The Young Lady and Her One-Eyed Suitors

By Olga Kryuchkova

Imperial Russia. End of the 19th century.
Young Sonya Beroeva, with the help of divination on the mirrors, is trying to see the future fiancé on the night before Christmas. The mirror reflects the vague appearance of her future fiancé. However, the girl sees that her betrothed one-eyed, his eye is covered by a black eyepatch. The older sister Elizabeth does not believe in fortune-telling and laughs at the younger Sonya. The sisters vie for the attention of second cousin Sergei Voronov. Sonya turns sixteen. At her first Ball, Sonya meets a certain Baron von Unger. To her astonishment, the Baron's right eye is hidden by a black eyepatch. The girl is seriously excited. In addition, her second cousin Sergei Voronov is unforgivably late for the Ball. Meanwhile, Elizabeth meets a naval officer, Mr. Nizhegorodsky, at a Ball. A naval officer lost an eye on one of the expeditions! The sisters are confused. The one-eyed men just chase them! With whom of the one-eyed men will the charming Sonya Beroeva stay? And what will happen to her second cousin Sergei Voronov, with whom she has been in love since childhood? After all, the second cousin has two eyes!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Aug 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215400852

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.

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Olga Kryuchkova

The Young Lady and Her One-Eyed Suitors

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

Prologue

Martha! Please, please! In the voice of Sonya Beroeva slipped capricious and at the same time pitiful notes.

No, Sofya Nikolaevna, and don't ask. I tell you again: NO! The maid said decisively. And I am not able at all. Who told you such nonsense?

I know: you know how to tell fortunes! Insisted stubborn Sonya (aka Sofya Nikolaevna)

If your father finds out? He will throw me out of the house. Where will I go? I have been serving as a maid here almost since childhood!

Don't worry, Martha, papa won't know anything, Sonya assured cheerfully. I so want! She stamped her foot, thereby showing her anger and extreme irritability.

Martha turned away and continued dusting the dresser.

Ah well! You don't want to look at me ?! The young lady was indignant. Then I ... she said, thinking how to threaten the intractable maid and make her plan come true. But she never came up with anything. In the end, Sonya took out a beautiful painted jewelry box from a secret drawer and opened it.

The jewelry box was full of various decorations that had been presented to her over the years for name days, birthdays and various holidays. But one gift thrilled young Sonya: it was a massive silver men's ring with large terracotta garnets. The girl loved to sneak out her hidden treasury. She held a pomegranate ring in her hands and indulged in dreams.

Sonya took the ring out of the jewelry box and secretly kissed him from Martha: after all, this is a gift from Sergei himself, her second cousin!

Sergei Vasilyevich Voronov was Sonya's second cousin and for her older sister Elizabeth (aka Liza or Elizabeth Nikolaevna). The sisters got used to Sergei from childhood. Sergei matured and entered the service in the hussar-cavalry regiment with the rank of a cornet — junior cavalry officer. In the Beroevs' house, he was welcomed as before. Sonya was embarrassed at the sight of the young cornet. And Elizabeth liked it and she did not miss the opportunity to cruelly laugh at Sonya.

Once, having seen this, Sergei completely felt sorry for Sonya and gave her his ring. True, this ring was dear to him.

Elizabeth temporarily fell silent from such an act and was very offended by her sister. After all, Elizabeth herself wanted to marry Sergei in the future. Sonya, in indescribable delight, pressed the ring to her chest. She promised her cousin that the ring would be her greatest value.

Six months have passed since then, Christmas was approaching. Sonya really wanted to know: with whom was she destined to link her fate? God forbid with Sergei.

***

Now Sonya, deliberately demonstratively, put the ring on her right thumb. However, the ring was too big for her and slipped off her finger. Sonya twirled the ring in her hands so that the gleams of the candle fell on the stones, which made the garnets simply mystical.

Curious Martha could hardly restrain her curiosity, pretending that she continues to struggle with the hated dust with enthusiasm. In the end, the maid's curiosity prevailed over her duties. Martha turned to Sonya and asked:

What do you have, Sofya Nikolaevna? Have you a new little thing?

This is not a little thing! The young lady was indignant. This is a gift from Sergei Voronov himself. He gave me a ring last summer. Just took it and presented it!

