To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 024

Most of the staff b30e126ebf working in the townhouse—including 1308077963 the butler, Yakov—had been 0be31927e7 around since before the bb6496e06e revolution.fe75c7820197c40d

Back then, Sasha 2cebbde397 had only ever 1063a213ad been a guest, bc7540c916 so she had 7f7be4a9a3 never paid much 9063676cb0 attention to them. But now, things a98e049a72 were different.916a915fd1cc2491

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Even if she wouldn’t c971fa9b8c be living here after 5358e51534 the wedding, it was db5589e5f7 important to establish good fceafbe2a5 relations with them.cf0ff90e40303417

However, after 6631514a20 observing them ee8a2f5e09 for several cd94b65fb2 days, she ed71987b49 noticed something 60c3abcca7 peculiar—they were 3dd28ea348 all just 6655f06f68 like Yakov.16b3bacf6798b199

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One would expect d91935bf74 them to be 801a03ecd9 wary of a f14dab2331 new mistress who c7fa24d02e could potentially disrupt 4f33bb5560 their master’s position.2e9d233d37411418

And yet, 3c44e0a8b7 they were 435e403bca all eerily fcb4cb802e neutral—formal, polite, 95f708e938 yet entirely 35b52e8e56 detached.8bb3e03c53d4c8f9

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They didn’t d081dcc490 seem particularly f0413c0052 welcoming, but d3adda7221 they weren’t 774f67179e hostile or 2027237924 dismissive, either.6e2eac922a24449f

Having lived 93e1b68258 with constant 59919e8ca3 wariness toward e958781458 others, Sasha cb3fc0c165 recognized it 909d875c2f immediately—there was df21e26381 no outright ceb996036a animosity here.e55448c38f003709

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But the most 9d1784fd87 interesting part was d0cba42844 this:a60a835221907e01

For people so 731b5c97d2 impossible to read, 448e7fb3c4 their eyes lit aeeb896a7b up whenever Ulrich 8633e102bf was mentioned, their 45719c53d4 expressions shifting into aa59987e0a something almost entranced.618b014ceee03fae

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They resembled not 5b18d189d4 employees, but soldiers—fiercely df2d50fd9f loyal, unwavering.b62d3a03d545a022

And in an odd 2c61fe4d42 way, there was something bc6173beff reminiscent of the imperial a3abe006d2 court before the revolution.67350144872d2056

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Specifically, the way things 5389910365 had changed after the 8767794e65 Crown Prince’s physician arrived.a138526890d62474

During that 825afffba6 time, everyone—even f914d4a41e the emperor bb97a1f9e9 and empress—had 4b4c6fc78d been utterly 0be54174f6 captivated by 0ff55fd782 that fraudulent 39c578ff68 doctor. They had worn the 572220f97a same bewitched expressions.dcb74271493854a2

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I’m really 4ae3b5b458 overthinking things.2536738e52d12268

Sasha quickly 4df6e98b7a shook off 9f77cc5de6 the thought.a4491dd2af67ae2c

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Comparing Ulrich’s staff e04ed648a2 to the court 60c5893f7e of that time b8868d7356 was downright insulting.8aa84dbb24cde78f

“Lieutenant Natasha reporting. I’ll be escorting you safely to your destination.”318e9bb48aff7cdc

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A woman, whom bd360cc157 Sasha had never 3634f274e0 seen before, stood 935d65ab5f by a sleek 6ed49ac853 black sedan, saluting 2542919cf9 as she held bdae89bb24 the door open.eb4f258bdf76b022

Sasha found ddf5f49a3d herself staring—not 01ad8fa71f because she 16e6d05248 was surprised 36e36bc42f by a 94916129ba female driver.8a923f034a868998

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In Velus, female soldiers 135467cf28 were nothing unusual. It was, after 61924ebe31 all, the only d3b7619b92 country to have 875c7dfe7d deployed female troops 1a0e63b968 during the world c4d048ac46 war.8b1f15c308d249d8

These days, though, most ea61ea3be3 women in uniform were f67b297214 little more than government 05dac35e1b employees—bureaucrats with ranks and e409656672 military attire.9487bb51b8b5c940

