"Would you hurry up Anastasia? I'll yell your full name if I have to." Eleanor leaned on the doorframe as she picked at her bracelet, and Anastasia glared over while Beth clasped her necklace, "Don't do that to yourself, it'll take you 10 minutes just to say the full thing." Anastasia lit her cigarette as she listened to Eleanor.

Eleanor snickered as she dropped her hand to her side, "Has your family ever considered that if they didn't act as if they were Gods or have extremely long titles or names they would be seen as more... down to earth?" Anastasia laughed at Eleanor's comment as she fixed her hair in the mirror, "Please, May and mama consider us something to look up to for the common folk."

Her friend nodded as she replied, "So a God?" She shook her head, "No, just something for them to talk about while they eat the dinner on their laps." Eleanor snickered as Anastasia grabbed her hand and walked out of the room with her, "I don't know anyone at this party really, do I?" Eleanor shook her head, "No, you won't know many. Perhaps a few you'll be familiar with."

Anastasia grinned as she leaned her head on Eleanor's shoulder, "That's just what I need. Some new faces around me. I can't stand not getting out anymore! Study this, study that. It's like I'm in school all over again."

Eleanor snickered, "I'm sure school wasn't that bad for you. You had a governess, most of us don't." Anastasia rolled her eyes before blowing out smoke, "You just shoved people in lockers probably."

They both stepped outside, sliding into the car waiting for them. Eleanor turned on the ignition as she looked back, glaring up to a window to see her mother scowling as she watched them. Anastasia puffed out smoke before turning back around, "They'll just open this gate right here?" She nodded, "Just drive straight toward it, they'll open it quickly." Eleanor hesitantly turned the car, going as slow as possible towards the gate.

Anastasia rolled her eyes as she exclaimed, "My God, we're going slower than Moses!" Eleanor quickly shot back, "I want to make sure they have time to open the gate!" Once the car finally reached the gate, Eleanor was relieved to find they didn't crash into it. Anastasia worried as she glared around the streets.

"What if the press gets a photo of me in this car?" Eleanor shook her head, "Is the press everywhere?" Anastasia glared at Eleanor as she leaned back, "Those tabloids are pure evil. I'm surprised they don't get photos of us when we're taking a shit!" Eleanor laughed as she turned the corner before asking, "What do you think about this title? Queen Mary takes massive load, blocks castle's plumbing system!" Anastasia laughed, "Which Queen Mary? My mother or May?"

Eleanor shook her head, "That's up to the reader to interpret." Anastasia blew out smoke as she continued to laugh, "You are a horrible journalist! Are we almost to the place we're going to?" Eleanor nodded her head as Anastasia questioned, "You're not going to kidnap me and hold me for ransom, right?" Anastasia smirked as she watched Eleanor roll her eyes, parking her car beside the curb.

Anastasia wrapped her arm around Eleanor as she looked back to the escort that always was sent to follow her to parties or other occasions, traveling behind in a car. "God, it's like I'm being stalked all the time." Eleanor looked back behind her, "He won't come into the party? Right?"

She shook her head, "Of course not. He never has." Eleanor walked around the car as she helped Anastasia out, "Gosh, my legs hurt terribly from the car." Eleanor rolled her eyes, "It's because you're taller than me." Anastasia replied, "Not by much, just 2 or 3 inches."

Anastasia took a deep breath before entering the house, glaring around the room to find any familiar faces. Eleanor looked over to her, "Is something wrong?" Anastasia frowned, "Well, I'm worried people will make a big de-" Her sentence was interrupted by Doris walking over with a bright smile on her face, "Eleanor! Anastasia! It's so great to see that you both made it!" Anastasia hugged Doris as she said, "I've missed you terribly, Eleanor didn't tell me this was your party?" Eleanor thought for a moment, "Well, I wanted it to be a surprise." Doris asked, "Or, did you just forget who was hosting it?"

