Chapter 6.3

A few days later, after completing the regional inspection, Alehin returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace. Instead of going to his quarters, he headed to his office. The aides and guards who had accompanied him on the inspection had all left the palace, but Alehin visited his office out of habit.

He wasn’t planning to work; he merely intended to take a look around. But Alehin’s eyes caught sight of a white envelope placed on the desk.

He was sure he had cleaned the desk before leaving for the inspection.

Who could have left it there?

All correspondence addressed to Alehin went through the aide’s office, so it was unusual for something to be left directly on his desk like this.

“What is this…”

Alehin picked up the envelope and broke the seal. Inside was a single neatly folded sheet of paper. As he unfolded it and read its contents, Alehin’s eyes widened. His brows furrowed deeply, and he let out a sigh. He folded the paper and placed it back into the envelope. Then, he quickly left the office and called for someone to deliver his message.

“Is anyone there?”

A maid, hearing her master’s voice, quickly ran over. Alehin loosened his collar in frustration and commanded her.

“Go immediately after Captain Karev and bring him back. Tell him it’s urgent and he must return right away.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Without asking why, the maid turned and disappeared. Alehin sighed, tapping his forehead lightly with the corner of the envelope.

“If Leonid loses his mind, what will I do…”

Whether the message was understood or not, Leonid returned to the palace faster than expected. Entering Alehin’s office with a slightly furrowed brow, he immediately asked about the reason for being called back.

“Why did you summon me again? I have somewhere I need to be, and I’m quite busy.”

His voice carried a sense of urgency that Alehin had never heard before. Scratching his eyebrows awkwardly, Alehin cleared his throat. Leonid grew irritated at the Crown Prince’s hesitation.

After clearing his throat, Alehin cautiously asked.

“Uh, hmm. Where are you going?”

“…Why should I tell you that, Your Highness?”

“Were you perhaps planning to look for Katia Evlaine?”

Leonid’s eyebrows twitched. His face, which rarely showed expression, immediately darkened with a fierce look. Alehin felt his heart pounding wildly. He knew Leonid wouldn’t do anything rash to him—he was a loyal subordinate and friend. But when it came to matters involving Katia, Leonid had been acting unpredictably.

‘Who would’ve thought Leonid Karev would lose his mind over a woman?’

At least since Alehin had known him, Leonid had been indifferent to relationships with women. In fact, he seemed so uninterested that it was hard to believe he even noticed them. Yet, Alehin vividly remembered the words Leonid had muttered on the way back from the academy’s graduation ceremony.

‘…She’ll probably come as an aide.’

‘Huh?’

‘Evlaine, the top graduate this year.’

With a disinterested look, Alehin stared out the window and muttered to himself. It was an absent-minded remark, but that day, Alehin instinctively knew: Leonid had fallen for that top graduate.

When Katia actually joined as an aide, Alehin witnessed it himself. The way Leonid’s eyes sparkled when he looked at her—it was clear he was completely smitten. Yet, for some reason, Leonid didn’t seem to make any effort to get closer to her, which Alehin found strange.

Then, at some point, Alehin noticed Leonid’s attitude toward her had softened.

Ah, there was something going on between them.

Alehin was utterly shocked, as if struck by lightning.

When he carefully shared this revelation with Marielle, she scoffed and replied,

‘You’re only realizing this now?’

‘So, you already knew?’

‘How could I not? Leonid’s eyes practically drip with honey when he looks at her. I’ve known him since I was four.’

Marielle also advised Alehin, who was flustered and overly curious about their relationship, not to interfere recklessly. So Alehin pretended not to notice. But at some point, it became impossible to ignore. Leonid had started, as they say, “making his move.”

And yet, how did things end up like this? Alehin shivered slightly, feeling a chill down his spine. If he didn’t explain quickly, he might witness Leonid’s anger for the first time.

When Alehin didn’t speak right away, Leonid asked in a dark voice,

“Did something happen to her?”

“Ah, well… here’s the thing.”

