Chapter 60: Scandal and Monarch Essentials

```

The Prince's appointment as Colonial Governor should have been major news, but unfortunately, recent hot topics were far too sensational and completely overshadowed it.

On May 18, 1896, Nicholas II held a grand garden party at Khodynka Field on the outskirts of Moscow. As per tradition, the Tsar was to distribute gifts to the public.

What should have been a celebratory event of joy with the people turned to tragedy for Nicholas II. Someone leaked news of the celebrations before they began, and it became widely known nationwide.

People from across the country flocked to Khodynka Field. Over five hundred thousand individuals gathered at the less than nine-square-kilometer venue.

Even worse, the ground of the square wasn't paved—it remained uneven, full of pits and trenches, and the bureaucrats in charge of organizing the festivities took no safety precautions.