Chapter 90

The Duke’s gaze flickered with 14fde2524a curiosity.87076bbbb7a51944

“When exactly?”af3063eb864c1c18

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I knew it—he’d ask that! Good thing I remembered every a7edcc13be detail just in case he 9939b65fc0 forgot or tried to deny 565396192b it later!dc3bf747175de8ec

“On the morning five days ago, right before I left for the temple’s charity event!”c8729b03930d220b

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***25d9a0a1b838f082

“I was… uh… making things. I just used 1d819a6e87 a little bit af6d47d1ec of what’s growing e1586d8d42 in the Duke’s e054773665 gardens…”d2f45453f545f19c

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“Rest assured, I’ll set an appropriate usage fee!”bfcc903344c00a90

“Do I look like someone who would scrape for your petty change?”1428839f45bb4e47

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“I look forward to seeing how much you think is appropriate.”0c98124bd86314a3

***8e48d33f3fa06c90

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Recalling that conversation word for a6c3d5b7f8 word, I replied confidently, “I 0de67eefae promised I’d set an appropriate 6cf2164881 fee! And you even 52f80ca699 said you weren’t c9cd51c45d interested in petty 7601101b85 change!”93d9efff4da6c55a

“Not quite. What I actually said was, b59d1ae702 ‘Seems like you’ve made quite 8cfd6d161d a profit. I look forward 471aed7413 to seeing how 10e4e4b44f much you’ll offer.’”3ae090f92609231e

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“Wha—?!” I yelped, my jaw dropping.ca11fc2cd14b3c51

‘Wait, so he remembered everything all along?!’7761a886870a0030

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The Duke’s innocent expression ed648cdef9 as he pretended to c66c18de37 know nothing sent a 2a13ccc4db shiver down my spine!1a5e7ec3e4bcae07

“Is that… so? My memory must be hazy…”4aea04b6f63578cc

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I quickly feigned ignorance, f7668f5c7e following his lead. The Duke merely 001c67c10f chuckled at my 84a5f088f2 act, thankfully without 137a5ed2c1 showing any signs 6b54bf455e of anger.d69d56bb4bc1a324

“To use a legendary herb and then settle for just 476 gold—it doesn’t seem like a fair trade.”691be85916273a1e

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“…”30cac8be2168f5f7

He wasn’t wrong, and it 70570d4822 stung.4dfec609004474fb

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Honestly, I could have made 169f167891 far more by selling each 271a8c8257 herb through the Duke’s trading eb2cdffb18 network, where they’d fetch hundreds fd628ea670 of gold coins apiece.97c0798295470f90

But the losses had been 9ef718ff35 high due to transplanting and 2dfb758e63 developing products, so I had 28c2b93bc1 to start small.bece374be839a7f8

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Even so, I 1ca95c3997 had achieved a 34d00c9818 major milestone.d591eb4b016ccc43

“Of c-course, that’s not the end of it!” I exclaimed hastily.fef1491650049679

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“Grandpa successfully propagated the fairy herbs!”68bccab2d96fb111

“Propagation?”007839782bb155f6

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“Yes!”a8e2ef9440849159

Finally, genuine interest 8ac85209c1 sparkled in the 711ad12f80 Duke’s eyes.8b3861dc54337182

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“So, with that in mind…”954084253c720547

I seized the moment, pulling 80bbefd4b1 the 476-gold pouch back toward d3c79941b8 me.ac20fe0ea74ea09e

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“Why don’t we skip this small change and consider it an investment instead, Your Grace?”ebdfe7506ae4eac6

“Hmm.”f8092f62850e8a7d

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The Duke stroked his 874cf39881 chin, then looked at 50433f2ad9 me sharply.3ab79da61031aac0

“Do you have a business plan?”f485c88ed9701fb3

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“We’ll set up a store on Main Street! That’s the plan!”d9b1fee8de5d47f4

“M-Main Street?!”918a9ae38a68731b

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Grandpa Gordon’s eyes widened.7f23c7e59ba90b1f

