It's easy to piece together who he's referring to. Zoya has never been one to possess a silver tongue like him. She's always been too sharp, even when she's tried to embody the sleekness of the Darkling. It's why Nikolai has her on his Triumvirate—she says what everyone's too afraid to say and puts enough fear in the hearts of those who are fickle to keep them from straying too far from the King of Ravka.

Even then, she can't help but sigh.

"I'm a very warm person, Nikolai," she says despite them both knowing the truth. Zoya needs to be on her best behaviour while figuring out this world's ins and outs. Berating Nikolai is different from berating a different monarch.

Unfolding her arms, she steps toward some debris and bends to help clear it. "What is it that you've heard?"