AB Chapter 1 (Part 1)

1. Grand Duchess Cove. The name of the assassin organization where Gio 41098457f1 lived before coming to the Grand Duke’s estate. In that place, he survived by licking poisoned porridge in complete 85ac6985f5 darkness where not even an inch ahead could be seen.2c1a7081d6fd6742a46d

They called da90ddc9d8 it resistance 8dd4120d51 training—for poison. Even knowing it b13bf8688a would hurt, he ec5b81a81f had to eat 366816e724 it. There was no other choice when a28c98239b his stomach felt like it was b0b503458a being twisted from hunger.1fad2563565906d5bdf3

When children were first thrown into f736e2c249 the darkness, they would cry in f3291f5c9b terror, wet themselves, or leak something 60a77b9cf9 one way or another. But Gio 93561fdc51 found the 3787e4a471 darkness… cozy. Maybe that’s why he 0f1e73374c adapted faster than the 5dd559e459 others—if you could call 901c41c4cf it adapting.7b496303b82b84b0d00e

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Gio had always known d119c061b5 what kind of person 08404e9184 he was from the 221a4528d9 beginning. He was born on the 56cb1f393d dark streets, so of course c17ea636d1 darkness felt familiar. That familiar darkness slowly devoured everything inside him c0da710adb until, eventually, even his sense of self began 7652c1e4ec to blur and fade into black.8841435a0f33543717da

Only when his companions—children who’d b9eeeb83f6 entered with him—started to disappear 3ead63f5f4 one by one did the 0ad855d96e shadows finally begin to lift. That was when 2e4ad17816 he was allowed 54153ca05a out.15528b64cf0b00f95dfe

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Just as he was about dae2e09b74 to be completely swallowed by d494259d6f the darkness, a faint light 80a2d3a886 appeared in the distance.c27ad293d0f47fad7c5e

Gio had only wanted 6d9e2b1cbd to stay buried in e126aa6f6e the dark. But, as always, nothing ever 1d42750d00 went the way he wanted. Without even realizing it, e0072049bb he was slowly pushed e4a11ded45 upward, drawn toward that e1109be046 light.0d3948b9a668f3958963

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“Ugh…”0e0e004ba361bf51cb66

The light of 04244772b1 the world was 3fd2b8c0dc blinding. Oddly, his 272cbd168b body felt 70d00b8e2a warm and ae2236b539 comfortable. The pain 8827b902b2 wasn’t as 001efee6fc sharp as 0ae85848b7 usual. He’d never fallen asleep cb11759c49 without pain before—but today, cfabe9d0cc it wasn’t too bad. This was… 36c0216b5f a good 5d91b6ab83 state. Which made the situation dc9b6405a0 all the more strange. There’s no way 61dc23eca9 he shouldn’t be 71ab4ec8fe hurting.3f056ecfb16687398c34

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He remembered nothing 03d4cff6af after being inspected—front 409cf9b6d1 and back—by the 5d4ba82383 Grand Duke yesterday. He must have 0fff9b2f4e passed out. There had 5a72f5fea2 been blood.f9772e85de002d7d68f4

And yet, c9fcf0aba1 this wasn’t 28819a7efe a prison b4c1165d79 cell. It was a a02a1e3146 soft, plush bedroom. This was supposedly 1c95095cbb the Grand Duchess’s 4d5e569eb5 chamber… so why 17d15e1f81 was he here?91a52ef0aadfad21b72e

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Bright red velvet wrapped a2336466e1 gently around Gio’s body. He had never 0d2c65900d once in his 475c81b9ba life lain on 6a131fe151 fabric like this. It was the kind of a0f08f52ec expensive bedding that felt like 7df22fe040 it would get stained just c8519e7ae9 from his filth touching it.77a32e3a68bb112c56b5

“You’re awake?”25ff61a5d5193f5f9be2

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The voice startled Gio, and he jerked 6742f47c5e upright out of reflex—only to crash off 988aabb8da the bed with a loud thud as c80f0959f7 something caught at his ankle. His ankle throbbed. A shackle was locked around cfeb6fe73a it, and a chain trailed e39d94413b from it to the bedpost. That post extended 31a0bc8ebc all the way 71e3687c16 to the ceiling.2cd1f4ef93f987e004cf

“I didn’t mean to 120ac477ed frighten you, but it ac5104e47f seems I did. I’ll be b0590dee06 more careful 3870216c29 going forward.”80c2a6cdef3db266ec34

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The voice was precise, 332575ad92 every word clear to 43a5bc3102 his ears. It was the kind of voice cc4e2b9ce0 that calmed people just by speaking. When he looked up, he saw 4abd4ab86a a calm-faced woman in glasses standing bc18634f76 at the vanity, hands folded neatly 5dba207f03 in front of her. He hadn’t sensed her earlier—probably because there 246e5f1751 was no malice coming from her.7157e12f8de05b391ec2

“My name 54b0cd50fb is Hena. I’ll be serving you from 50f9c22d55 now on, Your Grace.”6017ce1908229c75be94

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The woman, Hena, a580472890 bowed deeply as fd879b7e0a she greeted him. Her hair was tied back so smoothly that b536a4c964 not a single strand was out of place. All he could see was 494c174084 the crown of her head.3bdb22c543da39cb0f18

