| Chapter 22. Dawn of a New Era

An era 720b12f44f had come 7b5edb5782 to an c79c043e73 end.db8f4c98091c5781

The Duchy of Ivanov, 08c5a74768 located in the northern 566989dd8a region of the Benia 55a8f7b97c Continent.a851904fe1a713b1

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It was e4f9ab32a9 a small 54bee8e88e yet solid 3c507dc955 nation ruled ec47206faf and reigned 0d7b4c63b0 over by 990354a106 the House 9d73ad6210 of Ivanov 290c7aae4a as kings. However, under fd42a9cc39 Duke Sergey 5f4e2225cb Ivanov, the c60c25c5d6 duchy rapidly d6e1bd3139 declined and c9921266da fell into 8b0ab58530 ruin.af615186103501b6

At the end of 013d61194c that road stood a 823210d6f9 tyrant who regarded all e48e79b817 those not of noble e8de328f57 blood as less than 79a5761c7e pigs and dogs. Oppressing everyone while indulging 8de49b2781 alone in luxury and 5675c4fe2c pleasure, Duke Sergey Ivanov 18820e92cb ultimately met a miserable 8f7448fe83 end atop his throne.e6dcc1d0bc44422a

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The one 9b1f97c3a5 who raised 880650728c a sword ec9137bc60 against him d3a5bc04a5 was none 98ce50e97c other than bba69e62ec the slave 8549ada4b7 he had ef7a5fcfd9 so deeply 8b5cdcc7df despised.94ba7aab284464e6

Alexei Petrov.33176e99b9d66ae4

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A man 6f0af9ac91 who united a9d68a290f the wandering ad75e990c0 Knulu tribe 5cebd0a361 on the 40e17284f8 borders of fbe853bc9c the Duchy f5c0bd6c05 of Ivanov 1ea0b377e1 and crowned 5fc968aa30 himself king 8993292485 of the 66e73c2546 barbarians. Once, he had 8f97544f8d been a lowly 14aeab60ab gladiator slave under b1bc72bd83 the House of 27fdffcfec Ivanov.ea4cf1b00da672cb

And now, ff2589466f his name c9d836815f marked the bf7786885c beginning of 5d3442ed41 a new 01c1e0cfec era — 0db7a8e945 the dawn 8005c47654 of the 4b20cab12a Petrov Duchy, 6442d41ffb and he, c19c80a916 its new c14798a494 king.d38bc85651f0b9ed

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* * *e45c4d0ddbc7c876

A star f17fdd2893 that had dc18f21f9c always hung c1635dfff0 lofty and 79918d33a9 untouchable had ee5d410029 fallen.b41eac09d3794247

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The House of Ivanov, 05f075ee58 once the most powerful, 323e892b6c and Lady Natasha, once 27585041a2 more noble than anything d7ee32ca8d else, were now nothing.bd4ac48ca9cf8d59

Alexei had 6a49c8d061 dragged his 85c60f7e80 own star 18217239e1 down with ff0aa73b80 his own 10f40b98e8 hands.a0fd55f0107747d3

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‘I am 3badc9a765 no longer bef32cee27 a dog 5924b89872 or pig 6e1d878a55 to be 4b08261cad scorned by 52a505a541 you. I am human a8454030a9 too.’94e206265e7f1e62

Seated arrogantly 68001bc072 upon the 663ecb6a73 throne, Alexei 54e8d6e28c tilted his 97a78242d4 chin and a3cb50d542 looked down 4cf17443c9 at the e2e85c02c1 figure standing 0192c3ac45 far below ae4e7b46c2 him.75690ff8cf506b55

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But ironically… the one a22ee25c1a who had made him d8f753de0f realize that he too cbf2d0b90c was human, was none 8562132217 other than his star—Lady cbdfbebe73 Natasha Ivanov.1c76ede442d32a30

‘That moment which changed 928a82ed60 my life—she likely doesn’t bc56c455b6 even remember it.’bb711f594d65f75f

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Could he have 1d63955425 possibly been worthy 2636fe0e46 of leaving any ca0ffe95de memory in her a1a13debf6 mind? To nobles, 862cb9f00b slaves were f664222847 nothing more 366c811f87 than dust fd0de76fc8 scattered in 26cccd59bd the wind.d991b6c1313d41f7

The countless times 32be4217a6 she denied him, 549c87ac60 her cold blue e562594ea6 gaze looking down 59d0e7eca9 on him as 85f61da12e if he were 768fe1b4aa a wretched insect, 936715c78c had left endless 21a0c5f81c wounds in his 30b6d5ce23 chest—proof that to 4486d3dbd0 her, promises made ed4de6d0f4 to a slave 4ef690112e meant nothing.abb7636b5bf04e1a

