Hak rolled his eyes in annoyance while Graham looked far too pleased with himself.
Ulyana couldn't help giggling quietly at the entire interaction.
The sound made Hak glance toward her again briefly before looking away.
Rowan, meanwhile, seemed entirely unbothered.
"Are you ready for dessert," he asked calmly, "and that one on one?"
Ulyana nodded lightly. "Yeah."
A few minutes later, Rowan retrieved two tubs of ice cream from the kitchen freezer while Graham and Hak remained downstairs.
"Chocolate or vanilla?" Rowan asked.
"Both."
"A dangerous answer."
"I'm multifaceted."
Rowan chuckled softly at that before leading her upstairs.
His office was vastly different from Nikolai's.
Where Nikolai's study felt heavy and traditional, Rowan's office was modern, clean, and quietly intimidating. Dark shelves lined the walls while floor to ceiling windows overlooked the coastline of Silvercrown below.
Ulyana settled onto the leather sofa while Rowan loosened the cuffs of his shirt and sat across from her.
For a moment, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed, then Rowan got straight to the point.
"The first public date," he began calmly. "We need somewhere believable."
Ulyana scooped a spoonful of ice cream absentmindedly. "Believable for who?"
"The public," Rowan replied. "And more importantly, our enemies."
She nodded slowly. "What are the options?"
Rowan reached for a tablet resting on the coffee table and handed it toward her.
"A charity gala."
"Too formal."
"A private yacht event."
"Too suspicious."
"A restaurant."
"Too boring."
Rowan looked amused. "You're difficult."
"I'm particular."
He leaned back slightly. "That's probably worse."
Ulyana continued scrolling through the list thoughtfully before pausing. "What about the aquarium?"
Rowan blinked once. "The aquarium?"
"Rich people love pretending they care about marine life," she replied seriously. "And it's public enough to look natural without looking staged."
A laugh escaped Rowan before he could stop it. "That might actually work."
Ulyana smiled faintly. "We could feed penguins or something."
"Nothing says political alliance like penguins."
She pointed her spoon at him. "Exactly."
"Besides," Ulyana continued thoughtfully, "with the age gap thing, our dates need to kind of bridge that for onlookers, right?"
Rowan listened attentively.
"So it needs to feel exciting," she explained. "Because technically this is the first public relationship for both of us."
Rowan nodded slowly. "That's actually a very smart point."
Ulyana shrugged lightly before taking another spoonful of ice cream. "We need people to focus more on how good we look together than the fact you're older."
That made Rowan laugh quietly. "You really do think like Nikolai sometimes."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should."
After a moment, Rowan glanced toward the tub in her lap. "Can I have a spoon of that?"
Without waiting for much discussion, he moved from the armchair to sit beside her on the leather couch instead.
The proximity caught Ulyana slightly off guard, though she hid it well.
She scooped some french vanilla ice cream onto her spoon for herself and was about to hand the tub over to him.
Instead, Rowan gently took hold of her wrist and leaned forward slightly, eating the ice cream directly from her spoon.
Ulyana froze.
Rowan released her wrist afterward like nothing unusual had happened.
"That's good," he said calmly.
Then he finally took the tub from her hands.
For some reason, the simple action felt strangely intimate. And judging by the faint amusement in Rowan's eyes, he absolutely knew that.
Rowan looked at her shamelessly amused.
"Get used to that," he said calmly. "You can't look that shocked during our dates."
Ulyana blinked at him. "And you should treat them as genuine too."
There was something dangerously smooth about the way he said it.
Ulyana found herself quietly studying his face for a moment afterward.
Rowan Volkov was unfairly handsome. Sharp features, composed eyes, effortless confidence. He looked less like a man and more like something carefully sculpted by the heavens themselves.
Worst of all, he seemed completely aware of it.
"I'll be fine," she said after a brief pause.
Then she shifted slightly on the couch to face him.
"Okay," she sighed lightly, "if not the aquarium, where do you suggest?"
Rowan thought for a moment, then spoke casually. "Maybe something like a baseball match?"
Ulyana immediately froze mid-sip.
"Don't tell me you are a fan of the Silvercrown Bears?" she asked, genuinely surprised.
The Silvercrown Bears were her team.
