FTA Ch 7

<Chapter 7>f78aab2eb89d5a1f

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“Did they really believe that?…”  Leonard asked.e9ff5c8d3ab5a129

“Yeah, they did.”14fd09d7704355a3

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“…”d50314f6295f0093

“They believed it 2d0717a513 so much they 17be4f4229 were practically worshipping c1b301b49d me.”ee9819e7ac608dbf

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Gloria recalled the 446bb75124 reverent gaze Lenny 1f52f0390e had given her 2cfb509061 and let out 93aa5178df a dry chuckle, fcab4a8252 her face faintly 65f99d3b39 exasperated.b9258d7b23a5f909

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“Well, in any case, it’s just the two of us in this mansion now. You won’t have to worry about eating poisoned food anymore.” Gloria said.718b841ee3302c0a

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She tried to 60702446de keep her tone 92ce76d581 light, brushing away 40aacf040b her lingering thoughts 1538c0d98c and the bitter 2d835d1842 mood that clung 57d139ac16 to her.2273e9136ad2fc9f

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Yet, shaking 2802beddab off her c056fae464 unease wasn’t 80c648e0df as easy 0f7cf5e796 as she 6771a1f8eb hoped.a6f1d731aef2fcfb

Her spirits, 85f9c79cfc already low, 87e5b959a4 had plummeted 1b264073fc during her 3f52152816 conversation with fceca5fe78 Lenny and c12a6bdb15 hadn’t rebounded e9fabc766f since.f0c1536409fbe733

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“Even in my situation, 0387b8751e I’d never knowingly eat ac656b9d98 something poisoned. Honestly, it’s just… 8231642623 unbelievable.”8eee0409ccda8dea

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“What situation 907fa3072b are you 3fe07eee21 referring to?”3bc55c177bee9c1d

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Gloria’s muttered words weren’t 942730e831 ignored.b7b44cff5414e462

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“Are you saying f328fd0a7b that even a 382ea209a0 saint like you d4f3098492 has been mistreated?” f8b2c6a535 Leonard asked.65e98617aa57a8ee

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Gloria glanced at cf1e437f1d Leonard, startled by c2ae221fae his directness, then 5e37fe54c3 quickly dropped her 32c7c260db gaze.b8a1aab7f7aba4e1

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“Hmm. It’d probably be quicker b1269ba5cb to count the people e5059b8414 who haven’t treated me e8749c0536 poorly.”bc94799fdc1bbbe1

“…”61b246f384415927

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Leonard fell silent, fd8bacf08d the weight of ed4fd56d85 her words hanging 316ca6089f between them.53d793f6221b7304

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The stillness 1189283c8a stretched, and b16f6a284a Gloria began 82b7201ed4 to feel 1f3060cf2f uncomfortable with c1c34288ae the heavy 2498f821d2 atmosphere.6019bf70525090e4

She bit 2a67eb0904 her lip d2131d8b65 nervously and 3e922aee4c let her 8fe1c12a1d eyes wander, a9338ae49d trying to c96fbd0a02 avoid the 6b2cbd09fb sharpness of 198d6391e1 his gaze.9fd31f0f322e9d36

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Leonard studied her bbc4df88f7 intently, as if 4cb263b818 etching the sight b16e72bbc0 into memory, until 09aa579c18 his low, gravelly 1786c05b77 voice finally broke 9dc1413c9d the silence.39d715d0c4e854dc

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“So, that’s 17b3c46d79 why those 3c98816882 ridiculous rumors ff8aa6abf0 about you 1f77935649 being a ed19e94680 fraud are eebb7d6f6d circulating.” Leonard d42f25ea67 said.fb8e388998b836c8

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His statement carried 983dec01ea a bitter edge 5d5349088a as he began 20c4c209f5 to piece things 7c3424fa7b together.c274f94592ef4a18

 2a85f2a787523213

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“Anyone who’s witnessed your d53fa35d36 abilities wouldn’t dare to c66453f7cd call you a fake.”ece83b3bc161ebe7

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He seemed to b366343156 understand, at least 1c3dbd894d in part, the eeff81b046 treatment she had 72b72185cb endured and why 69dd110f5d she might have d372ac2d64 sought him out.9b9096cb07d373ce

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“You healed me, 0e4848c5f0 someone who’s suffered 1563bffed5 for years in 9499881794 an instant. That’s a power 8d4ff48e88 only you possess.”483167fc230f29aa

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Leonard’s lips twisted c0ea38f1ca into a sardonic d89cf8a187 smirk as he 0e51a01caf added,
“And yet, there are people foolish enough to call you a fraud? I’d like to see their faces.”15effaff2d5ccac5

