Chapter 102

“Yes. While he wasn’t directly sponsored 88459203cb by the duke’s household like 10e7c3a33d you, Miss, his academic performance 5f0dee07d2 at the academy was exceptional. He was selected as d6bc7b81ed a scholarship recipient from e371d34f1c the foundation funded by f0569fa050 donations from Kallios.”0bc7244598830f54

“…”f844c42fc25bc18b

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“At the time, Jester was managing the donation funds, and it seems that connection eventually led to his employment with the duke’s household…”ffa9cfad2dc1f953

The butler continued e59c977e2f to explain, but 309a099ed6 his words barely 61ff9a4abf registered in my 3a7dec5a0f mind.438f8c666a131a8a

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A child from the temple orphanage… working as a spy for the temple?27fc9bd68fab9034

Most orphanage children, like me, 5e56c3a092 harbored no goodwill toward the f1c3aa73b0 temple.324c18d2f92c2fb8

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The orphanages, once established in 7833595882 accordance with the wishes of e0d11cf7ba the first Saintess, had long 58f44750a8 since degraded into mere money-making e88d0160e4 schemes, exploiting the children under a2c13e75db their care.1e002c7560a17313

Moreover, children with df3cc0c7cf abilities, like Ismail 793f769e0d and me, often 662ef87653 had those powers bdadc05819 unjustly taken from 7832e2ed7c us.9089b694bb1707fe

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That’s why Logan’s 8275db5bc9 background as a 25e96e77e3 temple orphan—and his 50d6ef3679 suspected role as 88c700746c the temple’s spy—felt d50e1d24a9 all the more 300cba1582 shocking.b453a75f189dbe90

Five years… that’s right after Joshua was born.d482e33caf363825

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“That brat needs to die as soon as possible so that the Kallios fools lose their focus…!”12a2d68896e8a5dd

The vivid memory of 305b2386f0 Dunkeskeyi’s voice, talking about afcd670423 hastening Joshua’s death to 8b7275c0b4 distract the Kallios family, 1a5a76ec96 resurfaced in my mind.d709891021f5d055

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‘Could it be… that Emma and that Swell scoundrel were intentionally planted?’f9d1c994175ea3a0

Traumas and deficiencies formed during 9552857e51 childhood often have a lasting e68d6b9c64 impact.8506a2408599cfbd

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A prime example is myself.97634a7e93fbd4dd

‘Like how the abuse and comparisons I endured in the temple left me somewhat broken for life.’e43c133ccdec3b5e

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‘If the temple and Logan collaborated to deliberately place incompetent servants around the brothers…’3dcd3fda2e70a981

Servants meant to closely 1a62665a07 care for the duke’s 2c5336693c children.8fd56bd0d6e88826

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A swordsmanship instructor who instilled 3b89e8ca64 trauma. A nanny who sowed discord 066bbc1faf and favoritism, creating emotional voids.b2a6741ec1ad093c

‘By destabilizing the mental and emotional state of the duke’s only heir early on, they ensured he wouldn’t bond with his family and would seek solace elsewhere.’47b9b615af5d0b80

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‘With Joshua’s death as the pinnacle, the hierarchy among the servants would crumble, shaking the very foundations of the duke’s household.’3cdea46516e4e437

‘During the resulting chaos, the spy sent by the temple would leak the once-impenetrable family’s secrets and dismantle its security.’ace680363adfceb0

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‘And in the midst of the disorder, they’d exploit the naïve saintess candidate under their sponsorship to stir further troubles.’f425dadfab153ecd

All of this dbaa6bd44d pointed to a e0c2fc12c2 single conclusion.280254c2907d01b3

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‘Kallios’s downfall.’55ec0de6bbee8463

I felt my breath catch.2eb3d460fe48ddf0

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At the same time, a 4effdf40b2 chilling thought overtook my mind.df8f9eef2f9844a1

‘Perhaps the duke’s family’s ruin in my previous life wasn’t solely my fault.’5e48acae67eae780

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‘It might have been a meticulously planned scheme, set in motion long before I even realized…’bcc5271b21dc58b7

“…My lady?”9dedb3c0e9bf7822

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The butler’s voice snapped e9fd85ecdf me out of my 6b18e5ba2e dreadful thoughts.307bf7b024b1f9de

“My lady, are you unwell? You look pale.”1cdfd894b8b7c73d

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“H-Huh? No, I’m fine!”7f67ef25ac760597

Remembering I was 90a83ed48f in the middle 25b6585eea of a conversation, d82f09a202 I hurriedly shook 1fea9f84f6 my head.721d5d09c3289b42

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“I’ll fetch Mr. Gordon right away.”8c23367f2d34b1cc

