The Paleys (1921-1927) - An Alternate Romanov Story

Separation

The celebrations in honour of Alexei's coming of age had surpassed all expectations, reaching a grandeur that even the most optimistic could not have predicted. Throughout the festivities, Alexei carried himself with a rare combination of grace and humility that captivated the hearts of the nation, from the lowest peasants to the highest nobles.

At times he had been exhausted and it was hard not to see the dark circles under his eyes or when the pain in his joints had been almost unbearable, making him flinch slightly when saluting regiment after regiment during the oath of allegiance. But he had pulled through admirably and, for the moment, the internal wars regarding his ability to take on his role had been silenced.

He was now safely tucked away on a train with his sisters and their families for a well-deserved vacation in Constanța, Romania, where he would be received by Queen Marie and meet his parents, who were travelling there to be present at the birth of Olga's second child, who was due any day now.

The results from the blood tests they had all done in July had come a few days before the celebrations and revealed that there were a few matches he could rely on in case he needed a blood transfusion. His cousin George, Grand Duke Michael's son was one of the closest, as well as some of his Alexandrovichi cousins, Feodor included. Although, due to his own health issues, it was doubtful he would be a reliable option. In their family, only Irina had been a match.

With those concerns resolved for the time being, Vladimir had managed to secure an urgent meeting with Grand Duke Michael just before he left for his vacation in the south of France, to discuss the more pressing issue of Alexei's proximity to Natalia.

He had decided to take the matter into his own hands and not so much as mentioned it to his parents to avoid unnecessary worry and, in his mother's case, unfounded hope. She had already been deeply disappointed when Irina had chosen to refuse Feodor's proposal, which would have allowed her to become part of Grand Duchess Xenia's most inner circle. He understood his mother's reasons. After two decades of being ostracized by her husband's family, the idea of a match between her daughter and the Tsar's cousin had been a comforting thought, a ticket into a world that had long been denied to her and seeing that dream crashing down had been a hard blow to deal with.

He could only imagine how high her imagination might soar had she known that the Tsar himself appeared to be developing feelings for her other daughter...

Another dilemma that weighed heavily on his mind was Tata. Her behaviour at the ball had been strange yet captivating. After their brief and intense conversation, they didn't speak again. She avoided him for the rest of the party, and he was too unsure of what to do about it. He couldn't just push aside the fact that his student had tried to seduce him in a crowded ballroom, even though he desperately wanted to pretend it didn't happen.

He had tried to push her out of his thoughts for days, but the memory of her mischievous smile and the desire she stirred in him with her whispered challenge refused to fade away. It was unlike any feeling he had experienced since his long-lost kiss with Olga, but even then, it was different. With Olga, there had been a deep affection and a true connection of souls, but it had always been calm, distant, and respectful. The mere thought of Tata ignited a fire within his entire body and he wasn't sure how he was going to react when he met her again.

Fortunately, he did not see her as he was being escorted through the corridors and up to Grand Duke Michael's study, which he had come to know so well over the last year, after countless meetings. He found the Grand Duke relaxed on an armchair, looking at the sleepy city below, while drinking what looked like an iced tea. He rose to greet Vladimir and invited him to sit on the armchair next to him.

"Do you want one?" The Grand Duke gestured towards his drink, his voice carrying a note of casual amusement. "Or perhaps something stronger? I must say, your urgent note piqued my curiosity."