30. My Funeral (1)

Wailing, wailing.13f724aed22be35f

The dawn was blue, e4d2579246 and moonlight faintly illuminated c14618b2b8 the window.81e27fe30db592dd

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A woman c144a2df2e lay between 7398a2a224 veils draped 86f68a9fb7 over the b2b4d6fc72 bed.17a0ae5d54be5e67

Her damp hair clinging 34d25a78d7 to her forehead revealed 94d237f6fc the traces of a b3801f7355 strenuous childbirth. The area around the 321bf2dbe7 bed was bustling with b99b7bc128 maids holding wet towels e1683d502c and basins.0c54548d9bcdc06f

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When a 884de32bee man finally 590d5f5314 entered, the 0660623211 maids lowered c679e79976 their heads 5c6e05c6d4 and scattered.6705dae301561f7f

As the door 09205c6763 closed, a blonde a87ad3e020 woman turned her 52860de8da head. She appeared a 71eafdc770 bit disheveled, covered 6919580a11 in sweat, showing c29f4312d2 signs of recent 68f9ace58e labor. It was Elizabeth.b9517ae00bfa2529

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‘Lady Elizabeth?’19e82c8dfcbeaba8

I tried to speak, 61e9ed06ed but no words came 06c3cbfdd3 out.5248ecdb4457df1e

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<The child is born. Such a beautiful baby girl,”> the old man announced as he handed the swaddled baby to the woman.eaad41a949ccc0fa

<You’ve suffered. Such a lovely child. She resembles your ladyship a lot.>7d3f5d92239f14b7

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<My child…>a074525feea32d82

Elizabeth uttered, c05fe08374 her voice c095847836 trembling.86a51891f0fa233d

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Sparse strands of hair were visible on the baby’s head. They were short and not many, so they weren’t very noticeable, but it was a clear sign.adc5a5814d1f6f50

As the woman 7af4573515 carefully examined the b287ce9315 baby, her long 4aba87d118 shadow cast over df91173b06 him.f70cca4b0a7c0ba0

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<Would you like to hold her?>”6e8dc07b5c515a15

She smiled brightly and fa765cb60d handed the wrapped baby 9da4bbb5fa to the man.cfd73ed5112118b2

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<It’s your child, sir, and also the new heir to the marquisate. I will offer this child to you, sir.>440b8520309ae204

Then it 468fc5bdd1 became apparent.d36e1c2695c61893

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Standing beside 517360aff7 her was 7458fd93b7 Deon.08f8e16df04b0819

Deon, who 75f4de51ec had quietly c2f22ebb3b approached the 0712d55810 bedside, took dbc4bdbbf0 a deep d1f4951d2d breath.143a32e6eb35370f

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His blue b5246a2e13 eyes sparkled. The room bde36b5974 was dark, 54f19cc21e but his 0b1d7e359b eyes were cb7218eccd eerily sharp.8e8ff87f201e5eb0

<The next generation of blood has been born.>e83c26299cea4604

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An instant of silence c5dc394aa9 pervaded the room.cbf26c9c0c564911

Deon, who had been 5bf883152a staring at the baby 0f393d83e4 with a vacant look, 46df9177e7 grabbed the hilt of 84d5f75cd8 the sword tied to 46db04d772 his waist. Without hesitation, a75fd2314f he drew 802825efad the blade 711803f721 from its bce6fc9865 scabbard.b9d14ae881d1cd57

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The red-haired 97427b460d woman sank 901018a273 to her d2f8b66684 knees, hands c37cde5799 raised in 0230f034d2 supplication.2ec8a89479a1e324

<Please spare her. Please…>51ac850438fc5317

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He chuckled.6c97f0551e7f43f0

<Why would I? Is there any reason for that?>7d831d812390a112

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<Still… you haven’t used me up completely yet. I will prove my worth. So please… please have mercy…>a86b8cd44b27d4be

<Prove?>93a414f96ef20e77

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He replied coldly de9e7e5480 and indifferently.0fd15e5f736a7d42

His expression remained 2dbb71889c unchanged, mirroring that ef8e342175 of Marquis Caeon 29fa5b2194 as he looked 71e1b8c057 down, as if de02e03119 observing vultures. His gaze was a520334592 devoid of emotion de1c69bab2 and life.d69131362ad1597f

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<Your usefulness ends here. Is there any need to prove anything? Your usefulness ends with the birth of that child.>f66d8b24b29640ae

