© Sergey Solovyov, 2026

ISBN 978-5-0070-2424-2

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

“Noblesse oblige”

Foreword by the Author

This novel is written in memory of those distant events that took place in 1805, two hundred and twenty years ago. It would seem that such an old event, and why is it interesting and memorable? For people who are alien to the very concept of the Motherland, the question is quite natural and justified, for others who think and reflect, make decisions with their heads, the topic is important.

Why should ordinary ordinary people remember the deeds of such bygone days, remember these long-gone people and their strange, so to speak, deeds unnecessary to them personally?

That accomplishment of the Life Guards of the Cavalier Guard regiment near Austerlitz is significant in that under his banners he gathered the best people of the then Russian society, aristocrats, rich and famous in the world. These nobles, the clan aristocracy of that distant Russia, showered from head to toe with privileges, who had no shortage or the slightest need, considered it their duty, their Holy Duty to fight with weapons in their hands, risking their own lives. These people led the soldiers into battle, they were not sent to die, like the highest lower ones. They fought themselves and died, saving their comrades in terrible battles.

That, the true elite, who did not hide behind their privileges, but went to fight for their country, and can be considered a real ruling class, the true cream of society. In fact, and not just by passport, they were part of their nation, their people, shared with ordinary people all the dangers of war and suffering.

One culture, autocracy, united the whole society into a single nation with common values. And, many of the best representatives of other countries dreamed of becoming part of that state, Imperial Russia. Dozens of aristocrats who fled from the French guillotine joined the service class and, with weapons in their hands, confirmed loyalty to their new homeland. The princes de Broglie, counts of Saint-Prix, counts de Stael, fought in the ranks of the Russian Army.

In those days, the elite of Russia, despite the colossal social abyss, considered it an honor for themselves, together with ordinary people, to fight and die shoulder to shoulder, as a whole. Only when the elite of today’s Russia is able to approach the officers of the guard of that distant time not with revelry, but with courage in war and honor, then everything in the country will fall into place, calm down and go in a way. The elite of Russia should stop feeling something separate from the country and the people. Only then will they cease to comprehend the unfortunate Russia behind the misfortune, we are from the so-called “multinational” people and a real united nation will appear. History is always an example for awareness and understanding of the present.

Prologue

Alexey mercilessly drove his black stallion along the alley. The wind blew his blond curls, fluttered the gates of a fashionable apache shirt, with a wide free throat. The youth skillfully kept in a high saddle, holding back the fierce burrow of his favorite. And he mowed everything down on the owner with his bright eyes, as if he had warned:

“Here, look at you… Don’t forget..”

Alexey habitually expected some kind of trick, and only held on more tightly. But no, his stallion only slightly led the croup, but pulled with a powerful neck. Such, they had a game. However, his father reminded him more than once or twice:

“You, here is the elder, and Andryushka should set an example. Whatever was beaten by inexperience. Horse, he is much stronger than you, and more weight. There are thirty pounds in your Coal, and five and a little in you. And, you have to be a rider, not just a rider. That is, you should immediately be able to humble any horse. Do not break his will, but show that it is more important…

“Father,” he objected then, “he is my friend… The corner is so smart and unlucky…”

“Not stupid, but all one stallion… And strong, burly. And, I must understand that the main thing is you, son. It is clear that whoever is smarter and smarter, since you feed him, and not he you.”

And father, Mikhail Alekseevich, very friendly, and patronizing, patted him on the shoulder. Father, lieutenant colonel of the Sumy hussar regiment, knew how to show everyone that he was in charge here. And, not only domestic, but also peasants, and even the manager, Gerasim Phillippovich. Mikhail Alekseevich Burlin tenaciously conducted business in his vast estates, in the vicinity of Ryazan. I understood how to plow and sow, and really store the harvested crop. And, he himself delivered wheat to Moscow, on his own barges, along the wide Oka River. And, in the Mother See they had a manor, with a large house made of aged oak logs, and then covered with plaster, so that it looked like stone. Rich, two floors, in a beautiful place, not far from Yauza. Nearby stood the estates of the Golitsyns and Vorontsovs.

So Alexey was distracted by his thoughts, and almost got a linden branch in the face. But, he just ducked, laughed at that. I was not lost, especially since I was in a good, elated mood. He imagined that he, as if from a three-saber saber, dodged, or, rather, from a Prussian broadsword!

— What I can do, “he whispered to himself.

Then he turned from the alley, their park, and drove further, to the planted lindens, to a small outbuilding. Here he dismounted deftly, as his father had taught him. He pulled his left leg out of the stirrup, bent at the knee, and holding on to the bow of the saddle, deftly glided to the ground. And, at the same time, he did not let go of the occasion from his left hand. The corner twisted his neck with displeasure, snorted. The young man stroked the horse’s proud neck, feeling with his palm the smoothness of his favorite’s short fur.

