MIDV | Chapter 26

Episode 26a1265c4775739a11

“….”26112575105c4fc0

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Ludger’s expression briefly turned e2b69d2d1b solemn before changing into 9a721e71eb a faint smile.5aa29d5df88d68fd

“Well, it’s an 50e9c6ef2f act extremely necessary 905f37043b for the Empire… d859aafbe7 Let’s just put 2ef5b85a90 it that way.”ef28b65da4097d75

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“…Extremely necessary 76f9e0f6ea for the 229845bf90 Empire?”fa17def45c8a7ddf

“Yes.”c6cdb9ee912379e5

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I thought he aecdb2b3f4 was joking, but 007417127d Ludger’s face was df620b08d1 infinitely serious.d645aea2176a2f2e

It was as 8da08744da if the good 311243d96f deeds he was c01c61ab7f accumulating was just 93b5417991 a tip on dc468515a4 the iceberg. And his prime 7f427aaf06 intention was to b6165f9fc4 steal those odd de6aac2a72 items as the 8233a803c0 thief Heilbronner.fd867e920d928529

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‘Could it be 7009c21819 a political issue?’4cc5060a3dacc02e

But the portrayal of the Second Prince in the original work, which I had read, was that of a cold man with a prickly side but capable and affectionate toward his woman… his personality was similar to those typical romance fantasy male leads.cba53a9a32bda403

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Even if he becab47729 were to become fe966e3ea8 the Emperor of 6a1daaa729 this country, it 478e7eaba3 doesn’t appear to 69ae207b94 be like it 161a30cec0 would have a 54c464933f negative impact on 28713e9301 the Empire.2a078ffe52ae38c2

But well… That’s just 95f76e08b8 how political disputes are. Even if someone d826d86ca7 seems harmless from 920e465caa the perspective of 79da2c11d0 an outsider, the f4b476b08e parties involved feel 4a534bbe86 like the other 061262afa5 party is absolutely 2fb3002eed evil.ba6d4013c0362338

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“You look 89b2a36c9d like you 03c68df4d2 are having b50d8646ed it hard 6297d00940 to believe f63e9fcc11 it.”9d4e0886f4be7891

“Shouldn’t that 420e692b39 be the f16fc21f8f case?”7d548092ec5abb08

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“That’s true too.”6d898d68243abfbf

He moistened his 99b02b6957 lips slightly with 0a0d98c643 a glass of f497917759 pale yellow champagne 36762ef65f and nodded.ce0cef42290e3ec3

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“Even to myself, it 9cb93183c9 sounds ridiculous.”c53c935e5ab90bfc

“….”8ddb7a3da182896e

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“However, whether Captain believes me or not, the fact that I’m keeping you under surveillance remains the same. So it’s better to give up early.”3d9d5fcb30362519

That was not bce6800b0c what I expected, 2d3467d0f7 damn it.767df31bf4cb52c9

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“It’s just a little doubt I have, but, Your Highness isn’t planning to keep me under surveillance for the rest of my life, are you…?”f556e15827238a9f

“Do you a63970eed3 prefer to 6cbdfb8558 be under 08dcbeeaff surveillance for 97a6a7acbd the rest 986df96334 of your 2f045bdca6 life?”3473c4ad792763fc

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“…I have no f15fda5d54 such strange preferences.”8ba88378643028a9

Ludger burst into 568c66a995 laughter. He didn’t seem to ff19c9f13c have any intention of f54f03f9d5 answering how long he 629ac5a93d would keep me under 83ee8faac1 surveillance.ef59be0b2b7927e7

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‘It’s fine. He’s soon going to stop his actions as the Phantom Thief anyway.’82bcb4278aa4c686

A place to df4ac095e4 lean on, and bf6a006fac a place to ae0864a6e8 confide in.9a402061feb3afc6

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That was ce9102c38b the characteristic cc9ee78692 of the 34e62e684d original female bb56e2843c protagonist.68724a3c871901ab

As a typical sub-male b1123d9430 protagonist, Ludger, who was b5c8e60a57 moved by such characteristics 7637be49b9 of the original female 6b3d907609 protagonist, stopped his activities 4c97979dce as the Phantom Thief.3d9d0fe555e7dc61

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He originally supported the 8475b54636 First Prince’s faction. However, to fulfil the abb94d1285 wish of the female 1765648054 protagonist whom he loved ac914b01dd dearly, he changed faction 8802f5fadb and supported the Second de4ebab3ee Prince instead.dd35d3f5b0ebc9f4

