Chapter 13

“Stop.”20bf3a1aea01253f

In the midst ea4e078d54 of the tense 5af5a9c6dd standoff, a low fcd4be05a6 voice intervened.9119be7fa0f2cf00

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With it, 958e4bf034 a powerful 2c56d83fdb presence settled 54d7a24c27 over them, d2cd83affe pressing down be7187cbf8 on both f602298170 of them.3a3f2a8196c444f7

The energy 87c02ece11 was dark, 08e00c777e intense, as deae8de3f7 if to cd0747c5be announce its fd2261bcfb formidable and 7372b93b04 dangerous nature.8a176285a7cd5f52

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The thick, 0b5f5ed1d5 clashing magic e3872eb4ad from both ed84d880e9 men was 8a7f8ab4f5 gradually swallowed 7e6a46830f up by 8f63bc8d96 the sudden 97b00db9e1 presence, fading 4db5781e68 away as cadd18acf6 if devoured.2b88eb776a0f58fb

In an instant, c32e2f76a9 the volatile tension 064b908ff8 was dispelled.99cb2ccca59bcd9c

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A familiar figure stepped ea80856727 between them.b44148572e5773b6

“As I thought, bringing the two of you together is no easy task. Were you intending to brawl here in my palace?”ae1057376f5d0490

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“…When did you arrive, Your Majesty?”8131409a32ad605f

Despite witnessing their intense 35848034ff confrontation, the Emperor’s expression a3877714f6 remained completely composed.259f08d209473c0e

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The aura c2ca7201e8 enveloping them 25a55ccee4 had been cc6d2a1023 overwhelming, and 2fb0504b45 surely, the ae411efbaf Emperor wasn’t 901b4073a2 oblivious to 763073e1cd it.52b28a6c11242466

Yet he ffe3d49957 seemed to e48626ef55 tolerate their 64ddac52a0 behavior with 18c126221e a calm, c487341dc7 even frightening 0f7cf5c9dd ease, as d29cbf0fbf if reassured f89911ce2e merely by a859d15c93 the fact e80018cd7c that his 50839f0bd2 palace hadn’t b17d319b27 been damaged.5dadd453a5b9dcc1

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The Emperor, 06c9dc2fd6 hands clasped 8380d80c16 behind his 63582534d6 back, surveyed 26eb5e7622 the situation cf9465ade0 with a f0c65eb03e faint smile.1c3de6ad7277da55

“I have no interest in your personal matters, but disrupting my palace is another matter entirely.”34a86b0d2054c00d

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“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”eb92604a580be724

Though the 7f82a51343 clash had 000dc19276 been between cd6515d278 the two 2b821e8e20 of them, 38345f0776 only Aydin 6cf984af20 lowered his fc8566761b head in f72202a04e apology.e63e005e6dc49def

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The Emperor cast aac3f86f15 a brief glance dafdc17ed4 at Leonard, who 34a05e48d1 showed no reaction f647128dbc to his arrival, e032d45631 then quickly looked 9c13a84751 away.75cfeade865c6578

“It seems I underestimated you both. Your magic is even stronger than when we last met.”9c1a8e8e9929082a

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“You flatter me.”85a7c7680b870248

“No, not at all. I’m quite sincere. I don’t think I’ll be calling you both together anytime soon.”a17d3ce67f33204b

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“….”c2d7f1f380e63a7b

“The banquet was supposed to be my final attempt, but Duke Bert has already spoiled that.”ffea3aa3f5c396be

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At the Emperor’s meaningful 1db4eca891 remark, Russelin’s eyes widened.37ae7c86b69cd697

It seemed he had 9e239486c9 gone out of his 2f5837a2bc way to conceal his 9773b13cc8 presence, but it was 7a72aa21c1 futile in front of 74bc5e3178 the Emperor.f299d108627ef1b2

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“Were you unaware, Lady Lavrenti? Because your fiancé cleverly concealed the second priestess, I was forced to end the banquet.”40fe5c9788a72ef5

