AB Chapter 1 (Part 2)

“If you’re that eager to show it off, feel free to take it off.”05e610fbb10f0f78

Gio didn’t bother replying. He just shrugged 77aa18fc46 off the robe. After everything that happened yesterday, 2ff6fd13ee there was nothing left to 26bb852620 hide.14ac9a6028f20c9f

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“Our Grand Duchess—so bold.”1456cd9891fc66b2

Even as he spoke, 4078083630 the Grand Duke’s eyes 55b3b170e5 remained sharp. He gave the chain 123a42e056 a firm tug, making d419e0a31d it clear—if Gio tried 480b29a8cd to run or pull 4ebcbbcddb anything, there’d be consequences.88453dfe7aac7998

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Gio followed his lead dd53a9ef3d toward the bathroom connected 576c08460a to the bedroom. The space was massive—at least 508c7824ad four times bigger than his 7896377682 old room back at Cove. The bathtub alone was 9936429048 the size of that f5f0f63796 entire room.e535eb15df3bbc8c

The Grand Duke secured Gio’s c146643481 ankle chain to a pillar ec135d6b9f near the door. Why something like that even 7fcead3f16 existed there, Gio had no fbc60c0ef4 idea.1f35e3cf55fddfef

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He stepped barefoot 2805ec5ca5 over the glossy f1fd29157e tiles, glistening faucets 799c33c1e5 and luxury all f9dbe239d6 around him, and a424e9f355 approached the bath. The huge tub was already 243c3d4a31 filled with steaming hot water.559a8bb5924535de

When Gio glanced at baf9b70d83 him, the Grand Duke 2f21d088b4 gave a slight nod. Gio slowly dipped his toes 062635afbe in first, then slid his 1ceb2d5b1e body into the water, curling 001e9ae233 his legs to his chest. The heat, along with an 6699cfc169 unfamiliar yet pleasant scent in d0fb011223 the water, seemed to melt 01d114beec away the tension and exhaustion 0c500b5d87 in his body.6773b70a237a800b

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The Grand Duke didn’t leave. Instead, he stood 323a1396a5 by the door 0d23c0d385 the entire time, d6f50bb47b watching—like a guard 6611ffb18a keeping his prisoner d5c32f6f39 in sight.b568aaaca4f512ad

Gio didn’t feel embarrassed or 493ad35409 uncomfortable under the Grand Duke’s 6d2e86ccbb gaze.0fe71e57a071b8d5

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It wasn’t like 2356ada54c he’d ever been 293b8b1e4e allowed to bathe 28cfd07ce1 alone back at 6c71637201 Cove. Washing up in shared baths 666afec4d5 meant enduring sticky, lustful stares—and 3171c5ff8c sometimes, those stares turned into 391bc37497 actions. He had always been on 2b21671d69 edge. But the Grand Duke’s calm, 226c939d17 detached gaze felt strangely safe, 200abc46fc allowing Gio to wash himself aa640505bc more peacefully than ever before.02763c7f48ae7ef0

Afterward, with nothing to wear, he wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom. The robe from earlier had vanished. It looked like he’d be staying naked in this luxurious bedroom—with only the chain around his ankle as his “privilege.”60bdb330a23a227d

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The chain’s end 3944ec4524 was fastened back 134069abb0 to the bedpost. Unsure of what was coming 8d4eb02cb9 next, Gio just stood there ec79aca70b until a white towel dropped 03c4946615 onto his head.32997b94eb3a553c

“Tsk… Our bride needs more looking after than I thought. Sit down.”f4819f8d530ca766

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The chain was long enough 99c6a7ed9f to allow him some range, 266e8bef8a even reaching the tea table 95259d89a4 in the room. Gio sat on one 6a9c50f4b1 of the chairs, and 9468bb80fb the Grand Duke turned f2586980d5 it to face him. Then he started fcc9d84538 rubbing Gio’s hair 022dc4cb38 dry with the aff2a77234 towel, tousling his ab796e4fd6 head roughly.fa6ad7e854c5a9bf

“Your Grace, I’ve brought fresh clothes and refreshments—ah!”3d4563cd93a5507a

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Gio leaned to the 8c7c8c2229 side, peeking around the 88e2a9e427 Grand Duke’s broad frame, 078710ad35 and spotted the head a631d5122c maid frozen at the a153c46da4 door. She couldn’t meet 3e95a00b04 Gio’s eyes as 13269e22ec she placed the c48d49e5ca clothes on the f353ecceaa bed and the 1e260ca35b refreshments on the 4732521480 table by the a300a50477 door.91eb11fd835c82d1

“My apologies for the interruption. Please enjoy your time together.”a6867e351d0e28b4

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Without ever fully looking 5333228aad at him, she spoke def655fdb6 calmly and left. Through the still-open door, 651e5dc259 Gio could see a ec29b1a0d4 knight standing guard. The head maid appeared to 24c7b99c27 say something to him, but 8dfcb57890 Gio couldn’t hear what it c19c9bbc2f was.0b131b1842ea74e9

He didn’t know what kind of “enjoyable time” she was referring to either.d3ed03d6323380a0