Alehin hesitated and handed Leonid the envelope he was holding. With a mix of suspicion and unease, Leonid looked at the white envelope. His demeanor was polite, but there was an underlying tension. He took the envelope from Alehin’s hand, which had already been unsealed, and pulled out the paper inside without hesitation.

Soon, the paper crumpled in Leonid’s hand. Alehin, seemingly expecting this reaction, rubbed his forehead with one hand.

“That’s why I called you, Leonid.”

“Ha…”

Leonid couldn’t believe it. He looked down at the paper in his hand again. It was, without a doubt, a resignation letter signed by Katia.

***

Katia’s hometown was a modest place, neither too underdeveloped nor particularly advanced, located quite far from the capital. In that town, her family’s home was the second-largest building after the government office.

Although the house was large, it was clearly falling into disrepair due to a lack of staff. Living there were Katia’s parents, her younger sister, and two elderly servants who had been with the family since her father’s youth.

“Sis? What are you doing here all of a sudden? You said you were too busy to ever come!”

“I just took a vacation. I needed a break.”

“Really? For real? I missed you so much!”

Katia’s younger sister, Tasha, beamed as she hugged her tightly. The warm welcome from her family eased Katia’s heart. Her parents, who returned home in the evening, were just as surprised to see her but quickly became overjoyed. Since becoming an aide at the palace, this was only Katia’s second visit back home, as she rarely had the time.

“So, how long are you staying?”

“I’ve taken a long vacation. At least… a week?”

“Really?”

Her mother couldn’t hide her delight. Having spent nearly ten years without her parents’ care since her academy days, Katia’s mother always felt a sense of regret and longing for her.

Although she called it a vacation, Katia’s mind was complicated. She wished she could settle down here, but that wasn’t realistic. When she thought about how disappointed her parents would be if she told them she had resigned, her heart grew heavy. And if she were to reveal that she wasn’t alone…

It seemed she would have to stay for a while and then move elsewhere. The idea of giving birth and raising a child alone, without anyone’s help in a place where no one knew her, was daunting, but she had no choice.

She never imagined her foolish decision would lead to such consequences. That night, when she sat across from Leonid at Trisha’s bar, she never thought this would happen. She had always prided herself on never making foolish choices, but now, she had made a mistake so grave it was almost impossible to undo.

No matter how she thought about it, Leonid couldn’t know. Even if he had feelings for her, he wouldn’t welcome an unplanned child. Especially after she had already told him they should part ways—though she wasn’t sure if “parting” was the right word for their relationship—and now, she had a child?

She didn’t want to use the child as an excuse to stay by Leonid’s side. Regardless of the truth, others would see it as her scheming to become his wife. Even if Leonid didn’t believe that, and even if it wasn’t true, Katia didn’t want such an outcome.

‘What was I thinking that night? It’s not like I was possessed or anything.’

Katia berated herself for not taking precautions on her last night with Leonid.

Lying in her old, dusty room, Katia tossed and turned. No matter how foolish her actions had been, her mind was still sharp. A few cities crossed her mind—places big enough to guarantee anonymity and where someone as educated as Katia could find work easily.

For now, she decided to sleep and think about it tomorrow. Being far from the palace and the capital put her mind at ease. The home-cooked meals she hadn’t had in ages also comforted her. For the first time in a long while, she fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.

At home, Katia ate well and rested. Her nausea and abdominal discomfort gradually subsided. She let her hair down, which she usually kept neatly tied, and borrowed dresses from Tasha.

The rare leisure time was both sweet and bittersweet for Katia. For several days, she did nothing. After years of drowning in endless work, sitting idly, sipping tea, taking walks, reading books, and having dinner with her family felt surreal.

That evening, after a light meal, Katia stepped out for a late walk. Tasha quickly followed her.

“It’s cold. Why are you coming along?”

“I need to spend as much time with you as I can! Who knows when I’ll see you again?”

Tasha naturally assumed Katia would return to work after her vacation. But for Katia, who planned to disappear without telling her family, her sister’s words brought a fleeting, bitter smile to her face.