All Rise the Last Empress

*Nicoli*

"Your Royal Highness?" Philpé stood up with surprise, not hearing the boy draw so close. Usually, both men could tell when Nicoli was bounding over, hearing his chatter of energy. But for whatever reason, that energy was not there, instead, today, Nicoli was quiet. His silent posture alarming enough on its own.

"Are you… alright?" Philpé asked, watching the boy. "You look," He stopped, daring not say what both men were thinking because both could see it. Nicoli's eyes were pink and puffy, almost as if he had been crying off somewhere, out of sight, just before joining them. 

"Can you paint today?" Nicoli, cut him off, moving to sit on the bench, lifting his head up as if nothing the matter. Or, at least, he wanted to be, despite how he felt. But, in reality, it felt like everything was out of sorts.

But the painting should take my mind off things. Nicoli straightened up, hoping that would help, and waited on Philpé. But here, sadly, Nicoli found Philpé only frowning.

"I'm afraid not, Your Royal Highness." Philpé delivered the blow. "The light has changed. It's dark now. The coloring will be off."

"Oh…" Nicoli noted the thick clouds. "I…didn't realize." Nicoli was too distracted to even notice, trying his best to will the tears to stop, but it was for nothing. It was nothing and now he couldn't even count on the painting to help. Nicoli shrank into his seat.

"Your Royal Highness?" Philpé, on how part, looked to his assistant with a confused frown. But the man was as lost as him. Neither understanding what made Nicoli like this. It was the first they ever saw the boy be so low.

"So, you can't paint," Nicoli repeated, feeling new tears spring up. "Then I'll…just," No, he didn't want to cry, not in front of them. But it was happening, and he moved to press his hands on the side of his head. All this crying was giving him a terrible headache.

"Oh, wait," Philpé immediately distressed upon seeing him cry, finding himself trying to appease. "please don't!" And he motioned for his assistant to help. 

"Look, Your Majesty." Philpé's assistant chirped. "The painting- she's almost finished."

"Yes, here," Philpé threw up his hands to point over to the canvas. Smiling nervously at his assistant, who nodded to Nicoli.

"It just needs the last round of paint." His assistant added," Then she's done."

"She's…" Nicoli looked up. "Really?" he hiccuped. Tears were still in his eyes, but Nicoli rubbed them dry to help him see better.

"Yes!"Both men saw this as a good sign, trying their damndest to stop the prince from the waterworks. Philpé became more animated, to try to make up for his not knowing what else to do.

"Yes, come and see for yourself, Your Royal Highness." Philpé stepped aside to throw out his arms in a demonstration. "Come, please." He beckoned, and Nicoli felt compelled now to move and cautiously got up to walk over.

"Yes, like my assistant said, Philpé went in confidence. "One more layer, and she's done."

"One more?"Nicoli, not knowing anything about painting, only nodded trusting their word. But the truth would be when he saw it.

Is it done? Nicoli held his breath, before leaning in, not sure what he would find. The last time he looked, it was all just blotches and horror. Was it really better this time? Was it actually finished?

"It's me!" Nicoli exclaimed upon seeing the face, surprised and delighted. "It's my face!" The miniature was a perfect likeness. 

"You," Nicoli looked up to smile at him now. " it's like you made me small and put me inside." 

"I'm happy to hear you find my work satisfactory." Philpé smiled back, relieved to see the boy's mood lifted, grateful now not having to deal with a crying child. Not to mention, he didn't mind being showered with praise, very proud of the comment. His assistant, however, moved to cough, a not-so-subtle reminder.

"Oh, and the expert color matching of my assistant," Philpé added. "It's his help too, your Royal Highness." Philpé turned to see his assistant nod, finding the acknowledgment of approval. But Philpé had to sneak in just one more time and leaned in to whisper with a mischievous smile.

"But mostly because of me." Philpé winked, throwing Nicoli into a fit of giggles.

"Ah, yes, right!" Nicoli laughed, shaking his shoulders, the tears in his eyes long gone by humor.

"Indeed," The painter beamed another smile before standing up, enjoying the effect he had on the boy. His assistant, however, narrowed his eyes at him, suspicious. 

'I don't know?' Philpé mouthed to the assistant, playing innocent. This only had his assistant narrow his eyes further. A look which only made Nicoli laugh again.

"You guys are funny!" Nicoli giggled, his smile back, and himself better.

"Glad you enjoy our company, Your Royal Highness." Philpé went, and his assistant nodded, while Nicoli turned to look back at his painted face. 

"How long will it be?" He cocked his head, studying his painted form, amazed anyone could create another person. Nicoli could draw bears, that was easy, but to draw a person, well, that seemed beyond him.

Philpé, meanwhile, smiled wider, noting Nicoli's discerning eye, enjoying how the boy seemed mystified by his work. Always a compliment to any painter.

