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filhadoboto · 21 days ago

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The chosen one

Summary: During the reading of his mother's will, Aleksander Morozov discovers that, so that his inheritance does not end up in the hands of his hated cousin Malyen Oretsev, he will have to get married within a year.

AO3

chapter 1; chapter 2; chapter 3; chapter 4; chapter 5; chapter 6; chapter 7; chapter 8; chapter 9; chapter 10

Chapter 11 - The Engagement - part 2

Two days later, Aleksander and Alina were on the road to Os Kervo.

Since his family ring was an object easily recognizable to those who lived with Baghra, Alina left it in the Little Palace safe. Even though only a few days had passed since he had placed it on her finger, Aleksander didn't like looking at her hand and not seeing the ring, but they needed to keep the engagement a secret and people would know she was his fiancée the moment they saw the ring on her finger.

Although Aleksander suggested that one of the Little Palace's maids accompany them on their trip to Os Kervo, Alina refused. Her argument was that no one would think she was anything other than a maid accompanying her master, and that she doubted anyone would even pay her any attention when they made a stop . Knowing the society they lived in, Aleksander was forced to agree. Even dressed in her finest clothes, Alina would never be mistaken for anything other than a maid.

Although he didn’t like his fiancée’s self-deprecating tone at all, she was right. Anyone who saw her would have dismissed her as a maid traveling with her master and nothing more. In a way, it was a good thing that things were this way, as it would reduce the chances of anyone who saw them deducing that Alina was his chosen one and of news of the marriage spreading and reaching Malyen.

The journey took about five hours, but he couldn’t deny that he was glad to have so much time alone with his fiancée. The last three days had diluted the awkwardness that had arisen between them after he had discovered the truth and the easy camaraderie between them had returned.

She was nervous and afraid of Ulla’s reaction and, at Alina’s request, Aleksander listened to her entire story to help her focus on something else. His fiancée began by telling him that she actually had no memories of her past, her life before the orphanage was a big blur in her mind. She didn't remember anything about her parents or where they had lived before she was taken to the orphanage in Keramzin. Alina told him that she sometimes remembered a field at dusk and fireflies, the sound of laughter and the gentle voices of people she believed were her parents. She confessed to him that she sometimes dreamed of a man and a woman in a field full of fireflies at dusk, but she didn't know if this was a memory or just a reflection of her desire to know where she came from.

She didn't remember her birthday and wasn't even sure of her age, but the person in charge of the orphanage thought she was eight years old when she was taken there. Alina only remembered her name and that the person who had taken her to the orphanage had found her wandering near a village somewhere in the Dva Stolba valley. Alina was starving and very sick, and if the man hadn't found her and taken care of her, she would have died. She never saw this man again after he left her at the orphanage, and she didn’t remember his name, only that he had a kind smile and a musical voice. She was very sick and weak when she arrived at the orphanage, and she not only had trouble eating but also sleeping. The people who worked at the orphanage believed that she wouldn’t survive long, but she did.

A few weeks after her arrival at the orphanage, a friend of Duke Keramzov, Mrs. Margareth Oretseva, Aleksander's aunt, visited the orphanage. Mrs. Oretseva made occasional visits to the orphanage, and during the summer she would often welcome the orphanage children to her family's estate so they could have fun in the large park and with the animals. Upon being introduced to the newly arrived children, Margosha showed great interest and genuine concern for Alina and her health. At Margosha's insistence, Alina was taken to Os Alta and examined by one of the woman's trusted physicians.

After a few months of treatment, Alina fully recovered her health and, in a sense, was adopted by the woman, as she spent more time with Margosha at her home than at the orphanage. It was only at this time that Alina learned that the woman had lost her daughter a few years earlier and that she would have been the same age as Alina if she were alive. Although Margosha had told her that she had a son, Alina only met Malyen in person when she returned from Os Alta.

Despite their differences in social class, she and Malyen got along well and the two soon became inseparable friends. Seeing this, Margosha decided that Alina would be her protégé and, as such, would receive the same education as her son. Mrs. Oretseva paid for Alina's education and sent her to a good girls' school in Polysnaya, as she wanted to ensure that she would have a good future and find a good husband.

As he listened to her story, an old memory came flooding back to Aleksander. His aunt Margosha had said on one of the rare occasions when the whole family had gathered at Morozov Hall that she had decided to honor her daughter Anna by giving financial support to the local orphanage. And occasionally, in their letters, she had mentioned how she had a special affection for one of the girls at the orphanage who was the same age as her daughter would have been if she were alive. Now he realized that the girl was Alina Starkova. His aunt helped with her education, and Alina and Malyen had practically grown up together because of their bond.

There was a mixture of pain and resignation in her voice when Alina confessed that she had loved Mal yen from the first moment she saw him, and that she had always believed that she knew him, that he truly cared about her, and that she would love him forever.

A heavy silence hung between them as she made this confession.

Would Aleksander's heart ever get used to hearing those words without suffering?

But at that moment his suffering was insignificant compared to hers. He wanted to hug her and comfort her. He wanted to tell her that Malyen had never deserved her and never would, but his fiancée had already understood that and was beginning to accept the truth.

He wanted to tell her that he was in love with her and that he would do anything to make her happy, to make her heart whole once more. But he just looked at her and, realizing that Alina was lost in her thoughts, waited patiently for her to continue her story.

Alina shook her head as if to dispel the memories and took a deep breath before continuing with her story. Time passed and she and Malyen grew as did her love for him. All the care and attention she had received from Margosha had caused Alina to transfer her affection and love to the woman and her son. She was sent to the girls' school in Polysnaia and she looked forward to the answers to her letters to Malyen and Margosha and the reunions during the summer and the end of the year in Keramzin. During her visits, Alina used her free time to visit and entertain her benefactor, Mrs. Oretseva, and sometimes when Malyen was away, she would spend a few days with her at her residence to keep her company. Mrs. Oretseva loved to hear her play, even though Alina was not very talented, and she also often read aloud to Margosha.

Knowing that their differences would keep them apart, Alina hid her love and contented herself with being Malyen's friend and confidant. He would often tell her about the girls he found pretty, about the people he knew, and about his adventures in the new places he had visited . And even though she felt jealous, she never had the courage to talk about it or reveal her true feelings for him.

