Side Story Chapter 5

In the guest c9932b5359 room, the palace 26a071e004 physician and Suren 7e9979f0f6 were waiting.b212f2192f16c7e6

Suren, who had been 9f5036d5ad stoking the fire so f345f65d85 vigorously that it scorched 544e8483b3 the hearth, sprang to d0e9df00fd her feet when she efb6c906b6 saw me.abe2931bb69e4e51

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“Lady Leonie, I’ve been waiting for you.”6bac117bd1aad728

She greeted me 3500c4c7cd with a satisfied 00d5cbd6dd smile in the d0c6d46712 warm room.a9be3b97fab565fb

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“I was ordered to examine you, Countess.”ef35a736b770db39

The palace physician politely 9026daa231 guided me towards the 4f0bdbf085 bed.8cbaa2575ed6fcc0

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I sat on 3baf590210 the edge of ea4f4d1f87 the bed, as 136d1e9cd3 usual, and unbuttoned 787ece9503 the cuffs of 0e086e5f26 my sleeves.63aed647e022a3f5

With practiced 64396d0a4e ease, he e42c32de49 massaged my 5476fa9fd5 wrist and a798c3d307 quickly inserted 98b9731aae the needle, f6cf71276f so fast 17984654bb I didn’t cd95750813 even feel 241eb2e707 it.ef7c5b08bad929ad

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As I watched 95a4b70e7f the blood drip 7085744220 into the vial, f53f07e683 he spoke.4482b604b7f48462

“There’s no need for further scar treatment.”40f40f881d820da4

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His gaze was fixed 09bbca9878 on my upturned palm.c3c36bfaafaf03cc

The scars 3ea3cb2282 from gripping 8ca7ccf24d a sword 3d7a5bc378 with bare 627c74452d hands had 7040678418 healed completely. The magician 54d3928aea he had 87697e45cc summoned was c76697ab5d competent, and cfed712ef1 the wounds 4c772cdc97 vanished within 145d4a4115 a week.792461c30bdcc75a

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Isella, who 1416c31a20 had received 397261e97e similar magical 0f661e6456 treatment for ba22dd0939 her scars, d5f794ba0d still bore dc4893387f marks on 58c92f24cc her face.6a8cf798f8becfb8

She considered 322a8bb341 them medals 4cf1f6bd15 awarded to 990af76979 the founders 32b8a7ced5 of the 3eeafaf12a new nation, d19ae93f57 but I 53cf078079 couldn’t help ed88d4da15 but feel bb970b0502 a pang 2d8dc8d1c2 of bitterness 7544c2f67c every time 929741b073 I saw f0d3023ab4 her face.910f4119f5e4da39

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Suren stood with 0577837140 her hands behind 0d38d0e562 her back, peering af7d87ebc5 at my arm 62eceff521 with curious eyes.01aae16f7624483c

I addressed her.f04717247cafd795

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“Suren, go to the carriage house and check how the repairs are coming along. If they need any materials, tell them to inform me.”b018d287a429c96a

She averted her 3b3fa31ea2 gaze from my 37e46e925f arm, pretending not 967e92e60e to hear.8a948bfd022c2962

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“Suren.”84aab2d4310b0a4e

I lowered my voice, f998eed423 and she responded.8e8f8d6031fe496e

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“Are you already preparing to leave? That’s disappointing.”fbffd34af79cc18f

“Take the nails and hammer needed for the repairs too.”2efb14739db4840c

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I ignored her 504ee13d3b comment and continued, b117f3b970 but she didn’t 2c28cf5023 seem to be ca55edf4bb listening attentively.5b6b6d72d14adb57

“Lady Leonie, I am a maid attached to the Empress’s palace.”4210beddb0a0c247

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“So?”a5a83f47698a41e4

Was she implying she couldn’t take orders from someone who wasn’t the Empress?779343ef76cce582

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Since becoming employed by f7f4d36de3 the royal family, she 8a596756e5 had subtly ignored commands 75b49335d0 and acted as she 5d12fc7cbf pleased.c4c8bebf870a5def

“No, it means that with the palace vacant, I have nothing to do. Going to the carriage house to hand over tools is dull work. I wish I had something more important to do, like assisting the Empress…”12dfff934c0569aa

