Catherine and the Black Emperor

056. Anastasia

"Hey, don't go! Play with us! You're so beautiful, you're practically God's woman!"

"We women are the best at serving God; we guarantee you won't want to get out of bed!"

At the Cittadella market, several incredibly slovenly, drunken men surrounded a young, beautiful woman in broad daylight.

Some tried to play the hero and save the damsel in distress, but they were all scared off by these burly men.

The woman was terrified, clutching the cloth bag tightly and trying to shrink herself up as much as possible to protect herself. Even so, she still felt a strong sense of crisis, as the men's lewd gazes made her very uneasy.

Logically speaking, it's very safe to stroll around the market during the day. This is St. Petersburg, the new capital of Russia, and the Sitney Market is very close to the Winter Palace, so the area is quite safe.

Even when she encountered some idle fellows as before, she only needed to flash the brooch that proved her court status to scare them away.

But this time, it failed.

Because these people are all drunkards.

"Look at that figure, I've never seen a woman with such a great figure."

"Those long legs are perfectly suited for sitting on a man's shoulders."

"Her breasts are so well-developed, I can't even imagine what it would feel like to sink into them!"

The men's explicit words filled the woman with shame and anger. She tried to rush out, but was easily blocked by the men. Not only that, the man closest to her had already reached out and touched her buttocks with his large hand.

She was horrified.

Just as the large hand was about to land on her buttocks, a hand grabbed the man's wrist. The hand was not large, and the skin looked well-maintained, like that of a pampered person.

But the hand was so strong that it forcefully stopped the drunkard.

"Who?"

The moment the drunkard turned around, he was kicked away. When the other drunkards saw that the other party was alone, they rushed over, but the young man was obviously skilled and easily beat the drunkards until they were running for their lives.

"If you don't leave now, we'll take you to the fortress!" Sergei revealed his identity.

The drunkards immediately fled in panic.

Sergei walked up to the young woman: "What are you doing here?"

The other person was also surprised to see him here: "I was off today and thought I'd come to the market for a stroll, but I didn't expect to encounter such rude people."

The young woman was Anastasia, Elizabeth's new lady-in-waiting and the prospective wife.

"Are you alright?" Sergei asked with concern.

"I'm fine," Anastasia shook her head.

Sergei nodded: "Although the security is much better now, there are still plenty of drunkards on any street, especially in bustling places like Cittadella Market, where there are many taverns."

"Duke, what brings you here?" Anastasia asked curiously.

Sergei explained, "I have some friends who have arranged to have drinks with me at the tavern up ahead, but I'll take you home first. Don't wander around alone in the future."

"I am all alone. I have no friends in the palace. It was through Her Majesty the Empress's introduction that I met you."

Anastasia's eyes lit up.

"Duke, you're practically my first friend. If your friend isn't in a rush, how about you come shopping with me?"

Sergei hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"I'm so happy, Your Grace!" Anastasia said with a sweet smile.

"Let's go."

Sergei and Anastasia walked forward. In an alley not far behind, the group of drunkards had gathered. A man stood in front of them and handed them rubles.

"If anyone tells anyone, I'll leave their body exposed in the street the next day!" Yuri warned the group.

The drunkards nodded repeatedly, took the money, and left.

Yuri glanced at the two departing figures and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Sergei and Anastasia strolled through the market for an hour and a half, buying each other some pretty stones.

"Women all like clothes, rouge, and jewelry, but you're different from other women," Sergei said, looking at her.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered that Anastasia's beauty was truly unique.

Her face was the epitome of Slavic beauty—a full oval face with translucent, fair skin, her cheeks flushed with a healthy, natural rosy glow, and her eyes with a hint of light green, like the lake water of a Siberian summer forest.

Long, light gold eyelashes drooped like butterfly wings; her nose was straight and beautifully shaped, with a slightly upturned tip that carried a hint of pride and allure; her lips were full and well-defined, a natural coral pink.

She had rounded shoulders, a tall and alluring figure, and her well-proportioned frame was visible under her tight clothes. Her slender waist accentuated the curves of her full breasts and hips.

Her long, straight, and shapely legs couldn't be completely concealed even by a skirt, giving her a unique, cold, and alluring charm.

However, during his conversation with Anastasia, Sergei could sense that she was a lively and innocent young girl.

This stunningly sexy figure contrasts sharply with her innocent and naive personality, making her seem just as Agafia described—a captivating and alluring woman with a fatal attraction for men.

"Her Majesty the Empress has really gone to great lengths for me," Sergei murmured to himself.

Her aloofness and sexiness were designed to exploit his womanizing weaknesses, while her innocent and naive personality was a direct attack on his scheming nature as the vice chairman of the secret committee, coupled with his ordinary background and lack of connections.

It could be said that Anastasia was a thorny rose that Elizabeth had tailored specifically for him.

"I also like clothes and cosmetics; no woman dislikes them. However, I feel that jewelry is not as good as these stones; they are more natural and pure," Anastasia replied to Sergei's question.

"It's getting late, I'll take you home." Sergei glanced at the sky.

"it is good."

The Queen's eunuchs stayed in the palace before they got married, and only after they got married would they live outside with their husbands. So Sergei sent the woman back to the Winter Palace.

At the door, Anastasia called out to Sergei, who was about to get into his carriage and leave.

"Duke, will you marry me?"

After a moment of silence, Sergei said, "Actually, we both know very well that neither of us can make decisions about our own marriages. You have no choice in the matter, and neither can I."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Anastasia's eyes.

"I sensed it while we were shopping earlier. Duke, you don't like me, but I genuinely like you. Perhaps it's because you protected me, or maybe it's because of the various legends surrounding you at court."

Sergei was both amused and exasperated.

He had prepared many responses for the other party, but he did not expect the other party to be so straightforward and say it directly.

But he achieved his goal: to make Anastasia like him while simultaneously expressing his distance.

"My legends all seem to be related to my womanizing ways. If I agree to date you, it's probably because I'm lusting after your body, you know?" That was all Sergei could say.

"So what? My body is me."

Sergei paused for a moment, then without saying a word or turning his head, got into the carriage and left.

Anastasia stood there for a long time before returning to the palace with a dejected expression.