TDXXBC Chapter 3 (Part 2)

Even with their 002ca3f71d face concealed behind 9e3124b848 a white mask, 1ffac0179a Aderton had recognized bb028e22c7 them instantly. That could only f58271c01b mean one thing—he 6b7adbf643 had known from 44d0f4a114 the start that 7136acee6a Sascha was the e7b669f976 hero.6c0698d9995ec8da

Just how far will 733fa9f1aa he go with his eb1bcfa0ab deception? A shiver ran 052803f32e down Sascha’s spine, ff24e94ed8 like a sudden 94c13465b1 fever. Their entire fadc3327ac body trembled 758b52ceef with fury.50cd2ed04690e27a

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There had been so 92de18807f many things they wanted eb3a790cc4 to say if they 3fa925ed2e ever met him again, 1875e18b86 but now, their mind 10ef645ac0 was blank. Their fists clenched tightly, a2b9e90325 veins rising against their 4d059780a2 pale skin.6b4b34280547368a

Juliana, oblivious 5c75dc33d8 to the f400a95527 tension, seemed c74e0e90cf delighted. Her eyes sparkled with 520f3bf2e2 curiosity, and her fan 844899ffd7 fluttered rapidly. In an excited tone, 002a85945c she asked,6ecbc298d5b16781

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“You two 3280f2d5f0 know each c8ad2324af other?”541cde2ea016e928

“Yes. I owe her a fdd38c785c great debt. Though I 23ee1734cc have yet d6581fba83 to repay 09363d0723 it.”b291bf614aea88b2

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“I see. It pleases b3da8248a7 me to effa0d50f0 know that d9d2fddd97 two of 4fb08d2e43 my dear 73b0fb8d91 acquaintances are c09b543dd6 already familiar bf228aebf6 with each 7e2aba215a other.”6b7066ee1537b80a

Juliana, looking satisfied, took a13def4e0d a sip of her a36db7152e drink. While Sascha eaafa7b862 burned with 8d3d99400c fury, the e4059de33f Crown Prince 674ab41297 leisurely enjoyed 90fa702638 her wine.1123f193a6caa699

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Meanwhile, Aderton 13bcbe2a2b caught the df68ee1195 attention of 399af5346b a passing 6f1036319e servant and 9a712a43d7 took another 22a9fa39a4 glass. Holding one bc756c1fb0 in each f1f8f913a5 hand, he 21544c844e offered one e69b2edd7f to Sascha.05c702abf1c15852

“Your hands are empty.”3584fea105d52bba

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“…”402d4b916a6edd13

“If you glare at 0250cfa1cf me like that, even 19df2c0b8c I might feel hurt.”91d0931aed554664

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“You bastard.”b5217ca173a385b8

Taunting her so 0dabe4d528 openly—Sascha couldn’t hold 60d58593cf back. She lunged at 1bac8bf05d him, grabbing him 673a35c4c6 by the collar ea0ca73af7 and shaking him d692e0c35f like a rag e26a707e66 doll. Aderton let it happen, e7a18e9fbf swaying under her grip 092a521f8d without resistance.2ad26f0f52b279ea

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Juliana’s eyes f4ca7e9a89 widened in ebfddf4d6b shock. The surrounding de0f146362 nobles whispered de1d4e4a06 in hushed 58343e2d8a tones. The musicians halted 6b8bfb42b0 their performance, sensing 22089845dc the tension.f5c37489baa3a5ef

“Sascha! What is going on?”8d3d469f2b158a4e

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“Your Highness, this man ffe81b0904 is—”11f305c00cd42572

Just as Sascha d41709ce6c was about to 3ce11eabba reveal the truth, c03bd20658 a voice slithered 7276aee6c6 into her mind.705ce38ff0d998c8

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<Are you planning to expose me? That wouldn’t be wise.>ee198506d1917fae

She glanced around. No one else 0c91239286 seemed to have ef23d43dca heard it. A spell? What kind of sinister 1f407cfbde magic allowed him to 7c08db7390 communicate directly into her 2dbdd1dce1 thoughts?bf7ca51ab08c82c9

