“Goodday your majesty.” I curtsy in her presence.

“Vika this is Rasputin, news has spread that he is a holy man”

I look between my queen and this tall, bearded man.  His appearance was of those who claimed to be holy men, can this man be trusted?

“Your majesty, is it such a good idea to trust this man?”

Her gaze changed from kind to icy and cold. 

“Vika, do you dare question my judgment?”

My breath becomes sharp. “O-Of course not my queen!”

“Good, or next time you will be punished.” She strides away with the proclaimed holy man Rasputin.

“Vika!” A younger maid, Daria is her name. Rushes in holding onto a paper.

“What is it? Can’t you see that I am busy?” I scoff. I cannot get anything done!

“The war between Japan and Russia is over.” She waves the paper, “Can you tell me which side has won?”

I sigh, sometimes I forget how fortunate I am to have a father and brother who wanted me to be literate. I take the paper, reading it slowly to see Daria slowly grow agitated with anticipation. I frown, “Mother Russia lost the war.” She stops, the anticipation gone in seconds.

“What a shame. At least his majesty can spend time with his family again.” She takes the paper and throws it into the fireplace.

“Quite the contrary, his majesty will be busy fixing our economy.”

She raises an eyebrow, “Economy?”

I sigh, “Our money system.”

“Oh,” she chuckles, “Well, it should be an easy fix.”

She has a point, it should be easy. She leaves me be, and I go deliver the lunches. As I take care of poor Alexei, I create Anatasia, her new doll. Rasputin...I know that name from somewhere but where? I look at Alexei, “His majesty may not be pleased with the idea of a holy man…”