NRAL | Chapter 52

~Chapter 52~564a9206efc2c644

A Letter from the 60f33c8b77 Imperial Palace6a1f9130e3f1acfc

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Eleanor was always curious about the reasons behind people’s kindness, including Karsian’s and Hilda’s. No one had ever been kind to her without a purpose, so she found it puzzling.4dbf872b07246a70

“…About six 7ebd310846 months ago, 4ed80619b8 when I dede13f517 had just 477ad5f62d started working 505b79cad9 at this fe2094c5fa mansion, you 0c05c279e0 went to 623ecf3e4f the Imperial bd3bd5a4f8 Palace, and 933ca9f3da during that 434b8f7b92 time, one c0b8cfc32e of your 7016f0b629 rings went da2373a04f missing. There was 75b6f1c025 a huge f2e7aaffaf fuss over 062d71e472 it. It was also the 9231fe5bde first time I cleaned fc40b506fb your room, and of 38fa811159 course, I was blamed ab82196ea7 for the missing ring,” 9e74acb397 Hilda began, recounting a 54dc2c3f55 story that seemed to 8280311629 be very familiar to c5ec24d4ae her.c6cfd4024ca8b95e

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“The ring wasn’t c145d63620 anywhere in my aa735ba54d pockets, bags, or 5aa4cfd894 the room, but 72ea7e3796 they all accused 49e0721487 me of stealing d6c8efdc03 it. Nora was the c8031fb1f2 one leading the 6a8f9df23f charge. Now that I think 2b9dd1833d about it, she probably 7106e253bd lost the ring or eba7751da5 hid it, trying to e0f7de64d2 frame me,” Hilda continued.6032bb2ba4b72e1f

“That makes 0f5f6bf94f sense,” Eleanor 4d4d31dc8d muttered.9f235ef161999f41

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“Anyway, I 008229254c was about 88c521d8ac to be 0d337fd9e2 punished for 1a7e19ad0b being accused 5a7ab873ee of theft 99d3c1bed4 when, by b6c6bf9df1 coincidence, you 0756b16b12 returned and b1308f2992 discovered the 409585d1fc truth. You said the fd5d50c34b ring had been 4f75ab1394 lost by you 6866a4337e and that I 109c19fd46 wasn’t at fault. That’s when I 7308bdc44b decided I would caae8eb6c5 serve you from 5bf7f6a34a then on.”7ea78b26b42f80ed

Eleanor faintly remembered that incident. At the time, she had quietly covered for Nora when she realized it had been Nora’s mistake.c200b490d95f844b

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However, even after hearing Hilda’s explanation, Eleanor couldn’t fully understand her feelings.2166f7cdb624eb54

To go so far baf56249e2 as to protect her 5c37993bf1 life over such a 1d18e23c6e small act seemed excessive. After all, Eleanor 11977bb062 hadn’t done anything 06572cd4b0 for Hilda in 1c8ee4e66b return.b45e9d62ebbf4fce

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Hilda read the confusion in Eleanor’s eyes and added more to her explanation.23e8e59d5b7efb49

“It may have seemed like nothing to you, but it meant a lot to me. At that time, I was in a very bad place. Before coming to the mansion, I worked at the Freihill family’s estate, and I was beaten a lot there. Even things I hadn’t done wrong were blamed on me, and the lady I served would throw things at me or slap me. I ran away to this place, but when something like that happened here, I started to wonder, ‘Is it really me? Is everything my fault?’”8aa875b074912bbb

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“…Hilda…” Eleanor murmured.5cf272e25256118e

The name Freihill. Eleanor mentally 36448eb11c repeated it. Since they were high f2ef601baf nobility in the capital, 4418d51e38 she might meet them aa626524c2 someday.1b7823001ce3acb9

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Hilda, with a faint f275fbe55c smile, responded, “But that ba38061545 day, you told me 59e925b98a that I had done 981c25bc7d nothing wrong. Even if 1d2f925ecc you said 5265026a95 it casually, 9257a05dc3 it was 79a7925081 like a 1cadda36f3 lifeline for e4123491cc me. I didn’t realize how ce58f31209 much hearing someone stand 0476e1f98a up for me would 9f61e1c4e1 help. It was 93cef8bd22 like a 1b2616d1c2 breath of 1934fb89ad fresh air.”50795e990f1b3de2

