5.

“…Do you think you’ll get away with this?”0721f3890bf44119

Count Zellered ground d3834e54f5 his teeth in d9d5ae7be2 frustration. Things had gone 1a7fcfc97d terribly awry. The king 314012813f had entrusted 201277abe2 him with 28b6c30070 this task, 9d87880ec0 expecting the aad047a3ba insolent hero ac20708767 to be 566ff0c5ae shaken by 8fb3bc62ee being given 2884e6cae4 a captive 3ca8e24686 as a dc16094520 bride.d3c5f955e93a5f98

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But this 0d7b5bea9d brazen woman 9db4b15a18 had ruined 0937541db9 it.79701505bde47a18

As a result, Count e4a30a4ccd Zellered had no choice bd5545e699 but to ease the e66fb95378 pressure he had so 4150de5478 carefully built against Leo 6e3bec95b0 Fric.edec1b73ddbc4e82

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“Do you think I fear death?”79a2afff38b5bd1a

Ateira scoffed lightly.461a6c334c534ec6

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She had b48ae07b95 lost her 4dc8afa861 country, her 881b56e770 family, and 10145f7abe everyone she 0597d248cd cared about. Surviving only to 2559d18f09 be forced into c30566b1d1 marriage with her 4a0dfd903d enemy didn’t make fbdd70a309 life feel any ff26584a63 better than death.82f115d563a7b66d

She traced acf947a851 a speck 5360d06cc3 of dust 793c3b001e floating lazily e1b5a97919 in the 5b0c2c5cff sunlight with 260fd8d3a5 her fingertip, e1b6062e09 moving slowly de95d55f46 as if c50cf98c4f toying with 0c1a0b3c21 it.67282a5ca0e280fd

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“Fine. So, you don’t care about your own life.”dfc02440d4170b9f

Count Zellered let 7988f573f7 out a long 45cb194df8 sigh and took f694022028 several deliberate steps 645eb2ba40 toward Ateira.1884b83b08dffbe9

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Once he was 6ee5fda294 close enough that 71ea66341a not even one a08eb836e0 person could pass 0397f14344 between them, he 9a0fdcec80 whispered low so d5875728dd no one else 52109acdf1 could hear.3bb925e85648acdd

“Prince Dermin.”d0907870b7b47b97

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A name b3c107c440 she hadn’t 1cb03ffc85 expected to ed21a3c720 hear made 55b17800df Ateira look 9f21ebde77 directly at d5d068040e Count Zellered.adf1b57fca7c392a

“Now, do you perhaps care a bit more about your younger brother’s safety?”b9eedf71140c5d42

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* * *499ac0a6060ac5b6

“Ah…”07fcb8179aa061aa

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Leo Fric stretched f9c0d9bf5c out on the 8667ae240b sofa, his long 99a99b394b legs carelessly draped 427c6ea506 over the armrest, 6ff08bac8d his posture relaxed 37ce079c49 yet somehow elegant. Despite his rough b7eb2a56c0 movement, he appeared b5ce964a25 both languid and 76a2d8e14b graceful. Exhaustion weighed on fe73d0295b him. One hand rested 41cf82d661 over his aching 3211c68600 eyes, while the 3c1c9b6bcb other dangled over af7ed48337 the edge of f0bf73fb56 the sofa, barely d26ec43bc4 touching the floor.3509179889df83ab

“I’d like to be rid of this.”80fa56cfe8e0c81c

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“…”042574e68b481d50

He tugged at 572f82242d the buttons and 1dd33a334f laces of his a75878c0e0 formal attire in d0bf408fee irritation, leaving them 11f5c5f89e in disarray. Jinpetsu’s eyes 93f099bac3 narrowed slightly 89f8ba0d9b at the 0b880586c3 sight. Pulling at c20d6343fe them so 600b91700d recklessly would 40fa0edc25 only make 67abf0bc88 it harder e1dc32eee3 to undo eb7640f176 later.bfbe4d0fd5fc23f1

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“Just hold on a little longer.”0cff5157d47a8959