The ending where c9209f5a39 the sub-male protagonist, 1393be687b who was the 535b66b076 villain, changes to 27483eb674 be pure and 253b35dfb0 selfless character just 44ba7d3e12 for the sake 52ab1919f3 of the female 24e2c06de9 protagonist’s happiness, it 8b86906956 was the story 667dcd8675 of a classic 9f7f753c2a romance fantasy cliché.4b97cbbc36bbee66

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‘By the 2be26c5ab3 end of 409736af84 this year, 21690bd822 The Second 01662408cf Prince would 574a44ec19 most probably 2bbbd1c79c be crowned f604107687 as the cef14c2336 Crown Prince….’94c96a24a687dbb2

Which means I’d just need to endure the surveillance until then.6d88bddd7445de28

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After organizing my thoughts, I felt at ease. Thanks to that, I could enjoy the dishes that arrived one after another. There’s a saying that if you can’t avoid it, just enjoy it.57381f1165b90dbf

I can confidently say that it was the most delicious food I’ve ever had, both in my past and present lives. The food was worth the high price.e3806ff250947e92

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Especially dishes 468f85aae6 made of 325cd566f6 the sheat-fish, 8dd0dc17e1 which was 90555cd371 filleted without 61732e3b31 a single 55e294325c bone, fried 3ed5b70fce to crisp 02052f69af with just 47c95b4e24 the skin, ee7f4c3170 and drizzled 0f6b264630 with sauce, ef87643786 were mouth 24b3ef2719 watering to 983988fd1c say the b3efe0471d least. And the 4affa14dfc pork terrine 1773d13cf7 made without 0bba999a24 any off-flavors, d0f5e56667 seemed to c8572c9941 melt in 6b44353119 my mouth 9a91fa0bb0 as soon 413b1afb90 as I 2add91b7bb put them c85c8095c7 in my 7edf3e5921 mouth.e3e66ac2ed32ed52

As I thoroughly 4d5e70a5c1 enjoyed the crème 178a59a55b brûlée topped with ed1b6e02d2 a generous amount fb99842195 of custard cream 3b3f8a0bb6 and a sweet 43d85451c7 dessert wine, two 28d8d89f05 hours had flown 851f91ac1e by.7342157d0870a229

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Surprisingly, Ludger was 1f96a61985 quite good at e2043147f7 keeping a conversation 2c3f06a140 going. I might b6061d9819 be giving a7e048ef76 him a c117766c28 higher rating 3cc3fa8c01 because of abc3a09ec5 the effects 3b99abe28e of the b48d58bde9 expensive wine, 61ed70caee though.44b00e5ffaa506cd

Actually, the topics 8daa66b3be of conversation were 2d97f16eeb nothing special. They were e4337c1c42 mostly about 678f0ce32a news floating 1267a11a3f on the c5bcb95201 Empire, experiences b688276011 with people e2de8bcc9f encountered in d564f015dd our work, 9113654f27 and other 70b43743f9 trivial, unimportant 54187643b0 matters.7103fd596b4be610

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Nevertheless, the cb622b00f8 two hours 074a7e04aa spent dining 035d6a775f felt surprisingly 30d9741411 engaging and d3d8572722 enjoyable.c9cd3c29cbcc8cc4

As I left the e0c43e4252 private room and headed 693a3274a7 back to the carriage, 28fe7839dd I paid some appropriate 3d4ce1ff80 lip service.12e3bbd35e0f95a6

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“Thank you for the meal, I really enjoyed it. I think I can keep my mouth shut just for the cost of today’s dinner.”a05e90d918448cbb

“It seems like 981c563660 you might be 131f6f97a4 quite drunk.”2d097dcb11a839e5

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“I’m a heavy drinker, 631d3366e5 you know?”2504d47a01c0e9c4

“Considering that, you c09e274673 seem a bit 502d425d2e too energetic.”91630013d452211f

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“Oh, I think it’s just the expensive alcohol that put me in a good mood.”809135b65798df88

I waved e5ecf92756 my hand, 88cdfd77dc dismissing his 8a8dfaf707 concern and b4bb67a063 stepped forward. But it 2fc8258118 seemed I 3a00dddaab was more 4693f737c2 intoxicated than 5811068dbc I thought. I was dad2ac1f8c tipsy and b22f7cac59 staggered slightly.f01a8132a90336ad

