#53

Despite Zerakiel’s af28071fd9 lack of ae47588c2f response, Victor 335416024b maintained his 897f3aebd8 easygoing smile. It was widely 4df9ac6be2 expected that Victor 4a056b3b19 would become the be64c990b9 next chief physician bbc72aedae of the Jabis 9e731d1b76 family, given his 76470f3f76 exceptional talent in 577e16b88a medicine. Duke had f59e6746ff marked him 02ce15d301 as his 70fff83880 successor long 5ebef02669 ago, particularly 88936470b6 since Victor 777eacf0e4 had been 5659a4e4fa personally responsible b689e24d4d for Zerakiel’s c1bbbb329d care from 034a622d78 a young 3add76ab78 age. It was practically a dcef2bf1b0 foregone conclusion.d3f2786f0cbf4d72

Victor was also b5a22dca19 well accustomed to bf7487dfdc Zerakiel’s cold demeanor. Zerakiel had always 4d5f13e3ac been distant, particularly bf73ee3d98 toward the Orban fa52bb4b8b family, so the 758e51be88 fact that he 9be1f7e486 wasn’t outright ignoring 121cb769ee him was, in ac6d4b1df2 itself, a small 4c5d8d693e victory. But then 06116e7eb6 Zerakiel spoke, 59a131f31e as if 40676a4dc1 drawing a fc14e18127 clear line a19cda2579 between them.0ac3beb2ac49023a

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“No need to 31eb92ca91 visit. I don’t need 74cebc6035 you yet.”98c22beb77ffb979

“Ah, haha. I see.”2b52cd5eed84afd9

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Victor laughed awkwardly. Zerakiel’s words implied c86e89c383 that his madness b2ba7c44d0 had not yet f4d8dd200d surfaced, so there 5c8684002e was no reason 4bb9501b37 to interact with c3c1c38414 the Orban family. The Orban 2fc7847cd7 family, being 9209c31b8a a branch 221540a3a8 of the e220ea5b62 Jabis family, 5293b43dad specialized in 7dc0681ce4 dealing with 18706b07d7 the madness f6d527be38 that plagued 6916678cfe their lineage. Frequent visits 9c5c03f8cf from them 2ddb72fc49 often meant 97c34a61ee that the 85efc80af6 direct lineage d269304a6a was on 750f2d0c37 the brink 7c7e629a64 of death, 8c30604eed hence Zerakiel’s e4f4ea9870 dismissive remark.c7aaf0ccb880619f

At that moment, d37be7f9b2 Zakari muttered with 5bf7e7da63 a displeased expression, 5e7aa02f20 his gaze fixed 52f5326192 on the direction 8fc7fdc4be Zerakiel had come 7df3b665ea from.349ba79e1e70452f

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“So, you went cb60650862 to Cersia’s room 8d8fc8b539 again, even at 8866507022 this late hour.”4c729eb63e2f9ef9

“All thanks to you, 0d2cf2a27f Father. It’s because of your 8fb7414b24 considerate arrangement.”7e39dbbd1be12330

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“Anyone would bf57ce0074 think you’re 96c307827b already losing 3d06860475 your mind, 74057c02df with how db81025efd obsessed you 6040835e9f are. If you keep 7ff349d03a it up, she’ll 6ee7794b51 grow tired and 41ab66a713 run away.”6915ba1e07668fb9

“Thank you for 18379fff4e sharing your personal c3bc13d765 experience, Father.”a72115cb5920bba7

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“…”5490a9c480a7bea7

Zakari was momentarily at 5074000ea9 a loss for words, 39e9e4d860 his mouth opening and 0e0ecfc332 closing as if searching 87baae675e for a response. The exchange was afe1595d12 a typical father-son dfec07c274 banter for the 1c20d3c40f Jabis family, sharp-tongued 502b344f8e yet oddly intimate.5ee0e5b0f15abc69

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Zakari cleared 2692498234 his throat 5d7d960bca and said.e5aa161bf09e7d4b

