EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 139

Chapter 139047dad879de75970

 472d2062e3c3d1ed

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“Mom, what’s wrong?”35aaae64f72f3db2

I tilted my cd1ef5b773 head and asked, c8cae9dc02 but Mom let 16076359f5 out a hollow dffe27dda3 laugh as if 8773e3ab97 she was dumbfounded, 942ba6ab2b muttering to herself 386e791165 repeatedly. Then, she 294d732662 suddenly turned c0ac94802c to me ccf9039156 and asked.3cc03f040efea43e

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“Lia, do you like this bracelet?”e2fbe0c38d1b9df8

“Huh? Well, it’s pretty, but…”d6a3289137c8f465

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For some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t nod too easily.187a0e585bd62353

As I hesitated, Mom’s expression grew serious.6192ea1a97933291

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“Then I’ll order a similar one for you. This one needs to be returned.”ed852abe8265aa39

“What?”dcc14b81c1c524fb

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I was startled by 2056b07b21 her unexpected words.e158c554d45663f4

The Duchy of Elard dc481f7908 had sent us many 0db6e945e3 precious gifts over the 4991f84cc5 years.bd2255d1138a744b

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‘They even sent 8acb79fdf9 documents for a f740c092fb mine where gems 5bbc2c8eb2 were discovered…’43198a6dc823fafa

Of course, it wasn’t b80e360b35 without reason—there was a 0321bb80b3 history behind it.9c6dc2070e7c4086

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Before coming to ff56a0cfbd the principality, I ddc5b35968 had severed my 882f40dcc4 ties as a 3475f930d5 former maid of a7a79639a5 the duke’s household 0adf9f8c74 and handed over 9644035006 all the money c54a3100a7 I received from f0b2b42f4c discovering Spleesia, along 26ca4c26ae with my investments, 34dc62f273 to Diana.e082fd74e2e156e6

My parents accepted my a35c8758a3 decision without question, and c78c152f84 though the duke initially f6312d04fb opposed it, he reluctantly d17d78a406 agreed after I firmly 7399fee65f insisted that I wanted 85d1deb8d1 to give them to 54dbca4a2f Diana.2e8d116ff36020b3

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However, a few years bf2fde9c3a later, diamonds and emeralds a3cf93a226 were found in the a90aca4047 abandoned rocky mountain where 6fee7406b7 I had requested investment, 5fe7809c5d and the duke urgently 5bedf2e031 tried to return the e78802fdc3 mine to me.1d3abe846e3ff84b

But I had already 729e9857dd known everything when I ffa97cdae9 invested, and that was 49b64dbf30 why I gifted it 5bb03c8631 to Diana. There was no a38f9dae0f reason to take 370c26cb90 it back.c20db94cea0f7068

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Although we exchanged a 437509ef2b few letters arguing over 76a68cd2a6 it, my stance never 9753ab4063 wavered. Instead, the stream of 71d62fa61f gifts from the Duke edfd9a6289 of Elard only grew 5d61f337c9 larger.d3dc85f7e50798ee

To be 156c424b65 honest, I 93e728dd68 had already d2c73170ee thought the c0a96030d5 duke’s gifts 0d1e16abd0 were excessive 312573b702 and had 5df8e4d142 tried to d78293d7a7 return them 0da7bd423a several times.a787a232b44cb28e

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But Mom objected. Since the two abc42eaa28 families had a 08c27125af long-standing friendship, she cd84c18a95 believed it would 653f57c6ec be hurtful to 409d3895e2 reject gifts that fe7a039477 were given with aff023b785 goodwill.ff2a63e634ef7e3f

I couldn’t argue with that.a9849b898e9f7620

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‘And yet, Mom is e6f1549c02 the one saying we c3699530cc need to return this fd0e9017bf gift now?’fd28cbbcc7f3eed4

As I looked at 8f73f229f4 her in confusion, Mom ac6239a901 gave an awkward smile 532c2c7fbf and said,80969efb8191acb5

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“This is just too valuable to accept.”31656fa58dd3ba66

