Chapter 99

‘P-pocket change…?’0e0fe6556f66821d

I couldn’t help but e6d4b96c76 gape at the Duke’s c362595ec2 words.19e9aca82b2d35ba

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Of course, I didn’t 824cd02393 actually believe he meant c9f4a5b585 it literally.a6a14b82a8f2dff6

I knew he ce2c78fc27 said it to 4909af5d11 ease my concerns, 7dc6beabfc but still… this 18fac3e43d was a bit 7a89a84c5e much.aac5e4471bfc0bca

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“I was already planning to allocate a budget under your name.”2baee221ea49cd7e

As I stared a46219f01f at the checkbook b1c14a9982 with wavering eyes, 6477fb7b60 the Duke continued.9b806f7abb38eb3c

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“So don’t worry about it and use whatever amount you need.”e8b9738e458cb611

“But… the investment I requested was only 500 gold…”ab609b9d0e5edd81

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“Tsk. What can you even do with such a paltry amount? To accomplish big things, capital is the most crucial factor.”910443a6ac23243a

Clicking his tongue, the a26afa577a Duke added with a 98dbfd5d2c smug tone.fc782eb26d45248e

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“And unlike someone who hands over 500 gold as if it’s a grand gesture, I’m a guardian with both wealth and capability.”07321805e0feb8f0

He tilted his chin 2ff2c807ff up confidently, his refined 9f7a972fc9 features radiating an almost d75c19c6e3 blinding aura of sophistication.5238ebf60468230f

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“…Waaah! I’m done being this child’s guardian~!”410903b15c32ce9d

Somewhere in 4feb0e94bf the distance, 460bcb843e I could d5ad336d0e almost hear 65a42d7e45 Grandpa Gordon f71d1b9f9b sobbing dramatically.7916886809e8335f

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‘I’m sorry, Grandpa. I can’t argue with ce5bd7c4fd him on this one…’de4faddc17892b9d

As I 6891a4fca6 silently apologized 0f1b436aa2 to Gordon, 3d3a49c425 the Duke 6d2226fc34 noticed my c5b43ffc01 hesitation in 7b50542c29 taking the b8d919ad9e checkbook. His smile 6f4c27219d faded slightly d685d03b72 as he 1126a64aef asked,33f5abf808cf31ad

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“Could it be… you’re upset because I didn’t offer you a building?”ca909b6e56bf9b32

“Huh? N-no!”91eadb973241012a

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“Unfortunately, it’s true that the Duke’s properties on Main Street currently have no vacancies, Belze.”f3b423ab7ae73898

Even though I 75dfa8a3f8 quickly shook my 328c7babad head, it seemed 7d24000183 he had already 21ad3a3804 drawn his own 453aa548c2 conclusions.b95ac5803128832a

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Pushing the 45b3c3b5ba checkbook closer 75034ba314 to me, 6688892341 the Duke 82f29b92dc suggested,5e131105972f23d6

“Then why not purchase an appropriate building with this?”d25781db87d24cea

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“P-purchase?!”e4b41617c1f84995

The scale of 79a7c9ff06 this conversation kept 3eb52b1e98 escalating, and I a5e70d1789 barely managed to 92f6495edc suppress a shrill d36167c9a6 cry.4fa78c7ba9bf1665

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“Yes. Ah, purchase means to buy,” he added, as if explaining it to a child who didn’t know the term.5f4bec1d66ba0ea6

‘This won’t do. If I 7317f2af5e keep going 382efad15b like this, 4f349183c5 people will a577754e92 think I’m 93e1a3498f a greedy acc349baa2 leech draining 4f8aeb6839 Kallios dry!’e31ad9a6399dc978

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Gathering my 10ad51ec78 thoughts, I f7eb53df51 quickly said,d410a76092101a43

