AB Chapter 1 (Part 3)

As Raphael approached, Gio’s 7140290457 skin tingled faintly—sometimes a 19e7ce3466 little itchy, sometimes a 00c7ad4539 light sting. His eyes began to 78ed3fc265 feel dry, and he 97614f44f5 blinked. Then a slight tingling traveled f1000099b0 to his fingertips… and just d0c6b6636d as suddenly, it disappeared.f0a75252ba9a97d6

A moment later, the brightness in Raphael’s eyes dulled sharply, as if a wave of fatigue had just slammed into him. The sudden exhaustion had to be from the “test”—though Gio had no idea what was done to him.56fa0ffb34668dfe

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Was that even a test? The ones Gio cc86d6224a knew involved unbearable ab08ca1ad6 pain. This felt like… nothing.5d09da6f1b6586f6

“…Yeah. His sensitivity’s definitely dulled.”179da9d9a45cd333

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“As I thought…”ae36f9eef4d2424a

Did he really go through all that just to figure out how sensitive I am? He could’ve just asked me directly… Gio thought to himself, but then let the thought go. People in power didn’t ask for opinions—they gave orders. It wasn’t his place to question them.6baef6648721ca71

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“Hm… Could be something acquired, could be innate. But whatever the cause, his 71fd93255a sensory responses are really dull. Like something’s locked them down. Ugh, I’m exhausted…”abda734f4af85872

“That’s all?”b758c3f2dcab1de0

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“Unbelievable. The Grand Duke of the 326245ddf4 North working a high priest e8b3c34eae like a dog…”c106946caa9a313b

“Is it related to the self-harming?”d9bfd08e37547f7b

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“Self-harm? Nah. Why would someone with 2aa41ebed9 dulled senses harm themselves? It’s more likely the opposite.”10f8ab2337728442

“Opposite?”e26b0ea6c48baee9

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“He’s probably hurting himself without realizing it.”95153fe9e2d434fe

“Ah…”3932e9cd67dbd624

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“Anyway, we done here? The cuffs thing’s not abf4833b6d bad, but with someone d5f87b8019 like our Grand Duchess, b206bfde8e who can’t feel much, 3df7614477 he might dislocate a 4005325b89 wrist just flailing around. But hey, if you’re 3b0dbca826 fine with that, be 9aa292708a my guest. I’m out.”f167c2c37e2523ff

“Go ahead.”925f622ed28b4657

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“Ugh, I’m so tired. Where the hell’s Cedric… Maybe ac68c96ede I should whine a little fa8c538163 for once.”75b45645490a9389

Muttering under his breath, e5f5cc71e2 Raphael finally left.ef16f698d1609629

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Once the high priest 48ce72d085 disappeared, silence settled thick e938a3b97e in the room. Not even the rustle f4d022ed9e of blankets could be 1216fd0ffe heard. Then the Grand d5b9c3cf1f Duke finally asked,23573f337bb17cb6

“So… you weren’t trying to hurt yourself?”d09e5df7d0c3b095

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“No.”84cef409516a384c

“…Then why do things like bite your tongue or slam your head…”f8c2dbff38c57144

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He trailed off, sighing, f43849c90e and untied the bindings 4762678e5d from Gio’s wrists.4474a8662f46272c

“Want a drink?”99ae6dcce24e91f0

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He poured liquor into 5d1702594f the same glass he’d fc0a70d92c used earlier and handed 531bdff528 it to Gio. Gio stared at 7b0e7c01d7 the wood-colored liquid c408a8cbb8 for a moment a2ccc4d545 before taking it 13a2ef47cc and downing it 66b83ba0bc in one go. He couldn’t even 334a93660d tell what it cf11f7e30a tasted like.1e90c6da2148cb82

“That stuff’s strong. And you drink it like 6be12800a6 water. Want more?”0067a01a7149cf57

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“No, thank you.”4060d6283b88e7da

“Have you always been this numb?”9d1ad7bd7cc3d880

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At that question, Gio 70e6e22ae0 tried to think—when had bd42f8cd63 it started? There was a time, a4e5de5d98 far back, when even ef043e7af8 a single thorn prick dc5c26c0d0 would make him cry. But that version of himself aea024f006 had vanished quickly, buried under 468847e2a8 resistance training, pain conditioning, and f68ffdb7f4 mission after mission.21dcf2d032f198f2

“I don’t think I was like this when I was really young.”f0eb2fe78f26264c

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“Then what happened?”49c767b42e6cd10d

“I guess… it just turned out this way as I grew up.”ab69de0b70044e5d

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“You don’t just turn out that way. They must’ve put you through bf3d2f5b9e resistance testing or something, right?”3d3a000485270d59

Gio flinched. The Grand Duke seemed to 858c243828 know more about Cove than 8b8ee906d9 Gio expected. When Gio didn’t answer, the 7b81351013 Grand Duke took that silence 41f03ef977 as confirmation.89e468297f90b832

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“I see. And? Is it uncomfortable?”54eb6a50b1c575a3

