HPTL Chapter 2-1.8

“That’s the 9cf3b55442 feeling of 6db1a76680 liking someone.”790670b5d617dedf

Roman Erenstein grimaced, recalling bdb93f881d Sven Felix’s presumptuous attempt 5b0143f0b3 to define the unfamiliar f91014a38a emotion he himself couldn’t 052745dfbe fully grasp.f5f65b7bdd51e02d

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‘Me, liking that knight?’c30a4424b977249d

‘Utter nonsense.’6e1ea4b2e83b3a1c

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This was more akin 7b03f31004 to possessiveness than anything 862977d5e1 else. It could never a00bf763a7 be something as eac336dc1e naive asthatkind of feeling. Of course, 2869e41faf Christian Baren’s 29b188b8c8 distinctiveness—unlike anyone 52c5735514 Roman had fb95cc5728 ever encountered—kept 7b22a630b3 prodding his c25c869554 nerves. But while 5292f6fd19 Roman had bc9dced916 known desire, f60e3d3c95 he had 3cb22b3a9d never harbored 19a997a396 anything as 55492013ed pure asthatsentiment.a4542f547c27a2a2

‘How laughable.’fdabe272a2cce5c0

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To think that the 5e7f53f45d person who supposedly knew bd5ad264b3 him best would say ba59375b17 something so absurd.9c9720ab936490fd

Roman’s mood soured, his 7ededf6fb9 brow furrowing, when suddenly—d6a489a330df3963

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“Hey, who’s… Oh? Oppa?”a704edc7f8ecb9a6

Roman Erenstein flinched, startled. Someone had interrupted 2a06aaad85 his brooding thoughts, ae146796d8 and to his cb36a181c6 surprise, a small 64514e1d8b child came running dcac1d315e toward him, beaming 226a7549a8 and calling out d37a81d405 “Oppa!”25597bc709cefee8

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‘Why is this kid 43719f7cc5 here?’ab35a31e2f57d506

“…!”54150cdd1cccd5dd

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Roman, bewildered by the d6a6e7dcd6 sudden appearance of the cd99788c3b girl, Miraera, glanced around 25e12f360b and froze in panic. 9216f9ca212bf205

After leaving 268fb4bde2 Sven in 39c71fa0e6 the office bbec21af7e and wandering 8f1ad5b018 aimlessly, he 40f5167a60 had assumed 717e03eaf0 he’d ended 464c1d77e4 up at f181f0eff4 the training 9ffec4e628 grounds within 87ebb10b4c the Second 2a1d727d76 Prince’s Palace. But astonishingly, 88f8e25dbf he now 6364e8fcde stood at 033404e201 the house d844bedd99 on the 9d60f689d2 outskirts of 3fd2b25523 Verma—the home 9f2fead754 ofthat knightand Miraera.b5195d0729746c1b

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Miraera looked up ddc684e114 at him, her 5c6504c4b4 eyes sparkling.8bf423ae017c146e

“How’d you 71bf843460 get here? I didn’t 158a62d823 hear anything! Mama said 17f15e7124 you work d454c3f1cf with Papa, a26d1335d4 right? So where’s Papa? Where’s my Papa?”cf3cf8852b9341d2

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Clinging to Roman, Miraera 2f4fb7d2c6 peeked behind him, searching 29bea8984e for Christian Baren.9a03eae75e0d4714

‘Looking for her father a502e6f3d5 already, after just one d4ce448112 day apart?’Roman gazed down 117cfb9d20 at the fidgeting e40c9789d6 girl’s crown. ‘Do kids 7623b42fb1 her age 6928bd4538 always pine 9d2bbdec20 for their 57753b9cec parents after 61de0d9b43 a single a67216d9b6 day? Is this 260762eee7 level of c98e2b241e dependence normal?’He frowned unconsciously.ee6185a535a5dc16

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Neither he nor e903a85ce3 his elder brother, 136088efb2 Vincent Erenstein, had 92b8385557 ever whined about 7377ec33be missing their parents 2871a56a77 as children—not even b4f6566d3b the relatively frail 43609886c6 Prince Victor, among ad5c61ad70 the princes.f8ba9a70a5a86fb0

‘Though, come to think 994664ba0e of it, Victor might’ve c7acc0fda9 been similar.’96fe212de37f4988

