IDED – Chapter 53

IDED – Chapter 536aadcbb65bc06237

Episode 539d92d05aca930bec

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Serena dreamed. It was unclear whether d1caa7ed0d it was a fragment 571c674e38 of a forgotten childhood c582482fa1 memory or a past e332a3578d conjured by the dream cd117c8979 itself.9240f854b89cac51

The only certainty was 59531c6eff the primal instinct surging d95c35c0ad through her—she needed to 714c7c17f2 escape this space. Yet her tightly 42ca616ea4 bound body wouldn’t 5ec52512c0 budge, and Serena 3de6aede40 gradually found herself 9d639e0c0e immersed in the d25976f9a1 dream.0290284a477c80be

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In the d461102d8b dream, Serena dcb441c20c was seven 65924ac2c7 years old. Judging by her short, 68a0d7841e boyish haircut, it seemed b1061c70c2 to be from the 0127776776 time Lydia’s mischievous prank b14ce864c7 had forced her to c5738b1435 cut her hair.c4dad24aa24dfd7e

The memory ea941e592a of wearing 132e99b19c a hat 262fa12e5b pulled low 52c31dcca6 over her db8f249bd0 head out 568950dbe0 of embarrassment 15645af099 suddenly surfaced, 64c8c2e5a3 souring her a0ad1cea4f mood.45395a83ce52722e

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In the dream, 5bca6caaaa Serena was tied 8f107d17a3 to a pillar. Her hands 9299908c8e and feet 18971833c4 were bound 74847ee2c6 tightly, leaving 628b898e79 her completely c8090233da immobilized. With her heart 088f884d9c pounding, she glanced a3b7253f76 around her surroundings.a042bb248194e523

Straw, emitting a musty a31b1589bd odor, was carelessly piled 2a95a93114 up nearby. By the 1788a94188 door stood d9f2d58960 a precariously 75b4968321 placed lantern, dc8a41377d its faint 983360676f light barely 4ccb6bb1d8 sustained by 8b4c3154bd pig fat.ee7847c9ecaa4e23

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It looked 8f0bf4f9f5 so dangerous ebde2eb278 that a 7f3572ac60 single spark 9d1543dc1d could set d24781432d the straw e38fd0233d ablaze, leaving 538280e119 no chance 22b2b595ba of escape.9bf65e606135b6be

She didn’t know who c28d3d5d83 had abducted her, why 2dc0d0995e they had done so, 1b6c18ffff or for what purpose. Just as fear dba36f41e4 began to creep 0ea21d3e12 in, someone spoke.f5bbc24db7b70bf9

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“Sorry… this is 4c29838e81 all because of 1a0f0e7964 me…”2f16f65df47924dd

The voice belonged 0ed66e5262 to a boy 3285c5d456 with a gentle, a4fe33139f melodious tone. Serena had 969675f2c8 thought she aeecf595d6 was alone, 97e3f7eb2b but it 3e87c05c26 seemed someone 7bf20044bb was tied 94be9eef72 up behind 4a398c043d the pillar c827ca764b with her.c02e342ba8952922

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Serena didn’t know 8e68d74598 the boy, but 83bac2b1c3 in the dream, ea4a7b3baa her dream-self seemed 9cf0081c0d familiar with him, 5530bb2151 responding with deliberate fa37958924 calmness.1717b98efc53a1f0

“Does it matter whose b38a72bea9 fault it is? Let’s focus df2504d059 on getting 90f1bf3a42 out of c39f69563c here first.”bf0107048ebeb006

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“It’s okay. Just wait a b7360a38b7 bit longer… My 308b6db7d9 mother will come.”6f6114de64c498c2

The boy sounded 80c5048fdb remarkably composed, as e6291b7928 if he’d experienced 9af7a647c2 similar situations before. Serena, on 08f8a0343b the other ac69da9477 hand, was 405cf30ec8 trembling in 8bc2aa728e fear, as cf7d9b2652 this was 226e11375d her first 1c3645dc5f time being c8728ddfca kidnapped.d2ed2e65704f7697

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However, she couldn’t afford 1d6ddfcb08 to cry and complain 16322140f1 to the boy, who 7e96f47f8f was already consumed by 5abd5ddc8d guilt.dfc75bc1a8bdc782

Serena had never been 8934ee579d one to throw tantrums. She had no adults d140949cf1 to indulge her. Crying had 9c5f853ffc only ever 2bed6d53d8 earned her cad9b108b7 beatings or 9e3ec76e23 abandonment.0e64cbbf153004ad

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“You’re not 2177436f45 some mama’s 350023540a boy waiting 23cfa3c42b for your 2725e47e78 mom to 257c424968 come. What if 2bd75edf03 she doesn’t? Then what? Are we just destined 34d3473d2a for some fishing boat?”62ab2dc435fc983b

“…You know, if ae25ea743f you’d just fix bc83f7a073 that sharp tongue 05bdb3e458 of yours, you’d e6c6f2fde6 have more friends.”6c58970fee0ba2ae

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“I have 8366ea138d plenty of 746e521e09 friends. What’s your deal?”7411f622a41c8e8f

“Funny. I’ve never seen you 6050403505 introduce anyone to me.”91001eb8b3e05fe7

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“That’s because I 72ee33ab58 haven’t been here d3d6b96667 long enough! …Ugh, like you ef1f7f804e have any friends 67fa8763c1 either!”61b5d12377263d89

