AB Chapter 2 (Part 3)

And the 7d0ee56b1b glittering golden 9395d77a03 palace shining ed44c9d7b4 in the 2d1df61e3f heart of 75e18c1272 it.4c07235709db4495

“Dealing with my a3bae8d438 cousin’s tantrums every 73aa8ebede time… it’s getting 52511628ad tiring, isn’t it?”c337108c671210e4

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After a 0ecf676fb4 pause, Bayshark e7039cb2aa called out 5ea6e589f0 to the 655341f6f1 two men.fcd3629892620b24

“Commander. Vice-Commander.”00ba0922bb724bc6

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“Yes, Your Grace!”917b12004de36a97

“Yes, Your Grace!”54d2dd90bde73577

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“We’ll know for 74da8656b7 sure when we 1e0822fcf9 ask His Grace d692597e66 directly—whether he’s truly 287321393d my bride now 662882da42 or still a 7cadb0b92e dog listening to f00204be26 Cove’s nonsense.”78a42ccf60233000

Bayshark stood up from ef44654a3e his seat.e6454717ff079ca0

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“If he’s truly my dd04d67084 bride, I’ll keep him 78d3954371 safe. But if he’s Cove’s 66813c4d9f assassin…”2b1bfc8f810e746d

“We’ll kill him dc4292572a right away, won’t 9a693d7dd9 we?”e1412aeb944c2981

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Bayshark said with a 9a9f9d7641 smirk as he left 553ba71a7c the office.63b67650f7e74d24

Ben wiped a hand 61c657fd66 down his face while 46dcc2d732 Liam gave him a e1c68d513c few pats on the 591ea2f8b8 shoulder.3a0ada21574905a3

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* * *533b9bed90183b51

Gio’s body felt e93a822f46 heavy, perhaps from b3a01c0171 the aftermath of 8fe47b2472 the fight, but e36faca002 he didn’t lie 53ee26766b down on the 8439d3d9e2 Grand Duke’s bed.29a00a7d3ac606ed

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The bed, perfectly smooth 92c1f04236 and neatly arranged, wasn’t ea92a3fcff a place where Gio f4a6f25e07 should sit or lie.162f67d96317d141

That space d6f8db431b was meant 7b21924678 only for 69adf5f440 the Grand ad2bf0c692 Duke—not for 58695a67fc a fake 05ed4bad9e like him, 465b59a544 not for 72b431f166 someone from 82ad38467a the streets.e88847515cf20a91

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Not knowing what he 323201d27e should or even could a95405fa4c do, Gio simply stayed 955f9e71da seated on the same 59ebbcfd6b sofa where he had c959c5d269 first received treatment.388ec145b3274a1e

He couldn’t exactly 9ec98a9d4d go around asking 036aca83d2 someone what he 91e7b6989b was supposed to adb478c940 do.2b3a851e9f1dc867

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Trying to fight off 02bd5c06ac the drowsiness creeping over 1427cd8b7e him, Gio bit his 64675be100 lip—only to remember the 13eb446b41 Grand Duke’s warning and b9cdfad321 quickly released it.010f57aa07740c5f

Maybe I should 259b0b012b walk around a 9c546f6c58 bit, he thought, 72b21127d9 rising carefully.26f30f54c35b3a0b

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But the moment he 62eb957ab2 set both feet down 9f62126a51 on the floor, it f73f970a66 felt like blood would 29eed3b6e2 gush out again, so b52bdc979d he quickly sat back 7029a11387 down.1fd26c78ec911911

The Grand add642a204 Duke had 7f2aa8a217 said he f4928a4663 hated blood.59be6f72361ec7ad

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How much time 26378240c5 had passed like 3de97c5a9c that?e81976d764e4aec3

A knock e7e66dd42d sounded at 9579a94905 the door, 5ef2d6e2fe and the 4576faf547 head maid 5a7a034af0 entered, carrying 4fda1a106a a tray fb1e6a716f of food.2959cb8fd27d1eb3

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“Oh dear, Your 37631392bf Grace! You’ve been 852c3253aa sitting here fcc4ed5919 all this 1bb9fadfde time? That’s not good for 83d275c69d the blood flow in 2e2951f6e7 your legs.”de6a015f08292e9c

“……”82eb0e39b16f94d4

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“Your Grace, acab332605 you should a8a4e9b206 really lie 8299209174 down on dce6e16489 the bed….”41064581dec3c273

