54. Street Rumors

It was an unexpected 210ae14dc4 remark.d8a1ed96e3773563

“But why didn’t he come in person?”44b3e86bf211a61e

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“He doesn’t have an invitation, so he couldn’t enter. It seems he was rejected because he’s not a noble. They gave me your name?”6b1ea394e6bb4e12

“My name? Do you know why he came?”7cc921b902c61d9f

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“I’m not sure about that… When I asked again, he just said he came to deliver tree.”cbdbaffac08742ce

Tree?51713ae6ad6861db

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Ah, I remembered.8957c6e0ddc27968

It must be the 54f3763c08 tree I ordered yesterday. It was an ddc757150f expensive tree with ce43ad0081 lots of branches, 33eeb25db5 so maybe they 179ecf4264 came to deliver a5ec73ec4d it in person.e13016ccfbab08f2

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I did urge them, but I didn’t expect them to rush out of the banquet hall just to see me.fead0efa8ae06078

Considering they d90b95ab92 even postponed 901516c32e the previous 548e100006 reservation by ab6af15b6b adding extra 747615239a money, it fb56379e8e seemed urgent 93f43809c0 enough.6792ed1bdc8ca0a8

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“Should I tell the them to go back if Lady doesn’t know?”23a49c400674af53

As the answer lengthened, the servant glanced at me cautiously. It seemed like a mistake. After all, it wasn’t common for a commoner to call for a noble lady at a banquet.c7bf38b7319fde98

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“No, I understand what it is. Where is he waiting?”7135728ecdfa2e4e

“He’s waiting in the backyard.”3eb7bf64b99e8ebd

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“I’ll go there now.”1d9141080d3a978b

⚜ ⚜ ⚜93a2038084274697

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I went d804a1c4d1 to the 5766c3b468 backyard with 3f3d4a3042 the champagne. My dress was long, 42d33b82b5 so it kept getting 2669825736 stepped on along with 2629cc2088 the grass. Holding up ad0d17e31c the hem 488b762bd7 of my 98d05e7b2c dress with d7ebb029bd one hand, cc211ce04e I walked 6be6bfff20 towards the 7f3955a4e4 agreed-upon backyard.5ed692ae11a66f2f

There were 05c16292fc no lights, b7aab9360c and in 0949205f71 the dimly 0f06397a71 lit backyard 09bf061482 stood a 6992cc4fe5 man dressed fb7a544584 in brown.09d00ee3aad5d3e9

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“Lord Kandall?”dba8d04594d0a837

He turned around.dba4d9ccd005e0bb

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He must have been c67346bb0b in his late teens. He looked quite young c9abde9cf4 for a lord.a20168ef480cad21

“You came to find me?”c9aea0ef489557cb

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He looked around where he was standing. There was no sign of any trees. There wasn’t even a small cart.b8de4971f49cf48e

What’s going on?b387bb1e842046e6

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He didn’t respond to my words. After hesitating for a while, he took off his hat.b30f36b0126c535f

Brown hair 841e4077c9 with amber-colored 6b659d4d8d eyes. Small freckles 43d92c0c1c dotted under 8d2464f3c9 his eyes. His slightly rough skin bfc3e9b9a1 made the man, who 1ce192ae70 had just shed his 4b31c5924e boyishness, look innocent.371af338f6a52e17

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It was strange how the man, after taking off his hat and staring at me intently, hadn’t replied to me. He said he came to deliver tree, but he had been staring at me intently since earlier.7771c146efb1976d

Feeling uneasy, I 1ceb9722ea clenched the champagne. If he 3a0c5eb939 was here a00ca445ff to deceive f0a1bb78dc or mock 6284f892e2 me, I ea98e61a01 was prepared e143ad09d7 to pour cf08e1acc0 it over ae27f49dfb him.403932c28674e3c4

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“Are you Leonie Sien?”cfd9e4fc77fe0943

At that 3cee48e125 moment, the d6c3ed1aca man spoke.f480012cf8376529

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“Um…”067dfb63554cb78f

I stopped 99108e120c myself from aaff390aa9 pouring the 1842e85a7c champagne to 1ad31d9d63 his head. My words got a0f0cc790c stuck in my 1441ddbe7a throat.2083d721160560fa

