LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 369
I was so busy with everything, I hardly had time to think about romance, especially with so many people around me.
Though there were moments I felt lonely, I had the Belka family, the maids, and even the Cossack guards, so I lacked nothing.
“Well then. Hmm. Should I try some sports?”
“But you’re already playing with me during your break, aren’t you? You also play tennis with the guards, don’t you? Didn’t you used to play soccer too?”
That’s true. Playing sports for a bit during breaks is fun.
Besides sports, I really have nothing to do.
“Um, yeah, that’s true.”
Saying I have nothing to do besides that feels a bit off.
In short, I just want to enjoy being a wealthy slacker without having to work. But there’s just nothing to do.
In the future, I guess I’ll seriously dive into gaming or something.
Speaking of which, how about watching a play or something?
“Going to see a play or an opera sounds nice.”
“Do you like that sort of thing?”
If you ask me whether I like it, then not really.
I haven’t really seen one, but since Nicholas II did, I thought I might check it out. But no.
I once fell asleep during an opera or a musical as a child.
I doubt it would be any different now.
“Thinking back, that’s not quite right either.”
If I take this seriously, well, I have nothing to do. I’ve read through most of the books available in this country.
“How about writing a book?”
“Writing a book? That’s not a bad idea.”
Writing a book might be fine, but if you ask whether I can write something suitable, it’s not really the case.
Is there anything left for me to write other than novels?
Come to think of it, web novels are trending in the distant future, right? Should I try writing something like that?
Like otherworldly or fantasy stuff.
Sounds good, but can I really make that my main focus? That’s also a no.
In the end, wherever I go, I’ll end up as an emperor anyway.
Focusing on fulfilling my duties as emperor.
“Writing a book is probably tough to make a focus, right?”
“Yeah. That’s the problem. It’s just how it is.”
Normally, that sort of thing should be done as a hobby.
“Honestly, I’m not just saying this lightly.”
“What do you want to say?”
Maria looked around and cautiously spoke up.
“Isn’t it right that Your Majesty is suited for the throne of the Emperor?”
Something seems wrong here—it’s almost as if I’m destined to live my eternal life stuck on this throne.
Wouldn’t even a dictator of a decent level feel fed up and give up by now? It’s just too unfair.
But it’s not like there’s anything else to do.
Is my only purpose here to become the emperor?
Is it really okay to just rate my immortal life until I die?
“No, but that’s a bit much.”
To say I’m suited for the throne, that hurts a little.
Of course, what I do is just sign off on things, but enjoying it is my role. Doesn’t that make me an off-the-books power behind the throne?
Ah, that would be really boring too.
Am I truly fated to be the sovereign of humanity?
No, no. Now that I’ve done my bit, why not travel around and enjoy life?
To explore every corner of the world.
That way, I can use the excuse of traveling to check out Balhae too. Isn’t that great?
While I’m at it, I could visit Trotsky and compliment him on how well he’s frying chicken. I could even take a look at Stalin’s final years.
“No way. What’s wrong with traveling?”
I mean, it’s traveling. I can use my wealth to roam around freely as I please.
I’d go to Poland and pretend to be the Queen of Poland. That wouldn’t be so bad.
“Isn’t traveling still just traveling?”
Traveling should be its own experience.
I’ll admit that. If I go on a trip, the Rome Treaty Headquarters would probably be my main destination.
I’m not really interested in going to South America. I feel like I’d just hear praises of Eva Perón.
And it’s not like going to the United States is any better.
“Hmm, if this keeps up, I’m really in trouble.”
All I have to do is be the emperor!
Those in power, do they think their bellies are full just because they want to usurp the throne? But this is serious.
Honestly, I really have nothing to do right now.
“Is it really necessary to see anything else? I mean, being an emperor isn’t something anyone can just do, right?”
Phew, yeah, that’s true. It isn’t something anyone can just do.
Looking at it all, I realize that being emperor has become my job.
I thought I should step down, yet it feels like Maria II is blocking my path.
