POV Nicholas II

Shit. Just that one word filled my mind as I read the report I had just received. A hundred meters from my Palace, two hundred people were massacred on the orders of my Interior Minister. Orders against my will.

I had called Sergei Witte to assist me with something else, but now I looked to him for advice on the matter. He was the finance minister during my father's time, surely he had suggestions.

Unfortunately, seeing him puffing away at that pipe of his, I knew just how bad the situation was. He only ever took it out when he was stressed, after all.

"The situation is spiraling out of control, there's nothing the civilian government can do anymore. Get the support of the Army and Nobility, install a Military Dictatorship. You'll crush the unrest soon enough."

If only it was that easy, then I wouldn't be in such despair.

"You know that's not going to work. The Nobility hate me more than the common populace do. Not a single Noble from St. Petersburg to Valdivostok will support me when I execute a Duke for disobedience."

With a look of surprise, he responded, "You plan to execute him? When half your Nobles want you dead? Well, forget that suggestion then. Set up a constitutional monarchy with a parliament instead. Have elections and guarantee the rights of the civilian populace."

Hearing that, I clenched my fist, "I'm the rightful Tsar of Russ! I can't just give up my power to people who don't know how to run the country!"

"The Empire and Francois have done that and are still doing fine."

"Sure. They're doing fine, but Russ is nothing like that! We're not as economically strong as they are!"

What will my uncle think about setting up a military dictatorship? He would never allow the commoners to take power.

"Pick the dictatorship and you'll have to choose between getting ripped apart by the Nobility or torn apart by the civilians. And Louis the sixteenth can tell you how much you don't want the commoners against you."

Everything was going fine till that dumbass of a minister decided he wanted to paint the capital red with blood. Now I had to listen to Sergei telling me to cede power to the populace.

Fine. If I had to do something like that, I'll pick someone who understands how the systems work. And it seems like there was only one name I could think of.

"Lenin."

Sergei, my future prime minister, looked at me doubtfully.

"He teaches my daughter. He has done much in promoting industrialisation in Russ. Especially with making the Russ public bank state financed, allowing us to give out loans to the capitalist and letting other nations to finance us."

"The one that promoted the idea of the Russ Bank? Then he must be the founder of the Russ Capitalist Association too," Sergei nodded thoughtfully, before continuing, "Half of the infrastructure we have today was basically funded by the bank and the RCA."

"More than half, fifty-seven percent. More than any of the other avenues combined," I corrected, "He truly is a visionary. Despite his insults against the royal family, he is decent enough to work with. Get in touch with him and we'll see about this constitutional Monarchy."

With a smile, Sergei excused himself.

I sighed. Even Sergei was looking out only for his own interest. He was one of the biggest proponents for liberalism and allying with the Francois after all.

Scrunching my forehead, I felt a slight pain, it's good that my wife is still in the Empire. She'd be so upset I chose to side with the Francois.

—--

The streets were finally clear of demonstrators. In the past days they had protested against the Massacre, The Red afternoon they called it. Thankfully the announcement of both the execution of the fool who caused the massacre and the promise of a constitutional monarchy had been enough to appease them.

In just a month, the elections will take place. Hopefully fast enough that my daughter and wife can come back to a stable country.

If only that was the extent of my problems.

"How bad is it?" I asked my new prime minister.

Sergei stopped puffing on his pipe to read the report, "The strikes and demonstrations have yet to fully cease in industries of the nobles. Even after the creation of the Duma and all the reforms so far."

Taking another puff, he continued the list of problems, "Due to that, the nobles have convinced the supreme General of the Army to put down the protests."

"Of which you have already prepared for," I answered, disappointed that my uncle would do such a thing.

"Yes. With a majority vote of 752 out of 1000, the Major parties have agreed to expel your uncle and punish him."

The Two major parties were very similar, only differing with which country they sided with. The Pro-Imperials and the Pro-Francois. Unfortunately, until the elections happened, they were in charge. The constitution gave them a lot of power, however everything they vote on still has to be approved by me. It was the only way Sergei could think of to help keep my power.

"With your approval, your uncle will be placed under house arrest and sent to trial for acting without authorisation."

"Thankfully he hasn't actually deployed the army. I wouldn't want to punish him too much."

"If he did, it would have been an act of treason. We'd probably be in the throes of a civil war or under a military dictatorship."

Sipping my now cold cup of tea I began to reexamine the situation.

"Less than a week ago, everything was fine. How did it all degenerate so quickly?

"You should be glad we had a good harvest this year. It would have been much worse for you otherwise. We would probably be seeing invaders on our doorstep instead."

"That reminds me, we still need to mechanise our farming industry. We wouldn't stand a bad year if we don't prepare now."

I'm going to have to buy the necessary tools from the Empire, I couldn't keep on giving influence to the pro-Francois.

Signing the document, I gave Sergi more orders, "When you go out and put this arrest warrant in motion, inform the commander of the royal guard that I want the guards to keep an eye on my extended family. Who knows what they'd be up to."

"Understood your majesty."

He left the room, and with him I felt the air begin to rush into my lungs. I don't like this situation at all. I have lost much of my power, the nobles are plotting against me, my extended family is trying to undermine what little authority I have left and lastly the commoners are still angry.

I got up from my chair and left my personal office, heading to a special place.

—--

I entered the house I bought many years ago, the door opened as soon as the servant recognised me.

"Your Majesty," he greeted.

Ignoring his greeting, I asked, "Where is she?"

"In her office, Your Majesty."

Looking at the walls decorated with memories from the battle of Vladivostok, I made my way to the Office, opening the door myself.

"What brings you here, your Majesty?" asked the occupant, shocked by my appearance.

"Bochkariova, let's cut to the chase. You know these are turbulent times for the Empire."

She was still confused, "Yes, your majesty, but what does it have to do with me?"

"I am going to create a special division composed only of women. I want you to be in charge of it."

She seemed to get even more confused, "But I am still under the house arrest you put me under."

"Yet you still remain loyal. I need that loyalty if I am to have you ensure the safety of my family."

She rose from her chair, "You don't mean…"

"I, the Tsar of Russ, proclaim your sentence over, Heroine of Vladivostok."

"But your uncle arrested me personally."

Laughing lightly, I couldn't help the irony.

"And now he's the one under house arrest. His opinion will no longer matter. Besides, wouldn't you rather be remembered as the heroine who led 500 women to save Vladivostok than a criminal?"

Hearing that, she came before me and knelt, "That does sound good. Thank you, your majesty."

What a crazy feeling, proper women soldiers. But knowing I cannot trust the safety of my wife and daughters to men, I had little other choice. Besides, she has proven her loyalty many times. The spies I placed around her have always said that despite her turbulent past, she remains loyal to both Russ and me.

Comment if u like! Thx to Dualwing creator of Shackled to a Corpse for helping me review and edit the chapter.

Also i appreciate any critics and recommendations for the story!