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When purchasing all the 87cbcb0a50 items in the mansion, 3b68aa281b I had put down 055b1c5878 the name of Deon dd5a869fa1 as the proxy. Not only 693fc4809c the trees e0da77e854 for the a7db31ffcc greenhouse but d1c9073b49 also the a2648eb57f jewels and c0ce1c070c clothes for 720635613a the ladies e0a3ffe6cf were all 081c954f1a purchased under ddd0ff583a his name.de1ff2ba453c119d

However, he 1029a10843 knew my 4f7a7409df name exactly.321ac9619173f573

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Tears welled e15f871569 up in e7dcaf0574 his eyes.5b308234b4906afb

“It’s me.”5cc9eda53014ec56

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Was there ff47134772 a man 7ffb93dc14 so close 61f784d2d6 to Leonie 2519d734da that they a87a7e82b3 called each 9c496268ad other by c293b39676 their names?331361d3b44fe0f0

I greeted him f88d6f108a with a bewildered 34c615fff6 feeling.8d1c4d167a245b81

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“Um… it’s been a while.”c3bd131549bda17d

I offered a safe 23e9d08297 greeting. If we already 777eaf587c knew each other, 7eee528cb0 it seemed okay da96e50bab to meet anyone.c544ed5d2837933e

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After all, it was true that I had been stuck in the northern outskirts and hadn’t met outsiders for over four months.72f9b312fecd7461

He took 088c00826d a step de138923d3 closer. He looked at 38dd1ef95b me with tear-streaked 203186608c eyes.43537fd6faa4b896

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Fortunately, my greeting didn’t seem awkward.d13eba3957d5dca8

He seemed 665e0d202a to think f85f758ca5 that my 5ac09f01a2 stiff demeanor 3a85c28a02 was due 4691957e97 to my d9f46e08f7 embarrassment.d8452d20d8a6d836

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I smiled awkwardly, e086db5468 hoping my stiff c826b6c3eb lips would look 2d8bcb7dc4 natural.0c1fca13582b158b

“Leonie… Are you okay? Is your body… okay?”eb6ebd410d23f173

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He scanned my body from head to toe. His gaze, full of concern, didn’t feel unpleasant.6055c7b137c37d60

“Um… I’m fine.”5bd047ad1a3086e7

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I nodded.453a83d9d01cebcc

“You don’t know how worried I was. You should have told me earlier. If you had told me the situation properly, I wouldn’t have brought that medicine. When I heard that you had left for the north with that medicine…”869b97b7485ff122

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Ah, the medicine.5703e597e8bc2519

It was the 76575986c4 medicine for suicide 9a41efcf9c that had been 7cd9737ee5 left alone among 8b27875c29 insignificant items.76bdc6713862ab5e

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This man was the 385e9cb623 one who brought the 4d5d434dd6 medicine for Leonie.e011a48189e58b57

It was definitely a ae37917aac more intimate relationship than f7345fc46a I had thought.23e4866f48a3f906

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“Are you really okay? I heard you were in the capital and rushed here. But you… have you gotten this close with him to attend such a noble party hosted here? Then the rumors on the streets, no, wait.”e86d2fb2769f41da

He trailed off.63166062c920f62a

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“What’s the rumor?”91966733a01d78af

“No, it’s nothing.”c74007d289855398

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He brushed it deedece7ad off.d532da43bb9924d2

“But why did you come looking for me? It doesn’t seem like you came to deliver wood.”2df342da7498c3d6

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He was embarrassingly empty-handed. He didn’t even have a document bag with a contract in it.a7d4552e3c0c07da

“I…”b261a43c700b0c2d

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He hesitated for a b4bc6c32e3 while, then lifted his 3aa8b49c92 head with determination.873836cea8f823bd

“Leonie, I came to rescue you.”16e688ebb13cb58c

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“What?”9674f43aa155c422

I looked at him 7ff7eb2f4f blankly at the sudden 2352e95d03 words. Then suddenly, I f9698adc22 regained my composure d24d424b06 and burst into 3d4b185bd8 laughter.8149c2bf2772ddc8

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It was 79b74c2654 a childish 7161fb7782 act. There was youthful vigor b8bb806fea in his eyes.0c50d6830e986d86

Confidence that he could do anything and accomplish anything. The eyes of someone who hadn’t properly faced reality yet, fearless.14ff6fd7143c19fc

