Despite the mourning over Uncle Serge’s death, Marie and her brother, Dmitri, went to Ilinskoie at the beginning of the summer. Guards had been sent to protect them and they had an additional automobile in case they needed to flee. Marie enjoyed her daily horseback riding with Dmitri. Her Aunt Ella focused much of her energies on her new initiative and organized a hospital for the wounded soldiers. While funneling her energy into this new project of hers, she ended up noticeably giving too much and spoiling the soldiers.
Grandmother, Queen Olga of Greece, and her son, Christopher, came to visit for several weeks. Marie observed her grandmother to have “a candid softness” and “serene soul”, and exuded a “maternal tenderness”. Her grandmother had endured much over the years and she showed a “patient” demeanor yet with “resignation”. Marie was wanting to know what all was going on, where her grandmother seemed to be more “escaping life”. Queen Olga was of the age that children should be brought up with the same modesty and manners as she had received as a girl. Due to the request of Queen Olga, Marie younger than 15 years of age, was required to wear her hair much like the Austrian Archduchess wore hers - all on top of her head in a bun-like fashion. Also children were not to know the personal pursuits or intentions of the adults, so the children were generally last to know about a change.
In the Autumn, Marie returned back to Nicholas Palace. She had new quarters. She was on first floor with two bright, spacious rooms. Her brother, Dmitri, was placed on the second floor where he had the view of the Kremlin and Moscow. Her Aunt Ella’s room was filled with religious ikons and symbols. There were strikes and riots breaking out everywhere, as if a revolution was impending.
On October 17, a decree was made by the Emperor and Duma was instituted to help calm “the gathering storm.” On one occasion, Marie understood that they were isolated and Marie was not feeling confident on the allegiance of the soldiers guarding them. At night, the electricity was not used so as not to attract attention. They were cut off from food and water due no deliveries were allowed to where they were. A night attack had been planned where they planned to take the children as hostages. Aunt Ella at one point had insisted to leave to go to the hospital which she had organized at night. The next day, Marie voiced her concern and opinion directly on how dangerous that was and that her Aunt was overcommitted to caring for the soldiers there. Her Aunt never went at night again and started going infrequently to that hospital.
Once the strikes stopped, Marie, et al, left for Tsarskoie-Selo and stayed through the end of the winter. When they arrived, they lived with the Emperor and Empress and later on, in the apartments of the Great Palace. After leaving Moscow, more disorders occurred and the government then took severe measures. A regiment of the Guards was sent to St. Petersburg. Aunt Ella returned to Moscow alone. In April, the Duma was partial measure, yet the Emperor did not want to have limited power. On Assembly Day, Marie observed that those of the Assembly seemed to not be clear on their own parts in this occasion. They were dressed up, even Marie in an adult appearance. While isolated at Tsarskoie-Selo, there was a close, intimate environment of numerous family members. “The relations between the sovereign and their children, in spite of luxury, were candid and simple.” (page 84)
There would be parades of the regiments once or twice a week, in the morning. The officers would join for an afternoon dinner at the Palace. The regiments were being inspected during these parades. Those who attended the parades were: the Empress, Marie, sometimes Grand Duchess Olga, the Emperor’s sister, and two ladies-in-waiting. Marie really enjoyed these dinners.
As for Marie’s academics, the prior year had been full of disruption and now a new regimen was being put in place to lower the distractions. Some of the enjoyable distractions were sleigh riding and visiting the Duke Constantine’s children who lived in the palace of Pavlovsk three miles away. Mlle. Hélène’s behavior had changed from being with Marie everywhere Marie went, to accusing Marie of premeditating of lying. Marie had stood-up to her as this was done in front of the servants. Following that day, Marie’s and Mlle. Hélène improved and became a smother, calmer relationship.
In the Spring of 1906, Marie became sixteen years old. She was no longer a child, but instead a “jeune fille”. The Grand Duke Constantine and his wife gave a ball in celebration. Her debutante dress was a transparent voile over rose with lilies-of-the-valley. Her brother accompanied her. The evening was from 6:00 in the evening to 1:00 in the morning. She received Cotillion favors. Following Marie’s debut, Marie was to have a chaperone along with Mlle. Hélène in the world. She was not allowed to travel to see her father, as she would need to be traveling abroad with General Laiming and Mlle. Hélène.
In the Summer, Marie spent time in Peterhof and in Iliinskoie, while in the Autumn, she went to Nicholas Palace in Moscow. Aunt Ella had noticeably more vitality and had chosen a new goal.
Marie’s aunt had become closer to a widow, Mme. Uzlov, who was the wife of Aunt Ella’s deceased husband’s friend. Also Aunt Ella was becoming closer to Father Alexander, a priest that her deceased husband, Serge, had known for years. This priest was distinguished for courage, moral qualities, and eloquence from when he had been in war. Those two became Aunt Ella’s confidants.
Once back in Moscow, Aunt Ella purchased a house and some land on the far side of the river, for “war cripples”. She seldom spent any time at the hospital which she had started earlier. Aunt Ella supervised all the arrangement for the house on Moskva.
Marie’s education continued thanks to General Laiming, though Marie felt she did not learn as much as she had wanted due to the teaching methods. Aunt Ella was of the age where women did not continue with their education and was seeing it as unnecessary or undesirable.
The Russian government had become inflexible and was not able to meet changing demands. The “mouthpieces” “lacked competence and initiative”. “The weak” were overcome by the “cowardly councillors of the Emperor.” (Page 88). With the Duma, there were complexities. The government had power but did not know the path or how to apply it. While the Emperor had limited some of his power, it was not where he valued the most and there seemed to be lack of clarity on how it was going to be implemented. The people awakened and were beginning to understand their rights. The Duma had become a contention between all. “The errors and the weaknesses of the regime were thus emphasized; the prestige of the throne attacked at every new occasion. (Page 89). “Liberating Russian absolutism was doomed to failure.” (Page 89)
Life in the Kremlin allowed the opportunity to attend often the Kremlin Theatre throughout the winter. The palace personnel would bring in china and silver for the tea set-up in the large drawing room adjacent to the Imperial Box. The Chief Commissioner of Police was able to join for tea. The actors, singers, and dancers could only remain standing without having refreshments. Marie really enjoyed meeting the prominent Moscow artists. She was not able to attend performances at the famous Moscow Art Theatre.
On Sundays, Marie enjoyed her time visiting with the two Kleinmichel sisters at their home on a bourgeois street where Marie was welcomed warmly, versus the grandeur in which Marie lived.