— Come, do not be stubborn, — Alexey calmly and confidently said, — that’s the connivance. And then they are waiting for me.

The stallion only snorted, but shook his tail proudly raised. He calmly stepped over with his hooves until the rider brought him to the iron rings near the wall. Here Sooty poked his face into the owner’s shoulder, as if recalling an important thing.

— What, take it, — and Alexey from the bag thrown over his shoulder, scooped up a handful of rye crumbs generously sprinkled with salt, — I’m sorry, I almost forgot.

The horse, calmly and gullibly grabbed the treat from his hand, while the essence was restlessly spinning his ears, as if he had heard or sensed someone. He looked to the side, but pushed the owner with his face, come on, they are waiting. The young man tied the horse’s reason to an iron ring, and walked along a wall made of rough gray stone.

He turned the corner and smiled. How it was to restrain! She stood and expected, right, it was him, a beautiful girl, in an elegant peasant outfit. Eagerly tugging at the edge of a headscarf tied around her head. And noticing the young man, she smiled happily, came closer, hugged and kissed impetuously.

— I’m glad that I came, — she quietly said such simple, but very pleasant words.

“I couldn’t help but come, Martha. he answered, stroking her shoulder.

“That’s all good. Don’t worry.

Then he himself kissed the girl, and she took his hand, and took him to the house, where it smelled so amazing fresh hay…

***

— Barin, master!

Finally, Alexei heard the persistent voice of his servant, Fedor. But, of course, I could not answer yet, I just turned over on my back, pulled the blanket to my chin and portrayed a suffering face. Something similar, to the statue of Hercules, standing in his father’s office. But, loud words still managed to snatch him out of the sweet puts of Morpheus. Well. not quite, the young man was all inspecting the dream, where again with him was his beloved Martha, and he, everything was in captivity of her embrace. It seemed that even now I felt her lips, delicate skin… Stretched, and carefully opened swollen eyes. Well, of course, instead of girlish charms, he had the bearded face of a servant in front of him. The young man just sighed heavily.

— And what, Fedor? What happened? he said with difficulty.

— So father, Mikhail Alekseevich, you are expected. They demand to themselves until Olga Andreevna, your mother, woke up. They grind very much. It would be better for you to talk to the priest.

Alexey instantly became serious, sat down on the edge of the mattress, and with his left hand simply crumpled the blanket.

— Okay, Fedor. Let’s get dressed… — the young man said quietly.

— Excuse me, so the master said that let it go as it is, there is nothing to say, he is more shy…

— Give Fedor a robe, and silk slippers. Okay, I’m going…

Alexey was not going to argue with the priest when he was not in the spirit. More expensive for yourself. Therefore, as he was, in the underworld, he dressed a robe, and his favorite velvet cap with a brush. The robe was extremely good, too, made of burgundy velvet, with a belt decorated with gold brushes. The cap was slightly darker in tone than the robe, but also soft, and the head did not itch under it. Yes, to be honest, such a look was very in the heart of a young man. I hoped that he was becoming so similar to Turkish pasha and bey, preparing to plunge into the abyss of pleasure.

In the meantime, Fedor bowed the door, and bowed again. Alexei Mikhailovich appreciated such an appeal, shook his head a little in response, and thoughtfully laid his hands behind his back. As hoped, it looked very impressive, from the outside. True, here he was distracted.

— Mama, Mama! Alexey in a dressing gown walks around the house! ‘the cry of the younger sister, Marie, rang out.

— Accurate! — agreed the eldest, Natalie, — Alexis is walking here again!

And then these girls did not give him rest. He walked calmly, on business, and again…

— Fyodor, let’s go faster! And then they won’t give peace! Alexey snapped.

He almost ran, deftly disappeared around the corner of the corridor, showed his tongue to his older sister, and made the horns of the younger, putting a fist with bent fingers to his forehead.

Marie, delighted with such a joke, laughed, and Natalie, who had long played as an adult girl at the age of fifteen, shook her head with condemnation when she saw such a mess.

— Mama, Alexis!!! Marie shouted again.

With a creak, the door opened, and the hostess, dlma, left her bedroom. Her devoted servant, grandmother Natalya, also seeded behind her. As always, with a light cat in his left hand. Then Alexey quickly disappeared, ran up the stairs, clutching the oak railings with his left hand. On steep steps I almost fell, stumbling, but in time I picked up a slipper off my slipper foot. I just gasped in pain, tightening my thumb, and grimacing, I seeded further and higher.

Finally, he went up to the saving door of his father’s office. He knocked as he should, and heard a stern:

— Come in and lock the door.