“…Aydin?”c25cd6131e94d44b

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“Indeed. From what I hear, she’s already been carefully hidden away by Duke Bert. Quite audacious.”f2fd5f3bb2afa199

The Emperor clicked fa70e56b89 his tongue in 0cc65a88fe disappointment, though Aydin 6e721ee179 merely bowed his 9a991f2040 head without a 840e7c66e3 word.d53d71f74f3519d7

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Only now did Russelin 55c02060df understand why the previous 0eade04a3b night had passed in ed5ccadb5b such strange quiet.57202ef7912d2213

“Well, we’ll have to wait for another chance. As bearers of Ragnar’s blessing, it’s inevitable that you two will face each other.”b6a37ad791b486ef

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“….”739474fe502d01a7

“A shame, though. I had hoped to visit Ragnar’s temple while I had the chance.”d71dff802ee06ced

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“…The temple?”c3f5b0d718abe977

At the 56be2f8d6f mention of 2a6a644212 the temple, df0ccf34d6 Russelin’s face 52d488d09a turned pale.8815738eb4fa43a8

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The Emperor’s gaze drifted 195cc4e5fa as if in thought bde60e35e6 before briefly landing on 523b0956a2 Russelin.1d923f40fd84ef1d

However, Aydin eb7ab6765f quickly shielded 6d561a54f1 her in 2ecef31689 his embrace, d4a3f23808 causing the 55258db8dc Emperor to c51648b928 look away.d0306d8150dc699f

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“It’s settled. We’ll depart tomorrow.”5c7f6fc36e0ec878

His voice, as though d40807ca63 making a vow, was 22d31d0552 heavy.2f294be543f73a20

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Aydin’s gaze lingered 72a5f183da on Russelin, who c39d4d4e08 seemed unusually affected.f326efcc81dec968

* * *32e10e056115759a

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‘Stay locked in your room, as if dead, until we leave for Bert tomorrow. Understand?’1eb9bebe45175a72

As expected, ff9d5413d1 Aydin bound 433a26fb83 Russelin’s hands 08f1362c8b and feet aa043ff51f as if 1d1c9fb5ed in response 37d53b4a87 to the 41f08967ed Emperor’s light f1d65bb57e provocation.aac532c7cef38999

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Her visible 9309239b58 reaction to 176b2f6886 the mention 35325b4e5b of the f5a6b33795 temple had 8d0fb35cb0 contributed, as a162adbcc8 Aydin was 722ab3570f particularly sensitive c9dbbff3b4 when it 2069edf4f5 came to d6ec995990 anything concerning 77ad98e85a the temple.962096f6b41d063a

Fortunately, he left a7a90e5289 her confined and 881ac72402 then departed.1a390dfeb7857a24

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Left alone, Russelin 64bf0f1372 stepped out onto 0e90863b87 the terrace, lost a7d037ea9d in thought, unaware 524e2c26a6 as the night ca41f4f28f deepened.a9e368199f68aba3

Her mind c66bfc8170 was filled 602d31ec01 with the 1502b42eb2 tense encounters 6dfccc6143 from earlier 1debd4799a that day.65f9d3d6d3950dc3

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“I thought no one could stand against a protector of Ragnar….”2bab51e71b5a96fe

Even the 2da197d392 Emperor had 81a0529a65 seemed unconcerned 074bb22e86 by the ad018afc99 two men’s 278bda6a29 brief skirmish.4b472ac9115456f9

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Though her expression d723356a08 was uncertain, a 102cfbd51f determined gleam shone 9acc0ffb9c in her eyes.0b1e004f40e27a81

It was a 398a377634 faint but unmistakable 7bff0aa7ae glimmer of hope.a3ceac139207315d

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‘It’s clear. Aydin’s magic wavered, if only briefly, against Leonard’s.’22996d91245bc5b8

Even if it 0eee204475 was a fleeting e2e88cc25a moment, it was 66e4a8a3bc a heartening revelation f5aaf93bd2 for Russelin.739aab731927240c

