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wVVOUTIlBtyEueOzQTWFQIAtADafTBEUhAMZwUsbNpBZjAdilRAbhFQeQtEXxit
Chapter 6 : Little Girl Spells Are More Useful
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Richard gazed at the scene briefly before averting his eyes.
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Aurina lowered her delicate feet, clad in white silk stockings, and declared with a mischievous grin, “Little bug, this is what a true dragon looks like!”
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Richard replied, “But you still need to wear slippers.”
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“Why?” she asked, her golden eyes narrowing.
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“Because you’re young,” Richard said, studying Aurina’s cherubic face.
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Her eyes sparkled with naive clarity, utterly unaware of her own charm.
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“It’s better to wear slippers, trust me.”
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“Gah?!”
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Aurina huffed, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
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“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you doubting this king’s majesty?”
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“No, little girl, it’s best to cover your feet,” Richard said, casting a pleading glance toward the freckled-faced matron nearby.
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“What do you think?”
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“Absolutely,” the matron chimed in, her tone earnest.
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“A young girl’s bare feet attract the wrong kind of attention from creepy uncles. Those perverts have poisonous eyes—they’ll curse your soles with needle pricks!”
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Aurina shot the matron a withering look, as if she were the village idiot.
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“Do you take this king for a fool?”
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As the reigning champion of the Crimson Dragon title for ten consecutive tournaments, how could she not see through such a blatant lie?
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Aurina tilted her chin upward defiantly.
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“Needle pricks? This king’s feet are far too mighty to fall ill like some frail little bug.”
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Richard sighed inwardly, lamenting the limitations of his Oath of Devotion.
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As a paladin, weaving white lies for the greater good was maddeningly inconvenient.
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“The truth is… bare feet like yours can stir unwholesome thoughts in some men. You’re just a little girl, and those urges might lead them to harm you. Even if you’re a dragon, I’ll protect you, but such behavior is vile and unhealthy for your growth.”
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Aurina heard none of it.
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In her human form, she’d always gone barefoot before, and she considered it a mark of her bold, masculine spirit.
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Besides…
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She glanced down, lifting one foot.
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Her toes wiggled playfully within the misty white silk, faintly visible.
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Such a dry, slender, delicate limb—hardly seductive.
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Hmph, this little bug was clearly scheming, trying to tame his dragon master with tricks.
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She countered sharply, “What, are you going to get all flustered over these feet?”
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Richard fell silent, pondering how to respond.
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“I’m not wearing slippers,” Aurina declared, dropping her foot and crossing her arms, determined to cling to her last shred of dignity.
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“Now fetch me some footless stockings—don’t pretend you don’t have them, I saw them!”
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Despite her relentless fussing, the freckled matron, still muttering about needle pricks, handed Aurina a pair of white and black footless stockings.
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Aurina plopped onto a chair, hoisting her long, slender leg into the air.
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In front of Richard, she tugged her skirt hem downward, revealing a flash of pale thigh.
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Her thumb hooked into the silk stocking, peeling it off slowly.
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Like stripping the husk from a bamboo shoot, she unveiled the tender flesh beneath.
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After discarding the stocking, she slipped on the footless pair, exposing her toes and the sculpted curve of her heel.
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Richard snapped back to attention.
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“You should’ve changed in the dressing room.”
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“Too much hassle,” Aurina said dismissively, tossing the discarded wad of white silk at him.
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“Hold this.”
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Richard caught it reflexively.
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The fabric was soft, warm with the lingering heat of her draconic body.
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Before he could process it, Aurina grabbed the pile of women’s clothing the matron had brought out and dumped it all into his arms.
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Richard hurriedly caught the neatly folded garments and set them on the table.
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“This isn’t proper, especially for a young girl like you.”
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Aurina smirked.
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“Exactly because I’m a young girl, you’d better carry it all properly for me.”
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Richard’s head throbbed.
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Educating Aurina was shaping up to be a Herculean task.
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He found himself missing his fiancée dearly.
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Aurina strutted toward the door with an air of triumph.
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The matron smiled at Richard.
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“With a ten percent discount, that’ll be two gold coins and three silvers.”