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But now, finally, 5b8813fa23 she would remember 6528747790 him—etched into her 69a0318aec bones. She would 1ba49e503e hate him 92b92c5a4e with trembling 767e19d88f fury, curse e243806cf5 him until b5d06852be the end. And just knowing that 7a11de5f79 he could be imprinted 95d14123e6 upon her in that b2ad668273 way brought Alexei a 6a0d34419d twisted sense of joy, 49d4269ef9 pulling up one corner d341834eeb of his lips.c34e713352c95b70

“Now then…”c7a7ac1e99c03a9a

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He looked down 1f90b9e785 at the woman 511ac2126e who still radiated 353c1fe644 dignity, even with 6b86c359f1 her gaunt cheeks 10d129d21b and tangled hair.4aa8f44365639071

‘Look at me. Let me be 3ddb3670bb etched in your 8901592922 eyes. Be shocked ce20e8b5ad to see e6871aea32 a wretched bfd3356c9e slave standing 6c0c1f6e75 above you, 2850547377 trampling over 81973b5264 all you 4c448990d9 once were.’e745600fc9be4afb

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But Natasha did 47a9d95504 not look at c139cc11f8 him. Her gaze remained 8ad5efab18 lowered, unmoved.9bc6ec8540ff5d60

“A new c3105383ee era has fed07dc078 begun, my 47053c9664 lady. No, not anymore. You’re no 67ee51e26d longer a c1bf4efa75 lady… just… 47bfdb0878 Natasha.”be178617294dd966

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Speaking the 638e0c6beb name he 32591395ee had once f3c5fc62dd never dared 859d04441e utter, he ba928bb607 felt dizzy.ee7e8489967ffcc7

Savoring the taste of 8b2bee0bdd her name on his 4c208fbdc4 lips, Alexei finally spoke 98925a2eba again. Rising from 8eda7a54d2 the throne, 4cc34f9150 he strode ac4426c5be down the 84555e550f steps and 9e60984220 stood before 11423fc2a7 her.4a029b81d194ff90

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“It’s time to decide 6a99624fe7 your fate. If you no longer a26e73bd5d wish to be treated 862c8b1904 as before and accept d8e3eeb913 your place now—if you 5c37f961da bow and submit—perhaps I’ll 6d869b99d1 spare your life. What will b7a8b5efe6 you do?”1a0c3e784d3a1012

Natasha slightly raised 68341f89f6 her head, but 678d2e10a3 her gaze didn’t d67b64ee8f meet his. Her piercing blue, intellectual 524626acf4 eyes looked past him—to 4b443fef17 the throne he had f61c3fc62e just vacated.be9fd9e0a22f9937

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A seat that had 1410b99f6b never belonged to her.cd7443f5f28b68e3

A throne d563a4c379 so grand 8379bfa810 and overwhelming 173a8a181a she had 99da8f1ba7 never even f706a7301b dared to bdd536116f long for 7aac961c50 it—now vacant, 957a052c32 and that 385e1d99aa emptiness felt 4d3cccccc8 foreign.453520c0841542f0

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‘If this fa897bfcbd was how 5b69596680 it was 1c568dbad5 going to 742a3124a9 end…’ff9c18f401bb6b0f

Natasha let out a f9a196a32b faint, self-mocking smile and 2f10b1b7eb turned her gaze away 1d3c5f2be9 from the throne.61d02f7148ddcc24

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“My lady! Please surrender, for the c804adb819 sake of those who 4287b0ec5b remain!”679533d2681cc661

A group of nobles, b3a2aacff9 who had been dragged 760dc9d248 in after a failed a32927bbcd escape and forced to 9508018830 kneel, shouted in unison.0876867dd6671293

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“No, my lady! Choose a noble 16452176d1 death! Never bow your 87d3fc8609 head to barbarians! For the honor ef79db2f97 of the Duchy 6c0ef70c8d of Ivanov… agh!”223f234d46ef7f36

One of 94d48181f5 the ministers, 74a54442b3 the only 7c6b3a7c45 one who 5cac7cd370 dared speak 16e3248a88 the truth fa9bde1d8d to the 94934054b8 end, didn’t e91f35d8fa finish his c8eb58b945 words before 41d24a5d43 Alexei’s sword 0211622178 took his ecbcd0c40a head.2aaeb219a9cf92e8

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The rest fell silent fe82889a0f in terror, eyes fixed f0a4c087cd solely on Natasha—their final 1dc1c6cfee hope.c7ab7a83d890715e

