#95. Title Ceremony (4)
“Oh my!”
The Count and Countess of Arban, who only just noticed Pavel’s arrival, were too startled to speak.
“It’s been a while,” Pavel greeted first.
The Count of Arban awkwardly answered, “Ah, yes, good to see you, well…”
Not knowing what to call him, he hesitated. Pavel smiled and said,
“Please call me comfortably.”
It was the kindest thing to say, but the Arban couple only nodded awkwardly.
They were uneasy because of the big gap between the thin, fierce boy at the wedding and the grown man standing before them now. Or maybe it was because of all the strange rumors about their son-in-law.
But Pavel didn’t mind their reaction and spoke again.
“May I hold him too?”
The Countess hesitated—it was one thing to give the baby to Sasha, but to Pavel… Yet, refusing the son-in-law wasn’t possible.
She handed over the baby. Pavel carefully held him.
“Uuung!”
Unlike with Sasha, Alexei frowned and babbled in discomfort at Pavel’s clumsy hands.
The Count and Countess grew nervous, watching anxiously.
“Ah…”
They feared Pavel might drop the baby.
“Um…!”
But Sasha acted first.
“Pavel, the baby is uncomfortable if you hold him like that. You need to support here, like this…”
She quickly adjusted Pavel’s hands. At once, the baby’s face relaxed again.
Pavel silently gazed at his wife, who seemed to do everything well.
‘Sasha and the baby…’
Sasha and Alexei looked so similar that they didn’t seem like siblings. They looked more like a young mother and her child.
And then, an image passed through Pavel’s mind—
Sasha, smiling as she held a baby who resembled them both. Himself, smiling back as he came to greet his wife and child as a father.
‘What if we had a child of our own?’
Sasha would surely be a perfect mother. And he, though lacking, would try hard to become a good father.
Before, Pavel had never thought of children. He had never expected to live that long, and even if he did survive, how could someone like him—who had never been loved—give love as a parent?
But with Sasha, he felt a new hope.
Even if he wasn’t perfect, if Sasha stayed by his side, he could become a good father.
So—
‘I hope that day comes soon.’
Pavel smiled at his own thought of the future.
After that, they talked with the Arban couple for quite a while.
At first, the Count and Countess were nervous, glancing at Pavel, but with time, their guard lowered.
Reuniting with their daughter after so long, they lost track of time in conversation.
Because the Arban estate and the Volkov duchy were so far apart, they could only meet on such rare occasions. And because the Arbans owed so much to the Grand Duke, they couldn’t freely express their wish to see Sasha.
Even when Sasha invited them after becoming acting lady of Volkov, they refused, saying they couldn’t leave their estate. They worried their visit might bring Sasha trouble or scorn from others.
But this time was different.
“Next time, I’ll invite you to Bellicordo Castle. I want to treat my wife’s family with full respect. Please don’t hesitate to come.”
Hearing an invitation from none other than the heir of the Grand Duke, the Arban couple nodded gladly.
“We’ll make time, no matter what. Until then, please take good care of our Sasha.”
“Yes,” Pavel replied.
The Count and Countess smiled, seeing their reliable son-in-law.
They had once cried every night worrying for their daughter—always frail, always different from others, and forced to sacrifice because of her parents’ shortcomings.
But now, watching Pavel’s love for Sasha, their heavy worries began to fade. With such a strong bond of affection surrounding her, she would surely be fine.
“Please do come again, Mother, Father,” Sasha said.
Her face carried the calm warmth of someone living a stable life.
So, when the Arban couple left the waiting room, their hearts felt completely opposite to when they had first arrived. They exchanged small, contented smiles.
And then—
“Pavel.”
Sasha softly called to him, still looking toward where her parents had left.
“Yes.”
At his usual reply, she reached out her hand.
“Wait.”
She pulled off the leather gloves covering his hands. When his bare skin showed, Sasha held his hand tightly.
With nothing between them, Pavel’s ability awakened. Through her soft skin, Sasha’s thoughts flowed into him.
[Thank you.]
