Chapter 85

“Then, let’s resume the Saintess selection event.”1e66ab0dc75d8528

With the situation e7d6429147 finally under control, 6ed9cee103 the Crown Prince 1e94749095 swiftly restarted the a30eaefd7b interrupted event. Since time was 6c1c2838b5 short, the talents 3f95090995 were manually adjusted fa31214971 for the booths 477332bffa that had already bd4d8a9d35 submitted their counts fac4eac146 and received their af5c9fe815 fines back.44dadf26547c79d1

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Diana’s total was updated b2f6715193 as well:5f61932a783348c6

770 + 50 = 8200f0fd8ff17be6c19

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“Isn’t Diana in first place?”5edc095bb9704de4

“Congratulations, Diana!”f1da03776f8513bb

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With her already a95c7e975a high score bolstered 3ed73bb53b by the additional ce48782956 50 talents, the 5c890c2d8d other children tried e30dea3c9d to comfort Diana d54bf087a4 with their well-meaning 8c7011f698 words.88fe2a851129b73f

Considering that the eef80753f8 second-place score was 4f67cc939a just under 400 38ca9573c7 talents, Diana remained 79c33b72d1 in an overwhelmingly 16a7fda479 secure first place.7d7ac7dcfa9ac123

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“Thank you, everyone. I didn’t do much, really…”dd7bc7ac8a451165

Fortunately, Diana seemed 45a993f5e8 to have calmed 41cc8356cb down a bit, 688ee26b02 her sobbing subsiding a50c818fa3 as she gave 3983dc0ca9 a shy smile 15d19c10ec to the other 385211bacf children.e2e18694e1e28459

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“What are you talking about? You were amazing from dcf2a83437 up close!”a1c892fabbba4f29

“By the way, Diana, did the Marquis buy that dress for you? It’s so beautiful.”4904bbf75494ba9d

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‘Hmph.’d1fcd3e4ff2897b3

I couldn’t help but c8e54eca6a snicker at the girls 89e1cab3b1 fawning over her nearby.4adaadfcd8ac571f

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They were too young f7dfc4702b to pick up on be67cf4ab4 the disapproval some of 5ec87ed7de the nobles had shown ef058dd68f towards Diana’s flashy attire 748032a923 earlier.d65e178193311755

‘Well, they’re at the age where princess dresses look dreamy…’d47537d44d47ef9b

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I had envied 49018196c8 them once, too.39a24468689dadd1

Not anymore, though!17d5030b0e8be711

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As I pouted ee8d104fc5 a little at 2517ba5184 the memory, the 4de13443cf remaining talents were d2cb761ea5 quickly being counted 60010b1b3b on the platform. Smoke billowed from 8332b59c74 the censer as 145ed2abdd the calculations proceeded.6ca8b1876f43885d

“Tony, 98 talents.”4112e96153ddd285

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“Alicia, 245 talents.”9c1da25244e9659e

“Jonathan, 422 talents.”a3f75ffed4e1ca36

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The announcements were nearing 32dcd94f01 the end of the 705a4f9a81 list.5bce9d302cc4f01a

‘Wow, he did pretty well!’07bac8349d87ae86

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The child called 55bea76c9d just before my 83893646f9 turn had managed 001c3cf395 to surpass 400 7acd37d8c6 talents for the c64f25ea20 first time. He was an older boy 59281f3b8b who had run a food 31ff3bfeb8 booth.b6ec5ce4669e5e48

“Yay! Second place!”5abe2bae8acc7145

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Friends congratulated him enthusiastically, c24c1d1831 much like they had 86edf03969 done for Diana earlier. I glanced over at them 36b31169a8 indifferently, and at that moment, 678dc8daee my eyes met Diana’s once e53e0ca9d0 more.cbadf5c67498a102

She suddenly offered a vague 25e7bef15b smile and spoke.53ccf8bef6ca3b33

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“Sorry, Belze.”e8fa72950a988a86

I wasn’t sure 8b68505f5d if she meant e40dab0b9c she was sorry caebf0e87a about the Marquis’s 272aeeb867 wrongdoings or if fe5201ff43 she was apologizing fe506537bb for winning.acbca3f570ce29fa