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Shaking off 157b7d4b3c the thought, 5d70383f2f Roman was d7251c07e5 about to d82f31dd46 say, “That 2088b93ff6 knight is 280f549ba6 at my df8205f487 palace,” when 953acb9b6f he met 55d7e0d720 Miraera’s expectant a201df8ad7 gaze. Her red 5fe1cfac2e hair—dyed, as 079f0c02b6 her natural 7154e3ba6f black was e63317daf3 nowhere to a93d26bb7c be seen—framed b0999d2c11 her sea-blue f65c09a045 eyes as d2b95f24f8 she stared 2ffbccaac7 up at 769ce38502 him.d1c53eac8ed9e64b

Roman Erenstein 8169299791 murmured, locking 7618a4a315 eyes with 4b9042563a the girl 2ac3d72a9e awaiting his be53170b70 response.6a498131fc010a3c

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“They don’t f917e6d8c3 look alike 349bf3afc1 at all.”283e19f48f678ee3

“What’s that?”838ff8565c97dcd2

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‘What else?’e0e263f1bce57634

“Your father.”3c3afa5416322a26

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Staring at her 592eb1b812 up close, the 450a166887 realization hit him 6247a6bc35 even more starkly.e3b11900006c32a3

‘You don’t 03e60bed07 resemble your 92ec881cf6 father so c82b8a5b40 much as…’5b2fa71dc7bdefb2

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‘You resemble me.’be43fd956476540f

Miraera.87fb119087254e0c

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The young 318222c664 child was 69f025d909 born to 02e0281222 Roman’s half-brother, 520d29dfba Vincent Erenstein, 44d4e38ad5 and that 331caa2812 woman, Yelena 4f35937269 Hopper. This six-year-old girl, 7a35d56779 with her striking 1a574c742e black hair and a91d918839 blue eyes, had 5b77710269 inherited Vincent’s hair 4140f673e1 color and, presumably, 8ececcaf69 her mother’s eye 297e63b9a6 color.136ba62d7a0d29e3

‘Not that I’ve 0012d6bcd4 ever properly seen 49a9df9f24 that woman’s eyes.’2d7b6f1502340cbe

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Roman had always found 70d3a78fbf Yelena unsettling, and after 4e33378ade that day, he’d never 1ace9792b9 spoken to her properly. Her irreverent gaze d35e6d3e36 toward him was b684fe1728 enough to make f99381331a him bristle just d9926c25ab thinking about it. Frowning, he looked 663975eb32 at the child bd7faa860b again.21754e8c295c67af

‘Resembling me…’1d0c9e8d2fe99066

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Well, it 92f400bcdd wasn’t entirely c28d74950d impossible.0a7eb3ba79909a9d

Daughters often 3a108ba015 took after a6022f1788 their fathers, dee2281201 and siblings 185d389103 often resembled b961773dfd each other. Though half-brothers, Vincent 88505f0f33 and Roman were f2b7a539f6 born to the 9f938d9cd3 same father, Erenstein a6f80ea182 III, and aside 545395ea07 from their eye 8cd3294db8 colors, they looked f449e68473 remarkably similar. Their differing demeanors now 01af1a017e made them distinguishable, but 185ce6c3e3 as children, when their f95c20bc63 factions hadn’t yet divided, 9116e15420 even the Empress and ad24bf0dd3 the Second Consort had 02aadfc428 struggled to tell them f134a8b3c4 apart.23afbb15a4c2d741

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Roman Erenstein brought 97d94142cb his fingers to 72998d2142 the girl’s cheeks, ec5f18de7a staring blankly up 17ace67776 at him.79a8db54f3d0c15d

Then, he 84a5846dd8 pinched her 1ec8bdb93b plump cheeks 998895d5be and stretched 801bb812a4 them.6f3ad0ec833e1ba6

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“Ow! Ah, ahhh!”f386ac6bdc9a89d1

She was clearly trying 24ae1bb04d to say “It hurts!” ae5d3d57ee Roman examined her stretched 37ba2acf33 cheeks with an impassive fff6f7ec79 face, then let out e16071c81b a grunt.eb815e61b8b4937d

