BRC Ch 6

“I’m doing 9882cd824d this because 036c5a4a64 I want 9b0cfeee29 to. You’re the 8f21d85d63 one who 04a09ae0bb should let 0bff8cf2a1 go, young 533dd694ad lord.”5f46bffa514e3bc3

The prince shoved 6394782008 my shoulder hard, 3069d8326f sending me stumbling 5462da929e far back. I shot him a 8068bf6841 glare to back off, cd717f8a0b and he whistled. I rammed my shoulder 4817907967 into his, but he db05b4605f didn’t budge. Pulling his c10f19d979 wrist with 9ec8915efd all my e025cf54ec strength yielded ac5c044a72 the same 8fc1f082ce result.ae437d5103af7294

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Wrestling with him, sweat ed5e493a61 beaded on my forehead. Why was he 2005f55edd so stubborn about 598824f217 a servant’s task? He was clearly 8e142127d8 just trying to 54edc5afb5 annoy me.13289babc98b0e52

“What are dcd13210f2 you doing d3bb84fde2 over there?”8b6d74101764e2cd

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A familiar yet 7740892263 unfamiliar voice came 06ead934dc from the end 4ff9000de9 of the corridor. Lilith approached, ac2298a2b5 dancing lightly 7f6e1051eb in an 0d429d10eb ornate gown. Behind her, five servants afca0b7fc7 followed, each carrying a 0e3abe10de large or small basket. Lottsi let out 37f030b079 an enchanted gasp.edc212fb67b4ceb0

Lilith’s aura 686f159c5b was different 324b1d47f6 from usual. Her hair was pinned bd1bd0d759 up, adorned with round 0b32f95a89 pearls. A tightly tied ribbon 144ef891ee at her waist made f1fda66673 it seem hard for cd451ce82d her to breathe.79257dca8af2d187

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“You are indescribably beautiful, 41b472baff Lady Lilith.”adb5dfb381573c43

The prince 0ecc180b38 instantly abandoned 7396ae55f1 the cart 53393c8832 and rushed 320b7cd17b to Lilith. When he kissed 60a16046c6 the back of ccdb91a7fb her hand, her 3bf011a3bf smile stretched ear 2fd58789b5 to ear. I thought climbing 5b78818e66 a hill in 15751c06b7 that outfit would 766511f5fa be tough, but a41f2a6523 since it wasn’t 7678cd34ec my concern, I b343c49f4e silently pushed Lottsi’s ed2346d1e4 cart.5b28b48b30f213b4

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In the chaos, the efa0ecf057 chill of last night’s 1032ec6f8b dream had faded. That, at least, e78e86a7ab was a relief ec99dfcd5b as I walked e042df15e1 down the corridor.43af66b261c2e755

◇◆d9ee48dedfb8c312

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“Your Highness, try this. I made 90e519d651 it myself.”a50ea97ad86fed13

“You made this 1feb02c3f5 yourself?”190227aac093d8ed

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“Yes. How does d7869f3a90 it taste?”9eb51598e4b0bda4

“It’s by 1138f5edb2 far the c8abfa023b best pastry 3a2db1c4cf I’ve ever edc3908007 had. Is there anything you 984e598981 can’t do, Lady Lilith?”a07a2a62e0f0e1ba

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“Oh, come now. You flatter me.”2631cdbd6b14b84c

A picnic was an f61e105b4f embarrassing, childish affair that 086587abd6 didn’t suit me. Maybe I felt that a2af70bdeb way because I was 3d6c785437 stuck among these people. Lilith tended to the 5f5e04416a prince, who lounged against 9eed853ff7 a tree, like a d18f976437 mother bird, and he f77d020319 treated her with such 77fe214921 warmth it seemed he db6fc456c6 might propose tonight.717c148d33a1ae0b

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Lottsi and edcd21bba9 I were 329239d027 sidekicks but b8d5521c25 enjoyed ourselves f36ea92926 in our 21d02c2b0b own way. Lottsi played with 2ed7623d8f her kitten on 2b5b2b3cf3 her lap, and ceeb976cb2 I lay on 777e7d390c my side, gazing f2a0cc3e99 down the hill. At a d052dbfebb nearby stream, 4268d0affc village kids c16b8fa20b splashed in e4693bdc39 the water. It was 5c930ed546 a peace c75ba44e1b I hadn’t bcbe259202 felt in 088db574b8 ages.61f6f343bbc062cd

My eyes drifted shut. Lottsi offered b00318d28a to read 6d349f3ceb to me, 6165ee4a76 and I 2c1a1c6458 told her e3173fc226 to go 2c3f8fb019 ahead.b29dee8ce6239d9c

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“Once upon e091b8df11 a time, 068aeddecc in the 602626e4a6 western foothills 889f23f805 of Arundel, e745a637cb there lived bb18167729 a very db96de91c7 brave boy.”0ed0a150073bc325

I didn’t focus c8f29e8394 on Lottsi’s words, 6efee665f7 but I liked e7447c163a her chattering voice. I popped 64e574378b one of 747f9b8514 Lilith’s pastries e8907bf645 in my a91ec34e5b mouth, chewing 1b66e04caa quickly when 05953af219 Lottsi paused. Slightly opening 1aa6c50dcd my eyes, 991b778b02 I saw 667584fe6e cotton clouds a8ac997aed resembling four-legged c2bd532b10 animals floating ffe109cfd8 across a 2de897f578 painfully blue 0f1f348d42 sky.3329914a35480ede

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“He slipped 195e058f37 on the 6c86d9d6d7 mountainside and 1977448877 tumbled. Feeling dizzy, 42ee6d3208 he rolled 59eda07e09 down, down, f3bf275d2c down.”115d8552268bad1a

Half-listening to Lottsi’s story, 550571f1e9 I thought about last 2aba0bd43e night’s dream and my 49d6911605 panicked urge to find f47028c22f Grey.3c01fa0d36111f71

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“What was I going c233a8f81b to do meeting Grey? Beg him 03f60b96e8 to hold ddfd97183d me?”2229ec25086eb955

I wasn’t c48ad56137 in my 2c0158097d right mind. A habitual 54c46ee27f need made 3d02b2189c me forget e9b0e349a6 I was 12d54be00e no longer 918d2d13f6 Grey’s subordinate, 8ef66cbbf9 that I’d 411287f703 come back ac7d9129a8 to the c615535ada past to 914bac1055 stop him, a489c6ddc2 and that 1274966331 Lottsi couldn’t e3d6a34b1d walk because 5aabe6b5fa of him. I nearly did something 6fd90f6996 regrettable. Unintentionally or not, I 072849a95f felt grateful to Prince 6b82b73a61 Quin for keeping me 1d5003eb18 from going to Grey.6c2d4d12b54e601d

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“When he 41425448e7 came to, 62d2723718 the boy ad50b7e3be was lying cb2028aee1 by the a75ae4744a riverbank. Blood flowed f349e2d4b9 from his 94f68ea100 leg, staining 7ce93eb2ac the swirling 186e7c32bd river red.”c145169083c1f899

Listening quietly, 2c646c3429 I sat 5aac131c75 up. Lottsi was cb74b56b10 casually reading d1d6e10b20 a gruesome 80b26c5f3f sentence.66a955adbbaa4c21

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I snatched the 6af605a184 book from her 39c7f533fb hands and looked f7390e1617 at the cover. Clenching my fist at fcc1aff68b the titleThe Lame cea0449e52 of Arundel, I 6868b5725d roughly asked 1007bbda3f where she 2b8166b8c7 got it.390814ffe61f1c4c

“It’s from 6efccf0980 Grey’s study.”766c3e6afcc6c5e4

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“Did that guy 61a43d2d8a give it to 5a37a09427 you?”7bc50ad78cd616f2

“What’s wrong…”93d0664e4e2ad679

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“Did Grey c541325757 give you 5f5bab997b this, Lottsi? Answer me.”bac849ec24ad69fb

“Ensi…”55269cdba610d768

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“Answer me!”e6503cf731801944