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He seemed 709e84b787 like a 5cd2572e37 young master.dcc2974efd35a9fd

“How?”7462d6ca8d424345

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“Um…”a7347b724a88a4fc

He hesitated for a 41f7137ffd moment, perhaps unsure how 732e5024e1 I would react.6510e02e1c56aec1

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“I’m going to tell….”97fa41237ab3dbbe

“What?”621c6d8f4c9c8d7f

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“I’ll tell everyone about the unfair treatment you’re receiving. I’ll have it published in the imperial newspaper.”6de8fb472fcfd35d

Of course, e3a8df1db8 there was 60c918f4b4 no plan. Would the af67f6ed69 imperial family 28b178e5f8 really allow 64c1275cde the fact 254c28d3fc that there c1a9a82c51 was demon b18bc5a1e0 blood in 956830601e their lineage e84818ee6b to be b933db0e81 published in 536fea19e7 the imperial ab2c668733 newspaper?efcf9e4683ae0a41

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That would be more than just embarrassing for the imperial family. Moreover, the newspaper wouldn’t just publish it as truth; whoever revealed it would be sentenced to death.95d923254c8031e9

“Will the Emperor really be on your side? No matter how much he may dislike him, he’s still a prince and of royal blood.”6e70b0f5d70ccf59

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“But it’s not right for you to be exploited under such a man. Even if your family agreed… You should have told me sooner. Why did you endure it alone like this?”b903781d4d3fd77c

My body trembled. It seemed like ebe4959996 I was barely 9869cfe471 suppressing my anger.3448eaccdcf7361c

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He stammered and continued.6a01db7d2209cb2f

“I thought you would stay in the north after you left. But suddenly you’re in the capital… I even heard from the ladies. You… you…”17b862296cd544fd

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“What have you been saying about me since earlier? If you know something, just tell me the truth.”b3e77b0dfde69458

Although I was 4d4f1cb11a irritated by the 0a1efc6127 continued conversation, I 70e85d67a1 was also curious.4878c2e292c33100

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The rumors that had flowed from Elizabeth’s lips had been filtered and selective, fitting of a lady. What Suren had heard were just rumors she had picked up while tearing apart a burnt piece of bread in the kitchen. The true opinions heard from the common people in the taverns and streets were something new.b2e5f627d240d583

He looked at 24a090f715 me and answered.9fb530d1dd28da29

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“You’re… You’re the Duke’s lover.”80b803b2c8fb618f

Lover.978f1dcb158b8282

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It wasn’t a particularly pleasant word.5772db53dc5b333e

Still, was 1efb5b51ec it better 168dede7f6 than being e72389e01f a noblewoman 14c191f279 who had bbb588c4ad sold herself 937be046e6 into debt?f8965452a4307b19

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“Rumors are just rumors. You shouldn’t pay them any mind.”293706a7f60bcad6

My legs eb5dcf82f9 went weak. I only now keenly e9a2abed2a felt the high heels 71ee1b2c6e that had been supporting 74cb706da9 me. I sank 11e1f81357 onto the 863fcb8947 nearby stool.23866cbfabed8b85

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As I lifted my 4ac077a4f9 dress and massaged my 993fb22250 legs, he turned his f41ebae998 head.dfbddfde1f9fa228

“Do you like that rumor?”c27ed46826979e6f

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I looked at a491651bf4 the man. Would any woman actually 61987862fa like the rumor of da35709d38 being a mistress?13367a547628633b

“Do you think I would?”fd69f2dfd9ed6462

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“I don’t think so, but… You often used to say, you wished your last name was longer, like that of a high-ranking noble. You didn’t want a surname that ended with just one word.”f9e93816556ef965

As he 84c5db10ab said, the 7a69e021a3 deeper the fe2b2bdb3a history here, dc11228d21 the longer 171aef9f35 the surname.e562a80772a879de

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The middle 02728a55cf name of 6734f2bbf6 nobles is 7c1d5d0db6 a unique 5eef584971 privilege bestowed 98bced6812 by the 4a4c41bd12 imperial family.7209f149266c6c4d

Leonie Sien.9795169e5131bf8e

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A name that 059cb55ccf ends succinctly without e05f45229e a middle name.64e0d913522ac09b

