The Kings of Us [boyxboy - DISCONTINUED]

Chapter Seven - Armistice

Tatiana was walking through the cobbled streets, gaudy banners strewn across street lamps and houses. People were cheering and screaming, thrashing their limbs about in an attempt to dance. She couldn't help but think that this—this street party—was what her father would have loved to be a part of. He loved celebrations—and, secretly, so did her mother.

But they were not here to see the war to its end.

"Are you happy?" John said, trotting along at her side.

"Yes, how could I not be?"

"You do not look it, Tatiana."

"It's—it's just that this war was what destroyed my country, was possibly what caused my family to be overthrown—and now it is over—and not all my family is here to celebrate. It is just a little bittersweet, you know?"

"I understand."

"What is your opinion on the war?"

"Was it necessary? Debatable, but I do not think it was. However, it is admirable that countries were willing to go to war for their allies. But regardless, millions of people did not need to die for the fact that an archduke was assassinated. Yes, there were other causes—but that was the immediate one. And little did the countries know—that although that was how it started, that was not how it continued. The Great War was a revolutionary war. It was a war against empires. Many have fell, Germany's—Russia's—Ottoman's—Austria-Hungary's. The war caused a wave of socialism as people realised they had rights—that they did not need an autocracy. I think that was, perhaps, most prevalent in Russia."

"Anyhow, let us not talk of dreary topics any further. The war is over! Britain has won!" She shouted, joining the hordes of people dancing to an irregular beat produced by a couple of men whose expressions revealed that they had perhaps consumed more alcohol than they should have.

She thrust out her arms like everyone else and twirled, her embroidered gown spiraling out around her like a flower in bloom.

Grinning, John said, "What are you doing, Tatiana?"

"Dancing, what else? Come join me!"

He stepped over and pulled her aside. "Let us not draw more attention to yourself. People could notice who you are."

"I've paraded through the streets many of times already, and yet no one has noticed me. The common folk probably do not even know that Russia had a monarchy, let alone who I am and what I look like. So, will you join me, John, or shall I dance on my own?"

He raised his eyebrows. "What happened to being lady-like?"

"Women all around us are dancing—and we are not in the palace. No reputations to maintain—now, let us dance as though it is our last day in this world!"

Grabbing on his hand, Tatiana yanked him into the crowd and moved her body any which way. She knew that she could not dance with eloquence, and yet she did not care. How could she? No more fighting. No more war. The future was brighter, peace was looming; a safer world for her and her siblings.

John touched her body and spun her, which caused her to shiver inwardly. She wanted him, that much she knew. But—but what if one day her family did real their reveal identities?—regardless of whether they reclaimed their homeland or not, they were still royalty. And royalty were expected to marry people of a high rank.

And what was John? A servant?—a princess marrying a servant? How preposterous!

After a while, sweat was glistening on her skin—and the elaborate knot her maid had twisted in her hair had fallen onto her shoulders, and it whipped against her bare skin as she moved.