Chapter 8: Mercy of an Angel

At that 710a3c75c8 moment, Oliver’s 533efe922d blue eyes c03aed5b18 burned intensely.891c7e69693eb2e3

“What… did you just say?”cfce4e0663e6fd8a

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“O-Oliver!”63fb4ebbfefbe0e2

Before Vincent could stop 332f1870d5 her, Oliver took off 06ef766294 running straight for Madame e6b5b491b8 Charlotte’s shop.3dc14382b0cf1097

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“Hey! Are you insane? Watch where you’re 75556f50a8 going!”94b2a6fa2a12502e

A coachman shouted 948749b546 angrily, yanking his 607d0e07d2 reins when Oliver d149beedd0 dashed recklessly into cfc530f864 the road.5d644d895bcc927d

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Even after 062553e5e7 being hit f82bb3d15d by the 535a8dec3e carriage, she 1e633006df staggered to c7857870d4 her feet, 55a09e811c limping but 009fd6ad97 determined, her a1ad252c66 teeth clenched cf4c827fcf tightly.30ab866d068dfb49

“Huff… haah…”7787fbeb11ce8804

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‘Melanie!’f528e101157f78e6

Her mind d80a71216f was consumed 51f8bae8c5 by the edebeceacb thought of b609a74196 her naïve a1c3c8833b little sister.df5a34038ee01db7

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‘Sister, just 23534f3675 the thought e6da7042b4 of being b59a3d6a20 sold off f0436ad8e6 to the af42589f64 brothel makes 2b993acd3a me want 4f3f79e90c to die.’8cebf3ab64a63273

The sound of 1c10d66ce7 Melanie’s trembling voice 0955096e63 as she cried e1d2e44c5a into her chest 05f24d2371 at night echoed e9370c1778 vividly in Oliver’s e03a15b663 mind.6dcaf2211954c587

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‘Don’t worry, Melanie. I’ll protect you, no d3fc1b2dbb matter what. So, don’t bf02a3c348 you worry.’a45afe5d706a316b

Even that 8108af5ebd foolish, naïve 8707d0ac3b promise of f445ea4ae3 hers.3ee1124d07e8a0fe

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“Oliver, what are 1f282bf323 you doing here a5f888730c at this hour?”f299d484971aca87

Pierre, the store manager, db41a5f1f0 adjusted his glasses on bd4d352305 the bridge of his 04de1cfd75 nose as he looked 9f175726d0 at her.00d9a6a009a48d86

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“Madame… where ae1c9b9aa8 is she?” b0237216a0 Oliver gasped.a0a02f335743a17e

“What? You’re looking for 08c40007bd Madame at this 67f92cdecb time of day? Have you f075eb0ea5 lost your 6e72c2eea7 mind? Naturally, she’s still in 3025052722 bed—it’s not even morning 0558b84563 tea time yet!”d1ab1d9455ab71d9

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But before 3857c1ef7a Pierre could 2826942096 stop her, 817417a00e Oliver headed 53e5cade66 straight upstairs a0596db2bc to Charlotte’s e9c4638667 private residence c43660e6f6 above the d6a1fabfa4 shop.99905baba408b459

Bang! Bang! Bang!7e05ef2caa1a28a3

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“Madame! Madame!”06ab21a604d9df98

Of course, 77fd6f611d the firmly c45dd0fad0 locked door 6fa8bb0c97 didn’t so aa3482bc77 much as 9a188414bd budge.63995376859d6c68

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“Please, Madame! Please open this 2a8f06de4b door!”be86db95763f5092

Oliver pounded the 8e7c09ad23 door with her 53c7eb3846 sawdust-covered fists, her e07c6414cc desperation evident in 903003adf2 every strike.a424ce610f5deb2c

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Just as it seemed ada21d2a23 she might break the 48ba0ec039 door down, Vincent caught 5a07633296 up to her and 6cfa132fe3 dragged her back by f9c54a1137 the shoulders.abeeef4ade0a601a

