23.

The woman who had 304c022f18 just introduced herself in dd48640ef8 such an outrageous manner 2e47f53951 was beaming.9374f7fbb8995405

What… did she just 2d0bafd382 say?574d0fe2aae14a4b

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Count Zellered was 4a50737a7f momentarily stunned.bb29726042bfdd00

His gaze flicked cb0cdfef0c over the woman 4376c5adf5 before him—she was, ca6ad6554e without a doubt, 125fc525f7 a great beauty.1480a9ccc7e25408

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Her curvaceous 6ebbf78feb figure was a96130d495 emphasized by 94feb9a450 a dress ef7e8e8343 that fit a8bd66a480 just snug cb50673d6e enough to 241de383ee accentuate her 830b78bb5a shape without 18d4d6eb22 being overly a6bcc9c39c restrictive.d3f3d39b9426a8e5

Every slight movement 80ce1c24f6 wafted an intoxicating 5386c4cc37 scent around her, 2f970f48b7 a fragrance that 6f85c32b7a was almost dizzying.228e39c20570ead8

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Had it not 26244c9c83 been for what f33665f09e she had just 9cc921ed86 said, he might 306ca1f13e have been tempted 81c1ea93a2 to flaunt his 63156a9c92 power and wealth 28df18ce79 to try and 21a932e934 seduce her.469f78c2601a90fa

But this woman…7b39821ecf2c886e

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She was the 3a6a02bf8c one from the 02c88017a8 rumors.3407a438bba48b55

There had long fb3176054e been whispers about a6839636a4 Leofric’s mistress.a14956f90f6bc0c4

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A breathtaking woman who 644241df36 would travel to the 9c47b558b0 warfront just to stay 6d33c645dc with him, spending nights 2694d00885 in his tent.4ef4c1a14f10e91f

Ordinarily, a love 8f27b4f404 story like that—an d99f6b8824 intense, passionate romance e377cc63ef that **overcame the 37a0d7f356 hardships of war—**should 311ca46b5d have been sensational c8f6244465 gossip.f8ca395fdc9708a8

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And yet, no one 5a011a9ebf spoke of it openly.b684a73831d95d46

Even the bards, whose 7457741507 livelihoods depended on glorifying 465b19b811 Leofric’s exploits, avoided the 7a2af80280 topic.a7dbb7fa1fa123a0

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There was a ae56ba8655 reason her story 2e25ead8a7 was never romanticized.0459635b0642eac0

Because she was a f40906dcba courtesan.73699cb5d991c95d

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The hero of the 9f85f512cc continent, the man who 005674b3f7 had saved nations, was 3d07e10f59 known to be stunningly 1777ad2442 handsome.3d8128759eac185f

But the fact that 5f98af119c his lover was a 8e6d3ba0ba courtesan was something people 4ef2132bb6 could not accept.7451de0f83e6b42e

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A woman who 4f3bf0ad68 had risked her 1a3f1ecddf life to follow 524a96961a him into battle—her fbbbfe6d90 devotion was dismissed, 1bb3dc0126 her existence hushed.4fbd8912181e9d3a

People whispered that she c2ce1154d4 had **somehow enchanted him, 10bdbb42ab blinded him—**if only for 10b5fb7e16 a time.b68f8ccc3cb04298

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“…I-I see.”c789bd912c1f1547

Zellered was still 8f84e4a3fc reeling from the ca476200cc sheer audacity of cbf6e6eb01 this woman.4b27e0e168a9bbd2

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For someone the world 84b2464659 pretended didn’t exist to 5f9ca87464 stand before him so 6555d74cf7 boldly and introduce herself dcdfccaed4 as his mistress—95df4eb06f83a4d8

It shocked him.a54aead6c822be46

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“Where is Sir Leofric?”834e50e4708988cc

