Anastasia Romanov (Fate/Marvel)

Viy's POV

"Why don't you just let me freeze them, Anastasia? It would be easier that way, wouldn't it?" I asked curiously.

Initially, I knew that the Princess preferred to freeze the Japanese forces and bury them beneath the icy seas, but in the end, she didn't follow through with that plan. Instead, she chose to rely on more conventional human tactics to win the war.

Her strategy involved convincing her mother that she had been visited by an angel through a divine vision, and at the same time, leveraging her influence over Nicholas II. This, she believed, would make it easier to carry out her plans regarding the Russo-Japanese War.

However, I found this approach too reliant on outsiders and incredibly risky.

How could we be certain that this man, Alexei Brusilov, was truly competent?

Was he really capable of leading us to victory in the war?

Anastasia didn't answer my question. Instead, she turned her attention to the snow in the imperial garden, crafting a detailed snowcastle.

Ironically, despite her cheerful disposition, there were no playmates around her. She was alone, building her own castle, isolated in her task.

She poured all her focus into perfecting her masterpiece, paying no mind to her surroundings—including me—as she immersed herself in her own little world, lost in the creation of her fragile kingdom.

I chose not to interrupt her as I silently watched, waiting for her to complete her work.

"Hah... Of course, if I could, I would have kept things simple and resolved all these problems with brute force. Unfortunately, this isn't the backward era where violence solves everything. In this age, there are too many slick individuals who would seize the opportunity to exploit your presence for their own gain," she sighed, her hand accidentally nudging the delicate snowcastle she had worked so hard to build.

Her face paled, darkening with dismay as she watched her creation crumble right before her eyes.

"Argh...! No...! My castle!!" she screamed in frustration, her anger flaring as the fragile fortress she had painstakingly constructed was destroyed in a single careless touch.

Even I couldn't help but deadpan at the Princess's childish antics.

In contrast to her concealed demeanor around her family or others, where she hides all her intelligence and wisdom far beyond her years, Anastasia never once shielded that brilliance from me.

She spoke freely about her every plan, confiding in me without hesitation. It was as if she saw no reason to mask her intelligence in my presence.

This openness toward me and her reversed demeanor toward her family was understandable. Even by my own standards, Anastasia was astoundingly mature.

At merely two years old, she was already strategizing to win wars.

What kind of child, at that tender age, contemplates such things?

Even Alexander the Great, renowned for his early conquests, was still suckling at his mother's breast at that age, yet Anastasia was already scheming far beyond her years.

Unlike others who might cast judgment on her for such behavior, I would never do so. I supported her unconditionally, for she was not only the heir to her family's magecraft but also my master.

I was not there to judge her—I was there to aid her, to support the heiress of the Romanov family, just as I had done for all the previous heirs before her.

Unlike Nicholas II, whom I deemed unfit, I found the Princess worthy from the very first moment I communicated with her. As long as she could hear my voice, she proved her worth.

Nicholas, on the other hand, could never hear me. Every time I tried to speak to him, he dismissed it as merely a strange dream. But Anastasia could communicate with me fluently, a gift that set her apart.

It was easy for me to aid the Princess in her endeavors.

When she instructed me to enter the dreams of others or to disguise myself as an angel to gain the trust of her mother, I did so with ease.

Her mother, in turn, believed it was an angel who spoke to her, bolstering her trust in Anastasia's prophecies.

This belief made the Russo-Japanese War more favorable for the Romanovs.

The Princess's mother followed the "angel's" guidance—my guidance—and in doing so, Anastasia's strategies brought her family to victory.

She never suspected that the angel she trusted was, in fact, an eldritch creature like me.

My disguise was so flawless that Princess Anastasia's mother never once questioned it. She wholeheartedly believed she was receiving divine messages, rather than manipulation from a grotesque entity such as myself.

I lamented.

Unknowingly, the imperial guards, who heard the distressed scream of the Princess, rushed towards her with the utmost speed, while I remained hidden from view.

Upon arrival, they glanced at the Princess with hints of concern etched across their faces.

"Are you alright, Princess?" one of them asked, worry evident in his voice.

"No...! My castle!!!" she exclaimed in frustration.

The imperial guards exchanged brief glances before silently retreating, realizing that the Princess was in no real danger. Her outburst was merely due to the fact that the snowcastle she had built had accidentally been destroyed.

Not wanting to embarrass the Princess with their presence, and unsure how to console her in this delicate moment, they chose to quietly withdraw to avoid any awkwardness.

As they departed, the Princess's expression gradually returned to its usual calm demeanor.

Yet, when she spoke again, it was with an unusual, chilling calmness that rarely surfaced in her.

"Did you see, Viy? The fragility of the castle, and how the guards handled the situation? This is precisely why I refuse to resort to previous methods. Once people become aware of your presence, they will scream 'Monster!' Fear will take hold of them, and ruling through fear is a fragile approach in this period of time—especially now, with the spread of media and the advancements of the modern era reaching far and wide."

"People fear only what they cannot understand or see. The moment they grasp our weaknesses, the fear dissipates. And when that happens, they will turn their backs on us at the first sign of trouble—just like those guards did," she sighed, a touch of melancholy in her voice.

"Besides," she continued, "I have no desire to rule. I'd rather spend my time with my family, exploring the outside world, and making friends along the way. Ruling feels empty and hollow to me—it's not something I enjoy."

"I promise, Anastasia, I will ensure you have the happiest childhood possible," I vowed with utmost sincerity.

Despite my grotesque and peculiar appearance, trapped in the form of a doll, Anastasia hugged me with unbridled joy.

"You are the best, Viy."

I couldn't help but enjoy Anastasia's hug as I snuggled myself into her chest.

*****

If you like this story, you can support it by commenting, leaving a review, and giving all your power stones.

You can also read up to 20 chapters ahead in advance at patreon(.)com/HolyThanThou