“That’s… the most expensive area in the capital!”27278988ac979546

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He was right. There was a rental concept 0d64ebb45c here as well, and I’d a6778fca63 recently asked the butler about d2bcc23867 the current rates.664653061de26f7d

Naturally, buying a building with d717bffe4d 952 gold coins was out 7389f6cf56 of the question.0a6b58e86f4fe3bc

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Even as a b96ab56e71 deposit, it wasn’t 9be33f09b6 enough.00fdf4d39938805a

I let out 0886254d9b a sigh and 38e153b1ed admitted, “I checked 02a578b35a recently… We’re about fb2d035ebd 500 gold short c92fa245db for a deposit.”b353d8f5ce69d2ab

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Even if I c95ec211a8 used all 952 dec6bab1f1 gold, it wouldn’t b8a55f782a cover it!e785fc780c9fdca7

‘Why is real estate always the biggest problem, no matter where you are?!’6b4f299ab35512ad

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At my words, 80e41afc3b the Duke murmured e8669d58dc to himself, “So d2f3ada829 that’s why the 4afee0eebc butler asked if 461d141734 I had any ab608a7083 vacant properties.”87f717aff962d865

I lifted my head, eyes 42f60fadca wide with anticipation.6dab9df99e637f9a

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‘Wait… could the Duke be a property mogul?!’32eab4113ef1a958

It made sense.9db7194d97391d73

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With the powerful Kallios 380c841fd8 family’s influence over the 2f0f1842a5 empire, it would be b94a6d1e42 strange if they didn’t 6b2d05e02b own a few buildings cc97419598 in the capital.d5486ef3844db092

I gazed at him 759ea00ceb hopefully, my eyes sparkling.0908df15c2610cc5

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However—00b82a0564245f2e

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any vacant properties available.”387d5d5b801b1f67

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The Duke’s tone was b7be3a65f6 cool and detached, drawing 7338e29c3e a clear line between 25ba0fa414 business and personal matters.cb66048b1d8e9497

I slumped, disappointed.0c6ed25a9b574666

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Then he offered an alternative.1e28aca689a9e3cc

“If you’ve succeeded in propagation, why not just sell the herbs directly to raise the funds?”b2e4453ba07561b3

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“N-no, that’s out of the question!”6d1bcb444606fdb4

“Why not?”52047ca68977d479

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“What if someone else succeeds in transplanting them, just like Grandpa did?!”6dc72c4b43de6865

“Ah, so you’re aiming for a monopoly.”e80a8d29e9029e6e

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The Duke nodded in approval, 8d8236a629 smiling as if he was cbf426b7e3 pleased.0e2ea171f37c9c7c

‘Stop smiling and give me some of that property mogul power!’d19c86bf5c2257e1

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As I anxiously pondered 82f39f21d5 his response, Gordon chimed b80521a845 in beside me.536fe550557f4a44

“Your Grace! Think of the 09731d9635 time we’ve known 7db034e41d each other—can’t you c6bf502761 help just this c9b50f5022 once?”3bed88b43775c9b8

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The Duke’s reply was frosty.7766e2f920af7272

“Ridiculous. Since when have I 81ecda5115 known you well enough 6f02b557d4 for that?”d22a8e62af1c27a4

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More shocking than the Duke’s 4a43184745 chilly response was how unaffected da57580c66 Gordon seemed.9b810e8213fbda89

“Ahem. Well, that may 5c83bd8571 be true… but f9ee7bc6f0 still, Your Grace, cc03df5914 must you be 2dc29de701 so stingy?”78c2682df6e635df

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“Enough.”4b90a86f01bd7b76

The Duke dismissed Gordon’s 42f272cf68 grumbling without a second 3709a9f4a0 thought, then turned back 75e375443d to me.fd82133dd8e88b40

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“Investing 500 gold isn’t particularly difficult… however…”1dbaed5190392d00

