Irina C, of course Ivan is a nice guy, otherwise I wouldn't be able to live with myself :)
russia2774, and the troublemaking is far from being over *rubs her hands together like a fly*
CHAPTER 5 - How do you say 'good boy?'
Dimitri's POV
She's using that against me. She knows so well I'll get bored to death in there between mountains of silk and cashmere. Nicely played though. I appreciate the pettiness, even though it's not directed toward the right person.
I could protest or argue that Lissa would be a better companion, but I'm sure she'll come up with other reasons to keep me with her.
"After you, then."
I let her enter the room first and the woman inside wants to send me away, but Rose would not have me get away so easily, and tells her I'm there to stay.
I sit on a chair and watch them the entire time. Four excruciating hours, to be exact. If only I had a book on hand.
She made sure to pick the most expensive materials and to ask a million questions about the most insignificant things, deciding to change everything last minute, only so that we would stay there for longer. This exasperated not only me, but the tailor as well. I don't think she ever met a client like Rose before and I don't think she will ever want to meet her again.
Besides that, she treated me like her best friend, always asking me for an opinion about this or that material or this or that color and so on, and considering how many contacts I had with fashion in my life, I must say I've been useless to her. Still, she tried over and over again. Just to show me she's in control of this situation. And each time I gave her an answer she didn't like, she made sure we would be staying there for longer.
I know the Lord won't approve of all the dresses she decided upon, but that would be a worry for another time. But I learned a thing or two today. She loathes yellow. Emerald green is not bad, but still, she scrunches her nose at the prospect of having to wear it at very special events, until she gets married. After all, it's the color of her family. And bloody red? I love the way she looks in crimson. The color of the queen, which seems to be made just for her. The perfect match for her fiery attitude.
Another thing I discovered I love? Jasmine. Until now, I felt it fleetingly each time I'd follow her around, but being in the same room as her for so long, I cannot stop taking delight in her perfume. It is intoxicating.
Because she had to put on a variety of models of dresses, she had to remain several times dressed only in a chemise in between dresses, and I must say that is not a sight to ignore. I only dared look once, for a second, and my brain could only reminisce about last night, when she entered my room. I would lie if I'd say it has been easy not to want to look again, last night and now too. But I shouldn't be boorish. Even if I only looked once, it was one time too much. Who am I to even dare do such a thing?
I must say I appreciate her determination to make me feel miserable, because she succeeded to do it at the expense of her own misery. When we're close to wrapping it all up, I am bored out of my mind, but so is she. And starving. I've been hearing her stomach growl for a while now, but she still didn't give up on trying to prolong our pain.
But at last, she got tired enough for us to be ending this session.
When we get out of there, I can feel she's cranky. But who is to blame?
"So, what is on my schedule now?" I can understand the bitterness in her voice. When someone plays with your free will, it's not pleasant.
"Nothing."
"So, I can do whatever I want?"
"Within reasonable limits."
"I'm hungry." Such a surprise. "In both regards."
"Then I'm taking you to the dining room and I'll ask for a feeder."
On the way, she asks me about the Turkish stuff from breakfast and that brings back the way she spoke to us this morning, and especially, what followed. Maybe I shouldn't, but it gets me mad all over again.
"Oh, so now you want that? What changed?"
She looks down. "I was… I was mad. And I wanted to prove a point."
"And how did that go?
She shrugs and sits down at the table. "I'm… sorry."
"You shouldn't apologize to me." Ivan is the one who suffered the most from this ordeal.
"I know. I should apologize to Ivan. But to you too. I've been… well, I haven't been… you know, nice. Maybe I could try to be more… civil."
I nod, and want to go on my way after entering the dining room. I will let Lissa watch over her for a while.
"Where are you going?"
"You know, I have things to do."
"Besides following me around?"
"Surprising, right?"
She smiles, but it's a sad one. "Yeah, there are more important things to do, I guess."
Honestly, I have nothing else to do.
"It's not like that."