Nothing just happens! Objected the wise Martha. He is four years older than you, he is already seventeen years old.

So what! Sonya was perplexed. Men do not marry early. It is we who are being married off at sixteen years old.

You will not be married yet. You are barely thirteen. Do not worry. Your father, Nikolai Dmitrievich, is too strict and believes that you cannot get married before eighteen.

Sonya herself was well aware of the strict views of her father, who served as the State Councilor. He raised his daughters in severity, at least so it seemed to him. But Sonya still did not calm down and was desperately trying to attract Martha to the realization of her plan of fortune telling with a mirror.

Well, Martha… Sonya groaned again. Do you really care about my fate?

Not at all, Sofya Nikolaevna! But... but...

Sonya understood: that turning point has come when it is necessary to find the right word and stubborn Martha will certainly agree.

I noticed that my sister, Liza, is constantly in daydreams. Maybe she daydreams of Sergei Vasilyevich? She smiled slyly and looked sideways at the maid.

The maid gasped.

Yes, you can't be! She has a completely different gentleman on her mind!

Yes, but I'm not sure. Well, Martha, Sonya whined again. Help me, I can't do it alone.

Oh! Sofya Nikolaevna, I will have trouble because of you!

The maid gave up, realizing that the young lady would not lag behind.

Aha! Exclaimed the young lady gleefully. So you agree!

If, the master finds out...

Don't worry, Sonya declared self-confidently. I'll take all the blame.

Well, if that's the case, then perhaps I'll help you tell fortunes, Martha surrendered.

Sonya jumped with joy, which made her lovely locks the color of ripe wheat flutter. The girl clapped her hands.

Oh, Sofya Nikolaevna, early you rejoice. This is a bad omen...

Stop scaring me, Martha! Before Christmas, in all villages, they are guessing about the future spouse — and nothing! The unclean spirit has not yet grabbed anyone and dragged them into the mirror!

Okay, I'll come to your bedroom today: exactly at midnight, two mirrors must be installed correctly.

***

At a quarter to twelve at night, Sonya and Martha, like two conspirators, trying not to disturb the peace of the inhabitants of the mansion, retired in the bedroom of a young lady. They set up two mirrors opposite each other. And then they set up a cup of clean water between the mirrors.

Sonya trembled with excitement and anticipation. Martha, like a real fortune-teller, took a candle of white wax, lit it and began to depict intricate circles in the air in front of the mirrors with it. Then she brought the candle to a cup of water, melted wax dripped into it, forming intricate figures on the surface of the water.

The betrothed man with Sofya Nikolaevna, whispered Martha, come to your bride Sofya Nikolaevna, show yourself to her! I command you in the name of the ancient pagan goddess Mokosh! Fiancé show yourself in the mirror!

Sonya trembled like an autumn leaf in the wind: Martha has completely lost her mind! She called the ancient pagan goddess Mokosh as her assistant!

Now, Sofya Nikolaevna, look in the mirrors. Look carefully! In which of the mirrors your betrothed will appear unknown!

Sonya almost fainted from fear, but the girl's curiosity prevailed, she carefully watched, as Martha had ordered. So she sat for a while, consumed by fear, curiosity and already fatigue. Finally, a black dot appeared in the right mirror, it slowly grew.

Sonya heart was ready to break out of her chest. Cold sweat covered her face.

Something is going, Martha stated.

The girl herself saw that something was coming; the question was: who exactly?

The features of the alleged fiancé were blurred, as if a piece of transparent silk had been pulled over a mirror. But Sonya saw one thing for sure: there was a black eyepatch on the fiancé's right eye, therefore, her future husband was one-eyed.

Sonya was upset and cried.

I told you, Sofya Nikolaevna, predicting fate is dangerous. Mokosh can get angry.

But Sonya was inconsolable, she was sobbing, wailing:

I don’t want one-eyed. Why do I need such a freak? I want Sergei! And I don't believe in your pagan goddess Mokosh!

Martha removed the mirrors from the table and covered them with a clean towel. And then she said:

My dear, the deed is done: you will not go against fate. And if you decide to go against fate, then expect trouble.

***

The next morning, Liza approached Martha with a snide smile.

You've become a witch? As if by