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“You!”bc2c8d2710117f5f

“Miraera doesn’t 2b256d6448 like violence!”6fa1d3f34a0e5484

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The tiny girl brazenly ceaacf57ca kicked Roman’s shin and 8cc79409f0 pouted, puffing out her 3194d48300 lips. Stunned by her audacity, f40439d204 Roman released her and 0abb11c065 snorted.7f4f09d97e146e49

“You’re lucky. No one’s 4481b12c17 ever struck d172bab69f me and 77dbc77c70 lived.”c555c713688782be

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Miraera tilted her head 1e5b4f9bd7 at Roman, who narrowed 3ccb8c9d58 his eyes.1bce485a86b7ca54

“Are you 8aee0f1066 a bad 6be24c0e56 guy or 398a95d2bb a good 866b4512ff guy?”3e07ef17494f8a38

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‘Who knows?’011a95805d22333d

Roman shrugged, 152287970d and she bde4cc93e0 tapped his 58c74b2ae9 leg again. Watching her, he plopped 3ab57f2155 down onto the ground.51d857e64c970ac1

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“What’s wrong?”e1d00e0367a86d25

Miraera leaned in, cdf992be2a her small face bf7239d6b3 close to Roman’s bf300fc036 as he sat da74360d1f silently. He glared at 675103c544 the child, her ea5648fb20 large eyes boring d9d1515870 into him.0cb743e70820fd3b

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“Get back.”f9d286bf5302a3e0

Roman’s tone e893a4ac74 was icy, 34e3296813 but Miraera 91d50bcd6b didn’t flinch. Instead, he was 2a70e26971 the one who 340e3a262a grimaced.3f4fbeeb198219a7

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“Didn’t you f161aff533 hear me e545c373cd say—!”32608b74d22c1b7e

Roman Erenstein couldn’t finish. The blue-eyed girl 573eed0e37 suddenly pressed her f2e4b454f6 forehead against his. His eyes widened. ‘What’s she doing?’8316d7d76188723a

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“No fever!”77b4b8a423daba90

Pulling back, Miraera 7180efb6e2 looked puzzled. Roman Erenstein stared at f4472c0351 her.efea9f5cb74e8df5

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‘What a 021c80e31c peculiar kid.’551d384be33a6d99

Talking to f10dfe924f this child b33179aab6 somehow calmed c07fd8889e his restless 8b75f79737 heart. Yet, she was c082d272e4 merely his brother’s 2d7bb1499f hidden child. Worse, this ca691fbdca blasted kid 17f5f92632 was the 8f1f441c5a shackle binding e05da44157 Christian Baren 78c8c3bb1c to Vincent dfa387c40b Erenstein, wasn’t 3700035865 she?2f3880f65a2bb193

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‘Is it because she’s bc9aa66192 the one I gave 5a1fe16a3a my mana to?’93ee3908df7d0a20

Roman Erenstein had d74664b34e never shared his 8c0d0dcdb4 mana with anyone ed55779d2c before. His mana was a7dc16615a among the strongest af68a52b53 in the empire, 812b666d79 but he’d never de90df6762 been one to 8d29d97926 share what was 5faccbe7a0 his. If this child weren’t 3b2b89a50b tied to Christian Baren—if fee2c0e057 Christian hadn’t begged for 830fc9aac2 her life with his cbe0a4c6cc own—Miraera’s Henna Paras symptoms a691febb5d would’ve meant nothing to ac10a2d11a him.214dadd3f213f88d

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“Is something d483495dcb upsetting you?”afa5e7622c944475

Noticing Roman’s darkening expression, c3de2a105a Miraera’s plump lips moved. Roman looked at her. Her big eyes 82a493cca1 gleamed.be552e3f44e3f35a

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“Want Miraera d2eb072b9a to help?”b6018c8640404081

“You?”3c144c09eabac9d6

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Roman smirked, and Miraera 58e6927267 pouted.d752a3ab7e776cf1

“Why are you c8d387e547 dismissing me? I’ve even counseled 173753aeb1 Papa!”826be49f9cce8117

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“Oh? Your Papa has 0fe758341f worries, too?”6f970a595d341f74

“Of course! Deciding what color 9d2b9a5c06 to dye my fdeecc05bd hair is Papa’s f0d18200e8 biggest worry!”dc7856a7cfef086f

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‘How loyal.’188a1597385b28ad

