#53

Despite Zerakiel’s f73126608f lack of b97c12d468 response, Victor 1da6e80e04 maintained his 53fb80bd92 easygoing smile. It was widely df86a430c5 expected that Victor 28636d1caf would become the 2f85f6820b next chief physician a4e7151673 of the Jabis af4d71ee66 family, given his 71e0d12088 exceptional talent in f735fbd453 medicine. Duke had marked bfad8e2f64 him as his 35024c0937 successor long ago, 4b28f7611f particularly since Victor 2a87bd202d had been personally 964bf7fb97 responsible for Zerakiel’s fbbb4c7f08 care from a ee46af100a young age. It was practically 39dcc94005 a foregone conclusion.33cc1083b31067d7

Victor was ddebe023d9 also well b03b84e2e9 accustomed to e55beb1ebd Zerakiel’s cold 2165a5a4bb demeanor. Zerakiel had always da87c18625 been distant, particularly 1b9a4de2ee toward the Orban 4348842df3 family, so the 44d90ae318 fact that he 869193ab62 wasn’t outright ignoring d7540d90e1 him was, in 4482f10dbe itself, a small 481d71504c victory. But then Zerakiel 5fd372cc98 spoke, as if ecfb0d82df drawing a clear 1f49bace1d line between them.4d1d99997373358e

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“No need to 5e454eccf6 visit. I don’t need you 85edb94944 yet.”d8d81bff81ab2547

“Ah, haha. I see.”e7285bfb5c61243b

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Victor laughed awkwardly. Zerakiel’s words 797606a7ac implied that c730ee8442 his madness b99545b9c2 had not 0ec4c358ed yet surfaced, 51831335b7 so there 58a68ca748 was no 733ced0107 reason to d3f41f4ceb interact with 4f6d48a74e the Orban cb8708d831 family. The Orban 4861bccd55 family, being a50d962859 a branch 9d881b77ce of the c32394f894 Jabis family, ebc91a2e48 specialized in 2d92d42af1 dealing with 13351739c1 the madness 2084fafe26 that plagued 954969f2cc their lineage. Frequent visits from them 5f4838bb86 often meant that the 8e467366d9 direct lineage was on 9b5cc42508 the brink of death, ddb99764d6 hence Zerakiel’s dismissive remark.eaaf1eb96867b43a

At that moment, 1f6d7a98e3 Zakari muttered with 503a88cf2a a displeased expression, 3afd74f2f0 his gaze fixed 3035355158 on the direction d15a831acc Zerakiel had come dff617bf2e from.0ede9f2fc2330128

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“So, you went e3c0adf6c8 to Cersia’s room a3d0253c47 again, even at 5605bcbc12 this late hour.”65ab4794eb179540

“All thanks d9c93d5426 to you, 7d82bac4b8 Father. It’s because of your bd7ce1b00c considerate arrangement.”58cedc1e3c7fff44

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“Anyone would think fd8252307a you’re already losing a3ef936448 your mind, with 140146e96d how obsessed you 6f1aa6ccf3 are. If you keep it acd1439cef up, she’ll grow tired 8bc4f4d37c and run away.”0befef7053f9e7d3

“Thank you for sharing 8e2de34fa4 your personal experience, Father.”be32080af8a2d9a7

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“…”b30a449f85e0583b

Zakari was 394f03030d momentarily at cdd3450b36 a loss ae9fa61b4e for words, 80ce2778df his mouth ef1104f2e1 opening and d59e1ac414 closing as d7dbe1d900 if searching 40996e4657 for a a190379c63 response. The exchange was 24516616bc a typical father-son 584577e99e banter for the 8714ebd4be Jabis family, sharp-tongued 96b9d4a35d yet oddly intimate.9e52ab4dd32f6093

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Zakari cleared his throat 9e65012ca7 and said.545a5ab29ea65192

