Chapter Forty Nine

                                    

                                          
PICTURE: from left to right: Officer Rodionov, Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna/Nikolajevna, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna/Nikolajevna, Tsar Nicholas II/Nicholas Alexandrovich/Aleksandrovich, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna/Nikolajevna,
NOVEMBER 1914.
Me and Edward were on a walk. Yes your eyes aren't broken and you aren't going blind, I was currently walking with Edward on the beach as multiple officers and ladies in waiting chaperone us. I feel the warm breeze as it's finally nice to have my hair up again. Last time I wore it up was in 1987. I wonder what my birthday with Auntie would be like? I shake those thought away as I feel eyes on me. I turn to look to Edward, but he wasn't looking at me. He was just really flushed. I turn to look back to see all my sisters, Caoimhe, Cian who was face palming and Terrence who was visibly annoyed at me.
I saw Olga speaking to Mama. I wonder what that was about? "You look very beautiful today Miss Astya." Edward flushes. I blushed at his flirtation. Stupid play boys. "Thank you." This was perfect, he is another key to saving my family! It was great but still Terrence looked nervous. "You enjoy the ocean water?" He asked me. I looked out to the beautiful ocean, as if it would help my answer. The waves collided with the sand. "Sometimes, I do enjoy it sometimes I just want to bathe in the warm sun." I replied.
"I don't get to do much of that, father always expects something from us. It's just stupid." Edward sighed. "Well, I'm sure you will have time one day." I replied to him. I sounded absolutely stupid. Have time one day? It sounds like I don't even want to spend time with him. God why am I so bad at this? "I hope so." He smiles at me. "Astya!" Maria runs up to us as Tatiana followed her. "Mama wants to speak with you."
"Excuse me." I said to him and he smiled at me but he seemed to be smitten with Tatiana as well as they dove into a conversation. I followed Marie to the tent that my mama is sitting in the shade with Anna and Olga by her side. "Come sit with us darling or else you'll get sunburnt and you won't look pretty." My mama commanded. I sit next to Olga, she has a hidden look in her face. "How is Edward?" Mama asked me. "He is nice." I replied rather dully.
"You can be the Queen of England! Astrid Queen of England." Maria said rather excitedly. "Or Tatiana can be." Anastasia snickered as she sips on her tea, Tatiana laughs with Edward with the young British and Russian officers surrounding the perimeter around them, giving jealous glances to the two. I look back to Nastenka and shrugged. "Anastasia!" Maria gasped at her comment and Mama gave her a not very happy look. Olga stayed quiet, sipping her tea as she observed them carefully. "Tatiana won't marry him." She stated, as if it was to be a fact. And she knew it.
"How do you know that, Olga?" I question her carefully. "She doesn't like him, only Edward really does like her. If he tried to propose she would refuse, and plus she wouldn't want to go that far away from family. She won't do it." Olga tells me confidently. "But Olya, doesn't love conquer all?" I asked her. Maria looked back and forth to us. Staying quiet, obviously not wanting to invade on this debate or end up in the middle of the crossfire. Olga opened her mouth but didn't say anything, "Of course it does, the love and devotion and dedication to Christ will conquer all." Mama cut in to our debate. Olga shut her mouth and went to drink her tea.
"Astya, walk with me." Olga said while placing her tea cup down and standing up from her chair. "Umm.. okay?" I shrugged while also standing up. "Don't walk too far you two." Mama warns us. I follow Olga as there are officers surrounding every little corner of the beach area, keeping an eye on us. "Are you interested in Edward?" She asked me out of the blue. "He umm, seems nice." I say again. "You surely can't be thinking about marrying him, right?" She looked to me, worried.
"Why would that be an issue, Olya? It could save us." I asked her. "You can't marry him, you are so young and still maturing." Olga made up excuses. "Olga you are two years older than me." I folded my arms as we continued to walk. "Two years wiser." She lectures, i rolled my eyes. "How do you expect me to save us then?" I asked her. "You won't." She said. "What?" I was feeling very confused. "I will." She stated. "How do you plan on doing it? The prophecy literally says the third daughter, that's me." I said.