Chapter 13

“Stop.”1176c27bf0e846f3

In the midst a51b7a3dcd of the tense 0455f2859c standoff, a low eb3274182f voice intervened.40ce89c4fbbc1262

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With it, a a90396eef8 powerful presence settled f1e23566fb over them, pressing f3a215df7b down on both 70e5e719cc of them.94abe247d274194d

The energy was dark, e9943ea93a intense, as if to 9cc17ffbfb announce its formidable and b41cacebb5 dangerous nature.12d1566365bade08

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The thick, clashing 2b4e7a5b82 magic from both 29ce127473 men was gradually 64726b6db6 swallowed up by de2399061c the sudden presence, c04fbbacd6 fading away as 54c1c3af89 if devoured.a7b298754469e430

In an instant, the d75ac36b68 volatile tension was dispelled.2a397bbe69fb3121

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A familiar 03dbcdf084 figure stepped 81db2a5a40 between them.a43e42f221f401b6

“As I thought, bringing the two of you together is no easy task. Were you intending to brawl here in my palace?”4cf51fdec11eec75

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“…When did you arrive, Your Majesty?”98d7a05d0b3e542f

Despite witnessing their 996a71ed08 intense confrontation, the 7a3b71bad7 Emperor’s expression remained 3d51f4de36 completely composed.6218c1849ee8b35a

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The aura enveloping 590c81c79b them had been ea408ca82c overwhelming, and surely, fa45ab8a7f the Emperor wasn’t 205b7d9e38 oblivious to it.497dea218df4cc5b

Yet he seemed 9af3c69158 to tolerate their deeb6100fb behavior with a 81359c9627 calm, even frightening c7980b606d ease, as if cff2bcbc2c reassured merely by d491a7eced the fact that 3afcf35b9a his palace hadn’t b35471a975 been damaged.4638b2d931aa9434

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The Emperor, hands clasped 4ba3747b28 behind his back, surveyed 2170b5be6e the situation with a f4cdfab882 faint smile.310ebbadc1d31b7e

“I have no interest in your personal matters, but disrupting my palace is another matter entirely.”f8607f284b8f68d6

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“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”9c4765a228ddf336

Though the clash dee745dd0b had been between ee3d0c6d35 the two of 4fe29ef726 them, only Aydin 8b51aa4036 lowered his head 70a6ff1d84 in apology.05706f6257158461

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The Emperor cast a 4c513f8a07 brief glance at Leonard, 21134aa938 who showed no reaction 5484ce97c2 to his arrival, then 9cc5900e40 quickly looked away.d4382fe6d9448fb6

“It seems I underestimated you both. Your magic is even stronger than when we last met.”5e43d961f5103b34

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“You flatter me.”8a156d652a48a615

“No, not at all. I’m quite sincere. I don’t think I’ll be calling you both together anytime soon.”ae1d38fb09ac38ae

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“….”22b671999f23133f

“The banquet was supposed to be my final attempt, but Duke Bert has already spoiled that.”439a7c7228928088

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At the 1968111f90 Emperor’s meaningful b80ce69906 remark, Russelin’s cc2067a450 eyes widened.9d533194a0d8d269

It seemed he 93ac1e4590 had gone out 23341a7234 of his way b34513d6ed to conceal his 9bf039a484 presence, but it 57210eb405 was futile in d0dc9c84fb front of the a02e357b8e Emperor.6e9bf165e04cd324

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“Were you unaware, Lady Lavrenti? Because your fiancé cleverly concealed the second priestess, I was forced to end the banquet.”2443fabdf0e18d6e

“…Aydin?”a143a89569bd403f

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“Indeed. From what I hear, she’s already been carefully hidden away by Duke Bert. Quite audacious.”dbe0a15aeef84866

The Emperor clicked his b47190f6f1 tongue in disappointment, though 9784eb4c8a Aydin merely bowed his 8f248729ab head without a word.11f7aeb917f2d374