After finishing her studies, Alina returned to Keramzin and discovered that Margosha had several suitors in mind for her and had even taken on the role of matchmaker a few times, but Alina rejected them all, claiming that she did not feel ready to be a wife yet. The truth was that she could not imagine marrying another man when she loved Malyen. In her deluded heart she held out hope that as long as he was single there would still be some chance that he would fall in love with her.

Aleksander couldn't help but wonder if the only reason Alina had accepted his marriage proposal was the fact that Malyen had set the date for his wedding with another woman and that everything else Malyen had done would have had no bearing on her decision if his cousin was still single. Alina loved Malyen deeply, and even though it hurt a lot, it was hard to believe that Alina would give up any tiny chance of being with Malyen as long as she believed there was any hope of her feelings being reciprocated by him.

Alina returned to live at the orphanage and gave music and drawing lessons to the children as a way of repaying them for what they had done for her. Duke Keramsov even praised her dedication to the children and considered the idea of her becoming the successor to the orphanage's administrator, but Alina wanted to get a job as a tutor for a family and her experience teaching the children at the orphanage would probably help her in this. She loved Malyen and knew she could never marry him, so her plan was to spend some time in Keramzin while she looked for a governess position in some family’s residence. With that in mind, she applied for a few governess positions she had seen in the newspapers and was waiting for responses.

Alina was visiting Mrs. Oretseva and listening to her praise the eldest son of one of her tenants and talk about what a good husband he would be for Alina when the news of Baghra's death arrived. The news, however, did not make the woman sad and her reaction was to continue the conversation as if nothing had happened after instructing one of the maids to pack her bags for her trip to Kirbrisk for the reading of the will.

Having grown up listening to Mrs. Oretseva talk about where she grew up and how she and her sister had a terrible relationship, Alina was not shocked by her reaction to the news of her sister’s death. And it was to Alina that Malyen confided about his hatred for his cousin over the years, a cousin whom Alina had also learned to despise in support of the man she loved. So Alina was happy when they returned from the reading of the will and informed her that Malyen could inherit his maternal grandfather's family fortune if the cousin he hated did not marry within a year.

The next day, Malyen visited her alone at the orphanage and asked her to take a walk with him. Alina, who had never refused him anything, accepted. This was not the first time that they would take a walk alone around the orphanage or the Oretsev family estate. When they arrived at a meadow where they had often gone since childhood, Malyen revealed his true intentions in taking her there.

Malyen confessed that he had loved her all his life and that he was also aware of her feelings for him. He explained that he had kept quiet because of his financial dependence on the family's money and because he knew that his mother would disown him if he chose her as his wife, who belonged to a social class so far below his own. She felt like she was in a dream as she heard him say that now that there was a possibility of him inheriting Morozov Hall, he felt for the first time that there was hope for them and decided to reveal his feelings in the hope that she would agree to help him secure the inheritance.

Alina was so happy that her feelings were reciprocated that she didn't hesitate to agree to help him and told him that she would do whatever it took to ensure that they would be together. Then he told her his plan and how she could help him. Malyen wanted her to write to Alexei asking him to help her get the job as a maid at the Little Palace and to spy on his cousin so that he could take action to prevent Aleksander from getting married before the deadline.

His plan surprised her. Alina hadn’t hidden anything about her life from Malyen and his mother, and had told them not only about her friendship with Alexei, but also about the letter her friend had sent her informing her about the maid position at the Little Palace. But what she hadn’t had the courage to tell them or anyone else was the reason why Alexei wanted her to apply for the position. Both Alexei and his master had praised her drawings and paintings, and her friend had mentioned that Duke Morozov patronized artists he thought were talented, and Alexei was certain that he would become her patron if he saw her work. Alexei felt that a job as a maid at the Little Palace was her best chance of gaining his patronage and realizing her dream of owning a studio.

Aleksander couldn't help but smile at that. Alexei knew him well and he wasn't wrong in thinking that he would indeed recognize Alina's talent when he saw her work. And it was at that moment that he realized what would be the perfect wedding gift for Alina, one that he would need help preparing, but that would certainly make Alina very happy.

However, from everything Malyen had told her, Alina did not believe that Duke Morozov would be so generous, and it was only when the position began to represent the possibility of a future with the man she loved that she became truly interested. However, she had already committed to another employer. While Malyen and his mother were in Kirbrisk for the reading of Baghra’s will, she had received a reply to her application for a position as governess to a family living near Ivets asking her to visit the family as soon as possible. She had told him so, but Malyen had insisted that he needed her to be his spy at the Little Palace and help make sure that Aleksander would not be married on time.

Before she could argue, Malyen had told her that he loved her, that she was the only person who could help him, and then he had kissed her. At that moment, overwhelmed by her own feelings and hopes, Alina found no strength or reason to deny him anything. Much less access to her body, because Malyen didn't just want to kiss her and she couldn't deny him her body since he had always had her heart.

Alina stopped talking and the two of them were silent for a few seconds. She was pale and he imagined that not only remembering but confessing all of that to him must be very painful.

His fiancée closed her eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath before opening them and continuing her story. Determined to help Malyen, she had written to the family in Ivets informing them that for personal reasons she could not visit them and had replied to Alexei's letter telling him that she would love to work at the Little Palace and try to secure the Duke's patronage. Malyen was so anxious for her to get the job that he visited her every day to see if Alexei had replied to her letter.

After receiving Alexei's reply in which her friend informed her that he had taken all the necessary steps and made all the necessary arrangements for her to take the position, Malyen had offered her the family carriage to take her to the inn where Alexei would wait for her to accompany her to Morozov Hall. She didn't stop to consider the morality of what she was doing until she had been at the Little Palace for a few weeks and had had the chance to meet Aleksander and talk to the other employees.

“You already know the rest of the story, Aleksander.” She finished in a tired tone and he nodded slowly.

Yes, he knew the rest of the story. They had developed a friendship and he had fallen in love with her.

“Do you still love him, Alina?” he heard himself ask and it took them both by surprise.

Why had he asked that? Of all the things she had just told him, why ask about that? He already knew the answer, but he wanted to know if she still loved him anyway. And what difference would it make to him to hear confirmation that she still loved Malyen? Even if Alina would never come to love him as much as she loved Malyen, he knew he had enough love for both of them.

Alina looked at her hands clasped tightly on her lap for a few seconds and ran her thumb over her ring finger. The same finger that had carried his family ring until that morning. When he thought she wouldn’t answer, the girl looked him in the eye and replied simply, “I’ve loved him almost my entire life.”

