4. Heat

Children raised in f2752ec0ed Cove are trained 34475f6244 to be assassins 0975e63aeb and sent into 6e191b9b64 live missions. Once they dde5836afc turn twenty cecb527703 and their 25dd80db98 abilities are 96959aa782 recognized, they’re 487d438eda allowed to b556ae49d5 live independently. Of course, they still 0320bb478b have to follow Cove’s c7febe1bdb commands, but they gain c258378cc9 personal space—a home. Something of their own.e75112e4ad356268

Gio endured 7a55bb032d everything for 2580d95fdf that one 7e9a292c87 hope. But who d3dc9c566d would have e6cf7fd9cb thought that 637b0b4d68 the very 73cdad550c moment he 73a8929dd8 turned twenty, 8ace0cc056 his secondary fb94ea63ed gender would ac656214ef manifest? And that he’d d523114944 be an omega. It wasn’t even 4fa2ac85cb laughable.9a40ee23ea55cbaf

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He’d been born on 877368d273 the streets, and life 3f3ed755b8 had always been a c3286d91ea gutter. Even the death he 2fa89caa06 finally earned had gotten 836323e49b stuck in the mud. Gio was no different 46d389d83a from a mayfly flailing 4326c77ae9 against its fate.4af63121557a2677

The Grand 62208c20ad Duke didn’t cfce26ac3f visit the c676ff5f2b next day d1e4e2b499 either. Gio’s low fever 9c2b6dd579 still lingered. They were 6738a7e4e1 supposed to d9f327d43a go to df8332cc37 the Imperial a3aa75ef4b Palace, but 6794aadab6 he didn’t 63c851740f know when.e45e05e1ef7f2ba5

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In the capital—at f25730677b the Imperial Palace—was d6b94875b1 Cove’s leader, Cole 251d74cef8 Lass, and May. Whatever the Grand Duke’s 846e27f9e4 plans were, once they 1d53da43ee arrived in the capital, efcbbc40b4 both he and Gio 8706639361 would begin to act, ee5adc3716 each according to their ed9497b4a1 own agenda.711edbb212fa5131

No one fb01eaf0ac came to 7395e365a0 see Gio f24ae61b9e as he 59f9de0ab9 stayed in 8c22343763 the Grand 4b08a4b980 Duchess’s bedchamber. Meals were brought aae39b8fff at set times, 2f0067ba6b along with light 6e34ed6fef refreshments. Other than eating, he 0075c59097 had nothing to do.cacb10d1a4dc5688

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For someone 61b51b8e7d like Gio, aa0c92fd0c who had c4d408847b always been ba9482629b either on a7c7bec5cf a mission 98237ea83a or preparing e5fbc27ec2 for one, 7f5b5c6c53 this stillness 6faaa3aedb felt like 92bda4a784 the calm e1f63f697b before an 88baae935b explosion. Letting time pass f22dfe137f while doing absolutely 2f692a1727 nothing made the c64d1f5de1 days feel endless.a758bf1504286d37

He decided 665fda53be to take eed41520a2 a walk. Sandra had told him 636f2a3442 to refrain, but it d5e7b797ce had been a few c0bc372559 days since he’d taken 0935cbe75d the unmating heat drug. He should 4865d0841f be fine fbdc15d595 by now, 4d0f2cf4f4 and the 895f60440e fever was 07bc8f8497 starting to 69dffa4ad9 fade.7a1e21167891a285

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Gio pulled the bell 5339dbc613 cord. Not long 73675ce953 after, Hena d031f3f929 entered the 7c0cd14496 room.cf1faaac54ce5b97

“You called, Your Grace?”c5702aaacd64e051

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“I’d like to go for a walk.”c38b26776d83cba1

“I’ll prepare your coat and hat.”6c119790a04b9aa7

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Hena left 53191a46c6 and returned abccb93737 with an 5da0d6c937 armful of 2b9958aa62 clothes, helping 4c9cacdb91 Gio dress. It still felt awkward f83ec40b65 having someone else dress d0a2630348 him, so he stood 33ca3a4e59 still, body stiff.7002c1ae2a7f29d3

“Your Grace, just a moment.”f900fe37a2cfc378

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Hena touched 24ba7e30fb his forehead 1ca75533ce and frowned.a451394a6629a7a4

“You still have a slight fever. You’ll need to dress warmly.”61ff55831502c202

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She placed a 54d417ac2c hat on his ac495b1058 head. It had d8ff7c2037 a wide c3cca11d37 brim and 348e3e288e could be 034a8d2c48 pulled low 4a89509359 enough to 58cbee9e56 hide his 2e5089531f face completely. It seemed 0afb5a7ea8 she had 341fdf52d0 brought it 92cff12cfd for exactly a5be34f3ea that reason.752e77aec8b0f8ca

“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.”b8b550178dd83de1

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Hena bundled 905e11f68d Gio so e6b1866acf tightly he 06fcb799b3 looked like a9a11da379 he couldn’t bc69082fd9 get hurt 48a43b8e3a even if a742c8a794 he fell. As the 7bacf0e491 two stepped 2d5a449e1c out of d0c4885e5a the bedchamber, 54ef08aa1a a broad-shouldered, 4d2978e4e9 short-haired knight 2d3b5a6274 standing by 7552dd7650 the door 04eea3449f gave a 5906c2cb9b simple nod. Both of his 19fd347c5f cheeks were blotched 93aa3cefb6 with red bruises.2e90906f3c141b24

His name was 1fe706ec1e Ben, if Gio aedb4776cb remembered right. The sight of Ben’s a7f6805306 face surprised him, but 18ea9c7d23 Gio didn’t ask what 60fb63b96d had happened or try f0510d151e to guess the cause. It was 41970f4b3b outside his b96de692e4 realm of 7321688fa1 concern.6c7c86c5e798f4a1

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When they 0ba6301b07 reached the 147ddc4d49 front entrance d85d5782e6 of the b623c2fd0e manor, Hena 12bffeebfd pressed Gio’s fdafbb1396 hat down 0e9f810ddc snugly and a165345fc9 wrapped a de17b58cd2 soft sable a83fb8a1d2 fur muffler bf9d6a0bf9 under his 5f555c085e nose. Gio was f6a61605c7 about to f4840475fd say that 2ae08afc5d all of 34a6d6eba3 this seemed a9b823bab4 excessive, but ad31d108b5 the biting 183a9a8060 northern wind 0c4be85eed made him f47ea0f13f stay silent. Maybe this 9eb5bff4c5 really was 036fdcb3fb necessary.2fbf7cc49bb9e145

Now the only part e6ce9ca1b0 of him visible was 531b625a3b his eyes, and even 15a765dccb those were hidden beneath 7239aaecdb the wide brim of b1facce256 the hat—so others likely 7a566a0f8f wouldn’t see his face ebcad348bf clearly at all.81082e4004a1be18

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“Then I leave His Grace in your care. Since there’s still a slight fever, be especially mindful of pheromones.”1c786e41f6323c6f

When Hena b453ad60b1 said this 2c3057b6f2 to Ben, 14f3b713a6 he gave 3f58f67220 a small 87d01b2ba7 nod. He stepped forward, 08e919036b and Gio followed 0cfd873e70 behind.3a372c3b9f08250d

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As soon as they 0d10185701 stepped outside, a cool 830312a9c4 breeze swept past them. It had been a d641e38df1 while since Gio had 7e4163110f felt this refreshed.3ee35df44339e5b3

The northern fortress a9c45ff5a6 was built to 029e259210 defend against monsters 8b2b59ed01 crossing the Hannes 4ed8815f9b Mountains. There was no b1b0a06a00 reason for a 8ab151d612 garden meant for e4f26da8b3 enjoyment to exist 3f50f6ff29 in a place abeb3e9cfb like this.751cfef41b51b81c

