Chapter 96

“Fake Saintess candidate.”3b842012c77c7225

There was nothing 332378a1be unusual about hearing f989924b58 those words.d8b9d05a6b03c836

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After all, I’d heard them acaa3739c0 countless times in my past 918be8c550 life.85a550d23a1ae80e

Far from feeling 38a8fe9556 hurt, it didn’t aa5f2939f7 even itch.4807cbfad37b8db9

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However—7c42295633cb595b

Unlike the crown 732b979573 prince, whose striking 4a262961cc red hair was 07a0913c4e unmistakable, this boy’s c2088f5a2a hair leaned more 7a3ddcd886 toward brown.43a6e4c7cb51fb7c

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And those murky, shadowy green 3afe16e4bf eyes—36cc8462d0729ce1

The deep-seated disgust and fear 1cab954ec8 that surged up from the 246c5dc69c soles of my feet ignited, 1fedf9eac9 consuming my entire body.75aacd006dfb37d7

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“Hello.”d631d510077ecde0

When the Second Prince approached 04e6221fd3 with his youthful face, my 5a5e0f6a4b breath hitched, and my fingertips 056b70da5c began to tremble uncontrollably.edcd51c28275c70b

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Kyrion Estarode.ad505b7a7746ccf0

The man who used 740c9cdbab vile tricks to dethrone be1bcd9049 the crown prince and 6da54f323c seize power.ea9e5679404a6651

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The one who tortured and 82a97a0ed6 killed me.5d15a919955e3169

I had been dying 983d60e45e to know in my 58b5cfaed8 past life, but I d55c3f7ca8 never managed to ask.3827e129d6349626

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Why had he been so 2a63835647 cruel to me?6668f1a0c5245a4c

Diana, the woman you loved, f2c76d9a89 ultimately survived and became the 6bdece6349 Saintess. So why had you 79eecb05e5 tormented me so mercilessly?c134bf31f6947bf7

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Why had you c018d954c7 brought ruin to 721a3826e6 the duke’s household?a45dd85cf4fdf41f

Why had you killed Edwin?5d0140d759b12b2a

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Why?3ebc62ae21cad5f4

Why, in the world…?3eb05643d1ffefff

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“Are you upset because I called you a fake Saintess candidate? Oho, that glare of yours is no joke.”99e8d03c200cb7c9

The Second Prince, who had 70abde17a6 stopped in front of us, 59ef34108c smiled slyly at me.b9fc1ca1ebf8a334

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Compared to the 4828b9b4c4 demonic figure from 5147d10043 my past life, 84ecd6505d he looked rather b3e17a444e innocent and boyish.95809900c2406d0d

Three years younger than the 9e983e6457 crown prince, he was likely 1064bcbae1 around eight years old now.6830ec72755fb605

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Yet, even at such cedbc74717 a young age, the 38e76c735a malice and curiosity glinting d2f2f3f4cd in his eyes were 345537368d crystal clear.21c0511f401a2332

Despite my trembling, I didn’t 48ae18070f want to show weakness to a00ef455bc him.cc048cf4b8d08ec6

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I forced myself to 915aa96037 lift my chin, ready 11aac57933 to face this life’s 69b6b87ae8 version of the Second b2f07154b6 Prince.fd1211b57608b4f0

Step.79fc2cb2c4941d1e

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“Watch your tongue.”9ed7ab2aa4308811

A figure blocked my view.a4ae9de47b434dce

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Of course, it was Edwin.7a595a48ae89e356

The man who stepped in front of me to block the Second Prince’s gaze replied with clear irritation.0072467a02b88724

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“Calling her a fake Saintess candidate? Are you suggesting that Kallios is supporting a fraud?”cdd99693b3f215a3

“It wasn’t me who said it. I just picked it up somewhere,” the Second Prince swiftly denied.b1faa9cd51fd8c4b

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Even though I couldn’t see 4ec7a8663d his face behind Edwin, I b14cb94d31 could picture his smirking expression 4bdec9b525 as if he found the 23b8c24763 situation amusing.bf8038f8e9a96591