Aleksander felt immense discomfort at hearing that answer. Although it was an evasive answer, he knew that the obvious answer was yes. Alina had made it quite clear that she loved Malyen both in her letters and in her story. Aleksander couldn’t help but study her as he tried to understand why she hadn’t given him a straight answer.

He saw fear in her eyes as she asked, “Has knowing all this changed your mind?”

Changed his mind? Not even death would make him give up on her, for he would search for her in another life and keep searching until he found her again.

He gave her a mischievous smile to hide his true feelings and replied, “It’s not that easy to get rid of me, Alina. Besides, it’s not your love that I need to receive my inheritance. Your consent before the reverend and the magistrate is enough.”

Alina nodded and began, “You asked me if there was any chance I could be carrying his child. I was wondering and I need to ask.” She stopped and looked him in the eyes before asking, “Aleksander, would you still propose to me if I was pregnant?”

He thought carefully about her question for a few seconds. He wouldn't be happy raising another man's child, especially someone he hated, but he was in love with Alina and he couldn't imagine rejecting her because of that.

“I would not mind raising his child as my own, since that child would be linked to me by blood, as long as he never knew of the child's existence.”

She gave him a small, relieved smile and he couldn't help but ask, “Would you marry me if you knew you were carrying his child?”

Alina seemed taken aback by his question, but answered after a few seconds, “If I were carrying his child, I wouldn't have hesitated to tell him.”

That didn't answer his question, so he persisted, “But would you marry me?”

Alina took a deep breath and answered honestly, “It's complicated. I couldn't hide something like that from you or him. The guilt would destroy me.”

He nodded and was taken aback when she asked, “Do you want to know what I wrote in the letter I sent him informing him that I would no longer spy on you?”

The letter that had triggered the response Aleksander had read and led him to discover everything. Without that letter he would never have known of his cousin's plans. Without that letter he would never have discovered Alina's true intentions in coming to Morozov Hall. Without that letter he would not be engaged to the woman he loved.

Curious, Aleksander nodded.

Alina looked out the window for a few seconds before saying, “That letter was the hardest I’ve ever written in my life, but at the same time it made me feel relieved when I finished it.” She looked at him and added, “I told him that I had decided to listen to my conscience and stop spying on you, and that if you found a bride, word would surely reach him in time for him to act to prevent your marriage.” He nodded and she took a deep breath before continuing, “I assured him that I would keep his secrets, and I asked him to keep mine. And I ended by informing him that I would not return to Keramzin and that we would probably never see each other again.”

“So you had no plans to go to him?” he asked before he could stop himself. All this time he had assumed that Alina intended to return to Keramzin to wait for his cousin to fulfill his promises to her.

“No, I hadn’t,” she answered truthfully.

“I assumed that you intended to return to Keramzin at some point and…”

“And force Mal to fulfill all the promises he made to me?” she finished, and he nodded. “I still didn't know where to go, but I knew I didn't want to go back to Keramzin at that point.”

“May I ask why?” he asked in an anxious tone.

“I prefer to keep my reasons to myself,” she replied, repeating his words and giving him a teasing smile before adding, “At least for now.”

He smiled at her using his words against him and simply said, “It seems fair to me.”

Alina laughed, making it clear that she felt comfortable with him. He couldn’t help but join her.

He might not have her love, but he had her friendship and that was enough.

---

The afternoon was beginning when their carriage stopped in front of his family home in Os Kervo.

They had planned to stop to stretch their legs and get something to eat halfway, but Alina had fallen asleep shortly after finishing telling him her story and Aleksander preferred to let her rest.

Aleksander watched her the whole time as he fell into a delirium about what their life would be like, if one day Alina would fall in love with him, if they would be happy even if she never loved him. He thought about what it would be like to spend his days with her and grow old by her side. He thought about whether she wanted children and if one day he would be able to hold one of their children in his arms. In his mind, he lived entire lives by her side and it was only when they entered the city that he was pulled out of his delirium and woke her up.

His fiancée watched the streets and people curiously and attentively, and he watched her expressions and reactions as closely as he could. And it was only when the carriage turned onto the street where the Morozov residence was that he felt a pang of fear. What if his fiancée's fears were realized and Ulla would not accept Alina as his bride? What if Ulla and Genya tried to convince him not to marry the woman he loved? What if he had to choose between his sister and the woman he loved? What would he do?

He shook his head and banished those thoughts to the back of his mind. There was no reason for him to suffer in advance. He would look for a solution to problems when they arose, if they arose.

As soon as they got out of the carriage, Aleksander heard the door of the house open and Ulla and Genya came out to greet them with wide smiles of welcome and he had no doubt that the two had spent at least the last hour looking out the window and waiting anxiously for them. He smiled and waved to them before helping Alina to disembark.

Though her expression was serene, he felt the tremor in her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Alina gave him a grateful smile and the two of them turned to the girls waiting for them. He watched the two of them and noticed that Genya looked intrigued and curious and Ulla didn't seem the least bit surprised to see Alina with him, holding hands with him.

Ulla walked over to them and hugged him before greeting Alina with a smile and a warm embrace. His sister did not look at the carriage again or ask if there was anyone else inside and when she took Alina's arm and introduced her to Genya as her dear friend, Aleksander's intuition told him that his sister had already deduced that Alina was his fiancée.

Or maybe she's just happy to see her friend again and is thinking that Alina has accompanied me and that my fiancée must be on her way with her family , he thought.

Genya wrapped her arms around him and told him she was happy to see him again and before he or Alina could say anything the newcomers were ushered inside. Mrs. Yakovleva was waiting for them at the entrance and greeted them as well. The four of them went up to the living room and made themselves comfortable. Even though they didn’t know she was his fiancée, Ulla and Genya welcomed Alina with all the attention, consideration, and affection he knew he could expect from them.

They only had time to answer questions about how their journey had been before two maids entered the room carrying refreshments and a light meal.

“You must be starving,” Ulla commented and looked at Alina before adding, “My brother always needs to eat something sweet when he comes back from a trip.”

Alina nodded and commented with a sweet smile, “I know. Mrs. Stepanova never lets the Little Palace kitchen run out of sweets.”

Aleksander couldn’t help but smile. The four of them sat down and ate while Aleksander, Ulla, and Genya exchanged information about their mutual friends and other family members. His sister and cousin would include Alina in the conversation when they explained who they were talking about. Although Alina didn't know who most of the people they were talking about were, she seemed interested in the gossip the other girls were telling them and laughed as she heard about the embarrassing things these people had said or done or that had happened to them.

