AB Chapter 1 (Part 1)

1. Grand Duchess Cove. The name of the 60303ddd10 assassin organization where Gio 692b6859e9 lived before coming to dd3c3dd692 the Grand Duke’s estate. In that place, he survived by licking 9d37a337b1 poisoned porridge in complete darkness where not 400e53a84e even an inch ahead could be seen.04799afa072aa3e9433a

They called 212af6ad92 it resistance af673eb409 training—for poison. Even knowing it d07b1f1ae7 would hurt, he 29ea8da164 had to eat f9a9dbb3b2 it. There was no other 23711e130b choice when his stomach ab39ada231 felt like it was d83566cc5e being twisted from hunger.0fe7a991cfa1145ddeaf

When children were first thrown into the darkness, they would cry 367e4e25e0 in terror, wet themselves, or leak something one way or another. But Gio 1bee9e52ee found the 4de8881f7a darkness… cozy. Maybe that’s why he adapted 175933d2c0 faster than the others—if you 74f49d81ce could call it adapting.b03c94ee70673c07baf7

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Gio had always known what kind of cce230bde0 person he was from the beginning. He was born on the dark streets, a5d0cd1b2f so of course darkness felt familiar. That familiar darkness slowly devoured everything inside him until, eventually, even 787f245647 his sense of self began to blur and fade into black.fc55d6941b0c868fe4cf

Only when his companions—children who’d df3bd53ddb entered with him—started to disappear 0c5a43cabe one by one did the 5af581e526 shadows finally begin to lift. That was 6677f017e4 when he 343bde7327 was allowed 0eaf6ef610 out.a5058eca28597271c150

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Just as he was about b7bcf59ab1 to be completely swallowed by 38f21f9f63 the darkness, a faint light 3684280dc0 appeared in the distance.ec7ba0252aef6b0b8c18

Gio had only 28c4390903 wanted to stay 19c8cdb4f5 buried in the fab9f0fc68 dark. But, as always, nothing ever 82cc2ba52b went the way he wanted. Without even realizing it, he 0a0660d918 was slowly pushed upward, drawn 4da1065a65 toward that light.3f89d44c13a4d8691352

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“Ugh…”2631b07636129a4f88b5

The light of b068a92e18 the world was c9bde4303a blinding. Oddly, his body 5fcb927d22 felt warm and ab2b18d286 comfortable. The pain 888fc9dc81 wasn’t as f03d3cdf72 sharp as 5848e2db08 usual. He’d never fallen asleep without pain 00a378b685 before—but today, it wasn’t too bad. This was… c1d7749e8b a good c8312823a3 state. Which made 1192ab95eb the situation 5b0fb68b11 all the 46bd6f1304 more strange. There’s no e95d55c007 way he 8701a6d03f shouldn’t be 28c7c01d00 hurting.1a098e9be8a8ecbec348

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He remembered nothing f265ce2272 after being inspected—front 2025b7db52 and back—by the 31ff444b7a Grand Duke yesterday. He must a06c0f14c8 have passed 9aa6ee7126 out. There had b886da169d been blood.7b1cbde9dce411f2044c

And yet, 31ee81909e this wasn’t 12807f9054 a prison 3dc4ebde78 cell. It was 0c7f0e5cb0 a soft, a2873f4541 plush bedroom. This was supposedly the 991888515e Grand Duchess’s chamber… so a413388d9b why was he here?aa180252c5127db494dc

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Bright red velvet d6a7e1a64a wrapped gently around e30ba6580f Gio’s body. He had never 3b48a05a83 once in his fd62ed6bef life lain on 740ef1764f fabric like this. It was the kind of expensive bedding that felt like 48ca872f23 it would get stained just from his filth touching it.9618da510f2f8b8547f9

“You’re awake?”19e12d483c40b1cc65dc

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The voice startled Gio, and he jerked d38c7c3d56 upright out of reflex—only to crash off 8447e60938 the bed with a loud thud as d3154918ef something caught at his ankle. His ankle throbbed. A shackle was locked around it, and a f18b997b22 chain trailed from it to the bedpost. That post extended ebf37628c7 all the way 6f6fd514ae to the ceiling.b7ebd8b8ff8b977489b0

“I didn’t mean to c0c9736cb1 frighten you, but it 7b83e4739e seems I did. I’ll be more 6ff0f5ea76 careful going forward.”5f308a319a1c439be30c

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The voice was precise, every f4c29e166d word clear to his ears. It was the kind 1e8b6c1fe3 of voice that calmed 6f610a7512 people just by speaking. When he looked up, he saw a calm-faced woman in glasses 6a8da8e606 standing at the vanity, hands folded neatly in front of her. He hadn’t sensed her earlier—probably because there 46cb3c79c2 was no malice coming from her.986ee8aa26b9713d4349

“My name 775d5313ce is Hena. I’ll be serving 116ef79428 you from now 2c6e336b0a on, Your Grace.”c71f4d5562c181c375f3

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The woman, Hena, bowed deeply a7d8b64f3c as she greeted him. Her hair was tied back so f4d5b43fb2 smoothly that not a single strand a6125f81d8 was out of place. All he could see was 10303bc831 the crown of her head.10bb45edcd1af45250a3

