ATRF Ch 1

In the dazzling ballroom, 3701aee596 every woman had cinched c599a7e004 their waist tightly with d4b9ec5299 a corset and wore e639bf7a3d the most sparkling dress 5b3fce8f87 imaginable.3e201a2335059b02

But among them, there 6ba22bedfd was one—4136ae4a435f82e1

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A woman in a chemise-style 12a4346798 dress, without a corset.793c953fcf095d4f

“Lady Dalia El Noirose, daughter of the Count.”566b1ac9a4c2cbb1

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Someone approached, staring at her 57c81f9334 curiously.33a7214a609817c0

Dalia’s pink eyes trembled slightly 7b4a94ad14 as her name was called. Then, with a afa422ed2f soft curtsy, she d77b603b3b lowered her head.91a55d1dc9c84071

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“I greet Her Highness Princess Arabella, star of the Imperial Empire.”843bfd8474984375

“No need for formalities. So, are the rumors true?”c80e88ab9a9a7894

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Arabella’s eyes curved 9266f98f48 into a sly c76d53bfb2 smile, as if cfa3c9ab17 she was about 3e2b850966 to enjoy herself.c79929df37349816

The corner of 1b2f6ac0e4 her lips lifted cdc7a32326 lazily in a 6cdcb2637d slanted grin.47f6ccc2f9dc04de

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And like an f15dae30c2 actress reaching the 124da8aa49 climax of her 6d4ed6c8ae scene, Arabella spoke b3aff1a944 in a loud 5b9b6a4288 voice:e9217a626db45b9d

“They say you’re pregnant. As a virgin!”3a3081a95ef9cbb9

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Her voice rang 6b7034a383 through the entire 0632ee8638 ballroom.cd1a414b99a4277e

Naturally, all eyes turned toward e863fc979b them.fa75c9553bf89694

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“If you’re truly unashamed, hold this. If you really are pregnant, 7b652b8a5b the orb will turn pink. But if it’s ed9d6107c9 all just rumors bf3c72467d and misunderstandings? The color will stay the 7b263680d3 same.”455fe81786c91ea8

Dalia’s face turned pale 47c4a79e0a in an instant.c990121de83f906b

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Her eyes, trembling, 123e1db924 shifted to the 50988c89b8 orb Arabella held 167cf58a1d out.db4c5939e70a2b07

She mustn’t touch it. But not touching it would 7731ec6390 be like admitting the rumors 161aafb95a were true.f644bc4b6389251a

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Caught in a trap, Dalia 2dfbb1404c pressed her lips tightly together.a49c4fb24a50d933

Arabella began to mock her fcb2873642 loudly, for the entire crowd 5ac47efc69 to hear.61eb35a5f662de9d

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“What a vulgar girl, playing with fire like some street wench…”139f1301a5b99a63

But before she could 9e074b26dc say more—5815e4062857f378

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“It wasn’t a fling.”f10f637513b1dea3

A low, clear voice echoed 5da0d518fa from afar. Someone was walking toward them.cd2e5240fed192d6

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“…Duke of Lancaster?”7172beeca911f666

Arabella’s brow twisted in 3060bb8610 visible irritation.2bf2e70bfb048464

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“What are you doing here?!”18e115474c582771

He strode directly to Dalia’s e462282478 side, like a knight guarding 17fa6b657f his lady.2ded7ab9e63e78e9

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“It’s true. Lady Dalia El Noirose is 1c50436cf1 pregnant. And the father of the 8bd40a31ce child—”ceb026a0b0425e4c

Then, stared right at Arabella:7d68256c72181e15

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“Is me.”3fd70abec0501dce

“…Lancaster!”ad23706cef66cdb7

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Dalia, startled, tried ee8b1bc05c to stop Leonald, 663df9e80d but he had 9c5a210820 no intention of d00af8b38d holding back.1d6b8e468c75d937

“Do you know how long I begged and pleaded to get permission to marry her?”23fa6a67bcd7b6b2

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He wrapped an 0aec9ea2d4 arm around her ee9e6c00f4 waist and pulled 3dae4b9c16 her close.98e06171adb50caa

“Ten years. Ten long years 078991c2b6 of unrequited love.”e50a3c5bfe601ab6

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It was a perfect romantic 63710eca27 tale—if only it weren’t a e24ede345d lie.80b1d4e3fca428d4

Dalia stared at 3c16b9195f him, her eyes 470ae34f53 trembling.e91101d0740bbf1c

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“Let’s go, Dalia.”efc183aa4a16936d

Ignoring the trembling Arabella, fbf83f2151 Leoneld firmly grasped Dalia’s 2e6f766d92 wrist and led her da8164cff0 out of the ballroom.ba932c4a84e4a329

