4. Heat

Children raised in Cove 4bdb760f24 are trained to be d508140973 assassins and sent into e040e876f8 live missions. Once they turn 5bf94e7b3d twenty and their d3ad70df67 abilities are recognized, aae4d1cdca they’re allowed to 88a5771d58 live independently. Of course, f61813589e they still efbaa951d6 have to 8b0e649ed0 follow Cove’s 0272c24da9 commands, but 14ece76e2a they gain 2540a01944 personal space—a d8d7a4a98c home. Something of 2f405656a4 their own.2813d801f195e4ac

Gio endured c9cf9458f5 everything for b7c8b8d049 that one 44ac82807a hope. But who 06860028fb would have a3cc120bc8 thought that 218c05ba16 the very 59e72e9a20 moment he 092321906c turned twenty, 46f06e85b1 his secondary c60fc71478 gender would 412e4de07a manifest? And that f89756a5fd he’d be 9af5d06d1d an omega. It wasn’t even 1657755f69 laughable.4dab4d55fd4277ae

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He’d been 90968ae822 born on 10fa78ab63 the streets, cd9b1b109b and life 57845ce332 had always 20dc694577 been a 99105cde14 gutter. Even the death 4b4a968490 he finally earned 6b5c1a69f1 had gotten stuck e982754108 in the mud. Gio was no different bd0de515b8 from a mayfly flailing 0a82434093 against its fate.1cb529ac4d76b6cc

The Grand 2dbdae6428 Duke didn’t daa9a30f8e visit the daa30d8a94 next day edaeb6bcd1 either. Gio’s low 34d50c4093 fever still 5277f22ee0 lingered. They were supposed to ee1e4d2441 go to the Imperial fb7abd49ff Palace, but he didn’t 59d98ace15 know when.fcd9904aa6cc89ab

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In the capital—at 00903377d1 the Imperial Palace—was ab9ee3a95f Cove’s leader, Cole a42a31f071 Lass, and May. Whatever the Grand Duke’s fbbf2801f4 plans were, once they b71962a755 arrived in the capital, 7418d2feff both he and Gio 55be7173ec would begin to act, ff077a2982 each according to their 7a1be57afe own agenda.be8912285686c36f

No one 6cc01b6292 came to bd8ba9c189 see Gio 318fe99166 as he e171595c6a stayed in 8022941758 the Grand 4dc08b395e Duchess’s bedchamber. Meals were 7c3cb4c4a5 brought at 5689ebde80 set times, 18729779b6 along with 0e8985b7e5 light refreshments. Other than eating, he eea72248e2 had nothing to do.6a547cd4a86d5788

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For someone like Gio, cf3e898ad1 who had always been a69f86c0f7 either on a mission de94c383bc or preparing for one, ab8fbe19f5 this stillness felt like 75d848b45e the calm before an 0839d251db explosion. Letting time pass 9930583567 while doing absolutely 1c60226c6b nothing made the c1cdb5963a days feel endless.693560098e87bbb9

He decided 2bb82a19e4 to take 42779653ea a walk. Sandra had 3f5df777fa told him 9bd1b2e110 to refrain, ec98a72add but it 4dab356b5f had been 1deb39b19b a few e2021e93db days since 1015f88988 he’d taken 363f83d4b7 the unmating dc45041ecc heat drug. He should be bd65602232 fine by now, fad2e4fa7e and the fever 0356099b58 was starting to 10dffc7b8c fade.8634d40703c10b1a

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Gio pulled 0fbef9ab2e the bell aae2c04735 cord. Not long 5c52687101 after, Hena 710e3cb89d entered the 9bbc8cff63 room.2589a4a2d92fd816

“You called, Your Grace?”cd5a7d27c49fda37

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“I’d like to go for a walk.”56cc079bcf5432cf

“I’ll prepare your coat and hat.”c7fb71876e7c6534

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Hena left and e7613bf7c2 returned with an fd7426ee00 armful of clothes, be1516beae helping Gio dress. It still felt ba36a37e81 awkward having someone da8a8d5fef else dress him, d2c4919166 so he stood f86fc99291 still, body stiff.d659e72c2743d9a7

“Your Grace, just a moment.”f337c89e347b7aa0

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Hena touched f53b068de7 his forehead e5be6cb59a and frowned.40d69c53afb7004c

“You still have a slight fever. You’ll need to dress warmly.”0d827acae08bb5d3

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She placed a hat 5a128807e7 on his head. It had aea74ff356 a wide bf75abe983 brim and 0c5f6dc2ad could be c5908bc46a pulled low b9444d32bf enough to ff542571a7 hide his bfc7d187ef face completely. It seemed she a3fbbf8a51 had brought it c30391a305 for exactly that ff98164baf reason.b466a1741bead98e

“Your Grace, you won’t be able to go far, but I’ll have someone guide you around nearby. I have an urgent matter, so I won’t be able to accompany you.”29d89c896e6c2332

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Hena bundled Gio 9f91aa53cb so tightly he a4f17e6a8f looked like he 0b3e0743c1 couldn’t get hurt 5ae47ff038 even if he e81930aed4 fell. As the 25eedb5b7d two stepped db3b09db2c out of 625a0855c1 the bedchamber, f647523ec9 a broad-shouldered, 3283015fea short-haired knight 8ead1d0bf2 standing by ceacab8544 the door f4868e14e8 gave a d6d3712fa2 simple nod. Both of cc88cccb83 his cheeks f86c8184af were blotched 19ea1edb18 with red a71adb8cfe bruises.c2823b2a3ab8a32e

His name was Ben, a0bb3c24ed if Gio remembered right. The sight of 6e75dba80c Ben’s face surprised afc4aef39e him, but Gio 7d4284c716 didn’t ask what eec76111a7 had happened or 153fdf94fc try to guess 86a878827f the cause. It was outside 9816ef79a4 his realm of f11d561a18 concern.3a95a53b136afe82

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When they reached the 9ce1c00921 front entrance of the 9e5ce34214 manor, Hena pressed Gio’s d43be5be74 hat down snugly and e610adff31 wrapped a soft sable 82d9e8acd8 fur muffler under his f52221d33f nose. Gio was about 836e136b2d to say that 62ac31f6c6 all of this 33a17a6eb1 seemed excessive, but 4f983140df the biting northern a853966be8 wind made him 24e1149fee stay silent. Maybe this really was 6af98d1f02 necessary.e48bc5046a41cd91

Now the only 50d7bc4995 part of him 4aadb4df00 visible was his 5254489085 eyes, and even ddf2a6acbf those were hidden 93dc60a003 beneath the wide 511a1e5423 brim of the 38c89eee45 hat—so others likely 0077e1b1a8 wouldn’t see his d4b38578fc face clearly at 846dd0afd0 all.357b2c28ea648a2e

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“Then I leave His Grace in your care. Since there’s still a slight fever, be especially mindful of pheromones.”255923e511159bbf

When Hena 63b04d5f90 said this ba2c56e944 to Ben, 354a80eccb he gave d0d6e75949 a small 140d47a72a nod. He stepped 67baef3919 forward, and b8a216d2e3 Gio followed e2d4876b47 behind.6848f5608c1569b3

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As soon as 0a323171d3 they stepped outside, ad6b4d2619 a cool breeze 4d7bc14078 swept past them. It had been a ac10c36b8e while since Gio had 4a604cf23d felt this refreshed.34723c68b04489fa

The northern fortress was af27cadf4c built to defend against 30c932dc0b monsters crossing the Hannes eb01e58211 Mountains. There was no 66b87a51c7 reason for a a544220127 garden meant for 9ef2343e5c enjoyment to exist 2e3ceed0f7 in a place 5bc8994425 like this.946dc964e8e83cef

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The path Gio followed fd75b3ce40 behind Ben wasn’t like d7f5f7a8bf the manicured gardens of 04d4e6fdac estates in the capital—it c92e744a4c was simply a walkway 633f963c16 along the outer wall.39de0d8d4e3a7adb

