Tsar Bomba (3)

Seeing Miss Anna's hands trembling and even tears welling up in her eyes, hmm. First I can tell this is ruined.

Anna Elston, eldest daughter of Prince Yusupov. Mother who enjoys social contribution activities. Father who is an upright soldier.

I heard about her not bad background and reputation and thought to meet her through my sister, but she cries from the start.

'Indeed, maybe not in these times?'

But I have grievances too. I'm also so desperate I need to meet anyone with XX chromosomes off the street.

Why, you ask? Obviously who else but my mother.

When it became difficult to keep the 3-year promise, Mother really started writing letters to her relatives.

This is where problems start - if it's daughters of Mother's relatives, aren't they my cousins?

Let's look at my relationships with European royal direct lines.

Denmark, incest.

New Romania, incest.

Germany, incest.

Britain, incest.

Greece, incest.

Austria-Hungary, diplomatic discord.

Italy and Spain, no points of introduction.

Oh? You say Russia can marry from fifth cousins? Most European royal families can legally marry from sixth cousins, so why incest?

'Though my identity is Slavic, within ninth cousins is absolutely impossible!'

I have zero desire to directly contradict modern common sense and genetics even if I die.

I'd rather live alone for life than relationships that make me nauseous even at eighth cousins.

But I can't be introduced to collateral lines about to lose royal status with no relationship to the current ruler either.

However, I'm not filial enough to confiscate Mother's letters, so the solution was to look myself.

Then I just happened to discover Prince Yusupov had a grown daughter.

Coming back - why is she about to cry?

'How would I know. I'm not Rasputin.'

Probably just nervous. It's not like she's allergic to calla flowers used in bouquets.

"Let's sit and talk first."

"...H-yes."

"I didn't know I would have such an ac.ci.den.tal meeting."

I already investigated everything about her but there was nothing special. No, if anything special, it's that like Count Tolstoy, that family itself is a bit un-noble.

'They said Yusupova's daughter... she's extremely pretty.'

Hmm, appearance passes.

Since her mother frequently invites scholars for conversation, shall I start with common sense questions?

"Basic reform in five provinces has finished. Though it's just entered the stabilization phase, primary work is done. Then where do you think will be the next provinces for Finance Minister Witte's reform?"

The answer to this question isn't difficult. Like fire spreading to what's right next to it, anywhere near the capital connected to the five provinces would be correct. A kind of common sense quiz.

"Hic."

Why, why are you covering your mouth? Don't pretend not to hear.

To think you can hurt with just wide round eyes without a single word. Is this nobility? Too much.

"Should I say it again."

"A-anywhere! Anywhere will be as Your Majesty w-wishes!"

How can conversation continue with that kind of answer? Her mother was said to be shy but her daughter is even more so.

Sigh, never mind. I should just ask about art or literature that noble women might like.

"...Next question. Have you read Count Tolstoy's books? They're my favorite literature."

"I-I just returned from the Far East so I don't know well..."

"Huh? A Russian doesn't know Tolstoy?"

"No! I know! I know everything!"

"Then his recent book?"

"..."

My goodness, you don't know "Fool Ivan"? It's not even that long a short story? You don't know "Fool Ivan" which is truly Russia's Talmud, folk tale itself?

"Master and Man... yes, I've read it."

No, not that. Wait, that's the most recent book? Not "Fool Ivan"? Why didn't I know?

"Th-though the content is somewhat critical, but! However! Since he wrote it for fundraising, perhaps the Count wrote the book with good intentions!"

Ah, it was a short story for fundraising. No wonder I didn't know. When that gentleman writes even short stories, everyone from nobles to commoners opens their wallets so that must be why.

It was a bit awkward but conversation seemed to continue so I thought to ask more questions when my sister approached from far away.

She must have been watching the whole time.

"Olga."

"...Big brother, are you interrogating?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Anna doesn't have any suspicions, right?"

"What suspicions?"

