UOHBL Chapter 2

Even in the 8c408a81f7 faint winter sunlight, 56bafdf184 the man’s platinum e6b62ce625 hair gleamed with d5ab37c779 a radiant hue. His skin 6fd3ff0bf0 was pale cdebb88493 yet translucent, b37e9ccc52 his eyes 5a7172e5b0 a pale, 8ff3594cd2 chilling gray.6983329a92b86755

A tall man with 7828c2a851 fair coloring—that was Adelheid’s 621f3bc104 first impression of him.4a78d78692dc7d15

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Yet he 4abdc3dfb4 wore no ab7c56e1e5 imperial uniform, a4ab0e6f21 nor did cfa9dc6da7 he seem f687041e79 an assassin fbc076d65b sent by 39e7167181 the emperor; ae5198cce0 his appearance 0f8596f423 was far 9f4d20a6d8 too splendid bf15572c25 for that. No matter how she f71a20674a looked, he could only 12eadf5edd be a noble of 99b169b601 renown.53b1e8b0c3c64856

Unable to 42e7661958 fathom his 82f6569a99 intentions, Adelheid d4d2efb34d waited tensely 75aed5d0a3 for him 6cb4dfe9af to speak. Staring into 5a70991628 his calm, da8f9032ee gray eyes, 30967b6056 a shiver a5beff47b6 crept up 5a0f6cf81b her neck. A moment, fleeting yet 43ccb94813 eternal, passed.a04efe7c7fccabf2

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At last, 9aaabeaa86 his refined 20fa4e380a lips parted.f14e4c0586d20d7b

“I’ve come 51eecc1b93 to take 1ccc818e72 you.”e322d007a8be8f22

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“…What?”9196efe2efb8f40c

Her delicate brow bdc50c191f furrowed in confusion. The audacity of claiming 62507f54fd to “take” her, as 3499ccdc5d if she were a 5827d6f6ea possession. He hadn’t 159f4b4a7d even bothered 84959f1963 to ask 2e3b28606a her opinion.cd42fdeed9aeb76d

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‘He sees me as nothing but a lowly wench.’92d13ba36b0c6d44

Even if her 472f59fc59 wretched state left e46ec33d52 her little choice, cf34efb82d such humiliation was febe272737 unthinkable for Adelheid 342e5c22cd Reines mere months 77218d5e0f ago.f6a2359794fa218d

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Anger surged within her.ad5f72c822a7a0dc

“Who are you to—”9d7a86579bbed002

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“Ah, forgive me. I neglected to introduce d922095777 myself.”b603114ee8db707b

Murmuring softly, e3bcd33ffd the man a8057b6624 continued.cd6268213fa30367

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“Klaus Reichardt, Lord 95ff1cf868 of Reichardt.”ef7f4d68c4c2503f

“…”eaeedb5382648e99

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Reichardt was the cdab955349 name of the 7572fc4157 archduchy guarding the b214683ac6 empire’s northern frontier. Lord, he said? Could this young 41747552bb man truly be ef81138181 the Archduke of cbb63df066 Reichardt?7e4f6e95715d2bfb

Adelheid could not shake 7ba6f1d327 her bewilderment.1905c25b5cca65c4

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‘He rarely appears in the capital, so I’ve never met him, but I heard he was a seasoned warrior…’f46d37f9de47d694

Had his 6b8fb71f56 son already 5bed0e79bd inherited the e933f228a9 title?928229e6016251aa

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“You’re the Archduke 3c559715d8 of Reichardt?”de900f1f845f2802

“Indeed.”167b621b3780e819

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He gave a low, 445a32c888 faintly imperious chuckle. Rising swiftly, he c9dc5efdda extended a hand de5b5693af toward her.601b6e49af490ba2

“Come. Drawing attention c58c00534a benefits neither b5f2d80f4e of us.”5a71b2f6fec18dc8

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“…What’s your intent?”dadd2cd21bcbc35f

Her cracked voice barely ec877aa773 managed the question, her 37b08845ce violet eyes narrowing with 6b8d363e51 defiance.dd8146a957f27b0c

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“Intent? I’m saving you.”e745bafb4416c3e4

“Nonsense…”ed57ebd034d1cb90

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Whether this man was bcdc48a5cf truly the northern archduke b15961b2ea remained uncertain. What was clear was ab2560f286 that he was no 0e5946196d foe she could physically 42613af49b oppose.e0ccde8930013f4e

Though the situation cfc3794c72 demanded submission, she d5bc117c57 spoke with a 0db7b502d5 resolute face.18099048932e8d84