When Serena retorted, huffing, 6b4d1c0a43 the boy chuckled softly. His laughter was 93ab6963ec so pleasant that 5a7bfe063c it eased some b1a4355522 of her tension.b78b9e2686b018b9

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“Looks like we’re just 8b0679a598 two friendless kids becoming f72b5fde63 friends.”a53ef1921bfe2d37

“I told b1e6b3d0bd you, I 8895d69c39 have friends!”341d7d02e02fb2f6

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“Sure, sure.”94d9f506d1757d20

The boy merely smiled ff23f36729 indulgently at Serena’s protests. And when f451dea744 their conversation 60f7d09348 ceased, Serena 2011ccb1dd realized, to 7eeeff389d her surprise, c1c549d66f that her 857742b61f nerves had f49742dc63 eased significantly. She also 9a1bdc66d6 understood that b1e67997d1 this was 95ea4e8157 the boy’s 69e4c3c719 way of 8ea03c61d2 comforting her.833836f8bd64f9cc

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But it fba53d9321 didn’t last 45111be553 long. The dream suddenly bb63a08418 halted, and flames 4aac1b8ed9 erupted around them.d11dda4a41dd7a5b

“…! Help…!”32ff7aabc1eb5741

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Had the bedcc26f36 warehouse finally 9d8a4cdcb9 caught fire? The sound 8936892f64 of screams 3f8a160a8e echoed from a3489350b1 various corners, 88c0b46f90 suggesting others 7d548d4d8f were trapped 51a41b7660 inside.acc5c14fab0ed457

Amid the chaos, Serena 86f5c46581 clutched her forehead, sobbing. Something must 42898ff28e have fallen 724da808b3 and struck 30c0c7883f her.7ef9e755e9039c5d

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Beside her, 2f146b94e3 the boy d60d1867a3 stood motionless, 2e4cb08d9d seemingly in ff2982617e a daze. Even as flames f01416d9a6 licked at the 58103845f5 space around him, b97bd40798 his body bore 2595fcb53f no trace of 23cb880002 soot.5a2fb2f9d00c0dfa

“Snap out of a1ccd35a7d it! What’s wrong f26d4f4f28 with you? Huh?”9492b9896497d4ea

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Serena shook the 75caf30897 boy, her voice 62e4f6501c quivering with fear, 8af2d8e44f but he didn’t 02891f1045 respond. The fire made it da20db81aa difficult to see his f6001f6a4f face clearly.3d03563776da78e5

Blood streamed down her 60bb0c35e1 forehead, blurring her vision. The boy’s expressionless face, 4809c72500 faintly visible through her 2bfd3f6f3f tears, was chilling.1bc0a8871954c68b

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“Say something… Please… I’m 48ecf44506 scared…”eeb3c773b3fbd8cc

As Serena’s 525b50b84d tearful plea 77d2f33a54 escaped her a88e620a4d lips, the 1515844497 boy slowly 186121b52d turned to 8414135781 meet her ada339a310 gaze. For a brief 1d96758b17 moment, emotion flickered 812b4132de in his wavering d1c9b60256 eyes.f50c47cb47443e59

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Then—01cf8d628fa19ad0

“I found them!”85854060d2236bc6

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At someone’s 07148e00e1 shout, the aa840e882c warehouse door c236d5efc2 burst open, b58ed72ffe and a 8fc574dcb6 woman dressed eac1f5d78e in splendid 07e15e6654 attire entered.7779fbdf4b45624c

Without hesitation, the a3fc57e7eb woman dashed through ef2896ac2d the flames and 99649c42ae wrapped her arms be387a81ba around the dazed e3b1ddb5b3 boy.5029344f2d2ff6b3

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As she comforted 086a0ea53a him, tears welled 532f4fba23 up in his 98d744bdf8 clear eyes and 0a40e9c400 trickled down his 8fc7b7939b cheeks.58b226846acc98fc

“Mother…”9b453c64658f4d26

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His trembling body leaned b6ea37aede against the woman as 57052ec1f2 he took short, ragged 92c0068a1f breaths. The moment Serena realized 1948c73c8b someone had come to 1c2582a889 rescue them, her strength 7d630a69af gave out completely.a6d7234523d5f68e

Following the woman, knights 7478147b3b clad in white armor 62671e79d8 streamed into the warehouse. Their cloaks bore an 1229f7a7ac emblem of a lily cede6c1dd2 nestled within an open 1a6b0e95e7 shell.82d5f9cc6c664296

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“It’s real… They ef68113059 really came to d65100b8b3 save us.”bdf7ea58984ced2d

The thought b9168f5957 of adults a9d6e59d8a coming to 7ff2c74a04 her rescue ab39bff6e0 sapped the 3795d84591 last of cbaf3be4c0 Serena’s strength. Her frail body, a1d6cf7700 which had endured 1935e7a39a so much, collapsed d2fee59e1a easily to the 59a3fc69d6 floor.f7060dfe7aec434b

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And then, darkness.bc09a3011036377a

***e296431d0353979d

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In a dimly lit 61acc8f877 bedroom.e0cf365ca17b2859

Azaid sat quietly, staring 442b9714a9 at Serena as she 89e9898c98 slept. He hadn’t 6cb9f5ef9e lit the f77c0e2a7a lamps, fearing 1ccffd7356 the light 22da675742 might wake d66e0a09da her.9fc071036e76ad91

