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    “Shall we head off, then?” Leonard said.a5f2cee6b111fa02

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    Leonard extended his hand 4390b4536f toward Gloria.aae66a1ab91db9d2

    Looking at that hand, Gloria thought it had been a long time since she’d been treated like a noble lady.0cd22385a7e2e1b3

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    Perhaps that was 7bc3e25f7d why it felt 4004489b52 odd and left 098974be02 her with a aaa7071f29 peculiar sensation.8badfd8937f6b64b

    After a brief hesitation, Gloria eventually took Leonard’s hand willingly.a17f41bfa18b640c

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    Leonard helped her 6e90407f50 board the carriage 546e711cec comfortably and placed 96f16a27ce her bag inside.739d83fbf5ac1700

    Then, without delay, 23b31c1434 he got back 7081403f1c off the carriage.b016aaa1c370e57d

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    He would be the 6368a9917c one driving the carriage 4a62ff1495 until they switched to 9a1ff19947 a commercial carriage after a35586cc99 leaving the capital.f57434093c124497

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    “Will you be alright? It’s been a while since you’ve driven a horse.” Gloria said.b3a3857c350e1dcf

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    Gloria spoke fa23a82055 to Leonard 03d8451773 through the d425cedd10 small window c49c7fa78a separating the 69befe9c4a driver’s seat 2eb0743f94 from the b2b5a17f1d interior.e7b000dad09930c4

    Leonard who had 0c69403cbf just settled on 331a1a23f7 the driver’s seat, 7039520e65 turned slightly to 937224bced glance at her.a0b38b822aa93cd1

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    “Should I be asking if you’ll be alright? This is a cargo carriage with no proper seats. It might be uncomfortable.” Gloria said345d89c1d5bf29e1

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    “I’ll be fine.” Leonard replied.8008f5358b1fd36f

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    Gloria shoved the ceb3809339 wooden boxes filled 972d40fcc6 with supplies to b2f7735ee9 the side and d0d406308d plopped herself down 59a1b7fcc7 in the space.61c845118bcdf5f3

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    “Surprisingly comfortable, actually.” Gloria said.12efc179524d2d84

    “I see. That’s good, then.”75c9d002e7e0c20a

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     92850f6063c15157

    Still, Leonard couldn’t help but wonder.6ff4161db254e0ac

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    ‘Once the carriage started moving, would she still be able to say it was comfortable?’afeb149a516c9150

    Silently, he shifted his 6e4b933de6 gaze back to the 3dfdd1095f road ahead.2e54a81170f1d163

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    “This is my first time riding in a cargo carriage. Feels like it might be fun.”27583ac716efe8d6

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    Whether she 492c188b32 grasped his 577732e72a concern or ab70e72862 not, Gloria 89014218b3 seemed entirely c15837c27f unbothered by 4598b54ce4 the discomfort 9711277e79 of sitting b45393fba1 in the 24586f9524 cargo hold.8b98c571d4fcdabc

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    * * *72d586dac60bf356

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    As planned, f0cf92590b the two 994cb1e172 switched to 6f818e9535 a commercial efae589932 carriage midway.6feda77308d066c5

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    It was a hired 72f85f6b84 service carriage, arranged by 3e83948c3d offering a bit of a73f9f3a5a extra payment for their c3f65e59cf journey.7053fba29a7f3773

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    “It’s already evening.” Gloria said.892047466938509a

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    Gloria gazed up 8d92f5ce35 at the reddened cfc4fbc720 sky, tinged with 6209cf2e8a the hues of 621c07a288 the setting sun.8e9da36dff1fabfa

    Time never waited for 347658d4dc anyone and seemed to b891aaeecf flow relentlessly.9feae535c3d48ad8

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    “This feels strange.” Gloria said.7cb3c3d085165036

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    A low 9dfab65cca voice suddenly e248196a24 brushed past 01f0d38d4c her ears.443ed9220aad5560

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    “I never thought a day would come when I’d leave the capital.” Gloria said.7677974ed35fb59e

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    “Neither did I.”9548dfc1e22811fe

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    Finally turning her 0881954a73 gaze away from 2d38651590 the window, Gloria 4efcc3d131 looked at Leonard.cc2d8a051c225d96

