EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 171

Chapter 171392b0b101871d4f3

 b4afaaaf1566d30f

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“Do cousins really need to follow such formalities? Get up already.”9d0812e9ab21d41b

A gentle voice 8cee18eb31 came from above fb876b271b her head.4743f33ba2274578

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Of course. That uneasy feeling c3d233ccd9 just now must bc958f90d3 have been her 164127b56b imagination.45e151dd67116e42

Clara lifted her b268eed6f1 head reluctantly and 9ac76a60ec faced Adriana.c47b65b586bfe5a2

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Seeing Adriana’s 12c9f31a6e innocent expression, e4fe43b0eb Clara thought 91f10b6136 she could fc678fa782 be easily 6654db9aa1 swayed.ca2035a781947b51

‘First, I 14bfec4336 need to d36e79326d find out a44f454cc9 where and a612a2dd4b how she ddb57a2c57 lived before 9ba623d72c she found 60988728c3 her parents.’09bbf0a1086b8ab2

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In the 8dde51d24e Duchy of 8ca9ec9264 Belus, Adriana 3006f780be had been 8b96ef74af heavily protected 2ecb5e695e and kept d9a8f16da1 hidden, so 6cf1c786ab there was bd057e5384 barely any 252ac23bfd known information b505d82cc5 about her.ec79925e689a0171

Even knowing that 7c5e85933f much would give 33d661a06d Clara an advantage 72254904dd over others.793af50e470bf04a

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Of course, Clara already 94094fc4fc had a rough idea 2d0750eb4c of what Adriana’s life 980e941569 must’ve been like.cacceacba0ebb2e3

No, truthfully, she b431d750e8 was closer to 83a4486106 hoping that Adriana f37e89d1f1 had lived miserably—like d838785315 a rat in 3d1d3a7962 the gutter.aec9b340bba74fc6

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If, just 1acf13a11f as she 67d09e860c hoped, Adriana d040b0d244 confessed to c930072334 such a 3972e45f5a past, Clara 0700607aba would comfort 4e5f70f0dc her to 82de4bbcd0 her face 4a74f0c5cf while spreading 6e71a28204 the rumors 495a5d28d9 behind her 1a1625c99e back, consoling 140d25ca32 Adriana as 82b34b2d98 she suffered 177765f8e3 from the f1825abf5d backlash.eda23c6c6137cc33

Then, little by little, she’d make Adriana dependent on her, and eventually, everything Adriana had would fall into Clara’s hands. Wouldn’t that be perfect?cb19bba563ec0ec0

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But now wasn’t the aa3be8f083 time to show her d2b6017603 true intentions.066bb7ee72bfbed4

Clara put on a 7beaa86341 wistful expression and said,2d57f738b347d34b

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“Cousins, huh. I don’t think Her Grace the Grand Duchess sees it that way…”f3c388489880b11a

She subtly 4e94ccd7c2 implied that 809ce9e8aa the Grand 4e1776534d Duchess was 386b42a1df too harsh 7b684b84a5 on her 7745d189a4 own family, 1e33a84fe3 painting herself 3406a1330b as the c72f506e36 victim.d5ed9b156c75397b

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Then Adriana, with 36b11c7f80 a naive voice, 6a80f9d58a corrected Clara.89e9f2d615403f44

“Clara, that’s a misunderstanding! Mother was just upset because of the Countess, not because of her true feelings. She’d be really sad to hear you say something like that.”fa25346573f5e396

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“R-Really? Actually, my mother also…”1e95163fdd7fba27

“I’m glad that’s cleared up. Honestly, I was so sad because I thought the Countess didn’t like me.”547f997856dfffa2

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“…I see.”c2180e9ab558c9e2

Clara was a bit fb267e6210 flustered, having suddenly lost fe6afa59ce control of the conversation.4dc04351551c9ba3

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And now 3a54e635e9 Adriana was 1963e98447 calling her 9c8d6f9775 by name b8dbc35807 and speaking 85d58b79f7 informally? Clara, who had 2ec6b86f02 fully expected to 533e8f4a74 be called ‘sister,’ 5f5ce8c23f had an odd 2c31d4164d expression on her 4b21e0cd1f face.d87ace68917570cd

