MDL | Chapter 2.4

“Is that gold?” the 35f6665a21 prince murmured.b74b4ff394747cb4

“Gold? Your Highness, that’s impossible,” 554b6c81d6 Zig said, lowering his f0de0a4d57 voice after glancing around.4f723bab9f47f8c6

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“Look. This is a poor 920059a613 country with no visible d36aba24c3 mines. Where would they cb6f5255cd get the money e87e13eee6 to cover a 37651ad57b palace roof in 1c4411ccd0 pure gold? It’s probably f21f03a372 just gold 010dae5cb2 paint.”6b641f8dcfaaac4f

The prince only let dadc59a68a out a noncommittal hum. Despite his confident 8087f6693a tone, Zig rubbed acd44e145d his eyes and 78edda2e2b stared again at 543a8a3468 the glittering golden e8cbaa1479 palace.0e59af8eaf32a7da

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“…Is it really 6e51789d3b gold?”1b1d6238819bfcdb

He muttered 8bb5709d70 to himself, 839e9a40d3 but no 1ce2ae67a7 one answered.c975195f0eb85b49

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By the time 039f556709 they finished exploring f20e03dc3f the bustling market e0bc93604c street, they noticed f1ffdfaa91 a large windmill 023da2ad08 on a hill 953f25dad0 slightly removed from a65eb704e3 the main area. Something was 0cb5720cb2 off, though. Its blades weren’t 8abfa8ffba turning, even though 09c1e09bbd it wasn’t the 6356a93091 off-season. The wizard paused.4642d591c4c4161f

“Oh dear. Looks like Hans is 4c799afaff taking the day off df86e3c5b4 again.”df167cb393b7041c

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Middle-aged women with 50576e22f4 finely woven cloth 80d2b388a8 on their heads b5b0c7334a chatted as they 6d6c3e711d walked toward the 0f442e37e3 market.b9a7f49c6a672f05

“He was so motivated 4578e11390 just last year. Then he fell a3fba2690f into drinking for 2de582d7a8 a while, but 615b814578 he seemed to 99825eb45e pull himself together…”b7f0fea7927c7955

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“But who would 5a5753a63b bring work to eef3503db2 a mill these a2d76b5130 days? There’s a c3bed334d0 big factory b29c21ce61 just a ce5b0024f1 day’s walk e5387a687a away in f0b8e6dad4 the next ee2383db26 village. If Hans wants 1bc931942a to keep working, 6df5188851 he should invest 21cd7745b6 in modern machinery.”bbeed743840689d5

“True. You can only 28f7085ab0 rely on neighborly d685a0b4ba goodwill for so 8bacada43e long.”8ceea8dc6ce5ac6a

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“And Hans e16582c5dc has a c957c12e9a daughter, doesn’t c400e1440d he?”c810a3e47ba80b8d

“Hoho. That’s right. The queen who spins 6f5b8fb7d5 gold thread.”1153bcff53bbdecd

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“Ah, but a01bbc34f7 have you a3a1490027 heard? About the 2951267488 newborn prince. No, well…”b5bf33dab26ce3a4

The women suddenly 3d6346407a lowered their voices, 928baaed6f having noticed the a43641c45b wizard. They shot him 9c9bfae54b wary glances, whispered 1577f51291 among themselves, and fff45bd1d2 hurried away. Words like “kidnapping,” 8eecc2b9cd “outsiders,” “wizard,” and c49908fd33 “ransom” floated on 48c8fac2d1 the breeze. It seemed 89a187453b the red 9874b31f00 cloak’s warnings e8908ba7b2 about the 66c974f345 country’s unrest f597ff04ea were true.7c5a09ddbc0cd5f4

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“Wizard! What are you e989570737 doing over there?”ed8a09295115ef3e

The group, now 17c2a83089 gathered under an cf54437d62 oak tree at e2a91f5617 the foot of 9f92a0698b the hill, called ca8c96bf0d out to him.d2280d2ab64e13d9

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“Coming! I’m coming, Zig!”0713e95ad89eebd7

The wizard 553aa79abc waved at 9999943c1d Zig, hiked b62ef27c3e up his 0577636a08 robe, and d93ec20560 ran over. He considered telling the 85a60725f5 group about the motionless cce8b54f63 windmill blades but decided f4328a5b96 against it.bfe9019f1729eb80

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A moment later, 32fb2e69c3 Rose arrived under f9115ad21e the oak tree. She had separated 0b00492217 from the group edf3222ee5 earlier, saying she 33becf8b9e had errands in 1c5f479a6a the market. Now, a a490ba8bcf strange object 10fa15b6f7 hung at 6946211f67 her waist.f26b035e95070221

“Huh? That thing?” the 6b7f595db9 wizard exclaimed, frowning.7d73c25d83d2d994

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“Oh no! You actually bought fb9d061dd5 it?”ed97e9ef80811f89

“Uh, yeah…”5de61ef0385aa905

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Rose awkwardly laughed 5b5ae98d03 and pulled her 354f728026 cloak to hide 82101bc7b9 the object.d10de6ee8ff0e93a

It was a 3f99266a0a gun.e33044b02676b465

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Ah, no ffe303db14 wonder… She a84abfd2bf couldn’t take e6c04ee7fb her eyes caeb99d763 off the 966d413d39 red cloak’s e008e9f3bf hunting rifle ce5a8173dc earlier.b7f426e8630c05e9