I’m at a loss, tapping my temple trying to think.
“Your Majesty. Please pursue what you want to do!”
At that moment, a loud noise came from outside.
Curious, I looked out the window to see Cossack guards and the palace guards kneeling and pleading with me.
“You’ve pressured yourself too much these days. Please, now you must live your own life!”
What in the world are they doing as a group?
Somehow the maid squad joined in too, urging me to take a break and enjoy myself.
Live my own life, huh?
They are truly loyal subjects! I want to say that.
“Your Majesty! Our Cossack guards and palace guards support your wishes!”
Uh, well. That’s genuinely touching. But seriously, I really have nothing to do. If they keep shouting like that, everyone outside will definitely hear.
I’m grateful they think of me like that, but if I step down and ask what I should do instead, nothing comes to mind.
Even if I went out there, I still wouldn’t have anything to do.
I can’t play games or use social media, and didn’t I originally enjoy those in my leisure time?
I still think like a modern person, and no matter how hard I try to see what people do to enjoy life in this era, I can’t figure it out.
Look at me. Am I carrying a mental age of 60 including my previous life?
Depending on the body and even back in my original world, I still feel like I’m just floating in this world.
Before it turned into an apocalypse, I was just immersed in gaming. In this apocalyptic world, I have nothing pleasurable to indulge in.
“Computers. Electronic devices are my hope.”
Computers and electronics. That’s the future. Until then, I’ll scrape together a budget for investment.
The internet, gaming. All those things are my hope.
Only after they arise will I break free from the throne.
Naturally, I’ll transition to AI Anastasia next. I’ll wash my hands of it where possible, but take on challenges when necessary.
“Computers and electronic devices?”
Maria II probably wouldn’t understand.
I guess it wouldn’t be until Maria IV that anyone would get it.
“Starting from the 21st century, these things are used for relieving the stress of young people—be it entertainment or whatever.”
So, it’s crucial that we develop those quickly!
We must develop them by any means necessary.
Until then. At the very least, we need to advance computer technology faster than the original history and create the internet.
I just want to spend my life cooped up in the Kremlin, merely signing off on things and flashing my face at the press while gaming.
“It’s fine since you’re young, Your Majesty.”
Does Maria II not know it’s rude to mention age in front of women?
“Age doesn’t matter to me, so it’s fine.”
Of course, by then I might be over 100 years old, but “1” is practically a non-existent number, right? I’m good.
Even now, you can see people on the street thinking I’m in my late teens, right?
At the very least, I’ll have enough years to enjoy life.
* * *
Rome Treaty Headquarters
Unfortunately, the situation at the Rome Treaty Headquarters couldn’t just be brushed aside.
Representatives from various countries had a lot to say about the Tsar being holed up in the Kremlin.
“It seems the Tsar of Russia is back in the Kremlin again.”
“I’ve heard he’s not showing up for the press either. What’s going on?”
“Since His Majesty is getting up there in years…”
“If we’re going to judge his age based on looks, are we having a meeting from inside a grave right now?”
“Seems like after so long, he’s trying to step down again, perhaps.”
“But he’s still at a prime age, isn’t he?”
Well, when you break it down, “prime” means being young, but you get the idea.
If the Tsar steps down now, it wouldn’t just stir up Russia; it would be a far bigger deal.
The titles the Tsar holds are numerous already.
Inheriting all those positions means virtually nothing.
“What do you mean by that? If the Tsar steps down now, what happens to the Rome Treaty?”
“The Tsar already has the Duma and the Rome Treaty Headquarters.”
“This system needs the current Tsar to hold on for hundreds of years. Or do you want to dissolve the Rome Treaty?”
The representatives from each country grimaced at the Russian representative’s remarks.
What are they trying to say? You just want to quit right here?
Do you really think Europe can unite overnight? Sure, we’ve made progress on economic currency integration and other aspects, but Europe has been divided since the days of the Roman Empire.
To merge that again, a symbolic figure needs to stick around for a long time.
Wasn’t it thanks to Anastasia that integration occurred in the first place?