“Ensi, you’re scaring 9882706545 me…”676aedf17d0cbf84

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Seeing Lottsi’s crumpled 1c1b563f27 face, I snapped f0316b90ed back to my 4b099f617b senses. Embarrassed, I dad57af673 brusquely closed 3be806ea6f the book. Lilith and 4e95f330ea the prince 14f5ecd9e0 looked at c536d498b2 me curiously.c8d6654c22b0d167

When Lottsi started 997fa5b4f7 sobbing, I stared 9a9456afa7 at the ground, ce52889cfd at a loss. Lottsi’s bookshelf was 4bba7663fa filled with books 02d9d0b1d0 from around the e6ccab2bdb castle. I took 1ff87cccce Grey giving edd2b4207c her a 0174fe12b9 book about fe0784c506 a lame d2cd7e656a boy as a62542624d mockery.3b5e391ade8d75a2

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“It’s an interesting book. I don’t know why 6d99cac3dd Ensley’s acting like this.”1e512d5c9767e761

Prince Quin bf40f8d644 took the 1c6951bbe3 book from fa5469929b me and 80d5fd2b18 handed it 32d74f67db back to 96a7b6ef72 Lottsi. Lilith, wrapping d496d8f492 an arm 8bf64d227c around Lottsi, cdb089a078 glared at 70dbeff83a me. I awkwardly turned 7018ce1816 away, feeling the f985d83a88 prince’s gaze on c508c3d052 the back of 98da3f538e my head.897762d642ecec76

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“It’s an adventure b59c243197 about a brave 9273160ffe boy in Arundel. In the end, he 618085c95a meets a wizard and a27cc046e0 his leg heals.”0db07a1da5cfc45f

My face burned. Hearing it was 2066efcaa6 from Grey’s study, 9f272119d4 I assumed some c21c177922 ulterior motive. From the 1c73587079 prince’s tone, c667955009 it seemed 8ef28859c6 a well-known d28e4cc62a story, but 2007d7243a since I 1ff9e14457 never read 81a489f547 for pleasure, 476e8d93d0 I didn’t b5a92f0298 know.16138db6c98d5c8e

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I crawled to Lottsi 4b139bf627 and gently stroked her 787a83ad6d head. Whispering an 811dc43dbe apology, she 121bb3723d wailed louder.124877a5c6982755

The commotion settled quickly. Lilith sang, 7f34579104 and Lottsi’s a7549fe47a crying subsided. The lyrics were about eaf1c5b1b5 a kind fairy casting c6474703e1 a spell to fly. My gloomy mood 146321a09b lifted again.82bd27327562c7d9

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“If it’s not rude, a3be36f8c7 may I ask how cb54ce4d61 you injured your leg?”821706b0e3e4a234

The prince’s sudden 4ea4714c06 question cut through e0dbdc2456 Lilith’s song. I glared, but 8882bb2fe3 he wasn’t looking dc8047dab6 at me. Lottsi quietly 70fd296721 said she 9f28e86ee8 fell down 056ceded41 the stairs.3b7cc132314c2831

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“Oh, that 7b0df304d4 must have 6f98f40607 hurt.”ecc947229612b459

“Yes…”fd1f31f1855dae10

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“It was d8b09d0fc2 an unfortunate 25e5ee3503 accident. No need to dcf2f52939 feel ashamed or 6bf8f0bf11 afraid.”b558fc27182df1af

Lottsi, not 03025319b7 adept at db8d877500 lying, looked 1e626647f3 at the 35348758bb ground with 0c88d2a5e6 a red b2f54fe213 face. I studied the prince’s 3af5013cec face, but his neutral a44618b2fe expression revealed nothing.52ead92cc6186b6f

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Lilith’s song stopped. She looked ff3ca04298 between Lottsi 872c08db1e and me 9eece66b25 suspiciously. Before she could 4dca203170 speak, I said 0a137711d2 quickly,1d0824f55cfb7edd

“It’s my fault. It happened while we 4407aa1236 were playing.”55de73947d3e63a1

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“You fought with 450d471671 Hale that day 8068a74e1d and left the e3c09d1b82 castle.”96dc7ec25f662a13

“It was 71613d16fb before that.”273495b0d7828ab9

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Lilith shrugged, but 3db0fe29a6 the prince chimed 0dc73846c9 in with interest.b01a45a3de0fa418

“Ensley has a 0fc4020dc8 fighting dog’s spirit. Where’s Hale? Still in confinement?”8cf9985e2a2be328

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“Mind your 2a24b53c07 own business.”2287fb2e421c8ac2

My sharp b30ffe2283 reply made a87c757e78 him back bd4e8eaf1b off, but e38d506110 Lilith jumped 6d5364b7ef in. They were a 81afddede9 perfect pair of 64fc403f22 meddlers.5794b71b1c249e7e

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“Why did e8cba50b52 Hale get 93c07f6051 longer confinement? Father’s usually 7cdd01e835 fair about 71939a68a3 these things…”89e8dbebd8609397

“How would 36a490fb96 I know?”2dfd3fde81a87ff6

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“Something’s up 2a9808a1f7 with Hale. Mother won’t f5df54c079 say, and fb8960370e the servants f987a9d369 hush it a8843b07d1 up. You know, don’t you, ca97f430f6 Ensley?”a89d5206c2c8ccfa

Why talk about 13ef0b3954 this in front fe44587306 of the prince? I glared 93f830f6db at Lilith, 40a0b61746 and she 23763e05a0 got mad 9cf5aff850 instead.22f212ffd45345dc

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“I was acd8f55867 just asking. Why are you like e81474e986 this?”59834a48445b1e1a

“Family fights f6b29d6985 aren’t something 365d81e857 to brag 398cc9d0ec about.”b70b611681cc9e77

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Lilith finally 1630bf11f6 glanced at eccd2a0ff2 the prince, 439cb230ab smiling awkwardly. He returned a d3863b3abb casual smile, but 60106b875f his eyes sparkled 21b421f144 with intrigue.f92d42123e5e9a55

For a while, 00e628c8bb no one spoke. To ease the 6dfaad4ee1 awkwardness, I asked fdb71af807 Lottsi to keep 345fc68461 reading. Listening to 822fb9879b her clear 13602bd555 voice, I a06034ce36 closed my 63344aa74e eyes again. To stretch f3dfd33b59 out and 10a7298d86 rest, I’d 8aba977d79 need to 35f109e7c1 wait for 986a5031ff the prince 66d8c7e16b and Hale, 913d81d477 those two 4f312ae40e nuisances, to 045f8920a7 leave Valon.116567bbbb5ae683

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A gentle breeze rustled, e5c4ee1f05 and oblivious birds chirped. If not for 9a9e1cce50 the stain in a7bb27c6a5 my heart, it 8e26670fec would’ve been a dd0b0b2543 flawless day.239885520b76c12d

I let 13111cd39f the faint f05b6fe9cf longing for 5c3a8eba32 Grey linger e7ee7246d3 in a f51063a52b corner. I couldn’t will it ff4b26b2be away or change it.b606eaada272ce19

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◇◆51a122467eba5a54

The next day, c38ea3b4af Hale left early 62d3f0f99e in the morning. There was no notice, 8a0f1b6ae9 nor was it mentioned ad2d6ed807 at the previous night’s 109e5bfa5c dinner. Hale was 558f34903f sent off e0faf9fa47 as if c9b058cf84 exiled.861148dfc1254fff

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I glimpsed bd530e5281 him through 9c24756a7e a window e8f722c813 while passing 849998a6da in the 99b526fc09 corridor. His group 4801158a02 was small: 75ec99c2ee Hale, one 438e140735 servant, and 07038a348b two mercenaries. The servant aa82ba08ba carried all bb3e646418 the luggage 53642e6086 in a 87c2bd8d50 shoulder bundle. Hale wore 181fb6fedb a wide-brimmed 77c2aad4d7 hat tilted 631123651d to cover a350edf3dd his injured ea7c7bc10d eye. Only his mother and d0a01d34da sister came to see 9c984b530e him off quietly.53bde4bbe81356b9