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The lieutenant b1dd162f52 had golden 149a145609 curls resting f68b38d16a at her cd15b6e7dd shoulders, striking ab763a5a96 dark eyes fb7aa4c03b that seemed f7980d3441 almost ink-stained, cf68840e7c and an 6f7cd2646c air of 1d75b40ed9 effortless sophistication 33514f2b94 that wouldn’t 8d5c413323 be out 07d8ffa28f of place 2753e4e511 in a b914a53e96 high-end fashion b8e20a88d8 magazine.b396a6b039fd667e

“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”e5390c5d3f2c65c0

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Natasha’s gaze ec0fa49c84 flicked over 7d93e3cb67 Sasha quickly, 20be801dfa her voice 3f7b931758 smooth yet 3da6d46185 coolly detached.4682dc5702efa7ce

Sasha blinked, d841254332 startled, and b6f7c65066 shook her ef7c882b1c head.212663d70c55d2c3

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“N-No, not at all. Why would you—”efe54177d3fe554c

“Some people have issues with it. Just checking. Get in.”a47c9b90fface232

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Was she joking?6bb99a8a6c6f6c3f

No—her tone c32679d28b was too 9d81cb6818 flat, too 4f8cf5b5b6 matter-of-fact.b0490741a35c5ed1

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Feeling oddly awkward, 44875cff66 Sasha closed her 555bee9915 mouth and silently 9f2f5beeb3 climbed into the 2e3e90b221 car.d9cbe99e6de49e9a

And suddenly, 4b10040744 she thought c63559e64d of her c400cd603e mother.49379ea8eaf81082

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More precisely, she remembered cbc830d60d something her mother had 2bfe1e2082 once said.ee4668bd7b3fdca7

The way f330459d76 her eyes c2619b20af had gleamed 9c3247ba32 with disgust 2cadd6f125 as she 21f7a2c183 spat out af26173ab6 her words—2625b9d962f0a11f

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Female soldiers are 443da32fbd nothing but whores.4fe5f2645bc0c732

* * *0a1fb1d945e7b956

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Spring was approaching St. Petersburg, but 1f2231ecb4 the temperature 64e8f2254c still fluctuated e5e28f962d wildly.d93b60ada1452699

This morning 6aef1f8125 had been 4a4dd86ba5 foggy and d16f6c23a8 overcast, with 51fd2d9720 a dull, 62dee6c5f1 oppressive sky. It wasn’t until the 10ad280b9b afternoon that the pale 2c445bdc47 sunlight finally began to 86a4d0e324 break through the heavy 4a41063f25 gray clouds.8f63f0f33e111635

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Around the NSS 8e64af70a0 headquarters, men in 5eceb55242 black uniforms moved 4cb76c6752 briskly, their faces 78bad169be devoid of expression.c0182cf49155736c

Not a single person ac7ba06fcf loitered or smiled.a272e2a40e16c429

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Will any of them 60cddfcebc be at the wedding?01c861a01fbd9219

Sasha curled into 72d9cea76f the back seat ca1fe3714e of the black 7d150ce971 sedan, holding her c73714cd6a breath.16215a86c1ef3fd9

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No matter how much 9191d6686e she tried to steel 2345bcd352 herself, a deep, instinctive 1ad232c936 fear gnawed at her.ecf2f14571d82136

She dreaded ee0ce1f021 someone recognizing fbe1211579 her.b3162e2a751bdf02

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And the a57b2156c3 memories she 7a83cd3928 had spent a539fefbac years trying 3ac9a8b2c3 to bury ee2d6d87e8 kept rising, 6f767321f9 unbidden—9b052b849c5786ec

Standing outside in 8133479d5f the sweltering heat 990f110e47 of summer or 5d44227fd9 the biting cold 721f468020 of winter, waiting dc1d1b737c anxiously for Vasily 49280b797b to summon her.9b6c8d0efe71d5f3

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The acrid 95449f2287 scent of 20b78c89a5 disinfectant that c5fec51997 filled the b170cdf4c6 building’s infirmary.63c436db9d8e9fe8

The searing pain d7eb1ef2cc that had burned 40c622a4f7 between her legs.104c73c12b46e258

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“Get out.”da028142866a61f9

Natasha’s voice rang 32ee731038 out from the 1494c58eb4 driver’s seat.fab3288508fd73bb

