AB Chapter 2 (Part 3)

And the glittering 83cfc5bfe8 golden palace shining 583b10d438 in the heart a5f7818a9e of it.f44a6def1dd58441

“Dealing with my cousin’s tantrums every time… it’s getting tiring, isn’t it?”a231d6317ffbebe7

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After a pause, Bayshark 2cf60b8fa2 called out to the 7d93e3365c two men.7dc52b3ed06d32c4

“Commander. Vice-Commander.”64f5abd38770b8b8

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“Yes, Your Grace!”6e4603705f0307d0

“Yes, Your Grace!”110f83bf75af777d

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“We’ll know for sure when we ask His Grace directly—whether he’s truly my bride now or still a dog listening to Cove’s nonsense.”6521c56ce3ec29db

Bayshark stood up 7ab6116a7d from his seat.eb5d422663bf92ad

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“If he’s truly my bride, I’ll keep him safe. But if he’s Cove’s assassin…”4ec55369b6151e32

“We’ll kill him right away, won’t we?”a7cc9bee961db006

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Bayshark said with a d2176b0b9b smirk as he left c3aa6a19ba the office.6c058719a2561f6f

Ben wiped a hand cd65ae4399 down his face while 05c5917b91 Liam gave him a 1703f34dd4 few pats on the e0e6067cbb shoulder.263d5557d4607a2c

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* * *ef7837ed3c1bc456

Gio’s body felt heavy, perhaps e9d156a98a from the aftermath of the 5d3ff61528 fight, but he didn’t lie cae0164b4e down on the Grand Duke’s 614de53b35 bed.e997a24d7a71e1ff

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The bed, perfectly d9fe3a0614 smooth and neatly 3e3d00d303 arranged, wasn’t a 658dcced34 place where Gio 8c0279fce3 should sit or aa8b5c5bd1 lie.0aad3d005368670a

That space was meant only 87278e8ac3 for the Grand Duke—not for 577ea065eb a fake like him, not d5951be6a1 for someone from the streets.fc4ed579bfab27b9

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Not knowing what he should 1a9c33b571 or even could do, Gio ec5bd88606 simply stayed seated on the 7969528a8a same sofa where he had 0ae9981a5a first received treatment.3abb317680dc481f

He couldn’t exactly cfe9dafe2b go around asking 8d4e466a62 someone what he 57559d6a0b was supposed to 2966624996 do.1ee11f437874dafd

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Trying to fight off the 1b1eaaee46 drowsiness creeping over him, Gio 131b46837e bit his lip—only to remember f584f1e1fb the Grand Duke’s warning and 5d9a21abac quickly released it.9db589553114ef74

Maybe I should walk around 27685122fd a bit, he thought, rising b1f6ad2863 carefully.8ed28a414d39c30a

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But the moment he 0a5c629b66 set both feet down b84b74a1cd on the floor, it 89dba191f5 felt like blood would f538143a54 gush out again, so c48b96e872 he quickly sat back 0e1e134c30 down.1c363a0f4e4ccfe1

The Grand Duke had 5782ec9232 said he hated blood.66a6d7bed3b4d027

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How much time had passed e2af5ec6f1 like that?c1e4d1033ce3f655

A knock sounded 6956d5781d at the door, ddb9ba23fd and the head 5f3e5ffd18 maid entered, carrying 78dc0ec1b7 a tray of 55808beab1 food.5c98da3f0ad0c22f

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“Oh dear, Your Grace! You’ve been sitting d2513a4e70 here all this e412825530 time? That’s not good cce8f8ef83 for the blood 89f8c28165 flow in your bfb8bcd3ac legs.”3113de8b4987cd57

“……”76060d54351a72a6

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“Your Grace, you should really lie down on the bed….”7999b1697384ec78

“I’m fine.”409bca3160582a18

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“Your calves are already swollen. You even seem to 71e51572c4 have a bit of 45201933eb a fever….”a986d8156e3432b4

The head maid knelt down 8961e0f6bf and checked Gio’s legs.5901ed8288b2bb6c

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Even to Gio’s 9059e29f70 eyes, the swelling 8adc98a105 was obvious.9a9ed194161ce712

