Prologue.
I flashed the crowd my signature smile. Flashes of light that would nearly blind a normal person, pricked my eyes. But me being me was used to it. After waving the crowd outside the banquet hall, I proceeded inside. Hi. Alexanderina Maria Romanoff here. The future Empress of Russia. Currently the Crown Princess. But not for long since I'll be the Empress one day. " Yes. It was lovely." I spoke to like the eighty second guest today. Being Crown Princess was tough. And of Russia no less. The Russian monarchy unlike other monarchies wasn't constitutional. It had a major say in the politics, this, Russia had an influence on the world stage. My father, Tsar Nicholas was a very brutal politician as he was a brutal Emperor. He had removed most of his enemies. My mother, Tsarina Inessa was a American-Russian citizen. She came here for her studies and was born to a single mother. Unfortunately, both of them passed away. Father died in an accident and mother didn't survive childbirth. So my younger sister Catherine and I, along with our new born sister were stuck in a precarious situation. Luckily, my father's close ally, the speaker of the parliament, Lord Igor Abakumov was there to protect us. He taught me way of politics and how behave like a ruler. Now, I can become Empress. " Your highness, shall we leave for the Palace now?" " Yes. Let's go to Palace." I spoke with a sigh gesturing my aide, Amelia Merleau-Ponty. I quickly sat down in the driver's seat. Several police cars followed me behind. Winter Palace had been a favourite of my ancestors for the longest time. I didn't understand why people were so fascinated by that building. It's old. Dainty and very old. The ghosts of my ancestors lurk in the hallways. I'm sure Empress Catherine the great might be laying besides me while I have some good night sleep. She must be ridiculing me as well. I don't give a damn. But we both are playgirls. That's for sure. Correction I was a playgirl. I had to mend some of my habits in order for the past to never repeat again. The doors to the palace entrance opened. I entered inside soon and was greeted by a girl roughly five years of age whom hurriedly ran towards me cutely with a bright smile on her face as if she was elated to see me. " I have come here sister!" My heart bursted simply hearing her adorable voice. My youngest sister, third princess Princess Anastasia Maria Romanoff. "Yeye korolevskoye vysochestvo ne khotela spat' bez tebya." (Her royal highness wasn't willing to sleep without you). I recognised that posh and proper voice. Catherine Yelena Romanoff, my younger sister. She and I had an age difference of two years. I was turning 21 and ready for university. Catherine was 19 in her last year of college. While Anastasia was in kindergarten. " Privet, Ketrin." I said Hello to her than picked up Anastasia in my arms. " Tasia, it's time for you to sleep now.". I dismissed Amelia for the night. Catherine followed me to Tasia's bedroom. "Goodnight ." I said and tugged her in comfortably. "Goodnight sister." I and Catherine left the room quickly. Tasia did seem to sense that I was in a hurry. . "Your fucking boyfriend is cheating on you Cathy."
that was what I wanted to say to her first. Amelia Merleau-Ponty, my PA got a text message from Helena Leckwith, Catherine's PA. It was a photo of Jason Barbon eating off a girl's face whom according to Helena, was the popular spoiled bitch of the West Crayer College.
" I know Lexi. You don't need to be on such a panic mode."
"When will you break up with him?" "Soon. I am about to graduate."
Catherine was as intelligent as she was beautiful which made me often wonder if it was better for her to be Tsarina of Russia. Just like Catherine the Great. But she didn't have a good eye for men. Which explained her failed shitty love life. Perhaps it was a curse endowed upon women who are born into the Romanoff family.
"Are you still not over Beckham?"
"I'm over with him Lexi."
Beckham was her ex before she dated Jason. They were truly in love but Beckham cheated on her just like Jason. And his excuse was that he got drunk when he hit a rough patch in life and didn't remember if the girl did sleep with him. I remember Cathy being heartbroken and ending things with him on a bad note. She deserved everything in the world.
"I need to get things off of my mind. I'll be entering the military before studying further for university." she declared. I didn't refute.
"It does seem like Cathy." Both of us entered a reception room. I lazily slumped down on the sofa.
" Did someone catch your eye at the charity event?" she asked. I shook my head. Flock of men flooded towards me. However, none of them were interesting. Their smiles reminded me of a specific creep who inflicted scars on my back and my mind. 'He' still haunted me in my dreams.
"When was the last time you dated a guy Lexi?" I could not remember.
"Long time ago. But they weren't dates Cathy. They were hookups. And I know back than in high school, people cared about my looks and my prestigious title as Crown Princess more than me."
"You need to calm down. Even Amelia says she liked the old you better. It's been four years since that incident. You need to move on in order to heal from the past."
Catherine was right. It was time I moved on.
"How? By attending more charity galas?"
"No. But by going to attend University of course." I sat up straight. My military training was over. I did need to go back and graduate. "University?" " Attend Edinburgh University. And since you have a complain about not having real friends, go undercover." Catherine had a good idea. " I haven't told anyone in college either that I'm the Princess of Russia." I was surprised at her revelation.
" So you're saying Beckham and Jason don't know you're a Princess." she nodded her head than proceeded to take out her cell phone. She showed me a picture of a woman wearing glasses. She was a brunette too. " Who's this?" "It's me Lexi." "This is you?! Wow. I almost couldn't recognise you." She than showed me another photo of her friends. I recognised them. Euphrasia Bartley, the daughter of a famous heiress in Russia and Hadley Kaiser, a renowned english author. I frowned when I saw Beckham behind her. Dude looked like the handsome devil of the city, but had a cold look on his face. I don't know if someone like him can even love. Catherine pulled the screen away.
" Euphrasia and Hadley would be busy too. Euphrasia is going to take over her mother's buisness and Hadley has to work on her project."
"Do your friends know of your identity?" Once again Catherine shook her head. So they didn't.
"All they know is that I'm moving to Russia for an internship." I nodded. It was a good excuse. "Are you going to go to Edinburgh University?" I looked up in the air trying to think. Should I? With my identity in secret. It would be fun and exciting nonetheless. Catherine did have a solid idea. I smiled facing Catherine. "Yes. Let's do it"