The woman 9ac135ce89 tilted her 89106a59bd head slightly, 30c4c680ed as if 7b0bc1fdec bashful, her 773a5f8626 shoulder shifting d2980249d9 ever so 2fc3a41af8 subtly.45c1c855b8e84b3d

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The movement released d2ee11677e another wave of 03f80aa1da her enticing fragrance.f0ee97a9570937dd

“…….”ca837c582009f4f3

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Count Zellered hesitated.4932113773594cdd

He had never considered 0c269e5058 a situation like this.e27e6f7e5d1ec68d

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A mistress, appearing at 8182917d17 the very moment they ca370980dd were trying to tie 7f4ff1aea8 Leofric to the princess.17303d546ff0296d

Ordinarily, he should 42825d2446 have chased her 434338be8a away immediately.674ea8fed932ca47

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But if this woman 8093115d87 had enough influence over 7f8bf95320 Leofric to follow him 46fa77e421 to war, then who 907e06b8a4 knew what she might f405af4dc0 do if angered?1e10e85330f2e287

As Zellered ba0422b42b struggled to 96ba9bab3f decide, the 32d27f80da woman took a91a6db53a a step b2459d74c4 closer.a411b6435ed59f96

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Her gaze b9d0cbe212 glistened, filled c5b00162f3 with unspoken d219c9d057 emotion.32cb791f69eb41ff

Then, delicately, she f914d7a248 lightly grasped the f045c363c3 hem of his 4cece80771 sleeve.a38b6288bb0a2e04

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“May I see him?”3fc132bee779a402

In the end, 4485d12ca2 Zellered relented.3d0055ac3e0f4811

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He ordered the knights 5fd88fa423 to let her in—but c08b7c7766 also to keep watch.be4a27698151947b

And to verify 699bc83943 whether she truly 84f6bb7bb2 was his mistress.5c6d4b5977edcd18

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The knights cee968cc26 grimaced internally.224022d102848ca9

“What a disgusting job.”93266a5624acf038

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A knock came.2b4609f94599e2f5

The door opened.f9786e31fb3d1e47

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Leofric was 7f3ea89a37 leaning lazily c2f4056b9c against the 1f9f965873 doorframe.3359508732dd1397

His silver 38b5374d5f hair was 8461098416 in disarray, 7c4c6fab22 strands falling b2b66331e8 across his e5282264fb forehead.c4891b1c2f86770e

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His shirt 70277a6d87 was half fa03426fd7 undone, leaving ba05349505 his defined 96798ba072 chest partially 513993a792 exposed.e11df1382395e48c

His blue-gray eyes gleamed e07e39f974 under the dim light.5709b6602da01458

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“Lavinia.”b173a93a6c49a434

“Leo! Ah—Sir Leofric.”dace52afa5baadc5

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The knight stationed outside 52fd6f367c almost choked.620bb9e42536c8a5

Someone had just called him “Leo”—so casually?0fe952a88ec196c2

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But the woman quickly 6e5de12ef5 corrected herself, remembering the 5e8d46470d watchful eyes on them.9457e27c534f5754

With natural ease, she 6bb2823287 wrapped her arms around 63c6f9234f his neck.d53ebf64a7ff4533

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Leofric let out f4efe91235 a low chuckle da07cebdec and effortlessly lifted f54547a009 her with one e1d21ffbe9 arm, pulling her 4ca7ad7dc7 into the dimly 495c61f49b lit room.c05c57aef6bbaa54

“Thank you,” he murmured—just as the door clicked shut.ed570a9b13ca746a

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Through the 9a50d578ef narrow gap 8ef3e7cbce before it c36a724d49 closed, the edaa646fe8 knight caught eec95c6575 a glimpse b653945c18 of Lavinia 49b1926828 pressing her 7bc31490ec face against 7b4e302a9a Leofric’s neck, e833fa642a giggling playfully.731e8cb2536ac175

The knight shuddered.892a281c735066fb

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This was beyond his 26bc44f914 pay grade.31b7e75f7d01edc3