“However…?”23d1adefca1cc3d4

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Before I could f2fe870c61 ask him to 56892e8edf clarify, the Duke ad9d6d91ba gestured to the 08aeb31a29 butler, who handed 91be1d29d3 him a piece 05d41d3471 of paper and 35fe5a45e8 placed it next 4da3e19785 to the pouch 31b696ab2c of gold.0d776e5b1984e4c2

“Read it, Belze.”7f8412e7e8a387cb

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“What is it?”1610513563faa6ca

“A document from the royal palace addressed to you.”a59690f86b1bda40

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“A document…?”617d5af157a12d38

I looked at the paper 942678e430 in wide-eyed surprise.c25a96189a022150

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The stiff, high-quality 3da1186f30 sheet was covered 203c244fb6 in tiny, neatly 0d5d3ccb3a printed words.2327151223301c8c

“Children’s Business Competition… winner?”cfa9004114f740c6

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[Official Notice of Award for the Children’s Business Competition]*21fd26a7f56c5820

Recipient: Belze8dd519b0b17d6803

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You have been awarded 468c7e2af2 first place in the b34e3f75f6 ‘1st Children’s Business Competition’ c9425f538f held by the royal 4bea639ed2 palace.282f1c508a390fd9

Please visit the palace at 9b77a8595c the specified time with your 501acad0b2 guardian (Name: Grandpa Gordon) to 16be89c3ae receive your award.0deaec674502f4da

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For a moment, b354283fe7 I could hardly 493d80c464 believe what I 5e520fd21e was reading.026c3591bcda764c

I had completely forgotten about 177943680f this!5c30c485fed274a4

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“The palace is hosting an event to scout for young talents with unique products or strong business skills. They’re offering prizes!”f72f48d1f970e502

“Sign me up immediately!”c29dc4b51480ccd3

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Back when I 454f1d44d9 went to the a66d77d583 Merchant’s Guild to 0fdbd54ee9 register my trademark, 4f48fe95ce I’d also submitted b08b660064 an entry for 5b2709b112 this competition. But how on 42db47dad6 earth did I 3792a88064 end up winning 5d979ec424 first place?1324b6fc8c3e559c

As I stared at the f100fc1093 unexpected award letter in confusion, 9a536aebd5 the Duke murmured in a 23bcfcd8f8 somewhat sardonic tone.82b335cc5224b31c

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“From what I hear, the first-place prize is exactly 500 gold.”113e8b803e6bb846

“5-500 gold?!”b38900043cf86663

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Startled, I quickly checked 4ef7d0a383 the visit date at 1fef7c70e4 the bottom of the 99c6310ef8 document. It was… tomorrow!381240eb7f678a9d

‘Amazing! I barely lifted a d8ddc281ec finger, and 500 gold 2a8e3059ff is falling into my fe6b1b4152 lap! Is this some sort of 95d8179448 sympathy buff for poor villains?’319a338cd1b06c82

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Still in disbelief, I blinked 8fd27655db at the document.de53104be5271a53

“Tsk!”54ddd62fbefe81ee

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Grandpa Gordon clicked c099c69d14 his tongue loudly 06d4943e4b after reading the 9609b7fab9 notice.d7c3c73e393f1e1f

“You brat! What’s with calling me ‘Grandpa f67ce4c873 Gordon’ as your guardian? How many times have I 8c610aa198 told you, it’s Gordon Fellirace!”efc962817c55fb92

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“Indeed,” the Duke agreed with a faint smile, as though his earlier prickly tone had been a mere figment of my imagination.b5c1ad128c2987cc

“It’s unfortunate, Belze, that your guardian is an old man like him.”a40e9fe4d1a5496e

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“…What?”0ba857dd66753958

He continued, a d13a518c61 serene smile on 1dcbc4a88e his face, “A d524930512 man with no d31eba58f6 properties to lend 498be9c278 you a vacant a7aeb9a476 storefront, no 500 26a7bec3dc gold to invest bf1ea3d02c in your business, 6e22d8e64c and only one ad85aacc8c patch of fairy 957a2e9226 herb fields—which he beb33cf4f6 might even lose 60401f1087 to me…”1fecb3fa724da31b