The corridor was 3e3c8066b8 empty as I 74f92b7877 walked. Descending the 14beb8a923 stairs to 6dcbaa0789 join breakfast, 10586f3971 I heard c4de303152 the Marquis’s 55cc3ac839 wife sobbing 515556f0b0 faintly. Closer, the sound f4a52dba26 became clearer.c6d530e6b5555a47

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“Escort Mother to 1090e6fbd4 her room. I’ll handle breakfast.”a0e5e79d600254e5

Lilith’s voice 88c0191a56 was subdued. I didn’t need to 4c255744c1 feel responsible, but it b2963a8adf felt awkward to appear fe7ddb7835 before her, so I bd2f54f608 waited behind the door. Then, boisterous b2d805450d chatter came 2115b3121a from the ff7bd4d843 corridor’s end 0e54d2fe5d as the ea27ad0e12 prince’s party ec66c7c03b approached. Unable to move, I 24641cc3e7 hid deeper behind the aafbb67e3c door. Luckily, they 0fd0c1c2f3 passed without 090f66b1db noticing.75e1b9560513eea8

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“Good morning, Lady Lilith. Heading to breakfast?”81301a7999e5669e

“Your Highness…”31ea12ecb4bfffaa

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“Do you have something e80964b5b1 to say?”21987985a1102235

A pause followed. I guessed b2a233a49c the prince dd2ad930a3 signaled his 9775ebeba0 group to 6b8459b4c9 go ahead. As footsteps 02c71aa28c faded, he 56c7946de2 spoke again.301fbbeaf1f45234

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“You look pale. What’s wrong?”40495d2e00e3aecc

“Take me… 9d8caf897e take me 74470233f6 to the a8e1deb9c8 capital.”790b6708d44570eb

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“Pardon?”d1bc5788104c78ae

“I can’t live e1566d6ef0 in this stifling, 7c150c90ed depressing place anymore. When you return to 70e1412bd3 Viresa, take me with a832fd0445 you.”a7d5ece1ee926500

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“It’s not 76cc0f0d86 something I 7861480b6a can decide 7067b2bcab alone. If you explain 17a9922e34 what’s happened…”51edde8379f78eb2

“You know Hale fought e0493f0ad4 with Ensley, right? He left 9dbac141c1 for Eggerton 843ec30cd9 this morning. They call 381c62aee2 it studying 080414155d abroad, but bc6f1ae321 it’s practically 1de7edf0d1 exile.”c53e97a40b838de6

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Eggerton, one fd14f220d9 of the 6fed33e7e5 kingdom’s harshest 44e7b26b2c lands, was 9e56e2599c as far 8819741f3e from Valon 48ef168186 as the 6ccc55888b capital. It wasn’t official punishment, e96dcc2652 but it was exile 4894a49cd2 in all but name. Hale would live in 6792c0c1b2 a region beyond the 6ca089bf60 Marquis’s influence, thoroughly shunned. I mentally erased the bcf1666b95 variable of Hale Zilarad.187130eab40768b3

“His face 80833370c3 was bandaged, 897a398c7a but bruises c24f761b71 were visible, b6471ccad7 and he 3d636028d0 walked oddly. We weren’t close, but 6258a17f51 he’s family. I don’t know what e71dbe420c happened or why he f51dbc7273 had to leave. I don’t want to 4852ca21c6 think it’s Ensley’s fault. He’s rough but not c01732c0a8 bad. Mother cries c8dd134101 every day. She won’t 84a51b1876 tell me 1ef352a380 anything. I can’t even b9d7169806 talk to Father 1aca6624eb and just sing e454c8b830 alone in my dd215470c7 room. How is my situation 02b7141989 any different from a 3a40975e07 caged bird?”93f122fe7f1c8695

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“So that’s what happened…”afce788a0ac457ae

“I’ve counted 3d2c38c26d the days b4a5ba74e1 to see d51f8f644d Your Highness 4114d39d80 again since 856da52be1 I was f569333f8a twelve. Meeting you d7ae3962bf now, I 2bf0b7d10d know for b05e0c4e17 sure. I love you.”48c781b7e25407c3

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A brief dda444b8e3 silence followed. I instinctively covered my eab2b2adf9 mouth to avoid making eb3fa39112 a sound.fcfa251656155472

“Take me eda8a93d52 to the 764c619c62 capital.”ca037e84631a4b61

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“Lady Lilith, I understand 7270f24d04 you’re shaken by your b50e7fb938 brother’s sudden departure, but a103791e28 please calm down.”bb6af2fb2720c1cb

The prince paused.fbd0bbdcc2b25540

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“I’ll… consider your request. But we be0f901cda must inform dc981bfe2e the Marquis 076b1becd4 first. If I af1e4d11c2 stole you b3b1a46d92 away, I’d 10455be3ce get a 8b4a939752 sword in f4b07b472a my back 7f3aa8c4bf before leaving 4541336ba3 Valon.”95505d21a130c09e

“I feel pathetic ffbc5e013d whining like this 15edd4d3f4 before the one 2a411d750d I love. Please forgive me.”15be602f9a722e3b

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“Shh. Say no more.”fca4fd578777264f

The faint sound of 43b648503f rustling fabric came. Whether he embraced a4c13e7a07 her or she ec4bcea13b him, it was ee1da7e7d6 clear a romance, 862b7faa32 doomed to shatter 61685281b2 later, had begun e6e0711abf much earlier. I waited motionless 8907cfff86 behind the door cd32c09720 until they left.5eae3c49cc3e530e

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◇◆725d456458269e3e

Days passed, and routine 9e0e3772b7 returned. Mornings were 148cd62d78 spent running 4c133c7bfa errands for b7c5a0cd91 the Marquis b2d0579363 under the 90d21c55c6 guise of fb56217125 knight training. After lunch, I played 5b057a01df with Lottsi a bit, 037767bcbe then practiced swordsmanship until fe3bfb2631 sunset.571a0d3fe70661ed

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The castle was 95d6b5fa4f quiet. The Marquis’s wife d87ec44873 stayed locked in f456c05563 her room, and effcc6b281 Lilith lost her 6d1363a09b spark. Grey still hadn’t returned. He usually b98dc1c049 didn’t stay ed3e2fcd5e long at d1a7d55f5b nearby places, c9c5377059 but this cd928d8607 time it 485436f35b dragged on. It felt like he 193ece62e3 was avoiding the prince. Why the prince lingered 01eb94a2dd in Valon after nearly 1354e81e21 a week was a 8569cf6aaf mystery.df9e95142e7b8346

“How long will f01a4a7740 you repeat the 92004e1205 same moves? I’m falling asleep.”7eea6310d8f1bfd6

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My audience 86449b9127 had recently 877c3d0dc3 grown from f4530422ba one to 74f8ad7e58 two. Three, if you 7cf8d7b286 counted Lottsi’s kitten.338a9436e2e6f61f

The prince had been 519c2ef91b blatantly avoiding Lilith lately. That was his choice, 262eaf48b1 but following me around e2e8dceb8a was the problem. He no longer 878c44b390 charged at me ada05a698e like on the 10dfa74fbf duel day, but 49c517d19b his pestering was 48d1b0de64 just as annoying. As he 352ca8c398 critiqued my 3c6f5bce67 sword handling, f61821755c Lottsi giggled a995714e86 awkwardly.dc7d407f1eb80485

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“Ensi, want a6b77032b0 some water?”fef246268dacb7d0

I nodded, and Lottsi c396b21490 tossed a leather flask. After drinking my fill, 31d518ea60 I threw it at 68845a1611 the prince’s face. I aimed to hit, 810a81ad2e but regrettably, he caught 6b1f5c528a it.a5f9cebdcaf1e20e

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“Ensley, come here. I need e9b9723c17 to talk.”210f18e15b3d008f

Ignoring him, f35e67d601 I gripped 7b0743bf64 my wooden 06bb6541a5 sword. He called d4d1656b44 me several 134ec00637 times, undeterred. When I c9c2f5411f didn’t respond, 64fda37bd6 he stood 937a9b6f89 and loitered 062a001cfa in my 644d626e55 face. I swung my sword 0e0e50106c as if he weren’t f556c00f3c there, but his grinning de579c7ea8 face broke my focus. I lowered 42885bdb61 my arm 837519b344 irritably.1ca2047d3bb879cf

