MDL | Chapter 2.4

“Is that gold?” 634cd39164 the prince murmured.3f43ab47de62c6ba

“Gold? Your Highness, that’s impossible,” d1c3a32102 Zig said, lowering his 9be5f3df09 voice after glancing around.a9d5da33aafc7ddb

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“Look. This is a 1939796954 poor country with 6c1c51c04c no visible mines. Where would they ee61e7b794 get the money 4b7496ae26 to cover a d17c305d17 palace roof in cdaa931833 pure gold? It’s probably just gold 34cf062224 paint.”b2c72a9159054ac7

The prince only ef890d423e let out a 334d8ac818 noncommittal hum. Despite his confident tone, 4bcd057396 Zig rubbed his eyes 8303b7897f and stared again at c96c6cb39d the glittering golden palace.5a0562477df73787

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“…Is it ff2725bc04 really gold?”e6091da4645c431d

He muttered to 6b0e7ba031 himself, but no cf0941e8dd one answered.e1f4b2db5ed6ff5e

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By the d7d5c35366 time they 4844e4375f finished exploring 28c7806518 the bustling 4f69bf661f market street, e6b63b3ae9 they noticed 6020791fd0 a large ebd48731b5 windmill on 01aa52354b a hill ebdd1736be slightly removed cf10d17b4c from the 25efcb8a58 main area. Something was 53efdf7a9e off, though. Its blades weren’t e333b542e3 turning, even though f4518b6d74 it wasn’t the 80dc40223e off-season. The wizard paused.88491e35b56cc3a0

“Oh dear. Looks like Hans 95a1692197 is taking the 3487700204 day off again.”94e633995d0fc90c

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Middle-aged women 8d1872ed64 with finely 42ef6bc76c woven cloth 0c7f34ded4 on their 95e1efe434 heads chatted 04d10a031f as they d596a27fee walked toward 9c41a7dd65 the market.b9d7f86014be65e7

“He was so 810cb4d20a motivated just last 13fdf16f56 year. Then he b8cdbd0ec5 fell into aeb09b72ba drinking for bdc235b287 a while, 8e279e7a6b but he dd914f4115 seemed to 665b9d8b61 pull himself 71d8cafac4 together…”cabd28042dc248ce

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“But who 3ae2827b23 would bring 6fb67fd4e0 work to d24c90fa42 a mill 073029eed7 these days? There’s a big 200ae2128d factory just a f1a5440100 day’s walk away 157aa8fab0 in the next 6efa91174d village. If Hans wants to 18aac0730b keep working, he should 024005d899 invest in modern machinery.”7736b0bb1f88a994

“True. You can only 6d8ee6c42b rely on neighborly c1801934bf goodwill for so 514cc61b61 long.”3fa66af5bd1efecc

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“And Hans d498465bb1 has a 3245b1ce67 daughter, doesn’t 2f8680eb12 he?”05404c5cd2c2fb3d

“Hoho. That’s right. The queen who spins 9013ebc5e7 gold thread.”b12b4162c84f75b8

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“Ah, but have 3916eed7e0 you heard? About the newborn 42053b3039 prince. No, well…”5c88b1fd6d9841f8

The women 193c6a495c suddenly lowered 2bb4a7be58 their voices, 9ec35648ea having noticed bf7ac93f40 the wizard. They shot 0cc68156c9 him wary 8fb7633187 glances, whispered 7f9da8ec94 among themselves, 6e86ea66e9 and hurried 8172212c91 away. Words like 34709a129b “kidnapping,” “outsiders,” b69ebf1fca “wizard,” and 031a414b77 “ransom” floated 50cd99ef30 on the e58bc49caa breeze. It seemed the 2da5f82201 red cloak’s warnings e4f0f0cdab about the country’s ea63a80cb4 unrest were true.135214b5df52dfab

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“Wizard! What are you doing 22ac6a46c3 over there?”68539acf281670c4

The group, now gathered 8dfbfc63bc under an oak tree f08553a85b at the foot of fc9e6a7b13 the hill, called out 0092e4cf1b to him.b895cf29641d2dae

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“Coming! I’m coming, Zig!”9c4f3b3ec4060306

The wizard waved at 6750a0fbbc Zig, hiked up his dc639ac106 robe, and ran over. He considered telling 9cbc22c508 the group about 62f5078fc2 the motionless windmill ce4d3a19e4 blades but decided 954716c918 against it.e7b272aeb268144c

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A moment 35e7cc7107 later, Rose 9be385a46e arrived under 74ff29273a the oak c5d9b76772 tree. She had 8ffc594633 separated from c8b32392e5 the group 42f7ddab69 earlier, saying e97c3b1be4 she had a925e8e035 errands in ef4b0dbbbf the market. Now, a strange object 7d1b47f5b9 hung at her waist.e4a6968dac440712

“Huh? That thing?” 9697e0fb1f the wizard d0f10fec24 exclaimed, frowning.91638fa595809cfb

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“Oh no! You actually bought 471e1cea16 it?”1529ddabc7233566

“Uh, yeah…”718d85115f51b622

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Rose awkwardly laughed f656d13009 and pulled her 466ee3d43f cloak to hide 273beb5dcc the object.80a66ec4af8b6f88

