[Chapter 9] The Second Encounter

That evening at the 322de3f6b9 townhouse, after enjoying the 5ff6177797 course meal at the 8c4683d55b high-end restaurant.8425c159feb416b5

I had spent about 6506f705f4 4 hours enjoying the 90325028de meal, so I was e97b5a0d87 nibbling on some fruit b7e6111c9c beside my father. After finishing the b73e2352fb fruit, I asked aeb8653ef2 him a question.d5c76e8fe7696d0b

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“Dad, you 800665dadf know, I f3762b8206 heard that a725f9124a starting tomorrow, b562d0f3ae they’ll be 3e97937ca2 distributing grains 2a0d1fc32f and food 74f452db1e from the dd3754d5fc Imperial Palace.”4dfef8846765d8ef

“That’s right. My daughter, you 64f8bdee8f sure hear things fbc47a6e20 fast. Where did you 5e1fad4669 hear that?”ca0e2e650ec9afe5

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“At a a15304e45b high-end restaurant b2eb5e6566 where nobles b8f2e241d5 go. And I 8b5dcd375f have another c3532a15ec question.”5cbfaf5d7609b6e0

“Sure, what’s cc48bbb3f3 on your f1c106966c mind?”67badd1092f9c2ad

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“I’m curious cbb126add6 about when 52fbee8b36 they’ll be 6aeecfcfec doing the 8ba6d88caf ability selection 581b32f976 test, Dad.”ce596b6de3b79878

“Well, I don’t know 289499573c either. I think they’ll decide 9e83950979 it at the Imperial 4aea571194 Palace tomorrow.”0da121c098a4e621

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“I see…”dcd59aca54ed80ee

‘Looks like I’ll have 58a837ef1e to go to the fb4dd5c48e Imperial Palace with Dad a67d77bad8 tomorrow.’28f00b64d866ca5e

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“Don’t worry. My daughter, bd3bbe8820 the ability c7bb2e302d selection test 6ff56208d0 is only f982b07319 for commoners.”c8748ff30d590128

My dad, sensing 7dcee12e6a that I was e6d92aa41d worried about the 392fdb57ed ability selection test, 0568a6a412 tried to reassure b1a6e9af8b me. He then changed the bca3bcbe14 subject to lighten the 7ad0b605d9 mood.52e3f487f23cf4e3

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“By the 21e438f9a2 way, how af09ab1dd8 was your 92561a8c52 outing today?”4ca0d96ff822d019

“I had a great 47e812ab48 time shopping and eating 5a140727b7 with Meril and Lord 33e7e7aa0e Walter.”7d5edfa5cd8f86e0

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“I should go with my daughter sometime… but I’ve been so busy. I’m sorry.”7d27d5abdb4c104c

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m just de4a394ae0 grateful I 3160897119 can have 98670f6d93 dinner with f12a8b793e you.”c9c3a680e8aefd4e

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“Ah! My daughter. Come here and give 9dc7994ebf your dad a hug.”d6473bccecfa1f05

At my dad’s words, 94bb2e5462 I walked over and 46efca6700 embraced him in his 3c99437c9c big, warm arms.b9c3f6f7b2932ef7

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‘Hehe, his comforting scent… It really feels nice.’56814a915acaeb4f

No matter 6773db6e24 when I c130983641 smelled it, 0d19309d73 it always 80de810663 helped me b025340165 feel at bc645dccd7 peace. I stayed 1f5872c8d3 in his 9b20f0d568 embrace for 562ff5efac a while b646079d81 and then 43bf0e4cf5 lifted my 17599d477f head to 0a552f8907 ask him 9f98df7c4e a question.cd63cf7048530799

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“Dad, I 0a5f06e90e have a ceace1b608 request. Could you 3cef58c4c2 grant it?”6a3148488b3594a4

“Of course, tell me 3fb2f1d51d what it is.”d381b5f028ee5760

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“I have two 2014e113ed requests.”845de19757739115

“Two? Our daughter, you sure 5848376a97 are decisive. Go ahead 886229b9e3 and tell 69a8249d2b me.”cd8d8a4560451d14