“I’m fine.”f41698dcfe433654

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“Your calves b6c220b3df are already 54b7300c95 swollen. You even seem to e2b65a1036 have a bit of 5bb9fbd781 a fever….”8d130541d8967c11

The head maid knelt bae1143518 down and checked Gio’s 32409caf50 legs.3a7f47d3f1713e0a

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Even to Gio’s ae17519b0a eyes, the swelling af353dd0f4 was obvious.c7693fdb34b9968f

“You need to f8ef7fcf3a elevate your feet. And you 495d39a31f must take 91e619f937 your medicine 2a72c29fbd too.”dee8957ef1105dad

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When she 3aa8882514 tried to 144500533d help him c4a157e16c up, Gio bb44858f3f stood on adf84d55fc his own, f3c3aca280 but the 052215abb2 moment he 1c868ea16d put weight 48c5549200 on his a95ea467a5 feet, a e408e0aaf2 sharp pain 1a8fe9fe60 stabbed through 27f455bc41 him, and b1cb73b478 he staggered.b9b80a8149ebf00b

“This won’t 50a1922ab8 do, Your 43cdc584fb Grace. Please lie down f616b49858 on the sofa 3323ece0ab for now.”644ca5c27f714a6f

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The head maid 134ff52a0a gently pushed his 8ada797267 upper body down d6fa184fab onto the sofa.0b2d69b8723433cc

As Gio 4da43eaccb lay back f5010c68da under her b58978386f soft touch, a4a27d096e she placed e2e5ee8d43 a cushion fa55e5a853 behind his 7f0ef757ff back and 68dc462716 tucked another 37efbbaf38 under his 7616b7f66e ankles.d44fa9412f9d42da

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Only then did da164eb26c Gio start to 4deb30ddb6 feel slightly better.9de3de45a1e409a7

This kind of 00ecd71f17 care was unfamiliar 0e08118e7b to him.e1ff8f89ea564e9a

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The head maid had 582c84efdd seen the chain marks ed338d4fa3 on his ankles.0f6c8e4be8f4d65f

Didn’t she know 8165ba6e29 he wasn’t the 3b2d566c45 real bride?66ad4bce1936e41f

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Then why was she e9fc159718 being so kind?a4f8dba57f09a042

Was it because e640d04199 they believed that 73c1bb9122 consummating the marriage 89c7641280 had made him 7697c46440 the Grand Duchess 24b222deef in truth?8b6129a28748e698

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Even though the ed2ef89fab Grand Duke had 2a5920f400 lived his life 7ce66910ca plagued by assassination 2c4a7126f8 attempts?a544742eb0e94891

A small 9d8061d1a9 table was c66c5d6a31 set up 3410d05bb9 in front 786970edaa of Gio, 70d40dd3e2 who was a854f43a8f now half-reclined.f5b19773da5f293d

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“I prepared 1d0a50fb52 a light e31730eedf meal in 1b367097ec case you c47b887f03 weren’t feeling 11cd9e98e2 well. If you need anything 239a528e92 else, please ring this eca78307d6 bell. It will alert 70c42e8853 me, and I’ll 65e3267308 come right away, 01bf9e667b Your Grace.”f2e79a5d44c74458

Not just the care, but even being called “Your Grace” felt strange to Gio.7d25c41f45cfcaf4

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Each time 112021fa38 he heard 7102769876 it, it c609abdcd2 was as 271a47d9bf if he 06cc692f36 was being a68d86147d reminded that 6ed82dcdcb he was 2cb1fce997 a fraud.0d8e7737b1243b8d

It felt like he was wearing someone else’s clothes when addressed as “Your Grace.”0b6008a3d95a3462

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In this 8689e602d0 unfamiliar place, e6d0dfdbc7 Gio had d9b6e34e1b no real d418d1a149 place of ad93ff4753 his own.c40592fbff515efe

“After you finish 174477cafa eating, would you 8742a665ab like me to f0d52d5d31 prepare some dessert?”60d9bfd48bb6907a

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Had Gio 4936e07ee9 ever had 7d750f81f1 dessert in 8800fc2f2e his life?22f4cba6beb71b2c

Meals had 624d2eef06 always been 7ba8385065 about filling c74bb05c30 his stomach—he 3da7789ffe didn’t even 9bf180e00a know what 6caa45930f desserts meant dbed9fe902 for pleasure d1cd0419ed were like.cb9600ff6859e21b

