125. Like a Thirsty Deer Seeking a Well
“What?”
Klavdia doubted her ears.
She hadn’t expected this reaction from Nikolai at all.
In his position, opposing would have made more sense.
Especially regarding his sister who had always shown hostility toward him.
The Grand Duke continued.
“If the Imperial Prince refuses to take responsibility, then it becomes a matter between nations. I plan to formally raise this issue with the Imperial family.”
The Grand Duchy of Hersen was originally founded by a branch of the Charmente Imperial family.
The two Western Continent nations sharing common ancestors had maintained close cooperative relations for many years.
This was partly due to their ethnic roots as brother nations, but they were also politically intertwined.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Charmente Empire’s military power came from Hersen, known as the nation of warriors and the largest exporter of mercenaries.
To wage war against the Empire, one had to face its ally, the Grand Duchy of Hersen.
Though Hersen appeared outwardly loyal to the Empire, the Empire would be at a disadvantage if the Grand Duchy stopped providing military support.
So their relationship couldn’t be simply reduced to that of superior and subordinate.
“Why go to such lengths?”
“Let’s say I marry Norbert. The Emperor has no sons. If his brother Norbert inherits the throne, I’ll become Grand Duchess. Then I could gain power and threaten your position.”
“That would actually be good.”
“Good?”
“If something happens to me, you’re the only one who can inherit the position of Grand Duke, Sister. When you rule, it would be good to have your husband’s support.”
“What do you mean ‘if something happens’? Are you sick? Tell me quickly!”
Klavdia urged with a trembling voice.
She had already lost her brother Ruslan.
She didn’t want to lose Nikolai so meaninglessly too.
Though it felt unconscionable to think this way considering how she had treated him, she still didn’t want it.
She finally began to regret each harsh treatment she had shown her brother.
He had switched to formal speech with her after she first distanced herself, though he used to speak casually when they were young.
“Sister, please calm down. I was just speaking hypothetically.”
“Why would you even hypothetically say such things? Something happening to you–! Are you saying something might happen to you?”
Klavdia grew seriously angry.
Nikolai felt bewildered by this unexpected reaction.
He couldn’t understand what point had angered his sister.
“Sister……”
“You have many people depending on you. The people, and now someone who lives only for you—don’t even joke about such things!”
“Are you talking about Tia?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, having calmed down.
“She told me that she was able to meet you because she found the courage to escape from her previous marriage.”
Nikolai felt flustered by the sudden mention of his wife.
He hadn’t known Katya had confided in his sister about her past broken engagement.
“I asked if she was certain she would be happy with you. Do you know what she said?”
“……”
“She said that while she could live well alone, she could be much happier with you. That she’s already happy just being by your side.”
Those words made a corner of his heart start to ache.
She was a woman he wanted to make happy even if he had to throw away everything he had.
Meeting Katya was a once-in-a-lifetime fortune in his life.
He thought it was a miracle from heaven that she had come to love him.
Despite his determination to help find her happiness, he was the one who had become happy because of her.
He only had his position as Grand Duke; inside he was empty.
To think that Katya had such confidence in someone as worthless and weak as himself.
His heart swelled with emotion.
“Shall we go now?”
Nikolai smiled with reddened eyes as he spoke.
He wanted to see his wife.
He wanted to rush to hold her in his arms.
He wanted to hold her and kiss her everywhere while telling her he loved her.
“Where?”
“We need to talk with Duke Norbert. You haven’t even met with him since that incident earlier today.”
Nikolai glanced toward the window.
Following her brother’s gaze without understanding, Klavdia almost burst into tears.
Norbert looked up at her from under the tree.
Nikolai had secretly called him here.
The Princess rushed out of the study.
It was now her turn to be brave.
As Nikolai took a step to go to his wife, as if their hearts were connected, she ran in.
“Her Highness Klavdia ran out at full speed. Is the Prince outside?”
Nikolai nodded instead of answering.
His wife’s bright smile at this good news was so beautiful that the Grand Duke could no longer resist pulling her into his arms.
The southern rabbit smelled of strawberry soap.
Ah, so this was why she was the Strawberry of the South.
