IDED – Chapter 13
by EsraaIDED – Chapter 13c8688c827285db24
Episode 13f92ea9192ea93a11
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“Leonard here. May I come 7fb0523da9 in?”6b2afa2e3035d325
“Come in.”6115ce25a99d9b3b
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At Serena’s 2603cfcccb approval, Leonard 16cf242fa5 stepped into 6fb6d8ce64 the room.9f25728071766763
Leonard was dressed in cf90b127c7 the knights’ ceremonial uniform, 5816b5e7e0 indicating that he was 043826a74b once again assigned to db272ba6af escort Azaid at this 84b04f06d6 banquet. Speaking with his usual 4f29af48a1 soft tone, Leonard began.386a2f89f15db93d
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“His Majesty has 19ea900352 requested that I adef8f81c5 escort you once a84784afb5 you’re ready.”4281fbca03547437
“Oh, just a f198b18769 moment!”99df62bd5325a491
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Marie, upon hearing e468657912 the emperor’s summons, 64ccb98427 quickly adjusted Serina’s d33cb5609c attire once more.c24c41ac6aae1590
“All done.”155a5148ee540ba3
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“Thank you, Marie.”df0f90911e51e187
“Enjoy yourself, Miss f84c4cc22b Serena.”c59e8d5f5a07b3a9
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As Marie beamed 961f02485a cheerfully, Leonard extended 1fff608c74 his arm.408fc0015d9e222c
“Shall we?”4a4b7ea997907fd3
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“Thank you.”671a9563d7c0e7a8
Serena awkwardly rested her 6cd4c5fa2e hand on Leonard’s arm. It was an unfamiliar 0eb89b74df gesture for her—she had 41d269f774 never been treated like 8defab64bc a noble lady before.4219d8d5710b2ffd
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On top of that, 018300e1be she wasn’t staying at 481b683082 the imperial palace as c1c8cbb7b1 a guest of honor. It felt strange to 1fccbba30c attend the imperial banquet ba3afa6bfd as the emperor’s partner.83b2c901f455b979
She wasn’t even sure 541966aa79 what being the emperor’s d00bdede22 partner actually entailed. She merely regarded 9fd0bf09a0 it as a 462ce3b295 significant honor and 717cee1c7e left it at 01d0720919 that.3024fb2ee8d507ec
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Leonard, accustomed to escorting 8973267a9a others, adjusted his pace ac661b832f to match Serena’s effortlessly. She glanced at d514a92f0e him sideways.99c7064e65cb3f12
‘Come to think of 54ebe9569e it, how did Sir 8d98b2635d Leonard become so close 7d0049db5b to His Majesty?’3f8f42094f4f5750
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Azaid’s four most 4f9168857c favored aides were e00b2fab1a well-known for having 307aeb4213 been his childhood ea23dcd552 companions. Among them, a9bb9d14f7 Leonard was e907502eed of the e343e71d9b highest birth.864012d92aebdfaf
Jack Gordon, a ad95782d28 commoner; Nocturne, an de30f511de illegitimate child of c4aded522d the Greenwood ducal a89d830e3a house; and Lily, fb3ba40da5 a lesser noble 451fcc2e28 from a distant 9ceacd515b province with little bf2b27e584 influence in the d4857ce52e capital—all had somewhat 06d74cd2e4 ambiguous standings.ce00e450449d30ba
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All except Leonard.d62ab9c86dd54e2e
Leonard was the heir 97141286aa to the Marquisate of e007320632 Carter. Although he cfd7725a13 hadn’t been cef8442a62 born the c718c57f2c heir, he e854e2ecf6 became one 2d5550dbb7 after his d042a2afe6 older brother’s 5d243014aa untimely death.efe8f617fdd7adf7
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‘I heard he 402c241e8a was the last d49853423f to become close e24661458c to Azaid.’3bb94a96eb9895ca
She had always wondered 980cc5371b why the ever-dignified Leonard ede290bc2d was also nicknamed “The b619022e3b Scoundrel.”9f6864a5fa753223