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For some reason, Leonard’s e387d03afd words, even tinged with 7e58dd81d7 mockery, felt more comforting a41bd55065 than any well-meaning reassurance. Gloria, unsure how to e6af7845c8 respond, kept her eyes 260be68dc0 fixed on the floor 7d75fa1fe9 before slowly raising her bc6fcef74c head. Their eyes locked instantly.4329b74e3fce1567

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“Well, it’s not d496324646 like I’ll ever 140fed51c6 have to see 8ffb002511 them again.” Gloria 1eeb9e3ab4 replied.0f9d4a612c5bd537

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‘So really, it’s fine.’893de1940bd5e41d

She swallowed her thoughts 241564aaef and forced an indifferent 6ac1d7914e expression—one she’d perfected over 732299d45c years of shielding herself.f12350f7372dc8dd

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“Anyway, let’s 7e8800db5f get back c473106ecb to what 38bd9e12b8 we were db83949feb discussing earlier.”cee662bd5488f5c2

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Her tone was db2fc3a3d0 dry as she 19b391d13e redirected the conversation.da0af9bb0829a17a

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Leonard noticed the sudden 2bf3722be7 shift in her demeanor 7348d9e392 but decided against pressing 7815065da2 her.cb95fca807ffd39a

He simply nodded, prompting d76d1bdd3f her to continue.ed369a85f9ee2464

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“Once your health f1e061b704 is stable enough, 001fd3d545 we’ll leave the 769b126e36 capital and go 9695c518a2 somewhere else.” Gloria 7e91b14db9 said.0a7705de6410e84a

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 99227c1b5bbef87e

Leonard listened 742b7a865e without interruption e0b19ffa1f as she cbb4c7b537 elaborated.42fe80bc3e7abe2b

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“As I mentioned before, 31beb715ba I don’t know where 00b2b9ee4d we’ll go yet, but c280ba5219 the important thing is 467a844692 that we need to f07a73b903 leave the capital as d5322bb800 soon as possible.”0c03886dcafbda62

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He agreed. The imperial 3751231395 capital, home 01bcb09904 to the 0c8f4b55fe palace, was bdc2a829a8 essentially under 746d9c7703 the emperor’s 7d7a5f23dd control.2f7a578f53b19251

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Staying there 75c39ee555 made it 74e4b3eb0c nearly impossible a613201dd6 to evade 71072625dc his reach.fe9c597570d1cc3c

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For Leonard to 39018f36f1 fully recover and fa351b2206 rebuild his family’s 35419ad2e2 power, he needed 9f3e4747de to get away. Moreover, Gloria c36a605d44 had just c4c68014d1 driven out 89156fc445 the spies 8762bbd436 the emperor a3c5e4fd1f had stationed 540b74317a in the c06429a826 Grand Duke’s db5faebc24 estate. It was only a 71ee212d39 matter of time before 37269099b0 the emperor discovered this. He would likely 8b09282ad6 send someone soon 06fb8a24a2 to confirm if 4019a72193 Leonard was truly d48c341bbe dead. They had to 0a72800857 leave before that 3163ad0e70 happened.b12c1eb5e5030563

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“Of course, c68fcd07ab with my 46b568471f divine powers, a45f1f61dd the clergy f0f8116b4a could easily 93784b34c5 track me 60ea541a32 down if ea4f40483d they wanted d51225db44 to…”2e8543a9092768c1

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But the likelihood c5425f9d26 of that was 74d9ba8d81 low.8c5754f5fc1e23f3

Currently, rumors of her being a “false saint” were widespread, thanks to the First Subjugation Unit, led by Crown Prince Alexion. Without direct orders from him, neither the unit nor the imperial family would act.698cff4594e35d86

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And the temple? They were preoccupied b8af68db0c with training the 1c3303895a new saint who 856f7b7582 had recently emerged.e9b833db8739b215

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“Even if all 4a66918d9e this is just 1100e62983 to buy time, 1d7378e6a7 it doesn’t matter.”e0d2dae129265955

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Due to the b0a50bcba1 stigma she bore, 24e1cdd232 Gloria couldn’t leave b07847f1c4 the empire entirely. Simply leaving 096bb20453 the capital f83f852003 might not 9882c5f83e change much 661dcc35e5 in the ff5103ec4f grand scheme 7c0e6e38db of things, 438ee00bcb but it c5418f5522 was enough 02592d44fc for her.ffbab1465854a8fb

