To My Gentle Dictator – Chapter 033

“…What?”

Kiril’s jet-black eyes widened in shock, like a boy staring out at the midnight sea.
It was clear he’d never imagined Sasha would snap at him like this.

And no wonder—she never had before.

Not once had she spoken harshly to him, never raised her voice, never slammed doors or dropped things loudly in frustration. All those common behaviors between siblings? She’d never done any of them.

‘What did I even do—?’

“You’ve been rude to Ulrich this whole time. If you don’t want to be here with me, don’t take it out on him—just go. Even if you’re my brother, I’m not going to just sit here and take it.”

Sasha’s voice was cold as she snapped at him, then she grabbed her sweating glass of lemonade and gulped it down in one go.

Only Ulrich noticed the way her slender wrist trembled faintly as she held the glass.

He was almost amazed she didn’t drop it.

If Kiril really did storm out right now, they might not see each other again for a while.

Not that Ulrich thought he actually would—Kiril didn’t seem the type.

‘She’d rather earn her brother’s resentment than stop protecting him?’

Ulrich, who had been watching Sasha with amused curiosity, suddenly felt a murky weight settle in his eyes.

‘Is that even possible?’

No—surely not.

Sasha was probably just confusing affection with guilt.

After all, when her family was executed and she was left alone with a little brother to care for, Kiril had become her reason to go on.

Now that her situation had changed overnight, maybe she was secretly relieved to be free of that burden.
That joyful reunion earlier? Probably just a reflex—a pang of guilt over no longer having someone to devote herself to.

…‘That’s why I wouldn’t have resented you, even if you used me.’

Suddenly—and perhaps a bit out of nowhere—Sasha’s voice echoed in his mind.

The words she had said the day he proposed, referring to what happened three years ago.
And now, they felt like some sort of omen.

“Come on, Shura.”

Ulrich cut through his thoughts and spoke up.

“Kiril must just be feeling awkward. It’s been a long time since he’s seen his sister.”

Sasha lowered the glass, her breath caught in her chest, and looked up at him dazedly.

Her eyes were wide, brimming with an emotion even she couldn’t define.

“…I’m sorry, Yurochka.”

She whispered the words with a trembling voice.

And once again, Ulrich felt a flicker of confusion.

Was she asking him to protect this burden in her life—or to get rid of it?

‘Back then… which did she want?’

“I’m fine, so let’s just relax and enjoy the meal. It’s a nice evening.”

“…Okay.”

Sasha nodded obediently at his gentle, calming tone.

She picked up her cutlery again and glanced cautiously toward Kiril.

“…I’m sorry for snapping, Kiril. Let’s just enjoy the food, okay?”

“…Yeah, whatever. You’re the one who blew up.”

Kiril muttered awkwardly with his head down, trying to play it cool.

But despite his sister’s kind words, his young face was twisted in misery.

* * *

After the meal, before parting ways, Sasha and Kiril managed to find a moment to speak alone.

The siblings stood facing each other between the rose-colored brick wall and the flower bed, away from the busy entrance of the restaurant.

For a moment, silence hung between them.

Kiril kept his gaze down, glaring at the camellia-filled garden bed, while Sasha hesitated, watching her brother.

She couldn’t ignore how dark his expression had turned. She started to think maybe she had gone too far earlier.

Kiril must have been pushing himself too, in his own way…

“Kiril, about earlier…”

“Do you love him?”

Kiril cut her off abruptly.

The sudden question made Sasha’s eyes tremble.

“What kind of childish love talk is that all of a sudden? And don’t call him ‘that man.’”

She tried to brush it off lightly.

Kiril, watching her expression with a sharp, tilted glare, only looked graver.

“You’ve been waiting for him this whole time, haven’t you?”

“That’s not—”

“Don’t lie to me. You’ve just been waiting for him to come back, right? You think I’m stupid? I can tell just by the way you look at him!”

That unsteady, prepubescent voice now bristled with raw anger.

Sasha’s lips parted in shock.

“Kiril, I…”

“Why are you like this? If this is how it was going to be, you should’ve just waited alone. Don’t pretend to feel bad and stick with me out of guilt. We would’ve both been better off if you’d just left me alone.”

“What are you saying? You’re my brother—how could I ever—”

“Does that even mean anything to you? You just didn’t want to be lonely while waiting for him! That’s all! That’s why you played around with Vasily too!”

The accusation cut so deep Sasha felt the blood drain from her body all the way to her toes.

People passing by near the restaurant turned to glance at them.

Kiril fell silent, turning his flushed face away.

This isn’t what I meant to say. Even as the words left his mouth, he knew it wasn’t right—but he couldn’t stop himself.

“…If you’d just said you were going to marry Vasily, I think I would’ve understood better. Don’t you even feel sorry for him?”

Sasha stood frozen, her face pale as a sheet.

She’d never expected Kiril to accept her marriage to Ulrich easily.
But the moment she agreed to Ulrich’s proposal, she had made peace with the idea of being rejected by Kiril—anything was better than watching his future be dragged into the mud.
And when it had seemed like Kiril was actually getting along with Ulrich better than she’d hoped, she had let herself feel a bit of relief.

But this—these words…

Kiril scrubbed his head roughly and turned his back to her.

“Whatever. You got what you wanted, so just don’t bother me anymore.”

And with that, he strode quickly toward the hotel van waiting nearby.

The slam of the van door snapped Sasha back to herself.

She didn’t know whether her legs were shaking because of what just happened, or if it was just the pain in her feet from the heels.

The stares from passersby felt like bullets.

Lowering her head, she hurried away from the spot, making her way toward the parked car.

Ulrich was leaning casually against the driver’s seat of the convertible, smoking a cigarette. Lef was nowhere in sight.

“Did you two have a nice goodbye?”

he asked as she approached hesitantly, his voice soft like sunset-colored clouds drifting across the sky.

Sasha gave a small nod.

She wanted to say thank you—for bringing Kiril, for being so generous with him—but her tongue felt paralyzed, like something inside had broken, and the words wouldn’t come.

Ulrich, watching her quietly, flicked his hand.

She took a step closer, and as she did, his arm slipped around her narrow waist.

“What’s wrong? Do you want to stay with your brother a little longer?”

The sweetness in his voice curled around her ear.

It was similar to what he’d done back in the Tremlyn parking lot—but somehow, it felt different now.

If that moment had been calculated, this one felt…

Sasha leaned her cheek against his firm chest and tilted her head up blankly.

“Ulrich, that day, you know…”

Maybe it was because of what had just happened with Kiril.

Maybe it was because the pain of her brother’s words hit harder than she’d expected.

Because in Kiril’s accusations, she saw echoes of her family from the past…

And in that moment, wrapped in Ulrich’s arms, she felt so unbearably warm and safe— that the words simply slipped out.

TL/N: Bet this novel gonna make us all cry.