Chapter 7: Mikhail's attempt to flirt

Rodion observed his two siblings fidgeting in their seats, especially Viktor. They were seated inside a carriage en route to the farm.

Good thing Father was present earlier. I don't know how I'll convince Mother about it.

Anna and Viktor sat opposite him, their eyes both brimming with delight. Anna remained silent, but she couldn't hide her smile of excitement. It had been a long time since she saw the farm and, she missed the food Katerina Makarovna prepared every time she visited there back when she was still a little.

His younger brother Viktor couldn't hide his excitement and anticipation to arrive at their destination, "We are really going to the farm!" He chirped, his face beaming with so much delight, "And I'm going to see brother Lyonya, too!"

When he watched his younger brother, full of energy, a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth, Rodion suppressed a chuckle.

"You are right, Young Master. Are you excited to see brother Lyonya, too, Young Master?"

Rodion's smile disappeared when he heard Mikhail's voice next to him and made a face. The Knight was seated upright with his arms crossed against his chest. His shimmering emerald eyes appear slightly excited.

Rodion wanted to get back to him and had refused his insistence on going with them because he knew that the knight was certainly eager to see Leonid again. But it turned out that, aside from being a Commander Knight of the Baron's estate, he was basically his personal knight. The two grew up together and shared a common childhood. His loyalty to Andrei Mikhailovich made him refuse to be with the Royal Knight for a better opportunity.

So, accompanying them was the natural thing for him to do, and his mother insisted he should be guarding them, especially since his siblings were with him.

"I am! I want to play with him when we arrive! He told me before he would teach me how to tend a sheep, I want to learn new things!" Viktor chirped once more; his face radiant with so much joy.

"But Vitya, we are supposed to spend time with Rodya, not Lyonya." Anna suddenly retorted back to his brother. This caused Viktor to pause in his seat and carefully glance at his brother opposite him.

Rodion exhaled a gentle laugh while observing his younger siblings.

"It's totally alright, we can invite Lyonya to join us, we have all day to spend time anyway." He assured his younger brother.

"Alright!"

"I also want to play with Lyonya," Mikhail casually butt in.

The three siblings simultaneously looked at him. Mikhail sat straight next to Rodion, arms crossed, his cross sword leaning against the door of the carriage next to him. Silent suddenly fell within the carriage for a moment.

Viktor widened his smile at Mikhail, "We can play together!"

This guy is so whipped for Lyonya, Rodion scoffed. He didn't bother to express his words, nor did he speak again. Anna, on the other hand, stared intently at the Knight with her amber eyes, but she didn't say anything. Mikhail wasn't concerned, he sat there with an authoritative air. His reserved demeanor saved him from looking like an idiot, and he didn't even feel awkward in the slightest.

*

The sun was up, its rays reflected on the air. 

Their carriage finally arrived. Viktor couldn't contain his excitement, and nearly jumped off the carriage when he saw sheep and cows grazing in the pasture. Mikhail pulled him up and carried him before he alighted the carriage with little Vitya on his arms. Anna and Rodion followed behind before the four of them made their way towards the entrance fence.

"The sheep! The cows! Anya, look at them! Look, look!" Viktor was filled with so much delight and was thrilled when he watched the flock of sheep, fidgeting in Mikhail's arms. "They look fat! I wanna touch their fur!"

"I can see them, Vitya."

Dmitry Petrovich was the first to see them. When he saw Rodion with his siblings, he was overcome with joy, immediately calling out to his wife. After waving his hand at them, he ran towards them to extend a warm welcome.

"Young Master, you're back! I see you brought your siblings with you. Good morning, Young Master Vitya, Young Lady Anya. Welcome back to the farm, it's been while. Goodness Rodya, you could have sent us a message to inform us of your arrival with your siblings."

"Good morning, Dmitry Petrovich." Anna greeted the man, offering a smile.

"Please, Young Mistress, kindly refer me as Mitya. I insist." Dmitry suggested, to which Anna nodded in acknowledgment with a smile.

"Good morning to you, too, Mitya…" Viktor offered the greetings back while he was still in Mikhail's arm. His short arms wrapped around the Knight's neck. Dmitry smiled at the young Viktor when he addressed him by his short name.

