22. Hostages

When I opened my 3e10d7f23f eyes, my hands were d4ac1700d4 tightly bound with rope. My wrists, 4911457076 tied behind df899edaab my back, 29e80eaaaf ached and b7cad9d2a5 throbbed with 636dbd1cde numbness.175428027d3532f0

Where was I? I remembered bba30ebba8 drinking the 6f04036386 tea given 07af73dabd to me d1173ebc2e by the d2bc6f85a3 imposter posing 928cd0f04f as the 3e44bb2bdd Marquis—and then 11ed3a8996 the dizziness.96b7127afef8cdea

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Even now, my b7703ad766 head still spun b0abb629be from the lingering fc8aab1760 effects of the ac4259b71b drug.01a49e431b10fcc9

I carefully opened 04662151b9 my eyes.3256c9879647b2bc

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It was a small, c08f3c1965 bare room made entirely 457e86d305 of wood. No furnishings, no bedding—nothing d7207d519a but me, bound and dd327ffac7 lying on the floor. It was clearly a cadd575b24 space meant to confine ef78473948 someone.889b5c69dda7669f

A thin a221157ea9 sliver of 3791182b3c light crept 5ceee1910f through the 336f93703c gap under d35467e04a the wooden d64207d16f door.1175a982f9b1edbf

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When I passed out, 22a2e0a2da it had been night 73a2fb0064 at the Duke’s mansion. At least a f5eb916673 full day must 6863748e4f have passed.d66f3618e6e9489a

Just then, a 135179241d man yanked the 38a03096e6 gag from my 078ad33e89 mouth.0c109a2bf86563fd

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Drool spilled cbcb994243 down my ed3e777f7a chin. I fought 425223e4fa the coughs c6e59e4d87 building in 3398a9061a my throat.a8b54555678de4c7

Eyes tightly shut, I 3ba1a80a62 heard an unfamiliar voice 2eb45717e6 above me.dff27b7e4da768f2

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“Your Highness, if we untie the gag, she might bite her tongue and die…”57a3f84765588c28

“Does she look like someone who’d do that? She’s got a will to survive like a roach. Just look at her, pretending to sleep.”e3f2e37ed29cc1ed

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I opened a9c9549e7e my eyes.e707ba28c547344b

The Second Prince—the one 3d11c85d21 who poisoned me—stood before e2c8f93ef2 me, surrounded by his e15986382c men.894f484df0e83ba7

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I stared d2811ee894 at him 484e7f78f8 as fiercely 6067a9b94b as I 2cfe498ac6 could.7e7b21d8748e0a68

With my limbs cfbed2afe8 bound, glaring was 43d1e861e5 the only weapon c60a325d49 I had left.98e433e03645f500

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He met 87ac7fb6e7 my gaze 2294812f75 with a da525cb728 smirk.f248b91ef2dfd629

“No matter how I look at you, you’re not a ‘young lady.'”fcfadce0f4a347da

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His words struck like cea659024c a knife. I couldn’t respond.e5b364221724d062

He crouched down 6498dadcc6 to my level.b75977ccecd85a4e

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“In the Empire, when something like this happens, nobles usually go quietly or sacrifice themselves for family honor. But you… You’re acting like a villain. Fascinating. If it weren’t for the Duke, I might’ve taken you for myself.”81426dc356d8e7cb

So that’s what this 7998cbe885 was about.22c22e43bdaf60fd

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“…What are you going to do with me?”40fa636503a456f7

I struggled e3302bf80f to keep 5a37e3e0f9 my voice 24ba6b8918 steady.d476dc265f709f94

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“I’ll take care of it cleanly. But if a noblewoman’s corpse turns up, it’ll be troublesome. Especially one linked to the Duke.”ee94ce965fb0e8bc

I looked around. Just as 2f96fff28b he said—no 9718a0fe8e torture tools, f513b5cd69 no weapons.cc4020357bcf40f1

