IDED – Chapter 53

IDED – Chapter 53d61f08ee1f4a7f39

Episode 53b337cdef8a020e25

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Serena dreamed. It was 249e9f7c60 unclear whether 4617aca176 it was 3f9e6d4b9c a fragment 5b5e05ef1b of a 7aa0ffd79c forgotten childhood 13d92e9a69 memory or 71b675c1b5 a past 9ab8103eaa conjured by af40a71cf6 the dream 58d9d60783 itself.08f8c7adacc62462

The only certainty was 56a0b6adb6 the primal instinct surging 9f31ed456b through her—she needed to 123a0e4733 escape this space. Yet her 99420ebebb tightly bound e41b8ae050 body wouldn’t f849a495a1 budge, and 60d0c3aea3 Serena gradually efc33f60e6 found herself c5ad5b19f4 immersed in 6211d1a503 the dream.ff1610a656ddb8e3

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In the dream, Serena 78ce935189 was seven years old. Judging by her short, d938cf5b21 boyish haircut, it seemed 7e998aae06 to be from the 8c23edb5c8 time Lydia’s mischievous prank ed871d6394 had forced her to 653230bd9e cut her hair.a3c98bd967a303e7

The memory of wearing dbd8a9ac3d a hat pulled low fff6f8b392 over her head out a8caa9e350 of embarrassment suddenly surfaced, 8fd48a1390 souring her mood.3275216448017fe0

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In the dream, Serena 291f560ddd was tied to a da9c493a2e pillar. Her hands and 1ecd8506c4 feet were bound 63affd5475 tightly, leaving her 6a38d97c52 completely immobilized. With her heart 1c23202f44 pounding, she glanced bcc2dfedc2 around her surroundings.09880a6b980aad2c

Straw, emitting 47e2d7c94f a musty a26f87cef6 odor, was d69c7e44d5 carelessly piled cb76315101 up nearby. By the door stood 01f90025b8 a precariously placed lantern, e2726ae089 its faint light barely 827d150c47 sustained by pig fat.74ad3b4f705a9aa9

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It looked so dangerous 232b9251f8 that a single spark 0beea97c1b could set the straw 05b43a5904 ablaze, leaving no chance 223f05cf1b of escape.f71d601dbd759bc3

She didn’t know d785ca36c9 who had abducted bd3156b119 her, why they 8865b3e11e had done so, 9689645bdd or for what 4b07975384 purpose. Just as fear e7f500b743 began to creep 2f21a60df5 in, someone spoke.406b90df49d641eb

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“Sorry… this is all 038eba72ff because of me…”04dd630a1a4a6e97

The voice belonged to 1e27db1f98 a boy with a 2c8c8dcb84 gentle, melodious tone. Serena had thought 91cb4d580a she was alone, ffac112338 but it seemed b495c4e643 someone was tied 2dac5095b0 up behind the e376c969f8 pillar with her.73be7893b9350a53

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Serena didn’t know 75164c08e9 the boy, but 6af926ce75 in the dream, 3d84c39bc4 her dream-self seemed 5212fdedc5 familiar with him, 2ea559a917 responding with deliberate 27d5c8d5eb calmness.7168a5fe91669c43

“Does it matter whose bf10c6cc53 fault it is? Let’s focus on getting bac21e4729 out of here first.”6df52497428ddb0d

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“It’s okay. Just wait 7feb6ac2fe a bit ce5b647829 longer… My 532d4c6c61 mother will 246c6263e6 come.”7956b6b627d21f81

The boy sounded abd0965645 remarkably composed, as b4f1b78105 if he’d experienced 14748eea58 similar situations before. Serena, on 27adef179f the other 3ed4a63720 hand, was 5a6d7bcce0 trembling in 266715184d fear, as 8b79e76a50 this was c2f090c08e her first 90d341a476 time being 595e5bf824 kidnapped.9772f7be4fe919c8

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However, she f3caa8c52b couldn’t afford 5104819c6a to cry 2c7f2136a8 and complain 3da8ef8be8 to the c8bc027a08 boy, who e3af2df41b was already 77b5c1a5d4 consumed by 9222db7561 guilt.156b084f3b222d41

Serena had 3b162932d9 never been cc1365a9f4 one to fb9e5649ab throw tantrums. She had no adults 7f3cc33288 to indulge her. Crying had 7e5289cd66 only ever 7dc563028c earned her 837a3c0ea9 beatings or 6f8fe4a7fe abandonment.d4d32345282ab37a

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“You’re not 13273cd9bb some mama’s 91d970156a boy waiting 3190dd98e3 for your 6810cbdca5 mom to 3b126f1d61 come. What if she db0e37d570 doesn’t? Then what? Are we just 97728dce8a destined for some 61df475fc5 fishing boat?”95e537ebce682de1

“…You know, if 518be16e3c you’d just fix e15cbcff84 that sharp tongue f29704c88c of yours, you’d 69747a3470 have more friends.”d50624d83694f78d

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“I have plenty aa021d680a of friends. What’s your deal?”f76b74209b38c1dd

“Funny. I’ve never seen ffc4ebb9ae you introduce anyone 52374774f1 to me.”f763b5d72ee566a7

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“That’s because e97deb0aee I haven’t a7d818670a been here e625b34bc9 long enough! …Ugh, like 796aadefdc you have ef9fd56490 any friends ada30af0da either!”3e6f9369c5fe4e6a