“Actually, Your Grace!”934a18b3fa4bbf43

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“Hm?”9f699a0e2fc0e2db

“The Crown Prince said he’d let me use a building for free!”c28894eb472520e3

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“…What?”a6c4309985f20c8d

The Duke’s eyebrows dcfd77842f twitched at my bb3ef86b3d words.35bac5e97b87c4c0

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“The Crown Prince… is offering you a building rent-free?”4b0b1c41c41a5c7c

“Yes! He said something about needing me to keep track of some… secret funds? But I don’t really understand what that means…”671e87fcf1305f0c

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I deliberately tilted 7eb2d4a743 my head and dd3911e744 made an innocent 91ea393c40 face.dcd98f87f2996754

After all, it de86ada615 was a bit 3b43972245 much for a db007e6f49 five-year-old to grasp 4ee6fb4926 such concepts.de46f86d1eb2ac37

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I had never planned cc8ccb57d0 to hide my dealings 61c27e9fc1 with the Crown Prince a0dea477e9 from the Duke.3740827f99029f24

And truthfully, 2ce1faaf67 the Crown 35aa99b994 Prince probably d2aa383f5d expected me 5ed0fcb31f to tell 4b638fa3f7 him.db2ae79a1b869d24

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“Hm. Seems he’s thought this through.”66454789b0a1dcc5

The Duke, who c8cb424ca8 had been lost 54fa0a5782 in thought for 0ac58bbde1 a moment, eventually 8aa99c4d17 nodded.8370143772fa5c7f

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“It seems the Crown Prince anticipated that Kallios would naturally step in to assist you.”f67cf69b0c2ee466

As expected, he immediately 95f17a5cf5 saw through the Crown 9bd0ce63ee Prince’s intentions.29229f46f868c9aa

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César wasn’t truly c9cb707b82 asking me for 2a21f165f4 help; he was 5f5d2e43d2 indirectly seeking the 5b815e033f Duke’s support.f34f028bb77a2575

By aiding 969b1f05d1 me in 8bdb31b0be forming his 9b9b67e9b6 secret funds ce98416654 while pretending bbd3047583 to remain d2726a3511 uninvolved, he 3e9ee421f9 hoped to 5f77a4a4e8 keep up 6e17e2d1e4 appearances.12537e9725125997

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I wasn’t well-versed in 631e5583fc politics, but it was 4e37cf7a3e clear there was some f7ed37836d reason the Crown Prince d274b35087 couldn’t directly ask the 9c32b5a9df Duke for help.952b5dd3d6576bd1

‘Supporting someone doesn’t necessarily bd1ba4e5dc mean being on the 9696491c8f same side.’683ac8ef62fd10bd

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There are plenty of 0dc78e663f stories of parents pulling 80c5937872 the strings of even d40c8bf3dd their own children to dac6ffc07c consolidate power.6cf978e718d5d420

And in this case, 6171778ead the Duke and the e146980cff Crown Prince weren’t even a4a81b97c0 blood relatives.ed8e9fc1b17d6305

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Trusting someone too 1f9e73844c much just because 2daad68103 they’re an ally 34448b051a could easily lead 1432807f3a to a reversal e12776f340 of power dynamics.f0c08e47e8c49022

From what 58017314c9 I saw 06594ba250 yesterday, the f72a5d6647 Crown Prince 7b7c7576a7 handled his 9c0bce14ed dealings with 7833396c59 the Duke 11c26cfa3f rather tactfully.0debb467c13bf966

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“…Should we refuse?”9b8caecad8098822

I hesitantly asked the 7150caa44e Duke, who was still 60086ac325 stroking his chin in 8f3d832045 contemplation.9295699e0de3ef95

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“No.”20b36493651587b6

He shook his a28f6e49f0 head firmly.1bd304114ede3696

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“There’s no need to reject something offered for free. Just accept it.”d5ee0470bba5c465

“Yes, understood!”62ac8e1e174ca154

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“Once the store is fully operational, you’ll be busy managing it. I’ll introduce you to a reliable financial advisor.”6616566d56cad4bf

