Please Kill Me - Chapter 26
At a time when a sliver of the moon hung high above Rostislav’s residence, Leonid found himself unable to sleep deep into the night.
The reason was straightforward: his mind was cluttered with the day’s events. He needed time to sort through everything.
From his return from the imperial palace due to the succession dispute, to the sudden appearance of a woman in his office.
Yekaterina was undoubtedly a valuable piece, yet she was also a difficult piece to maneuver.
If he intended to use her to stir discord between the families, he had only a month or two.
‘It would be problematic if Offenbach learns of Yekaterina’s presence before then.’
Should Offenbach discover that Leonid was harboring Yekaterina, they would surely attempt to retrieve her before any trouble could be instigated.
Ultimately, the success of his plan to use Yekaterina hinged on how well he could conceal her presence.
The deadline was already set.
‘The hunt scheduled for next month.’
An event perfectly suited to lay the groundwork. Yekaterina could be easily excused under the pretense related to the hunt.
Since the hunting grounds were a place where one could freely wield a sword, he could casually promise to fulfill her request there without arousing suspicion.
As long as he could keep his lie from Yekaterina and prevent her existence from being exposed, there seemed to be little to worry about.
However, the complication might be Yekaterina herself, who defies common sense and conversation.
‘She’s insisting on being killed right away.’
But who knows? Perhaps her mind might change over time and she would want to live again.
Leonid had no intention of complying with Yekaterina’s request.
If there were a compelling reason for her death, it might be different, but to acquiesce to a request for death without justification seemed absurd to anyone.
Nothing is more precious than life itself, at least in Leonid’s view.
Therefore, Leonid planned to do everything possible to change Yekaterina’s wish to die while she stayed at the Rostislav residence.
Ensuring she stays put in the residence might help in this regard, as well as alleviate any guilt he felt towards her.
Since she claimed to have no preferences, finding her something she likes seemed like a good plan.
‘Ideally, I’d like to share the plan with Yekaterina.’
But who knows how she might react? Mentioning the hunt a month away might lead her to suspect the truth behind his bandaged hand. This could prompt her to draw her weapon immediately.
Thus, Leonid found himself compelled to continue with the lies, a strategy that weighed heavily on him, though there seemed no other immediate solution.
Despite his concerns about Yekaterina, he couldn’t pass up this perfect opportunity that had literally walked into his life.
‘I guess I’ll be visiting the palace tomorrow.’
Leonid murmured to himself, flexing his fingers in a habitual motion when discomfort set in. With Yekaterina hidden in the manor, stepping out might prove difficult for a while. So he thought he should meet with Prince Yuri as soon as the next day.
As his thoughts finally settled, exhaustion pressed him into the bed. Just as the last remnants of consciousness were about to be washed away by sleep, a suppressed presence brushed against Leonid’s sharp senses. Alarmingly close.
Sleep escaped him immediately. Leonid sprung from the bed.
“Who’s there!”
“Shh.”
A gentle voice accompanied by a small hand covered his mouth. The intruder’s identity was obvious.
“Yekaterina?”
“Be quiet.”
It was indeed her. But why was she here after having returned to her room following dinner?
As shock and confusion passed, Leonid speculated on her possible intentions.
“You didn’t come here to—”
“Quiet, I said.”
Yekaterina’s grip tightened on his mouth again. The strength coming from the small hand was surprising.
‘How can she be this strong?’
Her force seemed on par with that of Vasily. Of course, not to the extent that Leonid couldn’t break free if he chose to.
The issue was Leonid’s pretense of an injured arm, complicating matters as he hadn’t anticipated Yekaterina barging in in the middle of the night.
Finally, Leonid complied, closing his mouth but rolling his eyes in exasperation.
‘Not here to attack, it seems.’
Each encounter with her was becoming increasingly perplexing.
Unaware or indifferent to Leonid’s turmoil, Yekaterina commanded with her usual impassivity.
“Lie down.”
“And if I refuse?”
Again, that expression.
Leonid grimaced. Normally, such defiance would provoke a scowl, but Yekaterina merely continued her emotionless stare. The sight of those dark, unfathomable eyes observing him stirred an uneasy feeling.
Yet, the discomfort was fleeting.
Yekaterina shifted her gaze towards the window, then, instead of covering his mouth again, she grasped his shoulders.
