Note: The U.N meeting will actually occur after this chapter. My apologies for the wrong notice, and I will remove the previous note.

September 1, 2022

Moscow, Russian Federation

It had seemed as an ingenious and cunning move by the Russian President at first. Yes, the Russian spirit was at an all time high, and the economy sustained little economic damage. Already, Russian businesses began to replace the departed Western ones. Without a doubt, his reintegration of the resurrected Grand Duchesses had been one of his greatest political maneuvers.

Yes, the military operation in Ukraine had held firm, gaining back some lost territory despite heavy casualties on both sides. This prompted the meddling Western nations, especially America, to move tactical nuclear weapons into Ukraine. Putin could not let this bold, rash move go without a counter. It was an encroachment into the Russian sphere of influence!

So he moved the Iranian manufactured ballistic missiles closer to the eastern Ukrainian border. Despite his bold, cool-toned speeches that a direct move by the West would face full retaliation, he felt worried about the possibility of nuclear war. He had hoped the West would fall for his bluffing moves. No. He had made a couple mistakes…

Apparently the West were just as stubborn as him.

And the Grand Duchesses were asking him to arrange a meeting with their resurrected cousin, Elisabeth (the younger) of Hesse and By Rhine… According to the eldest, Olga, she needed to see Elisabeth for further information of the Revelation prophecies coming true. Putin found this to be outlandish!

No one held the true date of the anticipated events inside or outside the Church. No one really knew when. Putin, even as a Christian Orthodox man, had heavy doubts. He even felt uneasy about what could happen to Russia. Any leader would feel the same about a miracle throwing their plans off track.

His advisors still bickered in the nearby room about whether to follow the requests of the OTMA sisters. Ugh. They were of no help to him either. Even the Dugin fellow seemed shocked and confused about how Olga wanted to speak with an enemy princess.

He then heard a familiar tone. It was one that he did not hear for years…

The American-Russian hotline phone was ringing. He reached out his hand to the phone, stopping an inch away from the ringing device. Could he trust the Western leader? He knew it would be foolish to ignore this call, but the American president needed to speak with him. Perhaps a total Russian victory was not worth pursuing. A compromise would work for the time being.

He picked up the phone. "Hello. Mister Biden?"

"Yes, my advisors and I decided to speak with you to work out a compromise. I do not believe that escalation to nuclear war is worth all this trouble."

Putin smiled. "I, too. I would like to give my terms of compromise, considering the state of affairs within and outside Russia."

Russian Federation

Alexander Palace Museum

Maria frowned at her youngest sister. "So… You are going to film us visiting our old home?"

"Well, duh. These iPhones have wonderful cameras… And they even take color and sounds!"

"But this is no longer our home, and it has not been so for one-hundred and five years. What is the point?"

"I was curious about how well they kept our old things clean. It would not hurt to see. We can also be famous, like, YouTube famous."

"What if we say something that Putin does not like? I cannot help but feel worried about what may happen to us…"

"No offense, you sound like Tatya."

"What? What is so bad about that?"

"Ah, I think it seems really weird for you to get so worried. Nothing bad will happen for now, sister. Just enjoy our new lives!"

"Yeah. You are right. Putin must be busier with other things, as he did not assign us to do much. Well, I do like charity giving."

"Me too… Anyways, let me use my YouTube app."

Anastasia, smiling, tapped on her iPhone with her sister waiting beside her. The youngest Grand Duchess knew how famous she became, even posthumously famous. Heck, there was even a cartoon movie about her. She did get annoyed that they skimmed over the nasty details of what had truly happened. Sugarcoating the truth did not sit well with her. Almost like her late mother hiding the revolutionary uprising from her.

But this time, she had the power and the safety. Even the average Russian liked seeing and talking with her. Even the Russian President tolerated her antics. Just catching Putin smirking upon seeing her prank Dugin with a whoopee cushion made her day. At least people were happier.

Anastasia looked at Maria, holding up her iPhone. "Ready for the stream?"

Maria nodded, then she waved at a nearby museum worker. The two bodyguards in suits near them glanced at each other with raised eyebrows. They were bodyguarding celebrities instead of governmental figures! Hopefully they would get a raise for this shift.

Maria watched her sister tap on her phone a few more times. "Ready now?"