Along with the brief words came the stream of her deep, complex feelings.
Sharing her rich emotions, Pavel’s heart swelled.
Outside, the sun had already set, and the red sunset painted the horizon and sky.
The imperial ball began.
Pavel and Sasha first greeted the Emperor, who opened the ball.
“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“Ah, Count Volkov and Countess. Enjoy yourselves.”
Then they greeted Crown Prince Ruslan and Princess Irina.
“Good to see you again today. Let’s meet often during your stay in Kalita, Count, and spend time together.”
“…It would be an honor.”
Pavel frowned at Ruslan’s tone but remembered Sasha’s earlier words not to cause trouble, so he answered politely.
But when Ruslan turned to Sasha, Pavel almost couldn’t hold back his emotions.
“You are dazzlingly beautiful again today. That sapphire necklace suits you especially well.”
“Your Highness flatters me. But if I look better today, it’s thanks to Princess Irina, who chose this dress for me.”
Sasha gently shifted the topic. Then Princess Irina leaned close to Pavel and whispered,
“Did you receive the letter?”
“Yes.”
“I hope it will be useful.”
“Thank you.”
“If your wife doesn’t like the items, contact me again. I’ll help her choose something she prefers.”
“…As her husband, I’ll take care of my wife myself. Princess, you don’t need to worry further.”
Irina bit her lip inwardly at his blunt rejection. This man had not pleased her yesterday, and today was no different.
But Sasha, unable to hear their whispers clearly, thought differently.
‘So they really are…’
They weren’t in a fiery romance yet, but it seemed they were carefully moving step by step toward it. Even at an event like this, they spoke secretly between themselves.
But Sasha had no time to watch longer.
“Pavel, come here.”
Dmitri, finished speaking with the Emperor, called his son and introduced him to powerful nobles. It was to solidify Pavel’s place as heir by making his first appearance in the capital’s society.
If the Grand Duchess were still alive, she would have done the same for Sasha, helping her bond with the noblewomen. But now, Sasha had no one to guide her.
She almost ended up awkward and alone—until Princess Irina stepped in.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce you to some ladies I know.”
“That would be a great help. Thank you.”
“Come with me.”
Irina led Sasha to a group of noblewomen.
“All of you are here. Let me introduce someone.”
Sasha immediately knew who they were—wives of the Empire’s most powerful families.
They, however, didn’t seem to know Sasha. They smiled politely only because Irina had brought her.
Seeing this, Irina introduced her clearly.
“This is Countess Volkov. You may not know her yet, but you’ll meet often from now on, so let’s use this chance to greet her.”
The ladies’ expressions changed.
“Countess Volkov? The wife of the new Count?”
“Yes.”
At Sasha’s answer, their faces turned curious and kind.
“How is life in the North?”
“You grew up with your husband since childhood, right?”
Questions poured in. Sasha answered politely and blended into the group.
She also gave Irina a grateful glance. Without her, it would have taken much longer to adapt to capital society.
‘To think she would care this much for me…’
Sasha felt embarrassed for ever thinking Irina might treat her like a rival.
As she spent time among the ladies, night deepened.
The older nobles left, and only the younger ones remained. The atmosphere grew looser and freer.
Most of the ladies Irina had introduced had also gone home. Soon, Sasha was left alone.
‘Maybe I can rest now.’
She couldn’t leave the ballroom, but she no longer needed to mingle. She had done her duty as the Volkov lady.
Looking for a quiet corner, she realized it was impossible—there were too many people.
Thinking of going to the terrace, she instead stood near the wall with a glass of champagne.
Some people recognized her and tried to talk or invite her to dance, but she politely declined.
Finally, she had a moment of peace.
She slowly sipped her drink and observed the hall.
Compared to the North, the capital was much more advanced in fashion—at least a century ahead.
‘At least no one here is wearing those square skirts.’
The women in round, puffed dresses didn’t look strange at all.
People chatted in small groups, but Sasha noticed something strange.
Wherever they stood, every group glanced in the same direction.
