The Last Prince (Thiam/Teen Wolf AU)

Chapter 1

Trigger Warning: Violence and Murder (I will mark the section)

April 15, 1910
Peterhof Palace

The screams could be heard from the other room. The Dowager Empress Maria sat uneasily, playing with the rings on her finger out of nerves. However, she tried to keep a brave face, for she had five grandchildren to look after. It was hard though, pretending everything was fine, when they very well might not have been. Maria's worry was cut off when her granddaughter, Anastasia, asked, "Is he almost here yet?"

Maria smiled at her eight year old granddaughter, whose eyes were filled with hope and innocence. "We should be meeting him any minute now, my darling Anastasia." A promise that Maria could not necessarily keep. Her daughter-in-law was old, meaning the labor would be more difficult, assuming the baby even survived it. It was a miracle that Empress Alexandra was even pregnant again, and the empire was hoping for a healthy son. Maria already had a grandson, Alexei, who was heir to throne, but the poor child had hemophelia. This meant that his life could be cut short at any moment, they needed a spare heir.

Anastasia looked as if she were going to say something, but what cut off when the door opened, and Maria's daughter, Olga, came out holding the newborn baby. Olga had been in there, comforting her sister-in-law through the difficult labor. "Allow me to introduce my nephew," She said happily rocking the child gently, "Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov. He is healthy, though a bit small, like a little elf prince."

Olga handed the infant to Maria, who was overcome with emotion to meet her newest grandchild. In that moment, the world stopped, and Maria could picture this young child growing up, with her there, every step of the way. She could have not imagined the whirlwind of tragedy that would eventually befall not only her family, but the entire empire.

September 8, 1916

Peterhof Palace

"Grandmother, Auntie, why do you have to go?" The six year old Grand Duke pleaded as he clung to his grandmother's hands as she tried to make her way outside. Konstantin had grown attached to his grandmother and Aunt Olga, and he hated it when they had to leave him.

"Because it is our duty, you must understand," Olga said sweetly to her nephew before crouching down so she was on eye level with him. "We are at war, and we all must do our part to help Russia, but do not fret my little elf prince. Grandmother and I will be back with you before you know it." The feeling of attachment was mutual. Olga loved her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children.

Maria smiled at her grandson, hating leaving him as well, but she could not stay. She pulled him in to hug him tightly, "Do not worry, it is only temporary, i have not forgotten about our trip to Copenhagen." The Dowager Empress was originally from Denmark, and often took trips there. Konstantin loved hearing all of the stories she would tell about her homeland, that he desired to visit there with her. The plan had become somewhat of a shared secret to bond them together.

"You promise?" The Grand Duke asked his grandmother, with a small smile forming at the sound of their future trip together.

"Of course I promise!" She replied happily. Then, she looked around before picking up a quill and a sheet of paper from the nearby desk. She simply wrote "You and I, together in Copenhagen, Love Grandmother". She then folded the paper and handed it to him. "There, now it is in writing, and once something is in writing, it cannot be undone. Keep this with you when you miss me, and think about our trip. Remember, our secret." She winked. She knew Konstantin enjoyed having this trip be something that they shared together. So much of his life was shared with the public of his siblings, but this could be all his.