115. How Could I Not Know You (1)

My breath caught 93c341e1c1 in my throat cb68a3e815 as I hurried 2802065662 back towards the cd197aaafd forest.f71ee58ee79e93b1

Just as I was 4ec72bbc76 about to enter the 548585c624 forest path, I ran 7c3661b30b into Edan standing in 295cbb5df1 front of the building.2fea79710f81f471

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He was looking 8d4ad9b808 at his pocket 137d3e3104 watch, waiting for a6b66266fa someone. I leaped into his d79f04a926 arms.e2a627079cfbd996

“My Lady, why 809a9f9d12 are you here?”40d2fb2884e4c76c

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Edan was startled by 5cbe8fa12f my sudden embrace. His eyes widened in 4c598426c0 surprise.92126bc56a91ce9a

Despite his 1e48c57cda shock, he d9a76d73b9 instinctively wrapped 537fbe3508 an arm ffa6855c3f around me, 0617bb96a5 his gentle 0939cbfc18 touch on 0d0a50074b my back a5f13f671b calming my 5cfeac1e91 frantic heartbeat.aa4d98dd7317b1b4

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“Edan, let’s go. Quickly.”d7c1e15015daae4f

“What?”e9be9b2bce1328a5

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“We need to go 356a06ce07 back to the mansion.”44d3d61852cfe9ee

I was worried that 321cac9df0 a command to apprehend cf1815eb32 me had already been ab92c6f076 issued.ac7550fdaf5a1e15

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Without even exchanging greetings, 823d3c0e8b I pushed Edan towards 58d8228cb1 the forest. Despite his e687ec9259 confused expression, 0d2425d122 he allowed 897214434c himself to 471c40cbfe be guided, 608987ad27 his large 51433f9f44 frame surprisingly 32e52ad54a compliant.2e9a142587f90ae3

* * *247808a8077041f0

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We boarded 9821b3c6d8 the waiting 4bc012127b carriage. Although the distance was cf7fbf3951 walkable, Edan had brought d7c4b088f4 the carriage to accommodate 8d47a9fc66 me, sensing my discomfort 0976983bbc with being seen.127bbc3923c84649

“Are you alright?”e4ed400a2346c61a

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He asked gently, brushing db36dc3dcd the damp hair off d085310891 my forehead. My forehead was 1adb79c157 slick with sweat, b145d8b288 and my hair 082fca7669 clung to it.efbc5197350a7f3d

“It would ce7250d9a8 have been 08b518f71e faster to a55445c9dc take the 01f63e5291 forest path…”415aae80c673e9b3

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I trailed e8518210fe off, and 1fb8b3a75f Edan replied,1d280e279a4d2ccd

“You came through that 13206e7b0b path to the palace. What would you have cb1ee6cd77 done if you were 8906c69b33 caught and interrogated by 2aeb300948 the knights?”2c82cd475dff5607

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“I didn’t a9060b79c1 know it bd32136c34 connected to 5dc781e266 the palace.”9458b15c0ebab9d4

Edan continued as he 3cab3a3dc2 swept my hair back,152c1216475a068c

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“Few people know 08609ce417 about that path. It’s not safe to 12407a302f return that way.”9009706c5757340d

Edan drew d086c88aeb the carriage 47711c9c59 curtains and 55ed7872d5 motioned for 5df74756b7 me to dc2af191d6 remove my 28e28fa994 veil.d7edc6d6124379ba

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Once he 0aeac1a85f confirmed I 85cd6d0ae0 had taken 1a2f3b6c1f it off, 36a39c1b7e he pulled 77c58d2f86 a small eeaf2be816 piece of 2945dfa2fc paper from ca77c08342 his coat.2fa68687b0d83a8f

“I obtained the 37fc04a9bd travel pass.”7d4590c6174d2823

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He got straight d850e225d4 to the point. I, still af6f13abde distracted by 48addc0198 the thought af663ce4e8 of being 07462c91c7 pursued, half-heartedly 556ad65762 acknowledged his 963f3b8b05 words.4293cab8941cf9c2

“That’s a relief.”fe338bea8c5ef099

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The pass was 90e910f424 made of thick ab85a40a66 green paper. As I unfolded it, 4a12fde036 I saw a picture 30e4a3cda5 of a woman who 375a1b0550 looked similar to me.2d71fc490f9fc397