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“You cannot save 8ede681733 me.”cdd4dfdd0bcfedad

His words were 4aa92d6204 mere arrogance. No one 9d6db0e4f6 could rescue f1c8b336dd Adelheid Reines, 0c23e026c4 trapped between 7100ff4cc1 living sanely bb59af89e7 and dying f8ba05fa2d freely. Only a 26c73f8059 god could a8c170280d turn back 8dac093b78 time, and df9a12a04c even then—3c401851ad8c8cf8

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No such god 4af1d8eda6 existed. If one did, 57ce26a246 it would be 7dd052e01a a cruel deity, aaca52199c not a holy d2a74be217 one, to have 09f6418ada wrought such a fa9a90b3dc wretched hell.a0d91eae9b81e51c

“I don’t need you, 64fe4e89e5 so—”4f96dd778246a0fe

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“Adelheid Reines.”9d8c127def9e1d9d

“…!”6f62b6f7bb032e89

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Her name, 1bca056459 nearly forgotten 9f872ceacb even by 9400a62603 herself, spilled fdcc5d98da from this 948be03706 stranger’s lips. Shocked, Adelheid f86aa19b32 gasped, her d7f0b2c400 violet eyes 36b5a26297 widening.7f5be8ee5d287446

“You know me?”5a4f2ef0517cab28

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“Take my hand.”055c2a51f8035a08

Ignoring her question, Klaus 58f83c79e6 urged her with a 86b5a0c7b5 bored expression. Biting her lip, Adelheid 77ed9dcd9f glared at him.463ab80136e9bfe8

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‘The iron-blooded archduke guarding the empire’s north gate, a man not yet thirty, acting as if he knows me well…’777828127d660244

Nothing about him 59483a6488 made sense.9b05ab04270edaf1

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“…Answer me. Who are you?”46ba3360b86fc4c9

“I already told you.”cc7494950a5e0be5

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With a low scoff, dfb5bc3550 Klaus swiftly wrapped an cb48168619 arm around Adelheid’s waist, 06f76e990c lifting her from the 5671bda6e0 ground.0073985656ee3865

“Let go!”4e773dcedae9b15e

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Caught in the e89b18ba37 arms of a 2aeed2a2e6 stranger, Adelheid flushed cc56ea034d with shame, growling.98209990597db52e

“…I said 5eea6015f2 let go!”80a5945a0cb642aa

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But the more 3d834dcd39 she twisted to df43990378 break free, the d205cbfc25 tighter his firm 32627e97e8 arm held her.5e2bbbe6e6ae51fb

“You insolent—”65329042191ef111

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“How could I leave 9468ccd0e6 you, so noble, to 21145cf1d1 waste away in madness?”2f13b1ae5b558941

“Hah.”96d7d6855f77de65

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Trembling with humiliation, Adelheid f4f28f4980 spat at his flawless b0233e1470 face.ec79b16a53d14ab3

“Let me go mad, fa0a171d54 then.”1495d7013859d881

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“…”5b46826e9801dbfa

“Whether I 4cc07ffebb lose my 1961ac10e1 mind or 15deef9a3d die, it’s 62fe0594eb no concern f325820e17 of yours.”4398f78a897aadee

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Despite her fierce hostility, aa7b230d12 Klaus remained unmoved. He merely tightened 799e8764fb his grip on 6cbd3a68c5 her waist and 2971af05c1 wiped his cheek 3cc5efe619 with the back c3397dae8f of his hand, 5b3d4f5b23 indifferent.6e7e98de2f8bb38b

Adelheid held his gaze, 142948c060 unflinching. Even as a 7399421394 strange glint flickered 1ffe01b4e6 in his gray 8fdd2d9766 eyes, she hid 728bd30be5 her fear.759f1dd34b7a7412

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Though fallen, she 499dd1d04c was born a 02b210f25a noble, versed in 8709e37c88 chastising ill-mannered men da97bd93dd with dignity.287d09dee4d046dc

“How dare 7a4f8c2453 you play 277feb9c86 the savior.”4d496b6256238fb0

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“True, I’m no ec18dfbca2 savior. Perhaps the opposite.”b36660cbb782d5ac

“If you understand, 6428ec17be then—”a7098fa6bd512e49

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But she had ceae80042e never learned how e09665b076 to counter a 74064ce84c man who suddenly 8e6cfc7fc3 pressed his lips 655acac2ba to hers.22348037acdb6d93