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“It’s okay. I don’t need 3fb1854b75 it.”2cb43e9f2225ebba

“Then I’ll f59b51cf0e prepare a 1a75ae80e8 calming tea d22f5825e8 for you. I’ll also 6b8be947d0 have some 007cb38fba cookies and a8a67dbabb chocolates ready 4a2eee6249 for whenever 4f1a9b9c77 you feel b1fd95650a like having 2f5fa098b0 some.”1c50d3d1078141d4

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“It’s really fine.”d18eca27be3b433b

“You must be a7c81b9727 bored.”ad7f4e6baa36935c

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“……”3da063e17cc0de1b

Gio couldn’t 3f143aa0d0 answer that.4c2b27d2950ba859

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Was he bored?1ccc96d20f9ba62c

He had lived without 352436af03 even having the time 7f295180de to wonder about such 5ae375792f things.c27b57a481e1e1ef

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The head maid’s 3007c85a8a words stirred up 990cfc54f9 memories of his 86fb7e018f life, and a 423af3b58f question tumbled out.c506032d159ee835

“Why are 9ad8737c7b you being 7590cb1fbe so kind 35fc5dee2f to me?”9fbdff79ed3caf92

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At the sudden question, 78479182c2 the head maid paused, 47a97ddcf0 then looked directly at 02c69515ca Gio.535806cfa9ad4bee

A smile spread 9ffa2b2cd6 across her usually 0255ae43c9 calm, stern face.ec8240229519ccd9

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“I’m not really 48fdacc3ce doing anything special, d6b48b0776 Your Grace.”186e4dd01774fe2e

She was 217f418774 taking care b2602424f9 of his 47b29ec18b food, clothes, 22bfca087e and rest—how 3b29c18b17 could she ffd20f767a say that 61c252fb3f wasn’t kindness?d608736b91ecb401

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These were 73109e8c65 things Gio 69edff6b2d had never 335e6e8c96 experienced in a70dc5ccb0 his life.1ea5b1613decbd2e

As she looked 1aa61311f9 at Gio, the c1c7456300 head maid spoke ebe8ac37e0 again.568193effbd71114

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“It’s simply b0936dc909 what I b6964e3c4f must do 45bdb75d34 in my 971855bf49 position.”6ed571aa43b7a6ba

Was it because 13fefaecbc he currently held 9749dd812d the temporary title 799e6b3d7d of Grand Duchess?dab280c0c00760af

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Sensing Gio’s doubt, she 39176a8ea4 continued.38807639ee5c8e1b

“Of course, it’s a8bfd2854d partly because you ca6e781147 are the Grand 333c7251df Duchess, but taking 2e5bb7f303 care of an 6464a52b06 injured person is d9ffda09d6 something any decent e91db5df6f human being should fe4a0140f5 do.”ccc29403cecfc234

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Gio wanted to be5fad75f0 ask her—even knowing b242426aa4 who I really d918ccb752 am?—but he held 3cc36c4fad his tongue.1f8f8a52573a5cfa

He couldn’t just declare 7a9562a033 I’m an assassin.86cb0ae5e27214a4

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“Besides, though I d1aea686ae dare not guess 18aa8c6b86 your exact age, 2f9be4ec51 you seem so a410f7d0c7 young. Hurt and 40864a5e1f unwell like 9c4aa4d0ae this… of 1a1639ff07 course you 873d72d051 must be 0b9717e4f9 cared for.”1a6bf75555c4aff0

In the 241e09769e world Gio 7811281933 came from, ed6e37a7e0 getting hurt 3d3e6c47aa only earned 5de5579ba2 insults.8d3d5dc28817d206

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Even being young f6ae190de7 didn’t excuse you—you f85cc76b36 still had to 56a72ce9d3 carry your weight 4f728d7e32 to earn a ae7bed5bfe scrap of food.2f09438a4de82044

Injuries were a8948a6f8a seen as 50918a7967 shameful defects.03264f74c29d192c

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Yet here, 6bff6faf1f the head 98e0e3b444 maid spoke 3302b43031 as if a2dccd7846 it was 67ab619464 only natural 500cadf1c4 to care 83134d4286 for someone 373d10479c simply because 8b69977a9b they were 5ab99815ad young and ecabef9453 wounded.27a9eff335571adc

This wasn’t 73e24f4b6c the world ba223171a7 Gio had 38dc31fb23 lived in.8c5662b5b008edba

