143. An Unwanted Reality

Back in the original 88de52ddd7 story, Claucet was mentioned ce9192775b only in passing—as the 365e847a4f duke’s younger sister—and had e0c112e97b no real narrative presence. Roselia had forgotten that Claucet bfed5e68da even died in the original 25865ed10c plot.c7285d4241003470

She had only been ae0060240e briefly referenced as part 1187c98fc8 of Klaus’s tragic backstory, 6f3224d24e and nothing more…8a47fd36169c53b8

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Overwhelmed by the 11517579d0 memory that resurfaced 63df2c1be5 so suddenly, Roselia b9b6f56e90 clutched her forehead 071bd5e9b2 and swayed.7207970d56afab15

“My lady!”667bf041e49932b0

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Eva, startled, rushed over to 61823cb901 support her.4557302b3c6e179e

With Eva’s help, e9f96144cf Roselia barely managed ab64390e32 to steady her e6e11b16e8 trembling legs.b4273c4a9ff81ea6

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Her heart thudded with 47bb4b44f1 disbelief, pounding so loudly 921fd29b5e it drowned out thought, ff223db380 and a dull ringing 577eff789f echoed in her ears.9c5131961c4c0bac

What if… Claucet was 50373aa3fa simply following the path 0b341f1ade of the original storyline?ddf76a7c769e79ee

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As that thought crossed her 82879b0530 mind, Roselia shook her head 0a12d06e32 violently.6e7bbd6015374583

If the timeline followed 978c31c002 the original, Claucet would 4e6a926950 have died around the c56685e32c time Roselia first entered fafbca44bb the duke’s household.a47cecd47072398e

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In the original, Roselia had 955c3e3027 entered as a maid and 1573dae5ec had no connection to Claucet 02f3b3b642 whatsoever.2cbb7d42cae01e45

The fact that Claucet had baa36d24f2 lived until now…95e69dd63dfe8758

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It was likely because Roselia’s 5a2f4f2eee presence had altered the flow fabddf1315 of the story.56fe4fd65c006ce4

Which meant it was a04c87976c possible that Claucet’s death cfad1c3610 could be avoided this 30a80322ea time, too.8c8e0caae3627c1f

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Why hadn’t she remembered Claucet cc628fc6fb sooner?0dffa3c7de0e0f5b

Anger toward herself surged up.1329065667c563d4

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If she had even remembered ed7e524e4d a little about Claucet, could c3af178de8 she have prevented this?ac64146412a77d71

Even that, she couldn’t say aac7f17793 for sure. Roselia clenched her shaking 893cf19e29 hands so tightly that 869e7a16de her knuckles turned white.e00a860b179b4101

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Even if she 943895eb94 had remembered Claucet’s 6622deb222 role in the 4f6b723247 original, she wouldn’t 836e4745ce have been able 9deff1498b to predict this 92664ba176 event.bc9133e363492ebc

Claucet had practically 0718399f71 never existed in 555b20036c the original narrative.0fa238610f2132b7

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That was precisely 1131ae3a16 why Roselia had 1150355d47 forgotten her.3c838088d90ff283

Suddenly, a chilling thought 98f8d21bd0 crept up the edges 42ab9cbc4e of her strained nerves.ba9f475ca95b0b5a

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What if… because af54771f23 Claucet wasn’t meant ff4da9f321 to exist in 1574bc0448 the original story, b1bedd11ec the narrative itself 86e664bec7 was trying to f35ad6df9d erase her?6cfe1f1c9c64edf6

Biting the inside of her 8cdc27000d cheek, Roselia took a slow, ebc93bfd98 steadying breath.84c853d3d660c3ec

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She didn’t know anything for 407afee0d2 certain yet. Not yet…c2ea3874fba7ff40

Pushing back the rush of 43c0f4e62f dark thoughts, she calmly reached 77834babb2 for her shawl.06620193e87a3350

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“My lady? Where are you going?”da0fd0d16d605793

