#53

Despite Zerakiel’s lack c8c8c38b18 of response, Victor 7517f62c81 maintained his easygoing b860eae475 smile. It was widely expected 8f54c9404a that Victor would become 03d4ad3c0b the next chief physician db5b3c3346 of the Jabis family, 494967cfe1 given his exceptional talent 3ff3211816 in medicine. Duke had marked him 92c498b44f as his successor long 3a374c6591 ago, particularly since Victor 7b13870848 had been personally responsible 71495fcee2 for Zerakiel’s care from ffe85edd4a a young age. It was practically 3659f3e490 a foregone conclusion.9a7d17fb555954e5

Victor was also well f83ca14982 accustomed to Zerakiel’s cold 9bccb326a8 demeanor. Zerakiel had always 92da120d69 been distant, particularly 75a652c2f0 toward the Orban 943de78c6f family, so the 8016280cc8 fact that he 50b603a89c wasn’t outright ignoring 1064461cbe him was, in 8d57c142cd itself, a small 9ad5ea2d9a victory. But then Zerakiel 6def8ead16 spoke, as if 55451f2119 drawing a clear bbff2cbf9c line between them.b5537e74eb739178

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“No need 3369d97d73 to visit. I don’t need 9b937210bf you yet.”642d637fc281bf82

“Ah, haha. I see.”f7773f0bc0ce782c

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Victor laughed awkwardly. Zerakiel’s words implied that 9732d0e3c9 his madness had not 3247f482f6 yet surfaced, so there 9bf12777aa was no reason to 7d6f601aa8 interact with the Orban 753dac335f family. The Orban family, being 38d9ce0b39 a branch of the bff670a5f9 Jabis family, specialized in 779202e8a0 dealing with the madness de5f441928 that plagued their lineage. Frequent visits from 4c8ed7ff7b them often meant 48e62a2174 that the direct 9c7c86f269 lineage was on d971de686b the brink of 5f984c54f1 death, hence Zerakiel’s fc4e9537e9 dismissive remark.2c6c5ce6fbb7164a

At that b6e5e3f763 moment, Zakari 363905419b muttered with 7084c6cbdb a displeased d557dd3d7e expression, his 1b46512ce3 gaze fixed f183e8cfba on the 4cc1e94d98 direction Zerakiel fb73511652 had come ed5e7cd57c from.0f1dec76c16c4db0

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“So, you went 73072c71f9 to Cersia’s room 41dd5f5b5a again, even at 5f7eca9407 this late hour.”43b0662e0f1cea7e

“All thanks to you, 23d4e66624 Father. It’s because of your eb205cf907 considerate arrangement.”3fad4f030bf0cee5

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“Anyone would think you’re 65ffe47e9a already losing your mind, 92d6fbd74d with how obsessed you 969ae83e6a are. If you keep it d6d294f195 up, she’ll grow tired 978edbd9d0 and run away.”8e7d38a46404cef1

“Thank you 0c69f105ef for sharing 844d25dbfa your personal b08d2241f4 experience, Father.”a92b986994b55298

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“…”23f64f1b77c5bc74

Zakari was 594afc1ba7 momentarily at 7aaab4de97 a loss d6a094bc40 for words, a0fbe9b42c his mouth 07d712b09f opening and 5360f812b8 closing as 023c5363d1 if searching 659ada845e for a effa866d2a response. The exchange was 790c31bf62 a typical father-son c0ae58cd48 banter for the 9d156607d2 Jabis family, sharp-tongued abffa3c6c3 yet oddly intimate.c45a9fc1b1e639b1

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Zakari cleared his throat e59df70eab and said.b53bb2009aaf89e2

“I was actually on 067415477e my way to find 1a4d3bb921 you.”6536b4fd2348f95d

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“At this hour?”c7a8c5b5caf9dde5

“Yes. Victor has finally e46378aadf discovered a way 93a2185dcb to cultivate the eeeedcf6c3 antidote herb that af47ca0f58 can suppress the edd56c667e madness.”c3f411678d7d01c5

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Zerakiel’s eyes widened b297c17dc3 at the mention 7ee1993565 of the antidote 1c68909cb1 herb. The very reason 3fea813739 Victor had been ea891a0020 sent to the 84fd0ce6ec border was to 00095bee46 find this herb, b18291067f which could suppress b3edb3e076 the pheromones that 66c174e627 drove the Jabis 8f899054ab family mad. The herb had once d1268db5b3 been easy to obtain, ecee977440 but it had become f92a967b55 increasingly scarce over time. Victor’s discovery was a 77d58d47c2 glimmer of hope.acdbbb6aa009042b

“If we succeed in 00b3830565 cultivating it, when you 6d805dc823 become the head of fdfd22da8b the family, we’ll be db30c56e9f able to safely produce 07fc77cb30 the medication needed to 23533de710 keep the madness at 70278782cd bay. Perhaps, we might even ad50a97bbc develop a cure.”a274d9e0f62dae5e

