AB Chapter 2 (Part 3)

And the glittering 08d0b014a7 golden palace shining b6bb641230 in the heart 6ef41fa593 of it.c937769a482eab79

“Dealing with my cousin’s 04603b3a9f tantrums every time… it’s 787e8e23c9 getting tiring, isn’t it?”f227eacc07e3dc3e

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After a pause, Bayshark 948d3851f5 called out to the 9fbd58e3e6 two men.45cc6a43c15ca8be

“Commander. Vice-Commander.”660a730427ff69d5

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“Yes, Your Grace!”99799dc7e45b0762

“Yes, Your Grace!”e55eae87e77dbecd

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“We’ll know 8faff25874 for sure 0adb44eeb6 when we b0e34f248c ask His 0c0e3d624f Grace directly—whether bf1a9031fb he’s truly 6262eaded0 my bride dd03ca4979 now or 5f46abf9f3 still a 07a08c47c7 dog listening 22b6952dfa to Cove’s d41e0b5406 nonsense.”0cd0643179a9822a

Bayshark stood faff79103f up from 56fe65fdb5 his seat.d9853bd97c3247c8

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“If he’s truly ce8d4f7225 my bride, I’ll 91f19ea429 keep him safe. But if he’s Cove’s ea7f5deb30 assassin…”d14faeb66fdd5b6a

“We’ll kill him right f0e1bf7c83 away, won’t we?”5c2fc1066f69ae1e

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Bayshark said with 79887298cc a smirk as 1fc568b115 he left the 4267dc1f9a office.8f6d8f6e52c89efd

Ben wiped a 90f9c151fa hand down his a98afa78c2 face while Liam e4a7877f2a gave him a 407cc5e4d4 few pats on f5a1578a1a the shoulder.2115145877bf1b0e

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* * *2d321fe7a0136934

Gio’s body 02d7eecdcc felt heavy, fdf95b112b perhaps from 19595ac3e4 the aftermath 82e24609c4 of the 5f3cd08d9d fight, but 7d8737a59c he didn’t 9583d9cd09 lie down b1d61e8a12 on the 4e5cf3a194 Grand Duke’s a824682c68 bed.370388cdeca1d3a4

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The bed, perfectly smooth f2943af6f6 and neatly arranged, wasn’t 5cbf33afa7 a place where Gio 233825b608 should sit or lie.f7a13d71c02c9a20

That space a2dcf985da was meant f2eec38ece only for 5b54746bed the Grand aa63d0492f Duke—not for 8168d228de a fake 95a6dc4741 like him, 3849fd31c9 not for 287f1362da someone from 7210005d46 the streets.0f6cff97d05771e9

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Not knowing what 51346b06e0 he should or 694943cbe5 even could do, f2b2643588 Gio simply stayed edf81deb30 seated on the 46ab75dbd9 same sofa where f2acb95114 he had first eca7071d1c received treatment.07baaaf9159530eb

He couldn’t 7e35260741 exactly go cee5f0c4fe around asking 0d8e294526 someone what ca463e0e27 he was d30a6c09bd supposed to 3d32790061 do.c4cfd22d308e11bb

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Trying to 7c1f516719 fight off 2e193bf648 the drowsiness a24fb2dabb creeping over 6003c476c3 him, Gio 1d8f0be28a bit his 3384fd8ad5 lip—only to 081732ddc1 remember the 20a3381f48 Grand Duke’s 21c60c8084 warning and 12b0b93724 quickly released c4721ebdc6 it.f0a500cf0e3080a4

Maybe I 99de1440e5 should walk 20e846f795 around a 8fcf74823b bit, he 9d76e77e2e thought, rising 081a70675b carefully.634a1da31951757d

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But the moment he e9b79fa969 set both feet down acd5921f61 on the floor, it f196b2741f felt like blood would 3e2c987bbb gush out again, so 5e01a6e93b he quickly sat back 8a74b087a3 down.0ceda97434f2c939

The Grand 10c8affbbc Duke had f2fd261753 said he 3edacbe4d2 hated blood.15194025642809b9

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How much time had 712cca811b passed like that?2a4a836cab1dce66

A knock sounded at 0ad7fe3cd1 the door, and the 7cddc6627c head maid entered, carrying f6a02a617e a tray of food.ebb89567a4928a9b