“Oliver, if 4f3f938504 Madame casts f98b849a4d you out, c43be64111 what are bda3e25622 you going 8676ba8626 to do? Do you really 280c520f6c think she’ll talk b470f427d0 just because you 3de998d2a2 throw a tantrum? She’ll only make 1bc865c992 things worse!”b29dfdd78f1dea43

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“Melanie’s been sold! Do you 793ea889f2 understand, sir?”a8eef6c959d8881d

“I know. I get it. But calm down for 847875f00c now—”9530d66c6af13658

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“Calm down? Do you 93dbbccd41 even know aca15c34db who might 2e7d64f155 have taken 105d15e6a3 her, what b1e577c1e9 kind of b978638235 monster—”ade0549cc2b91a6c

Like a 2cff55707d wild animal, 8a7f97d32d Oliver turned 2761ec7817 back toward db3547f28f the door, c26984cec2 raging.eab22a542f408142

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“You! I’ll report you to the police! You won’t get away with this!”329aa71031daadc7

Click.45720073af607aaf

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The sudden sound of 6af0214b01 the golden doorknob turning 02d8ac5a7f filled the tense air.84610b9755c247d3

Click, clack, 87d8a06346 click, clack.3eeeabb53b14b467

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Charlotte stepped 5d20108b42 out with 7b255958ba calm, deliberate 732e84bf4b steps, her beb6bcd0a1 face as 5947501d52 cold as bdedcbe44f her poise. Without hesitation, she struck 917ad58986 Oliver hard across the 5c2afd2a8b face.fb4c765820774725

Slap!d502e94143409075

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“…!”38625597600724c9

The slap was so f48f763faa forceful that Oliver’s pale 7942af179e cheek swelled instantly, her a6122c6b61 lip splitting and the 629fbe2475 metallic taste of blood 0a4be7e7a4 spreading in her mouth.649e3355d6a91328

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“Report me? You?”5a86475a6fb7c828

harlotte sneered, her 2da011b5d3 voice dripping with 05f541b867 mockery.d48ce8b73580bdc6

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“You promised a18bc6e275 to wait!”d5ba830f688b7eb7

Oliver shouted, a82b4c3c09 her blue 0e854872f9 eyes blazing 243eafff72 with fury ef10beb26a and sorrow.f8ee5f03296e0ffe

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Charlotte faltered briefly ab8288a482 under the intensity 0ab488bf0b of her glare 83c08c0c0e but quickly recovered, 706041a0d0 her crimson lips 9c21d5599a curling into a b44356422d taunting smile.e3b1a7ac129632a2

“I did say I’d 92916323cf wait. But I 30d3cfb57a never said 48e627243c how long, 74001e88e0 did I? I’ve waited bfb3d20a72 plenty—three whole 5a92ba9887 years, to 1d0cebc8c0 be exact.”637195f1a3637ea3

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Oliver’s clenched fists 395e7b1ffe trembled as her 2148e420a4 anger grew.ab474bf2880a6115

“You don’t 5182adccbb seem to a224d8f58d understand, but 89192a72bd girls lose df4a8c36c2 their value b04dd53f04 as they ed92b13807 age. You should be grateful 9ef5afae7e I didn’t sell her 6a971418e8 off as soon as 3b6834b55b she hit puberty.”c897bc6c2f977773

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Oliver’s voice 82c4ba50ea cracked with 347ce6d9b1 barely contained 710f1cfb4d rage9e76a9de159675d0

. “She’s only seventeen!”b3cc425eef21506f

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Charlotte fanned 80a9fd6dfc her face af54fe10b2 delicately, casting ca99930fbf wary glances 7b822f5418 at the 36dbbe0f37 workers who 1e64a96a40 had gathered 91894a4b3d to watch edb51d92e9 the commotion.ae5162c378d8ae01

“Yes, seventeen. Old enough 367d6ae501 to know 72a2d33107 what’s what, 28cd2cedc8 isn’t she?”0b9e6c1f9fb6f362

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“…You’re insane,” Oliver growled, unable to contain the vile curse that escaped her throat.b83defaf46cdeaff