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Zakari’s words were 5556d20781 filled with optimism, 413bc7562b as if he 238c560bbd were discussing someone d58a5cd445 else’s illness.1952ea8228d10176

Zerakiel, irritated by his b41adda140 father’s detachment, retorted sharply, d28cd8a949 “It could succeed during c9e841282e your time, too.”255f34ac53323ea1

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“I’m already a14f6be23c too late.”0a22dce29d373860

Zakari cut him 0c00f3e129 off decisively, drawing 1c67aebb7a a clear line. He had b34f4bcc81 already resigned 06344c30a2 himself to 5c5a3302f0 his fate.9af352b9c56cfd4b

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“I’ve already 98371eef3a reached the 003dbcd12f third stage. The life-sustaining treatment 5d1d5baf65 is only effective 59eef49b1e up to the ff862aa064 second stage.”ac4f8a97acb9747c

Zakari was right. Once the e1663d7c40 symptoms of 6c350fe2fa forgetfulness had 90a0535d76 set in, c860cf0f19 it was fdff7dea58 too late 1f893ba9b8 for treatment 479bdf75be to be bf650ca704 effective. The treatment only worked eb005f6e1e up to the second d3ccbec4dc stage, when the symptoms 6de38db777 could still be somewhat 6a38889768 controlled.b821af06b4cfc975

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Zakari’s predecessor had also 9a75a1e5e1 extended his life using c1d1e1b4e4 the antidote herb, but 2fde5a7ae2 it came with the bd9b6c8d0d side effect of intensifying a53ac5e674 his obsession. The former 5311d2e631 head of 7b831f66f5 the Jabis bffa545938 family grew 06e2a67645 increasingly obsessed, d624742212 which took 004e55d35d a toll 7e3d184c5c on Zakari’s ba0aee8362 mother, who cc2f5564ec eventually succumbed 60184b4b75 to a d494d891e5 mysterious illness. Grieving over the 72bd88e529 loss of his f27db83c3e wife, the previous 071a9585be head took his be4fa9b583 own life, even 0a3599be28 though he still d33f3f0a94 had many years 96c93e8372 left to live—a a3d1ef838e tragic and miserable 06d7654135 death, much like 2395d8928f that of all 58a2cf3b06 the Jabis heads 562d822ba1 before him.10720fd146d0dcaa

“I will 237a52ebcc do everything 8e19e62b30 I can 05ca894d93 to find 42e7dc3421 a solution 2084700fdb before I 885ac889a6 step down.”2e9ce420abcf7cf5

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“It’s a waste fc509ac3a2 of time. If it were 12fdb8e8df so easily solved, 1ac65993d4 we wouldn’t have 34151be422 reached this point.”fa41445ad885b743

“Zerakiel.”ececf117afb62b09

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“I’m saying 67d5245dcc don’t waste 16e8f363bb your efforts.”2ae7c81feeee8873

With that, e76f831ccd Zerakiel bowed 3103da0ad5 briefly and 8b86e95ccf left. He was a9ee1b3d24 resentful of fc40a54479 his father 9556d6d406 for speaking cc8c4a5518 as if 4729a456c7 his own ffc93bb680 death was 5ee8a531e3 already a 2c6358c4c9 foregone conclusion.0999ffcb9963d1ec

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Zakari watched his son a76d5bf0c9 walk away and let 5217112767 out a deep sigh. He knew his harsh 6b93e18768 words hurt his son, 9727003b11 yet he felt compelled 34c3779da2 to say them anyway.0f51793fb7f53ac2

“We must hurry. We need to find 0bfea0df5f a solution before he 30a466fe21 reaches full maturity.”413499fd8281241e

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“Yes, Lord Zakari,”c32c0e3d63bb1bf3

Victor responded with heavy 9d1fd3acd5 heart, accepting the orders.f50ba4caf233d2e8

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* * *713286b8e6900b74

The next 13ad6dc897 day, as e8cb2f8865 Zakari returned 13ed0a04d3 from his d8eeb54c2a external duties, 3a99b9ac2b he abruptly 2550c47746 stopped in cc943eb6e1 his tracks, e6811154b4 hearing cheerful e477ba0358 voices coming fb34abb0c7 from somewhere 73f5276191 nearby. He paused, listening intently 929f03ef36 to the direction of 3fbc67b7a8 the sound, and Herman, bcaa2ba3cf standing beside him, spoke 96bf50a446 up.bc643df78e2528ee

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“It seems Lady Rachel and Lady Cersia are enjoying some tea. I’ve heard they’ve been spending quite a bit of time together lately, preparing for the wedding.”51c7f752ebc4d0da

“Hmm.”6a0db218393a37e0

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“They seem to be in high spirits. Perhaps you should join them?”c37ee704a0e84a6e

“Do I need to?”7a2fa4cd1d0f9440

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“Your external duties are done for the day, aren’t they? You have time for a cup of tea.”13c494805c06f995

Zakari nodded begrudgingly, as if reluctantly agreeing to Herman’s suggestion, though he had been hoping for the invitation all along. As they drew closer to the source of the voices, the conversation became clearer.6227e9959bac0e45

