18. Oh, the great December of Rosia!
Leyef’s perspective.
Ever since the young yet domineering and powerful Emperor of the Rosia Empire—Ivan Letty—used various thunderous means to eliminate the oligarchs who had caused the people of the Rosia Empire to voice their grievances, the Rosia Empire transformed into a realm where no “great nobles” could act tyrannically, all instead obeying the commands of Emperor Ivan Letty!
This statement is slightly inaccurate; after all, even in the hearts of the Rosian people, among those oligarchs who acted tyrannically and enslaved the populace, there existed a few who truly deserved the title of nobility. This small number of oligarchs, after assisting Letty in establishing the foundation of his identity as the Emperor of the Rosia Empire, avoided the fate of being “purged” and continued to retain their noble status.
Among these oligarchs, the most powerful and the one closest to Letty was the family of Leyef, the current president of the student council at Rublyanka Academy.
Today, Leyef returned home in silence, pushing aside the welcoming servants with a complex mood that was too tangled to articulate.
“Everyone leave, I want to be alone in my room.”
Finally, she stepped into her home, which was as grand and opulent as a castle.
Power, property, lineage, wealth… all that the nobles possessed, Reyev, as the only daughter, had in abundance, to the point where it made other nobles envious. After all, the oligarchs of the Rosia Empire were few and far between, and the remaining ones were all immensely powerful. This status alone was enough for Reyev to comfortably enjoy a lifetime of luxury.
Yet her expression did not reflect happiness.
The reason… was simple.
In the “test” against those two exchange students from Lubyanka Academy, losing was just losing. Although the feeling of defeat was indeed frustrating, making her want to find an excuse to argue back, the outcome couldn’t be changed. After all… she had sought them out from the very beginning, finding that one who seemed to have benefited greatly from Lady Letty’s convenience.
But… what truly infuriated her was not this. The victory of those two outsiders brought Reyev considerable setbacks and troubles, and… it also stirred resentment within her! Because of their actions, and… their relationship with Lady Letty!
At this point, there was no need for hesitation, right?
“Steward.”
With this thought, Reyev stamped her foot, striking the magic stone on the table used to summon servants, then lowered her voice.
“Come over once you confirm no one is following.”
Soon, a middle-aged man in a tailcoat, neatly dressed, knocked and entered. Though he worked as a servant, being able to serve a noble oligarch like Reyev was already a status that many would envy.
After exchanging glances, as the steward closed the door, Reyev lowered her head.
“I’m sorry, you’ve probably heard the news. I lost consecutively to two exchange students from Lubyanka Academy, and I fear I won’t achieve a noteworthy rank in the upcoming ‘final test.’ This time… I messed up.”
“It’s alright, please don’t blame yourself, Miss…”
Before he could finish, Reyev shot him a sharp glance! It was a seriousness rarely seen in the academy!
“Right now, I am not a miss!”
This scene startled the steward, who quickly corrected himself!
“Yes! I believe you need not feel so guilty, comrade!”
Only then did Reyev’s gaze soften.
Indeed, compared to titles like “Miss” or “President,” the term “comrade” from someone of like mind was far more relaxing and uplifting!
After all, a qualified noble of the Rosia Empire should not waste the immense power in their hands on indulgence and flattery! Instead, it should be consolidated and used for the contribution and sacrifice to the Rosia Empire! That’s right, the Ro·si·a·Em·pire! And not the Emperor of the Rosia Empire—Ivan Letty!
The latter was merely a “tyrant” manipulating the empire, exploiting the populace, leading Rosia into her own world, ultimately towards destruction! This realization had already begun to dawn on Reyev during her studies in the neighboring Great Ying Empire, where she learned about their fair and just “parliamentary system”!
Decisions in the Great Ying Empire were made by the parliament, while the queen merely signed off symbolically! But what about Rosia? Regardless of whether the decisions were good or bad, as long as the Emperor Ivan Letty decided, it was hailed as a “good decision” by the people of Rosia! How foolish, how tyrannical and ignorant!
Her once naive and lovely friend Letty had gradually been blinded by absolute power, transforming into a tyrant of ignorance and oppression! Pity for her misfortune, anger for her lack of struggle; the current tyrant of Rosia was beyond saving!
Thus, for so long, Reyev had been using her identity to secretly connect with a group of young nobles in the Rosia Empire who were equally dissatisfied with Ivan Letty’s tyrannical actions, waiting, waiting for an opportunity to use iron and blood to free the Rosia Empire from the tyrant’s manipulation!
The cold season of Rosia, with heavy snow falling, was approaching in December! And the opportunity… had arrived! Even if it meant bloodshed and sacrifice, facing various reprisals afterward, she would make the tyrant Ivan Letty adopt a correct imperial system like that of the Great Ying Empire! If her friend continued to be obstinate, lost in the whirlpool of power, turning into a wicked dragon, then…
“It’s just that the situation has changed.”
With this thought, Reyev regretted her recent reckless actions, for her failure and weakness were not a source of shame, but rather a lost opportunity.
“But the final test at Lubyanka Academy is about to begin, and we have no better chance than this.”
This point became even more certain to Reyev after she recently witnessed Letty’s tyranny and arrogance, as well as her unreasonable behavior that was of no help to the Rosia Empire. How could a ruler of an empire be indifferent to the academy of her own empire, while allowing foreign students to act recklessly, taking away the rights that belonged to the empire’s students…
We can no longer wait and let the tyrant harm the Rosia Empire!
“Prepare a set of clothes for me, and then notify everyone to meet at the assembly point tonight!”
Reyev turned around and looked at her old butler.
“I need to inform the other comrades about the mistakes in the plan and the changes, and also set the time for our next actions! It will be at the event at Rublyanka Academy that Ivan Letty cannot avoid and must attend!”
——
It feels like there aren’t many people around lately. Has everyone gone back to school?