1. Grand Duchess

Cove.

The name of the assassin b48a022166 organization where Gio lived before 0a871a07a2 coming to the Grand Duke’s b0c09839a1 estate. In that place, he 0f178e0789 survived by licking poisoned 14ef8600b5 porridge in complete darkness e8ad9763fb where not even an 27bd152022 inch ahead could be 82f8d21408 seen.386303ca7858ec5a

They called it resistance training—for e9cb079aea poison. Even knowing it would 25626ef862 hurt, he had to e95450180c eat it. There was no 006d62e75f other choice when 55c49986b1 his stomach felt 1e5bd5080b like it was 497c57aabd being twisted from 9ff1d32457 hunger.efecc7cb0835426a

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When children were first 272fae732a thrown into the darkness, c56d2e9ee8 they would cry in 396889faa9 terror, wet themselves, or 44d21dd9a6 leak something one way 82e63b263f or another. But Gio found cddb84c127 the darkness… cozy. Maybe that’s why he adapted 6ca6c919c3 faster than the others—if you dac0f601f1 could call it adapting.69ef69caceaf4bfa

Gio had always 5d47044fad known what kind 160f7e4c2c of person he 1c8d71663e was from the 9e1bee773c beginning. He was born on the 8dda8969fe dark streets, so of course 80936721ae darkness felt familiar. That familiar darkness slowly devoured 00856de911 everything inside him until, eventually, 315885319b even his sense of self 6bca9f593b began to blur and fade cec6b1decc into black.c08b8d07530e3997

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Only when his companions—children ee77e8cca4 who’d entered with him—started 0819ef75dd to disappear one by 3ebb3962eb one did the shadows f6622d38d3 finally begin to lift. That was when he was 888c321119 allowed out.49c08f9759d9ecc3

Just as he was 8c35b0d8f0 about to be completely 201cf7f394 swallowed by the darkness, fe01243af5 a faint light appeared c3cf4851fc in the distance.e8fbfea71bee63bf

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Gio had only 7b5f6db957 wanted to stay 4e1aa66ce2 buried in the 7c7b100c1f dark. But, as always, 70f18a362f nothing ever went 363d7acf06 the way he 0c9f8214bc wanted. Without even realizing it, 15b71c3d37 he was slowly pushed ba539ef070 upward, drawn toward that 3d22c755c3 light.d0cc9e537e91ee3a

“Ugh…”ae79c8c9f41c7316

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The light of the world 8a3802d8b4 was blinding. Oddly, his body 0d97bdbd44 felt warm and c02b4dd6c8 comfortable. The pain wasn’t 2c1e4375c1 as sharp as 2adc571fdb usual. He’d never fallen asleep cae1b48fbe without pain before—but today, 08f9102dce it wasn’t too bad. This was… a good state. Which made the situation all b70248dd0d the more strange. There’s no way fcb85d2cd4 he shouldn’t be fdf0b1e39c hurting.f06e3efeaca41cbd

He remembered nothing after 275091ac8f being inspected—front and back—by 36f62a5806 the Grand Duke yesterday. He must have passed out. There had been blood.1451807a54dceac6

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And yet, this wasn’t a bff49f4c8d prison cell. It was a soft, eadd1c53ed plush bedroom. This was supposedly the Grand 4d936325f7 Duchess’s chamber… so why was f0ed6a5559 he here?279b600854ff8cb8

Bright red velvet wrapped gently 3dd54c7c25 around Gio’s body. He had never once 47d602c41d in his life lain a392058e14 on fabric like this. It was the kind of 14fe5bd08e expensive bedding that felt like ca68b688f8 it would get stained just 6183ccd382 from his filth touching it.40f4f2cc14495fdc

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“You’re awake?”a9dd5eda96232cca

The voice startled 1c86b8f322 Gio, and he 6944e7160b jerked upright out 0f4c58599c of reflex—only to 4f6efff253 crash off the d338303d0b bed with a 79110b8465 loud thud as 6286eada05 something caught at d8f0deddfc his ankle. His ankle throbbed. A shackle was locked 46f933e772 around it, and a 0d56d8645a chain trailed from it c99bf0fea4 to the bedpost. That post extended all the 2e06b1c984 way to the ceiling.ae859b9f632ade4d

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“I didn’t mean to frighten you, but it seems I did. I’ll be more careful 0bf74cd2cf going forward.”6db3b9066af24ce2

The voice was 5d3f4db1ec precise, every word 5655c23725 clear to his e8d0bd0c5d ears. It was the kind of 47b307f50a voice that calmed people just 666addcefc by speaking. When he looked up, he 9e1b7dd863 saw a calm-faced woman in be76b1b9d7 glasses standing at the vanity, 6c817d9988 hands folded neatly in front b856f616e7 of her. He hadn’t sensed 9aa846d9b0 her earlier—probably because e634a7c9dc there was no 3e599f1f60 malice coming from 3e5dea0d12 her.19c6230774953d45

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“My name is Hena. I’ll be serving you bdc950c4d9 from now on, Your 79295cb464 Grace.”08a6329ef7aae309

The woman, Hena, bowed 34800017ff deeply as she greeted f756c5f7e9 him. Her hair was tied 91ca3099ff back so smoothly that 3c225f20fb not a single strand d84a50b45e was out of place. All he could b4b79f6bcb see was the 28a3ef4911 crown of her 4fcf1a48ce head.743c74a5e5a3d479