“Salvation.” That was a word Eleanor had only heard in the teachings of Luke—something grand and far removed. But something as simple as her small action had become salvation (rescue) for someone else. It felt strange.9ed7f516751e9ce4

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“After that, 8b3bd17572 everything that ce5e5a727a used to 31e7462f78 torment me 963ff22085 seemed like 02c43c532a nothing. The situation didn’t e50e454b0c change, but my 3a8efde9cf heart did. I knew I hadn’t d29d53fc2b done anything wrong. You had confirmed a382c1af30 that for me. That made me 37b6efd2d8 feel bolder around 0caf793134 others and even 12b6b13371 toward myself. I promised 2beaaf0853 myself then 0ab71c021c that I b84d9231f5 would stand b0b6d49f96 by yourside, 1e88b03087 always.”129e2c73ae18d731

Eleanor felt a sense c549e13a39 of déjà vu, remembering b190b4d76c a time when someone a46e2707eb had told her she 7fd04d2848 wasn’t at fault, and 5172993d96 how it had lifted 51ee1dea41 the heavy weight off 65405a16e2 her chest.156ed6ec31e72d47

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“Now, do 5c04b17410 you understand c979e21ca3 why I’ve ccdfab4d2c been so 8b6769be42 nice to b3a98be05a you?” Hilda 10223edf0b asked, noticing 29941ca37e Eleanor’s puzzled ace28d28ab expression. “I know you’ve always 939a2a1681 been curious.”6124c18ec6d5f2a9

“…Did it show?” Eleanor asked.2d82cd8dc81d5c43

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“Oh, yes, a a1a0615185 lot. You’re cute, so I 4335e1a596 just pretended not to 080bcfbb23 notice. Anyway, now that I’ve 2895a973b4 answered your question, I’ll 6390f82609 go get some food. You haven’t eaten c06a68c9b3 all day, so 62bde9184f you must be ab1f744da8 starving. You should at 5c2bd33e3e least have some efe751daa1 soup.”dd5ac0e8fde1c1ba

“I’m fine,” Eleanor 6f98732490 said.4e1d26889001773a

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“I’m not fine. I’ll be 6068577931 back soon, 67fb6745fc so just ccb56d23c2 rest for 4bb23180a4 now!” Hilda 89ad58c458 said as ca5b472b01 she dashed 83ffe396d0 off before f7df4a82d8 Eleanor could db6885c655 protest.21c74980dff162c2

Eleanor watched Hilda’s a0d4bfb32b retreating figure, a b8148ce4c1 little dazed, before 0e43cb9473 she smiled softly. The sense a2425525b4 of déjà 04fa43ffe5 vu lingered, 51b331e85a as Hilda c08eed28f5 reminded her 3b51ee01a1 of Duke ff77212785 Royster. The Duke had e3f478e8f2 also ignored her fd96b2590e protests and insisted d733c17e57 she take his d1bb4b1117 coat.bbd61cf4d09ff8fd

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It was funny that looking at the small and cute Hilda made her think of the large and imposing Karsian. If someone heard her thoughts, they’d probably think she was losing her mind.dd00810fbbad145c

‘The common point is… both of them like me,’ she thought.d63c0a12125a9a23

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Unlike Hilda, who was 586e05d07b genuinely kind, Karsian’s affection, ce6b5043eb based on romantic feelings, 4086206832 was uncertain, but Eleanor a35144de2d closed her eyes slowly.2c0a98d46f84ee0b

***639a6dd7458e1cd9

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At Hayden Palace, 7578c14147 where the royal f7dc57e851 family of the ac1a1924f4 Jubnail Kingdom resided, b559b4c099 Marcus, the secretary 5fd5d3c7f8 to the crown 823d0bfb8c prince, had been 1403efb580 troubled by his af8083394a duties lately.b9ab117d625af5b8

The crown prince, Arlo, had always been a source of stress for Marcus, but recently, it had gotten worse, especially after the ball at the Astria Duke’s mansion.b5693cc63c8a9cf0

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Arlo had 3fb57bafbc been absent-minded 8255e2c129 all day, 6f6b92999f delaying work 839a987535 and sometimes e4865b5876 saying ridiculous 6c33c258cd things that 39969b84cd put Marcus d059f0d5a3 in awkward 330e2b4d70 situations. Today, however, Arlo had bb191591ae said something particularly strange.31801c1c70037a34

