#viii. ⸻ • 𝐧𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐢 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐯 • general.

[storytelers-arc]

@solsnkta​ asked: 😘 for Nikolai!

Pressing a finger to her cheek, Nikolai sighs falling back in the bed, the fever wiping away all of the masks he expertly wore, leaving behind a young boy who was at the end of the day, afraid. Afraid he wouldn’t be good enough, that he couldn’t protect his people, and her. She terrified him more than anything, because she had wormed her way into his heart and every time he heard another whisper about an attempt on her life, or General Kirigan’s secret plans, he wanted to steal her away, take her to that boat he built months ago and disappear.

How lucky he was. To be the first Lanstov to actually fall in love with his betrothed.

“Came to check on me, dear?” His hand falls to the bed, and he shifts to his side to gaze at her, blue eyes hazy from the medicine. “What a devoted fiancee I have. I don’t think even my mother came here, too afraid to get sick.” Clutching her hand, he brings it to his lips, pressing a clammy kiss there. “You can’t fall in love with me, you know. It would ruin everything.”