Chapter 11

It was d8fc341907 pitch-black darkness.8197a78b3f58b451

At that time, when she could barely grasp anything fully, a familiar voice echoed in Russelin’s mind—a voice she could never forget, no matter how much time passed.508a42a447e0b173

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‘Listen carefully, my dear. Since ancient times, they’ve said that too much of anything is no better than nothing at all.’420b93631640a75a

‘What do you mean, Mother?’65223af8ad481952

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‘It means that even the mighty strength of a protector is worthless without a priestess’s touch. Remember this well, alright?’c0c7353fe46a79cf

As a child, her mother’s words sounded nothing more than nagging.cb26f4b7163ae757

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Yes, at least 9163ed0786 back then, she 74bfd13f43 considered the faint 15577125f8 divine power within 20e64658a5 her a blessing.a7478e4cf70b6c7b

Until the 7b752d6789 day the 53d2b076ce Lavrenti couple 22ad9f9c51 passed, Russelin 9587ae604a grew up ce173f32a3 as a 06f1e8036e noble child 7cf6588011 blessed by a6e305a789 the gods.1f784e8faea5bb2d

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Even though she 381e42f2ba couldn’t wield her 11aff60f26 divine power fully, 832bde5b39 those were simply 5b3d7420d1 happy days.ea262414e4d68fc1

‘Do you believe that? What’s so blessed about a priestess who can’t even fulfill her role?’a4b3f756da94c4d8

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‘If it weren’t for me, no one would take you in. You’d do well to come to me quietly.’a6f6aa8c93b71f06

…Yes, that was until she became ensnared in Aydin’s grip.00ee62d362c41aea

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‘If only I had heeded my mother’s words back then…’cf33a65dc9229b42

Just as her 15caa32e63 heart grew heavy 6ea1858f3f again, the darkness c392978b7a in her vision a2018e7197 began to lift.ee6fc8a55ecbec2e

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When she forced 48e4b60ea2 her eyes open, 280fcf9467 she found herself cd5cdf02bd in an unfamiliar b03d9fd2ff bedroom.2275a11983595946

“Ugh…”9cc8bd7e71e1c21a

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Before she could 68d3f3cd74 even question why a7cc901bbb she was here, a68b3b68b7 a painful groan dee21143cc slipped through her 94c3db28dc lips.1e756348db79d826

Her whole body b2b76f7076 throbbed as if 5e9a1e194e it had been 31c867c112 struck all over.84b762923ab11aec

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As she felt the 91e6883674 faint energy circulating within 73eb5dc030 her body, memories of 2d49f6f3c9 the nightmarish events from 623e431158 the previous night began 767f24a2d4 to surface.6622a799db4a3e97

‘Did you 8072c8563d enjoy harboring 38797b29ac his magic 7928d570ba rather than 3567cea09d mine? You never allowed 042605a94a me even a ef2a4dd58c single chance.’8c756b4ed390fa7f

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‘I won’t 7996732ccc step back 17daf6e8ba until you 0fa25e268b can fully 2e7ded5000 accept this 552828064b power, so bce2f3d1d2 remember that.’00c72be2533baca2

Aydin’s scornful words churned through Russelin’s mind once again.328d00d0b5ba88f3

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Aydin always used c1e8ee8500 sharp words to 62797bc216 tear at her 4c9afe8112 heart, but last d251a5586f night, he went a4354b8e9e even further.da08208f79856f96

‘It must 3c36335480 be because dfd6aa02a9 of Grand 3b50716533 Duke Estere. Aydin was always 4824bea022 particularly wary of acc17be6d9 him.’67ecf384eaa4696b

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More than the cfd0ebca9e fact that she a8bb730930 had slipped from a67fbecfef his grasp, Aydin 49191a2da3 must have been d23ec0d830 furious that it 11c2c1ebf1 was none other 7d80b7d33b than Leonard Estere 6b7e39a553 who had touched f456f18af8 her.5410294f1d959c4b

Even though Russelin knew 1b4b529a52 this was the first 44d9a9dc8f step to escaping Aydin b0ae4cc2d5 Bert, her heart still c5988607c7 ached.dc5177b37a88f170