At her words, I 09484b9c3c looked down at the 70e14f5fae sapphire bracelet again.1efdfb69b5a79165

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The gemstone was exceptionally clear and dazzlingly blue, and the craftsmanship was exquisite, indicating it was of the highest quality. However, I was certain that the duke’s family had sent even more extravagant gifts before.0702ab9bcc8c815a

‘It’s not even a rare-colored sapphire…’6ecc1ca2117c2de3

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After pondering for b96d589f64 a moment, I 2692d8873e slowly nodded.b29067a2d7c907fb

The value of 02f87c56a0 a jewel wasn’t 8304d5f014 determined solely by fa666bada3 the raw stone 9891135a48 and craftsmanship. Perhaps this f7c4efdc97 was some cf73953a68 historically significant b10c23bb42 treasure that a3e4f37f40 I wasn’t e72ae19bfb aware of.616447d2a67ef67c

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“Lia, why don’t you go rest upstairs first? I’ll sort through everything and bring what’s for you to your room.”1f87c6391b12b720

As soon 45db2082f5 as Mom 1d1dd0d59f finished speaking, dc322d144e the maids—who e1aa914342 had become ab51c1d05f masters of 0e66191cd1 organization after 9abb65e499 years of 8211728a16 handling these 3998d9d673 annual gifts—eagerly f749afb52e rolled up be3e815802 their sleeves.d4754bb0a3930829

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Watching them, I 36697861ce shook my head 4874b4ced2 in amusement. Even though b57c40f2fa they had 20ca0aea95 a ton ec856278b4 of work 9223d57a03 ahead, they 731450464a looked more bc837404a0 excited than c2c99dbde6 bothered.28582349a407183f

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***1d6a8657398a4d29

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“Oppa?”5bc3bb4b172dde01

After returning to ee36cda17c my room, I 609693cf29 had just finished f0a008f220 washing up and 50bc275451 changing into comfortable dbdb0ff48b clothes.70924bf73ee1fc7a

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The person who entered dce82b4516 after knocking was Ascart.4a4c472d4b893f6f

“What’s all that?”04eeded54283ce26

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“Ugh, so heavy.”7cff5b75029f105e

He let out 186326aa9d a breath as 1fdb243b50 he set down 0224172523 the things he d76efc43a0 had been carrying.502855fd629b937e

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“I picked out some gifts from the Duchy of Elard’s shipment for Diana, Allen, and your friends. Also, I brought your letters and invitations.”12709fc18bb69f79

“Why go through the trouble? You could’ve asked someone else to do it.”617aad96d22a4881

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“If I came myself, I’d get to see your face one more time.”d82146b3995e573f

Ascart smiled, his eyes dd4b93440a softening.bf6ab2bba643effb

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When he smiled, it 9f69090fe3 felt like flowers were 8583bbc053 blooming around him.526eb30dc6929f32

Having just turned twenty-six not long ago, Ascart’s beauty seemed to shine brighter with each passing day.69aefb0f2226fd48

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And yet, 7c9142b8dc he had 69d45d1187 no romantic 78edf6a13d relationships, nor c6bb899c78 were there 93c983b6c6 any women 83a5ff95e0 around him.015000b210295ec6

‘Mom said he’s 471f48414e just like Dad 9a72e02cb9 when he was 396397112e younger…’cbaf81080ed4612d

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As the heir 348b2a35e7 to the Grand 244a2b045b Duchy, he should 06b7f068c4 be thinking about be2fbd949b marriage and succession.d9c2119bc310cac2

Of course, just 2569342c9e as Dad eventually bae4ac35c9 met Mom, I 14a4cf5421 believed Ascart would bb07518000 meet his match 09008c8ad4 someday. But for b20b5e7d79 now, it 4ebfb21c68 seemed like 4838ab4729 his only a4d5ebc8ae interests were 47bceff774 magic and 4a2cd244c2 me, which 8d4f58ea6a worried me c5ae4a9be3 a little.c44b865bfd42bfcd