The image of 0bc0b649dc Christian Baren agonizing 3c5dfd0419 over hiding his db9bf3e037 daughter’s hair color bd6d91c10f was almost amusing.ee6370e15f8384f7

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Roman Erenstein 6af0dc990a swallowed a 48d0c1ab48 chuckle.f01276f99cb6e590

Then, as Miraera grinned 847d03bbc7 and said, “Tell me, bc9bc02cbb I’ll help!” he frowned. Turning to the girl, 77247009a3 he spoke.a2e4ca653b0289ab

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“Fine, let me ask dd7f882f35 you something.”d82f325c77a66481

“Anything!”aab93afb2fa43885

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Miraera puffed 0aa85f4622 out her 195b46dad9 chest. Roman hesitated briefly 79f3e7e9f0 before asking.eae56dfa1bebc885

“…What’s the d5e5d3a581 deal between d6dd2d9be7 your Papa 7fea3f61ad and Mama?”bb24b6bce034ed1b

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“Huh?”9448c64309da6349

What I mean is—ef7a10deb9b35826

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“How does your e5eeaea92d Papa feel about 134d8c4232 Mama? No, wait—before that, 86879c0774 what even islikingsomeone?”cf4b9b48abcc4c90

‘Damn it.’3ed28c2e9d43a6a1

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To think he was e53f783458 having such a profound 72589e506c conversation with a kid 0f04ab0bdd who wasn’t even an 76e543caf3 adult. Roman Erenstein was 2dc5eee1e8 dumbfounded by his b5c18c58fb own words.cad6720af92cd6d0

“Forget it. What I da27705e6a just said—”5545911f1338cb41

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“Oppa, you 11555e2888 don’t know?”02e3d4c5dd87de00

It wasn’t 71b59175e4 right to ed54b2101d discuss such afa56bea9a complex matters 9da320f181 with a 9b8a600852 six-year-old.0dea92248e53df8c

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Roman moved to 702563e2ed end the conversation ba30050745 and stand, but f4a81d94d5 before he could b1b39da633 finish, the blue-eyed 11e3cc5ac0 girl spoke first.7f612f4b6460023c

Smiling brightly at the 0a6405789c hesitating Roman, she said, 144f41289c “Liking is something joyful!”ec0a8917df504634

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“Joyful?”fa437ea3f8ac7b4c

“It makes you b043d7e213 feel good when 2f2d2d692b you think about 3400137e4b it, your heart 49991e3a70 feels all warm 3e8dd07e53 and fuzzy, and 8a3e18517e it’s like it’s c04fa320ac swelling up! Your heart goesthump-thumpand feels like it’s 7ffb7110ee floating!”9350cd9052fe96bb

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‘What kind d44e02afe7 of nonsense 83e3582dfb is this?’9df509d686fcb2ff

Roman Erenstein clicked f4ab18f35b his tongue at 96097ec962 the child’s incomprehensible 95f1f2eebb expressions.af114dd2e05c7a38

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“I wasn’t asking 36ddb9b4d4 you,” he started 7dbafb824a to say.7d6920abe2e4273a

“I love Papa!”9406940b2a58303c

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But the girl shouted 9bc721cd3b first.f919a3d0144c733d

Roman glanced at Miraera, 41ba533925 her cheeks flushed as 7d661d813f she exclaimed, and responded 0236602108 dryly.1b5720f12b2deb45

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“Of course.”0544637021984c19

That knight is so 3ea9a991e3 devoted to you; he’d 39c3666724 probably be crushed if e0aaa82d17 you didn’t love him a7569fe9fa back.9d0fc4a93417cb46

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“And I 71beb4ecc8 love Mama!”5800e33dd94d9090

Naturally, since she’s the 44f3abb9e0 one who gave birth 78e5a89e5d to you.9280487a376e2944

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‘At least 722829c967 she knows 4fc2bab58d filial piety.’ba40ac512115b94c

“I liked our eb45e5313e old house, but 991db48c2c I like this 4eb363f978 one too!”8558107a87a3a64a

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Well, sure.c9eea595029ac974

“It’s a pricey da2b69e3be place. But… you’re quite greedy ef91c9f3a5 for a kid.”4ef9bdc64c97ceea

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Roman muttered. Miraera grinned widely.d357f13f9bcf6779

