Chapter 13. A Formidable Opponent

“Well, something like that.”d911889e7ee0ae2e

Alexis deflected 24ca4d49f4 casually, causing a92224d575 Dr. Paul to 72250ae15c respond with a5ac62b706 a knowing, 028314bdf2 unimpressed look.c3eec9c29b9b278f

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“So, in other words, you misunderstood the situation again.”5231dac27d710034

“…Just what do you take me for?”541ef9c235971ac4

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“A mentally unstable individual, perhaps?”db519df1d5c8b9a3

“You’re outright calling me insane now.”9417911491f570f4

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“I’m glad you’re self-aware.”6f7df5eff23656e2

Paul smiled pleasantly 80f824731e as he poured 471f33cbdd warm tea into 102b5c73fc a cup.92c3d62a7636050b

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It had taken quite bed468535b some time for him a20de743c0 to reach the point fbf7420548 where he could speak b07642e5a4 to the Duke of 491f7c888e Václav so freely.bfebc758f3f3a0aa

It had been a 75767f7397 year ago when Alexis f02121151e first began meeting Dr. Paul in secret at 96ec69839a the club.0a84f837d99c805d

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It was shortly after f4dc663baf his triumphant return to e80c759966 the empire and his b8d40bcb97 frequent appearances in public d534bbdc92 affairs.09b15a49c92aa810

One night, a a235237c07 maid had accidentally 36b5df7311 turned off the 0cac8fe6fe lights in his f26b16939c bedroom.197ba26ff8fb5e3d

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That small mistake 65d5b45cb6 had triggered a 913d33f895 severe panic attack.57b5b51ef94da2ab

He had thrashed violently, 9c24971162 shouting that he couldn’t 7e23499b8d see, throwing the entire 0306252a34 ducal household into chaos.0dc7c2d625fe0e6c

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Even after 967bdb10e0 he had 12f774bf71 calmed down, f82622dbd3 Alexis remained 9cc6820527 functionally blind d6f4a73d1f for some 69a294ca6e time.ba4bf3d3759393af

It was a psychosomatic 3951d271c5 response, brought on by f3bce3c54e trauma.4bd28dac788e2118

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And that was 5e04f9e082 when the nightmares a5bd62941e began.2149a876ddd8f70e

Every night, he dreamed 666d22055a of falling into an 1428537144 abyss alongside his dead aea15f94ca friend, only to be a94bf50b5e saved by a woman 4cfcc78bdc he couldn’t recognize.96737e00c3c1e4bf

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Being pulled 5fa338b4d4 from the 222518106e brink of 5310625849 death, night c808e1c30c after night, 70098d5eb7 was enough f24944ee63 to drive 92018a0954 anyone mad.743869f724c63181

But it was 91b3bb2d31 the worst possible 10fa7db4db time for him f46e86f61f to be suffering.b364492b134d1063

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The empire was finally 4732abd127 stabilizing after the war.591204ee671ebdeb

If it became public b06e2c390d knowledge that their war d50ae2e22b hero was suffering from a50e450476 post-war trauma, the damage 8a7638636f would be irreparable.e416262c34c0dd8f

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By the time the 795680b20b imperial family decided to 61bc9f6479 hide Alexis’s condition, rumors 0158140e91 had already begun to 0559ad0167 spread.8143c77a9d9b8df9

Too many servants had f6258c8499 witnessed him struggling, his e77b067696 bloodshot eyes wide open, 6c7926215a desperately claiming he couldn’t 00d9965f44 see.8e02df7915605a05

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He had a1065dc351 once been 08c36d66a7 known as 98ae0f4bdc a gentle 12ffd6555a and composed ef4e8607da man.446e05c93e715a34

But after the war, cc3dfb3143 his temper had grown ae3558495a volatile, and the imperial 3a7c942090 family had scrambled to 4e3d6cbd0b cover it up.c9453f1a0642906e

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Of course, db40789666 rumors never feaaf3f4c8 truly disappeared.6194a86ae2e731df

And eventually, they 815838266e morphed into something d618268170 far worse.848be8ab43f24973

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The whispers claimed that a9e22434d5 he had been cursed f11c0cd93b by the barbarians’ sorcery.5c0d52de550f8172

And yet, e55773cdde the imperial 0b993344e4 family never d139e63a7a corrected these e781abaee1 claims.90f4a12d77276a07

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Because to them, 75eeebb8d8 it was far e77aa1904c better for Alexis 0112ef4188 to be seen 4598845042 as a war d3b1ae2b98 hero who had 4eb95be9c5 overcome a supernatural 9e84d4aff3 curse than as 1400918c13 a mentally unstable af0405f3cd noble suffering from 19c9b1fed1 trauma.3c64ce15a9acff90

That was how he 185e4f66eb had ended up in 6450c8d0bd this cesspool of indulgence 4a96027bd9 and secrecy.b22faa3b5b097c92