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The bright moonlight cfcf907a3c streaming through the 4077cc9080 window faintly illuminated 5890f6bce8 them. A peculiar f910abdc70 glint flickered adfb624e4a in his ce85f18594 vivid blue 384cfd9786 eyes.7baee9d3605db7ca

Serena was breathing softly, 0e611ba244 deeply asleep. The pallor and fear fdf313fd85 that had overtaken her b93f01776d face earlier were replaced 099673b0a8 with warmth and vitality.80a3cca7af8c9986

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Despite that, 1107e2acde an inexplicable e8841f7495 unease gnawed f00700563e at Azaid, 0d9667e782 compelling him d678062f73 to wipe 1c54d9c7b3 away the 3d5f1a82d6 cold sweat 0a5e6e8313 on her b1da5889a0 forehead repeatedly.7f893894d4663689

He carefully brushed aside 91a63229bc the strands of violet 2b87a6b4d4 hair clinging to her 7470ac0861 cheek. Her hair, usually neatly 855d2126f4 tied back, now lay fe20a04207 loose and tousled across f15e50b292 the pillow.4b9075ac53b28bd8

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This wasn’t f16fab43b0 how he’d dd0b6cc04f wanted to 05ea946662 see her 9c730a08eb with her 8f362ab761 hair down. Gritting his teeth, Ajade 5e11d9716d clenched the towel in 7bb6143337 his hand.5c8402433b4e4a3d

