30.

“I’ll pass for today. Perhaps another time.”d5789c006982905e

Leofric declined 86e6766e68 with a 4513303a27 polite smile, cc59e18f97 his tone e0bd9948f7 smooth and e45fd0ca07 courteous.0faaf7a179168ca1

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After his previous a49b740a80 unfortunate experience drinking 0a6e09ffc9 Hogen tea, he 73029ac248 had no particular 89b5101eba desire to risk 80ab4faa38 it again.21c6d3e2bfa3ea82

A cunning fox 19f9992023 of a man.78f80390e936d10a

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Ateira felt a 2ada09e229 flicker of frustration ef29f80bd8 but maintained her db9c02d38a composed smile, nodding 69f2cb9f1c obediently.26309a24b1752b79

“Of course. Next time, then.”3e17a491baee3460

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There would be f951d19478 another opportunity.3a9b4de19ee37e77

There had to be.4d617fd54a7a5ea0

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* * *c04896f6fe9889fc

Preparations for the 6c03b6272a wedding night progressed 603161ede1 far more quickly a2ca63ea62 than expected.b22615ed5934ca35

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Count Zellered was outraged by the sudden development, but when faced with the reasoning—”What problem is there in swiftly carrying out His Majesty’s orders?”—he found himself unable to argue.40962426871c45c4

Even after revealing the 2ae378df6e truth about the emperor’s 73e12b301c death to Princess Ateira, 2a30ebf0c1 things were not unfolding 1c194574fe the way he had ab095babeb hoped, leaving Zellered deeply 27c1a38245 frustrated.672388e865233c4a

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But there was 7eb347df68 nothing he could c29cf8c0be do. Officially, King Wintran’s orders 897a4566e4 were the only ones 925c1b1958 he was obligated to 6a5e5f1b0b follow.3e338c18c00f0d20

The baron 3638331898 rushed to 8bf09a4056 prepare the 663feba5ed finest guest 3fe425b846 chamber in e362aa96be the estate, 312f07fa1f ensuring that dc4a893996 this unexpected b55a7669b8 honor was 8d81c686f6 arranged as a490dcc1e9 discreetly as c0ab5efa11 possible.55f240e9b0dc1ab4

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Still, whispers fc5961016c spread in 288cdb07ef hushed secrecy.ae6de54317c5f160

“Sir Leofric, tonight…!”20042f3af9fb9d97

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“At last…!”40c5f9531acfc405

“So she truly is his bride after all…!”b5ae53e4c929a699

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The servants and f23df6c2fc maids bustled about, 54513cc09f whispering in excitement, 3654086c8f passing along the 5779dde9c5 extraordinary news in 8a089c3153 hushed voices.588abd6daf461f8e

Not only 4ef7429c09 Count Zellered’s e60974645a maids but 8273244db6 even the c68cea16f1 baron’s household a1726ed311 maids joined 579c5fab88 in preparing 5316fc115d Ateira.1a70cde1e1883a9c

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A bath 6ae913bcb3 was drawn.2861100b9b0945b7

Fragrant oils and d2f6e07f6c flower petals were a028532516 scattered generously into 475b877a88 the water.5bd3328df5b15639

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After bathing, her skin 36ebfc7ab4 was meticulously smoothed with 2dd1a01ed1 scented oils from head 331126441b to toe.0462fa998a34e1c3

A soft 3cfc967112 rose fragrance afd54177f2 enveloped her.77bcc37875712dcf

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Ateira had 081b72a6a1 always been 9906b60091 a beauty, 927126c7bd but her b2b604ab03 time in ce0321ab29 Thornfeld had 0cca3ace64 left her 76e9ae4718 too thin, 3e05f5194b her radiance 77a205955e dulled by a87a6495e2 exhaustion.f1d879e0346137b5

Now, with the warmth 6213cc1ebf of the bath restoring 68264a19e6 color to her skin, ac41db41bd her rosy cheeks and 34a80205b8 soft rouge made her da536af089 breathtaking once more.187b82b2268b7647

