Yours, forever - The love story of Russia's last Tsar and Tsarina.

The First Meeting

I

Russia; 1884.

  In the grand halls of the Winter Palace, where opulence and tradition reigned supreme, a gathering was underway to celebrate the engagement of Princess Elizabeth of Hesse, known as Ella, and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, brother of Tsar Alexander III, a joyous occasion that brought together nobles from Germany and Russia. Among the esteemed guests were two young souls whose fates were intertwined by the hand of destiny: Alix, the shy princess of Hesse, sister of Elizabeth, and Nicholas, the Tsarevich of Russia. 

  Alix, just twelve years old, exuded an air of innocence and grace as she entered the ballroom, her blue eyes wide with wonder at the splendor that surrounded her. Beside her, Nicholas, sixteen and filled with a quiet intensity, stood tall and resolute, his gaze fixed on the beautiful princess of red hair.

  As the evening unfolded, the guests mingled and danced, their laughter filling the air like the tinkling of bells. The dinner was served. Amidst the sea of faces, Alix and Nicholas found themselves seated side by side at the grand banquet table. Nicholas was excited on the occasion, he was happy for his uncle and his beautiful fiancee, but he was curious about princess Alix. He wanted to talk to her, but near her he felt disconcerted, as if she was a angel and he was a mere mortal. All he could do was to exchanged polite pleasantries, their words measured and cautious. But as the night wore on a fire ignited between them, a connection that transcended all the boundaries.

  The night was already high and the guests began to leave. Alix and her siblings, as their father Grand Duke Louis of Hesse, had requested, said good night to everyone. As he and his family were guests at the palace, he ordered her to her room. Watching Alix leave, even if it was only until the other day and even though she was so close to him, Nicholas felt a tightness in his heart. He hoped to meet the beautiful girl again on the other day during breakfast.

II

  As Princess Alix of Hesse sat in her room, the glow of candlelight danced across the walls, casting shadows that seemed to sway with the rhythm of her thoughts. The grandeur of the ball still lingered in the air, the melodies of laughter and music echoing faintly in her mind. 

  Lost in her own thoughts, Alix delicately brushed through her hair as she prepared for bed, the strands weaving into a neat braid with practiced ease. In the quiet solitude of her chambers, her mind drifted back to the evening's events, to the happy moments along with Nicholas, heir of the russian throne. A warm smile tugged at the corners of her lips as memories of their encounter were in her mind. Nicholas had been different from the other young nobles she had met: his blue eyes held a kindness that resonated with her own gentle nature, his words carrying a sincerity that stirred something within her. 

-- He is so gentle, he treated me so well!

  Alix murmured to herself, the words getting out from her lips like a whispered secret. In that simple phrase lay a world of unspoken emotions, a reflection of the budding affection that had taken root in her heart.

  With a contented sigh, Alix put her silk and lace pink nightgown, feeling the soft fabric against her skin as she settled into the embrace of her bed. As sleep began to claim her, visions of Nicholas came in her mind, his presence was comforting in the quiet darkness of the night. And amidst the silence and the hushed whispers of her own heart, Princess Alix drifted into dreams tinged with the promise of a gentle love yet to bloom.