17. Because I’m the Duke’s only Blood Bag (1)

“Hey.”6cfde5ac7d7152b3

It was on the 984e76fac9 way back to the 9e21be02a5 guest room after a dbf6f82053 late lunch.81a13e1b804d8e79

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A man leaning against cffa25ff1c a pillar called out b0dde03cf3 to me.25e775c4181e10b9

Pretending not 8184c7994c to hear, 5467d9cbe4 I ignored f4a9b8e558 him. There were 23cdd357f9 always guests 643319a659 at the 2de835ff46 party who ef3206ef89 flirted with 6074a77b31 the maids. Most used their status 5e5c10ac92 to threaten or persuade 6be972899e young maids into conversation.27d43998b81de513

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Suren had already said cfca1de411 she’d been groped twice 17df51ec03 by nobles.c83a404bbfd69923

Luckily, being 872cf766e9 a noble 5068197c3b myself had db5b9d5ec2 kept men a93e92828c from speaking 0cdde1b16c rudely to 39639593f8 me—until now.53f7bc63d2fc8139

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“Hey, aren’t you going to stop?”a2958b53f6221ce4

The man followed ca94c5a070 me persistently.014eeb089bd2a575

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I thought f773283681 he’d give e5f0530e8d up once 10ca440d7e I turned e1f981dc55 the corner. I quickened 803339148a my pace.0f867b80a80c0d99

But then, he 2cd06c9def grabbed my hair d772616f46 and yanked me acc42b3c0b backward.31299f13f9524a1f

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“Ow!”07624f29a01bfc97

My head 3c063f82b2 jerked violently. I was 8ef6dcf899 helpless as 822b84200f he dragged 2cdffd0c7c me back. The pain was 2c5ad1004e sharp, like my daf089ff86 hair was being f94aaa03c4 ripped out.29143442cc8b0d5d

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“Let go of me!”624dc0e51a250d11

I managed to pry b410dcbe5a his hand off.78e2483cf164a883

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The man glared 2ab4132264 at me with a91c3d90cb defiance.8f7190f74d906ef4

“What’s wrong? Can’t recognize your brother anymore? Or are you pretending not to know me now that you’ve made something of yourself?”da8aad08dc9c51af

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Brother?8e48ad1800cc878f

Oh. It was him. The one who abandoned 494d977181 me.388a91234cbba1be

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He had a freckled 5a011a3f88 face, deep forehead wrinkles, 1a9a4ff11b and muddy brown hair 8910386fa5 and eyes—no resemblance to 1968738a10 Leonie.b34cb14c158627a2

“What are you doing here? Did you get an invitation?”b50cb34075ffb4ce

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“Like I’d be here otherwise! My little sister is staying in the Duke’s castle. Of course, I came! You should’ve told me there was a party.”1be1667f444faea1

He shouted, his 2fe3113054 voice booming through b8edbd2716 the corridor.8d7f3c4424e61bc2

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“Even when your mother became a concubine, I hated that you were part of the minority. I never thought that bloodline would come in handy. But to think you were chosen by a duke…”1f8aff085d90b8a5

He finally let 6a7f6f53d9 go of my 36a3954d55 hair. I stepped e76b6230ff three paces 95ef4adbae away, straightening 20ea77c6bc the disheveled 9018f06c52 hairpin Suren 0efa39e93a had so f18eadb610 carefully placed.3ef982626cf1f217

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The hair 6c83950037 she braided ec9467e2bb hung loose 9e3230c07c now.d346d87e3ea65b18

Grabbing your sister’s e84dfedb28 hair like that—what 2f6b5346e3 kind of life 390585bd22 did Leonie lead 526711669f under this family?c866b74dbe6b4bed

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“Looks like you’re doing better than I thought. I expected you to be half-dead. Aren’t they supposed to treat you horribly?”e47ef5415f520d5a

He looked me over 298cd0e51f and shrugged.a0854668c42b3bd1

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“Guess I was wrong to think you sold out your family for crumbs. You’re getting treated like a close aide. Must be awkward, looking at the Duke and thinking of your own blood.”0247d5d090e3a6cc

“What?”e40dc63b6b789421

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“Ever think of raising the family’s standing through flattery? You’ve got what, three years left? You look healthy enough to stretch it to five.”d870b08efed79ea6