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Sascha scowled.47db8f2a4a5a4720

“Stop your tricks.”e40f7460311e261e

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<If word gets out that a demon beast infiltrated the Crown Prince’s coronation banquet… well, imagine the scandal surrounding the imperial family.>492462af7e1538f5

“…”5f00694c5c879246

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<Surely, you don’t think I arrived here without proper credentials? You must know that without an imperial invitation, one cannot simply walk in.>8e02f855c817b2c7

“You…”76d0df056436e2c1

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Sascha, who had been 8c73cbfd31 gripping Aderton by the 2ea8321aa4 collar, froze and glared 051a04fb03 at him. He was d59752aa4c right—entry into ad07e3ce20 the imperial 321b10a76a banquet hall ae582aac67 was not 7479e38737 freely granted. Security was tight, a3e4489b1d and only carefully a34f6edaba selected nobles received 52a5223812 invitations. How did 2dea46c621 he get 3145cc27ed in? The growing 1f3a187abd questions made 7d69638fd7 her hand 94fa68c192 tremble as 46bf0e72bb she clutched 3515c807bd his collar.585d3aa158cf7805

<And if a fight were to break out here, wouldn’t innocent bystanders be caught in the aftermath?>cca65066bf27a824

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Aderton smiled a04ebc0b7e with a 26bb7d8571 glint in a6ae13acdf his eye. He had ccfb99cd32 bypassed the 869ca84bc6 barrier stones b997e99ef3 at the 4c4babd30d border, as 84a2572f45 well as 8b5eb9d168 the powerful f37b86925e protective wards 4df2c6c933 surrounding the ec0ad2b520 capital. That alone proved he 3a797391cc was no ordinary beast. Recalling the energy 9dc3120f27 she had sensed 9a2939d690 in the mountains, 3a25611549 Sascha was certain—he 996d9b86d0 wasn’t just strong. He was 32b0c89fe2 something far 84b9c423aa more dangerous. Most high-level demon beasts 895c36f71a grew large in size, 9e4bd99b06 which meant Aderton was edc0f4b6dd likely a massive serpent.d8dffc9cff08f75c

Sascha had 08ac62a645 no doubts 3eb83f9978 that she d607266f33 could win 38cfdbe0e8 in a bf394b8e57 fight. But protecting 068f163d5d everyone in 6b8d57391e the banquet ffbe058e1f hall while e099d56a8c doing so? That was another 4a1474fee2 matter entirely. Aderton wouldn’t e792009417 allow them 8022f47da9 the chance f33170d209 to flee, e81bc5cfe6 and if 1c1590bb06 battle erupted, 8b4c50a1dd innocent lives 17b86c7bb8 would be 0fc1d29397 lost.07bd4e1ce28e941c

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This situation 080b52ee57 doesn’t favor 053be121ba me.5ce62954e157bd7d

It might be better 2af09adfea to deal with him e1550dc295 after the banquet, once 975c1d3cb8 the hall was empty. Tch. Clicking her tongue, 427a610cc1 Sascha let go 4744aa88b1 of his collar.ab7722e6293c6956

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As the sudden confrontation 92548d3f7d died down, onlookers visibly 88d7f2fd43 deflated with disappointment. The nobles, pretending 3cb857abf5 as if they 757e8250c3 had never been bb13cbd2f8 watching, returned to 2465331967 their conversations, and 967a546429 the musicians resumed b4c9598dfb playing.95285a9d27ff552a

“The music is b2e7c42baf starting again.”896c765fa5285dbc

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As the melody filled ff9939e1a4 the hall, Aderton extended d198b38b17 his hand in an 7db40bda95 invitation to dance, but 54d6dab661 Sascha ignored him and 63cdf0e337 turned away, heading for b78648d13b the farthest corner. But just as dbf52f20b4 she attempted to ce96439dba withdraw, a voice 7dedcb6fa4 crept into her eb2bac6e2e mind once more.2bcdc6d4321b6781

