February 12, 1907
"I'm just attending a motor show, Sednev. Not a ball or a formal reception. Is this really necessary?"
Alexei tugged at the stiff, closed collar around his neck, irritation flickering beneath his composure. He had been ready to wear something far more comfortable, something practical, but his mother had insisted that Sednev make him look presentable, as befitting a Tsarevich in public.
He was attending an event organized by motor enthusiasts, not the nobility or aristocracy. There would be engineers, inventors, merchants, not diplomats and duchesses.
For a fleeting moment, he wondered whether he still wanted to go at all. But he forced the thought away. He had already promised. Marina had worked hard to convince his parents to allow him to attend, and he would not withdraw now over something as trivial as an uncomfortable collar. He would just loosen his clothes after arriving there. He decided then.
"There will be a great many people there, Your Highness," Sednev replied calmly. "Your image must remain impeccable and presentable, regardless of the occasion."
He carefully smoothed the last crease from the Tsarevich's coat before continuing.
"I am certain some will request a group photograph. It is quite popular at the moment. I believe this level of preparation is necessary, unless you wish to see a photograph of yourself years from now wearing something… less than appropriate."
He stepped back at last, inspecting Alexei with quiet approval.
Alexei stretched his arms slightly, testing the stiffness of the tailored fabric, and clicked his tongue in annoyance at how tight it felt. "Tsk…"
He studied his reflection in the mirror and shook his head faintly. "When I'm older and can decide what I wear for myself, Sednev, clothes like this will be the first to go. Or better yet, we'll give them to people who actually need them."
Sednev, already accustomed to his Tsarevich's complaints whenever he dressed him this way, simply nodded in understanding. "I'm sure you will, Your Highness."
After replying, he gathered the discarded garments scattered about the room and neatly set them aside in the corner for Anya to collect and clean later.
Alexei narrowed his eyes at Sednev's indifferent response and muttered, "I'm not joking. I truly will throw out all clothes like this in the future."
Sednev paused and glanced at him with a faint, knowing smile. "I know you're not joking, Your Highness. In all the time I've served you, I've never seen you joke about such things." He adjusted a folded coat before continuing. "But until you are of age, you'll have to endure them, unless you wish to receive a lecture from Her Majesty."
With that, Sednev resumed tidying the room, leaving Alexei to contemplate both the mirror and his fate in formal attire.
After a moment, Alexei sighed, turned away from the mirror, and walked toward the chair near the hearth where his wolves had laid. He sat down and reached out to pet them both, his fingers threading through their thick fur.
He had already arranged to bring them with him.
Aside from serving as additional guards, creatures capable of sensing ill intent long before any human could, he had another reason. He wanted people to see it clearly, the Tsarevich of the Russian Empire kept two wolves at his side.
Wouldn't that make for a striking newspaper headline? He was already amused by the thought.
Speaking of newspapers, he already had plans to establish one of his own, operated, of course, by his minions.
The only obstacle was finding someone capable of running it. His men were competent fighters. They could handle sums, read and write adequately, and manage basic operations. But running a newspaper required a different skill set entirely, editing, coordination, discretion, and an understanding of public sentiment. None of them possessed that experience.
And he couldn't use his true identity to recruit someone openly. He had tasked Anna with finding a candidate who had prior experience managing a publication, but so far, her efforts had yielded nothing. For now, all he could do was wait.
"It's time, Your Highness."
Alexei's fingers paused mid-stroke against the wolves' fur, and he rose at once. He glanced toward Sednev, who had already finished tidying the room, then nodded and gestured for the wolves to follow.
Seeing this, Sednev hesitated before speaking. "Are you certain we shouldn't put collars and leashes on them, Your Highness? What if they wander off?"
In truth, what he wanted to ask was something else entirely.
What if they bite someone?
But he didn't say it. He had already asked that question countless times before and had received the same answer each time that they wouldn't. There was no point in repeating it directly. So instead, he circled the concern carefully, hoping his Tsarevich might reconsider on his own.
