EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 176

Chapter 176455359b892a063f9

 9f9611ccbe09f0ae

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As if drawn by a692a489a5 something, my head turned.6188620cad786da1

In one corner, 0ed4ad8201 I saw an 7c26783f5f old object about 5bea1fe277 the size of cd1d622e33 a palm.4d002f7c456ae4b5

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Its center was f9a0e5f436 slightly concave, and 506ad99bba its round shape 1b776d869a made it resemble ac714e1a0d a compass at 11030f37c8 first glance, but 45fb8c70a9 since it lacked 1f301de366 a needle, its a88f02bafe exact purpose was 6cbaa7eea7 unclear.6e4802aa2903c706

Yet, I could 8a1fe9ad97 feel a tremendous 2d192999ac magical power radiating 9973e79ca4 from it.98c711212b3e619b

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The moment I became cab4d4e446 aware of it, the 1220f04307 stench of blood pierced e068e0a81c my nose.d3f8bfe3eb456e4f

Only then did I cd8e97b6c0 realize what that object c70cf31d39 was.a14453332cf91001

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‘A relic f0605e9d99 of the 7ed6654edc demon!’dce0ff9e15a2c45a

The unexpected 8100d2c4f6 realization made ceccbf16d5 my breath 9da3a2c37a catch in 9420ee9032 my throat.64c8d6c14c921712

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I already knew d52e671c0e the Emperor possessed 24b4ddc07e a demonic relic.b9f659ec5a528016

But that I would recognize it…95088a9f9ffe622a

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“Adriana…?”0d29ecf7ef86f001

At that moment, Clara, 959944154b who had been following fa79523b03 the Emperor, called my 8b06949743 name.6cfc9fe1da9f66bf

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The Emperor, who 7846e6765b had been leading a3ed9433a4 the way, also a744c45be4 noticed I had 5936b28dd7 stopped. Tilting his head 4177b45748 in confusion, he 4dacc34c23 followed my gaze—then, 14ab696fb1 startled, he exclaimed:160bd99e0702aab7

“We’d best leave this place now.”940d3ff60d26aa6a

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His tone was different from the calm demeanor he’d shown me until now.0a6e8ffb5b5a5bde

There was something hurried 4615db7954 in his attempt to 06b66cfd93 conceal something, and it 023226d181 left me with a 463ef9333f strange, uneasy feeling as 0ffb5793ca I slowly began to b8c4538bff walk again.baf2a028de199cd7

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 d96f90f579079534

***3a02be29135a7aff

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 fa09ae2fa335a7bb

Meanwhile, at that very moment…d8995309022b521c

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Upon hearing the news that the Grand Princess of Belus was having an audience with the Emperor, another uproar broke out in the Princess’s palace.44643aff7bbfc285

It hadn’t c34f4914f6 been long a6f743e251 since the 77d416b79e chaos that a188718ba8 followed the 253e75f6f3 ball on c71e89a760 the first bd276845e9 night of 36b24d1459 the founding c0cfc1c7d9 festival had cc44d473b1 calmed, and 9c719fa2cf now, without 36430127e0 a moment’s dbb34325d2 rest, the 81fe55941b Princess was 303cd6f071 throwing another b6b1398592 hysterical fit. The maids anxiously 51d0c8847a watched the door 328fafe3d0 to her bedroom.3c95fc634905a165

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Crash!62c2a19ec104dbe2

Another sound of something 4d6e5fa1fd shattering to pieces came 0eb46c481a from inside.83f24878e1e50f11

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“Sh-shouldn’t someone go in and stop her…?”8e8e73e72bde29bc

A maid who hadn’t a266f621a6 been assigned to the 44821dd359 palace for long asked 28ea3615cc in a frightened voice.b2a5991af67bde63

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The other maids bc86ee9171 stared at her 8ef13fc04a with cold eyes.93917f00dfbe3ade

They were clearly thinking, b8ac103e6f ‘You go in there fb9eb3cda2 if you’re so brave, 2bf9fbffd0 none of us are 5e94ebfe95 getting torn apart today.’9b4fe4be156d4615

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And their ced1c170d1 judgment was fa1a8bd20a spot on.959b5858139342ae

