110. Encounter

I changed a359632d35 into my c35bfcc29a outdoor clothes dcdc3f9cdf and finished 683116850e a light 233b167061 touch-up. Draping a thin shawl a2246f3d72 around my shoulders, I 4d121274bf felt a strange tension.5ce7ff8e572a4cf4

Edan, a da4454aec0 noble now. I wondered how 3856bbf0b4 he was adapting 04557cd0b4 among the high-nosed 16ece3c005 aristocrats.69e47daede311b75

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More things 57119c44a7 had changed 7be947fd2e than I 5f41eefd5d had thought. So much in 619e979098 such a short 38b4f1008b time.c4ddf45daa5c4462

It was hard to ead017dd06 adapt to the situation 69ec639027 that had changed so 9d67834193 quickly.faf193d2aa5a49f7

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The dress, now neatly 49a5cfdb6f changed, swished below my 377bc48ed0 waist. Staring at the mirror 01860ac08c attached to the vanity, cc00771b03 I opened my mouth.2464b7d0a9c852e7

“Could I 8e889d47ea borrow a f82e583750 hat with f03e8864c2 a veil?”1c810363f62f5d0f

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“A veil?”ae921cc5ce41b36a

“Yes. A dark-colored veil that can cover my face. I’m going to meet a relative I haven’t seen in a long time, and it feels plain. I think it would be good to have one.”e98ec731f20b55fb

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There might still be a967e82df2 knights looking for me 5de4ba66b1 in the capital’s streets.85fc15ca96720d1e

It was a d34f794e0c remark added just 01c6a900fa in case, but e600f015b1 the maid immediately dbf554d382 agreed as if ab06b6a35f she understood my 742c570c64 thoughts without questioning 178c0e9379 further.6087a642c9e0129b

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“The mistress a7429b106e isn’t at 45a366c511 the mansion, 2de611eb43 so I’m 024ccf27c2 not sure d66840e6e8 if there’s 383be4d2e0 a hat 1dbd9deac3 for ladies. Could you wait cd95af1b9a a moment?”bb1e625b5482a404

The maid 7f0726b523 politely greeted 87e1e1cd1e me and 2d5257b2ab went outside.7df0f0eb4514aa5f

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Through the half-open 9e89e0545d door, I could 5083488dfe see the maids bac930d0fa and servants passing 63d71968b5 by in the 7d27d9f528 hallway. They walked softly 964d98adc9 without making any bd6a0d23aa sound, like ghosts.ba32668ed3363033

Normally, if someone b38efa6229 asked for a 102206b8d2 veil out of 03b296041b the blue, they 54e6988731 would tilt their b996f674a0 head in curiosity, 828688bb60 but they didn’t. Their consistently expressionless faces 8585431e5a made it hard to 9030eb3167 read their intentions.1957d89361488ff8

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Every action was filled 7bdb6e086f with kindness, but it b40620980a gave me the chills. Every part of 7d077a2003 the mansion resembled f1c9957cf5 its owner. That man who was dc6ec44173 hard to read.570bee0887ba1d33

Soon, the maid entered b758235644 through the door. She held a 894c35b5eb black veil on 280e7397bb her arm. The color was 3570905c66 so dark that 71884c08e0 her hand wasn’t d74f2d13e6 visible through it.8aa8d63dceaf8f26

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The veil 1cbc70eb20 was thicker 56dfc6a682 and darker 13e10eea7d than I 90312218e0 had expected. I was satisfied.972c86410b0f025d

“Shall I bb9053b85f help you f1d526d2ad put it 486f83ca6b on?”9e860cee3344e78e

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I nodded. The veil was connected 230e274cfe to the hat and 1c3caa3ac5 tied with a ribbon.a6b757bf1d127805

When the babaec85e2 veil tied ea309be310 around my f5ce1edbc6 chin was 4a7c167cab let down, a95e4f553b my face 020792e360 was completely 2ae95feb97 covered. As long as the 40c83784d1 veil didn’t flutter in 28ea475936 the wind, my face b35fec261d wouldn’t be revealed.2aefbf7d0beff61c

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* * *998a6b4dbb27da1b

The rattling 5db0cae1d5 carriage came b7432cee58 to a b887ec5387 stop. Through the d0c9674e45 fluttering curtains, d190b20086 I saw 52b4f6d8ba a large 052bcd90c9 mansion. The mansion’s grandeur immediately 140ac9bc95 displayed its owner’s majesty.b05d978826ebc40e