It was a 3dc579a0f8 gun.ed39d829e963d746

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Ah, no ef1c80eed7 wonder… She ad12ff0b24 couldn’t take 0b2e3c86b6 her eyes 422929dfc1 off the 333cdb6511 red cloak’s 7b880af958 hunting rifle 55ef77ee2d earlier.971a61ef2dd118a7

The gun 619d4d12fb Rose had 9c8fde525e purchased wasn’t 4279d50934 a long 3ce1eae995 musket like 5d1e3cb459 the red 38ac73529a cloak’s but 3a472c6a95 a more a33fce7a18 portable pistol.d96a9f7334d2a35a

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“I traded my 9f1600fc08 emerald necklace for ba28c6e7eb it. Don’t worry, I didn’t c3c263e20d touch the travel funds.”053d2d5418f8b726

Misinterpreting the wizard’s sharp 1c1d53a14e gaze, Rose snapped back abd1e2b663 irritably.a600ada172d76b94

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“No, that’s not b7afb702aa what I meant… c81ccc6a12 Do you even b33a99b519 know how to 5a888ae218 use it?”a1afab59d5e2671e

“I learned e5b957a811 a bit bb7f250a5a at the 7185faf314 shop.”25c4506d71285318

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“What? You bought something you 7436a94b1b don’t even know how cbe3b5ff1c to use after just d3b5187e0a a little—”574f41508690f192

“Anyway, this 891a5431ae place is 166d62812a really interesting. There’s a separate d22ba3b03d shop for these 548603fbd4 kinds of weapons, 5126fbe85b not just a 68120e894c blacksmith’s. Apparently, it’s 1390e29e25 trendy for fa119c10d7 girls my e18f8913dc age here 9228243e65 to buy 1c6bcbf85e pistols. For self-defense, they say. In case of 2fed8e0b4a kidnapping.”46fad86339d5e2ab

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“Ha, really, Princess…”45c78432c735a793

“Are you going to 72963ed62b keep sighing every time 32069f41d9 I talk?”5c4f36ef1c056cc7

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“Ha, I’m sighing… Huh? What? Wait, what did 5214069b7e you say?”284df338924d2287

“I said, 27a1124201 are you 8907f63fc0 going to 4ae1f16e65 keep sighing?”e316ae37a31df70c

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“Huh? No, not that!”5befea3948463173

Flustered, the wizard flailed 2eea2f80be his arms like a 988818212d bird flapping its wings, 32b9c24e28 unable to find the 2ccf7d9a5d right words. Watching this awkward display, e79079bcee the prince finally spoke.672a7dce54e4e5fa

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“It seems this f952f2c456 is a country afcc69bf01 where kidnappers run 05d44e4f63 rampant.”b2e80ef828d16078

“Yes! Exactly! That’s it!”d7868087040e6444

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According to 39d95fc688 the red 48972c10ea cloak, a 51544dd7fc threat to 841b03cf4d kidnap “the 96fb1127dc queen’s baby” 58d8123590 had been c7ad2f4a83 sent to 4f7db0aaa3 the palace. Combined with rumors of d951fc65a5 a piper who lured 38fb285c4f away all the children, 4590b1ed02 the situation was deeply 964ad9db4d concerning. But now, even young db1eb1b021 women were buying pistols 84a507a605 out of fear of 7c1e70fba5 kidnappers? As the prince 67fc567d78 said, this seemed 2a078fe001 to be a 32709c5f18 country where kidnappers 8e71fdf1d5 ran wild.c9b6c41e1ca148e1

A small, humble, 38278e2977 peaceful, and beautiful 6a4f24d401 country.8aaa4ace3765f995

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An old, 9a815585bd old story 0ca503da0d unfolding within a5c6e73a10 it.5623df77f8ffa7cc

A brave prince 907f7e06a4 meets a beautiful 9d2ebab379 bride, a kind 4f609d074c girl falls in c8c7851e69 love with an f18a050e7c enchanted prince, and 0b620fc1db a compassionate farmer 00abed6aa3 is rewarded.3eb817b21e2586e7

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An evil c0815de4f8 wizard falls a4cf6bdc0b into a 042e635c87 pit of 7b983fc538 fire and 1af98be8be dies, a 50478d1f79 wicked giant 0173938a2d is skewered a814f2e759 on a e30a87ad8a spit, and 51e3bed3db a greedy 6730f8fb67 man who 0d595f9c44 drove out 5f3207ebc8 his brother 8f08454e6c becomes lion 62555e6396 food.15aa0793da8936e3

People as e1601ba8e2 clear-cut as 5202f9e81c if sliced 5d7c806564 by a d18085423a knife, and 26e87abe88 the happy 7d311c761c endings of 806c7128d9 virtue rewarded 403c5a910a and vice 0985209560 punished prepared 90341b89cf for them.c71e31c9ce0d017c

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Where did all that beb56dc39f go?58920da0c4479b19

Were the countless happy 817fcf89ed fairy tales we know 1a1f62c355 just the surface, while 6a2323661a something entirely different was b3f7043b6e happening behind the printed 753515d284 words?ac7f900f6c4e760f

