Shura and Zhanna decided to share their 'masterpiece' with everyone. So, during lunch that day, everyone was served Kurnik.The aroma of baked kurnik floated through the grand dining hall before the food even arrived. As the maids swept in with silver trays, laying them on the long table, heads turned, especially when the largest dish, golden and steaming, was placed right in front of King Igor.
He arched a brow. "This smells… homemade."
"That's because it is, Your Majesty," said one of the maids, bowing. "Prepared by Lady Zhanna and Prince Shura."
There was a long pause.
Boris's fork froze halfway to his mouth. Vasilisa looked up from her wine with an expression halfway between amusement and disbelief.
"…They cooked?" Vasilisa repeated, setting her glass down. "Together?"
In walked Zhanna and Shura, freshly changed and looking a little too polished, like they were trying hard to seem normal after making a disaster in the kitchen.Shura's hair was still damp at the edges.
Zhanna slid into her seat across from Boris without a word, but she wore the tiniest smirk. Shura sat beside her, folding his hands neatly.
King Igor picked up his knife and carved a slice from the pie. "Well. Let's see if I survive this."
He took a bite.
Silence.
Everyone stared.
Then, the king broke into a wide grin. "Well, I'll be, this is good!"
Zhanna let out a breath.
"Really, Father?" Vasilisa asked, a hint of disdain in her voice. "Like, actually good?"
"I don't lie when it comes to food," King Igor said, reaching for more. "This tastes like something made with effort."
He looked between the two of them with a knowing grin. "And I can see your relationship is getting stronger. Who knows? Maybe I'll be getting a grandchild soon."
Zhanna nearly choked on air.Shura's face turned bright red.
Boris clenched his jaw so tight you could see it from across the table. His hand curled into a fist under the tablecloth. She's my wife, not his, he wanted to scream, but a look from his mother silenced him.
While everyone joked and laughed briefly before eating, Boris stayed silent. He didn't touch the kurnik- just picked at his roasted meat and stabbed a potato like it had insulted him.
Zhanna didn't look his way.Or maybe she did, for half a second, before leaning toward Shura and asking quietly, "Do you think we should've added more pepper?"
"No," Shura said, "but maybe next time, less arguing over how to cut the chicken."
"You nearly lost a finger."
"You nearly burned your braid."
Vasilisa rolled her eyes but didn't say anything more. Instead, she quietly pushed her plate aside, barely touched.
As the laughter returned to the table and King Igor reached for a second helping, Boris stood up abruptly.
"I'm not hungry," he muttered and walked out, Vasilisa following closely behind.
"Brother, you've got to do something about... them. Their relationship seems to be getting stronger," Vasilisa said.
"Do I look like I'm not aware?" Boris snapped. He had believed he had Zhanna wrapped around his finger, but now he wasn't so sure. Seeing them together brought a foreign emotion into his heart... maybe jealousy.
Boris walked straight to his chambers. Inside, he brought out a red-colored falcon. He wrote a letter and attached it to the bird.He was done asking nicely. If he couldn't have Zhanna easily, then he might as well eliminate the threat... Shura.
---
Vika was sitting on the balcony of her chamber, reading. The royals were having lunch together today, so she had to wait for Zhanna to finish eating before they could talk. At the thought of lunch, her stomach growled. She could smell the scent of pastry in the air.
"You know, you can just go to the kitchen and get some food if you're hungry," Kazmir said from behind her.
"What? How?" Vika asked, confused.
"Your door was open..."
"You don't just walk into a lady's chambers because the door is open!"
"Sorry, I guess," Kazmir said nonchalantly, munching on a piece of kurnik. "This is tasty. Want some?"
---
"Since you're less busy in the castle, you could join training... learn to fight and defend yourself. I could train you," Kazmir added.
"All right," Vika said absentmindedly, a book covering her face as she read.
"All right?" Kazmir asked, pulling the book away from her face.
"What else should I say?" Vika asked, arms crossed, clearly displeased by what he did.
