*Nicoli* It was as if he was compelled to revisit it, wondering despite the cold. Nothing seemed to stop him from ending up at the spot. Once again, Nicoli found himself coming to the same place.The last place he saw her.I wish I could forget it. Nicoli thought, but the memory was etched inside now. Every detail was vivid and haunting. And it kept playing back over and over.The sky was colored white in snowfall, but Ana's red shawl stood out. It was blinding against the white sky while her silver hair danced and coiled against the wind. And Anas' eyes were bright and clear as they met. "Nicoli-" Her little hand reached for him expectantly. As they had the other times before. Her lips broke into a hardy smile.But Nicoli did not smile. He didn’t reach back. No, he was a coward.He turned and ran. He was running, running so fast and hard that his heart was beating through his chest. He pushed his feet hard into the slippery snow. His mind spinning as if desperate to get away as soon
*Naska*“Your food’s gonna get cold.” the new maid, Naska, went to move the plate. Shifting the pool of blood almost to spill over. The meat was practically raw save for a few charred edges.“Look, I picked up the best meat from the cook.”But despite what Naska thought looked savory, the girl just paled.“I can’t eat this.” Ana turned away from the plate for her book. “Take it back.” “You can’t-” Naska’s mouth fell open, suddenly left holding the plate like an idiot. The girl was not being easy at all. “This little bitch.” Naska cursed. She meant it to be quiet, but she underestimated Ana’s hearing.“What did you say?” Ana’s head popped up with a clear glance. “Nothing, your Empress.” Naska lied, but inside, she was only growing angrier.Spoiled brat! Naska cursed silently. She quickly found out that Ana was not an easy master. Naska seemed to have her hands full. Regardless of how nice I am, she is still an ungrateful bitch.Naska looked to the door with a longing stare. If only
*Alexander*“How’s it going, champ?” King Alexander watched Nicoli drag the crayon over.Nicoli was wholly focused on his creation. Probably concerned with showing off to Ana how his drawings were improving since the last time. A child's drawing was not something to trifle with, Alexander learned. Therefore, Alexander gave the boy ample space to achieve his artistic goals and humored him.As long as the letter is done. Alexander had no other worries. “Quite the little artists you are, my boy.” Alexander admired his passionate resolve but wondered who it sourced from. It was certainly not from him.Perhaps the queen?But the thought of Belinda made Alexander frown. Despite the month passing, the events of that morning still did not sit well with him. And he did not know what to think of her at the moment.“All done!” Nicoli lifted the paper with pride.“Er…how lovely….” Alexander narrowed his eyes. “What a nice…mouse?”“Bear! It’s a bear!”“A bear!?” Is that what this terrifying creatu
*Mykhol*Mykhol didn’t return until late the following day. And as if it came naturally to him, he went directly to see Ana. Naska blushed as she let him in. “L-Lord Mykhol.” Naska curtsied low to show off her cleavage. Mykhol noted her speak quietly. It didn’t take him long to see why.Ana was still asleep. Her hair was unbraided and spilled over the pillows. It looked like cobwebs. And her cherry lips puffed as she gently snored.“She’s going to be quite a beauty when she’s older,” Mykhol spoke.“Just like her mother.”“Lord Mykhol?” Naska blinked up, confused, but Mykhol didn’t explain. Instead, he left to come to her bedside.No, she’ll be better. Mykhol smiled with his fangs.Mykhol pulled open the covers and crawled in. He was careful not to disturb Ana. He did not want her to awaken just yet.Mykhol ventured further and scooped her into his arms. He pulled her close to his chest. Closer, he was able to smell her. Her sandalwood filled his nose with intoxication.I missed this.
*Belinda*Belinda tapped her quill on the desk as she looked at the letter. It was somewhat of a little feat to retrieve it off of Post Master Nettle without anyone the wiser. But of course, Julia had managed. Belinda could count on her for things like this.But getting the letter into her hands was one thing. Now was the question of what could be done with it. What was Belinda going to do? Briefly, she regarded Nicoli’s hand script on the envelope. It had improved.Even I can see that. Belinda had to admit. But the reason it had to do with that bastard child, only soured her mood further. Belinda tapped her quill with more force. She was practically stabbing into the desk’s wood now. The quill’s nip got duller as small chunks of wood came up.“My Queen,” Julia broke the silence at last. “We can no longer delay the letter. They will check and wonder why it hasn’t been sent.”“I’m well aware of the time frame, Julia.” Belinda glanced over at her. Julia bowed with a quick apology. But
*Ana*Another week of nothing from Nicoli. I don’t mean to but I find my thoughts fall back to it. It’s going to be another week of nothing from Dawny.At some point, I’ll need to stop counting. I know. If anything, to help clear my thoughts. I know I should stop wasting my energy on this.I know I should but-I need to study. I tell myself. It’s not the time to be distracted. Things move on. And so must I.I make to start reading my book once more before I hear the sound of a soft snore.“Cousin?” I cannot help but look over my book to find Mykhol. I can’t help but roll my eyes at the sight, as sure enough, he is doing it again.If it’s that boring, he should leave. I watch his head drop off his hand as if about to sleep only to jolt himself awake again and sit up. He moves to shift the book onto his lap as if to read, but it’s clear he’s not.And I find his insistence to pretend almost laughable.“You could go if you wanted, Cousin,” I say, breaking the silence. “I’m fine by myself.”