Rowan blinked once, clearly caught off guard by her reaction.
"I—" he started, then paused.
For the first time all evening, he actually looked slightly unsure of himself.
Ulyana narrowed her eyes at him. "You are."
Rowan exhaled through his nose, like he'd been caught doing something mildly embarrassing.
"…Yes," he admitted.
Ulyana's expression shifted instantly into disbelief.
"You're secretly a fan of the Bears?"
Rowan leaned back against the couch, composing himself again. "I prefer not to broadcast my recreational interests."
"That is such a liar answer."
"It's a truthful one."
Ulyana stared at him for a second longer before breaking into a smile. "I cannot believe I'm only finding this out now."
Rowan glanced at her. "I cannot believe you just interrogated me about baseball loyalty like a state secret."
She pointed at him with her spoon. "It feels like a state secret."
Ulyana pointed her spoon toward him decisively again. "We can definitely do the game next week."
Rowan nodded once in agreement. "That would work well."
"The Bears are playing the Kings next Friday," she added. "The entire city's going to be there."
"Perfect," Rowan replied calmly. "Public, believable, and difficult to approach recklessly."
Ulyana hummed softly before setting the ice cream down on the coffee table.
The playful mood faded slightly. She turned toward him more seriously now.
"Also…" she started quietly, "I understand what you bring to the table."
Rowan listened carefully.
"You've already offered me a lot. Safety, freedom, stability."
Her eyes held his steadily.
"But what are your expectations of me?Loyalty is already unspoken," she added softly.
Rowan remained silent for a moment before answering.
"I don't expect obedience."
That answer surprised her slightly.
"I expect honesty," he continued. "Especially behind closed doors."
His tone stayed calm and composed. "If there's a problem, we address it directly. If something displeases you, you tell me."
Ulyana listened carefully.
"I don't want a silent wife standing beside me looking miserable for appearances."
Something about the sincerity in his voice caught her off guard.
Rowan then added, "And regardless of how this arrangement began… once we're married, I will treat you as my real wife."
The air between them shifted subtly again.
More serious this time and much less political.
Ulyana held his gaze for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "I can do that."
"Ulyana." Rowan's voice softened slightly as he looked at her.
He shifted closer on the couch and gently took one of her hands into his.
With his free hand, he ran his fingers back through his blonde hair while thinking over his next words.
Ulyana found herself watching him silently. Everything about Rowan felt composed.
Controlled.
Elegant.
"Yeah?" she asked quietly.
Rowan studied her face for a moment before speaking.
"I know this arrangement may not be ideal emotionally," he admitted honestly. "And I'm not arrogant enough to assume you'll suddenly fall in love with me because of proximity."
His thumb brushed lightly across the back of her hand.
"But I would like the chance to make this a good life for you."
Ulyana's expression softened slightly.
Rowan held her gaze steadily.
"I don't expect perfection from you," he continued calmly. "And I won't demand parts of you that you aren't ready to give."
Something about the sincerity in his tone made her chest tighten unexpectedly.
Then, with the faintest hint of amusement returning to his expression.
Rowan added, "Though I would appreciate it if you didn't look at me like I'm a seventy year old man every time our age gap gets mentioned."
That caught her off guard enough to make her laugh quietly.
"Rowan…" Ulyana hesitated slightly. "Should I even call you that?"
She tilted her head thoughtfully. "You are technically an unc."
Rowan let out a quiet chuckle.
"Hey," he replied smoothly, "you're the one who called me a 'young thirty four.'"
"True," Ulyana admitted with a small smile. "But I do appreciate the care you're showing me."
She looked down briefly before continuing.
"When we get married, I aim to be the best wife I can possibly be."
Rowan's eyes stayed on her quietly.
"But if I ever misunderstand you, make you angry, make you worry, or make you question my intentions…" she said softly, "please remember this conversation."
Her fingers tightened slightly around his hand.
"I can't promise perfection," she admitted honestly. "And I won't expect perfection from you either."
For a moment, Rowan simply looked at her, then something in his usually composed expression gentled.
"You really are dangerous," he murmured.
Ulyana blinked slightly. "What?"
"You say things that make it very easy to become attached to you."
Rowan gently leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against her cheek.
