"Come on, to the palace doctor!"
Linel shouted at Raphael, supporting Pecilini.
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Raphael quickly leaned forward to lift the pregnant Pecilini.
"No. I will."
Linel was about to leave her with Raphael, but instead picked her up himself.
"Where the hell is that sly little thing acting?"
Roxana glared at Pecilini, who was wrapped tightly in the Emperor's arms.
"Wait, this doesn't seem like an act...?"
Roxana grew anxious as she saw the sweat on Pecilini's face.
Facial expressions could be acted out, but sweat running down one's face wasn't made of acting.
What would happen if something went wrong with Pecilini's unborn child?
While worried, Roxana also thought it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to miscarry.
She hadn't been the one to blame, and they couldn't hold her directly responsible for something that happened after a few exchanges.
But seeing the resentful gaze Emperor Linel had just given her, she felt like he was more than willing to hold her accountable.
'Well, he'll cherish Pecilini's unborn child even more, since he could become the only royal bloodline.'
Roxana had believed the rumors that his vital organs weren't functioning properly.
As her thoughts reached that point, she began to worry.
"Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with me!"
Roxana hurriedly blurted out.
She felt she needed to make sure before going to the palace's resident doctor for treatment.
She hadn't even used physical force on Pecilini, so it felt incredibly unfair.
Despite telling the truth, Roxana felt annoyed that she was making excuses.
"We'll know whether the Empress had anything to do with it after Pecilini's examination,"
Linel replied coldly and turned away.
Roxana swallowed dryly at the sight of his stare devoid of warmth.
As Roxana followed Linel, he turned and spoke commandingly.
“It would be best if the Empress did not follow. Rest is the priority right now.”
Linel nodded to Pecilini, whom he was holding in his arms. His tone seemed to suggest that he would feel at ease if he were by her side.
“Ah... yes.”
Roxana suppressed her surging anger and accepted his wishes.
She lowered her gaze to Pecilini, who was completely closed in the Emperor’s arms.
She wanted to drag her down immediately, ask her where she was feigning illness, shake her shoulders violently, and then throw her to the floor, but she had no choice but to hold back.
“Then I’ll see you later in court.”
Linel’s cold voice sent a chill through Roxana.
“It seems that your abdominal muscles have momentarily tightened due to stress. You must be more careful from now on.”
The palace doctor carefully examined Pecilini’s condition and reported it to the Emperor.
“Is it dangerous?”
“Yes, you always have to be careful during pregnancy, but because Her Highness Pecilini’s body is so weak, she will need extra care after giving birth.”
“Thank you for your hard work. You may go now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the palace doctor left the examination room, Linel approached the bed where Pecilini was lying and pulled a chair in front of it, sitting down.
Pecilini felt awkward and embarrassed for no reason, so she forced herself to sit up.
“Just make yourself comfortable.”
Even that statement was uncomfortable, so Pecilini forced herself to sit up, propping a pillow under her lower back.
“This is much more comfortable, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, then make yourself comfortable. Hmm, what conversation did you have with Roxana earlier that made you so stressed?”
“Your Majesty... I think the new Empress is going to try to harm me and the baby soon. Please help me!”
Pecilini bowed her head to him in a desperate voice.
“As promised, I will protect you and the child to the best of my ability. So don’t be too anxious and rest easy. It will be better for the fetus as well.”
Although the Emperor’s words were not particularly affectionate, Pesilini felt the sincerity in his words. She felt like she was about to cry with gratitude.
Even though she was a concubine he didn’t care about, no other Emperor would care about the safety of a concubine carrying the child of a Prince from another country.
Of course, he had offered his help first because he thought she was useful to him, but he was still the Emperor. He had nothing to say about whether he treated her with such force and consideration.
Pesilini had already begun to trust Emperor Linel more than Prince Tesla, the baby’s biological father.
“Don’t attend the trial today. Stay at the palace and get some rest.”
He took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and then sat up in his chair.
“Your Majesty, isn’t there a reason you summoned me to the palace today?”
Pesilini, who had been silent, asked cautiously.
“Yes, but resting is the priority, so I think we should discuss this after the trial today.”
“No. I will listen now. If there’s anything I can help with, I’d be especially interested to hear.”
