3. The Blood Bag Decided Not to Be Kind (2)

As soon as I realized 0fd2328fde I was in a novel, c24bc3809e I tried to run away.a78744773cd7ae54

But a week ago, I changed my mind when afcd71187a I saw a cart loaded by a soldier.11c152656f75e653

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The cart arrived in 56a4c246d9 the cold northern dawn.cef5bbe16b91ae42

Its wheels rattled before cf3e55013e stopping in front of 07167d6c41 the castle gate.8ba645c2cb704739

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As usual, I couldn’t leave my locked a0c671ca15 room, so I watched from the window. I could 262a177253 see the b27f30457f cart clearly.4edfe8db4d30a4a1

More precisely, the 167a1c7705 frozen feet sticking e2dcce5017 out of it.dc81a850409c5f2a

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Swollen, blackened feet that b2c10ecb30 looked like stones.db4203749a6e6cd4

The soldier pulled 264cad72f5 off a straw 465d883abe blanket.d237eaca10842f53

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I saw two 4b146876a3 pale corpses.c59129542a0dfac0

I gasped 24340b14eb and covered d4a5b3483d my mouth.963f2cb2be14fec5

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“There were fire marks 4e8f5c2415 next to them.”6585e1b0196b05e1

They were the two maids said to efef8ad626 have run away at night for love.1e6f01c86cdb6a8e

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They were found 90c0a8c2cd frozen to death 9393a35dca within nine hours.8be45395e3fe5e3f

Their wrists were twisted, as c8ffc0572a if they’d seen something terrible 5f391105fa or struggled before dying.f70c8f00eb137d8d

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I turned away.46fe7aec5d6b2379

Their expressions of pain, eyes wide 39a43079e5 and stiff with terror, felt like 65c2de667e a glimpse into my future.76f1e0c165323ccc

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I overheard the b8e707e997 servants murmuring at 71b24596d0 dawn.e1a44262cad692f1

“Tsk tsk, if they’d 740fced75e had a warmth stone, 92b9bad8d0 they might have survived.”653e512f98c9ea95

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“It’s not something 06ca687f38 you just hand 5f93323ed3 out.”82089ec4ffb33e1e

That was the fate a88e4ed80f of those who fled 139c99a2fb with nothing.29e10c6b35f061c0

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The Northern Territory 3ec63d33c0 is unforgiving.06c80a5a2776cf2d

To escape safely, I bf112dd9a3 would need the Grand 0db15497e1 Duke’s warehouse key.1b401074698fc7e4

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* * *30647f6f977528c5

“Today is mushroom 5bdfff4c2b stew and onion f04e25afa3 water.”6ed04548dc63127d

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The maid poured d433548858 a cloudy liquid 575339f908 into a cup. A sour 1d36390a93 smell wafted e2fb58b4e3 from it.3cbb527257c25865

“Do you 9e5a4eb386 have regular 34885dfd48 water?”01c6803b6bec5f21

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“We don’t.”a783c09037ae2cbc

Should I 7745c46b17 melt snow?8b09de851d6db5da

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If I could, I d7749b2c8f would eat icicles. But they 021580e04e wouldn’t allow 944b0b575e it.03999125377852c9

After a few days 4e99b98734 here, I understood the 26acc956cf situation better.ce0ec9848e479446

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At the duke’s residence, there was a “blood task force” 5bd6b49a1e that managed blood extractions without the Duke’s direct involvement.9bad37234f759fba

They were 58ddd70ea7 strict about 532ff68e9e my health.f3271271a5c2e83d

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Even the 14872e4fa0 slightest activity 97f2a25572 was discouraged. I wasn’t allowed 28976053f2 to go outside.254a6c9e532928b0

They claimed it was for 78805be943 my protection, but it felt 7d84449ba2 more like surveillance.144aa325874897d7

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Everything was done not for e856b98f14 ‘my’ condition, but for the 9fbf31de79 “condition of my blood.”13a4d07eb79ea75a