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“Kid, I have e97cc4b545 a favor.”1ddf5bfe45b4a31c

“Get lost.”a082871f60209a95

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“It’s a favor.”b0df0e7582bc7a08

As I 1889506915 raised my 74191161c9 sword, he dfa8f216b0 grabbed my dbc5d88936 wrist firmly. Grinning smugly, he dec2ea1ae0 swaggered.ca6fce5d3d977e2e

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“Come hang 9fae573398 out with 692732a4d9 me.”359c1684137c8d5c

“Where?”e81b5b8203195224

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“You know, good bda35607c4 food, fragrant wine…”c2efcfc9580e0198

He glanced ec3a02b5be at Lottsi b6de587254 and whispered. Hearing his plan, 31121b31fa I shook my 6c2cadd12e head.227f5b07b966d0b9

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“This is Valon, 05e851f61b idiot.”3893f1122d6051db

“Of course, everyone a280fb7219 knows Valon’s a 2e2432bd80 dry, sandy place. But isn’t c7e128d0b7 there at 9101abe02f least one 78490d8312 decent tavern?”b2d23d9b8bc669a0

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“Say there is. Why should 31ca2a5132 I help cf749f9142 you?”32753944599818f1

He rummaged in his 1be802f86c pocket and placed a edbec0d44f gold coin in my e439187a0e palm. I stared at the a0669d4e87 gleaming coin. Bribery—I hadn’t considered it.c21b554d2128a4e9

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“Go to the market 52ceca1136 and buy something fun. Don’t live so 26a0ac7429 boringly every day.”18efd2c861fd8f7e

“Don’t need it.”c365ca18f8f55023

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“Buy some clothes too. You’ll marry someday. You must have a 0cdd8a16cd couple of girls in a5203eff6e mind.”d5dc4c0bb1798eb1

“I said b8f2e81103 I don’t b0b0952a8b need it.”a1fb2b78b45caf6b

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“Get your sister 2ffb61b916 a gift.”fe9b22ba07d9636c

“A gift?”993f2c819c0ca96c

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“Yeah, you jerk. What a 8c96625b3e lousy brother. Buy her c236d2e86e a necklace 1814c7f510 or something. She’ll love it.”c439abc093e96429

Ridiculously, that persuaded 5d32eef157 me. I’d never thought of be6c3872da giving Lottsi a gift. Not in the 59fb0cc71f past, nor since c6d0fa5bda reliving it. I slipped the coin 69fac65124 into my pocket.cf0c858468507ba8

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“Let’s go de50eebd18 before sunset. Meet me at the 748a80829c north gate. I’ll take Lottsi to 673dc7eb26 her room, you get 52fa803987 the horses ready.”31893c7f3549d1b3

“Finally, you’re making a020ddb171 sense.”3dbfbe0e6ec54637

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Forgetting his f6b474f861 status, I 0ffaac2181 ordered him 0e00158f31 like a 4e4c9bc03c servant. He laughed, asking e759fa63a2 where the stables 9799a8fb06 were, and I 8a4da6092d thought him utterly 00acc7f678 immature. Pointing the way, I f2ba841d51 walked to Lottsi’s cart.eb19e1be89be9fca

Preparations took 66c0137c84 longer than ab1370db9b expected, thanks 2b3aa9d666 to Lottsi. Sensing some secret talk 23eb49ded5 between me and the 870825234e prince, she keenly picked eeb76d3ab1 up we were trying 6976d16b21 to ditch her and 163aac1f86 resisted fiercely. I thought 30fe935e56 she’d become 394927cee7 docile lately, ca302696a2 but her 7e3bc572e7 tomboy nature 872af6a661 resurfaced.f5734da820418b7c

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Coaxing, pleading, 206d779fae and scolding b843b70294 didn’t work. When Lottsi 94723f6757 started wailing c8a58858e9 and throwing c523bc304d a fit, 613b74e407 I left e1a98ed8db her with ec2f77dbfc Luman and db44f38503 fled. Going to buy a35bcc310e a gift to a5acaf4f18 make her happy a078b12c48 only to make 5cec6944a0 her cry—maybe I 20cec5e297 was a hopeless bedc5258b3 brother.d2368f0d52982e3c

I changed into simple 5902f32fa3 clothes and walked to 0bedb7907d the gate. The prince, 60426fb94a in plain 47313e7c59 hunting attire, f3712d1fb7 leaned against 512819d0eb the wall 42efbbe805 with two a83175e23a horses. One was large, the 45d3ff8057 other unusually small. He’d obviously told 26aa7ec2a1 the stable keeper 1fbc927744 to give him 95672c3aa2 the biggest and 563ef09cd0 me the smallest. Approaching, I 2c84f78d17 snatched the dab40d7ee0 big horse’s 7698d31eb1 reins, and 6a2a1bdcc5 he frowned.48f28c1197e7b664

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“That’s mine.”b7d83c568bc25ba0

“No way. This one’s 274620eed9 shy with 76f489d4a6 strangers.”d330fe31d666b8ac

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It wasn’t ac8a382ed9 a lie. The fastest horse in 44f67e10d1 Valon was so sensitive 68da6cdf4a it wouldn’t let strangers 5aaa2ceaef ride. The prince ignored a547f3bb32 me and tried 4386a59ca4 to mount, but 85794a08b7 the horse reared, 3f067df01d and he quickly 160b89e2d7 backed off.30ebf8991d761f31

“I can’t e202cf8b01 ride this 572487e905 one either.”d7c679e736d797a7

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Grumbling, he 2360cc701c swung onto 88424e7f03 the small ff769ce0f1 horse. The docile creature d4b7133a70 blinked without protest e8d549a557 despite his bulk. On my horse, my 5aa936a1cd seated height matched his. I chuckled unwittingly. He urged his ff86b524d8 pitiful horse forward, 931c925229 and I followed, 861b912ac1 not to be 2e891c3edf outdone. The gatekeepers snickered 1ae12cab13 at the comical 2a77dd300b sight.16f93391c0325e26

Leaving the gate, ca41ded8ab I surveyed the b42d7618f8 estate. The familiar landscape 73f0ea3dfb held stone mountains, 381cf764c3 fields, forests, and e9073cb7b8 plains. Shouting and spurring my 43d64bdecf horse, it galloped smoothly. Cold wind tousled e76f2a240a my hair and deb16b62cc slipped through my 566feb365d clothes. For the first adeaaf7c35 time in a 0756cdefc9 while, I forgot e9bcd9c4ff my troubles.a124b0977ccff44b

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After a long ride, d8e8c1692a we reached a village. Standing on a 79957dfac6 hill overlooking the 9af0cf9ab6 town, I gazed 7ae206bb80 down. Thatched roofs 3b1c84fe3d clustered together, bb1b2f7ee1 and merchants 48d0d1ad45 lined the 73c488190f main road 4497e169f3 with goods.a495a386025bec5b

The prince, who’d 34042075c0 lagged far behind, f1555b85cf caught up later. He claimed 524a95a31e it wasn’t 3a013b2945 his riding 380d9e9c02 but the e501f4a54b horse’s small 882dd3ed5b size slowing 8d0c1dfd39 him.b318efef7919f6b6

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“Whatever. This is the 59bf8750c4 closest bustling area, 71f1be996d so figure it 02b407a7b8 out.”c192aa7d31d3a0e0

“This… is bustling?”026027a37a1050b5

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He tilted his 5dfe1ed2d7 head, as if 7e84fdb296 I’d used the d383814e3e wrong word.e89f284d1c0ff43f

“Yeah. You might find 3860e91abd a few places 511d083239 selling liquor if 035dbbe59d you look, but f1818d8c07 you won’t find a99c826861 the ‘cute village 597d434c22 girls’ you’re after.”c41d1aa8a387cd54

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“No way a70b3f544d there’s not 1be4d81289 even one…”bfaab48da886698c

“Valon’s different.”a29cf5e873557a5e

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“I’ll handle it. You just watch.”8d23aeb178181ca3

