Date

The meeting process was predictably awkward for Nikolai.

When the Count of Paris escorted his daughter off the ship, Nikolai, following the instructions of the royal ceremonial officer, stepped forward to introduce himself formally.

It was their first encounter, but when their eyes met, both turned their gazes away, each harboring complex feelings.

Nikolai could hardly remember what happened next, as the atmosphere was filled with painfully awkward small talk. He merely responded instinctively with, "Yes, uh-huh, right."

Count of Paris patted the Tsarevich's shoulder. Although no marriage had previously occurred between the Orléans family and the Romanovs, he still offered some advice to the young man as an elder, before leaving the couple to their own devices.

Elena's two sisters gave the couple encouraging smiles before departing with the courtiers to settle in the royal village outside St. Petersburg.

"Please," Nikolai said, extending a gloved hand to help Princess Elena into the open carriage.

"Thank you." Elena smiled faintly, and for the first time, Nikolai looked directly into her eyes.

Her eyes were as beautiful as emeralds. She had a well-proportioned figure, fair skin, and a pretty face. Her slightly curly blonde hair was pinned up with jeweled ornaments.

"... Ahem." Nikolai cleared his throat to mask his gaze.

"…"

Silence filled the air.

Nikolai had learned a bit about Elena on the way. It was clear that the Count of Paris cared little for his daughter's happiness and was focused on family interests and the French throne.

"You—"

"You—" 

Both began to speak at the same time.

"…"

"Ahem, please, go ahead, Elena."

"... Just call me Elena…"

"Alright, you can call me Nikolai."

"... Nikolai."

Despite the awkwardness, they had begun to communicate.

"Yes?"

"I heard in London that you were in love with Princess Alix of Hesse and had vowed to marry no one but her."

"…"

This was definitely a dangerous topic. Even with Nikolai's limited romantic experience, he knew how perilous it was.

If he brushed off his past affection, it would make him seem fickle and untrustworthy. Yet, if he appeared too sentimental, this matchmaking would be doomed.

Nikolai was particularly keen on making this meeting work because, besides Princess Elena, his parents had lined up other potential brides.

The second candidate, whom Nikolai found particularly disagreeable, was Princess Margaret of Hohenzollern, the sister of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Simply put, she was a bit too strong.

From a personal perspective, he clearly preferred delicate French women.

On the other hand, if Nicholas were to marry Princess Margaret of Prussia, what would happen to the relationship between Russia and Germany?

As long as Germany continues to protect Austria-Hungary, the conflict between Austria-Hungary and Russia in the Balkans is bound to escalate into a conflict between Germany and Russia. This seems like an inescapable deadlock.

So Nikolai cherished this opportunity all the more. After all, Elena was indeed a beauty, and her current melancholic demeanor made her even more endearing.

Nikolai had a particular fondness for widows.

Nikolai shared these memories with Princess Elena: "My first meeting with Alix was at Uncle Sergei's wedding to her sister, Princess Elisabeth. I was seated next to twelve-year-old Alix, and I was quite taken with her."

"...And what happened after that?" Elena inquired, feeling moved as Nikolai recounted Alix's tragic life.

Alix's mother, Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria, suffered from depression and was often ill. Her brother, Prince Friedrich, had hemophilia, known as the "Royal disease," and died from excessive bleeding after falling from a window. At six years old, Alix lost both her mother and her favorite sister to diphtheria.

Indeed, life often seems better by comparison. The story of the "unfortunate Alix" as told by Nikolai somewhat lightened Elena's spirits. After all, she had only lost a loved one, while Princess Alix was left with only her grandmother, Queen Victoria.

"It's a tragic story," Elena remarked to Nikolai.

It's worth noting that their conversation was in French, Elena's native language, which Nikolai thought would help her feel more at ease.

"Yes, Alix was a serious, reserved, and highly strung English lady, who would blush in company and suffered from sciatica and stomach spasms," Nikolai's detailed description painted a picture of a delicate, almost fragile woman, which surprised Elena.

"But you haven't told me why... It sounds like you're still quite taken with her," Elena probed.

"Not entirely," Nikolai replied, his expression tinged with genuine sadness as he recalled those painful memories. "On January 29, 1890, Alix attended her first ball at the Winter Palace. I remember her emerging with white diamonds, white flowers, and a sash."

Nikolai's tone had almost taken on a wistful, affectionate quality, which sparked a pang of jealousy in Elena.

"This was one of our last meetings. After that, she wrote to me, asking me to understand that her Lutheran faith was as strong as my Orthodox faith."

"You should have continued pursuing her."

Hearing this familiar story, Elena felt an inexplicable irritation and impulsively accused Nikolai of giving up too easily when faced with obstacles.

My God! Isn't this exactly what happened between me and Prince Albert?

Elena thought about the similar religious issues they both faced.

"...But is that really happiness?" Nikolai's unexpected question caught Elena off guard. "I believe her sincerity in her faith is a form of fulfillment. Why should I rudely impose my will on her world?"

Nikolai concluded his story with a reflection on respecting others' wishes and the importance of freedom in marriage. He also touched on topics like women's freedom of choice, which resonated with Elena's current feelings.

This conversation brought them closer, allowing for more genuine and positive interactions instead of spreading negativity.

"I don't want to go directly to Tsarskoye Selo."

After Nikolai discussed some progressive ideas about freedom of choice with Elena, she seemed inspired and threw a new challenge at the Crown Prince.

