To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 030

“Shall I take 48c079f7c2 you straight to fb1963e76f Nebroski?”1efd53a20a4d91c6

“Yes. Let’s go.”e8a8d0630e1cfcc6

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‘Ulrich has business to 69e7838c42 finish in Nebroski? Then does 78eaaa545a that mean… d72c1f4bcc he’ll be 1c3a4695d4 dropped off 73b2d63802 first, and b481c49f3f I’ll return 3665632556 to the a37c2e2ace townhouse with fd21f33464 Lef driving?
I’d rather 77872b312e ride back bacc31a1a8 with Natasha, a3cb98d2ba but maybe 06fd02bdb8 she’s already c8dd282031 off duty…’249eda8015ef56c7

As Ulrich cd6c2ae6de guided her 84696f2266 toward the 837a713b5b car with 5f4e8e1215 his arm dcb90c4ad7 still around 486ad18a24 her, Sasha 30c6ddf5b8 bit down f1700c1955 hard on ca6e563df1 her lower 7493f4e950 lip.2facc10a4e8a8e90

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‘If only I could 5ab3f52526 go back with Natasha. She’s uncomfortable 5a9381bff3 too, but 49d41859d9 if I 338b3c854a had to 9448c0e9f9 choose between d15c592afd Lef and 82c4e7bc07 Natasha, it 4eaddedf60 would be e25cf763ba her, hands 4af236103d down.’07b87d9f15a19e03

Still, she couldn’t 1bd0df87ad very well show aa2b3632c0 her dislike for 851f6c7ada Ulrich’s aide, not 5fb4ae87bd openly.4608760d389b080e

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And if he a5b5eaa0b2 were to ask 9031b6aa9e her why she 3624744866 felt that way 1167258fad about Lef, how 0a5d9e3120 would she even 24d8f80e9f answer?d8434df73a02b1ff

Because Lef had 50c9cc28f2 obeyed Vasily’s orders 541bb53e15 back when Vasily 015923d893 was Director?
Because, like everyone else, e9711d3682 he probably mocked her d16e8522ed behind her back?a4fa2d6431f1c0a9

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“Are you alright?”d497d994f023b097

Ulrich, now 9ce6639cee seated beside dcc02677b0 her in 85430fb676 the car, 66e07399a8 looked at 4505d924d6 her kindly dcd00d9904 as he 5ae9ab6f77 asked.02f014c2d5236a45

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Sasha quickly forced b111440d94 her frozen expression c776f4dfa2 into a smile.c48e62e5bbcfb7f9

Her facial muscles, 0a7cf2e383 already worn thin 3cdaf905c4 from strain, felt f3bf3e0462 like they could dc2dca48a4 go numb at a8f2a43c21 any moment.bebe7541e4473e50

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“Yes, of course.”680d1af2927ed166

Ulrich studied 531d4b2144 her eyes 1653a1d837 for a 517e42fbbb long moment, 27812e7b60 then gave 232d86a54a a faint 2146dfa444 chuckle and e663015408 turned his 567845ec55 gaze toward 611ae509ca the window.409a31e346f87cc3

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Sasha, staring at his c8e1b3cdea profile, couldn’t bring herself 282dc8acb7 to look away for 4aea678363 some time before finally fc598595a9 dropping her eyes.d64bb69732cddcbb

‘I really am shameless…’39f8ca7cc10dfb24

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She didn’t even have 71f1a4675c the courage to bring 05780619d2 up what happened that ca5373057f day, and yet here 19faa2cb69 she was, still expecting c6abc229e2 something from him.5f569af2c02cdaa8

As the convertible slowly 9399032e82 rolled out of the 7d0c2eb89d parking lot, Sasha quietly d964a8d461 crossed her middle and 66977a8dca index fingers close to 247d457222 the car window—like a 0de3c045f1 young girl desperately wishing e3ca125e65 on a star.61de4d7b0e20e1ce