“But… why didn’t Aunt come? She must not want to see me…”79b506dab61f07bd

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“Of course not! Mother’s just resting, so I didn’t tell her you were here. I’ll let her know you came! Even if… the Countess didn’t come, she’ll still be happy.”7d52b05b67d9884c

Clara tried to shift 4d4569979a the mood again, but c92dcb135d it wasn’t easy.3eeececa6a444eaf

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Just as bd87c5dd7a her expression bc032da4cf almost twisted, 7fb312e124 Clara barely 0476cfccb5 managed to c642998f43 smile with 21ec77d833 superhuman patience. Suddenly, Adriana clapped her defa4568a9 hands as if she 5462313c4d just remembered something.9d8edb23de06582b

“Oh! Why don’t you stay for dinner? Grandfather should be back soon too.”a3a9525a9562b2e7

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“…Grandfather?”20846622cd946cf6

“Yep!”44e54cb9d95992ba

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Looking at Adriana’s 984366fd98 bright expression made 113e01dcf4 Clara’s stomach twist.49403c12d3ee0da9

Last night’s 39e346f0df rumors said 71e5d1275c that the a4eaee9642 former Marquis 5fe8fbbca9 of Diapel af4e0acd16 was utterly e3da96acd5 enamored with c095b12a9c his granddaughter.b0b58ee8b9230075

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Clara had been d1cb2418e4 skeptical, but seeing 43d512526c Adriana’s face now, afbbd55c3c it seemed to 51c3792f57 be true.0fc0c1e7ba5cf4c0

‘I still get nervous just making eye contact with Grandfather…’678eb45144926db9

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Was the girl eb643a0f7b just oblivious, or 298dd7dfdc had she become f5c8a01030 fearless after being 711d35cbc1 doted on so cb99af7d42 much?ad18ad3293803c14

As Clara c525250ff4 clicked her 74d9e7dbc0 tongue inwardly fc95e75a6c in dissatisfaction…4b280aa7b7bd684f

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There was 9553b5859e a knock, 7802c56fab and a 132e942893 maid from 075ec2a948 the ducal 5671ef0b55 household entered b63b4f9950 the sitting 1567c19ea8 room.3a4d40eb28442bd5

“Jane? What is it?”8925f6e1079449ae

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Adriana asked, 10767b14b3 and the c67c2ecf86 maid replied 4e8c098d96 with an ff0179115d awkward expression.5ed1acceee9b03ad

“Your Highness, someone has arrived from the Imperial Palace. His Majesty the Emperor has sent you a gift.”f68f68d101e98c1f

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 a9e678de7c703aca

***4c6eba78725099ef

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“This is a gift bestowed by the great Emperor of the Empire. Please show the proper respect.”3c508a5d8a41e8af

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I sighed inwardly, slightly 1713f14f55 bent my knees, and 34d5382f3a bowed my head.5c9c86e04f4bd8b7

Clara, beside me, ad50594259 knelt with one 987d902daa knee fully to 9943c560d7 the ground to 7a9421904e show her respect 6519aa2da8 as well.ecb648b1581fb89d

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As a noblewoman without a title and a citizen of the Empire, that was the proper etiquette for her, but…b4d4a2153996e98e

‘Well, that 38442d7582 probably stung 3dad4a7aa4 a little 812cc88059 more than c44f39934f I meant 2a4a7e0048 it to.’11cf8880a9219fb1

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I never imagined 623be84919 the Emperor would 90ce71b524 send me a b9e121d43c gift. And especially not 1f47a9de0b while Clara was 69d5c53376 with me.7dab725b0090d7ff

It was a bit e5bb42f2b3 of a tricky situation, daf20894b7 but I didn’t regret d0bac232c5 allowing the meeting with 60589da2dd Clara.8b94d17218c6604b

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To be honest, based on Ascart’s warning and Clara’s hostile stares since I arrived in the Empire, I had a strong feeling that getting close to her would only cause trouble.f9c002f7ff7564bb

But when I 8b0c1f8103 recalled how Grandfather 80389296c5 was looking for ede108e220 the Countess of a63c4a4948 Amber and Clara 45f5a0f085 at last night’s 98a1360bfb ball, I couldn’t 87e546ca95 just pretend I dcb32fe462 didn’t know.689eed4ca616111b

