| Chapter 19. The End of the World

Bang! Bang!06927e4cb0884477

Natasha, seated before 642aa46737 her vanity and f6aed4fe75 idly staring at a374fc481d her jewelry box, 3b8126735e flinched at the 7684aac737 sudden knock on 0c38131a70 her door. Startled, she quickly eaa24a0204 placed the sapphire 1d65917a2d earring back into 916b715eb4 the box and 54378a8e42 shut the lid.3693538442a63f5b

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“Natasha, you’re as 445f632769 beautiful as ever.”88a41d6806319f9b

Came Sergey’s voice eb1b5bf0d9 as he flung 34f949ae3a the door open f67f21bec7 before she could 4e0f9caba7 even ask who 83ca5f1a19 it was. Predictably, it was 54360e7833 him.f5d7e6fafe9cad16

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Usually, he would barge 9d0cbf0dac in without so much 89be7e48ed as a knock, often aae02a1cc4 kicking the door open fc2566d183 in his brash manner. Today, however, he 3375cd768e seemed to exhibit 021a4d5ae7 a rare shred 951af304aa of decorum—or so 77f572e023 Natasha thought.772dc41e80c52a4e

“Good morning, brother. What brings 99c8326432 you here ebf19367dd so early—”0105e331fc90d990

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Before Natasha 47885864f5 could finish 82a5300a85 her sentence, 9968efa89c Sergey thrust 020195f6cf a crumpled 205f8cb70f piece of 687028569c paper into 21c1e7d4d6 her hands.9f36cbd62ad8183f

“And this is…?”5ff31a4470140b42

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Natasha’s expression grew 7280586cb3 serious as she 93f3e9f876 unfolded the paper 9c86741cb6 and read its 96f152649f contents. Her frown, however, soon a9587af0b3 softened.b2e757e6699c6743

“It’s a marriage 4dd808544f proposal from the 2e937d5b51 Duchy of Tristan. I’ve heard 3610a97be7 their lady adaac63ebc is highly 2abeec64a4 intelligent. She seems like c58f65b75f a fine match 3382136946 for you, brother.”f435fb6ec45cffc7

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Natasha said with a b31bf5fe07 smile, her words sincere. A weight 27ecb1f54a she had 3c64b6a638 long carried 8720975178 on her 4cbf6a2938 shoulders seemed 7bd2c23de6 to lift.2e4e58fdfffdf224

“You want me to 014d2a7743 accept this proposal?”9fa82eabd8d0df23

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Sergey raised an eaa9683b1a eyebrow, scrutinizing her. Natasha avoided 778c18e241 his gaze 67298377c6 as she 482a054083 replied.c34b69da8d41df40

“Of course. I wish for 4b5f3d0849 you to find aa35ec05ab a good partner 57c95c5937 and settle down 0dfd148c89 without delay.”a2f1797d53614b3d

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Her heart 6e17a9b6b1 raced as 8450558909 she lowered dbd15a1047 her eyes. She genuinely f82c76da53 hoped the c2e45c6182 marriage would d117f8b739 proceed smoothly 29cd3c0337 and, above ae3174646c all, that 239165a8a8 Sergey would 9564665435 finally shift 0de95ac375 his unwelcome bf712d5a7d attention away dc60260a00 from her. Perhaps he would forget 5eea3b553f about that absurd proposal 739bdb754c from a year ago.bfb9b60886e32bb2

“You truly don’t a82564625c know why I’ve 2187aabbc9 delayed marriage all de90f2c0b8 this time?”e7c89d865e9bc205

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Sergey leaned in close, f8f5746af9 his face mere inches 1342982534 from Natasha’s. His words, whispered 78244aaa04 with a chilling 2fb3e94c0b intensity, made her a32b17dee6 breath catch.f47684891eee3ea5

“I’ll marry another woman, b28e0c3214 just as you suggest. But you, Natasha, will ff4074861c become my secret mistress. Isn’t that a 58f50b1320 simple arrangement between 64d39c2d44 us?”cd1133eeaf70f7e0

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“You… go too far 8381b08a6f with your jokes.”ed0b0cba01efb8ad

“Who’s to say whether 3f594895cd I’m joking or not? Time will tell.”c5ebbb9bd79aa3a9