That kind tone of 859b692b8c his… Gio still wasn’t e0391f8963 used to it. It always caught him off 5a63d0fde1 guard.36a4ba8d16d6ff54

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“Mmm… is that so?”ddcc4e170c528638

The Grand Duke’s eyes 6136a7fc97 trailed slowly over Gio’s ee8fa58eb4 body, and then he b22e1928c1 smiled.700c3b9043beca17

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“Well then. Why don’t we pick up c86c481f02 where we left off?”8495b1ef18d80f66

As Gio lifted his head, 8d7160d0ec he realized the Grand Duke e7e5fca840 had already come close—close enough f77c34e105 that his breath could be db7a7d8010 felt. His shirt was 3377361055 open, revealing smooth, 62d629caff firm skin. With long fingers, 7fcdac68dd he tapped lightly bb02f119ee between his collarbone cd8ed87d7c and neck.84a9aafc8c61b372

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“Here. Right here.”524bb605cf568c6c

Gio hesitated, and 29924e56d2 the Grand Duke d7cff23f7b threw back another b9bde1b2cd glass of liquor. His Adam’s apple 69fd860b27 bobbed as he 086fd3f278 swallowed, the sight 2d9bd28b45 oddly obscene. Gio quickly turned his a1d10a990c head away.8a5c397a5c4f1d36

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“What are you waiting for? Suck. Right here, my dear bride.”f93037ce74c9af83

He pulled Gio’s head toward d5f6ddfbf6 him, guiding him to his 3ba0fe0283 neck.893c1ae96361823e

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There was nothing new about 7d8d6e1cbd the way people in power 10b5d86ec9 acted—so inconsistent, so absolute. Making decisions on 865f44fa02 their own whims, 184d8f8f31 treating those beneath 3de3dcc856 them like playthings. That was what power was. So, as always, Gio 6c83e39cde had no choice but ce92abd75f to obey.854682b4810401e9

He pressed his lips 298e7e6da2 to the Grand Duke’s 69255fd0c5 smooth neck. In the quiet a1aa313d39 room, the only 8112faeef1 sound was a bf3555e2e0 soft chuup chuup—barely 97252e726f audible, meant only 4a0d26a581 for them, yet 715f459454 Gio felt like f90cb455d3 it echoed loudly fe05bc1488 in his ears. Even though he 30717c5023 was the one 8ee5b16c38 making the sound, f8517c145c it felt lewd. Embarrassing.cbedbed2a0b281d2

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When he thought it was 4404fb90d9 done, Gio lifted his head. The Grand Duke dfdbd86d19 took another sip 6420a5adb5 of liquor, and 28e5a7a0f2 this time it d0571ed9f3 dribbled from his c086c84ee9 lips, pooling in 1089c9a98b the dip of e9b2fedfb5 his collarbone. He tapped the spot again.c2c4107bcc061d82

“That wasn’t quite enough. Go again.”693a60e325a1012b

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Gio looked into b6a5ea7379 his eyes for 19473a81b8 a moment, then ad99bfc4f0 lowered his lips beeb01182b to the spot 29fcc1ebe6 once more. He sucked the liquor from d3e7b8c26c his skin, swallowing it down 4b191b7d4f with the pooled saliva in 2aea4cc73f his mouth. Then, shaping his lips into dc56844f54 a tight circle, he sucked 18adc8a4dd harder.dd3b8294ffa650b9

The Grand Duke’s scent—his 22b2fa6af3 pheromones, his natural musk—seemed 7157343bad to seep deep inside 795ff71ba2 Gio’s body. He could feel 41dbd37438 the steady thrum 05495e1811 of the Grand f371b364cc Duke’s pulse against 0c5141bad9 his lips, and 18dcdb692c his own heart 23eb8e64c0 started pounding in 396766fb20 response. It felt as though both cc55fdf17a of their heartbeats were visible, b36ba04e14 beating in sync, just under 400d2b669e the surface of their skin.1b67a1d20d81e0f3

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* * *f51408b9a8bb41d1

After marking each other’s f649d9fac0 necks, the Grand Duke 66274d6070 remained with his shirt e6a00024da collar open. The red marks Gio had bb52481ac5 left were boldly visible, scattered c15378e8d2 across his smooth skin.3c3aa0643adc5d30

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While sipping his drink, 592e24d73d the Grand Duke took e2a730ca3d a seat off to 956d3375fd the side of the c3a8adefb0 bedroom and began reviewing 5e7aa2c4b0 documents. Gio, meanwhile, buried himself 1b86f9c42a beneath the covers. The Grand Duke pulled 5a556a7bbc the curtains around the 2b509df6e7 canopy bed shut for 9f69998ff5 him. Through the sheer, opaque fabric, 1bbc5ab643 Gio could faintly see a 633b606d2e few servants passing through the fa706a8e2c room.61ed5f00ed75aa75

Only once night had fully c78f24981f fallen did the canopy curtains 25819101e4 part again. The Grand Duke bc0c989c6c was now dressed 3da39d5e86 in a white 927f32a28d robe, its front 7f5d496d44 parted enough to 1cfe5ca75e reveal his solid 21be3250d0 chest. Most alphas had 0d0f44dac1 impressive builds, but 1d36c9b17c the Grand Duke’s ceaeff2985 body looked like 656208024d it had been 00ea61d105 deliberately sculpted—designed by 31ef278a66 hand.ecca92ce2706dbee