"Hello Internet, welcome to my stream! Today, my sister Maria and I will be touring our former home. If you have any questions, please leave a comment. Oh, and you can subscribe by smacking that big red button. You can always unsubscribe, no worries!"

The youngest, former Grand Duchess turned the camera to her sister. Maria giggled and waved at the camera for tens of thousands of people to see! It did not take so long for hearts and handwave emojis to flood the live chat. Yes, fame came with its benefits, especially in the new age.

Anastasia and Maria chattered, as they made their way through the halls of their former home. The damages by the Soviets had long since been repaired. But something still felt off. Everything had been cleaned, alright, but too cleanly. The furniture that had been stolen had been replaced with modern replicas, and the air smelled not of Mama's perfume. It smelled like air freshener.

They glanced around, seeing a stairway. They climbed up it for the first time in over a century, and they knew where to go. Their old family bedrooms.

A few familiar footsteps forth, and to the right was their elder sisters' bedroom. The "Big Pair" sisters had once dwelled there in comfort and care. They as a family had then been torn away from it all, and then they were slaughtered. But now, they were back again in their main palace. The feeling of being in their older home was a strange one. Unfamiliarly familiar.

Along with the fact that the Big Pair's bedroom door had been locked shut, despite being promised full access to the museum. There had been a plan by Putin to reinstate OTMA into the Alexander Palace, but it still was in the planning stages. And even weirder, they could hear whispers and rock ballads playing from behind the door.

"Nastya? What is happening there? Mister Putin said he'd open the museum for us!"

"I dunno… Maybe some workers are relaxing there."

"Should we let them know we are here?"

"Yeah, this is our old home!"

Anastasia then knocked on the door gently…


Olga knew that she had fallen for Anton not long after that first date. Tatiana and the Little Pair had been curious about her "weird stares at the radio" whenever a specific song came up. They often asked about how she would go "for a long stroll" outside during weekends. She would laugh it off, telling them that she just liked the music and other things of modern life.

But that was all a facade to hide her little secret relationship with Anton. It felt a little dirty, but there was virtually no harm in a white lie. About a month had passed since the date, and Olga had started visiting Anton's home in the outskirts of St. Petersburg. The devout and lively atmosphere of the home caught her liking as well. The parents were calm and respectful towards her, especially Anton's father, a professor of theology with a minor in computer science.

Yes, Anton did take a family selfie with Olga.

And yes, Anton had asked her out to a romantic getaway… To her former palace home for another date. This time, things had gotten hotter.

A past hit from Cutting Crew, "I've Been In Love Before", blared loudly from the boombox they had brought with them. With every cry of the electric guitar, they stroked and panted.

"Oh… yes…"

Olga broke the kiss, staring into Anton's eyes with goo-goo eyes. "You're a good kisser, you know."

"Well, thanks. I did my research with my parents' old romance movies. Do I get an A-plus?"

Olga giggled. "You're joking with me."

"Just so you know, I've never really felt for a girl before. I truly like you, Olga. This means a lot to me, even if some people would find kissing a historical figure creepy."

"Yeah… I like you too."

On the plush chair that rested next to her former desk, covered with mementos and framed photographs of past loves, Olga French-kissed Anton again. She had gotten over her initial fears and worries. Anton was a good guy. And a natural-born kisser. Those century old ways of etiquette and ethics regarding relations? Well, at least they did not really matter anymore.

It was just her and her boyfriend. No overbearing rules, traditions, parents, or public hatred. Just the love she had finally yearned for-

A series of knocks burst into their moment. Ugh. Not again.

Anton broke the kiss. "Stay here, love, and you can use my dad's handkerchief. I washed it beforehand too."

"Thanks, act normal!" Olga whispered to Anton, who nodded with a smirk.

Olga quickly wiped her forehead and neck, hoping that whoever behind the door would not notice the sweat. Or the warmer air of the room.

"Hello? Anyone there? No perverted stuff going on?"

Anton opened the door.

"Uh, no, no! Just Olga and I. She wanted to show me her old bedroom, actually."

Anastasia and Maria glanced around, sniffing twice. Maria smirked, as Anastasia put her finger on her chin, wondering…

"I see it all. So you and Olga really are into each other!"

"Uh- Well…" Olga trailed off, tapping her fingers together.

"Okay… you got us."

"Anton! I thought this was supposed to be a secret!"

"Anastasia, are you still streaming?"

Anton and Olga widened their eyes, glancing at each other. "What?!"