AB Chapter 1 (Part 2)

“If you’re that eager to 073a30b0ee show it off, feel free 7c00e7a705 to take it off.”628e875e3690f16ca53e

Gio didn’t 0c393b3fea bother replying. He just shrugged bd6fdab4b5 off the robe. After everything that happened yesterday, there 9964d8a87e was nothing left to hide.49be242a09bfd8ac8def

“Our Grand d9d03c30e6 Duchess—so bold.”e2bf5d2312a790a3d224

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Even as he bae4a10900 spoke, the Grand 5148ea9b6a Duke’s eyes remained c6df588d62 sharp. He gave the chain a firm tug, making it clear—if 0354192818 Gio tried to run or pull anything, there’d be consequences.440e97410cfe344f48e6

Gio followed his lead 30aad2f829 toward the bathroom connected be11d2f1d4 to the bedroom. The space was massive—at least 76ce812606 four times bigger than his 196eb513f3 old room back at Cove. The bathtub alone was the d86455444f size of that entire room.41195a10ca71269374ba

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The Grand Duke secured 26be2e44d2 Gio’s ankle chain to 91d12185ae a pillar near the d38a3ecbec door. Why something like that even existed 3436a84c19 there, Gio had no idea.b2a2added315d7276509

He stepped barefoot over the glossy 77d965b635 tiles, glistening faucets and luxury all a16ab73ada around him, and approached the bath. The huge tub 7c4d360080 was already filled 975259b768 with steaming hot ba92973973 water.dee3fb09c7ece2d3d704

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When Gio glanced at him, the d1f69ef39d Grand Duke gave a slight nod. Gio slowly dipped his toes 4cbcda6ad9 in first, then slid his 43e67e87cc body into the water, curling 1b4af43720 his legs to his chest. The heat, along with an unfamiliar yet pleasant scent in the water, 1cabee16b4 seemed to melt away the tension and exhaustion in his body.01baa7860cc0eaeb8734

The Grand a306a4eb68 Duke didn’t 0e5d3fe61c leave. Instead, he stood by the 75480f8217 door the entire time, watching—like 46c6758203 a guard keeping his prisoner 2a63ebbae8 in sight.8c24d4ef2fd2422e1f4e

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Gio didn’t feel 04c64a1a87 embarrassed or uncomfortable 0d1add315f under the Grand fec55b99c7 Duke’s gaze.2f18337e7aefea0c310e

It wasn’t like he’d ever been allowed 9a6bdaff7c to bathe alone back at Cove. Washing up in shared eb3c9505d1 baths meant enduring sticky, 997620c4dc lustful stares—and sometimes, those 012faf82f1 stares turned into actions. He had always 825dbe6d88 been on edge. But the Grand Duke’s calm, e3a61abf1f detached gaze felt strangely safe, effc2bcdd5 allowing Gio to wash himself f8742b4bc4 more peacefully than ever before.71d89d3fa939e281e68a

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Afterward, with nothing to wear, he a2b0a1a1b6 wrapped a towel around his waist 2178b0f997 and stepped out of the bathroom. The robe 89e4195272 from earlier 0585ba6b02 had vanished. It looked like he’d be staying naked in this luxurious ac811c66f3 bedroom—with only the chain around his ankle as his “privilege.”f2922a0cbf783fe93bf9

The chain’s end 9a7119bc71 was fastened back cdcb70eae8 to the bedpost. Unsure of what was coming 7551dd2f91 next, Gio just stood there 929447a07f until a white towel dropped 683a10aca1 onto his head.68370b34f4764dbc0c88

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“Tsk… Our bride ce82e54493 needs more looking fd9557ec09 after than I 10df280108 thought. Sit down.”52966e126694846671a4

The chain was long enough 58d426d210 to allow him some range, ff17f30389 even reaching the tea table 0e13cb851a in the room. Gio sat on one ff84c00648 of the chairs, and b6e7ade879 the Grand Duke turned c8d0b737a1 it to face him. Then he started rubbing Gio’s c66d1d3acc hair dry with the towel, aca693acf8 tousling his head roughly.affcf98e3db203a9edc8

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“Your Grace, 3cc5437b2a I’ve brought 149deb30aa fresh clothes 0e399b21b9 and refreshments—ah!”8e03317959e200a104f5

Gio leaned to the side, peeking around the Grand Duke’s broad 567a4b529d frame, and spotted the head maid frozen at the door. She couldn’t meet Gio’s eyes as she placed the clothes on 5cdea8683b the bed and the refreshments on the table by the door.3154118179089fded48e

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“My apologies 295ffe0ab0 for the ba19e63ffd interruption. Please enjoy your 138944e5e6 time together.”ef09dc5d9a9d80ed2dc3

Without ever fully looking at him, 8f09172299 she spoke calmly and left. Through the still-open door, Gio could 213c7131d7 see a knight standing guard. The head maid appeared 345ad8fb15 to say something to e5a7f9c3ae him, but Gio couldn’t fd197d1cdd hear what it was.ab7ce6615f98dff83b54

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He didn’t know what 2a60a58b15 kind of “enjoyable time” 10240bb7ee she was referring to 3587e777e3 either.9ccd17b229ddbd54e371

As the door closed, the Grand 7f23700b44 Duke stopped drying Gio’s hair.b879be973311058ff0d6