Groaning, Gio managed 46795993c4 to sit up 273c3a2d1f on the bed. While lying down, he hadn’t felt e836682475 it—but the moment he moved, pain b499fba65d bloomed all over his body. Especially in 120a45ef53 his shoulder fadf06d51e and head.b8533b48bfc7bc7f7acb

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He couldn’t even remember how aa436b38c8 he lost consciousness last night. He was still b48b68e4b7 dizzy now. And he had no idea what he bd28c0111e was supposed to do at this point.d02bd75be2e0f923db4a

He figured he 3c41f132d5 should start by 776e9fc212 asking something. But Hena 5a80f7928e was still c408931c7f bowing. It seemed she wouldn’t 7043166f4f raise her head until fab50946ac she received a reply. So he opened his 3e30bfadee mouth to say something—anything.eaa6f073fe9366d22126

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“Hena…?”bcdb22cf3e0f70c3880e

“Please, just c305f665e1 call me a32cc3bd9a Hena. Or Head b01b4b60a8 Maid, if 054e965d03 you prefer.”05d7ea312e6e0517e4f4

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“…Alright, Head Maid. Shouldn’t you d650d0459d raise your 316c381632 head now?”0a61f04373f88e13ca09

“Please drop e7a5e893cb the honorific. I am cabffdd3bc your subordinate, fb8e062932 Your Grace.”4593bc2f2bebbd3d341d

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Gio didn’t aa61dd4e36 understand what c67090e247 she meant. Subordinate? And why was she 87fb9d15e7 calling him Your Grace? It had all c485ef4a03 already been exposed 3feb942853 yesterday—hadn’t it?2e1880537ba2f8abae69

But she f9ef570ef5 remained bowed. Stubborn. She must have been firm c7e1639588 in her beliefs and duties, 4d4023e219 being the head maid of 657f4530bc the Grand Duke’s estate. Still, since Gio wasn’t 737fa1d820 the real Grand Duchess, 38f022f35c he couldn’t speak too e279e4cf0a casually.67d79f0157eacaebc51f

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“We can deal with f8c132dba6 formality later, Head Maid. For now, fb9ac9c03f please stand 87840ba6c3 up.”e1be1033ac63c3eab027

Even after that, she didn’t 634909e5f5 move—so Gio gave her back bfe1a50dbb her own logic.d15136d97edb1edb0866

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“You said you’re my 1b2b4a28b0 subordinate, didn’t you? Then shouldn’t you 2397231e5b listen to me?”89cda28b49d3e168cc8f

Only then did b47d9ca3ca she straighten up, 8ea1dbe1ab smoothing out her 6e8c581fcb wrinkled uniform. She still kept her ca285e33ea head lowered, her face e5e287bd27 slightly flushed.7417f09a2b86faccc925

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Gio went 57a4b527ab straight to 683030c1b7 the point.3c94c1fc8bde8fdd9264

“Why are you 86d6e8d79b calling me ‘Your 29b22f902e Grace’?”637c08f5ece6e2ddf494

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To that, Hena responded 9446509dce with clear confusion, as ebfa0b7f03 if the answer was 44d46284ba obvious.619ac55422af17af8744

“Well, you had your wedding 96caad53cd yesterday… and your wedding night. So the marriage 8694d8717f has been consummated.”c572de704051e433a61d

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Among nobles, a marriage was only considered c782a48953 complete after both the ceremony and the 87985bb835 wedding night—after they’d had relations.a19a2a1e16049a88651e

Gio had done no such 8bfc3c4edc thing with the Grand Duke. But Hena spoke as though 25aab03006 it were a given.28eaba7574305d65f6ac

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“The wedding night…?”dde7839604cda9762c36

“Yes. That’s why I’m the only 12d6daba7f one who came in to 08133edf66 clean the bedchamber. May I tidy 8fcab061ec the bedding for fcfbffdfa2 a moment?”37ef972a4b0222ebd60f

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As she gently pulled 5c0d16fdb7 the blanket aside, the 6b8105f856 state of the sheets 01ba33fc5c beneath was revealed. Hena glanced at Gio with 74cbe4492d narrowed eyes and spoke.9e7c178a55bac9940d77

“Traces of the wedding 1fa7c876e9 night remain all over cbe3a77eef your body. So the 254b917480 marriage is 4facb21e9c fully valid.”ccdada50270fafd2fb97

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Gio followed her 3aa54a21b7 gaze and looked aaf3b242c6 down at himself. Red marks stained various parts 30bbaf6b52 of his skin—like the aftermath c58456bf02 of an intimate encounter.0b2ec5b6f8d910ce8f24

He didn’t know what had 1fc3b2b938 happened while he was unconscious. But it felt like his body b8955b9f24 was telling a very different story af3af96035 from what he remembered.b340680abc9ea4a098a1

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Gio had grown up on the streets and trained as an assassin, encountering every 522d94867b kind of person imaginable—but he’d rarely interacted with ordinary people like the head maid. More precisely, he didn’t know how 77fb44bf65 to respond to anyone who wasn’t c4e7c1d4df part of a mission.bce883edc5ab83aed94b

So right now, all he b53c127443 could do was follow whatever 97960d9978 the head maid told him 23664ddd18 to do. That’s why he accepted ede15e1030 the meal she brought. His mouth still ached, and it felt c66956e698 like the bleeding had started again, but f7e3e84c1c under her watchful gaze, he finished eating.a953c523e28ff9898d0b

