Alia gave a mocking laugh at Viktor's words. Looking him in the eyes with pure disdain, she insulted him, saying:
Alia: "Oh, really? You 'chose' me? Do you think I'm some market commodity you can pick up whenever you like and discard when you're done?"
Viktor, still pinned under Alia's agent-style lock, gritted his teeth and spoke sarcastically:
Viktor: "Wow! You're so good, Alia! This display of your training—is this the reward for the 'love' I gave you?"
At that moment, Anashia managed to stand up and spoke in a deep, serious voice. His demonic persona had returned. He looked at Alia and sharply reminded her:
Anashia: "Alia, don't forget—your marriage to Viktor happened only through a contract. The understanding between us was purely business. But listen, Viktor, that contract is now over! She is no longer your queen."
Hearing this, Viktor flew into a rage. His jaw tightened as he jerked himself free from Alia's lock and lunged toward Anashia.
Viktor: "What do you mean the contract is over? Nothing ends without my permission!"
At the same time, Alia also became furious. To her, the word 'contract' was the ultimate insult. She raised her gun once more.
Alia: (Screaming) "A contract? I refuse to be a part of your filthy game for even another second! Tonight, along with this contract, I will end the arrogance of both of you!"
A three-way fire of conflict is now burning in the room. Viktor is livid at Anashia, Anashia is rebelling by declaring the contract void, and Alia has become destructive, fed up with this entire system. As Viktor turned to storm out in a rage, the scene shifted instantly. His aggression vanished, replaced by a strange desperation. As he headed for the door, Alia ran and grabbed his hand.
In a soft, emotional voice, she pleaded, "Oh, please don't go! Don't leave me."
Saying this, Alia pulled her shawl or the remains of her red dress over her head as a veil (Ghumta). For a moment, she didn't look like a mafia agent, but like a wounded bride. Viktor froze, his anger melting like ice. He looked at her pale face under the veil and gave a soft smirk.
Viktor: (In a deep voice) "You look so different with that veil, Alia. But can this contract and this palace truly hold you? Will you really go to Russia with me?"
Alia looked into Viktor's eyes and answered firmly.
Alia: "Yes, I will go, but..."
She paused, the cleverness of an agent returning to her eyes. She lightly pressed the barrel of her black gun against Viktor's chest.
Alia: "...but once there, I won't remain a queen of some contract. I will be your equal. And Anashia must come with us, because I have scores to settle for everything he did to me during these three days."
Viktor took Alia's hand in his grip. Anashia stood in the corner of the room, wearing a mysterious smirk. Beyond the sound of the rain, the imaginary roar of a Russian jet's engine could almost be heard. Alia had decided to go to Russia, but what awaited her there a new love or an even more terrifying conspiracy? Viktor's mood soured again. He gripped Alia's hand and pulled her closer with a jerk. Glancing coldly at Anashia, he declared firmly:
Viktor: "No! I won't take Anashia with me. He isn't returning to Russia with me. His place is right here in Seoul."
Anashia, sitting comfortably on the sofa flipping through a file, let out a mocking laugh and shook his head.
Anashia: "Don't worry, Viktor. I have no desire to go to that freezing Russia, understood? I'm perfectly fine in these dark alleys of Seoul. I'm done with your contract drama."
Alia was surprised by Anashia's nonchalance. She had planned to settle her scores for the past three days in Russia, but the chessboard was changing. Viktor adjusted Alia's veil and pressed his forehead against hers. Dried blood from her nail marks still stained his neck.
Viktor: "Fine. But not today. We will leave in 3 days. During these three days, I will prepare you in my own way, Alia. Forget what happened in the last three days; the next three will be only about you and me."
Alia realized that this three-day window was actually the calm before a new storm. Why did Viktor ask for 3 days? Does he want to test her agent training, or is he planning a massive massacre in Seoul before leaving for Russia?