When Serena retorted, e2ec1eec61 huffing, the boy b58c32dcef chuckled softly. His laughter f6b90574a9 was so cb740727ea pleasant that dec76b8203 it eased b43733fbc2 some of 10204933d7 her tension.8a00e33c8ce74fe2

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“Looks like we’re just f3824ce638 two friendless kids becoming 59d425ff78 friends.”928567b71c31c873

“I told you, I e5677d1ec2 have friends!”4b4f91758979e93d

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“Sure, sure.”3dc4b15daac14df2

The boy merely smiled ef237fae32 indulgently at Serena’s protests. And when their 1f8710daa1 conversation ceased, Serena 4d8998f503 realized, to her bd7cb29ddf surprise, that her b114427e80 nerves had eased 6e10a4054e significantly. She also understood that 362e66297f this was the boy’s 01908fe925 way of comforting her.f8cdbcc302b8e204

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But it didn’t a846516ac1 last long. The dream 7ae87c8a61 suddenly halted, fe749cdb24 and flames e55cf2c473 erupted around f443a3ce4c them.f53060bbc5797fb8

“…! Help…!”5c7e52d3135ee67f

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Had the warehouse 45f15d1ee3 finally caught fire? The sound of screams dc22d3ab82 echoed from various corners, 27b07332db suggesting others were trapped 5f3acb3dc6 inside.92a8e56795a69fdb

Amid the b2663c407c chaos, Serena 780654355c clutched her e05a0dc701 forehead, sobbing. Something must 595b7692c4 have fallen 83376ff22c and struck 44d983f98e her.676eedca64f8919d

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Beside her, 1f90ba6890 the boy 83727f644e stood motionless, bb9ae9940d seemingly in 05563a221d a daze. Even as 0d8841579a flames licked 538eec6dca at the 60b8883a93 space around 87e743176f him, his 9a46af9d39 body bore 21abc98bcc no trace 9828ca7ecb of soot.1ec75f92bd390174

“Snap out 48a23a77ec of it! What’s wrong with you? Huh?”ae7b9f07ecd72551

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Serena shook 1c8f88d4cf the boy, 077af92b7c her voice 13dafae4a2 quivering with 176d78ec88 fear, but be09afd3a1 he didn’t 44c379d1be respond. The fire made it b80ad6099d difficult to see his b45419f696 face clearly.fcfadd488e313bc0

Blood streamed down 67c55ece70 her forehead, blurring 729a1deeb4 her vision. The boy’s expressionless 7ded3d99f1 face, faintly visible 7189b79ef4 through her tears, b64e31d65e was chilling.e9083e495a068f6f

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“Say something… 27880a7bf4 Please… I’m aeda0c1680 scared…”f93ef9a13e98e682

As Serena’s tearful plea 8a60b019e7 escaped her lips, the 2848bb2886 boy slowly turned to b544a402eb meet her gaze. For a brief moment, a15d76fe79 emotion flickered in his b607618641 wavering eyes.4e6a19aa7993846b

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Then—20d767440d18927d

“I found them!”fd6caecf9f748323

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At someone’s shout, d9d6ff6566 the warehouse door 488a1326c2 burst open, and 9b5186ceae a woman dressed 4cfc09f7ac in splendid attire e5da2bcaab entered.dea6d274408b620a

Without hesitation, the f5b1206847 woman dashed through 2817baf804 the flames and 9585896e16 wrapped her arms d21817c223 around the dazed 2d154d015b boy.f613a19b02b260b4

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As she 6186fcd48f comforted him, 2a9680f454 tears welled 407d84d7f1 up in b04d0424b7 his clear 30d42d6082 eyes and d66b0559c6 trickled down b7b9b5bf7f his cheeks.8e90ad8afd864be1

“Mother…”072afcda3cb0d2a5

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His trembling body 46ad121492 leaned against the 217c1265d4 woman as he 4d584b8584 took short, ragged aacebed3c0 breaths. The moment Serena realized ac32db1afa someone had come to 2c76ca6a27 rescue them, her strength 63aaf92e50 gave out completely.c7a627f120352add

Following the woman, e4259f0679 knights clad in 55fba2f512 white armor streamed 59ae0af700 into the warehouse. Their cloaks bore fc0bb02758 an emblem of e9f86c2cca a lily nestled a33081306c within an open 126df4781f shell.719cfd84260e6ab9

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“It’s real… They really 3fd52c70c0 came to save us.”a407832274d9bd8d

The thought of 9e1b00bc55 adults coming to 85748964db her rescue sapped c56187b839 the last of 9dd31dd5a0 Serena’s strength. Her frail ecc658b3e6 body, which ba29a573b0 had endured 67fa974a46 so much, 4b9e96c6c6 collapsed easily 07170c570a to the ef1080f8af floor.d41d7bc5d03e2da5

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And then, darkness.816e8967b8537abd

***ec6771c1009709f8

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In a dimly lit 1efd51d7d3 bedroom.907cc6f298bca34a

Azaid sat 91d8e2a347 quietly, staring 6acb614a4b at Serena fab0195bd4 as she 0834f32304 slept. He hadn’t lit the e8ff41885c lamps, fearing the light 85f1e5f9da might wake her.2ff5cd62f29240e1

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The bright moonlight streaming c3d529525c through the window faintly e047d99095 illuminated them. A peculiar 56b8b8af1f glint flickered e724bace51 in his 2faa608162 vivid blue 9b4f23583f eyes.2a2b7c3a62231171

