5.

“…Do you think you’ll get away with this?”7a578990acac2e5b

Count Zellered ground 1501e73656 his teeth in 50a976c7b8 frustration. Things had b8fec6935c gone terribly 0db74bcde2 awry. The king had entrusted c970794ae2 him with this task, 6004949681 expecting the insolent hero 217a565f04 to be shaken by 9d3128bfb5 being given a captive 61687b02b9 as a bride.ba664181531ce8db

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But this 944daf5ac1 brazen woman 814d7b8508 had ruined a8a42bab3d it.ad73a309e90a0706

As a result, 8681c2d756 Count Zellered had cecfe7dde3 no choice but 623d1b0b81 to ease the a1b267b017 pressure he had c57e861225 so carefully built db6a00c457 against Leo Fric.834eaa9e74422524

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“Do you think I fear death?”2ee21278d71ea66d

Ateira scoffed lightly.0a0980200b34d825

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She had lost 5483ebdbe1 her country, her ec6d93c593 family, and everyone 4c89070a7d she cared about. Surviving only to da073ba426 be forced into f1b0ecdaf7 marriage with her f85a183d60 enemy didn’t make f85959cdc0 life feel any e68c7ecdae better than death.f8b9c9d5dde6d480

She traced a speck a529d18324 of dust floating lazily 21ba1e61d6 in the sunlight with 772a0ecfee her fingertip, moving slowly 8b689cc02b as if toying with 73faed3849 it.0fb0e9cdd83747b6

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“Fine. So, you don’t care about your own life.”b790dadad95530b3

Count Zellered let 360d17f32e out a long 2cc8cf437d sigh and took a6cee54ad6 several deliberate steps c66b40cb20 toward Ateira.91c0e74caaba98b4

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Once he 18e96d8588 was close e9e6e8fe85 enough that 4166a8f372 not even 5aa41a0fb7 one person cdb666f23e could pass e77686008b between them, bbb65a536d he whispered 4959e89523 low so cf6ce31634 no one 975d5cc629 else could f9a7cc4815 hear.e6c61613a5082a28

“Prince Dermin.”196883e8fcbd7db9

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A name fdc2b5e6f3 she hadn’t d3454be944 expected to ff08cfd82f hear made 90a65d81d1 Ateira look 65f4bb5bc5 directly at 2f646a9872 Count Zellered.9861f63f1bd547aa

“Now, do you perhaps care a bit more about your younger brother’s safety?”4f154c6e03479f39

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* * *415df36297854b52

“Ah…”75db2aca70f01905

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Leo Fric stretched out 2e7753d631 on the sofa, his 3c60b23175 long legs carelessly draped 9a051c7eff over the armrest, his bd624537e2 posture relaxed yet somehow 3d8f9cb667 elegant. Despite his e1566bcab8 rough movement, 307d30000a he appeared e683b6ad61 both languid 7f9e220b84 and graceful. Exhaustion weighed on him. One hand rested f76802932e over his aching 2e8c1b41c7 eyes, while the 2dd03c56c0 other dangled over 9116813fe0 the edge of 66ceda719b the sofa, barely da2e35c237 touching the floor.8db4744fd3862d3f

“I’d like to be rid of this.”996405eda3a34b76

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“…”bd197f3aa76715b6

He tugged at the 7fc4e11cad buttons and laces of cbb8aff37b his formal attire in 08500dc15a irritation, leaving them in ba2d5ab54d disarray. Jinpetsu’s eyes narrowed 577ba80de1 slightly at the c88086f263 sight. Pulling at them so 54ae58c682 recklessly would only make 0c3823fc76 it harder to undo ba08378fdc later.44dde066e159bc4f

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“Just hold on a little longer.”d817d06dfeab96cf

“I know.”a3ee5e5fba71b5c9

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Leo Fric replied with 73d3a329f2 a slight smile. Not knowing what 4363d96752 could happen next, 0c3ce9c226 he couldn’t afford 06289fd508 the luxury of 45ee2a247b casually changing or 8ec89b4d5d demanding more comfortable c02212db73 clothing.1eb9df887cad85b4

