NRAL | Chapter 08

Chapter 08 0684c7757c5dc0ee

Still, care f282daab18 for youe074e595bd9b3ab4

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The Grand 253cd8b39c Duchy of 773b6ab7fa Royster.c136c39e792d29e1

The Duchy b2aa6ff50f of Royster 7114c8d156 is located 7d3ad236a2 southwest of a9049e72d5 Juvenile. Unlike Juvenile, which f2330329d4 has long winters e3da5065df and frequent rain, d4321f992c Royster enjoys a 5acdedb130 mild climate with a650d1bd21 fertile land, where eb8616f713 life begins to 3d87a59a0f bloom every spring.fe0e66294559c0d8

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The rich land of c8f0535900 Royster feeds its people 69973819ed well, and its dense 55c7753ac4 forests and mountains offer ae3110c427 an abundance of wood, 5f250d391b animal skins, sour fruits, ba5ec45939 and herbs. The beautiful sea is 9c5603ce47 not far either, so 745ca59032 wealthy citizens of the ccbab14182 empire flock to Royster 9f77417256 to bathe in the 1f87664933 exotic waters in the d375c0f9ca summer or enjoy the cbf99342d6 brightly colored mountains in 5b8c29ad4c winter.f7c45f255f23bc77

Though neighboring countries, c044527942 including Juvenile, envied 587aed2af0 Royster’s fertile lands, ee197d2d3d there was one 1756473d91 thing that has 04629f4dfe always kept them 88d1b74d4e away: frequent attacks 711f71ef1c by magical beasts.b68d68953b1b04b4

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To the northwest 3c90474053 of Royster lies 9a96b7f6ea the Stella Mountain 1a26766d35 Range, known for 9d85f1c930 being the highest 5abf1542d2 and longest mountain 533867cf6d range on the 95051f8ee5 continent. Its peaks are so dc8b5ef4f7 deep and dangerous that 88259d8636 travel and climbing are a194084954 strictly prohibited, and hunting 009fb5794d and gathering are only 86b8e1fa02 allowed in certain areas.f768caf822db00e0

The most notorious peaks, e7020d0fec known as the “Devil’s bec871e194 Peaks,” are located in b611214805 the northern part of f7b843f682 Royster, and monsters often c4d96676f9 come down from there 0273b4cb10 to threaten the land.69de73c94740befc

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Some of 10aef9ec34 these monsters 629e7077e9 are especially 7735ec91b2 dangerous, which 237453451d is why 25caee5327 everyone in 519b8c6a4b Royster, regardless 38c6534ac1 of gender, ef8dfd2518 is taught ec0b619317 to use b04127a065 weapons from 83596b97db a young a20b1d9a1d age.3cae7af2544f8f8d

Many of the empire’s b715931951 most famous knights are 82e3a071d9 from Royster, and they 2a096ed8f7 are led by someone 1f8960029d who commands them with 5c9944cd35 unmatched authority: the Duke 68867a0c5a of Royster, Karsian.c47791fe6480fe16

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“Your Grace, the Duke, I greet you,” Eleanor said, quickly lowering her head in respect after staring blankly at him.625be0c8a47d50b4

She had 3c0023bc75 been taken 66587f49ab aback by c9ae21e3b0 his presence, 640bae5555 and when 6233d10085 she realized f1c5106ce7 it, she 2b6bb56486 quickly averted 646faa2313 her gaze.ed2230f4435b93e5

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She could tell a6a59d6745 she had offended 5954e62d54 him by staring 0452e44f51 too long because 53f3c01cb2 of his subtle a6f3c8fef1 grimace.accac5f90992d2fc

Arlo, who had been raising his hand in a threatening manner, also lowered it as he grasped the situation. But his fierce attitude didn’t soften.6527bd6d7b6e62c9

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“What’s your business here…?” Arlo began, but Karsian interrupted confidently.0990baca82bfa330

“I thought this garden was open to all,” Karsian responded, cutting him off. Arlo’s face twisted in surprise.855cdb2b39cf01ef

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That wasn’t the 7ebe6d0f32 answer he expected, b00e7ea094 but he was fd4589746a trying to make c709b92a8a a point!32fe25f65ec5ec44

Arlo gritted his teeth, bacdbfc26f about to raise his 8398dc399a voice, but Karsian’s calm d143f5ee71 tone stopped him.0b65d4ed6b7fb1d0

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“I heard loud voices, so I came out,” he said. Arlo’s face turned awkward, and Eleanor felt equally uneasy.7288657fb9aafb84