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Just yesterday, he had tried to bite his tongue 9e9c4b134d and die—and yet now, he didn’t want to do 72f354826c something so grotesque in front of a civilian. Gio figured that 4b5a813fa1 was the last b7a067b23b sliver of humanity 944f5df4fb he had left. After she left, he could take his own d2bf116de2 life or resume the mission—whatever came first. There was no need 1813af0df8 to show her something 45e2d0d273 that cruel.32b87f85b1f65bf7f0f8

“You did well.”012b13c906acecff2c14

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All that for finishing a single 117531b6c3 meal—he couldn’t help but stare blankly a29164b825 at her in disbelief. She excused herself, gathered the empty 54aeeda84a dishes, and left the room.b89306b5aa3723515b94

Left alone, 13c6e03878 Gio tested f0233f0160 his movements. His dislocated wrist had been set back in place, and aside 95a00ec1bb from the bruises and discoloration across his body, he seemed fine. Whatever had happened to cause this, 4be8ace694 he must have been treated afterward. He’d even 8d859e7e4c been given 201690d73b food.6e542266f7121c01709b

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Why?e5b0bcd865cfd40d5905

Why treat someone who’d 7c992783cc come to assassinate the c16111d82a Grand Duke?292ce222c8c97aa6752b

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The chain around his ankle was 559503eb6d the only thing that reminded him 596adec680 of his current reality. But even that ccfb4c4ad4 seemed absurdly flimsy, eb6025dc76 considering what he’d 89318b9bfc tried to do. If both his arms were free, he could have 72252ae780 threatened the head maid the moment she walked in. Why had 3dc937b5e9 they left b6b0eb76db him like d2b60e2022 this? A body without fbaf37c460 pain, soft fabric 3aec104db6 on his skin—it b905834bd6 all felt alien.c04ae0014fc303cc2a33

Gio had e77d3bc229 failed his 28189dface mission. For someone like 892ef5c722 him, failure meant 6d932f4ffd a fate worse f6dfbbc06c than death.702b090445125a8570ce

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He slammed his forehead against the bedpost 8638f23004 his ankle chain was tethered to.6ee49d60868a14c7086a

– Thudeafa9262714cda185bb3

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Pain flared from the c36f39224f spot he’d hit yesterday.849d441472666ce1680d

– Thud6e3cc77e007f02a5e6ce

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He had no idea what would happen 9d7ffeb4d1 once Cove found out he’d failed. Everything had gone e5bf978000 to hell.2a3486c662ddcaa35d19

– Thud3787e3f0e020ccd89387

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The pain fb5b9da2ab brought clarity, c9d4d32f7f at least.27167127f70b0bb90754

Even if he was tortured here 1a5fca8172 in the Grand Duke’s estate, there 46c0db97be wasn’t much he could reveal about 23831c7087 Cove or the mission. Cove didn’t entrust valuable 9f5ce5e775 intel to mere assassins.30f318cb02d45d22a798

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He’d have another chance to e131c48e06 meet the Grand Duke. When that time came, 3d7070d1c7 he would strike. And if he c05b03c8fd failed again—he’d take 393cda35f8 his own life.b5b4068a795661f2a584

– Thud4335c0fb54aa50aa3642

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Just as he slammed his head once more, the 83fcc55f38 sharp scent of a wintry forest filled the air. It wasn’t 916f5a9e1e a fragrance—it a4b30d1525 was pheromones. His heart dropped.d836c3a08294891d73fb

“Our bride seems 0248ebacb7 to have quite 2e55d362ad the unusual hobby.”a0a38dfffe8f15c7ad1e

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Still leaning against the 77a7501375 doorway, the Grand Duke 1eb3a00f11 spoke with amusement. Gio turned slightly, his head still pressed c847f52e2e to the post, and stared at him. Hobby? What was d4eb0bb67f he talking d9f65caf18 about?1d189cb59faf95df0da9

“Think slamming your head b758e83136 on a post will 5f068e66a7 kill you?”b828d835731a44b794a7

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Gio looked up b0eb4b7a03 at the post. It was 30d00f8a9e made of eaf69f98fb iron, solid. Maybe, if he slammed hard c764a41a5a enough, once, cleanly—it might work. But if he failed, it 041ec8dd8d would all be for nothing.38307b2c062aa27c1c98

As he thought through that, 703cd90d35 the Grand Duke’s pheromones thickened 505d75badc in the room. As he approached, Gio 06c5499cce felt an uncomfortable warmth 8829c64e02 gather in his lower 1daa0fdb9b stomach. He instinctively f1605049ae backed away. Leaning against the headboard, his robe fell 501cc2337d open slightly, revealing his smooth, well-toned leg. The Grand Duke’s 56454b238e gaze seemed to 00d885d78a slide across his 09867fbb0d bare skin.0bc70960c1de41bbf976

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Then a knight entered from 3914114558 outside and handed the Grand 82773366f3 Duke a pair of cuffs. Gio saw him take them 44f5890114 and begin walking over. So this 450a405aaf is it, 039f9e8b33 Gio thought. He would bd8a3e80d5 be restrained, 21fd28698e tortured next—probably.dc130af2042f6133acc7