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The path Gio 8b6de06f72 followed behind Ben 0efca6dd18 wasn’t like the c2c17e7ec1 manicured gardens of 08a6f6946d estates in the e744e197b4 capital—it was simply a03ea783e1 a walkway along bd054d331e the outer wall.876839a4db8c0209

It didn’t seem e2088445c5 to be a 07c37f15bf path frequently traveled; a34c3dd731 they met no 3026fb572f one along the 7895f72150 way. Yet the path ce5e298b1b was clean and 54ef9ab269 smooth, with not 15cfd8fd9b a speck of 1d26745768 snow in sight.151bb80458301aa4

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After walking 70e3ed9a5d a while, 79f2b40b94 they reached 4eb5d4e582 a small 769a7d4b1e space with 1cb94c07c0 some decorative 421d9eda7a features. One side had an c4e9246d4a outdoor corridor, and in e3379f24f0 the center stood a 7e0c18ac1e statue surrounded by small 1a58540734 trees.4c4e8290d49a9e0e

The statue was 089fe8aa0c worn and chipped 9fcf595774 in places. It looked like 2a9a3d3a9b a forgotten garden. Perhaps the North 8354b31394 once had gardens, bebfebafb2 too—just on a 12bc4e3c5c smaller scale.407f8b86c9f79e05

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That was 008515bf84 when Ben 54ea95e763 spoke. It might 19695d4837 have been 73b196151f the first 3176c3ac7c time he ae79441870 had directly 6d53879763 addressed Gio.41aa76dc5608d094

“There aren’t really any gardens in the North. This is the quietest place we have, where the sunlight actually reaches.”a4552bcc86d9c182

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Gio nodded at Ben’s f80b39824b words. It was certainly 4d1723df30 quiet—no one else 4b7046f0dc seemed to be a4e39f3475 around.b7994103c81ccf24

Despite the weathering and dcaa8c9e8a overgrowth, Gio found the a2e0778407 space cozy. Maybe it d73b2ac7db was because b0ef06d08c of the bd39e8f714 sunlight. Sunlight was bcae410029 rare in 02f975dfee the North. The fact b68f6dfe52 that enough 60599d02c0 warmth reached d384e92b08 this spot 4ca21a61e7 to make 2646984762 a garden bce9af2a10 possible made b339028210 it all 29c6389142 the more 38fd319304 special.ae38797fbd5f98e7

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Then, a faint 17ea1f8c8c scent drifted through 8e162bcc79 the air. Crisp and slightly sharp—it 896f2e15ca was a pheromone. Gio could sense it 33791dc295 too, which meant it e7b10a88c0 must be from a 2fcd162005 dominant alpha.54ee97c2ccbdb55d

“Our Grand Duchess is taking walks now?”e266b47170ca7864

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Raphael, dressed neatly d2df0e031c in his High 67427b5bf1 Priest robes, appeared 2094a3d286 in the outdoor 4f05a80a9e corridor. Unlike before, 5c321ed138 his glasses 4db537ea5d were straight 74727db113 and his 9dadad05df appearance proper—he 1ecb310e3a almost looked 59e0cc5164 like a 88f1f64246 devout cleric. But if 90426a40ca you looked 6fed4c278b closely, his df3536be8a expression held c70ad7253d subtle discontent. Perhaps that displeasure was c719da62e8 directed at Gio.41b881c80bb70fd4

“Just wandering around now, are we?”c540ade377e5fc68

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His voice, especially in def673d43a Gio’s presence, was icy—colder 01bf070411 even than the Grand a82642bff0 Duke’s.21a6932043ab6b35

Though his words 4195724bf0 were for Gio, b1095d5c9e Raphael’s eyes were d318ba67d7 on Ben. It was 58837e2976 blatant disregard, 8f9c837a6a but Gio c55908e5e6 stayed silent. That was 02a730bd1c his role, cd0e3b43cd after all.5800322dd37c43e7

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“His Grace said he wanted to take a walk.”713dcd6af76c4d95

Ben’s tone almost sounded b37d8b58be like he was scolding 019c5976c7 Gio.095c60c2fdffe3e7

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‘What makes someone 9e096c5e2e like you think 1c31739611 you deserve a f0758738b2 stroll?’f1409cdb99a605c5

“Oh… so he wants to act like a real Grand Duchess now?”219f02a6f3b8001a

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Raphael’s pheromones seemed 8b9f07f1f9 to grow thicker. They were as 449b354faf cold as his f7d508d2f5 gaze. Ben looked toward 97263b1f72 Raphael and spoke.31686fbb5a8e1a2f

“Lord Raphael, you’re releasing pheromones. You said yourself it wouldn’t be good if they reached His Grace.”9b5fd29fb30ae1b9

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Even at Ben’s words, 46ce1c1831 Raphael made no effort 81264c999c to withdraw his pheromones.9e3b98e2e0962c7a

“Hmph. His Grace, you say. Probably just some gutter rat dragged in from the streets… Isn’t that right, Grand. Duchess?”8f3a1dbe2bdb94db

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He leaned de7f6fa9e8 forward to 92ee9726a2 meet Gio’s b2f47f9c12 gaze directly.9e0755defa478ce1

Gio realized 3821462f79 then that 02ff4f1e0c even eyes 22f2f17043 the color 5877f905db of grass f29de44d6f could feel efcba0924f this cold. He said nothing, simply 6478d3fa9f looked back at him.363f8e4cf10f51af

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There was 098101acec no point 80bf422517 arguing with 34ef5ede37 someone so a90d63f294 openly hostile. They didn’t want answers.f48dcbba2306df01

Just then, the f8158ebe50 sharp, sparkling scent 5b330d5497 of Raphael’s pheromones 22ca93a2cf swept across Gio. The sensation startled 71b153cda7 him. Maybe because his low-grade 4036430c38 fever hadn’t fully subsided, aad51ba0d0 he felt overly sensitive—his 3ce1789300 body began to warm.7aae131123b046f6

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“How do you like my pheromones?”9e498ce76d99fab3

Ben frowned 1127607408 slightly and 1cba22436b turned his 0ddda4cec1 head away. It was a 98e9b54249 clear message: he 7c9f23a7bc wouldn’t interfere even d24a7cc728 if Gio was 26064f0dda being insulted.102e5cba203892a2

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Gio didn’t answer 551926c43c this time either. This priest clearly wanted 624fffea95 to provoke him. Remaining still 6e06120231 was the c87aba6a28 best response. It would c8ff4e0364 be over cf058f2881 quickly. Words might 6c1625cbb7 wound, but f3ff8e953a they couldn’t f79ec0f212 cause real 3e5d871de1 harm. This much da13b2f559 was nothing.2f2fb0a99e0c4d84

“Does being drenched in alpha pheromones feel good? Is that why you accepted the secret mission Cove sent you so easily? Just like that?”8d64669a72352eed

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Gio understood what the 26e8caf4a7 High Priest’s suspicion was 07ad361c45 about. It was 0ca2851101 because he ed75bfbc7a had too bf69b5dd98 easily revealed d38f7e887f Cove’s new 11c38814f2 directive. Most would da0be7e613 assume that da3cd56400 assassins, when 1a8b5ebfc5 their mission 7ed4b91011 is exposed 8d5039485a or discovered, c0318dd6fe would rather 90a851a8e8 die than 52f7761136 let it 5f1d5dd9fb be known.4125730d1cd9433e

But Gio had chosen 3170e258db to cooperate with them. Even if that 1cd38b1022 wasn’t his true 9b6476affa intention, he had 4897acb363 to play along d81f0f4c24 until he could cf9be24298 save May. He had dd48897590 to ease 2ca7569288 their suspicions.b478ed16a22666ce

