Catherine and the Black Emperor

Chapter 142. Sergei's Guest

Faced with Agafia's blatant scrutiny and teasing, Melia simply closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let her full chest rise and fall slightly.

She was trying her best to endure the insult.

But Agafia only intensified her actions.

"Hmm, this face is very pretty, and at your age, you might be more attractive to men than I am."

As Agafia spoke, her slender fingers lifted Melia's chin.

"Madam, please don't insult me ​​like this," Melia finally said, unable to hold back any longer.

Agafia removed her finger: "How can it be an insult? I admire your beauty. You clearly have a lot to talk about, but you don't know how to use it. Don't you think that's a pity?"

"What do you mean, Madam?" Melia asked, puzzled.

Agafia sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and her pajamas were pulled up, revealing a pair of long, fair, and shapely legs.

"Do you need Sergei's help?"

"Yes."

"So, did he say yes?"

Melia fell silent for a moment.

Agafia laughed and said, "So you see, any help is two-sided. He helps you, so you have to help him. But besides your body, what else do you have that he needs?"

Melia raised her head: "Madam, do you mean I should sell my body?!"

Agafia smiled.

"It's not about betrayal, it's about mutual benefit. You still don't understand what I mean. Power, beauty, money, and so on are all just things. Don't take any one thing too seriously, and don't take any other thing too lightly either."

"For example, if you want Sergei's help right now, can you do what you want to do without his help? Isn't it very difficult? But your body, isn't it as simple as just taking off your clothes to take it out?"

Melia looked at Agafia in shock.

"Madam, I don't understand what you're doing. You're actually asking me to seduce your husband!"

She didn't understand why Agafia would do that.

Doesn't she worry about letting a wolf into her house?

Or perhaps the other party is so confident that the Duke will not be bewitched by her and abandon his current wife.

Yes, the other woman has that confidence. Whether it's looks or figure, she surpasses her by a point. Most importantly, she has a captivating charm that she herself doesn't think she can match, even though she is more mature.

However, Agafia's words shocked Melia even more.

"Madam? Husband? You're hilarious. I'm not his wife, I'm his mistress." Agafia chuckled.

Melia's eyes widened in disbelief.

But then I realized that this was normal.

Because Agafia's temperament is indeed more suitable as a lover, and the most perfect kind of lover at that.

At the same time, she realized what was happening and questioned him somewhat angrily.

"Did the Duke send you to persuade me?"

Yes, that must be it.

Sergei must have been after her body!

The other party is hiding their true intentions very well!

The other party is just like William!

No, he's more insidious and cunning than William!

Seeing Melia's indignant expression, Agafia's smile widened.

"You're overthinking it. I'm just trying to help you because we're both women."

"Without your congressman husband, how will you go on living? Do I need to say more?"

"What's the difference between this Swedish capital and St. Petersburg? Without a powerful backer, you're nothing more than a lamb surrounded by wolves."

Agafia shrugged and walked out. As she reached the door, she turned back to look at Melia.

"Think it over carefully. If you don't agree, then pretend I was never here. And also—if he really wanted you, shouldn't you already be in his bed?"

After saying that, Agafia left.

Melia was left standing there, stunned.

Yes.

If Sergei really wanted her, he could have forced himself on her, like William did, by threatening her with his daughter. She would have had no choice but to comply.

And there will never be a second time someone will fall from the sky to save them, mother and daughter.

Can sell one's body —

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but clutch her clothes tightly.

Hall 3.

Sergei, who was completely unaware of Agafia's meeting with Melia, saw the overjoyed Johanna here.

Upon seeing him, the other person rushed up to hug him with immense excitement, just as they had done when they first met Sergei here.

"Duke, thank you so much! The surprise you gave me is beyond my wildest imagination! I truly don't know how to repay you!"

That's right.

Sergei's surprise for Johanna was the arrival of Ivan Betskoy, a guest from afar.

At Sergei's request, Johanna's lover in St. Petersburg did not disturb her until her husband died.

Today, at Sergei's invitation, I came to Sweden and met Johanna again.

"The Duke."

Ivan Betskoy smiled and bowed to Sergei.

After leaving St. Petersburg, Sergei had been providing him with assistance. Not only that, he also handed over all the blueprints that Sergei had painstakingly designed to the Academy of Sciences.

Some of the blueprints have already been used in St. Petersburg and other cities.

Compared to his severed ties with Johanna over the years, his relationship with Sergei has become increasingly close, but this cannot stop his love for Johanna, so he is equally grateful to Sergei.

"Madam, I already know what has happened to you. Mr. Betskoy will be with you from now on. He has a large enough mansion and enough wealth to live out the rest of his life in Paris," Sergei instructed.

He has already found out.

After Johanna's husband died, she ruled in place of her son. However, King Frederick, seeking to expand his territory and finding Johanna no longer of any use, unilaterally annexed the Duchy of Zebst into the Kingdom of Prussia.

Left with no other choice, Johanna had to travel to Sweden to find her brother, King Adolf.

She knew she couldn't stay in Sweden forever, so she wanted to get a sum of money from Adolf and run away.

Although she hasn't received the money yet, at least her beloved has come.

She can run away with Ivan!

"Thank you, Duke, you have done so much for me!" Johanna said gratefully.

She never imagined that after traveling all the way to Sweden, the person who would help her in the end would not be her own brother, but Sergei.

"Madam, I must solemnly remind you that once you go to Paris, don't think about anything else. Even if you manage to enter the social circles of the powerful, it will all be in vain," Sergei said earnestly.

"Yes, I understand. I will keep your words in mind, Your Grace."

Sergei knew exactly what kind of person Johanna was; she would probably forget what he said in a few days, and her personality meant she wouldn't allow herself to live an ordinary life.

However, he did everything he could, all for Ekaterina's sake.

As for what will happen to Johanna in the future, that's up to her.

Even if she can't stay idle, the powerful and wealthy in Paris will surely teach her a lesson.

Unfortunately, this woman has learned far too many lessons, yet she never learns her lesson.