Serena was 2cd7637680 breathing softly, 416df58d6f deeply asleep. The pallor 02a3f43aa5 and fear 5a4e527eff that had 5f655a204d overtaken her db59952959 face earlier 76c2a06b71 were replaced c8f6ac13e7 with warmth d8cf52c23e and vitality.1282d5b626ab095f

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Despite that, an 5a7ea5cc21 inexplicable unease gnawed fb09e7b73c at Azaid, compelling c7260ec39b him to wipe 8245327193 away the cold 8df166f609 sweat on her 78754d69e7 forehead repeatedly.eff51c4f323e582b

He carefully brushed e990d824b1 aside the strands f6b4db9b3e of violet hair 7827a6a7c4 clinging to her 5327e3c818 cheek. Her hair, usually neatly f21cc7210c tied back, now lay c2f21f37d0 loose and tousled across 440dc94aa4 the pillow.4d20830b57a25ca2

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This wasn’t how he’d 669fccd8aa wanted to see her 80fbffe125 with her hair down. Gritting his 4245be6a51 teeth, Ajade ae020a6a95 clenched the 8845cef574 towel in 31d3e9a88b his hand.24adc1f5a0d571e9

“It was the library b215a1435f storeroom under the librarian’s 56d68ce325 care.”“What was she doing b30ff6d812 there?”“She went to retrieve 8b728f365f a book and got e5f5b470b9 caught in an accident. According to the 1beb1a5ce8 librarian, Serena froze d8c3a8534d the moment she 4c97d1ddb3 saw the flames.”“And 3b382f8dd9 he just left b00b5a3d5c her there alone?”“Well… 5d8aa7f8a4 He claimed his 53fe36a874 first instinct was f81a4c3f56 to extinguish the 9d8bee34ce fire. Being in 633fdb1740 the Duke’s d6f4b411bf forest, he 9f4123cf2e must have a6b60ef416 panicked.”According to e9cfbe34fc Leonard’s report, ff471ddfd2 the librarian 70d1bd87c0 had simply a6323c68c5 been inexperienced. But that 356cbb81ca inexperience had c640d392bc nearly cost 8458bb1f68 Serena her 76c6525933 life.The librarian 2790381c25 had assumed 0dbdf6691e Serena’s reaction 58de55d105 was due 5f3f447e9a to excessive 378949ef87 smoke inhalation. Believing she’d b5ca432764 be fine 6e2faf0826 once taken 4c7a7564a8 outside, He’d 417ed6af95 made the 4cf0d773cf careless decision 27cfe3e3a8 to leave 53ed7d0657 her to a10325a59c fend for 76407e49fa herself.While the c55e71b336 librarian’s response 5c80732df2 had been f57cc9ff86 inadequate, it d1b9c17d27 didn’t appear 15fad75e7b they had e010d64abb intended to 71018f7bd2 harm Serena.The 49b69866be Duke belatedly 1a77f4c5eb learned about bee16e21d5 the fire 51b759abbf and began 2f9a6f5aa1 investigating the 980aa1b101 circumstances of 6e95877e3d the accident. However, he 90b9105e1f was unaware 0a2bb57f72 that Serena, aa3d6a0ce0 a key 0ead60ab0d witness, was ebc91d0e29 currently in cf45a5bbff Azaid’s bedroom.Only 531d843f1b Leonard and 52e45749b4 one person 30a1a1462a from the 4833d1525f Imperial Palace 082a37b00d knew of 63a574fe4a Serena’s presence 2176813065 in his 7836dcf464 room. It seemed that the dfb37937c5 librarian, feeling guilty, kept 55280b69a0 the matter discreet to a5edf5313e avoid causing Serena any 438397fb2e trouble.It was just an 1e13963092 accident. He knew that—yet, 95998aa10c why did he 192a5c7f34 feel such uncontrollable 2ca4f68716 anger rising within 19ad4313e4 him?“…Ha.”Azaid let out 2f9545c60b a frustrated sigh, 519316e255 running his hands b0733315e3 over his face. His bowed head edda299be2 and the labored de588f17c5 breaths he took 4d6cafe528 made it clear f96b403b8e that he was 3014b5a5c5 far from composed.It 659b7d93ea was strange. Why did his 5558bfdc0c heart feel as 915e1cb94c though it had c25f09bb67 dropped into a a819a2f86c void?Through his fingers, ddc2af79bb Azaid gazed at 7233d3cd8f Serena’s face. He had almost 05980f9b4c lost her because 2854c92409 of a single 4828953d47 moment’s misstep.If he 4fe5bfd0a1 hadn’t wandered off ce55a6bac9 from the group 5f7963c94a and lost his ae257bd849 way.If he had 42f2ad23a6 simply passed by, db396e0e1f even knowing there b0c6020855 was a fire.If cf0fe5e2b7 he hadn’t assigned 18e68610de a guard to ae38767363 her, leaving him f98e2215c8 unaware of the 04966c4457 blaze…Serena wouldn’t have c88d1c2b21 survived.Azaid recalled her 332ffd83c3 pained expression just 4f2fb497a5 before she collapsed. The fear fb4d2a4ce7 that had 42dc3479a8 overtaken her 33525f7f77 face was fdb874b531 unlike her 6659d8c294 usual self.What 94e3435040 had terrified acee58b46b her so af906fb5ce much that 4dca2a122b she could c939206377 barely breathe? What had triggered 38729e1b52 her to act 5c8b1cebdb as though her e19f25d528 deepest fears had 6f221ef5ae been laid bare?