I Became the Last Princess of the Brown Bear Kingdom

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“Hmm. Go on.”

“What would happen if we handed this over to Germany due to territorial issues?”

“Oh, I see. Right.”

It’s obvious that it would end up looking odd, all distorted due to lowlands and Switzerland.

A broken and weird territorial map.

It’s a bit strange, but anyway, the map is not great.

Germany’s just protruding sideways. It has the vibe of a bloated belly, like an alien head or something.

“On the other hand, wouldn’t it look nice if we attached it to France? Although we’re both part of the same Rome Treaty Organization, dividing it doesn’t seem right.”

Looking at the map, you can definitely see that. Damn La Roche. I wonder if saying that makes it even worse.

I don’t want to care, but it keeps bothering me!

I’d like to just refuse it, but this map is just too eye-catching.

“Definitely.”

“Does this map even make sense? Didn’t Your Majesty always consider territorial issues important?”

Yeah. I get it, so stop talking about the territory. I feel the same way.

I want a good territory like America, but unfortunately, this isn’t it—a total disaster.

“True, but… hmm.”

This is all for the sake of unifying France, but it feels off. It’s weird to hand it to Germany or leave it independent.

Honestly, Switzerland and Bavaria don’t feel great either. Thinking about that means we need to reduce at least one bit of territory.

Honestly, even if we classify it as a region, this is a bit much.

I think it’d be better to unify it as the Gallia Region.

“If you can do that, I’ll make a statue in Your Majesty’s name in Vichy.”

Suddenly, La Roche chimed in.

“No, I’m not expecting a statue, though.”

I definitely don’t need a statue.

I mean, how long did it take to build the Palace of Anastasia?

Sure, when tourists come to Moscow, they snap pictures at the Palace of Anastasia, but still.

“Think carefully. The day when Your Majesty’s authority reigns over this Gallia land! If you achieve unification, the Gallic people will be loyal to you.”

The Gallic people will be loyal to me.

They really wanna shove all the Roman obsession down my throat.

To be honest, I’m not oblivious to the Roman obsession.

The ancient empire that ruled Europe for a long time! With colossal stone buildings that are so massive that even the architectural marvels of the Joseon Dynasty can’t compare.

Anyway, a Roman obsession is something that can’t be helped, right?

But still, isn’t this a bit concerning?

“Hmm, I shouldn’t get too carried away like this.”

I shouldn’t get carried away. But still, I can’t help but be somewhat hopeful.

The Roman Emperor who recovered the Province of Gaul!

“Think about it. Your Majesty, a French-style statue will be built, resembling the Palace of Anastasia in Moscow!”

Sure enough, it seems like a French version of the Palace of Anastasia.

Saying that makes me curious and all.

“Uh, um. Is it alright?”

If I think about it well, it might not be a bad idea? France genuinely not succumbing to force, but genuinely choosing to have me as the Roman Emperor!

Isn’t this pretty much Byzantine reclaiming the Province of Gaul? Ah, the Roman obsession. The AI Anastasia obsession is overflowing.

It’s different from being directly part of the Rome Treaty Organization and becoming the Queen of France, right?

These guys know how to handle me well.

Anyway, the German Empire thanks to Vladimir leads to the Dual Monarchy.

Moreover, they even occupied Alsace-Lorraine and Luxembourg.

Even though losing Bavaria is a bit tough, we can simply view it as a section for the highway with our brother, the Danube Federation.

But really, giving this to Germany feels off.

After all, the reason the German Empire couldn’t manage its own country properly was that the communist revolution sparked it, right?

In hindsight, if I hadn’t helped with the Red-White Civil War on the level of a hypnosis app, France could’ve had a better relationship with Germany.

Hmm, handing over Burgundy feels a bit off.

“Well, in the end, it’s a map issue.”

This map issue is really bothering me.

Even Hitler honestly mentioned he had curbed his ambitions out of ‘territorial problems.’ He also said that if Italy hadn’t pulled such a bizarre stunt, he would’ve been more considerate.