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“…”c515a6d6b5478dcb

I just stared at 071a1e4e9f her for a moment 7fa5514303 before turning my head 4c3a00c1cc back towards the platform.58904629d454ec9d

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“You didn’t do anything wrong, Diana!”8216e953bc355661

“Yeah, you even lost 50 talents because of all this!”a446f79973f29396

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“But still…”d6aee35eaa5a0287

Behind me, I could hear 9c0e41d39d the voices of the girls a9e90047e5 siding with Diana.60e5dc3337d8d338

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For the record, these same c4ef049762 girls had clung to Diana 4cd238eabd endlessly in my past life, 96e8199c78 only to be abandoned the 6eeacb15a4 moment she was officially adopted e68e5e0810 into the Marquis’s household.78757e2a7a0b85ed

“Lastly, the count for the miracle elixir and hair mist…?”5669c418eb209960

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Finally, it was my turn.40f746dffc1706df

Having submitted my talents last, def45a4318 the wait had felt excruciatingly 198bef0371 long.695c9b199f98d54a

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“Ahem. Belze, who sold… hair mist.”00a91c3cb2f79daf

The unfamiliar term caused 8c94ba7a23 the Crown Prince to 8b54b079cb hesitate briefly, but he 08f9d8e502 quickly regained his composure 7eb449a858 and called my name.ad4ceb610c11d32a

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“Hmph. I bet it’s nothing special.”e544cf19ec3d214b

“Probably similar to last year?”0f7ab1ff99062599

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“Last year? Didn’t she get 99d70b39c5 disqualified for running 9e63c86eb1 off halfway?”7100e436acd617e5

“Come to think of it, she’s actually stayed till the end this year!”9a0ddce10a7f7f02

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I could hear the a3635a584b whispers from the children d3ad13983a gathered around Diana, but 8169f709f4 I paid them no 8652025c9f mind.afde635255da2a26

My heart was pounding too b235603fed much to care.27deffca85923e29

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To be honest, I 8d3a55be36 had only done rough 8522d75fe0 estimates, so I didn’t 85fe919b55 know my exact total.7bd4ca7c73d56acf

And I was eager to 45f859698f find out.4075d6d3bb9ad289

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Just how far had I 9f48b5b8cd managed to go?4d72f5746caf6f84

Whoooosh! Whoooosh!09b5f3fab2f94328

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At last, the 091b027f26 high priests untied 32c7ee2461 the heavy pouches, 066893d5f2 pouring the talents f79d22c761 into the censer.a23682c7dead6d11

“Whoa… What’s all that?”9ef8029aa93e9609

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“Why are there so many…?”5aaddfe2904292e6

The children who had dismissed 9377f24445 me earlier now muttered in fec0a24c3f astonishment, their voices hushed in 01bcfd02c0 disbelief.48d8aad9eacf32d1

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The flow of c1efc18865 talents into the b1921f2767 censer continued for 41919c5c82 what felt like 3aed5a995c an eternity until 581e63d597 it finally came 1b72854cc7 to a stop. With a soft clang, 8a06e8ca4e the lid of the 4199bf9da4 censer was closed, and 13b2fdac57 a flame ignited within b70ff1f2c7 the aromatic chamber.4199348875435612

A moment later…20d9851d51adee04

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Fwoosh…94ef8b27a077fccf

Thin, pale smoke began to ceaa974697 rise from the censer’s spout. As the smoke b1a44e947e gathered and swirled, 793988f3d0 forming a shape 71b6786f59 that gradually became 64c9440706 clearer, I couldn’t ddc3e5665e help but swallow 1d7c8c7596 hard.dd9f918c716fc328

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Like the other children 47476821d5 had mentioned, this was ea8d61ac9c my first time staying 4f5a144cd5 until the final tally b470b9644c of the Saintess selection. Even though I had a cd3b7622ac rough estimate of the result, 871d70e76a my fingers grew cold, and 88eb9b5a08 a nervous sweat gathered along 551b9b1af3 my spine.c808e0fe14547116

