There is so much information in what Dmitry has said that she doesn't quite know where to process it. Of course he is right. She knows that now. In truth, she knew that before the Dowager Empress turned her away without looking at her. But the pain of rejection had made it so easy to brush that aside, to claim that the details were just wishful thinking.

But the rest of it. The fact that he went to try and change her mind. That surprises her. Anya wants to believe that he went back for the money, that he was trying a last ditch effort to get rich.

"Did you..." she starts, sounding tremulous before clearing her throat and starting again, stronger this time. "Did you take the money?"

There is nothing that money will do for him now, not here. But she needs to know. It is an important detail. None of that changes what she says next. It feels like a strange betrayal of a man who isn't here, but it would be wrong to let him carry on without knowing. "I never hated you. I was mad at you, but I never actually hated you." There is a calmness in her voice that disappears, voice raising despite herself. "You should have at least come to see me to confirm that. You shouldn't just assume a girl is going to hate you after suddenly appearing in a random city."