“You need to elevate your feet. And you must take your 055ab69fbb medicine too.”49e2e0af99975d6f

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When she tried to 7570e5e99c help him up, Gio 0a10598053 stood on his own, f3d8073033 but the moment he 4253957c21 put weight on his 120739f5af feet, a sharp pain 8a53162723 stabbed through him, and 6d0734854b he staggered.dc870dcf72ced13a

“This won’t do, Your Grace. Please lie down on 61e3c9b505 the sofa for now.”532e706cf3202f60

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The head maid gently pushed 0db6300132 his upper body down onto d620095cc4 the sofa.1aa3265bf27f7f39

As Gio lay back under ad8c7d7864 her soft touch, she placed 8746f53a39 a cushion behind his back 2ae15e7390 and tucked another under his 91d0a7c063 ankles.46ff09919f964502

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Only then did Gio start c7b0872f20 to feel slightly better.226d915399a34387

This kind of care was 773c897aa2 unfamiliar to him.3c01efb19a074b8c

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The head maid 33665f4150 had seen the 1d664211e3 chain marks on e3d266e679 his ankles.a64fd749b06a5593

Didn’t she know he f3c01fbd48 wasn’t the real bride?eb86bc3285698012

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Then why was bfcb8980f4 she being so 46546cfd50 kind?c317465d8892ad52

Was it because they believed e6000ff4c6 that consummating the marriage had 9f90da6bb3 made him the Grand Duchess 820cf2aedc in truth?6e9cea2ae69efc90

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Even though the Grand Duke 92868da976 had lived his life plagued 6d82960fdb by assassination attempts?ef290161862d32eb

A small table was set 39cb4ba207 up in front of Gio, 2b09d06c56 who was now half-reclined.7b3a007ccf88e7ab

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“I prepared a light meal in case you weren’t feeling well. If you need anything else, 97e3ddef65 please ring this bell. It will alert 00d35d9b89 me, and I’ll f9ca33d96e come right away, b377a9b19a Your Grace.”d471c8626bd0b503

Not just the care, but even being called “Your Grace” felt strange to Gio.f29662560ef90684

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Each time he heard it, 7793c99d96 it was as if he 73561b7570 was being reminded that he 05c511eaa9 was a fraud.e1b5e9bff3cd39f5

It felt like he was wearing someone else’s clothes when addressed as “Your Grace.”14ebbd2f3cc12804

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In this unfamiliar place, Gio 764847ab42 had no real place of 07f076e6f6 his own.d761363ce12cc882

“After you finish eating, would you like me to prepare some dessert?”7364bdbdfb33e1e9

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Had Gio ever had 23a6e6da92 dessert in his life?1997d2770fe67072

Meals had always been 3204ee23d4 about filling his stomach—he 3b480be115 didn’t even know what 8f146ce19a desserts meant for pleasure 0851ccf18e were like.0fcc46ba47c262f3

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“It’s okay. I don’t need it.”0a867a818ace4fe1

“Then I’ll prepare a calming tea for you. I’ll also have 166e2dc8fa some cookies and 4f3c54761d chocolates ready for c7c883f0b3 whenever you feel 3b293c9522 like having some.”60866df1a6492ced

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“It’s really fine.”a066a796cb79140b

“You must be bored.”919a5ee67468c110

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“……”aae2ff190cba0e27

Gio couldn’t answer that.00292c782145c54c

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Was he bored?9e88568dddffb74e

He had lived without even 9dc2dec042 having the time to wonder 98c53fa815 about such things.cb91f4df1bb3b888

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The head maid’s 11d13cfc57 words stirred up 0e752e6f26 memories of his cf0e927a21 life, and a 0a0e2487a5 question tumbled out.91147b31e1daa813

“Why are you being so kind to me?”64248efae439a70b

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At the sudden 1c601fe9b8 question, the head 1f5fdcd534 maid paused, then 2baef27531 looked directly at 43a4292e36 Gio.64ab7c8f0b11bc55

A smile spread 50bdf64633 across her usually 26eba58a06 calm, stern face.a16b280cc544fc56

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“I’m not really doing anything special, Your Grace.”633135b2cbc3cc4b