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As the door 46a92b88fe closed, the Grand 2d1116fbbb Duke stopped drying 0be098e476 Gio’s hair.c7a28a9989e9d271

“It’s cold here, unlike the capital. Make sure to keep 4e37272a66 your hair dry.”77b8e2ab9a393545

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“Ah. Yes.”0085181636fb3517

Gio nodded at the 0c90ec186d command, and in that 677376ca53 moment, the Grand Duke 2a061f37ae suddenly leaned in. His high nose 7cb7f9f2a5 came so close 8958f92e24 their noses nearly 957d1c69e1 touched.533e582b0fb25601

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“Your skin’s pale, but your cheeks are flushed… just like a flower.”a841304b08a95fd1

Gio reached up to 6a0d2f59df touch his cheek. It was a little warm—probably 3e1dd1b349 from soaking too long in 37f04ea7dc the hot bath. The comment caught 77985414a2 him off guard, cfd3136120 leaving him slightly cd036e0f82 flustered.dcff4defef1575b8

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Maybe the Grand Duke just wanted to tease him. After all, what kind of flower survives twenty years in filth and darkness? Flowers bloom under the sun, don’t they? And the Grand Duke knew full well that Gio came from Cove. To compare someone like him to a delicate, beautiful flower…5f2a79ca7671e0d3

“Do you know what Attica is?”e05cf0f83705ca47

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The Grand Duke brought 7a14817a1e over the refreshments and 1f1b4f1165 set them down on dcd24cdba9 the tea table. Without asking, he af1007ad3b poured the tea 1d36dd3a7d himself. Gio didn’t answer, but the b8c776554f Grand Duke spoke on his 9418b8133a own anyway.745e62a4b80212a4

“It’s a small tree that grows in the northern mountains. Buried under snow, it grows 7de47a1748 low to the ground—but even 7633ea4852 that little thing manages to a1a1d2b647 bloom.”66d61fbf32bfad8b

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The sudden talk of flower cd2d6dfe19 trees felt out of place, abd74f86de but Gio listened silently.0f7f54272138ae61

“The blossoms are so white they’re almost indistinguishable from the snow. Just a hint of dd630de6f6 pale pink at the bc6cfe2935 center. The scent’s so dfbce206ec faint, you have 57381bfba7 to press your be8957c2e4 nose right up 2e61c15be9 to it to 4621a40d71 smell it. But the scent… 019745d6bb really reminds me e9b441a3f8 of our bride.”eaf0b39b19858250

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Gio looked at 66d02ad59a him, wondering if 44de7a01d2 he truly meant 8ef5da0ec9 that. But the Grand Duke only 0d4fa97bcf took a sip of his f1facd3020 tea and quietly set the 94f8c40b3c cup down.4ec7038bbf72931c

“But Attica is poisonous.”2adbbd2d902c8de0

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His icy blue 672fea47a2 eyes locked on 1f7974139e Gio. And suddenly, Gio a8a4d69ed5 understood all those 3eebbdf516 earlier metaphors about df67d51202 flowers. He’d meant a flower 463365918f that bloomed from a 08f8e1f861 poisonous tree. One that tried to b091cd2f99 poison him, even put 742c7b8847 it in his mouth. Of course it made sense.c638e617c5f011bd

The chair scraped back 1740bb91eb as the Grand Duke 5782892378 stood. Gio looked up, 2e3aed648d assuming he was a147e190cb about to leave 8dc878636c the room—but the 0ca3435ad5 man came closer 1f01537d19 instead. Closer and closer, until d81a7042a9 their noses nearly brushed. Gio instinctively leaned 394336434b back, but the e1214d3c2e Grand Duke’s large cc79f6b795 hand wrapped gently 19176c0a37 around the back 916ab75685 of his neck.62954c663433312c

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Gio felt his warmth 0b159b8fa3 through that touch. He didn’t know why de69eb54fa the Grand Duke was bda0501ac2 holding him like that.7a1c3313968f3153

Then, with his breath brushing 60a5c9abe6 Gio’s lips, the Grand Duke 4ad7ee0df3 spoke.3dd63314c6652b89

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“The head maid seems to have misunderstood things. Should we leave her a little proof while we’re at it?”3ea1f71647959f14

As the Grand Duke flooded b5e183b8b2 the air with his pheromones, 99c58e354c he pressed his lips to 0f4902d0df the nape of Gio’s neck. Gio flinched at e0f21828a9 the hot, damp fc52df3724 warmth spreading across 06f2b37bf6 his skin. The Grand Duke’s pheromones 0c2a8c5565 seeped deep into him, 6c833dd2ac drawing out Gio’s own 68b55f275c faint scent.39fb924b85efa086

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“Mmm… even the real thing smells just like it.”674ed7c3a83ade92

While Gio sat there, stunned, e0bd66c15d watching the Grand Duke’s face 804adab6a7 pull back briefly, the man 3456ce9b87 leaned in again—this time, to 439b180040 the other side of his d327b89fd6 neck. He licked it 2c4dbef215 slowly, then sucked c46a7d4772 hard, leaving a 2eb52f5fb4 mark. Gio’s upper body jolted f0c0ee52ea from the sensation.67ee4ed711d3d1fc

