Leaving the solemn atmosphere of the palace, Alia and Alexander (Viktor) stepped outside into a dreamlike world covered in white snow. A biting cold wind was blowing, and the sound of their feet crunching on the fresh snow filled the air. Alia had wrapped herself in her expensive white fur coat, while Alexander walked beside her with his hands in the pockets of his long coat.
As they walked, they suddenly came across a beautiful, ancient little shop covered in snow. It looked straight out of a fairy tale. Alia and Alexander went inside. The shop was filled with handmade vintage jewelry and strange artifacts.
Alia moved toward a glass display in the corner. There lay an exquisitely beautiful antique locket it was silver with a deep blue stone in the center, exactly the color of Alexander's eyes.
Alia: (Holding the locket) "This is very beautiful."
Alia began speaking quite fluently with the shopkeeper in Russian (Russian bhasha). Alexander watched her, slightly surprised.
Alia: "Это очень красиво. Сколько это стоит? Я возьму это." (This is very beautiful. How much is it? I'll take it.)
The elderly shopkeeper replied with a mysterious smile, and Alia bought (Kine ne) not just the locket but also some small antique items and famous Russian 'Matryoshka' dolls.
When Alia stood before Alexander with the items, there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Alexander: (Surprised) "Where did you learn to speak Russian so beautifully, Alia? Your accent is like a local's!"
Alia: (With an enchanting smile) "To know one's enemy, one must learn their language, Alexander. Besides, the ice and snow of Russia attract me. Who knows, maybe in another life I was a princess of this very land."
Alia handed the locket to Alexander and said
Alia: "Keep this with you. When I'm not around, this blue stone will remind you of me."
Alexander gripped the locket in his palm. It felt as if Alia was speaking in riddles. Had she realized that Alexander is actually Viktor? Or was she truly dreaming of a new future with Alexander?
Outside, the snowfall intensified. They began walking again on that lonely snowy road, but the blue stone of the locket Alia bought seemed to pierce through Viktor's hidden truth. After leaving the shop and stepping onto the snowy road, something strange happened. Just as Alia and Alexander had walked a few paces, a strange man appeared through the blizzard. He was wearing an old, heavy overcoat, his face wrapped in a muffler.
Alexander noticed that the man had come out of the same shop where Alia had just bought the locket. Without saying a word, the man stood before Alia. It seemed as though Alia had been expecting him. She pulled a packet from her bag and gave it to the man, and in exchange, he handed her a strange ancient box he had just bought from the shop.
Alexander stood there staring (Alexander takiye thake). His blue eyes were filled with a thousand questions. Who was this person Alia was dealing with in this desolate land of ice? The man's mysterious presence and Alia's calm demeanor unsettled Alexander (Viktor).
The man handed the box to Alia and vanished into the Russian snowfall within seconds. Alexander grabbed Alia's hand.
Alexander: (Suspiciously) "Who was that man, Alia? And what did he buy from that shop to give to you that you couldn't get yourself? Are you making another deal behind my back?"
Alia tucked the box carefully into her coat pocket and gave Alexander a cold smile.
Alia: "Don't look for all the answers right now, Alexander. Some things are better left in the dark. Didn't you say it's better not to have eyes in this game of shadows? I'm just following your rule."
Alexander stared into Alia's eyes. He realized that this woman wasn't just someone trapped in his charm; she was playing a much bigger game than he was. That mysterious man and the ancient box everything combined suggested a new game of blood was about to begin in this white kingdom of Russia.
Alexander thought to himself, "As Viktor, I might run this empire, but this girl named Alia has built a world of her own within it."
Alia started walking again, while Alexander kept staring one last time at the shop where the mysterious man had disappeared. When Alexander saw the mysterious man trying to vanish into the icy darkness after giving Alia a secret box, the Viktor inside him awakened. He blocked the man's escape route. Alexander's blue eyes were colder than the blizzard.
He grabbed the man by the collar and began threatening him in Russian (Russian bhasha humki) in a low, cruel voice:
Alexander: (Shouting in Russian) "Ты думаешь, ты можешь просто уйти? Если я увижу тебя здесь снова, ты пожалеешь, что родился! Скажи мне, что в этой коробке, или я скормлю тебя волкам прямо здесь!"
You think you can just walk away? If I see you here again, you will regret ever being born! Tell me what's in this box, or I'll feed you to the wolves right here!
The man began to tremble with fear. There was a destructive power in Alexander's voice and gaze that didn't belong to an ordinary person. Alexander shoved the man onto the snow.
Alexander: (Even more menacingly) "Убирайся, пока я не передумал. И помни я слежу за каждым твоим шагом."
Get out of here before I change my mind. And remember I'm watching your every step.
Without a word, the man ran for his life toward the deep snow-capped mountains. Alia stood a little distance away, watching the scene calmly, her hands gripping the mysterious box tightly.
Panting, Alexander turned back to Alia. His disguised persona was being buried under Viktor's innate violence.
Alia: (Smiling) "Wow! Your Russian curses and threats are quite effective, Alexander. You sounded like a mafia don. Are you always this terrifying?"
Alexander adjusted his coat, trying to regain his calm 'Alexander' persona. He approached Alia with a long sigh.
Alexander: "The ice of Russia teaches men to be cruel, Alia. I just don't want anyone coming between us. Now tell me... what is in that box that made that man nearly lose his life?"
Alia smiled mysteriously, stroking the box. She knew this side of Viktor was the real one, and this very cruelty would lead to his downfall. After chasing away the man, Alexander's temper was still high. He pulled out that familiar thick cigarette from the inner pocket of his long overcoat. A flash of fire appeared amidst the snowfall as he lit it. Alexander took a deep puff, the smoke blending into the wintry air like fog.
Alia watched him intently. Since she had already recognized that this Alexander was actually Viktor, she decided to have some fun (Moja). She stepped closer to him, catching the scent of the smoke, and said
Alia: (Feigning surprise) "Wow! Alexander, where did you get such an expensive cigarette ? This brand is only used by the highest-level mafia dons in Russia. Specifically, it's Viktor's favorite. Did you loot one of Viktor's secret showrooms?"
Alia was actually testing him She wanted to see how much this question would fluster him.
Alexander paused for a moment while exhaling. A flicker of unease crossed his blue eyes, but he quickly composed himself and gave a mysterious smile.
Alexander: "Only kings know the taste of expensive things, Alia. I may be Alexander, but my taste is in no way inferior to Viktor's. Besides, in this country, if you have money, everything is within reach."
Alia gently brushed his cheek and whispered
Alia: "Taste might be similar, but the way you blow smoke and your obsession with this brand... they are exactly like Viktor's. Do you know, Alexander? Sometimes when I look at you, I feel like you might be Viktor's long-lost twin brother."
Alexander felt that awkward shyness (Lojja) again and pulled the cigarette away from his mouth under the guise of a cough. Alia's sharp words were repeatedly hitting the walls of his disguise.
Alexander: (Flustered) "You talk too much, Alia. Come, it's not right to stand out here in this cold. And that box... aren't you going to show it to me?"
Alia smiled to herself. She realized Viktor was now trying to change the subject. In this kingdom of ice, the game was no longer just about romance; it had turned into a war of wits.