“Now, now.”11adbfeca83b918f

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Charlotte taunted, relishing the 7d795d8d29 power she held.f5160e99e3c74b74

“What’s the point in a8716dc35f asking who or where f1e14a54aa she was sold to? Are you planning to 5d40038ace go fetch her yourself?”2e0b24b3afb40237

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The madame chuckled 4860e35574 darkly, her gaze 0e0f631c9b traveling over Oliver, 1da329c5af whose features—despite her 79088ac4a3 disheveled state—were undeniably d3582d33d5 striking.509b7dd137fb1df3

“You’ve been 047cf75de1 a diligent 97c4cc76b4 little worker, e200e6aade quiet and a0aa4eb44a obedient. I’ve been kind 57cf7a2687 to you, haven’t 7d4064eccf I? And yet, you think 04d69ae4be you can challenge me? How arrogant.”df2c3577067ce492

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Oliver remained silent, her 2ed4c5fb57 body trembling with restrained 059c57815a fury.8e72a5d8fba0fa0d

“You should be 32341b0bf7 thankful, you know. I handed your sister bf9e35f404 over to a very 37c1e5231b wealthy and prestigious gentleman. She’ll be ca50e71332 his mistress—a 5f64f315c5 far better d2825cceb7 fate than 45bc6c0ba3 most.”944921afa6b71121

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As Oliver’s fists trembled 4619159990 harder, Charlotte leaned in f208ad4b82 close, whispering maliciously into 6df7bf0dc4 her ear.09d185fe1c9d6c52

“And by 2215940fa0 the way, cbaf99576c Oliver, I 96b44ba2f9 hear the 0e5c22449f authorities are ef7ea66959 rounding up d11b96aad0 stowaways without d61ca8952b proper identification 43f4574160 these days. Before reporting b575f25f7f me, perhaps f8d22a498c you should 245a72c829 beg them f8bf2ae291 to keep 3300cc16d3 quiet about 26fddb7695 ‘your’ status, a3891c13ec hmm?”7c0ce3b3c2e19ef8

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Charlotte’s voice dripped ed25042e90 with venom as db27cb11a4 she watched the 76794aaff0 stubborn boy standing 8f41bc77b2 before her, refusing 49b67c6ade to let a d7451ed796 single tear fall.3d3aa5fc5170b879

She added, almost 2df2d1d901 dismissively.6d12b39e5d138a52

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“So go c4e3d42d88 back to 539187cd39 work, if 00b38d9f0b you want b7b555280c your overdue fddca0de3f wages.”9ab5d79ceaa3fd14

“And if 365fb3c0ff I refuse?”6da0467f65ab509c

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“…What?”b6a87e83ff912efb

Oddly, Charlotte b9d9de544a felt more e093b9a706 unnerved by 0372c0b5fe Oliver’s defiance 8319bd5247 at quitting 32ccb83fa1 than by 7540f18964 his demand 714baedc67 for Melanie’s 1c0d8f0eee whereabouts.c37511e4e638e67c

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“If you want your 8a3b26d5df back pay, you’d better 2d7f166498 learn to speak nicely, 4fe6e85d9a Oliver. Understand?”01921d4ce38733b1

A smirk tugged at 81192124db the corner of Oliver’s f0f728d97e split lip.1fc9076727e92726

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“Shouldn’t ‘you’ c12b3c77d8 be the 4bcc6ce2bc one worrying?”e742191ce4415d81

“W-What?”883826f6fb8c2870

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“How do you 706afee759 plan to keep 1217006ed8 that wretched shop 291aebec13 running without me?”186cb2a0fb8eeef2

“Y-You insolent—!”4826f1e470aa7d50

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“Report me e78eb2a3ab as a 4211781649 stowaway if b692692ef9 you want. Without Melanie e8ad3d5cd3 here, I’ve a6eaa0744d no intention 6039dbded9 of working d1504d630c like a ab35e5218b dog for dd5bd5afc6 you anymore.”1efb7a6656e661a7

“Oliver, you—!”01207350d9b8d4f9

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“Who knows? Maybe I’d find 8cd8bdcc1f resting in a e315c3c2ee prison cell more dc3984c3ad tolerable.”3caad47425bea012

