"Your Highness."

The heavy door was open, and Bodlinov, dressed in gray military uniform, walked into the bedroom of Peter the Great, which was no longer in its former glory, the pure cashmere carpet was covered with mud, and everything of value had been taken away except for the chandelier, bed, desk, and other things that were difficult to carry away.

Before retreating, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Windsor ransacked the Winter Palace on the orders of the commander, removing the famous paintings on the walls, removing the porcelain inlaid with gold and silver, and taking everything they could.

The balcony was flooded with bright light, and Katerina stood in the middle of the cluttered room, staring at the bed on which Peter the Great lay when he died, and many memories came to her mind.

She had not returned here for a long time, from the moment of the accession to the throne of Paul I, she went to live in Mosk, and for three whole years she did not come to Petersburg.

Half a month before his death, Peter the Great lost his ability to speak because of his illness, but Katerina clearly remembered the moment when her father held her palm.

Cold... But it's full of warmth.

"Your Highness? Your Highness! ”

Bodlynov's voice dragged Katerina out of her memories, she wiped the corners of her moist eyes, and her expression became cold again: "What's the matter?" ”

"Onufri and they have all gathered in the hall, just waiting for your Highness to hold a meeting!" Bodlinov looked at the bed and sighed, not knowing what to persuade.

"Have you contacted Father Mavi?"

"The military monk is using the oracle to make contact, and it should be in touch soon."

"Let's go."

Katerina put on a military cap, and her slender black hair fell from her shoulders, "A military meeting is held." ”

As he walked towards the conference hall, Bodlinov asked worriedly, "Your Highness, are you alright?" ”

"There's never been a better moment."

Without looking back, Katerina opened the door to the conference hall, and she strode in with Bodlinov.

In the messy conference hall, only the large table was still in good condition, this thing was extremely difficult to transport, and it was not as cost-effective as moving a few more vases, and the soldiers of the Windsor Kingdom were not even willing to look at the table more.

But at this moment, on both sides of the wide conference table, which was ignored by the soldiers, there were high-ranking generals with epaulettes and flowers, and after storming the royal capital Petersburg, they took a bath, changed into a clean military uniform, and exchanged their lives for the medals they had earned over the years .... One by one, I wore them on my chest.

Seeing them dressed like this, Katerina was not surprised, sat down on the high-backed chair of the main seat, pressed her hand to signal the generals to sit down, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, yesterday, we recaptured the royal capital Petersburg, which is a great event worth celebrating. ”

"According to the information from the sentinels, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Windsor have fled, and now is a good time to pursue them, I think you all know this, but..."

Dark blue eyes swept over the faces of Onufri and the others, and their voices were as flat as a piece of ice, Katerina leaned back and continued, "If you have anything to say, just say it." ”

"Your Highness!"

Colonel of the infantry regiment, General Makarov stood up, and a loud voice like a bell echoed in the empty conference hall: "Duke Yovanovich's army is stationed outside the city, it has been put in formation, he sees us as enemies, and we must return the color!" ”

In addition to the veterans who followed Peter the Great in his campaign, the chamber was filled with sons and daughters of military nobles, and Makarov's speech would have been furious to any ruler who heard it, and considered it a rebellious statement.

Generals such as Brooking and Goffman, who were loyal to King Paul I, should have reprimanded him with righteous words, but the fact was silent.

Not only was there silence, but the young Goffman Vladimir even stood up with fiery eyes and said with great excitement: "Your Highness, General Makarov is right, His Majesty Paul I will return to Petersburg in the near future, if we can take this opportunity to stop him, you will get the opportunity to sit on that chair!" ”

Brooking, with a short beard and shoehorn-like cheeks, nodded his head and agreed with the suggestions of Goffman, Makarov, and others.

A group of officers, including Onufri and Ravl, also chimed in.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Katerina didn't say anything at the moment, but looked at Edward standing in the corner and asked, "Edward, what do you think?" ”

"I don't have a big opinion." Edward was not interested in Katerina's plan: "Just say what you need me to do." ”

"Don't you have any ideas?"