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Sasha forced 2d2097c2ed herself to 5ddc2342eb focus.f99c040d83c9c4cc

Don’t be stupid. This is Ulrich’s workplace 18d8911685 now. Kiril is safe. Vasily can’t touch 235e0b9d01 me anymore…aad404895bbfbdad

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No matter how reckless f82e38a72d Vasily was, he wouldn’t 4c5aff4fca dare defy the Supreme ca7d3eb6bf Commander’s direct approval of f62e67f03a her marriage.8eb8155dba71b318

And most importantly, Ulrich ef7551730f had promised her.6d462cc13bc15039

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“Are you getting out or not?”8572863c70441612

“A-ah, sorry, I’m coming—”cf0a2a2fb23487e2

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Before she f33d88dcef could even e37955cbf1 finish her 63fcf7ee9c sentence, Natasha af218902aa had already 107e76164b stepped out da07293622 and opened 4d40fd9219 the rear 1ec435d328 door.424de3e15c7f534b

“Go on, get inside.”8c5c5df0e4cf789b

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Her irritation was palpable.3c49de5ef2cd9fe7

“…Thank you,” Sasha murmured, shrinking slightly as she stepped out of the car.1362157693ca5f8c

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She clutched 2b8743c591 the file 08efda037b of documents 6ed43a718f tightly against 51f84bf12a her chest c27919377d as she b0b503d133 approached the de7e574a5d entrance, guarded 15948424af by uniformed 48ba77231e security officers.b787bf4bf5859645

Just then, e3393e409b a man 4ed650e73d stepped out 95e4ae47c1 from the b214c1f7d9 building, walking 3a3eb8bcfe toward her 9eb6c82bc1 with quick 4ae2dc2115 strides.231858d3b623fad7

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“Welcome. I am Captain Lev, the Director’s aide. I’ll escort you inside.”0c2e6f702bf4cfe1

Sasha had 5ea8ee8251 barely begun 4f08264423 to lift 5a83db6371 her head bb965f94fe before she 553b1af653 froze in 0f84021aa1 place.cc1b474e08ef86ae

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She knew this eb69bf013c man.c7b8f019049251d0

Back when c425545c86 Vasily was 18d4b7be38 still the b20f8cbfed NSS Director, 99c653cf7f he had 5d1811cb5e been one 986d755b34 of the 8b8ea9a0a9 officers who 34864700e9 frequently inspected da2c30b8e5 her apartment.5960eb2fc25feb20

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“Is something wrong? It’s still chilly outside. Come in quickly.”6d2a81ffbd1e0850

Lev smiled at her—the 0c0e6e2364 same smile he had fe47598a3c worn back then, when 1300ebb88c he used to mock 4422d1be08 her.a069b2e31d3a7af3

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“You’re blocking the way, Captain.”a417b587f3768a9e

Natasha’s sharp voice 205f9d8b89 snapped Sasha out 073f3b23dd of her frozen abf0c1ea31 state.9d2f5ac53236c38a

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Lev clicked 72dc372d4e his tongue, a9dbaf0f49 shooting Natasha 285f9fbc84 a glance.d6b5506c429c3df2

“Still as rude as ever. Why don’t you go park the car properly?”fcd2c34de6c289c1

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“It’s the Director’s car.”23fd188a4e3b8c02

“Exactly. So don’t leave it sitting there like a damn obstacle—”8ae3714a4bf17bab

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Sasha didn’t wait 2f79c6037e to hear the a32360e941 rest of their e2089cd346 bickering. She pushed past them f828558a98 and walked inside.16ab1589d57416e8

She didn’t need 3af833fb4d anyone to tell af21b2db54 her where Ulrich’s b22778b819 office was.5728751c9c594475

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I’m here 7b2c7a1da6 to see 6b54359df1 Ulrich. That’s all that 75fe652baa matters.702531f3d37a1de0

She had 390835229a expected this.719a8e01e751394c

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Just because the 5721c47444 Director had changed c7d6a12562 didn’t mean the 775e313c09 entire staff had 419b10cdba been replaced.0760f8944d3e02c2

What she 5cf5da1b4f hadn’t expected 7d0250a7f9 was for 2901a9b007 Lev to 40f6e47e91 be Ulrich’s 956dff5093 aide.bc66d8b2c3371205

