Three days before departing from St. Petersburg to Vienna, Alexander visited Anastasia in the palace garden.

Arriving there, Alexander spotted Ana playing with a dog, running around the palace garden accompanied by a handful of servants.

Alexander smiled as he watched the scene. She’s getting better every day, resulting in her being lively all day. The cure he synthesized for her disease worked perfectly as he expected. Though it’s still months away for the bacteria to be flushed out from her system.

He approached Ana, but before he could call her, she spotted him from the distance.

“Brother!” She called out, waving her hand, and ran towards him.

Alexander beamed at the sight of his sister running toward him. He spread his arms out and waited for her arrival.

She came to a halt in front of Alexander, who caught her and set her down on the ground.

He then took a good look at her. She’s grown taller than before, her hair has grown longer, her eyes have become brighter, and her body has become healthy.

“Ana, you’re getting prettier by the day.”

“Hahaha, I know right.” She said, lightly laughing. “I’m not the same girl I was years ago. I’m not a sickly weakling anymore.”

“Indeed, you’re not,” Alexander said, patting Ana’s head. “I’m glad you’re healthy now.”

“Me too.” She replied. “You came to visit me?”-.

“Yes,” Alexander answered as he pulled out a letter from his inside pocket. “I’ve received an invitation from the Austrean Empire, a coronation ceremony of the new king will be held three days from now. As the head of state of the Ruthenia Empire, I’m obligated to come. Also, the letter said that I can bring along one person with me,” He looked at Ana in the eyes before continuing his statement. “Well I could’ve picked Christina or Tiffania but I remembered the time when I promised you I’ll show you the city right? Well, how about going abroad with me?”

“Really?” Ana asked in disbelief. “I-I mean of course I want to come with you but isn’t it better if sister Christina is the one to go with you…I mean, she’s elegant…and graceful…compared to me, I’m just a kid…”

“Hey,” Alexander said, staring at Ana worriedly.

“Why would you think like that? You’re my little sister, and so does Christina and Tiffania. To me you’re all the same, equally beautiful, equally graceful, and equally elegant,” Alexander said, looking at Ana in the eyes. “Besides, I know you like to leave the palace and visit the city, are you going to let this opportunity slide?”

“No!”

“Then it’s settled, we’ll leave at night.”

“Okay!” Ana cheered happily as she jumped around in joy, as she jumped, her long silver swayed in a circle, moving gracefully as it reflects the light of the sun.Meanwhile, Alexander sighed inwardly. He is still not yet accustomed to acting like their big brother to them. He hoped he is doing it right.

…

Five days ago, his prime minister suggested him of finding a queen for the Ruthenia Empire to push forward his coronation. There was one candidate arranged by his father, she was a Deutsch princess, from the federated state of the Deutschland Empire, the Kingdom of Bavaria. Her name was Sophie.

There was no available picture attached to her file so he doesn’t know what she looked like. Sergei said that they have met before during the wedding of his father but his photographic memory only applies to Thomas Harrier, not to Alexander. There is a high chance that Alexander forgot her, leading Thomas clueless.

Anyways, the idea of an arranged marriage between nations is not new to him. He’s aware that it’s common in this era. It didn’t surprise him, after all, Thomas himself experienced having an arranged partner. It was for business purposes, to strengthen the ties of relationship between two companies.

He didn’t fall in love with her, as she only sees her as a tool to greatly benefit the company he has inherited.

It’ll be the same here. Just like in business, royal marriage between two nations is crucial as it binds the nation together, forming an inseparable alliance, and is of great importance in matters of diplomacy.

As of right now, the Deutschland Empire has the most advanced technology and military in the world. Having diplomatic ties with that nation would surely benefit the Ruthenia Empire.

Also, there was one thing he has to keep in mind. The princess he’s arranged to wed is his second cousin. Basically, they are blood-related.

…

At night in the Winter Palace. Alexander and Anastasia were having a talk with Christina and Tiffania at the entrance while the servants is packing their luggage in the car.

“I’ll miss you, Ana…” Christina said, embracing Ana.

“I’ll miss you too,” Ana replied, hugging Christina back.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be back in a few days, right?” Tiffania asked, smiling.

“Of course,” Ana answered, still in Christina’s embrace.

“I don’t think we’ll be back in a few days,” Alexander interjected, somehow breaking the heartwarming mood around his sisters.

“What?” Tiffania arched a brow.

“Well, to begin with, I don’t have an idea of how long would the coronation event will last, second, I’ll have to meet a certain someone who will also be attending the coronation. So we’re talking about one or two weeks here,” Alexander explained simply.

“Then…who will run the country while you’re gone?” Christina asked.

“That would be my prime minister obviously,”

“Okay then, have a safe trip,” Christina said with a smile, waving her hand once.

“You better take care of Ana, brother…or else.”“Relax, Tiff,” Alexander chuckled, “There’s no need to be prickly about. I’ll protect Ana with my life. Also, Rolan is coming with us along with his team, so we’re pretty much safe.”

“…Okay then,” Tiffania said, turning her head away.

“Very well, we shall get going now. Our train is waiting, Goodbye.”

Take care you two!” Christina waved her hand as she watch them enter their car.

A few minutes later, the car has left the palace and is currently driving through the streets of the capital.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at St. Petersburg train station where the train that will take them to Vienna is waiting for them.

The two headed inside the train car where they were met with the sparkling interior of the car.

They gasped, the interior is giving a vibe of the winter palace. The ceiling is gilded, the furniture was expensive-looking, and the floor was adorned with red velvet carpet, giving off a luxurious impression.

As expected of the royal family of the Ruthenia Empire. Everything they own looks magnificent and eye-catching.

They then headed to their room, which is located at the far end of the car.

The room is beautifully decorated, with a king-sized bed located at the side, with a separate bathroom in the corner.

Ana jumped at the bed and landed softly on the soft mattresses, she then bounced a few times, enjoying the softness of the bed while.

Alexander understands her excitement over the bed as he, himself, would want to jump in there to feel the comfiness of the bed too.

He checked the time on his pocket watch, the train will depart in ten minutes.

“Ana, you behave yourself during the trip, is that clear?”

“Yes, big brother.”

“Okay, I’ll be over in my office, if you need anything, you can ask the guard stationed at your door or call me, is that understood?”

Instead of acknowledging his order, Ana let out a bewildered gasp. “You have an office inside the train?!”

“Of course! I still have paperwork that needs to be done…”

“You sure are working too hard brother? Are you sure you’re getting enough rest?” Ana asked with a worried expression.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry, you’re the one worrying too much,” Alexander sighed, ruffled Ana’s hair while leaving the room, and headed to his office.

Ana turned to the window, looking out of it. As she was staring outside, her hands danced on her lap as she started humming an old Ruthenian lullaby.

She looked at the lights passing by gently, mesmerized by the sight.

As she kept on staring at the window, her eyes started to get heavy, so she decided to lay down on the bed, closing her eyes, she drifted to sleep.

The train finally left the station, heading towards the capital of the Austrean Empire, Vienna.

Meanwhile, Alexander sits in his office, working on some papers. He looks like he was concentrating on his work but his eyes were looking outside the window, watching the lights and scenery as they passed by.

The trip will be a long one as the journey will take them almost two days to reach Vienna.