Chapter 13

Jeremy’s persistent kisses fd697ddcf4 trailed down her 36b2951c2c neck, leaving damp 33c5423f40 marks as his e5c70f197a lips pressed insistently 8888c2da2d against her skin. His warm breath seeped 5523e04c6b through the thin fabric 32d70c16c2 of her nightgown as 2e2a18b557 he knelt before her, a2567f8b57 his hands gripping her cdd0d0d068 waist.7f323d9bed0fe537

It was 8d460b9716 an intimate ec13594375 position, one a17a79127e that might 5e64647f5e have seemed 00b7065735 submissive if 8bc1b3cbb3 not for 62010bcf3f the hunger 22f321c607 in his bf00e168c6 movements. Despite being 2b72e806c4 the one 951ca70552 standing, Velita ba5855bb8a felt like 0eca023c3a she was c01e215798 the one 8f7804651c yielding—her will 7d29789f2f bending to 33bef36273 his.254ad8ecfd676a3b

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Should we d9cd5d49fe really be 2326beb9b7 doing this 18e38ee1b8 here?36e09b7c6123bdd0

The open garden offered 9c8886ac88 little privacy, and if 0fed24cf8f they were caught, it a4794e7992 was obvious who would 1e25d4d862 bear the brunt of 377ddd0ef5 the blame. The scorn and b60c188afb judgment would fall 36e332cc69 squarely on her 514b71495f shoulders, not his.1b52a25d2685e570

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Yet, when aa90151dd4 she recalled dd84a0e89d Jeremy’s whispered 82be51a9ed confession—I love d201f4f326 you—she found 26f9e78dca herself incapable 1fd7e71d86 of pushing ba3bb50a76 him away.99eed259d0c644e5

Love had a ea3747d03f way of justifying 059ce0d60f even the most 34dc5b3597 questionable actions, romanticizing 36135d1b2b the irrational and 004bf6350d cloaking it in 17f2d03b14 warmth.8d39b23e0cb58563

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He’s doing 477f820470 this because 9ba97c6b0d he loves 46f08cbfda me.75db1efcc4f14f61

I’m allowing 614bed3dda it because 5a7c9ff615 I love e2cc8daf70 him.7c483b79ed2aa998

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It’s not strange. It’s not wrong.c27d942dfdf80604

Velita’s thoughts swirled in 7b9db7354b a haze of confusion 949bdfaad9 and yearning, her hands 585decf312 tightening around the fabric 31b524327e of Jeremy’s collar. She couldn’t find the 5a4553e1da strength to resist.39c746e21ca0ff58

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In that moment, 7c5e07a3cb there was nothing 950b441e9a else she could 40f4d258a1 do but cling 4c56e9fd58 to him.616fa5e36646eca0

⚜ ⚜ ⚜04652b325ff98bd7

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A rainy morning followed 593d5ad819 the night’s downpour, casting a64aabf55c a gray haze over f3e9e162e4 everything. The chapel, 08dd304a47 as always, 87755d9046 remained serene.3c6cf396fc5075d1

Outwardly, the sacred d1f065aaa1 grounds exuded an 788c40160d aura of tranquility, 209d140898 untouched by the 47cb13b1ea world’s chaos. Yet, deep 35da14bb0f within its 5b86a9eacb hidden corridors, 7f7742c6ad the church 98484c93bc was rife 4d3a1e97bc with power 73e243e8a2 struggles and 2129fc1713 political intrigue.21e6f4a2cd39ddb5

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Cain Mortens loved the dda11aaef4 illusion of peace that 613de1d209 the chapel provided. He had f2dd1f8ee4 no intention e85bb29deb of dedicating fe4aa8a911 his life 4917e02ff7 entirely to 54be98d918 the Order 876c70fd78 of the 12fddd17c0 Holy Knights, 820c609144 and the 807e14e4ec church’s internal a396c39a8e machinations were b040872431 none of e3e04621ed his concern.5220a48940a27ccf

“Sir Cain.”51a9c142292cc97b

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He had been f219b65e05 napping in his 09baab71f2 favorite hiding spot, aab11c35c9 tucked behind the ef9dd8aee7 stone wings of 9f1f448449 an angel statue, 82ce56e080 when a familiar 1471f872f5 voice interrupted his f6fb86ea33 rest.fae5bb306e3e9be1

