Diana the Huntress

By Olga Kryuchkova

Imperial St. Petersburg. End of the 19th century. The nobleman Konstantin Matveev decides to pass the time and goes for a walk in the park, where an enterprising engineer placed a balloon for all to see.
Konstantin becomes a hostage of an unlucky thief and makes a forced trip in a balloon. The new-fashioned device crashes and Konstantin, who has lost his memory, finds himself in a distant estate. It is only by a miracle that he manages to avoid an unwanted marriage and escape from the tenacious hands of the newly made bride.
Returning to St. Petersburg, Konstantin learns that his beloved aunt died and bequeathed to him a huge estate and bank deposits. Entering the rights of inheritance, the young nobleman did not even suspect that he will go to his aunt's estate and reveal her secret. But the main thing: during a horse ride through the forest, he will meet the stunning ‘Diana the Huntress’, who wounds him right in the heart with her arrow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Mar 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215358054

Olga Kryuchkova

Olga Kryuchkova began her creative career in 2006. During this time, the author had more than 100 publications and reprints (historical novels, historical adventures, esotericism, art therapy, fantasy). A number of novels were co-written with Elena Kryuchkova.

Book preview

Book 1

Cover Design: Cover Generated by AI (Stable Diffusion, NightCafe)

Mystery number 1

The Messenger of Heaven

June 1879, St. Petersburg

Konstantin Aleksandrovich Matveev was sleeping peacefully when the butler stealthily entered his bedroom.

Sir, wake up.

Konstantin opened his eyes.

What do you need? Why did you wake me up? the young master was indignant.

(Barin is a man from the upper class of nobles, landowner. In the novel, also called master).

Do not be so angry, Konstantin Aleksandrovich. Only the time is already approaching noon. Your friend, Mr. Shuvalov, has arrived. He said that you were going with him to the Olginsky pond, the butler justified himself.

Konstantin stretched out, sat up in bed and yawned loudly.

Exactly, we wanted to walk in the fresh air, and I forgot. Okay, make me breakfast. In the meantime, I'll take care of my toilet. And please, treat Mr. Shuvalov with tea.

Sir, your friend will already deign to drink tea, the butler reported.

Konstantin put on a robe and stretched out sweetly again. To be honest, he wanted to sleep and postpone the walk to the Olginsky pond indefinitely. But what to do: an agreement, as they say, is more expensive than money. All the more so because Konstantin knew the temper of his companion.

And then, as a sin on the Olginsky pond, an air balloon appeared. Some skilled engineer made it. For a reasonable fee, the engineer put the passenger in a basket attached to a hot-air balloon. The balloon was then lifted into the air, and the thrill-seeking passenger could observe the surroundings from a bird's eye view. Of course, the engineer also thought about a precaution: he tied the ball by a strong rope to a special mechanism that did not allow the French invention to go free flight.

The passenger was enjoying the flight for exactly half an hour. Then the engineer was turning on his ingenious mechanism and it, winding a rope on a special metal reel, returned the balloon to its original position.

Shuvalov, having found out about this miracle of technology, shared the news with Konstantin, just the other day at the card table, surrounded by pleasant company:

And do you know, my friend, that the French invention of the Montgolfier brothers, at last, is also available in St. Petersburg?

Konstantin ‘raised’ his eyebrows in amazement.

Air balloon? he specified.

Exactly, my friend! And I yearn to take a hot air balloon ride!

Konstantin smiled skeptically.

Why, my friend, do you need this?

I will spit on the city from a bird's eye view!

The men's company laughed in unison.

Konstantin shrugged his shoulders.

A business worthy of a nobleman, he said and stared at the cards again. Hmmm... No luck today."

So what, my friend? Are you with me or not? Let's spit on everything together!

Konstantin took out his wallet and counted out his loss, fortunately that it was not big.

Well, dear Serge. Let's spit! How did you say so!

Then I will pick you up tomorrow closer to noon.

On that the friends decided.

...Konstantin made his morning toilet and went into the living room to greet his restless friend, and at the same time to have breakfast.

The men shook hands.

Really, Konstantin, you are a sleepyhead! Shuvalov noticed with a slight reproach in his voice.

Hmmm, to be honest, I like to sleep! And, to be honest, I have nowhere to rush! Konstantin answered calmly. His late parent had secured the future of his offspring, so he had nothing to worry about.

You will sleep like this all your life! Eat breakfast faster! And let's get into the carriage! Shuvalov did not calm down.

Serge, have mercy, Konstantin moaned, sipping a cup of tea.

By the way, it is fashionable this season to have picnics on the Olginsky pond. And sometimes you can meet charming young ladies there!

