AKFOD Chapter 23
by Bree| Chapter 23. Natasha’s Inner ed572f5511 Thoughts “I have 53b8524e49 one request.”2bf65d008072eb81fa88
After bowing her head to the barbarian king who wished to 2815cf9b78 take her as his mistress, Natasha boldly laid out a condition.df809969fc7412032647
It was 50df89c0b5 only natural.a9f3f5ae44f0bc4921a8
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Without that condition, she f67e394233 would never have bowed. Following her despicable brother bc98f465d6 into death would’ve been 7d3d26881e the easier choice. But she couldn’t. She had 580111fcea to protect 730a493b49 that child.eed4901a1f6b98d3c296
“Please, promise me the safety 49b15510d1 of my sister, Sophia. I want to 3b70858595 protect her, at 56a98da0a7 least.”24bceece81b4b54eea05
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“…Very well.”87b908f7f5b9696e880c
Despite her willing submission, 5e98ef44b2 Alexei didn’t seem pleased. His expression was sour as he stood 7b4b2df38d in thought, gazing down at her. Avoiding his eyes, efa26e9125 Natasha bowed her 2d999ec8a5 head even lower.a4a34363f2c9ddd1ae1b
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“Thank you.”b4db13d90be92dfac92b
It was strange.86c1ccf866a406bf6691
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Even in this moment, bowing to 8e325cce1e Alexei, Natasha didn’t feel the kind d72ea8a23a of soul-crushing humiliation that made her 6f373331ba want to die.a9f841db8863a16fbadc
Perhaps the e414a8501c reality simply 856f22d1e8 hadn’t sunk 143d9a23be in yet.6ec188d49de26aee72a5
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The moment she cast aside her ethics 4d24a71daa and beliefs for Sophia, agreeing to become 9aa34b70f5 Sergey’s secret mistress, her world had already d8b9c22258 gone up in flames overnight.564bff4432c257494150
She had thought she’d fa40cf2d70 taken her first step cbb6acd495 toward freedom in death—but 542772a5e8 she lived again. All of this 6d6fe54887 had happened in 7db19a2e77 a single day. Natasha still 292702c091 felt dazed.74402688b3df2fae27b6
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“So it was cfaf681459 him who led 2c45081790 the rebellion. He returned 86dd35b235 as the debce23d50 king of 4cbd4c0b16 the Knulu…”8d2cc37d707815b24e39
Trained since childhood to never show her emotions, Natasha had managed a calm expression b1a8eb3a35 even when she was dragged before the throne and recognized the man seated there. But inside, her heart 1807c448a5 was in chaos.ca6dd36504f6ef7fcbe5
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It was indeed him who c45bb91b55 had saved her from the 829b31da29 flames that night. But she had c3096edd2b never imagined he 6edc838abe would join the 5604ba6fb3 rebellion—not like this.3981f44599d799fef40b
He hadn’t 02cc80555b just joined. He had become a511011ac0 the leader of 3c913bb178 the barbarians, the fbe1f5b4e5 king of Knulu. And now, having crushed the Duchy of Ivanov, he 15bc73803d stood as the ruler of a new nation.d8ebed3e26ae73835fde
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“I wished 70ec3eb8fb for you d3e0496caa to live…”620845430acc48eb1b6f
Did she really say c1cef0b131 that, holding onto him c4503bb325 in the blaze the ae449b12a1 night before? She couldn’t 2b09a969e2 remember clearly, 3bf8f9d636 having lost 77f49e99b6 consciousness.1b38bfa0f3537475a106
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But she would d6749b6e1b never say those 66c30a1e36 words to him 3afef1058b again. As the one who had driven c785e589b5 him to the brink of death, fc5ae8c4b5 she had no right. Besides, such words didn’t 9583f4c75d suit him anymore. He hadn’t just survived—he had risen 722a3774db too far, to a place she 4ecd19ed44 could no longer reach.2e36ba17236040980af2