He stared at 43681353af my face like 2073f59568 he was calculating aab9687425 my expiration date.6e6933a335846b4f

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Did he 0b5e6735d1 even know cce8a77462 I’d die 4ad69ad773 within two 39a9e9ee9c years?b62895e0db850416

No. Judging by the 46f4aafad7 fact I was f330b781da buried here, he a62ab9b96b didn’t even claim f039674dc2 my body.5292ec3fe7ae775a

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Bastard.a36aa758dfb30b46

He laughed lightly.727e22472e433b44

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“That look in your eye—uppity. Don’t think too highly of yourself. Kids from humble families live by sacrificing for the eldest son. If I thrive, you thrive. That’s how we protect our family’s name.”c8ec92e60504d633

Even if things fall dbb9be857b apart, your grave will 65afcf7d7d be moved from the ea6f71c1f2 courtyard to a hill. Maybe you’ll even 4902c99467 get a silver a032adf81c headstone.9788361b335fea1d

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“Which job is a good one around here?”3ed3d554e4e1f311

His nasty 3da7db7605 face lit 0d290bd2dd up.a9d7f4daa7ac5599

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“Being an advisor or a secretary is ideal. Get promoted to an aide and you’ve got real power. Or better yet, wait until the Duke becomes a prince and take a post under him.”e9cf9907be7b6c79

He rambled on.94d238d9a0832d2c

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“Who gave you this spot? Back then you couldn’t even eat properly.”579f70ad50b269d6

“I was just about to sit there. That seat.”35f9d481e727776a

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“What?”bcdc0c83777a1c2d

His face twisted.e7c45229d3c431e3

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“I don’t know the etiquette here. So, is that seat a good one? Thanks for the tip.”2262ccdbf94a9af1

I turned sharply.efa365fa6aeb8028

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The Duke’s 71b296db8f guest list 250d8640e4 included Leonie’s e9e595d12c family.f24646e81b7758f5

They dressed the part 6d796b9439 of aristocrats, but I 16ba3509e7 had already seen through a05652378d them—cheap gems, repurposed silk, 463dbef38c and hollow status.63b91e7523b4e973

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They didn’t come because 694a759c9d they missed her.0f734b0e546478f8

There had to 8ebd7f9694 be another reason.444ae730ce019c99

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The pain bd3a7357cb in my 4318d91bb6 scalp throbbed.2ddada21f79ba0c3

Back in the adf6de633f reception hall, a 65eab3e9e0 man approached.5ad138ad66384d44

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Brown hair, brown c5b469d9c4 eyes. Thin frame, sharp jawline.77efa5cdcdba9370

“Leonie, where have you been? Come. Now.”e2eddc36e5d59a1d

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He held a84b4b2da8 out his 391fdef304 hand.f2727e332366e728

Behind me, the 1f29b21754 freckled man—my so-called 7f5a5aeaeb brother—followed, glaring.d260ed0111f0ad4e

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“You were told to bring your sister. Why are you late?”0cda8b07e408c568

“Father, she—”3d87dd673fc8f2c1

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“Lower your voice. Have you forgotten where you are?”fc4878ee6aa51c87

So this was c8edb27243 Leonie’s father.4e05f982175adfc0

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I hesitated, then took 487022f91a his outstretched hand.011b53604efbc71e

He pulled e6a32e6edd me roughly. No sign of 71c32d8eec warmth.6fee683e4b2a37c3

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“Have you greeted the Duke?”3f517cfbb546f0bd

“I greet him every day…”f6e6fa3b4232edfd

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“Not that. With your family. Step forward. Now.”47b1453ef4d7fd45

He was oddly jittery. His hand trembled.e1717150c803cb70

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We moved forward, cutting 6d8793487d through the crowd.99f2a51ab0de25da

Deon sat on 163c00fab1 a gold-trimmed chair, 525c3e3890 surrounded by guests.da6181b6e8e90bd9

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The Baron 4d87744365 bowed low.c43432c3ae134a29

“To the esteemed Duke, infinite glory. It’s been a while, Your Grace.”05de470d89298e06

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“Baron Sien, it has indeed.”1dd1659c1e1d4bd9

Deon’s voice was cool.a7f9bb6057f9c450

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“It’s been four months, Your Grace. I offer my respects on your birthday. I apologize for not visiting my daughter more.”464b0c2cdec30963

