Catherine and the Black Emperor

Chapter 143. Melia's Choice

Hall 7.

Melia and her daughter Lia were having lunch at the restaurant.

This was the best meal they had eaten in recent days.

But Melia didn't have much of an appetite.

She looked preoccupied all morning, her mind filled with her conversation with Agafia.

The daughter, Liya, noticed that her mother was troubled and put down her food as well.

"Mother."

Melia snapped out of her daze, smiled, and ruffled her daughter's hair: "Isn't it tasty?"

"Mother, what's wrong?" Liya asked obediently.

Melia comforted her, "Mother is alright, she's just thinking about something."

As she spoke, she brought Liya other food and asked her something seemingly casually.

"Lia, what do you think of Duke Saltykov?"

"That's great. He saved my mother and Liya, and even let them see my father," Liya replied.

Melia's eyes flickered, and finally her expression seemed to have made up her mind. She patted her daughter's head.

"Liya, eat here. Your mother will be back in a little while."

"Um."

Melia went to the living room, found the butler Roman, and said she wanted to see Agafia, who immediately went to inform him.

Soon, Agafia came down from the second floor.

"It seems you've come to a realization."

Melia said calmly, "I need to meet my daughter and my husband first."

"You still don't understand. Sergei has no idea about our conversation. If you don't show him your sincerity, how can he help you and your daughter?" Agafia said, crossing her arms.

Melia closed her eyes.

She took a deep breath and reopened her eyes.

"I agree."

Agafia nodded and smiled: "Very good. A woman who knows how to adapt to circumstances will never have a messy life. I believe your life will only get better and better from now on."

"In the afternoon, I had someone take my daughter back home."

"no problem."

"I want to take a shower, and also prepare a formal dress for me."

Agafia looked at Melia with admiration in her eyes: "As expected of a congresswoman's wife, once she makes a decision, she is even more decisive and efficient than I imagined, and also more experienced."

Clearly, she underestimated Melia.

Melia, regardless of her age or status, knew that once she made a decision, she had to do it to the best of her ability, otherwise she would only suffer losses.

Since she was willing to offer herself.

Then she has to satisfy Sergei!

After her daughter finished eating, Melia told her.

"Mother still has to talk to the Duke and the others, so she will be back later. Your uncle will take you home. Don't be afraid to be home alone, Liya."

"Lia isn't afraid." Liya nodded.

Roman saw Lia off, and Agafia took Melia to the second floor.

"Come with me."

Agafia led Melia to the bathing room.

"Will the servant help you wash, or will you wash it yourself?"

"I can manage by myself. What about clothes?" Melia glanced around the room.

Agafia smiled charmingly and breathed sweetly into her ear.

"Madam, you should understand that what you're wearing now is more attractive to men than any fancy clothes!"

"The high-ranking congresswoman's wife, dressed in an ordinary cloth dress, sat on the edge of the bed."

"I believe any man who saw this..."

"They'll all go completely insane."

Melia looked at Agafia: "I think you're the one who's heartless and insane."

Agafia giggled, then turned and walked away.

"Madam, please take your time washing. In a little while, I'll introduce you to one of my good friends, someone I'm sure you'll recognize."

When Melia finished her bath and saw the woman who had gone upstairs with Agafia, she was shocked.

"Consul Nia?"

Naya was also surprised: "Mrs. Melia."

Then she looked at Agafia and said, "You're really crazy!"

Agafia laughed and said, "Woman, do you know what it means to share happiness?"

Hall 3.

After lunch, Sergei left.

In a few days, Johanna and Ivan will set off.

Even if King Adolf were stingy, he would still give Johanna some money, after all, she was his own sister, but she probably wouldn't be very generous.

Sergei went to find Yuri.

"There were 17 silver coin boxes in total. As you instructed, sir, one was used to frame William, one was given to the newspaper, and the remaining 12..."

"Only seven were transported back to St. Petersburg; this is the rest," Yuri explained in detail.

In front of Sergei were five more boxes, one of which had been opened and partially used.

Sergei gave Yuri a note with a few instructions.

"Yes," Yuri replied.

"When there are no missions, relax a bit and treat everyone to something good," Sergei told Yuri.

"Don't worry, sir, you've given us enough money. The brothers are staying in very nice houses and eating quite well. But we can't let them eat any more, or it will affect the efficiency of our operation," Yuri said.

Sergei nodded, letting him decide for himself.

He stopped at the door and looked at Yuri.

"Is there anything else? Just say it."

He noticed Yuri's hesitation.

Yuri hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's Fiona. Lately, whenever there's mail coming from St. Petersburg, she writes a note and has someone send it over with it. She wants to come to Sweden."

He took the slips of paper out of his pocket, and Sergei saw that there were already many.

Clearly, Yuri stopped her when the first note arrived, worried that Fiona's actions would displease him and cause him more trouble.

"They've all been burned." Sergei frowned as expected.

Yuri immediately replied, "Yes, I'll burn it right away, and I'll also have someone tell Fiona that she's forbidden from doing this again!"

"Let her come."

"Yes, huh?"

While Yuri was still in shock, Sergei had already left.

Yuri was relieved to see Sergei get into the carriage and shook his head with a smile.

As expected, the adult may seem cold and stern towards Fiona, but he actually cares for her deeply.

This also put Yuri at ease.

Because he had long regarded Fiona as family, as his own daughter, but Fiona did not want to be Yuri's daughter.

"The adult is greater than me, and her choice was right."

Yuri muttered something under his breath.

He wasn't unhappy at all; on the contrary, he was genuinely happy that Fiona had gained Sergei's favor and affection.

He's happy as long as Fiona is doing well.

Back in Hall 7, Roman told Sergei.

"My lord, Councilor Naya has arrived and is staying on the second floor with Agafia."

"Um."

"Also, Mrs. Melia is on the second floor."

"Um?"

Roman explained, "Agafia took her upstairs, and I couldn't stop her."

Sergei nodded: "Okay, I understand. You can go ahead and get back to work."

Sergei went up to the second floor.

Sure enough, in the outer room of his suite, he saw Agafia and Naya. Today, Naya was wearing a blue velvet dress, while Agafia was wearing a bright red dress with silver embellishments.

Two beautiful women, one in red and one in blue, stood there, their beauty complementing each other.

Sergei suddenly realized that everyone had been too conservative that night.