"No.... Oh, you can ask Father Mavi for his opinion, after all, this armed coup needs his support to succeed, and if he doesn't agree, I don't think I'll be able to do it either. Edward said.

Edward was very clear about his position, it was on the side of the Church of Truth, strictly speaking, it was not an ally with Katerina, it was just that Mavi asked it to protect Katerina, and it was on a mission.

It doesn't matter what Katerina does, or what decisions she makes.

"yes.... Father Mavi had to be asked for his opinion. ”

Katerina nodded, asked Bodlinov to bring a friar, and said, "What is Father Mavi's answer?" Does he support me in this coup d'état? ”

The monk touched his hair and shook his head slowly: "The priest said that the time is not yet ripe for action. ”

"Immature? What's so immature?! Makarov was shocked: "As long as he can get rid of Archbishop Henry, he doesn't need to worry about the rest!" Naturally, we will defeat the army led by Duke Yovanovich! His Royal Highness also has the right to inherit the throne! ”

"That's the priest's final decision." The monk pressed his palm to his chest and said sincerely, "If you want to act, the Church of Truth will not participate. ”

There was silence in the chamber, and everyone knew that this coup d'état had to be supported by the Church of Truth, otherwise it could not succeed.

If Father Mavi doesn't nod, who would dare to act rashly?

"It seems that the priest has his own considerations...."Katerina smiled: "Since he said that the time is not ripe, then let the matter be put on hold for the time being, Brooking, Goffman, do not arouse the suspicion of Paul I, everything will be carried out according to the original plan." ”

“..... Yes, sir. ”

Seeing that the expressions of the generals were different, and they seemed to be not very satisfied with Mavi's decision, Katerina clapped her hands, asked the soldiers to bring champagne, raised her glass and said: "Everyone, it is an honor for me, Katerina Romanov, to work with you, although we have not yet ushered in the final victory, but I think that day is not far off, my father's last wish will be fulfilled, and the light will shine on the Romanov, Ula." ”

As soon as the champagne was drunk, Katerina put down her glass and gave the order: "Pack up your things, withdraw the whole army from the royal capital Petersburg, and return to Mosk." ”

"Yes!"

After the meeting, Katerina went to the terrace at the top of the Winter Palace, where she stood overlooking the ruined city at her feet.

Suddenly there were footsteps behind her, and Katerina turned around and saw Bodrinov standing at the top of the stairs on the terrace, looking directly at her, and couldn't help but ask curiously: "What's wrong?" ”

Bodelinov smiled and said: "Your Highness, the way you looked just now reminds me of His Majesty Peter, who often goes up to the terrace alone to watch the view. ”

Katerina retracted her gaze and looked at the sky in the distance: "Only by going up to the terrace can you know what a prosperous city Petersburg is, but now it is ruined.... Even one of my favorite candy houses to sneak away when I was a kid has been in ruins, and the owner of that shop would be 80 years old if he was still alive...."

"Your Highness, what exactly do you plan?" Bodelinov suddenly asked: "Your ideal world is not the same as Father Mavi's ideal, you and him, sooner or later there will be conflicts, do you want to compromise with him?" ”

"Who knows?"

Katerina herself is not sure: "No one can say what will happen in the future, maybe I will change him, maybe he will change me, 10 years ago I was a little girl who thought about escaping from the palace all day long, 10 years later.... I'm already standing at the top of the Winter Palace, plotting a coup d'état to remove my brother from the throne...."

"That naïve and naïve me was already dead, and I died with my father."

"Now I am Katerina Romanov, a woman who wants to become the emperor of the whole Romanov kingdom."

Katerina stretched out her hand and pointed to the mountains in the distance, shrouded in mist:

"One day, I will conquer this vast mountain and river, and let the name Katerina resound all over the world!"