I Became the Last Princess of the Brown Bear Kingdom

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* * *

For several days, I contemplated my escape from this place.

After all, this city could practically be seen as the stronghold of Princess Anastasia, surrounded by neither the White Army nor the Red Army.

Moreover, I had no idea what the future might hold.

I couldn’t tell how long it would be before a bullet hole appeared in my head. My only experience fighting was against a gang to get food.

So, I thought I would just act as a focal point for the White Army commanders and find an exit route.

Yet, before I knew it, Yekaterinburg had become entirely mine.

Well, every time I went out, the Russians seemed delighted, thinking I came to see them.

You can’t spit on a smiling face.

I forced a smile and clasped the hands of my subjects? directly.

During this time, I received a report from a soldier.

“Your Highness, an unidentified army is approaching.”

“Unidentified?”

“It’s the Czechoslovak Legion.”

The Czechoslovak Legion.

They traveled across Russia in armored trains, scaring the living daylights out of the enemy and putting pressure on them.

Originally, they were the so-called independence army formed by Czechs and Slovaks during World War I but had to embark on a long journey to Siberia due to the pressure from the German and Austro-Hungarian armies.

Just how remarkable were their exploits, you ask?

Rumor had it they even killed the Tsar’s family out of fear that the Czechoslovak Legion would come to Yekaterinburg and hand them to the White Army.

I heard the number alone was over 50,000.

“The Czechoslovak Legion. So they’re riding in armored trains.”

“Yes, their commander wishes to see you, Your Highness.”

Why on earth did they come this way?

They barely have a proper army; all I’ve got are a few hundred volunteers at the level of a fan club for Princess Anastasia.

I see, they must want to negotiate.

After all, even though the Tsar messed everything up, as the Tsar’s last child, there’s still weight to that name.

I wonder what they want to see me for.

Hand me over to the enemy?

No, no, that can’t be right. If they wanted to do that, they would have attacked.

They came to see me, so it must be common sense.

The Czechoslovak Legion can be called the elite of the elite. And there are tens of thousands of them.

If things go well, I might be able to increase my allies.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness Anastasia, the saint of all the Russian Empire.”

Seeing General Radola Gaida in person, the one who terrified the Reds while riding trains in Russian territory, he exuded a commanding presence.

Is he trying to put me down at our first meeting?

I forced myself to appear calm as I spoke.

“General Radola Gaida.”

“You know my name?”

“Aren’t you the famous commander of the Czechoslovak Legion who rides the armored train Oryk? I understand you’ve been terrifying the Bolsheviks on the Siberian Railway.”

Is this the right moment?

It probably doesn’t matter.

In any case, I shouldn’t get on this person’s bad side.

But being a princess, I can’t exactly go overboard with my humility.

“I’ve heard you’re quite frail, so I was surprised to learn you’ve survived amidst the grasp of the Bolsheviks.”

“Those who are dead are dead, and those who are alive are alive. However, my power is quite insufficient to protect this land. I can’t tell how long I’ll last.”

This translates to: don’t wander around, help me out.

But I still don’t know this guy’s true intentions to openly ask for help.

“If I were you, I’d rather go further east.”

“Once you came here, you must have noticed how my subjects uphold me.”

“Ah, I saw that. It was evident that the Romanovs remain steadfast.”

It was sarcastic yet somewhat sincere.

He must never have imagined there would still be groups following the Romanovs. So Gaida seemed somewhat taken aback.

If he sees any thread of danger to his life…

“Due to Rasputin’s corruption and the incompetent Tsar, the Bolshevik Revolution arose, and many subjects turned their backs on us, yet still, the people of Yekaterinburg continue to follow me, a person without any power. I cannot abandon them to go east.”

“Is that so?”

His expression remained unperturbed.

I wonder what benefits he expects from me. He must be calculating in his head.

Shall I ask a question that might pique his interest?

“May I guess the reason General Gaida has come all the way here?”

“Go ahead.”

Now his eyes lit up with interest.

“You’d prefer to secure me for a send-off to the east. And during this civil war, you’d like to get your hands dirty with some help from the United States and Japan to escape to Vladivostok, wouldn’t you?”

“Well, you’ve caught me there.”

That’s sharp.

The Czechoslovak Legion surely wants to return home. For that, they’d need to use whatever means necessary.

In fact, didn’t they get a safe retreat from the enemy by handing over Kolchak?

“That’s a good idea. However, Yekaterinburg divides European Russia from Asian Russia, including Siberia. It has a developed industrial and commercial financial sector.”

“Yes. I know well how important this place is.”

“That’s precisely it. If we lose this location, the White Army will be drained.”

Even though Yekaterinburg itself belongs to Asia, this place must remain intact.

It needs to connect with Southern Russia as well.

The White Army can’t hold out solely with Siberia and the Far East.

“Hmm, I’d like to hear your underlying intentions.”

“You might be thinking, what nonsense is this princess spouting? She seems to grasp the situation well, but isn’t that all? Should we just kidnap her and head back? You might say that.”

“Ahem.”

This guy is serious.

Depending on my actions, he could drag me off at any moment.

Though if I have to be taken, I should at least make it look somewhat dignified.

In situations like this, you must confront it head-on as it is.

“Let me cut to the chase.”

“Yes.”

“Go to the Far East, contact the negotiating countries, and declare that the Tsar and his family have died and that only Princess Anastasia remains. Spread the word.”

“Well, if I go that way, I’ll need to inform them. So you intend to stay here.”

Gaida squinted his eyes, trying to read my intentions.

I didn’t react to his gaze and continued to speak nonchalantly.