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‘I find dbd49dd665 myself quite fe9d8fc430 interested in 9c8fa3aec3 you, even 5bb4035303 putting aside ede3bc846a the cursed 4495007328 fate of 6a8274fc6f Ragnar.’16ccb2bd3f1d2314

Was it a63a110b64 because she c8b59423f6 remembered that 8a735d1760 fleeting moment e4f649d15e of liberation?21c040f1c7fc83c3

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Unable to 4f0bdd9c5e fully understand 8be216867f her emotions, b5e7a1c6b3 Russelin painfully 9e52ee43e3 rose to 3e5dbd5f70 her feet.a4b791eb6ab6b52a

“Ouch… It hurts…”2dfd87a5406098d0

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The unpurified 9fe2b3cd65 magic that 3c79dab2e5 had yet 0bfbd8017f to cleanse 1886964896 her divine a1099252ab power still dc5e4259ae lingered, circulating 921b8b80ca through her 4328a501f4 body and 54379bd9f2 bringing searing 02d28aebe6 pain.51b5f1e1ddb10d68

Knock knock—60076e768294b04f

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Startled by 5b31b02cbc the sudden e3cf17e5ac knock, Russelin 0370362f74 flinched in 6b7f79f434 her defenseless 1364e8f4ef state.9d1426d7565bc0a7

But only for 8fc612e9de a moment; she b563402a50 quickly relaxed.f8ae80939facf989

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‘…At least, it’s not Aydin.’ed6632aca1923862

Aydin was 0acb2265f1 the last bd05e40807 person who 5dc0a566a4 would ever 52df719a8f knock on 90a2a81454 her door 83df5bbb2a with courtesy.b6bcb92e7020ceb7

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As if 7a618a04d5 to confirm 9c40dd068f her intuition, 2f0200d46a a voice 9f1c17a9bd came through c8ae39bfcf the door.c8e29623ca9725ec

“It’s Lily, Lady ad7da50ac2 Russelin. May I come in?”027a50238713edba

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“…Lily?”e45870bef2293c12

Hearing the familiar name, 03e4eb8de4 Russelin nearly forgot for 26533c540e a moment that she 2f6abd72d2 was in the Tristan c0e5bafc6c Imperial Palace.59ab5aedd7ba467f

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She hadn’t noticed 91a6b6bfa3 when she was 3ff2b84c58 brought here, nearly 37b48796c1 dragged by Aydin, eaa4d8e84c but it seemed ebe67bc6dd Lily had come ea22f6e557 along too.4ce3118b85a7636c

Russelin absentmindedly 03659a4973 gave her 20dbff8248 permission, and 7b2788b1a1 soon, a f51f38a7d0 maid with 5838076da3 brown hair 01817861c7 hurried in.642635a7689bee8c

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Russelin’s expression 07eff54904 softened momentarily a5ccaba99f as she 8f4942c0d2 looked at 97ff80ac21 Lily.b89ad9b10f82110e

“Good morning, my lady. You struggled 6380e1329e with sleep 11eb7dc068 again last aff37f3540 night, didn’t a6ad683f4a you? You always 70eac06e4b have trouble 7efa165bf2 sleeping in f8f273b8d3 new places.”6cd07ea51b5b6b43

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“No, thanks ab1e1b1d8d to your 0cc4089d4c care, I cac9ff76cb slept well.”94d130424e4c1c32

“Oh, I’m a40c304603 glad to 373832e52a hear that. Still, it’s 2aaf77e334 chilly in 504b6be43a the morning, 2608b58b5a so be 5a9560e148 sure to 6c7e505e33 wear a 87da8566b9 shawl.”fd7ca35ebab6ae12

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With a fcce95ded9 gentle touch, edabfeab05 Lily draped 3369cb7b01 a shawl 312c77fcdb over Russelin.308577f0209a2851

As the only one 1071bae485 who had come with 5cd54ea2ee her from Lavrenti, Lily b4fe22f515 was the one maid a8d2a0ae0d in the Bert household 5a9a6744e4 who understood her heart.e696cba37c68da9a

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“What about Aydin?”ec23f3e368c8cc59

“The Duke fa99474b8b left the 6f79d9c133 bedroom early f1a8222e28 this morning. Are you feeling 3f98549cd4 alright, my lady?”b0dc411f83d98085