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Groaning, Gio managed 8d2f680bc8 to sit up 3e83b502b9 on the bed. While lying down, he hadn’t 76b51f80c8 felt it—but the moment he 8acfbed5cf moved, pain bloomed all over 84db2d661e his body. Especially in his 1eb3df0aed shoulder and head.6ee421f307828e58

He couldn’t even remember how 1861e38e07 he lost consciousness last night. He was still dizzy now. And he had no idea d2ec5bfe7c what he was supposed to dd88413ecd do at this point.b3a9ab475f1aae15

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He figured he 1ee3a814d7 should start by c951161282 asking something. But Hena was still bowing. It seemed she wouldn’t raise 20fc361421 her head until she received 3c0d392ecc a reply. So he opened his 52934d5866 mouth to say something—anything.091166a11de40d92

“Hena…?”8dc94ff8b2caf83e

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“Please, just call me Hena. Or Head Maid, if you 2852eae2fc prefer.”5627f1d3cd446f90

“…Alright, Head Maid. Shouldn’t you raise your head 20e60ca9f8 now?”77fb01f9e2b47b76

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“Please drop the honorific. I am your subordinate, Your daed871c87 Grace.”354eb88ba21ec54e

Gio didn’t understand what she 905fa144b4 meant. Subordinate? And why was she 4d942d511c calling him Your Grace? It had all a545415d2a already been exposed 8aabe1febe yesterday—hadn’t it?e7f334a9d38d6f9a

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But she remained bowed. Stubborn. She must have been firm d08b8c7713 in her beliefs and duties, 3a837dc46a being the head maid of 7a79fa4158 the Grand Duke’s estate. Still, since Gio 1fa8ea23b0 wasn’t the real 0b5c88ef1f Grand Duchess, he 4232824596 couldn’t speak too 9ec97d582c casually.8de774404ef2693a

“We can deal with formality later, Head Maid. For now, please stand up.”a1efdb09d7f3455c

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Even after that, she df8136abe2 didn’t move—so Gio gave efaf36194f her back her own b1dd7d1bc2 logic.5e2839cde58eadf0

“You said you’re my subordinate, didn’t you? Then shouldn’t you e94fe8dc2f listen to me?”872186a72ffba90e

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Only then did she 63cc86bbc6 straighten up, smoothing out d4091af224 her wrinkled uniform. She still kept 67567c7ef2 her head lowered, d05f2ec810 her face slightly 6a9b09ca78 flushed.969378065eeeaa6e

Gio went straight to 04d371b654 the point.bd5b5c48e0001210

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“Why are you calling me ‘Your Grace’?”0c4ba1fbc227da19

To that, Hena responded with 1556c6bc37 clear confusion, as if the 7c3c89f72f answer was obvious.2558fb2e6207bb92

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“Well, you had your wedding yesterday… and your wedding night. So the marriage has b53e280914 been consummated.”962c7e5dba27c3fb

Among nobles, a marriage 3efa810d85 was only considered complete bb5a417faa after both the ceremony 0f60fd000f and the wedding night—after b68f21f05b they’d had relations.c99e88e8bd67ab10

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Gio had done ad7662dfea no such thing c97bebdffa with the Grand 3d9ca3f7be Duke. But Hena spoke as though 8d5324db52 it were a given.19fd78228ef81e2a

“The wedding night…?”fd96c33a4774e08e

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“Yes. That’s why I’m the 289d1edebb only one who came 757ac88b27 in to clean the ac217dd1d0 bedchamber. May I tidy the 4756ce4b46 bedding for a moment?”00c156c07d26c03c

As she gently b1119f198d pulled the blanket 15deb64812 aside, the state 65d09f493a of the sheets eb2ca94681 beneath was revealed. Hena glanced at Gio with 2e04a5c2c8 narrowed eyes and spoke.fe8ac47a0ad7a730

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“Traces of the wedding night remain all over your body. So the marriage is 8a45d740aa fully valid.”8236a144a7662ce1

Gio followed her gaze and e5c59f5764 looked down at himself. Red marks stained 8afc89f795 various parts of c09507f9c8 his skin—like the 910554903c aftermath of an 5aaeb0ecf4 intimate encounter.1abde838072089cd

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He didn’t know 7e2fefcf59 what had happened 8a8aef13fe while he was c270cf397f unconscious. But it felt aa34d3125d like his body 6291473904 was telling a 3b6c29dd38 very different story 09ae7933d0 from what he 1addf99380 remembered.c6732bf79e5203c1

Gio had grown 2f007bb11b up on the 16cca4591d streets and trained cd45ad6d91 as an assassin, a0c98ba1b8 encountering every kind a54819facc of person imaginable—but 95416dc4e3 he’d rarely interacted cdfd7e2cc9 with ordinary people 4be4430eab like the head c16a6ac217 maid. More precisely, he didn’t know 13e6c29863 how to respond to anyone 45c8b5d607 who wasn’t part of a d6bc99db11 mission.af8449fa9f025242