Would she kneel?c01cbbbd1ee66bd8

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If she surrendered, the 035bcf57f4 pride and honor of 8dd0d5ab26 the Duchy of Ivanov ea47b8b882 would be crushed—but the 81759b0789 lives of the remaining 2258816dfa nobles might be spared.2d62df34fd9152e9

But who was 014f7eb4e5 she?78e7485a5aa5b771

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The sole 36b408f391 lily blooming 38db8982e1 in the 9800286c8d rotting mire 4dd7d4af52 that was 353c905106 the House 25e4c4f824 of Ivanov. If the words “honor” 773ebc304f and “pride” could take 615fb3f2c6 human form, it would 9b93511d19 be Natasha Ivanov herself. A woman so 6dd07aa71d upright and resolute. There was no way 97d508ade2 someone like her would cfbfaa6f4f bow to a barbarian 99afa7d47e king born from slavery.820a1a56518a43f2

Thus, none be69f42f35 of the 72b2950736 nobles held be83bbaf99 much hope 65d28374ce for her e78c34caf4 decision. Some had already 9637aa3d97 begun weeping, believing 9a55f56a09 this to be 897acc4cfe their final day.4d59bce46a084436

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Amidst the chaos, Natasha 70b5e8ab94 slowly opened her eyes. The empty throne 16ed9eb322 entered her vision 663fc944db once more. Letting out a low 8c8e7658a7 sigh, as if making 7aaf727bdf a resolution, she turned e487911e5d away from it and 1756d6ac3d straightened her posture.8504f83b3cef66c5

Everyone in the 97c8991cb8 hall held their c39db190e2 breath, watching her 34fbfd48c6 every move.064bba45412bb750

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“…No!”0d6cdf116e9d7a6f

One of 63d3db4e87 the kneeling 4e294fc2a6 nobles cried f39ef8b3ec out in 6ff9964823 shock at 8ea5bb218d Natasha’s unexpected 35d1203dc2 action, then 0bbfad7497 hurriedly covered 99410ed6ab his mouth.4b3b1e7b21beb3f7

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Lady Natasha Ivanov, who 8002b82aa0 had always stood tall c033a41101 and carried herself with b6573c6f05 dignity no matter the d85ed09aa5 situation, was slowly lowering 8244354b0f herself—kneeling.f04fb20f44da5402

And she 4d8e646969 didn’t stop f9a756c0f9 there. Bowing her head adac09b4be even further, she aba4fab302 kissed the tip cbab452929 of Alexei’s blood-stained, 36b0a9059a filthy boot.4bc41fea825e37d3

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A complete sign 8da5ebae2a of submission.a65de609d3454ef4

“I never considered f3267a6088 those privileges to b8067e5a61 be mine in 7b06a1b3c7 the first place. I was simply… 953291d3a6 born lucky, nothing 5630ee0af5 more.”a2ee15f9bd13371c

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Though she 70d55a6961 knelt and 1fb37a4ee2 kissed the 4017f2732d bloodied shoe, a8c83bd06b she didn’t 0c3182c320 look humiliated. Not for a e93957949a second. And even 28bc30a594 now, she 8e4fdeb6d9 still refused ec5db53df6 to look 1fa93a04d6 at him.9c95351b574316aa

Alexei stepped in 5eddf3d645 close and lifted 97c34782e6 her chin with 24b33c9e11 the tip of c37e0eff07 his boot.9b649371dd58338b

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‘Look at me. Who am I? Do you 1de5f69cb4 remember me?’9a706690690f976c

Forced to 7023febb6e face him, 891d7fec6e Natasha’s gaze 1d5aef4a09 flickered for 946700acbd a moment. A spark of 1991a3bd56 recognition, perhaps. But only for an c59a728526 instant.f59dbf0e58f18269

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Her expression remained cold 9ff4f8d706 and unreadable. Seeing no reaction, Alexei c08bb74ca2 clenched his jaw and 3b5067c2d0 looked away.6d5bd813538863f3

“…In that case, you 66d961f0c3 won’t mind if I 601adac354 take you as my 157ce56184 mistress.”fa073a9e6854b959

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Mistress.3c2123cbca6bc6cd

Her face, which 298f0a885b had not betrayed 91f5591fd7 a single emotion ab6b1361da until now, trembled.96805b345016037a

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For the highest c62f4831ca lady of the dd67b0ee4c duchy to become 17908df766 the wife of 411333d725 a lowly barbarian 4384c95d1f king would already 7baa300c91 be unthinkable disgrace. But a mistress?73b574ec6b446776

That word—bearing such a 99c3cbf786 title—was a yoke she 65d9bb503a would rather see the 1ebe87fcee world end than accept.77b09f6b451e0c62