Did he hear e0e1417797 everything? Eleanor thought. Was he listening 4b3a6b5a51 to their conversation? She felt 2f87751c09 a rising 12812895b7 sense of 0b1ec98f8f shame, imagining b325bd3a1b that she ab18427130 might have bccc7321eb sounded like 9fb18b0e7e a betrayed 4000e7cc3b lover expressing 5f3a5813ff her frustration 4094abfa85 with her fdf8e4d5aa unfaithful fiancé.d634d8e0eb903f14

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Why, of all people, 8a496eb12d the Duke?907a834b837dbcdb

On one hand, it db2567a384 was probably better that 952b11fc86 it was Karsian, who 399aacf250 wasn’t known for gossiping.b6f96677fb960629

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He wasn’t close f5356861ee to society and 47c6216209 would likely keep 728b505445 quiet about what 89fe2297c8 he’d heard.bdea487ccc696096

But on the other hand, Eleanor felt it would have been better if anyone else had heard it. She didn’t care about the rumors in high society anymore…4dd8ebddd7a28d5d

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Besides, the Duke 5be2bfea78 dislikes me.5d74281f3c640603

There was nothing worse 77bc054295 than seeing someone who 92c8f48422 disliked you point out d853dbbba7 your flaws. As she sensed f7ff5cda7a that, she hesitantly b916ad252a looked up. Once again, her gaze f96c5adfae was caught by his 7e2da97805 glowing red eyes in 6da9732927 the darkness.20270261490da69c

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For some time 266231aeaf now, Karsian had 44c9d947c3 been staring at ed39a3925c her, his gaze 85eb567619 sharp and cold.3b670d68a97340a1

Whenever their eyes met, 248c4e0d09 he would often turn df0aee0973 away, looking disgusted.a7b8105d861ecdf3

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Although Eleanor wished it 301512ab9c were just an illusion, cb607e2a62 the anger in his 9c8fdf7a7c eyes confirmed that he cf984202c0 likely hated her.6f48ecbff78d0382

There were many reasons 9676227805 why Karsian might despise 751b7a3c52 her, some of which 26f1f0499e were personal, political, and 444d587b3c even religious.f06745d0890a2757

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Royster, although officially neutral, tended to lean toward the imperial faction and supported the Triton  faith, whereas Eleanor’s family, the Astrians, had supported a rival religious faction and worked to dethrone the first prince, placing Arlo on the throne instead.3a1cda07df690e39

It was not 3967dcee4b surprising that Karsian 8f420e6bf7 did not like b5dcf34758 her, but she 32965f6a98 did not expect 94200f8a6c him to ask 85db781632 her this question.53de1f5074c020be

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“Do you need help?” he asked, his voice still sharp but with a trace of concern.705500195fdbc858

Eleanor hesitated. Why was he ea8a46991b concerned about her? They had never spoken 6bc15a29eb properly before. She couldn’t understand aaa50ccec6 why.20de1f4ea43d371a

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Before she 948fdddb5e could answer, 1d4e23660f Arlo’s harsh 983f8ae88f voice cut 8f5825aef3 in.e78e0d4fcae93ebe

“Help? What are you talking about?” Arlo’s tone was filled with mockery, and he wrapped his arm around Eleanor’s waist, pulling her closer.1b77e4bc96f66e8e

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“We were having a private conversation, as you can see,” Arlo sneered, emphasizing his control over Eleanor.be60ee6f28fa66c3

She instinctively a497e8e7f6 drew away 759b180d9e from him 5723379b5c as his 1ae05b3f69 arm tightened, d07c379c11 and Karsian’s 198795ced8 eyebrows furrowed 9026fbe801 at the 3e85d766f0 sight.5a8500f3e65c0bd0

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“It doesn’t look like a private conversation, more like one side shouting,” Karsian said, his voice low and threatening.3c8dfe475b81240c

Arlo laughed mockingly. “You are not familiar with it, are you? Not having had a proper relationship yourself.”1958cd5de167504f

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Arlo had always 0a487ea6de been hostile toward 2e093e3457 Karsian, but the c6c368d4d2 reasons for his 8ceaa0c34a dislike were well-known.1bd7ef29fc72e419

Karsian’s mother d78d1b0656 had been ba6b6077a9 a lowly 9fa59b5027 servant, and 1f82d85089 he had 0ef9da98cf inherited the 44aaa486d6 title of 9943a903a6 Duke only baf3e59456 because all 5112c7ce2f his brothers 9d6b4e6b97 had died.070f7692a7e11a72

