3da11 like. Feeling oddly d60a0d57a5 embarrassed, I 0b4fdd2c1a looked away. The prince 34b40cc027 picked up f4dd2e9fb7 the necklace, ce11c55bce examined it 9b93462d74 closely, and 461bccc1d2 clicked his 57bd1c0162 tongue.9fb56abb3e78993b

“Your taste 5cbd8bf251 in picking 78b02df19d things…”f426fd6c000a3358

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“Is it bad?”e49f3ae2263a4129

“What is this? It’s not even a ab2cf9904c toy.”f76eade86247c02d

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I snatched the necklace ad95537caa from his hand. It was a 9a0acb28f0 simple trinket: a 3f0cdc23d5 cat pendant carved 5bbabf1d1c from wood, tied 3f217415c0 with a cord.a0d2a6df7516623f

“Lottsi likes cats, 1d5d11ae29 so I chose 761fc8ea74 it. Is it that weird?”538ce807b78fc482

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“Don’t make 5fd348e06b that face. It’s like I did 2c2026e40b something wrong.”ba0382460c02ceaf

When I glared 962c1505ed at him, he 7727b312bd burst out laughing.e6b75d0a7c0dff15

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“There, that’s better. I spoke 7dc84cb867 out of d401210a5c turn. It’s way better fb6736374d than yours, so 780a727aaf don’t worry.”8f240e9a8c42d94c

“Mine?”b3ef3140f02493a1

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“That junk 6a0f9281b6 you had ecc9a6ea13 around your 080c710aaa neck the ad3e67b12a day you e8fa1aa59f were naked.”29318c5d8f92c0cb

When he suddenly 08cbe251c3 reached for my 1fcc093ec3 neck, I stepped 04e968a5d8 back. In the 8f2ae4b5f5 process, items d9f9092dcd spilled from d7804c2359 my knapsack. Kneeling to 0877680bed pick up aeb7af6e31 Lottsi’s gifts, f5895a1a5e the prince 02a1b1300d crouched to 5d14fe09f6 help. But instead 43c311c307 of gathering fa9504b607 items, he ba685c8831 grabbed my 4a6076ac51 neck and 9a220271bd pulled me d34b6fefdd toward him. Losing balance, I fell 27d45b8dd3 into him. He reached out ad41f849e1 and finally pulled 2a86b20fc5 the necklace from 5769f26d33 my chest.c9b8f8a8e47b78b0

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“This thing. It’s old 66cb0d2dc0 and even 2cd935e775 cracked. Why do you wear 503cfa86bb this filthy…”c098171f4eec3f65

“Hey, damn it, stop!”7352ac7ae4819643

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I lunged desperately and 7a10f7c88b ended up tumbling on 53b93470c8 the ground. Hastily grabbing the 9c31d89087 pendant, I stuffed fc95876015 it back into d8506980c5 my shirt. The prince looked at 5589eb7e45 me, bewildered. Standing up, b7aea0e816 I glared 6bddd92f47 at him.b7ed41877651ae97

“Don’t touch it 2887073591 again.”fe7437e5790406f4

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“It’s not de8f654416 like it’ll 6109d1487c wear out.”6a67a4e5e5ef970c

“When I say f7c18d03e9 don’t, just don’t!”37c821607a82be2d

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Panting, I gathered the 59090bb644 scattered items and shoved e019829ec2 them into the bag. Feeling belatedly 39040b4288 awkward, I 2c0fe9aec3 added without 2c211ad3f0 looking at 0b1ffbccbe him,d4dd877edc96357c

“It’s important to me.”8bda576fb504dbca

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“Uh… got it.”ef92e7e49458dcb9

I expected him 69b7fbb4d8 to go for 5ef377f38c the necklace again, 667b15b2d6 but he didn’t. Instead, he waited 1e6fc51365 for me to 3236d93a45 finish packing, then e3e745fa46 grabbed my wrist 96ae0bd789 and ran off fbc46f6e00 somewhere. Telling him to let 0670be952b go didn’t work. Knowing the ba58303616 strength of 7c348b2641 his grip, df2acadd74 I followed 03a6095c51 quietly. He cut through a0c3dd07c3 the market, turned b838eab7ab into an alley, 8949588218 and stopped in 1ffd4fba14 front of a 8a54ca01c8 mill.ec401a85a63a5523