Pesilini spoke eagerly, and after a moment of hesitation, he nodded and sat back down.
“There’s a possibility that your father, Marquis Astor, will side with Prince Tesla at the ministers’ meeting before the final verdict.”
“Ah... yes.”
Pesilini guessed what he was going to say.
It was something she had already heard from Grand Duke Martins.
“Prince Tesla attempted to contact him secretly through Grand Duke Martins. It seems he lured him into giving the Marquis Astors exclusive access to some of Shattonil’s trade goods in exchange for his help.”
“I know... That’s what I personally relayed to Archduke Martins after meeting Prince Tesla.”
Grand Duke Martins likely met her father and conducted a secret transaction afterward. Her father, blinded by her trade monopoly, was likely to defend Prince Tesla.
“After today’s trial, I plan to meet with Marquis Astor and inform him of your pregnancy. If this leaks out, Marquis Astor’s family will fall.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not telling you to hold your family accountable. Of course, I think we’ll have to exploit your pregnancy. Is that alright?”
Under Lapion Imperial law, trials for serious crimes require three procedures before reaching a final verdict.
Before the High Priest’s final verdict, the Emperor first expresses his opinion. Then, the key ministers vote on the Emperor’s opinion, and finally, the court’s final verdict is reached based on the results.
If the ministers unanimously agree, that opinion has a significant impact on the final verdict.
Linel, well aware of this, was intent on persuading Marquis Astor, who was likely to side with Prince Tesla, in advance to secure a unanimous vote among the ministers.
“Did you summon me to the palace to inform me of that in advance?”
“That’s right. Of course, I should have known in advance.”
“Thank you... Your Majesty. And I’m sorry.”
Pesilini finally burst into tears.
“Didn’t you hear what the doctor said earlier? I told you not to stress.”
“It’s okay, I’m crying out of gratitude.”
Pesilini wiped her tears with the back of her hand and smiled faintly.
“Then that’s good.”
“Your Majesty will do a good job of persuading my father, but I will also meet him separately after the trial today...”
“I would appreciate that,”
Linel said with a faint smile.
Despite the small smile, Pesilini felt as if she had received a great gift from the Emperor.
Knock, knock.
A knock was heard in the examination room, and the door was carefully opened.
“I came to see how Pesilini was doing.”
It was Zelda.
“How did you know?”
Seeing her, Linel's face softened, as if a light rain had fallen.
"I heard it from the captain of the main guard,"
Zelda said, winking at Linel.
"Oh, to Moiya?"
He mouthed, and she nodded.
"Pesilini, how are you feeling?"
Zelda approached her, her eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry to have bothered you."
"What do you have to apologize for? Oh, Your Majesty, could you please step aside for a moment?"
"Why?"
"I have something to talk to the ladies."
"Would you mind having me?"
"With Your Majesty here, there are hardly any comfortable seats?"
Zelda's joking remark made him look upset for a few seconds, but it was useless.
He was eventually kicked out of the examination room.
"Your Highness Zelda. You must have heard from His Majesty that I'm pregnant, right?"
As the door closed, Pecilini asked nervously.
"Yes, I know."
"This... this child isn't Hiw Majesty's,"
Pecilini said with a guilty expression, placing a hand on his stomach.
"Yes, it's Prince Tesla's child. But why are you telling me?"
Zelda asked in a calm tone.
“You already know... I thought His Majesty would have told you, but I thought it would be better if I told you myself...”
Pecilini didn’t want the two of them to start an argument because of her.
“Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Don’t worry.”
Pecilini lowered her head weakly.
“Pecilini. Actually, I came because I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“His Majesty intends to raise the child... as a Prince.”
“Huh?!”
“The reason I’m telling you this is because I’m worried that you might change your mind and rely on Prince Tesla.”
“My Majesty...”
“As you probably already know, Prince Tesla only thinks about his own safety. The child... well, now that he’s in this state, he’ll want to raise him as his successor. But he won’t make you, His Majesty’s concubine, his Princess. He’ll get rid of you no matter what.”
Pecilini nodded obediently at Zelda’s words.
She was thinking the same thing.
Even though she tried to shake it off, the weight of doubt was so heavy that she couldn't shake it off.