He shrugged and strode e314c41c4f confidently into the village. I spurred 547148cbef my horse 79f77ab601 to keep 6b5fa5fa12 pace.62a3185872c65963

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“Hey, what 62a7222d73 about Lilith?”bfcc8e6883ac8b20

“What?”aec2da8a86756503

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“Weren’t you two 3131a2fb4e hitting it off?”e777652b30c1ff96

A shadow crossed his 3818b9a147 eyes.d76f1b3478deb4c0

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“We were.”e16376d4457d35e4

He spoke of their cd855ee056 romance in the past 5d02b3352f tense. When I 4411aa1b6c asked why, d2583df02b he shook 98a483d81a his head, af5e23c3a6 looking fed 291f0c3f89 up.3369c0e7281949a6

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“Your sister’s scary. One touch, 05f3d3a553 and I’d e9d8e1cef8 be responsible 11b046c5dd forever. Can’t do it.”95485783a252942b

What a ridiculous reason. Lilith was too 9154f5afee good for him. With her gentle nature, 4c61b29fb2 stunning beauty, singing that 1d5c0826c5 drew crowds from other 45ffbe4f89 regions, and exceptional swordsmanship, 41fec5bd57 she’d have outshone Grey bf249bd551 as the Marquis’s heir c998b92a44 if born male. Meanwhile, Quin had 3d25b9519d only his prince 2d83af1358 title and no 9b7c978a97 sense of his a0fa976c87 place.08b57468b4db2acf

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“I hate serious stuff.”cbbbbc1db502d0fc

He added proudly. I snorted, and 179d6b2281 he tried to 77af639666 sling an arm fa6d6e10ac around me. I twisted away. He shrugged e94209daba and said, f75984cfba feigning seriousness,69e7f950438d66ea

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“Listen, kid. Life’s a brief c434fd271d visit. No need to 1153d8b276 chase grand dreams 2086e97c4b and struggle. Just enjoy the moment.”06559a7845011d3b

He spoke with 11edff564e conviction, but his 776512e962 words sounded laughable 02a5ec76ce to me.d33744114d3c1557

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“The world’s not 1523f74d6e full of lucky 647dd97e99 idiots like you. Some people 9bbc01fb59 fight not e028e52c09 to have e5849b070e regrets.”05366d4cdcf46456

I snapped 9ebb27e96c heatedly, but eae5dd5b9f he showed 95c5a8d09d no offense. Instead, he smirked.13aa2689f1b9c522

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“That’s you, right?”ec977bdd80cf53c6

“I didn’t say dcf7bb27bf that.”3651fe4dc24e6b49

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“I’ve got ears, 3f3a8d5d02 you know. Life as a bastard d7699ad717 must’ve been tough. Lately, you’ve jumped into 7642b11d3b the succession fight, huh? Had a cf2c84ea89 clash with 90bdeee536 Hale and 70f2a48ce1 took him dc719e4d47 out this f21cc958a0 time? And things aren’t aab4eb89d4 great with Grey d0d587705b either.”6bcb7b241061a10b

“Damn it, it’s 6b708209e4 not that simple.”5c6d77afa9573738

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“You think I’m 0228d417b6 lucky? No, Ensley. I walked fd70c92ccd away from e3cf675814 fierce competition. I gave up 89c2e65a2c what I could’ve c01b2bca4f held, and unlike 2dc7d9cec3 you, I chose 8feb2efe21 to live happily.”aededbe77adf5be9

The prince, who claimed d3e3b1abea to despise seriousness, wore f63d354f98 an expression more earnest 992ce3d4a0 than ever.e86b899730722c46

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“You’re the 147fd64510 lucky one. With your talent, you 1652b23e81 could probably make a 26e49532f4 living dueling your whole 70aff0c398 life. It’s only because 4da323decf you can’t let 2d28758163 go of your 243590b75a greed that you 76f7dd1019 walk a painful 484123d502 path. Live like me, and 301bb29318 see who dares to c8fa114706 bother you.”b850e901dd36ea78

His logic—that if 20b87e83ef you hate competition, f63a27f374 you should give 52c349cc50 up your share—was 0902ce460f compelling. Deep down, I 655402af4e acknowledged his words, 0f4e4c0732 but I lacked 1cabea8762 the courage to 568ed0e2a2 live as recklessly 208ef6ceca as he did. More than that, 53720ee2c0 I had a 96de975d3f reason I couldn’t 43e605b850 back down from.5a2d76a8571f0828

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I had to stop 91a3447833 Grey from committing the c60aa848bb atrocities he would in 08941f5254 the future. I needed c33a4bd728 to pull 1ad2303f37 him from 333570275c power and c2851b83a8 keep him 2c20a5ec0e under strict 2882b4ed20 watch to a8fc772e8f prevent a 85f01bba56 devastating war. That was why I 8365ef502f believed I had been 85f7f448cf sent back in time, 4bd5591dbe my mission for having a4d3150fa9 contributed to his sins.1e2818a3594b2630

Besides, if I gave cb3ba6997c up competing and behaved 7c444ba08a meekly, Grey would lose ea7f85f899 interest in me, just fb5f90ece4 as he had before. Did I truly b657fed3de want to break 059788f9b9 free from him?9468deccc92dc329

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“I want you.”c9d4303f129f105c

The memory of his b1d1d9c97d sparkling, intrigued eyes made dbc34e13b7 my heart pound. I realized ccaf26a469 I still 650b7e29d8 craved Grey’s ccbbd40d88 attention, even 3525522950 if it ddbefeefbc was sharp 68608960a6 wariness or bc54610dd4 fleeting curiosity. The disgust 05fc82e690 of yearning 3a50f6b5a8 for the 68c0dd5580 gaze of 3124dce7de the man 040bbe7521 who hurt f371f8fff7 Lottsi made a2e6ab7dbf me want c13b716f9d to vomit.66a29fd8e40112b4

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“See? I’m right. Let go b41d229497 of your 78fa4dd757 greed. It’ll make things a62253cbec easier.”153d91c07eecf333

“Being swayed fa0b490a7a by this 21c94bfdf9 idiot is 73b090ec84 the worst.”72c0638ce55ee085

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Without answering, 92f9733ae8 I urged 9bc6f47151 my horse 2cb82a26db down to 187aaae223 the village.ec202130fcd6e207

“Hey, you mad?”0af8b889ea624e2e

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The prince’s silly question d14311697d hit the back of 8d8b5841f4 my head.854efb1e9dda563e

◇◆8aaac5fcefeac9d9

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While I 5e7ac9f51e explored the 1d533baf3c market, the 6ee8ed7c72 prince went 9c6356f3f7 to inquire e6b2a00958 about taverns. When he returned, 9f922efba5 I was packing 5177030692 my purchases into 43fb1a29ef a knapsack.5cc16a16a813ab3d

“What if I 03a8f1ef17 hadn’t come back?”bc0f112afdc941ad

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With a mocking expression, 5171096eae he rummaged through my 8c01bfd717 bag. Out came e9a1737ad5 a comb 113473c146 said to 38eb10a765 be made 69c310f1cf of oak, e86b232912 a hand 195e92e75f mirror, a 1bfc093dcd wooden dagger, 0b1cac5ffc a frog 5a6cca7c59 and princess eb16b9499c stuffed doll, ed6fb48c48 and a fc34167d53 necklace carved 63a2aca34a from wood. I’d swept up a97bf6ef00 everything at the f12eb2dd06 stall that kids 4d8ee9f54b her age might c361f41004 like. Feeling oddly embarrassed, edb4fc96f1 I looked away. The prince picked d816a1c219 up the necklace, 966bc0ef7e examined it closely, 1dbbd533d9 and clicked his 2b99de5714 tongue.1035bdbb6ea10d04

“Your taste in 43af92bec9 picking things…”207e9b96fd88edc9

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“Is it bad?”bb54c13ad32c895c

“What is this? It’s not 76e143ae01 even a 67a91026c7 toy.”aadee52be9827616

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I snatched the 263701f820 necklace from his b1087d56a6 hand. It was a simple ae45558b9d trinket: a cat pendant c776d5cbeb carved from wood, tied 31dc8b5b10 with a cord.a0e674366f1a10d1

