Chapter 6.6

After a while, Leonid left the room, saying he would call the doctor and her family. Watching his reluctant figure leave, Katia bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Soon, her parents, Tasha, and the doctor rushed into her room. Leonid followed behind them, standing like a statue with the same expressionless face Katia often saw at the palace. That cold and calm demeanor.

“You must not skip meals or exercise, even under stress.”

At the doctor’s stern words, Katia replied in a small voice, “Yes.” Seeing her like this, her mother began to sob.

“To think you came home on leave in such poor health! How much work have you been doing?”

“Sigh… What kind of glory is worth putting my daughter through this…”

As her family lamented, Katia glanced at Leonid, feeling embarrassed. His face appeared calm, but she could tell immediately. He was drowning in guilt.

I can read his emotions so clearly now. 

Katia found it fascinating and smiled. However, she thought laughing in front of her family might not be the best idea, so she lowered her gaze and bit her lip.

“For now, rest is the most important thing. Stay in bed today. Talk tomorrow, and let’s have the family leave for now.”

Following the doctor’s advice, her family sighed, clicked their tongues, and left the room, reminding Katia to call them if she needed anything. Leonid also gave a slight bow before exiting. As the doctor was about to leave, Katia stopped her.

Still unsure about her pregnancy, she asked the doctor, who shook her head.

“When you’re stressed, not eating, and not resting, your body doesn’t function properly. You’re definitely not pregnant. Once your body recovers, your cycle will return.”

Relief and disappointment settled in Katia’s chest. Left alone in the room, she followed the doctor’s advice and lay down to sleep. For the first time in a long while, she fell into a deep, peaceful slumber.

The very next day, Katia informed her parents that she would return to the capital. She explained that her leave, though fake, had ended. However, her parents strongly opposed her decision.

“There’s no need to work yourself to death.”

“Yes, while that position may be prestigious, it’s not more important than you.”

For some reason, both of them glared at Leonid as if he were Alehin. Everyone in the country knew Leonid was the Crown Prince’s closest aide, and that made him unpopular with her parents. Seeing their angry faces, Katia realized her mistake. She waved her hands and said quickly.

“This was my fault. I was… preoccupied with some personal matters…”

But her parents’ gazes only grew sharper as they looked at Leonid. Then, to her shock, Leonid bowed his head and apologized.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

“I don’t understand why you are apologizing, Young Master Karev.”

Her mother’s voice was sharp. Seeing her daughter’s haggard face and the sudden appearance of a man, along with the mention of “personal matters,” she seemed convinced that Katia’s illness was caused by this man. To Katia’s parents, Leonid presented himself with the utmost humility.

“It’s my fault.”

“No, no, Captain, it’s not your fault…”

Leonid grabbed Katia’s hand as she tried to say more, shaking his head at her. The sight of the two holding hands so naturally caused her parents, and even Tasha, who had been silent, to raise their eyebrows. Tasha let out a small gasp when she saw the soft smile spreading across Leonid’s face.

He turned his gaze back to Katia’s parents.

“I am courting Miss Katia. However, since this is my first time doing so, I made her uneasy, which led to this situation.”

“C-Courting…?”

“Young Master Karev, you are courting our Katia?”

“This happened because of me, so please blame me.”

Katia sighed, covering her face with both hands. Then, she abruptly stood up. She pulled Leonid’s hand to make him stand as well and confessed to her parents in a resolute tone.

“I’m sorry. I like the Captain. But because I wasn’t sure, I kept avoiding him, got stressed, and ran away here. And honestly, I didn’t take leave—I submitted my resignation.”

“What?!”

Katia’s father let out a strange cry. Amid the chaos, Leonid calmly delivered another piece of news.

“Oh, about that… His Highness did not accept it.”

“What?”

This time, it was Katia who shouted. Leonid smiled faintly.

“He said you seemed very overworked and granted you a two-week leave instead. He told you to rest well and return.”

Katia stared at Leonid in shock. He, with his beautiful face, had an innocent smile as if nothing was wrong.

In the end, Katia left home that day and headed back to the capital. She told her parents she would explain everything later. 

Her parents, overwhelmed by the series of shocks, could only nod blankly. Only Tasha enthusiastically waved her hands with sparkling eyes, sending the two off. Her younger sister even exclaimed into Katia’s ear, “Oh my gosh, you and that Leonid Karev!”

In the carriage back to the capital, Katia remained silent, occasionally letting out a sigh. Sitting beside her, Leonid made no effort to hide his amusement, continuously playing with her hand and hair.

* * *

“This is the New Year’s greeting report from the Ministry of the Interior.”

“Mm, thank you.”

Alehin did not even lift his eyes from the documents as he extended his hand to receive the report. Katia respectfully handed over the documents she was holding and gave a slight bow.

She had been feeling piercing gazes for a while now, but she deliberately avoided looking in that direction. She didn’t need to see to know who it was. With a composed expression, Katia turned and left the office. The sound of hurried footsteps following her almost made her laugh, but she held it in.

Leonid followed her out of the Crown Prince’s office with his usual stoic expression. The aides paid no attention to the two of them; it wasn’t an unusual sight anymore.

