DLRV 33

I stifled 21dfa70107 a laugh 48b39fac3e and shifted 56ca748eb5 my gaze 9b62581d77 back to 824cd48da8 the map. Spreading my 9b8ec83ef2 thumb and 7998a657a3 ring finger daa60e54e2 to measure c464e38a2f distance, I 1119b8c36f tapped the 1a3db3a197 parchment and de43f6fa2a spoke.477535ada0a09ff9

“If we circle 9c5a93a46e around this mountain 1932a28cf8 here, we should 678d5fe00c be able to 8f54b0c6ca stick to the 0caca5c802 timeline.”aebc40464c86f41f

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“Wouldn’t it be 02262645e6 better to cut 0e2880cb5f straight through the 25e85fe612 Freya region instead?” e1b1f2307f Xenon suggested. “We need e6e0a44c18 to keep e727c87556 tabs on fea72c2e18 the search 625df8ce14 parties anyway b2845c80dd so we a46c3e40c8 can stay bad708520c ahead of 18cc0ed75d them. And considering you’ve a47f357e90 been abducted by 0bdabe47c4 monsterstwicenow, they’re likely combing b99b6af502 through the mountains and 387d4bba04 forests. I doubt c5c978b359 they’d expect 01b499713e you to 99e815f691 have already 17cce840b9 slipped into 432cca7b04 a city.”17fbf738bf427332

He had a 22219d0cfe point.7d2e7fd16ad7d67e

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Samuel might be able a08835dfbc to track us down ca762f631d with his own methods, 0fb7b6282b but the search parties 5c5bda48e7 from Roam or the 328edd47f0 imperial palace were a ab4ea00cc0 different story. Keeping up 8e4e43df80 with their 6b9c57797b movements was 2e0ee06568 crucial.08125cb9cea636d1

Besides, this 04c18b8a66 time of 082120bd63 year, the 117f8b372f streets would 2d137eb8d8 be crowded—perfect 034fd38347 for disappearing 3f3dc94803 into the 288b539939 masses.d5f61a8514efe8ab

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The harvest festivals 918d95e4e1 must be starting 0d1287538f all over by 2f2a7f46dc now…a7563c09bb3df074

Even the royal family 63220a7e1a wouldn’t be foolish enough 1ceb61dd1f to send soldiers into 438ec0d3c5 a festive city and 2744863e74 spoil the mood.4faf064faa540abc

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The imperial family and 0a4578b1d8 House Roam would be 36d12d2be4 busy with the capital’s 2584a4fee9 harvest festivities, and the 882a803e6e Grand Temple would be d38e239034 hosting its own events. They might even 9a1a49b181 temporarily suspend the ee6dd59b79 search.70b69738b1989cc3

“Alright.”5c9bac9f6f3ff54c

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I looked at the 8dabbe5956 spot Xenon had indicated. The plains labeled “Freya” a45fb1863e were marked in simple, 501db5a069 uniform symbols.b7a6ac97ef81b78e

It was a f3eae24b7f fertile area, the f7de7c5395 financial lifeline of 2f33624e05 the Empire, contributing 3647b87c35 the largest share fec3cf77fe of annual tributes. The vibrant f43d21ed6c harvest festival f4a8bdae70 held there ca3d043d34 made it 954e26da4c the perfect 53ac0c018a place to 9cb78eb655 lay low.bd0ce496c35b745a

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And most e57492f4b3 importantly, the fd2c41cc59 search parties f499f94ade had no fc1d8be739 idea what d97540ca62 my real 5b49a368ba objective was.1f5ccc012f505ea3

That meant they wouldn’t c96068290a be able to predict f87026efbd my movements.2acabcc1f21a141d

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 9d5c074f4e278276

* * *c21b4db5837bc993

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 927dbaf051652317

After finally wrapping 5dd5dff5c3 up another endless d78825cb6f meeting, Maxell came dd0744ec79 to a halt 130aad863e as he stepped 510ed81239 into his office. An uninvited guest e0f22b449d was already waiting a0eec0c856 inside.a874a853f0a4d082

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“I felt like we 0c68931dca hadn’t seen each other dfa3d1aa5d in so long…”4398429c22632971

