Forever and ever, OTMAA

The End of an Empire

photo: Olga, 1916 in her bedroom dressed in shawls.
November 1918
olga

I was in my room, sitting on my soft bed that was neatly made. My dress was about 8 years out of style but I still liked it. It was styled just like my 1914 one however there was a red ribbon around it which tied around my waist. I had a kokoshnik around my head which kept down my wild bobbed hair with a marcel wave. I was reading my book as I sat down.

I was alone in me and Tati's room because she was out with Anna Vyrubova and Lili Dehn. Anna was 34 while Lili Dehn was 30, despite their age difference they were all inseparable.

I was sitting down when the door burst open. I lifted my head up to see my beautiful little sister Anastasia standing there. Nastya never really saw herself as beautiful, but she is indeed very beautiful.

She had grown taller a bit over the years. Her hair was curly as it was long, it was blond with masses of lighter blonds in it. Her eyes were deep blue, a Romanov blue they name it, we all share it. She had fine features with eyebrows that nearly met. She was such a tomboy but she was still so beautiful and enchanting, she was like a longer curly hair, shorter and imp like version of Tati.

She walked up to me, and she looked to me. "Germany.. German Empire.. collapse." She wheezed. I thought to decode the sentence. Then realised, "It did?" I asked, my eyes widened.

"Yes. Papa just got the news. Mama is in tears! Come on Olishka we have to go and comfort her, and find Mashka in the process. I need to get Aloysha so can you find Mashka?" Anastasia nodded.

"I suppose I could." I shrugged. I slipped one foot and the over which was as shoed as I slowly stood up. I quickly followed Nastya as we parted ways, she sprinting to get Aloysha and me speed walking to find Maria.

I opened the door and saw Maria in the Mauve room. She was sitting in the chair with her eyes staring out the window. Her hair had gotten longer and she had her hair in one single braid.

Her eyes were large like aunt Xenia's but her eyes were beautiful so the size did not matter. "Mashka." I said softly. She turned to face me. "Nastya told me to get you so we can comfort Mama-" I only needed to say that before Maria was on her feet and the next thing I knew Maria was running and dragging me.

We finally slowed down as we entered the room. Nastya and Aloysha was there and Mama was smiling as the two cheered her up. "Oh my dear Olenka.." Mama realised my presence. "My little Mashka." She whispered and tears burst out of her eyes again.

"Mama. Please do not cry. What has happened?" Mashka said softly. "The German Empire has collapsed! My brother is in danger!" She whispered.

Papa rubbed Mama's back as she cried more. The door was knocked on and Lili von Dehn, Anna Vyrubova and Tanyusha had entered. "Mama! I have heard the news. Oh please give me a hug dear Mama." Tatiana quickly said as she put both of her hands over her Mama's waist.

"Oh Tanyushka." She sobbed. "It will be alright Mama, I promise." Tatiana said.

"Perhaps you are right. This is a celebration, this war is now over. This horrible war is over." Mama said. But her face turned sour again. "But my dear brother." She whispered and then began crying again.

"I'm sure Ernest is alright, Sunny." Papa said as he hugged Mama. "But.. what about his children?" Mama said. "What if they ended up of like how we nearly were if you hadn't abdicated because people did actually favour you more!"

"We would be dead." Aloysha said. "But it would not matter for me because I will die soon." Aloysha added. "Alexei.. don't say that! You will live a long life!" I said to my little brother.

"Dear sister, I know you want that but we both know I don't have a chance to live a long life. Just look at what happened to Prince Leopold." Alexei frowned. "Aloysha.." I tried but he huffed and walked away. Anastasia looked sadly to her best friend.

"Loysha wait!" She called as she raced after him. I was left with Papa and Taty hopelessly trying to comfort Mama as Mashka slowly slipped away after the younger ones.

"ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!" I yelled and smashed a glass shard. "Ernest is fine, he will be fine because he isn't that involved with the stupid old Kaiser! And this is something to be happy about! Not for me to have a mental breakdown about, the Kaiser deserved what has come for him. But honestly I'm more stressed out than I was at the hospital in this dumb room!" I yelled, I spat my emotions out. I was heavily breathing after.

"Olenka.." Tatiana frowned. "Can't we just have a celebration or something? We can plan it all! And then we can invite our Greek, Russian and English relatives over or something like that!" I added.

"It's settled. We will invite Prince Andrew and his family, our distant Russian cousins and our English cousins." Tatiana smiled. I smiled as well. "So." Anastasia said as she slipped back into the room. "What now?" She asked no one in particular.

"Don't worry little sis." I smirked with the thought in my head. "I have a plan, a grand plan."

"Well that can't be good." Anastasia muttered under her breath, i could barely hear her.

"Anastasia Nikolae-" Tatiana began. "Shut up Tatiana, it's just sarcasm. Learn to take sarcasm." Anastasia rolled her eyes as she exited the room to find Little Aloysha.