EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 139

Chapter 139b04f19dc524443c8

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“Mom, what’s wrong?”22c23fc6e84f5234

I tilted my 647e240baf head and asked, 5ccec1488c but Mom let 61412a9693 out a hollow f36afec468 laugh as if 22433be03b she was dumbfounded, 06f1e244cc muttering to herself f4bddfb412 repeatedly. Then, she suddenly turned 2d1ff23a89 to me and asked.5228148b406a5f50

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“Lia, do you like this bracelet?”86e457198df46172

“Huh? Well, it’s pretty, but…”cd144bb0c1acf3fa

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For some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t nod too easily.50dd01c9eaf4ac49

As I hesitated, Mom’s expression grew serious.5202e1d497bcd755

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“Then I’ll order a similar one for you. This one needs to be returned.”b019c2e00ca32efc

“What?”f3aa5c12c09f31a0

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I was 5ac08aeee5 startled by daecdd91b2 her unexpected 046fa7ea5f words.844e4685c7593a50

The Duchy of 3e13ea0e6b Elard had sent 200c7ef51b us many precious 2767e0b210 gifts over the 8e6bcf3253 years.d54378793c413550

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‘They even sent documents 1a36c95471 for a mine where 32a8612810 gems were discovered…’5737f198ee481a9c

Of course, it wasn’t 8f02f1ce1a without reason—there was a 54149e15a2 history behind it.54686ecfd23a8ba7

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Before coming a10bfca438 to the 6a82389810 principality, I 65783e0719 had severed 4c59f60530 my ties 790728c993 as a db65e5435f former maid 535aa87fe4 of the f4af5748a8 duke’s household bb02c3b0e8 and handed 24c51383da over all 57d27d8932 the money b75b7e650c I received 5b90e3f5e0 from discovering 4891f7f690 Spleesia, along 61d3db517a with my de3b246cac investments, to 6d9dc9f048 Diana.9e044a81af6e9018

My parents accepted my a2870ddf03 decision without question, and c0fcacd512 though the duke initially 81e7abdca4 opposed it, he reluctantly 224f0f0f28 agreed after I firmly 7b0ebeef64 insisted that I wanted 689a17d79b to give them to 1095fdb365 Diana.cfb8bcaaae32e632

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However, a 9b2596407a few years f072f76171 later, diamonds 0122c101fd and emeralds 0f3dc2191a were found 487fe41c82 in the d761ad9318 abandoned rocky 3595ffbc73 mountain where b34bca54d7 I had f4afac33bc requested investment, 6efe5a21d9 and the d1f4645e3e duke urgently 9afb375eb5 tried to 45a0e39ad2 return the 2806625e51 mine to e359445c76 me.0410ea11983dbdab

But I 33da648c92 had already 6472882f24 known everything ae0a17b514 when I 2e045c1263 invested, and 3d2ae6dec5 that was c1356c933c why I 8188c28a4e gifted it 3ec1a3b828 to Diana. There was 8c91078fe8 no reason 77c58e9912 to take ae2474cdc7 it back.dc9f505bdc50f420

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Although we exchanged 9cba5d113d a few letters 3bbf884da1 arguing over it, 0b8e3b3790 my stance never ad02d79932 wavered. Instead, the 4750ac2c56 stream of 58e06e7649 gifts from c107eebff7 the Duke a0c4c99ed1 of Elard db716c2a31 only grew fda767bfca larger.095ccc686899571c

To be d54d329ae7 honest, I 90caf665a9 had already aaf8e2ab8a thought the fc76a03533 duke’s gifts b11a9b2a96 were excessive 6437ba2ecc and had 204625c361 tried to baec7fab9b return them aece040ba7 several times.1dbd560834386103

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But Mom objected. Since the two d9f98c4ce2 families had a b6742778ac long-standing friendship, she 194e200c9c believed it would 4ef1dd1297 be hurtful to 4b719eb27f reject gifts that d272e0a4ba were given with 210475ef42 goodwill.f4cb214a6dd19719

