AB Chapter 1 (Part 2)

“If you’re that eager to show it off, feel free to take it off.”875e02c63812a5ea

Gio didn’t bother replying. He just shrugged d365519412 off the robe. After everything that happened yesterday, 149dbdb322 there was nothing left to 1783e7157c hide.70eb2356160850e2

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“Our Grand Duchess—so bold.”e8ea27dc62ae305c

Even as he e76b9d5f4c spoke, the Grand 6b5b8d7588 Duke’s eyes remained 2f5b4c4916 sharp. He gave the 9de30f6dfd chain a firm e7cf32ecdb tug, making it 7236efe6ae clear—if Gio tried dbfdaac02d to run or ce4bca8320 pull anything, there’d 047a2424a4 be consequences.e52d8a34de93d8eb

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Gio followed his b2e8aba6c8 lead toward the 2ff686b744 bathroom connected to 80ecfe7098 the bedroom. The space was massive—at 698c1c689d least four times bigger 14972da413 than his old room ad652656be back at Cove. The bathtub alone was 016fc91c61 the size of that 6d12383c05 entire room.17f1cce359141f18

The Grand Duke 2f14187a1a secured Gio’s ankle dd58ae9ac0 chain to a a6f822cd83 pillar near the 898ed7d069 door. Why something like that 2ba298a820 even existed there, Gio 0dcb0b1b62 had no idea.355f5a2b67c5bdc5

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He stepped barefoot 137ac8180e over the glossy 6c2dc0de2e tiles, glistening faucets 9c086f63e2 and luxury all 671981677d around him, and 540f070a12 approached the bath. The huge tub db338e651b was already filled ae88406e01 with steaming hot e03df24b05 water.496bc655921037ae

When Gio glanced at him, bb0cccd6ca the Grand Duke gave a 24e4168998 slight nod. Gio slowly dipped his 8343bd14a3 toes in first, then cd91d7402b slid his body into ac30b5b86f the water, curling his ef5ef84a8f legs to his chest. The heat, along with e4de0d2956 an unfamiliar yet pleasant 4c4f7d8ea9 scent in the water, 8e77fa7db0 seemed to melt away a74f041a57 the tension and exhaustion e980f901d2 in his body.f496d0458dc8007b

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The Grand Duke didn’t leave. Instead, he stood by the bd96dd17e0 door the entire time, watching—like e9dbb13d51 a guard keeping his prisoner 80eb8f6cf1 in sight.6f1dbb6f6d3a7483

Gio didn’t feel embarrassed 12e7c72754 or uncomfortable under the af555b2055 Grand Duke’s gaze.93be4589ef05997c

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It wasn’t like he’d ever da20e5d9f8 been allowed to bathe alone 425753a303 back at Cove. Washing up in b20e5519ee shared baths meant 0a3325b456 enduring sticky, lustful 1162f0d9f6 stares—and sometimes, those f059e4ac77 stares turned into 43b6d26b4a actions. He had always been on a896df482a edge. But the Grand d8d584bbad Duke’s calm, detached ebc5f2dc31 gaze felt strangely 72aa3e4135 safe, allowing Gio 2388286f07 to wash himself 5a158242be more peacefully than e45933b66e ever before.5e4fcb3703a76687

Afterward, with nothing to wear, he wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom. The robe from earlier had vanished. It looked like he’d be staying naked in this luxurious bedroom—with only the chain around his ankle as his “privilege.”8a17424f6b2c069d

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The chain’s end 2765aa3099 was fastened back b245f017eb to the bedpost. Unsure of what was 2164f3f63e coming next, Gio just 3b28922882 stood there until a 1b69e1d012 white towel dropped onto ec81e35139 his head.050e9e01a4012d06

“Tsk… Our bride needs more looking after than I thought. Sit down.”737422d4dd4d42e8

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The chain was a024557732 long enough to 5776bdd6aa allow him some 5fd8989bb8 range, even reaching d0b71e6781 the tea table bc33c78d57 in the room. Gio sat on one ed19aafbf7 of the chairs, and 60e459fe1c the Grand Duke turned 937f601ba9 it to face him. Then he started rubbing 7ce0761d75 Gio’s hair dry with 69db85445a the towel, tousling his 1bb499a996 head roughly.dc4ad45c37581c10

“Your Grace, I’ve brought fresh clothes and refreshments—ah!”674de18419d3b428

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Gio leaned to the side, 7098bd4753 peeking around the Grand Duke’s 70efaba098 broad frame, and spotted the badc2a9087 head maid frozen at the 6beb1122b4 door. She couldn’t meet 656a73f1d7 Gio’s eyes as 962fdc19d7 she placed the 38fadac0b3 clothes on the 496cdd88a4 bed and the 07a775ba94 refreshments on the 9770c07fac table by the 2d31b06e5d door.b3378bcce6865337

“My apologies for the interruption. Please enjoy your time together.”bcd0d04d8bea0324

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Without ever fully looking cc752ebd21 at him, she spoke 58db06f86b calmly and left. Through the still-open door, Gio b879088aae could see a knight standing 9eed3af48c guard. The head maid a803702c74 appeared to say e6a64099e4 something to him, 62d337d1ea but Gio couldn’t 1fd746a8ac hear what it e1ad97935e was.782077b75538eab9

