42. Vote for Your In-Law
Katya grabbed the hand that touched her cheek and narrowed her eyes in displeasure.
“Did you forget the contract? No touching whenever you want.”
“Was there such a contract?”
“Don’t play innocent. I don’t know how you can act so natural.”
Nikolai chuckled again as he watched her grumbling.
“So, do you have any candidates in mind?”
“Candidates?”
“I mean the interviewees. Wondering if anyone caught your eye.”
“The interviews aren’t over yet. We need to make a comprehensive decision.”
At those words, Nikolai’s brow creased like paper.
He didn’t know how Luka had managed to make it to the interview, but he wanted to throw him out immediately.
Since he was acquainted with Bianca, could he be making advances because he had feelings for her?
‘What’s with calling himself a commoner? Why did he lie about his status even if he didn’t reveal his name?’
Momentarily forgetting that this was his only friend trustworthy enough to call as a witness at his wedding, Nikolai resented Luka.
“The problem is they’re all men. Aren’t there any female applicants?”
“I doubt there are any women who know ancient languages? Even Molnitsky Girls’ Academy doesn’t teach it. Such an advanced subject is only allowed for men. I was even surprised when Bianca wanted to learn it.”
“I’m concerned about bringing in strange men, excluding the servants who already work in this house.”
“Aren’t tutors mostly men except when teaching language, writing, and taking care of young ladies and young masters?”
Katya tilted her head as if asking what the problem was.
Nikolai sighed briefly and grabbed her small shoulders.
“Tia, you should never trust men. They’re all like beasts.”
“But you’re a man too, Grand Duke?”
“Of course, you shouldn’t trust me either.”
“Why are you suddenly like this? You weren’t this concerned until before the last applicant came in.”
“I don’t like that guy. I don’t like his face from the start.”
Nikolai said while pouting his lips.
Just before, Luka had anxiously shaken his head slightly, asking him not to reveal his identity, afraid the Grand Duke might expose him.
Could that mean he really had ulterior motives?
He had never thought about becoming in-laws with a friend.
Even if he were to accept it a hundred times over, what about Duke Oblonsky?
Both Nikolai and even his own son Luka shuddered at the mention of the Oblonsky family.
If there was one family Nikolai didn’t want to become in-laws with, the Oblonsky family was his first choice.
While he was lost in thought, getting ahead of the actual parties involved, Katya’s voice reached him.
“I liked him though?”
“What? Who?”
“The applicant in there.”
“Is he more handsome than me?”
Nikolai asked, feeling competitive with his friend.
Actually, Luka was known as a nationwide beauty.
While the Smirnov sisters, with one sister only interested in men skilled in martial arts and the other focused solely on finding her first love, showed little interest, rumors of Luka’s beauty had spread throughout Hersen.
In the north, he and Nikolai were leading the popularity as a duo, with noble young ladies divided in their preferences between the cold beauty and the warm beauty.
The parents of young ladies who proclaimed the Grand Duke’s face as the ultimate truth suffered headaches because of their thoughtless daughters who wanted to marry the Bloody Grand Duke.
Most nobles, except for the few who wanted to establish connections with the Grand Duke, were trying to marry off their daughters before they could be selected as candidates for Grand Duchess.
Conversely, the young ladies who supported Luka could enjoy their fandom happily because their parents also favored him.
Although Luka couldn’t become Duke Oblonsky as he wasn’t the firstborn, he was set to inherit other titles the Duke held, and due to his polite and affectionate personality, he was considered the most eligible bachelor.
While Nikolai didn’t care what others thought, it was different when it came to Katya.
“No, I mean his impression seems friendly and approachable.”
“Then what about me?”
“Well, Grand Duke, you’re kind of… scary looking.”
“Scary?”
“Your eyes are somewhat fierce.”
Katya said while pulling up the corners of her eyes with her hands.
Seeing this, Nikolai unconsciously pulled down his eye corners with his index finger.
“So that was your type? You should have said so. Well, I can’t exactly change my face now.”
“No, I actually like men who look mean but have kind personalities. It’s unexpected, you know.”
“Am I kind?”
“Hmm, come to think of it, maybe you’re not kind after all.”
“Why? I’m an extremely kind and upright man.”
Katya smiled slightly, amused by Nikolai who constantly tried his best to appeal to her even though they were already engaged.
“It’s been ten minutes. Let’s go in.”
She turned first and opened the door to enter.
Just as Nikolai was about to rise from leaning against the railing, Gregory and Olen entered the Smirnov mansion lobby, pushing each other.
They had come to check on the progress of the tutors they had recommended for the interview.
If their candidates were hired, they were sponsoring them on the condition that they would spread good words about them to Bianca and report her every move.
Though not from the same mind, both had the same idea.
Actually, it wasn’t surprising given their similar levels of thinking.