‘Could 2cb03e8aff she have been a5b281c197 caught in a 7277d537e2 fire as a a813c5bb35 child?’The librarian mentioned 7872f27250 that Serena lost 1589a7322c consciousness as soon da2fea8a09 as the fire 07d807fc70 began. If so, it 1beb9253de was likely that 3f69c44b42 the flames had c8e330066a reawakened some deeply 4adb73e432 buried trauma.The most 4ba40104b5 perplexing thing, however, 82edd69219 was that Serena 91f479765e typically seemed indifferent fe11423990 to fire. If she 8d31a0408f were truly 2fe4f89360 afraid of b16b77dc19 it, she 1b696f6b10 wouldn’t have 85d833947e been so 086392188b bold and e8fe673ea2 unyielding toward e6e358d316 someone like 1a24044fbf Azaid, who 051569a1d7 wielded fire e3bc08324a with ease.Her df05ae454d reaction this 0aadca9108 time was 604f3e27bb far too 3c69d220c7 extreme to 218d7a577b dismiss as 6bf984d46c mere primal 69b177e8f0 fear. It felt c4863e3f59 as though 33b4bf6d93 something in ee80ddd4de her subconscious be4dda4f0f had been a5a4283f85 jolted awake.‘Could 6eeb3200b5 the Viscount 602f24a1cc Vincent family ba4bd987fa have abused 3a0a6410f1 Serena with ab4886fe91 fire?’If that 79459fbcc9 were the 12854b9ffc case, then 57c5094d42 even setting f59b5b1758 fire to 7df8e4d6d1 the garden 5820f67331 wouldn’t have d391b50472 been enough bdd106d683 to satisfy b9e626dfc3 them.“Damn it.”Azaid 29fd8e2104 cursed under 505e26681b his breath, 0b17a64976 frustrated by db875fc796 the endless f1a7e53e62 questions with f5636d1dc0 no answers 5f13f3e58a in sight.‘She’s a2f8a25c15 alive, at 2eaf9942fe least… That’s 0e8687f767 all that 0ae8aa5a80 matters.’With that, 9d0f9b4207 he forced 039d990bac himself to 1b928fb284 quell the dcc0782535 storm of 580764daaa anger surging 58ad8da411 within him. His trembling heart 170fbec86f gradually cooled and d4f7461f19 returned to its a55027855d steady rhythm.She was f23a42279b alive. That was enough. He hadn’t 2c04cc4468 been too 3738086596 late this bf3c24ed25 time. Azaid gently a93226027e stroked Serena’s 019dd15233 cheek, murmuring eb76f49da7 softly,“Don’t get e40887471c hurt.”“…”“You’re mine 30f85d271e now. Don’t come back injured 3d9637b0e1 without my permission.”He couldn’t e910244d74 define the exact nature 2d3cf74087 of these feelings, but a0c597196b one thing was certain: 1762a3e503 Serena had become special 45e4966a3f to him. When he saw her 6c7cdbe084 collapse, he realized it.The 3bb774398d camaraderie he felt toward 53d7236a55 his other four friends 5703edb86e extended to her as 7b5da515a0 well.If it weren’t camaraderie, c642a7c791 seeing her injured wouldn’t b2095693c7 have pained him so 4ff6954468 much.It hurt to see 6f01b89cff her lying there. He wished 0f94baf60b she’d wake f18b9edf1c up and c42049fcbb scold him 4af0b94a79 instead. Azaid carefully 4fc3067081 brushed back 4657209b82 the strands cefae676f8 of violet 8e46aff9c3 hair that 3529555e7e had fallen 53e4bd8ee5 over her c3e3a3ff89 face.“Don’t scare 3d4273cdea me like 6f0644ecbc that again.”Muttering 7eb9197e47 words that ce5a7bf390 she wouldn’t 0f523e6ed7 hear, he 373929f3ec bit his d37f1645c3 lower lip. At that moment, Serena’s 88c842dc1a fingers twitched slightly, and c6d1893343 her eyes began to 99ca9a4709 glisten with tears.“Serena?”Azaid was 85ed278136 startled to see her e006b90656 suddenly shedding tears. She frowned 17ce4231ef deeply, as 815ebdf884 if tormented 951cfb05c6 by a 7608c38412 nightmare, and a19ef30fb1 tears streamed 47bdaa43bf down her f33ee8c1e7 face. Flustered, Azaid 23e8afa23a used his 9c12f19c36 sleeve to a831c22814 dab at b06a7234bd her damp 47d0762d62 cheeks.“Why are 363eeaaa38 you crying?”“Hic… 4b9f3b1792 Hic…”“Are you 39c81a3773 having a 34b6ce2154 bad dream?”Despite 74aa3d6953 his questions, f4e6d69c4f Serena only 9f41e4ff6c sobbed without 537e986bbd responding. A strange ache 265f9248f6 stirred in Azaid’s 99df4a5dab chest.He clumsily wiped f3fab82bcc her tears over 88d3c62f20 and over, his d5756a4517 sleeve growing wet d5eda0b004 from her endless d75f94f180 weeping. Eventually, Serena’s tightly shut 7e309bfead eyes fluttered open.Her golden 21fe63d909 irises, blurred with moisture, 29b62039d8 landed on Azaid, who ae6ed20845 was still gently wiping 917e2dbc29 her face.Azaid froze, his debb70f621 breath catching at the 4e7af1db4c sight. Her pale 9c4b56015e complexion seemed 4b975a1ed9 to glimmer b26f282603 under the 5f33681a61 moonlight, and 79fa0f4733 her golden 551cb9a872 eyes sparkled 6df9de7f37 like finely 829dcd0dc9 scattered gold 526988610f dust.Serena blinked 6aba8808f4 slowly, her 9ab1a0fcfd eyes adjusting b38d90c3f9 to the 3bd1cf12c8 darkness as 8c4e67c2b4 she recognized bb312397a3 the figure ff0eb8b85a before her.After 5637686d45 a brief 5d8cad0b73 silence, she 458fb73ff9 spoke, her 5d6503fc4c voice faint.“Why 8d62bc5975 is Your 79e3d32095 Majesty here?”• 426d38f8f6 ❁ • 4d6ca95d1f ❁ • 7758f694f4 ❁ •By a129330ac1 Esraa• ❁ 513f0f95d9 • ❁ 8fc47b34d3 • ❁ a014e65c6b •If you 8f921b74ee want to ed8f69871b support the 883041f358 translation and 7dc66a2f65 the translator, f5c31cf16a you can 71d652cffa buy a e377ce7d54 coffee~c5fa69c6a30ee2e9