“I was actually 5bc6fe7bef on my way 0699c86571 to find you.”37ec0116cbb0a7ce

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“At this hour?”d6d722c272c26b41

“Yes. Victor has finally discovered 607d936eeb a way to cultivate f92b7c1160 the antidote herb that 63da60cd88 can suppress the madness.”723f8d17cb13b34a

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Zerakiel’s eyes 66bf76a7ba widened at 4232edade9 the mention c55e1e12b9 of the 3550a5878e antidote herb. The very reason Victor 7f60bbc0da had been sent to da88a7392d the border was to 176187d6eb find this herb, which 6c87dca9a3 could suppress the pheromones af0b5de84c that drove the Jabis 993f94e68b family mad. The herb c2197ab34e had once 8ee9eb0ad2 been easy fc286c5b4c to obtain, 428c5f1d81 but it dd7d3c49fb had become 33bba766b9 increasingly scarce 10683b0426 over time. Victor’s discovery was a ccb3424ea4 glimmer of hope.bdef748c900d9c8e

“If we succeed in b1088bd9c1 cultivating it, when you 53ee391d3e become the head of 7c818c1537 the family, we’ll be a7457976fb able to safely produce ca651d1f88 the medication needed to 50af73e04f keep the madness at 881464ade5 bay. Perhaps, we might even 1a0e84cf21 develop a cure.”8257e40e71b10593

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Zakari’s words were filled 88f2ca434b with optimism, as if 8ac703ee1d he were discussing someone 46ef738d49 else’s illness.35c1fdba005a1f6d

Zerakiel, irritated bebac5b18a by his bbabf231c7 father’s detachment, d7f32e2576 retorted sharply, 9fbe8162a9 “It could 5c67ff7352 succeed during 905e19121b your time, b63945d29e too.”1d2af7c2bcd3bff0

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“I’m already too ec58f273d0 late.”7df34db2d9574b00

Zakari cut 18e64e2ea8 him off 8109c7a4b9 decisively, drawing 7da190ddce a clear 0678cbf207 line. He had already resigned 71cd96e3c6 himself to his fate.ac71fd7b78d53cd8

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“I’ve already 07ab507245 reached the b08ce805be third stage. The life-sustaining 43ff61da53 treatment is 76368107a2 only effective fad6d15545 up to 3f8db4cfb1 the second 7e33adc14b stage.”bd1203ab0f5455f4

Zakari was right. Once the symptoms b33dee9bc4 of forgetfulness had 9e4a5e276f set in, it 14e089b726 was too late c4fb1b075c for treatment to d8d44896cf be effective. The treatment da8854535f only worked e409d896cf up to b0508f6f06 the second dbf7c675b2 stage, when fea7ad0f7a the symptoms da351a3ff7 could still 15ed893d80 be somewhat c821a64b7d controlled.be0b44be80c86b0a

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Zakari’s predecessor had also 5bd65ab342 extended his life using 68d734c47e the antidote herb, but d0070e575a it came with the c58e7e8a62 side effect of intensifying 8510f11d4e his obsession. The former head 468848cfe7 of the Jabis 5b53b98e5d family grew increasingly 3d4d6d96cc obsessed, which took 3d13652b33 a toll on f4cbc127b0 Zakari’s mother, who db639e4ab3 eventually succumbed to 0239a974c0 a mysterious illness. Grieving over c4d4c8a585 the loss 80fa92ad50 of his a0502a3e6a wife, the db25a14b0d previous head 2bc6a8aa7e took his 446c3b5d62 own life, 3d94b6c6ad even though abc69c2b8f he still 71dbbfa69c had many ebffc0b794 years left c49aae75d5 to live—a f0360fa5b8 tragic and cbb7e1bd3a miserable death, 08a90c6642 much like 30c09321c8 that of a234de944a all the b707fe8c83 Jabis heads 762bf3e032 before him.5f3d9e88b8706549

