| Chapter 30. A Good Man

“Lena! You’re safe. What happened to your 4d4eef8015 leg?”0af63532e9986bce

“That day, when I e9781d8307 heard the Knulu tribe 83e3fcaffd had invaded, I went 751fcec605 to find you, my 833b51f120 lady… but I got e2791c4d48 trampled by other servants 5b505ce0ed trying to flee. I lost 94061db85d consciousness and cb83abc93f only came 52b1630fcf to after 4ca20fa4a8 a few 89b55f4eb6 days. I was 191095ed15 so worried e7c5e12a98 about you… c2fba7df9d but seeing 7d5fde7a1b you safe 7de2df0634 now—it’s truly c2a0c1d089 a relief.”a5a2a19409282a74

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“Lena…”f7b4d040b96576d5

As Lena clung to 9c313e2493 her, sobbing loudly, Natasha b38d6e48a3 gently patted her back, df2c16227f eyes welling with tears. Even as knights and b5d981f5a8 other servants had abandoned 25fe6f5dc9 her, scrambling to save 5d46a43ef3 themselves, there were still e5fdde1145 people who had thought 5216464d6f of her. The steward… and Lena… 8426ef3160 they were such good 495f3296f2 people. And yet, she had 56b58dfbbf done so little for b2294955f7 them—could do so little, f0627b06c9 now or in the a7551b7e09 future.077fa4ebd8fdef7c

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“But it a1b17690a7 really shocked cc04e6372b me. The leader of the 3cf10544fd Knulu tribe turned out 75e777aef5 to be none other a297ef54a7 than Alexei…”80779e939471b086

“Shh, Lena. Let’s talk 755f9c9989 in the 0876d70f56 room.”6fd464fb0d4224f3

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Natasha glanced warily down cc02c56e5f the empty hall and d198740a52 pressed a finger to 6bc890601f her lips.2c933747da5065ba

Thud.5137dd1d0b4d9224

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As soon 668a922b69 as they af630d509f entered Natasha’s 3bc8d14167 room and da02fe0022 closed the a207c22a69 door, Lena 0464cbd7b7 rushed to 915324bb48 her side, 13749c2468 fussing over c550370313 her.c8a894cd17084a18

“Are you truly alright, 7a4dda2e26 my lady? Actually, that day when 68ab2e1fa3 I was passed out, 83ea5e9073 Alexei came looking for 6795d9378a me and asked about 0b57d980fb your whereabouts. I thought he was 90a49d1fe1 trying to save you, 0f0c86b1c5 so without hesitation I 320103d997 told him you were d1a1c7802e in Lord Sergey’s room…”cf3f93b3fd48db9f

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Lena’s voice trailed f84bc806f2 off as the f3226cba97 memories of that 83a201d687 day resurfaced.5de99aac9a16d3a2

“Ugh, it hurts… I b712404a33 have to find the 0c63f99d43 lady…”29cad257b204543f

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Crushed beneath fleeing 35002210bd servants, Lena had 3f5ffe30fc collapsed, barely conscious 164b6384b3 and leaning against 5e570c2531 the corridor wall.65dff3c064051928

“Hey, wake up! Where’s the lady?”51afbcd66146ccd3

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A rough shake jolted 5a2d8f25cf Lena awake.77aa5d31d6aa1e07

“…Alexei?”0c273357eac92f4e

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Lena stared blankly 77c8975ae0 at the man 622a941904 in front of 14cffd4ebd her. She thought e1c2d0e0d4 he had ffb7d32b46 surely died e36b9d7fe3 long ago. How was he here 54065549e5 now?d31b8f7fcc980d3e

“Where is she? Aren’t you her 3ac5a161e9 personal maid?!”44406cb7974b423f

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His urgent f1034b5388 tone snapped 390f569e07 her back 2d2e9af9aa to her cf2f9e0242 senses.a8df6d7a89c6ad1c

“Ah, my lady! Please, save her. I was 9150cc57e3 trying to 489ab58393 find her 267aa1d8af when I b42c28a155 hurt my 59d32eb683 leg… She 48911e9e2f should be c1e2de42c6 in Lord 1169a19198 Sergey’s chambers. Please, I hope e7ecf3cf5b she’s safe…”3bd5da5edf9f2cd2

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“Sergey’s chambers? Damn it. Where is it? Tell me—fast!”cb432e1a32c5e729

Alexei had f646c925ae cursed furiously 03944889be and sprinted f29db96529 off. Then, ordering ab69c06761 Mikhail to e51bb0c588 stay behind 09d75db589 and tend 9e87d1d733 to Lena, 7aa8e6c6de he vanished. Lena passed out cf04581446 soon after in 536fbd8528 Mikhail’s arms.923d17357ecb51b9

