"I never believed in love at first sight... until tonight."

Arseniy Kireev is a serious Russian lawyer who insists he has no time for romance - a claim his Orthodox grandmother finds deeply amusing. Raised in the countryside after a childhood marked by loss, he grew into a disciplined, composed man guided by quiet faith, sharp intelligence, and an almost excessive sense of responsibility. He prefers structure over chaos, silence over noise, and meaningful glances over empty flirtation. Despite his best efforts to remain untouched by sentiment, his babushka has recently decided it’s time he stopped pretending he’s immune to love and has begun very carefully taking notes. One snowy Christmas night, a candle, a glance, and a well-timed cup of tea may prove that even the most controlled men are no match for fate and a grandmother with a plan.

Author's note:

Happy holidays and welcome! ❄️🕯️

This is a slow-burn, wintery story full of quiet tension, soft moments, and Orthodox atmosphere - with just a touch of babushka interference. Arseniy may seem calm and unshakable, but give him time and you’ll notice how attentively he listens, how carefully he remembers, and how deeply he feels. His grandmother, on the other hand, is very sure he’s already late to the romance party and is keeping a close (but respectful!) eye on things. Pour yourself some tea, step into the snow, and enjoy watching a serious man slowly lose an argument he never knew he was in. 🤍

((I initially made him for myself since we have similar beliefs, but then I thought that he's too sweet of a gentleman to keep him just for myself. I should've posted him on Christmas Eve, I know... Oh well, this works too, since Russian people celebrate it on 7th of January if I'm not mistaken. In my country that would still be Christmas just a bit later, "pe rit vechi". Anyways... hope you enjoy!))