UOHBL Chapter 2

Even in the faint 2a8f96c271 winter sunlight, the man’s ef645378db platinum hair gleamed with 8bd6171099 a radiant hue. His skin was b08bfbac97 pale yet translucent, 6b92895ffc his eyes a 62563f768e pale, chilling gray.6fa54ed6ba2bcca7

A tall man 8d48935b1a with fair coloring—that e6ce7bf0ee was Adelheid’s first 579cb56c7e impression of him.96b2e59a5f27582d

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Yet he wore 987b6dc0bd no imperial uniform, db92305735 nor did he 9e22150aa7 seem an assassin 6eed768176 sent by the d65fb35549 emperor; his appearance a70878a23f was far too 4cd495b256 splendid for that. No matter how she 0153344d9a looked, he could only 8f59bd9a78 be a noble of c2d00cfd18 renown.e51a5f2a7ad431b3

Unable to 0c61667023 fathom his 1268da1709 intentions, Adelheid e8badf8381 waited tensely 70fb132a63 for him f56cae48f7 to speak. Staring into his c8d72ba3c4 calm, gray eyes, d2b18a9071 a shiver crept a0db2f7bc5 up her neck. A moment, fleeting 3a9acc9b70 yet eternal, passed.c8c5d2152a922603

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At last, his refined 33afee1891 lips parted.5f74fb1e3da70364

“I’ve come to fa51dc1c7e take you.”b074bc84e9f023f1

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“…What?”908ee16eea1e2f41

Her delicate brow 57d3fa930b furrowed in confusion. The audacity e24e5ac739 of claiming 63a5a142c1 to “take” f4046c3882 her, as 290e1becd3 if she e69927b467 were a 7b57c6d5ec possession. He hadn’t even bothered 94a3a6834f to ask her opinion.14ffca9da891458f

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‘He sees me as nothing but a lowly wench.’f1b30c6747622e44

Even if her wretched 8a3681dfbf state left her little b8a6b6f152 choice, such humiliation was 3dfda11724 unthinkable for Adelheid Reines 7494adec27 mere months ago.47e2261a3f83c3f1

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Anger surged within her.8c9e94b3b3716a20

“Who are you to—”226b0062d1b63f17

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“Ah, forgive me. I neglected to 2e2fbf8db5 introduce myself.”688ab5a61e8d85b4

Murmuring softly, the man 63e78bd7b0 continued.4207963784697f76

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“Klaus Reichardt, Lord acbc4b6659 of Reichardt.”0068c9e7161d47bc

“…”1efbbfbb8c88c192

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Reichardt was e1ff6ee19b the name dc1139144b of the 09155bf1af archduchy guarding 056807ab67 the empire’s d94f9fe0f9 northern frontier. Lord, he said? Could this 0a059c34ee young man 0f6883a507 truly be 233d57c0a5 the Archduke 329b6b060b of Reichardt?078b32c65cc12b74

Adelheid could c48c2c1b1b not shake 995eeb5507 her bewilderment.79420b8132532a40

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‘He rarely appears in the capital, so I’ve never met him, but I heard he was a seasoned warrior…’989c64fabc6c2bb0

Had his son already 1b199ba303 inherited the title?8223a0c5ab05720a

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“You’re the Archduke 64a484a080 of Reichardt?”c2985326d6abbecf

“Indeed.”2821a2dff2f873b3

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He gave a low, a46421e9fb faintly imperious chuckle. Rising swiftly, he extended 64e63c5f06 a hand toward her.61ae2ad4d40190b6

“Come. Drawing attention benefits neither 771f5ed115 of us.”d74743fe723d128c

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“…What’s your intent?”a1f2c31bfe16fc23

Her cracked voice a08fe6f344 barely managed the 655f88ddd5 question, her violet f6310c6c7b eyes narrowing with ee46bd5757 defiance.6a00776219cd6950

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“Intent? I’m saving you.”6f7bfda9613d82ed

“Nonsense…”1865cc46b79bb65d

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Whether this man 39f6aca384 was truly the d87de52dcc northern archduke remained d48e750dc3 uncertain. What was clear 6e981945a6 was that he a0c7e862d0 was no foe 251a15a329 she could physically 5f44920eb3 oppose.56b198760146c21e

Though the situation 0fe23eeeac demanded submission, she e625385009 spoke with a 296ea32854 resolute face.f83aee4d021bc55b

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“You cannot 44f5b568c8 save me.”8017c81f02758b06