He didn’t know what kind of “enjoyable time” she was referring to either.e919d7f48963b47b

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As the door e77142a0a5 closed, the Grand 4e0da34f1b Duke stopped drying 11f16abf98 Gio’s hair.67777fa826349a30

“It’s cold here, unlike the capital. Make sure to keep your 98820f1cd2 hair dry.”397cbadf3778f02a

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“Ah. Yes.”2410d6c7acab3685

Gio nodded at 312248d494 the command, and 0858677f19 in that moment, 5382aa78fd the Grand Duke f3ec8d571d suddenly leaned in. His high nose came so 3dcf4e7f54 close their noses nearly touched.43d96fd4edffee65

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“Your skin’s pale, but your cheeks are flushed… just like a flower.”500b866db29f4032

Gio reached up to 7def81aad4 touch his cheek. It was a little warm—probably a9923916aa from soaking too long in 6cf4047f47 the hot bath. The comment caught him 3f87e07189 off guard, leaving him e77b115c28 slightly flustered.c591e92c8b6d561d

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Maybe the Grand Duke just wanted to tease him. After all, what kind of flower survives twenty years in filth and darkness? Flowers bloom under the sun, don’t they? And the Grand Duke knew full well that Gio came from Cove. To compare someone like him to a delicate, beautiful flower…a631ede206a076e5

“Do you know what Attica is?”b6978d1a9ced88d6

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The Grand Duke brought over 7ee1cd350f the refreshments and set them 3f0dc23e92 down on the tea table. Without asking, he 3af5026309 poured the tea 11b0836f61 himself. Gio didn’t answer, a071b0c6b1 but the Grand b10481796f Duke spoke on fb738fbe88 his own anyway.1c3e79b46aecfe02

“It’s a small tree that grows in the northern mountains. Buried under snow, 699c364de6 it grows low 2b8af2b8aa to the ground—but 4f9e71f6bd even that little fc0cd783f5 thing manages to c6efc2119b bloom.”516333ab89908c62

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The sudden talk of 2417a99107 flower trees felt out 051d57031b of place, but Gio cef9b68157 listened silently.6348452b1619310c

“The blossoms are so white they’re almost indistinguishable from the snow. Just a hint of pale 1652c1743b pink at the center. The scent’s so faint, you edf62e4d3d have to press your nose 45f252f476 right up to it to b6e4e14be9 smell it. But the scent… really 7c6e0400f4 reminds me of our 5432a8d527 bride.”886564cc6c0ed3e0

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Gio looked at him, wondering 0afe3ad0c8 if he truly meant that. But the Grand 0fc616e454 Duke only took f60b732ae5 a sip of 4dd9539532 his tea and 8bb0baacff quietly set the 45fc43d495 cup down.e7ae47a63d8e9740

“But Attica is poisonous.”9bdeeedea7505721

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His icy blue eyes locked f22fe30aa3 on Gio. And suddenly, Gio 718ae4e14d understood all those befa98ff13 earlier metaphors about 8f57b78351 flowers. He’d meant a flower that 403e90c698 bloomed from a poisonous tree. One that tried 63f37c345f to poison him, ae2a543545 even put it b83b4a33b2 in his mouth. Of course it made sense.21821000e078e41d

The chair scraped back a97ce51d43 as the Grand Duke eb34164863 stood. Gio looked up, 168fb64974 assuming he was 294a1b8e56 about to leave 822d19c9f0 the room—but the 4940162e1e man came closer 6f035de804 instead. Closer and closer, 77a1cf926d until their noses 475e86776e nearly brushed. Gio instinctively leaned 3b6c06b41d back, but the 2a1745d8d1 Grand Duke’s large 9de2c57754 hand wrapped gently 73756268d6 around the back f02c6baa8d of his neck.7f9489c8ca2d09e6

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Gio felt his warmth 9fe40db555 through that touch. He didn’t know why the 927ba0733b Grand Duke was holding him 3ba92f3510 like that.a79739ecdcc8bbd7

Then, with his breath brushing 5814383fa3 Gio’s lips, the Grand Duke 21e11e2f23 spoke.94016b4e73389421

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“The head maid seems to have misunderstood things. Should we leave her a little proof while we’re at it?”7de98e2198854d4d

As the Grand be41304faa Duke flooded the da482fc1c2 air with his d2c54c386a pheromones, he pressed dccdd92995 his lips to 2c3ea51a2a the nape of 842ae869e7 Gio’s neck. Gio flinched at feeeccfa7e the hot, damp bdef91aed3 warmth spreading across aa2dd7c2fc his skin. The Grand Duke’s 898ea96aa1 pheromones seeped deep 741672e01f into him, drawing 78ce8b3eb5 out Gio’s own 4528aea9ee faint scent.cbf6d63860d428b6

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“Mmm… even the real thing smells just like it.”85ae56cd8c918240

