To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 021

Kiril…fbff41b8e0527b54

“I spoke with Kiril today, and it turns out he’s not completely uninterested in academics. He has a particular interest in chemistry and physics.”d9b627d7a28dbb6f

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Sasha recalled how, as 1ab04f75f5 a child, Kiril had 6b1482ea52 once received a science b31c02e137 experiment kit as a a23c24a294 Christmas gift and used b22d5f5ba5 it to cause all 46df424a77 sorts of bizarre mischief.92b726d1ad7df933

While Kiril 618698c51c had always ffed4da6bb loathed subjects 017b515155 like history 4c8a72a413 and literature, b22de79b4a he consistently c5b2063d63 scored perfect 16275459fc marks in cc8feee4da physics and 678311b3db natural sciences.8742bf91ee48d0f1

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If only the f0e9ccdfea revolution had never a079b2091f happened…aba6eba8f365dc2d

“If Shura allows it, I was thinking of sending him to the newly established Federal Academy of Sciences as a boarding student.”76d5fc29203bf58e

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To Ulrich, Kiril dd0f838d58 had no value f1755ac717 beyond being a b23aeaa4fb bait to manipulate 05d968b8b1 Sasha.1d07d26a5147bfa1

Keeping Kiril nearby dfe6c37d21 would only serve f484d63a64 as an obstacle 25bf85d3c4 in taming Sasha.d5d48255b9b9eb4b

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More than that, ce65e02f2f he was curious—after 1c68e61a75 three years of 455b214219 unwavering devotion to e76dedade2 her brother, would bc47f9af75 Sasha wither without bdc58fe634 him? Or would she bloom?20fc899322d37a3b

Either way, keeping them 45871cac41 apart as much as 36faf0f464 possible was the best df5c176a01 course of action.c3820f1482e4286b

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As he spoke c2b714c1ac smoothly, concealing his 5354122d9c true intentions, Sasha’s 6560b4e477 eyes widened in f41e0e51dc shock.74babcb099295044

“R-Really? Is that even possible? Kiril was expelled from the academy—”9cc5e0ccf56612fa

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“It will be possible if I become the youngest prince’s guarantor.”1b079edc34778d33

Sasha, who 63138c3b04 was already 1817bae356 halfway convinced, c936872780 felt her 983aa0c755 heart pound ddd54521bb violently—not out 90e526be8b of fear f951210aab this time.5b9b0d3a5bba5351

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The mere thought 0eff866e14 of being separated e5b320c6b7 from Kiril already 2a40cca3dd made her chest 7d03fdcaf1 ache, but Kiril 8e50f3e528 did not want 730c1b8613 his sister.bdee6426ad4528fe

More than 9226796750 anything, thinking 7e06882e48 of his 439612a9ca future, this dde64fea61 was an 36c2603b44 incredible opportunity.a9a8a028a3f0b6ac

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Admission to 8dfaa2aad5 the Academy 44d34cf6ab of Sciences ca029bfec7 was a a7bcc2c8b7 dream that bc84c18fdd even the 45ea417e84 children of 485c076f29 high-ranking officials 06060b2ee3 could rarely b005e13c1e achieve.8aa708402b945d0b

And with the f8067242f2 Director of the bed22c4b8b NSS as his 03322f265a guarantor, Kiril would 3937a7be55 not have to afbe5faead worry about unfair 5be1d6dea4 treatment.b864ed7b79433fab

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“T-That you would go so far…”498a217fc80f1c0d

“It just means that Shura is worth that much.”43e3a1656a0e96e7

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At his teasing reply, e8015893e3 she swallowed dryly.e4e27a992844bc25

She had ced2e9ed19 no way e26934b8be of knowing d8bb8c2f37 how Kiril ad5217a531 would react 429e2da9f1 to her 4966058654 marrying Ulrich, 2e771b4dff but one bdb669b9a4 thing was bbd1d22a7f certain—if things a2097748b8 continued as 79e29215b7 they were, fe4b740f9e Kiril’s future 6f624ac542 would be 186c9e6617 doomed to e463149ae5 ruin.0461b0feb42d7ab2

