To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 024

Most of the staff working in the townhouse—including the butler, Yakov—had been around since before the revolution.

Back then, Sasha had only ever been a guest, so she had never paid much attention to them. But now, things were different.

Even if she wouldn’t be living here after the wedding, it was important to establish good relations with them.

However, after observing them for several days, she noticed something peculiar—they were all just like Yakov.

One would expect them to be wary of a new mistress who could potentially disrupt their master’s position.

And yet, they were all eerily neutral—formal, polite, yet entirely detached.

They didn’t seem particularly welcoming, but they weren’t hostile or dismissive, either.

Having lived with constant wariness toward others, Sasha recognized it immediately—there was no outright animosity here.

But the most interesting part was this:

For people so impossible to read, their eyes lit up whenever Ulrich was mentioned, their expressions shifting into something almost entranced.

They resembled not employees, but soldiers—fiercely loyal, unwavering.

And in an odd way, there was something reminiscent of the imperial court before the revolution.

Specifically, the way things had changed after the Crown Prince’s physician arrived.

During that time, everyone—even the emperor and empress—had been utterly captivated by that fraudulent doctor. They had worn the same bewitched expressions.

I’m really overthinking things.

Sasha quickly shook off the thought.

Comparing Ulrich’s staff to the court of that time was downright insulting.

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

A woman, whom Sasha had never seen before, stood by a sleek black sedan, saluting as she held the door open.

Sasha found herself staring—not because she was surprised by a female driver.

In Velus, female soldiers were nothing unusual. It was, after all, the only country to have deployed female troops during the world war.

These days, though, most women in uniform were little more than government employees—bureaucrats with ranks and military attire.

The lieutenant had golden curls resting at her shoulders, striking dark eyes that seemed almost ink-stained, and an air of effortless sophistication that wouldn’t be out of place in a high-end fashion magazine.

“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”

Natasha’s gaze flicked over Sasha quickly, her voice smooth yet coolly detached.

Sasha blinked, startled, and shook her head.

“N-No, not at all. Why would you—”

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

Was she joking?

No—her tone was too flat, too matter-of-fact.

Feeling oddly awkward, Sasha closed her mouth and silently climbed into the car.

And suddenly, she thought of her mother.

More precisely, she remembered something her mother had once said.

The way her eyes had gleamed with disgust as she spat out her words—

Female soldiers are nothing but whores.

* * *

Spring was approaching St. Petersburg, but the temperature still fluctuated wildly.

This morning had been foggy and overcast, with a dull, oppressive sky. It wasn’t until the afternoon that the pale sunlight finally began to break through the heavy gray clouds.

Around the NSS headquarters, men in black uniforms moved briskly, their faces devoid of expression.

Not a single person loitered or smiled.

Will any of them be at the wedding?

Sasha curled into the back seat of the black sedan, holding her breath.

No matter how much she tried to steel herself, a deep, instinctive fear gnawed at her.

She dreaded someone recognizing her.

And the memories she had spent years trying to bury kept rising, unbidden—

Standing outside in the sweltering heat of summer or the biting cold of winter, waiting anxiously for Vasily to summon her.

The acrid scent of disinfectant that filled the building’s infirmary.

The searing pain that had burned between her legs.

“Get out.”

Natasha’s voice rang out from the driver’s seat.

Sasha forced herself to focus.

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

No matter how reckless Vasily was, he wouldn’t dare defy the Supreme Commander’s direct approval of her marriage.

And most importantly, Ulrich had promised her.

“Are you getting out or not?”

“A-ah, sorry, I’m coming—”

Before she could even finish her sentence, Natasha had already stepped out and opened the rear door.

“Go on, get inside.”

Her irritation was palpable.

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

She clutched the file of documents tightly against her chest as she approached the entrance, guarded by uniformed security officers.

Just then, a man stepped out from the building, walking toward her with quick strides.

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

Sasha had barely begun to lift her head before she froze in place.

She knew this man.

Back when Vasily was still the NSS Director, he had been one of the officers who frequently inspected her apartment.

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

Lev smiled at her—the same smile he had worn back then, when he used to mock her.

“You’re blocking the way, Captain.”

Natasha’s sharp voice snapped Sasha out of her frozen state.

Lev clicked his tongue, shooting Natasha a glance.

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

“It’s the Director’s car.”

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

Sasha didn’t wait to hear the rest of their bickering. She pushed past them and walked inside.

She didn’t need anyone to tell her where Ulrich’s office was.

I’m here to see Ulrich. That’s all that matters.

She had expected this.

Just because the Director had changed didn’t mean the entire staff had been replaced.

What she hadn’t expected was for Lev to be Ulrich’s aide.

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

Lev caught up to her, stepping ahead to block her path with a lazy grin.

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

Sasha’s steps halted abruptly.

Lev glanced back at her, studying her face, his smirk widening.

“What’s wrong?”

She didn’t move. She couldn’t move.

The panic she had barely managed to suppress came surging back in an instant, a roaring static filling her ears as her body locked up.

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

Silence.

“Let’s go. The Director is waiting.”

Lev’s voice was casual, but there was a hint of something uneasy beneath his tone now.

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

He bent down, picking up the file that had slipped from her hands, brushing off the nonexistent dust.

Just then, a soft ding echoed through the hallway.

The elevator at the end of the corridor slid open, and a group of young students stepped out.

They must have been on a school visit.

Boys around Kiril’s age, their coats buttoned neatly.

The sight snapped Sasha back, like surfacing from underwater.

I’m here to see Ulrich. Ulrich.

She barely registered how she made it all the way to his office.

By the time she came to her senses, Lev was already holding the door open.

“Director, she’s here.”

“Shura. Come in.”

Ulrich rose from behind his desk, smiling as he stepped toward her.

A smile that lit up the dimly lit office like a switch had been flipped.

Relief crashed over her so suddenly she thought her knees might give out.

She forced herself to stand tall, swallowing the tremor in her breath.

“Was the trip here difficult?”

Ulrich cupped her cheek and kissed it gently, his voice warm.

Sasha gave a small shake of her head.

The spot where his lips had touched her burned like a brand.

Get a grip. Act natural.