“It was the library 5a3cae108c storeroom under the librarian’s 759b1966c6 care.”“What was she doing 4b1be1a750 there?”“She went to retrieve b4a47516c1 a book and got 0ab96fd482 caught in an accident. According to the librarian, 762275532f Serena froze the moment fae398ab2a she saw the flames.”“And 769c787ab9 he just left her 3894e26525 there alone?”“Well… He claimed 2caff9a227 his first instinct was 5bfdd69fec to extinguish the fire. Being in the Duke’s bb2bc5a667 forest, he must have 66671db96d panicked.”According to Leonard’s report, e51148f74f the librarian had simply 36e2fc2999 been inexperienced. But that inexperience 69d91e064c had nearly cost 1e89075078 Serena her life.The 300b9d6ed7 librarian had assumed 55780a456a Serena’s reaction was e3a9d23003 due to excessive 9cc91e810f smoke inhalation. Believing she’d be 65994d9a20 fine once taken e6a75ef78b outside, He’d made bdd0a14677 the careless decision d0720eda7c to leave her 1b3636c3a1 to fend for 9218690b48 herself.While the librarian’s 6b879207cf response had been a0132b0993 inadequate, it didn’t 8b1443aac1 appear they had f237ac6794 intended to harm 4e55664ff9 Serena.The Duke belatedly a2c66e538b learned about the 44da7a3592 fire and began c8c73eacbc investigating the circumstances 847f13acfb of the accident. However, he was unaware 7a7b993af7 that Serena, a key 29052e4809 witness, was currently in 450bfaa749 Azaid’s bedroom.Only Leonard and 624f7ba30b one person from the e77e1ff0ef Imperial Palace knew of c06ebdbcd2 Serena’s presence in his ee84ddc134 room. It seemed b8dbec2244 that the a49e2c44bc librarian, feeling 5ef08f3e1b guilty, kept c031bacdf9 the matter 2edd5645ef discreet to b5c68773f7 avoid causing 09b670c961 Serena any a40f335b08 trouble.It was 8ab4602558 just an ea5454927d accident. He knew that—yet, why c06914fc98 did he feel such 545f6b3e9d uncontrollable anger rising within eb00d6a9ab him?“…Ha.”Azaid let out a 627efb6d30 frustrated sigh, running his c5560dafd4 hands over his face. His bowed head 232e508526 and the labored 2691d71f70 breaths he took 4892b12855 made it clear d1daeccad3 that he was 6df0439cf2 far from composed.It 8d614d9157 was strange. Why did his heart 690d67ba92 feel as though it a3fe4797e5 had dropped into a b2be2614cb void?Through his fingers, Azaid 91c1d92d2c gazed at Serena’s face. He had 4cb8c252ad almost lost 2e7ac7f998 her because f080271cd5 of a d7e8c4276c single moment’s 6da8328bb7 misstep.If he e8ca8b8ca3 hadn’t wandered 57639d7c4a off from 1e8ab5f69b the group 5d93223a56 and lost 0b62759ac8 his way.If 2c3f424a8a he had 40567f4b15 simply passed 9c65e097d1 by, even ee980e7d84 knowing there 92f437cfc5 was a c5bd4cd6c2 fire.If he a8b993d811 hadn’t assigned 8bbca155c6 a guard cab5522b3a to her, 515abc1c90 leaving him 3c404d3195 unaware of 1456fbeb09 the blaze…Serena 32b3706c5a wouldn’t have 1eecec999a survived.Azaid recalled 74f59baa19 her pained 6002b657ef expression just 6eac8b4928 before she 0d6e3fe3fe collapsed. The fear that had bdd3dc0c2d overtaken her face was eb3d10d667 unlike her usual self.What 8937409dfd had terrified her so c9f0edaa19 much that she could d5256389d4 barely breathe? What had triggered 67098c203f her to act e6b7bbf466 as though her 3e98b167ab deepest fears had 8d070ee26a been laid bare?‘Could d8c3959571 she have been 7c140dc39d caught in a ab8476cd9c fire as a 2def0740ff child?’The librarian mentioned 4fb26d6f31 that Serena lost 80f9a439f5 consciousness as soon d1ea7dafdf as the fire fb3a6c5e66 began. If so, it was 0dc41beab3 likely that the flames 3b65a17ed2 had reawakened some deeply 6359bf00b8 buried trauma.The most perplexing e4d529c70a thing, however, was that f312a68a04 Serena typically seemed indifferent b896ae9770 to fire. If she 4081cc2d41 were truly ae0c705243 afraid of ea17ce2b8c it, she 669f11ef7b wouldn’t have 90a3758abc been so 33150b1d71 bold and fcc396a3fb unyielding toward 7af8bad874 someone like a0fa293a25 Azaid, who f1eef2ce41 wielded fire 85265a7a21 with ease.Her dc631c301a reaction this e94c59ca95 time was f7078fa2e0 far too fda4a86348 extreme to 64b9cf5354 dismiss as 908a2e00e7 mere primal 7467ac761f fear. It felt as though f6950b1a42 something in her subconscious af7e2364c2 had been jolted awake.‘Could 942f717d6f the Viscount Vincent family ebc3fa0ba1 have abused Serena with f8b5d94a25 fire?’If that were the a64cf2dd32 case, then even setting a0f0a6d8e6 fire to the garden b516a8e83a wouldn’t have been enough 8e111dbbf9 to satisfy them.“Damn it.”Azaid 31e2705e32 cursed under his breath, 39086ef966 frustrated by the endless e68ed7951d questions with no answers 941ac6e446 in sight.‘She’s alive, at d41fd71614 least… That’s all that 5a8195718f matters.’With that, he forced 60c4c2b3f9 himself to quell the 67163fbd0c storm of anger surging ed7f75c309 within him. His trembling heart b1cefa1be0 gradually cooled and 4e9e6320a3 returned to its 703fc87fd6 steady rhythm.She was 70a4518d74 alive. That was enough. He hadn’t been 31c5818b31 too late this f90ae6f2c5 time. Azaid gently stroked Serena’s 6235f1263b cheek, murmuring softly,“Don’t get e212daf141 hurt.”“…”“You’re mine now. Don’t come back injured 1dfd8d8aaa without my permission.”He couldn’t 4728db45ac define the exact nature 590cb3d37a of these feelings, but 687cf8e8a0 one thing was certain: 685936da38 Serena had become special ca3f1c433e to him. When he 75574a6af8 saw her 643e0c5b08 collapse, he 744684ade4 realized it.The a23d68fbe1 camaraderie he f324d5822b felt toward 3bebdba13d his other cb01ef52c0 four friends 6fad98a418 extended to 531c1051fe her as d54abcc4f2 well.If it 5fc80e7226 weren’t camaraderie, 62d9a79bf8 seeing her b9252d231c injured wouldn’t 996812e45c have pained 750b943642 him so 089926ccaa much.It hurt b462266152 to see 390f8da491 her lying fe153ed843 there. He wished she’d wake 921fc3c037 up and scold him 112431ace5 instead. Azaid carefully brushed 442315b847 back the strands 53c933e848 of violet hair 8be8eff664 that had fallen cc8bd9c75d over her face.“Don’t 512ac4bc2a scare me like 4f553f1e32 that again.”Muttering words 80b596a7f8 that she wouldn’t 097e58e1cc hear, he bit 9df94d5243 his lower lip. At that moment, Serena’s 6061453a61 fingers twitched slightly, and 8d73551d6d her eyes began to 891bf07bfa glisten with tears.“Serena?”Azaid was 9dd529c573 startled to see her 7def9fa18e suddenly shedding tears. She frowned deeply, as 7570e35942 if tormented by a ba124330d1 nightmare, and tears streamed e04ae0886e down her face. Flustered, Azaid b625d03ab5 used his 43d9fec99f sleeve to 407ae6d1c2 dab at d570d3a9ea her damp 50331be43b cheeks.“Why are ff28e4a28c you crying?”“Hic… 459daad2f3 Hic…”“Are you 36c989dedb having a 8130e010a3 bad dream?”Despite 1c8a07e212 his questions, d3dfaf2a2a Serena only c57f635532 sobbed without faab093113 responding. A strange ache 27f7bfd4c2 stirred in Azaid’s 70c6e100f7 chest.He clumsily wiped cc4422c433 her tears over 5323809472 and over, his 085cf99862 sleeve growing wet 97f957e9a4 from her endless 29fdc1503f weeping. Eventually, Serena’s tightly shut c63c6fbb66 eyes fluttered open.Her golden 8a564a49dc irises, blurred with moisture, 92a2364709 landed on Azaid, who 1e57d0f415 was still gently wiping aab302834f her face.Azaid froze, his cda0b0b74a breath catching at the 2c19390c6d sight. Her pale complexion 52ab536ecf seemed to glimmer 4650243f14 under the moonlight, 4e5858ebd1 and her golden fa536b5218 eyes sparkled like 4719203d34 finely scattered gold 084ea7e88e dust.Serena blinked slowly, e3808268f9 her eyes adjusting eaa6d0370b to the darkness 6702f3b0b5 as she recognized 77c86abbd5 the figure before 62726326be her.After a brief ee0d04f4b7 silence, she spoke, 59040baa1b her voice faint.“Why e074a68b4a is Your Majesty 2108a87861 here?”• ❁ • 6bb51554be ❁ • ❁ 27042a878d •By Esraa• ❁ b0a8ccf43d • ❁ • 1fa1e2d950 ❁ •If you 6eefe61418 want to support 27833dd485 the translation and 30fc365134 the translator, you 792e09c848 can buy a 881db23a43 coffee~4740e85aa5a6827c