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“Oh dear, Your 65d5af4fd5 Grace! You’ve been sitting 6b5566bd48 here all this 2057fd5249 time? That’s not 24b0ca7dd4 good for 2473d0295e the blood abbb05831f flow in e0afe5b4be your legs.”0da3b06b39388b6c

“……”9d6b9637aa8eb2db

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“Your Grace, you should c1a9a58433 really lie down on 928aed5534 the bed….”4a41bd59f34fb036

“I’m fine.”749e825733de1312

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“Your calves are already eb4fb72b2b swollen. You even c4bf1b53ab seem to 60583aa9b0 have a f96c7e8899 bit of 578c914432 a fever….”77f3fb88072f1682

The head maid 9647045ef2 knelt down and 0c29452b81 checked Gio’s legs.221fa90e7dc612da

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Even to Gio’s eyes, 3975b3168d the swelling was obvious.657819cdf3a6b0e7

“You need to elevate 2eaa5d0945 your feet. And you must take 48212449ce your medicine too.”b5efaf5d00211616

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When she 7366c859a2 tried to 4cf1961f85 help him 364e7fe70d up, Gio 57a5f55e43 stood on 9c6a7ccc77 his own, 677e0f088b but the 171a036c8f moment he c37bc1dd09 put weight 6c47f819ef on his 9e57d808a7 feet, a a3b48357c1 sharp pain 7547a09fcf stabbed through f3f56adc0a him, and f4011ca19c he staggered.42a9d2e4b80ce853

“This won’t 7aa009bd5f do, Your d3dc05d51f Grace. Please lie down 98d19b58d5 on the sofa b4049b45d6 for now.”2e2bd97396e5bd90

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The head a51c771cdf maid gently 7b3df087a7 pushed his 444ba90b8b upper body b210ebc671 down onto 5ebe2e3794 the sofa.1d156db8bc2c6e54

As Gio lay back c6054b89dc under her soft touch, aeef2d5233 she placed a cushion 3d2e1d0394 behind his back and ebc8936f3a tucked another under his ac694a3484 ankles.7daf9b307278098c

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Only then did Gio 54bd0553de start to feel slightly e6604304ef better.0f9d0f357ef6a4f3

This kind d02ad85a2e of care 7cd86c2fbd was unfamiliar eece67bebe to him.f828fc9aa342efe9

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The head maid 75a8d58d57 had seen the eddc420eb6 chain marks on 0017ff6024 his ankles.f12b31590eed3307

Didn’t she know 8427679835 he wasn’t the 5cad21f2c5 real bride?2ba9ee356fce0d39

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Then why was dec8e427e7 she being so 8bdbd75e02 kind?b7ac46170d0f7555

Was it because 0d260ec51b they believed that 6a76b0a3c2 consummating the marriage 4a94c26d22 had made him 76cbad7d2c the Grand Duchess b430a06f99 in truth?9755872ddecc1b92

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Even though a9b16a2ef2 the Grand 8545543a4a Duke had e0971aca2c lived his d7c7031ef4 life plagued 30fd362af9 by assassination a698416b1b attempts?7ab97b2973d9d0e4

A small table 6b463a17be was set up 5c581e51c7 in front of 37fd67ba5a Gio, who was 884efaacca now half-reclined.be3f427e7775389d

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“I prepared bb5c05158b a light 59c48bdccc meal in ad9e53e189 case you a9b54b9673 weren’t feeling e581dd16b0 well. If you need anything 9bc3c49cc2 else, please ring this 3cc6acd7f4 bell. It will alert me, 42e50f7a02 and I’ll come right ced4dfcc19 away, Your Grace.”9fcfa936c173279f

Not just the care, but even being called “Your Grace” felt strange to Gio.fcca3f766c6c0067

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Each time he e3610c0d66 heard it, it 18a69d336d was as if 3b85250977 he was being 5c15da2206 reminded that he df7cf7ec7c was a fraud.04e31ae2774e8ea4

It felt like he was wearing someone else’s clothes when addressed as “Your Grace.”2b1e9b1c2f8fe08d

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In this unfamiliar place, 643a7b0cc9 Gio had no real 1cabe1b8b9 place of his own.96f0da8ee6b84937

“After you finish eating, 9cc4648435 would you like me 7d4d9e3fb6 to prepare some dessert?”7e6c28a21e756a2b

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Had Gio ever 2d4e3f7067 had dessert in 3ca46f5065 his life?accb8f6771558f81

