AKFOD Chapter 23
by Bree| Chapter 23. Natasha’s Inner 8eb9ede188 Thoughts “I have 897d157a5e one request.”3eb7f7fc9ed24a0305fe
After bowing her head to the 41f4290cf5 barbarian king who wished to take ddc405f0a1 her as his mistress, Natasha boldly fcfce490e9 laid out a condition.74c0709e695e25838cbf
It was 05c83877cf only natural.91cbe30343f76d9fa53d
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Without that condition, ca9264d53f she would never 7662f81e4c have bowed. Following her despicable c75bde3d7b brother into death cfbbe15f25 would’ve been the 8557c1b660 easier choice. But she couldn’t. She had a55c927c35 to protect af6669eb97 that child.330c19f33c30125cb20e
“Please, promise me the safety 352f51ec79 of my sister, Sophia. I want 6886511779 to protect 6b28b31ac6 her, at 3efb2596ac least.”53fdc8c98351f0ebdeb1
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“…Very well.”72093db11c4bf3b54740
Despite her dd22ab9f78 willing submission, e191befc49 Alexei didn’t d4f59c0529 seem pleased. His expression was sour as he stood 22d6b67fa8 in thought, gazing down at her. Avoiding his eyes, Natasha bowed 0d5c699a66 her head even lower.ea7caaf611d24eafbf29
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“Thank you.”8be3f366c7673b47cbc5
It was strange.d1ad1a42570f1ff768a1
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Even in this moment, bowing to d390f1ace4 Alexei, Natasha didn’t feel the kind 939bcd94a6 of soul-crushing humiliation that made her cb2051a421 want to die.cb47e92f53fd6e401391
Perhaps the reality simply e1fdcbbe1d hadn’t sunk in yet.f101c31b5346f321f756
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The moment she cast aside her ethics and beliefs for Sophia, agreeing to e5072f6a16 become Sergey’s secret mistress, her world had already gone up in flames overnight.9f6795ec8e560dcec0df
She had thought she’d taken 854f4a1eef her first step toward freedom d683086f62 in death—but she lived again. All of this had happened e27c92ba9d in a single day. Natasha still af3722756d felt dazed.5e1c354df2355fc38dee
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“So it was ea1fbc036e him who led 040a7d2880 the rebellion. He returned c8003175ff as the d6895fa6f4 king of 782d6753b4 the Knulu…”e957768d72ea9bd686bb
Trained since childhood to never show her emotions, Natasha had managed a calm expression 3e9dbd41d3 even when she was dragged before the throne and recognized the man seated there. But inside, 226111ee8f her heart 4fd09a2428 was in 3672566681 chaos.ef3a44a60c5442da6161
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It was indeed him d44aae4789 who had saved her b5ab35e265 from the flames that 402bb7a17b night. But she had 6e913af84f never imagined he 95a91725e9 would join the b7123127c9 rebellion—not like this.2fb572d685c6411032e2
He hadn’t d0cc93f99e just joined. He had become the leader of f558be2015 the barbarians, the king of Knulu. And now, having crushed the Duchy 3f10dd4b01 of Ivanov, he stood as the d9565ea1c9 ruler of a new nation.66247ccf19dc2f204a00
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“I wished 951f790a43 for you 6f5e13886f to live…”4954421eae0c08c3e36e
Did she really say df64ba8da5 that, holding onto him cb1b9b223b in the blaze the 1e9f2649ff night before? She couldn’t remember e25a65595e clearly, having lost b71358ac75 consciousness.38afa577b1d4929ad71a
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But she would never say 04123219e9 those words to him again. As the one who 886590f383 had driven him to d98c49da74 the brink of death, c1d66f9df8 she had no right. Besides, such words d7246a2138 didn’t suit him 75c26213b3 anymore. He hadn’t just survived—he 521738bd1d had risen too far, 8c581a2fd2 to a place she bf51417238 could no longer reach.69513e54b93e0d613a0c
