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

Eighteen

Paris, 5 December 1923

Natalia

The day had finally arrived. Although she knew it made no sense, in the back of her mind, Natalia had thought that there would be some kind of physical transformation that would be obvious to all who came across her once the clock hit midnight, something that would make everyone realize in a heartbeat that she wasn't a child anymore, she was now officially an adult. But it didn't take long for her to realize that it wouldn't be easy to convince her family that the little girl they knew was long gone.

Her entire family had arrived the day before. Even Vladimir had made the grand gesture of asking for a two-week leave from the Corps des Pages to be with her.

When she woke up, she heard the sound of soft murmurs outside her door. She smiled, already sensing that her family was planning something special for her eighteenth birthday. The door to her room creaked open, and before she could sit up, her parents entered, smiling warmly. Her mother held a tray of breakfast, and her father followed with a bouquet of her favourite flowers.

 "Happy birthday, my darling," her mother said, setting the tray down on the bedside table. "Eighteen already. How did that happen so fast?"

Her father kissed her on the forehead. "You'll always be our little girl," he said with a wink, making Natalia laugh, though there was a part of her that still wanted him to see her as the young woman she had become.

Before Natalia could say anything, the door burst open again, and in came Irina, Tata, Marianne and Dmitri, one after the other. Vladimir, always the most composed, walked in last, straight from his leave, looking proud and somewhat out of place in the morning scene. But Natalia's heart swelled seeing him. She hadn't expected him to make it. He stepped forward, holding a carefully wrapped package.

"Happy birthday, Natasha," he said, handing it to her. "I wouldn't have missed this for anything."

Natalia tore off the paper to reveal a leather-bound book with gold-edged pages. "For your thoughts," Vladimir said with a soft smile. "Now that you're an adult, maybe you'll start writing them down."

The others, playful as always, joined in with hugs and teasing remarks about how they couldn't believe their baby sister had grown up. Irina handed her a necklace from her and Feodor, Marianne a small, decorative box for her keepsakes and many other presents.

As the morning went on, Natalia was surrounded by laughter and gifts, her family making her feel like the centre of their world. She felt a mix of joy and longing. Her family still saw her as their youngest, their baby, and in many ways, she loved that feeling. Was there anyone who didn't enjoy being pampered and cared for as the Queen of the place?

As the evening approached, Natalia stood in front of the mirror, brushing through her hair while Tata and Irina flitted around the room, helping her prepare for the soirée. The house had been buzzing with activity all day, but her parents had been unusually secretive about the evening's plans. Natalia wondered what surprises they had in store. She had a feeling it would involve some of her favourite artists—perhaps a ballet performance, or maybe a renowned opera singer. Her parents were known for their grand gestures, especially when it came to celebrating their youngest daughter.

Tata, as lively as ever, was chattering away, fussing over the arrangement of flowers on the vanity and adjusting Natalia's dress, making sure it looked just right. 

"I think you're in for an unforgettable night," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I overheard something about—oh, but I won't spoil it!"

Natalia smiled at her, feeling a surge of gratitude for her energy. She appreciated how Tata always seemed to know how to keep things light. Yet as she glanced over at Irina, who was quietly fastening a brooch to her gown, a pang of concern crept in. Irina had been distant since she had arrived, even more silent than usual, always sneaking away with Feodor to some distant corner and hardly paying attention to what was happening around her. She looked thinner than Natalia remembered, and her face was pale and drawn. She hadn't smiled much, and, although she always had a tendency to detach herself on public occasions, she had always been happy when it came to celebrations within the family. No, this was not like her at all. Something was wrong.

"Are you alright, Irina?" Natalia asked gently, trying to catch her sister's gaze in the mirror.

Irina blinked, as though startled by a thought. "Oh, I'm fine," she said in a drawled voice. She gave Natalia a quick smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just a little tired, that's all."

Natalia nodded but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Irina hadn't mentioned anything about it, but Natalia suspected it was more than just fatigue. She wondered if her sister had been under some kind of strain recently, though it wasn't like Irina to talk openly about such things. She had always been the steady one, the one who rarely showed her burdens.

But as the evening drew closer and the sounds of the household preparing for the soirée filled the air, Natalia's thoughts kept drifting back to Irina. There was a cloud hanging over her sister that Natalia couldn't ignore, but she pushed it aside for now. Tonight was meant to be a celebration, and whatever was troubling Irina, Natalia knew she would find a way to help her—just not tonight. For now, the evening awaited, and Natalia wasn't going to let anything take away from what her family had planned.

Dinner was supposed to be a quiet affair—just her, her closest family, and Tata. That's what Natalia had expected, at least. But the moment she stepped into the dining room, she sensed something was different. There, standing by the window, was a figure she hadn't expected to see. At first, she didn't want to believe it. The young man standing in her childhood home, dressed in civilian clothes, felt out of place, almost like a memory come to life. But then he turned around and smiled at her, and all doubts vanished.

She gasped, and, without a second thought, ran towards him, ignoring the curious looks from her family. When she was close enough, she leapt into his arms, not even noticing the small grunt of pain he made as he tried to steady them both.

"Alexei!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here? How did they let you get away?"

Although amused by her excitement, Alexei struggled slightly with her weight and gently set her back down, holding her hands tightly instead. His smile widened. 

"Well," he said, with that familiar sly grin she hadn't seen in so long, "it took some persuasion. But being the Tsar has its privileges, you know. That counts for something."

Natalia laughed, feeling a rush of happiness. She couldn't believe he was here, standing in front of her, in the one place she thought he could never return to so easily. Unable to contain herself, she threw her arms around him again, this time pulling him into a tight embrace. 

She whispered into his ear, her voice trembling with emotion, "You've got to stay at least a few days. There's so much I want to show you!"

Alexei chuckled softly, returning the embrace. "I wish I could. But you know how things are," he said, his tone tinged with regret. "I only have one week. But I'll make the most of what I have. I couldn't miss your birthday, Natasha."

She pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him, her face filled with determination. "I'll make them let you stay longer," she teased. "I'll convince everyone. You just leave it to me."

He smiled, shaking his head fondly. "I have no doubt that, if there's someone who can convince them, it would be you."

They stood there for a moment, the rest of the room fading into the background as they shared a few quiet moments together.

"I missed you, Alexei," Natalia said softly, her smile growing more gentle. "It's been too long."

"I missed you too," he replied, giving her hands a soft squeeze. "But look at you now, eighteen. I almost didn't recognize you."

Before she could respond, the sound of her father's voice broke through the moment. "Natalia, dear, we're waiting for you."

She glanced over her shoulder, catching sight of her family seated at the table, all watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

With a final smile, Alexei leaned in and whispered, "Let's not keep them waiting any longer."

Natalia nodded, still feeling giddy from the surprise, and together they made their way to the dinner table.