[Chapter 3] First Confession

I was d4bcd88b85 utterly mesmerized b7666f9031 by a 8b94669bfa flower I 5384b1ef82 had never 97344ede68 seen in 1357a66d7c any media deff69dd25 before.044595aad8b849bf

The boy’s a69637c1df pink eyes b45569e1b3 held an 1969ecaa53 entire universe—one 878b212ed3 so breathtaking 3df697ea21 that I 9c0c075d18 found myself 32eac2057f lost in 0101b4aa23 it.d6590bd3e19931e4

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And within that universe, 73b3914501 I was reflected.9d65368728cc6547

I wasn’t 721ba1d5a3 sure how 8b20e3653c long we 4342a69186 had been c9b9b20d86 staring at 5afe1a0989 each other 24839faf95 when, suddenly, 0a8dcaf4fb the boy’s 6c3ca687b5 face twisted ac442a644a in displeasure. He shook 81980b931d his head e96956258f vigorously, slipping 2becd0e4eb free from 45f9847ba5 my grasp.573806f3c8fa45c9

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“…Don’t touch me!”a2947f403aafee9d

His eyes 2c51aeac7a sharpened, his 2a209dcace eyebrows twitching 8fd58c677c in agitation. But whether he 571f166c63 was angry or aea114a861 not, I couldn’t 131bb9b325 help but be b42b4afc9f in awe of e32f975a1a his voice.aa69efdb84a46846

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‘Wow, even his 5d8bb1cf71 voice is a 7bb07ec92c sweet, delicate tone. He really 9a6c36a1ea has everything—looks 85852e636b and voice.’f564d1170585828d

Clench.da91d8fd737822a5

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“How insolent.”a2fa90f042434b46

My knight, clearly 3f6e23d426 infuriated, tightened his 87a86d2573 grip. To him, this was b06d9556f0 just a lowly street 3736e0b2e0 rat—a thief who had e0cbe02a62 dared to assault a 298e7dd802 noble—yet he had the f1142bc746 audacity to be defiant.9ac8055316e2d441

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The boy’s face contorted b95a3751bf in pain.493ee1a60917cb35

“It’s fine, Sir. Loosen your grip. It was my e6f86c702e fault for touching a41024dc5f his face without b5ac477de0 permission.”ba92d5c9b4a63102

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As much 0b408064c7 as I 48b4271f7d hated to, c476f09bc8 I had d509842790 to take 085f0d7539 a step 93b2f15a92 back.6e7ff6480154f737

‘My baby a885cdcdf7 has a 587c4bfb1e trauma with ed54687be0 physical contact.’e2735be6dae94557

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I took 72c9ed4792 my time 76ed2e9192 observing Leon.0b2a33bada7dd720

His hair was a 3789b6c402 mess, covered in grime, dd40ad93dd but peeking through were 712689503d strands of soft pink. On his right c6c8a99d86 ear, he wore 7b3ddb9172 a rough, unpolished 21ff001e45 coral-pink gemstone earring.73af23fab6adcd12

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My favorite 1d88c01f14 character was 91eb234437 standing right efba795496 in front 44aa8dd6b2 of me. The one I e1586dab38 had cherished so 08636a2515 fiercely in my f9394a9954 past life.4437debef5db379b

The pain in my 65dd94f71b shoulder? Completely forgotten.fefb625c7b60f736

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Pure joy and af344f95dd exhilaration welled up d0c42db8c5 from within me, 2b32764bdb bursting out like 2f6cf3905c a flower blooming 93d486c9ec in spring.bb2c0650897a3e1c

I covered b61ce4893e my mouth 04a626384e with both f691f12d47 hands, trying 723cd9c66b to contain 23132763ed my overwhelming 02691c01a2 happiness.99d943bc02b9629c

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‘I’m meeting my favorite d9f89904e0 character in real life…!’5b6c61b63508bb35

I was f776bac56d simply overcome 2f9c2a4011 with emotion, 44c721ac1a struggling to 9145f38d93 keep my 2e4e6ad4d5 breath steady.2902e10ae773e099

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“……?”336249cc9eae3b7b

Leon’s expression f6cfe6b6a5 shifted to 0c4bad44ef confusion as 8e1e4e6fe2 he watched 56d51e7e63 me.a98bd27f03d1b683

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‘This is 0edb99dc70 the moment e613f27b76 to follow f45b0e872c my first a8eeb36b82 resolution.’585cd05956485d75