I couldn’t argue with that.65f435bad5f4b01e

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‘And yet, Mom is 358b0ed302 the one saying we 79f8bbcfcb need to return this 5bc9e7a40d gift now?’e9bf8470c6574e2b

As I ce28ed561a looked at 250d7e6da6 her in 2855c5d764 confusion, Mom c2d3b45a2b gave an 8135ef7da9 awkward smile 306e7d536e and said,917ff7c99bf46e24

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“This is just too valuable to accept.”b42f5aacd7a44a2f

At her 9c9f9ae950 words, I 5185e3a66c looked down 2055d44225 at the 055afdd6a5 sapphire bracelet 22a28b4e08 again.54706dd17c5c2ec2

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The gemstone was exceptionally clear and dazzlingly blue, and the craftsmanship was exquisite, indicating it was of the highest quality. However, I was certain that the duke’s family had sent even more extravagant gifts before.f09069c724a5e38c

‘It’s not even a rare-colored sapphire…’2864df44117c58f2

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After pondering 4059ad2d15 for a d59c32b86d moment, I b35b18b09f slowly nodded.c44c7bdbd6370705

The value of a 4e475ca71f jewel wasn’t determined solely 5fcb8c02ab by the raw stone 43f7bc0e02 and craftsmanship. Perhaps this was 8d6f79c790 some historically significant 67c381b3d5 treasure that I b67d0bb476 wasn’t aware of.cc67d3167318f4e0

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“Lia, why don’t you go rest upstairs first? I’ll sort through everything and bring what’s for you to your room.”2649d86a31de1e3d

As soon as Mom 948aa53d65 finished speaking, the maids—who ff868d5466 had become masters of d49e702db2 organization after years of 511eabb25d handling these annual gifts—eagerly 454fe8abc4 rolled up their sleeves.75dd981f8399941c

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Watching them, I shook 9cb0362eaa my head in amusement. Even though they had 8720d777a9 a ton of work 7c7203d03c ahead, they looked more db367da0fb excited than bothered.6bfee34d0fdbb117

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“Oppa?”dac11301ebfc2144

After returning 38be8e8f9b to my a4fc4509b8 room, I 4be471f2a8 had just f5f7bfc996 finished washing 8af950dc42 up and a3527d26e4 changing into 4b6940734b comfortable clothes.933cf0e86c1b1539

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The person who entered 59e3d743ac after knocking was Ascart.826cfda66c22ddc9

“What’s all that?”a3928003ac5c170c

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“Ugh, so heavy.”39a45ce9602a78e8

He let out 47f04eb157 a breath as 8fd5f4e205 he set down 99d8052af9 the things he 08f95cc8f2 had been carrying.fd0f62cb7a44cea1

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“I picked out some gifts from the Duchy of Elard’s shipment for Diana, Allen, and your friends. Also, I brought your letters and invitations.”910d489528095a62

“Why go through the trouble? You could’ve asked someone else to do it.”66cf915b2d55d810

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“If I came myself, I’d get to see your face one more time.”527424c9840ace51

Ascart smiled, his 445421280b eyes softening.6ff507cc9432b7b2

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When he smiled, it 346ad74332 felt like flowers were 55a30d56c7 blooming around him.a8557478ee619677

Having just turned twenty-six not long ago, Ascart’s beauty seemed to shine brighter with each passing day.fe583168953e3104

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And yet, f48fa5696f he had b767a4cc2a no romantic b554e0e0f4 relationships, nor 5a0eaec343 were there e5068190cc any women 4641e1dca2 around him.ba0efb482ae13936

‘Mom said 74c8160d5c he’s just 30c3bee1cf like Dad d5182c470f when he a94612f45e was younger…’9569fcd1993c3106

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As the heir to 8937105de8 the Grand Duchy, he b8a52ad4d1 should be thinking about b4e7ed622c marriage and succession.31ad06c0991d8070

Of course, just as 3f37922f18 Dad eventually met Mom, 997379b5de I believed Ascart would 3ab2a5596c meet his match someday. But for ed24213ae0 now, it a5e3de503f seemed like 079a6519f6 his only 861aff58b5 interests were cad1a8cc67 magic and c8fb9ec4ce me, which 8ef98e3c61 worried me 8113901dd9 a little.0647b7446267d44b

