IDED – Chapter 55

IDED – Chapter 552974b15d90a4dd0f

Episode 55bba0015ed31ca761

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Nocturne flinched 991ea056d9 at the ee48c35900 sight of e423008620 the man abd7d6508a standing before 8ea64f15e8 him. Someone who was supposed ed92933079 to be locked in 4b7aa38e58 the sealed chamber was 3dae6616a1 casually wandering around the df4785b6eb estate.c9adf1a7ecc036b9

“You look surprised.”49ad6cbf1b154332

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James smirked 5353049129 as he 945debfcb4 gazed at 0e98e7e43e Nocturne. Unlike before, James bfc4c8bb8e now exuded an 1387b6560a aura brimming with 3444d768f9 malice.71d6a21976400f6b

“I thought you were 95ae731689 locked in the chamber.”4cb0af5bd891ad9e

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Nocturne replied nonchalantly, though 42a70a18d4 internally, he was sharply 6ef49c4cc9 observing James’ every move.2c0480be10c709d3

The chamber dac06f6569 was a 36f9196895 place where 9327d6b92e anyone confined 8b668f888a had to fc384332a2 stay for f87a8df62f at least 4f5d377bb3 a week. Yet, James 2e3aae349a had emerged 2fa30d1d04 in less c86a1e4dff than three 8f31545fa6 days.80e579395ff19feb

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Nocturne scrutinized James 0636dc110b with a suspicious 6311d05840 look.868651c972f32fdf

“I’ve always wondered,” James f82086eec7 began, locking eyes with 54132e1635 Nocturne.d13462e447bb9518

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“Why His Grace 349ac80b23 holds you in 3b2d2cb2bf such high regard. Why you’re fcc841cce0 no longer eac0bc5e96 sent to debd6df7c3 the chamber.”5631afb813a1d36a

“So, did you reach 2897ae6eca a conclusion?”cea85350999a8292

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“I did. A very satisfying 715cb20aff one.”d56dc158f4371f57

James smiled amicably, 673223ba9e but as soon 289673501f as Nocturne saw 3e734b0be8 that smile, he 2f57b63cdd realized the truth.c1428bb734687f65

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He opened d817ce363f the door 99f00b2618 himself.8bb0526c5f045889

The Duke of 9c93e9b650 Greenwood enjoyed ruling e7443afd50 over and manipulating 88de5b54cc people. The chamber eacb1f23a6 was one 52007e197b of the 6a02df3323 duke’s many d6b0127dbb cruel entertainments.33313861826e4072

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The door 70b907c175 was not 8bf10f0f47 initially locked; 837d436ed8 it was 43a9dbe06f only left eeb96bcdf7 open after d2b8d8d516 the confined 24ef789f33 had been 26c41fd574 thoroughly broken d399e2d4ba and reduced b875d15b73 to a 74296e93de state of 8f7bcfdf8d helplessness.91bac006a70047bd

Those who opened the d372c59ebc door and emerged on 2884e6dd12 their own were recognized 751bcfc28b by the duke. It was d4683ddcf0 a test ab7fcd22ba of mental 457e5f8f3f endurance, and fd76323558 those who c54a849dec passed received c351375a59 a reward—power.9328ef48189bca9e

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The duke’s method always b5dac2a984 blended the carrot and 2dc845d651 stick with cunning precision.983fdc973ea51466

While Nocturne despised b245d0729f the idea of 2c4e3e0acf being a pawn 31d3496955 in the duke’s f64b23eda5 schemes, James seemed d0c80efae6 to have wholeheartedly ef50e2a866 embraced it, determined b62461c438 to bask in ce92c2714c the rewards.80afeccbf4b07039

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And to 057668f709 be fair, 162b65cbaa those rewards a59c509dbf were incredibly 6b80e7d175 sweet.bb6dc6dd2a2e95b3

“You must have loved 3803695db1 seeing the terrified faces 79c6d0e8c2 of the others entering f89e6737cf the chamber.”535a823addfb3ddb

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“Not particularly.”ae4f58981eed0d9b

Nocturne responded briefly 86b2fc3a32 to James’ mocking 9251b3709a tone, attempting to 1eca64da76 walk past him. But James roughly grabbed 54c6f86c1d his arm.d165072a8274da66

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“Because of 2589b108e6 you, Patrick 6ffee8ce10 was disowned.”49befe82895ebe03