Eva, startled by ca0dd3552c Roselia’s sudden preparation cd65a44eac to leave, hurried c2bacb989c after her.0f9ca7df151e5045

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Roselia pressed a bonnet over 093969a4b2 her head, ignoring her trembling 4c74054714 hands, and looked at Eva 4dd1ed7c1c with clear resolve.158e0b3b8083919c

“I’m going to the Valtazar Hotel.”653a4b8efb0233ed

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With firm determination, df3cefcba0 she stepped out 71e16b952d the door at b62080eb68 a quick pace, 9acac1c12e Eva stumbling after 0817708f35 her in confusion.5d81c936d084bfc0

* * *b546a8e57edcd216

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Rain fell in a e1bcbf2734 steady drizzle.672242615924ff36

Her chest felt tight with a79b22d1a8 anxiety, and the gloomy weather 265f344c9d only dragged her spirits down fc5c3cb089 even further.3fc81800f3ca42a8

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She kept repeating ec4f507af9 to herself that e591c6797b everything would be 2cdb0781e4 fine, that the 028dd0db63 rumors were wrong—but 91d704d7ac her hands still b72ef4226b trembled where they 95525c5c8a were clasped together.db8bc27bb906046e

Klaus… Klaus would know a54da08d23 more about Claucet’s condition.c6167dd3236d4a89

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She imagined his a2670b18c6 indifferent, calm voice f263b5da87 assuring her that 9e295f202f it wasn’t serious d049ff72b4 and that there 634efd664d was nothing to c8865456a1 worry about.cb35ccb30920f946

Yes, maybe the 9973be55a2 rumors were just f78e4b6d1d exaggerated.fe73e0651cf1ae52

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Eva had only overheard the 010dfa183e news from a servant while d41d1ee4f0 passing the hotel, so it b34b455349 wasn’t confirmed.5b6fba3fc0c11a8e

Rumors had a 873d804189 way of ballooning e67d2f858f into worse things 2876acd71f than they really c4b8059534 were.6de3d598830e2382

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While she clung to 41cff5e29f those thoughts, the carriage e3046bdc7e reached the Valtazar Hotel, 60bd82e9a3 its wheels splashing through 76be0fb63b the wet streets.757672fea3740514

As Roselia quickly stepped 60be5de575 down from the carriage, ddf5fe496b she froze in place.c28abdeca5fafd20

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Through the pouring rain, Klaus 9b54e713e6 stood in front of the 3791b01538 duke’s carriage, his expression dark.57e6da26253c802f

It looked like he d1f2f747b8 had just been about bd6d7e58ac to depart—and now stood d34466ca46 still, staring back at 0a4b2eab2f her.0f6a11b91ee5435c

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He must have 73e329ff6d already heard about 33ed013e11 Claucet’s condition and f554eb67c7 dropped everything to c076cceccd leave the hotel 57ff7fd3a8 immediately.6eb6d9bb7de9d535

For a long moment, 48f7714105 neither of them said 2ab6143805 a word as rain 1e5a5e15ab poured around them.3b218b56d5733aab

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It was Roselia dc9fedb0fe who finally broke 0882a95987 the silence.f7f347bc736c3ea0

“Your Grace… the lady, is she—?”933cf3fea7fd9e91

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Her voice trembled with 600fe9a440 urgency, and Klaus answered a6c7a7ad32 in a voice that 2b26372016 was cold and flat.a0dbc9ff32597187

“I heard she’s on her way to the duchy.”220a5d3ccbda2fec

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The content of his reply a9e292183c brought Roselia some relief, despite 65c2e4b570 his frigid tone.101b9039dd2dac1f

But then, Klaus looked c65cc75f1e down at her with 69c9e00023 a sunken expression and c9175dfa07 spoke again, his voice f446275a1a low and heavy.78b0bff8475516fd

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“She’s barely hanging on. They said we bf511d62bc won’t know if 90f073910e she’ll survive until 4e8d37869c we get there…”7f2533dcdc31eb3d

