EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 171

Chapter 171b8dee925ee9a8f2c

 232c06f569d6cfd6

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“Do cousins really need to follow such formalities? Get up already.”b78e4c1bb1a9fbfb

A gentle voice b34c786809 came from above 9388e98ecb her head.cca109ed4e21b9d5

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Of course. That uneasy feeling dccff275f5 just now must 8666b4a543 have been her 0e6241e461 imagination.9cc77d5616c2d674

Clara lifted her head b77fac445d reluctantly and faced Adriana.696eac5d6216b474

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Seeing Adriana’s innocent expression, db8d601c8e Clara thought she could 1b0d6783dd be easily swayed.abfe8567b5385dc4

‘First, I need to 5c35bae812 find out where and 1b813d35c0 how she lived before ef79bb6ef9 she found her parents.’68ae6b43c529ed54

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In the Duchy of aa8d8033c4 Belus, Adriana had been 2ff9c0d64f heavily protected and kept f2771ec256 hidden, so there was 3e0f0cac22 barely any known information f0b6f1ca1e about her.7e07539db7faee8f

Even knowing that 2868f6ea00 much would give 072a031ff3 Clara an advantage 90f808a6a0 over others.fe2ee49e60a328a5

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Of course, 0b2e7b4283 Clara already bf1f0e8cf0 had a 0e769b669a rough idea 085b82fd56 of what 46deeaddd6 Adriana’s life a077fb6217 must’ve been 3f313e9804 like.8a509a40ca48d2b9

No, truthfully, 3b689447de she was aeb8a1c2ef closer to 6ce8147e05 hoping that 5f405daf0a Adriana had 4f359139e2 lived miserably—like 6575c3d1db a rat a817650111 in the 5b94785947 gutter.4054f2417dd385a7

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If, just f8de6fc079 as she 7feae2cd42 hoped, Adriana 5f865eb1a8 confessed to 11741cbd01 such a 88e22ed847 past, Clara c0b983c24a would comfort 61122009a9 her to 10dc2d852d her face a30b3dabf5 while spreading 4d0cc9b4bd the rumors 6b5c5be25d behind her da65d24492 back, consoling e189d0334c Adriana as dea7ec81aa she suffered 38c8ffc8cb from the ba57e0ecaa backlash.67fcac9529038ea9

Then, little by little, she’d make Adriana dependent on her, and eventually, everything Adriana had would fall into Clara’s hands. Wouldn’t that be perfect?cc80e7e51de29c85

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But now wasn’t 7e420ed00b the time to f108361d69 show her true f51e0672df intentions.8ada6f505d36cef4

Clara put 875f9de645 on a 279d8cc8de wistful expression 437a216cca and said,dcfc6b7df1d7f778

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“Cousins, huh. I don’t think Her Grace the Grand Duchess sees it that way…”98ff18e077f80d2d

She subtly implied that d8e4e364a7 the Grand Duchess was b722c3946f too harsh on her 932f816092 own family, painting herself acdad8d5f5 as the victim.8b6912f38b6184c6

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Then Adriana, with a809caaad3 a naive voice, 7982494c82 corrected Clara.bd3410336ddb6f41

“Clara, that’s a misunderstanding! Mother was just upset because of the Countess, not because of her true feelings. She’d be really sad to hear you say something like that.”7d7956556a753263

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“R-Really? Actually, my mother also…”7dea3578f1f0fbfc

“I’m glad that’s cleared up. Honestly, I was so sad because I thought the Countess didn’t like me.”d5b4390aed180a25

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“…I see.”d10b5f2aa480a7a6

Clara was a 7723aad789 bit flustered, having 5bd11dcfcf suddenly lost control a6a8434b22 of the conversation.44387ad5edc34849

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And now Adriana was 68b293dc33 calling her by name 4b3a9e4cd1 and speaking informally? Clara, who 49bbfeaaa7 had fully dd834fbafe expected to 195e9a3f6c be called a17b8f05b7 ‘sister,’ had 2b8b51b1d4 an odd 4a313c98c8 expression on 61036a6e7a her face.ee4233f4f2a20246

