Author Archives: Pen Poket

“I think the god of fortune is smiling at us. Otherwise, could this happen? Offenbach’s direct line and no one else walking into Rostislav?”

bang! Yuri lightly stroked the desk and burst into laughter, then folded his fingers one by one and started counting.

“Look, Lenny. If all goes according to plan, Offenbach will lose its legitimacy. It’s not even a day or two that Offenbach and Rostislav have been at odds, so no one will ever have any doubts. There is no way for a family to openly associate with a family that has lost its cause. Then, my dear brother, Offenbach, the most supportive force, will fall, and even cut their nose with their eyes open. Perfect.”

It looked more like a village young man who was good at milling rather than a prince, but everyone who knew even a little about glass knew that this was his usual disposition.

Yuri’s hand, folded close to one hand, trembled in the air without a body.

In the first place, because he grew up playing for a long time in the Oleg family, which is his maternal house rather than the Imperial Palace, even after he grew up and settled in the Imperial Palace, the boy’s habits could not be washed away.

frivolous and furry. A good-natured young man who looks more like a mood swinger than a strategic person.

That was Yuri’s external evaluation.

Of course, this is an external story to the extent that it is.

Yuri’s hand, who looked as if he had immediately kicked the chair and rolled over on the desk, fell off and placed his hand on the paper.

A hand with calluses on the inside of the finger, wherever the pen touches it.

“So far, the theory is perfect. you know So, is this a feasible story? That’s what matters. What do you think?”

“I don’t think it’s possible if I can hide from Offenbach that I have Ekaterina.”

“I wonder if you can hide her.”

“Yes. I’ll try it as far as I can, but I can’t say for sure.”

Yuri’s eyes widened at Leonid’s words.

“I didn’t know you would get such an answer. Is Offenbach that tenacious?”

“no.”

Offenbach is not the problem.

“Ekaterina herself is the problem.”

In response to Leonid’s words, Yuri made an ah sound.

“By the way, you said she came to kill her. It’s definitely out of the ordinary.”

“It’s not enough to be out of the ordinary, so it’s an extraordinary level.”

Thanks to her, I couldn’t sleep at night.

Leonid, who remembered last night, made an impression on the already coming headache. Yuri smiled happily looking at his friend’s pain.

“What’s so bad? Is she arrogant and not listening to anything?”

“It’s far from arrogant.”

“Then does she have a bad personality, so is she a villain?”

“no. The character is extremely quiet. She’s never the type to be the first to cause problems.”

“Then what’s the matter? Could there be any problem in circumventing all of the above conditions?”

“Surprisingly, yes. Even in circumventing all of the above conditions, she is not at all cooperative and inflexible.”

What is a quiet temperament? She’s fucking stubborn.

Neither arrogant nor vicious, but Ekaterina was far from communicative.

Accidents are unpredictable, and as long as they have a conversation, he’s always being swayed by Ekaterina.

If that was the intention, Ekaterina must have been the genius of the century.

“Isn’t it more difficult to find a cooperative and generous member of the nobility? Why does she want to die in the first place? If it’s Offenbach’s adopted daughter, I know the face. I saw her once in a banquet hall. The madam took care of her like her own child.”

“Did she take care of her like her own child?”

“Yes. You know that Sergei Offenbach loves his son terribly, right? He seemed to take care of his daughter as well.”

Yuri tilted his head, merely saying that Yekaterina herself was shy and didn’t say a word to her shyness.

Leonid heard the story and remembered the last night he had met Ekaterina.

-I’ve never been through anything good. It’s been a bad thing since I was born like this.

When he heard that, he thought she had been severely bullied at home. Hearing Yuri’s words, it didn’t seem like that.

“With such care in that family, you would surely be able to live a decent life, so why does she want to die?”

Yuri expressed his doubts to his friend.

Leonid would have thought about it a little more at other times, but he had already had his head twisted a lot.

And he didn’t want to worry about this any more.

“I know There must be a reason.”

“Well, so. Are you really going to kill her?”

“Sounds crazy. People’s hearts change easily, don’t you know? She doesn’t look so gloomy, and she doesn’t look like she’s desperate, so I’m sure she’ll change her mind if she calms down during her stay.”

And at that time, he would be able to tell her about this plan.

At first, Leonid didn’t even consider the possibility that Ekaterina would want to die.

“No matter how much people say they want to die, people want to live when they see the possibility. Ekaterina Offenbach is also human, so she must be. I don’t know if I hit the sword directly with the enemy. I can’t let her die like this.”

Because she didn’t look desperate for death, nor was she sinking into melancholy.

I don’t know why she wants to die, but he will be able to change her mind in no time. Leonid had no doubts about it.

So the problem lies in the present rather than the future.

“When she said she’d return to Offenbach, I asked her to stay with me because she would suffer hardship, but she tried to repay me somehow. If I want her to work as a mercenary, or to stand guard? … .”

“Isn’t that a good thing? For Offenbach, she seems to have quite a conscience. After all, if you use her for a bit, no one will criticize you.”

“Ekaterina Offenbach is a guest of Rostislav. There is no such thing.”

“Why? You’re not forcing her to do it, so is there any reason to stop her? Accept it as it is.”

“If I accept it. It seems like I hired her for that purpose from the beginning, so I said no. I owe Ekaterina Offenbach enough to use her in our plans.”

“It’s savvy. You have nothing to blame for that woman. The lack of flexibility seems to be the same for both you and that woman.”

You met your match.

Yuri grinned as if it was a funny thing to say, then raised his index finger and flicked it as he continued.

“Lenny, you always want to be a good person. I have no intention of reproach Because I like that side of you.”

“what. What are you trying to say?”

“They say you can’t always be a good person to everyone.”

Yuri smiled brightly. At first glance, the face of the young man, who seemed young and innocent, took on that of an old man.

“Sometimes things get a lot easier when you’re not a good person. If the situation turns in your favor, you have to use and trample on everything that is available. Same goes for Ekaterina Offenbach. She is reaching out her hand to use her, so why not hold it?”

“So, I don’t like it.”

“Sounds innocent. If your opponent doesn’t bend, you should know how to bend.”

Leonid frowned at that passage. There was no answer.

Yuri glanced at the stern and inflexible face of his friend, then smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.

“If it’s really hard, Ekaterina Offenbach, can you hand her over to me? I think it would be better to lock her up in a suitable villa.”

“Don’t be crazy.”

“Then what are you going to do? As I said before, failure is unacceptable. Ruslan’s eyes are open to slit my throat.”

Ruslan Pavel. It was Yuri’s half-brother and the name of the person he was vying with for the right to the throne.

“Of course, I have no intention of handing over Arlan. I want to hang his neck on the wall.”

Yuri added that and smiled calmly.

The struggle for succession to the throne is often referred to as the ‘Arlan War’.

Those unfamiliar with it might think it was due to the civil war of the Arlan imperial family, but in fact, there is another reason.

This is because only those who ascend to the throne can use the imperial saint Arlan.

Unlike other empires, which commonly give imperial names to all descendants of the Arlan family, only the emperor is entitled to own Arlan’s surname.

Arlan is the proof of the emperor, and at the same time, only those who have Arlan are recorded as the imperial family.

Therefore, all members of the imperial family, not the emperor, follow the surname of the matrilineal family.

In the case of Yuri, Oleg, the family of the first empress. In the case of Ruslan, it is Pavel, the family of the second Empress.

In the end, in the Arlan War, the Arlan imperial family was completely lost, and it was nothing like a war between noble families.

Of course, these half-brothers don’t always write bloody histories.

It just wasn’t the case with Yuri and Ruslan.

So Leonid should not fail.

