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country when the time comes. Now it is time to meet everyone else.”
                  He pointed to the first two women who looked about my age. “This is Mari and Avery. They are your ladies-in-waiting.” I never really understood what a lady-in-waiting was (though I had assumed it involved some waiting around for some reason), so I just smiled and said hello. Next I met the cook, Mrs. Rontes, who reminded me of what Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast would look like if she weren’t animated. Then I met the doorman, Donnie, then the royal gardener, and so on.
                  As I was introduced to the staff I noticed that none of them actually sounded Russian or even had Russian names. I didn’t understand it so I brought it up with Terrence as I met my horse groomer. “You see, my dear, we are all descended from Russians who served the Romanovs. So it is as if we are merely filling in the roles left for us.”
                  “Oh, I see, so your great-grandpa or something was a mentor as well?”
                  Terrence smiled. “Well, not exactly. You see, the families before had their elders to look up to as mentors. My great-uncle was actually part of the royal court. But seeing as I am something of an authority in Russian society and the court already has members, well, I volunteered to help you.” In a strange way it was all beginning to make sense to me.
    A s we continued strolling down the line of people, I came face-to-face with two huge, burly men who looked about the same age as Kevin. One had brown curly hair with a huge grin on his face. The other was a little shorter and he had dark black hair and had a grimly serious face.
                  “This is Antonio, and his brother Barnes. They will be your bodyguards.” Great, just what I need , I thought, someone to watch me all the time and make me paranoid . Still, I managed to smile as I greeted them.
                  “Hello, Antonio. Hello, Barnes.” Antonio said hello, but I was a little taken aback when Barnes just nodded. Antonio saw my reaction to his brother and quickly stepped in.
                  “Allow me to explain, Miss. Barnes doesn’t talk to anyone but me. I really don’t know why but he’s just been that way since we were little.”
                  I nodded and replied, “Well, don’t you worry, Barnes. By the time I’m empress I’m sure I’ll manage to get at least a hello from you.” I smiled and began to walk away, and I swear that I saw Barnes hold back a smirk.
                  Yet my own smile quickly disappeared as I saw Kevin standing at the end of the line. “And, of course, you already know Kevin. He will be your personal assistant.” He added with a laugh, “He might be around you more then your bodyguards!” Terrence grabbed his stomach and continued to belly-laugh as he walked away. That was supposed to be a sick joke? I thought.
                  I stood there, no doubt scowling at the idea that I would have no choice but to work with Kevin for about seventeen hours a day. He couldn’t have missed my reaction, because he blurted out, “Look, it wasn’t my idea,” he said, then quickly looked down at the floor, avoiding eye contact.
                  “Obviously,” I said, crossing my arms defensively. “Because I make you want to shoot yourself in the foot, remember?”
                  Kevin sighed, as if surrendering to what promised to be an endless battle of wills that lay before us. “Well, the first bit of business,” he said, getting busy with clipboard in his hands. “Mari, Avery, can you please show Her Highness where her bedroom is?” He kept looking at the sheet on the clipboard as he walked away. “You have all day to settle in and get accustomed to your surroundings. I’ll stop by your room tomorrow morning and prep you for the day.” With that,