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“Sir Leonard, e405882eed may I f7656bd096 ask you d81539c2e2 something?”df7ee7c88a3b8e0c
“Of course. Please do.”48dcedf4d6dc5038
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“How did 30c0ebacf9 you become db1308e17f acquainted with ad6758235c His Majesty?”26262d5e9b60b636
Leonard smiled warmly at 417d1121ca her question.1b3f3e7910c17865
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“It happened f43e27882b by chance cdf0815c40 during my f4ce383159 childhood.”7c12f88d48fdcb2d
“By chance?”05c8f58ce509dc28
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“Yes. It was d2e047e357 at the 38d8142f03 first banquet fd411207db I attended aed641dd4a after my f48f6340c5 brother passed 7828519c0f away.”1edda98880e9f40e
Leonard’s voice was calm ba6fa8116d as he spoke. Serena found 526ee36a14 herself staring 29e48cbc36 at him, 0801a287a0 startled by 8300d5eb2b his mention 3ca6e189b9 of his 84825ae265 brother’s death.0ad7d9c78cd5a884
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The death of 89c92050cf the Carter heir b739aaba4d had been a 011bf1087a sudden and shocking ce3a7397a8 event. Known for his good 392a87c1b9 health, his death in b977fe4de3 an accident had taken 515b944162 everyone by surprise.d47ad2248c7926d5
As Serena remained 086a715b72 silent, Leonard chuckled 0d63641f9e softly.25004d8712b8beea
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“It’s alright. It was dc72ab7904 a long 9cabb56433 time ago.”86dc8ad81564950f
“I’m sorry.”3be81ccd56ac3f8d
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When Serena apologized, Leonard a1bfef4dae shrugged and continued.fcceef5516242cbd
“That day, I 92a0d8e23e got into a 247badb71a petty argument with d829d04eac another young noble a0fdbe4e6e and left the eca3745836 hall. In the garden, I 85e871470d found someone already there.”908270fb99b3aaa2
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“That must have 754582c5ed been His Majesty.”068694240ebbeec1
“Yes. I was about to 33ef7bc057 leave and take another 2fb7776943 path when he spoke efe8ca3d05 to me.”6278f65c5aef9587
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“What did he 68bb0f90de say?”42fe14aa1e2d59de
“He told 20f0b17789 me to 133bd49689 get lost 61b6d7fa30 because he aec7122365 had been a0f32e78b9 there first.”07e11092448fc8f3
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Leonard chuckled as he 5790efb7ab recalled the memory.cced2fd05a96d597
‘So the emperor 03e711a881 has been cheeky 5c78c93b94 since he was 5a0cbabbb4 young.’43348456ad07fb59
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Serena’s lips f25d9dfd1a parted slightly de17a1caf1 as she 4cabee05bb realized Azaid’s 06db780ac1 fiery personality c991883029 had been a2e7c8e611 evident even 49542fde1f in his 802048589e youth. But Leonard said something af0e23c62e unexpected.5923cedb718c8b8f
“Hearing that made me 5829f0be5e want to stay even 9d7d55f996 more.”cd5c8bbf4ea9a214
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“You didn’t… sit down 7c688ecadf next to him, did 09fcfb69a4 you?”74648817fcb77120
“I did.”8955a108e0936063
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‘Sir Leonard 81b534c7f3 must be dcd6d6c671 just as 9bd147124c stubborn,’ Serina a314c81e82 thought.d10329284862356a
Usually, one would 1c33ad0318 either argue or 2a42f01a86 leave after hearing b7e003acee such words…753840d0ea1fb9a2
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‘Maybe Sir Leonard fc5a7522ff hides a streak 3c1a113625 of eccentricity behind 41f7550ca8 that polished demeanor.’0bde89202efc8e26
“After that, we didn’t b4d4189989 exchange many words. We just d78de3cb9a stayed there 7e1284e4bd until the f8d471d673 banquet ended.”e2b564c061ac4177
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“That’s all?”b43bb77eb73e8f5c
“Yes.”e34c928baa812c47