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Steep.
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Enough to buy a donkey loaded with fifteen days’ worth of provisions.
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Richard winced but didn’t haggle.
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Aurina had already worn the items, and the matron had braved mortal peril to dress her.
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He nodded.
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“Fine.” Then, turning, he called out, “Aurina.”
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She spun around.
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“Gah?”
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“Pay her for the transaction,” Richard said.
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“I’ll show you how to make a proper purchase.”
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“What?! This king has to pay?”
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“Yes, because the coin purse I gave you is for buying clothes.”
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“Buy?”
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Aurina’s crimson dragon tail flicked angrily from beneath her white skirt.
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“This king doesn’t buy! Forcing me into feminine attire and making me hand over shiny gold coins? I’d rather die!”
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Richard approached her.
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“Be good.”
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“I’m a little girl!”
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Aurina shot back, beginning to mutter an incantation.
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“Exactly, and while you’re still young, we need to curb that wicked red dragon nature of yours. Come here.”
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Seeing her “little girl” charm fail, Aurina bolted, her bare soles flashing as she lifted her feet high.
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But Richard was faster.
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His hand shot out, seizing her pale red dragon horn.
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Aurina thrashed, yanking her head. “GAAAH!”
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But she was no match for Richard’s strength. Gripping both her horns, he dragged her to the counter.
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“Take out your coin purse. I’ll teach you how to trade.”
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The matron eyed the twin skid marks Aurina’s feet left on the floor and sighed.
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“Raising a kid isn’t easy, is it?”
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“Let go of my horns!”
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Richard released her.
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Aurina glared at him, muttering, “You’re only slightly stronger for now.”
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But in wits, this king crushes you!
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Opening her mouth wide, she reached inside and pulled out a patched coin purse, perfectly dry.
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“Remarkable,” Richard said. “You can store things in your stomach?”
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Aurina’s golden eyes flicked toward him.
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“True dragons have nine stomachs. Using one as a spatial pocket is beyond the comprehension of puny little bugs. How pitiful.”
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Richard considered correcting her racial bias but decided against it.
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She’d endured enough indignity today, and teaching her to trade was already taxing enough.
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Aurina clambered onto the counter, sitting like a duck.
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Her feet dangled from beneath her skirt, the footless stockings accentuating the soft curve of her arches.
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This way, she could loom over the matron.
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A true dragon could never allow a roadside bug to look down on her.
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“How much?”
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The matron smiled.
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“You’re as cute as my daughter. These are Nuremberg’s finest fashion, fit for a princess. With a ten percent discount, two gold coins and three silver.”
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Aurina snorted.
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“Hmph. Silk fabric, shoddy craftsmanship, not a single gem. Your cost price is one gold, six silver.”
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The matron’s smile froze.
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Her actual cost was one gold, six silvers, and one copper.
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“You’re just a little girl—what do you know? It’s not that cheap.”
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“I’m a true dragon,” Aurina said, lifting her chin.
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“As the noblest, fieriest, greediest red dragon, I can appraise value with a single glance.”
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Richard recalled something then.
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A warlock in his party had mentioned red dragons’ uncanny knack for valuation, though he still wondered how they managed it amidst fluctuating gold prices.
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“Seems like… our team’s warlock did mention that.”
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“I’ve got rent to pay, and these clothes have been gathering dust,” the matron said. “It all costs money.”
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“How much is your rent?”
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“Two gold coins.”
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Aurina scanned her.
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“Rent’s not that high, and this shop is yours, isn’t it? Valued at… roughly forty-one gold coins.”
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The matron’s face stiffened.
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Richard couldn’t resist.
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“And this clothing—was it really for your daughter? Or do you even have one?”
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The matron laughed awkwardly.
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“I… have a son. Haha, we all need to make a living. How about one gold, nine silvers?”
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“Deal,” Aurina said, pinching out the coins from her purse.
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The matron tugged at the coins in Aurina’s grip, but they didn’t budge.
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“Could you loosen your hand?”
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Aurina’s tail swished irritably.
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She glanced at Richard, huffed, and let go.