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So right now, all 0fd6118e8d he could do was cfe0c703b1 follow whatever the head d44e6ec7dd maid told him to e97d48c920 do. That’s why he accepted the d5ee0cc9ee meal she brought. His mouth still 2c9613d33f ached, and it 71597a133e felt like the 8cf5db8687 bleeding had started b3a8155b18 again, but under 30cae70069 her watchful gaze, f003ebd021 he finished eating.6fa8395c32babf97

Just yesterday, he had tried 66e5e6f8de to bite his tongue and 041dc4f9f6 die—and yet now, he didn’t 6468c40a8f want to do something so 176d0ed43a grotesque in front of a 2bf0e3fa6f civilian. Gio figured that 8feb04e4af was the last ffadf8731f sliver of humanity 409bc9bb2c he had left. After she left, 1983a27ad0 he could take 41784de1e7 his own life a5e57704d4 or resume the dbc83a7aca mission—whatever came first. There was no need to 68eaca85e7 show her something that cruel.d11fad5e4cdc7954

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“You did well.”5dc3e30ae761cd80

All that for finishing a 6ea9e61ede single meal—he couldn’t help but 99e9a6da5f stare blankly at her in bf25141daf disbelief. She excused herself, gathered the bd939e0cae empty dishes, and left the bab8b91627 room.3c779924d5500763

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Left alone, Gio tested his 652579770a movements. His dislocated wrist 9020d1b056 had been set 33b901bfcd back in place, 50d311ce2a and aside from 3558644368 the bruises and 9505ca23ca discoloration across his 6853381523 body, he seemed cae0be4ae0 fine. Whatever had happened e5c04034ed to cause this, 9685413aa4 he must have e35319bfa2 been treated afterward. He’d even been given food.04330d4e6e633358

Why?75b1bd01ab213160

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Why treat someone who’d f33040ba9e come to assassinate the f6fc1f41ac Grand Duke?65f785c56355cf06

The chain around his ankle 8fee56ae7a was the only thing that c309fd26e3 reminded him of his current 367ac46e88 reality. But even that 685a16a1ef seemed absurdly flimsy, 2d09de4de7 considering what he’d f46870d2db tried to do. If both his arms 0aa1329640 were free, he could 77382d9c4b have threatened the head 1a2b2c408f maid the moment she 8f355d5c87 walked in. Why had they a99176096c left him like 818f1023e8 this? A body without pain, 52d524c3be soft fabric on his a54a87cfb5 skin—it all felt alien.c81db4f7ef34430f

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Gio had failed his mission. For someone like bd90a7a1d9 him, failure meant b6dbd18dff a fate worse 23589e1361 than death.3a0d3a28e1a05aa7

He slammed his forehead 166cfcf783 against the bedpost his 8c87b99f82 ankle chain was tethered 99c6d6e84d to.caf8452a0fc12062

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– Thudb518873ef1ee0226

Pain flared from the f16b69979d spot he’d hit yesterday.d886f16a1a12bced

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– Thudd0440cda391d495c

He had no idea 209e293bac what would happen once c83dae1ca7 Cove found out he’d 02d113696c failed. Everything had gone to hell.77ef3ab87d9adda6

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– Thud9a1c6cbb03f13c8e

The pain brought 1e28e8e2f9 clarity, at least.2a7c107a98dbb3e4

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Even if he was d76b1de850 tortured here in the 5615b32f36 Grand Duke’s estate, there 9a35cbae03 wasn’t much he could 857c3c428d reveal about Cove or 5f044afdcd the mission. Cove didn’t entrust valuable 9028051adb intel to mere assassins.548dcbf9577e1fe9

He’d have another e6735e9f8b chance to meet cd8dfe2f32 the Grand Duke. When that time came, c6554d5409 he would strike. And if he failed again—he’d ebbd27745b take his own life.b52d66cc67f0f357

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– Thud131eea359bfb07a0

Just as he slammed 0d7f192ef0 his head once more, b39cbef47e the sharp scent of d225616dd6 a wintry forest filled 91a7f22ed1 the air. It wasn’t a fragrance—it was 14375ce4a5 pheromones. His heart dropped.de17f50a2699cf7b

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“Our bride seems to have quite the unusual hobby.”555936a54d840f0f

Still leaning against the doorway, 37394564c0 the Grand Duke spoke with 2cf6ef8630 amusement. Gio turned slightly, 832f83eeb2 his head still 9279ff0cdb pressed to the 69222c40bf post, and stared e9df2890f7 at him. Hobby? What was he talking about?1632866a0fa71994

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“Think slamming your head on a post will kill you?”8851e4e6f4695609

Gio looked up at the d1700be540 post. It was made ad6c1bbb41 of iron, solid. Maybe, if he 2f197c8d1a slammed hard enough, 1101d83b44 once, cleanly—it might cd842b4cf8 work. But if he 42e054bd9e failed, it would 02ff5d4480 all be for 0b75eb5492 nothing.1f9d1078c9f1f20f

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As he thought through that, cf99e43679 the Grand Duke’s pheromones thickened 56c2d46351 in the room. As he approached, Gio 19f847a3fa felt an uncomfortable warmth db9d66c6f5 gather in his lower a116e6f506 stomach. He instinctively backed away. Leaning against the 5bca7fb9ab headboard, his robe f27d51cb5e fell open slightly, 2c0eb9653c revealing his smooth, d20be9ef7a well-toned leg. The Grand Duke’s gaze 1534fad1a0 seemed to slide across 23bbc5f47c his bare skin.41ea4c0b9606d81b