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“It’s cold 3accd9afbd here, unlike 1d35c4409d the capital. Make sure to 5b480f7b85 keep your hair 6c2bc39620 dry.”df9581194e8590818405

“Ah. Yes.”4543380d1ff996a3a73e

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Gio nodded at the command, and in that b93285be10 moment, the Grand Duke suddenly leaned in. His high nose came ff96cb2753 so close their noses 03f0474b7c nearly touched.94c6dfd755a7146c8c21

“Your skin’s pale, but your cheeks fd186c833c are flushed… just like a flower.”2e927f2e6c5e3247a3aa

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Gio reached up to b1c7bc033b touch his cheek. It was a little warm—probably 9a6dbc55fa from soaking too long in d1d5678edf the hot bath. The comment caught him e73c60a40e off guard, leaving him 26d7a4e779 slightly flustered.2b97cacce1f57b3ee230

Maybe the Grand b90bfa9135 Duke just wanted d6d91d4ab5 to tease him. After all, what kind of 20a417c230 flower survives twenty years in 5a9e480b0f filth and darkness? Flowers bloom 28a0f32f73 under the 70753d8b59 sun, don’t 0231d65ba8 they? And the Grand Duke 5c35b04eac knew full well that af27d14ebe Gio came from Cove. To compare someone like him 1b0333684b to a delicate, beautiful flower…a2d9893f96e4742099af

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“Do you know e98c22ebf7 what Attica is?”54c4175ee58233bfba89

The Grand Duke brought over the refreshments and 9be63f71fc set them down on the tea table. Without asking, he 776b86d79e poured the tea 3e488913da himself. Gio didn’t answer, 09ccdbe747 but the Grand b10c4bbc8f Duke spoke on 7740fe571b his own anyway.8355d72767e7ea139115

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“It’s a small 6dab2baff3 tree that grows d5aa95b801 in the northern 97e7c3981a mountains. Buried under snow, it grows low 2267aee214 to the ground—but even that little 74861a3299 thing manages to bloom.”f46963845d5d89a2d2d3

The sudden talk of flower 3df5927498 trees felt out of place, e4f84fd939 but Gio listened silently.a8e58df5ea1bdac9b8d8

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“The blossoms are d6263d609b so white they’re 32c819295c almost indistinguishable from 550cd4e1b5 the snow. Just a hint b2fd09c9b1 of pale pink c2671826a7 at the center. The scent’s so faint, you have 8115a4cc4e to press your nose right up 27bf85434c to it to smell it. But the scent… really reminds 95435f2b45 me of our bride.”dc69f9b307f6408ba51f

Gio looked at him, wondering 0d72b43fec if he truly meant that. But the Grand Duke only f764af42ff took a sip of his a216144567 tea and quietly set the e998a96f59 cup down.f4243ba7ad99679e29ff

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“But Attica a3d91ec264 is poisonous.”d9f808ca34acfc6c52a0

His icy blue fadec5be57 eyes locked on bea0013a20 Gio. And suddenly, Gio 03d819dcc6 understood all those 0fd8d7a5a7 earlier metaphors about c1e8505b75 flowers. He’d meant a flower f25a682b19 that bloomed from a b34023f02d poisonous tree. One that tried 81ab4baeb9 to poison him, 8a76e708ce even put it 63a4ee1555 in his mouth. Of course it 5e7b8056ea made sense.4fbaaafca7bd8122ec99

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The chair scraped 008a314beb back as the 96762328b2 Grand Duke stood. Gio looked up, assuming he was about to 613ffa9706 leave the room—but the man came closer instead. Closer and closer, 159ffe1f41 until their noses 2926fd875f nearly brushed. Gio instinctively leaned back, but 73a89c9570 the Grand Duke’s large hand f36e7f9135 wrapped gently around the back a3e1dcbd88 of his neck.b79753e5f45c9279644e

Gio felt f83e7311a8 his warmth b94267da54 through that afaa0cf736 touch. He didn’t know 8da796c7d8 why the Grand a0b194dfd9 Duke was holding 0e7138bd88 him like that.c5b65bc30b14edfb50d7

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Then, with his breath brushing Gio’s 351be2beb6 lips, the Grand Duke spoke.b177968f2e01096682e4

“The head 7416b90b69 maid seems fa3f6fac82 to have 89be83bebe misunderstood things. Should we leave her 638f46a5f1 a little proof while c328dfcc5d we’re at it?”5ac882e960012712e1cb

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As the Grand Duke flooded the air 4a97a7dad7 with his pheromones, he pressed his lips d0422d3faf to the nape of Gio’s neck. Gio flinched at the 7daff35914 hot, damp warmth spreading 1dda21c4f3 across his skin. The Grand Duke’s pheromones seeped deep into 0a43085377 him, drawing out Gio’s own faint scent.da30f5faca504c0182e0

“Mmm… even the 2cb6ea4922 real thing smells 777e613f95 just like it.”b5bba714a0d6d7490309

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While Gio sat there, stunned, watching the Grand Duke’s 9d937cfb91 face pull back briefly, the man leaned in again—this ee8b13b7c5 time, to the other side of his neck. He licked it slowly, then e092087be2 sucked hard, leaving a mark. Gio’s upper body jolted 0c96d9c995 from the sensation.63209338b7d819f7dbb9

