Woke Up In A New Decade

Chapter Forty One

Picture: Olga , Maria and Anastasia - Sevastapol - 1914.

August 1914.
I was sitting in Mama's tea Room with Cian leaning against the door. He was holding his head which was soaking up blood still. I had no idea why I was called here by Lili but I was here. Mama wasn't here due to the fact that she was busy contacting Germany. Lili stood next to Anna that sat on the couch with me. Cian opened the door and staggered out. It was odd, none of my sisters were there Mama wasn't here. Caoimhe sat on a chair, looking really serious. "Your Mama couldn't be here since she is busy so instead she gave us this important task." Anna explained croakily. "Okay, still this does not explain what I am doing here." I asked.

"Well, Astrid Nikolaevna. Meet your new lady in waiting!" Caoimhe exclaimed as the French doors opened and Cian and a woman walked in. The young woman was wearing a light blue dress, she had thin blond hair, fair skin and glossy green eyes. She curtsied in front of me. "Greetings my Imperial Highness, The Grand Duchess Astrid Nikolaevna Romanova, I am Mila Andreyevna Nikolova." She introduced herself in an annoying shrill tone. I froze, Mila, this was Malcolm's fiancée! She was assigned to me?! Out of all the people, me?! Not even little Alexei! She was here for sick little Astya. The Astya that went crazy and lost her mind, is an embarrassment to everyone and technically doesn't exist! The Astya that needs a special lady in waiting so she doesn't snap again.

I stood up to be her height, actually I was an inch taller than she was. "Oh, no need for titles for the Girlies." Anna explained. "Let us talk, Miss Nikolova. Astrid, you may join your sisters. Cian and Caoimhe you are dismissed." Anna nodded. "Goodbye Ms Nikolova." Cian and Caoimhe said in unison. Cian slid out the doors. Caoimhe got out of her chair and pushed past me, walking through the doors. They shut slightly and I quickly held them before walking out myself.

I left the room without a proper goodbye to Ms Nikolova, Lili was going to have my head for it. Cao and Ci were out of sight. I quickly walked down the hall reminding myself I needed to make my bed since I woke up in a rush. I glided down the hallway, passing Anastasia. I slid to a stop. "Where are you going?" I asked her. "I'm going for a massage, my feet are crumbling from the pain." She pointed at her feet, she took off her shiny shoe along with her sock to reveal her swelling red big toe. "Ouch, that looks real painful." I commented. "Of course it does." Nastya rolled her eyes. "After your massage,do you want to hang out?" I asked her. She looked at me funny, "Hang out?" She wondered. "Oh I mean. Spend time together!" I quickly saved myself from further confusion.

I looked over to Anastasia's face, her eyes were full of delight and amusement. "I'll come find you when I'm done." She promised as she continued walking. I entered my room and made my bed. I was bored and had nothing to do so I walked to the little pair's room and I sat on a cushion that was surrounded by a huge bookshelf. I chose to read "The Phantom of The Opera" by French author Gaston Leroux. It seemed interesting enough, I could understand English quite well so I began reading. Not 5 minutes went by and Maria walked in.

"You're reading?" Maria asked. "Yes, me and Nastya are supposed to do something later." I explained while keeping my eyes on the page. "Well, Cian told me to call you over to the library." Maria explained. "What does he need me for?" I confusedly looked at her. "I don't know Astya! Just go to the library and you'll find out there!" Maria sassed. I rolled my eyes. "Fine I will, but I have no clue where the library is."

"It's simple-" Maria was cut off by the doors opening. "A.. a letter for Astrid Nikolaevna." Mila timidly said, she held a letter. "Who is it from?" I asked out loud more towards myself. Since Maria was standing she got to Mila faster than I did. "Oh, it's actually for me!" Maria quickly snatched the letter from Mila's hands. Mila looked confused. "How does a person mistake the name Maria for the name Astrid?" I asked suspiciously, looking carefully at Maria's face which was surprisingly calmer than I thought it would be. "Mila, are you sure that read Astrid Nikolaevna?" I looked over to the shy girl. "Yes Grand Du- I mean Astrid Nikolaevna. I am sure." She stuttered. I got of my seat in the area and walked swiftly over to Maria, my little sister. I reached our for the letter so I could see who it was addressed to but Maria pulled it away. "Masha! What are you doing?" I demanded.

