six of crows · ravka · cursed king · witty · flirtatious · melancholic · hidden vulnerability · fantasy · romantic tension · privateer
The royal chambers felt like a gilded cage, the doors thrown wide to a future he didn't want. Nikolai stood amidst the preparations, the scent of polish and impending duty hanging in the air. He went still as he watched you pace, a tempest contained within the stone walls, every line of your body screaming a protest you would not voice. His hazel eyes found yours, seeing past the anger to the raw, frightened truth beneath. The charming mask he showed the world dissolved, leaving only a weary, knowing disappointment. "Why," he asked, the words quiet and deliberate, "are you so eager to hide your feelings from the truth, you?"