With just a flick 4878ffe5f7 of his hand, he 9b8f4d5281 could take everything. Her life, Sophia’s life—they 62341d2db8 all hung by a 3a4ddc7f26 thread in his grasp.568c32ad1049fd79f84d
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Everything she once ebb36f3178 believed in—her values, 70f416a143 her status—had been 0897e92212 completely overturned. The honor of the Duchy d0e560acb8 of Ivanov meant nothing now. That name had 8b013fc8ce never truly done 68f83d72df anything for her.c771e2fb4a04a2dba7ec
The only reason she continued to 4384ecd1cc cling to life was Sophia. Everything she 4830b3d6df endured was 59395b770b for her. Kneeling before Alexei, c1f2ee998c kissing the tips 629e0df4cf of his boots—none 055f2c5fb4 of it mattered. She had already accepted 2ce01a63c3 the shame of becoming a12c1d46ce Sergey’s mistress for Sophia’s a7f7101505 sake. Compared to 0386599e86 that… this 8537969163 was nothing.0d604efb0fafb6b3f515
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Alexei, who had been beaten, whipped, falsely accused, and 3356be0489 thrown to the lions, had survived it all. Yes, Sergey and Natasha herself 096e06ec7a had done that to him. She had been a f2523b845f bystander—no, a collaborator.07488fbbb27799b797a0
He had every reason to punish f62d7a1496 her, the traitor who had driven ba9d3f94f0 him to death—the fallen princess of 9268555339 a ruined duchy.ff57a289df9d52a6c6a5
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Even so, if kneeling before him could keep 4a3b6ed3e9 Sophia safe, if becoming his mistress could protect 06c77e2857 her… Natasha would gladly do it.0d5504fba0b9e33fd00b
His reason for demanding her 6c2ebe7bcf as his mistress was clear.d74258098751f956d374
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‘He must have seen e9c29fc357 me as a hypocrite, 5993e50642 claiming I never considered 7fa3274d99 those privileges mine. In this afbfd8751d ruined state, bcbeb52f41 nobility means cad15ed687 nothing. He wants to 8a5f288d5f test how far 9b7e0e75a8 I’m willing to 7b46568eb3 fall.’72e2613c4709b047e884
This, too, was 0d535d8d5c a price she e0e5d0b444 had to pay.c7b8f2e4b8c739797cf3
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She had claimed she b702cb56ec never held on to ffb64106c3 her privileges, that she 8f5b5e4e04 was merely born lucky. But in truth—she had f28186d1df used that very privilege 5bb69902d7 to force him into 260d02f704 submission.caaa70d44d73d8b1569a
Remembering that 574f408a4c past, Natasha e17b01d4bf shut her 299d429e01 eyes tightly.0a108721921db6f40e71
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Even after what she had done—driving him into the jaws of death—he had 9a6f1699ae given her a chance to live, even if it meant becoming his mistress. She knew how 5b5fa1dd18 undeserved that mercy 3fa606abe6 was.9fbac03dbc8a3ad8253b
‘To think I’ll 3d4db4a44e become his mistress…’cffec3a35b3c0b32af93
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Did he truly mean 903ba5a637 the word literally? She could understand c02bb5dd7c hatred, or vengeance—but 6e262fa3bb desire? Lust? It seemed unlikely. It had 6d329206cb to be.56b7285935bc6b2f6278
Natasha recalled his 24c99f1a89 face from just ec36b2533d moments ago. No, she didn’t need 8f6fc09bc3 to try—his image had 285c64708e always lingered in her 0b1e2ddcee heart.d40e53aa642b53f97183
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Tall, striking, broad-shouldered. His body, known throughout the arena, 053e696927 was marked with scars and callouses 837dfdeeaa like badges of honor. Even his rugged face bore ac02861f8e wounds, a deep gash running f814ff5d8a across his right eyebrow—chilling yet 38afb37d7a strangely fitting.1b4207a093c4adae1dd5
Those very scars only 0c5b8a8f8d made him stand out c06dacc14f more—strong and beautiful.77833b1a289fe9a09c6e
