Chapter Eighteen

The Price of Truth

The ride to Count Dubrov’s was an agonizing ride, because my body was filled with so many emotions blending together.  My head was swimming with thoughts, questions, assumptions, and I probably had played out how the whole night would probably go at least ten times, by the time we reached the gated entrance of the estate.

“Lisa, please, you’ll be fine.  You’re smart and you have a lot more of your great grandmother than you may realize.  Trust and believe in yourself, you’ll find the confidence and courage that you’ll need.  I must also make you aware of something as we are almost there.” Mr. Poloski said across from me in the black stretch limo.

I couldn’t respond, I just took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm my nerves as he began to continue.

“Lisa, once we leave this car, I will not be addressing you as Lisa, I’m afraid in the presence of other royals such as my uncle, and the position we are in, I will have to address you formally. Lisa, you can do this.  I’m right here beside you, and you’re great grandmother thinks you are ready for this. Yes, I’ve already informed Her Grace, about this evening’s agenda.” Mr. Poloski said as he saw the confused look on my face.

“I also must prepare you, I am not sure who all will be here, but one this is for certain, there will be someone to do a DNA test, but it won’t be so bad.  Under no circumstances can we give the exact location of your great grandmother.  I’m still figuring out who can be trusted.  I understand you want to reconnect one or two family members with your great grandmother, but we need to be sure yalls safety is secured.” Mr. Poloski said as he leaned in showing a serious face that matched his words and voice.

“Yes, of course.  Will they make me choose tonight?  I don’t know if I want this or not. And what about Ros?” I asked, my head starting to swim more with fearful thoughts.

“I’m not sure if tonight’s meeting is that kind of meeting, usually you would publically announced, but I’m really not sure what’s going to happen tonight.  As far as Ros is concern, I’m not sure if he’ll be here tonight, and either way he’s about to discover what all the secrecy has been all about. But don’t be worried about that, you just need to focus on being your charming self; we’ll get through this together.  Just think how many times your great grandmother had to attend parties like these, and think about how graceful she was at them. You can do this; remember you are a Grand Duchess, act like it.” He said with a smile and a wink before the car door opened and he got out holding his hand out for me to take it, so I could follow him and be escorted into the very large mansion that was built out of grey stone.

I can do this, just breathe, don’t trip, think about what would Nunna do in this situation, I coached myself as I took a deep breath before Mr. Poloski rang the door bell.

“It’ll be fine your highness.” Mr. Poloski said to confort me, but hearing him call me that formally just made a little bit more nervous, before the door opened up revealing an older man in a suit and no facial expression what so ever.

“I’m Count Rasputin, Count Dubrov is expecting us.” Mr. Poloski said in fluent Russian as what I finally assumed was the butler escorted us in to the foyer, which was very grand, not like the palaces’ foyers, but still very large.

“Follow me this way please.” The butler said as he led us through several other nicely decorated rooms before entering inside what I could only guess was the entertainment room or what used to be a ballroom.  My eyes went from looking at the details of the room to the faces that seemed to all turn toward our direction.  There had to be at least ten people in the room, none of them were Count Dubrov though.

“Ah William, welcome.” I heard a low baritone voice speak behind us, causing me to turn around quickly seeing the smile of Count Dubrov as he drew us into a warm hug.  Okay so maybe this won’t be that bad. I told my mind which was beginning to calm down a little bit more.

“Hello Uncle.  Thank you for inviting us.” Mr. Poloski said as he started walking beside Count Dubrov as he led us more into the room to greet other guests.

“The pleasure is all mine I assure you, and you, Annalisa, welcome.” Count Dubrov said as he took my hand and kissed it.

Then one by one I was introduced by Count Dubrov and some from Mr. Poloski other men and women, all them had titles before their names, either Lady, Sir, Count, Baron, etc. One person after another, I shook their hands did a small courtesy or had my hand or cheeks kissed.  However when I reached the last person, I felt my cheeks peak with color as Prince Ros kissed my hand and drew me into a warm friendly hug. This had definitely caused whispers to start.

“It’s good to see you again Lisa.” Ros said in Russian, as he smiled down at me.

“It’s great to see you again too Ros, I didn’t know you were going to be here or else I would’ve brought your jacket from the other night.  Thanks again for it.” I said with a smile, almost forgetting that we were not the only ones in the room and the fact that everyone was probably here to find out if I was truly related to the Romanovs.

