To my dearest little Yelena.
A year has passed so quickly.
Time always flies, doesn't it?
Do you remember, many, many years ago, Valery and I found you at the door, lying in the snow, crying and keeping me awake? I thought it was some neighborhood kid. I even complained to Valery, saying, 'Whose child is so restless?' Then I opened the door, and guess what I found?
I found our most cherished treasure.
I brought her inside. Look, she was so well-behaved; she fell asleep not long after.
When she first called me 'Mama,' I was happy for an entire day.
I watched her grow up, in my arms, by my side, right before my eyes. She skipped and jumped, laughing as she called me 'Mama.' And I, too, laughed and responded to her words.
Those were truly my happiest days.
...
Yelena, I'm old, and so is Valery. We're both old. But we've come to terms with it. To have a daughter like you, I'm already very content.
However, not being able to watch you grow up is still too regrettable. Valery says so too.
We probably won't be able to continue on together after this. Take good care of yourself, and don't make us worry, okay?
Little Yelena, we will love you forever and always.
Your loving Mama
“Yelena, it’s Shasha. Are you there?” A Feline maid, around 25 years old, stood at the door of Yelena's small room, knocking.
Faint sobs drifted outside the door.
“Yelena? What’s wrong?” Shasha asked with some concern.
“W-nothing… I’ll open the door right away.” The voice from inside the room stopped its sniffling.
Footsteps were heard, and the door opened. What met the maid’s eyes was a pair of spring-like eyes.
Clear, gentle, sad.
“Yelena? Have you been crying?” She looked into Yelena’s eyes and asked.
Yelena didn’t answer, only turned her head away, her dark hair falling over her shoulder, obscuring her profile.
“Alright, let’s not talk about that for now. Yelena, the Master wants to see you.” The maid placed her hand on Yelena’s shoulder, turned her around, and spoke to her seriously.
“The Master?” Yelena was a little stunned, not reacting for a moment.
“Oh, Master Koschei! Let me tell you, the Master hasn’t been back all year, and he actually brought back a child and specifically asked to see you! Oh, Yelena, you say…”
“Alright, don’t just speculate here.” The maid’s bold guess was interrupted before she could finish. “How could the Master have an illegitimate child? And besides…”
Yelena fell silent. She really couldn’t think of any reason why Koschei would want to see a newcomer who had only been in the Duke's Mansion for a year.
But she was different. Yelena had a guess in her heart.
“Besides what?”
“Nothing. Let’s hope it’s good news.”
Yelena hesitated slightly.
She looked down; the gemstone embedded in her glove still sparkled brightly.
Shasha didn’t press the matter.
“Yelena, you probably don’t know where the Master’s study is, do you?”
“I don’t. I’ve never been assigned work there.”
Yelena only knew such a place existed, but as for its location…
“Normal. I just found out too. Originally, the Butler was supposed to come, but he seemed to have something to do, and I happened to be nearby. I’ll lead the way.”
Shasha walked ahead, looking a little proud.
Yelena followed behind.
Koschei seemed to never let outsiders clean the room, or even know its location. Only the Butler and a very few people knew.
But why today…
An urgent matter? Doesn’t care?
Yelena pondered, following Shasha as she turned left and right, moving through the busy corridors and halls.
The servants in the mansion were all extremely busy, likely preparing for a banquet.
This was the busiest day Yelena had ever seen.
“Is it always this busy when Master Koschei returns?” Yelena couldn’t help but ask Shasha, who was leading the way.
“Hmm—this is my first time seeing it too,” Shasha didn’t stop walking, but she was also puzzled. “The Master rarely returns, and when he does, he doesn’t usually hold banquets. It’s not that there are no banquets, but to make such a fuss…”
Shasha shrugged and stopped at a corner. Yelena put her thoughts aside and looked along the wall; an ancient wooden door stood at the end of the corridor.
It looks like a storage room, Yelena thought.
“Yelena, I won’t go in with you.” The beautiful Feline maid waved to her and turned to leave.
Yelena watched her shadow disappear down the distant corridor, then walked to the door.
Knock, knock.
“Who is it?” A voice with an upward inflection came from inside the door.
“My Lord, I am Yelena. Did you send for me?”
“Yelena… Come in.”
“Thank you, My Lord.” Yelena quickly checked herself and opened the door.
It was a dim room; faint light seeped through the tightly closed curtains, allowing Yelena to make out the figure at the desk.
It was a Fidia elder.
His body was tall and straight, his head covered with white hair.
Beside him, a palpable gloom and coldness lingered.
Like a true cold-blooded animal, like a black snake.
The Ursus Duke, Koschei, was also observing Yelena.
“Yelena, I like your eyes.”
Koschei commented thus.