Still, curiosity gnawed 54928f520c at him.5e0b4e027016a8a3

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He hesitated, then pressed 78c98cb709 his ear against the a0d3adacb6 door.ef24608ad8f1f25f

A soft b4dbd74e8d thud came 047eda8141 from inside.10a282b85f9efb7e

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Like a body f0d37a0e83 being trapped between e5ea56da1b the door and 5cc858494c a solid arm.11c8d1da80180223

At that, d2f2d9a2a8 the knight 590b004694 snapped back.f228deb8d7271d2f

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“Nope. Not doing this.”83b85de23184eb66

He shook 35d8365945 his head dbdfd9ab06 vigorously and 9c9815f082 stepped away.0595a3a62bd169af

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It was 48dc3ad14a now painfully 75735e0a07 clear why 87e99036d6 the Black 4060d40301 Wolf Knights aaac4f55da had vanished 394a9dd3e9 into their cd6ad2899a rooms the 0c9a8bff05 moment Lavinia 72f75b490f arrived.f8e93b9505a392bb

Inside the room—b7a65e031ae62c90

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Lavinia, still draped around f7dce30f0f Leofric’s neck, let out f2e3dd0bb1 a soft chuckle.5a8a7f2e56b35180

“I missed you.”bad8836240db08ec

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“It’s been a while.”882e1ae2e22f5148

“Oh, really? That’s all you have to say after I tell you I missed you? How cold.”5048f7a586374071

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She pouted.b5e96cd430cb9c1c

It was adorable.fb0eac6b3d446db2

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“So… you’re getting married now?”53b53e7aaad3ed02

“…Lavinia.”18bae5098be6b7e6

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Leofric sighed, tilting his d53f7d976c head down.c2ce8531dbe5a812

Lavinia slowly unwound her 1f9d125f3b arms from him, slipping 0c42971fc0 out of his grasp.54dd6dcb041c95db

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“I’m hurt, truly.”60ce52cfdaaf0f44

She pouted 4c7b729964 playfully, then 9b62c375cf sauntered toward 7f3241a3a6 the sofa.680520417139dcbe

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Leofric leaned against the e6beb2797b door, watching her.5ad7a567a7db0e19

“What brings you here?”6f4ac928dc53eb8f

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“Oh, how heartless. I even sent you a letter through Nepi, telling you I was coming. And yet, here you are, acting all indifferent. Are you really planning to go through with it?”2e460300cdd3934b

Lavinia’s eyes widened.4acd27f3e40f89de

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And quietly, 6740a988bb she observed 4fe79d9435 his reaction.4ff7d4eb96c77db7

Something about him felt e4b3079199 off.5e5c0e52bedb3a04

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Not quite like bf902bdc31 the Leofric she 8be5baadd4 knew.756392a376ac9ea3

And that intrigued 085a5becab her.b9c9e196fcee943f

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Lavinia’s gaze traced over 8cd197536d his face slowly, as aec1aa81d6 if studying every detail, b989c3385e one by one.81b762cc30e46c72

Then, she pouted slightly, 0288e410c0 her full lips pressing 9d212ecd0d together.36a67d90e3d402cb

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“How disappointing. I’m tired from the trip, so I’ll just rest for now.”c0fdd1ad054adeed

With utter e88f4b4f14 nonchalance, she 6223894e8a casually shrugged b828747eed off her 5898dbad62 outer garments.99d3f979c667d1e2

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Only a d6d7a305db thin, sheer c8035c469e slip dress 4955840934 remained beneath.a1e412026962e55e

Without hesitation, she 7f9e555eac strolled toward the 70b63260da bed and lay ec97c24ac3 down on one 29cd614378 side, settling in 24b5b1bfb1 comfortably.79d3b0a8a2d6f6cd