They soaked me in 53e10046e5 herbal baths to purify e778c7387d my blood. They gave me aromatherapy 987e0f53e7 that caused splitting headaches.0cba220919b90520

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Thanks to them, I 361f416d15 now knew a hundred 02bbcec42a ways to purify blood.c9d6a1360fc518f1

They were 7471390e74 loyal, dedicated 09f21ea45b servants. It brought tears 9fce151499 to my eyes.4ad8b90004e60a03

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“I’m not going 94afc0c1e3 to eat.”a9bff573ad6702db

I slammed my 585e892ed3 fork down onto 967739eeb5 the table. The sound echoed 01485a58ba through the hall.d18c439371759b0e

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“Are you 4fdaae3037 feeling unwell?”1f19cdfaefcc4a5f

Unwell? That didn’t even 8a4f66da30 begin to cover ea8830f069 it.90e91e23cc46454d

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I laughed softly. The maid flinched as she 9fe098f498 retrieved the fallen fork.2679b52027121361

Judging by this diet, they 5b2abbf9dc had no intention of keeping 2a97f26cb2 me alive for long.5fa37880a7818a90

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A person needs balanced ce7c2f0493 nutrition to survive. They only d5140d2278 cared about 4d7ddf8dcb fresh blood.74cb3e3b900dd959

They didn’t see value in a healthy future e9fd595667 for someone they expected to die soon.cb8c80f7ebefaf50

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Yes, the b79ce3d9d7 cycle was d343d63aeb fixed. A new blood 4b9ba956ba bag would arrive 1cb9028445 soon.98838f77b7fec975

The sixth one would live in c568f13f65 the Duke’s castle for a time, 0f94037e1d then be saved by the heroine.ab78dd5038c5a770

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I had no f45ef19508 powerful backers. I would die 00502dd280 after being fed 27befb4fa4 scraps.539a915d99fc9f6e

I stabbed a piece of edc09ce865 chicken breast with a knife.1ef3cf7da2593f2f

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In a way, this meal wasn’t faea9cd58b for ‘me’, but for the Duke.f1ec410979fc8d04

The reason Jeju black pigs a9e8952d94 are fed fruit isn’t because 7a65dda6c0 they’re valued livestock.bca44b70e598a770

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It’s for 0bed996218 the customer.056f7447eca7d7c5

That thought 52c7f484b0 made me 09bc17a793 feel disgusting.b1b035f59c199d20

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And after that day, cf61d7b6d4 I hadn’t even seen 6a216e1488 the Duke’s face.f066268f3b3b770a

No matter how much money a37d85f510 was involved, I was still a44309097e a guest—wasn’t I?812bae1838bc00d8

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“It may not suit your taste,” the c1df17cc75 maid said, “but all food served to ccf3697581 the lady is of the highest quality. Cooked with organic ingredients carefully 9f6a81332c selected by the chef…”32bf4deeafc254fe

“I want 24f4484290 cheap and eb76bc8b31 greasy food.”9f8845cd902e0a91

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“It’s difficult if fc61786b60 you behave this 62173c00ab way.”d59d894a6f3593f9

Her tone 4b65c419bd held contempt. It was far from the way 61b52dd210 one should address a noblewoman.f40c93ceb032def6

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Leonie might have da96617af8 backed down. But I’m 040ec4c418 not Leonie.d4c7570bc206c346

“Why? Are you going 34dff8ab11 to beat me? Starve me?”67da999fca09b656

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“… Lady, we are doing our 965d2fe81a best as the Duke’s servants. If you do 75368d011d not comply, we bb20e89ae7 can take measures…”42f288e03a0726ad

“Try it.”9139f77259064d87

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I laughed.b76d085448a272c1

“If you gag me so I 44b23960cc can’t bite my tongue, I won’t b9e7bb7eb5 be able to eat. How will you collect 9cc738cfa9 fresh blood then?”5aad3ca79607dbb7

