Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Deal (2)
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Even after parting ways with Franz, Pitt couldn't collect his thoughts for quite some time.
"What in the world did I just hear?"
Robinson asked if the conversation had gone well, but Pitt could barely remember what he'd even replied.
He must have said something vague like agreeing to work together. It didn't matter anyway.
"...So that's the real Franz Stefan?"
There was, of course, no answer.
But Pitt felt a near-certain intuition that it was.
Those weren't idle words tossed out carelessly to brush him off.
An empire by the German people, for the German people? Lebensraum?
Who in the world could come up with phrases like that on the spot?
Pitt, who had run for election and delivered speeches in Parliament multiple times, knew better than anyone.
To spout such thoughts—dense with insight, identity, almost dizzyingly concentrated—required tremendous contemplation.
A belief refined, refined, and refined again from one's own ideas.
Pitt had glimpsed that conviction in Franz's feverish words.
"An empire ruled by the German people... So in the end, that means non-Germans would be second-class citizens?"
Of course, Franz himself was technically a mixed German by strict standards, so his definition of "German" might be broader than expected.
But his resolve to unify the empire—torn into dozens of fragments—was undoubtedly genuine.
No... not genuine. More like a mission.
And at the same time, his speech had given Pitt his own revelation.
"If the unification of the German people is their destiny, then ours lies across the vast oceans and in the colonies..."
The moment he heard it, Pitt felt as if lightning had struck his mind, leaving him dazed.
This was an ideology. An answer.
He had long believed they should abandon Hanover for broader colonies.
But he hadn't known how to distill it into words to persuade others.
An empire for Great Britain, by the people of Great Britain alone.
If the Germans' living space was the Holy Roman Empire, then Great Britain's was the colonies and the seas!
And that empire should be built solely by the British people.
His scattered thoughts began to align one by one, clearing his mind in a refreshingly exhilarating rush.
At the same time, his heart pounded; he wanted to seek out Franz again and debate the unity of the nation all day.
In that moment, the monster slumbering within a young man opened its eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ugh, my face is burning. I want to crawl into a hole.
Back in my room, I gulped down cold water to cool the heat in my head.
Oof. I've been telling Friedrich to watch his words, but am I the one spouting this stuff?
I'd blurted it out in the heat of the moment, but wasn't bringing up Lebensraum a bit too much?
No, wait. In this era, whether you shout Lebensraum or Anschluss, no one knows what it means in the 21st century anyway.
With the latest 21st-century OS loaded in my head, I can't help feeling repulsed by the terms themselves, but people here won't think twice.
Anyway, I'd rattled off all the usable phrases from that mad mustached maniac, so Pitt's eyes must have lit up.
And Theresia, hearing my eloquent improvisation, reacted with a mix of bewilderment and admiration.
"...What did Pitt say when he heard that?"
"He just mumbled incoherently, said he'd look forward to working together, and left. Overwhelmed, no doubt. By my tremendous madness."
"I bet. If I'd been there, I'd have thought you were truly insane."
"I am insane. And dangerously so, to boot."
Of course, world history had a few crazier than the mustached one, but factoring in the madness and danger as a package? Top three in human history, easy.
The 18th century is often called an age of barbarism and madness, but compared to the two world wars, even that seems tame.
Just drop a bomb on these era's people, kill hundreds of thousands, commit ethnic cleansing, and insist on endless war no matter how many of your own die—what would they say?
For human madness to peak, it needs ideology and science to back it up.
No innate psychopath starts with a built-in conscience as a brake.
18th-century folks aren't evil for doing awful things, nor are 21st-century people saints who don't commit crimes.
Seeing a crying baby stirs pity; watching people die before your eyes naturally evokes compassion. That's human nature.
So they twist religion, ideology, and thought to numb that morality and conscience.
"But what should we make of it... It seems like something that could excite the German citizens?"
"That's why it's dangerous. It goes beyond fostering national spirit straight into ethnic supremacy."
"But... Franz? You came up with that on the spot?"
"...Huh?"
Of course it was improvisation. No way it came from deep contemplation.
If I'd really meant to incite, I could've used sentences three times more potent.
Of course, that's just my view. To people of this era, it might be enough to suspect my ideology or even get swept up in it.
"Does it seem a bit risky?"
"Yeah. The electors would have fits if they heard. But others might find it fatally alluring and go wild. Depends on how it's handled, right? From my perspective, though, it sounds like a conviction you've been suppressing deep inside."
"If you say so, everyone would fall for it."
"Hmm... Feels like I heard something similar a few days ago. Was it Friedrich?"
