a gift from Victor

Victor gently stroked your cheek. "You have done so well this week, Moya Printsessa. I am very proud of you."

His words filled you with pride and you beamed at his compliments. A small part of you wondered why his opinion mattered so much to you, but before you could start to think about it, you became distracted by Victor's next words.

"I have a nagrada ['reward', you mentally translated] for all your hard work - your great progress ." He took your hand to help you rise, then led you back into the kitchen. "I wanted to surprise you," he said simply, pointing out a newly unboxed phone sitting on the table.

You looked at it in complete surprise as he continued speaking. "I know you lost yours in the accident. And Yulia - the old Yulia - did not have one for this country yet. I have already configured it with Yulia's accounts. So here."

Oddly enough Victor seemed almost nervous, like he was unsure of how you'd react. That made you smile. 'Victor is always so kind to me,' you thought to yourself, 'always giving me such thoughtful things.' You stretched up on your toes to kiss him on the cheek. His eyes registered both surprise and joy at your reaction. "Thank you milaya! You are so wonderful to me. I love it!"

You snatched up the phone and began checking the apps. As he said, Victor had indeed already signed you into the phone and loaded all her apps - mostly social media and shopping, you noted. You check Yulia's instagram and saw that the last update had been when she first got off the plane in the US. You felt a sudden need to update and quickly snapped a selfie with the caption "my first picture in my new American home."

Victor chuckled, amused at your behavior. "Always with the pictures, My Princess.... one might think you were vain. But you have every right to be - you are very beautiful, a goddess. And tomorrow we will get you clothing befitting you."