Anastasia awoke the next morning to see Maria standing in front of the dresser mirror, already dressed, brushing her hair.

"How did you sleep?" Maria asked as she pinned her hair up.

"Pretty good." Anastasia smiled, ready to explore more of the house.

After breakfast, the girls had free time until lunch, which was served at twelve-thirty. They choose to explore the six hundred acres of lawn on the estate. They rushed into the courtyard, which featured a wonderful display of nature.

Old oak trees gave nice shady spots to retire from the hot spring sun. Bushes cut in organized designs bloomed beautiful red and pink roses, filling the air with a sweet aroma. Birds chirped happily, filling the air with a song.

Anastasia, who was carrying her camera, showed the developed photo she had taken of her sister inside.

The girls walked further into the courtyard, which seemed to go on for miles until they found themselves in a parterre, an elaborate maze-like array of tall bushes.

They walked through the parterre and found themselves in front of a big lake shrouded with willow trees, their leafy vines stretching down toward the water. Pairs of swans nested on top of the water, their feathers blowing in the breeze. Lily pads also bobbed up and down with each carrying current.

"Wouldn't it be grand to swim in it!" Anastasia bent down to take off her shoe.

"Nastasia!" Maria scolded as her sister took off her other shoe. "Please don't! Another day!"

"Hmpf."

The girls traveled on, coming across a large willow tree.

"This is quite a place!" Maria sighed as she sat down on a root.

"It's beautiful! I like it here!" Anastasia picked up a stick and began to swing it around like a sword.

After relaxing for a few minutes, Maria stood up."I think we should go now. It's almost time for lunch. We wouldn't want to be late."

"You always don't wanna be late, Mashka! I don't want to-"

"Come on!"

Anastasia ran out from under the tree, her signature pout on her face. As the girls walked, Maria showed Anastasia the photo she had taken of her.

The girls made it back to the house just in time for lunch. There, they were served salad and fresh fruits along with lemonade. After lunch, the girls went back to their room. Anastasia laid in bed for a moment while Maria sat at the desk. She took out the slip of paper Valentin had given her on their last night together and wrote his address on an envelope.

April 22nd, 1919

Dear Valentin,

How I miss you so. I long for you every day. All is well here. Our family is at the Sandringham House in Norfolk with my great Aunt Alexandra. She is very nice. Anastasia is still her same old self, a prankster and imp. The house is beautiful with beautiful gardens that Anastasia and I explored today. We even have a little hideout by one of the trees. How is your family? Are they well? How are your little brothers and sisters? I miss you terribly. I do hope you will receive this letter. I will give you a photo that Anastasia took of me today. I hope that you will remember me whenever you see it.

Your darling, Maria

Maria dropped the photo of herself into the envelope and sealed it shut, hugging it to her chest before she set it on the desk.

"Are you going to send a letter to your boyfriend?" Maria giggled. "I mean, after all, he gave you the necklace. He must like you!"

"No, he doesn't Mashka. His aunt gave me this necklace. It belonged to his sister."

"You think he doesn't like you?"

"Well, I don't know. He hasn't said anything."

"Do you know anything about boys!?"

"...No."

"A boy waits to admit his feelings when the time is right! He likes you, Nastasia! I just know it."

Anastasia slid off her bed, wanting to get away from Maria's annoying questions.

She wandered down the hall of the house, no destination in mind. Once getting tired of walking, Anastasia retreated back to her room.

"I'm so bored!" she complained.

"You are always bored, Nastasia. I'm going to take a rest, without any interruptions, please. Come wake me up when it's tea." Maria directed.

Anastasia was ever so disinterested, so she decided to see what Grandmama and Alexandra were doing. She looked in the ballroom, the library, and the drawing-room for them but they were nowhere to be found. Anastasia was looking in the saloon when she spotted a folded newspaper on one of the couch tables. She saw that she and Maria were on the front cover. The headline read: Russia's Ex-Royals Arrive In Plymouth.

Anastasia came across the section discussing her family's unfortunate murder, and she couldn't read it anymore. After wandering around more, Anastasia found herself in a hallway she had never seen before. She walked into a room where she saw Liesel folding clothes on a table.

"Oh, hello, Anastasia! Are you lost?"

"Yes. I'm afraid so. I have nothing to do, so I decided to explore more."

"Well, I think I'm due for a small break. I'm going to go to the kitchen. Would you like to join me?"

"Yes! Would there happen to be any more lemonade?"

Liesel chuckled. "I'm sure I can get you a glass."

Both girls walked to the kitchen, which was only a few steps away. There, they saw Oliver sitting at a table, reading a book.

"Hello, Anastasia!" he greeted her as she walked in.

Liesel rushed to get more lemonade as Anastasia sat at the small wooden table across from the butler.

"Whatcha got there?" Oliver pointed to the newspaper in her hand.

"Look!" Anastasia showed him the front cover picture.

"Wow! Where's your sister?"

"She's resting. I don't know why she's even tired. She's probably thinking about her lover."

"Who is it if I may ask?" Liesel pondered, walking back into the room with a pitcher of lemonade. Anastasia gulped her glass down, asking for another once she was finished.

"His name is Valentin. I'm not sure of his last name. Another glass please, Liesel. They both fell in love while we were on our boat trip here. She wrote a letter to him today." Anastasia finished her third glass. "I better be going now. I'm trying to find Alexandra and Grandmama."

"They're out on the terrace," Liesel told her.

After thanking Liesel for the lemonade, Anastasia stepped onto the terrace. Sure enough, both ladies were sitting in garden chairs under tents, hiding from the sun.

"Hello, Anastasia. Where is Maria?" Grandmama asked as she spotted her granddaughter.

"Sleeping. She's devastated about Valentin." Anastasia huffed as she dropped into an empty chair.

"Valentin?"

"Yes, the man on the ship."

"What about him?"

"They love each other. Maria snuck out on our last night on the boat. I told her she shouldn't be going but she begged me. So I let her go. She was going to see him."

"What!? I knew on the ship you told me she fell in love with someone. I didn't think she meant it. They can't be with each other."

"Grandmama, why?" Anastasia realized she had made a colossal mistake.

"We don't know him; therefore, we can't trust him," Grandmama raised her voice as she stood up from her chair.

"Grandmama, he is a good man! He won't lay a finger on us."

"Maria won't be with him or marry him. That's final."

"I don't understand~"

"Our family has had enough of people we can't trust. In Ekaterinburg, you thought the men were good! You thought they were saving you! Now, look what's happened! I've lost another son - I've lost grandchildren! We cannot trust anyone anymore! I couldn't bear it if something were to happen to you! I'm going to talk some sense into that girl."

Anastasia stopped in her tracks as she let Grandmama walk into the house. Embarrassed by her mistake, she sprinted into the gardens.

"Anastasia! Anastasia!" Alexandra called from the tents.

But there was no use in calling for her because she was already gone.