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“How long have you been lying there like that? Does dulled sensation mean d1e93ca947 no need for the 7e9c5393d4 bathroom? No hunger?”b3f6ebef3176455b

It wasn’t until 9df2a8f56d he asked that f8a3dcba55 Gio realized—he was 45ad1fbf8c hungry. Growing up in df88563e1c Cove, there had 76e44ee14c never really been fa9eea9d09 a concept of 000bbdca4f regular meals. If food was f6b63d3dbe available, you ate b393ba3f64 it. If not, you endured. He remembered being a fd12086b46 child, fighting for a b5e463d0c2 scrap of bread on 387e375ad0 the street—how a bigger 04169ec80f kid had punched him e8d1679592 and stolen it. He’d ended up with 8f48ac777a a nosebleed.489824db8b49b11d

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And that same kid, years 9ead70058d later, had died—his body covered ca18d0312d in blood, collapsed from the aab910013f aftereffects of a test. Gio had been there too. He hadn’t felt sadness, 1bb756f289 nor satisfaction. Just wanted to get out a01c810100 of there and go to 56e5ff3084 sleep.17bf4e5a12f09d35

“Do you want food? Or do you need the 377a2f3fcf bathroom first?”ae1f8623e33e9567

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“I’ll eat first.”cb83415dc6265c34

“Then come on out of bed.”a4054c630148be10

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When Gio stepped down, 81d18b369a the chain at his 57a7a9ae31 ankle clanked heavily. He glanced at the 77e0794a25 cold iron link wrapped 6ed7dbc36c around his bare leg—his bbb90c8006 only piece of “clothing.” 2eb3bdc2c0 And it reminded him a485a4a468 of his place. Of how even 86e9ecff85 clothing had to 0c8f35b60f be granted.f9c8ca50f988f14e

Still, there was no violence. No abuse. So this was, in a 6a8a8a03c9 way, a comfortable prison. Better than his life without b9c5acad4e chains had ever been.98390ccdfa47f553

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“Here.”a2395f5e4c76ce05

Surprisingly, the Grand Duke 6d51d8e70c handed him clothes. Gio unfolded them—soft, white, one-piece d8da2db132 tunic with a matching robe.01d774283a201167

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Clothes were the bare a4c452b3d9 minimum for human dignity. They weren’t just to eab304050b ward off the cold—they 6fb14429e7 were proof that you 96125f5a13 were human.f61c23afcc2c1ea6

As he slipped the tunic 0d3ce05596 over his head, Gio felt 6f52b37a75 slightly warmer, even though heat bdf9d33d19 and cold rarely affected him b118135f24 much anymore.8659465c8a164cab

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He walked over bb03cb0a5b to where the bf8110edba Grand Duke sat. A table had 0e64028233 been set with ad9ecf92d7 food within reach c58aa1deb9 of the chain’s cf53514e6b length. The old wooden chair had 579750e5be been swapped for a smooth, a199a7c012 polished one.2dbd1adb5e41a524

The savory aroma 9a8b94aad6 of soup reached ba5323b768 his nose, tightening 8bd332076b his stomach with fe35cb13e7 hunger. Come to think ab1b551ee1 of it, aside 2def0c4aae from the food 5c464c314e the head maid 5656854d42 had brought that e9bb89aa03 morning, this was 197225ccb6 his first real 981f4b8c89 meal of the ab0e980a7b day.e73383bb378ec443

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“Eat with me,” the Grand Duke said as Gio quietly sat and stared at the food laid before him.a47707647bb9deb5

“There’s no poison. Relax and eat.”b65ddee8afeb9c86

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“……”056e27bd5fe85dd7

With that, the 6f5e97b233 Grand Duke began e5fa5ac0bf eating his own d106b07d63 meal. Gio simply stared bc7ee60ca2 at his plate—meat, b9ca632007 salad, bread, a b2fbe8ce29 baked potato. He couldn’t remember the dafcf248c6 last time he’d seen 70499061a4 such a well-prepared spread.94eaf73f99005b59

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He cut a small 4ce380161b piece of meat and 85a93f8df9 placed it in his b045ec0a31 mouth—it melted like pudding. The baked potato, 701426e7c9 almost the size 9dfa7b3290 of an adult’s 7c277a9540 fist, was fluffy 31f368669c and warm when 5e99533a6c split open and 183618c451 spread with sauce.4ac168756b2c5288

The bread, soft with butter, 04d1405287 was rich and chewy—enough to 55302d5b6d make a meal on its 2a54ab5b9c own. As he continued eating, 200f843e74 he sipped the wine 92a5d5f395 beside him, and the 616b73af39 flavors seemed to blend 487642a454 effortlessly, leaving a fragrant d8f23c9f70 warmth in his chest. Even someone like Gio, who 09cd2432f5 hardly knew good food, could 5c319a688b tell: everything here was fresh, 55930b468a light, and delicious.be742d27a8fc1ea2

