Believe in Revolution ©

XX

"Alexei? Is it really you?" The Hessian Grand Duke's voice trailed off. An answer, a simple "yes" or a "no" would be enough to ease him. But Alexei didn't feel any word forming in his throat due to his nerves. He calmed himself down.

"Da, it's me, Uncle Ernst" He said, trying to sound calm while he was potentially nervous.

The Grand Duke was looking at him, as if he was a ghost, something unreal. His old eyes suddenly seemed to see him as real, as a miracle. The Grand Duke pulled him to his chest and hugged him tightly. Alexei doubted what to do for some seconds until he decided to return the hug. At first it felt odd, but he got used moments after.

He fixed his gaze in the Grand Duchess' expression. She seemed to disapprove what was happening. He saw her stern gaze fixing in him. A stern gaze reflecting hatred. What was wrong with that woman? He had done nothing wrong since they met some minutes ago. Some minutes ago, she had been looking at him like he was a strange boy that was following his friends but not wanting to get into their conversation. He had felt she had a little pity of him. And now she seemed to hate him, why that sudden change?

The Grand Duke broke the hug and looked to him.

"I have to ask you about lots of things" he said. Alexei looked at him "In private" Alexei nodded "Alright, on we go" The Grand Duke grabbed his arm and took him out of the room, followed by the hating gaze of the Grand Duchess.

When the Grand Duke closed the doors while he left with Alexei, Gabri felt that the Grand Duchess seemed to want to burst out. And she did.

"How can you do that?" She spat her

"What do you mean, Your Grand Ducal Majesty?" Gabri replied, innocently. She understood what she could be thinking.

Sophie was looking to both of them, in awe. The Grand Duchess regained her manners.

"Dear, would you mind going out?" she spoke softly to Sophie "My sons are studying in the room at this corridor's end. They sure will thank having some company more than themselves"

Sophie, who seemed scared, nodded and got out of the room, in the direction the Grand Duchess had pointed. When she was nowhere to be seen, Gabri faced again the stern gaze of the woman.

"You know what I mean" She said, furious

"I have no idea" Gabri assured

"Your friend, are you sure he is who he claims to be?" The Grand Duchess' question caught her offguard. She meant that Alexei maybe wasn't Alexei? She clenched her fists in anger. She remembered the Whites doubting if Alexei was who Mordinov assured he was.

It was something difficult to believe. But it was true.

"He isn't claiming to be anyone, Your Grand Ducal Majesty" Gabri said "He just answers about himself when he's asked. He's pretty reserved in that topic"

"Look, Bavarian Higness" The Grand Duchess said "My husband was truly affected when the news of his sisters' murders. I know what those news told. And I know of impostors claiming to be who they weren't. People that when my Ernst heard of them, he had hope. Hope that crushed when he found out the truth about them. I'm not going to let that happen again" she said "You understand?"

"Yes" Gabri said "But I trust Aly, he's being sincere" If it hadn't been for the regression, Gabri may have doubted what she was saying. But she trusted him and she was sure of it.

Alexei saw himself again in the same living room where he had waited for the Grand Duke or the Grand Duchess to come. The Grand Duke asked him to sit down and he obeyed. He faced again the picture of before but another little picture by its side caught his gaze. It was a little boy.