Catherine and the Black Emperor

014. Turning danger into safety

Sergei saw Peter walk in from outside, followed by the Chief Minister.

Sophia excitedly stepped forward, but Peter kept his distance. Sophia asked him without caring.

"Your Highness, have you come to save me?"

The lively and lovely girl was like a poorly sculpted stone statue in Peter's eyes. Peter ignored Sofia and looked at Sergei and Naryshkin instead.

What are you doing here?

Naryshkin stammered, "Your Highness, we'd like to walk the dogs for you...they're being naughty...they're so energetic..."

"It's because you didn't listen to me."

Naryshkin was speechless at Peter's offhand remark.

Peter didn't care. He looked at Lestoker, who came out from behind, and said, "How can you be the one to conduct a private examination of the German princess? You're your aunt's physician, not the princess's!"

"Your Highness, this is my duty." Lestoker's face darkened.

"That's not how it is now. Your hair is all white; how can you look at young girls' bodies? God won't forgive you! I've already spoken to your aunt, and she's arranged for a female doctor. You should rest!"

Peter feared only his aunt in the palace, which made him feel emboldened.

Lestok had prominent, bulging veins on his forehead.

Peter ignored them completely, and as he took the dog leash from Sergei and Naryshkin, he said to Sergei, "You're right, I am Frederick the Great's loyal warrior!"

"Your Highness, thank you for saving me." Sophia stepped forward again.

But her enthusiasm only earned her Peter's indifference.

Peter's eyes darted around, as if he couldn't see Sophia, or perhaps he didn't dare to look her in the eye. He led the dog, said to the Grand Minister, "I'm leaving this to you," and left.

Sophia stood there, watching the Grand Duke leave, and lowered her head in disappointment.

"That's just the Grand Duke's character; he's not a bad person. You saw it yourself; he left his own servants to take care of you." Sergei gestured for Ulyana to help Sofia put on her dress.

"You don't need to comfort me, Your Highness. Thank you. I really don't know what today would have been like without you."

Sophia shook her head and followed the servant into the inner room.

Lestoker was insulted once again.

His own office, the place where he treated ministers and nobles, had somehow become the German princess's dressing room!

Sergei didn't give the other man a chance to vent his anger, and pulled Naryshkin outside to wait.

Lestoker could only yell at the servants, "Get out! All of you, get out!"

Naryshkin shrank back outside, then complained to Sergei, "You didn't help me when the Grand Duke was questioning me! I risked my life to be your hero!"

Sergei said calmly, "I pulled your clothes to shut you up, because the Grand Duke doesn't care about any of this. We're helping him, and we rescued the princess together. She'll thank you. You're a great hero now."

"I'm... a hero?!"

Naryshkin was overjoyed.

Sofia changed her clothes and came out. The private examination was rescheduled for the afternoon. Sergei instructed Ulyana to take the princess back, and then he and Naryshkin left.

Sofia only left with her servants after Sergei's figure had disappeared from sight.

"Damn Frenchman! If he dares to show his face in Zebst, your father will never let him get away with it!" Johanna was furious upon learning of her daughter's ordeal.

But then she went to her daughter's side.

"This isn't all bad news. Her Highness the Grand Duchess personally came to your rescue. This is your chance. I can already see the title of Grand Duchess beckoning to you."

Sofia ignored her.

Peter made no attempt to conceal his words, and she heard them clearly.

It was Sergei who risked Elizabeth's anger to take it upon himself to save her. It was also Sergei who persuaded the Grand Duke, who did not want to save her and was unwilling to even say a word to her.

She was disliked.

But that's alright, the private inspection hurdle has been passed, and...

Sophia slightly raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror.

"The Grand Duke doesn't like me, so I'll make him like me. I've never wanted his favor, but if he can bring me closer to Peter the Great's throne, I'll have him! I'll have his favor!"

"What are you muttering about?" Johanna asked, turning around.

"It's nothing."

Just then, Sergei arrived at the door and knocked.

"Duke!"

Upon seeing Sergei, Sofia's last bit of unhappiness vanished, and she approached him with a beaming smile, her words filled with joy and gratitude.

"I've come to deliver good news. The Imperial Minister has confirmed ahead of schedule that Your Highness will have an audience with the Empress tomorrow. Tomorrow evening will be your welcoming banquet." Sergei's smile made Sophia feel as if she were basking in a warm breeze.

"My God! Heavens, it's finally come to this!" Such an excited voice came from Sofia's mother.

How could Johanna not be excited? An audience with the Queen meant that the Archduke had been chosen—the German princess, her daughter!

The other princesses will all return to where they came from!

"Happiness has come so suddenly, Your Highness, is this all thanks to you?" Sophia asked with great surprise.

Sergei shook his head.

Actually, it wouldn't be wrong to say it was his doing, because it was his outburst that got to Elizabeth's ears. Given her shrewdness, she naturally knew what Lestoker was up to, so this could be considered compensation for Sophia.

Of course, they were also certain that Sofia was a virgin and fertile, and if the afternoon's examination results were not ideal, they could simply cancel the audience.

After all, this was only a verbal notification to Sofia.

"Your Highness, how can I win the Grand Duke's favor?" Sophia felt nervous at the thought of meeting the Queen.

"The one you need to please is not the Grand Duke, but the Empress. All decisions come from Her Majesty the Empress," Sergei corrected her.

"What should I do?"

"You have a beautiful smile, you should smile more. Also, you should make the Empress feel that you genuinely like Russia, for example..." Sergei fell into thought.

Sofia's blue eyes lit up: "Greet her in Russian!"

Sergei couldn't help but agree: "Absolutely right! That's the right attitude!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Sofia exclaimed joyfully.

Johanna suddenly interjected, "Your Highness, Sophia doesn't have a suitable dress. My dress doesn't fit her. Could you please find us one? The more gorgeous the better, as it will perfectly showcase my daughter's beauty!"

"Mother, if you hadn't donated all your money to your wardrobe, I would have a proper dress," Sophia complained.

"Shut up! You little busybody, you have no idea I'm doing this for your own good!" Johanna stared at the other person coldly.

Sergei shrugged and smiled: "Princess, if you trust me, I think you should wear the clothes you have. As long as they are clean enough, it is not disrespectful to the Empress."

Johanna wanted to say something more, but Sofia already understood Sergei's meaning and nodded happily.

"I believe you, Your Highness!"

Leaving Sofia's room, Sergei walked down the corridor, his glasses gleaming with thoughtful intent.

He had known for a long time that Sofia was very smart.

So with Lestoker, he didn't need to say anything; Sophia would understand everything, which is why she thanked him back then.

However, it cannot be denied that Sofia's ambition and lust for power have already been revealed.

The other party was constantly trying to please Peter, not because of Peter's thin and weak body, nor because of his goldfish eyes and messy blond hair, but all because of his status as the heir to the Russian throne.

Sergei was not saddened by this.

On the contrary, it was precisely because of Sophia's performance that he became even more convinced that his goal—to help her ascend the throne—was correct, and that he was more suited to be a behind-the-scenes minister.

Sergei strode away from the Winter Palace.