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𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐌𝐄𝐂𝐊𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐆-𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐍

𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 was the jewel of her mothers heart, the apple to her eye and easily known as the favourite amongst all of her siblings, all thirteen of them. The princess was promised to surpass all of her siblings and be the first heir to the throne, should her mother pass.

The news shocked the ton and her children were furious. The men especially but they were met with a threat of banishment and sometimes downright ignored. For the longest time none of her brothers spoke to her but it was their fault for living scandalous lives, who knew how many bastards they had fathered.

So, when Anastasia decided that she had to learn about the horrors and joys of the world for herself, Charlotte was appalled. Since all of her children had departed from the castle and city all she had was her little girl left, the Queen ordered none of the docks to open.

It wasn't the fact that she was her closest child but the reality that from an early age Anastasia had been a mute. Charlotte consistently worried and payed for the best teachers and interpreters to repent whatever was withholding her from speaking. An endless worry crept down her throat, would she become like her husband?

Until one day, at the age of ten, when she looked out her window and saw several unusual creatures along the land did she shout, "stripe!"

The Queen had never been so grateful to buying the zebras and instantly chartered more over to the English land. Of course, Anastasia still forgot a few words or the meaning of some but she managed to speak "fluently" by the age of fifteen. A quick learner she was called a quick learner, she already could write given she had to ask for anything with a quill at hand.

Often enough Lady Danbury would linger round the castle with the young girl as she often lifted her cane and swung it like a sword. She allowed it all and often let Anastasia stay at her own estate, she was her aunty, blood no matter as she cared for her like she was her own.

It took weeks and months of convincing, begging her mother to let her go, she promised to write for everyday. And with final words to both her father and mother, she left.

Her travels took her far from the darkest depths of Peru to the fresh spices that India had to offer and enjoyed the sight of the Eiffel Tower. Although, through her journey she experienced something within, a feeling greater than any other she had in her lifetime of eighteen. Anastasia discovered that unlike other ladies that wished for nothing but a husband and children, a short and pitiful existence, the princess wanted thrill.

She didn't want a man at all, she wanted women, wherever she went, no matter the country or continent her eyes always lingered for a mistress or two. It appeared that others felt the same need she did.

Anastasia had left at the ripe age of sixteen and returned with a mind as sharp as her tongue with wit that outmatched that of a spinster. Her body had matured along with the knowledge she had nursed on her voyages. The Queen barely recognised her own daughter when she waltzed through the halls and into the throne room with her head held high and the brightest smile one could muster.

It brought tears to Charlottes eyes as she easily recognised that smile to George's, the same beaming grin that could light up a room and a adorning laugh that all wanted to hear. And it appeared her delightful voice reached the prying ears outside of the castle.

It did not take long for Lady Whistledown to hear of such news that spread through the city at a rampant pace, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃. Anastasia quickly learned that this Whistledown was not someone to be fond of, not in the slightest.

𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀
'princess'

'You use my title as an insult?'

𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄
'Emerald'

'I do, and what is your rebuttal, princess?'

𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒
'Anna'

'She who shall rise up again."

𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃
'Darling'

"The famous warrior of words."

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐈 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔

"I love her, I love her, I love her, I love her!"

"Should I call a doctor?"

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐀𝐘 𝐈 𝐃𝐎, 𝐈 𝐃𝐎, 𝐈 𝐃𝐎

"I find myself searching for you in every corner of every room, you have ruined me, mind, body and soul."

"Anastasia i- "

𝐈 𝐃𝐎, 𝐈 𝐃𝐎, 𝐈 𝐃𝐎

"Please don't leave me, I won't be able to love another, I will never love again and it will be your fault."

"But- I left for you."

"Forget what I said! Take me, Anastasia."

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐌𝐀𝐘 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆

"I would recognise you by touch alone."

"Always the dramatic."

𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈 𝐃𝐎, 𝐈 𝐃𝐎, 𝐈 𝐃𝐎

"You are my constellation, your soul dipped near mine and I find myself unable to remove my eyes from your being."

"I love you."

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇, 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐒. Anastasia's past endeavours lurk in shadows for hungry rewards and will do anything to have their riches or her.

"I'm sorry."

"Be quiet, please keep your eyes open for me, please don't leave me, don't leave me alone."

Two women couldn't be together, just like two men. it was absurd, It was an unspoken rule that seemed preposterous to even dream about. Yet, two women make a decision that could change the course of history for decades to come.

𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 + 𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄

𝖥𝖮𝖱𝖡𝖨𝖣𝖣𝖤𝖭 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