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Ludger quickly stretched out 71e39fdb88 his arm to support 45b2ec7fe8 me. For a moment, I 735281b989 ended up leaning into 6049670220 his overwhelmingly large frame, 05ef26365b feeling almost engulfed.1aa26d3fdd4d8339

‘Ah, this scent….’4482ba38245671b5

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The scent of Ludger’s perfume gently touched the tip of my nose. I’m not familiar with perfumes, so I couldn’t distinguish the scent, but it was a very warm and captivating fragrance.24c06e1388d81bcf

I thought about bd062b5fd9 it before, but e31e48036d it reminded me 6ea845ff53 of his lime-green dd6f9119ab eyes.296cc67b73fba8a5

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“Are you 7bca5cd64b alright l?”b7559bbdf2158a93

Ludger grabbed my f9fbc8aa77 hand and looked 7ffdb5e8c7 into my face e0c04106e4 carefully. The distance suddenly 2abe05ccc2 decreased between us. Not only that, 009b10dbb8 but his hand, ed13947bcc which was holding d3a83082e6 mine, felt hot 13a82a58c3 as if it 1b11e5c914 was on fire.4b6a4aa42ae3614b

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I was startled 60358d716d by the sudden f0db3b4440 warmth of his 166e7652ff body and quickly 3f4cfe2c7a pulled away, creating 343ab91293 distance at the 23e9e1c555 speed of light.08d64e9bf5d54115

“It’s fine! I can maintain 841a956931 my balance on 63575f75f2 my own without 661d2199e5 your help! I’m a Spirit 14da394388 user, after all!”c959e70a2f7b2f33

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In my flustered state, 49aac10323 I blurted out a 356a9c0a1f nonsensical flurry of words. Just because I 88aa6ea1e5 drank some expensive 1eaa9dfc17 liquor, I was dace1fa38e completely off-balance.6d0498f66d4f4f93

The tough me, d9697e5357 who used to 237a8f139c survive on cheap 612648ab1e liquor forced down d9911f414e by senior knights 1134df82db and handle the fca2c22428 aftermath of overindulgence, 1798c9b984 has completely gone d8ee24d5c3 out of sight.94bce512e7e233ea

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Ludger, looking a bit 10057d930a awkward with his empty ee41f40d87 hands, opened and closed dfc6706137 his fists several times 52b8ea51d0 as he tried to eb2528534f explain.07a0b546fd03c897

“I have no intention of harming you, so you don’t need to be so vigilant.”8a73bf43075d57ef

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“If you have a236310615 no intention of 5801fa657e harming me, why e80982ee97 are you keeping d7c3cd47d7 me under surveillance?”626699473ed162b0

Ludger chuckled at my e3892c7702 witty remark.ade014f17f5c1195

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“…Alright, I understand. You’re weak to 79ce23a4b0 alcohol.”9aa7589706d1b375

“I’m a heavy cd14fade27 drinker.”90552709cbbc6400

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“Fine, let’s leave it at that. Nevertheless, let me at least escort you.”4538c0fa1d57aec0

Ludger extended 44d107ab9e his hand b129e1d70c again, guiding 9a7f2a7c42 me to ec4c46b953 link arms a612a36251 with him.12a899dac8bfd937

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It seemed cadf2b588c a bit 126dfdebfd awkward to faf9374dc3 refuse even 7219574e1b this, so 27ea3a9ace I had b95ddab90a no choice 4fee954aed but to d9f579e6d3 take his cde52a85bb hand and 99082849a2 follow his 0556d47854 lead. The warmth 7acb1f5d3e of his e50e3833c5 hand was eee61f13ab still intense, 8ed3dd0b86 and it b17c27ed07 felt a ad115a87f5 bit uncomfortable.139bcec339ace1e5

“Come to think 0b0276d9d5 of it, your 619d83c4ee table manners were c6ea0e8406 perfect for someone dccba10cbd from a commoner 7f04d6d4d1 background. Does the b87247bdc1 knights’ order 52fd1d99da teach even 4bc7854099 that?”1d5941eff0d056e0

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“No. It’s because 8130739f00 of my 5138dc7c80 family circumstances.”13b39b99b1352673

