6 THE GRIEF

Nana is dead.

Lada is kidnapped.

Captain Viktor, the captain of the yacht is luckily alive along with the other crews.

They helped me through the remaining hours of our voyage.

They console me to the best that they can.

Captain Viktor gives me some tea to help me relax from my endless crying.

Then, the crew who is guarding me in the cabin said "We are now closed to the port of Moscow, Princess!" he said cheerfully.

The, I changed my clothes as quickly as I can.

Since the suitcase that Nana brought is still in the cabin.

I checked the contents of it.

Nana had prepared everything for me.

I hugged the suitcase tight.

It reminded me of how loving and caring my Nana is.

My tears already dried up from crying.

My heart full of aches, too much pain, too much grief.

Then, I felt something hard in the suitcase pocket.

I opened the small outside front pocket's content.

A small velvet black pouch is inside.

With a hand-stitched name on it "Beatrix".

Then, I pulled out the content.

A gold necklace with a gold locket cage egg pendant with a bullet inside.

And a small piece of folded paper comes with it.

It reads...

To my beloved Princess Beatrix,

Keep it safe.

Always keep yourself safe and follow your intuition.

Give it to your Uncle Charles.

Love,

Nana.

If only...

If only we contacted Uncle Charles before.

This would not happen.

Tears started to fall again.

My eyes are already puffy and very swollen.

And my head is aching.

Oh, how cruel they are!

They are monstrous and full of madness.

It's too much!

They killed my family.

They killed my Nana.

They kidnapped my only friend, Lada.

I will make sure, they will pay for it!

I returned the necklace into the pouch with the message and put it in my leather handbag.

I lay down in bed and rested to nap.

Then, the yacht blew it the horn.

I'm awakened from a nightmare.

I heard voices from above and footsteps approaching.

Then a few minutes later, a knock on the door of the cabin, forced me to stand and open the doors.

I saw...

"Leonid!?!?!"

I run to hugged him and cried.

"What happened, our Princess? I have been here waiting past the hours of your supposed arrival Princess. Where's your Nana?" he asked casually.

I cried narrating what had happened earlier as we traveled to Moscow.

Leonid was shocked and stunned by the news.

His heart is broken.

He cried hopelessly.

Then he said "I'm so sorry... I was not there to protect all of you. Oh my loving Irina! Her death will never be forgotten."

He hugged me tight with tears in his eyes.

And he continued " Our Princess, as scheduled, I will bring you to Alaska for your safety, as instructed by your Nana. We will transfer to a different boat. Are you ready?"

I nodded in response.

I took my handbag, a wool coat, and a new winter headscarf.

Then Leonid took the suitcase for us to move to another boat.

We are very cautious and mindful as we walk through the port.

Leonid is very vigilant.

We avoid crossing through a crowded area.

Concealing ourselves from people will protect us.

We walk swiftly.

Leonid brought with him his firearm, securely in a gun holder on his waistline.

He even gives me a small pistol to keep in my handbag, for me to be able to defend myself.

Leonid never failed to educate me and Nana on how to use a gun and self-defense.

I have my tutor for my studies in language, arts, music, and business.

Throughout the years of my concealment.

Education is always on top priority.

Leonid stopped and talked to a man in a sailor's uniform.

The ship's name printed in front "MARVEL"

I surveyed the people in the boat.

They are all carefree and full of merriment.

A piece of joyful music is filling the air.

Then, Leonid called me to move and step into the stairs.

And I silently followed him.

"We will be traveling for two days to Alaska, Our Princess" Leonid whispered, he continued, "We will be meeting, two military personnel sent by your Uncle Charles, you will stay there in Steward temporarily" he added in low voice, while a crew carried the suitcase.

I'm very distracted by the crowd around us. I am feeling anxious.

Then, we are walking through the alley and going into our private cabin.

And as we passed through a big banquet hall with dining tables.

I'm amazed by the elegance! The gold decors on the walls with powdered blue pallet paints will surely capture the eyes of anyone. It's very intricate and calming. Plus, anyone will be wowed by the most stunning clear chandelier crystals, lighted up the hall. The banquet hall is decorated in a Victorian-style interior. And then... my attention was caught by the painting in the wall of kids playing in a vineyard, in their summer dresses.

It reminded me of our family's last summer portrait.

It was summertime in Oblonsky. We have nice weather. We are in our colorful summer dresses and we will have a short Vacation. We are full of joy and excitement while we are riding our biggest carriage with four coachmen. And mother Duchess Anastasia brought picnic baskets for our meals since it's a day-long trip. Maxim played his ukelele mandolin and we are singing our favorite songs, while I'm seating in the lap of our mother Anastasia. Today, our father, Tsar Dimitri will take us to Crimea for the first time. It's the place where the vast plantation of grapes and the biggest factory of champagne wines settled. We enjoyed grape picking in the vineyard when a painter in Crimea was asked by my father to paint our memory. That paint captured, one of the best memories of our family. Then, the next day we surveyed the production of champagne wines inside the factory. We stayed in Crimea for three days, in one of the mansions owned by our family. Our father told us about the history of the wine factory, one time in our dinner. He said that it was established in 1916 by the beloved Uncle Nicholai of my father Dimitri. He is the first Prince of Oblonsky, which is the son of the First Tsar Michail.

"Amelia? " Leonid called out.

I'm cut off from my reverie in the past.

"Yes, I'm coming," I responded.