Promises Must Be Kept: Pacta sunt servanda (19)

"Now, sign here, and you can go to the frontline units."

"I-I honorably retired as a major general, yet you're telling me to go as a mere regimental commander? How can you do this?"

"Cousin. My brother is there. He went as a junior cavalry regiment officer. I don't know if he's still alive, but if he is, I plan to forgive my brother."

Cousin brothers, younger brothers, and even somewhat distant sixth-cousin Grand Dukes.

"Michael made the same choice. Whether to live dishonorably as a fugitive never setting foot on Russian soil again, or remain as proud royalty."

If they had just eaten moderately and pulled out, it might have been overlooked, but to maintain monopolistic positions just because they were royalty, beyond just providing backing.

Even if their grandfather or great-grandfather was a Grand Duke, children and grandchildren could receive Prince or Princess titles, and even this much was enough to live luxuriously in Russia.