138. Katya’s Choice
Assassinating the Grand Duke would be a fatal weakness when claiming legitimacy for the next Grand Duke.
Though Nikolai ascended through a palace revolution, he did not draw his sword against his blood siblings.
If Mikhail became Grand Duke after killing him, he would be a murderer who killed his brother, and Oksana would be a heartless mother who eliminated her stepson for her own child.
Even nobles who opposed Nikolai’s policies would feel repulsed if someone who committed such an unfilial act became the new sovereign.
Then all the effort Oksana put into managing her reputation among the boyars would be wasted, making it a choice with more losses than gains for her.
‘So if they plan to poison someone that day, it will likely be Her Highness Klavdia.’
The most likely hypothesis now was that they would frame Nikolai for trying to kill his sister Klavdia.
For motive, they could simply claim he was checking her growing power within Hersen.
That now that she received approval for the royal marriage, her value decreased so he eliminated her.
Since the Grand Duke’s knights prepared all the knighting ceremony procedures, Norbert and the Empire would hold Nikolai responsible.
‘They’re trying to eliminate His Highness without even touching him.’
Once both stepchildren she hated were eliminated, no one would remain as an obstacle to Oksana.
Even if the false accusation was revealed later, once she seized power after driving out Nikolai, she would cut off loose ends.
But if that was the case, it bothered her that they were not thorough enough to let the captain of the guards discover their plot.
She couldn’t rule out the possibility of a double trap either.
If they made a big fuss only to find no poison in the cups, Nikolai’s side would end up at a disadvantage.
Though nothing was certain, they couldn’t just let it go either.
There would be no meaning in acting after the poisoned wine was served and there were already victims.
She faced an impasse where she could neither act nor not act.
After sitting there alone pondering for a while, Katya seemed to make up her mind and called for Brunhilde.
The Grand Duchess locked the door and quietly told her plan only to her physician and lady’s maid in a voice only she could hear.
Brunhilde’s expression gradually turned pale as she listened to the explanation.
“You can do it.”
“Your Highness! This is absurd!”
She jumped up from her seat and cried out.
If it weren’t for Katya, she would have lived a life of being exploited in her homeland until eventually being accused as a witch and killed.
She owed the Grand Duchess her life and future.
So she had decided.
To dedicate her remaining life to protecting the Grand Duchess.
But no matter how much she swore loyalty, this was something she could not follow.
“This is the only way.”
“No! Anything would be better than that!”
“There are other alternatives. But there is no other certain method that can solve all problems at once like this.”
“If you keep insisting on this, I’ll have no choice but to inform His Highness directly.”
“The moment His Highness finds out, all plans will fall apart.”
“Of course! He cherishes Your Highness more than anyone! If something goes wrong, he’ll behead me first. No! Before that, I’ll take my own life from guilt!”
Brunhilde knelt before the Grand Duchess and pleaded with tears.
“I don’t mind dying for Your Highness. But if I can’t save Your Highness, I……”
“I won’t let you die. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll all be safe.”
“How can you guarantee that!”
“If we worry about what could go wrong, we can’t do anything. This might be our chance. If not now, His Highness and I might be caught off guard at some point in the future with no time to react.”
“But Your Highness……”
“I’ve already decided. If you won’t cooperate, I’ll proceed alone. Then you’ll face a situation you can’t handle. Is that alright?”
Brunhilde realized.
There was no way to stop her who had already made up her mind.
This was a gamble with their lives at stake.
She couldn’t let the Grand Duchess enter that dangerous gambling table alone where everyone involved might head toward catastrophe.
“I will…… follow Your Highness’s will.”
“I’m sorry. That you have such a stubborn mistress.”
Katya embraced the crying woman and smiled weakly.
The enemy had set up a fight where they would win no matter which option their side chose,
Then the only choice was to overturn the table.
The goal was the complete destruction of the enemies.
Katya thought.
Even if they failed, it would be enough if they could inflict fatal wounds on them.
