Katarina's manor was located in a remote area outside Marlinburg City. It was about 15 kilometers away from Marlinburg, so it wasn't particularly safe. However, the threat to Katarina was minimal. As a Sanctuary powerhouse, would she be afraid of wandering Orcs and Swamp Demons? Or the Green Dwarfs in the Kinte Mine?
After the failed attempt to reclaim Kislöw, Katarina brought her remaining followers to Marlinburg. She politely declined the invitations of Rick, Midden, and Auster. Tsar was rather disheartened. After a series of failures, she began to understand that with her military prowess, reclaiming Kislöw was perhaps an extravagant hope.
Schultz offered her a high salary, and she became one of the guardians and guest wizards of Marlinburg. The Romanov Guards were retrenched and carefully selected. 300 of them were left, while the rest were dismissed. The originally large palace was also reduced one after another. In the end, there were only 40 to 50 people left. The 500 people of the Ice Witches' Association, which was much weaker than before, stayed in the manor gifted by Schultz.
They stayed there for seven years, from Year 2516 in the Empire calendar to Year 2523 in the Empire calendar.
At first, Katarina had high hopes for the countries of the Old World. She thought that Kislöw had done everything to protect the Old World. Now, millions of Mrs. Kiesler had lost their homes. Relying on the bloody battle of the general, the Ice Witches, Poillé, and Kislöw's warriors, the disaster of Motekin's invasion was greatly delayed. Without Mrs. Kiesler, the Empire would not have the time to build a defense line. The entire northern part of the Empire would be plunged into the dark clouds of Chaos, and the tragedy of the great Holy War would happen again.
Therefore, in the face of Mrs. Kiesler's sacrifice, the countries of the Old World should naturally appreciate it and provide support and help to help Kislöw restore his country. Or at the very least, they should say that the heroes were immortal, right?
However, even though the Empire and the Brittany recognized Kislöw's tenacity, they did not provide any assistance. The Empire had the will but not the ability. Emperor Karl-franz and Lady Emmanuelle gave them some funds, but there was no more help. The Brittany was even more decisive. They established the Northern Army, supported Duke Örengrád, and even recruited Kislöw's last field army — Rokossovsky's wing cavalry army.
The female Tsar seemed to have been forgotten.
To make matters worse, in reality, the fugitive Mrs. Kiesler did not receive the welcome that she had imagined. Instead, she was living a miserable life.
After these refugees entered the Empire, they occupied and replaced the low-end labor market. Not only did Mrs. Kiesler lead a miserable life, but even the living conditions of the natives of the Empire worsened. With foreigners fighting for jobs, the conflict between the two sides escalated. Soon, there was hostility, hatred, and even bloodshed. The conflict intensified until it developed into widespread discrimination and hatred.
If this was only hearsay to Katarina, then the living conditions of the discharged Kislöw soldiers and veterans were directly displayed to the female Tsar.
She personally saw a former company commander in his thirties come to Marlinburg's talent market to look for a job. The sweet-looking receptionist asked, "May I know what you can do?"
"I can command a company, a phalanx, or if necessary, I can personally go into battle as a mercenary, a guard, or anything else."
"It's a pity. We have too many people like that here." The receptionist opened a scroll. The long name on the scroll fell to the ground and rolled for more than a meter. "You don't have any equipment, so we won't consider you. Even if you have a full set of equipment, there are still 6,324 people queuing up before you. Do you have a horse? If you are a knight with a horse, we can arrange a job for you right now. "
"I don't have a horse," the veteran said gloomily. "I don't have any equipment either."
"Then other than military and martial arts, do you have any other skills?"
"I can be a worker at the docks, a worker in the workshop, a deliveryman on the streets, or …"
"Then the daily salary is only two copper coins. Other than the holy days of Mannen and Sundays, you can do it all year round."
"… Yes."
Two copper coins! Even the cheapest and trashiest restaurant with black bread, hard beans, and rotten cabbage would cost two copper coins for two meals a day!
Katarina could not help but intervene, and the veteran told her the cold truth.
"We have spent all our money. We need to survive. I have sold my jewelry, my cart, my armor, my fur coat, my sword, my bearskin hat, my medals, and sold everything I have. Your Majesty, now my children are starving on the damp floor of the basement, and I have nothing to sell."
At that moment, Katarina finally realized that the strongest and most tenacious country in the old world had turned into ruins, and this was just the beginning of all the suffering. And the one who caused all the tragedy, other than the damned Chaos, was her biggest responsibility.
"Your Majesty Tsar? Your Majesty Tsar, are you listening? "Berliat's voice came from afar.
Looking at the shining Essun medal on Berliat's chest, Katarina shook her head hard and forced herself to come back to her senses.
This was no longer the Bokhari Palace, nor her ice palace. Now, the reception room of less than fifty square meters was where she usually met her guests. The Romanov Royal Family still had some treasures and wealth accumulated over thousands of years, but it was a far cry from the splendor of the Bokhari Palace. Katarina sneered. She did not comment on Berliat's' plan to restore the country '. "Okay, I know what you said."
