A couple days went past and I didn't see the Darkling's projection. I'm glad too because I still haven't told Mal or anyone else, that I have the Darkling's Shadow summoning, alongside my own.

I walked along side the stable grounds, to see all the horses present. Except one. I assume that it was Nikolai's horse. He would always go riding at this time of day. I went back inside the palace to maybe read or study for something. We had a couple of meetings with some nobles, generals and ladies who were all important figures of the court. A court I was soon to be apart of. I saw Genya and Zoya talking outside the doors of the dressing room.

They noticed me looking at them and gave me a simple smile. Or as much of a smile Zoya would give. I went up to them, picking up the white sheets of my dress. I looked down at their outfit choices. They both weren't wearing their Kefta's. Genya wore a pink sleeveless dress.

"your not wearing your Kefta's?" I asked, curious. I just wore dresses and royal gowns in the Palace, because I didn't want to wear any Kefta's but I wonder why these two decided to wear it.

"We don't wear Kefta's all the time, Princess." Zoya snapped. Clearly she was in a mood. "Sorry i didn't mean to..."

"No its fine Alina, Zoya is just a little bit off this morning." Genya said, trying to reassure me.

"Why did something happen?"

"yes, I just don't want to talk about it, alright." Zoya calmly said. I nodded and we entered the dressing rooms. I saw multiple gowns, of reds, blues, blacks, golds, purples and more. An explosion of colours, could be seen all around and there on a dress form. I could see a white dress being sewed up together. It wasn't complete and had many different needles, pinning the different shades of white in. I could tell this was the marvellous work of Genya Safin.

"Woah, Genya. Did you make all these dresses?"

"What are you crazy? No, a couple of my tailoring friends decided to pitch in to create them. Your wedding dress is the one I'm making."

I knew she was referring to the white dress. Genya went up to where the layout of my wedding dress was being done.

"What do you think of it so far?"

I made my way up to the dress form and admired the detail more closely. Genya started to remove the needles and gently pulled out the fabrics that were pinned in. I ran my hand over the embroidery and could feel the, intricate and incredibly detailed designs sprawled over it.

"I really like it, I know it's not done yet but knowing you, it will look amazing." I said to Genya, who smiled from the praise. "But why are you making the dress so early. I don't think the wedding will be for a couple of months." It was way too early to get married now. But it would make me a powerful figurehead in Ravka. Of course I knew I had to soon return to the Dothraki and rally my support and return to the position I had there, as Khaleesi.

"I know, but I had to get started. Wedding dresses are harder to create then Kefta's or casual gowns. Not to mention I have to make multiple ones for you to choose from." Genya explained. It's been a while since I've heard Zoya speak. I turned to her direction, to see her observing some of the blue gowns on the other dress forms. She was already wearing a royal blue, maxi dress. That fit her like a glove.

I went up to Zoya, "Hey what's up."

"Nothing." She said quietly. I decided to let it go, Zoya wouldn't tell me that easily.

Zoya soon returned to her room, exhausted. She must have trained a little harder then usual or maybe didn't sleep that much last night.

Me and Genya drank some tea and we talked about Nikolai and my wedding and about Mal. When we talked about Nikolai, the flash back of what happened two days ago came to me.

Me and Nikolai were outside in the beautiful sunlight, out in the Palace gardens. We had a small argument on our marriage and him saying he would wed me in the interest for Ravka.

He agreed to stay distant so I could pursue my relationship with Mal. He said I had to be careful with Mal or people could pick up on our 'affair'.

"you could have ruined your reputation so that I couldn't marry you. Even if things go the way we want them too." Nikolai said, his piercing eyes into mine. His curly, blond hair parted through the middle and he wore his black leather outfit.

My eyes went up in realisation.
"The way we want them too, and how would we want things to go." I stepped up closer to him. I felt a breeze go through my hair and the head piece I wore, jingled as I moved.

"If you weren't the future king of Ravka and I was just a girl not the Queen or Princess of anything. Would you want this?" I gently whispered.

I saw a change in Nikolai's facial expression, as if he was shocked by what I said. I soon found him close to my face. His lips almost touching mine, he was about to kiss me but I saw his lips waver.

"I can't do this."

"I won't!" He said and retreated from my face, going out of my sight.

"Alina, ALINA!"

"Huh, what?" I came back to my senses and saw Genya shaking my shoulders and calling my name.

"You zoned out for a couple minutes, you okay?" Genya asked concerned.

"Yeah I'm okay, guess I went into a flashback." I confessed.

"Was it about Nikolai?"

I nodded. "it was about our argument over me with Mal around the Palace."

"Oh yeah, Zoya told me about that. But Nikolai is right rumours spread through the palace extremely quick."

"Oh saints." The last thing I needed is rumours. I already talked to Mal about keeping our relationship on the down low. But i never told him that Nikolai nearly tried to kiss me, twice.

"Oh by the way, Nikolai had received some word from a couple people who hated his claim to the throne, they were a part of a group of extremists who are called the opposition. He had to deal with them." Genya started to explain to me.

"What did he do?"

"He got confused by the choice he made and chose to hang those who opposed him."

"Oh saints, that's horrible."

The thought of Nikolai hanging people was surprising. I don't think he would do that. But if it was for the interest of safety and the crown then I suppose it was the right choice to make. Although he could have imprisoned the assassins or opposition against the court. I wonder if they were the Darkling's people.

"Why didn't Nikolai imprison them?"

"That wouldn't have helped anything, but I could tell he wasn't as happy to have those people hanged." Genya explained.

I guess that answers my question, my mind went back to how the Darkling burned the orphanage down to the ground, he didn't care at all. But Nikolai did. He had people who were guilty, hanged and he felt bad about his decision. What is it about Nikolai that makes me attracted to him?

"You want to go see him, don't you?" Genya asked raising her brow. Her red hair shimmered and her beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement. "yeah, do you know where he is?"

"Outside the palace, getting some fresh air, he does this when he has a lot on his mind."

"Okay, thank you Genya." I stood up from my chair and placed the tea cup I had, down on the marble, white, table.

***
I saw Nikolai, his back turned to see the horizon at front. I saw the scotches outside the palace pillars, the faint lights of sunset, reflected of them with beautiful light. The atmosphere a light purple shade all around us. I saw Nikolai was dressed in fully black. He didn't wear his kefta or his full black leather. It was casual wear, unlike the off shoulders white dress I wore, with a golden pendant Genya chose for me.

"Nikolai!"

I called out getting his attention. He turned back to me and I could see his eyes a faint red colour. Was he upset? "you did the right thing." I said referring to the action he took against the opposition.

Nikolai looked at me with sympathetic eyes and soon walked fast up to me. He then crashed his lips into mine.

***
Published: 11:15am 22/01/2022