Chapter 14

November 13, 2022

The Osborne House

"Maria, your late cousin Dickie would have wanted to return this to you."

"Do you truly mean this? I remember seeing online that he kept that photo of me by his bedside for years..."

The heritage site manager kept silent for a moment, glancing at the sunset outside the large windows. It was nearing the end of their last day on tour of England. Also their time spent coming to terms with the past was ending too. It seemed poignant, really.

"His descendants, scattered as they are, all wanted you to have this to remember him by."

The manager held out the old, grainy photograph framed with imperial gold. Maria hesitated for a moment, but as she looked into his pleading gaze, she remembered how the British royalty had tried to mend relations. Memories of a young, teenage Louis sitting and strolling in the palace gardens with her returned. Her eyes watered. Whether from gratitude or sad nostalgia, she did not know. It was an appreciated gesture anyhow.

"Then I cannot say no. I... I am thankful for this."

"Of course, any particular thoughts you had about your visit?"

"I really had a wonderful time here, Mister Wells. Hopefully I will have time to visit again, if the negative attention would stop..."

"Yes, I agree. Sometimes people are infuriatingly short-sighted, but Godspeed to you, Miss Maria. Go see your sisters and our royals outside."

"I will."

"Mashka, hurry up!" the voice of her youngest sister faintly called from a distance.

Maria nodded, grabbing her minty green luggage case. With one last glance around the furnished interiors of the residence, she stepped out into the cool evening air. Anastasia sighed in relief.

"Took you long enough, sis."

Maria only smiled. Olga and Tatiana glanced again at the former royal residence, thinking of the moments spent with their British relatives. They felt at ease with their past connected to England, and they would finally be able to let go of it. Olga had once held harsh feelings for the British abandoning her immediate family. Now she respected their current queen.

Prince Harry and Edward with their families approached them, holding back tears...

"Stay safe, you all. Remember us as not only friends, but family," Prince Harry said, smiling.

Anastasia, who especially liked Prince Harry, sniffled. Maria, who especially respected Prince William as a family man, lowered her head with a bit of sorrow. She almost wanted to shed a few tears too. Where had those days gone? They were gone, and the realization saddened her.

The princes, their spouses, and their children each hugged each of the four visitors. It was a difficult thing to do, watching them go. Still, time continued forth, and the visitors had to leave. The royals watched the four sisters load their things onto a protected van. The sun now seemed sliver thin against the horizon...

When the van drove off, Maria held the photo close to her chest, closing her eyes. She checked her iPhone and opened her Spotify. Sonatas would be the only tracks she heard for much of the trip. As she began to doze off soon into the ride, she dreamed of her long lost cousin Dickie again. However, they faded and were soon replaced by the strange yet attractive lab guard- a descendant of another guard Ivan many years ago.

Olga and Tatiana had also fallen fast asleep, yet Anastasia remained clear headed and alert. She felt excited to see Germany again, and she had daydreamed about seeing rustic lodges among German pines, running through large, sunlit fields, and enjoying nightlife in bustling cities. She still heard her sister Maria murmur incoherently...

Maria squirmed, bumping into Anastasia again. The youngest, former Grand Duchess began to wonder if this was punishment for getting herself and her sisters into trouble in her first earthly life. She grunted in frustration when Maria bumped into her again a few minutes later.

It would be a while before they reached the Heathrow Airport in London. However, listening to her sister subconsciously confess her fantasies for a crush was a crappy way to spend time. Anastasia covered her own ears with her wireless headphones, hoping to mask the sleepy mumbles of her sister. She turned on her Spotify, knowing that Linkin' Park fit her persona best.

Later on, all of the Romanov sisters except Anastasia had to wake. They all saw the glaring electric lights over concrete and steel buildings by some docks. Even before heading to London, they would have to board a special ferry...

For the now weary and very annoyed Anastasia, this also meant she could remind her sister about how much she was bothered. For almost an hour. She raised an eyebrow at Maria, who had a confused look on her face until she remembered her intimate dream with the guard.

Maria blushed, looking away. She clutched the old photo closer to her still pounding heart while the memories flashed in her head. She squinted under the light from the ferry boarding complex, feeling weird. Perhaps she had fallen asleep quicker than she thought, and perhaps she was not a quiet sleeper...

"Mashka, you do know that I had to listen to you mumble in your nap for the past hour?"

"Oh, Nastya, I'm sorry about that... It's hard to help, but I still am."

The driver glanced back, addressing his four passengers clearly...

"Stay awake a little longer, you four. The ferry will leave soon, so best get yourselves ready."

Olga and Tatiana murmured, groggily coming to... Until Anastasia started ticking their funny bones! They squirmed even more and snorted. They then blinked hard, rubbing their eyes as they laughed.

"Nastya, what-"

"I had to wake Maria up too. Really, we just arrived at the ferry station."

"Oh, really?"

The escorting guards who had long since exited their vehicles had taken positions around the special van. The captain again opened the doors of the van...

"Hurry along, we have thirty minutes to get through the paperwork and luggage checks, you four."

This would be a hectic night for them.