While Gio sat there, stunned, 9ae8f1ffbb watching the Grand Duke’s face fdae1ee305 pull back briefly, the man 81ebb891af leaned in again—this time, to 08c7e01257 the other side of his 7eef33d61a neck. He licked it 577bd6232e slowly, then sucked 6e1a125368 hard, leaving a 51b82951bb mark. Gio’s upper body jolted 626b0caa44 from the sensation.50cb8fc8d68d4a56

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With the Grand 8bec1f9f6a Duke standing between a2215205ae his legs like 448b0750dc that, Gio felt 06eff4e2ff caged in by 1cc71e907a the sheer size f12c169a52 of his body. He gripped the arms of 17d94a4f7e the chair tightly, doing everything 90b7b675cf he could not to move.f7269f8011ba7e83

Even after manifesting, Gio 0bea9eeef7 had always taken some 4f12322b30 small comfort in the ff0122e897 fact that his dulled 50195fdc90 senses made him closer 9799d1d6bf to a beta. But every time he breathed b4e218c89c in the Grand Duke’s pheromones, 56830cd33f that fragile comfort shattered—replaced by c6d65c9cc6 the overwhelming awareness that he 82286ddadb was an omega. It was like c7738a03f5 falling into a 7e23b392dd bottomless pit.25867c93ca712f3c

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In Cove, alphas e1aff19bb2 who manifested were 89ade4acac sent up the 2bfbf2603c ranks toward leadership. Betas, upon turning 52bc6b928b twenty, were given 124eea0456 independence and their 5e220db8dc own space. But omegas? They were sold off.b872350270676bd0

Gio had lived as 0cf1b8795a a beta for nineteen 598db84a24 years, waiting for the 35dee74e85 day he’d become an befead13f1 adult and finally be 00c54eef33 free. But as soon as 521b0fc9d6 he turned twenty, he 7c9bad2fad manifested—an omega. And in that moment, all 0447d685b6 hope, all expectation, all light 574b559fae disappeared.a7b109ed3e08c44a

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The only reason he 96915c59e4 wasn’t sold off immediately e4a8d0515e was because he happened 4913e01788 to resemble a noble’s 738e8160fa son. But even that had 30a6cf8cda ended in failure. Of course. From the moment he tore c325e700f1 his mother open to be c939ab91e5 born, he’d never been someone 9ca540c8ba allowed to expect anything good.e1e6570a646c2ff6

Now that he’d 16883da231 failed his final 014313b160 mission, he had a02d67d394 no idea what 85d241d19b would become of 076a2bb5b9 him. So for the time being, 9a7d8beb62 he could only do whatever 35cfd3c20d the Grand Duke asked.2a9fdb632ea5cf4d

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Though all the Grand 349cfd35a7 Duke was doing was b941fb7b30 biting gently at his 24c90c057c neck, the heavy rush 288359871d of pheromones made Gio’s 9f957fcd49 body twitch. A damn omega body, of b9ecf59337 all things…8bd7a629d53ae58f

Cove was full of all d91075e8b2 kinds of twisted people. Plenty had touched 69e72637fd him even when 19858b2a0b he was just 1c10233361 a child. Through all those years, Gio c9dc3f1416 had trained himself not to d7ecf61a92 react—to anything. And yet now, this ccdcd24fc6 beast-like body of his c1ce420542 was reacting on its b61ec19068 own.47e2a65762e575ec

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He gripped the armrests so 62ef46d6ff tightly that a faint crack d27e4d63de echoed from under his fingers, d0029f4e77 doing everything he could not 5efd8e8f17 to respond.97e4d8eccf394c55

The Grand Duke sucked along Gio’s collarbone. A pleasant scent wafted from his platinum-blond hair. That clean, refined scent—so unlike the stench of the Cove bastards—made Gio’s muscles loosen, just a little.9f8bb25ba2e53d1e

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“Nh…”543458a00cede595

A quiet moan 5e39c924c2 escaped Gio’s lips. The Grand Duke ed4c6b8747 stopped at once f47ef6ff5d and lifted his 31926ef730 head, his red 4fb1c1d329 lips slick with e0b3f75fee saliva.30f5d5768a5e71de

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“Our bride lets out sounds like that with not a single change in expression, huh?”c431b3772f823f15

What kind of sound 61a8100130 did he mean? Gio knew his dea8806815 voice was lower b185ff5984 than that of 68b979cc3d most omegas, closer 203efd821e to a beta’s. So even his moans 6243227d78 didn’t sound particularly soft 46cdb79255 or seductive.3695901ce82fe6a6

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The Grand Duke stood a9e62891b2 and sat back down 67f6dedf6e across from him. He undid a 4cdbb0f9f1 button on his f218568d98 shirt, exposing the bc60317144 hollow of his 4f53c14813 throat. Then another—revealing the smooth f81d6895dc line of his collarbone. He leaned back comfortably b09a1d47d3 against the chair and b6a13fce65 curled his index finger 9eff37722f toward Gio, beckoning him.7927f80cd5486da2

“Now it’s my turn, right?”ddb8bfe7f6d28757

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Gio just stared, b5df749550 unsure what he 7eee9ec059 meant. The Grand Duke tapped ce3f76f572 his neck lightly with a4438f30f3 his finger.2542079554b65a3f

