Catherine and the Black Emperor

059. Love and Resolute Departure

The bridal suite was a three-bedroom apartment with silver curtains and scarlet drapes hanging in the room, and a bright red velvet bedspread on the bed.

After dealing with Peter, Naryshkin, and others who tried to cause trouble in the wedding room, and with their parents and brother Peter also leaving, only Sergei and Anastasia remained in the room.

"It's getting late, you should get some rest. You sleep here, I'll sleep next door." Sergei got up.

Anastasia couldn't stop him: "I don't know why you're doing this. What did I do to deserve this?"

Sergei said frankly, "I'm doing this entirely for your sake. We're husband and wife in name only, but not in reality. This way, after you leave me, the man who truly loves you will accept you wholeheartedly. You can make up any reason at that time, like I can't fulfill my duties as a husband, or that I like men, anything will do."

Anastasia looked at him in disbelief: "Why? We're married, we're husband and wife, why would I leave you? Why would I go to another man?"

After a brief silence, Sergei said, "You should understand that your existence has affected my career."

Speaking of this, Anastasia's eyes dimmed: "Yes, I am of lowly status, an orphan, with no family or background. I cannot offer you any help. I am not a good wife."

Anastasia lowered her head at this point.

"sorry."

Sergei was inexplicably touched by this unprovoked apology. He turned his head away and offered words of comfort.

"No, you are no longer a servant, but a courtier, a servant of the Russian Empress. You are a noblewoman, and a duchess at that, although I am only the lowest-ranking duke, not even as high-ranking as counts like Bestudev and Razumovsky. And I don't care whether you have a family to help me."

Anastasia looked up: "Then I don't understand, what kind of impact are you talking about?"

Sergei frankly stated, "Your status as the Duchess of Saltykov."

"This is something we cannot change. Even if I don't want to, you cannot sway Her Majesty's will."

"So, we only need to be husband and wife in name. When the time is right, we can part ways at any time without being husband and wife in reality. You can find a man who loves you, and I will give you all my wealth."

"Sergei, am I not pretty?"

Faced with Anastasia's direct gaze, Sergei couldn't lie and nodded affirmatively: "You are very charming."

He said it from the bottom of his heart.

Tonight, Anastasia wore rouge, making her full oval face exceptionally beautiful and captivating. Her nose was high and straight, her cheeks were flushed, her light gold eyelashes exuded a seductive charm, and her light green eyes reflected an unusual beauty.

The black satin dress perfectly showcased her alluring figure, highlighting her full breasts, slender waist, and long, straight, shapely, and fair legs.

It's hard to imagine how alluring Anastasia was to men at this moment; she was a stunningly beautiful and aloof woman.

"Then forget about the future. Tonight, you just need to fulfill your duties as a husband. When the time is right, I will leave you!" Anastasia looked at him intently.

Sergei fell silent. After a long while, he turned to leave again, but Anastasia called out to him with all her might.

"Please don't leave! Otherwise I'll die, I really will die!"

Sergei turned to look at her. Tears were streaming down her bright and beautiful face, and the look in her light green eyes was so firm and resolute.

She really is going to die.

He might jump out of the window at any moment.

Sergei closed the door and walked up to her: "For a husband to fulfill his duties, shouldn't he first consider whether his wife possesses that charm?"

"What do you need me to do?" Anastasia looked at him.

Sergei found a chair and sat down in front of her: "Now, take off your clothes."

Anastasia was taken aback.

"What? Isn't honesty between husband and wife the most basic thing?"

Anastasia closed her eyes and began to unbutton the back of her skirt, her hands trembling slightly.

Even though they were already husband and wife, this was the first time she had taken off her clothes in front of a man.

The black satin dress cascaded down, revealing a tight-fitting dress underneath.

The tight-fitting design fully showcased Anastasia's perfect figure, with her full breasts and hips being extremely impactful to men.

Sergei looked at Anastasia, who instinctively shrank back, and tried to discourage her: "It's not too late to back down now."

"I have no regrets!" Anastasia said firmly.

"Then keep taking them off!"

Sergei's sudden raised voice made Anastasia tremble. She continued to unbutton her tight dress.

A blanket of white rushed into Sergei's field of vision.

Anastasia, with only a few shreds left on her body, stood almost completely naked in front of Sergei. She bit her lip, feeling deeply humiliated and in pain, but her steps remained firm and she never took a step back.

Sergei had to admit that he had underestimated Anastasia's figure. He was a veteran of the pleasure quarters, but he had never seen such perfect curves. Even Agafia paled in comparison.

Curvaceous and alluring, with fair skin and long, shapely legs, like a pair of jade pillars reaching into the clouds.

Sergei's breathing had become rapid: "Put your legs on the chair."

"No!"

"Give it to me or leave!"

Anastasia humiliatingly raised her long leg and placed it on the chair, which made her figure more curvaceous and her slender waist even more alluring.

Sergei finally asked her, "Are you really not regretting it?"

At this moment, Anastasia's emotions calmed down considerably. She looked at Sergei and said firmly, "I have no regrets."

Sergei closed his eyes, but quickly opened them again. He leaped up, scooped Anastasia up in his arms amidst her gasp, and carried the soft, alluring woman to the table.

For Anastasia, it was an extremely turbulent night. She was like a small boat caught in a storm, experiencing pain, fear, and passion, but in the end, the storm subsided and the sun shone brightly, bringing comfort and peace.

As the sun rose and sunlight streamed into the room, Sergei lay on the velvet bed, embracing a soft, beautiful body in his arms.

Anastasia woke up at some point, and her light green eyes were filled with tenderness and affection when she looked at Sergei. Such a gaze would soften even the coldest heart of any other man.

But Sergei told her, "This is all your own choice."

Anastasia pressed her head against his chest: "I really don't regret it."

"As long as we are husband and wife, I will take responsibility for you." This was the only promise Sergei could give her, and it was the best he could do.

"I'm very happy," Anastasia said with a sweet smile.

Such a captivating face, paired with a smile, made Sergei's heart, which had calmed down slightly, itch again.

"Clean up the house in a bit," Sergei said.

Anastasia looked around the room. There were visible bloodstains on the table, the bed, the windows, and the floor in front of the mirror. She blushed with embarrassment and got up to put on her clothes.

"I'll pack it right away."

I spoke for a while.

Sergei grabbed her hand and, amidst Anastasia's gasp, pulled her under the covers.

Around noon, Sergei got dressed and went out, his legs trembling slightly.

Anastasia pulled the blanket over her soft, white body.

"I won't be able to get out of bed all day like this..."