Chapter25

2 days later Patty gave Alina the all clear to go back to normal duties, but with a warning of she was feeling off to get back to bed and the General to come grab her.

"I have a surprise for you" Aleksander said kissing his wife who was still in bed in her night dress.

Alina smiled, "what can it be?"

"Well you will need to get up my love" he smiled and held a hand out to help.

Alina pouted and crossed her arms and looked the other way at the wardrobe, "Aleksander nothing fits me anymore" and she moved her hands to her bump.

Aleksander sat down next Alina and bent down to kissed her stomach, then there was knock on the door. He smiled kissed her on the lips and went and opened the door, Genya came walking in with another maid with a rack of clothes. Alina was in shock, the maid bowed and left the room as soon as the rack was in position, Genya smiled at Alina shock.

Aleksander walked back to Alina, "this was your surprise my love," he helped her get up out of bed and walked her over to the clothes. He placed his hands around her belly from behind and kept talking in her ear, "our children are health and will keep growing inside off you. I asked Genya to tailor clothes for you to wear that wouldn't restrict and make you comfortable during your pregnancy."

Alina turned and stood on her toes to Kiss her husband, he could feel tears coming down her cheeks and stopped kissing her, "Are you okay?" he asked

She nodded and smiled, "thank you for being you and thinking ahead. Plus I am liking the black clothing and Kefta"

He kissed her again wiping her tears when they parted, "Let Genya help you get changed and I will wait for you at the palor to go to the first meeting"

Genya walked back into the room from the bathroom, "Moya Tsarina, I have done a bath for you. I was told by Patty not to make it to hot"

"Genya, its Alina not Tsarina. I have forgiven you and I miss our friendship"

"Alina I have missed your friendship to" Genya had tears coming down her cheek, "but as much as I want to gossip your husband will want you out there shortly so come on bath time" Genya pointed to the bathroom

As soon as Alina was ready she walked into the Palor to meet her husband, he smiled as she walked thru the door. She was wearing a black empire dress that showed of her growing cleavage and hid her bump and not everyone knew she was pregnant. Her kefta was not yet done up, Aleksander got up from the chair and walked over to her, he looked her up and down. Then he move a hand around her waist and the other on her bump and said, "you look beautiful my love" and kissed her.

They parted and he slowly did up her Kefta, "thank you for my new kefta it's so light"

"I got David to engineer a material that was lighter but still give you protection in case some tried to .." he looked down placing his hand on her bump again.

"Aleksander thank you we will be safe and I know you will make sure of that so who is my heartrender for protection?" Alina placed her hand on top of Aleksander.

"I have asked both Nina and Freydor to be your protectors" he smiled at her

"Not Ivan?" she giggled

"No he is mine" Aleksander laughed and kissed her again then took her hand and lead her to the war room.

Halfway down the corridor Nina came running down, "Moya Tsarina, Moya Soverenyi the Apparat has started the meeting early talking about organising your marriage" she said finishing looking at Alina.

Alina gasped and felt for her children, Aleksander looked down kissed her on the forehead " I can walk quicker I will stop this talk and Nina make sure she is stress free before she walks in" Nina nodded at Aleksander as he ran off.

Nina hugged Alina then parted, "Breath in and out" Nina said watching Alina.

"Saints I want to end that man's life" Alina frowned at Nina.

"All of your heartbeats are stable lets go and rip him a new one?" Nina smiled and walked Alina to the meeting.

When they arrive in the room all the men beside the Apparat bowed to Alina, she took her place and sat down. When the other sat she asked, "why was I not informed of this meeting starting earlier?"

"Moya Tsarina" the Apparat started standing up, "we can't have a queen on the throne alone and we need a man to help you. As I was explaining to the rest of the council we need to help you pick that person who will be suitable to rule by yourside"

"And I told you I'm not marrying her" Nikolai argued.

"My prince you will be a good choice the old family with the new" The Apparat turn to him.

"How if I married the Tsarina the Lanstov will still rule and I don't want to rule"

"The Tsarina should be allowed to choose" one of the council men stood up and said to the Apparat, "besides I have never trust you"

"I am a man of God..." the Apparat

"Who has done terrible things" Nikolai stated, "let the Tsarina be"

"But women shouldn't rule" the Apparat shouted.

Mal stood up and walked to the Apparat, when he was next to him, he pulled a plastic bag out of his shirt, the pulled some paperwork out placing it on the table. Grabbing the head of the Apparat with one of his hands to push his head down and Mal point at the paperwork where the names were written.

"NO" the Apparat shout, "he will corrupt her, the General is a bad man, he will .."

Alina smiled, "please do not speak of my husband that way he is a good man who wants what is best for the country and its people"

Nikolai then spoke up, "beside he is the reason why both armies are outfitted so well, my dad didn't care and spent his money on other shit. The people may fear him when I was hear last but they still love him"

"Moya Tsarina," one of the other council men stood up and spoke, "the Apparat has been causing problems around here for years. And I have enough evidence if you wish to have him jailed."

"what what" the Apparat splutter

Alina turn to the guard, "Please escort the Apparat to the Jail and we will review this evidence .."

"Roman Von Arnep Moya Tsarina " Roman stated and bowed.

"Thank you" Alina said as the Apparat shouted out behind them all.

"Now does anyone else have an issue with my husband?" Alina asked

Roman piped up, "we have no issue for the General to be our Tsar.."

Aleksander walked next to Alina as he had been on the other side of the table and interrupted Roman, "I just wanted you to know councilmen that I don't want to be Tsar, by right my wife won it by conquest. I will be her husband, her General for both armies and will stand below her on the council with you all to help better Ravka"