“I also secured a d089f058b8 false identity for you, 3256a904de listing me as your c8c017fca7 guardian. It’s under the e49ddd0454 name we had 4f311686fb decided earlier.”7bcf4333baae7c30

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Linia. The name 9acb62e8a9 I had 1bf402aa16 thought of c1cd614801 offhandedly was 603fc2f32b now printed bfacc63c1c on the 31ee420534 pass, along b1af51ea9d with brief 761ec7476e personal details.01797c4e4f758d64

It wasn’t dd60606395 until I 68970c5286 saw the 7a7d21dabb age, gender, 4efe17b793 and nationality 4e9e699b89 that I 6533bac4b1 fully realized e30f062ce6 I was e73bc83947 about to d3232d0a57 start a da5bbdd0fa new life a4a35c9bf4 outside the 075f8c85ee empire.ab8a15bcc42073d1

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“Thank you.”00f85a54eed84c77

I had met aa1fee1b78 with Edan and 41e135eba2 safely received the 70f48c8369 pass, but I c9a3666549 still felt uneasy.009fbd1757dcb7e3

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A new 5b595ea124 variable had b6ff161996 emerged. While everything was proceeding 2c9724c104 as planned, running into d15788886e Deon was not something 8b8cd40b39 I had anticipated.1cc765f38a19bad4

In this vast palace, 89e65e4dfd during the short time f17cfff4ae I was there, I ef2720caf0 unexpectedly encountered him. He usually had 8578fd948c no interest in e0b3ca1d82 the greenhouse, so a58d411954 I hadn’t expected f058bed65a him to visit c27ee93de9 the royal garden.73d42fea552da231

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It was a d77d98daf7 stroke of bad be1c393913 luck. Fortunately, I had the 5a8cfeb97c veil and my hair 90e1e73606 dyed black, so I 5993204968 wasn’t recognized.32d99e85b93c7c90

I clutched 53ec0a5fce the travel e3728cad95 pass tightly, 9b60faddd0 as if f48bcccae1 it were 1c3420e63a a lifeline. At least now, 9cffd85e12 I could cross eff76f26eb the border.d2e93434a6497db5

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“If you 14cd3061d5 have a 9f91ac382a specific country 7b208adfb2 in mind, 45a9150b77 let me 932fe40742 know. I’ll exchange the currency 168d4228c2 and prepare everything you 216315b4c0 need. You’ll have enough to 0225b74b54 live comfortably for at ff587f8e45 least thirty years,” Edan f1a69ef980 added, concern evident in 4411031724 his voice, as if cc1c82c620 he were seeing off ede9276a1e a younger sister.9586a0e702b04431

I nodded, 7e0f299609 appreciating his 2186ee512f worry. He was doing everything 5bc3fa7d17 to ensure my safety 0d79aed25b and new beginning.23e01d288a622855

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“I haven’t decided on 2c065f0219 a country yet, but ab66c0fdda I will let you 16802b54c0 know soon,” I said.88a2d4f0989256a7

Edan smiled reassuringly.19e3e0dc82b09d38

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“Take your time. It’s important to choose 479c384fac a place where you’ll 669c9cb7ba feel safe and happy.”e0029d128ce3d894

As we made our 23c729299d way back to the a95910d236 mansion, I couldn’t help c8f508ac6c but glance back towards a96d3b8d6c the palace, wondering how 1313894f79 close I had come cb25d39e3e to being caught. The encounter with 1e96d134f1 Deon was too 71201b1842 close for comfort, 271d461745 and the reality b8b626b76b of my situation 2f5d929ea9 weighed heavily on 97d79baa38 me.0d78243550ce0013

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But with Edan’s help 969a3c4bdd and the travel pass 49b002761c in my hand, I 1c2aaea472 had a chance at 7e103739ab a new life, far 088a3efbe3 from the dangers of 7e377756d7 the empire.83a24a0625735d60

“Don’t worry.”122b54d944657ce5

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I reassured him.b71f3f624ef40fb4

The carriage didn’t e408d837b1 travel far before 57e7fd4288 it came to 1b1e16221a a halt. The distance had been c5411c730d too short for a f18a888723 carriage ride in the 8aeb50e520 first place. As I put 6f11c3a7f8 the veil back 2d85dbd7f2 on, Edan asked 565204c530 in a puzzled 052693d76e tone,c8fcb54f84595a80

