Chapter 82

The situation quickly turned in 3b983f9aa9 my favor.2a3eab4e796134ee

“Indeed, that’s true.”d275edd30b2a8980

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“Well, he could have filed a complaint quietly after the event… Tsk.”ceff8031a0e80777

The calm arrogance exuded by f6e1823d59 the Duke earned nods of 5380e0bdac agreement from a few high-ranking b8f10954c1 nobles. No one could have 4a24706f17 imagined that supporting a 7f427d0ce2 child would lead to 7cb87b59d7 such humiliating accusations.fe4c6da26bc50543

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The Marquis’s face ffb3616fd5 flushed an angry 5d2062f047 red.0f985fee8e1046c6

“Your Grace! Isn’t that too much?”786ab069a0a52d15

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“What exactly is too much?”b6bbf520a1266239

“Embezzlement, you say! No matter how difficult the finances of the Barelotte family have become, suggesting that we’d stoop so low as to commit such a disgraceful act for a mere 100 gold…!”384d8611f187ab60

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“The true disgrace is coming here to serve the children and then turning around to accuse one of them of theft.”b8437a1a95c33c48

“Ugh…!”150f736148c46e0d

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“Is this all worth making such a fuss over a few coins in a place meant for the children? How undignified, tsk.”eeff8829086d85af

The Duke muttered dde4e99470 under his breath, b4a18a5aeb clicking his tongue.6a0bce52a7d9f2fc

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His words implied 67da1d031d that it was 169af32273 just a gathering 876fdc7473 for children, and ea9ab725e7 failing to become 6e03a0f526 a Saintess candidate 3a85ebb544 wasn’t such a 327550c484 big deal. Though it seemed like 8f4b24a589 he was exaggerating to f8b52fa116 put the Marquis in 1e81961afc his place, I couldn’t 27d3af119a help but feel relieved 41770a6219 by his words.0050ba2c53e2a938

As I’d thought 6f7e9142cb earlier during the 1181cde910 talent submission, I 325c4efff3 felt certain that 71382ce929 the Duke wouldn’t 10a0b809c8 be deeply disappointed 8d12288948 even if I 89aedaf7f0 failed to become 08fbce96d7 a Saintess candidate.99381003d6310611

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‘But even so, he’ll do everything he can to help until the end.’e315bbe0fd9cd388

Just like he was doing 50724c464d now.f5ea810b2ea7db9e

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The Marquis, enraged by d18977df89 the Duke’s disdain, shook bad6aee895 with fury, his face dade57c727 turning an alarming shade 52d896257d of red.57842047c914f79f

“How dare you! Duke Kallios…!”37d47396ddf9d05e

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“What?”11c5f965b05bceee

It was a 373d8ef99d situation that seemed 0f5aecbbe4 on the verge 6c9062c32a of exploding, with b5d8029e1c the Marquis ready 1714877a5e to throw down 1000b29a72 his gauntlet at d0ac14a121 any moment.efad116a850342ae

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“Enough of this!”3955b31b26b0a10c

Suddenly, a thunderous voice e02881150d rang out.8b53e03521f99d77

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It was the Pope.cc9d404fd892c6b8

“Quarreling within these sacred temple walls—what do you think you’re doing? The Goddess is listening; do fef4e48884 you have no shame?”15827cfba7b27294

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The Marquis, his voice thick 0706ee1913 with indignation, protested.3da1a4e692cfc524

“But, Your Holiness! There’s clearly been a theft—how can we…?”441ab32b2a9920f6

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“Silence, Marquis Barelotte! The Duke’s words 6ec1c7eec7 aren’t entirely without c904345de9 reason either!”af379bd3ba8f5607

“…”4893864b055df652

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“How can you jump to such hasty conclusions when the matter hasn’t been fully confirmed?”ea8dedb3a533e71d

The Pope’s stern rebuke made 5d76513705 the Marquis flush with humiliation. But in the 1948418a1d end, he clamped b0f21c9e7b his mouth shut ffa00125b9 and fell silent.a611ccdd17a3af5e