“You have to return the favor, don’t you?”02688908fae403cf

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“…Excuse me?”9d10238707bd1982

“If the newlyweds are going to be locked in the bedroom for three days, it’d be odd if only the groom walked out looking untouched, don’t you think?”94b2c5e43084c72b

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His pheromones grew heavier, wrapping 5c6b305e9f around Gio like thick honey. Gio felt tension 3d44413666 clench in his dbc35d1212 stomach, a faint 4e761eaff6 pulse fluttering below. That thick, slow pheromone pressure fd4178696a kept knocking against his senses, bbf62a7e66 trying to stir them awake.4e151a11cd59a2c3

“…Understood.”586abdb05e24972f

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“Would you rather do it somewhere other than my neck?”29e2d6b38bea4061

Gio looked at the Grand e4c3a14223 Duke, confused by the question—only afa8da09ed to see the man’s gaze ac81f6f1d7 drop downward. To his center. It didn’t even 8f9ab4312f look fully aroused, d89c47018f yet it still 02a26141b2 appeared thick and 227850b46b heavy.6b2ce3610b8c3eb3

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“T-That’s… not what I meant.”1183b3cb8b06ae61

“Really? Are you turning it ae01cdc7c9 down out of embarrassment? I doubt it 34bf165e02 would all fit 45244c471b in the Grand e1b7daf0b2 Duchess’s mouth, but 84cb9a285a you willing to 546bb0d41a try?”870964dca826d8ad

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“……”ecc0586112b59eaf

Instead of answering, Gio turned ce7e3fa554 his head away. The Grand Duke let out e4c3a47f85 a quiet chuckle.3f88c140afba0886

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“Awfully shy, aren’t you, Grand Duchess?”6312b50a18b5f3a8

Gio wanted to say it 9accf53752 wasn’t that—but the Grand Duke 2044e6847f spoke again before he could.8b4ad9e716ab73a6

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“Well then, let’s just stick with the neck for now. But if you do eb29c76197 want to try something fc0f579e3a else and are just 05b17e5b61 too shy to say 5ac80865cd it, a simple nod 6f826cf7c0 will do.”d6292a8809221e9e

“No, that’s not it.”f3752eb3fb89bcaf

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“All right then. Let’s get started. Let’s see how 6fcb27ff0e good you are 902bf99f8b at sucking.”657e55f989b71047

The Grand Duke tilted his a61181e24b chin to the side, exposing 5bab03ec08 his neck fully. His Adam’s apple jutted 6e6c493cfb prominently, and the thick cd05874f1a tendon along his neck ed79a99458 stretched taut as he 2a708b807c tapped it with his 228cf175c7 fingers.d60e9d3c35ab3301

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The neck—one of the f9454210fb most vulnerable parts of 283c8bf3c0 the human body. The artery ran right 0e7234ac6a through there. Even animals went 12f4faced6 straight for the 3629a0c12e throat when hunting. And now, the Grand 303a889926 Duke was offering that e7c27eaff9 spot to Gio.90fbe3d0ff02b951

What if Gio bit him? Sank his teeth in?7c8492bb305aca96

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It wasn’t out of trust. That couldn’t be it. More likely, it was a 458694aff2 test—to see if Gio was b9b0d95183 really willing to cooperate. A test of loyalty, f2d0a04af6 of submission.3991eb7062883464

Realizing that, Gio 541525a1cc decided not to 5b648b437f bother injuring the 21c0353529 man for no 92bb3e8a5a reason. Despite the relaxed look a363f35a98 on his face, there 4c4c133f0d were no openings in 3b7f8ee3b3 his posture. No room for an attack.0c2e1c7b42765304

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Resolved, Gio stood from his 676d519dfa seat. But the towel he’d wrapped 31dc14ce61 around his waist slipped and 659ae74e09 dropped to the floor with 784668f2d3 a soft thud.b8be432d293ac549

Now he stood in 70311db21e front of the Grand 22450da068 Duke completely bare, not 1f1aa8586b hiding a single inch 7d0dd0e89d of himself.2266c28398f02d65

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But he wasn’t embarrassed. It wasn’t the first time. What was a b87cb110ce problem, though, was fa9f4e4744 the way his f00072daff legs trembled. They refused to e50843b94a move the way 4c8c452444 he wanted. The very legs that had 9c2b0c08e4 always carried him swiftly now eb215b7c32 shook from the Grand Duke’s e90020f904 pheromones.32d70acf87a8bfee

“Even an ultra-low-sensitivity type still reacts to pheromones, huh?”dabbb9e4426e080b

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Gio barely managed to 026833193e stay upright, holding onto 9b1ff23b7a the table for support. Then the Grand Duke stepped 0a1a7bbe14 in.d41347316942a799

Gio didn’t know what 418784fd77 he was planning, so e7f9648c96 he stayed still. The man reached 7eb24e0e8c out and gently 079e32a152 pressed down on f76097275b his shoulder. With that bit 1990f9be40 of force, Gio 885847e6b3 sank back into c088b5398f his seat.12a3b4a7b5c44f4e

