She had grown up running around in these parts, tossing rocks as far as the eye can see, climbing the tallest of trees to pretend to be the giants of myths. Now, the empty plot of land would be home to the Grisha of this country. 
                          
She could close her eyes and imagine all of them, everyone, free to use their own abilities. They would never have to fear persecution and they would never have to hide as she did. They would be free to be themselves. 
                          
Much like Aleksander did for her. 
                          
Speaking of the man himself, Irina spotted a person clad in black and knew immediately that it was him. For a Shadow Summoner, he often lived up to that name by wearing black. It was adorable. 
                          
"Aleks!" Irina called out, finally giving in to the urge to run to the man. 
                          
Aleksander opened his arms to her, just in time for her to reach him. "Irina." 
                          
She grinned as she looked at what he was wearing. "An interesting choice of clothes." 
                          
It looked much like what she gifted him for the night of Sankt Nikolai's ball except it looked more casual. It was beautiful with the metal clasps, eclipses engraved on the metal, and black embroidery on the dark cloth. 
                          
"I was inspired." He answered, his thumb brushing across her cheek fondly. "I had one made for you as well. In your favorite color." 
                          
"My favorite color?" She asked, not recalling when she had told him, teasing him. "Let me guess, is it in Lantsov blue?"
                          
"What? Your favorite color is red, isn't it?" He said, taken aback. 
                          
Her mouth dropped open. "How did you know? I never told you that." 
                          
He chuckled at that, pressing a kiss to the side of her mouth. "Your red coats, your red gowns. Darling, it wasn't that difficult to guess." 
                          
"Oh," She let out a sheepish laugh, tucking herself close to him. "I didn't know you had paid that much attention." 
                          
"When it's you, I always pay that much attention." He said, making her heart melt. 
                          
Saints, it was as if he always knew the right things to say. 
                          
A blush made its way onto her cheeks and in an effort to shift the topic, Irina looked around the room they were in. "Will this be your chambers?" 
                          
Aleksander stepped back from her, a mischievous look in his eyes. He offered her his hand. "Come. I'll show you everything." 
                          
Without a second thought, she placed her hand in his and he began to lead her through various rooms. He spoke of the architecture and the arts going to be placed to decorate it. He pointed at the place that would be the library, housing books on Ravkan History, with the history of the Grisha intact. 
                          
He showed her the chambers that would house the Grisha, all of them not lacking in space. Outside, there would be training grounds for those who wished to master their ability and he told her that he was willing to teach as long as they were willing to learn. 
                          
There would be beauty and knowledge, arts and music, loyalty, and freedom. 
                          
She loved that look in his eyes, it was full of hope as if he had finally found it after decades of searching aimlessly. There was finally a purpose. A reason for all of it. 
                          
"And these are yours," Aleksander said, walking into a large space supported by four columns and a barely built roof. 
                          
Irina looked around the empty room, seeing the various possibilities of what it could look like. A bed on the far wall, a dresser, and a cabinet nearby. A settee for Vasilka. "Will this be mine? Truly?" 
                          
"I told you that you'd always have a place here." He answered as she turned around to face him. He was watching her with an affection glance, his normally cold eyes softening up. "With me."
                          
She let out an exhale, smiling at him. "I know." 
                          
"My chambers are right across from yours. Would you like to see?" He asked, gesturing to the room in front of hers. 
                          
She nodded eagerly, taking his hand and pulling him to his chambers. The room was empty much like hers and she could already see how the room fitted him, excitedly speaking. "There could be a large table here and maps like the ones in your cabin. Books lining these walls and this divider could be to your sleeping chamber." 
                          
"Whatever you say, darling." He laughed at her excited state, agreeing with everything she said wordlessly as he watched her pace around the room from the doorway. 
                          
"I'm sorry. I was merely excited. I mean, it is your chambers, not mine." She replied, though the excited look was yet to disappear from her blue eyes. 
                          
"I have no qualms with your opinion. In fact, I welcome it. This could be our chambers in the future." He smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. 
                          
She turned red, her cheeks burning at what he was suggesting. "Oh." 
                          
Aleksander continued, heading over to her to place each hand on both sides of her waist. "Besides, this is our palace." 
                          
Irina couldn't help but sigh, already loving this palace more than the Grand Palace. "Our palace?" 
                          
"This is ours, Irina. The beginning of our legacy." He said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and placing a hand on her cheek adoringly. 
                          
She murmured, her arms wrapping around his neck and her fingers tangling themselves on his soft locks. "Our little palace." 
                          
"The Little Palace." Aleksander established, a glint in his eye. 
                          
Irina leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips which he returned eagerly. "The Little Palace." 
                          
Undoubtedly, the two of them were made for great things. The power thrumming in their veins and the ambition in their hearts. As the two of them stood there, their lips upon each other's, in an unfinished building, they unknowingly made history. 
                          
Hundreds and thousands of years from then, the Little Palace would be known as the home and sanctuary of the most powerful beings in the world. A training ground, a place of solitude, knowledge, luxury, strength. 
                          
And it all started when a girl and a boy had the ability to dream and the strength to fall in love. 
                          


                          
~ 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻'𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮 ~

                          
okayy, i really really love this chapter. This has been something I've been planning for a while and, wow. I've always wanted to interwind the history of Ravka with this story and I just yayyy :,) Also, so much fluffffff, you could make a cloud with all of that. 
                          
Next chapter though, there'll be a definitive turning point in the story, and well, you'll see why. It won't be that sad, but you never know. Stay tuned and sending you all my love <3!