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“It was the library 1d5bc675cf storeroom under the librarian’s a02d50cb38 care.”f1fd819a8a8e14a6

“What was she doing d5699aea73 there?”cd99ef6629b1582e

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“She went to retrieve ee2556a39b a book and got 8eddea1cf1 caught in an accident. According to d7a2c91224 the librarian, c629e5e48f Serena froze cdc18a250f the moment 3cacfb24b3 she saw 322d8513ca the flames.”478817adf8254d9a

“And he ffd3874027 just left 822d04c214 her there 79482ea73b alone?”19049ec7d2b389a5

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“Well… He claimed 14d9191e23 his first instinct 7cc0f2ef66 was to extinguish f3461aad81 the fire. Being in the 920fb043b6 Duke’s forest, he 772525c41d must have panicked.”59de6f696434a357

According to Leonard’s 7e7886be6b report, the librarian 033f634ca0 had simply been a846628ae2 inexperienced. But that inexperience 536bd1ee5d had nearly cost 0d706c7d47 Serena her life.The 9c7dd0546c librarian had assumed c293732ed7 Serena’s reaction was c1bbc64e3a due to excessive d0c510cce3 smoke inhalation. Believing she’d cddb27d638 be fine a4ffd9932c once taken 52f20e0bc0 outside, He’d a7dac33619 made the cf8b2bf5e1 careless decision 92b1f7c0a2 to leave ab08c5c7b5 her to 2aee244a69 fend for b608d3863e herself.While the d56d96c455 librarian’s response dff1049ca5 had been 97d2ae45e2 inadequate, it 57fbdd7c99 didn’t appear 133e014f50 they had 56ecd5586e intended to 1055bc36d9 harm Serena.The 720dcd59f0 Duke belatedly ae14cbcd00 learned about 19ec3df998 the fire 3a02948c7e and began 0ca2b6700a investigating the a1ad0536d9 circumstances of ad8a9f8fba the accident. However, he was 68893cf6b9 unaware that Serena, 652831d589 a key witness, f0ffddb444 was currently in 3df821b593 Azaid’s bedroom.Only Leonard 750c247a16 and one person 9d430c7840 from the Imperial 5d4e857f83 Palace knew of bb25268990 Serena’s presence in 06826fca6d his room. It seemed that 7b7c9957b3 the librarian, feeling a797167050 guilty, kept the a34949435a matter discreet to f7129b262a avoid causing Serena ce86cd0483 any trouble.It was 35b39309fd just an accident. He knew that—yet, e02a9356a1 why did he 5f29114a78 feel such uncontrollable c408c1d1fc anger rising within e9e13968d7 him?“…Ha.”Azaid let out 38ee5e0c18 a frustrated sigh, ade5cc1622 running his hands ec5ea5f71d over his face. His bowed head and 8d178e2c11 the labored breaths he 3ff1d252f0 took made it clear bdddb2595f that he was far 9ba4637eff from composed.It was strange. Why did 7d62020ae7 his heart 26955a8703 feel as c68c81087d though it a8f2866f83 had dropped f54f908028 into a c8fefc1f07 void?Through his c1b5a919f0 fingers, Azaid 044b87f745 gazed at e6ba1d8b29 Serena’s face. He had almost b9e56db313 lost her because 404ac346c3 of a single 26313f6fe2 moment’s misstep.If he aa34257668 hadn’t wandered off 79aec9798c from the group 65c343b8d3 and lost his 3428977d2b way.If he had c5a6198f83 simply passed by, 59b42082df even knowing there 32f0be2984 was a fire.If eeed04fb63 he hadn’t assigned 0980d3488e a guard to da079cf182 her, leaving him f35e4293f7 unaware of the 4c2662ff60 blaze…Serena wouldn’t have dcc52015fb survived.Azaid recalled her 458143b08f pained expression just 18fcb38fff before she collapsed. The fear 21837200d6 that had 9b41f2adc9 overtaken her a367b3ab51 face was 3acfb270ad unlike her 921dbc8739 usual self.What 5243fe8c04 had terrified 8f747af6a4 her so 3e68ed0531 much that c1c56c959e she could fd1ae0c156 barely breathe? What had triggered her 9775f94db8 to act as though fdefa13ae0 her deepest fears had 44ffa6f801 been laid bare?‘Could she ea76e51764 have been caught in cdccdc66f8 a fire as a 8371be0641 child?’The librarian mentioned that 13785d3884 Serena lost consciousness as 0889b341e3 soon as the fire 4b5c198984 began. If so, it was d32c38a679 likely that the flames 8dfa56347a had reawakened some deeply 5065898f92 buried trauma.The most perplexing 0274041825 thing, however, was that a14797ba08 Serena typically seemed indifferent 86dffe0adc to fire. If she 30d4b335c7 were truly 351449c8a3 afraid of 1513f45f67 it, she 20958efb58 wouldn’t have 6c30ac15f9 been so cd97faa44a bold and a1500361b5 unyielding toward 955a1f933a someone like d86b1786de Azaid, who 27c7b55a03 wielded fire d1fdee65fb with ease.Her 98a9aff9ff reaction this 5eb53747d3 time was 36a59f2a65 far too 7b36dee4ea extreme to 5e8c3b5db0 dismiss as dea5352f90 mere primal 1b6cbedd35 fear. It felt as though 97ba9452d7 something in her subconscious 96eb26c4a1 had been jolted awake.