OLEG'S POV

　　As I entered the room where Kate lay recovering, my heart beat with a mix of anticipation and satisfaction, everything went according to what we planned. The ruse had worked better than I could have hoped. Kate, oblivious to my true intentions, had played her part perfectly. Now, it was time to set the next phase of my plan into motion.

　　Kate was lying on the bed, her face pale but peaceful. Her eyelids fluttered, and as she sensed my presence, they slowly opened. She looked disoriented at first, but then recognition dawned in her eyes. With a sudden burst of energy, she sat up and threw herself into my arms.

　　This woman loved me blindly and I thank to the spirits above that they sent a fool like her on this earth.

　　"Oleg!" she cried, her voice filled with relief and joy. "I knew you'd come for me."

　　I wrapped my arms around her, my expression one of tender concern, but inside, I was calculating my next move. "Kate, my dear," I said softly, stroking her hair. "I've been so worried about you."

　　She pulled back slightly, looking up at me with wide, trusting eyes. "I was so scared, Oleg. I hope I didn't disappoint you this time."

　　I nodded, my face a mask of sincerity. "Of course, Kate. And you can never disappoint me, I will do anything for you my dear."

　　She relaxed against me, unaware of the deceit that lay beneath my words. I had been planning this for a long time, carefully manipulating events to bring Lydia down. Kate had been an unexpected but useful pawn in my game. She had no idea that her rescue and our reunion were all part of a larger scheme to dismantle Lydia's power and take control for myself.

　　"How are you feeling?" I asked, my voice full of feigned concern. "Are you in pain?"

　　"A little," she admitted, her head resting on my shoulder. "But being with you makes it all better. When can we be together without hiding it from everyone?"

　　"Very soon my dear. Why do you think I am doing all this? It is only for you." I cooed and she smiles.

　　"I know, I am just impatient. I only want to be with you now. I feel so lonely without you." She confessed.

　　"Me too," I murmured, my mind already plotting the next steps. "We need to get you back to full strength. There are important things we need to do, and I'll need your help. Once everything is done then I'll be the king and you'll be my queen then we won't have to hide anymore."

　　"Anything, Oleg," Kate said fervently, her eyes shining with trust. "I'll do anything you need."

　　"By the way, how did you manage to seduce Norman? I mean… he is mostly unavailable, and I thought he hated you." I questioned her, masking my curiosity with a casual tone.

　　"Are you jealous?" She smiled, her expression brightening as if she had won a lottery.

　　"Yes, and I am curious," I humored her, giving her the response she wanted.

　　"Actually, I called a meeting with him. First, I gained his sympathy, and when I knew that he didn't hate me anymore, I offered him wine. We drank together, and I deliberately sat close to him. We flirted with each other a little bit, and the next thing I knew, the drugs worked, and he was taking me to his place. It was not that hard, though. But I was scared when I realized that I couldn't move much due to the drugs, and he might take advantage of me." She narrated everything, and I nodded in appreciation.

　　It was truly remarkable how she manipulated Norman; she is no less than a snake.

　　"That's great. But thankfully Lydia arrived on time and she saved you," I said, hiding my irritation at the mention of Lydia.

　　"Yes, she truly is something. She is powerful and very ambitious," Kate replied, her voice tinged with admiration.

　　I mentally rolled my eyes. Lydia was a thorn in my side, a powerful brat who needed to be dealt with. But I couldn't show my true feelings, not yet. I needed Kate on my side, and any mention of harming Lydia could jeopardize that.

　　"Now we need to eradicate the remaining loyal nobles," I said, steering the conversation back to my plans.

　　"Does that mean Lydia? Let's leave her somewhere else. She is my daughter, after all. I cannot lose her," Kate pleaded, her voice filled with a mix of desperation and maternal affection.

　　I looked into her eyes, feigning consideration. "Of course, Kate. I understand your feelings. Lydia is your daughter, and I wouldn't dream of harming her," I lied smoothly.

　　She visibly relaxed, believing my words. "Thank you, Oleg. I knew you'd understand."

　　Internally, I was already planning Lydia's demise. She was too powerful, too ambitious, and too much of a threat to my plans. Kate's love for her daughter could be a problem, but I was confident I could work around it. For now, I needed Kate to continue believing in me.

　　"Kate, you did an excellent job with Norman," I said, changing the subject slightly to keep her spirits high. "Your ability to manipulate him was impressive, and it has cleared a significant obstacle from our path."

　　She beamed at my praise. "Thank you, Oleg. I just want to make sure we succeed."

　　"We will," I assured her. "But we must stay focused. There are still many loyal nobles who could pose a threat. We need to be careful and strategic."

　　"Of course," she agreed, her determination evident. "What's the next step?"

　　"We need to identify the remaining nobles who are loyal to Lydia and eliminate them. We'll do it quietly and efficiently, just as we did with Norman," I explained, already mapping out the details in my mind.

　　Kate nodded, her trust in me unwavering. "And Lydia?"

　　"We'll find a way to deal with her without harming her, as you requested," I lied again. "For now, let's focus on the other nobles."

　　"Thank you, Oleg," she said, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

　　"You'll never have to find out," I replied, pulling her into an embrace. "Together, we'll create a better future."

　　As I held her, my mind raced with the intricacies of my plan. Kate was a useful pawn, but her attachment to Lydia was a potential weakness. I needed to keep her on my side while discreetly moving towards my ultimate goal: eliminating Lydia and taking control.

　　Kate pulled back slightly, looking up at me with a mix of love and determination. "I trust you, Oleg. I know we'll succeed."

　　"We will," I said, my voice filled with false warmth. "Now, let's prepare for the next phase. There's much to do, and we can't afford any mistakes."

　　She nodded, her resolve strengthening. "I'm ready."

　　"Good," I said, a dark satisfaction settling in my chest. "Then let's get to work."

　　As we left the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. Everything was falling into place. Kate's love for me and her trust in my intentions made her a valuable ally, but I knew that ultimately, she was just another piece on my chessboard. Lydia's end was inevitable, and once she was out of the way, nothing would stand in my path to power.