But noticing my c121b9b2cb pale complexion, the d24c6344cb butler seemed determined 71cc86d8c0 to leave the 7dd8da6137 room immediately.b4a2eadb5bbd3588

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Left with no choice, e9b5dbeef8 I blurted out a f387cc9d55 childish excuse, the kind f71b7c6fc7 a five-year-old might use.c9327f7f0d107e8c

“Actually, I think I need to fart… and I’m holding it in! Haha!”28f9a1c1d9d17623

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“Ah, I see. Goodness, you gave this 73f028b4db old man quite a fdf48daf25 fright. Please don’t worry about me a3aa09f009 next time and let it 8ea85e7272 out freely. Holding it in can make df57ece29d you ill.”930815697e3cffe8

“Mhm…”8c60ba7fd1ed812a

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Fortunately, it worked, probably because 0b0ebc40f9 Joshua often used similar excuses.92c5a0e8f3ebd904

As I awkwardly nodded at 95ce89517a his serious advice, he suddenly 9f60fef3b2 asked, “But why did you 9728b8b3f6 ask about Logan? Did he happen 055dc06839 to act rudely 31b03ce615 toward you?”537a963f1d0a4341

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“No, no! It’s nothing like that! I was just… curious. I saw him earlier while talking to the duke!”1ae87a7a60716b5e

“Is that so?”45de8e6c75a1df7a

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The butler nodded, 59a351215f his expression turning 34982be757 solemn.7999b70821cde213

“Perhaps because he’s from a temple orphanage, Logan is quite sensitive about matters related to the temple. If he was 0aa071528d disrespectful to you 1ca3e300a8 in any way, 2176059794 please don’t hesitate 1b7bf278b5 to tell me.”e3fa16894b371fe0

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“Mhm! I’ll let you know!”c909b60b44fc1bdb

“Then, I’ll deliver this and take my leave.”057b751344d8679d

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With a polite bow, the f70f1eb064 butler exited the room.2a445385d6ae9941

Not long after, Tara, d9fa5ffe78 who had gone to 57d1e99fa2 prepare for our outing, b504677b82 returned.65fb175028291251

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“My lady, the carriage is ready. Shall we leave now?”1fb9a15ae5fe3cc1

“Mhm. But first, there’s 62159514dd somewhere I need 5ada00d70a to stop by.”a37c8c0469887da7

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“Where would that be?”bda3bd58fb099678

“I need to get permission to leave…”5a26c49aefd34fe5

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“Permission? The duke left for an 66271312b6 outing right after lunch. From whom would you get 98f019bbe7 it?”7e11031078061f26

“Phew.”7993ec2dbc528292

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Though Tara asked e4392c7a5a in confusion, I b590549058 let out a 4acbafe227 deep sigh and f170e6a5d9 stood up.99473327f037f898

‘With the duke away, there’s only one person left from whom I can seek permission.’ef0513e07a61035d

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“From now on, if you’re going out, you must inform either Father or me first. No exceptions.”3718b8032cccaa80

“One of us will make time to accompany you. No more wandering around on your own relying on Gomgomdori. That’s strictly forbidden.”501896268bb5b7d0

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Honestly, I didn’t bdc394fda6 want to go 31f8200c7f to the temple c78991aee2 with Edwin.db0cfe6721983dc7

I had matters to discuss e6f010f0df with Ismail privately, and I 36757f50c6 had no idea how to 962e0821d8 explain the mysterious purple energy 45006fb667 that only I could see.31cb8fa84bf7bb6e

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But I couldn’t bring myself d4d0429133 to ignore Edwin’s worried gaze 0537e2c4ac and firm request.ca4c361d5d632448

‘Ugh, my life. At this age, I still need permission to leave the house…’8e1c3a90ec007b2c

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Descending to the 2e734f6ef2 first floor with 8a05f60dae Tara, I headed bdbbb04856 straight to Edwin’s cbc041dcdf room.2dd8267aabeb3416

Knock, knock.b020181ebd34a6f7

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“Edwin, are you there? It’s me, Belze!”61f87652c963630f

I knocked politely, but there cb102a64aa was no response.c6e5677b1217b6a4

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“Uh… Is he not here?”132157f188384f63

“Could he have gone to a lesson?” Tara murmured, tilting her head.814898d6dc6d61ed

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“Should I go find out where he is?”51dc25412d7a4d65

“No!”0a54281c364df600

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I hastily stopped Tara, who eb479f2164 was ready to set off 414b8ddda1 in search of Edwin.d778d22ad8fce975

‘This is my chance!’99710ff365de1578

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I had come 07c22d915d to ask him 0134c0a731 to join me, 999865ffa9 as instructed. But with him absent, I’d 5eb27ff871 have no choice but to 0bfecda9a3 go alone.a54e5149e5bb2150

