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👑 N I K O L A I 👑
Although these catch-up meetings were good to keep everybody informed on what was happening and still needed to be done, they were incredibly draining. Maybe because they were always right before lunch and Nikolai hit the midday dead point. He was tired and hangry, wishing every second for Genya to just end the meeting so he could eat something really quickly before he was dragged behind the desk again to write letters and approve regulations.
"The planners in each city are on track with everything, but some of your tour dates aren't settled yet." Genya looked up from her notes towards Aneela and Nikolai who sat across from one another. Not by choice, Zoya separated them after their first meeting because none of them was paying attention and were whispering to each other non-stop. "The ravkan tour, I mean."
Aneela leaned back in her chair. "So, the ravkan tour will take place right after we get back from Novyi Zem?"
Genya nodded. "Exactly."
"Isn't that ... going to be very stressful for them?" Kheru asked concerned. "Shouldn't they rest for a few days?"
"In an ideal world, we would all rest for a few days before the next major event," Zoya commented. "But no, they start the tour in Ravka after they get back on land in Os Kervo."
"Why Os Kervo?" Adrik wanted to know.
"The territory of the former East-Ravka fell under the name of Os Kervo," his sister explained. "After the war, it declared itself to be part of the whole Ravka if they were to maintain their independence and laws under the crown. In exchange, there was a title offered which hasn't been given to, yet."
The young man frowned. "Why not?"
"Because the person who will get the title isn't here, yet."
Nikolai and Aneela exchanged a knowing glance, both biting a smile away. The Grisha around them gave Adrik a look that he should think about it again, but he did not get it.
"What?"
Nadia rolled her eyes. "Because the person hasn't been born, yet."
Finally, the kruge dropped and his eye grew big as he looked from Nikolai to Aneela and back. "Oh!"
"Yes, oh!" Genya shook her head at him and sighed. "Anyways – We need to show the citizens that we care about Os Kervo and Ivets. That's why you'll get on and off the ship there. An invite to a dinner at the Mayor's house after you get back is already scheduled."
Nikolai kept a loud, annoyed sigh to himself. Those dinners were important but infuriatingly boring, required non-stop acting and smiling and a lot of alcohol to get through. It was the one thing he hated the most about his title and thought they would ease when he gave the crown to Zoya but being the deployment prince, the attention was still on him. Maybe now more than ever, since he was getting married before her.
