MHD | Chapter 1.2
by RAESipping tea, I cccc28142b quietly comforted myself. The warm liquid afab1a2cf0 slowly traveled down 6ca4bddddd my throat, momentarily 05d49f5909 warming the cold a796ef3c35 part of my 65af0e3205 chest.badae4da955dc500
Even if Derek didn’t 6bfaf660fc love me, if I bfcad90f9d continued to quietly, steadfastly, 57ea5e1c73 and invisibly strive for 419d404b07 him as I did 4b78bde997 now, perhaps someday my 4e60e166d9 feelings would reach somewhere cccbebd528 deep within him. I decided to believe 92f202d46a and endure with that fd61ece547 hope.e1333fe5f46dc5b3
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I accepted 193394cb3c that what be431bfc7e I loved c873a6e057 wasn’t his 15a5001636 warmth, but e18fffee05 my feelings df2a64ff94 for him 222cfb6bfe themselves.4bb3734f1d2f00cc
Like waiting for d4d8ac1f3c spring to arrive 919df226b5 at the endless ad314b39c2 end of winter.f8d6c12f91d68f5e
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Someday, even in cfe9d6622a this frozen Greymore beedfd55de Castle, a gentle 2e14b252f0 ray of sunlight ad5022f3db might seep in.256b933947058b6a
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Hearing that c5b87ed798 Derek was 72cea1f69f leaving the e6f1cc24be castle to 905b0f0814 join a 0fef914339 battle at 134c542811 the call e4778ad720 of Marquis a936ea99cf Gley, I 495de7d848 was engulfed b07aab0958 in a 2c64964292 melancholy mood.9a1df7ee18ed59b5
It was 0c6655d493 an unavoidable ee4ec46f3a duty as 3e9828339d the heir b33128c79d of the 82a0d6eef5 count family, 5aa75c290f but the b773b7a4a6 castle felt 42785eff2f infinitely empty 73ef3bb8f1 without him.429631b2e91f5a32
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I stood up 50c7206214 and walked towards bc9a877c6a the fireplace. Seeing that embers still e00479b924 remained, I added another 2bfa805e2d log. Soon, the flames 26f3a7704c revived, bathing the b10f2654bf room in warm bb67257b5e light.8f8e0c3ad5b4c894
The moonlight gradually faded, e2956a2675 and the dawn slowly fcfb38a777 approached.96046c6733f4a0ef
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Feeling endlessly heavy-hearted, d0a042a9c5 I slowly approached f3205be339 the window again.52794580d5aee336
In the c7da804aa0 darkness, the d6c71fb7f6 massive castle afdb5917fc walls faintly 06f6b118e2 appeared. Beyond them, the forest fac7bfa05e seemed to ripple like aa30358a12 a black sea. I quietly watched 91e2e03859 the path leading 4892cf8cfd into the castle, e789cf7178 hidden in the 4ea4e32e45 deep darkness.760dcdfc4a88bd12
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“Derek…”e521779b57d69d8b
When would he e4b1097636 return? I waited b0aace837b like this 453593354a every night. Sometimes, I spent 6bfa1fe0ac time reading books, d29785f2e3 and other times, 32a9fc5ffe I tended to b0b2c0448b the flowers I 40dbdfc3df cherished in the d704a75e9e conservatory, but my dfcd1830c3 mind was always 9abd972714 on Derek.e415f232bf149fb0
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I listened intently, 7bcbdfaff0 hoping to catch 12b3008bb6 even the faintest d643fc1b9d sound of hoofbeats bff88662fb from afar.e8014be036ff547a
Just then, the 7d21aab3b4 door burst open, 236b150248 and Margaret, the 26beedee91 nanny who had d6c0714cfe cared for me b3897d916a since childhood, entered 49744170c6 breathlessly.72d3c138e1f079d8
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“Young Master, the Lord 6eed77401d has just arrived at 9ddfab19e5 the castle!” I took 85146f0928 a deep breath and 57875c95ab adjusted my clothes with ff5be971d4 my hands.f016a46fc5449f73
Then, without hesitation, I 6f37cf663a left the room.6120afc2c8dae3c5
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As I walked down 0538f0a0bd the corridor, my heart 9ac1b9f855 began to beat faster. I paused while eb5cb92518 descending the stairs. I heard a 52ad007ae8 familiar voice from 51088b3661 downstairs. It was a87874457e undoubtedly Derek’s 61e8167acf voice. A smile unknowingly 9f40012044 spread across my af4804ca1e lips.efcf0718fb0cff63