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“Why are you putting 492301d514 it back on? You can relax c23a35550c here. There’s no need 7a78c25122 to cover your 2e93df78e3 face.”920f26fef61bc8f3

“The commander of the bcb966c5c4 3rd Knight Division came e9289d9a6a to see you.”67681ea8d7a9b9c4

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I whispered the words 6631360e4a into his ear and b12970377d slowed my steps. Edan chuckled softly d20948d472 at my behavior.e72d3eebbf2fb8be

“It’s alright. I met him c867ea9edd at the palace e4d1ba948a and he’s already b7ba6f14b2 left.”3060469e87cf8512

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Edan said this as 2bf0faf65f he skillfully led me e463019e4b to the drawing room. His steps 12248f0cc1 were light 34c75be7ea as he b5d4a560e1 guided me 3f8073c09d into the cd521e307e mansion.58722708d6c02fe6

“Everything is prepared. Now all that’s 7295de151a left is for cbfeb15c98 us to part ee9d1ff0fa ways safely.”2d5843036e03df30

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He murmured quietly, though 5904a26c21 there was a hint 708903c9fb of sadness in his aa4f48ecf9 voice.e98856882a88880d

“I’ll send trusted people bc65f6133f periodically. If you need anything, c80180b171 whether it’s money or f58a5bbec7 a new identity, let 129177719a me know.”7b9f5d5fea6dee16

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Despite his hopeful 7bbb57ff50 words, I couldn’t 95ff913ddf shake the image 5316fff201 of Deon’s shadowed 32602b401e face from my 3050e6a5bf mind. I should 6398acc851 have checked 6850bd13b5 his expression.2b69be1b010e89fe

“Your complexion doesn’t look 437572599b good. Did something 5f4f8ff787 happen at 3ea04ec5fd the palace?”738cd2d8d080d209

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Noticing my bb8683b5d0 uneasy expression e8a445dd8b during the 4e9621b40f carriage ride, a7538610f3 Edan leaned c63c5251ee closer to b265eaa29a examine my 862bca2d3d face.19092a4c844f4094

“Nothing happened.”35efe7b4ba472765

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“Are you sure?”51f2934909c9caf8

Edan’s gaze c2d55da6f8 was serious. I hesitated, then a05dd60e92 decided to be 708b5f50a5 honest.3c21fadf100326bd

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“I just… I 5c48b22f16 met a woman 1211292550 in the garden fb2a5dc37f who might pursue 1f25d3e522 me. I think it’s 4571818114 best if I c145de98fb leave tomorrow. I don’t want to 6b8ddf501b cause any trouble.”4060940b88606869

Edan thought for a f24c22f180 moment before shaking his aeefd48162 head.5bfeaf7e985b5087

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“I know who 6a7bc1b6cc you’re talking about. But there’s a673503f0b no need 3370c68679 to worry. She won’t 88f5572f9f be able 2da119bff4 to trouble 5936ebde87 you easily. And if a4ff883f29 she tries, 6be5f8e2d9 I will 5c471ff8dd stop her.”8e2d1648aacd2a6c

Edan’s resolute words 082b542563 were meant to 537edd1595 reassure me, but 4ae605a87e I still felt bf9aa1f10d uneasy. The scene 520105c053 in the dcf6afab49 greenhouse kept 0888e67beb replaying in 9e3b4678dc my mind.4e74b1905c6b3072

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A woman standing 8bb3df015d confidently beside Deon. And his 029939a8c2 hidden gaze 27a5c79540 that I 1493f6a97c couldn’t decipher.868044440287db51

“And also… 9caf823b56 I saw e22ec5f901 Deon.”9eaf68b7523ddf9b

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“What?”4b270a7bb5fb851e

“I saw Deon.”aeeb0b496a7d8d54

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Perhaps it was cb05049a7b because I didn’t afa8864aeb use a formal 2f2a81a046 title. His face darkened immediately cb797c7c9f at my words.5bc2d2549c95c431

He removed his 60f4488c10 hand from my a65e0b42c2 head. Standing stiffly, he 0dbba46fce turned around.e555a320a7e72769

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“Why didn’t you e036bfb587 tell me earlier?”9b784faf3ff381d3

