18. Because I’m the Duke’s Only Blood Bag (2)

Deon, who 7d11f24b50 had been c7b2195e61 staring at 99bcff74b5 the Baron fa713d69e8 for a 96f15a965c while, spoke.80487c32ea9fee1a

“Baron Sein.”3542bf65a95fe799

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“Yes, Your Grace,” the Baron replied eagerly.0eaf8980dccba60b

But the 8fa90a0dc0 words that b9eba9cb5f followed made 8cec19602d the Baron’s df769418ae face contort.b7c320d13a935eaf

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“It’s best if you pack your bags and leave my territory before you get imprisoned for treason.”0ad01ba237964dac

“What? No…” the startled Baron stammered.76cd5bfa6a3687a7

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“I think you misunderstood. I was only asking you to take good care of Leonie. I had no intention of disrespecting the Duke. In other words, it was not disrespecting me but Leonie—”a6f808d0aa032067

“So.”279e72a826959380

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Deon’s sharp 03bff80c83 tone was 80eae73c8f unfamiliar.57c001fc213679a7

“Leonie’s blood runs in my veins. Isn’t it the same as disrespecting me?”4f5652f211aa1ca1

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He gave a 3f10fcee10 slight nod, and 605d11d391 the waiting knights 7d390f8cd4 stepped forward.37d678ff0e238e04

The Baron b5d4f074da and his 26b33b6e85 son were fb4bacc189 taken away. I kept my 5c417db435 eyes on the 3cd601e447 ground until they 50733aee2e left the hall. The pattern of the 806367621d carpet on the marble 2fb48433e2 floor caught my attention.820559e2b69b29fc

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Though they 99265ee3f6 weren’t my f4fff7aaf3 real family, 7a51677188 the humiliation 1a9cfbcb12 still lingered.ade868244534a5a7

I stepped f61c45c5d4 out to 36a4ca7810 a terrace d79630e6d9 tucked in 1dcc0d66a6 the corner 289b2d203e of the db2a91b7ec banquet hall. A cold wind 5e88d98bb9 wrapped around me. Though it 99d2ac7c0e was said 58d73306e2 the weather 836690d311 had warmed, be8732672c the northern 3dd948ef6b region was 4a3296103f still chilly.8b70a3a85aecce33

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I should’ve worn a 90f1e04be7 shawl. There might have eac7381464 been something in d39e72a4a2 Leonie’s luggage, but 5bf5ac4a9d I hadn’t wanted 1f31294dec to trouble Deon a98f7fe847 or the steward 78a8388fc3 just for an 8576502942 expensive piece of 23756ec91f clothing.b8dd456b92357693

I shook off 2aff149c83 the cold and 0830db49d4 leaned on the e63e9de87a railing.73a7d0c78cf24645

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Was this the e23e0fd4a7 last time I’d 1a49bdd42d see this scenery?35600ab8e38938c3

The guest residence had e46aebe6ba lights on. Flames flickered 885642a8a7 from fireplaces 28d58c4d97 through drawn d2bab8cf7c curtains. Normally, the area was cf510584ec dark, looking abandoned, but 5647c9ac91 now, with people inside, bc8fb50126 the north seemed warmer—like 5650449bda a place truly lived 29e3879e34 in.bbe6fdf1df5e6067

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Maybe in a few 612b4ba37f years, the north wouldn’t 6bd99b0edc be so cold anymore.a8ae6403e01e1200

If the ducal family had a hostess, blood wouldn’t be needed. Outsiders wouldn’t be kept out. It might become lively.6ff12c34d19029a8

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Snow from the previous 4709ed5415 night blanketed the fortress dcb1f386fc walls. It was 5b2b35a5fb beautiful if 6e31f8f648 you weren’t 5d5cac32cc the one bc794c4f87 trudging through 00b7f736c1 it.cf72d4678d517c31

That snow could look a9e6016ef5 romantic to some, unlucky 255f759be8 to others. For me, it 2b18f7d6da was the latter.a4c45430b28b5030

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Soldiers were closing the 399ff8f4bc giant castle gates. Likely, they 3f4572e1cb were expelling 71e9a3483f the Baron 9731a338a4 and his a90a8ed6a5 son.37806e9e018ad6da

The Baron’s 386aa0120a words still 7c081abd12 echoed in cbb4be614c my mind. Words about selling b87b102fd0 everything his daughter 24d2e758a0 had.bb39fa9c90360974

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No tears came.3d77c1f639a2f821

It wasn’t my body, nor my family, and yet…93adce0ea065877e

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The Baron would 432507e0e5 keep trying to 64e324cc6b sell his daughter. As a 0d38d266eb baron’s daughter, 6f8d5f708f her status e73dc9112e was mediocre 7f0a3275c0 even among 4bcda1ac13 commoners.6bfe219ab45d1081