Berliat was a little disappointed. Ugor looked up cautiously and saw that Katarina was not angry. He sighed in relief. As a descendant of the Romanov Royal Family and the Miska Ice Bloodline, Katarina's appearance was not comparable to Queen Suria's, but she was still a beauty. The female Tsar was sitting on her throne. She wore a high-collared sweater, an ice crown, a Bokhari cloak, a navy blue dress, and a pair of brown leather boots. She looked like a proud ice beauty.
Even if she was no longer the Sand Empress, she was still an advanced Saint realm ice element Great Magus! Berliat warned himself.
"Berliat." Katarina leaned back in her chair. The female Tsar gestured for everyone to leave. She sighed. "Berliat?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Berliat quickly straightened his posture.
"Berliat, tell me. I've inherited my father's throne for so many years. I've made so many mistakes. Why didn't anyone dare to admonish me?" Katarina pursed her lips. The female Tsar sighed and closed her eyes. She laughed bitterly at herself. "I've broken up all the people my father left me. Felix, Lev, and the others … Why didn't they be more resolute?"
"Ruling Kislöw, a country of ice and snow, is already very difficult. There's no such thing as a ruler without a father. The invasion of Chaos is not something that can be resisted. Your Majesty, don't blame yourself too much." "As for the ministers and generals, they have done their duty. Dimitri, Fedosov, and Konev have all sacrificed themselves for the country. Konstantin has also done his best, and the soldiers who died in battle have all done their duty. Your Majesty, please don't blame yourself." Belial put his hands on his knees and said, "As for the ministers and generals, they have done their duty. Dimitri, Fedosov, and Konev have all died in battle. Konstantin has also done his best.
Berliat really did not understand why Katarina suddenly asked this question.
This question was very difficult to answer. Berliat immediately decided to follow Talleyrand's instructions.
"If you don't blame me, are you going to blame the Empire and the Knight King's Kingdom?" Katarina shook her head with a bitter smile. "It's me. It's all my fault. After I took the throne, those ministers and generals always taught me how to do things, but I hate it when people tell me what to do. I'm the descendant of Queen Miska, and I was born to know all the ice magic. I was born to be the leader of the ice witches, so I don't like being taught. I changed them again and again until they were obedient. It's all my fault. Over the years, how many people have I wronged? How many loyal generals have I harmed? Berliat, you're also involved. So many grievances, so many tyrannies. How did you survive? "
"Bokhar came from Kurgan. We've been bathed in the grace of the Romanov royal family for generations. We only treat Your Majesty with respect and sincerity." Berliat paused for a moment and showed a slightly wronged expression. "If Your Majesty really can't tolerate us, we have no intention of going against Your Majesty. It's nothing more than … uprooting our homes and going to other places to make a living."
"Ah, Ravlien, I've heard too much of this ever since I took the throne." Katarin shook her head slightly. The Tsar's face showed a very annoyed expression. "You make it sound nice, but it's useless. In the past, I would be very happy to hear you say this because I feel that I'm not doing anything wrong. But now, it won't work at all. Belial, do you think you can fool me with this?"
Berliat's expression changed slightly, but Ugor would not lose his composure. He thought to himself that after going through so much, Tsar's view of him had finally changed.
Indeed, it was time for some real words.
"If Your Majesty says so, then I'll have to tell you some unpleasant truths."
"Say it. It doesn't matter how unpleasant it is. I'll pardon you." Katarina nodded repeatedly.
"Kislöw was founded around 1500 of the Empire. It has a history of a thousand years. Under the leadership of Queen Miska, we settled down in a place that was not suitable for human habitation. The queen defeated the Ugor and assimilated them. Since then, the Kislöw nation and country were formed." Berliat slowly said, "The entire kingdom was built by a pair of brothers. Three cities, hundreds of Poillé. Surrounded by darkness and surrounded by wolves, Kislöw's every step was filled with hardships and hardships. But we proved that we are the most tenacious people in the old world. We are a family, and we're here to bring glory to this place."
"Yes." Katarina nodded.
"The millions of people living in the snow are like the children of the family. Tsar is like the grandfather and grandmother of the family. As for us generals, Poillé, and ministers, we are like the daughters-in-law of the family. We do everything we can. We have to listen to our grandfather and grandmother, and we have to take care of our children. This is a difficult job. If there's no other way, we can only consider our grandfather and grandmother's request and temporarily sacrifice one of our daughters." Belial slowly said, "Those who stayed, by and large, thought the same and did the same."
"Yes, yes. It's fine if the children are wronged. If the grandfather and grandmother are not satisfied, they can change the daughters-in-law. If the daughters-in-law don't want to be changed, they can only try their best to satisfy the grandmother's request." Katarina pursed her lips. Tsar's eyes were wet. She thought of everything she had done after she ascended the throne. Those ministers who tried to persuade her, those marshals and generals who died in battle, and those Karim guards and ice witches who sacrificed themselves to protect her escape. Their lively faces flashed before her eyes, but they were all frozen.