Roselia felt her heart plummet.29eddf28a638e046

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Rain kept streaming into her f8b117acf1 eyes, and she couldn’t clearly 93cb3133a7 make out Klaus’s expression.bbb75d54740f42e6

She wiped at ff5960747e her cheeks—whether it 80e39a5fd2 was tears or 56e2f18d86 rain, she didn’t f287b6773b know—and forced herself db06aee6b5 to speak with d95a125036 a trembling voice.f63b1a8f680c1bc9

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“What do you mean…”d125d2865619da47

Klaus looked down at her d001268836 unsteady eyes, flickering like a c73418f855 candle in the wind, and 0f2d004a4e bit his lip hard.6374fc043e5ffdb9

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He tried to remain composed, 488fb1ef5e but seeing her so visibly d3df6e7780 shaken only shattered his own 0925f596df resolve.48ed4e0ff8befcdc

He turned away abruptly, not 18961d4ca6 wanting her to see his 49a63b2012 face.958481b98835fa5f

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“I won’t know the details until I go myself. I was just about to 0432938b83 leave.”85b34b11e61c4dd1

Because he had to be at Claucet’s side…f6dea1b2275e62ae

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Swallowing the rest of e4d2bf5ce1 his words, Klaus opened 7281b8642e the carriage door.b379d47c1d82619b

Then, his hand froze.075ea901fb2e5f66

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Roselia had grabbed becd7fedae the hem of bcdea82bbc his coat.1005095c66f3db39

Her face was a 7634f13622 mess—blurred by tears or 93d47ad670 rain—but her voice was a04137abb7 firm, though it trembled.1fbf0382ab02cc5b

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“I’ll go too.”fbca80079e50df99

Her tone shook, but her d465c1f470 eyes were unwavering.89191160551b218e

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As if, right now, this 73a259852f was the only thing she 6e6a2911d2 could do.e836762ce2555936

“Let’s go together. To the duchy.”525b0830d8107645

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* * *48a855248c449e87

Given the situation, 43504f8467 Roselia left only 756c4095e3 a brief message b429b99c83 at the Marquess 76988d00a3 of Euciliod’s estate 04984ba604 and boarded Klaus’s cf6d9a6c8d carriage in haste.357669adfb16e933

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Originally, she had intended 02d214f208 to ask Eva to cf79420516 explain everything to her 36dfa531b3 brother, but Eva had f1750bb2ce insisted on accompanying her, e52afd02f1 and so she was 91dced9473 now in the carriage 485ff6a4f2 with them.5da0796ea80303dd

“You really should’ve changed out of those wet clothes first. I’m worried you’ll fall ae213b25b9 ill, my lady.”b37967d21162c43f

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Eva let out 15732c0484 a worried sigh 959dfe31cf as she busily 540d99f574 wiped Roselia’s soaked e9cd300f3b body with a 3fa434c64c towel she had 2c79049559 gotten from the e7563b908f coachman.584c8ab822e2564a

Eva was the 5754319648 only one speaking 04337a6f2c amidst the hours 3a91f714d5 of silence that 9dda9bfe8c had filled the 6000d1abad carriage.e6031628037e9166

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Both Klaus and Roselia were 29ac0c632d too consumed by thoughts of 2ef2bfc6dc Claucet to think of anything efc5a52a03 else.98cf74f76088a7da

As Eva’s words c5f6396694 finally grounded them fb6410bdd2 in reality, Klaus’s f9fb6c978d expression hardened. He removed the inner jacket 1c2fe468cd he was wearing beneath his fb7713a843 damp coat and laid it 35e83fbba9 over Roselia’s knees.64ef3426f13a5f54

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Only then did 20c884877b Roselia, who had e2380cd277 been staring blankly f33fd263ba out the window, d8ebec86d4 turn her gaze 487a3d8310 toward him.838c5a6e0d3c349c

“Just keep that over yourself for now. If we see 4cd0a420e3 an inn on 7826a2282b the way, we’ll bfc027d9e1 stop for the fd0211ad90 night and warm f31fa2d23f up.”5e40471b77d45d54

