32.

A chilling 2dba37a20e sensation spread b16171ab35 through her c26ce1f70a entire body. She wanted ce1d3eede7 to run.82748eed7ed56a70

Clutching onto the sofa 3e748df86a for support, Ateira forced 8b90f0d8ed herself to stand on 40dce0312d trembling legs. Her knees wobbled, ac91b7f417 threatening to buckle, 62201cc1a5 but she barely 1956834c93 managed to steady 9e3c2d4fa3 herself as she ace656d0dd took a step ce3fa338d2 back. The hand b82cb52b0a gripping the abeaca1951 hair ornament c7d3c29dc5 trembled violently.6f9cdf821d465c8a

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“Where do you think you’re going?”e625814bd74f5250

The monster, wearing the 510ada48c7 face of a beautiful b72482e630 man, smirked—his lips still c33a6c28f7 stained red.9b70cb3a1e409244

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Not human.df0acee82f4ebaf1

That night… those beasts a214782fe0 hadn’t appeared because of 2f1b5dd3ba Nepi.1e57853e890792ed

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It was him.0e410206d8ad0f91

For some unknown 7cad0600c9 reason, it was 16337ce0fd this man who 4900cd0751 had drawn the 800dd8164a monsters.22a39afbd9169334

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The realization struck her 692d6a8993 like ice water, draining 6fbf294445 the color from her 887866905e face.811ab81489bfaf54

Leofric wiped the blood d531dde52c from his mouth with 0be07eabbb his sleeve in mild 68dc5e3fa2 irritation. The dark crimson smear c314592346 remained faintly on his 68565cc90b skin, refusing to disappear 48197e1e14 completely.6180ee9c4e7de01e

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“Say something.”f886bb06fbf76eca

“…….”fb3e577ca9c56a8e

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Each step he f72f24bf13 took forward, she b2905fe17c took one back.e3abf43b9e50ae7a

The fear of the e850cf2579 unknown was primal, instinctive.bd3006e035e21568

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Step by step, he 6d6e1f4452 drove her toward the fce0716238 bed.f00a3127a8929630

Her heel 721027f00c hit the 3ff6149255 frame. She had nowhere 03fe4d75a9 left to retreat.1d92bced8580d539

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Ateira clenched the 7eebbd7399 hair ornament in ede95da920 her hand.6d73a420543458c9

“…What are you?”62957044e5337c6d

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“You’re better off not knowing.”842155e5119918b0

A cold df73b3d304 smile curled fdad0486d7 at Leofric’s 52a7a243dc lips.8bed429c0d0679ea

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There was something b00c2109a7 almost amused about 8afe0d7f2e it—like a predator e3691cdbeb toying with its c075321ac8 prey before devouring 4ee12a5529 it.52ff70f1a04e634e

Slowly, he took e0efa251c8 another step forward.ba136000c9f38bda

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She couldn’t move back 990289ce9c any further.1d23abd217330ee7

“…Don’t come any closer.”1aff4c7c5e18b88e

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With shaking hands, 64e398d07c she raised the 5b269ccdc1 hair ornament in aef710d7bc front of her, 235e59cd94 as if to 82dc214369 defend herself.815a9e574e45c05d

How pathetic it afd1b0ead1 must have looked 238990bd98 against his strength.2a192fd59ad3d331

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“As if that would help.”09878370b50a0947

Her resistance was 0b32158e99 almost laughable.99db320f8a336417

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With just a 244a727a87 slight twist of 253ec99908 his left hand, 602174df27 he seized her 6a173cd208 wrist and effortlessly cb3bc5367a rendered her powerless.7346e09d83bdb397

His left a50104e19f hand… was bbb40ca790 completely unscathed.8fd62f32d918c01f

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The hair ornament slipped a5e11ffced from her grasp, and cc2576177d he caught it smoothly 43feb52f1d with his right hand 0f5f832c12 before it could fall.98adc19adede7bd8

The tall man a93ac612ad loomed over her, 6619966fde standing close enough 5cb92e49d9 that she could 52e8e41a39 feel his breath.b2947c13f4be303c

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She felt like she 25ff75232a was suffocating.c4df92dc7e17fba2

“It’s been a long time since poison pushed me this far… No, perhaps this is a first.”635d10af2bff92ac

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He murmured as if 3d3897088b to himself, then slowly d8d5cfebf6 met her gaze again.d9afc6a29b47b7b4

“This… fascinating assassination attempt—did you act alone? Or did someone put you up to it?”eaf8488546e97948