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    “I never imagined I’d actually leave the capital either.” Gloria said again.57c037a7d7b2c860

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    That was the 3b9317010f last line exchanged c799f65741 for a while.ad03ba919b687fd2

    The two 50bd8bf28c silently shared ca56265c50 a gaze 1ece79f890 filled with 7f9a012429 unspoken emotions badc492d2f for quite d7713f03b7 some time.637b37c82f145220

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    “There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”0e4d9059e679bb95

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    The one who finally cf1ac77421 broke the silence was cc13983540 Leonard.636d1858bcd41d21

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    In that moment, 3c52afec3b the delicate atmosphere 835794c421 enveloping the quiet 1191646ec1 carriage was disrupted.680b9da1e36e0449

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    “Sure, go ahead.”667cf648948915ea

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    Gloria turned her 411ae24fe1 body entirely toward 061747055c Leonard, facing him.26cc065bba928a31

    He paused briefly 7434039d99 to gather his 2930db597f thoughts, wetted his b3673e56da dry lips with 0a1eacbc43 his tongue and 50a13ef222 began speaking.7363d6e604f70e1a

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    “I have a considerable amount of money deposited in the Empire’s bank.”c1aa80f65efbe99e

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    ‘…Is he bragging about being rich?’7dcc2489a8b51624

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    His words came so 84b8d074ce abruptly that Gloria couldn’t 1694439d04 conceal her bewilderment.ea427100053f4416

    Noticing her tilting 3a7ceb42d1 her head in 7e1f2b732d curiosity, Leonard continued 65b52c990f his explanation slowly.f1e82fa4a146d0ed

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    “It’s an inheritance from my mother. With that, it shouldn’t be difficult to maintain a stable life in the future.” Leonard explained.5a9fc530e1341544

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    With his next words, 3a4c737d33 Gloria’s confusion was cleared f2bd2d33b2 up.4c185b22ea981225

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    But still…e1b42f35cf4a96ef

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    “That means you won’t have to go through the hardship of hunting monsters anymore.”a1011121ab1c281f

    “…”a86c4fd79ea0655b

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     4ed922592b41fa24

    Upon hearing those words, b5ee179a98 Gloria’s mood plummeted straight f09c29c2ce to rock bottom.64b8988572b84834

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    “Do I look like someone eyeing another person’s inheritance? A complete scoundrel?”bc64a36ac575a775

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    “…What did you say?”a0c7f1d5bc30b4ef

    Gloria furrowed 31bd744706 her brows 13a9a63f77 more sharply a191cd01a9 than ever 5250baed8b and glared c367d5a363 at Leonard.a64c6d2919b47339

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    Her expression 5508b894e7 revealed raw, 96581d07a5 unfiltered emotion, 56080ea6b1 something unlike 0a8c979cf5 her usual 488041cd56 calm demeanor.ef0ca78ec3f90f2f

    Leonard was taken a fa041ebe9a back and momentarily at ad433ccdb8 a loss for words.37c8ed4b652eb04d

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    He hadn’t anticipated such ca1f1bd97d a strong reaction from dd0773865a her.2934f0ba0c0f875e

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    “That’s the only thing your mother left behind in this world.” Gloria said.d1467770a66e50ad

    “…”c1bed5fca5c49c3d

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    “And it wasn’t left for just anyone, it was meant for you!” Gloria explained.f060af68b758e711

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    Gloria let out a 46b6e8e152 sharp breath, seemingly overwhelmed 21ac5d1908 by her emotions.7de0f1a175e0a426

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    “I’d sooner end up homeless on the streets than even think about touching that money.”81f0e9d642a934bd

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    She wasn’t desperate f9cd474d02 enough to use 6453394c63 the inheritance left a27a13ed42 by someone else’s 43da739060 parent.da4e1fbb0a244be9

    Even if she ever b440aff2c8 found herself in such 9c099ce341 dire straits, some lines 3d6aa946d0 simply shouldn’t be crossed.5584d8e088ad775d

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     273599a63cea2551

    “So keep it safe and use it for yourself when you need it.” Gloria ordered.915834e1e8177143