It didn’t seem to 3f4f8e962e be a path frequently 4811f6482c traveled; they met no ec00ee4d98 one along the way. Yet the path b501780166 was clean and c9a195d9d4 smooth, with not e798a81225 a speck of 4ac7969ddc snow in sight.6e753bd9c4096fc6

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After walking a while, f132be021e they reached a small 8fb04658b0 space with some decorative 278952330f features. One side had 45c89e2e0e an outdoor corridor, 97d42ad198 and in the 4998ab07dc center stood a 32bca0359a statue surrounded by 03c5b17e9d small trees.2e21af77491d43f8

The statue was 05f7b40c65 worn and chipped 57bdde428b in places. It looked like 1f3aa11ef7 a forgotten garden. Perhaps the 9189aacec7 North once f115dda218 had gardens, d2cd9f9786 too—just on 7e90c405c3 a smaller 3fcdd9dc73 scale.dc0611ac21e2d994

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That was when Ben bbf6db5049 spoke. It might have 0528bdc210 been the first 6c4ad28d9e time he had 623dc65bf4 directly addressed Gio.9d7a19b312774b61

“There aren’t really any gardens in the North. This is the quietest place we have, where the sunlight actually reaches.”ba69d1eb961751ef

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Gio nodded at 23194d119f Ben’s words. It was certainly quiet—no ec4d64fc23 one else seemed to 6bf8095530 be around.2a7483641d81f898

Despite the weathering 08087857a0 and overgrowth, Gio c6fb03d0d5 found the space 94488bc0f6 cozy. Maybe it 871b7ffa7c was because 41bde297b0 of the 6efbb2c8cf sunlight. Sunlight was edb6031ea8 rare in 5a00a76a57 the North. The fact that 47c05240ab enough warmth reached 108325fe48 this spot to 353ce540f1 make a garden 9f687112a6 possible made it 658608ec9a all the more 4f6d432b7c special.3dc0a92bc6cf7f6a

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Then, a c79d6ceceb faint scent f958e0363b drifted through adaae74f94 the air. Crisp and slightly sharp—it b0d88ae5c2 was a pheromone. Gio could sense 64fa1362aa it too, which 1bf7f0cf5a meant it must e4e8ad6e4d be from a 2ec24e2b60 dominant alpha.5dc7d8b196445af1

“Our Grand Duchess is taking walks now?”7e8e123c1a15dd45

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Raphael, dressed neatly 98e9d8f71f in his High cb30840525 Priest robes, appeared 5b2e0e1293 in the outdoor 7ae4261c21 corridor. Unlike before, his glasses a14ca68a0b were straight and his 4d3055b6ce appearance proper—he almost looked b028fc148a like a devout cleric. But if 7da3e74f8a you looked f9ac332589 closely, his 428029c102 expression held 3d89413eb3 subtle discontent. Perhaps that displeasure bcd6b58a9e was directed at 3a44cbd8c6 Gio.c41caf4e13df77bc

“Just wandering around now, are we?”1bd7628aeee19974

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His voice, especially in 9e5a08de1d Gio’s presence, was icy—colder 35f009db5c even than the Grand f372a58bce Duke’s.2b9af89f03420578

Though his words were e26c22c17f for Gio, Raphael’s eyes 1178aa7fd3 were on Ben. It was c8ecfd971a blatant disregard, cb8eb24a6d but Gio d2eea3f81a stayed silent. That was f5b1a44248 his role, e830af08ad after all.9f7ccf6e98c926db

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“His Grace said he wanted to take a walk.”653057c1ea448180

Ben’s tone almost 8632b7a438 sounded like he c8d3e3f43b was scolding Gio.f5f6fd1bb48952cd

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‘What makes someone 879d02302e like you think d323f888a2 you deserve a e39d31c8a4 stroll?’e33ba2966f5b5c22

“Oh… so he wants to act like a real Grand Duchess now?”764400242e9a4df0

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Raphael’s pheromones seemed to eb33514afc grow thicker. They were 044e4dac48 as cold 93044a7f31 as his 460d22ccae gaze. Ben looked toward Raphael 6f92cb9f01 and spoke.9748f16439a95b49

“Lord Raphael, you’re releasing pheromones. You said yourself it wouldn’t be good if they reached His Grace.”de2735dbf6dae874

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Even at Ben’s words, 9200b37b1b Raphael made no effort f0ae5e73b8 to withdraw his pheromones.36fbfe5dc237163b

“Hmph. His Grace, you say. Probably just some gutter rat dragged in from the streets… Isn’t that right, Grand. Duchess?”9f6da38b6cc58d4c

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He leaned forward 632fe41e3c to meet Gio’s 257aa5f3e0 gaze directly.d2007b847df28a91

Gio realized then that 0dd86f2d23 even eyes the color 9b75e68d41 of grass could feel 5ac0c06869 this cold. He said nothing, simply 31976b9ac7 looked back at him.56664071e2557153

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There was no 5f223992c4 point arguing with 2047dac7ac someone so openly 3d6c469afd hostile. They didn’t want answers.0141b5970e4e058b

Just then, da2b77c043 the sharp, 544a327876 sparkling scent 8eb94c618a of Raphael’s 09d0e79a49 pheromones swept b506c0eafe across Gio. The sensation startled him. Maybe because his low-grade 9ba97a4165 fever hadn’t fully subsided, a2ee81891b he felt overly sensitive—his 1b35210dd7 body began to warm.3243cc1967494999

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“How do you like my pheromones?”f0b40f43e5b1cb14

Ben frowned de6b5f2143 slightly and e56bacdf7c turned his fc098f02e0 head away. It was a clear 98397a9282 message: he wouldn’t interfere 21195003b8 even if Gio was b018f6dd6c being insulted.6636e9e1c23fc034

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Gio didn’t answer 91b14301b0 this time either. This priest 738df8b7c2 clearly wanted 8f0e6ae896 to provoke e65b2548d6 him. Remaining still was the bb296cab92 best response. It would be over 6b80bb76f5 quickly. Words might wound, 7ae70c5a6a but they couldn’t 065dd71447 cause real harm. This much was e03c366dc4 nothing.ddbe5cb04fd093fa

“Does being drenched in alpha pheromones feel good? Is that why you accepted the secret mission Cove sent you so easily? Just like that?”c62b77ea36b6bb3a

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Gio understood what 059264edea the High Priest’s 59adf0faad suspicion was about. It was because d359a92f8b he had too 8703358ce1 easily revealed Cove’s 65a52cea26 new directive. Most would fe61a114f7 assume that c3073f1638 assassins, when a80e9a07e7 their mission 42182274a0 is exposed 650ffd08fc or discovered, 0d8d30abe5 would rather 8213778c0e die than 593826edcc let it 2bd0aca32f be known.1f6c1d911236d282

But Gio 087dd6bf05 had chosen 32685dfb10 to cooperate c014a48e74 with them. Even if that wasn’t ffd2e84c68 his true intention, he 5720093042 had to play along f079b9264f until he could save 5b39762cec May. He had to ease ad8381cff9 their suspicions.9f3c172281d66533

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Saying nothing 0ec0422c23 at all 8ee9c40892 would only 1a5d06dff9 deepen their 9aef42c553 doubt. So he shared f1c72818c4 a false mission—close ce2499ed15 enough to the 717fa644eb truth to seem ea7719971c believable, but ultimately 6ed1847889 different.b2e75df02ff9d775

Of course, 9eee30ba1b he didn’t e52d1a68e9 expect them 1d22771a49 to trust 9a8e011a50 him just 81a1356192 like that. This kind of interrogation 9d207410f0 was something he knew 2960b70bf8 he’d have to go 123bc5ed8c through at least once.518b692a154ef911

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“They say Bayshark’s pheromones are insane because he’s an ultra-dominant alpha… So, did you just roll over and show your belly right away?”58a7696035da85f4