I just feel the need to get away from her. For whatever reason, I wasn't able to put my thoughts in order for the past hours and that's becoming frustrating. And now it feels imperative that I take a walk and remedy that. The fact that I got mad all over again for what happened this morning isn't helping either. I shouldn't let myself be stirred up like that.
"It's fine, I understand. I'm just a nuisance to you, you don't have to pretend I'm not. I know I've been one all day long. I wouldn't want to be around myself either after the thing I pulled with the tailor."
"Rose-"
"I said it's fine. You can go."
"I can stay."
"And I said you can go!"
"So there went you being civil, huh?"
Her jaw clenches and she gets up. "I'm not hungry anymore." She rushes out of the room.
"Wait!"
"I'm only going to my room. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't take me there, okay? Go handle your more important business."
Rose's POV
Later on, Lissa comes to my room, bringing food.
"Dimitri told me you didn't eat a single thing today."
"Why would he care?"
And why did he send her? He was afraid I'd throw the plate at his head if he came? Because I would have. I would have thrown myself at him too and I would have added some fists to the equation.
She shrugs. "I don't know what the man is thinking."
"I have a pretty good idea. I am his charge after all. He wouldn't be able to keep his perfect reputation if I die while he was on duty, right?"
"But… you'll eat, right?"
"And miss the chance to break Belikov's streak?"
"You're not serious, aren't you?"
I drag the plate closer to me. "Of course not. Only my ego prevented me from going back to the dining room earlier. And the prospect of seeing him again. He's not worth it for me to starve. But…"
"But what?"
"I don't want to be here."
"Here, in your room? We can remedy that."
"No. Here, in this house."
"But why wouldn't you?"
"Because it's shit. You may think this is the chance of my life, but I never wanted this life. I was good where I was. I liked my life. Or whatever I had left from it before…" before my father took away from me everything I ever knew about myself and sent me away from everyone I knew.
"So… that's why you ran away."
"Yeah. And if that man wouldn't be on my tracks at all times I'd do it again. I know that maybe I'm asking for a lot, but would you help me? Please? I can't bear to spend a second longer here."
She ponders things for a minute.
"I'll think of something, alright? Just don't… don't do anything to get yourself hurt, alright? You won't be able to be free if you break your neck."
"I guess he told you about the tree thing too?"
"I kind of asked him to tell me. I didn't want to believe you did that when the maids told me. But leave that. Tell me, how was it as you were out there, all by yourself? How are the communes?"
After I fill in Lissa about my adventures, adding some other stuff I know from my previous life, I am supposed to go to sleep, because it's late. But I can't. The hours roll and as the morning approaches, I still feel restless, so I thought I could try my chances with a walk.
I make sure to keep on to Dimitri's advice and I open the door of my room slowly and silently, then I wait. No one emerges from his room, so I am free to roam around.
The only guard on duty isn't around and I make my way out of the house. It's very early in the morning, the sun has just begun to rise and there's no one outside either to question me about my whereabouts.
And maybe… this means I could… I know I promised Lissa that I wouldn't do anything to put myself in danger, but just looking around can't be harmful, right? If I don't try to climb up another tree, I'll be fine.
But my searches are futile. The hole in the wall has already been taken care of and there is no other place I could slip through. I need to come up with another plan than looking for an easy way out. All my low-hanging chances disappeared the second Belikov entered the picture, and I'll need to put in a lot of effort to get out of here.
Speaking of him, as I sit on a bench and watch the birds wash into the marble birdbath, he approaches me.
"What are you doing out so early?" I inquire.
Looking at him, at how he's dressed and the sweat, I bet he just downed a cardio session.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"You already know what I was doing. You've seen me. I've seen you watch me for a while." If he thought he was stealthy, this time he wasn't. The nature around and his height didn't help him much. "So where are you coming from?"
"I was visiting the dogs."
"The dogs?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know there are any dogs here. I mean, I heard some barks, but I thought there were some rabid dogs in the forest or something."
"We don't let them out that often around this side, only when needed." Then I should be thankful they weren't out when I left otherwise I'd still be cut in little pieces. "Do you want to see them?"