“So, Aleksander, when are you going to officially introduce us to your chosen one?” Genya asked when they had finished their meal, her intelligent golden eyes fixed on Alina.

Of course, they had already deduced that Alina was his chosen one. It had been foolish of him to think otherwise.

Alina looked at him and he saw a mix of uncertainty and fear in her eyes. He gave her a small nod, stood up, and offered her his hand. Alina held it tightly, stood up, and stood beside him. Aleksander gave her hand a comforting squeeze before turning to the other two girls who were looking at them with curiosity and expectation.

“Sister. Cousin,” he began, and there was a hint of nervousness in his voice. “I would like to introduce you to my chosen one. Miss Alina Starkova.”

He expected surprise or even protest, but the two girls exchanged a knowing look and a conspiratorial smile. Then they both looked at Alina with sincere smiles, stood up and hugged her again as they congratulated her on their engagement. His fears were dispelled, for he knew the girls well and knew that their reactions were sincere. His Alina seemed surprised by the reaction and reception of the other girls, but accepted the congratulations with a grateful smile.

Genya then hugged him and whispered in his ear, “I’m glad you found a solution, Sasha.” referring to the conversation they had at his godmother’s house in the Lake District.

He looked her in the eyes and said with a smile, “Me too.”

Genya kissed his cheek and gave him a mischievous smile before adding, “I can’t wait to hear every detail about you two.”

Before he could comment, Aleksander was being hugged by his sister, who simply said in an emotional tone, “I’m so happy for you, brother!”

He hugged her tightly, relieved that his sister had approved of his choice, and couldn't help but smile back as he looked into her eyes and said sincerely, “I'm very happy too, sister.”

“I have no doubt that you two will be very happy together, Sasha!” she added, looking at her future sister-in-law.

He looked at his fiancée too and saw that Alina was smiling, but the smile didn't reach her eyes and he could see that she was tense even though she was so warmly accepted .

She's feeling guilty, a voice whispered in his mind, she feels guilty for what she did and this warm welcome and immediate acceptance must be making her feel even worse.

His sister must have noticed Alina’s discomfort, for she remarked, “How insensitive of us! You must be exhausted from the journey, Alina.”

Alina gave her a guilty look and nodded before commenting, “I didn’t expect sitting in a carriage doing nothing for a few hours to be so exhausting, Miss Morozova.”

The two girls nodded, but Aleksander knew that other things had contributed to her exhaustion. Alina was emotionally drained after telling him about her life.

Ulla gave her a disapproving look and corrected her, “We’ll be a family soon, my dear friend. Please call me Ulla.”

Alina nodded, but still looked uncomfortable with the idea.

“Your quarters are ready,” Genya commented and called one of the maids and asked her to accompany Alina to her quarters, leaving the three of them alone.

He had promised them both in his letters that he would explain everything to them in person. Although he could see the anxiety and questions in their eyes and expressions, they did not voice it, much less pressure him to explain his change of mind or his choice. He knew that they would wait for him to take the initiative and tell them what had happened so that he would not only change his mind but also choose a maid as his bride.

“I promise I will answer all your questions after I rest,” he said.

The two agreed and he retired to his quarters.

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filhadoboto · 3 months ago

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The chosen one

AO3

chapter 1; chapter 2; chapter 3; chapter 4; chapter 5; chapter 6

Chapter 7 - The summer - part 3

Returning to the Little Palace made Aleksander much happier than he expected he would be. Perhaps because he knew that there was so little time left before his home would cease to exist, he felt even more joy and awe as he passed through the imposing gates and onto the gravel path lined with trees that formed a tunnel of intertwined branches above them and set his eyes upon his residence. Aleksander would never cease to be enchanted by the sight of its golden domes or to feel small when standing before the gigantic and beautiful construction.

Once settled, they received several visitors, including the Kaminsky siblings, Ivan, Fedyor and Sonia, who brought joy and variety to the conversations. Ivan was the oldest and quietest of the siblings, he preferred to listen to conversations and, occasionally, give his opinion on the subject at hand. Fedyor, as the local physician, knew the latest news about most of the residents and shared it with them. And Sonia, with her characteristic good humor and attentive teenage gaze, informed them about everything that had happened in Kribirsk, where they lived, and Novokribirsk.

Their father had been the Morozov family's lawyer, and with his death, Ivan had taken over his father's place in that role. Since Ivan was also his friend, Aleksander trusted him completely and decided to tell him about his decision not to comply with the clause in his mother's will, although he kept the incendiary part of his plan a secret.

Ivan stared at him silently for a few seconds, his expression unreadable, before asking, “Your Grace is telling me that you would rather live in poverty than marry a woman of your choice? What about Miss Morozova?”

“Neither my sister nor I will live in poverty, Ivan.” he replied, and told his lawyer about his personal investments.

“I understand, but it is my duty to remind Your Grace that you are not only the head of the Morozov family, you are also the head of our community.” Ivan said in his lawyer’s voice. “What about your duties to deal with and adjudicate regional issues? Does Your Grace believe that Mr. Oretsev will have the ability, knowledge, interest, disposition or intelligence to be fair, to seek the best solution for all?”

He had expected that Ivan would not approve of his decision, and for nearly half an hour he listened patiently as his friend argued about how so many other lives would be affected and harmed by the change in ownership of Morozov Hall. Ivan was right, there were many lives that depended directly on him, but how could he live with himself if he did not do what he thought was right, what his conscience advised him to do?

“With all due respect, Duke Morozov, do you think that your cousin, who is known for spending substantial sums of money on all sorts of gamblings, will be as benevolent and generous a landlord and neighbor, or even as respected and admired as you are?”

There was no other answer than “No. He will be, at best, a disaster for Morozov Hall.”

Imagining the disaster that would be Malyen running Morozov Hall made his heart ache. Aleksander knew every inch of the estate. He knew everything that was produced there, he knew how many people worked and lived there, he even knew most of their names. He had built a good relationship with his tenants and his neighbors, and he doubted Malyen would bother to do the same.

“A huge disaster,” corrected Ivan. “And I shudder to imagine what his relationship with the royal family will be like!”

“I think Vasily likes him more than me, since they both share some habits and tastes.”

“Perhaps, but it is one thing to share tastes and quite another to accept advice on the administration of the country and its relations with other countries.” Ivan countered “Mr. Oretsev will never be able to advise the future tsar of Ravka like you, Duke Morozov, who was taught and educated for that role since childhood.”