“I was actually bd66073e7e on my way acc5cd8539 to find you.”7da14877ca57cb86

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“At this hour?”1ae6bfb21fd0737c

“Yes. Victor has finally 286a17e4fb discovered a way 64fc8dc52a to cultivate the 0e04efa501 antidote herb that 64bd8a3a78 can suppress the 221743b264 madness.”fea2a3692d4f4ccf

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Zerakiel’s eyes widened at 110464ca40 the mention of the e39b04031f antidote herb. The very reason 68601c1916 Victor had been 8184efbe5b sent to the 71693d54ee border was to 71fcbc4965 find this herb, 8277ffff1a which could suppress e7b0bce7a0 the pheromones that c2493f732a drove the Jabis 779c0ee5cc family mad. The herb had f3c536eead once been easy a5f915d994 to obtain, but 306ab41189 it had become 34c9f20d39 increasingly scarce over daf593e1b9 time. Victor’s discovery 5402cc214a was a 76bbaf72ef glimmer of 69271ec12f hope.1f54cfd44a0abb8d

“If we succeed 0fa1a1962e in cultivating it, 12738529a4 when you become b69862488c the head of 329c3c5837 the family, we’ll 28a38ba4c7 be able to 44140cb49a safely produce the 538b567e03 medication needed to 4444c02b14 keep the madness 1989f90ce7 at bay. Perhaps, we might c9cd4276d1 even develop a 3f734c4786 cure.”fc13b8ddd97da6c3

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Zakari’s words e6dd21439a were filled f1c8ffbe30 with optimism, a49eea52be as if 7a3c800beb he were 2375a76b9b discussing someone 5accf59574 else’s illness.ecfa25c220ad2580

Zerakiel, irritated aaf5837142 by his 18745e6dd8 father’s detachment, 55c6fad10c retorted sharply, c00ee6237b “It could 25cb3ce046 succeed during 7c190dddaa your time, 1c9dbb8364 too.”c89badf037380670

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“I’m already 527b2b84e1 too late.”d0fa07c4e3069ee5

Zakari cut him b70660fcc4 off decisively, drawing 4d5bb41e70 a clear line. He had already resigned d7d3d84168 himself to his fate.92aee7cbf91850a2

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“I’ve already reached 26d744ca7e the third stage. The life-sustaining treatment 8874e142c2 is only effective b024b4e355 up to the 41e8bfe8fc second stage.”0fc5039cfd8f75e8

Zakari was right. Once the 63dc221449 symptoms of 94f5beda99 forgetfulness had e95e6a9960 set in, 69be679872 it was cd1172a2f0 too late c69987b84b for treatment 8bd497c55a to be 8f554bde35 effective. The treatment only 320d9ad8a6 worked up to 472580994a the second stage, ea8d3651dc when the symptoms a0e55bd845 could still be ae39fa1084 somewhat controlled.343faf8c4c5743b6

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Zakari’s predecessor had aebea9ddac also extended his a713b48cd7 life using the b94a32c2d3 antidote herb, but 91fadf5766 it came with 3548289581 the side effect 56e1c17c2d of intensifying his cf3e3e046e obsession. The former 5234b7da07 head of 1ce4ea0f3e the Jabis 62beb814a2 family grew 0b3d1e565e increasingly obsessed, 65c6750c25 which took 4c82e03071 a toll 994f55e5b6 on Zakari’s cefa987a6a mother, who 7a09c1a26f eventually succumbed 7ae2fd3521 to a 04ec8ceb5f mysterious illness. Grieving over the a4f10e2b68 loss of his 803638b500 wife, the previous d84f78e62b head took his 53ec2a162c own life, even ba23bd7231 though he still dc118480d6 had many years f5ecdda538 left to live—a 9ac65eb966 tragic and miserable 69e890fb30 death, much like 370f5a45f3 that of all 9f3d05fddd the Jabis heads 688a28e4b5 before him.5d9de36777aaa377