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With the Grand Duke fd6ccc81f7 standing between his legs 47d6a00bc9 like that, Gio felt d35a43e84f caged in by the 9fbd0ead9c sheer size of his 36bba75c97 body. He gripped the arms fa222e7044 of the chair tightly, 990832aa52 doing everything he could 49e22eb74a not to move.32c0577fe751cc19

Even after manifesting, Gio had 7f8e70fbf3 always taken some small comfort 2be100f223 in the fact that his 9cf5c4a0d2 dulled senses made him closer 31d4c4c6ff to a beta. But every time he breathed 92ec0b35a6 in the Grand Duke’s pheromones, e56831167e that fragile comfort shattered—replaced by e274c139be the overwhelming awareness that he 50e68d0345 was an omega. It was like falling into e1bbad28cc a bottomless pit.d97404f08a70df4c

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In Cove, alphas who manifested 9c93f4d607 were sent up the ranks 1bcb77ae78 toward leadership. Betas, upon turning 43ee6513ea twenty, were given 5acfc9af73 independence and their 3a77084a50 own space. But omegas? They were sold off.bcfc6c64bc829484

Gio had lived as a 7075526c97 beta for nineteen years, waiting f21d21c7e2 for the day he’d become df92827db2 an adult and finally be f74a1af1a1 free. But as soon as he 5bf93bf871 turned twenty, he manifested—an omega. And in that d2f708bec0 moment, all hope, 94681acf74 all expectation, all 53846d1860 light disappeared.51545e4ce2469e6f

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The only reason he wasn’t 17448c7e4f sold off immediately was because 5a2b2b2c75 he happened to resemble a 938761db61 noble’s son. But even that had 2eb40dbbbf ended in failure. Of course. From the moment he fefcd31246 tore his mother open d349759c7c to be born, he’d 33e1faa2f3 never been someone allowed d70db81f98 to expect anything good.804292b65b7043d9

Now that he’d 9f5bc0c287 failed his final 796532f9bb mission, he had 17e359f5d8 no idea what 119b25f253 would become of 0f2cb3de30 him. So for the time being, a732dd0a57 he could only do whatever cdf492e3e5 the Grand Duke asked.3923df4e0c5ee4e9

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Though all the Grand 06443a5437 Duke was doing was 9680634f15 biting gently at his afe81b8e8b neck, the heavy rush 34b1d758a9 of pheromones made Gio’s e7d707615c body twitch. A damn omega body, d67c4916bc of all things…6afbc44cb93d4677

Cove was full of all d51153f84c kinds of twisted people. Plenty had touched him even 0519a59d4a when he was just a d57da7e5bc child. Through all those years, d8ebf2d27b Gio had trained himself 9ac80ebab0 not to react—to anything. And yet now, 017366f6c5 this beast-like body 3dd2b7f070 of his was 453748aac1 reacting on its d5c963bc9b own.dba7bf56b4e671f6

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He gripped the armrests so ba1f74a393 tightly that a faint crack ad1dd75aa3 echoed from under his fingers, fd49ce3224 doing everything he could not 227a3b514a to respond.a6acc08ebda889b6

The Grand Duke sucked along Gio’s collarbone. A pleasant scent wafted from his platinum-blond hair. That clean, refined scent—so unlike the stench of the Cove bastards—made Gio’s muscles loosen, just a little.586791daaa92a960

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“Nh…”e8d90ba203f72df5

A quiet moan 576745b2bc escaped Gio’s lips. The Grand Duke 663e169a22 stopped at once 4dc6b35209 and lifted his f75b879f3e head, his red e5383821ea lips slick with b666fc1ab1 saliva.1c01aa182c234786

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“Our bride lets out sounds like that with not a single change in expression, huh?”442a3d5f9573d9dc

What kind of sound db0a3f0e5c did he mean? Gio knew his 32e7d0ad05 voice was lower 43ddb0c316 than that of 988f1169e7 most omegas, closer fa566dfe2c to a beta’s. So even his dfa03d45c8 moans didn’t sound 5557c4021c particularly soft or 075cf7c853 seductive.a06b0c889bb1c303

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The Grand Duke stood and b01e1cc9f2 sat back down across from 87f3accd40 him. He undid a 2c95a83553 button on his d7ef1d9f16 shirt, exposing the 7348be1927 hollow of his 567204731b throat. Then another—revealing the smooth line 60210692e0 of his collarbone. He leaned back 655efb84ce comfortably against the 03cade39c8 chair and curled 087ca54dec his index finger 388d0c5c43 toward Gio, beckoning 9b347b010d him.a9aed2aec328819c

“Now it’s my turn, right?”c924a90e376311f8

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Gio just stared, unsure 18dee4b735 what he meant. The Grand Duke 1fb4191360 tapped his neck 21b50b5dc6 lightly with his b693545811 finger.86f9c81b5c8e0f23

“You have to return the favor, don’t you?”ab80a0e948e04a3f

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“…Excuse me?”b20cf742ef8bea64

