MLHRGD 31

#30. Greeting (2)

“Still, I don’t know if Pavel has changed just because he got married,” Dmitri muttered with a heavy voice, thinking about his son.

Pavel, his only son and the last trace left behind by his beloved wife, always felt awkward around his father because they had been apart while Dmitri was constantly at war since Pavel was a baby.

Because Dmitri himself wasn’t warm by nature, he couldn’t bring himself to approach his son first.
And so, the father and son became more and more distant.

Now, they only spoke when Dmitri was scolding him, their relationship worse than strangers.

Dmitri sighed as he remembered this. How had the two of them, the only family they had left, ended up like this?

Count Tula, Dmitri’s younger brother, had tried to mediate between them, but none of his efforts had ever worked.
Pavel even avoided his uncle.

Pavel didn’t just avoid Gregory. He avoided everyone.

Pavel was especially rough and sharp toward people. It was like he couldn’t stand having anyone around.
So, he had no friends. No one to talk to.

Dmitri didn’t have many people to confide in either, but at least he had his loyal vassals and his younger brother.
Pavel had no one. Absolutely no one.

That’s why Dmitri forced him to marry at such a young age.

The main reason was to have Pavel’s name written on the family register.
In the Empire, a person was not treated as a full adult just by age.
Marriage, however, gave full adult status, even for the young.

Without marriage, one couldn’t inherit titles, be registered officially, or receive property.

Dmitri married his sickly son off at age twelve so his name would live on, even if he died young.

But that wasn’t all. Dmitri also hoped that his lonely son would have someone warm and caring by his side—like a sister or friend.

That was why he chose Alexandra Arvan as a daughter-in-law—praised for her good character, maturity, and kindness.

He had met her briefly at the wedding. She seemed bright and strong-willed.
But was his choice the right one?
What outcome had it brought?

Dmitri had left for the battlefield right after the wedding. He wondered if Sasha had become a support for Pavel as he had hoped.

But Dmitri was naturally pessimistic.
He thought of the worst before the best.

He knew Pavel’s sharp personality better than anyone.
Expecting a young girl to handle what even adults couldn’t endure… that was asking too much.
They might have fought and hated each other from the start.
It was easier to imagine that than to think they were living together happily.

“…” Dmitri sipped his tea with no expression.
Igor, who was watching his lord’s stiff face, held back a sigh.

“I just hope my lord and young master can get closer…”

Igor had served Dmitri for a long time and knew how lonely he was.
Dmitri’s parents had not been warm or affectionate.
As the heir, he was treated even more strictly and never received the love he deserved.

His relationship with his siblings wasn’t good either.
Even Gregory, who was close now, had once envied and avoided his older brother.

Dmitri had grown up like an island—isolated and lonely.
The only time he wasn’t alone was when his wife, the late Grand Duchess, was alive.

“When the madam was alive, the lord was warm too…”

The Grand Duchess had been gentle and kind. She had warmed Dmitri’s cold nature, and their relationship had softened.
When things had just started to feel warm again, they had been blessed with a child.

Igor remembered that time vividly—the castle full of warmth and smiling faces.

But after Lady Volkov died giving birth to Pavel, that warmth disappeared forever.

Dmitri had grown even colder after her death.
Perhaps losing that brief warmth had made his loneliness even more painful.

Igor sometimes shivered watching Dmitri on the battlefield—charging ahead as if he didn’t care about his life.
It wasn’t just loyalty to the king or the people. It felt as if Dmitri no longer had the will to live.

“If not for young master Pavel, my lord might have thrown his life away already…”

He wouldn’t take his own life, but if death came to him in battle, he would likely accept it willingly.

Igor prayed that warm spring would return to his lord’s life.
But outside, the only thing raging was the cold winter wind.

“Cold… everything is so cold. The weather, and my lord’s heart too.”

Igor sighed as he stared at the falling snow and prayed for a miracle.

“Just like spring comes after winter, I hope spring will come again for my lord…”

At last, the decisive day arrived.

Sasha straightened Pavel’s clothes.
“Wait a second. Your tie is crooked.”

To Pavel, it looked fine, but Sasha fixed it carefully, unwilling to allow even the smallest flaw.
“Okay, that’s better.”

She seemed more nervous than he was, which made Pavel smirk faintly.
Today was the day Grand Duke Volkov was returning.
It was also the day Count Tula’s little “play” would begin.

Servants sent by the Count had been at their annex since dawn, insisting that Pavel move back to the main castle.

“He must not want anyone to find out the truth…”

Sasha pictured the Count’s sly face and smiled coldly.
But she didn’t stop fussing over Pavel’s outfit.

“Let’s go.”
She pulled a hooded robe over his neatly combed hair.
It was a shame to hide his now-handsome face, but it was necessary for the dramatic reveal later.

She had to keep Pavel’s changed appearance hidden until the most important moment.

And she couldn’t let Count Tula see it now.
He would do everything to sabotage them if he found out.

“Today, I want everyone to see Pavel as the Grand Duke’s one and only, strong and reliable heir.”

Sasha touched her forehead gently to Pavel’s.
Their noses nearly touched as she whispered while looking into his red eyes:

“Pavel, you remember what you have to do today, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I believe you’ll do well.”

“…I will.”

Looking into Sasha’s eyes, full of trust, Pavel felt as if he could do anything.
So he calmly thought—he could do it this time too.

The entire staff of Velikor Castle had gathered at the front gate to greet Grand Duke Volkov and his army.

Sasha, who had left the annex, walked slowly toward the crowded main castle.
She saw people holding flowers—single stems or entire bouquets.

She fidgeted with the bouquet she had brought in a hurry.
“Good thing I have this.”

She had been so focused on Pavel that she hadn’t prepared her own.
If Olga hadn’t gotten it ready ahead of time, Sasha would’ve been empty-handed and embarrassed.

“Thank you, Olga.”

Sasha adjusted the bouquet and quickly walked to Count Tula’s side.

“Tsk! Why are you so late?”

Even though she wasn’t late, Count Tula scolded her, clearly trying to break her spirit and make her submissive.

Sasha wanted to scoff but held it back.
She decided to play along—after all, he would soon lose everything.

“I’m sorry, uncle. It’s just that Pavel…”

Sasha trailed off with an awkward expression.
Count Tula nodded as if he understood.

“Yes, yes, I heard he refused to come again.”

“Yes…”

It was a lie.
Sasha had simply wanted to delay things until Pavel safely returned with the Barudum flower.

“You’ve worked hard. But since you couldn’t even bring him to this important event, I suppose you still haven’t gotten close?”

“Yes. But we’re getting along better than before now that we’ve been living together for nearly a year.”

Another blatant lie.
The truth was, she and Pavel were closer than ever.

But Sasha kept up the clumsy lies to lower the Count’s guard.

“I’ll try harder so I can be helpful to you, uncle.”

Count Tula smiled, satisfied.

“Yes, you must work harder. At this rate, when will you ever accomplish the tasks I give you? Don’t you think it’d be best to settle your parents in a good place before they grow older?”

It was a veiled threat. Sasha bit her lip.