6

~ALEXANDRA~

I looked from the portico to the aqua blue sea. The tides were gently rolling over the whiteness of the shore. The light tropical breeze constantly caressed my skin. Yet, I sensed that it was going to rain anytime soon. The calm before the storm was obvious in the air.

Turning back inside, I walked towards a small table by the open window and flipped over some of the golden envelopes that laid on a silver tray. They were sent to me from Kremlin many days prior, but I didn't have the heart to read them until now.

I dropped myself on a cushioned armchair and reached over to switch off the lamp as the bright light stung my eyes. With a long exhale, my hands effortlessly broke the red wax that sealed the envelope and took out a piece of creamy white paper. Almost immediately, I came across the content dealing with the state of my royal government. They were all written with the same purpose, to beg me to return to Russia.

With a loud groan, I tossed the letter back onto the tray. Then a whiff of fragrant scent floated into the room— the scent that was all too familiar yet I could never get enough of it. A smile fought its way to my stiff lips. I imagined the only person could have such an effect on me coming towards the room.

"Alex!" a soft melodious childlike voice resonated like music through the closed door. I chuckled at the lovely call. They say when someone loves you, the way they say your name sounds different. I was utterly lucky to know how it felt each and every day.

"I'm here," I said although I knew she could find me easily wherever I might be. The notions that we both were constantly searching for each other was still one hell of excitement to my pumping heart. A sharp screech of the white oaken door made me smile even before she entered.

I stood up and was greeted by the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on.

"Look what I baked for you!" Avery said with a lovely bright smile. She was holding a plate of baked pastry. I looked at the frosty dessert and rolled my eyes.

"Cupcakes again?" I said.

"What you mean, cupcakes again? You don't like my cupcakes now?"

I would have laughed to tears, but Avery insisted us to be as normal as humanly possible, and I didn't want to ruin her mood. With a smile, I walked up to her, wrapped my arms around her petite waist, and pulled her flush against me. She smelled like a field of flowers and honey. I placed my nose on her neck.

"I love your cupcakes," I murmured into her soft cold skin and inhaled, "especially the ones I bake with you in bed."

Avery gasped then slapped my arm.

"You're not eating any with that dirty mouth of yours," she said and pushed me away with her free hand. In her flowing flirty sundress, she was breathtaking. I watched my lover walk towards the small table and placed the plate down. Then her violet eyes drifted over the cluttered letters on the silver tray.

"What are these?" she skimmed through the papers with a frown.

"Ignore them..." I said as I hopped onto the bed.

"Alex," Avery gasped. "You've been ignoring these?"

"Yes." I shrugged and lay back on the pillow then snatched a nearby book from the nightstand to read.

"I don't want to intrude into your political life, but I don't think you should..."

"I don't want to talk about it now," I said, thumbing through the pages of the book without looking at her.

"Aleeeex!..." Avery said my name in a long irritating syllable. She always did that when she wanted my full attention, and I was trying my hardest to ignore her, but it was still the most difficult thing to do. Something I could never succeed even after all these years. But who was I to kid? I would give this girl the moon if it was possible.

As I continued reading in silence, Avery walked up and got on the bed with me. I felt the fabric of her dress brushing against my legs. Before I knew it, she was crawling over to my chest and poked her head through the gap of my arms. Her face blocked my view of the book.

"What are you doing, sneaky kitten?" I asked, looking down at those striking eyes that were staring at me. Avery's perfectly arched eyebrows furrowed as she gave me a pouty look.

"Tell me what is going on," she asked in a soft sweet tone that I couldn't resist smiling despite the annoying subject. With a low sigh, I closed the book and placed it back on the nightstand. The whole time, Avery kept observing me with concerns.

"They ask me to go back," I simply replied. "And I don't want to."

We both gazed into each other's eyes for the longest moment. Then Avery leaned in to kiss my lips. My hands wound around her soft delicate form, trying to cling to the warmth that emitted from our bodies.

"I can't tell you what to do, Alex," she said, resting her forehead on the curve of my neck, "The decision is yours. But I honestly don't think you can ignore whatever the problems might be."

"I'm just tired, Avery," I said, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair as I absentmindedly smoothened the silky strands. "For almost a century, I'd carried the legacy of my family and the nation only to realize that it's not what I should live my life for. Now that I have found love and peace with you, I do not want to go back to that chaotic world anymore."

"I know, ignorance is bliss," Avery said. "Everyone is just trying their best, but maybe only you know how to untie the knot."

I tightened my embrace around her and kissed the top of her head. She was right. The more I ignored the call, the louder it became.