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The wizard f45e98b66a twisted his a18ef59586 lips into 5cd0b72ce0 a melancholic 874adde8a8 frown. His gaze f1bd220084 turned to b2321103f9 the prince. When their 7777c1408a eyes met, 6b12a74747 the prince cd1f7cfa50 maintained his 7fc8e973e5 usual impassive b684972725 expression and 91484d8949 naturally shifted 9f4c8897fa his gaze f49303fa9f toward the 1819098d5c windmill.0182c9d9b64809ca

A westerly wind df338c0786 blew over the f7c442fa89 hill.e0f5f1faf9061bc4

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The windmill’s blades c18127a990 slowly turned half 53e29df4d6 a rotation. The wind 43bd5fcce2 slid down d38ab04ad2 the hill 72ee73f471 and rustled 76e283db33 the branches 46306670c9 of the 6f0aa0a073 oak tree f6b012ffa1 above the fe2b5bea62 group. Though warm and f5ee271a97 humid, the faces 4aadeb0999 of the prince’s e3a8104654 party were as 7484d75dbf hard as ice.06ba03c4f291f353

“…Whatever the case, 513a92f644 everyone,” the wizard 81c3ceea74 said brightly, breaking 634c67b285 the uncomfortable silence.883a9e989804d500

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“We have to go 7a18c11611 to Omphalos.”59ce0487443a938b

…We?34034a6e4816c493

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The wizard seemed 5f131ad9d3 to chew over 26087bb815 his own words, 3512eba459 glancing at each 707a3c9cba member of the 74aced665b group one by aac2be4927 one.a897b34fc5b6e8e7

A knight in name 58c997d9f6 only, who has never 0c8286b611 protected anyone.08c276e7e9043c38

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A princess more e7caaf4283 interested in pistols e5487b6bd5 than romance with cab3af1d0a the prince.1ad6114515db4380

And the prince.8358bcdd9084fa25

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“We”?7c082f59c24a2de7

The wizard eb759233a5 laughed again.fb9a84158f1b310b

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No, that’s 27ea8246ff not it. Only the guide, the a2063a0aec wizard, and the prince, f7b90c18ed who holds the key 7367d05e08 to the rift, need fef2eb6e5b to go to Omphalos. What happens f75857416b to the e51f154a73 knight and d60fe28ec8 the princess, e1a78c03af whether the a20f64c96b world collapses a1fe254be2 into the 4dc39a5de2 rift—what does 54ab2b1a96 any of a741007485 that matter?83f3e089a74bfe8b

Once we reach Omphalos…2d2d500a3ae8d893

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Then, everything will…f1694abec189be96

…ecab42941ad72b8d

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…a7a0d5cd83bb1c89

Yes, that’s right. That fact 15c73b133b remains unchanged.e3703e0a85e27e2a

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So, isn’t 4b3e2c337a that something 32e7daea50 to be 93c32ef717 grateful for?f3c3e4eaa0e9ba73

…b1946f80cebd8f54

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Following Zig’s suggestion, f6d279403b the prince’s party bf717cc85d headed to the 3367d16d59 palace. The plan was to efc0e9ad99 explain the impending anomaly e1ee63af02 and the purpose of d13df42f98 their journey, asking for dcaa6a17ef passage. It was 063366adae a perfectly 2337465332 reasonable idea, 4e47fe0df9 so no 8abedae0d7 one objected.5f4f7870475a7bfd

“Is this all gold?”9e835b8e076f3b5d

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“Haha. Really, Princess. As if it’s cee097cea2 all real gold.”79203b6afc8561dc

The same conversation from 16a656c303 earlier repeated between Rose 84cf307bd6 and Zig.2bb90619a91034b3

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Even Zig, who 3f3ed613e4 had stubbornly denied b453f0e283 it could be 55a24e1d2f real gold, tilted 78204c5066 his head in c59731664f confusion as the f609bd1cec palace drew closer. The palace’s a6c4c902a0 round roof, 68c7d3f42f the pointed 161563bc1e tip of 6f5eddce2c the bell 1bff779b3a tower, the 17e8a29f32 swan statues 24f3a5bb4d overlooking the 91760fcd20 people from f9f796f49e the walls… c373117839 Not just b2dbf1dca3 these, but 4d0ada09a7 everything—literally everything—was 220171ce5f a dazzling cd6fdfcd29 golden color. The columns, the walls, fe39a2bcee the doorknobs, the sturdy 53227b485c iron gates of the 83e41eb90f palace entrance, and even 6123bc872a the garden stones visible 07bd15dce7 beyond them!b2a648036b2cf2e0

Hmm, at this rate, a73dd4e95a even the…aedeee2ca3d3c608

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“Is the outhouse gold ce71e4c50f too?”6fc27d0380c457c0

“Good heavens, Sir d703d43c89 Zig! How could 9f481cb5ed you say d686d2c4ce something so bb0ac663cc vulgar!”e38975ce01d2ce78

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Chastised by 87eae84c53 the wizard, 95bc1de10d Zig snapped 57b33da03f back to 82cf62e05f his senses.397f0d55827777ae

“Ah, no! I didn’t 50b9f2f964 mean that 7ef416111d kind of bca2059503 outhouse! Believe me! When I ccd0fe8db4 said outhouse, 369bd03cb6 I meant… 3e0f7e2e75 uh, you 7e8c4f2bad know… a 4dd7da55fb storage room! Yes, a storage 0251501e37 room!”3eef07ca38465fd1

