oppositum [a (maybe) Nikolai Lantsov story] (currently being reviewed)

XIV

Queen Regent's bedroom

Silence fell in the room. Nix and her mother stared at the caretaker in amazement. The Queen opened her mouth and closed it again, mimicking a goldfish. Nix stood up abruptly, knocking over her chair with a bang, and grabbed the nurse's forearm, her eyes glowing with a crazy gleam.

"Do it again. There must have been a mistake!"
"I'd like to, miss, but our measuring instruments are the most reliable that have ever been invented!"

Nix tightened her hand around the woman's arm and kicked a table, knocking over a vase. The sound of breaking glass made the caretaker scream in surprise and shards of glass flew all over the room, cutting everyone in their path. The scream alerted Lýkos, who stormed into the room. He took a few seconds to analyze the scene and then strolled towards Nix. He put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Nix... let go of the lady. You're scaring her."
"Don't tell me what to do! It's her fault! Her fucking box is screwing up!"

Tears blurred Nix's vision and threatened to escape at any moment.

"Let her go. Violence is not the answer."

A sarcastic chuckle was heard. The queen was laughing at the interaction between Nix and Lýkos.

"You two should hear yourselves talk! What the hell are you two? Lovers? Friends? And then, as if you drüskelles don't settle everything with violence!"

Lýkos did not let that break his concentration and put pressure on Nix's shoulder again. She let go of the nurse's arm, who fell to the floor on her buttocks, then pushed Lýkos out of the way and stormed out of the room. He followed her, leaving a hilarious queen regent and a shocked nurse. of the scene that had just unfolded before her eyes.

With his long legs, he caught up with Nix in a few strides, pulled her into a corner of the hallway, out of sight, and hugged her. With her head resting against Lýkos' chest, Nix let her tears flow in silence. Lýkos didn't ask her anything, knowing perfectly well the reason for her sudden unhappiness, and gently stroked her hair to bring her some comfort.
Nix clutched Lýkos' shirt in her hands, as if she didn't want it to slip through her fingers.

"I'm here, calm down..."

She wiped her tears with her friend's shirt. He chuckled and pulled her away from him.

"I'm willing to be your shoulder to cry on, but I didn't sign up to be your handkerchief!"

Nix let a smile float across her lips and wiped her snot with her sleeve.

"Shut up."

Lýkos tugged at her cheek with a laugh.

"What do you want to do now?"
"Let's go for a walk. And get a handkerchief."

The days passed slowly until Nix's birthday. During the last three days, they had visited the capital and prepared for the ball given in Nix's honor. The party was scheduled for the evening, so the whole afternoon would be spent getting ready, getting dressed, getting dressed up...
Lýkos and Nix, for the time being, were enjoying their lunch with Koira. Despite the fact that they had been eating at the palace for three days, they continued to eat as if it were the first time they had eaten such exquisite food. No sooner had they returned to Nix's room, where Lýkos was also staying for the week, than a slew of maids entered the room.

"Looks like it's torture time, my dear friend."
"And again, you won't be undergoing the makeup... But at least I managed to persuade my staff to put you through one of my misfortunes."
"I'm suddenly afraid for my life... What misfortune?"