“Of course, I’m sure you’ll do just fine. There must have been a time when something you touched had gone wrong.”

Saying that, Yuri roughly organized the paperwork, then came to Leonid’s side and patted his shoulder and smiled.

“I believe you will continue to do so. Yes?”

Leonid was silent for a moment.

However, it was such a short gap that anyone would not have noticed.

“… … Yes, I see. Say hello to my aunt. How is she?”

“Mom, she’s still the same. See you in a month.”

Saying that, Yuri smiled and left the room.

It was as light a step as his external evaluation.

Leonid looked at his cousin as he was moving away, and then left a beat later.

Leonid decided to stop asking any more questions.

Whether it’s a misunderstanding or something, every time they talk, he felt like he’s the only one who’s become an idiot.

That woman can’t be reasoned with.

No, to be more precise, common sense doesn’t work.

Even now, Ekaterina threw the corpse, wrapped in a blanket, in someone else’s garden, and was cleaning her knife as if nothing had happened. It’s not a very incomprehensible act, but it feels like the bricks are stacked one by one in the wrong way.

Leonid’s sharp intuition was raging fiercely.

If he doesn’t make it clear now, he was sure he’ll get into a lot of trouble.

It’s the first time he had felt this way since he was a first-class monster when he was young. 

He pressed his eyelids to the recesses of his palms and then released them.

It took a little bit of determination before he could open his mouth again.

“Ekaterina. Make sure.”

“What?”

“You can handle the assassin tasks as you please, but you are not allowed to enter my room.”

“What if something dangerous happens?”

“Leave a sentinel. Protecting me is something other people can do too.”

If I could just wake up Leonid in a timely manner, that would be enough.

“It doesn’t have to be you. Do you understand?”

“But you are hurt, and others are weak.”

The truth was about to come out of his mouth for a moment, but Leonid chewed it well and swallowed it.

“… … Even if I get hurt, it will be enough to protect my body.”

“It is a waste of manpower. With me, no one will be hurt.”

“Then when do you sleep?”

“I just need a little sleep during the day.”

“Because you don’t know that your body will deteriorate if you live like that?”

“I would die before the seasons change anyway. Is there any use in taking care of my health?”

Leonid then remembered the fact he had forgotten. The fact that Ekaterina is here is to die.

‘My head hurts.’

I feel like I’m in a maze with no exit. Actually, it wasn’t the first time he felt this way.

Because he used to feel this way every time he talked to Ekaterina.

When Leonid was speechless, Ekaterina continued.

“I don’t know why you’re turning down my offer. This is in return for your favor. You deserve it.”

“Where did you hear that I didn’t want it?”

“Where did I hear that? Don’t you know why?”

“You don’t know why? Then can I sleep comfortably while you are lying in my bed?”

“Of course it would be inconvenient. But it’s better than getting hurt. Lying in the same bed is the best camouflage. No one can crawl into the bedroom where the sentry is standing.”

“I will be back very much. Do you think the bed is the only problem now?”

“sure?”

At that point, Leonid paused for a moment. It’s because it’s gotten more complicated to see Ekaterina looking at him with innocent eyes.

“… … The fact that you are in my bedroom is a problem.”

“Why?”

“Damn it, the mansion is going to be rumored! You and I have a relationship like that! Do I have to tell you something like this?”

“No, I don’t know… … .”

Ekaterina rolled her eyes in an oblique angle, as if judging something, then looked back and asked again.

“Why is that a problem?”

“… … What?”

“Is there anyone who would be in trouble if there were such rumors?”

For example, a fiancee, or a lover.

“I know that you don’t have a relationship with anyone right now.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’d like to be in a rumor with you.”

“Then you can keep their mouth shut. So that they don’t talk about their master’s work.”

“you are… … Do you think that such misunderstandings will go away if only the servants keep their mouths shut?”

“What does that matter? They would have kept their mouths shut anyway.”

Ekaterina was genuinely puzzled.

Servants cannot talk about what the owner has silenced. It was very simple and natural.

“Isn’t that going to solve the problem?”

At this simple logic, Leonid was at a loss for words.

No matter how much he shut the mouths of the servants, he cannot stop the misunderstanding that has already spread like a fire.

And that he doesn’t want to let his subordinates misunderstand him that way.

Ekaterina did not understand at all.

So, she can say this with great confidence.

“No one will care. Don’t worry.”

Leonid buried his face in his hands. He took a deep breath and listened again.

“Yes, you are right. Probably no one cares. If I order them, no one will care whether you hang out with me all day or carry you around. uh?”

“Finally, you get it.”

“But I do care.”

At those words, Ekaterina’s lips curled up slightly.

“Do you understand now?”

“… … You said you don’t like me.”

“Yes I did.”

“Were you lying?”

“If you’re not too eager to treat me like a liar, please excuse the misunderstanding.”

“liar.”

“Yes. i’m a liar So we can’t sleep together. Are you okay?”

Leonid finally raised both hands and feet. Ekaterina nodded seriously, as if she knew it.

“You should have been honest from the beginning. If that’s the case, I would understand. A lot of people can’t stand being in the same room with someone they like.”

At this point, Leonid began to wonder what was going on in Ekaterina’s mind.

When you say you don’t like her, no matter what you say, she always tells you that they should sleep in the same room, and as soon as she says he likes her, she looks so docile.

What kind of thinking system does she have to be able to do that?

“Still, you have to be patient.”

damn it again, going back to the start.

“You said you could understand a while ago?”

“I told you not to like me. Give your brain a boost.”

“Do you think that is possible?”

“Well, the brain doesn’t have muscles. So, would you like to give your heart some strength?”

Because the heart itself is a highly elastic muscle. At the added words of Ekaterina, Leonid’s mind shattered and scattered.

Meanwhile, Ekaterina, unaware of this fact, was now encouraging Leonid’s courage.

“Life is important, heart is important? There is nothing that can’t be done if you try.”

“No matter how hard I try, I don’t think you will understand… … .”

“Why me?”

“No, there is such a thing.”

Leonid sighed and made a clear conclusion in his head.

It was impossible to persuade Ekaterina with words, so they decided to just use coercion.

It’s coercion on guests. It was the solution that Leonid hated the most, but there was no other way.

He lightly flicked his hand to arouse the conversation.

“Anyway. Stop talking about this topic. You don’t want to change your mind, so you go to the guest room and sleep.”

“No. you’ll die.”

“I think I’m going to die more because of you now, so stop.”

Instead of answering, Ekaterina just glanced at Leonid. Again, that black gaze.

It would have been more comfortable to stare at him rather sharply, but those eyes had a color that he had no idea what she was thinking or feeling.

But it’s only a short time to make eye contact.

Ekaterina suddenly turned and left the room.

Exiting without a single good-bye greeting.

Would it be overly sentimental if the silver hair swaying around Ekaterina’s waist looked somewhat depressed?

Leonid could not even loosen his narrowed brow, and stood there, staring for a long time in the direction where Catherine had left.

For some reason, it felt awkward.

 *

Eventually, Leonid stayed up all night.

“You look tired, Leonid.”

Hearing the words, Leonid opened his closed eyes. A young man with sad black hair was seen in his sight that gradually became clearer. He must have closed his eyes for a moment without realizing it during the conversation.

Leonid rubbed his forehead and apologized.

“Excuse me. I stayed up all night How far have you been talking?”

“Take Ekaterina Offenbach to a hunting party, have them attack you in front of everyone, and even put the blame on Offenbach for everything.”

The young man seemed to be very pleased with the plan, so he drew a few more highlighting lines on the scribbled paper with a pencil.

“It’s fantastic to see you again. Rostislav could be the perfect victim. You are also a defender of justice.”

