Please Kill Me - Chapter 96

Having misinterpreted the rumor that Yekaterina was being ‘fattened up’, he stormed into the kitchen, awkwardly trying to speak the standard language, and confronted Igor.

Realizing his mistake, he later exited the dining room, side by side with Yekaterina, both gnawing on turkey legs and patting their full stomachs.

Next was Olga.

“Mister! Aren’t you feeding the Miss too often? It’s like you’re actually fattening her up! Who serves snacks so generously?”

Despite her usual advocacy for healthy eating, she scraped the sugary snacks clean off her plate before leaving.

Then came Vasily.

“I heard the Miss comes here. After snack time, I’ll ask her for a sparring session. What? You want me to eat too? Cake? Well, I don’t dislike it, but…”

The stern knight relished the honey-laden Medovik cake.

Following him was the stableman father and son.

“Uh, we were wondering if you had some sugar cubes for the horses… Ahem.”

“By the way, it smells fantastic, Chef. Is there any left for us?”

And then, Sonia and Stepan arrived, sensing the burgeoning situation.

“I never thought the chef would serve a Mont Blanc that even this old man would enjoy.”

“Ah, the baked goods are delightful. Were you always this skilled with desserts?”

Before long, the dining room became the go-to place during snack time. People gathered, sharing the large, freshly baked treats. The place was perpetually filled with the heartwarming aroma of rich and varied foods, creating an air of happiness and comfort.

For Igor, who used to sigh quietly while peeling potatoes alone in the kitchen, this was an emotional and fulfilling change.

In this way, Yekaterina integrated seamlessly into Rostislav. She had a remarkable ability to blend into everyday life just as effortlessly as she could erase her presence.

Perhaps it was her unassuming demeanor or her straightforward nature that made it easy for people to warm up to her. Whatever the reason, it was undeniable that she always found herself surrounded by people.

Even today, after some time passed and the hunting party drew near.

“Alright, alright! Today, I used some glazed chestnuts! Everyone, take a seat! You over there, help with serving!”

“What’s that outside?”

“Oh, I had left some filling out to cool and forgot about it. Hold on, I’ll get it!”

The dining room buzzed with chatter as people gathered, each engrossed in their own conversations. Igor, eyes gleaming with excitement, announced that his latest creation was his masterpiece. While the staff exchanged their expectations and everyday stories.

The fireplace crackled warmly, and the sweet aroma from the kitchen filled the entire mansion, a comforting part of their now-familiar routine.

Yet, despite the serene and joyful atmosphere, Yekaterina found herself unable to smile.

Even though she had become an integral part of Rostislav’s daily life and their tea time had transformed around her, Leonid still hadn’t spoken to her directly, not even once.

* * *

It was the first time Yekaterina found waiting to be such a strange experience.

For someone so used to waiting, this felt particularly unsettling. The worst part was not being able to pinpoint the exact cause of this feeling.

‘Is it because this waiting has defied my expectations?’

Yekaterina had thought that the waiting would not last more than three days. With the hunting party approaching, she assumed Leonid would soon inform her of the cancellation.

However, contrary to her expectations, Leonid had not approached her for almost a fortnight. They had never been particularly chatty, but since that day, their communication had completely stopped.

All messages were relayed through Sonia or Stepan.

It felt as if the ease when they used to strike up a conversation so easily had vanished entirely.

‘Is he very angry?’

Or perhaps he couldn’t find a suitable excuse to cancel their agreement? Maybe, after getting angry, he felt too embarrassed to speak to her?

Or, had he simply stopped liking her?

There were many possibilities. So many that it was confusing. And the fact that none of them seemed to fit perfectly made Yekaterina even more uneasy.

Moreover, it was difficult to believe that Leonid was either very angry or had stopped liking her, considering how consistently he watched her. Every time Yekaterina turned around, their eyes met. This was the only thing that remained unchanged.

Even before Yekaterina had left for the hunting grounds, Leonid had always been watching her. The difference now was that back then, she could approach him and start a conversation whenever she wanted, whereas now she couldn’t.

‘I’d hoped that if more people joined us for snacks, Leonid might reluctantly join too.’

Yet, Leonid remained absent, not even his shadow gracing the gathering. Occasionally, when they did cross paths, he would merely observe her silently, as if studying her.

As the date of the hunting party drew closer and the waiting stretched longer, Yekaterina found herself increasingly focused on Leonid.

It was like inflating a rubber balloon to its limit.