78 Sisters 1 (2/2)
Guilty, Elya closed the book and slid it behind her. Of course Lidia would know she wasn't explaining everything, but it was better for her to believe her interest in the election was a means of distraction. Her knowing smirk far too familiar from the few times Lidia ran to their parents to rat her out for some mistake. She wanted to be prepared before raising the idea of influencing the election and a misplaced comment from her sister could be disastrous. ”Until he comes to terms with his place here, he'll be acting out. I think papa is testing him and Niki hates to lose.”
”Just like papa.” Lidia loosened her dusty cape. She must have arrived a short while ago.
”Exactly. Well, minus the expressionless face.”
”Soooo. Niki huh?” Lidia was leering, lips twisting in a way that made Elya want to punch her. ”You're awfully close after a few weeks.”
”There's nothing unwholesome about a nickname.” She blushed nonetheless, recalling their growing intimacy over the last few days.
”Riigght.”
”Enough about me.” She pushed Lidia playfully and smiled. ”I didn't expect to see any of you here except Sofiya, but papa told me she would only be back tonight.”
”It caught all of us by surprise.” Lidia sighed dramatically, placing a hand on her forehead. ”Our sister, engaged and bringing back a husband…”
”Fiancée.” Lidia glared at Elya for the interruption.
”… Fiancée. All of a sudden I get a letter and I rushed home to pack. Misha wanted to come, but she has to wait for assignment now that the exams are over. So on behalf of all my lovely sisters I pulled my cute babies from school…”
”You said the school was closed.”
”And joined the first convoy to Neva.” Lidia continued with teary eyes. ”I arrived in the dead of night but made sure to check on my sweet little El, but you have no care for the effort it took.”
”Satisfied?” Elya asked once Lidia trailed off, unable to control the smile on her face. ”You never change Lidia. You should have been an actress.”
”And pander to some puffed up nobles? I think not. My skills are reserved to please family.” They giggled at the sentence, lost in memories of their childhood. Still smiling, Lidia hugged her tightly, voice dropping to a whisper. ”Are you happy?”
Elya tensed at the question, remembering the last time Lidia hugged her like this. ”He's not like Vladik.”
Lidia leaned back squeezing her shoulders and staring deep into her eyes. ”That's not what I asked El.”
”I know.” She thought back on the last few weeks, from the moment she met Nikolai, the nightmarish combat with Demons in Konstanz, the sunset outside Galicia and his painful recovery. ”And I think I am. Happy I mean.”
Lidia took a deep breath, squeezing so hard Elya was sure her arms would bruise. Blinking quickly she stood up and beckoned. ”Then all is well. Come, we have a lot to do before Sofiya arrives, it's been a long time since we siblings have been together and you have to introduce me to your Nikolai in the meantime.”
”I think you'll get along just fine.” Recalling Nikolai's mischievous smile she considered her sister and mumbled under her breath as they left the library. ”Maybe too well.” She made sure to carry the books with her, ensuring the volumes on Tribune elections were interspersed with a host of Imperial histories.