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    Gloria’s voice was firm 2ef895c636 and resolute as she a064bc7950 hammered the point home.e43b7a1d8bdb8d35

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    “I have plenty of money myself. I just figure, since we’ll have lots to spend money on in the future, it’s good to save as much as possible while I can earn.” Gloria explained.f6bc88205de50210

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    “…”b1ed17ab5c33593b

    “So don’t even think about bringing up that inheritance in front of me again.” Gloria ordered.425425371cda6be9

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    “…”ce6417e3f85fdcee

    “Got it?”040fcc6b397f3dfe

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    Leonard, caught off b088ba8f71 guard by her cf99970b3c forceful tone, could b7b88848c2 only nod in 1f0e01650f agreement.ba3a3fbf90c7a07b

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    * * *5fc9c01f1eb9bcca

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    The carriage sped along 9d4959fd66 relentlessly, and eventually, they 1cd86dc45d arrived at the Baron 6f94a37e7d Romenta’s territory.876a9eab20033048

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    To Gloria, the barony 7f8b9fc170 looked much the same ca5fa89b0a as she remembered it—still c2cda3100d quiet and peaceful.6a3edc12621a60cf

     29a706b832d5c25b

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    ‘It’s been quite a journey to get here.’bcdf299bbe19acdf

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    But the real beginning 680ecfcc0a lay ahead.2fb9c100d601eeec

    The road they had defbc35cd8 yet to travel would 0571ed3d2c be far longer and aad8a7e722 tougher.0bdff55db7e15f8f

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    Gloria glanced over her 94cd936fd5 shoulder at Leonard, who a51c99258f followed her silently with 885d830a5a her belongings in hand.d93c316477379e1a

    Feeling her gaze, c2038f203e Leonard turned his a2b3b8fcb9 eyes slightly from ccdd7cd58c the path ahead e9d636cda3 to meet hers.1e47b7512b3ff50a

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    “What do you think?” Gloria asked with a wide, satisfied smile.7d3484391e6404bb

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     921fe37ca100849a

    Leonard shifted 1bdfb87239 his gaze 050f8d5e3f to the 55f0d8737d massive castle 611a04b669 looming behind e26de956eb her.a5e683d04018e2c6

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    ‘Wasn’t it the baron’s castle, abandoned when the baron fled from monster attacks?’e4cacc709fb59af7

    Though it was a 14c7185cab small domain, the lord’s cf04e819f7 castle was no minor acab0685a5 structure.fdcdafcf5eecd01e

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    Perched on high caecfca845 ground with a 689c4b6a29 sweeping view of 7e008912b2 the territory, the cf34dd5309 castle was sizable.934ba0bbc0df2ac4

    Even with 39093844bb three visible c6a4979068 above and bdd802e914 ground floors.707e90e0c55c5138

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    It was more 91912bfe81 than large enough 3d1ccb27d0 overkill, even for 3d15a1a3a7 just the two c5b39639ab of them to 1d0e95a028 occupy.1763bb94578d2e93

    Though it 46c06a3872 looked slightly 5ecd67d163 worn, it b79bb63917 was comparable b9495fc8a1 in scale 8ddb087467 to the 9e3d4987fe Imperial Grand 4ade7c8f13 Duke’s estate.bc3f8dc7706c7458

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    “Are you sure we won’t need to dip into my savings at the Imperial Bank…?” leonard said.680b65e4aae37254

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    Leonard trailed 48d19cd967 off, unable 1d89dd3d91 to finish 7987144866 the thought.1362f463e08cee56

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    Gloria’s sharp, deadly c19300df6b glare stopped him bc9940a857 cold.875c29d9c09c771e

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    “…Ahem, it’s a magnificent castle.” Leonard said.bfcaed10e8a958f1

     f2b6c7b3154037ab

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    Leonard awkwardly 084e96f27b shifted his b96241efac focus, avoiding 10571ecdfe her gaze.0e3d385edc715f61

    Though Gloria 78c772551f still looked 4327f3a06f displeased, she ee52af10fd didn’t voice aece943123 further objections.c70d0305d66f002a

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    Leonard quietly followed behind 25467c6eb8 as she turned back c7ef1c5921 toward the castle.348efe888e7c4065