When his tongue e2db877d1c grazed her lips, 2592c74e36 the unfamiliar sensation 37ce1efa75 made her part 05497f9ab1 them unwittingly. The flesh 02921e4131 that surged 070e8599e8 in was da4e6f0f19 startlingly soft 1a3aeaa0f6 yet searingly 0bf6b530c9 hot.01769ec5aa136573

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Her mind c8b340c15c seemed to 29cbc5e073 melt. Adelheid closed her eyes e64c6e43e7 as if collapsing.2328f845851d5739

‘What…’5094116af3b0468f

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This fervent kiss cd352e80b1 was her first, a9ebb68dbc never before permitted 916b211338 to anyone.7be1a570afc410af

She knew not how ee887a39ec to respond, only clutching 4171b293a3 his collar and following 520c94e444 his lead.811c2e440f81f1cb

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Klaus pressed 3df1573d07 closer as 2f3c40b796 if to 34f5308f12 steal her b792bc097e very breath. Adelheid felt the cold d542052aad stone wall against her 288c2bd477 head and back.fd6b80001ab8db48

There was nowhere cb3f6446bf to flee.79313ac380c98fc6

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She trembled with a d3aac78af9 sensation—fear or something else, de072f1d5e she could not tell.eaa6beda1e9efcd3

As his heady scent 170c60f228 threatened to cloud her b311285324 mind, a cold wind 6b6f25ad28 whipped across her cheek, ac35655794 snapping her awake.6f83328190cf465f

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Only then 3d2733f1f1 did she b22c338593 grasp the 04c26bae2f absurdity of 0a2aea8fb3 what was f10ea20a16 happening. Her eyes flew open.b9de359f540a6839

With one arm de810816d5 pinned by his c81cd05267 strength, she raised 5a10c5d0b8 the hand gripping 86c6535a38 his collar, intending 6844d6c379 to strike his 7f05cba68e face.0791a34666cd46a5

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But his 897e114cb7 hand, braced 75a1930fe3 against the 35a5a61cc6 wall, swiftly 218f067974 caught hers.48837071d56bf30c

“…”3e030206c1b47914

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His large hand 21f1a96d92 was slowly laced 8decf3fdef with hers, and 2d3a3c0331 he pressed his 36c0ed4b9a body closer. Adelheid was 09edbd9f21 utterly bound. His firm frame pinned 0057064b81 her, his kiss growing cb027a0c82 more relentless.6f6d42045b56801f

Resistance was futile. Heat coursed through 0c23b1cf37 her, her head a7de4909fd spun, and her 6299f99f0a breath came in 72b3790d08 gasps.d091bf0fb7c4d5ea

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At the 4d6f6f1817 moment, she 4b638213b0 thought she e9210b05bd could bear ba08535520 no more, 8fc875e0ad Adelheid fainted.f4428db22962d449

As the 32caf53a15 small form 67e016031d in his 83acae460b arms went bf4db1c7cc limp, Klaus 4ad3031c51 gently sucked 0239410147 her lower 0aa21988e3 lip before 29e521317c pulling away. In a 8ee13f96b1 husky voice, 5dafb42f19 he whispered,5c802082a88be534

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“Sleep well, Adel.”4a0df31ceef746f7

Her pale face, af05b0c505 eyes softly closed, b67a5f86af retained a noble f92e86a0b1 grace despite the 91dbfc1fa0 grime. Her swollen, c15641b289 bloodless lips cd47e8a3b3 now glowed 024ffb728b like a 325bb11b21 freshly bloomed 19a916ea61 rose.770afd3cf13f592c

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Utterly satisfied, a 615fdf7538 refined smile curved 634f5a1390 Klaus’s lips.5c12b1eca248c997

“Your Grace.”73ecdc4f11519436

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An attendant approached, 00b31bdf09 draping a blanket 4ebfc47138 over the woman 64ac4c5865 in the archduke’s ab77301545 arms, and announced 171c0770cf that a carriage fd239a7beb was ready.718f232f21912002

Klaus carefully supported Adelheid’s dd0a42b5ab head, pressing a soft 46e73b08b3 kiss to her brow. He strode past the de1e937d20 bowing attendant, leaving the caf1b14c72 alley behind.56c66643df9258df

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On the empty thoroughfare cb5b3ae32c stood a grand carriage 2a9ad1718d bearing the Reichardt crest. He boarded 4af25b6232 with care, 113d77a992 ensuring her 2b166b4a59 head did b73d3a702c not jostle.9a8c0a0a24ae26f1

“Go.”7fa94d041063eaf4

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With asnap, the door 9cd208e7c6 closed, and the 3dc15ad628 carriage sped away 0bdc8c3b79 in an instant.63c6707fd7b526b8