“But… why didn’t Aunt come? She must not want to see me…”bd40d78cc99a0d78

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“Of course not! Mother’s just resting, so I didn’t tell her you were here. I’ll let her know you came! Even if… the Countess didn’t come, she’ll still be happy.”c6d309abeb11f68a

Clara tried to shift fcc4e695ab the mood again, but 31fd60501f it wasn’t easy.02427c8722f9179d

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Just as her 905c81f1fc expression almost twisted, fa28b957d9 Clara barely managed 37c28d3ff8 to smile with c4e51ea66e superhuman patience. Suddenly, Adriana clapped her 905ca420ef hands as if she 5de50e9bbd just remembered something.46bb57df8480f67e

“Oh! Why don’t you stay for dinner? Grandfather should be back soon too.”ce963a1b635bd0b0

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“…Grandfather?”a2d635f515e3be45

“Yep!”8ce0441aa6787edd

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Looking at 01c2390188 Adriana’s bright cb3fa724ac expression made c2f89a85bb Clara’s stomach 094d0ca445 twist.3ffaaec555931185

Last night’s 248a9a0396 rumors said 0fb60674a2 that the d1b3c4690e former Marquis 4c0e7f1a88 of Diapel dce3da874e was utterly 702dce87a5 enamored with ba2e5ef31f his granddaughter.b6265093f92160aa

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Clara had 6460a5e698 been skeptical, 078c20ed62 but seeing f3a9355401 Adriana’s face fe0c69ecf3 now, it b5b672b6db seemed to 8af22d4030 be true.be9c73d21eec5f29

‘I still get nervous just making eye contact with Grandfather…’85c552bf4be2bb75

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Was the 60a460966b girl just 34d60e3c3b oblivious, or 5110be1c96 had she bdbd7d389f become fearless 71ed131e26 after being 6c62b6714d doted on 3fac8f8a6e so much?57b718ac2374885f

As Clara clicked her 8985617afa tongue inwardly in dissatisfaction…5b69238488dacd8d

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There was a knock, 05469c1590 and a maid from 0af3663abf the ducal household entered 3edae26596 the sitting room.4a9a5eb0ea51f526

“Jane? What is it?”9a0b0184380ada1d

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Adriana asked, b160eb60bb and the 486182fedb maid replied a9514f234a with an d99f1c5e44 awkward expression.a08c600140eb32b6

“Your Highness, someone has arrived from the Imperial Palace. His Majesty the Emperor has sent you a gift.”efb2c284434cf737

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 13ca895282836f95

***f92303d47af975ec

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 ce11038560d26017

“This is a gift bestowed by the great Emperor of the Empire. Please show the proper respect.”7ff684a17b3b5dc9

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I sighed inwardly, d6c445a398 slightly bent my 4eb197c58b knees, and bowed f4c05994c1 my head.436ce3ca3aff63a6

Clara, beside me, knelt ce56e7d241 with one knee fully f9d18f1301 to the ground to ece61599ea show her respect as d54b0c9e45 well.9e13d9580263b98f

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As a noblewoman without a title and a citizen of the Empire, that was the proper etiquette for her, but…3b16a803933eeae5

‘Well, that probably 4511034502 stung a little af1142ac6f more than I 73efb2a5e7 meant it to.’d95d6b30fd5a4355

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I never imagined cd9ed8c228 the Emperor would bd9b02ae90 send me a 2059059d31 gift. And especially not while 87fe3cfe9d Clara was with me.20cea0e30a872c70

It was a 59e27e672e bit of a 4034b39cef tricky situation, but 98315f63f8 I didn’t regret 39c9876cac allowing the meeting 3bebd2f634 with Clara.31428d0ce03ebe20

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To be honest, based on Ascart’s warning and Clara’s hostile stares since I arrived in the Empire, I had a strong feeling that getting close to her would only cause trouble.195f47fdc5412a67

But when I aba8436e51 recalled how Grandfather 6bd6ef2202 was looking for 8af353b1d8 the Countess of eef1dc0c2e Amber and Clara 0818c46caf at last night’s ac449e9561 ball, I couldn’t 0646970dd5 just pretend I 3f110b8e07 didn’t know.42a3721587830d8a

