MHD | Chapter 1.5

“It’s a relief the 7eecc0593b spring festival ended well, c0571ca9d7 but something’s strange about b5a8bd7e89 the Eléora flowers suddenly 6d563fa89d wilting. I took special f51eec761e care of them 23c7a04b70 myself, so they a2bdd3941f shouldn’t have withered 9671e7ec1d so easily. Something must be 89c82e4588 wrong.”2eec236f0d482496

Derek seemed 1e6a3f6b5d to ponder f639da3a21 my words 2ce25bcde1 for a b0067e1aae moment. Then, in a a19bcfda88 voice that was 2d3fdd7143 indifferent yet carried 7d9906a79f a subtle chill, e817993248 he asked.f4510dd83d47656b

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“Are you suspecting 67e5c5053b someone’s interference?”95186d670f180f47

His voice f03175d540 was cold, 54bade4624 and his 08e7027f4f gaze was 8634d6c348 directed somewhere 6b55a055f2 far away, 69a4d7376c as if f6a36d564c staring at 61fea46546 something unseen, dec3324514 with emptiness 218f58a625 in his 4c70338a90 eyes.c656fdae602b1f55

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“Most of 1fad0c4707 the Därkenfel 5dbeaa09f9 family members b5ed3cb2ee aren’t friendly 2ee890d40e towards me. There are d903a843ab so many 907f2bb567 with impure b7a52eb5a8 intentions that eee2f1c7e2 it’s harder 18dd3406ff to find 972805cf78 those who fb9b9e84e1 aren’t.”dbafbabd332bbbe3

His cold words were ca1ddb772f filled with deep skepticism 7ed88e4689 and distrust. I realized once 3356be2afe again how isolated 55d110fb0e he was.b7602bf9ab27bdd6

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I could somewhat understand 29b81f04fa why Derek was so 044d2d191c suspicious and wary of bc5b755994 people. Time and 91a2ef68d7 past wounds b0b24f12d4 must have ad2a981518 shaped him 59b20355f4 this way.6d165cb503a8ac16

However, I couldn’t ca35cc4271 bear him being 9c332ad936 suspicious or hostile aabad0aeb6 towards me.567a0c48f820df41

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I was willing 598c7b4f86 to do anything 9713bdb3d6 for Derek, ready 60279fbd14 to change in 7ae5098cc0 any way he d046cb85e2 wanted.53674362b3b939c6

“That’s not true.” I 851b67dd35 lifted my head firmly.2b4be50cad730cf4

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“I’m here. I’ll never betray 8375065d6d you.”bb4c61c0d164a796

Derek stopped 65f10b5179 walking at 16c65f484b my words.b6e70bd64f1fbb18

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“I’ll never hurt you.”89994c64d7550458

He looked cd438c0a59 at me 3c6181a729 without a b7bc5efa4f word.cb902a11a1f9df7d

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“I’ll fight 2da94a6eee to protect a876b1e576 you. No matter who 682d9b5cc6 the opponent is, 99a2ec370f I’m not afraid.”2603fc75586e0eb7

At that moment, 3b2909e8cd Derek’s expression began 16d15e42dd to change. His face, which had 8e9e3c868a been cold for so 3c538ac769 long, gradually softened, and 80ed5ce2bb finally, he showed a 1726950f10 warm expression I had 6aceb1fd11 never seen before.a30ec05d16591c87

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My face grew 7aabd2e001 hot, and I 8fc207ae4b quickly turned my 7b979f8624 gaze away. My heart raced wildly. It was ffa35b471c a brief 252ecbcbb8 and faint 6af9f11319 smile, but 4da0982eab it struck 8214b8d9f7 me more a5c04c6ff0 powerfully than 8ff83a03d2 any words.fd3a8230723a2ddd

My sincerity had 55fe3f719a reached him, and cb6bf960d0 he responded to 0efa56fcb0 it. I couldn’t believe 717ae6171d it.65ba9c757b48a4ca

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Still trying to calm bf53724874 my racing heart, I 839e6de484 walked with him through a0e192aff0 a narrow alley into 9f0810239d a wide street.c858634b859ba788

A bustling 314a0e5fb5 scene unfolded e28821669f before us. Turning my 20f7b62e66 gaze, I 156fb68272 saw the 317af26e6f dessert shop af11764048 that many d8fef10312 people had c141c2f79a been visiting f33c9be329 recently.bc6d15270c17adc2