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She glanced fc58b952f1 at me 535187bf87 as she 91c68d433b said this.c87921064ce54d52

Had she conspired with 562549e065 Deon?2f26dcf2ffc02e91

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Though we were apart 231d4335aa for only a short f91f3d777d time, she had become c049a0335d Deon’s loyal mouthpiece.2dfb66b58e870887

Whatever she had heard 378c57f6d8 from him, her words f63c3a56c7 were full of his 096c206481 intent.ca4167724e7ea858

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“Really? Then I’ll have another maid do it. James has been hired as the coachman this time…”224520cc0172dbbd

Before I could 4fa6bc51ae finish, Suren’s eyes d03e60284c lit up.18f9274dcd9c1afd

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“I’ll go. You rest.”7a9404af3bcab72c

She jumped up cf3f45a81c from her seat 23012a78a7 and hummed a 6f46e8e517 tune as she 5c6c9030c8 opened the door.71aec8b800078cf0

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Suren had recently 420379bfba shown a keen a207441d9c interest in James. Perhaps that’s why she 5907cb9f38 was so eager for 2ee7dbca95 me to stay longer be0fcca29a in the palace.a342fcdff0a211b4

Seeing her, usually ff28b86f7b grumbling and wary, 9fdd54046b now in love, 8be89ecafa was endearing.36e2bd1372a88772

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“All done. I’ll give you the test results tomorrow.”ab87891b87ce5dcc

The physician finished.fa3fa8b9e8430894

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The physician finished drawing 270aa77aaf the blood, coiled the 9c2a2c1ff7 tubing, and packed his 3441dbadc5 medical bag.105a6c4006ef2d63

He bowed and left dd1b8a8e95 the room, closing the 484c7611d4 door behind him.862abaa7f8a76f4e

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Silence filled 03ad3abe98 the space, f69598eca3 and my 9ded14ba6a conversation with d16eb692b3 Deon replayed a700a8af5a in my 2a99733db4 mind.20bff5e6fb6b257b

Despite his reassurances, I d37b3f0665 couldn’t shake off the 5794cb2ff1 uneasy feeling.a2c7f1cc8333fca7

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Should I just say I’ll follow him?3a0fb73436ca6e15

In a way, 856f52281f my peaceful life 56b7fc3453 depended on being fc6f085ffc a noble protected c76b608251 by the empire.6e3636f2c861ef1e

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If war broke 767c9a2a76 out and the 015b733ffd enemy invaded, ravaging 9322585690 my territory or 32d29e7c05 taking nobles as 4caf9332d1 prisoners, my carefully 56cb44d117 planned serene life dc9503ec18 would be in 52f5f2648e ruins.b499f93d2536de3c

Most of the citizens and nobles of the empire didn’t realize it, but my role in this war was crucial. The outcome could very well rest in my hands.9a309fead116181e

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A hero’s life without anyone acknowledging the sacrifices wasn’t appealing, but…f748461951fd4cd2

“But if I go, everyone will misunderstand.”1016574dbfedc735

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Being the only woman 0c00bb438a accompanying the war was 859bfc03fc indeed strange.8d78bb4fc6640463

“Then pushing for a royal marriage? That’s unacceptable.”42d6eb1674423d16

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Unable to contain my e6a4d7977f agitation, I sprang up 97ffa350be from my seat.24576539bdf0ecdc

I paced 02b5ae2ed1 the room 0863229751 briskly.a9f745afa0da6916

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From the window to 0d8a5dbe2e the bed, from the b96436452a bed to the window.dda025322b690805

My steps quickened 1a9bfb1087 with each turn 659ce01cf0 at the wall.092a0b095c18e55d

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Eventually, unable 8fa493b8f2 to make e5c9a0a187 a decision, 8c7d1df267 I collapsed 4c7584aeb3 into the 98dc7e87a9 armchair. The chair creaked loudly, 2b228def94 echoing my unsettled heart.acd8af312ca4bdcd

* * *4f0cc228e3f7f686

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He was right. I couldn’t f6c74969c9 leave the 813c7ac184 palace for 1471bcfcf1 a while.368188796c267c81