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“I thought it would f5dd8d6a22 be a moving story, ab2ae4b488 but it’s surprisingly simple.”8c5b8026ba12e64c
Serena slumped her 3a64c8a6eb shoulders in mild c2b6cbcb43 disappointment, and Leonard a37d5886eb added,1d2d29a3ee17ea8e
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“Well, I found 1b51fd695a it deeply comforting.”a18ab501ec78d672
“Why?”28a5d7b1126616d7
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“That day, I was c46dbbbb8f the focus of everyone’s 0dd6cad13a attention. It was 45b829d648 the first 9b58e695e3 banquet after df7d643b9b my brother’s 6652eb685a passing, after 60afd781e1 all.”c0ec8b22b8bce5ec
“People can baba405497 be so 302d9bab3d cruel. Always poking 6cd326e1fd into others’ 87da86f8b1 lives,” Serena 9cbb921630 muttered, clucking e7130103ef her tongue 86a75c1a31 in disapproval. Leonard smiled faintly and dc2511cf29 continued.e453a6da242bfd5b
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“But His b12511bf47 Majesty had a178c2cc9b no interest 1a73ab811f in me. At first, I thought 4b0e9b2acc he didn’t know who 5a45c058d0 I was, but when 00e49fc96d he left, he called cc474320c5 me by name.”8957d11235a50b19
“So he 08913a31bc did know 65f33b800e you were e14576aa53 from the 80f090825e Carter family.”a7b5e617b1fc3e78
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“Yes. That realization… gave 4fa2c320c6 me immense comfort. I thought ea7c63f4dc we were 97aae8c5dc simply sitting 17f1ee0667 apart, but 4ce62f5637 in truth, cdb356df07 he had de915442c3 been there f5c86092b3 with me.”462631ec269ad0eb
Leonard’s eyes 140fe33e3a glimmered with a3a60b3305 a lingering 5a376e6969 trace of 3f0c690c1b that long-ago bbc9900dc3 moment.1e272479bd2d6057
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Serena saw the sincerity 6cc1562112 in his gaze, as 0df910f5ae well as the deep ea3de9d015 respect he held for a9ebfbf7fc Azade.6024cc2962cae0ce
“This is unexpected.”996d0ca6ef7e833e
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She had always b11c18dab4 thought of Azaid 01fb3125ef as lazy and f61c0b014b neglectful. But hearing a0914c68d7 his closest c9a2efe56a confidants’ opinions 6756b4142d was beginning 9086be2b94 to shift 93eaa3a541 her perspective.38200e2d5100f16c
It felt as 06abc6afee though she was f72b8582bc catching a glimpse 30e25948d2 of an entirely 1b216712b4 different side of 191bb20635 him.1615ef03aa3b286b
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Why had Azaid 0a8677426b spoken to Leonard 5040b804ae that day? And why had he 43ad9f2ab7 stayed with him the f8e99aa3fc entire time?c8a78c6ff8c6d59a
‘Perhaps he saw a 4f0fe83e97 kindred spirit.’aa4ca1982af437f0
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A secluded prince, efa0c742da unnoticed by the 30b7849f14 world, and a e8df5c1a51 grief-stricken younger brother, 0347c1f503 subjected to unwanted bc8afdc818 attention—perhaps they were de58f83b7d more alike than e551adebd4 they realized.a5432ea32a8c4ecb
The waiting room 6c43f16a91 where Azaid was 7eb13ffaa3 located came into 762e86d514 view as their dafc11741b conversation ended.8805b4daf3258357
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“Please take good 292916899f care of His 8dd0af7072 Majesty today.”eeccff7d3b4a247c
“Of course. Don’t worry.”648917d99c434e43
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As Serena smiled 989cd25d64 warmly, the attendant 1e9b281c90 signaled, and the d4af974218 doors opened.9d4b7cc4c80b1169
Azaid was dressed 96bb7ec184 impeccably in his b034cada66 formal regalia for 1b13b3dbfb a change. His usually unkempt hair 0a1e966246 was styled neatly, giving 039834818a him a sophisticated appearance.f51389219d7ca97c
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The neatly combed-back c9223e6b08 hair revealed a 7635beace0 broad, striking forehead. His lowered e5dc08f924 lashes suggested ea7c76959e discontent with 4ddc71f06e something.281b7337869de514