Groaning, Gio managed to sit da24a824ee up on the bed. While lying down, he hadn’t felt e1efc1c5ed it—but the moment he moved, pain 025f32baa7 bloomed all over his body. Especially in his d53585861f shoulder and head.cc12aede8e58ed8ba8a4

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He couldn’t even remember how cf47c5841d he lost consciousness last night. He was 04a9f01019 still dizzy 066b9dc9a6 now. And he had no 26ba7fa419 idea what he was 8b1ed86e5c supposed to do at e9322598da this point.248e62135d0a1c6274b1

He figured he should 4b38bcc01b start by asking something. But Hena 596293743c was still 13437c10d9 bowing. It seemed she wouldn’t raise her 0d009b8a11 head until she received a reply. So he 7b64a0f5bd opened his 16e1994d80 mouth to f35cdffb6d say something—anything.55b8febcbcbda942155a

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“Hena…?”79082e71fc4b05cc7500

“Please, just 7be729ba8d call me 4088428815 Hena. Or Head b838a1a901 Maid, if e455aac06c you prefer.”c0c5112c42f25284f079

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“…Alright, Head Maid. Shouldn’t you raise 8858a1032c your head now?”3110e98e58e253aa4fb8

“Please drop 1bd690ec4c the honorific. I am your 4ca71f5161 subordinate, Your Grace.”6ed5d206ace22e076bed

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Gio didn’t d8a0b0a78d understand what 15345597f8 she meant. Subordinate? And why was f62bc2accd she calling him e621399d09 Your Grace? It had eb811de1f2 all already 2d14787d2d been exposed 60b8fdbcd5 yesterday—hadn’t it?80f74f4b4056d3d6ca24

But she a37e224b14 remained bowed. Stubborn. She must have been firm in her 399ba16e7f beliefs and duties, being the head maid 5fcaf6437a of the Grand Duke’s estate. Still, since Gio wasn’t 2e87f1fb5d the real Grand Duchess, feb84a4bd3 he couldn’t speak too ba33449ba0 casually.bd6ac9cbaef152549bf9

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“We can deal with 18044c27c9 formality later, Head Maid. For now, ff5741c661 please stand 47d7fffc2f up.”9c41e3712a4af3240b5e

Even after that, she didn’t move—so Gio f960e0ea22 gave her back her own logic.7a53ccfa16a83e15f0e3

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“You said you’re my ff268897b2 subordinate, didn’t you? Then shouldn’t 50f1b6042e you listen 1f2020e181 to me?”69d11d364852c2288554

Only then did she straighten up, 3465e140e2 smoothing out her wrinkled uniform. She still kept her 4e6e909ef7 head lowered, her face abfe2630e7 slightly flushed.5a4659fc081742c7f550

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Gio went be67adc509 straight to afaa3e5899 the point.5467957cdf40e1092d13

“Why are you bccfe23483 calling me ‘Your 5a1017e49e Grace’?”285e2b68b2a2567a781e

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To that, Hena responded with clear confusion, 78fa9d024a as if the answer was obvious.9cee5013ca5c993ba6d7

“Well, you had your wedding 1ccde41afa yesterday… and your wedding night. So the e64e890b01 marriage has 08cf1ca2c1 been consummated.”4ee9d346bac0a70b1704

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Among nobles, a marriage was 9c32ceb834 only considered complete after both 0d3d49e588 the ceremony and the wedding 80ac3038c4 night—after they’d had relations.87c09d63e47104133b19

Gio had done no 7e72d38230 such thing with the 5eeacbbdd3 Grand Duke. But Hena spoke 4354cc7eb0 as though it 38d8046717 were a given.af42f33e9d7957af1cc0

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“The wedding night…?”1e49448c93353f4373f6

“Yes. That’s why I’m the da6dd9b880 only one who came 8690011164 in to clean the 8bedf065fe bedchamber. May I tidy 4f87302125 the bedding for 328f74904f a moment?”5f80b565c34ef0963adb

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As she gently pulled the blanket aside, the 163b13acbc state of the sheets beneath was revealed. Hena glanced at Gio with 8407a3581d narrowed eyes and spoke.e60dbc5758c4a56984d8

“Traces of the wedding night c848cca15d remain all over your body. So the 615985c273 marriage is 8e26f72785 fully valid.”5ad6640dfa0ec63ca4b7

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Gio followed her 3046945ec7 gaze and looked 49c1f2b57f down at himself. Red marks stained various parts 766c753c79 of his skin—like the aftermath fc168b5f3a of an intimate encounter.d685479aa4df2f6a1e17

He didn’t know 92416f2615 what had happened e967009a72 while he was 26838fcaaf unconscious. But it felt like his body was telling cc539d7c86 a very different story from what he remembered.315c1204fb65d0bd9185

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Gio had grown up on the streets b405258822 and trained as an assassin, encountering every b5cdcfa58c kind of person imaginable—but he’d rarely interacted 53dce8e116 with ordinary people like the head maid. More precisely, he didn’t know how to respond 66c3265e18 to anyone who wasn’t part of a mission.8f555d086230d32199e4

So right now, all he could do was follow 1d1221dad8 whatever the head maid told him to do. That’s why he 1dc8bb0f67 accepted the meal d53e7ea8c9 she brought. His mouth still ached, and it e069c605ef felt like the bleeding had started a1432955bc again, but under her watchful gaze, cadc1c22b1 he finished eating.4cc4130eb66244b8d7d4