“It was a joke. What is justice… … .”

Defender of Justice. It was a nickname that Rostislav had along with Offenbach, nicknamed “Guardian of Evil”.

This was largely because Rostislav had a strong tendency to pursue the right path and produced several outstanding knights worthy of such a reputation. Of course, the fact that the family that had been opposed to Rostislav for many years was full of all kinds of crimes must have had an influence too.

The important thing was that Leonid, the leader of Rotislav, didn’t like the nickname very much.

like that or not. The young man sitting opposite him, Yuri Oleg, had a very pleasant attitude.

Maybe it was normal.

Even so, he was having a lot of trouble with the struggle for succession to the throne, but a close friend suddenly gave him this kind of luck.

As soon as their eyes met involuntarily, unspoken affirmations came and went.

It was only then that Leonid could guess Ekaterina’s purpose.

Someone sent an assassin. A chill slowly spread through his back at the belated realization.

‘Really an intrusion.’

Rather than the fact that there was an intruder, the fact that he did not notice it made his mind go cold.

If it had been at another time, it would have been easier to notice. In particular, if the distance had been narrowed enough to recognize the presence, he would have noticed it from the time the window of a room opened.

But today, Leonid has been preoccupied with Ekaterina all evening. Moreover, because the mansion was bustling due to her intrusion, it must have been a contributing factor to the fact that it was difficult to notice that one additional intruder was added to and from the hallway.

Suddenly, Leonid remembered the dinner he had with Ekaterina. While drinking wine, Ekaterina asked a random question.

-… … Where is the window open?

Did Ekaterina notice from then on?

Leonid’s nerve cord, which had been loose a while ago, was tightened. Even though it was late to notice, he was also accustomed to fighting. Leonid’s breathless gaze quickly examined the situation.

‘It’s on the black desk.’

He can’t use his right arm because of Ekaterina.

Of course, it wouldn’t be difficult to kill the assassin with just his left arm, but holding him alive was another matter.

You wouldn’t have to kill him to find out who sent him.

‘In that case, even if it’s just a little scratched, I’ll have to fight to catch it.’

Leonid was counting the time to leave, watching the shadows gradually approaching over the bed, when suddenly the blankets wrapped around the two of them were rolled up.

To be more precise, the blanket that was placed over them. 

At the same time, Ekaterina got up as if bouncing up, pulled out a dagger from her left thigh and threw it at the intruder.

“heuk!”

The dagger pierced the duvet. Still, he only stumbled, and gathered up the blanket and threw it, then pulled out the knife he was carrying.

A little above the assassin’s heart, near the shoulder, there was a trace of the dagger being pierced.

Yekaterina clenched her tongue and pulled out a sword slightly longer than the dagger she had thrown a while ago from her right thigh and ran towards him.

The moment the intruder was about to shoot Yekaterina, she leapt sharply to dodge the attack, then turned her body half a turn and attacked his neck.

In the quiet night.

He staggered a few steps and fell to the floor.

thud. The dull sound of the man falling signaled the end of the situation.

All of these things had passed so quickly, Leonid’s head was a bit dazed.

“… … Is he dead?”

“I killed him.”

I’m jealous. Ekaterina seemed to have muttered a little.

However, apart from Yekaterina’s feelings, it was not a very pleasant situation for Leonid.

“couldn’t you catch him alive?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s not a good idea. He can’t talk about that. Our housekeepers give drugs that damage the vocal cords.”

Leonid’s gaze became sharper at the words Ekaterina added.

“Is hr from Offenbach? How are you sure?”

“Of course, it was a heart attack at first. But I heard a knock on the drain pipe.”

The sound of tapping twice, so lightly that it could be mistaken for the sound of water.

“This is the method our housekeepers use to make sure the room to sneak into is empty. They knock on the drain pipe, and by the sound of the return, they gauge the condition of the room. It’s so subtle that it’s no wonder you didn’t notice.”

She probably wouldn’t have known if she wasn’t from Offenbach, Ekaterina added.

“And I’m sorry I broke into your bedroom in the middle of the night.”

“done. If it wasn’t for you, I might have missed it.”

It’s not that he almost died by that assassin, it’s that he almost missed him. It was a statement full of confidence to say with a bare body without a single weapon, even with an injury to one arm.

But Ekaterina knew that Leonid would not have been greatly injured without her.

He was strong enough to deal with a first-class monster alone, so it was not enough to aim for his neck with just one assassin. Perhaps they need to send at least five elites to be able to judge victory or defeat.

If so, there is one possible answer.

‘the intruder was not sent to kill Leonids.’

The original assassins rarely move alone. Especially if it’s a mission to assassinate someone, no matter how easy the opponent, two or three move together. However, there is only one that appeared today, and no sign is felt from the outside.

Then, who in Offenbach sent him and for what purpose?

“Have you ever upset my father?”

“It doesn’t happen in a day or two that Sergei Offenbach and I have a bad relationship. Just today, I got stuck once.”

Then maybe that’s why. Ekaterina answered, not wrapping the body in a blanket.

“You must have been strongly hated by my father, you.”

“it’s to the point of being bored.”

“And I think the surveillance in the duchy is poor.”

“Thanks to someone I figured it out today.”

All three shifts were guarded by elite soldiers, but there were already two intruders.

Thanks to this, Leonid woke up from sleep.

I guess I’ll have to go to the estate and replace the soldiers. Leonid was washing his face dry with complicated thoughts, but he felt a tenacious gaze from the side.

It was none other than Ekaterina’s gaze.

Even if he tries to avoid it, he felt like he couldn’t avoid that black gaze. Leonid finally spoke with a terrifying expression.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Ah. I’m just thinking about something.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I don’t think this will be the first time an intruder has invaded.”

“Yeah, that’s right. So I was thinking of changing my guards.”

“No, it’s not a matter of guards. No matter how many times you close your window, the cold wind will seep in. you can live No matter how tight your guard is, there will always be a hole in it. At least that’s how Offenbach is raised. If we fail our mission, we will only die, so we are desperate.”

It is unavoidable. No matter how hard they tried to stop them, there was no way to stop them from approaching if they risked their lives.

It’s Ekaterina herself who was raised like that, so she can tell.

Ekaterina glanced at the corpse curled up on the blanket, then turned her gaze back and looked up at Leonid.

“I’m from Offenbach, and no matter how strong you are, I’ll be better at dealing with the them.”

“… … therefore?”

“Because you have to kill me, I can’t let anyone else hurt you in the slightest.”

Ekaterina continued calmly, as if saying that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

“From tomorrow, we’ll sleep in the same bed.”

I’ll protect you.

Saying that, Ekaterina even showed a little bit of determination.

Leonid looked at Ekaterina like that and pursed his lips. touched his forehead. He washed his face and opened his mouth.

“Ekaterina, I’m sorry, but no, I’m not sorry. Are you crazy?”

“I think you should be sorry when you say things like that.”

“Put it away.”

Leonid let out a growl, then took another breath.

Sleeping with Ekaterina wasn’t a problem in itself. Leonid wasn’t such a picky lord, and he wasn’t even that greedy.

But apart from that, he also has social status and face.

She came as an intruder, but he couldn’t let the rumors circulate in the mansion that he was sleeping with Ekaterina, who was a guest anyway.

But Ekaterina didn’t seem to care.

“Do you know what you are talking about?”

“I said we were going to sleep together.”

“I’m sure you’ll get a good night’s sleep with me.”

“Are you the type of person who can’t sleep when someone is next to you?”

“Not like that,”

“Then do you still like me?”

“Can’t we get rid of that misunderstanding?”

“Don’t worry. I will protect your sympathy.”

