Debut
In late January 1887, Alix of Hesse declared her intention to make her debut in high society at a young age.
“It would be better to wait just a little longer, wouldn’t it? People would see you as even prettier when you’re older.”
Waldemar of Prussia tried to reason with her, but the girl’s resolve could not be shaken.
“I don’t want you to keep sacrificing for me.”
Waldemar wanted to explain that it was not a sacrifice, yet he could not bring himself to say it aloud.
The deep blue eyes of Waldemar and Alix met.
She conveyed her unyielding will through her gaze.
*No choice.*
The young betrothed never retreated once she had made up her mind.
In any case, her debut in society had been delayed far too long because of her.
It was no longer possible to use her as a shield.
After much deliberation, Waldemar finally consented to her debut.
“All right, Alix. As your fiancé, I will agree.”
When Waldemar consented to the debut, Alix could barely contain her excitement.
The debut of the beloved fourth princess of Hesse was a special occasion for the Hessian people, who paid meticulous attention to her attire.
Waldemar arrived at the Hessian residence prepared in Berlin to fetch Alix and was stunned by her appearance.
“Alix?”
Alix smiled at him.
“Your Highness, what do you think?”
Alix wore a beautiful tiara adorned with white wax flowers on her long hair that gleamed with a reddish tint, and delicate pearl earrings adorned her ears.
She wore a white silk dress with a corseted silhouette, a black velvet ribbon at her neck, white lace sleeves, and embroidered white gloves on her hands.
A long court train nearly three meters in length trailed behind her.
Her long legs were wrapped in white silk stockings, and she wore black satin shoes.
Overall, she looked like the pure and innocent maiden she was.
“Everyone at the ball will be looking at only you.”
“Really?”
Alix beamed with joy and naturally approached, extending her hand.
Waldemar took her hand and guided her to the carriage.
As the carriage traveled to the palace, Alix thought about the first dance she would perform at the ball and felt nothing but delight.
The carriage soon arrived at the Berlin royal palace.
Countless carriages waited in line, but Alix needed no such wait.
She and her companion, a direct descendant of the Hohenzollern royal family, belonged to the highest nobility in the empire.
The procession presented a special permit to the guards and entered the palace.
Waldemar did not accompany Alix further and entrusted her to his elder sister, Princess Victoria.
“I will leave her in your care from here.”
“Don’t worry.”
After several formal procedures, Victoria led Alix to the waiting room reserved for the grand ducal family.
There, Victoria gently chided Alix, who looked nervous.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s simply seeing your future father-in-law.”
“I’m still a little nervous.”
“You’re scared of everything, yet you insisted on debuting.”
“If I don’t, His Highness won’t be able to enjoy high society.”
Victoria sighed.
Whenever her brother’s name came up, her sister became strangely docile.
There was nothing one could do about a girl who had fallen in love.
After some time, the court usher summoned them.
Victoria corrected Alix’s posture before leading her toward the king and queen in the audience hall.
There, Alix waited briefly for the other young ladies to arrive.
Soon the usher called her name.
“Princess Alix Victoria Helene Luise Beatrice of Hesse.”
As Alix curtsied lightly, Empress Augusta said,
“Come a little closer.”
Alix approached the empress, blushing.
“You are indeed as beautiful as they say.”
Alix could only lower her head, not knowing what to say.
The empress soon smiled and gave her permission to withdraw.
“Alix, are you all right?”
“Yes, sister.”
Alix soon headed for the white hall where the ball would be held.
Waldemar was already waiting there.
“Alix, are you nervous?”
“A little.”
Waldemar led her to the royal reception room.
“We’ll wait here a bit. We must wait for the guests to arrive.”
“Yes.”
Alix only tasted the tea Waldemar offered her in the reception room.
While they waited and conversed, it was time for her to enter.
When his name was called, Waldemar offered Alix his hand.
Alix took it and naturally linked arms with him.
“Then shall we?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please escort me well.”
Alix entered the hall beside Waldemar.
“His Royal Highness Joachim Friedrich Ernst Waldemar of Prussia and Princess Alix Victoria Helene Luise Beatrice of Hesse.”
The hall fell silent as the guests’ gazes turned to the couple.
Alix whispered softly.
“Everyone is staring.”
“Don’t mind them.”
Waldemar sat as if nothing were amiss.
Alix, perhaps embarrassed by the attention, only looked at the floor near her shoes.