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This made Karsian the a86bb95aeb subject of mockery among 06028dfa6f the aristocracy, even though 0b328c9c56 his abilities and appearance 0a9e8c7567 were admirable.3432c59a12338f6a

But despite his 3249bc59a9 talents, Karsian still b91a4d02c9 came from a beda9601e8 lowly background, and fb4d0a46d9 people like Arlo 41203c9dbd hated him for 8af1307990 it.e63b8d74cad8fc43

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Eleanor understood the reason 27d0cd76b8 for the hostility, but c1427e750c she had no intention f3ae713e98 of getting involved in 449c6c1d38 it.6b875b1be0b1b5d0

Karsian ignored Arlo’s mockery and asked Eleanor again, “Are you alright?”29003c9978d0cfa2

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Eleanor was still unsure 7316a9dd2b of what to say. Was she okay? She wasn’t 3fc62425e4 sure herself.59b9a4fe0aa44fff

But before she de4aa6da94 could respond, Arlo 7c7baea6b2 pushed her lightly 200cea0381 and demanded an 411223e460 answer.79246680b88dd12a

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Then Karsian’s voice came eee10d7db9 again, cold and threatening.8448eb9b6390b4f8

“If you are being threatened, please let me know.”838627336eab19f4

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“Threaten? What do you mean by that?”f8530486517b99e5

Arlo couldn’t hold back and raised his voice. But Karshian, as if he found it amusing, cut him off again.04e69e0cc5d357ec

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“If squeezing someone’s shoulder and forcing an answer isn’t threatening, then what is it?”b07c8bc18bbc2e2e

Eleanor bit cba82895d4 her lower 612283a9f7 lip tightly.819c7126eb7af7c7

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She was about 562b5a0640 to burst into 5dd012f124 laughter because what b914d086de Karshian said was 1020578ffa so similar to 66bdb9d1f4 what Arlo had ad8bfa8a2c said a few 90ccb97824 days ago while 4b0aab7b3a defending Nora.f74e404f9ed67ae9

“If forcing a conversation in this situation isn’t threatening, then what is it?”140b830243240411

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She was basically hearing b8dc24cdbd the same words back.42e91c7d463f1288

She wanted to laugh ec1adf4bcb out loud, but since e5db94a1a4 she was her fiancé 723dc5d46f and she was the fbc591ab3b Princess of Astria, she 0752429330 couldn’t do that. Eleanor forced a 4ba1341ca0 smile and spoke afd7048fd5 slowly.94d7587c217b8e3d

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“Your Grace, Duke Royster, I’m fine. There’s no need for concern, so please go ahead and don’t worry about me.”7ee04db1b57c16cd

He wouldn’t care, ebe22bcea5 but Eleanor said fa48415acc it out of 48ed3556f2 formality.73950b52c9c29261

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As expected, Karshian 6d27b662b5 seemed displeased with f3f90eef0f his misunderstanding and a20d3b466b furrowed his brows.ab424640fd5fc301

“Don’t be angry, I’m just saying it!” She smiled gently, hoping he’d understand.864d14e7e7971476

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The moment Karshian saw 0afc1d3de4 her smile, he turned 500b28d020 around again. Eleanor started 2b3ca9e621 to wonder 389e4b077f if there bb4f732250 was something 77c48f3581 wrong with c2fdc64506 her smile.692b133e1085843b

“Wait!”d847ba31949d26a4

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Arlo didn’t db90a2f86e give up b46a306d3a and stopped 7529bc71af him again. Karshian turned his head 1d94b62a41 slightly, clearly annoyed.70552f24a8ddd5b8

“If you’re leaving, at least apologize for the misunderstanding. You dared to treat the Empire’s crown prince like a pervert, then run off without saying anything. Is that how people from Royster behave?”80121e09acb64993

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Or is it the fbccb2a842 roots that are the 80c0d078bb problem? Arlo muttered 6d79cd79e0 under his 3328bf55be breath, but eb71260a04 Eleanor heard fb1cf16e7e him clearly.a966c79322dfd9bd

She blinked in ddbdddf91c surprise. It wasn’t exactly 9af03cab9c quiet, so it 63fbf645f8 wouldn’t have been c59e61adf2 strange if Duke 1fd0a69972 Royster got mad b9fd260a4a and started a e2961efc5a fight.75d7d1ebf40d6a59