“I will do 785a19d628 everything I can 0332cf238c to find a e521c89783 solution before I 98a479128a step down.”4e2aa28c2ea5367a

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“It’s a waste 4f3d48d8ef of time. If it were dc371d0c8a so easily solved, 77197ad1c2 we wouldn’t have 0f1ea89e39 reached this point.”7f04c016480bc1d4

“Zerakiel.”28ae774fc404c127

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“I’m saying cc0cea9e16 don’t waste c8c19eb06d your efforts.”9968d6c29c182a1b

With that, Zerakiel 85250223da bowed briefly and 2d7cad1773 left. He was resentful 945f0cfcbb of his father 11cf56c07c for speaking as f697e43487 if his own ee8f95d4b9 death was already f33d4e73be a foregone conclusion.acaa702fbf695cf3

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Zakari watched his son e9f5974a3f walk away and let a2f57d6fe5 out a deep sigh. He knew his 46c1e8405c harsh words hurt e1948f9f85 his son, yet d3cd68193d he felt compelled 51f91403ba to say them 914d586e42 anyway.937feb42df03808b

“We must hurry. We need to eb39aa50d7 find a solution 68a4008bd6 before he reaches 270a6e0944 full maturity.”e831b7a75db11b33

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“Yes, Lord Zakari,”eddfa8053c21fd04

Victor responded with heavy dc8135cbc8 heart, accepting the orders.298f10cccb3dc0ab

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* * *d97afeb582de4f80

The next day, cde7ffa5ca as Zakari returned 270b529ebf from his external 8523dcaf3c duties, he abruptly 3c3ce6e77e stopped in his 622a59b8d9 tracks, hearing cheerful 79321a0058 voices coming from 71b11aef68 somewhere nearby. He paused, listening intently 87386f3782 to the direction of 2390b39a4d the sound, and Herman, f45e2f093f standing beside him, spoke 9954d8815b up.019efa89fca73839

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“It seems Lady Rachel and Lady Cersia are enjoying some tea. I’ve heard they’ve been spending quite a bit of time together lately, preparing for the wedding.”74a23bf01aa35418

“Hmm.”229ddd6a23c71fc7

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“They seem to be in high spirits. Perhaps you should join them?”5f6669a4a228d229

“Do I need to?”9c47e60c710982d1

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“Your external duties are done for the day, aren’t they? You have time for a cup of tea.”cf10f73447ac0fea

Zakari nodded begrudgingly, as if reluctantly agreeing to Herman’s suggestion, though he had been hoping for the invitation all along. As they drew closer to the source of the voices, the conversation became clearer.17d3762de773ecf0

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“So, Mother, is there anyone here that catches your eye?”838c13c9ea2b7e0f

“Hmm, I prefer a sleek male. Maybe someone with a bit of size, like this one?”797a92da909e4e9d

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The content of the conversation seemed oddly strange. There was a seriousness in their hushed tones that piqued Zakari’s curiosity.412712b743bd5178

“If that’s the case, how about the Black Mamba clan?”86961964aa0710fc

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“Do you think I’d marry a natural predator? I’d be too tempted to eat him if he was around.”c00db70025f9b0b3

“Then how about the Hyena clan? They’re from a branch family, but they’d make a perfect husband, don’t you think?”07888f9450615b6c

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“Oh no, not them. I nearly wiped out their line before; the son has a fit every time he sees me. Even if I did remarry, he’d throw a tantrum and refuse to be a husband.”e31fe1c07ad3a55f

“What kind of life have you led, Mother?”aa25a9cce9a7b9c9

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Zakari’s face hardened as he finally understood the nature of their conversation. What on earth were they talking about?9964d56275068ca9

Who was remarrying?3baff2130b2a6125

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Zakari couldn’t believe his ears, his lips moving soundlessly in shock. Herman, too, was left with his mouth agape, watching Zakari’s reaction with trepidation.ff11295cba5a448e