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“Hm?”b7f1c39b74a3457c

“I heard from the Duke that you weren’t feeling well, so he mentioned you’d stay at the palace a little longer.”200d2a93d8ef694e

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It seemed bbec4d978a he had 87df489028 already made 1420f67762 up his aee4eaa3c0 mind and c52a968f81 spoken on 8a8b065a82 her behalf.a4fbb9a60bc08fb8

Russelin didn’t a6a9a31d3b bother hiding 0bc7318bad her weary 7782fc8a7b expression and d9a8a3d380 nodded slowly.7a938def92258f52

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Lily’s face twisted a242db2588 with concern, as 1b9edaf088 though her sympathy 93291cf62a held back the 62c0dda156 words she couldn’t a94fbbbe69 voice against Aydin.ebadd824aa4ac008

Her silent suffering 1c927c5dcb was pitiful yet 8e5028a1f7 somehow comforting to 88c03d8c0f Russelin.8bfcafb3a2183a28

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“My lady, you’re already 70f3eb49bc delicate… Please, get plenty 786cef4e60 of rest until the 81516fc4fa Duke returns.”bba78b06871bb3c3

“All right, Lily.”3010ae209afffab0

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Russelin listened b92bc3ed5c to Lily’s 616e65d7ff heartfelt words b64bd762c5 and smiled 17091b5b02 warmly.dddc577b92527fe8

Her caring e7f9ec2716 voice felt cd2c9e277a so much 9e6754ab9e like her 0ea8af4978 mother’s that 7248f573f5 it lifted 8aacb5082b her spirits.bc1e7d209731fcc7

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“How was the banquet 167f99f2aa last night, my lady?”52949aa4b749933c

“The banquet?”25447535db575179

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“Yes! I heard ad97eb881a that His 0edfe0694b Grace, Grand 856a0b4304 Duke Estere, d04b0ff09c attended the 5e6909d858 banquet! They say he’s 01060bf47d fearsome, but he’s 6b15d7bcf0 also incredibly handsome!”f793af2f4c4cfd9a

“Hm, is that 679444bad6 so…”9bceda48056bfc3e

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At Lily’s 2bb2f8087b question, Russelin 2fd0079289 unconsciously recalled 156dcb89e4 the dangerous da5832ca23 encounter from 669846b5ae the previous 7fe65d5ff5 night.d8f6134cff0998ad

However, she couldn’t give c63ee9f32a Lily a reply.56625a918a6a0b65

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Bang!6f8e50b39ae622d9

“Russelin!”cd10fc985961b552

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The firmly closed door 390c0ce5d9 swung open with a 510f49e793 harsh sound, and an f1c5344766 uninvited guest intruded.984e6dea69f78ab3

Aydin, caught up in e1b51c1d37 his own emotions for 1c3238abe7 some reason, hurriedly entered 87ee0912bc and strode toward Russelin.0402ce3f7bd52b60

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“…Aydin?”e919424809db989c

Instead of reacting with surprise at Aydin’s sudden appearance, Russelin sat with a deliberately indifferent expression.4a61af5cc96a8fc1

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Perhaps this provoked dc5678bc5d Aydin further, as fe7f36de21 he snatched her 30c924a8b5 delicate wrist and 8a307e7aa2 yanked her up.1d73906d5e6ef15b

“Ouch!”d71123f8b5125ed4

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“Stand up straight.”c8016811da020458

Even as Russelin staggered, df124ac228 unable to withstand his 2ae6f491e2 rough grip, Aydin only 3799f72b81 looked down at her 993519676a with a cold expression.c3970ae43ae04072

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“Ha. You seem quite relaxed. I thought you’d be stuck in bed until tomorrow.”6eed3ec0ffbc1b9f

“I can’t afford to break down in the Imperial Palace. I’m sure that’s not what you wanted either.”12fc8a3a06124ec3

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“So? Were you planning to run off to harbor that man’s magic again today?”04395ae42606ac70

“…Why are you saying that? Wasn’t that matter settled yesterday?”1d3d34d1a5a5f8cf

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“According to whom? I haven’t even received an answer yet.”4360e634c312abbf