Zelda took Pecilini's hand and continued calmly.
"You don't have to think too hard about whether you'll raise the Prince safely in the Lapion palace yourself, or raise him in fear in the kingdom of Shattonil, and you know which is the wiser choice, don't you?"
"I think we're a little early?"
Rosie said, getting out of the carriage.
"I have to stand in the witness box, so I need to be there early to feel at ease."
Melanie had lunch with Rosie in her palace and returned to the High Priest's Hall, where the trial was being held, a little early.
She deliberately made room for Rosie to speak with Prince Norton from the viewing stand, then quietly slipped out and continued to loiter by the window in the lobby.
"It's time to appear..."
Melanie had her attendant, Hedon, wait for Hetor outside the High Priest's Hall.
She didn't want to be outside the Great Hall herself, as she might appear with Roxana.
"I'm here!"
Fortunately, unlike the morning trial, Hetor wasn't moving with Roxana, making it much easier to approach.
Before Hetor could enter the Great Hall, Hedon quickly grabbed his aide and relayed a message.
Hetor's aide kept tilting his head, but ran to Hetor and relayed exactly what Hedon had said.
Having completed her mission, Hedon gave an "okay" sign overhead to her master, who was sticking half her face out the window on the first floor of the Great Hall.
Meanwhile, Hetor, having heard the message from her aide, walked behind the Great Hall building with a troubled expression.
Melanie followed suit, grabbing the hem of her dress and running toward the back door of the Great Hall.
"What's going on this time?"
Hedon suddenly appeared in front of Melanie.
"Ah! What a surprise!"
"...Haa."
Melanie, who had opened the back door and charged forward at the same speed, ended up in a second kiss.
This time, it wasn't because of the significant height difference.
Melanie's red lips imprinted like a stamp on Hetor's chest.
To think that such a misfortune would happen on a day when he was wearing a bright, almost cream-colored uniform.
Hetor frowned, looking down at Melanie's lips, imprinted like a medal on his uniform.
"See, revenge."
"Huh?"
"You put your lips on mine back then. I put mine on my uniform, so it was lenient revenge. I-I'm someone who always returns favors, whether it's revenge or a favor!"
Hetor looked at Melanie strangely.
What good was there in dealing with a woman who thought everything was reasonable? He could have just ignored her and walked away.
But why did he keep listening to this scheming concubine?
Hetor couldn't understand.
"Now that you've had your revenge, can I go?"
He asked, secretly anticipating what strange response she would give him next.
"Wait! Did you eat the pomegranate?"
"No."
Linel shouted at Raphael, supporting Pecilini.
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Raphael quickly leaned forward to lift the pregnant Pecilini.
"No. I will."
Linel was about to leave her with Raphael, but instead picked her up himself.
"Where the hell is that sly little thing acting?"
Roxana glared at Pecilini, who was wrapped tightly in the Emperor's arms.
"Wait, this doesn't seem like an act...?"
Roxana grew anxious as she saw the sweat on Pecilini's face.
Facial expressions could be acted out, but sweat running down one's face wasn't made of acting.
What would happen if something went wrong with Pecilini's unborn child?
While worried, Roxana also thought it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to miscarry.
She hadn't been the one to blame, and they couldn't hold her directly responsible for something that happened after a few exchanges.
But seeing the resentful gaze Emperor Linel had just given her, she felt like he was more than willing to hold her accountable.
'Well, he'll cherish Pecilini's unborn child even more, since he could become the only royal bloodline.'
Roxana had believed the rumors that his vital organs weren't functioning properly.
As her thoughts reached that point, she began to worry.
"Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with me!"
Roxana hurriedly blurted out.
She felt she needed to make sure before going to the palace's resident doctor for treatment.
She hadn't even used physical force on Pecilini, so it felt incredibly unfair.
Despite telling the truth, Roxana felt annoyed that she was making excuses.
"We'll know whether the Empress had anything to do with it after Pecilini's examination,"
Linel replied coldly and turned away.
Roxana swallowed dryly at the sight of his stare devoid of warmth.
As Roxana followed Linel, he turned and spoke commandingly.
“It would be best if the Empress did not follow. Rest is the priority right now.”