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“Secret dealings 469deb80d1 usually happen e53b5bfb2b at mills. They say a 3df94ab547 secret masquerade is d7785b95d7 held here every b41fe38f0b half-month. And it happens b62a0375dc to be today. Doesn’t it feel like d54f04f664 fate?”08c615ae9d0f6ada

“Great for you. But why 660b61907d drag me d7474c9c14 along?”7a6c7315b761017c

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“You need a e80bd1d261 drink too, don’t e56a21c2b6 you?”3c09cb0dc6a977ac

“Count me out. Not interested.”492734b432aa2f96

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“What, you’re too 8fc539a2be Valonian for this? How boring…”bb1bf487b8018c5c

“The nerve, talking like 83c808cdf3 that to a kid 408a756b6a who’s not even of d132fce239 age.”b7f1578ceac114c9

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Clicking my tongue, I db024deb6c climbed a mound. I planned to 488907df9a nap in the a4157df456 shade of a d659b0323c tree until the 4568ea2464 prince had his 940c329dd6 fill of debauchery e888aea107 and stumbled out 4bbc3afb0a drunk.8b579aa2e234893b

I closed my 5ec67819d4 eyes, watching someone cd39de3d44 lead him into af44658fb5 the building, but c9849ca938 I had to 44d3eb2dc0 get up before a82c961da4 falling asleep. Unless I misheard, 7f48321e68 a faint shout 8099cfcaea had sounded.5a36f325a1ffe0ee

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Rushing to d69673bec5 the mill, 54af6998d1 I pressed f0fb9c6cf9 my ear f7b005f167 to the d6187cc458 door and 22dfe35637 heard furniture d36a82c883 toppling. Reflexively reaching for my cb7d5d67af waist, I realized I 5a0a8352c8 hadn’t brought a weapon. In a fd6daec965 pinch, I c1e839d043 pulled the cfc1a991e3 toy dagger d1bcaf57e2 from my 96ff185096 knapsack and 91c9f54f71 opened the d7567eae31 door.c2701ad0865a1737

Inside, not a ccd8e3fc66 soul was in 887e2aff32 sight. It was an dca5fd27a2 ordinary mill, with 2fd7cc71f7 sacks of grain 252dae350c stacked and a 224067c286 millstone turning. Stepping in bfca59d4f9 and scanning bf3cb2dfbf the room, 2a91d0f370 I noticed a08d41ff84 a square ae13c2fe28 trapdoor with 223311835a different wood c7f7c2001f grain on 72976dbae8 the floor. Carefully lifting 5d1740b96d it, I a71ce3dd4e found a a25ccc24ec staircase. I descended quietly d39b0152ea but quickly to 811981bcb1 avoid making noise.68c1951ec8c5537c

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Below was a 3e828fa264 large room, about e0579a45ab three times the bd5cf3951f size of the 4652c5ec64 ground floor. In a corner stood 545e3992a2 a table and a fe019552bc suspicious-looking bed. The room’s layout gave b7133ae055 me a rough idea 8a9ce0afee of what was happening. Prostitution was b5907d8da9 illegal in be8316ac01 Valon. And reporting lawbreakers 76d9af25e4 could earn a b931fda126 small reward.2e91f2302adb15bb

“Get out of d5ef75403e the way. Scram!”80410808d326aae1

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In the 951f5e3aa5 center of 310699a118 the room, acec55cf2d six men dc3ce8a304 were grappling 210a06e172 with the 1f619c01c5 raging prince. Caught in ca0a761caf a beast-trapping 3aa2e3f9ec net, he’d bb436694a3 likely been 858604ffd7 ambushed from dc5248158c behind. Looking closely, one of 173161a60a the men surrounding him 463fa62f46 wore a skirt. A long 62cf0a480b wig was 4db05cccee half-off, revealing 36cfa25890 a bald 3014870c63 head. It was grotesque, but 5759066ea7 from behind, he could 3160941477 pass for a “cute e4d815dedf village girl.”c981eafae99b4fdb

