#161. Counterfire (3)
“Sir Nikolai, what brings you here?”
Sasha, who had moved to give him a seat, asked warmly as she faced him.
Nikolai gave a small bow and smiled lightly, lifting his head.
“I’ve come to report something.”
“A report? Ah, is this something Pavel needs to hear? If so, I’ll excuse myself.”
“No, it’s better if both of you hear it together.”
Sasha’s eyes widened in surprise. Pavel, too, leaned forward slightly, curious.
“What is it?”
In response to Pavel’s question, Nikolai summarized the rumors circulating among the knights, combined with what he had heard from Nina.
“We’ve been keeping it from spreading further, but we need to come up with a countermeasure quickly.”
“Hm.”
Having heard everything, Sasha fell into thought, her expression unreadable.
“Tsk.”
Pavel clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, glancing subtly at his wife with furrowed brows.
He looked so displeased that, had Sasha not been there, he probably would have let out a string of curses.
Well, given the nature of the rumors, it makes sense that he’d be concerned.
Nikolai, carefully observing their expressions, cautiously offered his opinion.
“The most suspicious person is that woman. Whatever means she used, she’s clearly behind this.”
Nikolai’s confident statement prompted Sasha, who had been pondering, to speak.
“Is that so? I actually thought the same….”
As expected!
Nikolai now hoped Sasha would immediately reveal her plan to deal with Naina.
He trusted that, as always, she would assess the situation calmly, devise a clever plan, and resolve the matter wisely.
His bold reassurance to Nina came from his steadfast trust in Sasha.
But…
“However, right now I don’t think I can judge Lady Naina objectively. I hesitate to conclude she’s the prime suspect.”
Sasha’s words left Nikolai with a look of uncertainty he had never seen before.
“Eh?”
Before a bewildered Nikolai could ask why, Pavel intervened.
“What do you mean? Are you feeling unwell or something?”
Sasha couldn’t answer immediately to Pavel’s concerned question.
She lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingertips, as if avoiding his gaze.
Could something really be wrong?
Pavel narrowed his eyes. He wanted to know her thoughts immediately, his fingers twitching involuntarily.
But he exercised patience, restraining himself from removing his gloves to reach for her hand.
“Sasha.”
Though frustrated at not knowing her thoughts, he focused on what really mattered.
“If you don’t want to speak, that’s fine. But don’t forget—I’m always by your side.”
He gently smoothed the disheveled hair falling over her bowed head.
“If you need help, tell me. I can do anything for you.”
Pavel whispered softly.
At his words, Sasha slowly lifted her head.
Meeting his gaze, her emotions surged from within.
Embarrassed to voice them, she had tried to swallow the feelings, but she could no longer keep them inside.
After a moment’s hesitation, Sasha spoke.
“…Exactly as it is. I have personal feelings toward Lady Naina, so I can’t judge her objectively.”
Sasha’s initial unease with Naina had stemmed from an inexplicable instinct.
A chill that ran down her spine, an instinctive sense that she should be wary of Naina.
But she couldn’t base her reasoning on something so irrational.
“Then…”
There was more she needed to say. Sasha carefully explained another reason.
“I’ve also had personal conflicts with Lady Naina.”
The opposition that had begun from their first meeting had led to sharp arguments, and today, she had also been angered over Nina.
Moreover…
“…I guess I’m subconsciously conscious of her. In a negative way.”
“Eh? You, my lady? Why?”
Nikolai asked, puzzled and unable to understand.
Sasha smiled awkwardly, brushing back the hair near her ear.
Being human, she naturally resented Naina mimicking her so closely.
It wasn’t just her appearance—her hairstyle, clothing, even her manner of speaking and habits were copied, making it impossible to ignore.
Recently, Naina had even stolen Sasha’s clothes and pretended to be her in front of Pavel.
When confronted about the theft, Naina denied responsibility, claiming she had nothing to do with it.
She insisted that she simply didn’t like the clothes Sasha had prepared and had told a maid to prepare different ones—then the maid had taken Sasha’s clothes without permission.