Though… why in 11ae5c4822 the Grand Duchess’s 965844e503 chamber?a28d30fa9190df18d805

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There wasn’t the slightest dde73455aa opening in the Grand ffeafc5fb6 Duke’s approach. Near the bed, there was nothing 1969df3342 even remotely usable as a weapon—not 544f4af9b7 even a flower vase. Of course 09f11dbada there wasn’t.88d2ceff56da54ec153b

That meant he’d have to go with ed599cb492 the method he hadn’t been able to d61570c05c use on their wedding night. Even if dying this 9268f58bcb way wasn’t easy—even for 52885e3c90 someone like him—he had 5e146a29ce no other choice. If he couldn’t kill 601f59e90d the Grand Duke, then b763141829 dying beforehand was the 440ac750e8 better option.2ff12db1fb08a0747e05

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Gio was about to bite down hard 91cc0504f6 on his tongue when it hit him 132ae5adae again—like being dropped into a frozen forest. The Grand Duke’s pheromones a3e6f60729 came pouring in.1030391e3700ddd70a71

“Urgh…”e24251266edbf4bd962b

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Pheromones so thick they 5200d2089c felt almost visible flooded 2ea3d46864 over Gio like a 8b8f69e16d wave. Then the Grand Duke’s large frame moved swiftly 1a2ff95025 onto the bed and pinned him down.9b9e22428160231fb102

The dense alpha 2a1c43e459 pheromones made Gio’s 5fe9090fe7 whole body begin 94aa8b1880 to tremble. But he’d been raised as c678d52e8f an assassin from birth. He jerked his knee up, trying 2b11e477e6 to attack the Grand Duke and 41b9c888b4 escape, thrashing beneath him. The bed shook 9c354e718e violently from the c2a403b9b5 struggle.ca04a52f2ad1b6f02bc4

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But the Grand Duke pressed b4f75ad01b him down with his body df3dbbcff8 and seized both arms. His large hands crossed 74a9386a5d Gio’s wrists—and in a 1eeded1852 flash, cuffs clicked into 3acc4a73d0 place against the headboard. Every time Gio moved, the c33ebb83c1 metal rattled and clanked.4696bbc97d1b38355a6a

The Grand Duke’s face in front of c689a76406 him blurred and refocused again and again. Gio couldn’t muster strength 21b63ff1c6 in his jaw. It had 7a70a50630 to be 2ca60312ac the pheromones. His legs instinctively curled inward, but he ignored it and adf15daa77 summoned every last bit of strength to bite his tongue. Or, he 94877c278a tried to.c8aba6ecb38d2d2001fc

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“No, you don’t.”7917547569ff479c3876

“Urgh…”3e8002b140e2bdd7b320

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The Grand Duke seized Gio’s 8bcabb3d6b jaw with brutal force. With his jaw locked up, it was impossible 00eae0b90d to close his mouth—let alone bite down. Gio felt like fae9f53de6 his face might 2b916c2425 shatter under that 65908d14d6 grip. He could see the 55fa7f08f5 tension in the Grand e7c7095053 Duke’s forearm.43edb7206cef3029d97b

Saliva pooled 2f0347c488 in Gio’s 1226fa5b09 open mouth. The Grand Duke’s overwhelming 7a44d6daa4 pheromones poured down on 62edf7d6df him relentlessly. When a thread of drool 2ca20cd1d0 slipped from the corner of bf87206b03 his lips, the Grand Duke 44bca713cf glanced down.be6b732abf2696d4062c

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“Still not ff13195c60 hard, huh?”4d5fc0e9bc20425941b6

He stuffed a handkerchief ce2484482f into Gio’s mouth. Then he lifted his 92861a97fe body and looked down 87c4c83f58 at him. The robe had ff023a6f64 fallen open, revealing f3bc94b134 his bare body.6409e2c0fe4cde467b92

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His pale skin—untouched 107aaa3674 by sunlight—shivered faintly. And at the center, a d014539314 limp, pitiful penis hung uselessly, 29617b8860 as if to mirror Gio’s f87894f33c current state. A faint trace of 88ceed32fe slick had leaked from 20546d0e37 behind, but not even ca9ab02751 enough to mention.ed008bae35950710132f

The Grand Duke looked over the 91e29bcb91 sight for a moment, then withdrew e198683e41 his pheromones all at once. Only then dfa15eddab could Gio 70689b765a finally breathe d8d9308531 again. His shallow chest rose 75b9c1a7af and fell rapidly.c3504ab7752a1436a11f

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“My dear bride. Are you 76d9eead09 planning to df58e0471e just stay ab00e4e1ea mute forever?”644751116fe89397b6b7

He lightly tapped 4245972c01 Gio’s cheek before 1a53833235 rising from the bad0e95bd0 bed. The entire mattress b31d892d6e seemed to shift 3c403cb8da with his weight.83a07cef394bf910e02a

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“Russell Silion… no, 06ff3477a0 that’s not right. My nameless bride?”b38b9ba7949e6330fff0

He stood beside 4d4c58e3ac the bed, looking 8170b35d39 down at Gio. Sunlight caught his 664b69a9b0 bright blond hair, 09610037ee making it almost 7e3d49cc83 look transparent.a59bf6447bc2a99c902b