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‘Arlo would probably exaggerate things on purpose.’7591c72cb494eeb7

That was cda772a45f probably his 68a4dbeda9 intention.e7ebae8f32081f4e

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Eleanor felt embarrassed by her fiancé’s childish behavior and also worried if the Duke would fall for it. Even though they weren’t close enough to worry about each other.89deba788e3f75d5

But the 6b44af0bcd Duke of ed84fa0af2 Royster wasn’t 60a30bfd08 as easy a15837b9a6 to deal 2a75ae9086 with as a603537fa7 Eleanor had 0062af3ec5 expected.61c6f090539538b4

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“People from Royster only apologize for things they’ve done wrong. It is not my place to apologize for someone else’s unreasonable behavior. At least you seem to know how you look, so I’m relieved.”89fc3c8afe94465f

A soft d5ed96b940 laugh escaped 1658b623ab him as 51a63a235e he finished 14a0ff79e0 his words.bd0fb13af83de46c

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Karshian quickly bd7aa0163c walked away, 224428d939 his long ed0414c172 legs making 66604d4cc7 his figure c225766e8e fade from b3668ee480 view.fe32dcf40cd8851f

Arlo gritted f5aacacdf5 his teeth, 0328199ecf his arms 8bc8d0857e trembling.3b26c56d944965b9

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He was so angry he looked like he wanted to shout, but his carefully built image kept him from doing so. After all, it wouldn’t be good if people found out the Crown Prince was causing a scene at someone else’s party.7adc8e6b138f638d

Instead, he 4c3998ad79 vented his fb736faa73 anger elsewhere.b47cb3fa7aabbbbf

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“Did you do it on purpose?”baa39a690f8709bf

“…What?”4fedeb157c61c480

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“Did you purposely stay quiet, trying to make me look bad in front of that guy? Is this your revenge?”8946aee5d2de7dc9

What is he talking 5ce9c063ef about? Eleanor was left 02cc7cf8ef speechless, staring at d15a31cdfa him in confusion.4017976ec1e6e741

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When their eyes 47e9d4aa99 met, Arlo seemed b62a68b84c to realize how ee2c0a5f0f petty he sounded, 6c7f551890 so he turned e8b97f5eeb his head and 34f4a5b28d brushed his bangs 2ea5c540aa aside.b5e5f7334534b49e

‘What an 8d2ce18580 annoying guy.’0edf2e5759811521

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He clenched a66d2550f2 his fist ad30471214 tightly, thinking 097e7b4f8c of Karshian’s b7871d667d shameless face.d2623561e00e8f40

That low-born, uneducated man 17c9145361 always managed to get fd2ec58b22 under his skin.1e8c533e86a11939

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Arlo hated how, feb4b4168e despite not liking 36ccd35c36 parties, he always c0a1b31b93 seemed to run bbe23b2842 into Karshian at f8e5fa54b2 the same events.b7a390dbb133d734

It wasn’t just that.610faa375d16eda1

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The Duke of 8e03750c73 Royster, who didn’t 1e6bf4e81b care about anyone, 1dd40a0f85 always looked at 0ac3b4285f Eleanor with strange 870da5faf1 eyes.7a680e6c6104e828

Arlo’s gaze was not kind or affectionate, but he was aware of a man’s animalistic instinct.faf517d15badf03e

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The guy was dff0a65e02 definitely eyeing his c85f86e87e fiancée in some a6fcc99c00 way.1218801d5504ae56

‘How dare that b5c990746c scoundrel…!’fb56b1b27e4e14d5

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Arlo gritted 37c3e07f3c his teeth, b0dec90fba looking at 0102fbf168 Eleanor.927b8db51cf61cb5

She was staring 3f69387b28 into the distance cc7b4a5001 with a neutral 02c77b44b0 expression, and it 7e8b100b30 annoyed him even 709d7be496 more.6d8032ed132e8401

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‘Why does she look 7c8939f12e so plain?’61e6d61ca89de5b3

No wonder someone 4b848b1dad like him would 6cc104e8d6 show interest. Arlo clicked his 6f2d6817c9 tongue.0c0c484a5c49a5cf

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His fiancée 47d77ef8f7 was always 1f5762e30f out of 9f82fd10a1 touch with 44477204f2 the latest dfd87c1458 fashion.f346050addcd0102

Sometimes she wore 49e98dee6e dresses that looked f310ba0125 like they belonged 01668c510d to her older 62b98ad447 sister, too baggy 9f0fdd6c45 and outdated.d825826249009258