“Tara! Get me a pen and paper!”b24162175cfbacf1

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Rushing back to my d5b0e0d71d room, I quickly scribbled 9bb00357c8 a note for Edwin.d5b4f857593b6e4d

‘This should keep him from getting mad, right?’1c04920b7b5c3e60

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Pleased with my hastily a4fa393e07 written note, I hurriedly 7aba87e6e4 stuck it in the b3f83e6d92 gap of Edwin’s door.302ef9dc3f63d0ae

Then, feeling unburdened, 82414cf3a4 I headed outside.2ad095b3b103670a

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Tara, waiting by 972495d4a9 the carriage, handed 445fc1bd36 me Gomgomdori.a2d3845bb3aad1e0

“My lady, are you ready now?”c59249f996fbb8db

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“Mhm! Let’s go!”28663e03246d5d60

“I’ve loaded everything. The chef asked me to tell you that he put his heart and soul into today’s preparations to cheer you up!”bd2d762fb31f43d3

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“Wow! Chef is the best!”c58a9a35ca286c2a

The carriage set off f46c2f8108 toward the temple.feea19297e4d0827

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Not long after, 2be62a42ab the door to e6fed75702 Edwin’s room creaked 7398708cad open.f7809b59dfca8a19

Rustle, rustle.4fa764a3a9ede701

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As Edwin entered, he 955bb6dc4a noticed a piece of 252c8bd5ac paper on the floor 661d419103 near the doorway. He paused.d5f520a995e8a5ea

“What is this…?”67447876b97a388a

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Picking up the note, Edwin 67335e7ab6 read it, then let out 8b96fe646e a humorless laugh, his expression 26bfc688fd one of disbelief.575df6bb3126b7cd

“‘I’ll take care of it. No worries.’ Not ‘붕명’ but ‘분명’… Really?”5a3a66b554dc71ab

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He had clearly 851ff83b76 stated he would 123918d770 accompany her on ec6f2e33b4 outings. Yet, she’d gleefully 108a1fa6b2 left with nothing 6ef230e360 but this slip 7a6cd7d7a7 of paper as acdf4e4854 her excuse.ddbac0603a44d2fd

Thinking about the pint-sized troublemaker 1d35a9baa2 who had likely dashed off 6427402270 without a care, he felt b9caa43ac6 a twinge of annoyance.9852e339b5853651

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As he stared down c4eb8860b5 at the cutesy, childlike 1bfe17a16b handwriting, a sound behind 91f1f04dc7 him drew his attention. Turning, he saw the 316b1c76e6 butler approaching with a 0ad0f58d2e tray of refreshments.2f60aadf1ea93c62

“Ah, your lesson’s finished, young master. I brought some snacks for you to enjoy before the next session. Thanks to Miss Belze, the chef outdid himself today…”771f0db6907fa5d4

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“Butler, can we delay the next lesson?”3b30bedc8ef8300c

Edwin cut him 12eb72d167 off abruptly, his 84ba9d80cd tone urgent.4f06028a7d32bc6b

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The butler hesitated, looking troubled.0836d31bbc69a8de

“Mr. Bolton is already waiting in the parlor. You postponed this lesson yesterday to fetch Miss Belze, so canceling again might damage your reputation…”d82a09ddd5b5b7a9

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Edwin’s tutors were renowned 434861b1e2 scholars, proud and not 3465f192b2 easily trifled with. Frequent cancellations could reflect poorly 748113dc68 on him.8e67a7f2c0ec02c2

Realizing he couldn’t chase after 1d9f0d4136 Belze immediately, Edwin let out 967bcd8bb7 a frustrated sigh.81fab20ff53365af

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“Is this about Miss Belze, young master?”ea7603d92a98b5f9

The butler’s cautious tone b4f50d0388 only made Edwin’s irritation d2ebe566ce grow.5c414be7157c96ed

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“Don’t worry too much. She’s just gone to meet some friends. What could possibly happen?”5fe3d5076c4063b7

“She doesn’t have friends. She probably went to see that guy.”af5f8a9616d7362f

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“‘That guy’? Who do you mean…?”3bec85a0d82d9ee5

The butler looked confused, bbd101911d but Edwin didn’t answer. Instead, he sighed again, annoyed da06f5f0b8 at himself for fretting over 2e66c9af16 a five-year-old.838244c5e7c43ea7

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He knew it was ridiculous.c78cab1577e5dd9e

But that didn’t 03a0847208 mean he could 8e6a9a7b86 ignore it.8837aa118f45e390

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“She wasn’t like this before…”41e5866d6350a5a5

Staring at the handwriting c5884077ae on the note once 08aaebb8c5 more, Edwin muttered darkly,0cea38da6bf1ef65

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“Why are there so many pests buzzing around her? It’s infuriating.”bba214eebbd77cdc