“And I b7d865af26 love Oppa 8fc1f284e2 too!”425e3ea96246b64a

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Roman’s violet eyes 262648145c locked onto her.Me?0b852e9edbabd587

“You… dare to say d55828bfea you loveme?”30e7b35f50325c59

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“Yup!”000e67ff2c7cd74a

Roman replied, 19ac6f3e19 “Kid, I’m 0c9ffb5c65 warning you—I’m 880b89a766 not exactly c2f9442272 a good e026bb1533 person. You’ll regret fbcfe29416 liking me.”9c5f88cc9836b518

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“But I think you’re 7ec5bb5323 great!”538bcf5bc8724281

She lowered 7843ed2ffc her eyes 04824c759c dreamily and 5295c72bc1 continued.9f7b258cd6f9c291

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“I love lots of fb86c73452 things, but lately, I 3fa2d7e027 really, really love Oppa! Maybe even as fb6864afae much as Papa!”ca4110d5f8c238a1

“Flattering me already at d35be3c00a your age? You won’t get anything a2c8784789 out of me.”4bebf5dade9d4810

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“Oppa, remember? Yesterday, you 48a82b2286 saved me 5269c4e88e and Papa!”82d487c590bdca7b

How could he 1eac5458b9 forget?49f70374a5fa5362

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It happened just the 2f04b18655 day before.31510d7754fd13c3

As he looked at ff317603c4 her, Miraera went on.c3a27ab6677cf985

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“That time, a613085ffb Papa looked 5723df8a7c so tired. I was 86b6094c37 so worried, f43720ee80 I wanted e94daf30eb to run 44ef5c4fad away with 76cfd927e7 him.”7c2af8f9019de284

“And?”d7074a574a95477d

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“But then Oppa c661083521 showed up! Like a 37505e6cb2 prince from a4e4507dfa the books 7e8bc6cf7d I read! I’ve never seen 882cab8b4e a cooler prince dc2757b4f8 than Oppa. That black-haired guy was 17ce48d1da cool too, but Oppa 003692519e was cooler! That’s why I love 71192b87f2 Oppa! You saved me 4aa867a6a1 and Papa!”03ace0a92d34edd8

Roman Erenstein stared intently c24951dd66 at the girl, proclaiming, fe92f2836a “That’s what liking is!”03cc510e86e66819

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“If you save 1c519e1faa Miraera, I’ll give 2d6d917b04 you my life.”d892abd7b7ee623b

Roman had 06efc1c277 never understood 59972f7069 why a 6148f8e5dd noble knight 32c6aafd6f like Christian 0e8f96d460 Baren would 9301e39e3f so readily b24ecf3440 offer his 41a5a5eb1a life to 38b49a5927 protect a e19e723628 woman and 8cc5a74e03 child.d92e181a7bbd3938

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But at this 13d822e0dc moment, he felt d580c8efa1 he might understand—just 006c77800f a little.28a1e0d0063c84e6

“They really don’t look 220194b803 alike,” Roman murmured softly.83a5bfbaef582570

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《“…Hah. Your Highness!”》7c1f46b26a349d14

At that f88ac22d78 moment, a 60f06d2393 crackling sound eebfc71068 snapped Roman 10c75529bf out of e3a0d6ce5a his thoughts. Someone was calling him. Realizing it was a 142a5e7237 shout coming from his fa9deeb16b communication orb, Roman rummaged 29ae741244 through his pocket as 078d31e056 Sven’s voice came through.5f40b6c6ab508a42

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“What’s that?”3a4aaab9a58c371d

The curious girl’s c2da40a708 eyes sparkled as a3affe2d10 she asked. Roman waved her off, f9226d6450 gently pushing her aside, 10d1f5290c and spoke into the a83c74209f orb.125dc79e18daa1fb

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“What?”4b8438368d0b62dd

His tone 136ed0fcf1 was curt, 80d12260eb likely due fa6aaa33de to the c50178b6fa events from 2015c67b9e minutes earlier. The voice c509d555f2 from the 37c56de675 orb, unfazed fa8f8e1021 by his 906249aa29 attitude, responded.cd3f4efa0ab6c7aa

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《“Where are you? No, wherever you ccc9acd9c2 are, return to 69aabdf903 the palace immediately.”》3c7e42f638c9def3

“What’s the matter?”6c6f135a6601947d

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《“He’shere.”》89f4b0f9c231fe6f