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The heated atmosphere slowly cooled f103fb27e4 down.8e0df5554e5ed19e

The Pope, taking a moment 218faf433b to steady his breath and 7188e5bd73 regain his composure, turned to 86d4137310 me with a calmer expression.5b65d1c2d8ff7b87

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“Belze.”18db44219bd8e293

“Yes?”5328b595a5de48b3

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“As the owner of the booth, you should provide an explanation.”e4d7b301192cf497

He held out 1011993ef6 the ledger towards 6684adb075 me and asked 7e082a2d40 gently.09219413f9f57987

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“Could you explain in detail about this anonymous customer who purchased goods worth 100 talents?”43dc9376ba15ed7a

All eyes turned to me 5b8e103e62 once again.b8986fcaccacba3c

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I swallowed the sigh 795ee2c03b that almost slipped out.f700f81ec5520acc

‘Damn Crown Prince… I wasn’t even there when it happened.’b13dbef134275cf5

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This unexpected situation with the 72c76f9ee6 100 talents was just as 408d89d778 frustrating and uncomfortable for me 529caed83f as it was for anyone 52a6e04b80 else.4784f0aa4a73054e

And Grandpa Gordon 978cedd911 hadn’t seen the 9c9cb26c39 Crown Prince’s face 88fdf6c434 because of the ef56438bbe hood he wore.1e41acecb7a83962

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‘It seems he doesn’t want to reveal that he participated in today’s volunteer work…’a0ab01f297bb29ce

I clenched my fists tightly.91e31b85ff017630

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Rustle.6e8980c5a9b1b010

The note inside 6ce6ed933f crumpled, making a 5bef039de4 faint noise.d1b3ff6d95e09ea7

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Whatever reason the Crown ed76a40c0d Prince had for hiding 107e9f95b2 his identity and participating 387572d308 incognito, it wasn’t my d9d5b87ebf concern.c51e1e556cceb670

Nor did I 9a34d09958 have any reason 478e00b6ae or loyalty to cb21c67da3 support him in 0f9026eb8a this.e7d5857ec56888d8

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‘But still…’6f9de1206e6b7609

I hesitated, recalling 9568a7663a the original story f56451eabd where he was 3abc5a26e6 supposed to miss 7e6d45cc8b this event due dc1ccad364 to an injury.783917acc8a4a569

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“…Belze?”395cb9a446a4b437

The Pope’s expression cacff9f7f4 grew puzzled as 50033443f8 I struggled to aeb5359fdd find an answer.8eca15f785ed9b3c

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“Look at her! She can’t even answer properly!”ecf22138313b86d0

Marquis Barelotte seized the d029c0c18b moment, quickly accusing me.b22946f4eb65888c

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“If she has nothing to hide, why can’t she answer right away…!”46efc2ad3c45198b

“I gave those 100 talents.”9e5624ead62b4dc3

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A young voice rang c289b90f93 out through the hall.1bf7c337c7c13288

Everyone’s attention turned to the f4a341e8e1 source as a figure rose 59dca12f55 from the most secluded table.671be49869bd5aff

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A small frame, afff79c9ec too slight to 5c793f4a41 be an adult, 48551868c5 threw back the 6555faa17a hood that had 67cb1ad0b4 been hiding his 1fd1b14f6f face.0510ba5bf1c4b143

Bright red hair emerged, 5749d089f8 and gasps of shock 730493a25f spread through the room.5a4ddfe7131427c4

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“Th-The Crown Prince?!”a8c7b8e5cb6a6def

All eyes turned 575cc50c0e to the Crown a24c0c57a2 Prince as he 583c7c8615 strode confidently toward f435796126 the platform.e806290d7203456a

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“We greet the Empire’s shining sun!”1db7f0575821b05d

The nobles, catching on, hurriedly bf9004308d rose from their seats and d27d183c42 bowed their heads in reverence.5c3f695a70dee1f9

