Ch.375The Five-Day Tsar (2)

“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. She might genuinely be unwell right now.”

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

A statement that could be considered taboo.

Something that absolutely should not happen to a Roman Emperor.

“No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just a figure of speech. Honestly, has anyone here never taken a vacation?”

To be honest, there’s no one here who doesn’t take vacations.

From the beginning, the members of the Constantinople Treaty Organization headquarters were representatives of their respective governments, and they didn’t actually have much to do.

Moreover, Italy, being torn apart, had essentially become a tourist destination, serving as a vacation spot for prominent tycoons from various countries.

Naturally, those at this headquarters were no different.

Feeling called out by that remark, everyone just exchanged awkward glances.

“That’s true.”

“Well, I’d support a five-day workweek Tsar.”

This can’t be helped.

If she says it’s that difficult, honestly, there are people younger than the Tsar in this room.

If the Tsar wants to rest, what can we do? We have to bow our heads.

But while that might work for the Constantinople Treaty Organization, what about Russia?

“That’s fine for us. But what about the Russian side? Isn’t that where the bigger issue lies?”

“Well, that side can be managed somehow. After all, Grand Duke Vladimir has been handling State Duma affairs recently.”

Grand Duke Vladimir frequently attended the Constantinople Treaty Organization headquarters.

In reality, this wasn’t widely known to the public.

Unless Anastasia showed unusual movements like this time, the public wouldn’t react sensitively.

“That’s true.”

So, does that mean she only needs to appear on broadcasts and such for five days a week?

If that’s the case, how is it different from what’s been happening until now?

* * *

It’s done now. With Maria’s permission, I headed to the Duma. Unlike before, this time I summoned the Duma directly.

This would be the Tsar’s first, and possibly last, such summons.

Well, I don’t plan to call them for something like this again.

“I formally declare in this place: I, Tsar Anastasia, will become a five-day workweek Tsar.”

The State Duma erupted in turmoil at my words.

After suddenly calling a direct Duma session, I declared a five-day workweek for the Tsar.

Essentially professionalizing the role of Tsar! It might seem absurd, but anyway, the Tsar has officially stated she’ll rest two days a week.

How many days a week does the Duma even meet in the first place?

So I needed to officially receive holidays and reduce my psychological burden.

“A five-day Tsar? That’s a bit…”

“Yes, professionalizing the monarch’s position… that’s a bit…”

Hey, when did I say I was professionalizing it?

I simply said I’d rest two days a week.

If you call this professionalization, I feel wronged. If people find out, they’ll claim the Tsar was pressured by the Duma into adopting a five-day workweek.

“Look, logically speaking, I’m saying I want to step back. The Duma already handles all the politics, and normally you manage things yourselves. Isn’t that how it should be?”

When I say I’ll handle it myself, why do I need permission?

Honestly, this is truly absurd.

Even power-wielding favorites would overthrow monarchs who didn’t listen to them and install new ones or change dynasties, right?

But neither the Duma nor the citizens of this country are like that. They’re forcibly holding onto an emperor who wants to step down.

“Well, if you do that, all our necks are on the line. Besides, we don’t want that either.”

No, what don’t you want?

Anyone watching would think I’m a mama’s boy.

“Sigh, I’m really not well. You’re all old enough, yet you rely too much on the Tsar.”

“Your Majesty, while we can’t defend ourselves on that point—”

Excuses aside.

“So, let’s compromise with a five-day workweek. Humanly speaking, don’t all of you here rest when you need to? Of course, I don’t work as much as you do, but there’s still a feeling to it. With millions of citizens praising me and on my shoulders, I need some time to rest.”

Vacation for the Tsar! Rest time for the Tsar!

The Tsar needs time to rest!

That’s what I’m shouting right now. Doesn’t the Duma feel any guilt about this?

I’ve delegated power, but now I’ve become indispensable!

“Well, alright then.”

“If it’s just that much, the citizens won’t even notice. As long as Your Majesty doesn’t specifically mention it, it should be fine.”

Yes, that’s enough.

As long as this doesn’t get found out. In Korea too, if they catch you, they protest over even the smallest things.

We must prevent that at all costs.

If there’s a third protest, the protesters might even threaten to behead the Duma if I don’t rule.

Ah, that’s a bit much.

“Conscientiously, in a monarchical state, after ruling this much, one should pass it on to the next, and this is something that should be accepted. So the Duma should reflect.”

Just accept it. Stop throwing tantrums.

If I had to make an analogy, it’s like this: From a young age, the members of the Duma were brainwashed with education that the mother Tsar is the mother of all citizens, and everyone should be together under the mother—so they feel like they can’t do without me.

In other words, it’s the result of misguided rote education.

They just need to provide proper anti-communist education, but are there praises about me written in textbooks too?

“We apologize, Your Majesty. From now on, we’ll try our best to have Grand Duke Vladimir review our work.”

Yes, that’s what I want.

Even what I’m saying now is too formal. This should have been done long ago, and these guys should become a bit more independent from me. Don’t you think?

“As a mother, I have many concerns. To give a clear answer, I’m not dying right now, nor is there anything wrong with my health. While I don’t know when I’ll die, I could probably live for another 50 years.” The room grew cold at my words.

The members who were noisy just moments ago now just stared at me.

