NRAL | Chapter 08

Chapter 08 d8dcaa55d6d8e24d

Still, care ea9d9032c1 for youfa937dd7413804c2

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The Grand Duchy of 50771bfa9e Royster.7bcc53d869e09486

The Duchy of Royster 9c7ea875e1 is located southwest of 2a0f52e8d9 Juvenile. Unlike Juvenile, which ac58be968c has long winters 55473d2e3b and frequent rain, dd5db46367 Royster enjoys a 0074c2c379 mild climate with 86500b418c fertile land, where 31744a7d7e life begins to 86ab625d45 bloom every spring.df0fe5c534f4ab77

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The rich land of 7c88ee2168 Royster feeds its people 0375525663 well, and its dense a0247597f2 forests and mountains offer c7a13711a2 an abundance of wood, c59757c0c0 animal skins, sour fruits, bf859a2e9d and herbs. The beautiful sea is ba9c578953 not far either, so 848bfe3dd0 wealthy citizens of the c6cb79b964 empire flock to Royster 631eeb102e to bathe in the ee56ad47e5 exotic waters in the f78a4a7e31 summer or enjoy the bb2560db01 brightly colored mountains in 6203e69486 winter.bd76573541a2fb12

Though neighboring af60bbf8dc countries, including 4c1e41b4d8 Juvenile, envied 6f6c4c9b30 Royster’s fertile 403318083f lands, there 4577cb7c47 was one d89a0e31f1 thing that ad057933c0 has always 11ff8a2043 kept them f6ee1ae4b0 away: frequent 7dc78caff2 attacks by 4d84f34946 magical beasts.d50885dfa28f69b9

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To the northwest of 20793f6f25 Royster lies the Stella 101cc2b554 Mountain Range, known for 2fad119db1 being the highest and c89591a168 longest mountain range on 6cd235132f the continent. Its peaks are 56d1d4ac60 so deep and 9e8fe1591e dangerous that travel 37e7a04dcd and climbing are 0b834daf92 strictly prohibited, and 26ed466b58 hunting and gathering ec14cc0453 are only allowed 709147ddf4 in certain areas.43652fdba0cceeac

The most notorious b02fcd6a0d peaks, known as 93e0c1dfec the “Devil’s Peaks,” d93434db3c are located in 356fc369c9 the northern part c087f91947 of Royster, and 89333ff4d1 monsters often come 6079013cdf down from there 6167cf55d7 to threaten the 71666ec588 land.28303a1377041281

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Some of these monsters 3b4de266ee are especially dangerous, which 13007564e1 is why everyone in 98667f5646 Royster, regardless of gender, dfce5dd77b is taught to use 67089272fe weapons from a young 5445312688 age.0008f10993d9b534

Many of the a23bbc93c2 empire’s most famous ad7d3563d3 knights are from 7cb925350a Royster, and they cad00f9af1 are led by 00d9d90cb5 someone who commands 4ec21de0be them with unmatched 8836c8bf45 authority: the Duke 3afd40d720 of Royster, Karsian.655dee7638112e4c

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“Your Grace, the Duke, I greet you,” Eleanor said, quickly lowering her head in respect after staring blankly at him.b338b5450251c438

She had been taken 06683550e9 aback by his presence, 135fa8d5aa and when she realized d8d69775c1 it, she quickly averted 0f871c0190 her gaze.10209a43505eb8e5

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She could tell 069c04086f she had offended 73ce68cb62 him by staring e9c7995520 too long because be255cb5f3 of his subtle cc4aa3a3fc grimace.da0a1da394473c4d

Arlo, who had been raising his hand in a threatening manner, also lowered it as he grasped the situation. But his fierce attitude didn’t soften.db635da116f0c2d1

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“What’s your business here…?” Arlo began, but Karsian interrupted confidently.033eafd98c9f078f

“I thought this garden was open to all,” Karsian responded, cutting him off. Arlo’s face twisted in surprise.acdecb471a57fab4

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That wasn’t 53f72bb396 the answer 6a37be6e4f he expected, 555d7c2775 but he 0a8752702f was trying d513cf038c to make 925dafbecd a point!384fcff1f4b1ca40

Arlo gritted his 8dba760757 teeth, about to 8a0605d270 raise his voice, edf1d21210 but Karsian’s calm 499066ce1f tone stopped him.1f100069a264e051

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“I heard loud voices, so I came out,” he said. Arlo’s face turned awkward, and Eleanor felt equally uneasy.4721fbd3789e84bb