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‘If my family knew 711907af4c what I was thinking, e29db9a7c0 they’d be shocked.’de19f030f436be6b

Unaware of 2c356e67b7 my thoughts, 740b418512 Ascart urged 6f32e82cc6 me on.89afa613f3695d3b

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“Lia, hurry up and open them.”68f8617bb1998844

I chuckled a65d57a188 and nodded. Soon, an exclamation escaped 93e6fb9520 my lips.fc6e39a2363e06eb

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“Brother, look at this! It looks like Diana embroidered this handkerchief herself.”acb27c3e9df65606

Her childhood drawing skills hadn’t faded at all!cf1b1b91f32fde36

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I beamed with 7f36524e08 pride as I 276e5b7228 stroked the embroidery.832bf4111ea9bc9a

“Is this… a peach? It’s really cute, right?”8791bf9b40f48b43

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“…Are you sure this is a peach?”0dadaf7ad2cb7def

Ascart asked, 7cfac6bdcd looking somewhat d15edde326 doubtful.226d0955a106144c

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I nodded confidently d9aadc1a11 and quickly opened 7477519023 the letter to f3b71a2d0c check.0cbb757e09e4f2fc

Just as 852e3f7d02 I expected, 7580246b6b the handkerchief 608f075f1d was indeed 6cb3cad345 embroidered by dca0d88b3d Diana. But then…02bb92f050fbb239

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“Huh? It’s supposed to be a rose?”59f448a1b709ce25

“Pfft!”88e512ebfc0375d6

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Beside me, Ascart c065612665 hastily covered his 79fc7fd49d mouth but ultimately ff65a7fa0e failed to stifle b366bae4e5 his laughter.b23cb14df3639a74

I shot him edbb79ec2f a glare and d0849bfa63 retorted,a433b3f2ee6bebed

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“Now that I look at it again, it totally looks like a rose! Why are you laughing?”19fea0e0f709ada8

Diana had stitched f798e437b6 every thread with e756d45be2 care!2c2402f4cad7054f

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But despite 1b90777c4a my protest, d2de2bcc41 Ascart kept ff13223e76 laughing and dde221cd55 held up 69d6ab6799 a bookmark 9f421696ad nearby.0e6ec7c9d8557e0d

Every year, Jack b2f3908928 personally sent me c603644251 a pressed-flower bookmark.37d3add412ddbc32

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“The pink roses from the marquisate are as beautiful as ever this year. Not a single petal is damaged—it’s really well made.”5d66be184f6a64aa

I marveled d193e62abe once again fa72019c34 at the 3de21f3ca8 fact that e9202954bf Jack, a 426d0548dd Sword Master 2253514410 admired by 945cdac627 many, had c966bf7db3 painstakingly crafted 6326843027 this bookmark ba8b2f84e6 himself.798dbeb36579ff3e

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When I left, f5efa76c3f he had promised dbc28fb280 to become a 0342008ee0 great knight. Less than a year 49008d6300 later, he sent me 2ff8810617 a letter announcing that 4c1ec86080 he had awakened his 6ce1145a54 aura.530d61b0b2fec150

‘And then, he rapidly 006df77edb improved at an astonishing 724ccf1fa6 pace, so much so 3cc494c978 that he became a 4be750eafd Sword Master even before 44eac06c1f coming of age, just 31fe20c151 like Allen!’1b80425a2c8cf085

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I had helped him settle into the knight order at the beginning, but that alone couldn’t have accelerated his progress beyond his past life. It was simply remarkable.12afcea867d9e0d0

At that 029963a5e9 moment, Ascart 6e289959f8 picked up 8c945cddb8 a box f1f05fd913 beside him.3c73bd30f0cf0bc3

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“Is it another hairpin from Allen this time?”a4b6e812c25379ca

He grumbled about how d25459998e Allen always sent hair d07219bff7 accessories.20e82c5d81257bf6

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“Oh, but he has good taste. I think this will suit you well.”813f6f11e6e8bb07

