Chapter Text
"Sir Anton," a servant of the estate started, making his way to the drawing room. "There are guests asking after you and Lady Larisa."
You were seated nearby your parents, burrowed in your current book as you sat upright on the sofa. The drawing room, inspired by the fashion in Snezhnograd, was full of varying warm hues. The sofas stood out against the dark wood flooring, a ruby red with a bit of sheen and a soft squeak when one adjusted their posture. And the curtains, thick against the cold outside, let little light in, allowing the fluorescence of the kresnik furnace to brighten the space.
Guests were common at the estate; this notice did not persuade you to stop your reading. It was likely another one of your parents' friends, you thought, or perhaps another attempt at introducing you to a suitor. All the more reason to remain fixated on the words in front of you.
"Did they provide their names?" Your father asked the servant, who nodded in turn.
"Yes sir, Mr. Mitya and Major Valeriy."
"Invite them to the drawing room," your father said with a quickness, without considering the weight of these guests.
You, on the other hand, grew flustered. You placed your book down on the nearby table and waited anxiously for the gentlemen to make their arrival, while your parents continued their conversation.
It could not be him, you thought as you used your hands to continuously smooth your attire. Your eyes darted around the room, settling on the furnace, as the footsteps of your guests echoed through the estate, growing louder and louder as they made their way to the drawing room.
Still fixated on the furnace, the footsteps stopped. You heard your parents standing to greet the guests and suddenly the decor of the room was quite interesting. When Valeriy was here last, although this Major cannot be the same Valeriy, the room was painted a steady dark green. Your mother put up various pieces from artists who came by your town on a tour outside of Snezhnograd. The room felt a rigid cold now, despite the deep red and oranges, and the heat emitting from the furnace.
"My dear," your mother quipped, low and quickly. "Come greet our guests."
You took a deep breath, closed your eyes, and finally stood up to serve as a proper host for the two men. When you turned, Major Valeriy's attention was already fixated on you.
You recognized the violet eyes immediately, although his expression was more stern than you recalled. He held both arms behind his back, the loftiness of his Fatui uniform displayed a quiet confidence. He was adorned with armor and fur, his left side covered with brassy armor from his shoulder all the way to gauntlets covering his fingers. On the opposite side, he was opulent, black fur with a purple sash, various adornments and medals, and a long cape draped behind him. He was taller than you remembered, standing like a barricade in his steel toed boots.
His eyes quickly moved away, shifting his attention towards your parents as his body stayed rigid.
"Welcome, Mr. Mitya and Major Valeriy," your mother started with a large smile on her face. "You both look so elegant. Please join us here for a seat." She gestured to the sofas while asking a servant to prepare some tea. Valeriy remained still for a brief moment, his shoulders set and his hands grasped behind his back, before following Mitya to the couch opposite you.
You picked back up your book, hoping the gesture would remove you from the conversation and settle the rapid beating of your heart. You never expected Valeriy's presence back at your estate, and much less that he would promote his standing by becoming a Major within the Fatui.
As the servant arrived with the tea along with pastries and sweets, Mitya, filling his plate, broke the silence.
"This afternoon tea is wonderful, and the design of this drawing room is brilliant," he started with a radiant smile towards your parents. "I could easily get caught up with inspiration here, perhaps this should be my new office. Right, Sarge?"
Valeriy sat upright with his hands on his legs. He offered a silent nod towards Mitya before withdrawing his focus back down at the tea and snacks in front of him.
"Sarge here," Mitya continued, his cheeks full with sweets, "is my assigned bodyguard."
Impressed by the need for a bodyguard, and a high ranking one at that, your mother glowed. "How nice, it's a pleasure to meet you both. If I may ask, what brings you to our estate?"
"I am currently touring around Snezhnaya to meet and gather inspiration from my investors," Mitya started, "I greatly appreciate the investment your family has made for my research. Project Stuzha is running smoothly and I find I'm in need of a small break."
Your parents cooed at this, as early investors into Project Stuzha they craved this kind of praise. Valeriy, meanwhile, froze. His cup of tea was raised halfway towards his mouth as he closed his eyes. You, throughout the same conversation, sat rigid, reading the same paragraph for many minutes.
"That is great news," your father stepped in. "I'm glad to hear our investment has been of use. It really got us out of a difficult spot, and we live so comfortably now."
You forced yourself to shift the page, despite your lack of understanding from the heavy book. You flipped it again, as though your eyes scanned the words at a remarkable pace. Across from you, Valeriy finally set his tea down on its saucer, his gaze measured on the cup getting colder before him.
The party continued like this for a long while, thoroughly discussing the valour of influencing Project Stuzha. After some time, your mother spoke up.
"My dear. Why don't you take these lovely gentlemen on a walk around the grounds?" She smiled at the men sitting across from her, leaned closer to you and said quietly. "Please, it would benefit us to have you acquainted with more gentlemen around your age."
