❛Oh Gott nein.❜ The words just slipped out unthinkingly when she saw the impressive frame of her uncle standing at the center of the lobby area and her stomach churned. A part of her was a little relieved to see her cousin, but it was mostly muted by the fact they were both in uniform. German uniform. The tension in the air was chokingly thick and tensed. What being worse that her German tongue slipped in her surprise at seeing them as she walked with the Commissioner at the moment. Immediately petite frame walked a bit more upright, head lifted just slightly more before turning to him as she tried to reign in her panic. ❛If you’ll excuse me a moment, Commissioner. I believe I have some family matters to attend to.❜
With that said she didn’t even wait for his approval and darted off towards the two starkly German officers in the middle of a Russian government building. There was an immediate change in her demeanor strangely enough; her softer more graceful walk became a bit more ridged, shoulders pulled back as she straightened up and warm features turned a bit more stern and controlled. ❛Onkel Klaus. I didn’t know you were in the country.❜ Her voice turned more formal as her hands were tightly holding one another in front of her as she came to stand before him. More than ever she felt the weight of the tension and fear of what might occur. Any one of the men in the building would be ready to pick a fight and she knew her uncle and cousin well enough that it would lead into a brawl that might end with a pistol.
❛Elisabeth, you’re growing more and more lovely like your mother every time I see you.❜ There was only a hint of fondness in her uncle’s eyes as he spoke, but remained the ever imposing hard figure she grew up nervous around. ❛I was not aware that you worked here. I’m here to speak with a Gorlinsky. He’s expecting me.❜
Again she felt her anxiety shoot up higher at the notion that he was here on business. This wouldn’t be good. Her mind was blank trying to come up with an inkling as to why he’d be there to speak with Gorlinsky, but he said that was why he was there. So she prayed silently that this was just going to be a polite discussion on matters of peace. Still she swallowed thickly nodding before gesturing with her hand towards a hallway and taking a step towards it, her frame as erect and upright as any soldier. Something she had learned would better place her in his good graces. ❛Wilhelm, stay with Elisabeth when she returns. Do try not to upset the Bolsheviks; they’re an anxious people. Lead the way, Nichte, if you will.❜
How she hated the sensation of the entire office staff staring at them and boring holes into her. All of them observing her greatest shame. She knew very well how Germans were thought of and had tried to never speak of her mother’s staunch German catholic military side of the family, but apparently as much as she tried to avoid it they managed to find her. So wanting to relieve herself of the pairs of eyes watching she quickly lead her uncle to the office he ordered her to take him to, waiting to hear from Gorlinsky’s dismissal before carefully walking back to the main area where her cousin waited for her. Just as lips parted to greet him did she find herself swept of her feet and spun around briefly as the stern facade of her cousin dropped into the bright goofy smile she knew he had. She couldn’t help the surprised gasp of laughter when he set her down and continued beaming at her with the devilish grin that always meant trouble. ❛Wilhelm, anhalten! This is my place of work! ❜
❛Forgive me, meine prinzessin. How can a lowly officer like me dare approach you so!❜ His laughter filled the area as he swept a bow and her features drained of color. Immediately she grabbed his arm and dragged him off to an empty hall, pinching his coat all the while trying not to let the rising bile in her throat escape.
❛Don’t do that here! You know how we feel about that! We do not discuss royalty, Wilhelm. You’ll get me and my parents in trouble! And please just speak Russian, it’ll be hard enough for me now that you and your father showed up here.❜ Was the terrified plead as she began to wonder if anyone picked up on the phrase, and if they didn’t then the sweeping bow to her would’ve done the trick surely.
❛All the better reason for you and your parents to finally return to Germany.❜
❛Perhaps in caskets. Things have changed, Wilhelm. Russia is my home. We’re not leaving her.❜
❛Rehlein, please. You know your parents were never supposed to have stayed here.❜
❛-it doesn’t matter. Russia is where I belong. I have friends and a life here.❜
❛And perhaps a few friends of the male kind? Like the one looking so concerned now that he’s coming over?❜ Confused by his words she followed his gaze towards the other striking figure in her life. One that made her heart race, brought a smile to her lips and made her feel secure about her place in the world, but now all she could feel was terror in the meeting that was about to happen.