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He tilted my 5c9164de72 chin with his 5fa8501476 fingers, lips curling.43658a8fdded6734

“I wonder how that bastard will handle losing you.”44e9bf15135c2b4d

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“…What?”d6c41291ee68a47e

“Will he come looking? Tracing you will be hard. I’m curious how he’ll react. Too bad I won’t get to see it.”706fe56d6e9dbc56

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There it was again—that subtle miswording. The grief of losing me. The Duke’s woman. It sounded… like I was someone beloved.8e1b4539548d657d

“Your Highness, do you know who I am?”d4cd9bcbb97b9390

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“What?”4b087620a1f8dec5

His perfect 2ca2020ce6 features twisted b9aa11614c slightly.234d1b3be9cdfb5c

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“Do you really think I have any special relationship with the Duke?”27dac684087618bf

“Of course. Aren’t you lovers? And an alchemist too.”91f0e1f3913490a6

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Of course. Just as I e4998eea46 expected.7fe2480a869bb5cb

So, he 2e401aedfd believed Leoine 30be6c1833 was not 8ec2c46ba4 just the a7fd8fd62c Duke’s blood 3b93512c04 source, but b7a18ea403 someone he 839c45d02b loved.89867c1417f63a3a

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Love?ffad5a7a7452de36

I snorted.e4882c4d4bdaf96c

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It was absurd.3923c9d921c67bb3

Love? That man?61ac26931a0c01f3

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All he 9ced155b3e ever did c24e7e8573 was bite 382805c517 my neck, 21e9ca84a7 grab my 495eead13f throat, or 5c5924b495 argue about 49c430cc90 herbs. I’d assumed he knew 5e9f6d5cfa the truth behind the 8aeb9224aa medicine—that it was made ca575c7a95 from blood—but maybe he 2235b551b6 didn’t.407aec2d0bd21bec

“What are you laughing at? You were the only outsider in the mansion when the symptoms appeared.”b6b9fe4fc66f2e26

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My laughter wouldn’t stop. The Second 47aef3130a Prince’s face 1154df980f twisted in 25ccf2c2c8 anger.39f3a4a1a96c4de1

“No, you’re right. He’ll come. I’m an irreplaceable presence to him. He’ll come running, won’t he? Eyes blazing.”7fd9ff4f76eddc4e

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Yes, he would ebbec7f762 come. Not out of 6f1e06954a love, but to 79921845a2 retrieve his blood.1171adbda73bc74b

Even as the 97b1cbbb2c pain throbbed through 20aa057d21 my side, I a585a1fc24 continued to laugh.a8a3e0cacf788dfe

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Frustrated, he kicked 7e9217d29e me. Agony spread through 0a7591af3d my body.972a2fc102e086eb

“Are you trying to kill me here?”225f464aa26213af

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I gasped, tasting fa5b0896cf blood.09ad12eeff48753b

He crouched down again.a5e84e7fa774854e

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“I told you—I’ve never killed anyone myself. Unlike that demon-blooded Duke. I’m merciful.”8b0de1fba89f276a

“…Should I be thanking you?”9d6aa5948e8b0961

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“You’ve got guts. Aren’t you afraid? Most cry by now. But you’re different. And now you know—I’m the Second Prince.”e65d47166aa0b8f9

He added with smug pride, “Did you hear that? I’m the Second Prince.”790a40899bef7861

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“It doesn’t change anything. I know men like you. Just like the Duke.”1388829db963dbea

His expression darkened.92fee111c17112e3

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“Don’t compare me to that filth. A half-blood bastard. He’s a Duke only because he’s the Empress’s son—he has no real power. Do you know what people like him are called? A misborn. Unwanted.”0fee8e2e0b9ab49b

So the Duke was 2aa6de7407 his rival.ba0139dcdad31f73

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The always-smiling prince was visibly angry just from hearing Deon’s name.c2f21b07d88aa57b