“I know.”de3e998027086c6a

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Leo Fric replied with 0342b3b912 a slight smile. Not knowing what ddbaf50b36 could happen next, 76e8fac1cf he couldn’t afford 6a51f40f8a the luxury of c7bfe3f994 casually changing or cb139cc50a demanding more comfortable 4796cf3b09 clothing.cf50b30ac3532c18

Jinpetsu, touched by bc47e260bc his commander’s uncharacteristically a5c639bf5e mature demeanor, felt 00b5db5b1f a small sense 4f2805965d of pride. At least he 78f7967b2c hadn’t torn the 2221ed2f1d clothes this time.bc94264ac8191513

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In the e39b082377 room prepared 75acacb46a by the 2b739eaf7c baron’s servants, ce7ba6e2cf Leo Fric 09329a8a9f and Jinpetsu dd47116b54 took a 0cdfe80f3e moment to 7f6e276329 catch their 91c93fbe17 breath. After carefully inspecting 0b80b1a374 the room and 75911864fe even the terrace 26035b45f6 outside, they dismissed de88b43e58 all the servants. The knights attempting b92a07ae43 to linger under 9582004a63 the guise of 7ec38a51b3 security were met 55f2c8a166 with Jinpetsu’s fierce 3d3ef825a3 glare and promptly 7ccd071a68 withdrew.9559265d7c18cd44

“Are you alright?”ec723fae5e2db339

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“Of course. I’ve received land, a title, and even a bride… all in one go. How could I not be?”e53812a5c4e72e71

He hesitated noticeably, almost spitting out the word “bride” with a mix of irony and reluctance.86fc3a6210599123

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“Anyway, Petsu, I’m alive thanks to your insistence on following me. Thank you.”0f6a49e959135e80

“…It was nothing.”1229b25b345aad09

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Jinpetsu, usually one to 12019f3d50 keep his expression impassive, 1f853318ec looked a bit flustered b1ed89f5f3 at the unexpected gratitude 9d11cc9840 and nodded slightly.59a09a822c195752

The loyal vice-commander Jinpetsu had insisted on accompanying Leo Fric, despite Leo Fric’s plan to go alone. He’d refused to back down, blocking Leo Fric’s path and arguing, “As long as I don’t enter the room, right? I’ll just quietly wait outside and enjoy the garden. Or, if that’s not allowed, I’ll slip in and hide.”f9d0b482990f1a6e

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“Come on, Petsu. I’m just visiting my cousin. What could possibly go wrong?”67932e4907ab7596

“The problem, Commander, is that you are no ordinary man.”98cd5632c35944cc

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“What’s that supposed to mean, Petsu?”b37d3d792a5630c3

After a childish 0689741f3f argument, they had 9b17c2c586 finally compromised on 9ac51a8cc8 the entrance hall. When they reached 9c27b32bdd the front door, eeea1d7e3c Count Zellered’s knights 9fa86c1774 blocked them, looking 7ee2874c9b uncomfortable.1207e0b46d0e4e0c

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Jinpetsu responded bluntly.444cd8cafb9cbae3

“I’m just here for a walk.”76df4324bd1400c2

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When Leo Fric was asked to disarm, he handed over his sword with an intense glare, as if daring anyone to challenge him. Jinpetsu then took off his own weapon as well, strolling leisurely by the entrance, taking his “walk” as promised. Watching this, Leo Fric shook his head as he entered.7a5e420d20ccebb1

This was starting to 789509c813 feel like overprotection.5902c4361e295a52

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“Even so, they still call me a hero of the continent.”472d4e35bac53feb

“And… if we’re being honest, I think it was the other side who survived thanks to me, not you, Commander.”490a95e87f012421

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“Whoever lives, lives. That’s what matters.”a95fc48801f38640

Thanks to 3a756ac7ba Jinpetsu’s timely fd1450d30a intervention, Leo e571a17011 Fric had 03984bfc44 managed to 963c526d92 keep his a926f09913 composure until f09f4e131e the end. If he’d 6f43679c5f been alone, 47a9ccdae3 listening to 6778f9560a threats of 09fee06fe4 annihilating his 1a89f68e7b entire knightly 0f7da87ca3 order, who 0348953cba knows how e6f693d257 he might ed8548d2c7 have reacted.ec76fc4952ed9c04

