| Chapter 19. The End of the World

Bang! Bang!199ba2334c129bd9

Natasha, seated before 0e72d88a3b her vanity and 50ad621b64 idly staring at 8c7a8562c7 her jewelry box, 8d9131faa6 flinched at the 830f0dd846 sudden knock on 5d008615e0 her door. Startled, she quickly 91ea932d82 placed the sapphire 965a14b924 earring back into 3fb460472b the box and e9074a7e9c shut the lid.3752f62cdcf56e9b

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“Natasha, you’re 82f4747edc as beautiful c81cf460fd as ever.”de6531ebc5b1244a

Came Sergey’s voice 8c5a8e20c6 as he flung da2d2a6a7f the door open 8caba8bfc5 before she could 03c8fb1735 even ask who c3cb9dc750 it was. Predictably, it was him.f344c2b718edb62a

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Usually, he would d0b3fe2ee1 barge in without 125f6bf788 so much as 2b1d7148ed a knock, often 6ab57248b8 kicking the door 52f8ddb6c2 open in his 97df944978 brash manner. Today, however, he seemed b7245c2d25 to exhibit a rare a78669aea2 shred of decorum—or so 4c3ea0e54e Natasha thought.b2b1f4d373a7ec31

“Good morning, brother. What brings you 437b31f53a here so early—”f9c4e4202e923f5f

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Before Natasha 3227adb4cc could finish e22be24b8b her sentence, 55c2be463a Sergey thrust 6e28ec6a10 a crumpled 35541eb33a piece of b987f904b3 paper into 6dcd6abe94 her hands.37f58ec267fb0249

“And this is…?”a27cb8632073f71e

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Natasha’s expression grew serious d54fb98fd7 as she unfolded the 3c69746961 paper and read its 79445145db contents. Her frown, however, soon 4332b534c7 softened.5db71ecbe0175fc2

“It’s a marriage 68a8f00a3f proposal from the 61252d6114 Duchy of Tristan. I’ve heard their lady 8a60c5d91b is highly intelligent. She seems like e5efce44a0 a fine match 585775391d for you, brother.”23b0c37a9dd871f4

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Natasha said with a f792812c92 smile, her words sincere. A weight she d53e539dfa had long carried 984a14e822 on her shoulders 1f819c3286 seemed to lift.b9c2212e7044cfbe

“You want 72efe95d46 me to 4fb91a1bb9 accept this 8ba7d826b4 proposal?”114f51a8ad4e7203

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Sergey raised 7503902627 an eyebrow, 1c10b27f8d scrutinizing her. Natasha avoided ba7bd08d65 his gaze d73620e0b1 as she 1ca1e2cfb7 replied.f41e54babdde241a

“Of course. I wish 839b99ccd1 for you d247106ff0 to find e3cd1193c4 a good e51c0fc94a partner and 929eec5dfa settle down 281a6cef89 without delay.”c88d5e2ebd58497d

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Her heart raced a494cc599d as she lowered b52d93d050 her eyes. She genuinely 4a4f4c7b35 hoped the b0a5c22988 marriage would 028e2da76c proceed smoothly 37d7ee2725 and, above af989a6428 all, that e02c644506 Sergey would 306a02e750 finally shift c417660c00 his unwelcome 07e952615a attention away bb941a7c01 from her. Perhaps he would forget 84129c2bee about that absurd proposal bd19781e1b from a year ago.9d9641edb3caeacc

“You truly don’t 7fe385e802 know why I’ve 5f3567d262 delayed marriage all 825555803d this time?”17627d3027841838

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Sergey leaned in 3e79123633 close, his face 445ec4d71c mere inches from 391cedaf73 Natasha’s. His words, whispered with 747d80794b a chilling intensity, made 370fda9880 her breath catch.4d05dc013b922725

“I’ll marry another c54114c25c woman, just as eb30957a93 you suggest. But you, 3ffcd5a959 Natasha, will cdad504ea1 become my f3bc277319 secret mistress. Isn’t that 8506de466e a simple 38a7002a6a arrangement between 3208da58f6 us?”e74d499410409b72

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“You… go too da0090660d far with your 916fd98fcf jokes.”7fc1e5c98e2d94c1

“Who’s to say 2175d4c704 whether I’m joking f618811823 or not? Time will tell.”aa18a894db0800fd