I don't know why he's the one to extend the olive branch toward me, but I'll take it. He's giving me the chance to mend things without apologizing? Great.
"I would like that."
We get going and we walk to the back of the house. We even pass through a gate that was always locked when I got close to it. Of course, he has the key.
Seeing what is past the gate, I realize that the pool of places I could escape through just widened for me. I see new opportunities arising with this place. I only need to find a way to get here more often, in recon. Maybe I could get around to stealing the key from him one day.
"How big is this domain, anyway?" I didn't think that the space past this gate was Zeklos' too.
"Big enough."
"So you're not sharing escaping tips anymore?"
He gives me a smile, so, so little, with the corner of his mouth. But it was a smile nonetheless. Maybe I am the kind of person to get smiles from him after all.
He then whistles and from around the corner of a barn, the dogs come. They're running. Three fierce dogs.
When he said dogs, that's not what I pictured.
"Oh, those are…"
He nods. "Dobermans."
They're getting closer at high speed and I hide behind him, my hands gripping his hoodie. My reaction gets a chuckle from him, but I don't have the time to be happy about our bonding time. The dogs are coming!
"They won't hurt you. Unless I tell them to," he adds after a pause.
"Will you?"
"You're safe."
I don't really believe it, so I remain there. But they stop in front of him when he gives a command.
"МЕСТО. СИДЕТЬ." They sit. "Come on, get out of there."
"No."
He moves out of the way and leaves me to face the dogs.
"It's alright. They won't hurt you, I promise."
And it is as he says. They are curious, watching me with inspecting eyes. Nonetheless, they won't act on it without being allowed to. They're rather majestic, now that I have the time to analyze them. Two of them are fully black, and the other one is dark brown with lighter spots.
"They're so obedient."
"We trained them since they were puppies, so they'd rather be." He pets one of them. "Do you want to pet them?"
"Oh, I don't know…"
"Come on, come closer. Don't be afraid. I'm here."
His words inspire safety and I agree.
I take a step closer and watch them. One of them even tilts its head, like asking me: 'Hey, why aren't you petting me already?', but I am still somewhat reticent.
"Give me your hand," he says when he sees I don't act by myself.
I do what I'm asked and I let him guide my hand closer to one of the black dogs, closer to its nose.
"What's its name?"
"You'll laugh."
"Why would I?"
"Ivan picked their names when we were seven. And they're rather… unserious."
"Oh, now you have to tell me."
"This is Tux." The dog was sniffing my hand and now goes as far as starting to lick it.
"Let me guess, from that patch of fur resembling a bowtie?"
"Yes."
I guess that the dog licking my hand was a cue I'm alright, because next, Dimitri moves my hand up on his head. I pet him and he seems to like it, so I get a little more courageous. I crouch and give him a full-on petting, with scratches behind the ears and all. I laugh when he licks my face.
"He likes me!"
One of the other dogs whines when it wanted to move and Dimitri didn't allow it.
"What happened?"
"I think Elmo's jealous."
I laugh once more. "Elmo?"
"Don't ask me, I never saw the logic of it."
I lean closer to the other two dogs and pet them too, not wanting to discriminate any of them. They're just as cute as they seem ferocious.
"You don't play with them too much around here? They seem to be missing some love."
"We do, in fact. I always play with them when I get the chance. They're just greedy now that you're here. Plus, you're someone new."
"I bet they're really fierce."
"They are. When they need to."
I wasn't paying much attention to the dogs as I was talking to Dimitri, and one of them does something a hasty move, wanting to make me give him a belly rub, which makes me pull back. Losing my balance, I end up on my ass in the wet grass.
"ЛЕЖАТЬ!" he commands and the dogs lie on the ground, on their bellies.
He then helps me back up to my feet. I feel like an idiot. A wet-assed idiot.
"I'm sorry. I'm a little uneasy around big dogs. I had a not-so-fortunate encounter with one when I was little and… I guess that fear stayed."