Linel nodded to Pecilini, whom he was holding in his arms. His tone seemed to suggest that he would feel at ease if he were by her side.
“Ah... yes.”
Roxana suppressed her surging anger and accepted his wishes.
She lowered her gaze to Pecilini, who was completely closed in the Emperor’s arms.
She wanted to drag her down immediately, ask her where she was feigning illness, shake her shoulders violently, and then throw her to the floor, but she had no choice but to hold back.
“Then I’ll see you later in court.”
Linel’s cold voice sent a chill through Roxana.
***
“It seems that your abdominal muscles have momentarily tightened due to stress. You must be more careful from now on.”
The palace doctor carefully examined Pecilini’s condition and reported it to the Emperor.
“Is it dangerous?”
“Yes, you always have to be careful during pregnancy, but because Her Highness Pecilini’s body is so weak, she will need extra care after giving birth.”
“Thank you for your hard work. You may go now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the palace doctor left the examination room, Linel approached the bed where Pecilini was lying and pulled a chair in front of it, sitting down.
Pecilini felt awkward and embarrassed for no reason, so she forced herself to sit up.
“Just make yourself comfortable.”
Even that statement was uncomfortable, so Pecilini forced herself to sit up, propping a pillow under her lower back.
“This is much more comfortable, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, then make yourself comfortable. Hmm, what conversation did you have with Roxana earlier that made you so stressed?”
“Your Majesty... I think the new Empress is going to try to harm me and the baby soon. Please help me!”
Pecilini bowed her head to him in a desperate voice.
“As promised, I will protect you and the child to the best of my ability. So don’t be too anxious and rest easy. It will be better for the fetus as well.”
Although the Emperor’s words were not particularly affectionate, Pesilini felt the sincerity in his words. She felt like she was about to cry with gratitude.
Even though she was a concubine he didn’t care about, no other Emperor would care about the safety of a concubine carrying the child of a Prince from another country.
Of course, he had offered his help first because he thought she was useful to him, but he was still the Emperor. He had nothing to say about whether he treated her with such force and consideration.
Pesilini had already begun to trust Emperor Linel more than Prince Tesla, the baby’s biological father.
“Don’t attend the trial today. Stay at the palace and get some rest.”
He took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and then sat up in his chair.
“Your Majesty, isn’t there a reason you summoned me to the palace today?”
Pesilini, who had been silent, asked cautiously.
“Yes, but resting is the priority, so I think we should discuss this after the trial today.”
“No. I will listen now. If there’s anything I can help with, I’d be especially interested to hear.”
Pesilini spoke eagerly, and after a moment of hesitation, he nodded and sat back down.
“There’s a possibility that your father, Marquis Astor, will side with Prince Tesla at the ministers’ meeting before the final verdict.”
“Ah... yes.”
Pesilini guessed what he was going to say.
It was something she had already heard from Grand Duke Martins.
“Prince Tesla attempted to contact him secretly through Grand Duke Martins. It seems he lured him into giving the Marquis Astors exclusive access to some of Shattonil’s trade goods in exchange for his help.”
“I know... That’s what I personally relayed to Archduke Martins after meeting Prince Tesla.”
Grand Duke Martins likely met her father and conducted a secret transaction afterward. Her father, blinded by her trade monopoly, was likely to defend Prince Tesla.
“After today’s trial, I plan to meet with Marquis Astor and inform him of your pregnancy. If this leaks out, Marquis Astor’s family will fall.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not telling you to hold your family accountable. Of course, I think we’ll have to exploit your pregnancy. Is that alright?”
Under Lapion Imperial law, trials for serious crimes require three procedures before reaching a final verdict.
Before the High Priest’s final verdict, the Emperor first expresses his opinion. Then, the key ministers vote on the Emperor’s opinion, and finally, the court’s final verdict is reached based on the results.
If the ministers unanimously agree, that opinion has a significant impact on the final verdict.
Linel, well aware of this, was intent on persuading Marquis Astor, who was likely to side with Prince Tesla, in advance to secure a unanimous vote among the ministers.
“Did you summon me to the palace to inform me of that in advance?”
“That’s right. Of course, I should have known in advance.”
“Thank you... Your Majesty. And I’m sorry.”
