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

University

Yalta, November 1923

Irina

The summer had flown by in the blink of an eye, and Irina had savoured every moment of it. The past three months were a whirlwind of experiences she would hold forever dearly in her heart, but none had left a mark on her quite like Italy. The culture, the art, the sheer beauty of every corner she turned was unlike anything she had ever known. Italy had opened her eyes to a different world, refined, filled with history and charm, and so far from the one she had grown up in. She had always yearned to travel, but she hadn't expected it to shape her so deeply, to spark such a deep sense of wonder and change her perspective on life.

Walking through the ancient streets and standing before centuries-old masterpieces made her realize that her life had shifted in ways she hadn't fully grasped until then. The experiences of that summer were made even better by the joy of having Feodor by her side, but they also pushed her to think about the world differently and stoked the desire to discover more about herself, about what made her happy because she had the feeling she was beginning to find that out after years of sheltered protection under her parent's roof. The things and places she knew before seemed to have lost at least a bit of their charm and she was already longing for the next time they would discover a new destination, the next time she would feel the thrill of exploring a new place.

Now, as she walked through the bustling streets of Yalta, on her way to university, clutching her books close to her chest, she still found it hard to believe that she was really there. It had been three weeks since the lectures had started and the process of adapting had been more challenging than she had expected. She had dreamt about the moment she would sit in her chair so many times in the past that, to a degree, she had romanticized the experience in her mind.

She had expected to find quiet respect, a place where students who were eager to be there sat and listened attentively to the wisdom of the best minds in the country, but the reality was far more chaotic. History lectures, for instance, particularly those that veered into political discussions, could quickly become charged. There were always different factions that clashed openly on various topics and each was as determined as the others to make their opinion heard. The constant back-and-forth made Irina feel lost, swept up in debates she wasn't prepared for.

Adding to the challenge was her recent wedding to Feodor, which had turned into a much larger event in the city than she had anticipated. Over the summer, postcards of their formal photographs after the ceremony had circulated widely while she had been away on her honeymoon. When she first walked through the university corridors, she could feel people staring at him. Some did it with awe, others with clear disapproval, and very few seemed to hold no opinion at all. It was an isolating feeling, especially given her natural shyness.

Striking up conversations in the first few days had been nearly impossible. The assumptions people made about her—based on her title and the spectacle of her wedding—had created a barrier between her and her colleagues she wasn't sure how to break through. Thankfully, over time, the novelty of it all began to wear off. People got to know her and they soon realized that she wasn't the high-maintenance princess they had imagined. Slowly, she was finding her footing and even making friends.

It wasn't perfect yet, but things were starting to feel more comfortable. She wasn't quite where she wanted to be, but she was confident that she was on a good path to get there.

However, on that particular day, everything was being particularly challenging. Irina was late and she hated being late. As she rushed toward the university building, she could feel the familiar anxiety creeping in. The thought of walking into a lecture hall full of people and having everyone turn to look at her made her heart race even faster than usual. She hated being the centre of attention, especially in those moments. Normally, it wasn't difficult for her to stick to her schedule, but today was different. Her legs felt heavy, and despite her best efforts to speed up, she was winded and struggling to keep her pace.