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‘Was she always this 1980a9138f beautiful?’c7d5c4abae6440f7

The baron’s maids glanced d3a10a6801 at each other in 40b524e4fb astonishment, barely able to 7ff59c8d8d believe their eyes.4e64a3bd43e22689

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Her wedding 57044e0480 makeup was 1e21bc24fd applied with 68fc5acfd5 delicate precision—a 287ef62988 touch of 259845e72c color along ff3da777fb her eyes, dba8c2957d a hint 62f7e9828c of rouge 107027cd65 on her 36e8cb7473 lips.e7080dce8bb0f0d4

By all appearances, a870789c49 she was the 74c76a152e perfect, radiant bride.9dd689f711ad9649

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The only thing 52647582bf disrupting the illusion b7dc25c494 was Ateira’s expression.4b377b2e61e60567

She was silent.3f67fe192a05be16

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Emotionless.2e1862e87dc54670

She was dressed be85c84d7e in the same 7a516d27e0 wedding gown she 88b3ce084d had worn on e4c2edf2f7 the day of 60eaffa5f1 their engagement.766dd20693c867a0

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The veil from that ff81fa6019 day was placed once 9419da15fc again atop her head.2de94093acb76541

From beneath 699460403e it, her baf661781e crimson lips 0018b8eac1 curled slightly.3e6aa8367ed6f5dc

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A farce is about 19a1597c48 to begin.3401644f00c89ce7

* * *099f0795c0ee2232

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“Then, we will take our leave.”23ad076cb8c1a787

Ateira was seated 65306d437f at the edge 4aee3f4c00 of the bed.f851e100aa5ceec5

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With polite 4341cb2429 bows, the 0ac7834b1c maids and 9df29a9d35 knights who f198561a99 had escorted 8b8b5eee60 the bride ca87015f07 withdrew. The door shut firmly de45e22f1b behind them.7c4d43d1f79f000d

No one would 1370f3ea1e approach for some b6e79bb9a1 time. The guards, too, 9d5d54c128 had been stationed 8ff5fa3a7b at a considerable 478e2c0e56 distance.e6e255c70848b18f

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This was the bridal a4df86dc6f chamber.e30cf2ab7821b0d4

A place where no 43fb62ff69 one would dare interrupt 3f6fd230b3 the intimate moments of 71cc135b12 a newlywed couple.ffa1c601b344535c

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At the a8242cfcce center of 253e3ef012 the room, 65fafd6b2f Leofric sat.ecb057963a47385d

“Sit wherever you like.”bd4e27899302dd8b

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No matter where he b209ec5fca suggested, it would feel 8d6b9a00ac awkward, so he simply c2656bb578 gestured vaguely. His gaze flickered between 94bc242af2 Ateira and the bed 7b66be5e15 covered in scattered flower a8ea63f5fe petals, and he felt 34eca88fbc a dull ache forming ab2778e292 in his head.29ce7b0d76e17949

I was prepared f97dc6f121 for this, but dbecafdde5 still…46a4529f9b4c82b8

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It was far more e16f05745c uncomfortable than he had 5e6eb6663b imagined.1875a01c03c5b470

He was 493901df65 going to 8a74cb9c2a have to 307f456c24 get through 480f1036ca this night a9ace70c57 completely sober.da125260dd3d54d4

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Leofric fought the urge 87d9c3a054 to slap his own 1ea2c73a4a cheeks to shake himself 303027b54a awake.f64936f08512289f

Ateira, sitting in silence, e1c3f46d8c reached up and removed 2250bd9d65 her veil.41a60bff0d812e2f

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“I trust it is acceptable for me to remove this myself?”8e5f778ba85eb932

“Of course.”7adedc09573c04ac

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Traditionally, it was 694c56663e the groom’s duty.3c048d5ed9eaba57

Leofric nodded, 3b153b0118 eager to f2ad0b850c show just 0a6e0b9d11 how completely 36c065e2c5 fine he 1f8cc5cf24 was with dca44578c4 not doing b6df5a1297 it himself.c0e74f7372cf3ade

