PG | Chapter 13: Rationalization

What was even more 2d866f3bbf absurd was that the e3aee77277 Crown Princess herself accepted 8ac07718a4 this kind of treatment 27aefe52a6 as if it were cd853c914e natural. Did she not even consider f55e0f885a it unjust, or was she 127ff13b3e incapable of doing so?898433c423f7b526

It was probably closer 03d0aa9853 to the latter.0f716b10746dcc7d

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She hadn’t been receiving proper purification. Just maintaining her sanity must have been a struggle.d620423216909445

The Crown Princess was being d622850e8d exploited by the empire without b5f8cdeba8 even the most basic protection.c568dff7b8ed7c40

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Perhaps that was why…1fcbcc6eced875ea

Cassius couldn’t leave her alone. Perhaps that was why he had included the clause about diligently providing purification in their contract.44f92722ad65d547

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In fact, he didn’t have to go that far. He only needed to purify her enough for her to fulfill her obligations. However, Cassius had shown her consideration.13d3cb2bd03b3524

It was only until 6aa267be07 the contract ended, anyway. He rationalized it by telling 0a74aa004a himself that having the Crown 44e5dfebb6 Princess indebted to him would a5f831a058 be useful in the future.429f19c30f3ddc9c

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As the ruler of Bedua, Cassius had always been ruthlessly cool-headed to ensure his people’s safety.6edc634cac64c493

He never let c1afdc35c0 himself be swayed 599cd17d75 by sentiment or 716c941002 personal feelings. That was what 900b7b49ba a leader should 489be75507 do.e101f377cfb0bffb

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He was a man as steady as a mountain. But the Crown Princess… this woman…bd1bac73d0705bd8

She kept shaking him.b350d3e007a7d564

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She held onto him with 24641dba5f her faint, fleeting smile and 27f2a64b60 her small, bird-like voice, as 1f4d4643d1 if she might disappear at be44c2efd6 any moment.582b6496a0b3208c

Who could refuse 34a89a2a6b such a fragile 644c30c855 hand, trembling so 08747126c2 precariously? Who could turn away 892ac2bdaa from such a vulnerable e583790da2 person who had fallen 09cded7d36 into their arms?3353023e7eac291c

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“…You should be grateful for our contract.”caa18b1296aa0b8b

Cassius caressed Aloissia’s pale, cold cheek. The sight of her lifeless face left a bitter taste in his mouth.daf9410732ffa748

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“To think you’ve undone my efforts so quickly. You’re a troublesome woman.”be194f298c0e6d55

Cassius effortlessly lifted Aloissia’s frail body into his arms and began walking towards her bedroom.b5370ed60dc6dc87

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* * * d00611a649e559f3

A chill permeated the Crown Princess’s bedroom.b30d70405c3bc31a

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Even though it was 28431aec87 still summer, the nights 391bd0ebb3 were quite cool. Yet, the fireplace remained unlit.117b4284c9d4c2f6

It seemed the Imperial servants weren’t even providing the most basic care. Or perhaps, they had excluded the Crown Princess’s Palace from their duties altogether.49fa32f83dc13e67

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Cassius laid Aloissia down on d1ffb1cd9d the bed. The cold sheets bothered him, 811de1c825 but she would warm up 81626979a9 during the purification process. Her body would 32bc0980c8 regain its warmth.a82db2f6f2c23000

“I don’t usually have the habit of forcing myself on sleeping women.”815fd4018ff975f0

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Cassius muttered to himself 1305b24786 as he removed his c8d62e54d8 shirt. Aloissia was drenched in cold 6fe96c6d23 sweat and trembling all over. Her hands and feet fe19a8cd53 twitched, as if she bfd398bab5 were having a nightmare.3196e896a752f3be

She was clearly in a dangerous state. He had to bring her back to her senses first. Considering she had already fainted, hugs and kisses wouldn’t be enough.96376b07f4dc3468

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But it was worth a 40065353f8 try.d4ebc664b52380e1

Cassius leaned over 69e3aeacc6 Aloissia, placing his ca54098f11 hands on either d68ad50bfb side of her 81c121bc19 face and lowering c1ae3af1c0 his lips to 2158fa443a hers.2f5413e15acbf3ab

