Standing in front of us was the man loathed by millions. The man blamed for the deaths and destruction caused by the Great War, the crippled Kaiser.
He wrapped his arms around us, and he cried.. yes he cried. I saw actual tears in his eyes..
" You are all aware that your mother and I were first cousins. We were both grandchildren of Queen Victoria, so you are like my children too. It broke my heart to learn the deaths of your parents and sisters. Your father and I had our differences but I never wished him and your family any harm and misfortune." He said with a sincere voice.
I didn't know how to react. Was he just playing nice to get something out of us? Was he planning something or did he make a deal with the Bolsheviks?
At the dinner table, the Kaiser shared some childhood memories he had with my mother and my aunt Ella. He used to be so madly in love with my Aunt but she refused his proposals and she chose to marry papa's uncle instead.
The Kaiser was heartbroken and it took him a long time to forget my Aunt because according to him, she was and still is the most beautiful lady he saw in his entire life.
Aunt Ella, a Grandduchess by marriage became a widow at a young age. Her husband, Grandduke Serge was murdered the imperial family's many enemies. She then decided to enter a convent and became a nun.
She was close to me and to my siblings. She used to visit us a lot and we adored her natural good nature. She was a wise and realistic woman. If Mama only listened to her pleas to get rid of Rasputin, maybe things would have been different for all of us, and for all of Russia.
Russia is no longer an Empire. We no longer have a kingdom, we no longer have a home since our enemies declared it a republic and killed all the Romanovs. The fortunate ones went into exile, but Aunt Ella didn't make it.
She too was murdered like the rest of my family.
I finally had the courage to ask the Kaiser about his plans for me and Alexei, the new Tsar.
I was surprised by his answer..