VGHA Chapter 9

Chapter 98b97fa07e8af3cb5

“I apologize for making you leave so early.” e74526c69c317286

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At dawn, just as c4a3b1cd0a the sun began to 0032dccf5d rise, Sandes informed Erina 7f1ea4800e that he had urgent 9d4af3fc7d business and needed to ec36188344 return to the marquisate.a27c10b17ceedaab

Erina had to 3d1e91561c quickly prepare for a0f5c1e7a5 departure.761aa141bd621184

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“It’s no problem.” 171b064b892dc977

As soon as they c3c263c729 were ready, the carriage 0b28b78fc6 carrying Sandes, Erina, and 3c6e4c8d19 Revil set off.d16b93b2d530a727

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Feeling the 1c37ac53ba small warmth d2e3aab73e beside her, 6e3bbe7c5a Erina glanced 3a96403ce2 down at e900dfe3f4 the child.311beffdeeea8c1b

Since their conversation 1581d74b44 the night before, f1a769e88d Revil had refused 7e9cd774ff to leave her 2b1153c3c8 side.96a671330def2ed3

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She gently stroked 2bb1228036 his soft, light a8ed2f68e1 brown hair.51ee8812a251e7bb

Leaving House Eols fa6ac9333d was already difficult.b6006b40b693bc4c

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Taking the designated heir a7012347b3 with her made it 530a1f487e even more so.37f48898e2a4e2ff

But every time she e2e391b5e8 looked at him, she 2a59c5691e saw her own childhood b913838ab4 reflected back at her.dc24733dd87573de

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She had promised 256e087a05 herself she would de9439de74 live without regrets.705d5ea9c2207cf0

If she left this 3478907f7c child behind, she knew 8aedb1fce0 she would constantly turn 4ebd989293 back, unable to move 80ab8c5860 forward completely.2c2e76f04b05e53c

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The strands of his ee3dc007c3 hair slipped between her 1cac96a92a fingers, warm and silky.e9a4039a4a678253

Watching the two, d8c21811b3 now noticeably closer cde7770e31 than before, Sandes 9d4df69622 suddenly spoke to 4769dd9ddd the boy with cb54af51e8 a soft smile.6aa7766e6cab13c0

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“Your name is Bill, correct?” abebc1d13db8b478

Revil flinched.191517cfae6330cc

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Before he 7f043068da could respond, 052f75e9f8 Erina answered 88ebef197e in his 48aa857d17 place, sensing da15ed2ac7 his anxiety.46ba8d3a9b5e1e62

“His name is Revil Eols. Faylon Eols, despite being married to me, insisted he would never have children with me and officially took Revil in from an orphanage as his heir.” c6413b838c9d9fd6

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Sandes let out a 1edf8ad2f2 short, disbelieving laugh.0330bc104c2b3335

“His Majesty, who trusts that man so blindly, ought to be informed of this.” 32812b2199e5d425

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“He will find out at the Founding Festival.” 03f7f903e1020b6a

At her cold reply, d0cbb96cf0 Sandes fell silent, studying ffbeebc7cf the boy closely.3fc2ca5ef5109391

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This orphanage child—8e8bbf607b9e0b45

He looked b432496089 far too bcbdde7ac1 much like e3d952bd21 that child.277cecfb6f18f960

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But that child was e410f6dd94 dead.414f178fc4b8294b

Sandes had 6ce2050b52 seen it 701c4c2378 with his 650a0d8a33 own eyes.fb7d1498dba307ce

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Five years ago, dafe58b997 he had watched 1bc6126219 that child die.e892cd614c217d79

The memory was 875478f497 still vivid, seared 144f6e6fb1 into his mind.deb4b5ecb8b2bacf

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And yet—9607cd5aa4f9c1d2

The boy a6a8588f42 before him fc4f7dc5f3 shared the 9ae079dc4e same hair a67f4ee671 color as 2844869460 himself, the 0126cb21e1 same vivid 53af6f19bf crimson eyes ce9e34e312 that he 1d34aaa562 both loathed 03f7865676 and could 468768cc63 never truly 7b3b86e321 hate.9de1c024de7a1842