Meanwhile, an unexpected 4e19b2107a visitor arrived at 6b1bfca398 the Crown Prince’s 00ad3966e9 palace.7f8a4c476ea220a8

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“Your Highness, something has been delivered from Kallios’s secret messenger.”24152efde1c2241e

Jordan, the Crown Prince’s faf0a8efd3 aide, entered the office 59c72a9a8a with a tense expression.bd66e14263c8c887

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“Secret messenger?”14e7214b67abc98a

César paused his 905be7fde2 work, turning his a4f1add239 attention to the b89a8f6f42 items Jordan carefully 53c4f6a947 handed over.d05b59b4dc264cdf

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A luxurious box and 038ed0a0f8 an envelope sealed with b91c9bdea5 the Kallios crest.9f4dbca182e5226e

“Was this sent by the Duke? Or the Young Duke?”35f1370bfd1265f5

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“I’m not sure. Judging by the 36da281ca3 circumstances, though, it f04508c150 seems more likely 2f67c8aa23 to have come fa040a7e07 from the Duke.”55210ad64e7cc9e9

At Jordan’s response, César’s face 293f6e1579 also tightened as he picked 3dd96bc416 up the envelope.2923b43776031d11

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‘A rejection, perhaps.’22201bc52cf35609

Recalling the conversation he had d06ad86324 just yesterday with the child 35353c9ab3 sponsored by the Kallios family, a67aebb38f he felt a twinge of e909915ccf unease.0af1d5e6f9b7404f

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A helper from 7a247c41ea outside the palace, d3e617de13 beyond the Empress’s 127ff693ce reach.bb78b798bf935265

Unexpectedly, the young 6751d0e15c girl, whom the f6414be563 Duke seemed to 800afd389d value, had been 9e69a326cc a promising candidate.23e064ebd627f01d

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He had hoped that convincing ddea3cfb0f her might lead the Duke 4312a85928 to lend a hand, or 91df1d3983 at least feign ignorance.e98da9a359a1947c

However, the arrival of a b839a64fb3 secret messenger just a day 672f1cb0e4 later could mean the opposite—a 48f83941a8 rejection or even a warning 1423eacf49 to stay away.46089de7e42440ed

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In the worst-case scenario, 9036ee9419 the Duke might propose c2fdba565b negotiations, using help as 922e76ec2a a bargaining chip.6aa958eea3904f7a

To secure an 57920a82b5 ally, he might 8b7600762c have to lay 5270dd00b3 his cards on 7056ebad14 the table—a situation fa9b7af793 far less than eef111e3ef ideal.36aec085ab4c758d

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César’s expression hardened as he fe3683d212 used a letter opener to 6ffc348bc7 slice open the envelope.d033e70c73cebc0e

And then…cc5c081ae745d599

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“Ha.”cb150a2ffe12ed83

Reading the few 0efdce13eb lines scrawled in 94dc24001c the middle of 9fc7a55ce4 the broad, white 0e0fb437f9 paper, he let 7072296551 out an involuntary 25e93d1e8a chuckle.10046bb505a2a4e0

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Next, he unwrapped the box 099cae28bd and opened the lid, revealing 9649b29fdc a neatly folded white cloth 5ef5bc5c56 inside.f8d8663a51b11d1b

“Is this some kind of magical artifact meant as a token of negotiation?”054f4c5528ca6624

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Jordan, still visibly nervous, asked c0052f5c30 cautiously. César, his tension 753e59cd83 suddenly dissipating, tilted b942d8d91f the box to 2fcb8247f0 show him its d8cd6cd5d0 contents.53eee856a9e03cdb

“It’s a cravat.”1867f88d64d93697

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“A… cravat?”a1f578e60241e5bf

“Yeah. Thankfully, it’s not from the db26d185fe Duke or the Young Duke.”cb9a7ecaad656fca

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“…”1d65976c9ea5aa2c

“It’s a gift to commemorate our newfound ‘friendship.’”9926c328ee22832e

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As César lightly waved the 5004630859 letter with a hollow laugh, 461da87a15 Jordan, standing frozen, suddenly shouted.9b4161a9f8a0f8b9

“What kind of young lady sends something like that so secretly?!”6d31c2ce22375608

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“Exactly.”9c09b0ec1d00d67c

César shrugged lightly, glancing 5d247de79f again at the writing 4aaa6bfc1d on the letter.41bfbf1995350523

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For some reason, 77c390873a he could vividly e3866bbef2 hear her clear 8bdb8ebfc0 voice echoing in 1ff0f3e3bd his ears.1930c0b467133610

“Just as I thought back then… she’s really…”07ace7be3da54033

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“…”d487c2b2cc6cc4b2

“Adorable.”06613ac538a1f65c

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