❈ invisible string ― nikolai lantsov ❈

Nikolai

Zoya went still. "Don't tell me you tried to―"

"I didn't try to kiss her. I almost did, though."

Her blue eyes turned icy. "Is that truly the best course of action you can think of? What happened to 'how have you been?' She's not a little girl that you can just woo with words and kisses anymore."

Nikolai ran a hand through his hair exasperatedly. "Saints, Zoya! She was reading off names of my future bride. Do you truly believe I was simply going to ask her what kind of flowers they grew in Ahmrat Jen's gardens?"

Zoya's frustration was evident. "Yes, Nikolai. That's how a conversation works."

He blew out a long breath. "I'm far too tired for this, Nazyalensky."

"No, you're not."

"I don't believe that's something you get to decide."

"I won't be the one to chain you in tonight."

"You can't be serious."

Zoya lifted a shoulder in a disinterested shrug. "Do I look like I'm joking, Nikolai?"

Nikolai narrowed his eyes. "Actually, from this angle, you look a bit like you have a unicorn horn and a heavenly light shining down upon you, but that's simply my opinion."

She shot him an unappreciative glare. "Yi is going to be here in ten minutes."

Nikolai went deathly still, to the extent that his old tutor Mitkin would have cried out in joy upon seeing. "Beg your pardon?"

"You can beg for hers," Zoya said dryly. "You need to fix things."

"Perhaps I'll worsen them tenfold just to spite you," Nikolai mused.

"You are aware that Yi could tear this building down with the twitch of a finger, no?"

He stood up, stretching out his legs. "Are you aware that I could do the very same with the simplest of orders?"

Zoya didn't reply, clearly already exasperated by his antics as she turned on her heel and left, footsteps receding at an alarming speed. Nikolai watched her go for a few long moments. Yi was coming here. Tonight. After he'd almost considered trying to kiss her.

He let out an internal groan of irritation before unlocking his bedchambers and entering his washroom to clean himself up. If he was going to have his heart broken tonight, he may as well do it with some dignity.

He grabbed a white nightshirt and a pair of satin pyjama pants, lazily changing into them. He rubbed his eyes. Nikolai was duly exhausted, and he suspected he'd be half asleep by the time Yi came to chain him in. Still, he washed his hands to get rid of the scent of brandy and prepared to leave.

He stalled, eyes landing on the tiny vial of cologne by his tap. He never had the need to wear any, but now he considered it.

Then Nikolai realized how ridiculous he was being and left his bathroom to go take a seat on his bed. He distracted himself with a novel, but his fingers still drummed against the bedsheets and his knee still bobbed up and down. He didn't want to see Yi.

Or maybe he just didn't want her to see her like this, vulnerable yet again. 

He had no time to ponder it, because soon, a knock sounded at the door. "Nikolai?" Yi's familiar voice rang out, and he was never quite used to the sound of his name on her tongue, something that always made his head get cloudy, especially now.

"Come in," Nikolai responded at last. "Let's get this over with." His words weren't callous in tone. He was only exhausted, and he may as well play the part of the reluctant king, as he suspected Yi wasn't happy about the arrangement either.