“I will do 62204c5521 everything I can 71535e8ff5 to find a af4bf937a2 solution before I e5fd5fe26b step down.”d37c4ca1ef432ade

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“It’s a waste d8549b523f of time. If it were so 7fd6d40ec7 easily solved, we wouldn’t 5cfe00dd91 have reached this point.”5b9b353bbeb542b6

“Zerakiel.”bd503d371c46b792

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“I’m saying don’t waste 8738c165ac your efforts.”9685ee8b925c60c1

With that, 610884fd56 Zerakiel bowed 5806251ec7 briefly and 85944cc7b7 left. He was ae3c098da8 resentful of d36efb9906 his father 616ac01f29 for speaking 279333b521 as if 868450b6b7 his own 62d62bbd2c death was caf8533d5f already a b2667883d1 foregone conclusion.1872b35a530df91b

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Zakari watched 7a60e5917c his son fc95c007db walk away 90136d2d61 and let a3f0fb3c46 out a 410a7f0678 deep sigh. He knew his 90702c47eb harsh words hurt 94346461a7 his son, yet 69e0e6ca62 he felt compelled 21390b9442 to say them 77c69f50b3 anyway.74252eb1bddbe0a7

“We must hurry. We need 1b8c0c6312 to find 8020de404e a solution 2fbafb32f1 before he 8775fd16d8 reaches full e00ad6cc0d maturity.”571972c2677280af

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“Yes, Lord Zakari,”99bc5d5b9b518b25

Victor responded ac1263c723 with heavy 4c7aef6da2 heart, accepting 952a069800 the orders.6eed2993f690e56a

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* * *9c70ffb02a59e8d7

The next day, a397b91d20 as Zakari returned de45d1dd29 from his external 5f111d4026 duties, he abruptly 323b313bb3 stopped in his 2764626829 tracks, hearing cheerful d077f7e702 voices coming from 13ca66108e somewhere nearby. He paused, listening e0798a52a9 intently to the ac1842657e direction of the 88515a7d2c sound, and Herman, 9c2ccdcb4f standing beside him, e1873c1e24 spoke up.41ece1c067ef8bd8

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“It seems Lady Rachel and Lady Cersia are enjoying some tea. I’ve heard they’ve been spending quite a bit of time together lately, preparing for the wedding.”65f9cbf753350e72

“Hmm.”e624bcd8bea2443f

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“They seem to be in high spirits. Perhaps you should join them?”136249f98354d9a2

“Do I need to?”cf72d4fe96238632

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“Your external duties are done for the day, aren’t they? You have time for a cup of tea.”0223cc2b274b3171

Zakari nodded begrudgingly, as if reluctantly agreeing to Herman’s suggestion, though he had been hoping for the invitation all along. As they drew closer to the source of the voices, the conversation became clearer.85b47a743ef318a1

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“So, Mother, is there anyone here that catches your eye?”db1fc48867ab8461

“Hmm, I prefer a sleek male. Maybe someone with a bit of size, like this one?”61e6fa80b7e5aefe

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The content of the conversation seemed oddly strange. There was a seriousness in their hushed tones that piqued Zakari’s curiosity.410d10938f4d287d

“If that’s the case, how about the Black Mamba clan?”2c651bb84ce8786a

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“Do you think I’d marry a natural predator? I’d be too tempted to eat him if he was around.”6686095db11fef58

“Then how about the Hyena clan? They’re from a branch family, but they’d make a perfect husband, don’t you think?”f087821618b4fe7e

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“Oh no, not them. I nearly wiped out their line before; the son has a fit every time he sees me. Even if I did remarry, he’d throw a tantrum and refuse to be a husband.”f265a8c8cc4c6a98

“What kind of life have you led, Mother?”a6e68137e5b8fb6a

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Zakari’s face hardened as he finally understood the nature of their conversation. What on earth were they talking about?12879ad155bf3855

Who was remarrying?9efc4ceb34777309

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Zakari couldn’t believe his ears, his lips moving soundlessly in shock. Herman, too, was left with his mouth agape, watching Zakari’s reaction with trepidation.71cb59dbacb2c0c4