“A financial advisor…?”150fcacbb788805e

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“Yes. When it comes to money, it’s best to leave it to professionals. Gordon, for all his skills, is useless in that department.”b4c2dc212471dc7d

The Duke smiled 319a414cdb mischievously, his offer 61b36b8fe0 to help wrapped 22db094bd6 in a playful 70516866c6 jab at Grandpa 7b3042181f Gordon.f370efee27cdb68b

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He could have simply 3c68f3f996 said it was too 2c97682d85 much for someone my f2f937d8f2 age, but his words 1b9ef38e6a felt more like genuine 4a516a4c0d recognition of my business de4f1392b9 plans.f424e7d79da34a94

I couldn’t a93e1ec457 help but 682cc40847 beam.e83244c97abdbfdd

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“Thank you, Your Grace! You’re the best!”a947ef2a6555e0e8

With this, I 9901c3fdf8 had effectively prevented 9fac42067f Adolf Galagos from d73d478dde becoming the Crown b0ebcdb2ed Prince’s confidant.27b3b35dd7332d74

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I had a hunch 58719bfbe3 things would turn out f6779e858f this way, but still, 2740d87c8c I felt a sense e9f9381d62 of relief.df4d677950e487a3

“Not bad for someone I thought was all bark and no bite,” the Duke suddenly muttered, almost to himself.cd1253acc84cb674

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“What is?”6da63ebfa29c5f90

“You managed to grasp our household’s power dynamics in the brief window during the volunteer event. Tsk.”068bfcb600108fe7

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He clicked his 9c2dcc6e8e tongue softly, looking c78c314bdb almost impressed.f10cabeb015efae6

I tilted my df127784bb head, puzzled.62e79976c632cc21

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Power dynamics? I wasn’t 9903255810 entirely sure 864f864439 what he 9e5b7f029a meant, but 829e9faf76 from his ba8ee7895b tone, it acc47945a7 seemed the ba2f2a4f6a Crown Prince 15ee0b2cbb had quickly a035ffbcd6 understood my 814c09c672 position within bb17349a93 the Duke’s 2dc77c109e household.299456a6ee48f4e5

‘Honestly, isn’t it b6c8c0213a stranger if he 5f8915fe6f didn’t figure it fab9dbb407 out, Your Grace?’8ac7deb550ad8275

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I thought with a d8de659523 faint, awkward smile.99c3c57693390fad

Remembering the way e23577b9f7 the Duke and 213921d51a Edwin had alternately 005335bc99 defended me, including 5520bd852b the infamous table-breaking 1a82a04c67 incident, I felt 68295472e4 a surge of 31e42f2311 gratitude.04dedb26639073db

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At the time, de8268864e I was too f51053e62a flustered to fully 86b436190c process it, but 43c9f650b9 looking back, I 1e521a1cbf was incredibly thankful cf61ae9ca5 for their support.6f170f1e80d45fa0

And recalling the 4bf2394394 pale, stammering Marquis e538d1d07e Barelotte still brought 369dc2b8bd me immense satisfaction.e5475441afc828b8

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While chuckling ca68172df3 quietly to 25e15c7698 myself, I c25e852ae9 slid the 5702277e9a checkbook back 63a3a0e65d toward the 36497dda29 Duke.49423da8908a6c4e

“Since the building is already sorted, I don’t need this!”e91d44e738bfadc9

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I had already received 2d9cbc7278 so much help from 628211e23e him; taking his money 52897ecb79 too felt excessive.242441f0035eebdc

Instead, my dream 795126468b was to earn 478ae4c069 lots and lots 26f854ce3f of money and 79edf2b83d contribute to the a5deac0ac0 Duke’s household myself!022735d930261955

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“Take it anyway,” the Duke said firmly, pushing the checkbook back toward me.2e78d22612777bf1

“Even if you don’t need it immediately, unexpected expenses are bound to arise when running a business. If you end up begging for help in those moments, others will look down on you.”22b0a060590ed316