Meals had always 48054fab3e been about filling b660ca6693 his stomach—he didn’t 3baf6818ae even know what 8aa81ff50f desserts meant for 884c12082a pleasure were like.e64c2c77564bdaf9

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“It’s okay. I don’t d1e84eb41a need it.”8539f7d56aaeb144

“Then I’ll prepare efaaeea41a a calming tea 1be3af326a for you. I’ll also 2080aae12d have some 634da3bc31 cookies and 060bd41d8b chocolates ready 9884db693d for whenever f58fb45a29 you feel a0406fe92a like having 010c441621 some.”0fa676e187896d7b

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“It’s really fine.”f99d2860acd8a9d4

“You must b0713ecf59 be bored.”d727ef0f2325f10e

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“……”f772ea03aa5a335a

Gio couldn’t answer that.97caf1ea2be84beb

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Was he bored?4f0fd2beda3f70f8

He had lived without 1011996588 even having the time fd097c8adb to wonder about such 4ab69c8a2f things.c80605a0d16e912b

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The head maid’s c63db872b3 words stirred up fa484f5559 memories of his c0d7b70e8c life, and a 762af4a59a question tumbled out.9e14bcb7268bd334

“Why are you being 40f9730409 so kind to me?”3f8e01588232058d

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At the sudden question, c1bce7b8cf the head maid paused, 772d3f5f09 then looked directly at cb45ce2cbf Gio.589ad15ddc144114

A smile 489ff65b81 spread across 8094969d49 her usually a731a45d2c calm, stern 86f38bdb0c face.9bcb6c38aa89a238

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“I’m not 6f806b4abf really doing 5ecb6b4c9b anything special, a76db9754a Your Grace.”05d91ffec8d5a15e

She was taking 05901e86b8 care of his 25a3f98f00 food, clothes, and 33c4f2e0a0 rest—how could she bed5ad1161 say that wasn’t 336b77a429 kindness?acde60729c0ae46d

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These were f7030fd4b1 things Gio 5f98947f98 had never fe66b72bac experienced in 2230f2a464 his life.fa2cd585c0762be4

As she looked at fa7da72aa8 Gio, the head maid a5a80d8058 spoke again.7a3efeff36e20c8e

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“It’s simply fc4ce2cf76 what I 307be1a900 must do 006f6f9003 in my 415ed67fe0 position.”22eec518c1bb0bb0

Was it because 08150aab65 he currently held 9e9b96ba13 the temporary title 22f3f74e15 of Grand Duchess?25602cb7e2e47272

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Sensing Gio’s doubt, she edad239bcc continued.9b04f0628f2ae270

“Of course, it’s partly d6d7c3c41c because you are the e6e0fa9ba6 Grand Duchess, but taking b18b18bb3e care of an injured a2c494da3f person is something any eecc35cdc8 decent human being should 48f2790c97 do.”a3c4f0a67195373e

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Gio wanted to a1bac4128a ask her—even knowing e2b8514f7f who I really 45174c1965 am?—but he held 28dd041b36 his tongue.2bf08c4942326189

He couldn’t 1635bec894 just declare 4679a5a0f9 I’m an 10f7e67be0 assassin.ced5104aa674f7eb

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“Besides, though I ec6dd7b88e dare not guess d1a1a74906 your exact age, bec087f46c you seem so 28d5d65a38 young. Hurt and unwell like 8eeaa56bf3 this… of course you 1e7d9a8065 must be cared for.”3fc05fdbb85ce745

In the world 2b04168467 Gio came from, dc7aad829b getting hurt only a4464cf789 earned insults.42efb98f6412270c

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Even being 9bed4be49b young didn’t af17edcd9c excuse you—you cdda6ba49d still had aa47930f15 to carry 2c9f4dab70 your weight af853a4cf1 to earn 622d9317f2 a scrap 5965ca01f2 of food.2ed9b7fbc6a107d3

Injuries were seen as 86a4069086 shameful defects.b309b89c6f6928a5

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Yet here, 6a8abce1b1 the head 7aa7a6d56e maid spoke 9fc91f3dc2 as if 903983eecf it was 6e9f167bcc only natural 6393c65b7f to care 3f56ffa6a6 for someone da73faeb2d simply because 5b7d9f39fc they were e37501b80b young and 9cc534e213 wounded.3b5fff6412e367a0