“Luckily for Ravka, I’m not the only one who can perform this function.”

“What about your sponsorships?”

“I plan to continue sponsorships, albeit at lower amounts, after my sister and I settle down in another location.”

The lawyer continued with his questions and arguments and, even though he did not agree and gave him his best advice against that decision, Ivan gave him all the legal advice that Aleksander needed.

By the end of that conversation, Aleksander felt for the first time that he had been selfish in refusing to comply with the clause and leaving Morozov Hall in Malyen's hands. His friend's arguments had shaken his confidence in his decision more than he could admit to himself.

----

About two weeks after their return to the Little Palace, the Morozov siblings were surprised by Nikolai Lantsov. Not exactly by his visit, but by the gifts he had sent them.

Nikolai had secretly bought the black Shu stallion as a gift for Aleksander, and together with the delivery men, he had sent a letter.

My dear friend, Please accept this gift as an apology for my insensitivity to your current situation. I did not understand your hesitation in acquiring the stallion you had so obviously loved until the dinner with Viscountess Komarova where we encountered your unpleasant cousin. It was only then that I understood that there is a possibility that everything could really end up in his hands and that you, wisely, would not buy such a magnificent animal that could end up in the hands of your enemy. The stallion, which I have affectionately named ‘ Darkling’ after the horse you lost as a teenager, is in my name and I will pass him on to you rs once your inheritance situation is settled. Oh, and you can thank me by opening the Little Palace cellar for my inspection on my next visit. I know I will find the finest wines and strongest whiskeys there that you are surely unaware of. From your friend, - Nikolai Lantsov

Aleksander was happy and touched by his friend's gesture and wrote back thanking him for the gift. Along with the letter, he sent a bottle of wine and another of whiskey with the promise that the cellar doors would always be open for him.

To Ulla, Nikolai sent a box containing a collection of sheet music. Ulla's dark eyes lit up as she opened the box, and for a few seconds, her face lit up with happiness as she read the letter that accompanied the gift. He was extremely curious to know what his friend had written to his sister that had provoked such a reaction, but he knew that she would tell him if she wanted him to know.

His sister did not tell him what Nikolai had written, but she explained that they had been talking about songs about the sea and Nikolai had told her about a Zemeni composer who had composed beautiful melodies inspired by the sea and its moods and, fulfilling the promise he had made to her back in the Lake District, had sent her some sheet music.

Not for the first time, Aleksander wondered if something more than friendship was developing between Ulla and Nikolai.

---

A few days later, the painting that Aleksander had purchased from Konstantin Krupin’s studio in Caryeva arrived.

His sister was surprised and demanded an explanation for the purchase, and he assured her that she would understand when she saw the painting. Aleksander had already chosen the place where it would be displayed in the gallery , and after giving instructions to the servants, they carefully installed it in its proper place. Once they had finished, he asked them to call Alina, and when the two siblings were alone, they looked at the painting in silence.

The changes between the unfinished version he had seen in Krupin’s studio and the finished version before him were not great, but they were there. The main one was that the painting seemed even more alive, as if the night wind smelling of decay or the day wind carrying ash would blow over them at any moment. The painting seemed so alive that he expected to see the two figures move at any moment, finally touching and coming together in an embrace, creating something different, new. And the feeling awakened in him now was the same as when he had first seen the painting, only somehow even more intense and vigorous.

“Wow!” was Ulla’s initial reaction.

He smiled, pleased with her reaction.

“Wow!” he mimicked her, nodding. “Now you understand why I couldn’t resist buying it.”

She nodded. “It’s magnificent, brother ! It looks alive !” she commented, approaching the painting to examine it. “The style doesn’t seem strange to me. I have the impression that I’ve seen something similar somewhere before, but I can’t remember where.”

“We saw a painting by the same artist at Count Koslov’s house in the Lake District.” he informed her. “The artist’s name is Konstantin Krupin, and his studio is in Caryeva. I happened to find out his address and decided to pay him a visit.”

She looked at him, and there was betrayal and disapproval in her dark eyes.

“You were very mean not to invite me to go with you to see his work, brother!”

“Forgive me, sister.” he said sincerely. “You already had an appointment that morning and I had no intention of buying anything. But I couldn’t resist when I saw this painting.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you had bought a painting from him?”

“I wanted it to be a surprise.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the maid.

“Your Grace. Miss Morozova.” Alina said in greeting.

He smiled when he saw the maid and said in an excited tone, “Come, Alina. I want to show you my new addition to the gallery.”

Alina looked at him in surprise, her cheeks flushed, and said in a grateful tone, “That is very kind of you, Your Grace.”

Aleksander nodded and gestured towards the painting, drawing her attention from him to it. But he did not look at the painting. No, he had already admired and studied the painting in Konstantin’s studio and could contemplate it some more later. No. He looked at Alina and watched her reaction carefully.

Her brown eyes and mouth opened in surprise and, perhaps unconsciously, Alina moved closer to the painting and her eyes roamed the entire canvas quickly, as if her mind couldn't decide which part to focus on first. She put her hands over her mouth, as if she were trying to keep from making a sound, or perhaps she was afraid of what she might say. As tears streamed down her cheeks, he smiled in satisfaction. This was the kind of reaction he imagined this painting would cause in her.

“It is amazing, Your Grace! The intensity of the colors, the sensation of movement and life, the way one searches, yearns for the other... I... I am at a loss for words to describe it properly.” she whispered and looked at him before asking, “Who is the artist?”

“Konstantin Krupin.” Ulla replied, who, he noticed, was watching them both with attention and interest.

Alina’s eyes returned to the painting before she commented, “I had never seen a painting by Mr. Krupin with my own eyes, but Mr. Stepanov and his master had already commented on him and praised both his talent and his technique. Now I see that they were right when they said that his works were unmistakable.” she looked at him again before asking, “Does it have a name?”

Aleksander nodded and replied, “It’s called Like calls to like.”

Her eyes drifted back to the painting and she smiled before commenting, “Oh, I see!”

Pleased, Aleksander told her about his visit to the studio, commented on the other paintings he had seen and the two of them talked about the painting before them.

And all the while, he could feel his sister's watchful eyes watching them.

---

Later, when they were alone in the library after dinner, Ulla casually remarked, “You bought that painting for her, Alina. It was her you wanted to surprise.”