"Then how about stopping here for today? Anna's complexion is too pale."

Come to think of it, her already white skin seems to have even less blood flowing...

"I picked the wrong day. Let's meet again next time."

To think she's unwell on the day I met her using even Olga.

I called the court physician and left the greenhouse.

Promising more diverse topics of conversation next time.

==

I understand the weight in the Tsar's words is no joke when the number of people who die changes just by one word of my standards changing.

However, those who know that weight as well as I do are probably those it applies to. In other words, those walking a tightrope between life and death.

"In that sense, Savva Morozov, it's most regrettable for people like you. Something that would be nothing usually, yet getting indicted and going in and out of courtrooms for no reason."

"...I am ashamed."

The Morozov family, one of the five wealthiest families in the empire. A family that grew greatly in the textile industry imitating England, also famous for extravagance.

"It's your first time meeting me face to face? This is, well. It means say everything you want to say so you won't feel disappointed."

"...Your Majesty, is our family being confiscated?"

"Was that what you were most curious about? Let me answer first - no. I'm a pro-capitalist Tsar despite appearances, you know? How could I do such things?"

If I was going to confiscate, I'd hit tasty families like Demidov obsessed with Jewish priority, why hit pure Russian capital?

Though charges are diverse including leading textile industry collusion, labor law violations, instigating fake strikes (stock price manipulation), this level just gets fines and a slight taste of prison time.

What capitalist in this era's Russia doesn't do at least that much? I'm a flexible Tsar who understands reflecting the times.

"But taking policy loans and mergers and acquisitions in the textile industry again? There's already much talk about cartel collusion and monopolies, but this crossed the line. Do I really need to say it? Hm? Do you only watch out when it's written in law?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

Those I least want to kill, who shouldn't die in this purge, are probably the capitalists.

It's not that I want to protect them because they're rich, but they're already losing to other European capitalists and if we oppress them domestically too, they might really go extinct.

That much, I hope our pure Russian industrialists I'm carefully nurturing follow the law on their own.

"You know Smirnoff and Smirnov families are struggling quite a bit?"

"The empire's cognac, champagne, and vodka are in those two families' hands."

"When I made it so alcohol could only be sold at designated points paying tax, those two families engaged in smuggling."

When I attached tax based on numbers shipped from factories, all sorts of illegalities ran rampant including secret factories, bribing administrators, smuggling.

What can you do? Even companies supplying the imperial family need to schedule meetings with the Okhrana.

"Your family didn't survive because you have money. It's because you help the empire. Please let's not meet like this again."

"I'll keep it in mind! I'll burn this body to become fertilizer for imperial industry!"

"Yes yes, no need to burn, just go. All charges against you are removed."

Some people with much to lose and repentant hearts handle themselves well with just this level of meeting.

Conversely, there are those in the world who don't get it no matter how many chances and warnings you give.

Even people the Director Sekerensky finds difficult to handle usually come up to me, and quite a big shot was caught today.

"Sigh, Prince Lvov. To think we'd meet face to face like this."

"...Your Majesty."

"When possible, I hoped our first meeting would be leisurely chatting over tea in the garden on a clear day."

None other than the leader of liberals, Georgy Lvov.

A case of rising this far stirring up zemstvos with just a prince title while his family had fallen.

His entire past was zemstvo activities, and there's no way a prince could be fine while zemstvos were being destroyed.

Nobles grabbing his ankles.

Political enemies wanting to cut off his ankles.

And the anti-Tsar symbolism Prince Lvov himself held.

He was someone who absolutely had to die in this purge.

"Your Majesty, I am one who rejoices at the results of this agricultural reform."

"I know, wasn't agricultural reform what you advocated until that age right after graduating university?"

He truly fought with agricultural problems until his lips wore out, from youth to middle age.

He may not know, but his efforts to save the empire continue into old age.

Later when he becomes powerful, he leads the imperial food committee conducting advanced hygiene projects, helps residents indiscriminately relocated to Siberia or the Far East.