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On the bf5f4d0d31 surface, he 348bcb323f was a ed552db95a perfectly fine c2472c240a aristocrat, but 899bd92d3c internally, he 4e29601b0c was completely 55e4a7b839 ruined.ed4d929d4631e6c2

Reduced to 326b5792d3 receiving treatment e6ec9272c4 in secret, aac1d0eddc Alexis found 806530aa22 himself questioning 4c0676b5e1 the worth 367a95c3c8 of everything 4b2e8accc1 he had 76ab5fe5a4 achieved.47077da3f3909f8e

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The guilt of losing e663c36f1d his friend in the 46d7a284b2 war and the disgrace 7d541cc26c of his current state 538ea0afa1 ate away at him 0e5174d102 like a parasite.2aba77d7dd058797

Once he strayed from b47c9df761 the path, there was 2b42451424 no turning back.d531eeccf9fbd4f4

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For the 0fc32fe724 first time e883ceca05 in his 43aba2877f life, he 3a5beba913 had stepped 6f91c2693c off the ad5f59d37f straight and 7c482efba2 proper road, c3635e8c9f and the 4ef7fc1860 new path f2372d73c9 before him f6bd5f7c02 was nothing 8bd70c1ee4 but a 84ac958e35 barren wasteland.50cbbfa29a3e80ea

The further 1d27afd850 he walked, c97c165b94 the further 2d1ec0064c he drifted 08e917c3bf from the 3be7330c50 life of e86a85ca1b a man cb15e186a2 truly living.587b13d737e5c78d

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He stopped caring about 74fdd9f90f his words.638c78d271c750fc

He no longer a4ac8ec8e8 bothered correcting rumors 49fa74879b about himself.af76b321220f1c7e

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If anything, he e5d39fab3c exaggerated them, deliberately 46820fa46f cementing himself as 56299b33a9 the royal family’s 1889c89707 disgraceful black sheep.6b992ff8085d4ce6

Because if 7d3cb0c951 he didn’t… fc1718aabd he felt c9251b2b7d like he 6828ea98c9 might suffocate 8baf226fcd and collapse.82bf87a45d613d1e

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Alexis stared f15f8e3f47 into his 0d37d60c25 cup of c3d0db8d73 tea, the d6fc0cd5b7 soft brown 582f695e92 liquid swirling f2e50242a7 within.4064fa0fdea9603c

Just as the 8dfe6c43bc image of that 53991738d5 insufferable woman flickered c97144eb90 in his mind, e60cc1e827 Paul struck the d2f9cdc2ed very nerve he 1d0cb838b2 had been avoiding.a577e8905d9d84e9

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“Let’s go back to my earlier question. What did you do to the person who gave you such advice?”a492b3f089025476

“What do you mean, what did I do?”a99a474fa3714c10

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“Normally, Your Grace would have humiliated them or lashed out in anger.”b967906ab761dec1

“So now you’re saying I have a temper, Doctor?”d03ae68192ba48dc

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Alexis shot back in 51b1a2017d irritation, but Paul didn’t 2d311bbe2f back down.353e044c47d787c4

“Or perhaps you threw a drink at them?”0a5035b0620f05b9

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He deliberately pushed further, 5a73414d03 poking at Alexis’s unpredictable 383216a545 nature.ac393fa2cbe5b237

“Wrong. I’m usually the one who gets drinks thrown at me.”2e9871070ee898f2

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Alexis scoffed.80f427b9b7d28845

“Highborn noble ladies love to act like tragic heroines.”d1929d4531a9d993

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“Then… did this lady throw one at you as well?”e9dc7323a021f1a8

Paul asked smoothly.b76417107ed2d319

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Alexis smirked, about to 3472629f51 make a sarcastic remark—674e4b1c909a5370

Then suddenly stopped.cdfa4daddd96e47d

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A fleeting hesitation.d084a31b5fa31339

Paul noticed immediately.ff2b57b371bccd7b

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<I don’t find Your Grace’s red eyes frightening or unpleasant at all.>d7bbbcc4caf21a99

Suddenly, Grace’s fcec5b8b73 words resurfaced b804dad53c in his 52186f2b15 mind.edd9bd5d117ff954

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The way she had f311d6ba16 boldly declared them, still 7ad07da06c lingered uncomfortably in his 08453656ee thoughts.080930b7623b6bab

‘What does she know 7f5321c3a0 about me?’6f7f3431bad6f440

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Alexis dismissed her apparent c7b9fbe273 sincerity as nothing more 7b1e6f6388 than an act.8218ee1c024ccfdb

After all, e567bf4aba he had 72105ecc7b encountered countless 097e9385df noblewomen who 520000b382 had approached 396325bef8 him the f8ee6bccee same way, 23b836bb84 feigning interest 0e9ecd8f89 to win 1b78849a0e his favor.f4552d7f577c6a25