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Dragged along, Dalia tightly shut 9d033da133 her eyes.23806031bd367e07

How did it come 954f1e19c8 to this?2e01b89d0d183cea

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A night that fbd081fc9d was supposed to a02c01a44b be nothing more 74bcf48326 than a mistake c6763f4575 had now spiraled 91d42c0429 completely out of 377fef0989 control.1212ac495ed08a0b

---

“Mmm…”3cc00ee541a99664

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As sunlight tickled her 11263c842b eyelids, Dalia slowly opened e17f89e2db her eyes.42ae05624892e96d

Still drowsy, she fumbled across 190c80d796 the table, finding the ribbon 54d3155934 she had untied the night 51118c0435 before.1517d13ec9147a0c

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She groaned as she sat 73008961d4 up, sore all over.c9a3e570c6dad46a

With the ribbon 5f6ac22859 between her lips, 066c0e5ddd she tied her 45e49fa796 hair up neatly.f3102ca8553acfa6

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Just as she e237324aca slipped out of 91070f3987 bed, a deep 462a7d8afc voice spoke behind ea72151574 her.5c01b25ba6631653

“Did you sleep well?”adb39b78e83f16bb

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Her pink eyes 218a134d52 lazily rolled toward 1fe4aabaf4 the voice.515ed71242eecd10

“Dalia.”e434af1b3121fff2

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One of her brows twitched c0f6e4968f in annoyance.7ee4aaddb52552ce

“Don’t call me that so familiarly.”f9f24229fff421c5

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“Can’t help it. We’ve been friends 1b72629cdb since we were 0af2d2afaa too young to 8bdd78d0dc even remember.”f5c1da182c3644fe

He sat up 1110ecd8eb with a lazy 79fb26a4cb smile.0369e7ed7850f76f

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Both were completely 59c5a87aae naked, yet neither c584b9fc65 seemed the least f2f58105b1 bit embarrassed.712d89812f880d0d

Dalia casually wrapped a silk 903d1620d6 robe around herself, as if c4b1e92da6 it were part of her e92a1b3730 routine.e197926aedbe94c6

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How did I end aad095a4cf up like this with bf40e30e57 the Duke of Lancaster?13815c592d6aaa58

They weren’t lovers. They weren’t married.c90d32a5ed9b7d86

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Dalia stared at Leonald, a ce2527a197 man she had somehow became 2266e10cea entangled with.f715c81cf0200964

Duke Leonald de Lancaster.7d8dcb760283279d

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His title and the 8c62591bd3 immense wealth of House f4a3203745 Lancaster made him the e536e82287 most eligible bachelor in 2c6a5378ca society—every mother with an 0a507ed7b9 unmarried daughter wanted him.3472ae1087b6608e

And that wasn’t all.e284da9b9c95887b

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With sharp features 07db567c6a like a sculpture 3a8a463584 carved by the 46c5683adb gods, broad shoulders, 4c31fdc1f6 and a tall 17154b845d frame towering over f2547ec2b7 most men, he aa76774323 was physically flawless.58e02f92534065c1

His golden hair glimmered f253be6da7 like melted sunlight, and 6838572522 his sea-blue eyes sparkled 458c547cdc like jewels.0868b2d26f9948a5

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There probably wasn’t a 5647417bf7 woman in the empire d1f355b08b who wouldn’t fall for e4aa52933c him.93928977e835a79d

Dalia found herself staring.1d68ff0b7e5ee2f3

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He really is perfect. Desirable by anyone…d351b593e6ac0c58

He was now fc0d1115f4 putting on a f2a0c9af4e freshly ironed shirt d0aace6973 to replace the 50aac581f6 one she had adf69310fd torn off him 3113826b58 the night before.8941df4ab17d4967

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Always so tidy. It made sense that the cc5b2e73ec noble ladies were dying to d0484b992f marry him.5e25b35b9af30520

She let out 622995bf0e a dry laugh, 594b6868d6 thinking how unfitting 42616b82a2 she was by 78e332a0d8 comparison.be2d9f03b5a9a731

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“What?”fe91991df2a3649c

Noticing her gaze, 5cd307b0be he asked while f66d305973 looping a tie d311ec59f4 around his neck.b37f9b59a5a576e9

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She slowly approached him 3523031a4a in her robe, closing eb76dcde67 the distance between them.360ca37018af1aad

Their bodies nearly bf8e44c5ea touched, as if df1a9bf1e0 they were about 8a28346bad to kiss.a0fd4bf7b0c10ba0