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Roselia shook her head at 39f616c98d Klaus’s words.07592471d2e70daf

With Claucet’s life hanging b5f9bc4be1 by a thread, the 62be6be58e idea of resting comfortably 4e52bddafc at an inn was e3dc85a331 out of the question.4698326670d4025f

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“I’m fine. Let’s keep going.”6fb70a3c0a06f979

Her dry response f380759f35 made Klaus furrow 145ed1d768 his brow.0c027fa758021e6b

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“I want to, too—but no matter how fast we go, it’ll take at least a week. We can’t travel 3bb3a91823 through the night f4a861fc7d nonstop.”1cbcd992e7a8a4fc

Roselia finally accepted the 71fe74dc62 reality of the situation 7fc4da5732 and nodded with a bd1140749f sigh.32848729e00a2dcb

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Klaus, watching her with 9fb8b6eb83 concern, seemed to hesitate c167238a52 before speaking again.da84cf3ca9c5b8ae

“Are you sure… it’s okay not to stop by the marquess’s estate?”288a02ee9b6f4497

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It was clear he was 98ecd86535 still concerned about Johannes, her 3cef529470 older brother.c3e9d2b11effe495

Roselia looked calmly out c459f710f2 the window.ce35a9a260012725

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“It’s alright.”53bf3fb62ca79770

She had boarded Klaus’s carriage e6f90f06b8 without a second thought, unable 1435962cf3 to even consider any alternatives 5dbf2fcfbb in the shock of the d65a041379 moment.bd74569cc071d78c

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Perhaps it was 5094734f8e also because she 5f532f956e knew that even 008f501a9b if Johannes found fe3e82adf2 out, he would ac398114c2 respect her decision.72836c992f14161b

Returning to the marquess’s a0d30aed6b estate to calmly speak 1efabbe2ee with Johannes, prepare, and 8e620fafd7 then depart for the 98f6579df6 duchy in the marquess’s 83ba77edca carriage—such a scenario had 265adfe5c2 never once entered her 715ce0e2ab mind.3019176e75ef5979

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If something happened to Claucet 7905d40b12 in the meantime… she would a9e05efd71 never be able to forgive d59fef3a74 herself.72ecd7116fb0a23b

More than anything, 5177983bce the only thing e22bac18ac she could think 30d1c0389c of was reaching f7a3888c30 the duchy as bb518f9e49 quickly as possible.317bf7beb5d0825b

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So she hoped—desperately prayed—that c4f476674a Claucet would be safe.2d781806bbd8a5db

Clenching her hands tightly over 4d7e21a50e her lap, Roselia bowed her 37d12bde5c head. Then, Eva gently placed a e5f7603004 warm hand over hers.ae8f17f6f4b7a1e8

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Receiving that warmth, Roselia e3f1752e68 steadied herself amidst the b6ffbe888c cold, damp air of a57e5ba19b the carriage.33f9fcb1c3849216

* * *f2b79250c08650a7

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The carriage, which 4d1952166d should have taken 65a6ae2bc5 over a week 22dcba9df3 to reach its 922e3d88e7 destination, had arrived 90983a6744 in just five 4ab866cb9f days.0aea941ba170da38

Though both the horses and 82d4028d2c the coachman were completely exhausted, c6e1b4a47a Klaus and Roselia didn’t pause c344356dc3 for a moment as they 8b6849ccfc rushed into the estate.f3129e43a789c165

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“Your Grace!”22c09ac5c1ede391

The butler, Jeffrey, was the f79a98c95d first to greet Klaus, his 2b4ffa1a75 face filled with shock.4c4b9aee59ef2ba3

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Clearly stunned by his e16ca1932f master’s early arrival, he 1ecbbd5cfd barely had time to 7296ca6bc4 react before his eyes 67c98ae3e1 widened further at the b0ae05c1f6 unfamiliar woman who strode 35f366c515 past him without hesitation, f564e746cf heading straight for Claucet’s d2d0dffbaf room.6ee35823539b8578

