╭⋟────────────────────────╮
─────────genya's memoir

I always found the Darkling short-tempered. Everyone tried to stay on his good side and considering the fact that I didn't belong to his Army, it spared me from the occasional tantrums he would throw. I admit that I didn't expect the situation to worsen drastically after I helped Liya to escape.

After talking to him, Liya confronted me before the guards shoved her back into the room and didn't let me go with her. Her wish to leave was obvious and she refused to meet the King. I knew what I had to do and I helped her.

The guards were morons for not keeping the windows in check, especially since her room was located on the ground floor. I got her out of the window, helped her to change into a different set of clothes and got into the back of the carriage of chefs that change every week because of the Queen's wish.

It didn't take much to convince a lovely old lady to accept Liya into her house, in return Liya would work as a herbalist. I promised her to visit her only when I will know I won't be followed, so that was goodbye for a long time.

Liya will survive. She was better out among people than stuffed in the Little Palace.

A month passed and I had no idea if she was alright. I couldn't allow myself to have the luxury of involving someone else and risking their life. No letters, no words – nothing. I got back to day-dreaming and praying and I'm not religious when it comes to Saints.

The tension between East and West Ravka only brew. The family of General Zlatan wasn't only accusing Shu Han, but they also divided their attention to the Darkling and the Grisha who has visited Zlatan on his last days. In other words, Liya was a target.

It didn't worry me, because the politics that the Darkling spread were pure propaganda, but it showed Shu Han as the enemies. He was quite good at pretending to be a very grieving guy, talking about Zlatan like a lost brother. That didn't solve the problem, but it calmed me down enough that Liya was fine.

The tension in the Little Palace only grew. The Darkling was on constant edge. Others feared him. Fedyor and David kept me informed that he was dissatisfied with everything – the progress of Grisha, the situations at the borders, the camps, the King... Everything.

It didn't take me long to realise that my sister wrecked his life.

At first, I thought that maybe she knew something, something others must never find out and her disappearance was a threat to him. But then, Saints, I realised that my sister wrapped him around her finger without even knowing that herself and that thought was the source of my happiness. I felt so proud.

The Darkling wasn't a man to fall in love with. He didn't seem like the caring type, he was impatient and mean.

I have never been happier to be apart from my sister. It meant her safety. It meant that she will be away from him. And that's all I wanted.
╰────────────────────────⋞╯