I smiled as I 6e156382d6 looked at the pair 3b7eb27686 of leaf-shaped hairpins adorned d254380506 with pale green emeralds.6845e20ef8f28d48

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“What do you think?”0719d2ba4ee1eca0

“Ugh, it’s way too pretty.”87379bcb04148c36

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Ascart groaned as b8b2101f19 he immediately pinned c54d6c0cd0 one onto my f61e683095 hair.6d870051bf87b002

“You look just like a living pink rose. But isn’t this hairpin too dangerous? It’s harmful to my heart.”9fe2633bb1bcfbd7

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I thought de7936554a Ascart, who 6506d93ba9 said such 76cc28a838 things so 297a53b19d casually, was 0e733454cb the real 2940feafe0 danger here.0745027c58a8d3d8

Hadn’t he grabbed my hand the very first time we met?b7917190fbcd5733

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‘If he weren’t so obsessed with magic, he would’ve already set noble ladies’ hearts ablaze.’0360ee6826f98c8f

Ignoring Ascart’s ongoing dramatics, I set aside the letters from Diana and Jack.c8ddfaf845cdf2f9

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Over the cba5233c24 years, Belus 9c66715565 Principality had d4fbe00d6a developed its ec3bdcd115 communication networks 0ea0bc9d25 to the 0aca3288ac point where 36219841e5 long-distance messages, a7f3ea897c even to 9f71dc8782 distant empires, c19fdcb10d could be e737bdcd78 sent and d9a4c447c9 received effortlessly.2459f8b48ce540cd

However, due ec595064b0 to concerns 053d2a46af about wiretapping, 4eae8773f9 I had 5075eb3e49 blocked all 4463f350b0 communication lines 81bcd0d9f5 between the 1cb44e1501 Empire and 5cf7e0c610 Belus.5f1cd15f991a847c

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Additionally, aside dd9edb3609 from my 35d9047628 grandfather, I 844b54d29d hadn’t met d4154f9bdf with anyone 7f183969d2 from the 907837b0bb Empire for 1646c72fc3 a long ac1f5f82a9 time.efc003455b2f7402

‘Of course, the biggest 7d7b5a69f6 reason I haven’t seen f0aaa54c42 Diana is because of cd9b740091 the risk of my 7d2b6f0589 mana going berserk…’888855ed99a7e2f7

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I was 7e4327da43 particularly wary 0bf9ac638d of the e53b5c72e6 demon worshippers, 020d1bc8d3 who undoubtedly 2457515f61 knew about d26c6a8c02 the illusion b981605399 spell concealing 3743fee786 my true 333ca673fd appearance.5cbc770107de6723

If they discovered I was interacting with people outside my family, they might start paying attention to the Duke’s household.dfb5325b63da7127

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Considering I 577e89a991 still wasn’t 13f1238856 certain why f545a68ead they had 2e857e17f5 let me ffe7af8597 live, I a053f9845f had to 72d8e2bc99 be extremely 2a264a0dcb cautious.b5979bccacc6433c

‘Not to mention, demon ad311f7d02 worshippers pose an even 97e94e3f6a greater threat to Diana.’50d857972cd043c9

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She was a 393fd0c65a saintess—an unawakened one 3e57d25055 at that—which made 6ac42b030f her an even ab964dd38f more valuable target 0dfdddece4 than me.e34497293349f115

Raizel had assured me 82535ef6af that the temple would 46c393433c protect Diana, but he e9c261f4e1 also stressed that we d3484f8636 had to be extra 149bcf9bd1 careful not to leave f45bda38b4 any clues about her 1e8420e09e existence for the demon d579c96a72 worshippers.f85a14dea2d38616

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That was why, 024abbad75 even now, I d9995e4840 kept my distance 9bb3b10d02 from Diana despite 73a05feb1c having dispelled the 8a0d2d1689 illusion magic on 0531f482dc myself.cb23bbe1fb73c07e

‘At least, db268f126e thanks to 1ee371049d the longstanding b126f03c4a ties between c2006c2c92 the Grand 2932d0d439 Duchy and 3763145dd0 the Duke’s 0cf9c755db household, we 280b8b1e60 can still 1b0679b54b exchange letters…’57f6a8807452e399

