Chapter 94
It seemed that Karlena might be the only person alive who could gently plead with Anton. Gaeyun smiled bitterly without elaborating further. In that smile, Sarin could sense various emotions, so she didn’t bother to ask.
“Yes.”
“We came here because some annoying people are after us, but once things are settled, we’ll move to Belarus.”
Gaeyun explained that they could move to Europe or Asia from there.
“I left my passport behind.”
Gaeyun laughed at Sarin’s naive response that she couldn’t go to another country.
“I knew that, so I took a picture. We won’t need passports until Belarus, and you’ll get yours there, Sarin.”
Even though it was an illegal method, it sounded legitimate coming from Gaeyun. Realizing that something they might only see in movies was happening in reality made her body tremble slightly. Gaeyun reassured Sarin, who seemed frightened, saying, “It’s okay. It’s like that at first. I was scared too.”
Gaeyun had also grown while facing that fear with Kirill. There were moments when even the frightening moments became okay, knowing that they would end it together.
Sarin turned Owen’s ring, which was habitually wedged on her thumb.
“I’m scared that someone might get hurt because of me.”
“You worry about everything.”
Gaeyun said confidently before gently encouraging her to close her eyes.
Even though sleep didn’t come, Sarin quietly closed her eyes knowing that everyone was looking out for her. Feeling the tender touch of a blanket being pulled over her on one side of the sofa, she recalled Owen and the three dogs waiting for her at the hotel.
A faint smile crossed her lips.
“Have sweet dreams.”
Gaeyun said, looking at Sarin’s face.
“You too, Gaeyun.”
Without opening her eyes for fear of their faces blurring, Sarin replied, and the first day of their escape passed.
Snip, snap.
The sound of paper rustling sounded like a lullaby. The sound coming from nearby at regular intervals. As Sarin realized that the place she was lying in was uncomfortably unfamiliar, she quickly opened her eyes. As she sat up, she saw a strange space.
Her head felt fuzzy and dizzy, as if she had been drinking. Unconsciously, she grabbed the back of the sofa to keep from falling.
“Are you awake?”
Turning towards the sound, she saw Karlena, sitting elegantly on the couch in a deep blue dress, gracefully flipping through a book. A few strands of her tied-up blonde hair cascaded down her ear.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s my fault for not giving you a guest room. It’s probably not your fault for falling asleep.”
Thunk.
Karlena spoke, turning a book upside down on the table. Her gaze, fixed on Sarin from the couch armrest, extended beyond observation. There was no sign of Kirill and Gaeyun anywhere. It was just Karlena and her in this reception room.
“I’m sorry for inconveniencing you.”
“Owen said a lot of eyes were on you because of that.”
Karlena said, setting the teacup down with a teaspoon. Someone approached from somewhere, setting up tea and light snacks in front of Sarin before quietly retreating.
“Yes.”
If that was called anger, it could be. Without adding any other words, Sarin answered succinctly. Karlena chuckled briefly.
“Not many people can make that old man angry. You’re quite remarkable.”
She was a woman with Nikolai as her father. To Karlena, who was the lady of Russia and the center of power, there was no hint of emotion toward herself. Her laughter wasn’t directed towards Sarin. It seemed somewhat self-deprecating and empty.
Despite her beautiful face, her dark circles under her eyes indicated long-standing insomnia.
“Thanks to you, I managed to get some sleep these past few days.”
They were strangers to each other. Sarin felt awkward and didn’t know how to respond when asked if she slept well because of her. Not wanting to continue staring at her, Sarin’s gaze turned to the book Karlena had left on the table.
The leather covering the book seemed scorched from long use.
“It’s Macbeth. It’s been handled a lot since I was young.”
It was a story of self-destruction driven by fear that eventually led to one’s own downfall.
“It seems to be your favorite book.”
Karlena’s gaze, aware of the difficult story Sarin had just revealed, also turned to the book.
“Macbeth is like my father. As he climbed higher, he became consumed by fear, distrusting everyone and even killing his own brothers one by one if necessary.”