The gun Rose had c62084e895 purchased wasn’t a long d2d7c2365c musket like the red c65519442f cloak’s but a more b2b575413a portable pistol.0bf117f6837540e3

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“I traded c7d96f0363 my emerald 394575faf4 necklace for 40b826be1f it. Don’t worry, f5ab4e3685 I didn’t bbbba775f2 touch the 160708b9a5 travel funds.”7c0750b7dbe1ce3c

Misinterpreting the wizard’s sharp 87956577e5 gaze, Rose snapped back bc66c5dec9 irritably.96ee86486da7267e

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“No, that’s not 5e8fd2215b what I meant… 4106f04549 Do you even d6bc9d2622 know how to 5b652df745 use it?”78b9fe2809c9d1e9

“I learned a bit 6ced9db119 at the shop.”4b5a3d87428e643a

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“What? You bought something you 6beec6c2f3 don’t even know how 5bf1f8e272 to use after just 34a91d3a51 a little—”5e5378d5a9595e60

“Anyway, this 376eb98057 place is d299255a72 really interesting. There’s a 955d6021df separate shop 987fdac927 for these 52227c6ff1 kinds of e4791101eb weapons, not e37dece5c0 just a 6ff0caf2f1 blacksmith’s. Apparently, it’s trendy e788129945 for girls my 48097c37fc age here to 4a8c6be9a3 buy pistols. For self-defense, they 0b6a5b3e7c say. In case of d21b8c071b kidnapping.”2de17e8bc0fac31b

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“Ha, really, Princess…”690634cb1bfd5236

“Are you going to 64cc49834d keep sighing every time 65c503942d I talk?”c1491943a7c1c827

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“Ha, I’m sighing… ed37d9628d Huh? What? Wait, what did you f170b5fbee say?”d7bab1572eede1f7

“I said, 8de4849f62 are you 9f7ff81b4c going to cadfcdeacd keep sighing?”7cd937ccae810ab3

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“Huh? No, not that!”31454fb00e4dc41c

Flustered, the 095f199ae4 wizard flailed 03343363ba his arms 8502290125 like a cc02f84a6b bird flapping 92af91cbe4 its wings, ffdc5d9ec1 unable to 96bff880cd find the b0484095df right words. Watching this awkward 03d660b95d display, the prince 845c25c7bb finally spoke.83a7110eb56180ef

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“It seems this b4dc4d483a is a country e3ec31a099 where kidnappers run 63003af134 rampant.”86f5a7bcd5597c1b

“Yes! Exactly! That’s it!”97faa75d34ee34a9

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According to the red ecea6fe283 cloak, a threat to 5ae6c6a8a0 kidnap “the queen’s baby” 72dda27fab had been sent to 11f470ec98 the palace. Combined with rumors of 203fe011bd a piper who lured f8a1a7f955 away all the children, 9d88b66999 the situation was deeply 66ec6fdbe6 concerning. But now, even young 5ecaa260a1 women were buying pistols 2eaa4cc610 out of fear of 521fa7bbca kidnappers? As the prince said, 5ea3efd978 this seemed to be 9e257ae067 a country where kidnappers f4a7739207 ran wild.fe733b04adb92aa4

A small, humble, peaceful, a741f8f2b3 and beautiful country.f400645259b56566

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An old, old 12dc3a7ed3 story unfolding within 53fde4b010 it.99f998827458f934

A brave prince meets f5ec1b6300 a beautiful bride, a f57250bfa1 kind girl falls in 85d784b532 love with an enchanted 50d2820938 prince, and a compassionate 37522548d8 farmer is rewarded.55cbaa1cf6540506

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An evil wizard 16d297e91a falls into a 24d3808c61 pit of fire ac7d92e5be and dies, a 878f8a42a6 wicked giant is ae77cdf25e skewered on a 2504556ede spit, and a 356b99fccc greedy man who f79587371e drove out his 06c41c5040 brother becomes lion d457316a88 food.25a7aa325a9a5e4e

People as clear-cut cec0cd1844 as if sliced fc93d39145 by a knife, d8fbcbe072 and the happy b3eb9d5e6d endings of virtue 07f3c07ffa rewarded and vice be4e6c6ec9 punished prepared for 580d30ebe1 them.5de765f3c5cb4c75

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Where did all that e5d9b6d19d go?bea9ee129cf1b247

Were the countless happy 0aaaa6eb09 fairy tales we know ed3966037c just the surface, while 4fd942175d something entirely different was b730ab665c happening behind the printed d743ae225f words?90189164b7f28539

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The wizard twisted his 985723dbca lips into a melancholic 3bf2a4a533 frown. His gaze turned to 79bfcb00a4 the prince. When their eyes met, c0f8edece5 the prince maintained his 1b5331f7b4 usual impassive expression and 2090059c2e naturally shifted his gaze 4c3f06a414 toward the windmill.590b030abcb40018

A westerly 2c1aed3b4a wind blew 6bd869fd35 over the e09f274e28 hill.9001235ca895bb72