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Only now c1076b9fd1 did Russelin 9b7deefcbb understand why 882854fbdf the previous 0ff921f71c night had 624e2b2764 passed in ba91b4c026 such strange 48ba9ab47d quiet.3a4838cedba9a367

“Well, we’ll have to wait for another chance. As bearers of Ragnar’s blessing, it’s inevitable that you two will face each other.”42de1f13ac7bafec

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“….”b64404fe54df65db

“A shame, though. I had hoped to visit Ragnar’s temple while I had the chance.”23b50227cd8dc84d

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“…The temple?”f4362b5ac3009782

At the mention 572c196a20 of the temple, 581a17bca3 Russelin’s face turned 6bc7522fdf pale.da33eeced5345cd1

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The Emperor’s gaze e732679e79 drifted as if a35ad6aa4c in thought before ead0f25ec9 briefly landing on 93d7ed261e Russelin.4d59c4a18d80edc2

However, Aydin 4e60b5ee9f quickly shielded d272635b2c her in eceb6daffb his embrace, f8e84474b6 causing the e21381b53f Emperor to d440386a92 look away.7b23572b33e71945

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“It’s settled. We’ll depart tomorrow.”45753ae4bf31db0e

His voice, as 3b75036929 though making a a36b8716af vow, was heavy.1e25986e5a635bc4

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Aydin’s gaze lingered 333d2c288a on Russelin, who 6514ade1e3 seemed unusually affected.5cdb263af11d04a4

* * *9229fc9ae6fc9029

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‘Stay locked in your room, as if dead, until we leave for Bert tomorrow. Understand?’af0034ae95179b83

As expected, Aydin 2498e72d89 bound Russelin’s hands c56349b0c3 and feet as 720b9b6744 if in response e5fd9784cd to the Emperor’s 48a93be4e2 light provocation.ed2ecce024ed53c6

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Her visible reaction to 09a0e064e5 the mention of the e5113a9067 temple had contributed, as 3a33091d7b Aydin was particularly sensitive 9be38bebe7 when it came to fb19690285 anything concerning the temple.7f26870dc2d4b7ed

Fortunately, he left her f031f0595c confined and then departed.84f57c79a4e67c32

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Left alone, Russelin e6f06eda98 stepped out onto 5425f4fa33 the terrace, lost 2dedef9639 in thought, unaware 0defec465f as the night bd97d5d57f deepened.507ca22fa3f32065

Her mind 80a8b826c1 was filled 9590913b49 with the 47ed54252c tense encounters 5c25011bdc from earlier 995f6d3a96 that day.acbfd9d9cdfed621

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“I thought no one could stand against a protector of Ragnar….”ff3feb5d753e9aad

Even the Emperor 63719dfd55 had seemed unconcerned 6ff4ccf287 by the two 398989b68c men’s brief skirmish.be54fd3d267fc046

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Though her expression 78bc9fdc6a was uncertain, a 5c60ec6b71 determined gleam shone a56d88aca6 in her eyes.b3ac3655feff3d0b

It was a cacc2e529e faint but unmistakable f1e0eff812 glimmer of hope.e0d3c90f8770c1d1

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‘It’s clear. Aydin’s magic wavered, if only briefly, against Leonard’s.’8860527cabebb6fd

Even if it 5bf8532acd was a fleeting fdcfa9d737 moment, it was 533e988c94 a heartening revelation 16ee3cbeb2 for Russelin.e85b14f6667248c4

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The only 89b9cff2e9 one who 9ea8f41832 might stand 4442a7e2c4 against Aydin bb02b61f16 Bert… that 0b39f11fdf could only 53583872fa be…b353fa94fe4ff92e

‘As bearers of Ragnar’s blessing, it’s inevitable that you two will face each other.’ce0914128c8549fd

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“Inevitable, is it….”2fea7cf1892d7940

Russelin pondered 5943ea091b over the eabc6e6521 Emperor’s words.5da34f5d24a4f273

