Even one week after the snowball incident, Anastasia refrained from her pranks and remained silent for much of the time. Maria, her older sister, was disturbed by this. Her younger sister was always the energetic one of the Romanov family, scheming of another prank or joking with Maria. After her lecture and chastisement from her parents, Anastasia was not the same. This was the first time that the vivacious, willful young girl had taken a punishment seriously. Despite Maria complaining that something was wrong with her younger sister, her mother dismissed the strange behavior as her youngest child growing up. When confronted about Anastasia, the Big Pair only repeated what their mother said, but Olga seemed more sympathetic.
Maria woke up next to Anastasia that morning to find that she did not speak with as much energy. The sight of her younger sister with a fearful look in her eyes saddened Maria. Sitting up in her cot, Anastasia looked at the floor, and her blue eyes were dull. Something was still wrong with her sister. It was not like her younger sister to keep silent for most of the day. It was not like her younger sister to refrain from any mischief, especially hoarding cookies from every lunch.
"Nastya?" Maria said, the worry evident in her tone.
Maria was met with a tired look from her sister. "Good morning, Mashka," Anastasia said.
"Do you want to run outside with me before breakfast is ready?"
"No, I do not feel like it."
Maria was disappointed. She had attempted throughout the week to coax the old Nastya out of the facade of an obedient, submissive princess. It was apparent that the spanking had done something to her. For a ten year old, Maria knew what it was, but she did not know the word to describe it.
After dressing into her winter clothing, Maria went to the palace gardens to clear her mind in the early hours of the morning. She walked to the garden ponds to watch the geese float on the tranquil surface of the water. The geese floating on the water reminded Maria of when she and her younger sister went to feed the geese. A memory flashed in her mind. She smiled upon remembering the sweet memory of she and Anastasia idling by the garden ponds. Without any concern about the troubles of life, they had enjoyed themselves that time. Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the sound of approaching footsteps on the paved paths.
"Oh, Mashka! I did not know you went on a walk! Mama is wondering where you have been!" Olga spoke, abruptly stopping in surprise.
"I know... I went here to relax," Maria said.
"That is fine. You have not been here for a long time?"
"Yes, I just got here, the pond where little Nastya and I fed the birds," Maria said with a sigh, bending over to flick pebbles into the pond.
Olga remained silent for a moment, watching her sister toss pebbles into the pond. The geese quacked from being disturbed, and they flapped their wings, soaring into the gray winter sky. Maria smiled, but it did not last long.
"I know you are bothered by something. If it helps you can tell me what it is," she said.
"It is Nastya. You must know that something is wrong with her."
"She is more quiet than usual."
"But... she's not doing pranks anymore! She never laughs anymore!"
"I know that too, but what is wrong with-"
"She is not herself, where is the Nastya I know?" Maria said in desperation, looking at Olga with sadness written on her face.
"In the palace, sitting in her bedroom. Perhaps she has changed, but for the better."
"What? You are saying the same things that Mama and Tatya says. Oh, it is normal... she is growing up."
Olga was speechless. Her sister was partly right on the issue of her youngest sister's uncharacteristic behavior. She considered both sides of the issue before her reply. As expected of a young child, fear often worked well in keeping children obedient. However, ruling through fear alone was not an appropriate way of parenting. She felt that a parent would be better loved than feared. If she were honest with herself, she missed the old Nastya who played pranks to bring happiness to her family.
"You are right, I might be making up reasons to persuade myself. Actually, I miss Nastya's laughter and pranks," Olga said.
"I say that we should cheer her up, we would do anything to get our old Nastya back," Maria said.
"Of course! How about getting Dimitri and little Nastya together as friends?"
Maria looked at the still surface of the pond, deep in thought. "That will work, I think she needs someone to be... comfortable with."
"But there is a risk. What if Papa finds out about their friendship, if they do become friends?"
"That will not happen, Olya. Do not worry, Papa trusts Dimitri."
"What about Mama? She is stricter than Papa."
"Then I will talk to Mama."
"But you will get in trouble!"
"I do not care about that," Maria said, shaking her head.
Olga sighed, giving in to the intentions of her sister. "Alright, Mashka. I hope that nothing goes wrong with this plan."
Standing up, the girls glanced at the palace. Both Olga and Maria believed that their youngest sister's vivacious spirit was not broken. Instead it was dormant, waiting to be rekindled. Dimitri and Maria would be that spark to rekindle the fire of their father's shvibzik.
They both returned to their home, and they entered the door to see their parents waiting for them. Alexandra smiled as she saw her other two daughters approach her. For the Tsarina, having a houseful of four willful children was a nightmare. That was no longer the case, as her youngest child had ceased her bothersome pranks. She felt happy that her discipline had worked. It seemed to be a major accomplishment in her parenting. On the other hand, Nicholas did not smile. He disagreed with how his wife had disciplined his little shvibzik, and he knew that the spanking had traumatized the hapless young girl. A simple grounding would be acceptable rather than corporal punishment.
"It is good to see that you both are safe. Now, let us enjoy breakfast," Alexandra said.
The Romanovs made their way to the Crimson Dining Room, and the guards opened the doors for them to enter. The room was only fourteen meters on each side: a small size for the dining room of a royal family. In the center of the room, a table covered by a white tablecloth stood with eight chairs surrounding it. A white painted wooden cabinet with ornate carvings was on the left side of the room. Nicholas smiled as he saw the two servants, Anton and Dimitri, bow.
"You may rise. I thank you for your service today," he said.