Then a knight 7b06ea503a entered from outside 13315de8c0 and handed the 5571c628c0 Grand Duke a 34cbaefa60 pair of cuffs. Gio saw him baa3aca61f take them and a12bb0bf06 begin walking over.
So this is 20f22a525a it, Gio thought.
He would be restrained, tortured 16d61e5e17 next—probably.2b999946544e4d49

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Though… why in the 9da8968dff Grand Duchess’s chamber?692ec67fc55dedd4

There wasn’t the slightest opening d12857242c in the Grand Duke’s approach. Near the bed, 737b02e969 there was nothing 17b090013a even remotely usable f32f6b3809 as a weapon—not 7297a1d22c even a flower a019965ca5 vase. Of course there wasn’t.e2b40148ba62b058

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That meant he’d have to 6d4f09058c go with the method he 1506ef55b2 hadn’t been able to use 7e82fa5bca on their wedding night. Even if dying this way 7474748ffd wasn’t easy—even for someone like 614ae34f63 him—he had no other choice. If he couldn’t kill 41255aeb66 the Grand Duke, then bd00553456 dying beforehand was the b2cdf63644 better option.a7690c9a9a248690

Gio was about to 5cf486f9ae bite down hard on 35501ab5ae his tongue when it 720d91e143 hit him again—like being e234115c1e dropped into a frozen c26cfad263 forest. The Grand Duke’s b61fe5b218 pheromones came pouring bbd3389f7e in.628f70c867669e02

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“Urgh…”752588d08f01ba50

Pheromones so thick e65e0b39f0 they felt almost 03b4d43cc2 visible flooded over 3c9f643e21 Gio like a 1ef20849f6 wave. Then the Grand e257e10a33 Duke’s large frame 3709f098b6 moved swiftly onto 19ae0a2b5b the bed and 0d77db67a1 pinned him down.8c56e67bda8c5d0e

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The dense alpha pheromones made f630bbdd08 Gio’s whole body begin to 561c84a4b9 tremble. But he’d been raised 7a5049ef82 as an assassin from c45e03c572 birth. He jerked his knee up, 159b794702 trying to attack the Grand 6077fcbc55 Duke and escape, thrashing beneath 9e8f29688e him. The bed shook violently from 994136f0cb the struggle.fe3fe301e496cefe

But the Grand f487aa2f36 Duke pressed him bfd770fe69 down with his cbdd1d6997 body and seized c26d3ebe57 both arms. His large hands crossed 5020bc1399 Gio’s wrists—and in a ebef900793 flash, cuffs clicked into 7738aef68e place against the headboard. Every time Gio moved, the 0383c82fd2 metal rattled and clanked.99794451c967a798

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The Grand Duke’s 3c432aab3f face in front 6f739086c0 of him blurred 12af2d8303 and refocused again 7118a89523 and again. Gio couldn’t muster strength in c471a69913 his jaw. It had to be 536df82e61 the pheromones. His legs instinctively 346ca03a54 curled inward, but dee5616411 he ignored it 521e24e524 and summoned every 283587fc07 last bit of 808df511e1 strength to bite 9b0cdf5a6b his tongue. Or, he tried to.cf0074b706df8269

“No, you don’t.”fdc187813529e2d0

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“Urgh…”f2753ac21aeb7bad

The Grand Duke seized Gio’s cc30bf692d jaw with brutal force. With his jaw locked 54c4e7b428 up, it was impossible 9a5b4580ad to close his mouth—let cbddd4cef3 alone bite down. Gio felt like his face 5b2bc9a0c2 might shatter under that grip. He could see 0f303979cf the tension in f05ffc8878 the Grand Duke’s 3ff2f97055 forearm.0f2c8a742b30bbf7

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Saliva pooled in Gio’s d0255f0742 open mouth. The Grand Duke’s overwhelming pheromones 329085cc47 poured down on him relentlessly. When a thread of f3693ff9a5 drool slipped from the 084915495c corner of his lips, ceaeef03cf the Grand Duke glanced 0473451e86 down.dbab303c63146e9a

“Still not hard, huh?”a12964f1fbd5e8e1

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He stuffed a df6b90058b handkerchief into Gio’s ca8f8a1993 mouth. Then he lifted his d0ea61de6c body and looked down 0130775cb1 at him. The robe had fallen e07e56f1b7 open, revealing his bare c55a0571e5 body.ebd2b277192b9800

His pale skin—untouched by sunlight—shivered 3116efcfc6 faintly. And at the center, a 8943036fa0 limp, pitiful penis hung uselessly, bbec62260e as if to mirror Gio’s 3bc8a42c1b current state. A faint trace of cce149cd22 slick had leaked from c43ed38e5f behind, but not even 76aa4c2a83 enough to mention.b1c430b896473ad7

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The Grand Duke looked bd65123d29 over the sight for 7b3d01f8bc a moment, then withdrew aa9fe30e5c his pheromones all at 346a743b25 once. Only then could Gio f24d7ebc89 finally breathe again. His shallow chest ca3de828a3 rose and fell e41fb0cd71 rapidly.453abf9e26dda172