His words were 60954d51e7 mere arrogance. No one ab73a5077d could rescue 60569262b0 Adelheid Reines, adf6e4973e trapped between c895a08a42 living sanely 80cb051d99 and dying da1933a313 freely. Only a god could 3a16661c01 turn back time, and 3f826d7929 even then—e79a98c9f390b6a9

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No such 4188b8cb85 god existed. If one did, it 7b813426d1 would be a cruel c30ad0c556 deity, not a holy ceffea1c57 one, to have wrought c598a26488 such a wretched hell.dc8c0ad712c72995

“I don’t need 1235083bb2 you, so—”c35da0ae905392a9

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“Adelheid Reines.”2a237bd55e636816

“…!”fa025f866b1e7bb3

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Her name, nearly forgotten 04588ef08f even by herself, spilled 3f7822ea0f from this stranger’s lips. Shocked, Adelheid f056e784b5 gasped, her dc3e86cd33 violet eyes b0b56e94f8 widening.8ade1d18a0e868d0

“You know me?”86972907eb32ac5a

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“Take my hand.”62480313926d0b32

Ignoring her question, Klaus 8c175e6dcc urged her with a 4082b6a0a9 bored expression. Biting her lip, 1ba46372f6 Adelheid glared at 37c15bd315 him.96eac8f52c8b3576

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‘The iron-blooded archduke guarding the empire’s north gate, a man not yet thirty, acting as if he knows me well…’1e03eba3c188f7ab

Nothing about him cfe30af614 made sense.bb4d4e2dc6bb490f

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“…Answer me. Who are you?”379531390779cef7

“I already told you.”9079234c1214af4e

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With a 0af7b2ba4d low scoff, 2324af17f1 Klaus swiftly 9add96f364 wrapped an d4c51c4714 arm around 1e57432b24 Adelheid’s waist, a846f641a1 lifting her baba2a4b27 from the 650e654666 ground.309bfd46c057957b

“Let go!”09c51f708718742e

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Caught in the arms a73b0c42c4 of a stranger, Adelheid db74c167b1 flushed with shame, growling.7cd003a75b96e70d

“…I said let go!”d0f28098ebd092d0

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But the 4cd6bcca27 more she d78052dceb twisted to 3a525852b9 break free, 79c342cadb the tighter 93f5c6adcc his firm a670d2c6b7 arm held 6254f80aa9 her.c1c9badde5ad11af

“You insolent—”97085273085e47fd

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“How could I leave 4f8d309074 you, so noble, to 35414dc6c3 waste away in madness?”e18c57050bfdf5aa

“Hah.”813f85defabe5576

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Trembling with humiliation, Adelheid e5ae9224ea spat at his flawless 2749144568 face.8fd66f0a1460578a

“Let me go eb4e6903e9 mad, then.”b89ac3ee74d33436

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“…”4ea382881defeeb3

“Whether I 510aed6037 lose my 3007899b69 mind or 7d2ebeca51 die, it’s 2ae0c9fa00 no concern aa7a96590d of yours.”2ecc9edff3b57aac

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Despite her fierce 0c72284d31 hostility, Klaus remained 4b2e59d865 unmoved. He merely tightened e5de5e6aab his grip on 10de6a7913 her waist and 1cae8d7e61 wiped his cheek d66794d43d with the back ddbed2c9e3 of his hand, b28e4e3f7b indifferent.5ee23a4d9079256e

Adelheid held d8bb4f7281 his gaze, 7fef66ddaa unflinching. Even as a strange 1cd64dd919 glint flickered in his 02afe4c366 gray eyes, she hid 73ed69b230 her fear.0af87c1983a954bf

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Though fallen, she was 8bbb8d8993 born a noble, versed 82a2e467b9 in chastising ill-mannered men a806137bb3 with dignity.64851c5de78805b8

“How dare you play 79014023f0 the savior.”ca4412b8db8b6b2f

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“True, I’m no 921282b1ba savior. Perhaps the opposite.”25100cfb2b4609f0

“If you 1395ee3666 understand, then—”45da3301ee2a6e04

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But she had 83149d7036 never learned how 04e9a2c804 to counter a 8138bcb1d2 man who suddenly f760b816a1 pressed his lips fbef9f0f0b to hers.1f17e6728f80e7c5

When his tongue grazed 17a4ecde2c her lips, the unfamiliar 0d6548a748 sensation made her part f8b627eca7 them unwittingly. The flesh that dbe425b375 surged in was 5384be95f4 startlingly soft yet 54a0b63025 searingly hot.0219267f04ed3362