"It's alright. Take your time," he encourages me.
I feel safe with his reassurances and I try once more. I kneel this time and he does the same.
"They're so… majestic. But I think I like this one most." I pet the brown one now. "It seems a little goofy."
"Pogo? That's because she is."
"Pogo?" Ivan definitely scored with these names. I love them.
"Yes. And she deserves her name. When we got her, she kept on jumping around like she was on a pogo stick."
"I bet she was hard to train."
He laughs, probably remembering it. That's a premiere. Small smiles, I saw. I even managed to make him smile today. Laughter, I never heard it. I kind of like it. It's hearty and coming from him, it's something.
"At times. It was mostly fun."
"How do you say 'good boy?'"
"молодец."
"Mala-what?"
He smiles. "It's mo-lo-dets."
I think I'm going to mess that up anyway. But I still try. The dogs seem to like my praise.
"Do they know any tricks?"
"Some."
"Show me already."
He points towards Tux and commands: "дай лапу"
He lifts his paw and shakes Dimitri's hand.
"Aw, that's so cute. Molo-dets Tux! Did I say that right?"
"Close enough." Dimitri scratches the back of his head. "You know, we should go back."
"Sure." because god forbid someone sees I'm missing.
"ДОМОЙ!" And the dogs leave. "Let's go." But I don't move. "What happened?"
"I um…" I want to take accountability for my shit. That's what I've been taught. "I acted stupidly yesterday."
"I don't think you're a nuisance." Wow. That I didn't expect to hear from him.
"But I am."
He shrugs. "Just because you want to be one."
He gets up first, and when I want to do that too, I get dizzy, and I need to rest my hand on him for support.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. I just… I need a second before it passes."
"You didn't eat last night?"
"I did. Instead, I didn't-"
"You didn't feed."
"Don't worry, it's not that tragic. I'm used to-" fuck.
"Used to what?"
To starve myself until it becomes essential that I feed. I would sometimes go without blood for up to four days. It is hard to keep a feeder in a place full of Dhampirs and having to take often trips out can bat an eye, so I learned to temper my hunger. I've functioned in survival mode for almost my entire life.
"Nothing. Just… I just forget to feed sometimes."
He nods. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen again."
Later on, along with breakfast, I get a piece of good news and a package. The good news is that the beloved Lord is not home. He left with some business and I am more than glad to know I won't be stumbling over him in the house. Hence the comfort of receiving breakfast in my room because there is no one to share it with.
But when it comes to the package I get…
"The Prince sent this for you." Lissa extends it to me.
"Not interested."
"You didn't even open it."
"I don't want to."
If Ivan thinks that some shiny things will make me love him, he is wrong. Wasn't I clear enough with that bouquet?
"Can I open it?"
"Sure. Suit yourself."
She awes for a whole minute as she turns the little hair comb on all sides and then once more, checking out every detail. It is, indeed, beautiful. Made from gold, with a complicated pattern of flowers and leaves, formed from blue and green little crystals.
"You can keep it."
"Oh, no. I could never." She puts it on the table in front of me. "I cannot do such a thing."
"You can. I am giving it to you."
"The Prince will be mad."
"He won't be. And if he will, I will explain to him how things are. Again, and again until it gets into that little brain of his. I won't be swayed away by expensive stuff."
"But I cannot wear such a thing. It wouldn't suit me."
"Nonsense."
I get up from my place and go behind her. Getting a hold of her hair, I arrange it in such a way that half of it is pinned by the comb. I didn't do a great job, but the main idea is obvious. That comb looks great in her blonde hair. The little blue and green pieces stand out in a way that they could never have in my hair. I make her turn in such a way that she can see herself in the mirror.
"Rose, I really cannot. It's too much. I wouldn't be able to afford that, like, ever, in my life."
"Great thing I gifted it to you."
"Rose, I am not even-"
"Fuck that."
"But you don't even know what I wanted to say."
"I do. And… you know what my parents used to tell me?"
"What?"
