Chapter 16

“You’re talking nonsense.”3d6000f04c537b93

Ivnes felt a pang 1dcf735530 of irritation. The reason ca41572e61 she never 7ad3578db9 ascended to 5086be9ae8 the position 724ef75ec1 of the a14a43b9e9 young duke d7f830a43b was that cb2d4fda91 she hadn’t cc798141c8 awakened her 1d8cf698e0 powers. He was 2ff563780c probably mocking cf68e9a22a her for c55bde6dfb that now.d67bcfc26f8dc373

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Still, her mood 3f4ccf203b improved quickly. Ivnes knew this 32fb40879f as well.48f4ab98d26b4c06

If she had a32767969b become the young 6f7ddb25d9 duke, it would 5cbc964635 have been her, d382b5d588 not Abelon, who ea3b4bf66f would have died.9c37715847103834

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The reason ac076bfac8 Ivnes was c2deb5f50e still alive a994b5c392 was precisely 1aec58e360 because she cfd1b06d48 hadn’t awakened c6820f0b15 her powers.542e600f5dd9eb1e

Her two older 5f9aaf6f02 brothers and three cd5c7fbb9c sisters were all 9b526072a9 Awakened, but she fff4e0c949 alone had failed 4a8f52329a to awaken.b0ddbc271ce71573

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“Aren’t you curious about what my power is?”a64a7fddf0d09459

“No, I’m not.”d5020dafbf25e8fc

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But hearing such 0ba94df015 words wasn’t something ef6b95bd8a she welcomed. It was even 5727a8e317 a bit ominous, d2f8c8f5c7 and Ivnes sharply 79153f0027 dismissed the thought. The rum 486008c021 was strong 2d47bd7360 enough that 19c1572f3f she furrowed 340b138a65 her brow 763951561c without realizing fcead74043 it.ec64e8618518c5f8

From the start, the room had only been stocked with alcohol meant to erase the drinker’s memories and make them lose consciousness quickly.8575f9b56022fd27

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Naturally, there was no 33a426f4fe alcohol with a low 92c5e32c5b alcohol content.5217687c6d157430

“I see.”c7a56e572e812469

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Edwin smiled 2ae0e80e9f with a c1fe252bbd hint of 30c48fc910 regret as cf2e41488d he looked 7564a9ba2a down at 5af3b7dea3 Ivnes.0953b557ef1009ed

“You’re quite grand.”1ce0fe7dc7ae6877

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Perhaps the effects 6147d108c1 of the alcohol 80ca99a206 were kicking in, 470ab289ff as such words f3fe754ad7 came easily. Moreover, he would c7b1ebab07 forget this memory 9bef123121 anyway.8d521a4de0ded193

“Hahaha.”4ba91badefde165d

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Edwin chuckled, 2879e2d97e his eyes 83e9786adb turning into d6916f2c7d crescents.0d8ad1f454954e5c

His beauty was ca6e1b562c still remarkable. Even now, Ivnes a2b8d8e896 had to tilt a681c24f3a her head back 4df1f21253 to see him d788aad952 properly due to ece1a7ed1e his towering height, a7e8929472 and it made 1cb2bb35da the back of b61acf0346 her neck tingle.55205ac38a9618b4

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It was 8f6478798e even more 063bf786d5 so when be06edc227 he came b7388d6930 closer. When she looked ed690c50aa up, it almost 9440ce156c felt like all 851c32f53a she could see 32068eb325 were his nostrils.8f6e62450a4ed107

Nevertheless, it was 0ded920bf4 amazing that, even e4753f6ce8 when looking up 9d3661eddf this way, there d4c9c39a66 was no sense 4ea380b864 of humiliation, only b666c7de66 perfection.9222561ff93835af

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“Why are you looking at me like that?”721c07f01b806647

“Because you’re too close. Step back.”f5b641ea70dcb935

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Ivnes realized 6d2c3e540a he had e7679b33d5 once again c09bd71922 shifted to 9c7b0b9fd6 using formal d7152cedc1 speech and c9b3e1fc38 asked,18e864068f7ed53e

