Part Eight: Gathering Storm

## 25 April 1907

*The days following the Petrovna Family’s sudden appearance in St. Romovna pass in a haze, with life continuing on as normal. Many people chalk the story of their presence as nothing more than idle rumor, paying it little attention as they carry on with their week. There are those though who take the so-called rumors more seriously, and tensions in St Peter’s seem to be on the rise.

Now, as the third day passes, dark clouds fill the horizon. A cruel wind whips through the streets and the temperature drops by the minute, bringing the city slowly to a standstill. All the while, enemies are closing in and the Petrovna’s time in the city seems to be running out.

Multiple storms are brewing in St. Romovna, and it’s only a matter of time before one finally breaks.*

**Charlotte** wakes up, gets dressed, and leaves her room to look for **Alexandra**

**Maria** is in the parlor with **Alexandra** and then goes outside and sits under a tree

**Jamie** walks trough the streets and asks **Lev** if he owns a rowboat

**Alexandra** sits at a table in the parlor playing cards

**Charlotte** finds **Alexandra** says says she needs to talk to her

**Alexandra** tells **Charlotte** good morning and tells her to sit and play ecarte with her and asks what she wishes to discuss

**Magnus** watches the city of **St.Romovna** and tortures a man

**Anya** and **Harvey** asks her how long she's been up and **Anya** says that she couldn't sleep and **Harvey** asks if she is okay and she says she's fine. **Anya** gets dressed and tells him that **Volosky** and **Lev** are going to the **Iva Roscha** today and asks if **Jamie** was telling the truth and **Harvey** says he's not a liar. They both argue for a bit and she leaves to go to the market.

**Juste** sees **Maria** and tells her good morning

**Charlotte** sits across from **Alexandra** and tells her that **Maria** knows and she hates her and it can't be long before **Nikolai** finds out as well and she can't go through with it

**Maria** tells **Juste** good morning and asks how much longer they will be there

**Alexandra** asks what brought this on and says of course she knows

**Charlotte** says they got into an argument on the subject and said it would destroy her and asks what would happen if **Nikolai** found out and she can't go through with it

**Alexandra** says **Nikolai** won't find out and says they are doing this for **Nikolai** and the crown will be the death of him and people will always seek to hurt their family and this plan will save **Nikolai** and **Karoleva** and says he never has to know that they were involved and says she should speak with **Maria** soon.

**Juste** says they shouldn't linger and says they should try to announce themselves and rally the support of the local lords

**Charlotte** says it won't look that why to the courtiers and all see someone power hungry enough to overthrow her own brother and reluctantly agrees and say she can try to reason with **Maria**

**Maria** says she's not ready to go back there and asks if they will leave before nightfall

**Alexandra** says she wouldn't ask her to do this if she didn't think she could handle it and says to be careful with **Maria** as she's been volatile and asks if it's too early to hope for breakfast

**Anya** talks with **Molly** and recent events and the **Novaya**

**Charlotte** who once lived in the **d'Alabanza** house

**Alexandra** told **Charlotte** that the d'Alabanza's were Coustellet's ambassador to Karoleva, the ambassador's wife was a friend of **Alexandra's** mother.

**Jamie** went across the **Volga River** to the eastern bank to see **Maria**

**Isabella** woke **Cedric** up in order to speak with him

**Renon** told **Maria** he didn't want to come back to **St.Romovna** again either and that they needed to speak with **Alexandra**

**Maria** told **Renon** he needed to speak with her as **Alexandra** wouldn't take her seriously and said she needed to ask him something

**Juste** asks what **Maria** wished to ask

**Maria** doesn't ask him a question but instead kisses **Juste**

**Juste** kissed **Maria** back and asked her if they could run

**Maria** realizes she's being a dumb bitch and said that would be insanity and apologizes

**Juste** accepted and pressed her against a tree and ordered her to carry a knife and a revolver with her at all times and she would be able to fight and says he hopes she won't continue to regret her decision and left to find **Alexandra**

**Maria** lets **Juste** leave

**Juste** goes into the **d'Alabanza House** in order to find **Alexandra**

**Maria** stays in the garden thinking

**Jamie** finds the **d'Alabanza House** and saw the scene between **Maria** and **Juste. Jamie** waited till **Juste** was gone to confront **Maria** and asked if she wanted to talk about what happened and they speak.