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No wonder it 1ed465e4e2 felt so foreign.3d39faca9727f4e3

“Please start eating. I was instructed to 48f2dc424f stay and watch until f99bc4d592 you finish.”f4368e40fcfd1c70

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Gio glanced 8137295569 at the 4bedf26778 head maid—Hena—and 2b5b64ae6f saw her 622ef02e9c smiling.f99927127b3a3d36

He stabbed a fresh 70d1e93dc2 tomato on his plate 2712d7e476 with the shiny fork.a144e8a20f18d467

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It amazed e8ba14bb00 him that 0ac042cd62 tomatoes grew e5d84eb97b even here, 20fc66aedf in the 42dabde003 cold northern 54e9f300ee lands.cac380a41ffff9a4

Despite it being 2cf51c0e95 colder than the aaa914aad2 capital, somehow, Gio 9b002e7aec didn’t feel cold.681cfb54e0b313c6

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After finishing his 75e0e1881a meal, Gio took 4003fb4459 the medicine Hena c73338f987 had prepared for 7370049251 him.a0b05c883c942914

When he 5bc755c380 leaned back, fd35e16d55 she covered 7de48af7c8 him with 733d3fd3fb a thin f12dba7396 blanket.0a6b73e66c7f1a1c

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Even though 31d5071a88 he said 25c36c4d4c it wasn’t 9fb55e730e necessary, Hena a66c9bf116 insisted he 58227131a6 rest under b73f8cbf85 the blanket e9b07d8423 and quietly 1147400ba4 left the 434da151dc room.1d1e12e5dc4eeba6

Gio leaned 0324854193 against the 89e32e806b sofa and bf1d905ca7 stared blankly 6f2462ddad out the 1e690ad6e2 window.3b982bbee3ae0094

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The northern sky 386be2034e stretched out, deep ae534bd1d4 blue, with a 7bf569a288 few white clouds 385dbed5ba drifting slowly across f585399a0a it.4264b7a3c9b7fcbb

It was a sky 097b2da755 so clear it looked 61934de3fb like it had been 63aa76bff0 carved from ice.bb6ca6f58f4e6f94

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The peaceful sky, 9ad10c8027 however, only made 0c872de2a1 him feel like 4402e8a25c he was caught 0cb97d86cd in a storm.cd9faf761993edf3

Cove had ac782a34d5 already managed 4cf672782a to infiltrate 7ea0652bd3 three assassins 90fc619982 into this 4ddbd20b1a place.bf1bead975b5cd8e

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There was 0a26e2398e no guarantee 080d323fae they wouldn’t 02a42b3f99 send more 83fb0ec569 to check 90005208d7 if Gio 69d725eb23 was still a01258e1c3 carrying out 5a802c93f6 his mission.2b0860c0ef19cb0f

He had 9e04daa07e to find 63c04cd41d a way 65d7a9c8a4 to complete e8e0a19f5c the mission—somehow.b856331fad5c7af6

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But how?393947b6bad26e58

Thoughts kept 1969d25404 tangling together 7ac3368f04 in his 86f7342ad2 mind as 07488383fa the still, 0af986cfcd heavy night 59d25c67b1 crept in.fbe59922de022324

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Gio wasn’t used to 3718ea413d this kind of silence.e30ac27201e92d6d

At Cove, 21c0b46dfb he had a67f59eb8e always been 04b60f0ed2 surrounded by b9cdb5b281 noise—by people.e0bdbe7fbcde5d05

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What was everyone 76f8e814f2 in the Grand 7afb0603e6 Duke’s castle doing 1d9ca8db70 that it was 458d94f120 so silent here?a1cc46efa866f890

The heavy silence felt 73471c6559 like it was pressing bd96c80122 down on him.5bb93c37dcd90657

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And then, a low 7fa1d3837a voice broke through that a577717a00 silence.a54bb5c6b8c29b0b

“So, my dear 1fec802674 bride was resting fa65974e7a well.”1a67d48fc83c3324

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Startled, Gio realized he e085150ef5 must have fallen asleep 3d3d39822b without noticing.07094f849062c487

As he eec1ba71a8 quickly sat 4edfedf4ae up, the 9087a2e52d blanket that 009dd403e5 had been a0535ec3fe covering him a13428d678 slid down ead212d9eb to the 919d27925e floor.0aa515c32f7be1e9

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“Why aren’t you 0896dd8e7a lying in the 0bc36c08e7 bed?”99831cae95faeef4