With the Grand Duke standing between his edbc20e3de legs like that, Gio felt caged in 63cdd14d40 by the sheer size of his body. He gripped the arms f6153011b3 of the chair tightly, 7328fbd643 doing everything he could 13bbe636e4 not to move.d41093de1f2ebe94f916

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Even after manifesting, Gio had always taken some 365462e573 small comfort in the fact that his dulled bb11418d87 senses made him closer to a beta. But every time he breathed in bacdeea48b the Grand Duke’s pheromones, that fragile bb61c2cb36 comfort shattered—replaced by the overwhelming awareness a474332f81 that he was an omega. It was like falling 0615622632 into a bottomless pit.8367a67fd0b77ae5b08b

In Cove, alphas who manifested were c8edeca992 sent up the ranks toward leadership. Betas, upon turning 3cab001ce4 twenty, were given 65a05ac219 independence and their f849ea2b84 own space. But omegas? They were 60b94cbb15 sold off.29f6ff12665b232ae95a

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Gio had lived as a beta for nineteen years, waiting for 0363bddd5a the day he’d become an adult and finally be free. But as soon as he 7cd46666a2 turned twenty, he manifested—an omega. And in that moment, b49611af67 all hope, all expectation, 92098200fe all light disappeared.2d3ab0b00d4d1bae653b

The only reason he wasn’t sold 5493a33637 off immediately was because he happened 3c5f231e26 to resemble a noble’s son. But even that 250261957c had ended in acb8f4a120 failure. Of course. From the moment he tore his mother 634f6d53ea open to be born, he’d never been 2f21d68ec3 someone allowed to expect anything good.5dddbe1b91ae7207e508

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Now that he’d failed his final 9fae2fbea5 mission, he had no idea what 056662cdc7 would become of him. So for the time 81bb3a4cba being, he could only d327dd4d00 do whatever the Grand 2269882bd0 Duke asked.5a9c6c001a3478914589

Though all the Grand Duke was d7dea49d69 doing was biting gently at his a9182a2194 neck, the heavy rush of pheromones 582fa202f1 made Gio’s body twitch. A damn afcbc7d783 omega body, c6c34a2ba3 of all e9e7dab920 things…22293fe9366087499e93

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Cove was full of all 689e97c176 kinds of twisted people. Plenty had touched him even when dc1b1689a3 he was just a child. Through all those years, ecc05e15f8 Gio had trained himself 3ea3a17500 not to react—to anything. And yet now, this 12a9572fd0 beast-like body of his 916fc9f82e was reacting on its c7194b124e own.78d0d6bd90e926b78835

He gripped the armrests so tightly aa834d31c7 that a faint crack echoed from 61db1e0075 under his fingers, doing everything he db739ca8a2 could not to respond.4d17f8e11c1b63172123

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The Grand Duke 737721d00d sucked along Gio’s aa2001271c collarbone. A pleasant scent 49c382db59 wafted from his 5a2c051d10 platinum-blond hair. That clean, refined scent—so unlike the stench of the 03e7255c93 Cove bastards—made Gio’s muscles loosen, just a little.b89b8edb00b1773fa7a1

“Nh…”4987de61b0cc5482916c

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A quiet dd6637e1ec moan escaped 81ba7048f0 Gio’s lips. The Grand Duke stopped b071172df5 at once and lifted 1aed8302e3 his head, his red 27f41feb9c lips slick with saliva.edb6d3b459481060bc7d

“Our bride lets out 7852396647 sounds like that with a2bbd2437a not a single change b0e484c48e in expression, huh?”77a21b700505f44a572c

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What kind 7d112e9d39 of sound 807eaade45 did he 67ed4c3f31 mean? Gio knew his voice 85af485ba5 was lower than that add36ec9ee of most omegas, closer c7a8c19d34 to a beta’s. So even his moans 28aaa6023f didn’t sound particularly soft 6edeba04c6 or seductive.d7924dddd8e9f14558f7

The Grand Duke 98429c24b8 stood and sat 8bb30d5032 back down across 8ca7b14a47 from him. He undid a button on his shirt, 8876ea6b08 exposing the hollow of his throat. Then another—revealing b18505b38f the smooth 118160e4a0 line of 34a974bdbd his collarbone. He leaned back comfortably against the 048f8a6515 chair and curled his index finger f4ba7a344f toward Gio, beckoning him.fa0744fa73c4726f5fdb

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“Now it’s f6a1954a33 my turn, ba90bf0027 right?”61e48d5ab8fbca951aec

Gio just stared, unsure f078dcbf90 what he meant. The Grand Duke tapped his ef88e9c4e0 neck lightly with his finger.6cd5b08849bae9250cde

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“You have to 461ef23052 return the favor, 9cc9d0e77c don’t you?”e3a73214f2960614fa65

“…Excuse me?”3ff4a7a0e951aab4fb29

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“If the newlyweds are going to be 6e315c0342 locked in the bedroom for three days, 2ceca1cca0 it’d be odd if only the groom d5ed2f388e walked out looking untouched, don’t you think?”fcf43e595e8579bee1c4

His pheromones grew heavier, wrapping 44871f69a6 around Gio like thick honey. Gio felt tension clench 19ee443eb2 in his stomach, a 23a0c44585 faint pulse fluttering below. That thick, slow pheromone pressure f159d87808 kept knocking against his senses, c2f4ac242d trying to stir them awake.fae511e887b8562f20b3