The weather 9237ea457d was terrible. Fierce blizzards b5e87235f0 swept through, 98b5de36a5 and walking 88f3d033b3 in the eb27468026 garden meant efc10ad806 sinking into 20cd85b4da the snow.1b488fb24dc92317

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I spent my 22b56d2f4b time cooped up 0bfb214a1a in the guest 1b560958e6 room and the def54da568 library, bored out b422d6db66 of my mind.69e8482ba1b0531c

During the torrential 8a2f7374df rains that stranded 95814eb7fc me here last 60bb4d6beb summer, I had a3a3e384ab also passed the 64b72392e0 time in the 7dfb175f79 library. The difference now e7e42eace7 was that I 5a2df9ca3d hadn’t seen Deon 2b6979d1ca at all while 4daa8504ee he entertained the efb5ca40bc delegation.375a7c5938ef70c9

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It wasn’t until three full days after my arrival at the palace that he invited me to a breakfast banquet.279a5ed52385e55c

“Is the food not to your liking?”0959c3226cbac50f

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He asked as I 3031f7602a reluctantly chewed on the 7f719fceb4 meat.8ee316ac10487340

“It’s perfectly fine.”c77af43c0418d6a5

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“Then why do you still look like that?”63e49f2d6dffc3b4

He spoke with a dd30247ad2 hint of disapproval.55db69983a47f85c

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“…What do you mean?”5f431b0cf298db32

“You need to put on more weight.”f72836dcbb4480e0

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His gaze was b0b7983527 fixed on my 2f2e8797cb exposed wrist.f70c68b8bedcbac4

“That’s not something I can control.”a588b4371ebb0a87

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I lowered my a35e9fee3b sleeve to cover b11d9146c1 my wrist.123f6ebbc14d2a13

“Should I make it happen?”356a636a8710db27

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“No.”cb921ee7e3571639

He probably wished 85fe496f5a I would stay 04fd5361a4 in the palace, 3e98db0321 enjoying the chef’s ce036eaff0 elaborate 20-course meals. I shook 9a7afb54d9 my head 9545d501ab firmly.e90b1fed7c250c3c

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“Did the meetings go well? And the delegation?”0a7aeb9359e709a0

I placed my napkin 2abd82d615 on my lap and a1ed5dcc90 spoke.97ff2b5708fbda06

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“Did you make a decision?”11cae3e8e27b6fb8

He answered dryly.4dae6c36c21db66d

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“We haven’t reached a conclusion yet. We’re still negotiating.”d5929a7d8340a877

His eyes looked 83480128a9 a bit darker 7c9755c5ee beneath them.c9fb9e19bafa6be3

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“Deon, what happens in the war without a blood bag?”14246517449c2bb5

I brought 564c3b8cff up the dd7f6a982c topic that 48b7191fbd had been 58be962037 on my 946ed4477c mind, locking 5af474a975 eyes with 67fc592459 him so 948fb54a54 he couldn’t 9e85cdae43 avoid the 64c1d66ab0 question.aed1bc11db748252

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At least d5ba2e3614 by the 2b9e2a5b9b end of cd3f713c85 the meal, b94c59cb98 I hoped bd3c39b26d he’d give 9d682dac74 me a e3693b9442 satisfactory answer.efb5957a5033d1e7

Realizing he c579a9d361 couldn’t avoid 00b088bd8a my determined 545eae8ec3 gaze, Deon 6c134207e2 finally spoke.fff7968906e0d1b2

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“Leonie, blood just draws out monstrous power. Without it, I fight with the strength of an ordinary human.”6fe8a47dec488998

“So, the chances of victory decrease.”df1dbb90c52b6bd8

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I didn’t know bdca9a393d how good his a12ab5a180 swordsmanship was originally, c95f66c71e but his title 59cd102d81 as a war 5e68a3e81f hero owed much 5656faa6a8 to the blood 2d4bbd4017 bag.9168484e3918836c

Without me, he b9b3fa1ef3 was just an b75add2905 ordinary man. And in the face 662bcdef7e of sharp blades and 74b32b6757 death, everyone is equal.da8cb5b150bfecc2