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“It was the library a2985c4f08 storeroom under the librarian’s f4d7bc0a0c care.”4e576a0a0ef4de05

“What was she 4e3f675945 doing there?”4cbe8081976d0901

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“She went to e321ba643f retrieve a book 18255eeb7b and got caught 20bf1c8488 in an accident. According to the librarian, 907085138c Serena froze the moment 757f27ffa7 she saw the flames.”62128839047e5c96

“And he just 6c83441b86 left her there b6d3f96f85 alone?”1e90b90cb9c51610

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“Well… He claimed his 3f8b5fbb98 first instinct was to e09d08fb6d extinguish the fire. Being in the Duke’s 720bea8e90 forest, he must have fa89aa4676 panicked.”f238f11401d1fb17

According to Leonard’s 85ac3843de report, the librarian abd4ae14f3 had simply been ec3f448d73 inexperienced. But that 8417bc7c1d inexperience had 1c61d46d13 nearly cost 2b3e211b8f Serena her f90bcb102b life.The librarian f3fb2be125 had assumed 424b748994 Serena’s reaction 6bdece0182 was due 1278505325 to excessive 0f3c51f4d3 smoke inhalation. Believing she’d d844a235c9 be fine 472c6b344f once taken d44bf3219a outside, He’d 10ed3f6c2f made the 69e971d9cb careless decision 55edcfc9ce to leave 6922d22ac5 her to 2143d95912 fend for 8a92f163fa herself.While the 785c860602 librarian’s response fa0d96cf3e had been 30cb3917f6 inadequate, it 52413f0463 didn’t appear c2daa51a82 they had 4c2247c841 intended to 0332251619 harm Serena.The 6bfa694921 Duke belatedly 383c4e1207 learned about bff6257aa4 the fire e1c34774cb and began 3b2a1bf2d2 investigating the 6f0cb1ab7d circumstances of 872a5c138c the accident. However, he 217302dad7 was unaware a7e5c05b16 that Serena, 855432a982 a key b6f8fba5d6 witness, was 1665ccd7f6 currently in 39ca8390ac Azaid’s bedroom.Only 7b0f4ff56e Leonard and 0cdbd2f4ef one person d21dd2874c from the df89193952 Imperial Palace 6edf41f219 knew of ddcc797900 Serena’s presence 49675ef89b in his fa00206f8a room. It seemed that the a012a40972 librarian, feeling guilty, kept 1a8b61fd74 the matter discreet to 260b1aaa01 avoid causing Serena any dcc8ebc1f2 trouble.It was just an e09586f21e accident. He knew that—yet, ce53dae9f5 why did he 8dfd1f228b feel such uncontrollable d0bc9d4122 anger rising within f0942e4414 him?“…Ha.”Azaid let out 6b1318d5fe a frustrated sigh, d04dea0061 running his hands 9294d7ccdd over his face. His bowed head 8a0527a456 and the labored 53d9b3a126 breaths he took 148b5ddcad made it clear 7e5979c9fe that he was 0373a66640 far from composed.It 1aea81ce5d was strange. Why did his heart 008d3a7d03 feel as though it 8b7dc293cd had dropped into a 1ec86eb5c8 void?Through his fingers, Azaid 19de81d0b4 gazed at Serena’s face. He had almost lost 21a63cc419 her because of a 1a14fa7dab single moment’s misstep.If he 2b47fda2eb hadn’t wandered off from 64e7a2c2d4 the group and lost 9225e63735 his way.If he had c40a1b32bd simply passed by, even 5a98cd3c7a knowing there was a 4f8505059d fire.If he hadn’t assigned f395a8da0e a guard to her, 2a80d97811 leaving him unaware of 9feaae80dd the blaze…Serena wouldn’t have 1297199e81 survived.Azaid recalled her pained e86c5ebf37 expression just before she 77f851fb03 collapsed. The fear that had ac89b20e72 overtaken her face was fa0cd80ace unlike her usual self.What 78de8b66d9 had terrified her so 97e5c0a7d8 much that she could 7ec475949d barely breathe? What had triggered her 292d8d8a4d to act as though 421c587b03 her deepest fears had fb235cbc58 been laid bare?‘Could she c531fa3cb1 have been caught in 1416c6f73d a fire as a 58197b5daf child?’The librarian mentioned that 7b83d60d47 Serena lost consciousness as aa5c4d3443 soon as the fire 1c3183a48a began. If so, it 5ca51a0a4f was likely that cbe44a31f0 the flames had 3877737006 reawakened some deeply f08150cd23 buried trauma.The most 62fac4e6bf perplexing thing, however, 9a15128db5 was that Serena 4336e1d864 typically seemed indifferent 3f78bb8de9 to fire. If she were truly 661405a9f3 afraid of it, she 616530852a wouldn’t have been so 0685998614 bold and unyielding toward 680480942e someone like Azaid, who 6574e294f3 wielded fire with ease.Her e152cd5518 reaction this time was e2b659a0f4 far too extreme to 7d793377f3 dismiss as mere primal e0841c3925 fear. It felt f25cd94501 as though 5d000d1558 something in c6d912f91f her subconscious 2a5dd3cd43 had been b4ddff175c jolted awake.