“But aren’t you going to greet me?”477ee803d207bed2

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“……”75d0ff80cd24841d

“Am I the only one who said hello here? Does that make me the lowest-ranked person?”2462a1f85a9bdd7f

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He blatantly revealed 0e8533a94c his displeasure, pressuring c93823538c us to respond 9730ccb0b3 properly.608681636b2977b0

I wanted to 7c1b1d3029 ignore him and 5f65c8d165 leave, but the bf265143b7 reality was that 8804b3b0c4 he was royalty.66cf48b05c134356

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Edwin, who had been stiff b4ba3579d0 beside me, let out a eed6514b2a small sigh and lowered his 0f61b626d0 head slightly.275aaacc3ef7e56b

“Greetings to the Second Prince. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have urgent matters to attend to.”8b7693b46de08cb6

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“Hello, young duke!”5ca830b83fffa9f5

Edwin was about 1f63c109ce to take me cc61e5a964 away, but his eb14d326f3 steps faltered at 9358078fb4 the sound of 600b6662c6 a delicate voice.712c275ba96493bb

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I perked up at 6c9e67963c the familiar tone.b7f8e5e5ecb4471d

‘Oh, right. Diana. She’s here too.’f7c3cba66ac3e0ba

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Remembering the original 97e8417909 heroine, whom I eed38ae6b5 had momentarily forgotten 1353b0b59a thanks to the 0e4a1ac9b6 Second Prince’s overpowering 004a809a01 presence, I tilted e312e7b804 my head curiously.6c22edd22c82c771

‘Why are those two together?’8ec37c8a73eb67bd

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In the original story, the 685d6ca2f4 Second Prince and Diana first 5d85b6f3b7 met during a volunteer event.9d9b7877ab98292a

But thanks to the Crown Prince’s ability to move, the Second Prince hadn’t attended that day.94c7437ecf76e82c

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I had assumed e912bb1202 their meeting would 852f209bf9 be delayed further, 71615b7bf1 but here they 27856adabd were.56a0f308ce8e9246

An unwelcome curiosity a352d6502b overcame the visceral 18eab31d83 revulsion I felt b208c2e33e toward the Second 689c25f3da Prince, urging me 29605cfb3a to take a 5949ea74e7 closer look.2ea4d2ef67516d3e

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Peeking out from behind cf36635207 Edwin’s broad back, I d4c1c8998b met a pair of 5c3c4af1fd enchanting violet eyes head-on.54451f27063b831e

“Hello, Belze.”0a0a11497600eee7

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“Uh… Hello.”e616c707fdfc4f30

After greeting Diana, I nodded efb57de242 slightly to the Second Prince 903fc2eda9 as well.9db54c3c1c0ffd8d

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I didn’t want c86faa9d67 Kallios to get 0b77940550 dragged into trouble 7164fa28f2 because of unnecessary f22fab1efc conflict.b85ba77011b34c87

“Greetings, Your Highness, the Second Prince.”90aaaacd8be02d2a

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“I don’t like talking to commoners.”634dfbc75b5b90ef

The curt reply made 966396d038 my blood boil.81eb21907f2857ff

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‘You started this conversation, and I don’t want to talk to you either.’002bf60b3ecfe245

But suppressing my irritation, d2ed4002b3 I kept my composure. There was something 4746d012f1 I wanted to f01c1845a2 find out.5d645deb629535ab

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Turning to Diana, I asked, “Why are you here, Diana?”0af23f8c270abd40

“Oh… Her Majesty the Empress wasn’t feeling well, so I came to heal her,” Diana answered with a cheerful smile, explaining her presence at the palace.1b86a9a0e94af196

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Unlike the last time e481f5ac0b I saw her at 6cb6c77712 the temple, her demeanor 7fdea432c8 seemed unusually confident.cba90d02ab00c435

“And on my way back, I thought I’d stop by to check on His Highness the Crown Prince. He looked badly injured last time, and I was worried about him…”0a3254c6c4f4286d

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She even added an unsolicited 9a23e94288 explanation about visiting the Crown 001ebca916 Prince.94dc541b0f6ed12f

