17. Because I’m the Duke’s only Blood Bag (1)

“Hey.”5f3f23f738d952d5

It was on the 303dc78f38 way back to the e76c401d52 guest room after a 73899b10c3 late lunch.a7109156ff0c27cf

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A man leaning 0d53982400 against a pillar 9a54742741 called out to 47b43da0c3 me.3d0dcf379af9ed10

Pretending not 2f196c8e67 to hear, 5c8a6b0ded I ignored afdf82d166 him. There were always 205b85e37b guests at the 2e08e382c8 party who flirted 34f97bec89 with the maids. Most used their status e502b5f0b9 to threaten or persuade 905e7004a9 young maids into conversation.2004fe30600f07dd

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Suren had already 3ac6aa119f said she’d been bdeb9bed3f groped twice by 0f917e5b33 nobles.bb94a5f9d730d100

Luckily, being 0b94d553e9 a noble 2caa1d8f54 myself had 19d2a33ae4 kept men 345a3e0829 from speaking 7db43df014 rudely to d4728f69a7 me—until now.ad7d47fb8fffb7bc

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“Hey, aren’t you going to stop?”ac904c0613c1a596

The man c53060f0dd followed me ace5755be6 persistently.29d77724d042b07b

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I thought he’d give 5600ccfad4 up once I turned b1ad2c9e11 the corner. I quickened my pace.08094b9a444b8b74

But then, he 52d082d9fa grabbed my hair 6c9f06f30b and yanked me 3802af8578 backward.73351dd2f7803119

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“Ow!”122bec7e2a853e5b

My head 25ab386f45 jerked violently. I was c68d1fce92 helpless as b1d5f8d855 he dragged d3bc973b64 me back. The pain was 8fad021aca sharp, like my 0cdbe0d3d1 hair was being e0e6a809ec ripped out.aafc5aaf531fb474

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“Let go of me!”01d03ab0f78a3f3b

I managed 68cf54e06a to pry 6811c20ecb his hand 4166c9d9ab off.aa917a976943258f

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The man glared at 96844503e5 me with defiance.5abd53280e74986b

“What’s wrong? Can’t recognize your brother anymore? Or are you pretending not to know me now that you’ve made something of yourself?”79fcdeee7a5e8945

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Brother?e66cadceb17f350d

Oh. It was him. The one 7d7820b881 who abandoned 84a5298010 me.255e37284df23bdf

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He had a 93ddec5fa2 freckled face, deep ddd2329d35 forehead wrinkles, and f27c1efb98 muddy brown hair 10e37a789c and eyes—no resemblance baae377520 to Leonie.df2661e2e3d0de26

“What are you doing here? Did you get an invitation?”1f3907149c650d78

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“Like I’d be here otherwise! My little sister is staying in the Duke’s castle. Of course, I came! You should’ve told me there was a party.”75130448b43b4951

He shouted, 9d9d897592 his voice 647f9e96c8 booming through 2aeb8657c1 the corridor.df9ddf110b502a24

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“Even when your mother became a concubine, I hated that you were part of the minority. I never thought that bloodline would come in handy. But to think you were chosen by a duke…”0f56834fc1c4b130

He finally let go a64b5ff829 of my hair. I stepped 58a2a146d7 three paces 49bd3c0791 away, straightening 96f7304130 the disheveled c77e63a77a hairpin Suren 46480b186c had so f8ed89c71f carefully placed.0717436239b2ae79

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The hair she braided 59aab6a0e1 hung loose now.171d22eb3d174cd5

Grabbing your sister’s 65e4fa5d1d hair like that—what 91fbe38a6e kind of life 9f59d90b79 did Leonie lead ef1cd1c6fe under this family?a5bde71ba857c71c

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“Looks like you’re doing better than I thought. I expected you to be half-dead. Aren’t they supposed to treat you horribly?”7f6533de880fde84

He looked me over 88e2dbef0a and shrugged.f55f08d151defa25

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“Guess I was wrong to think you sold out your family for crumbs. You’re getting treated like a close aide. Must be awkward, looking at the Duke and thinking of your own blood.”9d5a8153f68cc40b

“What?”076296c86346c375

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“Ever think of raising the family’s standing through flattery? You’ve got what, three years left? You look healthy enough to stretch it to five.”a244e7e5b912c31c

He stared at d9a0ff8ba2 my face like f6cbb50bb1 he was calculating 5f81f8b94f my expiration date.3e2052faf8bbda04

