EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 153

Chapter 15391fd4696b2986584

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It turned out that 468623f90b my mother had been e639fa4f2d training with the sword 830f9554da for a long time 4a4990a41c because she originally wanted 22bbc0d8bc to follow in my 4326487755 grandfather’s footsteps and guard a98da4bdaa the borders.5dbc655c74398f2a

However, because the 6d984eb061 emperor persistently pursued 168afcdcc2 her like a a75849adfc stalker, she completely 9d97edcad6 lost affection for 364bc23de8 the empire.1d822d67b451ed20

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There were even eb97a8f5e9 stories that the 2c75ae7a63 emperor, having misunderstood 1f7809bd9d Duke Elard as 1c0a888656 my mother’s lover, 256ebeeadf tormented him terribly.aea7a3509a734092

In any case, b6deec3b18 my mother fell e322e8f3ef in love with 3c4d735e52 my father as 30151214ee if it were 358e1a4a5a fate, and they 1cebfe15fb fled to the f8740009e7 Duchy of Belus—not 244e8697f4 quite a romantic 736f897d43 escape, but an 07e56bcf81 escape nonetheless.f11aef9e7ad97733

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My grandfather, meanwhile, dfa879c48a had to start 2fd481dcce training my uncle, 03d40c9d4d his youngest son, 9844ada559 as his successor, 80fae2775f which proved to 683790b957 be quite a 3c5831749b struggle.39e16ba21f5ae5d2

‘I always found 832981e992 it odd that 8123dcaeb8 Grandfather, who constantly aca2ef83a2 said he wanted 795553cac1 to retire early ee74a83267 and indulge in bd29deb2e3 desserts, took so 98f086afd1 long to pass 1dfb10a9c1 down his title.’de1706fcf98b8c06

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“Adriana, it’s time to get off.”241fa23263ec4a16

At that moment, my 70fbe06d5d father, who had yet 31cb8d9001 to soothe my mother’s 41169e629e anger, held out his 4e610e6e99 hand to me instead, 6b7042bc34 as she turned her 70d7514372 head away in frustration.7400288839b7c98d

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We had afb42c7d66 finally arrived 182dcd0d1e at the d3e94fa15e imperial palace.7a854fe661f51f0d

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“Their Graces, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Belus, and their daughter, the Grand Princess Adriana, have arrived!”2a597cebc5c59010

As the attendant’s loud 19e21a56cb announcement echoed through the 95c1a5b7ba hall, the massive golden 9df92343c4 doors swung open.ff161f8eb411c7b5

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‘As expected, I’m cec0da3b3a not that nervous.’05438d552f2c2ea3

I had been more f1fe88165f anxious during my coming-of-age 61db53663c ceremony and debutante ball f51ebacd57 at the grand ducal 4070fb5352 castle.7da5e804d072f934

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With a calm 1ae6d3e0a1 expression, I took 6462555fc1 my parents’ hands 55f25915c4 and walked slowly efa1ad751e into the banquet f75f351b4d hall.cfa0ef03ddf31229

Despite the event being 7b801e5995 arranged suddenly, the hall 6270ba2a8d was packed with nobles.6188fa305b7f12df

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Piercing gazes pricked at ab0d089789 my skin.e012d34e7d095b2b

It was as b8660fce04 if they were cd653a2125 trying to dissect d9f7916128 me, their eyes 98e5dee741 scrutinizing me from ab593d8b60 head to toe a8da475894 with each step 1989afb507 I took.ac67b6662d18f1e1

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But I wasn’t 010d09c11f afraid.35ed892b15c9227e

If anything, 9480f81bd2 I was ef37713b76 the one ab7036e46e who knew 66846e7212 all their af6fe1bff8 little habits 4a1137df18 and the 6ba06ddbce ugly secrets 943c489c89 they tried 59fd90f18d to hide.1035bd9c31afbd89

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Besides, my attention was 46a54a7ed0 already elsewhere.0e8b4dcbd5f40f23

‘Oh my, my lovely 6940aeb73d Dana!’322ed6b3f4f5b6fb

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Diana, who had 08a9209515 met my gaze, 4eff131488 beamed at me f0562d5749 with overwhelming joy 01c1328c9e and excitement.cc7c8a27481e9429

