"As you wish, Your Majesty."
Count Stroganov bowed, placing his hand on his chest, then looked up at the Tsar and whispered, "Your Majesty, about that matter?"
Catherine II knew he was referring to Alexandra's religious conversion—yesterday, the Ambassador to France had informed her that, according to French custom, a Russian princess practicing the Eastern Orthodox faith would need to convert to Catholicism after marrying into France.
She nodded without hesitation, "Yes, tell the envoy that I agree."
A conversion was no small matter for a princess of the Romanov family, but at this moment, Catherine II needed this marriage to secure her throne, so no matter how significant, it became insignificant.
…
On the east side of Raphael's Corridor in the Winter Palace, a young maid quickly approached Alexandra, who was practicing the piano. She whispered something in her ear.