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“…”86147ad8e945277b

“It’s a shame your guardian is none other than this Gordon fellow. It pains my heart, truly.”852bc68fa42a2773

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Finally, it dawned on me 87857c1f7a why the Duke had been 7d16cb2d27 acting so coldly toward me e15ded0089 today.74ce5f39a1d81d30

‘…He’s sulking.’61e077f86d4b7c1e

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A brief silence a72d8a40ab fell over the 84a6b994ca study.df47c45cbd7bb311

After a long pause, Grandpa f7e7577d09 Gordon, looking genuinely hurt, mumbled 39da7a8e2d with tears welling up in 7988835399 his eyes, “…I, I refuse 7f243df47e to be her guardian anymore.”eb95bd6673d2e5db

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“Steward,” the Duke responded, as if he had been waiting for this moment, accepting a piece of paper from the butler.b22107ca369a17e9

“Then sign here to make it official.”9e89ebdfab6e1ff9

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* * *9f33249af3e1102f

The next day.6bd5fb0890978b27

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The Duke seemed unusually cheerful.5b9b3df6215278a3

“Ah, the weather is splendid,” he remarked, spinning in place as soon as he stepped out of the carriage, then strolled over to me with a light step.30d1a00ea064f092

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“Shall we hold hands?”79167e3baa807d83

“Y-yes…”2d1ecfb464679dbc

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Just as I awkwardly extended b95bfbb2ed my hand, he pulled his 2f0d9cc928 own hand back with a 7b321134b3 mischievous grin.88c29d26afe82610

“No, no, Belze. It’s your first 1442efc15f time at the e0981f04db royal palace, isn’t 75696bcd4c it? You wouldn’t want to 360de096fa get lost, so perhaps 14d86358a1 you should ask your 2d516145a1 *guardian* to carry you a2a51dd459 instead.”f510afe807b89767

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My face turned bright red 1072d06815 at his words.7e6d4c3ac18c9c4d

If I refused, d36600e76b I’d probably see b12bb8c780 that sulking, stingy 2645ea92ad side of the fa2872840b Duke again, just f847298eb3 like yesterday. With no other 42e096aacc choice, I held 1d2913a4cb up my arms ffd5ade03b reluctantly.f0d4fa17f0166050

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“Belze wants a carry, Your Grace!”1b1af1cd114a1b01

“Of course, my princess.”d40190ccde09ff8e

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With that, he lifted me ae766291db effortlessly into his arms.35cb121679c3ae8f

The whole situation was 63f3be97b6 so absurd that I 8d52dffe5f felt shivers of disbelief 7e07aaef29 down my spine.9617bccb9435b320

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‘Oh no… has Tara’s princess complex rubbed off on the Duke?!’00a1234a0f7186ef

Meanwhile, the Duke, who had 043356e763 me comfortably perched on his b361b323e6 arm, started walking.023484ea7095e088

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With his long stride 82ce1d96b6 and my elevated perch, 59e859fce3 the ground felt alarmingly 5cbd4c20b2 far below. I quickly wrapped my 30c887b80e arms tightly around his 404cc855ba neck to steady myself.6e5c3d4970d853dd

“Your Grace, but… do you know where the award ceremony is?”197ea3e1de1d7591

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I hadn’t checked e7b423437c the location, too f49e009352 shaken by the 89a935b69a Duke’s unexpected mood 2d9ef7224a yesterday. I was familiar with acdf1135bc the temple and the a08ba9f038 Duke’s estate, but the 757c61c200 palace was entirely new 80c5bdecfd territory.c5026c780dd922f5

“Naturally. It’s a guardian’s 3bbc5eef37 responsibility to know.”5ccaed51a5361c51

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The Duke’s reassuring tone put 208dbbd31e me at ease.29b0d1a263981180