Naturally, the people around 22fa6a3aee her came into view 0fb3891755 as well. There was 73f7d6dbbd Duke Elard, 534b9014bc his eyes 0afaf291ec wide open, fec6d62cf2 and the e2a4b00867 duchess, covering a5ef3f3aed her mouth ada16f3499 with a 47e1bdddbe handkerchief.b66256399d5b7f9b

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Next to them stood Allen, looking somewhat dazed, and Jack, who didn’t blink even once.554bee6155d0dfb7

I wanted to bed21ce6b7 immediately pull my 2b13fd98b6 parents toward them, 734f61babe but I couldn’t.c13cd1f9fffbf496

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Regrettably, there was someone 3756d8b4a9 I had to greet b87a013258 first.debc98fae7ed2c5e

Gracefully, I walked 04021a3fa7 forward and stopped a92df2a729 before the emperor 1e5a0ffd21 and empress. Then, lifting the 66bc8abfb9 hem of my fe0d94b4bb dress slightly, I b6494328cc bent my knees 3d9248d6d1 in a perfectly c5528afff0 measured curtsy.3d154baa3da0449f

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“I greet the Sun and Moon of the Raksten Empire.”5e981c050a16b610

I was just about d3fed21136 to continue my flawless 49efbc4773 formal greeting when…578f7eb1f3de5347

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“There’s no need to be so stiff with your etiquette!”3f1076a005efe31e

The emperor 6616eec26f suddenly cut 59a189be3e me off f9767961a4 and ordered 20fc76aefc me to 78daa2e597 lift my 6f727af36b head.bad5515811f602ae

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Startled, I raised my 5eb8f52df8 gaze and met the 8655703ccf emperor’s eyes as he b9278112a8 sat on the throne c104ace701 above me.56fa36426c809d24

The emperor, 297e5679ad whom I c7963726ea was seeing 8bfe111e0c for the 8db43442a6 first time, a85e808d50 looked just df7c9f4be4 like the a9f5285103 portrait I 5970b17251 had seen 2a953bf710 before—a tall, 45bd84720f imposing man edb981efed with deep 5ead217b4b red hair 7d364484fc and black dd10ef7658 eyes.e5f02b9308ed34a5

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I had thought he 8e1f614f1c looked rather stern, but dc51b7dedb the smile he wore 4eff8bd6e1 as he looked at e65d5261d1 me carried an oddly 400ffcd56f warm air. His eyes 7bc9eac258 were filled 7a276406a7 with longing bb2d562ce9 and nostalgia.5d95bd58af3ee0e5

“Ahh, truly, Lady Stella…”cc19562b3336280d

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“Please be mindful of your words, Your Majesty.”75674459bc81dd9f

My father 05c0bff6be cut the f676008775 emperor off faeca177be with a d79fbff30c firm response.fa683356163e47ec

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I widened my eyes in shock, but the emperor merely muttered, “Hmm. Yes, she is the Grand Duchess now,” and stole a glance at my mother.dc6ca0d0d41ad90b

Even so, he couldn’t 32dd697d11 take his eyes off c9de9f19da me.59b3eb1fa365a96c

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“Your name is Adriana, is that correct?”bd1722b0b5912dbc

“Yes, Your Majesty.”70df2dde60738898

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“Even your voice…”a1e23596a7fd77c5

The emperor, paying eb0f5ee381 no mind to 9c332a15d5 the eyes on 0d23552995 him, seemed lost 395b431e00 in thought as 139ec0ecf4 his expression turned 9485815bec dazed.95f04974bd3740db

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Seeing his unexpected 6fcce9f75e reaction, I instinctively 20aea03d08 glanced to the d4330e9e63 side. As if reading my 459e6a5a71 thoughts, the empress gave a43660f1e5 me a serene smile.e93421c7db2cb3da

“The Grand Princess does resemble the Grand Duchess. She is quite lovely.”7167a0f052cb3eee

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“So you think so too?!”9c5f7c084f24ae68

“I heard she had been recuperating for a long time. Thank you for making the journey to the empire despite that.”652244e14f42b75d