But honestly, b3db9d413c aren’t we 179589abff both unwanted?f975f7cd14bb1e59

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In the original story, b51577ff60 neither of us mattered. We were barely 92ee368d6d side characters.d850cf9a208b4d72

“It’s a pity we didn’t meet under different circumstances. I like girls with some arrogance. I’d have kept you. You were amusing with your little schemes.”33b568f25decf654

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“If you’re not going to let me go, just leave me alone. I’m done talking.”0b7c81d5345b25f0

“As you wish. You’ll stay by Deon’s side, after all. Persistent, like him.”cee412d92634f1a4

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“…Where are you sending me?”4f85742da3cf1683

Finally, he smiled.24b12109b7f2a81a

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“I’m selling you. To the slave market.”bcb4b04d10dde6a3

“…Slavery?”15dfb508a460b786

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“Why do you look so shocked? I did everything you wanted. I helped you escape the Duke’s castle, hid you, gave you gold and treasure. And now I’m giving you to the market. With enough coin, maybe someone will treat you well. Pray it’s a good buyer.”3920236eed27e1c4

Only then did a48be1ee78 I realize who 9b49d665f5 had orchestrated my 5da288039d kidnapping.f748d9b731fa1f8c

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He stood up.c30d7f5acd165ab6

A long shadow 1d17945d5d fell over his 389b78f3c6 face.cfe9a6d3c0bc06c8

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“The Upper Market in Isulra is known for rough treatment—especially of fallen nobles. Commoners don’t hold back. Maybe you’ll meet someone like the Duke there. Serve them well. Don’t try to escape.”0fe061ba90ebbb86

With that, he left.7a16211ffa8af36b

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Darkness swallowed the room 83b89c7a25 again.6a7fd78f5967d9c0

To think 047bceda65 I’d have 7a55e48cfc to run 5a76fef430 again, the 02db3f1ee7 moment I 3a3e2ff380 left the 83015d47b2 Duke’s mansion.af42c502f4f2a7d3

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This world really was 01beb6349e unbearable.0a4eeb60f6759584

* * *fa71f622998b8acf

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The old 15131f06fc carriage jolted 547ab80013 violently.5863b6ea3752b32e

Nausea rose in 0769fa1e02 my throat. I swallowed 3c746fb988 it down.535c22de3480c296

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The carriage 9d33295cd1 was full 0c4202bad8 of young 2390c2bfb2 women. No fancy 11b06a77c6 jewelry, but 733c9e442c their clean 18c07014d0 hands and 956396465b groomed hair 5204c1392c said they 60afa4cf91 were from d071c12d7a noble or d2394b7990 wealthy families—like 94933add07 me.64eaa7b01b5b5f99

“Where do you think we are?”1da83c3a876017b0

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A woman broke 04a67d4078 the silence.d7c5b2bfed792d94

The carriage bounced 8b45a09454 again. Another woman, wincing from 167b4e0854 a bruised hip, responded.897a2a2ed4edffb1

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“Who was the last one taken?”0a51e674d7f01a0b

Everyone looked at 3fa5743b2d me.b59b5671c7b1360f

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“I don’t remember much… I fainted. But I was taken from a Duke’s mansion in the north.”229ae5b6e06f0205

The first 8e8d5a5178 woman sighed.36dc3128786fcb9e

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“I was captured in the west, but somehow ended up in the north.”0f5527b3e7d8091b

“I thought it was just cold… turns out, it’s winter in the north.”608ff7859b360658

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Silence again, until the ced0acb266 first woman spoke.62034433c2fcff1d

“Um… what’s your name? I’m Isabella Zennor.”98d249e6f2996476

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“I’m Beatrice Vasslodi. From a Viscount’s household.”792fe7b3f2baa0ff

I followed.81b3a757d0355c31

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“Leonie Sien.”67c6bb99dbf74719