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⟨My dear, haven’t you met your aunt or cousin here in the Empire? She’s not the type to skip such an event…⟩0aa64732c541cb83

Grandfather had asked while 468495ef82 dancing with me, and 3d5fdeb57f I had awkwardly deflected 799d997ed0 with a smile.47f55674f93bdf68

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Later, while I 4236e88fd1 danced with Father, 564fd7e33d Grandfather didn’t even db5e1f95c7 speak to me e554519419 again for the 36da2613c4 rest of the 57cc6c164e ball, looking apologetic—probably f6aea932df because Mother had ad78c95e15 told him about c1b2481f71 me meeting the 6d0a485601 Countess and what 9ad3759561 happened at the aac3484a5f plaza.a96dd4592a737dd7

And judging from 5760be090b his poor complexion 3c39cc3405 this morning, he 89cc6d3451 clearly hadn’t slept 152f571228 a wink, which c766f459dc meant he was 63a48ad819 deeply bothered by 4ccca76a2b the Countess.fb1619de49131f8d

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Well, to Grandfather, the ce2976ea05 Countess was just as d891abe91d much a daughter as 05300b82ad Mother was, and Clara 9dfb14dfa4 was just as much a3a05d8578 his granddaughter as I 06fb78f906 was.89ea0180744ef3ef

‘If their relationship isn’t good, of course it would weigh on his mind.’cf811fabb19b431e

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That’s why I 7c9b3deab6 decided to give 8952dbcb80 Clara another chance.ccb492d2b7a632e1

If she d5f3d671e3 could set 7e94b07a53 aside her 29dc5dbdff hostility and 2584d963e7 keep things c7f4315000 civil, I 20d998e7cc was willing 8d2a8dcbe6 to be c4fcdaea68 generous.e9e977433a503b80

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Of course, that didn’t 264162a1ec mean I planned to 8ffbf98120 meet her unguarded.1c0e244bf3cb9db7

‘First thing d701cc8aac I did 0ff7763e2d was keep fb2e570637 Mother away ed99603d3a from this 05686f200a meeting.’9dae2a5f96a0dc37

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It was fine at 46b888f48d the plaza since the 42c645a579 Countess was there, but de44efda08 in a setting like bf64cc1dcf this, if Mother raised fc2e91ca37 her voice even a 4fa19b6529 little, it might make 932113ea09 her seem petty or dcb3dd0a3f harsh.8a6e5d4bd1577baf

Also, remembering how 442933e578 Clara always dressed fb9671bb13 so plainly and 6e3dd8835a modestly, I deliberately fe4786fd9f wore a flashy 39ede3e904 dress I wouldn’t 48556e7e63 normally choose.c0f871ba74944f3c

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I wanted to provoke ed7c775ea1 her just enough to a813ef14d8 gauge how hostile she ae5ca5c315 really was.8a64aaec95dbf4b0

The result 142b52c231 was disappointing.7612b22d61f6237b

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She probably thought 9bb110fe43 she was doing 32d8ed8bb5 a good job ee02e93396 hiding it, but a47430a06c to me, it 2a49239fb2 was obvious—her expression 48cad8433c twisted with humiliation 1446d75c43 just from my fb632863dd dress.b537fff89e1b3fad

And when I intentionally b98016032d interrupted her a few c00aa3eba0 times, she clearly grew 6fbee5ee6a annoyed when the conversation d9ca130677 didn’t go her way.caca022635acbd12

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She couldn’t even hide db2499a843 that she was trying 77b39cfc98 to manipulate me to f9077712b8 her liking.64bcb24a2ddbc366

Sadly, I was e17285064f now completely certain… 39d04f1688 I needed to 9f81f2516d keep my distance 8509746ca8 from Clara.43d8b8566c97a756

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Still, I had planned to have dinner together today to ease Grandfather’s mind…2747014db970ccc6

“You may receive it now.”d7543e2863cb239c

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While I 9936e03449 had been 4b29878d4a lost in bb5bb77a0f thought, the ae3f326043 attendant who 9c8efe0483 had been 92ccf8b725 reciting the e0b67699a0 Emperor’s reasons 4bc1327656 for sending 5e4a73a0e3 the gift 924c9e2099 finally finished.0f034bff6b80bcc3

