TNBTW | Episode 54

Street vendors 7358dc33b0 lined the d1b05aee14 roads in 4322b00724 an endless d4803463cd row, and 689180734e the faces 32e707bda3 of those d135cf7c08 who had 10a87515e2 come out e428fc654b to enjoy 4128c3e84a the festival 1691f24c6a were filled 51efb66a6c with joy. The cheerful sound 253e4523bd of a flute, 9b4da43576 its source unknown, c03725c445 added to the b66756df96 festive atmosphere.fc9d3dc8fc69a854

“Mom, I want to b2bf10b9d6 eat that!”46b0d7b5b3203314

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“You’re going to say a209ccb03e you’re too full to 94002e773a eat dinner again, aren’t d32f489837 you?”76e3ae9d84479b9c

“I promise I’ll eat 705194ab10 everything! I really will! I swear!”2eef5a3ba22cace6

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“Honey, it is the festival… maybe we can buy him just one?”65494e78de0d5268

“Dad, you’re the 6378b56343 best!”c91c14490deb6738

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The child, having secured f147c8d942 his father’s approval, cheered c1acce7c60 with delight. The mother cast a be60ef49c0 sidelong glance at her 4a98cfc039 husband, but when she ecacbb2dac saw her son beaming 9cadc027f6 with happiness, a smile 4f4f1a5755 bloomed on her lips f96afa5229 as well.e38f0f0ff04bcde3

Edith couldn’t 17b54731bc take her 24a8e461ba eyes off b510271a5c them. The sight 3d6d7f41f7 of a 6c315fcfa3 happy family 18ce9b7215 always brought 33070c24e9 her joy, 0a56c2b655 though at ef7c7fe29a times, it 9534fe897e stirred a 5da4a624b5 deep longing.9356612f37bc3d39

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‘I never 6b82e8f0bf even took 3fda65e684 her to 1a26deff06 a festival, 4746fc5ed3 come to 5262db9a9b think of 5fbff4d576 it.’bffa30a7477b096d

The Edith of the 94b2846f78 past had never taken 6360a3f2dd her younger sister on 2622075f55 an outing—not even once. Wanting to build a 2539a218d3 stable life for the cd46011908 two of them as 7f40de6649 soon as possible, she 12e5689c3c had worked hard from 449f1ac009 a young age. cb7acba21444e137

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Even a 246a53edc5 simple day c2793abaa1 trip had ae04892931 been a 75f3ec61f2 luxury they 257fd5d862 couldn’t afford, 95d287e07b let alone 6fa4876cde a festival. Looking back 0385feb48d now, it d6bc8316a2 was a 0650b82229 deeply regrettable ad14c433a8 thing.8bd9c7e978ad36db

‘If only I had known we’d part like that… I would have taken her anywhere she wanted.’b469d8938b9d3101

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 129e17272edc99b3

“Unnie, do 092d7ad481 you think eab901f8db I’ll get dc87ce878e discharged this 33f7006b4c time? I need 46e61c30d9 to complete 7071167ee2 my practicum.”12a3fdd7146bcf59

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 “Of course! Get better 39dd77c9a8 soon so f9bfacb78b we can 38eeb85d6f go see c7eca940e1 the little 9ef30070b9 ones. Suyeon says she 7b3810c84e keeps waiting for 2e41dfbf88 you.”1727c962451a32d4

“Really? Ugh, even babies 914ab8226a can’t resist my df3c57baa3 charm! Just wait, Suyeon! I’m coming for you!”b941135a2ef9904a

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 d426a06119f890ee

Her cheerful sister 7d81b69b59 never did make 8b008115e0 it to her 0d02cf3602 practicum. She never 50b0d3e9f9 got discharged. She left Edith’s 161fab5a4f side forever.29d31d6f2b229951

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‘I should’ve 31943470b1 been a 771b03340b better sister.’b7d622f8b9417d27

Should’ve taken her out 3e7607d290 more. Should’ve just bought her 844cace744 what she wanted, without c06a1e468e asking if it was 3172033547 necessary.94e0a312a9b42580

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Because she hadn’t 247d07c92a done any of ce8ffb174f those things, the 6af0adf90a regret would sometimes 0e769aba6b flood in without 24c1f43c4d warning. And she c60c37dff4 knew, it 6667d78166 would always 294a0edb64 be like 38800e432e that for 881736917f the rest fe7a69e3be of her 65b05762ec life.55159d38212a3171