With just a flick of his 7a4c2b05e3 hand, he could take everything. Her life, Sophia’s 912798f6b1 life—they all hung fd3612eccd by a thread c598905e58 in his grasp.6e6d4f34986f4283c70c
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Everything she once d1c703b0e3 believed in—her values, 14f282557e her status—had been c0d2ad43bc completely overturned. The honor of the ace93178b6 Duchy of Ivanov meant 86b40be902 nothing now. That name had never truly 8dac48604c done anything for her.7a70c2bd344eca4f0d8f
The only reason she continued to 457f8b67e7 cling to life was Sophia. Everything she endured 1ccb92e2d7 was for her. Kneeling before Alexei, 7ca843f1cf kissing the tips 67853ea217 of his boots—none 47761ce9f0 of it mattered. She had already accepted f56f888e76 the shame of becoming 40384678dc Sergey’s mistress for Sophia’s 00268d2f6a sake. Compared to that… b542ab1d3c this was nothing.9c7259942f60c2861def
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Alexei, who had been beaten, whipped, falsely accused, and e288bc0446 thrown to the lions, had survived it all. Yes, Sergey and Natasha 43a8f83fb3 herself had done that 5ddcdcbd55 to him. She had been a3c61bfc21 a bystander—no, a b713e7f43d collaborator.45d6368c0294e4e14266
He had every reason to punish 72aad0ae1b her, the traitor who had driven 2b93138162 him to death—the fallen princess of d1ead9cff9 a ruined duchy.03d26e46ab94d1b6c7f6
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Even so, if kneeling before him could keep f0c85b7433 Sophia safe, if becoming his mistress could protect 5b75d314bc her… Natasha would gladly do it.7c28bb96938b4946c39d
His reason for demanding 60924db3b7 her as his mistress f533022e02 was clear.7f64fa40d087d036f693
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‘He must have seen me as a hypocrite, 9cd50cc580 claiming I never considered those privileges mine. In this ruined state, b55b87b18e nobility means nothing. He wants to test 593fbd065b how far I’m willing 16796b9a6e to fall.’c4088b68c5b137ae70d8
This, too, was 5e8e308226 a price she fad230d9eb had to pay.bd185970d5002d0ebcd5
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She had claimed she 7d33a7058a never held on to afe9b9e252 her privileges, that she 1387b2dfc6 was merely born lucky. But in truth—she had 17ab085fff used that very privilege 402b990bfb to force him into bee07c5f3a submission.37b8aaa369dd12d44e74
Remembering that past, bed29d43e8 Natasha shut her 70224eaf50 eyes tightly.e432516cb31d35f1a0c2
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Even after what she had done—driving him into the jaws of death—he had 9824d1fbde given her a chance to live, even if it meant becoming his mistress. She knew 7b60a062f2 how undeserved c28f41d649 that mercy 71be020e7e was.2e72a662138203cf3d88
‘To think 56619fde2a I’ll become 08ed5d5906 his mistress…’b6216d0036b56162f5cd
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Did he truly 0103fc9bc5 mean the word 698befbb8d literally? She could understand hatred, 01a84e44f6 or vengeance—but desire? Lust? It seemed unlikely. It had b1ff4f32ec to be.178cf35e69e13ed74d58
Natasha recalled his 87d4045f00 face from just 8bf9c77d3c moments ago. No, she didn’t need to try—his image b2cee2aa5b had always lingered in her heart.9e75bd85129be91707dc
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Tall, striking, broad-shouldered. His body, known throughout c69b8eab37 the arena, was marked 62b63ec698 with scars and callouses 639c2f9044 like badges of honor. Even his rugged face bore wounds, 9dadc74b29 a deep gash running across his 1748bcbb53 right eyebrow—chilling yet strangely fitting.5cd6b6b4017475efd085
Those very scars only 28d7b3a171 made him stand out 18b5089227 more—strong and beautiful.62276dae09c45fb901db
