You really didn't like these royal trips, which as the king's confidant you were now obliged to attend. You didn't care much about long carriage rides or meeting new people. You could even say you liked it. But the nights when you had to stay in other people's houses for... Someone else's bed, even the most exquisite one, always seemed uncomfortable and cold. In addition, you had to give up certain habits.

One of these is sleeping with numerous pillows. This may seem stupid, but it has been going on since childhood. Even now, in your chambers in the palace, on a luxurious bed there were always a bunch of pillows. You slept with at least three pillows. They differed in shape, size and especially purpose. Like an ordinary person, you laid your head on only one. Why another 2-3? To hug, throw a leg over, and in principle, to sleep comfortably. In addition, it calmed you down a little. You were too used to it that now you could fall asleep without it.

And now, suffering from insomnia and boredom, you quietly got out of the guest room and headed to the next room to Nikolai. A few seconds after the quiet knock, the door opened and Lantsov appeared in the doorway. His always perfectly styled hair was now a little tousled, the top buttons on his wrinkled shirt were unbuttoned, but his lips were stretched into a sly grin. "And how did I deserve the honor of seeing you at such a late hour?"