Actually, the father’s office was located in such a turret, towering above the building. What to do, retired colonel, Mikhail Alekseevich Burlin was inspired by Italian architecture. True, he loved the country of Dante and Raphael purely from engravings and paintings, hung in abundance on the walls of his estate. Well, Burlin’s character was strict and norovist, even at home he started regimental orders. The door is closed for a key, which means that the owner needs privacy, and does not want to see anyone. Even his wife, Olga Andreevna, so beloved by them, did not dare to question his decisions.

And, looking at the face of this gentleman, a person unfamiliar with the house, I would think that this retired officer and zealous landowner, just a kind and sympathetic nobleman, hospitable and tarovaty. His right face, decorated with curly light hair, small, well-groomed sideburns, allowed him to think so. It could not be said that he is beautiful, rather, very attractive, built and mobile. The ladies adored him, and rarely could he sit down for a while at the balls given in the Noble Assembly of their provincial city, in quiet Ryazan.

However, those who did business with this landowner learned the tight business grip of Mikhail Alekseevich. He stubbornly and steadily grew rich, competently investing money from the sale of wheat in government bonds. And felting and cloth workshops provided a good income.

— Ah, Alexey, — said the father, raising his eyes from the papers, — sit down…

The young man noticed that the priest noticed his outfit, and it seems that this amused him. At least he wasn’t frowning anymore. I just took the folder out of the old Italian table, my pride, and pushed it to my son.

— All Alexey, tomorrow you are leaving for St. Petersburg. On your own brick, with Fedor. With him you will not disappear, he is a practical servant, faithful and sensible.

— And for what father?

— Enough here on forests to ride, the devil knows what to do. You see, I got nervous, I even folded stupid rhymes. If you enter the Cavalier Guard regiment, I have already sent a letter to Count Uvarov, you will be accepted. A noble junker will come out of you. Yes, and you grew up, Alexey, it’s time to serve your sovereign, as every nobleman should.

— But I would like to…

— You should forget about those meetings with Martha, friend… It went too far, in your “innocent” dates, and the girl, as they say, suffered… She is already going to the estate near Saratov, under the supervision of the manager, Gavrilych. Here, look, my letter to Tsar Alexander Pavlovich, where I wrote with my own hand that I humbly ask you to grant the nobility to My bastard…

— But… — Alexey jumped up and tried to say something, object.

The father, with force, forced him to sit down, firmly clutching his son’s shoulders. The head of the family’s face darkened with anger, the young man had never seen him like that before.

— What greatness in speeches… Even in our nineteenth century, your zeal is a little excessive. Neighbors will not understand that you got a peasant son or daughter at sixteen… And about mother, sisters and brother, Dmitry, think…

— And you? Father?

— I have already earned a slap from my wife, and attributed it to the fact that I did not strictly look after you, my son…

And Mikhail Alekseevich got up from the table, slowly approached his son, brought his hand, as if he wanted to hang him a slap on the head. But then, his fingers almost gently battered the bright curls of his offspring. The same one just grinned back.

— Can’t Martha be left here? the youth asked.

— Drink, I don’t want to say bad things about your lover, but she knew what she was going for and what she herself wants to get. Now, in Svetlovka, he will bring up your… my, that is, child. It will no longer be a serf. Something like this…

— And if… — Alexey began the phrase uncertainly.

Yes, Father, frowned, slammed his fist on the table, and in a different tone continued:

— Not yet… Do you want to repeat the feat of his ladyship Sheremetyev with Praskovya Zhemchugova? I, you know, not so rich as to arrange everything. And even then… Nothing good came of it.

Actually, this novel became a parable in the pagans, and the difficult fate of this couple was known to everyone. None of the noble families wanted to communicate more with such an eccentric count. He crossed all the boundaries of what is permitted.

— There is a solution, of course… — the father of the family broadcast, — to Siberia to go with his wife-simpleton, do you want, for good? The sovereign needs brave men, somewhere in Orenburg. There, among the Cossacks, you will live, but make good money…

Alexei here from the words of his father already jerked. In such a wilderness, right now, he resolutely did not want to go. It is better to suffer in the Cavaliers…

— Well, did you think about everything? — and Mikhail Alekseevich carefully looked at his son, — However, you will receive no more than three thousand a year for living. Quite a sufficient amount. Fedor will lead the house. This is the outbuilding of the possessions of the Naryshkins, our distant relatives. I sent the indicated amounts. True, while you will live in the regiment, but this is theiein’s benefit, you will gain discipline.

In general, there was nowhere to go. I had to part with a free life, go to the royal service. To be honest, I did not want to leave my favorite estate.

— You’re going right now, don’t hesitate. In Moscow, for more than three days, do not stay. You have nothing to sit out there. Fedor is already collecting your suitcases, and the brick is ready. Go, kiss your mother and sisters, say goodbye to your brother, and, on the way, on the way…