Karlena’s expression disappeared. Even her faint smile froze. Then, as if she suddenly realized Sarin was there, she casually relaxed her face and lifted her teacup again. Sarin did the same, taking a sip from her tea, only now realizing how thirsty she was.
The atmosphere with Karlena felt tense.
At that moment, the maid who brought the tea hurriedly approached Karlena. Speaking softly, perhaps aware of Sarin, she said something in Russian, which Sarin couldn’t understand anyway.
Instantly, the atmosphere turned chilly. When Karlena spoke to the maid in Russian, she quickly disappeared again.
“I’m here. Don’t come out or open the curtains foolishly.”
“What’s going on?”
“I have uninvited guests.”
Karlena discreetly tapped Sarin’s shoulder as she rose from the couch. She checked her dress for wrinkles and, from outside, a heavy sound of knocking echoed from a bronze doorknob.
Another maid, waiting at the entrance, draped a shawl over Karlena’s shoulders.
Then, as Karlena opened the door and stepped outside, Kirill, Gaeyun, and Anton rushed over, having received a message. When Sarin tried to speak, Gaeyun, conscious of her, brought a finger to her lips.
They held their breath.
Without being told, Sarin seemed to know who the visitors outside were.
The sky was heavy with dark clouds, threatening to pour rain at any moment. Karlena, without looking at the visitors, gazed at the sky that matched her subdued mood, licking her lips.
“It’s been a while, miss.”
Only Nikolai’s subordinates still called her “miss.”
Despite her age, Karlena finally looked up at them with her towering figure. They were identical twins. Then, she remembered Pavel, who had been hovering beside Owen and Nikolai. When their eyes met behind the black sunglasses, they courteously greeted her.
“It’s been a while, Dmitry.”
“Indeed. It’s been two years since we last met at the Moscow residence.”
They were peers. Although they had aged, they were still actively working as Nikolai’s men. Karlena had grown up with them since she was young. Despite their lack of weapons, Karlena had no choice but to let the Dmitry brothers enter quietly.
Even without special weapons, they themselves were human weapons. If an unavoidable situation arose, everything around them, the terrain, objects, everything, would become their weapons.
“That’s enough.”
Karlena responded calmly.
“Our elder is very concerned. As the first lady, you should shine by his side.”
Karlena stood upright with a shawl around her shoulders, unwavering.
“So, why are you here on my property?”
“Oh, we’ve come to find someone.”
“Is it a coincidence that the person you’re looking for happens to be with me?”
“Yes, miss. Your father wants to find that woman.”
Karlena couldn’t hold back her anger.
The reason Kirill came looking for her was clear. The Dmitry brothers, loyal subordinates of Nikolai, couldn’t harm Karlena, his only child. This was the only safe place from the Dmitry brothers who were already lurking closely.
“My guests will remain safely on my property. So, leave.”
“Miss.”
Dmitry’s low, assertive voice.
As one Dmitry stepped forward, threatening Karlena’s slender body, the other blocked him.
“I said she’s my guest.”
“You should know what we mean.”
The shawl fell to the ground. Karlena, raising her hand forcefully, scratched the cheek of the Dmitry who had uttered Kirill’s name.
Crack.
She exerted all her strength, but her opponent didn’t even turn his head. Despite the red blood flowing down his cheek, he stood silently, as if he didn’t feel anything.
“How dare you threaten me.”
“We just need you to open the door. We’ll handle the rest.”
“Get out of my property right now. My father’s face is the only reason I haven’t allowed you here.”
Karlena said coldly with a smirk.
”Your father said not to hesitate to use any means necessary.”
“So, are you going to destroy this mansion belonging to the Russian lady?”
“Of course, I won’t use such means. However, you might find yourself in a bit of trouble, miss.”
Facing a blatant threat, Karlena looked at the two men. Nikolai’s loyal subordinates, who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means, reluctantly tolerated Karlena’s presence here.
One of the Dmitrys glanced at his wristwatch.