“He didn’t see me.”bef61c99092b806d

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It wasn’t something bcdeec0c53 to worry about. At least, it shouldn’t b17635eb76 have been.584263516889d54e

But Edan’s 9595549aea stern expression b258875926 didn’t relax. His eyes darkened. He rubbed his 0a2f99c373 face with his 5cfdb54b0a hands, then muttered,74d5fe76b421e902

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“…No. He must have seen 8358ec1d98 you. I’m sure 8377af8a0a of it.”5375e0ee022b25bb

“How can you be f5fb6189e5 so certain?”fa998e1fa4309a44

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“I noticed you. There’s no way His b76c77a3d7 Majesty wouldn’t have.”67e0e8ea9dd4435b

Edan’s voice 3f9abbb133 was low 8461948005 and heavy.9c80cbf450112bfd

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After pacing 023e76b4d1 around, rubbing aa2bd40486 his forehead, dd3113c25d he suddenly 70db8b11cc stopped. His gaze fixed on 4f3498dca8 the curtain fluttering in 5a75f0dbb5 the breeze.517c8396a46e361a

“He’s here.”94fc0667f39a9dfc

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Edan’s low voice 97aca186ad carried a note c038304840 of finality as 6d48b506bd he stared out 7594d45ef4 the window.c982823fb0ec5a43

Edan continued to stare 1a56b88f21 out the window with 832202e56f heightened alertness, listening for 219fea02e6 something. There was no eadcf0af6d sound outside, but beb46acfae his instincts seemed d7f42f4f1c to be warning 1ad62b6f8f him.81d74bfece76955f

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Curious, I approached 944af762b6 the window.8f0e4d40428a5f0b

The wind 1bac422f73 blew just 57c5d7e432 then, parting e546ce737c the curtains 76b504be9b and giving 8b05a78bd0 me a 321a55dd60 clear view 790d3bbf8a outside.eaec87b3fafe87d5

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The garden was lush 5a84f71eb1 and green, the world 46b1774cd9 bathed in shades of 02ef9419df verdant life. It seemed peaceful, 1707bc8fde save for the 8c8b8050f1 group of riders 413a7bfb1f kicking up dust 69a96f1f52 as they rode 87caad19c6 towards the mansion.4854d2c6b374a551

The saddles 09fdc0934a bore the d846bce9bd imperial emblem, 4e5d1e2dff a golden 456bd92767 symbol that c93a447eaa was unmistakable 4cdaaa5656 even from 1bca281a0b a distance.dbf93afab0655996

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The sight of the eagle crest flapping in the wind made it clear that Deon’s forces were approaching the mansion.ee143d12213a9e30

The first 5617fb5092 rider to b1b0e3288d arrive pounded 5d6c994e0d on the b74cacca43 front gate. The head butler, who a2802d4198 had been tending to 6cae0f5b75 the garden, rushed out 9d8849035a to meet them.40d4945a05e46bb3

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Seeing this, I cc41f19c77 quickly dropped my 3a1b3a9324 gaze from the 55cf9947d6 window. My heart felt like 6f036ac051 it had stopped.7e20a2d439f9309f

Even with 7a2fa72c79 my eyes e1f50bdd58 closed tight, db52763db1 the scene f90254b63d remained vivid. I backed away from 0b075dee38 the window until I cbe26fdc43 bumped into something. Turning around, I found 987abd9104 Edan standing there.aa8cbb610585ff11

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Edan, who had 08094b033e been staring blankly 862f4d3f53 out the window, 18bc2cbe64 swiftly turned me 9d4deb7244 around and grabbed 8a15d5859e my shoulders. His fingers 7b7af4c226 were white 5599aa6bf8 with tension.6347c9c50d9648c8

“My Lady”ebd499e0d27c3d21

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He said, his e93734eb0d dilated pupils reflecting cbdfc71c40 my pale face. He was 8e970f314c struggling to eef7f1ef2b remain composed, f25bfdfd17 his chest c2c07c09cf rising and 437be2932e falling rapidly.41733bf41c8eff24

“Hide in the armory. Do not come out under any circumstances.”b8db8bc3eb8a66c4

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I understood the 3b76a310f4 gravity of the 619ef157a2 situation. If the emperor 4cc674f34b found out that 2280a0d400 Edan had hidden 7cec549c17 a blood pouch, eb890416b7 the consequences would 022ded89a2 be severe.1e595c513d32ed84