"Vee, talk to me... I'm bored," Kazmir said, leaning on the backrest of her chair. Vika looked at him in disbelief. "Don't you have things to do?" She asked. He shrugged and shook his head.
Vika took her book back to continue reading. "All right, tell me about yourself. I'm sure you're more than just a sword and a loud mouth."
Kazmir raised a brow. "Loud mouth? That's what you think of me?"
He leaned back with a lazy smile. "Well, I've got a father, he's a councilor here. Tough man. And too many cousins. Noisy ones. Three siblings too. I miss them sometimes… especially my youngest sister. She used to follow me around with a wooden sword."
Vika hummed, still reading. "Hmm."
Kazmir glanced at her, amused. "Do you have siblings, Vee?"
No reply.
He leaned forward. "Vee?"
Still nothing.
He smirked. "I like swimming. I like sparring. I absolutely love horseback riding…"
She turned another page.
"…And I love you too, Vee."
She immediately choked on the bite of kurnik she had just taken.
"What?!" she coughed, glaring at him.
Kazmir burst out laughing. "I knew you were listening."
Vika narrowed her eyes and grabbed her cup. "You're not funny."
"Oh, come on," he said, still grinning. "That was perfect timing."
She closed her book and set it on her lap, a smirk creeping onto her face. "Well then, Kazmir… I love you too."
Kazmir's smile faltered in surprise. "Really?"
"You need help…" she said flatly, shaking her head.
Kazmir blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "You're evil."
"Better than being an idiot," Vika said, picking her book back up like nothing happened. But behind that book was a smile. A bright one- caused by Kazmir.
Kazmir didn't know, but he was looking at Vika with a softer gaze now. He was about to say something when...
"Vika, we need to... Kazmir!" Zhanna called as she entered the room, surprised to see him. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Yes," Kazmir said.
"No," Vika interjected. "He was just leaving."
Kazmir frowned. "I guess I'll see you at training tomorrow," he said, reluctantly stepping out.
"Vika, I've got a feeling something bad is about to happen. In my past life, it was around this time that Boris started to kill those stopping him from accessing the throne. I'm not so sure of his plan now," Zhanna said.
"He can't kill anybody. He doesn't have you, remember? And if he tries to, we'll catch him in the act and drag him to the mud. Mission accomplished!" Vika said.
"It's not that easy, Vika. Besides, you need to remember- we're just here to destroy Boris's dream, and then we leave. I'm tired of all the royal drama. Don't mingle with anyone... don't fall for anybody, Vika. This is not permanent," Zhanna said."Once Boris falls… we're leaving. You and me. No more masks. No more secrets. Just sky, bread, and peace."
"And if the palace comes looking for us?" Vika asked.
"Let them. They'll find nothing but ashes."
---
Tatianka screamed in frustration as she reached her chambers. Why couldn't that head chef mind her business! Now that she had the weapon in her hand, she couldn't use it! Ugh. She had to find a way.
That's it- Boris!
She needed to see him if she wanted the King gone in the next two weeks.
It's now or never, she told herself.
Queen Darya received the letter from her daughter. Zhanna had been found.Perfect.It was time to commence the mission.
"You there, write a letter to my daughter. I'll tell you the details," Queen Darya said, pointing to a messenger.
The young boy swallowed hard. He was just a messenger, how was he supposed to know how to write a letter? He wasn't educated! But he couldn't tell the Queen that.
So he bowed and left.
He could feel death's clock ticking down. It was only a matter of hours before the Queen realized he couldn't write... and ordered him to be killed.In his next life, if he had one, he would rather be a slave than work for Queen Darya.
It was a good thing she couldn't hear thoughts.
---
Queen Kira was on her way back from her daughter-in-law's chambers, which was also Boris's chambers. Her daughter-in-law was lucky to even share a room with her husband. In her case… not so much.
She was just fortunate to have Boris after the first night of sex to consummate the marriage.
As for Vasilisa...
"Kira," a voice called behind her. A man stepped out from the shadows.
"Dmitri! You nearly scared me to death," she said, looking around cautiously. "What are you doing here?"
"You know why I'm here, Kira. I want to see my daughter…"