Sasha didn’t believe Naina’s excuses, but she could not press further.
But there was more. Sasha’s irritation stemmed from a deeper, instinctive emotion.
“I think… I’m even jealous.”
Sasha admitted quietly.
From the memorial event and other incidents, Naina had made no secret of trying to flirt with Pavel.
Fortunately, Pavel had given Naina no attention, showing only disdain.
Still, a woman resembling her flirting with her husband naturally upset Sasha.
Even if Pavel wasn’t deceived, this could have caused problems, and might be misused elsewhere.
Seeing Sasha glance at him, Nikolai, who was about to say “Why would my lady be jealous of that woman?”, clamped his mouth shut.
Pavel, however, immediately understood why Sasha was conscious of Naina and feeling jealous.
He moved closer to her and asked,
“Is it because of me?”
Sasha hesitated, then answered honestly.
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Pavel exhaled softly, tilting his head.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well… it felt a little embarrassing to say. Nothing really happened, and I knew you wouldn’t care at all. Feeling jealous over something so trivial… it’s a bit shameful.”
Realizing the meaning of what she had said, Sasha bit her lower lip.
She was neither a naive child nor a young girl in a new romance—how could she say such things?
Blushing, she pressed her hand against her cheek and turned her gaze away from Pavel.
Watching her quietly, Pavel slowly moved his hand.
“…!”
Startled, Sasha turned to see him intertwining his fingers with hers.
He clasped her hands firmly, a satisfied expression on his face.
Looking at their hands, pressed closely together, Pavel spoke.
“I’ll tell you something.”
“…What?”
“I get jealous whenever you’re with another man. Even knowing it’s childish, I can’t help it.”
“But I’ve never been involved with another man.”
“Never?”
At Sasha’s protest, Pavel frowned. Recalling unpleasant memories, he closed his eyes briefly.
“There were.”
“There were? When?”
“…Ah.”
Sasha thought back and remembered a few men who had tried to approach her at past balls.
But they had all been immediately caught by Pavel after pestering her and were chased away.
“You mean at the balls? Nothing really happened then. Thanks to you showing up.”
“….”
It wasn’t just that.
Due to the influence of the relic’s magic, even Crown Prince Ruslan had subtly made advances toward Sasha.
Pavel also knew that Andrei, his loyal knight, had liked her.
But he did not tell her, fearing she would start noticing Andrei in the future.
Pavel remained silent. Sasha smiled lightly.
“Still, you remember all that—though nothing much happened.”
“My wife. I don’t forget even the smallest thing when it concerns you.”
His words were unexpectedly moving.
Sasha looked at him anew, and he continued, meeting her gaze.
“But knowing you were jealous too… I feel relieved. I thought it was just me, jealous and anxious alone.”
“Was it? Not really.”
Sasha smiled awkwardly.
“I just… cared too.”
“Then I hope you show it more from now on.”
Pavel demanded boldly. Sasha giggled.
“Jealousy isn’t always a good thing.”
“But it shows how much you like me and want to claim me for yourself.”
Pavel squeezed her hand tighter. His thick fingers rubbed against her slender ones, sending a peculiar, intimate sensation.
Sasha watched his fingers tracing over the back of her hand.
“Even without jealousy, I’ll try to show my feelings for you enough.”
Smiling softly, Sasha’s face was so lovely that Pavel leaned in closer automatically.
And…
“……”
Watching the playful Grand Duke couple, Nikolai quietly averted his gaze.
While it was better than seeing them quarrel, he had no desire to witness such affectionate displays.
Ah… suddenly I want to get married. Though I have no one to marry.
Unable to leave or intervene, Nikolai shivered as he lingered outside.
“Ah! Sir Nikolai. I’m sorry.”
Sasha remembered him.
“Thank you for noticing me, even now.”
Nikolai replied smoothly, asking again what they should do before Pavel’s jealous gaze grew sharp.
“So, what should we do going forward?”
“For now, regarding the rumors…”
Sasha considered her thoughts and spoke.
“Let’s launch a counterfire operation.”
