Chapter 10 (Part 2)

Note: This will be the final update for a little while as my university session begins. Stay tuned.

White House, Washington D.C

The American President stepped into the White House State Dining Room. Stopping beside him, Bob took a quick glance around. The room also appeared modest in its furnishing and its wall designs, reminding him of seeing the Alexander Palace interior for the first time. The chair cushions were the same imperial yellow. The elongated table reminded him of the White Hall in the Livadia Palace. The plain white walls were engraved with ornamental designs, and below a painting of Abraham Lincoln, a fireplace rested cold with its fire extinguished.

On earth, there were fires sparking again. Something had begun- a rude awakening had come to humanity. The feminine figures that had died young and innocent in the cold depths of history had awakened too for a purpose. It was a shame, really it was... The President did not understand the full weight of the situation.

But Bob knew that it was infeasible to convince people about such things. People were just stubborn by default. Belief or unbelief? Only experience could change such things. For the time being, he would settle for advising the U.N Council about lessons learned from the brutal past.

President Biden patted Bob on the back.

"I'm glad you could join us, Mister Atchinson. I know that you are a well versed advisor for Romanov and Russian history. Thus, I invited you earlier to be a moderator for any discussion in this meeting, concerning Russia's business."

"Of course, President."

Biden sat next to Bob Atchinson. The two aged men picked up the freshly prepared glasses of apple cider, clinking them in a toast.

"To a good meeting."

"Indeed, President. I imagine that the Ukrainian and Russian leaders will not be as satisfied, but humanity as a whole needs to live."

"From what I have read on Twitter, the Ukrainian President and his constituents are very displeased with me for backing down the missiles. If only he could understand... That I do not support or like Putin at all, but I would rather not escalate things to a fiery, nuclear death of countless human lives."

"Yes! I would have done the same, and I completely understand. Murder of a family with their friends in a dirty basement is one thing, but to doom the entire human race is immensely worse. Human hatred over political divisions is something that we must overcome."

"Well said, Mister Atchinson."

Bob Atchinson glanced at the analog clock. At that moment, he felt anxious about the upcoming meeting. He knew that what Biden and he himself had said rang true, but the meeting would not go so smoothly... The topics to cover would be very heated especially after a war between the visiting parties.

He would not look forward to the pointless bickering about the contested Crimea again. That was certain! They continued to converse like friends for the remaining minutes.

"... I may appreciate the culture and history of Russia, but I do not have to agree with its politics. It is a shame that such a beautiful, cultured country has gone rogue."

"Agreed... I think that under the firestorm of different politics for America and Russia, the average person wants things to settle down. We should not have to inch close to complete self-destruction for humanity to realize this."

A moment of silence passed. The noises of footsteps and voices came closer, and the President motioned for two Secret Service agents to open the doors. They did so. Biden and Bob mustered a formal smile. A slight curve of the lips, eye contact, and hands in their laps.

There before them was the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian First Couple, who stood five feet apart. The Ukrainian President, Zelensky, along with his wife, did not seem very thrilled. They scowled briefly at Putin before greeting their host leader. Even their escorting guards glanced at the other side with narrowed eyes.

"Ah. President Biden. It is good to meet you again. Here is my wife, Olena."

"President Zelensky, Lady Zelensky. I am glad to see you and your husband here and safe."

"And President Vladimir Putin, we will discuss another loose end here... The princesses and what they wanted to say about the times."

"Yes. Where are they?"

"They should arrive shortly. Have a seat, all of you. Enjoy the tea before it goes too cold."

As expected, the Ukrainian First Couple took seats with Biden and Bob. Putin took his seat across from them. He glanced at the entrance and smirked when he heard the voices of the ex-princesses getting closer.

They came into view. The four Romanov sisters each wore white blouses with black skirts. On their chests, ties of imperial yellow hung ready for an eventual photograph. This photograph taken of this meeting would not be an ordinary one for sure. It would be the first official photograph with resurrected, famous people alongside modern leaders.

Only the former princess, Elisabeth, seemed to dress almost casually. She sat along with her four Russian cousins near Putin. Neither, however, did the ex-princesses like sitting so close to Putin. Not a single stray glance from their eyes would settle on him.

Especially Olga, who felt nervous when the Ukrainian First Couple whispered to each other, gesturing to her and her sisters.

"Alright. Now let us calmly break the ice. For those who are uncomfortable, there is no need to."

"I do not understand what is so special about ex-royalty from a century ago. We should be past those times of imperialism and force," Zelensky stated coolly, as he stared at OTMA.

"They rose from the dead, President Zelensky. Perhaps they have certain advice for the world, not just NATO."

"I know that is true. Yes, I accept they rose from the dead, but what of the slain Ukrainian citizens and soldiers? Men, women, and children... The poor, rich, or those in between... They will not come back, thanks to deeds prior."

"Mister Zelensky..."

"And the playing of these former, revered Grand Duchesses into his hand has cost even more lives of my people."

Olga cleared her throat. "Excuse me, but we were uncomfortable as well-"

"That did not stop the war either."

