March 1908
Alexei paid another visit to the Count Witte's residence just three days after his first visit of the year. Although nothing particularly important was discussed, he felt that he had at least succeeded in getting the count to open up to him more than before. Unfortunately, he had to suspend further visits for the time being, as his schedule in the coming days had become increasingly tight.
Today, he was preparing to attend the motor show being held once again in St. Petersburg. This time, however, it was far larger and more elaborate, thanks in no small part to his backing. Even nobles with little to no interest in automobiles were expected to attend, if only to see what the Tsarevich of the Empire was involved in now. Alexei had anticipated this outcome, in fact, he had wanted it to happen. The more attention and curiosity the event generated, the greater the interest automobiles would attract in the future, especially once his own company, still only on paper for now, began producing them on a larger scale.
Alexei tied the laces of his boots himself while Sednev and the maids watched from the side. They had long since grown accustomed to seeing their Tsarevich perform tasks that would normally fall to them, so they simply observed in quiet fascination. After all, how often did one witness the heir to an empire tending to such mundane matters on his own? It was a rare sight, and they took the opportunity to savor it while they could.
Still, the moment Alexei stood up after finishing, Sednev stepped forward without hesitation. He carefully straightened the Tsarevich's shirt, checking for any creases before smoothing them out, then gave the same attention to his trousers. It took only a moment before everything met his standards, and he finally stepped back, satisfied.
Alexei turned to the mirror and examined his reflection, tilting his head slightly as he looked himself over from different angles before nodding in approval. He had to admit that he looked far more handsome in this life than in his previous ones, and he was taller as well. The thought brought him a quiet sense of satisfaction.
At last, he glanced around the room at his maids. "You may all go about your duties," he said. He paused briefly before looking at Anya. "Make sure to feed Trezor and Katya later, Anya. After that, let them run around the palace for their daily exercise before letting them back in my room for a nap."
When she nodded, Alexei gave a small nod in return before turning to Sednev and Nagorny. "Let's go. I don't want to be late this time. We'll take a look at every automobile on display at the motor show."
With that, he strode out of the room, Sednev and Nagorny following close behind.
Alexei arrived at the palace entrance in no time, and that was when a faint headache began to form as he spotted his sisters, Olga and Tatiana, chatting excitedly with one another. He had little choice in the matter. Somehow, they had managed to convince their mother to allow them to attend the event. How they had accomplished that, he did not know, and he could only accept that they would be accompanying him this time. Thankfully, they had their own attendants to guide them later, which made things manageable while he focused on inspecting the automobiles and speaking with the engineers Andrei had recruited.
As expected, the moment they saw him, their faces lit up. "Brother!" they called out in unison, their voices filled with excitement.
Alexei smiled at them. "You two really didn't want to be left behind, did you? You even got here before me."
"Of course!" Olga replied cheerfully. "We were worried you might actually leave without us when you said you would if we weren't here on time, so we got ready early and waited for you."
Tatiana nodded eagerly in agreement.
Alexei shook his head with a small laugh and gently ruffled their hair. "All right, since we're all here, let's go. But make sure you behave later, understood? I have some matters to attend to, so I won't be able to stay by your side the entire time. Listen to your attendants and the guards, all right?"
"But… I thought we would stay with you and look at the automobiles together," Olga said, her tone turning slightly disappointed.
Alexei sighed softly before reassuring her. "We will, at first. I'll be with you while we look around, but I'll have to step away briefly for a meeting later. Don't worry, I'll come back to you afterward."
Olga wanted to protest, but remembering her promise to their mother to listen to her brother, she reluctantly nodded.
Tatiana, however, looked on the verge of tears, forcing Alexei to spend a bit more time coaxing and comforting her. It was only after they had settled into the carriage that she finally calmed down and managed a small smile.
As the carriage began to move, Alexei let out a quiet sigh at his predicament before turning his gaze toward the passing scenery outside the window. He had a feeling he would be spending quite a bit of social energy before the day was over. But he was ready for it this time and charged for a full bat since yesterday.
