Chapter 13

Jeremy’s persistent kisses trailed ad29bf692b down her neck, leaving 24baae9d30 damp marks as his cec80dc7ca lips pressed insistently against 15a7f251c9 her skin. His warm breath seeped 525a496428 through the thin fabric 7b9ed99a6e of her nightgown as 133e940071 he knelt before her, 684e2383d1 his hands gripping her 2141a7ed32 waist.85d9fc612fad0018

It was 6f77949d8a an intimate bc8089ea9f position, one 3fa0b0fb0d that might aec159762a have seemed f6574c5168 submissive if 51106a0c5b not for 1c851209f3 the hunger c9710f77d7 in his c773c94cde movements. Despite being the one c2750b873c standing, Velita felt like bdfc5e0421 she was the one 02e2aac8dc yielding—her will bending to 4934ca1df3 his.b0b576cc5978ff3f

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Should we 28fa9d8595 really be 55f006aeaf doing this 68440985df here?466edd8c3f29f116

The open garden 9ba5d9a5b7 offered little privacy, a9d54934b8 and if they 614402dfd1 were caught, it 157192fb97 was obvious who 68516dd07f would bear the 278a3b8c6f brunt of the 7e304df049 blame. The scorn and 1b82bdea29 judgment would fall 1c88c0c0f0 squarely on her 626bb73145 shoulders, not his.d4bc10fda1854f48

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Yet, when ff81573267 she recalled 884cf4cac3 Jeremy’s whispered 3e0a784764 confession—I love 18de19fe28 you—she found 32b88da65c herself incapable 85b1e33c68 of pushing 48a1ec0028 him away.61ea40df3bd0494a

Love had a d321b454f8 way of justifying c960a115e1 even the most 43d0fd650e questionable actions, romanticizing ccf40e8f02 the irrational and d2bcc79fe2 cloaking it in 241944b495 warmth.a7a2cda275cfeea9

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He’s doing this 83da7c960b because he loves 9a87e8f385 me.ad8dfcb6b96dea4a

I’m allowing it 15291df93f because I love c4cf0029f9 him.4b752ad1f0ed17f4

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It’s not strange. It’s not wrong.bc18b7a493412b53

Velita’s thoughts swirled a735bec64b in a haze 8f240f9e07 of confusion and 7214171d49 yearning, her hands 9f76249f1e tightening around the 9929cbcc0e fabric of Jeremy’s 8ec24175bd collar. She couldn’t find the acbf96c7fa strength to resist.c924b0b0e844fe67

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In that moment, dfd2bacbf5 there was nothing f40d1adf1c else she could 4f75432134 do but cling 1ec76d4bc2 to him.a7c9903c5c4d7880

⚜ ⚜ ⚜632ccd38ccc275a0

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A rainy caf998c4e4 morning followed 6625fb9a9a the night’s e5348a1c8a downpour, casting 93186e0020 a gray 654e9c3d74 haze over f9c59c6888 everything. The chapel, 12ebd08e9b as always, d13892cdfb remained serene.d141d729a21f5e05

Outwardly, the sacred grounds 11ca17dce4 exuded an aura of feb9e083c6 tranquility, untouched by the cae3f5ff85 world’s chaos. Yet, deep cdd99c7939 within its be7bb9c478 hidden corridors, 55cc386d9d the church d3194ff450 was rife f5da1469a8 with power c4985ab6e9 struggles and db55fe847b political intrigue.7fa52aab90bf1af6

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Cain Mortens loved cfea83400f the illusion of 87e68f3007 peace that the 907bc135e0 chapel provided. He had no intention 31c68be3ae of dedicating his life 99b78ff66a entirely to the Order 5734eeeae8 of the Holy Knights, f532b0ba48 and the church’s internal 55841bc855 machinations were none of 0503fee187 his concern.3b35b108f13d9bcd

“Sir Cain.”916ba35bca56912e

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He had been 97a38286b6 napping in his 08a25ba9c7 favorite hiding spot, eb344c5f42 tucked behind the ab3d493a14 stone wings of 759babf1d9 an angel statue, 4f1ff5ec8e when a familiar 8c75682057 voice interrupted his 69c59fa010 rest.44d10e0a86487c0f