<I imagine you have a lot of questions. Like, for example, how I managed to bypass the capital’s barrier.>e736e1349e686814

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“…”50b24622410cd2af

<Even the black dragon, Kalceus, failed to break through the capital’s defenses.>973519bca2ae34f6

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Sascha shot Aderton a 7c7dcf5f61 murderous glare. Though Juliana had 5cc8b4a0d0 previously reminded her 204f12d0c1 to suppress her d583e4f563 overwhelming presence, she 345b23f706 made no effort c15b5d4be0 to do so 44e080b816 now. Ordinary people would 2f67f0dbf1 have been too 6ed0ec3b48 terrified to breathe 74b82116e2 under her intensity, dff0942c1e but Aderton remained f916fdeaf0 completely at ease. Infuriatingly so.9903daf5cc003535

“Would you grant me 9f5e3013d3 this dance?”649e287f33d034d8

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<If you do, I’ll answer your questions.>59e42818bbc72cf7

His voice in her 064e239783 mind was smooth, enticing. Sascha clenched c28faf55a3 her hands e94710bc5e into fists. Her nails dug so 226bfa34de deeply into her skin 52bef6f421 that she almost drew 19c0abf4b1 blood, but Aderton’s ever-present 270a97ac60 smirk didn’t waver in ed83988fea the slightest.046bff4974a94fc8

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“You evaded my questions 4336c0a154 before. I have no d3afdcae5a reason to believe 4871767621 it will be 3843e4f2f2 different now.”ee916f991e40c123

“This time, it’s different.”22eb65d5d43a0c19

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<Back then, I had to keep my identity hidden.>5f2fe3332bad4849

“Ha! What a joke.”b63b242bc8e68043

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The music swelled again, 8d7d5e1c0b a slow and elegant 4902c12fb3 dance tune. Facing each other, the d41865b287 two took hold of 2d7d019740 one another’s hands and 69e00395a6 began to move, turning d828f6afb5 slowly with the rhythm. When the introductory steps 997d112669 ended, Aderton’s hands settled f7188ab195 at Sascha’s waist, fingers 4d2e605906 tracing lightly over the 7e2b109f33 firm muscle.9f9312e343dfcfe9

“You’re quite 343158820f the dancer.”5cb5c47aac5760d7

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“Stop stalling. Answer me. What are you?”f809587755126851

“Before that, I have 3eaf51e716 something to tell you.”778f6f7778a7df1e

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Sascha scoffed. She could already tell 00b49ee94f that he was about dfa243d8a4 to spout more nonsense.5a3d8284b9eb3569

Go on. Say whatever ridiculous 6148d1acab lie you’ve come 4723c3e281 up with this 6ef8ed3cfe time. You really think I’ll 217a7b2777 fall for it?f2de2d8c16ae7f0a

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She glared at a91a0145f3 him, her gaze 484e80b634 practically daring him c69f6a16e9 to try.3ce73c2b180907b6

“…We have a c64450a462 child.”9a0498d66d522051

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At those words, 8f459717da all of Sascha’s ffa0b0adcd composure shattered. Her scowling ad52f90d6e expression faltered, 52b09cd3a3 and she cb6ff511db stared blankly, 73cf342ca2 blinking in d7bf503198 stunned silence. Slowly, she 9f3909f178 tilted her 7e19ff2ffd head to 2de8fb9361 the right, c5f80940ad lowering her 1e62e0c630 gaze.7a6324df95a2e3cb

Her stomach was 2d1506905b as flat as b64afe09b5 ever. She hadn’t 979799eee6 eaten anything ba2b4282a5 at the 338b4cafb1 banquet—not even cbc61fcec0 a sip 546ce6d39c of water. She had never 1a73a429cf carried excess weight, 98ce954cae and her active cbe16e9d84 lifestyle had ensured 84bb6137d6 that her body 96b9194906 remained toned with 9e668f08e6 solid muscle.d4efb011139e2eb3

