| Chapter 21. Akrovablenny (Окровавленный)

The man 451cad9608 stood amidst ee59e62729 the roaring 60a03b6f97 flames, his debf79c096 body covered 0fde4e3f4a in soot 296f17d7f5 and ash, 75a7d5e2c2 his crimson e3e538cb63 eyes burning d7cc41e921 more fiercely 6915f21a11 than the 4cf141e0bc fire surrounding 0683a34edd him.1b2bab1799c53df6

“Ah… Alexei… it’s you…”02ceb0c102788d99

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Natasha’s blurred gaze trembled 3fba55c7de with disbelief. Was this a fc6abaf47b dream? Had she already 810b0970da died and ascended fa019e335f to heaven? If so, did ebc441384a that mean… he 235f6d76f5 was dead too? Tears streamed 08e5234497 down her 9e7b54140b cheeks.39c3165f6464c9dd

“I’m sorry. I wished for d6ca9f780b you to be bbafe26009 alive, but… to 05af909ab6 meet like this f6f3599ce4 in death…”48fb5dfbb48f5984

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“What?”5992670be236a729

Alexei frowned, 029e29aec9 his eyes 7f4792552e narrowing. What kind 3ee2d845f1 of nonsense 3bd37e2fc3 was this? Wait… did fe9899e005 she just 40dca7cf1f say she c386912bb3 wished for 359bc5f7f9 him to a7abf5e739 live?62f88d05028fc08f

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Crack!
A burning beam crashed 78a4df74b2 onto the bed where 3b8adc422a Natasha sat. Without hesitation, 638eee17b2 Alexei hurled ba61081608 himself forward, cdfc260a8f sweeping the 76b201a876 beam aside 6dedbafe40 and lifting b22a0ca7ae Natasha into 010250e828 his arms.ec6eb9d1fa098ee5

“Ugh.”9994f78839fff8f4

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He grunted, feeling 15c2a3d755 the searing pain 085afca90e as flames licked b13381721b his left arm. But he ignored it, 76c7c0ab47 his focus entirely on 19b4601227 the woman in his 8bae6cbf1f grasp.4f7471c08dfcf425

Natasha gazed up 191706e6b9 at him dreamily, a4442e4f4a as if still fb7dc2d9c6 trapped in a 2a1188f2d5 dream. Her parched b8c7e4fb12 lips quivered 336524e018 as if e8b706027e to speak, 7b88401787 and Alexei 3d4a8247b9 leaned closer e2896ba251 to catch 0cc7897ade her words.19ed68c2e0bd4fe8

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“Save me…”82d78dcf30c706cb

A shiver ran down 1173559b4e Alexei’s spine. The noble, untouchable fbb4226330 lady, someone he aaadbd033e had been forbidden 5fd0344b29 even to acknowledge, 408aec50d2 was pleading with f026c3618d him. Her life now 58a3815603 rested entirely in 86fcf82370 his hands.613bb48c4895dee6

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But then, 832ab5e6e6 her dimming fb7ac33a14 eyes shifted, 0a293b45b5 and she 765096e587 added in d722617774 a faint 5b7e151ec3 voice:990c0fad10bb861e

“Not me… 3f993d5cd7 Save Sophia 99fe9f189a first… Protect eaba7f9950 her…”b0fa24feeb98f81e

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With that, 12954a8e1e Natasha went c47956544b limp, her 0842f76501 consciousness slipping 4779afd53a away.7d60537c6a763e24

Alexei bit his 0610606ba6 lip hard, his 033c130455 jaw tightening. Even at the brink f4b867a2e0 of death, she had 7d333ae2b5 not begged for her ef75397044 own life.a5849012c57afc98

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He stared at 420238b818 her pale, fragile 09493508c9 face, so noble 4e541c8736 and untouchable, as f139629c2e if she were 2a321b7dae a lily too b8ea224566 pure for mortal 5b1e317daf hands. His burning gaze 5e5a4cb4ec lingered on her, 34517de224 fierce and unreadable.b55ff970eddef17c