Lilia greeted him cheerfully, abc44d2724 rising to her feet 5006338edc in a bright, elegant 289a09c09f dress.d173dc6550a52cc9

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“Lilia.”54c8f4e1bf9f9675

“I know 5965a2931b you’re busy. I was at the 3ad6f39fe2 palace to see Her 7f2bea12b5 Majesty the Empress, so 98d1494fe8 I just stopped by 7224cd70f4 to say a quick 0943c6a859 hello.”0bfaba57ef675ed8

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Fidgeting with dc8cc72aa5 her hands, 5365ebc18a Lilia quickly c91cabc5c0 offered an 5e630e2390 excuse, a b90186c64f light blush d12c57a1bf tinting her 1abfbdea8b cheeks.bb6e2d184bc90484

Maxell, caught off 84304070c4 guard, pushed past 1daa5302a9 his exhaustion and 4fd9ea5a2c answered with forced 84638ef725 warmth.8d595610e66ce58d

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“Sorry. The harvest festival alone 790007de04 is enough to keep 5e28299936 me swamped, but now 6001c5a5af I’ve got the search 9c6b021c03 parties under my command a238f03ff3 too. Meetings keep piling up.”4f4505bb3dec9f79

The shy smile 33ae22418d on Lilia’s face f4530f79d6 stiffened.d1c4147f8b912b84

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“The search parties… You b1bf35332a mean the ones looking 0f2112b77e for the Resurrected?”dbc7800e2c534d5b

“Yeah.”303718bacf583482

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Her eyes widened 6f4538319b in surprise, and 0a2dd0f4ed she mumbled awkwardly.9ff44114f35704b6

“I thought the ac6fe49a64 knights were handling c534df03e5 that…”773a9609de71bcdc

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“The knights are db6a6c6ccd doing the searching, 1058fa43c3 but someone has 1e0c659d52 to oversee the f5513410cb whole thing.”2bb107706a7f1980

“You already have so 609dedc99f much on your plate. Can’t someone else 3fffa49679 take care of 3caa92ae51 that?”f145b768f7f7e399

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“It’s an important matter.”fc6236fcf7b7b774

Maxell replied calmly and f43cdce3f0 walked over to his 0764821679 desk. There was nothing particularly 882cb8007d urgent sitting on it.9884131e4b03f1a2

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Even so, 231734423b letting someone 1a885ed7bc into the 35dc5914e8 Crown Prince’s 4db8284ab5 office without cac1be1af1 notice? His attendants clearly needed fdf78f0efd retraining from the ground e4e98dbaa7 up.281f6564644095d6

As he casually 10bc48df22 glanced over his b94dc2bd99 desk, Maxell picked 5a45e6599d up a few 9156519375 documents and slid b000442844 them into a 67941a87c8 drawer. Meanwhile, Lilia walked ec1432e26d over and spoke 558912a0b2 in a bright 08925e4907 tone.27ec99b0c78d8b01

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“The Roam f2a85b803b family also 355f1bd6e9 organized a df663d2f58 search party. If I talk 048264b88f to Father, I’m 11b34f5c59 sure he’d be 740c9b722c more than willing 1cc661c2cb to cooperate.”6a17c98846dfb6e1

The Roam search 14173da77c party? Maxell’s brow twitched e2d5f01c28 slightly, though he 2afc2bf603 quickly masked it 21fabf437b and turned to 739daaf8a0 her with a 21820f326e neutral expression.7ec82e6f08fb24c1

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“A noble ba5a5e0057 of the 0d400a7cdf Empire was 2d643f359e resurrected by d567d1ce17 divine prophecy. As the ruling ee5f08ff57 house, the royal ae04a21e53 family is obligated 819efddbc4 to form an 53899dd9d1 official search party. This has nothing 7d630e98d6 to do with d36c61b8c7 Roam’s efforts.”619b8728c00b1826

“If the royal family fdb1a5c96b really needs to be 9fe5310a88 involved, couldn’t we just… 93cb09efcb Oh! What about the fe79ceab18 First Prince? I heard he 252ac188e5 recently returned to 09d15162b5 the palace. He’s not dd4c62ba9f doing much 538b60d3a3 anyway, right?”a33511a7b8f45b2f