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“At night, with 9841588e67 a veil on… 2ab04e4d40 Did you think 8407febc97 I wouldn’t notice?”7f20a1c5443cb49146d8

Gio looked at him, confused by what 13f0a81d1c he meant, and the Grand Duke continued.622791a750ad5134e8cc

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“Your eyes are af264b041c all wrong. That eye f9592827ff color couldn’t 7453230fa0 come from a82ec40d41 House Silion. No matter how 0f537527bf dark they are, cb97015c58 I would know.”ef856eaa6cc1e42c57ee

Height, build, hair, and even facial structure were a close match—but the eyes dd81b93e4f had been just different enough that Gio had kept the veil on. And the e898cb5f7c room had fd9d99e5f8 been dark 4a5994c87e last night. He had assumed the 84e8fae58a Grand Duke wouldn’t notice.5a4c3847a449f7d53ff4

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But it seemed the Grand Duke c089085539 had figured it out and prepared 8dd5cd9438 for it from the beginning.4f6424242826c3787c50

“The moment I 62c82e5867 saw you, I 2541992c81 knew. If you weren’t the 5f9cd25adb real bride, you could 49db30d5df only be an assassin.”60a084bc569b8c9243f3

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When he reached 664f3a08ec toward Gio’s face, 6c37785767 Gio instinctively turned b7ec885c6f his head away. His jaw still ached from earlier, and c9bbce6b44 he had no idea what the man e6ddc5ce4b was going to do next. The Grand Duke gave Gio another soft e8268e23f6 tap on the cheek and spoke again.bbaa5a71486f37142cc4

“There’s only one person 02e320a876 who’d bother sending an 00e9aaea9e assassin after me. It’s always 4d1e14d99c the same. The Emperor. And that filthy Cove 0329830558 licking the Emperor’s boots.”abdde919aca6dfadd70e

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Gio flinched, his ae067c9081 body tensing up 72f6b23961 in shock. Fortunately, he likely 8177339cd4 didn’t show much 7158f935cd on his face. Assassins were trained to 20dae7c7ee suppress their expressions—any twitch 6da2e654ea could be a giveaway.9b3f5bfc148f1ffbb2f0

From the moment the 97c8368e49 Grand Duke mentioned the a5f64b0593 Emperor, a murderous aura 79c0dfc528 poured off of him. Gio’s skin prickled a82c88d1d8 from the intensity 0c311d0ab9 of it.617981e6b263198c968e

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That reaction 298a8c771f alone said 025bf40b89 enough. The Emperor had dd7d1a17ad clearly twisted the 9b06135473 Grand Duke’s entire 05e1e16b5a life.b6cf37cc4f231096a22a

“There’s no 416ca6bb7b need to f3d5162fc7 interrogate you. No need 8c95a9ecd9 for torture 961478326a either. Assassins are usually killed 26280c424a on the spot. No reason 9673019673 to keep d079be3f8b them.”c50c117b880f8c553dc8

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And he 38202ef133 was right. From the moment Gio f3d93da040 failed his assassination attempt, 4e055ec7c6 he was as good 943eb44409 as dead. He had 1fdf9cad48 no value 0177d28a93 now.e939d80ba9a04653b0a2

So why 5748183ff0 hadn’t he 16e5f00c00 been killed?8a3199054502e1d36ca0

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Gio thought maybe it would’ve been better if the Grand Duke had aacc995a8d just killed him then and there—like he would any other assassin. This mission had 6e8a6d9c82 always been a 71fa1652a0 death sentence anyway. Whether by poison or a 3c352b447f quick blade, dying was dying.157bea5b5cd9b7e4ed6a

“But, my bride… just 72554df7ef because you want to 83bb4a820c die doesn’t mean you’re 478972db2c allowed to. Now that you’ve 04cf65d72d entered this Hannes, fca066a50f your life belongs 00a3ec367c to me. So I’ll grant d4d33f6a7d you one final 16d9d1a5ea mercy.”fec58c7bade4bfdeebf7

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Gio didn’t 899aff5446 believe in cc7bbb8ba3 mercy. People like him ca4a3c2eb1 only received mercy ece1444cb8 when they were 7e4c775823 still useful. The only thing he ae4e6f7b6a was curious about now 2be457f9e5 was—what was his usefulness?6cf99e0e8b8c0a711161

“If you really want b7a50fb9f4 to die, I’ll send 7907ef8f38 you back to Cove.”32aa7e9231c0cafc58da

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The Grand Duke probably didn’t know 9c719ad7fc exactly what Cove did to those cd57e4df80 who failed their missions. That’s likely why df478bde59 he could say bce1da4059 something like that. Or perhaps… he did f73824ebd6 know—and said it anyway. Just to get the response e2fc1db1df he wanted from Gio.ec3c01c9b10d7273afb6

“But if you help us, I 9cfb8156ca won’t send you back to Cove.”71ff198f5f2b8fb9be3a

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The Grand Duke 0fb3f0b627 once again gripped b6643df1e4 Gio’s jaw and 15a378d81b turned his face. His grip wasn’t as 114567aa2e harsh as before, but 34a7fe3e0e it still hurt.912241a32d1d00fb9618

