NOVPUBThe ceiling was too quiet. No council to deal with. No looming threats to think about. Just the low creak of a wooden chair and the soft rhythm of breath—one, calm, feminine breath.
The bed was warm, which meant someone had stayed.
He didn't move right away. Breathing hurt. Everything felt tight—chest, ribs, neck, like his body hadn't unclenched since the fight.
There was a chair beside him. Someone shifted in it. Quiet.
"You're awake," Lunaria said.
Her voice wasn't surprised or worried, just soft as if she already knew he'd wake up right about now.
Nikolai opened his eyes while gazing at the beauty beside him. She sat with both hands in her lap with a straight back and gently curling her lips into a faint smile.. She looked calm, unmoving and relieved.
"How long?" he asked.
"Half a day."
He went to sit up, but she reached forward and pressed two fingers to his sternum. Not hard, but firm enough to keep him where he was.
"Don't. You're still bleeding under the bandages."
He grunted and relaxed back against the pillow.
"You stayed."
She didn't answer that.
There was a knock. The door opened a second later, without waiting.
Risa stepped in, eyes dragging over the room like she owned it. She didn't even look at Lunaria.
"Well, shit," she said. "Still breathing."
He looked at her, healthy, annoyed, arms crossed like she was ready to throw a boot.
"You look like you got eaten and spit back out. Like a hairball."
"You're the second person to tell me that."
"Then it must be true."
She walked across the room, didn't ask to sit, just pulled over a chair with the leg scraping against the floor and dropped into it. Legs crossed, relaxed. Her eyes flicked toward Lunaria, then back to him.
"You planning to explain why you let some old bastard turn your face into mashed meat? Or should I just strip and make you feel good?"
"I had my reasons."
"Yeah? You gonna share those with the women carrying your kids, or are we supposed to just clap quietly from the sidelines next time?"
He exhaled through his nose. "You're not even showing yet."
"I'm still allowed to yell."
He didn't reply, but found this different side of Risa quite appealing and closed his eyes.
Risa leaned forward, elbows on her knees.
"Kumiko's pretending she's fine. Nikita's been in a horrible state, but Nagisa said that's because she'll give birth soon, and Selene has barely said three words all day. Meanwhile, you're lying here and enjoying Luna's soft hands. You know how that looks?"
"Like I'm recovering."
"Like you don't care."
"Of course I care... There are just—"
"Save it!"
Lunaria glanced toward Risa, lips pressing into a faint line.
Risa caught it.
"What? He bleeds, you sit here and nurse his bruises? That's sweet. But the rest of us aren't able to take things so easily after becoming his wives—everyone is watching us, our movements, actions and what we do. All of the bastards are looking for a weakness to use against the man we love!"
Nikolai looked at her. "You're angry."
"No shit," she said. "You could've died. And for what? Strategy? Who cares if he was loyal to your grandfather? Kill the fucker, and crush the Nosferatu bastards... Haah... haaa..."
The way Risa became so angry, she lost her breath, was like a hammer hitting his head—he wallowed in his self-pity and humiliation, but even the women who supported him felt the same.
To protect him, they were trying their best too.
"Thank you, Risa... what would I do without you girls?"
She stood up.
"I'm telling Nikita you're breathing. She'll want to see you for herself. So until you're strong enough to swing something, just stay by her side. No more hero stunts. If you fight, kill; if you defend, take no damage; if you run, escape without harm!"
Risa paused at the door, then glanced back.
"And you," she said to Lunaria, voice low but sharp, "you... thank you for taking care of him. I'm not angry at you, sorry. It wasn't fair of me to shout at you too... but if you want to become one of us, you should make your move."
She left without waiting for a reply.
Lunaria didn't respond. But this time, she didn't look away either, and her head almost seemed to subtly nod, agreeing with Risa.
The door clicked shut.
For a while, nothing moved. The silence didn't feel as heavy as before—just a little warmer. A little strange.
Lunaria stood slowly, walked to the window, then stopped. She didn't look at him right away.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. It was just… a lot."
He pushed himself up with a quiet grunt. She turned sharply.
"You're still bleeding," she said.
"I'm always bleeding."
She didn't laugh, but her eyes narrowed—just a little. The old her might've growled at that.
Lunaria stepped back to the side of the bed and knelt, reaching to check the bandage on his side. Her hands were careful. Slower than usual.
"You're not going to scold me like Risa did?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I'm not angry. Not really."
Her fingers paused over the gauze.
"I'm jealous."