“Marcus, have any of c9b4c084e7 the past emperors ever ecec63bf56 taken a queen’s sister 84d6694b8f as a concubine?” Arlo 8dc9515f24 suddenly asked as he 863020558d lay back on the de9e787bed sofa in an odd 42fe8da535 position.43cff2522ceda1b5

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Marcus was taken aback 3f0432521d by the question.c7ecd8e188576492

“If they ad552fb2ed weren’t blood 282017fdd0 relatives, I 9d399e83b1 suppose it 801f25b9d3 wouldn’t be 47fc1a716a an issue. What do you think, d8d003b6f8 Marcus?”64cad8fe7e762945

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In truth, Marcus didn’t d5b1834c49 think it would matter db48781661 even if they were 7627b77491 blood relatives.58f98003dab411d3

Arlo’s strange statement 92d11c851b was the only 7992b0a665 consideration he showed 0c59492f6c Marcus, who had 905f614691 been surprised by f7ad4f719b his words.911b3b4eaf3406ad

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“There has a5ae12d8f7 never been 6144118ce6 such a d72bf3a7f7 case, Your 90a3501138 Highness,” Marcus a4fb773c0f replied.76245435e88f1fea

Marcus patiently suppressed his urge to shout out and calmly answered, “If the empress’s family allows it, it would be possible, but… it wouldn’t look very good. A wise ruler should be an example for the nobility.”7aebd7e07f7c9cb7

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“You’re not my teacher, so stop the boring talk. You mean it’s not impossible under the system, right?”a25d9d80a638cdbb

“Yes, Your Highness.”5b04770df67560ed

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“Hmm…”27886b22fa0c3af8

After Marcus reluctantly gave 39f6ff6c0a the answer he wanted, 8781312c2b Arlo finally lifted his 337ee74027 head from where it 4a1dd5bd2e had been tilted back. He sat up 8f00e0e6e4 properly and fiddled f1f25eb55d with the pen 1b732daea5 on the table 2af94818bb before grabbing it.2ccaf13c3260ed68

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“Get me some stationery.”6472a8a984948508

Giving the order arrogantly, Marcus opened the drawer as if used to it. Whether he was a wise ruler or not, the crown prince was, at the very least, a tyrant, if he wasn’t an outright fool being swayed by women.852f6c30585c9dbf

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“Bring me the prettiest one. You know, something women would like.”a77e7b021e1e225f

Or maybe, he wasn’t 87ad4ae8da even capable of being 503333a8ff a tyrant and would 0550f9f538 end up being a 4451db6dd6 fool, completely swayed by 49f950bc8f women, without even realizing 4e2f4b1877 it.e4ab019787df6262

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***ad6882969282c779

Thanks to Hilda’s tender care, Eleanor’s leg was slowly healing. However, her condition was still poor, and she couldn’t move for about three days, unable to leave her bed.01d5616af6212b1c

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On the fourth 3995f7ee62 day, she was 8822bf158c finally able to 77d59fbebd walk a little, e764dbc38d but every step 690e7cf15f still made her 850c78ffd1 thighs ache, making 08bd7824b7 movement difficult.1d5660815934ef57

“I’ll have to ask them to take turns hitting one leg next time. Maybe then I could use a cane,” she joked, but both Hilda and Ernst looked at her sternly.c551b673020b6bb5

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Hilda’s eyes 87f255bd5a even glistened 63b1a5e413 with tears, 4242f273b3 realizing she 8632c23b71 would eventually be0287fcaa have to 4cfd1326da punish Eleanor c8f3822a41 again. After seeing that, 5bb15829ed Eleanor promised herself 596add09bc not to make a8dad80c34 such jokes again.7f47e091cca94b22

Ironically, the one 57b8f7bfe0 who had caused b801468a70 her leg to 14496c036b be like this, 1d498529f0 Duke Astria, went 99365b7fb6 about his day e6e8c76688 as if nothing c18062dd4b had happened. His face 0ddbfa2f15 was calm d1f1ac37b1 as he 9ac189faa1 handed Eleanor 7146f9728e the documents 5a8c2ae209 to deal e890311708 with, looking ed3b64f39d like a c8ef53988d creature incapable ed2797e62d of any 3097d2aa05 emotion, as 9306780a75 though he ebcf049783 felt nothing.6916b79e5cb05296