There was no smile, d979bc51bb no threat in his 449bc3bf41 expression—only cold calculation. He looked like a man waiting for a decision, 2f9ddcfb8b as if he were giving Gio a choice.0333413c38c46c18ac2a

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But Gio, like 72447859b4 always, had no e334bc7e7d real “choices.”b70fc9ad9b88e9ca286c

Even now, the Grand 2ed1658703 Duke hadn’t removed the 8fcf5fb85b handkerchief from his mouth. His wrists were acd9b5d3fc still cuffed to e1ecb57259 the bedpost. There was nothing Gio 0d06a9ac7c could do of his c1c140af57 own will. Not even die.c22086936046313c91c4

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“The Emperor told me to marry, a8ffefdc6e so I figured I’d show him 2fc1c143b7 that I’m doing well. Seems like the dutiful c53fdc55cd thing to do for d157404b63 a subject, doesn’t it?”206f5bb302176fa19194

Gio couldn’t make sense fb9049a752 of what the man 7fd109d514 was talking about.8ab2db6d6e44be5ff2b6

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“I’ve decided to a628afaba3 follow the Emperor’s d5aeef348a command one last dfe6ddaa7c time. So all you need to do… d2474b52fe is become my bride, assassin.”3bdb315fd0c7470bcea7

What? Gio’s confusion d9dc39dc1f didn’t make 3de3a20ba4 it to a1c13950bf his lips.9c2c1a66f24f54a29ed3

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“If you promise not d017b8e643 to bite your tongue, bea5ea34e5 I’ll take this out. Do you promise?”04e1888452f31c420f5f

Gio nodded. But this wasn’t a choice—it was a threat, with f0e88ec9ee his life hung on one end of the scale. And though Gio didn’t particularly care 8c001527e0 about his life… he had no 8244e882ae other options at the moment.d6b311b8a18a1324f826

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The Grand Duke reached 03d4a70a98 for the handkerchief. His face drew close 14848115bd enough that Gio could fa04fc5fb3 feel his breath. A new wave of pheromones spilled out—chilling and quiet 36bf63716d like a deep forest in winter, yet strangely comforting.f16a3c91ef3f14c9eabc

“If you try biting your tongue again, I’ll make 07700afd01 sure you live the rest of your life mute.”b2db23bd235c393ee27b

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His icy blue 517c1a86cc eyes locked onto c671ea76c2 Gio’s. The weight in them made it 6812ef2dfe clear—he meant what he said.1b151714e7b6f09f29a5

He pulled the 5e27244fc6 cloth from Gio’s e32ed6d7e1 mouth. Gio tried to wipe the drool running from his lips, 8b7fb1f4fe but all he managed was the clink of the chains.ed0fe053f5a36c3e9054

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When he moved, 49e605134c his once-dislocated wrist 037c7420d4 throbbed with fresh b2c3c9f881 pain. And again, a flood of 3068b9a84a pheromones hit him—so heavy and f32a100bb6 sudden it felt like a e9da2dc985 river overflowing into a flood. Gio’s body twitched involuntarily af9143ac43 from the impact.e4882105bb5f497a0879

“So… will 0816e90100 you help?”d20eae8483eafec08b6b

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“What do I 85de1caef6 have to do?”4cac32f627659562436a

Gio responded immediately.1252a37c4c73410e6fda

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He had failed to kill 7ca100a0fa the Grand Duke, which meant 7a6bc4010c he couldn’t return to Cove. He should’ve died e28f6589a9 the moment he 6a6c0525b5 was caught—but he 3ca0f00d74 hadn’t. A failed assassin like him would 9c5d291775 only end up as another test cfc4aaa679 subject in Cove’s labs. He never e1b1c98d3b wanted to f3f2dbd389 go back.715893f765de3ff238c6

If the Grand Duke had survived so many attempts 269d8e483f and uncovered Cove’s schemes, then maybe—just maybe—Gio would be 3b071f908c better off staying here for now and playing along.a85638b5f1cb5ba18058

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And fortunately, Gio was good 1b10163c06 at carrying out missions. Good at playing c4aab96621 his roles. He didn’t know exactly what 13534ad7c1 “bride” meant to the Grand 84cf696d96 Duke, but whatever it was—he c485baa36a could perform that role. And wait for b8a48f6c17 his next opening.b98b67940bfd9a822cc0

The Grand Duke, still unrelenting, cd261acdec continued pouring out pheromones. It felt like he was forcibly filling Gio’s b318f33a29 faint scent glands with his own overpowering scent. Gio’s pheromones, too, 6727cd4559 began to leak b30b45a7a3 out.e87336c2a429e56b2d60

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The Grand Duke 64a67fb0da inhaled deeply, catching 8d4ffc8636 the scent—and smiled. But his eyes 8eb310a7d4 remained cold.f439d333f41f97acdc74

Then, instead of answering 52df744dc7 Gio’s question… he suddenly 8dc400bb9f brought up something completely a1f0579648 unrelated.c96e37a439cb4bbc966e

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“The scent 37de907970 is nice. Smells like 8768cc91f1 some kind f369d28fc1 of flower? Our bride, 3dfbb91660 that is.”d46ffd0e54ed22a1195d

Hardly anyone had ever caught 6a307c49ec a whiff of Gio’s pheromones. No—no one had. Not even Gio himself knew 665a5bc036 what his pheromones smelled like, 017139742d yet the Grand Duke was 418dbc943a commenting on them. But pheromones weren’t the issue ae587164f1 right now—the mission was.318891c03848a620f192