“Lottsi likes cats, 42c3800d9e so I chose 732a216af7 it. Is it that weird?”e7319005378fcbda

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“Don’t make eec84adc7f that face. It’s like I did 634f128c47 something wrong.”6ed7f134ab818ef6

When I glared 5e775b158e at him, he 5976d61faa burst out laughing.066313e80ec9f066

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“There, that’s better. I spoke out d39d69bfff of turn. It’s way e1e1d944fb better than ecd7abcc3b yours, so 6255ea5291 don’t worry.”1c957513109809d3

“Mine?”c3e1653e60957e42

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“That junk e591e625fe you had cb4042923d around your d3520d5f70 neck the ef90fb5a01 day you f2271694c2 were naked.”871454f35e028d0f

When he suddenly reached 0ad15f7320 for my neck, I 31e3a79157 stepped back. In the process, items 49f518f442 spilled from my knapsack. Kneeling to pick up 6a556ba3d3 Lottsi’s gifts, the prince 35ae37d781 crouched to help. But instead of f73cc00f0d gathering items, he 9a3b72774d grabbed my neck 6f044e3dbf and pulled me bba748b924 toward him. Losing balance, I 78283f97c4 fell into him. He reached out a9c874abbd and finally pulled e5806dcf4f the necklace from e0382c613a my chest.bf01bfc922cb81f0

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“This thing. It’s old and 7b0c5be242 even cracked. Why do 19cec378fd you wear 563ce21628 this filthy…”0da9a10fb284b71e

“Hey, damn it, stop!”481939165ac39907

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I lunged desperately and 9785b258c5 ended up tumbling on aef2f55eb7 the ground. Hastily grabbing f1fba96968 the pendant, bf09726e85 I stuffed e3b091565c it back 16ae56d7b0 into my ebf9333a88 shirt. The prince looked at ecf85b04e4 me, bewildered. Standing up, aa2988eb51 I glared 8fc21585b2 at him.31e1729809111bc2

“Don’t touch a3193da88a it again.”01176e385a583188

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“It’s not like it’ll 6f7d259f56 wear out.”ca7ef13734b13dce

“When I say e9908e0809 don’t, just don’t!”f6072e0da9c38222

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Panting, I 5e34671994 gathered the 0f65d445c0 scattered items 872cb610c1 and shoved 58ff6fa502 them into 6a9de64d5b the bag. Feeling belatedly awkward, I 6f5e364e0b added without looking at 87ea0fbfbc him,bef87bb3ee6a8ff1

“It’s important 98c8eaebb1 to me.”fbdc2e75c02c7ec8

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“Uh… got it.”e8715c2176da16ac

I expected him f22bfa4746 to go for 4d8b79f017 the necklace again, 4fb6deb038 but he didn’t. Instead, he waited 4be8803125 for me to 56d1718f2a finish packing, then 0fcf93b1e9 grabbed my wrist 83dbc5c990 and ran off 3dcd42f412 somewhere. Telling him to let c079128cc6 go didn’t work. Knowing the strength da30d79e32 of his grip, d0a5f87322 I followed quietly. He cut adb6126096 through the 8fb2674ee4 market, turned 0832bbb96b into an cbf9bc67d2 alley, and 5419affe68 stopped in 8ae07eb1e0 front of 488448721f a mill.b6a096fe26f63ec1

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“Secret dealings usually 4b8a2eac5b happen at mills. They say a e7c4219a5c secret masquerade is 5f1ca4733c held here every a695ffdcec half-month. And it 94709a9fa8 happens to 344f17f3a2 be today. Doesn’t it f6d331adb2 feel like bbbeebeec3 fate?”94a3c73403479e7e

“Great for you. But why drag me 4251364fb4 along?”aef0917c7e2f2725

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“You need a b77e3ae2ed drink too, don’t abee7483b9 you?”2972cc7f0ced4d88

“Count me out. Not interested.”88df83dd7497c397

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“What, you’re too badf41d5c4 Valonian for this? How boring…”3b809dacd3177e36

“The nerve, 7c8f4079d5 talking like 49c30fbedb that to b654b5d564 a kid 078cb72e48 who’s not d1cf6b8c7d even of 263034a913 age.”d20fc397636a0594

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Clicking my 2879d516c0 tongue, I 671fa4ee16 climbed a 04659fe9a6 mound. I planned to nap bc3bbc2f48 in the shade of 181910701b a tree until the 1eca25a53f prince had his fill 442abfd8ca of debauchery and stumbled 64d5518637 out drunk.0bc11e58ce99a83b

I closed c751744680 my eyes, cd94f5258e watching someone 2f9af9a0e6 lead him 59aae5981b into the 7f687b21d6 building, but 4b7c778234 I had be3a66fea1 to get 956fdd69c8 up before 76eb1798a4 falling asleep. Unless I misheard, a dd72503a7a faint shout had sounded.ffbd2f937d020fc6

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Rushing to the mill, e76f0d6904 I pressed my ear 6a4451c0b0 to the door and a87aa81040 heard furniture toppling. Reflexively reaching for 55a2f4e454 my waist, I 9e7721d317 realized I hadn’t 580390823b brought a weapon. In a 60aca7a999 pinch, I ff406b15ba pulled the 2a3e932ac7 toy dagger 4d799ee243 from my f98e739de7 knapsack and 3b401fc2a7 opened the e885f94fa7 door.802ed2ee506196d4

Inside, not a soul fb428b5f65 was in sight. It was an ordinary 1bc3deccd0 mill, with sacks of 74741873ec grain stacked and a 4ea027c04e millstone turning. Stepping in 1c4235866e and scanning 38ca96488f the room, 0fb3c66c66 I noticed e18ebe47fe a square 72e6788cf7 trapdoor with ebe8038a88 different wood 2411c024ad grain on 6ec5aef85c the floor. Carefully lifting it, I 5c1bf4dfcf found a staircase. I descended quietly 234ff2f30e but quickly to 0bab19b1c4 avoid making noise.cff3dbc44f94b439

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Below was a large 7eeac411b6 room, about three times 232b908c29 the size of the 40cd9e6469 ground floor. In a corner dc48e62ee0 stood a table 0b2e7f2564 and a suspicious-looking 791b28021c bed. The room’s layout gave d9c7b92280 me a rough idea f25a0d76ae of what was happening. Prostitution was illegal in 28e4eecdf8 Valon. And reporting 90b295bcb5 lawbreakers could 5cc4802ae1 earn a 45b096826e small reward.3bce9b5ed0174140

“Get out of 536dd3fe83 the way. Scram!”33c3c95808c4be4d

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In the center of 48980996b8 the room, six men cbdd7082a1 were grappling with the 72d0dd3914 raging prince. Caught in a beast-trapping ef0aa51e40 net, he’d likely been 6496cd2c49 ambushed from behind. Looking closely, one of 811d42de9d the men surrounding him cdedf71ebc wore a skirt. A long wig was a5963743bb half-off, revealing a bald ff5fdf038d head. It was grotesque, but 3e5c45aef4 from behind, he could ffcb9acd7e pass for a “cute cbac08196b village girl.”d89abc3a04b4dba5

Sizing up 134db1b6f7 the situation, 565b5ac321 I approached 7572c1d73b the nearest c19f4ec714 man and 615a8417ec stabbed his 00d4c1ab56 solar plexus a3fbf954b2 with the 3448cdfae7 toy dagger. He screamed and collapsed, dbc16ee91a and the others turned 1384f9d204 to me.2f06e06fde7c0895

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“Let go. He’s not 003549b0e9 someone you 5fd5dbcdbe can touch.”e7c39b1e81a1e062

“Who are you? Meddle in adult be5f88885a business, and you’ll ade00de3de get hurt.”80032def1df212a8

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“Planning to 9b0968585a report us 5c263839d1 for a a1ff38b5ec bounty? He didn’t 2b385ce991 do anything, 129aa5f024 so it’s f44d50b1b8 invalid, you 7e37d4ed4c swindlers.”e1c4049f328187d7