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“…….”4a7210ec02d88293

And then he 5638a39874 looked at her—really 891478ee8d looked at her—and 7dc4f2620d was momentarily stunned.6c380ffb269e054b

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He hadn’t realized it before, but she was strikingly beautiful.4fee36be673c010c

Her sharp, 054068a8af commanding gaze 85aa58110f seemed to 84a5d30e81 suppress her da6cf76c2b beauty rather 750da1fe05 than enhance 8202210b66 it. The weight 34b3a1d168 of her c69deee357 presence was 070578b133 so overwhelming 6df581438c that it 3a2b4bb3e3 was almost 05e5b45b65 difficult to 36019b76d9 recognize her 8d755b59d1 allure at f6c46aa684 first glance.bef59bed55961843

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It wasn’t 852ab6021e the moment a7e1911b92 for compliments, 0777047881 so he 17b5491602 kept his 150015b925 mouth shut.c3e10c0bdeef3abc

Ateira walked toward 79b5632ed5 him and took 41b6491850 a seat across a3fa89ca9b from him.28786432142cd7a2

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Nothing had changed—only her fb169baa68 appearance—but the weight of d5ea24cefb the silence felt different. The air ba3f269cc2 carried a 306c5278ab strange heat.a6b8ee5f2609461d

“…I apologize, but I think I’ll need something stronger than tea tonight.”25fa69beb186d1dd

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Leofric sighed lightly and bd53b14886 reached for the bottle 419a42f875 of liquor on the f93b0c09ee table.5da8b304c16876ac

Among the b1d92223bd tea, fruits, 5f84bcee24 and small 21bb4dec6d finger foods, ae3c829fe2 two bottles c7da1c7c6b of alcohol 9d092f3d29 had been 431cdf7002 set aside—one 870b5e112e of sweet 15dc82fce3 red wine, 2f755a334f the other bbef3722f2 a potent 6aff40ce27 amber spirit 17c015039f already half-drained.8e77e89f2a426159

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Without hesitation, he bf6ced855c chose the stronger c5d2c07293 drink.4d9b2798efbf2a4c

As he cc3bfef1fa poured, Ateira 28d022d491 spoke.faee39753068858f

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“I think I’ll need some as well.”cbef696351fbe193

His hand hesitated for 49393ee641 a fraction of a dbfb5f9c93 second.9b0e678b68233430

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He hadn’t expected her to ask for something strong.2c53a6e737ef3d37

“As much as you like.”a46fc939adce7d05

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He handed fb2a6490c9 her the 9debed5c61 first filled c05f5c1a2d glass.cc31dd0e06d70fdd

Their fingers brushed.b8d423634299631f

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Her hands were cold, d5d872e768 and perhaps because his 038f1dc325 were warm, the brief 2cbdf404e7 touch felt startlingly distinct.46c8a6f1937cfc09

Their eyes met.4ef0e50e109747d9

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Her unfeeling dc023d102c gaze held 1dbef9d8b4 his captive, caa8065f47 ensnaring him.d81d154885844854

Her calm 39f7b2f1b0 was so 6b09d0bf3e absolute that eff5412f09 it unsettled 78f3aba3ec him even b783caa38b further.0004e3dc8b3bcf8a

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How is she 321b347e91 this composed?aef2fbfbf4227a53

Leofric let out eb9fc2bddd a small breath ad37bce3f9 of disbelief, raising fbd2863b01 his own glass 697da7e2c0 and taking a 7c222bd3a4 sip.bec0d50402799040

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Ateira mirrored him, 132e3dd666 lifting the glass b3f19ed1b9 to her lips.942a1e3712635724

Her crimson lips parted, 93e8bceff7 allowing the amber liquid fd6678b7f2 to pass between them.8bd4e43bc9f51820

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Her slender, pale throat 2607b693d1 bobbed as she swallowed.d89ffb78088bca73

He should have 8b9ac3403e looked away.074ee47421579256

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But he couldn’t.3a06b4471dc17079