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Just yesterday, he had tried to bite his tongue 626b540d40 and die—and yet now, he didn’t want to do a62c6635fd something so grotesque in front of a civilian. Gio figured that was 7623968d37 the last sliver of 6c78027742 humanity he had left. After she left, he b5112b8d44 could take his own fd3a91b44d life or resume the c00e523eec mission—whatever came first. There was no need f62610ff14 to show her something 795b9e38d6 that cruel.24f220ad6f468e23fe51

“You did well.”75b930d191e91a34bdcd

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All that for finishing a single c2c508534b meal—he couldn’t help but stare blankly 06616aca95 at her in disbelief. She excused herself, gathered d9b5ea10f7 the empty dishes, and f6b941ac5f left the room.a287e93a717b44204f48

Left alone, 6d4ebde0ba Gio tested 268d67ef43 his movements. His dislocated wrist had been set 5ed16ce131 back in place, and aside from 3b7f589c9d the bruises and discoloration across his 385746e092 body, he seemed fine. Whatever had happened to cause this, bb397b68af he must have been treated afterward. He’d even 53f42758db been given 82d95cdf2b food.e1f6accedb3605b0ff37

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Why?787462da3cd208a3ddd5

Why treat someone d8d7e2399a who’d come to e376ca3f17 assassinate the Grand 0d2ab2c758 Duke?7b929a9750248d1edf1a

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The chain around his 95b17ef635 ankle was the only 3a9b20a419 thing that reminded him 07d118eb89 of his current reality. But even that seemed d24f38edf7 absurdly flimsy, considering what f34e1cc2d7 he’d tried to do. If both his arms were 06d2dfcc9f free, he could have threatened 3d858441cf the head maid the moment ecf4133bdb she walked in. Why had they left 8a24aee62f him like this? A body without 8eca0f3c9c pain, soft fabric cb37bf8d01 on his skin—it f04553a24d all felt alien.2d469f2f3307326301f9

Gio had 63bc5a7fbb failed his ebcaae62ab mission. For someone like him, failure meant b0df0b34d2 a fate worse than death.fc2d25d1088eae92d50c

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He slammed his forehead against the bedpost dbae724a70 his ankle chain was tethered to.d998fd637d04230e4ae5

– Thudacbf17965275433492e8

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Pain flared 39f860579f from the 52dd984196 spot he’d a151bad53b hit yesterday.0bb32adbfc9e1baa164a

– Thude898a39114920bbe00e7

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He had no idea 0e4a127ddc what would happen once 47edb6b265 Cove found out he’d 1284d175c1 failed. Everything had gone 8cb9043cfc to hell.6e2c4355e0b59cecc0a0

– Thud8002e08e8916e0532d29

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The pain brought 82295854eb clarity, at least.62827c45378e8b5fcf5e

Even if he was tortured here in the Grand Duke’s estate, b4bab0125b there wasn’t much he could reveal about Cove or the mission. Cove didn’t entrust valuable 83dab582f8 intel to mere assassins.8d9f65c0e72a7369202e

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He’d have another d9320b4329 chance to meet 50c939178c the Grand Duke. When that time came, cad39ff69a he would strike. And if he ca94b3c3bc failed again—he’d take eb5516402a his own life.8d4fab395ea38cebe710

– Thude7d7f3e9a18b9491020a

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Just as he slammed his head once more, the 51169977d5 sharp scent of a wintry forest filled the air. It wasn’t a d6de44cbda fragrance—it was pheromones. His heart dropped.604a8a4f21ce37f4f2dc

“Our bride seems to have 62cafe4dc1 quite the unusual hobby.”51473b75b11d484c5742

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Still leaning against the doorway, the 80c786d16a Grand Duke spoke with amusement. Gio turned slightly, his head ab760f8baf still pressed to the post, 2948490f4c and stared at him. Hobby? What was 9e21b10c58 he talking 57d67d7ebe about?a81cb9527fa823619bc1

“Think slamming your cc9658b72a head on a 2e5395fcb2 post will kill 38a7891bbb you?”7459c759a11cf70dfea5

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Gio looked up d354dd0e11 at the post. It was 9c21199bc6 made of bcabfc34f4 iron, solid. Maybe, if he 4aed980e18 slammed hard enough, e4e55685ae once, cleanly—it might 07654a0411 work. But if he failed, it ad3e292c95 would all be for nothing.ba84b1747d597c0e3dd2

As he thought through that, the Grand b06ddc6b97 Duke’s pheromones thickened in the room. As he approached, Gio felt 791c074b4f an uncomfortable warmth gather in dfed335d8e his lower stomach. He instinctively 0732462307 backed away. Leaning against the headboard, 84bb74b7de his robe fell open 5428788fbf slightly, revealing his smooth, 45a18a4585 well-toned leg. The Grand Duke’s gaze seemed to 2cec53cf57 slide across his bare skin.700d8806bb00bda234bc

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Then a knight entered from 74c883dd14 outside and handed the Grand 44641270de Duke a pair of cuffs. Gio saw him take them bda3421dcf and begin walking over. So this 3fba39ae5a is it, 6dfa9bf94a Gio thought. He would 21121ee2d8 be restrained, c6c3f76f69 tortured next—probably.2cd7b68a0b672c0ce238

