Once Upon His December

Chapter 9 - Birthday Ball

Kira

Over the next few weeks, every servant in the palace was busy from dawn until dusk preparing for the Tsesarevich's 19th birthday. I didn't even have time to join Lada and Theodore in their studies when they returned to court. I was busy cooking samples of beetroot and cabbage soup, hor d'oeuvres like pickled cucumbers and several classic Odessian caviars. Sasha had me also help with sorting the shipments of foreign caviar, sparkling champagne and the finest vodka as well as baking the desired desserts.

Each food selected for the birthday meal was carefully chosen by Anya herself. Each one had to compliment but not overshadow the next. I hadn't seen anything like it. That she remembered. Sampling the food was my favorite part.

Sasha snuck me tastes of the most favored delicacies like beluga caviar, beet vinaigrette, fresh button mushrooms drenched in a spicy marinade. The salade Olivier, savory stuffed eggs, and shimmering pork brawn I also greatly enjoyed. My favorite, however, was the eggplant caviar with its unique pungent tang.

"Which is your favorite, dear?" Sasha asked, smiling between bites of samples.

I swallowed, eyes alight with enjoyment. "The eggplant caviar."

"Hmm," Sasha hummed. Her lips curved wider into a grin, accompanied by a wink. "That is the prince's favorite too."

The deep flush of my cheeks earned a hearty chuckle from Sasha.

In between cooking and baking, I was also sent to reap vegetables in the garden, clean windows and tapestries, prepare rooms for guests or help with hand making and hanging the decorations for the great hall.

By the time the day of the ball arrived, the palace looked completely different. It still had its glitz and splendor heavily inspired by the French Versailles palace. Andrei was obsessed with the French style of architecture. The palace had a unique sparkle with all the birthday decorations. A celebration this extensive and lavish had not occurred since Andrei and Anya's wedding 25 years ago.

As if that wasn't exciting enough on its own, Nikolai had special requested it be a masked ball.

I was elbow deep in dough I was kneading when everyone stopped and bowed or curtsied. I tried my best to curtsy without letting go of the dough. It had to be constantly moved or the batch would be ruined.

Silence loomed over the kitchen. No one dared to move. The soft sound of footsteps resonated in everyone's ears. My heartbeat pounded in my chest when someone stopped behind me. The spicy, masculine scent was all too familiar.

"You don't acknowledge me?" Nikolai scolded in a husky whisper. He leaned in by her ear. Slowly he inhaled a breath. She smelled like sugar and cookie dough from all the baking.

I let out a shaky breath before replying. "I tried, Your Grace. If I stop moving this dough, it will be ruined."

Nikolai grunted. He straightened then moved passed me heading straight to Sasha. She left the kitchen with him and was gone for a short while. When Sasha returned, the older woman came up beside me to help finish the pastry I had been working so diligently on. The extra hands helped me finish quickly.

"Kira, dear," Sasha cooed in a motherly tone. Her hand laying gently on mine. "Something awaits you in your room," She continued in a hushed whisper. "Go now. Bathe, dress and have a wonderful evening."

Giving a confused expression, Sasha smiled happily and nudged me to go. Her lips soon curved into a smile. I embraced the older woman before scurrying out of the kitchen to go get ready in my room.

****
Nikolai

Just as the sun was setting, the birthday ball began. I waited atop the grand staircase behind my mother and father. Vlad waited in front of me. My heart raced during the painstaking minutes of waiting. It seemed to double as my parents were finally announced followed by my brother. Despite being the heir, since I was the guest of honor, I was announced last.