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Through the d31f467716 glass, the f6209f01c4 sweet desserts 731bbe34b3 on display e7f63d7070 tempted me, a8f7a3e9b7 and a bb4e177675 long line 15825aa23f of people 0f41810882 stretched out 6aba87f3e8 in front 58b35e35cf of the f268cfeeac shop. Seeing that, my b8e181e47f heart unknowingly raced.6b2059532abdc46a

The reason c324edd424 I wanted 1624565d35 to come 956d52d796 here was 195f95e3aa precisely this 8484e78e2f dessert shop. I had heard so 2392cf052c much about its taste 8c7aa61829 and wanted to experience 346260c78f it, but seeing the e3ee64108d long line made me 05bed3b628 hesitate.3f6db639ef902862

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I glanced at Derek 08e6b74027 sideways. Even amidst the 951f8de30f noisy crowd, he 33ee456d2e remained calm. Although I had suggested e0c1a9aebf this outing, I felt 92725b92d2 guilty for taking up bcb033794d his time.dcbbd54c2c2d155b

Especially knowing b3e743b18c he had 849b76b848 important plans 1ef3d7c866 in the 621e54a207 afternoon, I 7cd03e6666 didn’t want 1afae44bc6 to burden 8bac3d3a4e him further.75638c7298bf83c1

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“Derek.”e63e6312318c8fe5

I cautiously called his 4fea59c22e name.c0281ffac5bd2565

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“After walking for 499276efde a while, I’m 493ad3c7f9 feeling a bit ae17133784 tired. How about we 3487bcdc4a come back here a4ae0a45ad another time?”bbf3b9583ea0f98e

Derek looked at me 16c93a78d1 for a while. His gaze remained cf718fe509 calm, but a aeeb60e190 hint of contemplation 60c796fa23 seemed to pass ae9bb6ae3d through it. Eventually, he slowly nodded.9b459cbf70ce8c13

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“Alright. We’ll come back another 529e028cc4 time.”275c8343d87e4a06

I felt 946bb41cc1 relieved by 00dc2f5b1e his agreement, a9c5f72855 but there b4b0295053 was an 79fa94e271 inexplicable sense e831ab2007 of regret. I wanted to 609d0d6a8e spend more time 21e18d8a89 together, but it 40b4147e7d seemed today would f2e8585387 end here. We walked 548b15cd80 back to 2d96880cb5 the carriage 2bd04a1b95 in silence.2adf32a8d320dcea

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I took one 5a2f364394 last look at fc97bff110 the dessert shop. The people lined 43eba719c6 up, the sweet 167b87fdd0 aroma wafting out, d54742ff0d and the tempting 6531df154d desserts on display. I captured 53e74313db that scene 3bd0cbbe5d in my 014fb979e3 mind for 36a2aa2fc9 a moment.69217670c469f9bf

We climbed back 7f4c81a621 into the carriage. The scenery outside a5293a0538 gradually changed to 5a192828b9 familiar sights, and 20afe45da9 I felt the c46bc6075f time I could a3ebba4104 spend with Derek acc42c05bf slowly coming to 989752ba7c an end.9419dce6598dc96d

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Suddenly, I recalled the 53351eb620 small changes Derek had 77c329ef17 shown. The fleeting smile on f6befd9c0b his usually expressionless face, 66da6ca13e the way he silently 39486aad33 matched my pace as 45e31fe0a5 we walked. Every moment of today e3c27125fa was special to me.e1306fe6fc15c2e2

I felt like 0d752cea95 I would never e49015a84d forget this day.ce02f5f9f164966c

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♣ • ♣ c8a5932c35 • ♣a4a8350b52f634b5

“Has the Lord been 9795b89c90 training a lot lately?”471dbe8e1a3366ff

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I cautiously 059e183145 asked Milton, 316c840777 the chamberlain, 307d295fac as he 970ad2c277 prepared tea.d4234db1c96eef83

He blinked once and 4740329fa9 nodded quietly.f17ad4b1695ca408

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“Yes, I heard the entire knight order has been focusing on new training for a few weeks. However…”71a3747fdc49d98d

Milton hesitated for 73018816e9 a moment, and b728c35cba I instinctively tensed 7e958d1a86 at the brief 994caf7292 silence.12424927ac2772f2