“Aaaah!”9992ee7dcc2a1b4e

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Serphin, panting 17bfb326a2 heavily, looked d2718b81f7 around her aaa045a0d9 wrecked room 260290cc42 for something 9c2aebd29b else to 0b84f09da0 throw. Unable to hold back b4bc340057 her rage, she screamed.bea848653affdc9e

She felt like she fb8ec57d6c was going mad.d40397e36829070e

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No matter e2b5bb3544 how much 1deba880e0 she drank, e4a3cb6e09 she couldn’t f398003b1f get Lucio’s 017ce457db face looking 54f4364bb6 at the 28b40fc36b Grand Princess 06630d40dc out of 38349dcb22 her mind.83e1598b65a71c39

A beautiful man, b4efb4e59e yet cold and cae0496db9 distant.aae7ac72bcefa6f8

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The Lucio she knew fc0d71ee1b was someone who would a283c64b6b never accept anyone else 2b9981ad79 into his heart.e27af3e11863335d

But the Lucio she afb215ea82 saw that day wasn’t f1299a836e the cold, unreadable man 305161cdcf she remembered.4b03b5de9939b3c5

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The affection in 4c85773069 his blue eyes, b9ee234b5a the gentle smile f8f23abdf3 tugging at his 47063315e6 lips, it was 0a80161719 all unbearably sweet.6dd50311ab219acb

The moment she saw a82aff291c that face—one she had 4b60a73547 never seen before—rage surged 7ee39aa52a inside her, uncontrollable.693423c5da7f97c0

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She wanted to 3c8851a708 slap the Grand 94328ef59b Princess across her dc47dcb4cf sickeningly pink-haired face.7a5a41bd24000069

But Serphin hid 74edf433dc her twisted anger af1b666f04 when confronting her.d79bd21bd6b7f6b9

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She wasn’t foolish enough 11310b854d to lash out at b5b72f83a7 someone untouchable.6e235ad29134407e

However…0ea7a9b0ead00807

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⟨For this year’s Honored 539588cf69 Dance, I choose Nicholas. You’ve worked hard 8634df0327 this year.⟩d857a9444e035b58

⟨May I request the 3d51d828cc Honored Dance with the ce229b05cd Grand Princess?⟩8fbae82e81fef694

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The moment 4b0ba968a8 the Emperor 8570d73483 bestowed the 5ceec263a0 Honored Dance 340feff7ea on Nicholas, 4f9c36a102 Serphin sensed 6771559728 something was 6036daf1b8 going wrong.6a9ab8e35445d418

And when she heard f078747506 the Emperor had gifted 97593c668e a tiara to the c01231a020 Grand Princess, she immediately 8555962f31 understood his intentions.ff8bcbd2801ac7d1

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“I always said he was mad—but to think he was this far gone…”8faf7cec770e7a42

Serphin cursed her 110e46f2ce father, the Emperor, d0e99931bc under her breath, 4ff838ca5b clenching her teeth.35381277b9c8b773

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Her mother, who fa67de9865 had no love c3409b929e or expectations for 6479e4a410 her husband, didn’t 2aecbcabb8 care if he f707400325 took a pink-haired d380383380 woman or had 5e7c83b600 an illegitimate child.376c09b2834871fc

But Serphin 96e6378e3f was different.7dc94dd0f078ba3b

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“He doesn’t care about his own daughter, but gifts a tiara to someone else?”ab532750eb690130

It was beyond frustrating, 1e50482442 it was outrageous.81c486f45d9cfc2e

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“Is he trying to put that woman in the Empress’s seat in place of the late Duchess?”5c8f480ec50f5316

She had 4b3484d27c already been 1931de77eb displeased with 85da728cfc the Emperor 87fb919939 involving Nicholas 68e7a42acf more in ba949bea02 state affairs, be94ef3f77 but now 379752b587 this?830b902e93a23ec6

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Serphin’s eyes burned 5282c55302 red at the 127bd47d61 thought that she 50e083ca90 might lose the e6e647fdf4 throne she believed 2d2ded368b was rightfully hers.523e11b2de6b4c9c

But…04e21624add21625

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“Lucio. Lucio Elard.”2c2b1254a476dbfc