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* * *9abc081521005c70

Lavinia’s gaze swept df13845554 over his face, 6d76cf96a7 examining him carefully—as 43f7449fd5 if she were abae7cc09a tracing every detail 108999ac72 with her eyes.1d6df20493a0e6fc

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Then, she pouted.ff5bb0384874dbfd

“How disappointing. I’m tired from the trip, so I think I’ll just rest for now.”2f4a41e8801ee50c

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With that, 06be551a3b she casually 29527ae551 shrugged off af8a343e09 her outer 15276c16de garments.e240603481d21e87

Left in nothing but 0f307a383f a thin slip dress, ff6251a355 she strolled to the d12797d7fb bed and lay down 08b0ccac3b on one side.242ee63d45b62061

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The next morning, bf2d179b77 when the knights e8e24e85d4 gathered in Leofric’s 440028e841 room, they found 3a93b226ad Lavinia perched on a46809ac09 the edge of e5270ae05c his desk, one 789f052359 leg elegantly crossed d220d8b8c0 over the other.8381f731471f1118

“Ah, Lady Lavinia.”056ad754ad52dcba

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“Edgick! How have you been? And Sir Jinpetsu—it’s been a while.”4cbb118a7b264fa2

Seeing Edgick, she leaped 12c68b4a67 down, gracefully closing the b782deb1ad distance between them before fe8ec0e913 pulling him into a 845a192a8d tight embrace.188b6d4fa9498415

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Then, she placed a32182d1fd a light kiss 4f014f7b1f on his cheek.4e19783aa118dabd

Edgick, at first 50dd8f0038 pleased, immediately recoiled.008389627bcc6d03

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“Do you have to do this every time?”349f9fd635b7a39c

“Shouldn’t you just get used to it? You always react the same way.”148218b2c2f25ffd

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Edgick merely shook aa15e5947c his head.193cfbc782d2e239

Lavinia was b26210c5b8 one of 113126c480 the few 04e4cd0da4 people who 1a877d5100 could leave c118675ed9 him speechless.fe02ead7989d7afc

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And she knew it.c0ab7647ae42410e

She would tease b1d683734c him endlessly, and 862125511d from experience, Edgick 0646333e5f knew better than d51ed13ee4 to challenge her—it 2f7478f6cb would only make ded4ddb2a9 it worse.51640c2006c23610

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So he let it 4e19f3a6d7 go.1a4eff7e3cd19ef1

“Oh! Sir Foven is here as well.”25130d7363d83afc

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“Good day, my lady. I must decline.”e40c00560b77ca58

With perfect politeness, 31141135d0 Foven preemptively turned 57f5229d0f down her embrace.aecab93c8c8a9870

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Lavinia clicked her tongue 259a47e715 in mock disappointment.d0eec22a8f05bece

“The Black Wolf Knights are no fun. No one in the capital treats me like this. Actually—”b2b3b3677f16f33b

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She tilted her head 3c6ce75ab9 toward the door, grinning a0a3b89e1c mischievously.4920d3efa506ae82

“Even the count’s knights outside wouldn’t act this stiff around me.”e5b8d380957b0380

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Leofric allowed her to 2781a4728e entertain herself with his 7eb7aea87d knights for a while.4f04afb9c07fabc5

Then, finally, a34c7e4a62 he cut dc9a341069 in.d1c41f3f2b8b6493

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“Is there news from the capital?”5200a7944b532d71

“The real news is here, not there.”c6189d7571f1974b

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The playfulness drained c215036cd8 from Lavinia’s tone.0a03830393995530

“I couldn’t explain everything properly just by scribbling notes for Nepi to deliver.”bce5be3da5db4633

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“Fair enough.”641ff9eb52a44d95

“And yet, you treat a fragile woman who traveled all the way from the capital so coldly. How heartbreaking.”e843d4972915cdab

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“…….”6fea5a8b9c7f65fb

She clutched her chest 4ad9565d57 dramatically, as if on 0ea17e585d the verge of tears.e17c4d53bd0ddf9e