“…I apologize.”c4e520652fada910

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Leofric finally snapped out 87ec883e7d of it and met 6a676ed307 her gaze.681414aa3d28bd43

“My clothes are too stifling.”b827daa1f90b69d6

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She gestured to the 6cdf75d070 high, stiff collar of 4d645cb7b7 her dress, which buttoned bbfb3cb86b up to her throat.939706e0b739a23d

What is she 90eb60e480 expecting me to 768444aaf7 do?2fbc7d86a2abc77e

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Leofric was momentarily thrown 1eefba9343 into chaos.fef149868649fcbe

“…Would it be inappropriate if I loosened it a little?”2f7a7c7e4cf8954a

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“Please, do as you wish.”c9be39f36ae41cf0

With delicate, pale fingers, ca6be69bdf she began undoing the 638fa2ac41 layers of lace, ribbons, 7d9d5562e1 and buttons entangled at b07e3b78d2 her throat.3200099cb6c7aed7

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It wasn’t an c653f1cd77 easy task—she couldn’t ba7e33ae93 see what she 8dc4678479 was doing, and cf68602e3e the fabric only 5b338dd266 seemed to tangle 9859f6ca3a further.30a931039726e2fc

She frowned c4dc4c157d slightly before 65dc46c0e4 finally pulling 5cd563a9ec the decorative 4381f55d3a pin from 8ef584982f her collar bd4bda3484 and tossing f54b68f8b9 it onto 8a17545de9 the table 372788201c with a 4efba27c1e casual flick ee9fdb973c of her 29c8a2406a wrist.13ea93192cdac6c3

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Then, she 4d10099a20 returned her 499f632045 focus to 2d0ffc7a31 the ribbons 9a08e20b81 and lace.620ce93367718cc9

A single button came 33b63b8990 undone.c65db1ce33722c89

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A slender expanse of c5ad088494 pale skin was revealed, b4f0ff8d51 the light catching against 3632b4cb4b the faint flush where 7dc277008e the fabric had pressed 533a6942ec too tightly.a5e43ca6668925a7

Leofric turned away.3c9c8ad632ef07d6

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It was only her efa7115213 neck, and yet it 89ed661897 felt as though he acf0dec391 had seen something he 66d94defca shouldn’t have.8a6c8a60bbb0af7a

Needing a 32f9abb7ea distraction, he 22d53e76c6 rose and b735679ea9 walked toward b03775d05c the terrace, c59d5fd59e noticing that 8e0bc47bd8 the curtains 54529b4e91 had been 580e34922a left open.cad1f930a07d6dd9

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It was customary 0919d16ba4 for the bridal 7ceb3ef2f3 chamber to be 2078007f45 secluded, so he a7f43c8b73 drew them closed.14651692d156fa67

When he 2e94960896 turned back, 35f615382b she had 043d2317ef finished.5e126b0140c11425

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She had undone c11ac8e651 a few small 075ee15753 buttons, but her 8afe482a62 attire remained modest—just f78d6067a8 enough to breathe.102a2b2300e4c670

Leofric felt relieved.c71838c8124714c6

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By the time 2ffb2cfa26 he returned to f6cc0538d1 his seat, Ateira f4de174bb6 had already lifted e84816caaf her glass and f52eea1be4 taken another sip.38ae1a517db32987

Her delicate 1a03bc356e brow furrowed 6da104fad1 slightly.bb8e177dc1e50c54

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“…Do you like strong liquor?”a34c6ac83d941b81

She didn’t.1b354b3135da333f

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She simply e5abb973e8 needed something 7bee0eec42 strong right a10cec5082 now.2581032d6197279f

“Do I look like I do?”d4228dd38792c7ab

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She wasn’t the 7fbe5fe00f type of person f557710de9 people assumed enjoyed 30215344a2 strong drinks.a1d4cf7aa2c6df41

Leofric, on the other 534f02a19f hand, was used to d46309cb1e assumptions.e14088b8409df6e4