New-fashioned girls-students? specified Konstantin.

Yes my friend!

Painfully they are young and stupid, said Konstantin.

This is the whole charm! Well, why the hell do you want a decent girl with strict rules? You will go crazy with such a girl!

No, I don't need such an immature girl. Matveev agreed. But older and more experienced, he said dreamily.

To press the girl to the birch... Serge picked up.

By the end of breakfast, Serge's imagination had sharpened completely.

Damn it, my friend! Get dressed, my friend, and let's go now! I am filled with a thirst for new adventures! Serge could not resist.

Finally, the friends got into the carriage and set off in the direction of the Olginsky pond. It was an excellent day. This June was sunny, but not hot. There was almost no rain, so nothing could darken the picnic: if only pure coincidence.

Shuvalov's carriage was approaching the cherished pond. Even from afar, friends noticed several carriages ‘parked’ in the shade of trees. Beside them the coachmen strolled imposingly, looking condescendingly at their masters frolicking in nature.

Serge gazed at the three families with children. The carriages were undoubtedly theirs. Families have settled down on the picturesque beach. The women spread out the tablecloths and laid out food on them. Men, on the other hand, quickly found a common language, walked around and discussed something. Children rushed along the shore of the pond like crazy.

Here rest respectable married couples with children! Serge remarked busily. I am, of course, have nothing against the kids, but they make too much noise! Let's drive away. Yes, and I can't see the air balloon either.

Or maybe it doesn't exist at all? Konstantin shot. And all this is a game of your imagination.

You know how to say something nice, dear friend, Serge reproached. I'm sure the balloon is somewhere behind the trees.

And Serge was not mistaken. Suddenly the trees ‘parted’ in front of the carriage, and the friends saw a gray balloon tied with ropes to a basket that was on the ground. Young people crowded around the balloon.

The engineer with a businesslike air was broadcasting:

Do you know, friends, that the invention that is presented to your attention was named after the names of the inventors: The French brothers Montgolfier. And the first hot air balloon flight took place in France in 1783, almost a hundred years ago. True, even up to that moment many inventors tried to take off in a hot air balloon. Some even succeeded, and they were off the ground by a few sazhens! During the first flight, the Montgolfier brothers climbed to an altitude of 300 sazhens (1 sazhen=2.13 meters) and flew almost two miles! The apparatus presented to your attention, improved by me, can fly a much greater distance.

And in the next moment, the engineer began to devote the venerable public to the details of his improvements. Some young lady let out a cry of amazement.

Another young lady-student, Konstantin winced, going down from the carriage to the ground.

Hmmm... You are partly right: the local society consists of free listeners of the university and students who are fond of the new science of aerostatics.

(Free listeners of the university were young men and women who could freely attend university lectures. But they did not receive a university diploma).

So, where are your promised lovely young ladies? Konstantin did not fail to prick his friend.

Let's walk around the pond, there are many beautiful hidden places, Serge suggested.

But what about going up to the height of a bird's flight and spitting on the whole city from above?

We'll have more time. Let the talkative engineer satisfy the public's passion for knowledge. Students won't crowd around him forever!

The friends headed around the pond. Several couples in love went by. Almost immediately, the gentlemen noticed two charming ladies. The ladies were about thirty years old, maybe a little more. They looked charming and were clearly looking for company. One of the women was leading a tiny shaggy dog on a leash.

And here are the ladies! Serge and Konstantin exclaimed almost simultaneously. And immediately we set a course for them.

Madam, good afternoon! said Konstantin in a velvet voice and ‘raised’ his hat. The ladies smiled back.

What a cute dog! Serge connected. What is the name of this breed?

French lapdog... answered the lady.

How lovely! Serge exclaimed, bent down and stroked the dog.

Five minutes later, the ladies, and their names were Natalya and Olga, were already walking with the gentlemen and chatting incessantly about all sorts of nonsense. Konstantin ‘had his eye’ on Olga. She was the wife of some official from the Ministry of Land Management, who constantly disappeared on business trips. And the young wife was bored.

Ah, if I were your spouse, I would sit beside you all day, Konstantin said in the voice of a hero-lover.

Alas! Olga said and smiled languidly.

"And you do not know for an hour, dear Olga, the local pond was accidentally named not in your honor?’ the gentleman continued to flirt.

The lady laughed heartily.

Konstantin was already looking forward to the evening in the arms of a new acquaintance lady and decided to consolidate his success.

Madam, have you seen a balloon?

"Yes. We often walk here with Natalie. The balloon and its owner, a crazy engineer, appeared here a couple of weeks ago.