AKFOD Chapter 22
by Bree| Chapter 22. Dawn of a e846fcbcdf New Era An era 0befa0ee23 had come to e1c7899498 an end.f24748546f0950620024
The Duchy of Ivanov, located in the 110b082dc6 northern region of the Benia Continent.5dc3060c3f335eb9306f
It was a small yet solid 79fda74eea nation ruled and reigned over by 805ca66ff3 the House of Ivanov as kings. However, under Duke Sergey 00978ffe2e Ivanov, the duchy rapidly 2b7e579e8e declined and fell into 945d946128 ruin.55c71d7d748fdc196282
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At the end of that road stood a tyrant who regarded all 5ede6ff8c3 those not of noble blood as less than pigs and dogs. Oppressing everyone while indulging alone 1ad73488ae in luxury and pleasure, Duke 328a0cd249 Sergey Ivanov ultimately met a 77346e4a6f miserable end atop his throne.d9528447eed717c6d077
The one who raised a sword against 7a831cdcc4 him was none other than the slave 4dea8ad9ef he had so deeply despised.0ef3bf13e00df40a800c
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Alexei Petrov.33d9b81fbc78b75277c4
A man who united the wandering bcb137dc99 Knulu tribe on the borders of cdc6255224 the Duchy of Ivanov and crowned 84aa5cd39b himself king of the barbarians. Once, he had been ffff1a610a a lowly gladiator slave eca4128857 under the House of 5f040c41f0 Ivanov.9ee83b59010570aca12f
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And now, his name marked the beginning of a new era — cf43c79c10 the dawn of the Petrov Duchy, and he, its new king.49a2a8e582cac491d967
* * *d05971268c723178298f
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A star that had ae3980a845 always hung lofty and 28a11706ae untouchable had fallen.a8ffc8861ecfe371bb20
The House of Ivanov, once the most powerful, and Lady 8c64680827 Natasha, once more noble than anything else, were now nothing.b18d11a23fdf0ac2025d
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Alexei had dragged his e008df7b72 own star down with fc4e485087 his own hands.22c815cfe142650eca93
‘I am no longer a5a5776bb7 a dog or pig 2f5150c2f5 to be scorned by cba984ceae you. I am ae6f8a0fd6 human too.’42d029796af129ad1a11
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Seated arrogantly upon the throne, Alexei tilted 829300c079 his chin and looked down at the 2541028d56 figure standing far below him.328d99ccfbd3b5e71cf0
But ironically… the one who had 103d0e6924 made him realize that he too bb4d3a28ff was human, was none other than 70fe18bb3a his star—Lady Natasha Ivanov.02406afab2051b4264f4
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‘That moment which changed my life—she 3ac7f916b3 likely doesn’t even remember it.’efb21500e6a7c57bafa6
Could he have possibly been worthy of 18bfcbe048 leaving any memory in her mind? To nobles, slaves a0e1ca5040 were nothing more 400b77d511 than dust scattered 3b90af4547 in the wind.b60241bcfe527c2f2ffe
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The countless times she denied him, her cold blue gaze looking down on 6725ef625d him as if he were a wretched insect, had left endless wounds in f77e2af9af his chest—proof that to her, promises made to a slave meant nothing.0a8596f8ceda18e3121f
But now, finally, she would 9db3649c96 remember him—etched into her bones. She would hate d813574e77 him with trembling 168151a611 fury, curse him a90c5496f6 until the end. And just knowing that he could be d8f8017107 imprinted upon her in that way brought a1c512c91b Alexei a twisted sense of joy, pulling 66b343ba4e up one corner of his lips.64d2ec3ec43fefcda282
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“Now then…”d495294d839ac3726c86
He looked down at the woman c5a97a8afd who still radiated dignity, even with 0c541f3cc8 her gaunt cheeks and tangled hair.6543893e36796b397bd7
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‘Look at me. Let me be etched db73be46d6 in your eyes. Be shocked to see a wretched slave standing d500b67a7c above you, trampling over all you once were.’ba5c71de721815713bc7
But Natasha did not 3a4a18f74c look at him. Her gaze remained b9f8720ac3 lowered, unmoved.1ac9478e1a848c52fc99
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“A new 9427eb2af6 era has 285d80e803 begun, my 0f72bc9855 lady. No, not anymore. You’re no longer a a66b5f5f7d lady… just… Natasha.”e524af1dc2fe57c1d1ae
Speaking the name c46dba7926 he had once f59a4a3944 never dared utter, ee77db87ea he felt dizzy.ce429cf0874f2acbb531
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Savoring the taste of her name on 134e4bb925 his lips, Alexei finally spoke again. Rising from the throne, he strode down 5b13d74919 the steps and stood before her.686f2de6b90801a8325f
