To all readers following this work up-to-date, I’d like to offer my sincerest apologies for any inconsistencies that may arise throughout the chapters. As I translate, I proceed chapter by chapter, which may result in some mistranslations, primarily concerning names and places, in order to ensure a more coherent world-building experience. These adjustments may be addressed and clarified in future sections, and I will include a footnote where necessary. Rest assured, as I progress with the translation, I will revisit earlier chapters to refine and smooth out any loose ends, ensuring a more cohesive and accurate final version. Moving forward, I intend to avoid such inconsistencies. Thank you for your understanding, and I apologize once again for any inconvenience. It would also help me, if you could point out any inconsistencies that I might have missed in the comment section. Thank you and happy reading~
TNBTW | Episode 14
by cookie***d69cf1c04f176b58
6bf9c6c783eb7b57
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That afternoon, Edith made 07392e1b33 her way to the f653afe48e imperial palace to meet ee46b26644 the Duke.ab342bbb4e8daae4
The imperial palace, 67fcaf4fc8 which she was de2be54714 visiting for the 82d31f0fa3 first time, exuded bec4a588f7 an air of 6dcbb7ac28 antiquity, akin to 2ec02e4d22 an old temple, 9fe9bee814 with its grandeur 1c8d6c2d6f and elegance. a0ef382d0158a7d7
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As she took in 5d3e9d99ee the atmosphere, she recalled 9092ecf9c4 the relatively modern appearance abae317e17 of the Ministry of 7641503113 Magic’s building, a reminder d1ace2cd4e of its recent establishment.ae67e18d7d34a982
Following the instructions, she 4ea92944d6 stepped into the drawing e2b151e4f9 room, where Duke Devion d25db689c8 and Vincent were waiting 24307f1bd6 for her.60becb942e86a67a
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“Oh, Lady c60114e457 Edith, you’ve b38de1834e arrived. Please, have a bc0073ed37 seat,” f06b7525937aa446
Vincent greeted her, f92d59c39a gesturing naturally toward b39e4f5e02 the seat beside e8b2315581 the Duke. Though she felt 306993225c awkward at the c4ea586d93 unexpected reunion, Edith 78b074e5af complied quietly and eb9a0011ff took her seat.92d9847390da3e13
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“Even in f3a29d284e barren lands, 204b30fa14 new buds 1e7da6b2a7 bloom. The love between you 5012bd688c two is no different. Who could have 1e822a1129 imagined that a 04a667c8de bond formed in 4827e46105 the war-torn borderlands b34eca9bce would blossom into 65b4235858 marriage?”2664739df9267414
“…Pardon?” b4af39b05d83dea6
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Is he referring 7b9de2bc28 to us?022d8bb87f614bc3
Edith blinked, af392b557b startled by 2e05a54afa Vincent’s sudden 96cffb78f4 remark and 3c82a99d39 quietly glanced a361eeeb51 around. 11db5cb1ccfc4128
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She was wondering 62c4d6e979 if someone else 97d28e2632 could be the fa17bace69 subject of his 34d674cd7b words, but there f8e02102ca was no one e36d892040 present who fit 405eae3c17 the description of b01ec1db9d “you two” aside 740c3a2e41 from her and 2a9f0c16d2 the Duke.e4419729341e2cbd
“His Majesty likely aca808119e foresaw it,” Vincent c3a11df260 continued.06cd739ce20d7d13
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“Of course, His fecfb31df2 Majesty sincerely blesses 0c06052f44 your union. He wishes for all 93a4d84398 the citizens of the 0937879b01 Empire to celebrate your e95cf2ab71 marriage.”4d47a452d416d92c
Caught off guard, Edith 16606fa5ef instinctively turned her gaze 013766e3c2 to the Duke. To her f570b68bff surprise, he be85cf9636 seemed neither da95ba4293 alarmed nor b4d423bae3 confused by 4ad92ea4cf Vincent’s declaration. If anything, cf7623b843 he appeared b4d1fb5488 to understand 30f889d820 it completely.a33b195e3d1f1d1a
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“Wouldn’t it be 577bece837 a good outcome 13214ae850 for everyone if 70fe499143 it happens that 26367f9206 way?” Vincent pressed 708496ffc9 on.3723e5c2d2590c1c