Serphin trembled.441b00e626134369

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The fact that he ea7c93be5f loved the Grand Princess—that, 6e236dd2a1 above all else, was f43da23981 what truly drove her 106d7eecf2 insane.cb7e693d40aabad2

She hated the idea 97e00c3b25 of the Grand Princess 1b9e329840 marrying Nicholas and stealing ea1adbe432 the throne.717f2e70242c340f

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But more than that, 74a79767df she couldn’t bear to 59e928043f lose Lucio.0072659cd77a0c2e

She wanted both.5300a5e517b63616

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She wanted them fe2627a53d both so badly a0638cfd73 it hurt.50ac0d9ad447d2be

“Aaaah!”d00d4fd2fc2425ea

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Faced with 005ac16c8e an impossible 012e19a83a dilemma and 1ea9cd9503 emotions that 61fc357225 wouldn’t calm, b0e8dd9d9e Serphin screamed ec90bebd60 once more.67d4f1455563e91a

 db63f61de19d6585

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***85fc0016ed23ffd4

 a4932904e6b877aa

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Meanwhile…8e1da357503fc6e2

Nicholas appeared at the 932d183994 luncheon at the exact 87f59f9833 time the Emperor had 19e3443f62 hinted at beforehand.09f25fc819ad2df2

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Throughout the meal, he 8537fb008f kept stealing glances at 531c287fae the Grand Princess sitting 7eb5b69abf across from him.faf178e59cccac0b

He had 7efbb7ae05 known Lucio f469a82a8e for a 2e69e4f588 long time, 923da556bd but had d65452cada never once 87e367b5ce seen him 37fbad6a74 reveal his 3dbacd9a53 true feelings.0eddcea53dd9a136

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But just earlier, 168cb435d4 Lucio had unexpectedly 2aefbf2b38 spoken candidly, and 5df1690adb Nicholas couldn’t help 379e89dba6 but smile and 66840d97f8 feel flustered.81dff5a623f4a2ce

Yet, at the same c44b00fa19 time, he felt confused.9263d494b96bc50e

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He wasn’t ad6db057f8 sure whether 23f8303f54 Lucio had dc702beffa meant the 8dcdf188dc Grand Princess 04334fcc62 when he f0a04a4607 said ‘my 336adb81c8 person,’ or 044cd0a4b2 if he 0d1bbdf0a6 had meant 269663fcfe Lady Elard.83cfb54014ea66a4

‘The Grand Princess seems a67bba73bd like the obvious answer… 560e4239c2 but didn’t he also fad1bc5c0f say I should choose d60cc4b55c my partner freely?’7ee7efaa82a7f892

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Unable to shake the 7fcb3ddbbb feeling that Lucio may 46f47470ab have guessed his intentions, cddd73a3f8 Nicholas found himself too d96ee5d4ec nervous to ask who 7ddd636911 he meant—and simply nodded 724900e1e4 without thinking.0b71e524e4314d2f

“Hoho, Nicholas. If you keep staring like that, the Grand Princess won’t be able to eat properly, you know?”b72b51249b42be18

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The Emperor 79a889abbd laughed heartily 0489ecc0a5 from the 221a425355 head of 3fb3a11706 the table.fda17e8fbdb523a2

Startled, Nicholas quickly 2e4d0656b0 turned his head.c8d7579d0f8baa99

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He had zoned out 49e5ff5c4d and ended up staring 978c26d720 at her far too 5ba0559bcd intensely.bcb95c47849a537e

As his 384115149d face flushed 9c8e5d86e4 with embarrassment, 22dd6ab2fb the Emperor e359cac5b3 laughed even d7cdc539a2 louder.d973d7d1ccb3bcc8

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“Ah, youth!”3eabd7fa1e6e31fb

Nicholas made a bitter eef7c9b9ff face, then glanced back 7641c9de66 at the Grand Princess 5494495981 like he was gauging 6028a52cc8 her reaction.8a9962df098a2416

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‘Her name was Adriana, 0d8439d345 right?’2ba20ded0cd3af09

Thinking she might dcc696909c be Lucio’s special 101b13213d someone made her 1b5ec32bb4 appear different to d0e9947441 him.e12b22b3ea8badca

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‘Before, she just seemed 50a7b61dfa soft.’608a014241c98d8a