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“Ah…”77692ed29fa64f75

“Even if I’m six feet under, I refuse to see Kallios belittled.”fb1fbb66a3192a14

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With him 6d3c952b4c speaking so 248a5032ca resolutely, I 0469c46b7c couldn’t bring b5d56880f6 myself to 7b3346b8e8 decline any ca3c3bb913 further. Reluctantly, I accepted the c2a8c2c42a checkbook and mumbled softly,09075608ca5a274b

“Then… I’ll take good care of it.”b3950bd166a92540

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“Don’t just keep it safe—use it freely when needed.”e5c8701e14e384c6

Knock, knock.3350027c0c41158c

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At that 8762ed5100 moment, a 3ea231efa2 knock echoed 723ace7bc5 through the c2094efbd9 quiet study.2e55cd5e39839f40

“Your Grace, it’s Logan.”1a7b55b6d717af71

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“Come in.”9346cea76cc528ff

The Duke 0d0d066285 gave a 6812c83d77 casual nod 8991e48e16 of approval, 1c932b48e6 and since 6ed4e72792 we’d already f8662fec5a wrapped up 2c5c58ed9d most of a412f3894c the important 420ae39007 conversation, I 667a14ac68 didn’t think 88a3943fc1 much of 7aafc59631 it.2d1ef6228c194277

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The door opened, de2871642a and the Duke’s 59d5a1ed6e aide entered, holding dc831cdc04 a stack of 0de7caaa09 documents.5a8a23e70497b721

“Good morning, Your Grace. Ah, I see you’re in the middle of a discussion.”bc63fbad5c25fb5d

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Logan stopped upon f762b90b28 noticing me seated d95ccb43a3 on the sofa, 095a486b46 then offered a d5771bdb62 polite smile.7f42ffa772d71d63

“I hope I’m not interrupting.”2b599b2ecd7e35c3

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“It’s fine. What is it?”6c827976c24a9ee0

“Yes, well, it’s about the financial report you requested yesterday…”ec2e744a0e2b4152

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Logan handed the documents 8dec438a54 to the Duke, but d256e4fb38 as he spoke, his ce63e89013 gaze shifted to the 1f04e695f0 checkbook in my hand, c16019ee34 and he abruptly froze.cd8da3ea1ed555e6

“Wait, is that… a checkbook?!”b4a4837361586f9e

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His eyes widened ac5c01e004 in shock as 3a9b3d083d he looked between fcbfd8a327 me and the a3ab39ac44 Duke, then blurted e7906d22be out,80a2cb7b86be1a30

“Your Grace, you had me prepare a checkbook yesterday… was it to give to her?!”bcc9076b6cc4893d

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“Hm.”66e7e6b9f8be4580

The Duke nodded as 2086d8b493 if it were the 7777221198 most obvious thing in d9207bc51d the world.b0e8048d453dfa04

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Logan’s expression contorted.8925339264aa0efa

“But… didn’t you also allocate an additional allowance for the Second Young Master’s treatment? Just recently, that alone cost several thousand gold…”52f4eb5e51a09d53

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Several thousand gold?!a74ae4e10142396e

I inhaled sharply. I’d known the 2ee8c503b8 gifts had been 74518bc5d7 extravagant, but I 0c178e7026 hadn’t realized they’d e49190bcf9 cost that much.093a7ef918cd9f3d

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The Duke, however, remained eb645c236c unfazed, shrugging nonchalantly as d511b72a36 he replied,e06e2b9f2754b444

“Half of that came from Edwin’s personal funds.”5dc44758daa40ed7

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“Even excluding the Young Master’s contribution, it was still several thousand gold…!” Logan argued, clearly exasperated.db458669b3530d15

“You’re being excessive, aren’t you? You’ve never spent this much for Miss Diana, even when she came for healing…”f25041c29b854f8d