Even establishing policies for the sick and wounded soldiers and creating the zemstvo union to open 3,000 hospitals treating millions.

Though incomparably weaker than what I'm doing now, even waging war on corruption in the empire's final days is Prince Lvov before me.

He is one who truly loves the empire. I who knows the future guarantee this.

However, at the same time, he was one who intensely hated the Tsar.

Though his father's generation lived frugally, they went heavily into debt from indiscriminate serf abolition and the family fell.

Right after he graduated university his family was ruined and siblings had to scatter.

Prince Lvov probably recalled the time of serf abolition watching this reform.

Necessary, but too extreme and radical with overflowing side effects.

"Haa, though I didn't want it this way, the farmers seem satisfied with the results."

"Sometimes reform from above is better."

"I thought Your Majesty reformed without knowing anything about farmers. Rather, I feared Your Majesty's solo run would begin if this reform succeeded."

"As liberals would naturally think."

Just not radicals, as liberalism demonizes the state trying to bind and control with norms.

"No, actually I'm still afraid. Afraid this purge might be recreated anytime... afraid it might be this destructive method again when the next problem appears"

Did firm beliefs make him transcendent even before death?

Unlike others I saw before, his words contain not a hint of fear mixed in.

I calmly acknowledged all his concerns.

"That might be so."

The Tsar and bureaucratic government. Truly an unacceptable governance method in Prince Lvov's life.

This gap is probably the biggest reason he and I cannot work together now.

He is not Witte. Not only will he not agree with me just seeing good results, but he fundamentally doesn't match me.

"Until yesterday I had much I wanted to ask if I met you. What happens to liberals now, what is the Duma's role now, whether you really gave power to imperial citizens, whether it's really... reform for the empire's future, not imperial authority..."

Though he too desired and coveted power, he was never a base person intoxicated by it.

And he remained true to the Prince Lvov I knew until the end.

"Want me to answer one by one?"

"...No. Now I see Your Majesty was a complete monarch who didn't need heir education. However, if possible, just one thing. I truly want to ask just one single thing."

"Speak comfortably."

Though not completely, somewhat sympathizing with his pain - though unable to agree with his ideology, respecting his beliefs - I responded seriously.

"What are you reforming for, Your Majesty?"

"That's-"

I was about to naturally answer "for the farmers" but the words cut off abruptly. His eyes before death seemed to demand truth from me.

What the reform is for - I'm bewildered by a question I've never asked myself.

Still farmers? Are mountain-high piles of documents and bloody purges just for farmers?

'...No.'

Then war? Preparation for wars that will surge forward?

'That's not... all.'

My reason for reforming.

Though I could attach all sorts of reasons, the first reason Prince Lvov asks now.

Unraveling the question like that, the answer came easier than expected.

"To live. Because I don't want to die. That's why I reform."

Yes, that's it.

Not because I like this country's history, not because I know the future and feel frustrated, not because I empathize with farmers' suffering below.

Not because I'm a patriot grinding away my life for Russia until death like the prince before me.

Just because I, want to live.

That reason is at the very front. The rest just follow behind.

Was it too absurd an answer? As I wondered how Prince Lvov would take my answer, he spoke first.

"...Thank goodness."

"..."

Though I couldn't know how far he understood my words, he seemed somewhat consoled by my answer.

That was our last conversation. He asked no more questions and I had no reason to continue time with him either.

In the subsequent investigation, the prince readily admitted all charges from zemstvos, charges during Duma representative activities, even anti-reform charges.

Even I could see many charges against him were contents he could deny, but he didn't.

And a few days later.

[Traitor Prince Georgy Lvov, execution carried out]

He died by hanging.

The prince who loved the Russian Empire more than anyone became a traitor of all traitors in my empire.

The prince's death was like a signal of liberals' - in other words the Democratic Party's - destruction.

The purge continued.