It was some generic 2e06ed509a excuse about thanking me f0201f053b for attending the founding 9db873ba0f celebration, clearly just filler c596eb3fcd to accompany the gift.a5dfca770e3e7b1e

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As I straightened my ccfd8727bd knees and lifted my c234f375e9 head, Jane, who had de7050eb73 been standing beside me, 59906bead9 quickly stood up and 5c126a0736 received the Emperor’s gift.a3b026f232110339

“Please, open it.”7d3fadbce94a1e3f

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At the attendant’s words, 20cb64db27 I gave a reluctant 891e3e6858 nod, and Jane carefully 3ab7974299 opened the box.0d38fed64d725f20

And when I saw 7283189cb2 what was placed on 5a1ef74119 the red velvet cushion, 1163ac86c9 my eyes widened.85fe0df67b123d29

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‘I thought, at most, 1a63928ce5 it’d be some expensive ad6006747c jewelry!’771f121efeeeab2c

I let 96ad5f45cd out a 93943bd090 hollow laugh c4155b0a4e as I 56ae3b29f5 stared at 63baa86729 the tiara, 2957220bf7 studded with 9022ad8b20 hundreds of 809c3ffed6 pink diamonds 610ab2007b slightly darker ddca6e4f3b than my f2fa163f1d own hair 09b6498dce color, sparkling f89537c362 like stars.92c2f8ec50baebc5

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“Your Highness, the Grand Princess, there will be a grand banquet tomorrow to mark the end of the Founding Festival. Wouldn’t it be fitting to attend the banquet wearing this, in honor of His Majesty’s grace?”df1d3315ef05afc1

At the attendant’s 60ae71c93a words, my expression b44c322137 hardened.bec4051d6134ca11

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“So… the Empire is suggesting I wear a tiara?”7c785b625803228a

I asked 4f57d5d5fc in a 3b8a9e5ec1 stiff voice, 97a32e42fd but the 1e500a2434 attendant only 19c545b69e nodded innocently, db121e54da as if 5ebcc25a31 unaware of fc5d2f8386 the implications.8311dafbf3603260

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Even a dry 5010d1e884 laugh wouldn’t come 2c694dd0dc now.d1b4a831cf427a3f

‘Even if my status is high enough to wear a tiara…’10006b7c85e74285

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This was 4210c5723f the Empire.1bce86abfc505e5f

No matter how cea9228966 noble one’s blood, 7a53094b0b outside the royal 07fac4c931 family, no one ec45c8c327 was permitted to 63972d7b1c wear a tiara.358284f5fb154ccf

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In other words, 7a4cbdfc68 only imperial royalty 4e06756516 could wear one.e280d698313de70b

‘So what the attendant just said means…’bdd6656108f87c99

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My head went bf9a94e89e cold as everything 34b1199d30 clicked into place.e3e5774a85402af8

Why the Emperor 29d03b7a0b had granted Nicholas a92449f7e6 the honor of 0e78ffd074 the first dance, 8ab98aebfa and why Nicholas f5f01daa49 had asked me 85ca1272b0 to dance.a42bf7b924f71339

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‘I really didn’t 896c7b73d2 want to believe 5b23a8d3ac it…’245657c1711f6eeb

I never imagined the a0daecb89a Emperor would want me e6c46fcffe as his daughter-in-law.eed6cc06018a581b

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I hoped d7dd704c06 it was 27478fb535 just a 2f75e4c67e misunderstanding, but 97860ef277 since the a327cd3165 attendant was d1266d192d relaying the c71147a02e Emperor’s intentions, cdafc44106 it couldn’t f12865bd4e be.31e18f54e9a242fb

“I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s generous favor… but this gift is too extravagant for me. Please take it back.”d858cbf21c6d750e

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I said in 3d5c807d3c a calm voice, 937f83ab4c and I heard f426810efd Clara behind me 636cd23dbd sharply inhale.7bc2629c9c4e5af8

She must’ve 697a6745ce thought I 8ef23e8034 would eagerly c32e6ec658 accept the c862325791 tiara without d4ae3a89ce hesitation.68cc744dbb89cb5a