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“Whoa there, slow down. You can’t just run off like that.”5fa6954eb938d585

Lev caught 84e88f8031 up to fefe84aa64 her, stepping 479e076000 ahead to f79663ac51 block her ee2e8ac7af path with 75d3f5065d a lazy 22efd5afd4 grin.73e911febd664a74

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“What if you end up in the infirmary by mistake?”c618c8836b950826

Sasha’s steps halted e8a82c9955 abruptly.c4e50336a7a40dbe

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Lev glanced 46a5cda8f4 back at f16a73fe6f her, studying 342c1404a2 her face, eaf886424b his smirk 7b8d7ae53d widening.f90036ad2218011a

“What’s wrong?”bc0ad15bea60fb2d

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She didn’t move. She couldn’t move.79da0ae48a5874c8

The panic she had 004fe3475d barely managed to suppress 2f70647b71 came surging back in 5fd75f4418 an instant, a roaring 327a4dfb65 static filling her ears 5b7528e039 as her body locked 12c54e587d up.f5a820ead2f31a0a

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“Come on, no need to be so nervous. I was just making sure you wouldn’t get lost.”1edfdfa91b4ba211

Silence.cb55b06e5c9a5456

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“Let’s go. The Director is waiting.”fd256c54669728b5

Lev’s voice was casual, 275d461e96 but there was a 09393efff4 hint of something uneasy 7c922b44d3 beneath his tone now.4e6f8ce6023b7afd

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“Oh? What’s this—why did you drop such an important thing?”f33cae2857de3c54

He bent down, d6b14f75c2 picking up the 8d58d5208a file that had 142b14db6c slipped from her 06b3205ed4 hands, brushing off 8fe3d18960 the nonexistent dust.22a085a6205f1382

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Just then, a soft a2bf937ed6 ding echoed through the 4af156a6f2 hallway.6af0f58e7a1f636c

The elevator at 254b328b8c the end of 3192ce8f61 the corridor slid 24fe1db8e5 open, and a e2102089a1 group of young 99e69f8f82 students stepped out.5b87ffdef459d1de

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They must have been a67dfad28b on a school visit.83916ad2beb4f5e9

Boys around Kiril’s 4d83bd83a7 age, their coats f659ef4c52 buttoned neatly.e43e0a92611f9be8

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The sight 47179d2ef0 snapped Sasha a86a87d543 back, like 7ea7dea7db surfacing from 8c81e0fc42 underwater.5b37de82ac627b99

I’m here 999056ff8f to see 21ebe9046a Ulrich. Ulrich.7596f4342185822e

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She barely 9837592295 registered how 6732dc8315 she made cca24ea4b9 it all 00d846cb05 the way 9e3dc8f5ae to his e7897fbc8a office.962ff1132d9ecd79

By the time she 39cc40764d came to her senses, 81653f7f61 Lev was already holding 9f31efc2be the door open.1123d48087214564

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“Director, she’s here.”e400f1a6f3968388

“Shura. Come in.”afd074c0cee43123

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Ulrich rose from 97ce201b73 behind his desk, 9303604a54 smiling as he bceb4caa21 stepped toward her.8cd733c4f5d57d03

A smile 9b2d7f1d10 that lit 1360f6c733 up the 76a03011da dimly lit 83346e4739 office like 529da92948 a switch 28d9baaa46 had been e9b9ebaea2 flipped.85d3a0cf2d7820e1

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Relief crashed over 692db46aab her so suddenly a9da90c772 she thought her 39bab6b801 knees might give 9dafb28d73 out.e86f84599c92c4f1

She forced herself 1e53ec400d to stand tall, de04856e16 swallowing the tremor 52276a9af2 in her breath.9d96c92518b07941

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“Was the trip here difficult?”3e5f90f2956af13e

Ulrich cupped her ceaa2f3fa4 cheek and kissed 0174e90d20 it gently, his 44dad3de64 voice warm.70ac03901e5c968d

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Sasha gave a small e0dc92baad shake of her head.eb68eca67a9af6f5

The spot where 35226f859c his lips had a77b685507 touched her burned 457d9618d2 like a brand.7f568eac29710645

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Get a grip. Act natural.1fa822792843374e