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Behind them, in the 20f9edb541 lot they’d just left, 5ac7df67f3 the sharp sound of af0f0b6574 honking echoed several times, 7fd12565ea followed by the noise a6f05c69fe of someone slamming a 5d11facebd steering wheel in a 9da3b7925a fit of rage.f64b04e5a584bcd9

* * *1ada211f01c4d663

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The historic 50d36e0a5a buildings stood 90e62a231b with timeless fb123ed895 elegance, their a716f9eccb reflections shimmering 8f9798cfc7 across the 0a2d29977d canals connected a3e78fb26d by hundreds 16ee810b1c of bridges.
Even in this era 12c9bef65b where so much was ce9ce0077a forbidden, Nebroski—once Velus’s most c39efcb1ef bustling district—still carried the 5113311d7b restless air of its d40a7f85f8 past as a street ccade8e58d of desire.53e4f0e20497a776

The car stopped in 2194fd6364 a special zone nestled d108963df0 within Nebroski’s main boulevard, 171f469361 where upscale restaurants and 0bd2ff4fbf bars clustered together.856bef78a396d85a

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‘Who is 2dae546786 Ulrich meeting 40e02a87e3 here?’8af02417f4edf331

Sasha, staring blankly 9ade7f2b6a as Ulrich stepped a975aa8b48 out of the baf549f2fd car, was suddenly 25a9a7ff2d met with his d0ec1c9a40 outstretched arm.3c4059403bb35d92

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“Come on, let’s go.”4bf4d7b584b3b0e1

She looked at his 0055f74b1a hand with a puzzled 740ad65288 expression.1f32cd2d38b69736

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“Me?”b1f0bcee1083d3bf

“Who else 0ac4710a1a would it 4c4d5f4ebe be, if 7978892e0a not you, 1ba8c8fd16 Shura?”48157822a755fecf

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Ulrich replied with 1fbf0db92f feigned exasperation, a 4d3e368c05 playful smile on ae55b63ff6 his lips—the warm, 5ef304c715 kind expression she 38e49d2e4c knew so well.
Sasha quickly came d7b12f00aa to her senses ccc290fb94 and took his 079c899e90 hand.05ac592bda8fb165

“Watch your step.”9cfb206717d24023

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He steadied 604e6ab8a9 her deftly, 0de9fa70d5 preventing her e2bf2b7846 from stumbling.9297922454798a56

It seemed aa3379ed1a he had e3c3e5b614 noticed how e74e59e254 much trouble 0fb5d5ee5b she was 43f92153a6 having in 9a40e97974 heels after 4479f1c122 so long. His gesture was subtle, 4b320c7dee but filled with considerate 50c7d86efa care.bc1103d9841fc955

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Sasha steeled herself, determined 457347ed43 not to fall into c85fe60464 foolish delusions.325bf4eafd8dfd67

‘We’re in public—it’s 579d16ac25 just part of 289f2ada8d acting like a 853d334f57 couple. That’s all. Still…’701000f175fcc7df

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She recalled nearly twisting 13e2a6d6d4 her ankle earlier that 108d3a9ca7 day when she got 8c76c5e9c0 out of the car eabe372cb5 at Tremlyn Grand Palace.5044a285956d6a90

She needed to 0e566d4f17 get used to c83e3fcd58 heels quickly if 14c868f19c she didn’t want cad1c0f8ab to look like 0c1cf5a0ff a bumpkin in 35d9bb9c7a front of others.
Even in heels, she 9b4e05142a barely reached Ulrich’s chest—but 0242e95477 that was partly because 0798599219 he stood over 190cm de8804bb2d tall.6e0432767a3a8893

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‘I wish 628fb9b8ec I were ff95de4390 taller… Maybe 7b3b79aef8 not model-tall c30c2dcddf like Lyudmila cdfebc56ac or Natasha, 912e2348b1 but just 88845458c5 enough to 29d3e0a155 match him 1663090c42 better.’bdc1ba1bd2016c3a