(Line Break)

Wolfsgarten Lodge Grounds, Germany

As a child and princess, Elisabeth hated the darkness, especially that of the late night. Now as a young woman again on earth, she had grown accustomed- even enjoyed the night. It was quiet and calm as her little refuge from daytime business. It was also her preferred time to convene with God and her fellow risen souls.

She peeked out of the moonlit windows up to the heavens where countless, distant stars seemed to glitter eternally... She knew what really was eternal. Ascending to heaven and meeting God, saints, and angels would certainly do...

Now, she had time again to convene with her fellow saints and risen figures...

She closed her eyes, putting her hands together as if praying. She held onto a nearby table for support, focusing on what seemed to be a faint spark of energy deep within. It was a part of her essence ever since she had ascended after her childhood death.

Then, she felt a calming warmth and tingling sensation...

Ah, I missed you a bit, my Hessian lilac. Do you need something?

Not really, Bartholomew. I just wanted to talk with you... How is my friend Dymphna?

Well, she missed you for a bit, but she's getting along with your cousin Alexei just fine.

Yeah, they seemed to be close friends before I descended to earth. I honestly think they are perfect together. She has a kind yet bold heart, and Alexei is a considerate yet easygoing gentleman. If they had descended to earth in their matured second bodies, I could see them courting- I mean dating.

Truly said. Also, I wanted to mention that I saw them kissing by the Eternal Fountains.

Oh, really?! That sounds wonderfully romantic, and I am happy for them.

It is, and when my time to descend comes, I will be thrilled to see you again... I love you from afar. Stay safe and remain careful.

I will. Love you too, Bart.

Modern names sound funny, but I prefer Bartholomew. Sounds more intelligent.

Okay, okay. But please keep Alexei and Dymphna company for me while I do my duties, yes?

You can count on me... See you soon, my lilac.

The connection faded, leaving Elisabeth cold and alone again. However, she knew that she had people to count on and people to count on her. It was a demanding and lonely job, but she knew her responsibilities.

She strolled away from the window, glancing around the yellow-wallpaper covered walls. The same grandfather clock stood tall and proud in the corner, but she never cared much to tell the time. Especially during the visit of her Russian relatives long ago. The table where she once played checkers with Olga as a child remained cold and barren.

She thought of her cousins again, wherever they were. Hopefully their flight would be a swift and safe one. The absence of her cousins made her feel sad. Really, it did. It felt funny to experience more intense negative emotions since her descent. Heaven simply did not have the environment to create them.

The former Hessian princess sighed, picking up her lilac jacket again. She draped it over her shoulders before heading out. From under the blue painted, weathered porch, she went across the fields alone back to her summer residence.

She approached the back entrance, and the few German security guards there allowed her through. She checked her watch, guessing her cousins would not arrive for nine hours.

House cleaners and other Hessian royal relatives greeted her again, but she politely excused herself. She felt tired and lonely again. All she wanted was to rest in her quarters.

She found the derelict room where her iPhone lay charging. A quick swipe upwards showed missed notifications. Elisabeth furrowed her eyebrows, opening the text message app she had...

Olga: We will take off for Germany shortly, Ella. See ya soon.

Anastasia: Is it boring over there? Even if it is, it won't be so for long! :)

Seeing those messages made her feel glad to know they were en route and safe. Tonight would be another one spent waiting. Only this time, the wait would be bearable. She set a timer for seven hours on her phone before changing into her pajamas. That would do for a brief rest before their landing.

She lay down under the covers, and thought of Bartholomew again. She almost felt sorry for her best friend Olga who still remained ignorant about her romantic bond with him. Neither did keeping any secrets from a friend seem right. It felt almost wicked for her, and that was a disturbing possibility. She could not sin, but still she could make mistakes from simple confusion.

Elisabeth shuddered at the thought. She must have been overthinking again.

"No, they will be fine. I will be fine as well..." she thought before dozing off...

(Line Break)

Frankfurt Intl. Airport, Germany

It had been an ungodly hour to get off a plane flight, especially after a few bouts of mild turbulence which had cost them hours of sleep. The Romanov daughters still felt exhausted, but they also looked forward to seeing their friend Elisabeth again. They walked through clean hallways from the terminals, lined with modern shops of wood, glass, and steel. The signs were written in German, French, and English, which were convenient for them. Anastasia especially felt thankful that "Monsieur Gilliard" had taught her just enough French for a potential trip... Never did he think that she would instead be reading airport signs over a century later!

"I think Ella's waiting for us near the public train terminals. We should go there after getting our things."

"Well, let's go. We should not want to keep her waiting too long."

Soon enough, they got their travel bags, ignoring the teenage girls and boys snapping pictures of them for their social media posts. Soon enough, they found Elisabeth glancing around beside two bodyguards.

"Ella!" Olga called out, and Ella turned her head around in surprise.

Elisabeth grinned. "Olga!"

The two former princesses, laughing with joy, met in a tight embrace with pats on the back. It had only been two weeks since they had much time to meet, but they could not let each other go so easily. The other three Romanov sisters also stopped taking their things only to hug Elisabeth too.

Now they would enjoy their first German vacation together since they were little children a century ago.