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“Go on.”707c1fde0b1aebc6

Like offering candy, b7fb4bdab2 the Grand Duke 536339052e leaned in and 7120742ea0 presented his neck d23f01c1bd to Gio.31378b6e00bdf0c5

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Gio quietly studied the 0388c03a4c spot his lips were db6bd77a89 meant to touch. Beneath the smooth 0b9ea9c31c skin and firm 147768ac1a muscle, he could ff4350845e see the steady ea961af77b pulse of a 8e1cc92383 vein—his heartbeat strong, 27409ce5f9 his life vibrant. There was something unexpectedly beautiful 81a7a20542 about that neck, where life 24bb83b67f surged so openly.e36ec42ea98d60c7

He hesitated. As someone whose a7caedb2bd job was death, 845884615e was he really 5f0353627e allowed to press c405f2c626 his lips to c40dda37f2 such a place? But then the dd275fa522 Grand Duke leaned 267af0bac0 in further, urging b4825951ba him.f14c2a329b7757e0

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So Gio placed his e2b5c8a829 lips—not fangs—against that neck. The scent he breathed in 51fddb1351 was like a winter forest: 9c61760f35 crisp, but somehow comforting.326aceec2888aff8

When he sucked hard 0c9ef70cbe enough to leave a 10e4b7b013 mark, it felt like 464981f22a he was directly tasting 77ff8576e8 the Grand Duke’s pheromones.04a4d6377af2e2e4

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As he pulled back, ae857f94d9 the mark wasn’t dark 8b71166cd7 enough for his liking, fe6da52580 so he leaned in 180669abf4 again. This time, he pursed 1425d69fe0 his lips tighter and d0342fea09 sucked even harder.079467db2f2f5666

“Not bad. That too.”293c310c00a68d89

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A moment later, a pale-pink e2b750408b bloom spread across the Grand 03d562426a Duke’s pale, snow-colored neck. Then he tapped near 328d0971d5 his collarbone.5766b7d812f07828

“One more.”e2892420e5550b9d

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Gio pressed his lips to 1ad0711091 the spot just below the d0040ec984 loosened collar of the Grand 6b2b0f9a1c Duke’s shirt. With his face ef2044d29f fully buried in e81f77378b the man’s neck, 556c7c4024 Gio was overwhelmed 300b26eabc by his scent. His fingers clenched the arms c6eadb4318 of the chair for support.481ee5d4c2e933c9

That was when it happened. Suddenly, the Grand c43b3760ee Duke pulled back 0ddccfff4a and grabbed Gio’s 6764009625 wrist.4520e4c19e4a295d

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“So this is your new method of self-harm?”cd9420c89343f509

His lazy tone vanished, his 1b515d5a1c gaze turning sharp and cold. Gio blinked, not 55e4a4a33a understanding what he 7a228b95e6 meant. Why would he db1f48440b hurt himself when bdc5c62cf8 he had a 9a0dfacefb mission to complete?f9225278a928805d

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Then he followed the Grand e45356e3e3 Duke’s eyes—down to his own 888c4f3ec1 hand.1600fb8d2db77ab7

His right palm was d6c308468c smeared with blood, and 7571f6c8d0 the armrest of the 6b521ba573 chair was stained too. He’d scraped it against ee013eca05 a rough edge on 4705a9a150 the wooden armrest without 4e94f64552 realizing it.adea0a092cadb2fd

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He hadn’t even noticed c790a146f4 the injury. His focus had ee142a33cd been entirely elsewhere.175ee4f66bdf754f

The Grand Duke f1556f9f3a stood and yanked 5883074fb4 Gio’s wrist roughly, ecc5e5bcd6 dragging him across aa8ff2f885 the room before a1e753fac9 throwing him onto d8e5309130 the bed like be8b6a07ce a rag doll. The chain on his c0a9d9d9fb ankle clanged loudly against b8c5d9ff42 the floor.cffa80a82f25e8d3

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All this over a bit 7df7664a2d of blood? How could that be called b24601bbcd self-harm? Gio had been carrying 371d02f602 out his mission diligently. None of this made sense.2b40094ba0e25410

Maybe it wasn’t 2d25d6745e really about the 659207d40e blood. Maybe the Grand Duke just a1bc7ecad2 didn’t like what Gio had 12efa8fb45 done—didn’t like seeing marks left f8538dc144 on his body. Or maybe he’d 0a77faff22 been annoyed by a2f424fc99 the way Gio d5e8e6891d had gripped him eca4a89804 earlier. Who knew.584d9459ca9e225e

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The people at Cove, 26ad0533e3 the ones who used 97dddd5eaf to come at him 8b51e6141f for his body, always 007f200cdd grew nastier when Gio 5c074eda8e bit his lip and 8a55f75b9a silently endured them. Maybe the Grand Duke c45edbd340 was no different.31da25950e638c5e

Gio had wanted ed2a70d26f to explain—that it 7bd746ac22 wasn’t self-harm. But he didn’t bother. A man like 1895f2f546 the Grand Duke, 0ea0d7d6bf who acted on 615ddecdc5 his own judgment e6f97c23ad without question, wouldn’t 7fe59903d6 care for excuses. Especially not from someone he 2107c2a313 saw as beneath him.3b58b4382f0cfc8b