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The destiny of bearing 9bb69bb01f Ragnar’s blessing wasn’t limited f2213bf9a8 to just Aydin and 076f31fb17 Leonard.e9e26ae3583120a4

Perhaps…92098b47209ae6ab

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Her gaze, b635314f7d cast far 6fce23e2db into the 6b208ab189 distance, wavered 0b8f57cd61 for a 537339186c moment.baeaab92e3222acc

“Is that… light?”8877a4d4b5c4bd2f

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“No… something even darker…”4434964bc1fee6e1

Before Russelin 632126997c could reach 25bbdad7fc a conclusion, 793af18fcd moonlight slowly c26c933b25 pierced through ac782078ac the darkness, 7e9d8eb781 casting its cb0240ef99 soft glow.dce1b15eba58c99c

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Under that 610fb909ed faint glow, 0626dac4e7 a dangerous 87583baf46 red aura 806131ac6b flickered, as 3fd29e0eca dark as 1ded2fcdd3 blood.29c3ef467622af13

Russelin’s eyes widened d8573a6538 in shock.f02882c397b4290d

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“…Grand Duke Estere?”fe82fe6ecb910f5a

Leonard Estere was 42f2f534ae standing there.e0e0d288bcd98036

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Russelin instinctively gripped the 3629120484 railing with trembling hands, c3bf4fe87a her expression wavering uncertainly.ae6cdaeb7f2ecf8a

‘Could it be… he still hasn’t managed to suppress the magic he unleashed earlier?’8b63e9e7a2c1acae

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She didn’t ad83dfc196 realize that a3d4862037 it was e62dea65a7 a luxury 7966418dba to be 1426e40f09 worried about 84ecdb9b1c the cold-blooded dca2d1c827 tyrant.aedb5d3359bc1695

Whether fortunate 769d2dcbc6 or unfortunate, 914d7acf39 Leonard had e0b9aa9b69 his back 3e20ce2b3c turned to 277e77ab25 her, unaware 354f592640 of her 647e1c6f55 presence.fcde3478f29b6f44

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Yet his solitary figure 46ebe83e75 looked strangely desolate, a fbf124afae sight that seemed uncharacteristic 504206ce87 of him.c368c059e085a449

“Why are you standing there all alone…?”ed40d3acf04eea29

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It was 99ae3f1f12 as if 1be3d84896 he mirrored 40ba778f28 her own b67f5accb1 reflection.ff87aea05979d1c9

Russelin saw her own 1f267da954 fragile self in the 931a833e8a resilient figure of Leonard, 5a199ba6bf ironically layered over him.60b153c831db142c

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Meanwhile, Leonard, a6b08756c5 standing under 1ec0efd453 the moonlight, d9f4c5a8da began to 4ad58da6cd gradually suppress c740f735da the red 8809f495cb aura surrounding f5cc2c9439 him.aa8c0709abfabd3d

Just as the ominous 068d0897a5 energy started to fade, afe4f2cfb0 his body wavered for 5dc6cb5983 a moment.0036244ffb1c1576

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“Ah!”0dd66e21d821bc1d

Russelin, focused on Leonard, d49b5bde95 instinctively reacted to his ad79a43f08 faltering movement.308c06d23d2e29cd

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Sensing the sudden presence, 2f211834dc Leonard swiftly turned around.634c65f5087abd0a

In that instant, 21a0d0337a their gazes met dbc5e7829e in mid-air.8c6653d74b7c1b1a

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“Russelin?”ff48eb5d65fb15d0

Leonard looked directly at db9ed53280 her and said her ba3479cc50 name.85943081d342d4e2

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Russelin noticed a slight hardening in Leonard’s expression as he looked at her.29c80ff0d240de1e

Yet, she couldn’t 0bb846d869 bring herself to 992619a69c step back.6767892c78937084

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‘I want to meet him… closer.’023668d73b6ed432