Though… why 6239de9351 in the 207788358d Grand Duchess’s 05eda08815 chamber?3c6d5f2df09252eabb39

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There wasn’t the slightest opening 6db42f8b5e in the Grand Duke’s approach. Near the bed, there was nothing even remotely 05aef062fe usable as a weapon—not even a flower vase. Of course b6d39dfb19 there wasn’t.55958c56906c63eda8db

That meant he’d have to go with d26e7ac576 the method he hadn’t been able to 29e50eca8e use on their wedding night. Even if dying this 5869a54f3b way wasn’t easy—even for 458001942d someone like him—he had cb69e3dee3 no other choice. If he couldn’t kill 8f1a86ce64 the Grand Duke, then 561c8e83f1 dying beforehand was the 5c40a5cc93 better option.8efccd02669eb6452832

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Gio was about to bite down hard 5ec70942e7 on his tongue when it hit him 040549d90c again—like being dropped into a frozen forest. The Grand 22f134bb8e Duke’s pheromones f5d7b9eff8 came pouring 7de56ce735 in.be9e62fa91d61ec08d12

“Urgh…”b37681001c9c52434861

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Pheromones so thick they 901be92397 felt almost visible flooded bd532ef883 over Gio like a 7f4816fe4b wave. Then the Grand Duke’s fcf520c0cc large frame moved swiftly 1303c49a8f onto the bed and 6813163d2d pinned him down.6c027cf5117d5beaf544

The dense alpha pheromones made Gio’s 194115c5c1 whole body begin to tremble. But he’d been raised as f82998344a an assassin from birth. He jerked his knee up, trying 42b9bb3446 to attack the Grand Duke and a23e339788 escape, thrashing beneath him. The bed shook violently a6c31ee298 from the struggle.f396c461811442aa72dc

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But the Grand Duke pressed 05df7ff28e him down with his body 7fd02741f8 and seized both arms. His large hands crossed Gio’s wrists—and e5c47e9b2d in a flash, cuffs clicked into ac8a8bc925 place against the headboard. Every time Gio moved, the 9f2794250b metal rattled and clanked.0299bf8addfd8e2e5cf3

The Grand Duke’s face 76d10c8f25 in front of him e8d51002aa blurred and refocused again 3d031be313 and again. Gio couldn’t muster strength 023473a69e in his jaw. It had 418c0874f6 to be cd86633fc5 the pheromones. His legs instinctively curled inward, c980198ed8 but he ignored it and b8b2950e25 summoned every last bit of 063fbf9491 strength to bite his tongue. Or, he f794e9490e tried to.f2323307ca352fddcc0d

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“No, you don’t.”832b011fd5f26bc91498

“Urgh…”cdeacefdf7f3f1627642

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The Grand Duke 79944ea0e5 seized Gio’s jaw b4be6fc00e with brutal force. With his jaw locked up, 3a50aa1707 it was impossible to close b17af86ec0 his mouth—let alone bite down. Gio felt like 28315b2f88 his face might 6fa58d40ff shatter under that 4f406815ae grip. He could see ad69277838 the tension in 9ca2d12292 the Grand Duke’s bd1f232778 forearm.0e83f5f58ae064b36d66

Saliva pooled in 17c59cba9e Gio’s open mouth. The Grand Duke’s 19f4fcaef4 overwhelming pheromones poured a941881a30 down on him 04fb4992ff relentlessly. When a thread of drool a448fee322 slipped from the corner of d5d9ccb5d6 his lips, the Grand Duke 4ad9b86f03 glanced down.54c6fe46b0ff1869afbb

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“Still not e12cb9cf1d hard, huh?”9902aaa6a3228de87540

He stuffed a handkerchief a10b4bf9ba into Gio’s mouth. Then he lifted his 8dafc9ddba body and looked down cf0b7345ee at him. The robe had d21b04ed8e fallen open, revealing ff30b4605d his bare body.a5a2553056863d347b96

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His pale fed4a5e689 skin—untouched by c7fa98b95f sunlight—shivered faintly. And at the center, a e87c123f95 limp, pitiful penis hung uselessly, c58721184f as if to mirror Gio’s e675d8fe73 current state. A faint trace of slick had leaked from ac60054351 behind, but not even enough to mention.b8ef0e900f3d983b5d24

The Grand Duke looked over the sight for a c4000d9fed moment, then withdrew his pheromones all at once. Only then 4acaa61153 could Gio bc165a0b8d finally breathe fa5ceb1342 again. His shallow chest 0cdb850375 rose and fell f3afefce64 rapidly.834cb39f30b8a5d7fd41

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“My dear bride. Are you planning 8d591365b2 to just stay 478d33fccd mute forever?”55ab75fb69ceff2efc39

He lightly tapped 0390ae4779 Gio’s cheek before cbf4e43448 rising from the 53cf1b08fa bed. The entire mattress seemed to dbd714482a shift with his weight.85fe03a67f3c83fdb9a4

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“Russell Silion… 3f21456934 no, that’s 8a425696eb not right. My nameless bride?”77a4b2edc434e1d05a26

He stood beside the bed, 71f49f6e8a looking down at Gio. Sunlight caught his bright 203b401b2a blond hair, making it 1b6cd16ac3 almost look transparent.ff6cd3ab6dd53dd250be