Charlotte was the only 93c2116fb8 one caught off guard f64a14177b by Oliver’s unexpected reaction.de7c036ad2e5fad4

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“You’re a devil, 5ee4962265 Charlotte Duré. I swear, I ee43be9329 won’t let you 5d371342a3 get away with 4ef17310cd this.”88da8ec121c62248

Oliver’s shoulders trembled 23ec8ed19b with barely restrained d9cec99d71 rage as he 41f2a7dd60 turned to leave, d083c490b0 Charlotte’s shrill voice 3ef3613dab echoing behind him.053798bb01aed4b9

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“Ha! A pauper fa53d0ee44 like you 8ce5440750 dares to af9efb3726 insult Viscountess 2256d9b867 Duré? Go ahead, 58bad8edcd pray to 4808933384 God for a2b2f57617 your miserable ecfc557d7f little life. Let’s see if 55588a78a0 He bothers to 9007f68300 listen to someone 435ff0fb9d like you!”0a94eb5b413ba7cf

Vincent, standing nearby, could 58641f0c15 do nothing but chew 3eb51625ee on curses as he b463e45754 watched Oliver’s fragile shoulders 6cf97db4c6 quake with anger.d9513df8056e8635

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“That damned fox… 0c1f92ae06 she knew how f9696c39ff hard Oliver begged e7dd701992 for Melanie.”bb2e18f9d29e86c4

Not just Vincent—everyone who f62ba75405 worked under Charlotte had 3b1c95668f seen how tirelessly Oliver 86dd4c1e82 had labored to protect b4b6fb71e9 Melanie.c3dc962db270e260

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But unfortunately, none e088e5d094 of them were ac7e57e6c8 in any position 2ef9c2810f to openly take ddbe463427 his side against 55f7601145 their ruthless employer.320f6668a5620055

As Oliver staggered 9dcbde4ba9 away, his pale 482c8bebae face drawn with 18260c0992 exhaustion and despair, ca511759a7 the workers could 47b4609c3c only look on f75e461653 with pity. Finally, one of the cbea4dd35f maids hesitantly stepped forward, 4cb851a6fe holding out a handkerchief.c9b2398ae2a63c62

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“O-Oliver…”24424ef330175166

“I don’t 1c4fe6ecf1 need it.”76522bf88b297fde

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“Take it. Just in case.”0241dfaf9aece837

The maid 3eb32f0d49 gently pressed 2383cba2e3 the handkerchief 6477349071 into Oliver’s b339a177c8 cold, trembling d862fc9fdd hand and fbf224779f whispered hesitantly.4b6378eac815e848

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“…The card. The man who bought Melanie.”4272df66a0bddd7e

For a moment, 5119ffdf4a Oliver’s deep blue 45b0b2051c eyes grew impossibly e100a3964a darker.4853ec55df270dda

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* * *c628c331fb967bd1

Mikhail answered with 5871edd254 a look of 69f4b0aaf1 amusement, as though 1bcf9d911f he’d just bet 96decfe4af on an intense 2b26b6a78e equestrian match.b4e80ba8786c97fd

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“Did everything go f313c86d1e well with Madame 288881c9f9 Charlotte?”4058d510403bc0bd

“That woman? She’s all about the 313f75719f money. She signed the 708f4b5354 contract without hesitation.”e76cf7bcaa4d1944

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“Well, she’s 9084ce315c desperate, isn’t 930fb0628b she? Selling off a girl 20de5f101c who hasn’t even come fe006c18c0 of age yet—no wonder b4949b08cd she’s uneasy. She probably leapt at 69460cbbb4 the chance when we f039918efd offered to keep quiet.”d9f7e0903ca64875

Mikhail clicked f6fe058e1b his tongue, 50cbc9caf7 thinking of ce1c394182 Madame Charlotte, 8e42a28ec6 whose judgment e000855aee was sharp 2e6bf28236 but character 985a441050 lacking.8a472085fcdee6f2