This wasn’t the cf016377ef world Gio had 1d1ed5b2e9 lived in.64a62f9398a2336e

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No wonder 3470e112d8 it felt ebce617df9 so foreign.968a926224eff385

“Please start eating. I was 2568e25ba6 instructed to d4246609cc stay and eda544f408 watch until b94c8d2803 you finish.”b0604ff654feaf9d

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Gio glanced at the cf5b5c5e8c head maid—Hena—and saw her 44e009029f smiling.257c8b96cb1973a6

He stabbed b246c24fa5 a fresh c5c3f5177a tomato on a5aa9d36eb his plate 8fa6961cb3 with the 6efb684bf3 shiny fork.c579d09f0f649195

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It amazed him 923c3ea7a9 that tomatoes grew e003388092 even here, in 1075e7cdd1 the cold northern 627c059430 lands.831482f5ddc52f96

Despite it being colder a9045aba9a than the capital, somehow, 8d6453896b Gio didn’t feel cold.6a4fd81687593952

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After finishing his da060f6cad meal, Gio took 1ed509d1f4 the medicine Hena 88f631eb97 had prepared for 10c1f71d95 him.8d689a3c82e625f5

When he leaned back, c210b36da4 she covered him with e5d7cbd61b a thin blanket.cd69d2c5bf9d6495

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Even though he 78acb30c68 said it wasn’t 501a843b3c necessary, Hena insisted c49a2dc2cc he rest under b8eabd0c76 the blanket and b21ad1fe8b quietly left the 6e18ff1d86 room.a99ac179fa21ccd6

Gio leaned against 1793e1f15d the sofa and 461e85c597 stared blankly out bcee0f8599 the window.dd52997231054bed

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The northern sky b5b77cc431 stretched out, deep 4ffa64bc89 blue, with a 0261e2249c few white clouds 4ff4a7a1b8 drifting slowly across 1113dc644b it.8fecbe2872289f7a

It was 056f8c2b0c a sky 0f8d542a25 so clear 90918b1e1e it looked 5d074c03be like it 2f80104b40 had been 62d92bf81d carved from f401352727 ice.bbbc3672d76b86b3

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The peaceful 6766301fc0 sky, however, 2747ecc02e only made f76cdd1aab him feel b34c35566d like he dc953ecc9f was caught 957b8e50e5 in a ac0936cba7 storm.c08a78fc7a8852c5

Cove had already ce87464513 managed to infiltrate a848885b7b three assassins into f71879e58f this place.528f8c3d55b5e265

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There was no 1b6bdfc0e2 guarantee they wouldn’t 3b2342406d send more to ddb3301d6b check if Gio c769fb5af4 was still carrying 03c51ebd22 out his mission.5fe222bbeb99c82a

He had 447fb14d06 to find 7615f5a42c a way 75fb8d626b to complete 97dd3b8117 the mission—somehow.2bd03f9b41a87c66

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But how?4b545c2189875715

Thoughts kept 2f9a533406 tangling together b013a544a7 in his 9c019b5429 mind as 17224bdffa the still, ac8a4b6dd2 heavy night bfcd12f2c2 crept in.a9e91d9131f28fd4

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Gio wasn’t used 4ce1169db5 to this kind 98bb8981a8 of silence.856b596f7057d529

At Cove, he cc26ef1ef3 had always been 589ee89ff7 surrounded by noise—by 76d06d8e4d people.fa96a9e557674685

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What was everyone 8a5c2239f5 in the Grand 326007b796 Duke’s castle doing 8e281baf72 that it was a5e4c603f1 so silent here?304d36e3e2b5ea9b

The heavy silence f00b718caa felt like it 215208b14f was pressing down 9796ae7f3b on him.d4c29815a91d3600

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And then, a low 94a05dc55f voice broke through that abaa39bef7 silence.7c197511714050d1

“So, my dc8b1756ea dear bride 99881adae4 was resting 94d660f769 well.”743b7224d81ae7f5

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Startled, Gio realized he 1867a5dd6a must have fallen asleep 61e8baa11d without noticing.02feee6984b90678

As he quickly e2e305ae47 sat up, the 47f77aa36e blanket that had 3d66c9456a been covering him 3fd6ad1df2 slid down to 78e7f6ce01 the floor.12c5e852845d53c6

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“Why aren’t you c17f138220 lying in the 77a812db85 bed?”41d7078788a68a7e