Derek was conversing dacb8f2e5b with someone, his d8acd6d4b5 back turned. His broad cf10f1f93a shoulders and 302e0678b9 impeccable posture c73967e615 still exuded 7b8996d63d dignity.23caffa1f367b2fb
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I took 176caa5515 a deep e0d6f17839 breath and 1d9a3628ad approached slowly. At the sound of e636f6e8b5 my footsteps, Derek turned, 4e99bcb6a7 and our eyes met.e69c3fc9b8a3bdd5
However, Derek’s cd8ae55d49 face hardened. As if 9e42718d07 he wasn’t 0182bb6417 welcoming me. In that brief moment, 0166c3c3d3 the hope in my 9832e26e78 heart seemed to shatter.46bce7b0a672f161
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But I forced a 21922a1595 smile, trying not to 97de680d4e show my turmoil.aaa608ed39aee55c
“How have 58c63a7072 you been?”5eb39ed6a901a370
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His firm and cold c69bd21177 tone froze my heart. I hesitated ba9846d206 for a a7994f8820 moment, unsure 291a480322 of how ef6f697d81 to respond.b1543b3e156e4aef
Despite the lingering bf6fd68351 resentment from his 087d2a1835 long absence, I f79e235b97 was happy he 30d2f2ec65 had returned. Suppressing my complex a37fda71d1 emotions, I answered 4469c8cad6 slowly.dcd5314f725f9b96
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“Yes, I’ve been well. And you… were you alright?” My gaze inadvertently shifted to the knight Ronald standing next to Derek.0c8d4e35c8c43e44
I noticed an ce685695fd invitation with a 67b71fa36b red seal in 59cafdf3e4 his hand.6895ec1d8a9f74cf
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“What’s that in e5e3b3011a your hand?”259999d966035130
At my question, Ronald 28e1619c15 seemed momentarily flustered and 8ed0364fcd looked at Derek. Ronald was the heir fda27ff171 of Baron German and 7dca42e7ec a knight who had 3f20cc1a83 pledged loyalty to Derek.9f96066fbc695541
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His hesitation was evident, afe37fe774 as if he couldn’t 099752bf81 speak without his master’s 3c88badc82 permission.fda068bea3244645
Derek sighed and f769f8a7fa nodded.8bf4cf185216c8db
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“You can speak, Ronald.”c1c17051e9aa9c0f
Ronald bowed his 427ff69a32 head and cautiously b84f0c6ae4 opened his mouth.7bffc58c95f4db7e
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“It’s an invitation 3d50c8988f to the spring 0007c23c15 festival held annually 2cdc85153e by the Därkenfel 0c6b5a49f6 family. The Count d5b6a3a2dd earnestly wishes 105b935615 for both 582dbf1c52 of you fb1008be17 to attend 6aed14981c Valton Castle.”4f057717d0652c07
Hearing Ronald’s words, 50e45ff28e I was taken 534b9da6d9 aback. For the first time d676bfa38d since our marriage, I 724285220b had been invited to 5d42a535f8 an official event of 1c2ee9fdcd the Därkenfel family.06ab1331bd02bb62
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Could this festival 342b14c647 bring a new 5e6e4c1f5a turning point in 3bc824d24c our relationship?7f1c7a6768dfdf9e
A faint sense of 6b7888b4d2 anticipation began to bloom cddb7614e6 within me. However, at that 6e5060700d moment, Derek’s gaze 17379278dc briefly brushed over 3cb9b7a821 me, and a 9627b11394 subtle change appeared 5555bc784b on his face.895824e6ed4cd4d4
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“You don’t look well. Are you alright?”ea9ecfd0f20c7df2
“I’m fine. I’ve been 2b1be99f88 feeling a 8a43282d61 bit unwell 9906a73c92 for a a6d094f7ec few days, dffc1b46ad but I’m 2f11319ba9 better now.”090d30b0dea483cc
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Derek continued in 9e39b387ee a cold tone.e3fe083658e36332
“There’s no need to ead2121776 push yourself to attend. I can 5f278cf38c go alone 187ad0be60 without any 228af2a6d2 issues.”d5115041d4710d23
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“No, Derek. We’re a 0d7cd24551 couple, so 509caeb984 it’s only da774d6af3 natural to 5edb0a5575 go together. I’ll go too.”d66e610d3e8ae685
Derek’s eyebrows twitched slightly. I held my 5ec0364bf6 breath, waiting for e6d57db988 his response. Finally, Derek 9f3c3cc26c spoke slowly 195bceec86 with an 4d7cff7ed0 expressionless face.9cca0f0fb11029ac