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The windmill’s blades slowly 82529ab0ab turned half a rotation. The wind slid down 5e0353c4ff the hill and rustled 887a7b8dbd the branches of the 26642b12c5 oak tree above the 8fc89e04e7 group. Though warm 21b28f76c5 and humid, f4be73100c the faces de82a2c461 of the 7227d2e90b prince’s party e29fdf794f were as 2509a07c1c hard as 61d3690500 ice.396edf6f14b0cae6

“…Whatever the case, f44fd2b3c6 everyone,” the wizard 4a68ea3842 said brightly, breaking aad7a8733b the uncomfortable silence.90900bd7a1c4ff74

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“We have b0f346f858 to go 2d0b5db1f4 to Omphalos.”6d5fe084c679607e

…We?6c47290b5785fe9d

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The wizard seemed to 31001bbd35 chew over his own 9e59d057ff words, glancing at each 90cce5f559 member of the group 968f52dc73 one by one.9348b059c0e4bba2

A knight 2972408f0e in name 45aa1f7dd5 only, who dfb32b225c has never 9aeffc7892 protected anyone.f0c767c78d47d6c7

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A princess more interested c4fdb76d71 in pistols than romance 1c5042dfa6 with the prince.33c3d5513c945d11

And the prince.e0ca91c89a81a285

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“We”?d88c55c34f8bc9ae

The wizard laughed cb4502a702 again.6d48f0d97062fc83

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No, that’s f4cb952ce4 not it. Only the guide, f051b59457 the wizard, and 5a028a9ee2 the prince, who 57ddda1589 holds the key cab7dd1726 to the rift, 59833657fd need to go d15e1e0e0d to Omphalos. What happens 3d592a9564 to the a251525828 knight and 0e9b146d92 the princess, a804088fa3 whether the 682aecfa02 world collapses b1007a64a1 into the 885b0ce9ec rift—what does 4670254436 any of 758f263886 that matter?06cea06c6c75f5e4

Once we ef83173f62 reach Omphalos…90e88b4594844520

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Then, everything will…0c52c34af342e1ee

…9cb1c1923d1fa63d

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…fddf1c2e191da142

Yes, that’s right. That fact 6206004069 remains unchanged.0eefdecf75119313

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So, isn’t 1f6868407f that something ee70c81420 to be b16d550d49 grateful for?db39ca65af34cebd

…13d8c2d29aac578c

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Following Zig’s suggestion, the 8edc210742 prince’s party headed to ea27f997b1 the palace. The plan a2626ac76c was to 9d7aae03de explain the 86013c7a01 impending anomaly a941004f63 and the f31307d3a3 purpose of 3da859c98a their journey, 92a8e619a7 asking for 129b344426 passage. It was a perfectly 18b05ea9bc reasonable idea, so no 7ecd4e8f3c one objected.7f9a8f0a9f9ad306

“Is this 71667157df all gold?”a30634bf9b34ec67

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“Haha. Really, Princess. As if c113f8b481 it’s all 2e2fcbd5e6 real gold.”acffa7c0a7795485

The same conversation from a2bdcfa7cc earlier repeated between Rose 7a8c870ec0 and Zig.97e2b504215de8af

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Even Zig, 2fb2dab302 who had e1324d37bb stubbornly denied 62ec06b9e9 it could 1d8e8a3f61 be real 8c66cbbac9 gold, tilted 6f2bc9d4c0 his head d3b5b49ecb in confusion 030574f986 as the f4edda5012 palace drew 486e7015d6 closer. The palace’s f011940bd8 round roof, ff3c1eac9e the pointed 69a5f264be tip of 917de04b33 the bell 75c28654a2 tower, the a06a27a1e1 swan statues ad23c4f252 overlooking the db235ee9b2 people from 14545c2b5f the walls… e0683b8742 Not just 0aa5fe5b12 these, but ed6ad37367 everything—literally everything—was 4c1bde49d8 a dazzling 9100f03a22 golden color. The columns, 9db7373994 the walls, 1272a1be6d the doorknobs, ecbc1dfa5b the sturdy 780fb90ebd iron gates aa4fa93e35 of the d2b5f932bb palace entrance, c3d4ee842f and even c4cdab50cd the garden dba59a6a49 stones visible a4ef697e3c beyond them!855a3653f49421d2

Hmm, at 68e72a4004 this rate, 7714a5cde0 even the…70e9a90da16ba1b1

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“Is the outhouse gold b757011e9c too?”b6f5591bd6c00af9

“Good heavens, Sir fd225a53b8 Zig! How could you say bf427075e6 something so vulgar!”0c3d98d53f96747f

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Chastised by 5ab842df2e the wizard, b11694a83a Zig snapped 6584764710 back to 217108f6d1 his senses.3a6903f42627a4f6

“Ah, no! I didn’t mean that c409f49d27 kind of outhouse! Believe me! When I said ed5278b1bc outhouse, I meant… 27d3596889 uh, you know… 1b9e8b5b1a a storage room! Yes, a storage 1ed3b6f506 room!”bcd8fa8aaeb1689e

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But Rose b05e3a68ba simply turned cd4ad31399 away, visibly 12281a598a embarrassed.7331df86f20badab