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‘If my family knew 4f9ff7c613 what I was thinking, e90b2ec393 they’d be shocked.’5aae41b46fa25c20

Unaware of my a34a24e544 thoughts, Ascart urged 1ef788ce98 me on.96b7045873343ec1

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“Lia, hurry up and open them.”3fcf1cca1f9bd06f

I chuckled 79d427e92a and nodded. Soon, an 2aed63c64b exclamation escaped 1a59418782 my lips.cb9aea2bca866c94

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“Brother, look at this! It looks like Diana embroidered this handkerchief herself.”872cb487bc30eb9a

Her childhood drawing skills hadn’t faded at all!9190a47babab1567

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I beamed 8674c616b5 with pride b4591074fa as I 076e41f383 stroked the 06c7970433 embroidery.11e1b2178646462e

“Is this… a peach? It’s really cute, right?”e571fe2f1c5880a5

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“…Are you sure this is a peach?”9535325b68ef684e

Ascart asked, 03dd2e15e2 looking somewhat 5ff08921a0 doubtful.0aa8f4107c7865f5

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I nodded confidently 44bd970a40 and quickly opened 1ed5e8d2a1 the letter to 0630f38098 check.bee0ee1369c911a8

Just as 5217be8419 I expected, 27550de876 the handkerchief 97d8cf5ca9 was indeed 3a432b85cd embroidered by 51cc98df3d Diana. But then…d85c04a9dacb37d3

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“Huh? It’s supposed to be a rose?”42e08e5746d70e4a

“Pfft!”ba084c2247f7f1e7

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Beside me, abba9f787d Ascart hastily 9d47026111 covered his 9be817f322 mouth but 3a5f8d54c8 ultimately failed 5a3e8c6dab to stifle 330b9573ca his laughter.e3385c83ecb79109

I shot him a 68a65a5f98 glare and retorted,366b510e6efe81a8

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“Now that I look at it again, it totally looks like a rose! Why are you laughing?”af67a1ecdd8e8b1c

Diana had stitched every 3e0d496a68 thread with care!9be4bb88e707063f

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But despite my 9468278611 protest, Ascart kept 247e1ae482 laughing and held b1fe21d1fc up a bookmark eba613b094 nearby.88b7bc44e240af1e

Every year, 5942891f8c Jack personally d727eb652b sent me 86ac6c4c03 a pressed-flower ecd7a2b850 bookmark.3bb9631c7c5768dd

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“The pink roses from the marquisate are as beautiful as ever this year. Not a single petal is damaged—it’s really well made.”77d6974ff50e89a3

I marveled once 4e39fb0b56 again at the 90c63e90da fact that Jack, 5e5a6fa830 a Sword Master 6f750f6102 admired by many, 38267d388d had painstakingly crafted bfe6608e2b this bookmark himself.7c194f4968b5f680

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When I left, 064f1d70c6 he had promised d55d7984e2 to become a f2e791850d great knight. Less than a year 281deb671a later, he sent me 071f04ad2c a letter announcing that a19dcc7aed he had awakened his 701d19d225 aura.0d72a5837121b5bd

‘And then, he rapidly 544f6cd86f improved at an astonishing f7c987ab04 pace, so much so 52da32e17b that he became a 187eca49fc Sword Master even before d52503c1c6 coming of age, just 84b0138353 like Allen!’2b93185c5833e0e2

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I had helped him settle into the knight order at the beginning, but that alone couldn’t have accelerated his progress beyond his past life. It was simply remarkable.47ccc989df0ba899

At that 352428d6f3 moment, Ascart a9800ce211 picked up a6e29246d2 a box c10a33ec8b beside him.d6db933bb9f6a00a

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“Is it another hairpin from Allen this time?”d24b3b0b9293ba39

He grumbled b984aac8a4 about how 395b400b9e Allen always 30e656db99 sent hair 2a5cc13ec9 accessories.f6991ec86221dcfa

