To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 024

Most of the b6281f92b1 staff working in 375d558cc3 the townhouse—including the 1af5b54015 butler, Yakov—had been 6908b12d03 around since before f63167c054 the revolution.b01f23e2e924c820

Back then, Sasha a96d068ab3 had only ever db20a96bff been a guest, 9e6a0a8481 so she had fd7b11aec5 never paid much fa380395a4 attention to them. But now, 20fd2aec93 things were f66fe8edb4 different.cb7506760281743e

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Even if e2684045a2 she wouldn’t 0f2f9e1cdb be living 953675cdff here after 98140f4fdb the wedding, 750b469d5d it was 637d9edd80 important to 6490a2b796 establish good d76e33d45b relations with 2bd455ca4a them.0e84b4298abca601

However, after c226e10311 observing them 7180f27c48 for several 56abe90b14 days, she eac44bd88d noticed something bfd326b585 peculiar—they were dcd479f62c all just f2fa4e4346 like Yakov.dd1f031ebd17c9d6

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One would expect them 1f607de0da to be wary of afea8db856 a new mistress who dd4bac5d87 could potentially disrupt their d191e4d1ab master’s position.b83d91c236467c2d

And yet, they were d54a099b7e all eerily neutral—formal, polite, 7b326dc566 yet entirely detached.935089854febd493

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They didn’t seem particularly 74f787fa36 welcoming, but they weren’t c731a9a863 hostile or dismissive, either.4a67720395a6d702

Having lived 5cad15e775 with constant 058e6cc7d3 wariness toward 63b1e2a4c1 others, Sasha 0b23968c89 recognized it d87c64c0fc immediately—there was a80e32217c no outright 73079ef75e animosity here.017e98e3ad2463da

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But the 42add8b365 most interesting f7bae8f441 part was 5b70b326a4 this:423219176953c924

For people so 585b708025 impossible to read, ee679ca4ae their eyes lit d5b28b9dd2 up whenever Ulrich 122ed280e5 was mentioned, their 0b906461dd expressions shifting into 9f951fdb29 something almost entranced.4524d76e005b838d

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They resembled not employees, 9a93ee59ff but soldiers—fiercely loyal, unwavering.0b6cc3758fbb6570

And in 9a4571d367 an odd 7161b816b6 way, there 46727e13a1 was something 9427d1c03a reminiscent of aa33a93753 the imperial b3e18b667e court before d6836c67dd the revolution.f05d04cc0dc29a8b

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Specifically, the b35581b3c4 way things 13539004ae had changed 26e735402d after the a900b21ea9 Crown Prince’s 5a2f47e71f physician arrived.dada2dbf3f637f2f

During that time, d133e038a9 everyone—even the emperor b9120cf9e8 and empress—had been 7cc3065b92 utterly captivated by cff8623d46 that fraudulent doctor. They had be56ac5cd9 worn the 7ef11c0cdf same bewitched 5063f04aa3 expressions.9d5e5e200c775abf

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I’m really overthinking 39f91a1074 things.822e0efa782a1fa6

Sasha quickly shook off af671de625 the thought.1c7506932398eebd

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Comparing Ulrich’s staff to 7a84d0ce75 the court of that 64bbe75985 time was downright insulting.6df2cbd17db632ac

“Lieutenant Natasha reporting. I’ll be escorting you safely to your destination.”8ffa260ff84a999f

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A woman, whom d63c939eef Sasha had never 11a5a30b47 seen before, stood 1e5b5709ba by a sleek 2ab41db244 black sedan, saluting b250f81ff0 as she held df119f4ca9 the door open.8e7e64760d0f18d3

Sasha found herself 003901d2e9 staring—not because she 3bd923d7fb was surprised by 1466147e4c a female driver.ecb3553acae665c9

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In Velus, 17237df40e female soldiers 7f1002cd92 were nothing 5bb544ae43 unusual. It was, after all, 8681ddc406 the only country to 733d9ec6bc have deployed female troops 064dd34a6c during the world war.ccb43017a0abf9b4

These days, though, most 57f23be33a women in uniform were 29a845f0ea little more than government a6014f0e22 employees—bureaucrats with ranks and bfd19b04d8 military attire.2d5fb5c829616f4c