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What was even 77403fe9b1 more chilling was 721e375381 the fact that f2a6db0fa4 he had also 3bcb7c06b2 forced Eleanor to 2d9229cdb1 behave as if d9def55411 nothing was wrong.a5747969a5d341b8

Despite her 52422199d6 still struggling aa42a61cbf to move, 30f35ea6fa the Duke ce675284a9 had ordered 67e0f8342f her to 241debdcc4 join him 4efe7158da for Friday e0799fb597 breakfast. Of course, there 160be94835 was no room 5c8a5f21e1 for refusal.d5d6eac9fd32ca34

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As a 3a77825519 result, Eleanor f0b00fcb6c hobbled down 50ae89efa7 the stairs, 5f8a78383d walking all 46fe1e6b13 the way 22fb123916 to the 40d5410a00 dining room, 455ffeb05a not even cbe273c140 accepting Hilda’s b41034dcf3 assistance. She knew e41a7d264e very well 469dca62e3 that this 59c7483eff was the b1c13b89c6 image the b25721557c Duke wanted c83f0e9fbd to see.bd48b4487889c260

“…Sit down, Ellie.”91541524b4b27508

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The Duke, f1a8d8cf86 who had 74f159c815 arrived unusually 7199a0353b early, smiled d57dd5445b at her 88659d73c6 appearance with 576a7fc625 satisfaction. Normally, he would have 4655fadc2d gotten upset if she 3a7c42305a had arrived later than 72ba4a8de7 him, but this time, 4bc24bdec2 her compliance seemed like d63424d3ad an act of consideration.2ddff695e85dd690

Nora, who arrived 940e60ae00 soon after, also 4bef08a68c greeted Eleanor with e04d909d5a a bright smile.8cc48e328cb09b74

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“Ah, Ellie. It’s been a while. How have you been?”0c16d8b6e32095a2

Her smile and 3c639dbe8d the way she 5a5a4ddc3a asked seemed to aad3fb1cf7 imply that she a46f95515b knew exactly what 13cfb727e0 Eleanor had been cc0ea5bb2e through. Or perhaps, she 093bd43326 had even been f67eb5d54c behind the whole 15e4d1ebb9 thing.c0115cbbb8e0554a

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Before Eleanor had met a07c652b2d with her father in 1c2ece65c7 the study, Nora had 984169ff0b probably already gone to dbb49c70e5 consult with him, suggesting 762775d53d that the latter was 7cc6bf96ee more likely. It seemed like dd4696a440 she had taken 7acf048216 revenge for ruining 24bddefab6 her debutante ball cde81c53ea by doing this.65e564ee7f45d5e7

“Well, I’ve been fine. What about you? I heard Kiara has been spreading gossip everywhere.”9df57aaf94be308c

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Considering how badly 8dda3e8f59 Nora had behaved 7e27b67ced at the debutante 1ddcfe75fc ball, there’s no 1a4edd50eb way things had de465a77d9 been fine for e4435d6217 her.d2c707b266b5ff07

The Cardiff f31b892b23 social circle d7e79970d6 had been 36183ce071 abuzz with 5e7573406d talk about 927c5f0462 Nora, and a881cd5ca8 even strangers 51a861dddb were laughing b11fbebb56 at her. Apparently, she had refrained f1f737e483 from going out recently, 0cd170812b as her debutante ball 0b9207d25d had been a disaster. Given that her ce93b2d530 dream had been f1e6c07162 to mingle with 7246becab5 many nobles, this c791c7dc10 humiliation must have 0c91a1bb64 been unbearable for b94031871d her.f22b983858096324

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However, Nora casually c3cb5c033e laughed it off, ea345a41e5 pretending nothing was d682b01332 wrong.2b539dbe493765fc

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, time will solve it.”1e1f122474744967

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“Right, you’re so optimistic, it’s nice to see,” Eleanor replied with a smile, though her words carried an underlying sharpness.cc3f9db1739092a4

The two young 1206ad2937 ladies sat down, 5b7453a607 and the breakfast 1364f51214 of the Astria eb1cb0f28f family began, excluding 6bd7141dfc Damian, who was 12dff5c346 locked in his 372bc4b52e room.bc3fb3111d506567