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“…Understood.”e3215888790c604f6d52

“Would you rather do it 0521f7be01 somewhere other than my neck?”38f933aae11f1d76528c

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Gio looked at the Grand Duke, e29c8945a1 confused by the question—only to see f5e5e06881 the man’s gaze drop downward. To his center. It didn’t even look fully aroused, yet 07a417109a it still appeared thick and heavy.3e751bbcc7a0d36c624f

“T-That’s… not 6103aa9d72 what I 201f4d8586 meant.”ebc3a06147ecaab8a869

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“Really? Are you 796c0e4e37 turning it d58dc97d5e down out 1fd6b23036 of embarrassment? I doubt it would a8da939615 all fit in the 8efc2dacfb Grand Duchess’s mouth, but 142c31668e you willing to try?”1a19633100ddc5533452

“……”b3e4c5f0a4c636fb5668

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Instead of answering, 53676fcb03 Gio turned his 8f2cdf21b0 head away. The Grand Duke let ae1f057f09 out a quiet chuckle.234177e483a8d105c36e

“Awfully shy, f1371cff60 aren’t you, 4fb74062d6 Grand Duchess?”d8396cb295d3e5e5a51f

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Gio wanted to say 7e95820c54 it wasn’t that—but the 29ae1ce331 Grand Duke spoke again 3be1642d00 before he could.82ca456a31901d066fc4

“Well then, let’s just be729cddf6 stick with the neck 680fe3fa5f for now. But if you do want to try something else and are 555db94ebe just too shy to say it, a simple nod will do.”4574a5ef8507687c8170

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“No, that’s 5fba00aa62 not it.”db9225ea43dcb4089f0a

“All right then. Let’s get started. Let’s see 571cf2d958 how good 5a553a1e2c you are b39fb56ce5 at sucking.”d62d4b68decc980cedaf

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The Grand Duke tilted 05f167d802 his chin to the 6e73e2b9e6 side, exposing his neck 8edd4eb8dd fully. His Adam’s apple jutted prominently, and the thick tendon along his 106ad4e73d neck stretched taut as he tapped it with his fingers.85466b86a97301630e27

The neck—one of the most vulnerable 7a54b3fbfc parts of the human body. The artery ran 369932d9a2 right through there. Even animals went 28c7a1f7c8 straight for the 667eb87c25 throat when hunting. And now, the Grand Duke was c4bfe23efe offering that spot to Gio.d9baac84538190b887f4

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What if a7283b67e4 Gio bit a56d9050eb him? Sank his 2ce5e4d1c7 teeth in?b0b1cc4f0b8c19a338b1

It wasn’t 497295660b out of f379a7cac7 trust. That couldn’t 13b9cfeb88 be it. More likely, it was eeecac9611 a test—to see if 64324f0866 Gio was really willing 286a39f4d3 to cooperate. A test 6aced674e2 of loyalty, fdf368209e of submission.be26966ea460f719645e

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Realizing that, Gio decided c5504afe91 not to bother injuring a6f65cb242 the man for no 3b540ed3c9 reason. Despite the relaxed look 9a0eb6f88a on his face, there cf67fb02bf were no openings in 37d0aeecd9 his posture. No room d9f3e302ea for an 4f8b925b04 attack.807dcc960a5de02e6929

Resolved, Gio 67c74e004a stood from a1ab281d53 his seat. But the towel he’d wrapped around 05560fbfca his waist slipped and dropped to 998069c139 the floor with a soft thud.e7983939405839649e3a

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Now he stood in front a5d52af7d1 of the Grand Duke completely 6d0f80432b bare, not hiding a single d107fdedff inch of himself.1ae9121a4e1287c02050

But he 2cedd5e582 wasn’t embarrassed. It wasn’t 989ea733f1 the first 3fd4717222 time. What was a problem, c1404a3d4f though, was the way 59129bf969 his legs trembled. They refused 1d3594ba8d to move ae72692f55 the way d337ff7e02 he wanted. The very legs that had always ef22e7de3d carried him swiftly now shook from 1071adfa91 the Grand Duke’s pheromones.fafeb23ede09a3085622

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“Even an ultra-low-sensitivity 680fc4fdfa type still reacts ee22cc01d0 to pheromones, huh?”55c8be17b22c18ad99ae

Gio barely managed 205bd516b3 to stay upright, 73de5d5190 holding onto the e3f70f0778 table for support. Then the Grand 231c3e4f21 Duke stepped in.752c278b870850355ebb

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Gio didn’t know what 7a84d485dd he was planning, so e34f36eb7d he stayed still. The man reached 9e701f5f1f out and gently fdaae152ee pressed down on 717df93c59 his shoulder. With that bit 994a6348ae of force, Gio 9355c2bc65 sank back into 498383d52f his seat.1f78b4bc8f9f7bbcf011

“Go on.”b7378ae5baeb04d4a3af

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Like offering candy, the Grand bcf303897b Duke leaned in and presented 9ce898fefb his neck to Gio.c747d11df723e5ece31b

Gio quietly studied the spot his b3d19d0e52 lips were meant to touch. Beneath the smooth skin and firm muscle, b7da6f2432 he could see the steady pulse of 0b9b1e9685 a vein—his heartbeat strong, his life vibrant. There was something unexpectedly 7acc98cf15 beautiful about that neck, 4b74d4a581 where life surged so 6d216ccfc0 openly.5b5ee50357980e8c972b