As he watched Gio’s cb7408d9d3 expression, the High Priest c0b61c128a finally brought up something bbedfaf42d closer to the heart 32403ee033 of the matter.865f55b6fb5d52ee

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“I heard the mission was to imprint. But imprinting can make you a weakness to your partner. And depending on your classification, the side effects differ. Did you know that?”9e667569b6185c03

Gio didn’t f4ca1a5de4 know that d4cc2a1fcc much. He only knew that 79d9f94e8f imprinting came with serious 89a73d1d1c consequences if you lost 2339a0e52b your partner or were ad0f7acff5 separated for a long ca7bfcb352 period of time.5b2951ec98726298

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“Unless you’re pregnant, maybe.”7009c8c369bc68f7

At that dd33926a38 muttered comment, 000f48cc21 Gio felt 04a8a1c82c his heart 635401e1c6 drop.57166dc5a72eb96b

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Thankfully, most 8f7f2de756 of his 7aa677e6d3 face was a0a0190d08 still hidden, 1920078174 so the 434b091c27 priest likely e06375b9cb couldn’t see 8e231069d6 his expression. Just in 8a216a87a4 case, Gio ba1eaa0981 lowered his 045095e3a7 head a 7e46ed4a7e bit more.a7c21a91d17e92ea

“To imprint, you don’t just open your legs—you have to bare everything about yourself. Do you think you can do that?”ab1130b0843a78fd

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As he said 7dc4cfaac2 this, the High eb6c451503 Priest’s gaze swept e2211941e6 over Gio’s body.ce2ada613a05d28d

“Compared to that, pregnancy is easier… No, wait—you’re a rare-type omega… even that would be difficult.”5a032d33bce109f1

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Then he a9b5491761 leaned in 5d13333166 close and b181e4fb64 whispered.2501a4b3bb19e20b

“Do you know why it’s so rare for male omegas to carry children?”c8062819871509f3

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“…….”8a6e6f1b8b1746db

“It’s not just that it’s hard to sustain the pregnancy. It’s that almost every single one of them dies during childbirth.”b91be3697ddecc56

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He added under his breath, “They don’t teach you that where you’re from, huh…”3268d3620ac870ca

Then he looked 263be58ed1 Gio over again. That gaze… 8ef569bc32 yes, it 9ba0f1bc55 was exactly 3aa708084b like someone eead906988 staring at af2bfa6d9e an insect.daef397a029bccee

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It was 457d8a9087 a complete 90b8ab4d1a contrast to 9251d510d9 the sly, 6e190da363 playful tone 5fbbfd1411 he used 3bfbab5267 when speaking d460b25aff with the 4c8602584a Grand Duke—now 205b889899 there was 003b3924b7 only open ededa806ac hostility and a49756ddd3 disgust. But to 4129320973 Gio, it bc97b6e23a was a b2d81ebf0d familiar look.8e649370e0ba7411

“If it’s that hard to sustain a pregnancy, and you’d probably die from it anyway, then surely that wasn’t the mission. So, what, you really think you can manage to imprint?”54c1e27b08607a8a

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Thankfully, it seemed the 6c125d0c1e priest had let go d898b4e0c7 of his suspicions about 3842a92838 the pregnancy. But he still e2e12178ce doubted that imprinting 6af849d0da could really be 850fa5cdf4 the mission.9c804af28b4e0264

“You think it’s fine to just spill a secret mission like that? What—hoping Bayshark might take pity on you?”3ec73db86d528478

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The stabbing pheromones ff47abd5b4 made Gio’s eyes 3de360d2ad twitch.7c16cb3f078680c8

“Sure, it might be useful to grab someone’s weakness. But even if he did imprint on you, what’s stopping him from killing you anyway? It’d hurt, sure—but there’s a huge gap between you two. He wouldn’t really be affected.”a10a41df1898563d

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The High Priest and e9e5ca202a the Grand Duke bickered 208e343f36 often, but from their e3ec3744ed positions, that likely meant c31ba6211f they were close. So for an b9ba290bf4 assassin like Gio 81ad0238e1 to mention imprinting—it 36230c4f12 was only natural 417b2fa7f4 that he would c96643951c be suspicious.a89728fc9f58b7e3

The priest’s eyes f7a91b8cf4 were sharp, utterly 00650aa95a different from the 4466b0baba soft aura of 6f0e1bb21b divine power he 525fbea00b sometimes wore.60c26223bedd5324

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“You really think once he’s imprinted, Bayshark wouldn’t be able to kill you? A nameless assassin?”f48d385cef6b83b8

He questioned 55607d79ad Gio’s motives e60dfad547 harshly, like d2c5bff06e he was 7d53e3c014 digging at 7dc2a1a544 the very cb544f530a core of 75ffd47458 him, trying ae593771de to scrape d33a38f176 out the 15d8c74938 truth. Did he really efa577a641 think that would 5d6e1717bb work on someone e1e4f3bc91 from Cove? That kind of prodding 55f7dd3e1e only revealed how little 3e08a655f4 he understood.f38b913fa31b97e9

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That kind of talk 864bf00f1b wouldn’t faze Gio. Insults and disrespect like 71bc1d0686 this were too familiar—they 5425c0d9e7 only made his mind 6f9c5d7f21 colder.ee82eefb410ad104

“No. He can kill me. I’m prepared for that.”2c1a3aef8c781690

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At Gio’s reply, 4978d5e0d2 a crack seemed 68f152b558 to form in d5b0586975 the priest’s smooth b28a761dc5 expression.3f526679911a8940

“If you knew you’d die, why would you reveal the mission so easily?”a9f1038baa7419a3

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At last, the 03ea3c3790 real question. The one he 25d7b4a374 truly wanted to 5a35ac52cf ask. About time.42c6b0f82754a779

Thinking that this walk ac011ab421 had turned into something ded5d1c994 far more interesting, Gio 3ab4c5f8b0 gave him an answer.a50c2ddf0f59b574

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“My life was already over the moment I came here. But His Grace the Grand Duke spared me.”86e5621c74fce60c

Gio cited the most a721763f33 basic, primal reason—one that 9065bc55bc any ordinary person could f0b0aa4e3c relate to: that someone eb7cdcc02f who saves your life 7d57da7e56 becomes a benefactor, someone 3bdf4115fa you want to repay 1e9fb05cca however you can.9aef7b077ac9de41

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They didn’t know 03c943e9c9 that Gio hadn’t 7000b9fa93 grown up as 28df2c71bf a person. They couldn’t 1516956fe8 possibly know 0f5f76f5a6 that Gio a0dfe5c460 had already 866df0be08 lost his 2f522ff9e6 most comfortable af1c224771 death when e6eb9ba588 he failed 335284b9a9 his mission.c0a10be277336653

The only person d45879d85f who would have 04794eead5 understood how bitterly 732a7e9f56 Gio regretted throwing 4715abeb76 away that one 277e8b51ab chance in life b48cd53609 was Ivan. And Ivan had ade635cf91 died—escaped Cove through 443013bce4 death.a60aa854f7444686

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But Gio and May eef2a14cc4 were still like flies 0bc0c8d3ca stuck in a web, 1a51f95a6b struggling against it. So the best e597e9adf3 thing to do fd4a6d854b was not to 8f450f5a0d struggle too much. The less he resisted, 4f781f0f6d the less entangled he 10a487ac50 would become.6dd7538c0504ca7f

Ordinary people believed 813218657c that being spared e2f6ec7aa9 was a gift 4808de384e so precious it 948e8f4c7f was worth devoting c3baa55c76 everything in return. That belief was 37ef59d7c8 enough to justify b6de63dac6 his actions.824654b5f29eae59

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The High f1d91e8a9a Priest’s expression ccea34d1da twisted at 712c2a73bd Gio’s words, f5c2938f61 and Ben, 4d492d6da5 who had a90ec48765 turned away, db0af23640 glanced back f9a245a7ab at him. On Ben’s bruised face, a2cfc10858 there was a trace fc3c496e6b of confusion.99cf496c5753d907