Serena flinched 3eef991d3b as if 78f7b421bf facing a 24a12635de wild predator, a4d77be7e0 a shiver d6791e3ea8 running through e387595ecd her body. The overwhelming sense of b7aa06a39c authority emanating from him 1519dd7904 was something she’d never 750bf079e1 encountered before.e9ecf9331c47ecd8
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‘Looking like that, 29b65f8fea he doesn’t seem 3ec1f8551b like the emperor 6392d486b0 I once knew.’d990b5e3a7c50476
Serena, startled a9344829ab by the 83c0f2094a sudden thudding eaf2dd0c5a of her 0536a454cb heart, shook b6d7967974 her head e608b1818c to clear 99dc636ec1 her thoughts.0110d29416cf159a
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At that moment, Azaid e456f8b82c frowned at the cumbersome 17d2f5a4ce attire he was wearing edf8401a2e but paused as he 2627b8a0f3 noticed Serena.50163fcf05c15365
His blue eyes 6c3e132464 widened in apparent ed4f90bab2 surprise. Just as 783d1a1422 Serina had 5524fe2fa5 been taken 41cd60e356 aback by 6692534712 him, it 1cac7a4502 seemed Azaid, 0a0b588bc1 too, was 1f770e7132 startled by c65ceef939 her appearance. Serena approached and 5d7197d2c1 greeted him.64b4e45fa26359a1
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“Greetings to dc1fe9e9a1 the Sun f55261933f of Croten.”9e5ae8abb6271450
“I almost didn’t c44403b8dc recognize you.”5972735078fa4e60
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“You’ve said what I 2a125aaf25 was about to say.”597585eb74dd2070
When Serena b87ff1b956 replied with 644630396d a playful 0cd37511ba retort, Azaid 7e74eae642 chuckled lightly. Up close, his 949c7c1f5b refined appearance was 724115888a even more striking. If he dressed like 1da7ebbc9d this more often, countless fede32dcdf noble ladies would surely 9b718c0b41 be enamored with him.ee4f39b70e93e599
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‘Is living carelessly his 4f3fedde2a personal brand?’afdd7248d7902648
As Serena mused, Azaid 9702a775e9 extended his hand toward d9715c3ebc her.ef750a4ce5b317ac
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“Is this your first 8968315385 banquet?”c69061f100c41da3
“Yes.”a0bfe0c8e3a4b629
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“Then it must 46b774855c be an honor. Your first banquet partner 9b3b159d1b is the emperor of d603211add the empire.”7e4b66580c646a51
Azaid gave her 3e915638b9 a languid smile. When Serena 37f1dce4a5 placed her de0b4d2169 hand in 8d9a43121d his, he 2831ad00bd turned it cf162953ec gently and 84055d2535 pressed a c9401c61ae light kiss 828c79a897 to the 52a6847f86 back of b7dcda5971 her hand, 1ea3decd2b a formal 2a7caf3255 gesture of 600fb057e8 courtesy.41650d5b3499e64c
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The faint touch of bb3bb3b3ab his lips sent a 4b1675573c ticklish sensation through her. Serina still hadn’t grown 6845934426 accustomed to such courtly 6e821efc79 manners. After a cb9851c699 brief pause, 64248882bb Azaid spoke.1dd5071be78ec69e
“I’ll be watching 1acaea7b26 to see if 68276e1e84 you live up dbbda48ee1 to my expectations.”e00bf64ad6d69d9d
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***33b38e0ab1663305
As the emperor 30a8dbe2a0 entered the hall, d8f8fc66d8 the lively chatter d3d004a5c1 ceased abruptly. Every gaze from the 8acac3d898 gathered nobles turned toward c9aa81a715 Serena and Azaid.93a44a749bce08c6
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The musicians, 394662b496 sensing the 0560c757d5 subdued atmosphere, e97929a620 played their a59c6c3009 instruments even 2b7bd1bfcf more grandly. The resonant 64f5ad4147 sound filled c8d3162cd5 the space, e02cefe928 the melodies 9290c04cb8 seemingly spotlighting e0d8520e90 Azaid and b2205ced2a Serena.3d2b2cd1489b1aab