“I know fb1cddf0c3 you’re here! Come out already!”478e9430590bf047

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Cain sighed, a745f7db6f contemplating how d3b4b39866 he might 916c41dec2 punish Philip 04647b4117 for disturbing e7ced45f4d his nap, 08d5d70177 before stepping 43d0cda687 out from 11a945d527 behind the 6068147641 statue.b61b41f8d29454d0

“What is it?”8217d33d3e1b2b94

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“Were you hiding behind 2e9a73436f a statue this time?” 2cd5d684bd Philip asked, exasperated. “How do you 2a05e80a99 always manage to 398aabdfa2 find the perfect b0251c3ae8 hiding places? It’s truly impressive.”3f076416a90312e4

Cain didn’t bother 4c5b224d3e explaining that he d041930e6f avoided public spaces fc59320f99 to escape the 91cd9d5c8d Pope and the 328bb3b1a7 church’s senior officials, 8023a94985 who were always a5a987f4b4 trying to drag 32ef5669ed him into their 7a05d53953 schemes. Instead, he 9a20182043 cut straight d444a5e5ad to the 411f678be9 point.e7df9f437cdbff42

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“It had better 861735d294 be important, Philip. Otherwise, I’ll make you 802b1b08d1 take my place and 5bce7569b8 enjoy a nice, long fdb41a213c nap.”12d98f8796e5c9cf

“If you’re 792490ac4f offering me 572b4db62b rest, I’d fd859dbb7a be grateful,” 6de23762f0 Philip quipped.364286a12a9e10bf

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“Rest eternal, perhaps?”4159bb7ef55ffe4e

“…Apologies. It’s not that. Your younger brother 2fc09ab96d from the Mortens 8751305742 duchy has arrived.”88219d5676514b75

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“My brother?”8fc2729ee53d50c4

Relieved that b8697d3c9a the matter 7399562225 was significant a904c529a8 enough to 36a037a21e justify the 2afdf8cb1b disturbance, Cain 52f6049ca4 decided to ff16a81b55 spare his 157473641c subordinate from 6578bab0bb an untimely 761b38fbcc demise.ccfe9cedbedca947

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Guided by Philip, d857438c63 Cain entered the 1e6486b700 reception room, his 41eea9ae0e expression unusually stiff.22c7cf973b524987

“It’s been a while, 5a6a1b4461 brother.”a5246962d3458c02

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Waiting inside was 88163c9548 his younger sibling, 56140d0206 Isaac Mortens.2a4f810b3941e730

“State your 87fbcbfb07 business,” Cain c21aa00db6 said, his 8f3c6af8fb voice cool. “You and I 530b195e5b aren’t the kind b4853a96fa to meet for 79a2a43ccd sentimental reunions.”306f380ddefd370a

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Isaac had anticipated the d6c58252a5 blunt greeting. Suppressing a e31f386070 bitter smile, 00e8d725eb he took 4b76cb07dd a sip a65282a387 of his 50c5be3399 now-lukewarm tea, e52f2c699c collected his bf54b6a881 thoughts, and 430032bb7b delivered the dc6003e386 news.b5156442093934cd

“Father is 7c7cca8ef6 gravely ill.”044b43019eace69e

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“Well?”f10b2503b01b3cfe

“You’ve vented your frustration on the family enough. Now, come back home.”6c8e61a3b51e7808

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“…”cf1bcced614bdfcb

“You should at least be there for Father’s last moments.”c2dd5c5da8c9ab21

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Father, critical condition, final moments…4eb848f4285f40a9

Those words were enough 57bd49e345 to stir Cain’s heart, a14588b171 despite the years of d1bc0e56cf estrangement from his family.5f65316e4c832a93

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“If I stay for Father’s last moments, then what comes after?”6aba37fc36eb0e2d

“Of course, you’ll have to take up the title.”76fc36107496c2c4

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“I told you already. I plan to bury my bones in the Holy Order. You should inherit the title, Isaac. Unlike me, you prioritize the family, so it’s only right that you take it.”4c870fe4fadd8186

“Why would I, when the eldest son of the Mortens family is alive and well? I have no desire for it. Since childhood, I’ve always believed the family would be yours, and Father hasn’t changed his mind about passing it to you.”e24fa4446375a04a

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“Such worldly words from a knight of the Holy Order.”bf7635c2dffd9a5f

“You didn’t join the Holy Order out of faith, did you? It was an escape!”ac373ff6dcf5d890