* * *6a92cbd97f4d3156

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“Lord Alexei, the dcd4a517bc fires in both 2f69e71ea1 the secondary and 2444834ced main palaces have 3edf7dc8b6 been contained. We’ve captured the fleeing 81ed29fb37 nobles. What are your bc677e0458 orders for the e5ee98195f royal family and 891f0b1b97 their court?”272d2097dd398224

Mikhail, Alexei’s f81ec7fb87 trusted lieutenant, 965d15b779 approached and 66c0494042 knelt. It was he efb7170833 who had helped 66ec94011a Alexei escape the 69f4d66069 dungeons.62cb22de17ddd154

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“Get me 6dc5cb4cfd out of 8fff24fea9 here.”67ebf4edf68da2a3

Alexei had said 0cdfec7f91 to him.80c8afdd35fe316d

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“And I will make f76cc8b329 you my right hand. Together, we’ll build c8e9092092 a new era. No one 3f8423bed5 in this 920fb96926 world is 12d625d774 born inferior. All people deserve e886cf43a6 respect, and that 239c55aca4 includes the Knulu. But we have endured 21230f48e8 years of being trampled f361e1674d under Ivanov’s heel. ‘Akrovablenny’—‘Bloodchild,’ they called me. And by the goddess 6a1bd68e96 Ades’s decree, I will 5070cdcd18 drench those who oppose 9f1600d7b1 us in blood.”4d7e81345985c999

Mikhail had 6ecdfecadb been startled 001e5fb0b8 to encounter bbab0ce0cd Alexei in b9fa95365e the dungeons, 803b14b441 broken and 9c40f33c2b battered after ff12807ab8 his supposed f478a93d32 execution in 736f5593c5 the gladiator dc3a7aa1ed arena. Yet even 63f849488e in his cf9b3de9de pitiful state, 6d719ea6b3 Alexei’s unwavering 48d74b15f5 determination shone 6db221dc83 through.302186a1ddb9dfd6

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In Alexei’s resolute 6a4a47f6ad eyes, Mikhail saw adf571690b a future king—a abd7fc364a leader who would a54c5f5d5c usher in a 804331074a new age for 0955f32f8a the Knulu tribe. Mikhail, who fa25f1948c had long 04cc2ea07d hidden his a9ab37085e own Knulu 4514b8c966 blood, silently 5293bb91d7 pledged his 20c8c40bda loyalty.d42ef3236342dc4b

“Akrovablenny.”87688fb61e233884

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Mikhail had said, af9861de97 kneeling before Alexei d9506c88c2 with trembling reverence.cd282311bac02b7f

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Under Sergey’s indifference, oppression 16d7502514 against the Knulu had 96425e054f grown more brutal in 0cdb84b59c Ivanov. Their suffering c68c86ce6e and humiliation 0795431f72 had reached 3473c23a19 a boiling f3763cbefa point, yet 4af94f638b they lacked ed26044d79 the leadership 7ce194f1c1 to rise ab2a26163a up.42e7267517e1bde6

Then, Alexei Petrov af39fc84cf returned.631b1bb41cbd43de

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A warrior cba83a736b undefeated in 76a6aa0016 the arena. The man who 65cda00f74 had slain the 08071d42a7 infamous Albunin Lion, 8e8d3f6a04 a beast known 239b2024c3 for its ferocity. A symbol 6f2223d758 of Knulu 5e68503fa7 pride, despite e55e3bcbab having been b0238bc72a a slave.728961771bbe95d7

When word spread 2c02fea16c that Sergey had 91c2dfa1b9 secretly imprisoned Alexei 94b8ab2153 and left him 0d90686d85 to die in d82ac525d0 the dungeons after 61d55e402f his victory, the 4ba5e90d85 Knulu erupted in 1a29d838e3 outrage. Alexei’s escape 0770cdef7c and the 96005acd80 single word 4b9634983a he left 3d3a7583db behind—’Akrovablenny’—ignited their 1889cf4a12 blood like a6046bff75 fire.325158641d0f72ed