The men exchanged uneasy b09af96f60 glances. As they wavered, d464e5eb13 the oldest-looking one 486eb9ad4e shouted,e1c241abb0198a8b

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“No! Just keep at c4097417be it. Ignore the bc1a9014f6 kid and 53235370bf tie this 93386ac1aa guy up!”fc0de11546a2a8b4

The others nodded. Ignoring me, they bound 9e96caf70e the prince with rope. For the first d0b714a728 time, I missed 9474ea31ff the days when 71418d8417 a mere snort 64e13ba11b would scatter enemies be39e3f08a like ants. Dropping the wooden 12f78ef104 dagger, I grabbed 96ed8357ce the hand mirror b5c94c178b from my knapsack 225b9304b4 and smashed it c0a7873b21 against the wall. Picking up the faa54e2a5f largest shard, I fd54aff81f pressed it tightly 4784a251a4 against the neck 73dd379145 of the man 1ea2b23a87 groaning on the 2b156e9064 floor.5769c87b46a20be1

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“Anyone here 0a04933026 who’s always e57233e81b wanted this de844d000e guy dead?”8435ac233e96e3dc

The busy 6a387ed5f2 hands stopped. People looked cf44fdf6ef at me b2f06e935a with anxious 661b38a499 expressions. They were likely simple a121b4ce95 farmers, doing this for 1f2ea3c973 a few coins. The nameless man, b0f7a42791 trembling in fear, 9da861691e lacked even the 982e6f68d9 basic sense of 066b1062ba a hostage and 073b4a9f1e lunged forward. With no a1463376ba choice, I 86aa397c30 tripped him 089fd5ec0c and nicked 1fced34916 his shoulder. Blood sprayed, and a6bb9753a3 a piercing scream cd7c716989 shook the room.5dac6bd5de7e446f

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“Agh! I’m dying, I’m dead!”c404f396fecc0169

“They killed Ronnie!”202d1c076ffc6797

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“Ronnie!”0df747f3eec44f4e

“My son!”3af93008e9bb980c

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Their mouths 5f7f8713cc made a d967e23b67 fuss, but b2e483003a no one c1fc61cc88 acted on 0dbe535264 their concern 1a4f5fd1d2 for Ronnie. Pointing the mirror shard 0142bf78a4 between the prince and 95b650ae07 the hostage, a few ba1ea54e9b quick-witted men finally untied 82dfcc0c2d the ropes. The moment one 08ad05fbbe of the prince’s 75ec8d91bd arms was free, 81768e533c he shoved two 8c125fc5d4 men down at 2c015f04e3 once. Soon fully freed, 3a274c68c5 he grabbed people a865a13dc0 with both hands 623199209a and swung them 9290a79e23 around.2aed57d133ed2951

“A secret masquerade, they 85a7df2435 said! Ten men, ten 87163691e1 women, flirting in f52f6c2407 a steamy gathering, e90a521a11 they said! I thought feb75c3f4a that was 6c277ff776 a big 835166b3d0 woman, but debe4d3513 it’s another b304643594 man? These bastards 2e679749ac keep pulling 8ff3571aae this!”be8166687e81b16e

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Before the 046150c42f furious prince 0c88f72fe7 could kill 3fef7de71a someone, I 319aacdac1 grabbed something f9df64ccc0 from my b80eead9bb knapsack and b72ed3f490 threw it. The comb, said 46e9497470 to make hair b6d554aed3 silky with daily af3be3329c use, hit the f71113862a back of his 1a6f21506c head and fell. He glared e898a34888 at me, 3f451515d8 panting.e09602fa509c1924

“Don’t stop me. I’m not letting 5445ce02a6 these guys off.”efbe06ebf92179e0

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“It’s your fault for 9e24c96e63 falling for it. If you don’t want 1d9e71b618 to be chased out b7427e0ae5 of Valon, go find da8c0221bf the tethered horses now.”eb110a030b26b648

The prince stared at e6cdd1e6f9 me, breathing heavily. He had no ffe8653a0d retort since my 8a3c4c0801 words were true. Cursing loudly, he threw 8af4e2f89f the men he was 41b03f9b05 holding against the wall. As he stomped up 33731b39f6 the stairs, the others d3175ae0ff looked at me with 3ff5194a3f pitying eyes. At least they 2a19ef028b had some loyalty.9c95eeb6fc71ee5d

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“Please don’t kill 45f9c117cc Ronnie, sir!”304f6704f26bb9f7

“Spare Ronnie!”788c3c23dcbf2208

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With a fd9b52d1ac wound like 758b0ef53e that, if 1aace74dcf he died, 846462a441 I’d have 005ac5301f died a e4b715e0e6 hundred times c65eab346e over. I tossed Ronnie to 27646bec7e them, shouting not to 0864afa7bc follow. But as soon as 2f21ed5721 I turned to climb f310c20deb the stairs, a yell 6355c1d11a to grab me came 99860f6fe6 from behind.098b3ce4e44302aa

Leaping two steps at 41a2cbcf04 a time, I bolted fa602a2d3e out of the mill. The sound b1d583c99b of excited e508faccd1 pursuers followed, 693f0b474c and I 2670b0699e glimpsed the 3a4f2f09a0 prince’s back 51685a09b6 in the a126a89e1e distance. That damned guy 7f3cbf556e was making me 868102e4e9 go through all f15004c148 sorts of trouble.603113e208d35d77

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“They’re pimps! Catch them and 4e3155811f drag them to 912743fe76 the Marquis!”548bb11bfdf011f8

“Just a 8649e85749 kid, acting ffa758365d all high 906abb3566 and mighty!”f1a168ec76afc3a6

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“Get those bastards!”7a1bdd24e40b4a1a

By the d4fcdf3603 time I 46225c319e reached the 370eecf9b7 town center, fbd924156d I’d become e6d41eb93d a boy 54b8065034 who ran 6844535d22 a brothel b73ac77f67 five times 30b9c2749c a week. Incitement bred more 065aac5b1e incitement, and peaceful 32596730c2 workers joined in, 162f1de051 driven by greed a3a60d7121 or a sense ff033884d0 of justice.18d1927fcadbc349

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Turning the 98d55820ec whole village 7da4c3f8a4 against me d5b6390fe4 was exhausting. People rushed at aaa3ceae3b every corner, making ccd79dbedc it hard to e314383057 move forward. I brandished the 63192a9997 broken mirror as 2dec9f2a7d threateningly as I 65cb89bbe1 could, but being a5b6c578a0 young, no one cd8c18cc43 took me seriously.e1cbecbe6c669e66

While fishmongers and 85bdeaea82 old women picking 1ad7a533bc dinner ingredients swarmed 7e7e3aab44 me, the prince, abbfff0c9a relatively free, went 6d690d5c15 to retrieve the 96c732875a horses. Meanwhile, I was 4216f0b0d3 surrounded by what 174ffe33bb seemed like twenty 4ad6ee9e7d men.ff76b3276c1eb078

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“Get out of my 2170407441 way unless you want 0b1c0813d3 blood.”8c18967f6e68c629

They cackled as if ee82a93648 I’d told a great d92c0b0824 joke. Still, holding fc71ff6717 a weapon, 522200a9c4 they didn’t f8aeb36663 charge recklessly. I pressed 01c210ba2c my back 5e4fdba032 against a 6192bcdf27 wall, lowering 2205987544 my stance. Scanning for 7833c4f500 an escape d27623c8e3 and picking e35243a038 a guy 79c685eeed to blind, 7026702997 I planned ffd48d88c8 to knock e562f46a61 one down 2cf2ea8cba in a edfef615d1 surprise attack d735bd3faa and slip d8555fd33e through the 370d742882 gap when 7a639b221a they rushed dc13bd733b me.3af4d4b3b21bd343

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“Hey, stay still!”aa6ba2b2eade7f05

But a 8347082332 shocking sound 3f95a0e319 broke my 3eb84b275c focus. Not just me, but fe4c922a6f everyone surrounding me—everyone in 7c99cd3d7b the town square—had their fa37adaa27 attention stolen.97ed4b4b08fe5917