Returning to her desk briefly, Katia soon left the aides’ office. Naturally, Leonid, like a well-trained dog, trailed behind her. Servants and guards passing by would smile politely at Katia, only to freeze when they met Leonid’s icy gaze. They quickly averted their eyes.

“Katia.”

He called her name softly. But she didn’t turn around. “Katia, Kitty.” Even after calling her several times, she showed no sign of stopping. His eyes gleamed. His hand reached toward her back.

Before she knew it, Katia had been pulled into a small room off the hallway. Leaning against the closed door, she found herself trapped by Leonid’s strong arms. His burning eyes looked down at her, as if he might devour her at any moment. Yet, his voice was filled with desperation.

“You’re being so cruel, my love.”

“I told you to learn to pick the right time and place.”

“But ignoring me completely is too much, isn’t it?”

The heat in his voice made Katia’s heart race. His lips urgently found the delicate curve of her neck. As his hot, desire-filled lips touched her skin, Katia let out a soft sigh, though her hands lightly pushed against his chest.

“You’re making it hard for me to work… Ah, don’t bite! This is exactly why I told you to control yourself.”

“How can I think of anything else when you’re right in front of me?”

“Ah, Leonid…! If you leave a mark on my neck, I’ll be really upset!”

Leonid groaned and reluctantly pulled his lips away. Katia quickly realized what he was about to do next. Though she knew such behavior and emotions were childish, Leonid struggled to resist. He wanted to show anyone who dared look at her that she already had someone—him. To make them avert their eyes.

Since their return to the capital and the official announcement of their relationship, Leonid had become a completely different person around Katia. To the shock of everyone who had known him, he laughed, pleaded, and constantly sought her attention. Gone was the ice-cold expression; in her presence, his face often softened into a goofy smile.

Katia, more than anyone, was acutely aware of this change. Leonid would appear at her side at all hours, holding her hand, stroking her hair, and kissing her cheek. One day, he even demanded Alehin let her leave work early. It had become nearly impossible for her to focus on her duties.

So, she declared: if he continued to act this way outside of official breaks, she would reconsider their relationship. After that, Leonid returned to his usual cold demeanor… most of the time.

“Mm, ah…”

But occasionally, when his patience wore thin, Leonid would “abduct” her like this. Before she knew it, his lips were on hers. Holding tightly to his collar, Katia accepted his fervent kiss. Leonid explored her mouth with an almost desperate hunger, growling softly as he swallowed her breath.

His arms tightened around her, pulling their bodies closer together. Katia blushed as she felt the undeniable evidence of his desire pressing against her. Yet, she subtly shifted her hips, pressing her lower abdomen against him. The sensation made Leonid groan and bend slightly, his voice thick with need.

“Ah…”

“You still have a lot of work to do. You need to restrain yourself.”

“If you provoke me like this, it’s impossible, Katia.”

At her lover’s warning, Katia shook her head with a stern expression.

“I’m the one who’s struggling. You’re distracting me from my work.”

“Ugh, ah…”

Though her face seemed to scold him, her hands betrayed her, loosening his waistband and stroking him through his undergarments. Leonid’s breathing grew rougher under her touch. He wanted nothing more than to tear off her clothes and bury himself in her fragrant skin. To push his aching need into the tight, welcoming space between her thighs and lose himself completely…

As if reading his thoughts, Katia made a sharp, warning sound.

“Not here. This is the Crown Prince’s palace.”

“Ha, Kitty, please… I’m begging you.”

“Save that desire of yours. Later, when we’re home, you can do whatever you want…”

Katia was right. No, rather, whatever Katia said was always right to Leonid. Struggling to suppress his excitement to the point where veins bulged on his neck, Leonid barely managed to nod. As if she found this endearing, Katia stroked his hair and kissed his cheek.

As if she had never touched him, her hand withdrew. With composed movements, Katia tidied up his pants neatly. Though the front bulged as if it was about to burst, Katia deliberately pretended not to notice. She smiled sweetly and locked eyes with Leonid. His bright blue eyes swirled with desire, but he… truly listened to Katia’s words.

It was something she could never have imagined when they first met. She had thought they could never grow close. The Crown Prince’s Guard Captain, now so utterly devoted to her, begging for her love. And that she would come to love him in return.

Katia gently pushed against Leonid’s chest. He hesitated and stepped back. With a playful smile, Katia spoke.

“I have a lot of work to do. I’ll go ahead, so take your time coming back.”

“…It seems I won’t be able to leave for a while.”

She grabbed his hand firmly as he shook his head in disbelief. Looking into his eyes, she whispered sincerely.

“Leonid.”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

The moment he heard those words, Leonid let out a small curse. Then, with gleaming eyes, he smiled.

“If you don’t leave right now, it’s going to be dangerous.”

“Oh my, that wouldn’t do.”

See you later, after work, at home. 

With a lovely expression, she waved her hand and left the small room. Left alone, Leonid leaned his forehead against the closed door, trying to catch his breath and calm his excitement.

“See you later.”

Leonid made a deep vow to himself. Since she had provoked him first, tonight, until Katia declared her surrender, he would gladly embrace her.

Thinking of his beloved’s face, Leonid broke into a wide smile.

(“It’s Okay Even If You Don’t Love Me” – The End)