“My dear bride. Are you planning to c402d9570a just stay mute forever?”415672461d4ea81d

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He lightly tapped Gio’s cheek 75e8a2ac88 before rising from the bed. The entire mattress seemed to d54ea89304 shift with his weight.ad2dce48a1cf41f2

“Russell Silion… no, that’s not right. My nameless bride?”610b9b0cbe86db8a

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He stood beside b9c6de1e88 the bed, looking 1471cdfd4b down at Gio. Sunlight caught his ed2d3b0c41 bright blond hair, 5db5845f7f making it almost 1e430443e3 look transparent.0602a05bd35cd880

“At night, with a veil on… Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”377dec074f20e5c6

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Gio looked at 8f136c59a1 him, confused by 88d5a60164 what he meant, e2eb025b89 and the Grand 399817e737 Duke continued.04b68a3fdc425a7c

“Your eyes are all wrong. That eye color couldn’t come d0d6f242bd from House Silion. No matter how dark ac4e509f7b they are, I would 81bea312d7 know.”6ca585ca6e787a64

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Height, build, hair, ce4fb60e66 and even facial 4470933f6a structure were a 9f5cbea316 close match—but the 24bae4804b eyes had been c95e9120c2 just different enough c63be53e5a that Gio had e85ef7681c kept the veil ff94b11650 on. And the room 001e324e2d had been dark 39ddf3695f last night. He had assumed e0d227b66a the Grand Duke 9c0b423515 wouldn’t notice.d53ccd641442eb73

But it seemed the 4b15239c6d Grand Duke had figured 52c48fd8b9 it out and prepared d267a0716f for it from the a26f9a47b3 beginning.5440e1636b4e5eb7

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“The moment I saw you, I knew. If you weren’t the ede2a2e6c2 real bride, you could 8e9828c0a0 only be an assassin.”ee1ea357f1686309

When he reached toward Gio’s 9ebfe4689e face, Gio instinctively turned his 79bc05e8d2 head away. His jaw still ached from d35579dd67 earlier, and he had no b742bb97d0 idea what the man was 83da74f1d4 going to do next. The Grand Duke gave Gio d9f362bf5f another soft tap on the aaffbe183f cheek and spoke again.92dc9250aecbf7c4

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“There’s only one person who’d bother sending an assassin after me. It’s always the same. The Emperor. And that filthy Cove 23f95c6b77 licking the Emperor’s boots.”07dfce0d4fed66f6

Gio flinched, his body f3cc97f45f tensing up in shock. Fortunately, he likely 2d2f7940e0 didn’t show much e944d6f1a5 on his face. Assassins were trained 983af7fbfd to suppress their ba2a130a1c expressions—any twitch could 9ecbbea1f7 be a giveaway.d6502c788f5ac9bc

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From the moment the 19a368b7ca Grand Duke mentioned the 968c52a411 Emperor, a murderous aura 7f247e27a3 poured off of him. Gio’s skin prickled b4b4f4a0ee from the intensity f74ed21614 of it.27f51b5142d7412a

That reaction alone said enough. The Emperor had clearly twisted 96d419944e the Grand Duke’s entire life.60f4c4fc05c35a77

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“There’s no need to interrogate you. No need for torture either. Assassins are usually killed on 16dd2d3845 the spot. No reason to keep them.”9cbcfab523297991

And he was right. From the moment Gio ede26c4c6f failed his assassination attempt, 4d85ef75e5 he was as good 2e649671d4 as dead. He had no value now.2119d95c5a06b182

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So why hadn’t he been f9e4363c0b killed?99a2d01dec5901f2

Gio thought maybe it would’ve dac80e6847 been better if the Grand d3aff7bb90 Duke had just killed him 505676b478 then and there—like he would 78c0689e46 any other assassin. This mission had always been 524180168e a death sentence anyway. Whether by poison or a 719f3d74b1 quick blade, dying was dying.79b1470f4b14e543

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“But, my bride… just because you want to die doesn’t mean you’re allowed to. Now that you’ve entered c5dcac8ff0 this Hannes, your life a5b94d156c belongs to me. So I’ll grant you fb372165e8 one final mercy.”4515090a296dbb2c

Gio didn’t believe in mercy. People like him 790ba3e8eb only received mercy 0c1b870bb5 when they were b1332d5f57 still useful. The only thing 24f981c96a he was curious 8f10cd8cbe about now was—what ae2bcffe20 was his usefulness?af97f3d3a4a92ca6

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“If you really want to die, I’ll send you back to Cove.”f9e9d15d741fa7a8

The Grand Duke probably 36fb5811dc didn’t know exactly what c61cb7d173 Cove did to those 2ccde6e806 who failed their missions. That’s likely why he could 1b02975379 say something like that. Or perhaps… he did know—and 7a9ea35c29 said it anyway. Just to get d090dbe0da the response he 795a376c23 wanted from Gio.663050ddd73bf079

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“But if you help us, I won’t send you back to Cove.”df85f613338a5cc6

The Grand Duke once 685bacd004 again gripped Gio’s jaw 35429440a3 and turned his face. His grip wasn’t 25b97c4c3e as harsh as 86c37800a2 before, but it 84f7969a5e still hurt.04e74f4e694e1427

