CHAPTER ELEVEN.

When Liliya arrived at her room, she was surprised to find Genya sat by the dresser. Her fingers tapping against the wood as she stared at herself in the mirror. The door opening caused her to move her gaze, spotting the redhead walk in. A smile graced her lips and she turned around, grabbing the bag of pastries.

"I brought these from the kitchen," Genya said as she held it out. Liliya didn't even care about the pastries and instead rushed to Genya, wrapping the girl in the tightest hold she could. Not letting her escape despite how the pastries were getting squashed between them, "I do need to breathe," Genya reminded, chuckling softly as she hugged Liliya back. The redhead loosened her hold before sighing and pulling back.

"I missed you," Liliya muttered as she flexed her fingers. The boot prints still marked in her skin. Her teeth still hurt from clacking together too hard and her stomach ached. But she tried to ignore them, Genya still noticed, "Aren't you supposed to be speaking to Al-Kirigan?" Liliya asked as she perched on the end of the bed. She had no idea what the deal with the Queen was now. She just assumed Genya was restricted to only seeing Kirigan. It made sense but maybe Genya was free to roam. She hoped she was.

"Kirigan isn't up at this hour. Only you and Ivan. Maybe Fedyor if I'm lucky," Genya explained. Liliya pulled her eyebrows together deep in thought before nodding. Kirigan was certainly awake this early today and it had been her fault. Her nightmares, "The pastries," Genya reminded as she held them out. Liliya quickly nodded and grabbed them from her grasp before kicking her boots off and shuffling back on the bed.

"Training with Ivan isn't happening anymore," Liliya said as she opened the bag and pulled out two pastries. She offered one out to Genya who took it once she had settled on the bed. Her white kefta still looking pristine as she sat cross-legged. She always looked perfect. It was impossible to keep up with.

"He was always a brute anyway," Genya shrugged as she began to tear the pastry, placing a chunk in her mouth. Liliya nodded in agreement, lifting her right knee up to her chest. Her arms wrapped around it as she stared at the pastry, trying to decide whether to eat or not. She could save it, speak to Kirigan and have it later. But she was starving and her stomach grumbled.

"I was blind not to see it," Liliya said grabbing the pastry and tearing it. Getting flakes all over her sheets. She wasn't being as careful as usual, it didn't matter. She wasn't sleeping in this bed anymore. It might not be her room for much longer. She had no idea what Kirigan planned.

"I noticed that your kefta are gone. Are you leaving?" Genya asked as she gestured towards the wardrobe. The door was slightly ajar and the empty rack was as plain as day. It was strange seeing it empty. The blue clothes had always been a staple, they made her feel safe. Now they were gone. It didn't entirely feel like her room.

"Not exactly," Liliya responded. She wasn't entirely sure how to respond. She didn't know whether to admit to Genya what was happening with Kirigan. Would she be happy to know? Would she hate it? She had no idea and it left her unsure of her words as she added, "Kirigan had them moved... to his room," She added. Genya paused for a moment and placed the pastry back onto the bag. Staring for a long moment.

"Li, I told you-" Genya began but Liliya cut her off with a wave of her hand. She pushed her fingers through her hair. It was messy and there was dirt in it from her sparring with Ivan.

"I know what you told me, Gen. I asked him and he said yes. I tried to take it back but he wants me there. He's not the same as the King," Liliya said as she stared down at the paper. Her fingers running along the crinkly matieral. Suddenly questioning whether he was like the King. Genya stayed silent and then pushed herself off the bed. She brushed down her kefta, leaving the pastry half-eaten, discarded.

"He is a man with power. All he wants is more of it," Genya warned. Liliya knew that. She knew Kirigan. His end game would always be more power, more influence. He would probably take over Ravka if he could but he stood nothing to gain with her. Maybe her loyalty but he knew she would never be blindly loyal. He knew that. Maybe he wanted to change that. Maybe that's why he went after her. He kissed her, it was always him.

Liliya then moved off the bed and walked away from Genya. She may be right but Liliya didn't want to believe it. She needed a bath, she needed time to think. Genya would always hate men like that, hate men like the King but Kirigan was different. He had been different. So much different.