*Ana*“Thank…you.” I barely feel my lips move to make a sound as I draw quiet at the sight of the blue wax seal. Dawny’s royal stamp is pressed deeply into it.It’s here. I breathe softly. I thought it’d never… I’m suddenly weightless.Deep shallow breaths fill my ears before my hand raises. The letter shakes in my hand. I can feel the weight of it. It’s real.It’s here. I can barely believe it is here.“Nicoli.” Just thinking of his name makes my heart jitter.I thought you wouldn’t…that I lost…“Nicoli has written to me.” The words can no longer stay inside. I breathe again.“Oh, Cousin!” I rush to see Mykhol.“It’s finally here!” I find myself leaping forward and hugging Mykhol in joy.“I thought he would never write to me again.”“Oh,” Mykhol stiffens ever slightly, but he still smiles. “How wonderful for you.” “It is- I never thought- My paper-knife?” I let go, turning to Naska."Heh?" Naska blinks, caught off guard. She looks after me, or, more at my smile, with a perplexed exp
*Mykhol*“How dare she throw me out!” Mykhol hissed through his fangs, shaking as he stood in the hall. It was infuriating, no, even humiliating. And it took all he could not to just turn back around and bust down the door.She dares do this to me! Mykhol stomped ahead. His mind was burning and red. It was unbelievable. She doesn't even know what she's done!“Ana,” Mykhol bit through his teeth. Wait until my parents hear about this, they'll- Mykhol turned, ready to head toward their wing. He was going to tell them everything that just happened, even if his mother was already there to see part of it. The last part, the part where Ana just carelessly tossed him out.She dares push me, ME, aside as if I were nothing? As if I haven’t been here this whole time. Helping and comforting her? Something much more than any of those damn humans ever did. No, Ana will realize how much she’s messed up. I’ll show her. Once I tell Father and Mother-It was only then that Mykhol stopped in his trac
“Hidi?” But before I can have a chance to ask any further, Hidi only taps my arm, her fingertips pressing just a fraction too firmly against my sleeve."But we will talk later, as for now—" Her green eyes immediately shift to Nicoli and brighten, like lamps suddenly lit from within. The strange expression suddenly disappeared again, replaced with a mask, so perfectly that I wondered if I had seen anything at all. Her smile is bright and full, with blunt white teeth again, but something about it feels rehearsed, a performance she's put on countless times. Her attention was solely on him, her body angling toward his like a flower turning to the sun."Nicoli, did you see that? Look how helpful I am to our dear Ana." She beams, as if nothing were wrong at all, stepping slightly closer to him than necessary, her arm brushing against his in a casual gesture that somehow feels deliberate. "Our dear Ana" sits strangely in my ears, as if I'm a shared possession rather than a friend. Her voice
Ana*“Please, everyone, if you would just-” But it's clear no one is listening. My voice is swallowed up by the cacophony of string instruments and the colliding conversations surging around us like crashing waves. The air thickens with perfumes and colognes—spiced amber, midnight jasmine, and something metallic that clings to the back of my throat. If I ever felt overwhelmed before a court of nobles shouting over each other after some new decree, it's nothing compared to the suffocating pressure closing in now. Actually, I think I'd prefer that over this.I don't even think my coronation was this bad. I recall that, being just a bit more orderly, the crowd maintained a respectful distance that allowed my lungs to fill properly. But then again, Mykhol was pushing them along so I could eat, right? It's a delayed shock of wisdom to realize that it was indeed helpful. I feel ashamed now that I ever thought he was being haughty at the time. He wasn't. His curt dismissals created a buffe
Naska stared at the cup instead of taking it, more shocked than surprised at the motion. Someone poured her drink? It was indeed a first. No one had ever done anything for her. She was so used to doing everything for herself. And glancing up, the sight of who did, only made her more confused.It was one of the veiled women—a Bulgeon, a human. Her eyes lined in that inky black shadow seemed to regard her in silence just as she did. Her hand lifted the cup, steady, as if she were still waiting. Naska, not knowing what else to do, took the cup. But her eyes remained glued to the woman. Because of the veil, she couldn’t know what expression the woman was making. Was it friendly? Bitter? What did her face even look like under the cloth?Watching her, the mysterious woman moved with grace. She poured another ladle of blood, not wine, to steam against the glass. Her thin fingers peeked out of her sleeve to swipe a slice of meat to dip in, and she moved to eat under the cloth. Naska raised
*Naska*“What a joke of a party,” Naska muttered, baring her fangs as she leaned against the wall. ”Mine will be so much better.” Her pale red eyes flickered over blue and gold streamers hanging from the center of the high ceiling with a sneer. Ugly colors, she immediately found it stupid. But not as stupid as having to sniffle every other minute. Her nose was irritated and starting to run from all the damn pine scent in the room. Each breath was like choking on a bottle of soap. From the platform near the far wall, the gentle strains of stringed instruments played a song too delicate and indistinct for her to recognize. It filled the air like perfume—pleasant to some, she supposed, but meaningless to her. Light laughter floated between the nobles, punctuated now and then by the sharp clink of crystal goblets. Beneath the noise, however, the pressure in the room was thick. Everyone waited for Her Empress to return. The tension curled under the music like smoke, unseen but unmistakab