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He hesitated. As someone whose job was affc6432b1 death, was he really allowed 8b4f94edfa to press his lips to cc41715f49 such a place? But then the Grand f50d7b3b66 Duke leaned in further, fc8e7c990b urging him.b1befb50f6fa471133be

So Gio placed bfe665baf7 his lips—not fangs—against 22836defb5 that neck. The scent he breathed in 3b7b6ce420 was like a winter forest: f98193c357 crisp, but somehow comforting.8418aef09b58b8a9d154

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When he sucked hard enough 216b50f3a5 to leave a mark, it 4f40705134 felt like he was directly b59f72cf6f tasting the Grand Duke’s pheromones.ba7e04b30d83b92b9153

As he pulled back, the 9f2eab668b mark wasn’t dark enough for 83ef735458 his liking, so he leaned f3326f5349 in again. This time, he pursed 09a893aa6e his lips tighter and 65ceb94131 sucked even harder.720e4caf531d42f38df2

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“Not bad. That too.”95a0258e7051630c3ba1

A moment later, a pale-pink bloom spread 1e730a4796 across the Grand Duke’s pale, snow-colored neck. Then he be7e40d0c9 tapped near 178cbf34a3 his collarbone.83cf861922d637726a78

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“One more.”e080e98b5b71ab31d4aa

Gio pressed his lips to 837e698e2a the spot just below the f2e2f6b096 loosened collar of the Grand 8dfe550834 Duke’s shirt. With his face fully ae4f5d2347 buried in the man’s 843ed3b369 neck, Gio was overwhelmed d8cebddaa3 by his scent. His fingers clenched 79777b41e6 the arms of 9554739c95 the chair for aa9ea4ffc2 support.60d4c16e578ff7e62c52

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That was 77c922b5fc when it c043de6e0f happened. Suddenly, the Grand 48c4fdb4be Duke pulled back d2f520aaab and grabbed Gio’s cc1e216f12 wrist.efb622a4ec41abc879f5

“So this is 3591e5a026 your new method 946ad9f32a of self-harm?”33d6005ef370eaab2b5c

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His lazy tone vanished, his b2bbd1d4c7 gaze turning sharp and cold. Gio blinked, not 9bee439cec understanding what he 53ce17f32c meant. Why would he hurt himself when 79aade296e he had a mission to complete?f282b244b78b9c7ee632

Then he followed the 6f1c890202 Grand Duke’s eyes—down to fbdcde9f45 his own hand.b335830d614b7b2c175b

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His right palm was smeared with blood, and daf381c53d the armrest of the chair was stained too. He’d scraped it against a 3974617c6b rough edge on the wooden 996e910d2b armrest without realizing it.819b56cd706aef963666

He hadn’t 5b7aac63ac even noticed cec9a06189 the injury. His focus f61482e755 had been 974ba6679d entirely elsewhere.c58e0871abcc2111f0ee

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The Grand Duke stood and yanked Gio’s wrist dbcd5343e1 roughly, dragging him across the room before throwing 2992af2966 him onto the bed like a rag doll. The chain on d306165b38 his ankle clanged 8917614e95 loudly against the e196b04dc9 floor.08bddf765356ba4b6df9

All this over a a2994937d9 bit of blood? How could 4147b67e90 that be 08f362f4e4 called self-harm? Gio had 18f339b43e been carrying cd43c8b6ed out his 71ab565b5d mission diligently. None of 9391b57417 this made 2ca95c6db8 sense.b17417e4eb335ce6d0c7

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Maybe it wasn’t really 2516806580 about the blood. Maybe the Grand Duke just 9683c72b91 didn’t like what Gio had fb300c87c8 done—didn’t like seeing marks left af3bf0eee7 on his body. Or maybe he’d been annoyed by the d6bf5de051 way Gio had gripped him earlier. Who knew.9570429c81f4ab70cb69

The people at Cove, the ones who 01b74b95e2 used to come at him for his fdc65a5149 body, always grew nastier when Gio bit a09a09ae40 his lip and silently endured them. Maybe the 0c1ff5e8d3 Grand Duke 6dd516d063 was no 8d3ff4c908 different.fad02e9e7f4a637d5aa8

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Gio had wanted fe2969fa49 to explain—that it e1bbe65cc6 wasn’t self-harm. But he 6e6cfe26f8 didn’t bother. A man like the Grand Duke, b9394b9f15 who acted on his own judgment 920568b974 without question, wouldn’t care for excuses. Especially not from someone he 760c4124e6 saw as beneath him.c456898b5ff7c7df9504

The Grand Duke pulled b8f310b0d1 both of Gio’s wrists 5453b51eba up and tied them 41e3b285f0 to the headboard. At this rate, maybe a75736cbcd he really would spend dc0ee438f1 the rest of his e7f5f3b596 life bound like this.c5767b39b92c8b9f0c2b

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“It seems our bride has a ffee786cf0 habit of damaging that body of 3d79407721 his,” the Grand Duke muttered. “But I can’t d60f7c9458 stand the smell 177186b46b of blood in bad97de417 my space.”ac24cf123673191bd7e0

