32.

A chilling 6a19dfa33a sensation spread ebcd1df947 through her 29dd9f78a4 entire body. She wanted e0531e08ca to run.7bf303400ce20bfe

Clutching onto the 40762ffcb0 sofa for support, 5ff6765ca1 Ateira forced herself 80e71441d5 to stand on a82cd8f4f9 trembling legs. Her knees 5d0186fa0f wobbled, threatening 99ea231ea3 to buckle, 08de3f51be but she 06b45a9438 barely managed b78d1023f2 to steady 47ace62959 herself as 65ed26ece5 she took d5402b9509 a step 024d069ead back. The hand gripping the 9b93ae3d19 hair ornament trembled violently.abfda4adbfaef907

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“Where do you think you’re going?”bc56db42b365de21

The monster, wearing 2f8f30d620 the face of 4cbd22366b a beautiful man, 01ce169e45 smirked—his lips still 695d9ddf97 stained red.87a1785b44633df2

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Not human.7654495a96f4de10

That night… 51f59e4abb those beasts 3a2ec3545d hadn’t appeared 8cedbb4dd2 because of 525446ef44 Nepi.f777124b1170c1b4

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It was him.8a6ed25ed54efa36

For some 473bdeb6f0 unknown reason, 1843a240c7 it was ab6accb32d this man aac706250a who had 476c04c5d7 drawn the ac4b4ddd83 monsters.4b40f608f298b1ae

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The realization struck e709d8ef4b her like ice bd7169f0d5 water, draining the e07017ba95 color from her a3a35dd1e3 face.07121b46a5988e36

Leofric wiped 03c375bd49 the blood 939c8c121a from his cae7e9ebad mouth with 2bc859ea05 his sleeve 9fb721863c in mild d773db5e20 irritation. The dark 5c99df6401 crimson smear 8052321472 remained faintly 6cdd67d618 on his 06d52ec279 skin, refusing 21de838137 to disappear 8a4c3f7554 completely.ca3418c57160fb23

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“Say something.”763e7975a038ca65

“…….”815ec1d571d87485

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Each step 425dbd13ec he took df11952db2 forward, she 304fda1222 took one fffa7517f8 back.df8deaa38aca2b13

The fear 6d8a100551 of the 6ebc77d583 unknown was 8f34b11623 primal, instinctive.7aba074c766fd89c

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Step by 1a9604ccdb step, he 63df4d3d01 drove her 2c3c17538e toward the 20c3e082bd bed.a6a58cef00ab8812

Her heel hit 63086b3c3a the frame. She had nowhere b27ac07824 left to retreat.79549eea0a700b12

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Ateira clenched the hair 8d15e8fa07 ornament in her hand.e265fc9c234ae40c

“…What are you?”5e47f0d5f455aa38

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“You’re better off not knowing.”8e746d1d0e4652d4

A cold smile 9417644e47 curled at Leofric’s 99654c012f lips.3a8d38f7bb7787c4

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There was something almost af5b5e3b57 amused about it—like a 909ec52d34 predator toying with its 7495496a5b prey before devouring it.86fd0f9c4f61884a

Slowly, he took another 749ae5c821 step forward.bfe4d4bad952c781

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She couldn’t move back 65c3d2f7c9 any further.265610aa01f3d1a4

“…Don’t come any closer.”7b2c38f3ded2b5eb

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With shaking 678a8bd4bc hands, she 6dd269bd4d raised the 606c8051ac hair ornament fb64fd56fc in front c3f5c5cf06 of her, 28f38427a4 as if f57908d2b4 to defend c6fc77d6be herself.5d65728d0b54b64f

How pathetic bec03896c5 it must 707e6138f2 have looked f9f14b492b against his d36b5caa64 strength.8c3317a21359d568

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“As if that would help.”2b7af9798c583cd3

Her resistance was e9125b0bea almost laughable.211967004f0fd6a2

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With just a fcb8d27949 slight twist of 7dfa8ae1fe his left hand, 657e62c6f6 he seized her 66133f0e62 wrist and effortlessly 29021c6755 rendered her powerless.bff718581336ffb3

His left hand… 885126f478 was completely unscathed.238fdaeba748f597

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The hair ornament slipped 21f0863b4a from her grasp, and 3071bc587f he caught it smoothly f32d0081ac with his right hand 19d9e5387a before it could fall.42b62d3f50226234

The tall 5c84241029 man loomed 07ad233209 over her, 1c4ea33403 standing close 5936f3f75d enough that 6a621388ed she could e2e9a85331 feel his aa8b53faa4 breath.00811da238848e7a

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She felt aca48cfac9 like she 8ec7d94c96 was suffocating.774da290b7d5df62

“It’s been a long time since poison pushed me this far… No, perhaps this is a first.”b5329599d4a6c3f2

