“Who are you?” Natalya repeated her words to the seemingly stunned Alexander.

“Look, I don’t think I understand the nature of your question but anyways I’ll respond by saying I’m Alexander Romanoff, son of Emperor Nicholas and Queen Alexandra, the heir apparent to the throne of the Ruthenian Empire.”

“Your choice of words, your formal tone that gives off an aura of authority, it all feels different to the Alexander I knew before,”

“What are you really implying, sister?”

“It’s just that you’ve changed, and everything about you doesn’t sound like my real brother anymore. Your knowledge, your mannerism, the way you speak they are different!”

Natalya looked around frantically as if someone else was there with them in her room. After looking at nothing for a while she sighed loudly.

Alexander merely tilted his head to the side, confused. Deep inside, he is just putting up a front of confidence so that she won’t see through his veneer. Her line of questioning is dangerous that he inadvertently responds in a way that will imply him not being Alexander, he’ll be doomed. For now, he’ll answer her question as naturally as possible.

“I don’t understand you, sister. Give me a break, we haven’t seen each other for the last nine years since you left Ruthenia to live in Norway. And in those nine years, how can you be so sure that my behavior will be static? Well…some stories about me two or three years ago are true but it doesn’t mean I remained the same…”

“You really don’t sound like Alexander anymore,” Natalya murmured.

“That’s natural, I’m the head of state of the Ruthenia Empire. My past behavior won’t work in my line of work,” Alexander answered simply. “Look, if you are having some sort of existential crisis, why don’t you ask me some question that only both of us would know? Because from what I can tell, you’re making it sound like I’m not Alexander, which is outrageous and outright ridiculous.”

Natalya was silent for a moment, her mind going over the possible questions in her head. And before she can raise a question, Alexander spoke first.

“I don’t understand you, sister. Earlier you feel sorry and apologized to me and now you’re interrogating me?”

“Sorry…I can’t help but doubt your identity. My reasons are justified….”

“Yes I know, I get it all the time. I’m an average person and a troublemaker who is not fit to be an Emperor. Tiffania said that Diana said that, the government officials said that, and the people said that, though some of them aren’t explicitly told or implied but you get the idea. So have you come up with a question?”-.

“Yes….”

Alexander gulped inwardly. Even though he is the one who challenged her doesn’t mean he is confident that he can have the answer to her question. The reason is that memories of Alexander aren’t obtainable, to say the least, his memories aren’t included in his photographic memory. The best way to search for an answer is to narrow it down, like browsing Google.

“Then,” Natalya began. “You promised something to me before I left Ruthenia, what is it?”

Upon hearing her question, Alexander began analyzing it. So Alexander made a promise to her, which means it’s important and wouldn’t be forgotten easily even if he becomes elderly. The time he said that is nine years ago, meaning it happened between June and July of 1914.

Alexander focused on searching through the memories that happened on that date…he found it! And it was—

“What the heck…” Alexander blurted out inadvertently.

“Do you remember?” a smirk formed on Natalya’s lips.

“Sister…are you perhaps teasing me? There’s no way I’m going to say that,” Alexander cringed at the thought—it was something truly embarrassing.

“Then how can I know that you’re my brother?”

“Look, there are accounts that a person’s behavior could change after a traumatic incident or even affects the brain to the point it can give you superpowers. There is this one guy from the United States who got smashed in the head with a blunt object by a thug and when he woke up from a coma, he can memorize every book he read. There’s a high chance that I could be the same….”“Just say it, Alexander, so that we finish this,” Natalya said.

“Fine…I asked why would you marry the crown prince of Norway where you can just marry me instead…so that you won’t leave,” Alexander was half embarrassed and half disgusted when said that.

Thomas doesn’t understand why Alexander would ask her sister to engage in an incestuous relationship.

“I can’t believe you were just playing me, sister? You scared me there.”action

Natalya giggled “Sorry, sorry. I just missed you.”

“I honestly couldn’t get a read on you, sister,” Alexander said.

Natalya laughed “You’re an upgraded version and I love it when you act cool, especially since your position requires it. Anyways, let’s leave this place. I want to meet your wife, Sophie. Where is she?”

“I’ll walk you to her room,” Alexander smiled at her and went out of the church to lead her towards Sophie’s room.

They arrived at her door and saw two Imperial Guards standing on each side of her room.

The guards immediately saluted as soon as he graced them with his presence…Alexander paid the gesture no mind as he walked in front of the door and knocked.

“Who’s that?”

Sophie’s voice can be heard from the other side.

“It’s me,” Alexander answered.

