44 One down, more to go..

The evening went on smoothly. Jose Manuel was a genuine person and a true gentleman. Any woman would fall for him but I wasn't one of them.

I had a mission and I would never allow my emotions to cloud my judgments.

I decided that it was about time for me to give him a kiss.. Just like what my late mother told me, give something to a man, then pull back.. These will drive them crazy.

I was no expert when it came to manipulation and seduction.. but I learned from the best.. I learned from the Empress of all Russia, my mother who was one of the major player of the demise of our dynasty.. Her expertise in those areas made my good father a pawn for the disastrous events that followed.

The kiss happened when I asked him to bring me back to my room.

Like a damsel in distress who fell in love, I told him that I couldn't get him off my mind before touching his face and neck.

His face turned red and I kissed his lips before I slammed the door and went back into my room.

I knew he was shocked..

The next sensible step to do would be to hide for a few days to fuel his already burning desire while I attended on other important issues.

Back in my room, I saw Amelie and she told me about the guards..

" They were drinking when I came inside their room. I flirted with them as you told me then they told me if I was aware that I am in the presence of the two Romanovs children. I pretended to laugh at them and called their story as silly and magical because I saw some of your letters to your father and mother when I was tidying your room and they were definitely not the Romanovs. They still insisted the latter but I hope I confused them quite enough to give you more time to devise your plan of actions." She explained.

I asked about my brother's condition. I was told that he still had a fever.. Then I asked about Rasputin's dead daughter..

The captain concluded that she committed suicide and jumped off the ship in her own will.

I felt quite relieved.. One problem down, more to go.