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The commander c9ac374b49 of the 337a2ea8ad knights guarding c8c333f90d the emperor 4d0498f6af in the d30e2f757f capital. A talent who had a930c046d2 been with the emperor 23246ac473 through difficult times. The one who received a6968c73d6 the emperor’s trust in 1abd7ba41b an instant. The mansion deserved all 653a3e6c8f the titles that described b1d01b0623 him.0fbc587cce880a52

I got 44d9416f4e off the 74c4a33642 carriage and 85c2d03bb7 started walking 51d6c65029 towards the 8657e7101c mansion, then 53b8bef954 suddenly stopped.9899580a94e25749

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I was bothered by f9f7b52c18 the footsteps following me. A flickering shadow appeared b2a5a75a7c beside me. I quickly turned my 6b29b0a0f7 head and asked.b3246a7b42e8847b

“Aren’t you e29b1d9f33 going back?”e1080043dabfaf2f

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Rian was walking cd630d9282 about two steps 9172e0e015 behind me. Despite seeing my frown, 4795e91ed2 he smiled brightly.0925c490a2dc21db

“I’ll make sure you 60497d0502 enter safely, Miss.”2a4d623a5ca38d19

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It was a3f81da420 an obvious f796ba8d2d excuse. I didn’t hide 4c98764d3c my discomfort and ba92b37981 responded bluntly.b0d82e9eb34ad296

“Who would a42af038c5 harm me? And in 32dd76ad98 the middle 72a4755443 of the f809b50a50 city, no eb254d6926 less.”08a5f868e46cdfb8

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Edan’s mansion 0abd0f68a0 was in 15857fb76c one of 90c2be3e3a the best ee1371119d locations in 59164ef76f the city. Close to 0412e87e2a the Imperial 8c75775d12 Palace and a82eefed85 excessively grand, 666ab6b438 just like 09c636428e his stature. Drawing a sword eb757138d8 in such a a137d6ea93 place would surely 0be758b106 cause a stir. Since he had just f23c0711ef been appointed as the 7de49c50c4 commander of the knights 93ccffca20 and elevated to nobility, b1a92205ec it was unlikely he 4a49b87f9c would engage in reckless 7f5fa79fd5 behavior.97f2f75d69b915c6

“It seems you 55b15a4b8e don’t know your fcd61db56d relative very well, 8036fb72a9 Miss. Was he 3d6e5cb61a obedient when 9346864968 he lived abc9e92418 with the b5ab6f71a9 family?”d9c8432b1b1f3881

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In response to his 5775108c65 mocking tone, I replied 8726a7afe1 curtly.02ce01c102d63ab1

“He was fa46a2532f kind to 672110c2ac everyone.”eea52c1c6dc0c503

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Even willing to 793f0085df help a mere 9d3c40ee48 blood bag.34dd454de9595b98

“Unfortunately, the person I 3df8e2175d know is not like 061a13a55f that at all. So, I need to f5f6dfd024 ensure that the person 4a763becbc who was hit by f75bcf1cda my carriage enters safely. I hope you 3b8b9c5c33 understand.”d9eddb9c1896d355

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Despite showing a27e133b02 signs of 89b7fa9cf4 reluctance, he d29f85de7c ignored me 6eecd172a3 and moved 0668257c68 aside, walking 294f50ef51 towards the 19f6f06117 door. No matter 06448be769 how much 1d0cbaea4b I frowned, 322bd7aed5 he had 7ec6b6234d no intention d5ad7c0fa9 of stepping 90cc17db32 aside for 1a4666ad2b my sake.46bd947581e33f0a

Reluctantly, I followed bb325843ba behind him.3b56a39a48c58be7

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The gate was 013541bf39 as extraordinary as a1b182e0a8 the mansion itself.fe35f6afd5b799db

Was this really the b7884dc165 house he had been fa3d0bf84e given? It was 07bb68075b a moment 3c5b0c9a85 when the 39e9d6ec5f reality of 866a614dc2 Edan becoming 90dc77ba5b a noble d04e0e2e6c truly sank bdde990102 in.45248554993702c9