I sighed.32f422b8f69ed7ae

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If I ca277d22ca could escape 37e7b5c899 the North 08a6747192 using Marquis 0181cac565 Caeon’s help, 14ab42b387 what then?060f7ed7d09b30c7

I’d thought 4042def01a only of 1bee712680 leaving. I’d never imagined what 3ee8c48346 life afterward might look c3a5e9bc0d like.ec81cea15340087c

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Returning to the b3b98c3d8a Baron’s family with 558889cb9c debts piled up 421fa60620 seemed pointless. Could I 6094bd2b30 even return 2cef80844f to my 04c7ba5aef original world?d865316ec43c20ae

As I stared 997d1258ee into the distance, d78e996964 a voice called 363ee7f505 out.71274fdcbb90e04e

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“Leonie, there you are.”3722e5d288091994

It was Deon.62441ad928bab0bf

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He took 7e94e1a2e8 off his 4037980101 cloak and 1865eeb564 draped it 437786f1d8 over me. Its thick weight settled 58ba638d71 heavily on my shoulders.a1bf625a1f00d0e2

“Why did you come out without enjoying the banquet? You’re the main character—”233d69450395d2f5

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His words stopped midway.1118f7518dc3bf97

“Go enjoy the party. I just wanted some fresh air. I’ll come back in later.”fdc10dd456c9d8d6

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I couldn’t 8f18f2d025 meet his 75b19f2dd1 eyes. I still 9d00907fc4 felt the c56d54f408 sting of eb35cb04c0 humiliation from d24672a4e6 earlier.31fecedb7fbff053

He must 435905e147 have noticed. He gently tilted my c7771206f4 chin up.992ba81694f0a732

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“You look like you did something wrong. Don’t bow your head to someone like the Baron when you don’t even bow it to me.”fa303c43a3783535

“I wasn’t bowing. I was just looking at the carpet pattern… I picked it myself. It suits the North, don’t you think?”0f83751a1a423136

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I tapped the carpet 046c710a83 with my shoe.fe01e7ee06a95629

“Sure. It’s great.”c09f8f247c954714

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A half-hearted eedc17e740 lie, but b4006b826a kind.2087bd79291c898f

After a moment, Deon asked, “Are you still bothered by those men?”08c15bf03b083c6d

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“…”cea5f1bb5aa785c0

“They haven’t left the territory yet.”42105fdf003c2413

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His voice dropped.7f9e2d1c1c00bc4f

“Should I capture and kill them?”f9f9db9a0a4adccc

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I looked at 322385c397 him. He looked serious. Like he was offering 56eb6caf30 to pull weeds.28c29d5ae4a4413d

His cruel 257a3d6ba7 suggestion oddly 3aec4b8023 comforted me.5298f70c596c94c2

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“For now, no.”ec068850a95e4159

“For now?” He frowned. “Will you feel like it later?”94c76a06085342a9

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I nodded.95e7d801ba3ba38e

If I survived, 75a13ddf5b I’d need somewhere 3a071bd9e0 to return to.214de97007c3b63b

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“They’re my family.”64577793395e7ba7

In any case, it 23fbda95aa wasn’t them who’d kill b85c7cce9e me—it was likely the d72d78cebf man in front of b0366f51da me.5dbe407823f008af

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Though he did it 7c66f5c450 for me, the ease 8f749d9418 with which he could 806f03b2a1 speak of killing made 00e596efd4 it bitter.532dbfb343b559f3

Right now, 7c6f1ce307 the blade e3f269fa9d pointed at 284633ff41 the Baron. One day, 80bd367238 it would 5cb24b26ac turn toward 84f0d472e9 me.244370114970ffad

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Pop! Pop!4e5dc2b7a0a6e678

Fireworks burst ef1ed720c8 in the f46bd81323 sky.25c7ae08163b3172

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Brilliant colors exploded, 6bf19688b0 scattering across the 692f956811 darkness.8d6aba6ae827ebb8

I stared, mesmerized.2bcc1a3493a33a26

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More nobles e9ad817f58 began appearing df89636fc5 outside to 71911a520b admire the 8c9ac42cf7 display.b45daf8727d8b715

I looked at Deon. With each 39da2d70ca firework, his 4160b7823a blue eyes 3cee3840f6 shimmered like 29326f2793 a deep, 57de1710fd ever-changing sea.7833d8b7b9975546

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“Duke.”1313d493f84f66f3

As the b975a05a02 final firework 2d9bbb0d60 lit the 5b4a64302f sky, I a09557a3eb spoke.a8b80f987ae65057

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“You didn’t take the money. You said you’d cancel the funds to the Baron and instead make a deal with me. Then… my contract?”140f7ade4e610fbf

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”184096033bc24dab

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Because it was a e7460a7d00 deal with you.bcb4bd6d0f37bb4e

His words 67224748ea made my 43641a3b79 chest feel ba04ae7c5c lighter.0154bcdea600493f

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Still, I hesitated.dde526d42af66be5