This caught Nikolai off guard.

"Huh? ...So, where would you like to go, Elena?"

"...I'm not sure, I've never been to St. Petersburg... What do you think?"

Deciding where to go and what to eat—the eternal dilemma of any couple—left Nikolai puzzled.

Where in St. Petersburg is worth visiting?

"Well... How about we take a stroll along Nevsky Prospect? The rocking of the ship must have made you feel uneasy."

At the end of the 19th century, although St. Petersburg was Russia's most modern city, its developed commercial districts still couldn't compare to those in Western Europe. Nevsky Prospect was the most historic and well-developed commercial area in the city.

Nevsky Prospect was lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, and hotels. Many corporate offices, trade representatives, and law firms were also located there.

When Nikolai returned to St. Petersburg from Ukraine, he had already familiarized himself with the bustling Nevsky Prospect.

When he mentioned to the accompanying court officials that they would first explore Nevsky Prospect, the Count of Paris, who had been slow to respond, readily agreed.

"...Phew..."

Elena suddenly felt a sense of relief at the prospect of temporarily escaping her father's incessant nagging.

"I hope you find happiness during your stay in St. Petersburg. At the very least, life must go on."

"Didn't expect you to be so philosophical," Elena remarked.

"I just enjoy reading," Nikolai replied.

"Whose works do you enjoy?" she asked.

"Well, I've read some works by Pushkin and Gogol..."

Nikolai's answer once again surprised Elena. This young man's conversational style seemed to continually bring unexpected delight.

"I thought all Russians would prefer to read Tolstoy or Dostoevsky," she said.

"I think reading has its challenges. At the very least, the golden age of Russian literature began with Pushkin and Gogol," Nikolai responded. His knowledge of Russian literature mostly came from his predecessor's memories, but he had read some works himself, so he kept his answer brief to avoid revealing too much.

"With my current literary skills, reading Dostoevsky feels like wandering in a fog. Starting with earlier works might be more beneficial," he added.

Like many well-educated noblewomen of her time, Elena had a broad interest in reading. However, many people followed trends by reading famous works. Nikolai's words resonated with her.

"I didn't expect that even a Russian like you finds Dostoevsky difficult to understand. So, it's not just me," Elena smiled, a genuine smile that replaced the perfunctory, hollow one she had upon disembarking.

Nikolai felt his decision had likely been correct.

For the next several minutes, they engaged in a broad discussion about literature. Their conversation often extended to topics such as philosophy, religion, history, geography, and ethnic cultures.

During this time, Nikolai's fragmented knowledge from the internet in his previous life finally proved useful, at least making the conversation engaging. To his surprise, it also changed Elena's perception of him.

"We've arrived," he announced.

After transferring several times to get from Kronstadt back to St. Petersburg, Elena still seemed enthusiastic. Nikolai, however, was feeling a bit parched and his head was buzzing from all the talking.

Despite this, he courteously extended his hand to help Elena down from the carriage.

Nevsky Prospect was the busiest commercial district in St. Petersburg. The vibrant scene surprised even Elena, who came from Paris.

"This really does look a lot like Paris," she remarked.

Since Nikolai had never been to Paris, he couldn't offer much in response.

The buildings on either side of Nevsky Prospect were four or five stories high. Each building facade displayed numerous signs, showcasing the wealth and diversity of commercial life in St. Petersburg.

Almost every building housed several shops, including many florists, glove shops, and millinery stores. As they entered Nevsky Prospect, Nikolai even noticed florists flanking the entrance to the Admiralty building.

The carriage had dropped Nikolai and Elena at the intersection of Nevsky Prospect and Admiralty Street, the liveliest part of the commercial district.

"That building over there, the second one on the left from Nevsky Prospect, is the most expensive hotel in St. Petersburg—the De Paris. A few more buildings down is the Fabergé Company."

Nikolai was quite familiar with this area, primarily because of the Fabergé Company. 

Peter Carl Fabergé was Russia's most renowned jeweler, and the Romanov family was one of his principal clients. 

In the early 1880s, following the assassination of Alexander II, Nikolai's parents and the entire court were engulfed in a somber atmosphere. To lift his wife's spirits, Alexander III commissioned Fabergé to create some "surprise gifts." 

On Easter of 1885, Empress Maria received a special Easter egg. The outer shell was enameled white with a golden band, and inside was a golden yolk. Within the yolk sat a golden hen, which contained a ruby crown and a pendant.

This gift delighted Empress Maria, and the tradition of presenting jeweled Easter eggs continued in the Russian royal family. 

Intrigued, Elena walked with Nikolai to the building housing the Fabergé Company. Through the large transparent windows, they quickly spotted the luxurious jewelry on display. 

Elena, like many, was captivated by the dazzling gems. When Nikolai noticed her gazing intently at a jeweled Easter egg in the display case, he knew this was his moment.

"This might not be appropriate," she hesitated.

"No, I want you to be happy," Nikolai reassured her.

Nikolai noticed that the corners of Elena's mouth had lifted slightly, and he could almost see her growing fondness for him.

Indeed, being well-dressed, humorous, and young with deep pockets was a winning combination. 

Nikolai couldn't help but marvel at this.

On a side note, the crown prince was, of course, making the purchase on credit; he didn't carry that much cash. However, given Fabergé's close ties with the royal family, Nikolai's "buy now, pay later" approach worked seamlessly.