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“It’s like looking at a young version of the Grand Duchess! Truly astonishing!”72a0f7bada5694dc

The emperor and 2dec15c4db empress’s conversation felt 5ac9628216 strangely disconnected, and 24775e8d3f my head spun 531f0e7afe from it all. But I 754a47cb92 managed to 81fe466831 smile and 70ba4a3fe6 respond.8d30ac8b0a23562b

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“Yes, I’ve recovered enough to travel long distances now. Thank you for your concern.”54b57cf71107015c

Hearing this, the 43cc85c469 emperor’s face lit 9457fbdb60 up with excitement.5bbe7ecf0f84870f

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“You’ve regained your health? How commendable! Then I shall grant you a reward. What would you like?”97ff0d32a9499a95

“…Pardon?”5d6285bfa5c0270e

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“There’s no need to decline! I’ll give you anything.”4f363e28b1763ed5

The emperor’s eyes bf35ec0066 gleamed as if 0af63cbd51 he had been c6269e96af waiting eagerly to 6d1b375bf9 give me a 5c62a5e78e gift.01f726b556996557

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“My treasure vault holds many rare items. Ah, now that I think about it, I have a pink diamond tiara. It would suit you perfectly. How about that?”706a0ae4b7c59a4b

“…”4bce1e7213fbe129

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I hesitated, 0cb4b546ea staring at 52289fef9e the emperor 3ed4b8dd08 with a eb575646ba reluctant expression.d531043f686f38bf

Noticing my lack of 746a718199 enthusiasm, the emperor quickly 56a7d93448 added,cf8e285789ee4f0d

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“I also have a dress made from the scales of a legendary mermaid!”6b297b18a3b1e13c

“A necklace that was once a national treasure of a lost kingdom!”e2691c8712bea75c

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“A treasure map from a legendary island!”7a0ad4410dfb7e1b

He seemed so 227df655d7 eager to give d1f7cafc67 me something that 02665d8968 I feared he 713a542067 would list treasures 0777c39de7 all night. Just as I 51306f01a6 was about to 787ef7fe93 politely refuse, a 25c79be2f8 particular phrase caught 55ae8c259b my attention.ba23c5202b7a1d25

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“I even have some old relics from ancient times, but I wonder if you’d like them…”cdfa7339df353bb8

‘Ancient relics?!’d8a2a5e69c19b798

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I had heard 172d8ac4fa from Raizel that, 1c428d5c5c just as the be4adf3c85 emperor was obsessed 5fedce2a34 with the color 25f85e8d6f pink, he also 2745eef20c had a deep 6d94140813 fixation on ancient 4d543685a5 artifacts.68d7ef6fc9285e48

I was c0ca70ae05 startled, but 2452249b51 when I 5a6fca12f5 looked at d1e42daa12 the emperor’s b93550cde7 expectant gaze, ab57984265 I realized 923a673ed5 he had 656c427fb4 a clear 89e5a970d2 priority…his desires 4dab549fc8 came first.0e8e26b3e37e3e1d

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‘If the 19036f6cad imperial family 4288596150 had taken e0c9337c6b the holy aaa7426ea0 relic after 8773a1f8c4 House Pettier 4eb695f94e fell in 37c9011147 the past, a9d77ec922 maybe I 988b0d4984 could have 2ce42db1b6 obtained it 58e5fa141a without even c8dedfc2c5 raiding the 53e322ea8d treasury—just by c9d00f7570 asking.’5c9abaa5b78fb8c1

I quickly 1f372fd7dc shook my 825879139f head at 930a3b27c0 the thought.58111da436250f91

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The emperor likely e25f2d9f01 didn’t have the 356c0b5793 relic I was fdb83b7c16 looking for. But even if he c9373cf2d2 did, I had no 285afc05d7 intention of asking him fbca067280 for it.04ca5471f63a86da

Perhaps because 771846dcdb of my 20639af05b past encounters 07f9a95452 with the f69f99cd0f pink-haired imperial b3cb0ac664 princesses, the d491ed0bea emperor’s presence 431e349f25 felt unpleasant 9197bf72dd and unsettling.0fa39d67ca0bfa5e