"Oh, yeah. I borrowed a bit from his talk and fleshed it out."
Lebensraum screams Germany, obviously.
The mustached one was Austrian-born but shifted to Germany—that's history's flow.
As someone who sticks to historical accuracy, I credit all this to Friedrich.
"Anyway, I should talk to Pitt again. He was dazed and went along with it, but by now, he's probably mulling over our chat and organizing his thoughts."
"Probably?"
"I'll meet him. You stay away from Pitt now. That way, the impression you left will sharpen in his mind."
Yeah, no way I could shock him as much next time, no matter what.
Here, the carrot-and-stick: I'll crack his psyche, and Theresia can gently mend it.
"Sounds good. I'll leave the details to you—do whatever."
"Got it. But..."
Theresia paused midway to lying down on the bed, asking in a suspicious tone.
"Just to be sure... You were acting, right?"
"I told you, it was an act!"
For forgetting this era might see my madness as charm, I spent the whole night defending myself.
From now on, improvise with more caution.
What if people actually find it attractive?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Pitt, invited by Theresia, stepped into her waiting room with a trembling effort to stay composed.
He'd seen her once before, but they'd never spoken—Franz had monopolized the conversation—so he still hadn't fully gauged her.
He saw this as a prime opportunity.
Even in Great Britain's House of Commons, no one knew the exact power dynamic between Franz and Theresia.
Grasping even a hint here would give him more cards for future Austrian negotiations.
"Welcome. I regretted not speaking with you last time."
"Thank you for granting me the honor of tea with Your Highness."
Pitt bowed politely and sat cautiously before her.
Maria Theresa, now 23 and mother of two, was stunningly beautiful—belied by her motherhood.
Rumor had it she was meticulous about self-care, and her love for her husband left the maids blushing...
"Did your private talk with Franz go well? Oh, don't worry—I know everything you two discussed."
Her elegant smile as she lifted her teacup was impeccably gentle, yet subtly pressuring.
To others, just a kind, pretty noblewoman. But Pitt's sharp instincts rang alarms.
This woman was no ordinary royal coasting on pedigree.
"Did His Highness Franz say anything to Your Highness...?"
"Checking if I heard the same? You're cautious. One word should suffice: Lebensraum."
"...Understood. He truly told you everything. I gained much insight from it."
"Oh? He'll be delighted to hear that."
She breezily dropped lines that would've choked Franz, and they began probing each other's intentions in earnest.
"Franz believes you've agreed to work with the Patriotic Youth League. Is that right?"
"With such guidance, refusing would be shameless. I will. But... resolving one doubt birthed another."
"No secrets among allies. Speak."
"Are His Highness Franz's words his alone at this stage? Or does Your Highness Theresia endorse them too?"
Franz might be the next emperor, but he was Habsburg son-in-law.
The German empire vision would diverge wildly depending on the heir's alignment.
Theresia sipped her tea impassively, then met Pitt's eyes with pure transparency.
"Franz wouldn't spout off carelessly without my consent, would he?"
"That means..."
"But Germany is Germany, Britain is Britain. Our paths differ; I seek no agreement."
"No, Your Highness. Franz's words resonated deeply, showing me how to transform my homeland."
His country was a mess.
Pro-king factions, Lords, Commons, Scots, English, Germans.
Unite what can unite; skim off and discard the immiscible oil.
"His Highness said we shouldn't meddle—just go our ways. But perhaps there's a better way."
"Intriguing. Like?"
"We could stimulate each other."
"Not wrong."
Of course, Theresia wasn't naive enough to take it as mere friendliness.
Even if conflict arose, delay it as long as possible.
Fight only after each has taken all they can.
"If Your Highnesses back me, I'll build my faction in Parliament swiftly. What aid can you offer? I've never lacked funds..."
"Etch William Pitt's name in the public's mind. I'll feed info through Ambassador Robinson—use it well. And sniping bribe-taking politicians from abroad will boost your fame."
As Pitt saw her extraordinary caliber, so did she see his potential to conquer British Parliament.
Thus, instead of clumsy support, she stoked his ideology.
"A nation's future splits at its direction. Austria proves it—unwavering under Franz's conviction."
"I've felt that lately."
"So unfold your will freely, Mr. Pitt. You're young yet."
With a radiant smile to stir any man, she poured his tea herself.
Pitt politely lifted the cup to his lips.
For Great Britain to become a true empire.
Space for survival demanded small, inevitable sacrifices.
Having achieved their goals, the two rose with warm farewells.