The privateer and his tracker

Chapter 13

The news that the king was returning was quickly delivered to Mal. And while the tracker was more than relieved that he'll soon have Nikolai back in his arms, where he belonged, there was one more thing he had to do.

As he stood in front of Genya's door, he was painfully aware of that. His heart was beating way too fast, sweat was damping certain spots on his shirt and his head was almost spinning.

Did he regret what he was bout to do? Not a chance. Did he doubt what he was about to do? A bit.

Not because he, even for a second, doubted that he wanted to marry Nikolai, but because he wasn't sure if the king still wanted him to properly ask his mother.

However, from how well he knew Nikolai he was quite sure the blond would prefer if he asked the person that was Nikolai's home and safe harbour until they started dating.

Genya.

Genya, that was now slowly opening the door, looking at Mal with confusion written all over her face, making him worry even more. For a split moment, he started wondering if Genya trusted him enough with Nikolai to actually let him marry the king.

But after all, he was never a person to worry too much and he wasn't about to become one so he, far too dumbly, announced: "I'd like to marry Nikolai."

Genya swiftly looked around, seeming quite shocked, although she didn't show that and pulled him into her room.

After a moment of looking at him, succeeding at making him feel more nervous than he ever was, she started laughing. He wasn't sure what to do with himself at the moment and opted for laughing with her, still nervous over what is about to happen.

"Do you want to like... I'm not sure but...Do it again?" She said, still holding a hand in front of her mouth, laughing quite loudly. The truth is, he did, she made a fair point.

Letting out one last chuckle he tried again: "I came by because I have something important to ask you. First, I wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed getting to know you and how much I appreciate you welcoming me as a partner of Nikolai's and only giving me one shovel talk...per week."

She laughed sweetly like honey at that and he knew things were going well.

"You are a wonderful friend and I know that you helped Nikolai to grow into the kind, caring and funny person that he is today. He means the world to me and I hope to receive your blessing to spend the rest of my life with him." He truly hoped his king will be back soon and couldn't wait to spend more time with him.

Deep down he knew that he convinced Genya more than enough and that he had her blessing long before he stepped into her room and yet he still continued, making it as perfect as he could.

"He's my true north, Genya. A part of me always knew that."

A tear of joy slid down her face and she looked at him with eyes full of hope. He never saw he like that before and he knew that was because of how much Nikolai and she meant to each other. That was why he was here in the first place.

Soon she was lunging towards him, hugging him tightly and burying her face in his chest. She mumbled quietly: "Of course, you have my blessing."

Mal couldn't recall ever being this excited about his future.

--- le time skip —-

Every little bump on the road felt like a big annoying headache to the king, as he sat in his royal carriage, painfully aware of how long the ride was. He utterly regretted saying no to travelling with the Hummingbird, because the residents of Novyi Zem weren't all too keen on it.