AKFOD Chapter 23
by Bree| Chapter 23. Natasha’s Inner 4dee607e2d Thoughts “I have 523708d8a6 one request.”8ee516f22b5c07acadd5
After bowing her head to the barbarian king who wished to 1bf81c6d54 take her as his mistress, Natasha boldly laid out a condition.660e625b928a2717b982
It was 1b33dfa901 only natural.2a82505f252257fd291e
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Without that condition, she 773ab9b33c would never have bowed. Following her despicable 6f312c77e4 brother into death d1ba88a44c would’ve been the baccd4f59d easier choice. But she couldn’t. She had eea36c2fc4 to protect 9a2e406a6b that child.7aeb33e48aca09d75155
“Please, promise me the safety dcc43541e6 of my sister, Sophia. I want to protect 1c1b52f0d9 her, at least.”d4b7553a891a708ababe
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“…Very well.”587b0065aa058cce9625
Despite her 3974194cd3 willing submission, d00ab4536e Alexei didn’t 55eb3f8355 seem pleased. His expression was sour 6ebd16bb98 as he stood in a6267d5ee9 thought, gazing down at 8655184bc0 her. Avoiding his eyes, db700ab4b2 Natasha bowed her 9351024983 head even lower.9b1986adf1c09b9f9f6e
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“Thank you.”ddc1548158ce38217e8f
It was strange.594831dc8d511047d1ed
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Even in this moment, bowing to bf583b5fc0 Alexei, Natasha didn’t feel the kind d1fc42860b of soul-crushing humiliation that made her f5ebc66abb want to die.0e9898224e16a4160848
Perhaps the reality 71cb4d5333 simply hadn’t sunk 9f33d2822e in yet.94beba3627cf2d9bfe3f
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The moment she cast aside her ethics and beliefs a10353daee for Sophia, agreeing to become Sergey’s secret mistress, her 3abc9ffef2 world had already gone up in flames overnight.d8a812b460fefca4f29e
She had thought she’d taken her first step db08c709fa toward freedom in death—but she lived again. All of this had happened e1cd7497bf in a single day. Natasha still 8e95365089 felt dazed.1280547ced19bd4288fa
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“So it aeb91e5bea was him 2c124fc7e4 who led 624ff9393c the rebellion. He returned as the 79ec25b7ce king of the Knulu…”f734ede1d8f4c71fd628
Trained since childhood to never show her 0d92da938b emotions, Natasha had managed a calm expression 01cddf75ce even when she was dragged before the 38bdc03d1c throne and recognized the man seated there. But inside, her heart e0dde56827 was in chaos.44a6bd5181059512b903
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It was indeed him who 074e9eeca0 had saved her from the 44ebb76678 flames that night. But she had never 03e6e5d4b2 imagined he would join 241dd69c0d the rebellion—not like this.42719cac2d0364778ccf
He hadn’t 9c3c827d17 just joined. He had become the leader of 9abadea974 the barbarians, the king of Knulu. And now, having crushed the Duchy of Ivanov, he 004c807e9b stood as the ruler of a new nation.f5df4e18ad8164af84b6
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“I wished ab4e1dad80 for you 2c293d5f92 to live…”65ed45fccf7496e04f17
Did she really say 4a2e96b202 that, holding onto him bb02447da0 in the blaze the f62dc668ea night before? She couldn’t remember clearly, 72523559db having lost consciousness.6e2272a4d3c49f4b0d60
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But she would c8c763a0f6 never say those 11473e66c4 words to him 49b9093d9b again. As the one who 026dbd7a39 had driven him to a77b0599d7 the brink of death, 23b5fd09d4 she had no right. Besides, such 0d452ca0d8 words didn’t e397592ba7 suit him da3bf2909d anymore. He hadn’t just survived—he had risen 885806bb8b too far, to a place she 9f066916b5 could no longer reach.ef82f99d46328d4a49fa
