Photo: photo of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna Romanova and a Peasent Child 1916.
January 1916
I finished with surgeries for the day and now I just get to converse with overs. Like Cian, who shook his head saying he couldn't talk. Caoimhe was playing a game with Anastasia and Maria and a wounded soldier and Katya with Vanya was no where to be seen. Zander was sleeping in a chair. I was a bit nervous to talk with the guards but it got better. "Letters!" I heard our head nurse yell to us while waving letters in her hands. I felt bad as Olga ran to see if Mitya wrote to her, he's a manipulative piece of shit. I mentally gagged. "Oh, Astrid. There's one for you too." The head nurse said with a funny look on her face.
I seized the letter and looked to who it was from, Igor Konstantinovich. "Who is it from?" Katya asked as she took the letter and stared at it, then ripped it into half. Olga peered over ny shoulder but I hugged the letter to my chest. A redness appeared on my cheeks and I felt ny body temperature rise drastically. My heart began beating faster and faster as sweat was formed and began dripping down my forehead, I began shaking slightly.
"No one!" I quickly snapped, the head nurse smirked at me and said to Olga, "A young soldier has written to her." She said, Olga nodded. "Who?" Tatiana asked, looking excited. I bubble annoyed, "Go check if Malama wrote to you, Tatiana." I said harshly and quickly walked away, I shouldn't have been so harsh. Why was I so harsh? Why am I hiding it? It's just a letter from Igor, a good friend. My good friend, our good friend. I sat down at the bench alone and i looked at the letter. To: Grand Duchess Astrid Nikolaevna. He's got lovely handwriting! I opened the letter and began reading it.
***
Dear Astya,
How are you? I really hope i an not bothering you with such letter. I know I never asked if I could write to you, I apologise if I offend you with such behaviour. I just thought to write because we are friends, right? How are you? I hope you and your sisters are doing well! How is Cian and Caoimhe? Your brother us quite the soldier! He caught a cold so he is not by his imperial majesties side that much, until he gets better he's on bed rest. Your French tutor Gilliard said that I am very poor in reading French, I don't blame him for his criticism! I think I shall be looking for a French Tutor when the war is finally over, alright enough of my rambling. I heard my sister comes to visit occasionally, how is she? Do you still attend charity balls? Any new suitors? Well, I must go now as your father has entered the room. I wish you well, Astya. And may God bless you with happiness.
-your Igor.
***
I stared down at the letter as my face is flushed and red. I felt frozen, but boiling hot, my temperature was probably 1000 degrees. I should answer him immediately before he thinks I'm angry and offended with him. I go inside and asked Cian for paper and a pen, he gave them to me. I walked past a broken Olga because Mitya hadn't written to her at all. I sat down on the same table as her and rubbed her hand in comfort. Olga smiled. She was writing and I was tapping my fingers against the table thinking on how to start the letter. "Can you stop that?" Tatiana asked me, rather frustrated.
I felt embarrassed, "sorry!" I apologised. She walked away, Olga looked at me. "What is going on with you?" She asked me. "What do you mean?" I said trying suppress my emotions as much as I could. "I have never seen you behave this way before." She said as she studied me with her observant eyes. "I'm just replying to a letter." I quickly told her, looking down at my blank piece of paper from Cian. "Oh, who is it from?" She asked me. "Igor." I said. Olga smiled. "Oh! Igor, how is he doing? He is such a scoundrel for not writing to me. How is he doing?" She says.
"He is well, but he says Aloysha caught a cold but he is getting better." I told her. "Poor Baby, I pray for them. I pray for all of them." She said. "Yeah, I know." I said looking at Igor's letter. "Did he say anything about Mitya?" Olga asked, I frowned. "No, sorry he didn't write to you. But he doesn't deserve someone as cool as you." I told her. "Thanks Astya, maybe your right." She said. "I don't know though."
Olga looked at me, "Why.. Why do you not like Mitya?" Olga asked warily. "Because he is horrible che has no honor. He complained about his rank to you and knew it would help him move up the ranks. He didn't even work for it, he also waves your letters around to his fellow comrades while drunk. He never seems to want to contact you." I said bitterly, getting the bitter out of my mouth. I despise him.
"Oh, I see now." Olga nodded her head. "I fret over him too much, I won't even be able to marry him. He isn't a Prince or a royal in that matter." Olga said. "Unlike you and Igor." She added teasingly. I felt as the room got hotter and I looked at Olga with a red face. "Excuse you?" I yelled. Olga laughed at me, Caoimhe awkwardly watched and smiled. "Oh Astya! You are very flushed and so loud." She continues to laugh. "Because your being ridiculous!" I stumbled over my words.
"I'm the one being ridiculous?" She said looking at me. "Yes! For suggesting something so absurd!" I argued. "I don't think it's absurd and he clearly seems to like you if he has written." Olga noted. "I don't have time for this ." I frowned. "I've got a family to save, with Cian, Valentina, Zander, Caoimhe, Katya and you." I said as I grabbed my stuff and left the room, leaving Olga by herself. She is sometimes ridiculous! Me and Igor? I don't have time for that at all!
I've got to make a plan, and fast! And i already have an idea for the plan..