need a redesign

KAYRNA SOLESKAYA attends the IRISH YULE BALL in LOUIS VUITTON.

“of course i do,” karyna couldn’t forget something like that, not really. she pauses, returning the look and eyeing roman, waiting for him to crack, “he’d rather die that spill a secret, he said. i took his words very... literally.” 

“i’ll start looking into adoption, then. that will be the next logical step for you, petro. we can’t leave ukraine to marya,” she meant that in the best way. she didn’t want her daughter responsible for their home country at all. “first weddings, hopefully for the both of you. inna at least reads my ideas before turning them down, that’s why she’s my favorite. the least you can do is listen to my ranting before you shoot me down.”              //                 @lecnid​

“i’ll put my files away. i did bring a few names, but we can save them for after we schedule petro’s wedding, i think,” karyna snips, turning her attention to her younger brother, “now. come on, i’m tired of waiting. give me a season, at least. you’ll need some heirs, if your brother is going to die alone.”             //                      @lecnid​ 

she snorted at that, “sure, i’tll make you look distinguished, probably. it only makes me look like a sad, old, divorced hag.” it wasn’t exactly true, but it was what karyna chose to believe. her hairdresser was probably glad to hear it, too - she kept the women in business, didn’t she? “oh, no - you’ll have to give me a referral, arnauld! you can’t keep these secrets to yourself!” she nods along, a smile on her face, margaux having a ton of chocolate and terrorizing the d’roleans’ was kind of a funny thought. “i’m glad someone enjoyed it. really, i was worried you’d think i was being horrible,” even if the gesture was a little... awful, morally. she didn’t want to upset him, especially not in the face of newfound defeat. “sure, i’ll find one. probably before my brother ever marries, i’m starting to think i should raise marya to be prepared for the ukrainian throne,” her siblings were a headache, most of the time - leon the most. at least petro was engaged, and inna reasonable to suggestion, “ah, well, i’m sure i’ll find something new. it’s not quite appropriate to be on the hunt, yet, though. i’ll give it a few months before i start really looking.” 

“while you look like what? you look as good as you always have. at least you’re not coloring grays out of your hair yet... or are you? i had to a few weeks ago - i swear, marya’s going to be the death of me. i’ll need botox pretty soon,” she sighs, dramatically, as if that wasn’t oversharing. but this was arnauld, she never felt as if she needed to hold her tongue around him when it came to petty things. “well, i do hope you at least liked the chocolate,” she’d thought the basket of belgian chocolate hilarious, when he was winning. she was just glad he didn’t take offense when he lost, even if she’d texted several apologies, “the ball and chain, ha! he’s more hopeless than that, he decided he wanted real, true love, whatever the hell that means. i wish i could say i’m relieved to be away from him, but... i miss the title already. queen karyna just had a good ring to it, don’t you think?” 

“ha! you, leaving me out in the cold?” she pauses, thinking about it for a second. kenny would, just to prove a point, “it’s more likely than you’d think.” she doesn’t hug kenny, like most would during a joyous reunion with their best friend. karyna isn’t the biggest fan of being touched, especially not when it’s sprung on her, like a surprise visit. she pauses for a few seconds, “how are things back home? much better than in ukraine, i’m guessing. we’ll have to get drunk so i can tell you all about petro, inna and leon’s latest mishaps.” 

“how is business?” karyna begins. it had been forever since she’d sat down with lisette, and even though she knew the answer wouldn’t be ‘good’ she hoped that she’d be proven wrong. she liked to see royals who branched out to find a career, it was nice to know that they had options that weren’t marrying the first powerful man who set their eyes on them. even if it was her life’s path, that didn’t mean she wanted the exact same for everyone else, “i hope the hit wasn’t too substantial.” 

“fanni!” karyna exclaims, as she turns the corner and almost runs right into her cousin, “oh, i’ve been looking everywhere for you! how is everything?” karyna knew this was going to be at least a little bit awkward, with an elephant the size of arnauld d’orleans in the room alongside them, so she pushed past the topic, “i heard you were doing charity work, is there anything i could help out with?” 

“fiance, sure. i’d love to see that invitation. do you plan on ever getting married?” she couldn’t help but push - it was basically her job in the family, always pressuring her siblings to be better - to do better. “well, call him up, i’ll send my plane over to pick him up, we can start planning,” she comments, with a sly grin. she can tell petro’s uncomfortable with the idea, “we can’t have all of us unwed at once, again, we’re too old for it.” she graciously excuses herself from that, her divorce being the reason she was feeling a little bit more... pushy, about things. 

“it is good to see you, though,” karyna stated. she tried her best to act normally - she didn’t ever remember feeling awkward around him, before this. it had been a while since they’d spoken in person, though - she’d been in bogota getting divorced, he’d been engaged to her cousin. both of them had had a lot of fun in the last few months, it seemed, “even if i was a bit premature with the victory gift, during belgium. in my defense, i really thought you were going to win. forgive me? i did try to stop him at the last second, but his phone was on silent.” 

karyna knocks twice, quick and efficient, and hopes that she doesn’t interrupt kenny’s day too much. this was one of the big bright spots in joining the program with her brothers: constant access to her best friend. if kenny would come to the damn door. “kenny? i know you’re in there, i texted your assistant. this was supposed to be a surprise!” she says, her voice raised just enough for kenny to hear across the apartment. 

“inna sends her love,” karyna states, her voice flat and the practiced smile sitting on her face. it had been so long since she’d seen him in person, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d spoken him without the medium of facetime between the two, “how is your husband?”