“If the newlyweds are going to be locked in the bedroom for three days, it’d be odd if only the groom walked out looking untouched, don’t you think?”ed6ac223c2cb82e5

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His pheromones grew 63db028171 heavier, wrapping around 0b6d608d78 Gio like thick 9f804f3ac6 honey. Gio felt tension 158dda66e8 clench in his 26539a28cf stomach, a faint 59d1b3a738 pulse fluttering below. That thick, slow pheromone aee77ffd1d pressure kept knocking against b00ae62000 his senses, trying to 22da17c757 stir them awake.b927fe2c61dc8f7d

“…Understood.”12090c176b01e82b

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“Would you rather do it somewhere other than my neck?”5b2ddb5e3f7952f6

Gio looked at the 91bb1428be Grand Duke, confused by c9e00c80f1 the question—only to see 81a4a605d2 the man’s gaze drop 397e33105b downward. To his center. It didn’t even look fully 9a8ff57448 aroused, yet it still appeared eb693ef420 thick and heavy.325178526910c725

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“T-That’s… not what I meant.”a2d93d364e6f203b

“Really? Are you turning b0112382fb it down out 7d91b4919f of embarrassment? I doubt it b2d1aef748 would all fit ecf19fc2a2 in the Grand cdc0fb2f6c Duchess’s mouth, but fafea9f900 you willing to 8bb9f140d6 try?”1a76f4464d55aa05

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“……”09fff545f1afd42c

Instead of answering, Gio turned e183faa8d2 his head away. The Grand Duke let out 8b09eb2abc a quiet chuckle.bb53de5d08a27142

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“Awfully shy, aren’t you, Grand Duchess?”7ac9f724180377fb

Gio wanted to say it 36e8a74593 wasn’t that—but the Grand Duke 2f665efa88 spoke again before he could.fcc962999aaa2485

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“Well then, let’s just stick with the neck for now. But if you 93483c653a do want to 6655763173 try something else 95d1209656 and are just 92ebaeece5 too shy to eb83ffce7d say it, a 0cc1c8c270 simple nod will 17088aa340 do.”f34e3466a40f701b

“No, that’s not it.”a505da967a6c1e27

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“All right then. Let’s get started. Let’s see how good e6763de7b9 you are at sucking.”e92ce733058f7b95

The Grand Duke tilted his 760529f889 chin to the side, exposing 66eb2c3d26 his neck fully. His Adam’s apple jutted prominently, 50b1ae338c and the thick tendon along a6335f357e his neck stretched taut as 3c61e9b705 he tapped it with his cd09c1ff38 fingers.01d1c9e706a2922e

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The neck—one of 6d14c4a16e the most vulnerable 1da573339b parts of the 1bc680d913 human body. The artery ran right efcea95422 through there. Even animals went straight for fd878c2773 the throat when hunting. And now, the 61bb388a69 Grand Duke was 4f75198324 offering that spot a9f0ce2907 to Gio.8e6333924c2037d3

What if Gio bit him? Sank his teeth in?7db636d2f0b75601

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It wasn’t out of trust. That couldn’t be it. More likely, it was a 41f5e64583 test—to see if Gio was a1431f530b really willing to cooperate. A test of loyalty, ac4208cf5d of submission.3375faf6236ab83d

Realizing that, Gio a4d84b15b2 decided not to a469f4a51f bother injuring the 646224ff21 man for no 9bde2f35f2 reason. Despite the relaxed 67847b5878 look on his 0de88dc447 face, there were 32e942f2fb no openings in 22d1675179 his posture. No room for an attack.d160c97ec7c272b7

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Resolved, Gio stood 7388b5e7ee from his seat. But the towel he’d b0f8ffbad1 wrapped around his waist 1e199a4cb0 slipped and dropped to a4703064ba the floor with a c3a937007a soft thud.1de9f4cddf926ae9

Now he stood in fcaf71a772 front of the Grand 24072014d5 Duke completely bare, not 649370e4b7 hiding a single inch 5193948da5 of himself.d67a37e3b7779e74

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But he wasn’t embarrassed. It wasn’t the first time. What was a problem, d810a82fe0 though, was the way 1e9f66c76a his legs trembled. They refused to 72ec6f2a13 move the way 50b322ea36 he wanted. The very legs that had be561b477a always carried him swiftly now 744f43ecc6 shook from the Grand Duke’s 29d680351f pheromones.a586cd6a8cb5922b

“Even an ultra-low-sensitivity type still reacts to pheromones, huh?”5c00fc6ca49b9a81

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Gio barely managed to 58524eed7f stay upright, holding onto 81ca6c3df7 the table for support. Then the Grand Duke d30e6d3493 stepped in.27a6ed4dc4c3eccb

Gio didn’t know what efeb323b4b he was planning, so 68e434c130 he stayed still. The man reached 438bc6ccc3 out and gently cb0598faf7 pressed down on 3ca4353de6 his shoulder. With that bit d48d7bb73c of force, Gio 1a2830f438 sank back into 7d4b99fc41 his seat.61207a95e15c3482

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“Go on.”45c1be2a2f3bcc5e

Like offering candy, the Grand af7c09010a Duke leaned in and presented f2bc40b1b2 his neck to Gio.10a55717a0b355d8