Ulyana didn't pull away.
He noticed that immediately. And he liked it far more than he should have.
Still, after that brief moment of closeness, Rowan placed a respectful amount of distance between them again.
The restraint surprised her.
"I'll drive you home myself," he offered calmly as he stood.
Then after a brief pause, he added,"Though… we should probably get used to being alone together."
Notably, he avoided looking directly at her while saying it.
Ulyana noticed. "I know you're busy," she replied softly. "Hak can take me home."
To her surprise, Rowan almost seemed relieved by that answer.
"Fair enough."
He reached for his phone afterward.
"We should exchange numbers as well," he said casually. "It would seem strange if I didn't have my fiancée's number."
Ulyana smiled faintly before handing him her phone.
A few moments later, numbers exchanged and contacts saved, she thanked him quietly before the two of them headed back downstairs.
When they returned to the dining hall, Graham and Hak were seated across from each other at the long table, entirely engrossed in a chess game.
"Checkmate," Graham said calmly.
Hak stared at the board for a few seconds before letting out a low chuckle.
"You're annoyingly good at this."
"That's because unlike you, I use strategy instead of violence."
Hak rolled his eyes.
Then both men looked up simultaneously as Rowan and Ulyana entered together.
There was something noticeably different now.
Subtle but obvious enough that the two of them already seemed strangely comfortable beside one another.
Hak drove Ulyana home in silence, though this time it wasn't tense.
There was a subtle softness between them now.
Something quieter.
More fragile.
The city lights reflected across the windshield as Ulyana finally broke the silence.
"Hak," she said softly, "I forgive you for tonight. But please… don't cross the line again."
Hak kept his eyes on the road as he nodded once.
"I'm glad you brought that up," he admitted quietly. "I really am sorry."
After a pause, he added, "For everything. Up until now."
The sincerity in his voice eased something in Ulyana's chest.
For a moment, the air between them finally felt clear again.
Then Hak spoke once more.
"But I do have feelings for you," he said honestly. "And I won't apologise for that."
Ulyana stayed silent.
"I don't regret loving you," he continued quietly. "So if you can… just be mindful of that when I'm around."
She turned toward him slowly, confused pain flickering across her face.
"You're confusing me," she admitted. "Do you want me to draw the line or not?"
Hak's grip tightened slightly against the steering wheel.
"I…" He exhaled slowly. "I don't know."
That answer hurt more than she expected.
"But I'm willing to find a way," he said. "Somehow. Even if it's difficult, I at least want us to have a chance."
"Hak," Ulyana whispered tiredly, "please…"
"I'm not asking you to go against our families and marry me instead," Hak said quietly. "I'm just asking for time."
His voice was low now. "Time to see if I can… work something out for us to at least have a chance."
Ulyana looked at him silently and every part of her wanted to say yes.
She slowly reached over, her fingers brushing gently against his face.
"Hak…" she whispered softly. "Every fibre of my being wants to say yes."
For a moment, hope flickered across his expression.
But then her eyes saddened. "The timing…" she breathed.
Hak leaned slightly into her touch without even realising it.
"Please," he said quietly. "Don't give up on me."
Ulyana closed her eyes briefly.
"That's the problem," she admitted softly. "I don't think I ever could."
Ulyana said gently, "I already have been waiting. What's a little longer, huh?"
Something in Hak's expression softened immediately at those words.
Without thinking, he took her hand carefully and pressed a lingering kiss against her palm.
"Yan," he murmured quietly, "I know I'm late."
His thumb brushed lightly against her fingers.
"But there still isn't a ring on that hand yet."
His eyes finally met hers. "So wait for me, Yan."
Ulyana's chest tightened painfully. "Rowan is a gentleman," she said honestly. "And I'm still going through with our plan."
Hak remained silent and listened.
"If you make progress before the engagement in three months," she continued softly, "then I'll hear you out."
"But I refuse to hurt him. He's been nothing but kind to me, even when we were younger."
Her gaze lowered slightly. "So I'd rather say I'm giving you a chance."
Then her voice turned firmer. "But once I'm engaged, Hak… time is up."
The car fell quiet.
Hak kept his focus fixed on the road ahead, jaw tense, fingers steady against the steering wheel. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"That should suffice."