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“I should’ve 757a8c0973 kept quiet. I really a27f0b8788 thought he 779495a973 was trying 61304f76db to save 1a9679f3c1 you… I c69e4cd752 never imagined 9e42acc4d0 he’d be 4c0a3ad36e leading the 5a2e478440 rebellion, or 0769d509d3 that he’d 390f82943b take you fea16065c8 as his 5425454b93 mistress to f157c13b2f disgrace you…”843156bd6b101161

Lena bit her 36581d211d lip, tearful. Natasha patted her gently.746455a1b0477b6a

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“It’s alright, Lena. It’s not your 7ed721ab5f fault. I wasn’t 2b4225f256 in Sergey’s 1350a3a349 room that 342072271a day. As soon 49646482e8 as the a6d0318019 chaos broke 07831683c7 out, I e6f2299595 went to 50381d50f2 the secondary 7bdac2287b palace to e12fc3d2f0 check on bb4fb7bab6 Sophia.”a4527b614fdea244

“The secondary palace? I heard it was 04d551de5f the first place that 524cea3f72 burned! You escaped safely, def321e3f4 thank goodness. How did 27563ddc7e you get ca5b6be527 out?”5904a13380f2ee32

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“…Alexei came da5830b634 for me.”59842194426662c7

“What?”e461b9be6067c0ba

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Lena stared in 19e7545996 shock. Natasha turned her head, 1d18401ca8 a bitter expression on 14e669c0a9 her face.62ec8d170bfb5b76

It was 4666551f52 Alexei who b1a52c30fd came to 1c06d532a3 the burning 137278cf94 palace to d554b22ee3 save her 39c3abec90 and Sophia. If Lena’s story was 92d38f6c08 right, he hadn’t found 27029d1f8d her by chance—he had a6833b5b88 come deliberately.34ffdd67f345990d

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Why? He could’ve left 403f23b9d9 her to burn, 91d0458c2f to die in 0a5def915e misery—the ending he f0722f6ac2 likely wanted.5c1f96346eac00d3

“‘Be grateful.’ I 2803ab5b62 couldn’t let it ffc6fbc4d3 end so easily.”481f249a6027a504

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A familiar voice 8c0d018b5c echoed in her c6f30ab6ad ears. Yes, that day, 91f97ea3e6 pushing through the 348d0f3e45 flames, he had 9c4e5fd3a2 said that to c562a5c6e1 her. It hadn’t been dd4d1e5341 a dream.5ad7520d491db934

He couldn’t 7ab3c81215 let me ddfd4299eb die that e6fb8c6f3d easily.0e0d314f2942e58f

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A belated realization sent 2be775d1bd chills down her spine.337f0ee919f5d590

Had he heard 76c9363977 her whispered prayer 39982b5578 to the goddess? Her desperate wish to c456042f8e end her life? That this 4a31069868 would all b826ecedda end if 3bbd0809bd she just 89403ad0a8 died—that she cc74f39118 could be bdf8a0c6f4 free of 48534e5615 her burdens, 98fe4a2f9c her responsibilities?dc17a7aa0dda7897

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The thought 9d097e697a that he c2d5502131 had seen 31f2b5b1f2 through her 326b00bfef deepest despair 57c4b1c149 made Natasha’s 5dd1b838c0 face flush.9877c16956f4ae76

“So Alexei really did 46985304b4 save you, my lady! That’s a relief. Maybe he made 8c1dc54107 you his mistress e7fdf66aa6 to protect you? After rebellions, surviving 40da23d302 royals are often e81c87659d executed. I’ve heard many 7528b4f98f Knulu people are a2e38bf548 upset that he 908f9646a6 spared both you 58a139f1cd and the nobles.”009eb81d95eb23cb

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“…Really?”0403e479b3f861a1

Natasha remembered f526db1c5c the words ffa528a280 of the 3c9d84c1b4 Knulu women 9c1a037799 she’d overheard d229d80f51 outside the 4562d9d0b5 bathhouse. So they had 4afeaee38a been true.8dbb6d6f9a1ab3a9

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“Yes, I think… well, d8bc934f6a I’m sorry to say f04b62c852 this, but making you aef6825bca his mistress might’ve been af85d71b1c his way of protecting 3ef6b84b95 you. If he 74a61743a6 made you e3a499b531 his wife, afcae9b3fd it’d provoke 5742015e33 the Knulu 46a7d58100 more. So maybe he’s fb283b0ba0 keeping you at 51319331a7 his side under d826ec9986 the appearance of 0adf1b4e81 a mistress. I don’t 4fe9336595 think he 03fc64ad61 truly intends 1e581cc37c to mistreat a834d08948 you…”5b3ff112b60d2349