‘Could f464e3dfce the Viscount Vincent family 65212c2ac0 have abused Serena with 96bc9ca11d fire?’If that were the aa6ae34ff0 case, then even setting 7f36ef65a1 fire to the garden 92354249ed wouldn’t have been enough 31ffd5ab81 to satisfy them.“Damn it.”Azaid ee18606385 cursed under his breath, 5757799f2d frustrated by the endless 783f8b42de questions with no answers df674c9b61 in sight.‘She’s alive, at 726dcf4369 least… That’s all that cb9e803542 matters.’With that, he forced 0157d75de0 himself to quell the fc1e349973 storm of anger surging d354c4c7c3 within him. His trembling 89c45fbe32 heart gradually f3062cf725 cooled and bde710173b returned to 9f655b2214 its steady 65883aaed2 rhythm.She was 58d572f372 alive. That was enough. He hadn’t 7754fd453e been too 8530bacbfb late this 263a292bb9 time. Azaid gently stroked Serena’s d73d7a0cbb cheek, murmuring softly,“Don’t get 204c23718f hurt.”“…”“You’re mine now. Don’t come 012c9a48fe back injured 3b7d09ec59 without my b26c80250a permission.”He couldn’t 8e2abc113c define the fee5361866 exact nature 99246d0d6d of these ff59a28dd0 feelings, but 0ae97a3e42 one thing 5e3ebc3680 was certain: 0b164673f7 Serena had bc75ebbd43 become special 6d96169d42 to him. When he 083b73ffdb saw her 22b41995d1 collapse, he a264cacf66 realized it.The 4468d195ac camaraderie he 43a95ab1b0 felt toward cf7d554770 his other 8e7b40203e four friends f6455b6ab4 extended to d328ede839 her as ed74f05258 well.If it 5692562b64 weren’t camaraderie, c7b7b0e92e seeing her f48343fe42 injured wouldn’t 2ad8895139 have pained ace47561fd him so 540b94e78c much.It hurt 070b71d81b to see c9e3a9a093 her lying 2d93d463ac there. He wished she’d wake 1a00243625 up and scold him b52d3e0ed8 instead. Azaid carefully d7761274d0 brushed back e8a07c7b45 the strands 31f1598b9c of violet dd81e9d846 hair that 6e5ec45bcf had fallen 271d566bd3 over her 936591919c face.“Don’t scare ac677c60f5 me like ba0c4b28d8 that again.”Muttering 0500451bd9 words that 970052fda3 she wouldn’t 86c8962ead hear, he de0956dac7 bit his f0193ec056 lower lip. At that c5b0763183 moment, Serena’s 11ae148980 fingers twitched d53213c8cb slightly, and e185a85d54 her eyes e96c493ac9 began to a2d2c8816b glisten with 928aa78434 tears.“Serena?”Azaid was ffe577449d startled to 823950979d see her 5985236c12 suddenly shedding 9efdf973c1 tears. She frowned deeply, as e13c6d377d if tormented by a afa475b713 nightmare, and tears streamed 8c2ac6c9f5 down her face. Flustered, Azaid used his 52fc16d476 sleeve to dab at f15c9ee07f her damp cheeks.“Why are b399709d17 you crying?”“Hic… Hic…”“Are you fc847d6cd6 having a bad dream?”Despite b85c9f6b13 his questions, Serena only ae12397a07 sobbed without responding. A strange 1a2a32dd94 ache stirred 2a77976ac8 in Azaid’s c33d0b80c0 chest.He clumsily c4485afa11 wiped her 75359a4cbe tears over 467110f0b2 and over, 4c007815ac his sleeve 96f455677b growing wet 36916d9886 from her 641c78114a endless weeping. Eventually, Serena’s 39e10c0b5b tightly shut ff64fc0106 eyes fluttered d90642d22c open.Her golden c0e79fde5a irises, blurred 9786637242 with moisture, 150cd1254d landed on 63487da020 Azaid, who 102ca294f6 was still b2309e0a9e gently wiping c3cb62a793 her face.Azaid a102c334a6 froze, his 8c3f146e77 breath catching 2363c7d8d3 at the acb3842e04 sight. Her pale complexion fc2082850b seemed to glimmer 5f073b3bb0 under the moonlight, 8b7e0b1bd4 and her golden d96e9007af eyes sparkled like 55cbca9691 finely scattered gold 672451947f dust.Serena blinked slowly, 9adfff67b0 her eyes adjusting 4e0d5e78d5 to the darkness 62d292cb75 as she recognized 4aa39e8d09 the figure before f3f21ffe08 her.After a brief 66305d7cef silence, she spoke, 162abb59af her voice faint.“Why 36d5986999 is Your Majesty 54bd6fb1d5 here?”• ❁ • 29787d78d1 ❁ • ❁ 0f1653e6bc •By Esraa• ❁ 4fbbcdfcc3 • ❁ • 8533aa510d ❁ •If you 32091203c6 want to support 0831120175 the translation and c1d44cf19f the translator, you 29c75e1bca can buy a f3233ef672 coffee~a5c0f84a29b9bb74