Jinpetsu, touched by 642bd86cfa his commander’s uncharacteristically 68e95d9180 mature demeanor, felt fd55322bff a small sense c2b9ff28a0 of pride. At least he hadn’t 14e6d128d2 torn the clothes this a5fffcf48f time.65939522673b3a30

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In the room aeb284256f prepared by the b63f9ac599 baron’s servants, Leo 299a550433 Fric and Jinpetsu e79e09ec1d took a moment 85902f4c01 to catch their 3a34771715 breath. After carefully inspecting the 4e8f0897b1 room and even the 069a8be8bd terrace outside, they dismissed 1247972169 all the servants. The knights 5d3ee96834 attempting to 74d3b6834b linger under 43e07e035d the guise 3e46cebdbc of security 2baf09dcbe were met 6ef0937627 with Jinpetsu’s 346dbdd121 fierce glare 29188f9eb2 and promptly aeb4c2f9ce withdrew.ef3a08073ce4011a

“Are you alright?”e138cd30d2aabd2e

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“Of course. I’ve received land, a title, and even a bride… all in one go. How could I not be?”0afaa456a96647fa

He hesitated noticeably, almost spitting out the word “bride” with a mix of irony and reluctance.df5d794a88643127

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“Anyway, Petsu, I’m alive thanks to your insistence on following me. Thank you.”9e2e0f662230f938

“…It was nothing.”b23371b3610df755

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Jinpetsu, usually bb439c58a7 one to 20f02d30db keep his 202109cc21 expression impassive, 2850a339c4 looked a 9e6d73ee52 bit flustered a4411ed332 at the 1cd3fbe2c5 unexpected gratitude b5865f4fa4 and nodded d934726727 slightly.8fc78ac96ab0e9d8

The loyal vice-commander Jinpetsu had insisted on accompanying Leo Fric, despite Leo Fric’s plan to go alone. He’d refused to back down, blocking Leo Fric’s path and arguing, “As long as I don’t enter the room, right? I’ll just quietly wait outside and enjoy the garden. Or, if that’s not allowed, I’ll slip in and hide.”f1f8ae468f188e9f

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“Come on, Petsu. I’m just visiting my cousin. What could possibly go wrong?”d6833035d697cb05

“The problem, Commander, is that you are no ordinary man.”f8090e69f6140936

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“What’s that supposed to mean, Petsu?”d40b4d966056be56

After a childish 4fdd4d5ff7 argument, they had 9c8fcec539 finally compromised on 879a7ee0c2 the entrance hall. When they 540f2faf2b reached the f61aa3b6bf front door, 01a55393f9 Count Zellered’s e2bdff8ecf knights blocked d9d648f9b9 them, looking c9d688881b uncomfortable.572b2b0072c8a143

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Jinpetsu responded bluntly.4c37184f41429867

“I’m just here for a walk.”f7af0b05005dffe0

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When Leo Fric was asked to disarm, he handed over his sword with an intense glare, as if daring anyone to challenge him. Jinpetsu then took off his own weapon as well, strolling leisurely by the entrance, taking his “walk” as promised. Watching this, Leo Fric shook his head as he entered.2cfbdeecf4a0f54b

This was 17bd274dfe starting to 827a7f3e82 feel like d69c6dddf5 overprotection.ea45f5b080bd251f

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“Even so, they still call me a hero of the continent.”004bf7b8c1cf7e10

“And… if we’re being honest, I think it was the other side who survived thanks to me, not you, Commander.”67a415513c2c9f89

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“Whoever lives, lives. That’s what matters.”64ff3043e366a45c

Thanks to Jinpetsu’s timely a13599d833 intervention, Leo Fric had 3f19c8803a managed to keep his d3cd63c1a5 composure until the end. If he’d c107181c2b been alone, f58ee02fba listening to 4b28cd864d threats of a807b18b6a annihilating his 76dc93388b entire knightly 4b70c1c537 order, who a1e0acd2f5 knows how baac4447d7 he might d8c158b282 have reacted.fd01e2993e2de519