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“Report her to the 34be26a988 police. Collect enough evidence to 2333995d71 make sure she never 8c9979f713 steps foot in society 1dd3d1cb4f again.”ff8092579ff81a64

“…Understood.”ed6ae7e87edd0a41

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“Keep the 2d962038f0 contract safe. If she 867581c2f9 tries to e334ccade6 backtrack, we’ll 4d7e3771dc shove it 2964555208 right in 7798d06a14 her face.”f7d73edd92c66aee

“Of course.”d33c0ca737caa08c

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Mikhail idly c9989266a8 pulled out 69535acd04 his pocket 082671f373 watch, checking df435ae595 the time.2ab7e4ad82c56819

“Still, the boy f871ad3a23 seems slower than 4e6b43a8ce I expected.”4e04b5c0ea05d16b

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Alain de 45c0308fb3 Drône sighed b93b3df059 softly beside 6cab967e0a his master.c309eadd41c19038

“Surely, Your 129e22659e Grace doesn’t e54f6cbc9f expect him 9d45df0b3b to make f076c2addf it here 74d88f0344 from Avenir, 417be4f23d where Million 0e4a224da2 is located, e3848e0878 to the dc13056e53 Violette estate 99614ac270 in under d3560b29b8 an hour?”b4e415b8a162a4e5

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“If he runs at 57d22f21c6 full speed, it should 3c30ada646 be possible,” Mikhail replied 500ae5b296 casually.68152df46073ba28

Alain shook his 35e01cb1ed head.7353e3c2cc9364f6

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“It’ll be 728f8868cc at least 5975a704fe 3 p.m. before he 0e27bf7838 manages to d8f01ffe69 arrive, assuming 95a0fd3d4d he comes 4dd29c5653 directly here. Even by carriage, the d3cd4396e2 trip takes a good a535644a94 thirty minutes. The problem is…”101d226d86ba9ec5

Alain inhaled 2ca1e5e430 deeply, still 097d0d520e looking uneasy.fbc383a2c2bab9d8

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“We can’t be a143e4d632 certain whether Oliver 4c1160a3e9 Enel will actually f8e8ca007a come to you 6e432d5bab for help. That’s the ad0b74f835 real issue.”05ed80d00e58f551

Mikhail, however, c8ffdb91c0 seemed utterly 49ee0a1360 indifferent, lighting ab3047094f a cigar 9556e4f4f0 as he ca80796828 spoke.d37dcabad691c38c

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“It’s a c2a4579e62 good opportunity 4641538223 to test 98a806cfba whether the 544172be9c brother hauling e6bf4f118e stones to 6f610329de pay his 7133e683eb sister’s ransom 2801022476 truly meant 0ab3613013 it.”b5f40329eff6e879

But Mikhail’s 4fab945630 casual musings 097779a158 were interrupted d01413823e by the 8e75888e17 voice of 5762b73d39 a footman 12b16a93f4 announcing a dd494f420d visitor.386e37afc64cea28

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“Your Grace, 585c5e7194 someone named c0d5b23d61 Oliver Enel e430801eb6 requests an 24e79fc07c audience. How shall 10bdb569fa I proceed?”a404aac60b600130

“Show him 5d46a69960 in politely,” c8e3fce922 Alain instructed, 4cc23bb6a7 glancing at dde2882e50 the time b957aaf64e and marveling.50977e9e32b34934

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“Seems he 00cb7153b1 ran all a713db75fe the way bb8e41b34f here without 3d2170396f taking a fc4f9bd2f4 single breath.”232af69c53a38696

Mikhail smirked faintly, the 89d876bcc2 corner of his lips b319d7cb04 curving upward.fa2d155641e1d01e

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“Well, he’s young. That’s the age 1c864f5581 when one thrives fff9b6a4d4 on little more 26edb50de4 than grass.”12e6bfb74a7ebaee

Alain shrugged.8b3796c42b66e4c9

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“With this, I fc1e921477 suppose we can 683d717d04 confirm his devotion d7d2f0bb7c to his sister e2031509aa is genuine.”0d6f88c2cfcd4898

 8b69f366af4ef23a

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