Rodion looks like he doesn’t know how to react to any of this. Both Lev and Yulian are on edge. The little puppy, Yaromir, who has the unfortunate disadvantage of being the only heir Rodion has left, looks like he’s about to s**t himself.
I appear to be the only calm one in the room.
And why shouldn’t I be? I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. I’ve been ready.
Slowly, Rodion stands. I don’t follow suit. I was ready for this meeting to be over half an hour ago. His hands tremble a little as he adjusts his coat.
“Yaromir,” he says, addressing his nephew. “We are finished here.”
The young man stands, but he keeps quite a distance between himself and his uncle. Apparently, he’s worried that anger might be catching.
“I have made a decision,” Rodion tells me with the kind of self