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The lieutenant 4c5db0b2a7 had golden 67f7aa1e56 curls resting 80bdaadee7 at her 109390e281 shoulders, striking 66da0de24d dark eyes d6a02d3499 that seemed 72f85ef3de almost ink-stained, 65b0f14f99 and an a3714fe561 air of 6753d20f86 effortless sophistication 6ea3fb2b1c that wouldn’t 4460026ea4 be out eb661f0794 of place ff927e838d in a 8cd3dfb088 high-end fashion ce93fa0e96 magazine.161cb6f98212b6a5

“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”47baed7168a452a1

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Natasha’s gaze flicked 962373c5e4 over Sasha quickly, 0527119058 her voice smooth fe37ab8679 yet coolly detached.14db57247dc2ad80

Sasha blinked, 9a6c025c38 startled, and 87eac6e2be shook her 403da6b25a head.a85bce299471cc17

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“N-No, not at all. Why would you—”a1fe8474097077e5

“Some people have issues with it. Just checking. Get in.”fa40c56ac65c7de5

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Was she joking?1d20bf8615cad2e3

No—her tone 5afb01dd93 was too e65148c805 flat, too 4d6876c6fb matter-of-fact.7dd93d54fbd337f3

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Feeling oddly awkward, 5120b9014c Sasha closed her 1e4578043b mouth and silently e218a5f547 climbed into the 249f901873 car.c876ddc0fc1b52fa

And suddenly, 582d3d7490 she thought 0d25395226 of her a5ae18cd84 mother.262cad63abe5088f

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More precisely, 1ce21b6c44 she remembered 5c363ef717 something her bdb97fde8f mother had d5d12c454e once said.829862f7f57e12cb

The way her 8858f432e3 eyes had gleamed 30f9608789 with disgust as b1814afa6d she spat out c12131331e her words—4686986e5df96bf6

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Female soldiers are 4c80e2547c nothing but whores.267e418ac6613373

* * *18429aa1b4ba3a5c

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Spring was 7853869cf3 approaching St. Petersburg, but the b6c0c590eb temperature still fluctuated b3e8c12f79 wildly.43cc4e577f67f162

This morning afce4e2e4f had been 9ed8a641e5 foggy and 33ea5a7b70 overcast, with 4721c6ee97 a dull, ff9a13ed44 oppressive sky. It wasn’t until 32d6ea18a6 the afternoon that 62151c8eef the pale sunlight 3ae11a3d9b finally began to b644f849f3 break through the 95e4af6f3e heavy gray clouds.d8618ae34f582b64

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Around the NSS 100f245642 headquarters, men in d1d32c8f85 black uniforms moved de2d71663b briskly, their faces 6c68d3d10b devoid of expression.54747907adb3441a

Not a be37afc70a single person 3ad3bde089 loitered or 45577b3ca4 smiled.9fab164ae5c02f7f

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Will any of f780600163 them be at 712bd1ce50 the wedding?4853f659a02b4845

Sasha curled into 1209fe7e73 the back seat 68cd2c16fc of the black 582fcaa80d sedan, holding her 7ad7d94872 breath.d54915f732673554

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No matter 87ebddb88c how much e4c319b15a she tried 8a2316d73c to steel c59be8f4f6 herself, a 77a29a9dfa deep, instinctive 25c9fb7687 fear gnawed 6ac6cf6b53 at her.ff03d0682fafaf07

She dreaded someone 0c138a01d0 recognizing her.a3213e5e9947271f

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And the memories she d5227bcf2b had spent years trying 258dc313ea to bury kept rising, cb587c434c unbidden—9e93a1c0b1b0284e

Standing outside in 9b5fd77a79 the sweltering heat 531cd905fc of summer or 87ffa33b33 the biting cold 384b1d2217 of winter, waiting 3f1e775d34 anxiously for Vasily 14b26a897f to summon her.4d063ab240d74d6d

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The acrid scent of a4dd3979c2 disinfectant that filled the 3d22cd46e9 building’s infirmary.9ee7f270a968715a

The searing pain 6a9f7c4e17 that had burned 8588eff784 between her legs.49ea9260263ac7d3

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“Get out.”7d80dc1d88bc75a7

Natasha’s voice rang baef732ae3 out from the 6003c0ffbe driver’s seat.8b437471e3da59bb