Although Elizabeth a62c2fcaf1 introduced herself b0de7db0af as the bbdab1d4b2 Countess Arin, 959e5bdf0a when officially 649506d217 presented to b32ca487f5 the emperor, b00042307f she would 1dfdfd81b5 recite a 12a49ed75f longer middle 760368f21f name than acb96b6598 her full 455e1d2e8f name.d0b5f87c26010e43

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Even if it wasn’t Leonie, the nobles here disliked names that ended too succinctly.ca83584c29184571

They said it felt pitiful, as if their family’s shortcomings were revealed every time they introduced themselves. Within the few letters of their name lay a short history, insufficient money, and inadequate estates. Their inferior lives were all condensed into a few letters, worse off than commoners.685f7cdca67beea8

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“But what you hated more than that was being poor. Whether going to a party, sleeping, going for a stroll, or working. You hated wearing the same dress every time. so you didn’t care if you didn’t have a noble title as long as you married a rich merchant.”a12c8c945d8b3b77

“…Was that so?”9b34b0d3d2e4f073

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“I couldn’t do it back then, but now I can. I inherited the top from my father. Although I don’t know if the life of a noble will end, it might be a better life than that of a baron… So, let’s run away.”7df41b79974399d7

It was a sweet fe10f677bc temptation.8719013bca278f6e

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In the past, 6c251be960 I would have 91a6262942 grabbed that unfamiliar d4cbcc4bec hand and left a8cabe5a30 without hesitation.0f294b4f35c9ff84

But I couldn’t do that now.a8bfabfb8887dfca

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“I can’t go.”d2f99141c54accc5

I shook my d401dca47f head.39eb634ece35eb8a

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“…Why?”8178b56de125554a

“I have reasons.”6a594d82a5ba194e

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“You’re giving up without even trying…”8bc72b28caf83a84

“Do you think I can leave him?”8774415cf8b56921

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He flinched at b409cac943 my sharp gaze.b43c47e2454922ec

He struggled ec48493bc2 a lot. But in 64eb5536ef the end, 001287cb60 it was 928a4db154 futile.6fc31f14e2f27565

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Offering to save someone 6a214f1474 is like throwing a d4298db399 net to someone drowning.cfad3fc7ae1c8201

Moreover, would a newly 8dab42713b appointed rural baron really 19647f309a help me escape?64f129728e264d1b

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Deon would b28a98d0df be out 9e9145db49 for blood, 9819bc504a against all 355cce9cc6 odds.d16f0e0c9d40e7e5

It was an absurd de689b2859 idea.14c804735d05d6c1

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Moreover, being a commoner who knows about the existence of blood, if he’s caught by Deon, he would be killed without hesitation.0011653c9a46b940

“Enough.”3bda80e8411ed982

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I didn’t want to see any more sacrifices.650c171b274c5d79

“If you care about me, just come to the Imperial Palace occasionally.”a1064f92fcaf1da4

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“Imperial Palace? Stay at Imperial Palace? Are you really… his mistress?”8cb96dc469351e97

“Something like that.”8d5d6fdfad06e8ae

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“What kind of answer is that? do you love him?”eddd78d300e1fe02

It felt c20c6b26aa like a 33d0ad2526 pure question f0166b758c from an 6f0ba55fff innocent child, c8345e2e64 free from afdfc2cd41 impurities.0e7d524d69da2d90

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Love?d9be316c06b00765

“Yeah. Well…”c30d26203b5a26d5

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It was uncomfortable. I wanted 3fca6b18b8 to end 8739ca0c96 the conversation b56c33b7a5 quickly. I nodded my head.597452a45a885489

With my ambiguous answer, e24fa19337 he still wore a e51f79ce7b puzzled expression.e4d78c8b307be62f

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The man with freckles 1cf2cbee00 who suddenly appeared. Was he the 98ebb4f520 one who broke 8a4cded891 the agreement and 062852477e got information from cc446a81ca the head maid b2cc6d175b of the blood 96b4f8fc12 guard?7174ad50bb3e479b

If so, it was fortunate. It meant that the agreement hadn’t fallen into the hands of someone else.c222d589620a8a7e

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And it was fortunate that I didn’t inform Deon of that fact. I almost got my naive hometown friend killed for nothing.b2963b8b829a618d

