Writers Note: This is the seventh chapter of the series. In the time I wasn't updating I have finished planning chapters 7-15. Chapter fifteen will reveal Riley's past with the King of Valemoore so I am super excited for that. After chapter fifteen there will be another break because that chapter should be coming during the summer and I plan on taking a break from this then. Then the story will return and the story will be completed. So super excited for that.
I hope you enjoy this chapter
End Game
.:.
Sunsets are inevitable. They set everyday which meant that as long as it continued, Riley would be there by Lucas' side to watch it happen. She felt a promise everytime she saw it. And it reminded her of the first day she arrived.
She never knew she was capable of falling in love with someone until she met Lucas.
As a young girl, she was taught that a queen rarely feel in love with a king because their marriage solely provided...power.
As her hand touched Lucas', and her eyes adverted to him, she knew in her heart that she found the man she was going to marry and love. She knew that her happily ever after was him.
She just wished in her heart that they would make it out alive.
"There's a man in the castle that says there are millions and trillions of stars up there," Lucas pointed towards the night sky. "Do you believe it?"
Riley looked at him and then grabbed his hands, she looked into his green eyes as she spoke, "I do."
"Do you believe that the same ones reappear every night in their exact same location?" he asked her and then kissed the top of her hand.
"I don't know," she said, "But you do ask great questions."
He looked back up at the stars and thought for a while, "I always wondered what I would've become if I wasn't a king. I like to believe it would involve something to do with science."
"Science?" Riley asked. She would've never guessed it.
"Yes. It's interesting, don't you think?"
She looked at him, his green eyes looking better than before,"I have to be honest with you, Lucas, I find science to be the worst of all the subjects in school."
He smiled because he knew she didn't like science. It was a feeling in his heart that always led him to know things about her. "Not for me, it's not" he turned in her direction and she did the same. They looked into each other's eyes and he wrapped his arms around her, "What would you have become?"
"I think I would be a poet," she informed him. "Or an actress, I have quite the talent might I tell you."
He smiled, "We'd make quite the pair."
She looked into his eyes and traced his features with her finger. His skin was soft and his smile was great. "Do you think that we should just get our marriage over with?"
He furrowed his brows, "I don't understand I thought you wanted to wait."
"I do," she reminded. "I want our wedding to be special. To be at the right moment so I know we're meant to be."
"We are," he smiled. Riley had never been so hopeful. He had that type of reassurance over her.
"No, I know we are," she brought herself closer to him. "But if our wedding comes at our own given time. When we want and not when other people want it for us, then I will know in my heart that we were not forced to be together, Lucas. That it was us who took that step...that we took that step."
He kissed her hand. "There's no rush. As long as the King of Valemore remains unwed and un-engaged, we have an advantage."
"Just like it's supposed to be," she continued for him.
As soon as she finished saying those words, she found Lucas leaning in towards her. He kissed her and she kissed back. For the first time, they were a couple.
.:.:.
"I highly doubt it," Maya said as she walked side by side with Josh. She looked over to him many times awaiting for him to speak and when he smiled, she smiled. "But in all honesty, did you really surive that storm?"
Maya didn't believe Josh when he told her the story of the time he went out for a boat ride but was caught in a huge storm. The story gave her anxiety all over but a small part of her thought he made it up in order to impress her.
When she looked into his eyes, she realized that maybe there was truth to it. He was able to explain the story in great detail which only convinced her more.
"I don't tell many people," he informed. "I only tell the people I care about."
"Oh," Maya said, realizing he had practically told her he cared for her. "Well then, I would love for you to tell me more."
"I will," he smiled in her direction. He looked passed her as if he was looking for someone, "Where's your fiance?"
"He's working." They continued to walk and they made a turn.
"Well, if he can't take you out on these long walks, then I am happy to step in."
"You keep me company, and you're a really nice friend."
He cringed at the word friend. He hated knowing that someone else got to call her more than just a friend. "I would love to meet him, soon. You know, when he's not busy of course."
Maya ignored the tone in his voice, "He'd love to meet you too."
"You've told him about me?" he asked and Maya froze. Her cheeks turned a bright pink.
"I have not, but I'm sure he will once I tell him all about you." She played with her dress for a bit before she turned to him, "I should go, but same time tomorrow?"
He nodded and she walked off.