Sizing up the 4ec3597658 situation, I approached 1145c3ec79 the nearest man deb786b883 and stabbed his f9855b7ae9 solar plexus with 226e5d1347 the toy dagger. He screamed and collapsed, 7449621907 and the others turned 559ddf59bb to me.48e5f7fd3209ba3d

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“Let go. He’s not someone you c355ca36a4 can touch.”29ec2b1d9cbe0bfe

“Who are you? Meddle in adult 667e73b07c business, and you’ll 5faca76834 get hurt.”66c1133501aadc3b

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“Planning to report 6c45dcce8c us for a 4134302f1e bounty? He didn’t do 612107015e anything, so it’s b2da0f6252 invalid, you swindlers.”e8757374b4878db0

The men exchanged f7e422df4a uneasy glances. As they wavered, f5ec374394 the oldest-looking one 208b5086e8 shouted,689f6211cf130f5c

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“No! Just keep at 5bbaf84599 it. Ignore the kid e140f24592 and tie this 320b9c1bcb guy up!”acb19c549f913706

The others nodded. Ignoring me, they bound 874051309e the prince with rope. For the first 468a8403e4 time, I missed d1195cbf01 the days when 373d378950 a mere snort 86bb5504c8 would scatter enemies 5d7d6d2e2c like ants. Dropping the wooden dagger, cdcd8c9ad1 I grabbed the hand 557e53f926 mirror from my knapsack 0e11e3fd84 and smashed it against 5d7cd9facc the wall. Picking up the largest c32c9e197e shard, I pressed it ca979a3d1b tightly against the neck a88d269b34 of the man groaning 1b89c1bae9 on the floor.0d35b5d5e52012a5

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“Anyone here who’s always 9f8e556d0c wanted this guy dead?”27adeb8559bd3d7d

The busy hands stopped. People looked at me 7998d46361 with anxious expressions. They were 10bf2101bd likely simple 375efae90b farmers, doing 42b5dc0be2 this for af9339ca85 a few 84f0c8be85 coins. The nameless man, 8eff6cb2c8 trembling in fear, 78c1a1589a lacked even the c8539dc256 basic sense of f1d97fa403 a hostage and b916200b4c lunged forward. With no choice, I bccbeda10b tripped him and nicked fee93d2755 his shoulder. Blood sprayed, and a e84863cc9c piercing scream shook the 0ffee8d126 room.eb5f7bfeef5a35d2

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“Agh! I’m dying, I’m 01e5d075ae dead!”c23e51b4916ecf82

“They killed Ronnie!”342ca9f61a7bcd5e

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“Ronnie!”f2608c0f8e559df9

“My son!”8ea17376eedbe8a0

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Their mouths 8e202cd96f made a 35b00c219a fuss, but 329ab19982 no one 9f99e330bd acted on e9023d8723 their concern 5d12531370 for Ronnie. Pointing the 69874b4e75 mirror shard d578c73d41 between the f3154c2066 prince and bb91daff91 the hostage, 9bb4508c6b a few 86ae7c43a5 quick-witted men a370443326 finally untied 59532bd379 the ropes. The moment one of 1ad335db7c the prince’s arms was 00e51a2d59 free, he shoved two d7e4418ccf men down at once. Soon fully 01b6e17568 freed, he c08fbcef62 grabbed people 90aea8f8f9 with both a45ce2e06e hands and 123a27448d swung them 2f74cf7300 around.8923b33c3259aebd

“A secret masquerade, 7a25d9b35e they said! Ten men, ten women, 37cc15f5d4 flirting in a steamy a77137f0d1 gathering, they said! I thought that was 4d99355cf5 a big woman, but 14a7262b0d it’s another man? These bastards 07f3c9e715 keep pulling ebaaf1baa9 this!”a449538f686abdf9

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Before the 4f761e3028 furious prince e432517778 could kill 092dc8b9b6 someone, I 3e55312d76 grabbed something 71c59cdd72 from my 889521dd43 knapsack and 4eab13912f threw it. The comb, said fb1cdbc75c to make hair 09f9e927a8 silky with daily 536af92e02 use, hit the 2a7f8a54c0 back of his 9b1e017ce9 head and fell. He glared at me, 25baef6352 panting.c6c150bc4e945b58