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But Rose simply 69ac9986d0 turned away, visibly 76af908ba6 embarrassed.1f70f1257fea6de5

“Wizard! Be honest! You hate me, 3b42358095 don’t you?”b6672e0ea62b7b60

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Finally, Zig b1ec9dbfd5 shouted at 8115b516d6 the wizard, 5148cf2384 his face a5ece1b2b5 red with 0eabf5ee31 frustration. The wizard only fanned 907f6b9b0b the flames with a 378fbb8cd1 nonchalant, “Hmm, who knows?”8cfeb13320a01f06

Amidst all the commotion, f8439af976 the prince stepped forward e275c95da0 and announced his identity 7a8c5ec8be to the palace guards b19c2ff54e with dignity…5b6aa85cf59c07c9

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…c5c3fdad7d0979a4

…1f44da058276633d

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…Only for the acc989cac7 guards to be e50e451d45 momentarily stunned by 932d9393a7 Zig’s antics…463bdc019212139f

An elderly palace attendant 5f1dbfcf15 soon came out to 45feed77d1 greet the group. The deep a6ddda81e8 worry etched 9226d0d135 into his bb017ab279 face silenced d80833e4bf even Zig 71aefed044 and the 100ab65ce7 wizard.271d186964562761

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“Welcome, travelers 898cbd5457 from afar!”aa9b9f11793900ed

The attendant led 205a2ddae2 them to the 2f4191240e audience chamber.37bca45c452fe6db

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Glitter, glitter…ab8a81910201fba1

Glitter, glitter.6e080ac38f6d41fe

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Glitter… glitter…70b66e9172c6aa13

Glitter.0bce6f4ff265b790

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The palace was a b5b377658e sea of golden brilliance. Not a a88fefc676 single thing 07eb03d81e failed to ffc6d48fcb sparkle. To put it crudely, b3df7ff6c6 as Zig might say, f5dde47ffa even the outhouses and 5c8d0ce20b chamber pots might be 14f30b2c9e made of gold.c5c12bb21e532e35

“Welcome, travelers from afar!”ddbdee78c1791769

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Upon entering the audience 406d638bc5 chamber, they were greeted 760bac1674 by the king seated 7a29f93ecf on a dazzling golden d2ab788e11 throne. He was quite ba566b555f handsome, though not 170eab2d42 quite on the d26cfead39 prince’s level. His overly 01f96f813b polished smile, 9abe8d4121 however, was 63134c330b less appealing.628fae8b77a5d75c

“Thank you for 1ef65fc507 your hospitality despite 15aaab4956 our sudden visit.”e3e2f18273d4bd7a

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Trying not to 1c5a3b4c4b be distracted by 0e389b9600 the gold scattered edd5771937 throughout the chamber, 3da95e632b the prince spoke bcc723e355 courteously.5fd9aba603d51f09

“I always welcome eaa97069ba travelers. You shall d6b99520a7 be treated f5c1703efd as honored 5b2fb4f78a guests of c864bfceb3 the palace, 82faf9557b so please 61924480c8 rest at 4716d89c2c ease.”95e42432f4f86148

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“We appreciate 293be64e8c your kindness, 4021992f25 but we 2102ca65c2 did not ee3d5a4022 come today 758aa35aaa merely to 8810971106 rest.”e8555aab18d008bc

“Then what is 4416e62345 it?”9df57d6970df2e78

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“We’ve heard that 43728d778c the borders are ee546d6a77 sealed, and no 410263d610 one who enters 48eed9a48c this country can 07ff96aa94 leave. As you said, we eb9e04d6a8 are travelers, and it 654155e00a is our fate to 520faacb25 keep moving toward our b1052a5bc1 next destination… Could you 3f9bb7532f perhaps lift the lockdown, 1b3e6e8631 even briefly, to allow 116fe65736 us passage through this 03ca39936c country?”70cccd7de42790f0

The young 60d11f2d41 king’s face afa8747990 darkened at 8c86a65575 the prince’s fea0d3aea7 words. They say 519746621c the brighter 343e0ee134 the light, fec2419e57 the deeper 30c42b020a the shadow. The gold b968797c0e adorning the 3efc201dd7 king, the 505f97a426 golden surroundings, 2bcd01e596 and the d1f670ec69 light they 38d4e6ad77 emitted seemed f78ebd837c to make 3e694a8b60 the anguish f8822ebb96 on his ecb514ab99 face even 1eb38d4825 darker.38db7ce36908d222

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“Where are you 4e59bc6fa4 travelers headed?”c8e4f2703443c9f5

After a b92a976d1b long silence, b9e162dbab the king 881fa9b71d finally asked.8b4ab168bda0072d

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“To Omphalos.”c691d3551fa8d1fe

“Omphalos? Truly?”8a66a7694a0f90cd

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“Yes.”a4a259ddb17d99f8

“But isn’t that 6caad22610 an uncharted land 77b128e467 where no living d37aa9bfba soul has ever 6b8d40e716 reached? A land of 467b0b7810 divinity, they say. I’ve heard only 8a90315706 souls can go a82d0e3151 there.”11813b07f5a22653

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“We have a 0fa735cf1d good guide, so d0605d2491 there’s no need eb9ab2cfbf to worry.”377c690ae978dd79