.:.
Victoria drafted a letter to one of her co-workers on a secret plan she had been working on. She had plans for the castle but she wasn't allowed to tell anyone because they were meant to be kept secret. And because of that, she must do everything in private. As she searched for her ink, she looked around her room but found nothing. She opened her drawers and found the jar of ink, but there was a letter addressed to her. She had not seen that letter before, nor was she told she would be receiving one.
Her hands touched the paper and she opened it up.
A Valemore spy rests among you
Her eyes widened and she re-read the letter many times wanting to make sure she had seen right.
When she did, she immediately sent word for Riley and Lucas.
"What do you mean spy?" Riley asked. Lucas was standing near her mother when she had barely made it into the room. Victoria looked angry and Lucas was trying to calm her down.
"They're not spies," she corrected. "They're rats. Rats!"
"How could this happen?" the brunette asked as she looked at Lucas. "Has anyone new arrived? Is someone asking too many questions?"
"We don't know," Lucas spoke. "If anything, they could be spies that have been in Courtley for months."
"We need to keep an eye," his mother spoke. She walked to the other side of the room, "We're onto whoever this rat is and when we find them we will get our answers, but for now we sleep with one eye open. A king such as Valemore would strike at any given moment, even at it's worst."
"How do we know if this letter is some total make believe made to scare us," Lucas said as he folded the letter and dropped it on her desk.
"I would take this seriously, Lucas," Victoria spoke. "Know who to trust."
.:.:.
"Did you get it?" Riley asked Farkle as she walked into her old room. Ever since she and Lucas became super close, she had been sleeping in his room. Her old room was left fully furnished and she was allowed to return to it when she wished.
Farkle watched as she walked in and shut the door. She had made sure she wasn't being followed and that no one was around before she walked into the room. "I have it," he said as he raised up a stack of letters.
She extended her hands and once she got a hold of them she gulped and set them down. Tears were starting to form in her eyes and she sat down next to him. "I can't start having second thoughts so soon."
He rubbed her back with his palms for reassurance.
"It has gotten so hard to look at him," she confessed. "At times I know in my heart that I love him and that overcomes everything, but there is always that thought. That one goddamn thought that comes to mind. That I am doing this so that I can reign over him. So that he rots in a dungeon while I wear his crown."
Farkle knew Riley had good in her heart. He knew that when the time came she would make the right decision and that she would forgive herself as well. "I would tell you what I think but then that would implicate me."
She stood up and wiped her tears from her eyes. "There's no need." She could feel the betrayal squeeze their hands onto her neck. Her hands found the letters and she grabbed them before walking out the room, not even glancing back at Farkle.
.:.
Theo and his friend Noel walked into the throne room where Lucas stood speaking with some of his advisors. He turned his gaze to look at them and once he realized it was his cousin, Lucas walked towards them. He hadn't seen Noel for weeks and he was glad to see his return.
"Cousin," Theo began and looked over to Lucas. He had been working out more often and it was clear in the way he carried. "We bring great news."
"And would that be?"
"Laori. They have agreed to aid Courtley and Mystic during the war with Valemore. Our alliance was successful," when Lucas smiled, Theo knew he had done his job right. He was in charge of the alliance and when he left Mystic, he feared he would return saddened by the fact that he had poorly done his job. "I wanted to tell you as soon as you got back."
"Noel," the king spoke. "It's been some time, how have you been?"
"Your Majesty," he bowed. "I am doing just fine. Thanks to you, that is."
"I'm glad to see you like your job. I would like to see more of you."
"I won't be going anywhere, Your Majesty."
They both nodded in each other's directions before he followed Theo out the door.
.:.:.
"Josh," Noel called out to him as he watched Josh walk across the hall. When he turned around and saw him, a smile spread through his lips.
"You're back," he spoke before they greeted each other. "When did you return?"
"Uh...two weeks ago," he answered him and looked at him closely. Josh had changed so much in the time he was away. "I've been running errands but I finally completed my job. I am free to stay in the castle, just as Lucas promised."
"Good. That's great."
"So...tell me, Josh, how's it going with Lady Maya? I hear she's quite the catch."
Josh scratched the back of his neck and looked around the hall before he spoke, "She's both difficult and amazing at the same time."