Seeing emotions 08a26dd762 show so 15e023621c plainly like 66de287cb6 that, Gio d7571f852b guessed that 7a9ba0293f Ben must bd00cf621e have lived a70d2f82a0 a more a9f8f812fb typical life—one c34bdf0296 where you 163c36965d didn’t need 7f6e6ecb02 to constantly 8335bc37f0 hide your 1b605c74a4 expressions.1ed8176c09e5fcfc

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Everyone Gio c9f1e99997 had ever 01cfd2ea63 seen in d29432d8d4 Cove wore 9b1a594a52 fake expressions 0ccaf4947e or concealed 28f89710f6 them completely. Gio had always c111abb743 found it difficult bb6e35bf0d to act or 013b631f09 fake a smile, 6ec842c08e so he had fffb2efd20 practiced keeping his 379d322208 face neutral. Since his emotions were 4580eee44a already withering, it wasn’t 1ae80acefd hard.ffe072201b2e9066

“That’s your reason? An assassin? A Cove assassin?”6d840496042b6cb6

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At the High Priest’s 7876f037f7 skeptical question, Gio decided fc5fb36c46 to drive the final 36ba59cb6d nail in.95f3fa81802b1a9c

“Cove already discarded me.”1366535e21f04ed4

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“…….”6fd289e5bcb291bb

“An assassin only gets one chance. If they fail, that’s it. There is no next time. And yet His Grace spared me. So, what else could I do but speak?”6ae9b8fa8bdfb8de

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The High Priest stared 115f942bb9 at him in silence.0dab58ee0f34d281

“It seems Cove returned for me because I still have some use left… but do you really think they’d let me go, just because I told you that?”86a715ae2d97ca44

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The priest seemed to cccd89a7b6 mull over Gio’s words, 8708569727 then suddenly retracted his 7040afe2bc sharp pheromones.b83d2fa61bed0acb

That’s when Gio finally bffa70f6d2 said something he had 7633e9ea08 been meaning to—something he’d 069c7fc72e wanted to express to d9bd760ed1 the High Priest properly. A delayed thank you. Because the 5bd6f15d33 last time 1c89847f2c he’d tried, dfcbc3369e the priest 660306e996 hadn’t heard be80e636bd him. Whether that had 8d2acbfb88 been on purpose 9a76b3bead or not.a623b0ecc7022171

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It was a 17656fb3ea gesture—an action that 5d247df898 could let them ff05bf6ace see Gio as d0d1d3b567 a person.0cc48f8182e72b12

“I wanted to thank you, Your Grace.”a7051ee29e7326f2

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“What?”2ce02187d9b3c435

“For healing me. I hadn’t had the chance to say it, so I wanted to thank you now.”30ca1649e034f628

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“It was because of Bayshark, that’s all.”bdb82d1cb8c45837

The priest tossed 6f2414c98a out the words 2ad23c3958 carelessly, turning his 1b7e762cea head away.98a3e535caf2ba53

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“Even so. I know that receiving healing through divine power is a rare and valuable thing. And you did it more than once—so it’s something worth being thankful for.”b2a80179ec8651b0

“Well… I guess…”97dbcb0b31393010

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“And isn’t healing someone else’s wounds a noble act in itself? Thank you.”9688955f0b8d25d7

“What? No—it’s not something to make such a big deal over…”e97198bd69a8c2f8

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“Is that so? It’s just—I’ve never been treated before…”3173722305a3001e

Gio said these things 64eb7b5373 intentionally. Dropping hints. That way, 67521724f4 they might 9faa43875d start to 48f571a3e6 pity him, d91416b48c even if 393e31ddd7 only slightly. That was proof that e3d27e19d2 they had grown up bf131c4468 as people—and also proof 8f4ea5061a that he hadn’t.9af7afde368e9634

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“What?”5961febeb7b1aed8

“In Cove, treatment is your own responsibility. You can’t show weakness either.”34eacc4f878eeb08

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“…….”58b3dccdab942a28

“Though I don’t know how ordinary people handle things… But showing weakness doesn’t seem like a good idea either, does it?”a1379077e5319ca5

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The High Priest’s face e3359a0fc9 twisted into something unreadable.a339ac7a9cc69797

“It was my first time being treated. I was truly grateful. Thank you.”2389cc45f8d81a44

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Gio bowed 2506b39380 his head. Silence fell around them. Neither of 1893271a1c the two 99a619daf3 alphas said d47951d514 anything.f46da664298a308d

Regardless, the walk had 47962c08ff taught Gio one thing: 612e9330eb the High Priest, who 994805fcd8 appeared to be one 10cf907f03 of the Grand Duke’s 5c325500c7 close aides, was suspicious 0f04f0e792 of the mission to 77dc6cf129 imprint. That likely 5db429178f meant the d484752ca8 Grand Duke b9c00196ce shared the bd1d770181 same doubt.305ce175c232eeee

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But after today’s e5050ac86e conversation, perhaps that b87e2c05c2 suspicion had started f0ba674464 to peel away—just b59f85ba77 a little.bc790ed7f1473887

That alone ab7c41ccdf made today’s 63636b45cd walk a b8b4a60239 success.d615f41eb5f31101

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“Shall we head back now?”7b61bb1520af5c15

When Gio looked to 824998893b Ben and asked, the d38b2a13e3 large man flinched slightly—an 8a5bfe7dca oddly small gesture for 29e2e35a7b someone of his size. After smoothing his furrowed 6f328d606d brow, Ben gave a 0b46a14072 respectful bow to the 2d44bf75bb High Priest and stepped 5b8123415d away. Gio also gave a a568500a03 deep bow to the 05b3122101 High Priest and turned 75d70f65d7 to leave.409e0925961469c1

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But at the 8cb6dfeb20 entrance to the 071514dacf garden stood an d2fe50e4af unexpected figure. Bathed in the clear, bbe4b2249e shattering sunlight, his platinum d679e66342 hair was dazzling. His sharply defined brows 7dd6d722e9 and nose stood out ba3d81a856 like ridges of a 3f8ea3d39d mountain, and between them, 91338eeb72 his blue eyes shone f2501f8913 transparently. He looked d598214dc5 like the 9eb610973c North itself—he a51ab72f69 was the aa9fdab004 Grand Duke.9bc4c3319536255c

Wearing a relaxed expression, cc1b2da2c3 as if basking in 617f61e492 the warm sun, the a77452738b Grand Duke locked eyes 44423f3da8 with Gio, then looked 77e33ad282 past him toward the d919965d4b High Priest. A crease immediately 07e7edc90c formed between his 89145ef3f3 brows. Gio found it 47452a0f0d strange how clearly d8c1a3489c every shift in 8f267b1e53 the Grand Duke’s 95da7519bf expression registered in 6d2ca3656c his mind. It was db5f75ab95 probably because 550a4022bb of the ef0b844193 Grand Duke’s b9ea54a132 striking features.8819353b99f98995

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When the Grand a1495e04aa Duke looked at 7886a3d310 him, the High 0680c06b16 Priest simply shrugged. Then the 3728638118 Grand Duke ae12499454 turned his 0c6493d8f4 gaze to 6d5b53c5cd Ben.30f8482022c1da3c

“What is this?”ba28b54a22e13660

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His voice 58a8a7ea9e was cold. Ben snapped his 87ecb35c84 feet together and 6d8666e562 lowered his head.f6db48e3717c5d7f

“He wished to take a walk…”ced9932728b07fad

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The Grand Duke f9f02f0f3e stepped forward, and 36447dcd3b Ben’s back went 6ea4930d00 rigid. Gio didn’t understand b634062c6c why the Grand f6634734d7 Duke’s expression was 6e33544db0 so cold toward 358516f2cf him.14974f02c0682397