They arrived at the venue not long after, as it was located fairly close to the palace. Alexei waited patiently while Sednev and Nagorny stepped down first from their own carriage to inspect the surroundings. Only after they had ensured the area was secure and managed to hold back the people attempting to approach the carriage did they open the door for him.
Alexei stepped out first, offering a composed smile as he waved to the gathered crowd. He then moved aside to allow his sisters to exit. Olga stepped out next, taking her brother's hand, followed closely by Tatiana. Like Alexei, they smiled and waved at the crowd, clearly delighted by the attention.
After giving them a brief moment to greet the onlookers and their subjects, Alexei gently ushered them inside the venue. Thankfully, they followed without protest.
Once inside, they were immediately greeted by Andrei and several of his associates who had helped organize the motor show. Alexei greeted Andrei first, shaking his hand before being introduced to a number of new faces. He acknowledged each of them in turn, offering a polite smile and handshake, and then introduced his sisters to the group of automobile enthusiasts, which added a lively energy to the entrance area.
The venue itself was an open space enclosed by high walls, ensuring both privacy and exclusivity from those outside who could not afford the entrance fee. Initially, Alexei had been reluctant to impose such a fee, but after careful consideration, he had decided it was necessary. It ensured that only those with genuine interest and curiosity about automobiles would attend, rather than troublemakers seeking to cause disruption.
Alexei spent some time mingling with the organizers before his friends began to arrive, prompting another round of greetings. Roman, Sergei, Lev, Vladimir, Marina, Elena, and Irina quickly gathered around him and his sisters. Even Vasily was present, though he kept his distance, offering only a quiet nod when their eyes met. Alexei had long since grown accustomed to Vasily's reserved nature and thought nothing of it.
He also had to greet the sons of various nobles who had come to attend the motor show, acknowledging each of them in turn. Among them was Aleksandr Ivanov, the son of Count Ivanov, whom Alexei greeted with the same composed courtesy as the others. By this point, he had smiled so much that his cheeks began to ache, yet he maintained his expression without faltering.
At last, after fulfilling his social obligations, Alexei managed to excuse himself from the crowd, though he kept his closest friends nearby and began making his way through the venue to inspect the automobiles on display.
His first stop was the booth of the French brand Peugeot. Alexei greeted the man manning the booth and inquired about the automobile, and the man responded with visible enthusiasm, perhaps never expecting that he would have the chance to present his work to the Tsarevich of Russia. As the man spoke, Alexei listened attentively while inspecting the car at his own pace, occasionally reaching out to examine certain parts more closely.
To be honest, he was not particularly impressed by the design, as it still closely resembled a horse-drawn carriage. Even so, the craftsmanship itself was commendable. At the same time, a thought crossed his mind, if he were to introduce designs inspired by the future while leaving the engineering aspects to professionals, would such vehicles be accepted in this era? It was an idea that required careful consideration.
After thanking the man for his detailed explanation, Alexei moved on to the next booth, which featured another French brand, Renault. The design here was somewhat different from Peugeot's, yet it still retained clear elements of the traditional carriage style. Alexei listened as the attendant introduced the vehicle, occasionally nodding and asking questions. His friends joined in as well, posing their own inquiries, while his sisters, Olga and Tatiana, took it upon themselves to sit inside the car, claiming they needed to test its comfort after standing for so long.
Alexei chose not to call them out and simply let them be. Fortunately, the man overseeing the booth said nothing either, perhaps out of respect, or perhaps out of caution, knowing full well who they were. In any case, once they had finished, Alexei discreetly tipped the man from his own pocket, which left him beaming with smile and gratitude as they moved on.
As he led his sisters and friends to the next booth, Alexei called out to Andrei Nagel, who had been following closely behind. "I'll be purchasing from those two brands," he said casually, "but I'd like a few custom adjustments made to my models. Please ask them later if they're willing to accommodate my requirements which I would be sending later on."
