Catherine and the Black Emperor

036. The Left Hand in the Dark

Catherine followed the maid to Elizabeth's bedchamber.

Her eyes were filled with tears.

Sergei didn't comfort her; he simply handed her a tissue.

Since the other party has chosen this path, these are the things she must face. Moreover, having faced similar situations more than once, she should have been mentally prepared long ago.

As expected, Ekaterina quickly regained her composure.

"Now you are the Grand Duchess you should be," Sergei said, looking at her as she regained her confidence.

Catherine smiled. "Your Highness, your encouragement is very special, but I have a question. Didn't I already have a physical examination? Why do I need to do another one?"

"Although it was done by a female doctor, Lestoker was in charge of all the doctors at the time, so the examination is not valid with His Majesty."

Ekaterina nodded, her face showing tension and worry, but the look in her blue eyes was more determined than during her last examination.

A male doctor is fine; at least he won't try to humiliate her like Lestoker did.

She has become the Grand Duchess, the Grand Duke's fiancée, and a private inspection must not be an obstacle to her!

"Don't worry, I've already made arrangements," Sergei whispered.

Ekaterina looked on in surprise, but Sergei had already walked ahead.

Soon, they arrived at Elizabeth's bedroom.

Sergei and another courtier stood outside, while a maid led Catherine into Elizabeth's bedroom.

"His Majesty."

Catherine bowed to Elizabeth.

When she saw that the doctor standing next to Razumovsky was a wretched-looking old man, she became increasingly nervous.

Elizabeth noticed Catherine's fear.

"Don't be afraid, I'll stay here with you. Dr. Kalamaldi just finished examining me, you have to trust that he's a professional."

Upon hearing that Elizabeth was there, Catherine felt as if the sky were falling.

Sergei wouldn't lie to her, but if Elizabeth were to supervise personally, the other party's arrangements would probably be ineffective; no one would dare to cause trouble in front of Elizabeth.

"Your Highness, please come with me."

Kalamaldi led Catherine behind the screen, where she once again saw the cold examination tools on the table: wooden supports, metal tweezers, glass lenses, and so on.

"Now, Your Highness, please take off your skirt."

Ekaterina resignedly closed her eyes and reached behind her to untie the thin string on her skirt, but a hand suddenly stopped her.

Catherine opened her eyes in surprise and looked at Kalamaldi, who gestured for her to be quiet and then swayed the hem of her skirt, making a rustling sound.

"Your Highness, please take off all your clothes."

This time, Ekaterina understood Karamay's intention and actively cooperated by swaying her skirt.

"Very well, Your Highness. Now please come to the area under the mirror and spread your legs as wide as possible."

"it is good."

Ekaterina took two steps forward to make sure Elizabeth could hear her footsteps.

With their seamless teamwork, the play was quickly completed.

Catherine was "getting dressed" there, and Kalamaldi came out from behind the screen.

"Your Majesty, Her Highness is in excellent condition to have a child, and as you wish, Her Highness is a virgin."

Catherine emerged from behind the screen, making no attempt to conceal her indignation: "Your Majesty, whether I am a virgin or not, the people you sent to spy on me know better than anyone!"

Elizabeth looked at her, her expression unchanged: "You've only just become a Grand Duchess, and you've already begun to show your talent."

Ekaterina bowed deeply: "It's not like that. I'm just humiliated by this examination! No virgin, no young girl, could accept such a treatment!"

Elizabeth stepped forward to comfort her: "It's all in the past now. I will arrange your wedding with the Grand Duke as soon as possible."

Sergei looked at Catherine as she came out, and Razumovsky instructed, "Sergei, see Her Highness out."

"Yes."

Stepping out of the outer room, Catherine revealed a delighted expression and couldn't help but praise, "Your Highness, you're amazing! I'm so curious how the new doctor manages to obey your orders?"

"He's a patient, and the ruble is just the right amount to cure his illness," Sergei said with a smile.

Upon arriving outside the palace, Catherine looked at Sergei, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke her true feelings.

"I don't want to lose you. At the very least, I will pray to God that I can see you every day. At the same time, I will accept God's punishment because I cannot respond to you."

Sergei extended his left hand.

"Left hand? That's strange."

Ekaterina extended her left hand to shake his hand, but Sergei shook his head, signaling her to withdraw her left hand and extend her right. Ekaterina was puzzled, but she did as he said.

"That's our relationship—we can't hold hands, but we'll always fight side by side," Sergei responded.

"I'm so happy."

Ekaterina left happily, her running posture resembling that of the carefree young girl who had first arrived in St. Petersburg a few months earlier.

Sergei couldn't help but chuckle, then looked down at his left hand.

The right hand, left and right, are commonly distinguished, just like a bright and dark area.

Easy problems could be handled by Catherine herself, easily resolved with a single hand. But when a great crisis came, he was the power behind Catherine, the left hand hiding in the shadows.

As Catherine left Elizabeth's bedchamber, she encountered the Prussian ambassador who had been waiting for her.

"Your Highness, greetings! You seem very happy. Was it your bride-to-be who brought you?"

Ekaterina was aware of the other party's ill intentions and said tactfully, "I'm a little tired, Mr. Madfield."

"I am your friend, just like King Frederick. You can confide all your feelings to me," Madfield tried to remind the other party by using Frederick's name.

But the other party was clearly mistaken.

Upon hearing this, Catherine's face turned cold: "I have no feelings to confide in King Frederick."

She remembered what Sergei had told her: when she was seriously ill, King Frederick did not send his regards to Madfield, but instead sent Elizabeth a replacement.

Madfeld smiled, his words laced with warning: "You are a subject of King Frederick, but don't forget where your true homeland is, Frederica. You are ultimately a German!"

Ekaterina's gaze turned icy as she met Madfield's eyes, her warning even more pronounced than his.

"There is no Frederica, only Ekaterina Alexievna!"

"A young girl who practices Russian Orthodox Christianity!"

"The fiancée of the Russian heir to the throne!"