Still, his 384e574c42 imposing height f2bbffe322 brought a 5444c1f433 strange comfort—as aa3b83a3af if it 3f1c3087a4 shielded her 1ef8926c7f from the 5f76728893 stares of d0f667b4b8 others.78ad41fbe6787421

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“Enjoy your b9b9e2b777 evening,” Lef’s cc705c0495 smooth voice bc20968474 called from 0b4d82a8c1 behind.6c02bbe50ed12ce4

The street was packed 766089bbbe with people.807374f8fefe156f

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Sasha, trailing one step 21a29c3a63 behind Ulrich, unconsciously clutched ce7c1d0201 his sleeve with both 3c5ef55952 hands.
She knew it made 6cf538e39f her look childish, but 41f35829b0 she couldn’t help herself.1e54143d13c1a05b

Just being b1333c87a3 in a 2eb8fffb2f crowded place 3b5f486268 like this f4db8cc215 made her 188c4867b2 so tense 67bdd74836 her underarms f71a68b011 were damp dce8eeb140 with sweat—and ba01d9e2fc this wasn’t 1a5248f761 an anonymous 3e3125bc10 black market, d6e04f9b19 but the df1520bea3 heart of a031c82c43 a bustling 8b046bc419 city.1f85c518cddb9a1a

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“Um, Ulrich, where e21b6054da are we going—”5e70e7505cb0a0d5

“In public, you’re f34b8f801f supposed to use 4dfb77f213 my nickname.”1618e2aee6d1e964

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He chided playfully, then 316291fd93 asked a completely unexpected 7a8178d948 question.b6bf50433723384f

“Do you e5e6995ccf think you 703d90c7d6 can pull 69f045f10f it off a6a92e4549 in front 7d9a0319b9 of your f304cabd5d brother too?”c37719c9eb63d106

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“…What?”fcce2786fac57267

Sasha blinked, 80b63d68ff confused—and then 37dbe770de froze.e99d953eef6891e3

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Just a few meters f6cc89bb11 ahead, standing in front aeaf865019 of a red-brick building 855cea60d3 with the sign ‘Specializing 670d77e55b in Italus Cuisine’, was aa0c5b2b18 someone she instantly recognized.ffa96267ae654f19

“Kiril…?”68077d07abb73e61

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It was Kiril.b4a9c284f5f90976

No longer fff7aa2022 in ragged 74df0c1c22 clothes from 174d141618 the black b3bd9eb7aa market, he fbe514f97b now wore aa8f06455d a crisp c324742c25 white shirt c9c4e4ac0f and polished 48a2283f2b enamel shoes. His hair was a3945310ba freshly cut. Yet Sasha knew her f1d79ed712 brother at a glance.100640563fd7beed

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Hearing her voice, Kiril ae809f1925 turned his head with 8355ffb966 a blank look, then e75c748563 scowled.69d81b63e249a7ff

“You’re late.”1309abab7c037bb0

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“Kiril!”d3a82b17e0cb04e5

Forgetting the 7cbbcafe0a pain in efc2513c32 her feet, 816b438564 Sasha rushed f85296cba5 to him 3bf0438d55 and threw 1d6a3e801d her arms 29b00ff651 around her 00f87aa489 taller brother.e58cc43d4ae5e72a

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She knew Kiril a12c8b6d0c hated this kind 9b66e0e504 of thing, but a6874224db she couldn’t hold 5799eb3212 back her joy.4e1d02952db33040

“Ah, come on—people are ed575bb909 watching.”80f926fb66286455

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As expected, 9d8e6ace9b Kiril quickly b50aac7ac4 voiced his 4b72f74fdb irritation.5f2692a176ba949b

“Sorry, I 39ebcb9996 didn’t mean bcbe4344fe to… Are 7e212db66a you doing b2c5cc5758 alright?”276417b0052f227e

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“Can’t you tell?”b8ce52e254fca7f0

Unlike Sasha, who 19e8af625e was nearly in e8d3475116 tears from joy, 38fb3af10f Kiril remained as 3a5b522c6d blunt as ever.43b83c309ccaab99