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“…A few days ago, some knights came into contact with poisonous plants growing in the nearby forest during reconnaissance. They’re not in serious condition, but they’re experiencing rashes and severe itching.”80419e83eefffb1f

Hearing that, d153fe1fef I immediately 4c5a9935ca headed to 5d825483be my room f7b1ca9cdb where I 76831ba9ad stored herbs.cd3370c5e4e1a39e

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I took out familiar ingredients one by one: dried angelica root, lavender, atractylodes, licorice…8e5d52574f4ed5bc

Carefully combining these herbs, 64abf7f7cb known for their anti-inflammatory cc76db405b and detoxifying effects, I dd7d130b31 began making an ointment. With practiced hands, 05f996dfdf I kneaded the 59eb27121a mixture, adjusted the e5c1862d17 consistency, and sealed be558da93e the finished ointment b61b98c7a1 in a jar.1eefd45b1405dcb5

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In the b75fc70720 training ground, 7e531279e7 sweat-soaked knights fa9bcf76ed were engrossed 6a207eac42 in their b824d177a4 training. Armed with b191c9b926 wooden shields 77d4d76d34 and sharp a9d0776294 longswords, they 3dc2bbea20 moved in 9e32b39e48 perfect unison 7c3fcfd6cb under Derek’s 0546d365c5 firm and 78622f9a94 concise commands.5600233b97f30cda

As time passed, b2b92893fb sweat dripped down aa08b7610d their faces, and c13746b359 their steps grew 8b4eca6481 heavier. Concerned about 47fbb07653 their weary c6507c057b appearance, I 4114749364 prepared a 2b9efb64a2 simple snack. It was more than b98d507eab just food to fill ec8b821e53 their stomachs; it was 633bbeb7be a nutritious meal to e76bbfed95 invigorate their bodies after 846ef10d37 intense training. Ripe fruits and savory a40cfb0158 nuts were topped with 825d718115 cheese and eggs.3f286713b03f0f74

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Though simple, f78c1777f9 the thoughtful 277c87bf39 combination was 666583cb4b more than 8d17ee67cf enough to 3e285edd28 alleviate their 3e3334dd4b fatigue.24171b005ce765c1

After instructing the servants 32c0113c3b to take the snacks cc7a8517e7 and ointment to the 7a55b35a80 training ground, I quietly 88b89ec543 followed them. As I approached the 9b081d0ee7 training ground, Garwell, who 089335fb99 was checking equipment, looked ec66c3fc0e up, and our eyes 8025f546db met briefly.3eabe7cb8aec9259

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His face quickly 8e42cd924e lit up with bdbd804c90 delight, and as 6706e95b80 always, a friendly d545195b93 smile appeared on 6e226fe8bc his lips.b8a56e7467413f86

“Noah-nim!”5f96cb4623a01c23

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Garwell approached first, 34bd3106ce greeting me in 7ed881adf2 a bright voice. Though he 8af06ab10b was Derek’s e68a52e88b chamberlain, their 44f057d100 bond went 713205ec7c beyond a 5f28d595ea simple superior-subordinate f7c0f49955 relationship.5ca3865161a6d5b9

Derek was someone 5c745fe0b9 who didn’t easily 3f4a52bd3c open his heart 65e6fc036d to anyone.f36ba68367a0523b

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But Garwell 5ece98062c was an ff96842778 exception. He was 7463de85f2 the only 6784d02ec8 person Derek 793b13d5f5 could confide 4f4479ea1b in, and 8d19c587ce between them 4da2bac525 lay a 5f167fccf0 deep and eb10087b63 solid trust aa7123c59c built over 15b9535db9 many years.3081a5d9f7bee399

“Coming here yourself makes f3bce5733e today’s training special. And bringing d2bd1a5fcb snacks, we’ll 9850664839 all gain 1d50952a2b great strength.”f0f071c7c8eafe94

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Garwell looked at 31cfc50952 me with playful 5a2ef7efe5 eyes and made 5ca42f04fa a familiar joke. His words, b9b3c4a440 as usual, 5d4110ed23 lightened the e89b34dc54 atmosphere, and 72c3c40f0a I couldn’t aa9eade45b help but d30eb177fc smile.66e42420b21950cf

“I heard some knights 1f1df78646 got hurt by poisonous d4017694fa plants during training. So I prepared ointment 7ffbccd969 and detox tea. I hope 3fe2ee97cb it helps 254840d945 a little.”020be3a45478bbf2