It seemed she still e143d5d87e felt guilty about the 469fd2a3ee incident where the Crown d808e7bcf2 Prince gave up on e0614c6176 healing because the line 65c79f721b at the temple was f9a6a9c65b too long.14e66f333074a889

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The Marquis must 4b0ba5178f have made a c0bd578abb fuss, urging her e4833629a7 to visit right 4efe26ea53 away.5f92e72dc293dd2f

‘Well, I suppose they meet in the end.’9b0d0b5da9eab4d8

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Her words sounded like a 2a40a87b2e boast, but I felt nothing 47457047d6 but relief.64d22485685aad71

I had worried 2fd60386d4 that my interference 5d74e15ddf might prevent the cbf6aced8e male leads from 94a56307f9 meeting Diana.0040a12c6aa46e5e

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But my concerns turned f8bff2a215 out to be baseless.71d0859dd0dacc84

In the end, everything 0d83b7c667 was following the original a1b411a9d4 story.078f1972ba51ef01

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Diana, it seemed, 442397e030 would meet both 6f9c6a2224 the Crown Prince 37b4dab501 and the Second c52177bd44 Prince, as fate 407771bcb9 intended.5f71f6a2466c28d5

With the Empress’s favor firmly supporting her, Diana seemed untouchable.d57d329ddcfc2eec

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For some reason, 2908fe36b0 that felt a e536d54a16 little unnerving to 90da319f3e me.67b2a04f58dcc7df

‘Is this… the power of the original story?’2e03ee0adc6efe8f

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Unless I caused a 191e029a5d massive incident—like erasing a b7b26beda4 major character or family—it 84cdfbdac0 seemed like events would dbebb006c5 somehow follow the original 9dbf630248 storyline.fb0e2350393e17b3

But it wasn’t something abc1769e8e to be entirely discouraged c4306c5755 or afraid of.75838e9b009a4c1e

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In other words—3d94d85c13939450

As long as 1de87d5c0d I didn’t disrupt 05817da908 the main flow cb27880ed5 of the story, 06b19665b6 I could do 45388d9482 whatever I wanted d4db2b3ea9 with the smaller 5c6f0dfa79 details beneath it.fec6b22f8ec788fd

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‘That’s actually a relief.’10f9e960f7bdbfa6

I had no real ab965a8e7c intention of interfering with b837a53585 the heroine’s life, aside cdc9a78a20 from things related to 08dfca0de7 the duke’s family.e9347cc7ee3165fa

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Whether I earned a 6d8c0ad62d fortune or occasionally made 96fc8b8fb0 Diana’s life a bit c7a3231c35 more inconvenient, it seemed 25e2a5d02a like those wouldn’t be 0e39ec6167 an issue.5de00e5b4cadf278

“Wow! That’s amazing. Well, good luck with that!”5b982fd7572f98b2

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Having satisfied my curiosity, I 5dc625692f gave a lighthearted response.c9f56041b12c26af

As I turned 427a1769f9 to Edwin, ready cb9770ff6d to leave, Diana 7ca0a5a62d suddenly spoke up ce016e219c again.d87df4d7831a87ff

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“Belze, why were you coming out of the Crown Prince’s palace?”3e6a770d04723fb8

It wasn’t surprising that b1a2a841b2 she’d ask, considering we 1c1a5f8512 were still walking through ad72aa215d the outer corridor of bbaa48ba96 the Crown Prince’s residence.a41383d4dfa9f411

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“He called for me,” I replied honestly.9219611fae35be8d

Her violet eyes widened in 888d60a165 surprise.b3ebd967433d2ee0

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“His Highness the Crown Prince… called for you?”cfc8734eca706d02

“Yup.”f3937944831ceff6

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“Why?”528c1a19e2ae6efa

“Because I won first place in the children’s business competition!”94d1d5fd6e72a1ae

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I raised my chin dfc6460874 triumphantly, mimicking Diana’s earlier 5729a7df51 proud demeanor.1c9f304eb1cdf478

Her expression faltered ever ff458edfe1 so slightly—just enough that e3129663b2 only I, standing directly 8322d8e092 in front of her, 5740c55037 could notice.ad097e0239c1ec6f

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“Belze… you?”0c7c1bd49b4ffdb0