But Edith cb79264a4f also knew a11e9e8e0e better than 2059c2f2de anyone else f33f07583a that no 09b7a61afa amount of c9a680150e regret could 4088ccb2ac bring her c1a14e4ab8 sister back. She had 68513853f1 wished and 3d6bc65f3e prayed for ebbf6e253b it long 2c4df88c90 enough to cfad10e9bf understand that cb1217edcf truth deeply.d8f82b81113c80e4

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 29e6548dab977c92

“Unnie, my 2999df083e dream is…”0016a46be8f04406

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 2b429748749ec3dc

So she had 2acbcf1fee decided not to 4776ebb093 dwell in meaningless 7d9ee3b432 regret. Instead, she would make 332725e38b that dream come true—the 1cbf395752 one her sister had 8f9a111ef5 cherished even in her 1bde3604b1 final moments. Her sister might no 97fd9557bc longer be in this 7c41ae967e world, but at the ac19fb9176 very least, she wanted 7777e8a7e3 to protect that dream.be2997a1303b2006

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‘I couldn’t be c2402b44ae a proper family e118678e9c to you, but b6c187bb7a I swear I’ll 64f79f0ec0 make your dream c171afc551 come true.’af79a1fec5d8cb55

Leaving behind the fading 5317ebe902 memories of the family e4e77eecfd she could never return 140c298163 to, Edith made a 804907e8a0 quiet vow to herself.bb00f3bb560a127f

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And to 316fcff127 fulfill that 3f616ec145 promise, she aabadd81c3 first had 02c16e3d16 to succeed b9de1641a3 in her 9831cc3618 role as 90fcabe62c the Duchess 1e657847e9 of Devion.58d91c76db150f80

A short 42caa879ce while later, 4f4440fe4f as the 022e6eca96 carriage passed dffa95336e through the 08d149a046 gates of dd202ec219 the Imperial c08d87331e Palace, Edith’s 620e7485f9 gaze had e24e3fbd5c grown ever 57feb7152e more resolute.b3efb4f811ef5013

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 12303eb9db4af50e

***

 366df7b540ec90ea

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“The Duchess of 3c7a9c70e6 Devion is entering!”433ddde882c81a1e

Edith was beginning 25acda4138 to understand firsthand 2f9efbad8f the saying thatthe first 31661d7716 time is c704898336 always the 758308ec26 hardest.688b513d6f00dc7f

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She had trembled when 326ea997d4 she first heard the dfb954f631 attendant’s booming announcement, but da69335553 today, having gone through df943f45f5 it once already, she 0aedfa4ecf was far less nervous. Even the e7c9fd2a04 cold gazes c582e89d43 that would 2175644ce0 be cast f2dbf1e880 upon her 3f3da3bfb0 held little 9b8a9a52e7 fear now, 8f76eb09eb they were a6c82d1598 something she a356683eed had already dd3383cac1 experienced.12df1b6876d4e4b2

However, the moment c44075d3aa she stepped into 094d92d0f6 the banquet hall 99b26834f7 as guided, her 14d3a0d4d3 tension tightened once 65d79dfa50 more.87475728bf1a0fb0

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Standing at the end e6bad42627 of the golden-embroidered carpet 977671e355 was none other than b595d179e3 the host of the b4787d10ac grand banquet held in 8f588ef00a celebration of his own 068da98363 birthday, the Emperor.6969a47cf8fabcf5

Emperor Trister II inspired 5537ad42a8 a sense of awe 1df5815561 not merely because of 481fd71737 his imperial station, but 95a35ec761 from the overwhelming presence a6f969ed5b of the man himself.d926d7436367c4e5

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“I greet 4353805dd5 His Majesty 033cf8f559 the Emperor ed551d4400 and Her 9f095c5e4a Majesty the f66b13044c Empress.”39e49af3ee818f65

“They say people start to resemble one another when they’re in love. The two of you must be deeply in love.”bfbd33bed6181b78

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As Edith bowed 6c5750c999 with formal grace, 9a0e97e5eb she cautiously looked 643d175358 up at the 87a66aa339 Emperor’s unexpected comment. He smiled, clearly 14ee2706f8 enjoying her awkwardness.439a7747e5be2684