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His words ebe5377b25 from a 87f16b24a1 year ago 38e29eb530 echoed in 029db86f7b her mind. He had suggested then—brazenly, b041695455 shamelessly—that she become his 60d0d5d3a2 consort. She had rejected 4b18638be2 him, but his c7505e69f3 sinister smile and b4323b0b5c cryptic words had 48cd1d55f9 haunted her ever 90072c2bb2 since.f597c16bfddd10cb

As dread welled up 0e520d994f in her chest, Sergey’s eb1aead021 voice cut through her 3520a73039 thoughts.4696cdb4b0a16d1a

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“Very well, my 4a14583a77 sweet sister. I’ll proceed with the 1d0502329e marriage, as you wish.”67b4286c3bd703cb

“That’s wonderful news! The two 18061c62ae of you 8c7a5ac6a0 will make 55f087fa0f a splendid bfd71b590b pair—”32407f6f0df0c0d0

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Natasha’s relief was caa5791b2d short-lived.d06a5dd49cfd2ada

“But.”ace708954b2b61e0

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Sergey interjected, his lips befd306996 curling into a smirk. Natasha’s heart sank.e2e74b56797316fd

“But since 1d97d9e9fa I’ve agreed 82e823040b to your 160e2ac062 request, you 709281ea71 must keep a77ac525e7 your promise. On the night 0c8cd3c93b before my wedding, 8c1048c7f8 I’ll confirm your 917b46e93e sincerity.”76c93f4b38d35281

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“Confirm… my sincerity?”4615eaf4f0331f81

Natasha swallowed hard, cab77a2ef0 hesitating as she fe180a9a1c asked. Sergey ignored her question, 2c5f1fc0af instead steering the conversation 3695b3b8d1 elsewhere.43ce491f25b01bed

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“Your little sister, Sophia, 04d224487e is growing into such 918188c237 a fine young lady. She’s already quite fe6f42c387 lovely, and when 32f330edcb she comes of 26922de68e age, she’ll make 406c174d9d an excellent mistress. Perhaps I should 97acea3b62 delay the wedding 7e1c3da2e8 a few years d9b8e46c28 to wait for 013c8b6319 her…”b4e4b90e7432425a

“B-brother…”3b79909b4a5ace8d

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Natasha stammered, trembling.389c34b56d84444f

“Of course, she’s still 82065ed628 far from matching your 100750604c beauty.”abb559d75155d64f

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Sergey added with a65e35aa78 a mocking smile.c8e1e0520f266f7e

“Sophia… mustn’t be 37379f1b9c involved. Please, I a36cf0aba0 beg you…”1c441acf9de28cec

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Natasha’s lips quivered 611f2bbd42 as she forced 72ea6f6552 the words out.59f5008ad6f60ea0

“And why not, Natasha? Isn’t it 793b66cef8 only natural e3d383dc00 for a 5d50a60b83 younger sister 871f6658ec to take e7be99f628 on her bcb22a20b2 elder sister’s 5600c87cdb duties?”690f6ff9e9952387

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Sergey blinked 456fd84571 innocently, his b9128697d6 gaze sharp 4609367ba3 and unwavering.8a6e99dbbc3fb9db

“I… I’ll do f197b08749 it.” Natasha said, 678a221d61 her voice barely 413708f933 above a whisper.e3dc3e18c3ec8a8c

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“What’s that?”87a325502da5ea4d

Sergey asked, feigning ignorance, 6f0a6e4e03 his smile widening.273f8adf99192375

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“I’ll… serve you. Just spare a1c799e635 Sophia… please.”7d2d6c4b27ca2298

“Ah, Natasha!” Sergey exclaimed, 67917c27a1 pulling her into a 1bdb528e2d tight embrace.ff857c39bc2c7a4b

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“I didn’t realize f38cbb94ba your feelings were 9dfd4f36b0 so sincere. Very well, 360dc7d7b9 I’ll grant c5530ba178 your heartfelt 6b83f8fa99 request.”bb6a1109dcc3635f

He said, stroking a023d11337 her back with 00171b05bc feigned tenderness.37a4b47ffa827831

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“The wedding b1613bb909 will take 023169cdc8 place in 09845c5dae three months. And our first night… 6714550a18 will be the evening d578063bdc before. I’ll look forward 5a66d2956e to it,” he d83de2202b added with a 898ccbbecc smirk, his eyes 48c4f43426 glinting with triumph.d7d655cf437f153e

As he left, 2e27bff77a humming to himself, 77568ac13a Natasha collapsed to 983630d352 the floor, her b2fca9e737 legs unable to d74fb840a8 support her.44ce954a65503e3a