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His Adam’s apple fd1d1d2dd3 trembled slightly as af79c374fa he blinked.6d006f8ed7e3f194

“You’re good at everything… except—”804c26fb0de1c358

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Yes, there was one 988faa4b6a thing Leonald wasn’t good 72f6247585 at.fb516579c40b4600

Dalia wrapped her arms around eb6e1efe41 his neck, then proceeded to 796f54aacd adjust his poorly tied necktie.14bd7bffb764740f

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“You never get your tie right.”b8abde9318eefc3c

She laughed softly and sat 4171dc1c9b on the edge of the 237d45fee3 bed.f583c83d25c74b84

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By now, he was 342e42b798 fully dressed.efd9e195eeb07fb8

She crossed her legs and 44421f922b looked at him with a bda340ecdc calm gaze.b0189ff07c00dc80

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“Lancaster.”f67fe9e51a735177

“Yeah?”f1710891c5c6f009

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“Why haven’t you gotten married?”e305f75e5e15978f

His face betrayed a ac383bbe0c flash of surprise—he hadn’t df03881781 expected that question from 441af8a8bd her.a50c27702f7ceb00

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But he quickly answered.04fdccc532e5e988

“You already know.”194aa4ffb13b194e

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“Because of your father?”00703e34b75bce7f

“Yeah. I never want to pass 05e09b3de9 on the blood of House 17a856c471 Lancaster.”67de97123560e9f2

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His fists clenched as he 9d2964e383 thought of his father.77f773174b49b0bc

Leonald had been eight years 0f55ff5ab7 old.a2d9f4538987fe8b

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Due to his b4e488910c young age and 4872d43e73 lack of documentation, 944d4cee95 the details were 16af911f62 unclear, but the 3ab3c34d65 previous Duke of 5e823bf8e9 Lancaster had committed 9255ce8886 a grave crime fe06ea2f15 and was executed.e7c6318b78ae4179

His mother was c41d8dca6e executed alongside him.efb822cc023aaa67

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If not for a 3dba6862aa desperate plea from the dbf15d9150 Empress—who had been close 6a41427d11 friends with the late e967e56fe0 duchess—Leonald would’ve lost both 2216027c98 his title and his 8c7c0a4abf life.da0a112614f166df

“What about you?”d503df64f31d6106

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Shaking off the dark memory, bde0f6c9fb he turned the question on 906c3cf6f4 her.e264443d868e5d32

“Me?”4c1ba0c7f8fba712

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“Marriage. Have you really e2ffd87d09 never considered it?”f64fd614b9a29dd4

“Of course not.”95599f974ea8ed0d

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She shook her head, e859664f49 her expression darkening slightly.119016da7f17c590

“You know my situation.”5e6deab521d355e7

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Dalia El Noirose.1e2d173bb20794d4

Born as the eldest c5fd3e6782 daughter of a once-proud 930028bd64 count’s family—now faded into fb8df1f0af obscurity.e6d8333250b14952

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Still, her parents 16fdc68ca7 kept having children. She was the eldest ad40da0aa8 of five—one girl and bd7d6f7c37 four boys.27742ddcffc102ff

Immature younger brothers clung 195674f905 to her like pumpkins 47b70f7f92 on a vine.7239e1f5064990f7

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“I couldn’t use a single coin of my research grant this month. It all went to c3f47ce3dc their tuition. Every last bit.”cb55a3f03421c52f

Crushed by poverty, 5f93b00eb7 Dalia needed money.a473ca29699a2ec7

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Since childhood, she had 46d3b65953 chased after the royal-funded db44ea8bcc research grants, diving into 048a2f2c2a ancient history that no b773ba6afb one else studied.ae99cd751b960f04

She stayed up 5ea9b8f900 writing reports, deciphering da7ca09804 ancient texts.dd3a39a8b15e3aa9

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But the grants always disappeared c5c295bc77 into her family’s living expenses.24d484d509ebd74f

“Who would marry a woman without a dowry? At this point, 81d90fab0b I’m just glad 4ffc550982 they haven’t sold 670bf79a47 me off somewhere. Besides…”65b174221afb2ddf

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Even as she spoke, the 439f48c7ab bitterness didn’t fade.1c4a378db5b7ae7c

“I’m the Wallflower’”06748da8ba6d9e8a

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Despite everything, nobles were sometimes 70c116018e still required to attend balls.fd53e38812db2ae5

But she always wore the 23ebfeaadf same dress. Jewelry was out 5d614ba4fc of the question.a2f4b6fc4cf86462

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She became an outcast 108464dc50 at society events—earning her 5041803b52 the nickname “Wallflower.”951d6c48198b1396