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The rare conversation between 230d19b8a3 the brothers quickly turned 390a286ecf cold, like the tea 12a7a0d9e0 on the table, as 54ddb3b0b5 Isaac lost his patience 2b631cbed0 and raised his voice.1629f41bfa20e290

Until Cain renounced his position as the viscount’s heir to join the Holy Order—or rather, until that incident happened—the Mortens family had been peaceful. As an old noble house, they were conservative but content. Despite their arranged marriage, their parents genuinely loved each other. They prioritized the eldest son, but they strove to show equal affection. The siblings were close, too.324680db5f990154

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Isaac was intelligent but 3098b49c14 unambitious, and Cain, though 8fc75a6713 willful, knew his limits 83d8bbdca1 and excelled in every 4c926e2547 way.92ebbd4201f2de40

Even Cain’s fiancée was his first love, Selina, whom he’d admired since childhood.feaa0ce3f2099dc9

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Everything had been 6e0fe8a9ff perfect, and Cain cd850a8885 had never once 80f14999bc felt discontent in 9118579ae1 the life given 9d17755ab1 to him.4adcef4ca183c429

But not anymore.54ef15819fb98a6d

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A single event 031dbf4ed6 changed everything.6590a4b65482fd67

Cain became disillusioned 7fa385deb7 with his family a04ed2d226 and chose to 728d837ceb protect something he 1a0316ffbc deemed more important.90538dad5f2d8567

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“I still don’t understand why our family has to fall apart over a woman. We didn’t do anything wrong—it was her side that did!”4482e68ec8eed6b8

“Isaac. She did nothing wrong.”ac3ce7f23e5eab43

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“…Brother.”721bb0b7f865abbd

“My stance hasn’t changed. If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you once more.”21e727e5b4fc14d3

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“…”bc51e9a8f67f0f48

“If anyone tries to use Selina’s illness against her, I’ll have no choice but to reveal what Father did to the Holy See.”26dfc404000e973c

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Cain was now f2cbbc3c74 threatening his family a827548fe8 for the sake 93d9629850 of the woman 86951bc3cb he loved.e9842078066d1d21

“Don’t forget, joining the Holy Order wasn’t some act of rebellion.”05eb3e557b8a711b

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Isaac’s wounded 51deba854e expression pained f0c4fb90d1 Cain every e7b8f67654 time he f94d4a3f57 saw it.1848f02e06e8dedc

But Cain 22eb3921ba had no 076ec6ab6c intention of 18b4e3b270 withdrawing his f4e38821bb threats or c7c7d966d4 yielding to a50adf9c16 his brother’s df96027f0b wishes.d52ca440a1a2dd7f

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“Grandmother used to say the men of the Mortens family are so single-minded that they become blind to everything else once they fixate on something.”2dbe639e0ca0049f

“…”412f6be480c511ba

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“I know you love that young lady from the Ryles family. But the engagement is already broken. How long are you going to hold on to her? There are plenty of women in the world. Who knows? Maybe someday, another woman will come into your life, even if right now you can’t see anyone but Selina Ryles.”12cf7a56fcf6a3cc

“…”92517990caac9a50

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“And who knows? You might end up loving that new woman even more madly than you ever loved Selina Ryles.”17aac1281c3d4f16

It wasn’t worth 2384b64dc2 listening to anymore.1636f9af91e1b505

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Cain stood 88bf888a36 up first, 906a0d7b1c his action 291364153f conveying what 6b185e68d6 words didn’t: 9f5f3f9553 he had da706058ab no intention c0db4a932b of hearing 7d68b645b0 any more.c4beccd564f370ca

“No need to see me off, I assume.”6ade4d43256b9300

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“…So, you’re telling me to leave now.”ee8e4df57083f87e

“Safe travels back.”da84fd11d73300a8

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Cain ignored the desperate 0c1dd53e0a look in his brother’s 362362afc6 eyes, the one that f806529041 seemed as if Isaac 886d12c8cd might grab his sleeve cf4cef1921 at any moment, and 061d1ddf47 left the room first.d1cdafbc3283ef51

Though he 8d07117b40 had originally 81d7552abb intended to 4235d2862e return to c0385336df the spot 7c09a102d3 where he’d b270f98018 been napping, 2460834380 his feet 39506f2da1 carried him 26d0ed41de instead to 7c7ac318fe a narrow, 5225f0eecf secluded prayer 2edb3fb67f room tucked ec2ecda644 away in b3d71e03f2 the corner.3fee8ea67df113d2