Alexei stopped walking and turned toward Sednev.
"I know what you truly wanted to ask, Sednev," he said calmly. "And I'll give you the same answer as before. No collars. No leashes. If they wander off, I'll find them myself."
He paused, waiting until Sednev gave a reluctant nod.
"Good," Alexei continued, turning back toward the door. "Let's go. I don't intend to be late."
Sednev let out a quiet sigh to himself and followed behind, with the wolves trotting closely at the Tsarevich's heels.
—---
The journey to the event was uneventful.
Alexei passed the time by counting the number of men his father had assigned to his security detail. In his opinion, there were far too many. Even from inside the carriage, he could see politsiya stationed along the streets at regular intervals.
For a brief moment, a dry thought crossed his mind. What kind of empire was this, if he could not even feel safe in its own capital?
The carriage began to slow.
Through the window, he caught sight of the exhibition grounds ahead. Large banners hung over the entrance, announcing the motor show in bold lettering. The winter sun reflected brightly off polished metal bodies lined near the front, their surfaces gleaming under the pale daylight. Even before the carriage stopped, he could hear the excited murmur of the crowd, voices layered with curiosity of who had arrived.
The carriage rolled to a halt.
At once, the security detail moved into position. Guards stepped down from their carriage and formed a perimeter with disciplined efficiency. Politsiya officers guided curious onlookers back, though that did little to stop necks from craning or whispers from spreading through the crowd.
"Who's arrived?"
"I don't know. Maybe the Tsar? Look at the guards' uniforms."
"Impossible. Why would the Tsar be here?"
Nagorny approached the carriage door after scanning the area thoroughly and determining it was secure. He gave a firm knock to signal that it was safe.
Sednev opened the door and stepped down first, closing it briefly behind him as he surveyed the surroundings with careful attention. Only after satisfying himself did he turn and open the carriage door once more.
Alexei stepped out with composed ease, his boots touching the ground steadily. Behind him, the wolves leapt down one after the other, landing lightly at his sides.
A visible ripple passed through the crowd.
"Wow. Look at those dogs. They're so cute…."
"Ow!"
"Are you blind? Those aren't dogs. They're wolves."
"Really? I didn't know they could be tamed."
"Neither did I."
"You're all staring at the wolves? Look at who just arrived, it's the Tsarevich. The Tsar's son!"
"How do you know?"
"I saw his picture once with the Tsar in the St. Petersburg Gazette. There was a caption saying he was the Tsarevich."
Alexei let his gaze sweep calmly across the crowd before turning toward the entrance of the exhibition hall. He had only taken a few steps when he noticed a group of young ladies off to the side, waving eagerly in his direction.
He couldn't resist then. With a subtle tilt of his head, he gave them a brief wink and a smile before returning his gaze forward. He didn't look back to see their reaction, but judging from the sudden burst of excited squeals behind him, he didn't need to.
As he neared the entrance, he spotted his friends already waiting for him, along with several people he did not recognize. He was only a few steps away when he heard Marina's voice, bright and triumphant, pride written plainly across her face.
"See? I told you he would come. I had dinner with the Tsar and Tsarina and convinced them to let Alexei attend!"
Alexei couldn't help but smile at that and greeted them first. "Hello. It's been a while."
They would have preferred to greet him more casually, but they were in public. The boys bowed their heads slightly, and the young ladies curtsied properly as they spoke in unison.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
Alexei inclined his head in acknowledgment.
Marina, having completed her formal greeting and seeing that the Tsarevich had responded with his customary nod, was the first to speak.
"Your Highness," she began, unable to hide the spark in her eyes, "they wouldn't believe me when I told them I convinced the Tsar and Tsarina myself to let you attend. Please tell them it's true."
A faint smile tugged at Alexei's lips as he looked at Marina, then at the rest of his friends.