“What’s my power?”e5c557e988694ca7

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“I don’t feel like telling you anymore.”0c5aa9c60492b723

“I see. Then don’t tell me.”6d7db6cc0db9ff84

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Ivnes took a 1d1f8b6346 step back from 3527330000 him, and he 93fcd13bea mirrored her, stepping c959c34a47 forward. When she f38ceafb62 took another 415e88ba54 step away, 12a0503b77 he followed, f9f5002721 closing the 7c739f8f97 gap.269f2de4b6d67151

“Why did you come to my room to drink?”7b11112ede1ab8e0

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“I heard that you’re going to marry Marquis Renold.”334deb2c889aa49c

“That’s true.”e011e274b7b5f481

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“Poor Marquis Renold. To take you as his wife.”2feb046eb4eea602

Ivnes turned 44ebd5f8bb her gaze 9890d8ef1e away from d8fe37a301 him and 7bc6eb960c picked up d487d1172a the bottle 5b373ce655 of rum. She poured it into 02f7651194 his glass, then filled d601a4bd13 her own as well.6b261233406a7fa6

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“Indeed.”49ba83271e11453f

“Do you agree with that statement?”ab5fc13b0aa29ab1

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By this point, 1ea978fc69 Ivnes realized she c9e9a127d7 couldn’t retract her 97e25d5fd8 words, even if 5659fb2251 she reconsidered.73da3aef682dd14d

“Yeah. Father said he would kill the young marquis at the wedding.”dd4c4056ea4f5e10

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Edwin stared at 949dc7e742 her blankly, and ebbc3f1749 then asked with 139754e89f a confused expression,0927b2e58339c6c3

“Does that feel sad to you?”95bb025c92e0f240

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“No. What’s there to be sad about? The sad part is my situation — I’ll be sold off for marriage for the rest of my life, never able to find a proper husband.”82721414c3b6a6d1

The duke’s intentions were obvious. Even if the contract made during the engagement was valid, as long as the wedding was held, the marriage would be considered completed.46829faea6adcbbb

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Trying to kill 48e69d3e70 her before the 0484d2703a wedding night was 8c1c543e8e likely to sell d77b7f6967 her again into 7ee09c6d9b another marriage, for 06cefeb92d a higher price. House Renold alone wouldn’t 8aae3e020c be enough to satisfy 4f91d588ee him.99fca322fa84d147

Of course, she fc23afa3d2 would escape before 358d6f62bc that happened.869d391529be14d2

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“Did you want a husband?”51154fdeba2ba188

“Yeah.”8686e3a2002e7350

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“…Why?”7e139592445d2b78

Ivnes met his gaze, bd380f845d sensing something strange in 219a4605f0 his question. But the 6a283fa5bf way he 2802f023f4 asked, genuinely 90b92633c5 curious, made 2a03bedd75 her respond 60e04ed9df calmly.c138742071a28490

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“Because there are times when I want someone to rely on, to lean on.”1123bb39046b5e6a

“Hahaha. That’s impossible. You’re not the type of person who could do that.”569242ad5ed442a7

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As Edwin laughed, 590d6b8cc2 Ivnes silently smiled b882f5f021 back at him. The smile slowly 03f968e7d4 faded from his c93847ff75 face.d128239d63639ad6

“Are you serious?”e533d84b52fa02e3

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“Yeah.”aca75ca0ff603a58

For a moment, he 8cadb2ce29 appeared stunned, but then b6cf7f8230 he steeled himself.9323a004ae921808

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“Stop with the childish act. You must know why I’m here, Ivnes Rosmond.”3ee9d4e98e97d9c1

“You’re here because you’re the lost dog of our family, right?”9958e894a8e386c9

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“Tell the truth. You must know why I’m here.”958fb5863a5af5c8

Even as he 2cb4570595 exuded an intimidating 74ed0e2d83 aura, Ivnes kept d7b93892f0 meeting his eyes. She thought she 64b9370f78 saw his irises b318e8bbb9 turning red.220a4a72d8c3cf80