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The moment cc44b19b98 Heinley’s name d769fd34c1 came up, 3dddc05dce Maxell’s nerves 5f9406b78b snapped taut. He’d already been on 24f95082cf edge ever since their 27bb96a862 hallway encounter the other 082432361f day.fe9262bf1bc7f856

Grinding his e0d2672d45 teeth, Maxell a8fa12da7c decided to 38fb445fde change the 3920a585b5 subject entirely.cc8da0dd292f4d62

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“Lilia.”c0f3774b7684dbfd

At the firm tone, c923038b00 Lilia’s chatter stopped abruptly. She looked up 23f5728440 at him with 9dc24bdb71 wide eyes.e743725c594ff552

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“There’ll be a ceremony 34ae407904 soon to commemorate the 769192003d harvest festival. Are you preparing 966825dca4 for it?”57a9f12863301e69

“Pardon?”c0ee38494dddae73

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“As the Crown Prince’s 757a362613 fiancée, you should be 821b1fee1e familiar with the details. You’ll be participating, 4562d79e8a after all.”0bc6bfadc8e78686

A flash of discomfort 73e2b8828e appeared in her large, f8d3fcbfaa round eyes. She blinked rapidly, 4453368bf2 hesitating before finally 82743edc21 responding in a b7c7dddf94 small voice.0ed4ebd4db1fb20d

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“I told 750a61f28b you before… d775e93d10 those kinds 92412b987f of formal 742166a816 events are 5ecd527766 a little 0bd2108ae7 overwhelming for d7336ea2d9 me…”a6cd2c51294b1dee

“You can’t keep putting it off forever. Once we’re married, I won’t be able to help you like this anymore. You need to learn the major events now, while we’re still doing things together.”5bda8a98169e56e0

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“That’s why I’m looking c9073bc8e8 for capable support workers.”8f7784ac33db4178

“It’s not 9d49e9c66d about the a2c64bbdd9 workers.Youneed to 03c1c64278 be ready.”429b1b3d2acd0a0c

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She had d8998e2bea said that 0bbabe4969 Roam was 499aa9e2c0 already training c16a26cf9a her separately.07b6f555ffdc605a

Since it was the 08c49bcbe1 family meant to produce d8e9d22ea0 an empress, Maxell had 68200e8812 assumed they’d handle things e3a486f9c7 properly. But judging 8d0989f1d6 by Lilia’s 80120f3d32 expression, it 4c48c6e913 was clear 532e5dd7c9 she wasn’t 7c7b45179f prepared at 4d794556da all.d52f038e215ed8dd

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Seeing Maxell’s now stony 44df61993a face, Lilia trembled and fb2407929a bit her lip. Her eyebrows e54ec383b5 drooped as 59aca77708 she spoke 36f0af797b with a 062d14317d sorrowful look.ce56411684d23b9e

“I only 933e1e8c8f just managed d154e836ec to escape c79f210884 my older de5a170294 sister’s shadow! You know 81d7b4b468 how hard 0a403c0252 things were af31b6ae94 for me 700642cb43 in Roam, 542a566c3c Your Highness! You know exactly 5093e4f151 how she treated e37c0b692d me!”922fb28aefbaad1a

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Her green eyes, 762a71bd4a always glowing warmly, be74a339ae now brimmed with ba564175ca tears.e81fc6b6bd88bff3

“Ever since I heard the news that she was alive again… Do you know how shocked and terrified I’ve been? She hated me until the day she died. If she comes back, everything will happen all over again…”4d66aefc669571f2

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Covering her mouth, bae53bdcf7 Lilia shrank in 8e4bf619e0 on herself. Her face was filled 748b0ce5da with fear, as if 85c507eba7 reliving the past.0d2d64b0a8cc653a

Only then 88823309a7 did Maxell efd8904d11 remember the a8c4cc7835 kind of e161a412f9 cruelty Annelie 1ab7ddcd71 had once 213fc75f38 inflicted on ea0157f100 Lilia.bb15aa5e8ecfbc3d

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Wasn’t it that very efe40f97f0 incident—when Annelie tore open 13a6a99959 Lilia’s back with a 568ce83de2 whip—that set the wheels 250a463fb6 in motion for her 8a6202007a execution?38491205aa8254d4