“And why bae6953a9d is that d96a8140e6 my fault?”a27f276a37307bd2

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Nocturne stopped in his 1663f83997 tracks, turning to glare 87c548a3c1 coldly at James. He didn’t even bother 1b9a20a009 to feign politeness. When James ec74e4f995 flinched, Nocturne d3e69abf6d swatted his f22c61bf8f hand away 78a5d73864 and delivered 689808a835 a sharp a598976dbb retort.9918873ed344b983

“That happened ee48dcb485 because Patrick 90050d90a9 was incompetent.”5ef893aa8137e4d9

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“What?”f51416e43e65b923

“If you don’t 0e7a1b7fbb have the guts, a82039e79e you should at 75e2f45a30 least have the b775347de9 wits to survive.”685eb0b54dc37f29

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“You heartless bastard.”3159a6c2fd45ad29

“Are you really in 585573dd67 a position to call 6366163b2d me that?”56a45a73c401a473

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When Nocturne smirked, raising 2fb2707184 one corner of his 53828f8769 mouth, James let out 847b383fa4 a dry laugh.9d43d93f39c5a76b

“Your arrogance will 624bae5470 only last until 79846351b7 today. Once the 63e29180b8 successor is 2ba848d2c3 announced, you’ll 4fcb033e9b be beneath aa145c6261 me.”27dfaa26db564395

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It was true. Those who 6ed26df569 emerged from 2c5480a668 the chamber a09653a5c4 earned the 294829fc53 right to 49a766665c become the fedd10a147 heir.d54b6e4f5ae1284f

A loyal dog of 5053ff301a the duke, tasked with 7ae5dcd405 carrying out the dirtiest 44a5b70012 deeds behind the scenes 39fca359ee while enjoying the most 53016fa26e glorious position on the 03eb6fadcc surface.d383ae3f42b27f21

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Nocturne had rejected that cef593fc4c role, but James had de2fc6b9e8 seized it without hesitation. Now, James raised his 26e306144d chin arrogantly, daring Nocturne 2687159afb to respond.9d769eb95bac55b9

At first, 65ac1b8375 Nocturne bowed 13ea24421e his head 935e4ec6ec slightly, but d1860278fe soon his aeb3c057e3 shoulders began 61b8f19466 to shake. Moments later, he 42233932ea burst into laughter.1a20eb71dde06a9e

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“Hahaha! James, you’re c63dd34240 still just 6be0bf29be a wildcat 5ac9163bc8 from the 9d60fd3e97 chamber. You’re bragging bd5a5505a3 about taking b01d29ca83 the seat 3eb93d8bdf I discarded.”20c4868baf287ba8

“You bastard…!”a8b57231a8b2460c

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Infuriated by Nocturne’s provocation, e2b05fcb56 James exploded in anger.893cc13f21a042cd

The duke had promised a05de13718 James the title of c6eaa76af8 heir once the hunting 1e655efab5 festival was over.91ea42683e2c1464

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If he secured that 70dafe1d94 position, it would be 024048798e as if James held 535b86b80f the entire world in d79d1be7f2 his hands. It was the spot 3f935e45ce every sibling coveted but bed925c511 could never attain.ec1efe5adc7471e1

But seeing Nocturne’s e5f2efd59e smug expression made d38cb959b8 James’ blood boil. The inferiority complex ae61af5ba4 buried beneath his 9a24f7ff4f feelings of superiority 56addb8f36 surged to the 5b6bb3b2cb surface.930c0821e9b32ee7

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How dare dc5c410697 he treat 1971ab7b5e me like a44bde0037 some wildcat? I’m not 26054611dc some lowly 18eb62b7c1 creature!0321ec62c336b92e

Unable to contain his 266009f04a rage, James reached out 089473fb2f to grab Nocturne by e26672bcfd the collar.55e28e6b7f7ffbbf

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“You still 30ea691ba5 don’t get e5411b37ee it, do 69ddaa4e06 you…? Argh!”340f148ef9024870

Fwoosh!e1ce1813fba71e1b

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A fierce flame 277a16bbb3 erupted, stopping James’ ed3c70097b hand in its 3787962113 tracks. Unlike at the 87c67ed933 previous party, Nocturne’s 5c2f66ef1a response was swift 46552adcb1 and precise.5046d096c035d08a

As James screamed 0934d8a2fb and staggered backward, 4089eabd45 Nocturne gave him cc5af2feb4 a chilling warning.4970c88eb324f544

