August 9, 2022
Washington D.C, United States
8:00 A.M
"Mister President, should we host a referendum in the UN about how to treat the… risen figures?" the Secretary of State asked, glancing around at the other Cabinet members.
"We can… take them out of the equation," the CIA director suggested.
"Well… It would not be good to enrage the Russians. Many of them, if I am right, revere the women as saints," Biden said, shaking his head.
"If worse comes to worse, we may have no other options but to stage an accident."
"No, Director. I cannot excuse what the Russians have done, but they have the best cards of the game," the president replied, then sipping from his coffee cup.
Biden sighed. For almost a month, the bombardment of questions, internet trolls, and media attention had bothered him… Every god-damned day. He felt frustrated that he could not have much peace and time with his family as much, and the irritation of seeing the Republicans and Democrats bickering without lulls about the religious and moral implications of the resurrections also did not help. America, officially a nation with a theoretically impartial and secular government, would have to face this surprising and shocking occurrence. America was still as "divided" as ever on political and moral issues. The government had shut down not long ago.
The fear that the resurrected "OTMA" sisters would catalyze a Russian comeback had begun to come true. Although the four princesses only did charitable works and small speeches for Putin's regime, the effect of their appearance had taken root. Already, the threefold increase in Russian recruits and the revived morale of the Russian Armed Forces had caused greater casualties in the Ukrainian-Russian War. The Ukrainians were already being pushed back from the middle southern oblasts, and Belarus and Iran had sent weapon supplies and technologies to Russia…
Especially a small array of manufactured nuclear weapons from Iranian nuclear facilities. The Iranians had been pressured by Russia for the weapons, and they had little choice but to aid their ally. The reports by the Special Representative for Iran grew more dire, and to the American president, it was clear that affairs had taken a turn… Descending closer to an Armageddon.
"I do not feel all comfortable with saying this, but I think that we may have to compromise with the Russians."
Tokyo, Japan
The Kantei Residence
"Ah, Your Majesty… Affairs are getting worse in our region. The council is desperate! What do you suggest we do?"
"I am well aware of the Chinese and Russian naval forces patrolling more by their national shorelines. There is great danger ahead for our land."
"Certainly, the Chinese may use their northern ally's uprising as a morale boost and tactical advantage, given the distraction it caused. The Americans have been politically gridlocked for a month."
"Yes. It may sound strange, even ridiculous… But I have been reflecting on Japan's complex history with Russia, and I have decided that easing tensions with Russia is the best option for our security and safety."
"What? Your Majesty-"
"Do not argue. I was the one who appointed you. Yes, I have studied the history texts and news very much… I believe that we should reconcile with the Romanovs again. Our cultures under imperial rule were once quite close and similar. We must not provoke the bear! That is final!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Japanese Prime Minister let out a shuddering breath as the hang up tone droned. He clenched his fists, muttering profanities as quietly as he could. Nothing should have been like this. Neither was the timing so ideal either.
With sweaty, trembling hands, the Prime Minister slowly penned a note in red kanji. The Japanese Air Force One and Two would someday fly to Moscow after a symbolic meeting was arranged with Putin and the Romanov sisters. It would be a difficult political move to pull off, given the violent history of the Imperial Russian attacks in 1905 and the Soviet invasion of 1945. This would not sit well with the older population that had lived under the shadow of the Cold War.
If it would be necessary for the good of Japan, he would see it through!
St. Petersburg, Russia
The car engine ran as smooth as quiet heartbeats, but Olga felt nervous. She glanced outside, placing a hand on her chest. Her heart was pounding with faster, harder thumps. Her ride had reached the narrow, St. Petersburg street, but had been stalled by some traffic.
In her first life, she had never had a legitimate romantic experience, let alone a simple coffee shop meetup. The few of her long since passed loves remained like ghosts in her mind. Bittersweet memories flashed in shades of white and black like vintage photos…
As a young teenage princess, she spent blissful hours dancing with Pavel Voronov.
Her turbulent, not so peaceful early adulthood had Dmitri Chakh Bagov. He was her final, fleeting love… That soldier, loyal, simple, and charming, had caught her heart so long ago. And to even chat and vent her feelings with him gave her hope and happiness during the Great War.