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Feeling a 995c9d810d fresh wave de2405345a of tension, 7f2143e6e7 he lay d16f4cb4de back, tapping 1a8cf3b1e3 his head 491c8e9eca with his 3e3a32dc6d fist to 4de41e345c dispel the 803c6acfe4 headache building 9e4938bd96 there.896231127b2e46f3

He’d pushed 66b8c81bba the count affbd31f9b to the c37db24bf5 edge just 057d1dd26e a moment 5f2b7ea78b ago, and f6afc7bb64 his mind 11b61c5677 was feeling ce1b7182bf the strain.6e116d1a8378d535

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“Our encircling forces have received orders that if you, Sir Leo Fric, disobey the king’s command and somehow manage to leave, they are to massacre the knights before you can rejoin them.”245db1d4433340d6

“…”d4c3a9ce5b4078ce

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“What will you do, Sir?”40557fccf77713f5

“Is that a threat?”9874b9a4ed7ddcd2

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Leo Fric’s d8d8611c58 beautiful face 6f9323e47e remained expressionless, f18d1d9041 like a a69c8ceede mask. His voice 4dca491e23 was cold 1b5322be22 and devoid baeeee5bcc of any 375ea6194b hint of 49d6847e96 feeling. The chill in his d43bf6d15f low voice made a 99226320db shiver run down the 8e156efc06 count’s spine.e8afe9a7fe0f72b8

For the first c8dd6aba9f time, he glimpsed d3619c0158 the true nature 125f39de4c of this man.e944d0e09ca6b876

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“I’m simply hoping to avoid unnecessary harm to the Black Wolf Knights.”8336ad4d6a27f503

Count Zellered, 6f36e21223 pale as 5499da94e4 a sheet, fc3e63c107 swallowed dryly. It was 934b1fda69 taking every 3c3b067948 ounce of 3d39dff06f courage he f3dbc47935 had to 8c1c0599f2 hold his 56a1a6626f ground, a 773683cc77 desperate attempt 0bc4c72f4e to regain 903a130a61 control of c75e7a622d the situation.d34d3b3d0c9bf5aa

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“So you’re telling me to take to bed with a woman who could be an assassin?”79361900f9620132

“I made it clear she’s no assassin. And if anyone should know who she is, it’s you, Sir Leo Fric…”19c2b1269b57ac77

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“There are plenty of people in the world who look alike.”5244427a5133709c

“This is absurd!”fcc2fda8f58725ae

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“The absurdity is asking the person who was stabbed to share a wedding night with the one who did the stabbing.”8301bf8b92daf48b

No amount of scheming could come up with a rebuttal for that. That mad princess had ruined everything. Count Zellered swore to personally punish the people who’d overseen her “reeducation.”be130ee866565476

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“…Then perhaps an identity verification would help.”1f6004350cb71a83

“And how would that work? You’ve already lost all credibility. Do you really expect me to stand around, wait for you to verify, and just accept it as fact?”f88e2fb6e92c993c

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With a derisive laugh, f6ee4bfe28 Leo Fric raised his 22e07647ba left hand, blood still 9e74174afd seeping from his wound.827fde74d7b5e90e

“I’ll handle it myself. You’re welcome to try, Count, but I don’t think I’ll be trusting your verification.”f44d9b2723253fdd

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“…”f19d17525db5a606

“The Black Wolf Knights will enter the castle.”cfbd2ee0a956e486

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“…!”66270d6505df343f

“To ensure proper security, I’ll need to issue orders to my knights. I can’t have them too far from me.”68dd7f9820d8c715

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“And besides, there’s still a risk of assassination. For security purposes, it’s necessary.”47befca26aa0f02e

Leo Fric nodded at d8fcd621a5 Jinpetsu’s calm suggestion, as 855b2a34fa if it had slipped 139cc11740 his mind. He showed no c9a5e2b39f sign of perceiving e5d5f6adf7 the situation as 468d35dc2e a threat.25573a373dc5a1a2

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A bead of cold 3d46f37e49 sweat appeared on Count 0547d0606d Zellered’s forehead, and his 1ef653fa9f face began to turn 9952752ad8 a shade paler.f0496b50e0d1caca