"I read the addressing! It's to me!" Maria said panicky with a blushed face. "Maria! Let me see!" I tried to get the letter but she lifted it up into the air so it was out of my reach. "Are you forgetting I'm taller than you?" I dumbfounded as I tried to get the letter but she moved her hand away from me. When struggling to get the letter from her, and she was at the verge of falling down, someone else snatched it out of her hands. The both of us unexpectedly look at Valentina. "Arch-Arch..Archduch.. Archduchess Val-Valentina!" Mila stuttered. Valentina smiled. "Just Valentina, or nicknames. Like Vanya, I heard you guys arguing so I wanted to see what was happening. The letter is addressed to Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Astrid Nikolaevna Romanova." She read out loud. I got there quicker than Maria and took the letter from her hands. I noticed the letter was sent from England. I quickly ripped open the letter and started to read it out loud. I slowly grew quiet.

"My Darling Astrid,

I awaited very long for your letter to arrive, I was starting to grow worried that you might have forgotten me and found another. In the last letter you mentioned Romania, how was it? I dearly miss you and wish to visit you, yet it seems impossible. I have such a large adornment for you like no man could ever have, I keep thinking and dreaming of the day that we will be able to see each other again, and to answer your question, I am fully aware of the fact that it will be a long time before we will be able to see eachother again, but I will wait for you, even if it's for years, even for a decade. My adoration for you will stay with me until the day I leave this earth. I have recently joined the Grenadier Guards to help out with the war efforts. Thank you for sending me a photograph of yourself, I shall keep it on my persons at all times while fighting. In return, I sent you a photograph of myself. I kiss you goodbye and pray for you.

- Your Eddie."

My face was bright red, it was red from what I just had red and out of anger too. "You know what.. I'm just going to go to the library." Valentina exited the room rather quickly, I couldn't blame her. I would do that too to avoid drama. I looked inside the envelope again to find the black and white picture of him, I turned to look at Maria, I was furious! "What is this Maria?" I asked calmly, I was proud of myself because I was ready to explode. "I am guessing that Prince Edward took a liking to you." She gulped. "I never said that Prince Edward sent me this letter. Do you have something to do with this?" I muttered, doing my best to hold back my fury. "Well, um, you see I-" Maria was cut off again by the doors opening. "Mashka! I asked you an hour ago to get Astrid for me!" An annoyed Cian entered the room.

Cian stopped in his tracks when he observed the scene carefully in front of him. He crossed his arms and looked like a Governor (male version of a Governess). "Alright, you two. What is happening in here?" He raised a brow. "My dear sister Maria has been posing as me and has been exchanging letters with Prince Edward, from England." I explained through gritted teeth. Cian's eyes darted to Maria, "Maire, how long as this little scheme of yours been going on for?" Maria took a deep breath as Cian asked the question. "Since our trip to England in 1912." She muttered quietly. "YOU HAVE BEEN WRITING AS TO EDWARD AS ME FOR BASICALLY THREE YEARS?" I exploded in fury.

"I demand you write him the truth at once, Maria, before this gets more out of hand." Cian ordered, he looked horrifying if I was being honest. "Yes Cian." Maria muttered, she looked like a little child that had just gotten scolded by their father. "Don't ever speak to me again!" I spat as I threw Maria the letter, leaving the room with Cian following behind me. Leaving poor Mila who just witnessed this whole drama go on. I stopped walking and turned to look at Cian. "I have no idea where the library is." I sighed in disappointment. I really had no clue.

Cian chuckled. "Just follow me."