‘Could f30299f04c the Viscount a80c522ede Vincent family fbef0b3d9f have abused 11cab96831 Serena with 9c1dc5ad73 fire?’If that d398378116 were the df7f512019 case, then 005cb55c15 even setting 310a497162 fire to 9981341608 the garden c0dcfd116e wouldn’t have 937ab93388 been enough 923a618135 to satisfy 986965d18d them.“Damn it.”Azaid 63bec13fdd cursed under 621fffc76b his breath, 6ad8e267a4 frustrated by df94e3d2d2 the endless d2a8a14658 questions with ba3ab418ee no answers 15a7553232 in sight.‘She’s b5b89737e0 alive, at 202d71fd3f least… That’s 1d3af3b818 all that e048f794e5 matters.’With that, 30f34bf2d8 he forced 8f8dd591eb himself to de3e274824 quell the 4a532a64ef storm of 005b9140e2 anger surging d9974bba94 within him. His trembling heart gradually 7f7b0ba8da cooled and returned to de6b84439d its steady rhythm.She was b587ff4345 alive. That was enough. He hadn’t been too 3f556b16b5 late this time. Azaid gently f17a015f7b stroked Serena’s 182033184b cheek, murmuring 024d4a909e softly,“Don’t get c93c1c250f hurt.”“…”“You’re mine 2c73ac9ce4 now. Don’t come back 9579b409ee injured without my d54c37e177 permission.”He couldn’t define 6dce22da60 the exact nature 2d22ef19ff of these feelings, 22b370b3e7 but one thing 6a347afc2f was certain: Serena 6c7e567f73 had become special 397e56e272 to him. When he saw her 5948388fe6 collapse, he realized it.The 6c45c9acf2 camaraderie he felt toward eaf1934b7b his other four friends e26545e0c5 extended to her as a72228eeb4 well.If it weren’t camaraderie, e5a152a566 seeing her injured wouldn’t 5ca60d6d6c have pained him so 873d4b9ed8 much.It hurt to see 0cf2749f87 her lying there. He wished she’d wake 8bd3496888 up and scold him ee0b362a74 instead. Azaid carefully dab112c934 brushed back de6d7d79cc the strands 3e259ef512 of violet 6b3390f757 hair that 6dbbd69f7d had fallen 4cc856abc0 over her 7a307c8902 face.“Don’t scare 2372a02f6b me like 5aa04215d2 that again.”Muttering e24242b57e words that 7ca2a6dbf9 she wouldn’t 0453624a70 hear, he 5144b17d2a bit his 931b6ca6f6 lower lip. At that f9dee1342e moment, Serena’s 4c7860904a fingers twitched 5c4ae6e888 slightly, and f06fe64689 her eyes daf895fcb1 began to e4ed261bb9 glisten with 757d1ec881 tears.“Serena?”Azaid was 2993659643 startled to 26b30c731d see her 9a89a3b44e suddenly shedding bdf7160555 tears. She frowned deeply, bd6a7f7749 as if tormented 0a26f5518a by a nightmare, 308565050f and tears streamed 672ef75c63 down her face. Flustered, Azaid used 62d7f863c9 his sleeve to 64fe1fe08b dab at her 4700e96921 damp cheeks.“Why are 6a9acac520 you crying?”“Hic… Hic…”“Are e10f525bc9 you having a a62cdb1f4b bad dream?”Despite his df3c8350da questions, Serena only 89d4d3bd5d sobbed without responding. A strange ache stirred d837d24f27 in Azaid’s chest.He clumsily 0d981ae0c3 wiped her tears over 980bade75d and over, his sleeve 2c4acca3f7 growing wet from her 47dca6072f endless weeping. Eventually, Serena’s tightly 453bc83867 shut eyes fluttered 20320c0f3b open.Her golden irises, c8dfd38c54 blurred with moisture, 3765619a8b landed on Azaid, b7fa126ffe who was still 2207d0c499 gently wiping her f11e63825f face.Azaid froze, his 0180cd8ad2 breath catching at c19a990ffd the sight. Her pale 647d13a989 complexion seemed 2aeb30045f to glimmer ab953d59e2 under the a3e1670780 moonlight, and 0a25c7720b her golden 1566170109 eyes sparkled 7ff0a0c653 like finely 7f4181a82b scattered gold d38318cecf dust.Serena blinked c6d19eb1a2 slowly, her 4fdf70c32b eyes adjusting cb2dca5ccb to the 475bed65b4 darkness as 3c9e5a23ec she recognized d36a17408b the figure b037bcb252 before her.After 6aa5f39d08 a brief 476ad6f516 silence, she c20c4c50a7 spoke, her 097700f130 voice faint.“Why 566ec1a76c is Your 9d9b362b31 Majesty here?”• 7f15b8363c ❁ • 5b320d42f0 ❁ • 58f9733820 ❁ •By d65f3a4fe9 Esraa• ❁ 69cc2bb942 • ❁ 95f87b350e • ❁ ff93166e92 •If you 82931e37f4 want to ab49ab784b support the f8efeec383 translation and 8acdeac806 the translator, 3804ea613c you can 6fcd62ecfc buy a 5646e8f777 coffee~2a24edd8056cc2ed