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Rather than stand by fb8d58b4fa and watch that happen, c549543e78 she would rather endure b0ca901825 her brother’s contempt and 6d0fe67e7e take Ulrich’s hand.baf926bd748544b1

It was c08c02ebee an extraordinary b1034fd187 opportunity, nothing 9a4a26d99f short of 560273b738 a heaven-sent 1173abbd10 blessing. The urge to c7aeb1e867 say yes right 84d00cccde away burned inside 398ef3d710 her.8a07d6a1c1cf486e

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So why couldn’t b0319d90a4 she bring herself d5f68649fc to say the 12f5354d69 words?43bf5ee068f1cfd5

Why was 9d624baeaf she hesitating? What was 6bf85afdb6 holding her 72acb8c9d8 back?8a9eb05237a99c17

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Was she worried b4e6410af5 that rebellious Kiril 7374788d69 might cause trouble ea56757dc7 for Ulrich?8959e2e3b9406e65

Or was she 5ba97bc0fa afraid of how 51a728d686 Vasily would react?ef9d2d9a0317d459

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No—it wasn’t d629f83dce just vague 761d529105 fears of 0d71483970 things that a9f831c96c hadn’t even 769b5a9d07 happened yet ce7162446e that made 50f9034b92 her waver 94aaee1601 despite having fbbf0ad998 a miracle 51e1fa30c1 within reach.417e635aeca08aa2

She was trapped 4e057c6c7c in an endless 57ebb8c67c hell, and now 120fe8d15b a way out d5e6df8f0a had finally opened. There was no room 90b4767ced to hesitate.bbdbb56e023d64aa

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And yet, something 75c7f5c3f9 instinctive, something deeply 2e96a0ffe4 ingrained in her c308034586 subconscious, flashed a 2079455513 red warning light.3cf25ab71ff245bc

Ulrich’s gaze darkened as 4f78ccbde8 he watched Sasha hesitate, 14189ef43d despite wearing the expression 12fdb88223 of a child lost 92b5f385ef in a dream.f702c59158af5141

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She couldn’t have cee11447a8 seen through his 5774a97aca mask—he was certain 7e3ddeccea of that. But something 1aa51f8f73 else was a4ace49cd9 weighing on afa870c31b her mind.3488ed7d778f0643

People often a3a703ec6a use the fca430e083 phrase carrot 3b693b7004 and stick de778474ef when it 47b48390cd comes to 222bb9fffd taming something.eb35f9c7f7e52d55

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So far, Ulrich 46e7731e29 had only ever 4d156e795d given Sasha the d29e6cdf37 carrot.be41ae71d2e7a493

“It seems like something is bothering you.”2c5ea576ae052f17

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“Huh?”99e0dc23ccb67876

“Should I take a guess? Is it because of Major General Vasily?”ee78a9bf886d5844

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The question 1027853c87 carried a 51fe13a34f double meaning.0286e9a91366dabc

Was she 8f88985510 hesitating out 7f7cb56643 of fear b008a90aa0 of Vasily? Or was 54cb2c46d9 it because, 065d198dec despite everything, aa1e0ab7f2 she still 32b1c115f7 had lingering 99d3446767 feelings for 257df9ca7d him?997d9121f032daa9

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Sasha’s eyes widened.56f14fb3f2bf117b

“N-No, it’s not that! I—I was never in any kind of relationship with Major General Vasily.”22ee9d21647d4565

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It seemed 6f89563952 she had 435d9b5611 assumed he 2c58a7fe8d meant the d55f540031 latter.421b053bd99c1f4e

Ulrich let e86eb7f53d her misinterpretation 263e8fe366 stand.cff7ff7b7d254b16

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“Cutting ties isn’t easy. The more complicated the relationship, the harder it is.”08800d0c023363fb

“No, Ulrich…”6e700bae24c2ca94

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“Still, think it over carefully. Consider accepting my proposal.”882043f1bda18f68