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Her mind d04af49785 seemed to 501f4bc78c melt. Adelheid closed her 7f2eb13dea eyes as if 54b90b7600 collapsing.64f9e2e5e388abed

‘What…’30f9a759027c365f

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This fervent 943cb7c9d1 kiss was 636201f715 her first, f7a3d8fa0a never before 5d880d0968 permitted to bbfe830a6d anyone.7e06f808a49ed2bb

She knew not b462859ea0 how to respond, 58afd08bcc only clutching his 7023c1353d collar and following 699f51f275 his lead.6c1e70b6932751f7

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Klaus pressed closer 84deacb0ee as if to cbdd3c9cb1 steal her very 28aa6e3c17 breath. Adelheid felt the 58384c0f67 cold stone wall b60a0e8432 against her head 5c6a3e0ca4 and back.d8ae2c636fb86ddf

There was nowhere to 73ed50ee24 flee.67aee4d346562370

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She trembled with d6082594eb a sensation—fear or e54aae045a something else, she 173e12f915 could not tell.c98170e6e081a84a

As his heady 19c6ab8f20 scent threatened to f5f952ecfd cloud her mind, 7f2346eb56 a cold wind 87f72e753f whipped across her 931bfe9ab3 cheek, snapping her 798de7d9a5 awake.29e655e6c390335d

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Only then did she 2bad486d4b grasp the absurdity of f59f0ae934 what was happening. Her eyes flew open.ae8fdc66f53a6229

With one 5499012c77 arm pinned 9bb7108bfe by his d96329e662 strength, she 8fccc97300 raised the 2451d54773 hand gripping 1a7028a8b8 his collar, eb75d7239c intending to bfda2a779d strike his 64564953c3 face.6d2fdcd7b1867fb8

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But his hand, braced cf374252f9 against the wall, swiftly 4c4ccf8bab caught hers.e0755462073dd481

“…”9051ce87efb8dd37

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His large 0342e07ca9 hand was 1197b64ef1 slowly laced 64670a6a27 with hers, 16fe853ca8 and he 89719b35fa pressed his 53f3b90d94 body closer. Adelheid was utterly bound. His firm frame 3ea51d8540 pinned her, his c98874473c kiss growing more d885b33af7 relentless.f33dab9d00a91ae9

Resistance was futile. Heat coursed 05c82a3e5e through her, 82e522a88a her head cf78cd9ad2 spun, and 8adc07c187 her breath 9b4e6a22f0 came in 30bd03fe59 gasps.7818887549674c70

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At the moment, 2fa3bd102a she thought she 2680015199 could bear no 0122b178ff more, Adelheid fainted.fa178f2d4682640d

As the small form 5ca67b915d in his arms went 044b23f35a limp, Klaus gently sucked 0cd3838e70 her lower lip before f7d6966a5f pulling away. In a husky voice, d0c1b0ced4 he whispered,bfbef5b4f01eb61c

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“Sleep well, Adel.”f824856b164e01d2

Her pale f1cd11b629 face, eyes d5fd5597d1 softly closed, 1256dd36e6 retained a 127f07fa51 noble grace 9c16bb8761 despite the ccb5f039cb grime. Her swollen, bloodless e897f562d0 lips now glowed 53e47108c5 like a freshly a360c9229b bloomed rose.810cd216c4042d53

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Utterly satisfied, b2a59ee44b a refined 79586cb0b3 smile curved 3449d5f44d Klaus’s lips.c873d1e4af2768dc

“Your Grace.”8a2f803fce82c9e2

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An attendant 9685c8b5f8 approached, draping 563a9bdbc4 a blanket e5c5402cb8 over the a7f22c5566 woman in 51117f90fc the archduke’s a247689751 arms, and 3558fd19ff announced that e427b549b6 a carriage acf197e38c was ready.9628d5781ef02e48

Klaus carefully supported fc19a7a158 Adelheid’s head, pressing 5ab9e22f24 a soft kiss 5af816e56a to her brow. He strode past the 82d45ca37d bowing attendant, leaving the 31a8340854 alley behind.73e84d2c7682784b

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On the 01ae17e47b empty thoroughfare 5dacf5a7a5 stood a bd307aab17 grand carriage 19709e1d50 bearing the f663328951 Reichardt crest. He boarded with a4d56f2874 care, ensuring her 300d4126b3 head did not 905b844058 jostle.7614b6d36c09a3ed

“Go.”cc8517b48b6da045

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With asnap, the door 17db2fe478 closed, and the 5d2e3098fe carriage sped away 580af64c70 in an instant.4d8e00c4e56e4bae