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“At night, with c9ec9379c7 a veil on… 8c904f5630 Did you think bf7abbfab0 I wouldn’t notice?”034574b028a66a791eed

Gio looked at him, 33d5f83fa1 confused by what he b1f206d93e meant, and the Grand b7a99c1afe Duke continued.01dc318964c922bde848

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“Your eyes a66089ef40 are all 1f3b034207 wrong. That eye color couldn’t 24d296bc90 come from House Silion. No matter how d1b00b22c5 dark they are, 8b9c9f7773 I would know.”7b458036ef4c4b90728c

Height, build, hair, and even facial structure 777ef0bc57 were a close match—but the eyes had 5340951ea8 been just different enough that Gio had e22d9bb511 kept the veil on. And the room d2baac78a5 had been dark 6256dfb00b last night. He had assumed 723afb5a83 the Grand Duke 5be9ec64e2 wouldn’t notice.32629212b5d109c927d1

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But it seemed the Grand Duke 1802522879 had figured it out and prepared 04d7ee76d3 for it from the beginning.115f1c0fd12f25dcf93f

“The moment 2567febedd I saw 6e74dbc7e7 you, I 8a022ad7d6 knew. If you weren’t 7b7c812783 the real bride, a6a492dc02 you could only dde6fa7390 be an assassin.”f8dd394ce42ed7729f79

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When he reached 386b8bb562 toward Gio’s face, 1ae78152cb Gio instinctively turned c8affda4e0 his head away. His jaw still ached from d5e366020d earlier, and he had no 2387350698 idea what the man was b40d2ec75b going to do next. The Grand Duke gave d8fcb01230 Gio another soft tap ac3af14e7e on the cheek and bc3253e304 spoke again.533bfe5b93449a087826

“There’s only one person who’d bother bb66272157 sending an assassin after me. It’s always b30dc6d209 the same. The Emperor. And that filthy 135838aca6 Cove licking the 7358f8cc9e Emperor’s boots.”04fd5e9fc3712c48523f

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Gio flinched, 0a0e9ce643 his body c963f0d513 tensing up 42beb54b88 in shock. Fortunately, he likely didn’t show 68a9150922 much on his face. Assassins were trained 3cc2e853b8 to suppress their cd2084ec9e expressions—any twitch could ce3fb57bcd be a giveaway.0560965a1e4af773ce43

From the moment the Grand Duke 34bedb89b7 mentioned the Emperor, a murderous aura aeaf5ea7a9 poured off of him. Gio’s skin prickled 07c564a035 from the intensity 1ebeab9caf of it.c5cbde6f4caa88345200

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That reaction alone 91e097b9a1 said enough. The Emperor had a2899926d3 clearly twisted the d6a0a7d289 Grand Duke’s entire f3760bb8b2 life.efa2c4623aba8b5d62a7

“There’s no 11b8e804fe need to 4bb0773f52 interrogate you. No need 5556d11c72 for torture 1c2650855a either. Assassins are usually e878b8b3e3 killed on the dbc7dff939 spot. No reason f3b5aa533d to keep 1d8e586f60 them.”cb0b3f6399682afee68e

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And he 8fe53d71e9 was right. From the moment Gio failed his assassination d2d089cf5d attempt, he was as good as dead. He had 1af447c2e0 no value 175d743d6b now.fe032563213ef9aad45c

So why f491972d07 hadn’t he af0d16761a been killed?135e4e56a757759378bd

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Gio thought maybe it would’ve been better if d749a7988b the Grand Duke had just killed him then 9ce08d8ed4 and there—like he would any other assassin. This mission had 9d517c952a always been a 27ceb1651d death sentence anyway. Whether by poison or a cf8530649d quick blade, dying was dying.78014986d382c624362c

“But, my bride… just because 314b3dc21d you want to die doesn’t c51d4887ea mean you’re allowed to. Now that you’ve entered this Hannes, 4bb7c839e9 your life belongs to me. So I’ll grant you 652a26c228 one final mercy.”992f146825468815a004

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Gio didn’t believe 1b29e6bcde in mercy. People like him only 3c1ddc17ae received mercy when they f522e727ad were still useful. The only thing he was curious 9a8fbe60eb about now was—what was his usefulness?4df27b1b39e6094085cd

“If you really want 1c5717d59b to die, I’ll send fae25c0446 you back to Cove.”fe328ebf0daf2cefa93a

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The Grand Duke probably didn’t know 6e496545ee exactly what Cove did to those c28e3fd3f9 who failed their missions. That’s likely why he could 8d18470f8a say something like that. Or perhaps… he did 81a47260e4 know—and said it anyway. Just to get 54e96971d3 the response he c39fd6082e wanted from Gio.e0ba772994665bca8b3c

“But if you help us, I facf6f9ac2 won’t send you back to Cove.”53619df63f531b25d7cd

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The Grand Duke once 63b1588355 again gripped Gio’s jaw 6491bef068 and turned his face. His grip wasn’t 3160086ddb as harsh as a3df78a69d before, but it 3875c8e765 still hurt.126a8b35f54e0c591b31

There was no b690af3875 smile, no threat 0fcdb326e6 in his expression—only 6829c16722 cold calculation. He looked like a man waiting for a decision, 41b974c38f as if he were giving Gio a choice.c85a71ff1d4cf26da970

