Catherine and the Black Emperor

024. Fell ill

March, Winter Palace.

The honor guard was arrayed, the royal guards were fully equipped and ready to go, and all the courtiers waited in front of the motorcade to respectfully see the Empress off.

Sofia stood at the front of the crowd, wearing a gorgeous dress.

Although she no longer has a clear identity, her status is now vastly different from what it used to be.

But this also brought her a lot of ridicule and sarcasm.

"She finally changed into her dress."

"The Queen dressed her in attire befitting her status as a bride."

"It's no use, because she's a cold-hearted person, and she's not even the Grand Duke's fiancée."

"We're just waiting for her to convert to Orthodox Christianity."

Sofia ignored these voices. Neither the princesses from other countries who coveted her treatment nor the noblewomen who envied and were jealous of her could shake her resolve.

She stood up straight, expressionless, waiting for Elizabeth to appear.

"Don't pay attention to those voices; only the weak groan helplessly."

A gentle voice sounded from the side. Sofia turned her head and saw Sergei dressed in a courtier's uniform, and couldn't help but smile sweetly.

"That's right, I never listen to them."

Sergei looked at the princesses from other countries with her, smiled, and whispered to her, "Come on, smile at these ugly monsters."

Sofia couldn't help but chuckle, her smile becoming even more genuine: "Your Highness, you still have such a childlike heart!"

"Of course."

Sergei responded to Sofia while glancing at the princesses, but his smile gradually faded and his gaze turned icy, instantly silencing the princesses.

The other noblewomen also fell silent when they saw Sergei's cold expression.

As a close bodyguard to the Queen, Sergei was not particularly outstanding, but now anyone can see that this womanizing duke has won the Queen's deep trust and favor.

When Sergei turned around, the noblewomen whispered among themselves.

"Could it be that the Queen has taken a fancy to this young duke?"

"This is all because of Razumovsky's recommendation."

"That's the one from the royal choir—"

"Hush! You'd better understand, Razumovsky is now the Empress's most favored male lover! He's a count, the royal steward! He's even been appointed head of the hunting party!"

Meanwhile, Sergei noticed Sofia's pale lips and realized that the French poison had taken effect.

The Marquis de Lachertdie, sitting opposite, also noticed this, chatting and laughing with the other diplomats.

"The German princess is about to faint. She looks terrible; she must have some kind of hereditary disease!"

"I remember the scene in 1730 when her uncle, Charles Augustus of Holstein, proposed to His Majesty. They danced together to the minuet. They were a perfect couple. His Majesty was 18 years old that year, and her uncle was 21. But her uncle died before he could marry His Majesty."

The other diplomats all wore gloating smiles.

"Her Majesty the Empress has come out!" someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone immediately made welcoming gestures; the men were polite, and the women smiled.

Beside the Empress, Razumovsky was supporting her arm, while on the other side, Alexander Shuvalov, who was in charge of the secret committee and the special court, listened to the Empress's instructions.

"If Count Bestudev is too reckless, or Apravshin is too lazy, tell me immediately."

"Furthermore, Lestoc is not allowed to spend any money without my permission. Even if he wants to take a single ruble from the Treasury, he must send someone to explain to me where he intends to use it!"

Shuvalov nodded in agreement.

The noblewomen below were still whispering about Razumovsky, who was standing next to Elizabeth.

"The empress actually let a commoner climb into her bed."

"They were serfs, Ukrainian serfs."

"Don't talk too much, or you'll lose your life."

Sergei stepped forward, and the noblewomen immediately fell silent again.

Elizabeth also saw Sergei at that moment and said to Count Shuvalov, "Sergei deserves to be in your field of vision. I don't mean you should spy on him, but let him help you spy on the people you need to spy on, if you can listen to me."

"I understand, Your Majesty, I will do my best." Shuvalov nodded.

Seeing Peter arrive late, Elizabeth's face showed helplessness and disappointment.

"I hope he'll shut up a bit while I'm not around. Look at Frederica, she's so upright and graceful compared to those hunchbacked women."

Elizabeth sneered when she saw Johanna, who was also late.

"I seriously doubt that the princess gave birth to Frederica, but rather to my nephew!"

Father Simon walked up the steps and came to Elizabeth.

"Your Majesty, are you ready to repent? Are you ready to do good, to pray with the unfortunate, and to bring them hope and faith?"

"Yes, Father, bless me."

Simon made the sign of the cross in the air, saying, "Bless you, have a safe journey!"

Elizabeth kissed the priest's hand, then turned to Peter, Sophia, and the others: "Goodbye, children."

Peter stepped forward and kissed Elizabeth's hand: "Have a safe journey, Your Majesty."

Elizabeth noticed Sophia's unusual appearance: "Why are you so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"

Despite her body being on the verge of collapse, Sophia still tried her best to appear normal, calmly replying, "No, Your Majesty."

"Then you should eat more rice."

After speaking, Elizabeth, accompanied by Razumovsky, boarded the royal carriage. The guard of honor, with rifles in hand, and courtiers seeing her off, the convoy left the Winter Palace under the escort of the Royal Guard.

From the moment the convoy set off, Peter made no attempt to conceal his voice and emotions, chattering incessantly with Sofia and Sergei.

"It's exhausting. Those Russians always take forever to say goodbye! They only remember things they didn't do, forgot, or didn't notice at the last minute! My aunt is afraid of a coup; she thinks I'll seize power while she's gone!"

Sergei did not respond.

Not to mention that the three Guards Legions wouldn't obey Peter's orders, Peter couldn't even contend with Shuvalov's secret committee, so Peter's words were essentially a joke.

He had just overheard Elizabeth's conversation with the priest, and recalling Hofmall's completed painting, if he was not mistaken, Elizabeth was on her way to the Moscow monastery to visit Ivan VI's parents.

As soon as his aunt left, Peter felt as if he had been granted a new lease on life and excitedly ran to his doghouse.

Sophia's cough caught Sergei's attention. He noticed the blood on Sophia's white gloves, but Peter was calling for him, so he had to go to the kennel with him first.

Sophia, who was about to give up, gestured to her mother to take her back quickly.

"Oh! My daughter, what's wrong? Why are you like this? Luckily, the Queen and the Grand Duke didn't see you!" Johanna helped her daughter up.

Back in the room, Johanna let go of Sofia's hand, and Sofia walked unsteadily toward her bedroom. Johanna took off her gloves and made sarcastic remarks.

"Cheer up, Fig, this isn't the time to be sick! Are you doing this on purpose?"

Sofia sat on the sofa, her face completely pale and her forehead covered in cold sweat.

At that moment, the servant Matrena entered: "Princess, Prince Saltykov has come along; he's outside."

Sofia hesitated only briefly before gripping the sofa armrests and struggling to her feet. Johanna tried several times to persuade her to stay upright, but to no avail, so she had to help her out of the bedroom.

Seeing Sofia with blood on her lips, Sergei felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart.

"Princess, you..."

Sofia's smile carried a hint of deep affection and longing.

"Duke, I... am ill."

After saying that, she fainted.

"Princess!"