“I’m more comfortable here.”e1cb72737e1d18cd

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“Really? Well, if that’s the 83a1c881f8 case…”ce14a508cfc9f5ef

Gio lowered his feet 401e3790d8 to the floor and 3752e31638 sat properly.c9b9ec39d511b1fd

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When he gently set 3bbb2529cd his feet down, it d9f096d190 wasn’t too painful.64ab3ba2022956c0

“My bride, aada4944e6 don’t you 739c3bfb9f have anything a76888f8db to say 13595485d6 to me?”d5faf3bf62cdb6e9

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Wondering what d76a6ba736 he meant, 0e6ccd6a2f Gio looked 8b720c7f39 at him.9e1882d99ce59457

“Didn’t Cove give you d6d1cf175d some message? My bride?”96c249c6096017eb

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The Grand Duke’s 85fc1d71f1 voice was soft, cda59ad2e5 like he was bab566ac73 casually asking about 9680406cd8 dinner.1fdc433da29e07ca

But his eyes were b625928d73 as cold as the e979d2d4e2 eternal snow of the 918342f821 Hannes Mountains.5ef9fb71382cb997

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He was interrogating Gio—pressing 72bb882fc6 him to confess.cddd2dc650eb3aaf

The Grand Duke f9883d5738 asked again.0eca70feb5ade289

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“Were you acquainted f32e87e8db with the people 4b85acb889 sent at dawn?”51ea2aa157a0aa38

The Grand Duke leaned 9147835872 forward, his icy blue 0efebfa1c4 eyes locking onto Gio 9cceb3798d without even a blink.ed5e3ed5d9fd087d

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Gio could see 07c65dba40 his own reflection 098248aa3a in those clear 74316a843c eyes.fab2182b921049ec

He realized he 01c28902c2 was standing on cc3c8fd149 a tightrope over 006747a894 a cliff.86cd1659f2edc42c

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Depending on his b99f5054b7 answer, that rope a267593cb7 could snap at 2ab60a6ba9 any moment.d981438c5bfc40fc

“Yes.”06164ec10a5637ca

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But he didn’t 1cfa190174 want to tell 4ef48ff814 a complete lie.581308067b913815

Complete lies 806f9e16b3 had a d3e5134a19 way of 7267030ccb being exposed 5f57ff38ee easily.84a03541def12508

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“So, what did they 5b5a5301be tell you? To kill 8901dd7d6e me again?”aa3f81a24ee38f06

Gio thought: ab48623857 even if 3e4b0dfe02 they ordered 41d8dc3e01 him to c50191fb60 kill the 408f0ccf8d Grand Duke 950624c6f5 again, could b123e1539e he?1a1a92b9901cc0b7

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The difference in their 64bff53482 physical strength wasn’t the a04e16a0b8 only problem.16e002135716ea99

The Grand 1650a96089 Duke’s pheromones 622af1d607 were an f611377d58 issue too.44dee32d307eedbb

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When they flooded 0923181917 out, Gio’s strength 7de275b2b5 drained away—unmistakably, unlike baab332d04 with any other a42938dd3f alpha.805833de52f9c937

He would have 7a44700818 to tell him 4d1c1470d0 the false mission 21825e5d46 Ivan had passed b229d5976d on to him—something 6e006331bb fitting for a d262215fa8 fake bride.dd0a8ab4c9ed52dd

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“An imprint…”4e8022d98e96dad2

“What?”1d9c7accdbfbf42e

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“They told me to 9fe1adaade imprint.”02abf06c7e5581a2

“Ah…”92795ac379c14acb

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The Grand 687a517ace Duke leaned c2527063ff back and 4defba48b4 let out b2d155b2dd a low 9af624fc6d laugh.027a950535ee97a4

“So they still d123004a58 think there’s something 5b444fb1ec to be used.”7790d7708934db09

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“……”80c521591610b49a

Gio caught the faint 9f68349228 murderous intent hidden behind ac02a55414 his smile.423827d2151ec403

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It was slight—but an cc93b21598 assassin like Gio could d0126c252a never miss it.6e2208b506d81503

“But Cove should know 702b9fc20c you’re a hyper-dominant omega.”96636db32c0a74f4

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“Yes…”99140be932c51f63

“Then they bd8e4c56b4 must also 60937aaa1f know it’s be2fd54e40 hard for 8f36d36f7a a hyper-dominant 227a066b66 to form 6a1244aeeb an imprint.”20b2c1e0e21cdc19