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Because of 44b2c2eb6a his striking daa37d8a63 looks, he 30b1987390 often heard 31d3b8e51a the same 7c6820dd25 comments.db88e9c2122ed528

“Women must flock to you.”
“You must have many lovers.”
“You must enjoy drinking. Gambling, too?”7227818b81b42863

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Ateira’s eyes fb445b7cab flickered toward 195f9d3e9d his glass.fc838a1103068cd1

Hers had been dad9d5a312 filled only a 789d2410aa quarter, while his 32a0758653 was half full.9b46aeedbbd23034

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“…Tonight, I do.”eab9d46c9212dfae

He gave a vague c6970d6e0a response and downed another aa06cd5c57 sip.37ad25860447a657

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It was bbbe22b03f undeniable now.11499afc35e01858

Being around 232ba07dd3 this woman e80f036f49 made him bd7bcab457 uncomfortable.43462203376fbf92

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It made him db109e7cdf aware of his 25509ef1e1 own heartbeat.4e76bf7e0c4baf1a

It wasn’t that 64ca918334 it was racing—it 71f2fd90ac wasn’t unusual. It was simply…61732eff4302cbff

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Unsettling.c7a0d9e24b49e5b7

“I see.”0cb767799660ebb0

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Her response was 5f99796599 indifferent, as if f43ca3f29b she had already b2618d0414 lost interest.110e41d0c41a2256

Silence settled between 8a197084e0 them.a1d1ceb2c74a11c5

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Ateira seemed accustomed to 3c0fcf1920 silence, but Leofric was 4bb1be8532 not.fcf06c7bc93d1137

He took several f53be700be more sips, emptying f911c10358 his glass, then 79eb368c28 poured himself a 0a38a83f41 second.8364804f53cbd955

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“Once we arrive in Semerta, you may do as you please. No one will bother you.”0edfebd2953d1d1a

“That’s generous of you.”cd8b5e15bf1ef3f8

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“If…”77ef47f5b7090e16

If she wished to c939a949f9 take an interest in 0dd3f95ebc governing her people—fc9544785451be74

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If she found 0649529360 something that mattered 1dedac91db to her—12ede345c42870a6

But his voice caught ce1307e607 in his throat.423d0a563e33f4c0

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His heart stuttered.11b29f63a50fff41

“If?”44d4401de505d2d6

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Ateira tilted 8b2c81f560 her head d6b8ddef1c slightly, waiting.c9dc8d8cddfa46a1

“If…”59aa3a2bac2843fd

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“…Is your voice not coming out?”e284d866eea56bda

Thump.49c60afa66fd9868

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A heavy tightness pressed 0083210bc4 against his chest.2eb3b86850066753

His breathing grew 3a303b74a2 shallow.da1028f1298062a2

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Leofric inhaled 1a31847092 sharply, but 2cb03d943f the more 629d80c8f3 he struggled, b8a60007b6 the more 2356355a64 suffocating it 9eedb8d987 became.87f3a82dde744010

His body reacted b1a2ab3f1f instinctively—he stood abruptly.89404139b284d06e

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Something is wrong.8ef1be49355a2107

“I wouldn’t move too quickly if I were you.”f222705b10d92645

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Ateira’s voice was 2e14781e67 calm.c73bb38d1b0ed088

Cold.bd5f2eacb8f1cd04

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She was right.c2b549ff72337d1a

His vision blurred. His head throbbed.5b4ed026d65e9274

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“Jinpetsu.”8ea07eac0b8f3b63

“Edgick.”29843d360d3bc956

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He tried c6c76e20d4 to call 90f48e9d4c for them, 4a97bf8c82 but no 96e73acdfe sound came 20510ed6e7 out.bcd5de4765a52bd7

Thud.22b8821f4321216a

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One knee hit d450f5a905 the ground.a6195cc5884ab407

Panting, he looked up d6aedb585a at her.bb4edb8b2aed0111

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Ateira sat e1d1d63faf regally in c6398805bb her seat, 0affdab33f gazing down 881c56db6e at him f20d63bf46 with detached 3835b3af6e indifference.cdff37880771ba72