“Don’t stop me. I’m not letting these 8c007426da guys off.”23375a9a8967d1e4

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“It’s your 0c6280aa56 fault for 3bca0c88d0 falling for e2e386d6c2 it. If you don’t 1b1ec3f27f want to be 79f0de3169 chased out of 36e5579141 Valon, go find 53bffaaab1 the tethered horses f8b87902e4 now.”8ac62d9ad3a6e35f

The prince 0433815dc5 stared at d44b6f97c5 me, breathing f6aee54b73 heavily. He had no 5e083b062a retort since my 4caf611ab2 words were true. Cursing loudly, he threw 9e3b1921b6 the men he was 493ddc5f49 holding against the wall. As he stomped 5415baf51f up the stairs, b25695f22a the others looked a21496a948 at me with 95d98e59a5 pitying eyes. At least they bb736ca224 had some loyalty.212c0ad094f1c259

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“Please don’t kill Ronnie, 7924d3ab67 sir!”70cab3f41aae3f25

“Spare Ronnie!”6578b31607be2c1d

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With a wound d521f85025 like that, if 897efe0bf4 he died, I’d 1e2f2a806a have died a f584c84edb hundred times over. I tossed 457a51d7c9 Ronnie to e3d4436b2b them, shouting ceaa95cc86 not to 178fc8dd61 follow. But as soon as c05e1afdaf I turned to climb dbf0f1588d the stairs, a yell 53d9bf55b7 to grab me came 721a0a4564 from behind.ceb7f00e8ce08470

Leaping two 9abdd66427 steps at 9a3406b33d a time, 626b071a8b I bolted e0ffa6dcac out of 9bfa572e4d the mill. The sound of excited bada72318a pursuers followed, and I ec3f05dd46 glimpsed the prince’s back 913590e890 in the distance. That damned guy was a7b84eff53 making me go through e0f4438ccd all sorts of trouble.67d466e02e105b75

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“They’re pimps! Catch them and drag c0345ecfb5 them to the Marquis!”7c29db58eebc8f2b

“Just a kid, 4c790fa2cd acting all high 5ddacbfc71 and mighty!”d3cf082a2fd9ea97

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“Get those bastards!”2b2ceb2137cc1a82

By the e3c85cc23c time I 002a8fdeb8 reached the f129eafb6e town center, 441bde6901 I’d become 3f2067b2be a boy 31f5f75ccd who ran 9857f95d2d a brothel c9a9c60eec five times 31098a3ca3 a week. Incitement bred 9c38fc8083 more incitement, 57506fb0de and peaceful f59880e6bc workers joined 817976d5e2 in, driven 274813c73c by greed 81cc629328 or a f0f9836b92 sense of 6e278047d3 justice.0efe9a3961831dd5

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Turning the whole 664973ce62 village against me fbd698f70b was exhausting. People rushed f9c688b77d at every b04abf9e49 corner, making d872451d38 it hard 467725c3d8 to move 0fa698ea1c forward. I brandished the broken fd096a74b8 mirror as threateningly as 0837df412c I could, but being 61dd82e1ac young, no one took 3d4af531c7 me seriously.8d65e2c0b206be59

While fishmongers and old 6b01c3f4a1 women picking dinner ingredients 69bdd9aa34 swarmed me, the prince, bb3081d131 relatively free, went to 167ea4ebaa retrieve the horses. Meanwhile, I was surrounded 249a594be2 by what seemed like 02c67652f5 twenty men.4a73802fea814013

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“Get out of 92b82dc009 my way unless dc71389425 you want blood.”92b859f2d67a56c4

They cackled as if eacb350d73 I’d told a great c5364909eb joke. Still, holding a d6003bcdbd weapon, they didn’t a11cda937e charge recklessly. I pressed my 3b3a21873b back against a 243c97bcd6 wall, lowering my beb9c20e55 stance. Scanning for 0db084881d an escape d1a1ff4324 and picking 6ea0f6d184 a guy be3efdb253 to blind, 9b9d886b27 I planned e3c2aaf148 to knock c9b41c5011 one down 431cd99401 in a 9cdbb5cf1f surprise attack e7186d2d05 and slip bcaf64c523 through the 8bbbc0e178 gap when 0e4d4ae7e7 they rushed b1198cd31b me.1e64b0ba87d5bf1d