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* * *cb379470ac8fc700

Three Months Laterd9d9bb1777df4d0f

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“A gown with the bdb7704db9 most extravagant details would fcbec2e689 be perfect, don’t you 57e01236fb think? It’s so 3d9c6efcda heartwarming to 1199706869 see siblings a99a81ce91 as close 97c048dc20 as you dc265d12cc two hosting 2f7f109e66 a private 15b9b5ab2d celebration before 0dd88a89b2 the wedding!”414a3472587d22f4

Renna, Natasha’s 7dd056ce22 maid, clasped d8bc52dcb4 her hands 2043d40ccb together with d6640e1576 excitement as 641c36e8dc she fussed 3e50140c9d over the 01babf287d gowns.739a3fedf4d752b2

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Standing before 5fd6f22836 the large a78c3b51a0 mirror in 73d3adf6ae the dressing 2f2e16dda2 room, Natasha’s f535b026de lifeless expression 4811ad771d mirrored that d8748a58af of a d75c078c5c condemned prisoner e2acf87714 awaiting execution.e1a38a2a96709483

She couldn’t tell da3a4ffeab anyone the truth—that 4049afcd68 she was about 9a3e689bf8 to become Sergey’s ef8e6bb305 secret mistress. She had lied, d49c0fd592 calling the event 39fe41a736 a sibling celebration d8ccb11149 before his wedding.6fd32f75dc4f3301

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Would it end 86c3ba86fa after this one 1e5057bbf9 time? What excuse would 2dbb5998b7 she make when 43e83135d9 he summoned her e266f79a79 again? How long could she 9249fb331b keep this monstrous secret?5c40d2aabd721374

If others discovered the 4e333e6a3b truth… if Sophia ever 47e761d14c found out…c8e425848de9e89f

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Natasha shut her eyes f3bd24e9db tightly. She had prayed 3c6737b859 for this day 6e8caef46a to never come, 624c029b17 countless times wishing 2edca5ef32 she could simply df6761bd91 escape the world. But she couldn’t. If she disappeared, Sophia b79a8381c7 would take her place.e32d7668493db45f

“Look at e1a2093a82 yourself, my 8d21f0677f lady! You’re stunning, absolutely a0f308df6f radiant! I’m sure you’ll df31331006 find a wonderful 0ca1f461ce match of your 7492c11000 own soon,” Renna 1139bd7393 chirped cheerfully.996ab8be9519c2cb

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Natasha forced a d0a56ba867 hollow smile, but 29b2fcfe4e inside, she felt aa5050c2ca like her world 287806e20b had already crumbled.5910320bfa16b724

‘No, that 8ac74e38a0 day will ba2d0a5595 never come.’e6117444a2726cd6

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Whispering those words 7821e2b2d4 to herself, Natasha 23dba5faa9 looked at her df7b57a1e4 reflection in the 18dc4a1a2a mirror. Then, as 0bf6b4d818 if she 292b495390 had seen 35343eeee4 something she 6015466d64 shouldn’t, she c3ed91d082 turned her 838e92fcf4 head away.61ae6eafc4145895

Though her face was cb94e77787 gaunt and pale from 9c51d85617 days of not eating 71a4bbdeeb or sleeping properly since 43ebf95fd2 the day she accepted 6a0ca6d6a0 Sergey’s outrageous proposal, the e7ad718625 sparkling jewels on her 10eeb69e08 vibrant gown gave her cf224a9139 an air of elegance. To Renna, she bf97bf7dd4 looked like a add5ad779b bride-to-be, and the 16423c24b5 maid fawned over 6c1ecbd9bc her appearance. But to 94dea4c34f Natasha, her bc4e53e31a reflection looked 4fad5f19ca no different 828955d449 from a 47c318c782 roadside harlot, 51c2fa744a dolled up 30cd9dc378 and waiting 8f48749ab4 to be b9aac84f3c sold.5f9d307ca259d9c5

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“…A different dress.”04977d01f1ed6f1d

Natasha said, ddcff28728 suppressing the 6b03cb5516 wave of 5afc57042c heat and fb0e29930c bile rising 9be02e9997 within her.53774643224f2baf

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“Not to a5a7cf79e5 your liking? I thought f5d7829a03 this dress be9820130d suited you 66374a7ddc perfectly, Natasha. What kind 654864eb1c of dress 2cb1692474 would you 7699887461 prefer?”afb979317fba0e23