Valeriy quickly stood up, his tone falling into militant precision. "Pardon my haste, but Mitya, it is about time we head back to the hotel."
Mitya then stood and walked over to the side of the room with your parents. "Relax Sarge, our wonderful host is taking us on a tour. We wouldn't dream of declining." He grinned, offering his hand to help you up from the sofa. You accepted and stood among the party.
"Fine," Valeriy acquiesced. "But the local Fatui has a contingency plan if we are not at the hotel in an hour." He nodded at your parents and stepped out into the hallway.
"Great," Mitya cheered, shaking hands with your parents as he led you out of the room. "We have an hour for our stroll!"
—
Valeriy steadily walked a few feet behind Mitya and you, as was his duty as a bodyguard. The servants helped you put on your long-coat and boots. Valeriy noticed your soft "thank you's" as you stepped away. You led the way to the frozen garden.
It looked remarkably similar to his last visit, a decade ago. The shrubs were cut at the exact height, but now carried a couple feet of snow. He kept his eyes forward, surveying the space, as Mitya and you started your leisurely stroll.
You broke the silence first, "Mr. Mitya, may I ask a question?"
"Please, my friends call me Mitya," he smiled with an easy warmth in his lavender eyes. "Your gardens are wonderful. What is it you would like to know?"
"Mitya, about your bodyguard," you started. Valeriy's shoulders stiffened and he slowed his gait. You continued, your gaze still forward as you walked astride with Mitya. "I meant - sorry - why is it that a scientist like yourself requires one?"
"I get that question a lot," Mitya softened. "I guess my work is just that important."
"It must be, especially to have such a high ranking Major watching over you."
"It is more of a pain actually," Mitya turned to grab Valeriy's attention. "Sarge here acts like my babysitter." His smile grew, teasing the man close behind him. Valeriy tracked his gaze and offered a small nod.
Valeriy slowed, opting to remove himself from his charge's private conversation. He reached within his coat and withdrew his pocket watch from his chest pocket. It was a gift from the military, a standard silver encasing, kept precise to match his comrades. He checked it quickly, ensuring the local Fatui would not panic and have to execute the contingency plan.
When his attention reset to Mitya and you, Mitya was asking to see the greenhouse in the distance, towards the back of the estate. You agreed and Valeriy dismissed himself, offering to keep an eye on the perimeter for Mitya's safety.
He watched as the pair strolled towards the building. Their conversation continued, Mitya always knew how to easily make friends. The greenhouse was lit by a kresnik furnace within, from his recollection, your mother used the space to grow tropical orchids. Despite the mechanical sheen emanating from the furnace, an ochre fluorescence enveloped the pair, the grass, and flora around the structure in a summer-like dome.
Mitya held the door open for you, as Valeriy watched you enter the space. The door clicked softly behind you, and Valeriy let out a deep sigh. He relaxed his posture, his shoulders folding slightly inwards as he shook out the tension in his arms.
From the building's glow, he watched your shadow and Mitya's stretch across the melted grass, cast in violet. The condensation from within reflected the furnace's lighting with a soft glimmer. He turned on his heel and started to monitor the perimeter.
Coming here was a calculated risk, he thought. He had expected your parents to send an array of suitors your way once he departed. And that you would have been long married by now. He wasn't certain if he had even anticipated your parents forgetting him so completely — his name meant nothing to them until a servant attached "Major" to it — and their easy praise of his elegance sent a tightness to his throat and jaw.
He checked his pocket watch again, he only had to tolerate this for roughly another twenty minutes. He could perform his duty until then, and hopefully direct Mitya to the estates of his other investors for the remainder of this trip.
Behind him, in the greenhouse, he heard the muffled laughter of you and Mitya. He had no doubt Mitya had told some witty joke. He felt an ache in his chest at the sound, tensed his brows, let out a sharp exhale, and continued his surveillance of the grounds.
After some time, he heard the click of the door open. He turned to face the greenhouse and assumed his strict posture. He watched as the pair walked towards him. The heat of the greenhouse added a rosiness to your cheeks. Despite the loose smile on your face, he recognized that you looked tired. Possibly due to the unexpected hosting of guests.
"It is time to go, Mitya," Valeriy offered as the pair got closer.
"Yes, yes," Mitya waved him off and turned to you. "Please join us tomorrow at the cafe by our hotel. I have some other friends in the area and I'd love to introduce them to you."
"Of course," you said. Valeriy noted that you appeared to genuinely be interested in Mitya's friendship. "Goodbye for now." You said as you led them to the gates, your attention arrested on Valeriy, holding him in place.
He met your gaze and nodded his head your way, offering a composed goodbye. He and Mitya left the estate. Seeing you again, he thought, only introduced more complications.