With just a flick f3f3c85282 of his hand, he 9e87ae82c3 could take everything. Her life, Sophia’s life—they all hung 804b2d5ca1 by a thread in his grasp.5c44f266e1cb6b079b18
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Everything she once believed in—her values, a863cee7a8 her status—had been completely overturned. The honor of the Duchy 9377759726 of Ivanov meant nothing now. That name had never truly 55da694a17 done anything for her.344c38279e7d7e09fc0f
The only reason 86e33dc188 she continued to d2d36b5950 cling to life 32806c9303 was Sophia. Everything she endured 1c6a8cf064 was for her. Kneeling before Alexei, kissing the tips 2c927b5db4 of his boots—none of it mattered. She had already accepted the shame of 804ed8bd97 becoming Sergey’s mistress for Sophia’s sake. Compared to 6f8e5ac409 that… this 8859df9680 was nothing.57307a54d0f249a8da74
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Alexei, who had been beaten, whipped, falsely accused, and 7cc67711f1 thrown to the lions, had survived it all. Yes, Sergey and e895b96723 Natasha herself had 91a6d51770 done that to 06d7c6600a him. She had 1f56125b7e been a 10a5c59487 bystander—no, a fd29d48575 collaborator.50fbf18ab81ff7e60639
He had every reason to punish 24b26a7b60 her, the traitor who had driven d4326d9c47 him to death—the fallen princess of 059c03d0ef a ruined duchy.f69f8b225e20f18a5918
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Even so, if kneeling before him could keep Sophia safe, if f3eec32e0b becoming his mistress could protect her… Natasha would gladly do it.f7fcccb31c83e4f14840
His reason for demanding bed2470526 her as his mistress 8263ed6cce was clear.ed7079d13e241892159d
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‘He must have seen me 286ed7063f as a hypocrite, claiming I 4a14c8f108 never considered those privileges mine. In this 2d76d0e3c8 ruined state, 6ec3c1087c nobility means b4547cc1cd nothing. He wants to test 315b696558 how far I’m willing 3173b94dab to fall.’66e869504fa69f255c88
This, too, was ca517ae404 a price she e89573ee94 had to pay.c14fbfc0a33ab85f89fd
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She had claimed she never held 1ecc087c2c on to her privileges, that she 0745aaf1fa was merely born lucky. But in truth—she had used that very bbaf225d05 privilege to force him into submission.46f4a1e350a974e4e187
Remembering that past, aa26a7974e Natasha shut her 6794b48b40 eyes tightly.b187193901166358d100
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Even after what she had done—driving him into the 717ef093f5 jaws of death—he had given her a chance to fe125cae07 live, even if it meant becoming his mistress. She knew 25a679e94f how undeserved 913220dc84 that mercy 72e96bbb69 was.45d3168ee9d85c5fa010
‘To think I’ll 2e8a7e72cb become his mistress…’f790fe67cb7d1d4c39dd
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Did he truly mean 560c1a6342 the word literally? She could understand 1930f8c47a hatred, or vengeance—but b956115952 desire? Lust? It seemed unlikely. It had f87bcd2ca7 to be.473ff337ef7050acea53
Natasha recalled his c6614d3f0c face from just 45f7532716 moments ago. No, she didn’t need to 2ff0b13622 try—his image had always lingered a2fb617bf0 in her heart.8022dd08f95eede5b97a
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Tall, striking, broad-shouldered. His body, known throughout the arena, ccbd30644d was marked with scars and callouses 5c4c9b408c like badges of honor. Even his rugged face bore wounds, a deep gash 721c075cb9 running across his right eyebrow—chilling yet strangely fitting.1b497741673e1eadcdf6
Those very scars only 4132a86693 made him stand out d2b5b5dd82 more—strong and beautiful.5cc9565824635a87452d