Ekaterina answered indifferently, then lifted the corpse, which had been rolled up in a blanket, and threw it out the window. A thud echoed through the quiet garden.

It happened without Leonid’s time to stop.

always.

“… … What are you doing now?”

“A dead body.”

“In my garden?”

“Are you sensitive to landscaping?”

“No, not that.”

“Then be patient. If you leave it in the room, it will be warm and rot. It’s cold outside, so he’ll be fine until morning.”

In the eyes that seemed to appease the whining of a little child, Leonid lost even the heart to refute.

“Yeah, do whatever you want… … .”

The time when the moon rose high above the duchy of Rostislav.

Leonid still hasn’t slept through the night.

The reason was simple. It was because of what happened today, and it’s because he needed time to sort things out.

From a visit to the Imperial Palace due to a struggle for succession, to a woman who suddenly appeared in his office.

Ekaterina was obviously a good hand, but she was also difficult to deal with in many ways.

If he wants to use her to create a feud between the families, the time allotted is only one to two months.

‘In the meantime, if Offenbach finds out about Ekaterina’s existence here, it becomes difficult.’

If Offenbach finds out that Leonid is with Ekaterina, they’ll definitely try to take her away before he even causes trouble.

In the end, the key to the plan to use Ekaterina was how well he could hide Ekaterina.

The deadline has already been set.

‘The hunting party in a month.’

It is the most appropriate event to lay a fuse. It was also suitable as an excuse to flirt with Ekaterina.

The hunting ground is a place where you are free to use your sword, so if you go around in a way that you will kill them there, you will be able to make an appointment without any awkwardness.

So, until then, there seemed to be nothing to worry about if he could not tell Ekaterina of his lies and only her existence.

But if there is one thing that bothers him, would it be that of the woman herself, who doesn’t have common sense ?

‘Because I’m begging you to kill me right now.’

But who knows if she will change her mind and want to live again as time goes by.

Leonid had no intention of complying with her request.

He doesn’t know if the reason for the death is certain, but no one would be willing to do so when asked to die in such a reckless way.

There is nothing more precious than life. At least Leonid thought so.

So, Leonid was willing to help Ekaterina change her desire to die while she was with Rostislav.

To make sure Ekaterina stays in the mansion without bouncing around.

And to relieve the feeling of debt for Ekaterina.

She said she doesn’t like anything, so finding one that she likes would not be a bad plan.

‘I want to inform Ekaterina of the plan as well.’

If that happens, he doesn’t know how she will come out. If  he talks about the hunting party in a month, she might notice that the bandages are just camouflage. In that case, the possibility that Ekaterina would immediately pull out her weapon cannot be overlooked.

Thanks to this, Leonid was in a situation where he had to keep telling lies that did not fit his aptitude. His heart was very heavy, but there was nothing he could do about it right now.

No matter how concerned he is for Ekaterina, he couldn’t miss the golden opportunity that came to him in a difficult situation.

‘Tomorrow, I must go to the Imperial Palace once.’

“… … .”

Leonid slowly closed his eyes and opened them, clasping his hands open and vainly once. It was a common habit to come out when he felt uncomfortable in his stomach.

It seems that it will be difficult to go out for a while to hide Ekaterina in the mansion, so he thought he would have to meet the first prince Yuri tomorrow.

Finally, when his mind was in order, one beat later, the exhaustion began to push Leonid’s body down on the bed. Leonid was lying flat on his back and lowered his eyelids.

The moment when his last remaining thoughts were about to be washed away.

A breathless presence touched his sharp senses. Also  it was very close.

Sleep was further away in an instant.

Leonid jumped out of bed and got up.

“Who are you?”

“Shh.”

A small hand covered his mouth.

With an excessively timid voice, small hands.

It wasn’t difficult to guess who the intruder was.

“Ekaterina?”

“Be quiet.”

There was no denial. It really was Ekaterina.

She must have had a good dinner and went back to the guest room, but why is she here?

After a series of astonishment and bewilderment, the strongest hypothesis floated through Leonid’s head.

“Maybe the purpose of your coming to me is-”

“I told you to be quiet.”

Ekaterina covered Leonid’s mouth again. It was so strong that it was hard to believe that it came from such a small body.

‘What kind of power is this?’

It felt enough to be able to compete equally with Vasily at this level. Of course, it was never to the extent that Leonid couldn’t resist.

The problem is that Leonid has to pretend to have injured one arm.

It was a mistake to think only of tricking Ekaterina right now and not taking into account the possibility that she might attack him in the middle of the night.

In the end, Leonid obediently closed his mouth and rolled his eyes.

‘I don’t think she came to attack.’

Every moment they met, he felt like his backbone was being pulled.

Whether she knew Leonid’s feelings or not, Ekaterina gave orders with an expressionless face as usual.

“Lie down.”

“What if I  don’t like it?”

Again, that face.

Leonid frowned.

Usually, it is possible to make an impression when the answer to set the bar is returned, but Ekaterina simply keeps her eyes closed with an expressionless expression. Watching those dark, emotionless eyes staring at him softly, he felt a bit uncomfortable.

But that was also for a while.

Ekaterina wanted to shift her gaze to the window, but this time, instead of covering Leonid’s mouth, she grabbed hold of Leonid’s shoulders.

“Be stubborn in moderation.”

And the next moment, Leonid just fell on the bed.

Ekaterina, carrying weight on his body, knocked him down.

‘I don’t know what’s going on with this.’

He tried to get along in moderation, but I thought he would be threatened if he did this. Either his innocence or his life, at least one thing.

To put it bluntly, it’s a situation where you’ve been attacked by a member of the enemy’s family, but don’t you think it’s more like a joke than a sense of crisis?

‘I wonder if being insane is contagious.’

Leonid sighed as he thought of such a funny thought. Then he wrapped his right arm around Catherine’s waist, who had climbed on top, and turned her body over.

Thanks to this, the attitude was reversed.

When Leonid supported his body with his intact left arm to widen the distance between them even a little, the figure of the two of them in the dark became the perfect posture for the night.

However, even in this situation, Ekaterina did not respond much.

Just looking up at Leonid with those black eyes, she turned her head towards the window next to the bed.

It is the calmness that makes it hard to think that she was the first to attack Leonid, who was sleeping well.

‘Damn it.’

If it’s like this, doesn’t it look like my side has an affair? Leonid chewed the swear words to himself.

It was partly because the woman under his arm felt seductive for an instant.

It would have been nice if the darkness of the night had obscured the opponent, but unfortunately, Ekaterina was the kind that shined even more in the dark.

Shiny silver hair that was scattered on the bed sheets.

The dark eyes that looked up at Leonid, the inside of the eyes decorated with the light like the moon, seemed even more attractive.

In fact, even in the beginning, Ekaterina had a pretty face. It’s not an exaggeration to say that she’s a doll, but her expressionless face and the request to kill her, have made her appearance not so conspicuous.

The fact that it touched him anew made him confused.

What the hell is Offenbach doing and how to teach someone to come into the bedroom of an outsider without fear?

He raised his upper body, raising his eyebrows.

“I’m not going to ask you why you’re here, so just go back to your room.”

“Be quiet and cover yourself with a blanket.”

“Why a blanket?”

Instead of answering, Ekaterina raised her index finger over her lips and pulled him into a hug with one arm.

Leonid bit the inside of his molars because of the body facing each other again.

‘I’ll take care of it.’

What is she going to do? In his mind, he would have wrapped Ekaterina in a blanket and threw her away. One arm was not free in front of him, so he couldn’t suppress her in vain.

But by this time, one thing became clear.

At least, Ekaterina didn’t attack him with impure intentions.

She did even have all her clothes on, so it wouldn’t be strange if she went out right away. If she had had such a stupid idea, her attire wouldn’t have been that conservative.