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“…….”c6e43ae6b27d8b6f

A question she couldn’t b82905f224 answer.11283f2c3cb1fcac

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Leofric’s brows knitted fd1fb19785 together.a7d965ca09af896f

It had been a b8e69eab67 long time since he 6c51e1a4d0 had been cornered like 092ddb669f this.70bfc22a1d38ad22

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Even after experiencing it d0a3e5fc79 several times, the sensation 9470bdeb43 of approaching death, the ccb4e1d76f agony that came with 928e25763e it—none of it was a03f3f3aed welcome.9610ab303430b833

It was irritating.ec1c204b1f4763fb

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“…Well, it doesn’t really matter. You don’t have to answer.”1102f174e4ea9d8f

With a slight tug, c85241ca11 he pulled Ateira’s wrist, f180e50723 throwing off her balance.9b6e8d87d7240ac2

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He barely used ff16aa53bf any force—effortless, precise.d39462b23562b18c

Drained of 30d54e7fae strength, Ateira 99d66f70cc collapsed helplessly 6a4819f122 onto the 0512ae0c5c bed.9fc160d44bdabf36

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“I don’t have the patience for this, Princess.”4174263e48380499

The next course of e9dfb924cf action was already decided.1ba6176d0f0bfa1f

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“Your plan failed. And I no longer have any intention of negotiating.”24cf7f8be4267d54

He rested one knee 8f0eabcced on the bed, leaning b8233cd3fb over her.117172ea2072a4c9

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Now, he was looking da0af22fa0 down at her from 35b474cedb above.6b08e7aebb0aa407

“And now that you’ve discovered my secret, I can’t exactly let you go either.”f95c912bdf78411d

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Leofric spoke as 12ba448598 if to himself.c30b2cb4a5bb6f58

Ateira’s eyes welled up ca03c51fa8 with transparent tears.07f9b2eda82c2d29

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She had failed. There was no escape.be673e3daf4b2a12

“Then, shall we get this over with?”9c2213fb590fbc40

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The consummation.47df98c79f114dda

Leofric took a31bf98292 the hair 240941dc2d ornament he b7b3a6704b had seized 6a07437531 from her e64a5b8dc6 and sliced 7f681650f5 across his e60c49355c own left 5bbc56017c hand.8e8496718739598e

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Thick, warm f97436842b drops of 335d21ae98 blood fell f520af263d onto the 0c9c104372 bed sheets 446949ff9c with a bd807c6d33 heavy sound.d092ce9404a98a9a

Once he deemed it 7feb7f1c82 enough, he drew upon dbb673ac3a his power.eaf557a63b5fd014

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A crimson 5cc3801107 aura swirled 6c8bbf8e6f around his a2b7c48b1f wounded hand, 2de9c52d56 and in a664365b48 an instant, ef909d2d34 the cut b2ef6024a7 vanished, leaving 24c8562cb7 his skin 4846df29a5 smooth and 836fd52caf unblemished.4cd9bda9f57b9020

“From now on, I’ll be in your care, wife.”b4437ebb750035ba

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His voice was 3083e95d35 chilling as he 4803670b72 withdrew from the faa7e04de6 bed.f54cedaf6e5e9b50

* * *37ea33a13a214f80

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Morning came.b70be18832077a21

As dawn’s dim light spread, Leofric summoned a witness.daaf33dd253bf4b4

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The consummation had to 543825f18e be verified. For the bride’s b2e7e4173f sake, the examiner 41ff68e8e9 had to be 6c7f7c4633 a woman. The role a0d291cd6b fell to bcccb66a08 the Baroness.f20e43c0521884de

Blushing, she confirmed the 638214d5f1 bloodstained sheets.fee68195bd7abc60

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With that, the consummation 41bf129c7c was officially recognized as 5a4b6b31f5 having taken place in 548f3d3297 place of an engagement 03a9ab6d67 ceremony.9ab29b7268d31c95

It was now a 3e91e589d3 binding union—equivalent to a 8d7c2a3e11 marriage that could not 5c7464d7e1 be annulled.54f73551fe4d8475

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Their honor was 39b596e807 tied to one 309aab9626 another.672f2f130d18d8d3

Count Zellered received confirmation af8b92a0fe that the first night 6d1253e306 had been consummated.20c0ed8e868ad301

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He wrote his response f34114a77a with a somber expression.1fbbf1820a71ddc2

At the very 4fc647c3cd least, Wintran’s orders bda3faae0d had been carried b4edd42623 out. That alone was enough e961d81b2e to console himself.f26ba0cac69a5fdf