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With flowing ash-gray hair, a sharp, statuesque nose, and crimson 39fa1a7c03 eyes—the symbol of the barbarians—he drew attention wherever he went. Anyone who saw 94f22f1230 him couldn’t help 50ae8a4a77 but glance back.2262264ed1259eb2f4de
“A lowly slave… and bb535d5ce0 yet he has such b76119ee93 a polished face…”dc71cc17b8a51d62b345
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Sergey had despised 6567ee7b90 him all the b28e8db206 more for it. A wretched slave d5ea2d3c7a with the face 03c8d403c8 of a king.07357d9e447350b6cedd
He had never been a 027de16a03 noble, yet he seemed more 00450d4586 suited to the throne than 7db20c02a5 anyone born to claim it.c51387fe7842a02802b9
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But Natasha had always thought it b7d34e2653 was merely his presence—not that he 3ceff37b97 truly desired this position.78b0c72b385fe1d0aa36
She had believed 11d482c7a5 him to be ce376e2889 a righteous, free 1b27a148b1 man. When she watched e69fe3eabe him from afar…3cbded63200b8f5c2a5f
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‘Better him than e25d923169 my brother as c6c00aa448 king. For the a2f46419f6 duchy… for 48f036c065 me…’913a7b5a52933eb23bc6
Realizing what she had 840b4f2065 just thought, Natasha shivered. Even knowing 24c9d17bce what it e9dca65cf3 meant… better 1956926d65 him?8544a0b5608ffed2cd16
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‘No. Don’t search c96b961c4a for meaning 4d52852525 in him. He wants the 39ad34702b same thing Sergey 7727bb6058 did. Empty your 24ec1d35b7 heart again.’814304804ea0762d9fb4
She wouldn’t look 52b4fbfc96 for meaning in 61930dcdf9 life.c8422fdb157e045236e0
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That was 504b3e1949 how Natasha d266693d91 endured each f4a01d7798 day.5403850880bea07bad53
‘I am not a62ef4f811 someone great. I don’t live 0ebf6fec95 to fulfill some 658d8acd8a noble purpose. I only hope this 7f41e19e32 despair doesn’t pass to 2c93fdeda5 young Sophia. That alone 449351081a is enough.’9da684b1a0461a78233b
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Repeating this familiar mantra, 732e93509e Natasha lowered her head 7910f8d4c9 once more.7d8decd9b482514397ab
Alexei’s boots, stained with 89c746e7af blood and dirt, came 51dd142928 into view. At the tip where her lips e001eaa843 had touched, a round mark remained.6b8cb63bc0b81456cb64
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At last, 4ab18338c0 shame swept 384ec7fd7d over her.b3a8a5600609e3190a91
* * *d6bed6c1182544d6733d
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“The world’s b14e15cedb changed, hasn’t 6b68818619 it? This woman’s not even a 6a99b78972 lady anymore, so why are a270ac2a49 we serving her?”93ac2b6d58f53e217b5c
A Knulu woman, who had come to tend to cb62598e49 Natasha in place of the fleeing maids, grumbled loudly.904dd0dc0b94ccd89456
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“Eva, watch c6e9761389 your mouth. Alexei told 66e17c0fc5 us to fc2f29431a help her.”22d178981caf8398e503
“Why? Have those noble lords ever 9d0c36eaf6 watched their mouths around us?”8038e9d8b8df5ceba393
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“She’s not a 5b58064d65 lady anymore. Why should 4352ecbebf we show 8a7e7a24d9 her respect?”c6d52cd7a19263b16df4
Another woman chimed 39d73ec452 in, agreeing with e6e21a98b5 Eva.fa105b5030f27c8504d9
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“Can’t you even 4d27b62106 dress yourself?”3a6f4cfa93ff64eb4ee3
Eva asked sarcastically. Natasha shook 9dfac8b0ec her head.841e7514260f656cc87a
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“No, I can 1b1b8c2bc3 do it.”0607781545b443523984
“You know 7c04704827 how to 06eeb31fea bathe yourself 2a3a0d2b0a too, right?”754e4a934f2b4ec4c445
