Anastasia Romanov (Fate/Marvel)

Alexandra Feodorovna POV

"Mom, I saw an angel," my daughter's childish voice rang out, echoing in my mind as her eyes sparkled with the joy of the memory.

As unbelievable as her words seemed, as much as it sounded like something out of a dream, she was my daughter after all. How could I bring myself to crush her precious dreams?

Instead of dissuading her from this delightful fantasy, I encouraged her enthusiasm.

"Well then, can you introduce this angel to me, Anastasia?" I teased gently, playfully pinching her soft, rosy cheeks.

She pouted in response, clearly displeased.

"I did see her, Mom! I saw her in my dream, hmph! You don't believe me? Fine, I'm ignoring you!"

With that, my two-year-old daughter turned away and, in her adorable little huff, began crawling around the floor, fully immersed in her own world. She focused intently as she painted something in her picture book.

I couldn't help but smile in amusement at her antics, and as I leaned in closer, I saw what she was drawing—an angel. The level of detail in the image was striking, almost as if she had witnessed the being with her own eyes.

In the end, I spent the rest of the day playing with her until she grew tired. I sang her a lullaby, gently soothing her to sleep, before leaving her room to retreat to my own chamber.

Once inside, a wave of loneliness washed over me. There was no Nicky by my side. He had gone off to attend some grand party among the French nobles, without me. But then again, we had already discussed it—I knew my daughter needed me more than he did at that moment.

As I drifted into a deep, heavy sleep, I believed that would be the end of my day. But strangely, it wasn't.

In the middle of my dream, I felt the presence of someone, a figure so radiant and holy, so far beyond reach. She tried to whisper something to me, but the words remained elusive, as though the message was beyond my grasp. Behind her, I caught a glimpse of white wings—she was unmistakably an angel.

And then, as abruptly as it had begun, I woke up from the dream.

...

"What did the angel tell you in your dream, Anastasia?" I asked, unable to suppress my curiosity.

As unbelievable as it was for me to accept that my daughter had encountered an angel in her dream, I couldn't ignore the fact that I had experienced something similar.

As much as I struggled with the reality of it, I found myself facing the undeniable truth before me.

For a devout follower of God like myself, it was essential to understand what the angel wished to convey to us. Perhaps my daughter could interpret the angel's words better than I could. She was, after all, an innocent soul, and angels undoubtedly favor the pure of heart. I, on the other hand, did not possess such innocence, which might explain why I failed to grasp the meaning of the angel's message.

"I don't know... She said many inexplicable things," Anastasia replied, her small voice filled with confusion. "She told me we should invest in naval forces, especially submarines. She said that within a year, a great war would break out, and we must be cautious of a sneak attack at Port Arthur. She also told me to choose General Alexei Brusilov as the commander to lead the operation. But Mother, my head hurts... please, don't ask me again."

Anastasia clutched her head in pain, her face a mask of bewilderment, as if the angel's words were too complex for her young mind to fully comprehend.

It was understandable, of course.

How could a child be expected to understand such intricate matters?

Yet, I couldn't help but be impressed that she remembered the entirety of her dream with such clarity, without missing a single detail.

Could this be a blessing from God?

Did He wish for the Romanovs to remain in His favor, and was He showing His support through this angelic visitation?

I silently made mental notes of everything my daughter said, hastily scribbling it down on a piece of paper as I borrowed a book from her room to record it properly.

"Thank you, my dear. You don't need to repeat anything; I will make sure your father hears every word from the angel." I offered her a reassuring smile and kissed her forehead, watching as she looked back at me with a puzzled expression.

"What words?" she asked, staring at me blankly, as if she had no recollection of what she had just told me.

I couldn't help but feel a strange unease.

Had she forgotten everything she had said?

Her expression seemed to suggest as much.

This only strengthened my resolve to ensure that Nicky would heed the angel's warnings and follow every instruction given from above.

I resolved firmly in my heart.

*****

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