"Thank you, Young Master. You've grown into such a handsome young man."

While Viktor and Dmitry were engaged in a conversation, Rodion nudged at his sister, "Want to check my study room? I have one upstairs. I saw in your room, when we were looking for you earlier at the manor, a bookshelf full of books. Perhaps, I could recommend you some books."

Anna was stunned for a second before she raised a brow at his brother and said in a flat voice, "Hn. That's a good suggestion, it's hot to explore the farm at this time."

Inside the house, they immediately settled into the small living room.

Katerina, just like Dmitry, was overwhelmed with joy to see Viktor and Anna inside the house. It was evident that she held a great deal of fondness for the kids when she couldn't take her hands off them, pressing the two into her hug and giving them kisses on their heads. 

"I am so happy Young Master Rodya decided to bring you here to visit. We can't easily leave the farm to visit the manor, I feel sad about not seeing you for a long time. You must enjoy your stay here. I will make sure to prepare you delicious snacks and meals." 

Mentioning snacks and meals, Anna was overcome with eagerness to once again taste her cooking. 

After one last kiss on their heads, she hurriedly made her way to the kitchen. The couple's house was a modest dwelling that was neither small nor large. The living room lacked adequate space, consequently, upon Katerina's departure for the kitchen, Viktor retreated into Mikhail's arms and sat on his lap. Anna glanced at the stairs that lead upstairs. She was eager to check his older brother's study room. 

"Brother, should we head upstairs?" She asked which Rodion immediately agreed.

Dmitry, hung his coat on the coat stand and glanced at the two, "That's a great idea, Young Master. You were a top student for years at the Royal Academy, perhaps you could share your materials with the Young Mistress. I know she's doing well at school, but that would help her. Don't you think so?"

I was? There's so much I don't know about this guy's identity… I need to work on this and gather info, at least enough not to feel lost about who I am now.

"That's a good idea, Mitya…yea, let's go, Anya." 

The two navigated their way upstairs. 

When the two were gone, a sudden thud outside the door was heard before it was opened. Leonid Dmitrievich's silhouette emerged from the door. He wore an old chestnut-colored coat, its color fading, and a flat cap that concealed his blonde hair. His ocean blue eyes flattered at the beaming child sitting on Mikhail's lap. 

"Vitya?"

Before Vitya could jump off of Mikhail's arms and give Leonid a hug, Mikhail immediately stood up and carried him towards Leonid. The knight paused a step away from Leonid and gazed down directly at his mesmerizing blue eyes,"Good morning, Lyonya. Young Master Vitya is so happy to see you, he misses you a lot."

If Rodion were present, he would most certainly scoff at the Knight's poor and obvious flirting skills.

"Lyonya!" Viktor chirped in affirmation.

Leonid's father glanced at the three before he made his way to the kitchen, "I will join Katya in the kitchen, Lyonya, if you could be so kind to accommodate our visitor."

Lyonya acknowledged his father's word, he removed his coat, then his flat cap, before he brushed his finger through his sweaty hair.

"Hold on, Young Master, I stayed outside under the sun. I smell sweaty right now."

Mikhail's emerald eyes sparkle when Leonid brushes off his hair from his face. "I don't mind, you smell nice."

Leonid paused his hand on his head and threw Mikhail a glance, "Put Young Master down, Mishka. He's not a baby anymore to be carried around."

*

In Rodion's study room.

Anna carefully surveyed the room. During her last visit to Katerina's, their brother was still living in the manor. She noticed that most of his belongings and personal items from his old room were still present—his piano and his collection of books. As she looked around, her gaze fell on a painting hanging on the wall. She approached the painting and stared at it intently.

"Brother," she called out.

Rodion who had sat on the sofa, searching through the papers that had scattered on the small table, looked over his shoulder to her sister. "What is it? Did you like that painting?"

"I don't see your easel, or any of your art materials…" Anna stated, her eyes still glued to the paintings, "And you left your paintings at your studio back at the manor, but…you brought this one with you."

Anna broke her gaze at the painting and turned to face his brother, her eyes reserved and calm.

"Why did you stop painting, Rodya? Mother is not mad. She would understand the reason…"