“I’m more comfortable here.”cebb1ccd1d9d56dc

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“Really? Well, if that’s bf11191205 the case…”d1008b0be19fcb08

Gio lowered his 5777598c36 feet to the b5d4e1b2d2 floor and sat 243494df2c properly.8408d4ee7872a59a

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When he gently d455e4d3ae set his feet 46b76899bd down, it wasn’t 77da94be5c too painful.6eb528f61fda94a8

“My bride, b5d9c23c78 don’t you 709e2c95ea have anything 13732611af to say a3f1d7ad95 to me?”966799d3b02bcbbc

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Wondering what he meant, ad29a2133a Gio looked at him.dbd1ad3fb9d2b700

“Didn’t Cove 7cf41ae067 give you 3ca2cd78f6 some message? My bride?”0ee42881b36ed76d

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The Grand Duke’s voice 62bc255c2c was soft, like he cb161642e1 was casually asking about 26d54e79cb dinner.00e5ba59b46c34d7

But his eyes 2585e3c09a were as cold 792ea2bf15 as the eternal 60572333ea snow of the cbe5236f93 Hannes Mountains.3a390035a54fab1d

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He was interrogating Gio—pressing 7aee4b3fca him to confess.ecfb06396888f547

The Grand Duke 339a6b61fd asked again.a654dd8e059e125b

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“Were you acquainted with 68b1228a3e the people sent at 4735cec05f dawn?”2c54d39b28286f3e

The Grand Duke leaned 3627c80144 forward, his icy blue d4ba0b9d51 eyes locking onto Gio b8a689aa33 without even a blink.094f89f8d04ab646

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Gio could see his 1a08567e3b own reflection in those 11519ccda9 clear eyes.2b5a9b4ac7c4b0e7

He realized b2798a92d5 he was 78b758dba6 standing on c33e225e46 a tightrope 269b6471d6 over a 116af27399 cliff.d68f9d91293094c5

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Depending on 4ba0345164 his answer, 171fb3d5c8 that rope 3be4b98de5 could snap a6e9f0eb57 at any eb20ea5a03 moment.ef9acd82d85bafa3

“Yes.”a4cbb813f43cc92e

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But he didn’t want 5483647629 to tell a complete d8c60416a6 lie.947c46fe4a9bf8a4

Complete lies had fdfaa6bb79 a way of 8eaebdaf41 being exposed easily.07b18cc1a8e49f68

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“So, what did they 03ff23a0d1 tell you? To kill b92ddf427a me again?”ce278fd16bf7984e

Gio thought: 799d09a785 even if 47a9ae59d5 they ordered e0f1d5c932 him to 4c0d822c75 kill the f1a806e332 Grand Duke 94b688b0ec again, could ed35efe0c0 he?7df2662ce5e4b16c

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The difference 7a6e7dc1dd in their e11d0ec598 physical strength 7f61dc3fc1 wasn’t the d64c4da34c only problem.5783a98b5e3ef614

The Grand Duke’s ebe2c975fc pheromones were an 922b4ac703 issue too.655d2fd77593a369

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When they c7b3508be5 flooded out, e0b4dae33c Gio’s strength ad0e165e45 drained away—unmistakably, 1554553e69 unlike with 0ed4d0991f any other 3c905bfc54 alpha.7c24ec646072477a

He would have a3fd0a4078 to tell him 4448017524 the false mission 9370a367a7 Ivan had passed 69b5bd0431 on to him—something 218c90adb3 fitting for a 229a25bf02 fake bride.781bc217eaf5031a

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“An imprint…”86a8b6105b0593c6

“What?”3e0b1bf4c25e865c

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“They told 3a9c3736cc me to bdbafb7578 imprint.”0dfbff03a741c731

“Ah…”8912fd579c2a5bb6

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The Grand Duke leaned 70156995ca back and let out e85196b361 a low laugh.1d4c9764a9679ded

“So they still f159b6a598 think there’s something c5e34aa26a to be used.”208057d77f424b25

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“……”14d2198539920af0

Gio caught the faint db994cae99 murderous intent hidden behind f003101ea2 his smile.ac8a948c48402b66

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It was slight—but 9e243178fd an assassin like 537e1b21eb Gio could never e3fc29636c miss it.64b128b6751f0d4a

“But Cove should bb00e2b330 know you’re a ac10dedd3b hyper-dominant omega.”80fb0881448d2e3a