“Yes. So please help us well.”

Ah, I get it now.

This feels like something I saw a lot in Korean dramas in my past life.

You know, the political fights where they are handing out bribes and stuff. I used to watch that and think, “Geez, how ridiculous,” but isn’t this what they’re giving me?

*Sigh.* I never thought I’d underestimate La Roche like this, isn’t this a bit too much?

I’m not an old politician receiving apology boxes, asking for nice favors, right?

Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m saying.

“But isn’t this a bribe?”

Suddenly, I find myself getting irritated.

When I think about it, this is a bribe, right? Isn’t it?

They’re like, “We’ll give you this and that, so please help us with unification.” Ugh, seriously.

But since they call it the Province of Gaul themselves, it might not be so bad.

If it’s a bribe called the Province of Gaul and they respect me, then that’s not too bad.

Germany and Russia have the Dual Monarchy, so if I become the Queen of France, isn’t that a sort of Dual Monarchy too?

A complete king collector, I am.

Thanks to these guys like La Roche, I’m having a tough time.

“No, saying it’s a bribe’s a bit off.”

If this isn’t a bribe, then what is?

They clearly brought me things that would make me feel good, and I’m like, “Geez, come on now.”

I’m not a fan of this kind of thing.

How did I end up becoming this kind of presence in this life? This popularity is hard to handle.

“Well, I agree with that part. It’s been divided for so long, but other regions are no good. Like Normandy occupied by Britain, for instance.”

“Unfortunately, I understand.”

It’s unfortunate and all, but not giving that land would just be conscience-less.

Let’s be real; even though Free France claims it’s unfair, in the end, didn’t Britain trust France and deliver a big blow?

Even the last landing operation gathered British recruits and Commonwealth forces.

“So, that’s settled. Did you say it’s the Order of the Cross of Fire?”

“It’s the Order, sir.”

Order or Party, it’s all the same.

“Right. What matters is that it’s that party member named Louise.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Something to say? Of course, I do.

“You should be straightforward; what’s that? It sounds strange. I mean, a loyal person is enough with just Maria. Why Louise.”

Louise? She’s been shadowing me. If I leave here, wouldn’t Louise and Maria be around?

At my words, La Roche’s face suddenly went cold.

I see. This guy has something on his mind.

“Aha, you mean Louise. She’s the most beautiful and intelligent among the party members.”

Yeah. She’s an extraordinary beauty.

If only that was all, it would’ve been fine. Unfortunately, if she has the same brain structure as Maria, then that’s really troublesome.

“Did they select her deliberately? Is the party brainwashing? If it’s like communist brainwashing, that’d make me quite uncomfortable.”

The term “party” feels so communist that it makes me uncomfortable.

Certainly, their actions aren’t red, but it feels like watching a red dictatorship in action.

Long live our beloved comrade Stalin! Long live our beloved comrade Kimxx! You know, something like that.

I have this feeling that in the Order of the Cross of Fire, they’d be like, “Long live our beloved AI Anastasia!”

“That is absolutely not the case, Your Majesty. She became that way on her own.”

Hmm, Louise did that on her own?

You should speak clearly. A young girl at her prime can just shout “Long live AI Anastasia!” and change herself?

Is she gonna chant “AI Anastasia!” even if her head breaks?

What a lie. I glared at La Roche with this thought, but his eyes seemed unwavering, to signal there was no trace of a lie.

“She truly became that way on her own?”

I asked again just in case.

“Yes. It’s a fact, Your Majesty.”

“Surprisingly, the Order of the Cross of Fire led by La Roche is made up of such people. Your Majesty.”

De Gaulle sighed as if he had given up.

So, I don’t get how that works. How does that even happen?

Russia is understandable, but in France, at least within France itself, it wouldn’t look like Pétain’s decision but rather mine for launching a nuclear strike, right?

Pétain would’ve been the one taking the blame to capture public sentiment, right?

But still, can a young person be like that?