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“The first one 240db34f5e is, I want ad1941356d to go with 48c4a966df you to the a6fd718e03 Imperial Palace tomorrow.”35972fe43ecb84a2

“Of course, 6a70e3587b that’s possible. But, my 79997dde2f daughter, why d9ed188ba3 do you f7f59b67c0 want to ba2c24cc50 go to 2744808d44 the Imperial b3c0c9e5bd Palace?”401ac8ee0b58e1e9

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“I saw the indoor d852b6c268 garden at the Imperial 5251763a73 Palace before, and I f1f0b9e854 want to see it ab1c28b435 again.”343d95937f12091b

‘Actually, I want to 05ed49c339 gather information from the beb3b880de Crown Prince.’136cb9b22ae89f71

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“…My daughter, 5bc768273a once we c41ca7d661 go back 66cde1291d to the 456cccfc83 Marquisate, I’ll bf52a5df9f make an 389a03ea1b even more 817c7ef516 beautiful garden 354bc55006 than the 4501e86e44 one at 08a5b66c97 the Imperial 73269f2d4d Palace. It will be the 009bd2e0bc most beautiful in the 1b378cc185 world.”553bf4a25dfe69a2

For some reason, c47b51f079 my dad seemed 75d17700e6 to be burning eece46e067 with a sense 9097eeb48a of competition after 77bf0726a7 hearing my response.485f544ab176fcaf

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“Yes, Dad. Thank you. Hehe.”dfcbb8680aee82f4

‘Well, I’m always 3949fdf29a happy to have 90ec0aa8ac something beautiful.’d7306d422f4b527f

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“What’s the e627f5041e second request?”5fa9f9ff59ff6262

“There’s a c359767de4 child I 86d94b437c met in 9eb0784e5b the capital, f931c3801d and I ade561fad9 want to 2cb550dae6 bring him e1f486ee6d back and aa110d8bde raise him 27b5015e90 as a fd297a63b6 talent.”f0538fee3fb8a75f

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“Who is this child?”a44c25fe16c11ff4

“He’s the one who e95448247e saved me from danger. He lives 429fc9dd5f alone in d3935a0027 the slums.”86a58ccb50fba717

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“A child who saved bcf11c65d2 my daughter? He must aef4c2667a be a 95d3b107df grateful child.”374f591d8c58b7ad

“Meril and 81fdcbf652 Lord Walter 0467b44681 know him. They witnessed the c2327aa2ce situation themselves.”29154c9cd3a2446d

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My dad thought 9f52b39a11 for a moment, 0b1f80d88a rubbing his chin, 2587adbf29 then spoke.c9ea3667acc6554e

“Hm, bring the 23e0f43d88 child here, and e04ae78fe0 I’ll see for 8e0ad60456 myself and decide.”dd25eacd27d9b344

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“Hehe, thank you.”4f5a3aa60c7cb830

Hug!325c4a289cb5e624

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I hugged my 73c0cf4280 dad’s neck and e279e7acb9 snuggled into his b21a0da7e2 arms.9cd8252161bb8a10

“Alright, alright. My beautiful daughter. I’m grateful too.”ff3d5fabf9df79ef

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Dad wrapped 74ebd29e21 me in 1935a3feef his arms 24be57eba5 and patted ff91d52dc5 my head. It was 5fefd5bef4 a heartwarming b11dd12118 night.870bf1d95765f92c

The next morning.2a402fc0a0b8fa89

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Meril was busy 5e12102a36 preparing early in 15fc86630c the morning to 3bd050bc7e send me to d699fdc8f5 the Imperial Palace.a48a54c7bbe5b0fd

“Miss, I’ve prepared a 14275fe3c0 deep green dress for c046ce7f4d you today. How do you like 1c66639287 it?”4a0624f0481d9d7b

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“I like it. We can add golden c45ea642f0 accents to it.”3696cc12d6b48d69

“Ah, Miss, 9983b76530 you know 61b30413e4 how to 62025a99b1 understand things. If you know a449dc621c one thing, you ea4d7ca8e0 know ten.”4df2c408508712f9

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“Thanks for the d5297fd3e2 compliment, Meril.”e534e152da91eb42