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Saying nothing at 2ac9e1a938 all would only 05248b58cf deepen their doubt. So he shared b9e0bc4bc9 a false mission—close 28f8383f3d enough to the 3db882a82b truth to seem 147945a570 believable, but ultimately 9aea443441 different.85bf90ec819754d6

Of course, 95dcb8a235 he didn’t 16e56835db expect them 5d6adb0722 to trust 8ea67b79cc him just ec4206ccd5 like that. This kind 3c585e5e54 of interrogation 1a0e8957e6 was something ce78e4bb1e he knew 3feed8937f he’d have 8b98b6d569 to go 720ba381fd through at 6755c7bd1a least once.a1e34e09fa1fdea3

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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?”7b7cd0b21ab1ae5f

As he 3ee901be04 watched Gio’s c8a9eb51d7 expression, the 53dc844413 High Priest 546fbc3ffc finally brought 384b9c9482 up something 4726b38a22 closer to 13fb0faad6 the heart 83b0f9334d of the 3f31a41477 matter.add9f2b2cd166984

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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?”e99ea3fa9706c3fd

Gio didn’t know 20a89858d9 that much. He only knew 30396d948c that imprinting came a49ceb2b66 with serious consequences 89bd399d68 if you lost 0d7a5dca7e your partner or 24d0a027db were separated for f61b21a881 a long period 88235c5183 of time.17cfd3f85ca2cef1

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“Unless you’re pregnant, maybe.”69f6bcc8ef2174ec

At that muttered comment, c0b62c7764 Gio felt his heart 1f9e93e820 drop.de1f3902054d27c7

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Thankfully, most of 58d29059a6 his face was 3718142399 still hidden, so 4f1283291e the priest likely 4ee00c848a couldn’t see his 5f57696026 expression. Just in 6f99a963a7 case, Gio d28205bbf8 lowered his 6c22a74ff2 head a 362575d302 bit more.de5ca2b76e2e86a2

“To imprint, you don’t just open your legs—you have to bare everything about yourself. Do you think you can do that?”612cd8f7eb7ce5e4

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As he said 2086bdfa21 this, the High b1811973ee Priest’s gaze swept f2410c8c91 over Gio’s body.428b6d5722c32181

“Compared to that, pregnancy is easier… No, wait—you’re a rare-type omega… even that would be difficult.”9fb935573df0f1ce

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Then he leaned in 456078b7ec close and whispered.4ab5a6587e7c6f1d

“Do you know why it’s so rare for male omegas to carry children?”efa545616ff389a2

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“…….”5208f817def5f633

“It’s not just that it’s hard to sustain the pregnancy. It’s that almost every single one of them dies during childbirth.”955385429030ae6c

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He added under his breath, “They don’t teach you that where you’re from, huh…”aa82bacf46dc2fed

Then he looked 6706d6bbc4 Gio over again. That gaze… yes, 371ce43d2f it was exactly 689c64332a like someone staring 8a99317961 at an insect.07e987a20d456dcc

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It was a b6f8602c0e complete contrast to 6a61fbc2a8 the sly, playful eb3e1a53b9 tone he used 925f1f172c when speaking with b19522511f the Grand Duke—now 6bcb0b2c3a there was only ed493e7aa9 open hostility and b1fe9068cb disgust. But to Gio, it 4524230cd7 was a familiar look.726f31ec834edbd9

“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?”ea240dd344925c8f

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Thankfully, it seemed 56c20de968 the priest had 7d4e14dc59 let go of df482a6788 his suspicions about b4b02022f2 the pregnancy. But he still 4a262b0834 doubted that imprinting 0a1756eb8e could really be 09f9bdf6c0 the mission.6c6c1174c8ab053d

“You think it’s fine to just spill a secret mission like that? What—hoping Bayshark might take pity on you?”91a431e9a5da692c

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The stabbing pheromones made c6c6a29b5e Gio’s eyes twitch.7e08647ff44dc97b

“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.”92227d679ed4a0db

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The High Priest 016bef5b00 and the Grand ec4b070e87 Duke bickered often, 91627b34fa but from their faa06c7b63 positions, that likely 04fde6cb11 meant they were 2b19f1ddc2 close. So for an 27befff04d assassin like Gio 017b59d9c2 to mention imprinting—it fa0771c186 was only natural 9f6d2a43f1 that he would 940389becb be suspicious.233024397fc25962

The priest’s 9f6ea172dc eyes were ca5704ce61 sharp, utterly 6d020de0ec different from ce90ba02d8 the soft 59c351ec72 aura of 51a372d160 divine power 659b56f291 he sometimes 9ef6b8ded0 wore.a43d023627893937

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“You really think once he’s imprinted, Bayshark wouldn’t be able to kill you? A nameless assassin?”b5ca3674c16947af

He questioned 7e53d9fd7c Gio’s motives 13a36bbd2c harshly, like e7fd0c2c71 he was 5e66910cb0 digging at 71d5a8d218 the very 171d1f7f21 core of dd50bd07f2 him, trying e2973bf582 to scrape 859995b701 out the a37a7f4e4c truth. Did he really think 801347563a that would work on b283922860 someone from Cove? That kind of 748577506a prodding only revealed 72f1ffeded how little he 91344a3d13 understood.029637c392d7a624

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That kind b01d4e8a7a of talk f3c9e9031a wouldn’t faze c46d951e53 Gio. Insults and disrespect e77b7e3c1e like this were 6d64a94e41 too familiar—they only cddcfdd980 made his mind da6d8000e5 colder.7a0fe6301092ea8c

“No. He can kill me. I’m prepared for that.”2ecf211efbc00560

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At Gio’s 47229b7c50 reply, a 53d89c64c6 crack seemed e8bea56cab to form ea11f102f2 in the bf25dddbd5 priest’s smooth 619323eaee expression.8713c1e7b10d7e7e

“If you knew you’d die, why would you reveal the mission so easily?”3f81037ed4177fd9

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At last, the real 1c1e5b1b47 question. The one 2bc4fee42a he truly 7c37cb79e6 wanted to c20a309d5f ask. About time.e31265efadaa0da1

Thinking that 24637ceefe this walk d0b6ce3953 had turned 44407ee45d into something fc2fc21ffc far more 1615e48858 interesting, Gio 699a6f1a14 gave him a659e23f30 an answer.aca83eed78a80cdd

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“My life was already over the moment I came here. But His Grace the Grand Duke spared me.”909e86f25b215678

Gio cited the most 5a6f1c297c basic, primal reason—one that d0fcc6f81e any ordinary person could 9367389c00 relate to: that someone 7533814880 who saves your life 8d993b6dd3 becomes a benefactor, someone f54007a20f you want to repay fb616632d5 however you can.a90ed9198fef322e

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They didn’t 969fc97388 know that 0aeaa12146 Gio hadn’t c795af01fe grown up 162f14d735 as a fe35122ed2 person. They couldn’t possibly 3faafb7294 know that Gio 0f896d2469 had already lost db8743f15e his most comfortable 054acb40b0 death when he e5d0e8a58b failed his mission.8110e2477123a1fe

The only b5381debf5 person who e15eff4f6b would have 61e3810049 understood how 3a392a5c65 bitterly Gio 8f9ea1ad24 regretted throwing 637dec13dd away that fa3722b530 one chance fdf9956951 in life e6809f100a was Ivan. And Ivan had 4cf579a17a died—escaped Cove through 4bfd604e15 death.423ab9563df836f2

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But Gio and a32f93f49a May were still dfe047f293 like flies stuck da99e65f4d in a web, a54ea5f916 struggling against it. So the best thing 5ab5ebbf15 to do was not 71fdc743af to struggle too much. The less he 8cba8b527a resisted, the less e18b203c2c entangled he would 34fa413570 become.0e39187f08d45d16