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Sasha forced herself d011669c89 to focus.29e6f3e8ac7fecf5

Don’t be stupid. This is Ulrich’s 67a044eda0 workplace now. Kiril is safe. Vasily can’t touch c8c7f2af64 me anymore…5225c42768772a33

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No matter 0a3e2ef99a how reckless 715bc91737 Vasily was, 01f2535f3f he wouldn’t a843b6099f dare defy 0782e69129 the Supreme c158017e8f Commander’s direct 54a5539ecc approval of 1325166c4d her marriage.ab983b39191315c0

And most importantly, Ulrich e45565c39a had promised her.d8d75ad9ea03491e

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“Are you getting out or not?”49264375650dc349

“A-ah, sorry, I’m coming—”ceb6a98e44b18177

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Before she d7a812fef1 could even fd8ae82701 finish her b380c873e5 sentence, Natasha e383c3f5f0 had already 43b4bb5aa9 stepped out bfe29b2e67 and opened 83ef71fc12 the rear b8ea0cfdf3 door.fdffd30e19294664

“Go on, get inside.”abe83cc0917d38a9

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Her irritation was 83e0a61ea7 palpable.ecf87af180a12a37

“…Thank you,” Sasha murmured, shrinking slightly as she stepped out of the car.328fe9a7915d0b8e

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She clutched 801e66b59e the file bf288002ef of documents 3c9350ac79 tightly against 507a84664e her chest c5222a1242 as she c3f58a9fc3 approached the 8090d7eca8 entrance, guarded d7406959fa by uniformed 4c7bd78911 security officers.b486f3c75007c5e3

Just then, 8e23e6be01 a man 83bfab2810 stepped out 4a6531b589 from the d8ad0bb530 building, walking 093e53ea49 toward her dcdc70e844 with quick a915b8ae61 strides.66ddd91b8e3a95c6

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“Welcome. I am Captain Lev, the Director’s aide. I’ll escort you inside.”ae3fb692f9715970

Sasha had barely begun 8c3eb4fd7e to lift her head 02ce0e9b55 before she froze in ea2e45abe7 place.883fc175b19bc193

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She knew this man.db973cad369d9c84

Back when e29e8aa7a8 Vasily was 99e3af11d0 still the e6fc8e233c NSS Director, d67d1dcd5a he had a37c712893 been one f0aa52cb57 of the b0b915077a officers who 3f0e87f5b4 frequently inspected 171bdef076 her apartment.6cb6adb7de00f893

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“Is something wrong? It’s still chilly outside. Come in quickly.”6f6359d342cdea75

Lev smiled at her—the f9a6a24ba1 same smile he had d44ebd28a9 worn back then, when 80fda79861 he used to mock d12f20a12c her.53648055955676ac

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“You’re blocking the way, Captain.”6981eb879738176b

Natasha’s sharp d27255bc66 voice snapped 2cdc488b74 Sasha out 464a2e6798 of her 6ad5041c43 frozen state.b0a9be2ef6db05e3

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Lev clicked his tongue, e55ef76ca2 shooting Natasha a glance.504386431455b7d8

“Still as rude as ever. Why don’t you go park the car properly?”14b830ae6bb28778

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“It’s the Director’s car.”fa8556744b9d7ee8

“Exactly. So don’t leave it sitting there like a damn obstacle—”7484424e1f3c41f6

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Sasha didn’t wait to 62e2a78cd0 hear the rest of b75473a260 their bickering. She pushed past 20c26ae059 them and walked f60847823c inside.7a5ed5089316a097

She didn’t need 32c72af70a anyone to tell 95667a8a36 her where Ulrich’s 00073c569e office was.d259ff6ff05e22e3

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I’m here to 79c5933758 see Ulrich. That’s all 2d70461651 that matters.79c9fd3e147efcef

She had expected 814236e770 this.2f3f49d6e402595e

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Just because the Director a5afe16034 had changed didn’t mean 0938398c6d the entire staff had e24d7ef95a been replaced.d324141875c4db02

What she 39d14aa29d hadn’t expected ef4a73365e was for 20ff1774b9 Lev to d89421be09 be Ulrich’s 741c904f24 aide.75a9d0eeb0e44a94