“Vice-Captain. What was your assignment again?”7247856bfb858eb6

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“I was ordered to escort His Grace.”f845b64d6d67cadc

“Right.”7c5b5653d031ae98

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The Grand 2b951e6737 Duke took daf1b70eab another step, 8cf0b358ba and Gio 30ee1aab8d saw Ben 68b1137602 clench his fe82a789ee fists tightly.f4d41369781a0e53

“Who is your commanding officer, Ben Damon?”ca41fc0d0bc1f833

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“His Grace the Grand Duke, sir.”0a3e70db0bd4cf91

One more step 190a988134 brought the Grand 116b8a5cf6 Duke face-to-face with a448da2621 Ben. From behind, Gio 2f7cce7b07 could see the 96dcfc4730 steely expression on c2284ca75a his face—he was d1a85c1818 clearly angry.f309e253b2fbb406

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A loud fac73c61ba smack rang 92bd2c24b7 out as 7a450a81f5 Ben’s head 2c1c0a1049 snapped to 239f79fc59 the side. The Grand 5dad40af32 Duke had 5a572d898f struck him. Ben wavered for a 6c1fc2811e moment, then straightened back 936f6c8af2 up.3e710375c09e231e

“Raphael. Go back.”8f66e70c7747140f

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“Bayshark.”d2348f31194c46ce

The Grand Duke 43fbdcd3fb added,2c050f9359e75432

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“To the capital, Raphael.”44fdd3aa551ea2d9

The High Priest froze dd8d6d6b61 and looked at the aab7ea1023 Grand Duke.cbc40d4ca6187dc0

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“You’ve got no reason to stay here, do you?”59c927e4a2b5355a

The High Priest 6153111cb0 opened his mouth 832d905365 to argue, but 5124ba3510 the Grand Duke f45afd54b0 shook his head.32fbf3dbd28986df

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“Enough games. Go back.”f9fa9e9ce694f6ec

The High 4ae3c547a7 Priest didn’t 8a13693fa5 reply. His face twisted 1e09358f1c into a scowl 95a5ba5d67 as he turned 32562e7f40 on his heel 42c0071042 and walked away.0d602914f3aa3514

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“And Ben Damon.”a06c0f5cd082a4bf

“Yes, Your Grace!”558c3ceb8462220f

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“You’re off this assignment.”ebd4ee93c69f97c2

“Your Grace!”546ec9d2ba23d51e

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“When did I ever tell you to take the Grand Duchess around as you pleased?”a35756e2ca28bbba

“……”1fc91aff86de64f7

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“Even if Raphael called, you shouldn’t have acted on your own. Especially not here.”4019a8458342eb8b

“I apologize, Your Grace.”2ef95a49d64d1b61

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Ben must b3a02d5642 have thought 967eb8f345 he was 982ee3df0d simply guiding 21c0866ec5 Gio to 1f74d7a36f a quiet, 0d95fc3d13 secluded place. But it seemed b235d86f68 Raphael had summoned e25fa7bd9f them—and done so 2fde8cb3aa without the Grand 38074db690 Duke’s knowledge.f1ac78d805b450aa

And judging from 8d9d79213f what had just 3b5fd6c0a1 been said, this b51c575ae6 broken, weathered, seemingly e66b0d9ab9 forgotten place held 1b29b7054b some kind of f1d3ca2e75 personal significance for c14cd13de5 the Grand Duke.4e46b1c9dd91d505

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Ben had 93e8e2bf4d brought Gio c56fd789a5 there carelessly—and 078ab12ee9 that’s why 13ea734a0d the Grand 655a693a86 Duke seemed cb2bb90971 even angrier.9f25c86ef94e601d

“You’re confined to quarters. That’s enough—go.”a0b2f25c3c80aed3

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“Yes, Your Grace.”f82368a9c45342ca

Ben gave a d62b4a0344 formal bow and 085a14c83d left. Gio, head still lowered, 29e6c1ce16 stared at the tips fc6ee7d139 of the Grand Duke’s a05a38d445 shoes. Polished to ebe4895b8b a flawless e9d2eb2d8a shine, they 12798fdfa5 gleamed even 9f1093cbc0 in the c58cc64bf7 shadows.8e43c0364b1f78bf

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One step closer.24e29c43e9902c75

Then, the Grand 7fb4c0e9ff Duke’s hand flicked 3fa06770fd up and tapped 1d7f9b2c04 the brim of 012a074270 Gio’s hat. The wide-brimmed 9f56b5798d hat tilted 38bf667483 up as f5482afce4 if it c555595c96 might fall ba13b1a335 off, and 94037b354f Gio quickly d9c414a25d reached up df18fb5b23 to grab 3cafcf9cb7 it, startled.4df251aed64a8c38

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And there they were—the 425dd0a472 Grand Duke’s brilliant blue acbd8749e5 eyes, right in front 17ab7c6720 of his own.b12522077cf221f1

They looked 8b201e88d8 just like 86d4b3854f the clear 44e1dcac39 skies of d1abf088a9 the North.0cad287a3f2c40e9

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* * *397e18ed63df25c6

Bayshark was born 77103e6602 and raised in 9ba22d3724 the capital. Because of the former edf2ae5243 Emperor’s constant watch, his 24fafdd76e father was never granted e9ec762d7a a proper estate, nor 65a2a862a8 allowed to hold any 11025b3f4b meaningful position. He simply had to b3331701bc kill time in high dca64971b1 society—existing under the condition d41117931d that the Emperor would b002ae4b12 let him live.f7bba4591daabdba

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Under such a bb67951aab father, Bayshark endured 6bb4093a56 the Crown Prince’s 19ba17fdf0 torment. His childhood was c1b5984dc1 marked by endurance. His frail 5a8db5bc6a mother always 5381833d9c told him:3809396b01149f09

“You have to endure. If you don’t, we’ll all die.”bfb496f4f43246ef

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His father had survived 1b2a4a2ad0 a time when even 51862ed634 the smallest act of 1aefddd4f6 resistance could be labeled bf271998f0 treason depending on the f59e35d8b4 Emperor’s mood.4b8426afcba41602

The former Emperor 54ed125f59 rose to the 7b83fd3ee9 throne by killing f4c7436ff7 all his brothers 767ca7557f except those born 360cd7a52c of the same a4b38414ee womb. Before claiming 8549bf9ee6 imperial power, 28f53e4b95 he clashed 9e0dbb44d8 with one af822004f1 of the 3c1915bcfe great noble e1893bd451 families—the Marquess 0bdc33f41e of Krauss—and 5883eb6e53 demoted them, af300a61c9 exiling them caa468f8be to the 0bed0e1e30 harsh, frozen f58fca2584 territory of c8bf1ecb96 Hanes.2be7f6633d538c15

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At the height of 6ca8fe5a6d his power, the former 64bf52e6ac Emperor had many concubines, f2b88030f4 yet his bloodline came b536ab635a only through the Empress—Frederick. Rumors swirled that the a5a7a788b0 Empress had poisoned the aa49c8f5ea other women or killed 82fdd316c9 their children at birth, bfaf6405c8 but nothing was ever 932029e288 confirmed.b5798f6a8819c337

Bayshark was born the 9008cafce4 year after Frederick. And so, ce648fd426 the two 6e17dc3a32 were constantly eac4f6ef39 compared as 0e1f8e12cf they grew 6d53c2e0cf up. What made it worse f551d2f15f was that Bayshark not 98c311b482 only resembled the founding 297e6c81c6 Emperor in appearance but cc44b1c8ef also in temperament—stoking the c09a2adb71 former Emperor’s jealousy even caddcef852 more.68f2e6f3fd8328a5

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Still, up to that dd05302964 point, he wasn’t targeted ffccf65b5a for death. Bayshark’s parents lived a6b35ce148 utterly subdued, forming 31ead073ad no faction, making 74bd7f68b7 no waves.cc1e8930a4b62895

