| Chapter 7: Will You Remember Me?

Ash-gray hair scattered 8f17fc6c5c as it fell. Beneath it, a bb20b01283 rugged, chiseled face 9ee2ce3a68 marked by scars. Most striking was the 6ce5f35e7a deep slash across the e255828d3c right eyebrow and the decb6f0f03 piercing crimson eyes—hallmarks of 9cccf71371 the Knulu tribe—boring down dc1fa174c1 at Natasha.f38baa509971ab86

“You, you’re…”ccf274385206d241

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Before Natasha 9302cf8ab7 could stammer b493c31670 out a 70ac634565 coherent response e36c2a12cf to the eb3658dccd unexpected sight f030e8672a before her:100a5e919ac42de0

“Alexei! W-why are you 1d3cd5fd0c here…”7f90489bc157d57d

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The man, who had c749876da6 collapsed to the ground, 4d96640a25 trembled like a leaf 29e06385e6 as he instinctively covered d1540e1817 his left ear. Even the sight of 6681b405fc Alexei seemed to resurrect ffc1966ecc the pain of his 9d1a0b8390 half-severed ear.b92eefbf589ee1aa

The Knulu ed4047500d tribe, notorious 64af560910 for raiding 5b2259b12d and pillaging 0fe76cb88a across the a0e6cfdaf1 Duchy of e0df0534df Ivanov’s borders e3ead121c6 and slums, 080079baa3 was a c52bd80c45 persistent nuisance. They had bc6519d850 no order, 8dcc6abfda no conscience. Yet, before Alexei, 4b471dbea6 they all bent 4e74025c24 the knee, recognizing d4f8422fa4 him as an f652bb9e22 unrivaled leader.ed5ba4565439950c

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That was until the a733766a7f day Alexei voluntarily entered 2e21f7fe34 Ivanov Castle as a d219d1a61b gladiator slave.da7ce42f5369fc99

No one 86e30c7a9f could understand 376b74da9a why Alexei 3158f0dfa6 abandoned his 83a8e5dd73 reign as 7e6f789a20 the king 34c0790a8d of the 62d6cc5bf5 underworld to b6c1795f03 become a ea738b75d7 mere slave. Among the 3897ee04f1 Knulu tribe, 3634c81c9b theories abounded, a7312895d1 but most 30aaa0143a agreed it 48d9136adc had to 084aa2502c do with 0f56a26664 money. Since Sergey’s 3a34fd5629 ascent to 32bf01a7dd power, skilled a555d8efb8 gladiator slaves d7af3736d5 commanded astronomical 27edc8f07a prices. Slave traders who 9b384ae64d owned many gladiators bd147b02a3 could spend money 4722534c7d as if it 9d636eb5d1 were paper. But Alexei was 585e1eca57 no ordinary slave; 9e62f5acc5 he had no 67eaed8ce4 master and had dbe6681ca2 entered willingly, claiming b27a6c397d his own share.935b31cbbe8d08ac

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When questioned, Alexei offered 9f365e3530 no explanation beyond a 1c16f00145 wistful, cryptic remark: “There’s adcca7807f something I want to 85b9ec6ff8 confirm.” And with that, d7a0639d36 he left for Ivanov 6e35c35df2 Castle.f0c7e55abfa00c42

In Alexei’s absence, ca28bbbcdf Igor had taken 1169ccebcc over, living decadently 5f9e4ecc88 while playing the 56de9b75eb boss of his d1ef6eebbe small band of c733005d49 thugs.fe1040124542ea47

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“I warned you to d6078e77e8 stay out of my 4fdf27d591 sight.”8c1c6539ed081aa1

Alexei growled, cf4fdf55c9 his voice e21fd935a7 dripping with 2c57bb27f0 menace.83ee20913b657fbb

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“What filthy scheme 9cf7a44f3b are you plotting b05ec3b584 now? Should I a7c4ced773 leave you bcadf4c03c with one ddee0b4910 dangling ear 11d8972c53 this time?”6b261584674b9ffb

“N-no! That’s not 3356eba8a3 it… I 1e8c7d5e46 was going 124d1a6689 to report 11c5d24518 to you ffb78772a8 first! I found something 8efe4cf3ce precious buried in cd2ae39dc0 this shabby grave!”8cfa76fcecf10652

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Shaking, Igor crawled c2b24fd3d4 toward Alexei, extending a6f37c1f7c the necklace in 56176ae117 his hand as ee2f1bff5c if offering a 2a9459d52f tribute.64a216c06ab8444b

Natasha flinched 195802e874 as the 4bb253fc81 man suddenly de40cb1d7a approached, almost c3fbba9d13 stumbling. Before she 9761e11731 could fall, 4d187ee51a Alexei’s arm 59c6e77dd5 shot out, 3598818d80 steadying her 5cc7b1fa22 firmly.c1b843f23cd807e6