"Word is that she has a nice pair of - "
The door to his right opened and Maya walked out of it. They both froze and watched as she closed the door behind her. "Is something wrong?"
"Maya," Josh said through gritted teeth. "I didn't know this was your room."
"Well, I guess you do now," her eyes trailed from his to the person nearby. "Who's this?"
"Noel," he introduced himself. "I'm a friend of Josh."
"My name is Maya," she spoke and then looked back at Josh whose eyes weren't on hers. "I should get going. I don't want my fiance, my fiance," she repeated and looked in his direction. "...to worry about me. So if you two can," she moved them and squeezed her way through. "Thank you."
.:.
A knock on Victoria's door caught her attention. She looked straight ahead and watched as a guard stepped in, he was well built and had a fine pair of blue eyes. "What am I in need of?" she asked him.
"A letter," he answered and extended his arm. "I have reason to believe that it's from the spy you've told us to keep an eye for."
Her eyes widened as he brought the letter to her. "What makes you think that?"
"It's a plan," he informed as Victoria opened the letter and read what he had previously read. "He plans on meeting someone by sunset."
When she finished reading the letter, she folded it back up again and then set it down. "Where did you find this letter?"
"Hallway floor," he began. "Just around the corner."
"Question everyone in that hall and when you're done report back to me."
The guard began to walk away and as she watched him go, a lightbulb went off in her head. "And don't make plans for tomorrow, we're throwing a party."
.:.:.
Victoria was convinced she had come up with the perfect plan to catch the spy. She realized that the King of Valemore would send a spy to focus on Mystic's politics and plans so that they could take them over. So, she called for everybody and had them meet her in the throne room.
She was going to ask Lucas to set up a private meeting amongst the nobles during the party in the room behind the one they are in now. It would be the perfect time to catch the spy as they would be reporting evidence back to a Valemore messenger by sunset. She had never been more confident in such a plan as she is now.
"During the meeting, Lucas," she turned to her son who was talking to Riley, "You will release false information to the nobles. Make it big, something someone would want to tell everyone. When the meeting is over, Riley, Theo, Farkle and I will keep an eye out for anyone that looks suspicious while my guards secretly follow the nobles that attended the meeting. I gave word to the guards to improve the number of guards tonight. We do whatever we need to do to catch this rat. Are we clear on the plan?" she asked and looked around at everybody. The plan seemed to be pretty well thought out of and no one had any questions. "Perfect. The party starts tomorrow. Don't be late."
As she walked away, Lucas turned to Riley. "I guess that cancels our date," he says and grabbed her hand. "We'll reschedule."
Riley nodded, "I have to go, but I'll see you tonight?"
Lucas smiled. "You will."
As she walked away, Theo looked at his cousin and gave him a faint smile. "You two have gotten comfortable."
"Yeah, yes we have. Can you believe it only took a physician to say I was dying so that we could finally sleep in the same bed?"
Theo chuckled, "You guys finally got the rumors to subside."
Lucas clenched his jaw, he hated rumors. "We did."
Ever since Theo realized his feelings for Riley, his relationship with Lucas had gotten awkward. He doesn't know what to say when he's with him and when Riley and Lucas are in the same room as him, he does everything he can to not stare at her too much.
Theo fears his cousin so much because Lucas is a king, if Lucas knew his feelings for Riley, he would have Theo killed.
He wished he knew Lucas wouldn't do such a thing but ever since Lucas' dad died, he could not tell anymore. When he left the room, he took a deep breath and did everything he could to stop thinking about Riley.
.:.:.
"You must be Jason," Josh said as he met him in the hallway. He seemed to be walking to Maya's room and Josh wanted to do anything he could to try and stop him. He figured that introducing himself would be the perfect moment. "I'm Josh, a uh, friend of Maya's."
"Oh," he said. Jason had blonde colored hair and they seemed to be around the same height. "Maya told me about you earlier, how are you?"
"I am great, thank you for asking," he said. "Would you like some help with that?"
"Yes," he said and Josh grabbed the dozens of rolled up papers he had in his arms.
"What are these for?" he asked.
"They are drawings I never finsihed, some of them I started working on two years ago. I've been motivated recently."
They stopped walking once they reached his room. Josh set the scrolls down once he entered and observed the room around. "Are all of these yours?"
"Yeah, all two hundred and fifteen of them."