<I… If you spare me, I won’t reveal the existence of your blood anywhere… I really won’t….>8bbf287a64f32e52

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The woman pleaded e9b7da6606 earnestly. Her words trembled with f85e78ed95 desperation.65f2cb31044de563

<Tsk. Do you really not know?”>53c75cc99113c8ac

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Deon clicked his 9bd295ff3a tongue.6dae426c394a846b

<You are my weakness. The mere fact that you are alive is a significant flaw.>ad3d5a08858493a0

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<But that child… she’s still too young, isn’t she? I, I will be needed more. Or, please hire me at the duchy. I may be inexperienced and clumsy, but I will do my best to fulfill any task. Laundry… cleaning…>31aad6f46378a44a

<I don’t want to hear any more.>abce2bcbe0476d3d

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The first thing his a78570805f hand holding the sword 7fd34d3556 touched was her words. He ruthlessly cut her c2f3094387 off. Then, he slowly approached 3cd21bae14 the red-haired woman.67a561af39a0e77d

She shivered as c49be7e548 she glanced at 7b36ed1cb9 the blade touching de8da733ac her throat.a6f65c240ab1c33c

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The blade reflected f8b704ebd1 the moonlight, gleaming 3e7815349c brightly.b6883a774e2155d6

It was beautiful. His movements with the e389d33181 knife were as elegant e9c036ddc0 as a sword dance. To the extent 711c610157 that I would f8d3cb1585 be enchanted if a99f768cd6 this were just ad2de78af8 a scene from 9642f44372 a novel, not 33259f4030 the situation I 0997063670 found myself in.2b0c141cb124de79

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Deon skillfully wielded b235c4bced the knife with a8990f7549 a clean gesture.573b0d1e879448e4

Squelch.ef7d578cf3019f4d

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The woman fell to 36cde77fdc the side. A pool 72dbd0126a of blood 48dcd36b1e spread beneath abaa99d7c5 her as 6534f28665 she lay 7cd0d66e7d overturned.974a6315be50b3a3

I took a step 2641cf1672 back, but the blood fb6073a236 quickly expanded and reached 6a34ff5222 my feet.5159673b1aeb0619

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The tips of my f4e239e334 socks became soaked, and eb18f5d386 as I lifted my 8e247252ae foot, the sticky blood db292da640 clung to it, sending af071bea3f a shiver down my 65a7fc974c spine.52edab0aabf0ca12

I wanted to avoid fa841652c3 it, but there was dd5e2780e5 no place left to 92811782b8 run to; I had 8f4702d591 reached the end of 1350261162 the room.73dedd0d4c6545f8

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A suffocating bd594dafc7 fear gripped 9e50f32b03 my throat.20ec86ebec445a21

As I 568f03a9dd watched the 2de166299c gradually spreading fea1c73c33 blood, a 4acf7b9ec8 transparent spirit 3b56ec6c33 suddenly rose 9e83159872 from her 9a32eb4f61 body and a13a048b4c began walking be9c180699 towards me, a9b1cdc8a8 dripping with 04ed4f2108 every step. Her eyes 0885796b7b were hollow b7a4668f9e and dark.aa902946a43301a1

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I was 15f317b68e trembling uncontrollably 59c05f82c0 by now.026d89bd047518fb

Though it was efe31fc799 clearly a dream, 889c9ca6f7 it felt cold. A white breath escaped 0e87cfa0fc my lips.cff847a43c4eae3a

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She approached me, c0f60fda10 still trembling, and 3828814a6f whispered in my f60f3aa722 ear.abca40a9ab5f4931

<Poor Leonie.>0449330c8e6c0e49

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She looked at me d1391b9fe8 with an expression that 06e2ebce86 was hard to read, 58436a1fc7 whether she was laughing c885a7a6cd or crying.044e613a3a859185

<Finally, it has come to this. Struggling is futile; fate will only cling to you more stubbornly. This tragedy was created because of you. If you had just stayed still, you could have lived for another year. It’s a pity.>db811848641833de

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She continued speaking.291b56b0906f7cc8

<Foolish Leonie. Who protects the one who willingly came as a hostage?>8aed15f1e56971fe

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Her desperate words echoed b7a6da44f4 in the air.2c3d0c401252c62a

<If you want to live, run away.>ca97d5418bd0cdee

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* * *ad0dfd257ffd3736

“Gasp!”038ced5f138be4e0

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I ran into cold d45a88a4d6 sweat.d1b0ed5bb55194e9