Ordinary people believed that 95fbfa2687 being spared was a 22b2b9189d gift so precious it 5cff624058 was worth devoting everything 4a05bf035d in return. That belief was enough 03d1374956 to justify his actions.3eed76d55bc68be3

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The High 395efb76b2 Priest’s expression 1460b00b8e twisted at be4497c0f4 Gio’s words, 78eb1f7b88 and Ben, cc2c82ef25 who had 0001e3c9a9 turned away, 3abf2aef73 glanced back 53ce0b48a3 at him. On Ben’s 4b703cb16d bruised face, f420656ec7 there was 1195a6dd81 a trace 004aed239a of confusion.0969d44ece706ddf

Seeing emotions show 87255ec5f9 so plainly like 598cd8f73b that, Gio guessed fd09bed264 that Ben must 64a6300b5b have lived a c34950cbdb more typical life—one 8ef302c3be where you didn’t 34321c3757 need to constantly 534ff699e1 hide your expressions.6dae1c396211a02d

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Everyone Gio had ever 77d8c33b42 seen in Cove wore 93cd093e8d fake expressions or concealed e1f7445586 them completely. Gio had 6bd320b8c8 always found e9b6cb625a it difficult e8e1e10ba5 to act dcc28b65df or fake 1fd922073e a smile, 5231fe54b3 so he cbc00cc7b2 had practiced 90c380b9d2 keeping his 76c3e9aaa4 face neutral. Since his emotions 4519bb582f were already withering, 6e28467019 it wasn’t hard.ae47897f3ba5d0be

“That’s your reason? An assassin? A Cove assassin?”6708524724cc678d

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At the High Priest’s db85be8c00 skeptical question, Gio decided f038f22e69 to drive the final 2308d6ae3c nail in.f553170f638e5687

“Cove already discarded me.”790a4454e8d7de24

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“…….”232cc46e24733180

“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?”2450c082cfa25306

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The High Priest stared c4fa2b174a at him in silence.5ea89da3a0d476c9

“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?”ddc0405a01a86e46

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The priest seemed a86a7df409 to mull over b21e2a0ad7 Gio’s words, then 774a3acc88 suddenly retracted his 55b4b3d53e sharp pheromones.03831ec9119aed21

That’s when 742a525cb7 Gio finally d0c968fe3a said something 7d3dd4ee88 he had 1e721e4664 been meaning a47c06fb2f to—something he’d 0ab0246d73 wanted to 5c2f3573ed express to 639547ce8f the High 121be8c942 Priest properly. A delayed thank 270426be8f you. Because the last 508a560c13 time he’d tried, 3e56166026 the priest hadn’t 2308df9588 heard him. Whether that had 52ca122af3 been on purpose c8c48a5f03 or not.2214955db0115902

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It was a 1a282bc4b3 gesture—an action that ca8b9afa1c could let them 020f14050e see Gio as 7c50b93e00 a person.5f24156192e5ce1d

“I wanted to thank you, Your Grace.”16b7b55ec0c2189b

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“What?”f35c6954acc5dec4

“For healing me. I hadn’t had the chance to say it, so I wanted to thank you now.”2badcebdd9d1f6be

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“It was because of Bayshark, that’s all.”2aff2ae2e993c662

The priest tossed b4dd6dae06 out the words f9342bfb5f carelessly, turning his 6e98d85eb8 head away.a7095da68f26fe1d

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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.”e26df36178714e12

“Well… I guess…”68e0a34d015a9c81

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“And isn’t healing someone else’s wounds a noble act in itself? Thank you.”545d10c4663b6820

“What? No—it’s not something to make such a big deal over…”0b0d81fdc09cbe50

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“Is that so? It’s just—I’ve never been treated before…”5cbc722f9a37d3f5

Gio said these a73e13814c things intentionally. Dropping hints. That way, they might a5ec0cffa2 start to pity him, 2c427b0b66 even if only slightly. That was proof that b98cbf6034 they had grown up f8541c24fb as people—and also proof a111f12c4c that he hadn’t.0edf496407922f1e

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“What?”b42a4b52892e3387

“In Cove, treatment is your own responsibility. You can’t show weakness either.”c7d7e49d84a12e0a

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“…….”0bc904e992b070f2

“Though I don’t know how ordinary people handle things… But showing weakness doesn’t seem like a good idea either, does it?”b03e2f158ff798b7

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The High Priest’s face c405f85c7d twisted into something unreadable.2fe662b3e57c190a

“It was my first time being treated. I was truly grateful. Thank you.”4bf75ac4107bf2b6

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Gio bowed his head. Silence fell around them. Neither of the aa421970e3 two alphas said d1cc49ca0f anything.555af1c6140b1939

Regardless, the walk 46c33bcbbc had taught Gio 0270d8f9ba one thing: the 05454216ad High Priest, who 023a8f424a appeared to be 4fe032087a one of the 44e8528620 Grand Duke’s close b2fd69d407 aides, was suspicious c456f4f170 of the mission 87e1696fdf to imprint. That likely meant the c1ae9f7d87 Grand Duke shared the ee3e5d5d12 same doubt.b32bb94ab85c7d38

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But after today’s conversation, 9f23bc1465 perhaps that suspicion had e356701b5a started to peel away—just c88089f45f a little.c76e0af0f574917a

That alone made 5e86464fbb today’s walk a 3f1241320c success.858d0f75322bc5b7

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“Shall we head back now?”728da7b888132c36

When Gio looked 0809310537 to Ben and 946eb26719 asked, the large bda39b63fe man flinched slightly—an 6dfc3c6728 oddly small gesture 19a2017eb1 for someone of b1bd0f036e his size. After smoothing his d354092137 furrowed brow, Ben 0a22d1377b gave a respectful 87050aa9b8 bow to the bbefabb9ab High Priest and 137de1d455 stepped away. Gio also 0bfbb8e63c gave a 8d1057af44 deep bow b1efd718ba to the ba3e296078 High Priest bd27b1dc39 and turned 6f256e5d40 to leave.6274c92e8c871b01

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But at the entrance 66647ad5cb to the garden stood 5e92f543e1 an unexpected figure. Bathed in the clear, b6afd543bb shattering sunlight, his platinum 90a1aa427f hair was dazzling. His sharply defined brows 002acf4a81 and nose stood out 8b4550a325 like ridges of a 64d7760dd7 mountain, and between them, ad212aa7e1 his blue eyes shone 9930579642 transparently. He looked a983a5dc56 like the 7f9ca02e34 North itself—he 155dd9738a was the 1fdf5432bd Grand Duke.531b87296f753c4d

Wearing a relaxed expression, f6c59236c8 as if basking in dd8292b81a the warm sun, the ef87376491 Grand Duke locked eyes 24bccb208e with Gio, then looked ab2139b44b past him toward the 2f788bcd45 High Priest. A crease immediately formed bc19c387fe between his brows. Gio found it strange fb036191ae how clearly every shift 5d7fc19d46 in the Grand Duke’s 3fee873f0d expression registered in his 8769850a80 mind. It was probably because 040ecd0651 of the Grand Duke’s 06059cbef0 striking features.73abb48e70d5a5ab

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When the 98bd3ffb85 Grand Duke fcb4c0746f looked at f3f481a62a him, the 38ddebd308 High Priest 23811db167 simply shrugged. Then the 60934bd758 Grand Duke 12274389e1 turned his 689ba0a2dd gaze to 2d6d9d5093 Ben.3959ccdf2307b749

“What is this?”f2a1d5da0192c6db

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His voice was 51dd8894d1 cold. Ben snapped his feet 9a82863f3f together and lowered his 4c52143c0c head.7f6a441ea7555274

