“What are we hunting for today?” Pasha asked. “I believe grouse, pheasants, and mink are all plentiful in this part of the country,” Nikolai said. “Whatever Your Imperial Highness desires.” “‘Your Imperial Highness’? Why are you being so formal?” Pasha glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the hunting party, the sons of barons and counts and other lesser nobility, all social-climbing buffoons, in Nikolai’s opinion. “Don’t do it on their account,” Pasha said. “In fact, I rather wish you wouldn’t.” Nikolai bowed his head. “As you wish, my heavenly sovereign,