“Oh don’t worry about it; I can get it some other time.  I’m just glad I have someone here my age to keep me company with a room full of….old people.” He said as he spoke the last two words in a whisper, causing me to giggle with him.

“Ros, dear boy, I’m glad you are making our guest of honor feel more at ease.” Count Dubrov said with a smile and a pat on the shoulder as he approached us.

“I assure you, she’s the one entertaining me.” Ros said with a smile and a friendly wink.

“Well, we do have some things to discuss, which is why I have brought you all here.” Count Dubrov announced a little louder, causing everyone to stop talking and mingling and look at him.

“But first, let us enjoy a meal I have had my cook prepare especially for our two honor guests, my nephew Count William and his pupil Annalisa Peterson.” He said as he led the way towards the dining room that was formally set.

One by one everyone took a seat, I ended up choosing the first chair that I came to, not so lucky for me it was pretty much dead center of the table. However, Ros ended up seating to my left, and Mr. Poloski to my right, and I became a little bit more at ease with the formality of the situation I was in.  Count Dubrov made the dinner very relaxed feeling, even though he knew why exactly Mr. Poloski and I were here, as well as the other ten people.  Be the perfect host, I etched in my mind as one of the royal duties that I would need to just remember.

Several times I caught Count Dubrov glancing over at me and then at Ros who was really keeping me entertained, and we would both laugh at certain things that were being said or what other people were doing.  Ros was truly becoming a great friend in this new world of royalty, and I was so grateful for it. Dish after dish, food came and went, and boy was it so good.  I didn’t know what half of it was, despite both Mr. Poloski and Ros trying to explain it to me, but it was so good. Then the moment came, the one I had been dreading since Mr. Poloski told me we were coming over to this place.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you all enjoyed your meal this evening.  I’m afraid I didn’t just bring you here to feed you, but we have a much more important matter to discuss.  If you all would please join me in the lounge, for some brandy as well as to start the meeting.” Count Dubrov said as he cling his knife against a glass and stood up to address all of us, which caused many people to start to talk.  Even Ros, really had no clue why we were all here and was asking me if I knew what the meeting was about.

“Yes, but we all will find out in a few minutes, I’d best not spoil the evening by spilling the beans.” I said, not knowing if I should tell him the whole truth or not.

Ten minutes later, Count Dubrov was standing by a fireplace that wasn’t lit, and held a glass of brandy in his hand.  Everyone had finally settled into their places in room, and I was staring to play with my fingers as my nerves were working up more and more.  Ros glanced over at me, giving me a weird look as he saw how nervous I was and then placed his hand on top of mine, making me stop moving. I was about to say something, and so was he, when Count Dubrov began the meeting that I had been waiting for since Nunna first told me I was a Romanov.

“Good evening, I trust you have enjoyed the evening thus far. As I said in the dining room, as much as I do love to entertain, tonight’s dinner was only to make our two honor guests feel more at ease.  You all have met my nephew Count William Poloski Rasputin many years ago and now he has brought this special young lady here to meet all of you.  However this young lady is a walking book of secrets.” He said as he started to explain and everyone’s gazes went from me to back to Count Dubrov.  This was it, the moment I had been waiting for, the words that I had been agonizing over.

“Miss Annalisa, will you please tell everyone what your real name is?  I’m sure everyone is dying to know.” Count Dubrov asked, with not really an option to say no.  I glanced first to Ros, who was giving me a surprised and confused look, and then over to Mr. Poloski, who looked almost as nervous as I was, but then nodded giving me a faint smile to try to encourage me.  You are the last Grand Duchess of Russia, Lisa…so act like it, Nunna’s words echoed in my mind as I stood up and began to walk over towards Count Dubrov, taking a deep breath and tried to gain more confidence.

“Annalisa, your real name please.” Count Dubrov, repeated again more softly as he placed a hand on my shoulder, I assumed to help me feel more at ease, but his hand only caused my heart to beat faster as I became even more nervous.  With one look around the room at all the faces that were staring at me in anticipation and then lastly to Ros and Mr. Poloski who both gave me an uneasy half smile, because of wondering what I would say, I finally drew in one deep breath, and spoke.

“My name is Annalisa Nicola Dimitriievna Peterson Romanova, Grand Duchess of Russia; my great grandmamma is who you all know as Anastasia Nicholaevna Vasilieva Romanova, Grand Duchess of Russia.” I said as I built up more confidence with each word I spoke in now fluent Russian.  I was proud of my name, and right now, even if they didn’t believe right away, I knew they had just received the news of the century.  I was the rightful heir to the throne, my great grandmamma was their mythical Grand Duchess Anastasia, and nothing in this world could change that.

