#19. Partner (5)
Sasha cautiously asked the smug Count Tula:
“Why… me?”
“Because I thought we could build a very beneficial relationship.”
Sasha stared at Count Tula’s lecherous expression, her eyes trembling.
“I don’t dislike desperate people. Those who are cornered and willing to do anything to escape—they make excellent business partners.”
Her hands clenched into fists.
“I can make you and your family wealthy. If you want, I can even give you a taste of power.”
“I—”
“However…”
Count Tula cut her off and flicked his finger.
“It’s just as easy to push someone off a cliff when they’re already standing at the edge.”
He clasped his hands and placed them on his knee, then asked:
“So, what will it be? Will you find firm footing, or fall into the endless abyss?”
Sasha remained silent.
Unbothered by her lack of response, Count Tula added,
“This is a heaven-sent opportunity. Be wise.”
Confident that Sasha couldn’t refuse, Count Tula was sure of himself.
In the heavy air of the room, Sasha finally raised her head.
“…You said I was a business partner.”
Looking straight into his greedy eyes, she slowly spoke.
“If you’re offering safety, wealth, and power for my family… then what do you want from me?”
“Now we’re speaking the same language.”
He smiled in satisfaction.
“What you need to do is…”
His eyes scanned her up and down, judging her value.
“I hear you’ve been getting close to Pavel.”
Even in the remote annex, his eyes and ears had delivered the news.
Sasha, realizing a lie would be pointless, nodded.
“Yes.”
“Good job.”
“……?”
“Keep getting close. Make sure that boy fully trusts you.”
“…….”
“I’ll tell you what to do after that.”
‘What does he want me to do once Pavel fully trusts me?’
As Sasha looked at him warily, he replied with ease:
“It’s not hard. Just charm a kid and get him in the palm of your hand, and you’ll gain treasure beyond your imagination.”
Sasha’s lips parted, her mind in turmoil.
“I want to be clear. What exactly will I be doing after gaining Pavel’s trust?”
Count Tula laughed heartily.
“Cautious, aren’t you? Not bad. Kids like you usually work hard once they surrender.”
After a moment of consideration, he said:
“When the time comes, give him what I hand you.”
Sasha’s eyes widened.
He hadn’t said it outright, but the meaning was clear.
‘He’s trying to kill Pavel.’
Her clenched hands were damp. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Seeing her pale face, Count Tula added gently:
“But you don’t need to worry about it now. That’ll come later, once his guard is completely down.”
“…I see.”
Worried that further silence might seem suspicious, Sasha responded reluctantly.
“Since you said it’s simple, I won’t worry.”
Though she felt sick to her stomach, she forced a calm smile and feigned ignorance.
“Is it really okay to receive such a reward for doing something so simple?”
“It’s a simple task, but an important one. Complete it, and I’ll give you more than you can imagine.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Pleased that things were going smoothly, Count Tula smiled.
“As for the staff in the annex—I think it’s good that things are a bit inconvenient. That way, Pavel will rely on you and no one else.”
“…I hadn’t thought of that.”
Sasha bit down hard as she answered.
“You’re still young, so it’s fine. You’ll learn.”
He chuckled and patted her shoulder, then added condescendingly:
“But since it seems you don’t like the current staff, I’ll replace them with better-trained ones. You can relax.”
“…….”
“Take care of Pavel for me.”
‘Take care of him’—meaning, ‘watch and report everything.’
Sasha bowed deeply, hiding the twisted expression on her face.
*
On her way back to the annex, Sasha chewed her lip in rage.
‘I had a feeling… and I was right.’
Count Tula, who acted so kind, had been hiding a vile intent.
‘His goal must be to take over the Volkov family.’
The Grand Duke, Dmitri Volkov, spent his days on the battlefield, his life always at risk. His heir, Pavel, was terminally ill and unlikely to live to adulthood.
With no other direct family, if both died, Count Tula—being the closest relative—would inherit the title.
He already had a high chance of success just by waiting, but apparently that wasn’t enough for him.
‘He’s even trying to use me to get rid of Pavel.’
When Sasha returned to the annex, two worried faces greeted her.
“Is something wrong?”
Olga asked, having waited anxiously.
“…You’re not hurt, are you?”
Pavel hovered around, sneaking glances at her face.
Their concern made Sasha’s heart ache.
“Sorry. I just need some time to think. I want to be alone.”
After sending them away, she shut herself in and planned her next steps.
‘At least I got the information I needed.’
Who the enemy is:
Count Tula.
What his goal is:
To kill the Grand Duke and Pavel, then take control of the Volkov family.
And the method:
Poison Pavel through Sasha.
‘I need to prepare.’
Sasha had no intention of being a passive victim.
‘If I don’t have power now, I’ll build it.’
Luckily, she had her Mind Palace—the memory of countless past lives.
If she used those well, she could make her plans a reality.
The first that came to mind was her life as a doctor.
It had already saved Pavel’s life multiple times and helped his recovery.
‘A renowned physician always has influence.’
Health and life are what people value most, so a capable doctor will always hold power.
‘I’ll need hands-on practice, but my base knowledge is strong.’
Next, she recalled her life as a great mage.
Thanks to that, she’d used the Obedience Spell on their wedding night to make the doctor comply.
‘Magic is useful, but… this body doesn’t have talent. I’ll never be a great mage again.’
Still, with training, she might manage basic spells.
‘But even that would take five years of effort. I need another physical means of power.’
Then she remembered her life as a knight commander.
‘Swordsmanship. Good choice. I could even teach it to Pavel.’
But there were limits.
This body was weaker than her knight self and lacked sufficient mana.
‘So neither magic nor swordsmanship will be perfect.’
She sighed softly.
‘And power isn’t just about force.’
Information gathering, manipulation—those were power too.
‘I need versatile abilities I can use strategically.’
She was pondering that when—
“Miss—no, my lady! My lady!”
Olga’s urgent voice came from outside. Sasha jumped up and let her in.
“What is it?”
Olga shouted as if she had been holding it in.
“The young master…!”
