Chapter Text
June 10, 1901
St. Peter & Paul Cathedral, St. Petersburg
It was a difficult time since his older brother had passed. Under that Tsar facade was his closest companion since childhood… His studious, more gentle brother had a piety for God that matched his empathy, and now Nikolai had departed. He also left behind a broken family with broken hearts- A former Tsarina grieving with her daughters.
His father was also gone, and he was haunted by a few final words of that night…
“...please do not feel sorrow. Be optimistic for the future and what good can be done.”
It all seemed as daunting as the fabled Herculean labors, if not impossible, to Alexander.
As the recently succeeding Tsar of All Russias, Alexander IV could hardly bear the burdens of ruling for over a half year. His advisors whom had worked with his brother prior understood. At least he could afford to defer some of the burdens to them.
Alexandra was due in a few weeks according to the doctors, and the Tsar would visit the resting place of his predecessor, most importantly, his lost brother for respects. The former Tsarina appreciated the kind gesture, knowing that her late husband was still honored.
He arrived at the Cathedral, escorted by a group of guards. It was only him at this particular time… Early mornings were preferable since they were the quieter ones.
“Stay put. It’ll be as brief as I can do.”
The few Cossack guards saluted him before taking position by the large tomb doors.
Alexander stood in the small burial room where his brother’s remains rested. He had finally mustered the courage to face the place again since the burial ceremony about one year ago.
With the gentleness only a botanist could rival, he rested his carefully selected bouquet of bloomed flowers at the pale marble tombstone, gleaming almost bone white under the light.
Forget-me-nots because he never could…
White roses for the kindness and goodwill that was abundant within his brother.
Alexander remained bowed for a moment before murmuring a brief prayer. He would see his brother besides the Lord one day, and it would be a wonderful reunion with endless stories to tell. To rest, laugh, and be united with them all was the deserved rest.
“It’ll be the greatest of struggles, Nikolai, but I promised you… Only the greatest for the greatest.”
He turned away, and glanced back.
“Goodbye for now. I will watch your family for you.”
June 18, 1901
The Alexander Palace
Since her father had passed, Olga had become closer to her cousin Alina. The Alexander Palace, their home, could not be the same without him. She had few playmates or friends within the Palace besides her second younger sister Tatiana, and she sometimes struggled with loneliness. Sometimes she would lose herself in the pages of more children-oriented storybooks and photo albums. She would wonder what had happened before and whether she would tell beloved stories one day.
The four young Grand Duchesses were told that a new addition to the family would soon arrive, as Alexandra had been pregnant since the previous fall. Whether it would be a boy or girl, they would love all the same. They were all excited!
Under supervision of a handmaid, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Alina were all sharing hushed whispers, glancing around as if telling a forbidden rumor. Although they were not telling rumors, but sharing what they would do with the new baby!
“When he or she grows up, we should all go to Papa’s summer home,” Olga noted, her smile betraying the melancholy memories that remained.
Her father had promised to take her there once she grew, but he had gone before he could. He had even shown photographs of the soft sands on the shores, the forested hills, the pale Florentine facades… Tatiana was silent for a moment, closing her eyes. Maria, still young, did not fully understand, but had stopped fussing with wooden toys upon noticing her big sisters quiet down. They all missed their Papa.
“Lina, Olenka?”
“Yes?”
“We could see our cousin Ella and Uncle Ernst?”
Olga widened her eyes. She also wanted to see her cousin Ella in Germany, even if it seemed far away. Alina also seemed interested in the idea, since she also knew one thing: It was too quiet at home.
Another quiet moment passed around as they all remained sitting on the colorful rug. Olga already felt a bit restless from the long wait since her mother had left into another bedroom in the West Wing. It was already late afternoon… Did something bad happen? Otherwise, did their new brother or sister arrive already?
The handmaid heard someone knocking on the door. She told the Grand Duchesses to stay put “a little longer” while opening the door to greet their Uncle Alexander. A palace guard stood next to the now grinning Tsar. He felt quite excited to share the news with his nieces and daughter. The Grand Duchesses still stood up, peeking around with curious looks, hearing the distant staccato of ceremonial artillery.
After the handmaid departed, Alexander squatted in front of the girls, telling them one thing:
“The baby is here. Olga, Tatiana, Maria… You have a new sister. Alina, you have a new cousin.”
Olga began to tear up, feeling a great deal. Her breath hitched. She closed her eyes, deep in an ambivalent, intense mood.
She and her sisters now had another thing left of their late father. Another happy sister to be with for life.
Though her Papa could not be there in person.
Alexander felt a prick of sorrow, seeing the eldest daughter of his late brother seem saddened. He offered her his handkerchief which was gladly accepted.
With two palace guards, they all approached the nearby bedroom down the West Wing hall… A couple of handmaids discussed the baby, happily reminiscing about their young nephews. They both glanced right and spotted the Tsar!
They gave a courtesy, especially as the new Tsarina “Marie” (his beloved May) stepped out to give Alexander a peck on the lips.
“Thank you, dear. Let us see our newest addition to the family… The baby and my sister are thankfully alright.”
Alexander had never seen his wife as tired since the previous Romanov funeral, yet his wife appeared so at ease. He would not have the patience to handle the anguish and strenuous task of accompanying Alexandra in her fourth labor, being a restless man ever since the funeral…
The inherited crown still weighed upon him. It would still be a great struggle without the close advice of his brother and father. Yet the advisors were already given preparations by Nicholas long before.