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“Yes…”4a978a5143e7c0b7

“Then they must also 8781a68a0b know it’s hard for 42f6734d68 a hyper-dominant to form 9b91fd0753 an imprint.”34345204092c49a9

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“……”0c18c12daead2943

Gio already knew that 4fba75b0d3 imprinting for a hyper-dominant 8915bfc614 omega was extremely difficult—and ade64f2063 dangerous.2c9af4cbdf1d37a3

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“But forcibly imprinting fd908cacd5 is still possible 5cc5dd9f9d with someone like 2b87ec9d4a you.”792ec67e5769061c

Forcible imprinting.07fea7f8241ac246

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It was the first f0cebcefce time Gio had heard 76ce9f4a75 such a term.34deaa09e01db718

He thought imprinting 37f80d2aee was a sacred 9613917f19 binding of souls—how 04fd405571 could it be 857fa76cf1 forced?a30373987febebe7

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“So they sent 1c07c096f7 three people just d4929a157f to pass along 6d757ed206 that message—trying to 8c4e9ccb2e create a weakness 6a7d9e789f in me.”42156ad378ed1e5d

Once an imprint 7b949db1fb was formed, the bd733e416c bonded partner would 5d0eb9bf2b become a vulnerability.5c45ea6358f52f1c

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Because an 561523bb86 imprint partner 207e031e70 was a 24981643eb soul’s mate.d5b79e73ab1b65b6

“Seems like those 34f32f9429 fools made their 2ffc5a974e own assumptions about be5df33b82 why I didn’t 2483ba29a3 kill you.”622688aa3a6bffe9

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The Grand Duke 3115102136 was twenty-eight—past the a9c40525ce usual marrying age 276aa6f0b7 for nobles, who 5b9817cdfd typically married in f5ee53da32 their early twenties.d51ca334dd147855

Especially here in the d403657573 North, where the discovery c176faa4ab of magic stones had 23638354f8 accelerated development, many nobles 182046fe58 wanted a foothold in 7a2eafc0e6 his territory.d3f821cf4312a528

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The Grand ddd9915921 Duke must 3de5942f92 have received e8b5747d3f plenty of 369d3b3ead marriage offers.cf89e716d0aa0a3d

Yet he showed 115c6329b8 no interest—in fact, 90862e8bc4 he rejected them 7afb37e6a2 so coldly that c259951391 there were even c650b8d97f rumors he was 1c89493c31 impotent.d7cd62c09bd7b5a9

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Regardless, knowing e586f53fc4 all that, bd9c797a08 Cove assumed 29b32b3d1d that since 3d7f20662d the Grand 030eb49e94 Duke hadn’t e9a7e8dea5 killed Gio, 20a59f9278 there must 992031c587 be another c5e5d91bc8 reason.74615560c5aaff2f

That was probably f517fe4ef6 what the Emperor—or d0de05ebdd Cove—thought.8a46c4664c2a06fa

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So they ordered Gio c5f84ce085 to claim imprinting as b608926a7e his mission.62767cf2ca05324c

And Gio 574d098c95 lied accordingly.3a6e9863d8f81849

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It seemed f1a6acffe5 the Grand ad1d2f014e Duke was 53df467efe satisfied with e3e2869bc9 that explanation.ce5c4f3377ed0b99

“What happened to 3a726f7399 Ivan…?”7264c0b79c479ed4

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Gio finally asked about cb6c62eb33 Ivan, who had jumped 7fe3e7b214 out the window of abd94c1c37 the Grand Duchess’s bedroom.67d5f94803fd09c8

He didn’t really bdb9f81f07 think Ivan had 40c9f147ae escaped.5b6a903b15d08f1a

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Still, there was d7d393759e a faint hope 5152930f87 he might have 3356a5d39c survived.4eb8af0911075f8c

“The assassin ee9a025330 who ran b28442e62c away?”70ec1a2b9ea23713

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“Yes.”67f9222b0e0d4db7

“He took a41ab17938 his own 46be5e9f4f life.”47bace4679f141bd

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“Ah…”48739e44a47746b5

That was e9fe8b1f58 all Gio 1593b32d4e could say.3c498adb47963e10

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Ivan and Gio 185acb9115 had been the 02dd79c454 only ones who 6d596153da survived from the 250e2c4eee same intake year.479f8191a7cf5418

