A few years. [ her little nod suggests much the same as nina. ] I think a few of them were coming around to liking me, despite ... [ she shrugs. her smile is a weak flutter of acknowledgment. ] You know.

[ it was always the first thing anyone pointed out about her. even those who knew. even the king and queen themselves. she exhales. ]

Or at least they were before ... [ she thinks of alexei going over the edge of the skiff that she'd put him on. she ducks her head. ] But the Little Palace has been nice. Let's see, I've made friends with Nadia and — [ marie. poor, dead marie. all around her are the corpses of friends. alina clears her throat and surges on. ] Genya. Fedyor. [ she crinkles her nose. ] Ivan and I need a little more time, I think.

[ time that they won't get because alina won't be staying. it's hard to even imagine leaving them behind. ]