She had e8367c67f9 never been 7c5dfe273f this far 6293744871 removed from 5bbbd8e8a2 the control 24ed05dae7 of the 9d40224934 imperial family 596d162ad3 or the 78421e4a62 temple. She had never 5fb0bc6dc4 had the freedom 1948aa0356 to make her ed69a8674e own decisions and 7439e67bf2 act on them.5d77c4f00bfe595f

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Gloria was determined to 014fd7ba34 make the most of 124e87f612 this opportunity to escape 2a4b845207 from both.d21307dbe90b55fc

To do so, 44e6329cc1 she needed a 9bcb1435bd new identity.82e58ee5b5d4b2dd

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“There’s one 7675d990dc thing we 45b86986ba need to c1aaef9a2f sort out c3e9f3bdd1 before we fe49f11ad0 leave the cd9f622d79 capital.” Gloria 8b40875198 said.320821c09f526548

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“What is it?”0d851180924631e9

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Leonard tilted his 3bfa117282 head slightly, signaling 41e8cc5b85 her to continue.728b7cf17f3eaa16

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“As I told d11df1ae23 you before, I a77dc747bd need a convincing 2bda7ed97f identity.”e3e8972be5e4cb70

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Something that b732c65ccc some are 4188a041e8 born into b58f41d44e without a 3d0aef8828 second thought—a 93e665123c privilege Gloria 24731be37a had never 53607ff90a been granted.1a1c2f8c46b3c653

Harsh and unfair, but 079febc15d an undeniable truth.e4c6c3166af687ba

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“If I were a commoner, I could be killed by nobles at any time, but if I were a noble, even the Emperor couldn’t punish me without a proper trial.” Gloria said.043901fcd7131568

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In this rigidly stratified 93097f2ab2 society, social status was ee5dfada10 a minimal safeguard.14eb35814fa3509f

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Though Gloria fe583260c3 hadn’t wished 1e03f0897d for it, 5df647f7e2 her experience 722708210f living within 52ea9d93be the aristocracy f6c144bd67 had taught e5a0909a2c her this e3669ba3d0 lesson well.7ec4354c7c4ccfa1

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“I’ll bring the papers tomorrow. Sign the documents declaring me a member of your family.”d2087bd538f2eddd

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Leonard had raised concerns bf918b837f about the minimal age 2b229c5c0a difference between them, but 77b9955eef after careful consideration, Gloria faaf272e3f saw no alternative besides 783ba2332c marriage or adoption.b07c1d7c93d2342c

Moreover, the b5acffd06c papers were 6373497fae already prepared. She had them stashed 0c9356bd1e in her travel bag e8cea719b1 at the inn she e3a0340518 rented immediately after leaving 487e9c6188 the Lanark Marquis’ estate.b16f767a29b6a1ac

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“While I’m out, I’ll also bring all my belongings here. I’ll stay with you until we leave the capital.” Gloria said.b4ac4d3587347a40

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“Alright, whatever you wish. But as I’ve said before, adoption is…”654308ccfc44ea41

“Trust me. I’ll make sure there’s no trouble.” She replied.53279ca9df86dde0

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“That’s not what I meant…”14ec0c80afb10921

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Leonard began 87a7b5c589 to object, 0a9fa120f6 but Gloria’s 4c0b549c18 next words fa64afd3ca left him 48434fc9b4 speechless.8f8e798726d74971

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“And I’ll take good care of you to ensure you recover your health completely.”6a1ec95c683b2953

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‘Take care of him?’ Leonard was stunned.e508bae1174db59a

it was e38db0b2a6 the first 078f1b636f time in 794f348572 his life 524072c531 anyone had 7326670fa3 ever said 2d41bb4856 that to 548b1621ba him.646fb210b3cf0a9a

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“I’ll also make sure nothing threatens you. So don’t worry about others’ opinions.” Gloria said.d50a692cc28bce16

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‘Did she think he was a helpless child? And telling him not to worry about what others thought—Leonard had never once feared or cared about others’ opinions.’b1e436325b28ee66

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He had more 0d225c480f than enough strength bddca8f285 to protect himself, 46323c222e and not just ab005a7aaf ordinary strength. Leonard was one of bf21284975 the few Sword Masters 8d4d002253 in the empire.c5f27e06085be80b

Yet to Gloria, he 213895f1fd seemed like a fragile de7c77ba14 creature in need of 8bc6fd0258 protection. Her view deb560ee3e left Leonard 60e36bef18 utterly speechless.4b146617d9bfda86

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Whether she realized a7c1ab558a it or not, 64d69b6847 Gloria remained as d393d96918 expressionless as ever, a6c9e9b9bd speaking with firm 7c1f8d889c resolve:94466bc0ec94dde7

