The Flaming Tsar and the Magicborn

A Very Important Birthday

At 10:00 A.M., the Romanov family learned about the birth of the Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaevna Romanova. At the same time, it was the birthday of Imperial Princess Hadassah Rachel Shoshana Trichenberg. The birthday celebrations would be held at court in the coming days.

"I'm surprised it has been a year since our father died," George said to Nicholas as he was finishing his letter regarding the birth of Olga and Hadassah's first birthday.

"At least we had that year," said Nicholas, "but this is my time now."

"You've been the czar for an entire year," said Michael. "We should mark that occasion with a party."

"I'd love to, but with the new baby and little Hadassah, I would be pushing it," said Nicholas. "Besides, I am not sure if the people would consent to a memorial to a czar that no one liked, even if it was our father."

"And I'm sure he'd like watching Hadassah grow up quickly," said George. "Or if he knew about Hadassah, he'd use her to force Leo to return to the palace. So maybe we should have a private ceremony at the church."

As the men were talking, Leo walked into the room; he was accompanied by his son Milorad Mekonnen Trichenberg. Leo said, "I hear you boys are talking about your father. Were you planning something for him?"

"Well, I admit that had he lived long enough to learn about Hadassah, he'd probably use her and her mother to force you to return here," said Nicholas.

"And if he did, I would not appreciate that," said Leo. "I would have killed him and then used Nicholas to control the Romanovs. I'm sure the people would appreciate that."

He gestured for Milorad to come, saying, "My oldest son, Milorad. His mother was from Ethiopia, yet he was born in Rome, Italy."

Nicholas frowned as he stared at Milorad; he had seen the younger man several times during his grandfather's reign as czar, but never got to know him, as his mother Saba Adinew kept him and his younger sister Evgenia away from the imperial court.

Milorad said, "Why did you bring me here? I don't know them."

"Because Nicholas here has decided to keep your littlest sister away from us, which isn't right," said Leo. "Someone needs to remind him that Hadassah belongs to me and not him. Speaking of which, where is she?"

At once, the baby in question ran into the room wearing her nightgown and yelling, "No dresses! I want pants!" Nicholas frowned at her state of undress and said, "But you must wear a dress, little one. Your father is here and I know he's not happy to see you undressed."

"And you should know that I can handle my own child, Nicholas," Leo snapped at him. To Hadassah, he said, "Little one, you must get dressed. Guests will come and they want to meet you."

"I say no dresses!" Hadassah yelled. "I want pants!"

"She's definitely a Trichenberg," George snorted.

"You Trichenbergs don't do anything halfway," said Michael.

"We don't," said Leo as he picked up his daughter. "We live our lives outside the lines. Now, I must get my daughter ready and you boys should give Milorad a tour of the palace. My other children are making their way here, and I want them to meet Hadassah. It's her birthday, and I want her to know her siblings."

"Speaking of that, I wonder if we should ask Vavara to bring Sabrina and Leonard here as well," said Nicholas.

"Should we?" said Leo. "It wouldn't be a good idea to take them away from Nichollo and Rachel, not when they're Rachel's grandchildren."