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

The Middle Child

September 1922

"Boarding school?"

The news sent a ripple through the dining table. This was their last evening at Biarritz. They usually stayed for an additional two weeks in Paris before they returned, but, this year, because of Alexei's celebrations, they had to cut their holidays short. Their father's announcement at the end of the meal came as a complete surprise. Natalia was being sent to a boarding school on the outskirts of Paris for a year. It was too late for her to start the year at the same time as the other girls, so she would travel there in January, right after Christmas.

Irina looked around the table, still unable to digest what was happening. She seemed the only one who was surprised by it. Vladimir just gazed down at his empty plate and her parents seemed pleased. Natalia, who was sitting right in front of her, reached out her hand, to hold hers, but Irina couldn't bring herself to respond.

"Was I the last person to know?" She asked, directing her gaze at Vladimir.

He threw an apologetic look her way but said nothing.

"It all happened so fast," Natalia spoke up, her face filled with remorse. "Mama and papa only told me about the opportunity last week, and we weren't even sure if it was still available, so we didn't want to trouble you with it. But I'm so excited, Irishka, I really am! A whole year in Paris?"

The onslaught of information was making her feel dizzy. There were too many conflicting emotions to deal with. First, and foremost, she would lose Natalia, her loyal companion. The mere thought of it made her wince. She tried to remember how much time they had spent apart in the sixteen years since Natalia had been born and could only remember the time when she had been sick with the Spanish flu and had been unconscious for days. But, even then, Irina had been by her side through all of it. She wasn't even certain she knew how to function without Natalia there to guide her.

Gradually, a new feeling, one less sisterly and more resentful, crept into Irina's thoughts. It had been a year and a half since she mustered up the courage to ask her father to attend university, only to be denied. She understood that boarding school was vastly different, but, still, Irina wouldn't even have needed to leave the palace to attend a few lectures at Saint Petersburg University. She could simply take the train in the morning and return in the evening. Her lady-in-waiting and a battalion of servants could have accompanied her for all she cared. All she wanted was to expand her knowledge and engage with other minds.

Now, no one seemed to find any problem with sending her younger sister to a different country for an entire year. The double standards and the raw injustice of it all were eating at her.

To a certain extent, she was accustomed to this treatment. Her sister always seemed to shine brighter and attract more attention, making her easy to manage in comparison. She never minded playing second fiddle in most aspects of her life, content with being overshadowed by her sister's beauty, charm, and fun-loving nature. However, what she couldn't accept was being denied the one thing she truly wanted and valued, despite having fought hard for it. And now, seeing Natalia being handed that same opportunity without putting in any effort or interest made her resentful and filled with negative thoughts towards her beloved sister who was still looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Irina knew that none of this was Natalia's fault, but at that moment, she struggled to contain her feelings of resentment.

After several moments of silence, Irina spoke up. "I think I need some fresh air." She got up from her seat at the table and ignored the faint protests and cries coming from her family. When she sensed someone following her, she broke into a run. She needed to be alone, to sort through the jumble of emotions weighing heavily on her chest.