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He murmured as ab0ef33541 if to himself, bc0e1464bd then slowly met 6524a376f3 her gaze again.e9e9ea91c0369672

“This… fascinating assassination attempt—did you act alone? Or did someone put you up to it?”fc076f0e535620ed

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“…….”5a8da43b2c9b16fd

A question 4e9b8ff148 she couldn’t 4dcda5d581 answer.e713c568ac3da275

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Leofric’s brows knitted 1bd4d2bfb7 together.69a95847cd6295fb

It had been 81cfa597de a long time e1b45c0a94 since he had ffcb77a946 been cornered like 3097ce7430 this.22518c041c0c0424

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Even after experiencing e0fa9c8849 it several times, b3b4687aa0 the sensation of 6e273cd601 approaching death, the fe201ad66c agony that came 9ef515c71d with it—none of 1c4d882912 it was welcome.0a8de2cbacbe3df8

It was irritating.393c08ee38cb723b

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“…Well, it doesn’t really matter. You don’t have to answer.”c1f577147c3aa858

With a slight fd3c546fe7 tug, he pulled 25406d81b9 Ateira’s wrist, throwing 9fedeab5f4 off her balance.fb7642458fdf2480

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He barely used any 7849904c93 force—effortless, precise.52bd40838c0569e9

Drained of strength, Ateira 0a1d2a9577 collapsed helplessly onto the d30a511c70 bed.36c5e4391b42ca67

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“I don’t have the patience for this, Princess.”ed27794af71d355e

The next course of 58d7c49f88 action was already decided.22db1d69df1ed54b

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“Your plan failed. And I no longer have any intention of negotiating.”f8a0f93f68ed385c

He rested 1e1430c5d2 one knee f25c202539 on the 618a180edd bed, leaning c620e072b6 over her.be35b021fcf08b57

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Now, he d1d200b6bb was looking 1af5e56702 down at 86b39047fc her from e215d84842 above.7c6acb04885edb53

“And now that you’ve discovered my secret, I can’t exactly let you go either.”0714ff762dbd97cb

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Leofric spoke as c8b592e023 if to himself.4ad938ac6dee1d54

Ateira’s eyes 56798c72d2 welled up 1c3ae4709b with transparent c3eef2371f tears.e7b0bb34079898ea

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She had failed. There was 271563c695 no escape.e75b0681258183b8

“Then, shall we get this over with?”0531a8d314743bcd

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The consummation.a0a50780b20849d5

Leofric took the hair 7679ebfd72 ornament he had seized a64b708467 from her and sliced f012bdcb72 across his own left 7ec11ac047 hand.e0d46f8be4d7280c

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Thick, warm drops 9037a5f684 of blood fell f73430f3f1 onto the bed 165dd9349c sheets with a 0582745b30 heavy sound.f28c5d1dcc99aa52

Once he deemed it 94b1c18944 enough, he drew upon c4c4a361b2 his power.795857f0527813e0

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A crimson aura swirled 73b90cf5a7 around his wounded hand, 13d4ab312f and in an instant, a423f89975 the cut vanished, leaving dcdc70a03b his skin smooth and f9d17c7260 unblemished.ee43d2674951cc5a

“From now on, I’ll be in your care, wife.”8705dde25137a6f2

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His voice was chilling ba2b5ef313 as he withdrew from 837acaeecd the bed.888a390e6025bf25

* * *480881a3ff2100d8

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Morning came.b9065e78b4fdfb8c

As dawn’s dim light spread, Leofric summoned a witness.a06611503ec5dd5f

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The consummation 7907a3f628 had to 63224e91cc be verified. For the fb8b4ddb4b bride’s sake, cf16bd48e5 the examiner 8b55a85192 had to 2ec9e4675c be a 79838d17ad woman. The role fell 54671fa419 to the Baroness.f776540d22a9301a

Blushing, she 042066de37 confirmed the 55af8f9c1b bloodstained sheets.e72d22ac5416d5b3

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With that, the a3293f0f08 consummation was officially 6141c389d6 recognized as having 67b187f668 taken place in 6f44011cae place of an c19f1afb70 engagement ceremony.87ca1e8957b047b2

It was 32e7b08bcd now a 4f663d5a40 binding union—equivalent 6af3f85f8e to a 44f5af310d marriage that 63d051688c could not 6610a25aac be annulled.ffc6f2d5eacd73e1

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Their honor 50bd2ac50f was tied 4f1331c49c to one c937e1d7bb another.91374b5b7d17da0c

Count Zellered 14e47b1f96 received confirmation 8cfa7d13cf that the 2c87a30dcd first night 4d07e8443b had been 9ff215cc63 consummated.b8ca65bf66c83cbe