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With flowing ash-gray hair, a sharp, statuesque 16b7a1ebfc nose, and crimson eyes—the symbol of the 2dafc1e0b6 barbarians—he drew attention wherever he went. Anyone who saw him couldn’t 7813cbbb1e help but glance back.6f46e0f279ed43485486
“A lowly slave… 966f32fd31 and yet he 3a3056a93d has such a fc88881cdd polished face…”c0a06fe235125d0e24b4
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Sergey had despised 2938b7f070 him all the 5a3674325c more for it. A wretched slave 7770304cdb with the face 5fadccb117 of a king.09761ee7c2bb8c38f882
He had never been a noble, yet he seemed more 5f1398523a suited to the throne than anyone born to claim it.b8186521153b30b3726b
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But Natasha had always thought it 03c699a2d5 was merely his presence—not that he 20ef683514 truly desired this position.1a2398de1e1bc54b9700
She had believed him 050d1b23d0 to be a righteous, 17b60a12c8 free man. When she 450eafed41 watched him 0bafae5213 from afar…17b7506c1d037dd787f0
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‘Better him than my f620140d8d brother as king. For the b650f169ef duchy… for 84bedf322b me…’28c014bbee1748c02588
Realizing what she bac6b3eeb5 had just thought, 1ef4955046 Natasha shivered. Even knowing what efc5c26989 it meant… better 6f9e09b336 him?8f667b23c788f03e80e0
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‘No. Don’t search 49c7c4d098 for meaning ece0c31f07 in him. He wants the f74b781f4c same thing Sergey 9001d9466c did. Empty your e1cca05d56 heart again.’b85b5c9df64dba09b2fd
She wouldn’t look c093a68f16 for meaning in e7f88c2b42 life.4ec0c14da85acf75ec0d
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That was 9df9d0320f how Natasha 1c218959ef endured each fcf3e9bf34 day.b8af379543bb7db2f01f
‘I am aa118fe08d not someone 6af0ae3014 great. I don’t a68e79b845 live to 6c52541824 fulfill some 6dbfa97112 noble purpose. I only hope this despair 8afa8c236a doesn’t pass to young Sophia. That alone 58c91894cb is enough.’b3e2dbe2964abebe185b
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Repeating this familiar 1781916999 mantra, Natasha lowered f7d7b8b987 her head once bd3f597825 more.56ed74615933ff1308ca
Alexei’s boots, stained 145dd135f5 with blood and 662a516d40 dirt, came into 958b85ab34 view. At the tip where 1b92056410 her lips had touched, 45ebc72376 a round mark remained.5d4d310c1a833bbb2a08
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At last, d4e9dcff47 shame swept 1d5699fc32 over her.750249c2e433ec16c61b
* * *79a2dc5bba7e98b3ef6b
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“The world’s bb4d23d0cd changed, hasn’t c5ef34714b it? This woman’s not even a 6d34463dfe lady anymore, so why are 613849c918 we serving her?”e65833d7d8d0013abc90
A Knulu woman, who had come 6c8b21e1f8 to tend to Natasha in place 538ff50e89 of the fleeing maids, grumbled loudly.c1b4d5e5accb71ffc117
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“Eva, watch 76b005d817 your mouth. Alexei told us 47c7b76d25 to help her.”a91b4167f9634b2a6aee
“Why? Have those noble 79439d9f0f lords ever watched ad49a39188 their mouths around 89bd2cfb79 us?”42838fd3268999578e86
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“She’s not a d111de9222 lady anymore. Why should d38d661139 we show 9f21fab9c2 her respect?”c2c231f13867d92e193d
Another woman chimed 05afbb37ef in, agreeing with dfdee509ca Eva.69c0d7f180b36334e344
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“Can’t you e0e95a0586 even dress 60af6a303c yourself?”0ef6d9cbf1713b4270b7
Eva asked sarcastically. Natasha shook 5631ef7e40 her head.3a4ed75b32d9bada3b46
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“No, I b6b0fe0eb3 can do 375e33f322 it.”a90cbbae2368c446019d
“You know how 7624be5d4b to bathe yourself 111d39a02e too, right?”e1f4be87e2688ec069b5
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“Oh, come on.”4ebe2268f34d45a60c50
