Night.

Natalia went to the church where Iron Queen's body was temporarily kept, and sat down on the steps of the altar that was temporarily used for mortuary, placing the large bottle of vodka she was holding on the top step with her left hand and the two cups stacked on top of each other with her right hand.

It was a fine night, and the bright moonlight passed through the stained glass behind the altar and fell on the altar in a dazzling array of colors.

On the Orthodox cross, Jesus is looking down at Natalia's back with the same expression as ever.

"Think about it," Natalia whispered as she pulled the wooden peg from the vodka bottle, "it's been a long time since I've drunk with you like this, Josephine. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the current situation and our response, but in the end I didn't do anything. Because I found that in the current situation, you will be the target of any response other than winning the war. You've driven yourself to your death, and I don't have the faith to save you. ”

Natalia rarely showed a sad and self-reproachful expression.

"I made an error in my judgment of Lin Youde's strength, and I didn't stop you before you attacked, which is my biggest mistake." Natalia finished pouring the wine, put down the bottle, and picked up her own glass, "I have many, many excuses that I can use to excuse myself, for example, westward expansion is the traditional strategy of Russia, for example, everyone thought that we would win quickly at that time, the support of the Americans was very sufficient, and there was really no possibility of defeat, and for example, if I didn't go westward at that time, the domestic situation might collapse, and so on." But, I know, none of this makes sense, my mistakes, and I lost you forever. ”

With that, Natalia raised her glass and took a sip.

Stimulated by alcohol, memories began to flood through the depths of my mind.

She remembered the day many years ago, the afternoon she met the little girl with the evil eyes.

- I've heard about you!

The little girl crossed her waist with one hand and pointed at Natalia, who was older than her.

- I admire your style! Come and change this damn country with me!

"At that time, I took your words as a child's joke and didn't take it seriously." Natalia said and filled her glass again, "So then your behavior shocked me, and I willingly followed you, just to see what kind of Russia you can create." Strange to say, I thought that nothing could stop you, that you would sweep away the waves and Germany, and make Russia a real power for the whole world to tremble with, and not the bulky country that the British would see as being restricted and played with wantonly. To this day, I can't recall where things started to change and how they didn't look like they've been. ”

Natalia finished her second glass of vodka and filled herself with a third.

"Is this qiē really brought by Lin Youde alone? Could it be that the appearance of that man really changed us—changed your fate? Natalia leaned back on the stone table of the altar and looked up at the ceiling of the church, under the light at this time, the frescoes on the ceiling were completely unclear, like a group of ghosts, "Is there really the so-called number of days, fate and fate in this world?" ”

Naturally, Natalia's question was not answered, and the entire church was silent, except for the sound of the wind creeping into Natalia's ears from time to time.

Natalia drank the third glass of vodka, then continued while pouring the fourth: "It's strange that I don't usually say that much, it must be because I have held back too many words to tell you. You know, watching you indulge yourself with men every day, I feel like my heart is dripping blood, no, not because you are a man, but because behind these behaviors, you are closing yourself off and giving up on yourself. I know that you just give up on yourself because you can't find a breakthrough and can't see the future. ”

In Russia, there is actually quite openness between the sexes, so it is impossible for Natalia to be heartbroken by Iron Queen's "misconduct".

"It's very depressing," Natalia whispered to her best friend, who couldn't answer, "It's a terrible feeling to want to win and not be able to do anything." Obviously wants to make Russia a pivotal power, but in the end it can only hug the thighs of the Americans, very unwilling, right? ”

Natalia couldn't help but think of the scene when the American ambassador came to visit not long ago, the arrogant appearance of the Americans, not to mention the Iron Queen, she Natalia was very unhappy. After the Americans left, Iron Ji fell a lot of things, and she looked like she was about to cry.

"Sometimes I think, maybe I should try to tell you, cry when I want to. If I had done that, maybe things would have been different. ”

Natalia couldn't remember how many glasses she had drunk, this one of vodka was down, and she remembered the last appearance of Iron Hime, and the unwilling murmur of Iron Ji in her arms.

"In the end, you still cried," Natalia's voice was sentimental and gentle, "and if I'm not mistaken, this is the only time you've cried in years." ”

Natalia picked up the bottle again, and she just wanted to pour it into the glass, but she changed her mind and took a sip of the bottle.

If God could give Natalia a chance to start over, she would definitely do something different.

Natalia would often hug her little body, warm her with her body, and then soothe her with gentle words. This time, Natalia won't be standing next to Josephine as a like-minded companion, she will be a gentle big sister - of course, with Natalia's personality and appearance, it will be difficult to do this, but how much will it take to try?

The more she thought about it, the lower Natalia's mood became.

"I'm really sorry. Until this morning, I thought you and I had gone down different paths, and now that I think about it, maybe it was that I thought about it that drove you to the brink completely. Until this morning, I thought I would be able to watch you come to an end in peace, but after the parting suddenly came, I realized that I was wrong. ”

Natalia drank all the remaining vodka from the bottle in one go, then wiped her mouth gently.

"You can leave with confidence, I will take care of Russia." She stood up with her own glass and empty bottle, looked down at the other one that was still in place, and left the church without saying a word.

Jesus, along with the Virgin Mary on the frescoes on the roof, quietly watched this qiē.