*Mykhol*
Mykhol stood by as the royal family passed them. Queen Belinda met his eye but no more. But he didn't expect there to be any reaction.
Our business is over. Mykhol thought. They both got what they wanted. They wouldn't need each other anymore.
It was fun while it lasted. Mykhol had to admit. Mykhol thought he was good. But Queen Belinda's performance was unworldly.
I shouldn't ever make an enemy out of that woman. Mykhol had to shiver. She was formidable.
Even for humans, Mykhol had to give credit. But it was a comfort to know that that wouldn't happen now. Their work here was done. It was now just a matter of tying off the stray pieces.
Speaking of which, Mykhol looked over at Ana. She was still kneeling. And her hair was a mess of wild curls.
It was jarring to see all that silver where red should be. Mykhol wanted to reach out and grab a fistful. But again, Mykhol also wanted to curl the strands around his fingers.
In the end, Mykhol restrained himself. They were other things to look at, after all. Ana's bare shoulder, for one. Mykhol noted the sleeve fell again.
She must have dressed herself. Mykhol could see buttons missed and ties improperly knotted. The dress was holding up but barely, thanks to three haphazardly done buttons.
Just three, and it will slip off. Mykhol stared down at her exposed skin. It looked so soft and smooth right then. Mykhol could feel his fingers inch closer and closer.
"Anastasia," Mykhol pulled up her sleeve. He wrapped his hand over her shoulder to keep it in place. It was okay for him to see her skin but not the others. The idea of earlier still bothered him.
"Let's-" get you dressed. Mykhol was about to say before being pushed aside.
"What-" Mykhol turned in time to see Maddie. She wrapped her arms around the stoic girl in tears. Her body swallowed and almost covered Ana up.
"I didn't know this would happen." Maddie wept in fat tears. "I would have tried to reason with them. I swear on my life I would have"
"If anyone is to be swearing on their life, it should be you." Mykhol glared.
How dare she push me aside! Mykhol couldn't believe her. But before starting in on Maddie, Mykhol found himself pushed aside again.
"Thank you, your Empress." It was Abina's turn to throw herself before Ana. She took up both of Ana's hands to kiss them repeatedly.
"Thank you for your mercy." Abina continued in joyous tears. She looked up to Ana anew, as if she were a saint just discovered.
"If it weren't for your Empress, They would have surely killed me. Thank you-"
What an annoying little pest. Mykhol thought; Mykhol was already sour from Maddie and wasn't about to deal with her groveling on top of it.
"Guards," Mykhol snapped, and they came.
"What? Wait! " Abina cried as they hooked big, meaty hands around Abina and pulled her up. "Where are you taking me?"
"Hold her in the dungeon until we depart." Mykhol directed. "I don't want to see her till then."
"Dungeon? Wait, no!" Abina's face paled instantly. "I thought I was pardoned?" She looked back at Ana. "Your Empress?"
"You dare put words in our Empress's mouth?" Mykhol threw a protective arm over Ana's shoulders.
"You have been found red-handed. Criminals are to be punished." Mykhol motioned for the guards. Without a word, they lifted her from the floor.
"No, please! Your Empress!" Abina cried and kicked in their arms. She screamed loud enough to echo in the great room. "Mercy! Please have mercy!"
"Shut her up." Mykhol snapped, and a guard moved a hand over her mouth. The screaming quickly muffled. All Abina was left to do was cry as they pulled her away. But even then, her teary eyes did not stir Ana.
"Ana?" Maddie, meanwhile, looked away from Abina. "Ana, honey?" Maddie reached over to touch her, "Ana, listen-"
"Don't," Ana flinched as if in pain.
"Ana?"Maddie froze as Ana pulled in her hands. She continued to look at the floor.
"Ana, please…Maddie swallowed as if trying to think. "Don't hold this against Dawny."She attempted to touch her again, but Mykhol pulled Ana back.
"Don't make excuses for them!" Mykhol snapped. "They have wronged us."
"No, this is not; Dawny wouldn't normally-" Maddie tried again, but Mykhol had heard enough. And he wasn't about to let her get another chance.
"Ana, do not listen to her." Mykhol purposely bent down to look Ana in the eye to help drive his words home. But he quickly wished he hadn't.
Ana was staring at nothing. Her eyes were blank and dull. This made Mykhol twitch, and something pulled in his stomach. But he swallowed the feeling back down quickly to continue.
"Look how quickly they turned on us, cousin. " Mykhol went down to Ana's ear.
"Didn't I warn you? " Mykhol whispered to see Ana flinch.
"That—" Ana slowly looked up at him. She opened her mouth to speak again but then stopped. Her eyes shrank and grew dark. She looked down at her hands.
