Grand Church of the Winter Palace. As the name implies, it's a church built in the Winter Palace.
The whole Ruthenian Royal Family entered the cathedral and Alexander's mouth dropped in wonder the moment his eyes set upon the interior design.
Sunlight streamed in on both sides of the gilded walls, lighting up the hall with an ethereal glow, the walls were adorned with gilded intricate patterns, a frescoed ceiling, and last but not least, the altar itself.
So this is the Church of the Winter Palace huh? Alexander thought to himself, he must admit, it was his first time visiting here as Thomas—
"Alexander, are you visiting this place every Sunday?"
Natalya's sudden question made him jump out of his thoughts. He turned towards his sister who was smiling at him innocently.
Alexander sifted through his memories, searching through thousands of memories where he visited the place. An answer appeared abruptly.
"Well, usually before the accident. But after that? No, I haven't had a chance..."
"You haven't had a chance, or you simply don't want to?"
Alexander rubbed his head, perplexed. "What are insinuating, sister?"
"Nothing," Natalya rolled her eyes before turning away from Alexander, "I'm just surprised that you don't often visit this place to pray to our parents...and also this is the venue of your royal wedding, right? All the more reason for you to come here often and imagine a scenery where hundreds of distinguished guests frolicking around as they witness your grand wedding?"
"I'm not quite sure of that, sister, but it is indeed a beautiful sight...anyways why did we come here? It's a praying hall, granted, but is there a reason for us to be here?"
"Oh...my little brother hasn't changed at all," Natalya laughed lightly, "yes, I have reasons to come here, and that is to pray for our deceased mother and father who died at the hands of a nefarious and to thank the almighty for saving you from death and giving you the knowledge to concoct a medicine that saves my dear Anastasia," Natalya said in a motherly tone as she sets her hand upon Ana's hair, stroking it soothingly.
"So, you know about her condition..." Alexander uttered.
"I do," Natalya nodded in affirmation as she continued stroking Ana's long silver hair, causing it to slightly rise on end. "I have my sources updating me of all the situations happening in the Winter Palace."
"Hoh? May I know who that source is? It's a breach of security if there's a person within the palace secretly supplying you information." Alexander scowled lightly.
Natalya chuckled lightly, a warm smile gracing her features. "Calm down brother, I learned everything through a telephone call."
"And you didn't even bother calling us personally? Even me? If you know a lot more about our circumstances, then why didn't you visit us?" Alexander asked sharply, causing his sister to blink in surprise as her hand left Ana's head.
Christina, who was been listening to their exchange, decided to step in.
"Brother stop it," Christina chided softly, placing a comforting hand over her younger brother's shoulders, "you shouldn't speak that way to your sister..."
"No...no, I didn't mean it that way," Alexander shook his head as he looked into his sisters' concerned eyes, "I'm sorry if it sounded different, I was just asking."
"No I think you all deserve an explanation as to why I couldn't come here," Natalya placed a hand on Christina. Anastasia lightly tugged Tiffania's sleeves and asked.
"Sister...his brother Alexander and sister Natalya fighting?"
"No Ana..." Tiffania gave her younger sister a reassuring smile.
Natalya began "You see, the reason why I couldn't come here is because of my husband. He won't permit me to leave because the current state of Ruthenia at that time is unstable. So I was left without any choice but to pray for your safety and I was glad that it all turned out to be okay...I'm sorry Alexander, I've just realized it in the car, I shouldn't have said something harsh to you. You kept our family safe and I was thankful..."
Natalya's voice began breaking and tears brimmed in her eyes; she wiped them quickly.
"It's okay Natalya, no harm done," Alex assured his sister with a soft tone. "What I did back then is to protect my family, I don't care if the price is the government being decentralized or the elected officials with ill-intent getting into positions. I can take care of them as I still have control over most bureaucratic affairs, and the people love me," Alexander quipped and continued. "So it's definitely fine. I'm sorry too for my tone earlier."
Natalya smiled back weakly and embraced her brother tightly. "Thank you so much, Alexander...thank you so much!" She cried while hugging him tighter and tighter.
"Look...it's really okay," Alexander chuckled, this family of his is surely emotional. They cry a lot. Alexander pushed her gently and she released herself from the hug.
"So shall we start our prayer?" Natalya suggested.
"Yes, by all means, do so," Alexander agreed politely.
With a small bow, Natalya began, mouthing a prayer and his sisters followed. Alexander listened closely to every mutter of words they whispered under their breath and the feeling of devotion that radiated off of them as they spoke. He can't imagine himself doing that and couldn't follow as he has no information. Partly because the original Alexander doesn't like praying much, thinking it was a waste of time.
He probably is suffering a crisis of faith when Thomas took over his body unintentionally.
After they finished praying, Natalya turned to face her three sisters and told them.
"Can you give us a moment?"
Tiffania, Christina, and Annie glanced at each other with a meaningful glance, and they nodded. Leaving Alexander and Natalya alone in the church.
Natalya broke the silence by stating, "So, Alexander...you know how much I am thankful to you for saving Anastasia from tuberculosis with a revolutionary medicine. It's hard to believe but I still have to ask you a question that you will probably consider frank or candid..."
Alexander suddenly felt uneasy, nervous about what she might say.
"What is it?"
"Who are you, Alexander?" She asked, her sharp gaze glinting intensely in contrast to the soft candlelight.
Alexander gulped, from where did she come up with such an odd question.
"I don't think I'm following you here, what do you mean by that question?"
"Who are you?" Natalya repeated and refused to elaborate further.
Alexander's unwavering stance faltered momentarily as Natalya pressed further. Did she perhaps had seen through him? That he's not the real Alexander and merely a dead spirit possessing him? How should he get out of this situation?
