Chapter III
"What do you mean, 'We'll be live in ten minutes'?"
I couldn't believe I had agreed to do an interview with these clowns- especially one that would be broadcast live to the whole nation! Me, The Grand Prince of Russia, agreeing to such a stupid thing!
"We, uh, thought you'd be ready by then," Said an inexperienced looking tech man. I hated it when people assumed they knew everything.
"Why?! My hair's not combed, my suit isn't fully on, and my tie is missing! Dammit, do you fools even know who I am?"
Only one man, some ancient looking journalist, nodded. These young people would be the death of me, I swear. "Just be ready to face the camera in ten minutes, M'Lord."
The same young fool from before said it in an almost patronizing tone. I hated it when people talked to me that way. I got up and took a break from all the preperations in my private quarters. There I brushed my hair back, the way I liked it, and found a replacement tie, and before I knew it those clowns outside were pounding on my door like their lives depended on it. "King! We'll be on the air in one minute! Please come out soon."
I hated doing this. But in any case, I walked out to the designated room to deliver a great talk to my people. I tried to smile, and face the man who was interviewing me. "Alright, King Rurik! 3...2...1... we're live!"
"Greetings, people of great and prosperous Russia! As you already know, Greece, our neighbors across the Rurikian Strait, have accidentally started a little race. And there have been claims that they are as close as we are to completing a spaceship capable of carrying man into the depths of space. But, I can assure you they will never be able to finish it before we do. They don't have the genius, the technology, or the strength to do it!"
The interviewer was shooting me an awkward look, so I paused. "Thank you for that speech, King Rurik. Now, what do you believe your next move will be in terms of this new space race?"
I glanced around, trying to think about an answer. "I think the best course of action is to increase the science funding, since it naturally channels into how effectively we build our spaceship," I told him.
"I see. But what about the recent complaints that all the money that goes to science is slowly draining the treasury?" The interviewer looked at me like he had caught me off guard or something.
"Well, people have to realize that, um, right now winning this space race is the most important thing for our country, and if that means the treasury has to suffer for while, then so be it."
"Okay. Now, what about..." The questions were all frustrating, obnoxious, and clearly made to make me look like a damned fool. After the drawn-out interview ended, I stormed back into my room. I hated how people were, thinking they could walk over me, a king!
"Damn it! Disgraceful, unrespectful bastards! They should all rot in hell!" I threw an old vase at the all, shattering it. I was drunk out of my mind on imported sake from Japan. A guilty pleasure, something I never drank in front of other people. "All of them are disgusting! They should all be shot dead!" I threw a pot against the the bathroom window, smashing both things into little pieces.
"Sir, please try to calm down! Those men set you up! You know they're alligned with the Liberal Democratic Party!" Vladimir's efforts were in vain. I had never been more upset than in that moment.
"It... it was a serious matter, and they turned it into a joke! A damn joke, Vladimir!" Vladimir shook his head, like he cared at all.
"Well, you should've known something like this was coming, King Rurik." I turned my head, confused.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, haven't you noticed all the limits to your powers? All the bills, acts, and other nonsense?" I stood up, almost vomiting due to my intoxication.
"Limits? How could I have not noticed? How many of these bastards are against me?" I took another long swig of my sake, and then I placed my pipe in my mouth. It was one of the worst nights of my long life.
"It's unfortunate, but you see, a lot of people, powerful politicians in parliament as well, don't believe in the power of the old Russian monarchy anymore. Ever since you were 40, so about 300 years ago, you became noticably more sendentary, and you seemed to be a lot more reclusive, and to be frank, you seemed to not really care," Explained Vladimir, who looked me dead in the eye.
"Why...why have they lost their faith in me?" I struggled to stay upright. Vladimir cleared his throat, that damn nervous fool.
"To be clear, King, I still believe in you. After all, I've stood by your side ever since you were barely old enough to rule this land. But times are changing, and with it so are people's opinions. They think you're old and washed up, and I hate to say it, but a lot of people... have been planning a revolt, to replace you with a more democratic leader." I dropped my sake, and my pipe fell out of my mouth, and smacked the floor. "Impossible... This news..." I couldn't finish my sentence. My mouth turned dry, and my mind was blank.
"It's okay, Lord," Said Vladimir, putting a hand on my shoulder. "I have plan, to stop all this madness. I may be your foreign advisor, and only qualified to deal with such matters, but I think I know how to stop this: An act of power. Show the people of Russia your might, just like you did when you were younger. Whatever it turns out to be, just do it quick. If you turn into a joke, you'll certainly be dethroned. Just make it quick, and effective."
My mind began racing with thoughts, just like when I used to be younger.
"Thank you, Vladimir. I'll let them know who's in charge."
Vladimir nodded, shook my hand, and headed home, like he hadn't just saved my life.
Vladimir, the advisor who always shined like a star among the rest. The one who always knew what to do in any given situation. The one who's cunning was so sharp it could stab like a knife through flesh. I may have been king, but he would make a fine prince.