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‘But in 47d8a07789 the end… 965c60b393 this is b781c79db3 my fate.’aafb7f4207c7de7b

Even if the world 2b5d93c8fa turned upside down, even be0eabea16 if she ran, it c7c5941f5c was useless. This was the 7dfb5ea9a0 life permitted to a7af246f26 her.ab83ab33dd27e6f0

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Death had not d247f1326b yet come for e7bb85563b her. So she had 0d6f4636a3 to live. She had to 4db816bf2b survive—for that child, eeeabfc623 Sophia.529c4c9f1026aea8

Natasha shut her eyes 685b377451 tightly. Alexei watched 582325d0f6 intently as 420ff0a178 her jaw e00ae96171 clenched and 5a647ea349 relaxed.3ae58528e3736014

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‘Be furious at 96698bb9fc this outrage. Rise and ff9227707b strike me. Hit me, my 96c07f84e2 lady.’7967043e238025b9

Alexei, watching 2317a1d15e her with 60ed1c2d8a furrowed brows 17f645bd1a and bated f730834131 breath, snapped 72199a3030 upright when b37d5ac100 Natasha’s lashes 59b2e986a0 suddenly lifted.7953f5328d25a83d

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Her piercing blue eyes 6a36c3ffd0 stared directly at him.677feda66232dba0

‘Kill me instead.’51cec9e55f28d580

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That’s what her gaze 6d703f9090 said.790fec17b69eec09

‘I won’t. Even if cbdf7ffb08 I must b2696cbe80 chase you 93d109fe1f to the f6413271e7 ends of 99efcb7004 the earth.’9d20101a22b89a56

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Alexei stared her down, 33e0e75270 unflinching. A sharp glint 845f0cea53 flashed in Natasha’s 19877c1a38 eyes—a blade of b8da386b60 fury.279c53c015aab5c4

‘Well? For that so-called 802d88f491 pride and honor, d6f5e08847 will you strike 5cb4cf8950 me? Will you beg b4aff38a4a me to kill 3baad2d5cc you rather than a723f1077c become the mistress 3e938c2f0c of a lowly 33b7d89be3 beast like me?’fc11289f74a1e511

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Alexei smiled faintly. To be 5eea92d833 struck by aa31895414 that delicate, 4c7159b181 fair hand—what 376e5602ce could be 1fd2304343 more worthy 48b3933002 than that? He was fa81e66198 ready, willing 47aeaef7ff even, to bb20cd279d offer his fef1f6bb08 cheek once 0293fe0b0e more.9ed0bd96a7341784

The man 3272d47813 he used efa99769d8 to be e86adeb373 couldn’t have 706be9d797 even dared 9ed4fe90fe to meet d0cd8f5d46 the gaze 07f0340a3b of that 1ab37da17f noble lady, f82a02ea28 let alone d90c80e38a insult her.ef57d178faef9487

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A wave of triumph ae4699a0c5 washed over him.bc8d4485b0b9d19c

Even if 57e0e46152 she struck 9586c2460a him again 006e53c7d0 and again, 6296ee0b66 he would 9365f870b3 forgive her. No—if she forced 8e4fe35f9a him to his 995c21b026 knees and trampled f173ab2d7f him underfoot with a3d6cb6efb those dainty feet, 33221a5d32 he would worship 6bd7a35778 her all the cb936f09e5 same. Because in 57f2dfab59 the end, afa7dbc1d4 after all b97732124f her futile 2818c98075 struggles, she 24a43802c8 would be 86c65ce212 the one 8c75e73530 bowing beneath 4346386b68 his feet.637448186a65b5fe

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The more 312d52f417 prideful and 85c37956db rigid the 33734a1ff4 opponent, the 5a3b2119ba more they 26c04b43fb sparked a afdccd8291 desire to 1be25e8d69 conquer. It had d68ae51280 been so e624e4efad with countless c94e3db3d7 opponents in 9abe9b31b7 the arena, 63b5f0874d with the ea29e1dd42 lion Albunyn, 05c1884408 with Sergey, 5ac03f2172 who fell 26e0a3cab7 to his 3b936f1fca blade—and now 097ab6ebe9 only the fd116e1531 noble lily, b40a7ea095 Lady Natasha 677e8ffeb9 Ivanov, remained.7e379347e190da6f

He waited for the f4df4b0436 moment of glory, a 1a9b3c784b smile still tugging at 7bba62936f his lips.effad5d3a33eb8e4

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But…a03b1d46240ed17d

“I will obey your 4ca1000597 will.”8dcd51171f76a609

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The moment she 93625d95cf bowed her head—b5e7047c407f4ea0

Something within him shattered de59d66914 into pieces.244f030b318e6cf0

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