“50 years? But that means you still have a long way to go.”

A long way to go? I’ve already got half left.

“Actually, even that’s a minimum estimate.”

“Minimum estimate?”

I’m not sure if I should call it a minimum estimate or what.

“Then, why not just reign as an eternal emperor?”

Reign as an eternal emperor? That doesn’t seem right.

“The burden of carrying hundreds of millions of citizens is too great.”

“You’re saying your children are a burden—”

No, I’m not saying my children are a burden.

“That’s not what I meant. From my perspective, it feels like grown children not becoming independent, which worries me. I’m at an age where I should be supported. Living off my children’s money, you know? Let’s be honest. Of course, I have companies under the Romanov name, so I’m not worried, but still. I can’t help but worry about citizens who feel they can’t do without me.”

I need to approach this differently.

Regardless of the facts, if they approach me emotionally, I should approach them the same way.

If this were my father Nicholas II’s era, the Duma would have long ago said they’d handle everything. I’m too different.

“Well, I understand for now.”

“Forget about ‘for now’ and all that.”

“That may be true, but what do you plan to do from now on, Your Majesty?”

“I’ll travel around to see if the Constantinople Treaty Organization is running properly.”

“In simple terms, isn’t that just travel?”

Yes, there will be travel. But unfortunately, it’s travel but not just travel.

It will look like a royal tour on the outside.

“There will be travel, and I should see France at least once.”

“France, you say?”

“Well, I’ve heard they’ve improved a lot recently.”

I originally wanted to visit France directly.

I’ve only heard about the reconstruction of Paris but have never been there.

Vichy is now the capital of France, right? The funny thing is that Vichy has become a resort town.

Now that the era of the Grand Army has disappeared from France, it’s been neutered, and its military power is essentially just a ‘self-defense force’ belonging to the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

Their numbers are only in the tens of thousands, and even that is just a formality.

France has abandoned military spending and is focusing on internal welfare, trying to recover the population depleted during the Commune era and gather as much national power as possible.

So, I’m curious.

How is that place functioning now?

With military spending essentially gone, they’re freeloading on the Constantinople Treaty Organization’s military power.

It’s a bit suspicious because of their Commune history.

“But then it’s not just two days. You’ll be looking at it for at least a week, won’t you?”

That’s right. I might need to look at it for at least a week.

“Yes, so I plan to go see it directly.”

“Doing this in the current situation could cause another uproar.”

What do you mean by doing this in the current situation? What am I doing?

No, this much is fine. Our esteemed citizens won’t immediately protest again. What kind of children would stop their mother from traveling a bit?

Even if they did try to stop me.

Then they’d be unfilial children stopping a trip in my later years, and one I’m paying for with my own money, not my children’s.

Don’t you think? That’s how I’ve decided to think about it.

“Yes, that could happen, but the Duma should handle it. Just say the Tsar is going on a royal tour to France.”

From the beginning, if you say I’m going on a royal tour, that’s enough. It won’t look like I’m just going to France for fun, right?

“Then there’s no difference from before?”

Hey, what do you mean no difference?

This time, it can be seen as going on a trip. Not a royal tour, but really.

This time, it’s truly a time for rest. Would I be bombed in my own territory?

Laroque just needs to entertain me well.

“This time I’m really going on a trip. I want to see Paris, Vichy, and Burgundy.”

I’m going to see everywhere.

I want to see how the newly changed France is transforming.

Isn’t this the charm of alternate history? Perhaps 21st century France will be perceived completely differently from the France I know.

It will be perceived as part of Rome, and there will be no Algerian massacre.

With just this, France has been properly whitewashed. Looking at the original history, France should be grateful, right?

“Even so, isn’t that part of France dangerous?”

“That’s right. Especially after the nuclear bombing.”

Alisa Rosenbaum is also unnecessarily worried.

There’s discontent because of the nuclear bombing, they say. But aren’t they quite docile for that?

“France is a member of the Constantinople Treaty Organization, and their public security is good. It shouldn’t be a problem. Again, the nuclear bombing was decided by General Pétain, and the radio broadcast at that time was appropriate propaganda for handing over the nuclear weapon to General Pétain.”

I didn’t drop the nuclear bomb; I handed it over to Pétain as a grand strategic decision.

If anyone dares to criticize me for this, they must be a bit dim-witted, right?

“Still, there’s no harm in being careful, is there?”

“There’s no harm in being careful, that’s true.”

From the beginning, what would I do if I weren’t careful? I won’t die.

“Even Churchill now takes it for granted that I don’t die, and expresses envy about once a month that I don’t age.”

That man has completely accepted me.

He’s essentially the only ‘foreigner’ among the famous people I know who has calmly accepted it.

“Isn’t that old man secretly cursing Your Majesty?”

Churchill wouldn’t curse me.

Thanks to me, he survived when he was about to die being criticized at 10 Downing Street.

He didn’t end up with the nickname “Mr. Dunkirk.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry. Everyone knows I’m stronger and more immortal than our children, right? God has given me more time because I need to work harder for world peace, that’s probably the intention.”

Humanly speaking, would I really be harmed in France?

That doesn’t seem likely.

Of course, there’s a lot of talk about unification with Burgundy or something, but who cares?

As long as there’s no terrorism, it’s fine.