Zaandam 1697,
Saskia heard the steps of the ladder creak and a moment later the hatch in her floor was opened. Kathlijne climbed onto the attick and walked over to her.
" Still in bed at this hour?"
She nodded.
" I'm lazy. It became rather late yesterday."
" Too bad, for if you get up now, I could introduce you to someone very special."
" How special can that person be?"
" Oh, your Jan is nothing compared to him. A pity you wasted your time with that peasant..."
" Careful, Kath... I'm going to marry him some day and then he'll be your brother in law."
" Too bad. I hoped to become a princess."
" You? A princess? Come on now."
" So you don't want to come with me?"
" What's so special about this guy you talk about?"
" He is..."
Kathlijne leant forward and lowered her voice.
" He is the king of Russia."
" Oh come on!"
" Old Karel recognized him and he has been there."
" Old Karel tells a lot of fantastic stories. As if he has realy ever seen the king of Russia. I bet he hasn't even been to Moskow. They're playing a prank on you Kath, he and his Russian palls. It's just a sailor who wants to steal your jewelry."
" Fine, then I'll go myself. Just wait till I am queen of Russia, hah!"

An hour later, Kathlijne was at the docks. She looked at the men who were working on the ships. The one was bigger than the other, magnificent vessels, made to brave the seven seas. Ships like these carried people from the West Indies to the East Indies and back, and of course from here all the way to Russia.
A young man approached her, with a smile upon his tired face.
" Hi Kath, how are you?"
" Oh, I'm fine Jan, and so are you, I heard. But say, is that Peter Michailov guy here today?"
" Peter? The Russian? O yes, he is here. But he's in a bad mood, for he has had a quarrel with his landlord. The fool tried to seduce his daughter."
" Hey! Watch your tongue. Don't you know who he realy is?"
" Peter? Just a Russian sailor, loud, noisy, a good drinker and a ladies' man. But at least he doesn't steal and he works hard. I have seldomly seen any foreigner as interested in our ships as he is. If he stays here for some time he'll be a great shipbuider. Maybe the czar himself will hire him."
" That's the whole thing Jan. He IS the czar himself!"
Jan started laughing and grabbed his belly. He stumbled backwards and almost fell into the water.
" Peter!", he cried, " Peter, come here man! This girl things you're the king of Russia!"

A tall man with flowing dark hair came towards them with a grin upon his face. He looked at Kathlijne with an apologizing gaze.
" Muzt mishtake me for zomevan elze. I am not czar. I am Peter Michailov. Came to learn building sheep."
Kathlijne gave Jan a devastating look, smiled at Peter and bowed deeply.
" You majesty, you can stop pretending now."

Tears were running over Jan's face.
" Stop it Kath, stop it, this is too much. I... I thought you were such a serious girl."
" I am dead serious Jan! Please excuse him your majesty."
" I tell you, I am not czar. You mishtake me for zomevan elze."
" Old Karel recognized you. He met you in Moskow."
" Old Karel? Yes, he is nice man. I met him in Russia. But tell him not to tell anyone elze yes?"
" So it's true? It's true? You are the king of Russia? Oh God! The king of Russia! I'm so honoured to meet you, your highness. Please forgive me if I don't behave as I should. I never met nobility, you see."
" Yes, yes, is fine. I go back to vork now, otherwise boss gets angry. Alvays pleasure to meet beautiful voman."
He took her hand and pressed his lips against the back of it.
Kathlijne blushed and whispered to herself.
" The king of Russia. The king of Russia. Oh, I'm never going to wash this hand again."
Peter laughed.
" You beter do, or I von't kiss it again. Now goodbye, pretty girl."
And away he walked, with the laughing Jan after him.
" Bye princess, and tell Saskia I love her."

Back in the shed, Jan seemed to get himself back together.
" What a marvelous joke Peter, absolutely brilliant. The girl has never seen a foreigner before, so the first Russian she meets is immediately the czar, hahaha."
Peter just smiled. Perhaps it was time to leave this town and to take on his role as emperor again.