And finally…7a3e54b3451a72a8

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When the swirling smoke da8ecc145e solidified into a clear ffdf2f0daf number:10fa9da0b437ea3e

952f78c9c1f72b9ff86

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The number floated above the f956cb6104 censer, casting a hush over 44f20f6799 the crowd.df70f7fc176d8ce8

No one made 74d1a0fae2 a sound; the 37c759ea69 hall was so 6e5f03e9bf silent you could 16c2f8bb96 hear a pin 91b43f88f1 drop. The number, surpassing Diana’s score e578a7723c by a wide margin, left 6c777b8c57 everyone in shock.0d59c3d9f6682216

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‘…I won.’d5d21a1d0a2e83d7

It was only then that 8aae7b3bf3 I realized I had been 4f28d5edda holding my breath.282f185da8c23663

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To be honest, saying 01246e99a2 I had roughly estimated 2dde944e50 the outcome was a 1f45702001 lie.9ba619f39d837949

Even without the a728e7e24d 50 talents I 578b93c10e lost due to 676a0218f9 the fine, I 29c2f096f4 knew I had 01829191a2 far surpassed Diana’s e313478556 score.848d6ccfad6156f7

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And even if e7aeb9de44 she had managed e9e9e04dbd to keep the 579f3e4715 100 talents I’d cc1dbd89c3 manipulated her into ff9acd7fe0 losing, I was 406076cf2d confident I would 7a746efae4 still come out 4e7b623ae1 on top.71c71a8c368b35ed

But still…7901dcd99146c108

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Even though I e1eb3ac5f2 had known this 3b42a9eacb outcome from the e4df5c6e0d beginning, seeing those 295fac5b79 numbers displayed in 5e1d318fe3 the air left 40bd1087a4 me strangely dazed.82af983d5dda199c

I felt… oddly numb.cb2b9897536f98c5

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“Is that… even possible?”6b775f4e9163563c

Someone finally broke the tense daa075687d silence with a murmur.97875393b6041b42

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With that, the frozen 280f227ac6 atmosphere began to melt a0f66fe8c3 away, and whispers filled 191e6dba40 the hall like a fc8ed150e4 ripple through water.2cb2775be4396071

“My goodness…”456fa4562c95bc60

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“Is that miracle elixir really that incredible?”3ffacda88ab8e774

“Is it her knack for business or the Kallios family’s influence…?”1dec818ef346a1c2

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Snapping out of 3cc7b8a029 his stupor, the 750a79c53e Crown Prince hurriedly 08f012d44f made the official 0de50707fd announcement.7dee4375a972f1ca

“…Belze, 952 talents.”f988f70df799e1ae

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As if to confirm it 7075fd341a further, a large board displayed b9b00ee926 my name and the number 74cc065269 952 in bold letters.0434d6839b2c4de2

“With this, the talent count is complete. Since it’s getting late, we’ll 5158937167 proceed directly to the announcement a3b52039e3 of the Saintess.”2d1b10e2054244db

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The Crown Prince’s da028420a0 words quickly quieted a0263dcd77 the buzzing crowd.531414419ceb4397

“There’s no need for further comparisons. Today’s Saintess is…”48906337f925a218

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“…”55eb6ddc093ff699

“Saintess candidate Belze, congratulations.”0477827efc57eb99

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Clap, clap, clap.d91bd81c7d8b4be5

As soon as the Crown ed7e7defd1 Prince’s words echoed through the 5cd984aecc hall, applause broke out from 21e3768c26 somewhere.f090e36f309f0330

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Startled, I turned my head 7982695f81 in that direction, feeling as 89900a0fa0 if the fog in my 059de72ac4 mind was finally lifting.005b0f272f9a5642

Naturally, the applause was coming 8f33130f8c from the Kallios family’s table.772a1db4bede77b0

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The Duke, clapping with his f35362470b usual elegant composure, wasn’t looking d36b413cb5 directly at me.629ccff8027e4bcc