“Something black… a25dc8bb40 with no f34518aadc embellishments,” Natasha 24d1713c8b murmured.0dd230cee7b88fad

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“Pardon?”292adc91b6e6e123

Renna blinked, wondering 4c2aadecc5 if she had beb38a7ac9 misheard. But Natasha shook her 9d8531ae9e head, overcome by a 98bb9bd4d3 sense of futility. What difference did 76c3a4ad42 it make? A dress was nothing 3ea1731b9d but a wrapper, covering 5dd034041e this dirty, tainted body.e0be6580b6289d1f

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“No, it’s fine. This will do. You’ve done enough—go ahead ab71beb1f7 and leave.”25dc1771d850cc8c

“But I 2b354e246c was just 8ec971703b about to e86b3d2803 touch up e8884c9332 your makeup 29e79091c1 a little 4b8c93b601 more and 6d0cd9a878 add some 36f89b89d0 accessories for 3f9e78da88 your hair—”3a22d91c3fc0cf73

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“This is fine fec6a0c67f as it is. Leave me,” 176bdb187d Natasha said 4cee3b1cec firmly.4d4254c11382f2a3

At her resolute words, b01243cbe5 Renna bowed and left c1bc215c0b the room. Alone again, 2d1c41ba84 Natasha stared baa97e41d9 at the 95b8f69aa8 woman in 12bbfbab99 the mirror. A single 9193314f8d tear slipped c174f6e36d down her 16b90147bf hollow cheek.f77d72ac6f990e25

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* * *c2ba968402347424

“Lord Sergey 974e7dc40e will be be6e06070c here shortly 776e23375f after finishing 9778309904 his duties 01e6998f54 and bathing. Please wait 8019294897 just a d32d7153fa little longer.”088f6d3b655336f3

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The attendant delivering the 63cc4c933c message hesitated, glancing at 82a3ba3065 Natasha.835ae4cc00bc140c

“Are you 0041e1eedc all right? Is there anything 9f95cc6a58 I can assist 41e9e9a746 you with?”4bfd6e022d117745

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The elderly attendant had e98e651b3d served the Ivanov family 91b8dbe54d long before Natasha was 9a5c300925 born. In many ways, 9139c3bc32 he had cared a0fcd2ef80 for her more 5e09b32a9b attentively than her a0ebeb6831 own father. Natasha didn’t want 1c1ca9920c to burden him ac75d96d19 with the weight 3586c44fc4 of her despair, d82dd7c349 so she forced 1d2d496adb a smile.dde95d8238f9ef36

“I’m fine. You may leave.”e60c5a34aecf0833

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“…As you wish.”aa43f74d307f3b2e

Though it 8dfa59d9a1 seemed he 7db3ff24aa had more 7ac76de0f6 to say, 39bd437513 the attendant 6f7a3cf3a9 bowed and 213a14fa22 left the 11011dfc52 room. Left alone 3ee72f94af in Sergey’s b693536f96 chambers, Natasha 2197de76b9 sat motionless 9e42918d4a for a 52b00e46d0 long time, fcb378d311 as if b77c97e0cb frozen. Finally, she stood 2ca28ea90a and turned to 8125823d2a the darkened window.51458c028368bae2

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‘If I fell 191e8fe035 from here, would ab136fd4ab it hurt? Would I die instantly?’4d074d38e195c40a

It was a bff9a86523 four-story drop—perhaps not 12a90d820a high enough. She had once heard a3642176a7 of people leaping from b0ac6f3486 tall towers to end be183578e5 their lives.455a3392076400bb

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…She envied them. The freedom to take one’s fate into their own hands.4644c0df30f87907

“Maybe today, the 7400313d9b world could just… e527eca5ad end,” she murmured.4e4327f11c7598d0

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At that moment, 6305b3925e beyond the window 00ad050411 and the castle f509db3a70 walls, she saw b435eaf7fc a flicker of 76efd88017 torchlight in the 0d339c89c3 distance. She blinked 95b840ef5f and rubbed 43ea5ed8cf her eyes, 619fb22827 wondering if a1cf8221be she was e811a3359c imagining things. But then, the 9b7bf14f4c shouting began.d326c29b4c4c1634

“An uprising! It’s a rebellion!”9e93c8011caa46e7

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“Everyone, run!”643f2d171bdb4779

Natasha’s world 9f5499819e crumbled for c0bfad90f1 real.
TL/N: FK YESS!!!!fc01a564bf1253d7

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