Anastasia Romanov (Fate/Marvel)

Tsar Nicholas II POV

"Have you seen it, Alix? Our daughter seems to despise the outside world far too much. Please, don't take that freedom away from her. It would be heartbreaking for her," I pleaded with my wife.

Her stern expression softened at my words, and she reluctantly agreed.

"Yes, but please, never expose our daughter to that kind of danger again."

Danger? What danger?

I couldn't grasp what my wife was so worried about or hinting at. The worker class had shown no signs of violence or any intent to harm our daughter. In fact, they had spoken to her quite peacefully. There was no danger to speak of.

Moreover, they are my people—how could I call myself a proper tsar if I feared my own subjects? What kind of leader would I be if I couldn't trust the very people I govern? Is it truly necessary to become tsar if I harbor such fears? What would be the point of ruling if I lived in fear of those I am meant to rule?

Yet, despite my misgivings, I found myself unable to argue with her. I nodded at her words mechanically, out of respect for her concerns.

"Speaking of school," I continued, trying to shift the conversation, "it seems our daughter doesn't want to attend kindergarten. Do you have any suggestions on a suitable mentor for her?"

I brought up our daughter's education, fully aware that Anastasia would likely resist the idea of formal schooling. Seeking out a private tutor seemed a more viable option.

"You just said you wanted her to experience the outside world, and now you're suggesting a tutor to keep her from it?" My wife rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated by my apparent inconsistency. To her, my words didn't align with my actions.

"I simply don't want to make her unhappy," I confessed, reflecting on our daughter's social situation. "It seems many of her peers are avoiding her rather than engaging with her."

I had noticed her struggles. In the past, Anastasia had tried to fit in with other children, but ultimately gave up when they began ignoring her. They saw her as misfit—too mature for her age. They didn't understand a word she said, and it frustrated me to see their lack of understanding. Their ignorance angered me, yet they unfairly placed the blame their own limit intelligence on my daughter, labeling her a weirdo.

"Hah... If only Helena Blavatsky were still alive..." my wife lamented, her voice carrying a distinct tone of sorrow.

Helena had been my wife's closest friend, and her death had been both tragic and unjust. She had fallen victim to the Clock Tower and the Mage Association's hounds, though they tried to claim otherwise.

Their official story was that Helena had met her end at the hands of Jack the Ripper, but we never bought into that obvious bullshit.

Who could possibly believe such blatant nonsense?

We were well aware of the underlying tension and the bitter hostility between Helena Blavatsky and the Clock Tower.

It was no secret that the Barthomeloi family had been deeply involved, sending their law enforcement forces to besiege her.

"Yeah..." I sighed, sharing my wife's grief and frustration.

If Helena were still with us, I was certain that our daughter would not have experienced the loneliness that now enveloped her. Helena would have been the ideal candidate, both as a tutor and as a companion, for our daughter.

I knew my daughter had an interest in all things supernatural—magic and so much more, just like us. However, she was far too reserved and distant to be open with us about her thoughts and feelings.

But I was confident that Helena, with her unique charm and understanding, could have easily melted that cold exterior and broken through the emotional walls our daughter had built, if only she were still alive.

"How about we let Anastasia choose for herself this time?" my wife suggested, breaking the silence.

"Well, that sounds like a good idea," I replied, nodding in agreement.

For now, our plan was to summon the various mentors available within the Empire, one by one, for Anastasia's consideration.

We would observe closely and see which of them would resonate with her, if any.

With that decision in mind, my wife and I reached a mutual understanding.

We would allow Anastasia to make her own choice regarding her tutor, hoping that by giving her the freedom to decide, she might find someone she truly connected with.

And so, with our minds made up, my wife and I agreed to summon potential tutors for Anastasia, letting her choose the one who felt right to her.

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