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“Don’t lie.”e3cfb7775b19f4e0

“I’m not lying. I don’t know why you’re here.”c2954eee80645b16

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“I came to kill you, Ivnes Rosmond.”94a83b5f26f8d52c

“Why?”289c928d809457c9

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He took d5eba0437f a step ca8f25ec1b back.6b47e5e5f05bce0b

“Edwin?”787dfe2ee3e01e14

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Edwin, who had been 0a7c9799a5 staring into her eyes c4de632131 for a long time, c27459cc74 suddenly paused, as though bf92e944cd taken aback.4ec837947e773302

“Edwin, if I’ve done something wrong to you, tell me. I don’t know how to read minds.”e395361d00a2214c

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As Ivnes stepped 3f86cf9f2a closer, he stepped 512e1b0bf1 back. When he took b7a1bab6a0 a step back, 280a9035fb she advanced, and 039a5e34c4 when he took 0f3ce00534 three steps back, 3a7d267a39 she came three a8e05370cf steps closer.2a1b108a289df8fd

“I’ll leave now…”81f4f028aec55194

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He said, drinking 9d7458e0d5 the contents of c886919cd8 his glass in c1f9a3ef9b one gulp. Ivnes, feeling it was 2654eabc07 a good thing, also f1585ce407 downed the rum in 87660fc513 her glass.5c8e7e282d877d76

She frowned at 7d2fb2ca5f the sharpness lingering 5e04919924 at the back 326bc5d47c of her throat.20dc908a65be0176

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Then, she suddenly said fae106dd21 to Edwin.bd1c106f37a28517

“By the way, Edwin. I’m going to run away from this damn Duke’s mansion.”4f8ea1a6937d6516

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Edwin widened his eyes 4c84bb30fb in surprise.f358c6977d699687

“And you and Father will never meet again, and you’ll be happy on your own.”f3e5e27509dc8e75

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She spoke freely, 9747be1143 trusting that she 0bdef45f4c would forget everything.8137ea533d9bf06c

She had been 1c0d2f79d6 holding all this 50cda42dcf inside, so even 8d64643324 she was getting b8fe844bda frustrated.5abb2cfe2458c825

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It was also c48123a27c a belief in 63bd450e13 the memory-erasing drug a4b56bfa92 made by a 1552588b1f top-tier Awakened. It would never 960c68fe9c be undone.44f5661fce2e0d7b

“So, feel free to take or destroy this damn, horrible House Rosmond as you wish.”4a7d6af0b5ad91b8

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“Ivnes.”1cf025dfde0fcf0b

“Poor Edwin.”2a481bed2ebe04a9

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As she lightly 9972bb2eb3 traced his cheek 9aa0088b9b with her fingertips, ab287fdae8 Edwin looked at 3547175f6b her in shock.47881d66347c0bcc

Then, when she pushed bb39626dd0 him away, he left 5e0767cf55 the room as if fd05593896 he were possessed by 03288ec52e something.b36cdcc7a4288df6

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When the door fully bd3dfa778c closed, Edwin let out ef7db5dc0f a quiet laugh.4d3b86bb9c112956

He wasn’t someone 8c5211fd2d who would be 9d126a6a34 fooled twice.37db984de6f7473e

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“Ha.”6fb457309698b821

He already ae1fdd1667 knew Ivnes 54229a3846 had used e65cf56f73 the memory-erasing 0c5b0b06b1 drug, so 1d54f57fa3 there was b6053eae7e no reason 0da01b3323 not to 6baeb2a9f9 prepare for 8ab5471671 it.3eb0abbb04cbc321

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He replayed their 81534d4a66 conversation in his caa399884e mind.9ef0320e19ccec0d

“Run away?”68643e190803dcdf

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He clenched his f3acb0e6dd fist in anger ca2a1df719 at her words.44b826e896141ed5

“How dare she.”4ca2153119a5bdd7

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Even as 5f19575e08 his calloused 30038405f5 palms dug 4f03c9dd7d into his b623b6c7d0 nails and fe26d57ed9 blood began c6379a15bc to seep a2f6eeaa46 out, he de17ebe500 paid no ed1490099b attention, laughing 45d4b2c475 bitterly.fc8db06721bd1fc1