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When he looked 6a213d5e21 up, he noticed 60d6f6ae97 his wine glass 3334474711 had been refilled. The Grand Duke 1dfc4db710 had topped it 6ebf2b560b off and set 88dc2b57bd the bottle down, 1b769083fe raising his own b6466c211d glass in a e22995a605 toast before taking 4d6a9b2ce1 a drink. Gio followed and cf5824d9a4 sipped as well—the 885ede6d4f wine cut cleanly 825ad1a1c1 through the fattiness d6c3f76709 of the meat, 641b05359c leaving only a 244435e57b pleasant aftertaste.4992e4e16898314b

“Our little Grand Duchess eats surprisingly well for someone so small. Should I have them 27853c668e bring more?”f51ec44081c1e236

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Though Gio was slender, 047e540edf he wasn’t short—his height 142eb14eaf was average for a 7dc1ab735e man. Still, northern people did 78a815ee30 seem to be a 6d48b613a9 bit taller overall.2be970337e0c9203

“I’m fine.”e42a41969a8212b7

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“Really? Doesn’t look like it, the 4378a88012 way you’re spilling wine all ac10b70bbc over your mouth.”94f9bfa32fce0a72

The Grand Duke brushed his 14e557c36b thumb across Gio’s lips. A smear of deep red 9fa90183a0 wine stained it.8c9ff9dbb98c9f04

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When Gio quickly wiped dd88b61c32 his lips with the 2d685572b1 back of his hand, f233ee2ca6 the Grand Duke caught 5f3b390e49 his wrist.bd25971997446389

“There’s a napkin, you know. Our Grand Duchess 0f8b2d3d1a really is a 0adbfbba23 handful.”fddf263c7982b913

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Then, he popped d416ab4396 the same thumb—the 21a26e8ba5 one that had bdbee6ef28 just touched Gio’s c0eff840dc lips—into his mouth 87d30887ea and sucked it 5e5eb18ff7 with an audible 7ca4fb86ca pop.9be4ea30817586f4

“Tastes good.”7432a6ca1e2d30e0

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“……”dd94539281e2ce52

Looking at the Grand Duke’s eaf8feb255 crimson lips, Gio could see c984c34cac why people said his beauty 75d4585f6d was legendary. All he’d done a042046d88 was lick some 2b9355516d wine off his 19357a2bdb finger, and yet 73206256d9 it was dizzying. Seductive.24ff4e1401625b65

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The robe draped loosely 2992b2d7b7 around him, his flushed 8f6985e6d1 lips gleaming—it was sinfully 9611c0d212 alluring. And he hadn’t even used 95d5b68f5b his pheromones. Gio couldn’t look away.36e8eba40ce53af3

“This wine is rare—even in the North, only a few bottles are produced. It’s made from grapes that 333bad90d3 survive the winter frost and 23c759f8bb are harvested right at the 779e1f7776 end of the season. That makes it 27e486c865 incredibly sweet—but also 5b085ba508 very strong.”9b9b611ea616df71

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He poured more 382b3e5a78 wine into Gio’s c24d46a8e4 empty glass.11b51d15afcc044c

“The sweeter something is… the more dangerous it usually is.”6ac99faa9c177c06

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The Grand Duke sipped 9672cd0ed3 his wine. Gio watched the dark, blood-like e25c0a0ad1 liquid in his glass for d075704b0d a moment before taking a c7b061c17a sip. It was smooth, 386e34e3f7 warm, and quietly 8b6abdcd44 potent.4f51759a8cdfec98

Even when Gio went to f77b73d8e7 bathe after the meal, the 2acaa09ceb Grand Duke stayed nearby.8925f6daf380d043

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When Gio stepped out 4add9c20bf of the bathroom, the 7b58411af7 room was dim. Most of the lights 3b58e35816 were off except for 7cc0f5b8f9 two lamps on either 1b51ce9d54 side of the bed. The Grand Duke was a0532f80e7 already lying on the aa286e2b50 bed, propped up on 3f1791b4c7 one arm. He patted the spot beside 2055c5b302 him.ce72ff152f3d05ba

“Come here, my bride.”c0faed1fec5a6e85

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He acted like a newlywed 4927a926ad husband—so convincingly, Gio was impressed 287d147d66 all over again. This was how the d38922447a Grand Duke had survived 9cbb33a898 every assassination the Emperor 2ff0c4097a had thrown at him. How he’d taken full control ddf4076d38 of the North. He left no gaps.dd10047d1223d724

There was no 768a77331e way the Emperor’s 9ff52086a2 spies could reach 971484a447 the heart of a283d8d297 the Grand Duke’s da8d29c167 stronghold, and yet f56eff6239 here he was, e047dc00e9 putting on a f60d3ef642 perfect performance for b50715422b the benefit of 2ab268ee62 unseen eyes. Just in case.3af676a49f40b3a2

