The Tsar's other Daughter

Chapter Eight

Anastasia

I can't belive it! Papa has betrayed us, by having an affair with another woman outside the palace and now, a child he manage to give! What a disgrace! I am going to tell this to Maria and the others, papa will do some explaining regarding this issue

"Anastasia! Vernis'! It is not what you think my dear daughter" he said as he took a grip on my waist

"Enough with this foolishne-" he cut me off, how dare he?! After the revelation, he managed to dare?!

'He is your father' of course I know that, also a father of an illegitimate daughter! I am not afraid to say it, it serves right.

"I don't have a mistress" he finally let go of his hand and let a heavy sigh

Then how in the world did he get an another child without doing such things?! What is it, a miraculous birth? Then he is the father? How ridiculous, it means he had an affair with another woman, it is settled.

"Reasons to believe?" Sarcastically, I am being now the imp they have been calling me, he gave me this nickname so I will do it what that name does

"I will tell you the truth...just, please, in my office" he begged as he point towards his office

I got some doubt thoughts, if I will go with him and listen to his explanation or I will keep going to my room and spill the ugly truth.

"Fine"

We were at his office again, I didn't sat down because of my anger towards my father, my own father, as he saw me not taking a seat, he did as well

"Anastasia, I don't have a mistress, well...not quite actually, I do have one, but I don't consider her a mistress, and it was a long time ago, I was even-" I knew it! He still managed to say it, see? He just spilled his own ugly betrayal

"Then you came running back for her, you are really a-"

"Before I married to your mama, I was in my early adolescence when I was tempted by fate, she was a ballerina, but I assure you, we have no relationship anymore, it was only three years time, it was only letters, I was in my early twenties when I met her with my father during a graduation performance, we didn't do anything stupid, I have no child with her, it was all a faded memory, she even married my cousin Andrei, for what I heard, she also had an affair with my cousin Sergei, but I have no matters with her anymore, we already forget each other" he said in calm but nervous was a hint, he was telling me of his little affair with a ballerina and Uncle Andrei and Uncle Sergei, defending himself of course

"What is her name?"

"Mathilde Kschessinska" I know that woman, she was one of the performers of the ballet act The Tallisman.

"And explain why do we have a sister?" I crossed my arms, I looked stern at the point I am angry.

A heavy sigh escape his lips and went looking for something in his desk, when he found a folder of documents, he hesitated.

"Before I spill the truth, promise me Anastasia that you will not yet tell this to your mother nor your siblings, this revelation will be kept between us until I say so, promise?"

I have double thoughts, why papa told me this? Why? Does Mama and my siblings don't have the right to know this little secret of his? And all of us, why me? Why do he trust me with this secret? As far I am concern, and being honest, I have noisy mouth and the voices in my head which creeps me out.

I finally decided; "Promise...if this is a worth of shutting my mouth"

He lent me the documents he was holding, I scanned it and found an address depicting St. Petersburg and a small diner as a waitress, wait...the so called sister is a waitress? I am confused here

"A photo can be seen there" He instruct me as he went to the last page, and revealed a small photograph

Oh my Goodness, I must be looking at a mirror

The photo, it was me, but the hair has a different length, it was shorter than mine, but the nose, the ears, the face are the same...is this an impostor? Or I am hallucinating?

"She has the same age as you, you know" Same age?! What is this? What is papa doing? Don't tell me he was having a thing while he was also having a thing with mama, and born at the same year?

"This is ridiculous papa!"

The girl on the photo creeps me out...I am having a headache because of this, did I ever cut my hair before? Wait...well yes, but it wasn't short like this one, this maybe a ploy or something

"I know, but it is her, your sister"

Then why she is exactly look like me? Not quite with the hair of course

"How?"

He sat down, tired I see, I did the same because of the headache I am experiencing now, the photo was an impact

"5 of June (new style; 18 June) 1901, the day of your birth, me and your mother was expecting a boy, but it turns out, it was another girl, I was disappointed at the fact that I learned, but this was later replaced by a heart break..." of course, I know this, they were disappointed of me not being a boy, they were expecting a heir, but I was born, I felt really shut out from that fact.

"...You are not alone Anastasia, there is someone who has showed to the world at your birth..."

"Who is this?"
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"Your twin sister, Anna Nikolaevna"

With that, my world then suddenly turned upside down, there was no headache anymore, but I felt that it like my world turned black....me? I have a twin sister?! Oh my goodness, I must be dreaming! Bozhe!

"W-w-what? Twin sister?" I felt numb, like I can't move, the words, the revelation was an impact, a big impact on my world, Anna Nikolaevna, my twin sister?!

"Yes, you see, well...ummm, the whole russian court and the extended family has already warned about having too many daughters, the thought that the Russian people will bash at me of not having a heir, I was afraid of the consequences may come when they find out that I already have six daughters and not a single son, Anna came last, so me and...your mother had decided to keep her away from the court without letting them know, I know it wasn't reasonable, but your mother and I was afraid at the po-"

"Who keep her?" I cut him off, I want to know some details where to find her, already check St. Petersburg, the idea of having this a secret was ridiculous? Why did they?

"A maid named Ekaterina Vorontsova"

I sighed at the thought I want to know where she lives and who keep her, I want to see her, besides I have my rights, Papa should have say this before!

"I want to meet her, like right now"

"It is too dangerous, the streets of St. Petersburg are lurking with reds, this is not the appropi-"

"Right now papa, I want to meet her"