Page 117 of Tarnished Queen

I roll my eyes. “We are doing fine.”

All we’ve done so far is bandage Christo. Nikolai said we’d go get dinner, then took off to get some work done. I haven’t seen him in hours.

“Then why don’t you look like it?”

I smooth my face back to neutral. “What?”

“You’re worried. What’s wrong?”

I consider lying, but what’s the point? Some of the early cracks in this marriage are obvious. “Well, let’s see… my baby sister just had to flee the country. I’d say that’s ‘something wrong.’”

“As a precaution.”

“But still. It’s not exactly ideal,” I protest. “And things are just… kind of overwhelming at the moment. Honestly, part of me worries we rushed into this.”

“Into marriage?”

I nod. “Kind of. It’s a small part, but this is crazy, right?”

“Of course it’s crazy,” she laughs. “It’s nuts. Like, bonkers to the extreme.”

“Gee, thanks, E. You make me feel so much better.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel better. I’m being honest.”

I wonder if she has any idea how much like Nikolai she sounds. The two of them are more alike than they know. They both put up walls to keep people at arm’s length. But under it all, they care more deeply than most people could ever fathom.

“So you think I’m nuts then?” I ask.

“Nope,” she declares. “Sane people do crazy things all the time. What matters is why you chose to do it. So let’s hear it: why did you decide to marry Nikolai?”

“Because I love him.” The words slip out easily. I don’t even have to think about them; I know without a doubt they’re true.

And all of the doubts that were just shouting at me go quiet, just like that.

“Wow,” I breathe, impressed. “You’re smart, Elise. Very wise.”

She shrugs. “I know. I’m just glad you finally figured it out.”

“Sorry it took me so long, Oh Wise One.”

She waves me away. “The Wise One forgives you. Where is your husband, anyway?”

“He had work to do, but he should be back soon.” I glance at the clock in the corner of my screen and wince. “That’s actually why I need to hang up and get ready. He’s taking me out to dinner.”

“Ooh. Like a date?”

“Can we even call it that? We’re married now.”

“Sure you can,” she says. “Married people go on dates all the time. You have to keep things fresh.”

“We got married two days ago. I’d say things are pretty fresh.”

Elise ignores me and tucks her legs underneath her. “Show me what you’re planning to wear.”

I look down at myself and then hold my arms out. “Um… This.”

I have on my favorite pair of ripped jeans with a scoop neck tank tucked in. It’s casual, but fashionable. Paired with some delicate gold necklaces and a pair of leather flats, I’ll look positively posh.

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