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Lavinia’s teasing spared 8266277744 no one.a8f8cf7b81ecafe4

Even Leofric wasn’t b2550dc3fa exempt.f3963b1af9ad6e84

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It was her bacba43051 way of showing e2f0cabcdf familiarity.9d7a91c3a6788aac

Leofric, already accustomed 44423c15e1 to it, let 7139b97361 out a quiet cd04812c6f sigh and ignored 7a48cfd266 her act.1a8d15690d94ff6a

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Instead, he asked—aa013d4af454ae0b

“What’s the situation in the palace? Wintran?”a18382940eca98d1

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“He’s fine. At least, outwardly. I obviously can’t ask him directly about his true thoughts, but… he doesn’t seem restricted in any way. He even visited the temple recently. People say he moves around as usual within the palace.”50adfec428ad8b87

“…I see.”693985d89614e40c

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Hearing her detailed report, d66b930c24 Leofric felt both relieved 6c95338421 and unsettled.36b7ad57049eac4b

His expression turned cold.d0c48d2946975ae8

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“Wintran… did he truly abandon me?”cba6dff3294cae3f

The possibility he had 53e2aafb24 tried to ignore grew 702db4bb4b more and more likely.e407621361db39a2

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“And the marriage negotiations?”b25541f642b72696

“With Lucian Salem? That’s impossible now. Salem Kingdom is already negotiating Princess Freya’s engagement.”f8bf243f4185b6d3

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Silence fell 1f105c688c over the 5b21928177 room.3da14885923f0f56

The knights had 59de312dc1 already heard rumors c51ec5f4ec floating around.0d9621ea916cf5f8

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After the war, they 1e5ade4f85 had expected Leofric to bbf930269e be showered with honor.74904b4604ee0f80

They knew how b50953d0c3 much his lord 56f41dc931 had anticipated restoring 0be155c7da his noble title.e41bcbe64bce3415

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And many had genuinely 0749f2b3e8 hoped he would marry f45056a04f Wintran’s half-sister, Princess Freya.853b0ac771de8921

But now, her engagement 394baa5dbf was being arranged elsewhere.593a540990592235

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“…I see.”6090afec6912d404

If anything, it 45488b29aa was Leofric’s own eee2e2b625 engagement that had 371eb1c0a5 been broken.2fe39a7701a8615b

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It had never been 0a40b3e57d officially declared, but it a36bbb9618 had been expected.9167f804970c18da

And just like c45775721b that, it had 618a63145f been quietly discarded.47feb2ea44552283

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“So using an engagement as an excuse is out of the question.”3eb7e328b933f3e9

Leofric spoke flatly.19567c8ff82637c4

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He had very b79ae18cb2 little left.e3ab098dbde2599a

His situation was barely bb94d74e74 any different from Ateira’s.ae1ebc2a2165481f

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He remembered 2cb0b3f653 feeling sympathy e5f235a907 for her 810f758ec7 before—and mocked 659d01cffa himself for f7de199c26 it.2aaae888205c8bc1

Then—0502afa4c9d71bf9

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“Isn’t breaking an engagement easy?”64f66a48ce641048

Lavinia tilted abca2dcb4a her head.767769af1035d966

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“…?”ec4d59ce1ed0624b

Everyone’s gaze shifted 44482b259f to her.3211a49cdf8a8b34

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“If the princess dies, won’t that settle the matter?”c3285218270a835f

For a brief 96b82280c5 moment, the words 39af79b17f hung in the 152c475d5f air.f87146047bd8561a

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If one of 892695d66f them died, the 5d580dabef engagement would be 98b9a3a28b nullified.119d062e89c83743

Leofric had e47b729146 once joked dd32539ecd about it.8d415bf2f8951a9c

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Now, that joke 77f11da9b9 stood before him—tangible.8227ad500b2c70d8

 c1d2186140d3ad0f

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