Anastasia Romanov (Fate/Marvel)

Viy POV

"You seem far too calm for someone nearing their deathbed, Rasputin," I chuckled, the menace in my voice barely concealed as I floated before him.

Rasputin, as if already resigned to his fate, stared back at me knowingly, sipping his glass of red wine with unsettling serenity.

He sat on the edge of his bed, his expression one of profound relief and quiet resignation, as if death had become a familiar friend he was prepared to embrace.

"I assume the Princess is unaware of what you've done, isn't she?" he asked, his voice calm, almost mockingly so, as though he believed his secrets would remain hidden even in death.

"No, she doesn't know," I growled, my voice dripping with hostility. "She should never involve herself with filth like you. You smell of reek, and I hate it."

My hatred for him was palpable, surging beneath the surface like a violent storm.

With a mere thought, an unseen hand wrapped itself around his throat, choking him into submission.

He gasped, struggling desperately for air as the wine glass slipped from his grasp and shattered on the ground.

I tightened the grip, watching with cold satisfaction as his face turned purple.

His eyes bulged, desperate to say something, but I denied him even the last pathetic words he wished to utter.

I wanted his silence to be eternal.

Slowly, his eyes dimmed, and the last breath left his body in a pitiful gasp. His life ended in my hands, just as I had willed it.

Once I was certain he was dead, I released his limp body, letting it slump lifelessly on the bed.

I stood there for a moment, staring indifferently at the cold corpse, unbothered by what my actions meant for the future.

Rasputin's death was inevitable, and I had merely expedited it.

What came next no longer concerned me.

...

Anastasia Romanov POV

"Anastasia, I regret to inform you that I couldn't protect your mentor. Someone has assassinated him. He was found dead in his chamber, his neck cruelly choked by an unknown assailant," my father delivered the grim news, his expression somber and weighed down with sorrow.

Someone had met their end within the safety of their own home, inside their own palace, under their own rules.

Who wouldn't be enraged by such a violation?

Who wouldn't be infuriated by this breach of security and trust?

"I swear, I will personally lead the investigation," he vowed with unwavering determination as he departed, offering me a few more words of condolence and comfort before leaving me alone to process the tragedy.

Even without any formal inquiry, I already knew the identity of the murderer.

My eyes immediately fell on Viy, burning with accusation.

"Why?!" I demanded, my voice trembling with anger and disbelief.

"I was aware of his ambition, his fears, and most importantly, what he desired from you, Anastasia. He was not someone you could manipulate at will," Viy explained, her tone maddeningly calm, as though this was all a foregone conclusion.

"I could have handled it, Viy!" I shot back, frustration flaring within me.

"No, you couldn't. You don't even grasp the full extent of the game you're playing. You're ignorant of the true powers at play—of the Alien God, of Rasputin. You think that your ability to manipulate others would work on him just as it does on anyone else. But in your arrogance, you've become blind, too confident, believing that everyone around you can be bent to your will," Viy retorted sharply, not pulling any punches.

"I am utterly disappointed in you, Viy. I thought we could be allies, perhaps even friends. I believed you would understand me. But now, it seems you're just like all the others—you want to control me," I said coldly, refusing to even glance in Viy's direction.

I turned away, throwing myself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling in bitter frustration.

To signal my displeasure, I projected a mental image of Melusine from Fate Grand Order into Viy's mind and then gave my command.

"Change into that form. Immediately," I ordered, my voice carrying an authoritative edge.

Without a moment's hesitation, she complied.

I sat on the edge of the bed, silently motioning for her to sit on my lap, which she did without the slightest reluctance.

As I ran my fingers through her silver hair, treating her like a doll, I let my hand move roughly, tangling and mussing her hair, an unspoken indicator that my anger had not subsided—it was only growing fiercer with every passing second.

"You can vent your anger as much as you want, Anastasia. I won't resist. However, I don't regret what I did." She leaned into my chest, her eyes locking onto mine, our posture ambiguous as I struggled to find the right words to say next, too shy under the intensity of her doll-like gaze.

Viy chuckled softly but remained silent, closing her eyes as she rested her head on my lap. She knew I wasn't ready to speak, letting everything flow naturally while I tried to piece together what I wanted to say next.

"Forget it, Viy. Let's go back to being friends," I finally relented, giving up the blame I had placed on her.

"But something needs to be done. His family is innocent and must be compensated. I've heard he has a daughter, still a child. I know how hard her life will become if I ignore her. She shall stay by my side."

"Anastasia... please don't. You should kill her. If she finds out the true culprit and the reason behind her father's murder, you'll be in trouble," Viy cautioned.

"The one who will be in trouble is you, Viy. I didn't murder Rasputin, nor did I wish for his death. You're the one who did it." My anger flared up again, sparked by her rebuke and the fact that my decisions had been overstepped time and time again.

Perhaps sensing something off about my emotions, Viy said nothing further. As my temper cooled from the outburst, I sighed deeply and pleaded.

"Please, Viy... not again. I want you to be my friend, not someone who controls me."

"I understand, Anastasia. I won't try to control or sabotage your plans again," Viy reassured me.

I nodded tiredly at her, releasing another sigh as I laid down at my bed in frustration, closing my eyes as my consciousness was slowly swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

****

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