"No, you're wrong." Ana protested, but her voice was weak. Mykhol could see his words were getting to her.
"Ana," Mykhol cupped her cheek to pull her head back up. Her red eyes slowly lifted to meet him, and Mykhol almost smiled at the feeling.
"You know it's true." Mykhol brushed a loose hair from her eyes. "They never wanted us."
"But Cousin," Ana stared after him. A thousand words played over her eyes as if wanting to argue. But just as quickly as they started, they died on her tongue. In the end, Ana could say nothing.
"My legs," Ana went instead, softly. " they are tired."
"Oh ?" Mykhol went before smiling as it finally dawned on him.
"Such a baby," Mykhol teased in her ear, wrapping his arms under her legs. He lifted her in one move. It was easy. Ana was not heavy.
She could due to eat more- Mykhol was thinking as his breath caught at what Ana did next.
"You-" Mykhol paused, feeling Ana voluntarily wrap her arms around his neck. She nuzzled her head into it. He could hear her take in a deep breath as if smelling him.
"You don't smell sweet," Ana mumbled distantly.
"I don't?" Mykhol laughed at the strange observation.
"Like tobacco and pepper." Ana went slowly. "It's nice."Her little arms tightened around his neck. She had hidden it until now, but Mykhol could feel it. Ana was shaking.
"Don't leave me." Ana's words were soft and brittle
"That-" Mykhol thought he would laugh then. The proud child was showing weakness? How grand. But Mykhol suddenly didn't want to laugh. It didn't seem right.
"Never," Mykhol went and felt his heart in his chest as Ana clung to him. She was shaking so much that he was afraid she might fall. Mykhol squeezed her tighter.
I could get used to this. He almost wished she was like this more.
Need me, just me. Mykhol mused before he felt someone watching him. It was Maddie. He had almost completely forgotten about her.
"Lord Mykhol," Maddie went with a grim expression. She was no doubt disturbed by the sight.
But What does it matter now? Mykhol shifted Ana deeper into his chest.
It's all over. Mykhol lifted his head higher as he smiled after Maddie.
Go on, tell him everything. Let's see what the king will do now. Mykhol dared with his eyes.
What can he do? Mykhol could have laughed then. King Alexander is just as guilty. Mykhol knew it, and looking at Maddie, she did, too.
"Lord-" Maddie started, but Mykhol didn't bother. Mykhol ignored her and marched out into the hall. He turned on his heel toward their rooms—his room, specifically.
Mykhol had had enough of sharing Ana at this point. But now I won't have to worry.
Now, it can just be the two of us—as it should be, Mykhol planned as Ana lifted her head at a window.
"The kittens."
"What?" Mykhol retorted, almost lost in his thoughts.
"Can they be buried together?" Ana loosened her arms to sit up. "Can you see to it, cousin?"
"That?" Mykhol dropped the smile.
"They're brother and sister. I don't want them to be alone."
She's still thinking about those damn cats? Even with her in his arms, Ana still thought of something else. Was she even a girl?
Any other girl would be crying in tears at this opportunity. Mykhol was sure. No girl was getting as many chances at him as Ana. Yet here was Ana. And she was worried about cats?
This girl, Honestly. Mykhol could have rolled his eyes then but managed not to.
"Ana," Mykhol touched her cheek. It was tacky from the tears, but he didn't mind. Ana looked rather cute with puffy eyes. And anyway, it wasn't important.
What was important was that Ana no longer flinched. Mykhol was touching her with no problem. Better, she's the one clinging to him now.
Mother and father would have celebrated if they had seen this. Mykhol knew. It was a breakthrough. But oddly, it didn't feel as fulfilling as Mykhol had expected.
Perhaps I'm just tired. Mykhol dismissed. It was still early. He needed more sleep. He could take a nap.
With Ana? Mykhol perked up at the thought.
"I don't think that will be possible,"
"But-"
"I think we shouldn't get any more involved than we already are, Ana." Mykhol went on. " It's not our place."
"Oh," Mykhol could feel Ana sinking into his arms. Finally, she lowered her head back down.
"I see," Ana mumbled before growing quiet.
"Ana?" Mykhol looked down to see Ana fast asleep. The day had exhausted her. But Mykhol couldn't help but frown then.
I don't understand. Mykhol could feel a strange pain in his chest. I should be happy. I was- but now, what is this feeling?
Everything went as planned. Ana was clinging to him, looking only at him. It felt so good to have Ana this close and desperate for him. But still, Mykhol felt tight and found it hard to breathe.
I got what I wanted. Mykhol couldn't understand. Why wasn't he happy?
I should be happy. But Mykhol wasn't. He felt something, yes, but it felt sickly. And he couldn't shake the feeling no matter how fast he walked.