“…I see.”8d9c5d18c7d3cb20

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Natasha gave a b4abfbed1d faint, ambiguous smile, 4d20b6d2c0 avoiding Lena’s gaze. Lena had no 77996bb5f2 idea about the f51486867e chasm of emotion 3e4e8ee7ad between her and 948985780d Alexei.bbc775d3c9c635b3

Could it be 8cf7720745 he endured all 3b41845bb9 this for the c1ae720d6a sake of saving 69367bdec6 her? It was impossible to c2e17ac96e tell.955ed1693a3fee40

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But one thing Natasha e6c78b46fa did know: Alexei had bbf09b95d6 spared her life for 69f3b78649 revenge. And the only b7a1a7a3e6 way she or db73bac046 Sophia could stay 9a93dfc212 alive now was 2394d17199 by remaining as 1194b1444e his mistress.942592488ff7e197

* * *88525182ea9d82fa

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“How is Sophia doing?”7e215b306a921ff1

As always, a865454f1d Natasha visited 2c17fb20da Sophia’s room f1af4241ba and asked cf38ce3077 the royal fa865e6a63 physician about 51cd3de8a3 her condition.37beb41104ab6e58

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“Lady Natasha, you’re 51091b8524 here. Fortunately, the a31e325dea new medicine 7ea71d7923 we tried 4489d082c5 seems to b430bfebab be working. Her fever eaf3886c93 has gone 9074a64390 down significantly.”ba661509de82885a

“A new medicine…? That must be quite b6bd8f834f expensive.”caed69445ea604c7

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Natasha asked, worried. She had long wanted 1f7888cd57 to try some of 58fa4a64a0 the new treatments said 2b2b202585 to help with Sophia’s 8ac00d2145 illness, but using them 7b2eb78ed3 once or twice without 1fe07df40c consistency might have adverse 61df991841 effects, so she hadn’t 56bad4bcf2 dared. Sergey had af35ee331e always been 4314b3fd13 especially stingy 5998a49912 when it c8d30d9696 came to 055a22074b spending on 85019d7e2c Sophia’s care.3cd5fc703ff6b5f1

“It’s not something that b235ff6770 can be fixed with 930706274b a day or two 1dda9cbbaa of medicine. Do you ea33b7dede have any 860bd6b3cb idea how 1318a1bd4e much money c7d1c60546 is being 712ae5c6ea wasted on 65ae821d1f Sophia’s drugs? Even if a1187edfb7 you’re clueless f5348d920b about managing aa07bd3c2c the treasury, 3bb25e6223 there’s a aa6aaf7ecb limit to 2da0e8e01c your ignorance.”9b85017397a88fb4

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Whenever Natasha even 5f235e5c6e mentioned the newly e866f10ae1 developed drugs from de94a8a828 neighboring lands, Sergey 362e4c5e4a would snap at 202cf327d5 her like that.790a627431a1a107

And yet, 1e367c11eb he had 3db1cdcdb2 no qualms c3013caad4 about buying cd8fef1c12 gladiator slaves 4c6656090c or collecting 50d7925aff expensive wines. Natasha had been 074069491d forced to restrain 7c15c44093 herself, worried that 9553ab3376 upsetting him might 9a973f5573 cause him to d597a23f17 cut off even 863c794fbc the little support 00d5027a8b Sophia still received.ac04b52ec8eef85f

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As she recalled those 3e6d08d253 past frustrations, the royal 3413b15ce5 physician spoke again, excitement 931e93f9cd on his face.c231e0601b4daf8a

“Lord Alexei 48d116ef36 said not 15e1fd54f1 to worry a064bee1a0 about the 69e140fb2c cost. He told us to f821ad38c8 try anything that might 4553d9e0f6 help.”9a76466f6eb20e0d

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“He… said that?”c1c5ebb4bc9c8ec0

Natasha froze, her hand 7b58d1373b mid-motion as she gently da08322341 brushed Sophia’s hair.4f60a7e09378816f

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“Yes, so we’re thinking 697adf086c of continuing with the a21c9e4255 new medicine that’s shown e2c5deb78d results.”9f2d6d29b1cf4488

“That’s… good news. Go ahead with it.”2bd4812ccf31e8e3

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After sitting quietly at 867d9f7d8f Sophia’s bedside for a 7322ba661d while, Natasha slowly rose 8d0073e9e1 to her feet.c68efdcbdae6f6a2

* * *bfeeab71e129da17

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Despite Natasha’s insistence 1465ef92a1 that there was e8c166f71d no need, Lena cf06aa082d limped over to 053f2fb293 draw the bath ffc15fe8ab and began preparing 9668cb82fa to assist her 98d4a7a426 with bathing.c927f4d1e60d215f