Silence filled the room, everyone was looking at me, then at each other, then looked up at Count Dubrov who was looking down at me with warm but concerned eyes.  Did he believe me? I wondered briefly in my mind, before Mr. Poloski started to stand up from his chair and walk to stand beside me, probably worried I would need back up or protection.  I looked up at Mr. Poloski who was looking at me and then back to his uncle, until talk began to fill the room, people talking with each other, asking me question, asking Count Dubrov questions.  Everyone had something to say, but Ros, who was still planted in his chair, his eyes looking from me to the floor and then back to me again, his mouth remained shut, but in a way I got the vibe that his whole world just turned and changed.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please.  I’m sure all your questions will be answer in due time, and I’m sure all of you are wondering if what this young American girl says is true, I assure you, we have done, and will again do some tests, and research this more.  Until then I must plead with you to not make a public scene or leak this to the press.  We need to keep this between our families right now, and if the public learns of this, well, we won’t get anything done in a timely fashion.  Agreed?” Count Dubrov, said as he looked at everyone in the eye.

“Miss, I’ve seen a lot, and have heard a lot of young girls who claim to be Anastasia or related to her, so how can I know that what you are saying is true.  Why do you choose to be acknowledged now of all times, do you want money, fame, what is it that you want?” The elderly Princess Irene Romanova who was married into the family said as she stood up from her seat and held her cane as well as the Baron’s shoulder next to her.  The room became silent, awaiting my reply.  I knew they would ask me this question, but I didn’t really expect it to sound like what was my price for them knowing the truth about me.  Did I really want something?  I didn’t really want the money, even though that would be nice.  I didn’t want the fame, the Lord knows I don’t want that, because I enjoy being able to go in and out of places without being followed or going through all that the celebrities and other royals had to go through.  Why did I choose now to come to Russia to search out my family?  Oh yeah because I wanted to please Nunna who was currently in a nursing home back home, and dying, and reconnect her with someone from her family.

“Please, I know this is a lot to take in, when Nunna told me just a short time ago, I didn’t believe her either, but what I say is true.  And I hope after all the testing as if I’m a lab rat that you make me undergo you all will finally believe me.  I chose now to come to Russia, because my great grandmamma is dying, and I wanted her to see someone from her family, that she hasn’t seen in over ninety years, before she passes.  I want her to feel that she hasn’t been forgotten and that there’s hope for her beloved Russia.  I never thought that with knowing the truth, and telling it to you now that there would be a price.” I said as I stared back at her, with growing confidence.  The Princess slowly sat back down, after asking a few more little questions about when I found out, again who was my Nunna, etc.

“Miss, how can you prove it to us right now that you are who you say you are?” Count Cyril Nieroth asked as he spoke from his seated place behind Ros who was just staring at me with confused eyes that was filled with so many questions.

“My great grandmamma told me so, and she gave me this, telling me to never take this off of my left hand.” I said as I held up my left hand showing my Imperial ring.  Count Dubrov was the first to take my hand to see the ring closer.  Then once he analyzed it enough himself, more people came up from their seats to get a good look at the ring. Finally Ros, got up from his chair, the room became silent, as he crossed the room towards me.  My heart was pounding in my chest, as my mind just became silent only wondering what he was thinking at this moment.  Ros first looked at me in the eyes, before taking his hand to bring mine up closer to his eye level, to see the ring.  After a moment, he himself put his hand on his neck and started lifting up his chain that I hadn’t noticed he wore until now, and at the end of the chain was a ring, a ring that looked identical to mine.  He looked at me once more in the eye then his eyes scanned my face, before he spoke softly.

“Lisa, is what you say is true?” He asked his voice filled with urgency and curiosity.

“Yes.  Ros, it is.  I’m not a liar.” I said as my eyes bore back into his, urging him to believe me.

“I believe you,” He said softly, and I wasn’t sure if I heard him right the first time.

“What?” I asked.

“I said, ‘I believe you.’ Lisa, I knew there was something about you the moment I met you, something I couldn’t put my finger on.  Not just your personality but how you hold and carry yourself.  Plus, I have a photograph at home of my great grandmother and her sisters, you look just like them when they were your age. And I have been looking at it constantly since the night I met you.” He said louder, so that everyone in the room would know what he was saying.