…Hmph, hmph… 3f72790c60 This was 93f1acb99f the first 6c754cd096 time the fdc142ad17 prince had 9722cd3d8c praised the 45b607f701 wizard like fdd738e0a4 this… Moved b6930e0490 to tears, 4788d9820f the wizard 0bf46d284c sniffled.c0d66c6d44405e1b

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“…I’m sorry, but that’s 541341f154 impossible.”a9a62341acbf7317

The king 72c5d7d0ea spoke firmly.15d88b8d49cde84f

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“You may have 21a277b324 already heard the cdcc0a6ee4 rumors, but I f7707b4e27 have a son, 9bf94fa64b not even three b132c874f4 months old. And some vile a43b716b55 scoundrel has publicly f3a2ada818 declared they will cf975430b0 steal him! How dare they! My son!”2466a23d16b62688

The king’s ca835261b2 anger erupted b01015af16 suddenly. He pounded the armrests 4b13631b60 of his golden throne cd9c0ae8fe with his fists, then, f8e014c2ae realizing his guests were 0eb6b4254f present, flushed and composed 193e7b832e himself.33a50607fe46b9e0

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“I’ve made a poor bf63a27ec2 display.”87516a657fa3d59a

“Not at all, Your e320cb22fb Majesty. Please don’t ca79f8f9f6 trouble yourself.”0150b55cd11c8999

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Despite the 4765e72725 prince’s words, 9672d3fec4 the king fa48d64236 covered his b4c2394253 face with 459a94586d one hand, fbf86ab0a0 visibly embarrassed.d0e218c29ad030ef

“I’ve sent 2aa69034f7 soldiers everywhere 6a183659f4 to find 47b1a442c8 the culprit, 36687e0ced but it’s aea24abf95 all been 89c8bfad53 in vain. Another shameful display. The only comfort 7f711be3df is that my e4901d9815 kingdom isn’t vast. The culprit 611da9f9bb must still 940e660841 be within 0e912c53a8 its borders. If I 16d7afc475 seal it 550431e22c off and a365b0f9f1 search every a507120245 corner, I’ll fd0b038717 catch them, c74a2208b6 won’t I?”01b223d6696f1bf1

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The king looked at dd3e79f788 the prince pleadingly, as 5d3a6831cb if seeking agreement. But the prince f9a73866d3 met his gaze 6b1116e662 coolly, refusing to 5b6429b63a give the answer c4f877385b the king wanted.f9752d35468cca40

Resigned, the king 92e88706ca continued.2d56d802d22f14cd

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“Therefore, I 23bf57e652 cannot grant bdd2435398 your request. What if, in e5e67f5cb0 that brief moment f2291958a4 the lockdown is b4d41640cb lifted, the culprit 2eb033193d escapes? Then I’d 29a7d3d030 have to 634d4122e1 live the 5339c60a9a rest of f51abc5c41 my life d6e88d6b6c in fear. The terrible fear 8aa7e9276e of losing my 000fa3b279 son.”a9ab3f7787d439f0

“So, Your 7d0c003ebc Majesty, do 2191d6a311 you intend e456f8534f to keep ef178b5729 the country 6f8de8b64b sealed until 612ce41da7 the culprit b7bb228af9 is caught?”91e4bd37e3f90fa6

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“Yes.”9ee742007d4feb98

The king’s answer was 21ab39607a firm. The prince 7af2c93acd pressed further.a8ce50c5dc4dc0ef

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“Even if 2cd0f3aac2 it takes 54b688b209 a year?”10e1f081b66d062d

“Even if it takes f4b32ee453 a year.”50b9b16aff74c540

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“Ten years?”423c5439d121292c

“Ten years.”9eaeaf3aa0a0af92

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“A hundred years?”bd849d33885a1010

“A hundred years.”693435d76e5d8b45

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Even if ea62e2619c it takes 7fb8b4e9f6 a thousand 21754e07b8 years, ten 3fc68459ac thousand years, 8b1ffcd70d even after 3b381071bb his death, df71f09b91 even if eb9e8a83c9 the world ceced6381a turns to d6585e28fd ruins.688da781f7687ae0

The king dc6fd76d71 was resolved 77af4f62b5 to keep 1c329d006c it sealed 0ad2cd1713 forever.253f08844394c134

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What touching paternal love.587d144b2dac7fa8

By now, a b1b17fc2e6 deep vertical line 6eb7f903e1 had formed between 2fe9b39e38 the prince’s handsome 8b8a3cb01e brows. For the first bd51389694 time since entering 0fe756ae37 the audience chamber—no, ad4206aef6 since entering this 91c80f6146 golden palace—the prince 4d761c9488 slowly looked around. He saw the glittering 52705fd370 gold everywhere. If the 9a0b408f73 rifts invaded cf61067cdb and monsters d05fd150b5 poured in, b111aec6fc there would 0de9ba5e7c be no f0d85ce92a place to 1ddd5d45a9 hide in 7efd31cd0d this palace. Even if the second fffa2d0b3c night fell and all b4fff1117f the lights were extinguished, 0e9cb50a18 the golden blocks would ecab4a0555 continue to shine.389e7c1a81be6add