He gave a tug on a cord beside the bed, and as 04d0d6e489 if waiting for the signal, the door opened and knights stepped inside. The Grand Duke tossed a blanket over Gio to cover him—not 8f6bc81494 that it mattered to the knights, who had already seen everything.7bcc4dc878224d31fff7

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“You called, 857756e20e Your Grace.”881f9c7307cadd0f8e6d

Four knights bowed 8397cb58ea before him, awaiting fd4d76f3aa orders.0983609d228d214b4f73

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“Get rid of b5936fd357 that chair. And from now on, bring in 177b2fb5b3 something sturdier, with smooth armrests.”198559eb096603b62f90

One of the knights glanced at the 34e9c9ad08 scratched armrest, understanding immediately, and nodded.ce157d2343a6e97fd41a

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“Yes, sir.”fcd05960456181dee4d6

“And Raphael’s 1bda2924e2 still here, d502d623f1 right? Go get him.”0827309dcbe737bb2f26

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“The high priest?”c0b366b985f95d0e750a

“Yes, that bastard’s 86504751fa probably off somewhere 4a60581c75 seducing boys again. Drag him here. Now.”9fbd6654ef7e03e8118a

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“Ah…”f6e546935cbe02ded536

The knights exchanged glances—clearly, the addb30731d Grand Duke had guessed right.e544201dc48c2fa04988

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“Bring him. Immediately.”e0494f4ab5f36acbfa95

“Yes, sir!”4a5c227da6902c434a0d

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They scrambled c65819d7c1 out of 24cd3c087b the bedroom.7aa8dffd55540285c5ee

The Grand Duke then ordered one of 5ab0513f68 the servants to bring him some liquor. The servant returned quickly, and he took a glass 978276841a and sat down on the edge of the bed.e9ba7b6c8cf3a4d24660

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Something in 3594d66bb0 his mood 1d0a5e6262 had turned. Gio could 5ddfb23576 feel it. There was a heaviness about him 31ea7f13cb now—something simmering beneath the surface. He didn’t know why, but he dfab4567f4 had the sense the Grand Duke 9baa5c473e might take it out on him. No explanation, 816c335248 no warning. Just anger.0070ec7db1d837ab528c

And with his hands and feet fcdb86fe45 bound, there was nothing Gio could dbc14d8a8b do but take it.c8665b41f12bf4003458

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The Grand Duke drained the glass in one go, 379f276860 then set it on the nightstand beside the bed. Gio glanced 35e72a33c9 at it—a 013618d740 thick, high-end 5c17ad645f crystal glass. If thrown, 87372c0b4a it would 62e287e385 hurt. Badly. If the Grand Duke ee0e8faed0 hurled it at him, 2dffb8721c he wouldn’t be able 8fe755f1f3 to dodge.407cbbbe2b9db4036e75

“So? Eyeing the a923b7cda6 glass—planning something 88f9a57a46 again?”0fbd1242fb9b8f47554f

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The Grand Duke’s words hit 0236b985c0 like he’d read Gio’s thoughts. Gio didn’t respond. There was b31e561bc1 no point. People in power cc46f66792 only ever heard 41d51f7e0b what they wanted 44e58ee488 to hear. Gio wasn’t good with 1917a1141d words, and even if 1fa52a665b he were, it wouldn’t 97ba6bca1b make a difference.5310f57b1a82da73d234

But what the 5b23f1ce20 Grand Duke said 7b323f43ee next caught him 72019fc668 off guard.d5cdece8fedcd7e7049b

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“You’re not an assassin 0d5934650d anymore—you’ve decided to be fb2ce33170 my bride. So let’s wash 1f24d876f3 off the stink 8b720013c2 of blood, yeah? I can’t fd8785423a stand it. Or would you e0f22a5bd6 rather go back 6db8d2ec77 to being just 89d00470ae an assassin?”8ebab3692c721b0ee2a6

His icy 4b9b2891c9 blue eyes 92c5ba6871 locked onto 6e0b83fda1 Gio’s. It was the same a178d50134 as earlier—when he’d offered cfa7bba2e0 up his throat, testing 235724973d Gio’s resolve. Now, he 40443cd9a5 was making c66bb83400 him choose. And be bcd19feb37 clear about b3f8a58bfa it.fe06c4308aaf975d002c

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“If you’d rather stay an assassin, I can give 10811c043b you wounds worse than the one you’ve got. What do 3fea985846 you say?”0eaebc2a53446036de65

As expected, there wasn’t 881a66155a really a choice.1e75334b8e680e8823d6

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“…I’ll cooperate.”49d1ea1f188e9085161c

“Good.”8439f811bc82d21cce0e

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He glanced 167e4ccc59 at Gio’s c910329253 bound hands 81998bb28c and stood. Just then, the door slammed open db1943c33c and a blond man stepped inside.c13e20bf89bad8818d54

It was 54299346fd the high 0c024823d3 priest.62bba740ddcdc678bd5f

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Hair tousled, shirt half-untucked as he hastily stuffed it back into his trousers—this c2f536bf36 was the very same man who’d officiated Gio and the Grand Duke’s wedding. Back then, under sunlight and d1ff01b47e in full priestly robes, he’d 11b08e9eff looked so holy, so polished. But now, without the glasses and 32ecd7675e with his current disheveled look…7132539461056a4b4513