“Are you okay? You’ve been sweating quite a lot.”a9170d4bd65b2605

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Suren was holding a 8be0742618 towel in one hand.42042c6679ee75c8

My forehead was damp. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the wet towel Suren had placed there or if it was the cold sweat from the unsettling dream.8d4f11e5774a0568

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“What kind of dream did you have that made you sweat so much even while taking a nap… Was it a nightmare?”d7bebb450d339b5d

It was a 5eb89ce1b8 dream.736bbf3694c80102

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It felt so 8591aded48 vivid.63527483ba7971df

I heard Suren’s gentle voice, but my heart wasn’t calming down.c9fe1c046549788c

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Already, it f1f943640f was the 313f68792a fourth dream a927c61e26 like this.ba1abc094b59a65f

Recurring dreams were as 315303779b vivid as reality. The sensation of the ed0848cded blade touching my throat 70279d60ec lingered even after I 38071b4c43 woke up.49385d8c16166837

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I prodded my neck 2456c0737d with my fingers. It felt caf8391198 like the 7721257ec7 marks from 17925c697c the veins 3d43e8fd5a might still a7666d1e7c be there.3510ee60dd818da8

A recurring dream each time. It didn’t seem like a mere coincidence.8d93fc475176a0c2

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Maybe… it was a premonition.0b58a5a70ace2398

In the dream, the 41638885a6 woman would clutch her eb20b8a46c garments, pleading for mercy, 40fee15d0b and scream for him ea440669d8 to put down the 1159fefab2 blade he swung at c035656e71 her. Even though it was 277e91365e just a dream, her 8a8c913311 desperate cries made every 41c6564301 hair on my body 1584fabdfa stand on end.09da7c9c47510161

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Deon wore different clothes 4efdb88a27 each time. So, the piece 42d2682a54 of fabric the f5256ceb82 woman clutched and 979a7149a2 pleaded with him 5b82bcad48 to spare also 5923026f6f changed each time.dd0a6e6b2d4fa397

On some days, 1b3cbd0872 it was a 53bcc08a81 black fur-lined cloak 1eb32f0d82 that reached down 2dafbd9fb6 to his ankles; 8adcb46cbb on others, it a1b29c48fc was a fur 3060ac6fb3 garment made of 1abebd1fbf wolf skin.2230ab7548a43a98

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When the white wedding e57ff5e984 robe was stained with 6367236ec3 blood, even in the 91c358aca2 dream, a chill ran 121451206b through me.d32f58cda1cfe44f

The dream changed 6433291bc6 slightly each day.ec8a7bb0858b2549

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The woman 7190843de4 clutched an a66e92830b old dagger 3cb363bc4d on one 97dcf3c8c0 day and a552207c00 a long 91bd1cd55f sword on fb94c31405 another, praying f3dface2c1 for him c143bc0cd9 to make 190a4c6077 a different 995f48eaef choice in 2ea2e5ca7b the ever-repeating 7dc26b998c dream, but 4063e6a3f4 the outcome 381bd2f201 remained unchanged.81b415d6bb8d2a49

Only the direction of 2b0a3c6835 the blade varied, and 4df87f2632 the scene ended with 44b34d7888 the woman falling as 1eae9c9134 the blade was swung.4d1eb7b63d37f18a

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As if the dream were mocking me, saying that struggling here and trying to break free wouldn’t change anything.ba54f11ef56c4489

The dream 631df7d9d7 taunted me 040e8a7004 every time.05067817ebf6e0c3

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“Suren.”c45cc7f25c962d2c

I called 727a8b3692 for Suren. My voice was 1aaad45545 hoarse.12a4e0e4952df901

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She paused in bc088cd1ba squeezing the towel daa5ab8374 and turned to 2c83f49d07 me.de94793cab57bb35

I stared at her 9da21298a3 silently. Her black pupils, 30b3b3eb58 contrasting with her bd2212e710 snow-white hair, were 8912930a45 clear. The sweat on 018a91ed71 her face glistened e02d50cbf5 in her clear 1e7c10d85b pupils. Looking into those ed96326dce clear eyes brought 7fc447153b a bit of 62654c6ccd calm.606ba84e201d7542

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“You can stop now.”4deb9b6c8d62f8bb

