The Empress Maria's boudoir could also be referred to as a "little drawing room."
The large white door was adorned with golden reliefs, and the handles were shaped like dragon claws gripping a giant round ruby.
"Little Nicky? Come in quickly."
Nicholas gently knocked on the door, and his mother Minnie's voice beckoned from within. He then entered the intimate space frequented by noblewomen of the court.
Empress Maria's little drawing room, like many rooms in the Winter Palace, was illuminated solely by windows facing the Neva River, resulting in a somewhat dim interior. However, the crystal chandeliers had been fitted with electric lights, and under the slightly yellowish glow of the incandescent bulbs, Minnie's boudoir exuded a hazy, classical oil painting-like cinematic quality.
The Rococo-style drawing room emanated a feminine charm, with walls draped in deep red curtains. Opposite the window was an oval mirror that further reflected the light from outside and from the chandeliers.
This exquisitely decorated boudoir was the pinnacle of Russia's high society social scene, though it had its rivals, such as Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna in Moscow, who competed with the Empress in elegance.
"Little Nicky, you're just in time. Help me decide which of these looks best."
At just 45, Empress Maria's pampered lifestyle had preserved her beauty well. Even as a princess, her looks had earned her praise in the Russian court, and nearly twenty years later, she had lost none of her allure.
In high society, fashion sense was crucial, and Minnie's was impeccable. Her maids surrounded her, laying out an array of dresses on a red leather, gold-trimmed sofa. The dazzling, colorful high-fashion dresses and the Empress's jewelry were nearly blinding to Nicholas.
As the fashion icon of the Russian court, Minnie not only followed the latest trends but also spared no expense. Her jewelry was a testament to this, with large diamonds and pearls combined in ostentatious displays.
The necklace Minnie wore now was made up of 18 teardrop-shaped pearls and 529 diamonds, and a brooch with a large blue sapphire surrounded by dozens of diamonds and a teardrop pearl hung at her bosom.
Nicholas recognized it from a past life memory of Queen Elizabeth II of England, and it made sense considering the fate of the Romanov family that Maria's jewels would end up scattered.
"Little Nicky? What are you daydreaming about?"
Minnie gently nudged the distracted crown prince, bringing him back from his wandering thoughts.
"No… um, I think everything looks great, Mom. Mainly because you look great."
Nicholas's flattery brought a smile to Empress Maria's face, but she pressed him further. "Little Nicky, I'm not asking for compliments! You need to learn to help solve ladies' dilemmas, like for your future wife."
At this, seeing Nicholas's eager expression about his upcoming trip to London, Minnie felt a twinge of jealousy. She had always considered Nicholas and his two brothers as her precious darlings. Now, thinking about "Little Nicky" spending time with his fiancée in London brought a pang of sadness.
Though she approved of his future wife, a woman's heart is complex, and Maria's was no exception.
"Then how about this one?" Nicholas suggested, pointing to a new Rococo-style dress a maid held up. He could only tell it was purple, not the specific shades like lavender or rose purple.
"No, this one feels too old-fashioned. I want to look younger."
"…"
Nicholas scratched his nose, feeling like he was back in the familiar loop of helping a woman shop.
"What about this one?"
"Not elegant enough, a bit too flashy."
"This one?"
"I'm looking for something in darker colors."
"Um, how about this one?"
"Too black…"
"…"
Nicholas was at a loss, almost expecting her to ask for "multicolored black."
Eventually, after over an hour, Empress Maria had several large trunks packed, while Nicholas had a simple suitcase.
"Little Nicky, you're bringing too little."
Minnie complained about her son's lack of fashion sensitivity.
"I can always buy more in London," Nicholas replied casually.
By the time they were ready, it was nearly noon, so they decided to have lunch before departing.
"Nicky, where are you and Mom going?" Nicholas's sisters, Xenia and Olga, asked as they saw the servants loading the luggage into carriages parked at the Winter Palace.
"Nicky will go to Germany first, then to England," Minnie replied.
"Yes," Nicholas nodded, aware of his mother's preference for her sons over her daughters.
The arrival of his brothers, George and Michael, lifted the somewhat cool atmosphere. Michael, the youngest and most doted upon, always managed to lighten the mood.
"Hey, Nicky," 14-year-old Michael said, pulling on Nicholas's arm. "I heard from Dad you're going to Anglo!"
"Anglo?"
"Yeah, Dad said something about Ang… Ang Sax…"
"Anglo-Saxon?"
"Yes, yes, you're so smart, Nicky."
"It's nothing special..."
As the family continued to chat, Alexander III hurried in. The Tsar valued family time and insisted on the importance of family meals.
Silence fell during the meal, with only the clinking of cutlery against plates after the father led a brief prayer.
"I will miss you terribly during our time apart, Sasha."
"The Winter Palace feels like a lost castle without you, Minnie."
After lunch, Sasha and Minnie exchanged loving farewells as husband and wife.
As the carriage departed from the Winter Palace, Nicholas saw the "Alexander Column" in Palace Square. The 47.5-meter monument was built to commemorate the victory over Napoleon in 1812.
"If only I could win a great war, I'd love to erect a grand triumphal column," Nicholas mused.
Empress Maria dismissed Nicholas's remark as the baseless boast of a young man.
Crown Prince Nicholas and Empress Maria departed from the Nikolayevsky Railway Station in Saint Petersburg.
This Baroque-style station building was situated on the spacious Znamensky Square, at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and Ligovsky Prospekt, bustling with busy foot traffic.
They would board the royal yacht "Polar Star," docked at the Kronstadt commercial port, with their first stop being the Kingdom of Denmark, Empress Maria's homeland, in Copenhagen.
"Your father loves spending time in Denmark, Little Nicky."
Whenever Empress Minnie mentioned her hometown, she couldn't help but become more talkative.
"Yes, I know."
Nicholas nodded, remembering how Alexander III often took the family to spend summers in Copenhagen.
The Tsar had his own estate in Copenhagen, where he could shed his regal identity and engage in "big kid" activities, like spraying the Danish King Christian IX or the Swedish King Oscar II with a garden hose.
This was Alexander III's favorite way of socializing.
"Do you remember the story about your father and your uncle walking together?"
Life aboard the yacht was dull, with card games, reading, and chatting being the main diversions.
Nicholas had heard his mother recount this anecdote many times. Though Empress Minnie didn't look old, she had developed a habit of repeating stories.
"Yes... the one where they met the tourist."
"That's right."
Perhaps due to the lack of entertainment, an amusing story could be retold multiple times. Nicholas patiently listened to his mother's tale once more.
The story went like this:
Alexander III enjoyed walking in the suburbs with his brother-in-law, the Prince of Wales, Bertie, and other relatives. One day, they encountered a lost traveler.
The traveler, unaware of who they were, asked for directions to the city center and then inquired about their names to thank them.
"We are the Emperor of Russia, the King of Denmark, the King of Greece, and the Prince of Wales."
This was Alexander III's response.
"Then I am the Queen of Sheba," the traveler replied.
The Prince of Wales, Edward, nicknamed Bertie, was called "Uncle Bertie" by Wilhelm II. Therefore, many European royal descendants, including Nicholas, referred to the Prince of Wales as Uncle Bertie.