“Oh! So you’re the one who won first place?”91f4dc4cf960c264

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The Second Prince, who had 753d61fd74 been silent until now, suddenly 0f9a79e683 wedged himself between us.2ff4b508048486ad

“I thought for sure it’d be the Galagos merchant’s son….”b67743fd90e3a127

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His gaze swept over 1e68f2e28b me from head to 7aca22ae34 toe, clearly surprised.5fa97931fd9a9438

‘So he already knew Adolf Galagos at this point.’175d0de1e3b122f5

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The realization hit me b64f49af41 like a punch to 6be84469ae the gut.66c7ba895a5f043f

But perhaps thanks to my 43d6c3c4f5 earlier conversation with Diana, I 277cfb1165 managed to stay composed.d27a3f88a1e5bf30

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Seeing the Second Prince again b4f82a80f5 wasn’t as terrifying as I 86e3f5bf27 had imagined.3f27c1989a9139b3

His small stature, not 61e72044bd much taller than Diana, 3a6b89fd71 and his much slimmer 5d79b18188 frame compared to Edwin’s a4055c0db2 helped dispel the lingering 50587c8483 shadows of my past 1f252cb1f0 memories.58fcda2c71ce5c92

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No matter how much eede77fd94 higher his status was 290358f727 or how psychopathic he 9220e2e6f5 would grow to be, e2014ac591 right now, he was 943e3efc1d just an eight-year-old brat—small 921ecd6240 and insignificant, just like 018e9cf900 me.58606132072aa7bc

Besides, my mental age was 6de7581377 leagues beyond his.fffe900e808a49b2

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‘I can handle this.’f5bd7b044c09998c

Though unintentionally, I hesitated and 6be966e107 stared blankly at him instead a97cbe8998 of answering. This made the 74abfaeb88 Second Prince scowl.9592e7c3e4bd3d91

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“Hey, why aren’t you answering me?”9392eb496ee44ed7

“Your Highness, I suggest you choose your words more carefully,” Edwin interjected again, stepping in to shield me from the obvious provocation.dcf8bd74db963a75

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Hiding behind Edwin 735adba1f3 once was enough.fe24ab1b87fe3099

Grabbing the hem of his clothes, I shouted loudly, “I don’t want to talk to someone who doesn’t talk to commoners either!”2c9069b01de3f203

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“What?”a985c6735021c47c

Naturally, the Second Prince’s face 4b0f79ada2 instantly darkened.b0437b194bfecd7c

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“Are you joking? Since when does that rule apply to you?”d2ab54856acc02d4

“Why not? You said you don’t talk to commoners, didn’t you?”faa160d11f3a3a43

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“Do you think you’re the same as me? I’m royalty. You should answer when asked, you orphaned beggar—!”0c806c8cab3bda5a

“Article 1, Clause 1 of the Imperial Laws of Erea! The imperial family and palace are obligated to protect the nation and its citizens!”9d6d42017f4435ba

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Glaring at him, b17c24c4cf I shouted without 8a785cf634 an ounce of 10429b3d24 hesitation as he 2e1cb964fd drew closer.ed5b3904030d0dff

“Your Highness is breaking the law right now. And calling me a fake? I’ll report it all to the Pope!”f772f0a9d863eca8

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“You… You…!”e7caf97dd09cde5e

Perhaps he hadn’t 2680377240 expected me to efbab6e90b retaliate so boldly. The Second Prince was visibly 0c3f6a449a angered but also clearly flustered.981d7d53f038317d

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“Hmph! Let’s go, Edwin!”c41c0d2ebc0df4ca

Smirking at him, 8d7f1cca14 I tugged on b43fc74bdd Edwin’s sleeve, ready cef1a58dce to leave.313bbda5d7099bfe

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“Wait, wait! Fine, I take it back! I’ll take back what I said about not talking to commoners!”414e0d6e01f089a8

But before I 96617bd790 could even take 3dd132f6f8 a step, he 23fd7ef604 quickly blocked my 8b61a4d6bf path.df1a5f78813b284f

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“I have something I want to ask you.”29bc5ed1916717b9