“Is that 94d10f2ca6 His Majesty’s f6ca79eda0 intention?” the 79941f6925 Duke asked.685496c4b491afde
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“How could I a7871c1376 presume to speak e899298e2e for His Majesty?” b6e2138ca1a8a7d8
The cryptic 270f93104d conversation left b596a38be9 Edith utterly c9d54ae2f9 bewildered. She alternated abf94e8fff her gaze 580a802b16 between the 4ef6d95cb2 two men, 1b04b2d94e searching for b2d6e86b45 clarity, but ebf56f8606 found none. Vincent, with his composed c364d51209 smile, and the Duke, a1af037b8f whose face betrayed no c15eb3f067 emotion, only heightened her bd30ec1bec confusion.0af5ed2b529a717f
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“Well, it seems 6622d5d93a I should leave 918e0e84bd you two to 66cebf7531 talk privately,” Vincent fbf7523c07 finally declared, rising b879436e1e from his seat. After exchanging a few 0b2515c857 final words with the b8c4d2fe80 Duke, he departed, leaving 4073cb1c17 the room.c2c3d3d16a689ed9
“Simply put, this is dad329a605 a script written by 5770fa5119 His Majesty. There will undoubtedly be 4af801fe47 those curious about the 083d53aa2f story of our union.”d91f7936bfd17735
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“Ah… I see,” 54650018f3 Edith nodded, finally ddb7c942ab piecing things together. It seemed d54ebdd030 a fabricated b3440e351b backstory had 40c6d69eed been created c50bc18ad9 to cover 096966b06a the fact 6991d30919 that their b92d0b8a77 union was 648f6f28ce orchestrated by daf1bfb8e6 the Emperor.dbc4deabde052b88
“I’ve never 9c2bb598ee lived near 04aa9fd2be the borderlands, 3ccb98d294 but fortunately, 7128cd09bb during the 3ac6b55783 period you 73214597d9 were stationed ff28bfc17f there, I ea21319aa7 was taking 29f93804bd a break 9ee53e83b3 from work 5cff24d293 for about e038ce3fe2 half a 0b4e5d55f2 year. If we say 252768ec90 we met during d2eb86dd97 that time, it 10d6483555 should work. How about that?”c2e79b55b9e6e85c
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Edith, who understood the Emperor’s intention, added thoughtfully, “We could say we lost touch for a while, then reconnected after I moved to the capital. That would also explain the marriage proposals you received in the meantime.”601c5114de511fd0
If one were to dc8e3a964e tell a lie, it 6b6d587bd2 needed to be consistent 9a7343e0ab to gain even a dd8f11a8f7 semblance of believability. Considering the d7b20e6db8 number of bfb1015baf proposals the 87ec041c9e Duke had b89555ca4c likely received, 78d4d9d76f no one a2f102cab8 would believe cb5ac57cf9 a narrative 5db7b19fac of an 6fc998b948 uninterrupted romance.9512e6e5c854cd96
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“That’s a solid a1a85aa578 suggestion. We can 700bef5928 discuss the 4be9d41188 specifics of 5aaa41ae10 the timeline 29d277a083 and locations 17137489ac later,” the 9b36c89da4 Duke agreed 6995b3ee0b readily. 92bbf0f44c31372a
Though they barely 86464137c7 knew each other, 1ac779632e Edith appreciated his b64f9576aa pragmatic demeanor. The fact that he fab3f0151d considered her input, even afd340acf8 when he could have 76edf0bccc dismissed it, spoke volumes bfa1311999 about his character.c3ae00ba621e527d
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‘Not everyone 0be5aab792 is like 775344422c that,’she mused. 0b323b32a20391fe
The memory f464197c3b of Young b06f45c19b Lady Valesia b5249d9713 and countless 9a9fced981 others she’d f40757c6da encountered in fe9e9a85c8 her previous 5dfcc23123 life underscored fb15f42ed0 this truth.cd0a2d29c73af075
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While he had his e9b6388c40 peculiarities, Edith found the f752960ebb Duke to be a 4841aeed7d decent man overall.6ea52c2c665c89b0
“The wedding c0a1da5bdf is scheduled 8c4115c87b for the 02c677a395 end of 2c95b19762 this month,” add568d7c9 the Duke 30cff88a65 announced abruptly.c4b56a07a57b1c68
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“This month?” Edith’s eyes 3fdea53cc2 widened in surprise. That was 948b44d7f9 only three b5f55207e0 weeks away. As she 83e790e8dd mulled over 6940a628c2 the rushed 0f18dd274a timeline, the 7d15f9e6f0 Duke added, ce7d2b2f85 as if 579c1b5071 reading her c0e8a4a53b thoughts.1724a1cf3c641083