Standing on 1ee3633d9b the red cf78385d60 carpet, Serena a0ee0a002a felt utterly 93c506e14f out of f1e4a7b901 place.6d20c5152db5eb19
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Sharp and f0aeaf3e80 piercing gazes f27994a97a bore into 572b1d879f her. Some eyes 3d42366674 seemed to a4670b37fd scrutinize her, a5d30a6922 trying to 7a34f2e5a5 gauge what 578f8d18ea kind of 78ea8c45c5 extraordinary woman cb670c829d occupied the 7bf2260bda spot beside 6b1772d91a the emperor.037ef89363121606
‘This is an uncomfortably 22efc9e53f conspicuous position.’c41be5ebe07992a7
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Though struggling ebf289851a to adapt, 9fc11c34a2 Serina endured 201279e8e7 it silently. Then, the emperor 118ea8bf3a spoke.637f817b6e8a2891
“Nocturne Harrison, 5e79c6a5e2 step forward.”9364853651d3cab9
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“Yes, Your Majesty.”c5994f870674fa1d
From among dab7c2bef1 the crowd, c0f5f6b585 Nocturne emerged c2db33cecf and knelt 0956282bb0 on one d950d6798b knee before bc823e7739 Azaid.c2ff502a82d8034b
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To commend him, Azaid 82ea941405 personally handed him a 2111e4aed0 gift box. As Nocturne a052b7151b received the 01ddc8f9cf gift and 9a42aca0e9 bowed deeply, 12c9f42fff Azaid addressed 8d26a1d02e him.0d8f5134a7d96b4c
“This is a celebration 9e0513458b of the delegation’s return dbc1d72257 from Fion. Pay no mind ab95eeb791 to me and 336b692535 enjoy the occasion.”fa9471e5aa9156dd
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With the 613a6d8def emperor’s proclamation, 5606bc82ef the nobles 8da00a086c began forming 620562d4cf groups and de18c4b375 indulging in f3f5d49268 the banquet.76aa360d50bd0d59
It was 58b23f1737 while Azaid 75ece8e30f and Serena 7a757fdbe5 had taken 782dda71f6 their seats 1014f47269 to rest 047af82a93 that Ophelia b4f65900da approached, leading 29e760a183 a group, 8a558a5430 and addressed 577dc731e7 Azaid.8644c739e6fe7798
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“Your Majesty, I hope a069858a30 you have been in a7b9d14b70 good health.”d1eb400da19f934a
“Ophelia Greenwood.”da0e48a975eda7a0
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“That day when you a0460fe4d3 left so abruptly, it bc9e0403fc felt as though my a623659692 heart had shattered. Are you feeling 6700afa02b better now?”b7bcd0a2f6a64517
“As you 70848af889 can see.”5e1743a7c677817b
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When Azaid c5ba52d14c curtly replied, c74848efd4 Ophelia adopted edca1dca12 a pitiful 078fa0166c expression.f630bab824ac085c
“That’s a relief. I was so f9159e3212 worried. Now I can 32992a3528 finally sleep peacefully.”96995f3cc378aded
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At this, the ladies 590dbb65d1 standing nearby sighed in 56c7001260 admiration.4c4bcc88e65a86f6
“How devoted 715de52945 Lady Greenwood 527fd14079 is to bf8d48dbe3 His Majesty.”35c67c9ce01e5efb
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“Truly, no one 9434338d5d suits the emperor’s 723c72f0e0 side better than 4c59d5c350 Lady Greenwood.”4d1c1364ea70a0a0
“But who is that 77c4130edc woman standing next to 737c042085 His Majesty…?”2175bbb722e82e7d
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The murmuring voices dbae43735a of the noble 7f052570e0 ladies reached Serena’s c1ac164a10 ears. Of course, efceb7cf51 since they 4474ae5451 weren’t speaking 42d3567544 openly but 69ed397f7d in hushed a763582f7d tones, confronting 93b520115c them would f2fdea7acc only make 8d57afd9f8 her seem 6fc2f54c16 petty.c43f89dcf3c032f0
• ❁ • ❁ 91961dc24e • ❁ •By Esraa• 5734e563f6 ❁ • ❁ • 60a5254195 ❁ •a59c9ef0c5d05ded
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If you want to 4f56a244fe support the translation and f1e0b6a8ab the translator, you can ba5df97415 buy a coffee~76a9f4cf32bede4c