“Ros…I…” I began to say, tears started filling my eyes as I couldn’t believe he was the first out of this group, aside from Mr. Poloski, to actually believe me.

“Lisa, stop.  I’m glad you have found your family and everything.  However, you do realize you are the rightful heir to the throne now.  All the years I have been struggling to fight for it, to fight for the throne, and the whole time the person standing in my way was you.  How do I deal with that?  I need some time to think, I’m sure you understand.” He said as he took a step back, the laughter in his eyes that he always had for me, was gone.  I didn’t know what to say, as I watched him starting to leave.  I looked over at Mr. Poloski, who then went after him, in my hopes to make sure he was alright.  It was a lot of major news that he had just received, and I didn’t want him to do something stupid.

“My dear, once we verify that what you say is indeed true, which the doctor should be here any minute, then you will need to figure out if you want to claim the throne.” Count Dubrov said as he broke the awkward silence that began to fill the air.

“But…but I don’t want to rule, or anything.  I just want to be me.  All I wanted was to find out who my family was, to discover my roots, I’m just eighteen, I’m planning to go to Californian for college next fall, and I don’t a single thing about government, and all that other stuff.” I said as I began to freak out a little bit.

“See, she can’t take the throne...”

“How can someone who doesn’t know the country possibly be able to govern it…”

“Maybe we figure how Cousin Elizabeth does it in England….”

“I think she can do it…”

“We’ll need to help her...”

“Go to school here….”

Everyone started to speak out at once. My head was beginning to swim with their words mixed with my own thoughts.

“Silence!” Mr. Poloski said loudly, as he entered back into the room along with another man who I assumed was the doctor they had sent for.

“Thank you, William.” Count Dubrov said as he turned to face everyone who was now standing in the room.

“Now that Dr. Flevitzky has arrived, we will find out if she is indeed who she says she is.  Then we will discuss the other matters later, probably another night.” He said as he motioned for the doctor to come closer into the room.

I took one look at the doctor, he reminded me of a doctor from one of those vampire movies, and a shiver of fear traveled down my body.  He gave me a smile, but in a way I just didn’t trust it.  Who was this random doctor? How is he going to prove that I am who I am?  Lastly, what if he lies about it? You are so not touching me with anything Mister Doctor Jekyll looking man. I said in my mind as Count Dubrov, Mr. Poloski, and myself, left out of the room and traveled up the stairs in to one of the guest rooms, to begin the DNA procedure.

Hours later, after having needles in my arms, and machines hooked up to my body, and endless questions while I was attached to a lie detector, they finally allowed me to get dressed alone, and come back down stairs, where cheese, crackers, and juice was waiting for me.  I was exhausted physically and mentally, but what I mostly hoped for was that it was all worth it, that they would see the scientific results and see the truth in the facts. After I finished eating a little bit more, I started to search for everyone else.  The house was silent, but I knew that people were still here, they were dying to see what the truth was about me.  Finally I came across one of the butlers and asked him if he could lead me to where everyone was.

The hallway that we walked down, had many paintings that lined the wall, some I had recognized where part of the Imperial family, and then others, I had never seen before.  Then we came to the last door at the end of another large hallway. The door was very grand looking, many details were carved into the wood, and the handle itself even though it was bronze looked just as grand.  As the butler opened the door for me, I noticed a very large open room, filled with more people than just the thirteen from this evening’s meeting earlier.  Everyone stopped talking, and turned to face me. I saw Mr. Poloski walking towards me with a concern look on his face, as well as Count Dubrov, who held no facial expression.

“How are you feeling?” Mr. Poloski asked as he finally reached where I was standing, everyone still not making a sound as they just studied me.

“Like I just got out of a hospital, so just dandy.” I said honestly with a bit of sarcasm, which caused Mr. Poloski to smile a little, despite his concerned eyes.

“What…what’s going on? Who are all these people?” I asked as Mr. Poloski took a hold of my arm for support.

“These people are pretty much everyone of the Imperial Russian Court, your Grace.” Count Dubrov said as he looked at me in the eyes, before kneeling before me, taking my hand with the Imperial ring and kissing it. Huh? What? What was happening? No, don’t kneel? Did I pass? What happens now? My mind started to freak out as I saw him still kneeling, and then one by one everyone in the room, was bowing and kneeling, and when Mr. Poloski finally knelt to the ground, my mind went into overload, and the last thing I saw or heard was the floor coming closer to my face, and Ros’ voice calling out my name frantically.

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