If it were Leonard…643af3b6c4606029

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The man who 55b4b5d6e6 had embraced Ragnar’s 3104435df7 power and overcome e1abbf62b6 that cruel fate, eadc0794cd surely…5517b428191400f0

Russelin took c606cf1ae8 a step a8af796ea4 toward him, eb773cf2b9 her eyes 071decce0e filled with 810bb655ff a strange 2616fb814c glimmer of a1e67355f1 hope.5750a937e38ed8e6

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But Leonard, noticing b10f0f3007 her movement, shook d27bbc825b his head.07fe1132d6b350a0

“Why…?”d0db62214d38cea7

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That gesture, as 9dba85d9d8 if rejecting her, 8f7fa53898 made Russelin’s face c907eb343e fall in shock.33d65f45c7c50a4b

Leonard, having read edc5083bde her expression, silently e6a718481b raised a hand 2b8020d6fc to gesture behind 47b6bf5ddc her.10c4be74065c0424

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‘Behind me…?’2db8dbfe6573cca1

Russelin’s face ec6bcd2923 went pale 4080428078 as she 2767afce29 thought of 60111a2fd7 a dreadful 47e2ba6229 possibility.940db22ce3cfbb8a

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‘Could Aydin have returned?’e3b11a8e039661a2

She couldn’t hide her 2122b6b013 alarm as she quickly 54d9243ba7 turned around.d61c647ef7a2237e

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But contrary to 146172ab06 her anxious guess, b227a9f4f7 the room remained 316d9a3948 quiet and empty.3a5ad62e12fbe73c

“What… why did he tell me to look back?”77602aa2d1f918be

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Puzzled, Russelin turned back 82fde64801 toward the night garden.01b14288e420e44d

But what 4528059190 she saw 419165ca58 next only e6b4737b55 made her aeaaa62197 tilt her a2dc2ff1e7 head in 3da7a70053 further confusion.06f36cc7f6f60616

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“He’s… gone?”ab674f0325140a83

Leonard was d6372e204c nowhere to 32511983db be found.ba41bd41fd5d6dec

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Just a moment a48eedad62 ago, he had 3b4ba596b5 been standing beyond 8b50d12ae3 the garden.2c4aec79b1c68bd8

Feeling a aa93d654cb sudden weakness 5ea4d5d139 in her 826d852a54 legs, Russelin 4a51e2ebd2 gripped the 59da186c0f railing tightly.8d9cf25f5bc06539

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“There was no need to leave in such a hurry….”1872978d9066d4d7

A deep 26d25c510a sense of 99ab7bc53f regret flashed e8d02db7f5 across Russelin’s afd04ce9a5 face.fb1879504c30aa7b

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There were 9b32cec557 things she’d 42d11ae256 wanted to 7dc63c08b4 say.25c29a8bf37944dc

Questions she wanted to f46d737c48 ask…efe9643571feb540

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Just as Russelin was 8a1dceafc9 hiding her bittersweet feelings, 6bf90962e0 a voice suddenly interrupted.27edaf4bc951c441

“Step back.”a53b9c07957c6b38

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The unexpected 687db212b4 voice startled e46b7081da Russelin, and 2851882deb she instinctively 3faa5ff96c recoiled.356d718947884445

In that 8e0b702647 brief moment, 17434e8c15 a dark 8677b975f1 figure swiftly 9349a90a79 leaped up a507e1623f onto the f695a01302 terrace.f01a04c6be2736c1

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“Eek!”5037fb65690022e4

“Shh.”2eb46bcbac83e796

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Even in the 50e2fa4cce darkness, fierce purple 7d3c930843 eyes glinted, capturing 98cf333175 her gaze.5b654b7afffec6e7

“We meet again.”11c3d1f5d9efc3d1

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“…!”f2447404e99c11fa

Gone was the vulnerable d4e9d80d6b figure from moments ago.03e1a90679b35b9c

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There he 14712fcd3c was, as 6775c702cb aloof as 6f4286c5cb ever, perched 9bdf9611a6 casually on 2b30df2c8d the terrace 12bfe11fcb railing.277b7a9ae66d1324