"That it doesn't matter if you're royal or the poorest person on this planet. It doesn't even matter how you look, really. If you're different than others, fuck that, right? Why should you feel any less than anyone? What truly matters is the way you conduct yourself. If you know in your heart that you're a worthy person, no matter how different than others, then act like one. Don't let clothes or other bullshit show that for you. You be that. You be who you are. No one can take that away from you. Possessions? Sure. That can embellish things. But one day you could lose all you have, and what does that leave you with? Because if truth be told, no matter the embellishments, if you don't think you're worth it, they won't help much. You can put on as much glitter as you want, but if you think you're trash, you'll still smell like one, even if you're all dolled up. And I know I've gone on a big tangent here, but what I've been trying to say is that I think you're worth it, Liss."
She smiles. "I'm sorry to be asking this, but aren't you like, nineteen?"
"Hey! I'm turning 20 soon. Not soon-soon, but soon."
We both smile this time. "I didn't mean to offend you. I was just thinking that you sound pretty wise for your age."
"Me? Wise? Nah. I do and say the stupidest of things and half of the time I can't even follow any of the things I've been taught. But you know, it's always easier said than done. My folks were wise, though. Really good people."
"But you father's still-"
"That bastard is not… They were…" I look away. I really should stop bringing out shit like this that makes me get tangled up in little lies. "I'm sorry."
I turn around before she sees my eyes fill with tears. Gods, why am I like this? I haven't cried over their death for a long time, why is this happening now?
"Hey, Rose-"
"I want to be alone, please."
She leaves, but comes back sometime later, when I've chilled out my emotional state.
She has an idea in mind. She's very excited about it, but in my mental state, I don't think I'm up to hearing it.
Until I hear it. I thought it was a little plan of hers to lift my mood, but what she just said to me is a hundred times better. I don't even ponder things, I accept right away. I mean, Zeklos Senior and Belikov are out of the house and it is the perfect time to do it!
But first, I want to ask Lissa something.
"You're really helping me?"
"Isn't it obvious? I even thought of everything we need."
"Maybe. But still, why?"
She shrugs. "I don't think you'd be having the greatest life here. Or at the Court, for what matters. It's ten times worse there."
I hug her tightly. "Thank you. I won't forget this."
"You'd better not to. If anyone finds out I helped you, I'll get burned alive or something."
"I won't tell anyone." If it all goes down, the blame is on me 100%, I'll make sure of it.
First, we call for a delivery guy to come and pick up some shit. We're going with the excuse that I want to send away some of my stuff, things I won't be needing now that I'm embracing my royal, extravagant life. We thought it would be a good, logical idea to mark the destination as my home, but it's not like the package will ever get there. Of course, we asked for urgent delivery because we want the man to come by the house as soon as possible.
Of course, a carton box will not do the job, so Lissa came up with the idea to use a chest she found in the basement. But there will be no stuff inside the chest we're sending away. It will be me, and if anyone is curious about where I am at that moment, Lissa will tell them I'm having a bath. We even let the water run in the bathroom, in case someone enters my room. That's a great plan, right?
It all goes smoothly with me getting inside the chest. We made sure to make it comfy, padding it with pillows, so that I wouldn't get a terrific backache as I wait to get far enough from this house. Plus, we labeled the chest with that 'Attention, fragile', so we hope I won't end up too shaken up in the end. I even have little spaces I can breathe through, so I won't suffocate on my way to freedom.
I resist the urge to blow up my cover when one of the guardians that are carrying the chest down the stairs complains about the heaviness of it. I'm not that heavy! Two grown-ass men are carrying me after all! I could carry my own weight, I often did squats with more than that, so why are they complaining?
"Couldn't we like… empty half of it or-"
"No!" Lissa intervenes right away. "I mean, it would be disrespectful for you to rummage through the Princess' things like that."
"What is in there? Incriminating stuff?" one of them jokes and I'd show him something incriminating, but again, I'd better not blow up my cover.
"Will you get this chest downstairs or do I have to do it myself?" she gets a scolding tone and I like it when she bosses them around.