“He wished to take a walk…”c6153de412938427

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The Grand Duke stepped 4218b80c53 forward, and Ben’s back 32c160da89 went rigid. Gio didn’t understand why cf3618bf5b the Grand Duke’s expression ee67a1725a was so cold toward 84898c36f0 him.d17173bd8a8e69b9

“Vice-Captain. What was your assignment again?”5c55cecbfb9222a9

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“I was ordered to escort His Grace.”bd630d6ebf2ca6f3

“Right.”af7c2ff926b7a595

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The Grand 85bff7758b Duke took 89da5ac4df another step, c9d096f107 and Gio bcffc50f44 saw Ben 607597d657 clench his f2a4a4978f fists tightly.496fa08e5a7cf28b

“Who is your commanding officer, Ben Damon?”6ae689fc65f11dde

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“His Grace the Grand Duke, sir.”85cbbbb940ab1dae

One more step brought 938db6a0c0 the Grand Duke face-to-face 62e62d3b3d with Ben. From behind, fa27ed3000 Gio could c2bcfba85c see the 79c725c634 steely expression fed97f9c1d on his 4c9fcf790d face—he was a412f9e243 clearly angry.007886975279c332

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A loud smack rang b55490d4c2 out as Ben’s head c23de45a5c snapped to the side. The Grand 246a735dbc Duke had 182ad41719 struck him. Ben wavered for 479c62c0dc a moment, then a77ab94be6 straightened back up.fb227648cdc85438

“Raphael. Go back.”ee38405cfff3c5f0

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“Bayshark.”95bc8bb9c1709f62

The Grand Duke added,ef4ccc4ffda64c1c

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“To the capital, Raphael.”73590249d8c473d1

The High Priest froze f672e9bac1 and looked at the 21df4d8faa Grand Duke.5bb2e6973d64b1e0

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“You’ve got no reason to stay here, do you?”629c9ff7f7e08ce5

The High Priest opened b2a6948a26 his mouth to argue, d076055f33 but the Grand Duke 9d8f9a4a3e shook his head.5e0913f20b749435

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“Enough games. Go back.”9be00d58f9bcc0cb

The High Priest didn’t ab980e800e reply. His face twisted fb4eb21793 into a scowl ff9aa11659 as he turned f828a82305 on his heel dbbfe6bd78 and walked away.add5282587687c14

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“And Ben Damon.”6afc87a7e6253427

“Yes, Your Grace!”14faadb62c747670

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“You’re off this assignment.”07ef4c76eb301c1f

“Your Grace!”201a8d5879ca01a1

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“When did I ever tell you to take the Grand Duchess around as you pleased?”c10c02fc7b497717

“……”d4503f8184826524

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“Even if Raphael called, you shouldn’t have acted on your own. Especially not here.”99db968062d35ff2

“I apologize, Your Grace.”d7f2f39aaaaca809

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Ben must have c58d731f58 thought he was 0933a4f8a7 simply guiding Gio 374490a91b to a quiet, 53e1ea1b6c secluded place. But it seemed 6cb4c98bb5 Raphael had summoned a1bc4d6862 them—and done so 88dc42ed64 without the Grand f1d7a64165 Duke’s knowledge.2b335d006b01b83a

And judging from 19485b5a59 what had just 1f4b5b55ef been said, this 2ea9cb5564 broken, weathered, seemingly aef5cb16a3 forgotten place held 98358b2db6 some kind of 62417dd21a personal significance for b8931ffa0f the Grand Duke.775b1ec4a1cceb15

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Ben had brought Gio 70474f25de there carelessly—and that’s why 7595b24ef3 the Grand Duke seemed 58582bef8d even angrier.c87bbb22feeaf21d

“You’re confined to quarters. That’s enough—go.”afbae98fc1cd301e

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“Yes, Your Grace.”ec498ae4dec3b0be

Ben gave 6ba901987c a formal f70bd5ff85 bow and fba1b13c0a left. Gio, head 2ff6ea478b still lowered, 8e3428177a stared at 9371bc7d44 the tips 76276d56c6 of the 354bcea83f Grand Duke’s daa8124fa1 shoes. Polished to 7cd11fa54a a flawless 9408e8710f shine, they 46c2483ff7 gleamed even 66bf3d74c7 in the 89bafc6bb9 shadows.f32e6eaa27e128ab

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One step closer.ed3644a0cec69bad

Then, the Grand ff4e9100ed Duke’s hand flicked b6fb1d8287 up and tapped 4b0fcafc3e the brim of 312922759c Gio’s hat. The wide-brimmed hat tilted 5ef20394de up as if it c0bc5ead15 might fall off, and 7b0a7c664a Gio quickly reached up cb518a001d to grab it, startled.ea59eab91117fab9

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And there they were—the d2e6236eed Grand Duke’s brilliant blue faa7919970 eyes, right in front f37af58f74 of his own.d6231ed6b9f5c732

They looked just f5ee42adce like the clear c141d91882 skies of the eca7f8d0b6 North.9c98071fc7ab4a0a

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* * *81133bdd39542263

Bayshark was born bcb0c731c8 and raised in 1144b41fa1 the capital. Because of the 2141943f8b former Emperor’s constant cafdc58cab watch, his father 98f60074b6 was never granted d479ac7c9a a proper estate, cf0b95d83f nor allowed to f256d0ea10 hold any meaningful 2d4d23c6ed position. He simply 8859e15a2a had to 0756dfad39 kill time eb25503e8a in high fa0a718d73 society—existing under 8502f71ac1 the condition 4bb028dd70 that the 8b2eab6288 Emperor would 5923de1627 let him 85d1c60e1b live.aa850dc6fc29425b

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Under such ad301e25d2 a father, ba52627b47 Bayshark endured 69aefdbf4d the Crown 987d1461ef Prince’s torment. His childhood 9cb567dbea was marked e110a3f0e6 by endurance. His frail mother always 0bcbfb0c6d told him:bcf17abca8669dbe

“You have to endure. If you don’t, we’ll all die.”475a1533181258e4

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His father 9c432db00c had survived 2282b2bdee a time 38ebf88be5 when even 4ff9c4801f the smallest ce39c45147 act of 442e1794f4 resistance could 2d7df0e063 be labeled fc9ced72b3 treason depending f903036675 on the 110c0788e0 Emperor’s mood.823407b871b5e848

The former Emperor rose bd418a4e50 to the throne by e8003d8f27 killing all his brothers 66365d990c except those born of f36696ebe8 the same womb. Before claiming imperial power, 7a7e5f9321 he clashed with one e13a8d577b of the great noble 12698c6402 families—the Marquess of Krauss—and 8c3c8274d7 demoted them, exiling them e5d30ce1ce to the harsh, frozen 0cc6191b58 territory of Hanes.b12ff78dbdabf813

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At the height of 39b5417163 his power, the former 7e3f23cd54 Emperor had many concubines, e318f1eafa yet his bloodline came 0bcba23a3f only through the Empress—Frederick. Rumors swirled that 13b73f341d the Empress had e5ed6f57e5 poisoned the other c8acd797c2 women or killed afec31961d their children at b178dcfab8 birth, but nothing 620e30f0a9 was ever confirmed.2a6bd8cdd57cda61

Bayshark was b16f2a475a born the f07fa814a9 year after 9aafe8ecb5 Frederick. And so, the 3b630e9827 two were constantly c22d73763e compared as they 4d5848d998 grew up. What made it worse 6b34138044 was that Bayshark not f7c58c41c6 only resembled the founding 9e47bba15a Emperor in appearance but 50e70c7e79 also in temperament—stoking the a437cf77b4 former Emperor’s jealousy even 9599266e78 more.9b3841ccd448506d