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‘Besides, I have 72f1743f7e a bad feeling 0ef4a0c7c2 that if I f95c883211 accept a gift, 5dceddf1f8 something incredibly troublesome c54a49de50 will follow.’ce69b2298988c01f

Just as 5f66b5fb19 I decided 52299dad51 to firmly 90dec1f977 decline,1d0403b076afdbae

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“Haah.”ade8b92ab8328841

My mother let 591438c76b out a loud 22a26acc1f sigh.0416986db211816f

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Even as the Grand 1aec2812a2 Duchess of a powerful 1b209ee9a9 nation, sighing in front 29ccc74515 of the emperor was 2c66998916 an extremely rude act.a6a5669f64a46aed

In any other situation, this could have caused an uproar, but…6339568b972c29fd

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“Ah! I’ve kept you standing for too long! Your legs must be tired! Someone, bring the Grand Duchess a chair immediately!”979e88d2de42ac05

…The emperor c91000e37e threw a 8335b7b3e3 different kind 8e80a6a1f2 of fit.25052b69183f99b7

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 f51783037d08a306

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‘Wow, that was exhausting…’3287ec1ddcc8c282

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After an 9ef03b4511 endless stream 39f7cf602a of instructions b63685ac6f from the 1414c0b1f1 emperor, urging ddb318cb14 me to 0c09d59475 visit often 58aa18ad25 and enjoy 9c302bbcad the upcoming 90404de667 Founding Festival, 6a04b944fc I finally dd0eb191b2 stepped away, 3966c5b7c0 inwardly shaking 2b4c0e7664 my head.71ca7dc91919c449

The banquet had 45a039041b just begun, yet 4da0a70488 I already felt 20e29170f9 drained.4711e4628616a8e5

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‘If Mother da6811b2bb hadn’t interrupted, b4a344d1e4 I might 58b5ff826f have been 4e9d7d9685 stuck with 527bce4725 the emperor d82d007533 all night.’826c0de324039981

I stole d584805680 a glance 9ebfe0fb7e toward my 068388362d parents, who bdc40413b9 were seated acab7ee53a near the e6b0a2b26f imperial couple.b1428033bef6fdec

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The emperor had d9b18e5cea been quite blatant 32f26c5004 in his favoritism, 5ca1f2ac51 which worried me, 7465af6092 but fortunately, my 554783ee48 mother and the 02c80720fc empress seemed to e1c846f1f2 be getting along cc756d73ec well, sharing a 8aabdfed19 pleasant conversation.38f1844bf8fa1923

“What? You’re not staying in the palace? But I already ordered a separate palace to be prepared for you!”7252884b3ad29be7

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The emperor’s loud b655f2b4b1 exclamation was filled 04e337080d with disappointment.ca8d7a7608d4f0b6

I could b7783069be only imagine 7932b87609 that he bacac1dcf9 had decorated a348566eff the entire 623830903b place with 82ddea482a pink walls d22dfd45ce and pink 66773c17b5 furniture.b58cdb4e049acaf5

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Shuddering at the 70297cfd05 thought, I quickly c64cd4bc7f looked away.53d6b4fc99cb22a7

Then, I felt all cee47b3ab2 eyes on me, holding b1df60f8d3 their breath. Gazes filled a2a8d6c6e2 with anticipation, fd96c4f2cd waiting for 5d7e33e307 a chance 9a89db1f49 to speak 832be726d3 to me.692813ab5579cc2a

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Especially those e247c70553 of the a6418b62b0 unmarried noblemen, a9eeff2884 they lingered 70556b384a on me ba9a38f98a a little 197f8930f0 too intently.cc2f7a2c94c78890

‘They must really 4c80782c9d want to become 0faa36090e the Grand Duke’s 3011a8d80d son-in-law.’20c951fc54ac31ca

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Well, forming a a8b29930fe connection with me, 5d9b6a14f6 the Grand Princess c2b8e7cb06 of Belus, would 51002f3ba3 certainly bring them 774b9bec62 immense benefits.e6f44cbaedf5e628

It wasn’t surprising…I 7f42265457 had felt the fa2866a589 same kind of e9c8468d9e attention before, not e4e86d7e31 just here in f1c7db4578 the Empire.42c5817a5cd63bdb