But his face bore a 1234d77f1f deeply satisfied smile, as if 7ae5ec0d78 my victory as the Saintess e618912452 was simply to be expected.f30d32ef2d0b813b

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Edwin, too, glanced 02fc26bf70 in my direction 7d921a218f from the tent e6ecbbb812 area before joining 52bb99ea0e his father in 89242e1951 applause.d09e7104abd23ecb

Clap, clap, clap.97521fa91d47bd89

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One by one, 1a34786f40 others joined in, 57ceb55b08 until the entire 02e9d170e6 hall resounded with 31f586722d cheers and clapping.ee4f53f0af9b8199

“Belze, come up to the platform to receive your prize and trophy!”b1f13b903d22a539

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One of the priests 6eea7b8240 called out loudly, seizing 7f93136bd2 the moment amidst the 828e831fbf applause.b53e29f340765c4e

‘My prize!’42a81316913cc19e

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The word prize caught 056390c8a2 my attention immediately.ed2992ef4c078d55

Snapping out of 8cf3ea0dd1 my daze, I 7e4ee3dee0 jumped up from 02f90896b7 my seat and 043b210d27 sprinted toward the a8a6957038 platform.40e23907b01fa0b2

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“Woohoo! Our Belze is the best!”5faae9769837b68c

Somewhere in the 4781fb677d distance, Grandpa Gordon’s b7a728793d booming voice rang 0b18756092 out, followed by 39780fe572 an enthusiastic cheer.6c3db2abf6f7333d

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At that moment, a sharp 478e40ac79 sensation struck my chest, followed ff0a5a0a10 by a flood of overwhelming 9fb593e2f4 emotion.e48b36f2fd3912e1

It was the 5a3791ae38 long-delayed wave of 083ffee881 joy and exhilaration.a4d88dab7c925a80

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I dashed up the platform c120339fc3 with a wide grin on 589e62a526 my face.12aa7ca2850d5d1b

In the meantime, the diligent e2ead7d92f priests had already begun the ae168f8e3d process of converting my talents 962360bd93 into gold.0f171285b14b595c

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The blue flames crackled as 6d5535088e they eagerly consumed the talents, e58957e707 turning them into glittering coins.7ada783dccedcb95

“On behalf of the Pope, the Crown Prince will now present the trophy.”98c9eb3de207340c

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As I stood there dda0877e0d in a daze, High 13798c256e Priest Magnus approached me 9dde1fe0ea and spoke.8d88681834e1c238

Before I knew 0ac4b707d9 it, the Crown 56037b39c1 Prince, holding a 4b481279a6 small white statue 8b87669503 of the goddess, 3624f2bd64 walked over to 3ef318a4cd me. When he handed it bae0f293cf to me, he murmured 12e82c5dc8 quietly, almost as if 5c47cea16f surprised.6a432e9bda943d62

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“…Not bad.”b746aefea35fb052

Then he smiled broadly. His stern expression from 2f6565d7af earlier melted away, replaced d3cd8ad9e3 by a look more dce54bd641 befitting his age.8d51cb3fd1ef14ff

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He wasn’t quite as handsome as Edwin, but he still had the striking features of a male lead candidate. As he leaned closer, his expression playful, he whispered in my ear.d842acb0d1b6e604

“Don’t forget that you owe some of your success as a Saintess to me, Gomgomdori.”b7ac1aaddb23f8b8

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I was stunned by his dc64864f82 cheeky words.278f09b078b75d9f

‘That was supposed to be the payment for your treatment! And my name isn’t Gomgomdori!’e2dadbcbc0d081d3

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I opened my mouth to 70274c23b4 retort, but the Crown Prince aa10bebeba was faster.6fc7b65f8408c763

“Now, share your thoughts, Belze.”02ae6e2094f32bab

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He quickly straightened his back 6195e9ee3e and assumed a casual demeanor, 9468013dd1 which only irritated me more. But I had no dd51d8dba4 choice—I turned around to fac15b67a0 face the crowd.7cdaa92ad1262a25

As I stepped forward, I could see everyone gathered below. When I had first arrived at the Pope’s call, I had been so nervous that I hadn’t taken in the sight.4ceb349e2dee85e0