Anastasia snickered as Eleanor replied, "Both." Doris grabbed both of their arms as she walked, "Richard and Andrew are here too." Eleanor hesitantly replied, "Really?" Anastasia snickered, "Maybe you'll finally sleep with Andrew tonight." Doris laughed as Eleanor rolled her eyes, "Please. I'm not a whore, unlike Ann's father." Anastasia thought for a moment before nodding, "You're not wrong, he was quite the man whore."

Anastasia smiled at Richard and Andrew, hugging both of her friends, "I've missed you all greatly, how's life been?" Richard shrugged as he lit a cigarette, "It's nice being home from war." Anastasia looked over at Eleanor who was in her own little universe, talking to Andrew before being interrupted by Richard asking if she wanted a cigarette. Anastasia nodded as she took one, sliding it into her mouth as he lit it. Richard asked, "You know those things can kill you, right?" Anastasia rolled her eyes, "You're smoking one too. Everyone in my family smokes anyways."  Richard paused before asking, "Even your mother? She doesn't seem like the type." Anastasia nodded, "Yes, even Mary. Obviously, Beatrice, Catherine, and Alice don't. Louis probably will since he tries so hard to be like papa."

Richard nodded as he asked, "How's it been since your brother Will passed?" Anastasia looked down at the ground as she puffed out smoke, "Difficult. Especially on my mother." Richard replied as Anastasia looked around the room, "Poor woman. Her life sounds awful." Anastasia pointed at a man, sitting at the table talking to Doris, "Who's that?" Richard leaned to the side, trying to get a better look, "Oh, you know the royal family from Greece?" Anastasia turned her head around, furrowing her eyebrows, "He's Greek?" Richard nodded, "I heard he was in the Kriegsmarine before moving to England, served for England during the war too. His sisters were Nazis though." Anastasia blew out smoke as she stood up and looked at Richard, "I think I'll go and try talking to him." She took her cigarette and dug it into the ashtray next to her as Richard nodded before he went and walked over to Doris.

He watched her as she walked over to him, introducing herself, "Hello, I'm Anastasia." He smirked as he shook her hand, "Well, I can't say that I don't know who you are already. I'm Alexander." Anastasia pointed to the seat beside him, "Mind if I sit?" He shook his head as she sat down. Alexander asked, "What brings you here? Don't you have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to attend?" Anastasia shook her head as playfully leaned on her arms resting on the table, "No, I enjoy spending time with my friends." They both fell silent for a moment before Anastasia broke the silence, "I heard you're Greek? Your name doesn't sound very Greek."

Alexander nodded, "Yes, I'm apart of the royal family. My name is a version of my actual name." Anastasia nodded before asking, "How old are you?" He cringed as he lit a cigarette before replying, "It's quite painful to admit it, but I'm 23 already." She nodded her head understandingly as he offered her a cigarette. Anastasia hesitantly looked at it before placing it in her mouth as he lit it. He chuckled as she watched her worryingly looked at the cigarette, mocking her as he said, "I'm not trying to poison you."

Anastasia rolled her eyes as she puffed out smoke and looked around the room, "Doesn't hurt to be careful these days." She paused for a moment before leaning in and whispering, "Is it true you were a Nazi?" He quickly shook his head, "Of course not! I came to England in 1942, and the whole time I was in Germany I was giving information to the military here."

She leaned back in her chair as she tilted her head, "Oh? So you're some decorated war hero? So is my father's secretary." Alexander rolled his eyes as he examined Anastasia's face, "Please, I'm not some war hero. I just did what I had to do to get by." The two continued to talk ahout Alexander's past and what his plans for the future were. Richard sat with a pensive look on his face, watching Anastasia and Alexander.

Anastasia glared around the room as she looked for a clock, "Do you know what time it is?" Alexander copied her and looked around the room too, "11:54 pm." Anastasia stamped her foot as she cursed under her breath, "Shit, I have class tomorrow." Alexander nodded as he put out his cigarette in his ashtray, "Aren't you 19? I didn't think you're still in school."

