The first rain of early summer arrived as expected at the Winter Palace.
Summers at Saint Rurik Palace always come later than elsewhere. The moist sea breeze brings coolness as well as abundant rainfall, making it the most livable place in the harsh Vladimir region.
The Winter Palace used to be the Emperor's bedchamber, at least it was before.
But now its master is a foreigner.
Although this foreigner is now the Imperial Cardinal Minister, the Duke of Kazan, and holds the Imperial Citizenship conferred by the Empress, the strong nationalism of the Rurik People still makes them habitually regard the master of the Winter Palace as a foreigner.
Roland doesn't mind this.
After all, he is just here for work.
Sofia, his boss, treats him well, so he works diligently. A few hundred bucks are not worth risking his life for, yet the Duke's Domain with the Winter Palace of artistic treasures is hard to ignore even for someone like Roland who is "indifferent to fame and fortune."