As I was 0f4393b57b the daughter of 85d792b94f a self-announced Viscount, 881f816f79 there was a 03a9afdbaa period of time bf0223d98c when I had ae3a3243f4 to learn useless 4351e2774e etiquette. I didn’t b4940f9d7e really intend 700e7aa3b0 to follow 2666d76445 social manners, 7cdb2f6866 but it 48c850696f had become cec984334f instinctive so 3f0d396afd it naturally 644340d11a came out.69296e1207aca7b1

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“Were you born of 711dff710f a fallen noble family?”de244d6286a7c834

“That’s roughly correct. But I’ve 838a94cbae severed ties 203279a4be with my dea1a1df00 family.”8a9cdcf96ecaafcf

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“… You must be5df7b40b have had a b5d328b48a hard time.”f2354063be2f1462

“Not really.”d354480948477a3c

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Yes, I indeed had 8596ffbf3d a hard time. But thinking about my cd402a121b current situation, I’m much 000cae6352 happier now than when 530a6f4f75 I lived in silence 844fce7e5a and endured all kinds 35eb59adc3 of abuse.a1e4e7e1fe327de7

There were many hardships 980f12a03b and difficulties I faced f97ef7b562 on the way. But even so, 6ce22ffba0 I was grateful 8d866120f6 for being able 802a9ee359 to lead a 83c002513c simple and peaceful f8351dbeb8 life where I 571110a5ba could modestly live 7669af18d8 while looking forward d0fc98eaf1 to tomorrow’s meal.89c8aa715111ce57

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Perhaps that was the cd63d4dcef reason why I became dffbd6ccfc so obsessed with ‘peace.’39af77e4198d5822

“But… are you dc08aa3d45 comfortable sharing your e6374d426a personal circumstances so 04b2295727 easily?”01761872586e6376

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“It’s nothing special. I don’t possess any great background.”645f81af3b1d426d

“Hmm…. In that case, I’d like to ask you something.”8a48741f33c2c5cd

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“What is it?”2fd858c26e14782f

“Why don’t you ea54c92083 want to report cc97aa0d42 me?”6ad9c58e7291e213

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“….”a1796db4e6a7a52e

When I ac5c5425d8 came to 9fd60a19d8 my senses, 42e9b3f48b we had 323da73f63 somehow reached c4839aa971 the outside. In the pitch-black darkness, 9e713949b8 Ludger’s hair shone like e787dd424f the moon, faintly illuminated 549abf0afb by the streetlights.2997cd027c01c737

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As I looked f51bded2b7 at his otherworldly 91616bdd87 beauty, I was e23e933c40 reminded once again 9cc7fad554 that he was f69f74bf0d a character from 5b343a7ba7 the original work, f808b25b0e far removed from 9659a93fee me.68694f552b3366c1

“…That’s a secret.”ecbbacfcff7f3203

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“Is that such 848fa113b0 a significant reason?”a6d65c9b2f585bab

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… a bit embarrassing to discuss.”f71c7eac58eb50f3

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“I see.”361b14bba6b3730d

Ludger smiled with 94622fda5b a gentle curve ca005b8e68 of his eyes 43dee1e16b and released my 00a9433d7d hand. Even that graceful 91bfbd695e motion seemed like c956c6310c a painting, leaving f1ef296f93 me feeling dazed.e8e25e4f72a567e5

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‘Oh, I guess I’m 9afa1f31c9 really drunk.’37b8124c3b31868f

I guess expensive d930e5bc83 alcohol doesn’t suit 4a2a17f919 me.33335075c7113773

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“I was 9c08ff1f33 worried that 391b1a89f5 you would 3ae6881480 blurt out e6ddf24146 things about 0321d6dcbe Haillbronner after 31058fb55e being drunk, d82d15cf42 but it f424cee1ce seems I e4379540f9 didn’t need 196c6b2e4f to worry 81ca70099c about that.”de72bc65d2e289ce

“…You were 999151532a testing me?”1a179f4143b7f2c7

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“A bit.”968385c6526c2e59

In an e0249d735a instant, my 6805ea8771 dazed mind f57286c335 became sharply f6705d71f1 alert. I realized he dd13f295e8 had taken advantage 58e6308547 of my lowered e8afbdb90d guard caused by 260eda8a7e the alcohol to ddc9ccc5f1 catch me off 21f5b4e8a5 guard.6b0faa085d59a17c

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‘As expected, he’s c0816b2780 a villain…. I shouldn’t underestimate b531bf9ca3 him.’87482169f6b6743d

