| Chapter 7: Will You Remember Me?

Ash-gray hair scattered as it fell. Beneath it, a rugged, chiseled face marked by scars. Most striking was the deep slash across the right eyebrow and the piercing crimson eyes—hallmarks of the Knulu tribe—boring down at Natasha.

“You, you’re…”

Before Natasha could stammer out a coherent response to the unexpected sight before her:

“Alexei! W-why are you here…”

The man, who had collapsed to the ground, trembled like a leaf as he instinctively covered his left ear. Even the sight of Alexei seemed to resurrect the pain of his half-severed ear.

The Knulu tribe, notorious for raiding and pillaging across the Duchy of Ivanov’s borders and slums, was a persistent nuisance. They had no order, no conscience. Yet, before Alexei, they all bent the knee, recognizing him as an unrivaled leader.

That was until the day Alexei voluntarily entered Ivanov Castle as a gladiator slave.

No one could understand why Alexei abandoned his reign as the king of the underworld to become a mere slave. Among the Knulu tribe, theories abounded, but most agreed it had to do with money. Since Sergey’s ascent to power, skilled gladiator slaves commanded astronomical prices. Slave traders who owned many gladiators could spend money as if it were paper. But Alexei was no ordinary slave; he had no master and had entered willingly, claiming his own share.

When questioned, Alexei offered no explanation beyond a wistful, cryptic remark: “There’s something I want to confirm.” And with that, he left for Ivanov Castle.

In Alexei’s absence, Igor had taken over, living decadently while playing the boss of his small band of thugs.

“I warned you to stay out of my sight.”

Alexei growled, his voice dripping with menace.

“What filthy scheme are you plotting now? Should I leave you with one dangling ear this time?”

“N-no! That’s not it… I was going to report to you first! I found something precious buried in this shabby grave!”

Shaking, Igor crawled toward Alexei, extending the necklace in his hand as if offering a tribute.

Natasha flinched as the man suddenly approached, almost stumbling. Before she could fall, Alexei’s arm shot out, steadying her firmly.

“And this woman.”

Igor continued.

“if she pleases you, she’s yours. She talks fancy like some noble, but wandering around without a guard at this hour? She’s probably just a—”

Crack!

Alexei’s boot struck Igor’s throat before he could finish. As Igor curled up on the ground, gasping for air, Alexei pressed his heel mercilessly into the man’s remaining ear.

“Listen carefully while you still have one ear left.”

Alexei said coldly, staring down at him.

“She is a young lady. Show proper respect.”

With a swift kick to the back of Igor’s knees, Alexei forced him into a position resembling a bow, though it was clearly the result of excruciating pain.

“L-lady? That can’t be…”

Igor stammered, disbelief coloring his bloodied face. The ethereal woman before him couldn’t possibly be Natasha Ivanov, the pride and lily of the Duchy of Ivanov. No noblewoman of her stature would wander this place at night, unguarded.

But as moonlight bathed her elegant form, there was no doubt left in Igor’s mind.

“Aaaaah! Spare me!”

He shrieked, only now noticing the glinting dagger Alexei held.

“P-please, stop…”

Alexei froze at the soft, slender hand that lightly gripped his arm. It was so delicate, he hesitated to even hold it firmly, fearing it might shatter like a fragile edelweiss flower.

Her touch seared like fire. Every drop of blood in his body seemed to rush to where she had touched him. A subtle, sweet fragrance enveloped him, leaving him dizzy.

“Please, forgive me, Lady!”

Igor crawled toward Natasha, reaching out with grimy hands for the hem of her dress. But the moment he moved, Alexei’s sharp glare pinned him in place.

“Are you serious about sparing him?”

Alexei asked, turning to Natasha.

“You want me to let him go?”

“That’s…”

Natasha hesitated, her eyes darting between Alexei and Igor. It was the first time she had witnessed such violence up close, and it gave her pause. Yet, she also worried about the consequences of letting Igor go, especially if it revealed her secret visit to her mother’s grave.

