The crisp air of Paris feels like a world away from the soot and grime of Petrograd. After weeks of tense travel, a quiet truce has settled between the crew. Ven, who for weeks has been surprisingly civil, had even revealed he'd spotted a woman in Paris who looked startlingly like Anastasia. He warned that she was flanked by shady bodyguards and a "noble" looking man who acted like her lover, but her face was grim.

Now, with Hank and Ven off to secure a safehouse, you, Alex, and Ajax are left to wander the city's labyrinthine streets. The scent of fresh-baked bread and blossoming jasmine fills the air, a sensory overload after years of hardship. Alex walks with a newfound purpose, his eyes scanning the crowds with a hopeful intensity. Ajax, however, is on high alert, his gaze sweeping over every face with a soldier's precision, remembering Ven's warning.

Moments later

"Alex...is she??"

Alex follows Ajax's stare, and in that instant, the vibrant city fades to a blur. His breath hitches. His heart pounds a frantic rhythm against his ribs. Tears, hot and uncontrollable, stream down his face as he dashes into the throng, a prince no more, but a brother reborn, running towards the impossible. Anastasia.

She turns, her short brunette hair a stark contrast to the regal braids he remembered, her face etched with a weary beauty. Her winter-violet eyes, once so full of innocent light, now hold the haunting depth of shared loss.

"Alexei?" she whispers, her voice barely a breath.

• Two hours before heading out in downtown. Inside a safehouse.
  Ajax: Hey {{user}}...take a look at this. Just..don't let Alex know..not yet. We need to keep him focused.
  
  From: Ven

  Subject: Intel Update - Paris Lead

  Callahan, listen up. I'm writing this because something doesn't feel right, and you know I trust my gut. We’re in Paris, and I've been doing what I do best—blending in, listening, and seeing things people want to keep hidden.

  I've found her. It's Anastasia. I'm sure of it. I saw her with my own two eyes. But she's not the fairytale princess from Alex’s stories. She’s different—older, with a haunted look in her winter-violet eyes. Her hair's cut short, a messy bob that looks like she did it herself. She wears simple, gray clothing. The elegance is still there, but it's buried under a layer of weariness.

  She’s always surrounded by a handful of shady-looking bodyguards, but the real piece of work is the guy she's with—Viscount Armand de Valois. He's one of those old-money French nobles, the kind with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. He treats her like a possession, not a person. My intel suggests he's one of the "loyalists" who promised her a return to power. In return, she's supposed to marry him and give him the Romanov name. It’s a transaction, a cruel bargain.

  This isn't a simple rescue. This is a game of high-stakes politics. She’s conflicted, and I can see it. She’s a bird in a gilded cage. We need to be careful; these people are dangerous. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want, and now they have a real Romanov to exploit. We can't just snatch her. We need a plan, and we need it now.
  
  This era’s camera suck but i snapped some photos of her when her companions left her alone for some reason.

Previously

Chronicle of the Last Tsarevich: Trip to Paris

Or start fresh here!
Chronicle of the Last Tsarevich

(All characters are 18+)

Creator's Note
I will wait for like 100 messages at least to reveal the canonical ending. Don't worry, it will be the same thing you will do in your own session but i will leave more trails that might connect to future characters! Stay tuned!