As they crossed the hall, the guests curtsied and bowed in turn.
Waldemar greeted the emperor and empress last and then moved to one side of the ballroom.
There, Prince Heinrich and Princess Irene were waiting.
“So you’re finally debuting.”
“It’s not me. It’s Alix who is debuting.”
“That’s what I meant.”
Alix greeted Irene and Waldemar greeted Heinrich for a moment.
Just as Waldemar was about to ask about the court ball procedures, Heinrich laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
Following Heinrich’s gesture, the center of the stage was already empty.
“It’s time to dance. Go and dance beautifully.”
Waldemar knew he had been assigned the first dance.
“Come on, Alix.”
Alix nodded and took Waldemar’s hand, heading toward the center of the stage.
“Don’t be nervous. Just think happy thoughts.”
“I’ll only think about you, Your Highness.”
Soon the strains of the waltz “The Beautiful Blue Danube” filled the hall.
Alix, bathed in the light of the chandeliers, looked at her fiancé with her reddish hair gleaming.
“Alix, don’t be nervous.”
Waldemar held Alix’s right hand in his left and rested his right hand lightly on her left shoulder.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Alix placed her left hand on the prince’s shoulder, feeling embarrassed by the pose.
They danced in close proximity, turning clockwise and counterclockwise to the three-beat rhythm of the waltz, completing a full circle around the hall.
Each time Alix’s long court train and dress spun, they traced graceful circles.
At first shy of the guests’ gazes, Alix soon became completely absorbed in the dance itself.
“I’m not embarrassed anymore.”
Waldemar smiled at Alix’s quick whisper.
They danced with elegant poise.
After several melodies, sweat beaded on both their foreheads.
When the music ended, Waldemar and Alix greeted each other.
Waldemar took her hand and left the stage.
Alix could not hide the flush on her face from the heat of the stage.
They greeted the emperor and empress again and then the other royal family members.
Among them was Wilhelm, whom she had not seen earlier.
The crown prince looked at Waldemar with a strange expression before offering Alix his courtesy.
“I’ve only heard rumors about the Hessian cousin. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“It’s an honor to meet you too, Your Royal Highness.”
After Wilhelm’s introduction, Alix also curtsied.
However, perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere between them, she only greeted and said nothing more.
“Waldi.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Seeing you with the princess like this makes me understand why you caused such a fuss.”
Wilhelm smiled in his usual way and praised Alix’s beauty.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Wilhelm only exchanged greetings with Waldemar and then let him go.
“Your Highness, Princess, congratulations on your debut.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. Teacher.”
While waiting for the prince’s farewell, Baron Hammerstein and other New Conservatives arrived with their daughters and granddaughters.
They expressed regret that Waldemar had married yet still greeted their own children.
Waldemar and Alix readily thanked the New Conservatives for their kindness.
Wilhelm watched quietly from afar as Waldemar greeted the New Conservatives.
After the greetings, Waldemar returned to the reception hall.
The young Alix, still in her heavy gown, was too frail to stand in the hall for long.
Waldemar offered her tea.
After a while, Victoria and a few close relatives came to speak with them.
“Alix, you were truly beautiful today. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“Really?”
She looked at Waldemar with disbelief in her eyes.
“It’s true.”
Waldemar agreed with the atmosphere.
In truth, Alix, dressed to the nines for her debut, was indeed beautiful.
Waldemar, who saw her often, was startled by her beauty for a moment.
Alix was so pleased by the compliments on her beauty that she could not stop smiling.
“Now that Alix has debuted, you should visit high society more often, Your Highness.”
“That’s right. Please take Alix out to see the sights often.”
“That sounds terrifying.”
“Why?”
“What if someone falls for Alix?”
Everyone laughed at Waldemar’s light joke.
“Then His Highness will simply reject them.”
Alix’s debut ended successfully.
When the ball ended, Alix took Waldemar’s arm and walked toward the carriage.
She squeezed his arm.
“No one will be able to take you away from me now.”
Waldemar smiled, thinking of the dazzling Alix who had shone today.
“Yes, Alix. You are mine.”
Wandering beneath the sweet moonlight, Waldemar whispered to his betrothed.
Waldemar’s heart held no grand love or sweet affection, only the deep bond he had built with her.
Waldemar let the girl who was rejoicing in his answer rest her head on his shoulder and headed to the carriage.