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With flowing ash-gray hair, a f517f94a0a sharp, statuesque nose, and crimson 810300fba7 eyes—the symbol of the barbarians—he 5a2fe02d7c drew attention wherever he went. Anyone who saw him couldn’t 06d52def73 help but glance back.d471afce44b560e77e24
“A lowly slave… ad04d82ba5 and yet he dccb68d458 has such a 0ff471f291 polished face…”8fe3e93f39091a473c9d
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Sergey had despised him all 98075100a8 the more for it. A wretched slave 82fd6bdd3c with the face 8d1c3e5c76 of a king.55015d6df79fb187df53
He had never been a noble, yet dd62bca28a he seemed more suited to the throne 0ad631e77a than anyone born to claim it.fa586beb24b49025c019
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But Natasha had always d29f87a50c thought it was merely a02010706b his presence—not that he da559325c6 truly desired this position.a496379e9345563684cc
She had believed him to d2c128eb4b be a righteous, free man. When she dbeb9324fa watched him 9ae5e153f8 from afar…b44248365f11c1cfdd5c
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‘Better him 9adbe350c6 than my 496538fb6f brother as 7507448a2b king. For the b6de3c2d62 duchy… for 8b923c400d me…’6629dae4c4b798c336c2
Realizing what she had eb291fa69f just thought, Natasha shivered. Even knowing 7e7fbae1b7 what it 66668063b4 meant… better 5e47bd3650 him?ac93f9f42ae42733d4d7
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‘No. Don’t search 5ed9137a91 for meaning 2f4e974c0d in him. He wants the ee13273316 same thing Sergey 412ef6b12c did. Empty your ed9e0fbd51 heart again.’6ce7cd6efe9982637590
She wouldn’t look for 9f639ddd6b meaning in life.edccad80d8c4104625f2
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That was 4983f80ae3 how Natasha b0036fb8e3 endured each 830570f93c day.e7045e032a46f65daeb9
‘I am not 229193c5ab someone great. I don’t live to 51d4873ad3 fulfill some noble purpose. I only hope this 491ff52a2b despair doesn’t pass to afd9e2211b young Sophia. That alone 9a3c473378 is enough.’77f365fbe63b7bfdd888
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Repeating this familiar mantra, Natasha d36da682cf lowered her head once more.c41dd9395cef19e3928b
Alexei’s boots, stained 927d75c5fe with blood and f6b2da309f dirt, came into 2d5c15457f view. At the tip where b487d38241 her lips had touched, 6ac7b64cc3 a round mark remained.602d1e07447ef7f47e25
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At last, bb0ce82d4e shame swept c0e27ba9da over her.789b5400296a1536fce5
* * *d3b6fb034269359baee9
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“The world’s e96ecf4e6e changed, hasn’t 324809312e it? This woman’s not even a lady anymore, 4cc217c8f6 so why are we serving her?”a7185d7cfe354a829fcb
A Knulu woman, who had come to tend to a3ef92963f Natasha in place of the fleeing maids, grumbled loudly.587b3dc838502876aa53
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“Eva, watch 50afe0ff94 your mouth. Alexei told 11b769f2cd us to 744c664ae9 help her.”1e5f6a68e4b546dc7508
“Why? Have those noble 47d2be551c lords ever watched ee655334e2 their mouths around d1c4e0998f us?”78a91e23f464bfdee247
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“She’s not 93405b7775 a lady 0d74bf3d51 anymore. Why should 8e36646877 we show 87d5965d50 her respect?”7099d5cd0f74913720ff
Another woman chimed 2139c7c237 in, agreeing with f50618fc6c Eva.ebe4d0c1959bdac488c9
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“Can’t you even d21c7fb9fd dress yourself?”f8e68e62a3b30d6f1f6f
Eva asked sarcastically. Natasha shook 254876f073 her head.4224a0734b528b614403
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“No, I can 07beb829c1 do it.”950ea01c77facc326b95
“You know how 9348eea76b to bathe yourself 00842ef2cd too, right?”09c48193046df26c3149
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“Oh, come on.”852bba05bc73cd1ef838