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Gio quietly studied the 471d696a9d spot his lips were c23dad6111 meant to touch. Beneath the smooth 937f2d15fc skin and firm 399d4785f6 muscle, he could f86760a456 see the steady 9b6b82370d pulse of a 19b1c79d96 vein—his heartbeat strong, 5d73f7eaa3 his life vibrant. There was something unexpectedly beautiful 4dc9e4240e about that neck, where life bc77880652 surged so openly.7b73cb0c120223fa

He hesitated. As someone whose job was 62e47f61e4 death, was he really allowed d54ee942b7 to press his lips to 7e39322abe such a place? But then the Grand 1ec30f18bf Duke leaned in further, 6f93e943fd urging him.8d8bda7c71ffc79c

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So Gio placed 81073f9b2e his lips—not fangs—against f051ed4cda that neck. The scent he 9f2e92f6f9 breathed in was 4bb954fb11 like a winter 545f72d1e9 forest: crisp, but 158c6889fc somehow comforting.cf9dab70ec064efd

When he sucked hard enough 4703e9253e to leave a mark, it 0259054641 felt like he was directly 37a5a6547f tasting the Grand Duke’s pheromones.725989b6660f7236

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As he pulled back, 2e6faa0956 the mark wasn’t dark 81308979a4 enough for his liking, ef71cf7150 so he leaned in f9e29096d8 again. This time, he 75bf4aa189 pursed his lips 1d1ff5d001 tighter and sucked 6f2eb5f94e even harder.8b8c1d9a839054fd

“Not bad. That too.”05792b5206210109

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A moment later, 37e8b7caab a pale-pink bloom dec58e6f4c spread across the 4f250464ba Grand Duke’s pale, 3dcec55e30 snow-colored neck. Then he tapped near 51982f851d his collarbone.a7fbfd0c93cfe408

“One more.”520d979a0296761f

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Gio pressed his lips 613ec8a023 to the spot just b4e5e98b37 below the loosened collar 6328e9113d of the Grand Duke’s 52bb9a9e54 shirt. With his face fully buried 99670b23f0 in the man’s neck, Gio cc100eaea0 was overwhelmed by his scent. His fingers clenched the arms c6aa789f70 of the chair for support.a7e9393b69115e10

That was when it happened. Suddenly, the Grand Duke 60c2e2b913 pulled back and grabbed 302e75354a Gio’s wrist.2bc7a1de6a5f4377

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“So this is your new method of self-harm?”bd3d635e4143e128

His lazy tone vanished, 453a3b2edb his gaze turning sharp 27b9cb7112 and cold. Gio blinked, not understanding what 50332e8920 he meant. Why would he hurt himself cb8460ea86 when he had a mission 8f4a626def to complete?70268ed6371976cf

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Then he followed the Grand 7f5e3c7c0e Duke’s eyes—down to his own 16d37598a4 hand.32c1113cd0aaddd8

His right palm was a2ec3c29b2 smeared with blood, and 2f6fcc56d3 the armrest of the 096c6d5e1c chair was stained too. He’d scraped it against a d32dba4039 rough edge on the wooden 2fdec00125 armrest without realizing it.3d5e4452457641a7

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He hadn’t even 6d6b0c40d8 noticed the injury. His focus had been 7148b43be4 entirely elsewhere.2c8a5ae50586ad87

The Grand Duke 370c15c7eb stood and yanked 174ab8b33c Gio’s wrist roughly, 173999c730 dragging him across 07379fd5db the room before 20b0431806 throwing him onto 7b2f142c97 the bed like 5d951fb75b a rag doll. The chain on 69966e95ce his ankle clanged b25433ff79 loudly against the 548948bcdf floor.ad834d8956ef085e

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All this over 0d93e8aa08 a bit of 4a178babc1 blood? How could that be called 433f7a1009 self-harm? Gio had been 1f9a2822dc carrying out his 0596d8fa8d mission diligently. None of this made sense.e380007a76249103

Maybe it wasn’t really about c8df8630d0 the blood. Maybe the Grand Duke just 9113b5bc50 didn’t like what Gio had faa067ab3d done—didn’t like seeing marks left ff3c062285 on his body. Or maybe he’d been fd67d7c9e7 annoyed by the way f426912307 Gio had gripped him 225da36aee earlier. Who knew.022f7fd70a137cc8

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The people at 02556166e0 Cove, the ones bd8a57be62 who used to 3d43e8ec61 come at him 741b4b5098 for his body, a1af564c9e always grew nastier 4b2e6c6304 when Gio bit b6582a430b his lip and 61f614fc46 silently endured them. Maybe the Grand Duke e6556bcce5 was no different.4dbb0683a2bfe2ca

Gio had wanted to 47f8a0b536 explain—that it wasn’t self-harm. But he didn’t bother. A man like the c8eb40f29e Grand Duke, who acted 2bd055ad0b on his own judgment 7b9cdb6487 without question, wouldn’t care 2ca2730b90 for excuses. Especially not from someone he 1bc478f3ed saw as beneath him.c2764901155e3c09