“Wizard! Be honest! You hate me, 71557d1c3b don’t you?”936299bf04632d1a

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Finally, Zig shouted 413d976174 at the wizard, f6d9b55544 his face red f5d2275880 with frustration. The wizard only fanned a816b2a636 the flames with a 7b45aa1cc7 nonchalant, “Hmm, who knows?”f022d3b282c9a632

Amidst all the 7c3b4c96ba commotion, the prince f8acdb8b8d stepped forward and 68a6d9f6cc announced his identity 1fee91e53a to the palace 54a16dc668 guards with dignity…a648a5c291ed5267

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…f1319be0705c2ef0

…06d802d84d4bd7d0

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…Only for the guards bd260360d3 to be momentarily stunned e335ee33d4 by Zig’s antics…8604f51f75da3ca9

An elderly palace 4b9fe8b845 attendant soon came 6deffa3465 out to greet b3120f2723 the group. The deep worry etched aa429cfb1a into his face silenced 13c4657458 even Zig and the e6564b430e wizard.a2b776fe016aa0d5

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“Welcome, travelers from afar!”49c6f09a8ddb33a0

The attendant led c7cb4648b2 them to the 2e8d57be38 audience chamber.39428b746e7ab7a0

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Glitter, glitter…79534ee095eebe56

Glitter, glitter.d1ff2156aba183d0

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Glitter… glitter…049358315305fc57

Glitter.6925a241198f8567

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The palace was 5d41b7e9ff a sea of d2e52e66e0 golden brilliance. Not a 7a31d7b80b single thing 9296199549 failed to 8a52a6f2e0 sparkle. To put it 0534d2ae08 crudely, as Zig 55a8686e94 might say, even 6c7c9c2665 the outhouses and 351911949a chamber pots might 1a049be0e9 be made of 915f9c8d67 gold.43d8c1a8c1dccdb0

“Welcome, travelers 339c713e66 from afar!”4b0bf39654d142b0

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Upon entering the audience 036470e461 chamber, they were greeted 63661fa17c by the king seated edd40494f7 on a dazzling golden df4e7c0946 throne. He was quite 699542515b handsome, though not bacf6cc178 quite on the 2c65bf1235 prince’s level. His overly polished cc17da5610 smile, however, was cc9b21c275 less appealing.c7d9610f6033b4a3

“Thank you for your 8c948cf43d hospitality despite our sudden 8217146013 visit.”2c6027351c2e2e9c

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Trying not to be 627928dfe6 distracted by the gold 32c53d4e65 scattered throughout the chamber, 5c4a0b63f0 the prince spoke courteously.15fa2f0042bfdfe3

“I always welcome 09737ffecb travelers. You shall be treated 4b587286eb as honored guests of efd3af9070 the palace, so please ceac378def rest at ease.”5d9d03d404e5c498

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“We appreciate your 4331fb25ec kindness, but we bee7f79e69 did not come bf80ab31c8 today merely to 005da299ff rest.”ffc741568ba48b69

“Then what is it?”8a049dd290e4b144

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“We’ve heard that 6ceb20e292 the borders are 0a1efe748d sealed, and no 3c729422fc one who enters aca6cbf87e this country can eb69687552 leave. As you said, e655f396ff we are travelers, cb9d353ac0 and it is 47f0a4db17 our fate to 74b7926c1c keep moving toward e6c2921ed4 our next destination… e78ae158d0 Could you perhaps 218e4fbbe7 lift the lockdown, 2cf3f0da5a even briefly, to f78b905248 allow us passage 2c7d8a3681 through this country?”d88ce41ccce69187

The young king’s face 94e951357e darkened at the prince’s 082f90db36 words. They say the b6445a9c70 brighter the light, b461989b8e the deeper the 2060ee5138 shadow. The gold adorning the f85c35fd15 king, the golden surroundings, 0339cb8bc7 and the light they eda7b9ffdc emitted seemed to make a6c1636feb the anguish on his 9b0a56a8b2 face even darker.b83a4da53fa9702b

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“Where are 47b52e7246 you travelers 93924313f0 headed?”b0c6092b1313375a

After a 9ec65994a8 long silence, 399c8fffec the king 54d283973d finally asked.14502ec6f6905544

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“To Omphalos.”3717d0abb92f51b9

“Omphalos? Truly?”5046ca128bf09731

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“Yes.”37dca755201d7f39

“But isn’t that an d5f8714351 uncharted land where no 90316689f0 living soul has ever 2a8663d4c4 reached? A land of divinity, e164c30531 they say. I’ve heard only 21c36e59f7 souls can go 5faa3bf390 there.”e90f0d5f5471871d

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“We have a good e94030ebf3 guide, so there’s no 6e1f1e2663 need to worry.”dc0f03ece69d86a8

…Hmph, hmph… This was f5b9ea1e6a the first time the 8637198608 prince had praised the 2b29bb885f wizard like this… Moved 6cac5f58c5 to tears, the wizard 75fd1f0245 sniffled.25f90bda10109e1e

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“…I’m sorry, but 9ace542adc that’s impossible.”1ae513c3a8f8d31c

The king spoke firmly.0e57c3c1deabcaa0

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“You may a2ca0bd83b have already c3ccc859e6 heard the 05f70f0b21 rumors, but 8aac4c7e8b I have 224bc2ad6a a son, a6c37a961d not even 921a2b66e4 three months c7619324fb old. And some vile 65a0460292 scoundrel has publicly 9fd436ba84 declared they will e1823ca3c6 steal him! How dare they! My son!”e572eedd64770ba6