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“Thank you kindly,” the matron said, sliding open a drawer filled with copper coins, sprinkled with silver and glinting gold like gems in a crown.
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Aurina’s hands darted forward, each snatching a fistful of coins.
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The matron gaped.
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Richard seized both of Aurina’s arms with one hand and sighed.
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“Put the coins back. No stealing.”
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“I didn’t steal,” Aurina protested. “I was just taking.”
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“That’s very wrong. Let go.”
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“No!”
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Richard inhaled deeply, prying her fingers open one by one.
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The coins clinked back into the drawer.
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Aurina’s nose twitched, her eyes stinging.
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Though she’d fooled this dim-witted Richard thoroughly, her fall from grace was undeniable.
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Stripped of most of her power, she could only watch helplessly as even a single copper slipped from her grasp.
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Back in her prime, no one dared pry a coin from her claws.
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No, it must be this frail female dragonling form. Why were tears welling up?
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She couldn’t cry in front of her mortal enemy.
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Aurina fought back her tears.
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Richard noticed.
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“Are you about to cry? Did it hurt?”
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“No! This king isn’t crying—not at all!”
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Aurina jerked her head up, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
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The matron, hastily shutting the drawer, scolded, “You big oaf, you’re terrible with kids. Yanking a sweet little girl’s fingers like that—look, you made her cry.”
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“I’m considering the merits of corporal punishment.”
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“Oh, come now,” the matron said.
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“You, sir, in that plate armor, striding so confidently—you’re clearly a fine warrior. But raising a child isn’t like swinging a sword. Be patient, lead by example.”
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“Exactly,” Aurina piped up.
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“Little girls get what they want, and you should obey like a good goblin.”
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Richard turned to the matron.
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“Do you ever discipline your child?”
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She hesitated, sensing an odd compulsion to answer truthfully under Richard’s gaze.
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“Yes, but not often.”
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“How many times a month?”
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“About ten,” she admitted.
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“When my son’s too naughty, a quick swat on the bottom does the trick.”
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Aurina’s hands flew to shield her noble rear, glaring up at Richard in warning.
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“Alright, we’re done here,” Richard said.
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“Oh, your cloak’s still in the dressing room,” the matron said, retrieving a sky-blue cloak and holding it out to Richard.
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Aurina intercepted it, yanking it into her arms and clutching it tightly.
wVVOUTIlBtyEueOzQTWFQIAtADafTBEUhAMZwUsbNpBZjAdilRAbhFQeQtEXxit
“This is mine now.”
wVVOUTIlBtyEueOzQTWFQIAtADafTBEUhAMZwUsbNpBZjAdilRAbhFQeQtEXxit
“Aurina.”
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“You gave it to me, so it’s mine,” she declared, unfurling the travel-worn cloak.
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Its edges were frayed, once lined with gold thread. She appraised it: one gold coin.
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“Being chosen by this king is your honor as a little bug. Gah!”
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Richard flicked her forehead.
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“Mind your manners, and you can keep the cloak since you like it.”
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With that, he turned and left.
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“Hmph!”
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Aurina trailed after him.
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Stepping outside, she saw the bustling street, filled with people who should be gazing up at her in awe.
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“Richard.”
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She kicked his shin lightly.
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“What?”
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“I’m a little girl,” Aurina said, decked out in her girlish outfit, thrusting her chin at him boldly.
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“Carry me. This king demands to sit on your shoulders and survey her subjects!”
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Richard studied her.
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Her cascade of red hair spilled to her slim waist, stark against her snow-white dress.
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Her hands reached out like tender shoots, and her restless toes wiggled in the footless stockings.
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“Did you learn how to trade?”
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Aurina nodded vigorously.
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“Then consider this your reward.”
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Richard crouched, facing away.
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A sly grin spread across Aurina’s face.
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With a gleeful hop, she leaped onto his back, her right foot briefly pressing against his skull.
wVVOUTIlBtyEueOzQTWFQIAtADafTBEUhAMZwUsbNpBZjAdilRAbhFQeQtEXxit
Pointing forward, she shouted, “Onward! Forward, my trusty steed!”
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“Aurina!”
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chapter 1-6 has been fixed and re uploaded