Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Though I couldn’t stop the event from being held, I could change the process quite a bit.

"Patriarch Gregory IV declares His Majesty the Tsar as God’s earthly manifestation-"

"Ban personal worship. I can already hear foreign envoys laughing."

Weakening religious attribution.

"The commemoration starts in late February, but from April to May you must tour for about a month and a half. This follows the route taken after Mikhail I was elected Tsar at the Zemsky Sobor in 1613-"

"You want me to tour for two months? In this situation? Has the Imperial Household finally gone mad? And how much money would be wasted touring that route with ceremonial events?"

"Then the inland journey, Volga River journey, Caucasus and Siberia visits-"

"All rejected."

Continue your saga on empire

Ban on tours.

"Ahem, then following past examples, commemorative gold statues, a series of nine coins symbolizing perfection, and cathedral construction-"

"Finance Minister Stolypin. Do you want to go back to the Agricultural Research Institute? Try mentioning building a cathedral to me one more time and I’ll dismiss you immediately."

Ban on commemorative religious buildings, gold statues, architecture, anything expensive.

The capital’s Orthodox Church was already taking tax money because the event starts at Kazan Cathedral, what new cathedral? They should recover their investment in Kazan Cathedral first.

Even Kokovtsov, who knows my tendencies well, scheduled this for four months, so I understand how serious they are, but I absolutely cannot do that.

Just one month. And tours only briefly for one day each to major cities.

Looking at it, this tercentenary has already transformed from my personal event into an imperial festival.

So I need to end it within exactly one month and return the empire to normal.

The capital was already so full of visitors that even private homes had to be forcibly mobilized for temporary lodging.

The event hasn’t even started, but commemorative stamps selling at 20 times normal price proves the abnormal state.

’Yet people are desperate to buy them? Why really?’

It’s not like my rule is so unstable that it needs mythical and historical legitimacy bestowed on the monarchy like in the original history.

Rather, my reign is so solid that it’s no exaggeration to say it’s reversing European political systems.

’Though unintended, 17th-century style hereditary rule is strengthening.’

17th-century hereditary rule is very simple.

Russia is just. The Tsar’s.

Truly an ideology that greatly hinders capital development and free market expansion.

So it would be terrible if this kind of event appears to seek public reverence and support for dictatorial principles.

What need do I have for that now anyway?

Separate from my discomfort, time flowed and the event day dawned.

February 28.

From early morning, the ceremony was held with the Imperial Guard surrounding Kazan Cathedral in several square layers.

Even inside the carriage, we appeared at Kazan Cathedral amid the enormous crowd’s singing that struck our eardrums.

"Anna, are you nervous?"

"I’ve attended many social gatherings and banquets, but this is my first time appearing before imperial citizens."

Even I flinch slightly at the volume from the huge crowd, how must Anna feel? She was even trembling.

"It’s my first time too since the coronation. About 18 years, I guess."

"...I heard Kaiser Wilhelm appears before the public several times a year."

"Billy is an attention-starved idiot."

"The children are here."

At Anna’s light rebuke, I fiddled with the small hand caught in my fist.

Now I’ve become not just Tsar but father of three children.

"Long live the Tsar!"

"God protect the Tsar!"

"May the great Tsar’s rule be eternal!"

When even citizens in streets I can’t see join the guards’ chants, it feels like the ground is shaking.

Eleven-year-old Nikita, probably nervous too, keeps fidgeting with his other hand.

My family.

"It’s His Majesty the Tsar!"

"Waaaaaah!"

"Long live the Father’s Empire!"

And my imperial citizens.

Why do they cheer calling me the Little Father Tsar?

Do they simply project the empire onto me, or do they personally like the individual ’Nikolai Alexandrovich’?

Though I can’t see the imperial citizens’ expressions clearly due to distance, the heat from the countless masses is definitely felt despite the weather not having warmed yet.

I walk step by step to the small pavilion (small open-pillared structure) set up in front of Kazan Cathedral square.

Somehow they found tropical fruits from the Bromeliaceae family and small palm trees decorating around the pavilion in this weather.

As I advance, more doves are released over Kazan Cathedral.

Surely the Patriarch’s doing to give meaning to the Tsar’s religious position.

In just seconds, I reached the Orthodox priests kneeling before the pavilion.

Patriarch Gregory IV, three metropolitans, and fifty capital priests were leading on their knees for me.

When that show of leadership ended and the national anthem announcing the start of the tercentenary celebration began with new military band music.

"God, protect the Emperor!"

"Let the glorious Emperor see the light of a new era!"

The entire capital begins to sing along.

Even I, who didn’t look kindly on expensive events, had to acknowledge this moment.

’I understand why dictators harbor ambitions for popular dictatorship.’ 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Just as actors crave popularity and writers yearn for fame.

As a ruler, there was something addictive about the subjects’ enthusiasm.

If that enthusiasm offers something close to affection beyond mere power or support.

Really, what ruler could resist this?

I still have many schedules to carry out today.

Proclaiming a general amnesty, waving to imperial citizens all day while touring the capital.

The week-long banquets starting this evening will continue through the night, and over two million capital citizens will eat, drink and enjoy outside the palace too. Almost for free.

’...Would there be less resistance if I raise taxes now?’

Though all sorts of random thoughts still briefly cross my mind.

"Long live the Tsar!"

"Rule this country, O Tsar!"

"God protect the Tsar!"

If that fanatical cheering for me is sincere.

’...Seems I haven’t lived in vain after all.’

I really couldn’t help but smile.