He put his book down, looked at Ulla, and knowing there was no reason to lie, as his actions had made that abundantly clear, he nodded once. His sister nodded slowly, her eyes scanning him carefully, and he continued to look at her. After several seconds of silence, his sister gave him a small smile and returned her attention to her book.

“What is it, sister?” he couldn’t resist asking. He was the person who knew her best, but it wasn’t always easy to read her.

“Nothing,” she replied, still smiling.

“Ulla!” he begged.

“It’s nothing, brother, I swear!” she insisted, trying not to smile, but added, “I was just curious about your attitude, which, I must say, was very generous and touching on your part.”

“Alina really likes art and I bought the painting as a wedding gift for her.” he heard himself explaining. “You know I plan to do something for each of the Little Palace employees before we… you know.”

What he didn't tell his sister, and what he needed days to admit to himself, was that his impulse to buy that painting for the maid was far more selfish than generous. Yes, he wanted her to look at that painting and remember the Little Palace and its beauty and grandeur. But he wanted Alina to remember him even more. Aleksander couldn’t understand that selfish desire, but his lack of self-knowledge wouldn’t stop him from giving the painting as a gift to Alina.

Ulla nodded before asking with innocent curiosity, “I didn’t know she was engaged. Is it with one of the other employees?”

“It is not. She told me that he lives in Keramzin and is waiting for her.” he replied.

His words seemed to pique his sister’s curiosity even more, for she asked, “May I ask how you came to know so much about her life, brother?”

“Asking, dear sister,” he replied simply.

“Asking.” she repeated, and there was suspicion and amusement in her tone.

“Yes, asking. As I usually do with all our employees.” he clarified. “You can get a lot of answers when you ask a lot of questions. Just like you’re doing now.”

“Please forgive me for insisting on this subject, my beloved brother,” Ulla began, putting down her book and giving him her full attention. “It’s just that, as imaginative as my mind is, I cannot conceive of a situation in which it would be appropriate for a single employer to inquire about the love life of his newly hired, beautiful and intelligent maid.”

He ignored the obvious innuendo in her tone and words.

“Interestingly enough, I was answering her questions about you, dear sister.” he informed her, smiling at Ulla’s surprise. “And she was so impressed by the depth of my affection and love for you that she couldn’t help but comment on how lucky you are to be loved in such a way by me.” he continued, eliciting a smile from her. “So, out of politeness, I asked her if she had someone who loved her, and she told me yes, that he was waiting for her in Keramzin, and that she only took the job here because of him.”

“And you just assumed that she was going to marry this man.”

“And what else could be deduced from this information?” he asked, confused by the direction of his sister’s reasoning. What else could he have deduced from this information? “Alina loves him and is loved by him. He awaits her return and she is anxious to see him again. Although she has enough education to get a much better job, Alina is probably working as a servant to save money for her dowry like many other women in her position do.”

“He could just be a dear brother.” Ulla surmised.

“Alina is an orphan and grew up in an orphanage in Keramzin.” he explained, and then found himself telling his sister everything he knew about the maid and the nighttime walks in the gallery.

By the time he finished, the smile that had started the conversation had returned to his sister’s lips, but she didn’t ask him any more questions.

----

The next morning, after returning from a ride around the neighborhood with the Darkling , Aleksander looked for his sister but could not find her.

“Is my sister resting?” he asked Mrs. Stepanova.

“No, Your Grace. Miss Morozova went for a walk in the park shortly after you left.”

“Alone?” he asked in alarm.

“No, Alina is accompanying her.”

He was surprised by her answer, but did his best to hide it and nodded before saying in a relieved tone, “Tell her I’m in my studio in case she looks for me when she gets back.” he instructed and she nodded.

About an hour later, the sound of knocking on the studio door announced Ulla’s arrival.

“How was your walk?” he asked as she sat down in the chair across from him.

“Quite pleasant.” she replied with a small smile and rosy cheeks from the walk.

“If you had told me you wanted to walk during breakfast, I might have canceled my ride to walk with you.”

“I’m sorry, brother, but I was in need of some female company today.”

Of course. His sister lived with Mrs. Yakovleva and was used to having female company. However, the woman had been given leave to visit her younger sister and nephews during the summer. He felt guilty for not having thought of that. Fortunately, it was something that could be easily remedied.

“We could invite some neighbors to stay with us while you’re here.” he suggested. “I have no doubt that Miss Sonia Kaminsky would be happy to be our guest during your stay.”

“You don’t need to worry about that, Sasha, but I appreciate it. While I greatly appreciate Miss Kaminsky’s company, I want to enjoy my stay with you.”

He smiled and said, “Mail has arrived for you.”

But Ulla didn't seem very interested.

“Aren't you going to ask me what Alina and I talked about during our walk?” his sister asked, and the return of the same smile from the night before made him see that the question was a trap.

Aleksander loved seeing this more relaxed and exposed side of his sister that reminded him of the child she had been.

“Something tells me that even if I don’t ask, you’ll tell me.”

“Aren’t you curious?” she asked, seeming offended by his apparent disinterest in falling into her trap.

The truth was, yes, he was curious. Although he didn’t understand why, he was curious to know every detail of their conversation. So he took a deep breath and gave in.

“What did you two talk about during the walk, my sweet sister?”

Ulla gave him a satisfied smile and replied, “I was curious about the things you told me about her, and so I invited her to walk with me. The two of us had a pleasant and lively conversation about music and art and about love. Please don't get me wrong, Sasha, I didn't doubt what you told me about her, but it was only after listening to her that I realized how right your opinion of her was. Alina does indeed have a great knowledge and a burning passion for art and could have gotten a job in a much better position than that of a simple servant. The way she spoke about the moments you two shared in the Little Palace gallery touched me, and I must admit it was bittersweet to hear her praise the family's art collection knowing that in a few more months it will all be consumed by fire.”

Aleksander understood his sister’s feelings perfectly and nodded before commenting, “It was indeed a sad experience to show her the gallery, but her genuine interest and fascination with everything she was seeing and hearing made me proud of what our ancestors built.”

“And as you said, asking a lot of questions gets you a lot of answers.” she continued. “Perhaps you’d like to know, dear brother, that you were partially right about her situation.” He frowned and she explained, “Alina is not currently engaged. She implied that a future commitment, and even marriage, depends not only on her and the man she loves. They both depend on the willingness of other people to stay together.”