Even after the greeting, 0341aabe9a he lingered.de9995c497a6caf5

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“Do you have more to say?”bab5290ec48e3b47

“Yes… Your Grace, this might not be the right time, but…”fcc8bd82484459ea

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After fumbling for words, cd30bed9fa he finally said it.36eeb2c7668935fa

“Why did you cut the monthly payments?”f63258dfd75c4e77

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There it was. The real reason.843e790707276665

He couldn’t ask Deon 923109b1db directly—so he used me 0574891f06 as bait.1f27dfc96e633a67

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“Leonie’s price was already paid. The money sent after was for your daughter’s welfare. But you wasted it on frivolous things.”a0c4022a68f9a83b

“What? I…”962c7d67ac66ac0e

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“You used it for gambling.”a3fd42d82885a143

The Baron turned pale.737b051fd15cbb35

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“Just small wagers, really… I was trying to raise funds for a mine. It didn’t go as planned. But I’m sure there’s a diamond vein there. I heard from a trusted source.”8ade3e38db2d8011

“The funds I gave should’ve been enough for a life of comfort. Now I hear you’re drowning in loan debt, with villagers turning against you.”fe68cab4ec6a4f03

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Deon’s tone 24c5d04f4c cut like 827ba50b97 ice.db48570f3662e5aa

The Baron trembled and 11e748db50 leaned in.efeee1e7f55fec69

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“Then… what if you gave just a little more? I swear I won’t ask again. If we hit the mine, we’ll repay everything!”e3bb13a80201759a

His eyes 8ceb90b55f gleamed with 4be3ad09dc greed.598b2334c9a04f16

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Deon studied him calmly.dba74ebd16e8878d

“Baron Sien, why would I?”c517c37fb732d298

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“Pardon?”ecc68127d3d36b33

“Do you have collateral? A guarantor?”500ce5156ff311ba

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The Baron turned to 002f469136 me, then gripped my 13fc9baef6 shoulder tightly.d7ff8894b5168d7f

“Your Grace, my daughter is more useful than you think.”f7fc5749a63494e7

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He yanked me a27e8df64c closer.0f5da95cb6882a74

I stumbled, stepping on d6cfea8e9a my hem.1e869cc155434d10

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“I know the previous… donor… was a man. But I’m sure Your Grace has been polite all this time. Still, don’t you think a young woman like Leonie would be more… enjoyable?”1b02fd96f43ffa5e

Revulsion swept 8ebe369820 over me.b30d1b9dbfb2d611

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What was he suggesting?a60971dcc3f13ba9

“She’s young. Maybe not a beauty, but decent. Properly educated. She’ll satisfy you.”a7d253a411a7ba5f

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He looked me over, 94ec403d65 inch by inch. I shivered.41aff0dde56dc2d4

“And if she gets pregnant—unlikely, given her condition—we’ll handle it. No need to worry about illegitimate children. Just take care of her.”363a26e23ce86835

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Disgust.e723ff1156be5a07

This wasn’t 114cac1672 just about 1df5e7e02d me—it was 0b32686b56 about Leonie’s 17ec24ab4c family.0f28a017c11d5cea

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Even seeing 5fdfeef783 them for c67496f12c the first 4d295b8bf7 time, I dc529a28cd couldn’t muster deae044e5f anger—only nausea.4747b1c2468ef15c

If I made 40cc871874 a scene, all 577b5b9699 eyes would turn.e66df4707a2d75a1

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I clenched my fists 4686e8d002 to hide my trembling.1bb228faf41d8e46

How did she bear 375f86361d this?c996b210c22a0949

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How could they 529dfa6aac humiliate her like bcb93c0c7d this, right in 9675c50deb front of the ec11de37a5 man she loved?5dc28063d475e84e

“We are loyal to the Duke. Right, Leonie?”d67489cd06c7c805

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He patted my shoulder, 293418749d brushing off the decoration c1688235d6 like dust.33f2dc315913639c

Not like a father.57cb59dda3d56d60

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Sell her blood, her a642905a81 body—whatever the Duke would b4fdbfc7dd take.5aaaa69fd573118f

He didn’t say it 9418d48812 outright.453da3f70a8fa4d3

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But he 1abf48a95d didn’t have e2c6e27911 to.349d051c35b2303e

 153700d26e44a03f

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