AKFOD Chapter 22

| Chapter 22. Dawn of a 999f5ab182 New Era An era 47066123ea had come to 8d227f8e91 an end.91b01a4f96d2de9816a2

The Duchy of Ivanov, cef5bae15a located in the northern 2a4a213dbc region of the Benia 274ea900f0 Continent.f88834147aa58c50d47e

It was a small yet 98fea4bc61 solid nation ruled and reigned 6dc558489b over by the House of b4f112a524 Ivanov as kings. However, under Duke Sergey Ivanov, the duchy 668bd7a857 rapidly declined and fell into ruin.60180c6f5c73e70629da

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At the end of that road 71b6a00e27 stood a tyrant who regarded all 3a8729013f those not of noble blood as b2f8902163 less than pigs and dogs. Oppressing everyone while indulging alone 81873ffd05 in luxury and pleasure, Duke df3e311d7a Sergey Ivanov ultimately met a e2c81cafa1 miserable end atop his throne.1a0a096cba99d5655258

The one who raised a sword against a36a6d0e9b him was none other than the slave 6bbb53183e he had so deeply despised.5bba91b8ecb0fe2aff42

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Alexei Petrov.f2e9f5a6ba7ecd37ec29

A man who united the wandering Knulu tribe on the borders of ff1988cc20 the Duchy of Ivanov and crowned himself king of the barbarians. Once, he had been c32c94d142 a lowly gladiator slave 3cb8a2ee99 under the House of 1269bff9e5 Ivanov.1b416bfe868dd143e62b

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And now, his name marked the beginning of 1b63d99d91 a new era — the dawn of the 966308b5ea Petrov Duchy, and he, its new king.093f06237b5b0b8a7da7

* * *6eba161405958d12a830

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A star that 43dff0cf6d had always hung 5377c33965 lofty and untouchable f0f3dd3912 had fallen.91d9c3208e60fcc1e6c6

The House of Ivanov, once the most powerful, and Lady 2e2d29cdd1 Natasha, once more noble than anything else, were now nothing.265ebf83b70cf824d211

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Alexei had dragged his 7f252d48b0 own star down with b9a90e031a his own hands.b327abd9ff2e85051a87

‘I am no longer a 7b8e709667 dog or pig to be 89c0269cb7 scorned by you. I am 751f5a06ef human too.’44962efcc8d7f8995134

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Seated arrogantly upon the throne, Alexei tilted his chin and f498f318bf looked down at the figure standing far below him.2560a3b97bce84e3f5de

But ironically… the one who had made him realize that he 296566d688 too was human, was none other than his star—Lady Natasha Ivanov.01dea8b2c3537f6a202a

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‘That moment which cb912eef77 changed my life—she 2bf58887a8 likely doesn’t even 617aa0649a remember it.’5b24b68a4193e31274e8

Could he have possibly been worthy of 421eaa4563 leaving any memory in her mind? To nobles, slaves were nothing more 7f83d82e75 than dust scattered in the wind.bc3d1f9d4d6f7f8a78ca

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The countless times she denied him, her cold blue gaze looking down on dacb407ec6 him as if he were a wretched insect, had left endless wounds in c3d9ed14ab his chest—proof that to her, promises made to a slave meant nothing.e1798db4c8b377fff202

But now, finally, she would 9c5f253429 remember him—etched into her bones. She would hate him d859ef2765 with trembling fury, curse 60fee37dda him until the end. And just knowing that he could be imprinted upon 7d9fbdd47b her in that way brought Alexei a twisted sense d8036a3122 of joy, pulling up one corner of his lips.c1310cb038febbc83cdf

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“Now then…”81233c2dd557ba8b592e

He looked down at the woman who still radiated 3c346db3d5 dignity, even with her gaunt cheeks and tangled hair.69ab433ab9bb04cb8e4b

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‘Look at me. Let me be etched e586ba73a7 in your eyes. Be shocked to see a wretched slave standing 18e2a7d428 above you, trampling over all you once were.’11eb938ced7b6c3ead19

But Natasha did 8402069e56 not look at 3ebd146c6c him. Her gaze 0b33eacd94 remained lowered, 93107a85fe unmoved.f5aa894b82b339feeb88

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“A new era 1192ed4e17 has begun, my 48afe56b89 lady. No, not anymore. You’re no longer eaf4f897c1 a lady… just… 73c66eaab6 Natasha.”d53d07bb7a81cf8a9cac

Speaking the name he 1bc90574ee had once never dared ce8fc39fbe utter, he felt dizzy.7bf66c39102b70dc306e

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Savoring the taste of her 1310eac097 name on his lips, Alexei 9ea5493629 finally spoke again. Rising from the throne, he aa26447974 strode down the steps and ea9bc81d0c stood before her.a7d8aa8db673e1a24711