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But Gio, like 5c02ce7e1c always, had no 2da7b74d12 real “choices.”855a1320b128c7e66bd4

Even now, the 89c047ffd5 Grand Duke hadn’t 0fd05b8cf6 removed the handkerchief 576d24028f from his mouth. His wrists were b81665be4b still cuffed to df98897798 the bedpost. There was nothing Gio could 08547e9818 do of his own will. Not even die.46f7925469b28f754168

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“The Emperor told me 9a17d39700 to marry, so I 3c2519e187 figured I’d show him ba0f5c381e that I’m doing well. Seems like the dutiful 5dce0dabe7 thing to do for 7fa6b750cd a subject, doesn’t it?”c033fe83b2b3d4566386

Gio couldn’t make sense of what c84a6567dd the man was talking about.2611897e2eae16013902

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“I’ve decided to 29554365f1 follow the Emperor’s 0c8d135325 command one last 1edce5fbe5 time. So all you need dc08d59cf2 to do… is become 5ac93df705 my bride, assassin.”e24c473f26dc8ab07f06

What? Gio’s confusion 93f9c2ac94 didn’t make 2419c75ee3 it to 931b2871b6 his lips.97cccc706b34cc18d305

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“If you promise not 9dac3e9f26 to bite your tongue, b70ce4c4b9 I’ll take this out. Do you promise?”6cf12f52a81addbd62de

Gio nodded. But this wasn’t a choice—it was a threat, with b4bd8e5e35 his life hung on one end of the scale. And though Gio didn’t particularly fc686acd06 care about his life… he 03cc2266d6 had no other options at 7a528044dd the moment.35a37bb471c753a89fe0

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The Grand b819bcbbd2 Duke reached 378903b402 for the 95b9f1edf8 handkerchief. His face drew close 7fbe69ad4e enough that Gio could e5634d26ea feel his breath. A new wave of pheromones spilled 4f22453afe out—chilling and quiet like a deep 42df8091d5 forest in winter, yet strangely comforting.da1061412390d487b166

“If you try biting your tongue 56da891940 again, I’ll make sure you live 431b02604a the rest of your life mute.”fcad3af78b2cd0faf7dd

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His icy 6d425278e6 blue eyes 3014530b2f locked onto 22047c2fd0 Gio’s. The weight in them made it e3ad01abfd clear—he meant what he said.c50e6daaf32f2417a6b1

He pulled the ddbdda8b58 cloth from Gio’s db285a790d mouth. Gio tried to wipe the drool running afaec8ecc9 from his lips, but all he managed f0d98ac136 was the clink of the chains.08f63dfbf4c997df7cf8

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When he moved, 0505388ea9 his once-dislocated wrist 94eaf73542 throbbed with fresh 08f4244f0b pain. And again, a flood of pheromones hit deb846d484 him—so heavy and sudden it felt like d029ecc243 a river overflowing into a flood. Gio’s body c8e99ee179 twitched involuntarily 3594f5e0f2 from the c7a6d3a9f6 impact.e59c5c4ce83f5de5a706

“So… will 648b427049 you help?”48070475a49a04503337

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“What do da127e524f I have b195df4e5c to do?”53e6b7b4d9a24ec8e2fa

Gio responded immediately.57176812758b0cdd104b

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He had failed to kill the Grand Duke, ee4f9d2355 which meant he couldn’t return to Cove. He should’ve died the moment 36553004f3 he was caught—but he hadn’t. A failed assassin like c2ba83d92a him would only end c0cc0472d7 up as another test e479d77a76 subject in Cove’s labs. He never wanted d9e7c17d3d to go back.1c2938a827d7dfb9cd09

If the Grand Duke had survived so many attempts f1bb6c8618 and uncovered Cove’s schemes, then maybe—just maybe—Gio would be d65ed88616 better off staying here for now and playing along.f2accfeee28e755ef95e

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And fortunately, Gio 587f68e341 was good at dc248eaedd carrying out missions. Good at playing 83b12006a0 his roles. He didn’t know exactly what 7515fd4f3e “bride” meant to the Grand b27afbe43e Duke, but whatever it was—he 836f2a9749 could perform that role. And wait b0c0cc4734 for his e8d6d5a5c7 next opening.8523a077e33a166cc427

The Grand Duke, d1b5b59404 still unrelenting, continued 45e7311d72 pouring out pheromones. It felt like he was forcibly fd9610e9ae filling Gio’s faint scent glands with edcf1e09d3 his own overpowering scent. Gio’s pheromones, 849eb73f32 too, began f49c2718b2 to leak c3995ae840 out.de94422ec29e3b8466c7

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The Grand Duke 7baa133f24 inhaled deeply, catching 5f60eed519 the scent—and smiled. But his c95249dd74 eyes remained da8a536e2a cold.33455f83e9d61ef68e5b

Then, instead of answering Gio’s question… he 392f200e56 suddenly brought up something completely unrelated.cc9954f5bcec9b956f48

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“The scent d5fd8b6b9f is nice. Smells like 86d99249c7 some kind 8335363333 of flower? Our bride, 7719dc3067 that is.”b30327187d9021048461