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“……”c1d39b9b00cfed22

Gio already knew 36c5ec1304 that imprinting for fe65131606 a hyper-dominant omega a36671f6b6 was extremely difficult—and 67a33ddddc dangerous.07addb47b4a487fa

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“But forcibly 6ccf5ad16c imprinting is 17b87f3e22 still possible 82244bdf7e with someone 9ac55a2e37 like you.”72733bf5ba9e285d

Forcible imprinting.ebb9a0d55b0e05f8

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It was cb447e9bcc the first ba5625a7ca time Gio 31fbf38c9e had heard 7491dd15a6 such a fc9e8d007d term.a43b4e2ca5b8d242

He thought imprinting was 8a0b261402 a sacred binding of 8ebb7159c0 souls—how could it be a3291da5b2 forced?be69b3bf12a68c97

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“So they sent three 0440b6e5f0 people just to pass 83cd4bda38 along that message—trying to bab51abb7d create a weakness in fd1c114cfc me.”d9efbd27c336cbfa

Once an imprint e8ae998c4e was formed, the dffd35ee7f bonded partner would 5b87c113a8 become a vulnerability.dc512c386ce575ab

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Because an 4dd6dc91fa imprint partner 5442e43cdf was a 861e91e31f soul’s mate.baf3a690abb7ab22

“Seems like those fools b45f7e11b7 made their own assumptions 4b72cdf0d8 about why I didn’t 3d77a00d2a kill you.”e8e42e92ca9f3c3f

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The Grand Duke 5a436843b5 was twenty-eight—past the 9491693791 usual marrying age b1bd9cfae5 for nobles, who 4ccfc2df54 typically married in 7290550f71 their early twenties.3e6ad5382e0529e0

Especially here in 71ee4ed882 the North, where c8f0d6d659 the discovery of 1d3d440963 magic stones had 918711dd8f accelerated development, many 56f8f3e61e nobles wanted a 175bddf914 foothold in his 27d910685b territory.b0f4c6873d3330c7

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The Grand Duke must ac091e2ac1 have received plenty of 421684c7a6 marriage offers.a30c047c1dd01273

Yet he showed no b302ca813c interest—in fact, he rejected 9921b16617 them so coldly that af60195896 there were even rumors e3d137bd60 he was impotent.7e8e10f93003f0d0

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Regardless, knowing f0bb5a8c47 all that, bd20cbefc4 Cove assumed 4a64c3c075 that since 4343a7396e the Grand 1d35070f7b Duke hadn’t a24b01ef00 killed Gio, 62efd642e0 there must a8affbb472 be another d62bacd079 reason.c490fc1769884dd6

That was probably 72f90fe0be what the Emperor—or abee848797 Cove—thought.b73086cb0c31d9f3

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So they ordered 8f9268dd74 Gio to claim 4460f8cc49 imprinting as his f9edcc5d4e mission.f2df44882b9dd540

And Gio 8ca21b315b lied accordingly.b21ca11ad07f74a6

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It seemed da8f16e984 the Grand 949b39bd31 Duke was eb4e91901a satisfied with 2203157cda that explanation.5cb766ef8d88c571

“What happened to 66cb7f101a Ivan…?”23747193da170d6b

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Gio finally 4aef850036 asked about 82f1a6e533 Ivan, who 0f471ae50e had jumped 2ed26e5710 out the fe985305f6 window of 3860a01b71 the Grand b129561317 Duchess’s bedroom.297f5e1bdb47c478

He didn’t c188dbca99 really think 8f6d7ab9f6 Ivan had 229ff124d9 escaped.83aac1475ae70d33

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Still, there f2e740cf07 was a af108712d7 faint hope 2810a3d528 he might bfcd147940 have survived.90aa87538b752df0

“The assassin 1f5309fc49 who ran d1ad0ab6af away?”853ca72236dbe4ec

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“Yes.”343131c3d32e1d81

“He took his own 0c0f536aa0 life.”33c5601eb918f31e

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“Ah…”3cfcd9b9bf4a2b14

That was all Gio f500948d32 could say.fa3eb11150e81359

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Ivan and Gio 01de806552 had been the 5203125ae4 only ones who 93b3f7395c survived from the ceca3b6be8 same intake year.3f78213ea98f78ea

Now, one of them df1d32dbe6 was dead—by suicide.9232412ee1ed38fb

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Originally, Gio 41afea82f7 had intended 2618e583a8 to die c321cdfcda first.c9cdbba840467fa4