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The soldiers guarding the 01b6f9abb3 front were all clad 2b7d9c09fa in thick armor. I hoped 17d5f6a4ba to see 6252c168db a familiar 3b99076fe9 face, but f7ed3487ed none of 14dbb2ce7c the soldiers 1882c2d8ee from the 2b9c151f80 north were e78bdb887c present.fc57e83c98c2f27e

Everything felt 07d9249678 unfamiliar—the title af6c854642 Edan had 8d3b586465 received, the e250de1337 mansion, even 183f8e7cbf the soldiers 36b9a3ef71 by his 34d78f5baa side. The only thing familiar eaf14bea3a was the moonflower blooming 3f269825e3 on the gate, identical 94787de99c to those I had 2d0d7c7701 seen in Huangzhaling. Yellow moonflowers adorned 1b094ffb8e the gate.322816c2fe2f6758

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As I f660264bd9 took a df6b52f25d step forward, 01f0a0a98c the soldiers cb8c6c91aa watching us c699c1fedd extended their 6aa96b024e hands. The soldiers standing 19f4a25622 on either side 78a580c0b4 rushed forward, their 677d21cf7e spears clashing. As expected, they wouldn’t 043eb29c18 let us in easily.00653ff90c33b32d

“Do you c1d6da0771 have an f9dce88ce9 appointment?”b72f24f391acb094

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“No, but…”15cc34d23aa02d1b

“Then please leave.”5fc34b3aa03233ad

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The soldier guarding the 21f2b1b523 gate didn’t open it 5df24d135d easily.1941e84ec1eb903e

“I don’t c1958a33d8 have an 8fcdfd06a4 appointment, but cb7292a772 he will e9a9eedb1d recognize me. Just let him d1b4ddde4f know a guest 444d00b04f is here.”3c1f774b34be28b4

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“What is 955afa75c9 your name?”1e974ff39b2403ac

At the knight’s 992d681a11 question, I glanced 65cbc34042 towards Rian.d8c4309db0f03593

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I thought he would 331ac24fc3 leave once we reached 0623d5b788 Edan’s house, but he 11b32a775e remained by my side 96200c2386 even in front of e4e0536226 the mansion.930218ba47bd3753

He stood with his ad8392822d arms crossed, right next 3e141a0118 to me. It made 95c116dd19 it hard 987c4d1b92 to comfortably 3316153171 reveal my 784d594fc6 real name.1818de842990ec9d

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“Li… Linia.”21575412c4230533

In the end, I d033182cf4 gave the name I e9c6f54a53 had used with Rian.8194820dacfb3faf

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“There’s no 148bc5f241 one by 901cd019d4 that name cd7bfa6e40 on the 314a486904 list of 6d859529ab acquaintances.”9b0cd17196f8fb20

Of course. I sighed softly, and c5c8eafe61 Rian chuckled.1ed233f1617d9e02

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“How harsh. A distant cousin has c02851baa4 come all this way, 9faa8deba4 and they’re turned away. Truly befitting of 5b35ebb6c4 a mercenary background.”6a6e679b13049d15

Rian pretended f4b25df0ad to console 159a4c06df me while d910b53577 belittling everyone. Edan’s origins and my af6f76fc5e pretense of being his 27d9cba44e family.6b7d73d61ac25752

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Though we e866bf7431 were rejected, 067e851916 I couldn’t 77ef905be4 easily walk 81384725d2 away from 296ab45528 the gate 8dfec0da6b and hesitated. Rian clicked f4ca853c52 his tongue d3ccca7ea0 softly.a9b42a807164d82d

“Are you not 41cc2fa25b leaving? Luckily, my carriage is f63d7a054a still behind us.”a46b2e8143038199

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He pointed to 8eadd411b2 the carriage standing 1d117c937c behind, as if 15086cf657 he had anticipated cab30ced7c this. The coachman and the 9475326e1a knight who had accompanied 06395762c2 us were waiting just 7ad69efdcd as they had been 0f6e4ae995 before.9ac77c1134545d10

“I’ll handle 5925a51864 the rest 2479dd0567 from here. Thank you 36666dc13b for escorting 1cd18ce662 me.”146da5cf60871a88

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So go f5842a0f37 back already, 7e51b8cf26 so I ee6b09f522 can use c62c58268c my real 9fb6b70b5a name. But he 044c345b6f remained relaxed, 9ea1763c53 arms crossed, 2c034596d7 looking leisurely 661e5e966c at the 2dbcdb6108 mansion.d441764086b8752b