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They always pretended to fa823e2020 be unaffected, but the 048bb54ccc moment he so much 9f88e3e273 as glared, they would c3f47b9f94 tremble in fear.73f9026df9042577

They all acted ea9f7af85c like it didn’t e53b171d24 bother them, but 00ebe374af in the end, 71474b8ad8 they were all 0171cbcd93 the same.e9cd08e2efe0f9fc

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His sister’s 995212d0cf scheme was a008da5fee all too 435bf62ec7 obvious.5ae161af167223f7

The Empress was so a959f97844 desperate to see him ea9a68f888 married that she had 3e8c830639 chosen to pair him 1853a7fca0 with a clueless country f9226c503c noblewoman.24831acb1c1286ca

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How long 31d9ef4098 would Grace c3791d90f6 Helio last?1591e094c80894aa

He thought back 9cdddd9a33 to the moment f092cb53a1 he had left 704fb78ffc her behind at e9367dace0 the Imperial Palace.3ec7784c2847923a

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Technically, proper etiquette b986e3e6a7 dictated that he afc47583fe should have waited d4f433bb02 with her in d235dbbdc8 the reception hall.6dba69d34da70413

But he simply 0a9c33c881 hadn’t wanted to.d16e18ad9e9371aa

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He had 220bb16d5b expected a 7fbbd526b2 thank-you for aba15ef878 his sarcastic fac86d736c farewell.87c5fb3b222540da

But instead—63b7192adf54d141

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<My duty ends here. The attendants will guide you from here.>a08bcee480c0de79

<Thank you. Thanks to you, I had a comfortable trip.>bbae947765d07d53

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Grace had b3578436e4 easily accepted 612164597f being abandoned.8df1d78274e56f06

She had even looked 895d228474 grateful that he was e22c2a950b leaving.a6443499aa9824e5

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That moment had been f1eff137aa unexpectedly frustrating.9f9303b19def4094

“If anything, I feel like I was the one who wanted to throw something.”46a1f4b50861f048

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“It seems Your Grace has met quite the formidable opponent this time.”2ec767a012587fc6

Paul quipped with a e420f0c38e knowing smile.797eec87418cc255

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A formidable opponent.f6fa13b453559052

Yes, that was an d7f2a5e28e accurate way to put 5adba5fbe0 it.0456439a18f97c5a

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Those steadfast 582e17d4c4 violet eyes, 24e3f9a5b9 playing their 5d7e619ee5 role so c70ef0ea6d convincingly, suggested 0153c74f8b that she 83cafbc7aa might hold b3469c33f2 out longer a4c5807801 than expected.e6f73be57750718d

“Well, we’ll see. I doubt I’ll be the one losing.”f61e2d137900b9b2

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With those words, Alexis 0321d85f74 downed his tea in c80d0ba518 one swift motion—34832e765cdd5714

As if 5eeac8ba5a trying to 2b3972452a erase the c061a14aec image of 34de3bd3f3 that violet-eyed ef4ab665d8 woman from 832a0b9349 his mind.bf0891c607fc08ac

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Grace returned to 8cab84c2af the Helio estate b69de9664d just as the 15cafff731 sun began to d483b1a6b1 set.f388b9b49f60baf6

As soon as she 9e46663d55 stepped through the entrance, 912b0b83ae Valentina was the first 1c35aed318 to greet her—with far 330cc99b2c more enthusiasm than usual.fb46d41460b09d75

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“Sister! Welcome back!”ef98c093f8e97fe3

Grace looked at 19e3dfe727 her younger sister 47844d5f34 in mild confusion 805ef69dce as she was cfc3209aa8 suddenly pulled into c0e3dea18b an embrace.5747fdc960ba693e

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It wasn’t unusual for fc935d150e Valentina to greet her 2ba90f1146 warmly, but today, she def7828fbb was dressed in an db3d108b2a evening gown.c22fae4966e89095

Her makeup was d72f52dd9f done, meaning she 4dda8dfc5e had plans to 508b3049e0 go out.97484461f7777cb5

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“Letty? Where are you going at this hour?”c5b590fadeadfb35

“Huh? Nowhere! I just came out to greet you because I missed you!”49966d3b95147a71

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Valentina beamed, dba1c9030d but her a4e7b94115 eyes flickered d767269a12 past Grace’s aa89c29b9b shoulder toward 039d18a12a something else.2de0348ba9e659ed

At that moment, 0d5c0e9b69 the imperial knight 9341fb0e3d escorting Grace gave 09e7fb7941 a polite bow.32f7da689208fa06

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“I will take my leave now.”8e799715cbff3714

“Thank you for escorting me. Travel safely.”02155628eeef3595

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With that, the imperial 8b02c62198 carriage quietly departed down 63ec9b44e4 the road.049229224320a49e