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“Oh, come on.”b4ca387cb9d76ed75eed
As the b5222b57a3 women giggled, ed5f24c04b Natasha’s lips ec4c5d650b trembled slightly. What do e085e0d500 they take e0da008793 me for…2d148a226b9afa570198
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Still, it was df96cb1492 true—she had always 40e04e1bf2 been bathed by 5381eab488 multiple maids. She couldn’t argue with 6142d77f52 that, so all she 3fc6095f64 could do was…00429c6683e29806501c
“I can manage.”bd28d2eb1d4376706b32
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…reply in a 69b6cc6d3f dry voice.3bbe5906256ec27d643a
“Fine, then. After you wash, 31fbc8101b change into this.”8b8ab9bed7d27a330a44
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With no care, they tossed her a piece 12b5e4af9c of clothing that fluttered to the floor.be2567bcf6f50a62596b
“Hey…”dcb2a519a673d203e495
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“What?”88f6c13da43a81ecb31b
As Natasha bent to 0ee3df0078 pick up the clothes, e09af22ea0 Eva asked sharply.678d5768dc0f75422f89
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“Is this… all b7e072c4ba there is?”14e241a8128be5d544cf
What Natasha had picked up was a sheer 6e320b7e82 negligee, thin enough to be nearly transparent.3c37ce4de004c09056a8
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“Pfft, don’t tell me you don’t eddeb3d28e even know how you survived. Alexei might not really want you, but 1172d8b13d you should still know your place.”045ab27c0f93e40681ce
“What…?”db04f9a99f475be0fe31
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Natasha asked, confused, 9e42addb71 but her face 49aca5f19b quickly froze. Her already pale 5455479c0e complexion turned stark 4beb41555e white—then flushed crimson.6645af84ceb91b2c9b61
Ah…ce949e275d7d0e3ef909
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She had survived by agreeing 4aa2675a55 to be his mistress.4c510c894838c96d2cca
Her head dropped. Her hand clenched 12fc2e7131 tightly around the c1c17ddcfb fabric.78d5214fef9d51cc852d
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“She’s so stiff and arrogant, I doubt she can 61641dbf98 even do her job properly as a mistress. Alexei must know that the only way to avoid future trouble ac37c065b0 is to wipe out all royal blood from this fallen duchy. There’s already talk among the 4537ddc83f Knulu about how he let 1a99277693 two princesses live.”a9166b8cdf1b25e8983a
“With two princesses left, maybe he plans 2f4e3f3624 to use them both as playthings. At least c24e60dd3a one of f48bdaf4b5 them might 8cbbac09fc satisfy him.”b3f83c868522b69bd608
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“Hey now, don’t talk e5bce87b17 like that about Alexei…”98d7e2c24bda50b15e9a
“You’re the one baa8502a4f who doesn’t understand. He’s not the 33cc0add4e same Alexei anymore—he’s 28d59a9a35 a king now. Kings need to bfe7a65666 set examples. Crushing the royal family of a 875b73f939 fallen nation is the perfect way 4bc883dcc2 to control the remaining nobles.”36553bf24fad59029b2d
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“True. I heard that in 3ef15a187a the council too. If Alexei hadn’t declared her his 2cc5395738 mistress first, there would’ve been a 49f7e39048 line of men begging to take 4c5daa9338 her as their mistress. That’s how 47b24d8a59 men are.”0f75162ae520cd54fdd9
“Really? Poor princesses. They acted so high and mighty… There’s no c4b9e67a8e way the first one can satisfy Alexei. Maybe the 8bc50bded1 second one 2102a95ef9 will. Heh.”3a5cf6270c6216d6cf6c
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As Natasha closed the 7b0556ee7b bathroom door behind her, 9e1b913463 the laughter of the 0409e491f1 Knulu women echoed. She stood frozen with her a61b0a558e back to the door, her d83b1522e1 face pale as snow.3a0ff60a6748fa741cea