Four hours later, Alexander left the Command Ops and returned back to the Winter Palace to fulfill his promise to Sophie.

In those two hours, Alexander oversaw the rescue operation being planned by Kutnetzov himself. They'll execute the operation at nine o'clock, in St. Petersburg time, or six o'clock in London time. Thinking that they can handle pretty much everything, he left the work to them.

Alexander was never a person who plan and strategize for an upcoming battle. What he's good at is developing military weapons for the military. Which they will use in accordance with the plan concocted by the High Command of the Military.

There's a saying that it is best to leave everything to the pros, and that's what he did.

Alexander walked down the gilded hallways of the Winter Palace, his destination, the dining hall. It's already seven o'clock in the morning so his family must be waiting for him to join them for breakfast.

Reaching the end of the hallway, the two Imperial Guards performed a salute before opening the door.

Alexander stepped into the dining hall, and just as he expected, they were all there. Anastasia, Christina, Tiffania, Sophie, and Anya. Their meals are prepared by the servants who, one by one, push a cart containing plates and utensils.

"Good morning, brother."

Christina was the first person to greet him upon his arrival.

Alexander returned the gesture by saying it back.

"Seeing that you are joining us for breakfast means your work is getting lighter?" Tiffania asked as Alexander took his seat on his respective chair. "You are always pushing my tutor schedule…that I understand since we are at war with every country in Europe."

"But I think it's going to be okay now," Anastasia chimed in. "Our brother is here, which means the war doesn't look bad anymore, is it?" she gazed at Alexander expectantly.

"Unfortunately, things are still heated. And no, my work hasn't lightened up, even by a tiny bit, but I still want to make an effort to spend it together with you in this breakfast," Alexander said."Papa…you promised me before that we are going to visit grandma and grandpa, right?" Anya asked.

"I did promise that sweetie but now is not the right time," Alexander replied in a gentle tone. His daughter looked visibly disappointed and turned her attention to her mother, hoping that she'd say the opposite.

"Just as your father said, Anya…we can't go there yet. Things are looking bad for now, but don't worry. All things must come to an end, and when that happens, we are going to pay grandma and grandpa a visit," Sophie smiled.

"Why? Why can't we go there now?" Anya demanded.

"Well, sweetheart…" Sophie sighed, trying to find the words. They haven't been open to Anya about the war happening in Europa. They always sugarcoat the situation, saying that their trip will be delayed because of the issue the world is having right now.

Anya is too young for her to know the horrible truth of war, so they'll always give her a vague answer.

"Because we are at war, Anya," Tiffania interjected. "We are at war with the country where your grandma and grandpa are living."

"Tiffania?!" Alexander shot her a questioning gaze. She simply shrugged her shoulders in response. She can be a little tactless sometimes. "Why would you do that?"

"Brother, I think it's best that you explain to Anya why you can't go to Bavaria. You just have to omit some details that you won't want her to know. Explain it in a way a kid would easily understand," Tiffania advised his brother, growing a bit frustrated as to why they are keeping Anya from the true horrors of the real world. She is her brother's daughter, a grand duchess, someone who would shoulder some responsibility once she reached adulthood. It's best that Anya learns how the world works at an early age.

"I agree with Tiffania, brother," Christina added. "Explain it in a way she would understand."

Seeing that two of his sisters banded together, he can't help but concede.

"Fine," Alexander breathed in as he contemplated a simple analogy for Anya to understand the situation.

Anya was staring at him expectantly, waiting for his answer."Well, sweetheart. The Ruthenia Empire and the Deutschland Empire were friends a while ago. But now they are not," Alexander said.

"Why?" Anya urged further, leaning forward slightly with interest written across her face.

"Because the Deutschland believes that we did something bad to them according to someone. He fed the Deutschland Empire lies and now they hate us because of something that is not true."

"So, the Deutsch–Deutsch–" Anya stuttered, finding it hard to pronounce the word. "Anyways, that country doesn't like us anymore and doesn't want us to go to their house?"

Everyone slightly gasped at Anya's answer. She understood what Alexander was trying to tell her and thought that she came up with an analogy that best matches the situation right now. Alexander was pleased.

"Yes sweeties, just like that. But don't worry, that is only temporary. We'll be friends with them soon and once we do, we can go to their house now."

"I see…now I know!" Anya smiled brightly, satisfied with herself. "So I just need to wait right?"

Sophie placed a hand on Anya's hair and stroked it gently. "That's right, sweetie. I don't know when but I'm sure that day will come. We just have to wait," Sophie said.

"That worked out effectively," Tiffania commented. "See? It's simple, brother."

The food was now being served by the servants of the palace, placing their breakfast dishes carefully on their table.

They grabbed their spoon and fork and started eating. Alexander watched as they ate. As their parents are not around anymore, Alexander technically became the father of the house, the provider, and the protector. He vowed to himself that he will protect them with his life so that the future destined for them is bright.

The Black Hand would soon crumble, he's certain of it, as he decided to be the one to interrogate Diana's sister, Anne, an executive member of the Black Hand.

What he needed is conclusive evidence that the person they are thinking to be the leader of the Black Hand really is the person.

Alexander's gaze shifted to Sophie, specifically to her belly. In two months, she'll be giving birth to their second child. The gender of their future baby is unknown due to Sophie not wanting to have an ultrasound. But if he were to pick, he hoped that it would be a boy. If it's a girl again, then nothing is going to change, he is going to love it with everything he has.

Two months is the deadline he is setting for himself. He must destroy Black Hand and end the war before the end of two months so that their second child will be born in a peaceful world.

The first step towards that is talking to someone close.

"I guess I'll pay him a visit later."