"It's true," he said smoothly. "Marina did an excellent job convincing my father and mother to allow me to attend. So please don't be too hard on her. It's thanks to her that I'm able to come and visit this motor show."
"See? Hmph!" Marina crossed her arms and lifted her chin proudly.
Sergei let out a quiet chuckle and turned toward her. "My apologies for doubting you earlier, my lady."
Elena, standing beside Lev, offered an apology that sounded only half sincere. "Me too, Marina. I'm sorry I called you a liar earlier."
The others followed with their own apologies, some more genuine than others. By the time Marina had heard them all, she was holding her head so high that Alexei wondered whether she could still see the ground, or where she would be stepping next.
"I see you've been released from the Page Corps?" Alexei asked, turning toward Sergei.
"Not exactly," Sergei replied with a shake of his head. "It's just leave. I applied a month ago, so it was approved without much trouble."
Alexei nodded, then turned to Roman, Vladimir, and Lev. "And the rest of you?"
"Lev invited us a month in advance," Vladimir answered on behalf of the group. "So we applied for leave early as well, just like Sergei."
Roman gave a small nod in agreement, still visibly reserved amid the crowd and attention.
"This is good, then. We haven't all been together in quite some time. Shall we go in and take a look?" Alexei gestured toward the entrance with a slight tilt of his chin. He was genuinely eager to see the automobiles of this era up close. He had already examined his father's collection, but observing the models that drew the most attention from true enthusiasts would be far more interesting.
He was about to step forward when Elena suddenly spoke.
"Wait. Are these the wolves everyone was talking about? They're so cute. May I pet them?"
She had already begun reaching out her hand when a low, warning growl rumbled from Trezor's chest. Elena froze immediately.
Alexei couldn't help but chuckle. "I suppose not. They're still not accustomed to strangers. Perhaps in the future."
Elena withdrew her hand reluctantly, and the other girls couldn't help but pout in disappointment. Irina, who had been unusually quiet since the greetings, let out a soft sigh as well.
Alexei noticed. He already understood why she was being so reserved and shy around him, but he still acted like he didn't know about it. Puppy love had a way of fading on its own, even if one did nothing about it.
"Your Highness," Lev called from beside Elena.
"Hm? Shall we go inside now?" Alexei tilted his head slightly toward Lev.
"Before that, Your Highness," Lev continued, "may I introduce the gentleman who organized this exhibition?"
Alexei nodded and turned his attention to the man standing slightly behind Lev. The gentleman appeared both excited and nervous, fidgeting subtly ever since Alexei's arrival.
"Of course," Alexei said smoothly. "I would be pleased to meet the man who made this possible."
Lev straightened slightly and gestured toward the man beside him.
"Your Highness, may I present Andrei Nagel," he said eagerly. "He is a well-known motor enthusiast and racer. He organizes exhibitions like this, and occasionally arranges racing events as well."
The man stepped forward at once.
Andrei Nagel bowed respectfully, though the excitement in his eyes was impossible to conceal. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness, and thank you for coming to this event." he said, his voice steady despite the obvious thrill of the moment.
Alexei studied him briefly, taking in the oil-stained gloves tucked into his coat pocket, the faint scent of engine grease clinging to him even at a formal event. This was not merely an organizer. This was a man who loved automobiles himself.
Alexei offered a polite smile and inclined his head in return. "The honor is mine, Mr. Nagel. I must thank you for organizing such an impressive exhibition."
Nagel's face lit up at the acknowledgment. "It is my greatest pleasure, Your Highness. Imperial Russia must not fall behind the rest of Europe in automobile progress. Events like this allow innovation to breathe."
Alexei's eyes sharpened slightly with interest.
"And you organize races as well?" he asked.
Nagel nodded eagerly. "Yes, Your Highness. Small competitions for now, but growing each year. Speed reveals both the strength and weakness of an automobile far better than any motor show ever could."
Alexei glanced briefly at one of the automobiles gleaming nearby.
"I agree. Testing them would reveal their true worth." he said calmly.