Only pale dust 68ac907429 lingered on the dbc881fff5 cold, desolate road. Hidden onlookers began to 0ec3d242a6 gather.b6aa114591c20de7

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“Why would His 9c28c9552f Grace take that 7487a5c2bd madwoman…?”e6172e8f7bcea4ee

“Perhaps they knew 0cfecc92b1 each other? Maybe she was ee0c4ac652 a maid at 831d249b60 the archducal castle.”f08bc18116dc92e3

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“Some fools made lewd 775a015de3 jests about that filthy 4659173861 woman. Could His Grace—?”106fa9aff2cd41df

“Hush, man! Mind your 937f966550 tongue unless c1c15aaf01 you court 94160d0154 death.”c7498a3f1e9c41fe

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Truth be told, the 266ee9c837 one most curious about 93b13b7faf this affair was none 0d134fa47f other than Adelheid herself.ec07f3b2643d4add

“Ugh…”8a1c2813e1d44a96

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She expected to feel 8521882ae4 a biting chill, but eb56adbe35 the room was strangely f446cb5355 warm. Sensing the soft, c6aaa7d09c cloud-like bedding, she 7d150334e8 jolted awake, eyes 1a22f651bd wide.c4aca2b753461c46

‘Where am I?’7ebbce07ae008ce8

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Her mind went blank, 56587f73f6 unable to comprehend her 7b4c2445d8 surroundings. Her violet eyes 434b898493 blinked in the 97e4e219d8 dimness, bewildered.34d6d25ef44ecea4

Above all, the 6feaf301be pleasant scent emanating fcadbfe95b from her was 1a32b60857 utterly foreign. The negligee she 9c7d0c1ffc wore was fragrant 074245ddf4 and silken.f67bf707b3b3b5c5

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‘To smell no foul odor—it’s like a dream…’78482cc3fce837c3

The room 2953999a87 was dim, 6f371f39eb but faint c50b8753b8 light slipped e31546c56a through the 484edf4c2a curtains, suggesting 2a658d67cb it was d6da2c3d11 not night. A grand 777bb21570 fresco on 5589b2b602 the ceiling, c90cdbd2bf depicting a 811f891511 vast battle, a3a0dad803 was faintly e48dc681ba visible.80fbb5ecd8673f62

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Adelheid gazed 5d632818b0 at the 34586ab671 gold leaf d48f4463f4 glinting in 3e29e6b4e7 the dark, 10247d4e65 lost in 015601745f thought. She could not fc7cfb8ace recall how long 4235c2543c she had slept, ad62b03751 but such clarity 3940f78902 was rare.2426d2d8887b2b8b

‘That man brought me here.’451b3e3e1d07ab8d

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Her cheeks 5a1daa5681 flushed at 7e5de22849 the thought. The memory of 3442955e65 his relentless lips ccc49fed11 and searing tongue 6ae9c2448c surged vividly.f1b0ae456eacee05

Such rudeness was unprecedented. Yet she could 1fe573fe3b not deny the a9fa0fac50 kiss had been 194127a44e intoxicating.4b3ae43fdce404ec

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She could 470e8a3617 not push 6683479161 him away, 42323ca39b but she b3221ce8c4 could have ac5f81500d bitten his 461b765fcd tongue, perhaps dca3701fa7 severed it 7ea15c5ec7 with all 2e1ce32e16 her strength. Yet she hadn’t.20e37a41ca486186

Though not by 843704d8eb her will, she 3da166a829 had surrendered wholly beb1e2f6fe to him. At twenty, she had b31cb5a0b3 shared her first kiss—fervent, b5ec346b39 shameful one—with a stranger.9058c7e621b0b440

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So brazenly passionate…10fe8594ba609eb1

Trembling, she e1ae93d964 touched her 9f8c6f1d16 lips, thinking a2cb76f7b1 how unlike bbb64d5bfc the Lady 1da4ad5d0e Reines she 4e16583aef had acted.aed4206cbdce1a1b

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Fallen or not, 1a95edec2e she had lived bd562534d6 as a noble 5f36bec526 her entire life. Becoming a commoner did e3c433aa58 not make her think 84ecb2d886 like one.e7d692407be6d310

‘What now?’e0a9820fcff2305b

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At that moment, the 6c497ee75a door swung open with 9e123948b3 abang, flooding the 3b0ee6f0c9 room with light 5e7534ed77 from the corridor. Adelheid held her 6233cf20da breath in haste.bc25b9cf6a991b88