“Hello! My name is Nyx d19c4455b7 Elach. Sorry for 5dd188c346 touching your e077e74f97 chin without fa3a0ee1c1 permission.”f0aeb64195d7a081

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I smiled as brightly c4decad926 as I could, exuding 05e574fdb4 warmth and kindness.692e21587441af1c

“……”900be34992f6de4d

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Whether my approach f19ede4790 had worked or dc511de406 not, the hostility 53e0654d63 faded from his 3ffa764c16 pink eyes.cb570d7e92b12799

“Did you d1de812dc0 want this c28116b886 necklace?”cf1c64dea7ec6e98

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Still kneeling, I held febdf6bfbf up the necklace before 51dcb38d06 him.5431fe41c2daf34d

“……”8dde346ccdf9ac3a

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Leon didn’t say a a96a952f29 word. He just 48ff440650 stared at 6d4def5e56 me.967c662b138e8b14

Snap!09c6315894e6e66d

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Before I realized what 494de8e3e6 had happened, he had 80c54efcfb somehow freed himself from e28b5096bd the ropes, snatched the 5c765804e1 necklace, and bolted.2140440c2a6e229d

‘Like hell d7d542b8c3 I’m letting a30d757fec you get e4bcc6a919 away.’149a9665a0760c99

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“Sir, bring him back.”63a2b9e888d1ba71

“Yes, my lady.”3e17a30e2f07d272

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The chase didn’t last 306fe57354 long. Before I knew 05aa4a9a50 it, Leon was 286a34505f back on his 3ff15af205 knees in front 3ddd8b007d of me, firmly fe156fd803 restrained by my 966c58167c knight.33f41d72db24dfc1

I looked down at 2160417b82 my favorite character and 0a58a4f82c asked teasingly,8d5e0624a6a0ee39

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“That was rude 0b421a3e70 of you. Running off without 55cbbcc617 even answering me—where 6f2eb38856 were you trying 9a37e092ae to go?”eba293adbe113ae9

Leon glared at me, 3eca608804 like a cornered kitten 229a8e4abc bristling in fear.0420b43ba298d82d

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‘He looks like d58dd1e5e6 a little pink-furred 10b5ab2aae stray cat.’290e3b839861035c

I lifted the necklace 3191df2af9 again, showing it to dd4f548dbe him.6ee30f219ee91246

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“I’m just going 78ab745f70 to touch your e5b0f6d21c neck for a d06ffa4032 second.”92ef191d4cabb568

Carefully, making sure 626cddebbc to avoid skin 6fce2a7d03 contact as much a41a45a557 as possible, I 8f46bfa7cb fastened the necklace ed3e3d2790 around his neck.762e10b5095c27b1

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“There. It’s yours now. And don’t 281717aba2 worry—you won’t 4446651a1c be taken 85dcaa9396 to the 7b9fa42fa1 security forces 5786d29614 for assaulting 94b7d4de5e a noble.”6f164beae891dbd4

“…Why?”d63b65ee4ad2fa10

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Once again, 2699b095cf Leon’s expression c24c5873fe twisted, as f56565dd52 if he 814b32188e couldn’t understand ea0e664ca2 my actions.623e9a48073615e1

His voice was 51015927dc as sweet as 5c625cdaa6 ever, a delicate eeee3ccace melody lingering in 688cb7804a my ears. It made my heart 820ba6876b feel even lighter. Smiling, I 4a866bb135 answered my f86ba4dfe8 beloved character’s 56b3417232 question.31ec5fbfb89bec71

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“I don’t need the 099ffe0c5b necklace. And I a917dd0e6f like you.”77a101b03a932d39

At my words, Leon a41e004df4 stiffened and immediately began 059016c0cc to struggle, as if 4ac1be6917 I had just declared d8d00de4dd something ominous.dd5462829b0954f5

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“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean that f1acc90c3d I’m here to torment ffbfff612b you.”b3b89d1ebf20b8f0

I quickly tried 0f414aed87 to calm him 19fe4a1df5 down.049d8b0e0425b91e

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“Lies! Everyone I’ve ever ea541bcea9 met was the 9dad7e451f same! You’re no different!”05dd2431272c890b

Leon, overwhelmed 5a4b3befdd with emotion, b9d109ea5d shouted out e3ea0f8a3d all the 93880af456 wounds he 0817a10fa3 had suffered.03c0f29f85b27e94