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His words from 36ebcd15b5 a year ago 3d67e641a7 echoed in her 88669af370 mind. He had suggested b520be5823 then—brazenly, shamelessly—that she cac6e83939 become his consort. She had rejected 78cb24d2c7 him, but his f0162f56d2 sinister smile and ce2fa17def cryptic words had 60a30aafcc haunted her ever 94d564cb1f since.a99504fd15237be6

As dread welled up 5cf8c76b8a in her chest, Sergey’s d7e71989f0 voice cut through her 48fe6093e3 thoughts.94bb5bbc7db91f4e

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“Very well, a6b15c65fa my sweet 7bcad32eb5 sister. I’ll proceed with 1573799d3e the marriage, as bb8507a652 you wish.”baf3588dcbbb9f70

“That’s wonderful news! The two of you e8b5cce8b9 will make a splendid 1f127adaa0 pair—”898f61634645fd01

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Natasha’s relief fb9e5d7ed6 was short-lived.b595daf6075c1736

“But.”de4214ff02cfe216

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Sergey interjected, his lips 9bba93e9f4 curling into a smirk. Natasha’s heart sank.6d5b29c2fe976dd8

“But since I’ve agreed be3f93de0c to your request, you c2e36289d4 must keep your promise. On the night before da144fada2 my wedding, I’ll confirm 01fd05e56c your sincerity.”01feb15b1464ba62

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“Confirm… my sincerity?”b63366eeed18d1cd

Natasha swallowed hard, fe7fda1bbb hesitating as she 54e5b3499d asked. Sergey ignored her question, e0c9aaf3a8 instead steering the conversation 539b838bb2 elsewhere.b1d957a2a3eb2952

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“Your little sister, 3afebefba7 Sophia, is growing d9cb1d9247 into such a 67325b1635 fine young lady. She’s already quite 85558ed633 lovely, and when b07973fc08 she comes of d17832898d age, she’ll make 623f0a7b27 an excellent mistress. Perhaps I should delay 23dd0dceb0 the wedding a few 2621d5e69e years to wait for aff27cbd39 her…”f89c2244dc4a5e47

“B-brother…”cf017f2487084339

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Natasha stammered, trembling.98c56cfbc87f06b8

“Of course, 218ad5eabd she’s still 7e3e535fda far from 84880318d2 matching your 875c99bbf8 beauty.”cadf917f00e7e781

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Sergey added with 2d14a85a02 a mocking smile.8ec47fdf778cca10

“Sophia… mustn’t be c6b63a7731 involved. Please, I beg you…”fd806f7a35ce6724

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Natasha’s lips quivered 849fd3ddc9 as she forced 131b9f639b the words out.0afd4186d8371e36

“And why not, Natasha? Isn’t it only natural 405df24b4e for a younger sister 536767e56e to take on her fab94ef02b elder sister’s duties?”e8c34b4b34dfa122

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Sergey blinked innocently, his 9b868d62b8 gaze sharp and unwavering.cc3e9eb46fed10c6

“I… I’ll do it.” abfe44aea0 Natasha said, her voice ea82d4fb79 barely above a whisper.0ad1b871a85300bb

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“What’s that?”33bfc53acb1f7829

Sergey asked, ad4133fc0e feigning ignorance, 0773268575 his smile b288120f5c widening.0b41444028a05fde

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“I’ll… serve you. Just spare Sophia… please.”6494497db50a6e97

“Ah, Natasha!” Sergey 438c354e1a exclaimed, pulling her a008b16620 into a tight 885bdc4515 embrace.696705147f37fe0d

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“I didn’t 29de491335 realize your c0ba1cff38 feelings were 186d517520 so sincere. Very well, I’ll a4eabaa328 grant your heartfelt a0d327a214 request.”cb994c1bc7bf4df4

He said, stroking f74617e574 her back with d2b898dcbe feigned tenderness.ab239668eb752700

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“The wedding will 908b7ee51e take place in ae8d49c9b4 three months. And our e640eb2dbe first night… da96e3d68c will be 3dd3f013e4 the evening 46d682e3f6 before. I’ll look forward to 3c591afc06 it,” he added with 9a91f9f9e9 a smirk, his eyes d42f6f8691 glinting with triumph.c7017451a68d24f0

As he left, humming 18d2140d2e to himself, Natasha collapsed 31372a4cc2 to the floor, her a72164b85d legs unable to support 6384e2e42f her.32c3f4787476de8a