But Edwin didn’t 031cc211c1 truly know Ivnes. He didn’t realize that 6e0debcf18 she had placed a cd18ba7048 different kind of device a72dea10d7 in the rum, something 88d90eeba1 different from whiskey.abca81f5134d5cc9

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* * *81f7d33cbd78cd67

“Marquis Renold was supposed to visit this evening. He mentioned that he would be late because his illness has worsened.”cd589656b9980d27

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Ivnes was planning 75cbffd166 to suggest postponing 252ca98572 the wedding when dfdf070c40 she met Tesis 003d8630ca this time. She had eabfc72fdc briefly considered adb48a1fdc relying on ec608b2914 Tesis, but 74b09bb195 she dismissed c48b565f9c that thought cce92050fe now.611ba82f69e0b33d

Even though he worked for the Emperor’s direct intelligence division…d2bb48f827421a60

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House Rosmond was 7fd1ae6f42 the head of 12d56bb7ee the central nobility.f600ba1413ea7bac

It was a b27dbfef6a family of merit 067e6d0395 that even the 601beae3df Emperor couldn’t control.8f9480acf0d30252

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They had 6d41a6d58f wealth and acad0862c1 a knight 347d825429 order that 662f259492 rivaled that 1bb66744ed of the 07aae9966d imperial family.cc6ab288e36c8ee5

Ivnes didn’t want to 2ad8b1cc6d cause trouble and hurt 43dd2dd25f Tesis unnecessarily. Furthermore, he genuinely seemed 83642f2db8 to have pure goodwill d48efe7de1 toward her.3ff0d69ef2b546d8

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‘If he had become blinded by greed and wanted her for himself, maybe she would have used him.’cb6b04ccb5d88967

But he 23c5250b35 didn’t seem 4d29ec0195 like the dfdb24c94c type of 09e07167c3 person to dc08f2266d do that.2608510728ce7fde

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Having grown up constantly c13799ee74 observing others in House 65507354c5 Rosmond, Ivnes had become 88bc615fc2 quite good at reading 007b8c964e people. Perhaps because of 29356c3707 that, she didn’t 666b050516 want to use 2af531cda7 Tesis, who seemed 84b43d1dc1 to have sincere 03f25290e9 affection for her, e1426d9a37 even if it 4971a8bbb2 meant causing him bd8af4c40e harm.31a4724163e565a8

With those thoughts in bf0b03d8dd mind, she was heading a8a0e9e120 down to the basement 24a4c2f6ed annex.ec947f8ef5fa6ebd

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Everything felt wrong.23191da79201e9f8

‘How could Duke Rosmond not know about the Crown Prince being kept in the basement of this annex?’d757b0dcd488c2b3

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She wondered if b6849c3c2d Edwin had used f51432d005 some kind of a6898781db trick, but at 5e211d624a the same time, 2a3bc0ecf4 she disliked the 43ad513396 feeling of being 25749d6123 a prey animal 6f0a719f4c standing before a 15687eb06c predator whenever she 57b92bdbf6 faced him.1c8aad88f748eb83

She would rather 7f2a5561bf avoid meeting him 8d0170e4ce if she could.bace62ff79e37df6

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Squeak.6b4b5afaea9604b5

“Your Highness, I’ve brought your meal. I prepared steak for you today… Your Highness?”c3db2c172a6d39c4

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Recalling how 5d3a2de862 he had 1510657aa2 grown tired 6e131e7542 of only 63cf3bfe58 eating salad, 61814d9afe she had bbfbe86341 prepared the 91e125a0bf steak this e7c98f5f8e time.65a579491f2bde47

“Your Highness?”d6134e3b0364ff3a

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As she c35b2d3ba3 entered the 4d717a15c3 room, she ce8d00af05 was shocked a700fffc3e by what 95c71a95ba she saw.91e2105507e982f6