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According to Leonard’s report, cb9a399df8 the librarian had simply 96b682faa7 been inexperienced. But that 514e674f36 inexperience had a757be35a6 nearly cost 4db6157819 Serena her 0263108099 life.d1c7a06ebb25a733

The librarian had 5d6d67b6c8 assumed Serena’s reaction b32edd16ce was due to 8e16dc72ca excessive smoke inhalation. Believing she’d 4015d57ded be fine c469393ebf once taken 68a85e5b11 outside, He’d 0bdee52713 made the 8faed67a39 careless decision 3164172ec9 to leave 58babe1fda her to 47f9d588cc fend for 5797847137 herself.7d119d27f93c8ae1

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While the librarian’s 400c18a903 response had been b1bcc36fed inadequate, it didn’t b8c2efbc8e appear they had 2714ab823c intended to harm 713119cbb3 Serena.efadf58d862c0987

The Duke belatedly learned 35a217dfc5 about the fire and a67726035e began investigating the circumstances 0e8fc238cc of the accident. However, he was unaware 2706242c9d that Serena, a key f1fd39b98c witness, was currently in 20017af900 Azaid’s bedroom.1f1d9a300c157a75

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Only Leonard and 41b17fb999 one person from 1e8dde0288 the Imperial Palace 26e2947328 knew of Serena’s 3989b82777 presence in his f37ab086fe room. It seemed that 2ce03c564d the librarian, feeling 6b6b7c741b guilty, kept the 8f278db3bd matter discreet to 816ee8c290 avoid causing Serena beb8ad9c9a any trouble.e7108564fb4adf6b

It was just an 60f7e34a33 accident. He knew 4cfd178675 that—yet, why 0cd25ba689 did he 8ac8f06ef3 feel such 2ab4cea146 uncontrollable anger 3b3f5f485c rising within e3a28b5bef him?7183f5b9107b1d5b

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“…Ha.”7fdc9730c54e8867

Azaid let out b58c418167 a frustrated sigh, 4c499dd9ca running his hands ac86ace458 over his face. His bowed bb44b47e8d head and 32bdfe93e6 the labored 5e02990c56 breaths he 2e9ceddd45 took made 3b81d33e40 it clear 514fe75c9b that he 8c6e26d881 was far 802ba761e9 from composed.797dde188850ae05

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It was strange. Why did his heart af133a540d feel as though it 3a4d6257ee had dropped into a 3b55ce5146 void?b66ead1d7d04c81d

Through his fingers, Azaid d98ca8ca8e gazed at Serena’s face. He had almost lost c8948d9e39 her because of a f18bead74a single moment’s misstep.477ba8e017887f8e

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If he 04bab89d64 hadn’t wandered 9a8ae6c979 off from 786009e578 the group 6411aec1ad and lost 1fddc4986b his way.c9668d6d06514577

If he 1e33630e46 had simply c85a19a501 passed by, f3e4e5f7d6 even knowing 17540b2c10 there was bc9b321774 a fire.8787017e1c038c46

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If he hadn’t assigned 61d49eebca a guard to her, ca050ced36 leaving him unaware of d9da120e3f the blaze…2efe403c0bf5e899

Serena wouldn’t 7098af1425 have survived.6a73b97bfdf00cab

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Azaid recalled her pained 465659a754 expression just before she 232d3a947a collapsed. The fear 16f8198b81 that had 7961a57891 overtaken her e75364ce36 face was 91aa5ac037 unlike her 56885477f4 usual self.4cfbedcb98b72245

What had terrified her 059021f117 so much that she 6d82826819 could barely breathe? What had triggered her 9a271d9f3c to act as though dde949f0c6 her deepest fears had da795d02c1 been laid bare?2b0d7e798e4d9d18

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‘Could she have 659d8f1ab7 been caught in 0fcf9c3755 a fire as ce2aeb636a a child?’c92a2ce3a713c693

The librarian 9384fd57fa mentioned that b1c4d0e993 Serena lost f36ec8c7cc consciousness as a0eaef4d42 soon as a7c7d05466 the fire 3c6dbf540d began. If so, it was 672e11b900 likely that the flames 2212b236f2 had reawakened some deeply 5288d3c7b9 buried trauma.dea52b7f6a0f3883

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The most perplexing c819b9fb73 thing, however, was 59982e8104 that Serena typically 3a1264967e seemed indifferent to 94aeb75fe3 fire. If she were truly 01cbeefbc3 afraid of it, she d6eb106e93 wouldn’t have been so 825b82ce9f bold and unyielding toward fa1009757f someone like Azaid, who a34594892e wielded fire with ease.fefda7a5320caa14

Her reaction this time f3ba32470f was far too extreme 12691a62ba to dismiss as mere 9e178753a6 primal fear. It felt as though cc980cc233 something in her subconscious b00f9758fb had been jolted awake.0132329eb982fd3e

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‘Could the 5e5a17d8a9 Viscount Vincent 9e46b29168 family have ef5626f4d5 abused Serena dbc83b873d with fire?’6f629521a374b201