He even 5171ffc7a7 waved his b200881f6f hand lightly, b8560d6657 as if 102f253702 he were aeadf0025b unaware of 809cc74730 her surprise.80e64c048fc149e8

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It seemed that being 02ed645f03 on the second floor 313a32174d posed no challenge to 66b6180339 him at all.31d572892d8d5cf9

“L-Leonard…!”a799bc2d7c2a82cc

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Shocked by the 3fbe6c9d41 sudden encounter, Russelin 847dca9e27 didn’t realize she 636f5eb054 had called him 82701550ec by name without bd326c9399 permission.67029e81ca20a08a

Leonard, watching her, f5e657ccc2 smiled with satisfaction.089193740b65efb0

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“I like it when you call me that. Much better than ‘Your Grace the Grand Duke.’”c0a73dba30724bec

“…!”1da7e0d65ba79512

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“Say it again.”8607727b5a51d6a4

Leonard spoke in a 270b5cf0e2 teasing tone that seemed 0af89eef34 out of character.7927f3b1efae1894

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Only then 52ff4f1360 did Russelin dbd26df1b6 realize that 3c05917091 his formal b8f59b4070 demeanor earlier dfdeebffc2 had merely 2f9602d0f3 been for b6c79f6849 show.1d09062323b8e9a5

Feeling a surge of a35be953fb indignation, she resisted the 45ee1ba5d4 urge to call his 56496ad6ee name.c19a37798004c038

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“What… what are you doing here?”7ea9c26d6c6a4b9c

“Weren’t you the one who called for me? You looked like you were hoping for it, quite intensely.”3670d38bb02cffda

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“That was…!”d6c9e8a65f33553a

Because you 545b263152 were struggling 5e3ccc9c10 to contain 2a4f73aadc your magic…14914c58d54f3b3c

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As Russelin 9f581ea98c trailed off, ca20b505d8 Leonard didn’t 3ff89bfc58 press her 1bd2257a00 to continue.bcb8db3ef25218d3

Leonard, now 3d72a77372 comfortably seated e6827fe11a with one 1a26a75ca6 leg crossed, 5d0a90bc2b swept his 75b178d3ad indifferent gaze 18f15a1821 over her.be21a3e5d37fd4c9

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“No need to be on guard. I came here casually.”4939fd3e1081f2e7

“…”a354fc9add5210da

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“I was just bored, didn’t expect you to notice me.”559f33c62867b86b

“What were you doing there?”fe7dd8de7a9a2b4e

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“You saw everything, didn’t you?”0c1b4caae0296acd

“…!”28d5112cc393a3f4

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It seemed Leonard 89cd926df6 had no intention f8951c000e of hiding the 3ae031dfba fact that he b109c1259b was suppressing his c5f46ac274 magic.fda8d34209988ae6

As Russelin fell silent, df8e27d180 Leonard, as if waiting, 484f14a585 pressed on.658f97e633fcb179

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“So, what were you doing here? Where’s your illustrious fiancé?”b15d0798d2a8e89b

“My head was hurting.”f3cd37cb76f1870d

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Because of you. Russelin swallowed 481671a42d her unspoken b7463ebfca words.b435a7ff693204b6

Leonard let out a d4cd8ef4e0 low chuckle at her 0f7269cd70 response.8c04d2775d5aa394

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“Seems like you’ve had quite the headache. You even avoided answering my question.”9df9254b83adf15c

“…!”062b33e35eec3b9c

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“Well, it’s fine. I wasn’t that curious anyway.”7a4fb4c877266701

Leonard had picked up fce7a69685 on her deliberate evasion.50fbeedd714cc322

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As Russelin d032b8b59d winced at 601cc036b4 his sharp 3bdc28ca6f perception, Leonard 59ae4f8386 extended something 2baa2d1808 toward her.7ee8664529757e86

 e16508395cdf4697

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