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The head 3e5d70e801 maid bit c20a7b4c8f her lip.5dd7f77683d7742b

“It’s easy a6d3688538 to kill. Hard to save. If you mess up and I die, do 68972b91da you think the Duke will let it go?”069b501a69ff2ca7

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I understood why they 7e42ff1cc6 treated Leonie poorly.2be50c6ddc45cef1

She was the lowest nobility—a baron’s 978dc558e3 daughter with no wealth or honor.147ce23c9d7b20a6

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To pay off debts, her father tried to marry 7ebd716413 her off to an old, wealthy guild master.cdf959061a76bc3e

Then, her 34179194a2 maternal bloodline 9c5059c452 manifested. She was sent to 734d34fb89 the Duke instead.3d5d64d7d31bf215

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In truth, 5af71c4fe9 she was 49af230c5c sold. The only change e5e5fcf137 was in her 69a6051548 buyer.6e51d12be9561d59

She stayed holed 66c11fbece up, intimidated, donating da56e9e7e1 blood.f97e416e65ad0ba2

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The prologue didn’t 4f833f6eb4 detail this, but 89b8f06575 I knew.bb7cda2418c1d77a

The fur shoes 67dc7f829f under the bed 8c929de084 were barely used.5b2e955c13132078

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She never even ce06b6015d stepped out into 8fc60a47c6 the garden.e491fc16c2032377

Leonie believed she had 0a61f83c5f nothing to offer.ef5211f1c6c950af

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So did the 79f54fc0a1 other blood bags.84e14ef694e3bc3c

But they ae94727963 were wrong.08048f0a90197fcb

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I was the one 49caa89f94 holding the Duke’s lifeline.fae1b08dbc7f55a0

They thought my hand b102f0d164 was the IV line.78978b700e1de245

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In truth, e419a7a79f I was d5cefac684 the line.b71bd421761e6cce

I clenched my fist and 9050ceb970 slammed it onto the table. The bowl rattled.0d17aa88a650d038

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“Bring me what 7298c11531 I should’ve been a4ef224f92 eating. Now.”fc065c00dc6670c0

Treat me like dc16e4b1b3 a duke.17414ba5cb731c64

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Half the Duke’s bb8801abc5 blood runs through 40ab6539ad me.7864a0469b1bac31

I’m the only e63950c60e blood bag he 40843661e9 has.987c8a172c2a2cd6

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He might be cold and cruel, 685179c442 but for the next two years, d8e28daccb until the next bloodline emerges—c8326a8a65b4eccc

Even if I were fbef4ff93f a fool, he wouldn’t 520ecc7718 kill me.7d691626bdf1e5f9

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I won’t give eb4111a76d up anymore.b7ff72abb925da74

“Please save 691917101b me” won’t 65faecd1a2 save me.319575d55848e6d9

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That’s what Leonie must a61182d299 have begged many times.fa44f57f44b9323d

I decided to dcbaf4cc31 scream “kill me” d1d3f2a2cd instead.260545cb2c7e0e33

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To ruin the main characters’ happy ending, fe5ca0ed9b if that’s what it takes to survive.7a1d6b0762480455

“Hold her!”b67960fb5586eb0a

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The head maid nodded db9770052b to the others.f4e22ffd3656fc30

They advanced in unison, cf21b8bceb tying my hands behind 3162c179ef my back.e249acf184e8ad5c

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I quickly reached for the 25e72a85ff knife on the table.482c0b69cc5a3bb3

“Don’t come 2b844c656d near me!”782d538e1344f7c5

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The maids 807a38b5d1 hesitated, frozen.b33df0f346ccd51f

“Hold her!”2533a5430c0f5919

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“What’s going on?!”3994d2fb94abce59

“Why are you ed72e9405e all just standing 5d4aa18256 there? Hold her!”edf6112dfc8a495c

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The sharp command got b0826848ed them moving again.f2b284962a422448

The moment one grabbed my 453124119f wrist, I slashed without hesitation.63c0f3fb9cf08482