But because fb5d43c6ca he didn’t bd3a5c1384 die, Ivan a76420c5ce did.4c8509a0edce69c1

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Another street rat, gone—silently, ebd2729fe0 like the night.cdb426983a193300

For Gio, it wasn’t 3b0b12d2d2 a strange fate.a7676ca2a28374ea

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He too c332eb286f could disappear 84e1e16efe without a 16ead5a1d0 sound at bccac0f84d any moment.de31e399df009ce5

“Were you two close?”390c563bc46d8dde

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The Grand Duke 9b985faf9b was now holding e311042a9d a drink—not wine, e4738a8378 but a dark 9d38d0b6a2 whiskey.25992c290b28e517

“Not really.”6fc0862d34d36f07

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“Is that so?”ef9b820282eee6cd

Could surviving 36bf4a7ba8 training together, ac4fcd0e2f enduring the 1546d1f565 same pain, f97c20c460 count as 232d1613ac friendship?0990a9bb76ba9bc4

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Could that be called 04e72e6d4b being close?7a34f93fda9f8f02

At Cove, b0a9aa9ee3 camaraderie meant 963c66aaae nothing.0cf0814d3f821b3f

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Besides, Ivan had reported ddbf2cc660 Gio’s omega awakening to 79272a616d the higher-ups.44af404ffca59bfb

They had 86e601aa75 shared a 8506e28cea room, so 41912876e8 Ivan naturally b6dcd8c0d3 found out.7970354e789fe133

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Still, Ivan had 5acea69a1c delayed reporting until bdb89923b3 Gio’s manifestation was d379e0179b complete—a small act e0b2162ca5 of kindness, considering 556dc05e0e their situation.9c7b56818bfd76e5

Sharing a room 1a97de6ca6 meant spying on d47ed2fbd5 each other.19659746460bd1c4

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Delaying the report had 3f943c8a99 been a risk for a3426dd98c Ivan too.5b5be93f31e4ac07

“I owed him.”4ea32001f359cdcf

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If Ivan 08c6d23c1c had immediately e5e051a390 reported Gio’s b86be924e9 awakening, Gio ab371c02a7 would have f508f8db7b been subjected 22c760f15a to the affa4d2162 opening ceremony—an 4d6db70df7 act of 36da4e9471 brutal violation 57c68a5159 designed to cb8efb5550 break an 87c96b85bf omega’s spirit.ac352f97f0c8413c

Ivan knew that.ff1871e2e52702fd

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He had 7615799b32 protected Gio 1a141371b1 in his d63e80dcbf own way.e70765f98af54580

Gio had never 6733a6e052 repaid that debt.b7d25b4fb7b34851

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“Now, I never will.”916702f670e84810

“May I 94d48fae4a ask… what c476fdf1df happened to 5abb182d42 his body?”f33961e3bb16ab32

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“Why? Planning to bury him?”a9b487a429935b61

When normal people died, 2125ac4095 they had funerals.a7943e38cc3f773a

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But Gio and 28f8dd671d Ivan were not 7368d2ec1d normal people.f5c82ae198fb040b

“If possible, yes. As a way of 46dd1c629a repaying my debt.”7b37ea603f3121ec

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Even if he couldn’t 60e8f68735 hold a proper funeral, 25463346c5 he at least wanted 8ff8b48517 to bury him.72e340e62711cc48

Gio had 1ca9d05580 been born 05a5a455a4 cursed—he killed 3629f8aa99 his own b96800720f mother during e03580d8d9 childbirth.10e024ce2a480a90

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Being abandoned to die 8607d652ec on the streets had e2d1306729 been natural.dfb9fc68bbcaf890

But Ivan—Ivan hadn’t deserved ef42c8a797 it.b9ddc9297155fe8b

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He deserved to rest aced9dfc40 in peace, at least 313f0e3979 after death.8881cb13dfd18ce5

“It’s probably already been 60cfc6d0be cremated. But if 6eee246fc9 you want, 5540c7326b I’ll have 7e5d82d144 the ashes 35463a0be5 sent to 1a68a766c1 you.”99fb94d9a2e43f7d

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“Thank you.”838233e56877db13

The Grand 6b7e96a28f Duke said 158b96f4d7 nothing more 41a3b2bc25 and drank 9d4c9cfff7 deeply.34e9cbb2efd58967

