Chapter Text
November 26th, 1894, 10:35 am.
While Alexandra paced around the room, her body coursing with excitement and nervousness, she couldn't help but reflect on how she had gone from being the daughter of a minor German duke to the fiancée of the Tsar of all Russians. And now, today was her wedding day.
A white lace veil framed her features and her gown was of conventional Russian court design, but much, much more opulent. Made out of white satin embroidered with passementerie, the gown gleamed with silver trim, with buttons of jewels dripping down the skirt. Of course, it was an overdose for Alix's taste, but somehow it seemed impossible to complain against.
Just then, one of her ladies-in-waiting and closest friends, Anastasia Ivanov, entered the room. Her dress, also in the Russian court style, was far simpler compared to Alix's.
"Your Majesty," Anastasia greeted, curtsying respectfully. Alix felt an odd twinge of discomfort seeing one of her dearest friends bound by the formalities of court life.
Anastasia rose from her seat gracefully and continued, "It is time to go," stepping toward the door and holding it open for Alix.
As she stepped into the hallway, the nerves in Alix's body began to heighten. So many eyes would soon be upon her. The grand walls of the church in the Winter Palace seemed as if they might close in on her.
But then, two faces she knew well took the edge off her anxiety: her sister, Elisabeth, was standing beside her sister-in-law, the Grand Duchess Xenia.
Alix gave them both a slight smile, and they smiled back. Ella's was warm and reassuring, the kind of smile that felt like a quiet embrace.
Yet, as she walked farther down the aisle, her unease crept back in.
She could feel the weight of her mother-in-law's gaze. Maria Feodorovna watched her intently, her expression unreadable, yet sharp. Alix was convinced Maria didn't quite approve of her, and the thought only made her steps feel heavier.
November 26th, 1894, 11:18 pm
As she sat on the edge of the bed, Alix couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous about the wedding that had taken place only hours earlier. What if she had made a mistake? What if word got out to the public? What if she was ridiculed for it?
Her anxious thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. When she looked up, she saw that it was not, in fact, a lady’s maid or a servant, but her husband, Nikolai, dressed in loose-fitting white cotton trousers and a nightshirt.
Her gaze immediately softened, fondness and affection replacing the earlier distress on her face.
“Nicky,” Alix greeted, her tone warm as she glanced up and smiled at her new husband.
Nikolai returned the smile as he sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, wrapping an arm gently around her shoulders.
However, it wasn’t long before he noticed that something seemed off. She looked a bit... tense.
“Alix,” he began, his voice warm yet tinged with concern.
“Yes?” Alix asked, her tone betraying a hint of worry as she fiddled with the edge of her nightgown.
The tension in the room was palpable, the only sound coming from the faint chirping of crickets outside, their calls slowly fading in the cold Russian winter.
The room was bathed in the soft glow of an oil lamp, its light casting a warm, golden hue across the walls.
It was a long minute before Nikolai spoke again.
“You just seem a bit…” he hesitated, searching for the right word, careful not to offend her. “Tense,” he said finally.
Alix sighed. He had noticed.
“Well…” she began, her voice heavy with unease. “I’m just a bit stressed about everything that happened today…”
November 27th, 1894, 11:13 am
As the morning light shown through the silk curtains, Alix eventually stirred, letting out a groan as she yawned.
As expected, she found herself alone in her bedchambers, as expected, though.
The consummation had taken a toll on her, her legs felt sore and it was a bit uncomfortable.
She leaned over, ringing the bell on her bedside table to call for her lady in waiting she rubbed her eyes, yawing as she did.
In about 3 minutes, two of her ladies in waiting’s came into the room, Anastasia Ivanov And Sofiya Mikhailovna. “Your majesty,” they both said in unison, curtsying as they did. Alix smiled, these two women had been to support her since her arrival in Russia, and having them be in a such close role in her household made her feel reassured. “Just a water would be fine, please.” She said, her tone warm.
The two women rose from the curtsy, though Sofiya rose a bit sooner. “Coming right up, your majesty.” She said, her tone still polite.
She soon left the room to go and fetch the water, before coming back a few minutes later with a glass of water, alix’s favorite *she knows me so well..* alix thought to herself, before speaking up. “Thank you Sofiya,” she said, a small smile on her face.
She lifted the glass to her lips, the cold, refreshing liquid sliding down her throat as she let out a soft “mmm…”
After finishing the glass, she put it on her bedside table and spoke again.
“I’d like to dress now, please.” She said, her tone still polite yet a tiny bit impatient.
“Of course, your majesty.” Anya replied, her tone warm yet still respectful.
Alix got out of bed, her cotton nightgown swaying as she stepped, she let out a quiet groan, feeling a slight pain in her knees from the night before.
Anya directed her to sit on the edge of the bed, following the directions alix gracefully sat down.
Sofiya quickly headed towards her trunk that had all her stockings, taking out a pair of white silk ones.
She kneeled in front of alix, grabbing her left foot and unrolled the stocking before putting it on, she did the same with the other foot.
As she rose, Anya gave a signal for alix to do the same, catching the idea, alix quickly rose from her spot on the edge of the bed.
Getting a nod from Anya, sofiya quickly grabbed a corset from another trunk.
She put the undergarment around Alix’s body, fastening the metal eyelets before lacing it tight enough it would give the fashionable silhouette of the time while still being comfortable.
She then grabbed a bustle pad from another trunk, tying it around alix’s waist quickly.
Grabbing three petticoats, she quickly put them on alix, tying the drawstring for all three.
She then put a black, silk walking skirt on alix, it was actually quite comfortable.
Then came the detachable collar, then the broach, it was in the shape of a dragon fly, precious jewels adorned it.
Then came the red, woolen scarf, then her black overcoat, buttoning it quickly.
“All done!” Sofiya announced , alix sighed in relief, she was glad it was all over.