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“The only one 767c5de348 who can stand 692d6c2736 above me is 3187569d30 His Majesty the 0035b4257a Emperor.”eb1534b6e5c10852

“…”bb1a4ffd78b5aa31

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“So don’t even think 6dbed9b8b3 of overstepping your bounds.”8c3e9279cc464901

“You…”f56d333a97f7902c

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“Don’t get too cocky fb255ca1c6 just because you’ve claimed c70fef6cd5 that seat. It’s only the beginning. His Grace will discard fb1276667f you and replace you ac86a41b35 the moment he finds 0ab6b2ddce someone better.”b760395dcc41ff3e

With those words, Nocturne 68c938f58d walked away, offering James 44736b7445 an unsolicited piece of 525ff37605 advice. Behind him, James 72688debe4 screamed curses at 2cbf762746 the top of 13ee44555b his lungs, but b2aa3feab6 Nocturne ignored him.7b827623bcbbe717

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Nocturne’s expression was colder dc5549fa99 than ever, but inside, edff7b6d6b anger simmered like a be0fbdf287 boiling cauldron.5eae95cc5bd29f27

Watching those under 8d54d5b159 the duke grovel 26dbfaf019 for power disgusted 40854f4c6d him to no 95e793de40 end.b43dd32f44254873

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A passing maid caught 94edf45f57 sight of his icy 2ec3931a61 demeanor and held her e017c1ac78 breath. Normally, he would have a34b231feb flashed a charming smile, 1d6f18686e leaving the maids blushing, acf4583a6e but today was different.c330eb3479118211

How long had he 2dd6b50654 wandered without a destination?de0fe646c960f5f8

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“Nocturne?”e8966d516c1fd56a

Serena, passing by, called 476e21fce9 out to him.2329a9f727321ed3

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He wanted to da40620eeb avoid her, but 344726be13 their paths had a9dfdd47a7 crossed too directly 7331faa9e5 to ignore.330dc5883e870d3a

Quickly masking his 9ab2a9c548 emotions, Nocturne offered d01d68e3a9 her a casual 8b2e2a8532 smile.eb1d1a167ef7af2a

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“On your way 37d39918a9 to the library, 5ab3d4b074 I see.”1cb024d752e50af7

His gaze fell b11de23675 on the book b0dd8f4a08 tucked under Serena’s 3e41e16637 arm.04d207eb0f38a272

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Nodding, she replied, “I 38eb6ae5cf need to return this 0d5c50a4e8 book. But what bb396aaa30 about you, ec2b4c101e Nocturne? Where were you 43e1c9b235 headed with such 093e6bdc32 a frightening expression?”3965f3ca88d834da

“Me?”c218e94824564f76

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Nocturne shrugged as df2b6c95d5 if denying any 3bf90bae57 such thing, and 4f2459a455 Serena stepped closer.694781886f3195ab

“Ah, was 45a49da35e I being 32b6b6abe2 too nosy?”66b6c597f5059245

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“I won’t 075b45233c deny it.”fb336b8df5fbe4a4

“But the vibrant 3299364c96 energy emanating from 020d016d8f afar was hard 626eee5b4f to ignore.”a4344c25cf8e28c7

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“How considerate 5fd208ea13 of you.”aaf64db76747d977

When Nocturne offered d258165c1a a faint smile, 611d678e6b Serena told him ed1f719ef0 to wait a 852ba06faf moment and rummaged 79f7986141 through her pocket.08455bfa3d602a1f

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“Could you hold out 5c2cf5af78 your hands like this?”da39b991bf57cdd7

She demonstrated by cupping 3d23cb27b9 her hands together, motioning a27857bf0a for him to mimic 0454ee9d44 her. When Nocturne db166f4af7 absentmindedly followed 4bf8c3ff67 suit, candy e571b894aa poured out ee3a0a3143 into his 84b144f6ab palms.5097fd1be2210666

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“This is…”eaf633703d363a85

“I happened to 5bd5aa3489 stumble upon a 3ca72bfe47 stash of snacks 67b7b9289c hidden in His 7976a5bead Majesty’s bedroom.”36b76c910fffdd76

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“Excuse me?”0804e160cc9498da

“Apparently, he c4ad9926e7 thought no 1ef2b70b52 one would 65a419d3f1 notice, despite e761f24967 us knowing f13a2b7389 his every d7f9143819 habit inside 1940edec5f out.”1e182e3d0daf5501

