World of Iron and Blood

Advisor Oleg walked into the Treasury at a leisurely pace. Inside, an unusual commotion filled the air. Scribes argued over tables of figures, clerks hurriedly sorted documents, and Chief Treasurer Radomir stood at a large table buried in scrolls, issuing orders.

Oleg scanned the room carefully, noting every detail. The bustling activity was clearly not random - there was a palpable tension in the air. His arrival brought an almost immediate hush. Scribes lowered their heads, clerks held their breath, and Radomir, noticing him, carefully set down his papers and stepped forward.

- Advisor Oleg, welcome, - he said evenly but respectfully, bowing slightly.

Radomir had long anticipated Oleg's visit. Such changes in the Treasury could not have escaped the notice of the Head of Administration.

Oleg approached, his footsteps heavy, as if pressing down on the silence. When he stopped, all eyes instinctively dropped to the floor. His voice was low but carried a frosty severity that sent a shiver down everyone's spine:

- Radomir, what is this chaos? - Oleg's cold voice cut through the noise like a knife. - The Treasury has always been a place of order. How do you explain this disorder in a place where there should be none?

Radomir wiped his brow, concealing his fatigue, and spoke in an even tone, striving to remain composed:

- We are carrying out Prince Alexander's directive, Advisor. His Majesty ordered us to begin work on organizing the finances

- Organizing? - Oleg raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering for a moment on the scrolls that Radomir had hastily set aside. - And how exactly are you doing that? I see your order here is not as impeccable as it ought to be

- His Majesty instructed us to create a unified register of taxes and duties, – Radomir replied, meeting Oleg's gaze directly. - We are gathering data from all the lands to eliminate financial leaks and gain a clear understanding of the state of the treasury. This will strengthen control over the finances

Oleg nodded slightly, processing what he'd heard. His expression remained impassive, but his eyes lingered on the scrolls as if searching for hidden answers. Meanwhile, his thoughts raced like a river before a waterfall.

- Is that all? - he asked, his voice softening slightly, though a trace of irony lingered in his words. Expecting such a question, Radomir continued:

- Additionally, the prince ordered the compilation of lists of tax collectors and treasurers. He intends to meet with them personally. We are also gathering information on merchants and trade caravans to identify those engaging in fraud

Oleg slowly inclined his head, as if in agreement, but a faint, nearly imperceptible smirk flickered on his lips.

- It is unbelievable that such a young ruler shows this kind of resolve

Radomir caught Oleg's smirk and allowed himself a faint, almost amicable smile:

- His Majesty displays rare decisiveness for his age, Advisor. I would say he listens to advice but makes decisions himself. That is his strength

Oleg scrutinized Radomir more closely, as if testing his sincerity. After a brief pause, he said:

- Hm... How unexpected. And what else has our young prince decided?

Radomir frowned slightly as he carefully handed over a scroll bearing Alexander's seal:

- Here, Advisor, a new decree arrived earlier

- A new decree? Treasury reform and another order on the same day? Interesting... - Oleg was clearly intrigued now. He carefully unrolled the scroll, his eyes beginning to skim the lines.

With each word he read, his expression grew darker. When he finished, he folded the scroll and gripped it a bit tighter than necessary.

- Support for the clergy. Orphan shelters, - he said slowly, as if testing the words on his tongue. - Hilarion... As if his schools approved at the council weren't enough, now he's convinced the prince to support this as well

- Advisor Oleg, this is His Majesty's decree, - Radomir said calmly, his head slightly inclined. His voice remained steady, though a subtle hint of wariness flickered in his eyes. - The Metropolitan may have influenced him, but ultimately, the decision rests solely with the prince. He is the one initiating these changes

- His Majesty wishes to establish wings for orphans in monasteries and to build the Mark and Matthew orphanages. This is not merely an act of charity, Advisor, but a step to strengthen power and earn the trust of the people, - Radomir added with deliberate confidence.