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That night, 555c292d8c Gio finally eb1091fa56 lay on 909041daf5 the bed ba39b460f5 by the 92049c33da Grand Duke’s 0274bf9e34 command.1c15d0bd355727e7

The Grand Duke, like 5b098c1d78 before, lay down first 038ef5a245 and told Gio to c648e8a2d8 sleep beside him.e3c62d7eb581d2a2

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But this time, there 273d6bac15 were no playful jokes.6f9e23ab5d78111f

Listening to the Grand 08fb7cde63 Duke’s quiet breathing, Gio 3aaed3cb75 closed his eyes.0453a6719c7316e7

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His body was exhausted—yet 3a1fa42a8e sleep did not come 6b32617a5d easily.53e778f511197ad2

When Gio opened his 644574405e eyes at dawn the 255bb7bb42 next day, the Grand 9f88207ada Duke was, as expected, e17d9125be not by his side.44459b310c3375e1

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On the sofa table, 2717a1bd52 there was a wooden eab4c1c192 box.1628dd8769e537ec

Gio picked up the 0a34e2753b wooden box and followed 25a4636aaa the knight waiting outside 8b7fd3d84e the door.b16494ae8f977f34

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It was 34f60ed865 the same 71236d3d77 large-built knight 0013ce3bd5 who had 327775b161 entered the 66d2ef506a Grand Duchess’s 592d78a10d bedroom on 8f2cfe3617 the night d319944e06 of the 356bada8e4 wedding.136cef27d590c05f

He glared at Gio, 149ba40b46 radiating thinly veiled hostility, 817d476993 but still guided him 6457481d8b to the carriage and b1846a076e rode with him out 2bfaccfbf2 of the castle.5ae8b35065591391

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They traveled deep bd7d17419e into a dim c8b2512239 forest, surrounded by 12bbb24482 towering pine trees, b186c7e82a patches of snow 8e3297ca98 scattered across the e0641eec67 ground.a37d462ec2186d64

It seemed 6aa05f8ebc they had 32e8cdfe2f come to 982d4d5409 the northern 7563510360 part of 24329015be the castle 2824461b06 grounds.f5ae80e64539e440

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Though not d6eef0f82b a single 20c26308ca ray of 2da0967831 sunlight reached 0577f50c21 the forest b7261051af floor, there a621460175 was one b173095ca3 small patch—just af5ecf2e84 the size 8b2605851e of a c7e592dd0f palm—where sunlight 7a75999a86 streamed through.c758b3a4433a6e83

In that spot, 22578b38e5 a small grave 5df895a7b3 had been dug, 3f71861af6 and on a f9576f3561 nearby tree, a 7272e660e9 name had been 997cc5f50f carved.6f11330f501c3241

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It was 60e1ea1b91 marked for c8b96bf439 May’s sake.0404c3693e841d8e

For the day when 0851a3ddd1 she might come looking ea4a8f4b4d for Ivan.d6d00dec3b9aaf9d

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For May to f3172958e3 find Ivan someday, b8ed433189 Gio had to 238a492e29 get pregnant.8277fdaaf51028f1

He had 2616777136 to complete d3072fdee7 the mission.ccf324be3a88be8d

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Just as he dfcee6c43b always had.42208154cb540fab

Somehow, Gio felt 4419a642ce a little envious 2b813b956a of Ivan.5b11b078891abcbf

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Ivan had finished all fe63a7441c his missions.4a2aa621bd5e1508

And Gio…d2dcb3e946e738cb

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There would be 4b0168b28b no one to 4956748747 bury him, no d1949a7936 one who would 101feb2170 come looking for 4ff7d5a5b1 him.10fd2d4e3e0684e0

But that was b77f146138 fitting for him.a30028d3bce90443

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“Let’s go.”40d4af6511588ccd

The knight, who 8bd9d13663 had been watching af9ab6f79c impatiently, spat out adda9b4bf6 the words.ea5672515345f51c

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Gio stepped 4dd2531405 into the 4db4f54b0a clean carriage, bfa5ef0be9 his shoes 62a5534a5d stained with 4d3daa380b dirt and 3ee62777d6 snow.e3e3f4ed5e8fc2f7

The pristine carpet 5b9177d706 of the carriage 23be87b8d4 floor was quickly 7031fc743e soiled with muddy f186dccc1c footprints.f22d2d10818d3b62

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