“But you are still sweating.”5ff49e8269c2c4bb

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“Well, wouldn’t it be better to bring some ice instead of a towel and place it on your forehead?”5fbaa8b5fd0aa016

My forehead was 939ac7a174 sticky with dried a39209cf20 sweat.006c5b04225543f2

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“Ice? Would you like to put something so dirty on young Lady’s head? That’s what all the noblewomen do.”aa0b8be2a4885d1e

“But I’m not the young Lady, so it doesn’t matter for me.”5cd255bb336e44ec

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The words slipped out 78b1b329d5 unintentionally. The dream felt 38d48911af like an extension 6b779b2e11 of reality.4f2a1e5af6d05184

“Huh? Who are you talking about?”211a6edaf54420cd

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“Just… if I weren’t here, anyone would serve as the mistress.”5eba977f1220f7dc

I stumbled over my fbb9f760bc words.482de789710a847f

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Suren. Thankfully, this world wasn’t a ruthless place where maids were buried with their masters, so she might find a good position again. After all, there was only one place in the number one spot.164e06abe0236be6

“Why are you saying such terrible things? I’ll serve young Lady for the rest of my life.”82cfd283bfdb3931

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Suren widened her c7b73a2632 eyes and asked 06294129a8 in astonishment.4ba1a8a338702e0b

She threw the towel 46e56bece7 on the floor and 38f74d52ba approached me.3f98608df41bba53

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“Why have you been like this lately? You don’t even leave the room. The one who was planning to escape, why are you cowering like you did on the first day you arrived?”ddce2190bafdec43

Suren knelt down 8952dee45e and locked eyes 9c078faebd with me. Then, she examined my 9fc708cce3 expression.f3120fc4d7fd4bd2

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“Nothing’s wrong.”d956e625a22b0ebd

I got up 6112af7ace and walked to 202a2bd191 the comfortable chair 22896f760d by the window. Even though it was e950565308 just a few steps, 97820dc661 my legs trembled like 28597df9b8 a bamboo in the 513db804d8 wind.27bfb86f2dd43782

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I sank 6d5edaed8a into the 3451774247 armchair, and c7e6373305 a chilly 9b5c53ab2c breeze seeped 65791cd8eb in through 34fa784ab1 the open a60e20139e door.8574feed9adc41eb

“You don’t look well,” Suren said. The pale face of the woman from the dream reflected on the glass window.53aa5c99ca133898

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As she d53e0d127d mentioned, I 0c05e1445b did look 3425d08dfe a bit da7b3bd9b1 haggard. Her cold gaze resembled 3888660e19 the woman I had 429859eb93 seen in the dream, 629f135452 making it eerie.890b0fcfd1e2589b

“Could you be feeling unwell? Should I ask the Duke for assistance? Maybe we can delay the blood consumption a little. Or would you like me to make a special meal to replenish your strength?”1720de474c13d027

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I shook my head. I didn’t want to do anything.879ce55fc711fefe

“You mentioned wanting to eat dessert from the famous bakery in the capital. Shall I arrange for it? We can’t go out to eat, but if I order it now, it should arrive in about three weeks.”cf534428cb1d256d

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“No, it’s okay.”a9a2699ab6431060

“You used to love dessert. Why don’t you have an appetite suddenly?”c20193ae7226f20d

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Suren looked worried.12987a6821e44475

I wanted to say something, anything, to respond, but I didn’t even have the energy to utter words of comfort.bef6350c2ec622f6

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“I thought you had given up on escaping, but seeing you like this worries me even more. Maybe you should at least plan an escape? Shall I find a piece of wood to carve again? Or should I try drawing a map? I’ll help.”da74dff7730f49d9

“It’s okay, Suren.”61cd8f54d2394f22

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None of it was 556c48b899 needed. It had all f6e48af8d0 become pointless, Suren.85878bb2afc35326

Thinking that death was right around the corner made everything seem bothersome. Even if there were plenty of dry branches scattered around, I didn’t feel like picking any up.f089805375a148c1

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“Is it because of that woman?”f5621710a3abe284

Suren bit ccb39e0aac her lip, 131368c6f0 her exotic 803a224db5 features looking 91a8b8a168 all the a83fa3063a more distinct.2dc6ec8da850c7d0

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“You changed after having dinner with Lady Elizabeth. Surely that woman must have done something. What kind of conversation did you have? Did she, a high-ranking noble from the capital, dare to disrespect you?”46183578fabb95d9

