𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 // 𝐧𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐢 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐯

𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐯𝐨'𝐲𝐚

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Nichevo'ya

     Two outfits showed at her door a few bells before Nikolai's birthday dinner. She'd specifically asked not to be disturbed all that day, to get prepared for the night. To get her act together.

The first outfit was a shimmering silver dress with a plunging neckline and an open back. It flared out from the waist. The bodice had a corset set with aquamarine and morion gemstones.

The other was a silk kefta, also silver. It had gray and dark blue embroidery and it looked like it had been made personally for this formal event. A servant had been sent to her room with the outfits and claiming to be sent by the Queen to help her get ready. Estelle merely waved her away. She didn't need help to get ready, Star Summoner or not.

Estelle braided her hair, a complicated pattern of braids that weaved through each other until coming down to one large braid at the nape of her neck. Her hair alone took two bells. Deciding what to wear took half of that time.

On the one hand, the dress was beautiful. It shimmered in the light as Estelle turned when she tried it on. But it didn't feel right to wear something so distracting when it was supposed to be Nikolai's night.

Then there was the kefta. Also beautiful, also breathtaking. Whichever one she would wear, she was sure to bring attention to herself. The Star Summoner at the second prince of Ravka's birthday dinner? It was sure to turn many heads.

After trying both on about seven times each, Estelle knew which one was the better option. The kefta. It was time that she stopped trying to deny who she was and wore something that showed it.

Estelle put on the long garment over a pair of breeches and a long white shirt, tied with a sash. She buttoned up all the hidden buttons and smoothed the fur at the collar, then sat down at her vanity and fixed her braids.

Someone knocked at her door. Estelle stood, placing the last gem in her hair, and opened it. Nikolai stood outside, dressed in his formal blue and golden uniform. His hair was neatly combed and it looked like he had a hint of makeup on. He grinned at her.

"May I come in?" Nikolai asked.

Estelle chuckled, but turned to go back to her vanity, trusting he would close the door behind him. A moment later, she heard the soft click of it closing. "I'll be just a moment," she said. "Then I need to go down and check that everything for dinner is perfect."

Nikolai frowned. "Estelle, you don't need to do that. My parents took care of all that."

"I don't trust your parents, Nikolai," she told him, brushing on some blush to her cheeks. "Besides, I need to be prepared for what I'm going to see."