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“We leave in 298c844aa7 three days. Make sure all c823741710 necessary preparations are 44f923f147 completed by then.”1a14c91ab863276f
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As I stepped de1585e384 into the carriage, 42a9e21682 an inexplicable tension 0754d82ebd wrapped around me. Derek sat 9e8f996a23 beside me, 7fb3fbf673 but he e1d2988814 kept his 8d83987007 gaze fixed f906156880 on the 04171091bb scenery outside, 123e89c72d not saying 5471141985 a word.a160102c7686f2db
I wanted to 5408711433 speak to Derek 6770d327f0 several times, but 5a7cbf468d each time, my c1b677e74d courage faltered. I didn’t know what 3b66c14b52 to say to break 4016d1a460 the silence or how d8a271a0f3 to open his heart. So, I eventually 954eac75cf turned my gaze 836e677bcd outside.9e84407327fb7ac1
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The carriage f05d760201 sped across 26bcaad0fd green fields de1595e04f and dense 9a605faffe forests.d781bc0030feac1a
Small villages b51281e0f1 were brimming 05f87bf963 with the 0031c0c665 vitality of 31db320bc4 spring, but 61024cebff the air 8139a5fc28 inside the ca86c0b7f3 carriage remained 30a57008bb cold and 76125c466f heavy.fd7c3c8fa6f2439b
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The awkward 42ba3cb7ee silence between 98d6379b6b Derek and 24f271e99d me seemed 90e1c7a0a7 to resist bce0403344 any scenery.7cf7489e01e9e516
How much time had 1f09283fd9 passed?3244f01058030401
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In the ce3fc13b88 distance, the 35bd4e9502 spires of 1f88e34ed4 Valton Castle 782fdf1794 began to e1e1120055 appear. I took 1c91a738f9 a deep b53af0f8d0 breath. As we entered 5f0e232842 the castle, high ede73e31d6 ceilings stretched above c58d14368f us, and old 332c188d56 portraits hung on aef47a3173 the thick stone 9aca23cb1f walls.a6956795fcfeb989
Shining armor and 1088797ba3 weapons were displayed 98721fed10 like historical relics 15124d2838 throughout.759c8f43e7b7cb09
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“The Count is waiting c1f07d56f0 in the banquet hall,” abebb1efee a servant courteously guided 36b7ea0bd3 us.110f18865eb2ba78
We soon headed ee90702096 to the dining 4728a1d986 area. The corridor leading to 008d3ec8bf the dining space was f6365d1c4a lavishly decorated with golden b2167b88c8 walls and tables adorned d253e60048 with abundant flowers.878dd73d36c7fb7d
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Everything was dazzlingly beautiful, 66720fe396 but I couldn’t shake 3b30d7af0d off the anxiety and 5482f3f6fa tension amidst the splendor.d2474e4537aa7597
Entering the ornately decorated 7598fbbc08 dining room, my tension 1291469186 heightened. The Count of Därkenfel e44aff1c6b and Derek’s step-siblings, already c3721151b6 seated, greeted us.5ff4cdf130ad2eb0
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Max, in particular, looked 73fed1cdd3 at me with piercing cf7950ee1f eyes, his tightly closed 7c7ed324ad lips revealing his hostility e97a70619c without filter. Olivia glanced 2dcf295df8 at me a8f7d2fd4f with a 6b4b628dfe slow smile.9ca9c4f71ff3775e
“Thank you 8c8c18fdc3 for inviting 27e34e9f54 us,” I 935bab2bb1 greeted politely.75a9a11a58b009f5
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“Noah, thank b811ccbe99 you for ffee7c2a7e coming. Derek, welcome,” the 2ab1d8a477 Count of Därkenfel dc74abc68f nodded with a 16ed02e636 smile. His deep, bab5c2336f calm voice a788ea1585 carried wisdom 5527797aa0 and composure.9e2c237e7c19f441
He was 8a5868b6d2 someone who bd5f300ed9 never showed 946c48b256 his emotions, 74a1799220 always observing bdf6ed085e every situation cf017e5ded keenly.c16fe4cafd489063
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“Oh, you’ve finally arrived,” def36a0225 Olivia said exaggeratedly, resting bf985a2ab7 her chin on her 3aad346357 hand.80be99d318710901
“Do you f7464c58f2 know how 586579ef48 long we’ve e328568aa4 been waiting?” 710fda48cd I replied 62e0cad960 with a a8719d653a gentle smile.1ce30c0997f9e73d