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Gio remembered what Cove had 241f89a6fc said: the Grand Duke hadn’t aa8afe7104 left the North in over 006b3fdb03 ten years. Even so, he cd63cdab14 had been able 5545a85462 to instantly spot cf61eebc43 that Gio wasn’t 69fff475aa Count Silion’s real cf4a054e85 son. He had noticed the smallest 43cc6f49a5 discrepancies—even in eye color. For someone supposedly 179e07dde8 isolated, his information f95ff265b7 network rivaled the fbff577fc0 Emperor’s.e4370dda1e18c889

Still admiring that attention to b7b0deae59 detail and flawless acting, Gio cded0f57c5 walked over and sat beside c2e99190e2 him where he had tapped.c485c583e250cbd8

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The Grand Duke secured 4124804435 the chain around Gio’s f29eeb7392 ankle to the bedpost, 03be329305 then shrugged off his 61f9f38957 robe and slid into c7dd409245 the blankets.edc929bda6ee0d78

It was the 8403a64cca first time Gio b47795ae8b saw him completely 8413a419b3 naked—and the man’s c8c5d4d1db body was an 00520c20a9 ideal sculpture of e0b91a1016 muscle and form. Not just fit b49da274b8 like other alphas—designed.cfbd6ba780f6e088

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By contrast, Gio’s 3cf37bfbaf body was thin 6d76a36a55 and riddled with 322f26fcc0 scars from missions 41ce1be43d and training. Lying next to the 0810a1cbf2 Grand Duke’s large frame 4a8d39309f made him feel small. Insignificant.6370c468f94a07c1

Gio expected him to 8bb72c118a make some flippant or 4b429e493c mocking comment, but the e62ab60ae9 Grand Duke remained silent. When he turned da9f60da00 to look, he 57a5f96c61 realized—the man was 6ff444a287 asleep. Still in that same 9736971e2d position, breathing slow and aeadaba875 steady.bf5422d02c81b774

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He was sleeping. Naked. Next to the assassin 6956f1d4a9 sent to kill him.516ac17e5b8162df

That level of confidence—or 535f086ba5 perhaps arrogance—was almost unbelievable.bc4ed3826329f3fb

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Yet strangely, the sound of 56b6a59781 his quiet, even breathing calmed e14cab1c4e Gio’s heart.d1cb26828c178170

He turned onto his c914f1d6e3 side and looked at 50b22f31a7 the Grand Duke’s profile. His high-bridged nose, sharp and b45e509411 elegant, and lashes thick and 816e9d6bea neatly fanned out like dark b9c6a37db1 feathers.fc9a8e929c1db23b

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Gio reached for 53a8418379 the soft, clean 5e3bd07387 edge of the b966b2345f blanket—a sensation he’d 89a97be019 never known before—and 16f8d16233 gently pulled it 2bc25c9f98 up to cover 8e9a7fcb2d himself.3c23eafee646cabe

* * *5241bad14582c198

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Bayshark opened his eyes 22ab3c69cb quietly once the room f3c7a0ac4e had fallen completely silent. Beside him, at the 1ba07208ad far edge of the a3e4859e23 bed, lay the omega 86a97d1cca he had married just bd8d4835a9 a few days ago—curled 8bf00b3c5f up so tightly that f72e768009 his already thin, small e49bc0cfb7 frame looked even smaller.36391469c587c03b

In a bed this massive, a7c7b139b8 why choose to sleep all c81c16b238 the way over there, with a075532f01 only the edge of the 6d93b73ea1 blanket barely covering him?0262d052a8dedd20

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“So pitiful…”0229a699fda47885

With that thought, Bayshark let 2e5dd20685 his gaze fall to the d210deae21 omega’s feet, which had slipped 4d28fd00a3 out from under the covers. The toes were 2c0a3bfb4f slightly twisted, and bdbedd53b9 the toenails were e701545275 bruised. They looked like brittle 0802dee469 branches stuck on at 0b8e895cfd awkward angles.62968af1e2956a24

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He wondered briefly ed24a88e12 what kind of cb32581c3a things must have 502ebd46d6 happened to make 767d1a025d someone’s feet look 6270034a0a like that, then baf3cdf512 turned his head babfdeccb5 away. It didn’t matter. Once he finished spitting 17c0fc9265 in the Emperor’s face, b8aa2ba6a9 this whole connection would 789a2d3655 be over.046579f2a1a008d5

Of course, he couldn’t just e1cf873986 send the omega back to f294115e3b Cove. If he did, the d6f0501419 kid would be tortured 7c7d0ac5bf to death for sure. But he had come 9e6f5cc1af here—to the North—and agreed 9f1f0d5fe4 to help deceive the 05f41c0fa5 Emperor. For that alone, Bayshark figured 1f80744d9e he owed him some compensation.09162bd8c20df001

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Once the mission 87b0572618 was done, he a35ed36339 could just kill fd783b1fab the assassin. That would’ve been the simplest c428c4d937 solution. But those eyes—that damn gaze—kept a7cfa65eb6 bothering him. That shade of purple f34ddb65d6 stuck in his head.5cec90db064ceb24