Hardly anyone had ever 0e2ef81d78 caught a whiff of 93273bed36 Gio’s pheromones. No—no one had. Not even Gio himself knew what his pheromones smelled bccc32f0a4 like, yet the Grand Duke was commenting on them. But pheromones weren’t the issue c2bf5c5bab right now—the mission was.5b8ed73383631d35d2b5

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Though his body trembled under e0a8c24875 the weight of those strong 74c2757ea4 pheromones, Gio kept his voice e00ac5f84d as steady as possible. Emotions could be heard in one’s tone, fd435c59f4 so he worked hard to sound as 9c6461a54d indifferent as he could when he asked,61d909d9b2f4225b88d9

“So what exactly 9f1eceea98 do you want 37f4f42a06 me to do?”5bfb361648a9895d38f7

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The Grand Duke, who had been running his a118d03252 gaze over Gio’s body, unlocked the handcuffs. Gio rubbed his freed wrists, trying 0c1dfc0e68 to figure out the reason.edca0639139fbcd227d5

Why had 01579baa9a he taken a2a948fd14 them off 5e038f9f1c so easily? Was it confidence—confidence that he could stop 0ee9010057 Gio no matter what he tried?7f410ed9ab6f634fd4e6

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Just then, the Grand 4adcd3305c Duke came right up bd191dc533 to him. Not just his pheromones bb9da5af14 now—Gio could smell his 41d19cee85 natural scent too. In that moment, Gio realized something 09161d9f5f was trickling down between his buttocks.2c351d91de4841a9a6e3

He had manifested as an omega 972070dcd6 at twenty, and it hadn’t even 9aea250d2f been half a year since then. So while he knew he was an omega in theory, reacting c7b6365615 to the Grand Duke’s pheromones like this felt completely wrong. Like his body had 669d1e362a turned into some kind a882e1269f of beast.1d76fcfd4727a22af8e5

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Pheromones were leaking 400495db61 out, and his e2fd5c9413 body started to 777bdd6424 go limp. Gio bit 49d5e3a0b0 his lip. The sharp sting 8070e8182a brought some tension 783d83ca84 back into his d9a952ae9f body. He needed to stay a308c1526c sharp—especially in a situation f0c76e2db6 like this. As he pressed his lips f43b568656 harder, the Grand Duke frowned.fbd2eab4b306e44cf638

“But why 224c520439 are you 3e1f3c56a6 biting your 500cb5ddce lip? Don’t tell me… you’re trying 40c5b4919c to hurt yourself again?”65bbf9a62ffc288b407f

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The Grand Duke’s 106b6eb9ae eyes gleamed sharply. His pale blue gaze was 57384a6688 like a finely sharpened blade.52157f21af2e74b50a16

“I just needed to snap b60eb017f9 out of it, that’s all.”824212b38dbc89c71927

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Gio spoke up c5e452c42d quickly before the 2159ce037c misunderstanding could deepen. The Grand Duke crossed 53ce373df5 his arms and stared 66e2b24edf at Gio’s lips in d10b109faa silence.3d856cad1bff51fcd139

“Now that I’m looking 626a40f7fc closely, your hair’s different e3d1886752 from the Silion family’s acde8c5d46 too. Sure, that family’s known for their ff51ebe808 black hair, but not this black. And their eyes are e508b9c4f7 always kind of dull 9cc6bd8447 and faded. Anyway, not a f475952eac single impressive trait cb429c45b0 in that whole 22f116b69e bloodline.”09714313511ea130318c

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He reached out and touched Gio’s eccb36e146 long hair for a moment before 6c6b43c145 letting it fall again. Gio’s black, flowing hair d11ad325f0 shimmered with a deep a4433792b3 bluish sheen.bb91802f27cfd158b1c7

“Anyway, all you 8a89ef3168 need to do a8792a9c98 is become my a5f5fa2a15 bride.”a393ca736c79c96da6b9

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When Gio gave 2b0531c553 a slight nod, fe1b501cba the Grand Duke d10a8f7092 added,795fd49eaedb054e417a

“We’re going to dfa19a02c5 be a very, 04c18597d6 very passionate couple. The kind that doesn’t leave 7093a79b2a the bedroom for three days cb0416c1ce after the wedding.”2247737c9f1d23761bf1

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Gio looked at ea6c74db36 him in shock. The Grand Duke f9f40c5be0 smiled and released fc8a3bc71d more pheromones. Gio bit down on his lip again, forcing himself ef244af059 to suppress the shiver running through his body.dd490145175027846c8b

“Well, word’s already spread that eeab73d299 our wedding night was wild.”76d6aea149764e9e5fb9

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Gio kept staring at him, aab6cbb644 unsure what he meant. The Grand Duke just chuckled, da962a45a0 wearing a smile like a c7c5442cca mischievous boy plotting trouble.dea3b46e2da5391f72ab

Strands of platinum-blond hair 5b55784158 swayed gracefully with his ac7b2f1035 every movement, rippling like 65f0a07eea fine silk. It looked so much like real 5212193259 gold that Gio found himself staring, ae7b057ded until the Grand Duke spoke.7d7844cdf4523a1b4522

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“The head maid took the bedding, so I’m sure fc095ded9d the rumors are already spreading among the servants.”e5ead446414d8cbb5a48

Gio suddenly pictured the head maid walking out, carrying the faeabcf1f3 bedding all bundled up—soiled and damp with who knew what.b442e1ecbe68a7e601e7