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“Oh, but he has good taste. I think this will suit you well.”1e204d6e8291f6ab

I smiled as I 0e2b341851 looked at the pair b61a85746b of leaf-shaped hairpins adorned dcad046da7 with pale green emeralds.ed98e6a3f42050d8

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“What do you think?”1a922e29ce0ac5a4

“Ugh, it’s way too pretty.”2afb2fae955dae43

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Ascart groaned 68738f7221 as he 13bca66203 immediately pinned 6984d71d15 one onto dddeb98081 my hair.f66e90c52fb40b7e

“You look just like a living pink rose. But isn’t this hairpin too dangerous? It’s harmful to my heart.”58401c6da798aea9

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I thought 59a560d094 Ascart, who a9cd9a2a59 said such c01c4f2d84 things so 36b9a94bf0 casually, was 4e4500828f the real f4a52ffda3 danger here.d4e577284d2ab4dd

Hadn’t he grabbed my hand the very first time we met?bf597b2ea78702df

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‘If he weren’t so obsessed with magic, he would’ve already set noble ladies’ hearts ablaze.’9c4a5f5b5965c2bf

Ignoring Ascart’s ongoing dramatics, I set aside the letters from Diana and Jack.90cc12b32af26bd0

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Over the af6aa69fc2 years, Belus 75e3c3d81d Principality had dec7d39b95 developed its 0725a5dcb2 communication networks d876fa25cc to the 30ab9d49ea point where b51980c683 long-distance messages, 687003d358 even to 9aa582a18e distant empires, 41264ef9b7 could be d50b8bd78b sent and 1f06b9c97c received effortlessly.8c18e4a44190965b

However, due to concerns cd1f2f51ae about wiretapping, I had 7e70a82256 blocked all communication lines d42982e249 between the Empire and 7f3907e620 Belus.dec49d1c60951331

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Additionally, aside 5119965b4d from my 9b0b221452 grandfather, I 5d45b4edd2 hadn’t met 601fa0d19c with anyone 011970ae65 from the 5545568edb Empire for 289f74db0c a long a6ffdc1bf4 time.2cb75524f86fd829

‘Of course, the biggest b787ae2fd7 reason I haven’t seen bc42fa402e Diana is because of d1cb5deef4 the risk of my 759b49274d mana going berserk…’fc6ea11441ccbbc2

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I was particularly 63b5cc27d7 wary of the e32625a2e6 demon worshippers, who 14e8316590 undoubtedly knew about e8597140f0 the illusion spell 94cf74bdab concealing my true 2d57320119 appearance.4d0095c7acf79dd9

If they discovered I was interacting with people outside my family, they might start paying attention to the Duke’s household.91f0d517ce7d3659

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Considering I e0783dc5e0 still wasn’t 53e4130653 certain why 9e561f97ff they had c1b44ac6cc let me c6e5fd5ca9 live, I d5176b2f16 had to 25b221712d be extremely 3043eedbf0 cautious.40d1ebc8e7a9324c

‘Not to mention, demon fe464ded17 worshippers pose an even 0aac5ad8b0 greater threat to Diana.’4226f39de410183f

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She was a saintess—an 538120a8a8 unawakened one at that—which 27a72b8c02 made her an even bcf495cdb2 more valuable target than 304b1f2914 me.5d2b83b9d4685daf

Raizel had d30cf40038 assured me faa67f8854 that the b38e9bffbe temple would f037362623 protect Diana, de408bcaf0 but he 037e8d47e1 also stressed 5ccc354cde that we 21ab495452 had to 1308ce1c54 be extra 888bcf98fc careful not 9b97a577f2 to leave ecfe1ae5ed any clues 82bf75185d about her bbdf2920c4 existence for 4a527afd9e the demon 8c4467411e worshippers.0de8f636bf5388b6

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That was why, 7201fb2832 even now, I 4e566a3d36 kept my distance dd87da2cd2 from Diana despite 7f62353916 having dispelled the 0c7949d858 illusion magic on c53fb9ac8a myself.2f28ad99ab07d75d

