Which Witch || Aleksander Morozova

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓮𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

Storybook

— 

It's a particularly cold day, and the sharp breeze bites at Katerina's cheeks as she treks over the gravel, back towards the Little Palace. A walk around the lake eased her frustrations somewhat, and she's actually able to feel concern when she sees Alina looking distressed.

Katerina offers a small smile as she passes her, and Alina immediately asks, "Have you seen the General?"

Katerina shakes her head. "Not since yesterday evening. Why?"

"I think he's avoiding me, and I'm worried I've done something wrong."

At that, she frowns. She can't think of a single reason why Aleksander would be avoiding Alina, especially not when he's been such a constant presence by her side over the last few weeks. "I'm sure he's just busy planning our trip north."

She nods at the assurance, but doesn't look very comforted.

"If I see him, I can let him know you're looking for him?" Katerina suggests.

"Would you?" She nods. "Thank you so much."

Stepping into her room, Katerina sighs, placing a letter she'd written on her walk on her desk. She unwraps her scarf and drops it onto the trunk at the end of her bed before letting herself fall back onto the mattress.

After a second, she pulls herself back upright with a small groan, and it's then that she spots something on the floor at her feet. A hairpin. It looks as if it fell from her nightstand, and she trails her fingers gently over the wooden surface with a small frown.

Maybe it just fell on its own... but a twist of unease in her stomach has her sliding from the bed to kneel on the floor, sticking her hand in the side of her mattress. Where she hoped to feel the comforting solidity of a leather-bound book under her fingers, she finds herself instead grasping at empty space. Her heart thuds so loud in her chest that for a second it's all she can hear.

He's avoiding me. I'm worried I've done something wrong. Katerina swallows hard, but after a long moment of straightening her thoughts back out, her fear is suddenly replaced with a surge of anger.

There's only one way he could have found the book, and that was by looking. Not even just standing in her room and observing, but by actively searching out and invading possible hiding places.

Her fear now completely gone, she storms out of her room and across the hall. The Oprichnik posted there snaps to attention in a somewhat panicked manner when he catches sight of her, clearly not missing the expression on her face; eyes smoldering, lips pulled into a hard, angry line. "Uh, My Lady- Consul- I- the General is not to be disturbed-"

She blows right past him, slamming open the door to the War Room where Aleksander stands at the end of the table. Hands leaning heavily on the surface, a familiar book laid between them.

His head snaps up at the sound of her sudden entry and for a second, they stare at one another, the air between so tense with a mangle of emotions you could probably cut it with a knife.

Then a second pair of boots can be heard approaching hurriedly and two Oprichniki enter the room.

Aleksander raises a hand and they freeze behind Katerina.

"Moi Soverenyi-" one of them begins uneasily.

"It's alright." He replies at the same time Katerina snaps, "Get out!"

The two don't waste a second, hurrying out and shutting the door behind them, despite the fact that it wasn't the General who ordered them out.

I frighten them. She noted in the back of her mind. Good to know.