𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓| Nikolai Lantsov

Vasily |

A sheer white box with a twine tie around it was brought into my room by Tamar. I opened the box and set aside the cover and twine. Inside was a dress and a note. I put the box with the dress inside on my bed as I grabbed the note.

To my Adelaide,

Thought this would suit you, and be more to your liking than what my mother would have given you. I cannot wait to see you.

Yours truly, Nikolai.

I smiled as I read the note. He was such a flirt. I put the note in one of the drawers of my bedside table as I grabbed the dress, and held it up to my window. The dress was black with intricate golden details all over the bodice. Wow. It was stunning. I placed the dress down on my bed, I needed to get cleaned and ready for Nikolai's birthday ball before I could change.

Once I was done, I admired my dress in the mirror. Saints, Nikolai had good taste.

But thats when I heard the door creaking open and footsteps coming into my room. Vasily walked in with his hands behind his back.

"Moi Tsarevich... what are you doing here?" I asked shocked.

"I would prefer if you call me Vasily, at least when we're in private." He grinned at me.

"What can I do for you, moi tsarevich?"

"You call my brother by his given name."

"Him and I are engaged. Besides, we've traveled for a long time together."

"Yes, I've heard some find his whole corsair act rather charming." He scoffed.

"If you'll excuse me, I have-" I tried to excuse myself but he was quick to interrupt me.

"He must realize, no matter his aims, he will always be a second son." I frowned at this. Oh how I wanted to kick him. "Only I can make you a queen."

I mentally puked at the thought of Vasily and I getting married. There was no way he was suggesting it.

"I can assure you I have no such ambition." I informed him.

"Is that so?"

"You've made no secret of your opinions on Grisha. Why propose an alliance with me?" I chuckled angrily.

"I stand by my previous statements." I was really biting my tongue, my hands were tied, couldn't hit the future kind of Ravka. "The Ravkan people are fed up of being held hostage by Grisha tyrants. Odds are some Grisha are good people. You could help me sort that out."

"Where would you find the time?" I began. "Rumor has it you find yourself quite preoccupied at Caryeva, between the horse races and the brothels." I teased him, this was the only way I could get to him.

"How many true allies do you really have, Miss Vertov? Grisha scraps."

"Leave." I commanded, if I were to hear more of his nonsense, someone would of had to fix him a new face.

"Oh come on lovebug." He pleaded, walking closer towards me and grabbing my arm.

"Get off of me!" I screamed at him but he did not listen, his grip tightened on my arm and I knew it would leave a bruise.

"Touch her again, and I'll break your neck." A voice roared from the door. I could see a flash of golden locks from the side of my eye.

"Mind your own business won't you?"

Moments later, Nikolai grabbed a hold of Vasily's collar and pulled him away from me. The look in his eyes was something far from what I had seen before. It wasn't his usual playful gaze or his long lasting smirk which I had grown to admire more than I'd like to admit. This one was full of range, anger, and even a hint of sadness.

Nikolai raised his fist and it collided with Vasily's face, the sheer force of his punch caused the skin on his knuckles to burst.

"Get fucked... brother."

Vasily walked out without saying a word, holding onto his nose. That was, something. I never though Nikolai would have pulled something like that.

"You're an idiot you know?" I laughed, pulling his hand into mine so I could asses his injured knuckles.

My hands made their way to cup his face, holding his face to look at me. "Thank you" I stated as I moved to help Nikolai clean up.

"For the record." He dipped his head down to kiss my hand. "I would do anything for you."

"Thank you Nik. Truly."

"Saints. My brother is an idiot."

"I wish I would've punched him now." I stomped my foot in the ground feeling like a disgruntled two-year-old throwing a tantrum.

Suddenly, he was smiling at me. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"What?"

"You are just so freaking cute."

I blushed. "Right. That's something that every girl wants to hear. You're cute."