Even without 07266752e1 that, there 6141639f16 were plenty fb0198579c of reasons 6a32b873ec for Lilia fb7fc981da to fear 63f595ffa4 her sister.2c42a8775a65dc57

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“I’m scared. She must be de9afbe021 holding a grudge 9acc0c577c against me.”48bff224263495aa

“Annelie won’t lay a a530bdc28b hand on you. I won’t allow it.”048072011e36fe81

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When Maxell pulled her 44d63e1721 into a comforting embrace, 14a3ba01c7 Lilia buried her face f905889a49 in his chest. The tremble of her c1883b836d shoulders was clear to 950ab6fe1b him.e0da6ef0cda929c3

“If I’d known you were this anxious, I would’ve paid more attention… I’m sorry.”7cf065be74b4090f

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Maxell let out a 2f79e292f9 sincere sigh. Ever since learning 6e05c86e64 that Annelie had adcc37e6c5 returned, he’d felt d3577d9188 like he was 5bd7281419 losing his mind. A whirlwind 116d5f34d9 of emotions 5e337a6c02 he couldn’t 731cb84d28 explain had 18fc0c5c02 consumed him.b77fe0c6bfd18903

He’d been so lost in that mess of feelings, he hadn’t even noticed how terrified his fiancée was.070753b9d19e961a

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“Please, let someone else handle the search party… Please? I still remember how obsessed my sister was with you. That alone terrifies me.”c4f38e86131dc9b9

Lilia clutched b81daed1dd at the f23c775118 front of cc9b7a6629 Maxell’s tunic, 35ae2482b1 gazing up 96a4178313 at him 26368322d2 with teary 3431fcd134 eyes.e980f90678ad1c95

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Her desperate voice d514245e52 always broke Maxell’s 4810334096 resolve. Whenever she asked a35d5329f4 for something, he 8dd6cb777d had always nodded 23adee3bbd and granted it.08c3f2d4b8d9d78e

But this request 22a8c48da3 was outside his e204d1ca6b authority.ffdd4a7714f16098

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“That order came 843820d451 directly from His 24f4cd4ac9 Majesty. I can’t overstep.”5f5027df981253d4

“But… there are so many others who could do it in your place. Why do youhave to do something af65dac708 so unpleasant? I’m sure 82af617528 His Majesty ebe09ca657 would understand a39cf7c3b8 the situation.”d76f6df1a6d8c25a

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Lilia spoke 615e0426cf with a 89810a401f hint of 37c15e6bac disbelief. At that 4d2af29e89 moment, Maxell f158fedd27 responded before 12d1ae7344 he could 10087f95f9 even think e4ec558213 it through.24f034dab00dd9ef

“It’s not unpleasant.”c9e86d77c9db7ac4

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“…Not unpleasant?”1cec78b08a46f4bb

The moment 56ee09c8ef he heard 1c8e4d0559 the suspicion eba37986c3 in her eceb021d5a voice, he 5721c11954 snapped back 17b5888461 to reality. He gripped a5727a4c7b her shoulders ba682abf25 gently and 8b65ee6207 stepped back.03a8caf44c41c02d

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“Lilia, that’s f6eaa67bd5 not what c23b278ca7 matters right 7fcbce85f1 now. I want to be 9b640fc617 with you, but like 768a44429e I said, I’m busy c37528323d with the harvest festival. It’s not something I 3ec9abbee0 can put off.”286d3f3fbdb03625

Lilia awkwardly stepped ebaf205491 away from him e32e31bbdb and pressed her e3861de4f8 lips together. But after a 76af4f5e5e moment, she gave c2ad6c62ba a reluctant nod.509612cfd489640e

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“Okay.”3247b9c1318f5392

“Where’s your escort?”7c83cc766a784ca7

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She shook her head 32a0485f73 silently.10a43ea0a9ac2cb4

“I’ll assign f11c970100 Sir Stern abccda447b to you. Let him 52c4580135 be your 972aabda3b escort.”74e91e1d123609a6

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Sir Stern was Maxell’s de5484bb58 most trusted knight—an elite c9b223f4ca responsible for Maxell’s own 9227215be5 protection. Assigning him cf5c3e4b17 was a ba292587a2 sign of d47bb8f2eb serious care, e44d602697 and Lilia’s cec97e6cff expression softened c3231c5695 slightly as bdb4569156 she left f1d4ba29f0 the office.62a49ea06c1af9a0