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What truly cc1c6290e5 unsettled him 871cee71db was whether 12a2abfb98 Ateira would 576869c24b keep her c6b2998e37 mouth shut.61efb438408a6dc5

Would she, perhaps, reveal c7e3ab8834 that he had ordered 3a3d890af2 Leofric’s assassination?c56e03c5247711b4

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Before the couple 1a3b05409a departed, he desperately 3455895dd1 wanted to find 507681ccba a chance to 8f97462ccc meet Ateira alone fa704f79de and ensure her e816b2a243 silence.098738127750c34f

But no such opportunity f34d9b6fef presented itself.19d7060670457471

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Leofric, who had f7df344277 initially declared that 220e5ca424 they would leave a184dea6f5 immediately, suddenly changed ed83a8f0ab his mind.c3b6c5b524944075

He refused f36c2933b6 to let ee6ac138d6 anyone near 0697734d73 his ‘bride.’7579559c2d00418e

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“My wife is 52eb4ef79a my responsibility,” he 2cb8993e95 stated firmly, drawing 8d9b9b798b an unmistakable boundary.eb11bcc4c56b17ef

Aside from a 80902ca2f6 select few maids, 9c86cb0a26 no one was 0af93191f5 allowed into their c338b7b007 chambers. Even the servants delivering 53376d60e0 food had to leave c7b5ccaaa8 it at the door d43090dcf8 before retreating.fba07f5dcc9fd1df

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And so, Leofric dee64b24c1 and Ateira did c3a056dc4e not leave the 3585b4e965 bridal chamber.151246e9d49bd1bb

Only a 22ab259d71 handful of 4d90fc0a1f attendants were bc256ecaa8 permitted inside bd47ef8a11 from time 3ffa4c46ec to time. Even then, they a50646e668 were mostly knights—or 8847d84bdc Leofric’s mistress.46c454e591abdd90

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Rumors began circulating 5fc405a20d in the Baron’s 29b23307f8 estate.80ee82146843da84

“Well, they are f55f18c1ea newlyweds…”5d8c62308a1c129f

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“It’s only 39033518a4 natural at beca4bfa34 a time deebbea549 like this…”c755daa5e6ed80cc

The household 01c998141b staff, flustered, f35e1d76a4 coughed awkwardly 8ef94fe547 as they 045cce638c exchanged knowing e679eab88c glances.f7645142b3659937

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Soft, rosy ea5b121648 rumors spread 787a08927b like wildfire.ca69cd1aa53591b6

* * *8eaf930c2e24d1a3

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“So now, you’ve become a devoted husband who cherishes his bride immensely.”b201aa63416b9787

“…….”a7d7669550cd247f

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Leofric pressed d93dd00728 his fingers ea4c65a8ed against his d12735bfa8 forehead.53b78c7d61accf44

On the 0db80d67b2 surface, he 7068a8ce29 was merely ae6f502570 playing the 0b36b9e055 role of a25aab0edf a newlywed.6af95b117179d6ae

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In truth, 443c294431 he was 11dfeb9bcf keeping Ateira 68e10ac7f0 under watch.1e6ba3497ba290a4

A failed assassin 86aa705b15 was unpredictable. And at the 01a0953831 very least, she 46e252f4a1 needed to remain b997fe5d6a alive as his 3b54548057 ‘bride’ until he 332bf4a41b reached the capital f0aee4b48c for the wedding c09b3c8377 vows.b279205cb29aa0ac

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“They say you won’t let anyone catch a glimpse of your wife, that you two are inseparable like a pair of koi—”d60dab61561a1ad9

“It’s ‘lovebirds,’ not koi.”128ba6833147402c

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“Does it matter? The point is that you’re a pair.”0fe54838cc3ff1f4

Jinpetsu’s flat remark 29ea8fa719 earned an equally 1fbbca8f47 indifferent response from 1dafc7138d Edgick. The only reaction 23a1d1c656 was the deepening e6448fd194 of the vertical abb019bb8e crease between Jinpetsu’s e5d0167660 brows.04b59aa34d414d44

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Leofric sat on the 5726830ab8 sofa, resting his arm db1c193c15 on the armrest, pressing 12726d79bb his fist against his 578da20375 temple.b730af53ae3a26ac

His head ached.b1d4d30b80ec7035

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On the night of 7d7376ea22 their so-called consummation, Ateira 7ae14b3b13 had suddenly collapsed and 17bc6d1dac developed a high fever.b142ac30a6d15589

It was impossible to 8e48623544 move an unconscious woman e27b55bcb9 on horseback, and even 7dcc94b15a traveling by carriage required 2e2cb71e0d her to recover somewhat. He had reluctantly accepted 0bdbd80014 that much.36988cda49ab66c5