"Fine, fine."
They do a relatively good job, if you ignore the shakes I got when they hit the chest against the banister while going down the stairs. I'll survive. This little inconvenience is worth the results I'll get.
Lissa is talking with the delivery guy, and I think that this is it, I'm getting out of here. It won't be too long until this guy puts me in his car. After half an hour or so, when we get far enough from the house, I'll get out of the chest and run away. Lissa and I tested how I should get the chest opened from the inside and it's super easy. I cannot wait to get away!
Only that I hear a new voice joining the conversation.
"What's happening here?"
Fucking Belikov. She told me he went in town with some damned business!
"We're sending this away." I hear Lissa's shaky voice. That's not a great start.
"Says who?"
I do, so go see about your business, Belikov!
"The Princess is sending her stuff back home."
"Open it."
"That wouldn't be a nice thing to do," she protests but I have the impression this trick will not work on him.
"I said open it."
"I don't have the key," Lissa counters.
"You don't have the keys. Then how did you lock it?"
"I didn't. The Princess locked it."
"And tell me, how are they going to open it when it gets to its destination?"
"They… they have a key too?" I bet he is throwing her a suspicious look, I can feel it through the wood. "I don't know, this is the Princess' arrangement, don't ask me for details. She just told me-"
"Fine. I'll ask her for details."
"She's having a bath right now."
"Then we'll wait until she finishes. There's no urgency, right?"
"Actually, I'm here because they asked for a fast delivery," the delivery guy intervenes.
"Where's the rush?"
Lissa has no answer for this, and come on, it is as clear as day he knows I'm in the chest. There is no way for me to continue this charade.
I use my trick and open the chest. To say that the delivery guy is shocked would be an understatement. The other two guardians aren't as surprised. Dimitri doesn't even show any emotion.
With an impenetrable face, he sends the man away, the guardians too, and it's only Lissa and I that remain to face him. He's watching us with crossed arms and I swear to god I never felt like this, not even when I got scolded by my parents.
"Explain yourselves."
We both open our mouths, but I talk over Lissa.
"It's my fault. I talked Lissa into it."
"She has free will. She chose to help you."
"She didn't. I threatened her that I will make her lose her job if she didn't. She was obliged to help me. I bribed her into doing it. I'm to blame. I did it."
I know I am too vehement about it for him to not still be suspicious about her involvement. He's eyeing me for a whole minute, and I'm so close to saying 'Please, let her go', but he gives in before I start my pleading.
"You can go, Lissa," he says without taking his eyes off me.
"But I-"
His head turns toward her and there's no need for him to say something to her. She rushes out of there.
Like that, it's only me who's going to be scolded, and I am perfectly fine with that.
"You know that if you run away when she was supposed to be with you she will lose her job, don't you? So even if you threatened her with losing it if she doesn't help you, the ending is still the same for her if your plan works out." No, I didn't think that way.
"So if I manage to escape on your watch, you'll get in big trouble?" I try to joke my way out of this, but he will not have it, his expression delivers the message clearly. "It's not her fault."
"Fine. But did you think we're that stupid not to notice a chest that's going to be sent away? Especially when you're nowhere to be found and the destination is Turkey?"
"Well, the other guardians didn't question it."
"They actually did. That's why they called me."
"That's why they were moving so slowly, right? They were waiting for you." he nods.
I knew there was something shady about their complaints and how often they put the chest down, for a break!
"It was worth the shot, wasn't it?"
"Do you plan to pull more of these stunts?"
"Do you plan to stop me?"
"That's what I'm here for."
"Then I'll try until I succeed." The edges of his mouth curl, not really into a smile, but into something expressing a sense of superiority. "Don't be so cocky. I might surprise you sooner than you think."
So. Escape attempt number three failed. I need to get genially creative fast.
How was the chapter for you? I know the story is kind of moving slowly, with the biweekly update, but thank you so, so, so much for the patience and the kind words!
Have a great week ahead guys and lots of love!