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The only 5bdb0173ef one who d63db407bf might stand 2d3cf2fe78 against Aydin b4449eae7c Bert… that 69c289cc83 could only 6e4d521137 be…fbbcf16a8b0b86b7

‘As bearers of Ragnar’s blessing, it’s inevitable that you two will face each other.’36aedacb3b58e421

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“Inevitable, is it….”d6752ed0e14c3bf1

Russelin pondered over 1cd4c73c82 the Emperor’s words.8af6c4bc75c6d225

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The destiny of bearing e295fb7651 Ragnar’s blessing wasn’t limited 2ab63ce61e to just Aydin and 7705ee73b7 Leonard.887e5b9044011b98

Perhaps…308be9e7ee956572

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Her gaze, cast far f9a50e1993 into the distance, wavered 9e66a835db for a moment.84a67db32abef84c

“Is that… light?”a349b1a210545ae7

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“No… something even darker…”ed938bfe5e6a3cd6

Before Russelin 5da0eade7f could reach f0a3814092 a conclusion, 3c03d5ab55 moonlight slowly a25016b7e9 pierced through f5568e33a6 the darkness, 7739692af4 casting its 5e992e4386 soft glow.d5456dc8d20c6701

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Under that faint a318032d4b glow, a dangerous 3f6751e670 red aura flickered, 0650df78b9 as dark as 53a953b888 blood.4640d697b2117471

Russelin’s eyes widened 1b38ce970b in shock.7e2f70fc7a220bb9

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“…Grand Duke Estere?”380277b5af2a9774

Leonard Estere was 25ff347ea3 standing there.a4b97ce6fd4ae8e1

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Russelin instinctively gripped the db38a04a34 railing with trembling hands, c3a8d9e712 her expression wavering uncertainly.f7a7eb1339b569ef

‘Could it be… he still hasn’t managed to suppress the magic he unleashed earlier?’c594091fa9f13109

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She didn’t realize that ebe35a2365 it was a luxury 435c4782b5 to be worried about 141e9efac0 the cold-blooded tyrant.0eead7acf1a80bff

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, ea8f6b0feb Leonard had his back bc571ce22d turned to her, unaware 1fd328bfce of her presence.b6b9be53a2846e57

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Yet his solitary 8cf235d421 figure looked strangely 81c520c3e4 desolate, a sight d7da0b7ca1 that seemed uncharacteristic 53ba470e6c of him.285c19afe2c08d62

“Why are you standing there all alone…?”be5c40abe5d15999

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It was as b4324687d4 if he mirrored eaf6e32621 her own reflection.ef7ee1818124df1e

Russelin saw her own b4b44f56fe fragile self in the f672d9064e resilient figure of Leonard, 6ac9fddfd3 ironically layered over him.d71824a10416b412

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Meanwhile, Leonard, 71d9c027e3 standing under fb6ab13b92 the moonlight, 126e16b0e5 began to 304d6eb0fa gradually suppress 3864483316 the red 7cc6da3a7a aura surrounding 2c6e0d0d3c him.f6dd175c676f1cf1

Just as c4add2f738 the ominous 40de587677 energy started 8c42858de0 to fade, 1dac85f344 his body ccace34bf7 wavered for e72bc89203 a moment.7df634dd5f713b92

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“Ah!”02f67202eb267f03

Russelin, focused on eba5631618 Leonard, instinctively reacted bea7f0742e to his faltering d73af75fe3 movement.673c80a891e46862

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Sensing the sudden 48c7e31efa presence, Leonard swiftly 3e9ea49baf turned around.226a43d630618add

In that instant, 664511a1d2 their gazes met 1918f30ede in mid-air.427c55e46ac3d1a3

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“Russelin?”e89e0ecefdc74ea7

Leonard looked directly 6eae738e7e at her and db2f17f4ef said her name.ffd7d1eb38b4fc85

