Enchanted -N. Lantsov

An Epilogue Before We're Done

"What a shame. The charming princes will just have to learn about disappointment." Olysia focused on the spiked handle from her surprise. "Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?"

"No, I actually have a valid excuse today to miss those rancid lessons." Nikolai shifted slightly.

Olysia raised an eyebrow, urging him to reveal the reason.

"I just had to see you." Nikolai opened his arms in a grand gesture and smiled. "It's been weeks since we've had a proper conversation and I was getting withdrawals."

"And that excuse worked?"

"Well, I am here, aren't I?" Nikolai shrugged. "Besides, you're not exactly one to talk, what happened to the morning war council sessions?"

"Got canceled." Olysia shrugged right back. "But I can't exactly go back to the Little Palace without the Darkling getting upset that I don't have new information, so I'm wasting some time here."

Nikolai got quiet at her small admission. The silence knocked Olysia out of her focus and she lifted her brown eyes to his hazel ones. She knew he was remembering the incident because for a split second, his eyes shifted to her wrist before returning back onto her. Nikolai's eyes held so much concern for Olysia, which she decided it was more than she deserved.

Ignoring the flipping in her stomach, she cleared her throat and looked back down at her work. "I'll figure something out. Everything will be fine. You don't need to worry about me."

"I'll always worry about you." Nikolai's voice lowered as he was trading state secrets. "I think it'd be impossible not to."

Olysia's heart beat faster in her chest against her will. They just stared at each other until Nikolai broke eye contact.

"Don't you mean improbable?" Her mouth curved into a smile in an attempt to ease back into a conversation.

"Not this time." Nikolai's eyes gleamed as he gave a lopsided grin. "I did mean what I said, I think what you do is incredible." He pointed at the weapon in her hands. His mouth parted slightly, as if trying to decide to say something. "You are incredible." He corrected, smiling softly.

"It's nothing special." Olysia dismissed, attempting to ignore the heat that flashed in her cheeks.

"Again with the accepting compliment thing." Nikolai tilted his head and looked at her through his eyelashes.

Olysia ignored him and examined the knife, her surprise shown from the spike handle. She smoothed it out slightly and decided she was finished.

"Since you like it so much," She grabbed the blade and held it out to Nikolai. His eyes just kept flickering from her to the knife and back to her, in almost disbelief. "Is my work not good enough for the prince of Ravka?"

Nikolai's eyes widen comically "No that's not what..." Fumbling over his words, scared he offended the girl until he saw a teasing smile, he huffed out a chuckle. "That wasn't very nice."

"I'm not exactly known for my kind nature." Olysia's lips curled to the side slightly. Nikolai still hasn't moved so Olysia gently moved it in his direction. "Will you just take it?"

"Are you sure?" Nikolai asked shyly. It threw her off for a moment because Nikolai had never acted like this before. He seemed almost nervous.

Olysia took his hand and placed it on the hilt of the dagger, leaving her hand on his.

"I want you to have it." She said truthfully. "If it makes you feel better, know that if you don't take it, it will just collect dust in a forgotten drawer in my desk. Give it some use, for my sake."