𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓 𝐌𝐄 ━ 𝐧𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐢 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐯

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋

i'm not sure if i'll keep this published so read while you can...

remember when nikolai talked about him and angelique

stealing pastries from the kitchen when they were younger?

here's one of that scene from back then!

♥ happy valentines day ♥

▬▬▬▬▬𝐍𝐈𝐊𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐈 𝐒𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐄, trying to be serious but not before a smile flashed once on his lips.

"Stop telling me all the unsavory things Vasily looks like that will surely make me laugh and give away our hiding spot. If I'm caught sneaking around places I shouldn't be, let's just say I'll be studying history books for a while," he whispered.

I raised an eyebrow. "But you agree he looks like his horses?"

"Angelique," he said, fighting another smile.

I peered from behind the stack of towering crates we were behind, seeing the rest of the kitchen staff left, finally done with their work. We were trying to steal pastries. Ones that would be served at the grand annual ball the King and Queen were hosting tonight.

It was because Nikolai wasn't allowed at the more extravagant balls like the one today, and that meant he wouldn't be able to take those delectable sweets for us before sneaking out of it so we could share. So here we were in the Grand Palace's enormous kitchen instead, opting to take them before they were served.

And the smell of freshly baked goods was absolutely mouthwatering.

It seemed Nikolai could smell them too, because he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "They better have chocolate éclairs," he muttered.

I watched as the head chef rolled in the last trays of pastries into the room labeled "STAFF ONLY", and locked the door after him. Then he too, left the kitchen. And now the place was entirely empty.

"C'mon," I said. We approached the door while I took my hairpins from my pocket and handed Nikolai the picnic basket so I could begin to work on the lock.

His eyes widened slightly as he observed what I was doing. "You have got to teach me."

"Shhh," I said, this time being the one shushing the other. My eyes narrowed in concentration as I listened for the faint clicks as each pin moved into place one by one. Finally, the door yielded with a satisfying snick and it swung open, revealing the treasure trove behind.

"Yeah, you're definitely teaching me," he said, as he gazed at the rows of golden croissants, glazed fruit tarts, éclairs and much more inside.

I allowed myself a small triumphant smile. "Alright. Let's take the ones in the back."

We began to work quickly, our hands a blur as we snatched the goods, until we efficiently stuffed the basket. Nikolai popped a small blueberry tart in his mouth and let out a satisfied sigh.

I fixed him with a small glare. "Save them for later. And you're leaving crumbs all over the floor."

He opened his mouth to probably give me a witty reply, but instead he froze in place. "Shit," Nikolai murmured. "I think the head chef is back."

I too, paused to listen, recognizing the sound of footsteps which was progressively getting louder and clearer.

"Almost forgot my watch," I heard the chef mumble to himself.