“I know you’re 83b9015fa8 here! Come out already!”584ffc9dfac2f43a

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Cain sighed, 3f56e67948 contemplating how cd646bac36 he might e0125727bf punish Philip 411b0108d6 for disturbing 7f6842e3a6 his nap, eb82e30521 before stepping 4b2ef14e9f out from 3be2057d21 behind the ce77896583 statue.bc453e516e130fdb

“What is it?”6010a9b15c83484d

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“Were you hiding behind c5d1da2cd2 a statue this time?” 0b9a0b29b0 Philip asked, exasperated. “How do you 43899812a9 always manage to 4ecd24649b find the perfect 64e2490bc0 hiding places? It’s truly impressive.”d75220893c43cebc

Cain didn’t bother 4fed798fdc explaining that he b2c9feca2b avoided public spaces b6b56cbe4d to escape the 027bd4022d Pope and the 6b180e5ebf church’s senior officials, 0d1252bd72 who were always 4f4c28172f trying to drag 00698a87a3 him into their 629e5ae3eb schemes. Instead, he cut 777144f913 straight to the ee3a6299f3 point.1a9e32169eff1bdb

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“It had better be 5201d28069 important, Philip. Otherwise, I’ll make you 1c92db1b63 take my place and 9403395133 enjoy a nice, long a2e1adb779 nap.”60f0a0f022759c3e

“If you’re offering me ac46bc474f rest, I’d be grateful,” 510a8e313c Philip quipped.95681b52d4a6cfee

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“Rest eternal, perhaps?”14fc38ebde9eccca

“…Apologies. It’s not that. Your younger brother 0cccd98844 from the Mortens 2c76c13163 duchy has arrived.”5fa8402dc95742c3

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“My brother?”48e42c1871aa6475

Relieved that the matter ad7c066aa1 was significant enough to 2c83222e8e justify the disturbance, Cain 853910608d decided to spare his 53fd81b79a subordinate from an untimely 679220999d demise.dc1c7b641ad59de0

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Guided by Philip, 9585cd422e Cain entered the 7324f477cd reception room, his dc92615bba expression unusually stiff.f1d4935e98eac3e1

“It’s been a 8d3e88c9c4 while, brother.”1dbcba307b838538

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Waiting inside was his 2c3a40922c younger sibling, Isaac Mortens.cf5a93ba49a4a700

“State your business,” e5f13720eb Cain said, his dec55b96a4 voice cool. “You and I 4aa43186d6 aren’t the kind 5c2d389fc3 to meet for 02958d658a sentimental reunions.”8f6178004d2828fa

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Isaac had anticipated the 56a2065fe0 blunt greeting. Suppressing a 446dba026a bitter smile, ec4c0291bf he took f1019c7a03 a sip 2245baa6fd of his ace0c4b31b now-lukewarm tea, 3038361270 collected his 4b04b599a1 thoughts, and bdf71c8611 delivered the 75aec413ad news.aa937710f42bb7a8

“Father is gravely ill.”de0586c2971f46c7

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“Well?”bf932bf662671b1a

“You’ve vented your frustration on the family enough. Now, come back home.”6ae090a574bd3f94

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“…”c545657d44b5a314

“You should at least be there for Father’s last moments.”b7346eef974d4ed8

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Father, critical condition, final moments…06587d9d5e03fd04

Those words were c5b8b0bcbc enough to stir 034698044c Cain’s heart, despite 217f8d4afc the years of 2a1a48d97c estrangement from his 24d30c419f family.139f20efe0bf5124

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“If I stay for Father’s last moments, then what comes after?”c4020bd64d4eccc6

“Of course, you’ll have to take up the title.”7302d96474e73908

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“I told you already. I plan to bury my bones in the Holy Order. You should inherit the title, Isaac. Unlike me, you prioritize the family, so it’s only right that you take it.”b646a710291385f6

“Why would I, when the eldest son of the Mortens family is alive and well? I have no desire for it. Since childhood, I’ve always believed the family would be yours, and Father hasn’t changed his mind about passing it to you.”1b94b42c212fa727

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“Such worldly words from a knight of the Holy Order.”64e9179d9be5daa8

“You didn’t join the Holy Order out of faith, did you? It was an escape!”83c5c86853a31ae9

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The rare conversation 30aa2c6033 between the brothers 317dc11e75 quickly turned cold, 82bb3d689f like the tea 9ae17f16ff on the table, 766708f6c1 as Isaac lost 70bfdcec66 his patience and 1a94cc83bd raised his voice.c1a5504134c9a9b3