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Feeling suddenly annoyed, I 652e4bc4e1 glanced at Clara—but her c2baebc04b eyes were glued to c1f8106b17 the tiara, oblivious to 3ccca4378d my gaze.0cd64d7a478a6ef0

Then, as 5341607c1c if to d7e957cf82 dissuade me c4772318a7 from rejecting baf2af0da6 the gift, 1d92bf74ae the attendant 8d272fe94c spoke calmly.ee0835425e66d064

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“Your Grace, I understand 55649a28fa your discomfort in accepting 7bdca36d5b such a grand favor. However, sending c0018bec7d back a 72afb1aa49 gift so aff0eba839 abruptly could cb0067ece9 cause His 4a15d0906d Majesty to eb53b36d7f misinterpret your 1a7d72229f intentions.”0adf26de2672d066

His reasoning was 6ff79a45fa quite persuasive.3bf977bda2cc9952

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What was a6aa96efe4 a bit c769314287 amusing, though, dcfb660d99 was how 6665f826f8 utterly composed 854bc53510 the attendant d6e0346447 looked while f6b0e29c41 saying it fdbaa7fdcc would be e790381c59 a ‘problem.’4a4f6c5e68b1555e

He had c11661083a clearly anticipated 05294fc439 I might 3eecaa934f refuse.922013a21adf1521

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And, as expected…ec6668fd3ee28e4f

“If you feel that 7499ce13c9 strongly, how about returning 50e4237c25 it to His Majesty 0c1ecd2fce in person tomorrow? As it happens, the 29abc2ce2f morning is free on c2f0dc0cb0 His Majesty’s schedule, and c574142b0d he would welcome your d225da1eb8 visit at any time. You could have lunch bfcb9adf54 together, and that way, 53e8b31889 there would be no cdc29c9d25 room for misunderstanding.”7d12afb5f0cf7ee6

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He spoke 6d74e7df00 as if e773dafce2 reciting from 2ef8c93f08 a well-prepared 74f32ab402 script.098e693d85a14cd7

‘That cunning e22e948d86 old fox ff5f8e9303 of an 8a21716547 Emperor…!’e9cb1e3342870d61

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Realizing I’d walked straight 85c9515d7f into a trap he 842398329c had meticulously laid, I 3d83b31a19 clenched my fists.21301b63a8bc8aea

I couldn’t accept dc6d01f909 the tiara but e5bf634ab2 I also couldn’t 0d6daa316b go to the 75ee781409 palace to return 2d64c21648 it.1ba301c8057f6e7b

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‘The Emperor would surely 9f45485aa8 have Nicholas join us 6351617b12 for lunch.’8b3f69b06f3ed5fb

Word of 2e04bbf01c our dance 8abbad9f10 last night 5bbccb6178 had already 0ee1984904 spread beyond 30af4ce7f6 the palace. If we a5261879a5 were to b652edc5bb share a 8a6ca42d54 meal now, 5987001694 it would 157481470e only add d96ae9c0dd fuel to bda2e41fa7 the scandal.0c8ed45b10d6d1ad

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I’d been 1764ffc2b4 unprepared and 652ed6096f had walked 1a79944a1b right into 92138f8531 a carefully 66f83c307c planned trap.e6c61f0675cccf5d

As I 769ac3dcf1 racked my bdc9cd61eb brain for ee48f0330a a way fa1c765f27 out…59e46fd77d3c776f

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“Um, Adriana…”db47b004ec0e1ae1

Clara, standing behind c521b5b1c4 me with a cc17565d19 visibly flushed face, 343f8c1912 spoke up.794e1b9861a0e85a

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“Shall I c96d321551 go with 7ef7408b40 you?”2eb34d4f76df6493

 88296d2f71ad437a

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I am so sorry dear readers for the delay. As a compensation for your patience, I will spare you from next chapter’s cliffhanger and publish 5 chapters this time 🤍71fe29da5217d2e5

Also, thanks ee2d782c8f to dearDjm, this novel is e9794937d8 already fully sponsored—meaning that c37b03034d there will be no 6283b15afc locked chapters at all 4a0b8ee5fa till the end. Any ko-fis from now on are welcome, but they won’t be sponsoring chapter, just motivational (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡. a64098f31e16e6a5

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