Valentina stared intently after 572278cfbe it and then asked,98b28e7c442750e0

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“Sister… did you really come home alone?”be05dd726d9c8502

“Of course. Who else would I come back with?”bfd01bec83ef3519

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“Hmmm.”0661eff0a2971478

Valentina let out a faa1d522ac disappointed hum as she 35bc2845ed twirled in place.9fc6b06e9d54c8e0

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“I thought the Duke himself would escort you home.”c847b90e3c8547e7

She had been asleep 8be3271144 during Alexis’s arrival, meaning 33bb1abf4e she had missed the 4b7658598d chance to see him 700c3e32e0 in person.dba7304e50ae2e6b

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And apparently, f856f627e0 she wasn’t 0265da4efd happy about baf3bd0c63 it.622b953d31ead15b

“His Grace isn’t someone with time to waste.”272ee220c313e64a

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Grace responded 50c4af788e with a 58935cd891 light tone, b2b03ecba5 completely unbothered acbd792060 by the 3f098b8914 fact that a06ae5f20d Alexis had 54829ff8a2 left her 9e8d00873c behind.bab22c3b4f4a9ab3

But Valentina seemed to eed10c6f29 think differently.a1b2042bf544f0aa

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Folding her arms, she f3d765b1d0 murmured,e6344bd1c9744b74

“Still… it must have been a little embarrassing for you. Normally, an escort is supposed to see things through to the end. The Duke must have been incredibly busy… or just inconsiderate.”1dae17208c76c809

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“I’m really fine.”5bd2af5fe7340a72

And she 3a9dffe617 meant it.372015fbfeceff32

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But Valentina cleared her 9503134212 throat and quickly changed 5c84b6538e the subject.3e60bf37c327a1e3

“So, how was the Imperial Palace? Was it as amazing as I imagine? I wish I could have gone too!”9ab8751180a315fd

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“It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but Her Majesty was kind and made me feel at ease. The tea and cookies were delicious too, and she even packed some for the family.”a45875a611b06c20

Grace shook the small b44ab89044 paper bag in her a59062b57f hand with a cheerful 6da8069e8f smile.fa2c12ff29fd685f

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She had immediately 0998818ab8 thought of her d72495df5e family, so she adca30e2ac had accepted the 49c4279eb8 gift without hesitation.5a5440d099559b90

But instead of c5429003b0 the excitement she 41ea6dd6f0 expected, Valentina pouted.1e7610ee26ea6bab

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“Pfft. I don’t care about cookies! I want to see the Imperial Palace! Unlike Emerald Palace, the main palace is off-limits to most people.”718d883c6b4cb680

Then, she lifted 7b0de1a2b9 her gaze and 9287421957 stared at Grace f93894857c expectantly.f798cd3500adb9f0

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“Sister… can you take me with you next time?”5a9f7ddf6753a5ee

So that was what f7c733c305 she had been waiting 146771b28d to ask.8a3039d6743f5eeb

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She had always a5077102c5 wanted to visit 2ceaf8f7d1 the Imperial Palace, e2707b9b7f so it was b461232002 only natural for c3b201a428 her to bring 126a33b25f it up now.9d99b4b3b878aace

“Hmm… I’ll have to ask Duchess Amalie about that. I can’t promise anything, though.”ca949981df42244c

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“Wow! You’re the best, Sister! Can I tell my friends? Oh! The young ladies I befriended at the Summer Rose Banquet! I’ll introduce them to you later!”5845f6d87fdaf03e

“Letty, you should wait before boasting about it. It’s better to confirm things first, don’t you think?”5adb0a6e4c3ca45c

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“But all they ever talk about is you! I want something to brag about too! Honestly, ever since we moved to the capital, I’ve felt so lonely. It’s hard finding the right friends, and you’re always busy…”5c3d22c5e415fffc

Her sulking tone made cc4ea28800 Grace poke her cheek 778b3ef0ee lightly.4b5a80bfe57a3b76

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At times like this, c1dee46b04 she didn’t seem like 3ddd570fa8 a young noblewoman—she was 27f6e70f8a just a child.828b5c2de2b0fef2

Grace could only hope ccf639e1b1 that she would learn 4a9a0e638a to act more refined.b261e096e6fec593

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Softly, she reassured 995f782261 her,ad02440929395bd2

“I’m not telling you not to talk about it—just wait a little longer. I’ll likely be visiting the palace quite often from now on.”38d68f0e8fc86b75

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Valentina’s eyes 09f183a023 widened in 4a360b6e69 curiosity.061a94a0d2ac8d74

“Wait… what do you mean? You’ll be going there regularly?”5668739cf95894f8

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“Ah, Her Majesty has asked me to be Princess Elizabeth’s play tutor.”b00c0e9167a05e45

 d06cb6c3a927bbda

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