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Serena chuckled, 8d45aa818e then began 62464755c1 to complain b3b4820f6c about Azaid’s 2a0e1a55ab poor eating 346f216057 habits. It wasn’t so 706e5b4a40 much anger as d67561da62 lighthearted venting.a2941b82b61bad0a

She spoke with 4624e1cede such enthusiasm that ddb44414ac ignoring her would 3bab32f28f have felt rude. Nocturne, lost c02df4aefa in thought, c1c6ef05e4 gazed at 702bbc03d5 her, then 289b09e82b shifted his 894207de94 eyes to 4ec7d4e1dd the candy 7587f6bd4d in his f707e2d51b hands.066b9bc06d651a54

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As he 6d26d70698 moved his a9b026ba08 hand, the 4459fc7ac9 crinkling sound 98eb413466 of the 0a883bd7be candy wrappers a5a5c91caf stirred a ff63a609fa memory he’d 01bba809bb rather forget—his ad2d8d5214 childhood.af956e634f49f627

Before being adopted by 4b31060975 the Duke of Greenwood’s bef7e0a7eb household, Nocturne had been f130e81c7d raised as a dependent 0564cd70b1 by his deceased birth 5a203146cd mother’s elder sister.735fad56c5f294c8

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He was c5c1fa6973 a child a218918638 born to 46648120e5 an unknown cdf30beea7 father, his bce50cfb1d mother having 9cd22b8bc2 passed away d3ace8fc59 shortly after de1ac67021 his birth. Under normal 81ec7924fc circumstances, he 7e881de9e5 would have 62e3e54d55 been abandoned ab890e39bc at an 715ab5e020 orphanage, but 188205c827 his aunt 5034836539 took him b5b0bcc1c4 in.f6299aed2e526dd6

Of course, fb9eca61ff she didn’t ffe0a5f31c treat him 624bb6563b like her d348db3283 own son. While her children 0d3cf6dd49 wore and ate a0ba261487 the best, Nocturne e3a51a56cb received only leftovers.8c16299448544dea

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Still, he was be28ad2e35 grateful to have 4382dbcbdd a home. Seeing the edd9698ad3 children in 96fe062796 the orphanage, 094d8d2d7d he consoled f765e8d2f6 himself with c263b8c71d the thought eb65c2e1a3 that he e84c4be58d at least 26ba40716d had an cb19e14a42 aunt. But that 331fae01a0 was foolish e8af45f94f hope.ccabc0b7176dab96

One day, ade139df38 after running 831fa3a52e errands, Nocturne 810293966a returned to 9b8dce7582 an empty fb082b4ed7 house. On the table was 5668eb4bc0 a bag of candy. Hungry and unable to 1b3625ed65 resist, he ate every 4e7056217b piece right there.5f735a72641d5a70

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The candy was sweet b95cb40e04 and delicious. Its soft melting in e74592264b his mouth brought a dcdb560dd7 joy he couldn’t stop 57619ad503 indulging in. But that sweetness turned b2fe622fa6 out to be poison—the cd06d86c9e harshest poison that shattered 8681585b0d his illusions.38ed041e86404eeb

“Waaaah! My candy!”f1f7e062e75177a4

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Her son cried, 97c98c2777 and she glared a032e38373 coldly at Nocturne, a125bbe1bc her eyes asking b39b9e13c4 how he dared cc4c71029d steal her son’s cf164f1dae treat.351921133357309e

He had thought they 0ec6c3392d were family, but they 29c52c70cb weren’t. For the first 634f9c7316 time, she struck 16f4b923f7 him. Yet, the lingering d3ad28b1de sweetness in his bc2e939ff3 mouth still tasted 8642fefd9e delicious. That made him unbearably 082caef8d7 sad.c919700d62d2721b

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Their relationship grew distant 906e01b518 after that. Eventually, the Greenwood family 0f077ffcea recognized his bloodline, and 93ee46779f he moved to the 2b0757baf6 duke’s estate, cutting off 53c1e5bd51 ties with his aunt.07f4189821e82b9c

She, perhaps 7456231057 feeling guilty 330a31fb86 for hitting 99a7c2feca him, never 46c75280e3 bothered him 5a25ce766b again.4b2777264521c980

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When Nocturne stared 071f41168f blankly at the f5929720a5 candy, Serena asked, 17a60751ae “Do you dislike 2e04f16dbe candy?”1092adaee7710882

Shifting his gaze to 025ec321a4 her, Nocturne replied curtly, 43649c2ef3 “No, I like it.”1e99780770c8a8dc