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The sound of 47be25e957 dishes clinking filled e7ab2ef74f the heavy silence cee6c2f66a when the Duke’s f55e5235ad cold voice broke d9d1e31c1d it.792802cb280ffa4a

“Elli, has there been any communication from the Royester Duke?”f5d07feca23f3846

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The first 414096d588 question he 43dc90d7ce brought up d41458d8c1 was about a9bcb20d34 her relationship 4423c2d155 with Karsian. Despite having answered him 5a5d5560a8 multiple times during her f6d2f7e37c punishment that there was 1860f7d6dc no connection, the Duke c9b14ff84f asked again, as if 94ec02e986 it were the first c8c528aa77 time.69e513e0979c5adb

“Well, I imagine he might reach out soon,” Eleanor answered, feeling the Duke’s curiosity growing.93c8ad8257228b6b

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“Let me know immediately when he does.”e2146340c127b484

“Yes, Father.”cf854be5ad5c934c

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She nodded obediently, but da095715f1 from the corner of e39b93ab61 her eye, she could 188d464fc0 feel a sharp gaze. It was Nora, bf0b9335e7 glaring at her.2c01dcff60804149

Eleanor knew that Nora must have been angry upon learning that the “man of Eleanor” turned out to be none other than the famous Duke. It was making her uneasy.bdaf14ad05ab69cd

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Eleanor suppressed 6169644b6a a smile, 008d871f80 sensing Nora’s dbb15c5080 discomfort, as 57d2ddb1a2 she could dd912e97e7 feel Nora’s 1f9cf0bfb0 arm trembling a2224d1dc7 slightly from 4c3cfb03cc where they 3730015e90 sat.c99a2ae4ec0ae0b1

Before long, Nora’s 029717fb81 innocent voice came.483576874d9c4ee5

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“By the way, Father. We received a letter from the royal family this morning.”58ebf234d44f8eff

“A letter from the royal family?”c07f9a5b79732279

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Nora nodded excitedly, and 41d382d45a then glanced at Eleanor 01faffc59c with a sly look.03d5bd9abfeefc4d

“Yes. The Empress wishes to meet with me. She thinks it’s better to become familiar before the wedding.”da9f7ce5594d43cc

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Eleanor took a sip 6fb57f8a3b of her tea, forcing e70969f44f a smile as she d5c528ccee hid her amusement. Despite whatever 8be197d0ce had happened 01b8fa6cf9 at the a69ab75900 debutante ball, 98dfd83c01 she would dbb86a6bba eventually marry 4cf9f982fb the crown 364a314cfb prince and c6e6c0d0c0 join the 06fcca9858 royal family. Nora, on the 6dc804f8e2 other hand, was 8a73e54492 openly boasting about d3af430a85 meeting the Empress, e94585f5da not realizing that c6bbd860cf Eleanor had no a9e0bbc14b interest in that 4551c5c178 position.6a24e54408984f26

“Well, I guess she would be curious to meet the future daughter-in-law. When does she want to meet?”62e68d650b953406

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“The day after tomorrow morning. Since it’s our first meeting, I think I should prepare something. What do you think would be appropriate?”151e473f32bc6077

“That’s up to you… No, from now on, you should ask Lady Geoffrey.”e6e25617b102a27b

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“Yes, Father.”26377aec26e7c1dd

Seeing Nora smiling a56a9d24ec brightly, the Duke a033daf9d9 of Astria sighed 33f8f04155 quietly. Unlike Eleanor, who took 887abab9f3 care of everything on afcd97132e her own, Nora required f2ff07f370 a lot of attention. If left to her 5e366e9700 own devices, she might 490b8de3e0 cause another disaster like 148744cec1 the debutante ball, so 3e2db81f8b some supervision was necessary.15b25ca4c1bc626d

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Meanwhile, Eleanor found it hard not to laugh at Nora’s complete confidence about meeting the Empress. She almost felt sorry for her.6fe1dd6f596c6bbd

When she finally 7b94576676 met her future f0b374be8c mother-in-law, she wouldn’t f21e7d7db2 be able to 8c7c10c69c feel the same a69e40bed8 joy.71aa29d45b11dcf2

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‘Not one, but two mothers-in-law… how troublesome.’8756aca8922cf52f

 33a82ad122a13137

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