The younger girls all stepped inside the room slowly. Their silent reverence was almost as if they had entered a royal ceremony with Orthodox clergy around. There laid their little miracle, stirring a bit and squinting at Alexandra.
“My girlies… Meet your new sister, Anastasia.”
Maria also seemed curious, gazing at her baby sister. The new Tsarina also sat besides Alexandra, gripping her younger sister by the hand. Both of them exchanged a brief look, sharing their joys despite the lingering grief over the late Tsar. All seemed to approach normalcy again despite the tragedies and rising rumors.
In fact, there already had been talk of a “Romanov death curse” in light of the deaths of Tsar Alexander II, III, and Nicholas II the Reformer. Though the royal family did not heed those rumors much.
Olga and Tatiana doted over their baby sister for a few moments.
Tatiana allowed the infant to try grasping her pinky finger. “She looks more like Mama, but not as old?”
“Oh, I could not possibly be that old,” Alexandra said, her eyes crinkled with mirth.
“She moves a lot. Maybe she will enjoy going around, perhaps being a bit naughty?”
“Maybe, but it will be important to be a good big sister.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“A breaker of chains as by the tale of St. Anastasius? I believe she may become a free spirit around the home.” Alexander joked.
Alexandra smiled a bit, holding her child a bit closer. Ever since her Nicky died, she had been full of fear of how she would bear continuing on. There would be nobody to hold her close during the high court meetings and more. Nobody would understand her the same as he. Though after her child was born, she held a better outlook somehow. Her newborn daughter would be the last precious gift from her late husband. She would cherish her family most and continue onward, under the watch of her love from Heaven.
December 26, 1901
Ernst wondered how he had borne the “living hell” of his failed marriage with Victoria Melita. In a bitter hindsight, maybe the divorce should have happened earlier… Or, if he and his ex-wife had at least made a damned agreement on anything pertaining to their lifestyles and their stately duties… Their little girl would not have had a broken family.
At first, his wife had stayed in Coburg and had the audacity to write him a letter about divorce. Divorce! It was often a great disgrace in both commoner and noble or royal circles. Already he had received a letter from his old friend eastward, the Russian Tsar. Other relatives had offered their support in the matter too. Though Ernst did not feel ready to correspond. The past week has been hectic enough.
The court of Darmstadt had eventually settled an agreement in around two months.
Their little girl Elisabeth would spend half a year with her mother. Then half a year she would spend with him. This arrangement would last until her eighteenth birthday where she would remain in Darmstadt.
He had drank heavily on Christmas Eve to forget the painful situation for a moment. Just thinking about his hangover made him wonder if his banshee of a headache had returned to strike him. He felt a bit ashamed yet relieved.
At least his daughter was with her in Coburg. Ella would have seen him as a dirty drunkard. Yet when she would return, he had already since promised one thing.
He would love his daughter and give the care she needed no matter what.
And to teach herself to highly value her own happiness.
He sat up upon the sofa, now in a sad, dim, empty living room. A passing housemaid stopped in her tracks, giving a sad smile. She went over Ernst, offering him some tea for the morning. He obliged, thanking the maid.
There was a good lining to the current situation. His surprise gift for his daughter would be finished. It would be the literal playhouse of her daydreams, looking as if it were a fragment out of a fairy tale realm, dropped onto the earth. He could almost imagine the joy upon her face and the playtime she and her Russian cousins would enjoy within their newfound “sanctuary”.
He finished the tea, absentmindedly leaving the porcelain cup sitting empty on a desolate table by the couch.
He went to a windowsill that gave him a view of the playhouse, and smiled. It was another promising day, he thought, seeing a pleasant sight.
Two remaining workmen were busy fastening on the painted door to the little structure. That was the final thing required for its construction. He did not want to leave them in the cooler winds without good sustenance. For all their labors, the Grand Duke was grateful.
Though he still had darker bags under his eyes and still had headaches. He certainly did not want them to see him in such a shameful state.
So he went to the kitchen where a couple servants had almost finished cleaning, requesting them to give the workmen two small bottles of warm tea. The servants seemed confused at first. It was not how things were typically conducted!
But Ernst insisted, and the servants then understood, realizing what the playhouse had been constructed for.
The Hessian Grand Duke then returned to his bedroom, laying on his own side of the bed. He dared not to lie on the side where his wife once laid. Neither did he know whether it was from bitterness or the wound of a matrimony no more.
He then thought of the secured telegram he had missed from the Kaiser- Willy was quite a rambunctious character. So crude unlike his more refined friend, Tsar Alexander IV of Russia and the late Nicholas II. He had found them far more bearable, in fact.
He went to his study, and as he lifted the paper and read more closely, his feeling of ease dissipated as he realized what would come to fruition in a decade. It was a cruel set of machinations, possibilities of plans.
It noted the “The Grand Plan” to weaken their eastward rival, the Russian Empire.
And he, too, would unfortunately have to play a given part.
Ernst first felt a cold dread. It was not his foremost nature to aggravate others, especially the subjects of his close friend. What would he do then?
He glanced at the letter from his old friend again.
He then opened it. As he read it, he felt a mixture of moods.
The memories of him and Alexander laughing and chatting as good friends in the nearby study hall echoed through his mind. He could almost hear the familar voices. In fact, Alexander would pay a visit with his younger sisters “May” and “Alix”. Their children would visit too during the summer of next year.
The Grand Duke felt a satisfaction rising from within himself, beginning to chuckle. The pieces had fallen into his lap. Now he’d have to subtly warn his friend in a stolen moment.
And he would see his daughter again. How happy they would all be!