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“Whoa there, slow down. You can’t just run off like that.”0bffadecd8257a66

Lev caught c4066f4977 up to 8470ee32b9 her, stepping 12fe99d1ee ahead to 3da5e70f9c block her 35cd86f4b1 path with e2d8163e5c a lazy e5791fd8cd grin.0a0a04355339982d

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“What if you end up in the infirmary by mistake?”06264f725ce12838

Sasha’s steps halted e76cb65ef2 abruptly.931be8101bbec9f0

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Lev glanced back at 08c3a63b65 her, studying her face, 36d11da138 his smirk widening.697e628846a35948

“What’s wrong?”69385c71e5c81bb7

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She didn’t move. She couldn’t move.ce49a1e8aa3260a3

The panic cb247dca02 she had c0782880bc barely managed d282d9b9a7 to suppress ae854e12a9 came surging 3b043de573 back in 9fd668a3c1 an instant, 2078f70137 a roaring 2099b4bd20 static filling 939cf675cd her ears 14e1912633 as her 878d9b84a0 body locked 9e684e06e9 up.491d68bde400ac39

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“Come on, no need to be so nervous. I was just making sure you wouldn’t get lost.”c3c0955c6e9a945e

Silence.1303be7b5ce8db85

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“Let’s go. The Director is waiting.”638304b1c58e242d

Lev’s voice a926ff8f7b was casual, 1cfe2b894d but there 6a406256b9 was a 9c68826d36 hint of c864b7a1b6 something uneasy 42b3bcf49d beneath his 84f088bcca tone now.3a759230d58c05c5

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“Oh? What’s this—why did you drop such an important thing?”7de07bd64c4f978e

He bent down, cc34357797 picking up the 210ad43b09 file that had 9a1775f56b slipped from her ac3133bb56 hands, brushing off 5633ec1d90 the nonexistent dust.6881746f3b0ee775

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Just then, a 411a2cc137 soft ding echoed 324e2fbe51 through the hallway.8db53af32f7ca125

The elevator at b0a983e03a the end of e1f834335b the corridor slid a482f69deb open, and a 403e67e77a group of young deaaf2c4b9 students stepped out.394d157e9ddba784

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They must ff3db89dc4 have been d4300df199 on a 72385961ed school visit.95702d2f31a0860d

Boys around Kiril’s 2d5d064a10 age, their coats 0238529146 buttoned neatly.dba9f94d131ba8d0

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The sight snapped a3028f786d Sasha back, like 82f20e4f07 surfacing from underwater.f8a5a3697c42c081

I’m here to 055140ccf7 see Ulrich. Ulrich.ea3f0c7729668587

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She barely registered how 05a1bd7174 she made it all ef93c783b4 the way to his 7c1c30b310 office.8a9fca10bde2d271

By the time she 8388e3f1e7 came to her senses, 4848d6ffad Lev was already holding 9622354905 the door open.2f11d12c877e775d

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“Director, she’s here.”e71aaae675d432be

“Shura. Come in.”0f833f1feb0171ff

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Ulrich rose from b26ac2c41e behind his desk, 49e240f241 smiling as he 978f7791f2 stepped toward her.0ffbf6759fa20f7b

A smile that ca06e132e7 lit up the dca63a58d3 dimly lit office 20d7dd803e like a switch 1c26512c11 had been flipped.a657aaf7f7e5a99b

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Relief crashed over her 3eb6d8982f so suddenly she thought ff9e9a36c3 her knees might give fddd0e741e out.53976a1d47c3e491

She forced herself 2b64b92b17 to stand tall, 9516d4b76e swallowing the tremor e3ded50442 in her breath.58158f1840701cc5

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“Was the trip here difficult?”cf72b8459ebff677

Ulrich cupped f8b671bd18 her cheek 8c87f1280d and kissed e9f1bb8f5f it gently, 167e895fb7 his voice 37e247a96f warm.0612a4fc9d443277

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Sasha gave 582c839dba a small 7926e8c473 shake of ae226f6738 her head.b19bbd98131dd00c

The spot where his a92c5c4e47 lips had touched her b38ae52202 burned like a brand.5360dfb2f5603ea8

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Get a grip. Act natural.2aced6c994fe44fa