“Eh?! Alex…why would you suddenly visit me…wait for a second…!”

Outside her room, Alexander and the others could hear the frantic footsteps and the sounds of struggling from behind the door. A few seconds later Sophie opened her door.

“What is it…love?” Sophie asked, panting.

“Ah…there is someone here who likes to see you,” Alexander said and Natalya stepped in.

“Good to see you, Your Majesty. I’m Natalya of Norway, Alexander’s sister, pleased to meet you,” Natalya curtsied.

Sophie returned the gesture and politely responded. “Sophie of the Kingdom of Bavaria. It’s a pleasure to meet you…please enter.”

As they stepped into her room, Alexander gave Sophie a kiss on the cheek before he turned back to Natasha and whispered, “It’s actually our room.”

Natalya noticed it was indeed his brother’s room. So they’ve been sleeping together, huh?

Natalya walked around the room and saw an easel stand with a beautifully drawn canvas.

“So you’re a painter, Sophie?”

“Uhm…yes, I’ve been painting since childhood, Your—”

“Please cut the formalities, Sophie. Just call me Natalya,”

“Okay then, Natalya.”

“So you’ve seen how good she is at painting huh? I have a portrait of mine she drew mounted on the wall of my office.” Alexander said as he placed his arm around Sophie’s shoulder and then pulled her close to him.Sophie startled slightly upon feeling Alexander’s embrace.

“She’s quite talented, I see,” Natalya mused as she nodded in approval.

“Thank you…” Sophie said softly.

“But a Queen’s job is not painting,” she continued, turning to face Sophie more closely. “Sophie, do you have what it takes to become the Queen of the Ruthenia Empire?”

“Oi…oi…oi. Sister, there you are again,” Alexander said as he frowned. He was getting annoyed at her constant probing questions.

But Natalya ignored him as she stared right into Sophie’s eyes.

“An Emperor must have a suitable Empress. I’ve never heard of you, Sophie. Though you’ve come from a distinguished family, is there something redeemable about you? Princess Diana of the Britannia Empire, for example, her parentage leaves nothing to be desired. Not only that, she’s intelligent and her comfort as a royal is perfect as well. But you, your parentage is from a federal state of the Deutschland Empire, does it have anything to offer to Ruthenia?”

Sophie lowered her gaze, looking ashamed. Alexander noticed the change of expression and decided to step in for his wife.

“Sister, you’re stepping too far,” Alexander warned his sister. “I don’t want you comparing my wife to another woman.”

“I’m just simply asking, Alexander. To see if she’s worthy.”

“That is not for you to judge, sister.”

“Is that so? In that case, I’m sorry, Sophie,” Natalya grabbed Sophie’s hand with hers, giving it a slight squeeze. “It was just a habit of mine questioning others.

“…It’s fine,” Sophie replied quietly.

“And please don’t take it personally. It seems that I can’t hold on to old habits as long as I live. But still, I hope that you realize how important this is.”

“Yes I do, Natalya,” Sophie finally raised her head to look Natalya in the eyes once more.

***

About a week ago, Somewhere near the borders of Ruthenia.

Some men are disassembling television sets, they unscrew the covers to expose the internal electronics.

Using instructions given by the Shepherd, the members of the Black Hand planted radio-controlled bombs using the television power cables inside as power source.

By parasitizing the wires inside, the bombs are activated by a radio pulse tuned to a certain frequency. The signal makes an electromagnet close a pair of contacts to ignite a short fuse of the explosives.

The explosives go off and turn the Television into deadly shrapnel.

At first, the plan was to bomb people at random to incite fear and hatred of the Ruthenians.

But the coronation of Alexander made it the perfect timing to make it a mass event.

Since people will be gathering with friends and family close to the TV to watch the coronation being broadcast live. The perfect recipe for terror.

The men quickly reassemble back the television and load it into trucks. The trucks drove off to shops that placed orders for Ruthenian TV sets that have been selling like hotcakes.

From the warehouse to shops, there is no place Black Hand agents haven’t infiltrated.

The TVs were arranged at the shop front displays to attract passers-by to watch them and compel them to buy the devices for their own homes.

People who already bought the television sets before the plan has been put into action are not safe either.

Black Hand sleeper agents who work in those homes as servants will receive secret packets from drop spots to tamper with the television sets.

Some homes became victims of break-ins when the owner is out, taking some valuables to cover it up as simple burglary.

Any place outside of Ruthenia with good Ruthenian TV reception is now home to loads of tampered television sets. The owners using it are none the wiser.

Alexander does not know it, but his coronation will herald disaster for Ruthenia’s relationship with neighboring countries.