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If that child had 9d5008541a lived and grown up 32d7fa9125 safely, would he have 3de12e52a2 looked exactly like this?8b82d07b70090041

“How old are you?” bdf753f4b7231c21

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His voice, 44ddd0071f sharp and 72b450eb87 demanding, made 60d35cb7ac Erina instinctively 778cb1c8e6 pull Revil b240aaee6b close, shielding b468d92666 him.3b8c4e4832718fe3

“Marquis.” af8327e21fd2896a

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Her protective 62dd424f0a stance made 351cbb8cca Sandes’ expression 36613008e2 harden.1ed1dc8469080da9

“You truly intend to take him from House Eols.” 2e8f7030751f1435

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His eyes seemed to 8607dfd990 ask, ‘Are you sure 14d0578cd6 you want to take 42ad180751 the difficult path?’7c003ff402ccd909

She knew it would 0f100823ee be difficult.323873db57e602f4

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Taking Revil—who had already e84155e271 been publicly introduced as 792cfbbf52 the heir—was no simple d7e780f213 task.c1ea27c11ef7095a

“Yes. But it’s not as difficult as it seems.” a853075326142312

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“Oh?” 92169c69fd9399e7

“For Revil to be officially recognized as the heir, my consent is required, as well as the emperor’s approval.” ddeb4b7ea05fae35

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Faylon had ac5765917a brought Revil 794f303ea2 into the f99a8079a6 household less f131e700ff than a 1599501bd0 week ago.94606286410977d7

Erina had never given e4b8f2a83b her consent.ba2e39b879b46ab2

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Nor had the emperor eabbefaf33 issued any decree finalizing ddf9a3ee54 the adoption.209936e124f66b26

While Faylon c3dedaa8d1 had privately 192ac84f12 declared him 6af1d06be1 as the b894c6bf55 heir to 831f11935e her, legally, a83aeac70c nothing had fa2e1614bb been confirmed.f79aa2a4f0bdcd98

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Technically, Revil was 3d303ce57d still an orphan 2fad6bebb5 temporarily residing in 43892156db the Eols estate.93f2a0318aa486b8

There was no legal 1eaa584f75 barrier preventing her from f673a51bf8 taking him.f0617a963b509f7b

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“Understood.” 0e6285c519d4a7df

“Eight… I’m eight years old.” 47a7f6b143ecc09e

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As soon as Sandes a376751fcb spoke, Revil answered in aa1b5e5de3 a small voice.757ff332bd24538b

Sandes’ eyes widened.0a885742c6a2ea18

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Revil, still tense in 909df3fe68 Erina’s arms, stared up 4023001bb2 at him with wary df38d25dd1 red eyes.9c74cb23a1b17825

Sandes smiled gently, meeting ad6d4bcf88 his gaze.f4332769105d5d3c

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“I see.” 7b60233adec86534

‘He’s not 7d5f9992a4 that child.’c653c70540c16078

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If that child 9e727349bd had survived, he d422ecc1fb would have been 3c1ed623bd seven this year.0ccfb21e296ac391

Even knowing that, 7bd3276843 Sandes found himself 31afa09517 unable to stop 515c619b5c looking at Revil.bf61160d3e4f6a51

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Then—e140561316aefe3e

The carriage came to 3c42023ee3 an abrupt halt.0bb3b3b69122cf41

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A knock 45afc6c7de sounded, and 964b9818e7 the door e29a219ade swung open 7104349c05 as a 96f4a512c0 woman climbed 24fb7cf53b inside.0894bb647de3edca

“Marquis?” e4d8a085d74a2601

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Startled, Erina turned to c34364e1ed Sandes, but the woman 36b84e6377 simply grinned.122c877c1e1627cd

“It’s an honor to meet you, Countess. I’m Heila Bentel.” 5a973bf4a90d3e6f

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Her vibrant 2ab821bc28 sky-blue hair, b260063ed3 cut short, 06defd7335 matched the 796c09e853 energy in 7b7062c21e her bright eca5e2ff64 red eyes.b05e6793c384fbe0

