Mykhol didn’t return until late the following day. And without a second thought, and by nature, 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 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. My
Queen Belinda tapped her quill on the desk as she looked at the letter. Briefly, she regarded Nicoli’s hand script on the envelope. Even she could see it had improved. But the reason it had only soured her mood. Queen Belinda tapped her quill with more force. It dug a chunk out of the wood. “My queen, we can no longer delay the letter.” Julia was anxious. “They're going to check and wonder why it hasn’t been sent.” “I’m well aware of the time frame, Julia.” Queen Belinda glanced over at Julia. Julia bowed with a quick apology. Queen Belinda sighed and looked back at the envelope. She was stumped on what to do. The letter needed to be sent out soon. Less he notices. Queen Belinda knew her husband would check. And how would he act if he found that she had it now? I love him dearly, but I’d instead not spark more of his wrath. Queen Belinda had still not been forgiven for the last time. It’d be better not to risk making it worse. But what am I to do? “We can ruin it, my queen
Ana looked over her book to see Mykhol. He looked bored sitting there. His head drooped as if to sleep. But he caught himself just before. Ana almost laughed.“You could go if you wanted, Cousin.” Ana went.“I’m fine by myself.”Mykhol shook his head.“You study too quietly, Cousin.” Mykhol then stretched with a loud yawn. Ana lowered her pen.“Isn’t that how it’s normally done? You need quiet to think. That's why libraries are-”“It’s not the only way.” Mykhol ventured.“We did something else at university.”“University?” Ana peaked up.The great university? Ana thought and felt her heart quicken. Was Mykhol going to talk about it? Ana couldn't help but grow breathless with excitement.“What did you do?” “Study groups.”“Study groups?”“Yep, a bunch of us would clump up in the library and pour over the books. Then, we’d stop to eat or joke around.” Mykhol’s face took on a golden glow.“It was a grand time to have all my friends together at once.”"Friends?"The word slipped through
“Thank…you.” Ana’s voice fell away. She fixated on the blue wax seal. Dawny’s royal stamp was pressed deeply into it.It’s here. Ana breathed softly. I thought it’d never… She felt weightless. There was no air in her lungs.Ana took in a shallow breath as she lifted the letter. It shook in her hands.It’s here. Ana couldn't believe it.A wash of emotions came over her. Just touching the letter made her want to cry. She was relieved. She was joyous.Nicoli. Just thinking of his name made her heart jitter.I thought you wouldn’t…that I lost…“Nicoli has written to me.” Ana could no longer contain herself.“Oh, Cousin!” Ana turned to Mykhol. “It’s finally here! Finally, his letter-” Ana gasped and leaned forward to hug him.“I thought he would never write to me again.”Mykhol stiffened in her hug but managed a smile. He liked her hug, but this was not the time. The circumstances couldn’t be any more wrong.“How wonderful for you.” Mykholt gently pushed Ana off.“My paper-knife?” Ana lo
“How dare she throw me out!” Mykhol was barely able to control himself. He was furious. And it took all the strength he had to close the door.She dares do this to me- she doesn't even know what she's done! Mykhol thought, storming off. Wait until my parents hear about this, they'll- Mykhol first headed toward his parents but stopped. "They couldn’t even do anything about it." They didn’t have any real power. Not when it came to Ana. Mykhol thought. What good would it do to tell them? They couldn’t even stop the letter from going out. “Damn it!” Mykhol punched the wall. His fist cracked through the limestone. His hand throbbed, and he hissed."I thought this wouldn’t be a problem. Not anymore, not with all the time we spent together." I thought we were closer now. I thought she’d trust me. “I overestimated myself.” Mykhol could see he was wrong. But there was time still. Ana was young.I can still make myself indispensable to her. Mykhol collected himself.“I can make it so s
* Music suggestions when reading this chapter: Lullaby by the abyss inside us & On the nature of daylight by Max Richter*Ana waited until the footsteps faded away before dropping her shoulders. The fire and rage within her were quickly sinking away. Instead, she now felt guilty for having lost herself.I didn’t mean to yell at him. Ana thought. But she could not have Mykhol stay, not after seeing that.I couldn’t bare someone else seeing this. Ana walked to the window. She could feel the sun shine through. It felt warm on her skin. It seemed a welcome change. Ana did not realize it, but she had been cold until now.But the warmth could only reach so far. It was like a wall had come up inside that the sun would never breach. Just behind her eyes, it felt dark.I have to read it.Ana slowly unfolded the letter. Again she could see the delicate script of her Father's. But it was the only thing Ana could recognize as his. The words he had written were unfamiliar.“I think it is now nece
Nicoli moved from the bookshelf to the clock again. The postmaster was on his deliveries by now. So he only needed to wait a bit longer.But it was challenging to sit and do nothing.“You’re going to run a line through my rug if you keep pacing like that.” King Alexander lifted his head from the desk.Nicoli stopped. But not for long. He began to fidget again. Nicoli pulled out a book to put it back without looking. The books fell back with a thud on the shelf. He pulled out another to put it back.“You think it’ll come today?” Nicoli looked over his shoulder."Could be today, or it could be tomorrow.”“You said that yesterday.” Nicoli pouted and returned to the books. “You…do think one is coming, right?”King Alexander made to smile but was silent. In truth, he wasn’t sure what to say. The letter had been sent. He checked.But from there, he could do no more.“She must write slow.” King Alexander volunteered. Nicoli nodded but grew bored again. He looked to the books, but they held
Twelve-year-old Ana watched her aunt move within the glasses reflection. She was setting something down on her desk. It was white. Briefly, Ana could guess what it was, but it gave her no satisfaction.Instead, she remained by the window. Below, Ana could see a crance. She was walking the pond with a trail of her chicks.The said chicks were quite a contrast to their mother. They were disorganized and clumsy puffs of fluff. And each seemed to have trouble by just not colliding with their siblings.Ana curled her lip slightly at the corners. The sight was funny enough to smile. But she dropped it as soon as she noticed Aunt Funda looking at her in the glass.“Aunt Funda.” “Another letter from Dawny, your Empress.” Aunt Funda went with a straight posture. She remained standing. Her eyes flickered down to the letter as if waiting for something. Ana turned to make Maddie's shawl lift as she moved. Underneath, Aunt Funda could see her silver hair. It had grown thick and wavy over time. An