𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓| Nikolai Lantsov

Triumvirate |

I was fixing my crown before the coronation when I heard a light knock. The doors behind me slowly opened to reveal Nikolai. His hair slicked back to perfection and his navy robes clung to his tone body.

"A visit from the King?" I said cheerfully.

"Well, not until the Apparat drapes a dead animal on me," he laughed. "and bonks me on the head with a scepter."

"Are you checking in on me?" I smiled. "Or are you hiding from what comes next?"

"Can it be both?" He began to walk towards me, closing the gap between us. "Can it be me coming to thank you for..." he paused as if he was unsure if he should say what he wanted to. "I would be so very incredibly, ultimately alone in this moment, were it not for you."

I laughed in response. "All of Ravka loves you." He was being ridiculous. "Though Fjerda might not be quite so thrilled with the coronation falling on the same night as Hringkälla."

"Let me phrase it differently." He chuckled as he reached for a stray hair that fell on my forehead. "Were it not for you, I would be the loneliest king in the world." I took a breath in, after all this time, Nikolai still made me nervous. "You're the Moon Summoner, savior of Ravka. I'm honored to have you by my side."

"I am too."

"I want to thank the wishing star. He made my most
important wish come true!"

"What wish is that?" I asked curiously.

"You."

"I love you Nikolai Lantsov"

He opened his mouth to reply, and just as he did the doors began to open once again. We both sighed once we saw Genya and Zoya walking through the doors.

"Oh. Genya and Zoya are my escorts."

"Well, I shall leave you to it." He said, smiling at the girls before leaving.

They began giggling as soon as the doors had closed behind him, and I could not help my laugh along with them. Genya walked over to me while still trying to hold her stomach from laughter.

"You really could have asked for my help instead of whatever team Nikolai sent." She held my face in her hands as her laughter suddenly came to hold. "I miss pulling straw from your hair after scrapping with this one."

"We're on the same side, now." I laughed and smiled at Zoya.

"I mean, as much as that might be boring, I'm actually rather pleased about it." Zoya said before jumping up from her seat and wrapping me in a tight hug.

"I think the three of us can begin to fix what's been broken." I said on a more serious note.

"You're asking for our help." Zoya said almost shocked.

"of course she is. We're fantastic." Genya said with a wink.

"I'd like you to oversee things here at the palace." I patted Genya's arm. "I'd like it to be a refuge for anyone, Grisha or otkazat 'sya, who needs a safe haven. Like the Spinning Wheel." I sighed. "And you, I'd like for you to be in charge of Grisha training." I tolled Zoya.

"I think I can whip them into shape." She said, proudly straightening her posture.

"As long as no actual whips are involved." Genya joked which caused us to fall into a fit of laughter once again.

"And as for me, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my friends." I smiled at the and grabbed their hands, holding them tight against my own. "And I think Ravka could do with some, too. The three of us can do a lot of good together."

"Our little Triumvirate." Zoya shrieked.