❈ invisible string ― nikolai lantsov ❈

Yizhi

Yi had to admit, it sounded like fun.

"Just think of all the dinners and teas and dancing," David echoed miserably.

"We'll need additional checks on all palace security," Nikolai told Tolya. "Anticipate that every servant, every guard, every lady-in-waiting will be a potential spy or assassin."

"Speaking of which," Tamar added, "Dunyasha Lazareva is dead."

Yi stilled. Nikolai stayed quiet for a moment, "Who got her?"

Yi remembered the auction in the Church of Barter, Azalea's disappearance. She couldn't help but be impressed, but stayed silent all the same. A secret was a secret, and Saints knew she would keep it.

"Not one of ours," Tamar stated. "All I know is they found her splattered on the cobblestones outside the Church of Barter after the auction."

"There will be another," Zoya warned. "Someone else to claim the Lantsov name."

"All the more reason to produce a lovely heir and secure the throne," Yi stated, even though she felt her chest tighten. "Genya and I would make splendid aunts."

Nikolai pressed his lips together, expression unreadable. "Send the invitations," he said quietly, and Yi felt her heart fall when the barest of smiles appeared on his face. 

"Let the great royal romance begin."

---

THAT NIGHT, YI WAS RELUCTANT TO VISIT NIKOLAI.

The day had been spent settling into the chamber supplied for her while he attended countless meetings and wrote out invitations. Eventually, as the sun began to set, Tamar had came to Yi and told her that she would have to be the one to go through candidates with Nikolai, as it had been her idea. But she suspected that it was more than that. She felt as though everyone knew the thoughts that ran within her mind, that they knew how desperately she and Nikolai needed time alone to sort things out.

She wouldn't admit it to herself, but she cared. She cared a lot.

Unfortunately, denial was an inconvenient thing, and she stared at herself in the mirror, trying to sort out her hair. She refused to call for a servant or for Genya's help because she refused to believe that she cared about what Nikolai thought about how she looked. 

Even so, she'd ruffled through her nightgowns for at least an hour trying to find one that wasn't too casual or revealing, but also suited her tastes and offered her comfort. At last, she settled on a satin one in sage green, tiny flowers embroidered at the modest neckline.

Yi gave up on the idea of looking presentable and threw a robe over the nightgown before departing.

Soon she found herself in Nikolai's sitting room, lounging on one of the couches while reading through the list of maidens. She despised the place, the double eagle on the heavy carpets and the golden curtains that reminded her far too much of the old king's tastes. Long ago, he'd taken advantage of her before being exiled, and she wouldn't lie and act as though she wasn't incredibly grateful for Nikolai's decision.

But the reminders of the old rulers were enough to put her in a damp mood, and she supposed reading of names of ladies who could possibly be the ex-love of her life's new wife didn't help at all.

She felt his eyes on her, studying her every move, and she was suddenly thankful for the days spent in the courts hiding her emotions, her features a mask of calm and serenity.

Yi picked up the papers of the best candidates she'd found and prepared to read them off.

"Was it strange?" Nikolai asked quietly, staring at the crackling fire, a cup of brandy in his hands that sloshed around as he rocked it in gentle circles.