“Duke… about what my father said earlier—”88ba31de0f5f051d

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I tried to stay 02e9e96c19 calm, but my voice 52f47fbc63 shook.f28566576d70ab7e

“I’ve never had that kind of education. I wasn’t raised to behave like that. So please… don’t misunderstand.”d17be68be2161b90

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“I understand,” he said firmly.f23e8622aad53002

I looked up.bf41e06bcde14a97

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His face remained 646108c5c1 expressionless.68d5451ed879fdb4

“If you’d been raised like that, you would’ve seduced me by now for a title. You wouldn’t barge into my office like a storm.”a9e6a8c43946b622

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He lightly 4a5f795084 pressed my 28a443553f nose, teasingly.fb934425cbf4ada3

Just that 4832588d99 small gesture 5c7d9d397c lifted the 5bf4b1a28b heaviness in fb4ddbc970 my heart.7a716dbd864e2254

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The last firework burst f5b493f791 into a grand, colorful 31dc5b5a01 finale.95ea2b2c375df2e3

“It’s beautiful…” I whispered, watching him instead of the sky.a1e6e664f9e566a8

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* * *59dc765e53815c65

Tea time 1c27f19cd8 was held 9082572a54 in the 61f64bf36a greenhouse.706f6379873b95e4

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It was strange seeing b19ffbd968 the normally quiet space cc36581380 filled with elegant women.0cb59e8e6f67193d

The greenhouse felt bright, d52e7d809e like it was the 56be6f7a66 only warm place in 3c7c19576f the northern estate.a0c29e4fd7e0de60

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There were no rare a2522e54d1 pets or luxurious flowers 088aaa9a7a like those in the cfcc127b92 southwest, but it had 2ab18d444a been decorated well.324f435fec26242d

Deon should thank 4b50c97789 me.f4cd8b92b556413f

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If it hadn’t looked 66fa50bc6e presentable, noblewomen would’ve doubted 1592510a92 his wealth.1e1d122bf57f11d3

Outside, I could hear fd2df45ec5 laughter. But when I entered, 5118ce3162 silence fell.ea7c8fc427de2b97

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For a moment, no 1659deb17a one said anything.75693ce9a42e2482

Then a 28e91501ab woman stood ed22591b7b and picked 222749f706 up her 97eb73900c coat.b54eb6bb84f134bc

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Was I going 93fcee2b5a to be rejected 84736123a3 again?d3be9cd856b74121

I froze in 6985c29c7f place.f271e8c5dc9cad0d

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Then, the woman 158a465bd1 who had been abc98e65ae sitting spoke.e9308f75a996abbf

“Welcome, Lady Sien, the Baroness.”60b280549a1699d1

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Suddenly, everyone c703bf0893 began chiming 0e5e45e86c in.65214d8da84da503

“It’s nice to meet you.”9df09825635f61f7

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“Please, have a seat here.”5c1e47397867a6f9

The woman who took 5c39862b92 off her coat offered a7eb80bebc me her chair.fc484c124b2bdf01

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I thought they a75bdb6b0f might be cold, 77dc21bc1b but they were b3a736e2c5 surprisingly warm.c0f2aafcf77c7c35

Once I 80145d2589 sat down, 3592a386d2 they even 8f5851e854 rotated the 009f805283 dessert tray a26daa96ee my way.cf813af7ae7e8fc8

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Their sweet faces 53fb25cfbf and kind voices dbb482e20f made me feel eeeff012dc at ease.b22770be179cf3af

They were petite, 9ced75049a with delicate features, 5eec20b7fb and looked like 1c62722bf7 young girls despite d6afbff8b3 their fine clothes.fcff84293d232fbf

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“Now our age group is complete! Everyone here is either Lady Leonie’s age or just a year or two older.”40c81e2e3cc14dec

A lady fluttered a 972dcbe99c deep purple fan.eec985a4a0cf649e

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“We’ve been waiting for you, Lady Leonie. I missed the chance to greet you at the last party.”bfa67ebfea28a70c

“Me?”35a800201e7930ca

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“Lady Yvonne has something to ask you. She’s been waiting.”f0dfd1c52a6c4e86

“Oh, please! When did I say that…”5448c5cfd72dc4c1

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Lady Yvonne’s cheeks turned 35a3995423 bright red.ecadf589c8170197

“What would you like to know?”e0f944e04314c6d4

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The Duke’s preferences? Or maybe details about 1e9bb96e99 my role?5b271965e5bea411

I raised my teacup.18f178d85890cd87

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“It’s nothing serious. I was just curious.”8d5494a0f426eb2b

Lady Yvonne 06a7401314 smiled shyly.e5803ef6f7733e6e

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“Lady Leonie.”f00abecaba7d11bc

I nodded gently.de348040fbf84d90

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“Are you pregnant?”aaa50eba193c6da7

 76ff2a168ac6f968

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