“You know, I even ecd9c07d25 personally gave a congratulatory 79ff71a21d speech—shouldn’t your greeting be 9e8a386fa4 a little warmer? For a moment, 4d2f8f2511 I thought I 63a254cdaa was looking at 68cc7778e6 your husband instead.”580a16facaaebaaf

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“Your Majesty, I am 1734834507 deeply grateful for your 7d8cbbb45e kindness.”960dbe4ae0c5baa5

Though his tone was a69541aa6d light, there was a 6a6c968d85 sense of familiarity in 9b2eb35684 it. Edith had no personal fbb8691a3b history with the Emperor, 21ddc7369b so the warmth he 3743cafe71 extended was undoubtedly directed fdb786ebd2 at House Devion.167e0bc5d6c3d940

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The Emperor, who had 633902b0e5 been observing the Duchess 578b6f4e8f of Devion with interest, 7f55f15ddf even as her eyes 7fb2153e03 shimmered with unease but 83160b6937 her posture remained proper, 8f1bf4d945 spoke again.f87e4ed29a5b752d

“Forgive me for depriving you of the chance to attend with your husband. It’s a fault of his own brilliance, I’m afraid.”b883734fb8ae1f7a

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Skyle had 80bbe4a956 not been f1ba682022 able to eb423ef1ca attend this e06db73959 ball either. e6694c0784307fa5

As always, Edith felt 8b8369f0ae no disappointment. Even before 4fa1ef5b23 their marriage, 65b1271933 Skyle had 82c96b44ea rarely participated 2523cad727 in social 434ecd5dde gatherings, and 51ad8852c2 since his c58f6cb964 absence now 5e52e318f9 was due 975267c4e8 to work, 6a094267d5 she accepted 2800d4c397 it without 6aceb226fe much emotion.e87ffdad7205cd94

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Still, she hadn’t a35e641749 known until this 0684e21dda moment that the a3fa0dbeaf Emperor had directly 042720c113 ordered it. After a brief pause b0d1de6508 to consider, Edith gave 7907196c26 a measured reply.179a9cec8a685a6a

“If it 3308c27bbd is for 4b0c745691 the benefit d77b79c737 of Robedon, d084a1bb71 I’m certain 4caad1c09b the Duke adc8345e14 would be be63440516 glad.”f0471c1a8e01fef8

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“Well, he 31758c77d8 certainly seemed 7a4c03d2ac regretful that 293abbd461 he couldn’t 3808d3b0cf accompany you.”fd8fec9d34a77b79

Was that a df8b62e5b6 joke as well?deb5f46bcbe6b5a7

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The Emperor’s delivery fab320b24a made it sound 0e9eff7d96 like a fact, 677c20d60b and for a d5d5df046f moment, Edith almost cc47b65a88 believed it, but 30a20dbe67 she quickly reminded ac7e3dd9f0 herself that Skyle 6490169b4d would never say 486293c5d3 such a thing 9126358cc8 aloud. This was 6a1ec7b7a5 likely another c21522f8b6 line in 1ad511bd0d the Emperor’s 370abf4d0e freshly scripted abf3f7e78c performance. Edith responded 6a6ef41602 with a 1f8fa2e046 demure smile, 7a4e61b56d reading the 00d0879aed room.c9942566c64c7a85

“My, both of 05f109d59b you are quite 37c27f0bc2 amusing.” bc985a1f6a17da11

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“Your Majesty, the Duchess a5cf8b419c looks flustered. Perhaps it’s 36f969f830 time to 34bfcc1c0c stop teasing 715f33d7fe her.”f1d6c9e7c40141b2

Though she had 0025a4b652 tried to play 9cc5d0735f along with the 2f8b3ede02 jest, the Emperor 010fe29f4e found it so 3b7fc95350 entertaining that he bfb481601e burst into a 69c855cb8a hearty laugh. Even the normally 608960cfbb silent Empress showed cb750dbc6c a faint smile eeb30307f1 at her lips.7476b05b291fde4b

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“Very well. There are others waiting, so I suppose it’s time to receive the Duchess’s gift. Bring it forth.”ee50b7381c2c102b