"That is enough, Mister Zelensky."

"Ah, perhaps I was getting carried away. I am tired, however, of this suffering that should have been avoided in the first place."

"I got the Crimean peninsula for Russian interests- security. No more as promised," Putin replied, crossing his arms.

"And you will," Olena said, giving Putin a sharp jab of a gaze as if to remind him of the war.

Biden rubbed his temple bones again. This shit again...

"Quiet, all of you. The war is settled. Neither will we have to all perish from a nuclear war. Events could have gone in a worse direction, so remember that."

"Now, we must discuss further details of the next concern... What of these infamous ex-royals? What is to be done about their heritage sites, palaces, across Germany, Ukraine, and Russia? The land laws we currently follow fail to account for their rising. And, what of their legal status whenever they step foot outside of Russia?"

"I would like to have a free visit to our Livadia Palace with my sisters and cousin. We only want to understand how places and things have changed... Even a world tour of sorts?" Olga asked, glancing at her sisters and cousin.

"I will have to consider that for you four. The German princess I have no hard feelings toward," Zelensky said, as Biden nodded in approval.

"For Russian properties, including the heritage sites, I will transfer ownership of the Alexander and Winter Palaces to the Romanov Family Association," Putin announced, sipping from his teacup.

"Fair. Now for the implications of their resurrections, that discussion must wait until the next United Nations conference in New York City. Agreed?"

"Aye."

"What about their residency status? And aren't some of the sides public World Heritage Sites?"

"I understand that concern, but World Heritage sites now fall more under their local nation's jurisdiction, Mister Atchinson."

(Line Break)

Three Hours Later...

The photographer snapped a photograph of Putin and Zelensky signing the ceasefire and compromise treaty. Near them, the five resurrected women stood along with President Biden and Bob Atchinson, smiling for the moment. The treaty was signed!

Now, there would be peace for the time being. World leaders breathed a sigh of relief. The world would not end... yet.

OTMA were soon returned with their cousin to another hotel in Washington D.C. There, they relaxed in the dining area in the hopes of forgetting the dramatics.

Olga, however, could not stop recalling the words of the Ukrainian President. There was truth to his words. Even though she had been a reluctant and secretly unwilling participant in the Russian propaganda campaign, she had indirectly helped cause more Ukrainians to die. She knew that Ukraine had long since been an independent country from Russian influence. There was no more Tsar to rule over such a "Russian Empire". She also had a slight hunch that Russia had lost much of its prestige as a nation.

Whispers of economic troubles, a disease called COVID-19, and protests against the suppressing regime of Putin spread around Russia. She, despite her once patriotic feelings for Russia, had long since accepted that the Russia she knew was long gone.

No country was worth sacrificing for. Sooner or later, any nation would exist long enough to ruin itself. Words spoken by her late father echoed in her head.

"God will always be, but the world will not."

All her, her sisters, and her cousin could do was to help humanity be found again. Olga glanced down at her half-finished fruit smoothie and frowned. She then walked away from the table, heading to the lobby to sit down.

She sat on a sofa and picked up magazines. Not the tabloids though! As her youngest sister put it, they just sold B.S for quick profit. She just wanted to have time alone to slow down and comprehend her life.

"Cousin Olga?"

"Elisabeth... I realized another thing. While I was a Grand Duchess, I was so blind- naive."

Elisabeth remained silent, sitting down by her friend. Olga closed her eyes, continuing to speak.

"The Russia I once knew was only a facade, an illusion. It all had been built on top of the poor and meek... Yet our family thought themselves anointed to keep such lifestyles. The hypocrisy and lies... I finally understand how wrong I was, letting the privilege go to my head. How can I be good enough for this great task ahead?"

Elisabeth nodded. Her cousin had some of the truth. But pessimism would not help. It was a trap for many.

"But you have a good heart, Olga. You have so much potential to change things, starting with yourself. Do not worry about the past."

"Look forward, Olga. Even I did, and I'm now best buddies with Saint Bartholomew. Now, we have a plan to turn affairs around!"

Olga glanced back at her sisters, who laughed at the mounted TV... They seemed happy and confident for the future. Perhaps her cousin was right. She was overthinking things again.

"Well, I see..."

"Believing in God is important. But believing in yourself is another thing. That is how free will, the final step before a good or evil deed, gets broken or made."

"Well said. I really must be overthinking again, am I?"

"Yeah, but I don't mind that. Overthinking is actually a trait of intellect."

"You're only trying to flatter me," Olga whispered, then chuckling.

The two of them glanced at the dining area again. Anastasia approached them.

"Hey, Olenka. Do you still want your strawberry-cherry smoothie? Maria's bored. She wants to chug the rest of it down in thirty seconds."

"Uh... Okay?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, but don't record me with Anton without my consent ever again."

"That was an accident!"

"Just be more careful next time, okay, sis?"

"M'Kay."

Anastasia gave Maria a thumbs up, allowing her to do so noisily. This did not sit well with their other older sister Tatiana, who rolled her eyes as she read a fashion magazine...