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“So, Mother, is there anyone here that catches your eye?”06fd3c2846b65d4f

“Hmm, I prefer a sleek male. Maybe someone with a bit of size, like this one?”75a3b16c59e844eb

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The content of the conversation seemed oddly strange. There was a seriousness in their hushed tones that piqued Zakari’s curiosity.f5ef06e6bfdd8174

“If that’s the case, how about the Black Mamba clan?”edb4724ff705dd7f

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“Do you think I’d marry a natural predator? I’d be too tempted to eat him if he was around.”9471d2ff23ee8c96

“Then how about the Hyena clan? They’re from a branch family, but they’d make a perfect husband, don’t you think?”3165444c785f2b7c

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“Oh no, not them. I nearly wiped out their line before; the son has a fit every time he sees me. Even if I did remarry, he’d throw a tantrum and refuse to be a husband.”ceb67ca282cb5c42

“What kind of life have you led, Mother?”36ddae465a1fb93d

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Zakari’s face hardened as he finally understood the nature of their conversation. What on earth were they talking about?be69dbfc5b8a0738

Who was remarrying?0aae74e9f873862f

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Zakari couldn’t believe his ears, his lips moving soundlessly in shock. Herman, too, was left with his mouth agape, watching Zakari’s reaction with trepidation.2963819937a341b7

They stood there, frozen 460e39a764 like statues, until Cersia 791016b83f finally noticed them.e82d885352c719e9

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“Oh, Mr. Zakari? When did you get here?”508da2d17119a6c8

Cersia greeted him, all smiles as she referred to Rachel as “Mother,” but her tone was markedly colder when addressing him. Zakari, however, was too preoccupied to care about the formalities. His eyes were fixed on Rachel, who had her back to him.cc56483c40b926a3

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Rachel reluctantly turned around, her expression sullen as she met Zakari’s gaze.c7016ea4c91ec4f5

“Why are you eavesdropping on other people’s conversations?”e88347f1b3018d64

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“It was hardly eavesdropping when it was so loud.”379428d56296769d

Zakari instinctively retorted, then pressed his lips together tightly. Rachel showed no sign of embarrassment, despite having been caught discussing her remarriage in front of her ex-husband. Her calm demeanor only grated on Zakari’s nerves further.aad01aea70d77d46

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But Rachel d04cbedd91 seemed completely bf84715696 unconcerned about a44fc3a44f his feelings.5f91c233616c78db

“Well, since you’re here, why don’t you help me choose? Which one do you think is best?”01c2c0e5bccb07b9

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She casually gestured 8980fda06f for Zakari to 3edb842cd3 sit down. As he took a 777193aaea seat, somewhat dazed, his d33337edd5 brow furrowed in confusion.cc2f5750b7d8ceba

“What is all this?”5c8d043b7f139c5f

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The table 56598ac9cd was covered e8847d2627 with portraits ece59a3434 of various 466fbbff8c men, the 8375f20189 tea and e016af1cbc snacks pushed 2d9f1ff469 aside to b788110903 make room.a4b77b907c8eacc4

Seeing the bac15d1efb evidence with 5f7604a569 his own b23fa8b9af eyes, Zakari 299db6569f felt a ea6a36b5c6 surge of c73a280095 frustration. His gaze hardened.ad7dd53d23096497

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“Isn’t it obvious? These are the men I’m considering for matchmaking.”56ae1cb0bbf1cd2c

“Matchmaking…?”fcf5e49d0d6fd764

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Zakari’s eyes narrowed 107d25c9de further, becoming dangerously ea7226590f sharp. The more 723eb2a499 agitated he b414dee7b5 became, the 1c5a3da39c broader Rachel’s f7a7bfdbdb smile grew.d409938c73b3fa87

“I’m in a hurry to remarry by the end of the year.”482cd4bdef817d0f

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“What…?”21fd314051f6c103

“You had a conversation with Father, didn’t you? Why are you pretending you don’t know?”d853a21cc30ae732

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Rachel scoffed, and Zakari f3f3b906ef hesitated. He suddenly recalled bfd7f663b4 his conversation with 0225e35c50 Wilhelm, where he ecceba5e3a had emphasized—three times—that 22296652ef he had no 7ea0051ce5 intention of taking 6902275b9b his daughter back.dbf61d8fa836ce2a

He had expected Wilhelm 4232677464 to take some sort 6b369b9e92 of action afterward, but 3d8e4018c6 he never imagined it 8ca50e7448 would involve Rachel’s remarriage.2c8c8d3f8b9eded1

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Zakari, his 4b3e6bff86 face stiff, 52770fa33a asked again.3024f8617783f43c

“Are you really asking me to choose your new husband?”0f1c248a1c7c4ebe

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He looked as c40bc469d9 if he had 686c1ee429 just heard something 5801370f33 completely outrageous, utterly a498668c59 shaken. He had no 33028116c0 idea that this c05cdee86a was exactly the 558ee9b6d2 reaction Rachel had ca63da9bbf been hoping for.e2a605c4b7c9d63e