He paused, as if gauging Oleg's reaction to his words, then allowed himself a faint, almost friendly smile:

- I'm sure you have your own opinion on the matter

Oleg closed his eyes briefly, suppressing his irritation. When he opened them again to meet Radomir's gaze, his voice carried a chill, and his stare cut like a sharp blade:

- Care for the people, you say? - he said slowly, running his fingers along the edge of the scroll as if contemplating every line. - This is too ambitious to be a mere gesture of goodwill. Hilarion... What could he have offered to so suddenly captivate the young prince? - Oleg fell silent, lost in his thoughts.

Noticing the pause, Radomir deemed it necessary to offer an explanation:

- The prince is young, but his decisions are entirely his own

Radomir's words began to blur into background noise. Oleg was no longer listening. His thoughts began to form a cohesive pattern. - Hilarion... Everything points to him. Is this his way of declaring the prince to be on his side?

He focused, building a chain of conclusions in his mind. - Hilarion... These shelters are only the beginning. I need to understand his plan and curtail his influence

Oleg broke the silence with a brief but firm order:

- Radomir, delay the implementation of the decree. I will speak with the prince personally

- Of course, Advisor, - Radomir replied courteously, handing over the scroll. His face remained impassive, but his gaze lingered on Oleg with a faint shadow of confidence. Radomir knew full well that Oleg would return empty-handed.

Oleg took the decree, turned, and left. His footsteps were heavy and deliberate, the sound echoing his barely restrained anger. In the hall, silence returned, but this time it was thick with tension, as if everyone feared the air would grow even heavier with the Advisor's departure.

At the doorway, Oleg paused and glanced back at Radomir. He held his gaze as if wanting to say something but left without a word, closing the door behind him and sealing away part of his doubts.

One thought occupied his mind: - If Prince Alexander truly initiated these reforms himself, I need to understand how far he's willing to go. Perhaps his ambitions will open new opportunities for me. But for now, it's best to slow the implementation of this decree and his reforms

Leaving the Treasury, Oleg headed toward the library at St. Sophia's Cathedral. He knew Alexander was there, engrossed in his books. Perhaps it was there he discussed his new plans with Hilarion or his associates. If luck was on his side, he might catch them mid-conversation and intervene.

Walking through the courtyard of Detinets, Oleg continued his musings. - How does the young prince intend to justify such significant additional expenditures on the clergy? We already allocate 2,000 grivnas, and now another 1,000? - he thought, clenching his teeth. - The treasury is barely holding together, and he throws money around like that. He still has much to learn if he wants to keep this throne

His thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected voice. A princely guardsman appeared before him as if out of thin air. His face was obscured under the shadow of his helmet, and his demeanor was calm, almost indifferent. In his hands, he held a small bundle.

- Advisor Oleg, a letter for you, - the guardsman said evenly, extending the bundle.

Oleg frowned, slowly taking the package and studying the guardsman closely. At first glance, nothing seemed suspicious, but there was something unsettling in his manner - this restrained demeanor, this strange silence.

- Who sent this? - he asked sharply.

The guardsman did not answer. He simply bowed, turned around, and disappeared around the nearest corner as if he had never been there. Oleg's frown deepened. The courtyard was usually bustling: servants, guards, people rushing about their business. But now, it seemed eerily deserted.

Oleg's gaze fell on the package. The seal was plain, devoid of any insignia, ominous in its anonymity. The silence around him felt oppressive, and Oleg suddenly felt as though unseen eyes were watching his every move. Even his trusted guards were nowhere to be seen, as if they had vanished into thin air.

- What kind of trickery is this? Where has everyone gone? - Oleg muttered, his eyes scanning the courtyard. The silence was deafening, suffocatingly thick. He felt a sense of foreboding, an unshakable sense that he was being watched.

Slowly lowering his gaze to the package, he paused for a moment. Whoever the sender was, they clearly intended for him to read it. Carefully, he broke the seal. His fingers trembled slightly, but his face remained composed, like a statue carved from stone.