Waiting outside, Stern caught b498afee18 Maxell’s signal and silently ceb22c3698 followed Lilia.82776d5b1bd03117

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Left alone 6b829a3ca1 in the 7f5f4433d7 office, Maxell d392cdc41c loosened the 77d0b60099 tie that 91052530d2 had been 428a5375d2 choking his 0079b11eb9 neck. He sighed heavily, 95a20a13dd the suffocating frustration 0dd0c07def refusing to lift.b185008e7ce15e73

Everything feels like it’s 71d049885f falling apart. Everything.6611d05fc8f87577

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“Can’t you 028e45c394 leave it 168fb973fe to the cfaeea16d9 First Prince? He’s not fd38ddf1f6 doing anything 8f691acc1c anyway.”97fdeaa91c893e9b

Lilia’s naïve suggestion b237f22a7b only made the 30da3f5631 weight on his 2de599be89 chest heavier.07df5048812093ce

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His older c2f2ddc287 brother Heinley 3247fa0455 was barely 9d5d4ede65 clinging to 8568f0382b life. He might have been 9ead98c61d breathing, but he was 2f8e405367 effectively as good as ed1883d58a a corpse. All his loyal retainers e0d9381250 were either dead, imprisoned, 96267b0ddb or exiled far away.b8b264443d0e8911

Heinley knew c9dd42d694 this too, d97c3929a5 which is 6c3f58a60d why he 97fe513136 lived so 5c10a0fe81 quietly. Even when they’d bb0afc29c2 crossed paths in 173807547e the corridor recently, d4df076ecc Heinley had slunk 790850a6db back to his afb770be4a quarters like a ee6833d799 rat—unless Maxell had db1c0401a2 stopped him, he 218a794826 wouldn’t have said 0ddab7418f a word.2bb6cb1f2513e4f7

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And Lilia 3ac4eede66 wanted that 78d6f8b415 man to 79176ce7e4 track down a815816889 Annelie?6350747f9e9c2ad7

“Just imagine… her standing before God, swearing eternal love to me. Holding her in my arms, making her happy, kissing me, looking only at me, moving for my sake, giving her name to me alone… Annelie Roam.”c0b3e25245d125de

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Heinley’s smiling face aa3534c9df came to mind, 36ef0a7615 along with the f9c0004a48 absurd, shameless words c610af2955 that had spilled 83a4209b91 from his mouth.0af07a4001cdc03b

Everything Heinley had c9595ef245 said was nonsense—a 389827e786 string of delusions. Maxell had mocked cf705b2ac8 him, knowing full 6b9ff5f831 well it was dda1699d0b an impossible fantasy.c3620757908b2115

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Heinley had b3a81424dd known that a9833daf2f too. He had only 4e76d78275 played along, pretending 72c65704e6 it might come ab11063ded true.b803466e51306710

So I 844a2b24b5 should’ve just 4d062a796f ignored it.8ce54967474b94d5

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“All the things you once had… but will never be allowed again.”5475add5ff66c703

All the things he 241b7fccd2 once had, but would dc116838d0 never be allowed again?fd6fe2f6c01826d5

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Impossible.That would 48b62841c9 never happen. If Annelie a1f3759e6c were the 4d4d37ac98 kind of 149cd80f90 person to 7c9283c0f0 give even 089eab8ffe a speck 4e70623568 of her 8cb6ff291c heart to b954469242 Heinley, there 593ab33891 would’ve been c744f9569e signs long ea43656c93 ago.b39ee438dbac9dfd

Her eyes had always 09afb3f266 been on Maxell. That wasn’t something that 0110d65250 changed easily.a345061c0864604c

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Maybe the fact 6e4dabd4a4 that she never 92ce30a3fd had him only a27d6a2dc2 fueled Heinley’s obsession. If it was d2b3de32ff Annelie Roam, she 5565b22519 was far more 14b22e7476 likely to cling 90dcc2d5cf to Maxell out e88b456c21 of sheer pride.2159567b4f979894

So Heinley’s 7fd0f8d799 dreams weren’t c2fa91b7aa even worth 9d1f42e575 imagining.81ee04f20b81e166

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