“Tell them that the princess consumed by vengeance will bravely perish fighting the enemy in Yekaterinburg. Pass that along as well.”

“Are you suggesting that you will confront the enemy with just a few hundred volunteers?”

Now let’s start laying the groundwork.

“Though they were incompetent, my father and mother were mercilessly shot without trial. It happened right in front of me.”

“…….”

Not only did I witness my family shot before my eyes, but they were drenched in oil, set ablaze, and buried haphazardly.

How could anyone remain sane after witnessing that?

“My younger brother perished in horror, and my sisters were brutally violated and then torn apart by bullets. And they were burned.”

“Huh.”

“I saw my family die in such a gruesome manner before my own eyes. I cannot escape and live comfortably with this body.”

My justification is solid.

The princess, whose family met such a terrible fate is now driven mad.

A princess whose situation demands vengeance.

Whether it be pity or anything else, it seems I created an atmosphere that suggests taking me away would lead to my suicide.

“Those who are alive must live, right?”

“I still see the sky as yellow, and every night my deceased family members’ spirits visit me, asking for revenge. You don’t know, do you? Seeing family burnt and turned to ash, buried haphazardly. That sight never fades from memory. Yes. There’s one more favor I would like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I would appreciate military supplies or support.”

Gaida frowned and spoke seriously.

“Please give me a moment to think.”

Alright, it’s time to decide if I’m going to dangle bait or not.

With this much thrown into the ring, it wouldn’t be too bad if he ended up reluctantly saying, “Stop with your nonsense and just follow along.”

At least, it’s better than him happily jumping onboard.

Revenge?

My parents? No, this is Anastasia’s predicament.

While I have Anastasia’s memories, they are just memories.

I have no real reason for revenge.

If I’m dragged away against my will, I can pretend to be a tragic heroine in Europe or the US for a while and then live off my relatives’ support while enjoying a comfy life.

If things unexpectedly go awry,

I might really have to sacrifice myself here.

Then I’d have to be ready to change the future.

If that happens, an empire like before will be out of the question. How about the United States?

* * *

After the meeting with Anastasia, Gaida gathered with his aides to discuss countermeasures.

To be honest, there was no real strategy that had been thought out during the trip here.

We just needed to make an impression and then race east with the princess, who might die at the hands of the Bolsheviks at any moment.

It seemed straightforward, yet the princess I met in person was half mad, perhaps due to witnessing the death and cremation of her family right in front of her.

That young lady had an insane glint lingering on her lips.

Fueled by a desire for revenge.

“We are no different from the lost ones like Princess and us, unable to return to our homeland.”

Though there are differences that should be drawn, under the pressing circumstances, I suppose that’s true.

“What should we do? At this rate, if we take her, she might even resort to suicide.”

Indeed, seeing her like this, she would rather die than not get her revenge.

Moreover, this city of Yekaterinburg. Strangely, it seemed the Bolsheviks weren’t the only ones who were fanatic about the princess.

It wasn’t just mere sympathy; there was something more.

Yes, it was as if they had witnessed a miracle.

When speaking with passing followers of the princess, they claimed to have survived Bolshevik gunfire and that just waving their hands healed the wounded.

I shrugged it off as some of the princess’s aides trying to deify her. Nevertheless, it was clear the city had fallen firmly under her control.

It’s a dead end.

I had never imagined the princess Anastasia would come out like this.

If anything were to happen to the princess during her contact with me, the Czechoslovak Legion would be the first suspect.

In such a precarious situation, rumors of assassins targeting the princess could mean danger.

If both options turn out unfavorable, we may need to carve a different path.

“Hmm. We have no choice.”

“Excuse me?”

“Perhaps raising the princess’s banner is better.”

“No way. Then when do we return to our homeland?”

What’s the point of coming back and forth in Russian territory like this?

Isn’t it all ultimately for the sake of returning to our homeland?

“Breaking through the Bolsheviks, who unilaterally made treaties and withdrew from the war, isn’t a bad idea. So cooperating with the princess isn’t without merit.”

“But we are not Cossacks, nor do we aim to become the spearhead of the Romanovs, right?”

“Since the princess has survived, it is evident she will become the focal point opposing the Bolsheviks. We can exert our influence in the lead.”

As long as the princess remains alive, any faction will come under the banner of the last Romanov, retaining their legitimacy to fight the Bolsheviks.

“Then,”

“Think carefully. If the princess were to become Russia’s Tsarina someday?”

If handled well, would this let us wield influence over Russia from Czechoslovakia?

Isn’t this about helping to quench the grievance of a woman living solely for revenge? Would they not help to that extent later on?

Russia is a vast nation.

Although today’s Russia appears this way due to an incompetent Tsar, we cannot ignore its potential.

Especially when the Bolsheviks make dastardly treaties for their power, ceding territories and withdrawing from wars—aren’t they the cruelest sort?

Thus, there are indeed reasons to lend support to Anastasia.

“Well, but how far can we extend our support for the princess?”

“We wish to discuss that. For now, we must consider our demands as well.”

“Our demands?”

“Guarantee for Czech independence. Support so that we can maintain our strength in the future. That would suffice for us.”

“Can we defeat the enemy?”

It could be done.

Rather than ambiguous phrases like ‘we might win if we ally with the princess,’ we must fight tooth and nail, declaring we must win.

Moreover, what they saw as the enemy wasn’t such a strong entity.

“They’re just a bunch of fools. The Bolsheviks withdrew from the grand war out of fear, and incompetent generals from the imperial era are all retired.”

“Ah.”

“Exactly. In tough times, we support each other.”

With Anastasia’s survival,

The wheels of history began to turn awry.