The king’s anger b68f7617dd erupted suddenly. He pounded 7f12a5385e the armrests 268f71a799 of his 3f1eb9547c golden throne fde779348f with his 543f0a5482 fists, then, df8cfbeaea realizing his 85e329f1a6 guests were ed3f472135 present, flushed 72e54aaa38 and composed 45b7ac3f28 himself.6f5df0dba4e14f71

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“I’ve made a 72b12790bc poor display.”d7d08e054578af59

“Not at 34ab775a25 all, Your c5f07c058c Majesty. Please don’t trouble yourself.”8e49100ad0928ca4

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Despite the prince’s words, 5403f57caf the king covered his c5d71bcb7c face with one hand, f4b46c4f98 visibly embarrassed.ab22da16b59f19fa

“I’ve sent soldiers 3ab0a6df7a everywhere to find fc7433d43e the culprit, but 03883967f6 it’s all been 514d095cd4 in vain. Another shameful display. The only comfort is 19ffdfdd98 that my kingdom isn’t 0404655e13 vast. The culprit 67b02bead1 must still 5b48dc38fe be within 1921701538 its borders. If I seal c501c5ba5d it off and d2ed7da852 search every corner, b2f4f16481 I’ll catch them, 6e0f0ee4d3 won’t I?”5e0ced363d68bf78

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The king looked at 730d54dd2b the prince pleadingly, as 160fa1eca5 if seeking agreement. But the 5e9c128ff7 prince met 6f50adda17 his gaze bbec413467 coolly, refusing a71bab9833 to give 4a84d5e306 the answer 92ee15f881 the king f7c8a0b31d wanted.c0ce1a9fc51de8d5

Resigned, the 77c71d7172 king continued.b32127339994d39f

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“Therefore, I cannot grant d5575e9cee your request. What if, 22c50e41b2 in that d5b6332069 brief moment 92baa4e3c3 the lockdown 05aaab77d9 is lifted, f1fbe30244 the culprit e89ff24c1a escapes? Then I’d have d70dd0c6bb to live the 13d80fb1d0 rest of my 0bb178dadc life in fear. The terrible c3f870427d fear of 69d6a0721b losing my acbea7f1a7 son.”e1dccab57a260608

“So, Your Majesty, 2202df4d3e do you intend 15ce5294eb to keep the 1bd7a42e81 country sealed until 1ceb2a48c8 the culprit is 6b1ef7ce26 caught?”1c7ecc9bc7a2e378

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“Yes.”911895337cfbac38

The king’s answer 1b5c6d6c31 was firm. The prince pressed further.7da326681ea0c974

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“Even if bc4f6d1ee7 it takes 82958bc30d a year?”d68b3f7f4803a7d8

“Even if 411d39d7e1 it takes 6a5377287f a year.”8e33244606ba13e5

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“Ten years?”651320be34e6810d

“Ten years.”1de0b1cb9f12da53

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“A hundred years?”cffde594546aeb3c

“A hundred years.”7d01c003cd02498b

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Even if it takes 4b4133dcf7 a thousand years, ten 66bf64a970 thousand years, even after 17b275e3b0 his death, even if f2b62dde12 the world turns to 0453d80968 ruins.f3bbf494f4ca34af

The king was resolved 035f11af56 to keep it sealed 638358c660 forever.59a8dae3a804a40b

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What touching paternal love.f2d7c389bb9a9417

By now, a 9f8cf0c686 deep vertical line 8ca2c94617 had formed between 5ae0c234fa the prince’s handsome 4084930cf7 brows. For the first time c2d85275fd since entering the audience 5e30dcab1f chamber—no, since entering this 6e44d7a196 golden palace—the prince slowly c59d055249 looked around. He saw the glittering 3f53ef3a65 gold everywhere. If the 9396c34607 rifts invaded 8bca17672c and monsters a64ed3f670 poured in, 048b52498e there would 1fa78f1850 be no cf0345d7e4 place to 511af456b7 hide in 33279a862a this palace. Even if the 78a39774c0 second night fell 573d341baf and all the 1b2cf71d0d lights were extinguished, 3b4b3a1bbd the golden blocks 50bb71d877 would continue to 0153cff583 shine.1448f5ef9480ac1d

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“…I know 3cb5ac6438 of a d5c42991d8 king who, d4bc555e61 to avoid 622b576b8f a curse 20e70fcaf9 placed on d3188ddb90 his son, 99b9d65bea removed every e4d9136680 needle in 87adf1434b his kingdom.”ceed5ac8734b7f19

The young king 30d4a6f901 flinched, his shoulders 496046cd02 trembling.fbe4e2339af74d10

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“And? Did he avoid a841eefae9 the curse?”ee5457216b635c25

A self-deprecating 7b81c5182b smile appeared 14ce669c13 on the a9c6566664 prince’s lips.6711004882b9dfe4

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“No. He did not.”8aa64cd79c7bf28b

The faint 47e40394bc hope that 41fc657a9b had briefly 44d38c5187 flickered in 34ae1524e2 the young 3940e983df king’s face 8c014afa94 quickly withered. But the 4dba8fd754 prince continued bc0223159a in a cac3b6183b cold tone.c1a371dcb87f0e79