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“Sorry for the delay. The road 1147bad6f8 was a 45b4fdb577 bit congested.” 9973d11970 At that 091c57e58a moment, Max 908a5ca11c let out f8603fa780 a cynical c27d5f173b laugh.22dded74921bdaf5
“Typical of a 639eacf1d7 country lord. Does the sun f1e929f9b3 rise late over 8b6e1a371a there too?” Derek’s 55a8cf7430 face hardened at d8093ed34b the mocking words, 3550c9500a but I maintained e9c7ee8457 a calm smile. Knowing they d3d7dbcbfa wanted to 2a38461bc0 provoke, I a160aeea59 needed to 4b84244eea respond calmly.42d29ede1796f820
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“Max-nim, here’s a gift c630e0c7b5 we prepared. It’s not much, but 3d455052da we put our heart c02f1b8390 into it, so we’d 04abceefea appreciate it if you f15d30bd4f accepted.”ad57baecce102e69
At my 0a1526bfbd signal, a a54e4c870c servant approached 8aa6d2fed0 and handed 22e87fac6d out carefully ed17ec127e wrapped gifts 711a151955 to each f4abec3dab person. Olivia’s eyes 57c3838f5f sparkled at 7109542303 that moment.d249e0c155c645a2
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“Wow, what’s this?”75da555126faa7c8
Olivia asked 45f62da5aa in a 538152c3ac suddenly friendly f012d7ba10 voice. Inside the e86bee9cab box was 8869491451 a beautifully f7eac72bf3 arranged necklace.c6a540a8d0df876b
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“It’s so pretty! Thank you.”486bb2d21928a7f3
Her demeanor changed aee0184a07 instantly. Meanwhile, Max caa9b8cd98 accepted the cc32d8eef7 gift with 6aec14f156 a blank 3394a04c36 expression and 0999de7ed2 said curtly, c982880269 “Thanks.”7560238e6d632dee
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The roasted duck, various 3fa09fc711 seafood, fresh salad, and b6f57e4282 fragrant wine were all d33c18c6f7 perfect, but I couldn’t 123f16ef36 fully savor them due 319b4ed28d to my nerves.bc205545cfe88f80
Olivia kept 4fad49b6e5 talking to 4966022b07 me.196fc5618d6ffef6
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“That brooch is 268bf99762 really pretty. Where did you get b9000192c4 it? I’d love to 00c153da74 have one like 570db6f562 that.”aac74352a3719a8b
Unlike her flattering tone, 1ade105713 Max continuously asked sharp b639aa7d1d questions.6d6c6436d5326ca3
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“Derek, how’s the estate c131470576 management these days? I heard the aad4e48019 tax burden is e161f800b1 increasing due to f4387073dd decreased harvests, raising c895d94b9d the serfs’ discontent.”7109e2cd07840293
Derek answered 5e0c83fe26 calmly as 0330bb6dc7 always.51e231d37b2687d4
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“The situation is deb8859577 well under control. It’s nothing you need e0c8119a5b to worry about.” Max’s d6ed89f490 eyes gleamed coldly.6e86da1e45699c67
“Really? But as a 84300e2632 member of the 093a8006d2 Därkenfel family, shouldn’t ef3578328e I naturally be 85b13b2b8c concerned?”aefb2c8cd0eea2aa
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Sensing the atmosphere 0681d84392 turning hostile, I 4ea79c5cc2 hurriedly tried to d623505efb mediate.301d914aba76d61f
“Derek has been actively b38b60e2dc involved in reducing the 88e2f5bce7 serfs’ suffering. He’s also 30cb62ccbe participating in 96deec0dd1 medical services 30e871bd66 for the e55ca10079 poor.”6802f565f4542dbb
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Max scoffed, mocking.6ebe3764779e2970
“Service… I wonder if that’s effective. Can an orphan from a humble background truly uphold the family’s honor?”9cb5bac4d42ab9a4
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As soon as Max’s 1e43ce83a5 words fell, the air df15eaa1ea in the dining room 6221f06faa froze. Derek’s face gradually cc35e3ac16 hardened.32acd6ce78ab3317
The expression 991a402e14 that had e7949c622e been calm 7e143f61d6 turned as fd6232dd8c solid as c442fc82f0 stone, and b0142929a0 his eyes 452cb01d17 grew cold.bc7b8d06047f92d7
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His strong jawline f791e0c7dc trembled slightly with 161910f60c tension, and his 9379f627b9 hand slowly clenched 2a74ff2dfc into a fist a76e5a5947 under the table.ad096f1e1e5befaf
