Tsar Bomba (2)

Somehow it became a reign of terror.

If I had to explain my situation in one line, that would be it.

Even Witte, the leader of moderate officials, now agrees with the purge, so heads roll every morning - but honestly, I don't like this kind of purge.

Especially Stalin-style purges for power consolidation or Robespierre-style terror purges don't suit me at all.

It's just nauseating from the top down, you could say. So I see the current situation, which blew up bigger than expected, as an irresistible purge without my will involved.

"At this rate, we could arrest everyone who even touched it with a finger..."

"No matter how much you hate the zemstvo Noble Assembly, how could you do that? Who would fill that administrative vacuum? Director, adjust the atmosphere to induce appropriate confessions. Reduce sentences for those who surrender."

Still, perhaps because we captured the justification of rooting out corruption well, imperial citizens who watched the Duma's mess for 3 years welcomed rather than feared the atmosphere.

There were no sanctuaries when even officials participating in reform were being arrested.

Frankly speaking, at this point we could sweep away everything from quietly living Grand Dukes to religious circles.

'Of course, I have no intention of doing such crazy things.'

Let me say it again - this purge is like a vegetable salad served with steak. It's healthy to eat but tastes terrible and isn't the main dish. Who fills up on mere vegetables?

Now Duma elections have changed to once every two years so there's no election this year. This means leading the Duma with current members until next year's election, but I'm not sure if it will work.

First of all, the lower house number is no longer 200.

[Democratic Party Representative Georgy Lvov claims integrity of relationship with resigned representatives.]

[Labor Party announces no relationship with Populists. Representatives' endless relay of public self-criticism-]

Let's say zemstvo nobles were corrupt since they had no audits or press. But how did the newborn Duma end up like this in less than 5 years doing who knows what?

'Did they go crazy after tasting power overnight?'

Even though they say power is more potent than drugs, to think it's this bad even with press attached.

21 representatives resigned whether voluntarily or involuntarily. 4 representatives dead.

And one representative recently missing. A total of 22 representatives gone.

Huh? Who's the missing one?

Let's ask Governor-General Sergei about that. No, let's ask Major General Sergei Dukhovskoy, newly appointed commander of the St. Petersburg Military District.

==

At first he thought he was being dragged to the Okhrana.

He was dragged away with a hood on, and the distinctive clattering sound of guns and stiff movements holding his arms felt like internal troops.

However, when Beren regained his sight sitting in a chair with one light on, what appeared before him was none other than Governor-General Sergei.

"G-Governor!"

"Beren, have you been well?"

"Ah, thank goodness. I've been well!"

"Really. Why have you been well?"

"Eh?"

"I haven't."

The atmosphere is... a bit strange. The Governor with a rough man's body plus Siberian coldness added seemed unlike the person he knew.

"I clearly sent you just to fill a seat, but the news I heard was different. Beren the giant capitalist ruling the Far East, Beren the hope of labor rights, Beren the conservative representative from military background, Beren the storm of the Duma - there are too many nicknames to even read them all."

"I can explain everything! I can explain it all!"

"You should have just played a rubber stamp role, but anyone can see you're crazy for power?"

For Sergei Dukhovskoy, the Duma was actually an institution unrelated to him. Anyway, he was a governor executing the Tsar's orders in the Far East, and everything else was worthless before the great wave of 'war with Imperial Japan.'

So Beren Volkov just needed to fill a Duma seat without standing out.

The result became exactly the opposite.

"I was so careful to keep military training from leaking outside, but you're running wild like a rogue?"

"I-I created forces supporting His Majesty too! Though we're a new party with only four seats, we can keep growing!"

"The name?"

"...State-Led Reform Development Party."

"Playing around."

To think he'd spread that fanatic group even in St. Petersburg. Though the name changed slightly, anyone can see it's officially certified as 'Founder: Nikolai Bunge.'

I don't particularly know or want to know how academically great that ideology is, but something similar comes to mind.

'The communist ideology reactionaries shout about'

Strange ideologies always present unrealistic utopias one by one, and Beren fits exactly that.

"Indeed finishing with my line would be what His Majesty-"

"Aaaagh! Governor! Your Excellency! Please listen once! There's a reason I can't die here! A reason His Majesty acknowledged!"

"...Recite it."

"Haa, haa. Damn."

Finally mentioning the Tsar, Volkov slumped down sweating coldly and slowly opened his mouth.

"We're the only party that nothing came up on in this Okhrana investigation."

"You said only four members."

"In the next election it won't be four - we'll grow more centered on cities. First, we were the only faction that argued agricultural reform should be done by the administration, not the Duma."

"Would any fool believe that?"

"In the end, didn't the administration do it because the Duma couldn't?"

That's because His Majesty had no expectations for the Duma and designed it himself from start to finish... Dukhovskoy was about to answer but wondered if imperial citizens would know this.

"Yes, to those who don't know the inside story, I'm truly a pioneer! Unlike these corrupt representatives steeped in corruption pursuing only their interests, we're a sincere party that presented the right direction from the start!"

"...You speak well. Continue."

"The only capable representative in an incompetent Duma! A token of trust within a Duma that became a symbol of distrust! The State-Led Reform Development Party has only to become the leader of all future development and prosperity! So if you would join the party too Governor, for just 3 rubles monthly subscription fee the empire's future development plans-"

"Hang him."

"Yes sir."

"Aaaagh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! The sales pitch came out habitually without thinking! Your Excellency? Excellencyyyy!"

Where did the Beren Volkov who was satisfied with small amounts earned from military supplies go, replaced by this madman selling even at death's door?

