13

Author's POV.

Peering at Sofia's sleeping figure curled up to his brother. Nial sighed out of relief and turned to Nikolai that was frowning, eyebrows furrowed and his eyes deep in thought. His lips pulled in a taut line.

"О чем ты думаешь, брат?" Nial inquired of his troubled brother.

(What are you thinking of, brother?)

Sighing defeatedly, Nikolai glanced briefly at his sibling muttering ruefully, his voice raw with sadness."Я-я сделал ей больно, но она простила меня, разве мы ее заслужили?"

(I-I hurt her, yet she forgave me. Do we even deserve her?)

Nial knew how much of an overthinker and how insecure Nikolai was but he didn't want to lie to him and sufficed with consoling him without truly answering his question.

It wasn't manipulation when it protected his feelings and sometimes avoiding problems was better than facing them.

"Она простила тебя. Так что не переусердствуйте. Мы уже дважды ошиблись, и нам нужно искупить свою вину, просто набраться терпения и быть тем, чего она заслу