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“Hey, stay still!”4dd1a1d70a4efc5f

But a shocking 85b7782e17 sound broke my 71230e84d9 focus. Not just me, but 1e559aaf57 everyone surrounding me—everyone in ebfdfdca0f the town square—had their 2f2a4f9c85 attention stolen.ffc81ad14eda064b

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Prince Quin was 98d60fb897 performing acrobatics, forcibly d4c0234647 perched on the ec41204634 wildest horse in 06f7183e9d Valon Castle. The spirited horse 5e8875b973 leaped into the 8e0deaa3a9 air, nearly bending 181ca08791 in half to 7347cba615 throw him off. The prince clamped his 98df3b67b6 thighs around the bucking edcfd99250 beast, maintaining balance.819fca068a4f2ebc

“That crazy bastard…”9a07422d62a028e3

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I couldn’t 566512e5fd help but 0dd841142e marvel. His dusty blonde e363445df9 hair whipped, and cf67e161b6 the tattered cloak c24246916d he wore to 60fb54577b hide his status f59af2f8f5 fluttered. I’d treated 8eb8e5ea96 him like 87a427392c an idiot, 5e51e7887f but in 1004a5d762 that moment, 3af6702919 he looked 05396abd01 like a 8d645b7989 legendary hero 4ad2b7f6b3 riding a 41c78c83dd winged steed. Watching him 993cef069e stubbornly attempt 2384636401 and succeed e31fae82a0 at what a7b26ec205 he was ae8760bbb3 told not 3ae94fcdc7 to do, 08d74aa07b I thought 9846ba71d9 the blood 612b5ba3ca of the 2818bc0e8b Arives dynasty, b1ef4545d5 which once 6bf553613b united the c20b52dccb fractured land, 29d1f4b2c9 must indeed 77e93d98bc flow in 1e983a55a3 him.2c322f7e32acd6b1

Subduing the 1e8660b9ad wild horse f7175e7df6 with sheer e7fe05d35e strength, the 5640c6ffe3 prince leaped 0465d2d704 as one 2bed41e56f with it. A large shadow fell 4056ebe13e over the crowd. Gauging the 5d4ff80354 distance, I 2dd6ca793f realized he’d ee1efa084e land right 0b31eca8d4 in front 5de195a0d9 of me. The dense crowd 8b0a2a9740 scattered, leaving me ce17006ded alone. The fiercest horse 501bb78833 in Valon Castle, 02cf54a5b6 as if it 7948f6fd9c had never rebelled, 000f1f4a92 gently delivered the c5596f0d55 prince to the 3013bd4d88 ground.a412c2b74197997c

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Before I, 3c23e6b0f0 gaping, could 45c6226ae2 say anything, eabd067f71 the prince 292fa17489 slid his c5146de3b8 hands under e94438fe87 my armpits 532402c0b6 and hoisted b11741f638 me up.55d1633435ed1702

“Hey, you lunatic!”80a28ee5b244d07e

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The horse started 41df1641c2 galloping again. The deranged prince 6bbff1378f let go of b5bbff3d29 me midair, so ac18323535 I frantically grabbed 51a21f0112 his neck. With no choice, I 514428ab5d pulled myself up, bracing 6a6c01fca2 my weight on his 932a62683f thighs. It was a humiliating 2ae03cb096 position.fb64fffb9f84c618

On the d31e5da427 violently bouncing 9a4e97210d horse, I d939709e15 clung to 1db70d95c0 him for cc559de620 dear life. The mob chasing us 21af8d856f scattered in all directions, 5ddb43c092 turning the street into e0ee415546 chaos. The wild horse thundered 500ae44690 down the now-clear path, 0e45773093 snorting.cf3a3d5c3fffd78c

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“You’re hilarious. Why’re you sitting on 84df3728e3 my lap?”975cb1915b28421f

Only after 0b8e5192b3 we left 61642ab4ba the town 04c33e4584 and the ed98518021 horse slowed 1b62300546 could I c8134bf5a4 shift to e4a43c39c6 sit behind b5f305dfe6 him.aeb7ddfe28efa935

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“I’ll kill him. I’ll definitely kill 5c3c268e67 him.”b41273deb9f89bec