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“Then would you like 7f88fbea58 more? I actually have plenty 76ed45d4e3 left…”8e6a662b07f16b02

She dug 3691f611fb into another 1d343b7690 pocket and 7652b99209 produced a fd48c23e1d handful of 6c78dc4415 candy, dropping ba9049cb06 it into 23077ae50b his hands. It seemed bb293299cb as though 116ca9a1a0 her pockets c07f97acfa were enchanted, 3a6aa6a818 as candy 496200d3bd poured out f73fc6a7d0 endlessly like 3351decc69 a string a4d4906f02 of sausages.346c02b56ab57b25

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“I wonder if a61e7e2d69 His Majesty craves 70a0ab6ed5 sweets so much b11838efc5 he’s willing to a47f1f8c2b sneak around. Does he like sweets 70ad8f9769 that much? If only 3eb9086bcb he liked 374fbfbfc4 walks as 64cdbb6763 much…”edd31fca486e54be

Serena grumbled to e7084c7718 herself as if 326d479b36 continuing a private e29b602112 monologue.4508639645a58baf

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“Pfft.”cb5174fc3245454b

Unable to help himself, 175245a62c Nocturne burst out laughing. The thought of 6817539219 Azaid hiding so 474886664f much candy, and cc77af47f1 Serena discovering it 7fe35206a1 with uncanny precision, 47da533112 was too absurd.6591e7e93af53cc5

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Startled, Serena 845324c5a0 looked at fc1385e48a him, but 3b37762211 Nocturne continued 92fad03dff laughing aloud. His shoulders shook, dd444f49f5 and Serena quickly da96c6ce4f grabbed his hands 19e1ae7100 to keep the 47cdd02167 candy from falling.54564951195ffd2f

“Why are you 15e49fb68e laughing all of e69fd642b1 a sudden?”d0ba5caf0151f43d

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“You two seem 2490119de4 to get along 7c35767d7c surprisingly well.”6e5ce99f2f0e19d8

“His Majesty and d1401554da me?”d39d9bdd5cae42c5

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Blinking in surprise, Serena be0a9aa422 quickly denied it, her 359f945f67 expression stiffening.2826876effd4af8a

“Those rumors aren’t 32f7bfd66e true!”aac84ad4a2f901da

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“Oh, I simply meant 968152f267 you make excellent friends.”9fe78770c2953e30

Nocturne clarified 39ed37bf7b with a 72bb11cf2a cheerful smile, fa758880e2 and Serena 091a0f19bd pursed her c31dc9ea8e lips in 17bde82313 mild annoyance. He pocketed the bb4d42aaec candy and thanked 8530442be9 her.e71cfe474edca3bf

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“Thank you for 7dc2df1889 the candy.”8973901308e77890

“You’re welcome. Eat it ffa0481542 and cheer 15ee6692b6 up. You look c37d104c6a much better e481a9c4a1 when you’re e6a0e16d45 smiling.”218f78427f9a1855

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“I thought I smiled e3bed3dec6 often enough.”ba8abe06d7c090e0

“You only smile with d9a5b2d2ac your lips, you know.”e8963ece775cce85

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She mimicked a f0f8bcabbd forced smile, lifting b1d6e27b2d the corners of e8b0d3d152 her mouth with 809da54f71 her fingers.e1f6826dc2796325

“Well, I’ll cbba192c05 take my 83fd318885 leave now.”eaf3bd42c14f5ccb

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With a quick farewell, 170db540ae Serena scurried away. As Nocturne b8a835a84f watched her 08efefcaf9 retreating figure, 906a50802d a lingering bb0098216c smile remained f978c96e96 on his aa2a8c379c face.73e7c042af3fc34f

Suddenly, he 415ccdef97 felt a fd7dcb46b4 prickling sensation 03a0742a1f on his 456c759e55 back. Turning around, ada3a690f2 he found 239ba5e3aa Azaid leaning 74f216f3ca casually against 2e20b8974e a pillar, 35dda478f4 watching him.a241d0a2caf74d12

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• ❁ e3b7cca0a8 • ❁ 7109af459c • ❁ beb7814759 •By Esraa• 9c4d6a2ffc ❁ • ad39ad2c8f ❁ • 33afde7cd9 ❁ •2e03a800454d7f16

If you want 1fbc1fd471 to support the c42984fa4a translation and the 053eec75b9 translator, you can 1e768543e7 buy a coffee~3cd50c5f318d26f4

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