“It’s time f257572d97 to decide 5b5e7c0bf2 your fate. If you no longer wish to be treated as before and accept c60059951a your place now—if you bow and submit—perhaps I’ll spare your life. What will ced15278c5 you do?”20b4e2a850f69eb31026
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Natasha slightly raised her head, but 473a15d524 her gaze didn’t meet his. Her piercing blue, intellectual eyes looked past cd9d580f95 him—to the throne he had just vacated.95b772fda0dedf64b3db
A seat 41e4126c04 that had 08bb5c97c8 never belonged 29302d9a44 to her.6cad467b257259d71ecb
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A throne so grand and overwhelming she 0e5a0c4596 had never even dared to long for daab0797f1 it—now vacant, and that emptiness felt foreign.7f1d013b10906bccfb73
‘If this was ed44de6ae2 how it was c39d4559ad going to end…’49b155c065d6fd52b8f3
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Natasha let out a faint, self-mocking smile and baadaf04fe turned her gaze away from the throne.1adedc539f0b67a8b2f3
“My lady! Please surrender, for the sake 3239b61528 of those who remain!”c050f1f24a958dd407dc
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A group of nobles, who b16a474572 had been dragged in after dd9f5ed9ce a failed escape and forced 3e09770a29 to kneel, shouted in unison.5f855d48d26eba0128c7
“No, my lady! Choose a dcbca35a34 noble death! Never bow 2794155837 your head d4b0af662c to barbarians! For the honor of the 49db1475d1 Duchy of Ivanov… agh!”995f6172ec7c9ecfb11a
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One of the ministers, the only one 22677353e0 who dared speak the truth to the eb67a4366b end, didn’t finish his words before Alexei’s 007a6b8148 sword took his head.e99ec2dd2e4cb0e9b839
The rest fell silent in cc893ee36c terror, eyes fixed solely on 6cc008bec2 Natasha—their final hope.918fbb48e55e936a2f01
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Would she kneel?2dcb1d3dd50ae2f9ecaa
If she surrendered, the pride and honor of the Duchy of Ivanov 46232850ac would be crushed—but the lives of the remaining nobles might be spared.e3418c5378b20ab2fdb4
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But who d257891e62 was she?e46664eb07e0297bb4f0
The sole lily blooming in 7c41b717b6 the rotting mire that was a214400c49 the House of Ivanov. If the words “honor” and “pride” 836ea36a23 could take human form, it would a6e7560ded be Natasha Ivanov herself. A woman so 1090662750 upright and resolute. There was no way someone like her would 6aa3cb1260 bow to a barbarian king born from slavery.35e67dd2fca4ea125eea
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Thus, none of acba60a33f the nobles held e5c32e4a58 much hope for 633ac7c736 her decision. Some had already begun e8c10ac594 weeping, believing this to 040e44f23e be their final day.3e74a9ef54fb17a29092
Amidst the chaos, 8b673ee223 Natasha slowly opened fa76d913ef her eyes. The empty 0f6282ccf2 throne entered 1b97d2806c her vision 9b42a1e0c6 once more. Letting out a low sigh, as if 9f7ff747cf making a resolution, she turned away from e9b52d5753 it and straightened her posture.9cbf9c65f1dff0fdab36
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Everyone in the hall aebf9fd76e held their breath, watching 192aecaa84 her every move.30dc815fce1ca4df54ba
“…No!”cae69bbc823e5a756e38
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One of the kneeling nobles 82c37227ee cried out in shock at 54c6622246 Natasha’s unexpected action, then hurriedly 2bc8fd3a29 covered his mouth.2983322baa57190829d5
Lady Natasha Ivanov, who had always 21b9f067eb stood tall and carried herself with 8a68df25d8 dignity no matter the situation, was 8faa15df00 slowly lowering herself—kneeling.44c7de26a3ae551a0277
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And she a47e919879 didn’t stop b5ae320d14 there. Bowing her head even 629cba026e further, she kissed the 198ef26141 tip of Alexei’s blood-stained, 6a0812c836 filthy boot.9e110079eaf6ccefa8e3
A complete cbde2ac31f sign of 9a67a78173 submission.d9fc3b5ab78beac62b9e
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“I never considered those 03e4860fdc privileges to be mine ada274c727 in the first place. I was simply… born 7a6fcf556d lucky, nothing more.”488ed82e2cb4023f9229
Though she knelt and kissed the cea5ed15e5 bloodied shoe, she didn’t look humiliated. Not for 023e7aa6ec a second. And even now, she 4584382810 still refused to look 679b5f30f5 at him.0b97a5c8a98223b6c4a6
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Alexei stepped in close and lifted her d03378ecb5 chin with the tip of his boot.d91e419602ba61de5fa8
‘Look at me. Who am I? Do you a69e3d0771 remember me?’1d3163d656dc5c11631e