“Tsk. You’re too softhearted.”

Alexei muttered, his brows furrowing in irritation.

“Fine. I won’t kill him. Not completely.”

With a casual flick of his wrist, Alexei slashed Igor with the dagger.

“Aaaagh! My ear!”

Igor howled, clutching the fresh wound.

“Oh dear, the ear again. Didn’t I warn you to take care of the remaining one? I’m not the kind of man who gives second chances. You’d better watch your tongue from now on.”

Calmly wiping the blood from his dagger, Alexei stood over the unconscious man who had collapsed at his feet.

“Is this what you came for?”

Kicking the man’s back one more time, Alexei shook off the dirt from the necklace in his hand and handed it to Natasha.

“Yes, thank you.”

Natasha carefully accepted the necklace, holding her mother’s keepsake close. Then she spoke.

“I won’t forget the kindness you’ve shown me today. As a reward, you may ask for anything you desire…”

Relieved to see the man incapacitated, Natasha’s words trailed off as her gaze met Alexei’s. His fiery red eyes, sharp and piercing, bore into her, leaving her speechless.

“…Anything, you say?”

Gulp.

Natasha swallowed hard and averted her gaze. Meeting the eyes of a noble of higher rank was improper etiquette, and as the grand duchess of Ivanov, Natasha was accustomed to others lowering their heads before her. But Alexei’s unwavering stare was something entirely unfamiliar.

When others accidentally met her gaze, they quickly looked away in a flurry of apologies. Yet, Alexei’s unrelenting intensity left her no choice but to look away first. It felt as if his gaze stripped her bare, both invasive and magnetic.

‘No, this can’t be. He’s dangerous.’

Her instincts sounded a warning, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t guess what he might demand in exchange for saving her life, nor was she certain she could refuse him when the time came.

As Alexei stepped closer, the metallic tang of blood mixed with the deep, earthy scent of his presence, filling the air.

“I asked.”

He repeated, his voice low and firm.

“Did you truly mean anything?”

Under the weight of his words and the intensity of his crimson gaze, Natasha couldn’t bring herself to deny him.

“…Yes.”

Her voice carried a reluctant surrender, and at her affirmation, the flames in Alexei’s eyes seemed to blaze brighter.

“…Anything.”

Repeating her words, Alexei closed his eyes momentarily, then slowly ran his tongue over his lips. The sight of his rough, crimson tongue grazing his dry lips made Natasha’s eyes tremble.

When his long, ash-gray lashes fluttered open again, Natasha’s quivering blue eyes met his blazing red ones. His fiery gaze seemed to consume everything, tracing her figure from head to toe with searing intensity. Natasha struggled to endure it, her breath hitching under the weight of his stare.

‘Can I handle him…? Whatever he demands, can I…?’

Her hands clenched the fabric of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white. Just as her anxiety peaked, Alexei finally spoke again.

“Next time, would you acknowledge me, Lady?”

“…What?”

Her widened blue eyes reflected her confusion, and a faint smirk tugged at the corner of Alexei’s lips.

“Alexei Petrov. That is my name.”

“Ah…”

It wasn’t that she didn’t know his name. She knew him—had known of him. Yet she had chosen to feign ignorance, to pretend he didn’t exist.

As Natasha’s rosy lips quivered in silent response, Alexei’s gaze lingered on them for a long moment before he let out a quiet chuckle.

“Now you know. Next time, please remember me. And don’t look away.”

Alexei’s earnest yet intense gaze left Natasha at a loss for words. Unable to do anything else, she gave a small nod.

“That is the reward I ask for. Nothing more, my lady.”

“…I promise.”

What could be so difficult about that?

Natasha nodded again. Such a small thing—it was nothing, really.

“I’ll remember that promise, my lady.”

But as Alexei’s fiery gaze softened into something almost sorrowful, Natasha found herself questioning if the promise was truly as simple as it seemed. She blinked, momentarily lost in thought.