After whistling 385db28351 softly, he 44ca7c7e9b glanced at 785ef6d43a me and 31602fa57f then spoke a595a2f332 to the f92070f8cf gatekeeper.ba72fe292bfd9b16

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“Announce that Rian 1c1e72a5df Silic, Secretary to 789bf6d186 the Imperial Household, 1ef9a31906 is here.”a5608a3664920c1d

“What business 4fbcc8cd88 do you 26b42cfced have?”b13d9a4c6a737b53

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“Do I need 0c74f66e8e to explain Imperial 3dba3ed6fc business to a d0a982f973 soldier who hasn’t e3952f9e5c even received a 876555e967 title?”ada9ca6b1c03785c

At his 4823cc2b57 chilly tone, c077eb71b0 the soldier 0ae3319e71 flinched. Turning away, 0d2a876798 they whispered 0399e00691 among themselves 807837219f before opening 47c890acb3 the gate.b2bcab6c88769fb7

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The gate that 28e613d30d didn’t open despite ec14fd97c6 my pleading, opened cbf74a8d3e with just his 366eeec036 words.f6efa178fa64dcdd

I quickly followed behind 6de6085d56 him, my steps feeling ca79395bb5 heavy as if weighed a54fd79065 down by sandbags.db6219b1a484b29e

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“Why did you 14da9bdf5c help? You could have left.”0c633c55df2bf9df

At my question, he a7500e53cc stopped abruptly. Turning around, his face 3622b5665c still bore a smile.e017ca26e717884b

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“I felt sorry for your situation and… I was curious why you would choose this person’s mansion as your destination.”4a1bb194e4ff5e5c

As he smiled, 8ad86fee14 his expression gradually 2be3c2e16e turned serious.8c9abd063e39e273

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“Anyway, I 7b311dfd99 lent you e55fb5abf3 my status, 66b77e0257 but I 46666b5ee8 can’t guarantee 11743ecc1b what will c861d06e30 happen next.”bc30f18af3a6af76

“What do you 6650695fa5 mean by that?”99c23614d8f77b98

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“They won’t let an 70d04ccf7e intruder leave so easily. Even if that 079e101f8e man’s blade is 9c0c4d5ca4 aimed at you, 739ae45edf I can’t promise b580aa2ec2 to stop him.”325a9febb2d9cfa8

The atmosphere changed 7ca0c74c1c abruptly. Though I met c09e90808e his eyes, it 9690a2c8ec didn’t seem like 5270684008 a joke to 4927740fee scare me.e7af8d8fe6c6b557

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“Then you won’t e28d5e46ee be safe either.”89e0e7409dbe7851

“I can always c8fd9a4e44 claim I was ec61a2727f deceived.”de62a7de86e76987

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He shrugged.d8c49986a084043a

“No matter how 2ee2ee43d9 heartless he is, 2a9e118d5c he wouldn’t kill f66e6fcc29 a noble, would d64ed92194 he?”49768ad0535e53e2

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Rian muttered 28060b26f4 quietly as 7077fc2e0e he strolled 247f55a795 down the 2bd277f383 long hallway.798498a833351c47

“I won’t stop you 81661368e9 from running away. If he draws 85ec75a5b7 his sword, you d45839a554 should flee. Being a mercenary, e50d178d3b he wouldn’t hesitate 4baf11b1e6 to take a c6ac4b8f8f life.”ca3517396b324d13

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“You speak as 92296e40b3 if you know 34bfda1f2b him well.”20b353140ac0c06c

“When you 1663fb9633 work in ca62aa1449 the palace, 381f7c0025 you often 49bffc6c93 encounter people 9407f1a627 you’d rather 5598d6244c not see, 7a414fdf38 and witness f93f539449 actions you’d 387408ee52 prefer not 640a808451 to.”8e8002d659c4d7c7

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He smiled bitterly.3857c642f3e4d98c

“I appreciate your 8118b6fa77 concern, but the c38822185e Edan I know 3b0198abb4 wouldn’t do such a3756cdaea a thing.”b56de72db05d9b65