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Russelin noticed a slight hardening in Leonard’s expression as he looked at her.15497b61309a2268

Yet, she couldn’t b212c14326 bring herself to 228f02a322 step back.76a25f668ca0ad03

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‘I want to meet him… closer.’6fcc096d22d1eb77

If it were Leonard…0731d6cd43affc2a

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The man 259f8dc892 who had 9f1fe7dc45 embraced Ragnar’s 526192529c power and bee8268d81 overcome that b96e89f204 cruel fate, 60685282de surely…39a0b0b3c071a767

Russelin took a 5e736a5d58 step toward him, c36a88bd78 her eyes filled 283f693e02 with a strange 747f5eac53 glimmer of hope.fac4cf53df5e7a8d

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But Leonard, noticing her 3479cca352 movement, shook his head.4a195545e2b62957

“Why…?”bd3e27d21e3f83ca

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That gesture, 556fafa686 as if a2cac87b84 rejecting her, 70e935893f made Russelin’s 65b8364506 face fall 3c32e45f01 in shock.49cff657e0e42b64

Leonard, having read her 2762a76091 expression, silently raised a 841bbea82b hand to gesture behind b83e5c08e5 her.fdd92ec32ae58a7b

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‘Behind me…?’fcdc99616c3d9990

Russelin’s face went 2e615df4d6 pale as she b4c182a99f thought of a 0796a777ff dreadful possibility.1996c083c9e4ff20

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‘Could Aydin have returned?’8c80a549ccdcba5c

She couldn’t hide her a971b10c33 alarm as she quickly 4b06f0d978 turned around.a30a196e9bd2e3b7

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But contrary to her 36c1038220 anxious guess, the room fef44be7f7 remained quiet and empty.e20db6e6b848980c

“What… why did he tell me to look back?”c488aa7d0294e2ad

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Puzzled, Russelin turned bc115735d7 back toward the d7932b4a4d night garden.e7c5aeab1e89f9f6

But what she saw 472781b2be next only made her 84bbe4c7de tilt her head in c2041ac526 further confusion.22239becff34725e

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“He’s… gone?”ba739425a35aaa97

Leonard was nowhere 9db3194fc4 to be found.e5fe9af979b34580

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Just a 2275a9cc38 moment ago, e43c761673 he had 084451631b been standing 68753835f2 beyond the bd4f594a74 garden.a1b4169a9d729389

Feeling a sudden weakness 02749dcc4b in her legs, Russelin 0e6906d403 gripped the railing tightly.e0221b891acb1162

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“There was no need to leave in such a hurry….”d0228b29aa94a5eb

A deep sense of 881870a0a5 regret flashed across Russelin’s 6c8d23c8c5 face.3ee3f9d0f80b8ae6

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There were fa7b610e00 things she’d d6c4de2f04 wanted to 5e3a4875d2 say.a1d78db0d0454282

Questions she wanted to 199210d5fc ask…bd1af1dc5229b602

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Just as 45ef7217b7 Russelin was d8e8e71311 hiding her a234af3baa bittersweet feelings, 49cc9e4b91 a voice b5be608716 suddenly interrupted.b0f734dc4db1cee4

“Step back.”6d7697190cab2173

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The unexpected voice startled b09d086607 Russelin, and she instinctively 7ca51db853 recoiled.820e24abe10fad96

In that brief f4ef1c67b7 moment, a dark 86fd3d74f8 figure swiftly leaped 11ef772228 up onto the 3bdc08c43a terrace.7cdda37934ccfc16

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“Eek!”b11a36471d0de93d

“Shh.”ba746bd3fe1770d5

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Even in the c43966d3ff darkness, fierce purple acdd1c085c eyes glinted, capturing 6e9169f337 her gaze.e4b1bc10d8398be6

“We meet again.”792da8f8cd890b20

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“…!”ab004f353b675e3e

Gone was b27a3102ee the vulnerable 56cee50434 figure from b2580ab9c4 moments ago.a777ba285f5ec24c

