For this moment, Iâve been hiding my skills. Charlize breathed slowly. The first question Iâve been waiting for.
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âIt shouldnât be a part of making mistakesâ.
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Once a word is planted, it takes root deeply, and an idea blooms with flowers.
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Whether unconscious or conscious, there will always be a lingering afterimage at the lower level.
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Why is there such a word? Words have spiritual power. At least Charlize believed in the power.
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âHow can I say to capture him?â
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Charlize thought coolly.
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I had to be careful. Itâs Dylanâs interest that I wanted to get so much. It was an opportunity that might never come again.
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It was my job to get through the psychology first.
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Fortunately, Charlize was good at improvisation.
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âI know that feeling.â
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Charlize decided to be honest.
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By showing off her hidden skills, she drew curiosity.
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Now itâs time to satisfy this curiosity.
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âDonât you think thereâs another genius like the Prince?â
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ââŚâ
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âA genius who can understand the Prince.â
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Charlize whispered as if she were telling a very secret.
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âOf course youâre very special. But I am also special.â
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Charlize was using this word in elegant style.
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Dylanâs face cracks.
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âHowever.â
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ââŚYes, Your Highness.â
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âIâll admit that youâre excellent with Masterâs swordsmanship. But as far as I know, there is no one like me in the world.â
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Dylanâs eyes deepen.
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It was arrogant in a way, but it was convincing because Dylan was the one who said it.
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Charlize said.
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âDo you know the word self-esteem?â
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âYes, Master.â
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âCan you explain it?â
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ââŚItâs a psychological concept that says it keeps changing depending on the family environment, values, and personality.â
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âYes.â
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Charlize smiled softly.
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âBefore I even heard the word. I knew my self-esteem was high.â
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âWhat does that have to do with the topic now?â
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âIsnât that the same for the Prince? You must have been confident in yourself. Always.â
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Dylan shut his mouth.
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Because it was true.
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The boy was born with dignity. He just knew it. This is a firm truth that he have never doubted in his life.
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Charlize looked at Dylan.
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âIt didnât matter if no one knew. I never needed to be recognized by someone.  Okay, I got it, so it was high.â
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Dylanâs eyes shook.
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âApples are red and birds fly.â
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It was an Imperial proverb.
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âThis is natural common sense. Even a very young child knows basic human knowledge. And I knew it since I was a child like common sense. How noble, special, and great I am.â
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Charlize whispered softly to Dylan.
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âItâs so easy to do anything, and sometimes itâs better to be so good that you donât have to be helpless.â
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Dylan hid his outstanding talent. As a result. Nobody knows heâs a genius. Before his return, he did so until his death.
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But now Charlize said that, as if she knew the true nature of Dylan.
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âItâs a true image that no one noticed.â
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Dylan recalled the rumors of Charlize, who was in fact a completely different person from the rumor, when she was stigmatized as an evil woman.
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He sympathized with Charlize.
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Sympathy, what does that mean?
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âDo you know how I feel?â
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âWhat kind of feelings? A sense of boredom? A sense of deprivation that comes from where you can have anything you want?â
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Dylan was very surprised.
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Because it was the feelings he was suffering severely.
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âI would have been happy if I were normal. I was bored because Iâm excelled. Life is boring. I thought it would be fun to live like that, so I hid my abilities from other people, but itâs not as fun as I thought.â
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It was a great answer that Dylan had never imagined.
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Charlize was looking straight through his insides.
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âBut to keep looking at those people who donât even recognize your value. Itâs not fun anymore, is it?â
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ââŚThatâs right.â
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The boy had no fun in his life.
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He often forget the reason why he live.
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Dylan agreed carefully.
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Charlize didnât avoid Dylanâs eyes. It is necessary to imprint it one more time. And now it was definitely an opportunity.
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âWhat should I say?â
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To shake him deeper, what should I do?
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Even the moment Charlize was criticized by everyone, she was impressed with her appearance. She had never thought deeply about her appearance.
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But at this moment, she felt that she had to use everything she had.
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Charlize recalled the portrait of her biological mother she had seen in the memorial room.
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Her expression naturally became strange. Eyes calm down. Despite her small body, she had destructive power. Is it a trace of an indelible Keira?
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Even if she laughed innocently and calm like a child, she was powerful.
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There was a refreshing feeling of popping to the extreme in one subject with a face that would look good when biting candy.
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Like a mysterious fairy, without showing limits.
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Dylan blinked quietly.
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âYou asked me if I fought for the honor of the Prince.â
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ââŚâ
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âYes, thatâs right.â
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Charlize was coquettish.
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Dylanâs mouth was sealed tight.
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It didnât shake at all like a stone sinking beneath a calm surface.
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But at this moment, Charlize wanted to be fascinating, and her intentions worked. Dylan thought she was too attractive.
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âThe Prince didnât ask, but would you allow me to say one more thing?â
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ââŚI will allow it.â
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âYou can be wary of me. And you can ignore me like any other person.â
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I felt Dylan stop breathing.
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âIf it is hard for the prince to be ambiguous, so you can only choose to be completely indifferent or obsessed.â
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Ashblond hair is not a clear golden hair. An open and delicate impression. Itâs wobbling with a chuckle.
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White skin resembling ivory. Her lips were thick.
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âI donât mind being obsessed with the Prince.â
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I watch Dylanâs cheeks harden. Charlize had a hunch that she had shaken Dylan. Charlize laughed. It was a bright laugh.