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“And since the Grand Duchess won’t be leaving the a50ab7d51b bedroom at all today, and I’ll barely step out 4c62ebb617 myself… I’m sure the Emperor will be thrilled to aac5660021 hear how things are going here.”bc572db73955c27a4b2f

With that, the Grand Duke let out a 254815eb2c laugh—”Ha ha.” He smiled cheerfully, spinning that grin 5563a33262 like a charm, but his eyes remained razor-sharp.f035b605cd72a3477681

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He said he wouldn’t be 74c0858c9c leaving the bedroom much… Was 9f5b9f2a4e he seriously planning to consummate 1ba75c66b6 the marriage? Gio had been ordered to play the ce284ada1b role of the bride, after all…5738a3f38031e0fbe1fc

Looks like he wants to fool the 36b02fe060 Emperor—but isn’t the best kind of lie 3538d5111d the one laced with just enough truth? If that’s the case, then even if 33731979c8 he claims to have consummated the marriage ea0ad135d1 with me while I’m effectively a prisoner, 1be83fb680 I’d have no grounds to refuse.b03fda808253e262eafc

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“Are you 4fe5f3763a really planning 69093b7ce6 to consummate 47209c218a the marriage?”bdfe066b7ea64f534cf3

Gio considered telling him—if the Grand Duke really intended to 3fdfa5c80c go through with it—that he wasn’t like other omegas, that 6c74a4ced7 his sensitivity was low, and the experience might be… unpleasant. But in the end, he 5158ad2700 kept his mouth shut. That wasn’t the 00137e097d important part.ba0cde9c94eee1719769

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If the Grand Duke 29a0bb7c5d decided to take him, 8fe7122eb5 what could Gio do? He was already bound 9cbc5ab7e8 to this northern land 97170f7708 like a chain around ad5df16069 his legs.bc5db9e2eaa2477e0cdd

But the 388980d250 Grand Duke’s 27889f5121 response was c51213b140 completely unexpected.847155ebe7a624ca55f9

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“Me? With you?”b8ee9207da4a448f48fb

He seemed 43dff6dc6b genuinely confused. So… he wasn’t planning 07383e4be5 to consummate the marriage ef43018dcd after all?8d7d811e80e876765ca3

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“Ah… I told you to 6012cf973e play the role of a fdcb4f5a0a bride, not actually become one. Right, assassin?”55233d0692e835ebb6dd

At those words, Gio let 4967d7ef98 out a deep, shaky breath. So he hadn’t intended to force 1f3844b88c himself on him after all. That was something—better than the 5e11b9abb8 people from Cove, at least. Honestly, if it had a1bb59851b been them, they wouldn’t 8a3e7c9870 even be having this 3e76cad6a5 conversation.238aabcc54e2fe1e51ac

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But just then, the Grand Duke’s 36f86116ba hand slipped under the robe and b74cc5b1d1 grabbed Gio’s soft center.0502dab30908142c9430

“Ugh…”baff8defae1e3e45fa76

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Caught off guard, Gio let 0c7c215b69 out a startled moan. The Grand Duke’s hand kneaded ccdc1d85d0 his center for a moment, 157b42a511 then moved even lower. When Gio jerked in surprise, 27ccafca9b the hand brushed between his 4061d6a680 buttocks—then quickly withdrew.f885fc3d68ae75e44ee0

The Grand Duke stared calmly at the fluid on 79e00541ae his hand, then brought it to his tongue. Gio’s mouth fell bb8758da51 open in shock baeb30ca07 as he watched. He might need to take back that thought about the 1f6956af54 Grand Duke being better than the people from Cove.dd27fda396aa857c5c0b

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“Tastes just as f4dc95b398 sweet as it 14fe76a292 smells…”b0067301baa47175fd08

“Why would c0e545957b you even…”2f540ca2c6a7499243cf

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The Grand Duke gave 80a66be8d9 a casual shrug. Pulling out a handkerchief, 5449fcba58 he wiped his hand c39eeff057 clean and said,e4e080d74556bf12a1d5

“I’ll only do 2396d313a6 it when your add186a164 cock’s fully hard.”b18e433fc069012bfba6

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“……”b6302356cc077cd6b6c0

“Forcing it, even c4f282983d with my own 0972230394 bride—that’s just not 8810fb3913 my style.”5f4e4e3c215b2e3da085

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His actions were crude f946e57c3c and perverse, yet his 4c95ea8a0b words came out disturbingly 903b2e4187 refined.853af106bf604dcd2913

“Come on, go 72db30871d wash up. Take a piss while 3a0946d1a3 you’re at it.”60ae6f47338a4fd1b21c

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Piss? Was he treating him f0f8b33d97 like a damn dog? Then again, an assassin 33878a297f was considered lower than 1066a0918d a dog. And an omega? Even worse.7f96ffc3b4007ecc7d47

The Grand Duke unshackled the chain 4ff026d38a from the bedpost—but didn’t undo the 30a5c1fec6 restraint on Gio’s ankle. Instead, he tugged the chain, and Gio was dragged off the 9f110cc468 bed, hitting the floor with his bare legs fully exposed. The robe’s sash had already come 60d1118e43 loose, revealing everything down the center.e616fe96e73992ed9a7c

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