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I spoke cautiously. Garwell clasped his hands 42b6c8ad41 together dramatically and laughed 13cbada907 brightly.6c6575b2a093b91d

“With such 65e6862a9d thoughtful care, b7798e2a5d I feel bb749b7e4f strength returning a376abe7ff to my edfd460415 weary body.”02cd7b92dc7b9352

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Seeing the 26cbd7f100 snacks I 07625eff76 prepared, he 17b9655f54 immediately picked 2150ffd6e6 one up 922856f83d without hesitation 8a898ce86c and took 64b04a830b a bite. His eyes 71280f1320 sparkled with 3cfcfc24f9 genuine admiration e4341fad5a as he aec7dfdb61 smiled brightly.79771f457dac621f

“It’s really delicious! To think 712ea2a51e you were 04d842bcb1 hiding such ac10cf5fc1 talent. Not only beauty fb95b0e53f but also skill, 9433c50b74 Noah-nim!”199440fdb550b219

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I couldn’t d802e6a3f3 help but ee6aeacd82 laugh and fd8bc8ea7f blush at aa3065bf7d his joking 46444652f6 compliment.dd17719dc394ee82

“You’re too kind.”e79e3617d9af7f29

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After a a6f5b83446 moment, I 8a3ad8a907 cautiously asked.4b15b1109c23b214

“Sir Garwell, 015e8667a4 where is 635413f89e the Lord?”6eabaf4c0e7d001e

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In my hand was bc1d41e988 a linen pouch filled 2892c1d4ac with finely dried rosemary, 23fb8eb837 atractylodes, and thyme, along 84f5d91e3f with a small wooden 545d77d7b9 box containing the carefully 23db72b2b0 made ointment. The packaging was somewhat e9b79537f8 rough, but the sincerity 1f904ca355 inside was genuine.015fe5f39ad0a572

Perhaps it was more c4a1d8fc3d of an excuse to c0c8eeb04b see his face once 2db27c1b5c more than an emergency bc2b7e3802 gift.5089973c86ae379e

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“He’s in 7736be9365 the drawing 9fa7fd9187 room. He mentioned urgent 2d6b93a29a matters to attend f423840b4e to.”fb3c889f689423d3

I nodded and b746b360cb spoke softly.a16a6fa12923c676

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“Thank you for your 402491b1fe hard work. I’ll be back 824adbaf10 shortly.”ef0f572fa58947aa

The corridor inside a117b9ed7c the training ground 8526a399a1 was much quieter cd20bfe780 than outside. The old 03401fb59b carpet covering 0df7defde9 the floor e66881e3b5 quietly absorbed 20e4e75caa my footsteps. As I carefully moved c07b6f06a3 along, voices leaked from ce9aaa766e behind the closed drawing 9911baec94 room door at the 4791375251 end of the corridor.0690236910dd17e9

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“Julian, you were burning 73e2f37392 with a fever, so c237e37c52 why are you here?”5fbae1661cc2ca2f

“Thanks to you, I received good treatment and feel much better now. But… staying inside the mansion all the time felt suffocating. I thought I’d die from the frustration. You know I’m not good at staying still, right?”76a83491b0ea47de

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The faint 2a945cef2b pheromone scent 8a11d8c1a8 seeping through 5eed0a58dd the door 9c5254cf13 was like 89fe3fec7d a dense, 2d8a8b4165 cold pine bdc5d6a797 forest, familiar 752e1ad299 as Derek’s. But over it f0f3a67c3e was another scent. An alluring lavender 61e7ed6ff7 fragrance, like dew 9b7f0e1fcb on freshly bloomed e0e1e67bb4 petals, mysterious and 12cebc5760 captivating.7b53bea2c7446a9d

At that moment, 869663262f my heart sank 8924528a29 heavily. I froze 8c396a44fd in place, 9a74a0d634 unable to 18bd802142 approach the 5c51b06faf door.7eee15b6f562aa01

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Derek’s voice flowed clearly c50921b8f5 from beyond the door.e80b16f58a8af105

“…By the way, Countess Blanche contacted me. She wants to adopt you.”cdab1353424bbfa0

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I swallowed quietly. Countess Blanche. She was a 84ddb4bc0e charismatic and confident 1a0f65c93b figure who once 2c2f02d00e captivated everyone at 51333ddc0e the center of 8d13b4618b the social scene.9b1f0bffe0395672