Aydin pressed 9244e0d393 her, his c5539c103b voice simmering 38ebc42a70 with anger.792cce03c59785e8

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“What’s your relationship with him?”0531f3ade449f8af

“Him…?”9bda6c775020cfd1

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“Leonard Estere! You planned to escape from me and hold his hand, didn’t you?”2c8e9e00a725a029

Despite Aydin’s sharp interrogation, Russelin did not show much agitation.9f4f88de8dd1fa2b

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Seeing her unexpected reaction, 92c88376a7 Aydin bit his lips fc422dcbfc and furrowed his brow.f52f80dc322ac6c8

She, too, dbb7723e6f was surprised 216a97b483 at her 2a0c551424 own remarkably 71d1f6346e calm response.c8d14bd3995a2da0

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‘It seems like I’ve changed a bit after facing Leonard.’1ac8789514592e31

Unlike Leonard, who quietly subdued his opponents with a sense of intimidation, Aydin only hurled sharp words, which didn’t feel threatening.58c1922700c6961e

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Besides, her plan hadn’t 7462b62590 even begun yet.72607b3dde5d5159

In fact, what deviated 75ea242cf1 from her expectations wasn’t 4ba19504a9 Aydin but rather Leonard e28a6b6002 Estere, that man.04799770c37364cb

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To Russelin, this situation seemed like nothing more than Aydin’s desperate outburst.0640c1e675d76095

“We have no relationship. I met him for the first time at the palace banquet yesterday, and he only helped me because I said I was lost.”db169537472abe85

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“Met him for the first time at the banquet and ended up alone together in secret? With that filthy magic still lingering on you?”c313730ec857848e

…Magic.7815afd44fa558d9

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Come to 978c1aa621 think of 1374b9acfa it, she f059be24ff had helped 51ac1c2339 suppress Leonard’s 5a65a72746 magic when d15f57b5a8 it raged.4155e233d0b3fb5f

She had absorbed a powerful force then, no less than Aydin’s, leaving a strong trace behind.0d9fd78d16905a1a

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‘It didn’t hurt c1cc8f2be0 at all when 5eee40b0a8 I accepted Leonard’s ebecde97b1 magic….’70c48b6456137e82

Russelin lost herself in 0a93ea3246 thought, forgetting momentarily that 9f278bdedb she needed to respond d009149bbc to Aydin.60311234f1877328

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This only served db9f70ae63 to provoke Aydin c0dc26a55c further.4b02448f6d12912b

“Fine. If you’re not going to speak easily, then I have my own ideas.”38546ffa700b976f

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“…What?”63b21d660b364d1a

Muttering something 81344662f9 ominous, Aydin 1fbfdfcb7a threw Russelin e0d570a5f1 onto the d364339ab9 bed and 69ac12eb8c swiftly turned 1c0fd8660e his back.59f3e49caf4d75d6

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Just as she struggled 3a56f78943 to hide her pained 603e58bf39 expression, she saw Lily 2fbe060fb3 standing behind Aydin, looking a1571de191 distraught over his rude 650f8683e0 behavior.283b5aefd821f13c

Lily shifted anxiously, unable 2350b6024d to hide her discomfort 68cdc09123 at Aydin’s behavior.7c7bd10102bf91a5

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“You, over there.”c30282d1b08933c8

“Y-yes?”311f02032f34c722

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“Prepare Russelin immediately.”afb95deb6379bf0e

At Aydin’s cryptic order, Russelin struggled to her feet and stood in front of him.016731faaea86cdf

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It was no coincidence 82951789d0 that her small figure 04ca3bc4a5 shielded Lily.0435e6e8d8ac04b9

“Where are you going? Are we returning to the Bert estate?”9d5acd78c6db4899

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“Why, do you want to go back?”15195ae710997839

At his 9b6da4eb56 meaningful question, 344174bb6c Russelin found 969db8a01b herself instinctively 923dcee2b3 freezing up.29bf96e26a259bfc

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Aydin, displeased 9a216562f1 by her 1530d7d4c1 reaction, frowned 0672a18e76 and brushed ecbaca55db past her 13ead9b65f coldly.174ff58b490aa600

