Chapter 20

Thwack—da8cc894ab78959d

Unable to contain his 804e3360da emotions, Aydin grabbed Russelin’s 858eaa7232 delicate wrist roughly.a2f4416c44327034

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“Let go 156723ad91 of me!”d31b0fbeb4faac14

“If you 0491294050 were so 712b16406d displeased, you 8602bfdbac should have 1a75a77822 said so.”ef9d36113cef0457

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“…You…”6a577613b30e367a

“Come with me. I’ll make sure 372510058b you never speak b5acbedcdc that man’s name 2e908fcd28 again.”ce6f0e1677f33cc1

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Spouting incomprehensible 095a0f720d words, Aydin 1f92200481 began to 8be91274f5 drag Russelin b1eeb68899 somewhere.230aacc6aa0f71fa

As he 23b1f568cf pulled her e637867484 along with 525144675b his rough 66668730b2 grip, Russelin 07cbee51bf noticed a ca50400311 figure in 95fa5cfa33 the distance.30019f0b31524cfd

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“Oh my, you’re 614fb47090 both here together? I was d27f8a1cdb waiting for d35b48d10c you, Aydin.”7aa13d87703ec8c8

While Russelin’s face 3c5eefd4e4 drained of color, 30db2973a6 Celia stood waiting 779ad2b490 for them, a f6bb85c876 smug look on 0f8d0d4038 her face.fecbc407f096e0b7

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Aydin confidently 31d9341806 positioned himself 011e644804 before Celia, af8772404c casting an 1de37eb74f arrogant glance 39c013bb86 at Russelin.ec881eea7ca7215c

“Watch carefully. See just how insignificant 75be5df1f2 and useless you really e6450c85a3 are.”dace89dfa69d8e60

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With exaggerated deliberation, Aydin 1f4265dc64 moved closer to Celia 9ff2cfed6f and wrapped an arm 13d1e6bd7c around her slender waist.761372265bef8944

Celia leaned 2e6cb18de2 back smoothly, 5185f85852 a sly 239ed90695 smile gracing 4590340772 her red e9326c0c45 lips.95e74b71ba68a131

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“Oh my, d05d8476a9 Aydin, Lady 937f49d812 Lavrenti is 868a178c1d watching.”b892d9a11985ec46

“She needs to ebfd82e57f see it too. To learn the true 6951fe705b role of a priestess.”1e0f70b0bb67f4ae

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Without another 01fee27685 word, Aydin 4995a21cd8 pulled Celia bb3b8f67d8 into a 7261c80d8a passionate kiss.
The subtle parting aee482c241 of their lips 282ef4846b mingled their breaths 0608b6ec85 together.9966c25d5e4e86ad

“Mmm, Aydin…”fdfa1892182ca2bc

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Celia’s sensual voice dc20cb3797 slipped through their 79398faa26 kiss, and her 5e96bb36ee crimson eyes fixed af134959d3 directly on Russelin.a0b2a61f75f6751e

Before Russelin could ed821dcd5f even react, a 4f90d26ae0 blue glow emanated aa39eb3774 from Celia, seeping bf172ce7b0 into Aydin.28e3f27452792fa0

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In that moment, b62fa2c50f Russelin could clearly 5ca37532d3 see Aydin’s red 58f673bfc2 aura being overtaken eb99c886b2 by a shade 4db791dfae of blue.1579dcc4c80fb7c3

“Gasp…!”9d61f38d4fb8d99c

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Russelin felt a 136b11d54c wave of discomfort 51ca088e4c wash over her, 5815f3391a forcing her to 43fe2470c1 take a step 129acaec1e back.0fd15567a71d0fcd

Though not directly a6cb70931c affected by his f668cd4e6e magic, a burning eec83653f0 pain seemed to 5120b57467 flare up in d48331440b her chest.805b980930386f22

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“Hnngh…”62ec62bd8c2d16fc

“What are you doing, bc7affdf71 Russelin? Watch properly. Celia is performing the afab8001ad duty you should be 89bf257c29 fulfilling.”e417821f8c6c3384

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Aydin’s menacing voice reached 04b8e61dfb her, and Russelin struggled 21a8587263 to focus her blurred 961a44ac09 vision on him.a718b10bb80d3399