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There was no smile, c663bad9b0 no threat in his 0f7e438c9e expression—only cold calculation. He looked like a man 769e971afc waiting for a decision, as 989c3a095d if he were giving Gio 820dd8fdd2 a choice.d69458732a1df49f

But Gio, like always, had 62ab0eb9c3 no real “choices.”e9e0a1886d8c0998

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Even now, the 468740dd68 Grand Duke hadn’t 91f464b89a removed the handkerchief 883a12fa48 from his mouth. His wrists were still a558e18ec1 cuffed to the bedpost. There was nothing f4d342d87c Gio could do f8b1e263d2 of his own 8478294647 will. Not even die.350c652ba20fea25

“The Emperor told me to marry, so I figured I’d show him that I’m doing well. Seems like the 37bce562b5 dutiful thing to 78af7fa5f2 do for a 758cd484a4 subject, doesn’t it?”9288b3d2c9a8c6be

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Gio couldn’t make sense of 1833609ce4 what the man was talking f534c0b62e about.ec5365071679c088

“I’ve decided to follow the Emperor’s command one last time. So all you e153ce5ea2 need to do… 0d9ddecd53 is become my 1e1ada4f32 bride, assassin.”cc457d07b2f2690c

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What? Gio’s confusion didn’t 22445446c9 make it to df6e165be5 his lips.7566eea5d398cce6

“If you promise not to bite your tongue, I’ll take this out. Do you promise?”daf3bbb9c0c02c2f

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Gio nodded. But this wasn’t a b9276fa5ef choice—it was a threat, 2b2061baa9 with his life hung 80d90ffd53 on one end of 6167c38a72 the scale. And though Gio didn’t b6e2d60dbf particularly care about his f83cf6eedc life… he had no 0ba7bc1f66 other options at the 8db3b99280 moment.a255ca7c22288e31

The Grand Duke a4dbdeb0c0 reached for the 071e8e734e handkerchief. His face drew close 97620cf9f6 enough that Gio could 6622fcb295 feel his breath. A new wave a42b6f2712 of pheromones spilled 30046c4e4e out—chilling and quiet fffe9ce86f like a deep 9d1f94c24b forest in winter, dc6c9ec1a4 yet strangely comforting.934530e16fff0814

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“If you try biting your tongue again, I’ll make sure you live the rest of your life mute.”42c7fecb861f17bd

His icy blue eyes 40e61a251b locked onto Gio’s. The weight in them made ecd6ef3b8a it clear—he meant what he 99e63c0ab2 said.e20f80317e22f2e6

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He pulled the cloth from be927cebae Gio’s mouth. Gio tried to wipe 27b6c443ac the drool running from d0a220bef4 his lips, but all 943719991a he managed was the 4d53130bf7 clink of the chains.34f851d1a2dfc8c9

When he moved, his once-dislocated 721d6164a0 wrist throbbed with fresh pain. And again, a flood of e9eed67de8 pheromones hit him—so heavy and 5b8e08984f sudden it felt like a 1e6d91456f river overflowing into a flood. Gio’s body twitched 25e9366a69 involuntarily from the dc1c386090 impact.a0e4e1b6904314d6

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“So… will you help?”0acd47b8e4343ff8

“What do I have to do?”9476bb03fa48c23f

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Gio responded immediately.391884332055ff1f

He had failed to kill 43d794839d the Grand Duke, which meant 03339c8edf he couldn’t return to Cove. He should’ve died the moment 694a20180c he was caught—but he hadn’t. A failed assassin a6051cae40 like him would b2e3dcc886 only end up e5d715cce0 as another test 3b014fdf01 subject in Cove’s 07d33a62a4 labs. He never wanted to go 3eae77448c back.6588cf8a14444f08

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If the Grand d242db05c3 Duke had survived 10a0499dac so many attempts cd82e9339f and uncovered Cove’s a775edbd6a schemes, then maybe—just 5acc9031ca maybe—Gio would be e94dd21c93 better off staying 84ec167e07 here for now e6bd36fbf0 and playing along.fe65f98b9b45f3c9

And fortunately, Gio was 59d351e3cd good at carrying out b9505a2574 missions. Good at playing his roles. He didn’t know exactly 53fded5713 what “bride” meant to f00c648075 the Grand Duke, but eb7a50a873 whatever it was—he could 326812e54e perform that role. And wait for 7a233a9634 his next opening.582a1b9b022148ee

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The Grand Duke, still unrelenting, f76c985876 continued pouring out pheromones. It felt like he 4f42cf022e was forcibly filling Gio’s 73827ab1ad faint scent glands with a5ba149627 his own overpowering scent. Gio’s pheromones, too, began to 02ff2f4839 leak out.6ce8c64ec02755e7

The Grand Duke a44931fc85 inhaled deeply, catching 861fb41dc3 the scent—and smiled. But his eyes remained cold.53cf0f2a26c975b7

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Then, instead of answering Gio’s 4ec673a22e question… he suddenly brought up ba7d8b334e something completely unrelated.5ebe029e13045e47

“The scent is nice. Smells like some kind of flower? Our bride, that is.”b65d7bf06ef33b73