“How can I contact you in the future?”4dbcbd0c757929c8

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The only outsider 83d78b48b1 who came to d1a52a0b38 find me. I felt the ec81029580 need to get ada43a8c61 closer to him 9a3c1e59dd somehow.12d06111766dd290

“I’ll give you my business card.”dc35703d128190fb

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He retrieved 6c022389ac a piece e1ae3daa8f of paper 8c4728a8d3 from his cbb444f146 pocket, signed bddda67280 the back, 5f0537c35c and then 0de286bb83 passed it f149bcb1f0 to me.1942858d22d15a91

I read 38dd3aa2a3 the messy efd36d0080 handwriting.7edc98f264cf5aa3

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Philip.fcf5a8ebe8bd6f49

It was the name of a friend of Leonie that I didn’t know, one that didn’t appear in the original work.28e08557a289f913

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He must be a commoner, so he wouldn’t have a surname.60b29e87272316d5

“I’ll call you soon. I hope you come.”c8c376e433d941d0

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“Yeah. I’ll be waiting. Because we’re friends…”52212e4ceffeaa84

Friends. It was a fb401759e8 meaningless word, but 3fa41f9f1d for some reason, 591fec4396 one side of ce6a3a0f69 my heart felt 23cf211a7e warm. It felt e36419375f like I 8d0d831770 found a 7d13c5ea6c place to dceae8c1ee lean on.423c2030589c1fd0

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⚜️⚜️⚜️8157becd0e19d6a6

Back in the ballroom, deb67cafe0 there was a strange 7ce98232ac excitement in the air. I soon understood 8bf415dbaf why.15fe8dde91eb2934

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Deon and Isella were 92a11968d0 among several couples dancing. Although the music 57c1b90e95 playing was calm d6ef6c1198 and slow, their 922f42870d movements were not 5a20f3a47e restrained, and they 2a20812880 were deeply engaged ad4a7a2a14 with each other.1d23dcf4bf37885f

She whispered Something, and Deon lowered his head as if he couldn’t hear well, pressing his ear closer. As a result, they ended up embracing each other more tightly. Their appearance seemed quite intimate.1a2cab86c307ef2f

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Viter, observing from 587141876a a distance, had 919e7f1ede a satisfied expression de620f3830 on his face.914db06f91a16f4b

The situation 01c8b1266d is turning 6594440b2b out to c3cbcbeab6 be interesting.828452e585c1f701

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His loyal vassal seemed a3bc160a38 to have already marked 487202f0ef the woman by his 94f0186264 side as his wife, 8b57253d48 whether she was a fe0112178b duchess, a crown princess, 42956d68dd or an empress.b465b387a47412e7

The first meeting between Isella and Deon wasn’t intense enough to evoke emotions in each other.f41df9642ae8724a

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But at the same time, it wasn’t bad either.9c7a43bc28336b45

Deon needs a 7ad8718687 noble family to c462839e3a strengthen his position.fadc30862411397b

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Isella also seems to 4fba35b9db have a liking for 12bbb18c97 the man who saved c0e302fb11 her precious sister.6effe44d23ebd6ff

Perhaps it’s a destiny that will continue. Even without a child or a sword, it’s enough.ed51d22e9a2d3eda

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I lifted ed419ad1a0 the champagne 1c4bba14e4 I was 5c8c305088 holding and 9365f5fcba took a 1e94e2f45b sip. Then I swallowed it 613a1c7ce7 in one gulp. A harsh 78ca7f72fe sensation spread e31b657201 slowly down d6d5225cf5 my throat.7fc25b9ce0a12368

I knew I shouldn’t drink alcohol due to mt blood, but today I wanted to.612f6976814c4002

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“Do you love him?”57e16624e26a7eeb

Philip’s words kept echoing in my mind.fe2daef941bbd49a

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It was bitter.f88f707471c860da

Perhaps it was because she had just heard the word “mistress,” but the alcohol tasted particularly bitter.8c6a510cc9f858e6

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She’s perfect.0edb9633bdacd35d

Compared to 64dcf0d3d0 her, where 108a4aff84 I stand 30a7a0c0eb is just 6c2803d158 a created fbd60b38ba position. A place that 74c937d2e3 will collapse like 0d553cc013 a sandcastle once 8b7178297a its usefulness ends.5903501b46b898f9

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A corner of my d667090f86 heart felt numb.43c49b598cf78fa5

 a1547e3a36d2ae84

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