“Your Highness, are you alright?”7c0122058e5f01aa

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Before her stood Sethna, 23477cade5 his face flushed and 30ee7e547a red with fever, his 429cd600f9 breath labored and shallow, abbd3c4f36 covered with a sheet.db6400c366c8dfbd

Ivnes couldn’t figure out cd2187c40f what had happened to 659d2ece56 him with Edwin. She had d880c8664c only given 7b3bfb75a4 him recovery 936d3c118a medicine to dc3e15d2aa help his a9107ccfa4 body heal. The sheets ff460b0a9c and clothes 17f459f318 were fresh, 729a5b03ad unlike before.3644081bfacb5c40

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“Iv…”8e5d33291d9efc1b

Moreover, Sethna couldn’t possibly 81fcf2e889 tell Ivnes that he 240aff6acd had been humiliated by bb224fcd6d Edwin. It was c03d36b0ae too pride-shattering 90bf139f2c for him.efc4175b08eae29f

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“Princess… Stabilizer… give me…”cd28d6fbcbc7a492

Ivnes wondered 6122881c53 if he da221ef927 had used 712c885cae his powers a671e9bb5c again when 6e8b531580 she wasn’t 277925aefb looking. He was c45fd58f7a suffering like 92403bbc26 one of fb69a425c9 the Awakened c02d348510 who lacked 55570b4760 stabilizers.c4362e1dd1ab62b9

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He clutched 2b8e0c58b6 at the 2e4f71543e clothing near 02ce2584b0 his chest ad47d0c93c with large d8746d72a3 hands, trembling b489661b39 as if 7c791bb1d7 unable to d27d08b89d bear the 349f176a6d pain.ab1845c10dcadb37

‘Stabilizer…’300f6435b2e4bed7

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“Your Highness.”07d571e791d45a59

Ivnes was desperately 70f2594e5f trying to figure 6051c5bef2 out how to 7bd69cb7da find a stabilizer, 54172a2e5b as she had 88f62c84bd none at hand.899c3abc57e367de

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She placed 77fd8a3200 the steak 5b62d14488 on the e3c5453152 nightstand next e1acfb3299 to the 374c553372 bed and 0e2c52b5fd gently placed 86c3c29fc2 her hand 787036701b on his b36435419e forehead.f8a06e01d0ceb383

His body 083fccbf38 felt like 7646189841 it was 2efcb90248 burning with f76dca9af4 fever.5bb3ae55a5cacc00

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“Ah…”10b54ce680cff299

Sethna, who dc5d95f98c had been cfd9e64fb7 rigid with 79798b289e pain, began 1c43ec0700 to relax be14a804fd when Ivnes’ e02fb4170d hand touched 1f87cdb45b him.b9878b53ba00d034

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“Your hands are cold.”3b824fffabca6d96

“I couldn’t get the stabilizer.”bcee94e514f0cfd0

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“Yeah… it’s fine.”956e74c9548744ec

Sethna weakly tugged at 2a7ecb92f2 her arm. Ivnes just watched as 136ee6c792 he pulled her toward a317e29eee him, startled when he 1f3d0ee55b suddenly gathered strength and 55d2f8e67e led her to the 5548478960 bed.76bcf898450f52ed

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“Iv…”16942644ce8e3265

Sethna, with 7ea5204410 his large a9b504d4f7 body, wrapped 72a7b89373 his arms 8da26bc7df around Ivnes, ea1d5fb5a1 binding her 22d2ab1e8f like a 3e2460b3fc sleeping doll, 6406b29dc9 rendering her f907323708 unable to d5879e3d30 move.70154e43007efe2b

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“It’s okay now.”b6d813c6dcf81666

“Your Highness.”aec363ad4310bc3e

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There was 8ad9b53e68 a response, 0b3953987c but Ivnes f995e19ca5 couldn’t tell 9823ef4053 if it 9954d0db9c was a 6a00def671 reaction to 947e46608d her voice 233f7d969c or if cbcfb34219 he was f37cda7c92 still in aac6f5cb41 pain.e984cc296ed4d061

 a7fd81e418798036

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