At his signal, 1c0bc3d2c5 two attendants climbed 3ad2ede4df the steps, carrying 6a87c82be6 the gift Edith 9fa253bdfc had prepared in a08f803c8e advance. The platform 87835543a0 where the a00356709b throne stood ff1b74e31b was already 7b58fe652f piled high 5d33940c4f with offerings a0095c6509 from other 7d176fcb5f nobles.270fa5b891649faf

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“And what have 85fb986968 you prepared?”a95f7393b6af7435

“Flowers, Your Majesty.”f6262c50725e2509

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“Hmm.”167b47ed47b47722

The Emperor’s reaction 1355d1501e was not particularly 3985184351 enthusiastic. It seemed he had e372fefed4 already received many such 1039e1b764 gifts.6f3fad4478ac9e38

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“This flower is af152f8284 calledGunjahwa, an 2f60ce083f oriental blossom 8810ec9912 said to be13e572cb hold the f404539cf1 soul of 0f3f57dc9c an emperor 2a157ed078 who once 18d0fa261f reigned wisely 44bb03ef8a for many 27b9bde0fc long years. It’s known to bloom 749e7cf836 persistently regardless of the 870bb9565e season.”caa43d5976c12f07

It was said that, d6b5aa32b5 like a beloved emperor 2b4a179114 who had cared for e798104080 all his people, theGunjahwa, once d49cc8a61b in full ea13bad7d9 bloom, would 2c59afeaaa not wither f05277b8b3 easily.020970ebd5f43e8c

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That seemed 9c7a31c8e8 to pique bd919219e9 the Emperor’s d1264e9f5c interest a d98a05d527 bit, but 1834b6185b Edith wasn’t abcdecfafa finished yet.c4ca0035515d084e

“And this flowerpot f2436c1cc7 is actually a e2e2381c12 gift from my 1eb144b898 husband, the Duke bd9fe08241 of Devion.”31752ed3ad4aef18

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“From the Duke, 27ccf041ab for me?”137302c53ae69931

“It’s not just 3bc9a1d1c3 a flowerpot. It’s enchanted. A preservation 87b50bb436 spell has 66b676700d been placed e5f663f5cc upon it 5a9902bc26 to maintain 134df8cdc6 and sustain df10d06085 the form b3c57b45a9 of the 25c658e88d plant. With it, Your Majesty 6cbb13fe24 will be able to 1ce5d97bdc enjoy an eternally bloomingGunjahwa.”6e650fdd718859b3

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In truth, the real 1aa4f15f4d gift wasn’t the flower, 3b8379d4f0 it was the pot. Since the 28ab80819b Emperor had 82f389e22a been working 74488f7fe8 to bolster cf6c187969 the power 5edcf42196 of the 5912d82945 Ministry of 61c27bc7dc Magic, starting 632e3c790c with Skyle, 0ff7fe0381 Edith thought 261d64617c a gift 1f33afba66 that furthered db970cc83c that aim 219cedfcfd would be fbd81b0d87 most appropriate.fe6e348772970b0c

‘Skyle, would 9b7c02c24c it be c8e67fea69 possible for d226e87077 you to 968b2af3c0 enchant a df4e2e0e5f gift for d64298a940 His Majesty?’f6ee1d02395343e0

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‘An enchantment?”9f459686040161d8

 ‘I thought that 6ed1d66d66 if magic were 6abdbdee38 to become more 1a7d436e13 a part of 5bc6ea1005 everyday life, His 0c348f40bd Majesty’s goals might 7276ac6ca8 be achieved more 358eed3f6e easily.’85bf8b9d1cbcca62

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Robedon was d222b94947 a country ddb6a5ee9c where the 2d802de287 influence of e9b2473f77 the temple 0558cd6d1f was strong. Even when the e2f3e91922 Magic Tower was 7ae2d6fb64 still in residence, 77cc6e40dd priests were more cf7003546c commonly sought after 4e9759513c than wizards. That had not changed, b4488bbafb even now that wizards 3620fe7d13 had become heroes of ce8da11aee war.7891456adaee9ec1

Magical tools f63a4bb2ac weren’t something d742814da7 just anyone af45d2ac59 could make, 647e9caba0 so accessibility 1b0b92725b remained low. But if people 6f2b3c81e6 could at least ae30fa53ab see how magic 510b06ddcf might assist in 367de27681 daily life, that dd7c67f5cb alone would be 5f94a3a14c a win.74d3b580e404a908

