Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Russian Empire (2)
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"Nicky! Alix!"
"Come on in, Heinrich! Irene!"
As soon as we arrived at the Winter Palace, Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra greeted us with beaming smiles.
My first impression of Nicholas II was more ordinary than I'd expected.
He wasn't forcing a majestic air like Wilhelm II, nor was he sly like Edward VII.
He gave off the vibe of a kindly neighborhood uncle.
"Hello! Uncle Heinrich, Aunt Irene."
"Olga, Tatiana, it's been too long!"
From behind Nicholas II, girls who looked a few years younger than me toddled over and greeted Prince Heinrich and Princess Irene with cheerful voices.
Olga and Tatiana.
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the Russian Empire would recognize those names.
Their full names were Olga Nikolaevna Romanova and Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova.
They were the eldest and second daughters of Nicholas II, the ones known collectively as OTMA.
Of course, the most famous of the sisters was the fourth, Anastasia, star of countless conspiracy theories.
But given the timeline, Anastasia was still a baby not even a year old, so she didn't appear here.
The third, Maria, was absent for the same reason.
Even I thought the Russian winter winds were too harsh for infants.
"By the way, Heinrich, who's that yellow-skinned boy?"
As Nicholas II pointed at me and spoke, all eyes turned my way.
It reminded me of my first time at the New Palace.
The imperial family had stared at me just like this back then.
Now it was just a fond memory.
In any case, I bowed as politely as possible toward Nicholas II and his wife.
"It's an honor to meet you for the first time, Your Majesty. I am Baron Hans von Choi. I am deeply grateful to meet Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna."
"Oh, what a polite young man."
"Hans von Choi... Ah! You're that Eastern boy who saved Billy!"
Empress Alexandra smiled warmly, pleased by my courteous demeanor, while Nicholas II clapped his hands as if the memory had just clicked.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Haha! I was curious what kind of kid it was when Billy let a yellow-skinned boy into the palace, but to think I'd meet you like this!"
"Brother, is he famous?"
Grand Duchess Olga tilted her head curiously at her father's enthusiastic reaction and looked at me.
"I've just gained a bit of notoriety, Your Highness."
I replied with a small smile.
No matter what, it felt off to call myself famous.
"He's young, but smart and capable. Especially good with words, so I brought him along hoping he'd be useful for this matter."
"Ho ho, is that so?"
Nicholas II eyed me with growing curiosity at Prince Heinrich's honeyed praise.
Fortunately, the Tsar seemed to take a liking to me.
"Mm..."
As Prince Heinrich and Nicholas II exchanged updates and small talk, Princess Irene let out a groan and clutched her head as if dizzy.
"Sister?"
"Sorry, Alix. I'm not feeling well. Could I rest a bit?"
"Of course. What happened?"
"Well..."
"We ran into a crowd of demonstrators on the way to the Winter Palace. She must have been shaken seeing the troops suppress them."
"What?"
Prince Heinrich explained on his wife's behalf, and Nicholas II's face twisted.
"I'll have a word with the Minister of the Interior. Sorry, Irene. You shouldn't have seen that. Lately, there have been more riots in St. Petersburg."
"...Riots, you say?"
"Yes. The world is full of malcontents, after all."
I nodded reluctantly at Nicholas II's calm response.
The Tsar apparently saw the workers' desperate uprising as mere unrest from agitators.
'He's tightening the noose around his own neck.'
Bloody Sunday didn't happen for nothing.
Nicholas II's mindset was that of an anachronistic absolute monarch.
And the world no longer wanted leaders like him.
'Even Wilhelm II is technically a constitutional monarch.'
Nicholas II was marching toward his own doom.
Along with the Russian Empire built by his ancestors.
A week later.
Formal negotiations with the Russians began at the Winter Palace.
Why the week-long delay? Nicholas II insisted on unwinding from the journey first and dragged Prince Heinrich and me sightseeing everywhere.
'I did more hunting and balls in Russia than I ever did in Germany.'
It was exhausting for an extreme introvert like me.
Chatting with Russian nobles—who seemed straight out of a novel as corrupt and debauched—was utterly draining.
'Though it did give me time to connect with factions like Bezobrazov who might support our plans.'
Especially when some Russian noblewomen eyed me with sticky gazes, as if harboring some fetish... Honestly, I never thought I'd say this, but I missed Valder at that moment.
Anyway, I was itching to get down to business, and it seemed the Russian officials, led by Sergei Witte, felt the same.
"I am Sergei Yulievich Witte, Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire."