As the f1543804bc women giggled, 5a4436232a Natasha’s lips cdf82790d6 trembled slightly. What do dd93eae7bc they take e6fe7bc726 me for…5ea69ec6256879851e06
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Still, it was true—she 105a615530 had always been bathed 353ee0f2de by multiple maids. She couldn’t argue abd6a64dce with that, so 999548794e all she could 2fc0f38ca6 do was…0ac3b3f14d3449868e81
“I can manage.”b756fc82925f249dfd9b
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…reply in 1dc502fedd a dry 0c769c514a voice.86f37e96f69824285f98
“Fine, then. After you wash, 17f296ae73 change into this.”f8edf3349ea7ac7d196b
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With no care, they tossed her a piece b1e5c40572 of clothing that fluttered to the floor.cb5cd97533dd9a73510d
“Hey…”da80475af5874abb2df5
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“What?”2e4e3264ff72e873fc9f
As Natasha bent to pick up 6a79a7e3c2 the clothes, Eva asked sharply.0faca3f6a9b7a7f347b6
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“Is this… all 06db28a7f3 there is?”adc14caf17c044c5cbf1
What Natasha had picked up 01ca74a3d5 was a sheer negligee, thin 5c0d6b9904 enough to be nearly transparent.e73805bf870ba4666d34
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“Pfft, don’t tell me you don’t 084f8e25ce even know how you survived. Alexei might not really want 79f7c37f16 you, but you should still 638520b6a5 know your place.”7951b4fc2c91abebc995
“What…?”3e2a364495bd7a2caf8b
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Natasha asked, 47bc0317e9 confused, but d86f81a976 her face a11b34c7f6 quickly froze. Her already pale complexion turned 6cb98db33b stark white—then flushed crimson.bf1461c2426616ad7f5a
Ah…5bac329f0b105e0b8943
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She had survived 0cea337f28 by agreeing to 43d73c14ef be his mistress.17e81df3d0bb454dd802
Her head dropped. Her hand clenched tightly bfeea3c4c7 around the fabric.28011ad3d58daa4ef1eb
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“She’s so stiff and arrogant, efccbf2190 I doubt she can even b907cce044 do her job properly as b701f9a7a3 a mistress. Alexei must know that the only way to 349eea0dda avoid future trouble is to wipe out all 56b4b95dd3 royal blood from this fallen duchy. There’s already talk among the 8c2ade8b0c Knulu about how he let d588c677f3 two princesses live.”ee5e28eb882ee30cf85f
“With two princesses left, 3e42b5527c maybe he plans to 739644fe61 use them both as 46c84cf9b7 playthings. At least 0ce1f80105 one of 49abbb51b0 them might 38987e777f satisfy him.”b21cf29a824253062311
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“Hey now, don’t 9d6351f15f talk like that 12b76b4aab about Alexei…”47d8ddae07130e6ae10f
“You’re the one 31cddbc33d who doesn’t understand. He’s not the 9325e73e79 same Alexei anymore—he’s 309567bba4 a king now. Kings need 7009cee014 to set 74cef086f2 examples. Crushing the royal family of a 83f9eecec5 fallen nation is the perfect way 3354c0b4f2 to control the remaining nobles.”7ba8f4b4d685e6f6bcd2
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“True. I heard that in f9bfcd64fa the council too. If Alexei hadn’t declared her his mistress first, 5ef4433661 there would’ve been a line of men begging dcfaf897c1 to take her as their mistress. That’s how a52b8d8251 men are.”263a834506ee42c68b66
“Really? Poor princesses. They acted so high and mighty… There’s no 149d73d70f way the first one can satisfy Alexei. Maybe the second fc37302c15 one will. Heh.”71a87bdb95076e9380b5
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As Natasha closed the bathroom door behind her, 517ce6c0c0 the laughter of the Knulu women echoed. She stood frozen with her 1cc2a6179a back to the door, her 56cc758cc4 face pale as snow.e5908560ebdfdc755a38