Three hours later, the train slowly stopped as it reached the Moskva station. The Imperial Guards present inside the train entered his office and announced. "Your Majesty, we have reached Moskva, please follow us."
Alexander stood up from his chair and snatched the trench coat hanging on the coat stand near the door as he exited the room.
The Sapsan train lived up to his expectations, it reached the ancient capital city of the Ruthenian Empire from the current capital, St. Petersburg, in just three hours. If this would have been an ordinary train that is ubiquitous in this world's era, it would take two or sometimes three times that.
Just as he was ambling down the hallway, Alexander remembered his promise to Tiffania.
"I'm sorry where my sister's room is located?" he asked the guard.
"Just down there, Your Majesty," the guard pointed at the far right side of the train and smiled. Alexander followed his line of sight. The guards that were standing on the way moved to the side to make way for him and then he arrived at her room.
As always, Alexander knocked first. "Tiffania, we have arrived! Get up and come on out." As usual, he received no reply. He knocked again and the response was the same.
He reached out for the handle and slid the door to the right. Surprisingly, there was no reaction, the door wasn't locked. Jeez, she shouldn't leave her door unlocked. Who knows if there's a maniac or psychopath on the train who then forced their way into her room and do horrible things? Well, the chances of that happening is close to zero as there are guards in the hallway on standby for twenty-four-seven. But still, she is careless, he will remind her of that later.
Alexander stepped inside her room and saw Tiffania lying on the bed, sleeping soundly
He crept towards her bed and began. "Wake up," he whispered. Tiffania didn't budge, so Alexander shook her shoulder. Her eyes flew open and her gaze landed on Alexander. She sat up straight immediately. "Brother? Why are you here?"
"Why am I here?" Alexander repeated, almost breaking out into a chuckle. "You asked me to wake you up once we arrived in Moskva, remember? Now that we are, I came here. So get up now, we are on a schedule here," he pulled the quilt that was covering Tifannia's figure.
"Wa...wait, brother...! Don't!" Tiffania tried to pull the quilt off him but Alexander's grip was strong and soon enough he realized his mistake.
"Oops...sorry, force of habit."
What he just saw is Tiffany's bare slender body and beautiful long legs that are as pale as snow with her silver hair cascading over them. The only thing that is covering her body is her panty and bra.
Tiffania quickly covered her exposed skin with the quilt, her cheek flushed red, and began to stare daggers at him. She is emitting a low grumble in the back of her throat like a cat who was about to pounce.
"I guess I'll be waiting for you outside and close the door and act as if nothing happened," Alexander slowly took a step backward and turned around, and left the room without another word. Once the door is closed, Tiffania collapsed onto the bed and started hitting the pillow with her hand and the bed with her flapping leg, the embarrassment was too much for her to handle so she buried her face in the duvet and squealed
.
"Damn it..." she muttered through the muffled sounds. "Now I can't get married even if I don't want it in the first place."
Five minutes later, the two siblings walked out of the train as they followed their security details to their vehicles.
Alexander took a glance at Tiffania and still felt that ominous presence around her. That feeling is not going away anytime soon as she is still mad about that recent accident.
"Uhm...Tiffa..."
"Don't talk to me brother and get away from me," Tiffania demanded coldly.
Eh? She's really in a bad mood. Maybe complying with her demands will make her feel good and forget what happened today.
So Alexander moved away and pretended to be busy looking around until he felt a force tugging him from his sleeves.
"Why are you moving away?" Tiffania asked while clutching his sleeve, her voice slightly trembling.
"I'm confused, you told me not to speak with you and leave you alone, what's with the sudden change,"
"I was just joking! Why are you taking things so seriously?"
"So you are not mad at me?" Alexander asked.
"I do hate you brother but not to the point I extremely hate you,"
"Oh..." Alexander said as he felt relieved all over his body. "That's good then," his eyes trailed off into the distance and noticed the under-construction skyscraper. "Tiffania, look over there," he pointed his fingers towards the skyscrapers.
When Tiffania focused her eyes on the direction Alexander was pointing, her pupils dilated. "Aren't those?"
"Skyscrapers?" Alexander finished her sentence and grinned. "It's beautiful, isn't it? It will be completed in a month and once those skyscrapers are complete, it will be the most beautiful sights here in Moskva, rivaling the New York skyline in the United States," he confidently declared.
The skyscrapers' designs are quite similar to that of Moscow such as the Capital City Moscow Tower, Federation Tower, Imperia Tower, Evolution Tower, and Mercury City Tower, which will be the new headquarters of Imperial Dynamic Systems. Of course, the designs of the skyscraper will not be purely inspired by Russia, there will be variations such as New York Twin Towers, Shanghai Towers, and World Financial Tower. They will be built in future commercial districts and special economic zones.
The buildings that are going to be completed in the coming months will become the symbol of Ruthenia's Empire's economic growth for the last five years. And he couldn't be more excited to attend the opening ceremony and make a speech about the journey on which he transformed the country from a rural, agricultural state into an industrialized one.
"Are we going to see them, brother?" Tiffania asked.
"It's one of the many places we are going to visit while we are here in Moskva. Also, this is a spoiler, our trip is not limited to Moskva alone. We will also visit the port city of Sevastopol, the headquarters of the Imperial Ruthenian Navy Black Sea Fleet."
"Cool…"Tiffania let out a dreamy sigh. "Then is it possible for us to take a tour on one of the warships stationed there brother? I want to see the interior of the Aircraft Carrier Petropavlovsk, especially the engine room.
"That will be easy as I have the supreme operational command over our Armed Forces, they will do whatever I want," Alexander assured his little sister. "Speaking of aircraft carriers, this coming month, I will propose the Grand Fleet Program, the largest fleet acquisition in the world. This includes getting new naval warships that deviate from the mainstream. Sad that I won't be able to share with you its contents but look forward to it."
Before they realized it, they were already outside the train station. A familiar vehicle was parked on the stairs, it was the Beast. Wherever the emperor goes, the Beast follows. In fact, the Imperial Dynamic Systems produced thirty of them and are positioned in every major city of the Ruthenia Empire. This is to ensure his safety during his travels across the entire empire.
"Where are we heading, brother?" Tiffania looked up at him questioningly.
"First we have to go to the Grand Kremlin Palace to rest for two hours and then head directly to the headquarters of the Imperial Dynamic Systems. Philip Ainsworth is going to see us there to give us a personal tour where he will show us exclusively the new products the IDS is going to launch this year."
"Hearing all of that from you makes this trip interesting, I'm really lucky to ace that exam," Tiffania said in glee.
"Even if you fail that exam I'm still going to let you come with me," Alexander replied with a smirk on his lips. The Imperial Guards opened the car door, allowing them to enter inside. Both siblings sat in the back seat and resumed their conversation.
"Really? You are going to let me come with you even if I fail the exam?" Tiffania asked with a surprised tone, her expression showing how happy she was by these words.
"Of course. I'm not that strict. However I want you to still study hard, just because I said that this could happen means that you'll fail your next exam," Alexander explained.
"Alright," Tiffania propped up her chin, her elbow resting on the car windowsill as she gazed out at the passing scenery and buildings they passed by. "Rolan is here in Moskva right? Is he aware that we are here?"
"He's the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guards, so I'd say he is aware. He might be watching us from afar but I'd understand if he didn't because it's his break."
The two went silent as the car made its way toward the Grand Kremlin Palace.