She frowned as she quickly stood up, "Different type of school." Alexander hurriedly got up and pushed his chair in as he asked, "Mind if I walk you out to your car?" Anastasia turned around and looked frozen for a moment as she examined him before replying, "I don't own a car, but sure." Anastasia walked out of the room as he followed behind her, stopping beside her on the sidewalk.

Alexander tapped his foot as he slid his hands in his pockets as Anastasia looked around the street while he asked, "So, how will I be able to see you again?" She shrugged, "You can always find me on a postage stamp. Come visit me at the post office." He laughed as he responded, "Seriously, how-" His sentence was interrupted by a camera flashing from across the street as Anastasia's face went pale, "I have to go, I'll call you!"

Anastasia ran as the camera continued to flash, trying to photograph her jumping into her driver's car. Alexander awkwardly stood there as he did a small wave to the camera before walking back inside.

----------

"You're kidding me, Anastasia!" Mary slammed the newspaper on the coffee table as Anastasia hunched down, leaning on her hand. Edward continued to read the newspaper as he sipped his coffee, listening to his wife's yelling. Anastasia shrugged as she stood up straight, "I don't see a problem." Her mother stood in shock as she grabbed the newspaper and pointed, "Future Queen seen partying with Nazi! I see a problem quite clearly with that!"

Edward set his coffee down as he sighed, "Dear, he's not a Nazi. He fought for England during the war. I've known about the boy." Mary scoffed as she glared around the room, "You think people will care to know that? They'll take one look at that photo and think about that trip we took years ago!" He shook his head as he folded his newspaper, "That was different." She furrowed her brow as she looked around the room, before giving up and storming out.

Anastasia looked over to her father as she asked, "It's alright if I'm friends with him, right?" He nodded as he stood up, "Of course. Just don't think about marriage." She sat in shock as her father walked out of the room, unable to understand why her father even brought it up. She grabbed the article left on the coffee table, her eyes closely examining the newspaper.

Her reading was interrupted by Beatrice parading into the room, holding up the newspaper as Anastasia peeked from the couch, "Here to scold me like mama?" She asked as she dropped back down onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Beatrice snickered as she sat beside her, "Of course not, I just came to known all the details." Anastasia groaned as she sat up, "There are no details. I just met him last night." Beatrice frowned as she set the newspaper down on the coffee table, "Oh? So no meeting future brother-in-law number two?"

Anastasia scoffed as she grabbed her cup of tea, "There was no future brother-in-law in the first place." Beatrice shook her head as she played with her hands, "No, you were going to get engaged to Drew. Don't act stupid. You broke the poor boy's heart!" Anastasia shrugged as she sipped her tea before placing the cup down, "I didn't do anything wrong. What's worse? Telling him now or 30 years later? Besides, I cannot marry till I'm 21."

The doors to the room were opened as Anastasia's equerry, John Brailsford, entered the room before saying, "Your Royal Highness, there's a call for you." Beatrice picked up the paper as she asked, "Who is it?" John replied, "I believe they said it was Eleanor Leveson-Gower." Anastasia smiled as she nodded, "Great, thank you." John replied, "Ma'am." as he did a neck bow before walking out of the room.

Anastasia picked up the phone to hear Eleanor going, "Hello? Hello?" Anastasia replied, "Hello, I'm here." Eleanor snickered as she replied, "Finally, took you long enough." Anastasia laughed as she asked, "So why are you calling?" Eleanor replied, "Well, I know you met Alexander, so I took it upon myself to tell him how to contact you. You should be receiving a call from him soon." Anastasia froze, unable to even speak words out of shock before replying, "Great, another friend to call and bother me then."

Eleanor snickered as she asked, "You do know that Richard's in love with you, right?" Anastasia frowned as she replied, "What? No, he's not. Why even bring that up?" Eleanor paused before replying, "I don't know, all he could do was look at you talking to Alexander." Anastasia scoffed, "If he really cared that much, he would've told me when he came back from the military."