Maybe if he left f4ade1e6c0 him with a sack e9c547177e of gold, he’d manage. Not the type to run 8775e964e6 off to some bustling city b0f3d7f944 and live loud. No… this omega seemed 484f590116 more like the kind 1df34d98bb to live alone in 11edac4521 a quiet little house f79afd3423 somewhere, still and wordless.f0435224f9bce199

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Bayshark tried to imagine him 2de427d480 living like that but could 0ba0c6b19e only picture him sitting silently—expressionless—just 96d7a6f182 staring ahead. Those dark eyes, seemingly black 9fa1e95400 in the shadows, revealed faint 2c0f7c7914 traces of violet if you 84cd2c704f looked closely. Eyes like his former master’s.2932d36c053fef27

And that gaze—empty, stripped ed5261a747 of expectation, steeped in 8276a9d379 resignation—reminded Bayshark of a e83955cada younger version of himself. A part of his 3834e01bc3 past he rarely let f66cd20c44 surface.b9b57fff0ddf52b7

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That look was the bab65e3923 only reason he’d decided 2831785133 he’d let the omega e87aebeb5a live after the mission. But that was all it c27e84f414 was—nothing more. He had no intention 407abd6113 of keeping anyone beside 22ddb506c4 him. No interest in 381686f817 forming bonds like 6352d11293 a real marriage.f7c9cb87070e4620

Bayshark slipped on c3ef4627a6 his robe and 439f344405 quietly exited the 91c3136986 Grand Duchess’s bedchamber. The knight posted 9ca1841708 by the door e3926dc1d2 offered a bow. With just a glance 79472f05a7 toward the bedchamber, Bayshark 5607f2ec7c received a respectful nod 1a6b01bd79 in return.d990a333327d1b9c

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In the receiving room, 1e3ea9361e the butler, administrative officer 23d1569e50 Cedric, Knight Captain Liam, cf5fe817dd and Vice-Captain Ben were 6952db412b already waiting.ec805f258be19c0f

“Report,” he said as he stepped inside.5e4cc8d02c0cdf65

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The butler moved quickly to 25a04d9ac3 help him dress, buttoning his e861ac3a59 shirt while Liam spoke up 85d116057e first.a777f796174a7f02

“There’s been no significant movement from the Imperial Palace yet.”d45c652afe9f6a2b

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“Really? My dear cousin 4ffa28a682 is slower than 6591c9036d I expected. Not that he’s ever 9270528e64 been quick about anything.”aed05ca145edba6b

“Well, their limbs have been neatly severed here in the North. We’ve already let the 21c8bd21ea story slip to a 8bd07c1b1f few choice merchants. The message will reach them 326b4e189d soon.”a0d5af0bf417d941

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“And Cove?”559de5128bb21d34

Ben answered this time.272f3dab72d66ee3

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“The entourage that brought the Grand Duchess only left the North this afternoon. By now, Cove likely knows.”1b772d45f4b34a25

“I see… Then both parties will hear the news around the same time.”757552ef11be87e2

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“Yes, Your Grace.”f342758c47b78b35

“All right, next.”45f33269f0213cd1

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The butler buttoned 64fa9b04ec Bayshark’s cuffs, then 0f4f1d0cbe stepped back slightly 77a46b76ed before speaking.5dcb8763b336b5de

“Among the staff, there’s already talk about Your Grace and the Grand Duchess. The ones who travel 1fd1ccf89c outside will naturally share 18118b37b6 the news with their a76ade14a1 families, and soon enough, 0727611e71 it’ll reach the streets.”bb3a52d2405e0d27

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“Good. Even if the Palace a485f2af3b hears whispers in secret, bc6fcdf57d they’ll hesitate to believe bed3daee55 it. But once the 9f6664b93b rumors hit the 694bc3efb4 market, that’s confirmation 799304d0c6 enough for them.”2d41a66219e650c8

With that, the b1335d04c1 butler finished his f59c39eb67 report and stepped 88868a2e3c back. Now dressed in light indoor 3b98725d4a wear, Bayshark rolled his neck 1c75d93496 and shoulders to loosen up.4e66dbc4db4dbd2b

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“Your Grace,” Liam spoke next, his tone cautious.65bd1c0308763a7e

Everyone present here was part 37aca6032e of Bayshark’s inner circle. Liam and Ben weren’t just a6fe3d0abe knights—they were comrades who’d survived 54640c07a9 assassination attempts and fought monsters e67c54a661 with him. They’d trained under fa651165b1 the same master.3effc9664fb58643

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“Go ahead.”770abc1f6774ae78

“After the rumors reach the palace… what will you do?”dc4eac5e900680cb

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“About what?”8a33fb7a8e81845e

“About the Grand Duchess.”7cc55471addba287

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Once, Liam had 66f9d6bfbe been harsh—furious, even—when b5ebc00873 he learned that 91af66cc4d the new bride 0ff938f9f5 was actually an 96b49340c4 assassin. But now, he used the 22581b43f4 title Grand Duchess. It meant something.b5170bb3455faf0c