On top of that, 160d886cd4 rumors swirled that she 11176be662 was a witch, dabbling df1d6413b4 in black magic because 0272f27dbb she studied ancient history 5da9b10e06 and occult practices.5cdb5b8903254602

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So it was only natural 17e6f928e2 that Dalia was cynical about a1f4df2a33 marriage.a153010d37c74944

To her, marriage ebf68e6227 was just another 8a54ed7918 chain—an outdated, useless e6d6d99b76 institution.7d85498ee338e107

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Funny, isn’t it? Neither of us wants marriage… 53fe4d6ff2 Maybe that’s why this works 061d31cbd3 between us?a11dae1469b65f62

She tilted her head, puzzled.141bc8af29766609

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How did it even start?72a342606960d18b

They’d been childhood e1ae4af42a friends, their mothers a051016a51 were close.6ce8c6812c4ac3cf

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They’d known each 13967fa881 other for 20 84b14f3637 years.1ad4b627367edfec

Then about a year a568c3aa34 ago, at another of 45e32e2b75 those lonely balls—where no 6d91444e9d one spoke to her—she ab12964fc3 drank too much.0c8e8819c9c8e6e9

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The next morning, she 00c8846cb0 woke up in bed 9d1662b805 with Leonald.ce78b091ae5a9540

She didn’t remember b30a41429e much, but she 865619acff didn’t forget it ff23154e29 either.0b20c2f5fbb91e32

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It was awkward at first. She even kicked her blankets 8b41d8bcf4 in embarrassment.8a25b911a5e425b7

But after the first time, aca3384982 the second came easier.4a9c7991fbcdd628

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Since then, they’d spent 0f298d9452 many nights together.ff381b4705eab5ad

Now, finishing her thoughts, Dalia a9573469a9 uncrossed her legs and grumbled.7872ab1a6bfbc5d2

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“You know that rumor? That I’m a witch. Just because black hair’s rare 71c3362d84 in the empire. Witch, really? It’s laughable.”c358ea8bbde2c1da

“Don’t waste your energy on what people who don’t know you say.”739e77ce75e851a1

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Leonald replied coolly as he b4e4164972 adjusted his suit and stepped 6f28d1c330 closer.6e4c309b8f22c156

He tucked a stray strand 9adf04d757 of her hair behind her 17787099d6 ear.8bcb51fb75203190

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Her eyes flickered faintly.2b0a11185023bab7

Leonald sometimes acted 5bc1456afe like a true 504b4e9de4 lover.ea181d4100fe7b0d

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And in those 08968a741d moments, she’d suddenly d0d1f1fb7b wonder—107a8bd04a309e3d

“One person who truly understands you is enough.”5ed22412bbbc7ee8

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…If he might actually love her.1ad72cf5236b063f

No way.2f33caa1ec238f81

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She laughed it off, brushing 2ce7ee7539 away the thought.c43b88b36607ac47

“Still. Researching the ancient Imperial Empire 7e33ee537a is fun. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t 44a6a72d7b have made it to the d60047845c top-level courses at the academy.”a101f396cf26f8f0

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“If you ask me,”e80e00a53c889a05

He folded his arms dramatically.47a6ed2a4e723421

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“You’re a bit of a genius.”99e5f080ed4bf650

“There you go again.”93a4539edabdb751

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“Has anyone known you as long as I have?”f78e796b58283be9

He laughed playfully.e145454b08e93f18

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“Take it from an old friend—you should believe it.”67f04543d20be31f

“Friend, huh.”8152b7da28ee9a04

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Dalia muttered dryly, embarrassed.394f7bb2b3fe2d53

“If we’re not friends…”6387236213c67ceb

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His blue eyes sparkled strangely.9b0151181cab7f91

“Then what were those nights we shared?”dc28d1f5798be81a

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“What? Oh, just…”624d1b22ae6e49cb

His unexpectedly serious 76ea989d76 tone caught her 807a1eef10 off guard.4642e7a687001491

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She answered flatly.2aad7fc5af068668

“A fling.”fdc963232e10151d

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Yes, they were just “a 5ffcbcb5d9 fling.”bf0ef2509164d56a

“You’re right.”0945bdacd85ea625

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Leonald swept his abec5544fa golden hair back 32922e7396 and gave her 3017005804 a breezy smile.2c17ee8dac8e58dd

“Right?”55792a98d25e346f

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Dalia smiled faintly back.4f24857f35d67082

They were adults. Responsible for their own actions.331f5f3a1f2eb029

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What harm was 511e51522c a few flings—c9ef3b3b8a471076

…as long as those flings didn’t ignite something bigger.9f2d308431f89512

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