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surprised to be turned into a pillar. You can see it on his face; he looks so
confident, doesn't he?
So now it is that we can at last turn our attention to little Citia, the
youngest daughter. “Father,” she said, as you knew she would, “Let me try!
Let me try to rescue my brothers and my sisters and visit the Palace of Gold
to --”
“Absolutely not!” roared Emperor Aurumius IV, interrupting her, as you
knew he would. Emperors can be so --
He literally sneezed with rage.
--gesundheit.
“I have lost eight of my beloved children due to my own follies and
failings. You're now all I have left, Citia. I could not bear to lose you as well.
You are to me more precious than gold. You are all I live for. I cannot lose
you, Citia!” And again the water from his eye and the dual channels down his
cheek.
“Are you done?” asked Citia, tapping her foot.
“What's that?”
“That speech. It sounds like you read it somewhere and memorized it.”
“A-and what if I did?” said the Emperor, squeezing a cynical eye at his
one remaining child. “I meant every word. You are more precious than gold.”
“I'm -- not so convinced,” said Citia.
“How can you say that!”
“You were pretty quick to make a bargain with a demon to get more gold.
Did it occur to you to have discussed it with your children?”
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