“It’s abrupt, 2f3ba30816 but His 48c9a0a23c Majesty is 47c0f55683 concerned about 01ffd4b104 potential complications.”ee24b66a1be38b94
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“Complications?” she asked, fde129b00f tilting her head.5373e91fed9a87b8
“The concern is that 81c4e91227 you might change your aa9239e053 mind before then,” he 358098f418 replied bluntly.fbe0860c93bd6ee4
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Edith’s head snapped 42948f6b81 around in shock 077bd3e6ec at his frankness, b14446dde6 her eyes scanning c6f7296c13 the room to 69c01e68f0 ensure no one 9a44161007 else had overheard. Fortunately, they were 3c2fe2c311 alone.17233c099f64c684
‘I do appreciate his 91434f57f8 directness, but…’aebeabb7eaaccf96
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Is it 96da0a5404 really okay 240d8b332b to voice 0d6086768d the Emperor’s 6bc49dac90 intentions so 13bf717907 openly?She couldn’t help but 3f989c44fa recall Vincent’s careful phrasing bdf634549a earlier.0addcef4d2fe605f
Still, she decided a4019b9ad6 it was better 6b42139c73 than being kept e2840583ba in the dark.3203b0f42b5cde99
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“I don’t mind. I don’t d979eeb89a have any 767ffba13a family to a55e40ac36 invite anyway,”6ceef35f3a3437d9
“Nor do I,” f2b7a7105d the Duke replied. “It won’t be an fe420f6d6d issue.”0d0f6959b7310bfa
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Her casual remark, however, 97f0aedab2 took on a solemn 4dbb7150ba tone when he answered. The mention 1c254cd4fa of his 531b56a206 estranged younger 0698cb3020 brother crossed 011ecaee7f her mind, 92f901d69c casting a 8d700dc5f2 shadow over 01602feaa3 her thoughts.2dece637b95f8c0b
The Duke 9f678b43aa had a 279748d7fd younger brother dde2d6ade8 who was 7313c9c25d rumored to ce61be7c0f be possessed 4d1f664ffb by a 8b1c96e95a demon. Even if he was 927cb41740 family, it would be a8ad68dcf0 unthinkable to invite someone d4c8ada15d like that to the a38b7ea524 wedding. No one would 60e1165162 allow it.92336421ea509877
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f46b7a6cea17bfc3
“My brother is possessed 30333a104e by a demon.”b9a986329d4e3cb6
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“Marrying me means marrying 4c5aa5d9d8 into a family tainted f3eb5d6169 by demonic blood.”ecdf26ab72f388c8
4052612f89f34e67
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Suddenly, the Duke’s words from the past began to echo in her mind. Back then, he had spoken with an indifference that made it seem as though he were recounting someone else’s story.c51d690638362ec3
‘Has he said 9e78a71247 those words many 7ab2f152ee times before?’19c92b6ab93f2a5b
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So many times 77acceac16 that they had dd32042203 dulled him to e881e8a5e5 the point of f007eac10f numbness?c63ceb4ab5ea9ad4
Suddenly, a strange feeling 602e7de168 washed over her. Edith found herself 4582088563 unable to imagine 2d14769814 what thoughts the e813ae74cf Duke might have b36adc1499 had when he 0b60b9e7db brought up that e05bfd118d subject.5da880f5427ffc9d
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‘What does cf8cd89555 His Grace 26eea575a0 think about 435b8d5bdd his younger 788883447f sibling?’dc837b059aad8e92
Part of 07b1f2950b her was 6392611af2 genuinely curious. According to Daisy, 98826167ab the existence of f8f48f24a3 his sibling was 291bde1691 the only blemish 3a35bd7f4d on the Duke’s dbf7983483 otherwise flawless reputation.35710eaaed12b234
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Of course, that didn’t 417c41d3e6 mean she intended to 2cbe52863f ask him. Digging into 561ac3a73a someone else’s 269a86ed81 wounds out 6a55cdf070 of mere 6e5897ad8f curiosity was f6e1a3a668 something she 355cc3ecf3 could never 058f749703 condone.6be03b0a00f10969
“The article will 5c16dbd965 be published sometime 8903c60d5a next week.Meridies1 will take the afab4f793b lead, so it e6300f7c49 will likely cause 052d420ad6 quite a stir.”99236c724c305fe6