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The Grand Duke pulled both 133869f8b4 of Gio’s wrists up and 6518da39fb tied them to the headboard. At this rate, maybe 2ded4b30ab he really would spend 5e561a3456 the rest of his 4747544e13 life bound like this.86453f4713aabc43

“It seems our bride has a habit of damaging that body of his,” the Grand Duke muttered. “But I can’t stand the smell of blood in my space.”c87dbe06020773fc

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He gave a tug e4d0330e03 on a cord beside d1484021ea the bed, and as 671eae9e92 if waiting for the bcc5b1ffef signal, the door opened 1f5000b5f5 and knights stepped inside. The Grand Duke tossed 8195a3627d a blanket over Gio 0543272f2c to cover him—not that 06fa4a8663 it mattered to the ee08704d03 knights, who had already bf368760fa seen everything.2a366fb69602223d

“You called, Your Grace.”28c29482f3cb4a99

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Four knights bowed before ecaefca7e3 him, awaiting orders.776b4cc140b99426

“Get rid of that chair. And from now 4cfe3c4c4c on, bring in 295387dae6 something sturdier, with 7a9f0e89f8 smooth armrests.”97649e56ee88a23e

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One of the 182516a4ac knights glanced at 504c295ff9 the scratched armrest, daff454c53 understanding immediately, and 5e484210a8 nodded.50f840bf1a022105

“Yes, sir.”ea5fb24bffc579d2

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“And Raphael’s still here, right? Go get him.”87c62f070418d354

“The high priest?”18cad7d67b6f9163

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“Yes, that bastard’s probably off somewhere seducing boys again. Drag him here. Now.”e157f24695d6f52d

“Ah…”c5ea841683317768

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The knights exchanged glances—clearly, the 2dd45335ef Grand Duke had guessed right.e0e2c8d9d4118903

“Bring him. Immediately.”ca7f21c2c67dda16

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“Yes, sir!”2f7b2935e847349d

They scrambled out 6775cd8491 of the bedroom.4d3df71ad448ff46

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The Grand Duke 801785c40b then ordered one f8dd9d49dc of the servants 1366de1529 to bring him 6a071cec5b some liquor. The servant returned quickly, 6a8c168afd and he took a c4d705a0e4 glass and sat down 73037bc971 on the edge of 77ddb38307 the bed.472bcc02e4936060

Something in his mood had c333493523 turned. Gio could feel it. There was a heaviness about bbc71b8cdc him now—something simmering beneath the ac25b7e66f surface. He didn’t know why, d6a234df67 but he had the 0a740d7045 sense the Grand Duke 7ba6466db9 might take it out fce86a9ebe on him. No explanation, no warning. Just anger.539fb018de0bda44

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And with his hands and c783ea85db feet bound, there was nothing e001ecb143 Gio could do but take 8c5c938a2b it.cc4ddf56d8b91918

The Grand Duke drained the 669f41aee2 glass in one go, then c4beac55df set it on the nightstand fe6c04d109 beside the bed. Gio glanced at 4bde0423b7 it—a thick, high-end 0aa1d44090 crystal glass. If thrown, it would hurt. Badly. If the Grand Duke hurled 446cecf299 it at him, he wouldn’t b3f836e416 be able to dodge.9fb62c2a3928287b

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“So? Eyeing the glass—planning something again?”d1488d597e321937

The Grand Duke’s 27cb1d929c words hit like a5cdc7706f he’d read Gio’s 6441ec52d0 thoughts. Gio didn’t respond. There was no point. People in power a8505961c4 only ever heard 8131fbfed3 what they wanted cc26f3bbbc to hear. Gio wasn’t good f51cf4a24d with words, and 73cdc4c6ae even if he 65dd7f7070 were, it wouldn’t 7b5ea29fc6 make a difference.205b09dc30df084e

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But what the Grand Duke 96bbe958d5 said next caught him off dfb667ed54 guard.d52c361be8411efd

“You’re not an assassin anymore—you’ve decided to be my bride. So let’s wash off the stink of blood, yeah? I can’t stand it. Or would you rather go back to being just an assassin?”4a9ec1cd50ba89ec

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His icy blue dfbf8bd33b eyes locked onto ca3e744304 Gio’s. It was the ca3a8f69ed same as earlier—when 6818a8f413 he’d offered up cb09dadf87 his throat, testing b9f9d19e76 Gio’s resolve. Now, he was making 0515344957 him choose. And be clear about it.33030052d2853bae

“If you’d rather stay an assassin, I can give you wounds worse than the one you’ve got. What do you say?”69d6e4b9f4cc69ac

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As expected, there wasn’t really bbe46df601 a choice.e4d2e164eafd8b9d

“…I’ll cooperate.”b2e39ae68777db98

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“Good.”f583deb2d511185e

He glanced at d09fd10979 Gio’s bound hands 437980ad54 and stood. Just then, the door 4a28dc1a45 slammed open and a 26a1ad4d36 blond man stepped inside.f42a2f0981cb6a94

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It was the high priest.12c7374a4b4e0b68