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There he was, 1cbcc467d2 as aloof as 1a6c585d60 ever, perched casually 0de6735264 on the terrace 45312a8996 railing.ebf4bf7929fc5fb1

He even waved c932e118df his hand lightly, 87dd11b95d as if he e98989f943 were unaware of 63b8954d21 her surprise.7b50e1da6efd3cb7

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It seemed that being 3f930e96b9 on the second floor 1518634ce3 posed no challenge to 95e7a31c24 him at all.54af7df21ad75391

“L-Leonard…!”ea10c92d79b0570d

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Shocked by 61f78ad772 the sudden c019de9d3b encounter, Russelin 536e71c9d3 didn’t realize db39749517 she had 8fc2f77e87 called him cd31d91073 by name 3f5b253a40 without permission.38f9a4ece076be76

Leonard, watching cc125a2e0e her, smiled 13742d1d9f with satisfaction.f58b5f035725f627

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“I like it when you call me that. Much better than ‘Your Grace the Grand Duke.’”e55ebf0f86880042

“…!”b987a31032859f9b

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“Say it again.”2d15af8ac5ba4864

Leonard spoke ba5442a8de in a b1ccf68f34 teasing tone 574675cd23 that seemed ddd3dad085 out of 9e339bc433 character.84540745dd66645a

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Only then did 6738d7e738 Russelin realize that c12a1ac0aa his formal demeanor 197b09bd2c earlier had merely 5f92ba6d2c been for show.1d47b5f827b15a8f

Feeling a 5cba33e71f surge of 3ed830f92d indignation, she 71dcd683d3 resisted the 844b5904ea urge to d995017eca call his 80189c7abb name.ecfa86b6e5c7d484

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“What… what are you doing here?”73294d987f344c3f

“Weren’t you the one who called for me? You looked like you were hoping for it, quite intensely.”1c8c12859974db55

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“That was…!”25f8414823e2462b

Because you were af2ff8a391 struggling to contain 4833bd7cbe your magic…86a97f6c5138d744

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As Russelin trailed off, c1bc636319 Leonard didn’t press her f304f7df80 to continue.402a55bc2576f20d

Leonard, now comfortably seated d100142d27 with one leg crossed, ea4922a7de swept his indifferent gaze e99c728c4b over her.e94b1f2d4b8da88b

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“No need to be on guard. I came here casually.”9ad790ecb1f8fc8b

“…”7fbd4e43df257142

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“I was just bored, didn’t expect you to notice me.”ab1c1580ca5108e5

“What were you doing there?”ad25e4758e848d40

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“You saw everything, didn’t you?”c185d76e181daba0

“…!”51f2bd1c13ec0a0c

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It seemed Leonard 1952092839 had no intention dfe9872189 of hiding the e635f1d43a fact that he ff16ef1d25 was suppressing his d26359e225 magic.a6f36c1b12feb87d

As Russelin fell silent, d5371d06f6 Leonard, as if waiting, a38783aed1 pressed on.6d40dba9ab43a8e5

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“So, what were you doing here? Where’s your illustrious fiancé?”93ebdad9ea3426e1

“My head was hurting.”ce50db9f22108844

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Because of you. Russelin swallowed her unspoken 6b0e1d1020 words.fb982d5a0980a0c8

Leonard let out 810a114a89 a low chuckle ee90c29305 at her response.31f050800e64ec82

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“Seems like you’ve had quite the headache. You even avoided answering my question.”3569319d15e334fc

“…!”d9ccae5d49a520df

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“Well, it’s fine. I wasn’t that curious anyway.”2ae88938c871ee9b

Leonard had 2f7700e923 picked up 941b2a940f on her 295cba2b03 deliberate evasion.69b8f3c366be6f12

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As Russelin 2074a4e1d2 winced at 756440c81e his sharp b1c0800dd6 perception, Leonard 7413d7d1b4 extended something 0be431fa80 toward her.c1cdcb883d48104b

 8b99e116dd6a778d

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