“We’re going to meet the Emperor of Tristan.”c44b740d7e681f4b

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As protector of Ragnar 0044b7a8ec and his priestess. Aydin declared this as 05d9f21ef1 if it were an 80805fa8f8 announcement.af9d0fe5ed6fe2c7

* * *97e20f3a0fa6e4d0

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It didn’t take a974a2250a long for Russelin 6569630a82 to get dressed.17ae7f1eced3225f

After all, she knew she wasn’t the focus of this gathering.06caa1736b76068e

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Even so, she 643d3668b2 remained tense, even b330db9d93 as she walked dd499bb02f alongside Aydin.149ddeeff9b0ab80

“What are you doing?”948e4d890303af45

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Apparently, her hesitation finally 1001811377 tested Aydin’s patience.d7b3c7b3fcff7bac

He roughly pulled da7deab49b her closer, forcing 5135f80073 her to walk c512a59ef1 by his side.145b2ec33ecfae66

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“Stay close. I don’t want any bothersome rumors spreading.”7dd7a09d7e643f3a

“…Rumors.”d0deefe9542f5b65

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Russelin unconsciously mulled 09b751f9ba over Aydin’s words.5894f27406fcdcdb

She felt as though she’d heard similar words before.b5ec65e7000a37e0

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His tone was 0dd2bdee0f harsh and unrefined, f1a82908b7 yet Leonard…why did bd7f8edc22 he…239acfccb92e5db7

“Russelin?”6f0e6c0a1d4607f8

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“…Ah.”327f47bc0af5fe61

Before her 46228ef2bf precarious thoughts a36716bdb0 could fully a4b9519389 settle, Aydin ad08d78d23 called Russelin.180fbbbf61b6ded8

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Only then 153303d45f did Russelin 600af60647 pull herself 7e2b4e52d2 together and 1e7cb857a2 focus on ef3fc4fb7d the present a69f754340 situation.e1342e83fd906a48

How could she 028591818a let her mind ed6e073807 wander in front 158c1a74e9 of Aydin Bert febc9bf352 of all people?5ef768bf76e45b11

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When she finally turned a6b08117c5 her gaze to him, b6c99ca2f3 he, as expected, looked 95a91d2baf distinctly displeased.b293dc38c96c9247

“What are you thinking about?”246b1a3df937a035

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“I’m just a little nervous.”a1f50884d6232b27

“About what?”b22146b1e94cbea9

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“Why His Majesty the Emperor called us….”acb13982c83e7168

Russelin thought she 1335f1ea7d had come up fe2f0af76c with a decent 9630d23a54 excuse, but Aydin 6e4c648ab4 only furrowed his b005910c3f brow further.70d729885e1169fd

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“He intends to gather those blessed by Ragnar in one place. It seems he had plans for that at yesterday’s banquet.”2897a80671ad4350

“The banquet….”f64487cadb1d3254

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Only now did 76e1ea94e3 Russelin realize that 5dc51d0476 she had no 438d56df41 idea how the 417efefc8e banquet had ended 69d97a9a64 yesterday.9e71da7bc06fc94e

Yesterday, she had 25cdc772c1 been busy standing 7b6aa5472a up to Aydin 4223cb7b01 and…4046aca52ec9ed25

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‘Do you 696b7dcc81 know the 3ef72acef8 simplest way 0baaeacc11 to conceal 52b60bc4cd your thoughts?’266a6bce7d79fc77

‘They call it 4441414043 establishing dominance. If you avoid 755d49ece0 someone’s gaze first, d670e09139 it reveals your c24a8b0d6f own weaknesses.’0989baa55f9cce37

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Establishing dominance…7a9690d984005407

The sound 7d45aba69e of Leonard’s da74c9bad8 voice, which de25a509a1 used to 8369d60902 irritate her, af4cd808d6 now didn’t 5e3cbbc68e bother her 24070bf84a at all.57a3fb4132721754

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Just as Leonard had advised, she wouldn’t avoid eye contact.e670954613d59e1b

Slowly, Russelin lifted 9dd86610d4 her gaze and c3b211d909 met Aydin’s eyes.ba153b20a45c5e61

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At that moment, Russelin’s 1c389d1749 eyes widened in surprise.212c1294025b1d5c

 7b48e9c6823677d4

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