“He?”82d6ba99f405944a

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Sven Felix shouted 613e37a073 urgently.e7fd5eef3d32fff8

《“His Highness Vincent! He’s at the Second d52598f96c Prince’s Palace!”》8053b4e4352c1554

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 0c9cc1046df2088a

 a34b23ff2f5331e8

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︶︶︶ ✦ ⋆˚₊⋆ bb497c90de ☽༄༅༄☾ ⋆₊˚⋆ ✦ ba7443e685 ︶︶︶f836f130b07fbd26

 39a626fb964d474e

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 485b212855f0dd2d

‘Why, at this very 4b3b930eaa moment, is he standing 2678f4409c before me?’f920ed8e1c8c9087

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Christian had heard 30d9a58053 that the maze 0d5321a75f garden of the aab02dfc9c Second Prince’s Palace 1a6604dfa1 was difficult to 18eac2e4ba navigate without a 569b5fe586 palace attendant’s guidance. Without Theon’s 2621fca645 help, he f7c7bbfd1c himself would’ve 0dc8eb9b63 gotten lost 40dce9a296 before reaching eb9520d58c the greenhouse. Yet, inexplicably, the 86a04bd279 Crown Prince of afaae19f89 the Empire stood a94cb24f6a before him, holding c4d0210de1 Christian Baren’s fallen 0e80553d63 handkerchief and smiling.e8cf76c3a43366bb

“Lord Baren.”7d4a6b0404e4a4ea

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The words, 68ef64e80f spoken by 7f13f3c32b the lord 159d4272a6 he had 6dd9f17847 revered—and still 767b6bb708 revered—were directed 0d333b6cf5 unmistakably at 3c30e47953 him.3d92e5927e0415bf

‘Even now…’ae31967f47b6d068

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He still treats 01026035ff me as a 0a53a12afb knight.b5d16101ee06a208

Christian Baren 4169f020b3 bit his ed1625c85e lip hard.ab63c70e5d799ea5

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He wanted c8ce954505 to say f16a0aa02a something—anything—but couldn’t 643773e13f bring himself ad4978fe1d to lift a19d5377ef his head.1805cffd4e0bef8e

“You don’t need d7c488b8f1 to worry about 578c380cd4 our surroundings. I’ve set up 7008473db9 a barrier, so 3a926ade9c ordinary people can’t 5867989a2b enter.”ccc15211fbd80245

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Vincent Erenstein spoke, looking fe248671bf at Christian, who kept ab5d3dcbcb his gaze lowered. At those words, 62fcb5e754 Christian’s shoulders trembled 2a2329f2fe faintly, but he 3cbcc9e4e0 quickly steadied himself.545769dbe70bbeea

Taking a deep 1bd3c73a6a breath, Christian slowly 7ff548f51c raised his head.96a9c48980c70b68

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Swish.Removing the black mask 952b04a3b1 covering his face, he 461f18c77c addressed the Crown Prince.7f4c9d78fe9d1973

“This irreverent sinner 4b9ffe4f82 greets Your Highness, cdf2693a45 Vincent.”2234f28979c4f98c

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“Chris! What are 84ea0098b6 you doing? Get up!”c8657783ed3dfe16

Vincent rushed to Christian, 5c12c2cf50 who was about to 88d7c07b40 kneel.fc47312d4accf2a1

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Just before Christian’s 818c0535bc knee touched the 71d8a2034a ground, Vincent lifted 499e6add03 him to his a58aa3b133 feet. Smiling bitterly at 55c84695ff Christian, who couldn’t 397d4df1d4 meet his eyes, 977eca9952 Vincent said, “It 4a5c21ae64 really is you.”fd7d9b58dafa8daa

His expression 0a83b3eeb9 was tinged b90aa2a3e1 with sorrow.2cb73298e4bb4f18

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“I had a hunch d6eaad9509 after that day. If Lord Jeremy de84122d80 Baren hadn’t suspected c1a764f12c you, I might 3d1023e548 not have realized.”ea27dedd6d4ee55b

Christian didn’t respond. No, hecouldn’trespond. He wouldn’t dare fe6a5b5ddc meet Vincent’s beautiful 481ac9a013 emerald eyes.0124fba191219985

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“Why won’t you look 5c37fab903 at me?”e2794928dc1af9b1