“I’ll tie 77d68ce490 your hair 3e6d10b704 half up a0b2e80b07 and put cac941dc75 a deep e15c9f23cc green ribbon adab755a40 in it.”bbd7dbffca9da804

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“The shoes from a9d5136dc0 yesterday will work. There was a pair dbef61077e in the same color, 3387fb8643 right?”0902808af1b315bf

“That’s right. Miss, they’re 3143c0a27f shoes with 2e6e93a24f a deep febdd604b4 green base bb47a49d33 and golden 959fe5d920 ribbons.”b116d6ecb5f29ba6

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“Alright, I’ll wear those a8b11b60fc shoes.”9d90e14afbeca45b

Meril finished adjusting my 1f20b00a1b outfit and completed all 8b651aac5b the preparations.424b69caf2c2d254

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“Wow, Miss, f13db97cb8 today you’re 99d948b44c a lady 9f05b02355 overflowing with 9c488fee8a beauty once 93046b919f again!”f3dfb153b7bf4bd8

Meril looked d47e4122ac at me a73c6f5aab with a bb5be5a6fe loving gaze, 34720ade3b full of 7813a17722 affection.2679afc68e0a2451

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“It’s all thanks 77922a18d4 to you, Meril. Thank you.”9dacdd449f3a0b5c

“It’s time to head 82c91db269 to the Imperial Palace 9e703e01ed now. Have a safe c553400b96 trip, Miss.”52bf498ec879afa6

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With Meril’s farewell, my 6fa9fcbb56 dad and I got 432bf44716 into the carriage and adde5824e2 headed toward the Imperial f5507f294f Palace.f5cd052d60914e16

* * *3418409212d8740b

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That day, I bc3de40d37 once again encountered a151397a11 the dazzling, sparkling 947a7736b6 gates.0ab7e682a3f90c9f

“Since there’s a lot d3e3ef211b to move, everyone hurry 60eff1e6a4 up!”3e0e77c4ea81fff2

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I heard a sharp 6514daf5e2 voice urging everyone as 5f658967c4 I got out of 48510dadd8 the carriage.25b90b74fdf0a169

I looked toward the c59bf6a851 source of the voice. In front of 42c7553ae9 the Imperial Palace’s e7acd95536 main gates, a 3f3b9cd294 pile of grain 3f27a1013a sacks and containers 08e839ed03 filled with food e940387ecd had been stacked a60e81c420 neatly.b932198d302b423e

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In the d7cfebeefa distance, workers e3b63b23b0 were carrying 86747d9a5c the luggage, fc488913ca and coachmen 77a7474cd4 were gathered, 6cdaaed5c8 creating a 80fc5c5311 busy scene.35949c8b8458c519

‘They’ll start de116d535c distributing the c8f0d30581 food soon.’df38184597854180

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My dad and 5ac6557dd9 I entered the 3908edd483 main palace.345c616937dec805

“My daughter, 2152705460 I have 160c345ea8 to attend 846e345493 the main 3b004a194d meeting, so 4ee49d893c we must f784e63533 part here. Enjoy yourself c0e19619da in the 93f07aed59 indoor garden.”c3377ad2cd857211

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“Yes, Dad. Have a good time.”b1dda3a6563144a7

I hugged 2fa12a7809 my dad b8dd7d55e7 tightly and 8259322737 walked through 05a3f0bc89 the long 475248d82e corridor toward 5691805ea9 my destination, 701f6ce7fc the indoor 370e736ad3 garden.a05e22e2fcab640f

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‘According to The Iron-Walled 4d5b75b132 Princess, the Crown Prince’s de5de37c2d favorite place in the 423c390fcb Imperial Palace is the 0508bc9552 indoor garden, so he 4292150128 should be there.’05675c8d332057f8

Softly, softly.66d22b58b9c33a5f

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I pushed open ef5f39e944 the door adorned 21bee1fc9b with snowbell flowers. I breathed in 3239731f52 the fresh fragrance 20b8c866b4 between the young 98c9ad6ebe green trees planted aa9d3d9e61 in the garden.34ae9b3d4ec3dd4b