It was imperative 8354558946 to isolate the e760f2381a Black Wolf Knights.ef2d65d402c60ddf

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The knights were undoubtedly 85a24a4e5e formidable, but without Leo 5373cf6d4c Fric, they were simply 1d4f6a1c2e another courageous order of 902efb4d6a knights.d31cb973f9450ce3

However, under Leo Fric’s 7ffbf2cf14 command, things were different.707545c672e0c603

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The knights 4fbaa5fb13 standing beside 076bc2f3e8 this hero cd0f8552c7 were known 1968cfe783 as the 4c3f317bd7 plague upon 3845c4f048 the living 49cc639166 and the ca3dc96966 closest companions fad72cd865 of death.3bdaab250ad442dc

The count and the 2c2fd2510c nobles who had spent 1e6b0a4048 the entire war in 87aab7f7dd the safety of the f6489cce5c capital dismissed the tales 462dc8903c as exaggerated rumors, laughing e058ecc6aa them off. Yet, he couldn’t 428627a32b help but feel 70b8a169ed uneasy. The orders 027928a606 had explicitly ac960a8556 instructed him 11b80ef556 to keep a12e8b06b9 Leo Fric 9469d21211 and his 662d77965e knights separate.e4d32669d1b0cf2a

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It irritated Count 771ea5e857 Zellered to no 7072f9f432 end that he edeb3702c5 felt any fear, 3b518f619c even momentarily, because fd4210fe99 of this handsome 33d075b977 knight and his 619494905e subordinate. After all, 55717130d4 they were 8325d3b03f only two 0846890633 men.f8f2088dc50c602b

No matter 10568d649b how skilled, 234e6ba795 what could 9ae5650977 two men d7f8e424ab possibly do 6fe631a938 against these bd77006d70 numbers? Leo Fric was even 11721cdc28 unarmed.16a6f0ccdecbeab1

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“That will not be allowed.”0b9cfa19dd854c35

The count finally 055db95c47 smiled smoothly, his 50491f04f0 voice regaining its ad9625e4a2 usual butter-like softness.b6f0258ebac99d5a

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No matter how well b132f6b9b0 they fought, there was d6d54dee01 no way they could 2273e51983 reach the knights before 8bcbb82f60 the order to eliminate 31788beb42 them was carried out.e3b9697fdf67b580

“…Count, you should know I’m showing you an enormous amount of leniency right now.”23251c181e3d10af

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Leo Fric’s 1cab848029 lowered hand f19c408a39 moved slowly, 8d5a4af34c his long c09d939d6c fingers gently ecffe66ade but precisely f3f435ed60 playing through 314e2a07c6 the air 8309c7575e as though 1b11a909a2 conducting an eff83c2d9a invisible tune.a62aa23df56ff5cd

“I’m doing this to avoid disobeying orders and to send His Majesty’s messenger away unscathed.”7a9b53219d6a9cf5

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“…”f7c21c69eaf528ae

“If I were alone, then yes, perhaps you could have detained me until your courier left with the annihilation order. But now Jinpetsu is here. With a single word, he’ll leave here and deliver the news to my knights faster than your courier could.”4836b74e1bd2b174

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“And, Count, I promise you this: while he’s on his way, I’ll make sure to keep things quiet here so that no one gets the chance to deliver that annihilation order.”411b08fba78adf9e

“…”044e80405c9833dd

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“And can you truly be sure that all my knights are calmly stationed outside the castle right now? Are you positive Jinpetsu came alone?”b5dca4359e4d2508

A slow 5350bf06cf smile crept 8231b043f5 to the b04561b221 corners of 3f5d86dfa8 Leo Fric’s 0d49b2390e mouth.6d1d5ddf5ce14ef2

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It was a bluff. Just a bluff.a17ecbc693280e64

But Count Zellered gritted 12d370694b his teeth.8dda02b8fd2f6218

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He wasn’t prepared f4e662fffa to risk his 6226a330b7 life to see 32bc77a379 if Leo Fric’s 1dc6c022d1 gambit was a be80d7df63 bluff or not.5e212052b5be9f32

 c1829e7559349552

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