"That's a lot," he said. He was amazed by one painting of a girl looking out into the sun, the detail was extraordinary and he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of it. "They're amazing." He realized the silence in the room was thickening and he had nothing much to say. "I should get going. It was nice meeting you."
"Same here," Jason said and closed the door as soon as he left.
.:.:.
The next day, just when Victoria's plan was in the process, she felt like she was close to catching the rat that had been trading infromation to another country. Everybody carried themselves as if they had nothing to hide but she was confident she knew the spy was in the room she was in.
She watched as the nobles walked out from their meeting and joined their friends and wives in the throne room. Lucas walked out and he made his way to his mother who was standing next to his seat and taking a sip from her wine. "What did you tell them?" she asked him.
"That we plan and surrendering to them," he told her and Victoria smirked.
"You always know what to say," she turned to her son and pinched his cheek the way a mother would when she's proud of their son. "Now, which would reacted in the strangest way?"
"They all did?" he informed. "But I was suprised to see that one of them didn't react at all."
"Who was that?" she asked the second he finished speaking.
"Lord Reynolds, and don't worry I made sure two guards were keeping their eyes on him."
"Good," she patted his shoulder. "God knows we need a victory ever since Riley has made her stay in the castle."
Lucas furrowed his brows and turned to look at his mom, "What do you mean?"
She looked into his eyes and knew she couldn't lie to him. He was the king of Mystic and Victoria needed to stop seeing her as her little boy, "There's something about her that makes me wonder if she's behind this. I'm not accusing her of being a spy," she felt the need to say so that he doesn't get upset with her, "I am just saying that everything bad that has been happening to us, is because she's here. If that doesn't convince you then," she stopped to finish her glass of wine, ...remember, none of this happened when she was Courtley."
"I know her," he said. "I know she would never betray us. And I need you to know that too."
.:.
Riley spoke with the wife of a landowner, she had met her a few weeks ago and they've maintained a friendship but not a big one like the one she has with Maya and Tobias. They would just casually greet each other whenever they crossed the other. "Tell me about your mother because all we hear here in Mystic is that she's known for taking charge," the women spoke. Her name was Delia and she was just around her height, but she had bony features.
"My mother's a kind woman and she's known for taking charge because she lost my dad just a few years after giving birth to me," Riley informed. "But she's truly a kind woman."
"May I steal her for a second," Riley heard someone speak behind her. When she turned to see that person, she was met with a pair of brown eyes. Theo's brown eyes.
"Sure," Delia spoke. She curtsied to Riley before walking away.
"Hi," Theo said, he smiled at her and Riley couldn't help but smile back. "I just wanted to check up on you."
"Check up on me?" she asked. "Why would there be any need?"
"There isn't any," he admitted. "I just need an excuse to come and talk to you."
Their eyes stayed on each other for a few seconds before she looked away, "So," she chuckled realizing that she had lost herself in his stare, "You've been quite the talk between the nobles daughters. Do you think of marrying one?"
He drank from his glass, "I'm still waiting for the right one. Something tells me she and I are close."
"It's always good to keep looking," Riley informed.
Again, his eyes were on hers in a way any girl would want a guy to stare at them. She didn't know what to do and all she could do was laugh, he let out a smile when he saw it. "You've never really told us about your time in Courtley."
"Huh," she said realizing he was right. "No one has really bothered to ask."
"I would love to hear all about it," he took a step closer to her, "Maybe we could go horse riding sometime and you'll tell me."
She found herself lost in his eyes once again and she came close to forgetting why they were talking in the first place, "Right," she said as she remembered. "We should be keeping an eye out."
He nodded and they turned to face the people in the throne room, "We'll talk some other time?" he asked and waited for Riley to respond. When she gave him a nod, he walked away and Riley was left with a strange feeling in her system. One that she normally got when she was happy.
She decided to walk in a different direction. One that was opposite from Theo and one that led to a crowded space, she felt that's where a spy would like to hang out. As she walked there, she made sure to look at the people she was walking past.
As she did so, she bumped into someone and accidentally spilled her drink on her dress. "I am so sorry," Riley apologized.
"It's all right, Your Majesty," they looked at each other before the lady stepped closer to her and whispered something in her ear.
