102. Become My Concubine
“Ahem, ahem! I came hoping to meet Miss Smirnov.”
Mikhail spoke with reddened ears, seemingly embarrassed, as he waited in the hallway.
He appeared to have been hesitating to knock first.
Seeing him clear his throat, he seemed quite flustered when the door opened before he was mentally prepared.
Brunhilde naturally blocked the doorway by standing at an angle.
Though Katya’s bed was inside away from the door, the layout made it possible to peek in if one brought their face close enough to the door.
Her mistress currently wore a chemise nightgown thin enough to show glimpses of skin beneath.
Such an appearance couldn’t be shown to an unrelated man even if she were single, let alone now that Katya was married.
Moreover, he was her brother-in-law.
“It’s inappropriate to visit a lady’s bedroom, especially during morning hours.”
Brunhilde responded in a slightly prickly tone.
“Ah……”
Mikhail finally realized his rudeness.
After staying up all night thinking of Katya, he had mindlessly come to the Spring Palace when dawn broke.
He even pretended to take a stroll in the central garden, deliberately slipping away from his attendants who followed him.
In doing so, he had forgotten something crucial.
That it violated proper etiquette.
“I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
Mikhail apologized with his neck flushed red.
His attendants would have had fits if they saw this.
It was extremely rare for him to apologize to someone beneath him.
“I need to speak with her privately. It won’t take long.”
“Here? Absolutely not.”
“Then……”
“Please return for now, and send an attendant to us. We will give you an answer then.”
Just as Brunhilde tried to send him away according to proper protocol, Katya’s voice drifted out from inside.
“What are you doing there? Who came?”
At her voice, Mikhail became extremely tense.
He couldn’t understand why his palms were sweating.
His heart pounded like someone was beating a drum inside his chest.
“Please wait a moment.”
Brunhilde closed the door and went back inside.
Strangely, Mikhail didn’t feel his usual irritation watching the door close in his face.
People were naturally drawn to the unexpected.
It finally hit him that the woman who went around beating up men was actually a Duke’s daughter.
The lady’s maid’s firm rejection actually created an air of mystery and unapproachability that piqued his interest.
Unaware of his thoughts outside, Brunhilde relayed the message to Katya, who was eating breakfast in bed.
“Perfect timing. I actually had something to discuss with him privately too.”
“What? How do you know His Highness?”
“I’ll tell you later. Since it will take time to get ready, tell him to wait by the pond visible from my bedroom.”
“You’re meeting him today?”
“It’s better to get these things over with quickly from the start. We have mountains of work ahead.”
Unlike the man waiting outside the door with an excited heart, Katya spoke like she’s discussing the most annoying task in the world.
Upon receiving the lady’s maid’s message, Mikhail acknowledged and left immediately.
Having finished her meal, Katya got out of bed and changed clothes with Brunhilde’s help.
“I heard about him from Boris, but he really is strange. Why would he want to meet privately?”
“It’s something others shouldn’t hear. He must feel guilty too.”
“Though I don’t know what’s going on, I’ll come with you. He might try something if you have leverage over him.”
Katya smiled at her loyal lady’s maid who clenched both fists.
“Isn’t fighting my specialty rather than yours?”
“Your Highness, you absolutely must not act rashly until the national ceremony. No matter how angry you get, you absolutely cannot resort to violence.”
“So it’s okay after the national ceremony?”
“Once you become mistress of the palace, as long as it’s done secretly……”
“I thought you were just a straight-laced rule follower, but you have this side too?”
“I can be quite flexible……”
When Brunhilde turned around after pouring water into the basin, Katya, who had been right behind her moments ago, was now leaning against the balcony railing.
“Your Highness……”
And then she jumped down right before her eyes.
“Your Highness!”
Brunhilde ran to the balcony in shock.
Gripping the railing, she looked down to see Katya dusting off her hands after landing smoothly.
“What are you doing? You scared me!”
“Sorry. But if I had told you beforehand, you would have stopped me.”
“Of course! I thought my heart was going to jump out and roll away!”
“I’m very good at landing. The Grand Duke also said I have talent in this area.”