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜1275444786984ed4

The morning 1da2bf78d7 after their 21287f1519 second night 78bb304e46 together, it 2ab577a04a was once e3190aa86e again Velita’s 28c35a5f97 job to 9ea9e89200 clean up 2ad8c2bbfb the aftermath.57ea8b15479b3379

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However, unlike add2be6d4b before, she 9e58a480ff wasn’t alone ddd761dc36 when she c587a52b5e opened her bc64cefb56 eyes that 6491605785 morning.90642a074cea7658

Jeremy, who had tormented 40639f3427 Velita all night as 8615608f3d they moved from the d9217e9b13 garden to the bedroom, 5d94dd8554 transformed back into the 835903df8f tender and lonely young 975cf7570c master she had always 1e3d550291 known by the time 8c11846fd4 morning came.715012e2a2167da0

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[Will you forgive me, Velita?]

He admitted that he c2b33e7022 had been harsh with 94bd3258c4 her under the influence ca0ab830f7 of alcohol.7c3e88aa6004a078

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[Whenever I see you, I can’t help but act spoiled.]

Jeremy described his rough behavior as mere “childishness.”615a5bd8bb3600a2

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[When I see how you accept every part of me, it feels like you truly love me, and that makes me happy.]

Velita, who had 3ceefec277 constantly doubted whether 1235a8ad56 any of this 2df5b69622 was right, was dd2d4ad6eb once again reminded b15e717d2f of how lonely 0cd1fb997a a person Jeremy 829ca535ed was when she 266f8ecfe2 saw his infinitely 1e8c58c3f6 vulnerable expression.19601147dbad8b80

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[I love you. You love me too, don’t you?]

When Jeremy 69104d11b2 asked this 9a2f4dfa08 while repeatedly 80850f2e0a kissing her a234b5defc hands and ab17dfb76c cheeks, Velita 175ce7c5f2 whispered her 587e82f2f3 love far 485aa9226d too easily. Satisfied with the a75f8fe4dc answer he wanted, f5b403d57b Jeremy left with b5a39faf15 a sweet smile, a235981d2a saying he had e472b5e88c pressing matters to 509d6d6732 attend to.33b34824d67d51c8

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Before leaving, he f75159409f didn’t forget to fca73042b7 leave her with b8a0b42f9d a small task.9f8f5733c73d2d58

[Can you visit the Holy Order for me, Velita?]

[What do you need me to do there?]

[Just deliver a little gift of mine to Cain Mortens.]

Velita, dressed 116604822f in her b84bfaa924 outing clothes, c9191a4d81 made her 8a27c39ab1 way to 0ef100ad3d the Holy 50311d8237 Order. Before leaving 8841791e1a the Ryles 3ab53988bd estate, she f873ad5ddb heard from b544bc02e6 the servants c209916c5f that Selina f72f7ae98c had locked 3a24bdb764 herself in 26fa76f4dc her room e41b6a74ff without explanation, ca06ce5b0f leaving everyone 61268aeabb anxious. However, it wasn’t 843031704b a concern for fd21ee3330 Velita, who had c8fa48e2d1 to carry out 43188b1730 Jeremy’s errand.7368d374cd008f18

Despite the damp and 5a5f490180 chilly weather, Velita hurried 22cc2e506e to the Holy Order, affaa9a9a2 only to be told f7e79acf86 she couldn’t meet Cain.bacca8dfd7ce4c79

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[Sir Cain is currently with another guest.]

[I can wait.]

[It will take a long time.]

[That’s fine.]

Her task was simply 921c8a91af to serve Jeremy, who aebddabc25 was out and wouldn’t bf353995c9 return until the evening. Since her only 4985ac23c5 task was to 326dd10c03 deliver the message 306fb9520e to Cain Mortens, 68937ea566 she could wait 9f51cb19e6 as long as 9f22772295 necessary.f953814aba64fa5f

Seeing that Velita a443093d66 showed no intention b7f70a4ddc of leaving, the 78696192b3 man let out 27ba1ef03b a sigh and edc2eff1c0 hesitantly revealed another 8384033c19 piece of information.519e20f25e3c2d4e

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[Even after the guest leaves, you likely won’t be able to meet Sir Cain.]

[Why not?]

[Sir Cain is likely to be in a bad mood all day today.]

