章 159: The Aftermath in Ruthenia

July 5th, 1939 – Winter Palace, St. Petersburg

The grand chambers of the Winter Palace were eerily quiet. Tsar Ivan IV sat rigidly on his gilded throne, his face pale and drawn. The weight of the moment bore heavily on him as he prepared to deliver the most painful address of his reign. Before him, a cluster of microphones stood ready, their cold metallic sheen a stark reminder of the words he was about to speak.

His advisers stood at a respectful distance, their faces a mix of worry and resignation. Prime Minister Konstantin Petrov approached cautiously, placing a final draft of the speech on the desk before the Tsar.

"Your Majesty," Petrov said softly, "the people are waiting."

Ivan's cold blue eyes flicked up at him, filled with a mixture of fury and despair. He nodded once, his jaw clenched tightly.