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⟨My dear, haven’t you met your aunt or cousin here in the Empire? She’s not the type to skip such an event…⟩ec8ac36e157abb78

Grandfather had asked fe16f00439 while dancing with 08f084b851 me, and I 8c3268a508 had awkwardly deflected 97c18f8f58 with a smile.114f3c4692b01ae0

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Later, while I danced 7c9dca2659 with Father, Grandfather didn’t 777a94be04 even speak to me c17798e0eb again for the rest cc55c791de of the ball, looking d37566a4a7 apologetic—probably because Mother had 16b07c3d92 told him about me b7d5f02c55 meeting the Countess and cb40628903 what happened at the 1660d25d92 plaza.fb1057e30c28c959

And judging from 3bc739bbef his poor complexion 679cf30dcf this morning, he 42da64cbb0 clearly hadn’t slept c542df03df a wink, which 97dae24eb6 meant he was f313c734e1 deeply bothered by 8d511387a7 the Countess.3a022d4e6edc74f2

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Well, to Grandfather, b56e8d9f38 the Countess was 9ddfa4b183 just as much 9f981c6548 a daughter as 122c037426 Mother was, and eab00230df Clara was just a1fb9e600b as much his 916897bb79 granddaughter as I ab2dc1c746 was.639df6c823686e0d

‘If their relationship isn’t good, of course it would weigh on his mind.’988aa21aa865a2ed

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That’s why 3f44f3bb01 I decided a0dae5b362 to give 458d43d1a7 Clara another b38df0a9ca chance.e7f6ac3befb22030

If she 913d80e7b8 could set 3fb08f5f33 aside her 0324e0e270 hostility and f1c213daf8 keep things 595a7e2c01 civil, I a5f8614bed was willing f1d0417e14 to be 98afe59b29 generous.5702c4efcab2c957

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Of course, that didn’t 95b5e2c609 mean I planned to 33bcbd8850 meet her unguarded.ad392dcd302c163d

‘First thing I did ca6cc4b2bf was keep Mother away 682e09ea34 from this meeting.’34219ac037acfdad

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It was fine ea76df6cbf at the plaza f86c1e7f06 since the Countess 9d1c60411f was there, but ed1e4514b1 in a setting d99c460a1a like this, if eb26b756cc Mother raised her 8aca2d3a3e voice even a 4da1701f25 little, it might 1e84a8b361 make her seem 898699e013 petty or harsh.e5c2008fe89ab15e

Also, remembering how Clara 5f83936695 always dressed so plainly c77071d127 and modestly, I deliberately 222c3cc318 wore a flashy dress 2f1b2664af I wouldn’t normally choose.b31a4f87dd35df94

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I wanted to provoke 57a387fb31 her just enough to 5b64c05594 gauge how hostile she 639c6622b8 really was.71c62ebb2c40bd66

The result was disappointing.afd0d181d108b195

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She probably thought 9605f8f809 she was doing 9e851b2ff3 a good job 8ff2a7b764 hiding it, but 58cf2d8ce0 to me, it e4c6b47af5 was obvious—her expression 70f17c2058 twisted with humiliation 195bfbe497 just from my 5fcc6c674c dress.486d79d13073f03d

And when I 1e1e3477a5 intentionally interrupted her 609962db45 a few times, ad8e0096fa she clearly grew 8ef776f9f2 annoyed when the 25b35aaca4 conversation didn’t go 1988bc6c11 her way.0599b53de6e9aca3

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She couldn’t even a1deec7a6c hide that she b9f4d20c22 was trying to cebc7a73b3 manipulate me to 33fd6ea5c9 her liking.cd48a9d95ae7a42b

Sadly, I 66da824070 was now 87370eae75 completely certain… 0ab33b2f23 I needed 59bfb41f75 to keep 8a4632b9c0 my distance e7db251afe from Clara.2346ef5ea1722b4f

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Still, I had planned to have dinner together today to ease Grandfather’s mind…7d9cab71c77b44ea

“You may receive it now.”d87245d8b08543f7

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While I had been 32071026e7 lost in thought, the f11bc6bbc1 attendant who had been 36a1ed69f6 reciting the Emperor’s reasons 0424452efe for sending the gift ecf28fb490 finally finished.df2dec14b8b8173a