Until Cain renounced his position as the viscount’s heir to join the Holy Order—or rather, until that incident happened—the Mortens family had been peaceful. As an old noble house, they were conservative but content. Despite their arranged marriage, their parents genuinely loved each other. They prioritized the eldest son, but they strove to show equal affection. The siblings were close, too.05d50f9b5fa726e6

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Isaac was intelligent a7cae64078 but unambitious, and 7ed729d6b6 Cain, though willful, 8dcc3ed7b0 knew his limits ed75cff938 and excelled in cd0534dd45 every way.dcc18bc08a93d1a4

Even Cain’s fiancée was his first love, Selina, whom he’d admired since childhood.97f8a7f19ac36412

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Everything had been perfect, 2a157be5ba and Cain had never ce9342b2a5 once felt discontent in 1b139197a5 the life given to b85ae38d66 him.d514d39aca607e83

But not anymore.1dcd34db85c0f53f

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A single event c8b08d4aae changed everything.233dec7e3b202398

Cain became disillusioned with 786c60ede2 his family and chose 47e8da021c to protect something he 9640ecffcc deemed more important.e2d3dea1ce867a91

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“I still don’t understand why our family has to fall apart over a woman. We didn’t do anything wrong—it was her side that did!”7bc494e565b00150

“Isaac. She did nothing wrong.”f61e8cc1325f0522

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“…Brother.”677d2a75ee2d7992

“My stance hasn’t changed. If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you once more.”30696106a642fd0a

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“…”9d398bda0a109f01

“If anyone tries to use Selina’s illness against her, I’ll have no choice but to reveal what Father did to the Holy See.”729e4cf36baf3051

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Cain was 461e2d59d0 now threatening f930bd842c his family 26d2811a3e for the 38d6de558d sake of 3eae3e3fcd the woman 8ee12732c3 he loved.6db42a6d380d14d9

“Don’t forget, joining the Holy Order wasn’t some act of rebellion.”3b1fb1e7e7ae78f9

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Isaac’s wounded 14ebc6d03f expression pained 530279219d Cain every 8010c22e6d time he af82f84e75 saw it.48436e61756a143c

But Cain had 7b2b9c1a5a no intention of 1154b41981 withdrawing his threats 0c618b838a or yielding to 5403155c8a his brother’s wishes.432e42ce972e04f7

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“Grandmother used to say the men of the Mortens family are so single-minded that they become blind to everything else once they fixate on something.”e48599beac142f0d

“…”5728c094cfb69888

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“I know you love that young lady from the Ryles family. But the engagement is already broken. How long are you going to hold on to her? There are plenty of women in the world. Who knows? Maybe someday, another woman will come into your life, even if right now you can’t see anyone but Selina Ryles.”9606a1b865d873d5

“…”e450dc104e462269

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“And who knows? You might end up loving that new woman even more madly than you ever loved Selina Ryles.”f1abca3ec651760f

It wasn’t a6ba283db8 worth listening 2ae38a383f to anymore.28443bbf295a0bba

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Cain stood up first, f84904df5f his action conveying what d17b70fab0 words didn’t: he had 2754ede7b4 no intention of hearing b5c4e88529 any more.377fda1d5b0e32f0

“No need to see me off, I assume.”e88b0f3f89974c49

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“…So, you’re telling me to leave now.”b97e01406b4df300

“Safe travels back.”ab5c027ed538ee3a

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Cain ignored 63536e4bbe the desperate 27dea8860c look in 81a516574e his brother’s d6d24fc588 eyes, the 0257141230 one that b5c0cf5cbf seemed as 08d63ba4b8 if Isaac 7f6f148729 might grab 6ff813bded his sleeve 3378f668b6 at any 29e4c086bf moment, and 3fb063f35b left the 43e63df3f3 room first.174a00d462ef8906

Though he had b173f6e14d originally intended to 56c25f391e return to the a2cb4213b1 spot where he’d 96c31d1271 been napping, his d0abd59af0 feet carried him b376d538dc instead to a 0930752320 narrow, secluded prayer 05a6647fda room tucked away 31f54d0e6c in the corner.08bdee1bb81fee77