In the end, Leonid chewed on the swear word inside, and then spit it out.

“You’ll have to explain what’s going on in the morning.”

“I know, so hurry up.”

Why the hell are you urging me like this?

Leonid hid his doubts and quietly lowered himself over Ekaterina. It didn’t take that long to pull the duvet and cover it.

Of course, he did not forget to support his body with his elbows and leave a certain distance between them.

Ekaterina checked that the blanket was covered, then lifted her head again and looked out the window.

Since it was a fairly tenacious gaze, Leonid also turned towards the spear as if drawn to it.

The moment he turned his head like that, there was a sign that he could feel without even looking with his eyes.

A window that opened silently, and a light breeze disturbing the calm room.

no way.

Since she never sat at the table at home, the only time Ekaterina sat down at the table, dressed in nice clothes, was when she was attending other family parties with her mother, Ludmila.

-Long time no see, Mrs Offenbach. How is your son doing?

– Oh, he’s all right. He changed his swordsmanship this time, and his skills improved. He became so tall that I look up at him now.

-You must be really proud of having a good son, madam. I’m looking forward to meeting him at the next party.

Ludmila’s ‘children’ should include both Dmitry and Ekaterina, but of course the two were talking only about Dmitry.

This was despite knowing that Ekaterina was the eldest daughter of Offenbach externally.

The people who flocked to Ludmila were so busy just talking to her, they had no time to notice the existence of Ekaterina.

Of those many, not one cared for her. It was an innocent indifference.

Like a shadow outside, Ekaterina used to look down at the empty plate without touching the food, and came back with Ludmila. Because that was her job.

She never had any regrets about that. She’ve never felt sadness.

Those are the stories of when she was too young.

Still, if I  listen to Leonid… … .

“Do you like the plate?”

Her thoughts were shattered by the sudden sound of a voice. Ekaterina looked up, quickly swishing like a rabbit’s feet.

And faced the duke, who was staring at her in a strangely motionless way.

There was no smile on his face. Considering that his voice was always soft, his face was hard and cold enough to be a little puzzled.

But it was very fleeting. When Ekaterina’s eyes met, Leonid immediately smiled faintly.

‘Was it an illusion?’

There was no way to check. Before she could ponder her doubts, Leonid continued.

“I bought it for a lot of money. I heard that it was made of hard-to-find soil.”

Obviously, the plate was soft and light, but firm. Moreover, the understated and elegant design proudly announced that it was created by the hands of a craftsman. Ekaterina asked, staring at Leonid as much as a plate.

“Are you the type of person who enjoys showing off your wealth?”

“To show off what is not is poisonous, but to show what is there is not a fault.” 

“One of Offenbach’s virtues is humility. It seems that Rostislav does not have it.”

“Unnecessary humility could eat your flesh. I guess Offenbach doesn’t teach that, doesn’t it?”

At Leonid’s reply, Ekaterina wanted to stare at him for a moment, then lowered her gaze again and turned to the plate.

He didn’t miss a moment. Leonid leaned forward and lightly supported Ekaterina’s cheek and chin.

Thanks to that, Ekaterina’s head was lifted and their eyes met. Leonid’s straight lips parted loosely from Ekaterina’s face.

“And, when talking, you have to make eye contact with the person you are talking to.”

“… … .”

Ekaterina’s almond-like eyes widened. Obsidian-like black eyes were revealed with nowhere to hide.

A strange sense of satisfaction filled Leonid’s chest. He asked with a smile without realizing it.

“Didn’t you teach me this too?”

He thought that if he asked this question, she would definitely look at himself again.

“… … You have short nails.”

What came back was an odd answer. Ekaterina’s gaze suddenly tilted to an oblique angle and looked at Leonid’s arm.

It was a sudden and blatant change of topic, but there was no reason to refuse. Leonid bit the hand that was supporting his head and looked at his nails.

“I am not good at growing my nails. Nails are thin and sharp, so they are often accidentally cut when grown. It also breaks well. It would be more convenient to just keep it short.”

“Do you ever grow your nails?”

“well. When I’m on the battlefield, I tend to keep it longer than now. Maybe I don’t have much time to worry about things like that. Likewise, if I have a busy job, it will be a little long. I can’t think of anything other than that because I don’t take care of it in particular.”

“i See.”

“Why are you suddenly interested in my nails?”

There was no reply from Ekaterina.

She always changed the topic at will and cut off conversations whenever she wanted. He didn’t know the former, but the latter was not very sociable. Ekaterina herself knew.

But this time, she was also innocent. How the hell can you answer that?

‘I met you in my last life, and at that time your nails were long.’ so she asked

Even a Leonid with a very smooth tongue would not have said that.

When Leonid’s hand supported her head a while ago, Ekaterina inevitably recalled what happened at the interrogation room.

Until Leonid’s hand lifted her face, and his fingernails wounded her.

Thanks to this, Ekaterina, without realizing it, thought that the events of that day would be repeated. I expected a little.

She thought that Leonid’s nails might hurt her again. If she pointed out the wounds he had inflicted without his knowledge, would Leonid withdraw his hand in astonishment as he did back then? But that wasn’t what Ekaterina cared about now.

It is said that Leonid had injured one of his hands now, but if he could hurt Ekaterina even in that condition, there would be no reason to wait until his hand was healed.

However, despite expectations, Leonid’s nails were short, so there was no way to confirm it in this way.

‘He must have been busy back then.’

A lot of regret followed.

It wasn’t very long. It was because Leonid broke the silence for not long.

“Anyway. I don’t know what Offenbach’s standard is, but this is Rostislav, so even if there’s a food eater, it’s not a big deal. Do you understand? Don’t worry about it, just be comfortable in the joint residence.”

“You will kill me when your hands are healed, right?”

“Of course.”

Leonid lied without even blinking an eye.

Of course, Ekaterina did not completely trust his words. But she didn’t care. In fact, whether or not what Leonid said was true had nothing to do with Ekaterina.

‘It’s okay to lie.’

If Leonid refused to kill her, Ekaterina would rush to kill him. Because the dagger was still tied to her thigh.

That was the plan from the beginning.

If Leonid had said in their first meeting that he wouldn’t do it, Ekaterina would have pulled out a knife from her thigh right away.

Then there would be a battle that would not end until one of them died, and of course the winner would be Leonid.

And she will be able to get the rest she has longed for.

It was because of such calculations that Ekaterina passed over Leonid’s sophistry that he could not use his left hand because he had injured his right hand.

‘Let’s live a few more months.’

Until that man’s hand gets better and he can fight on an equal footing with me.

But if it turns out that Leonid can hurt Ekaterina even as it is now.

‘then… … .’

Rest is not that far away.

Ekaterina thought as she took a sip of the wine. Unsweetened wine was not as tasty as expected.

If she had tasted the wines of Offenbach, she would have been able to compare them, but unfortunately she never tasted wines from Offenbach.

How did Leonid drink this bitterly? Is that also a characteristic of Rostislav?

Ekaterina put the question straight into words. There was no reason to swallow the question in her throat in front of him. As the Duchy of Rostislav, it was enough for her to pass on a meal and a few months’ time.

“Some wine,”

And, she just stopped talking.

It was because the sense of movement, which had been trained, was so sharp that it was like a scratch on Ekaterina’s cheek for a moment.

Is it a sense of alienation from being in an unfamiliar environment? Or is it a misunderstanding due to drinking?

Ekaterina turned to Leonid. He already had a face that didn’t notice whether Ekaterina was off.

“Wine, why?”

“… … Where is the window open?”

“well. I wouldn’t have opened it because there is heating in this area. Is it cold?”