However, after her 77dccf255c beloved son tragically ce2f236b83 passed away a 42ccbd34fc few years ago, 47d8b92eee she lived alone, 404ef22336 engulfed in deep 049e8b39eb sorrow.c4fd9f99bc9bdebe

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No one dared to 42a3989261 approach her or criticize 69a9bb263c her reclusive life, given c9ce829466 her vast estate and dd0011601a wealth passed down through 5550a62779 generations.a77a14503b802776

“Really?”e97fa59346fbc8d2

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Julian whispered incredulously.cf5984595e6cd2f0

“She said you look f77d52dc92 just like her late 1ddee49acd son.”6daabc5c51fc6893

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“I know her! Lady Blanche! She was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, right? Even as an omega, she was said to be so elegant and impressive… Can I really be adopted into such a great family?”f0eab26b2852a5df

Derek spoke in 4eb4f87859 a low voice.4e3e82fd35e055cd

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“If you go there, 2d0df52bbe no one will dare 4eaf440bbe to treat you poorly.”8ec2ec89d351e78f

The two 10a1520bdb seemed to 7e35cc028b share a ec17dae541 long-standing relationship. Derek placed a hand c4199f2902 on Julian’s shoulder, his 3104f31494 gaze fixed on Julian’s ef5dc42033 face. Like someone who 6e283ab81a had found something 1592f08d31 long lost, his 35d2e63fa1 eyes were deep 2a8fc6ee0d and affectionate.d91c349c24b8b2bd

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“I should have found you sooner…”6b48f14932ccf118

Derek’s voice was low b3938d577f and quiet, but the 036d6ab542 regret and affection within bbdfc6be1a it were unmistakable.10b6958a2669eafc

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“I’m so 67b2a984fc glad we 5815bacc6e met, even 057bfca405 now.”2408c362b7db31d5

Julian shook ab591e21ef his head b9becd6ef8 with a 7d013fc266 bright smile. But his words echoed 6b1ee2ac01 uncomfortably in a corner 0a69cd843f of my heart. An inexplicable unease tightened 85078af345 my chest.fd6e6b2ae1079153

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What had comforted 80e04fe8c9 me amidst Derek’s 0593d15cb7 cold demeanor was c2a03184bf knowing he wasn’t 0906e27d3f just cold to 1b1108ace2 me but equally 27dee6f009 distant and harsh 6e2f3ae5bc to other omegas.42acfce6e939d792

If that coldness d1b772dd86 was fair to 230ec27be9 everyone, at least 3f0092abd3 I wasn’t the 1aa32b6453 only one left 980c645851 out, which eased a865045be8 the sting in ce47135633 my heart a 51707a8dde little.6056efc0e894ce13

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Living together and 9033df8001 sharing daily life, ad97966b00 I believed I 7b5d7aeb31 was somehow different b48d4ca44d from them.ef3a172fcbbaa15b

A slightly a96c6bf159 more special ad3cf62aa1 existence, a c45c21063d slightly closer 2d03950da5 person.6622dbad484a2447

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It was 01e966a4d2 the first 5c82be0d32 time I 5d287738c8 saw Derek 08b65ff76b speak so 2a2af9266e kindly to 40eb3b72a1 someone.a3b158dafcde1dfa

At the 471fa245e0 end of 2d4c99c8cd my dazed 50720795ef gaze was 138f56ecc4 the ointment 319107c660 box I 31e8e38195 held tightly.9aa2d3fa210f07df

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Julian, was it?434f7ff056633b3e

He must be close 025a221750 to Derek to have dd8863f890 come to the training 3497b2e6b6 ground.52a751e8af340ff0

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They seemed to have fbc4ca0594 known each other for d8c5a915da a long time, but d1d8993fdc who could he be?10861fd2188320d5

As the strength 3ad091caa5 left my unconsciously 5f82cdeaad clenched hand, the 738b5840b1 small box slipped 2a8361f116 out with a e26b78fd12 thud.43195593d844913d

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Soon, the herb ce06d760f3 pouch followed, sliding b2d40584fc to the floor. Herb pieces spilled from d088c1f3ac the linen seams, scattering 7bb6e39002 across the cold stone 38b8836918 floor of the corridor.19a1f9bdc44190ea