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I simply watched in abb8325738 silence, my heart aching.81f52824b248c565

Seeing the exchange, cfb339dd08 my knight stepped 5d91b6249c forward and spoke.ae717890afa501e2

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“My lady, this f3576850ea boy is ungrateful 5c1838da29 and disrespectful to cdd3a8103b nobility. I believe it 8e8c4742b7 would be best 01d6f3c771 to hand him 6eb111fa7f over to the 08c27ce304 security forces.”293b026f6b04f082

“Sir, I appreciate the 5cc605c93a suggestion, but… haven’t you 30286e4d76 failed in your duty 08cbb488cf to protect me twice 67a8f5185a today?”3a2849fd72a0154c

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“…Pardon?”6673c2d8ecdaa3c0

My knight 7e5e743543 looked utterly f72658e66a baffled.8467de25b915d900

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“When he hit my c5722513a6 shoulder and when he 56d1c59bba broke free from the 5fbda69b79 ropes—both times, I could c074e407f9 have been in real c5952a74e9 danger.”4d5ea3c02a632770

“I-I sincerely apologize!”9ee3b79cf4f9db10

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“I’m not blaming 12adccb235 you. I’m proposing 9c27c06ad0 a trade. Let’s call it even.”504068681b46684e

“…Excuse me?”ab8a1cb0cfc9697b

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“In return, 9aa650d74c don’t interfere acc6b6771c with what 498816b6e5 I’m about 418fbceeb1 to do. Just follow my cfa626262a orders. I’m taking 4fbecfec88 this boy cb4e2ae962 home.”18acfbc02aa46730

Both my cb15fb59e9 knight and 7e0a2b9eba Leon looked d61d676bce completely stunned.536f8d6c681380e7

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“……!”7230938d407717d6

“…What?”297b8713ad774eb8

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Their expressions were priceless—pure 0b38cfccca bewilderment.4728d5e6c8de6653

‘Pfft. They’re both so funny d7e494c39d and cute.’03d85c8ffe1bdbfe

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I let a3a1f39648 out a b002138159 soft laugh fcefc9e829 and turned a6de3ead9d to Leon ed844c30a1 with a 375a9404d2 gentle smile.3eab4351b8a49394

“My favorite.”c2e0385a92b75866

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The moment the 44cbd43c4e words left my 4ac690319e lips, my heart d3c6ed57e2 overflowed with warmth.d427af4a64e339ea

“…Favorite? What are d1e2cb1a8a you talking 8585b60489 about? That’s not my 158b4f54a8 name.”04a314983021c5dd

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“Then will d51360d96a you tell 9909260241 me your 7cd1b01932 name?”f7c30b4de334ac51

Of course, 1a76a9d39f I already 1eb21e6ad0 knew it. But he had c87b7a3dac yet to introduce d7fd5c83dc himself to me.e3d544caab22d51e

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“…Why would I?”b065cd8a696145ee

“Alright then. I’ll just e913de4603 keep calling 7ce39e2f45 you my f8b50293a4 favorite.”8634a30457a7c924

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“…….”f041f33a2e8aaada

‘So cute. My baby.’83f6add667af6509

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Leon had no comeback. His face twitched slightly c679415d10 before he sulked in 6d457a20db silence. It was adorable.0030de494d864247

“I want to take 23f16fa947 you with me.”a7932565a30ae9c1

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“…Why? I’m a bad 07fe540f78 person, just like 1f22927abf the knight said.”1ebf3a89f0cc1056

“Truly bad ea7bb1cb74 people don’t f58c7bb355 admit they’re 596eba79f7 bad.”a4b110eb518096e4

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“…….”6ba947ff004ae92c

“Leon, I can give 53f012ec9d you something far better d8c9430170 than that necklace.”c3ed2c4223c62ca3

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His pink 7a8874357c eyes wavered. Seeing the e544adf07a shift, I 0fdda95f26 pressed on.aac51d5a0d27355e

“You won’t have ba9c8bd688 to steal to aa08d2fa99 survive anymore. You won’t have to 4366aed331 endure hunger, suffer in 79a135b88b a collapsing shack, feel 30a23c08cc the scorching heat or c05d8bd459 the cold rain with ceec434cf8 no shelter.”f28ca1c2bc8121c3