Yet, seeing Aydin 69880a3c71 now, imbued with d077f2e7ff Celia’s divine power, e4d7c5ccfc felt disturbingly foreign e5750faeef in a way 5e1e153229 that made her c042ca67ee skin crawl.65c04bcfe6df9c33

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“Don’t come 7e228940df any closer… 76adfafe5f please, hnngh!”7fac085d277b4756

“Russelin!”1a4a8df2ca80afe8

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Overcome by 6e314a20c6 an excruciating ef8d9776f4 pain that 7907f99381 coursed through 6327bb9f6b her body, a34fe57050 Russelin clutched d7e8ce5b51 her chest 4e28d66beb and crumpled 78e6119a34 to the 05a290fac2 floor.358b3458a5207a53

When she 57ec2e4a40 finally opened 8a29b134b3 her eyes, de2404c3d3 she found 9a3ca52857 herself in 72a5311966 Aydin’s arms.54af0fe445ba6053

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In that 15e6295925 moment, a ceedc2b7fb cruel glint 5d79a8e689 flickered in 83a3d20deb his eyes.27cb3f91061ad252

“I didn’t expect it 10c76b9df3 to work so well.”fc399f3159c7e0ad

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“H-hnn…”2cd77678e9452005

“It’s time to return da45f88df4 to the bedroom.”f763e1dec481d08e

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Lifting the d16d9d1b7b panting Russelin bd2dd73bfd into his 6ba6c165fb arms, Aydin 86f7566c69 strode toward aefd30fbbd her quarters.50369f5bfdf5fedb

Celia merely 46f3b0ed89 watched him c2c459ed2e with a eaee16eef0 knowing, dark 73d4a97981 glint in 0d624504e8 her eyes.
Once they reached the 6ff8ca2e70 bedroom, Aydin laid her 7c45f96513 on the bed.2668a61102795bd8

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“Ahh, please… it hurts 235d47b3d5 so much, please stop…”d8579598970a4691

Despite Russelin’s 18cba5ff77 desperate pleas, aa42f8db93 Aydin only da0411d8e0 looked down 25ef62b474 at her cfd8aac96e with a 136efd67ef detached, calculating bc40af1339 gaze.20f0653961b1a2e7

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“…An unexpected benefit.”8ff8cd04ef0db572

Initially, he had d886970f94 only intended to 1d4dda9069 teach Russelin a cc945c0da3 lesson, but he c100134319 had inadvertently drawn 82eba85148 out her suppressed 8f322f5991 divine power.6c59886830e6bc03

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As if savoring 0fa708801e the moment, Aydin d778f4e397 ran his fingers 2aaef3f0ee along Russelin’s trembling 366f7dbf53 form as she 8b4796e2fe writhed in agony.870039c637644081

“Please… please, 1f684e2989 let me 578474237a go… it d8319bbff7 hurts too ba91f37946 much…”b709f3c9c6493a22

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Half-conscious, Russelin clung af0168d476 to Aydin, not a2b952c108 even fully aware 95c72a1c8c of what she 6c8e8fa078 was saying.7356109ded8d748b

Relishing her fdbe8290cf helpless state, 0e1ce510d6 Aydin pretended 4b5736af26 to comfort 90d2c40258 her with 761acc0328 feigned tenderness.232ffaa0bfaa4452

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“Just a little c29c39b52f more.”59b5924cbe0b843c

“Ahh…”cde193bcde31eb86

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“Draw out 0237eaa3c6 more of dd0775f288 your divine 574eeffe7b power.”6a839dd72b6ee228

It was 9f8a8dfb8e a horrifying 16da68c302 command.9b9e09f1058f715d

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Through her f28d7bda60 blurred vision, 2a01b4504c Russelin could e92cc70821 see Aydin’s 974f628036 cynical smile 5281986e96 clearly.094e85ef4257be99

“Aydin, you… you’re 443a88750a truly… h-horrible…”4b39e571e9f7dd7d

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“It’s all for 8d1add8eba your benefit, Russelin. So you can bb7cbe5fc8 rise above your 23864dc887 pitiful status as 1271a0ec06 a half-baked priestess.”0f9e49373525cc46

“…”484d1fa30c7e63a0

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“Show me 64aa3a6e1f your divine 9dd466c27f power. Who knows, if 8f066f169f you succeed…”32eca934661530d1

“H-hnngh…”972827a3826c501a

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“Maybe I’ll 0be7bb46e8 even love 9f82f24755 you.”1aa6d9b022459c0b