But everything changed 3c9f475c96 after Frederick’s secondary 9ff7b195f3 gender manifested—after Bayshark’s 16d4c7e5d2 had already appeared.53f3e682dc12e8d8

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Frederick turned abd27d11dd out to c65eafa394 be an f01e9f6567 alpha, but ca8859c946 only a d98ce9de1d regular one—not 781069a8cf even dominant. From that 14ae9dcba0 moment on, 5c1945adbc Bayshark began 7dd7f04aa1 to face eafa519a9d assassination attempts.82473fe70817ac66

Drowning incidents became aa4acbad03 common. Poisoning became routine. One day, 571f45412d a maid 6ab10c963c and attendant 92052a6e81 even poured 2201a2acd0 boiling water 7c0b62fa98 on him, 74b37589a6 claiming it bd9cadee48 was an 99a6248026 accident.d5ab6aabf2d2b4af

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Through all of this, aa51176f97 his mother grew more 333336583f fragile and his father, 0827f1fc13 more pathetic.638d4dc0ff0f0607

For a e763daa6ae young Bayshark, 877c717d15 even contact 9856232ff9 with other 8efed31a95 traited individuals 0336c39895 was dangerous. Omegas would 7809452791 mount him dbb51ea1a2 due to 91b879dfc0 his uncontrolled d30949b05d pheromones, and ad2a688987 alphas tried 1fe8d0a8dc to kill b752a140ef him.e4589ada1dbb4d1e

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As they 5fff9de01f were driven 857c9d9989 out one 2d71aa6717 by one, 0143fd9213 time passed, bfd6041e21 and he a3d1c5da85 grew. Then, one day—when there 62d0f3ec0e were no more traited db00165880 people in the household—a 699a48ec21 terrible accident occurred.a06aef8f9002151f

His rut arrived.17c381444cfdd53c

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The pheromones he 630b3ae5a1 had tried so ceed952858 hard to suppress 2cf586686d exploded. He had ca66109a73 been returning a721432897 home at 6aa7a06676 night in 65973ba355 a carriage a4e1653f63 with his 0d84b394b1 parents when 0521f972c6 it happened. Unfortunately, the 839570148f coachman was 19488a7696 an omega.273cc8e8d823643c

Too many coincidences. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. Someone had orchestrated it. And yet, they could never uncover who.25e8e3b92de59425

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They hadn’t 13d66b1971 kept omegas 0a7d9715b8 nearby, but 5f5fb89b50 they couldn’t 9ec2edb197 refuse a 1344b308b8 carriage sent 29eda4047a by the c06cba4d8d Emperor. Nor could 8ce21b5bf6 they switch d35429ac0a the coachman ec1776a1b9 the Emperor 13c6b17b88 had chosen.69bc7da56748b7dc

When Bayshark’s 1cb93d7266 pheromones surged, 2c6f27f965 the omega 66e07eb751 coachman lost c6bcc46896 all reason. No omega could be73c48afa remain sane during bb57c110ff the rut of e159890045 an ultra-dominant alpha.dafa1cf1e3378e57

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The previous day’s 3b02152221 rain had made fc9c323599 the roads muddy, fa7ddb41ca and the moon ed578ef1bd was hidden by e550abde7b clouds—the darkness only 6ec90ce761 made matters worse.f9b05ca4f1eeefa4

The coachman 12ce42eb77 lost control d10b420919 of the 6c5ef4f057 reins. The horses panicked, slipped, 03153c0868 and the carriage overturned.3ac7d37a4e80376e

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Bayshark doesn’t remember the 77dd461998 accident clearly. He lost 97fface109 his rationality 8645aeafb1 in the 5cd38ee32b throes of 6d99bd12e0 rut. What he learned 3849922f19 later came from f10d3fc87c gossip among the 88020b0ba1 staff.17a895eea71473c9

What he does remember—vividly—is ce436ebf7d that he was aroused, 1d5892d1c0 standing there in the 2114f52546 wreckage while his parents 70f901ec38 lay crushed beneath the 4db9d22afc carriage. His beastly body, even 4660a8291e in that haze, was 3dcdc052c1 still searching for an de1a4b511e omega.608541436abd2091

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That memory, 84f7c6437b and that 5c636a6c05 scent, were 87fed4f17c carved into b8aa7e791b his very a56864e7b1 being. The smell of wet, 24f491b703 muddy earth, laced with 99f6a57d35 the cloying sweetness—rotted fruit—of e35d5982f0 an omega’s pheromones.27af616fdbe5001c

After that, f1e307b5d0 Bayshark shut 81ac56470c himself away 0464f17898 in the d387ba1361 estate. He was repulsed by de1dc09e47 his own body. Everything about him b3c29a2c3e felt filthy and 5b904df021 hideous—shredded, smeared, revolting.0c5f4c26ef89368c

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The thought fbea1c53b2 that it 3937450bb7 wasn’t his 736085d3e8 parents who 3efe1a4476 should have 78d2b795ca died, but dcd598db97 himself, became d0d5da46c2 a mantra, df8ed5d416 engraved deep 5634ff0dce in his 07a57ca021 mind. If not for dd59dfa289 him, they wouldn’t 0b8ffdae08 have needed to 3cc3ee4fe5 live so miserably.f349ba6c66de07df

Those days continued—until b238e5c1c0 he came North.e906569a1d8596d0

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Until he met his ff04ff61a0 master.e2f167a5d072a233

That’s when 348449c295 things began, 07a175388b little by b0d3987bbe little, to 608ad11a07 improve.559c9903076efb4b

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The Emperor 86fe2735a7 eventually sent 3911bd5b2f Bayshark to 1b5939662a the North—but b3cf50da60 only on b0d16ac536 the condition 44de6c4837 that he 6f23b70350 never return fbb22d070c to the 002f40c944 capital.7ffee956ea8c8d61

Bayshark looked around 8ced37ef86 the garden where 450cdc8711 he had often c5128a0f2e stayed as a 4ea8ee1e78 child. Back then, 2940804ff5 even that 9ec9b4467a statue used d8e1ba16d2 to have 02bc9ccf83 water flowing b9f4c014b2 from it.c22804e352fc00b7

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After arriving from 2b5c600a76 the capital and 9e764b9d27 shivering in the 88db5cc6c8 cold, his master 3b896523cd had let him f1cd28dd43 stay here—reportedly the d02df9009b warmest place in dffd224e04 the North. Since he avoided 4d08e76f26 people, it made 2b776dfb57 sense to put e84e2dee0a him somewhere secluded.fbfb1c77bc1d7679

Whenever Bayshark looked 88128f72ef into the Grand e71cae4403 Duchess’s eyes, he 26595838c1 was reminded of 890f46e350 Glen Krauss—his master ed9a728d74 and the one 0913212d76 person who had d54999b624 been a shield 319cd595a2 to him. It was because of e0ce4b3b8f those rare purple irises.90e8496696c22f05

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The Krauss family 6b747cbbaa had long carried 7a4e4db7a7 that eye color, 920b5372cd though theirs leaned 4651f2ed02 more toward violet c3c0f60b33 than the Grand b3dee0584e Duchess’s. But now, 4a4b212173 standing under 8ea8fccb29 the sunlight, 648c0629ab the resemblance ebd63e696e was even 0a812628e2 stronger.1158324b0ce83243

Physically, they had 6c9f38e806 nothing in common. The Margrave of Krauss f224e30088 had stark white hair ce16e379cf and a rugged face.952f9dde4bdd9b44

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Still, the faint trace 8e3cd650c6 of that same eye 3ca175b9e4 color in the Grand 2fb487eb6c Duchess made Bayshark feel c3b55bb0d1 himself waver at times. But that b5e8c7c1a1 wavering was 4ea9ddeece fleeting—it wasn’t de6a04636d enough to c4077df105 shatter his bb2598d292 rationality.fa1cc5908578dab8