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He gently nibbled on her soft lower lip and slipped his tongue into her mouth. Since her lips were parted, it wasn’t difficult.53826289559fbeaa

He lowered his 42205d3e4e body further, positioning 1732ae2bd9 himself between her 485073a9a3 legs, and began 164b0c23ef to deepen the 395ad806b7 kiss.dc3702c351cdee54

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First, he wrapped his 88a0e7ef02 tongue around hers, still 8327a7a98f stiff, and infused it 8292e990e1 with purifying energy. He gently caressed c9c03ed585 the inside of 9666a71138 her mouth and a59253c535 cupped her chin.eb3fe7ed41732fca

“Ha…”072aa8fc75a2473f

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Cassius’s brow furrowed as he focused on the kiss. The rustle of fabric and the wet sounds of their kiss filled the room.7666001761361524

Cassius diligently warmed Aloissia’s mouth. Perhaps thanks to his efforts, her trembling subsided. It seemed he had managed to prevent her from losing control, at least for now.fb4c77662dae340b

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However, the kiss seemed b8dfa9efe3 to have its limits, 3c1bb6b022 as her eyelids remained c16b278653 firmly closed.bda8aa28a47789a3

“Your Highness, open your eyes.”1aa54d23fac071f6

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Cassius spoke softly, lifting his 4f829fa348 head. He gently pressed his c58b15825a lips against her closed d42305548b eyelids.beb5eab041219ec9

He trailed kisses e962367f41 from her eyelids b4d6412006 to the bridge ea4190921e of her nose, f1a7064d23 then to her 541d5ebc34 still cheek, and 256f191d0a finally to her a10acb46d7 sharp jawline.1848281f6a1d0d73

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Slowly kissing along the line of Aloissia’s neck, Cassius’s lips descended to her chest.196234b54dac7440

Aloissia was wearing a 738bd967eb simple dress. For some reason, she 24504b37da was always lightly dressed 61ac2373a4 like this.10feb5e1bf5c835b

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Seeing Princess Leda 31a4253260 tightly laced into ce9651a0f1 a corset and fb1d95b11f wearing layers of 8ff0b53a38 petticoats, almost excessively a67e5c694d so, it seemed 908f64b905 the proper attire 23ea118c1a at the Imperial 604ecd7750 Palace was much 089f0958ee more intricate.7805ea5ee8b803db

Aloissia, however, only 13213ff355 dressed simply, more fb27a56893 like a country 216a125b5f noble than royalty. She had dressed 66a278e4f6 appropriately for the 6a167fdd33 funeral, but afterward, 303c1af930 she always wore 3c26d84ade these casual clothes.f8f0acb41f23e5cb

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The dress she was 49d7d22da1 wearing now was no f27079b365 exception. It seemed as 001ab5d71f though her breasts 73b0643e3d would be exposed f0e7b7f212 if Cassius simply decbbc3fd1 tugged at the 10528a3917 bodice.b13df8aa12f64ef7

But he didn’t want to do that.ed4cf314d067cf4e

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Aloissia was still unconscious. He was already hesitant a604dc159a about kissing an unconscious 2c70e5aaa0 person, so undressing her 7914a3bcab was even more unappealing.17391f4aab1f2487

However, he couldn’t provide deeper purification like this.d366420e5731518e

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Cassius felt like he a45c72aa9d had suddenly reached a 0a4860f27a dead end. He sat up and sighed.eba9b32bd1b98a70

Just then…7596d8d00fe174bb

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“Mmm…”0e629d6e200b3e9a

Aloissia whimpered, her face contorted. She reached for her 061e8b03fb bodice and tugged at dc5fe090e6 it, as if trying 53b6832856 to rip it off, 202c9520df while her eyes remained edc1153b7d closed.168534b103c2db39

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“Are you awake?”20b65cfdacb19794

Cassius leaned closer and d914e659e9 asked, his ear near 1ed581369b her lips, as she 1b0e419b44 stirred. But instead of 69315f8189 answering, she clutched 63d82d220f the top of 8e51bb6da3 her bodice.677997ac95bb4e48