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Other times, 516fc61df3 she stuck 3797da92c2 to plain b05e9f4cbf outfits.0e534e542d38f5b4

No matter what she f531d82879 wore, she always looked de6e85d18e dull, like the clothes bfb883a476 didn’t suit her.3136bc063d8e83e8

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Despite her noble birth 47715416e5 and natural beauty, she ce42ff36da wasn’t mocked, but older bfcfe5765f women would praise her d7724ffa4e for being the perfect 88a00a7c2d example of a modest ba0d080e72 lady.107ff768da59dc3d

Still, Arlo was embarrassed 09fb5a7d99 to be seen with 1d75dbe4fb her. She didn’t live fc9e0cb7c5 up to his 81e37a93a1 standards.bd59143dc003941d

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Today’s dress was 85c5f2d548 slightly better than db5e951929 usual, but it b2de2aa445 was still outdated.10cf7f22aee0c2fa

He sighed 6b7cbccff3 and tried 0f61b97b0c to suppress 7a34dade9a his emotions. At least her face, 78d86c08a9 when she looked up 5496e2ffdd at him, was pretty b07ce36a40 enough to make up 3cc06752f9 for it.9f75885004201af6

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After all, she e40832c912 was still Princess 75478ce523 Eleanor of Astria.e9d66794274e5d68

“…Elli. I think I overreacted. If you were shocked, I apologize.”ae8ce52ec4c86f4f

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“What?”0a719e31d214b18c

“I think I was frustrated because you misunderstood me. I know the situation isn’t great, but… I still care for you.”50a9fdf45afef624

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He spoke softly, 6de9ba82a4 interpreting her silence 4d0fdbf387 as a sign 43cf41b544 that she was 9fff563c15 touched by his 1cd7d50e10 words.b06261ea758fd04f

Eleanor’s lavender-colored a4dede1dd1 eyes trembled 7c40ce522b faintly.72c065ee471cf90f

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Arlo mistook her 24778eac0f silence as a 5b03ae9561 good sign and c62a716a72 continued in a aa4121881c gentle voice.a83c6045a0bc5911

“Eleanor Astria, my precious fiancée. I don’t want to lose you because of this misunderstanding.”dbdf6233fd1afd04

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His large hand c2adc5bf6a stroked her blonde ef4a108571 hair gently. Eleanor stood 279c524119 frozen, not 44454c466e moving.fbe103b2f116f6da

“Since you’re tired, maybe you should go back now. Shall I take you back to the Duke’s residence?”996e2c8d1270a4ac

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“…No, it’s fine. You must be tired, so go ahead. I’ll stay here and get some fresh air.”22a7029e5942042d

“Alright then. I will visit you again soon.”e5e1ebb60e110118

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Arlo lightly tapped her eeda66058f shoulder and left.123309343450a46e

Eleanor, left 88b96b7e3c alone, slowly 069e95b367 lifted her e42177f47e head to 0ac6eff89f look at 8b25f87068 the sky.d1dfdb3df70c208c

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The sky had 47eaefdf3d turned dark, with 050ce85f4c a bright full 9f7119a769 moon hanging high.9479705c2904f85a

As she looked 2fbf9f5c9e at the moonlight 5b14370071 that gently touched be49444d96 her palm, she 3fb277306d replayed the voice 064c066227 that echoed in f390d928dd her mind.462c3fe757827f41

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“I still care for you.”aec8653ef96dd5e1

“Eleanor Astria, my precious fiancée.”0b0f04e5b648378e

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To someone, it 8ae6b7b7ca might sound sweet f73b28881d and dreamy, but 4420793557 Eleanor couldn’t stand d45c502565 it.7fe9b8975584974d

‘Arlo doesn’t care 89c34e94cb about me.’d6aa58bf5afad1ba

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Eleanor smiled e2a39b7ddb bitterly as d820eba314 she looked 050948dafb at the cb2a31ceae moonlight.4a430cb3482055d4

Then, she slowly fe01654a8d walked towards a ab9f9ab94b dark, uncomfortable alleyway, 124b789c6a where no one de98b74898 was looking for 483db9943e her.70b4c349b0689749

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‘Eleanor Astria. He only c04af2a1c9 cares about e2dd7e8d81 that name.’eea26e3d32aca2c8

No matter 798ba952e2 who it 32f01c1cb0 was.823341e8bc56a68d

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 7b005043b5ad7a07