I Became the Last Princess of the Brown Bear Kingdom

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I was currently observing the Duma meeting at the National Duma.

I was sort of dressed up like a bodyguard for Vladimir.

This disguise was pretty perfect.

“The response to the four major insurance benefits is good, but—”

“The problem is that the public is thinking, ‘If this is the case, I can work myself to death without worries.’”

Working oneself to death is totally dangerous!

That’s something I should directly intervene in—but no, that would be risky too.

“Well, isn’t it better for us if everyone works harder rather than slacking off because of insurance?”

“That’s true, but there’s concern that it might lead to a repeat of the former Tsar’s era.”

Blood Sunday. That should never happen.

Absolutely not. I have a bad feeling about this.

People are usually different when they come in and when they go out. After thinking about it, it’s ridiculous.

Raise the wages. That could happen.

If those loyal Cossacks sweep the public away during that time, ugh. Just thinking about it makes me uneasy. Should I intervene?

No, I must watch the Duma operate without me.

“Back in the previous Tsar’s era, we didn’t guarantee worker welfare from the start. We provide insurance now, and our welfare level matches that of Northern Rome (Britain, Northern Europe).”

“If people work themselves to death, how will we handle the population? It takes at least 20 years for a person to grow to be productive, but what if they die from overwork before then?”

If it’s just a few people, it’s one thing, but if it happens nationwide, we can’t handle that.

Jobs would also become a problem immediately.

This means we need to either create more jobs or establish fixed working hours through labor laws.

“Oh, that could work. Then let’s define working hours and legally prohibit exceeding them.”

“Then, the opposite could happen, with people saying, ‘Why are you restricting our right to work?’ and inciting riots.”

This doesn’t work. That doesn’t work. What’s going on?

My mouth is itching! I want to jump in and say something!

Still, I forced myself to pinch my thigh and hold back.

“Eh, it couldn’t be that way, could it? What does the Prime Minister think?”

The baton was handed over to Alisa Rosenbaum this time.

“Honestly, it’s not entirely incorrect. They say that the more you work, the more you earn, and the former Minister of Labor Gastev once traveled to encourage workers to, ‘Work for your mother Tsar! You’ll be compensated accordingly for your efforts!’ This holds significant weight.”

That Gastev guy! By now, he’s probably enjoyed himself to the fullest elsewhere, right?

It’s truly unfortunate.

“It’s not that we lack the ability to pay wages, but…”

“That could stop job creation and there’s the concern of overwork deaths.”

“Haven’t you been out on the streets? There are plenty of jobs.”

There are plenty of jobs. But what if the workers start dropping dead from this work?

Honestly, looking at the current situation, I won’t hold Tsar accountable, but I could hold the Duma responsible.

Maybe the Duma doesn’t realize this, but the implication could be, “We will work! But if we die, it’s the Duma’s fault!”

We can’t hold the Tsar responsible, of course.

In this current atmosphere where dying for mother Tsar is considered the norm, workers might rather demand the Duma solve their issues.

Just like traditional scholars who refused to accept Westerners in Joseon while not offering any solutions, workers might look to the Duma, expecting some forced solution.

They might even want us to develop a medicine that allows them to work 24 hours without dying.

“Then, ultimately, we need to change working hours.”

“So how do we make them understand that?”

There was a brief silence.

Are they really saying that they can’t operate without me?

Having been praised for doing well, I turn out to be a total failure in this regard. But still, I can’t jump in myself.

Although the political system is different, isn’t this just like letting Sejong rule and him enjoying it for a while?

I forcibly suppress my twitching mouth.

“Let’s go straightforward. Just say that it was a command from mother Tsar.”

A young member of the nationalist party boldly declared.

These guys want to borrow my name now. Well, it’s not the worst thing ever. Ahem.

So it turns out I’m the only one who can’t be left out?

“Ah, now that you’re in the Duma, let’s not think of free-loading.”

“Exactly! How dare you make impudent statements about using mother Tsar?”

The members, from older generations who had witnessed the Red-White Civil War, started pointing fingers like a witch hunt, but after a moment—

“Well, wouldn’t you be desperate enough to say something like that? Mother Tsar would permit it.”

Alisa even nodded in agreement.

It’s amazing how everyone can make such decisions in my absence.

Vladimir was quietly observing as well. Well—

“Right. That’s how it would be. After all, the welfare for workers was led by mother Tsar.”

In the first place, I had said I was fine with using my name while stuck in the Kremlin, so I can’t complain.

Anyway, the first agenda of the Duma has been safely passed with the ‘My Name?’ deal.

Now, onto the next one.

This time, I have something I value the most. And it’s something I hope Vladimir could solve.

“According to news from Rome (the treaty headquarters in Italy), the US has rejected the proposal of the Rome Treaty this time.”

Is that how it goes?

“We can’t help it. That’s the right thing to say. Serbia is someone we need to deal with, so whether the US likes it or not, they have to accept the deal. But as for China, that’s another story. What value does China have to the US? There’s no way they would do us any favors.”

“That’s right. Moreover, the National Government is bound by semi-autonomy anyway, so just taking an interest in China would be a complicated issue for the US.”

That’s true. The US doesn’t see any value in China.

Compared to the original history, they are far weaker. While they engage in fratricide, they aren’t building up strength to check the Rome Treaty, so the US wouldn’t view them as impressive.

Even if they were to straighten out and create a unified China again, it would still be tough to yield the potential that the Communist Party has.

Can China really handle the Rome Treaty?

I don’t think so.

In that case, it would be better for the US to focus on defending the Pacific.

No matter how you look at it, strengthening China wouldn’t achieve anything beyond letting Israel and China keep fighting each other.