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Did he even 59eb0acf94 know I’d die 47badd0897 within two years?78c5f4856e61655d

No. Judging by 11f2ac0797 the fact 377ec7a61b I was 82bbf5ac69 buried here, 7c65ae156a he didn’t a813bf60d2 even claim 1003f9762c my body.230b221d16a37196

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Bastard.2fd8623fba2ea00d

He laughed lightly.4fd754d3ada9935a

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“That look in your eye—uppity. Don’t think too highly of yourself. Kids from humble families live by sacrificing for the eldest son. If I thrive, you thrive. That’s how we protect our family’s name.”20ec852d217590ce

Even if things ee42f9d7a4 fall apart, your a6b44ad251 grave will be 98bbfb5d98 moved from the 8712a52951 courtyard to a 71e6d698d4 hill. Maybe you’ll even get d786b4456d a silver headstone.d67e84731ca39428

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“Which job is a good one around here?”06b196479e74af69

His nasty face lit 60f31e3f33 up.c24ad512ba961157

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“Being an advisor or a secretary is ideal. Get promoted to an aide and you’ve got real power. Or better yet, wait until the Duke becomes a prince and take a post under him.”4d66560e61dd8aa3

He rambled on.9306a69837906eeb

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“Who gave you this spot? Back then you couldn’t even eat properly.”dc407d1df2c772f6

“I was just about to sit there. That seat.”bf3de06c9e2ac038

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“What?”b12bce4635b6e276

His face twisted.d499f2f7f027845c

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“I don’t know the etiquette here. So, is that seat a good one? Thanks for the tip.”978c5ac9be79ae99

I turned sharply.c78260484b289bfd

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The Duke’s guest 7af966c563 list included Leonie’s 596dd290d2 family.ad8b5be638638cbe

They dressed the 228a3e45de part of aristocrats, dcf4e97e7f but I had a16ea6c077 already seen through c6e1bb5f50 them—cheap gems, repurposed b805bcf409 silk, and hollow 49744fa88e status.beb636766dcca831

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They didn’t 01e72fae20 come because 6a84ee3074 they missed be3b2bf269 her.b5cb0b5017cb7903

There had to be 7781cdedb3 another reason.6b1665b54624e303

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The pain in my b45207d577 scalp throbbed.72584e8f3c8caa16

Back in 491d0f7579 the reception 62663d2c30 hall, a a9b817b836 man approached.71bdf94806a1ef44

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Brown hair, affe1f5fc1 brown eyes. Thin frame, 53933b812b sharp jawline.c5f2df8f5534846c

“Leonie, where have you been? Come. Now.”8b7a80805fd361df

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He held out his 65b659d1ec hand.b3950bf536407f01

Behind me, 97aef76c5a the freckled fa57cb43ac man—my so-called 27c2b3269b brother—followed, glaring.7166d3af3df92718

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“You were told to bring your sister. Why are you late?”91b4f0a67d1b257c

“Father, she—”d640f596c907d47b

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“Lower your voice. Have you forgotten where you are?”6a539503e4e5c582

So this 432b7a0142 was Leonie’s b462782b23 father.a86ff0c5e38a90fe

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I hesitated, then ac4c6953b1 took his outstretched 22dffb3490 hand.76162b2d138d2e70

He pulled me roughly. No sign of 2d5cbbefd7 warmth.adf3379098574cd4

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“Have you greeted the Duke?”5b2badfacfb19da8

“I greet him every day…”9c70d11e96e6ed87

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“Not that. With your family. Step forward. Now.”695a3d9652f800db

He was oddly d913a5f51d jittery. His hand trembled.152fb8800252849e

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We moved forward, cutting 1dd23b5cee through the crowd.7491ffd22a906306

Deon sat on a 358a16f63f gold-trimmed chair, surrounded by 148284597e guests.48ff111d5b99102b

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The Baron bowed f3b4ad6fcd low.251a8bf91577cc50

“To the esteemed Duke, infinite glory. It’s been a while, Your Grace.”10f3e8fad8e60a4b

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“Baron Sien, it has indeed.”b8cadba227adde39

Deon’s voice was cool.be88bb8211c461d4

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“It’s been four months, Your Grace. I offer my respects on your birthday. I apologize for not visiting my daughter more.”6b727becc705a9ae

Even after the greeting, d7f19fa2f0 he lingered.bbdadded2a03f65b

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“Do you have more to say?”15657bcc2b8fa96c