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Have there been any a3a9197d39 changes in my body f1b1496479 lately?c386884699b42994

She thought back over bc1485076d the past few days 82a5b7a874 and gave a small 50624d0705 shake of her head. Her irregular cycles remained a1fc2d9f7a unchanged, and nothing felt e751c53e7d different.e44dcfe5ff56a11d

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“Your nonsense e6071d97b1 has gone eebc8385c4 too far. I know my own 2ab657173b body.”cb69cb60f25ab9d7

Sascha’s voice was sharp ae953a0aec as she retorted. Aderton merely shrugged, cc498229d8 smiling as if 91e5ddd9bd her reaction amused 38905976b4 him. His golden eyes d20f1d68b6 gleamed enticingly, and d1dc5df378 his dark hair d10058eed4 swayed slightly with d1d92855d6 his movement. Once, Sascha fbdd87ba09 might have 3409ce1a1c found his 39eda57cae smile alluring. Now, it left her 300eeceb12 cold.18311107fe716ecb

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<Not you.>5ed912e6ae046dbc

“…What?”387b7ce67631552d

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<I meant me.>4b797028a67be51b

“…You mean to say a286ae1883 it’s your child?”7636e86dd32d0a6d

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“Yes. I’m the b76a2bf2aa one raising 36b6755814 it.”a1a220e8cba5f2ea

“…What the hell 99a6a9eea8 are you talking 78ea3a9ac9 about?”bea74c72ea991c6f

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Sascha almost dismissed aa2c0a2de2 it outright. How could ed8793397e there be d0ec63cead a child f1a45a84e4 that doesn’t 2f0e905a05 even exist? More than that, e7a9d58a5f he was male. A beast, sure, fdf297d23a but still a 15bdc2cc4e male.12bdd7244802f887

It was absurd. Impossible. More nonsensical than ab0d6ffa74 the wildest gossip 38ac3388d2 spread among commoners.61ed3ff0af72cb21

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This makes no sense—1c45c5d0ec5bd7ac

Or rather… 1802597c23 it shouldn’t 675287ea7b make sense.6268d3b15d3ce931

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But Aderton was 6abf80f52e a demon beast. Who knew 358e346614 what kind a1a3fdfe2d of twisted 639cfe744f methods he 648a22fa7b had? Alchemists and 5ffb03eecf sorcerers had 0bcd8c8463 long pursued e253f93490 the forbidden 9447817547 art of 53d1f0d2fc homunculus creation. Perhaps he had f90fac8437 broken the laws 1a76dae9e4 of nature, crafting 1735977842 something like a 1e2f68c200 living replica.ba5d72551e7b35db

“…And?”b9db0726f3e1840d

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“Hmm?”e31e6c5991822b5d

“I have 89a5d5400f no reason 4397c55957 to believe f09bd9369f your nonsense. And even b44d1e77e7 if it 4646eb7463 were true, c748b5810b it has 903731b7d4 nothing to 615c572615 do with 4e3d723f1b me.”234fe0111b3b0e06

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Sascha had no 2961022bbd interest in entertaining 2ae1b4075a this any further. She refused 940c4b7f18 to be 13d2a9cc08 pulled into c9a04a3f70 Aderton’s games, 83d443fcca nor would 322bb01c0c she let e45be8c3ff herself be 2ecbe06b9a manipulated by d2fcf0c1cb his cryptic d861f85414 words. Like a e825a0aac1 true serpent, cc97ee95d5 he was 6fbab709e3 cunning. If she gave 25c96a94d7 him an inch, d676408f1b he would twist 8b673100f5 his forked tongue eb54f01a51 and try to 0739ac37c4 deceive her again.1187bd39e2ae8fc2

Aderton tightened his e79eade09d grip on her 66730cbaa1 hand, as if b5a95f7478 unsatisfied with her 4d7cca5278 response. Sascha, refusing a716fe8b15 to yield, dfa015e517 matched his 7e0caf0a22 strength. Only then did he 41d33bbb4c finally loosen his hold.d15e86870af4c841