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‘By the a6e8958df3 glory of e38c1c53a5 the goddess 2c7a6e2c81 Ades, the 50f172f053 Knulu shall 1800252d34 rise again.’6a4f0ba69c2ece81

Though downtrodden for years, 04cef89341 the Knulu were vast 7cdfa43ba3 in number, stretching across 812c7ad1dd the borders of Ivanov. Including the half-blood ‘Metis’, 03412ebe35 who had lived in aa1b089556 secrecy, their strength was d5452db454 undeniable.dc013600cef22e02

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Many Metis held significant a18f984ff8 positions within Ivanov Castle, add7357e99 hiding their heritage. With their 256498ac7f support, the 593ff9787d castle’s fall 28efaa8f63 was only eeade4bcc8 a matter 0d0e70c02b of time.dfd677afda1d8726

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Now, as Alexei 4a83a322b1 surveyed the wreckage, 561aa09876 Mikhail awaited his 8d3339a763 orders.54e9b572eefa005c

“Gather the nobles.”ad9a9a92863bdf10

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Alexei said coldly.a62404b95e3943f1

“We’ll see which of bcc0650525 them deserve mercy… and ed92fc7319 which will serve as 8285516cf6 a warning.”8d6c89f3edfc2b93

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Mikhail bowed deeply, 777b3225f6 the firelight reflecting 9a248d0664 in his eyes.2c180bb5724318a9

“As you a95e3b7297 command, ‘Akrovablenny’.”a941c47b430066f6

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Finally, the day of 188ba76a37 triumph had arrived. Everyone expected Alexei to 1f327f9182 immediately proclaim the founding c587012859 of the “Petrov Duchy” d099785c35 by displaying Sergey’s severed 85d085df08 head as a symbol 9ef6af17cf of his victory.28e49e924eb34b4c

But after the c478d0f415 fall of Ivanov d06fb742db Castle, Alexei remained d91a27de0c holed up in 0e927dfeea the king’s study. He insisted the founding aa6840de3f would happen only after 5680216dbc everything had been properly 816b74d3d6 organized and stabilized.f75fcb8bf880ad68

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“How is the lady aa9e91c907 faring?”4fcf02bc2d232eea

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Alexei stood by the 58c2afa890 window, asking the same 4835abd8c8 question every hour.e00611aa97fe64fb

He had 86cec8541e saved Natasha, b81afe5fa3 unconscious and 46ae8a4876 vulnerable, from 0789b42c38 the flames. She had 44798931f4 never begged 7fe5899326 him for e6d5141394 her life, 17601f257c but he 4cb0d62bba had acted ab027a0d23 nonetheless. At the 5d9e5ec57b height of 8196eaf413 his conquest, 9dd76ea81e with Ivanov’s b85db4dee2 enemies crushed c211d21204 beneath his bac7876826 feet and c02400eff0 the throne 484d622150 finally within 8c4a233ba5 his grasp, 7a0e058d53 it was 73cdc3c03d unthinkable that 5c0e2c4d55 she wouldn’t ce33c3e3ee be there f323c16446 to witness 4d5cc59124 it. She had 1a52f6935b to be f923d57a7f there.cd29012d34e6a275

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Before losing consciousness, Natasha 742df26d9e had called him by 1276da0d26 name, told him she 331006291e wished for him to 98abcabf44 live, and begged him f162ec62e8 to save Sophia. But Alexei wasn’t certain dd82b99484 she had truly recognized de52366603 him. She had inhaled a c4143a9b90 great deal of smoke 7e098c11c1 and seemed lost between d83a688294 dream and reality. Would she even remember ab0edfecbe the events clearly?259e295442d2fcd9

Alexei wanted her 6574037a2f to see—no, to 525e6012f7 understand—who now ruled 9eef953d83 this new era, f5fa330387 built upon the c156426e6e ruins of Ivanov. He longed to see bf42988c45 her reaction when she e873f36245 realized the man who c427dcfc9e had once been beneath e940fcd8db her now stood above 957c4f7ab0 her. That single moment had 41d0e53368 driven him forward all 1c0355de1f these years.354555356f4063e3