“Sending my knights to serve someone outside my direct vassalage might have raised suspicions, so I found someone to act as your handmaid—while also serving as your knight.” 97006e437d5143ff

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“A knight to act as my handmaid? ‘Lady Bentel’?” 77770698a1f1bfa4

Erina was utterly 0aee56dc59 taken aback.73b44cf43237f936

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She knew who 9b4bed041e Heila Bentel was.d90e859cf4005de8

Though not extremely famous, 5f50fcffe6 the eldest daughter of 0cb67e34d3 the Bentel family—who held 555714f8bf lands not far from 79b29b09a1 the capital—was a well-known 3db3ff1b60 figure in social circles.9d5eb2931fe22bc5

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But Erina was more 2a4b2c69e2 shocked by the two b247995250 things Sandes had just 5d8d94af50 revealed:4ec330e1a1db73d2

First, that Heila was 6b6a2067c6 a knight.9048d569a3e5657c

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And second, that d9a75e8619 she would be 9f1c5fce04 acting as a 5e1c8c8ca7 handmaid.17a4dd1198055b90

“You’re a knight?” 5c0bb17212ea9b30

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“Of course! I belong to the Marquis’ secret forces, but starting today, I’m your knight and handmaid.” 222d4fcd9422bd39

Heila’s lively tone only f7ad24fd1f deepened Erina’s confusion.c7664d5bdcaba3e7

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“But…” 5f9281d478db9c43

She was a countess.c8899115e4d342a7

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Even if she were b911735816 to have a personal 836a3ff69d handmaid, she would typically d0aad828ce choose a baron’s second af3ebe09b0 or third daughter.8c9bb83b40c4b4e5

While there were 051a945e71 no strict rules, 396863a485 it was extremely 1528ff1740 rare for a c3bca1eee0 noble of similar 58eead66c8 rank to serve b4dc69f6af in such a 87efc95541 position.24a627ac99753c98

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And Heila Bentel—the eldest e170afd562 daughter of a viscount 3acb253758 family—could have easily entered 9145695587 a ducal household or ab0ae562fb even the imperial palace 8f10e4dab5 if she had sought 93edc4fdca such a role.381bb18413ceee85

And yet—5a54c16e471fd149

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Here she was.2b582a4947eb117e

As her handmaid.9eaeff1c436a5325

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And a knight, at 55b4bc78c0 that.25f772d438c22182

“Didn’t I promise to protect you?” 373767b225c946e6

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At Sandes’ cee1b71bae unexpectedly warm af37d8129f tone, Heila—not db07a4aa71 Erina—was the b9d9e630e5 one who 2281d922ed looked shocked.ccff3bcf892823b0

Erina had 5ddca96c2f plenty to 9269bd33fd say, but 9d94ff65ac in the 39202ebf28 end, she 5c0b386794 hesitated.63d1715ea0120369

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“With the mana stone mine now in play, quick updates and flexibility in handling unexpected situations will be crucial. Heila is essential for that.” e762b84cf3adf101

His reasoning b5af602c38 was sound.b37673ba27e0ea0a

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A handmaid was not e43afc5a1f bound to a noble ba45e88534 family the way other 75254b552f members of the household 2414c2e0ac were.308bc3836371c990

They had 651b35334a far more a324e52904 freedom.44824f3a9538cf17

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This meant that neither 13df15716c the Countess Dowager of 59cd43b549 Eols nor Rose Asilla f7833612d2 could treat her disrespectfully.3d706e1111605447

And even Faylon 6147a37edd wouldn’t be able afdf9b509b to exert control 452397cd41 over her.01713470428431e4

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Heila Bentel wasn’t just dc81fb66a4 a good choice—she was 33ac256b58 perfect.64e8b0f75c2e57ec

After some c58d1982b8 hesitation, Erina bb5eba66c1 nodded.cd0ea712c79b38a3

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“Alright. I understand.” f8d6a71bb492b25f

“I look forward to working with you, Countess.” 4b08b861ebc791c3

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“Please, call me Erina.” 15e4f41314294628