How could you…79dc7b8589ca784e

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The look f538ba410c in Aydin’s bfa928fb38 eyes was 00a37507d7 terrifying, purely b0bd9eeeb4 exploitative.abbba304dac43b7e

To him, she cd4251762f was nothing more c220b67c99 than a tool, 4acbc8af96 nothing more or beea5c7564 less.
Russelin let go 8eebcb5c03 of the last 1a9629eff7 shred of sanity 4fd3b8b7e1 she had been 25f39c390e holding onto.70265c53dbcfe1fc

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“Hurry up, Russelin.”b2a628f83045ce51

Aydin’s cruel taunts 41a2687335 grew faint.b09c5ff3fd2d3193

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In the end, Russelin db37954f66 gave him no answer 48a711d7cd at all.e8c18120d7689f31

* * *d777073703105e76

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“Hnn, it’s so hot…”bef63b1414975ce1

Each surge of 5f7e7e78c3 energy through her 5fadd63deb body, uncertain if 7a10df9d2b it was divine 6a6d56c6f2 power or something 1c66587b0b else, burned as 900d7d3848 though she were f64c2eda2e being seared by 93637a6a24 flames.d1697503327bc978

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She lost bf974b1bbc track of 5102a2b264 time, aware d258b396a5 only of c72941838a a glimpse f95d1bd45d of the e5b1df72b9 darkened night bb1a4cae68 sky beyond 9a02bcbc74 her blurred d79e2f574a vision.4c5a09f9bd0514ba

“It hurts so much…”0172cb65b426123c

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Please, someone…33561361f6bee018

Even knowing there d95f29e366 was no one ad32d94ebe to catch her, 71cdb09d76 Russelin, trembling uncontrollably, c4c023ae61 reached out as cebab25bdf if in a dda0724eda trance.25135f5d2d531083

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‘…There’s no 6856a07503 one here.’e93389488918f6f3

Her desperate wish bdadcadf50 dissipated into the b318a3e878 air as always.
But this time, something c63d35f758 was different.f83a23e8b156fb97

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Whoosh—d9393bcd9903cdd5

In the oppressive a830b4f4bb heat of the 9faa3de311 room, a sudden, 8a92985766 cool breeze swept 643c766706 in, as if 2e85ddd959 welcoming an uninvited 3303302b1d guest.e732470d9e34759c

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“…I always seem to c3e11ec5f4 be late.”706a7b3218f35ef1

With a e3c38ee4b7 frown, the 86724c45d7 man who cf6d6eb768 had stepped d8532cdcef into the 7d1cb021fe room muttered 8d8ef62e78 a curse 49f8efe46e under his 9bbeb0f548 breath, displeased 4469247641 by the 9f9551ceaf stifling heat 1c8500ce1b filling the 45e664d5fe space.42f092dd9b3b1cea

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His shadow loomed over 61dde8e882 Russelin, who lay curled 33654b3834 up, writhing in pain.18baae70df545a53

Despite her dulled senses, fffa66db4f the familiar, comforting scent bd62ed48f9 reached her, stirring her ea973cfa61 slightly.eb268ae7e4a4219b

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“Grand Duke…?”201cd8f885243b19

Struggling, Russelin raised her 6b31237004 head, catching a glimpse 617c79c6fb of violet eyes through 4e093550df her hazy vision.60fb64777a17a72b

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Though his face was 102971d388 set in a tense 4d5c354031 expression, such details didn’t 22800db0ac register for her right cadb6317f0 now.dfed4a8e02c8533c

“It’s really you…?”c20916e7fb8a8a25

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“Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry I was a1c8316fc0 late.”6ab7f0ab66945240

“Why are you…”a88a71f9ca175c46

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Why do you always 3643d7f060 appear when I’m in 5b1aeb5f20 pain?55d384cb015778a7

As Russelin 299e78fb2b moved her 1e356b200b lips weakly, 1b4ab90ec0 Leonard, sensing 4235edf1b4 her misunderstanding, 2e8076e2c6 tried to 13c8281aa5 pull his 94d6543d03 hand away.09d7d7f5708325e6

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Noticing this, 1b95ba7faa Russelin desperately f773df23bd clutched his 31cec347b6 hand, her 241bf3cbc6 voice trembling.e2f4e44f4afae0ae