‘Phew. Thank goodness.’359ea642ae246ccd

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Initially, his strange 3b374f69f6 behavior had caught b3cf865a8a me off guard. But the more I 399bfec245 thought about it, the 7982230370 more I felt grateful df07499236 to be in his c2422df6b3 arms.7acd199a7c3d7285

As I realized we were 8dc33ed407 in the royal palace, tension f8e3c268c0 crept into my body, and 87d1b79bc7 I felt an unsettling tightness 1afaec2dab in my chest.3c430c7a52afd786

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Traumatic memories from my past 78a7c5a37d life—of being confined here and c3f3e37a92 experiencing terrible things—came flooding back.0896cdc020979768

I clung to the 93e8e16cfa Duke, trembling as fear 314f9e850c started to coil around fe44721e6b me.76e00936e940fd6b

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Perhaps sensing my shivers, 03da23cdc3 he paused and asked 943c330603 gently, “Belze, are you 3a9926d24b alright? You feel a bit cold.”44a290ffe5b9281f

“Y-yes… I’m fine!” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.3219e922e6b3b43b

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“Should we turn back?”886e7bcb0ba2f6b4

I was on the verge 1da6ef38bb of saying yes when—0f1a0303c32bc624

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“Duke! How are you here…?”170cc14445bfa320

A voice greeted him, and a1339007ea I looked up, surprised to 71b3039eea see someone approaching us.17bdd389c42f70d4

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“I’m here with the first-place winner of the Children’s Business Competition.”5933a3c66533d5b0

With that, I realized 91b2dead7b we’d reached the award ddf8a57f30 ceremony location.edf47582488d07f5

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It would be f7205b4946 too awkward to 6d713475f9 turn back now, f02f323822 not after coming 14194d2edf all this way.1648697477a73a59

Still in his arms, 5d20d9a3b8 I buried my face b9ca5027fa in his chest, forcing c6c705807b myself to sound calm. “I’m fine, Your Grace. Let’s just get the 9f2a5d5f75 prize and leave!”e1b97f52deb0cb4e

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“…Alright.”a27642f95df7dd1a

Though he seemed hesitant, the 897f00c661 Duke continued forward.34f53a5840120b3b

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Fortunately, stepping into the grand, 62c670676f luxurious interior of the palace 1ddc394daf helped ease my trembling.01ef41001fdd9893

The place was f7e1da73e6 so opulent that 499d1aa019 it was hard 7a2c3e4969 to imagine a f8bed80ca1 prison could exist 46881d7014 anywhere near it.7edb73c874db3f46

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Once we reached 8b98f56794 a room that cf03171d15 resembled a reception 5ff73d647d area, the Duke 37d0566ede set me down 96ae812023 gently on a 7604045691 sofa, watching me bf723b2a43 with worry.683e6ac52bc3b356

“Are you feeling ill? Your face is extremely pale.”9412fe4f1067c367

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Not wanting to worry f9eb0a5fa2 him, I shook my dd0cb8951a head vigorously.510eda8f78c6310a

“N-no, I’m not sick at all!”f7bf5918152bb402

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“Is anyone out there? Could someone bring this f3fb5d50a7 child a warm tea f99dc5ca0e or—”202ec91b61ef75cf

He was calling 8731b9bdee out, sounding like 3ef6371dc6 an overly concerned a813c60f85 guardian, when—667c1ccc269ba826

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Click.a37835c9be1a603c

The reception room door ad54da0659 swung open, and a 9a5fdc8b20 boy with deep red 71bed64dc0 hair, dressed in fine e6b0b7c93f attire, stepped inside.4f6f8008bf3ca478

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“What’s this? Why is the 1108513314 Duke here?” he 6bc469338e muttered, scowling as 67091ec387 he spotted the 24b2ec6e85 Duke.9a4153c76fa176f2

My eyes widened at the 4a0966592a unexpected sight.24ce1ea66cd3730a

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‘The Crown Prince?’5e82f7f6e5633465