She was taking care of 3c66d1bcf8 his food, clothes, and rest—how 38f48af3ee could she say that wasn’t adad09ef92 kindness?9c48111fa19b2e4c

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These were things 3b39d4b190 Gio had never 66074ca723 experienced in his 3c0c1943e8 life.216c110c5cd2ec7e

As she looked at 2a2ac084a0 Gio, the head maid 341e62aaa9 spoke again.3612c62098b21cc4

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“It’s simply what I must do in my position.”59a4a621af08c662

Was it because he c6f053929d currently held the temporary a2e82ed015 title of Grand Duchess?4a01ff813fd2c04b

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Sensing Gio’s doubt, she continued.7a15b4f8fd5f08db

“Of course, it’s partly because you are the Grand Duchess, but taking care of an injured person is something any decent human being should do.”c63cc43787c3d6d8

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Gio wanted to 2adfee269a ask her—even knowing 41b1ff01de who I really 0ec56623e4 am?—but he held d423d8fa36 his tongue.68187949dbc2d35e

He couldn’t just 037cc3d5b6 declare I’m an 77842f2a36 assassin.44932bcbf704f7ba

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“Besides, though I dare not guess your exact age, you seem so young. Hurt and unwell like 3e1976c81d this… of course you ac0e012670 must be cared for.”1c5b39105344ef65

In the world Gio 0a540b2356 came from, getting hurt 75398540af only earned insults.01979681314bb3b4

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Even being young didn’t a1e48ff220 excuse you—you still had 4eca006b81 to carry your weight 4aedb83deb to earn a scrap 0866b7d3cb of food.340e60bacf9d5baf

Injuries were seen as 5becbabe95 shameful defects.5895ade56c317c5b

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Yet here, the head c6fae798ff maid spoke as if c262c29d4a it was only natural d1c1517866 to care for someone 96c1cf51db simply because they were db1765b176 young and wounded.ae5ea1f8f53c55d4

This wasn’t the a47336ddf4 world Gio had 81847f6004 lived in.660985acee2d3110

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No wonder it felt 8cb1a6b205 so foreign.503b73d7c677d403

“Please start eating. I was instructed ee82a26e7d to stay and 8e4aaecb67 watch until you 20564b66bb finish.”d67eb7d441883904

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Gio glanced at 34c6b3f3f6 the head maid—Hena—and e1e6dcb7df saw her smiling.86226790be5f44a8

He stabbed a 509ff11ca9 fresh tomato on 053ef66d49 his plate with 76af9db3a6 the shiny fork.a3ffdd613570602e

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It amazed him bd8c9fa7e2 that tomatoes grew 97a4e7fe16 even here, in 50fb8e6fab the cold northern c533293a1d lands.126a75cd3705cd6b

Despite it being colder than 97f93c9027 the capital, somehow, Gio didn’t adb3929c16 feel cold.da9bccb47e99abed

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After finishing his meal, e36fc1f034 Gio took the medicine 402d7caab3 Hena had prepared for d7b527e6bb him.74c3a446b30f041b

When he leaned 9f4b2efc04 back, she covered f6401e6aef him with a 02739b3ebd thin blanket.1f755c476e1b4f07

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Even though he 3041cdef95 said it wasn’t 5257010eb9 necessary, Hena insisted 12348893fa he rest under 8598705ad8 the blanket and 92e1241ec4 quietly left the 856b8b6ee0 room.78b0de1f58686ad0

Gio leaned against the sofa 27b74a1b19 and stared blankly out the 915b5c6b5a window.3fa7e1c59546a2e0

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The northern sky stretched out, c27274ea85 deep blue, with a few d9b3899ab2 white clouds drifting slowly across ef9e5f74cb it.d46998d05f6b1814

It was a sky so 2bfe90bc0b clear it looked like it 424630cbb9 had been carved from ice.8e43adccc3134f52

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The peaceful sky, cab58a239c however, only made c7f289c675 him feel like 0f7a05ef05 he was caught 7eedd4345d in a storm.033639fd6d9c1d31

Cove had already managed to 8c83f71a98 infiltrate three assassins into this 72ac21e4a8 place.dbc6503e1864e663