"Liliya," Genya said as she quickly followed behind. Watching as she pulled the blouse over her head as the bath ran. Her feet taking her to the mirror to look at herself. The dirty hair, bruised stomach from Ivan's hit. Her bruised cheek, red and slowly turning brown. She looked worse than before yet it had only been Ivan.

"I don't have the time to doubt this. I already- Ivan betrayed me," Liliya said as she pulled her pants down. Genya looked at her, tilting her head. Her hands resting by her sides before Liliya moved over to the bath. It was sufficently full and she flicked the taps off. Stepping inside - once she removed her underwear - without letting herself adjust to the heat. Her skin gleamed bright red, flushing from heat but she ignored the stinging, "And I cannot stand to think that Kirigan would do the same," She added, her hands falling under the water.

"What did he do?" Genya asked once she had returned with the stool. She placed it beside the bath and sat down. Letting her hands rest by her side as she sat so regally. It always bugged Liliya how she was so perfect without even trying.

"Lied to Kirigan. He's the reason that I'm not tracking that Shu boy. He probably let me get stabbed on purpose to make me seem weak. He kept things from me on that mission. He stabbed me in the back to try and ruin my reputation. To make me look pathetic in front of the General. It worked. I'm now stuck with night terrors and waking him up sobbing like some... pathetic child!" Liliya spat. Her words getting harsher the more she spoke. Speaking rapidly as she threw her hands out. The anger etched on her features.

"Let me heal your face," Genya said as she shuffled closer, dragging the stool. Liliya sighed and leant forward. Her upper body pressed against the porcelain of the tub, exposing her face. Genya ran her thumb along the bruise, her skin prickling and then it was gone. The women were then just staring at each other, looking into each other's eyes. Admiring each other. It had been so long.

"I've been with Kirigan, twice now. I don't think I can look at you like that anymore. It's... wrong," Liliya muttered as she averted her gaze. Her blue eyes fixing on the ceiling and tracing the edges in hopes of distracting herself. Genya was silent before she nodded.

"It never meant anything," Genya responded and Liliya let out a hum of agreement. Her body sinking further under the water. Allowing it to come up to her neck, engulfing her in the warmth that she craved. At least her face ached a little less and she had avoided most injuries after her encounter with Ivan. He was the one with a burnt kefta not her.

"I will get David to look at you. I don't know how but I will. He's idiotic to not see how perfect you are," Liliya vowed as she lifted her hands out of the water. She then flicked a few droplets at Genya's face. The shocked look appearing and Liliya grinned, tilting her head back and allowing her head to sink under the water.

"Someone might hear you," Genya scolded. Her voice sounded far away beneath the water but Liliya knew what was being said. Her hands ran through her hair. It felt magnificent under water. It was the weirdest sensation, the water made her hair so soft but she quickly needed to breathe so lifted her face. Gasping for breathe as she rubbed her face with her hands. The excess water dropping back into the bath once she had caught her breathe again. A chuckle escaped Genya's lips as she watched her.

Then they both heard the door to her room open. The click of the door closing was unmissable and Genya glanced back, pulling her eyebrows together, "Milaya?" A voice called. Kirigan. Genya smirked at the nickname and mouthed 'darling?' to Liliya. The redhead quickly waved Genya off and adjusted her position under the water.

"I'm in the bath," Liliya explained before realising that he would definitely not expect Genya to be sat with her, "Genya is with me. We were discussing," Liliya quickly added, hearing his footsteps approach the door. Genya wasn't entirely sure what to do but found herself standing up, her hands resting by her side.

"I hoped to find you alone," Kirigan said as he reached the door. It was left wide open as always. The servants rarely entered with out permission, "So, when you are finished. Find me in my office," He said, glancing down at her. Admiring her form beneath the water. Liliya nodded and adjusted again, sitting up but not letting herself become too exposed.

"Of course," Liliya smiled. Genya then looked to Kirigan who nodded his head back. She would be leaving with him it seemed, "I won't be long. I'll be fine," Liliya added. Genya then smiled and the two left the room. Genya's white kefta had always been such a contrast to Kirigan's. It was strange how perfectly the colours matched them.

Liliya didn't let her thoughts dwell. Instead, she finished cleaning up and stepped up out of the bathtub. She grabbed the towel and quickly dried herself. Rubbing her hair down before lighting a candle and using her abilities to dry it. She had to look presentable for him.