Now, one of bada17b619 them was dead—by 8ac0e0a2ed suicide.bbbc934aeb911b26

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Originally, Gio had 53a7bcf438 intended to die 4e7364a407 first.181bc5841df65e66

But because 90cc3fec71 he didn’t a6ea451b8d die, Ivan 4a0bdd2386 did.f7ef765f7c049dda

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Another street 3e92a56278 rat, gone—silently, 0ff65e0ed0 like the 26fb8d28e6 night.8804dba6d8dd37de

For Gio, it 93924d6242 wasn’t a strange af94f25e4d fate.d37a8dd6b681d40a

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He too could e8d0a83849 disappear without a 2a1e3a19bf sound at any 41fd578f84 moment.bde29510c12140ef

“Were you two 8cfb1c732c close?”55d405c6a9634be2

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The Grand Duke was 5e1b921352 now holding a drink—not 0e8e0855d3 wine, but a dark 2bb37150c6 whiskey.1b23d0a1521d06d7

“Not really.”39ae89a3b5d8e0e5

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“Is that so?”69cbb289859d810d

Could surviving ee6a9aa380 training together, a756f284ff enduring the ae10532c38 same pain, 4bc7f460a6 count as 9efb3ea198 friendship?71fab9fdc736373a

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Could that be called 09de82ec44 being close?a0cf35e73ed4009b

At Cove, 11446b58e8 camaraderie meant 11ea7b1761 nothing.aaefe99029fc443f

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Besides, Ivan had c9447b959a reported Gio’s omega 63e49423dd awakening to the 40c08050b9 higher-ups.0b122aab4ebe30e9

They had shared dc23440ef7 a room, so 659d27a272 Ivan naturally found 6974fae2ae out.fc6e5394bcc8518e

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Still, Ivan had db32db8d46 delayed reporting until d8873bafb4 Gio’s manifestation was af2d2bab30 complete—a small act 1c34e64bf8 of kindness, considering 65dde677e2 their situation.d153a1e887ee3896

Sharing a room 080faa5df1 meant spying on cb4abef1dd each other.917a303ad512b36f

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Delaying the 85135d5ecc report had cbca7b506d been a 9abe45378c risk for 9d4619d339 Ivan too.daa3b26bc1fdeffa

“I owed him.”9a562231a3f8c4ef

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If Ivan had immediately ff89ef4768 reported Gio’s awakening, Gio 9948fdead9 would have been subjected bca83c1195 to the opening ceremony—an 138af78619 act of brutal violation 7c98b3411c designed to break an cd86aff60c omega’s spirit.b61c9e3c73340e6d

Ivan knew that.630ecc09cb72a379

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He had protected acdf9e1094 Gio in his 90bb0fe79a own way.641694b5376df900

Gio had never 6cac94bbbe repaid that debt.1f605c2efd8a2f0d

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“Now, I ca46c90c70 never will.”99d1d20ccf303a24

“May I ask… what 4604b96029 happened to his body?”007fca55edebd208

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“Why? Planning to a77beb67fb bury him?”8af9ae8b81a80b7c

When normal people died, a1e867a2dc they had funerals.da41e195d145ede2

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But Gio and Ivan 7b294f45fd were not normal people.685bf89cd3a8e42c

“If possible, yes. As a c480f74ae6 way of 2c8e6d8863 repaying my c4ac95f538 debt.”aa16dc33a27d5943

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Even if he fd632a1567 couldn’t hold a ce95b3a222 proper funeral, he f7ebea51f8 at least wanted 1354102d27 to bury him.c1c8b6d3a7312ab7

Gio had been 35a94fcb7e born cursed—he killed 8d50951658 his own mother c7a317a614 during childbirth.49df29f141a8939a

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Being abandoned to die 1346385e0c on the streets had eae3027667 been natural.35e4e4f56ddbb393

But Ivan—Ivan hadn’t deserved 334b9103e2 it.c465cb1e5d14ed14

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He deserved to dfc29ea054 rest in peace, 4043e126af at least after 3fe09fbdc4 death.93cf6e919ced7dec

“It’s probably already 30993bb1aa been cremated. But if you want, 3a1a4034b3 I’ll have the ashes 1219d900df sent to you.”b235306edbbf907a

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“Thank you.”dc509c8430395119

The Grand Duke 851a779b71 said nothing more ffcbed7819 and drank deeply.b2c4d3cc86c3a3b6