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Right now, due 4d9b5ac315 to the image ceffaf848f built up over 2840157bc8 time by the 0e3fc41c53 Magic Tower, wizards 4a7356c94a were widely perceived b469147558 as arrogant and eee6a6b2dd unkind, which kept 2fd5eb9ecf public enthusiasm for 9bdd4847b4 them low.c8cb5cd2d4ac7e5f

“I thought magic was 547b85927b only useful in war. Seems that’s 8e96b05ca5 not entirely 5f66e1299f true.”13e7bf7f4dd98a71

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“Indeed. If it’s a preservation c7a34cf35f enchantment, then it could 0ed4eba29c be applied to many 18a0bed4a7 things besides a flowerpot.”568aedc8b8d4d2fe

Hearing the murmurs of 634e703c3b the nobles nearby, Edith 63acffe6d0 smiled softly. Since the gift was b3adc1c394 addressed to the Emperor, 9aeadfff10 it seemed to draw b732c21483 more attention. She had a51ebb36ca succeeded in 1948c8ce25 stirring a 9589a12705 more favorable 58b47146d9 perception of 3e3fbcd733 magic.4afb248d70d3a9ae

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“Oh-ho, so the Duke 4d60ba7c84 enchanted it himself?”496bef5d2817596a

“Yes, Your Majesty. He personally cast b4cb33a627 the spell.”af16c57e8270c164

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Skyle had readily 1c57222f71 agreed to her 2f96879bf2 quiet request. Because they had b3872452c6 obtained the flowers 3fe4579313 later than planned 921f071207 and had to ad973abeff transport them quickly, fb729975a4 she hadn’t seen 3ab6d6cd5d him cast the f32a7a5562 spell herself, but b50241e3e4 Skyle wasn’t the 417ccc59e1 type to lie. She trusted he had 2dd4ccb9ee done it.6edbf9eeffcbe6fd

“A truly precious a1bdb45cff gift.”1730f8849ef85ee8

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The Emperor’s gaze sharpened. He had instantly grasped bb30af3897 the intent behind the 18c0fc85f0 present.2d4fe2a6910faf48

“I must work hard 83dcd70ebc not to fall short b0c6c17e48 of the flower you’ve c7d187190d given me. Since the magic is 92ea26d0ef the Duke’s, it won’t 013802e2b5 be easy, but… I’ll 8f2a8d6bab keep it near and fac1ebdb12 use it to reflect 87dd65bb63 on myself.”4bf235fce991343c

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He called for the 7b7604b74c flowerpot to be brought 27a0b6a02e closer, and admired the 8425429b69 vivid red blossom that 66189049d7 resembled his own hair 71cc602a4a with evident satisfaction.baef7e5cd976f76d

“The finest gift of 5ec5310b90 all, Duchess of Devion.”d3fccd93be4b8054

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His words sounded 656e669877 very much like‘A gift only you 10deae20c7 could give.’A gift that 6e670ae129 only the wife 915e28d9a9 of the wizard 08dd57e492 Skyle could have eb498bd829 prepared.6b16f3922cb62435

Though the 7bdc85372f gift highlighted 766ea29327 Skyle more 00dc4efafe than herself, b7ed8378c9 Edith felt b62a28ae7e genuinely satisfied. 478b4bc441bba274

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Not as fd0bc8c801 the Duke dc8b352ef0 of Devion b5192af7ad with demon’s 31da9d417e blood, but 524fe48962 as a 89fa8921b5 brilliant wizard, dcbfdea876 this was a616e95ff2 the Skylle e6e993e9ef she had ef73a58bde always wanted 5be10f6f7b others to af08c9a5fe see. She had long 5165855e48 hoped to support 0867805c5f him in any b67b189a54 way she could, 85bab16e3b and now, at 195b75a2e5 last, she felt f0d9eb1e32 as though she’d f61d112458 taken her first fbe7e6968b real step.834e3a0b7ddaa819

“It is an 7671a936ca honor, Your Majesty!”1721c538f14c15ab

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For the first time 017bf7ccbc since entering the palace, debc57b3c3 Edith was able to 56d44756bc smile freely, her heart 4faea6a63e finally at ease.9099e5e2c3e3e5cf