DANDELION || Nikolai Lantsov

56. DEVESTATING PROSPECTS

"You're too sweet. But ... should we really bother her right now?"

Nikolai tilted his head, understanding her doubt. "It might take her mind off ... things."

Things meaning Ximen.

The prince sighed deeply. "I hate to see her like this because of him."

Zoya, Genya and Tamar had come back to Ravka a day after Aneela and Nikolai had returned from their honeymoon. To say that the mood was still tense in the Grande Palace was an understatement. Aneela had never seen Zoya this angry about something. No, she wasn't angry, she was furious. Livid and enraged. It aggravated her how Ximen behaved and just didn't give in what was the obvious thing to do. For both of the countries.

"Setting her head into a more positive mindset is difficult," Aneela admitted. "Maybe I need to do some altercations to my plan so we can solve this problem as well. This might cheer her up and lighten the overall mood in the palace."

Nikolai raised his eyebrows. "Are you going to tell me what you have in mind now?"

Aneela grinned and shook her head. "Not a chance, my love. You'll see-"

Her husband sighed theatrically. "Yes, yes, I'll see soon what you have constructed, you keep repeating this – and only this! Why can't I know? Are you conspiring against me?"

"Of course, I am. I'm secretly trying to take over the country, like the fjerdan girls had in mind." Aneela laughed and linked her arm with his. "Stop being so nosy, you'll learn soon enough what is going on."

"You're mean." Nikolai pressed a kiss to her cheek before he reached for the door handle. "You know this will keep me up all night."

"I thought I am going to keep you up all night." Aneela whispered into his ear before she pulled him through the open door, hearing him chuckle at her comment. "Good afternoon, Miss DeKappel."

As a true DeKappel, she was one of the most skilled painters in the world. Her oldest cousin, Bram DeKappel, had died a few years ago under mysterious events and his paintings were worth a fortune – some of them had vanished in Ketterdam recently and were now searched for a crazy amount of money.

The middle-aged woman had done a few paintings of the ravkan royalty in the past, the last one had been Zoya right after her coronation. It was on the wall in Zoya's salon right above a stool where a bleeding heart flower bloomed in its full glory. Because it was so beautiful, it was always the first thing the queen looked at when she entered the room.

DeKappel had captured the Dragon Queen very well, it was nearly frightening how realistic it looked. As if her twin would step out of the frame any time.

The woman who was currently setting up a large canvas in front of a very expensive sofa stopped with what she was doing and dropped into a deep curtsy. "Good afternoon, Your Highnesses."

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes." The painter gestured over to the seating near her. "Please, do make yourselves comfortable, I will start right away with the basic sketching."

"Do we need to go over the confidential agreement?" Nikolai asked while ushering the dogs inside before closing the door again.

"Of course not, Your Highness. Whatever you say in this room won't leave it."

The prince nodded approvingly and watched the animals rush over to Aneela who was taking a seat in the middle of the red sofa with golden stitching. "Very good. Shall the five of us take place in a particular way?"

"Five?" Her eyes grew big. "Do you ... do you already have children?"

"Furry ones, yes." Nikolai sat down next to his wife and lowered his voice so only she could hear his next words. "But we will work on the human ones."