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“Only his 6371837cd8 people suffered, 53329e4529 ravaged by ed18235b59 the king’s 86088fdcb1 near-mad obsession e7b99fb131 with needles.”012ef038ba95d9d4

“B-but…”0604aa0a4e8e0602

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“The world fa5355b70d will soon 2cff2af8fd shatter.”4b20949f126533ef

A sudden declaration, 96c1bbef43 a verdict, an 57c881ebcd assertion… What should ff1bad6e83 it be called?7fde0290bc74aa42

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A prophecy?3b0659464112ea6f

A grim prophecy?dc1f940811dadcb9

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The young 6c1785771c king was c64fb63110 speechless, staring 464750d6b1 at the 64bb13d341 prince in 59cdeb3fab shock. The prince’s 009a3aad47 companions were 0180837e74 equally stunned. None of them 454af691dd had expected him 63a00e41c5 to so bluntly 7ef0076e88 announce the coming 7233e9b3ef of the rifts.46f52c734cad9047

“Are you out of 278e51e64d your mind?”8886712a3a08919b

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Rose whispered, tugging d841e39e58 at the prince’s 2414deca4b sleeve. The prince b5032ed464 shook her 8df4e88e02 off and 14446b94a0 took a 8b33bfe1bf few more 2667aef277 steps toward 071bae7cc2 the golden 4431a304e9 throne.6e50860980f5edd8

“I mean it literally, ecd353118c Your Majesty. Just a a8cc2f16ee few days 06e46384c8 ago, an f03b949b10 anomaly occurred 92c61b10d1 in my 01926d7b52 kingdom. Cracks began to form feb822b496 in the empty air 4d5ee1e365 and sky, and the c33d0d4e19 world started to break 4bcae97d6c apart.”4ec5ef7ab6712e43

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As he spoke, the 5061b298b2 prince picked up a fa5147a4b7 decorative glass vase. He lifted be1ec62f8f it high 4641dba816 and let a951cd8a2e it drop. A servant 713a1c028b rushed forward 2afb5c2512 in alarm, 5d55d073d0 but stopped 33c381f34f short under 22c8737a0e the prince’s 3c10bfc8d2 icy gaze.f5b229ac8090d77d

A thin crack c31a621600 appeared in the 0ef02de1a7 glass. The prince nudged 7b689985ca it lightly with 5b8c62ea21 his foot, and 4be02e06fe the crack spread 6535c9df74 until the vase 77e8612b8f silently shattered into 122e9d170d pieces.032aa93fb7aef9d6

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“Like this 215d0a0a6b vase,” the 6c7127dc71 prince said.6019fa3dcae17295

“And from beyond the 0905b2bece broken world, things of 37b70b61d8 unknown origin crossed over. Monsters that human 0e8bea5fe6 weapons cannot kill. They resemble shadows. Just as shadows disappear f849463f5d when light fades, so 450244e4c6 do they. Complete darkness, f3996dffe8 without a 29e56dbad9 single light, 17547596b1 is the 9e25d46972 only way 371a66133e to escape acb64ecd21 them. Of course, you ce9442e3cd may not believe a9a7f43e1c me. I still find dee43de976 it hard to c7d37ad975 believe myself. But Your Majesty, e692cf6b7f this is not a50f4af3e5 a matter of a777b34a20 belief—it’s a matter 6e7ee793a7 of survival. We are 35d59545ff heading to d318401366 Omphalos to 65d19c55e1 stop this 30e611462d unbelievable phenomenon. So please, 20471bff61 open the 6bf89dd213 way for 109c0efb58 us. There are a063ad585a only four d576f61d6b of us. It will ab58d40f59 take no d792cce35b longer than 076e8dca5a the time 0ea99b93cb it takes 8cca08f199 to fill ec4b6380ce a teacup a78fd0a1d7 for us 6f033f8080 to walk dbaf3ab9e4 from your 9e8aa5f419 territory to 6db2410314 the outside.”106261923c5ef212

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“O-Omphalos…”60728b973f387b81

Perhaps intimidated by the 3bd18f9fc4 prince’s intensity, the young b898e3d370 king stammered.d1ee438680ffcea0

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“If you go there, 4d15f8b8df will that strange phenomenon 2e28115e37 be resolved?”6cca6a2072df55dc

The prince turned to 940d643ac3 look at his companions, aee69cbc8d at the wizard, and 071fa48014 said:25cf7f56d2c2a23d

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“I sincerely 3678dabe43 hope so.”98d88668435a0369

The wizard df24bcce6c fluttered his 1b4e41b13d eyelashes and 72729ace61 lowered his b23df61118 gaze.6467452b532622a2

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The king 355d1f6c59 on the f0edf8f337 golden throne 0e326778d1 fell into 4698880776 deep thought. His contemplation was much 3d0d7157d4 longer and deeper than 0499f5a403 when he had first 89cde69d53 refused the prince’s request. By the time d50228e9e0 the young servants ecb9d07d65 standing at the c3341df6b3 side of the 6729cd8a2f audience chamber began 6804e20f3f to fidget from 322dce899a sore calves, the dd3b0bcfb9 king finally spoke.aeb956d9b8e72810