The memories both stung and troubled her. With a thinking mind always came the dread and torment of overthought. She almost felt as if this new life were a burden, a curse. But she had to accept that God knew best for her. She had long since realized that suffering was not of God's Will, but by the foolishness of the bitter and corrupt. She knew what her higher purpose of her new life was, and she would do her part with grace and bravery…
Except that she did not feel so confident about having her first actual date. A date with the honor guard who actually pulled her out of her tomb. Even if Anton had been kind, funny, understanding with her, Olga still felt worried that the date would not go so well.
"We are almost there, Olga Romanova."
"Okay, thanks for the reminder."
Olga pulled out her vibrating iPhone from her jeans. She unlocked the phone, seeing the name of her friend (was Anton just a friend?) flash in white letters. As much as she felt nervous, she could not leave him hanging up. She swiped the call button.
"Olga, are you almost there? The coffee is getting cold."
"Yes, my ride is almost there. There is a half block of slow traffic to go… I admit that I was never a big fan of the larger Russian cities."
"Ah, I completely understand. The traffic here is terrible, even for native residents like me. Take it easy, alright, wise princess?"
Olga chuckled, grinning for a moment. "Yeah… See you soon."
"You too."
The phone beeped the end tone, and Olga waited until the car stopped before the small coffee cafe. This was the moment. She would keep herself calm. If she could handle a meeting with some playboy cad of a Romanian prince long ago, she could handle the meeting. Well, she had never met a man unescorted before in her first life. Her father would have never approved, perhaps even lost his mind at the rise of feminism.
At least she had more freedom and leeway in her new life. She would never take freedom for granted again. She also realized that being average was a blessing, no- a privilege in itself. No strict traditions or rules were there to stifle her potential or to keep her submissive like some pretty little pet…
Olga took a deep breath, reminding herself in her mind that Anton was a good man. She opened the door and stepped outside. The coffee shop was before her, and the gilded wooden doors opened slowly…
"Anton is a good man, Anton is nice, Anton is handsome- No, he's just a friend," she thought, glancing around at the passerby and the doors.
Anton stepped out in a tuxedo, flashing a clean toothed grin, as he brushed a loose hair strand aside. His dark blue eyes settled on hers, silently admiring her sharp, knowing gaze. It was the mark of someone intelligent and sincere. Admittedly, he liked smart and devout women. He did wonder why Olga had been staring at him with her mouth agape for a few moments…
"Oh my, he's still handsome. He dressed up for me? Awww… I'm only wearing jeans and a pink shirt-"
"Hey, uh… Are you feeling alright?"
Olga flinched, glancing around. "Uh- yeah, totally!"
"Alright, I was worried for a second there. Let's head inside. I did some research and guessed that you liked Danish pastries too."
"Great guess, actually, because I enjoy those so much!"
"Sweet- Ah, no pun intended."
Olga laughed, following Anton into the coffee shop. The waiter greeted them, as Olga sat down with Anton by the window. She stirred her sweetened coffee, holding up a pinky before gently sipping. Anton, however, took a messy bite of his breakfast sandwich, scattering crumbs off of his plate.
"That's a bit messy… Papa would have been… bothered."
"I can clean all sorts of material messes up. I actually helped dust off your family tombstone over the years, uh, before you resurrected."
"Thank you, Anton. It means a lot to me, just being there for my memory and now my life, even if you didn't have to."
"Yeah… My father is actually one of your biggest patrons. It was annoying the heck out of me about how he bugged me to someday date you. I did not want to bother you so soon after you rose. You needed time to adjust to a new place and time."
"Did he ask you to date me?"
"No, I actually like being with you. You are the first girl I've really talked to often ever since a childhood friend moved away."
Olga blushed, taking a bite of her pastry. "Yeah… So is this a date?"
"Uh… I actually wouldn't mind."
Olga smiled. "Really?"
Anton nodded, taking another sip of his coffee.
"Sounds wonderful! Do you know how to play preferans?"
"Not yet… Someday we should play that card game together."
Together, a former Grand Duchess and her newfound boy-friend enjoyed their first true moments together. They did not have to be alone, for they had found companionship in each other. Neither did they have to hesitate. Something just felt right.
The next chapter will go into the United Nations' reaction to the miracles.