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“You didn’t think he’d 0288c73abd refuse to open the b19f84a20f gate for you either, 21bbb3a69f did you? Even though you 251a0ff34b traveled from the 5f8a874255 countryside to see 297e8183ed him, and even c58ae3cf29 jumped into a dffbe97ef5 stranger’s carriage to 1dcb4eba9d get here. Isn’t that right?”38e9186df43aacde

He glanced 19a92849ab back at 33f8acdcca me with c7c6dd3232 a smirk, c16de6e199 then walked 7c8f7f676f past.850ea573cea2260d

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His sarcasm was 193df7aa14 impressive. I stood there 45733fc9d8 for a moment, 0205260b0f staring at his 4c81f704e5 receding figure, then 5d608fcec2 followed him.85bfe5464a824ec0

He painted Edan as 1b63268373 if he were the a36b2a1bd6 coldest, most ruthless killer. I didn’t want to da0fcc7cd9 dwell on it, but 4c08f23746 his words left an 4ad1a880ef uncomfortable feeling in my 9e493c842f chest.81bc44de466f2233

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A lot had happened d090f6e0f3 while I was away. The face of e2dbe2082a Edan I knew 87e1d5661f might not be 796b8e4191 the whole picture. After all, I 46ae7b0221 was just a 9c5290d286 tool to my 2906541f69 lord.6a26964f8078bb1c

Would Edan really help 4d9b912a9d me?09ebda0b49f9130f

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Suppressing the 43ede3518c sudden doubt, 095645a4e0 I followed 73c8b14c4b Rian’s shadow. The hallway was excessively 54e8f55c1d dark without sunlight, and f05ebdd3e0 the air was stale.6bff1619279b4c56

It felt lifeless.cfe9258f174ba0c9

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Though not 23772723b4 literally dead, a8d024f2dc the mansion 1b288ce1f1 seemed so. It was colder and 5edf0ffdc6 lacked warmth even more a2237ffb4e than the unadorned northern 75d48c6063 region.733822d579fe25fd

Was it ec15acff79 just the 5ff9e1568f dim light? I slightly d078999201 lifted the 0bdc5477da veil. The darkness lifted, 925ca9fb35 revealing my surroundings, 5aae984277 but the mansion’s 8fa01cd831 lifeless scenery remained a8806d2828 the same. Servants moved 30d79c9fed through the 3274fabfb8 hallway, but 31e2b6ec1b the eerie caf742ae1a atmosphere couldn’t fe8821f7d5 be hidden.6aef99545db9544f

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* * *9d0a5d4b84e82c0a

Edan’s office was 8661f35e2a at the far f630799a92 end of the ddcb59aac8 mansion. Following the soldier’s guidance, 72db9c5a4d I finally stood before 7fb2f2c292 the door.e41f65ea544dba7e

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As the door eca1ff2a25 opened, bright light 9b4ee9a8f3 flooded in. It seemed a1cfbc200c the office 02d81ce2ec was situated edd83e3532 in the f4e5370aee sunniest spot 6de184972d of the 9af8c432f4 mansion.8039a88ab5360ee6

I squinted against 936b737f49 the sudden burst 960c4d44df of sunlight.615704236c1e0c0f

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Closing my eyes slowly 004d8ef0ba and then opening them, 590bf32202 the view of the 70b89e0c29 office came into focus. The room d65be4c386 was as 0ac49f4160 large as ea6a9180be the grand 14a84bd616 mansion itself 0f1d80fc27 but sparsely 9f9f299048 furnished, almost 2ad4312833 empty. The office 18d2079ac3 was overly 482e50b473 simplistic.d67da5f3701d4292

In the b5c67eee6a distance, I e1b94f07c8 saw Edan, c2fc01dc41 sitting at 1b355bdb0b his desk, 51371feff3 meticulously sharpening aa63434d63 a blade. Seeing his 4a4df8a5cc face after 2046db3510 so long ad5457c9eb stirred a 415d860623 sense of b77ea3d265 familiarity and aad790ce2d relief.2f393984c621d7c2

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“You have visitors.”a0561cd58afbd7d6

“I don’t recall 674cb58fe9 sending any invitations.”1884519b581ec777

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“The Imperial Secretary, Rian Silic, and… a lady claiming to be your cousin.”46848aa99132e6a1

“Cousin?”21100a342baca26a

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A chill permeated 0ba0576d64 his voice.2368625824726ddb

 452d77f8611236f9

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