Anton and Dimitri nodded and they turned to walk out of the room. Before he stepped through the open door, Dimitri glanced back at Anastasia, and he still felt disappointed that she was still withdrawn. Her blue eyes did not hold that inner fire. Her delicate little mouth did not curve into a smile. All the kitchen boy received was a quick glance before Anastasia looked away. He did notice a subtle nod from Maria, and he knew that she knew. He left the room, and he made his way back to the kitchen where he was expected to fulfill his duties. The duties as a kitchen boy were simple: carrying dish ingredients to the cooks and helping bake the cookies. However, he wished for something to make his off duty hours more lively. He needed a friend.
Back within the dining room, the royal couple and their children took their seats and prayed for the meal. After doing so, they began to eat, and it was again noticeable that Anastasia remained silent. Instead of paying attention to Anastasia, Alexandra talked with her beloved Nicky about various topic including the location of their next vacation.
"Well, we have not been to Livadia with our girls for over four years!" Nicholas said.
"I think that a cruise in the Standart would make a splendid vacation," Alexandra said.
"Ah, yes. I will consider that. But, we must do something about the riots in St. Petersburg, or else we cannot go to the port."
"You have a point, my dear."
"So, we should go to Livadia instead. It is safer there, and the weather is pleasant, unlike the snowstorms here in Tsarskoe Selo."
Alexandra shook her head, and said, "No, Nicky. There is still a risk of riots anywhere in our empire... Livadia is no better."
"I assure you, my love, that we will be safe there. I will ensure that the guards follow us when we go there," Nicholas reassured, holding his wife's hands.
"Papa, are we going to Livadia?" Maria asked, smiling in excitement.
"Yes, we are, but I do not know when we will."
Maria, who sat next to Anastasia, spoke to her. "Do you hear that, Nastya? We will go to Livadia!"
Anastasia smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah! Maybe we can build sand castles like Olya and Tatya did last time!"
The rest of breakfast passed without any problems, as Anastasia did not hoard any cookies or play any more pranks. She went to her bedroom again, and she laid on her bed. She desired to play pranks on her sisters again, but she feared another spanking from her strict mother. Instead of doing pranks, the youngest Grand Duchess needed to find other activities for her enjoyment. Her mind started to think about Dimitri, and she felt comforted by the thought. He was stubborn like her, and he had never condemned her for her pranks, even the rocky snowball. Would he make a good friend? The two had much in common.
As Anastasia remained in her bedroom, Maria went to the hallway with the servant quarters. She checked a few rooms until she found the room where Dimitri resided, and she knocked on the door, looking around to ensure that her mother was not nearby.
"Almost ready, just wait," Dimitri said.
Dimitri took off his kitchen apron before tossing it into his drawer, and he changed out of his kitchen rubber shoes. After a few moments, he was ready to meet his visitor. Opening the door, he nearly jumped in surprise. In front of him stood the Grand Duchess Maria.
"Can we talk here?" she whispered, looking around the hallway again.
"Yes, Your Highness," Dimitri replied.
"You can say my name. We are not in a ceremony or anything like that."
"Yeah, I see. Just come in," Dimitri said, gesturing for Maria to enter his quarters.
Once Maria entered the room, Dimitri closed the door before asking, "So, what do you want to talk about? I saw that you nodded at me earlier, so is it about your sister?"
"Yeah, I just want to ask you something."
"You, a Grand Duchess, asking me, a kitchen boy?"
"Of course, I only want my little sister to have a friend. I have seen you often look at her, and my sister looks at you a lot too. If you two want, you can both be friends with each other. Both of you look pretty lonely."
"What? But she's a princess, and I'm a kitchen boy!"
"That does not matter. All I care about is getting my old Nastya back," Maria said.
"Alright, if we become friends, then how could I do that?" Dimitri asked with a confused expression.
"Just cheer her up. I trust you, Dimitri."
Dimitri felt flattered. A Grand Duchess, of all people, was asking him for a favor! He grinned, knowing that he had been given approval to befriend his person of his interest: Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the youngest Grand Duchess of Russia. A moment later, he made his decision.
"Okay, Maria. I promise you that I will be the best friend for her."
In the middle of tuning her small guitar, Anastasia heard a knock on her door. She wondered if her visitor was her sister or her father. The thought of her mother at her door frightened her, making goosebumps rise on her back. Few things had scared Anastasia before, but now her mother did thanks to the corporal punishment. Slowly, she stepped to the door. She heard more knocks, and she opened the door to see her sister Maria and the kitchen boy. Sighing in relief, she greeted Dimitri.
"Hello, Dimitri... wait. Are you supposed to be in your room? What would Mama or Papa think?"
"Do not worry, Maria is with me. She wanted me to come here," Dimitri answered.
"Why?"
"I... uh..."
"Come on, kitchen boy! Just say it!" Anastasia said, tapping her foot with impatience.
"Can we be friends?"
Anastasia widened her eyes in disbelief. "I never thought you would say that! Really, you want to be my friend?"
"Sure! I'm a lonely boy too, you know. I guess princesses can be friends with kitchen boys," Dimitri said.
"But can they marry them?"
Dimitri blushed. "Uh..."
"Whatever, of course I will be your friend!"
Anastasia looked at Maria and asked, "Mashka, if we get caught together, can you and Olya tell Papa and Mama that it is okay?"
"No problem, Nastya," Maria reassured her youngest sister.
A.N: And now, we have Anastasia and Dimitri together! Pavel and Olga will come in the next chapter. However, my next semester is coming up, so updates will be less frequent.
