Catherine and the Black Emperor

031. Feelings

"That's settled. You don't need to worry about your safety. Shuvalov will need you in many situations, and I will protect you there."

Sergei looked at Gemma and Felice kneeling before him and told them to get up.

Lestoker's attempt to silence Gemma completely shattered her hopes for love. After helping Shuvalov defeat his opponent as a witness, the father and daughter were released and returned to their posts.

After two days of adjusting her emotions, Gemma and her father came to Sergei today to express their loyalty.

They were already in the same boat as Sergei, even though they didn't know what Sergei was planning to do.

"You can't stay here. The Empress or someone else could come to visit the princess at any time," Sergei told Felicie to hurry up and leave.

After Gemma left, he went into Sofia's bedroom.

The other person was leaning against the headboard, staring absently at the flowers on the table, when they saw Sergei and their face lit up with joy.

"Your Highness, you've arrived!"

"There is something I must tell the princess, concerning King Frederick. I am now an advisor to the secret council, and I have learned that the Prussian ambassador recently conveyed to Her Majesty the Empress the message that the daughter of the Grand Duke of Darmstadt is superior to you," Sergei truthfully reported.

With Sophia's intelligence, she will surely be able to figure out the reason.

Sure enough, Sofia gave a bitter smile: "Before I came to Russia, King Frederick received my mother and me. I knew that behind my journey to Russia was the support of this king, but I did not expect that support to be so fragile."

Sergei wanted to say a few words of comfort to her, but Sofia's eyes suddenly hardened, gleaming with wisdom and decisiveness.

"I think I don't need his support. He abandoned me, so naturally I don't need him anymore. As Your Highness said, the only person I really need to please is Her Majesty the Empress. She truly cares about me."

Sergei nodded and smiled: "I'm glad you think that way."

Sophia reached out her hand: "Your Highness, could you help me out of bed? I'd like to go to the window and take a look."

"it is good."

This wasn't the first time Sergei had touched Sofia's hand, but while it had been warm and delicate before, it was now icy cold and had tiny cuts on it.

Sergei instinctively gripped the small, repeatedly injured hand.

When Sofia met Sergei's gaze, a strange emotion flashed in her blue eyes, and a blush quietly rose on her cheeks.

The warmth traveled through her hands to her heart, making her feel warm all over, as if she were basking in the sun. She didn't refuse it; on the contrary, she cherished and enjoyed this moment.

Sergei helped her to the window, and Sofia looked at the snow-covered garden, her mood improving involuntarily.

"The beauty of Russia is so unique and so charming. I long to go outside, build a snowman, drink a few glasses of wine, and dance around a campfire with girls under the night sky."

She turned to look at Sergei.

"Your Highness, if we had met sooner, perhaps the outcome would have been different."

"Princess, everything is for the best," Sergei smiled.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Gemma's voice came from outside.

"Princess, the Grand Duke has come to visit you."

Sofia's expression showed a hint of panic. Reason told her that she had to withdraw her hand from Sergei, but doing so would undoubtedly be an insult to the Duke.

Sergei released Sofia's hand and turned to walk towards the door.

The door opened, and Peter and Naryshkin walked in.

"Sergei, these past few days of guard duty must have been more painful for you than studying. My hounds haven't seen you in a long time," Peter said as soon as he entered, catching up with Sergei.

This forced Naryshkin to greet Sofia: "Princess."

"The Duke."

Sophia nodded, then looked at Peter expectantly. Although Peter was unwilling, he knew why he was there, so he could only greet Sophia reluctantly.

Sophia excitedly tried to go forward, but Peter immediately raised his hand to stop her.

"No, stay there! Forgive me for not being able to stay by your side while you're sick. I don't like being sick, and I don't like patients. Did they give you bloodletting treatment?"

Sofia immediately nodded: "Let it go, this is a wound."

She raised her hand to show Peter the wound, and Peter was so frightened that he took two steps back.

"No, don't show me! I'm afraid of doctors, especially Lestork. But I'm not afraid of him anymore. Lestork is locked up and tortured with the burning iron!"

"Why?" Sophia asked, puzzled.

She disliked Lestoker, but he was Her Majesty the Queen's chief physician, and she couldn't understand how he had fallen to such a state.

Realizing that the conversation was about to delve into court secrets, Sergei quietly closed the door, preventing the outside hole from eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Because he committed treason, holding a high-ranking position in Russia while secretly working for the King of France! Sergei knows that he now holds multiple positions and is Shuvalov's man!"

Peter looked at Sergei with a accusatory gaze, clearly believing that Sergei had "sided with" Shuvalov.

"Princess, I didn't want to tell you this, but your illness was actually the result of a French conspiracy. The French ambassador was also sent back to France by the Queen," Sergei said softly.

Sure enough, Sophia was extremely surprised when she heard the news.

"If it were any other princess, she would have been terrified by this news, but you were just surprised. Your aunt didn't make a mistake in choosing you. You are all cold-blooded people." Peter looked at her.

"Your Highness, will you choose me?" Sophia looked at him earnestly.

Peter avoided her gaze: "I can't decide, but I don't like you. Don't look at me like that. I have a gift for you."

Naryshkin took out a sculpture, a portrait of Peter.

"This was handcrafted by Master Ohan Grote. I stood here for four whole hours. Even though I'm not here, it will keep you company. Would you like to come to the theater with me?" Peter extended an invitation.

"Now? My body is probably—"

"You must agree!" Peter interrupted Sophia.

"I agree, Your Grace."

Sovia, who had not yet fully recovered, was forced to get dressed and follow Peter to the theater.

Sergei and Naryshkin followed behind, and the latter asked him quietly.

"Don't you want to know why the Grand Duke is suddenly being so attentive to the Princess?"

Sergei replied calmly, "His Majesty will kill him."

Naryshkin exclaimed in astonishment, "Sergei, you're a genius! His Majesty said that if the Grand Duke and the Princess have any conflict, they must reconcile immediately, or else he will be killed!"

Sergei remained completely calm.

He had already guessed that ordinary reprimands would not be enough to subdue Peter, and Elizabeth would surely be furious.