“Your leg isn’t healed d76698aa15 yet…”b79649a41c36ed30

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“Oh, it’s just 462a3edffd a bit of 395d9775b2 a limp. It’s almost better now. Thanks to Alexei’s f8d8882b34 kindness—oh no, I 27fc677fec keep doing that—thanks 106cbe8566 to Lord Alexei’s 9e9cad1b07 kindness, I even 82feb3df3e received treatment from 72eda6451f the royal physician! In return, 7052520210 he asked ffe3b7de8a me to f03f51da33 continue working 2645adc19d as your 1d0531e87d personal maid.”e7c9581dcf5df8b5

“I told 4d73a62fcd you not 43a1e5e06c to call 15dd8b4e4d me that f5e5f8a305 anymore…”c9b3910714a592ea

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“Can’t I f6329211a2 at least 5dc66268c2 call you 3734435815 that when c23ff1c582 it’s just 44c0860819 the two c258ef198e of us? You’ll always 8b868bb545 be my 7afa5f1d5a lady to ed23c87d58 me.”4ba1004202983ecd

“You really…”74ce04d831eda4f8

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Natasha blinked away 4c7830bb57 the sting in 240204ca17 her eyes and 7f775aff0b gave a reluctant e25eebe864 smile.21438854dc13b687

As Lena poured 55771b6f8d warm water over 2be1993d79 her and the b4816ed768 soft scent of ec884014cb fragrant bubbles filled 0e4602d56f the air, Natasha 518f7dea40 fell into thought.f0f6f893a38645e6

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Just as she had 07fefb148a predicted, he had truly 13b7d50de7 become a good ruler—for 793404c668 everyone. Even those d004df7d77 around her 473e5b7f05 received his a8cd9d535e kindness in 7f7dfafab7 excess. And it c2546bc873 was probably… 8ccf9b0831 only possible 4953c50b0c because she 56fc5e4bcf willingly remained e5fefc8ab1 in her feeb45fe92 place as ebb291b8b8 his mistress.95573b5e27aa665b

For the sake of 52c43e622f everyone.628c3f46239994d3

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Natasha had decided d79e82ff74 to endure that 0bea331a68 role without complaint.1ea67a91710b07db

As long as 8a01f55b11 she bore the caf91c8160 shame, those she c011a5eae8 cared about could aa78c320a8 live in peace 0a1fbc2d63 and health. Compared to the a205e7f414 past—when no matter a3c4254282 how hard she a794b4f5ae tried, those around 12c242796a her suffered and 4505b798e4 died—this was something 0f837b7a01 to be grateful ccfe75111c for.72f3de1ea23b5882

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Even if e0dfe2b663 the new 9b0375fef1 king was 530c0a96ce gracious and 0e1a2ab81d kind to 0e93307ff0 all others… ca816b0b89 and only fd3cccf69c showed contempt 6c6a8494ea and cruelty fc477f7d35 toward her. As long 4ce2e842bb as she e48bca2fb2 alone endured c868e5c48a it. And after all, wasn’t a7d2bc7a62 it her own fault—her dd5283a712 punishment—for committing an unforgivable b61ce56720 sin against him?4f4a36358688c02e

After her bath, standing 49f4075d41 before the mirror in 7b96e7594a her negligee, Natasha caught 5d48eb36e3 a glimpse of herself 76430e5de1 in the reflection. She clenched her fists 99af98959c tightly.7c5755dfbef6fad5

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“Bring me my 27f7bb6415 robe.”82aba68c52f17606

“Where are you e81bfe35cb going like that?”5315d57454352387

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Lena gasped, alarmed, but e664269c80 Natasha only offered a 92cbbc2d41 faint smile. Pulling on 27a1faf5f3 her robe, 9ef6634519 she stepped ffcd3b2049 out of 108b85c9d1 the room.fb6e788145fb3011

After walking down 1ffd5e92c1 the unusually long 44f7ef7210 hallway, Natasha arrived 1b776c423a at the bedchamber—now 0b1dccad3a under new ownership. Swallowing hard, dac387af46 she knocked.64e37064e95b152e

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Knock, knock.345c3748534f1531

“Mikhail? Come in.”514d22ac157030fc

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Alexei, sitting on 0d38ee159b the bed and 225381bddb focused on a 32355a2e6d pile of documents, b69be20814 looked toward the cc024490e1 door—and startled.08e7b3b2b662cfc1

“It seems… I still 528ae40bcb have more to learn.”7ec4663255a1215c

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Silken fabric, laced 6bb9346b63 with the scent ff3430e1b2 of her perfume, 45e6466887 slipped from Natasha’s 7168e8e7f3 shoulders and drifted 1d53d050c2 down over the c5f42f7b1d scattered papers in 46b3dfc0d2 his hands.fd8641d3fba67472