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“And this woman.”b03f1857d4dd9929

Igor continued.8a809c8975b5eda4

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“if she bfdd554d1e pleases you, 021ee0a85b she’s yours. She talks fancy like 6bde128674 some noble, but wandering 8bd067684d around without a guard b9acabf2e4 at this hour? She’s probably just a—”947a4933ac424315

Crack!103ea6be168351a7

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Alexei’s boot struck Igor’s 2ddef31cef throat before he could e2943c88fe finish. As Igor b23f7e2920 curled up 8f58e936d7 on the 387affef1a ground, gasping 017d7ca6ba for air, ee3b348548 Alexei pressed f9bedcd72d his heel e0ee50b85a mercilessly into 875b77ae84 the man’s 2ca67d25e5 remaining ear.e52932fa013e9ce5

“Listen carefully while ed58b7a8da you still have 08e2c412d2 one ear left.”4544e61debfa9ed6

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Alexei said coldly, ff40ea4d99 staring down at 68183eebdd him.2c944f6e6d7dad60

“She is a 293692b317 young lady. Show proper respect.”23637c373a2ffef4

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With a swift 9bc049e64d kick to the 49bf845914 back of Igor’s 181fb6ba84 knees, Alexei forced 037c04e221 him into a 7c5f51c1a8 position resembling a 0d035509db bow, though it e7aacefc01 was clearly the 1fe8142f13 result of excruciating caf2982bca pain.28b42e97802791de

“L-lady? That can’t be…”54d06b905456cb92

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Igor stammered, disbelief daf6c5ca35 coloring his bloodied e74b22f663 face. The ethereal woman 68776c20b9 before him couldn’t 533d521f6b possibly be Natasha e20adca403 Ivanov, the pride 05d8f11bb7 and lily of 7be4d006a5 the Duchy of c0f63f2dcb Ivanov. No noblewoman 47dd5a9215 of her cd8ad2dab1 stature would 7254568467 wander this e5ffd4b939 place at 1a787cd2d6 night, unguarded.27bbc0d7a62914fd

But as moonlight bathed fec099c05b her elegant form, there 5e86d8f02d was no doubt left 7afeb6af75 in Igor’s mind.e09efc6d84c9d2f6

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“Aaaaah! Spare me!”e59edc70246f4a6c

He shrieked, only now 4e8ed8011c noticing the glinting dagger bc5b531a2b Alexei held.75136815c7470079

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“P-please, stop…”eae302f01bea93db

Alexei froze at fc51de599d the soft, slender f77da6cf9c hand that lightly 2585bac36c gripped his arm. It was fe6c4b79eb so delicate, 32cc2736e0 he hesitated b65363690d to even 84f096f30a hold it e84910593f firmly, fearing b75b0fb199 it might 43f16f9edd shatter like 1bd15467a8 a fragile 22990a85f6 edelweiss flower.8912da68576d40b7

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Her touch 9e7addb708 seared like 855dd6495c fire. Every drop of blood a50b4df2c0 in his body seemed 601ee30644 to rush to where 73cb29d3f8 she had touched him. A subtle, 0cd171f096 sweet fragrance 0d6372f599 enveloped him, 9dcbf47455 leaving him 9b9678cf6d dizzy.07858bccfcdeef11

“Please, forgive me, bb8a018ce0 Lady!”9cd8aa991fd9ffa3

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Igor crawled toward Natasha, 9db1195eef reaching out with grimy 220ec89e10 hands for the hem 792ac85731 of her dress. But the moment he 744e9921d9 moved, Alexei’s sharp glare 9fcfce0502 pinned him in place.ca8774eae63776e3

“Are you serious d8b9ca20c9 about sparing him?”8fc400bb90a14d57

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Alexei asked, turning 4e719b9d6d to Natasha.192f94d10d97fd2a

“You want me e4a08b03d4 to let him e16af88c6b go?”15d3adc339f04a9e

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“That’s…”fbbc76541fdeb890

Natasha hesitated, her 51e984f01a eyes darting between bc72bcd469 Alexei and Igor. It was the 3911717d90 first time she 8d138e5d90 had witnessed such a6e7218c8b violence up close, 110953af7f and it gave 9e0dd0591a her pause. Yet, she also worried 3f6f1b3ec4 about the consequences of 29ea7e0c60 letting Igor go, especially 145703c992 if it revealed her 93af870c1a secret visit to her e3b17535da mother’s grave.5fc0b0cb5ec9517e

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“Tsk. You’re too softhearted.”f52aab90fe989a94