***
At the same time Katya was making the decision of her life…
Nikolai hurriedly walked toward the Summer Palace and encountered Mikhail in front of the central fountain.
Though his brother always avoided him, this time he didn’t run away.
“Have you been well, brother?”
Mikhail spoke first in a deliberately bright voice.
His eyes were very swollen, as if something had happened.
But he couldn’t ask why he had been crying, fearing his brother would feel awkward.
He only guessed internally that Oksana must have tormented him.
Pretending not to notice what his brother wanted to hide, Nikolai smiled back.
“I’ve been well. It’s good to see you like this. Let’s see each other’s faces more often.”
“Yes. We should.”
Mikhail showed a bright smile while making a promise he couldn’t keep.
He planned to leave the palace secretly and go abroad once the royal wedding was over.
To somewhere his mother could never find him.
Her ambition would ultimately be fulfilled because of him.
So the only way was to erase his existence from this world.
That was the only way to stop his mother.
Though he didn’t know how to do anything, he thought he would somehow survive after abandoning his status as Prince.
“You asked what I want as a wedding gift? Please persuade Her Highness Oksana.”
Because she believed even a powerless and cowardly person like him could do something.
Katya couldn’t have said that if she suspected him as an enemy of the Grand Duke.
The trust his first love showed him was truly remarkable.
It made him think about becoming independent instead of being dragged around by his mother anymore.
He loved his mother.
But he also loved his brother.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Brother.”
“Thank you. I heard your news too. Congratulations.”
“I want you to be happier than anyone else. I truly mean it.”
If his mother tried to ruin even this newfound happiness, he felt he couldn’t forgive her even if she was his mother.
“Mikhail, since we met after so long, let’s—”
“Sorry, Brother. I have an appointment today so I was on my way. Let’s see each other at the wedding.”
Mikhail left the place almost like running away from his brother who wanted to hold him back and catch up as siblings.
He felt tears would pour out again.
Like Katya, trust toward his brother showed in his eyes.
Not even a shred of suspicion could be seen.
It was the same smile he had shown him in childhood.
His brother hadn’t changed then or now.
When he realized his brother still missed and loved him, the stepbrother who had taken everything from him, he felt choked up.
He felt ashamed for having coveted his brother’s woman.
Now it was time to disappear from his brother’s life.
That was the wedding gift he could give.
***
Just then, there was a knock from outside.
“His Highness the Grand Duke has arrived.”
At the servant’s announcement, Brunhilde wiped her tears and got up from the floor.
In the moment the door opened, the Grand Duchess and her lady’s maid quickly exchanged glances.
As soon as the door opened, Nikolai walked straight to his wife whom he had missed, not seeing his wife’s lady’s maid hurriedly leaving the room with a dark expression.
“You’re up? You should sleep more.”
He embraced Katya and whispered affectionately.
His wife’s scent had magic that made his heart peaceful.
“You came while telling me to sleep more?”
“I was going to at least watch you sleep. Do you hate that?”
“How could I hate it?”
Nikolai lightly kissed his lovely wife’s forehead and met her eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Your eyes look a bit red.”
He said while gently rubbing under her eyes with his thumb.
“Were you crying?”
“It’s from yawning. I woke up earlier because I thought you might burst in like this, but I’m still sleepy.”
“Then you should sleep more. Come on. I’ll even sing you a lullaby.”
“Didn’t you come to see me?”
“I’m happy just watching your sleeping face.”
Katya stopped her husband who was about to lift her up right away and held his hand, leaning her head against his large arm.
“Never mind sleeping, the weather’s nice so let’s take a walk together.”
“Shall we?”
Nikolai deeply kissed the back of his wife’s interlocked hand and took her outside.
These were such happy days that he wondered if this was alright.
While making shade with his hand over her forehead as she slightly closed her eyes saying the sunlight was too bright, he recalled what happened earlier.
“I want you to be happier than anyone else. I truly mean it.”
Nikolai thought,
May this happiness allowed in my life last as long as possible.
Not knowing what his wife in his arms was thinking.