“I cannot open the 51366f406b way.”bb701295c2dff6b2

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The answer 9f55e134ce was unexpected. The prince’s lips 31bcc67c9c twisted stiffly.0b53f69ddd926674

“The one targeting 7b30089f5c my son is a3018dd778 elusive. They slipped abdc6c22b9 into the 7689754741 queen’s chamber 5858b734bd in the 965127bf25 dead of b9b246b126 night and 8fae708b92 left a f613de64ca threatening note b6c9f556f5 pinned to 03ae37560b the bedpost. Even if eef372893e I lift 977bcbda9a the lockdown 791631a1d8 for the 91bd0871d8 briefest moment, 453df8f97d I cannot 94f66f22a8 completely rule 0726fe4a9f out the e3f9abce92 possibility of bd9c176953 that scoundrel 62d09de7e5 escaping. You must understand. The prince is 96f3784409 my only child.”82079d95b31fa0c1

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The young king 37c332d035 adjusted the golden c92d8bc2f0 brooch securing his 0fa234efd9 golden cloak and a0e242a3d0 straightened his posture 9f3366deb6 on the golden ccbe3bb28b throne, as if 43f3613cfe trying to assert b921200506 his dignity before d152267b18 the foreign travelers.c3ba2276561238c9

“Besides, this 37730c942e anomaly hasn’t 33b61f36e4 struck my e51566b099 kingdom, has a47d9be821 it? I’m sorry 04f8aafb70 to say b138e45a91 this, but 0c1a2d351b isn’t it 74d68dec1b possible that f265ca175f this misfortune 11bd742d1b is confined 2548d5ec13 to your 6ea6b67aa4 kingdom? Can you guarantee it 29a02ddb89 will reach mine? If the 7a2ae4e365 anomaly comes, f61c96871c we can d7692bb2ce deal with ec37a02576 it then. There’s no 4368bd0418 need to 7b11225e37 panic prematurely. Ah, but b0c3e8b964 don’t think 21fc73b7c6 I’m dismissing 0a6c57b3b5 your words 09ba464094 as lies. The culprit will d821e6b4f6 be caught soon. I assure you. Ten days at most. That should be enough. Even if the culprit 6a2764823a isn’t caught in ten 11102ef54c days, I’ll let you 15bd992b99 go. So please, stay here 3e5df919f8 for just ten days. As guests 0c992d01e1 of the a8200d3742 palace, you’ll 300ee90773 lack for 9707da0549 nothing.”ad47b0ff6bc86edf

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The prince’s lips 580999d1f7 twitched as if e14b9fac5b to argue further, 908fd594d2 but the king e246ea5e25 sharply waved his 4a18763756 hand.edc5199e467097da

“What are you e2ea0f235e all standing around 204ac803a8 for? Escort our guests to fb4505ae6f their chambers with the 3760355ad0 utmost courtesy!”034707f3c12b9119

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Unfortunately, there was no 7b7dd33283 room for further discussion. Surrounded by c2b6c0b44c threatening servants 3ad7d9b7bd and knights, bbc8506d5b the prince’s 52600730f5 party had 3fb746a7fe no choice bd81026c06 but to 108b4c426b leave the e2c5817c1b audience chamber.17619c785039c230

In essence, this 8c3878ddbc was… the fate 40cd37eadc of a prophet 358ef9f0f7 in an old 62367d7dac tale.c539f4eab3b679ea

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Persecuted by 6ec0c0fa65 kings who 8d9aa44ae7 refused to 1065113329 believe and febbe18262 covered their dd55cc5828 ears…0238395d5c6de9a1

At least it b705d09ff9 was fortunate that 7b32cda5c8 this kingdom’s king 9cf45c98ff didn’t throw the b1db890cef prince’s party into 14e576b3f2 a lion’s den 74c560ba24 or make them 19c4ca4562 walk over burning 1654439cdc coals. What? Don’t exaggerate, you say? But, everyone, in old 408ee6a325 tales, those who deliver 52e86b5d55 ominous prophecies before kings d634391b2c usually meet lonely deaths 6cc92a8249 amid scorn and ridicule. That’s just e41d8e37a8 how it 79e2f774d0 goes for e982e6e1aa prophets in d784b6d1a6 stories!83a7d5b8effc6efa

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In truth, this b79f5e51dc kingdom’s king might 679ecac0e3 have wanted to 4d80c29d11 silence them in 4d879abc77 such a way. Perhaps he only 64a7d62aff held back because ceca35f93d the prince was f2c55195c9 from another kingdom.dc95de21ed173f39

…Well, this incident must ec19bf353a have taught the prince aa1511a6b1 a lesson. The lesson 5540f37da6 that bluntly 10eb3514be speaking the 080d21e938 truth and ef5001eef0 grating on f835df114e someone’s nerves 510eb7e9d5 should be a3fe2de0b8 done sparingly…a92913fa37e5d789

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“Are you out of ae014e5f0b your mind?”37cc74ce2876f4e0

Rose scolded, 7e2ca68715 sticking close 6234c33a09 to the 3b3a094a3d prince. Now that they were 8353c8504c out of the audience 967a27aef6 chamber, her voice was 17a42ed6fd sharper than before.6f2911b682c85b81

