I Became the Last Princess of the Brown Bear Kingdom

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* * *

With the Rome Treaty in place, it wouldn’t necessarily be bad to be under the control of our mother, the Tsar, rather than the Duma.

“Oh, listening to this makes sense now.”

“Um, the Duma will be the ones to profit from our failure to stop His Majesty, right?”

“Failure to stop? Rather, the Duma could be embroiled in all kinds of terror from threatening Mother Tsarina.”

The question is whether the Duma’s members are actually stable.

Mother Tsarina has completed everything she had to do, and even if she wishes to lay everything down seriously, the issues are far too large.

Would the citizens just stand by?

In lieu of imposing taxes, the Tsar has granted all kinds of benefits to the Cossacks who risked their lives to protect the Tsar. Would they just sit quietly?

Would the Middle Easterners, who survived only by the grace of the Tsar after throwing bombs around, remain passive?

For the Duma’s survival, this simply cannot happen yet.

“That won’t do. Don’t we need to rush to the Kremlin right away?”

We need to rush to the Kremlin to stage a protest.

“Isn’t it the case that the Tsar reopened the Duma for this reason? If so, what has changed? This is no different from a child throwing a tantrum toward her mother.”

Look at this situation. Isn’t it clearly childish?

“Honestly, aren’t most of the people here just the next generation of the Civil War?”

Indeed, the National Duma has an unusually high number of young people participating.

The reason is simple. As the times change, so does the younger generation. There had to be representatives in the Duma for citizens in their 20s and 30s.

Anyway, these young members of the Duma were raised to believe that the Tsar is the nation, and she is their mother.

Of course, a Duma without a mother is unimaginable.

“A whining child. Isn’t that right? If the Tsar isn’t present, there’s no answer. Grand Duke Vladimir is also continuing to postpone the ascension.”

Grand Duke Vladimir seems to understand this situation.

Mother Tsarina may be considered immature at her age, but if she were to abdicate as is, there might indeed be some threats toward Grand Duke Vladimir as well.

“Eh, surely that can’t be the case.”

Yet, one can’t help but think.

The Duma felt a cold chill run down their spines.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Alisa Rosenbaum seemed to be in a hurry at the thought of not seeing Mother Tsarina in the Duma.

After all, Mother Tsarina is everything to Alisa Rosenbaum.

Of course, she visits the Kremlin every day, but seeing her in the Duma holds a different meaning. Should I have just let today slide? A pointless worry crept in.

“But she was adorable.”

Whether she was truly in disguise or genuinely believed to be in character, either way.

Mother Tsarina, as everyone’s idol, was adorable.

* * *

The National Duma officially announced worker policies ‘in the name of the Tsar.’

Specifically, they imposed a limit on worker hours.

Until now, they had merely told workers to manage their own hours with a suggestion of a 5-day, 8-hour workweek, but now it was set by law to 8 hours maximum.

With the Rome Treaty conveyed, worker welfare was now ‘mandatory.’

“No, are you really imposing limits on working hours? Is this a plan to revert back to the authority of the Byzantine Emperor? What is the leading country of the Rome Treaty doing?”

“From now on, working hours will be limited to a 5-day, 8-hour schedule.”

“?”

“You’ll be paid according to what you work, and we’ll even provide insurance. We will sacrifice our lives for Mother Tsarina. This is to limit those who work 24 hours to 8 hours.”

“?”

At the Rome Treaty Headquarters, discussions arose asking if the Russian Republic would act like the Reds by limiting working hours. Unfortunately, it was not that kind of limit.

“We’re also suffering greatly. If this continues, we might truly see deaths from overwork, and it will be the Duma’s responsibility. Workers are demanding meds that keep them going even after working 24 hours.”

In the end, the bill enforcing the 5-day, 8-hour workweek in Russia was reluctantly passed.

If that were all, it wouldn’t be an issue.

The workers strongly objected.

“Hey, no way. Is this for real?”

Mass protests from workers erupted throughout Moscow.

It was so loud that the sounds reached even the Kremlin, just as expected.

However, the protests were not for the same reasons as the violent Sunday.

“Why is the Duma preventing us from working?”

“It’s clear the Duma is oppressing Mother Tsarina!”

“What’s wrong with working for Mother Tsarina?”

The slogans were roughly along those lines.

Guarantee our freedom to work! That’s it.

Let us work so that we might earn more money. And at the same time, isn’t it true that the Duma is suppressing Mother Tsarina?

Years ago, they protested to our former Tsar Nicholas II, shouting for a bit of bread to live, but now the tables had turned.

Watching this unfold, all I could say was one thing.

“Is this possible in a civilized country?”

From what I gathered, the workers on-site, who were bloodshot and working to the bone, finally ceased their work only after the factory owner personally kneeled and begged.

“Please, please stop working. If you exceed working hours, it’ll be a big scandal for a wicked company!”

It was so dire that even headquarters came out to apologize to the workers directly.

I heard that a Japanese factory owner even went so far as to prostrate himself.

But while they stopped working, those who could no longer bear this absurdity protested.

“If you work more, isn’t that a good thing for you?” “Since insurance is guaranteed, we will continue to work.” “Is it wrong to try and earn money?”

When I received that report, a chill ran down my spine.

This is also a problem. Perhaps Nicholas II would be extremely pleased with it.

Truthfully, if we think of the Soviet Union in the original timeline, this nation has made far more progress.

They don’t have to treat the workers like hamsters on a wheel.

Nicholas II’s era was the real problem.

However, this protest is also quite a misstep in itself.

“Dissolve the Duma!” “Mother Tsarina to the Duma!” “God bless Tsar, who must govern Rome himself!”

Even without me, regarding internal matters, there was much chatter about dissolving the well-functioning Duma and summoning Mother Tsarina to it.