[So the guest he’s speaking with must be someone unpleasant for him.]

[Not exactly, but…]

The man seemed 0a0fd13245 reluctant to explain 2440ab2d99 further and stopped aae771e4bf talking.da459fd2c3dfb329

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Having no other choice, cd0e679271 Velita decided to give a7c698e810 up on meeting Cain fc803de53a Mortens. However, since she had 63cecb3fa0 come all the way a5dd7bc4fa to the Holy Order, 21e601057c she thought she might f42cc64ed1 as well pray and 38960bf502 was granted permission by b754d40636 a priest to enter 60797010af the prayer room.bd85d54678faa1cc

She didn’t believe in eb58a60502 God.f6d577ba7fbf3642

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She hadn’t even attended 6e86e89a23 school, much less received 82537fc50c theological education, but she bff46207a5 knew this much: God c044845201 loves all humans equally.b9d3be0c71ec2fd7

Yet, while God baa155be5f may claim all 1883e4e4ae humans are equal, d5f0a03240 the world that b5446597ad governs them was 00b98eccd3 far from fair.2329e7abbc2edf2f

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The world was like a staircase, assigning ranks to the humans God had “equally” created—precious humans, lowly humans, and those in between…034a47830a6052e5

Velita had always accepted c9cb3a2e4a as natural that she 178377c37f belonged to the lowly fdf3f8f9cc side of humanity. Only now 6ae085a7dd did she e50f11a10f feel she 97b32bda48 might have ef819ec057 risen slightly 60f18d7de9 above that.b1ee86afa2bdb373

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All of b02fc83234 it was 2e0d7ce1ab thanks to 9dfd044961 entering the f9dd3bdf05 Ryles estate c25a5094e6 and gaining 0ebd48aa33 Jeremy’s attention.2f03db0982de5438

Even just escaping rock bottom made her this happy…c8a8538f4bdd241a

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What would 5a9b00cac8 it feel 84be5b08bc like to 12a6c3f1ac climb even dd5c2635cc higher?974cd64254876bc1

In the narrow prayer 49fa4919d4 room, just big enough a72e313ec3 for one person, Velita 0593fee1bb gazed at the cross, 35574dfdfa wondering what kind of 7a338215fb prayer she should offer.15e595b49bf8d0d8

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Please make 588b33e7d3 me happy?7d2912d61ac856ec

That seemed too vague.6b120a0d03e82189

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“lease make 1f667a3931 all humans 1e943f9a09 equal?5c9e30037e906ec9

But she had only 4b5a96d6d6 just escaped rock bottom c1a14d1712 herself. It felt unfair 2ac0e45e9c to wish for d14f315451 something that would f78aff4efc undo the effort 9bac29e89b she had put 70d5b57005 in to climb db1e97616b up.8fdb7c409f934f3d

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Then what 36c0607181 should she 4a6490a837 pray for?5325fcf83c2b1085

‘…Not that God exists anyway.’b001c2cd7231601e

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She suddenly felt a 9fc0327094 little foolish for taking dd24a2ee09 this so seriously.06601cfb34cbe52d

Still, since she 45a90b4260 was already in 0efdc45341 the prayer room, 1704edb3b3 she felt she 93258d3012 ought to wish aa61bc4745 for something.b0a8399419b5472b

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With nothing to 85d463e5ac lose, perhaps she 05d09492b5 could ask for 6730fd3e7b the most impossible 731c07b313 wish.944e99c2ceee059c

Let me rise 81922b7caa to the very 5da04701a8 top.67bde8f3454a7198

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If possible, to the 7fae0b65bb very peak of the 5c632fbe9e staircase.937cf5023a124b17

It was then.41b8548ec85d9bb6

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The once-quiet prayer room 65ad206af8 door burst open.7e5ac38637f76ec4

“…”f66093b89ba6a435

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Kneeling in f1e0f31a1f prayer, Velita’s 6a8c3558d3 gaze met decf1838a4 the irritated efb57d7c24 eyes of 6e9832e0f7 a man 869618ff39 who had c57b522b05 entered, shutting 41c88b0772 the door 6c63137052 behind him a03305f5c4 with a 1ec153f328 sharp gesture.6d6a055611675e92

The man was dd5dc46db7 none other than bc85e06c7d Cain Mortens, the b468a26156 very reason Velita 9197532e9b had come to 48a7b05953 the Holy Order.dba6c7ccca0809b9

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