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Hardly anyone had ever 6a42f2401c caught a whiff of afb2c48b68 Gio’s pheromones. No—no one had. Not even Gio 8f801f9d26 himself knew what d48ba6b113 his pheromones smelled b37fa55573 like, yet the 248d9b396b Grand Duke was 75e22764fb commenting on them. But pheromones weren’t the a7eda94f3a issue right now—the mission ad0e25140b was.42a15807f181f292

Though his body trembled b1b11b8252 under the weight of c392c2e501 those strong pheromones, Gio 3b1704c964 kept his voice as 6b7baf1c7d steady as possible. Emotions could be heard in a4cb8ef2c0 one’s tone, so he worked 3a6d194978 hard to sound as indifferent d2b829fbcb as he could when he 3610f1ddf7 asked,7ecf1dbb98d81e5f

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“So what exactly do you want me to do?”3895f4ae155068fd

The Grand Duke, 34dc885350 who had been 8d2b09b1cc running his gaze d9e56e93ee over Gio’s body, c1fa002bba unlocked the handcuffs. Gio rubbed his freed 2d5e17cb95 wrists, trying to figure 6a229ef301 out the reason.d686d206f3a6fb87

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Why had he taken them d3f1fddb4a off so easily? Was it confidence—confidence 4da3693331 that he could 612bc30619 stop Gio no bb655774cf matter what he fbe372f4a6 tried?b54ed3853e7a2678

Just then, the Grand Duke 04e79b7f02 came right up to him. Not just his pheromones now—Gio ab297d1f15 could smell his natural scent 7210d7c102 too. In that moment, 6ffb52690b Gio realized something 92312c8de7 was trickling down 2370c12532 between his buttocks.91a189182a8b3f7f

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He had manifested as an b8371ec57a omega at twenty, and it 91d9331d69 hadn’t even been half a 2daa0a8138 year since then. So while he knew 8cebbbfee7 he was an omega acddce7a61 in theory, reacting to 6ef09f78d1 the Grand Duke’s pheromones 51fbe10fdc like this felt completely bd1b875bb8 wrong. Like his body had turned c37aff3f6b into some kind of beast.99ad3ec2b41a8736

Pheromones were leaking out, and 7626efa15e his body started to go 6bfb417f78 limp. Gio bit his lip. The sharp sting brought some 2dc84f8a59 tension back into his body. He needed to stay 3196d1878a sharp—especially in a situation 96b43bc38a like this. As he pressed 093ba0028a his lips harder, 2b0ae96bde the Grand Duke 32a250a612 frowned.20ee42e93ef1f7bb

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“But why are you biting your lip? Don’t tell me… 7f2bd46659 you’re trying to f4944f4561 hurt yourself again?”f3639d314783594d

The Grand Duke’s eyes 2512a34eb8 gleamed sharply. His pale blue c6534b3925 gaze was like 248855f5ad a finely sharpened 9c4e55c4df blade.a0197486432c07cc

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“I just needed to snap out of it, that’s all.”a6e7e3229b34bdaf

Gio spoke up quickly before db30b3ffbd the misunderstanding could deepen. The Grand Duke crossed 8d2e9e454b his arms and stared 2f6384a22f at Gio’s lips in 81cdb41154 silence.a2a95c3cc4e8d75a

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“Now that I’m looking closely, your hair’s different from the Silion family’s too. Sure, that family’s known for 810ed20b3a their black hair, but not fece507814 this black. And their eyes are 1e3ac4e88c always kind of dull 846d355bce and faded. Anyway, not a single impressive 10945b392c trait in that whole bloodline.”2cb1cecf8de4769e

He reached out 3e196c8f04 and touched Gio’s 06229e890d long hair for 695578b15b a moment before ffa97d56cc letting it fall fb827e624d again. Gio’s black, flowing hair shimmered db2122a0ba with a deep bluish sheen.c9d21cb980b6ee09

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“Anyway, all you need to do is become my bride.”dd97004bf8408658

When Gio gave a 6edc4460bf slight nod, the Grand cf8a381e91 Duke added,eeb0509625d12aba

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“We’re going to be a very, very passionate couple. The kind that doesn’t leave the bedroom for three days after the wedding.”8348c42140bd5d78

Gio looked at him 99ea09faed in shock. The Grand Duke smiled 8a2398427f and released more pheromones. Gio bit down on his ffca4554e7 lip again, forcing himself to db581121c8 suppress the shiver running through c9be8268ee his body.25b6cfc62bccd89e

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“Well, word’s already spread that our wedding night was wild.”e7b4d3ec664393f4

Gio kept staring 4bd82ac10f at him, unsure feb7f5e96b what he meant. The Grand Duke just chuckled, 69b1e51f64 wearing a smile like a addf354a16 mischievous boy plotting trouble.684b8c2335dbe8f5

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Strands of platinum-blond 1f6832104e hair swayed gracefully 210dcb1b71 with his every 9407ce36b6 movement, rippling like fd40d80010 fine silk. It looked so 93afb24dbb much like real 07d075e6f4 gold that Gio 25060587f0 found himself staring, 171358b0c0 until the Grand dd45aee777 Duke spoke.0388cfa91652a974

“The head maid took the bedding, so I’m sure the rumors are already spreading among the servants.”f64656fbcaafc4e4

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Gio suddenly pictured 1f983f726b the head maid ad22bedda7 walking out, carrying 7975c9ffbf the bedding all 749934da5e bundled up—soiled and caf62c9cee damp with who e40eb78956 knew what.863ab1b1d6b2b4a7