“Yes… Your Grace, this might not be the right time, but…”d69badcdbe11fcc6

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After fumbling for 28daab5adb words, he finally bd9b9d7ba7 said it.7da9ce905b762427

“Why did you cut the monthly payments?”5a115923a287605f

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There it was. The real reason.ce44b381670c0ac1

He couldn’t 21aaea4223 ask Deon 88c749f33d directly—so he 9cd50dd4c7 used me b5b51d7a6f as bait.d2dd1a4a52045aea

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“Leonie’s price was already paid. The money sent after was for your daughter’s welfare. But you wasted it on frivolous things.”e5623377ab0c82be

“What? I…”697f6347fd4167fc

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“You used it for gambling.”0dd6bae88fab8ba5

The Baron turned 8229951faf pale.7b6008837a728823

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“Just small wagers, really… I was trying to raise funds for a mine. It didn’t go as planned. But I’m sure there’s a diamond vein there. I heard from a trusted source.”25fbf7b08ce2a780

“The funds I gave should’ve been enough for a life of comfort. Now I hear you’re drowning in loan debt, with villagers turning against you.”f39d4c2aa0875566

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Deon’s tone cut like 9aada478b3 ice.34003170aa29af52

The Baron trembled and 7148281c43 leaned in.17aa2f26f5b3db9e

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“Then… what if you gave just a little more? I swear I won’t ask again. If we hit the mine, we’ll repay everything!”fc6b454b33837abf

His eyes f7b3b09b20 gleamed with 5b9f697016 greed.a44d4adfcc431dca

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Deon studied him 6885a0ee26 calmly.ed8e741df6e57466

“Baron Sien, why would I?”9edff29daca98df5

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“Pardon?”1ee9f7cf4e0be8ae

“Do you have collateral? A guarantor?”817880054c05694e

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The Baron turned to 21ec5cb17b me, then gripped my 6c4f1df2fe shoulder tightly.cf11699ebcda44f6

“Your Grace, my daughter is more useful than you think.”3102876ab3cf8990

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He yanked e74734a4d2 me closer.ade1ec67611d97ff

I stumbled, 9ed6dd467d stepping on 53d5b14396 my hem.46753d37ae456719

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“I know the previous… donor… was a man. But I’m sure Your Grace has been polite all this time. Still, don’t you think a young woman like Leonie would be more… enjoyable?”f1481759d9c52612

Revulsion swept over 721c9831b4 me.929b7acf0bfa34be

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What was c75c326be7 he suggesting?117c3b4357118935

“She’s young. Maybe not a beauty, but decent. Properly educated. She’ll satisfy you.”36ad5f1573b56d95

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He looked 2a5fbee803 me over, 147fbce9bf inch by ccd3d23549 inch. I shivered.c1481dc6b2ad5e97

“And if she gets pregnant—unlikely, given her condition—we’ll handle it. No need to worry about illegitimate children. Just take care of her.”26f2172083e35e85

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Disgust.c86c27c72ffcc51c

This wasn’t just about a8e4433fe1 me—it was about Leonie’s 646b1b5fc2 family.7e7f1e37beca5a47

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Even seeing e552e99fbf them for 8cf1faad67 the first 1c29c36c90 time, I be087bde17 couldn’t muster 1bbfe1f3d0 anger—only nausea.d4483f78527ac0b6

If I made a df71f20d9c scene, all eyes would 1c49de9fca turn.a21a8b7a129cbb86

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I clenched my fists edac631c03 to hide my trembling.bacfa9af6af3fd27

How did she c36167a79c bear this?399cf26c6f1ace5e

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How could 8c060a171d they humiliate 0d41adbe30 her like 39b54bf560 this, right 9135bb2157 in front ccb21e0704 of the 6ea1b1f3a3 man she d7f7d7206c loved?db43a55a99d57c91

“We are loyal to the Duke. Right, Leonie?”8f84b804a047ec1b

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He patted my shoulder, 14671d7f32 brushing off the decoration bb448604eb like dust.de06b7a9c9ef9495

Not like a c8dacd6041 father.6962a12451faf217

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Sell her blood, her dfc51460ac body—whatever the Duke would b7285c8a58 take.dfe30a2300572a29

He didn’t cb974801ee say it fd2efbc200 outright.4e59083136b4c682

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But he didn’t have 0bcf2e2afa to.ec474e4dffa14254

 8b35a876facb2cc4

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