"Will you marry me?", Nikolai asks, one summer morning, the heat already making Alina wonder if she can deviate the light away from her to create a cool shade.
She stares at Nikolai in disbelief, the emerald ring clear as day between their breakfasts, and looks at him.
"That question again?", she asks, and Nikolai nods. Alina grabs the ring for a second, analyzing it.
It's pretty, she cannot say that it isn't. But it is not her - she is not an emerald ring, more fit for a queen than whatever Alina is. Sol koroleva, her mind chants, but she does not deserve the title - she is the sun, but Alina doesn't think she shines as bright as she should, as the sun does.
"We've been courting. Marriage is the next step.", Nikolai says, matter-of-fact, and Alina stares at the ring again.
Could she do marriage and whatever is asked of her? Could she be a queen? The ring seemed to glint under the sunlight.
Could she be a queen?
"Alright,", Alina says, and Nikolai chokes on his tea. She laughs. "That's not very kingly."
"It's not very queenly to try and murder the king,", Nikolai says, eyes huge.
"Did you think I'd never give an answer?", Alina asked, purposefully putting her elbows on the table. "I mean, is like you said. We are courting, shouldn't we just marry?"
Nikolai stared at her for a second.
"Besides, there'd be worse marriage options,", Alina continues. "I mean, you're you. What else could I ask for?"
Mal was unspoken between them, and Nikolai was polite enough not to mention. Alina rose up, approaching Nikolai slowly, touching his hands, putting the ring in his palm and closing his fingers. Nikolai looked up at her, and Alina used the moment to kiss him. He seemed surprised, if only for a second, but kissed her back.
Alina didn't notice when he slipped the ring on her finger, and when they separated, he smirked.
"We could have done worse,", he says, and the laugh that comes out of Alina's mouth is unfamiliar.
Does she love him? Probably. Alina does not know. Does she not love him? No. It's enough, for now.
"Definitely.", she answers.