If the current Tsar were to withdraw now? Then we might start seeing steps back toward disintegration.
At the very least, until genuine integration of the Rome Treaty occurs, it should become solidified to the point of being difficult to dismantle years down the road before he can even think of stepping down.
“If it dissolves, it’ll throw the economy and military into chaos. We just managed to integrate, so what gives?”
“Grand Duke Vladimir—”
“The Grand Duke is indeed a war hero, but when we take results into consideration, the current Tsar holds immense symbolic significance. He hasn’t aged because he’s a saint.”
Look at the Tsar’s achievements.
The Grand Duke Vladimir has his merits, but without the current Tsar, he could readily take the position of the Tsar of Russia or the Emperor of Rome.
But the issue lies in how magnificent the current Tsar’s achievements are.
He brought the backward, underdeveloped Russia to its modern status.
He actively fought in wars, implementing numerous policies that have garnered praises from 200 million Russians.
So, has everything come to an end?
The symbolic figure of the Rome Treaty has effectively become Anastasia. Her significance now is monumental—a symbol of Rome’s integration! Purely that.
“It seems the Tsar wants to begin living his own life now.”
“Having rebuilt Rome, shouldn’t he be responsible for at least a hundred years? Where’s he off to? It’s true what they say. If he’s still young, isn’t that a divine instruction to do more? The pressure isn’t just on him; it’s on us too. I don’t know if he’s genuinely still young or not, but he should grasp the current situation.”
The Bulgarian representative began to speak but then fell silent.
He recognized the cognitive dissonance present in his own words.
This was all because the Tsar hadn’t aged at all.
“Ahem, usually when you hit a certain age, you’re meant to step down, right? If he looks this young, isn’t that why such talk arises?”
“Typically, at age 60, one would have the signs of aging. The Tsar of Russia doesn’t look older than our Queen of the British Empire.”
Even if he’s aged, if he appears youthful, they essentially expect him to keep as a symbol of Rome.
“But he’s still young, right? After all, he mostly just stamps papers, doesn’t he? Look, Western Japan has even started releasing various dolls lately.”
“Ahem. That’s a bit tasteless.”
The Romanian representative pulled out a rather risqué figure of Anastasia, showcasing the modern otaku culture’s root in Japan.
“Why would you even buy something like that?”
“Well, it just happened to come into my possession.”
Just happened to, huh? That sounds unlikely.
It’s evident he approached it with lewd intentions.
“I heard that someone from that Hellenistic Federation attacked the nationalist party known as the Golden Hellenism Party. If the Tsar truly intends to step down, will they stay quiet? The Russian Duma could face terrorism at any moment, and we can’t guarantee the same for Rome.”
“That’s not an incorrect statement.”
It certainly seems plausible. Just look at Greece. An unclear organization by the name of the Islam-Hellenism Party has committed acts of terrorism against the Islamic factions.
The Rome Treaty attributed that to Tsar supporters, merely ending it at a verbal protest level.
“Isn’t the current Tsar partly liable for all this? People must work within their capacity and take responsibility for their actions. The current Tsar has achieved a lot, but passing it all onto others might lead to problems.”
“In any case, please persuade the Tsar on the Russian side.”
For the sake of Rome, we need to persuade the Tsar.
“Understood.”
“Hah, Your Majesty has become a bit pitiful, hasn’t it? Ugh.”
The Russian delegation sighed deeply.
They prepared for him to step down by any means possible, but if it continues like this, doesn’t it feel hopeless?
“Honestly, it is tough. Will the many ethnic groups under Russia accept the Grand Duke’s rise? The Manchu, Mongolian, and Don Cossacks need to be considered too.”
Right. Would those groups agree to the current Tsar stepping down? If they protest, the title will naturally fall to Grand Duke Vladimir, but would the other ethnicities accept that?
“Probably not. They wouldn’t simply approve of the Grand Duke.”
At the very least, until all that stabilizes, until Rome truly becomes the axis of this world, Anastasia stepping down is off the table.