Red Palace I

Just after Yuri left his mother's chambers he went straight towards the main office of his father that he mostly used for political debates.

When Yuri entered after knocking for a short moment and closed the door behind him, he could already see a man sitting at a large elongated desk and thinking about some documents that lay in front of him.

"Father, you called for me?", asked Yuri after coming closer to his father.

Looking back at Yuri one could now see the rather exhausted expression the man had on his face.

"You are back. That´s good. Take a look at this." He pushed some documents over to him on the table to let him take a look at them.

Yuri only nodded and picked them up. After scanning the content he started frowning deeply.

"Is this their ultimatum? An abdication of our family from power? They haven't even considered our own idea of changing towards a constitutional monarchy?", asked Yuri back.

Sure enough Yuri would not want to give away such power that was given to him as a royal. At least not if the russy empire would completely fall into the hands of the communist's party.

There was also a certain ambition that has grown inside him over the years. And it was to change this country towards something greater. Even if no one rules forever. He still would try his utmost to change the outcome.

Maybe it also was just to change himself from his past self that was just a cog in a system that would run itself into ruin.

His lips formed a deep unpleased expression and he even threw the documents back on the table.

"So much work that we put into this just went to waste. Strengthening our connections just proved in vain and those hyenas will take it all for themselves."

His father was watching his son´s reaction and nodded lightly.

"I don't plan on giving up yet. The things you predicted have come to reality. That snake Dzhugashvili played a rather interesting game. And even though his revolutionaries have gotten the upper hand now after we tried to cooperate with them a little bit to lessen the impact on our people. We still have a lot of supporters. If push comes to shove a lot of our countrymen will stand behind us. Even those separatists outside the palace have become more reasonable. But this civil war...It is not a very good outcome. I would prefer that it does not come to it."

"Father! You know they will not stop after they seized complete power. Our family stands in their way. They clearly showed us through these demands! I also don't like where this goes but there is no other way but to fight this civil war!"

Yuri was very clear on what he just said. War was a beast that could go either way. And only the winners wrote the truth. If they failed now the communist party could get a solid ground with their ideology.

"I know. That is why you are boarding a convoy ship at night today and leave the country. You will also take your Mother and Sister with you. I already arranged for everything."

"What? Father!?" Now Yuri was confused. Why would his father act like this? There was only one reason as to why. "Don't tell me Dzhugashvili came here and warned you?"

"He did. He really had the nerve to threaten us. Telling me something as stupid as that he would bring us to safety because this place is not safe any longer. Since I now know what is going to happen I will make sure to use my still remaining power and get you to safety."

"But...Does mother or Anastasia know about this?"

His father remained silent when he asked that.

"No! You can't just sacrifice yourself! You just have to go away with us!" Now Yuri became somewhat emotional. Even though he was reincarnated here, he still considered this man as his family. And if not for him than it better is for his younger sister.

"Enough! Have I raised a coward!?" Nikolas raised his voice after hearing his son's words. But only sighed shortly after. "This country needs me. I can't just run away. That is our duty, Yuri. And as long as you three are safe, I will even sell my soul to the devil."

Yuri looked at the blue eyes of his father. The small white patches of hair inside his otherwise raven hair was making him look even older at this moment. "Father..."

"You are a smart child, Yuri. And I think you would become a great leader. Just the many ideas you come up with proof that point. With your guidance this country would prosper like never before. But for that you must wait until the time has come."

He pointed at Yuri´s chest. "Show them the pride and strength of a bear."

Yuri nodded after some hesitation. How should he explain this to his mother and little sister?

"Alright, but you better don't get yourself killed..."

The Tsar smiled softly at his heir.

But just then there was a commotion coming from outside the room.

Bang.

The sound of gunfire rang through the palace.

"What!? It cant be!" Nikolas gritted his teeth and stood up from his chair. "Get your mother and sister! Now! It looks like we will have to hasten our plan!"

With those words the maid Maria charged into the room with the handgun in her grasp. "Your Majesty! Young lord! There is a militant group invading the palace! We need to evacuate now!"

"Got it. Let's go, father!" But when Yuri said those words he could only see his father shake his head.

"No, son. This is my place to be. Go."

Yuri couldn't accept that but then he heard more gunfire and worried more about his mother and sister. "Damn it!"

He ran out and Maria followed after him. But before they could run far Yuri stopped and looked at the maid. "Go back and stay with my father."

That surprised the maid. "But young lord..."

"That is an order!", he barked back. "Please...Keep him safe...I will manage on my own. There is still Maxim that is waiting outside."

The maid thought for a while and then just nodded. With a quick turn on her heels she went back to the Tsar's side.

Yuri sighed out in relief for some reason and ran. His luck, on the other hand, was rather bad because at a crossing section an enemy soldier bumped into him when they both came across each other.

It was too narrow for the soldier to ready the Morsin in time before Yuri tackled him and tried to pull out a grenades pin on one of the belts that the soldier wore.

But because he was an adult and Yuri still a child the soldier easily outmatched his strength and pinned Yuri to the ground while squeezing his throat with one hand.

Then the soldier pulled out a combat knife and wanted to stab Yuri to death. It may have been a small fortune that the soldier hesitated and looked at Yuri more closely as if to identify the child first.

But that moment was the exact moment that Yuri´s eyes started to glow and turned crimson.

His next movement was so fast that it was supernatural. Even a blueish red afterimage trailed behind his bodyparts that moved.

Grabbing the hand of the soldier that was at his throat and then the one that held the knife, he forced the second to move towards the abdomen, effectively stabbing the soldier with his own knife.

Then gaining momentum and feeling the grip on his throat lessen, he kicked the soldier down from himself to the side.

The enemy soldier could only groan and cough in pain. One of his hands showed the blood that was flowing out from his body where the knife was still stuck.

"Bastard!" He screamed at him and wanted to charge him again. But the next moment Yuri stood in front of him and pointed a gun at his head.

It was the handgun that the soldier was missing. Yuri stole it after stabbing the guy. And with a simple pull of the trigger the head of the soldier splashed in crimson red before the man collapsed dead on the ground.

Yuri´s eyes slowly turned back from a red to a near silverly glow until it became a bright azure sky color. Not yet his normal deep sapphire eyes.

´Got to keep going.´

With that in mind, and the overdose of mana in his body still flowing he took the Morsin rifle, threw it over his shoulder, and after also taking a few grenades and the knife he started to run around the narrow corridors of the palace with his handgun on the ready.