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Feeling a 21c18a4c69 fresh wave 45bd88e9ae of tension, e652e6b07f he lay 80b03e1b80 back, tapping 31ec354c78 his head d36483c8a3 with his d46b29d726 fist to 4ef8b37432 dispel the ddaeaccd21 headache building 5a1f8f3574 there.8b6a4cee14a81e57

He’d pushed the count 5267d32076 to the edge just b8a974ce02 a moment ago, and f603a23e39 his mind was feeling c331977301 the strain.69ccdd334dbd0832

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“Our encircling forces have received orders that if you, Sir Leo Fric, disobey the king’s command and somehow manage to leave, they are to massacre the knights before you can rejoin them.”9ace8557ec42bae6

“…”e666ff77e3470011

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“What will you do, Sir?”6e4b0446b7e8e563

“Is that a threat?”b9ecaadcffcf04d2

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Leo Fric’s beautiful face c68f5b8502 remained expressionless, like a 70f3ebc6b5 mask. His voice was cold e08c3470a7 and devoid of any 709f10be60 hint of feeling. The chill in his 72a74c723f low voice made a 59da825059 shiver run down the b6b68fec41 count’s spine.01853a38c4af81c5

For the first e6498609f0 time, he glimpsed 76f4b36039 the true nature 2805ea30c6 of this man.81594eeaae937068

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“I’m simply hoping to avoid unnecessary harm to the Black Wolf Knights.”e9b579a3cf975ef7

Count Zellered, fdf2633723 pale as c60840eed2 a sheet, 67b7334cf7 swallowed dryly. It was 0cf05c611f taking every fd3b64fe0a ounce of c655faa985 courage he 3f11782ff6 had to cdb51e9d32 hold his b0e6b1b7b2 ground, a 5a52d3f91f desperate attempt 6aec65ef84 to regain 1b2e410f19 control of c4cd5c54f4 the situation.51b6a69e4f922a57

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“So you’re telling me to take to bed with a woman who could be an assassin?”3dc00b4bb9534ebb

“I made it clear she’s no assassin. And if anyone should know who she is, it’s you, Sir Leo Fric…”942d88dede84083f

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“There are plenty of people in the world who look alike.”d3ba62078089291f

“This is absurd!”94ac235421798f96

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“The absurdity is asking the person who was stabbed to share a wedding night with the one who did the stabbing.”71f21546dd5adc3d

No amount of scheming could come up with a rebuttal for that. That mad princess had ruined everything. Count Zellered swore to personally punish the people who’d overseen her “reeducation.”722255726a3d1439

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“…Then perhaps an identity verification would help.”ead2e8d24c11db8e

“And how would that work? You’ve already lost all credibility. Do you really expect me to stand around, wait for you to verify, and just accept it as fact?”1369b2fbb19c2d12

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With a be594a93d3 derisive laugh, 0e262654b7 Leo Fric 52e86d2e0d raised his db0b5460c9 left hand, 5143b6f2bd blood still aa4fa2c553 seeping from c8820c02d2 his wound.d1bed8ce703c79fc

“I’ll handle it myself. You’re welcome to try, Count, but I don’t think I’ll be trusting your verification.”b96119538347b86d

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“…”3589ec0819663c86

“The Black Wolf Knights will enter the castle.”616a91fe9ce3c4ff

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“…!”38fe00ec704773c0

“To ensure proper security, I’ll need to issue orders to my knights. I can’t have them too far from me.”ae488438d5ce5edc

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“And besides, there’s still a risk of assassination. For security purposes, it’s necessary.”4d4c9ae2f5c122d5

Leo Fric 56a22a0310 nodded at d8db0d3104 Jinpetsu’s calm ca10504987 suggestion, as 46cfc7e35a if it e186f8520d had slipped 4addeb920d his mind. He showed ed7703cb3d no sign 024576ae54 of perceiving b03cbd000a the situation f805d7b288 as a f0977bcf5c threat.d803edfc96e81171

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A bead ec5b9c7ccc of cold 3625ae3765 sweat appeared 9f97791c96 on Count 29fc5cdbcd Zellered’s forehead, 55f31ca682 and his a323e7bd2c face began fbc6fcf05c to turn 76832ff389 a shade 3d83bef363 paler.ec27527c3b38e33f