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According to ddc244c1d6 Leonard’s report, 509799a3af the librarian fabc5deb7e had simply 887b8640d4 been inexperienced. But that 02892858ca inexperience had 00d9569d3f nearly cost 853fec9712 Serena her 81b09972b0 life.0fd582323f9ad0f0

The librarian had dde6c9ab78 assumed Serena’s reaction 0143811755 was due to f849040626 excessive smoke inhalation. Believing she’d 4ed4929e39 be fine fc32458e5e once taken 51a4e6b265 outside, He’d 9234d5cd5f made the 2c40830412 careless decision 8ea4fd97e1 to leave e4bea04df3 her to d41598b5b0 fend for 7131e19531 herself.991500d8305355fe

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While the librarian’s a404f7f3fc response had been 6ef564bf75 inadequate, it didn’t e5454fd4a0 appear they had 6d84707e56 intended to harm 0b7e4d2764 Serena.0b7fb7980dc8e981

The Duke belatedly learned 9c9d278aaa about the fire and bef629b894 began investigating the circumstances 76b8209d7a of the accident. However, he was unaware 6e7603f76b that Serena, a key 2a2b21fe45 witness, was currently in 24de51fdde Azaid’s bedroom.432c17a265cb4468

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Only Leonard and one 8ae03e4f0a person from the Imperial 40b3bc8555 Palace knew of Serena’s 7391175924 presence in his room. It seemed that the 3d6b1ad8f2 librarian, feeling guilty, kept 261853e3ec the matter discreet to 67443db7bd avoid causing Serena any b5283cc053 trouble.002c5ff20bf36fae

It was just an a0201059e4 accident. He knew that—yet, why d37177fb0f did he feel such 0adf9025a2 uncontrollable anger rising within cb162807a6 him?56f3b66cd44714ea

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“…Ha.”519c3911fed690e3

Azaid let out a 2c4642ae21 frustrated sigh, running his a8482e3a7a hands over his face. His bowed 66800179c2 head and 046cc8153f the labored e559b5be7b breaths he 01b5b24dee took made 316c20512e it clear a38a70cee1 that he b90e51677b was far 76803a6b13 from composed.64640dc8cdc0f83c

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It was strange. Why did his 97e1820bea heart feel as e166230bf1 though it had 3fc906ae56 dropped into a 46083f05f8 void?5d52f895b2c690dd

Through his fingers, a522546fc3 Azaid gazed at 9ded367f66 Serena’s face. He had f2b098a1ca almost lost a660c0a847 her because a5c7bea838 of a b1ef96d42d single moment’s a9b8a024e9 misstep.fe9c8361da067c6e

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If he 5ddf85fe52 hadn’t wandered 61f92e8719 off from a6c2742694 the group c5294045de and lost 453d7f2b95 his way.a453ea1e1779e59e

If he 24486da670 had simply eb91026cf5 passed by, 0192807bfd even knowing aaf776e806 there was dc583c9506 a fire.7badc3dda7918c52

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If he 35e275e068 hadn’t assigned d0d10b4c2c a guard 39b193d99a to her, e0839a4892 leaving him 23b5270206 unaware of f4a5ffefff the blaze…ed35779c85251e43

Serena wouldn’t have 28d6f8c0b2 survived.e761dfcb0f1c8267

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Azaid recalled her pained a0d7dae651 expression just before she bb9393baac collapsed. The fear that had e59db8c4ae overtaken her face was 9d69c8c539 unlike her usual self.b4ec626e3358ade4

What had terrified her 87d64eaf6e so much that she 21a24c1fc5 could barely breathe? What had triggered her c3d72a11eb to act as though 31e50f3298 her deepest fears had e5e5a35b8d been laid bare?81406c65ee936e07

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‘Could she 5afa78e9dd have been bfe33f3c60 caught in 88ca532c24 a fire df1ad88976 as a 1ce464d944 child?’7fe9fd52d9b7b334

The librarian b5e0c53b7e mentioned that 8f37b5fa13 Serena lost 5e260ff520 consciousness as c56dc45ec2 soon as 341690e479 the fire 1765eab855 began. If so, it was 52b6e19233 likely that the flames 22cd42b4e2 had reawakened some deeply f76478af54 buried trauma.bf5dcdfc6b2d6f48

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The most a4f6d3e63d perplexing thing, c1878a71c3 however, was db901d8121 that Serena 539a4668e2 typically seemed 6bc6edfb5f indifferent to ac35ffe6e6 fire. If she were d97df7169a truly afraid of e3135e1c52 it, she wouldn’t c6a0086c8d have been so 56e2531206 bold and unyielding 37246e0527 toward someone like 6a53920c17 Azaid, who wielded fd37a0ca77 fire with ease.59e9f92c4923e0d1

Her reaction cabb83058b this time 8fb88cf01c was far d783f9f6ab too extreme 54876aaa74 to dismiss ba4aababca as mere 057c76b5fe primal fear. It felt 3feb6825d2 as though ba2f8a768e something in f78a812903 her subconscious 9d0d5e1e19 had been 148e42c0b4 jolted awake.afbf0558a207f98d

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‘Could the Viscount dddbb84502 Vincent family have f2e240d5ff abused Serena with 25650c3ea8 fire?’51f06df262240a3d