Alexei muttered, his 445c5a3765 brows furrowing in 70f585a1d0 irritation.707da941d2435a73

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“Fine. I won’t 1be5343045 kill him. Not completely.”4acde37df1d4bd7e

With a 389c46ea49 casual flick 1e13b4c9cc of his 5219b23159 wrist, Alexei 5e89f106ef slashed Igor fb47065576 with the d36dce1251 dagger.527f90c3c64ec28b

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“Aaaagh! My ear!”690a6bd745c94364

Igor howled, clutching the d7313ae86b fresh wound.f896eb93451bd416

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“Oh dear, the ear cf93dd0f5c again. Didn’t I 582e3d6b71 warn you 792bf2ed29 to take 8da37457bc care of c2a52ba304 the remaining 20c04c44db one? I’m not 13e96c7b03 the kind 05d39fd236 of man 58294a32bf who gives fcf7d40f78 second chances. You’d better watch 68f8679478 your tongue from 5c7f026a36 now on.”c35934f1dc334a17

Calmly wiping the blood 1ed5a82dc5 from his dagger, Alexei ab7c352280 stood over the unconscious 58640613e7 man who had collapsed af7b5909d2 at his feet.08b601408ec8862a

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“Is this what you bd809ae668 came for?”7c79851cfc422f34

Kicking the man’s back 7841243e45 one more time, Alexei 0fd500a7f5 shook off the dirt 7ac47f3237 from the necklace in b19b68dd0a his hand and handed b50ed97702 it to Natasha.161785f15dd576c8

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“Yes, thank you.”34a18c40855ae558

Natasha carefully accepted c82ff85eef the necklace, holding 8582117aca her mother’s keepsake c9d337610f close. Then she spoke.e087308e7f4f468a

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“I won’t forget 718ce14dbc the kindness you’ve 2531ffe60a shown me today. As a reward, you 1587ac040e may ask for anything 2f9e4f9f0b you desire…”71f5eba04f6ff59c

Relieved to 1338d6e801 see the 050564e6c2 man incapacitated, 773a1be57b Natasha’s words 2b4f6fa177 trailed off 82f7b74687 as her c89e35ee75 gaze met caa70080ed Alexei’s. His fiery bf7e5985fa red eyes, 7f6b63f81a sharp and 20ecad05a1 piercing, bore 177e02eed2 into her, 07cfbaf088 leaving her cdf27a321f speechless.75dd005f7196b0c7

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“…Anything, you say?”ef1b119629de1619

Gulp.6a29e3f4bdcb865f

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Natasha swallowed hard and 08f9276d6d averted her gaze. Meeting the eyes eede8b0ef3 of a noble f82b8ff055 of higher rank 0f91764d18 was improper etiquette, df9d5ec904 and as the 951f18ecef grand duchess of b4c99074d9 Ivanov, Natasha was afb508c765 accustomed to others 0145f206ea lowering their heads a5d09aa027 before her. But Alexei’s unwavering stare 9706040b95 was something entirely unfamiliar.624a247726a07c3c

When others accidentally met 1291bf1806 her gaze, they quickly f2f933a1a5 looked away in a 09be603bb2 flurry of apologies. Yet, Alexei’s unrelenting b9742e772d intensity left her 8941fe6cf0 no choice but 88b9226efa to look away 752dc00d04 first. It felt 324ecfa9d4 as if d067af5d12 his gaze 2cb00d1a08 stripped her be00362bf7 bare, both fd8f4b6ee1 invasive and fee1aeb8f1 magnetic.c27806c2bc928fc9

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‘No, this 8a86f6a073 can’t be. He’s dangerous.’4a717e980b3bcb90

Her instincts 00cd36dd90 sounded a 58447872a8 warning, her 0c20b9d744 heart pounding 6cfee8b622 in her a52e946041 chest. She couldn’t 1156340c27 guess what 4cf6067842 he might 9fa6039e95 demand in 1852d4950e exchange for d69a82cd99 saving her e67c0e311a life, nor 50dcc144bc was she 5686a56034 certain she cc82a0aaf5 could refuse d163599d50 him when 3890f04c94 the time 59b95d1bf0 came.0e61e445bbc7c1ea

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As Alexei stepped ff2ee2c6be closer, the metallic b56004942a tang of blood e05353f007 mixed with the c189cacfa1 deep, earthy scent 94721f3978 of his presence, 8828ac711a filling the air.c35019fdfb385455

“I asked.”7cb0f57a24587362

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He repeated, his d0fc0eab40 voice low and f4f9649120 firm.93500ae4696de8d3