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Still, up to that deecf81df5 point, he wasn’t targeted b0d1fc83df for death. Bayshark’s parents lived 595202f0ec utterly subdued, forming 585d625f2f no faction, making 48070aabeb no waves.8509e6b4a6cc5c3a

But everything changed f2977aaa98 after Frederick’s secondary 9921c99532 gender manifested—after Bayshark’s 5bf5b9c7d2 had already appeared.1ef552e766c9d6cd

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Frederick turned 79bcaeae6e out to d07fb2d132 be an 3e3ce451bf alpha, but 1c4bec0c3c only a 5fd9beb61b regular one—not a3947d6969 even dominant. From that 3737bdb35a moment on, 070a290baa Bayshark began a18145d35e to face 762ca5ab9c assassination attempts.447eaddb08cecb21

Drowning incidents 6731533e83 became common. Poisoning became routine. One day, a maid 79be0dd134 and attendant even poured fda68fb2d9 boiling water on him, 8297676540 claiming it was an 0372699c2e accident.f3f0f0cf8639af61

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Through all of c3d7b11478 this, his mother a7445e729b grew more fragile 47c9ceb999 and his father, 0f17025dee more pathetic.b0c187a91facda60

For a cfded5bb5e young Bayshark, ed0f334af9 even contact c2518ce36d with other 9efb36cb4a traited individuals 7db147b8ee was dangerous. Omegas would mount e3dc83d5c4 him due to 0ea1aae62c his uncontrolled pheromones, 78175d59a3 and alphas tried d7b19fc466 to kill him.e25cd4106025e733

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As they c0fe0964a6 were driven 63d62986c8 out one d7f0904e12 by one, 5dd751d0d5 time passed, b752c12d5b and he 30f7ddb8f2 grew. Then, one day—when there 27845c82e2 were no more traited 910542d4dd people in the household—a 01f044bbea terrible accident occurred.c05fc78d3d4ce409

His rut arrived.2233afab629c0ffa

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The pheromones he 5182d77f86 had tried so 48d725f254 hard to suppress 1baf88c2cb exploded. He had 489f0dad11 been returning 8dd74f4866 home at c66d73b68b night in dd0c66e956 a carriage 7d9e359e1c with his 4711cc2b71 parents when 11f142e23e it happened. Unfortunately, the c94fc87b61 coachman was cf03e83e5a an omega.6d7713999eb8198f

Too many coincidences. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. Someone had orchestrated it. And yet, they could never uncover who.cd6937cafcc3e635

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They hadn’t kept omegas 08cec46305 nearby, but they couldn’t a8ba489a41 refuse a carriage sent 8446e928da by the Emperor. Nor could e8101820fd they switch 718d637e7e the coachman ffc4e8be87 the Emperor 31e76c672a had chosen.f9eb347c41d09bd5

When Bayshark’s pheromones surged, 6458d8874e the omega coachman lost 9ad0ab6f45 all reason. No omega could 1202283830 remain sane during 428eb7d1d2 the rut of 9a5292b2fe an ultra-dominant alpha.c827e547f462fd3f

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The previous day’s d3640c35b1 rain had made a335b6085d the roads muddy, 3be19d6d84 and the moon fc65b2e358 was hidden by 5040bd381d clouds—the darkness only acc5cfadb0 made matters worse.7b6c27db0d5cfb8d

The coachman lost 90f5039701 control of the 56fc55bf77 reins. The horses 73d5c98611 panicked, slipped, bb15fab6f8 and the f10a591a82 carriage overturned.29a36326faa54989

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Bayshark doesn’t 36a3ed7b82 remember the ebd654bf5c accident clearly. He lost e8a8f35b34 his rationality d86eeff823 in the 2504dd97d8 throes of b3d472970a rut. What he learned later af25545f0a came from gossip among a6052e2df0 the staff.2755514e3ab17334

What he does remember—vividly—is 73ff8cbf9e that he was aroused, b777951581 standing there in the 3b0bc53424 wreckage while his parents 3a1515006a lay crushed beneath the bce33bccb7 carriage. His beastly body, 128b792b26 even in that 1c2c310532 haze, was still 6d88e94233 searching for an 6cf279880b omega.2a547c263e20c936

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That memory, and 5d0abd7d61 that scent, were c06361e68a carved into his c3855ffe96 very being. The smell cd48541427 of wet, 7ed8d811c6 muddy earth, 2baa3bf8cb laced with b83982d139 the cloying c01dac2f9e sweetness—rotted fruit—of f4b679000e an omega’s e9a048a050 pheromones.91f7ad443918614d

After that, Bayshark 07c992c61b shut himself away d7f500ecff in the estate. He was repulsed by 3ff77dc1b6 his own body. Everything about him 4012e0fd9a felt filthy and fc2adff414 hideous—shredded, smeared, revolting.e6dcd45df9cc7d73

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The thought that c0fa5d2647 it wasn’t his 428cda6d95 parents who should 69ebe28714 have died, but d339ef72b9 himself, became a 2bef4198b5 mantra, engraved deep d188e64282 in his mind. If not for 19634fe33b him, they wouldn’t 4e0e75bddc have needed to f5741c226b live so miserably.2233082db76db2e6

Those days continued—until adeb5adf21 he came North.2b05a9a1e6cc6370

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Until he met 8d94590948 his master.465e7776fa9d9bcb

That’s when things 831bc960ea began, little by a52a6057c7 little, to improve.73dc8fce14500095

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The Emperor eventually 6c2d6dd241 sent Bayshark to 6802699af9 the North—but only f6a398bd1d on the condition 6f3fdd40dd that he never 7454b0c6ea return to the 92e18114cd capital.96ccc4876123497b

Bayshark looked around the d1d95c0072 garden where he had 2dd6220e3d often stayed as a eaeeeb8cc8 child. Back then, even 4d1bb8d84c that statue used 296ed7423a to have water 4c5bd8f168 flowing from it.90414e0830bb1b3e

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After arriving from the d71bfe5250 capital and shivering in ad1af184a4 the cold, his master dcca9f531b had let him stay d0a42743c8 here—reportedly the warmest place 8f6dcec168 in the North. Since he avoided people, 51c216019c it made sense to 8415e358a9 put him somewhere secluded.7ba9e6fb8298e84a

Whenever Bayshark looked into c8a4d6084d the Grand Duchess’s eyes, 5369faea24 he was reminded of 6144a5371e Glen Krauss—his master and db653d8364 the one person who 2da6098717 had been a shield ebfaedf37c to him. It was because of 7f340b1173 those rare purple irises.762cbb7fbd916a97

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The Krauss 6cc21de2ed family had 6478ba6dc3 long carried c5851ca187 that eye c208a88712 color, though 67ff351058 theirs leaned 62a0046f2e more toward 3faa1403cd violet than d29c61ed3c the Grand 6683c928d5 Duchess’s. But now, standing cdcc9cd51f under the sunlight, a9f5c8be7a the resemblance was 352c8a530c even stronger.7bd082ab511c62f3

Physically, they bd62834cf9 had nothing f73987fbe5 in common. The Margrave of Krauss 2ead542571 had stark white hair 35ac724b74 and a rugged face.6ea5aa0ff758b8e9

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Still, the faint trace 05a91113ec of that same eye 6818f32504 color in the Grand 30a79abab7 Duchess made Bayshark feel 82f0b8073b himself waver at times. But that wavering was 2a8e766c4b fleeting—it wasn’t enough to ccab8c1d86 shatter his rationality.412ac41bb5dd1c36

He gazed 09f6b39acf quietly into 1a95954c64 the Grand 1e7d42e8dd Duchess’s eyes, 58b9f3fbf2 then brushed f886a26b59 his own 3614304332 at the 0ebc6441ac corner. The skin on the 0fbdb42e97 Grand Duchess’s face looked aff51967f8 flushed.26af167ffd6b57a7