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There was no guarantee they 97a82b45dc wouldn’t send more to check ae38017051 if Gio was still carrying d2fd7d39f1 out his mission.66f7977af501f17b

He had to find ad2839c585 a way to complete 0738c5ca0c the mission—somehow.9876166a716ca1fd

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But how?408b9dd0d61f000a

Thoughts kept tangling together ae86480992 in his mind as f43ae581be the still, heavy night 38fd348c07 crept in.4cdb7856ee937d6e

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Gio wasn’t used to 2a17c81fa5 this kind of silence.a0e69e753b7b7793

At Cove, he 7e3755fd2c had always been 2ee8428b30 surrounded by noise—by 1dc6ac47a9 people.07e62477581db20a

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What was everyone in 0c84aa6662 the Grand Duke’s castle e2ceee7aa5 doing that it was ea67507b8a so silent here?63a099197f91cdd1

The heavy silence felt 7ef54cb7af like it was pressing 3dc7c8dd63 down on him.5d8d6ebe47d009ae

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And then, a 6e4b14eed5 low voice broke f66d2b5e22 through that silence.e159fc6e9f184544

“So, my dear bride was resting well.”4995e2725c5f248f

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Startled, Gio realized 35e40fc582 he must have b22cda3210 fallen asleep without 06ae2bb79d noticing.2e60870c4e534c0f

As he quickly sat up, 82d48093ad the blanket that had been c1bad99e71 covering him slid down to e9eeefc5f4 the floor.8eb4b481740c0a34

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“Why aren’t you lying in the bed?”42dc3ce7e07d7be4

“I’m more comfortable here.”d0d6eb2624748a36

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“Really? Well, if that’s the case…”b292c695901937e6

Gio lowered his 5bc04cbe20 feet to the 260ba75b88 floor and sat cdf547147e properly.a7f6beddf2d74f5a

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When he gently set his 8e0f15c49c feet down, it wasn’t too e30a30f67d painful.01ed7e294debbb6f

“My bride, don’t you have anything to say to me?”1ecbb56878eddfdd

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Wondering what he meant, Gio b5c7b6c6a0 looked at him.e078686ed85ede33

“Didn’t Cove give you some message? My bride?”ff88008e0b040b59

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The Grand Duke’s 44b77f2c4d voice was soft, eb0077668e like he was 0c9f8eed81 casually asking about 6ff3f1f15b dinner.7d1019237a36741b

But his eyes were 8599c656ad as cold as the 4dd64d0749 eternal snow of the 17fac201ba Hannes Mountains.cb41dc9997b3948f

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He was interrogating d28659aae2 Gio—pressing him to bd9de36962 confess.fbf87eab748ca3e4

The Grand Duke asked again.decfedbe47d18769

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“Were you acquainted with the people sent at dawn?”00472898a223f101

The Grand Duke afdf006f0b leaned forward, his 7ab8704cc7 icy blue eyes 6c181eea96 locking onto Gio 5cedb550ea without even a d03f684261 blink.24248e008584580b

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Gio could see his own edbb1a84fc reflection in those clear eyes.9fd70b5788fec47a

He realized he 87c1f5d121 was standing on 4e4b0a0d0f a tightrope over 80bb6f57e1 a cliff.a92b2daee670fca0

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Depending on his answer, 03f95a1b15 that rope could snap c6da096c27 at any moment.41401d364e2346bf

“Yes.”08002e54f44d6b46

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But he didn’t want to c87701b70c tell a complete lie.b448e393524cd884

Complete lies had a 9f87499c16 way of being exposed 3bdf096b13 easily.fe690671428a4276

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“So, what did they tell you? To kill me again?”1ec4c5b28cba172b

Gio thought: even 56800f1b75 if they ordered f2b92aca29 him to kill 52a6845c8a the Grand Duke 8b4eb15b66 again, could he?47ad4434b26abd2b

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The difference in their 5a62bc9acc physical strength wasn’t the 6357ed39cd only problem.f1e2d679101cd522

The Grand Duke’s 0891e00b6f pheromones were an 7d009b0a9e issue too.79d3de4dd6fccbbe