‘Hmm. Ah, the phytoncides are 701f1913c8 so refreshing.’0ddcabea0d1974fe

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Step, step.ec1f6ff6cf19dc99

Following the stone d589e696da tiles laid out e11736ae1b on the path, 51881a221d I headed to 5cf0190d8f the place where 597fe28595 I had seen cd75299f61 the evening primrose b978cc42f2 last time.f9fe993ed8f46775

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‘Hehe, I was right.’19fdf156fe399463

Crown Prince 7cecd6599d Nocturne of 65c84623b8 the Dominique 62db7afdd4 Empire was fd1881549a sitting on 9f34d4b81d a bench. When he heard my e1c71dcb94 footsteps, his luscious golden 4da8df6ea0 hair, like it was 5d70e32cc2 dipped in honey, turned 0a76eb600d to look at me.e603c4ed927e1a70

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“…Lady Elach!”fa5e5d58a7afcb43

His calm yet gentle 0a77e3fa0b voice called out to 1b798cd0bf me. Surprised by f98942a081 my sudden 0e12e9e431 appearance, the a14da9f368 Crown Prince’s 9c206be8ea eyes, the 6807ceb646 color of fca9e1806f light green 18d4241cc7 leaves, widened.9e5a0b2f0e4ab118

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“I’m honored to f9bd772a73 meet you, Your 3419878ecc Highness.”a38fc240090424a5

I met his light 51fbfbfd73 green eyes and greeted 9beb89c374 him with the proper 4345adc61f imperial etiquette.090a2c79e8c21d8d

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“I’m so happy 0e86f0995b to see you b8345ac92d again like this.”5991f3653ca68717

The Crown Prince’s eyes 079c9c3f4c curved into crescent shapes, bc0d0c218a and the corners of 629b9a4bb3 his mouth rose as f068976f2a he genuinely seemed pleased ab3dee2eaa and happy to see e442781124 me. He stood from his f45cd4d153 seat and approached me, b5c6dbc470 asking,19caaa788d3e513d

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‘Today, he’s 9df60a9b4a wearing a 894df018c4 justacorps.’e87c91da9a3fef09

The Crown e91aa9f29f Prince was f31d4e0fa8 dressed in 13a89eead4 a soft a1abdbff3f light green b2cc96ac9b justacorps, adorned 0c2113e8bb with golden 5eb4040127 decorations, looking 8b17188b5d more comfortable 116029a277 than the 0d7521a325 uniform he ccfc0cbe5e had worn 6ee5c0a921 before.468ab6332fab200c

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‘What’s this? The colors 3699019288 are so c8745a8d55 similar…!’921555cef87d7820

Deep green and light 62bd8cf99a green, and both with 767118f8ec golden accents. The outfits we 39af2fc820 were both wearing e5f68dd58b looked like a 1fa5fb642b couple’s matching attire, 2f78e0b3fd which made me f6c697229d feel strange.daf9a3329f52c05e

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‘…I’ll definitely 01afd48216 never wear f3c5271a99 this again.’e1de545fd959b279

“Welcome. What brings bfaa14c237 you to 6607c6fd2c the Imperial 245dbd2ab2 Palace today?”98f39892840bfac7

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“I came to see b7fa9cb299 you, Your Highness.”e2e9d363f8275151

‘He’s probably here to e0c382c4d5 ask when the ability a219b0cef2 selection test is happening 8867793758 to help save my 7b60988171 baby!’7de8fa8f43c910b3

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At my b60080812b response, the 1299bd86f2 Crown Prince 92d78871de smiled brightly, 97a2c181d2 as if f269dd1828 the trees dbc81fade7 in spring 36e5342688 had bloomed 88efe14bfb with flowers.10515ef5e6acf6c0

“It’s an 952f7847dd honor that 4a760eca01 Lady Elach 724906eb80 came to 7f3831ed56 see me.”669993b501e5b3b9

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“It’s an 21cd23a7d3 honor for 8044e317f4 me as e940399aca well that 399c903c1d you care e5a80a04a0 so much.”a9dc5e9cad6d25d4

