The Tsar's Wife

Changing Lives

"Olive, will you marry me?"

The question still hung in the air but not in an uncomfortable way, it just simply hadn't been answered. Olive was too shocked to answer, though she knew the answer in her head already. For a few moments, her thoughts of wanting to wait came back, but they only lasted for a second when she looked at Alexei. She knew she wanted to marry him, spend the rest of her life with him, even with the Grand Title that came with him. Her mouth may have been slightly open, and her shocked expression was giving Alexei a nervous one.

Olive couldn't find the words she needed, so she hoped where her words failed, her body wouldn't. She threw her arms around Alexei as tight as she could, still paying mind to his injured arm. Alexei looked a bit surprised, - he probably wasn't expecting her to embrace him suddenly until after she said yes - but hugged her back just as tight, giving a small chuckle. "Well, does that answer my question?" He joked, resting his head on the top of hers. Olive nodded, but she knew she needed to verbally say yes instead of embracing him suddenly and nodding.

Olive pulled back to meet Alexei's eyes, one hand on the side of his face and the other resting on his shoulder. "Yes." Olive said frankly, not managing to come up with anything else. She was at a complete loss for words, but in a good way. The look of pure joy spreading across Alexei's face made her heart soar, and she could swear if it was possible she loved him a hundred times more, and somehow, it was. "I love you, Olive. More than anything." Alexei said for what Olive swore could have been the hundredth time in a row, but in her mind she couldn't care less. "I love you too, Alexei. I always will." Olive said, and felt tears spring into her eyes. She couldn't believe this man had made her so happy she was crying, it was definitely a first.

Alexei brought his hand to her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "Are you sure you want to marry me? It's a lot I'm asking of you, Olive. I come with a title." Alexei said, his brows furrowed in fought and a bit of concern. Olive was well aware he came with a title, and if she was completely honest she would say that it scared her, becoming a Tsarina. However, her fears did not cloud over her love for Alexei, which always triumphed over everything. "I'm sure Alexei. I want to marry you, I don't care about the title." Olive said, and she knew she meant it feeling the warmth in her stomach and the smile spreading across her face.

Alexei smiled with her, leaned forward the same exact moment that Olive did, sitting on the bed. Their lips met somewhere in the middle, and Olive could have sworn it was like the first time they had kissed, only this time instead of growing feelings, she never felt more loved. The kiss had so much hope and joy in it, although it was soft and slow, as their kisses usually were. They actually didn't kiss all that often as one would think, but that made their kisses a hundred times more special. The thought made her laugh a bit against the kiss, and Alexei pulled away.

"What is it?" He asked confused, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. Olive smiled, shaking her head and  looking at her feet folded beside her on the bed. "Nothing, I'm just.... Happy." Olive said, and the smile on her face ceased to fade away. She didn't know why she felt so giddy all of a sudden, it wasn't a trait that she had often, but she felt it was all she was today. Alexei smiled, leaning up and scooting closer to her on the bed. "I am too. Bog mal mne to schast'ye , o kotorom ya nikogda ne mechtal by otdav menya." Alexei said, and Olive rolled her eyes, resisting the strong, instinctive urge to cross her arms at him.

"I still can't speak that fluent Russian! You spoke too fast for me to catch any of that!" Olive scolded playfully, making Alexei chuckle and roll his eyes at her. "I meant to do that, you'll never know what I said." Alexei stated in such a matter-of-fact way Olive felt like slapping the smirk off his face. "Oh, and by the way, remember what you said to me in the hospital?" Olive asked, Alexei's Russian making the speech he had gave her come back into mind. She couldn't understand what he had said, but now that they were more comfortable with each other she hoped he would tell her. Alexei's face tinged pink and he gave a playful, irritable sigh. "Yes, I do. And I swear if you ask me to recite it in Engli-"

"Can you recite it in English please?" Olive asked, cutting him off. She knew she was messing with him, and she was doing it as a sign of revenge. Alexei rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "No, I will not." He said frankly, crossing his arms as if he were a stubborn child. Olive gave a fake pout, rolling her eyes in mock irritation. "Please!! I still don't know what you said!!" Olive pleaded, but failed to persuade Alexei. "No, but I'll make a deal with you, alright?" Alexei said, raising an eyebrow. Olive squinted, giving her silent permission. "Alright, what deal?" She said, feeling a bit curious and intrigued.

Alexei smiled, taking her hands in his. "On our wedding day, I'll recite it in English to you. " He said, and Olive smiled, giggling a bit. "In front of everyone? Are you sure?" She said and Alexei shrugged as I'd to say 'why not?'. "I honestly don't care who knows that I love you, soon it will be official." He said, and Olive felt her body as well as her face warm. He was so caring, how did she get so lucky?

"I don't either."

okay, so it's short, I know I'm sorry! Believe it or not, this STILL isn't the part I'm excited for, but that is waaay farther into the book sadly. I'm not looking forward to writing the wedding part all that much, there's soooo many details!!! Russian Royal weddings are very complicated. . Anyways , I know it wasn't the most romantic proposal and there was no big getting down on one knee thing but that's because it was a Russian proposal, which usually only ended up with the man simply flat out asking the woman, and that's what Alexei did, because he couldn't think of a better time to ask lol. The picture at the top is of Alexandra, or Alix or Hesse before she converted her religion, which is Alexei s mother if any of you didn't know, on her wedding day to Nicholas II of Russia. She is beautiful!!! That will also be what Olive's wedding dress and outfit will look like since that's the traditional Royal Imperial Wedding Gown. Ahh!!! Poor Olive, I'd put you in a better dress but you're marrying a royal and becoming Tsarina!! I also did some research and it turns out that a Nicholas and Alexandra got married before his coronation, so I'm actually doing this right!!! Thank for reading!!!