“It’s time 09682fc514 to decide ee4ffedb06 your fate. If you no longer wish to 58a6371fb7 be treated as before and accept a9b850c3d4 your place now—if you bow and d49b6906f5 submit—perhaps I’ll spare your life. What will beeaf39533 you do?”b8ed07283a7943ef3b34

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Natasha slightly raised d261818eb5 her head, but fb6a60f0b5 her gaze didn’t c8ddb5aea3 meet his. Her piercing blue, intellectual eyes looked past d7e53daba7 him—to the throne he had just vacated.f4f867a38f20dd3df25f

A seat that 09c98e9b4d had never belonged 6609918a4d to her.dc205c4f08854619f15b

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A throne so grand and overwhelming 45b7b53377 she had never even dared to 755cf8e6f9 long for it—now vacant, and that 6dcf3e6466 emptiness felt foreign.0f23aed18b433dd7d1ea

‘If this was how it 8b8e876bc8 was going to end…’418fa9ffb8be5d900cd4

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Natasha let out a cfd6299eaf faint, self-mocking smile and fc2b5d1967 turned her gaze away 0bc89a297d from the throne.a4f2a609a7cca56f0356

“My lady! Please surrender, for a0ef069393 the sake of 8f9ecfc251 those who remain!”f6ab3f6d41951bb72214

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A group of nobles, who 511bda6f6d had been dragged in after f940550e46 a failed escape and forced 095e81a3bf to kneel, shouted in unison.5dc14867a50614c9c486

“No, my lady! Choose a b81815205f noble death! Never bow your 32ce3e0780 head to barbarians! For the honor 4951a890ad of the Duchy 5a488f7f95 of Ivanov… agh!”d71d2ef0da1a05078f38

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One of the ministers, the only one who dared speak the truth to 8dcc7de093 the end, didn’t finish his words before Alexei’s sword took his head.163b318988f78412e97a

The rest fell silent in 1953710c5a terror, eyes fixed solely on 5189de91f1 Natasha—their final hope.351263a41fa05f426100

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Would she kneel?0b265774b9b7feee24ae

If she surrendered, the pride and honor of c62c65b3cc the Duchy of Ivanov would be crushed—but the d46ad8f008 lives of the remaining nobles might be spared.ac47afbf89cdaeeb9fc6

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But who 0e6ea13718 was she?c8699a769ea3db686c37

The sole lily blooming 24b1966c79 in the rotting mire b588302083 that was the House 71b71496eb of Ivanov. If the words “honor” and “pride” 7104f7b4d9 could take human form, it would e5bacd0c0f be Natasha Ivanov herself. A woman c186dbba59 so upright de3aaa0a08 and resolute. There was no way someone like 90557ae350 her would bow to a barbarian a943357d32 king born from slavery.e984654736150befc9b7

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Thus, none of the nobles held 01565940ba much hope for her decision. Some had already begun weeping, believing 0fd3b8f633 this to be their final day.ae0a3f473cb5c6755321

Amidst the chaos, Natasha 6fb788de2e slowly opened her eyes. The empty throne 0a4c3fdb6c entered her vision fd7a85181c once more. Letting out a low sigh, as if d372f3748e making a resolution, she turned away from 5ae0db0ef2 it and straightened her posture.540b24a6c07e805c15d4

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Everyone in the hall 55bf2a11da held their breath, watching 3f9725ce42 her every move.1ec2df9285b7067f1689

“…No!”b54cd7f60901f8798286

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One of the kneeling nobles cried out in shock 70f5d06c08 at Natasha’s unexpected action, then hurriedly covered his mouth.d7a71b11ddf4ef3d48d0

Lady Natasha Ivanov, who had always stood tall and carried herself 1458a6b5e0 with dignity no matter the situation, was slowly lowering herself—kneeling.95088e05cd6c4aa8fd00

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And she a55376baac didn’t stop 9f8b91b896 there. Bowing her head even further, 9134cfeeb9 she kissed the tip of a3f1b809fe Alexei’s blood-stained, filthy boot.4f4c4839ade202d2b577

A complete 1869c75351 sign of 35e5753ebf submission.be90042243ad9986a3c1

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“I never considered those privileges to a82d4869a8 be mine in the first place. I was simply… df6e899c6a born lucky, nothing 810b0add0c more.”0d91fc4857d4a1334596

Though she knelt and kissed the c10a0fcd34 bloodied shoe, she didn’t look humiliated. Not for 67be199c2c a second. And even now, 6b775e4202 she still refused 3336e77f31 to look at 60a45793dc him.8f2accc06492cb4a8779

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Alexei stepped in close and lifted her 3ba6bb6d1e chin with the tip of his boot.e46e68632b694f5f4565