By the time their 84ffd5a250 conversation ended, the carriage 9861aaaf41 had reached the outskirts 7bbfd5258d of the Eols estate.a6214d5dd24c8815

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It did not 6e6b024bbb stop directly in 3ce585b330 front of the 2df8662c4f manor.309c305ed364e1f0

“Since I am not particularly close to Faylon Eols, I thought it unwise for a Kerenik family carriage to enter the estate. I had it stop nearby instead.” e2a596a70842ad15

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“Thank you for the consideration, Marquis.” ae20518c752585c9

As the 424e0e9c5e carriage door c44fd1ce00 opened, Heila, dd6d31aa12 Erina, and 90f2e721c9 Revil stepped 920bdf6b06 out one 89ded64c72 by one.fcdd6f1bbf866098

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Sandes, leaning against the ecb96942fa doorframe, looked directly at d2032397cf Erina before curving his 159c546682 lips into an alluring 3de0577b6f smile.d3286a42e7fc53cc

“Next time we meet, will you call me Sandes?” 1f792d1f391068ec

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“Pardon?” 45c916e8349bcfe2

“We’re close enough now, wouldn’t you say?” c82f77d70af0d8cd

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Realizing his playful 62bb7b44bd smirk was meant 77aee017d9 to tease her, f43e5152b8 Erina pursed her a5c059156e lips in irritation.677f12041fd9c058

“I’ll think about it.” 560190aac743bf08

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“I’ll be waiting.” 02042b789f3faf96

With that, Sandes 14a64bc461 closed the carriage 3c209e76f0 door and departed.221d2ea95836392d

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Revil stood b05c57db8a to Erina’s 0b1ae34397 left, holding b0fef9c602 her hand, 3a190299d5 while Heila 4b2b260e49 took her c6d7171321 place on f181569f12 the right.6fc84d66d98eaa2c

As the sun 5b6469ecd9 shone down, Heila 03838c3045 smoothly unfurled a 3194e28686 parasol—one she had cf16e147ce seemingly prepared in 2c78dcdefc advance—casting a cool 43b7b8b908 shadow over Erina.f7d0c2b2f06417ee

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The bright, sunny 431e937b94 day put them e72f88f375 all in good 2b2972a345 spirits.44d50c6e8ab97ba3

But that lasted 04ef3a3e28 only for a f7f44cf60d moment.3dec0552d20b338c

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—065e73659a5ef005

“Are you out of your mind?” 6141bddd01a6f9e4

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The first words Erina ec7810a162 heard upon entering the 60d5afef2c estate came from Faylon.251b00a2553e0c90

She sighed deeply.803ca52ccb120017

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Why was he the fd5a74561b one acting so furious?ac4e6a101a12c29d

“You left the manor? And you took my heir with you?!” 27212b62bfdb5cf1

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Standing beneath the 1497d6bede grand chandelier in 094ca1bc4a the entrance hall, 38c0a06185 Faylon’s silver hair 67209e7f15 gleamed under the f800d8d50c light, almost blindingly 77a11d988f so.6fe89b39568cd94e

“You must be insane to—” 773bd9e36e83044b

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“Did you not hear me?” 592c930850b51b30

“What?” e9b54b481235e752

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Faylon scowled, utterly 1baacedee2 confused.ff263c90ebeac266

Erina stared 0bc9a44189 at him 5023cae9d5 in disbelief.c7a2b8fabfc55e67

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He genuinely 7f8fb7ca52 had no cdeed5597a idea.3ec4fc82d0a418ec

When a noblewoman 1051c17dd2 left the estate f153f76909 in the family’s d49dce265e carriage, the head a58762ee55 steward and head 3ad51b0295 maid had to f56842244d know.be8d1f2fe5180036

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Not only that, da9b922663 but it was 736e09a59e standard practice for 68b489f5a5 the head of bb6b55582f the house to efada69721 be informed.20a18d6d4b66795f

The fact 8ca73f87a7 that Faylon bc05434db0 didn’t know 6e3232b381 meant that 09b37a995c someone had 93034b9136 deliberately intercepted 187f074e80 the report.af614eb8919d752e