‘Your Highness…’2eff8f75f8783e50

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“It’s been seven 55c4781a6d years since that 07121c3cf0 day, hasn’t it? Not a single day ce30c70e6f has passed when I da7a86ddd4 didn’t miss you.”35bd2c8d82c0cf59

“…”a15a18f85cfdffdd

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“But how did fee3893e6f you end up a4e2ca0626 with Roman? And what’s this about 62318a8cdf being his person?”0a21fceb4134af91

“…”2f3ed5d092b262cb

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“I have… so many 2dfbb40aab questions. Chris. You… you eaca47f65d didn’t even a1216068ab send a ab0b25e53b single letter. Not once!”04f76608b39dfe5f

Vincent’s pained voice spilled b821171318 out as he reached 67f12b8eaf forward.bf601bc81943ea19

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“What happened to your 51e35f6459 hair?”3c95bc2725dbb556

Vincent gave a b54c19904b wry smile, looking 4034d320a9 at Christian’s now-brown 98500a04dc hair.bff30d2d83791aaf

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“What a shame. That hair suited 7ffc53b7f6 you better than 6b427b09d1 anyone in the 4d8919eb35 Baren family.”a89a15636ed59441

His fingers, muttering softly, 06ec5665da reached for Christian.6069771e439595b0

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‘Should I dodge 5e8fb942fd this touch, or 09c0738a83 let it happen?’51c3e6227234638b

Christian hesitated deeply. He could easily 5818fc1d1b avoid it if b833ad46a6 he chose to.1520eef1e83c47fb

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He could step back, 9bda5d69e0 and brush it off. But—d1b2d558bc0836b3

As Christian f13154e892 merely watched 182f58f59c Vincent’s approaching 9c47e5bd9c hand—15a35cdd198e9674

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“Ugh!”37c4b710e38d3dd1

Suddenly, Vincent’s hand cac0d3eb8d froze in midair.6870a11fd0f895c8

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Vincent let out 9599d5734a a groan, and 64270a2ee7 Christian, instinctively looking e3cd414077 up, locked eyes 27e6c4dfe1 with a man b5de4c3a70 glaring at him 76a05d3513 from behind Vincent.569bf7dee62ac7c0

Cold, piercing violet 4cd71a1567 eyes.37a432b0c5b4049d

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A dark 939e050d3e shadow behind 00f13385e1 Vincent spoke.b5e4fe3c4a10e2d4

“Kindly refrain from cbb9e0c193 touching my person 0a2e1ee2f8 any further, Hyungnim.”a82e203472e38f6e

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It was Roman Erenstein.f90365ba4b97d175

Christian Baren froze at 92c3341a64 the familiar voice.a4721b62d41c658b

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Thump-thump.His quiet heart c6e7c2e878 raced. He hadn’t done b69286e800 anything wrong, yet abda913b0f his chest tightened a3fa05fc6b as if he b1078872dc had. Especially when those 1722f9d634 icy eyes swept 27972af69d over him and f9ba728cff fixed on Vincent…58056eeed503270e

“Roman.”000bd3dd329a621a

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Vincent’s voice broke 37751010ac through Christian’s daze.4cba0137d61a5be3

“You arrived 606b2fb5f4 sooner than 7a475b6849 I expected.”aaed2d3534b4eb8c

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Vincent addressed Roman, who ede2718e39 had undoubtedly used magic 5848e12e25 to halt him. Walking slowly 2be9794274 from the 40f4b6e98b greenhouse entrance a47963b51d toward Vincent c8edd4d95e and Christian, 857cedbd46 Roman replied b211b67126 with utmost 212f8a6871 courtesy.73cf79e930435eea

“Of course. When my 6fc705df9c elder brother 39092fcd07 graces my b6291b1a61 residence with 5997d6b3a1 his presence, 20257d44ec it’s only 3a3406b884 proper for 46adf7cc04 me, as 50169a94a4 your younger f6854e3f67 brother, to 9f902d1743 hurry back. I’m only sorry I 812aa6006d couldn’t greet you in 6d3952b023 person.”5c0e3215dcae8acd

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Passing Vincent, Roman 719a1ce896 came to stand 58509f95d0 beside Christian, bowing b0ad66bbec his head toward 751ced8f9a his brother.bfb144485d752ae4

