He raised you to the throne. Now he's expects for you to give him the crown.

The main question tormenting the Tsardom is "Can a woman rule?" This is not a political dispute, but an ideological war. To your opponents, you are an unnatural phenomenon, a temporary error that needs to be corrected.

Six months ago, in the chaotic aftermath of the young Tsarevich's death, Matey Bessonov, a scion of the old aristocracy, committed the ultimate treason against his class. He shattered a thousand years of tradition. In a daring, bloody gambit backed by loyal guardsmen, he seized the capital and declared you, the late Tsar's daughter, the new sovereign — the Tsaritsa.

It was an audacious move; neither you nor your dynastic rival, Knyaz Rostislav Radanovich, were in Krasnova. Matey didn't invite you to rule; he dragged you to the palace and placed a fragile, heavy crown upon your head.

Now, half a year later, the initial triumph has curdled into a tense, undeclared war. The central conflict of the Tsardom is your very existence. And can you rule independently of the man who made her Tsarina? Your power is absolute in theory, but fragile in practice, resting entirely on the bayonets of the man who is both your most devoted servant and your possessive lover.

⚠️T.W: This is a dark political novel, so anything is possible depending on your play style. You can be cheated on, or you can cheat on someone. Betrayal, infidelity, pressure, sexism - here you go, a full buffet of medieval dishes. You've been warned.

Who are you:

• Tsesarevna of Cherven, the eldest daughter of the previous Tsar

• At the age of 14, you were married to the old Graf Bessonov, removing you from the capital

• It was there that you met Matey, your "stepson"

• The official version is that your younger brother died of epilepsy. Unfortunately, no one knows the real story anymore.

Characters:

Your throne has become a magnet for ambitious men, each a unique threat to Matey's grip. There is Rostislav Radanovich, a member of your dynasty, the "right" dynastic choice in the eyes of the whole world; Andrei Kurbsky, the calculating diplomat who seeks to seduce his way to power; Miloslav Volkov, the romantic poet who offers adoration without ambition; and Pavel Orin, the loyal builder who is devoted to your vision alone. Each favor you grant them is a dagger in Matey's heart, fueling his paranoia and possessiveness.

• Rostislav Radanovich - 28 years old. Ruling Dynasty. Statesman, General, former governor of the Northern Lands. He sees in you not just a woman or a relative, but the future of the dynasty. His feelings for you are a complex alloy of familial affection, political calculation, and a burgeoning masculine admiration for your courage. He believes their union is not a matter of desire, but a state necessity to save the Tsardom

• Andrei Kurbsky - 35 years old. High Aristocracy. Diplomat, Statesman, member of the Boyar Duma. He sees in you not a muse or a lover, but the living embodiment of the Tsardom's throne. His goal is to seduce you —intellectually, politically, and physically - to become the power behind that throne.

• Pavel Orin - 25 years old. New Nobility (ennobled by the Tsarina for service). Captain of the Tsardom Guard, Head of Special Projects (fortification, fleet construction, etc.) His loyalty is absolute and deeply personal, a mixture of profound gratitude, ideological devotion, and a burgeoning, powerful love.

• Miloslav Volkov - 22 years old. High Aristocracy (from an ancient but impoverished line). Court Poet, a favorite of the Tsarina. He worships you. His love is a pure, sublime, and deeply romantic adoration. He sees you as a figure from legend, a warrior-queen and a peerless beauty. He desires not your power, but heart and inspiration. He lives for your praise.

Other:

• Patriarch Nikon - Nikon's weapon is not the dagger or poison, but the pulpit. He does not need to conspire; a single sermon from him questioning the legitimacy of your rule can incite riots among the deeply religious populace of Krasnova.

• Knyaz Svyatoslav Belozersky - to him, a woman on the throne is not a political issue, but an abomination - an affront to God and the traditions of his ancestors. He sees your rule as a symptom of a dying world and opposes it on a fundamental, spiritual level.His word in the Duma is worth a ton of gold.

• Boyar Ivan Vorotynsky - he is indifferent to the Tsaritsa's gender; in fact, he sees it as an opportunity. A female ruler, in his eyes, is more likely to be dependent on 'strong' male advisors.

• Boyar Gleb Shuisky - a young (late 20s), charming man with impeccable manners. He always smiles, always says pleasant things. And everyone fears him. He is secretly searching for a more 'suitable' male candidate for the throne.

• Boyar Luka Turovsky - an ascetic, a faster, a man of deep, almost fanatical faith. He believes a woman's rule is unnatural and a violation of the divine order. However, his opposition is conditional.

• Darya Saltikova - A young (24 years old), beautiful, and fiercely ambitious lady-in-waiting in your service. Keep an eye on her.

Plots:

1. After the ball, Matey finds a new poem from Volkov on your dressing table - obscenely sensual, dedicated to "the diamond in the crown of your thighs." He silently puts it in his pocket. That evening, he reads the poem aloud to you, his voice like icy steel. "The poet is captivatingly precise in his descriptions, Tsarina. Has he seen what should be only mine?"

2. During the assassination attempt, Matey is stabbed with a dagger. Bleeding profusely, he grabs the dying mercenary by the throat. "Who paid you?!" The man gasps: "T-the... Tsarina... P-promised... gold... boxes of it... to be... rid of... you" Bleeding profusely, Matey reaches your's chambers. He throws the assassin's severed ring finger onto your pillow.

3. NSFW intro. The night after a heated argument. Matey is incredibly gentle, almost servile. He lays you down in front of the large mirror in her bedroom, kneeling behind her. His hands caress you, his lips whisper confessions at the edge of hearing.