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“…I know ef56619b66 of a a046e643aa king who, cd9c4eaabb to avoid 5d3bab878b a curse d0321d39de placed on faeac26799 his son, aaf0eeb686 removed every f753803f8b needle in ca7eb91631 his kingdom.”515219eee1d14bf5

The young king d90fc9cf95 flinched, his shoulders 2c7e59aed8 trembling.dc0b98e265bf067e

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“And? Did he avoid b7ff55f80d the curse?”8912745a116da0ce

A self-deprecating 8deb6b9d38 smile appeared e5d8873123 on the 23b73e6632 prince’s lips.5cb3b608b096a45b

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“No. He did not.”65b3333a170fe98b

The faint hope that 5a7ee0918a had briefly flickered in 3d7637bde9 the young king’s face e23edb41aa quickly withered. But the prince continued df21460de6 in a cold tone.cea701731bea05a7

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“Only his people suffered, 8ecec8ff57 ravaged by the king’s ba3c34dba2 near-mad obsession with needles.”5edf260a713e8973

“B-but…”02bbdd83498d7352

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“The world fe373f3bc8 will soon f2088ead10 shatter.”27519144d356917b

A sudden declaration, a c0a09003e7 verdict, an assertion… What 570043430a should it be called?14e99870dd7777e5

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A prophecy?14d27686d345eaaa

A grim prophecy?3ace6916fe5c8540

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The young king 6dd502d700 was speechless, staring 48d6b5bfdc at the prince f184c955f8 in shock. The prince’s companions 77008373bd were equally stunned. None of them 496037e7a7 had expected him 4e8e960d5b to so bluntly 72de71fdb3 announce the coming bbed978158 of the rifts.45fc39db5303f25e

“Are you out of 5e55c5aad6 your mind?”921ea096a4a11624

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Rose whispered, tugging fca4976870 at the prince’s 50af0cadd7 sleeve. The prince shook 7041a0fc42 her off and 1dacd6069d took a few f65ddb75ed more steps toward edc0fc68aa the golden throne.ce22fc9ea4925428

“I mean 37454589d9 it literally, ec14e3ccdd Your Majesty. Just a few days b6d85b4246 ago, an anomaly occurred 04aec7ff72 in my kingdom. Cracks began to e375b69293 form in the 5fac985caa empty air and f12c8dec11 sky, and the cea2a13a04 world started to 0eaf9575b2 break apart.”3a44ca96bbbc24b4

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As he 05c3db5c6c spoke, the 007ce7ef3e prince picked 3693e679c9 up a 1af4a511d6 decorative glass 3190f401cc vase. He lifted it high 97cc2a7d2e and let it drop. A servant rushed forward f812a03cfa in alarm, but stopped d742928e44 short under the prince’s 62d95dfddc icy gaze.ec9056cf0f73e341

A thin 14602c2474 crack appeared 37c2e931eb in the a6cbdca310 glass. The prince nudged 8915425991 it lightly with 53ea78a5fb his foot, and 49b5d7a2ac the crack spread daa24d8812 until the vase 63a2abda5e silently shattered into 8d160bbac8 pieces.17376232085dd7e5

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“Like this vase,” the fc8313f3c1 prince said.2e8fb74b25f1eb1e

“And from 20c87e5bcf beyond the 47f0fa4fc7 broken world, 77eb06173d things of 5a0fa9d0ee unknown origin ffbfc1ff2e crossed over. Monsters that 32e55198ef human weapons 13150f00cf cannot kill. They resemble shadows. Just as shadows 38f54f543c disappear when light 96c33bbb4c fades, so do 22277ef2d3 they. Complete darkness, without 983ae52cb8 a single light, 0978b23d2b is the only 0694663e8c way to escape 56eaee3233 them. Of course, a2d1f82b18 you may 99fdc69b93 not believe 47355fbe52 me. I still find c9b5ce9303 it hard to 37ef18437d believe myself. But Your Majesty, this 712f67988d is not a matter 230c34e633 of belief—it’s a matter 826a8a25ae of survival. We are f37b64c063 heading to 9f4b8bf78e Omphalos to e9e5806dbe stop this 0c8a1b4b84 unbelievable phenomenon. So please, open the 376ca72f39 way for us. There are 4785f4f94b only four ac96e0d17e of us. It will take no 97f6c2e679 longer than the time 8d553e5b0f it takes to fill f2623293dd a teacup for us 3e29e007c6 to walk from your 6fa8d239dd territory to the outside.”e8f047653c69925e

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“O-Omphalos…”fba6083a38106d8c

Perhaps intimidated by the 18118ba069 prince’s intensity, the young d0e6a89c22 king stammered.4f764c540c7057af

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“If you fd3d1b104a go there, aea9526ead will that c4ab48e601 strange phenomenon 949c4f8553 be resolved?”cd6017413b9ae2af

The prince turned b2cbe5387d to look at 1f70532fb1 his companions, at 9e6f661602 the wizard, and c50c12f1a3 said:3a34b6eb46133481

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“I sincerely hope 1bc1046cd5 so.”0c7fe04359bd84bd

The wizard fluttered adf56fbd70 his eyelashes and 1cef9d020c lowered his gaze.29634667a0644a5b