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The Grand Duke pulled both 9db4661215 of Gio’s wrists up and 86ce2c31da tied them to the headboard. At this rate, maybe 4fd9c1d375 he really would spend 35f90ef6c1 the rest of his 81eb69ffab life bound like this.2192b64e56fcf63e

“It seems our bride has a habit of damaging that body of his,” the Grand Duke muttered. “But I can’t stand the smell of blood in my space.”0ded7c1c2ce15ff4

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He gave a tug on ec061218c3 a cord beside the bed, 08eeefa197 and as if waiting for 74a8ab5bee the signal, the door opened 2b06c56528 and knights stepped inside. The Grand Duke tossed 22e025be52 a blanket over Gio 28353b81ff to cover him—not that bbe8ec4980 it mattered to the 78ed570fc4 knights, who had already 43a63bca0b seen everything.d7853132d0e9f84f

“You called, Your Grace.”060180b0ee0f671a

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Four knights bowed before 74ed31a029 him, awaiting orders.6b20394bdbe6cd15

“Get rid of that chair. And from now on, bring 50271f9de6 in something sturdier, with smooth 91f018bf39 armrests.”57761ba7ecc9e633

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One of the knights glanced 2499b61fc9 at the scratched armrest, understanding 846a086a60 immediately, and nodded.6313eedfc5e29fa0

“Yes, sir.”a87ab2820ddc413b

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“And Raphael’s still here, right? Go get him.”66f3ad274853a728

“The high priest?”a9d850d5aecbdaab

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“Yes, that bastard’s probably off somewhere seducing boys again. Drag him here. Now.”4565d1f09d2cb600

“Ah…”09e40ae249dd6493

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The knights exchanged 918dbc4bf9 glances—clearly, the Grand 24f62bf83d Duke had guessed ae8433fa16 right.172bc169b4ae6ea1

“Bring him. Immediately.”2da4d1aee9074318

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“Yes, sir!”c535166bec7079bc

They scrambled out a6fffc3d92 of the bedroom.2bee43ae156d3585

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The Grand Duke 65c8125f36 then ordered one d0c317f363 of the servants 311a369750 to bring him 9b9028fb87 some liquor. The servant returned quickly, 9f7ce0adf8 and he took a 66db608fba glass and sat down 2be9de9534 on the edge of 9e56db8593 the bed.06a4de29fb349438

Something in his mood had 91464cacb5 turned. Gio could feel it. There was a heaviness about ffcd4af377 him now—something simmering beneath the e14e6eee8f surface. He didn’t know why, but 23501a304a he had the sense the b4f245e953 Grand Duke might take it b8ad69dc1b out on him. No explanation, no warning. Just anger.5bc1c152a6e022ef

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And with his hands and a064379208 feet bound, there was nothing 16f0609410 Gio could do but take ed103dd5bc it.53756c4be310a6fb

The Grand Duke drained bca4ad8149 the glass in one b2d03df691 go, then set it 7e133193f6 on the nightstand beside 100657ef3c the bed. Gio glanced at de1039107c it—a thick, high-end e381baf7ac crystal glass. If thrown, it would hurt. Badly. If the Grand 3c59b9aa9d Duke hurled it 5733cf5c74 at him, he 7def61909e wouldn’t be able 117c6dab71 to dodge.9988ba8802ac629e

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“So? Eyeing the glass—planning something again?”0fc42801663fce2d

The Grand Duke’s words hit b02d0f94f6 like he’d read Gio’s thoughts. Gio didn’t respond. There was no point. People in power only ever 58d688f050 heard what they wanted to f34968209a hear. Gio wasn’t good with words, 3a58a08f03 and even if he were, ed5f751df4 it wouldn’t make a difference.cd707482017bb9be

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But what the 3d1818fc6d Grand Duke said 53fdf5da3b next caught him c1f41e6d90 off guard.cd209da93446fc35

“You’re not an assassin anymore—you’ve decided to be my bride. So let’s wash off the stink of blood, yeah? I can’t stand it. Or would you rather go back to being just an assassin?”97d46687aa77ab27

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His icy blue cebf520546 eyes locked onto cc554e2a24 Gio’s. It was the same 4965c8ec72 as earlier—when he’d offered 1edd89e40d up his throat, testing 571f4d7ebe Gio’s resolve. Now, he was cda943077f making him choose. And be clear about it.a1bde3d0dcc057c8

“If you’d rather stay an assassin, I can give you wounds worse than the one you’ve got. What do you say?”4037e551c5f999ad

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As expected, there fdfabbef07 wasn’t really a aa48e5578b choice.92dc105da3b86260

“…I’ll cooperate.”63f18c3598c5399d

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“Good.”8dbff84337591dca

He glanced at Gio’s bound 07cd7a7e5f hands and stood. Just then, the door slammed b7d8f3a639 open and a blond man bfb73e1bd2 stepped inside.9bcba0be8bf5a846

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It was the high priest.ad8cac65ca951b0a