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*****
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I felt as if I had been hit on the head with a hammer. Dylan was shocked.
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The moment Charlize said it was okay to be obsessed, she was incredibly attractive.
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Dylan couldnât agree that Charlizeâs fascinating appearance was the power of the Venetia* bloodline.
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Thatâs Charlizeâs unique vibe.
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The scent of lilacs, even when I stayed still, was fresh.
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Apparently fragile and delicate, but the inside of it seemed to be a horrible monster.
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âWhat on earth swallowed you up?â
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Dylan was curious about Charlize.
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I would rather have been convinced if the princess had been a flamboyant beauty with red hair.
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It was clearly calm, but it attracted attention because it was decadent.
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Is the seductive atmosphere to blame for the poison she has? Then why is it burning?
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Dylan didnât judge people by appearance.  He felt confused after feeling the same feeling inside Charlizeâs firm inner self.
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He didnât think there would be anyone who could read  him, and that there would be someone similar to himself.
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This wasnât arrogance. Itâs really like that.
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âYeah. Youâre just like me.â
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In plain words, Dylan had no sense of living.
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He knew he could have anything he wanted, but he had no desire. Charlizeâs words of indifference or obsession are to point him out exactly.
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As soon as I have a desire, Iâll try to keep it in my hands regardless of means and methods.
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Charlize was laughing like Siren**, who encouraged him to desire.
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âItâs the same person.â
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Charlize was reading Dylan correctly. His true self, which no one recognized.
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Dylan wasnât being inferior enough to react sensitively for trying to take off his mask. He know how to maintain a consistent tranquillity at any moment.
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âIâll accept whatever direction the obsession has been expressed.â
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But only this time.
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Charlize wants to break Dylanâs wall.
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*****
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Charlize took a four-day vacation. It was to attend a fencing competition.
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However, there was one problem.
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âHow do I hide my identity?â
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I drew questions from Dylan, so I donât regret revealing my swordsmanship. It was a good timing.
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I had to keep it a secret just to attend a fencing competition. The winner gets too much attention.
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As the winner, Charlize was thinking of asking for âHelu-herbâ as a wish.
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âThe female contestant is too eye-catching.â
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Charlize was thinking of dressing as a man.
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I look into the mirror in the room. Even if I tie my hair up. Itâs not even worth it.
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Should I cut my hair? Or dyeing? Should I wear a wig? But I canât cover my face.
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What about the body type again? Even if I wrap it with a pressure bandage over my chest, I wouldnât be able to recognize it.
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âAahâŚâ
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But itâs not enough.
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Iâll give it a try. I grabbed the pressure bandage that I prepared at will. I looked in the mirror carefully.
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âItâs Charlize Ronan, no matter who sees it.â
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Fascinating looks were uncommon.  Charlize bites her lips.
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At least Dylan will find out. Thereâs more. The knights who watched the duel. And some knights of the Grand Duke family.
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Charlizeâs gaze turned to the dagger on the desk. If I cut and dye my hair with that. Wouldnât I look like a pretty guy?
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But it was then.
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ââŚ?â
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Charlize blinked her eyes. The fairy pulled her face out of the vase decorated with flowers.
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It is a familiar face. It was with a friend that I saw last time.
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âAre you hungry?â
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Charlize folded her eyes, smiled and asked kindly.
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This time the fairy shook her head.
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âThen?â
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The fairy whispered around Charlize.
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<Iâll help you.>
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<Dressed as a man.>
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<To avoid being easily detected.>
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The two fairies alternated with each other. Charlize opened her eyes wide.
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Itâs certainly tactless to know whatâs on your mind even if you donât say it. The fairy flapped her wings.
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Charlize quietly received the fairyâs help.
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<Brown short hair.>
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<Like a boy.>
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<Black eyes.>
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<But beautifully.>
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A few white flashes before my eyes. It was a dreamy but mysterious experience. When I opened my eyes after a little dizziness, something had changed about Charlize.
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I looked in the mirror with surprised eyes. There was a handsome boy standing in the mirror. Charlizeâs mood still lingers, but itâs not strong enough to recognize Charlize as soon as you see her.
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I didnât think I should wear a pressure  bandage. My breath became comfortable.
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The fairy whispered. It was a voice that tickled my ears.
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<Until the competition is over.>
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<Low voice.>
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<When you want, blow out the candles.>
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When I wanted to quit dressing like a man, I felt like I was told to blow out the candles.
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Charlize forgot her mind to hold the dagger. I was glad. I knew it would pay off, but I didnât expect much.
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I felt like I had unexpectedly picked up some money on the street.
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Charlize laughed heartily.
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âThank you very much.â
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The voice that was uttered was a beauty. But it was like a boy.
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Charlize tilted her head.
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âThank you.â
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I have to be careful with the way I speak. Charlize thought and reached out to the fairy.
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The fairy also felt better along with the joyful Charlize, with a bright smile. Sitting on her finger, and then slowly disappeared.
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âI donât want to worry about getting caught.â
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Tomorrow was the first day of the fencing competition. She had already applied for the contest under the pseudonym âReezeâ.
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There were many participants because it was the first competition in 10 years. The full-fledged tournament was held from the second day. The competition is held for three days.
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The first day is the preliminary round. Charlize was confident.
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* Venetia: The Latin name for the city of Venice; it has also been associated with the name of the Roman goddes of love, Venus.
** Siren:Â In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island.