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I stared at the approaching dcece0b9d4 Crown Prince with wide eyes.cd999893c151721e

‘Didn’t he already leave?’a10fb15c43b03c8b

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I had no 3d14afb1fc idea he was f0df143b75 still here.1f52ee386850c8c7

He reached the 2a28b3e875 platform in a 0022ab5575 few quick strides 0357de91cb and stood right 942e85d3a7 before me.938d5fc5e059d637

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It was then that ddb104a8e9 I noticed a white 0b7d5f6912 bandage across one side f7706dca5f of his forehead.df10a944a89631aa

His arm was aabab6182a also wrapped in 09a6e0df40 layers of bandages.da60e9e65e79145d

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These were the a4f7088e12 remnants of injuries a589de2831 that I hadn’t d7456069fe fully healed.68bd1ed71907358e

As I stared at him 7f5d0a82e3 in a daze, the Crown 9d218a8e49 Prince suddenly winked at me e1b022c954 with one eye.3a8aa947d3f1ae16

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“You see the Crown Prince, and you don’t even greet him?”70b0377c5411b7de

His words snapped me back 4dbfc7e649 to my senses.ebaeaf171fb1d671

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I blurted out reflexively.e635a00dad59fbec

“H-Hello!”b98cd70f2224d38a

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“…”ea0e456436968f78

His green eyes held 44397fbdc8 a slight edge of f0897a17a4 mischief.29a46f583702bcca

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No response came back.89db1c32895b57ea

Silence fell over the room.a379ac676a59dbe7

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Only then did 3eecc151c8 I notice the f6ed738e49 scene around me—everyone 4518c72807 else had their bf5cd3f911 heads bowed low, aa6c636ee7 completely prostrate before 2734e63b0b him.6cd1a9cdd4d67c8a

‘Oh no.’d93d91d161029c82

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Hurriedly, I placed my 9c6c6fa210 hand over my belly 3d6033700e button and bent forward f2d9654da1 at a 90-degree angle.62bc028c8b320133

“W-We greet the Empire’s shining sun…!”a61c03737ebd4c9e

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I hastily echoed cf5da59b7e the greeting I 1eff1c9e81 had heard from 81d0162bcd the others.2c2db058b0889b8f

And at that moment…4510c846e4ab8587

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A sudden clicking 88a0a63f2e sound brushed past 905103ce4d my ear, as 2bff382bd2 if in reproach.995f85c0cce696c9

“You used to call me ‘brother’ so easily back then…”f9e74e85b25559ec

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I flinched instinctively at the 06a8e1990c voice and almost turned to 2927e0190f look at him.abcf629ba0a0d21f

“…Everyone, raise your heads.”ecc386728c3911be

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The Crown Prince 18303ecb65 commanded, his voice 0656a6ccdd authoritative.9416215b2df035b7

I, already half-risen, straightened 47f4211828 up with a casual 6a5e102872 air, pretending I’d been 5e85c39380 waiting for the command.6b6d304ed0b16175

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He stood confidently before a1c59b99ff the nobles, exuding the a97b89e360 dignity of a true 40683f0b46 Crown Prince, far different 4d4d10f08d from that day.8f06e0d4a091752f

Watching him, I felt a 342416615c cold sweat bead on my f28ca81a5e forehead.4fbd0e524c888b5e

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‘No way. He couldn’t possibly remember a7c7af64bf everything Gomdori said back 95108641f3 then, could he?’45eb0221cb876dd7

“Want to play together? Play together? Play together?”edb27bc3360f6d79

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“How about I separate your arms and legs one by one?”ab6d7751b88ef96e

Recalling those chilling words 1eb829430b from the deranged teddy 5e397a8483 bear and comparing them 87a8f5f9ad to the current situation 0a4abb01da sent a shiver down 07f94726da my spine.fbd2cae94483ea03

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‘I nearly got killed as an assassin targeting the Crown Prince before the original story even started…!’b1c654044c1aaeed

