#83. Capital (4)
Sasha blinked silently. A short distance away, Andrei stopped and spoke.
“It’s very late.”
Only then did Sasha answer.
“It is time to be sleeping… but I just can’t fall asleep.”
At her weary voice, Andrei’s expression hardened.
“Do you have worries?”
Sasha lowered her gaze. Her long, thick lashes cast a small shadow.
Andrei quietly waited for her reply.
After a moment, Sasha lifted her eyes and spoke at last.
“…The battlefield… it’s very dangerous, isn’t it?”
Now Andrei understood why she couldn’t sleep. The Grand Duke’s words after the evening battle must have been on her mind.
Looking at her lonely expression, he suddenly said,
“I will protect you.”
Sasha looked up at him.
“I am the young master’s guard knight. Just as I’ve done here, I will protect him on the battlefield as well.”
“So you don’t need to worry.”
“…Isn’t this also your first time going to war? You’ll be in danger too.”
Andrei frowned slightly, caught off guard. She was right—he was as inexperienced as a rookie when it came to war. Protecting Pavel would be hard enough when keeping himself alive would be difficult.
“Still…”
He tried to choose words to reassure her.
Sasha smiled faintly.
“But knowing you’ll be there with him makes me feel better.”
At least Pavel wouldn’t be alone in that cold, frightening place.
She thought of how different he was now from the past, when he’d been shut away in a small room with no one to care for him. Now, even if the battlefield was dangerous, he had strong companions and his father, the battle-hardened Grand Duke, beside him.
The Grand Duke will protect him. He wouldn’t let his only son die.
Thinking that, Sasha was able to ease her worries.
With a brighter face now, she turned to Andrei.
“Ah. Now I feel sleepy.”
She covered her mouth to hide a yawn.
Andrei let a small smile escape.
“I’m glad I helped.”
“Hm?”
“Since we have to move again from dawn, please go in and rest.”
Opening the inn door, Andrei changed the subject. Sasha didn’t press him on what he’d said earlier.
“Thank you, Sir.”
When he held the door for her, she asked,
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I’ll stay out in the cold air a bit longer.”
“Don’t be too late. I can nap in the carriage, but you’ll be riding a horse—it’ll be hard if you’re tired.”
“Yes.”
He tried to answer curtly, hiding the way his heart sped up from her concern. Alone again, he sighed, trying to push away thoughts he shouldn’t have.
Then—
“Sir.”
Andrei flinched. The low voice was unmistakable.
“Young master.”
He bowed to Pavel as he approached.
Pavel looked away toward the sky.
“It’s best not to behave in ways that could cause misunderstandings.”
At first, Andrei didn’t understand. But then his face stiffened.
“Be careful. In the capital there will be more eyes watching, and if rumors start, Sasha will be the one hurt most.”
“…Yes.”
“And also…” Pavel turned his gaze back.
“I will not overlook this a second time. I don’t want to lose a loyal knight.”
“…I’ll be careful.”
Andrei lowered his head, his face burning with shame.
I can’t believe I made this mistake.
He’d only recently recognized these feelings, ones he’d been trying to ignore. How much must he have let them show for Pavel to notice?
He clenched his eyes shut.
This can’t happen again.
He would have to cut off these feelings before they could grow. It was best for Pavel, for Sasha, and for himself.
With resolve in his eyes, he lifted his head.
“I won’t trouble my lord with this kind of matter again.”
“…Good.”
Pavel studied him for a moment, then walked back into the inn.
After speaking with Andrei, Sasha managed to sleep for a few hours before dawn.
She boarded the carriage in fairly good condition.
Because of the monster attack the day before, the group prioritized reaching safety in Kalita as quickly as possible.
The bumpy ride made her sore despite thick cushions, but the discomfort didn’t last long.
By midday—
“Wow! That wall is huge and amazing!”
The towering stone walls, like sheer cliffs, surrounded—
“Finally…”
—the capital, Kalita.
Dmitri headed straight to the imperial palace, Hildebride Castle, to meet the Emperor. It was his duty as a titled noble to present himself first, and he also had to report the unexpected monster attack and investigate whether similar incidents were happening elsewhere.
Meanwhile, without titles yet, Pavel and Sasha went to rest at the Volkov family’s grand townhouse in the capital.
In her elegant room, Sasha stepped onto the terrace.
“The North is still in winter, but here it’s already spring.”
It was warm enough to put away fur coats and winter dresses and change into light spring clothes.
Then—
“Sasha! Something terrible happened!”
Nina rushed in with a dirty, torn dress—now more like rags.
Sasha immediately guessed the cause: during the monster attack, one of the luggage carts had been damaged, including the trunk with their clothes.
Not only this dress, but other ball gowns and ceremonial outfits for both Pavel and the Grand Duke were ruined.
“And the investiture is in three days… We have nothing to wear for it!”
The investiture was Pavel’s big day, followed by a grand ball.
Everyday clothes I can find… but a formal suit and ball gown in time? Impossible.
Nina looked close to tears.
“It’s okay.”
Though Sasha sighed inwardly—these had all been custom-made by the seamstress Zoya, with her own input in every detail.
Now, all that effort was ruined.
Still, she didn’t dwell on it.
“Nina.”
“Yes?” Nina looked up, eyes wet.
“Let’s go out and visit the dress shops. This is the capital—there should be plenty to choose from.”
Nina nodded quickly.
“Time is short, so help me get ready to go out.”
“…Yes!”
“Don’t worry about my clothes, just prepare the carriage.”
“Right away!” Nina ran out.
When the room was quiet again, Sasha murmured,
“How will I find something suitable…?”
Even in a city of skilled dressmakers, finding something perfect for such an event in only three days was nearly impossible.
Then—
“Sasha.”
She turned sharply.
“You’re going out, aren’t you?”
Leaning in the doorway, smiling lazily, was Pavel.
“I’ll go with you.”
His soft voice and direct red gaze froze her in place.
Why… am I like this again?
She’d thought she was fine now—but alone with him, she realized she wasn’t fine at all.