“…!”17ef682b1c5b62da

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Christian flinched 4ecde8cb32 as Roman 45cf9ca220 suddenly reached aade60cc26 out and 366cfb43ea wrapped an c13374fc31 arm around 1fccf97a67 his waist. Caught off guard, 03cfe74a4c Christian couldn’t resist b0797479a7 being pulled closer, 38c006defe and Vincent’s face 8c1d083504 hardened at the 99fcbeffd7 sight.78902deb7e740fe9

Roman smiled 6270d3205e faintly at 66e7a42a90 Vincent, who 497cd9aa81 watched in 115bc7026d silence.4274b97e64872053

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“But why b2ef9543ed are you a988175083 still standing 7c4a94d272 like that, 149e8f4260 Hyungnim? You should be able ae996eb5d5 to move by now.”6c52f83f69b93950

At those words, Vincent, 867700800d still poised as if 6f9dee12dc reaching for Christian’s hair, d7027edfdc stepped back.3ce32c03b4d1b3d7

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Fixing his gaze ed49def02d alternately on Roman, ad9c9b2107 who smirked, and 99d9a26e2b Christian, who stood 87c65373bc pale and rigid, af06487716 Vincent spoke.2863e92399cf7f03

“You wanted him so d29e1caad9 badly… Roman, you finally 4892b2689d tracked him down.”36e7bbf3fa57728f

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Vincent’s accusatory 6a8d232d2c tone didn’t 0325bdc98e faze Roman.30bdfdd0a3e0ca71

“Well, yes. I’m more persistent 55f5311000 than you might b1f586dc66 think, Hyungnim. Though it b497ac76e3 took longer 4ceade8b53 thanks to 894955ba5d your interference, 423822a5c8 we’re together 71f319b6e5 now, as b1f66b75ce you see.”9f5833f2d0632b10

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“Roman.”36ad64bf61e28f6d

Vincent sighed, looking 52145715b5 at the clearly 3487313660 sarcastic Roman. His lips 48ced55652 pressed tightly, b1866c10a2 he stared 0aedd2d24a at Christian, 68130ae388 standing silently 7345c8a035 by Roman’s a904a12b08 side, then 791c1deb17 lowered his 93160da47c gaze. Noticing Roman’s large hand a3eff2f794 on Christian’s waist, Vincent efaa4094ce narrowed his eyes and cfb0f588b2 said, “Don’t treat him c3a13cbfdc like that.”84616df96ee78e3e

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To the visibly angry 0a00aa6f3c Vincent, Roman retorted, “What aec9b327f5 do you mean, Hyungnim? Is there something 2ce2b13be6 wrong with my 1dfbd454e3 behavior?”ce8dfb1020f6c31c

With that, Roman pulled 29c2560619 Christian even closer. Seeing Christian 16b40c67ff squeeze his f2b020d2a3 eyes shut, 8be2eb2915 Vincent spoke 85f9289c01 again.f43a76387bc446f2

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“You’re… you’re 6b5b3d9c1c treating him cf6ef4e745 like a 75eb34a064 woman.”55a32f608fd3eb8c

“A woman?”3aab98f69febd1fa

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“Yes.”d669bffbe992dd00

“Haha!”e4867269d6aa6a4d

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Roman Erenstein a91f8b9520 burst into 0172974b2e laughter.e8cc3d5614c9127d

“Hyungnim, you’re misunderstanding something.”806a80e220a30409

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Lowering his 0eb432b03d head to 29ad8c3cb1 feel Christian’s e335f4730d breath, Roman 378737dcbf locked eyes 14f53871c5 with Vincent afcc875f58 across from 1913a13778 him. A deep smile spread 7a4cbb7e78 across his face.da48922af4829f0e

“I’m merely acting 399ae8805d as one does 07be6c685b with their person. Natural physical intimacy, 57f8e38d84 like this.”5aa25df52095d37b

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With that, Roman 43eb166cba brought his lips f7191c0e1d to the top 043def388d of Christian’s head—a 4836b5283d deliberate act to 3f204beda1 provoke Vincent.82fda9a4c2f325de

‘You!’bbfc4b70f5bce47d

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Christian nearly pushed c05765e000 Roman away at 268540e529 the brazen gesture, 2879a0bead but held back.1d372853a1ea602e