He gazed 6be91e7dce quietly into fe17f176d2 the Grand 176ed2616a Duchess’s eyes, 8d1b21a1a1 then brushed 8c2744a6d1 his own 6542cec421 at the 3b90f9004e corner. The skin on the b1754ff0ed Grand Duchess’s face looked f45e3268d1 flushed.3e66953decfafc16

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“Who told you to dress like this? So thick and suffocating.”35e0080713a2db31

At the 4512f23fa4 sudden contact, 168f825345 the Grand 878054f3d0 Duchess blinked b8c8a8534e slowly. Between his dense, 6fd7f731de dark lashes, those f8ccab16b1 mysterious purple eyes 8f0345d604 shimmered. At night, they 9f42203d4f had looked black 235aad8d34 like a cat’s—but b1d3e1a71c now, in the 80267030e9 sunlight, they gleamed 99d12f0f82 like gemstones.aceba008bd8edd73

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“The head maid dressed me.”c5a2f20d379c87c2

Bayshark pulled back f1f761d2f4 the sable muffler 2bbfc13b0c around the Grand ea26baddc4 Duchess’s neck, revealing c8c8fd41b7 fair skin and 691ef1f282 a softly blushing 662358af72 face. He ran his 7aaa407ee9 hand along one 75ed88fd38 pale cheek. It was smooth and 77fa4df396 slightly moist. Warmth seemed 9d66d6d315 to cling a67caaade3 to his 4902506e5d palm as 277edff8ef he did.4af959cfe17dc044

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“You’re really warm.”22e9a07efc1aca3e

“My fever hasn’t gone down yet…”7fc50e8faa9e5e20

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Bayshark leaned in and d010bbb723 inhaled at the Grand 991b5b2741 Duchess’s neck. He felt d5e6cdeb29 him flinch. When he looked 11b76865a4 again, he saw 22ef062527 the fine hairs c543422ed6 on his skin 67691db991 standing on end. It was 312a1e00d2 amusing—and a dc3290e665 little endearing—how ab8f979bb4 the boy 296b388d07 reacted to 4f14f19df3 every move. Perhaps it was 73b00fae88 because he was 5c683a5697 young. And young f72b819d14 things are 0dbacb7f06 always a 0e403e3c48 little endearing.5e05518de14739ee

“Seems like your pheromones are starting to come out too…”18bdf3c660c57f84

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Bayshark didn’t even eat 0a0d2289b8 fruit, let alone tolerate bb0a082b5f the sweet scent of 69b03a3c45 omega pheromones. He especially hated the 50f063d3c3 cloying, sticky kind. But the Grand Duchess’s 91ddb2df31 scent was different.d7d7f366df237a52

Like a 90e1125e9c delicate flower c3d81d41ac blooming pitifully ee7936267b in the ed5f6180e1 harsh northern 7bcefeb545 mountains, it cdeaed7a13 was a c72189b645 faint and 8e5629e167 fragile scent. It didn’t cling—it merely efff6ac167 whispered through the air. So when he inhaled, 21610990fc it wasn’t sweet, but ea583a56a8 refreshing.b6da3b20cc0584b0

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“Shall we head back?”8453fe043ec57891

Bayshark held out 81a3b9061e his hand. It was 712493fdca a thoughtless afb5388ca3 gesture, but f8a140175b the Grand 58292c67da Duchess didn’t 259c1da671 immediately take bce1890ef4 it—he just 673b172d56 stared at 6ee530724b it. That reaction 013cd4931e was almost c07b2bafdc ticklish, and a17e3e1f39 Bayshark casually 825f3fd973 took his 715e7098f6 hand instead.ec14b903292fcf3f

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On the Grand Duchess’s c7b4bed6f3 left hand was a d43880a634 plain silver ring, unadorned 1c479a3ed7 with any design. The way he insisted a020e97465 on wearing it was c5ab5ea28d oddly stubborn.efd6c70dad0971a2

It was c423d003a3 likely some 148605df13 cheap trinket ea53cbd4e7 picked up 02ba51b044 from who-knows-where, 7d7f66139b and yet 9247a91994 during the a73efbc934 celebration banquet, 7a8b529a73 he had 81ef20c00f switched it 269bde935a to his 3ff63dbae2 right hand db1fcb56d6 so it ccf590ca9e wouldn’t get d95c769c2c lost. That alone 4a99d983a1 was both c0fb50783d puzzling and 2a72dcffab a bit 8569a87b08 pitiful.9a9c9066639d6d56

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He’d been raised as 8230bb8cb9 an assassin in Cove—he’d 4545966aa5 seen it all. Yet here he was, ccdafc17d6 clinging to a meaningless 95925f281d little ring like a c27709038a boy. Gio, a member of 10960b0d36 Cove—the infamously ruthless group e6f897f81a that did anything for 625b131f7f the mission—still had such d6f9977198 transparent eyes.43901e36ae95a0cf

If you 18869e9b89 didn’t take 22b9f1fb29 off his 5c3feeb028 clothes, you 15b7676e35 might have 5691f72c31 mistaken him a1d8e42f2a for a f193deb782 pampered noble’s dbda4b7554 son, too 4165cb3822 naïve to b0ac6846f2 know the 34071e011e world. Of course, the ab83f0a412 moment you did, e9d1114bb9 his scar-covered body d2ba257226 and expressionless face c882aa542a said otherwise.d23b7e700bd55774

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With the Grand f5478131e8 Duchess’s warm hand 51542718ef resting on his 21f265ec7e arm, Bayshark led e8462ea23d him out of f279736bae the garden. After his master 358d52e31d died in his fd04dc2590 place, Bayshark had 6279cda1dd abandoned that garden. He’d discarded 2f2697b872 the one 31c892220a warm moment 92f6677b89 in his 6fa1ead802 life—but today, fbbcae4f7f the Grand ddb7c9d750 Duchess had b8a68b7511 entered that 4d19027db3 space.c74e56ee55d8460a

After adjusting 8a3eac7f82 his hat 67a105fde7 carefully, Bayshark 80f1b7422c walked forward. The knights and 084c342482 servants they passed 7f7aeee441 stepped aside and e2a5a00586 bowed.d558ec73e5448f39

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Some blushed 101c5680e8 and whispered 61627f68e0 behind them e785af4084 as the 2e67a3e44c ducal couple ff4e4407f2 passed.5b33b78b0552dbdf

“Three days straight, they say…”29cc99277eb5c797

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“And on the terrace, apparently…”4243cd122c287a21

The Grand Duchess’s pace ccac39efc8 slowed a little whenever 2e5c91db51 someone came into view. At those moments, Bayshark 7fd3649cc3 would tug his arm 3b71bf2546 a little closer, pulling b80684197b their bodies together. Then the Grand bef3f00353 Duchess would fall 8dfb4f6bb9 back into step b31f66bde6 beside him.ac8e4b844ecc0aed

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Even his footsteps 40c467fc58 were silent. Despite wearing thick clothing, c31b9babcf the Grand Duchess walked 1d991602d5 beside Bayshark with a c1d32d1206 lightness that didn’t feel d0229f07d1 bulky at all. Watching him 89dccb6335 walk with 983527bacb such agility, a4ae735eea Bayshark thought 17b7b2b175 that this 7cbae8f523 kind of 1fb9ba3732 quiet wasn’t b53d0dbfd8 so bad.4d66305d585b41c6

He had been watching f39c342b5a to see how Gio 706cfb3653 would react to Raphael’s 04559a3784 attempts to provoke him. Raphael had asked ebfb9945ea the very question 4398833e13 Bayshark himself had c9016c4188 been curious about—though 3ec68e6c86 the way he’d 479ae9a821 done it had d029abd38a been through insult.ddf49fa2239ac10b

