Watching her parents, so old and still so lovey-dovey, Olga felt envious. Her four brothers wore expressions of disdain, and Alexander even made a gagging sound on purpose.
Then the ill-fated crown prince was kicked right out the door by his father.
His younger brothers hurried to check on their eldest brother. Alexander was surprisingly popular among his siblings.
Nicholas I was furious and barked,
"You bunch of little hooligans! Grab your guns! If you don't bring back any game, you don't eat!"
The four brothers could only leave in sullen silence.
Nicholas I turned to his daughter and said,
"Olga, we've found you a good husband. He's an outstanding young man. Father will arrange for him to marry you as the emperor of the Western Roman Empire. You'll be a good empress."
Nicholas I affectionately ruffled his daughter's hair. Olga simply lowered her head, obediently.
Empress Alexandra teased her,
"You're already an old maid of twenty-six. Shouldn't you be happy that you're finally getting married?"
Though the empress said it with a smile, a faint glimmer of tears shone in her eyes.
"Mother!"
"My poor little Olga!"
Mother and daughter embraced.
Empress Alexandra knew that the outstanding young man Nicholas I had mentioned must be very young and accomplished. But men like him often had little time to spare for their families.
Besides, a man like that was certain to have many women, just like her eldest son. Though her husband thought very little of him, as his mother, she knew perfectly well that Alexander was the most capable of her children. Otherwise, his brothers would never have looked up to him so much.
Empress Alexandra never contradicted her husband. A monarch had to save face, and she firmly believed that her husband meant no harm. Her eldest son