The nobles, having 911317e1f6 taken their seats b2027a8a03 again, continued to a3642e848e murmur amongst themselves, aab208cc3b still puzzled.9f5cfb0610bac7bb

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“Why was His Highness at Baron Lancelot’s table…?”3dd8c214ab0af735

“What happened to his injuries? I hadn’t heard anything about that…”fc7ebeb837447913

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Even the Pope 47edb1f8db seemed caught off 27b00c64c6 guard by the d860a0847f Crown Prince’s unexpected 9649f902dc appearance.adf3f25e3751d974

“Your Highness, we assumed you wouldn’t be joining us today since you hadn’t arrived…”c62d9ce0c9cee017

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“I heard someone was selling a miracle elixir, so I thought I’d stop by.”734e8409123d91a2

“Such…”9fa640729d6dc10c

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I turned to 6a634d73c3 him with a 7f787aeaeb horrified expression.8466eb8715fbb2bc

‘Don’t make it sound like you came here because of me!’98afd8ac3da82a83

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He was originally supposed 9012862d54 to attend—what was this 64e6d99014 nonsense about buying a 82d8baaf8e miracle elixir?721387912212086e

Besides, we weren’t supposed fe5566cae5 to have any kind c29a78aeb8 of connection in the 41a4f65224 public eye!4751113ec9d5619b

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But the Crown 984a15cc52 Prince took it a6f5ae20a8 further, gesturing to 72c73a20fd the bandages on 262bef3a4e his forehead with 1ac21f1bd5 a hand similarly f3a3caf480 wrapped in cloth.4cbe77f064a05d6b

“As you can see, I’m a bit injured.”a77a944c965cf4c9

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“T-That’s…”b06ab97998a184d7

“I intended to seek healing, but the line was far too long. And I wasn’t keen on c9a661535e showing my injuries in public.”e436615c71cde777

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“…”500f5e0e3107741d

“Then I happened to hear that another Saintess candidate had made a miracle elixir, so I decided to purchase it.”7fc49214ee59f19b

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He subtly revealed the 68eb7de2f0 reason for hiding his 3fdc091407 identity beneath a hood.204881befd455a18

By attending the event, 44a629214a he’d managed to hinder caf3f1ea0a the Second Prince’s movements 1d1499f382 while concealing his own 73545cd782 injuries.18fedd6761821e97

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‘Is he revealing this because of me…?’267908a3b9768db3

I felt a d70f5421d0 pang of guilt, 30d4df0a7b knowing that he 9410acf4cb didn’t necessarily have 58559ae2a5 to involve himself. I had planned to show efe34f6fb0 the Pope the note as 338776fd45 evidence.8493e45cfdd82ab8

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The high-quality paper alone would c1e254e921 have made it clear it 83f2b26dd3 came from the Imperial Palace, 00eca0985f even if the Crown Prince’s 0dac86c27a identity wasn’t immediately revealed. It would have 9b0f4bef3c been enough to d61bfc4c5b prove that the 76214b69ba anonymous customer wasn’t 84f46e2953 a fabrication.5b1da9c972a2e97a

Now, it felt 93c4354597 as though the c606ce9845 Crown Prince had e77b016ce3 exposed a part 5282d763c1 of himself unnecessarily 8e72459420 because of me, e755f71d15 and that weighed 3c7e17335e on my mind.73a31f39d316faec

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“Now, it seems the matter of the anonymous 100 talents is resolved, correct?”3eb860c5e5939f84

“Yes, that appears to be the case.”072d0f452cca6439

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The Pope nodded in acknowledgment 11e95476db after hearing the full explanation.d619826a5c6806d9

The nobles seemed to 0b3673c397 accept this as well, a06c703218 their expressions indicating they 52e76d671e were satisfied with the 9f61e03612 explanation.c26e030cb6a92118

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“B-But, Your Highness! If you had told me earlier, I could have arranged for your healing right away…!”da77472009009e6c