Realizing she 5a64174048 had misinterpreted a9e19f78d7 his actions, b37d7a7475 Leonard lifted 179a7738fc her petite b097707d8a form into 6d34c8d34f his arms.6f0df2861ff172f5

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“Relax, it’s alright. I’m here to help.”
“Hnngh… my body feels 0c3fd1a7db like it’s on fire… 500eab85e1 it’s so hot…”
“Shh. Take deep breaths and 3caa60615e lean on me.”691ee73d8b11e199

Adjusting his hold d1b1f2bc14 to allow her 34d39f5319 to rest more 2e706912fc comfortably, Leonard placed d658ec7617 his hand gently 1090828a5a over her chest.e4b9fab3d04fd4b8

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He could ddf15c180d feel the 562da764a1 intense, chaotic be7e3f1a1c energy coursing e5f2a3bf4e wildly through fdf10bcd8c her fragile ffa41cc081 frame.c38ff92c657ff72d

Residual traces of d8fda7051c divine power, forcibly 2d0a260b7f suppressed…baf22ab3305edeb2

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While Leonard assessed her 8116c649a2 condition, Russelin clung to 2b11c9f70d him, pressing her hand f032ff240a against his chest.e0970951c936337c

“It hurts so 71667a5102 much. Please… do something…”c9a529a85b604096

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“If your divine 285f345492 power is flaring fa52fe78b5 up, I can b0e9d6a307 use my magic f34410c0de to suppress it.”0d2a14352d09b8d3

“…!”32a2d1c6255caf3c

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“Tell me what ba3f8f2475 you want, Russelin.”3e5860bbcdf63fa3

Despite his 02e5907ed4 gentle touch, 7e063682e0 Leonard spoke 7926cdf87f firmly, as 8ea7c65600 if he 220385af83 wouldn’t act a08a90480f until she b21b9586c7 gave her 4f92e6a64f consent.58943ac9500127da

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Finally, Russelin leaned 0719dbec7b her head against cb949b4649 his chest, her 4ed4cef074 voice barely above 3347d4af2d a whisper.661802e842dd8b29

“Please… help me. This chaos inside 12a94a3189 me…”f59ba48f14b0ae05

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Though it 8347921b6a was only 0805c124f7 a half-conscious 6c36d7f52d plea, Leonard 3a4dbb739c seemed pleased, e870a7e0a1 pulling her 22254c5d9b closer in 80a7ef4bdb a protective 7910460b83 embrace.eb1c5ac18700cc40

Gradually, his f3467e66f5 red magic aae1a78763 began to b87bc91c08 seep into 5eccd39f11 Russelin, mingling ef81290f67 with her a772b4d829 own energy.8720065e60cf45f2

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Leonard remained entirely 6eb35fac52 focused on her, 644f63a611 his hand tenderly cd1d84c74d sweeping back her e024ce62bb hair.5f39fedd87abfd76

“Hnngh…”2dea898fb9fb82ce

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“Shh. You’re doing well.”c8342217145385d1

Whenever she faltered, Leonard’s 71ad56f2d1 reassuring voice steadied her.93b6cc403680413e

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Even through ca417473f8 her fading 94a7002211 vision, his 128bc41644 voice penetrated, 941574d1f9 calming her.65b86a2d59a71732

As the oppressive blue 7e3c3c525f energy began to recede, 2a23e65913 Russelin finally exhaled, her b1dff772fd breath easing.ed0384a366a28604

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“Ha…”37d4efd434157e60

Russelin slumped into 5d90c6e979 Leonard’s embrace.639149f39ed1fc05

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Leonard, attentively watching 5b47922955 her reactions, quickly 21225ed6ae withdrew his magic fb5eabde36 and held her ed7d13224d firmly.1565eb57551ad4cf

Seeing her relaxed 81e486e63a and resting against 71466a9741 his chest, he 59775551c9 looked down at 04a7c0eb50 her with a 26b745dc4a tense expression, unsure 29a123fbdc of her condition.d338e6cecc517107

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“Russelin?”3d938a7edc31f7f6

Unable to bear the 6ecb2dc572 silence, Leonard spoke her 4120d49005 name softly.
After a brief 7397c22ab9 moment, her eyes a1839c2dce fluttered open, revealing 21ac93e96b clear, blue irises 8596dcecc3 that met his 962a8baf68 gaze.b71f68370f311d70