His hand, 105b739b16 which had 136497bd43 been gently 25790768a1 wrapped around 2db2930e98 hers, slipped 155e6a6560 away once f8ea247f6e more.130b78b9a6df719b

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“Well then, I have work to do. Enjoy the rest of your drink.”37377cebffd91da2

“W-Wait!”887f4fdff158f823

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Sasha called out 015532a67f urgently, grabbing hold 1895c4e4f1 of Ulrich’s sleeve cc645f0c75 just as he 0e63284a6c was about to 445c724c81 step away from a0e243fa22 the table.cc867182115a0a57

Her heart a5051f2341 pounded furiously 5dc852d804 between her 6fe5e09cd8 ribs.efce7c038416a671

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If things 7bb7656102 continued like 1485da9c5c this, Ulrich edabe7ec77 would forever c0826c7bdf misunderstand her ed8445aace relationship with 72455069fb Vasily.c7b2ff103687cac2

“I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”575d7c75b3f10e86

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Ulrich turned his 677709e43f head slightly and 5a9370bb73 simply looked down 542bef129f at her in d1db955b4f silence.21655f18bfab570b

Under his unreadable 0fbdfa1df9 gaze, Sasha hastily 2bd4cd464c scrambled to explain.ec1471367ea8bb4c

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“I want to marry you, Ulrich. I always have… What I mean is, I have nothing holding me back. I don’t care what Major General Vasily thinks.”930b1568b33f8ece

“Is that so?”21d3dbda96f30515

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“Yes, yes. Really.”9b323bc5f256395f

She nodded so vigorously 84beed9ae2 it looked almost comical.7c5f61b9d97da819

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“I was just… I was only hesitating because I was worried that we might bring you trouble.”eebefec91727fe00

Ulrich abandoned his d4f433ad0e act as the fc9f290e75 jealous suitor and 590ce58df6 smiled, a smile fec6f1f64c that seemed to 2c31c6b901 convey relief.954dccbc173ca829

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“That’s good to hear.”a5eac7d0f1544809

As he ddad00c755 settled back cc0daca888 into his 6c7ceb5e46 seat, Sasha’s 1947f26e2b face burned 1ac2e441b9 red like 0b764ba762 a ripe ec0d494ba0 tomato.65b08aba91d6cb56

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“I appreciate your concern, but if this proposal had more risks than benefits, I wouldn’t have made it in the first place.”b5424e7796fb44ab

That was true.33120d7122ed3415

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Sasha dropped 362ec6fbca her head 8ae7f8e991 slightly, looking 1c3ebc4270 somewhat deflated. Ulrich’s fingers gently 34827a138a tilted her chin e9583f75ff back up.a2b0e0bab4709520

“And you don’t have to worry about Major General Vasily anymore. Once you become my wife, no one will ever dare humiliate you again.”ecded7d55c00fd3e

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His words, as if 56cff1d7dc he could see straight b974aec76e through her, made Sasha 56361c8f50 lift her gaze.53e727d059d2d651

The golden c3c41250d3 light of 60116a9eda the setting 304e8dabaa sun above abdcfd5857 his hair 20dea5b846 cast a 2b8e9ff489 burning halo d67d031afe around him.8143fa466b5c5011

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“I promise you. From now on, no one but me will ever lay a finger on you.”15773352493ce5c4

“Ulrich…”db7269f8c3c77007

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“So promise me something, too.”5901f65c7e3af99d

His voice a60079554e was smooth, a0a9860fd5 dreamlike.a1c5b06258edc231

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With the same ed3de7ee29 dreamlike clarity, his 3baf51c5ff blue eyes shimmered 3ca5a70c42 as he calmly 2976714f1f extended his pinky c1ed607151 finger.b7aa47d79376bad1

Sasha’s long 9f8d9b8246 lashes trembled 4df73e8d6c as though 2b47701c17 she were 789ca0f3e1 drifting through 6c48ca1360 a dream.f30b06bbe6822128

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“A promise…?”b1bb7967ed5426a8