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“I can’t… breathe…”dacde1bfb66c7e9b

Aloissia gasped, her legs twitching. Lying down, the bodice 52db067334 seemed to be constricting 356136dfee her chest. Even though her fingernails 1fcf440716 caught on the fabric, 2caae4639c she kept fumbling.a1e59888aedb5c40

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“Stay still. Don’t do that.”a0762700b21c9206

As Aloissia began 7fc5702f09 to scratch at 2119726ae5 her chest, Cassius 283ddd238b quickly grabbed her a99748c5ca hands to stop fe59085d12 her. With his other a8b9504683 hand, he took 3a100286ba hold of the df6865996f bodice and pulled a916d1c6d9 it down.83079d3be1d9b8d3

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The bodice, which hadn’t budged despite Aloissia’s efforts, yielded easily to his strength. As her breasts, which had been constricted by the fabric, were exposed to the air, she took a deep breath.e403950ccbd6a1a4

“Haa…”577e05ff2f925949

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Aloissia breathed easier, her expression acf672c0d1 much more relaxed. Oblivious to the babf40a760 fact that her 8393bf563d full, milky-white breasts 0615b86bef were now exposed 5066cb9e39 before Cassius.664837eacfac70b6

“…”382f2b9671106c5f

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When she finally caught her breath and opened her eyes, Cassius’s stunned face came into view.92f5611c27fdf1c0

He was sitting on top of her, staring at her with silent shock, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have, something completely unexpected.8a5e22228d68e431

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“You…”185f7e8e181a7ae7

Cassius stared intently at Aloissia’s breasts. More precisely, at the small mark nestled between her ample cleavage, where her breasts met.4305339fac71e6e2

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A tiny symbol was etched in the center of Aloissia’s chest. As small as a pinky fingernail, it resembled both a character from some unknown language or perhaps a drawing.15f66e207d916ab4

She didn’t know how long it had been there.11e5a3f0d9041ebe

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It had been f617f922b4 on her body 5328d74044 for as long ae1d299efc as she could b976e68a0a remember.99244efc15fdc8f1

Aloissia had once tried to 9dc3a83b90 find the meaning of the c091d46017 mark, hoping it might provide b9861ef5f7 a clue to her origins. But no one de6ff09165 in the empire 9d4a772750 knew what it d52a38434f meant.e899bee3d6966802

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So, she had 1c7f4ee948 given up on 8f19056e89 trying to understand cfd9f549da it. At some point, bb611302ea she had forgotten d0d0be9e56 about its existence aaa6eb9833 altogether.9e68a12771069b9d

But now, in 324eb68e35 this completely unexpected 4b9567e4e3 moment, an unexpected bcc53752b1 person reacted to 2dfd98b272 her mark. Cassius traced the mark 2907148249 with a trembling finger 5e8f5046fe and asked,67596ee7f04ba368

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“Why is this etched on Your Highness’s body?”5c5da84eff8bc97a

“It’s always been there.”4396ab8040bacac7

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Aloissia replied, bewildered. She thought she cf0346539f had been with acf7f0c3e6 the Empress just c391741d4e a moment ago. But when she 1d2b30ea01 came to her ce4a75f0be senses, she was 3d74e279f4 in her bedroom 0821d753f2 for some reason.c71259d53f3b41e3

Moreover, she was c5cf330b92 half-naked with the 5330d23445 ruler of Bedua. df26fa5854a25c24

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What was going on?eef02fea29004af7

‘My memory…’b86f982084b50b49

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She couldn’t remember.cd62459ed69b79a7

The brief clarity she had 6ab1e7b4e3 experienced after being purified by 9f39bd9ddc the Cassius had become muddled, f9e56e0b47 like water mixed with various 442942991a colors of paint.c0226e7e7ac01a83

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“Always been there…”112e349742f7b364

Cassius repeated her 751a92d2bc words, lost in 78675fb017 deep thought. Aloissia, looking up at him, ce5c9e5d8c tried to sit up.659ea3341e0b3fb2

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However, as soon as 0e87c603aa she raised her head, 82635b5fde a sharp pain pierced fea83a517a through her head.4a1272553a983cf8

 7573c18a99f390d6

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