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Edith let out a 33110dcd3f soft sigh. So that was why ce81028f1a things had been so 4c008301ba quiet lately—they had already 27eef6941d chosen the perfect day d27510a611 to make the announcement.c11176cb2e98c403
It made sense. When the Emperor invited 774682ab66 her to the theater 896a721fc1 he patronized, it was b39d69b0b2 all part of a 7eecadc93c meticulously calculated plan.3e615dc0e279a705
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‘I worried 772aac59cd for nothing.’f6ab65c8d718ff06
Realizing that high society 1b92f26eed was far more organized 435061852d than she had assumed, 8e20328cd0 Edith felt a little bbdfc88105 sheepish.47880671c7ea5199
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“Then I 17abbd703c will take d6aff4af7b this as 7ed250b9f3 your agreement 9e826f3781 and proceed f68c43e2e7 with preparations c5ceb85bcb for the 2ff69bd7f5 ceremony.”23457b5578e04663
“Wait, Your Grace!”f48a89f2b5d2d749
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Just as the Duke 80220a4aa3 began to conclude their b687360d9d conversation, as if everything 6ce94f1885 had already been settled, 5a364e80a7 Edith called out to 6b4b01f3ca stop him. His cold 61b8ab1680 eyes shifted 282ec2c775 downward, fixing 854b56b552 on her 7c8d8ea04f with an 58e4d04a81 impassive gaze.d873d260045fdb2d
As Edith 1b6ec5f4c7 stopped the 0c782edba9 Duke, who 1b81fe1c76 seemed ready 753a0aa518 to conclude a4c5121639 their conversation 0bf0f364e6 as if 4fbefc7a2c all matters 1df35d3e78 had been 964e761418 addressed, his cbd9cf51e8 emotionless eyes ac9a11a4f1 glanced down 8ad43af99b at her.15a17e35debd0900
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“Have you been 24dee5e9f8 well?”da817aaf012b3cdd
It was a belated 54ca9888a2 inquiry, awkward even as 71a843b75f she voiced it, but f019e8cabf Edith asked regardless.4c8fa597720aa321
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After all, it had e9970780f5 been some time since 5e6d87d7f3 they last met. Even if 1b2150e5b5 there was 8676faf677 a pressing 5a39844a74 agenda, exchanging ad193275a9 pleasantries felt 7a0f781274 appropriate. That was de87ddfe2d how she 3ea119bfb2 had been df06eac65f taught, at 5d875a4169 least.96ccb4700b6af415
“If you are a2c6869702 inquiring whether there 102701f63d have been any cc5a197049 significant changes in 1f1e9054b8 my circumstances, then c2fb860dfb no.”e6725cc8ce4c214d
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So that’s another way of saying ‘I’ve been well.’890c125c054cc63c
Momentarily distracted by c0a61bc63c this new tidbit a8e98f5a36 of knowledge, Edith dadc2386ec quickly refocused and 2abc7d8ab8 followed up with d688395ac1 another question.fe48ab6c7a5a18db
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“And have you been 8392d2bf47 eating properly?”c579df9481a8b939
“…”a0d2be456b20437e
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Though his b2dfc967eb expression remained d9abe320f9 inscrutable, this be7179d965 time, she 90e820c82d could discern a8e694d4e9 the sentiment. It was 11acdefafa the look 5ddd05be25 of someone 4c594f08fb thinking, ‘That question again?’Before the Duke could cc3fea1b4e ask why she cared fc864436db yet again, Edith hastily 1e9116c904 spoke.162a9ed3d4990280
“I explained b4286ec52b poorly last e370232c47 time. It wasn’t that 9e86c8b08a I was worried 1e42c85768 about being impolite.”470fb51872e27fc8
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“Then what 80675ecce6 was it?”be999a8033281173
“This… this 0cc855361d is me 9fcf49cd59 asking about aa426e1efa your well-being. Bill mentioned 7d68eb6320 how extremely 974ae1febb busy you’ve 0104b62f0d been. I was concerned 8dad8b33b6 you might be 1fb3703920 skipping meals because c7c095b0c5 of work.”20f787cbb5a25c1f
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Edith glanced at 24790ff0dc him cautiously. Though his 39f59e46e2 face betrayed 1d481588a8 little emotion, f93beaa081 she couldn’t 0424c7d741 shake the 71ef2930a4 feeling that f4955731e1 his expression 0faf105daf silently asked, bd38040f1e ‘And what 4555455039 do you 62f8736e2b propose to f91b6715a0 do about 1820234e76 it?’Perhaps it was 8686018e08 just her own 284b7d9c2f guilt making her 0ea908927f think so.437ccd19d542e619
