Chapter Text
Aleksander had planned this for centuries, had bowed before many rapacious kings, but no more.
Never again.
He had the Sun Summoner in his grasp, and she was eager for his attention.
If he sometimes felt bored or irritated with her, Aleksander pushed it aside. Svetlana was his equal, even if most of the time it didn’t feel like it.
His Grisha were disappointed with Svetlana’s snobbishness and prejudices. But they all welcome and accept her because she is the Sun Saint.
Aleksander knows it's only because she wears his colors, basically laying a claim to her. They accept her because he does.
Genya’s poisoning of the king has started to take a noticeable effect. The king’s skin turned a sickly pale, and the extremely dark circles under his eyes barely noticeable with Genya’s tailoring.
Aleksander still has guilt for what happened to Genya, but he can’t bring himself to regret giving her to the queen. She’s the best spy he’s ever had.
The Winter Fete is only two months away. By then, he should be back from the mountains near Shu Han and have an amplifier for Svetlana, his plans to move the Fold would be in motion.
He sent out dozens of trackers to try and locate Morozova’s amplifiers. He assumed they would feel a connection to the Sun Summoner and reveal themselves, they never did.
Aleksander had hoped Svetlana’s power would grow under his and Baghra’s teachings. But they didn’t. Her light remained cold and only big enough to protect the entirety of one skiff, and that’s only with him amplifying her.
He tells himself he’s okay with that, as long as he can move forward with his plans and make a safe home for Grisha without having to bow to a greedy king.
He doesn’t know if Svetlana will live as long as he has, if she is eternal. Only time will tell.
Is it wrong that he hopes she isn’t? That he prefers Baghra, his mother for saintsake, rather than her?
When he’s king, Ravka will be stronger, better, but most importantly, safer for Grisha.
Everything was going according to his plans.
Until she came.
Or fell, he should say.
And Aleksander never stood a chance.