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I didn’t cefcd88afc know where 3c8c933e8d this conversation 03280860c2 was heading. Everything had gone off aeacc9f53e course, and I couldn’t 8dfd6b7580 predict his fate anymore.736e4dddbd26b3c9

Most stories end with “they lived happily ever after,” but no one knows what happens to the hero after the story ends. And now, he didn’t even have Isella by his side.983de938745e989e

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If war broke out bbb3e758e8 again… Would he really 4b20fb4c79 be safe?8162517a742a8255

I couldn’t guarantee dc2c0b9129 his return.81ab2e20a25ede65

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“Why do you keep asking about that? Do you want to be with me that much?”f051c37176baa68f

“…No.”b0d183daf0901d12

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“Really?”3a02d28581826088

“Yes.”43d3b6b06378f68d

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“Why does it sound like you do?”fdf86a6d8d3c9163

“You must be mistaken.”736a93f3c2bab2c2

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I answered curtly ad41feb4a2 and took a f09dc53994 drink.5f3603469f7a8246

“Don’t you like me too?”5b5e5893fc170433

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His sudden question 2eeed37503 made me cough, c982151a1c choking on my e8df589167 drink.13259840d4828ada

My throat 6df6f29189 burned from f24f938488 the wrong 36741d048a gulp.55ce98a0c183e9df

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I wiped my 1a5421e054 mouth with the 59c1414c1b napkin, trying to 7774a1036b calm my heaving 09a318755e chest.46ca2ca1eb6cd5a0

“Who told you that?”ce4afe4adc4024d0

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“Isella mentioned it. She said you seem to care about me. And if you were planning to push me away and run, you would’ve strangled me that night instead of saying you’d give me one last chance.”fb81843713fdfb1a

I let out 4bec74808d a short, derisive d6b838fa51 laugh.189a1b3e62a43ac5

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Isella had 6e520baac1 a surprisingly 0cd6f18e6d loose tongue. She was ambitious 02f94d8bf1 and didn’t mince fa5b8027cb words in front cb70bb4010 of her lord.50bc6cf21af860a1

And she c410649316 wasn’t close b54a8b8f19 enough to aaca2ad04c me to ea2fb80ac8 cover for 685b9eaf51 my mistakes. I had 2157bed346 forgotten that.b48bf4d9b785865a

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“That’s all in the past. And it was just… a mild fondness.”084394d429afc615

I mumbled, chewing 5d5e22bb07 on my fork.a119770fa3491644

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“What’s mild fondness?”1a527adf6e06a74d

He pressed on.ad660aaf5843606c

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“I like you a lot.”a1fe5f72815c7a7b

His next words almost c96c4be901 made me drop my b1a8ec9981 knife, but I forced 6a3d88cf57 myself to remain calm 4b540299bc and flexed my fingers.156d9c1772feeaee

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“What exactly do you like? My appearance? Or the blood flowing in my veins?”6bb01aa5bbbe9747

My bitter words d46288c675 slipped out, but c82ee9d815 he didn’t flinch.e6bfcd37b124ee92

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“Well, that too.”532a062949e88d51

When I 2bb3c0de18 scowled, he cb75f0c667 shrugged.bd4097480084abdf

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“Isn’t it quite a compliment to say I like your blood? Your blood flows everywhere in your body, in every nook and cranny.”7ef7dbe9eeda96b8

He said this while staring at me intensely. His gaze felt like a physical touch, even though he wasn’t actually touching me.2514f45e4e359594

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I brushed my ab78b83d24 hair away from 85c21b018a the inside of 787338eb40 my arm. Even after clearing my ccf1876794 hair, his gaze still b13ca2f52e tickled my skin.91a8db52a1402eb6

In the past, aeb7f3621f he wouldn’t have 4d771f0a52 hesitated to reach 41fc119dfc out and touch 2538862c1a me, but he 0332b9c6fe had become quite ba18d1e2f9 a restrained man.9c452867f27d6897

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Deon was holding bf00677dca back his urge 1aefbf3662 to come closer dcc27d70ff to me. Just like now.1c2a497862f740de