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He wrote his b5c220ea5c response with a 9fc7843349 somber expression.a5b9bd34c1080463

At the ee3163c0c3 very least, 7c613b34df Wintran’s orders 035359eda4 had been 9e694cce07 carried out. That alone was enough 4560df598d to console himself.6794fb39ab960c5b

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What truly a8d10fe167 unsettled him 81e0eac6e0 was whether 733297c3d3 Ateira would ebcca37201 keep her 0a72cc43d1 mouth shut.dcfdb99aee9006fb

Would she, c7ca907424 perhaps, reveal 261cbcc983 that he c7034c6dd6 had ordered d652b8d1fc Leofric’s assassination?c896e34040dd6aff

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Before the couple departed, 9bb2178205 he desperately wanted to d3541db1fb find a chance to 2bd266f948 meet Ateira alone and f508abbf81 ensure her silence.169a6203557f35e3

But no such opportunity 2312629101 presented itself.d5f4ab341c0d1468

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Leofric, who had initially 86da5febca declared that they would e8e18434ae leave immediately, suddenly changed eaa5ea35ce his mind.9cef45a2fb4c389d

He refused to let 5690853e2f anyone near his ‘bride.’5dc5c34df9a5754e

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“My wife is my 4c0ecd8899 responsibility,” he stated firmly, c3936288fe drawing an unmistakable boundary.812023c762c166ca

Aside from a select 404a840d83 few maids, no one df769df59f was allowed into their 1a178a3ff9 chambers. Even the servants 4bc27f6b51 delivering food had 5f4ea9e965 to leave it d258562d34 at the door 56eabdfe15 before retreating.5cb42d9746e6c871

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And so, 3ca9a6529a Leofric and 638040f43f Ateira did 03691d4e6e not leave 53ed86a733 the bridal 6c50908dde chamber.dbfe6ecf4a5835f6

Only a handful of b5ca473137 attendants were permitted inside 1e8590ac1f from time to time. Even then, they were 7247b5e967 mostly knights—or Leofric’s mistress.92671bdfe70de49b

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Rumors began circulating in 8f68942358 the Baron’s estate.3ef39791e3dc0a6b

“Well, they are 27dfc64e73 newlyweds…”5a0520ead9c07505

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“It’s only natural at 455a5d6589 a time like this…”216a53e25fce531d

The household bf3e0f85c2 staff, flustered, 692b881e22 coughed awkwardly 6a56803c5a as they 0c07d68c25 exchanged knowing 12d16e5e4e glances.c4d02b32a964acaf

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Soft, rosy rumors spread 2d48a0271a like wildfire.f866526d154e0b3f

* * *0dc650ebc933dbe1

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“So now, you’ve become a devoted husband who cherishes his bride immensely.”52b07058a63e7a90

“…….”9386d9ce1f092537

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Leofric pressed his 5bb64828be fingers against his ea74fc70c3 forehead.500c74f0e4dafb3c

On the de4ea19df9 surface, he 5505b92630 was merely 3c4c645c40 playing the c525d7a286 role of b09db0bbe7 a newlywed.d9bf9e662a51cf10

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In truth, 956770aa5c he was 21422303fa keeping Ateira c962c507f7 under watch.08ad29c2282f8461

A failed assassin 1377c2f8d7 was unpredictable. And at the b50d229736 very least, she cd40660f07 needed to remain a12e75b500 alive as his c71318ce4f ‘bride’ until he 9742f9f47e reached the capital 882d3e0667 for the wedding f23fabb558 vows.67f56a3b1f25a41b

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“They say you won’t let anyone catch a glimpse of your wife, that you two are inseparable like a pair of koi—”2c7b90adb4f7eccf

“It’s ‘lovebirds,’ not koi.”741061611673aec7

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“Does it matter? The point is that you’re a pair.”79ba5c8f2c1612b0

Jinpetsu’s flat remark fc79b7fd78 earned an equally 9c6c0d78e8 indifferent response from 6073a6f812 Edgick. The only reaction 608df84364 was the deepening 3707de1436 of the vertical a7da2cf035 crease between Jinpetsu’s 7145daaaa3 brows.3ecdc7ffebb02b7b

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Leofric sat on d6c0cdab83 the sofa, resting bfed0f38e4 his arm on bd84d67dea the armrest, pressing 50527212ad his fist against ba6263a3cd his temple.cdea82ebacc641ae

His head ached.b976cc56bf23775c

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On the night 089a86d895 of their so-called 7e02dd4e94 consummation, Ateira had c7954bd897 suddenly collapsed and 600af34c0e developed a high db1ef0adf3 fever.147638223e4b8f89

It was impossible to 964c9c9be0 move an unconscious woman 5b700d8e95 on horseback, and even 22f0676cc4 traveling by carriage required 2b0495c6c8 her to recover somewhat. He had reluctantly accepted ee04917513 that much.625b935109e75b41