Nagel looked as though he might burst with enthusiasm.
"If it pleases Your Highness," he continued carefully, "I would be honored to personally guide you through the exhibition and show you the finest models."
Alexei glanced at Lev, who had invited them all to the event.
Noticing the look, Lev nodded. "He's the one most familiar with the automobiles on display, Your Highness. That's why I asked him to guide us through the exhibition, if you approve."
Alexei had no objection. He turned back to Nagel. "That would be most welcome. Please, lead the way."
Nagel's smile widened at the response. "With pleasure, Your Highness."
He stepped forward eagerly, gesturing for Alexei to follow before turning to include the rest of the group as well. "Please, all of you, this way."
Nagel guided them deeper into the exhibition hall, his earlier nerves replaced by animated enthusiasm.
They moved from one automobile to the next, stopping before polished machines that gleamed beneath the winter sunlight. Some were compact and practical, their designs modest but efficient. Others were grander, long-bodied touring cars with lacquered panels, brass lamps, and leather interiors stitched with meticulous care.
Nagel explained each one with careful precision. Engine capacity. Ignition systems. Improvements in suspension. Imported parts from France. German engineering influences. A newly designed carburetor that promised smoother acceleration.
Alexei listened intently.
He asked measured questions, about fuel efficiency, about durability on Russian roads, about winter performance.
Nagel seemed both surprised and delighted by the depth of his interest. This was not a polite heir nodding through a demonstration. This was someone who understood that automobiles would shape the future.
Lev and Sergei examined exposed engines with fascination. Vladimir listened thoughtfully, arms crossed, while Roman remained quieter, observing more than speaking. Marina, Irina and Elena were equally captivated, though more by the elegance of certain models than their mechanics.
The wolves padded at Alexei's side throughout, drawing curious glances from mechanics, engineers and guests alike. At one point, a small cluster of boys stood whispering in awe, not at the automobiles, but at the wolves' disciplined composure.
By the time Nagel had shown them the final display, an experimental racing model stripped down for speed rather than comfort, the group had completed a full circuit of the exhibition.
Nagel turned toward Alexei, clearly pleased.
"I hope the exhibition met Your Highness's expectations," he said respectfully.
"It exceeded them," Alexei replied honestly. "You've done impressive work, Mr. Nagel. Russia would do well to encourage more efforts like this."
Nagel bowed slightly, gratitude shining plainly in his expression.
After a brief hesitation, he gathered his courage. "Your Highness… if it would not be too presumptuous, may I request a photograph? It would be an honor to commemorate this day."
Alexei did not hesitate. "Of course."
The photographer was summoned at once. A camera was positioned, the tripod adjusted carefully. Word spread quickly, and a small crowd gathered at a respectful distance.
Nagel stood beside Alexei, still visibly thrilled. Alexei's friends formed around them, Marina smoothing her coat, Sergei straightening instinctively, Lev trying and failing to hide his excitement from seeing different kinds of automobiles.
After a photograph was taken, Nagel asked if they could still take one together with his friends and Alexei smiled and allowed it. Nagel then turned and waved urgently toward a group of men standing near one of the displays.
"My friends!" he called. "Come, quickly! You must be in this as well!"
Several men hurried over, engineers, assistants, and organizers who had helped bring the motor show to life. They positioned themselves modestly at the edge of the group, clearly aware of the honor being extended.
The wolves sat calmly at Alexei's feet.
The photographer adjusted the lens and after getting the right angle and distance, he said. "Hold still."
A bright flash ignited.
For a brief instant, the moment was captured, the Tsarevich of Russia standing among motor enthusiasts, flanked by friends and wolves.
When the light faded, the crowd murmured excitedly, wondering how the picture would turn out.
Alexei allowed himself a faint, private smile. Presence was also a kind of power. And he understood how to use that just as well.