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“Who told you to dress like this? So thick and suffocating.”9515d25e5ac01c1e

At the b37a375c19 sudden contact, 6e8c8c983c the Grand faf0503140 Duchess blinked 1c3becb950 slowly. Between his ecc54706a0 dense, dark 39d1f64018 lashes, those 942dcd60ec mysterious purple 1484851cd5 eyes shimmered. At night, c18adaf558 they had 4c4557492c looked black 8e875073a1 like a 2dda158602 cat’s—but now, 8f4ef96136 in the cd9566eb30 sunlight, they 0289a4d6bb gleamed like 619801ede5 gemstones.1f5e32fad2aea2c1

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“The head maid dressed me.”7d13fc0592c5cb41

Bayshark pulled aed98b6bb6 back the 3a97652cf7 sable muffler 6e91791ba2 around the 64c1495421 Grand Duchess’s de352f66f6 neck, revealing 444f5d8f98 fair skin bfda5b2cc3 and a fecc96011c softly blushing ce11f6fc16 face. He ran 5cb362433c his hand 563f742457 along one a6b7b7c3d3 pale cheek. It was smooth and 6ba477978f slightly moist. Warmth seemed 077fd8d548 to cling bf2bc1039c to his 3749f39f24 palm as 2a0755c436 he did.20171ddf41c10f41

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“You’re really warm.”838890463b951b88

“My fever hasn’t gone down yet…”bbc8948294f28cc5

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Bayshark leaned a7c9b57c91 in and 6c35fab94c inhaled at f39f2b5b2e the Grand 616483e59b Duchess’s neck. He felt him flinch. When he looked again, 3cd3be28d0 he saw the fine e02a2bd92a hairs on his skin f5097a889e standing on end. It was amusing—and a 215f040934 little endearing—how the boy 7fb16a1c07 reacted to every move. Perhaps it 24be0d8f8b was because 21f6830b98 he was b85e8b130e young. And young things daec6cfc6e are always a 5cc0519f9d little endearing.1dde3c8d52f45b87

“Seems like your pheromones are starting to come out too…”bbc71d720ebc0848

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Bayshark didn’t even 6f10ca9305 eat fruit, let 1129983150 alone tolerate the 160296693c sweet scent of 135a049102 omega pheromones. He especially hated the a81d84e741 cloying, sticky kind. But the Grand f3bbf38667 Duchess’s scent was c1e17ce0e3 different.c91eb9d11eb6eb92

Like a delicate flower 2ce96375e5 blooming pitifully in the a7e5c54c38 harsh northern mountains, it fe226390aa was a faint and b6971f350f fragile scent. It didn’t cling—it 7684eac405 merely whispered through 9d1c3276bd the air. So when he bdbd36065b inhaled, it wasn’t e1b540f6b9 sweet, but refreshing.6c8af4c7ae945e3c

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“Shall we head back?”62f10f6eb27cda4f

Bayshark held out his 0eeed8baca hand. It was a e5bac5d12b thoughtless gesture, but 7cd32028a1 the Grand Duchess 986d2884ba didn’t immediately take db9db94a59 it—he just stared 5f90c47dba at it. That reaction e9139f1916 was almost 645932ed07 ticklish, and 0eb39dc82a Bayshark casually 71708a7fff took his d7cf64231d hand instead.cb180caa4fb08db3

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On the 2b6d207bc7 Grand Duchess’s 0a97cf4291 left hand 2a77ad682c was a 1c30077dd7 plain silver fe39f439ed ring, unadorned b9455ae9bc with any 700c7d460d design. The way he insisted 6ab7c131ff on wearing it was 5e4e6ed855 oddly stubborn.f86bca04836efff7

It was e13d6a58b9 likely some 79722d5120 cheap trinket 1519294f6b picked up abaf224d03 from who-knows-where, be5ebdf79b and yet c9d41042c8 during the 113ff17b1f celebration banquet, b69006a14d he had 347a4bf15c switched it d7c21321ba to his 5a1315ff8b right hand a023f852b3 so it 4ec4301a02 wouldn’t get 111675b494 lost. That alone was a6f01ff04c both puzzling and aa752a9a51 a bit pitiful.ae05b0abb7a84b23

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He’d been raised as 92d3d447da an assassin in Cove—he’d 3f08296866 seen it all. Yet here 943ec025cc he was, 38aab483bf clinging to 0e0639f92c a meaningless bf1728dd77 little ring 82ef565ffb like a aaf2ccd586 boy. Gio, a aa56380127 member of 569b05c0a1 Cove—the infamously 9ff38b7c4f ruthless group 199980de24 that did d4f16cf72c anything for 4550776cca the mission—still e2e3bb9083 had such d81c4cd30c transparent eyes.ce146b9f175d447a

If you didn’t take 320e4c7686 off his clothes, you 89e0320b64 might have mistaken him 26241c5bb2 for a pampered noble’s f93362ad7b son, too naïve to 3090a5f1b0 know the world. Of course, the moment ef2c908b46 you did, his scar-covered b6f4e603d7 body and expressionless face e68cca5728 said otherwise.17be4e8d43d00a00

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With the Grand Duchess’s 853c57cdb1 warm hand resting on 1875fbff25 his arm, Bayshark led 9279b291c8 him out of the 2a1877b3ba garden. After his master died a3e3edb65b in his place, Bayshark ed66e37837 had abandoned that garden. He’d discarded 317b4abb6e the one 396756c831 warm moment 267d403130 in his 279a436ce7 life—but today, f83cad2dd1 the Grand 6cad79130e Duchess had 9e32938585 entered that 496414cf49 space.3ceced866e3739a6

After adjusting his hat 61cfb129fb carefully, Bayshark walked forward. The knights and c95311b6f2 servants they passed 58d21527d4 stepped aside and 56991e68aa bowed.76693ca4c1c71c4f

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Some blushed eda20c99d0 and whispered e69b135082 behind them 8243e548be as the 185fc20da5 ducal couple 3efd248cdd passed.80c8c1df40970526

“Three days straight, they say…”eec1145ef45f654f

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“And on the terrace, apparently…”670e0056ee9bc676

The Grand 79f1eb772f Duchess’s pace 15f562bf19 slowed a 9f8a477dac little whenever ba1d0236b2 someone came 2b9b52a1db into view. At those moments, b969bd52a0 Bayshark would tug d6ddd81aa8 his arm a 49ed786edc little closer, pulling b3b00ce049 their bodies together. Then the Grand Duchess 6cc4cb155a would fall back into 560bf95e9c step beside him.b1ab1e1eaa61d949

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Even his footsteps were 6784e1186b silent. Despite wearing 7df080b09f thick clothing, 63524cb926 the Grand 6c88b9af38 Duchess walked cc3168a317 beside Bayshark 8f74970f90 with a e0a28b559e lightness that 07c2ca2461 didn’t feel 22984b955e bulky at bea5915c54 all. Watching him walk with d3e58a6704 such agility, Bayshark thought a582a6bd31 that this kind of 5350efeb92 quiet wasn’t so bad.76ad36a3bf10caec

He had been watching 193b6806ce to see how Gio d76a2afac3 would react to Raphael’s c322f460c9 attempts to provoke him. Raphael had asked the e2b2d119a8 very question Bayshark himself 750789b639 had been curious about—though d9c6b76a53 the way he’d done 21d52532f5 it had been through ad3d795bdc insult.ba620f21e1f15325