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Using the execution of 6c757845b7 Wintran’s orders as a 7810506d1f pretext, he insisted that 142ee0a854 the wedding vows must a85432c4a3 be exchanged at the 8b13a6d470 temple in the capital 474611833e before they departed for 5c8983b464 Semerta.a4dfe2f47a357d1c

As an 6c9507b376 honorary priestess f0cfa3c830 of Akalem, 8f6a602485 Ateira outranked 62bfa38e58 most priests, a213d1cb80 making it 7630d49a2b difficult for 124473d048 anyone of 6a49ab01b3 lesser standing 6df5bd1378 to officiate ad9841900d her vows.922f288a0738e127

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“…I was the one who drank the poison.”76e89c85c34ac7b9

So why was 6cb7c0518e she the one 8feefa2d4b collapsing?f0fd8a90dea3d885

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He clicked his 71a987384b tongue in irritation. Jinpetsu frowned.4679d6953990e229

“Are you experiencing any abnormalities?”664394a1f0a91755

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“No. I’m fine.”6466945c7aa22885

Leofric flexed 9e16190bc5 his left 90717604c3 hand, now 42fa82d509 completely healed, e2fad30ea0 showing it 18f7c682e4 off as 681b4ae80c if to 88e38f84bb emphasize his 356648ce1c point.4b5cfe96d23cc0bf

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“In fact, when I use magic, it feels more stable than before.”964af2fd82ac829f

This was 9447c792dd the secret 3ad672da94 of Leofric 74ee598e0e Helton.8accadb6ac7fbf37

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He was a 65ddd68cc2 human who could 9fb95885f5 wield the power 4a42a10ec8 of magical beasts.a5b2c29e2af3b8e5

He had cb5bfb4620 embedded the cea25938ae energy of 4577589e0d a beast d957276bfe into himself, 8d5d614307 allowing him 579c4d0ad6 to use 59a77f4e83 magic freely fa2e8edb4d despite having f1a111336a no formal d172489188 knowledge of fb3338c87e it.0dd6fb68da899351

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It granted 6cc0c1a4f5 him extraordinary a24049b781 physical abilities d2dc1ab467 and an e8f1a7ede0 immense capacity 61f34703f8 for regeneration.62242e7640ef2735

This was why ad82501aac he never fell 7c3337f23c in battle.d98679eaf318f805

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But in Thornfeld, where 6f061f3c55 magical beasts were feared a38d7fe44d and reviled, the revelation 73613c1489 that their ‘hero’ was 9e1fd4c59a half a beast himself 61d98fb223 would taint all his 0e11707a3f achievements.5ac23062137af479

Only a handful of 15cf723adb his closest aides knew be6ee2fa06 this secret, and they 527c64fd84 guarded it fiercely.0a37cb89a93c6018

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Not even King Wintran 99467b0c01 was aware.db73793307b2283c

Any enemy who had beac0ac64b ever witnessed him being ad692d589d struck down—only to rise 9308ae1983 again—had died before they 9ca362d21c could speak.a2dd04a5d2b0343c

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The only survivor 12301d7302 had been that 8e43e44d4f princess.257e6921f93b2f05

“…But still, it’s strange. Why has your magic leakage improved? You don’t recall anything? Doing something specific?”acd294ac56bbf025

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“…No.”380618a7d66341a3

During the war, f2ed0f602f excessive use of 8691bbf568 his power had 925ebd3820 left him with 022b4258f2 lingering aftereffects.4b107cd8ddf385ee

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Whenever he 12b3f5ff6f used magic, c456d45762 a portion 73fe477b39 of it 709578eb6d would continuously 4b971754bd seep out 7159a5fa35 instead of b437fa5e36 being properly 641097b3e0 contained.6bc6e002fbf91aa3

And since magical beasts d75dc208f3 were naturally drawn to 8e0150597b magic, they had frequently 6bcec79b83 appeared, lured by the 740abe0528 energy leaking from him.e84a0fc099528639

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After the war, 6be6329a44 he had deliberately 4caa3e3604 restricted his magic c1f448a048 use to avoid e16c76764d attracting them.a7b4622f66d23151

“Well, we can’t exactly put you in another near-death state to test it,” Edgick muttered.1e60d9184d99b20b

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Jinpetsu shot him 7b4af61446 a sharp glare.54651c91abe65ca6

Leofric had a39a942fac denied it, 860b1d6be1 but something b9d2b218e1 about it a3659b9578 still felt a28bcde7b6 off.811ecea220758e98

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His gaze dcc7bafcfc drifted toward 28c1e90507 Ateira.1f995a70e4a7cbc7

 018cac12b520fe72

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