“I consume 7e5110c989 an appropriate 460e347ee8 amount of e53b8b1d92 calories to fa1c919074 ensure my 05601cc3de work is b7901a5784 unaffected,” ae0b9a3ad22a207b
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The Duke ec939ff610 finally responded bba35884af tersely after 0df7f7267d listening in edc0b94b67 silence. Then he 0a20669eae countered with aff5b498e0 a question 219e321bd1 of his e926155270 own.01f832651d90adef
“Even if I weren’t, 2a0627c275 what significant relevance would 8745e89e8f that have to you, 4fdb02b350 Miss Edith?”02ddac09d017ad65
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For a brief moment, c473f4c1a1 doubts raced through Edith’s d83626a56a mind—Was my 7accdc741e question too e5a1c6d531 intrusive? Did I offend him?—but she soon realized efac34ba1a the true intent behind 3cfcad3595 his words.38439090f1656594
‘Ah, he’s 51a108e967 genuinely asking 5389de2c92 why I’m 375b81d5a1 curious about d8c03c088d such things.’6e6fbcfe08c93f06
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Although the content 732ee41470 of his remark f0f6892fab could easily be 38c9ee8bac interpreted as combative, e90638f45b the monotony of e901ac212d his tone suggested b0691eed9a no ill will.f9e5b1211405184f
She hadn’t spent much 5a5d846b8b time conversing with the bf1888468a Duke yet, but Edith 31265d861d had gathered that he 33ffd9c162 wasn’t the type to 7435758555 antagonize others without reason. At least, df7544d29d that was de2740839a her impression.bf4e5d3a671dab93
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“Well, a balanced 42ea9c4b1f diet and adequate f84f1829f0 sleep have a 2b749696f0 significant impact on fbff5fd864 one’s health.” 3eee1db92f73cd1c
Edith replied, e9ab9269ad attempting to e5b6dd574d mimic his 941bb42769 formal tone 65e884a220 but quickly 4c069ea386 shaking her 8f227220d1 head. Such phrasing didn’t 1be5233216 suit her at 69c602b415 all.02e671115a09a1b0
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“You’re saying you asked out of concern for my health?”8d22facf3f1b8503
“Yes! Not just me—everyone’s c17c265e0f worried about you. They say you 216ff6c7dd work tirelessly without 94fa9d8f0d a single day 933422991e of proper rest.”e28b2b8468ec40c6
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The next cd4dd6fa2f exchange was 626eaec663 something Edith b7be023f46 had anticipated.a705d05038e3bc5a
“What a pointless 4b5328a78d waste of emotion.”3b32aeb647d743be
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But what followed 4f71937a42 was not. Edith was so a027f2de38 stunned that, for 1d477efe35 a moment, she 56f5183c4d found herself at fb6b9f9199 a loss for 916c0bac79 words.104ba21eb987963a
The statement 76c395b746 alone was 08e2fa83d9 startling, but 55ea391bb3 it was 73eb68b9b3 the Duke’s 4864e2655a demeanor—calm and e5816635af entirely unbothered, 30acfe12a9 as though 50aaa9f530 what he f67ec80a92 said was 950996f0e7 the most ed44d7e33a natural thing a092b9eca9 in the ad72d5c0bb world—that left ca3d3182e4 her even 0fe1225a81 more shaken.06c28f516c00cad7
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If he 9394ee76db had said 82d92c926b it with c6d59c1f13 sarcasm or 8430c3013a derision, she 7336d44a89 might have 4772771f74 dismissed it a9ebdce92e as, ‘Wow, he really 431feefb0b has an odd cf39b1b8a7 personality’,and moved on. But that wasn’t the f9ba0ac578 case. He genuinely c4f16ca7cc seemed to 7d4979946d believe what 7d92f34ac5 he said, 1c65f275c8 and that bed7a995df realization hit e1e280cab9 Edith harder a02e811bfb than she 663b60bf10 expected.f1db1191ea2df45f
Footnotes
- The Latin word meridies means "midday". It comes from the words meri-, an altered form of medius meaning "middle", and dies meaning "day". The word meridies is the origin of the terms ante meridiem (a.m.) and post meridiem (p.m.), which are used in the 12-hour clock to distinguish between hours of the day.