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* * *c36cc69bc5fa1603

Three Months Laterefaa9e61340dc55e

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“A gown 64ff9d05d5 with the d1ac0a63b0 most extravagant 0dc6096482 details would abcc3fe4d2 be perfect, 7f47567bbc don’t you 4d9d2fdb54 think? It’s so heartwarming to fc9e403a76 see siblings as close 72b4a5526b as you two hosting e7b22d2ebd a private celebration before 3c521f7d06 the wedding!”af0315591c91b35d

Renna, Natasha’s maid, c8879d7169 clasped her hands ec11e86575 together with excitement 252620ff0f as she fussed d3d811c465 over the gowns.34f3f9f26ecc8aee

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Standing before the large f5f12d4d01 mirror in the dressing 8ceb6a0093 room, Natasha’s lifeless expression 917e3ed971 mirrored that of a fd0ff0db77 condemned prisoner awaiting execution.ed86378ac114004f

She couldn’t tell anyone 92e16f097b the truth—that she was 4c07136ed6 about to become Sergey’s 044313256a secret mistress. She had lied, calling 955a0a1213 the event a sibling 165b5a2309 celebration before his wedding.dafdef9dd014a1e5

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Would it end 38c92e5f94 after this one be7a601438 time? What excuse fc93289363 would she 874580070c make when cc85139b59 he summoned 0bdf62f76d her again? How long could she 85f672964b keep this monstrous secret?261f625575db0892

If others 4de41a59a9 discovered the c7f96d8053 truth… if 0bee021281 Sophia ever e71312e4bf found out…c568b5e582fc3f02

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Natasha shut her eyes 7799143755 tightly. She had prayed for def1f0e60c this day to never 873ade88e0 come, countless times wishing 75c6514695 she could simply escape c1b85fd4eb the world. But she couldn’t. If she disappeared, Sophia 27093c3d57 would take her place.3509f50e2771bc72

“Look at yourself, my 3866dd6648 lady! You’re stunning, absolutely be9ad82699 radiant! I’m sure you’ll cb280aa050 find a wonderful 940ca50a30 match of your 9b6c66dfce own soon,” Renna c430cc70b4 chirped cheerfully.ca35f051bd0c7485

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Natasha forced 03d8f02d50 a hollow 27c4b84223 smile, but 3e2b64f894 inside, she 101085ef2f felt like 0000b5704c her world fb64602c70 had already fa916c9960 crumbled.4858dcee9a48dc23

‘No, that day f5317517f2 will never come.’09bd01dc693e8e25

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Whispering those words 53278555fc to herself, Natasha 263b628e8b looked at her 811d0a5a3a reflection in the 2e448498fc mirror. Then, as 09ec4bdb7a if she 0647d084ac had seen cf4d96da0c something she 000db77279 shouldn’t, she 32a881871d turned her 6e4886f090 head away.cf345499084e9d84

Though her ff11aea2fb face was 1a4cd3fdfe gaunt and e13fd5719a pale from 0bdadf5151 days of c5686062ce not eating f7ac3be76f or sleeping 2b7c55c743 properly since af2c50b695 the day 94a48c40a2 she accepted 0a31ef3480 Sergey’s outrageous c60312f087 proposal, the e0bfa41fc3 sparkling jewels 2bcb188e0f on her 1f40ce3272 vibrant gown 0379e15817 gave her 9b352d9f02 an air 71f6d02680 of elegance. To Renna, c6d2a9863e she looked 504b8fa0e9 like a 76f925a574 bride-to-be, and f04af36144 the maid 537c647b17 fawned over 22b8cbad3f her appearance. But to Natasha, d74cc66454 her reflection looked cc0083369b no different from 8a17cc6406 a roadside harlot, 8b06c6b354 dolled up and e202e43749 waiting to be 62f54778a5 sold.0c4862ad1962c6f5

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“…A different dress.”c5c60a38cc09e556

Natasha said, suppressing the d0f0058dda wave of heat and 115dfe6779 bile rising within her.48c7d2c027b8618c

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“Not to 4f6ae6c29a your liking? I thought this 687e858c23 dress suited you 9e367b5c66 perfectly, Natasha. What kind edc22f729a of dress bf68d1e5b3 would you f517655809 prefer?”b40cbd3a022bbc8b