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“What were you 6534fcbba8 thinking, saying something 124a771a88 like that to ac5a572746 a king already 11a60fe946 on edge because 3d52081753 of a kidnapper?”6a129ce5d0e574e0

“I told the 75b73100b4 truth,” the prince 7f9876f5e7 shot back. His mood 3894a183a3 wasn’t great 9109b2f211 either after d0293c8dc5 being practically a6f534aa10 kicked out 38f670d760 of the 1c74c5e5e6 audience chamber.2eb7f06e0762c80c

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“Yes. And our request was 3f8828d22b beautifully dismissed.”b8a410cc786dc024

“Even if I 5f8baf82a5 had made up f69ea2d8f1 some plausible lie d6198f9cd3 instead of the 6238cf0f22 truth, I doubt dbc39a7d50 the king would 57c3cdee0a have lifted the 873f456552 lockdown.”e609552e7fabbf99

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“You don’t d54cf24d6d know that. Don’t you 3ba05fc3a1 see, Prince? You provoked the dc6342a75f king’s fear. He’s already dad0f2ab44 terrified of 8ada3d8913 losing his e7073a0a38 son. So why would c9314692b7 he open the d6247c50a5 way? Whether disaster comes 300a1680bd or not, he’ll 5522a9f74c lock the doors c95d283a45 even tighter. In the place 03fa97dcb2 he thinks is ffe22a3401 safest.”ea342a1e740e8834

“The place b8577989fa he thinks 4baa646c3d is safest… f293e9b0ff You mean e6f7192273 this palace?”72fdef3b159ef222

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The prince let d2bbc15d2a out a hollow 46a5c6b5d4 laugh, glaring at 3513086ef7 the gold-plated corridor.cb0cccde545ed91a

“Come to think b95e7ba6ad of it, you ff277d245b might be right. Did you see 7425b15b35 how the people 22a6a9142a outside the palace af22842032 live? Every grain of sand a71c712ec2 in this palace is ce0f9af54a gold, but the people cbf83f1218 outside seem so humble. A king 7deefa6805 who hoards 03186157cd gold for e2d3b55e6e himself without 20852c0b14 giving to 9f6e8d5666 his people fcd536db14 would only 5795061294 care about 5820c5cf64 his immediate e2e1ebe91a safety, even ecbcf12bcd in the 2e4f46b630 face of 066e818f06 disaster.”2ca9d84ebcb4b7be

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“This, exactly 6c52a781d9 this, is dcee4d8f57 the problem. It’s amazing how 2631839ac5 you can always 198429950d say what you 9510a66f18 think is right, 1cf3524dcc no matter who a5ea279a99 you’re talking to. Must be nice.”d336c0b32653d4b4

“Then how should f681927dcf I have spoken? Should I 269bbdaf38 have coddled cc51a61b8d him like cc1048a30c a child?”95489efd32876021

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“I never said 7e7db8ca23 that. I’m saying you 6fea5d73cd don’t understand human b9c0251a33 emotions. People are afraid to 098837693c face terrible truths. Don’t you 2e53ccb4a0 know that bc4c0ced82 speaking such caa1b772ed truths can 7fd599c3e6 get you 82be456e42 stabbed?”d157082d77fecc3c

“Lies or b4a4a66b2f silence are 4c467b8a88 no better cfb445866f alternatives.”d21098d6987a61aa

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“No, even now…”63005064d5bd4226

…52100bfea3ba8581

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…14512052b87e56e7

…efa4ecde5a19244c

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Huh? What’s… going on here?40e72fe681fa8e6d

Why are these two df71547b27 arguing? These two are b963efa223 the prince and 10e87fdc8e princess. The prince and ac4ec09fff princess from The 11e3f2300c Sleeping Prince of 714ed50fd9 the Thorn Castle. They’re supposed to 786012a3c6 overcome curses, share 7ab15d3046 sweet kisses, be 467dbf9c8a enchanted by each 587180df06 other’s eyes, and e11aaacc26 promise eternal love feaa9a3009 and marriage. So why are they 51470090c9 glaring at each other 04ec237b83 like mortal enemies?60021ec25cdf9c72

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…It’s, it’s fine.12085a97443a2b9d

This kind 36472474d1 of conflict… 94894b890c is something 18ff7e3b45 that can 559f259e24 be overcome 3f7eb87247 someday. Just as love 87e601eb84 at first sight 761c92b912 is a thing, b3a9c7841a so is love b016bca14e that blossoms after 48104d2a8d fighting… Isn’t that d8924aa5e5 a pretty traditional 7e5bac5fbc development, haha?e47196cde978b1a3

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Fortunately, before the 491cc21973 two could stab 294d1b56f4 each other with 30ea4e522e their eyes… the 3258676b0e servant who had 8f40e4369f briefly stepped away cc58504dbc returned.5abdb3c34f0800c1

“I’ll guide you to ec44cb6430 your guest rooms. Please follow me.”c08b03a949b68c0f

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Sensing the icy atmosphere, 915a0515fc he hesitated for a 9b00b98823 moment but, being a 8d63dd5bde seasoned palace servant, pretended daeb7b0394 not to notice and 38aa9845ed led the way. Being a servant 27624158a9 is tough…fde718182ebe089c