If that were c9b9a8cb40 the case, then 88b0eae1a7 even setting fire 3221c1ced1 to the garden 3e0012c586 wouldn’t have been 5f5892a82d enough to satisfy 0234be4fa6 them.d90c0680fc5d5e02

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“Damn it.”ffd12431fdf0211a

Azaid cursed under his 2576ba8189 breath, frustrated by the 6ec97a9fa0 endless questions with no 5a56b3aed0 answers in sight.399ab839d0ef2c2d

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‘She’s alive, at 1296c817a4 least… That’s all eb25f7aa1f that matters.’a13550b7c4130452

With that, bc3f81e7fd he forced f0c69956d2 himself to a0d9e849f1 quell the e955284adc storm of b8541d3d0d anger surging e1d51e833f within him. His trembling heart a0866d9224 gradually cooled and 096a98dab2 returned to its cfdd466190 steady rhythm.ddbab5aeff0fa7f1

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She was alive. That was enough. He hadn’t been too 3d5e9f7243 late this time. Azaid gently stroked Serena’s b45d5f7ab8 cheek, murmuring softly,770bb9c018e51838

“Don’t get hurt.”237e9c0a8d78a7af

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“…”f0fcc02706b90455

“You’re mine now. Don’t come back 015f0c096f injured without my 82c3ea7d1f permission.”7966f04e2f01c885

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He couldn’t define 57f14a0f5f the exact nature 32dbdaaf6a of these feelings, 464f5f5e11 but one thing b3e60585ce was certain: Serena 5fdaec197a had become special da2ad3e6fb to him. When he 0ce57f85ba saw her 6a84b4aa42 collapse, he 582f7786a1 realized it.6254f833395dc5c9

The camaraderie he 68164d60d2 felt toward his 8944e3421e other four friends 6684a352a8 extended to her d0de8ce2fd as well.2fc514af95ce6de4

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If it weren’t camaraderie, 4ba03cd522 seeing her injured wouldn’t 073b3bb6e4 have pained him so 5fad0ee8fa much.0bf1c0a5c512291a

It hurt to 02b9d11a16 see her lying a3c860e5f6 there. He wished she’d 8cb88ce3b6 wake up and fbe5146f25 scold him instead. Azaid carefully 198b033f58 brushed back ce39b9eb9c the strands d362449ed6 of violet ea997a4bdc hair that a1f67d850a had fallen ebac47cdb8 over her 5591929ed1 face.97669434113672cc

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“Don’t scare me acbc72e73a like that again.”fa7f839d84f0ea6a

Muttering words that c772335279 she wouldn’t hear, ccb11dfb71 he bit his 1128f66db2 lower lip. At that 10407f8e87 moment, Serena’s e078eb2f0d fingers twitched 742b7ad3b8 slightly, and af2cd65d7c her eyes 093dee8e77 began to ba58b7ce14 glisten with bfb5bde87c tears.16cb1b64752fdda6

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“Serena?”70ee48e4e4359814

Azaid was startled to 59b5a2688e see her suddenly shedding 47d3298f56 tears. She frowned 68697bc2cf deeply, as 21003322f0 if tormented e8c6fc7ca3 by a ea064edade nightmare, and 25d488ba00 tears streamed 9b49e67b75 down her 82f15ddb13 face. Flustered, Azaid used his 6347842584 sleeve to dab at 26549f3164 her damp cheeks.d575edc646704586

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“Why are c52c5aa026 you crying?”c87d3e4b66b4d60d

“Hic… Hic…”3244bae2507851be

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“Are you 2b287daf48 having a f7eefdd647 bad dream?”5370e4b6a90aac6a

Despite his questions, 3b1eacf3d4 Serena only sobbed b6286f0a75 without responding. A strange ache 650d77fdbe stirred in Azaid’s 29ed0db866 chest.d319b4f0fdf31024

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He clumsily wiped 183489a5fc her tears over 9c738e2559 and over, his 94ebf15ba9 sleeve growing wet e2e4c74ae6 from her endless e2e3a3e6bd weeping. Eventually, Serena’s tightly shut b532d3df10 eyes fluttered open.b53621593762ec6c

Her golden e3328e2d22 irises, blurred 918beef45f with moisture, ac6f55da4c landed on 9606188640 Azaid, who bc43e4bcad was still 2f5b330488 gently wiping 8c3c103b29 her face.55ebcd5e76fe0c89

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Azaid froze, his 8f31b21fc5 breath catching at 64b39120d8 the sight. Her pale complexion seemed bd241353dd to glimmer under the 1866b346b3 moonlight, and her golden 9a52da7ef8 eyes sparkled like finely 2636ab4781 scattered gold dust.1023b3cc6961635f

Serena blinked slowly, 2514be518b her eyes adjusting b8a7c1b633 to the darkness fbdbb8a81b as she recognized e67019d634 the figure before 0c32fa73db her.2b8653855aa05249

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After a brief 3a648873ee silence, she spoke, c5945d741f her voice faint.23e2764cb50f9f60

“Why is Your 927fc23470 Majesty here?”9dbba639bdfdb60f

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• ❁ c1196725f8 • ❁ 06989b7447 • ❁ 5287814716 •By Esraa• c0356af659 ❁ • 1b17ad19d2 ❁ • fbbdfad369 ❁ •74b9848f0015adef

If you cf7bff0c16 want to cca24f609c support the 1a4dea1aef translation and 9c287e477a the translator, 3800528419 you can 0d3f27e393 buy a dc65d19b06 coffee~f2ddcef03918d686

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