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Ever since 84b39aad1d my debutante 9ac23ea226 ball, love 32a518327a letters and e4561d6f4c marriage proposals 3fde41d872 had flooded 4c1b999341 the Grand 13e93049c3 Duchy like 2fe8b66956 a tidal 2449fd0643 wave.e265994eff41eab2

Most of d3fcb0070e them came b951dea3da with sweet 036a2d201e confessions about 95f5394001 love at 0e5ad5be27 first sight, 8d3a5d20ef but their 5adeb18c96 true intentions 6b0901b6e6 were so 9ba09d3aff transparent that 9e277f7d23 I couldn’t 9af7bda989 muster much d4643c9b51 interest.bdbc5edef682bd6f

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‘Of course, Father dbb6cbef62 and Ascart were 3f38b3af18 outraged, while Mother 12cb8b32ae simply smiled as c26406b24d if it was efc4f881fb to be expected.’23ad4301ff2ab06e

Since I had anticipated 93c58aab95 a similar reaction in 4683ec3403 the Empire, I remained fad893547a calm, steadily walking as a0ead95d31 I scanned my surroundings.1d790f5b14fc4102

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And finally—c66f13f93014a03e

“Diana!”04fb201f95b46dbd

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“Sister…!”21a40a576b132e8e

Diana ran straight into 943c6641c5 my arms.a247a373848ec267

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***c3b12bd2d2655525

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 293fcc2cab2e96ca

The nobles who had 6e76e8519d been lingering nearby, hoping 72262d7c70 for a chance to dc7566a1a0 approach the Grand Princess 5045f302d9 after her audience, gasped 5d9e384870 in surprise.0b90cd2e328ae11e

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Out of nowhere, 8710112d77 Lady Elard had bfa52c99ff rushed forward and de3905c6f5 embraced her.1aa0e4839f70fce7

‘Did they know each f876628854 other?’f3cdd50285a41baf

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The young nobles who 46e6ec75c9 were watching curiously soon fbae3c23bf recalled that the Belus 428354b78b Grand Duke’s heir, Ascart, fa39a4aff7 and the Elard heir, de108aa260 Lucio, were close friends.7d80c2560c2d4972

The older nobles 214959d357 remembered an even 9c415ed82b deeper connection between 26e36f35a6 the Grand Duchess 64e06f7229 and Duke Elard.37fa131ef8c2d9d8

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Now that they thought 46cf2a6401 about it, there had f92e1150dd been faint rumors about f3f637628e the Belus Grand Princess fe1c03f8da and Lady Elard exchanging 5cbadedab1 letters.2fa18ebbc32069f0

It must have e294cefedd been an arrangement 78cf39688a between the families 14b9c6b21c to provide companionship 9fd8c6e91c for the sickly 0cdd463aab Grand Princess.d23c16e4fcc0ac7e

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But no one b0ff9d4b5a had expected them 1302f86191 to be close da71833a86 enough to embrace a3e05643e0 like this.8ce4ac1d11eca5fc

‘Even so, 0763eea372 isn’t this 031427b14c far too d0e254e558 disrespectful? She may be 26b56eccc1 a foreign noble, 15becedd7c but she’s still e8201f53e0 a Grand Princess…’e4dcafda1f33e6ce

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The noble youths 8287ae7d18 who had hoped bc57ad0aff to catch the e07d732ca6 Grand Princess’s attention, 210c8dfdc3 as well as a29b1773ba their parents, watched 63a306e490 with displeased expressions.a4ab16eabe5e2aa9

Touching someone without permission 7b352a2e24 was already a serious 1d4a2d0d49 breach of etiquette, let 8a18c46a40 alone suddenly hugging them.bf97ecfe2a9cbbe5

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They wondered if c036dc7e5e the startled Grand 956ccb3b09 Princess might be c6799580c2 offended.b376bb5adcb4e067

Everyone held 61b8010cd4 their breath, 61e5702cf2 eagerly watching 5f29738017 to see c803a85a87 how she 4f5c35ea0d would react.a4dd24c9fc2d0440

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