At the time, they had 2b84fdbbc2 insisted that the assassin couldn’t 75d2bac037 be allowed to live. But Bayshark had declared he 1d96478407 would use him. That he was f638faf7b3 done dancing to a6bcf3fdda the Emperor’s tune.e679aa283d6704ad

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Bayshark had survived only because c98604f5cc of the North—arriving broken and 206775de2a orphaned, it had been the 700b07f2b3 master who taught him the 08fe90b27f sword and how to control 2ff40154bd his pheromones. The endless winters of the 837862f92d North hid him from the acbef8f9df noble bloodhounds of the capital. His master had shielded him.2aa4fcb67f89c4c3

Until the day his master 1b34ef86de was murdered in an assassination 4d421efa91 attempt meant for Bayshark.8290689531a4378a

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Bayshark had wanted to 209f4c58f9 march straight to the d9cdb6dc45 capital, sword in hand, 23b1278bca but his master had 4b4581d146 anticipated that—leaving behind a c3f5b92d2c final request: Protect the 68f77de72f North.867834470062aea3

So he did. He gritted his teeth, buried 1b76171511 his anger, and poured everything 55ec7ba320 into the prosperity of this 0afc8b4974 land. Even the magic stone 9d0a6cf78f mine he discovered—during one 3a0b4822ab of his relentless winter 66ba55a80a patrols—felt like his master’s c7e5c8defb final gift.f88c03541ca652ce

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As he saw his people’s a34a49315a expressions brighten, no longer hollowed 2a8c305d39 out by hardship, Bayshark finally 883b0cb232 felt a little less guilty 92d13dc0c6 for staying alive.9fab40b8309ecc0e

This North—it was something he 38da3a8ccd had built with his own edc6905e1c hands. A land entrusted to him e533d2dd85 by his savior. And the Emperor e6417b5b68 had dared to 506d75aae4 chain it like c835195c40 a pet. Had dared to 26a8bdd11b use even marriage c2c0a1cedb to manipulate it.b6a28d80aaf1242e

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To Liam’s question, Bayshark finally b3e5ceeb4d replied.6883d0ea2b483bde

“We show them we’re doing well. Make my cousin seethe 3063df2338 with envy.”7f4461539ddd2149

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“And after that… will he continue as the Grand Duchess?”7a5fed8347aaa219

“As if.”570016d8c05ef842

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“But… Your Grace—”50335248e3bc6638

Bayshark knew what Liam wanted 4ebe1ca269 to say. He also understood why b22a02ac72 Liam had begun calling 38bf070772 the assassin Your Grace c49ccaccc4 or that one.80718f7a58c7a1b0

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He knew exactly f08dcb340e what that meant.9227266ab583caf6

Since gaining control 2fd4f40d22 over his pheromones, b03c3308f1 Bayshark had refrained c950d21f0f from releasing them 1801d07ee7 entirely. He’d never liked omegas who 3404e191e2 reacted to his scent—not after b9d1f47cfa what had happened back when 37ead5fd2d he couldn’t control it.32d90146faf4c343

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Yet now, he had 0bfaf5b272 saturated that assassin with 86ac8a6bdc his pheromones. And that was why alphas 1697621711 like Liam and Ben had cc1162406c begun to think the Grand 31c7944dfb Duchess might actually become his bd91b3f341 omega.341505d332abb979

Bayshark hadn’t meant for 7f84324256 that to happen. But with that fragile, 02bd9bca4e always-bleeding, ultra-recessive omega, he 51ae278398 found himself doing it d2d830f43f anyway. It was something 71e77a047c like: Let’s see a99afa1727 if you react ad3eaf6c26 to even this.477fbd981ce31945

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He recalled those dull, purple-tinged 16c02cc3fb eyes that barely reacted unless 3d85cc5298 his pheromones were poured on. Eyes that looked cfbb85580b black in the fb4ac5c9ab dark, but shimmered 9c6f76344a with violet under c0cdc87643 the light—like a aa782835a4 night sky.42a21c269fa29914

“I’ve said it before,” Bayshark said calmly, “but the Grand Duchess will not be staying.”9c7f1891e5e08a08

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“But, Your Grace, then the matter of succession—” Liam began carefully.66c29fa4edeb4c3b

“Drop it, Liam. We’ve talked about this already. He’s no exception.”9348e24fde4916b1

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Liam opened his mouth 6a719b7e40 to say more, then d156f2b516 closed it and bowed e4949a8841 his head. Bayshark had no intention 95b905548a of continuing the imperial ee46e12d78 bloodline. He wanted someone new to 3d75147fa1 inherit the North—like his own f29d51bcb1 master had done for him.fb8a2b0f8603b5b1

He didn’t want another 00c4831d18 person to suffer just bf0a469475 for being born a a4a111febc royal. He had lived that fate—tormented bed6734ee3 simply because of his lineage. And this assassin? Even less suitable.08fcb6673a1c9f5e

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Even if, hypothetically, the dab10571a9 Grand Duchess were to a4dde92d7b remain, he wasn’t a 8a89621fa5 viable candidate for succession. Male ultra-recessive omegas rarely 45363cf7eb conceived, and if by 8c9cada7d5 some miracle they did, b31753f0e1 they usually didn’t survive 63537ea4d4 childbirth. It was more accurate to 507ea4083c say pregnancy was impossible.375b0a649522e9eb