Although he was not particularly fond of the current designs, he recognized their long-term value. Collecting these early models could prove to be a worthwhile investment, one that might appreciate many times over in the decades to come. His requested modifications were minor, intended only to improve comfort, and would not reveal any ideas he planned to use for his own future designs.
Andrei's smile widened at once. The primary reason these brands had agreed to showcase their automobiles at the motor show was to secure sales, and ensuring their success this year would encourage them to return in the future. Now, with the Tsarevich himself purchasing vehicles from the very first booths, Andrei knew it would influence the attending nobles and wealthy patrons to follow suit, if only for prestige.
"Yes, Your Highness," he replied eagerly. "I'll have one of my assistants relay your request. We still have many booths to visit."
Alexei nodded, and before long, they arrived at the booth of the Italian brand Fiat. As before, he allowed the attendant to explain the vehicle's features while he examined it personally, inspecting details and occasionally touching certain parts out of curiosity. After a brief assessment, he added it to his list of purchases, much to Andrei's growing delight. Then a thought crossed Andrei's mind, is the Tsarevich planning to buy at least one automobile from every brand present? The mere possibility made him almost giddy.
Their next stop was the German brand Mercedes. Though the design was still far removed from what Alexei knew of the future, he was well aware that this brand would endure and remain an industry leader for generations. With that in mind, he gave a subtle nod to Andrei, who immediately understood and relayed the decision to his assistant.
They then proceeded to the booth of the British brand Rolls-Royce. Here, Alexei found himself genuinely impressed, particularly by the model on display, the Silver Ghost. He examined it more carefully than the others, taking his time as he inspected its build and even seated himself behind the wheel for a moment. His sisters climbed in beside him, giggling softly as they enjoyed the experience. Of all the automobiles he had seen so far, this one appealed to him the most, though he kept his expression composed. A brief nod to Andrei was all it took before they moved on.
By the time they had visited every booth, it was already afternoon. Though Alexei felt a measure of fatigue, he was satisfied with what he had seen and acquired. His sisters had already departed earlier, having grown tired from walking, which made it easier for him to move about without worrying over them.
Now seated in one of the offices Andrei had arranged at the venue, Alexei listened quietly as the man delivered his report.
"In total, Your Highness, you have purchased nine automobiles out of the twenty-three brands present at the motor show," Andrei reported. "All of them have agreed to the specific modifications you requested earlier. The earliest delivery should arrive next month, with Renault promising to prioritize your order among their many clients requesting similar adjustments." Although he felt a twinge of disappointment that the Tsarevich had not purchased from every booth, Andrei kept it from showing, maintaining a professional composure as he concluded his report.
Alexei nodded thoughtfully as he absorbed the information. He would have liked to acquire a model from every manufacturer present, but he recognized that many of the lesser-known brands had neither the durability nor the design quality to endure the test of time. Judging by his knowledge from his first life, those brands were unlikely to survive in the long run. For now, it was wiser to observe their development and reconsider them in the future. After a brief moment of reflection, he spoke. "Make sure to maintain contact with every manufacturer we invited this year and ensure their participation in next year's exhibition. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Andrei replied promptly. After a brief pause, he added, "Would you like to meet the engineers I have recruited? They have been observing us from a distance while we toured the exhibits. They should all be gathered in the meeting room now, waiting for you."
"Very well. Let's not delay any further," Alexei agreed without hesitation. With his sisters already returned to the palace and his friends waiting for him later, he no longer had any pressing distractions.
Andrei rose immediately. "Please follow me, Your Highness." He then led the way out of the office, with Alexei following closely behind.