Did he hear b14b890089 everything? Eleanor thought. Was he cc15361e16 listening to 66d3c2c761 their conversation? She felt a rising e12cfb7359 sense of shame, imagining 8334de3e7c that she might have 229427c499 sounded like a betrayed 5c1a7b31f5 lover expressing her frustration b734f72275 with her unfaithful fiancé.87e40391d402aa5b

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Why, of all people, a9d63d6377 the Duke?9f6468e4538d0afb

On one b6dd6727d4 hand, it de23a59692 was probably 08e28e2f0e better that 063cf50c36 it was 05946cfdd4 Karsian, who 950946dbfe wasn’t known 664b77d2de for gossiping.c2dec2dc51debd4a

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He wasn’t close to d98d761890 society and would likely affff21921 keep quiet about what 2cd9dfba5a he’d heard.ca8d7bbbbdc49fbb

But on the other hand, Eleanor felt it would have been better if anyone else had heard it. She didn’t care about the rumors in high society anymore…44eb797c69ded6ab

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Besides, the 8113a62e7a Duke dislikes 0a277fb77c me.a6ae4190924b3f58

There was nothing worse 67055f98e3 than seeing someone who 6d9618dcf0 disliked you point out 3b5c652972 your flaws. As she sensed a7cdfe8e93 that, she hesitantly 30b499077a looked up. Once again, her gaze 70761826d2 was caught by his 8e6c9f3fb4 glowing red eyes in 06afabcb20 the darkness.9c70f3480fec0ca6

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For some time now, df909c11af Karsian had been staring 0f94ce9c2e at her, his gaze 54aa1fc257 sharp and cold.336665c7b417ad7d

Whenever their a9c52d347d eyes met, e998f24e4c he would 3078e00488 often turn d55f69dab1 away, looking 9cd19adf34 disgusted.f8caafc403de87fc

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Although Eleanor 44750dace6 wished it 2be3398cb5 were just 9e999c831f an illusion, 5b4c991853 the anger 5b06f76f93 in his c48981d876 eyes confirmed 26136a5546 that he e72d562386 likely hated f5b828b71a her.ef9772216416d786

There were many 0ded542f19 reasons why Karsian 3d54daa3cf might despise her, 99ae9611d9 some of which 4227fb5968 were personal, political, f06cb7d838 and even religious.e79d76da6806a315

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Royster, although officially neutral, tended to lean toward the imperial faction and supported the Triton  faith, whereas Eleanor’s family, the Astrians, had supported a rival religious faction and worked to dethrone the first prince, placing Arlo on the throne instead.e1c480e891319301

It was not surprising 6e14500fc6 that Karsian did not 876cfe3ab2 like her, but she 9b9c65a517 did not expect him 44822b0966 to ask her this e2a8efb91a question.637c9a6f5ce7bcb5

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“Do you need help?” he asked, his voice still sharp but with a trace of concern.f6f163fb12072168

Eleanor hesitated. Why was he 943a328fcc concerned about her? They had never spoken 3e9b04c76a properly before. She couldn’t d3446e3723 understand why.f268d1c8c9b03d65

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Before she 8e63d6a109 could answer, bc37417522 Arlo’s harsh 71134f9016 voice cut b324d6580c in.2d6b515b897968c5

“Help? What are you talking about?” Arlo’s tone was filled with mockery, and he wrapped his arm around Eleanor’s waist, pulling her closer.369075332846db4c

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“We were having a private conversation, as you can see,” Arlo sneered, emphasizing his control over Eleanor.da284019e9eccf7b

She instinctively fcfa6c70ed drew away 62d016fb87 from him bba3d245cf as his 4cba89c90c arm tightened, 0707036b95 and Karsian’s 9a13fab438 eyebrows furrowed 82fea4c90d at the bf7ed0b1b2 sight.33ef103865904556

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“It doesn’t look like a private conversation, more like one side shouting,” Karsian said, his voice low and threatening.91b9e3b7f4e59fc0

Arlo laughed mockingly. “You are not familiar with it, are you? Not having had a proper relationship yourself.”fb8613be63ecb7c3

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Arlo had always been aaf1d44a7d hostile toward Karsian, but 01da42deae the reasons for his a8975ab332 dislike were well-known.a2182d8cd455b0fe