Her phone call was interrupted by Louis entering the room, leaving Beatrice squealing from excitement as she ran over to hug her brother. Anastasia sighed as she said, "I'll have to call you back." On the other end of the line, she could hear yelling coming from Eleanor's father. Eleanor replied quickly, "Yes, it's okay! I have to go watch my papa's cricket match anyways, bye!" Anastasia sighed as she listened to the tone before hanging up and walking over to Louis, "You're back from Eton?" Louis nodded as he smiled, "Yes, I thought I would come to wish you and papa well on your trip to Ireland."

Anastasia sighed as she sat back down, "I forgot I was leaving today for that, thanks for reminding me." Louis snickered as he glanced down at the newspaper, "Do you not want to go on the trip? I'll gladly take your place to spend time with papa." He glared up at Anastasia as he grabbed the newspaper, "I have quite a few friends that would gladly marry you in a heartbeat, yet you're aiming for some Nazi." Anastasia scoffed, "Oh please! I'm not aiming for anyone and he's not some Nazi. He fought for us in the war!"

Louis shrugged, "Quite a misleading title then. They 'ought to hire a better editor." Beatrice snickered as she looked over Louis' shoulder, "Tell me about it." Anastasia leaned her head down on her hands as she asked, "What time is it?" Beatrice replied, "Quarter past 8." Anastasia sighed as she said, "Great, I have to go get ready for my trip then." She hugged Louis and Beatrice as she spoke, "Don't stress mama out too much while I'm gone." Anastasia kissed her sister on both of her cheeks before exiting the room.

When she arrived in her own bedroom, Beth had just finished packing the princess's luggage. Anastasia unbuckled the suitcase as she rummaged through it. Beth walked in, staring.

"Is there a problem ma'am?"

Anastasia turned as she gasped, "Oh! No, not at all! You did a wonderful job, I was just wondering what kind of clothing I'd be wearing since I'm not sure what the weathers like right now."

"Well, very similar to ours." Beth smiled, "They are our neighbors."

"They certainly don't love thy neighbor."

Beth fell silent as Anastasia folded the laundry back together and buckled the suitcase.

——

Anastasia grimaced as she looked at the crowd from the car at the airport. She glared over to Edward, "Papa, why can't we just take a ship? Who knows if these planes are safe."

Edward blew out smoke from his cigarette, analyzing his daughter's face, "The military uses planes. Why not us?" The car door opened and they both stepped out of the car, smiling and waving at the crowd. It was raining quite a lot that day, which only impacted Anastasia's anxiety even more.

They both boarded the plane, sitting across the aisle from one another. Anastasia eagerly read the newspaper, peaking out the window as she messed with her fingers to calm herself. Her reading was interrupted by a man, standing behind the newspaper and clearing his throat.
She glared up and delightfully grinned as she exclaimed, "John! Come sit."

"Ma'am." Her equerry sat down across from her as her father glared over at the two with a look as if he was watching something die. As John went over their tour schedule, Edward hummed to himself. This tour was a chance for him to have his big break, a powerful and impressive tour done by the not so great King. He would be lying if he said he was worried that Anastasia would steal the spotlight.

In his mind, everybody was quietly waiting for him to just drop dead and die so they'd have a new, vivacious, young and beautiful queen. He sipped his coffee as he continued to watch, making notes in his mind about the destinations. He absolutely knew that Anastasia would take some of that spotlight, and for that, he was jealous. He had to find a way for himself to not be ignored but to be celebrated by the public. The public that had hated him ever since he had a controversy with a certain American divorcee. If he couldn't find a way to get the public to like him again, then there was no use in that whole mess of a situation to have ever occurred. He could've just abdicated.

———
for anyone wondering, in this timeline Edward met Wallis Simpson much earlier than in real life, just to fit the era the book is set in.

this book has actually been quite fun to write, and I hope you are enjoying it. being an active reader always helps, so please don't be afraid to comment and vote on chapters. thank you!