However, as she stood with the towel wrapped around her, she realised that she had no clothes with her. As she scoured through the drawers, she found that nothing was left. It had all been moved to Kirigan's room. There was at least a dressing gown so she would have to get through the Little Palace to Kirigan's quarters and then dress. It could go wrong in a million ways but she had no other choice. She wasn't putting dirty, sweaty clothes back on again. Not the ones that Ivan had touched. It made her feel wrong.

Eventually, Liliya managed to suck up her pride. With the velvet dressing gown wrapped tightly around her, secured at the waist, she left. Her footsteps were quick as she walked through the corridors. Each step was graceful and quick but not too quick. She didn't allow herself to look overly suspicious and she was thankful to slip into Kirigan's chambers without a question.

There were voices from his office and she recognised them. Ivan, Genya, him. She glanced over, the door was ajar but she could slip inside the war room and nobody would notice. Her body slid through the door and she turned to find that thankfully nobody was in there. She slid past the table and went for his room.

Swinging the door open and slamming it closed behind her. She finally felt like she could breathe again once it was closed. Her hand resting against her chest as she walked over to the dresser. She grabbed everything she needed and placed it down on the dresser. Taking a glance at her still folded kefta. It looked different to before but it was there and that's all that mattered.

She didn't even notice that the door had opened as she shrugged her robe off. Only alerted to Aleksander's presence when she felt his hands wrap around her bare torse. His fingers running circles along her bare stomach. Suddenly, she was glad that she put her undergarments on first. Her head tilted back and she looked up at him.

"Did you walk through the Little Palace in just your robe?" He asked. Liliya's cheeks quickly blushed a soft pink and she shrugged. Her hands reaching out for the blouse so she could slide it over her head.

"I didn't know everything had been moved," She admitted softly. He hummed in response, his fingers running along her hip and down to her thighs. His hand moving to stroke her inner thigh, her knees weakening before she pulled herself together. She cleared her throat and pulled the blouse over her head. Very nearly smacking him in her blind attempt. He helped her pull it down before he stepped back.

"Ivan is waiting for us," Aleksander said as he walked towards the door. Liliya sighed before she nodded. She pulled the rest of her clothes on quickly before pulling the kefta over her shoulder. The last person she wanted to see was Ivan but it seemed she had no choice. He was one of Kirigan's closest advisers.

The pair walked out of his room and back to his office. Kirigan taking his seat at the head of the desk while Liliya sat in the chair next to Ivan. Her skin crawled at just the sight of him so she focused on Kirigan. His composed features. His soft hair, dark brown eyes that she felt like she could drown in. Everything.

"As you are both aware, we have been asked to attend the event for the Prince's birthday. After the incident with Shu Han, the King and Queen have deemed it as an event to reforge alliances. An attempt at peace. There will be a Shu ambassador. But, more importantly, General Zlatan will be in attendance," Kirigan explained, sitting up straight. His hands resting against the desk. He looked so composed but there was a hint of something more. He had a plan.

"Why does that matter to us? We are there as entertainment," Ivan responded. The bitterness was clear in his tone. Liliya felt the same way but she knew better than to complain. Seeing the magnificence of the King's court - no matter how corrupt - was an opportunity that didn't arise often. Liliya had wished to be one of those nobles since she was a child.

"The other Grisha will be there as entertainment," Kirigan corrected and Liliya pulled her eyebrows together, unsure what he meant, "Ivan will be by my side - as he always is - but you, Liliya, will serve a different purpose," He finished. The redhead waited, her eyebrow raised expectedly. She would not be left in the dark in regards to this. Not after what had occurred with the Shu boy.

"And what will that purpose be?" Liliya urged. Kirigan then moved to stand up and he walked over to the door. It opened and Genya walked in, her hands resting against her front. She held that regal composure as always. Following to stand beside Kirigan as she was expected to.

"Genya will disguise you. Change your hair and your eye colour. I will have the Fabrikators create you a gown. Then you will find out what General Zlatan is planning." He explained simply. He made it sound easy but Liliya had a million questions already. None of them sticking in her mind long enough to fully comprehend it.