"Follow me, but don't make it noticeable - there is something I must tell you," she whispered in her ear. She watched they lady leave and when Riley looked around, she saw that no one was looking in her direction so she followed the girl. She didn't know who she was following, but something attracted her and she had to know what it was she was going to be told.
.:.:.
Lucas stood from a distance and occasionally made small talk with the people around him. He liked meeting new people and talking to them about other things than just politics. At one point, there was nothing to be said so he looked around the room to see if anything looked suspicious. He didn't find anything, but his gaze stopped when he spotted Theo and Riley smiling and talking to each other.
He didn't think much of it, but the more he looked, the more Riley seemed to smile. He was glad that she and Theo were finally starting to form a friendship. From the corner of his eye, he saw the door open and someone walk out. The man looked like he seemed to be leaving for a reason. He stood up looked at the guard beside and noticed that he had seen what happened too. They walked towards the front door together and followed the man who had walked out.
They followed him up until the man left the castle. He waited outside and Lucas and the guards watched.
They waited for a good five minutes before another man approached the one they were chasing.
They both wore hoods and it was impossible to tell which was which, but what they did see, was that one of them wore the Valemore mark.
"The king says he plans on surrendering five days from now," the spy began. "In that time he will tell his people and map out an agreement with our king."
"Are you sure you weren't followed?" asked the Valemore man who stood six feet tall.
"No one saw me."
"No one but us," Lucas said aloud and made himself seen. When both figures turned around, his eyes widened. Noel's eyes stared back at him. He gulped and drew his sword. "How many of you are there?"
The silence thickened and the cold air grew. The six-foot-tall Valemore man ran and the guard followed him, he took out his arrow and fired at the man's foot to prevent him from running any further.
When Lucas's eyes met with Noel's, he raised both his hands in surrender.
He was surprised to see this because any spy would rather get themselves killed than to surrender at all. Once the two were arrested, they were thrown into the dungeon for future questioning.
.:.
Riley walked in an empty hallway and made a left. As soon as she did, she met the girl who had bumped into her a couple of minutes ago. As soon as the girl saw her, she looked over the brunette's shoulder and sighed.
"Your mother has sent me," she began and Riley's eyes widened. "I'm here in secret because there is something she needs to tell you that must be kept just between the two of you."
"Wait," Riley said and took a step back. "Are the spy? The one that has been selling information to another country?"
"What?" she asked. "I arrived earlier today."
Riley was skeptical about the woman, but she did speak like she was from Courtley. "What's the news mother wants to tell me?" she asked and waited for her answer.
The woman looked both ways before saying a word, "She knows," the woman whispered. This sent chills up and down Riley's back.
A million things raced through her mind. She felt like she was a teenager all over again and her mother was getting her in trouble for something she had done. "What does she know?" Riley asked, but she was starting to get an idea of what her mother might know.
"She knows you plan on betraying Mystic in case Lucas falls. You know that Valemore can't attack them."
"She won't change my mind," Riley spoke, her voice was hoarse and she felt the need to cry once more. She thought the guilt had passed her, but she was wrong. It will always come back.
"She doesn't plan on it," the girl informed, "But, she does, however, want you to understand the consequences. Your mother knows she can't control you anymore, so she needs you to understand."
Riley gulped and pushed her hair back, "I know what I am doing."
"Good," the woman spoke. Her hair was raven black and she had the thickest pair of eyebrows Riley had seen, her face was chiseled and had strict sharp features. As she walked, she stopped close to Riley's ear in order to ask her something, "You do know your punishment in case you get caught, don't you?"
She didn't dare crack. There would be no tears today. "I know."
"Good. Because this is treason. And it'd be a shame to hear that your pretty face was sliced off its neck."
.:.:.
Lucas made his way into the dungeon as soon as the two were arrested. He asked to see Noel and the guard led him there. Noel was beaten severely and that was his punishment since Lucas asked to see him alive, they didn't kill him.
His eye was purple and his parts of his face were covered in blood. His clothes were ripped and he could barely move.
Lucas squatted down near him and brought the bowl of water closer to him in order so he could drink from it, "Why did you do it?" he asked. He wanted to know why someone would betray their own country.
"You took my family from me," Noel whispered. "And they were killed."
"I didn't kill your family," he said. "It was the Valemore. The very same people you worked for. Can't you see that he's manipulative? He will kill so much his own son to win this war. Killing someone comes as easy to as drawing his next next breath."
