LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 396
Meanwhile, even Switzerland, which had been a neutral country all this time, felt the winds of change.
The thing is, Switzerland was affected by the Rome Treaty but never really felt its presence. It was like they were floating in limbo.
It made sense, right? Being wedged right in between European nations under the Rome Treaty.
However, now that most European countries recognized Anastasia as the emperor of the Rome Treaty Organization, Switzerland had to make a choice too.
“Is there really any meaning in us holding onto this position? We’re practically a partner country with no say in the Rome Treaty.”
After all, they were all the same forces.
They had already formed a political and economic integrated system, and apparently, the ultimate goal was to transition to an e-government through computers.
On the other hand, Switzerland had not achieved any economic integration with the Rome Treaty Organization.
They were just a formal entity in the Rome Treaty Organization.
In fact, Switzerland maintained its neutral stance to the extent that they didn’t even establish a delegation at the Rome headquarters.
Is there even any point to being a neutral country like this? That’s how it ended up.
“Let’s make a choice now.”
Ultimately, Switzerland also recognized Anastasia as the emperor of the Rome and formally participated in the Rome Treaty, with her claim over the Alpine region serving as justification.
—
Russian Republic, Moscow
I finally returned home.
In fact, I made sure to come back as cautiously and quietly as possible.
Why did I come back quietly? Isn’t it obvious?
If I announced my return under the current circumstances, it would have caused an uproar, right?
The airport would have been flooded with people.
And after going through all that trouble, I finally arrived at the Kremlin.
“Ah, my home is the best.”
“Is it really okay for you to return like this?”
Maria asked me carefully.
It was impossible for the Balkans to resist us in the first place.
If they got kicked out for offending the Rome Treaty, how would we handle that chaos?
If we had no allies to help, the thought of putting that jerk George out of his misery would just leave us in a bind.
“Well, what problem is there?”
“Given the moment we disembarked at the airport, I think it’s already over. Plus, there’s a wedding happening right now.”
I thought I’d finally get to rest at home after a long time. But what kind of wedding was this?
Curious about what was going on, I discovered that Elizabeth was at the Kremlin.
“Oh, Elizabeth, you’ve grown a lot.”
Oh, I must have said something contradictory to my thoughts. But who cares? Facts exist to be bluntly stated.
She’s younger than me, but looking at her aging face, I feel no superiority at all.
And as this situation continues, my authority only increases.
While others age, I’m still a young woman, you see.
Worship of me happening all across Europe is unavoidable.
Ah, but Elizabeth’s face twisted.
“This is the norm. Your Majesty.”
“Well, aging is unavoidable by human strength.”
That’s just what being human means.
Unless you happen to meet someone so invincible like me.
But still, seeing those I know age in real-time is kinda strange. Next time I meet an old person, I should at least ask them to remain youthful, even if they have to pass away.
Then, it wouldn’t seem a frail little girl had just died.
“I’m truly envious.”
“Is it really something to be envious of?”
“I wish to rule as long as you, Your Majesty.”
It’s like publicly declaring through tears that she won’t step down from the queen’s position.
What nonsense is this?
Wanting to stay in that position for a long time. Is that why Charles couldn’t ascend to the throne in history?
“One mustn’t be greedy. So, what’s the matter today? It doesn’t seem like you came just to say you envy me.”
It seems like that’s the case.
“Didn’t we agree to link my son Charles with Grand Duke Vladimir’s child?”
Charles and Vladimir’s daughter. Maria, right? Yeah, that’s what the marriage is about.
Why is her name Maria? It’s obviously intended to flatter me by taking the name of Maria, who has been serving me for decades.
Mmm~ no matter what, I’m going to pass the throne to her!
With that in mind, if I later pass the throne to that Maria, there’s going to be this bizarre phenomenon where Maria is denied the throne by Maria, who has been serving Maria.
Or maybe not? Since it’s not Anastasia, she probably won’t get denied the throne.
Anyway, is it already that time?
“Oh, was that decided?”
“Of course, this is formal, and I feel like I should still meet the Roman Emperor.”
Meeting the Roman Emperor.
It’s kind of uplifting to see the Queen of the British Empire coming out like that.
“I have no idea how long it’s been since I last saw you as a lady.”
Honestly, despite all the talk about the British Empire and the Dual Monarchy, I don’t think I’ve actually met Elizabeth many times.
I hadn’t even met the Kaiser of the Donut Federation, our blood ally since the Air Defense Treaty, so it makes sense, right?
“If a Dual Monarchy with the British Empire were to happen, it would virtually include the Commonwealth under the Rome Treaty.”
If we collaborate with the British Empire, the Commonwealth would practically be our backyard.
Who would have predicted that this is how relations between Britain and us would develop?
If we later incorporate the Donut Federation alongside the Romanovs, that’d only be better.
Northern Europe is already in the Russian sphere of influence.
