Woke Up In A New Decade

Chapter Forty Eight

Picture: Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, in Livadia, 1914.

November 1914
"Grand Duchess Astrid!" The man announced my name very dramatically. I entered the room with everyone's eyes landing and focusing on me. I noticed my Papa stood next to me, we were going to have the first dance. I knew that Papa wouldn't dance with mother because of mothers bad health. The music started to play, it was soothing and great to dance to. Papa picked me up and walked me other to the middle of the room and we started the first dance. It felt odd having my hair up, I haven't had my hair up for ages. The last time I had it up it was... I don't remember! "I am so proud of you, darling." I heard Papa say, I smiled at him as our first dance ended. I looked to see Cian and Terrence. They had berries and were throwing them into the air and catching it in their mouths. It looked fun. Soon, the guests started to partner up and dance.

"May you do me the honor of having this dance for me."

I instantly froze, I felt the temperature of the room go colder, goosebumps formed and it felt like cacti was prickling all my skin. I knew exactly who was standing right behind me. Papa had already went to join Mama. I noticed Anastasia laughing at me while Maria looked panicked and flushed, I saw Terrence side eye the person and Cian give the person behind me  a dirty look. I shot Maria and Anastasia a glare from across the room before turning around. "Hello Cousin." Edward smiled at me. "Hello." I said as I pretended to be calm, but on the inside I was panicking and soon started to become hotter than the room temperature. "Of course, let's dance." I politely agreed.

Edward placed his hand on my waist, I placed my hand on his shoulder, and we joined our free hands together and we started to dance. We started waltzing around, I felt Edward's eyes on me the whole time, I just looked away. Did Maria even send that letter? If she didn't then she'd end up sleeping on the floor tonight, and then probably would be beaten up by Zander. "You look beautiful tonight cousin." I heard him say. "Thank you." I muttered feeling uncomfortable. This was so weird, I swear if I find out Maria didn't send that letter..

"I enjoy hearing you talk much more than having to write letters, your voice is so unique and beautiful." Edward complimented me weirdly. Maria never wrote to him. She never wrote saying that it isn't me. I was boiling with anger when I realised, Edward could be our way out. He can be the one to help save us, better to keep a positive relationship with him now even though he sympathies for... you know. It will benefit when aiding to help us.

I felt a sense of pride, I had a solid plan. I will keep this up and save my family! And if our Edward plan didn't work we had Cian to help. As the song ended, I waved goodbye to Edward and then instantly someone else asked me to dance. Little did I know that this was the start of so much dances that I will have with men I do not know.

As I danced throughout the evening I realised how exhausting dancing was. All of this random idiotic brain dead officials (according to Cian) that did not know wanting to dance with me. I finally took a water break and was currently sipping water while watching Terrence and Cian use raspberries now when somebody walked in front of me. Cian swallowed the raspberry and then nearly began choking. I heard a familiar voice say, "Astrid, may I have this dance?" I looked to find Malcolm. "Of course." I smiled. I waved goodbye to Cian and Terrence and then Cian began choking and drinking water.

We danced away, I felt his intense stare on me while I looked away everywhere else. "I see you have caught the British prince's eye." Malcolm noted, with hints of bitterness and jealousy. "Yes, well we are quite fond of each other." I lie, why the hell am I lying? Stop acting stupid Astrid! "You are? So you plan on courting then?" Malcolm asked me. "Most likely yes." I said carelessly. "Well my Astya, I am very glad that everything is working out for you." Malcolm says. "Thank you, Malcolm." I smile as the dance ends.

My feet were aching from all the dancing. I just really wanted to sit down right now. I saw Cian and Terrence who was talking and laughing about something. I watched as my sisters dance with different officers I don't know. I saw Caoimhe and some of my Russian relatives, Vera Constantinovna and Vasili Alexandrovich talking. I quickly rushed away from the dance floor and ran to a corner of the crowded loud ballroom getting myself something to drink. I chugged down a glass of water not realising who was watching me from behind. The person's voice scared me, "Tired of dancing, cousin?" It was Edward, and I could tell he was smirking. I turned around while wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Dancing with everyone is exhausting." I replied as I wanted to just collapse onto the floor. "It has been terribly painful to be apart from you this evening, I am glad I was able to have a chance of dancing with you at all." Is he flirting with me? I felt my face flush, I really wanted to disappear and then let the ground swallow me whole so nobody can find me ever again. "Me too?" I said more as a question, I had no idea what to say about this. Didn't this guy run away with Wallis Simpson? Didn't he die in 72? WHEN I WASNT EVEN BORN? I wanted to scream at him.

"Do not be so nervous cousin, I know that we are used to speaking to each other through letters but that doesn't mean we can get to know each other while speaking to one another in person." He stepped closer to me. Behind him was Terrence staring with his golden eyes and Cian who was bending the shadows. I winked slightly to them and they continued back with theirs stuff. I felt really uncomfortable right now, but I needed him for my plan. He is my family's safety ticket. I need to keep this up so we can be safe. I will be able to live my life peacefully in England and happily watch as my sisters get their own happy endings. In the end it will be all worth it.

"You wish to spend time with me?" I asked him, a smirk appearing on my face. "well, yes." He slightly blushed. "That's settled then, but you must ask my parents first." I pointed out. "Actually, you should probably go speak to them right now. You shouldn't waste your time." I said, I sounded very convincing and I knew I had convinced him when he smiled. "Of course my darling." He said while excusing himself. I feel much better now, I watched as people and couples danced around together. I can't believe that I'm sixteen, time went by so quickly. And just yesterday I woke up screaming hysterically at the fact that there was two random girls sleeping in the same room as me.

"Astya! Let's dance!" Alexei came up to me, it made me snap out of my train wreck of thoughts. I looked down to my little brother. "You want to dance with me?" I said pretending to be shocked. "Yes." He confirmed with a bow. I finished my water and put the glass on the table and I took his hand as he lead me to the dance floor. "I am so honoured your imperial highness." I said as he blushed.

"Anything for you, Astya. We are both different after all."