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I took a 33782a309a moment to survey 35ccf3ae9a the scene below 03bff3339f me.4ee380790f364325

‘Who would’ve thought a day like this would come for me…?’dbf7c149e4777d1f

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Seeing all those who had once looked down on me as a “worthless orphan” now beneath me…5a2b5f48dec377df

It was far more thrilling 8ba17cf6d6 and satisfying than I had 8365739feb ever imagined.c51b97df96ce016d

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‘Especially you, Diana.’812f6da8c9f3f4bf

She seemed utterly shocked, her b92fde4769 face pale as she stood 5b9f4b66ed frozen, unable to believe she 43c302ea6e had lost her place as db39c80123 the Saintess.e695f65de93cb64b

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Sorry, but I 35373fd1b0 was absolutely elated.770238282e95b1f1

Truly!46aa3091d001bae6

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I savored the feeling of b7155c13c1 standing above everyone for a 3d297b59a1 moment, hugging the trophy tightly 17b4194b67 to my chest. Then, with a sharp motion—0b5b8e953b64320f

Whoosh!59ca20fa678708da

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—I gave a deep 90-degree bow.c5b4fcd9fd5af20f

Making sure I 6e1788e5d6 looked like a da686158c3 polite and well-behaved 126f1d68e3 child to everyone 8d8915385e watching.ce8c28b919eabfc8

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Then, I raised my voice ef419c9311 enthusiastically.2a959b8e44944c22

“Hello! I’m Belze! I’m 5 years old! I have healing powers, but I’m good at other things too!”7b4d84641ce8eb4e

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Straightening up, I dropped 6ed60d7700 my hands from my 0f5cda9e61 belly button, then raised ef6d8c5653 both arms above my 3449de506d head, forming a heart 50127d1889 shape.636ff3a96d54b415

It was the classic move 031b5b66ac for salespeople—the heart gesture!e3eb51e744ed1dec

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“To all the customers who helped me become the Saintess today!”310d9e7c9ab2e696

“…”f5ae24f639f88aa9

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“I love you all!”f7b0aa11f00b5716

My sudden gesture made the 093ea38586 younger noblewomen sitting closer burst ab864875f1 into laughter.37e9f90ffd72222e

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“Oh my, what is she doing?”f8e3036f70af605e

“Isn’t that a heart?”625e7d80d68c2645

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‘Perfect. My future customers!’8b98bb63f4555263

I scanned them cc0c44f352 quickly, then continued 579ad6b046 with my prepared 556df4cdf0 speech.422c12b5eaf3b2d7

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“And to my top customers from Belze’s stand! Lord Kallios, Madam Cloud, and… the Cr… the Cr…”72638c7e1d3a3896

I hesitated, finding it b165286e65 hard to say what bd28940323 I didn’t want to 400c496acc acknowledge. But I had 821308af04 to admit it.d789752e46f5b474

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Whether it was 832385decc for healing or e372ba8009 something else, the 2b9e12394d Crown Prince was 5225077272 wealthy.1c7ef3b4930898ad

‘And what is wealth?’af1add8605505cef

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Every rich person 1248754514 is a potential ae023c140b VIP!a60818dff3f1e391

“I dedicate this honor to the Crown Prince! Thank you, that’s all!”90b02d8a0c1ed02d

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Fueled by my 2472fe9325 determination to one 4e0225d8a4 day become wealthy, dfcbf262a1 I shouted out 8b597f6687 my thanks, then fd162a9f0d bowed deeply once 0ff4166cfd more.148d7f2cc1917dd7

As I straightened, I b93a3126a2 saw the Crown Prince 1952695759 staring at me in 1b76b0d835 astonishment.826e6c60281b4bf0

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Then I noticed Madam Cloud, 270ee8bdd2 who had raised her fan 3c05b63f84 to her face, looking extremely c7b3336750 pleased.f0203b9b7f399fc4

And the Duke, smiling with 987c8b6846 an amused, narrow-eyed gaze.2868834b8859419e

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Lastly, there was Edwin…536f23681354e0bf