139 Farewell

A day before Alexander's sisters' departure. It was in the middle of the afternoon when he called Rolan to enter his office.

"You called me sir?" Rolan asked, standing in attention in front of Alexander.

"Yes," Alexander said, putting his pen down. "I have a question that I'd like you to answer honestly." 

"What is it, Your Majesty?" Rolan simply responded back.

"Aren't you bored of staying in the Winter Palace all day just to guard me against a threat which I must say is extinct from the palace's perimeter?" 

"Ah…I believe I've answered that during the new assault rifle test in the St. Petersburg Naval Base. 'Boring is always best,'" Rolan quoted. "And I hope it will still remain that way for the years to come." 

"I am well aware of that. It's your duty to protect me from harm. But that is you answering as my Chief of Staff, not as Rolan, the man himself," Alexander told him with a chuckle.