Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Anastasia's Anxious Heart
The Kremlin Palace Chambers. The living quarters of the royal family. On the second floor, a long corridor connected to a staircase at the end of which hung portraits of past Tsars. Ivan the Terrible, the founder of the Tsarist empire, with his stern, ancient face and impeccably groomed beard and hair, was at the very top. His portrait faced the slanting sunlight from outside the corridor; the rising sun was exceptionally red.
The sound of chirping figures could be heard.
"Is he here yet?"
"Not yet—"
"Godfather seems a bit late today... Oh no, did Godfather oversleep?"
"Do you think everyone is like you, Maria? Godfather must be working hard for the empire—so young, yet so capable..."
"Hmph, I didn't oversleep! It was Anna who overslept this morning!"
"I did not!"
...
Such conversations rose and fell, the crisp voices echoing like larks in the great hall at the other end of the corridor. The young girls waited eagerly, their similar yet distinct faces all showing looks of anticipation. They were the three princesses of the empire. Aside from the eldest, who had already come of age, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, the three other daughters of Nicholas II were all gathered here.
The now eighteen-year-old Tatyana Nikolaevna, the seventeen-year-old Maria Nikolaevna, and the sixteen-year-old Anastasia Nikolaevna. As the biological daughters of Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra, Maria and Anastasia both had beautiful silver hair inherited from their mother. It was just that Maria's hair color was slightly duller, like silver-lead covered in a layer of dust compared to Anna's. In contrast, the second princess, Tatyana, had inherited her father's hair color, which was black and smooth, like a dark curtain under the night sky.
Tatyana was often envious of her two younger sisters' beautiful silver hair. In the religious beliefs of the Tsarist empire, silver symbolized holiness and purity, and was also the color of snow and ice. But compared to their older sister, Tatyana was actually quite lucky. After all...
"I heard that Grand Duchess Olga has always been very upset about not being able to receive His Eminence Lu Kang's teachings. She even wrote a special letter from St. Petersburg to express her envy!" Grand Duchess Tatyana said, not without a little pride.
"If you ask me, Grand Duchess Tatyana is already eighteen. She doesn't need any tutor or godfather," Maria said, showing no deference to her older sister.
Tatyana instantly glared at her.
Anastasia, at the side, said nothing. She just sat in the hall with her legs crossed. More than half a year had passed, and she had grown even more beautiful and graceful. Now, with her head lowered and half her face hidden by her silver hair, her delicate face, like that of a snow elf, showed a strange melancholy. She sighed.
Tatyana and Maria heard their sister's sigh and stopped their bickering to look over. "Anna, what are you sighing about?" Maria asked curiously. "Are you not happy that Godfather is coming?"
"Could it be that you've grown tired of His Eminence?" Tatyana was also a little confused.
"I'm just a little helpless," Anna said, lifting her face. Her full figure under the white dress trembled slightly. "Why do I have to receive His Eminence's guidance with you all—I've already been by his side for two years."
Tatyana, Maria: "..."
She's showing off, isn't she? She's definitely showing off! We shouldn't have paid any attention to her! The two princesses glared, but the empire's youngest princess's lips curled up in a charming and sly smile. Of course she was proud! But she was also genuinely a little helpless.
It was at this moment that they heard the steady, unhurried sound of footsteps from the corridor outside the hall. Godfather is here!
Tatyana and Maria instantly composed their expressions and sat up straight in their seats. Anna smoothed the long sleeves that covered her arms, but her light blue-green eyes suddenly darted around, as if thinking of a prank to play.
...Lu Kang, at the same time, walked past the staircase and across the corridor outside the hall. His gaze swept over the portraits of the past Tsars hanging on the corridor wall. His heavy black priest's robe seemed to merge with the shadows of the past emperors. His final gaze lingered for a moment on the stern and ancient face of Ivan the Terrible.
As expected of the founder of the Tsarist empire known as 'Ivan the Terrible', the first Tsar to be crowned emperor in Russian history. He certainly looks majestic, Lu Kang thought. But this was not his first time stepping into this innermost part of the Kremlin palace. Half a year ago, after he had walked out of the library and taken the position of First Minister in the imperial council chamber, Alexandra, seeing that he had finally 'come out into the world', had immediately, during their all-night chat, personally invited him to become the tutor for her daughters, the three as-yet-unmarried princesses of the empire—that is, their 'godfather' in knowledge and spirit.
At that time, only the eldest princess, Olga, had come of age. The second princess still had half a year to go. Thinking of those three chirping imperial princesses, Lu Kang's lips couldn't help but curl up. Spending every day with pretty and cute girls was much more interesting than staying in the imperial council chamber, staring at those numb and old ministers' faces. He thought so.
Now, he had finally crossed the walkway and the long corridor, arriving at the great hall at the end. The spacious pavilion was bathed in a clear, bright light from the window. The glass chandeliers hung from the dome like blooming flowers. The gold-trimmed walls had pillars embedded in them. The fireplace was extinguished, its surface carved with ancient murals. A long table was against the wall, a red carpet adorning the floor. The several princesses stood up to greet him, their long dresses trailing as their chirping voices sounded again.
Lu Kang suddenly had the feeling that he had walked into a kindergarten... He couldn't help but cough softly. "Your Highnesses, please be seated!" he said with a wave of his hand.
[You begin the lesson as usual.]
[But in fact, the several imperial princesses, who are already nearing adulthood, do not need you to teach them anything. Tsarina Alexandra just wants to use this to build a good relationship with you, and you are happy to consolidate your current position.]
[You behave with modesty and elegance. You ignore the several times the princesses intentionally flirt with you during the lesson.]
[You feel that you have already cultivated a diamond-hard heart, unmoved by external things...]
[Yeah, right!]
[You are just trying to maintain the purity of the bloodline, to ensure that the system of mystery is not diluted or divided.]
[To some extent, you are also 'waiting for the best offer'.]
[A saint who is the same on the inside and out can better achieve your goals.]
[This is what you believe. Your goal has always been clear.]
[After a family lesson is over, you decline the princesses' requests to stay and leave the palace pavilion.]
"His Eminence Lu Kang is as holy as ever..." Maria stared at his disappearing back in the corridor. She thought to herself that she had clearly hinted several times for him to come to her private room for a private lesson, but he had ignored them all. The young girl couldn't help but sigh. No wonder so many noble ladies outside were scrambling for him, yet none had succeeded...
"Maria, shameless," Tatyana said, her face sullen.
"I am just freely pursuing my own love!" Maria huffed, flicking the silver hair by her ear. "Besides, your hints just now were no less subtle than mine."
"I was genuinely trying to learn," Tatyana said without a blush.
"Right, I believe you. Hehe," Maria said with a sarcastic smile.
Tatyana was about to continue bickering with her sister when she suddenly stopped. She looked to the side and paused. "Where's Anna?"
Maria also reacted. She thought for a moment. "Anna seems to have... followed His Eminence out?"
The two sisters looked at each other, then had a sudden realization. Heaven knows what His Eminence and Anna are doing when they're alone? Wait!
"His Eminence's chastity... could it be for Anna?" Maria was slightly jealous.
Tatyana was also somewhat envious. They let out a sound of gritted teeth. "Damn it," they said at the same time.
....
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