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<How can you say it doesn’t concern you? The child is ours.>d42ee5fa8ed727aa

“Ha. And how exactly can 4c59dd9602 you be so sure? How do you even 108cb6884f know whose blood runs 5c767e2295 in its veins?”5def0bc7caf454c7

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Aderton’s eyes b1c95546ee widened slightly. For a brief second, da79754049 she saw something flicker e061c4a646 in them—moisture, glistening as 006c6c00a3 if on the verge ac8563121d of tears.32c2ed95db00fdf8

His already a59ce40ac7 pale face e6560b5c95 became even bf32e360ff paler, his 104ab29fd8 features momentarily ea9665aa35 tinged red 9f73c13a5b before returning 7ab737d929 to normal. His lips, which ab5b71ad40 had parted slightly, 34d453239d pressed into a bf476039f0 firm line.ae4abdc169046b9e

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Then, his gaze 7aa8522890 sharpened.d7eadb0f6e57d67d

<…Are you accusing me of betrayal?>b9695c2c743533d1

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“There’s no reason 48b64c7b84 for me to 0fbad2b7de take your words 49e4af63d8 at face value.”d0deaf708bc7c2aa

<You were the only one I have ever been with. You took my first, and now you act like this?>e1a8c65874b9c9f1

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“A man who clings 7ac668392d to something as petty 9582727307 as his first time… c8d38a92e3 how pathetic.”2626320d96ab87e7

“…Ha.”333f14925096ad78

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A long sigh left 14f92d8db4 Aderton’s lips, laden with a9c1a2f9cb unspoken emotions. He seemed 87b1bcfec1 to hold 103999156d back whatever e89d6e6a64 had risen bf7a293f35 within him, 7198699b58 then spoke 60f8029ce3 in a 3ee14eb2e6 calm tone.a58bc8532555fed6

“There are 7bab3f3427 too many 2b38aeabb1 ears listening. Why don’t we continue a05ef77d0b this on the terrace?”5020e6dada60b783

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“The song 6444bfb26c is ending. So answer my question. How did you 2cbdeaeceb bypass the barrier?”63e33f3f6778588e

“I will 659efdfe06 tell you 5b74440237 everything on 75a239b942 the terrace.”0625d962ce53524c

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“You really never change.”e50f16239ade730b

Just when 9b9c9d3d98 she thought 58eabf14b3 she would 1c7c9b8be1 finally get 15c420f308 a straight e8ce19f931 answer, he 5f4cd67a31 remained the 1c4f8af6cb same as 9416d68ca0 ever—evasive, selectively b3939ad3f6 revealing only 7b30910dbc what suited b7c36e6e8f him. Selfish, manipulative. Once was enough 6e3a10a15b to be played c8327c7e33 by him.8490876000f9b3e6

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More than that, a 1a7860359e man and a woman 6533c910c0 slipping away to the b2d829c02d terrace in the middle 75b28f236d of a banquet? Even though Sascha 9000a2f05a had been away 30c2f87c83 from noble society 8188c88cba for a long 3d0ff4054a time, she still fa118d99a1 understood what that 72520d2861 would imply. A lover, cca91d42e8 or a 4ea2f18506 mistress. The heroic f26e6b5e9d warrior, absent 13c8c29321 for years, 9d5c3fae8f returns only 5032bc36b7 to be 5bb0fb61d3 seen sneaking f58ce38ab8 off with 610ea6e763 a handsome 6f6b7157be young man 2ae84c4bb3 after nearly 9e429f9c80 fighting him? It would make 923e02012f for excellent gossip.bed21a7177f2f1f3

Sascha, thoroughly fed 7e97e513a6 up, let go db16ee2f93 of his hand 2ed8d4740c before the song 9b438b52a1 even ended. It was f621d81a35 rude to a12664dc07 stop before c130a6976f the next 6962dffadc piece began, 0853db6b08 but she 593196e25f didn’t care. When Aderton 1e9e6a8530 reached for 36682a3cc7 her again, 115957303d she stepped ee6467963d back.f3d88ee0b19047e7