He needed to make his presence known among the people and begin shaping his image in their eyes. He did not understand why his mother and father wanted him to wait until he was an adult before doing so. Time was already slipping away for his family, and he could not afford to wait that long. Building a strong image and forming connections with people like these, innovators, engineers and automobile enthusiasts, this was where he would begin.
After the photograph was taken, Alexei called out to Nagel, who had been speaking animatedly with his friends.
Nagel broke off at once and hurried over. "Do you require anything, Your Highness?" he asked respectfully.
"Not particularly," Alexei replied. "I was simply wondering, do you intend to organize an event like this every year?"
Nagel was momentarily taken aback by the question. After a brief pause, he answered honestly.
"I'm not certain, Your Highness. It required a considerable amount of funding and persuasion to convince manufacturers across Europe to display their automobiles here. Many did not respond at all. Only a handful agreed, hoping to establish a market within Imperial Russia."
He hesitated slightly before adding, "It was… a significant risk on our part."
Alexei had already come to a decision while they were touring the exhibition if they would not do the exhibition next year. He paused for a moment, as though weighing it carefully, before speaking.
"How about this?" he said calmly. "You and your associates continue organizing this event annually, and I will support you from behind the scenes."
Nagel blinked, stunned into silence.
"I may not be able to assist you personally in persuading the manufacturers," Alexei continued, "but you may inform them that I am backing this exhibition. You may use my name in that regard."
He held Nagel's gaze steadily.
"As for the funding, I will cover the expenses. You and your friends need not invest your own money again."
For a heartbeat, the noise of the exhibition seemed to fade around them. Nagel stared at him as though he had misheard.
"Your… Your Highness," he said carefully, almost afraid to breathe, "is that truly what you mean?"
There was no trace of jest in Alexei's expression.
"Yes," he replied evenly. "I do not speak lightly, Mr. Nagel. If this exhibition continues to grow, it will benefit not only enthusiasts but the Empire itself. Innovation must be encouraged and I want you to lead this event yearly."
Nagel's throat worked as he swallowed. For a moment, he looked as though he might simply stand there in stunned disbelief.
"You would… fund it? Entirely?"
"Yes," Alexei confirmed. "Provided that it is organized properly, and that it improves each year. I expect standards to rise, not fall. The number of manufacturers who join this event must also increase each year until all the manufacturers around Europe would want their cars in this event."
That seemed to snap something back into place within Nagel. His astonishment transformed into fierce determination as he realized this would be the start of his dream. His dream to drive and inspect all the automobiles around the world with his own hands.
"Your Highness!" he exclaimed, straightening instinctively. "If that is your wish, then I swear I will dedicate myself fully to it. We will make this exhibition worthy of your support and make it the biggest motor show event across Europe.
There was fire in his eyes now, not just excitement, but purpose.
Alexei smiled slightly and gave a small approving nod.
"Good. Then I expect no failure from you, Mr. Nagel."
He paused, then called Sednev over and briefly informed him of what they had just discussed. Afterward, he turned back to Nagel.
"My attendant will require your full address, properly detailed for correspondence. He will contact you soon to arrange the necessary matters."
Nagel bowed deeply, far more composed than before, though no less grateful.
"You will not regret this, Your Highness," he said firmly. "I will give it my utmost effort."
At the side, Sednev suppressed a sigh. He couldn't help but wonder what his Tsarevich would decide next without first consulting him, or worse, the Tsar and Tsarina. Still, he accepted the responsibility with quiet resignation. He could only hope their Majesties would approve when they learned of this.
Alexei gave Nagel one last nod and lightly patted his shoulder before turning back to his friends, who had clearly been listening to the exchange with wide eyes.
"Well?" he said lightly. "Shall we return to the palace? The chef has prepared a new dish, called pizza. I would very much like you all to try it."
Their expressions were a mixture of excitement and eager curiosity, not only about the unfamiliar dish which they only heard from the people who tasted it and talked about how delicious it was, but about his decision to fund the future motor shows.
Alexei noticed. He would answer their inevitable questions over pizza.