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" I want you to know,
I'm a mirrorball,
I CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT ME TO FIT IN "
―NIKOLAI WOKE UP WITH A THROBBING HEAD AND A SORE BACK.
He groggily blinked himself awake, and he had to admit that waking up from the sleeping tonic every morning felt as though he was being reborn once more, frigid and searing hot altogether. He let out a quiet groan as he pried his eyes open and sat up against his headboard. He had traveling to do, and the last person he wanted to be was the kind who overstayed, but last night had been rougher than most, and not in the most pleasant sense that he'd have preferred.
Yi stood before him, already put together like well-crafted pieces of a puzzle, ever flawless. Nikolai's gaze roved over the forest green gown that hugged her form and made her bronze skin glow like polished coins. Her golden eyes met his and she raised her eyebrows.
"Saints, you look miserable," she said.
"That wounds my pride," Nikolai muttered, forcing himself to his feet. "You, on the other hand, look like a summer day."
"I've never been fond of summer," Yi stated nonchalantly. "Ahmrat Jen has made me dislike the constant heat." She gave him a sardonic smile that somehow looked like a masterpiece in itself. "We need to leave in ten minutes."
Nikolai groaned in a very un-king-like way. "Splendid."
It wasn't like him to let it show how miserable he felt. His boots were always polished to a pure shine, his hair impeccable and uniform pristine. But he felt more comfortable than he cared to admit around Yi, and although the sentiment was probably misplaced, he reveled in acting like a regular person for once, and maybe he liked it even more that Yi never batted an eye about it.
She helped a servant who was in the midst of delivering Nikolai's breakfast tray and adjusted a few flowers in the vase on the nightstand before departing with a brief nod.
Nikolai watched her go for a few long seconds before going through his morning routine.
It wasn't until he was looping the last brass button of his First Army uniform that Yi returned, this time with a bustling group of servants that quickly aided in packing all of Nikolai's belongings as he took a seat and began to eat his food.
Yi occasionally left his chambers to speak with Zoya or the twins, but Nikolai couldn't help but feel as though she wanted to be here with him, prolonging her stay by helping the servants pack and acting as though she had things to do. Maybe she wanted an apology.
Nikolai wasn't so sure he knew how to give her one. What was it to apologize? It was to admit that there was something wrong with him, that she had a genuine reason to resent him, to fear him.