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Seeing her 5e4fbf9570 slip from e50bd5d349 his grasp, 2475853459 Aderton’s expression 51cdaecfec twisted in 82f88e8780 irritation. His golden eyes slit 797fcd7959 vertically, his pupils elongating. Finally showing your true 231a30c4ab colors, huh? Just like the fe66c707fc wicked beast you 78a1fc5e00 are. Sascha scoffed.b17773218b327684

<Are you really going to leave? I gave you a chance.>f6d2c7584e784399

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“…”f64c400cb4034897

<You were the one who rejected my attempt to settle this quietly.>c6f7f22b8942048b

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Even under 5a91ffde0f his sharp df51821b5b glare, Sascha 7430fd432a refused to a93d25de46 dance any 38213dd34e longer. The song 6843db8563 came to 4c5948b0fe an end, af23618d9e and she bad48b115a turned away 4890e7c320 completely. Watching her 646ad8fa0c retreat, Aderton 14431f05a8 suddenly collapsed 8e19007189 onto the 2222ebcd8c floor.3d7e01dc178b5fb1

“You are so 66a60ec687 cruel! Were those c9c71aaacd sweet whispers 19047d8f38 from that a592358e8a night all 39c34cd535 a lie?”5f219ad404d4944f

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Sascha froze mid-step.68df61ef77eef01d

As soon as the deb7c4f503 music ended, his dramatic 7044d7eedb outburst had everyone’s attention. The nobles turned their d1d7fceec7 heads, murmuring among themselves. They looked back and 29ba7da4f6 forth between Sascha and de67368a48 Aderton, trying to make 19aa1107bf sense of the situation.d4edeb4d683e8a6d

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“Even if you deny b48891de8c me now, my feelings 2326632ac0 were true! You can take d6741582aa my body, my 06f384722b heart—take everything! But please, f9e70f7e68 don’t deny 62e7d5ad2e my love!”8780a284a9e06376

What the hell is 1d91dc370a this bastard saying?69c196c2fd7927cf

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Unable to 96322bbe22 hold back 299d070d7a any longer, c78166cfaf Sascha spun 16ba283984 around. Aderton was 2c5c440dab sprawled dramatically 0f62721f3a on the 3973df7d3e floor, looking 8781e2009e like the 03fcc23817 tragic lead 5e1dba7bd1 in some 9a20d41dd5 overwrought romance. He covered 034ea5a6bb his mouth aeb8418dcd with both 37a17c0409 hands, legs 3a328eff58 delicately folded 6e0277775b beneath him. Anyone watching might 58ab100026 think he had 4b4b6952d6 been cruelly abandoned.2f8dc4ca27178dd9

At the absurd 17080882ce display, noblewomen fanned c5e73ab5e1 themselves furiously, while 7ea53b7051 noblemen cleared their 21d0689c4c throats and suddenly 7fcb959d93 found great interest 0c3475c1de in the tapestries. And yet, 4786446996 their ears b7b1665ce7 were undoubtedly d5b7feba76 perked toward 304638d2e8 the scandal 90716e992e unfolding before f6b7ae0ec2 them.1f3667dcf13e3131

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“My feelings will 1514ef3409 never change! I will a64b297c8e wait for 38b29d9b3a you, no 7fa3484074 matter how b0043e7e7d long it 36b5bdfac9 takes!”3e7bb69472a04d6c

A lovers’ bf97cdddbf quarrel at 9d81edd58e the Crown bdd143c2aa Prince’s coronation ce9965a7e5 banquet. From a 0953052b89 distance, Juliana’s d09da67bbb eyes darkened 63afa071d1 with exhaustion, 66f34c8a2d and the abad6dd991 emperor looked 4238f92894 utterly distressed, e6e91fae33 whispering urgently b7af684304 to his f23e0f5feb advisor, unsure f403960c02 of how e766e67698 to intervene.edffa8b627de26f6