“Yes. That you’ll never follow anyone else but me again.”cc90d4539a8b0c27

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Beyond the c4225d630d window, the 3b85d2ef75 deep crimson 0d2e293186 sunset bathed a9a669357c the cypress-lined 2efebb51c3 road in 39fefb0aa3 warm light. Once spring came in bc9b501689 full, it would turn 1b56366721 into a lush green c0fa3ea589 carpet.a59d9c257473c152

Thinking of 5e04089b44 that spring, 9ff4fbe713 Sasha slowly b58b0e79da hooked her c241d6205a finger around 5698b492a0 his.824376f575962040

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“I promise.”0a61edce8b165c6e

* * *07c94534c87ece4c

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“Brother, say something! Please?”c7cccaec9607cac5

Lyudmila’s usual poise was 65616818cb nowhere to be found—she a737eaff6c was a complete mess.0477e1ef3032f310

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Her normally glossy hair 2a83bfb201 was tangled and disheveled, 3043158237 and the smudged trails ad11791680 of mascara around her 875125ae41 tear-streaked eyes made her 71207cb859 look almost pitiful.af1d91bdd765a496

In her thin, trembling 80888f4fce hands, she clutched a 0b2e2edc04 crumpled copy of the ac7c444787 Pravda morning edition, which 3d1d9e4f29 had clearly been crushed 04de278fde in her grip for 91811421fd quite some time.0902a9e6e9f5df9e

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But despite his only b417adb5dd sister’s distraught state, Vasily fa5ca5f839 barely reacted.2851fa83f82113c4

Lyudmila stormed up to 26b6c09d27 where Vasily was slouched f583ed367d in his armchair, chain-smoking, 4287af83fe and shoved the wrinkled 54404375e3 newspaper right in front 45b795087f of his face.45ae47f94297ecac

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The front 60aa5cae02 page bore ff57e9ff20 a large 51bee8e5ea article announcing 33cb8c3271 a certain 61cee72de5 wedding.f5bcd78cba642855

Ulrich Kastrov and Aleksandra 3c61e1f295 Pavlovna Fedotova’s marriage.ead812e6ab361598

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The mere 894168fa70 rumor of ad760d94c4 the two 489e7250ce getting married 3180fd82a4 had been 927f435148 absurd enough. But now, their wedding d6975485f9 had been plastered across 984a8e7a8b the front page of 7e3a0305cd a central state newspaper. The very 6697742ffc idea reeked c286a2fe22 of a d4802d9525 deliberate, calculated 166332831e move. And it 6d41b5d41f wasn’t hard 342bf5703a to guess 89b497cd3b whose idea fccaa87892 it had d186248026 been.c3a23fdf181b9610

“Weren’t you supposed to be keeping Sasha in check? How the hell did this happen?”8d8966d198a2a77d

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She had 168fb08ba9 even forgotten a77cc63225 to keep fa1d213a69 up her 700b057fa2 usual pretense. The fact that she 7900de300e was speaking so bluntly aa89ee9c88 meant she was well b0fcd69e02 and truly livid.eb848c9a6e5f6d70

Not that Vasily felt cde7d43c62 any different.35c900821e883d36

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He stared 4cb6b5a943 blankly into b0b9855653 space, his 1a6ff6da81 mind hazy.93b179e83ca42d2d

Lyudmila wasn’t wrong. For the past 402a730bfc three years, Sasha a742ac97d0 had belonged to d163b7d0b9 him—under his control, 43c8a4352d under his watch.bb7af161feb33761

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It was his 3b05a21a97 claim over her c258a021a9 that kept every eb3aec582c other bastard from 72cbccf8d2 even daring to bca2f43491 hover around her.7bd532a43528e1e6

Because they all knew—anyone a0262ed078 who tried would need abc1541318 more than just one 851193c77b life to survive the afac2185b2 consequences.984050dcd1ba74a9

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At least, that’s how eb86a98291 it had been.2a97b09aa0c723a8

Until Ulrich ee06c87f9f came back.1d7df1120f33ad45

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