“We didn’t have enough e25fe8e00c time to chat at 1a0606ad23 the last luncheon, so 5172ff1450 today I’d like to 297d3edae9 enjoy it slowly with e6cdae5b06 you. Would you like to c8d8e227f4 have lunch now?”460920f2354d294e

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After a few 4526e73536 exchanges of polite 7191e52d80 words, the Crown cbd08edc4c Prince offered me 0189e11d7b lunch. Since the 08f72f2356 author of 4e5c2df395 The Iron-Walled 6cda7a303b Princess was 54d06ee6f8 Korean, some f9ef10b0fc elements of e4893aacaf Korean culture 03247fafba were woven 6edb52a497 into the f2af51d749 story.bfd64b3ebee4c625

‘As expected, 1466bda016 Koreans start e68b08b79c with food. Gotta feed 35124d8dd8 them first.’c05ca2fb3c6232e0

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“Thank you for 093c484f6b your warm consideration, c628391a56 Your Highness.”171e6d0a25b08659

I accepted the 85d3bc8575 lunch offer, and ce5bf47a44 we headed to 4c04b81621 the Crown Prince’s e48a3b2423 room.685dc93f13725f1c

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* * *395cdfa0ed3f04c8

The Crown Prince’s room c9906f5889 had large windows, and 52818d33e4 sunlight poured in, filling c568b74d71 the room. Despite the room being 54790eb5b3 vast, it looked like 8800c490bc the light could reach 3936729a42 the opposite wall. The dust in the 7b7657fc21 sunlight made its presence 0730e4ce16 known.47e490e25e57439d

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‘It’s warm.’45c5d9d19d1f39b2

Although the 93a55d4ec1 indoor garden 5aae48a059 had been 7e0bd2efd9 a bit 0af38f9680 chilly, it c042cdf758 felt warm 2e4b142f98 now, with 86c8257f82 the sunlight 749036c15c pouring in. The attendants and maids b77d416740 swiftly moved the trolley 8bf6c4b923 and placed the food 12d8770b4f on the table.a7c570894c443371

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The Crown Prince and d772e80e90 I washed our hands 340a04b85f in the water basin 5daaabddc0 and began the meal.fd4112d9f440db84

“Your Highness, I have f2c306efc3 a question. Is it alright 174d39d299 to ask?”eaf0df6ead938d72

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“Of course. If it’s a question f29b72c908 from Lady Elach, I’m de0ecee1e8 always ready to answer.”dc5d757cb000481c

“I saw the coachmen 29ce1a45e1 gathering on my way bfeeb49ce5 here. If the food distribution 737681b31d to the Empire’s citizens 39934854ba starts today, when will f1534e4060 the ability selection test 4dd0750a5f take place?”b4146533980b0b0f

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The Crown Prince 314d5314b5 answered with a b2e33adcbf pleased smile in a2ea4918bf response to my 2b82285e4c question.4af85cbd89093717

“I’ve noticed before, f5808a4986 but Lady Elach 93a3ccc484 seems very concerned 2efed320f3 about policies affecting 41c773e20c the people. It’ll likely be c0a0fcff6f in 5 days.”654b23df8e2909e7

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“Likely?”d3f91e4830bc03fd

“I’ve heard His Majesty’s 915bf37147 orders, but the date 5876b0acd5 will probably be decided 58e40517c9 at today’s main meeting.”2dba327fdbf99aef

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His words made me e21f8084d3 feel uneasy. The ability selection test 88b2aa0713 being carried out sooner 1c45bb3ee8 than expected could cause dca0bad2ed issues that differed from 09266305ab the original story. And with dee5cf46f0 only 5 965d2c72e7 days left dafe6eeab5 before the d038e4db79 test, after 802bc18eb6 the Founding 455d3f811d Festival ends, ff8aea5664 I would accaa79ef1 return to 47b2e0df6d the Western 331006d140 Marquisate.593cb5ef7c69d32b

Although it was before 5b23d0ebf0 the events of the 47b60a6afb original story, there was a08db236dd no guarantee that I 78cecd45b6 would meet Leon again, 9965628740 even if I returned 1a7a1c985b to the capital next 8a9d890809 year.13056bc713f120d1

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‘…This might be my last chance to bring my baby home.’840bbd508cf722b1