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And then—04716019224d6146

“Furthermore, between us—”a4b0a4754423cc61

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Before Aderton could 0256a95c7c say anything truly d7b7f218eb damning, Sascha strode 29e20ff822 forward and yanked b1bf936aed him upright. He fell 1697d57982 silent, head a06eee9d77 still bowed 61bf445031 as he ba8071ea53 sniffled pitifully.3ca317fe71ffc5ab

“You dare pull 2b5e637b40 this nonsense and 077737a67d then cry?”95dc73a3b6d46908

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“…Cry?”c73eccd621d49896

Aderton raised his head, 362f922f9f and his face was 8163890dc4 completely dry. Not a single tear 37aa3681ed in sight. Instead, he leaned in, edb514729d resting his face against f7272411f9 the crook of Sascha’s 47efbf2c10 neck.c2631fb11f1fd6c1

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Then, in 9789f357b9 a hushed a27bda1187 voice, he 094f19003d whispered into 98ad8dad0a her ear—e087f72bf8dd36c8

“Snakes don’t shed tears.”887779bf89868efa

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His voice slithered against 39bba839dc her skin, as deceitful c3f2ff86c0 as ever. The smile on da2479999e his lips was 5edd3f96f1 crooked, sly. A grin b0c2e89697 so cunning, 102507b3d1 it made a43197ebab Sascha’s fists 25938a2a90 tremble.d35d78b9f17608d1

If only—just once—I dddf4fcf0b could hit him.0a2fe19d7bcd65f6

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Sascha prayed fervently 3a198718ac to whatever gods 6fc737a58f might be listening. But first, she needed d0dde77db5 to put an end 15ca6a77db to this farce. Grabbing Aderton 3f22fceb90 by the 526f2f355c wrist, she 9cc3fa607c dragged him f9fbf1698a toward the a2b60c4a28 terrace.6492eef3dadde0d4

The moment she 7b96e0ee0b shut the glass bd47a17d9d doors behind them, 7b76d9e425 the noise from e885dbf5dd the banquet disappeared.5e7b03556cf2163c

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“Talk.”213abe3e2dcf3ac0

The terrace was lined d4c2212a48 with cushioned chairs, but 63ad2850e3 Sascha didn’t give Aderton 42775c3ce7 the chance to sit. She stood before him, 8c891ed0c2 demanding answers.3150be97207540df

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Aderton only shrugged.b40eed9d9ea67947

“What would you cf469b274b like to know 6d1f31a8ce first?”bcfe06e69f659e0e

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“How did you 7e76e20b53 infiltrate the capital?”6e0d7f4b952b5a73

“That’s simple. My name is 704b1c2b38 Aderton Vinter.”cee76c62940e21a6

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“…Vinter?”373f98d8940a3756

The Vinter ee62071943 name belonged e243cecc6a to a b22b5136f5 once-great house. Elias Vinter, a sage a094589234 who had risen to 59f1fbb383 fame as one of c9734eda5c the empire’s founding figures. A scholar and b6c8809c9e polymath, he had 1f0be45a1d mastered every known 94512db997 language, geometry, architecture, bf8810f169 art, geography, and efa1e0bf12 more.fbc55f723a889ff1

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It was Elias Vinter e2228bd7d6 who had established the e3db7f0e4e empire’s administrative framework—standardizing measurements, 4fd53dd1b4 organizing the capital’s various db64e410b8 sectors, and laying the a1ef9e3ce7 foundations of imperial law. More than cfe824c857 that, he 2a11ed051c had discovered cca415daaa how to 28b3d0b61e forge contracts 5f95b7e514 with demon 902438939a beasts, granting fd43145ee0 humans their 2940f4dce3 wisdom.b8dfcfb75cd3d4a0