"He may recognise me. I have spoken to him before," Liliya said quickly. Part of her didn't want to be involved in this mission, this plan. This elaborate rouse. It felt wrong but General Zlatan posed a threat to Ravka. A threat that needed to be taken care of. It was as urgent as the possibility of a Fjerdan or Shu attack.

"That is why Genya is here. Your hair and eyes make you stand out. Instead you will look like everyone else," Kirigan said as he took his seat. Genya then moved to stand against the wall. Knowing her place and that it was not the time to intervene. Nothing she could say would change the situation and she knew that.

"And who will she be posing as?" Ivan asked, his gaze flicking to Liliya. The hint of annoyance flashing across his face. His plan had failed. Liliya was glad at least of that. Kirigan trusted her enough with this mission which meant Ivan was left in the lurch once more.

"The daughter of Lord Yanovich. Lisenka Yanovich," Kirigan explained. The names falling from his lips in such a perfect way. It made Liliya admire him so much more and Genya saw. Saw the way that Liliya was looking at Kirigan. A pang of jealousy striking her heart but she tore her gaze away. It was not the time, "She has been a recluse since she was a child. Lord Yanovich liked it that way. Now she shall make her debute," He finished. Ivan nodded and Liliya still sat there. Baffled and unsure.

The Prince's party was merely days away and she felt unprepared and unsure of what to do. None of this felt right but she knew she had to complete this. To keep her reputation but to also prevent anymore harm to come to the already divided Ravka.

"Do the Fabrikators need to fit the dress? If so, it is better to do it as quickly as possible. They need time to make it perfect if I am to be a noblewoman," Liliya said. Her readiness to accept the role caused shock to briefly flick across everyone's faces. But Kirigan seemed pleased.

"They will call for you this afternoon," He said before he stood up. He then walked towards the door and opened it, "But for now, I have business to attend to. Genya, the Queen expects your return and Botkin is expecting you at training, Ivan," Kirigan reminded before he disappeared into the gloom of the hallway. Genya gave Liliya a reassuring smile and Ivan left with another word.

This left Liliya sat in her chair, staring at the wall with a complete sense of unsurety. How was she supposed to pretend to be a noblewoman? Genya would be much more suited to this role and she would have played the part convincingly. Even Zoya would have been a better alternative but it was her. It made her wonder why.

Her hands rested against her kefta for a moment longer before she sat up. Muttering under her breath that everything was fine as she left his study, pulling the door closed behind her. Her hands rested by her sides as she walked through to the dining hall. Her gaze flicking around and finding a few Grisha still chattering amongst themselves.

But she turned away and instead found herself walking towards the library. The desperate want to curl up with a book had been calling her and she thought it would be the best idea. It would distract her over-active mind. That was her plan until she felt someone grab her arm and it seemed that they had been attempting to get her attention for a few moments.

"Tomas found the Shu assassin. He killed himself before we could get to him," The voice of Roma startled her. She twirled around and looked up at him. She hadn't expected him to even be in the Little Palace, let alone tracking the man who had tried to kill her. Her fingers ran through her hair as she processed the information before nodding.

"Any news on the boy?" Liliya asked. Roma shook his head. That seemed to make sense. If he was still back at the Little Palace, it could only be for the wrong reasons. The redhead thought for a moment before she glanced towards the dining hall, "Come with me. Let me help you again. I had some more ideas on what the boy is planning," The redhead said. Roma nodded and the two Inferni stalked back through the dining hall.

Liliya paid no attention to those around her, determined to do at least one thing. Be useful and stop thinking about what would happen when she was called upon by the Fabrikators. The new task had sent her mind reeling but as she went over routes and ideas with Roma, her mind seemed to calm. The monotony and familiarity of tracking, lulling her to a state of peace.

***

author's note! so uh... hi... :) i finally got to the point that i was semi excited for, we are still in the fun & games section so it's still a sort of messy... mess bUT this is the start of some important plot points which im READY FOR!! we got genya finally making her return like the queen she is, kirigan being... kirigan and liliya being both a mess & a semi-badass at the same time, like she IS GOING TO DEFEND RAVKA AND SHE WILL FIGHT YOU. so yeah, here is the chapter, much more fun plot stuff next chapter that even im semi-unsure of but yeah! i hope you enjoyed and thank you SO MUCH FOR READING! the support on just everything has been recently and you all are truly TRULY wonderful humans <3