Looking at it any way, port rental business was too much for that bastard.

'How much my heart pounded every time news of you reached the Far East.'

I was so indignant I really thought about killing him. I was angry at worrying about getting caught up with such an insignificant guy.

Later when I heard even Witte and His Majesty moved, I even considered assassination.

Now he seems somewhat useful having become a shrewd politician, but...

'I just don't like him.'

At this point, Major General Dukhovskoy just disliked Beren Volkov himself. To think such a guy was chief aide - it makes me doubt this country's military promotion system.

"I'll come back around dinner after lunch. Keep him hanging until then to come to his senses."

"Shall we give him some physical education?"

"No need. This one had nothing come up even when the Okhrana investigated."

Though it means he has no substance worth investigating, anyway like a fanatic his private life is clean so we can't kill him.

Above all, a familiar feeling as we talk more. Similar to talking with Chairman Bunge. As if a fake has become real before we knew it.

Still, whatever this guy's true heart is, for someone like the St. Petersburg commander, highest among military district commanders.

"See you later."

This is fine for this guy.

==

After fall harvest completed, the first year without Duma elections.

As agricultural reform expanding from five provinces continued, the purge continued.

The prolongation of purge meant completion of the reign of terror.

Though resistors appeared rarely, resisting now was synonymous with opposing justice enforcement, opposing the Tsar.

Naturally, their fate was decided by the command "Hmm, kill them" from the august one's mouth.

While days continued with everyone shrinking their necks like frightened turtles at the Tsar's blade that could strike anywhere.

"Anna, are you going to the imperial palace again today?"

"Yes, they insisted I come."

"Though we should refrain from external activities in these times..."

"What can we do when Grand Duchess Olga - no, Her Imperial Highness calls? She's newly rising in social circles."

"Since the Tsar cherishes her so much..."

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, the Tsar's relative specially cherished by the Tsar everyone fears.

'They say she's still called Imperial Highness in the palace. Meanwhile Grand Duke Mikhail... went to the frontlines right before the purge.'

That's how much the childless Tsar especially cherishes his younger sister.

He even held his first imperial banquet since ascending for her debutante, which says it all.

Nevertheless, Count Yusupov-Elston was uneasy about his eldest daughter frequently entering and leaving the imperial palace.

"You know? These days there are no exceptions for dying, whether duke or commander."

"I know. Don't talk with strangers, don't do anything conspicuous, I'll just quietly meet the Imperial Highness and return."

"Yes, my clever girl will handle herself well."

"The carriage is waiting outside. I'm going!"

How happy must she be enjoying noble life in the splendid capital after being in the wilderness-like Far East.

With her mother's shyness but blue eyes and black hair exactly like her father's, she was beautiful even to Count Elston's eyes.

"Again, don't carelessly talk to-"

"I'll be back!"

Anna quickly bowed goodbye and left. Count Elston waved goodbye while trying to hide his unease.

'Right, who would touch a friend of Her Imperial Highness.'

Though "friend" is a stretch with a five-year age difference, that's how Anna could become close with Imperial Highness Olga like an older sister.

Anna Elston heading to the Winter Palace by carriage. Actually, it wasn't that she immediately became close with Imperial Highness Olga at first sight upon arriving in the capital.

'Imperial Highness Olga approached me one-sidedly whenever we met.'

It wasn't just a sixteen-year-old girl approaching.

Someone for whom the Tsar personally held banquets even amid continuing purges approached to build friendship.

To just a count family's eldest daughter.

Other nobles talked about opportunity and favor, but her mother and father didn't like it.

Probably because standing out itself wasn't good in these times, and they were satisfied with their current life.

Anna also felt somewhat burdened but found it difficult to reject Imperial Highness Olga.

The result was continuing meetings like today.

'The imperial palace is a bit scary.'

Still, since Imperial Highness Olga was cute, it wasn't entirely forced meetings.

"Anna!"

"I greet you, Grand Duchess."

"We'll have tea in the greenhouse today, let's go quickly."

"Right now?"

"Right this moment."

Olga grabbed Anna's hand and dragged her to the greenhouse as soon as she arrived, but stopped right at the Winter Palace greenhouse entrance.

"Ah. I.did.n't.know.big.bro.ther.would.be.here.first."

"...Pardon?"

Olga, speaking like a stiff poetry recitation, said awkwardly.

"Oh my. Big brother came to see mother. Anna, I think I need to go tell mother this news. I'll go ahead."

"You could have servants do that-"

"See you soon!"

Olga Imperial Highness explained the situation like narration and quickly disappeared.

Anna, not knowing what to do, had no choice but to step into the greenhouse.

And her bewilderment immediately transformed into fear.

The "big brother" Imperial Highness Olga mentioned wasn't Grand Duke Mikhail but His Majesty the Tsar.

The one who beheads any noble who stands out.

The bloody monarch quietly making a kill list for 4 years pretending to know nothing before massacring at once.

"I-I greet His Majesty the Tsar."

For her who had just passed twenty, fear overwhelmed her entire body just briefly meeting the Tsar's indifferent eyes.

Though father said not to get entangled with anyone in the imperial palace, she ended up meeting the very person she shouldn't meet.

"Flowers blooming in winter. Amazing even in a greenhouse."

The Tsar stroking calla flowers while speaking. Calla flowers. Among white flowers, the Tsar's hand distinctly strokes a yellow flower.

The flower meaning is parting and death.

Anna slightly bowed her head, now unable to hold back tears welling up.