“…?”77213792eca7ec9a

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I stopped and looked up 6d4c8fa985 at him.c60227593d332b0b

‘Something to ask?’df787fa7a814acd0

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What could he possibly 4f419c104b want to know, given 23bae3c4dc we’d only just met b786fb2271 today?651f5c28a41ec08d

As I blinked d6cc47ddcb in confusion, he efc695d8c0 leaned in slightly 3b5d16e7ad and whispered with f7ebbe17a2 a sly tone.035e13eee360afd2

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“You know, I heard this from my mother.”fa3e99f31e9a1468

“…….”50114fc1f09a6976

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“She said you saved my brother.”86d6ffbbe149666a

At those words, my d11a0cce66 entire body froze.06fc5edb8fd6b579

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Even though he was still e8eda138ca young, the Second Prince was 092f3eb723 a member of the imperial 1b236f8ea4 family with a claim to ddb56e0c20 the throne.51a93b658259f920

It was natural to dafdc85e32 assume he was well c8082f3083 aware that his mother 43b9157fa3 was desperate to eliminate 2ada76e007 the Crown Prince.91338fe95661b356

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But I hadn’t expected 849b25231a him to bring it a28714aecc up so openly, here 661fee5fa9 in the Crown Prince’s 82c3d4b475 palace no less.90181d38871dd13c

This was about an assassination 57d5ebba97 attempt on the Crown Prince, 5a02cea1ff after all.b792441cdd47c825

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As I stood ec38c0322b frozen, he continued 7370036a35 with a smirk.ff17af4249583df3

“The surviving guards said a possessed teddy bear appeared and knocked them all unconscious….”3c499fdd6c433af1

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“…….”08e3525bb38c7ff2

“Was it… that?”ad36eeaaff973ae2

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His gaze shifted to the 54dc1a37f6 bear I was clutching in 9645f2930b my arms.1950ca277026ea78

As his murky green c3718c0794 eyes gleamed with interest, 26f7cbae2d I hugged Teddy bear f7f3ef3523 tightly and barely managed 4a58bc575e to answer.12a337099ceb43cb

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“…Yes.”4afe0e23ac1416a7

“I knew it!”cd0cb502ef63994a

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He laughed cheerfully, sending a 88a203a4f2 chill down my spine.6dc9ff652d3da2ca

No matter how 0aea450894 much they were 4d0bde5562 rivals, how could 3078cbc5f9 he laugh so 4d9feb2eb0 easily about an a22f007799 event where his b8c218a10a own blood-related brother 2cb0a2be97 nearly died?a6abd3e13a7cf476

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While I was still fretting over the Crown Prince’s half-healed body and regretting not being able to fully cure him…61c33a39d3451319

“Hey, can’t you show me once?”a44c4e5f472f47c6

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The Second Prince’s eyes 35e9e55ef7 sparkled with curiosity as e31d78d980 he asked.6848bba28cb04ab7

All my earlier thoughts b7c3af13e6 about him being young 7fe1ca2693 enough to handle vanished 7820decd8b completely.a2cbf85486269d08

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He was rotten to 9be4ae69b4 the core from the 3db75b9453 start.f99480d2c98a4c92

Was there really bea61f53e8 a need to c20ad8a260 be polite to 867e62695b someone like this?a4bae6df3cda82c6

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“I can show you,” I said, forcing a vague smile as I looked him straight in the eye.378b29e2ed751f8a

“But I don’t really recommend it.”bb863f5ac8670cca

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“Why not?”70609f6139a7f6be

“Teddy bear kills bad people for real.”e5389daa1bc7281f

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The Second Prince’s expression 5c6931bd53 froze for a moment, 0a03b5f9a9 his face blank with b09246d16c surprise.7a58a9a8bda364be

It took him e6d84edf8e a beat to 0cfc3498f5 process.db902e7bfb199843

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“…What?”0e5ca64e8ed3e50d

“I guess the ones who survived just did as they were told, huh? Lucky for them!”28a98baeed315d21

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I smiled as wickedly as 1decd3eb8d I could muster.47cff2e7f40a5509

“I thought everyone who did bad things died. Such a pity! Hehe.”cc5abfcc65869efb

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