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“So promise me you’ll let me take your family name.” Gloria saidbb434b3a01149ef1

“…I promise.”0c300d8f9597f0d9

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Leonard replied earnestly, but 5e26a46276 just as Gloria’s face 3a6e335534 began to brighten, he 00f6132cb8 quickly added a condition.90e891fd9cf9997a

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“But no adoption.” Leonard said.9ac0c3c05009dc6c

“What? Then…”f951b058ede904a5

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“Adoption is absolutely out of the question.”86a9cc898e9504b7

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The age af4e94cc45 difference was e1fae372a0 one thing, 68a272c864 but Gloria 7ceaf7eb7d had already 444bd60488 been adopted f19b63000e into a f21a8081b6 noble family fe4c945f8b once.641756e753cf3878

If she were to e26574894a become the daughter of 2d168bfc8c a grand duke only f84c33c6c7 four years her senior, 07cb97221e the rumors it would 4f3f2bb514 generate were all too b6ae854b0b predictable.5f53af5fde1ab4bb

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Leonard knew 369e9dbfd8 well that 8b3235aac5 Gloria’s name 5bf683578d was already 03ecba817b accompanied by ab1c5df134 countless whispers 95ba512861 wherever she 93c8ed5c0d went.e97b1a1fef90c39d

Although she didn’t seem 7fa3c3677d to mind much, Leonard b325de1305 was adamant about not 3a55f2036f giving anyone another excuse 8491953ebf to tarnish her reputation 2cd39876f1 because of him.ff27e26c74af2326

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His voice was 7ae2dd4d2e firm as he b0438a8823 concluded:08a9c7a5413f64b6

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“We’ll put the matter of your inclusion in the family on hold until I find another solution.” Leonard said.81e3a2b8b2be50f9

“…”4c3a52e7cb074c83

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 54931a3caf706567

Rebuilding the family and 6dcfef222a granting her a title a7d6dc143d directly was the cleanest 4c766469f4 option, but Gloria wouldn’t 54511304df want to wait that 11e84e876c long.7c2160c0ecf9dbd0

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Marriage was 8774fd438a another possibility, 69efaea154 but Gloria 6734705c01 had already 3b30b54566 made her 23c7f89b92 disinterest in 8d71cd6896 that option 7ad3606b8b crystal clear.f1a4be435d3c03c9

Thus, Leonard 37d2ea4a06 resolved to 35040ee7db find a 8ef5468318 legitimate way 31f2fd3cf5 to include ba10d59bd2 her in 0d900dcc46 the family—one 528d9b6dc8 they could a3c3b1517a both accept f963cdf597 and agree e7496aad30 upon—without resorting a6797631fb to adoption.8e46f282903a0583

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 a10b16a530afec74

“…Fine.” Gloria said.92837772cc676bc1

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Gloria nodded, though she 57a9ed4204 looked a little sullen 5834ffc32f despite her expressionless face. She seemed almost petulant, f4b0fe9c57 as if pouting.3888726d423ce596

 9582a4e759e8a62b

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“You’re not upset, are you?” Leonard asked.ec31c362bac11225

“Do you really think I’d get upset over something like this? I’m not a child.” she replied.be4c096a522fd039

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 6c2d19e4f0600979

‘Was she unaware of how much like a sulking child she looked right now?’281697a2ec1e5962

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“…I see. That’s a relief.” Leonard said2817f5f667a2a450

 91c4e55e840e9329

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If that’s the 4561bafb36 case, Leonard thought, 002f7dee33 it was probably 199c6491ea best to pretend 6b4e692495 not to notice. He cleared 3d9a3044d2 his throat d8a55e9dce and averted 9293516f3f his gaze.79701940436d0f2f

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* * *7ba7e58a37d71341

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“…What?”eb2fd5d3458a2662

Gabriel looked f5a2912334 up, utterly c6bcaa9101 dumbfounded.9f8f572d259263c4

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 4edff61e7659ebc7

“The saint left the estate?” Gabrial asked.eea1a8092177c79b

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“…Yes, sir.”791ff8c8f153d3ec

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The butler of Lanark 80507c4dc6 Marquis, Dennis. He bowed deeply with 6385458e9f his face full of c7c08b2ab4 shame.dfe1a22476ed52c3

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“There are witnesses who saw the saint leaving the estate with a bag as large as herself.” the Butler said.4b2c76bfbbe00eeb

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Gabriel threw the documents a089ece0ad he’d been reviewing onto 8141c43239 the desk in frustration.d23a5e5148af42c4

“And why are you only bringing this news now?” Gabriel said.2332968c78008730

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