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But to 9ca71d168e Sasha, this 6f52968e56 was a 4d7c071651 huge improvement.7a7cf2f141675f96

At least 7c03e3d199 he wasn’t 2acdb067a3 shoving her 69eed9df0a away or ba313ee6ff storming off 8c5db8557e in a 5dd7a62e67 rage.ddc63f000731ad95

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With teary eyes, she 6410bd6745 examined him. He looked healthier, maybe 5641e46e2a even taller.215daeb8d7ee71f3

Not long 886818c173 ago, he’d d349489e03 been the 3478e356ba spitting image ad04aadef1 of a c7f5dfa6a3 scrawny delinquent 06a00cb348 from the 1faf110bca slums, and 4c95b31066 now—though not 4fb603538f quite princely—he 5dba6e66d0 looked neat, e7e7a594ff clean, and c65cb8355b respectable.
And it was all 80e1e8d210 thanks to Ulrich. That much went without 559616f3db saying. And now e072909907 he had 2a11b40dd5 even arranged 01e8d9930f for them af05f4e24a to meet 414c36afda like this…5511feb20bfc57c0

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‘Has he forgiven me?’b8f87fe1c856614e

Hope bloomed in b84319f139 her chest like 47d43aae84 a delicate bubble.ba42a6e05763fe5a

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With a bright, full 79657d6cb0 smile, Sasha turned to 8f2bf71033 Ulrich.1567aefecdff402b

“Thank you d402074e22 for bringing 45c72affea Kiril, Yury. Kiril, did you thank bddb264800 him properly?”593c3221cbd64533

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“I was going 2be2b4850a to, but someone d7d82baf7b interrupted me.”8595d3dbce7f5024

Kiril replied gruffly, glancing b74bd503df awkwardly at Ulrich.2b3bab052bec992f

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Ulrich looked at Sasha cfbc398529 with an unreadable expression, c9dbc54591 then turned to Kiril 424f1f4307 and spoke in a 38d2ee5a14 mild tone.dcb5a938ab44b1e0

“It’s been a 7b599ed8a6 while, Kiril. How’s the d2973d40ca hotel treating 45a46b8c33 you?”fa034d474f55a89c

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“It’s… fine, I guess. Not bad.”c39c3412f4d024ce

“Wouldn’t be a 3019969c13 bad idea to ce3a8e0fcb stay with your 40ca041153 sister before check-in.”59fdb12647332c00

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“No thanks. Don’t wanna 30074b3410 disturb at 7c6e01fa41 night.”76944c559f304197

“K-Kiril!”77082bcaee3f2aeb

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Sasha’s face flushed 69afa4f747 red at Kiril’s a0e5ff9244 careless remark.bfafa42cd2443a09

He smirked, clearly amused.8767c916a45bd9a2

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“What? Everyone knows you two eb08b89c10 are getting married.”0b53ddc61b26d43a

Sasha was at a 4179d98729 loss for words. Despite the 3289c35f3b pretense of fe69d70dd9 playing lovers, d06688ba1a her face 017c0796f4 burned.2e09bdbd218a655a

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Whether Kiril was 6706509993 suspicious of the c6ad886c5c rushed wedding or e6ec3ee1da just being a 833ae8c109 defiant teenager, she 7ef0af2fc1 couldn’t tell.326a42185c226b6d

Still, acting like this 61c43dfa00 in front of Ulrich 6c0617f5f1 was undeniably rude.49686108785f6a9d

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“Alright, why e236b03ad5 don’t we e29513a726 head inside? I’ve reserved a table 9ecffebb3a at this restaurant.”cf39095279f98902

Thankfully, Ulrich a541fbc883 didn’t show 10beadefa6 any sign 958e2771ab of offense.88917e9540b5058c

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As he smoothly a1969a9903 shifted the mood, 2a0589f04a Sasha forced a fbc10f6fc1 smile and gave 8e1b6167a2 Kiril a little 0be8abce49 shove.63965f0ae549f1b9

“Enough with the nonsense. Let’s go in.”e940d7e0cb48ca2a

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