When they arrived at the meeting room, Alexei found more than ten individuals waiting inside. Remaining silent at first, he allowed Andrei to handle the introductions. Once it was his turn to speak, he stepped forward slightly, nodded to the assembled engineers, and addressed them in a steady voice. "Good afternoon. I will not waste your time with unnecessary formalities. I trust Andrei has already explained why you are here?" Seeing them nod in acknowledgement, he continued, "Then let me state it plainly myself. You are here because I intend for you to build, in time, the most advanced, most refined, and fastest automobiles in existence. I understand that such a goal may seem ambitious, even unrealistic, given that you guys are starting from the very beginning. Nevertheless, I expect that we will reach it eventually in the future."
He paused briefly, allowing his words to settle before continuing. "For now, our approach will be practical. We will acquire patents or at least gain rights where it's needed, study the designs of established manufacturers, and build upon their foundations. In time, however, I expect us to move beyond imitation and develop our own innovations, including our own engines."
A faint sense of satisfaction flickered within him as he observed their stunned expressions. In truth, he had been slightly irritated that these men had required further clarification before agreeing to join, despite it already being widely known that Andrei acted under his patronage. Still, he kept such thoughts to himself. When none of them spoke, he simply gave a small nod to Andrei and turned to leave. For now, they were merely potential; he would reserve his attention for those who proved themselves capable and exceptional engineers in the future.
Just outside the meeting room, he encountered Yurovsky, who approached with slightly labored breathing. "My apologies for my lateness, Your Highness," he said quickly. "I had to attend to an issue at one of our paper factories. It has already been resolved, which is why I came as soon as I could."
Alexei did not press for details, knowing he could inquire about it later through his own channels. Instead, he gestured toward the meeting room. "The engineers Andrei recruited are inside. You may proceed with the hiring and begin establishing the company as soon as possible. You have management personnel prepared, I trust?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Yurovsky replied. "I have already reassigned several capable individuals from the publishing house to oversee the administrative side of this new venture and recruited more from the outside."
"Good," Alexei said with a satisfied nod. "As we discussed, your responsibility is to manage the administrative structure. Leave the technical aspects, the design, construction, and factory setup, to the engineers. If necessary, select one among them to serve as a technical lead, or consult Andrei for his recommendation."
Yurovsky nodded firmly. "Understood, Your Highness. Everything has been prepared accordingly."
Alexei smiled faintly and gave the man a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Then I will leave it in your hands. Provide me with a weekly report so I can monitor your progress." Without waiting for further response, he turned and began to walk away.
"Yes, Your Highness," Yurovsky called after him before taking a steadying breath and stepping into the meeting room, ready to begin shaping the future of the enterprise.
Alexei soon found his friends gathered under one of the tents not far from the exhibition booths, chatting casually as they enjoyed their afternoon snacks. Spotting them, he raised a hand in greeting as he crossed the distance. Once he reached them, he spoke with an easy smile. "So, what do you all think? Do you want to stay here a while longer, or would you rather come back with me to the palace? We're having barbecue for dinner tonight."
Marina immediately sprang to her feet at the mention of leaving. "Let's go. I've had enough of this place already. There are far too many people."
"I thought you liked the motor show, Marina," Sergei said with a teasing grin.
"I do like the motor show and the automobiles," she shot back, crossing her arms, "but I don't enjoy being stuck in the middle of a crowd."
Lev raised an eyebrow in amusement. "That's surprising. I always thought you enjoyed crowded places, especially considering how much you love gossip."
"I enjoy gossip, not crowds," Marina replied firmly. "There's a difference. Now come on, let's go." Without waiting for further argument, she urged Elena and Irina along, and the three of them began heading toward the exit of the motor show.
Alexei shook his head with a quiet chuckle before turning to his remaining friends. "Come on, then. I'll have you guys try a new recipe our chef has made this year. They started preparing it last night, so it should be ready by now."
That was more than enough to convince them. The boys rose from their seats almost immediately, curiosity and anticipation lighting their expressions as they followed Alexei toward the exit. The memory of the pizza they had tasted the previous year still lingered vividly in their minds, and they could not help but wonder what new creation the royal kitchen had prepared this time.
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A/N: Please don't forget to rate and review the story after reading. And if you want to read ahead. You know where to look.