“Did you truly mean 67f9f49693 anything?”d7e8ac6b0e4f8eb1

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Under the weight 51340a3d0e of his words f425dd1974 and the intensity e71446d4d5 of his crimson f6053b849b gaze, Natasha couldn’t 90af770734 bring herself to 491753f558 deny him.429780a0a4e20b35

“…Yes.”25e4e27fd07e9f8a

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Her voice 8d790e3017 carried a 02c2d055c2 reluctant surrender, bb3b637b3f and at 7cbd633d38 her affirmation, a65dbc6a38 the flames 3243b943d5 in Alexei’s 32e8dd8685 eyes seemed c18b1bc605 to blaze 1f5bac23ee brighter.71f1fa3c74ef27e7

“…Anything.”acc4ebebadcb87c7

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Repeating her dbae3f1ad5 words, Alexei aa976b4dc0 closed his 60d9ad1116 eyes momentarily, 063147bb8e then slowly 539b9feb13 ran his 1437d5c609 tongue over 767b9c4b99 his lips. The sight 7683516097 of his 9b2a8d7da5 rough, crimson dc78a5733d tongue grazing d9c62a610f his dry 9c13723122 lips made 8f26387423 Natasha’s eyes 7a1c106a60 tremble.908087f2fc10b344

When his 713374bd78 long, ash-gray 664ee268e0 lashes fluttered 3834c7ab8d open again, 6fb94467d0 Natasha’s quivering 6406590c14 blue eyes 56cdc5f641 met his f23e2ee7a7 blazing red fbb7d2aae3 ones. His fiery gaze 54660547b7 seemed to consume 825039152a everything, tracing her 2a416e945c figure from head cef2c28160 to toe with cc89d09bff searing intensity. Natasha struggled d4010e24c4 to endure ee72316de8 it, her e37cb2326f breath hitching 8388c97898 under the 2012c4041d weight of 58203c5e0b his stare.787523ab46b605b7

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‘Can I handle b9b8743a79 him…? Whatever he 89098849c1 demands, can 46c80fab09 I…?’54628ce2f5659ecc

Her hands clenched the 7cc38a0c29 fabric of her skirt ea7d86bc32 tightly, her knuckles turning bb877f5f90 white. Just as her anxiety d1c7cdae2b peaked, Alexei finally spoke 6d56496e43 again.290ba04d99bfef90

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“Next time, a5ffc900b6 would you 8af02dc93b acknowledge me, 36f977a86a Lady?”9db2764ad817bd8d

“…What?”fea84c7a363dec47

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Her widened blue eyes 10950f17e1 reflected her confusion, and 6eec13fad9 a faint smirk tugged 424c0f8dad at the corner of 08a16a1ce6 Alexei’s lips.196514dcad3f09f2

“Alexei Petrov. That is my name.”3397dafa1fa1f5c2

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“Ah…”8c9bb9695129fe2d

It wasn’t that she b74e69f740 didn’t know his name. She knew d5f58715f3 him—had known 0683572462 of him. Yet she had chosen fd7bb0d26b to feign ignorance, to d73fe93242 pretend he didn’t exist.5a587607c407b141

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As Natasha’s ac560b085e rosy lips 24202c7182 quivered in 6a4d751b10 silent response, 6e492dd63b Alexei’s gaze 94b56b2ba2 lingered on d8c3cd8f4b them for ae94b2394e a long b572694202 moment before 28c32c4229 he let 183781954e out a e87822623f quiet chuckle.b5ca656e4756d050

“Now you know. Next time, 8887e1267f please remember 186fa4cdb3 me. And don’t look away.”1bfd0d7f9d555c47

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Alexei’s earnest yet 6d082284ba intense gaze left dd78701e22 Natasha at a f8ca877a25 loss for words. Unable to 36ead8f6aa do anything 60f0e3399f else, she db0aacb628 gave a 836ea0ab56 small nod.ba102a9b23664c6c

“That is the reward ac428546d2 I ask for. Nothing more, my 8b03954934 lady.”df4a192291f58365

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“…I promise.”1842b0ff2388a7d6

What could be so f8663a10cb difficult about that?073b071960eb2a54

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Natasha nodded again. Such a 718eee74b2 small thing—it b5187bb760 was nothing, e3bdb1678e really.2344316e92402725

“I’ll remember 06e5750524 that promise, a7f0cfa32c my lady.”65bb65442a013cd7

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But as Alexei’s 6effa17e9e fiery gaze softened 770b627d32 into something almost bc7775fe50 sorrowful, Natasha found 684f2756ed herself questioning if cb7a8faeb9 the promise was f527b8ef56 truly as simple 4d8c45f74a as it seemed. She blinked, momentarily 6b09bf9781 lost in thought.dc121e812dcb63de

 0b2b2728c0baf39d

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