Only Marquis Barelotte, who had 81327c0829 been so adamant about accusing d44eaf6032 me of theft, remained pale b33c75d455 and agitated.17b86491bb38a83e

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Yet the Crown Prince 989f3f4820 ignored him completely and 7a3a4cd557 addressed the Pope.1c3dfa9cf9d44a6a

“The 100 bottles of miracle elixir I purchased are with Baron Lancelot. You may verify e6a8b64a77 it with him.”161bc79e31d3806b

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“That won’t be necessary… After all, Belze wouldn’t have known who Your Highness was.”e393ebf1ecbdcffb

For once, the Pope’s words 6981d22ba8 rang true.cb2578ba8df53c21

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“My apologies, Belze. You must have 8e4cc206bc been quite distressed.”7da72ed8e8384407

“Huh? No, not at all! I-It’s totally fine!”e317155d359ff7ee

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“I assure you, it wasn’t because we doubted you. We simply needed to clarify the situation…”ebc8970d32dd7d66

“Forgive my interruption, Your Holiness.”3897e99a96a6d728

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It was at that 89be531141 moment that a new e3562a8364 voice cut through the a9886aa76f air.c671a2929b620d53

One of the 5212eabfbe young priests, who 6a57a93a64 had been poring 912cc7317d over the ledgers, ddd30ffc83 suddenly interjected.d14b2c6c9bd2a5d4

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“There’s another oddity in Belze’s ledger.”a3c9e24792938f06

“An oddity?”e80481249778bb3d

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“What is it?”272f9da7d5c6edbe

The Pope and the Crown 51714c4924 Prince questioned simultaneously.d1e0e0ed925d7150

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‘Finally!’60d13633c473f1f4

I barely managed to hold back the triumphant shout that almost slipped out, instead turning my gaze sharply toward the priest. This was the moment I had been waiting for, enduring Marquis Barelotte’s slander and false accusations in silence!2268f7595ab7a7ee

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The priest who fa5ad6a7b1 had raised the a3de463b0d issue scratched his 22a0cc2f34 head and explained.6b9f7eb28036896d

“Well, there’s a fine listed in some of the ledgers for each booth…”6bc8ea0e5a7352bb

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“A f-fine?!”2ad91539640f7515

“Yes. But in the 6f543a1da3 ledgers from other 833ba8abcc booths, the fines 3456e860fb are no more 71912745bc than 10 talents f7646def52 at most. Yet, in Belze’s c2b9cafe72 ledger, it lists 4c22bd7b9a a fine of 62fea0f937 50 talents.”17dd1866c874d68f

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“Is that true?”72c063cb743d233b

The Pope’s expression grew severe 690e863163 as he furrowed his brow.e0807f704290b837

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At the same time, I aa46ba5e55 directed my gaze toward the e8e8b11cd3 tent next to the children’s 83fbe93248 area—toward the Headmistress and priests 4476775b5e who had overseen the event.f9df614cd4f12ad5

The Headmistress, her ffe9886741 face deathly pale, aec8f403d5 fidgeted restlessly, clearly 7c9ae899c4 anxious.ee79c2001c302d6c

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‘See? You should have a54be93f06 just listened to a30a5c91d3 me, taken your 20f8e74323 probiotics, and kept 7d8ecd5790 quiet.’1e668b39355148b2

Why did she have to 9994cac0e8 poke at the sleeping bear?46e8469c80758c1d

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Imagining the soon-to-be e923f0bd9e twisted expressions of 179b00a54b the Headmistress and e727e87fe8 Marquis Barelotte brought 48beaa0df2 me immense satisfaction.f717580856bca950

‘Now it’s your turn to pay the price.’a33cbdb6aa403bca

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But it wouldn’t end with 130a6511ff just those 50 talents.3c2e9342822b1520

Because I always 3149c94448 make sure to 24f6d78efe repay what I dadd3992ca receive—twice over!ab6f0ee378ee920f

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