Saving the Romanov family #3

(Source)

Ekaterinburg, 17 July 1918

Master Chief and I employed the same ruse on the guards that were holding Elizabeth Feodorovna prisoner in a desolate school. There were seven others with her: four princes, one grand duke and two retinue. Sergei Mikhailovich did not trust us and almost resisted. I placed Elizabeth and her companions in the back of the Fiat truck and we drove back to Ekaterinburg. It was still dark when we returned to the Ipatiev House. Elizabeth and her companions occupied the basement rooms where the internal guard slept. The Romanovs kept their excitement muted when they awoke and saw Elizabeth, probably to avoid attracting our attention.

I took over Yurovsky's office on the second floor which is across the hall from the Romanovs' rooms. When I was done tidying the room, Geralt brought in Nicholas and Alexandra. They were both shocked when I informed them of the attempted execution. I also told them of the deaths of several members of their entourage, namely Vasily Dolgorukov, Ilya Tatishev, Klementy Nagorny and Ivan Sednev. Yurovsky lied to Nicholas and Alexandra when he claimed that they were still alive. I left it to them to inform Leonid Sednev of his uncle's death and whether they wish to tell their children of the execution.

With the bad news out of the way, I assigned myself cleanup duty. Motion sensors were placed on all corners of the roof. They allow Chief to multitask while also monitor any movement outside the house, otherwise he'd have to be on watch 24/7. Geralt and Aragorn destroyed the guns and ammunition left behind by the thugs. I took a ladder and some tools and began removing the whitewash from the windows, starting with OTMA's bedroom. The grand duchesses were watching me. I unsealed the window, but none of them opened it.

I wanted to make a good first impression. There was a Kodak Bulls-Eye camera amongst the stack of confiscated Romanov belongings in the office. I was quite sure it belonged to one of the grand duchesses. After Chief made sure the camera was in working order, I took it to the first grand duchess I came across, Maria. She was wary of me when I handed it to her.

Not long after, Tatiana entered my office, asking if I could permit Dr Vladimir Derevenko entry to the Ipatiev House so that he can treat her brother Alexei. He has not been allowed to visit ever since Yurovsky became commandant. I granted her request and sent Geralt to find Derevenko. I told Tatiana to not hesitate to ask if her family needed anything. She's so beautiful. Doe eyes. A swan's soft, supple neck. And a waist so slim you could grip it one-handed. Hearing her voice for the first time felt as if I was falling under her spell. How could anyone murder and mutilate her is beyond me. The Bolsheviks are sick fucks.

Yurovsky's papers were on the desk, one detailing the strict restrictions imposed on the Romanov family and servants. Only speak Russian, must ring a bell before using the lavatory, no excursions, no visitors, no letters, no newspapers. The list goes on. I'm beginning to think it was a mistake letting Yurovsky live. What he did is just unforgivable.