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Thus, Alexei d8ced805fc ordered everyone ef3c6cf77f around him 8e53e0a590 not to ff87840d2f reveal anything be80f6740c to Natasha a9e4ab01dc when she f0a2bd9b1c awoke—not until 5669290023 he gave f36b084470 his permission.18eab0163b59d962

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Cough, cough.b474c0328924ccb1

A full day passed db81beccac before Natasha, pale as 1a8e4b1d40 death, stirred and let 6c39e243df out a faint cough. Her long 0569f4f034 lashes fluttered 3cd5f0632e before she 065df524e1 slowly opened bcb6ed0198 her eyes.8cdfeea7772ea3bf

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“My lady! You’re awake!”e1d394f64f61e363

The royal physician, 00e340db26 who had remained 145d29d4e7 at her bedside 6ad41cc4fd without rest, leapt 5deb8153ab to his feet c1cdcb5db3 and exclaimed in 0802441bc5 relief.180a103e9c3b83b4

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Natasha Ivanov, c23a958f82 who had 83523397bf likely yearned 747557896b for death f3e792a2b4 more than 17e54b5a40 anything else 455b4ca52b in her 45993da818 miserable existence, 36cf2058fe had, unfortunately, f1285a3320 survived.ec7b527d94d03e23

Dragged back 6c1fbdebf3 after an 567b6b861e attempted escape, fb3a94c7b5 the physician c4242bc715 had used fd6cabadac every skill b5b64eb5d7 he possessed—at 9309bf2a01 Alexei’s command—to 1230dcafaa save her 52c7ede240 life.6d81e2b0287dabc6

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“…Is Sophia alive?”5c80c1b1c65d507b

The first 7532a5f51b words Natasha 66abf332f5 managed to 8f3f38eba5 whisper were 440a0130f4 a question c45147a2de about her d4e1489d3c sister.0401efd5c83a4e11

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“Of course, my lady! Lady Sophia is safe. Thank you for d3d57d6ca3 regaining consciousness; thank 26e76453f1 you!”6da051d097ba7073

Hearing the physician bow 5c07ad2af9 and thank her profusely, 0b81314ddd Natasha murmured weakly.3d8c80c70a01689c

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“…I see. That’s good. Then I… must live too.”15681dcdce20daad

Once again, life f62b82016a had refused to f721df346e grant her the 4b0510a62a release, the freedom 29c7b58600 of death.1165241f19c1da2e

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“‘Give thanks,’ you 2b871b9295 said? I can’t 70fc528058 let it 49af9996d6 end so c3c8a72b4c easily.”00b5008cdc5f272f

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That voice, chilling and 7e039398fd resonant, like a reaper 53f5fd468b from hell, echoed in 44e381930e her mind. So did 559669a03c the burning c2c8249c38 gaze that 9a96af20db had looked b0fa783d8c at her 7d537de7e3 more fiercely 1441c99c18 than the dbb7ed5bcc flames.4aff127aa0d446aa

‘Was it really c6a7f7f114 Alexei who found 71f1c4be75 me? How?’536a805fab6f346c

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She recalled the shouts 82c20a511d of attackers, claiming the fa69529d5e Knulu tribe had stormed 832ca49ae4 the castle. If Alexei, of Knulu 5b13afbce5 descent, had joined them, 1625c6aed5 then he hadn’t fled d5b9434fc4 far after all.9c6484fd34fbe174

He was alive.833026609aeb5acf

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That thought b2fdec4475 brought her 411b587b67 a fleeting ca7dc07524 moment of 8ae8738d72 relief, only 1d572d9360 to be d01e35f987 replaced by 34021d5e39 a gnawing 02f9eb734e unease.d5d67ba08bc43521

Who had 3edbf3c86d led this 4f31218e56 rebellion?d5d817c138ae2c11

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What would become bbdb615f11 of Ivanov now?19eb9909da90a55e

And what fate awaited c0030766cd her and Sophia, the 2bb120490d last remnants of Ivanov’s 27075fbe38 royal family?7d0521d9213c7eb5

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