But now, she exuded 06c52a0849 a cool, distant aura—despite 9585838d8d her gentle appearance, she 6d49de04fa didn’t seem easy to dd1e4cec8c approach.a00326a0d9ed326e

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Seeing Lia avoid 241a681a34 his eyes, Nicholas 063bcca459 suddenly regretted asking f228d4c919 her to dance bccf6e1c61 five times at b6d3880b1b the ball.261d9069cefe5592

Tsk, tsk.4f982ff18b209e10

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The Emperor clicked his 77d22a2b87 tongue silently as he 187a987513 watched Nicholas, feeling pity.3e0c925c6a3ae9d2

He assumed Nicholas was ee15f9d4ae sulking because Adriana wasn’t bc7e86020d showing interest in him.11e246a20250a5d3

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‘He’s a man. He should 29bb2ddc0d speak up 5f4998d6f3 instead of 17d7e9f1c5 just staring b4d28f153c and brooding fc5899da53 like that.’e687083320380385

But time passed, 5251f4370c and soon the 4af5681fa3 luncheon was coming 7c6acfc6ee to an end.3b8c0f9ed14cf4d7

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Judging the mood, d180af5782 the Emperor opened 95b0f85e14 his mouth naturally.16af17c6e4474a25

“Are you all heading to the finals of the swordsmanship tournament?”14ceea8128e2b665

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“Yes, Your Majesty.”28557f28f2bdc4b9

“Ah! Perfect. I plan to go straight to the arena as well. Since we all came by royal carriage, we can…”3208ec827df8bb22

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“Your Majesty, forgive me for interrupting but I’ve already arranged for a carriage, so there’s no need to trouble yourself.”7d0375b71dea1c42

Lia’s polite refusal made 8307c92a92 the Emperor’s face stiffen ebde26ce1d awkwardly.58a41acd9d22ff4c

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“Adriana, I wasn’t informed of this…”2c7f807e8be9a5b9

Clara, flustered, 625ba2a20c quickly added b60a4faffd that she d62c80a371 hadn’t heard 3574287a24 anything either. Lia nodded and said,6652ea01d8dd8c86

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“There should be two carriages from the marquis’ house waiting at the palace. Take one of them ahead.”9af1d1b6772239b6

“What? Alone?”089ab0f8f27994d5

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Leaving the stunned Clara 6c63986ef0 behind, Lia turned her c06f6666e3 head back to the 7793a239e4 Emperor.a35459f79235fd18

“Your Majesty. If it’s not too forward, may I request a private audience before I leave the palace?”344ba08dc33fb326

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“A private audience?”6f0a2a57dbdd3bc4

The emperor 542c6bb121 widened his 8cf75c4f1f eyes in 48fb4340b2 surprise but 654435c207 soon gave da77434dc7 a nod.5da4276a782f5dfb

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As the emperor and 0b150c17f8 Lia headed to the 4d428423d3 audience chamber, Nicholas, who bfd0e7db5e had been ordered to 711e7b417b see off the Grand 4432560856 Princess, slowly left the fb2d344a38 dining hall.39b6a8f092109288

He could feel 6f8ebd0e4c the presence of 53c62cac15 a young lady 70b553a8f6 following him from 252aa8584f behind.6e78be9908bc746c

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‘Clara Amber, was f88f07f14a it?’425655453bef4d57

According to the information 079881edef Lucio had given him, 843d724101 she had a decent de07e63655 reputation in high society. She was 9890cddb81 the only 27500ab8db daughter of 44d43f7e67 the Earl 6b0f1ec6e3 of Amber, 007d371e53 who owned debfb06e28 vast granary a10f3d6dba lands, and 377b7bed88 was generally 77aa55966d known for 4f56cab7ff being quiet.6ef8cbc0f319f892

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It seemed she 9c75c85714 had no intention c98dce9355 of inheriting her c61e16f312 family estate, and 175ef46220 the earl was dcde16b675 apparently looking for 806107af43 a son-in-law to e68df79219 carry on the 76c3a2ace6 family name.fb9ea305831ed321