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Though his body trembled under e721881560 the weight of those strong 27020686fd pheromones, Gio kept his voice 79824fffb4 as steady as possible. Emotions could be heard in one’s tone, so he worked hard 890b6826f1 to sound as indifferent as he could when he asked,510fce613c0639c3bfe2

“So what exactly 35a1a003ce do you want e6dfc3cb1d me to do?”7f239ec37722500c250e

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The Grand Duke, who had been running his fca161b279 gaze over Gio’s body, unlocked the handcuffs. Gio rubbed his freed wrists, trying 75c80189be to figure out the reason.47c0bea4e8a477d4ac5e

Why had f159490f4a he taken a00691a436 them off 311f49a193 so easily? Was it confidence—confidence that d192b65980 he could stop Gio ba174d363c no matter what he 116ffda8f1 tried?5a30363d61aa083a5ed3

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Just then, the 12432f9afa Grand Duke came f4007fc34d right up to 173741ed26 him. Not just his ca6b149810 pheromones now—Gio could 380c0810be smell his natural 91a04fab42 scent too. In that moment, Gio realized something d3d24d93fd was trickling down between his buttocks.69edf237994e2e1be036

He had manifested as an omega at twenty, and acf0a393e1 it hadn’t even been half a year since then. So while he knew he was an 140907b3c7 omega in theory, reacting to the Grand 308f376088 Duke’s pheromones like this felt completely wrong. Like his body had ae0a959924 turned into some kind 38482d67a4 of beast.78d42bcadbcf8375647e

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Pheromones were leaking out, fc2e27302c and his body started 922cbdd251 to go limp. Gio bit 6991588a6c his lip. The sharp sting 2ab3df6034 brought some tension 8b08ca90fb back into his 08c9bd0871 body. He needed to 1b14cfb2f5 stay sharp—especially in 4ba6183b8d a situation like 7242470ebe this. As he pressed 39778f7742 his lips harder, 012806e566 the Grand Duke 996c7f58f9 frowned.6435365af7f5b2ffef74

“But why are d363b54751 you biting your e4f9c41b53 lip? Don’t tell me… 73c7ec40d5 you’re trying to 9f07c84932 hurt yourself again?”46522b008dd6bc138cba

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The Grand ff98403d24 Duke’s eyes 8e5afb9e44 gleamed sharply. His pale blue 2300a78d01 gaze was like 40e0a46765 a finely sharpened 30006731d6 blade.485fe19c10a6a179e2c9

“I just needed e0f55b81b5 to snap out e305243fe1 of it, that’s 3e9e526558 all.”ad1b7ecbf56dba2fdebf

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Gio spoke up quickly before 1e71608f28 the misunderstanding could deepen. The Grand Duke crossed 43b260a024 his arms and stared feb912460a at Gio’s lips in f3e7b0df0d silence.8dc2ed099b78df53a3d8

“Now that I’m looking closely, 6fd56ffa72 your hair’s different from the ccaaf477bf Silion family’s too. Sure, that family’s known 1b2f39f666 for their black hair, 815361cfe7 but not this black. And their eyes 6ce20314e7 are always kind 0b52498fec of dull and be644e0124 faded. Anyway, not a 4e104e6da3 single impressive trait 2f368a0494 in that whole f43bd10c39 bloodline.”6d514927495737efc004

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He reached out and touched Gio’s f12839e14c long hair for a moment before 8dffd6e138 letting it fall again. Gio’s black, flowing 90775661c6 hair shimmered with 9ac9d51283 a deep bluish 3a13de9ca0 sheen.9d346f85c56be13e8f5f

“Anyway, all you b5ce59595b need to do 93849524f9 is become my c58b95f6a0 bride.”df835cbd1bb0b30e12bc

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When Gio gave a 8f68fac84b slight nod, the Grand 04df34d458 Duke added,b1bb35e7bc699426a8dc

“We’re going to be a 9f167cc55b very, very passionate couple. The kind that doesn’t leave d8e5467220 the bedroom for three days dc10a5617e after the wedding.”44e2729127d6897fc2b1

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Gio looked at e42d22150b him in shock. The Grand Duke smiled acc19fa980 and released more pheromones. Gio bit down on his lip 47461651ce again, forcing himself to suppress the eeabf6bb3c shiver running through his body.3cfc90b018b50be83781

“Well, word’s already 61eae39a75 spread that our 7bc452b554 wedding night was 33bde9b0ac wild.”dee5e442fe905e527c0e

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Gio kept staring 5ee201b123 at him, unsure 78410fa2e7 what he meant. The Grand Duke just 1216e59497 chuckled, wearing a smile 499434b441 like a mischievous boy 59a2eeb557 plotting trouble.f2807f329b7543fc337b

Strands of platinum-blond hair swayed gracefully with 200f3025f8 his every movement, rippling like fine silk. It looked so much like real ae3c070ae3 gold that Gio found himself staring, 588fa1d868 until the Grand Duke spoke.37d88cdf6c728f8939e0

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“The head maid took the bedding, so I’m sure c2effa6d69 the rumors are already spreading among the servants.”d4521c09f42ead43b7fb