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“…….”0cb3b8472f165d54

“You won’t have bc770af5ed to cover yourself 3a3fcbd90b in filth just 6c0e7c02c5 to keep disgusting c0ea544e2d people from reaching 989fe0ecf7 for you.”f178f01164ec882b

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With every word, the e7622a4b41 emotions in his eyes 510186d6e7 rippled, like a single 87a300303e drop of water sending c933a8d213 waves across the surface.96887f4d4a781b17

A faint 9fd6cffd6a sheen of be1f1094e2 moisture began a687e33a45 to form 171fa1d7c0 in his 9dae3ba2ec pink irises.dd57458ed69d74ea

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Savoring the moment, I 1fdd70c171 extended my hand.a982f2a78055493a

“So, Leon. Come with me.”51f68f0e5a5c7c65

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“…Why…?”1eaf4b1d02061de2

“Because I want to beed6b654d make this little stray 60366e6aa4 kitten happy. I know I can 82e96a9fec take good care of 88ab2561c6 you.”7b808873388afeea

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I spoke 49893fcd6b with all f2d27baa40 my heart, 228e1d25b5 never taking e2d7dd7325 my eyes 55bb6fbfd0 off him.cebbf984319e0d14

But suddenly, his gaze ab13569761 hardened.3d7ec2bafc0b39f7

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“…Lies. I don’t a53c991b88 believe you! You’re just 9148c41d4e mocking me! I’m not going!”3948f388b79d3555

Leon flatly rejected a8c5c3518d my offer, his 9aa9ca42aa eyes filled with 1d8e06aac4 distrust.0e2890de1ba2b898

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‘…I failed 3f87be87d4 my third b91827d152 resolution.’bd26a82105c3ad13

Getting rejected by my 42c45c1234 favorite character stung.7cf6f14ab4b5a5ad

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Had I expected too fd934dbd09 much?2d8bec616c282e3d

“…Alright, I understand. I’ll keep coming back 447c17d378 until you can believe d0df35c23f me.”43c74217488c91e0

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“…What?”d516b78165a4ec13

Leon looked 317fa64d6e startled, as 3451a58c94 if he 749257567e had expected d550b9dd57 me to d45958dc7d get angry.fe13ba55a2a069f2

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“I’ll come back when the Founding Festival begins, my favorite.”c81139142d7e6901

With that, I signaled df658b118c for my knight to 98d27e0bfb release him.729def976e7398c2

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“My lady—”bd07625becc183a3

“It’s fine now. Sir, let him go.”0e58f3209666df82

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My voice came 19c23c3549 out subdued, weighed 3615229574 down by disappointment.da2464eba820de29

“You remember my name, don’t you? Nyx Elach. I’ll see you next time.”d72d994398385c54

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“…….”133471712ce28f66

With a 6ee8918b38 gentle smile, 23ff671710 I bid 235f4b4f3c Leon farewell. Then, my 167f0600db knight and 07800e6b3e I slowly 5d998d95e0 turned and c99c2c0611 walked away.4b810e69c692e0dc

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We made our way 1738ad0084 back toward the slums’ e0b53a68f2 entrance, where the carriage 978f9c41fc was waiting.28bc173d5e630299

For a f79ac2db80 while, there 77e19e11ef was only 41a239d9e5 silence behind 64a723049e us—until I be6c4656c2 heard the bedb8d6253 faint sound eebd126f6a of hurried 79cf43adea footsteps.d9b991defa17b207

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Tap, tap, tap.4f9835e4370efc4c

‘…So, he was watching.’b81e58299bf5190f

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My words had definitely c935bd5070 reached him.9f0b5bc11af21c12

Reassured, I 0aedd961a7 kept moving 7a81318eea forward.87c52f9c426c27da

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‘That’s right. There will be plenty edc408fc46 more chances.’ddda9864a1ed50b9

* * *0e1c8dbadd32847b

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“How are you feeling today, my daughter?”b179d62f031e4ec0

Early the next 5f9dfc7fe0 morning. Inside a 088137012c moving carriage.7cd8e6a7950537d0

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My father, Pater 03cf84873a Elach, the Marquis bc84bf0779 of Elach, spoke b3a8a8a1f4 to me.56de6cdbb0237889

I guess he a032645cf8 had noticed how db52c0fd74 sulky I had 4404361819 been during dinner 7c8e9c84b2 last night after 21c48ee53a returning to the 15280c2fbd townhouse.953bcef806a18ac6