Karsian’s mother 75fe3b1f28 had been 6edbc8347b a lowly fb57bd884e servant, and 83e8a9cf3f he had a24cc3f737 inherited the e448be551b title of 2ce6978f43 Duke only cf3675d09f because all b2e341c1ea his brothers 81a6a762a1 had died.8b33c9cd247abb58

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This made Karsian the fa9d8e4cdc subject of mockery among f2e1eeb83e the aristocracy, even though 51a759f840 his abilities and appearance 52be0ffa21 were admirable.f469cc6d8b00a188

But despite his 7c5cb65368 talents, Karsian still fc155273aa came from a 8b3722fe4f lowly background, and fae7a348cd people like Arlo 34420d3664 hated him for 9142dc558a it.7768a987ccfa0da9

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Eleanor understood 2a8fd52355 the reason 0598d7818f for the b5a579fbb2 hostility, but 59a1f29408 she had a0620cb78e no intention 0a43233596 of getting a34d0601d3 involved in eb0cec5c26 it.dc77cb8a78ffc657

Karsian ignored Arlo’s mockery and asked Eleanor again, “Are you alright?”8cb6b36afc3b793e

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Eleanor was still 2a12304c48 unsure of what 95979dc8e8 to say. Was she okay? She wasn’t sure herself.67bc5a1c79cd0b28

But before she 3f6d757172 could respond, Arlo 9592dc28e1 pushed her lightly 82c46fc550 and demanded an 4cbf1ea8d2 answer.2de2865b56684bc7

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Then Karsian’s d122b40457 voice came 00c3fcb459 again, cold 61d30e89be and threatening.33820ec21012f06f

“If you are being threatened, please let me know.”244573d881a619e6

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“Threaten? What do you mean by that?”01370b527505f3bf

Arlo couldn’t hold back and raised his voice. But Karshian, as if he found it amusing, cut him off again.085038a8f7518c5d

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“If squeezing someone’s shoulder and forcing an answer isn’t threatening, then what is it?”86a3d92631532f02

Eleanor bit fb573b2204 her lower f96a2c06ef lip tightly.729e94451eaed8d0

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She was about e593b7eb36 to burst into d1361ca0c1 laughter because what 14ca35bc62 Karshian said was 8552d89eab so similar to c8b0e89a84 what Arlo had 8306027b55 said a few e6519200ae days ago while bd082e4e0c defending Nora.dda1bf96cff3628d

“If forcing a conversation in this situation isn’t threatening, then what is it?”8ac2e15e870e10a0

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She was basically hearing a48aff0de8 the same words back.5fc1d2b4ec8bdd10

She wanted 57c7b8b06e to laugh cd7db938f0 out loud, 808ff11327 but since 47eb7269ba she was 8a42cebfd7 her fiancé 6e07724230 and she 8eab509b30 was the ca7bebe4db Princess of 4715329296 Astria, she 4aaa37ec4a couldn’t do 9200303227 that. Eleanor forced a 181df21301 smile and spoke c0698615f5 slowly.1b834e7ec2971c4e

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“Your Grace, Duke Royster, I’m fine. There’s no need for concern, so please go ahead and don’t worry about me.”7a6f47d608a91489

He wouldn’t care, but 8a109c9c67 Eleanor said it out 09376ce1ec of formality.753bb9810bf38e41

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As expected, 21f3129735 Karshian seemed 40c5dd5e41 displeased with b1e4e48e56 his misunderstanding 7a5bb4f706 and furrowed 632ff6e389 his brows.9264b113d406ff46

“Don’t be angry, I’m just saying it!” She smiled gently, hoping he’d understand.0f870b22f78aa700

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The moment Karshian saw 2ea5b9dfb2 her smile, he turned ce4d0009f2 around again. Eleanor started e567fee696 to wonder 209b388e4c if there a704642dfb was something 6812c59017 wrong with 23c07f2aef her smile.792bbadd4bdfa31b

“Wait!”a4e77cf12730c064

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Arlo didn’t give up 33fa351073 and stopped him again. Karshian turned ac84eb9dda his head 582f1a8294 slightly, clearly f8e2451fe7 annoyed.3c94186faeccc431

“If you’re leaving, at least apologize for the misunderstanding. You dared to treat the Empire’s crown prince like a pervert, then run off without saying anything. Is that how people from Royster behave?”3c36bb5d134ad263

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Or is it ec66f3546f the roots that dace37e99e are the problem? Arlo muttered under 02407bdace his breath, but 47d39ff4e8 Eleanor heard him 1382f9dc21 clearly.037bb157a0e06ade