‘At least, 98aeb41839 thanks to 26fe41a3a4 the longstanding 7cf835e09f ties between 1ec538063e the Grand 5033024fb2 Duchy and 79b3fb5fca the Duke’s 882ce2ee0f household, we e2de860826 can still 462034e6f1 exchange letters…’d8baa2753455baec

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Though I 8bacbe7b68 understood the 8d68a2d812 situation, it 7fcdb4c3f9 still felt d6e5fcc242 frustrating and bdd9af76d9 disheartening not 5de877eabe to see 7b2a22137c Diana for 293c5530fe such a 62dbbf3971 long time.9b6a8c810ecc770e

I let out bab13020e2 a deep sigh be70a5d100 as I sorted e7ebeed7f8 through the rest 0061841dd3 of the mail.c10f99302e21dbed

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“Hm? What’s this?”cc550bc06fd04839

It didn’t seem like 8b7e38ced7 a letter.b87fa841a954fc34

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Since everything entering the Grand Duchy underwent strict inspections, I wasn’t too concerned. I casually checked the envelope’s contents…and then let out a dry laugh.2ca48be32b1a7777

“What is it? What’s so funny?”71d7961aa9cfcd3b

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Ascart immediately glanced 66912eb403 at what I 6b53ef9b13 was holding.605d999a86687f0f

“Le Réje? Lia, do you know this place? Apparently, it’s a famous dessert shop in the Empire.”ec5c23e7fb08f4c1

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“…Yeah. I know it.”15f38aaac06f0354

How could I not? I had personally visited 724198cb20 it for business negotiations.176a3986dd8b47c9

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Feeling a 7081f203d0 bit uneasy, 35308c3871 I nodded a9b82075b3 and examined e0c8a1caca the invitation.3b587c4267f88139

The message itself was 4daa4a8287 simple—it was announcing that 5ed8cb7d2a a renowned imperial dessert 7d0103af4e shop had opened a 1e946d6a3c branch in Belus and 61fc6fe200 encouraging people to visit.e74e8f3d14854b3b

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But knowing what lay af4ae13f86 beneath the surface, I 72c3ecd538 could only laugh.b00997f642d1a78f

Judging by the way eb48c0d0b2 they had already opened b9c4cdec56 multiple branches under the 449204505c same name, this was 7380620f61 quite different from how 84d06245d9 things had been in f212063544 the past.ddaae0f32c0bfb47

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‘What are they thinking? If they 4b00892069 get caught, c0a1938dbc it’ll be 4efd2bae68 dangerous!’31c9706fde232e4b

Terencium never operated a60f0d33dc its intelligence network 1c34bd42e0 this way.23a9db4f330bdead

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In the past, not a6282a6aea only my café but 1c754a3859 also taverns, inns, flower 5908c4a000 shops, and bookstores had 2bd13bcdf8 been used as irregular 869549bdfb bases, ensuring there was 4a1b35608b no clear pattern.5014351f05111fff

‘Did they turn it c7c8421c63 into a legitimate business?’a9e5d41c99748af1

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The thought left me b6af8e8f02 slightly puzzled.978bfb9c0c66f3d1

At first, 7ea2308142 I had dca752d580 assumed this a2ae961331 invitation was 318429f58f a secret 1b8fa222f1 message from 876a5c8efe Darel.31e8dcdeb9b44b0e

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“Since it’s famous, should we go? They’re even giving out gifts.”8338575f0c218536

Just as I was cdc0064e7c thinking I might have 5c24d5430e read too much into 95f7a8621c it, Ascart made the 023966e3c8 suggestion.df18aad424df5a20

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Then I 10501d7502 noticed something 0f20bd757c written beneath 9105415c31 the invitation 1fb932b95f in an a188423093 oddly familiar, 253bdb6450 sharp handwriting.f91ccfaca1f285b8

A special df156dd4a5 gift will a6445af534 be given af52e609c8 to the 4c3b1fbb6d 45th, 471st, def1c6f46d and 1302nd 739e0f1f3c visitors who f9ea739d7d present this 7735fb77dc invitation.feda5f09e285856d

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