cadnis oneshots so i can get some f*cking sleep

in a crowd of thousands

helloooo everyone!! welcome to part 2/3 of the cadnisney chaos collection!! this time anastasia oooo

before we begin i'd just like to call attention to the fact that anastasia was a real person and her story is very tragic. this is not in any way intended to poke fun at or make light of the deeply serious historical events that led to the deaths of her and her family, or the events that happened because of it. this is purely taking the fictional, sensationalized story from the movie and the musical and bending those to my whim. so welcome to my own story of Grand Duchess Caidriena (pronounced kay-dree-en-nuh since my robot that reads my stories out loud to me got that wrong lol. figured i should clarify ;))

i absolutely love this one so i'm very excited for you all to read it!!

tw for
anastasia spoilers (musical and movie)
bolshevik uprising of russia and surrounding events
death
murder
mentioned injury (none of the above are very graphic)
gun mentions
threats
and as always if i've missed anything please let me know and i'll add it in!

enjoy!!

originally drafted on july 7, 2024

—————

Far away, but not all that long ago, there was a kingdom, full of grand castles, elegant parties, and beautiful people.

It was a bitter winter's night in 1916, but the inside of the palace was warmed by a wonderful party. Candlelight, a warm feast, and hundreds of happy people.

None were happier than the young Princess Caidriena, who ran about the ballroom in her best dress; a white ribbon in her long, red curls.

She chased her younger brother around the far walls, narrowly avoiding knocking over candlesticks and servants carrying trays of refreshments. When she tired of that, she sat on the cold, hard marble steps at the end of the room and watched the beautiful dancers twirl about in their best suits and long, flowing gowns.

"Now, what good will all that watching do, Snowflake?" a low, booming voice rung out over her shoulder.

She startled and whirled around, grinning in relief and delight upon spying her father in his uniform crouched behind her shoulder. He gently extended a gloved hand, and she slipped her small one into it.

"May I have this dance, Princess?" he asked, bringing her hand to his lips and gently kissing her fingers.

She giggled. "Yes, Papa."

Her father beamed and stood at his tallest, guiding her down the stairs and lifting her off her feet. She squealed with glee as he held her carefully in his arms, still cradling her little hand in his and waltzing them around in time with the other pairs. She was a wild child, but she never felt more like she had taken flight than when she was held securely in her father's embrace. She rested her free hand on his cheek, grazing her small fingers across the scratchy stubble of his growing beard and looking into his shining blue eyes with her pair to match.

He held her there as long as his strong arms could manage, and yet still did not tire. When he could keep her up no longer he allowed her to stand on his brilliantly shiny leather shoes and echo his steps around the room with her own short legs, her hands squeezed safely in his large ones the whole way.

And when she herself let out a yawn, he chuckled and lifted her to his eyes once again. "There now. Time for bed, young Princess."

"Oh, Papa, must I?" she plead, looking at her father with her most pitiful, doleful eyes. "I want to-" she's interrupted by another wide yawn and bleary blink. "I want to stay and see the ball."