Coronation

As Alexander sits there, consumed with guilt hours pass by, Eventually he grows tired and falls asleep. The countless all nighters and a messed up sleep schedule had taken a heavy toll on his body.

-January 26th 1842-

after Alexander and Elizaveta had married and consumated their marriage Alexander should have been quite happy. And he was, for a while.

But... every day he struggles with the guilt, knowing the pain he has caused to them. Caused to HIS family. Alex Doesn't even know how to face them.

He hasn't said a word to them after the death of Nicholas I. And even if he gathered the courage to face them, what could he even say?

The thoughts had been eating him up from the inside. His only way of coping being work, some vodka at night and even more work, doing everything he can to not have to think to not have to feel.

Even as Alexander tries to appear normal like his usual self, some cracks appear in his behavior.

His wife, soon after their marriage notices the strangeness in Alexanders behavior and periodiclly asks if somethings bothering him.

But he manages to always brush it off as being tired or just very sleepy in general.

But he can only keep this up for so much longer.

After all, he is but a man.

---

Currently Alexander and his wife are getting on the newly built railway from St.petersburg to Moscow. It got built a month and that too because of the priority Alexander placed on this railway, with countless russians and war prisoners dying in the process of building it. The fact that it got built in less then 5 years is a miracle in itself.

As he gets on the train train he looks back at the city. It has grown quite a bit, almost reaching over a million people, hosting around 870, 000. Quite the significant number.

'Its alresdy been over 2 decades, Time sure flies fast.'

"Alex? What are you thinking about so deeply?"

"Hmh? I'm just wondering, so much time has passed so fast, and how lucky for such wonderful wife."

"Oh please, flattery won't get you anywhere"

Alexander responds cheekely.

"Really? Do you wanna test that?"

Her face heats up from Alexanders comment and a faint steam almost starts to be visible

She covers it with her hands in white gloves and replies.

"No need no need."

Alexander, happy at teasing his wife rejoices, being with her always brings him joy.

"But... If you have anything on your mind, or something thats bothering you. Don't be scared to share it with me, we are msrried after all"

A lump gets stuck in Alexanders throat from her words. Only mustering to say 2 words.

"I will"

---

It took roughly 20 hours for the train to arrive at moscow. As the couple got out, visibly tired from the long ride they got in the designated carriage specificlly reserved by Alexander for them to take them to the petrovsky palace for some good nights rest.

As night falls Alexander takes one last look into the mirror, inspecting his face when suddenly the figure in the mirror smiles.

Scaring Alexander. But it dissapeared the moment he blinked. Appearing to be a simple hallucination.

Getting the incident out of his thoughts he joins his wife in the bed, finally going to sleep.

-February 1st 1842-

Almost a week after their arrival Alexanders coronation ceremony starts.

Alexander and his Wife, sitting are sitting in a luxurious carriage, carried by white horses, carrying the russian flag and accompanied by tens of soldiers and musicians.

The carriage then stopped, and they continued till they got to the Iverskie gates.

Where Alexander venerated Iverskaya (saint mary) mother of god icon. Then Moving to the red square and then the spassky gate Alexander removed his helmet as per tradition.

Then they traveled to the Dormition cathedral or assumption cathedral.

Where, for the first time in empires history representatives from all provinces participated in the procession. Something truly unprecedented.

The cathedral is decorated with gold linings, and covered in paintings over decades old.

continuing Alexander kissed the icons of the saviour and virgin of vladimir, while lamenting at the irony of it all. For he had commited a gravest sin.

Alexander then goes up the steps where the throne is located, seeing his wife, staying below he reaches his hand out for her to follow him up. Touched by this action Elizaveta takes Alexanders hand and they go up to the throne together.

And before sitting, Alexander turns around to take the Crown held by the metropolitan philaret. But, the moment his hands touch the crown... Darkness. He is located in a dark space. Feeling the floor underneath him to be... water?

He walks around for a while, each step making a splash, with his hearbeat and breathing filling in the rest of the void, echoing. though strangely enough his shoes or his clothes are not becoming wet from the water or its splashes.

Annoyed by all this Alexander decides to shout "ANYBODY HERE?!"

As his voice echose throughout the space, he hears a laugh, sending shivers through his spine. He certainly wasn't excpecting a reply, thats for sure. Alexander turns around and notices a mirror someone familiar. Wait, no, not familiar, but him. He sees himself.

Just not the current "Alexander" him. But mike. The person looks exactly like he looked before his... untimely death.

As he looks at "himself" or previous self with scrutiny the person in the mirror responds back.

"Why hello there, Michael."

Said the figure, with the edges of the figures lips reaching across across his cheek. as an eerie smile spreads across the figures face.