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Clink.faf7de3ab931abbc

The knife flew, 2ccbabc916 grazing my arm 8b534172e1 as it fell.df95b2891789b87c

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A deep 29f34a8023 wound opened.534507dd0f113364

Blood trickled down, staining eb130f53f8 the white marble floor.b86d911d926c74bb

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The maids recoiled 0cd5480ad3 in horror.96ec1f2070f805e5

The silence was so f6d27ee866 sharp, I could hear 657326d5db each drop fall.0938be0b882303a1

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“Oh no! What should 0c49e32572 we do?!”01a770c01a2ac8f8

The head maid 91a57b00b3 turned pale.f7d3a321b2354c42

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Even the icy head maid 96f639a81a was human, after all.d061a20feb0748fc

Was she f46d4c8cd0 feeling guilty?78f6b0ce0cdb64dd

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“What a waste ed0a71190c of blood!”56c1a9d14b343c11

…Of course.e3f8f373da28c59e

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* * *6d74d522c9517b45

After the uproar in the dining room, 2948a1b4df I was summoned to the Duke’s office.5ee5a8ea27141646

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He didn’t look b63687b086 at me. Just read 4c1ca3bbd1 his papers.4fd2299b641ebf11

I felt like a student 2742262e72 sent to the principal.aa389d2a77720fea

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Fidgeting with the e2734667d3 hem of my 0c1dd78f1c dress, I frowned.92096ff0076898d7

Was I 6c271fb0ea going to 71f172b274 be punished? For what?418561b28a34df3a

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After a long 0411890785 silence, he finally 3a3bf46165 spoke.1918cca7e71d368c

“You eat and 364916d204 lounge around all d94a812fb8 day. What are a0cc240f35 you complaining de1190708f about?”06e63daf3f03aa00

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Eat and lounge? That was rich.89d333ebb53cab6e

He’d been b108f117cb absent this 778742e7de whole time.861621b5559b6afc

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“… The problem is that the food tastes c62c7ca733 awful, and there’s no fun in lounging.”dc627852b4f1f5be

“You act like 99678f86ee you were forced. I invested eb732950ed heavily in ff38475dd0 your estate.”1a5d9ce73a72b55f

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Did you? I straightened up.96fdbff72ede800d

“… That was 738f538737 given to my f6a235c212 father. Not to me.”2cf8faf17dce5432

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“The baron said he bought 68c3d1f8ee an estate and a mine b67df38890 with that money.”76914c69f3d64c81

“I’ve never 9d51eb5742 even seen 49266e9f01 that mine.”95d3ea491be97860

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He paused, quill 27b5ef7b64 in hand.1527a0ac0ce50832

Then looked bb4ba59cc3 at me.af6f300173fe2c7e

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“You used to 9b1138986b be quiet. Now you 9b00dc77bd talk a cc47b4ef4a lot.”be9243af2dc806f4

“Probably my last 8906b47eda words today. I don’t have the 12f6b334e0 strength to say more. All I had e111b78ea4 was unseasoned vegetable be979f87d6 porridge.”c9727c05a036d0eb

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Blue eyes stared ee6eb3b0bf at me in ad24bf1c9d silence.db4946c8ffadf7ff

Alright. Let’s negotiate eye-to-eye.da900c479c3b8f89

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I cleared 84a9b57e38 my throat.a1902548b6aa5268

“Your Grace, just hypothetically… I’m b7d19c3d8a asking just in case.”a433d1442db88ced

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He leaned 9309b856e1 back slowly.cc88820a937236c0

“What?”b11a948a6d00ff9c

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I took a breath 3677bc1e38 and asked the question fa58fa68dd I’d prepared.1c75d2eb4ada521c

“Is the Duke, by bcc039ef24 any chance, poor?”981cb52c61cb9608

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“What?”f0c3a035696748a2

He looked at dfc59571f7 me, dumbfounded.5e069dab026cce5e

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