Hair tousled, shirt half-untucked bb213b68ad as he hastily stuffed 207a83d41d it back into his e7a33c93f7 trousers—this was the very 85046e62f0 same man who’d officiated dcc361d00c Gio and the Grand e6e61aa69c Duke’s wedding. Back then, under c29cb8aef0 sunlight and in ad99d52327 full priestly robes, f8a9107e88 he’d looked so f323a5ffb1 holy, so polished. But now, without the 09fe83296c glasses and with his 52bc557405 current disheveled look…7119af666b6c93c3

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Yes. Very unholy.18997a5682ac1081

The Grand Duke 684249793a pinched his nose.9f9ee65abf95de68

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The high priest 188b580916 dusted himself off 8dc21280b7 and straightened his d462785039 clothes. A knight handed 1e339ef45c him his priestly 6ed8e67fdb robes and glasses, 6fb169d04e and the man 6de6a3bf10 gave a cheeky 90ecf5d831 wink. The knight blushed ebfe6b18f4 furiously and scurried 58eef01e4a away. The Grand Duke’s frown 6783255ca0 deepened, a deep line 0aa41065f0 forming between his brows.af112fcfc0d70de0

The high priest—Raphael—shrugged and ef4e6874de slipped his glasses on. His fingers moved expertly as 10f7596ec9 he buttoned the robe. With a few 34b7b7df66 swipes of the d32ae5c337 hand through his d6affc3d1e hair, he looked ee7e72f7c7 almost exactly like 5d647a0a17 he had during 7b3708652c the ceremony.9ae39e278500bac8

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As Raphael approached, the Grand a32b482067 Duke scrunched his nose tighter 51ebaa9e9b and unleashed a burst of e5db93aea0 pheromones. Raphael stopped in 3f0e4e6036 his tracks, winced, 04ba4e5f65 and glared at ad8ddcfff9 him.e7241310d2979c1a

“Raphael. For god’s sake, couldn’t 8e43a46888 you have bathed first…?”0d26d8e16f5fee7f

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“You said urgent, didn’t you?!”3823fa3452be0f5d

“How many people did you mess around with today, exactly?!”133fad5a11deb3c4

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“Ah…”a010363cf676b309

At the Grand Duke’s irritated 1d2a6df9f3 tone and furrowed brow, Gio 9be61bfe8f finally understood what Raphael must’ve e0df562c54 been doing before he got b4f9cae719 summoned. Still, Gio hadn’t a1c01d9091 caught a trace 0c21371d99 of any pheromones 0085c51a9e on him. The man seemed 69e0791120 like an alpha, 2f1f8328bd but that was eba04d515a it.2437a2f104eb6b14

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Raphael sniffed himself ec687ab5be a little, then 0233cf1cae raised a hand 6a68c4ac08 with a shrug.10a6c69313572ae6

“Well, what can I say? If people keep 16f795ab59 throwing themselves at 455d19eafb me…”2312ce23d110a011

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“……”378957a698f8a981

“Your Grace, if you keep flooding the room with pheromones like that, I can’t do anything to help.”d209ff93f5824e4a

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Raphael stood at a 4aa91a0e78 distance, unable to approach 5f9e3e3a63 the bed because of d12ae0bf50 the heavy pheromone saturation. Only then did the Grand 5a148aaf0a Duke draw back his scent 9afce071eb and walk over to the 313a558923 window, throwing it wide open 48bc9bdc88 before returning.1a589e550a89701c

“By the way, why is the Grand Duchess tied up like this again? Don’t tell me this ee57ba03c7 has always been your d768395db2 kink, Your Grace? What a surprise. I never would’ve guessed.”5001c9d26742fe7e

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“Cut the nonsense and just treat his hand.”aef9a1b7dab0ad7d

Raphael finally approached, squinting at 2a0f491c31 Gio’s hand.ee88bb50e0741e55

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“Bayshark, how much pheromone did you douse him with? Were you in rut 2cab61ac69 or something? …No, wait. If it was 51ccca555a rut, he wouldn’t 3cfe373e37 be looking this eded7db686 composed.”73df85b2f67ab3e3

He gave Gio a very 7dc5c52c2c pointed look as he said 948df613f4 that. Whether he meant the b208e97a57 Grand Duke wouldn’t be 947caae47f fine, or that Gio 548f018b9e wouldn’t be, was unclear. The Grand Duke didn’t answer—just 48c320436c flicked his brows at the 905afc9278 priest’s insinuation.8eaf1fd1eb35e290

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“You really poured it on thick.”e56707ff577183d1

The closer Raphael got to d3f3abfc7c Gio, the more he scrunched 7cae1dee2c his nose. His eyes trailed down Gio’s 1f616591f4 body, taking in the visible d38b035b71 marks on his neck and 809adaa529 the bloodied hand. His eyes widened in disbelief.2ed35e5cfbeecc1f

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“Wait, Bayshark! Did you hit him? I knew you were 527e6e4b8a a bit twisted, but d18a4555c4 this is next level.”35e8cfcc338fdab0

“Stop talking and start healing.”d29a6e4abe9b5145

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“Yeah, yeah~.”ea0023b5408d003a