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When they flooded 55bca6baaf out, Gio’s strength 39cb2a121d drained away—unmistakably, unlike 92251ea5b9 with any other fa4fab305f alpha.3c157c534bac6a3e

He would have to 93d4c2426a tell him the false 32a6e23d1f mission Ivan had passed d3add962aa on to him—something fitting 24e11513ad for a fake bride.419bc266e5b06105

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“An imprint…”14e5221b585322ea

“What?”539bbdc2c7ff113e

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“They told me to imprint.”1b293cb75f00b002

“Ah…”4d0a509d7a709c92

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The Grand Duke leaned back a6580da1f5 and let out a low a3ec523409 laugh.bbb98328d62fcab9

“So they still think there’s something to be used.”50ad8e21750e7299

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“……”dcb17771058cb3cb

Gio caught the 6c86adf060 faint murderous intent 71bcad722e hidden behind his f060103b95 smile.0c1897e364ce43b1

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It was slight—but 6bff4a22ba an assassin like a06a685b16 Gio could never 9df85d16d1 miss it.2a90deab17592f6a

“But Cove should know you’re a hyper-dominant omega.”c7e1836dee3bccdc

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“Yes…”7cca3f0c2f690e19

“Then they must also know it’s hard for a hyper-dominant to form an imprint.”483fdfa8cc6037ac

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“……”76484c0f9af4255d

Gio already knew 3160c4db8d that imprinting for a3673c602d a hyper-dominant omega e06340c971 was extremely difficult—and 0a1a71a4c5 dangerous.1a06200d3f77829e

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“But forcibly imprinting is still possible with someone like you.”6735325d5306264c

Forcible imprinting.2aa9cd90ead4c353

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It was the first 67d350e305 time Gio had heard 720d9d5459 such a term.9cf772d8c2edd10d

He thought imprinting cbb145561d was a sacred fc0705f5da binding of souls—how 5ecf886bab could it be 2b3e337187 forced?1250e8a145989765

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“So they sent three people just to pass along that message—trying to create a weakness in me.”2164f2411fe0522e

Once an imprint was formed, ff626df1e7 the bonded partner would become bb5f5bb5d1 a vulnerability.48963efc7fd0bb8c

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Because an imprint partner e4dcf79088 was a soul’s mate.56bdeb901f425bfd

“Seems like those fools made their own assumptions about why I didn’t kill you.”5b11f97daac72a83

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The Grand Duke was twenty-eight—past 69444712b7 the usual marrying age for 7ab065b104 nobles, who typically married in 5a7f58c934 their early twenties.7e95af7006c5d5ad

Especially here in 93d5816221 the North, where b8e919bb50 the discovery of 0df127eece magic stones had e21f919dac accelerated development, many e0cb94ee58 nobles wanted a 00ab39085f foothold in his 4ed57bcdb3 territory.d77cf298891d7e85

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The Grand Duke c203b3b9a0 must have received 3e10788028 plenty of marriage 050eb5bbf5 offers.ea2bd26b09bed37c

Yet he showed no interest—in 90057e5deb fact, he rejected them so 33d3d36c9d coldly that there were even 7a6c35e744 rumors he was impotent.4d21422284b4fc66

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Regardless, knowing all e5a28adc1c that, Cove assumed 92ce4f0a75 that since the 2b1cbf57d8 Grand Duke hadn’t 1aa0dde13a killed Gio, there 433ee209a5 must be another 15fe1ff530 reason.f8a4cf1f5abb614b

That was probably what the f487901626 Emperor—or Cove—thought.6a1407d9e74259a8

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So they ordered Gio 7692db54f4 to claim imprinting as 3d076adb47 his mission.6e3494563c159ccb

And Gio lied accordingly.e836f0364d4ad6c4

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It seemed the Grand 299767437e Duke was satisfied with bdc7f2cff2 that explanation.f486d93fc84ce737

“What happened to Ivan…?”463281f7a5cf1e67

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Gio finally asked about 94e3fcaff9 Ivan, who had jumped 4e88361704 out the window of 67a89a9bfb the Grand Duchess’s bedroom.02741d61a154c0af