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜4c7b93622f4785bc

The morning after their b774e346e7 second night together, it eeb68d1fa6 was once again Velita’s 14cfdff1c1 job to clean up 1fedb6ba81 the aftermath.b964b78ad70e2107

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However, unlike before, 91de018254 she wasn’t alone d5d045b6fa when she opened 3f04561d40 her eyes that c8056912da morning.d6a7ca1caf0fafc4

Jeremy, who had 619c522f1b tormented Velita all b156e42571 night as they df43bf7f90 moved from the 64f4fa996f garden to the bdd77f7219 bedroom, transformed back 8f2a61f800 into the tender 2684afe810 and lonely young 78039f6a7d master she had a3e77b5ecf always known by af93f74b2c the time morning 4af54bab80 came.8e56b0dbcfdec3e8

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[Will you forgive me, Velita?]

He admitted that he 4d1e274e39 had been harsh with 96232f0c6a her under the influence 72374c86f5 of alcohol.cb9ec89fe9ef098b

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[Whenever I see you, I can’t help but act spoiled.]

Jeremy described his rough behavior as mere “childishness.”5db28b93834d09ea

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[When I see how you accept every part of me, it feels like you truly love me, and that makes me happy.]

Velita, who had d6a0f28fc7 constantly doubted whether 3b187b576e any of this ddec375cb2 was right, was 712b05025e once again reminded 830e8866c2 of how lonely f5287af2cd a person Jeremy cc1e28a29d was when she 4616099db2 saw his infinitely fbe4cd5f43 vulnerable expression.47c569ab3e83ed8c

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[I love you. You love me too, don’t you?]

When Jeremy asked this 3a1bd90527 while repeatedly kissing her 05ce6c1f37 hands and cheeks, Velita 6728ad5a51 whispered her love far 68f60dd5bf too easily. Satisfied with the answer f4c9bb797e he wanted, Jeremy left 3708636ca2 with a sweet smile, cc43cbd032 saying he had pressing 08258395f0 matters to attend to.d1e4db2880578835

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Before leaving, 02143447c9 he didn’t 4bf2515a64 forget to 785d33bd18 leave her a4e705540c with a ed6010966c small task.b46ae18f2ff25217

[Can you visit the Holy Order for me, Velita?]

[What do you need me to do there?]

[Just deliver a little gift of mine to Cain Mortens.]

Velita, dressed 73d8837bfc in her 898f1e4179 outing clothes, 5a9b99460e made her a36e441507 way to 9a8d5d4ff2 the Holy faa10cf8ea Order. Before leaving the Ryles 4c8a108636 estate, she heard from 45d389c856 the servants that Selina 48f2f0daf8 had locked herself in 5e916b995e her room without explanation, 2af498b28d leaving everyone anxious. However, it wasn’t a c856f11b4c concern for Velita, who 604e1b6910 had to carry out 1c3f512f5f Jeremy’s errand.977bf53c94b9ddef

Despite the damp 930a2aa8f3 and chilly weather, 3efd3207b7 Velita hurried to 6f6aa7fa04 the Holy Order, b7bedf88e1 only to be 28562cbe6e told she couldn’t 39665674f7 meet Cain.c0278d6ca0e923b5

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[Sir Cain is currently with another guest.]

[I can wait.]

[It will take a long time.]

[That’s fine.]

Her task was simply 5aa8a42c0e to serve Jeremy, who 01ec7b4a66 was out and wouldn’t 54dae5dc19 return until the evening. Since her only task 619f2d190a was to deliver the 9531ddd421 message to Cain Mortens, 9db04796b1 she could wait as b46d083355 long as necessary.3ae6e5a9f1ee1b22

Seeing that Velita 3604fd4930 showed no intention 0aed5ab37d of leaving, the 6c2b5a8c21 man let out 8275a05993 a sigh and 9f54869c76 hesitantly revealed another 52d4d91066 piece of information.7662b805db858acc

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[Even after the guest leaves, you likely won’t be able to meet Sir Cain.]

[Why not?]

[Sir Cain is likely to be in a bad mood all day today.]

[So the guest he’s speaking with must be someone unpleasant for him.]