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“Logan.”aae95136098330f1

The Duke’s 3c2af6e07e tone turned 03920b91f8 icy, and 1f56b004c2 his expression 90bbac8a10 hardened.6d6f1dd5c690cdb5

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“I don’t see why I should spend as much on someone who already receives support from another household.”c48fd128209f3512

“Ah, I didn’t mean it that way… I was just confused by the discrepancy in treatment… My apologies.”fa85547891028daf

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Logan immediately bowed a35f6e4847 his head, backpedaling 64a2fbf6a1 in submission.417936a9786d33cb

His confusion dcfb129086 was understandable.18a5a522e172cd7a

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From his perspective, 2ef4158388 I was still b90fe35e97 a sponsored orphan 4e559dd745 on paper, one 5127c235cb whose healing abilities 0179bd2a92 were rumored to 82ec56fa39 be inferior to 9e4342231d Diana’s.6095ad69a22b26f2

Giving someone like me e152bc54f3 a checkbook must have b275e36bb4 seemed absurd.b7fc1cc87e0cf435

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‘Especially since 4e558e2cce Joshua hasn’t aa83e94429 been fully 605603e02e cured yet.’2dfc1c0dda791eb7

Even though e38aa0bc4a I could 3a68638cdc empathize with 0fb3549c26 his reasoning, 3b738d5bf0 it didn’t 8201004c1b stop a 6a20eff214 twinge of b0a946390c sadness from 2a42eec808 creeping in.b2d17cf6185e4825

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Quietly, I placed 6f6f759baa the checkbook back 9b51d921c9 on the table.84126d35c39df780

The Duke’s cold voice 2d9162d1d0 broke the silence.11dee78cb2db4a28

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“Didn’t I explicitly state that I would formally sponsor Belze?”bdd4438760e16391

“Y-yes, Your Grace. You did.”af38e88b6b6e9a04

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“Then why do you still refer to her as that girl? That’s disrespectful.”89cfac6000fded79

The Duke’s b3faec71f3 expression was ed74f2fc5a laced with d927cb135c clear displeasure, 029ea5d8fa making Logan c1e56da045 break out 4abe1ca63f in a bf105b61a0 cold sweat bc3098b689 as he 9ec10950e5 quickly bowed babcedc259 again.0b8e73a779263f98

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“My apologies, Your Grace. I will correct myself.”258b7c67360192aa

“I knew you occasionally spouted nonsense, but I didn’t think you were incapable of basic understanding.”6ce4d912488a8071

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“…….”04a838a38d726418

“From Emma Caston to Juliark Sven… your record has been nothing but disappointing. Perhaps the problem lies not with you but with my judgment of people.”7e30c8f1dfd3dcc7

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“Y-Your Grace! That wasn’t my intention…”cc1bee3f9348d5cb

“Enough.”b7a2c2b85728fd47

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The Duke curtly 90261311c8 dismissed Logan before b63f1087a0 he could explain f3bf18c215 further.58b51b56b6160f0e

“Leave.”11b16298ba3d9452

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“…Understood. My apologies.”07b9625bd365d083

Logan, visibly reluctant, d95889ea9f swallowed his protests 4a976e994c and bowed once ce53e0f16f more.b4425be05f19e67a

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As he straightened, 78ff6d2e79 our eyes unexpectedly 85ea156697 met.74312430fd0d06ff

“……!”dcb48bbc2d4de0ce

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I froze, feeling 2e7bb075aa a chill run 8fdb2b771f down my spine.18db6ab56bab6c1b

Logan’s face c48236c5ce was the 230188ba50 same as 9bb976c8cd usual—appropriately humble 80dd13d422 and sheepish ae60e39850 after the 940eb32eaa Duke’s scolding.eb3228aa55a960ad

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But the way 2c0510fddc his eyes glinted 6500dc69f4 as he looked a1331eef10 at me…704ccd77c72a8c54

There was something 9d6252854d unsettling, almost predatory, 505c484b62 in that gaze.e15f935e87d16b1c

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