Chapter 95 Anya
I could tell something was different with Nikolai.
He moved differently now. Talked differently to the other servants. There was purpose in every action.
He was planning something.
I just hoped he would not get himself killed doing it.
Ivanov's mood had gotten worse over the past week. He was drinking more. Sleeping less. Snapping at everyone.
Something was putting pressure on him but I did not know what.
One evening after dinner Ivanov pulled me into his study.
"Sit," he commanded.
I sat in the chair across from his desk.
He poured himself a drink and downed it in one swallow. Then he poured another.
"There are people trying to destroy me," he said without preamble. "People who think they can take what is mine."
"Who?" I asked carefully.
"Rival families," he said. "Council members who think I have gotten too powerful. Even some of my own men are whispering behind my back."
He slammed his glass down on the desk.
"But they will not succeed," he continued. "Because I am smarter than all of them. I see everything. I know everything."
He looked at me with eyes that were slightly unfocused from the alcohol.
"You are loyal to me," he said. It was not a question. It was a statement.
"Of course," I said.
"Prove it," he said.
My stomach tightened. "How?"
"There is a servant here. Nikolai. I want you to tell me if he does anything suspicious. If he talks to anyone he should not talk to. If he goes anywhere he should not go."
My heart stopped. "You want me to spy on him?"
"I want you to help me," Ivanov said. "He was your fiance once. He might trust you. He might tell you things."
"He hates me now," I said. "After everything that happened. He will not talk to me."
"Try anyway," Ivanov said. His voice was hard. "I need to know if he is plotting against me."
"Why do you think he would plot against you?" I asked. "He is just a servant."
"Because I know men like him," Ivanov said. "Men who have lost everything. Men who have nothing left to lose. Those are the most dangerous men of all."
He was right. He was absolutely right.
And he was starting to suspect Nikolai.
"I will watch him," I said. "If I see anything I will tell you immediately."
"Good," Ivanov said. He walked around the desk and pulled me to my feet. "You are a good wife, Anya. Loyal and obedient. Just like I wanted."
He kissed me hard and I forced myself not to pull away.
When he released me I left the study as quickly as I could without running.
My mind was racing.
Ivanov suspected Nikolai. If Nikolai made one wrong move Ivanov would have him killed.
I needed to warn him somehow. But how? We could not talk. We could not meet. Ivanov was watching everything now.
The next morning at breakfast Nikolai was serving as usual.
He poured coffee into my cup and for just one second our eyes met.
I tried to communicate everything with that one look.
Be careful. He suspects you. Do not do anything.
But I could not tell if Nikolai understood.
He moved away to serve Ivanov and I was left staring at my coffee.
That afternoon Sonya came to my room with fresh linens.
"Mrs. Ivanov," she said quietly as she worked. "I need to tell you something."
"What is it?" I asked.
"The servants are talking," she said. "About Markov. About how some of the guards have been meeting with him in secret."
My blood ran cold. "Which guards?"
"Viktor. Dmitri. Pavel. Maybe others."
This was bad. If the servants knew then Ivanov would know soon too.
"Has anyone told Mr. Ivanov?" I asked.
"Not yet," Sonya said. "But it is only a matter of time."
"Thank you for telling me," I said.
Sonya looked at me seriously. "Whatever is happening, it needs to happen soon. Before Mr. Ivanov finds out."
She left and I sat down heavily on the bed.
Nikolai was running out of time.
Whatever he was planning he needed to do it now.
But how could I tell him that?
That evening Ivanov had a meeting with some council members. He would be occupied for hours.
This was my chance.
I waited until I was sure he was busy. Then I slipped out of our chambers and made my way through the halls.
I found Viktor on patrol near the east wing.
"I need to speak with Markov," I said quietly. "Can you bring him to the garden in ten minutes?"
Viktor looked surprised but he nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Ivanov."
I went to the garden and waited in the shadows behind the rose bushes.
Ten minutes later Nikolai appeared, Viktor was behind him.
"What is wrong?" Nikolai asked immediately. "Are you hurt?"
"Ivanov suspects you," I said quickly. "He asked me to spy on you. To report back if you do anything suspicious."
Nikolai's jaw clenched. "What did you tell him?"
"That I would watch you," I said. "But Nikolai, you need to be more careful. The servants are talking about your meetings with the guards. If Ivanov hears about it..."
"I know," Nikolai said. "Viktor already told me we need to move faster."
"How much faster?" I asked.
Nikolai and Viktor exchanged a look.
"One week," Nikolai said. "Maybe less."
"What are you planning?" I asked. "Tell me so I can help."
"The less you know the better," Nikolai said. "If something goes wrong I do not want you implicated."
"I am already implicated," I said. "I am his wife. When you kill him they will question me first."
"We are working on that," Viktor said. "We are going to make it look like an outside attack. Something you could not have prevented."
"Will it work?" I asked.
"It has to," Nikolai said.
I looked at him in the moonlight. At the determination in his eyes. At the man he had become in these months of suffering.
"Be careful," I whispered. "Please."
"I will," he said. "I promise."
Viktor cleared his throat. "We should go. Before someone notices we are all missing."
Nikolai squeezed my hand briefly. Then he and Viktor disappeared back into the mansion.
I stayed in the garden for a few more minutes, trying to calm my racing heart.
In one week Ivanov would either be dead or Nikolai would be.
I did not know which outcome terrified me more.
When I returned to our chambers Ivanov was already there, sitting at his desk with papers spread out in front of him.
"Where were you?" he asked without looking up.
"In the garden," I said. "Getting some air."
"Alone?"
"Yes," I said. "Why?"
"Just wondering," he said. But his tone suggested he did not believe me.
He stood and walked over to me, studying my face.
"You look nervous," he observed.
"I am not nervous," I said.
"Liar," he said softly. He touched my cheek. "What are you hiding from me, Anya?"
"Nothing," I said. "I am hiding nothing."
He stared at me for a long moment. Then he smiled.
"Good," he said. "Because if I find out you have been lying to me there will be consequences. For you and for anyone you are protecting."
He walked back to his desk and I stood there, my legs were shaking.
He knew. He did not have proof yet but he knew something was wrong.
The clock was ticking faster than I thought.
Whatever Nikolai was planning he needed to do it soon.
Before it was too late for all of us.