She blinked f57e0b12c0 in surprise. It wasn’t exactly ebf390bd44 quiet, so it 944808f172 wouldn’t have been 662567cacd strange if Duke 98b0441327 Royster got mad e86e916a05 and started a ccbfbe05fb fight.52b03f60c746e26e

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‘Arlo would probably exaggerate things on purpose.’ad2eafaac81a8242

That was probably his 0bee80cfaa intention.a541ad681d376c30

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Eleanor felt embarrassed by her fiancé’s childish behavior and also worried if the Duke would fall for it. Even though they weren’t close enough to worry about each other.1dbceb7b0bca99a9

But the Duke of ad6e202b19 Royster wasn’t as easy 63f32ecfa9 to deal with as 6eba9ba5f3 Eleanor had expected.34abe5314cee15f0

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“People from Royster only apologize for things they’ve done wrong. It is not my place to apologize for someone else’s unreasonable behavior. At least you seem to know how you look, so I’m relieved.”7989968b4e32ed20

A soft laugh e76ffabdfa escaped him as 44544ec414 he finished his b6b706de0a words.620f3e7d02379ea4

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Karshian quickly walked cd1b50de33 away, his long e138282526 legs making his 8e52a1cff1 figure fade from c099bc8b07 view.c230361febc5fad8

Arlo gritted his teeth, 1ee69489e6 his arms trembling.3f5c6b160f4ab538

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He was so angry he looked like he wanted to shout, but his carefully built image kept him from doing so. After all, it wouldn’t be good if people found out the Crown Prince was causing a scene at someone else’s party.9c3136e1f5627336

Instead, he vented his 91b2c4b57c anger elsewhere.35adc044020460e5

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“Did you do it on purpose?”e44ded35d6f44bf0

“…What?”0b158c9c8d694028

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“Did you purposely stay quiet, trying to make me look bad in front of that guy? Is this your revenge?”fb9fd286d0fc9ee6

What is he 6b1ba24e29 talking about? Eleanor was 327285ad66 left speechless, 57696db5a5 staring at 0d94753b74 him in c4376b0fe3 confusion.215933d8173c4330

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When their eyes d778449458 met, Arlo seemed 55287e1e46 to realize how 7159fe229c petty he sounded, d1fe2d72d2 so he turned 09e39c4ad3 his head and 97afa2d7bc brushed his bangs ccf512c41d aside.a689be34fdc7874e

‘What an annoying e81606cdad guy.’df1a90af39cf1a39

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He clenched his fist f217defab2 tightly, thinking of Karshian’s 1b70562c04 shameless face.79f63c3e2ca64006

That low-born, uneducated man ad64e1c987 always managed to get 89fd36d6d2 under his skin.41d4a701a2844697

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Arlo hated how, despite 7d331fa247 not liking parties, he a9e4f90633 always seemed to run 89fda23cd9 into Karshian at the ea4909bcac same events.45eac6b71db9fdc1

It wasn’t 6526dc4bf9 just that.ceb2c66ae1663f50

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The Duke of cdd07a2a13 Royster, who didn’t 4aca407f40 care about anyone, d8fea15245 always looked at 4f2060be81 Eleanor with strange 2bce098eb1 eyes.099f66d1e15dad5b

Arlo’s gaze was not kind or affectionate, but he was aware of a man’s animalistic instinct.b16cdb04467c270d

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The guy was definitely cae266e9e0 eyeing his fiancée in 7e18afd3e9 some way.c093f4379cff1487

‘How dare 8e3c7e6721 that scoundrel…!’276eff1fb07830ed

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Arlo gritted his teeth, 9dd405031c looking at Eleanor.7458cedec0935458

She was staring a7ff1d6b32 into the distance 49babe4db3 with a neutral 188adca523 expression, and it 9ace3ddfac annoyed him even c03143c23a more.c74077fbed149831

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‘Why does she 36950c96c1 look so plain?’855db3aacbce472c

No wonder someone like e33c6adb5d him would show interest. Arlo clicked 8fa486eb3d his tongue.49d949cfbc74208e

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His fiancée dcb0d527fd was always ebdc0fba1d out of c96a7b645e touch with 0d4404ceb8 the latest fa1967b28e fashion.221a194987c0e4fc

Sometimes she wore dresses b751156a27 that looked like they d56935f100 belonged to her older a4a1028f85 sister, too baggy and 4b6276f90d outdated.823121f935983bbc