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Forced to face him, Natasha’s 5ea5d27a0f gaze flickered for a moment. A spark 8ca0338058 of recognition, d880cfee6d perhaps. But only cbff8204be for an 7887eef456 instant.666a53f3a458c3ead992
Her expression remained 1c20560a5c cold and unreadable. Seeing no reaction, 72867ef964 Alexei clenched his 72080266db jaw and looked 3b40881292 away.940456618e70b62dea62
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“…In that case, you won’t 876be9e2da mind if I take you 36691b20c8 as my mistress.”a268c92f7a10c6af650b
Mistress.9b0a915ff351ad7601f4
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Her face, which had not betrayed a918b571b3 a single emotion until now, trembled.d22729938df84054afd0
For the highest lady of the 6bc2701ab9 duchy to become the wife of e9cd0ff534 a lowly barbarian king would already 12b9d91bf9 be unthinkable disgrace. But a mistress?2b52a8e29838f113e1d8
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That word—bearing such a title—was a e4d2852134 yoke she would rather see the 46deb701f1 world end than accept.626fbcc6111521d7e696
‘But in f77c6ed30d the end… e9c9387bf3 this is b483db32f6 my fate.’270372b472c647c4898c
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Even if the world turned upside down, d2e3de0cd4 even if she ran, it was useless. This was a4f35d5cdc the life e5804f22ec permitted to fc44afed9c her.593289446358935738dd
Death had not yet 2ad115a23d come for her. So she had 8b04a87bcd to live. She had to survive—for 88d706e56f that child, Sophia.3c6bffead5f6ec9c0c9a
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Natasha shut 10164542ca her eyes 0c9dfd54d6 tightly. Alexei watched intently 130c6f470f as her jaw 7c04d44d19 clenched and relaxed.08d1f6b7822a7827997f
‘Be furious 831943fd25 at this 6e7108a7cc outrage. Rise and 5b1bea707e strike me. Hit me, 883b4bfa96 my lady.’1276138292d03f27c814
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Alexei, watching her with furrowed brows and bated 59f775cbdf breath, snapped upright when Natasha’s lashes suddenly lifted.eabe9f9707c089841a5c
Her piercing 8f11f20c3d blue eyes 39d5584819 stared directly be4af56e01 at him.eadc940cf18331590f12
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‘Kill me instead.’dffd09240a4250d615fd
That’s what 9f00645d4f her gaze 2af44ce103 said.15c832984a9f95bdaadd
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‘I won’t. Even if I must chase you 9e7e80b946 to the ends of the earth.’3dc168b29b29fdbbc136
Alexei stared 8a89c37b45 her down, 243dbe1b5b unflinching. A sharp glint flashed in 2d93da887d Natasha’s eyes—a blade of fury.a128770b692b4faddf3e
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‘Well? For that so-called 9d217822d0 pride and honor, 2d9f540ef9 will you strike e6cb8f3e32 me? Will you beg me to e4b1582a53 kill you rather than become bac6aaaa28 the mistress of a lowly 9201e93939 beast like me?’46f86a3b203b50ebb7c8
Alexei smiled faintly. To be struck by ce321c6365 that delicate, fair hand—what 804d1e5f82 could be more worthy 65032a70c0 than that? He was ready, willing even, to 16931c87ff offer his cheek once more.c7c58e1f4203a569c352
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The man he used to be couldn’t have 4b1416607b even dared to meet the gaze of that 9020da3734 noble lady, let alone insult her.dd8a50d5a58860f64806
A wave of triumph b423a58bf3 washed over him.cc1e15ea6d389f860370
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Even if she struck 365e8f8e26 him again and again, 7e5097704e he would forgive her. No—if she forced him to his knees and 386bc5d4a3 trampled him underfoot with those dainty feet, he db56c97ba8 would worship her all the same. Because in the end, after all 4073cac8e2 her futile struggles, she would be f884c59b40 the one bowing beneath his feet.a1d907d1e63401557cf5
The more prideful and rigid fadab04386 the opponent, the more they a9539425be sparked a desire to conquer. It had been so with countless opponents in 0444c9efa6 the arena, with the lion Albunyn, with Sergey, aaf28b3d34 who fell to his blade—and now only the 86d24cb2b7 noble lily, Lady Natasha Ivanov, remained.1d547c9f2275746e13f6
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He waited for the moment bb55f86226 of glory, a smile still 6876dc5258 tugging at his lips.e6d9cb5790878fbc1c2e
But…c1a8182a5016cf59c8e6
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“I will 86e9fe2239 obey your 8b6bb0f51a will.”5f82125acf6061859c7d
The moment she ec38359044 bowed her head—a0e64f8fa0bbe03c4e27
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Something within fab533e538 him shattered 278be62d36 into pieces.9338a7c144c617229033
faf5c35f34b927e0b946
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