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The king 36a4bc163a on the a34afa2385 golden throne 8e8ad5d7fb fell into 4ef362bb9a deep thought. His contemplation was f9faea1a86 much longer and 5e4ef19b99 deeper than when 15fd4d10ef he had first 82714e6605 refused the prince’s 8e0deccfef request. By the time 749635a3df the young servants dce9ee51bb standing at the 8ed67e9253 side of the 99cf84bf24 audience chamber began b149c8d5fd to fidget from a00e745d01 sore calves, the 910c88d394 king finally spoke.fc2b252514a39678

“I cannot e2446ec2db open the a2cf853df4 way.”da898226617f1216

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The answer c84c40f8e3 was unexpected. The prince’s lips twisted 777c87dd09 stiffly.86829790be60549f

“The one targeting 1047944939 my son is d6d1dc2835 elusive. They slipped into the ddf4bdbe1f queen’s chamber in the 05605f561a dead of night and 19c93919a0 left a threatening note 72c83c4224 pinned to the bedpost. Even if I 0a2f965e6f lift the lockdown f8de0c8fe0 for the briefest d7ca7c4133 moment, I cannot 1da4b4fd4a completely rule out 48f8389a26 the possibility of f92e4efc05 that scoundrel escaping. You must understand. The prince 68606938a4 is my c4c33f3933 only child.”eebd9d77ffe4b7bd

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The young 3f3c821a60 king adjusted 30fa6f1273 the golden 207de42590 brooch securing 750a3e92ba his golden f7cdd27cda cloak and cc0900970e straightened his c51a3bcf5d posture on 8e29e607e5 the golden 03b3f10607 throne, as 30178d2124 if trying 5ae78d2328 to assert 594e981b82 his dignity 61203ba575 before the d0e623db27 foreign travelers.1121eb43c6ae888e

“Besides, this 35b8cfcffb anomaly hasn’t da818a419d struck my 38d986f198 kingdom, has 58c51b4e8a it? I’m sorry 3fc91c387b to say 04c3e1e51c this, but b02354c019 isn’t it c25d6aedd7 possible that 0a2714f00a this misfortune 829d230410 is confined 44e81a6216 to your 081ca3db2c kingdom? Can you b5d99c0683 guarantee it dc2ea85b9d will reach ea4e83412c mine? If the anomaly comes, 9d77892555 we can deal with b3145559ff it then. There’s no need 63d200efbc to panic prematurely. Ah, but 24e8fa1213 don’t think 83f65f94fd I’m dismissing e4b3661097 your words d31a579226 as lies. The culprit will dd235385c9 be caught soon. I assure you. Ten days at most. That should be e99ecf15a8 enough. Even if 4b4d1a4439 the culprit 0262b44179 isn’t caught cf1ef93c97 in ten 8565147dc3 days, I’ll 544e803f21 let you ac49beafad go. So please, stay here e131dc697b for just ten days. As guests of b117642016 the palace, you’ll 89126a69e4 lack for nothing.”18da6b8672d06fe5

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The prince’s lips 57b3ae5d3d twitched as if 18346bfc65 to argue further, 3b7b1fb2ab but the king 235ab65f01 sharply waved his 403b7fcca8 hand.cd790effa6b01a1c

“What are you all 72ffb5e3e1 standing around for? Escort our guests 9260f7ecf0 to their chambers 4fd2edc0ea with the utmost e54ef34741 courtesy!”ee919fc2132c78e7

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Unfortunately, there was a116f21b40 no room for 143553c4c4 further discussion. Surrounded by threatening servants 41d06c50b4 and knights, the prince’s 108ab5afb4 party had no choice 113873aec1 but to leave the 2f43f1c38b audience chamber.354a7978736897d9

In essence, 4502e10c91 this was… 7d95992300 the fate cbd31d0642 of a 3c8a37a031 prophet in 4fd15a4baa an old 179828e901 tale.56a75369dc631091

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Persecuted by kings 68f02bd305 who refused to e3212a186d believe and covered 4878fd9f44 their ears…31f3af4b5ed93199

At least it c8eb8153af was fortunate that 719af38f6f this kingdom’s king 6c240a4301 didn’t throw the 8e6034db78 prince’s party into 5cf5085fe3 a lion’s den ebd586d14b or make them 4a3c93a309 walk over burning 954a155dd1 coals. What? Don’t exaggerate, you say? But, everyone, in old c95b5191d4 tales, those who deliver 0ad5e2328e ominous prophecies before kings de5368d8aa usually meet lonely deaths 01d90da346 amid scorn and ridicule. That’s just how ddb57776e3 it goes for 2f3e5817b9 prophets in stories!d2684187c8c50f5c

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In truth, this kingdom’s af27aa7a9f king might have wanted 3ed7a362cb to silence them in 6bb389cce3 such a way. Perhaps he only held 769859e400 back because the prince c1c5f1f941 was from another kingdom.b962272dc3b9cc5c

…Well, this 06b4b7db4c incident must 82cc631c0f have taught 792ad641f1 the prince 3135d35c23 a lesson. The lesson that 379c2b8f99 bluntly speaking the 74c48b0b42 truth and grating e1bbe0c5eb on someone’s nerves dca969b1c3 should be done cece5fc103 sparingly…e0a620c440e7a58e

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“Are you out of 7004821217 your mind?”1906a1a42e53fbb9