Hair tousled, shirt half-untucked 4407c232cb as he hastily stuffed f731de1d4f it back into his 494bbdc59e trousers—this was the very b855823557 same man who’d officiated e978b2e9aa Gio and the Grand d1ab09e013 Duke’s wedding. Back then, under sunlight f4f5d37772 and in full priestly cc27a63084 robes, he’d looked so a4e4190acf holy, so polished. But now, without ca2570f0a3 the glasses and 93afa600bf with his current 510a170402 disheveled look…a852993d2b140df6

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Yes. Very unholy.e7cb6792b29d5e40

The Grand Duke pinched his 06066a1e5c nose.f98d2f90ba787a92

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The high priest b705fb7e11 dusted himself off 0d35aa99cd and straightened his f8ee66ac48 clothes. A knight handed him 2d3cde97c1 his priestly robes and 34bfec21a0 glasses, and the man 1a1f6a8596 gave a cheeky wink. The knight blushed 4f8643f37a furiously and scurried ea5e98c4fb away. The Grand Duke’s frown baaf74cc80 deepened, a deep line 6c14ffd594 forming between his brows.db4ec7d691b36c02

The high priest—Raphael—shrugged and slipped 9b27e2b893 his glasses on. His fingers moved a528708724 expertly as he 09f2287158 buttoned the robe. With a few swipes f57dc2bcea of the hand through 91a4def0c7 his hair, he looked 1726ee0f35 almost exactly like he b71d8e76e1 had during the ceremony.0e626a7c86bf69a1

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As Raphael approached, the Grand 4bcb665ff3 Duke scrunched his nose tighter dc95d4e81d and unleashed a burst of fb3ecf6f85 pheromones. Raphael stopped in his tracks, fc33d26a5b winced, and glared at him.c71458c63a134303

“Raphael. For god’s sake, couldn’t 23e7ebc3a6 you have bathed first…?”1d1719d4dcbec37d

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“You said urgent, didn’t you?!”7b04880b25dbd8e4

“How many people did you mess around with today, exactly?!”f58889a4a194f55f

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“Ah…”51d78ce59b55e925

At the Grand Duke’s irritated b32837e373 tone and furrowed brow, Gio 65815f0eac finally understood what Raphael must’ve b9121cff02 been doing before he got 978765a7aa summoned. Still, Gio hadn’t caught a b2f462d44f trace of any pheromones on b9e33de9b7 him. The man seemed like ce23ad4a19 an alpha, but that e611ba92c0 was it.cc8e7545e627bed2

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Raphael sniffed himself a 4dc382abe4 little, then raised a 6f527dfbdd hand with a shrug.711380d655c1ffc5

“Well, what can I say? If people keep throwing themselves 49c21cf61b at me…”4e84b9099729af5c

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“……”832b7f16d1f9399d

“Your Grace, if you keep flooding the room with pheromones like that, I can’t do anything to help.”e07cd4ecea1a933b

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Raphael stood at f019163149 a distance, unable 82f18e4bf7 to approach the 9949b91e20 bed because of 71c40f1d99 the heavy pheromone 09da65a054 saturation. Only then did the Grand b0deda9b2d Duke draw back his scent 3321b6697e and walk over to the 7e408b1d7e window, throwing it wide open de4ee1ffa6 before returning.8bb754f841874546

“By the way, why is the Grand Duchess tied up like this again? Don’t tell me this 9884dd9a05 has always been your 9f4959eafe kink, Your Grace? What a surprise. I never would’ve guessed.”05e16424edec9228

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“Cut the nonsense and just treat his hand.”cbffcd95c2d753b9

Raphael finally approached, b9c5c49c32 squinting at Gio’s d65bb70e64 hand.9b9fab12eb6d5e51

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“Bayshark, how much pheromone did you douse him with? Were you in 70ca268890 rut or something? …No, wait. If it was rut, 0913bc5c5b he wouldn’t be looking 19e50e5908 this composed.”a76bf31819d97750

He gave Gio 93a3a50369 a very pointed 7dc96c4a80 look as he e7439afe35 said that. Whether he meant the b4c8fa51c2 Grand Duke wouldn’t be be0c7389bb fine, or that Gio 35a2d6add3 wouldn’t be, was unclear. The Grand Duke didn’t 0493751ec7 answer—just flicked his brows 550735b483 at the priest’s insinuation.07141f2550ac927b

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“You really poured it on thick.”9e08af64b57ae515

The closer Raphael got to 0d274a938b Gio, the more he scrunched 2cf214825a his nose. His eyes trailed 3e366e554c down Gio’s body, a6f5b118c7 taking in the 43c40a8112 visible marks on ae5e696a1c his neck and f6ae08f06a the bloodied hand. His eyes widened in disbelief.150a32a34c231e20

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“Wait, Bayshark! Did you hit him? I knew you were a b3aa97445e bit twisted, but this is e1f8143c7e next level.”40cce97f1324e4c2

“Stop talking and start healing.”acf995e20c1eb4f2

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“Yeah, yeah~.”f3b14bf90be0259d