“No, but that doesn’t seem right.”

“Well, it’s clear that His Majesty’s authority is incredibly strong. The very existence of Mother Tsarina is already perfect, and it’s natural to die for her and for Russia’s advancement.”

Maria II proudly declared as she straightened her chest.

To work for Mother. Then, if Nicholas II had implemented reforms by this logic, wouldn’t the protests have unfolded in a similar manner? As if it were justified to die for me.

Of course, it was said for my sake. The subtext was that they could earn money proportional to their work. That aspect must have been a significant merit for the workers.

“Well, it’s true that this nation progresses as much as they work. But still, what should we do?”

I don’t want to see such outcomes. It seems they are targeting not me, but the Duma that has controlled labor and wages simultaneously.

They might try to hang the Duma altogether, as if attempting to bury the Tsar’s family.

God, help me. No, that old man, help me.

Is this sensible? This is no fictional story. No matter how much my authority rises, is this development even feasible?

“Your Majesty has underestimated the workers too much. Everyone knows that you have worked hard for the laborers today.”

Alisa Rosenbaum, who had let me know about the protest, let out a deep sigh.

In short, this is a result of choices made by His Majesty. That’s what she’s saying.

Yeah. Wasn’t Alisa also following me in that way?

The protesting workers were all the same.

“But isn’t there some money involved in why they are calling for Mother Tsarina?”

Of course, this is simply a matter of justification.

For both war and protest, there must be a premise. Right now, the workers have a clear premise.

If the workers conspire with the Cossacks to overthrow the Duma and put me in place, oh dear.

“Yes. Perhaps there are many who think like that, but since a protest is unfolding, wouldn’t it be best to finish it quickly?”

“Right. The Duma could very well be in trouble.”

Of course, while Bloody Sunday was a result of the violent suppression of protesters, honestly, if the Duma were to remove the labor control bill, it would settle the protest.

After all, they’re not refusing to pay.

“I’m afraid that, under these circumstances, Your Majesty will have to step in.”

“Damn it. This is ridiculous.”

Yeah. It can’t be helped. At this point, it’s correct that I step forward.

The Duma might just be hoping for that. In the worst-case scenario, they might actually give up everything.

So, I had to step forward with the Cossack Guard toward the protesting crowd.

After all, there’s a chance the Cossacks might join in as well.

Resigned, I had to leave the Kremlin.

* * *

I stood before the protesting crowd heading towards the National Duma.

“Citizens of the Russian Republic. I am Anastasia, the Emperor of the Rome Treaty.”

“Tsar… Tsar?! Is it really Her Majesty?! Tsar has come here?!”

How on earth did I end up here? The protesting crowd wore expressions of pure confusion, as if questioning why I was present.

“Your Majesty! The Duma dares to threaten the workers under the false claim of your orders!”

“Please dissolve the Duma and rule directly, Your Majesty!”

The crowd, holding the flag of the double-headed eagle of the Russian Republic, all kneeled and bowed their heads before me.

They begged for compassion towards the workers.

Of course, if we delve deeper, they’re essentially masochistic slaves who want to be worked to the bone until they die.

Oh dear, truly, this is terrifying.

It’s scary how angry the workers can get.

Sadly, this world is not one where people can just take pills to work 24 hours straight.

Thus, I boldly spread my arms wide in front of them and began to speak.

“Amazingly, that’s all I wish for.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Here, I would unleash my feminine charm to its fullest.

Please don’t faint.

If you faint, Mother Tsarina will be extremely, extremely sad.

She might just end up shedding tears. That’s what I’ll convey.

“I am saddened because it feels like, because of me, the citizens of the Republic are turning into mere machines, working incessantly. Though you earn wages for your labor, think of your families. Understand the intention of this Tsar, who wishes to value your health. During my father’s time, workers who protested for their right to eat were violently suppressed. But I greatly fear that in my era, the workers might perish for other reasons. Please support the 5-day, 8-hour workweek. I do not wish to see you collapse from overwork while working in factories, cooking in restaurants, or designing clothes, turning your back on this mother.”

To everyone, this mother is simply too sad.

That single statement was more than enough.

The protestors exchanged glances, bowing their heads one by one.

“We did not understand Your Majesty’s deep intentions!”

“My thoughts were too narrow. I apologize!”

“We were only thinking of ourselves.”

In the end, everyone began to weep as if following a script.

Am I truly required to go this far? The Duma ought to have found a more heartfelt solution. With things continuing this way, they only seem incompetent.

“God bless Mother Tsarina! Long live Rome!”

Afterward, things improved significantly.

The protesting crowd was dispersed somehow, and although Alisa Rosenbaum and the Duma’s authority was slightly shaken due to this incident, I managed to hard carry and contain the chaos.

I returned, finally able to catch my breath.

“Still, this seems like quite a setback for the Duma.”

“What can we do? It can’t be helped.”

Yeah. The labor welfare system itself originated from me, and I should have anticipated that the Russian citizens, as members of the fan club, would act this way.

It might be time to prepare to step back.

“Hmm, now various advertisements are being phased out too. It’s perfect.”

One slight relief is that advertisements seem to be phased out now.

Honestly, it’s not normal for the Tsar to overshadow actresses and do solo advertisements.

Does it make sense for a monarch to participate in various advertisements?

Covering up as a sacred saint, some ads are slightly revealing, though. Not as revealing as the real women of the 21st century, but still.

Is it acceptable for an emperor to stoop to such levels?

Well, there’s nothing that can be done due to the nature of clothing advertisements or showcasing a sacred appearance.

But it feels a bit as if I have performed some kind of exposure in front of billions worldwide.

This is also a bit much.

It’s not like everything should revolve around the Tsar.

I genuinely fear that if I were to suddenly disappear, some citizens might genuinely break down.

* * *