"By the end of tomorrow," Philpé announced, certain. His assistant nodded, agreeing with the timeline.

"By tomorrow?" Nicoli sprang up, with great surprise. "My god, you're amazing, Philpé!" Nicoli jumped before rushing him. His little arms wrapped around Philpé's legs with a squeeze.

"Well, it's all due to your commitment, Your Royal Highness," Philpé beamed, "Thank you for being so amiable. If it weren't for your persistence, this would have taken longer." To his side, Philpé's assistant gave a significant nod.

"Once I send this," Nicoli paused, pulling back, his mind working. "Ana will have to come. She'll just have to!" Nicoli let go to look back at the miniature. A thousand ideas now running through his head. Each as hopeful and promising as the last.

With this, Ana will come to the party. She won't ignore it. She'll come and see me. Nicoli thought before feeling a rush of another idea.

"I have to tell Dad!" Nicoli exclaimed, thinking only of the one other person who would be just as excited as him. Yes, I need to tell him. 

"I have to go," Nicoli made to turn, ready to run, but a booming laugh bellowed just from behind the three.

"Your Highness!?" Each turned to see King Alexander approaching with two servants in tow. Nicoli spotted Johan, which was usual, but the other was a surprise. He had seen him earlier, back with the tailor.

"Your majesty," Both Philpé and his assistant bowed, showing respect, but his father only waved his hand, smiling, as if to say to rest at ease. 

"I was wondering how things were going?" Alexander only mused.

"Dad! The painting's almost done!" Nicoli rushed, unable to hold back his excitement. "I can send it to Ana after tomorrow!" 

"I know." Alexander only laughed, "I heard you screaming." Alexander winked at Philpé and his assistant, having them share in the laugh.

"But that's not solely why I'm here." Alexander glanced over to the footmen before turning back."How was the tailor? Did you finish your fitting?" 

"The tailor?"Though happy for the miniature, Nicoli couldn't help but lessen his smile. The question prompted the exchange and argument with his mother. An unhappy event, and something that Nicoli didn't want to revisit.

"It was fine." Nicoli grew quieter, "Mom told me about the party."

"Did she? Good!" Alexander exclaimed," Then, I don't need to walk on my tippy toes anymore." He then looked to the men, "It's hard to keep secrets from this one, you see." He joked with another wink.

"Ah, right," Philpé and his assistant, on cue, laughed, but Nicoli didn't. Just thinking about his mother's harsh words was enough to dampen his joy. Maybe because, though harsh, they were also true.

Ana had not written. Not once. And part of Nicoli hated that. Hated that he couldn't even argue against it. He couldn't even find some excuse to say why. Because that was the problem, he didn't know. He didn't know anything. 

I don't know and that's why it's so frustrating. If Ana would just write, just give a single explanation as to why she hadn't, if she'd just…But thinking and hoping was all he could do, unable to change anything.

"Hah," Nicoli sighed, pushing his hands into his pockets, not knowing what else to do. A gesture, his father couldn't help but catch, and quickly guess why.

"I heard…" Alexander went, growing a bit softer. "you argued with your mother." 

"You?" Nicoli looked up, somewhat surprised. "How do you know that?" But just as he asked, he let it go. It didn't matter if he already knew, as there were more serious things to think about.

"You wanted to invite Empress Anastasia." Alexander prompted, again, slightly surprising Nicoli, but not as much, that he would know. He only sighed.

"Yeah." Nicoli looked at the miniature. The painted Nicoli had a big smile, looking bright, and welcoming. It was slightly unnerving.

Is this how others see me? Nicoli focused on his happy expression. Just a happy boy?

Is this… how Ana saw me? Nicoli thought on. Still want to see me? 

I know I do. Nicoli wanted to see Ana every day. And hasn't he tried? How many letters did he write? How many bears has he drawn?

What else was there to do? How much more could he do to reach out? 

What if… Mom is right? Nicoli's chest began to hurt. 

"Do…you think she'll come?" Nicoli found the words. "That Ana will come…if I invite her?" He looked up to Alexander, hoping for some confidence, something to ensure that there was hope. But in that rare moment, Nicoli found a weary expression on his face, his father growing a bit darker at the question.

"Anastasia…" When Alexander spoke, at last, it was steady, his expression growing softer. "She will…" He paused as if trying to think of something to say. "She…will love the miniature, Nicoli" He went finally and ruffled his hair. "I'm sure of that."

"I hope so." Nicoli smiled, up at him, but it didn't reach his eyes. He only looked back to the painted twin. Looking on at his carefree expression, likely happy, and blind to pain, like the one growing in his chest now.

 "I really hope so." Nicoli answered, his eyes lingering on that painted grin.