Noel didn't say anything and Lucas wasn't interested in talking with him any longer, "I need you to answer this, what was the plan? What information did he want?"
Noel began to break down and he was struggling to keep himself from collapsing, "He wants Riley. If you give her up, everything is over. No more war, no more deaths, just her."
Lucas shook his head no, "I don't believe for one second that he wouldn't colonize her country. If I give her up, I am putting my own country on the line. And I would never give her up."
"It's one life for the millions that would die when this war starts."
He knew how many people would die if their country goes to war, but Lucas was selfish. He wouldn't give Riley over to anybody who intended to do harm to her. Even if it meant that millions of people were going to die for it. "Your execution," he began. "...comes first thing tomorrow morning. Get some rest."
.:.:.
Later that day, Maya knocked on Josh's door many times and waited for him to step out just so she could talk with him. When he stepped out, he rubbed both his eyes. Maya realized she had woken him up and she seemed less resigned, but she still had a very important question to ask him.
"Maya?" he asked, confused as to why she was knocking so hard on his door.
"Are you a spy?" she questioned, in a low voice. "Because your friend was one and if you knew him so well you would be one too."
"What are you talking about? Of course, I'm not a spy and Noel wasn't a close friend, we just got along well. Why would you think I am a spy?"
"Because..." she crossed her arms and looked at him. She was starting to realize that her reason wasn't the best. "You just seemed to be really close and I just assumed. I'm sorry."
Josh wasn't mad at all because she made up for it with her cuteness. He quickly told her he forgave her and asked if he could go back to see and she nodded. When she stepped back, he closed the door and fell back onto his bed.
.:.
Riley found Lucas in their balcony. Ever since they learned that he was just sick and that he wasn't going to die, Riley had been sleeping in his room. He asked her to move in and she was so excited when he said that. She found herself kissing him and he kissed back. She was happy because when he asked her, she wasn't scared, she wasn't nervous and that made her so happy. She was finally getting comfortable with him.
"How are you feeling?" she asked. She placed her hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek once she was close to him.
"Not so good," he grabbed her hand. "We arrested Noel yesterday and the Valemore messenger. Earlier today a guard told me that the messenger killed himself. Tomorrow morning Noel will be executed."
"You look sad," she said. She knew it was something to be sad about, but he looked like he was distraught. As if he had grown to know Noel on a personal level and his death upset him.
"Noel and I were really good friends when we were younger. It's just disappointing to see that he would do something like this."
Riley grabbed his hands and she placed them on her back, he pulled her closer once she did this. "Hey, Lucas you shouldn't blame yourself for his actions. It's going to be hard but your role as king is to make your people feel safe, even if that means punishing the people close to you for their mistakes." She cupped his cheeks. Riley understood the law, after all, she was forced to learn about it. If she was caught for her crime, she would want Lucas to carry out her punishment. She didn't understand why but she knew what she felt. "You're a good King, Lucas."
He smiled and kissed her forehead and she leaned her head on his collarbone. "I love this." She said as she pulled him closer to her, she loved his scent and the warmth he radiated.
"I love you."
.:.:.
Victoria called both Riley and Lucas in for an urgent meeting. As soon as they walked in, she approached her son and grabbed his arms. "He's got an advantage."
Riley could never tell Victoria's fear and her anger. To her, they looked exactly the same.
"Mother," Lucas said. "What is it? Why did you call us?"
"The king of Valemore, the rat, he's found an advantage!"
"What is it?" Riley asked and could see the bulging vein on Victoria's forehead.
"The king has married," she said and Riley and Lucas froze. His marriage immediately ranked him above them in a way that they can't reach - at least not yet. Once a king marries, people give their support because it is a step closer to an heir to the throne.
"How is that possible?" Riley asked. "Just two days ago he wasn't even engaged."
"He's quick, he's smart. He's a rat for God's sake."
"Who did he marry?" Lucas asked and the silence grew.
Riley could see Victoria gulp and she immediately knew the news wasn't going to be good. It's like they were back to square one - constantly facing defeat.
"He married... Missy Bradford."
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Writers Note: oooooohhhhhhh! What do you guys think? Missy? What? Did you guys like the chapter? Let me know what you guys think.
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