"Yes, it's me. It's all my fault. I didn't manage my country well. I didn't become a good grandmother." Tears blurred Katarina's vision. Her slender fingers wrapped in white lace gloves clenched the armrest of her seat tightly. Then, she gently let go. Her usually strict and commanding tone finally softened. She raised her hand, and her thick nasal voice sounded together with her trembling voice. "But … but what's the use of understanding it now? My country has already perished. Those great names and soldiers are either dead or scattered. I'm really not suitable to be Tsar. I'm an excellent ice witch, but I'm just an ice witch. "
Hot tears flowed down her icy face. Katarina finally cried. Tsar gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. "Berliat, I know I've made a lot of mistakes, a lot, but … but sometimes I really don't understand. Can you tell me what I've done wrong?"
"Since Your Majesty asked, then I'll tell you a little." Berliat sighed again.
Katarina finally understood, but it was a little too late.
"Your Majesty, as everyone knows, Kislöw is actually not a very suitable place for humans to live. It's too cold, too remote, and constantly facing threats from the north." Berliat slowly said, "During the great Holy War, Kislöw was completely defeated once. Although the great Holy War was won and the kingdom was rebuilt, the Bloody Queen Katarina's terrifying rule lasted for decades. Let me break it down a little. After Katarina's bloody rule ends, what are the difficulties that Kislöw will face?"
Berliat explained his point of view. He divided the difficulties into seven parts.
First, the threat of Chaos. Second, the decay of the army. Third, the exhaustion of the finances. Fourth, the corruption of the nobles. Fifth, the ice witches embezzling the country's benefits. Sixth, Kislöw's barren land and harsh environment.
"First and foremost, the threat of Chaos is the most important. As the path of Chaos to the south, as long as we can't stop Chaos, everything will be over." Berliat spoke first. "Only by defending our territory can we have a chance to survive."
"Since we want to defend our territory, then we must have a strong army. Kislöw doesn't lack brave soldiers and excellent generals, but the army has no weapons, no armor, no walls, no supplies, no wages, and no food. How can we fight?"
"Therefore, if we want to have a strong army, we must have money."
"But the kingdom's finances are exhausted. This is the third, fourth, and fifth problem. First, there is the corruption of the nobles. In addition, Kislöw's basic national policy is Poillé self-rule. We can't collect taxes from the nobles. Next, there is the Ice Witches. Your Majesty, I'm sure you know very well how much the Ice Witches have moved the country's finances and resources." Berliat said seriously.
"… Yes." Katarina nodded painfully.
"But maintaining the army, the Poillé aristocracy, and the Ice Witches are the foundation of the country. They can't be touched easily. But the finances are exhausted, so we can only raise taxes on the commoners." Berliat shook his head. "Although most of the taxes will not enter the national treasury, this is the only way. Then, there is the sixth and seventh problem. The barren land has low productivity. If we raise taxes too much, the tax burden will be too heavy. The kingdom can't support it at all. If this continues, it will only lead to a vicious cycle, Your Majesty."
Katarina understood. This was a problem that almost had no solution.
Attack the Ice Witches? No Tsar would be stupid enough to do that! Moreover, without the Ice Witches, who would deal with the Chaos Wizards?
Then, attack the Poillé aristocracy? Wouldn't that be the same as directly challenging the Knights in Brittany?
From the Duma of the country to the small houses in the countryside, the Poillé aristocracy controlled the money, the promotion channels, the land resources, the food crops, and even the public opinion of the church! The Bloody Empress Katarina was successfully overthrown by these people!
Your Majesty, are you thinking of rebelling again?
"So, Your Majesty, sometimes, things really can't be blamed on you." Berliat shook his head. "Although your ability is not as outstanding as Red Tsar Boris', you are not an incompetent monarch in the history of Kislöw. You were just unlucky to encounter Motekin's invasion."
That's right, I'm just unlucky, and my abilities aren't outstanding enough. Katarin finally stopped crying. She agreed with Belial's opinion from the bottom of her heart.
"But Your Majesty, I know you have made many mistakes and are not suitable to rule Kislöw. But other than you, other than the blood of the Romanov royal family and Queen Miska in you, who else can rule Kislöw? If it's impossible for you, then it's even more impossible for others! "Berliat suddenly said sternly," If you give up, then everything will be over! "
"But, what should we do?" Katarin was already out of her wits.
"Mrs. Kiesler will always remember the Bokhar family's outstanding contributions to Kislöw for hundreds of years. Don't ruin this great family because of your weakness! " Berliat struck while the iron was hot. He said seriously, "You only need to do as I say. Haven't you seen the power of the Sun King? This is your only chance, Your Majesty! "
"But … But, I have the noble blood of the Bokhar royal family. As the last descendant and heir of the Romanov royal family, I actually …" Katarina was still in a dilemma.
"Your Majesty! If you are not willing to save Kislöw and the Romanov royal family, then who else can? "Berliat was angry." Can those insects govern the country well? "
The room was silent.
Finally, Katarina's hesitant voice sounded.
"Then, let's do as you say … and give it a try."
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