"A pleasure, Minister. I am Baron Hans von Choi, aide to Prince Heinrich."
"Ah, you're that..."
Sergei Witte nodded as if he'd already heard of me upon finally meeting face-to-face.
The boy who saved the Kaiser, blah blah.
By now, I was used to it.
"I read your Immortal Admiral Yi. It was good."
"Pardon?"
That?!
"Oh, thank you."
"I hope for fruitful discussions between our nations."
"Agreed."
Witte and I shook hands with smiles.
But beneath those smiles lurked sharp wariness.
Soon, once everyone had gathered, Nicholas II spoke first.
"So, Heinrich. I've heard the German Empire wants military cooperation with our Russian Empire."
"Ahem."
"Though I don't know the details of this 'military cooperation.' Care to enlighten us now?"
Prince Heinrich nodded and glanced at me.
"Hans."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I stood, cleared my throat.
I could feel the eyes of Nicholas II, Witte, and the Russians on me.
Some were puzzled or annoyed at an Eastern child being here.
'Nothing new.'
I ignored it and began slowly in French.
After entering the New Palace, I'd had lessons from the imperial tutor alongside the royals.
Mostly liberal arts and knowledge befitting nobility, like Latin.
'We're not in Roman times; what's Latin even for?'
But some were worthwhile.
French, especially, I'd studied hardest.
It was, alongside English, the lingua franca of diplomacy—and in this era of lingering aristocracy, even more influential.
Russian nobles used French daily over Russian, so communication was easy.
"As you all know, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was signed in London a few days ago. To check Russian expansion in East Asia."
"Mm..."
Mentioning the alliance drew groans from Foreign Minister Count Lamsdorff and the officials.
A sore spot right out of the gate.
"Damn island barbarians...!"
"They mock our Russian Empire at their peril!"
The military's reaction was fiercer.
"But Baron, what does this have to do with the German Empire?"
Nicholas II asked.
On the surface, nothing.
The alliance involved Britain, Japan, and Russia.
Broadly, Russia's ally France and America's Pacific interests.
'But that's not the reality.'
"Our German government and military see a high chance Japan will go to war with Russia due to this alliance."
"W-what? W-war?!"
The unexpected word jolted Nicholas II, eyes wide.
The other Russians too.
"Japan attacking us?"
"Absurd. Those Far Eastern monkeys wouldn't dare unless insane."
"But Germany's war machine declares it."
"Baron, can you stand by those words?"
As the room buzzed, Witte asked coldly.
"Japan has massively expanded its armaments. Weapons imports doubled. And now with the alliance, British backing too."
Intel from the German embassy in Japan, via secret channels.
Japan was openly gearing for war.
Foreign Minister Lamsdorff, Witte's close aide, muttered as if realizing something.
"Indeed, reports show Japanese spies far more active lately in the Far East and Central Asia."
"Ha...! The Japanese have lost all fear!"
Nicholas II grimaced.
A tiny Far Eastern state threatening his empire? Anyone would rage.
Especially since he'd nearly been assassinated in Japan—fueling his fury.
"Fear not, Your Majesty. A puny Far Eastern nation like Japan can be crushed easily!"
"We are the Russian Empire! We'll show those island monkeys what Russian war truly is!"
Some generals vied to impress the Tsar with anti-Japanese bluster.
No one contradicted; Russians didn't envision defeat.
"Apologies, but Germany sees it differently."
Optimistic delusion.
And now, I'd shatter it.
"If things continue, Russia will lose to Japan."
A heavy silence fell.
Russians looked shell-shocked, as if bombed.
"...What did you say?"
After tense seconds, Nicholas II spoke hoarsely.
"O-our Russian Empire... loses to Japan?"
Then the Russian bear's rage erupted.
"Don't make me laugh! Insulting Russia?!"
"Us, the Russian Empire, lose to Japan? What nonsense!"
"Your Majesty! This insults Russia! Protest to Germany...!"
Bam!
"Quiet, all of you!"
Sergei Witte slammed the table, bellowing.
Unlike the vodka-flushed Russians, he looked calmer, colder than ever.
"Baron, you have evidence?"
"The Far East."
"!"
"If war breaks out, the main theater will be the 'Far East.'"
Many reasons, but that was biggest.
Russia's Far East geography, split by European Russia and Siberia.
Unfinished Trans-Siberian Railway made it insurmountable.
"......"
Witte pondered my words.
"Yebat'..."
Then muttered a curse.
He got it.
The Russo-Japanese War's outcome.
Witte met my eyes squarely.
"What is Germany's proposal?"
Author's Note
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