“I could slip out before the soldiers enter the mansion—”782b518a267ef201

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But Edan cut me 74cbd0dec8 off, shaking his head d2d8043a13 firmly.9d1edacd8881c905

“It’s too late. If they’ve reached the gate, the imperial knights have already surrounded the back door and the perimeter of the mansion. And… they’ve already arrived. They’re inside.”8f7136d5c8e1f7af

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As soon as he 51e9227330 finished speaking, heavy footsteps be29acb106 echoed through the walls, 3db6d11ed8 reverberating down the hallway.0bbf4ab028db569b

Edan bit his lip. His grip on my shoulders tightened painfully, but I couldn’t show my discomfort. He was clinging to me as if I were his lifeline.b263567afb9ad5eb

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“What about you?” I asked.a03b3685a98f58d7

“Don’t worry about me. I promised to protect you, no matter what.”983b97f4fefd6c9b

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Despite the turmoil in 7a216d7a57 his eyes, he fixed 1e73cf2503 his gaze on mine e57cbe5195 with resolute determination. His loyalty b5b3eda794 as a 72b04c09ef knight shone 65b6aee940 through.e48255d29dff20b9

“Hurry. The armory in my study has a hidden compartment. It’s small, but it might just be enough to hide you. No one would think to look there.”10182f4abf34f998

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Edan pushed me c9bc0ed579 towards the old 5916f4f2de armory in his e0f3158c0d study.f2eb343ba1957a09

The armory was a 295d8e0aff neglected and rusted room, 3bd58bab37 not something anyone would 4bdd9fcb9a think was still in 0fb3bba6e5 use. The wooden door creaked edea73f14c as it opened.cb3767ca80fc0a6b

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The compartment was barely 2bb74779d1 big enough for a 410400b6cd child. Even with f690fc65d7 my slender 4fe949ef25 frame, it 43ed1dfc73 was a 102253fb30 tight fit.15b1b1a760b29488

“I’ll make excuses and if they catch on, I’ll tell them you’re hidden in the annex. When I lead His Majesty out, use the distraction to escape in disguise. The head butler is instructed to help you.”716be4ef47feb4c9

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Edan said this and a651abc364 practically shoved me inside 195d0e3aee the armory.c4a233fc39879bc1

I crouched inside, db2ba56d42 the rusty hinges 44b5979e9a barely holding the a6b8c6746f door shut. The door kept aee22073ae sliding open, forcing d6feb44e2b me to hold ca36a9d33c it shut with a5dbdd1060 my hands.8c4de491d7f0bcd2

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Footsteps grew louder, 36e07ee9bb a mix of 3021e04592 Edan’s and the 6068627886 imperial knights’.b041582b55fbbabd

The steps were 047d440918 getting closer to c7067f6090 the study.67d6e21fa3f2a0e2

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My hands trembled as d4f7d5cb59 I clung to the c9c8a2708e door handle. I didn’t be1b07ba35 want to 17643907b7 close my 8ca111ac9b eyes; I cbdda4e5c5 needed to b3c6c4448c stay alert.ce739c5f061ff2a9

Suddenly, the door de915fb075 burst open.10240ea232b0b19f

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“Where is she f43647755e hiding?”e04733f0d04d5008

The harsh, rapid 3c800d4f52 breathing was unmistakable.3dc7071fb14f88a5

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“I don’t understand what 4c5732c544 you mean.”69a6e1db059c8d0c

Edan replied calmly. His voice was 0a18f4b6ef steady, as if 472af05a6a he truly didn’t 8d33c61fc6 know where I de3f6ae1b0 was.6f9e5b24262f5871

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But Deon wasn’t satisfied. His low, mirthless f2943231b4 laughter filled the 54adf8f95a room, carrying a 6f61ac5c69 chilling undertone.f83c4fa7d491fb22

“Is that so? Then you won’t mind f1ac290f42 if I search the 11b20e3ad1 mansion thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned.”5d5b7dc8a3abb27f

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At Deon’s 6c11ecefb8 command, soldiers 8df20a2541 poured into d775e2b089 the study.7e4b50f907e3d769

 a74f3a6af63de585

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