Ekaterina lifted her head and glanced up, then put the wine glass to her lips again.

“No, it’s okay. The wine doesn’t taste as good as I thought.”

“You said you were going to have a bit of a taste. If you are not used to alcohol, drink something else.”

“I can get used to it from now on.”

Ekaterina shed Leonid’s words lightly and averted her eyes. Her cold gaze scanned the dim hallway outside the dining room.

for a while too. The meal was soon over.

Ekaterina left the room only after she emptied her glass.

It’s a bit funny to be disarmed in front of delicious food on a subject that reacted insensitively to anything he said or even to anger.

Leonid opened his mouth as he pushed the roast duck in sauce in front of Ekaterina.

“Didn’t you use your sword? Prosecutors should not be able to slip their hands frequently.”

“I don’t slide very often.”

“Then why?”

“I just have a few things that come to mind.”

Ekaterina held out her fork to the other side of the meat dish Leonid had pushed.

The roasted cherry tomatoes were stuck at the end of the tableware.

“I eat tomatoes, but there are people who don’t eat cherry tomatoes.”

“You have a cute taste.”

“it’s Offenbach successor’s taste.”

“You have a strange taste. Why don’t you eat cherry tomatoes while eating tomatoes?”

“I hate its feeling of popping in my mouth.”

Yekaterina said so and shoved the cherry tomatoes into her mouth.

Then, she took the large piece of meat that Leonid had pushed and began to cut it into bite-size pieces. She was not good at handling tableware, so she was a bit nervous.

A sumptuous dinner was held on the table. Main dishes include roast duck marinated in sauce, cod coated in flour and carefully grilled so that the meat does not come out, and lamb ribs steak that is sliced softly with a knife. Around it, fresh vegetables, including roasted cherry tomatoes, which Offenbach’s successors dislike, were lined up, either roasted or tossed in raw sauce. The consommé with Italian parsley was still steaming warm.

Starting with the sharp slicing of clams, which were served as an appetizer, Ekaterina was enjoying her meal in the most energetic way she had ever seen.

Leonid tilted his wine glass and looked at Ekaterina like that. Rather than simply looking at her, it was a gaze closer to observation.

From the first meeting until now. Leonid’s evaluation of Ekaterina was as follows.

‘she doesn’t look like someone who’s going to die just from the first look.’

Leonid was not proud of himself for living a very long life, but he was a man who could be proud of seeing the faces of those who had resigned to death.

When wandering around the battlefield, there are things that are not so difficult to face. So is the part about death. It’s a pity if you consider it that way, but Leonid has lived a familiar life with death. As the leader of Rostislav, it was natural in a way.

Those who wish for death, which Leonid has seen, usually have a common face.

A face that finds no meaning in anything or in life.

It often took the form of melancholy or took the form of helplessness.

Neither is a look to be found in Yekaterina’s face he’d seen.

Although Yekaterina was indifferent, she did not show any tears, and although she looked dull, she had vitality.

‘Still, one thing is certain.’

Even under those conditions, Yekaterina looks like a reed that will soon break.

Perhaps the danger has something to do with her wish for death.

Even though he knows it, he’s worried about that, probably because Leonid himself can’t be a heartless human.

Leonid narrowed his brow slightly and then released it.

Then he put down his glass and opened his mouth.

“Yekaterina. Is there anything you like?”

At the same time, Yekaterina had pushed the food so that her cheeks were full, so Leonid did not get an answer until after she swallowed the food exactly twenty times, she passed the food down to her throat.

“That dish is delicious. I like it.”

It means you don’t like anything.

“Tell them to put the duck on the table tomorrow as well. Continue if you wish.”

“It sounds like you want me to stay as long as that dish is on the table.”

“If you think so, then you are right.”

“… … You are clever.”

“You’re going to get bored.”

Leonid shrugged as if to assert his innocence.

Seeing him like that, Yekaterina remembered the exhausting conversation they had in the room a while ago. And she also remembered the delicious food that passed through her throat.

Finally, she remembered Leonid’s ‘that expression’. He looked at herself like a castle that would disappear when the sun rises. The face he has as he spoke, the nonsensical concept of unpaid favors for granted.

“… … .”

Her stomach got a little queasy.

She doesn’t know what ‘that expression’ means and why it makes her uncomfortable, but it was for the first time she had someone look at her like that.

But now that things have come to this, it’s hard to say that she’s going to leave.

First of all, because she ate so much food.

‘Is it really okay to just stay?’

Actually, she was grateful. It was the first time she had received such a favor from someone.

How can I repay him?

Yekaterina pondered for a moment, put the fork and knife in one place, and asked seriously.

“Is there anyone you want to kill? Or is there any information you would like to find? Of course if you like simple bodyguards. If there is something you can entrust to someone, entrust it to me. Maybe I can handle it better than the person you were going to entrust to.”

The fork moving on the other side of Yekaterina stopped.

“… … Are you talking about that again? I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that I’m not going to make you do that. You are a guest.”

“Of course I do. People often say that just being in the same room with someone they like makes them feel satisfied. But let me do something for you.”

“Thank you for reciprocating, but can’t we just put an end to that damn misunderstanding?”

“I’m I mistaken?”

“I tell you that… … I mean, I don’t have a crush.”

“You said you care.”

“Just because I care doesn’t mean I  like you.”

“Then what?”

“well. In other words, sympathy? Don’t be offended by what I said.”

“How old are you?”

“I will turn eighteen next month.”

“It’s amazing that you haven’t had a relationship at that age.”

“How did you understand the word virginity now? That misunderstanding-”

“You don’t make excuses for not having experience.”

“… … .”

Leonid calmly rubbed his forehead. It felt like the wine he drank earlier already reached the top of his head.

Leonid also knew that Yekaterina’s words had no malicious intent or intended to make fun of him.

If you don’t notice even after seeing that low-key voice and a face that doesn’t show emotions, you must be a very stupid person.

The problem was that he kept getting caught up in her unintentional remarks.

If you stand alone in front of a doll-like opponent like that, you will feel like a rare idiot.

‘How did this conversation come to this … … .’

If it was like this, it was clear that the future would only be worse if the conversation continued.

Leonid managed to grab hold of the white brittle mental cord, and slowly moved his lips to clear the misunderstanding.

“first of all.”

Let’s make sure

“I have no intention of making you a servant. Don’t bring up that story again.”

“That’s too bad.”

“And, I don’t even like you.”

At that point, Yekaterina pursed her lips slightly.

“Then do you hate me?”

“No, I have no idea.”

“You said you care.”

“That’s what a human should do. I’ve heard someone say they’re going to die or go into a black room, but who wouldn’t care?”

This time, there was no reply. Thanks to that, Leonid lowered his gaze and had to watch Yekaterina’s face for a while.

A bare face that doesn’t look so depressed or helpless.

The long shadows of the eyelashes hanging over the cheeks look like the pampas grass along the river crying. However, her face resembled an ice lake that did not even wave.

“You always say things I don’t understand.”

A voice resembling the stillness of the snowy field followed.

Would it be overly sentimental to say that her voice was somehow sad? Only then did Leonid realize that Yekaterina was not looking at him.

The conversation has been going on for a while, but Yekaterina never looked at Leonid once.

She was just looking down at the dish that was stained with sauce or gravy.

Yekaterina’s eyes were always covered with silvery shadows.

Suddenly, Leonid noticed that he still couldn’t remember the color of her eyes. When the thought reached there, his heart was surprisingly twisted.

Without even thinking about the reason, Yekaterina’s voice continued. 

“I don’t care if someone dies in a place where death is the norm.”

“… … That would be the case in Offenbach.”

“People don’t care about others, even if it’s not Offenbach.”