They stood there, 806852729b frozen like statues, bf36fd0a38 until Cersia finally 3d03048749 noticed them.b28878ff92e9cbd1

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“Oh, Mr. Zakari? When did you get here?”8547d1f096bea35e

Cersia greeted him, all smiles as she referred to Rachel as “Mother,” but her tone was markedly colder when addressing him. Zakari, however, was too preoccupied to care about the formalities. His eyes were fixed on Rachel, who had her back to him.ca7f2cba0aecc70f

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Rachel reluctantly turned around, her expression sullen as she met Zakari’s gaze.d4ed1880cc3a5f96

“Why are you eavesdropping on other people’s conversations?”8575fc1f2104df58

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“It was hardly eavesdropping when it was so loud.”ae72317e8b152e29

Zakari instinctively retorted, then pressed his lips together tightly. Rachel showed no sign of embarrassment, despite having been caught discussing her remarriage in front of her ex-husband. Her calm demeanor only grated on Zakari’s nerves further.50c25b77230f5462

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But Rachel seemed 811c4e728f completely unconcerned about c61b35a30e his feelings.ea9af988db19cd33

“Well, since you’re here, why don’t you help me choose? Which one do you think is best?”f49ddcae8c6e9c37

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She casually ff0c361070 gestured for e462940f46 Zakari to c0709856db sit down. As he took 4d1a706c69 a seat, somewhat 03fddb94f4 dazed, his brow 5cce9f9782 furrowed in confusion.638284e11fb04863

“What is all this?”aefdd7c5ff308e46

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The table was 71528125a3 covered with portraits 7e64889f03 of various men, 12d0c83644 the tea and 388b811464 snacks pushed aside 006df3f5d6 to make room.fcff8d7daba1bfa8

Seeing the 7ba3d5c681 evidence with f287bcc725 his own 7f4ae9f8b5 eyes, Zakari cc1843e651 felt a 1f080e2867 surge of 2392dbf0ab frustration. His gaze hardened.697bd33fbf138225

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“Isn’t it obvious? These are the men I’m considering for matchmaking.”1ca34aa1cdbb2f27

“Matchmaking…?”3a6f0a48d64d4180

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Zakari’s eyes 75e5199043 narrowed further, 3a5d6b7d48 becoming dangerously c97b7312e2 sharp. The more 6ce1561cd2 agitated he 01e80e96ae became, the dc297aec02 broader Rachel’s a39ce94d40 smile grew.ee0644f0b18f14f1

“I’m in a hurry to remarry by the end of the year.”051713ffbcbbbfee

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“What…?”f079455484a2cbb1

“You had a conversation with Father, didn’t you? Why are you pretending you don’t know?”243ff28a8ed5b092

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Rachel scoffed, 5fb531d7c0 and Zakari 5747995838 hesitated. He suddenly 3642edadb6 recalled his 8a713bb991 conversation with 96b872e281 Wilhelm, where 0642556f28 he had 838129893a emphasized—three times—that fc0244d165 he had 076144cf15 no intention 6d7d7e1c91 of taking e3be57d379 his daughter a5aa1a5308 back.7040ef65f6e0e6c6

He had expected abf8b33772 Wilhelm to take bccf686729 some sort of e090f3a132 action afterward, but e3807900c9 he never imagined 2321d75e7a it would involve 116d17be7e Rachel’s remarriage.420660c36f4bb893

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Zakari, his face stiff, 0356c0625f asked again.da8beba4d92dcb86

“Are you really asking me to choose your new husband?”250c8238930b7575

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He looked 78913618b0 as if 1bffa2abe0 he had be10a24975 just heard ce1c779adb something completely 11eed33d5a outrageous, utterly 2547ad0238 shaken. He had no 924d111f7b idea that this efd2ecff19 was exactly the 2eec6a295f reaction Rachel had ee6c2f0a88 been hoping for.6dd89e9a543de3bf