Dowager Empress's apartament was huge, and he felt really uncomfortable here, even thought for last fiveteen years he've been living in Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg. As he was going up the wide stairs he thought of what Anya told him, that everything will be fine, and he doeasn't have to be nervous about this meeting.
'She wouldn't be so sure, if she knew what I've done to force the Empress to talk to her.' Thought the young man taking deep breath before knocking to the door of the apartament. Couple seconds later the lackey opened it, and let Dimitri in. The newcomer was led to living room, which was probably the biggest room he ever seen, next to ball room in St. Petersburg.
„You sent for me, Your Grace?" He asked with a bow, as the door was closed behind him.
„Nice to see you, Dimitri." Said Marie with a smile. „How are you?"
„Good, thank you. How are you, Your Majesty?"
„I even can't remember when I felt so wonderful." Answered the old woman. „Shall we take a sit?" She pointed the armchears near the big window in the corner of the room.
Dimitri was still very uneasy, but he did what he was asked to.
„So, you decided to live in Paris? Anastasia told me that you rented an apartament in the center."
„Yes, unfortunatley I earn too small money to give her more than a flat, but I'm saving money to buy a house outside the city. She deserves a place, but I will never have enough funds to guarantee her it."
The Empress smiled.
„But you give her something much more important, you love her. I can tell this by our last meeting."
„Yes, I'd give up my life for her, if nececerly." He still couldn't stop being so nervous.
„I'm happy that my granddaughter have found a man who is so much devoted to her. I judged you wrongly, Dimitri. Now I can see that you're not the person I knew from gossips."
„I... Your Grace..., I have to apologize for what happened two weeks ago. I shouldn't kidnap you and force to speak with Anya, but... I really wanted her to be happy, with her family. But I chose wrong way to reach my point. I'm very sorry for what I've done."
„If you wouldn't do this, I would never have my grandchild back! You even have no idea whow grateful I am. Not only you saved us during the siege fo the palace, but you restored Anastasia to me, yet, you didn't want anything as your reward."
„Your Higness, I couldn't take the money, it wouldn't be fair with Anya. At first, yes, I admitt, it was to be only a con, but later on as I got her know better, I knew that I just can't take something which doesn't really belong to me. And weh she said about the opening wall in Winter Palace, I knew that the only one, who was triceked was myself."
„You're a good man, Dimitri." Smiled Marie. „Probably you're curious why I wanted to talk to you, aren't you?"
The man was silient. He just wasn't sure what to say now. Dimitri just waited for old woman's answer. And it came sooner than he could expected. As she spoke, Marie put a suitcase on the table, and opened it. The boy recognized it, he knew exactly what it was. He stood up, and made couple steps towards the window.
„I didn't have an occasion to give you the wedding gift. I told Anastasia, that when you'll come here, I'll give you this. I presume, you know what it is?"
„Yes, Your Grace, but I'll say the same what I did last time. I'm very honored by this, but I can't take the money. It would be the same as accepting the reward, however, I'm not the right person. I just did my duty as a servant." He said seriously.
„But it's not a reward now. It's a wedding gift for you and Anastasia. I know that beginning is difficult, and I just would like to help you."
Dimitri was silient again.
'Anya, one day I will really do something to you for all this!' He thought. 'If you only knew what I have to go through...'
It took long to concince him to accept the money, but finally he agreed.
„One thing more..." beagan the Empress, „what plans two of you have?"
„Well, I'm working in corporation specified in desining sign-boards and other comercial graphics and probably I'll keep this work, I even like it. And Anya, well... for now she just wants to enjoy normal life, I mean life with her family and without worries about the roof over her head, luck of food, and so on, like she had in Russia for last ten years. I'm not the type of sociable person, so we won't have crazy life. I guess, we'll just take what the fate will bring. I am an orphan like Anya, and now I'm learning how it is to have a family. For now I can only swear that she will never be lonly anymore, I'll be by her until the end of the time." As he spoke this, Dimitri made a bow and exited the apartament.