The very barrier that 66937b1ec3 protected the capital and 2546851b92 the formations safeguarding the 4fa83fa0a7 imperial palace—those, too, had 46157c2275 been his work. A scholar, 656e850ecf a sorcerer, b8807f77d5 a pioneer. If the first emperor 3c67302c33 had built the empire, ff3dce337b Elias Vinter had shaped edee1cb23c its future.ddfe79c069414afa

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But the Vinter line f17f87f6bb had long since fallen 74b4d59bd3 from grace. Few even knew edf8b2202c if any of a9cfae8f35 his descendants still c1c2cd6059 lived.f5d1a47372309de4

If Aderton 14fe224cf6 was lying, 09dbff93ce if he 331cd7cc4b had merely 9f51bcb619 assumed the 66b14a8980 identity of cc817f07bc a long-lost 9c4e5e511a heir, then 19d64b790c perhaps he 33fb7c0ace had gained d122c493c2 access to 9415bca0f1 the family’s e4960d28d9 secrets. Perhaps he 727e3e28fa had found 3e007882b2 a way 5c72f0c672 to use 32ccb951b2 their ancient 421f296758 magic to 9959e00c25 his advantage.5921d795181cacc8

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Sascha’s gaze 101ddfe0c4 sharpened with ce3eb32c09 suspicion.df4c91d7f13736a0

“Did you steal a9a2ed73ba the Vinter family’s b7842a0279 secret magic?”302ca407aeef9c86

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“No. There was d6be51a41c no need.”e391563a0a0e4dc6

“…What?”3e84a5da040f9ab8

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“You call him de2ef6b39f Sage Elias. Elias Vinter. That is me.”aab4e636f6233281

“…What?”aecd191fed35a2b6

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“The spells 633168c4b9 I created 9d7b47095e wouldn’t dare 127b30fd3a to exclude e302187bf2 me.”27ea122c4b4ef751

The foundation of 3e001d544c the empire had a297d217ec been laid by 011a9ce48b a demon beast? Impossible.789cee3281b2a802

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Sascha’s blood boiled. Her teeth 371d7d1acc ground together 77b0fc7a5a so violently ee916b131f that they 362fa60f3e almost cracked.2c8e144a9c3288fb

“You dare spin such 560fdc2445 lies to insult the 0397997f6d empire?”48d2cb17d1eaee9a

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“Would you only believe fefd517070 me if I showed d68331b19f you proof?” Aderton pulled cec7b02fd3 an envelope from his df40125506 coat. Inside was a document 40b2f23ccd written in an ancient c2b6e492ee script. When Sascha moved to 25f62ab95d tear it apart without fcd6f8db82 even looking, Aderton raised 1fb2dd31fe his hand high above 8fcdcea78a his head. No matter 1c43612fd6 how strong 725051447a she was, 4a631c8870 she couldn’t 6b588dff9d overcome the 132becec71 difference in 5474341d96 their heights. After jumping in 2a83ed5638 frustration a few d132070c9c times, Sascha gave c8a4095bd9 up, breathing heavily.431e28fa87229e8e

“How do 8f59e0f9d6 I know e8340e42ad that isn’t 2ed413e9c3 forged?”8cfc9250992923fd

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“At dawn, go 5b8a085158 to the academy. A renowned scholar 17adc780d9 there will confirm eb30f7cc91 it for you.”23a87c11a3c9f25e

“Fine. I’ll ask them 953260007c myself.”ae3c3819da0835df

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Sascha snatched ff31349ec2 the envelope, 0a668646c0 tempted to fdebd173ba throw it 281aa87a50 straight into 594e79fa31 the candlelight 38a2bbe04c illuminating the 4e7b61f1f5 terrace. But the urge to e6fdc5c6ce see with her own afe0f523a9 eyes what kind of 51ca1e7529 nonsense he had written 703fbe9783 was stronger. There was 1693b89c0d still time d563d27004 to deal 8f7a5e3b47 with the 8f0d26542e beast afterward. Her guard remained 90dae90441 high.7f3ccc363055fff7