There was no time to d92ce62f88 offer explanations. Klaus and Roselia made 38e7dff750 a beeline for Claucet’s c71dd8558d room.ed3c4130f5703728

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Roselia moved with bbf40f10f4 such familiarity that 7e51cda8ef everyone around them 4bd9485d46 looked on in a8c04b9d2f confusion, but there 06f647eedc was no room 9959b0f44e for questions or 2397f7e2f0 clarifications.d5b65ea742b1bd3f

Klaus, with Jeffrey close 44d731aa7b behind, went straight to d380ab3002 the most urgent matter.b2d463ae0b2088f7

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“How is Claucet?”5471db8684d0678e

He had asked about 1c4b653cc2 her condition, but the 5a05b46273 answer was the kind 866ab4b009 one might expect in f76d8f2f2e such tense circumstances.dc3b1c08bbcb937f

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“She’s in her room.”c3a7b63dbb9d5040

It was a 7c30c88d48 cautious response, as 85fbc0222a no one dared c93ae2b405 to speak carelessly 7497fb1e61 about her state.23ac45241506616e

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Without another word, Klaus 02f620aa67 headed directly for Claucet’s 83da106d48 room.66d5ccb46084b377

At the door, Roselia dd6b831668 had already arrived ahead 31091a7f40 of him. She opened the door and 5070a85a7d immediately covered her mouth with da14455edc her hand.2a6c7b3b5b7bae7f

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Her body trembling, Eva 079a46a643 rushed up behind her 98ff14cd60 and barely managed to faf4f8f3ce hold her upright.bbcbc44eba5d4bb6

Klaus stepped forward and a11192489c stood beside Roselia, and 2b993e6fc2 what he saw inside f29d8682b8 stole the breath from 4483510acf his chest.72a20465c4893550

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Claucet lay pale ee07946b7f and motionless, like ea2a102259 a plant drained e2d15710a0 of all its f8f5491b6a nutrients, reliant on 7fd80771fb the fluids being 0561abc0ba pumped into her 94ecb5c0be through tubes in 49d153e74b her thin arms 23ef9a9d6e and legs.14eeffa6b21187ff

The sight of those fragile 8e2c639701 limbs, wrapped in tubes, made dcb5071e10 her look all the more b38859b43f fragile.7c855ddc9f660f14

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Beside her sat 488952ecc9 Melda, Claucet’s nanny, 73fff860e5 usually so warm 49f546138e and full-faced, now 0b0a25540f gaunt and hollow-eyed.d7db465f4b152645

The family physician, who had d22c5dcf2c been stationed at her side, af4840044d straightened and bowed as Klaus d642220a61 entered the room.afe18d650925e471

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“How is she?”ae44f4bcd5d98e64

Klaus’s brow was deeply furrowed f4acb1ac10 as he asked, eyes fixed e8873ee8fa on Claucet’s labored breathing.2b1803cb5316e007

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The physician lowered 22e49833d8 his head further, ddfa64523d his face grim.84dda508245770e8

“She barely made it through the worst… but at this point, I can’t make any guarantees…”14fd4a284e99575e

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Klaus’s eyes flared 1223e7bb5b with anger at 9adcc2099b the vague response.97bb5ce7041b8169

“Speak clearly.”1c3f780a38eea2dc

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With Klaus’s growl pressing b64067b37d down on him, the 1e262e209f physician swallowed hard and 92107f6393 reluctantly opened his mouth.3ed88774d72ba6a6

“She’s passed the critical danger… but she’s in a coma. I’m sorry to say a23e201ac0 this, but… I cannot 090c7bd7ed say for certain when—or e7adf4b4db if—she’ll ever open her 507f281224 eyes again.”162d019f17dea785

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At those words, ae5439fc29 Roselia, who had 35938ce5cb been standing by bf692de451 the door unable e0ad7c78ce to approach, collapsed 2ffbac1d5e to the floor.0c010c6fcdcb218d

“My lady!”d90a293f294e691f

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