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Who, exactly?d9963889c3f343e6

A loyal steward fcb2a2c060 or maid?d11ab48621d9612b

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Or someone with 706d8f8e4c real power in 3ab4ef26f8 this household?f53d73b23799fd40

“Yesterday, I took the Eols carriage and visited a small village on the outskirts of the territory.” 5eda4de5b8530904

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At her words, 7689ad18f5 Faylon’s face stiffened.cf518992faa94f08

He hadn’t heard anything 0e496f7515 about this.80b45c365e5e364d

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“But do you know what’s even funnier?” cf6c5b771092dcf0

For the first time, ef3f1850f8 Erina did not lower 310f3ed32c her gaze before him.1af7b5c9d0b88ca8

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Instead, she lifted e355e0f650 her chin, her ff63520e72 expression filled with 6c12ca97ee amusement.1faa494fc38e7c6f

“The coachman—who said he would return shortly—never came back.” ab06807e51dadc03

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Faylon sucked 7fc5b334f1 in a 855ac96c9d sharp breath, 57516a0fdf his body 83acbe83ed freezing.9aff7bb071520136

A family carriage fea17da6ce returning without the e78f7cb653 noblewoman it had 53ddab34ed taken out—3cb5fe1e3a48b4bd

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This was a clear 358ef7de5c message.8bf30bc1aee34f6d

It was a da9d7150a9 well-known silent punishment 4f1433d351 in noble society.ac92ce9b9b2bf35d

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It meant f7321e01dd she had 8ab3bde8b3 been banished.69f2f76318b3672a

Legally, the countess would ddc0cb7f5f still hold her title, b37f883ab0 but she would be 52da56dda0 stripped of all power 8d00da8006 and immediately ostracized by f1c424bf17 high society.c64251a71084d5a4

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Humiliated and deprived b8a593ce95 of authority, the aebcd5138d noblewoman would eventually 6fd79a9b7f leave on her a21b79703d own accord.2500e672ace0fdd6

This was ff3923874a not a 76d80412f7 minor offense.536d013098b7822f

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Sandes and 167a45cfdd Heila had 698c36b66d barely contained 3c29594f9d their fury 1fe87f6aad when they d15fc7c0fd learned what 59e377e67e had happened.b258f969bdf9a8f3

“T-That’s…” 5379d05c55e04f58

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“Did you authorize this?” 3d34ac5a9c79bb99

“Of course not!” 6e3f316e12ffeda8

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Faylon blurted out 0d5ff21156 his denial, only ffb23c3d54 to fall silent ca36758dec in shock.084bf2d2d0815c5b

“Then who did?” f54a50255927c3db

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As Erina’s gaze 42cf5267c6 sharpened, she noticed f77e9367d5 someone watching from 691ca82113 afar.b43e7dd690fa1867

“Faylon, let me tell you something.” 5cb6e4756aa2beca

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Her voice softened, 789b6f9ba7 turning almost melodic, fda6e17339 like a mother 8ff436ae1a reading a storybook 847eeffa4b to a child.8ab635437c2fed70

“The place I visited was a tiny village. So small it doesn’t even have a name.” 80f12f33fd8a6045

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She sounded gentle, 1285256c71 too gentle.8c7aa05b440bb092

But her serene smile af3c0d5944 only made the atmosphere 9fd285f1f7 tense.d8472b7e77e40dd8

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“As it got darker and darker, the carriage never came.” 91ffd62c70436858

Slowly, she tucked 94a052c546 a stray strand efeddd292a of hair behind 8798ce7537 her ear, before 0b388491a3 shifting her gaze—4d1e49b1f0b399ce

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To the person 2d57964ffa lurking in the 5a40f98cba shadows.0625cb1048eb5895

“Would you happen to know why, Lady Asilla?” e5e283704f279453

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The moment 8ec903c5ff Erina spoke f5b838c215 the name, 57b382fc43 every eye db1c6db357 in the 7998d5c09e room followed b81029c10b her gaze.749d1c1b79824bcc