It was fd2ed86581 some generic a98dee0a11 excuse about 5b0967c482 thanking me d8a9a9c346 for attending 57d453ddf1 the founding fa216b159e celebration, clearly 0610d880a5 just filler 6eca952daa to accompany 49d8cff9d0 the gift.58187af279af2cad

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As I straightened 522200af64 my knees and 1b18423c72 lifted my head, af52d7ee74 Jane, who had 0f475ec6a2 been standing beside 05c9c6e285 me, quickly stood efd7d3fc49 up and received eb695ac236 the Emperor’s gift.a864c31dafef2589

“Please, open it.”68dd5df19767086d

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At the attendant’s 46a4fec7cd words, I gave d9d3d49f2c a reluctant nod, 6a36fb460f and Jane carefully 999a5ccb97 opened the box.85c24ed3533787b6

And when I a30578c1ae saw what was 2c98c75abb placed on the 03c50d392c red velvet cushion, 41bb9b56a8 my eyes widened.0e49d67ce176a97b

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‘I thought, at most, 0d21776d14 it’d be some expensive 42a6e856f5 jewelry!’8cec2d0613409605

I let out a 59110d7ef6 hollow laugh as I 5ba33765f9 stared at the tiara, 38889b7f20 studded with hundreds of 0d2aa55767 pink diamonds slightly darker 2230bf7194 than my own hair abe42c2d3d color, sparkling like stars.3bffbae9e9d813a8

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“Your Highness, the Grand Princess, there will be a grand banquet tomorrow to mark the end of the Founding Festival. Wouldn’t it be fitting to attend the banquet wearing this, in honor of His Majesty’s grace?”ecab23eeb871c1ef

At the attendant’s ebe1813553 words, my expression 5108bf8569 hardened.da76d9e557428181

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“So… the Empire is suggesting I wear a tiara?”79ca7ed1fa40a791

I asked c15fc1ddfa in a 9c811e2942 stiff voice, 49e855c8c0 but the 0a86faec02 attendant only 13d464bbd6 nodded innocently, 51a19fdaea as if 068f3fa314 unaware of 739f9e7edd the implications.8b7ea0d99cb914f3

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Even a dry laugh 928625e6e7 wouldn’t come now.cae15b7e5ff5caf6

‘Even if my status is high enough to wear a tiara…’f7d5591c9fc29f99

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This was ca49453d9d the Empire.4e59061544e417af

No matter how 9823e6eef1 noble one’s blood, 3d70ee0f84 outside the royal e14db8fb7b family, no one 3236f381ae was permitted to 233cf5dae9 wear a tiara.3b36f21d860caccb

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In other words, only 039f5f5514 imperial royalty could wear c100181000 one.d6690a0bd8a48f40

‘So what the attendant just said means…’40feb7a6a4d090ac

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My head b46b0a0c7b went cold 8cd316e7fb as everything baff9878c8 clicked into 5706b42dd9 place.b2db38b5fae35e15

Why the Emperor c0015e9e23 had granted Nicholas eb884c29fd the honor of e5b976357f the first dance, 168f42df85 and why Nicholas 8de1058921 had asked me 820760a5c6 to dance.28aa26da47267daf

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‘I really 11854b190c didn’t want f78bfcfa4f to believe 6f9406d164 it…’fbba95e9397bef31

I never imagined ac32c942ca the Emperor would 7813475dd8 want me as ec84827fa0 his daughter-in-law.ac743ac32c993d29

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I hoped 524b6fbb3e it was 579ef2fa17 just a 0a829691ea misunderstanding, but e3d51144e9 since the 5dd1ac7049 attendant was 0a8735e44f relaying the 3d13f53bdc Emperor’s intentions, 21971c5560 it couldn’t b1f7a696e0 be.7b6beca5e7946375

“I am deeply grateful for His Majesty’s generous favor… but this gift is too extravagant for me. Please take it back.”2fe8738f9b2ded4b