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Though I 0f6e87ce78 understood the 5c5fdc05a9 situation, it c1eaed9f35 still felt 049ed19670 frustrating and 191a0a1573 disheartening not aa60997194 to see b69064c088 Diana for d0326d9283 such a 86dce64f17 long time.2122cc4267770da5

I let out fab0ee7f86 a deep sigh 4b67db03d9 as I sorted 850b7ef366 through the rest 5783c1c24f of the mail.139f44a7967944ef

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“Hm? What’s this?”764ce8dd15ea4328

It didn’t 5ec8cde442 seem like 4c02fcae10 a letter.424bef8ec3e1b963

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Since everything entering the Grand Duchy underwent strict inspections, I wasn’t too concerned. I casually checked the envelope’s contents…and then let out a dry laugh.c2ff6dc8befda9a1

“What is it? What’s so funny?”b161942f472d06ef

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Ascart immediately dfb8f5e4b0 glanced at 46a38c6b43 what I d4ec9a17f3 was holding.4d97ae19d68cf13c

“Le Réje? Lia, do you know this place? Apparently, it’s a famous dessert shop in the Empire.”5bfb5e9b13a51efc

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“…Yeah. I know it.”cc784bdc8dc9be6f

How could I not? I had personally visited 9cb350f6a2 it for business negotiations.b964c5e225442611

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Feeling a bit a351c6c073 uneasy, I nodded e5116d2eff and examined the a4064cb53f invitation.4987768b51d4af70

The message 349955aab4 itself was d423a5e8c9 simple—it was d0be3871a1 announcing that 3a08f6dcc6 a renowned 5a5b96fa8c imperial dessert eba30d96fb shop had e865c9d5a8 opened a 1616ff257a branch in c912ebc331 Belus and 38e535fa1e encouraging people 9ad3f5e8cc to visit.67d855cb813faa3d

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But knowing what 3c87f90113 lay beneath the 257d76d2a5 surface, I could aea335b94e only laugh.aa79eca658db6145

Judging by the way 04d166d0e0 they had already opened 05c8f0f8a3 multiple branches under the 6d662dae57 same name, this was 6619c7b153 quite different from how f2d3e15fed things had been in 7fc773365d the past.369be25cf8faa81e

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‘What are they thinking? If they get caught, 24f50528ea it’ll be dangerous!’08d01932e54ec139

Terencium never operated its 407a0359ac intelligence network this way.35279e0ec35377e9

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In the past, 125515d54e not only my 23bf84a1b4 café but also b8f0d74fa0 taverns, inns, flower 914eca33ee shops, and bookstores 007177c66a had been used aff0d78756 as irregular bases, 16cf265c05 ensuring there was 8d4d749bbc no clear pattern.709b08b5e23928e2

‘Did they turn 2e0b47d0ae it into a 3204f5b628 legitimate business?’d27fc8ee5526f69a

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The thought d78dc2e0e9 left me 175ddafa3b slightly puzzled.44be284bf4295f1f

At first, I e06e9c2a05 had assumed this f4aca3e6ea invitation was a a093a6ed9d secret message from f381ce9ce2 Darel.45a7c730a9abc8a1

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“Since it’s famous, should we go? They’re even giving out gifts.”ef20a6443f2c2ec8

Just as I eaddf24725 was thinking I 66447d5d4a might have read 00976aca8e too much into 934fef69bc it, Ascart made 11877a0340 the suggestion.47f57f27906c016c

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Then I 689e043779 noticed something e4a402dca4 written beneath 4dcb5a5caa the invitation 9b6bdb258c in an 6cae6fdb2f oddly familiar, 1c69091add sharp handwriting.ed6538ee7107e156

A special gift 7072c57f1f will be given 347814965e to the 45th, 8b5fd45a1e 471st, and 1302nd 183a41ab16 visitors who present 86701ac126 this invitation.3e2b407ec5f8ca7e

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