Gio suddenly pictured the head maid walking f8238fba65 out, carrying the bedding all bundled up—soiled 53d561a00a and damp with who knew what.56db6b3535b7af1de2cf

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“And since the Grand Duchess won’t be leaving the bedroom at a56db2f087 all today, and I’ll barely step out myself… I’m sure the 7f0db527ca Emperor will be thrilled to hear how things are going here.”cac4eafc358ed60aa621

With that, the Grand Duke let out a laugh—”Ha ha.” He smiled a9fd996f1c cheerfully, spinning that grin like a charm, but his eyes remained razor-sharp.ce41a1a2612db18a1d6b

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He said he wouldn’t be leaving the bedroom much… fef89ef0ff Was he seriously planning to consummate the marriage? Gio had been ordered to da7eecb077 play the role of the 801fd43d27 bride, after all…b33011e480b0640721cd

Looks like he wants to fool the 519bdb3333 Emperor—but isn’t the best kind of lie ffb912d9c9 the one laced with just enough truth? If that’s the case, then even if he claims 76ddbe69f1 to have consummated the marriage with me while I’m 86d5f06060 effectively a prisoner, I’d have no grounds to refuse.454cb37987c5a7ea73da

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“Are you really ec93d25922 planning to consummate 1fbb39a5b1 the marriage?”84205a1c2f40a69111fc

Gio considered telling him—if the Grand Duke really intended to go through with it—that he 54e91d2490 wasn’t like other omegas, that his sensitivity was low, and the experience might be… unpleasant. But in the end, he 0a94e017c3 kept his mouth shut. That wasn’t the 8a31a2e033 important part.12efec0dd9f8326c55fa

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If the Grand 618a7470b2 Duke decided to ed8472fcda take him, what d0d1e58181 could Gio do? He was already bound to this northern 3d36fa825d land like a chain around his legs.306dc8b31fb8172afb94

But the Grand c7ef7650e7 Duke’s response was 4501b49f42 completely unexpected.08723e12cd9f3c72807d

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“Me? With you?”f5d05420c887879337e4

He seemed 7e7be831e8 genuinely confused. So… he wasn’t planning c85637ae2c to consummate the marriage 80a67ebb77 after all?48f46d2ae6b73b201096

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“Ah… I told you to 197caf8362 play the role of a 4923ed98cd bride, not actually become one. Right, assassin?”85b2127471336ffd8ac7

At those words, 37b2bb576e Gio let out 1c558258f3 a deep, shaky d236245227 breath. So he hadn’t intended d0aded6238 to force himself on 2705274729 him after all. That was something—better ddd4039a58 than the people 3db9d60671 from Cove, at 6d8f655c5c least. Honestly, if it had a6faeca526 been them, they wouldn’t ac2a6ec486 even be having this 3529f0b735 conversation.08cd0f8f64b2a729d530

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But just then, the 04b5ea291e Grand Duke’s hand slipped 87449146c4 under the robe and c7ad3f549a grabbed Gio’s soft center.6ab552cc56cc801da7d7

“Ugh…”ac2cf4acbf5c7c8540d3

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Caught off guard, d06d8ede80 Gio let out 81b69d5d6e a startled moan. The Grand Duke’s hand kneaded his center 3dfd302aa3 for a moment, then moved even lower. When Gio jerked in 1f498cdcee surprise, the hand brushed 23b3cc0658 between his buttocks—then quickly 923651e266 withdrew.abe12f475ebab8393480

The Grand Duke stared calmly at 7bf1be38de the fluid on his hand, then 6f0e055abd brought it to his tongue. Gio’s mouth fell open in 2564c823ae shock as he watched. He might need to take back that a5e55b5582 thought about the Grand Duke being better 7214d1b129 than the people from Cove.9653da01605acbb7bf8d

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“Tastes just as sweet ad359a4de5 as it smells…”04715ba7e4408a251fa1

“Why would 2829aad26f you even…”684d591257ebfb47133d

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The Grand Duke gave 0eadc06876 a casual shrug. Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped 58cbf558e2 his hand clean and said,8ea0a6980b74c02f2275

“I’ll only do 2660e206ea it when your 20893778b6 cock’s fully hard.”ae060b9b6e1a7eb184b4

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“……”c66a1282a67268b0a55e

“Forcing it, even with f7ada062b9 my own bride—that’s just 2b6b715fd1 not my style.”e179f0f483811f264968

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His actions were crude and perverse, yet fc4d42621f his words came out disturbingly refined.dcf85302bf13ac1294cb

“Come on, f98da7782a go wash 99973f5795 up. Take a e0f4071efc piss while 59f44ed9c7 you’re at 0bd1fbf97e it.”766ea18f331497181ac7

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Piss? Was he treating 347a9a4369 him like a 03e95baa90 damn dog? Then again, an assassin was 8391662a4b considered lower than a dog. And an omega? Even worse.2017dbe3970d18135703

The Grand Duke unshackled the chain from the c8266afe10 bedpost—but didn’t undo the restraint on Gio’s ankle. Instead, he tugged the chain, and Gio 429d86b7b9 was dragged off the bed, hitting the 785a6367d9 floor with his bare legs fully exposed. The robe’s sash had already come c786509748 loose, revealing everything down the center.8124dbc97fa944fdfac4

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