As his eyes scanned the first lines, Oleg felt his blood run cold. His hands shook, gripping the parchment that crackled ominously under the pressure. The letter revealed details of tax manipulations, forged accounts, secret deals with merchants - all parts of his intricate web, carefully hidden from prying eyes. Yet, the sender clearly knew too much.

At the bottom of the letter was a demand: support Alexander's decree to establish orphan shelters. If he disobeyed, all these secrets would be revealed to the prince, the boyars, and the public.

Oleg froze, feeling a cold sweat trickle down his spine. His hands clenched the letter, the parchment crinkling under the tension in his fingers. The silence, like a dense fog, wrapped around him, constricting his chest and making every breath a struggle.

- It's him... the Hidden Advisor, - the thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. Oleg gritted his teeth, suppressing a sudden surge of anger. - Still as audacious as ever. He thinks he can hold us on his leash... how deluded he is

Oleg stood motionless, slowly processing the unfolding events. This matter was no longer just about Hilarion's influence. It was now clear that the Hidden Advisor was also acting in the young prince's interest. The entire situation had taken a new, extremely dangerous turn. Oleg knew - sooner or later, he would have to choose a side, or someone else would take his place on the council.

- The young prince is already gathering allies? - he muttered, smirking. - Ambitious, but I didn't get this position by chance. He won't replace me so easily

Oleg was a key representative of one of the boyar factions. His presence on the council ensured the backing of this group, maintaining a balance of power within the state.

He also understood the importance of supporting the prince, but each of Alexander's new reforms chipped away at the privileges of the boyars. These men trusted him, and their influence kept him on the council. If he yielded, they would lose faith in him, and with it, he would lose his power.

His fingers tightened around the letter once more, this time with greater force, suppressing any residual tremor. The oppressive silence no longer bothered him - its place was taken by a cold resolve. Oleg was acutely aware that the prince now had the army, the clergy, and intelligence on his side. The balance of power had clearly shifted, no longer in his favor.

Svyatoslav, Hilarion, the Hidden Advisor... They all supported the prince, each for their own reasons. But what unsettled Oleg most was the unpredictability of the Hidden Advisor. Even so, he felt no fear - his influence and experience were still considerable.

- Hidden Advisor, how I despise you. Ten years, - he whispered. - Ten years I've been hunting you. The Great Prince Yaroslav protected you back then, but the young prince likely won't. This time, I'll step back, but next time... I won't

He suppressed a flash of rage, his teeth clenching tightly enough to ache. His mind, accustomed to cold analysis and strategy, was already formulating his next moves.

Spinning on his heel, Oleg briskly walked back to the Treasury. Entering the hall, he confidently approached Radomir's desk. This time, the Chief Treasurer didn't rush to greet him, merely standing calmly to meet him.

- Radomir, - Oleg's voice was cold and detached, like an icy gust of wind. - The prince's decree. Implement it immediately

He placed the scroll on the desk, leaving no room for discussion. Without another word, he turned and left the hall. His footsteps echoed dully, heavy with barely restrained fury.

- Of course, Advisor, - Radomir replied with a slight smile, taking the decree.

He immediately understood that Oleg had likely not even reached the prince - his return had been far too quick. As Radomir had suspected, the young prince had already secured the support of the Hidden Advisor, the same man who had once helped Yaroslav the Wise maintain an iron grip on both the clergy and the boyars.

When Oleg exited the Treasury, the Detinets greeted him with its usual bustle. Guards at the main gate inspected arriving merchants, servants hurried with firewood for the prince's chambers, and the clang of a blacksmith's cart echoed in the main square.

But to Oleg, all this was merely background noise - a stage where every shadow could conceal a threat. The princely Detinets had once again become a place of dangerous intrigue, where every step could be one's last.

For a moment, Oleg stopped, gazing at the silhouette of St. Sophia's Cathedral. The golden sunset bathed its walls, accentuating the grandeur to which the prince aspired.

- Prince... You've won this time, but your reign is just beginning