That made him raise a brow.
"Of?"
She exhaled through her nose. n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖
"Her. All of them. They get to yell. Fight. Sleep with you. Carry your children. I'm still... here. Just sitting."
"You stayed with me."
"I know. But I want more than that."
Nikolai's eyes widened. He knew that she held feelings for him, but events kept piling up before they could speak.
There it was. Not shouted. Not even firm. Just plain.
He watched her for a while as she lowered her head slightly, but her eyes were locked on his chest—on the bruises, the blood.
"Then take it," he said.
Lunaria looked up.
He leaned in slightly—not far, not fast, just enough to make her heart skip, if it was going to.
"You're not the quiet type," he said. "Not really. I remember what you were before."
She flushed. "You're saying I'm pretending?"
"I'm saying you're holding back. And you don't need to."
Lunaria shifted her knees against the floor. "If I take more... I might not stop."
He smiled faintly. "Then I guess I'll have to handle you when that time comes."
Nikolai watched her quietly, but he felt this was best, rather than hold it in... he wanted the people around them to be honest, speak up and avoid hiding their feelings.
She didn't smile back. Not at first. But her hand slid forward slowly until it covered his.
Warm.
Awkward.
Possessive.
"I think… you should go see Nikita," she said quietly.
He blinked.
"She's waiting," Lunaria added. "And… I know I'm not her. Or Selene. Or Risa. But if I'm going to be one of them…"
Her grip on his hand tightened.
"I don't want to become a problem or issue for you, but a place you come to rest and recover."
"I want to walk you to her."
He didn't argue.
He let her hold it.
Let her lead.
The hallway was quiet, but not empty.
Servants moved like shadows, pausing only briefly when they saw him, then turning away like they hadn't. One or two glanced at Lunaria. No one said anything, but he could feel it in the air.
Whispers would start before the hour ended.
Lunaria didn't let go of his hand.
She walked beside him, her steps measured, not shy. The way she held his hand wasn't gentle—it was firm, as if she was telling the estate itself that he wasn't alone. She didn't speak, and neither did he.
It was enough for their first step.
They reached Nikita's door.
Lunaria gave his hand one last squeeze before letting go. "Be careful," she said, though there was no danger. It wasn't a warning.
It was a reminder: Don't mess this up.
Nikolai knocked once, lightly.
Nothing.
He pushed the door open.
Warm sunlight beamed through the tall window, and the air faintly smelled like a sweet, floral tea or something like it.
And there, by the window, sat Nikita.
With her legs crossed on the cushioned bench, she flicked her tail behind her. A blanket covered Nikita's lap, along with various balls of yarn rolling at her side. Her fingers moved rapidly, in slow rhythm, as her hands looped it with a pair of needles.
She was… knitting.
He stared.
Her short hair was slightly mussed. A loose hoodie hung off one shoulder, and her wolf ears twitched as she focused. She looked calm. Feminine. Way too small for that bench, but completely settled.
"You're staring," she said, eyes not leaving the yarn.
"I didn't expect this."
"Well~ I needed something to do... Don't stay there. Come in, shut the door."
Nikolai couldn't help but shrug and stepped closer to her, locked the door, and curiously looked at her work.
"You know how to knit?"
"I learned a few weeks ago," she said. "I'm terrible at it."
He stepped closer. The closer he got, the stranger it felt. This wasn't the Nikita who threw knives and threatened nobles with a smile. This was… different. Unique.
"You've been reckless again..."
He glanced down. The edge of his bandage had soaked a little. He hadn't even noticed.
"Yeah."
"You should sit down."
He did.
Nikita kept knitting. One of her ears twitched again. She still hadn't looked at him properly.
"You didn't say anything after the council," he said.
"No."
"You're not mad?"
"I am. But not the same way Risa is."
She finally looked up.
"I'm mad because you didn't consult me... not because you got hurt. I get it. You're planning something bigger. You always are. But have you forgotten who stood beside you from the moment you became one of us?"
He said nothing.
She watched him for a beat longer.
"You stink."
"I just got out of bed."
"You smell like Lunaria."
He almost laughed.
She smirked. Then went back to knitting.
"Let's bathe together when I'm done, I need someone to help me wash properly with this stomach."
Though swollen, her stomach wasn't huge, but he didn't mention that. Nikolai knew better.
"You're shorter than I remember," he said.
"Maybe you're taller than you should be."
He sat back and watched her needles clack together again.
For once, the silence wasn't heavy.
It was… comfortable.