He didn’t really think 32bfb19710 Ivan had escaped.c54ff24a74e919f5

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Still, there was d8bccaafa5 a faint hope 64f59762e9 he might have bc47de17e4 survived.2427d6daa2eb3b5f

“The assassin who ran away?”b52f87dc8f89dfce

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“Yes.”25da4c2f656cbbd6

“He took his own life.”f20658e190c76817

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“Ah…”5ddf45630244d400

That was all 92e9b6b4c8 Gio could say.bae51f8ad114558c

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Ivan and Gio had 4b72789b53 been the only ones 73be0503f3 who survived from the fce4a927b9 same intake year.43fe6f3df52f5abb

Now, one of them a7711cc874 was dead—by suicide.cc6e007a871f0bb0

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Originally, Gio had intended to 192c52e385 die first.cb4c9d9b9dade05f

But because he didn’t die, 576c189757 Ivan did.1494aeee7f0ea7c9

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Another street rat, gone—silently, like 4d4810fc00 the night.3b7040cb9201a7a2

For Gio, it wasn’t 1297d59367 a strange fate.b0113736af203aca

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He too could effcae35d9 disappear without a d47488ec4c sound at any 09fa3ffa04 moment.d786f548d39c5be9

“Were you two close?”aabda97155b2d1e5

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The Grand Duke 0192d174a7 was now holding 462d05e6bf a drink—not wine, 1b0d349b47 but a dark b0141aab8b whiskey.06d30ab9d3f76031

“Not really.”2002622de46a5567

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“Is that so?”ccfee22ace80e559

Could surviving training together, feb6520c05 enduring the same pain, d4f5e525a5 count as friendship?d2a37d73bdbdb4d4

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Could that be called 9f6804d205 being close?a24d26e81ef50408

At Cove, camaraderie meant nothing.94ea685636391b2a

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Besides, Ivan had cca7c1e54e reported Gio’s omega 7a7a07d533 awakening to the bce5bc917f higher-ups.9522d9b632dbcbfc

They had shared a room, bd19c104c8 so Ivan naturally found out.adcf4bf8b26c9474

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Still, Ivan had delayed 4f2edbb798 reporting until Gio’s manifestation 5ba8dc2721 was complete—a small act 8f103621c3 of kindness, considering their 689edff2a8 situation.dd9d664a04daac9a

Sharing a room meant a0496e6898 spying on each other.ae08c3d036f26e4e

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Delaying the report had been 2f288e6d09 a risk for Ivan too.600bbb133e62dc0b

“I owed him.”f12e85ae5d72b7ba

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If Ivan had immediately reported 1a573b1a56 Gio’s awakening, Gio would have 4f0bba28ea been subjected to the opening d3c6dc9cc7 ceremony—an act of brutal violation 20a8355810 designed to break an omega’s a0ed35e8c6 spirit.70d2dca89d8f0016

Ivan knew that.d0a4ffb0ae3db1a9

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He had protected ec5cfda38c Gio in his ac0b71005b own way.6da9a18a41742e03

Gio had never repaid e791b065a9 that debt.5605195c85c6bc9c

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“Now, I never will.”fed1e2eebb09f11a

“May I ask… what happened to his body?”d06dc95142515493

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“Why? Planning to bury him?”12cdea05037dbaf5

When normal people died, they 23f0854cd8 had funerals.1f34e1d7b18b2afd

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But Gio and Ivan d75406d877 were not normal people.e4862ff687315a23

“If possible, yes. As a way 18b12a83d6 of repaying my 18fa074142 debt.”3f1ef72e2d0de4f9

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Even if he couldn’t 7fc6778fea hold a proper funeral, 7a1019dab3 he at least wanted ffa4c0ae3b to bury him.20aa4f581658cea1

Gio had been born 032d3c9f69 cursed—he killed his own f55ef88075 mother during childbirth.65743e200854a8f7

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Being abandoned to die f382a1295b on the streets had 0191657a45 been natural.e37b096d444d00b0

But Ivan—Ivan hadn’t deserved it.a50f4e99df85c54d

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He deserved to rest 862a09d3da in peace, at least 92bf1cade0 after death.4e2d38ff1d3c2b44