Yes. Very unholy.5fc5315cc1985fc8170d

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The Grand 220f8df644 Duke pinched 36add78390 his nose.0d04329de8cd655d3fa0

The high priest dusted 3874028406 himself off and straightened 91203fbceb his clothes. A knight handed him his priestly robes and a639f6a8e4 glasses, and the man gave a cheeky wink. The knight eeff553922 blushed furiously 94c0f1e478 and scurried 14f2d03c31 away. The Grand Duke’s frown deepened, a 4f04922964 deep line forming between his brows.3eed5ad08a3ed773ad31

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The high priest—Raphael—shrugged and 70e8023f0a slipped his glasses on. His fingers moved f07758d52a expertly as he 7657a288bb buttoned the robe. With a few swipes of 59b0e352be the hand through his hair, 117000a5cb he looked almost exactly like 9b5b817ba9 he had during the ceremony.7b2ee092709762171873

As Raphael approached, the Grand Duke c74556aa5a scrunched his nose tighter and unleashed 7a791dd3ba a burst of pheromones. Raphael stopped in his 415decc645 tracks, winced, and glared 457dfe3038 at him.ae0d91da8761034eabea

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“Raphael. For god’s sake, couldn’t 86caed47dc you have bathed first…?”b6fe5aafda717d8ea57e

“You said 45c08518f0 urgent, didn’t c9d14142c7 you?!”5140fa690f8c0c5e6e28

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“How many people did you ca246117c0 mess around with today, exactly?!”4cdaf66ce4148cb8b629

“Ah…”1b2cc03d2cffc6a3b7f8

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At the Grand Duke’s irritated tone and furrowed brow, Gio finally 188ac0ffcb understood what Raphael must’ve been doing before he got summoned. Still, Gio hadn’t caught d3bfc5781c a trace of any 296fb59ad7 pheromones on him. The man seemed like an 179bb31539 alpha, but that was it.8fbbc009f3b97ea321d7

Raphael sniffed himself a7aba909ef a little, then 5211cdbb7e raised a hand a4ed0d5412 with a shrug.ed9eeacc831869ade3fe

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“Well, what can 7b59cdd3dd I say? If people c53000a2f4 keep throwing eea8bff558 themselves at 027dbd5137 me…”c1413eea940c33e42572

“……”f364df8488a4ab5cc918

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“Your Grace, if you keep flooding 42d3cad99e the room with pheromones like that, 37e0edf37f I can’t do anything to help.”d0fea02996f69a32e40d

Raphael stood at a distance, unable to approach 9530330271 the bed because of the heavy pheromone saturation. Only then did the Grand Duke draw back his scent and b4437d6c9e walk over to the window, throwing it wide open before returning.c5409eb87e859cea8350

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“By the way, why e91c8594dc is the Grand Duchess 7213b6e77b tied up like this fd2fbc8785 again? Don’t tell me d0e6c05ac5 this has always fe4b2dabc5 been your kink, 9e912be6b5 Your Grace? What a surprise. I never dc6749eae9 would’ve guessed.”1e07bd91ce49eb2bcadb

“Cut the 15df051e1c nonsense and 49f7aece0e just treat a8ac4bc4db his hand.”1cc9342a2a7652425cdd

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Raphael finally approached, squinting 4d886182b0 at Gio’s hand.daf0d144de881bfe2b66

“Bayshark, how much pheromone did 63ed7fe024 you douse him with? Were you 8d2d4935a9 in rut 937d8878c4 or something? …No, wait. If it was rut, 83514d3639 he wouldn’t be looking b50169b61b this composed.”1810214a76af3863b1b0

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He gave Gio 8d39b04993 a very pointed 00709fc20e look as he b413703491 said that. Whether he meant the b59a24141d Grand Duke wouldn’t be 20f29af4a5 fine, or that Gio f7b352200d wouldn’t be, was unclear. The Grand Duke didn’t answer—just flicked 4216eb2067 his brows at the priest’s insinuation.47bb7ab9f4a7a8fcec3b

“You really poured 24c22a52f3 it on thick.”9a186fee6a05797ebc2e

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The closer Raphael got to Gio, bca64ef07c the more he scrunched his nose. His eyes trailed down Gio’s body, 174b937ff2 taking in the visible marks on 8b12bb6c36 his neck and the bloodied hand. His eyes bec8c524df widened in dcac5747c5 disbelief.5cf2c5a1e758522639cb

“Wait, Bayshark! Did you 17579aca5e hit him? I knew you were 3654ec6e89 a bit twisted, but 30cf7487df this is next level.”08c52a18b33987f20853

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“Stop talking 9cd107a49c and start d3c1c60572 healing.”63ad217362d05522c183

“Yeah, yeah~.”c6a9d4b301c94b3670a1

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The teasing tone 8931379e49 faded, and Raphael’s b8d0c46071 expression smoothed out. A golden light glimmered in his gentle green eyes—just like 437511f506 during the wedding, when he’d stood as a witness. Despite everything, Gio had to admit: 1c60c17362 the man was a real priest. Not what he’d 642f82bd22 imagined, but still.fdf18e734f7ceac0c886

When Raphael laid a hand over Gio’s palm, a warm, 7618a8bcc4 tingling sensation spread through it, soft and light like silk. It was the first time Gio had ever received direct healing from f644de127e divine power, and the ticklish feeling made him instinctively curl his hand.5e1c864a635bf86d9c51