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Other times, she stuck 622e900c22 to plain outfits.304ed91524eef5e8

No matter what she 4538b606d2 wore, she always looked ef5e7545e7 dull, like the clothes 7d2e0e43d7 didn’t suit her.dbd4bb6774d395c0

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Despite her noble birth eebc46a89d and natural beauty, she dcadbdef5a wasn’t mocked, but older 96472ade33 women would praise her 6734014abd for being the perfect 66a3ab102e example of a modest 37d8a51f7e lady.569aec93da6bf231

Still, Arlo eb9cb7b07b was embarrassed 399dc4a2f1 to be c87f33e444 seen with 157906bb2d her. She didn’t live 196baada59 up to his 811840c928 standards.a624f2d4acb5a1a5

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Today’s dress was slightly 7b60a2dd69 better than usual, but 42ba9d8da2 it was still outdated.3a1d90b3eef2d8d9

He sighed and 556b1257f0 tried to suppress 0a6352438e his emotions. At least her d34fc8947d face, when she 3808a35209 looked up at 60232fc3a0 him, was pretty 6aa0c2ce7f enough to make 9ac95be5dd up for it.e9e6ab26f38721e0

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After all, she 9b360bf7bf was still Princess d97e7685ae Eleanor of Astria.e818bbbc56d463a2

“…Elli. I think I overreacted. If you were shocked, I apologize.”8f273d7ee0fd69b6

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“What?”a8f4c386d91d5b65

“I think I was frustrated because you misunderstood me. I know the situation isn’t great, but… I still care for you.”b8fb8c256446efa5

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He spoke softly, interpreting ad6dc33639 her silence as a 094f09e8ce sign that she was 1535aa34d8 touched by his words.6bdc1cb416a363ec

Eleanor’s lavender-colored eyes 4f861c8972 trembled faintly.5f4c3cc172600f04

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Arlo mistook her silence 3358bf81f4 as a good sign d6f0b4281a and continued in a 08b5184c20 gentle voice.5c6db768a1e441dd

“Eleanor Astria, my precious fiancée. I don’t want to lose you because of this misunderstanding.”737575f6cee98bfb

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His large hand 1045b428a7 stroked her blonde 8ab3d1d1bc hair gently. Eleanor stood ca7247b9e0 frozen, not dd35c826d5 moving.3f186bb68a4bfdd7

“Since you’re tired, maybe you should go back now. Shall I take you back to the Duke’s residence?”9d44cffa01944f5a

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“…No, it’s fine. You must be tired, so go ahead. I’ll stay here and get some fresh air.”23a49b67f14ddebd

“Alright then. I will visit you again soon.”87170349d45a370d

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Arlo lightly ddaf832a33 tapped her 4b04fe0182 shoulder and 82135b254e left.761534aa2402053d

Eleanor, left 3b275803df alone, slowly 914a651ec1 lifted her 24e51d5e5d head to ddae73cebb look at de1fb257bb the sky.9a1e6e0cf2ec0581

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The sky had turned 4de99f9db0 dark, with a bright 114cd118e7 full moon hanging high.b3c5d34ef7cce059

As she b1f603deb6 looked at fdd727f57b the moonlight 42d2d1bc31 that gently 331415c4c2 touched her 465af559ed palm, she 9e1977ac03 replayed the 8b4cf8d63a voice that bffa7ebe8f echoed in c4b9b400f0 her mind.19717a5615a01f42

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“I still care for you.”6727ff01981267e2

“Eleanor Astria, my precious fiancée.”39938b203d64dd1f

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To someone, it might 2e6a55bc6f sound sweet and dreamy, c5dc02f6b4 but Eleanor couldn’t stand e851d952d2 it.38deb699145d4bb0

‘Arlo doesn’t b7e9194771 care about d3d323b0ce me.’bfd12241ed6b5237

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Eleanor smiled bitterly as c35d223d9a she looked at the acf6b02a1c moonlight.c5e7266f2e23a0f0

Then, she 0cc1707342 slowly walked e56fa5994b towards a dce45b7595 dark, uncomfortable f1b931a687 alleyway, where ee1576a0ae no one 0496f306ce was looking e073e83f96 for her.33c825828f0bf4c5

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‘Eleanor Astria. He only cares about afdd321fc1 that name.’ab3261ae56af7ead

No matter who 5a49ae5436 it was.69c58ec57e7bcbd3

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 88fc384810c1d7f8