[Not exactly, but…]

The man seemed a9071924c4 reluctant to explain 3a49e7309f further and stopped dd9f8265ca talking.fe557953c4234436

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Having no 3c2d320013 other choice, 0cd903a794 Velita decided 3fa676f9ad to give 6910314f32 up on 1067da5778 meeting Cain 0226b83d72 Mortens. However, since she had 87e8881eed come all the way 31e95b38c6 to the Holy Order, 6c4d36a1f4 she thought she might 98bee3a6d2 as well pray and 9cf1670022 was granted permission by 79136dfa36 a priest to enter 110de2f6e7 the prayer room.8d91a133f8415b0c

She didn’t 9a55bec1fd believe in a053cc2046 God.8c3b93818c3f4b20

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She hadn’t 6a5d92df2c even attended 5acb528a10 school, much 1cfa91a54d less received ce7aacce1c theological education, 764236de16 but she 61c76bfcff knew this 2f9a73d068 much: God 382367568c loves all d920f91fb0 humans equally.3e3cb15458a3e4f5

Yet, while God 24b591953b may claim all ed305329f2 humans are equal, 85e2496ebd the world that cfaf8d4be0 governs them was 2d2585f630 far from fair.6b2d6e70f6d469a9

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The world was like a staircase, assigning ranks to the humans God had “equally” created—precious humans, lowly humans, and those in between…b5d88991376868fc

Velita had always c35586070c accepted as natural a8c4f36efa that she belonged 8c09a435d6 to the lowly 715cb7fb24 side of humanity. Only now did she 0d4abcac90 feel she might have b5a485523c risen slightly above that.7c4429dd316db96d

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All of it fedacef818 was thanks to deaeef7105 entering the Ryles a518082932 estate and gaining 8125d7d38b Jeremy’s attention.2545ef4378e71b8a

Even just escaping rock bottom made her this happy…81d0703ee62c8d3c

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What would it feel 82ee2b2641 like to climb even 106af6c98a higher?6ac5b343ff464b9e

In the narrow 5ca0334e46 prayer room, just 7fc8e0ac2d big enough for f66656170e one person, Velita 3bbb0acbb0 gazed at the 0ebb2e1410 cross, wondering what 46a655017e kind of prayer bc23dedb4f she should offer.931dd7ba3c7bb83c

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Please make me 0e4fdeb5aa happy?5b60ad97fdf3b813

That seemed 3fe246b3c4 too vague.cfc5cc34fee52bc0

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“lease make all cedd6246a3 humans equal?12811324074e8a3f

But she had only a7a6183f2d just escaped rock bottom dec9ef080e herself. It felt a7662ee95a unfair to 714691eecd wish for 580916d3aa something that a79c1a5146 would undo f60032fa13 the effort 709a36e60a she had c0567c6978 put in a81d217e94 to climb 06d80535ab up.822077bdda03978d

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Then what should 4f5cf0ef96 she pray for?843a96c55e36bc0d

‘…Not that God exists anyway.’2a1f78e60d51d1c7

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She suddenly felt a c1ee4bac28 little foolish for taking 432656a036 this so seriously.e0cb38e36c7db866

Still, since she 92a23c4c66 was already in 7c96a54096 the prayer room, f63fa38736 she felt she 86a53fa1ee ought to wish 6bd1d92243 for something.1a38ee81af95d91c

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With nothing 99ccd6b573 to lose, 5eac91259c perhaps she e97aa7fb62 could ask aa35b7d148 for the 0f3e337830 most impossible ed31b5892a wish.edb5202e47ec9158

Let me rise 0bac6f9be1 to the very 6cce0af29d top.775c28064f44cd39

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If possible, to 6d7f8962d2 the very peak bb9d48380d of the staircase.b4c1b686ccb67dbe

It was then.03cb808b583b623d

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The once-quiet prayer room 54ede6f34a door burst open.c1c6a2cc2c5dbef9

“…”3c72462ff6c19629

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Kneeling in prayer, 2ebb7dead2 Velita’s gaze met 3e3184965b the irritated eyes ae55023f1b of a man 4fc25703cb who had entered, 75d55b1172 shutting the door 388b3bae69 behind him with af61802493 a sharp gesture.1c085f9f5ac98a73

The man 64456c7180 was none cedb87cdf3 other than 57e209ceee Cain Mortens, be70482597 the very f44086291d reason Velita 1020863b3e had come 777a813c90 to the 61286fc1af Holy Order.0d0d2f68e7ebf60e

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