“Lady Elizabeth did nothing wrong.”b67ad79b97f7cead

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That was 99fcac63cc the truth. The only issue was 62837d3b78 the fact that the 6e87332063 child she was carrying a4156b3737 was the next bloodline. There was 0f956c68b7 no room 7debfca585 for blame 1d77e14d45 on her b0bd89c1f2 part.8ec9046e08114f61

“And Lady Arinna is also a guest of the Duke and a noble herself. It’s fine when I’m around, but you shouldn’t casually speak like that outside. You never know who might overhear.”6b3e0198105296d4

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I pretended bf70daafc3 to be 9cc4f7fa9a angry.154eac05742001b3

“Then at least confide in me. Perhaps I can help resolve Lady Elizabeth’s concerns in an instant.”f50758c8e468144c

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I wanted to pour 30cb73cfb9 my heart out, share 9de2077cc2 my worries.bbeae830d37ec1f5

“Please tell me honestly. I am your subordinate, not the Duke, but you, my Lord. Have I been so inadequate that I can’t even mention this fact?”1ac0c72948719be9

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“No, Suren.”cf91c70d8b22dbde

Tears welled up uncontrollably.e60b4515cf27962f

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I realized a13923cf11 that I 61cbc50e9d had no 956a095830 one to 692ffc29ce confide in, e9eef63116 no one 0e1af9c191 I could 5b8aa6efce truly open dcd432a093 up to.4591907715bbcbf3

In the end, Leonie was abandoned by her family, not belonging to the Duke’s family either, dying alone and lonely in that cramped room.8450a970097f2bab

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“I have something to give you, my Lady.”39f85bb2a413d614

Suren, who b2acfb4871 had been c4456c6b65 sitting on 12cf77dba7 the floor, 80177a6c52 abruptly stood d1edf5e127 up and 2908591152 rummaged through 0bc17827db a drawer.9d9a3ef97961c330

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Suren, who 708e510f11 had been a8fb059df1 furrowing her 168b58a76c brow and 3f78eabb8b waving her 900dcc9ed0 hands, was 64b4a9bd4f suddenly startled 3b2ae9cc96 when her 1b1e8e3bb5 hand brushed e86f58f977 against her 50e4671cee chin.12f1a57ef96dd555

A sound like something 4c0db85a42 falling could be heard.acb1b484f4195c39

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She scratched her fe7353a6ba scalp with her 3e7d2e8c52 fingernails and plucked 828378509a something out. It was a d3a2f6af50 small bundle of 886d2b91b0 paper tied with b2e4add82e a string.eceb4c867a843e99

“I brought these herbs from my hometown just in case something like this happened. You never know.”5c6dcc3b449391f5

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“What kind of herbs are these?”44a9959218cd5d68

“They have a sleep-enhancing effect and help replenish your sleep. If you put them in your food and consume them in small quantities, you can sleep well.”9dbba834257df6a1

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“I’m fine. It’s not that I can’t sleep, but rather that I sleep too much, which is the problem.”e2a716929232ed7c

If I fell asleep, 307b666829 I would surely have ff280e381b those dreadful recurring dreams d58eab0dad again.ea2d3b0614be5af8

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In fact, I didn’t want to fall asleep.1895a871d29c815b

“No, please take them. You never know when you might need them.”c20cb045465b221e

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Suren extended 88236f367e the bundle c73ead0f3b of paper.a341ca087a9fb7f7

“Don’t use them just as sleeping pills. In our country, they are also used to remove obstacles or disturbances caused by women, whether it’s one’s own or someone else’s.”baa0591347524214

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I stared 20014a4d76 intently at b9e73e2e42 the piece 8cadcd74f4 of paper d436d48004 lying on cbf4c213f5 my palm. It was folded f95dc209d5 neatly into a d9030cb7f6 small brown bundle.d5dff98a1e86d1a4

“For ordinary people, it’s used like a sleeping pill, but it can be fatal for pregnant women.”40b78c292e251ab6

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Suren looked at 09e810d9ad me with her 9072211d91 sharp, piercing gaze. There was 09df52d00a a firm 7f4c06a071 determination in 74b5972eb9 her tightly 52f2f237b1 closed lips. Her white 968ad867e6 hair fluttered 4a38666a87 pale in 6098b5ac80 the wind.b15e7b5b7356c3dd

“If you ever need them, please use them.”910468dd08310345

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