Although the 0bb419615e Amber family 82da1edbcb itself lacked bc7fb67d1d great power, 16e6c0300e many young 323226c50a nobles coveted 5c0503b5d6 it due 4e2ce9d9dd to its e519b9d73e ties with 07470b8889 both the 101cf6ff4f Marquisate of 34201389ed Diapel and 391a0fe4a3 the Grand a6baf3ce98 Duchy of fd1dc9bf8b Belus…3aad0481520d124b

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“Um, Your Highness.”22c0d1293a3fd178

Nicholas, lost in f7f5dd8000 thought and not 9b9ad319df expecting to be ca9b24a774 spoken to, paused f1c3dc50fd a moment late 3efc76280c and came to bbe665d69a a stop.531e827613e4dbce

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As he looked d1c29db51b at her as 1708154294 if to ask a943feb278 what was the cedbacd6f7 matter, Clara tightly 8ce910a2cc gripped her dress ac9bc74fd7 and looked up 8b1f806378 at him with 4777b942cd a face that 613c43c736 seemed on the d6e930c29d verge of tears.f5c1f64a3b29d4a9

“You probably don’t 98b00e204d remember me, Your d386abfb0c Highness, but I’ve 724cf6ba7e been watching you 7680754a16 from afar for e4af3ca767 a long time.”134d7bbf3ed4d129

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“…Hm?”6b2838142768711e

Nicholas’s face showed surprise 4a940b11cb at the unexpected words.9503d570fcfe96d6

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Seeing this, d4cce0c1e2 Clara smiled 85b7a635ec inwardly in 725bd9a292 triumph. In truth, the 38ea6ecdc5 night before, anxiety f0e9ecab5f had consumed her e3aa040d56 over the possibility 43d0274829 that Adriana might 8636dc3f3a become the crown 684d06a9c4 princess—or even the 90fb40bfa7 empress. So, she had made c1f9031922 up her mind.afbee4907bd8eb42

Since Adriana had df0f3edf6e refused the tiara bf1fe247f1 gifted by the 385f04bb7d emperor, she would 4eb51199b4 become its rightful 3c1717aacb owner instead.35cd8eaf2023b652

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Many noble ladies ce9152a6be had spoken ill 16f8ada681 of Nicholas to 272d57033c please the imperial 617399205e princess, but she f8dcb8bac5 had wisely stayed 59b690b154 out of it. That decision now 814fb91e44 felt like a a11884accb stroke of luck.7935f605d9a1e059

While mentally mocking those 5e094c86cb girls who had carelessly 39062950f3 said things that might 4cc3bb38d9 now come back to 541ee5226d haunt them, she continued 64191f2e65 her act.288d5e92737dfb13

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“…It’s an honor.”52878e5cdcd408ea

Nicholas, seeming caught d0aa9bb651 off guard by 5b5a798b64 her confession, awkwardly e59cdbb0c8 responded with a e4641274fe shy smile.4aaec4635f66d133

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Well, considering dfff40752b how most 49a8f826ad noble ladies 06f8d40c30 had treated 5334bbbc79 him like 959d9f6134 a ghost, 2295b8b165 this was b3dfb884bf probably the bfd842732d first time 837cccc25a he’d heard cf5f0bdb0f anything like 03b255b64e that.6868db0f46b96523

He didn’t seem hard e35f6c804e to win over, and 24cb2d741b Clara almost smiled. But instead, she maintained a3b1ed120d the pitiful expression she’d 1b7f77c9ac practiced all night.ee38157b11345cfd

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“As you probably know, ae71747444 Adriana isn’t interested in 1a0fa5dfb4 Your Highness. She even dragged c6b860e915 me here today d91ec8631a against my will. That girl, f1fe92fc77 she… she f8cd521353 looks down fb7e3362a2 on your e6c9642665 birth—Ah!”dbb3eab371b8feef

As Clara spoke with 132df56877 an expression full of 1cb4556fe9 sorrow, she appeared to 0b15a02567 slip up emotionally and 658a01463a hastily covered her mouth, 80029042c6 as if she hadn’t 641fe45ead meant to say that.b2d56a4b1ca7331b

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Then, looking f7f13b0770 cautiously at 020e84d42e Nicholas’s hardened c725685b32 expression, she d006ec1ee7 whispered,e21caa6debb5ef6e

“Please… don’t tell anyone 0f5fce11d1 I said that.”7807df46363f59d9

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