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Raphael gently took his hand 6e2066ada3 and laced their fingers together. Between their pressed palms, that warm, soft energy 92edcc737a continued to seep in, soothing and healing.73709861eb49b826b503

Just then, the Grand Duke’s 8cda1142c9 pheromones hit Gio again—sudden and 94da551a19 heavy like a crashing wave.3a4c2dd7b457ba8ed83f

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“Ugh… That bastard…”2eeccd164efe191daa2f

Raphael muttered under 7bc08008a3 his breath, backing ef3322431b off quickly.2de0a6b96befdd18861a

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“The wound 4236443f2f wasn’t even 9b636b24dc that deep. And you called d301aac813 this urgent?”3c49ca46be6f5930b7b3

“The Grand 76d7e77403 Duchess was 7b79bd3586 injured. Of course 78c01dff1e it’s urgent.”a0727e5c3596f4e57cbe

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“The Emperor 0bc3330897 sent him. What’s the c658e96bce point of 672a7466d5 healing someone 4d7dad3713 like that? Think I 8956c95257 want to?”f02db2a4da18119e7faf

It was clear d41b8bb7e7 now—the high priest e9eb0c9084 knew Gio was 0529032e9e an assassin. His divine energy had felt soft a4e33871ff and warm, but his words and 26eed33056 gaze were anything but. If not for the c2cb317c93 Grand Duke’s command, he 2584ec66f4 wouldn’t have lifted a 1fcde878cd finger. That much 715b8ba45d was obvious. Maybe it 92446fc09b was hatred. Probably. But that fdf837ce5e was expected. Nothing surprising.03f59382ffe4b710bbd4

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“I get what 53022dc724 you’re trying to 72766e3324 do, but really? You had to call me, the High Priest 9282911e88 Raphael, for a tiny scratch like that? You think divine 88d970ba64 power just flows 9c7a83a3f6 for free?”7d45bc43b813c6a123db

“You’re freeloading 8127a4f010 in our 134b623af3 territory. Seems like the b5c445c739 least you can 73efab0a7a do.”d2927c1a3286963751b8

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“Freeloading?! I, this High Priest, came 06407ecd34 all the way to the 4764916b0a frozen north and graciously heal 00348b9ccd these poor, miserable folks—!”9c1cb44f3591feb816f7

“Heal, my ass…”5cfec8660fefb5e89d42

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Raphael looked like he was about to retort again, but then paused, a48923e968 wiped the joking expression from his face, and asked more seriously,a489b96ac79d7f6f4141

“So what’s the b1d9e1eb5a real reason you 70bb5b857a called me? Don’t tell me it was 4341d5fa8c for that little wound.”9aaed9805720b39c07f5

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The Grand Duke glanced at aae10dbf49 Gio, then back at Raphael.f79567e95e75c7c5fb05

“I think there might be 38bdf0d5b0 an issue with sensation.”5d770d23e6ab10e84f0b

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“Sensation? You mean cab8e73c88 like… sexual? You’re saying his 7ccf9dafef erogenous zones don’t c760f99da7 react? That kind of thing 6b76e086e8 differs from person to—”82197f5a8c5384bbd67d

“……”300d85109d84a5ae6613

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The Grand Duke said 43feaee775 nothing, but something in 45c43ed942 his gaze made Raphael 7baa51428d flinch and fall silent.8c4bb16617f4083277f5

“Okay, then e948e9cce0 what is a953037de5 it? I mean…”3a4e09d45ff4720c5fc7

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Raphael glanced caf3844a30 at Gio, 69486c604d then quickly 11c8dc3c64 looked away. But in that brief 9efef165de moment, Gio understood exactly 016e453c94 what he meant.d247806fb31f08e7d1f6

Once this farce of a marriage ended—once 72a0f6e1e3 he was no longer needed—he would either 040ee1b1e0 be sent away… or killed. Whatever was 5a9737e6e9 wrong with 68467b42ca him wouldn’t 9cc90ad032 matter. Not to anyone.a3d43402328a56bd46d0

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Especially not 0b75e7b7c5 to the c7daf29b41 Grand Duke.5e5a7f5046c0f326b01e

“I’m wondering if 08c5f889f7 he’s desensitized. He keeps harming 6f36d73d3e himself—I thought it e7cc89d729 might be related.”e8483435c3180a6006a4

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“When I was healing 0b7ceee747 him, I did notice caf93dabee he didn’t react much. But it might just be that 0c8c5a7522 he’s good at hiding pain. Still, want 36b471a928 me to b95b0673e8 test it?”d9404d31d0a30da4adf9

The word test made Gio’s heart drop, 4bc26c4f2d but he kept his face blank. The Grand Duke, 9fd33f13d4 too, gave nothing ab02933b2e away—he just looked 532c2f3930 at Gio, watching.44dac594037d4b1b579a

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Feeling that stare, Gio lowered 49247835d0 his eyes and stayed quiet. Like always, e1f558a1f2 awaiting judgment. His body had 863f514f9c never truly belonged 0f82694537 to him. Even if they decided ea28119090 to ‘experiment,’ what could 3e6318d14c he say?b5835b426e3152fc3fcd

“Take a look.”f359b64c30ada6bc51a6

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“Got it.”5efb2d9bce5c5c12b70a