No, considering she’s young, maybe that’s why it’s okay?

“So, what on earth did they see that made them that way?”

Could it be true brainwashing hypnosis?

For all I know, Louise might be in her mid-to-late 20s at most.

To my eyes, she seems to look like she’s in her early 20s by Western standards.

Then, she’s from the post-war generation, so it should be quite different?

“It is indeed the post-war generation, but technically she is from a unified Rome, isn’t she?”

Unification or not, it makes far more sense to see it as a confederation.

“Louise’s home is plastered with my war books and world strategy books, along with your photos.”

Her home is plastered with my war books, world strategy books, and my photos.

That must be a lie.

Although I’m not great at understanding fandoms, how can a person decorate their home with their favorite characters?

“The level of that lie is impressive.”

“It’s absolutely not a lie. Under what level would I lie?”

La Roche bent low, burying his head to the ground as if pleading.

“That’s the kind of person we selected as members. Since they need to please Your Majesty. She had a keen interest in history and was reading about Roman history. Now that the Rome Treaty has been restored in this era, it’s natural for her to be interested in you, who essentially reconstructed Rome.”

Ah, so she’s a Roman fanatic.

She certainly has a fondness for Rome, and it wouldn’t be hard to become a fan of Anastasia, the one who restored it.

“I see. Is that so? Oh, in that case, she was originally like that, huh.”

She seemed to be in a showdown with Maria. That surprised me.

I hope Louise won’t be coming all the way to Moscow or something.

Well, the relationship between Moscow and Paris exists, so it can’t be helped.

But right now, all we’re talking about is the Order of the Cross of Fire; are there no other parties in France?

“Well, whatever. So what exactly does the Cross of Fire do? Since General de Gaulle seems to be backing them, it looks like they occupy the Assembly.”

The Order of the Cross of Fire.

I hope they’re not like Nazis.

Although I have some sympathy for France due to the nuclear situation.

Since Pétain’s decisions turned Paris into a ruin, we need to listen to their opinions a bit more in the Rome Treaty, you know.

Of course, excluding territorial matters.

It’s also the place that needs the most reconstruction. But just the idea of a dangerous party popping up feels off.

“There is a social democracy party, but it’s more formal, and there are hardly any members.”

“Originally, the communes took a massive hit, so that played a large role.”

I nodded at what La Roche and de Gaulle said.

Yeah, that makes sense. With fewer people, there’s no choice.

“It all got wiped out, so it turned into a single-party rule.”

No matter how hard I try to flatter, it seems to be at least that much.

“It’s not a single-party system. There are a few smaller parties, and primarily because of the characteristics of the Rome Treaty Organization, it’s hard for parties to grow.”

It’s not a single-party system; it’s due to the characteristics of the Rome Treaty Organization.

Yeah, that could be the case.

Honestly, Germany, despite the Junkers’ weakening, has seen some splitting due to Communist Germany, with the existing privileged class supporting the Kaiser being called a single party.

However, with the Rome Treaty Organization becoming the center of Europe, nations that got split in the war will find it hard for parties to establish themselves properly.

In other words, that means their importance declines.

They can just maintain one party and send representatives to the Rome Treaty Organization headquarters.

Honestly, a country with many parties might be more troublesome.

Russia has seen the Roman Nationalist Party gaining influence recently, so it’s like that too.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

“It’s not that we aimed for absolute dictatorship. It was unavoidable due to the state system. Many died, so we had to unite under one party now.”

Yeah. I can understand that.

It’s unavoidable. In that process, they just need to select representatives and send them to the Rome Treaty Organization.

If I had to put it this way, that’s it. The nation of France is being treated like a province.

With Europe integrating and getting so colossal, France is being treated like a mere region.

“But this way, the situation is a bit concerning.”

“Yeah?”

I just thought about it.

I’m apparently becoming the Queen of France. Am I just an emperor? Like the Byzantine Emperor.

“Does that mean I need to hold a coronation? Is that what it means?”