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Leonard, as if f51a9e8eef delighted, stroked her 19f69617a7 hair gently.facca3bdf388022c

“You did well. Don’t worry; there’s ff6e28e2fb no trace left.”d65cb67d279db851

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“…Thank you.”04087b52664451ff

As Russelin struggled d9b54dbbf3 to collect her 5b0e5937c9 hazy thoughts, Leonard 0337680768 took advantage of 0b673446d2 her vulnerability, pressing 0a949f8cea a cool hand 3876fa1517 to her forehead.1e3ef4dcd7adb347

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The sudden chill 072fec5a95 made her smile b3ab4b88e9 faintly, feeling a 2458853056 soothing relief.99a9622d2544506d

“You really do 823689cd75 know how to dcf43b141f give someone a 4f19ac6a59 scare.”cf58364838b24799

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“…You’re the one…”b94fde1f4ade34e0

“I didn’t step back 8ee744b99f last night just to 11706df37a see you end up 55c58261e6 like this.”8b4e925d5011d836

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To show me this eb141cfa3f side of you now…142482c590659aac

The usual light-hearted d8218cf25d tone in his c58a183c4a words felt sharper f866bb0312 today, unusually piercing.d05fe4fa2b1ff4cb

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“…Like this.”9ef888871fb050c1

“Hm? What did 07f60300f8 you say?”434caebc6ce10b69

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Russelin, looking down, fiddled cf36bbb231 with the hem of a31b922989 his coat as she b7ec8f5ca8 mumbled softly.4981066b7549a128

“I tried my 90669d7d17 best to hold 57574c5541 on…”753639901a528b97

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“…”09827f0828464a94

“I even be059ecb85 told Aydin f5e4b0fa04 how I 5062bf24af truly felt 2df03b7239 and stood 10ade7580f up to c87b7340b5 Celia without d8e95c71e0 fear.”c043ea0808c17da1

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Hearing these 4e616e862a words from ad3d22712a the man d390662480 she’d wanted d86b366bf8 so desperately 9069724fe4 to hear ddd2ee579b something kind 5c0cfa8d76 made her e4dfe04425 feel unexpectedly 1c75461883 emotional.f91e44995bbf3815

“I mustered 7cedf299e3 the courage 7aa893478e to speak, c743b000c9 but he 0042efd3ad only got 29616e7ea0 angry…”80a70f8f553c36ca

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Though Leonard couldn’t see 77274cc69b her face, he could 8a2f5aa3cb tell from her voice 5a2fd0e496 that her lips were 576a9b449d probably pouting.10a09fe5dc4b213e

‘Ha, this 8b672aa1bc is driving a07acdc047 me mad.’d356172e8e4efbd4

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What was he to 0511349696 do with her?3020a950bd7abe73

Usually, she was so ca1a984cac annoyingly rational, but now, c126722481 at a time like 27995f0fdf this, she was as c782dc3807 vulnerable as a child.25f00e8e83f1d004

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Yet he could 9229a74448 hardly criticize her, 7d521ed08b knowing she had c6a3461e0b finally let out 3d489dfc3b feelings she had 67ff2cdd72 held back for 8789ea5e16 so long.6597aa08291fcb71

Sighing, Leonard 33842bdbcb pulled her 2bb209c24a closer, holding 1780692585 her tightly.6cae62edd2b1613b

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“Yes, you cbba474023 did well. You must 63865934db have been 79e8925d78 scared all 90b6ec1c8d alone.”41ed9088636022da

Though he spoke 8009a7fa83 gently, Russelin simply b809c84d85 looked up at c9645e118a him, not acknowledging a45a444ddd his words.8444f2b95e280d06

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Why was it e15a29e8b7 that when she e334074373 met his steady 51a74b602a gaze, she couldn’t f94798757f even think of aa05717e15 looking away?0ac22f5766a483d4

She placed her hand 58aec8d31a against his chest, meeting 9942efd6c7 his eyes directly.d1cc84b1fa616fc7

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“Why…”9d4c14f4788486ad

“Yes? What is it?”f68ebdb607979d9a

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“Why is it always 86c16ed3cc you who finds me a215455441 first?”052ce03e571936ed

Whenever I need someone, c05f21f1fc it’s as if you a489d7e6e7 were waiting.51c7be616b8f35ef

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 001ccd4cdad2bc2c

 cc90af0dbd114dab

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