In the corner, Anashia watched them both with his piercing red eyes. The demonic smirk on his lips suggested that even if they left in three days, peace would be nowhere to be found in the meantime. It was the final night before the departure. It was raining heavily outside, as if the sky itself wanted to witness this farewell. Before leaving the palace, Alia went to the dark corner of the garden to meet Anashia one last time.
Anashia stood there like a stone statue, holding a black umbrella. His long coat was drenched from the wind-blown rain. As soon as Alia stood before him, she broke down in tears. Her agent-like toughness seemed to have vanished. She slowly reached out and placed her hand on Anashia's cheek.
Alia: (In a voice choked with tears) "Goodbye, Anashia... I will never forget the wounds and memories of these three days. Perhaps I should have hated you, but today, as I say goodbye, my heart is breaking."
She hugged him tightly. The sound of her sobbing merged with the rhythm of the rain. Anashia remained silent, staring at the sky with his red eyes. There were no tears in his eyes, but there was a profound sense of desolation.
As Alia pulled away, Anashia spoke in an incredibly low and somber voice.
Anashia: "Viktor has fixed my marriage to a girl from a Russian mafia family. But I will not marry, Alia. I won't entangle myself in any more contracts."
Alia looked at him in surprise. Anashia tilted the umbrella further over Alia's head and looked into her eyes. Those red eyes glowed like fire in the darkness.
Anashia: "You are going to become the Queen of Russia, and I will remain here in the scent of Seoul's rain. But remember, these red eyes will always be watching over your shadow."
Alia barely composed herself and turned to walk toward the palace. Anashia remained standing there alone with his umbrella, each raindrop falling as a witness to their untold story. As Alia walked toward the palace, the wind carried Anashia's broken voice to her ears. She froze. She could hear Anashia sitting down, the umbrella discarded beside him, as he whispered to himself:
Anashia: "I will never get married, Alia... I have a problem. I can never give a woman the happiness she deserves. I am shattered from the inside."
After saying this, Anashia burst into sobs. The man who had shown such demonic cruelty over the last three days looked like a helpless child tonight in the rain. Alia overheard everything. Her heart wrenched, and she ran back to him.
Alia started crying even louder. She saw the powerful Anashia sitting on the ground in the rain, salt water streaming from his eyes. She knelt beside him and hugged him once more.
Alia: "I'm sorry... Sry Sry, Anashia! I didn't know such a deep wound was hidden inside you. I misunderstood you!"
Anashia leaned his head on Alia's shoulder and wept uncontrollably. His red eyes were now blurred with tears. He kept repeating that he didn't want to ruin anyone's life, which is why he refused the marriage.
Amidst the heavy downpour, the sound of their combined weeping echoed. Alia realized that everyone in this palace was burnt in their own way. The farewell became even more painful. She gave Anashia one last kiss on the forehead and stood up.
Anashia remained sitting there, drenched in the rain. He watched Alia walk away from a distance, while his secret pain remained forever entwined with the sound of the falling rain.Leaving Anashia behind in the rain-soaked garden, Alia returned to the palace with a heavy heart. Viktor was already waiting for her, but he wasn't alone. Standing beside him was a little girl—Viktor's daughter.
When Alia stood before the girl, her tears dried up, replaced by a surge of maternal affection. Viktor placed his hand on the girl's head and spoke calmly to Alia, "She is coming with us, Alia. In our new home in Russia, you both will be my greatest strength." Alia knelt down and pulled the girl close, as if this innocent child was her beacon of hope for the future.
They then took the black limousine waiting outside and headed toward the airport. On the runway, Viktor's luxurious private jet was waiting for them.
As they boarded and the engines roared to life, Alia sat by the window and looked out. The Seoul skyline was still blurred by the night rain. She thought of the man whose red eyes had shed tears that merged with the rain tonight.
As the plane left the ground and soared through the clouds toward Russia, Viktor gripped Alia's hand firmly. His daughter had fallen asleep beside them. Alia knew that this journey to Russia wasn't just about a new country; it was the start of a new battle one where she was no longer a prisoner of a contract, but an invincible queen.