‘Look at me. Who am I? Do you e6cd43856d remember me?’b8cfacaac239c6ec10d3

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Forced to face him, Natasha’s 9afd6ee7bd gaze flickered for a moment. A spark e038168101 of recognition, 03761da3bc perhaps. But only 0dd7b54ce7 for an b76b88451d instant.f04b0252a9916bfd1baa

Her expression 0a75d5c1a5 remained cold d576c29211 and unreadable. Seeing no reaction, Alexei ccd519b5d0 clenched his jaw and 8704c43769 looked away.ab2202ce52e68860b881

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“…In that case, you won’t 67a1b06f71 mind if I take you ab1e94c979 as my mistress.”ac2d8607b67aef62db68

Mistress.372c590e34791a6d5bb0

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Her face, which had afa786aa94 not betrayed a single 5d442360f5 emotion until now, trembled.a6988d34c26c65b2c6b8

For the highest lady of the duchy 192e8b5b9b to become the wife of a lowly 69c971050b barbarian king would already be unthinkable disgrace. But a mistress?67f098b2b4520359ccb6

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That word—bearing such a title—was a 1e11882847 yoke she would rather see the 64a305030d world end than accept.5c79f1456b3be8c5e7fe

‘But in 7acc9168ce the end… db746bde5d this is 7414698051 my fate.’7148ceb82afc3fc31c0b

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Even if the world d49ed88502 turned upside down, even c90f428620 if she ran, it 57ace173ed was useless. This was the life e308644d50 permitted to her.c938ae2f8acacf5ae54f

Death had not yet 50c1ced065 come for her. So she bb3100c9ea had to daf812f667 live. She had to survive—for c7b3790492 that child, Sophia.3f3af44dc737ce6da213

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Natasha shut 7466a5850f her eyes c67c90edfc tightly. Alexei watched intently f3cea66f8c as her jaw 1307e6ce74 clenched and relaxed.ba78c8e4e12d7d68b620

‘Be furious 26163154c8 at this 48fa1adc64 outrage. Rise and 318f073033 strike me. Hit me, adcd197105 my lady.’26ff16df6fe4cc2e68e1

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Alexei, watching her with furrowed brows d39d6e9095 and bated breath, snapped upright when e79be1183b Natasha’s lashes suddenly lifted.6ed1032efdeca8782725

Her piercing 6a257cd74d blue eyes 35b9252bc1 stared directly 658ca06830 at him.eb75bfa5cff6a5bd5102

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‘Kill me instead.’a78b843bf9b6affc10c8

That’s what her 1e648ba3f6 gaze said.814cf0220d6e749eeaef

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‘I won’t. Even if I must chase you 3571fda71c to the ends of the earth.’69fbf15094e9c2078e6c

Alexei stared 365cff79bf her down, 4b287362bf unflinching. A sharp glint f974f576e1 flashed in Natasha’s 3d467de231 eyes—a blade of fafe4d6795 fury.08bf52bcababa379745f

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‘Well? For that so-called f9d77d2f2c pride and honor, c75bcecbdf will you strike 61b83e32bb me? Will you beg me to kill you rather than 2b4b58eab1 become the mistress of a lowly beast like me?’3e1dcc64803796f7b3cb

Alexei smiled faintly. To be struck by that a599ae2180 delicate, fair hand—what could be b4df4048af more worthy than that? He was ready, willing even, to 83ec69e285 offer his cheek once more.13c6b50f16237d3d5a14

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The man he used to be a24b992c43 couldn’t have even dared to meet e2b176b085 the gaze of that noble lady, 7b3eb03dc9 let alone insult her.3c20e991388e8adfa50a

A wave a99c57abf9 of triumph be60b4b2dc washed over 979bf195aa him.4c09c0328e7ac0a77ac7

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Even if she struck him again c04c666db5 and again, he would forgive her. No—if she forced him to his knees and 2c41f34575 trampled him underfoot with those dainty feet, he 56e9109a4d would worship her all the same. Because in the end, after cb0fa0f8f0 all her futile struggles, she 777f987d53 would be the one bowing 8fa1a61f47 beneath his feet.f7848860509172615a99

The more prideful and d315c7434f rigid the opponent, the d5c83170d8 more they sparked a 48f39100bb desire to conquer. It had been so with countless opponents in the arena, 70bce62965 with the lion Albunyn, with Sergey, who fell to his f4b4f93ebc blade—and now only the noble lily, Lady Natasha Ivanov, remained.12a6d29ab6127ea6d52c

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He waited for the moment of glory, c897ad038e a smile still tugging at his lips.9882b2b08a18ea1d197b

But…d16acc2485aca3a1a3ff

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“I will a70817a8af obey your 87d702a871 will.”392869b63f41d36cce8c

The moment 72f9916923 she bowed 6848fca897 her head—caafb16bd187e8758407

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Something within him ebe94afe9c shattered into pieces.9a8d8b6d242af040895b

 0a2c0ddf238b8212fb1c

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