Pesilini finally burst into tears.
“Didn’t you hear what the doctor said earlier? I told you not to stress.”
“It’s okay, I’m crying out of gratitude.”
Pesilini wiped her tears with the back of her hand and smiled faintly.
“Then that’s good.”
“Your Majesty will do a good job of persuading my father, but I will also meet him separately after the trial today...”
“I would appreciate that,”
Linel said with a faint smile.
Despite the small smile, Pesilini felt as if she had received a great gift from the Emperor.
Knock, knock.
A knock was heard in the examination room, and the door was carefully opened.
“I came to see how Pesilini was doing.”
It was Zelda.
“How did you know?”
Seeing her, Linel's face softened, as if a light rain had fallen.
"I heard it from the captain of the main guard,"
Zelda said, winking at Linel.
"Oh, to Moiya?"
He mouthed, and she nodded.
"Pesilini, how are you feeling?"
Zelda approached her, her eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry to have bothered you."
"What do you have to apologize for? Oh, Your Majesty, could you please step aside for a moment?"
"Why?"
"I have something to talk to the ladies."
"Would you mind having me?"
"With Your Majesty here, there are hardly any comfortable seats?"
Zelda's joking remark made him look upset for a few seconds, but it was useless.
He was eventually kicked out of the examination room.
"Your Highness Zelda. You must have heard from His Majesty that I'm pregnant, right?"
As the door closed, Pecilini asked nervously.
"Yes, I know."
"This... this child isn't Hiw Majesty's,"
Pecilini said with a guilty expression, placing a hand on his stomach.
"Yes, it's Prince Tesla's child. But why are you telling me?"
Zelda asked in a calm tone.
“You already know... I thought His Majesty would have told you, but I thought it would be better if I told you myself...”
Pecilini didn’t want the two of them to start an argument because of her.
“Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Don’t worry.”
Pecilini lowered her head weakly.
“Pecilini. Actually, I came because I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“His Majesty intends to raise the child... as a Prince.”
“Huh?!”
“The reason I’m telling you this is because I’m worried that you might change your mind and rely on Prince Tesla.”
“My Majesty...”
“As you probably already know, Prince Tesla only thinks about his own safety. The child... well, now that he’s in this state, he’ll want to raise him as his successor. But he won’t make you, His Majesty’s concubine, his Princess. He’ll get rid of you no matter what.”
Pecilini nodded obediently at Zelda’s words.
She was thinking the same thing.
Even though she tried to shake it off, the weight of doubt was so heavy that she couldn't shake it off.
Zelda took Pecilini's hand and continued calmly.
"You don't have to think too hard about whether you'll raise the Prince safely in the Lapion palace yourself, or raise him in fear in the kingdom of Shattonil, and you know which is the wiser choice, don't you?"
***
"I think we're a little early?"
Rosie said, getting out of the carriage.
"I have to stand in the witness box, so I need to be there early to feel at ease."
Melanie had lunch with Rosie in her palace and returned to the High Priest's Hall, where the trial was being held, a little early.
She deliberately made room for Rosie to speak with Prince Norton from the viewing stand, then quietly slipped out and continued to loiter by the window in the lobby.
"It's time to appear..."
Melanie had her attendant, Hedon, wait for Hetor outside the High Priest's Hall.
She didn't want to be outside the Great Hall herself, as she might appear with Roxana.
"I'm here!"
Fortunately, unlike the morning trial, Hetor wasn't moving with Roxana, making it much easier to approach.
Before Hetor could enter the Great Hall, Hedon quickly grabbed his aide and relayed a message.
Hetor's aide kept tilting his head, but ran to Hetor and relayed exactly what Hedon had said.
Having completed her mission, Hedon gave an "okay" sign overhead to her master, who was sticking half her face out the window on the first floor of the Great Hall.
Meanwhile, Hetor, having heard the message from her aide, walked behind the Great Hall building with a troubled expression.
Melanie followed suit, grabbing the hem of her dress and running toward the back door of the Great Hall.
"What's going on this time?"
Hedon suddenly appeared in front of Melanie.
"Ah! What a surprise!"
"...Haa."
Melanie, who had opened the back door and charged forward at the same speed, ended up in a second kiss.