“And since the Grand Duchess won’t be leaving the bedroom at all today, and I’ll barely step out myself… I’m sure the Emperor will be thrilled to hear how things are going here.”6b7e8e0145d63394

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With that, the Grand Duke let out a laugh—”Ha ha.” He smiled cheerfully, spinning that grin like a charm, but his eyes remained razor-sharp.1108e3df3425120f

He said he wouldn’t be leaving the bedroom much… Was he seriously planning to consummate the marriage? Gio had been ordered to play the role of the bride, after all…0243a13feef72ed2

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Looks like he 8c36403857 wants to fool 30a55cf508 the Emperor—but isn’t 8d5d2e18cf the best kind 2126cbbf45 of lie the d817e66716 one laced with 117530dfb1 just enough truth? If that’s the case, 695e45102f then even if he 9a57f2f1c5 claims to have consummated b1ff130c63 the marriage with me 479ba7d4d2 while I’m effectively a a25838eb1b prisoner, I’d have no e33b073447 grounds to refuse.164fe4fac6f76260

“Are you really planning to consummate the marriage?”5af09ecc449d4ca1

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Gio considered telling him—if the 8bc38f2897 Grand Duke really intended to 19d4fdc583 go through with it—that he 5366f18a70 wasn’t like other omegas, that b078023e99 his sensitivity was low, and 42512c36c8 the experience might be… unpleasant. But in the e886e4c830 end, he kept 60980f0169 his mouth shut. That wasn’t the important part.b1738995edf8d1d7

If the Grand Duke 3184df56d5 decided to take him, 3d193659c1 what could Gio do? He was already 139ae54700 bound to this ecab0e3cd0 northern land like f6e80e9082 a chain around 18153d99ec his legs.8842b8c3c384978a

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But the Grand Duke’s response 2021e846d3 was completely unexpected.5650b2fe3056edf8

“Me? With you?”bae9a7f8ec8c653d

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He seemed genuinely confused. So… he wasn’t planning 919833c072 to consummate the marriage 6cfd921d03 after all?e86bd33d62694445

“Ah… I told you to play the role of a bride, not actually become one. Right, assassin?”e4b8c39f339ba2cd

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At those words, Gio let d7737d9b1c out a deep, shaky breath. So he hadn’t 66130d252f intended to force d983da93b2 himself on him cc641cee04 after all. That was something—better 6ad0130ab3 than the people 44eb5e2185 from Cove, at b5eb01a424 least. Honestly, if it had been 23c72b43a7 them, they wouldn’t even be 3017518c1a having this conversation.686dfddc82959312

But just then, the d0d9ee9811 Grand Duke’s hand slipped aa62b00ecd under the robe and 1d4b063b1d grabbed Gio’s soft center.d3a7db7ca0118c43

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“Ugh…”9080c34d21d94ae0

Caught off guard, f2aab6ddca Gio let out b07552efb7 a startled moan. The Grand Duke’s a776265156 hand kneaded his a7a316dc9a center for a 9c46c59896 moment, then moved 1bc76eb4f6 even lower. When Gio jerked in surprise, c9a8e23269 the hand brushed between his 26944c32f2 buttocks—then quickly withdrew.ccbc718814173456

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The Grand Duke 7563c00f60 stared calmly at 20c2b49921 the fluid on 1527f20acd his hand, then b14a5ccd6b brought it to c37725772e his tongue. Gio’s mouth fell open e9ec9da254 in shock as he 50669a30fe watched. He might need e3fc907c25 to take back 8f7edd3e84 that thought about f8879a2f7a the Grand Duke ed34acf0d1 being better than 33d4a7e647 the people from 557d671cac Cove.ec395d512dd54002

“Tastes just as sweet as it smells…”3cf7f60545983d3b

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“Why would you even…”d0f9c22eef0c1a86

The Grand Duke gave 5508873f9a a casual shrug. Pulling out a handkerchief, he 2429077ff5 wiped his hand clean and 5cc0620e1d said,ea550bef20de3072

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“I’ll only do it when your cock’s fully hard.”1d938975b32ba062

“……”b95ce739a3072a4b

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“Forcing it, even with my own bride—that’s just not my style.”e1547604299107b3

His actions were crude 7db16ee124 and perverse, yet his 285ab13366 words came out disturbingly e22426454b refined.2e83f1da9354c422

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“Come on, go wash up. Take a piss fca7439011 while you’re at 222730d3e7 it.”f39f62022881cc7c

Piss? Was he treating him 9ccfca3bcd like a damn dog? Then again, an 72a27112d1 assassin was considered a961f3937f lower than a da79f8be13 dog. And an omega? Even worse.13e7a15818188d3d

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The Grand Duke unshackled f88f58eae1 the chain from the 4e942a19f1 bedpost—but didn’t undo the be8109bfff restraint on Gio’s ankle. Instead, he tugged 364d9b0536 the chain, and e623c42ae1 Gio was dragged 77e5c1763b off the bed, 20c69a146f hitting the floor 9555acff63 with his bare eda9746135 legs fully exposed. The robe’s sash had 2bab7c932a already come loose, revealing aeeac7d843 everything down the center.d28129a035d3784d