“Honestly, it would be better to defend the Pacific.”

Right. Things are turning back toward reality.

The Nationalist Party was similarly aligned with the military in their judgments.

They’ve already established naval and air force bases throughout the Pacific Islands, excluding tourist spots, to keep us in check.

The US has no intention of utilizing China.

It’s not like they’d support if it didn’t benefit them.

It’s become a vague situation with semi-autonomy, saying they would help the National Government, a Chinese local government that’s neither here nor there for the Rome Treaty. Does that even make sense?

In the end, on the surface, it’s the US helping the National Government in checking Israel, which is a front for the Rome Treaty. However, the US wouldn’t agree to that.

This suggests that the US really doesn’t care about China.

Can’t be helped. After all, it’s the US.

They have no reason to bet on something that won’t grow significantly.

Balhae Federation has, contrary to original history, no mutual defense treaty with the US, and is merely a nation starting to establish relations now.

“Why don’t we talk to the UN instead?”

Vladimir brought up the UN, as I had previously suggested.

Yes! That’s it! Our Vladimir knows when to take action.

However, the atmosphere in the Duma seems a bit off.

Yes, just as I thought. They’re beginning to be cautious around Vladimir.

They’re treating Vladimir as they would treat me, so if I can force support onto Vladimir by selling my name for a while, that would be perfect.

I smirked and observed the situation a little more.

“Your Grace the Grand Duke, are you speaking of the UN?”

“Yes, that’s right. At least, from a formal standpoint, it means the US will step back from this and we should end this through peacekeeping forces in the UN.”

We can use the UN to wrap this up.

From the Duma’s perspective, using the UN as an excuse wouldn’t be bad either.

“I see. That makes sense.”

“Then, I’ll inform the Rome Treaty Organization.”

Yes! That’s exactly how we should end this.

Ah, now Duma really doesn’t care if I’m there or not.

I’m sure they’ll take care of the important issues on their own now.

* * *

National Duma

After today’s meeting, the members let out breaths of relief.

Indeed. Today, the Tsar had appeared in an unusual outfit.

Standing beside him was the successor, Grand Duke Vladimir’s bodyguard.

“By the way, why did mother Tsar come dressed that way in the middle of the meeting?”

“Did you have somewhere to go?”

“You weren’t in disguise, were you?”

The idea of selling mother Tsar’s name concerning workers had been mentioned, considering mother Tsar was present.

After all, mother Tsar had delegated power, and had she not said that we could even sell our names if necessary? And since mother Tsar remained silent, it implied permission.

“Don’t tell me. It’s not like Tsar’s appearance could be hidden by disguises.”

“So everyone kept quiet and didn’t raise any suspicion?”

Moreover—

“Wasn’t it too dangerous? To say it was at mother Tsar’s command?”

“Mother Tsar likely intended that.”

“Prime Minister, what do you mean?”

The members turned their gaze towards Alisa, the Prime Minister.

What could that possibly mean? Mother Tsar wants something?

“Mother Tsar might wish for her story to come out, even in the Duma you’re absent from.”

No, that’s absolutely not it, but whatever the case may be, the Duma likely thinks that mother Tsar is not disguised and stopped by for a brief visit for some reason.

In the first place, words from Grand Duke Vladimir’s mouth are words of Tsar.

They just need to keep watching.

“No, but with Tsar personally showing up, what significance would that have?”

“If she borrowed the Grand Duke’s voice intentionally, then isn’t she preparing for something? Consider discussing this with the Grand Duke in the Duma.”

At that moment, the atmosphere quieted down.

Borrowing the Grand Duke’s voice indicates that he will soon be engaged in various discussions in the Duma and will cooperate.

Afterward, mother Tsar would likely not show her face in the Duma again.

I’ve heard previously that this would be the case.

The National Duma even accepted this to prevent possible direct rule from Tsar.

However, that’s that, and this is this.

Stopping Tsar’s rule and operating the country with the Duma.

That’s what everyone wanted, and the very reason for establishing the Duma was that Tsar was merely a symbol for national unity, nothing more or less.

However, that applies to an ordinary Tsar. One who can perform moderately and one like Grand Duke Vladimir who has the qualifications to wear the title of Tsar.

The current Tsar. The Saint of Russia, Tsar, Great Khan of Mongolia and Manchuria, Ataman of the Cossacks, Queen of Finland & Poland. Byzantine Emperor. Defender of Orthodoxy and Islam. And many more titles—it’s become difficult to list them all.

Is such a Tsar really going to completely entrust power to Grand Duke Vladimir?

I can’t even imagine it.

No, if it’s the Tsar as a person, losing ambition might allow that, but she was someone who had been ‘grading’ Duma’s attendance recently.

Naturally, that could happen. But the circumstances are too dire for that now.

With the Tsar’s authority at an all-time high! The Tsar will forcefully pass the reins down!

How would that look from an outsider’s perspective?

I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a bombing of the Golden Hellenism Party right in the Duma.

“Now I see. I understand.”

“No, understanding this is itself an issue, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, with mother Tsar’s authority piercing the heavens, if we say the Grand Duke will take the reins now and step back, who will take the blame for that?”

That’s right. Who will shoulder that blame? None other than the Duma.

This is the current Duma.

No matter how many times I think about it, every member of the Duma putting their heads together will agree—this would lower the authority of the Duma.

What is the Duma? It leads Russian politics.

If the authority of the Duma falls, then what comes next? The traditional autocracy of Tsar will return.

Which mother Tsar would never accept, and if you trace back to why the Russian Republic was originally established, the Duma is the center of the Republic.

If this Duma shakes, the Russian Republic is finished.