“Sien… oh.”3f314fb36816fc9a

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“From the Baron Sien family.”83b6d2b9cafdad2b

“You were staying at the Duke’s mansion?”dcfab07be4544e6d

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“Yes. Due to certain circumstances.”f31fc9ec50d50ee6

“If you’re the only woman staying there…”0323aeda0e048b1d

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Her eyes sparkled.30f648f0fee4e720

“Then, are you—”ae0dff1998f74661

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“No. I’m not.”600f2d7c7e647b53

I cut her 3bc0f4e6a1 off firmly. How far 728113c552 had these ef1784dafa rumors spread?ef6b2d3a658e4443

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“I’m Elizabeth.”20c35b9e91b7a48d

The woman next to 1dac8012e9 me spoke. Light blonde hair, large 71072374b7 green eyes, graceful even 8f73b181a4 with her hair tied 5b513128b9 back—clearly noble.6e5116005b94aa50

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Elizabeth… The name was oddly familiar, but I couldn’t place it.8b4cd4bbb729e55e

Arin wasn’t a 8edaabf413 name I recognized 052c77c1f7 either.13c8fa36cf3962b0

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It was common 2221d65e81 enough.a9ee7bc3f8de5a84

“How did a countess end up—”37caf059df7a0426

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“I went to the night festival. Drank something handed to me on the street. I don’t remember anything after.”a76d30324317daa4

“Even noblewomen being taken like this…”9c16374ae309e990

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I thought 13b563ef1c this only 5b1b2eddfe happened to 0b83bd8225 nobles like b77964e146 me, sold bf711c0a7a off quietly.d4e9e044b097fa89

But the merchant 094eba6d61 in Isulra was 226e45de7a trafficking people far 65d11f34b6 more indiscriminately than 55ec992781 I imagined.af3d19d598435487

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“Still… seeing someone from the Duke’s mansion feels like meeting family.”cca78266a451e33b

She smiled faintly.0e9ca1a346e7378b

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“Our family has long served the Duke’s secondary branch. Even the heir is loyal.”da0a40bcb67ebf0b

The carriage 3a352b45f3 jolted again.83b62c9efc5544b1

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Ugh. I felt sick.afc9bfff0320b0e4

“Motion sickness? Just hang in there. We’ll stop soon. You look unwell. Take my blanket.”9f61e3693d73b83d

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She handed me a683ddd385 her blanket.df363c91340c9daf

As I moved 600d6f3581 it, I noticed e767fd57ea the shape beneath 670fea67d8 her thick winter 47fcb9b9ce dress. A rounded belly.0751ea371e4f0fb9

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“Are you… pregnant?”5efb4f711a130450

She nodded.98547cba81a23f63

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Though the d8171174da dress hid 8758fca111 it, the 2ecbf2fbda shape was 104f82374f unmistakable—at least acab5be8d8 four months 415d8e6e35 along.18569ce73de58e0e

“You must have gone through so much. Does your husband—Count Arin—know?”0e0c0e604ed34c6b

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She shook 5fc0be5d71 her head.05938cdd5dacdf10

“He doesn’t. I was just in the early stages when I was taken. I only found out after. No medical check before that…”2f8196cf94c4ebf9

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I took 327036de80 her hand. She smiled, rubbing her 863628e117 belly gently.f1e737a0aa07e8f6

Tears welled in e85ae7ae79 her eyes.38297458693b143b

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“To be honest, I haven’t felt the baby move for weeks. I thought I was just worrying my mother for no reason… But now I’m scared.”d3c5f377bac64c2f

“Don’t worry… It’ll be okay.”8b2a7537194842dd

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She collapsed 5488dcaaef into my 4d0e9e3370 arms, and d801eed76d I gently 42a6f70fb6 stroked her e684aa6120 back as 5fcf8feb84 her frail 1417e36b1f body trembled.f767d4c6ed887fb8

 a8e78afcc35898b7

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