Chương 504: The Corrective Force of History

The biting cold seeped into the bones, and in September, St. Petersburg already bore a hint of chill. In the Winter Palace, Alexander II was still attending to state affairs, the wrinkles imprinted on his forehead telling tales of the passage of time.

Having witnessed the Russian Empire's transition from prosperity to decline, Alexander II possessed a strong sense of mission and did not permit himself any indulgence.

A man in his forties or fifties approached quietly and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this is top-secret information from Vienna."

After receiving and verifying the sealed intelligence report, Alexander II pointed to the document and said slowly, "Understood, Ferren, you may leave now!"

Information that could be considered top-secret definitely meant that something significant had happened. Alexander II had no interest in sharing intelligence with those around him, a trait that had nothing to do with trust but was simply the instinct of a monarch.