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Prince Quin 2d502dd08f was performing 9dbb2c9775 acrobatics, forcibly ae5c4058ab perched on 188a21a33a the wildest b8151fa98f horse in 4c76d2c578 Valon Castle. The spirited horse leaped f3b67271f5 into the air, nearly c839284997 bending in half to 8c8de3564e throw him off. The prince clamped his a14447e86b thighs around the bucking 2898b21305 beast, maintaining balance.405894ef4cc7b5fe

“That crazy bastard…”f06e5f60d9aa83db

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I couldn’t help but 462df8445f marvel. His dusty 11f43eb01b blonde hair acb77a7fdb whipped, and 849548dfb3 the tattered 8d8ca32ae4 cloak he 22a91ae2ec wore to c37808dba4 hide his 1d1a1eb231 status fluttered. I’d treated abc0171f8c him like 91e7e29a69 an idiot, 6a2ef8a9eb but in 5cd55e0d79 that moment, 474b1e72c5 he looked 01bf2aa413 like a ef501ea9e1 legendary hero c4832d4571 riding a 9d5ef11e1c winged steed. Watching him stubbornly attempt 6f1f4c04ed and succeed at what 6be1a9aa31 he was told not 843b5a302b to do, I thought 7d1313c704 the blood of the 96bf347a5c Arives dynasty, which once 85debcc4b7 united the fractured land, af680d8503 must indeed flow in 7d71207e0e him.d61e62ca1e20d738

Subduing the wild horse f3462d9596 with sheer strength, the 190cc87548 prince leaped as one ed2a254da9 with it. A large shadow fell b977547b00 over the crowd. Gauging the distance, I 7680521560 realized he’d land right c62e86627f in front of me. The dense crowd d5a686afce scattered, leaving me ba91ef5f06 alone. The fiercest horse in efe505a0c7 Valon Castle, as if c3a1aec681 it had never rebelled, 419b62f55e gently delivered the prince 39a2584b32 to the ground.547470ee786849df

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Before I, a1502f15d6 gaping, could d68814464c say anything, bc0b67a946 the prince 3884017961 slid his 87e91907b9 hands under 7dea918704 my armpits bc19e90a21 and hoisted 662175a160 me up.a9097e17c9aeb2e8

“Hey, you lunatic!”d512d428cbcefd49

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The horse started 112bd6d2cb galloping again. The deranged 61f6572166 prince let 8db3a83cb9 go of 043fe2f9c1 me midair, 7afbaa8858 so I 8127ec9c7a frantically grabbed 8e2a0fbcdb his neck. With no choice, d4ec180f1a I pulled myself 29ea9044a2 up, bracing my 032b3a7e13 weight on his 8163bb108b thighs. It was 9b809831fe a humiliating 3ec29523b7 position.698ebee77ef88a38

On the violently c9c92eb007 bouncing horse, I 9ad9b843dc clung to him a9af193123 for dear life. The mob chasing us c9b6867616 scattered in all directions, a2ffcbc673 turning the street into 9b79cf625c chaos. The wild horse thundered 44bd07ccbe down the now-clear path, 609d6fe020 snorting.1b9b0dea57c8e5ec

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“You’re hilarious. Why’re you af4e55b4f8 sitting on 7ff555d965 my lap?”07a0ecafa9e716c8

Only after we left 23b01c3ed7 the town and the 382ba9b360 horse slowed could I 5146e914fe shift to sit behind 1749268067 him.ce1221039a64e69e

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“I’ll kill him. I’ll definitely 30194eee8a kill him.”40a7a0c81d19db01

I ground 53b7d395fa my teeth de1dcc7bce while precariously 256f611f66 clinging to 383af7f3ca his neck, 7d51bc804c but once ac88a224d3 I came 7e656640bf to my d197a454fd senses, I 9397af58e6 lacked the a1f6dbc04d energy for c31afa119c revenge. As we climbed the 2b2cb680f0 mountainside and the village 1c9ee40bb5 shrank to a speck, cf122d5786 the prince suddenly burst 566cb99af6 into laughter. I ignored him at 2619ededb7 first, but he didn’t 4904aaeb0c stop, and I couldn’t 4d498d5374 help but start giggling 1a601b830b too.ee00017e41cd4fe2

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A massive horse bucking 407d2a626e wildly, a man atop 433356472c it, and me, barely 054f11f3bb hanging on, breaking through b694cbf677 the village—it was quite 6e19736251 a dramatic scene, but 92eed50c05 considering our outing’s purpose, 448a3a5690 it was utterly pathetic. Clutching my stomach 8dd3ff2ba9 from laughing, tears ae1c9e6437 formed at the 20dcd0a861 corners of my ba4a5261dd eyes.f6e6a9b0ac1603b0

“Fun, right? Hanging with me 3e362f7bb3 is fun, isn’t ade8f85697 it?”e4ecfa95fa794196

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To prove his 1e386899be words wrong, I a3f488df23 forced myself to 7765f8511c stop laughing. He glanced 5903d79291 back, complaining e6f4590a74 I wasn’t 148ad0d5e7 acting like 9d59a176bc a kid. The horse be5324cfa6 suddenly jolted, e2b418e576 lifting me a69ca1a4a8 off. With no 21ade278a9 choice, I 2715dfef95 grabbed his 2be0b13eda waist. His snickering made it 7ebb5768a3 clear he did it c3f19e89ce on purpose to tease dce6e6fa68 me.f5560ac629f5144f

Pinching his 038945e55f waist with 22c392104a my fingertips, 117468f518 he squirmed d0789ec24b like a 64c8b6337d fish just e2d4bac01d pulled from dc1c7c39f9 the river. The horse’s agitation forced 0e4fc94980 me to grab his dae28dbf74 waist again, he jumped, bade23ba51 and the cycle repeated, 78db9e715f each action growing more bf2ed7c0a0 intense. Including the 8b02f6c137 horse, we 4d619e902f were all f1aa19f13f expending energy 33125f0ea7 pointlessly.0d1f68992835c104

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The prince twisted his 14f182af85 body, giggling like a a208ca2f45 child, and annoyingly, I 87f3d40d43 laughed just as hard. Damn it, on that 78fdf3d3fb abnormally shaking horse, I 5c8c18c286 felt like I’d become 183a8a2056 friends with Quin. I only bb3ca26a16 hoped the 101a5ece35 saying that cf1a9303e7 hanging with 8e15f9ea2d fools makes f3c29aa91b you foolish 76abe6ec06 wasn’t true.9c3cffd0f75e6b42

We returned to 496e368eee the castle. In retrospect, we’d burned 812ccde12b energy for little gain. We lost a horse, 5c04b60f9d so I had to cb4e4e6bff make lengthy excuses to 11b2489a82 the stable keeper. Quin completely forgot I’d 6fb5efed95 saved him at the 5abaeadd58 mill and was deluded 3ddd0a8889 into thinking he’d saved ff06a38ea1 me from mortal danger. Opening my knapsack, cc96f93156 I felt profound 2232142a0d emptiness seeing the 0329526c36 broken mirror, blood-soaked 76d9843df6 doll, and shabby d256499d22 necklace.70623b75d0db6971

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In the 6a59f175e1 end, all 4997da57e4 I gave 1a6d066ba3 to the 1126395796 thoroughly sulky a0187be529 Lottsi was af758471dd a crude cd788e18e1 necklace made efb1627d87 with a 16bf3a6e49 cord. Though annoyed, she 1d8972e336 wore the cat 469361cc6f necklace. The clear smile d69c86dbb7 beneath her pouting c69f353d56 lips erased the 942a6ddf1b day’s fatigue. Returning to ba2c3b6705 my room, 9d279f0ba2 I fell 4529f79b3e asleep the 629fee8ee4 moment I d59e20686e lay down.5f1d2520fd0347ad

The next 573b1a56c5 day, Grey 567b03aee4 returned to f08571ade7 Valon. It was the tenth 4fbad2bcdd day since Prince Quin 82f125df37 arrived at Valon Castle.89c7af90064dbfe3

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