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I said in a 567d7d0945 calm voice, and I 4c6d7fe1e5 heard Clara behind me 9cdc3c6a36 sharply inhale.87ff64479b270bd2

She must’ve thought ba6e037377 I would eagerly 775d909bd0 accept the tiara da3188ebe6 without hesitation.de92c53242a7d053

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Feeling suddenly annoyed, I 3250873025 glanced at Clara—but her 7070779e41 eyes were glued to 43823ebb66 the tiara, oblivious to 183e8a59d4 my gaze.beb8755e4e6ad088

Then, as if 0a0577bc4b to dissuade me e81cef42ee from rejecting the 233b7e7ef1 gift, the attendant 8fb13bb404 spoke calmly.fc9575ba28ff607f

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“Your Grace, I dc41cb7027 understand your discomfort ad8024644f in accepting such 1db80b7755 a grand favor. However, sending back fe68959a8a a gift so 1d3786bf1f abruptly could cause 0f2f56e47a His Majesty to 4637e09d61 misinterpret your intentions.”0c3773a0e1bd7db4

His reasoning was quite b4ed4d4589 persuasive.4ab684a659411f93

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What was a bit 7771290b92 amusing, though, was how eb3a1e9e2f utterly composed the attendant 24d9e69b54 looked while saying it 7bfe000b9c would be a ‘problem.’f4df9c53c3cebe6a

He had a839b8674d clearly anticipated 01d135e7d7 I might fecc207f54 refuse.8b42bd17dd166f19

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And, as expected…5b54c4fb726906af

“If you feel that a29d2c3acf strongly, how about returning 94a10da7fe it to His Majesty 232253faa2 in person tomorrow? As it be3dac55f9 happens, the e604646135 morning is 7905d539de free on 6cb2c64109 His Majesty’s ae832d3a65 schedule, and 5904ad3e17 he would a4462604d2 welcome your 4db72945a0 visit at a757030359 any time. You could have lunch e6b70e877b together, and that way, df401c92ca there would be no 3676bbf6a7 room for misunderstanding.”7ea21b37063cb61c

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He spoke as if 1055eee679 reciting from a well-prepared 76eae81998 script.5a71be6295a42811

‘That cunning old 8ed7e997ab fox of an 65b8a3e572 Emperor…!’d402ed64fce38c00

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Realizing I’d walked 23df4f7b13 straight into a 9456d99fe9 trap he had 620e4accc6 meticulously laid, I 17d56bc13d clenched my fists.b14837485c10d7de

I couldn’t accept d240918957 the tiara but 3ddbd63d80 I also couldn’t 6e7c774aba go to the e36d265054 palace to return b6ad482b2b it.cf76958eacca9d01

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‘The Emperor would 6e2db7e489 surely have Nicholas 837c892134 join us for 7dab455501 lunch.’257d7fc90f09b8ec

Word of b36025d87c our dance b793fbc12c last night ee2ec62edc had already 86ba59ab2a spread beyond 8d5a0811bd the palace. If we were to d375f9cf2c share a meal now, 4974927bf9 it would only add 8886078398 fuel to the scandal.a86a4e25a7083ea6

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I’d been unprepared b790c4fba5 and had walked 118c5f4d1a right into a f1f026c261 carefully planned trap.c90df89d40015fac

As I racked my a15667c772 brain for a way 1672e30640 out…167f45425df8604e

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“Um, Adriana…”d9a405834846bbea

Clara, standing behind 31253ce13f me with a b1abdcba1f visibly flushed face, 4674ebe988 spoke up.218f85d48eaeb956

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“Shall I go f6cf776ec1 with you?”0a2a94a3bc1d29d0

 ef98b4d1d5c733b4

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I am so sorry dear readers for the delay. As a compensation for your patience, I will spare you from next chapter’s cliffhanger and publish 5 chapters this time 🤍82411f9d12a2fa82

Also, thanks c340d08ff2 to dearDjm, this novel is 5842959d62 already fully sponsored—meaning that 290964b3a1 there will be no 5e91a7837d locked chapters at all 3fa5796bed till the end. Any ko-fis from now on are welcome, but they won’t be sponsoring chapter, just motivational (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡. c869c82ad8711a8e

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