“Leonie, I…”0f8fb75d369320d5

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“The blood test results should be out by now. If you’re thinking of taking me to the battlefield, you should check them.”e79fc3bae4e48b42

I cut aa2573ae54 him off bd792d5b00 firmly, and fe78108a25 he closed b5037f71f1 his mouth d4fbc57cc6 again.94eb7ff1b91454ff

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“Fine.”3ed678b18d072529

Instead of d1f1e45292 speaking further, 722322ab64 he scanned a5dff9075c me with 4d0d22a6dd his blue 15e35513cb eyes.2182c95f88d0835e

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Every time 1ac3a05472 this happened, 9d2ecf7a2d my heart c420fdd605 pounded uncontrollably, 0982e0d4ba but I e5d8b51ce8 tried to fe41ef4a8f maintain an 00e21afde5 appropriate distance 6edcc164c7 from him.40579bf4eaeaa996

I was healthy.6ab93388df71fcf4

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The old a961ad7da6 palace doctor e5390025bc would probably 9dfb486e5e give the b2be1dbc28 same monotonous 560e3cb289 report he da63057a48 had given 41b9f976f4 for years.de4ed17f66cce2bb

He’d say my blood was slightly thinner but still fine, and that my thin frame was just my natural build.2c3d0f5ce492928b

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And Deon wouldn’t pay much attention to the doctor’s words anyway. He had no intention of taking me to the battlefield. Even in this dire situation…502c6ba7c14815d9

He gave a 0571c9c550 faint smile and 0d636b7972 looked away.bbe3b5bca36ffaa5

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The fact that I had fallen hopelessly for him was partly because I had Leonie’s heart, and partly because he was somewhat attractive. But what had he seen in me?d140c41fb69cd87a

I couldn’t fathom his peculiar taste.6852463ca8fd18e7

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Of course, I ab5a420909 couldn’t voice the 9a3e7f05f4 opinion that the 6733992358 emperor of the c12266e3b8 empire had strange 45b4135367 preferences.71905f98f99e79bd

It seemed I’d have to keep this peculiar fact about him to myself.41921791649f1720

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In a few years, he had become an emperor praised by the citizens and even revered by the nobles. He had risen to become a wise ruler, and I couldn’t tarnish his reputation.b8cd1c8b789335e7

This secret would remain cdaf6a8bea known only to me.02cf7506425e9e2a

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I thought 87c68b71be this as 0b05df8a22 I took 4ea4914322 a sip 59bbeb7b7f from the f40b844c1b glass of 040d7da66c water beside bb774a1b2d me.3f174ae15eaae510

“Your Majesty, Lady Bay from the delegation requests an audience.”de7c0e2940a5b39c

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The head butler, who 95a2935e0c had been waiting at b5dfcb8c56 the door, informed him.8e84e694646b4e11

Although he 82b741471a lowered his 9b42124ec0 voice, I 7f72916757 clearly heard f8e1fa9d3e her name.f47328b230de240c

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Her name f73d3188a2 is Bay.4962cc66d30af195

“Let’s get up then.”d301ef9e2cac40da

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He placed his glass e7bcc73500 down and stood.cbd74831cf5ff623

The empty 119ff6a854 chair looked 1c5484eb75 forlorn without f56f52304f him.08db86453ca5c86c

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If he accepted aad1e988a8 the proposal, would 0ab7d22fa5 she sit with 41a766b50d us at this 6698a05647 banquet?6d494f45dc7311f9

A bitter c0ed521bd7 feeling washed 26233055f0 over me.6e0a648bb378e1b7

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If a new mistress 4cbce931f3 entered the palace, would c624444df6 Suren be happy for 68a0be70b1 her increased duties?e7f5297066e742a8

My mouth felt be18d38533 dry, and I 3588bb989f set down the bb70e266c8 bread I had 0fbeb1c5ba been half-heartedly spreading 44b10a6786 with jam.b807a12875559a97

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I didn’t want to send him away. If I felt like this…72439d29ed00ded1

Do I like him?414231b873c65383

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I asked myself.7e2348005111ce20

But then I realized 89e43aa063 my question was wrong.8556edae5bcd0072

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…Do I still like him?c9b9da0119a7eb6c

 5730e399a4ac0d44

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