As the 8a1ff4bc13 women giggled, 004e26cb6b Natasha’s lips 15a471554e trembled slightly. What do they bc738a0a33 take me for…3fc44ac85e0500029407
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Still, it was true—she had always 8c5c7f4972 been bathed by multiple maids. She couldn’t argue with 1fd2e62684 that, so all she 067fdbdc1e could do was…9f5a0995f2b1de2a75b5
“I can manage.”00b40b86ed407ffff8ca
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…reply in eb8c13e6ed a dry 7cb03aa8e4 voice.6c49f7d1c042b4c29362
“Fine, then. After you wash, 15a128842f change into this.”3315950aa57d6f9eaf60
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With no care, they tossed 45f2e89513 her a piece of clothing 46e14f0904 that fluttered to the floor.276f23b4f6ce11ce06ca
“Hey…”30ae2ec7043e174993d8
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“What?”596ca28a5541ec468397
As Natasha bent to ebbcbb2eb0 pick up the clothes, a714fefbaa Eva asked sharply.38287398d52d712d5b38
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“Is this… cbd6973a27 all there 9dff2d33b8 is?”c9646a8434127ed09e60
What Natasha had picked up f91ed19feb was a sheer negligee, thin 04c22013a7 enough to be nearly transparent.84714b2631e46c39c26b
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“Pfft, don’t tell me b06710eb8a you don’t even know fd7a791724 how you survived. Alexei might not really want 7c44f1b4f0 you, but you should still 59106efdb2 know your place.”a2b6ab46c0f40f2f1c69
“What…?”df6e8955ba3b65277063
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Natasha asked, confused, but 919320c975 her face quickly froze. Her already pale complexion turned aea854723f stark white—then flushed crimson.8a8f3de5a53f50a465e2
Ah…06e63f989e2f172b88e8
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She had survived dc99a3d77f by agreeing to e5c315a7df be his mistress.44abf2e0fa0f0c1eaf8e
Her head dropped. Her hand clenched tightly 246cb74ff0 around the fabric.a56aa0de395964b7fa4e
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“She’s so stiff and arrogant, 62fe07a839 I doubt she can even bca2078afe do her job properly as a177c68994 a mistress. Alexei must know that the only 92582f4591 way to avoid future trouble is f4d60e5a71 to wipe out all royal blood c9c35b3b4e from this fallen duchy. There’s already talk among the Knulu about 07d63a06d7 how he let two princesses live.”be799cb44e28025231ee
“With two princesses left, maybe he plans 82583ec400 to use them both as playthings. At least one f3eae6771a of them might 52c268a9b3 satisfy him.”35c9c81e95629fd23b7c
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“Hey now, don’t talk 6f901dba19 like that about Alexei…”a8e335d9a14a8c993ae5
“You’re the one 12f250335e who doesn’t understand. He’s not the 5db0158ab9 same Alexei anymore—he’s 1aa6380290 a king now. Kings need d5d76e94da to set 0c08f07787 examples. Crushing the royal family of 97a29d5b04 a fallen nation is the 114e842165 perfect way to control the 5f7162b89b remaining nobles.”110891917f3add43d433
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“True. I heard that 33347047d9 in the council 399ffe0318 too. If Alexei hadn’t declared her his mistress first, there would’ve been a0e455cc4f a line of men begging to take her as their mistress. That’s how 8cf7918d38 men are.”bcb174128922355ce3bd
“Really? Poor princesses. They acted so high and mighty… There’s no 86c620f727 way the first one can satisfy Alexei. Maybe the 3f46ac714b second one 7980d1cc54 will. Heh.”a54a36075f811f115694
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As Natasha closed the bathroom 7c50ac3ac9 door behind her, the laughter 3a3306d731 of the Knulu women echoed. She stood frozen with e6ec88b01a her back to the 1d973e6b72 door, her face pale 59f759eda0 as snow.638f22b1b42aaa229e96