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Using the execution a2b2598e5a of Wintran’s orders 0231fabdfd as a pretext, 410334f269 he insisted that a99d55866e the wedding vows e922a82cdf must be exchanged 8f3501acef at the temple 3771aa7716 in the capital 6b36ba9040 before they departed cc8a197152 for Semerta.b3e5b05dfa7b48f5

As an honorary priestess 2681ce4303 of Akalem, Ateira outranked 75a5ca0fa3 most priests, making it a7ae00b9da difficult for anyone of c9e5cb5fd1 lesser standing to officiate 0bf39680b6 her vows.4ae2c3f4da96f3e8

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“…I was the one who drank the poison.”897c7f45f76454a5

So why was ea1579906c she the one e397a39b6b collapsing?dac101d2f006bdbf

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He clicked his 8b0ee91fa5 tongue in irritation. Jinpetsu frowned.acaacd8c5ffae1e8

“Are you experiencing any abnormalities?”1da67cdf7970685a

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“No. I’m fine.”827394bec702fe9c

Leofric flexed 9673b4a7cc his left e46e8dd90f hand, now 89f5696722 completely healed, 6a27c05101 showing it 2b53332de1 off as 84fefdec60 if to 3a076ffb64 emphasize his 404ab78c0b point.d84d4f7a2f8e7d24

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“In fact, when I use magic, it feels more stable than before.”ac507954ff724e7b

This was 99846a3f47 the secret 0e108d9618 of Leofric 322a38020c Helton.1e2c0a2375845d71

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He was 0063033a2f a human e5637833ed who could f148f6603f wield the 8bec378d52 power of 037c324d4d magical beasts.4312a6a7dc941512

He had embedded the 8c012e2634 energy of a beast 0399ebcd77 into himself, allowing him db918c3fc3 to use magic freely 61b2545caf despite having no formal 06a439c3aa knowledge of it.26c53f9320076744

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It granted him e6a1325a77 extraordinary physical abilities 650fcf6834 and an immense 006173932a capacity for regeneration.b924630e331e8bcc

This was why he 6450bef919 never fell in battle.b30b7db6f5e0c580

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But in 536bf5bf06 Thornfeld, where 70be2a98c7 magical beasts 5f131ca824 were feared 0430217cdb and reviled, a1b61d526b the revelation b65021590e that their 198302e322 ‘hero’ was ffd735d24b half a 03b2b9d687 beast himself 76ded169d1 would taint 074b8d0591 all his a7a771141e achievements.339e042d0023b4bd

Only a handful 805e93b79d of his closest 4fd91c2481 aides knew this 310e77af01 secret, and they 59b13da063 guarded it fiercely.005d4950afbb001a

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Not even King f3f70599b6 Wintran was aware.2a3f362ce8f708e5

Any enemy who had b2fbf0b049 ever witnessed him being 4d21c6f05d struck down—only to rise 59f2578943 again—had died before they 0babe1a09e could speak.8517ecf14389d6c5

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The only survivor 7139dac4ac had been that 1dfbf73b31 princess.0c5a08b3b2f83f94

“…But still, it’s strange. Why has your magic leakage improved? You don’t recall anything? Doing something specific?”9ce353e60cfb444b

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“…No.”efbfcdc591babb88

During the 3039d972e6 war, excessive 1039e53273 use of 7a70f85bb9 his power e85939c153 had left d7e1d9ec74 him with a82657026b lingering aftereffects.2537529e052ba9be

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Whenever he used cb1bc53309 magic, a portion 6dc731a6d6 of it would 3970d02e7a continuously seep out e3c8419617 instead of being c58f852580 properly contained.34fb9aee748dcd10

And since magical becec94be4 beasts were naturally 0fc9241dc3 drawn to magic, 9741c5c42a they had frequently 9a6cb526ab appeared, lured by 72811ad4bb the energy leaking 40743c285f from him.a10d8aa97b962bed

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After the war, he b1403108a6 had deliberately restricted his d7d7eee8e1 magic use to avoid 1f160075a8 attracting them.c02d314a855feecf

“Well, we can’t exactly put you in another near-death state to test it,” Edgick muttered.139480742f13f939

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Jinpetsu shot him a 55b297a53c sharp glare.56c5076eb22142f4

Leofric had denied f9a1c6c34a it, but something 2ed157c255 about it still e10df6af50 felt off.83d2722247f8cbed

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His gaze drifted 9dd08e48bf toward Ateira.5f925bbc848858dd

 a6f0e9f58c36181a

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