They stood e324103e49 there, frozen 0e35148f51 like statues, dfc7c4d1d8 until Cersia 7c08798c33 finally noticed 654fb28d0f them.3ad31da0caf9db38

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“Oh, Mr. Zakari? When did you get here?”e705df1bd000097c

Cersia greeted him, all smiles as she referred to Rachel as “Mother,” but her tone was markedly colder when addressing him. Zakari, however, was too preoccupied to care about the formalities. His eyes were fixed on Rachel, who had her back to him.b566f85717761b51

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Rachel reluctantly turned around, her expression sullen as she met Zakari’s gaze.07b50977b5ea1f89

“Why are you eavesdropping on other people’s conversations?”96560f2470243819

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“It was hardly eavesdropping when it was so loud.”676e4ef40ffe3a2f

Zakari instinctively retorted, then pressed his lips together tightly. Rachel showed no sign of embarrassment, despite having been caught discussing her remarriage in front of her ex-husband. Her calm demeanor only grated on Zakari’s nerves further.7b8bb82fcff71b71

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But Rachel f7193da08c seemed completely fab3600f64 unconcerned about 93b805eadb his feelings.657e4d1b5b1d3599

“Well, since you’re here, why don’t you help me choose? Which one do you think is best?”4aad36003a81e5be

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She casually 961ff0b3fa gestured for b7fb30e0a6 Zakari to 4988dfc0b6 sit down. As he 7685ec0dd9 took a 4951bb35ae seat, somewhat 65635b6f3e dazed, his 446c5d3285 brow furrowed e1458894aa in confusion.9a2c9340bee689cc

“What is all this?”39f3fdf1260719d7

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The table was c797d3014c covered with portraits a5a836aca8 of various men, a3824455ae the tea and 33c84f96a3 snacks pushed aside cf5cb43615 to make room.247119b23c94051e

Seeing the evidence with f62cdfa954 his own eyes, Zakari 59ed5e6bb7 felt a surge of 2191546ea0 frustration. His gaze hardened.57f898e1c20eb5ce

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“Isn’t it obvious? These are the men I’m considering for matchmaking.”5c14a8806adb8b7f

“Matchmaking…?”81281e19eaee0c1c

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Zakari’s eyes narrowed 184c00bebc further, becoming dangerously ef44860f49 sharp. The more agitated he acf497c400 became, the broader Rachel’s 24a947139f smile grew.7455b084c7c8659a

“I’m in a hurry to remarry by the end of the year.”7d30b9df8a76091a

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“What…?”b7a93163ea7e3d80

“You had a conversation with Father, didn’t you? Why are you pretending you don’t know?”72cee5625ca0b761

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Rachel scoffed, 74191667ad and Zakari 677b79e14f hesitated. He suddenly dd58c00cf3 recalled his 6a3bcba1af conversation with 8228232766 Wilhelm, where 3976daa912 he had 6c33455016 emphasized—three times—that 676a127375 he had 2d056000c1 no intention f2b8cda470 of taking 4a2b3d015f his daughter ad96f98d8e back.ed729a0aa0610284

He had expected Wilhelm 5abdb1fbca to take some sort fbb88ea183 of action afterward, but bfb5302bcb he never imagined it d3a29b2755 would involve Rachel’s remarriage.d5964b636b9c5ad5

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Zakari, his c069a0a8c5 face stiff, 62f6391d8e asked again.7de4f6f199778dff

“Are you really asking me to choose your new husband?”8b3ea29e6918f429

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He looked as bd4f4203ff if he had ec9571f701 just heard something 41c6feb09c completely outrageous, utterly 414bc7458b shaken. He had 99b50f40c0 no idea c9ddbf2824 that this 9781356494 was exactly 36f6a5c8d0 the reaction aa7b06d7d4 Rachel had 1eae599806 been hoping 973f93407c for.e46b0b7d4b119ab5