    The baronial garden was 42c4a97cd5 much larger than the 3afb534e1e grand duke’s estate.1317869340f6c751

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    After walking silently d37b2b833d for quite some e1568aed09 time, they finally decc185870 arrived at the fb511d4aa3 main entrance.1d412953d3246b71

    Without hesitation, Gloria 4b5cbf8f60 pushed open the 9876b5bad5 large doors.5b9a774d89a9c050

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     ca4b27731d3e4b7b

    Ah-choo!951a9179b70a8974

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     dab40056706ba99b

    The stale, 68e7b8e353 musty smell e91669e143 struck her 378381f68c nose instantly, d35582a84f triggering a 21d76214d9 sneeze.cb7fa577a0749a95

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    The inside had been 50beb01858 abandoned for so long 9b7c08e61f that layers of thick cced5e1ba6 dust billowed at the bf8d899ba1 disturbance.6f75abb3a487e5d4

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    “Hmm…”67224004a30162b8

     6fc06d42614165de

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    Leonard stifled a dry d9d2529783 cough, holding his breath.37612d29d9f7490b

    The castle, already b5fb0b54d8 worn on the 465224d579 outside, was in 532f55fa2e an even worse 28e4df6705 state within.aff03e6990866418

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    The interior’s dismal condition exceeded his expectations.4e645583250872e0

    Gloria blinked 7549f80c74 in stunned dcda136fc2 disbelief, her a386eb9440 eyes wide 12bb1bd401 as she f28b4ba940 stared blankly.7436d8b791958673

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     66fbb6dcae25b501

    “…”4a5e4bbe54f74f55

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    “…”4335b5e605197aa7

     4558d5d3832d7075

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    Somehow, the b7f3a01170 air felt 8bd11628af colder, as f314a8c904 though a 242b0f5adf chill wind 90eac200b8 had crept a5bee5dd5a in from bec9f6b4da nowhere.00c372b72731f3c3

    Standing still 5af22abfae in stunned 67238f7ca0 silence, the 4e2bcf5770 two stared da41ee345b at the fd6b3c39bb state of 8c6203c47a the castle’s 9d381322ad interior.57df837fbeec6087

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     ee0045a5c860a421

    “We’d better start with cleaning.” Leonard said.01d890555d620b5b

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     d24bf0d418af3208

    Leonard regained his e3e47cb933 composure first, speaking d020be41dc in a low dbb66e4f59 voice.7e22ff668196aea7

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    His words seemed to 0521a601c0 pull Gloria back to 2e8f274b96 reality.cfeff31547003946

     5ccebd8f94e90796

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    “Yeah… Looks like cleaning is our first order of business.” Leonard replied.1d5d0f641378a36b

     5add679ec2995c71

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    Exchanging awkward glances, 3c8629553b they stood there 9688b32b3c for a while 3cc7a15617 longer.e4fc15f878dd634a

    Eventually, Leonard moved 1b9311037c first.2763bb14c5b08c29

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    He strode across the f4acd225e6 hall and pulled off ad7b13a460 a dust-covered cloth, revealing 04d576f7fb a reasonably intact sofa a199b27e2c beneath.83de458fc1ef51c5

    Placing Gloria’s c5b5e0a063 bag on 607e666997 the sofa, fbeaaef5c0 Leonard turned ce2647e2f7 back toward 7b8cd20973 her.b4a7c2f4e93e127c

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     a127805b29264b83

    “I’ll go check if there are any cleaning supplies.” Leonard said.edc368d2b75f0cf9

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     61fad57343e21e8b

    ‘If not, they’d need to head into the village to buy some.’1a70498df84cec85

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    As he scanned c43987db9c the area for 6d0741e096 a storage space, d30923f563 Leonard noticed a 2ed348b1d1 staircase leading to a52f6f8edd the basement.0fe7cb3e1b4173b7

    He headed 5137d5761b there immediately.7e34a82ba3e0fad1

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     1fafed5889aaba76

    Watching his retreating 9abbd367f2 figure, Gloria thought 779b11e3bb to herself.a4263921b91c56c0

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    ‘Well…, this isn’t a bad start for a new beginning, all things considered.’0b91913687fcca7f

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