The teasing tone faded, and 72df70c6de Raphael’s expression smoothed out. A golden light glimmered e3389a6379 in his gentle green caa6b201fa eyes—just like during the c921ca23d2 wedding, when he’d stood c4c23026f4 as a witness. Despite everything, Gio had 0d2b3c402b to admit: the man 51180efb79 was a real priest. Not what he’d imagined, but 1dc0fa6b57 still.a047ce33e1b5157d

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When Raphael laid e49ede5d2f a hand over 908e358241 Gio’s palm, a 00f5aa42b8 warm, tingling sensation 40f5700c21 spread through it, 0553cedb61 soft and light fc7087b953 like silk. It was the first time 1f5d4d8833 Gio had ever received direct 99d4e38a1c healing from divine power, and 2f25b7e1a6 the ticklish feeling made him c62525b028 instinctively curl his hand.373f8e6d52a4b0d5

Raphael gently took his c926defa92 hand and laced their 6707542d01 fingers together. Between their pressed 27cb30b0c4 palms, that warm, 6060e45550 soft energy continued dd17cf2568 to seep in, 14e76b4a30 soothing and healing.7a1bf61bf08aa359

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Just then, the Grand Duke’s 84eebb20b0 pheromones hit Gio again—sudden and c69f5269fc heavy like a crashing wave.6817b0be9281c1de

“Ugh… That bastard…”756dd52564034aeb

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Raphael muttered under his f1da577a05 breath, backing off quickly.320da90577ad4cc1

“The wound wasn’t even that deep. And you called this urgent?”467d35698efb4691

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“The Grand Duchess was injured. Of course it’s urgent.”d46351f70203464c

“The Emperor sent him. What’s the point of healing someone like that? Think I want to?”cdda8ca0eb0d8a28

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It was clear now—the high 30e497e16f priest knew Gio was an 58872c67fb assassin. His divine energy had felt 452a8c8489 soft and warm, but his b69f85e568 words and gaze were anything b4335a5357 but. If not for f59f70a02b the Grand Duke’s ada4f683fb command, he wouldn’t d05b9637ae have lifted a c27d2af496 finger. That much was obvious. Maybe it was hatred. Probably. But that was expected. Nothing surprising.1f7c1c3e9e8df9df

“I get what you’re trying to do, but really? You had to call me, the High Priest Raphael, for a tiny scratch like that? You think divine power just flows for free?”06d02f8b0cf331d8

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“You’re freeloading in our territory. Seems like the least you can do.”18876f0e00f9ef26

“Freeloading?! I, this High Priest, came all the way to the frozen north and graciously heal these poor, miserable folks—!”c35ff4200b26c75f

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“Heal, my ass…”3c3c38a0bd7e7e39

Raphael looked like he e03d02efcf was about to retort e303abb0b6 again, but then paused, 9eae3bf8f6 wiped the joking expression 5d09119301 from his face, and e70f27bf73 asked more seriously,bcc3037d2d56b7be

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“So what’s the real reason you called me? Don’t tell me it was for that little wound.”5ba7aa1d0ba47dc5

The Grand Duke 29f884d6e7 glanced at Gio, 87eeb15ac4 then back at 9408ae79f3 Raphael.305f64414974fb73

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“I think there might be an issue with sensation.”8d4854c4a907655f

“Sensation? You mean like… sexual? You’re saying his ebf3e8edea erogenous zones don’t a877525c7b react? That kind of dc1fffcb4d thing differs from 128ac01757 person to—”128e607b9cc2808f

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“……”a478bda58964416e

The Grand Duke said 05ece5f78f nothing, but something in 01686a83f9 his gaze made Raphael 2475c1664f flinch and fall silent.9420f0ec235ee8e0

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“Okay, then what is it? I mean…”0cfb6026fd7267d1

Raphael glanced at Gio, then bfc6db93c7 quickly looked away. But in that brief moment, ae8288671e Gio understood exactly what he 2f7ed53ced meant.a80270e4b3481f8d

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Once this farce of a fa46442f47 marriage ended—once he was no e165510f5c longer needed—he would either be 6e8ae5ab47 sent away… or killed. Whatever was wrong with him 26cfae3f8f wouldn’t matter. Not to anyone.4951378018364aff

Especially not to 2999ae25dc the Grand Duke.c5bde34968fcc625

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“I’m wondering if he’s desensitized. He keeps harming himself—I thought it might be related.”6e0ad087615db88d

“When I was healing him, I did notice he didn’t react much. But it might just be that he’s good at hiding pain. Still, want me to test it?”f76de410bfe75719

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The word test made 4aac72fcc7 Gio’s heart drop, but aabb286e2a he kept his face 8caa11ecc8 blank. The Grand Duke, 2201f38d5e too, gave nothing 4dd0aa5f13 away—he just looked e4eed089ea at Gio, watching.8eaaf5d163ffe958

Feeling that stare, 5f78ab6b6a Gio lowered his 864f714920 eyes and stayed baa49b84ad quiet. Like always, awaiting judgment. His body had e1ca00efaf never truly belonged 904150f634 to him. Even if they decided to 39496cf6c1 ‘experiment,’ what could he say?32a16bc0969ee686

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“Take a look.”fefd4431496ca474

“Got it.”5a6bb69bd94a80fe

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