**Juste** collapses in the **d'Alabanza House** before going to see **Alexandra** in the palor

**Charlotte** saw **Juste** and left the parlor

**Alexandra** asks **Juste** about breakfast and tea

**Alexei** is observing the **Belinsky** walls being rebuilt

**Katerina** is in the **Alexander Palace Tea Parlor** with **Grand Duchess Ilsa** who she is having tea with

**Alexei** goes to the **Alexander Palace** to see **Ilsa**

**Katerina** is asked by **Ilsa** to play the piano until any advisors get there, she goes and plays In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree

**Alexei** goes into the **Parlor** and tells **Ilsa** that the reconstruction of **Belinsky** is going faster than planned

**Juste** tells **Alexandra** that it's time to seek help

**Ilsa** tAlexei agrrells **Alexei** that is great news and offers him some tea

**Alexandra** asks **Juste** what kind of help

**Alexei** agrees to tea and gives his condolences to **Katya**

**Katya** gives her condolences to **Alexei** as well

**Juste** suggests to **Alix** that they need to make their presence known to get local protection.

**Alix** asks **Juste** if they are going to the **Romovna Palace** and when they could leave

**Lisbeth** comforts **Lilly** with **Malenkov**

**Nikolai** decides to be a little bitch boy and paces around in his room angry at **Juste**

**Charlotte** sees **Lisbeth, Lilly, and Malenkov,** gets angry, and goes to ask **Nikolai** who they are

**Nikolai** asks who she is talking about and goes on a rant about being lead by **Juste,** saying their family is careless, or the "innocent" people that are following them and he doesn't know who anyone is anymore.

(Nikolai, this was all your decision)

**Charlotte** says that the woman is a rebel and not innocent and that she agrees **Juste** is a bad man but this was his choice and that he could choose to be helpless if he wanted, but some of them truly have no choice in these matters.

**Alexei** thanks **Katya** and tells **Ilsa** about speculation that **Justin** helped **Lisbeth** from prison and that guards that were guarded her are currently being questioned.

**Ilsa** watched **Alexei** and **Katya** speak and told **Alexei** to make sure to update her on what they say and asks if there are any clues on where the royal family has gone.

**Juste** saw they could go to the **Romovna Palace** immediately which would leave them open for the **Novaya Karoleva** or wait for reinforcements.

**Alexei** tells **Ilsa** that there hasn't and gives his guesses on where they were but is sure that they will soon

**Ilsa** thanks **Alexei** and asks if there is anything else

**Juste** tells **Alexandra** that he will tell be sending the message immediately and asks why he needs to tell **Nikolai**

**Alexandra** asks **Juste** if she needs to do it and **Nikolai** is the King

**Cedric** is taken to an empty bedroom by **Isabella**

**Nikolai** tells **Charlotte** that he trust **Lisbeth** with his life and ranted about not having a choice.

**Charlotte** argues with him and asks again who **Lisbeth, Malenkov,** and **Lilly** are.

**Maria** speaks with **Jamie** about his life before he leaves and she goes back inside

**Nikolai** starts ranting and leaves the rooms, he leaves a note with his ring for **Charlotte** to be better than him and leaves the **d'Alabanza House**

(Nikolai you DUMB BITCH)

**Charlotte** leaves the room and goes into an empty drawing room and decides **Nikolai** needs to get off the throne

**Juste** tells **Alexandra** he would find **Nikolai**

**Isabella** sees **Maria** and asks if she is all right

**Lisbeth** argues with **Malenkov** about going to find **Justin**

**Maria** tells **Isabella** it's been a long morning and asks the same to **Isabella**

**Alexandra** watches **Juste** leave

**Isabella** says she doesn't how any of them thought their lives would go to **Maria**

**Maria** agrees with **Isabella** and apologizes for **Alexandra** and says she must really love **Nikolai**

**Alexei** says no and excuses himself

**Isabella** tells **Maria** she does but is unsure if she should give up the **Manturian** throne and believes she can still love **Nikolai** without giving anything up.

**Maria** says she shouldn't have to give up everything and **Nikolai** hasn't done anything to deserve much a sacrifice

**Magnus** watches the **d'Alabanza House** and goes inside

**Nikolai** is in a pub and is captured by **Theodore**

**Natasha** arrives at the **Khilkovetsnva Mansion** and goes inside

**Olga** goes to the **Khilkovetsnva Mansion** and goes inside