“I’ll come down right away. You must wait!”
“As if I would wait?”
“Your Highness!”
Brunhilde called out anxiously to her mistress who smiled mischievously, oblivious to others’ feelings.
“You know there are lots of boyars inside right now? We might run into them if we go through the entrance and then we’d have to lie. Taking the long way around would take time and someone might see us and start rumors. While everyone’s having breakfast now, I can quickly go and come back.”
“Still, this isn’t right! I can’t let you go alone!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything when I get back. And don’t tell the Grand Duke. I’ll be back before anyone even reaches the Winter Palace anyway.”
Katya waved saying she’d be right back, then disappeared.
She seemed to be heading toward the pond but was hard to see behind the large trees.
Brunhilde went out to the corridor, intending to disobey her mistress’s order and follow her.
Pavel happened to be there, directing the changing of the guards.
“Sir Pavel!”
“What’s the matter?”
She rushed to his side and gestured like she had something secret to tell, indicating he should bring his ear closer.
Pavel dismissed his men, then leaned his upper body toward her.
After hearing her whispered message and quickly checking that no one was around, he entered Katya’s bedroom with Brunhilde.
Going straight to the balcony, he jumped down just as Katya had done.
Successfully landing, he looked up.
“Shall we go together?”
“What? Oh…… Yes!”
He silently spread his arms.
Understanding his intention, Brunhilde threw herself down into Pavel’s waiting arms below.
Pavel seemed slightly surprised that she had jumped without even counting to three.
“Weren’t you scared? You jumped without any signal.”
“Well, if it weren’t for Her Highness, I would already be dead anyway. I don’t fear injury or death. My only fear is failing to do my duty.”
Seemingly understanding, he smiled slightly, then carefully set her down.
“Let’s go. To carry out our respective duties.”
Brunhilde followed Pavel with a grave expression at his words.
The two unfaithful servants who had disobeyed the Grand Duchess’s orders set out to find her.
‘I didn’t tell the Grand Duke as ordered, Your Highness.’
***
At that moment, Katya met Mikhail who was coming to the pond.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Y-yes.”
Mikhail answered while hiding his sweat-soaked palms behind him and wiping them on his pants.
This was his fourth time seeing her, but somehow, she looked different each time.
The first time was at the Despot Clubhouse, the second at the illegal fighting ring, and then at dinner last night—each appearance had been distinct.
Especially yesterday, when he had seen her real hair color for the first time, as she had been blonde before for her disguise.
Her natural strawberry blonde hair suited her much better.
In the sunlight, she looked even more fresh and beautiful than yesterday, like a flower.
She clearly had no intention of trying to look good for him. Her hair was uncombed and messy, and she still had sleep in her eyes.
Though she seemed to have just changed clothes without any makeup, her unadorned appearance had its own charm.
Completely smitten, Mikhail stared at her blankly before coming to his senses and speaking.
“Do you re-remember me?”
“You mean when you ran away with your tail between your legs at the clubhouse? Or when you fled from the illegal fighting ring?”
That’s right, Katya remembered Mikhail.
She too had been quite surprised to recognize him at dinner time.
Though she had guessed he was someone from the Grand Duke’s family, she hadn’t expected him to be Nikolai’s half-brother.
“Then why did you pretend not to know me?”
“I thought it might cause problems if the palace found out.”
Mikhail was overjoyed thinking she had been concerned for him.
“Did you come to ask me to keep those incidents secret?”
“What? Why would I?”
In truth, saying he had something to say was just an excuse. He simply wanted to see her face and have a conversation.
“Because I saw Your Highness’s underwear.”
As the forgotten memory came rushing back, shame overwhelmed him.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve pulled down lots of boys’ pants since I was young, so it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t find other people’s butts particularly exciting.”
Her eyes looked at him like she’s watching fish flopping around.
Mikhail felt irritation rising at the thought that he was nothing more than that to her.
She was truly annoying in every single way.
And what annoyed him most was the fact that she was his brother’s woman.
He also hated that she had kissed his brother in front of all those people.
He felt incredibly spiteful.
“You, become my concubine.”
Mikhail suddenly blurted out.