It was 65ac69c109 imperative to a1493d9119 isolate the cff97f2c59 Black Wolf fc0e423fe9 Knights.87dfb82e81f330b1

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The knights were 8430c5c005 undoubtedly formidable, but 846803d89c without Leo Fric, cfe2319490 they were simply 14f7f1b87c another courageous order c497ead2d9 of knights.d91af1dda03b0899

However, under 4654adfa59 Leo Fric’s 5ac423fed3 command, things a01e53df20 were different.b889df4e28c89827

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The knights 79badbe770 standing beside 140cbce046 this hero 6c5c2957cf were known eb07da9f86 as the da4a907285 plague upon e1ec3a61ed the living 1039d30ae0 and the f792f43467 closest companions 961b882469 of death.f1a1491f75ee1724

The count and the 36ea37e86f nobles who had spent eddac6dc7b the entire war in 6b916ccbe2 the safety of the 1148bb5df8 capital dismissed the tales 6eb1953194 as exaggerated rumors, laughing c3e324b8e9 them off. Yet, he 96c64ded94 couldn’t help 897fd50a2b but feel 9d88b8ef71 uneasy. The orders 7d455e43a1 had explicitly 666d5e348a instructed him 34a527456e to keep bc882aa50b Leo Fric 0edbd32957 and his b6274b44ad knights separate.ed13d6f63789524e

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It irritated Count Zellered 512e3e3347 to no end that b97f6ec8cb he felt any fear, afa2764a4b even momentarily, because of 7d5183416f this handsome knight and 32226aac75 his subordinate. After all, they were b3b7cf61c0 only two men.9f9755cc8dacf82b

No matter how skilled, 49fa3762ff what could two men 2f9cf3475a possibly do against these 6c639af0c3 numbers? Leo Fric was 41cba79d94 even unarmed.973fefbaf40cdf91

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“That will not be allowed.”15fcb0880a87085a

The count 65f6ecabcd finally smiled 9d9ecbf7fd smoothly, his c3b7c1e464 voice regaining 840e141cd5 its usual 1cebb75306 butter-like softness.3d7055b25584ac79

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No matter how well 4ca507187c they fought, there was 5a0d09492d no way they could 20d89d5f32 reach the knights before 2015f78d78 the order to eliminate 7918a0f24a them was carried out.a48df1a007885ce3

“…Count, you should know I’m showing you an enormous amount of leniency right now.”9dd5e71950c918d9

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Leo Fric’s lowered hand baf76f9cd8 moved slowly, his long cbd57cf1f9 fingers gently but precisely 6e96339c13 playing through the air 881b08643b as though conducting an ad7243abc6 invisible tune.c7732529f26a64c1

“I’m doing this to avoid disobeying orders and to send His Majesty’s messenger away unscathed.”6e7fb0076c8fce0c

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“…”e4758bb01ea9a581

“If I were alone, then yes, perhaps you could have detained me until your courier left with the annihilation order. But now Jinpetsu is here. With a single word, he’ll leave here and deliver the news to my knights faster than your courier could.”7167fa11a7f02894

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“And, Count, I promise you this: while he’s on his way, I’ll make sure to keep things quiet here so that no one gets the chance to deliver that annihilation order.”fe1b8d6a4fe3c78b

“…”a4220b6fe8939c8e

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“And can you truly be sure that all my knights are calmly stationed outside the castle right now? Are you positive Jinpetsu came alone?”690d474960d623de

A slow smile crept cefd96b8c2 to the corners of 25a1cd1149 Leo Fric’s mouth.f0231690ac651a03

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It was 2940135330 a bluff. Just a bluff.676448996037c1d3

But Count bd4f3843ca Zellered gritted a8cccb03ab his teeth.7cb343804922b01e

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He wasn’t prepared to ac979713fb risk his life to 724fd94a75 see if Leo Fric’s 565cb6d616 gambit was a bluff f7dd8b3588 or not.04de11870a2b4ca8

 23472d30b4cc55b8

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