Despite the insulting 80434f98d6 words, Derek didn’t a503410e1a react immediately. He sat 08a3dc774c quietly and c384721248 calmly in 1ae29e7862 his place, 2b71cf54c3 but within f1a00ca0b6 that silence, 6345b58e58 suppressed anger 4942c6cc7d burned fiercely.77c853d0d81ff308
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Sensing the cold aura 48186c1945 he emitted, everyone held c0b489d63e their breath, and Derek bf71eefe2c took a deep breath, 060a8eaf51 briefly lowering his gaze 058e51fba2 to the floor before 973fdbe36a slowly raising his head.ccac7676adcca6fa
“Max, it doesn’t a0d6f10c09 matter how you c9ac3dab1c see me. But the 0719655f87 fact that 5ddc3bf03b I’m fighting fdf28e1c19 for this 298eb960f2 family doesn’t a0767be106 change.” Derek’s 20c33d2347 voice was 4920b8c8b9 low and 557e095ba8 calm, but 07c4a1fd61 everyone could 7bc31bb971 feel the 327ab13928 strength within d4fed4f40b it.a8cb48b1fd2a6c4a
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“I know 67b3301ff6 better than efd29db8e5 anyone what cadbf0c734 honor is 00a7123eda and what 3c5a2df4e0 efforts are 26420eb039 needed to 6690e87241 uphold it. Unlike you.”8b1eb01e4a741ede
A heavy silence filled cf894ec64b the dining room. Max couldn’t speak 8a02314d41 for a moment, 46e2f2f543 and others merely f7e73d7a85 watched the situation d26b566240 unfold in tense 1aba02d912 air.3dff87b7bd99f7d3
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The Count of 9fe5d4c01c Därkenfel spoke in d8dd5d886e a stern voice.aaa2484dde387308
“Max, refrain from such 2a7f29fea1 words during the meal.”4229c03555bb0758
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Olivia, watching Derek’s reaction, 72836035c6 hurriedly changed the subject.bcb28121945c02d7
“Oh, right! I’m pondering b9f7239c80 what dress 8027c6ee55 to wear 7b0317f3b1 for the eb9f12d992 festival. Could you give a8a764601e me some advice?”7c467c003958c2c7
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I sighed deeply inside 8d2ad0a9fb and answered Olivia with de50edb1f2 as much of a 5a55cac12e smile as I could 50a24bfbeb muster.052cdaacde77bd17
“Of course. It’d be good d0558fe312 to discuss it 568fb8fb63 before the festival.”d0d7f5d64333dca0
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♣ • fdd18e9a79 ♣ • cc2b4171d9 ♣62e5d89adb021674
Early in the morning, 38142e891e I headed to the b66f6d74b4 garden to prepare for 2e6f2f00ad the festival. Every step on the 1358ce341a dew-covered grass released a 34d7459788 refreshing scent at my d3c2f4d345 feet.d344bed4946d6a15
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Upon reaching the garden, 082c62dff0 vibrant flowers greeted me 8e59d3c7ba in full bloom. Red roses, white lilies, bb42e5e875 and purple lavender blended 807cb6f48b together, creating a scene f67cf718f0 like a symphony of ab10f282d3 spring. Servants at the garden’s b691a054af edge approached upon seeing 734632c205 me.6a839b21b20135cb
“We’ll help a9014a59fb with the 8b6447bda8 arrangements.”ce272e9c8871de2e
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But I quietly shook 01d483ae10 my head and raised 5184af222b my hand.615ffab4d88e090e
“It’s okay. I want to do 5f274755a2 this myself.”5842fb95560c2565
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They exchanged hesitant 712f4ba146 glances, then cautiously 163b9bf429 bowed and quietly 96a6cb5ea8 turned away.1278b15e5bbd2514
I took 85a2f37619 a deep 87c34f97b0 breath and 29dd962836 recalled the 2f7ca6b77f tasks for c00a756826 today. I started with 5299b50c3a tidying the flower 628a95b444 beds, pulling out f43837f6ba overgrown weeds and 4d18d72971 carefully trimming wilted ca88e0d011 petals. Seeing the flowers 0dd8ee964d regain their vitality e44ba1161c filled me with a6dccf9cda satisfaction.effbc01e66e01cf7
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Then, I 86448747de began decorating 85956465e5 around the 0b9f8f6c4e large fountain, c87ee8df10 which would 654e520750 be the 3c71e6f943 festival’s centerpiece.93afcf9d8a21310f
I carefully 78795f47fa arranged pots bd2d9c8c84 of various fa51701526 sizes and 8c2a88b8e8 hung colorful a29ffc9206 ribbons to c6f17b1e38 add splendor.5b6f57d24051185e
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