It was a very decisive tone.

Yekaterina was staring intently at the plate that had already been emptied several times, as she nothing more to say.

It wasn’t because Leonid made her uncomfortable or suddenly felt depressed.

It was a habit that Yekaterina had.

In an all-dark room.

A young man with blue-silver hair tinged with blue light slowly ran down the long sword with a towel.

His sharp gaze was directed at the man kneeling in front of him.

“Keep talking. What about my sister?”

“she refused to be taken to the Black Room. She… she went out in the wagon–quick!”

The man who had knelt in front of him and trembled with a popping sound grabbed the shoulder he had been kicked and rolled over.

He was the man who tried to take Ekaterina at Sergei’s order during the day, and the part that was kicked was the part that Ekaterina attacked.

The man’s body, already showing signs of significant beatings, appeared to have no sanctity on the outside.

The young man’s shoes slowly landed on the man’s hand that was holding his shoulder.

“Aww!”

The man was now almost crying and crawling on the ground.

The cruelty of the young master was terrifying. But it is unsurprisingly a common scene in Offenbach.

A family in which only the dogs who listen well and the strong who can control them survive.

“If you followed my father’s orders and went to catch my sister, you couldn’t even catch her. Or should you have protected my sister as I commanded. Is there any reason why I should keep you alive for not being able to do anything right?”

“Ma…Master Dmitry, please… … Please have mercy… … .”

“Come on.”

Dmitry’s dry voice spread slowly on the floor like cotton torn into a mess.

“You speak as if mercy is any great tolerance. In reality, it’s just a form of training.”

A whitish light fell on her face as dry as his voice.

The all-black room and the silver-haired young man had a shape that matched as terribly well as the contrast.

After the metamorphosis period, the skeleton gradually fitting into the frame as it was established as an adult was like the back of a wild beast that was being called upon to grow in size.

Maybe it’s because Dmitry’s deep eyes seem to contain regrets that aren’t appropriate for his age.

He broke his wrist and ran his fingertips across the silver blade.

“The beast that has shown mercy, and has been merciful, wags its tail… …. It’s not that difficult to make a two-legged animal crawl on its own without a leash after just a few steps.”

“If you just let me live, if you just give me life… … Anything for the master… … !”

The man cried and begged to the point of being submissive. Dmitry’s hand in black gloves grabbed the man’s face and met his gaze from a distance.

Dmitry’s face, whom he met for the first time from a short distance away, was as beautiful as an angel.

Do you want to save your life?

The man leaned on that beauty and harbored a glimmer of hope.

But at that moment.

“But where will I tame you and use you?”

The young man smiled kindly.

The man’s face escaped the angel’s grasp and fell to the ground.

What followed was a dry and bitter voice.

“You have ruined all my plans.”

The man’s breath was soon cut off.

Dmitry fell at his feet and looked down at the dead man indifferently, and dropped his sword as it was.

It was a gaze without any emotion or interest. If I had to ask, would it be complicated or a bit complicated?

Dmitry, who was looking at the man who had fallen face down, thinking about what he was thinking, turned away.

No, he tried to turn.

“Dmitry? Are you here?”

If the door hadn’t opened and his mother Ludmila had not come in, he would have had the eyes of a slayer as indifferent as before.

Lyudmila walked over to her beloved son, regardless of whether she was used to the iron-smelling room. Apart from the fact that Ludmila is Offenbach, apart from the fact that she is speaking in an outfit that does not match the scene of the dreary and terrible room.

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. I thought you were going to be at the training ground, but you were not there.”

“Training ended a little while ago, mother.”

Dmitry gave Ludmila a gentle smile, and Ludmila tenderly wrapped her arms around his cheek.

“Yeah, it was a lot of work. Are you having a hard time these days? There is only one year left until the succession ceremony.”

“… … right.”

“At times like this, your older sister should be able to set an example, but just this morning, she’s been so reckless—”

“mother.”

There was a sense of coercion beneath the gentle voice.

Ludmila was startled and carefully removed her hand from Dmitry’s face. But Dmitry was still smiling kindly.

“Is that all why you were looking for me?”

At the subtle but clearly drawn line, Ludmila resolutely retreated. Then, with a face full of concern, she spoke carefully.

“… … Well, actually, I was looking for Ekaterina. I was wondering if you knew anything about the slaughterhouse in the morning and then she disappeared somewhere… … .”

Of course, I know. But, as always, Dmitry had an unaware face.

“You said my sister disappeared?”

“Yes. I think your father was trying to get some soul, but he said he couldn’t find her trace. Thanks to her, I went to the tea party alone. If he doesn’t find Ekaterina by the evening, he must be angry… … .”

Ludmila wasn’t worried about Ekaterina. Ludmila was concerned only with her well-being and sometimes Sergei’s beloved son Dmitry.

familiar fragility.

And that was also the reason why Dmitry always felt uncomfortable with her.

Taking care of the children was Ludmila’s job to the last.

If Sergei is a whip, Ludmila is a carrot. To care for children so that they do not derail and to lead education. It was also the only task that the fragile Ludmila assumed in this Offenbach.

However, when Ekaterina is said to have disappeared, Ludmila, who should be held responsible, can only tremble.

“What if he says he wants to send me back to my home? I don’t know why? Ekaterina’s been doing well, but suddenly she’s creating such a fuss! Why did she suddenly confront your father? … .”

Since Ekaterina had disappeared like this, Ludmila murmured anxiously, saying that if she returned, it would not just end in a black room.

It was then that Dmitry could guess why Ludmila had come to him.

Since Sergei is terrified of his one and only son, she asks him to go and do Ekaterina’s work. Also asking for help in finding Ekaterina.

As always, she was a very fragile person. In the face of an unprecedented event, the only thing you can do is open your hands to your son. Dmitry’s gaze looking down at Ludmila was cold.

‘You can’t do anything with your own hands.’

If it had been any other time, I wouldn’t have bothered to do so. Fortunately for Ludmila, however, the story was a little different this time.

Because it was Ekaterina’s job, not anyone else’s.

A young man in a gentle mask calmed my mother down.

“mother. I’ll try to speak to my father. I’ll find out a little bit about sister, so mother can go rest.”

“Oh, will you? Because of you, this mother is really reassured… … .”

“sure. Don’t worry too much. I also don’t want my mother and my sister to be in trouble.”

Dmitry gently hugged Ludmila’s shoulder, comforted her, and sent her outside. She disappeared as naturally as when Ludmila’s soft and weak seal came in.

widely. The door closed, and the young man’s lips parted.

“Ivan.”

“Yes.”

At the light call, the man who had been covered by the shadows bowed his head and answered.

“Call out the assassins tonight. I need to find her.”

“Are you calling from Offenbach?”

“No, I’m going to get her out of here. Choose carefully those without a trace, so that no one notices.”

I must secure the status of my sister faster than my father.

Dmitry’s voice as he added that was overflowing with obsession.

Ivan answered silently. The man who took the example disappeared back into the shadows.

 *

Meanwhile, with Rostislav.

visor! The sound of dishes hitting the floor was noisy.

It was from Ekaterina’s side. Thanks to this, there was silence for a while at the table where only the two sat.

It was Leonid’s side who broke the silence.

“If you have a complaint, how about speaking up?”

“It’s a mistake.”

“It’s annoying to make a mistake. Doesn’t the food suit your palate?”

“No, it’s delicious.”

Ekaterina responded briefly and continued eating with the new tableware handed to her by the attendant standing behind her.

In a way, the answer was so simple that it seemed like she was trying to avoid the answer, but there was no one there who doubted what Ekaterina said.

The reason was simple. Because Ekaterina was eating very fervently.