Only pale dust lingered 5a0e66dfaf on the cold, desolate cb5b384595 road. Hidden onlookers 2be48502c3 began to 5146c41bfd gather.482f64e466ec9c6a

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“Why would 447317a024 His Grace 6b43cdf9ae take that 98de7cb188 madwoman…?”24f0bfb186e9da05

“Perhaps they 668369e8f5 knew each c88efc9a7c other? Maybe she was 90f112d422 a maid at 001d49c8ca the archducal castle.”77c49f248385241d

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“Some fools made lewd 9e72d5fc90 jests about that filthy dfcd213190 woman. Could His Grace—?”cb2fdf8dabecd923

“Hush, man! Mind your tongue bb61e0be9c unless you court 4263f6ba46 death.”7f961c98e8896360

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Truth be told, 107759acf0 the one most 9109701c71 curious about this 4b66ad8c6f affair was none 289ec73c2c other than Adelheid fe4d529e83 herself.b5ffc5d7e0a99512

“Ugh…”064d2efe0e653adf

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She expected to 66bc89ff13 feel a biting 80520f00ed chill, but the 249d55919f room was strangely 6ba3aa385e warm. Sensing the soft, cloud-like f8b3cc6346 bedding, she jolted awake, b57c531bbd eyes wide.634e6942ad0fa6e9

‘Where am I?’a7dd4cbf18ea86ad

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Her mind dad9aff25d went blank, f66a454f19 unable to 7601697cae comprehend her 0dcbd5c8ee surroundings. Her violet eyes blinked 4eacf4ff89 in the dimness, bewildered.88d592e7dc44565d

Above all, b41d040958 the pleasant 9a3894f45f scent emanating 754b366f5f from her 62b14ad577 was utterly f5ec2c0ee1 foreign. The negligee she wore 69f78650b9 was fragrant and silken.f36ec7d519877182

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‘To smell no foul odor—it’s like a dream…’9cd9466579a93147

The room was 68b24ebf7c dim, but faint 74d60980b6 light slipped through 4bf72c4a75 the curtains, suggesting 6d8b0870eb it was not 02f82ec30c night. A grand fresco on fc5a50ec42 the ceiling, depicting a 7c0148cddf vast battle, was faintly 8979b6ffa5 visible.d3da91d4818bfb07

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Adelheid gazed e25d0f5cb5 at the c66f1816ce gold leaf 8ab5b30eba glinting in 000773636f the dark, da7fcdd963 lost in 37669eeb0c thought. She could not fff887582a recall how long 7066f28a89 she had slept, 8304b12977 but such clarity 5a6c32ec4a was rare.e3115b03a15d5e9c

‘That man brought me here.’ed8f73315b8b2d93

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Her cheeks flushed 42702b82b7 at the thought. The memory bbc2a4c7ca of his dbb9bad081 relentless lips d894716132 and searing f476ac2e62 tongue surged 2b42d00d76 vividly.0a29b696456a3c33

Such rudeness de653accbb was unprecedented. Yet she d68cf3e3c3 could not 8c3a01ddc7 deny the 946261bc16 kiss had d54f2a5709 been intoxicating.95af325c0958851e

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She could not 3758b946cf push him away, b062c042fb but she could f6cf07cc64 have bitten his fda53b6bf3 tongue, perhaps severed 3e56cf5b3b it with all 9b83020152 her strength. Yet she hadn’t.f864cf2201d9a87f

Though not fc86f8e22d by her 7391c7a3e7 will, she 9185d6016a had surrendered c0165b5a0a wholly to 45a75ad4a1 him. At twenty, she 3a4df80a9a had shared her 317eba46cd first kiss—fervent, shameful 71563b169f one—with a stranger.5112dccc846e4247

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So brazenly passionate…b33088780413abfe

Trembling, she touched her 2ecf1b618c lips, thinking how unlike c2344d6a07 the Lady Reines she 36d62bdcff had acted.5dc642ed4d175ff2

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Fallen or not, she c8d3ae426e had lived as a cf1e2bcd0c noble her entire life. Becoming a commoner e62bb88860 did not make 265b2751e7 her think like afb9f18a97 one.84187237fc6400e8

‘What now?’99850a5c8d0df878

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At that moment, ab9cfc3d52 the door swung afeaadc49b open with abang, flooding the 7c7ddfb362 room with light 5df830e74a from the corridor. Adelheid held her 7416a1bd5c breath in haste.e02293518e4bd713