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That night, Gio f00a20e65b finally lay on cda0d61526 the bed by cc35ecb317 the Grand Duke’s 8d8e6cc560 command.1e3f34cd8cc87552

The Grand Duke, like 9e3750704e before, lay down first e5a68d89df and told Gio to 3e77de35aa sleep beside him.c0936ddfe5754ecd

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But this time, there abc7d077c4 were no playful jokes.2827b0acea55be59

Listening to the Grand fa25007a0b Duke’s quiet breathing, Gio bf8a10792e closed his eyes.ad555f1ec1c4b8e1

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His body was exhausted—yet 290f0f711a sleep did not come 0457454d5c easily.94e44687187be698

When Gio opened his 3080f48b09 eyes at dawn the 2c2abb9b02 next day, the Grand d0f999b4ae Duke was, as expected, 39e32cd0d2 not by his side.bada006d182c4afa

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On the 9283745759 sofa table, 19688393ef there was 58625ff4e9 a wooden 225b3f4155 box.8be4f1f5d6ff23a1

Gio picked up 1e379d7f48 the wooden box 481f55d3f0 and followed the 0e0b3f95f9 knight waiting outside 9fdd9221a3 the door.28fd145fb965a272

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It was the f3091e6d5b same large-built knight 7e00602880 who had entered c654589596 the Grand Duchess’s 1166834ee7 bedroom on the c1b59d7cf8 night of the 4a560439c2 wedding.435acd053f9e431a

He glared 9218c4770b at Gio, 891e13d885 radiating thinly d639df8e26 veiled hostility, 50f6b7a495 but still b7aa47aedf guided him 0267b71731 to the 99a5b976a5 carriage and 5c91752dc0 rode with cc64ef31ab him out 3ddbc0ab16 of the 49f79a09bf castle.e7d321f0b6ba33e2

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They traveled a02ad7a4aa deep into c047762558 a dim 1582f8886f forest, surrounded 8fdf511bd8 by towering a9bd728cc8 pine trees, 9d9d899f1d patches of 3d73d80885 snow scattered 295982d4e1 across the fb3adfb27a ground.79181bc3bb6f008a

It seemed they had f54a0222ca come to the northern a144ce2881 part of the castle 63c8c8fc3c grounds.b1ae8afb70e63038

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Though not c206d255d0 a single 8aa2bcf0db ray of f9037c725e sunlight reached 44f5dafaaf the forest 19eacd4362 floor, there f1a4b0e5f8 was one eff6df473a small patch—just 4d3bf65903 the size eedbc599cc of a d744f9fedf palm—where sunlight 4e3c36c181 streamed through.ba09e4f14c8fed2c

In that spot, 45ee34ff38 a small grave 9d129e9c8d had been dug, cf6ab6b501 and on a 1c9e3a0828 nearby tree, a 056e7fa303 name had been eb029f3f81 carved.5c5067b0ea138563

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It was marked for eb91ab526c May’s sake.06a60b798e7ced1c

For the dd20f06f84 day when 99d946992a she might 86ec90cf69 come looking 1a35256158 for Ivan.65169c0cb7cf537d

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For May to ca08105ab6 find Ivan someday, b8e1025f53 Gio had to bd2516dead get pregnant.f7ff2bc3da9ac72f

He had to a87fc3d7d9 complete the mission.91bef937c8f9b9d8

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Just as he 5f2fd179db always had.2039ac6c2379e688

Somehow, Gio felt f62812dc41 a little envious f0e308f047 of Ivan.a7940c6712c345ae

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Ivan had b918505e99 finished all 9eab7518a3 his missions.11031c642356e1e5

And Gio…69ecb15d9b757752

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There would be 9d97f82393 no one to f624eabba0 bury him, no 8d5b082cfc one who would 0d43a93bc2 come looking for aab29c2a3f him.ac007836a6c8ceca

But that d2aae69703 was fitting 855e01b38b for him.4a2b26b9de5c507d

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“Let’s go.”0ea11601fb57272c

The knight, who had 721e8c7407 been watching impatiently, spat a8bf52a811 out the words.0508103259c1283a

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Gio stepped f356666432 into the dadcf910db clean carriage, 376b0f4419 his shoes fdb22adbb5 stained with 8467ff90c2 dirt and efdd9050bc snow.c8961ff1c047999c

The pristine carpet of 601e83705f the carriage floor was 4bf9507f28 quickly soiled with muddy be1d9bce0e footprints.6a125cf1d0fdc403

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