Chapter 268: Tsarevich
November, 1741
There was a knock on the door, and Peter groaned. “Go away.” He mumbled. The knocking got louder. “Go away!” He mumbled again, the knocking didn’t stop. Peter groaned, swore and then got up. He moved to the door and opened it. “What?!” He barked.
The guard remarkably didn’t flinch or even blink. “His Imperial Majesty wishes to see you, Your Imperial and Royal Highness.”
“Tell him I’m busy.” Peter said, he went to turn around and go back to bed, when the guard spoke again.
“His Imperial Majesty has commanded you to attend him.” The guard said.
Peter stared at the guard, he knew then that there would be no point protesting, his father would no doubt send the Imperial Guard to get him if he didn’t come now. This guy was just some palace guard who’d been sent. Peter sighed. “Very well, I am coming.” He turned around, put on a shirt and washed his mouth before walking out with the guard. He would need something to drink, his head hurt. Maybe he’d gone a bit too hard last night, though Varvara had assured him it would be okay, but then his wife was a bit of an idiot.
It didn’t take them long to get to the Tsar’s quarters, where the guards bowed their heads. The guard who had accompanied him, knocked on the door and announced him, then Peter walked through. The Tsar was sat before the fire reading something or the other. “Sit down.” The man commanded.
Peter did as he was bid, the chair was uncomfortable, but faced the Tsar, so he’d get to see how disappointed his father was in him. “You did not attend the council meeting this morning.” It was not a question but a statement.
“I didn’t see the point of doing so.” Peter said.
“Did you read the papers?” The Tsar asked.
“I did.” Peter said.
“And?” The Tsar demanded.
“I think the foreign minister is wrong about Sweden. The King is more content to play with his toys and his wife than with any desire for war. Poland has no desire to break up Prussia either. Therefore, I think he is severly overestimating the threat of war. If anything we should be talking with the Poles about an alliance against the Turks.” Peter said.
“You still consider the Turks a threat?” The Tsar asked.
“Yes. Their new Sultan is trying to bring about reforms on the model that we ourselves have used. We need to act now before they succeed.” Peter said.
The Tsar said nothing for a moment, but he did put down his papers and looked at Peter. “And the financial discussions.”
“I think we need raise taxes higher than the finance minister proposed. We can’t develop the roads we need if we keep them at only 5-10% of the current rate.” Peter said.
Something that looked like a smile crossed the Tsar’s face, though his next words were serious. “You are smart, Peter, you shouldn’t do yourself a disservice by not attending council meetings.”
Peter snorted. “With due respect Your Imperial Majesty, if I wanted to listen to a bunch of old men waffle on about things with no end in sight, I’d listen to Boris the Bear talk about how things were done during Grandfather’s reign.”
The Tsar actually grinned then and Peter counted it as a victory. “Very well, but you are not spending your days properly. Who is your latest conquest? The Danish ambassador’s wife? That is not appropriate for a Prince.”
Peter suppressed a grin, he knew his father disliked the Danish ambassador. “I think it is highly appropriate. I’ve learned more from her than I have from the ambassador.”
“Such as?” The Tsar asked.
“Like the fact that Danish women are insanely good in bed, and the fact that her husband is a buffoon who listens to her more than he does his own King.” Peter said.
The Tsar truly looked as if he were going to laugh then, but instead he simply said. “Your wife would not be impressed with your carryings on, if she knew the full extent of them. Which is why we are sending you both on a mission.”
“Where?” Peter asked, with a hint of nervousness.
“To Moldavia.” The Tsar said.
“Why?” Peter asked, his uncle was the Prince there and had managed to bring the unruly provinces under his control for now, surely?
“We wish for you to explore our allies realms and to understand their strengths and weaknesses.” The Tsar said simply.
Peter wanted to protest, but instead he asked. “When do you want me to leave?”
“By week’s end.” The Tsar commanded. All Peter could do was bow and then wait to be dismissed.