Why did that information lift a weight from his heart that he hadn’t even realized was there?

“So, in that case, the painting won’t be a wedding gift, but a farewell gift.” he corrected in the calmest tone he could muster.

Ulla seemed disappointed by his reaction and his words, but added, “Did you know that Alina gave piano and drawing lessons to the children at the orphanage where she lived before coming to work here?”

“No, I didn’t know.” he replied, and was pleasantly surprised by that information.

“She didn’t say anything, but from her sad expression as we discussed the matter, I gathered that she misses practicing.” his sister continued, “I would like her to practice the piano with me while I’m here. I have grown accustomed to Mrs. Yakovleva’s presence and would like to have someone who has musical knowledge while I practice the new sheet music Nikolai gave me. What do you think of the idea?”

“If Alina agrees, I see no problem at all.” he replied sincerely.

She nodded before continuing, “I really enjoyed talking to her, and I would also like to keep in touch with her when we leave Morozov Hall for good. Do you think that is appropriate?”

That question took him by surprise, but it pleased him. He couldn't imagine asking his maid to correspond with him, but it wouldn't seem inappropriate if his sister did.

“I see nothing wrong with two people who have so many interests in common maintaining correspondence if it pleases both parties.” he replied in a tone that was meant to be indifferent, but even he could hear the slight anxiety in his voice.

Ulla gave him a satisfied smile and said in a tone that was a mix of teasing and amusement, “Oh, I discovered something even more interesting about our maid that you probably don’t know, my dear Sasha.”

“Is that so?” he commented, knowing that she wouldn’t continue talking until she got a reaction from him.

She nodded and continued, “Alina has the worst sense of direction ever! If I didn’t know every path in our park and was trusting her to guide me back home, we would still be wandering around, completely lost!”

For a few seconds, he felt alarmed by his sister's words, but, as she herself had said, Ulla knew every path in the park and could return to the Little Palace with her eyes closed.

Ulla took a deep breath looking sad before adding “It’s a shame there won’t be much time for us to venture out and for her to become familiar with the paths.” she looked at him and asked “Remember when we were little and we decided that we wouldn’t return home until we found the legendary Morozov stag and he granted our wish?”

Aleksander laughed and nodded.

“It was a few months after our papa died. You were five and I was eight and we were determined to find Morozov’s stag and ask him to bring papa back to us.” he recalled. “Our mother had the whole Little Palace looking for us, and when Mr. Sokolov found us, we were comfortably asleep by our fire. He was so relieved to find us that he laughed when we told him what had been the reason for our escape. I can still remember the look of pity on his face when we told him we wanted to bring the papa back. He was very sensitive in telling us that it would be impossible, even for a being as powerful as the stag. He was also very generous in hiding our reasons from mama and saying that we had lost the trail because we were playing explorers.”

She smiled at the memory and thought, “Oh, so that’s why she didn’t punish us when they took us back?”

“I believe so.” he replied. “But we were forbidden from leaving the servants’ sight for a long time and that only changed because the family suffered yet another loss with the death of our grandmother Maryia a few weeks later.”

At that time, months after the death of Ilya and Andrey, sadness and mourning prevailed in the Little Palace. Their grandmother was wasting away with grief over her husband's death, and Baghra was focused on fulfilling her duties. Aleksander missed their father, and his sister, seeing him so sad, had given him the idea of looking for Morozov's stag and asking him to bring their father back to life. In his childish mind, that plan made perfect sense, and that's what they did.

“Do you think we could make it to that clearing again?”

As he had already returned to the place several times, he did not hesitate to answer, “I know exactly how to get there. As incredible as it may seem, it is less than a kilometer from here.”

“Less than a kilometer! At the time it felt like we had walked halfway across Ravka!” she commented and gave him a mischievous look before adding, “You know what we need to do, don’t you?”

He nodded, and the next morning after breakfast, the two of them went out to explore with the same joy and enthusiasm as when they first did so in childhood.

----

In the following weeks, Aleksander and Ulla continued to live their lives normally, as if the deadline given by their mother was not running out and there was no insane plan to be executed at the end of said deadline.

Ulla, in fact, invited Alina to help her practice the new scores, and on several occasions, Aleksander witnessed his sister giving the maid advice and helping her to perfect her playing. His sister's generosity did not surprise him, and when Ulla invited him to hear the two of them perform a duet, he happily accepted.

It was obvious to any observer, especially one who knew Ulla as intimately as he did, that the two girls were comfortable with each other and that perhaps, if they were given time, they would become great friends. Aleksander couldn’t help but feel happy for his sister. Ulla was usually reserved and didn’t make friends easily, but here, with Alina, his sister seemed more relaxed and her smiles were genuine and warm, rather than polite and cold.

Although he tried his best to keep his eyes away from Alina, he ultimately failed in his attempt. Fortunately, neither of the two girls were paying him any attention and he felt safe to observe her. There was something about her that always drew his eyes to her, something that had caught his attention since the first time he saw her. It was as if she was the sun and he was a plant seeking her light.

It was during one of these occasions that Aleksander remembered the conversation he had had with Genya in Caryeva and could not help but wonder, as he watched Alina, whether or not he had fallen in love with her.

I enjoy her company, I enjoy talking to her, and I feel comfortable with her. And I have no trouble imagining what it would be like to live the rest of my life with a woman like her by my side., he thought, If I'm honest with myself, the truth is that I consider her one of the most beautiful and intelligent women I've ever met, and I'm attracted to her like I've never been attracted to any other woman. But does that mean I'm falling in love?

However, if that were true, if he was in love with Alina, what could he do about it? Even if there wasn’t a huge social gulf between them, Alina loved another man. Even if they weren’t currently engaged like she had told Ulla, Alina’s heart belonged to someone else and could never be his.

The only conclusion he could come to was that, in love or not, the best thing he could do was go ahead with his plan.

---

He and his sister received more visits from other families during the rest of the summer, attended several social events and also visited their neighbors and tenants' families as a farewell.

Their days were spent together exploring and saying goodbye to everything, sharing memories worth sharing. But the truth was, even if they didn't speak, their decision weighed heavily on their consciences and in their hearts. This was obvious in the way the siblings wandered through the corridors and rooms of the mansion, their eyes examining every detail as if they wanted to memorize every corner, every detail.