This time, it wasn't because of the significant height difference.
Melanie's red lips imprinted like a stamp on Hetor's chest.
To think that such a misfortune would happen on a day when he was wearing a bright, almost cream-colored uniform.
Hetor frowned, looking down at Melanie's lips, imprinted like a medal on his uniform.
"See, revenge."
"Huh?"
"You put your lips on mine back then. I put mine on my uniform, so it was lenient revenge. I-I'm someone who always returns favors, whether it's revenge or a favor!"
Hetor looked at Melanie strangely.
What good was there in dealing with a woman who thought everything was reasonable? He could have just ignored her and walked away.
But why did he keep listening to this scheming concubine?
Hetor couldn't understand.
"Now that you've had your revenge, can I go?"
He asked, secretly anticipating what strange response she would give him next.
"Wait! Did you eat the pomegranate?"
"No."
"Did you throw it away?"
"No."
“Hey! So what? You didn’t eat it, and you didn’t throw it away.”
“...Hey?”
Hetor had never seen anyone call him “hey” in his life.
“Yeah, hey! What’s the problem? I’m the concubine of His Majesty the Emperor of the Lapion Empire. You’re just the Empress’s dog, no, her bodyguard!”
Melanie shouted excitedly.
But then she suddenly felt afraid that those thick hands might strangle her.
Hetor approached Melanie.
Melanie backed away, avoiding Hetor's advance, and stood with her back against the wall of the Great Temple.
Hetor placed both hands on the wall, pinning Melanie down with a grim expression.
"Don't... treat me like that."
"If I, if I continue, what are you going to do?"
Melanie demanded, raising her heels high and raising her height.
"I'm just a knight guarding Her Majesty the Empress, but I've also been treated like a King myself."
"No."
“Hey! So what? You didn’t eat it, and you didn’t throw it away.”
“...Hey?”
Hetor had never seen anyone call him “hey” in his life.
“Yeah, hey! What’s the problem? I’m the concubine of His Majesty the Emperor of the Lapion Empire. You’re just the Empress’s dog, no, her bodyguard!”
Melanie shouted excitedly.
But then she suddenly felt afraid that those thick hands might strangle her.
Hetor approached Melanie.
Melanie backed away, avoiding Hetor's advance, and stood with her back against the wall of the Great Temple.
Hetor placed both hands on the wall, pinning Melanie down with a grim expression.
"Don't... treat me like that."
"If I, if I continue, what are you going to do?"
Melanie demanded, raising her heels high and raising her height.
"I'm just a knight guarding Her Majesty the Empress, but I've also been treated like a King myself."
Hetor wondered if he should even be saying these words himself.
A wave of self-loathing washed over him after he spoke.
"B-but you're still the King of barbarians, aren't you?"
Melanie mockingly remarked.
"Haven't you ever considered that being the King barbarians makes you even more beastly? How dangerous it must be?"
Hetor was rude.
"My, where the hell are those dogs barking~?"
But she, too, had been abusing the courtesy of a nobleman to begin with.
"...You'd better think about it from now on."
"Why me?"
Melanie asked, her head held high and her expression as strong as she could muster.
Hetor pointed a finger at Melanie's lips and gave her a quiet warning.
"If you don't want to catch that savage's eye, don't provoke him."
Watch your mouth.
It was a clear threat.
But Melanie's heart pounded as if it were going to burst, as she took Hetor's words for a different meaning.
A wave of self-loathing washed over him after he spoke.
"B-but you're still the King of barbarians, aren't you?"
Melanie mockingly remarked.
"Haven't you ever considered that being the King barbarians makes you even more beastly? How dangerous it must be?"
Hetor was rude.
"My, where the hell are those dogs barking~?"
But she, too, had been abusing the courtesy of a nobleman to begin with.
"...You'd better think about it from now on."
"Why me?"
Melanie asked, her head held high and her expression as strong as she could muster.
Hetor pointed a finger at Melanie's lips and gave her a quiet warning.
"If you don't want to catch that savage's eye, don't provoke him."
Watch your mouth.
It was a clear threat.
But Melanie's heart pounded as if it were going to burst, as she took Hetor's words for a different meaning.
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