Nikolai smiled a little, remembering the nickname he had given her.
“Grand Duke, why suddenly…? Did something happen?”
As he silently nuzzled his cheek against her small shoulder, his wife asked softly.
“I missed you.”
“Anyone would think we’d been apart for 10 years. It hasn’t even been an hour since I saw you before going to wash.”
“It felt like 10 years to me.”
How could he have thought of separating from her when he missed her even while holding her like this?
When he suffered from separation anxiety, unable to be apart for even an hour.
Now, just imagining being separated from her made his vision go dark.
“Tia, we need to move now.”
“Move?”
“Stay here from today on.”
“Before the royal marriage, I should be in the Spring Palace as a guest, and after that in the Summer Palace.”
“Who cares about palace protocol? I want to live with my wife.”
“You’re really impossible……”
Katya muttered like she’s throwing up her hands in surrender.
At those words, her husband lifted his head and looked down at her with the most pitiful expression like a rain-soaked puppy.
“So you don’t want to?”
“No. How could I not want to?”
When her small warm hand stroked his silver hair, Nikolai felt happiness as if he owned the whole world.
Just having this person in his life…
That alone was enough.
Nothing else was needed.
“Grand Duke, you’re just like a child sometimes.”
“At least I’ve been upgraded from dog.”
“Tsk, that wasn’t an insult.”
“I know. So pamper me like Laika.”
“I already do.”
“Do it more.”
The giant Grand Duke whined.
Laika was more mature, one might say.
Well, she was now a dignified elderly dog, so it would be unfair to compare her to Nikolai.
That thought made Katya keep laughing.
“You’re really like a child.”
“I am a child. Thirsting for your love.”
“Is my love not enough?”
“It’s not enough. But what can I do? Like a thirsty deer seeking a well, I, who thirst for your love, can only keep begging you for more.”
Though she could barely breathe trapped between his stone-like chest and arms, Katya decided to leave him be.
To her, her husband was that kind of existence.
One who could make her feel happy just by sharing his warmth.
She was glad she married him.
She was glad she became Nikolai’s wife.
“I came to propose. I want to marry you.”
Though he remained just as forceful now as when he first proposed,
She was glad to have become family with him.
She was glad she didn’t give up on him even when he pushed her away.
“I love you, Tia.”
“Me too.”
“Say you love me.”
“I love you.”
Only then did Nikolai smile with satisfaction.
Their royal marriage was approved not long after.
***
Duke Norbert sent a letter to his brother the Emperor asking for his blessing, saying he had promised to marry Princess Klavdia.
Oksana was furious when she heard the news of Nikolai and Katya’s royal marriage date being set following Klavdia’s approval.
“That impudent girl, Klavdia!”
Word spread rapidly among the boyars staying in the Spring Palace that Klavdia had completely turned away from Oksana over this incident.
Those who had followed the former Grand Duchess Yevgenia supported the Princess’s decision and drew a line between themselves and Oksana and Duke Oblonsky’s faction.
With this, all her plans came to nothing.
“Your Highness, what if we do this?”
Oblonsky spoke as he watched Oksana destroying furniture.
***
“Princess!”
When Alyona burst into the room making a fuss, Bianca was in the middle of packing.
After that day, Katya stayed in the Winter Palace as the future Grand Duchess.
Despite the comments that it violated palace protocol, Nikolai pushed it through, and after receiving approval for the royal marriage, there was nothing more to hold back.
Protocol was something the ruler could simply change.
Even such a Nikolai followed without question the rule that they must not share a room before their royal marriage.
Because of this, the Grand Ducal couple stayed at opposite ends of the Winter Palace.
The Smirnov ducal family members were recognized as the future Grand Duchess’s family and stayed in the Winter Palace rather than the Spring Palace by the Grand Duke’s order.
Bianca had been preparing to move to the Winter Palace.
“Where have you been since morning? I packed all your things.”
“Huff huff….. Thank you.”
“Let’s go quickly. Your sister must be waiting.”
“Princess, that’s not what’s important right now.”
“Then what is?”
“Someone appeared!”
“Who?”
“Someone who knows who the Princess’s first love is!”
Bianca’s eyes widened at those words.