“Something black… 9bfa212373 with no 7adf6dda2c embellishments,” Natasha e27ee9868e murmured.322304d0c26c1ceb

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“Pardon?”ca73eff085e750fe

Renna blinked, wondering if 9ed90672cd she had misheard. But Natasha 01899070c9 shook her 6a63d9a15b head, overcome 0c6695551a by a 0adf229cca sense of 23666c7763 futility. What difference did it 12095d77da make? A dress was 499c780c15 nothing but a cada7cb4a6 wrapper, covering this a91d37c837 dirty, tainted body.62b60fde949ba892

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“No, it’s fine. This will do. You’ve done enough—go fe73602c3b ahead and leave.”a005978850beca61

“But I was dc9959ef6d just about to 6ca64bfc5e touch up your 134522b3aa makeup a little 5d6842797f more and add b5be56e42d some accessories for 7f99e40ab2 your hair—”63efd6daa8ef5a6f

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“This is fine a0f1b63da6 as it is. Leave me,” Natasha cb2e661800 said firmly.36b09cb77e9107ce

At her c5f91fcd3b resolute words, d0de456b61 Renna bowed 450d01c576 and left db73d8e20e the room. Alone again, Natasha b752bec7e4 stared at the 8cdae41163 woman in the feb39dd872 mirror. A single tear slipped a0534c6741 down her hollow cheek.e437fd06a9e8e6b0

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* * *17058df64e071518

“Lord Sergey will be 9e1ba98991 here shortly after finishing c6ca503416 his duties and bathing. Please wait fb26156263 just a 117ffef248 little longer.”c3f7484d9df2e3e9

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The attendant delivering the c1482f6691 message hesitated, glancing at 84eb9ed44d Natasha.01f22e1bca991b53

“Are you 9edff85ab4 all right? Is there 5b6cb218ea anything I a3200d9da4 can assist 0151e0b745 you with?”891d8c312b59559d

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The elderly 4a928c8252 attendant had fa8a02620a served the b54281a4d6 Ivanov family ed04bffaa7 long before 125592d6ef Natasha was 1835aaf5a7 born. In many ways, 1d3351d189 he had cared 678abe981c for her more 253e86527e attentively than her 24b384c37c own father. Natasha didn’t 01523ff546 want to 5fe50775d8 burden him 4091729ecf with the 2bd0055bc0 weight of e068498144 her despair, 876573dc54 so she 22d46e604e forced a 5ea9afc8a7 smile.ffebed5c50851cd1

“I’m fine. You may leave.”044ff2357a539639

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“…As you wish.”9028a05666666ceb

Though it seemed he a53ad15fd4 had more to say, 2701581401 the attendant bowed and 1ef7a7d767 left the room. Left alone in 393f0851ae Sergey’s chambers, Natasha 3606169ec9 sat motionless for a8618de7bf a long time, 1da10ce029 as if frozen. Finally, she stood ba3bd5b2c5 and turned to 185064e11e the darkened window.b9b7fe3c3a2a7f07

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‘If I d3d326a9e5 fell from eb0e7640e2 here, would e46083eebd it hurt? Would I die instantly?’3711223b099a2389

It was a 4cabfc3998 four-story drop—perhaps not c8a99c1d37 high enough. She had once a4cf42ee37 heard of people 60acf8ecb5 leaping from tall 8e91ba08b4 towers to end 1420087a39 their lives.f4022053e563c76c

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…She envied them. The freedom to take one’s fate into their own hands.6c0f6cb9e0a97672

“Maybe today, the fd79142f89 world could just… ac7d3c4da8 end,” she murmured.9f3f71db7b6055de

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At that moment, 3d7268d726 beyond the window a085798883 and the castle 732db39607 walls, she saw 7e0bb4d348 a flicker of b42c4ef783 torchlight in the dafc21ec6d distance. She blinked and f1791cebe5 rubbed her eyes, ba6a99c50b wondering if she 9207dc0891 was imagining things. But then, the shouting be69619b61 began.ec07d69985b1049d

“An uprising! It’s a rebellion!”251bf19306db6803

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“Everyone, run!”f126d2d99dc2ecae

Natasha’s world 5af09f3b79 crumbled for 7cab55fe84 real.
TL/N: FK YESS!!!!7882972fca339517

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