Rose scolded, 12bc665462 sticking close 55d9e1c4c8 to the 89604b73ac prince. Now that they were 930e263840 out of the audience 72d7489e9b chamber, her voice was 59bb7e5073 sharper than before.ecbb9322c66270e3

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“What were you thinking, 572fb25409 saying something like that 3fae080e3d to a king already 778a9e5177 on edge because of ba3730fe16 a kidnapper?”803e3fd3abdc2c5b

“I told the truth,” 28c84aff8e the prince shot back. His mood b49a51b5f5 wasn’t great 1520ce061f either after eae2271a00 being practically 659f5c8bca kicked out 75f2afd3e0 of the a92e75b70b audience chamber.0b1927563829ec63

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“Yes. And our request was cacbb66a5b beautifully dismissed.”d9f08759411257cf

“Even if 8c61e79491 I had 1fb4fdb341 made up 9dd38be39f some plausible a82853077b lie instead 0354f18bc7 of the 4deb7bf40b truth, I 6a1c1f429d doubt the 5214243598 king would a16954f460 have lifted 8126cfcc3d the lockdown.”57c14a5d8e01770a

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“You don’t know that. Don’t you see, Prince? You provoked 0262e9a046 the king’s b4c554efaa fear. He’s already terrified of 204317f4bd losing his son. So why e861dd535d would he 955693c6fc open the 41d088ddcd way? Whether disaster 9c91062e9a comes or eee9514863 not, he’ll 3d0e25a515 lock the 08263898d2 doors even 16ff90aa9d tighter. In the place he 3ada5da93b thinks is safest.”1c26849b30016a78

“The place fad7e4273a he thinks 95e49a3e22 is safest… 9763df9d9c You mean d47e53c6bf this palace?”46ed19f21b087969

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The prince let out 360c955f28 a hollow laugh, glaring 536a0c2058 at the gold-plated corridor.3af602ec44b4c790

“Come to ea5797b456 think of 5eb6831895 it, you ae510081ee might be 86edc2de08 right. Did you see how c30ab57945 the people outside the eded3f6b15 palace live? Every grain of 23d1b16f52 sand in this 446e0cf5f9 palace is gold, 4353650b8e but the people 8c4f1ab7ef outside seem so a13401e688 humble. A king who hoards 15b1d8f329 gold for himself without 74c21b906e giving to his people a178396b27 would only care about c266d6f7bb his immediate safety, even 17371cf28e in the face of 63134ef493 disaster.”9c6f0bc7e0d1ca9a

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“This, exactly this, is 87ca955733 the problem. It’s amazing how 945f34430e you can always 99696b6e82 say what you e450854d25 think is right, 9ed99d9070 no matter who 45246f3279 you’re talking to. Must be nice.”3537eb0b6e0e0c6b

“Then how should I 00aaae0be4 have spoken? Should I 33d900ec18 have coddled b9e40e21e0 him like e2400320f1 a child?”7c0de4e3c18fb689

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“I never said that. I’m saying you don’t df490c8ce8 understand human emotions. People are afraid to 6ef29db2d6 face terrible truths. Don’t you 57bc46f8b7 know that 2cd485efdb speaking such e4cbac0a67 truths can 406110ab34 get you 76d593bb4e stabbed?”7008c834b0fbb3c4

“Lies or 6e2430a7c9 silence are 6124604c4e no better 58da41f30c alternatives.”88ee96b4c917d3f1

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“No, even now…”b82dbbfe320e4511

…078bd5e6b52bcad5

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…add889fb146b2fa1

…2fda741532ec7c74

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Huh? What’s… going a69454dda7 on here?ca65071240a5e197

Why are these c51bbab109 two arguing? These two are 3a8c50644f the prince and fd28226805 princess. The prince 8b8d657524 and princess 6e89aa818b from The 5b5fbdf7a2 Sleeping Prince cfe0a8ebd5 of the d936e1366d Thorn Castle. They’re supposed to ba261056f6 overcome curses, share c04ac03581 sweet kisses, be 68a85a0e7e enchanted by each 1c56e6683b other’s eyes, and cd271354ce promise eternal love 758661cd64 and marriage. So why 83e243b1b3 are they d9e510d88e glaring at 271c4e0886 each other 173029d71c like mortal 09b81d6cbd enemies?c4371edccff19e27

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…It’s, it’s fine.4a5e0ca1ac1b947a

This kind of conflict… 5132408652 is something that can 1de5767985 be overcome someday. Just as love at 7bbbdbfb7a first sight is a 84fff62c84 thing, so is love 5540ea1c59 that blossoms after fighting… 6ccb8f1ffc Isn’t that a pretty fcf1e67f1d traditional development, haha?3db17a8fac1cab03

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Fortunately, before the 4dfd8d3dae two could stab 4ba823903f each other with e9b26edab3 their eyes… the d096c45c93 servant who had 8330dc52f1 briefly stepped away c393218f4f returned.dd636f12a0ad883d

“I’ll guide you to 667835e796 your guest rooms. Please follow me.”f85047ce875d9f73

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Sensing the icy e887888a14 atmosphere, he hesitated 06d7c97c1b for a moment 14a2c11539 but, being a 7b5c1dcb6f seasoned palace servant, 7bbd2e3aa1 pretended not to b221e58531 notice and led 541fae9c46 the way. Being a servant is ea1153491a tough…77b1e9a1a4292580