The Tsar's Wife

Who was he?

  Whenever Olive headed out of her room later that evening to ask Alexandra is she could borrow one of her books -she had finished the previous one that was Tatiana's personal suggestion, and she found the book very enjoyable- she was surprised to see that just as she arrived at the boudoir, Alexei was coming out, and when he spotted her, he froze with his hand still on the doorknob with the door cracked open a bit. The expression on his face was that of a child who had been caught doing something wrong, and he swallowed, looking oddly just surprised to see her as she was him. They stared at each other as if they were both aliens from another planet meeting for the very first time.

"Hello, love." He greeted, turning towards the door to look in then shut it quietly. Alexei never went into the boudoir, Olive couldn't even think of a time she had seen him in there, and was a bit curious. "Hello, Alexei." She greeted back at him, nodding her head towards the door of the boudoir. "What were you doing in the boudoir?" She asked hesitantly, and Alexei gave a nervous smile. "I was... discussing something with mother." Alexei said, and it was clear he wasn't ready to clarify or tell her what he head been discussing by the looks of his pleading eyes, and Olive didn't question him any further. "Well, now that I've caught you," she said, holding her book to her side as he glanced at it for a moment. "Did you receive a letter from Olga?" Olive asked, smiling at him.

Alexei nodded, a warm grin breaking across his face. "Yes, she congratulated us both I assume?" He asked, and Olive nodded in agreement. "Yes. She told me the story of your parents engagement, which I enjoyed very much." Olive lamented, remembering how sweet the story was in the letter, and how the story shone through to this day. Alexei looked confused for a moment, but then his face flashed with recognition, his blue eyes gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the windows lining the hallway around them. "Don't tell Maria Olga told you, she'll be very upset she didn't get to tell it herself." He joked, smiling and shaking his head at the mention of his hopeless romantic sister.

  Olive remembered Olga's mention of their Uncle Sergei, and that she didn't know who he was. She wasn't sure if she should ask Alexei about him, since no one had mentioned him he may be a sensitive subject, and she bit her lip, deciding what to say next. "Olga mentioned an Uncle Sergei? Who is he if you don't mind me asking?" Olive said slowly and hesitantly, feeling guilty for letting her curiosity get the best of her so easily. Alexei glanced towards the door of the boudoir, looking a bit uneasy as he listened for voices on the other side. He glanced over at Olive, gently grabbing her arm and leading her away from the door to closer to the windows, taking a glance back at the door then turning towards her, giving a small sigh.

"Uncle Sergei was father's uncle and Mother's sister Ella's wife." Alexei said, keeping his voice low and kept stealing glances back at the doorframe, even though no movement or sound was coming from inside its perimeters. Olive nodded, though this wasn't new information for her, Olga had mentioned that he was Ella's husband, but she didn't really mention he was Nicholas's uncle. "He was killed by terrorist bombs in 1905. I don't remember him, I was only a year old, but I've seen many pictures at Aunt Ella's."Alexei said sadly, nodding to the many grand portraits lining the walls of the hallway, some over a hundred years old.

Olive frowned, but she now understood why she hadn't ever met Ella's wife, and felt guilty for bringing the sensitive subject up to Alexei, who seemed to be saddened greatly by the subject, even though he didn't remember him. " I'm sorry to bring it up. You seem a bit sad now." Olive said apologetically, ducking her head bit in shame. She felt bad that she had to nose around in what she should have known would be sensitive information, but Alexei was shaking his head. 'No, its alright! I'm okay, love." He said urgently, not wanting her to blame herself or feel bad in any way at all. She looked up at him, and felt better when he flashed her a reassuring smile, brushing a piece of hair out of her face that had escaped from her bun.

"Just... Don't mention it around mother. Uncle Sergei adored her, and she was very fond of him as well." Alexei warned her gently, gesturing to the lilac boudoir that she assumed Alexandra was inside, as she usually was. That explained why he had led her away from the door, he didn't want Alexandra overhearing him. "I won't, you have my word. " she promised, standing up on the tips of her toes since Alexei had such a great advantage on her in height, and kissing him gently and warmly on the cheek. Alexei smiled chuckling a bit and putting his arm around her, pulling her closer to him in the vacant hallway. "What were you coming to the boudoir for?" Alexei asked, and Olive gave a rueful smile, holding her book up.

"Returning and borrowing another book, I'll probably stay in the boudoir and read. " Olive lamented and Alexei chuckled , kissing her forehead tenderly before reluctantly letting her go. "I'll leave you to it then, father is expecting me in his office." Alexei said, and Olive nodded, slipping into the doorway of the boudoir while smiling back at him.

Poorly written!!! I am horrid a ending chapters, so so bad! But anyways I found a picture of Alexei in 1918!!!!!! Is this what heaven feels like?? I'm so happy I found it, he is smiling in it too, and you can really catch the warmth in it, like Nicholas's smile. Do any of you lovely readers know a good song for Alexei and Olive? ltyytl and Kymatismos gave me awesome ships names (Alexive and Olixei!) So I've got that. If anyone can come up with a good ship song I'll be glad to give a shoutout! Thanks for reading!!! I appreciate you all!