#94. Title Ceremony (3)
The title ceremony ended without trouble.
Pavel, who had been given the rank of Count, was now firmly recognized as the heir of Grand Duke Volkov.
In the middle of the ceremony, Pavel suddenly smiled brightly at Sasha, which caused a small stir…
‘It’s a relief no one took it the wrong way. Otherwise, it could have caused problems.’
Fortunately, people only thought a young man who had just received a title couldn’t hide his excitement.
But Sasha still couldn’t relax.
A few hours later, when the sun set, a commemorative ball would be held.
Not wanting to be anxious again like earlier, Sasha called Pavel and sat him down in front of her.
“Pavel. You can finish the rest of the schedule properly, right?”
“……”
“Today is really important. It’s a big national event with all the central nobles gathered, and everyone’s watching you, who just received a title. I don’t want you to do anything, even small, that people might find fault with.”
She spoke with worry, remembering what had happened in Kalita:
When Pavel beat up some thugs during an outing, or when he acted cold to the crown prince who personally lent him clothes.
Things that almost never happened back in the Volkov territory had kept happening here.
‘Maybe it’s because this place is unfamiliar… or maybe because of the fiery nature of the mana hall inside him. Either way, he needs to be careful.’
Sasha reminded him again.
“Even if someone provokes you, you must endure. Absolutely, don’t cause trouble.”
Pavel immediately replied.
“Yes. I understand, wife.”
Trusting him, Sasha didn’t add more. Saying more would only sound like annoying nagging.
She checked the clock—there was still time before the ball officially began.
Sasha decided to change into another dress and switch to brighter, fancier makeup and accessories. For the ceremony earlier, she had chosen something modest and formal.
Just as she finished changing clothes—
Knock, knock.
“Countess Volkov. A guest requests to see you.”
“Guest?”
Sasha tilted her head.
If it were Pavel or Dmitri, they wouldn’t call them a guest. Then who?
The first thought was one of the royal family, but if so, they would’ve said directly that the crown prince or princess was here.
Sasha checked the mirror, fixed her appearance, and told them to open the door.
When the door opened, she saw familiar but unexpected faces.
Two people she never thought she’d meet here—
“Mother? Father?”
At her voice, the Count and Countess of Arban rushed in.
“Sasha!”
They ran to her and held her tightly.
“Oh, my dear. We missed you so much.”
“I missed you too, Mother.”
“Sasha, we longed for you.”
“I also wanted to see you, Father.”
The emotional couple even shed tears.
Sasha didn’t show such a strong reaction but hugged her parents tightly, expressing her happiness.
Though they hadn’t met in years and only exchanged letters, their reunion felt natural and joyful.
After a while, when they calmed down, the Arban couple sat on the sofa, Sasha opposite them. Questions poured out.
“How have you been? Weren’t you lonely in that cold, strange land?”
“Olga was with me, so it wasn’t hard to adjust. The people there welcomed me and treated me kindly.”
The first part was true, but the second…
‘After I returned to my true self, they treated me well. So it’s not exactly a lie.’
Not wanting to sadden her parents, Sasha gave them this small white lie.
At that moment—
“Abubu!”
“…?”
A loud baby’s babble startled Sasha.
Unlike her, the Arban couple seemed to know the source of the sound.
“Wait a moment.”
The Countess hurried to the door. Soon she returned, holding what looked like a bundle of cloth.
‘Could it be…?’
Sasha blinked in surprise at the precious bundle in her mother’s arms.
The Count cleared his throat and spoke.
“Sasha, there’s something we didn’t tell you yet. It’s…”
Looking awkward, he sat beside his wife, who carefully revealed the bundle.
Inside was not cloth, but a baby.
“This is your younger brother.”
“…What?”
Sasha was stunned. Out of nowhere, she suddenly had a little brother?
There had been no mention of this in the letter she received just last week.
“We wanted to surprise you, so we didn’t tell you. Was it too shocking?”
Her mother’s playful voice weakened at the end, worried by Sasha’s blank expression.
“Ah…”
Sasha realized they were watching her nervously.
“Yes, I’m surprised. But… I’m happy too. Happy that I now have a little brother. Yes.”
Still flustered, she forced a smile and said something positive.
“May I hold him?”
“Of course!”
Brightly smiling, they placed the baby in Sasha’s arms.
She held him skillfully. The baby didn’t cry in her unfamiliar arms but looked up at her with clear eyes.
Looking closely, she saw more than just his silver curly hair and golden eyes. His round forehead and raised cheekbones resembled her own.
“What is his name?”
“Alexei.”
“……”
Sasha lifted her head. Her parents looked at her nervously, curious about her reaction.
Alexandra. Alexei.
They had clearly named him similar to her on purpose.
Sasha lowered her head with a strange expression.
“Alexei. Grow up healthy and well.”
As she accepted her little brother naturally, her parents sighed in relief.
They must have worried Sasha might feel burdened or jealous, but she didn’t.
In fact, she felt grateful for his existence.
“…Please take good care of our parents.”
She whispered softly so only the baby could hear.
‘If you grow up safely, our parents will always smile.’
She kissed his forehead, hoping he would do what she couldn’t.
The gentle baby accepted the kiss and even laughed, making Sasha smile tenderly.
But soon he grew fussy, and her mother quickly took him back.
“Ryosa, are you sleepy? Or hungry?”
Even as they worried, their faces shone with joy as parents.
Sasha felt relieved.
‘Now they won’t be lonely without me. That’s good.’
And another thought came.
‘The joy of raising a child I couldn’t give them, this baby will give.’
Her feelings were complicated.
Once, she had promised herself to live her life for them. Back then, they were her only purpose.
Even now, despite being busy with Pavel, Dmitri, and the estate, she had never forgotten her parents.
Through marriage to Pavel, she had relieved the Arban family of their hardships, but she still felt a sense of debt.
Would they regret “selling their daughter” to pay debts?
Would they feel sorrow not seeing her often?
Would they have sleepless nights because of her?
Often—no, very often—Sasha worried about this.
Even when writing letters saying she was fine, she wondered if her parents longed for her.
‘But now, with this child, it will be okay.’
Her feelings were strange.
She was relieved, yet the three of them looked so happy together without her that she felt left out.
It wasn’t jealousy. It was just a complicated emotion she couldn’t name.
Then—
“….”
A warm hand wrapped around her shoulder.
Turning, she saw Pavel looking at her seriously.
She didn’t know when he had entered or why he touched her shoulder, but she didn’t ask.
Sasha turned back to look at her parents with the baby.
This time, she didn’t feel that strange loneliness.
The fleeting emotion in her heart had vanished.
‘Ah.’
She realized why. Turning again, she saw Pavel still watching her, lips moving soundlessly.
Sasha.
She could almost hear his voice, always full of affection when he called her name.
Sasha smiled.
She no longer felt excluded when looking at her parents with Alexei.
Because now, she already had a new family.
Pavel, her husband.
As long as he looked at her like this, there would be no room for loneliness.
