#151. Wind (1)
‘Ah, really.’
Sasha sighed, pressing her reddened cheeks with the back of her hand.
‘I don’t even know why I’m like this. It would have been fine to just go along with it calmly, so why did I overreact and panic at every little thing?’
She felt awkward, acting clumsy like a woman who had no idea on her first night.
Ever since her previous life, she had always remained composed in any situation. Even when daily life became repetitive and dull, she handled it with calm detachment.
Yet, strangely, when she was with Pavel, her mind gradually adapted to her body.
She had felt this for several years, but it seemed to intensify ever since she had shared her heart with Pavel.
Now, her past life memories and the present felt completely separate, like a distant dream.
Confused by this change, Sasha bit her lips unconsciously.
When she turned her head, her eyes fell on the northern landscape beyond the large window.
For a moment, she stared blankly, then thought,
‘I don’t dislike this side of me.’
A smile naturally formed on her lips.
‘It feels strange compared to before, but this is me too.’
It was amazing. Even after living so many lives, she still discovered new parts of herself.
This life was truly special.
The emotional fluctuations she had never experienced before reshaped her steadily.
From the tips of her toes upward, she felt herself being rebuilt—unfamiliar, yet not unpleasant.
‘Yes. This is me too. Even if I change, I’m still me.’
Feeling her slow, steady heartbeat, Sasha slowly reaffirmed herself.
Even as she reluctantly tore herself away from Pavel, who wanted to cling to her, Sasha didn’t feel entirely at ease.
But they couldn’t just lie around in the bedroom forever.
Pavel had much to do, and Sasha had her own responsibilities as well.
Even though the real head of the household, Pavel, had returned, she couldn’t suddenly abandon the duties she had managed as his temporary representative. She had to see them through.
It wasn’t just that.
She still had to supervise household chores with the housekeeper, Olga, and now that the war was over, attend public events and social gatherings.
And there was one more task Sasha had to handle…
“Good morning, madam.”
“Yes, good morning. Are you feeling comfortable?”
Even amidst the busy day, Sasha smiled politely as she received a guest in the sitting room, hiding her fatigue.
Across from her, however, the visitor, Naina, didn’t bother concealing her displeasure.
“It’s okay. Not bad. Just… not quite what I expected.”
Her posture was elegant as she held her teacup, yet her words were brazen.
“For instance, this sitting room. If it were up to me, I would have decorated it more lavishly and beautifully.”
Naina openly surveyed the room as if judging it.
Even so, Sasha didn’t frown, responding warmly.
“I instructed that it be prepared with care, but I suppose it didn’t meet your standards, Miss Naina.”
“If it were me, I’d have chosen more luxurious materials for the furniture to suit the prestige of the Grand Duke’s household. What’s here isn’t bad, but it feels a bit old-fashioned. And I would have chosen wallpaper to match the new furniture—imported from abroad, the popular kind these days…”
Naina’s words flowed like a dream, yet were concrete. It felt like she had long imagined this, and it wasn’t unrealistic. For someone of humble birth, her imagination was surprisingly practical.
‘She speaks as if she’s lived in a noble household herself.’
Sasha processed the information from Naina’s words and behavior. Meeting someone in person always revealed more than hearsay.
Still, being spoken to so bluntly wasn’t exactly pleasant.
“…I’ll keep your opinions in mind for the next time the castle is refurbished. But you’re not always perfectly accurate in predicting the future, are you?”
“Huh?”
Naina frowned at Sasha’s peculiar tone, prompting Sasha to smile and ask further.
“Well, if you had seen Bellicor Castle through your foresight, you would already know how it looks and is decorated now, so there wouldn’t have been any disappointment.”
“W-well…”
Momentarily flustered, Naina stammered.
“I did take a brief look through my foresight, but not long enough to see the interior in detail.”
Taking advantage of the shift in topic, Sasha began to probe Naina’s ability further.
“Could you see the future right now? For example, what will happen this evening?”
“…I can’t do it on demand.”
“Oh, I see.”
Sasha tilted her head.
“So your abilities have clear limitations. Conditions are strict, and there are limits to what you can see.”
Naina immediately frowned, sensing that Sasha doubted her abilities.
“That’s not true! I was chosen by the heavens!”
The phrasing was unusual.
Sasha’s sharp intuition made her observe Naina more carefully.
“How dare you underestimate my ability. Unbelievable!”
Clearly insulted, Naina erupted with anger. Unlike calm Sasha, she couldn’t hide her emotions.
Sasha quietly analyzed Naina’s tone, habits, and gestures.
Even in minor traces, she could extract useful information.
‘She’s quick to ignite, impatient. Confident in her ability, narcissistic, and believes herself to be a special, unique person.’
Sasha stored this understanding of Naina in her mind.
‘Is this her true personality?’
It differed from what she had heard from others. There was a significant gap between the facade she presented and her real nature.
‘This might make things easier.’
Sasha realized that the warnings she had heard about Naina being tenacious and hard to read were exaggerated.
‘Turns out I was overly cautious.’
Naina, noticing Sasha lost in thought, crossed her arms and sneered.
“Have you not heard how effective I was on the battlefield thanks to my foresight?”
“…I heard about it.”
“And yet you doubt my ability? Or… haven’t you heard this part?”
Naina smirked.
Feeling a slight unease, Sasha set down her teacup and stared at her.
Naina, feeling triumphant, struck a haughty pose with crossed legs.
“I’m talking about the incident soon to come, one so dangerous it could even threaten your life, madam.”
“….”
Sasha’s calm gaze met Naina’s, unmoved.
Even though Naina provocatively mentioned the risk to her life, Sasha’s composure didn’t waver.
‘Trying to act superior, huh. But when faced with death, you’d be begging for mercy like everyone else!’
Naina found Sasha’s composed demeanor irritating. The fact that she had taken her place and now behaved as if she were superior was unbearable.
She wanted to disrupt Sasha’s calm and make her feel upset.
She considered how best to rattle that unflappable face.
Then she thought of something.
‘They seem so close…’
The Volkov Grand Duke couple’s public displays of affection were more intimate than rumored.
Not merely exchanging emotions, but engaging in something humans call love.
‘The ones who value each other most will react strongly if you touch what they hold dear.’
Naina snorted in satisfaction at her own deduction.
Yet.
‘What’s this?’
Sasha didn’t seem at all bothered by Naina’s insinuation; instead, she smiled gently.
And softly said:
“You don’t need to worry. Whatever was told to my husband, I already know it too.”
“….”
“We don’t keep secrets from each other as a couple.”
Hearing the firmness and trust in Sasha’s words, the smile disappeared from Naina’s face.