He might have created a relaxed atmosphere to gauge my true intentions. Phew, I absolutely mustn’t arouse any suspicion.6b952ad6aa3b0077

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“It seems you liked 008f9cd583 the meal today, so 684567ec77 next time, I’ll make b806cd1a2d sure you’re served by 91a421c941 this chef again.”9f6ba88bc8afd95e

“You don’t have f6c818a337 to…um… go out ee265e0534 your way to e4e42644b1 do that. However, since… a3d07fc0b0 If I’m 5f335f9cf3 going to fe9bd1c83e be under 0a3926c7f1 surveillance, I f1c2ad4f9c might as 55fcc20a79 well enjoy a029c78517 some delicious 7095109311 to food.”c3dec932ae4334d3

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As I quickly ca90367d0c finished calculating and 37213b51a8 replied, his smile b252ef974e deepened.98ce0ace224f347b

“Speaking of benefit…”99582301d9cb8c82

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“Yes.”1761e83f73d3e264

“Then can we 703e764441 consider the proposal 3dd925fec3 you made earlier 7ac5ce16a8 as valid?”4275736cc78d04fe

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“What proposal?”715dff98fe7e58e6

“The one where 44ce6e7d86 you would be 5ea8ab9e8d getting a large bc6b74a782 sum of payment 901e7cf03b from me for b4d04f8f88 sealing you lips 9b5806ed72 after the Heilbronner 04ba9d30e7 act.”278e034426397f1c

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“Ah….”24633afcc2a7b825

My face 9cc46905f4 flushed red 6e79471e68 as I 4aaf9f797f recalled the 7182be7e81 memory of 85da2d98b8 my failed 01d149082a cosplay as 35b89a9387 the villainous 9c97d881cf knight commander 74fcfee378 who was aabbf1a314 blinded by c38e27ea67 money.7e053380826eccce

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“Well… I’m not particularly indifferent very to money. If you truly pay me for that, I’d certainly be grateful.”814ffa308303835c

“How honest.”20bef2ec51920974

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“Is there anyone who doesn’t like money? But, to reiterate, I’d like you assure you again; I have no intention of reporting you even if you don’t pay me.”71737a64e34bf533

“….”439e8695c23bcabc

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“Even if I hadn’t made an oath to God, I would keep my word. So do not fret.”25c74ab95122ad57

“That’s fortunate. However, I’ll still be keeping you under surveillance.”8a7e8ea201dc6676

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“Tsk….”04cd5d2a013d7b9c

As I clicked d622b09491 my tongue, Ludger 27078eb35e gently patted my 528849acf4 back and urged 378ca045b4 me to get 271c95d3f3 in the carriage.be5d6c82328c8676

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His actions d7760abc33 in assisting 9396f57141 me into df957e2cb2 the carriage 1329a80f92 were consistently a25fb68604 kind and 0f15fbb24e graceful.f91defda360bf1ff

I knew well 73e87544ed that his true ee6e174f6a nature was thorough a496d128f2 and meticulous mastermind efa5f1660b planning.ff6007407cbf3599

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Even so, d5e48550a8 I couldn’t cbd3ddfac7 deny the 17409b1d50 fact that 11314feded he was 0afb484f8b undeniably a f47708041d perfect nobleman.ca70801009841bbd

***34770c628c043e92

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Duke of 3ea71d4f1c Kassen’s Manor.b2d06e411a8af7c9

As soon as Ludger 9d9ea6031a arrived, a dignified old 63bbe3d87b gentleman with gray hair 65ae13cfd3 greeted him.e1538c30502dec3f

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“Young Master, you’ve returned.”573b944283809849

“How old am 2838938298 I that you cd57762935 still call me 34ad6b7c72 ‘Young Master’, Derrick.”ead91da0efdbd47d

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“You’re twenty-four. Even if 1c6aba8729 so, you’ll 88e3084d12 always be d6d93d7992 my Young 7ed319a350 master.”bd05984dc9a896cb

Derrek, the old butler of the Kassen Duke’s household, lightly brushed off Ludger’s grumbling and took his coat.d384e1ad70defdb3

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“Did you confirm everything 872b322687 in today’s meeting?”94b73036137de447

“Yes…”7a2b07a69163f1e7

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Ludger nodded firmly.14270877b831f673

“Derrek, it seems your guess was correct. Lady Clara appears to be liking me, but she’s trying hard to hide it from me.”b0d486dd73fcabe4

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