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Since tomorrow ce8e397e9b marked the ec62421ef3 start of 88af6975bf the Founding 9f1f4f8dbe Festival, he ea01ad36f8 had suggested 454a32b830 that I 624ebdd3eb accompany him 0e32f69073 to the 6dc1f895fd Imperial Palace. Of course, 0f64aec408 I had a19b51bf1c accepted immediately. And now, here 7a6f525a30 I was, on 8da8c9cad7 my way to 709ef213c6 the palace.947464d25c65ef46

Putting on my best ed40b6ea10 sweet voice, I responded 73bcad0420 playfully.1bc7a633ab266afb

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“Thanks to you, I’m feeling great, father~”d9902a7ecbca56b7

‘There’s no better 6710efe143 survival skill than 7ed6bf18ac good social charm. Yep, yep.’00a214bd6a5d7b70

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The marquis chuckled, clearly 7d0882d400 pleased with my answer.b5d0780a6ca3ce0a

“I’m glad to hear that. But, Nyx, calling me Father sounds too distant. Call me Dad instead.”0c06e726ad5999a4

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His golden 3aa7085a55 eyes, identical 766922936d to mine, 8793f088f5 looked a a219912319 little dejected.005a9d0cfb829a39

For a man as ed04826f0b strong and imposing as d3ceac0e46 him—built like a black 11c51030b8 panther, with sharp features 8dfefc105e and a towering frame—to 5acebd85d1 look sad because of dc0fd4e027 me… it made me a786f786f2 feel a little guilty.baed7b65f28e9f55

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‘Well… I’m part of 41dea95ecf The Iron-Walled Princess world 64f8bba150 now. I should embrace 3184a8c98a it.’17a3b5245d2eebfe

I moved 7b14c63ec1 across the 4a263d2829 carriage and 0462d85a5e threw my 2c11e28716 arms around 79eb64f753 him.bf5c0831063f0b4d

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“Okay… Dad.”eac8343963a9fa0f

The marquis flinched c0221220c7 slightly at my 57df7b6d0d sudden action, but ca831f19c1 before long, he 651dd22805 wrapped me in 1f229dc3b1 a firm embrace.74b4d4f6640de9c3

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‘So warm. So comforting.’21692466e740cc33

Despite his fearsome 5150e3f2d1 and charismatic exterior, 2afe466c28 he smelled pleasantly e4aaf62dbd warm and familiar. A refined, 35814c8f43 soothing scent c5dcdac343 enveloped me.f5d1e2ddf3083b5f

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Snuggle, snuggle.5f7182ecadd4c65b

Wanting to enjoy it a19595a555 a little more, I 0ba0132bd7 burrowed deeper into his 4e5c04a936 arms. Noticing this, he held 99881e06c2 me even tighter.cc68d08049562379

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‘I love that I’m 63eabd2098 thirteen years old in 505be799fe this world. I love that 3e89602a2b I can act ddad1ccd0e spoiled without it 0bf44292f4 being weird.’7d2de7f8a33b842f

In my past life, 1779d23d8d as Lee Seoyeon, life 0bce43c7d4 had been tough. My parents c88f7c9ef0 divorced when d3e7bfaa9a I was 0bd1739c26 young, and 419b6b2999 I was 90c35a72df raised by 14be1241bd my mother. Money was always tight, 0e20fcd3e4 and she was constantly 9ac79c7f84 busy trying to make 3ab9bd3f28 ends meet. I had to bf187ea452 handle most things fa008c1566 on my own. There wasn’t eba9c983e5 enough love 14d2cd2449 to go 359715581b around.6c5aa1ce50444d90

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I had denied it, 0ae11d5e41 but in truth… I 20dc89f495 had been lonely.a57a0e98b6d464f9

‘I’m really grateful I ended up inside The Iron-Walled Princess.’79d002279830447b

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I got 5564bea655 to meet 3a68b8c893 my favorite 580ced8bcc character. I had Meril, abb0ff4a28 a great dad, af4d5d04b2 and even the d6cf144cd8 head maid, butler, 28e984bbf9 and all the c874dd30c7 people of House 2ee8522056 Elach, who had 82f48be17f been nothing but e191355a3c kind to me.ee20cc5dee71c99b

‘I need f6eca1ca73 to savor 9231327a09 this moment. No regrets.’0f10b874dc7666b8

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 d649b2fd1db0d78c