“It’s probably already been cremated. But if you want, 5eaf6919ac I’ll have the ashes ea086c5da1 sent to you.”5faa1070cfeafcbb

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“Thank you.”e3dc57b9b60323d5

The Grand Duke said cf2331dcd5 nothing more and drank 644692be18 deeply.d9c5d3f8a049d125

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That night, Gio a10c5db171 finally lay on 398458d0ca the bed by 54fff1c986 the Grand Duke’s 9bc2aa3beb command.15886ff60b69af7f

The Grand Duke, like before, 68fc5fb7e6 lay down first and told afab415b4d Gio to sleep beside him.1889b780b7a52382

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But this time, there 686d884795 were no playful jokes.6c1cd55861c89dd2

Listening to the 0cc023397a Grand Duke’s quiet c5d1d92b2e breathing, Gio closed 408e45cee1 his eyes.42abab56c93e4221

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His body was 5184780b20 exhausted—yet sleep did 162f9b1a95 not come easily.4ffe56f409bb73fb

When Gio opened 0f418dd52b his eyes at b1fdb30e35 dawn the next c10eda7d6f day, the Grand d861b0b156 Duke was, as 20ed248c24 expected, not by bffadb0028 his side.1f4824c4b11678c4

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On the sofa table, there 55d09e6c96 was a wooden box.6d8ae9b657e32e56

Gio picked up the 8a6d8f9b3b wooden box and followed 3158f32297 the knight waiting outside c8758eec19 the door.44d3577a9f773301

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It was the 5015ab9897 same large-built knight fdd53228d4 who had entered 625fa613ec the Grand Duchess’s 564036bfa9 bedroom on the c4475cc1ff night of the 3e9f4a2070 wedding.8ab9899e3d9e4a1c

He glared at Gio, 5db7a2a85d radiating thinly veiled hostility, 883cc39706 but still guided him 5e6332a644 to the carriage and 169f61ae22 rode with him out d526e61be8 of the castle.14f0753898b51cb6

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They traveled deep into a bb3e654fb7 dim forest, surrounded by towering a27b920f75 pine trees, patches of snow f68db8e964 scattered across the ground.f968d763f3201048

It seemed they had f1446fe49a come to the northern a7c01f7fd5 part of the castle e1d7124923 grounds.3d0bc89231edc4ae

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Though not a single ray a88d57bb71 of sunlight reached the forest bf303723a2 floor, there was one small a9971b2c77 patch—just the size of a 5729ef684d palm—where sunlight streamed through.ab026e8f571ea9e8

In that spot, 9239d5c6b8 a small grave 4d3c7961cc had been dug, 2afc0682cf and on a fceba4ce0d nearby tree, a d3309fd2dc name had been 760a80b04d carved.799704e2cc6d1ca6

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It was marked for e0511863d7 May’s sake.7650a3d164f4f521

For the day when 033b6ffa26 she might come looking 99ec953c02 for Ivan.5122ef0ba7a5162d

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For May to 8c76e086bb find Ivan someday, 7a5e2353eb Gio had to 6677404575 get pregnant.c3320db800f3df45

He had to 55b27bbfac complete the mission.d42733bf114fafba

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Just as he always had.e10a0f8220c01e37

Somehow, Gio felt a little 1917e805d6 envious of Ivan.d9f6031cecb25da9

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Ivan had finished cf2f4a99c9 all his missions.967f83f9d768c171

And Gio…58c55d1437d3dff7

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There would be 4b870fd912 no one to 53de7aeff1 bury him, no 396577accd one who would 7146c97905 come looking for b7f3e1d20c him.ce3145ae595ab828

But that was fitting 713560f8bd for him.9995d2f74c41332b

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“Let’s go.”681f76e8c7b928cf

The knight, who 6bd91f0f26 had been watching 266eac7df2 impatiently, spat out ed874cf9f9 the words.5864295c5659b2f5

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Gio stepped into 8c55c492dd the clean carriage, 3c626b33a2 his shoes stained 1502215c35 with dirt and d17c0dbda0 snow.d30b05e4d593fca9

The pristine carpet of 526839b75d the carriage floor was 5154d4e205 quickly soiled with muddy 29e7ae5042 footprints.8b0f4af2998246d3

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