“Hey? Stop pushing! I’ve noticed this before, but how come you don’t know how to respect your elders? If I had married my first love, I would already have a child your age, Lord Olen–!”
“Yes, yes. I envy your advanced age. Then you must also know that Lady Bianca is young enough to be your daughter? I wonder if you lack conscience or if your brain is just pure.”
“What? Why, you!”
Hearing their bickering voices, Nikolai looked down and unconsciously frowned.
They were familiar faces.
“That infamous Katarina must marry before Lady Bianca can marry.”
“Who would want to marry such a ruffian of a woman?”
“Well, well, you need a ruffian to catch a ruffian, don’t you?”
“Do you have some plan in mind?”
“There’s Count Petrovsky in the north, isn’t there?”
“You don’t mean Ivan, the second son?”
He finally remembered what he had forgotten.
These were the ones who had brought Ivan here.
‘Why are these guys here?’
At that moment, Alyona, who was directing the maids in the corridor, glanced down and shook her head while muttering.
“Sigh, at it again.”
“Do you know them?”
“Oh my! I didn’t know Your Highness was here–”
Nikolai waved his hand to stop Alyona as she tried to curtsy by lifting her skirt.
“Skip the greeting and answer the question.”
“Oh, they are Count Gregory and Lord Olen of the House Menshikov.”
Nikolai knew of Marquis Menshikov as a boyar of the north.
No, rather, these names were strangely familiar for some reason.
Where had he seen these names?
“The letters of recommendation…!”
Nikolai snapped his fingers as if remembering something.
These were the names written on the recommendation letters submitted by the two candidates he had given the highest scores to.
“They’re Lady Bianca’s suitors who came to check if the tutors they recommended were hired.”
Nikolai realized this was no time to worry about Luka.
Not only had they dragged Ivan into this situation to marry Bianca, but they were also trying to plant a tutor.
With men who would go this far, there was a high possibility they would try to bribe whoever was finally hired even if their recommended candidates were rejected.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
Katya, who had been waiting inside, poked her head out the door and asked.
After thanking Alyona, Nikolai entered with determination.
He didn’t want to tell Katya about what they had done.
She would feel insulted if she knew that Bianca’s suitors had gone so far as to bribe Ivan, her mortal enemy, to marry her.
If he felt this angry, how hurt would Katya be, who appeared strong on the outside but was actually sensitive inside?
Nikolai sat down and turned his attention to the paper Luka had submitted.
He didn’t need to read it carefully to know how excellent the translation would be.
Luka, who was deeply versed in academics, had already reached a level where he could rival his teachers, especially in ancient languages.
“Comparing it to the previous translation, I think this one is fine? The sentences actually flow more smoothly here. What do you think, Grand Duke?”
Katya whispered to him, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Just a moment, Tia.”
Nikolai asked for her understanding and turned to Luka.
“We’re looking for someone who can teach both ancient languages and music, but how much do you know about music? Can you play any instruments?”
“Just the basics.”
Luka answered with confusion.
Nikolai knew his skills, and they both knew well that he would fail this interview.
Although he had somehow gotten caught up in this interview, he wasn’t a tutor after all.
“Then would you play that lute over there?”
At Katya’s words, Luka hesitated before finally picking up the lute and beginning to play and sing.
Despite claiming to know just the basics, his heavenly performance and nightingale-like voice made one feel as if they were in paradise.
Although Katya was already completely won over by this candidate, she watched Nikolai’s reaction since he didn’t seem to like him.
Isn’t it said that women understand women best, and men understand men best?
She hesitated, wondering if Nikolai was opposing because he noticed something wrong.
As soon as the performance ended, Nikolai gave a standing ovation.
Both Katya and Luka looked up at him in surprise at his sudden action.
“I’ve never heard such beautiful playing in my life. And the ancient language translation is exceptional too. I dare say you won’t find anyone with this level of skill even if you search the entire country. This talent rivals that of professors at the Hersen National Academy. We’d regret letting such talent slip away.”
Katya blinked for a moment at his extreme praise.
This was someone acknowledged by Nikolai, who had received the world’s finest education.
“Um… You’re hired.”
“Pardon?”
Luka turned to the Grand Duke in disbelief at Katya’s words, but Nikolai just smiled gently.
‘Not a chance. You might have entered this household on your own terms, but you won’t leave so easily.’
My dear friend, you’ll have to serve as my sister-in-law’s tutor for a while.
At that same hour, another visitor arrived at the Smirnov mansion.
“You say it’s a document delivered from the court?”
The mansion’s butler asked the postman in confusion.
“Yes. It’s a lawsuit filed by Mr. Ivan Petrovsky against Katarina Smirnov.”
“A lawsuit? What do you mean?”
“It’s a lawsuit regarding marriage fraud.”
Ivan’s counterattack had begun.