*Johan*As he entered the banquet hall, Johan quickly noticed quite a few things. The first was that King Alexander was nowhere to be seen, though Johan expected that. He must have still been talking with Queen Bratha.What surprised him, though, was that others were missing—two, to be exact. The handsome brunette prince was not in the banquet hall as he thought he would be, considering he did not see him in the lobby or even the line. He was gone, and neither was Ana. Who he did see was just Hidi.The giant queen stood out among the partygoers- not just because of her size. Her very presence seemed to overpower anyone who dared draw near. Those who attempted to pass her either darted their eyes down or weakly bowed before hightailing it inside. Johan could see that even that old coot kept a safe distance if anyone wanted to try to talk to her, like the ever-eager Sir Celbest.The blonde was not pleased about something, and Johan could easily see it. The girl had never been one to hi
*Nicoli*Nicoli held onto Ana like a man gripping the edge of a cliff—tight, unyielding, unwilling to let go for even a second. The very idea of releasing her, even to their father, was absurd. No. Absolutely not.He had waited too long, ached too much, spent years longing for this moment. And now that she was finally by his side again, he refused to let anything—anyone—take her away. Not tonight. Not ever. So be it if he had to fight off the entire court to keep her close. Vampire, noble, or king, he didn’t care. He’d take them all on.She was his Anastasia. And now that they were together, everything felt right again.A rare, genuine grin tugged at his lips—one that wasn’t for show, unlike the practiced smiles he wore in Dawny. This was different. This was real.But as they moved through the white halls, his excitement warred with Ana’s slow, deliberate steps. Too slow. She still walked like an old lady.Nicoli’s muscles twitched with pent-up energy, his entire body screaming to mo
*Ana*My body freezes, every muscle locked in place as Nicoli leans in closer. His face is inches from mine, and I feel my breath catch, a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation racing through my mind. What is he doing? Is…he going to kiss me?But we can’t—we shouldn’t. We aren’t children anymore.As children, it was innocent. Nicoli used to kiss me on the lips, but it was always affectionate—nothing more, just like when he would hold my hand or offer a playful hug. It was natural to him, something that didn’t feel strange, something I expected from him without question. But that was then.Now, we’re adults. And that changes everything.We can’t– I try to tell myself that, but something in me hesitates, unsure whether I want him to stop or... not. I’m paralyzed, my heart beating so loudly I can hear it in my ears. As his face nears mine, I feel the world shrinks, the air around us thick with tension. A strange eagerness stirs in my chest—a warmth I don’t understand. It coils through
*Ana*“Nicoli–” He’s going the wrong way again. I shake my head, the soft chime of my gold chains punctuating my amusement. But he insists on leading, judging by the stubborn set of his shoulders. He’s determined to get somewhere despite having absolutely no idea where that is.For the past twenty minutes, Nicoli has forged ahead with all the confidence in the world, only to crumble in confusion when we inevitably hit another dead end or loop back to the same hall. Left, then right, then left again. Each turn is taken with steadfast determination — and each time, I have to stifle a new laugh as we encounter yet another wall.“Nicoli, just let me show you–” I try, though I’m already bracing for him to ignore me. It would be far easier if he let me lead, though. This is my palace, after all. I know the twists and turns, the subtle variations in the endless white corridors. But he seems lost in his resolve. As if doing this out of spite at the challenge and not wanting it to get the bett
*Hidi*“But, what about me–” For once in Hidi’s life, her voice was too soft to hear—lost, swallowed under the sound of laughter. Their laughter. Hidi froze, her breath caught in her chest, her words useless in the space they left behind. Her eyes only widened as she stared after them, watching–watching, but not moving in disbelief.The two of them were running, laughing, hands clasped like children lost in their own world. And she was still standing here.She blinked. Did they really just… leave me?The air seemed too still while everything else moved too fast. Nicoli had been right there. Right there. She could have reached out, close enough to brush her fingers against his sleeve. But he hadn’t even looked at her. Didn’t even voice a hello.Not once.His sapphire-blue eyes had locked onto Ana, and nothing else had mattered.For the second time.A cool flick of irritation ran beneath her ribs, lodging itself somewhere deep inside her. She knew this was their grand reunion, knew th