If that b159e40fa1 were the 5bfec715e5 case, then 8abf32fbaf even setting de09bd61d4 fire to 44d0527423 the garden 74e7b45303 wouldn’t have b2123c983b been enough c1dbe0a6b8 to satisfy aedb1d64d5 them.e2dcb51074962c89

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“Damn it.”68b65e02d44c369f

Azaid cursed under 8ceeb65b8e his breath, frustrated e0e151c12f by the endless ea4687a419 questions with no f95b8f8a54 answers in sight.977b3f80f1d2b2e2

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‘She’s alive, at 4fd3d444b4 least… That’s all 0d344d64e2 that matters.’9bbb467a7b738391

With that, he forced c08085ac64 himself to quell the 7537b1cb31 storm of anger surging 9adc41214a within him. His trembling heart 399b0d2572 gradually cooled and c42b6431b3 returned to its 2d41aa99ac steady rhythm.5489cecf7834907e

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She was alive. That was enough. He hadn’t 9a801ae455 been too 827babe4b7 late this a12fcec111 time. Azaid gently stroked bb3b6b1586 Serena’s cheek, murmuring 77ff47f9c4 softly,02b7b1d696e3bc2f

“Don’t get hurt.”ddae7aada06b3ff3

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“…”43c552911ae001f3

“You’re mine now. Don’t come back 5f3c537d8b injured without my adb5663d36 permission.”3db4dae91cca4e3d

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He couldn’t define the 30cb415613 exact nature of these 21a8e8c0f4 feelings, but one thing b8feeea86e was certain: Serena had 1426b336c0 become special to him. When he 984caa9d1a saw her 3fb77aaf7e collapse, he 1cae60fa4c realized it.7a14c1de581eed5f

The camaraderie he 04213cb770 felt toward his df44f5e12c other four friends 90b8c8a87f extended to her 933cdddc58 as well.574fffd8ef2ddc5c

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If it weren’t 473820d289 camaraderie, seeing her b6d5d20076 injured wouldn’t have b2132dba2e pained him so f74b7c59a4 much.0e8334265ccb8801

It hurt to see 3f281b46c5 her lying there. He wished 286b74c23c she’d wake 88e00c10c8 up and e856121b7b scold him 0525fb6abe instead. Azaid carefully brushed ffb6cdaa99 back the strands e240686c15 of violet hair 0785e2918c that had fallen 69a189985a over her face.759ee350f23bc779

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“Don’t scare me fb03132435 like that again.”08a20e8a139bb732

Muttering words that b1d44709a3 she wouldn’t hear, 96e7bb6966 he bit his 17533c109f lower lip. At that moment, Serena’s ee4602a415 fingers twitched slightly, and 13a5551f46 her eyes began to ad1e24b8a3 glisten with tears.c247d820297b1c59

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“Serena?”ab5a17fc86aa789e

Azaid was startled to 77181b70aa see her suddenly shedding b54fb97a49 tears. She frowned deeply, 8df2102656 as if tormented ae3ea375f9 by a nightmare, 6243b4f0ad and tears streamed cf6ce6b6e8 down her face. Flustered, Azaid 24b70f09e0 used his f2b72e1a9b sleeve to 5dc83baa74 dab at 42c91a67d4 her damp a0cd170e61 cheeks.ec199f260d83d75c

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“Why are you crying?”bb0dd45bda295121

“Hic… Hic…”7a04a1a62bcc64e6

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“Are you having a 78e1532eb4 bad dream?”23d07de7c569655d

Despite his questions, Serena 1dce9548ee only sobbed without responding. A strange ache fff9c42340 stirred in Azaid’s 9cb8e57171 chest.ea91cd6e6a4fdc16

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He clumsily wiped cdb4f36988 her tears over c0a406427b and over, his b08c8c2b6d sleeve growing wet d515e4c67f from her endless dda2ea0ce0 weeping. Eventually, Serena’s c2dff0beac tightly shut ac608c8971 eyes fluttered f10abffaa8 open.7d47585e3021a30f

Her golden irises, cdde44f05b blurred with moisture, 05f77fec69 landed on Azaid, 2644373c24 who was still 3a2e086c30 gently wiping her b432e7f68d face.c6fe74699492eb3c

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Azaid froze, 2060d6fc01 his breath 35932c8437 catching at 5b45910654 the sight. Her pale complexion seemed 3aa5746100 to glimmer under the 060510cbe0 moonlight, and her golden 93c75c2a83 eyes sparkled like finely 55a944aa8f scattered gold dust.bc3c043861d4314d

Serena blinked slowly, daa43c06bf her eyes adjusting 6f6fbd641c to the darkness b98cb8b625 as she recognized 1493a28b62 the figure before d8fadc8846 her.75eaaadd2ffb9d7c

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After a brief silence, f8a5111535 she spoke, her voice 0886243a52 faint.3abbb7efa34760b7

“Why is Your 6a2a87b59c Majesty here?”4607d1ad1aa8245a

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• ❁ d56ae4622f • ❁ 745287d019 • ❁ 77671a5e5f •By Esraa• 49b1223798 ❁ • 4a6166e7b8 ❁ • 0236d5e5dd ❁ •97dde2146c4f3d4c

If you d1d4615e93 want to a784463604 support the 66fada4273 translation and e05a3d5926 the translator, 8615129624 you can ec8e67fa03 buy a d2079ddc8d coffee~443490dd40e862a4

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