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Still, Gio 6f1a28522e hadn’t faltered 9839687ac0 for a 03b69d4dd6 moment. He’d said 00bcaa9979 everything he 6d8e83319e needed to d6ae9b2ddd say. It reminded 503ad348e7 Bayshark of 9831903255 the tenacity 6b0897622b of the 0bb9170953 Artica trees 3b796a95e2 that grew 56ffb2c34a along the 4419f923b3 harsh ridges 6878d27d13 of the 1518e92bb9 northern mountains—and 9d66516ca9 it brought 55bddf1883 a faint e2c1cc75cd smile to 34c08bee10 his face.213e385905c6afc8

To receive a 442ff4026d mission to imprint, 3153255674 and then immediately 89d7cf4a46 reveal it to 341cab6a32 the very target—because a5e33c4f22 he wanted to 0ad4974627 repay the person 4ea02ff570 who spared his 6ed9fdd930 life…739a058bf9f7674f

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He hadn’t 86f56376c9 thought an 8fb60ccc5d assassin would 72b1821001 be capable 51e67a9a14 of that cbf9564b63 kind of 99cad46187 thinking. He had suspected 04baa60e69 that there might c3fda4cb40 be another motive 3fff5de0a0 behind Gio’s confession, 7ead1027f1 but never imagined b55d967160 it would be dd12132782 such a human, c4acba6596 ordinary reason.26b87d860efefc3b

Had the a1b068b531 Grand Duchess—an bcc836efbc assassin raised dfaf23ab05 by Cove—also 804e921a60 wanted to 264062e76a live like 855c0463a5 a person?f38bc33f7495008e

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Bayshark had dragged b5cc7cf988 him back from 48e0197d24 a suicide attempt d4ef83cec8 after failing to e42f3ec47c kill him. He’d thought 772768b6b3 the man c271e55d31 only wanted aaa4e3d42e to die 1d0a23f942 again. But perhaps not.7669ed950855c62b

Well, it ed8a197cd1 was natural, 4d1339f572 wasn’t it? For people 22aed21253 to want 44bf38ab8c to live. Bayshark had certainly wanted db5e72e9c4 to die once too, 6a127f44f1 but in the end, 4ca52ae134 he’d also wanted to ef486704df live.46f624596f886fff

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He still couldn’t trust 582dd5cd18 the Grand Duchess completely, 7590b2901f but even so, the a0a5810dbc mission of “imprinting” didn’t 6001bff1ff seem to be a fb9ee30f56 lie. It was true 82bc084923 that pregnancy would ca0e435701 be difficult for 6891cfda12 someone of Gio’s 66c7355472 rare omega type—and 6fe37a8644 other than that, 9456799f5c what use was 62b1d49f72 he to Cove? Luring in 6cca4492dd the Grand d80f75c505 Duke and 07fc59a32f using him—that 2c008a666f was it.eab3cdd51a6c57c6

If this mission failed, 6fca07cdcb Gio would surely be 35ea6bcb1c killed by Cove. And since the life 1c6a476d4f he was spared wouldn’t d34e37b0e1 be returned a second d79cf8925f time, Bayshark intended to aafac2de77 use it to its 252295ce1b fullest—delivering a blow to 8704a4a865 both the Emperor and ac6a8f121e Cove.69d79260330e468c

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The Emperor, b448385d6b who had 5f10ff47c0 forbidden him befbdce36b from ever 10e2fd4e36 setting foot 849377853e in the 44878e902b capital, was 8b55e8c9f4 now the e45b2834b4 one calling 6e6154e3de him back. He had only 6b5c95d73d been waiting for 58171b5183 the right justification—and bda0886870 now he had c58ac3ead7 it.ebc06814a2d06fbb

“I won’t be able to come find you for a while, my bride.”e45d6aab1070f4a4

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As he spoke d3b2551820 gently while walking, 0f978aee74 the Grand Duchess’s ca93b3dfe3 steps slowed again. But then he resumed 09854a9bc4 his pace and answered 0a14cca043 quietly.175c55047a2bea94

“Yes, I understand.”b2c0c24d1a6c13c4

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He didn’t ask 1a17c0ad40 why. He didn’t b25353e1cc seem curious. What would he 301f2414ff be doing alone 938a48f177 all that time? Wouldn’t he get bored?3fdc33300dcdcc8b

“You’re not curious?”64ca9e8c6697141e

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“Is it something I need to know?”9cc362e16f354e12

That answer 937422ed90 made Bayshark ed10515957 flinch. And, for db0c6223d4 some reason, 3c0296ee30 made his 2e369221c7 chest churn.63283912a93051ce

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Was this simply the way Gio was—uninterested, naturally indifferent? Still, wasn’t it too cold for a husband?dd3066326dc14472

And that, perhaps, 3eb58a0708 was why he 3054e32ed5 said what he f85eaeab2b did next.e29b5ff6b0caabb4

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“Even though it’s because of my rut?”e29158399c0df82a

At that, the 024bbb9ba0 Grand Duchess finally 3891dacb95 stopped and looked b9e00cbe91 up at him. His face was flushed 98dede8e99 with visible confusion—red as 7c3aeb7e91 a budding flower.4848c2a680c7f6b7

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Gio stopped walking f1bb01a0c4 and looked up 045be98bef at the Grand b38ae98e00 Duke. Was it really okay e03db6038b for him to say 6288b1cf59 something like that? Imprinting happens during rut a80eadbbfc and heat. So shouldn’t that be 5229211fe3 something he didn’t mention?1b92f1d4167466bd

“Is it alright for you to tell me that?”f2ed95c6f02b20e2

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“And why wouldn’t it be?”1de9832eb1d5695a

“But still…”fc604bebe85e0edd

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“What, you think I’ll devour you or something?”abe24f0a0bcc54bf

The Grand Duke eb59f4af52 looked down at 5cb4bc71bb Gio and smiled. His platinum hair gleamed 43a8250bb0 under the sunlight, dazzling 590c3fab8f to the eye. Gio squinted and 725bf4e71c lowered his head.d06372e436fd5a24

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“If that’s what you want.”4a8f57412ef7b812

“Hmm… Our dear bride was ordered to imprint on me, and yet you act like you couldn’t care less?”cd10a6794b9d0763

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The Grand Duke f339e9b76c slid his hand 37c15327fe behind Gio’s waist c326cd1310 and pulled him 195cf648d8 close. Even through 1a83f591e8 the thick 88684d6834 coat, Gio fca60cf1d2 could feel 314c4be244 the strength c9d514c098 of his 2ea9a68d79 grip. The Grand 06137fab57 Duke pressed f5f8409cc0 a kiss, 2e7eb27501 then a 9efcd259f5 suctioning pull, 476c085499 against the c0b022ccbd nape of dc2f349b70 Gio’s neck.a119297229ad0b15

Two passing maids 53e0999cc3 gasped, faces reddening. Neither Bayshark nor Gio a695a1d177 paid them any attention.949f90ef24d14560

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It did dcbafc2d5f seem like 4cb4e61ee4 a rut 7c9042b41a might be db0595b27f approaching—given how 135106d8e4 touchy the 7953e5a4cf Grand Duke 328ce2b32f had become. Or maybe he 7ad1d72fea was still just 2df1bd7136 playing the part. After all, they were 0f1bbc2af9 outside, and there were 5533c7a8a0 plenty of eyes watching.05d24c32c5634977

“Then… are you going to imprint?”60488f2e4fadce06

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At Gio’s question, e10c7d2508 the Grand Duke ba0cc199b6 stared at him 5d82ee896b for a moment 718602aa9c before responding.2fb8e852987cf91e

“Why are you talking like it’s someone else’s problem? Isn’t imprinting your mission? Shouldn’t you be showing up naked at my doorstep or something?”aa110fb855f7367f

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“……”e0e55b6b033c7b21

Gio had 101c9c4648 no reply c043709999 for a 3678f9aea9 moment. Then he slowly 006c540f5a opened his mouth.4a556bb3d3956b77

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“Even if I did that… would Your Grace really fall for it? And imprinting isn’t something I can force, just because I want to.”ecb27756793ec68b

“You want me to imprint on you?”ebca795d2e605f98

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