The diners who sat down for dinner as an excuse actively savored all the food on the table. It was enough to stimulate the appetite of the viewer. The figure that had acted indifferently as if not alive the whole time had long since disappeared.

Thanks to that, Leonid felt a little strange.

‘She came to die.’

Would you put so much passion into your meal?

The answer came, and Ekaterina had no intention of continuing the exhausting conversation.

“Thank you for caring. Then I will… … .”

“Ekaterina.”

But Leonid caught her again.

Ekaterina was starting to get annoyed by him now.

He used to say useless things in the interrogation room before returning, and he still does. It would be easier to understand the intention if there was something to wish for, but why the hell is this happening?

Or is it a characteristic of Rostislav?

Ekaterina tried to get the question out of her mouth without any sieves. If only Leonid hadn’t opened his mouth first.

“Do you think I will be able to let you go after I hear that?”

“Are there any problems with my story?”

“It’s surprising that you don’t think there is. Or do you think I can’t be worried about you?

Ekaterina was momentarily speechless. Because the word ‘worry’ was so unfamiliar.

And Leonid’s face when he spoke like that looked quite familiar.

– Do you not want to live?

Yes. Leonid, who asked her like that in the interrogation room, had just that kind of face. As if he had chewed a cow, something quite uncomfortable on his face.

“I know for sure what would happen if I let you go like this, but do you think I can let you go? It’s not like there’s no room left in Rostislav.”

“I don’t understand why you care about me.”

It’s not that I didn’t understand it, but it’s the first time I’ve heard something I don’t understand.

Why on earth do you care?

“We met for the first time today.”

It wasn’t even a very pleasant meeting.

Ekaterina and Leonid are members of a hostile family. One even asked the other to kill them when they first met today. In the meantime, what else do you have to worry about?

“Is it that important? It’s just a favor. I am not asking for anything in return.”

“There is no favor that does not expect a reward.”As soon as I spit it out, my mind felt a little refreshed. Ekaterina has always acted faster than expected.

‘Yes.’

There is no favor that does not expect a reward. This was Catherine’s truth.

People are extremely indifferent to others. In the world, if five or six people died from an infectious disease next door, the door was locked to prevent the spread of the disease. If there was a child wandering on a snowy street, the world was passing by, pretending not to see him.

Therefore, it is only natural that the person who reached out to the child had the intention to raise the child well and use it. It is natural for the person who took the child to reciprocate as desired.

So, what do you, who reached out to me now, want from the person you are about to kill?

‘Something must have a purpose to use it.’

If she knew the purpose, she was willing to accept the offer.

In the first place, Ekaterina didn’t reject Leonid’s offer because she didn’t like it.

He said that there was no reason for the favor, so she just rejected it, and she could accept any offer of a deal with a clear purpose and reward.

But what do you pay in return?

I came here with nothing only because I thought I was going to die. He didn’t ask me for those common precious metals, and he didn’t ask for any useful information.

“Oh, if you want to know about Offenbach, I think I might be able to help. It is easy to draw even the structure of the capital and mansion. It will be useful if you want to send intruders.”

“If I had been Offenbach, it would have been a very harsh offer to accept.”

“Are you accepting me?”

“Unfortunately, such a mean way is not to my taste.”

“Then even if you need a mercenary?”

This time, Leonid frowned.

“If that’s the case, I can help. That’s my specialty.”

“Hire you as a mercenary and use you?”

“Whether it’s a bodyguard, a request to kill someone, whatever. I know that many families use mercenaries when they don’t want to get their hands dirty.”

“Then why don’t you go to that family?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Thank you for letting me know.”Ekaterina frowned and leaned back on the window sill. and caught again.

Thanks to this, the two pairs of eyes shared their gazes in the air again.

Leonid seemed to know what Ekaterina’s gaze meant without even asking.

‘Aren’t you going to put this down?’

It seems that the indifferent chirping voice is already resounding in his head.

Leonid pulled off his hands as they fell, and so did Ekaterina’s lips.

“… … History sometimes tells stories of foolish people who felt superior to their enemy’s family by enslaving them.”

Again, Leonid could understand what Ekaterina meant.

Are you one of those fools too?

“… … It’s not like that.”

“Then why do you keep holding on to me?”

Why do you want to do me a favor?

To Catherine’s question, Leonid could not find an excuse to properly answer.

No, he never thought that doing a favor would be this difficult in the first place. I’m sure you’ll be asked about your favor in this way.

He was a very different person. It’s like facing a purple apple.

‘There is no favor that does not expect a reward.’

Even if you don’t have a face if you can see that you are having a hard time, wouldn’t you be willing to hand over a coin? A heartless person might turn away, but at least Leonid has lived that way.

If someone is having a hard time, do them a favor, and that too sometimes leans in someone’s favor.

Of course, Leonid’s favor had a purpose.

The fact that having Ekaterina with you would be a good condition to start a fight with Offenbach.

But that wasn’t all of the favor.

‘The biggest problem is that I’m concerned.’

As long as he was certain that Ekaterina would return to visit Leonid, Leonid didn’t want to worry too much about where she was.

There is no sense of indebtedness to using Ekaterina as a cause. Because it was Ekaterina who broke in first.

But other than that, he didn’t even care about it, so it was frustrating.

It wasn’t enough that she came to be killed by him from the beginning, she said that she would casually enter a torture device like the black room.

Ekaterina looked like she had given up on everything.

If you leave her alone, it’s like jumping into an ice-cold lake. No, as if she were some kind of thin ice.

It looked like it would crack if I made a little mistake.

So I have no choice but to look.

Ekaterina didn’t seem to understand this simple logic.

However, if he continued to remain silent, Ekaterina would almost certainly jump through that window.

What kind of dilemma is this?

In the end, Leonid burst into anger.

“Is it my fault that I’m someone who cares so much?”

“… … Are you mad now?”

“Don’t count it like that. Just do it your way Whether you go into a black room or break into someone else’s house.”

“I don’t know why you’re angry. Did I provoke you?”

“It’s frustrating.”

Leonid chewed on the profanity with his teeth, then walked closer to Ekaterina.

“Where are the people who break into someone’s house to be killed by them? I don’t know why you want to die, but you have to consider my position, which is why I’ve come to you at will.”

I thought that if I talked like this, the question of why you care about yourself would come back again.

“You know the story of Princess Evanna and Prince Terenti, right?”

What a strange story is back.

“Why that classic?”

“There was a war between the two countries, and the princess and the prince were in love with each other. You know how the story ends, right?”

“Aren’t they both dead?”

“If you don’t want to die, you better not like me.”

AHA.

Only then did Leonid understand the flow of this strange conversation.Hearing what she had just said a while ago, Ekaterina misunderstood that Leonid had fallen in love with her.

In fact, in terms of words, the misunderstanding was not quite out of the ordinary.

You may have heard that the word you care about is the word you like.

However, that was only from Ekaterina’s point of view, not Leonid’s.

‘Ha’

Who likes whom now?

If I said it twice, you can even wear a wedding ring on your ring finger. Leonid bit the inside of his molars.

“These misunderstandings only let me know that this is an envoy from this side as well.”

“The book says that it is usually too late after you realize your heart. Don’t like someone who’s going to die soon.”

“So, I don’t like-”

squeak.

The sound of someone’s stomach rumbled loudly between the two of them as they got closer.

Leonid forgot that he had been frowning the whole time and looked at Ekaterina.

Ekaterina then put her hand on her stomach and looked at him, and met Leonid’s gaze a moment later.

“Do you provide any meals during my stay?”

It was the moment when there was a food eater in the duchy of Rostislav. The quarrels that had been fought so far were ridiculously instantaneous.