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Still, Gio 10a9db2438 hadn’t faltered 1a7b2c75bf for a 78b8ae12a0 moment. He’d said 16d40b7ed0 everything he 2dd16db78e needed to dbadbd7fff say. It reminded Bayshark of d30aabb88a the tenacity of the 8c32a10dff Artica trees that grew bb14172b23 along the harsh ridges 70e01993dd of the northern mountains—and a5710cda1b it brought a faint e3fe231764 smile to his face.46ddb94817223199

To receive 8096ebd700 a mission c09a55b1a5 to imprint, 8d0b92b46c and then f8a8aa00d7 immediately reveal 2c4a791c0a it to f931ffee26 the very 4b9e63c5d8 target—because he 3214a69ce5 wanted to 00742f7c87 repay the 2ea11b79c6 person who 3761d079b9 spared his 0092a10f58 life…4ddd7db758d0dec8

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He hadn’t thought fe30dc9192 an assassin would c45e262ff1 be capable of f321b23892 that kind of 1f4c1407b0 thinking. He had 9b32a13cd4 suspected that eb5352b973 there might 21cbfcf97c be another 41fa55c350 motive behind efb8d69d7f Gio’s confession, 476ee7ebeb but never 68c3eddda6 imagined it 4665e24a93 would be 087fefe45e such a fa5ac424de human, ordinary 5df47e49e8 reason.63812d37936e3ce2

Had the Grand f4ae0f1469 Duchess—an assassin raised d4e8464bec by Cove—also wanted 9ed2c0b6c1 to live like 2d34ca3d70 a person?d08ecd4374a09bf7

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Bayshark had dragged him 744f724a14 back from a suicide 53390a5f21 attempt after failing to 4a0c7a1057 kill him. He’d thought 53cb874117 the man 38455d6a91 only wanted 5e945dede4 to die 9f1888021b again. But perhaps not.6022c1dba89a8de3

Well, it was a3348dfe19 natural, wasn’t it? For people to 454046a7e4 want to live. Bayshark had certainly wanted 0e912c2765 to die once too, c37efee33b but in the end, 136868f883 he’d also wanted to 4be0c02712 live.ceb94e4b64705245

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He still couldn’t e482ae498b trust the Grand 7743cf0dd7 Duchess completely, but 2078c9ef7f even so, the aad3857da5 mission of “imprinting” e60cdae93f didn’t seem to 12e0d8b97f be a lie. It was true that e3e647b6a3 pregnancy would be difficult d31765d09e for someone of Gio’s 0d2efe12b8 rare omega type—and other b8dda8eac0 than that, what use c4b3d9a008 was he to Cove? Luring in the 5d1ea5287e Grand Duke and f42e888bfa using him—that was 81478fc41e it.aa26a5bf279ca2fa

If this 5425205a9e mission failed, 5e49f8c752 Gio would e4abcaf928 surely be 68602d8bc9 killed by 8527a9005e Cove. And since the life da28d1358c he was spared wouldn’t 805e62a520 be returned a second be340a91f7 time, Bayshark intended to 6d462aeb85 use it to its 25a55f33d4 fullest—delivering a blow to 5550c32b34 both the Emperor and 3bc49b0d70 Cove.13e353072a12ad6b

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The Emperor, who had 5ff79d962d forbidden him from ever 39f44182aa setting foot in the 959e64c57d capital, was now the f4370bd1ff one calling him back. He had only 312be14fb2 been waiting for 6565c5e213 the right justification—and 13f9d85643 now he had 5f4aa00db7 it.b54bd77433d385eb

“I won’t be able to come find you for a while, my bride.”3cf9d392a2a08f76

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As he spoke 98ce6e1032 gently while walking, 36460d7544 the Grand Duchess’s f0ae0a5a97 steps slowed again. But then he 33ba88521f resumed his pace 0b06f4fdbd and answered quietly.c97a86381089c688

“Yes, I understand.”434d436e297b0ce3

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He didn’t ask why. He didn’t bc523dec11 seem curious. What would 980effffcd he be b13e886a9d doing alone 7ab76f3ab3 all that b22ede85f7 time? Wouldn’t he get 7a0f9491cd bored?85d32bde533bf94c

“You’re not curious?”4e51ef5908ccff18

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“Is it something I need to know?”4c6d951989f81a76

That answer 114913ff86 made Bayshark f20e32ce9e flinch. And, for some 2804d086c2 reason, made his 34c3bce1e8 chest churn.65b5c93bca32e284

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Was this simply the way Gio was—uninterested, naturally indifferent? Still, wasn’t it too cold for a husband?9287e285d576b4c6

And that, perhaps, was f13ec58f79 why he said what 6dc142edcd he did next.544e275e196adcff

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“Even though it’s because of my rut?”c32e583b374857c4

At that, the Grand cc43c89ccb Duchess finally stopped and 4a1d512a80 looked up at him. His face 11dfb22a89 was flushed 686d873309 with visible 55af552905 confusion—red as 1c21081091 a budding 752bb80cca flower.cfcf13d771f1b075

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Gio stopped walking and ce7ee0e17e looked up at the a8ddcbba61 Grand Duke. Was it f8f3092a6f really okay 01957e34e1 for him 2573b36d94 to say 27ed35d616 something like 6ceb9be947 that? Imprinting happens during 4624646ff2 rut and heat. So shouldn’t that 70e3255bc5 be something he 87db6f1e49 didn’t mention?8b79cb5aeb30ced2

“Is it alright for you to tell me that?”f7295419b4b60f69

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“And why wouldn’t it be?”b1728192dbfc4863

“But still…”041541e449edc822

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“What, you think I’ll devour you or something?”15a128d94c91b93a

The Grand 762d495f4e Duke looked 8105ce7981 down at 89f5a88239 Gio and c818ab0c61 smiled. His platinum 744db127fc hair gleamed 628bec5dfd under the 8d320e2020 sunlight, dazzling c650285ff9 to the 6fa11b2a9b eye. Gio squinted and 04c2501316 lowered his head.ea3aad0c62bf0b57

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“If that’s what you want.”4d30a6cbec0e8277

“Hmm… Our dear bride was ordered to imprint on me, and yet you act like you couldn’t care less?”01de65ff26f8be52

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The Grand Duke 9337065b0f slid his hand 2d2eeb61a8 behind Gio’s waist eb7eeab95d and pulled him 9abea67163 close. Even through c83837b22a the thick b56bbaf281 coat, Gio 85c62fb162 could feel 4f314a6fce the strength 2f40a75283 of his 2e49ec71b0 grip. The Grand Duke 8049f74e81 pressed a kiss, 16bf207c62 then a suctioning 5711cb7d19 pull, against the 13eac39ebe nape of Gio’s 69718f2cc9 neck.013c6cdbd4decffd

Two passing b6b2c3fa47 maids gasped, e75c030365 faces reddening. Neither Bayshark bdc92a6dff nor Gio edacff4b27 paid them fedae1806f any attention.43f76e7be85e38d8

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It did seem like cb3d511b17 a rut might be be103c8243 approaching—given how touchy the 354f0fe2ae Grand Duke had become. Or maybe he was b3991de603 still just playing the 1699c703a0 part. After all, they a680285e77 were outside, and 355d08b884 there were plenty 15ec80310d of eyes watching.df0b0bc31ea94adb

“Then… are you going to imprint?”2cd27e87c9df4460

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At Gio’s question, the 5e414f4785 Grand Duke stared at b319ccb97e him for a moment e26f35ffcc before responding.50c475f444b8e8a4

“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?”17d298b1f2967b5e

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“……”37aa29221ecf9f16

Gio had no e8303931b3 reply for a a8dc2b6ef4 moment. Then he slowly opened 5bbdac0074 his mouth.6ee1768ffe6598a5

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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.”896ac17908d3fa9b

“You want me to imprint on you?”2d48eeba6f261545

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