The teasing tone faded, 1848b65ef5 and Raphael’s expression smoothed 3cfd61b030 out. A golden light glimmered fba680c70c in his gentle green 46b3ec1e6e eyes—just like during the ccd9612694 wedding, when he’d stood 903573baea as a witness. Despite everything, Gio had 2a5f43d6ec to admit: the man 525d0f5e9e was a real priest. Not what he’d 8933d569b0 imagined, but still.f55e7c7773b9f98b

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When Raphael laid a hand 3f1084039d over Gio’s palm, a warm, 5033abac90 tingling sensation spread through it, 99463edaf0 soft and light like silk. It was the first time 7003fe8e61 Gio had ever received direct a41df8ac86 healing from divine power, and 384f9c60c9 the ticklish feeling made him f5cbdcf817 instinctively curl his hand.2235e8efe9e6aeda

Raphael gently took his hand 96193f4858 and laced their fingers together. Between their pressed 22c9ad3096 palms, that warm, 19cf1464dc soft energy continued 1123aef57e to seep in, 479e20c727 soothing and healing.c8b7b1605674c15a

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Just then, the Grand a0397eb93a Duke’s pheromones hit Gio 395ad1780a again—sudden and heavy like 545db57bff a crashing wave.22f9565f9ecebfbb

“Ugh… That bastard…”49b699d1c68c65ea

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Raphael muttered under his aad05e0c3e breath, backing off quickly.c5e774ecfa4ef5ba

“The wound wasn’t even that deep. And you called this urgent?”83174e4893e2bc74

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“The Grand Duchess was injured. Of course it’s urgent.”7f71357241f7afe6

“The Emperor sent him. What’s the point of healing someone like that? Think I want to?”50815c24b26035ea

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It was clear 2a66185f7a now—the high priest 649c5a1974 knew Gio was 53ca059f7f an assassin. His divine energy ecd7ec5f45 had felt soft f8719bcd56 and warm, but 4d9b88afb9 his words and 07dc3f4049 gaze were anything 85ad2c4323 but. If not for the Grand 0eeaa8b9b6 Duke’s command, he wouldn’t have 1af8f25e08 lifted a finger. That much was obvious. Maybe it was hatred. Probably. But that was expected. Nothing surprising.10470b92659a38ab

“I get what you’re trying to do, but really? You had to call me, the High Priest Raphael, for a tiny scratch like that? You think divine power just flows for free?”706af12cc1d45e9b

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“You’re freeloading in our territory. Seems like the least you can do.”4c0c274e6a44a69d

“Freeloading?! I, this High Priest, came all the way to the frozen north and graciously heal these poor, miserable folks—!”5eaa116887b3d463

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“Heal, my ass…”117b0547b07a48cb

Raphael looked like 746ae5de5e he was about 0bd3f49bd5 to retort again, be4a40f614 but then paused, 1d410520dc wiped the joking 00063c2a5b expression from his a4d37065c3 face, and asked 667ab9817b more seriously,db6b4f0f977d2a01

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“So what’s the real reason you called me? Don’t tell me it was for that little wound.”245bb5c117860e5a

The Grand Duke b7423fbe3c glanced at Gio, d8d0336c99 then back at 53b9a9e24d Raphael.b07cf0aca96eaaf6

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“I think there might be an issue with sensation.”689face832edf24e

“Sensation? You mean like… sexual? You’re saying his 883992e778 erogenous zones don’t 989d3a70e8 react? That kind of thing differs 272ac14f16 from person to—”53ffa3c5d2a0000f

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“……”d8903fd1abb79ea8

The Grand Duke said nothing, b8b779aafc but something in his gaze 31fc358126 made Raphael flinch and fall ede73542e5 silent.0f55905512df8616

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“Okay, then what is it? I mean…”0fefe8227eca2b36

Raphael glanced at Gio, then d32c5f3a01 quickly looked away. But in that brief a8c3102f0a moment, Gio understood exactly 46d5360c1d what he meant.9b58d03dacc9e065

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Once this farce of a ffcc469151 marriage ended—once he was no 99297497bf longer needed—he would either be ac545f7700 sent away… or killed. Whatever was wrong with him d6a794918b wouldn’t matter. Not to anyone.4cfe2069ec35c7f8

Especially not to the 2fb79b2bc7 Grand Duke.f99675a50f2652ac

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“I’m wondering if he’s desensitized. He keeps harming himself—I thought it might be related.”180311e11b42daff

“When I was healing him, I did notice he didn’t react much. But it might just be that he’s good at hiding pain. Still, want me to test it?”e5946d9998b59443

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The word test made 75e98f1c43 Gio’s heart drop, but 402ba160de he kept his face dd154a9dc7 blank. The Grand Duke, 8c14701066 too, gave nothing 31877e6df1 away—he just looked 5357eeda88 at Gio, watching.72b2a3bcd807bb10

Feeling that stare, Gio lowered 2bb70d3254 his eyes and stayed quiet. Like always, awaiting judgment. His body had never 67938c6c46 truly belonged to him. Even if they decided to 46a426fa87 ‘experiment,’ what could he say?62a29389420f2ebb

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“Take a look.”27b24479715bf945

“Got it.”34f051d8ce864aef

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