"I take it back, to call it a plan is foolhardy, it's more like an outline on how to spend your time more effectively," Anna said.
"I don't think I could do this without you, if you have any sort of advice I will gladly follow it," I replied," to be frank I have almost no clue how to approach assassination."
"Right now Nikolai has one pivotal weakness: you."
"Me? I know he is fond of me but I can't already be a weakness."
Anna got up from the chair she was sitting in and went to the window, saying, "he's been very lonely since returning home from school five years ago. The only ones who interact with him are servants whom he detests. I have closed myself off to him as much as I could so that when you came to this house he would seek out a human connection with you like a man in a desert seeks water. These next few weeks you need to dote on him as much as possible so when you finally strike he is both powerless to stop you and oblivious to your killing intent."
"I um," I cringed a little upon admitting this,"I don't really have any experience with making anyone fall in love with me. He seems to like me now but I'm terrified of saying something that makes him hate me."
"As you are right now, you are doing perfectly. Nikolai is similarly inexperienced and will try his hardest to please you. As long as you are positively receptive to his moves, you should be fine. In addition to this, you must be the one to initiate physical contact with him. He is also terrified of your rejection and will not touch you because of this. Feel free to use as much physical touch as you want but do refrain from sleeping with him."
"Is there a reason for this? I assume there is," I asked.
"As clever as always, the moment he will be at his most vulnerable will be the first time the two of you sleep together. This is the moment you strike."
"That seems a bit…" I trailed off.
"Underhanded," Anna finished my thought for me,"to put it as plainly as possible, you are astoundingly weak. Had it been me, I would have simply ended him a long time ago. But as it stands now he could physically overpower you in every situation I could come up with. Even this plan has a significant chance of failure but it is the best plan I have."
"If I'm so weak couldn't I just spend time training my body?"
"You are a very small woman, even if you were to spend years physically training your body the chance of you beating Nikolai in a head on fight is slim. I have spent many lifetimes honing my strength and even then I would prefer to fight him in a position where I have an advantage. There's no world where you can train enough in three weeks to defeat my brother in a fight."
"I don't know what I was thinking," I apologized, feeling stupid for even asking the question in the first place.
"That's not to say that you wouldn't benefit from strength training. The body you are currently in has never had to exert any effort. Stabbing a knife into someone takes a considerable amount of strength you know? My brother is indisposed during the day and you have been prescribed exercise so I asked some of my personal servants to train you in the mornings."
"Is there anything else I need to do?"
"No, anything else you do with your free time is up to you. You should have the afternoon to yourself so feel free to do whatever it is you want. Oh, but do take care not to visit me too often, the stunt at the ball was simply because I had no time. I do not want to sour your relationship with Nikolai by becoming the object of his jealousy or suspicion."
"Oh."
Anna walked over from the window and moved her chair closer to me before sitting back down.
"Do not look so sad, my dearest. I will still visit you, it will just be during times Nikolai won't catch wind of it," she lifted my chin up with one of her fingers,"come to think of it, I don't think I've properly apologized for what occurred at the ball."
Anna got up from her chair and pushed my shoulders down, causing me to lay prone on the bed. She leaned over me, both of her hands finding purchase next to my head. Her shining, golden hair fell down in loose ringlets, creating a barrier between our faces and the rest of the world. The smell of stale sleep that clung to me mixed with the intoxicating smell of wildflowers she had perfumed herself with.
Her face was a mere six inches away from mine. All of her beautiful features were so close as to be blinding, I felt like looking was tantamount to sinning. Still, I was incapable of looking away. I felt myself go crimson at the realization of how close the two of us were sunk in more and more. Anna saw this and just slightly smiled at my reaction. The moment was brief yet the very act of being so close to her made it feel as if I were experiencing an infinity of bliss.
The infinity ended when Anna leaned down further and kissed me.
It was like the instant after you trip, that feeling of free falling before your involuntary reflexes kick in and save you. Like walking outside of your house into a field of snow, the world so quiet and pure that the knowledge you are a living being in an indifferent universe is amplified. Like the moment a firework goes off, a thunderous noise giving way to a multitude of light.
It was like so many conflicting and agreeing feelings all at once that I felt like my brain was overheating. By the time she stopped kissing me and rolled over to lay beside me, my mind was such a mess that I couldn't think in an even slightly coherent manner.
"I don't think I've ever seen someone make the face you're making," Anna lightly laughed at me.
"I-I," I couldn't answer her.
"Oh my, to think I could have such an effect on you," Anna had turned over on her side and was idly playing with a strand of my hair while I struggled to regain myself. She linked her hand with my own saying," your hands are sweating quite profusely, calm down a bit Kitty. I would go further but I think that would kill you."
She was joking but I wasn't certain I would survive any more physical contact right now. I felt as if my blood had been replaced with caffeine. Aside from sweaty palms, I could tell I was shaking slightly and I felt like I was about to throw up. At the same time I felt like running a circuit around the mansion and jumping for joy. Anna waited very patiently while I regained mastery of my mind.
By the time I had calmed down, I wanted to throw myself out of the window. The most beautiful woman I'd ever seen kissed me and I acted like a blubbering idiot, a naive fool, a damn moron. Embarrassment was quick to set in but I didn't want to look any worse in front of Anna so I ignored it as best I could.
The two of us got up from the bed and trying to not let the situation get awkward for myself, I asked," where should I go tomorrow for training?"
"Don't worry about it, I will have my person come to pick you up from your room tomorrow morning at nine. I will have them talk to Katarina so she can help you dress properly."
"Thank you."
"This is all for the sake of my own goal, it is the least I could do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe there's someone at the door who wishes to speak to you," Anna said this while walking over to the door. She opened it and revealed an impatient Katarina standing in the hallway.
When she noticed the door was open, Katarina quickly stood at attention. Anna gestured for her to come in before taking the opportunity to leave. She gave me a graceful wave as she took her leave. Now the only ones left in the room were me and Katarina who looked as if she had a mountain of questions for me.