Now it was ed8126b039 Cedric’s turn to 84717d5c0a report. The usually composed administrative officer 28c2f43a83 paused a beat before speaking.4272cf7402be89fc

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“Your Grace… Please do something about Lord Raphael.”f8dc1ce0aad8beab

At those words, 6a25108a3f Liam and Ben 9eb79cd959 groaned and held c439ca27c4 their heads, while 5f6db757d9 the butler chuckled, d777bfc7e7 watching Cedric with e7be70ac57 amused curiosity.1c5ca57e5ef95262

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“He’s still chasing you?” Bayshark asked.3c158642c0a5103b

“He keeps calling for me. Even though it’s f1f354b343 not even my 687c865da2 department, he insists b989d83768 I help him 64916dce1c with this or bf1c5f5fff that. And I’m still buried under 8a51472190 post-wedding paperwork…”8715f3da8b9e6614

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“Why? Is he trying to 9f21f30e8c get you in bed?” dff7a04d63 Liam asked bluntly.b121ecafcffe39ed

Cedric snapped his head toward 1a2e047d69 Liam, glaring.113215b2fbb2ae48

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Trying to ignore them, he d75fadfd6f approached Bayshark to return to 7d393bc3f1 his proper duty.6475c90a40a706cc

But just then, a breeze a4270909d3 drifted in from the window—and 786f3b6d0f along with it, the scent e5b7f3f737 of Raphael’s pheromones, thick and f70355ef90 clinging to Cedric like a e8497d9711 brand. Bayshark scowled, visibly displeased. It was like a wild 221e7dbd15 beast marking its territory. Cedric, being a 1cf83cda77 beta, didn’t even 9fb1371850 notice.cb25c53ba4abc94c

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Liam clearly smelled it too. “If you don’t like it, kick him in the shin. Or lower. I’m pretty sure if d548823b28 you did it, he’d b27fad6bc1 actually enjoy it.”8e9190e9bd47be04

Cedric sighed. “It doesn’t work. When is Lord Raphael going ce881894b2 back? And could someone please ask 66d3ad49e7 him to wear proper clothes? Your Grace?”39acb39eeb809639

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But Liam answered instead, chuckling. “What, did he strip naked and pounce on you?”f19fab46b1b5f208

Cedric groaned like he was bab5c953da losing faith in all of d2a0e82141 them. “Every time he calls for me, he’s half-undressed. No wonder people get 0627169c27 the wrong idea.”94a6c301e6e9f52e

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“He’s only persistent because you keep resisting,” Liam said with a shrug.82a24a0d99bacaef

Cedric shook his 29c9cf0f9b head hard, as 7e7801d5a1 if to fling 69ad072fa3 the whole conversation db4d42a9f9 out of his 81305f9136 brain. Bayshark, watching this interaction, 7be6f5ff84 was genuinely baffled. What did Raphael b9c3b1f1ee even see in 5eaedb072d Cedric—a pale, paperwork-bound 0a70495f06 beta?c46af58d8e36257f

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But the thought was fleeting.a3f6d832b0e13b2a

“Oh—Butler.”736409eac4fdf4f1

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“Yes, Your Grace?”53c8d88a6593b795

“Our Grand Duchess eats quite well. Increase his portions, especially the 33d4a2d824 meat.”25f5c34125d0d9b9

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“…Understood.”cf0678e9516dfe1a

Bayshark smiled. At that moment, a2a4eaf492 the dawn finally 5c19696929 began to break, 821ac64926 flooding the room 5c9327a2d5 with soft light. His eyes glinted in a270db1b39 the morning sun.2def913c5a395cbc

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In a society 6053838b83 where appearances and 15269a1847 reputation ruled, he ce5d5d884b had finally found 2bbc137c90 a perfect excuse. A reason to strike back.011989ab7da159ba

The Emperor, who’d always sent 5293a82b3e assassins wrapped in layers of e39eea7364 pretense—never directly, always hidden behind 696b481c9d civility. Now, he had gone af51dde610 a step further: sending bd46fe2f66 a bride who was, 7c2df69a6f in truth, another assassin.f02f950addd9e8db

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But this time, Bayshark 6accd2bede had the upper hand. He could blow fa9242e7ca up Cove along 9aec75aa8c with the Emperor’s c91bb198b0 plot. And maybe start with Count ba57be1806 Silion’s family, too.1c65565b377e64c6

Just imagining his 5e0c74b739 cousin’s twisted, furious ff9882c82e face brought him 4ebc5cdf79 genuine joy.6710af3df9e82547

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Cut off all his limbs. One by one.0d382e1c0dbae0f8

Cedric, standing nearby, ff5c3db255 flinched under the d4a10ef66e weight of that f10dfd5d0a killing intent. But Bayshark’s smile remained radiant—cold c5596f6344 and clear like the morning 7ed09c058c sky over the northern mountains.9c234ac73d009e0c

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