Aleksander had deeper roots in the place than Ulla, but she had them too. During her two annual visits, the two of them explored every nook and cranny of the mansion and had incredible adventures witnessed only by the furniture and paintings. As they grew older, their adventures took place outside the Little Palace and, despite Mrs. Stepanova and Mr. Sokolov's warnings to stay away from the lake, they would often go there and pretend to be sailors hunting the legendary Rusalye, the sea serpent.

The day they fell off the horse during a storm, they were hunting the Firebird, because Ulla wanted one of its tears, which, according to legend, turn into diamonds. And after the accident, they began visiting the tenant farmers when they went out riding. They enjoyed knowing their names and the names of their children. They also visited their neighbors and the rectory and greeted everyone who was part of their little world.

However, it wasn't just happy memories that the siblings found walking through the corridors, halls and rooms of the Little Palace. There was a specific place near their mother's quarters that was a source of bad memories and nightmares, especially for Aleksander who was not only older and had clearer memories, but was also the one who suffered the most from their mother's punishments. When he was a child, Aleksander was very afraid of the dark. So afraid that he could not sleep unless a candle was left lit in his bedroom. His will was done while his father was alive and this was always a point of friction between his parents. Andrey said that it was normal for children his age to be afraid of the dark and that this fear would go away when he grew up. But Baghra said that he had to face his fear and overcome it and that doing what he wanted would only make him spoiled and weak.

After his father's death, it was his mother's opinion that prevailed. Baghra, claiming that she was doing it for his own good, so that he would grow up to be a strong and fearless man, would lock him in one of the dark closets at night and leave him there for hours alone, crying, shaking with fear and begging her to let him out. Ulla was his emotional support when this happened. His sister would sit outside the closet and talk and sing softly just for him to hear, to let him know he wasn't alone. One time when nothing Ulla did or said could calm him down, his brave little sister stole the housekeeper's master key, unlocked the closet and hugged him. When their mother found them together in the dark, she was extremely angry, but did nothing immediately.

However, some time later, without any warning, Baghra sent Ulla to live in Os Kervo. Feeling guilty for what had happened to his sister, Aleksander forced himself to face his fear in the vain hope that if he showed courage, if he proved to his mother that he was no longer afraid and that he was as strong as she wanted him to be, she would bring Ulla back. It would be many years before he understood that his mother had used Ulla's disobedience as an excuse to send her daughter away from her and the Little Palace.

As was fitting for someone of her social class, Ulla had everything money could buy. She attended a great girls' school, had the best tutors in painting, singing, and piano, and everything else she wanted to learn. But she had no contact with her family except during her two annual visits to the Little Palace. Aleksander was very happy when his sister was with him and did everything he could to show his affection for her during the weeks they were together.

So, as his father had said, Aleksander lost his fear of the dark as he grew up, but the nightmares caused by his trauma of being locked in a dark closet never left him. And it was a nightmare that woke him up and made him lose sleep that night after revisiting such painful memories. Knowing that lying in bed would only serve to make the past play an endless parade in his mind, Aleksander decided to get up and try to distract his mind. His feet took him to his father's room, the one he and Ulla had found during their explorations earlier in the summer.

In the darkness, he sat down in one of the armchairs and stared out the window. Outside, the sky was starry, and the moonlight that came through the window bathed his body. Inevitably, his thoughts turned to his mother. Baghra Morozova was a cold, emotionally distant, and strict woman. She educated him by using everyday events to show him the consequences of his own actions and the actions of others. She taught him to observe and analyze the world and the people around him. She taught him to use that knowledge to benefit himself and their family.

However, during the lessons, despite Baghra's coldness and emotional distance, he saw hidden aspects of his mother. She showed him her hidden caring side when he gave her a satisfactory answer and hugged him or gave him a tender kiss on his forehead or stroked his hair affectionately. After Ulla was sent to the girls' school, he lived in the company of his mother, his tutors and the servants. So Aleksander practically lived for those moments when his mother revealed this side of herself to him, but as he began to grow up and have his own opinions, she showed him this side less and less.

After the accident he and Ulla suffered and were helped by one of the tenants, he never saw this side of his mother again. Baghra became even colder and more controlling and began to dictate practically every aspect of his life. It was only when he became the manager of Morozov Hall that he began to have some freedom. It was nearly impossible not to think about how happy they would have been if his mother hadn't suppressed that side of herself and been a loving mother to him and his sister.

He was lost in these thoughts when Ulla found him.

“Nightmares?” she asked in a worried tone and placed the candle she had with her on the small table next to him.

He nodded and asked “Did I wake you up?”

“No, I was reading when I heard you walking down the hall and thought I’d check on you.” she replied.

Ulla offered him her hand and helped him up. She wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her head on his chest before saying, “Forgive me, Aleksander, I shouldn’t have insisted on seeing that place. She’s dead and I should have left that part of the past in the past.”

He hugged her back and whispered, “My nightmares aren’t your fault, Ulla. They’re hers. It doesn’t matter if she’s dead, I’ll always carry with me everything she did.”

She nodded slowly and said in a choked voice, “I wish I could erase all those bad memories from your mind, brother.”

“I know.” he said and hugged his sister even tighter.

Ulla began to hum a sweet melody like she used to do when their mother locked him in the closet and he wished he could get rid of his bad memories when he set that place on fire.

---

At the end of the summer Aleksander received a letter from his aunt Margosha proudly informing him that her son was engaged to Miss Zoya Nazyalenskaya.

That announcement did not surprise him. From what he had witnessed in Caryeva, he had guessed that a compromise between them was a possibility, for he had never in his entire life seen two people more compatible than Malyen Oretsev and Zoya Nazyalenskaya. And, considering that half of the deadline given by his mother had passed, in his eyes that was a very smart move by Viscount Nazialesnky, because if Aleksander did not manage to marry by the end of the deadline, Malyen would inherit everything and Zoya would become Duchess.

Aleksander could not help but wonder whether the speed with which Viscount Nazialesnky accepted Zoya's engagement to his cousin was due to the fact that he thought that Aleksander wouldn't be able to get married before the deadline. Or perhaps the Viscount had suspected his intention not to marry and, wanting to ensure that his daughter would become Duchess Morozova, had not missed the chance to marry her to Malyen at once.

His sister, who shared his opinion of the new couple, stayed with him until the end of October and then returned to Os Kervo. She had met one of her school friends in Caryeva and accepted her invitation to spend a few weeks at her friend’s house in Balakirev. But the siblings made plans to spend New Year’s together in Os Kervo, when they would start thinking about possible places to settle in the spring.

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