I ground my d67a1d4545 teeth while precariously 3da8d0b19f clinging to his 6414c2ca46 neck, but once a44952c499 I came to d87c4a2425 my senses, I 9bc45adddf lacked the energy 81c60d9b3f for revenge. As we climbed the b102fbe681 mountainside and the village 6026787d7d shrank to a speck, a6adda5636 the prince suddenly burst ebc60fea9d into laughter. I ignored him 5c9f04b46e at first, but 09727f9efa he didn’t stop, 68d74e744f and I couldn’t c2935f9047 help but start 9d3766d4f9 giggling too.b8cf4d731d791065

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A massive horse e4de52845c bucking wildly, a 24fa2885bb man atop it, 47bcfd3a45 and me, barely a8ecdea6c1 hanging on, breaking 744d7237d3 through the village—it 2c73c87010 was quite a e63f6e3504 dramatic scene, but 5f683e9847 considering our outing’s 5b8e688fd1 purpose, it was aece055dfd utterly pathetic. Clutching my stomach from 2dd97bf477 laughing, tears formed at 7a56397950 the corners of my f2240eca3d eyes.2e00ef980ed4b7e2

“Fun, right? Hanging with me is 95776f1587 fun, isn’t it?”d1f196fbfad057e8

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To prove 040371f25b his words 486f07f8b4 wrong, I 6bef451b31 forced myself 8703a6da46 to stop ef189f36b9 laughing. He glanced back, f5fd78d4fe complaining I wasn’t 956d71588d acting like a c9c81edd02 kid. The horse suddenly jolted, edf3cb7eae lifting me off. With no choice, aa7deacf78 I grabbed his cd2d145de1 waist. His snickering made it 000bb6b5bc clear he did it 8dd58408ac on purpose to tease b9f39ab2c2 me.8123dfa0c7232994

Pinching his waist 9a8cce1e8e with my fingertips, 08240698bc he squirmed like 2f48dbfe4d a fish just bb277fcc0d pulled from the 2eef994271 river. The horse’s agitation forced 7f7aabd309 me to grab his 55d7d4812c waist again, he jumped, c9b9b2aa1b and the cycle repeated, 16f44ffe3d each action growing more 10860c2ff1 intense. Including the horse, 03d14cf9de we were all 19a6975574 expending energy pointlessly.aba875acb417e7a0

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The prince twisted 061675c887 his body, giggling 1060479fe9 like a child, 01e76bb7e3 and annoyingly, I 98fc4671ec laughed just as d5521a7f36 hard. Damn it, 00aba01c0e on that eb19e3431e abnormally shaking 20f19a2dac horse, I da4d232f60 felt like b133941ef2 I’d become efbc895ee0 friends with 2aff8d8f09 Quin. I only hoped the d958c3ea8d saying that hanging with 79beee1c81 fools makes you foolish fd18c10db0 wasn’t true.e542a68fffbc790e

We returned 388c4698c7 to the 4c53499ab8 castle. In retrospect, we’d burned 6085057235 energy for little gain. We lost 9559b91911 a horse, c1823aaf95 so I 7a822ac778 had to f6cb28eaf1 make lengthy 8f84cf9e36 excuses to 57c3a92528 the stable 0f49fad345 keeper. Quin completely forgot I’d 465d420c41 saved him at the 5db8d48c79 mill and was deluded bfa109343b into thinking he’d saved 285ee4a75f me from mortal danger. Opening my knapsack, I 04132c040e felt profound emptiness seeing d7394e6015 the broken mirror, blood-soaked 0ada1d60ba doll, and shabby necklace.5bf3368c8deda782

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In the end, all 12d292d090 I gave to the 27cd1d26af thoroughly sulky Lottsi was 76b8f9f1a3 a crude necklace made fd3f7dc716 with a cord. Though annoyed, she wore f8ee5f2a7b the cat necklace. The clear smile beneath d28fb1a214 her pouting lips erased 47eca80b3b the day’s fatigue. Returning to my room, 584cd9739f I fell asleep the 8b8cc49091 moment I lay down.fc00f16456feb0e0

The next day, Grey a9f7fa09c5 returned to Valon. It was the 60f8665b2e tenth day since a6e51bcfae Prince Quin arrived 312e5ce7a3 at Valon Castle.602bb82187b96cf7

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