The Last Romanov (Under Editing)

Internal Discord

Anastasia stormed through the halls of Peter and Paul Fortress, her mind racing as she thought of the perfect words to say to Zelenko. The doctors and Grandmere had all told her that it was a terrible idea, that she wasn't healthy enough to leave the palace. One guard had even warned her that it wouldn't be a good idea to go back to the scene of such a traumatic incident so soon afterwards. She didn't listen to any of them, of course: she didn't have time to sit around in bed all day like an invalid, especially not when her intelligence commander was apparently trying to start an international incident with a country they already weren't on good terms with.

"Where is he?" Anastasia demanded as she approached the entrance to the high-profile corridor.

The guard at that door stood at attention. "Y-your grace-"

"Commander Zelenko," she said, her voice rising. "Where is Commander Zelenko?"

"H-he's with the Ambassador, Your Grace," the guard said. "He demanded that he not be disturbed."

"And I'm demanding that you take me to Commander Zelenko," Anastasia said, her fury rising by the second. "Who would you rather disobey: a commander, or your queen?"

The guard stayed frozen to his spot for a few seconds. Anastasia couldn't help but wonder whether or not she would have to force her way into that corridor.

Finally, though, he opened the door. "If you would please follow me, Your Grace."

The guard began to head for the cell Virtanen and Zelenko were in, and Anastasia followed.

Anastasia knew that the Ambassador had likely been put in one of the last cells in that small block, but she hadn't quite realized just how big that cell block was. It was supposed to only be for the worst of the worst like traitors, famous prisoners like Virtanen, and high risk people like prisoners who'd escaped before. Considering what the criteria for that cellblock was, she would've assumed that the block would have twenty cells, maybe a few more. But, it didn't. The cells just kept going and going, as if the builders had anticipated having every politically loud celebrity in the country locked up in Peter and Paul Fortress at some point.

Finally, though, they reached the end of the block. The guard walked over to the third to last door on the left, pulled out his keys, and opened the cell.

"Czarina Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov," the guard announced before Zelenko could yell at him.

The two men – Zelenko and Virtanen – stood up from the rickety chairs they were sitting on in respect.

Luckily for Zelenko and his pride, she managed to keep herself from screaming at him in front of his prisoner.

"Commander Zelenko: I need to speak with you in private."

Zelenko blinked a few times. "Pardon me, Your Grace, but can this wait?"

He was lucky she didn't tear his head clean off.

"Pardon me, commander, but I don't remember asking you a question," Anastasia said. "You'll come out of this cell with me, and we'll have a discussion."

Zelenko did act surprised, that time. However, he didn't offer any more protests: he stepped out of the cell with Anastasia and the guard, leaving Virtanen alone in the cell.

Zelenko sighed once the guard shut the cell door. "Your Grace, pardon my frankness-"

"Save it," Anastasia snapped. "Before you dare try to lecture me, you're going to tell me exactly why you decided to arrest the Ambassador."

Zelenko frowned. "I'm surprised you weren't told, your grace. The Ambassador was arrested under suspicion of cooperating with the men who shot you. I can assure you, I would never consider arresting such a high profile person without proper evidence."