“Yes, that’s how it will be.”
“Anyway, I look forward to it. And here’s.”
The face here seems familiar, like someone I’ve seen in the media before.
Yeah, that face kind of resembles Charles.
“It’s Charles, Your Majesty.”
“He indeed looks young. Hmm, to be honest, I’m a bit worried.”
Charles has been known to be a bit controversial historically, right?
Oh well, whatever. It doesn’t concern me. As long as there’s no trouble with the Dual Monarchy, it’s okay to let it slide.
“Have you seen anything regarding my son?”
Have I seen? Quite a lot.
Hmm, but honestly, I only know about the British situation from Korean news or newspapers.
“Be particularly cautious regarding women. You never know how the future could turn out.”
The future has already twisted.
Things have changed so much that it’s unbelievable, but even if Charles ends up like he did in history, it doesn’t concern me as long as I’m here.
“Hmm.”
“And somehow, I see a future where he becomes the longest-serving heir.”
This feels like mere speculation to me.
Seeing as Elizabeth has expressed wanting to hold the throne for a long time, it’s pretty obvious.
“Oh, um. Will that really happen?”
“The future is bound to change. At least, it would have been that way in a world without a Russian-British Dual Monarchy.”
“Talking about world strategy, are we?”
World strategy. It’s not an exaggeration to say that there’s hardly anyone in Europe who doesn’t know about it.
It’s clear that out of concern for this, the Europeans will be on their guard.
The future may have changed, but they’ll still proceed with caution.
If they’re aware of this world strategy, they’ll likely be on the lookout as well.
“Yes, so be careful going forward.”
“Yes, I will be especially cautious.”
Charles nodded to me, and I found the scene quite fascinating, unexpectedly smiling. However,
“The longest-serving heir, you say?”
Elizabeth, on the other hand, appeared taken aback by my words.
“Elizabeth will live long anyway; it’s not a problem.”
After all, she’s not likely to die anytime soon, so what’s to worry about?
She’s not someone who poses a significant problem, anyway. The world has changed so much that peaceful Europe can just enjoy sweet times.
Apologizing for the years of colonial rule while providing substantial aid to many former colonies, particularly Vietnam, is something that’s happening.
The United States has also been putting effort into pumping money into Vietnam.
“Are the Balhae people afraid of Vietnam’s development?” This could become a real plotline.
Of course, I can’t fathom how Vietnam could possibly defeat the public title granted by the Rome Treaty.
“Is Elizabeth Queen going to reign for a long time?”
After Elizabeth and Charles went to meet Vladimir, Maria brought me tea and said.
If all goes smoothly, it probably will be.
I think Elizabeth seems a bit competitive against me, clearly determined to hold onto her position as long as possible.
Come to think of it, who’s the Prime Minister now?
“That should be the case. Who is the Prime Minister now?”
“James Harold Wilson.”
Has it already been that long since Churchill?
As I watch those I know pass away, I can’t help but feel bittersweet.
The vacant spots will be filled by new faces.
“Well, I’ve pretty much done all I need to do.”
Whoever the British Prime Minister or the Balhae President is, it doesn’t matter.
I have selected the best from my appointed position.
I have accelerated humanity’s technological progress and given a boost, and until his last moment, Tesla set off the signal for the wireless revolution.
I don’t know how the future will change, but at the very least, I can say I’ve prevented the seeds of conflict in advance.
The uprising of various terrorists and potential civil wars, starvation, and poverty in Africa all.
“Is everything really over?”
“I can’t see the future anymore. From now on, it’s about crafting a brand new future.”
Honestly, hasn’t it been maintained solely by my charisma for a long time now?
It’s been ages since the future became unclear.
That’s why a more advanced electronic government system needs to be introduced.
“Is that so?”
“But at the very least, it should be better than the original history. A world that has at least minimized conflict. While the United States may have some disputes with South America or us, it shouldn’t reach a global scale.”
Even if Africa or China gets involved.
Africa will somehow get sorted out. That leaves China, but it’s not like we provoked them into a fight.
They’re just caught up in their own brand of Chinese nationalism.
“We’re not the ones holding a sword, threatening them, right? Just letting things settle as they are is also a valid method. Isn’t it ridiculous to insist on unification and fight for it?”
I find this quite pitiful.
Mao Zedong never intended to unify until the very end.
He had been advocating for soft autonomy for decades. Although he might not have aimed for unification, he didn’t expect to cling to the notion of soft autonomy until his death.
It’s said his last words were:
“Seeing those southern warlords caught up in what they perceive as Chinese imperialism, soft autonomy is a system unbefitting the Chinese people.”
These southern warlords keep fighting amongst themselves, and that’s what he probably meant before dying.
At least we’ve manipulated and laid the groundwork while striving to maintain peace.
Just as Mao Zedong said, it was only the warlords fighting with swords amongst themselves for unification.
UN peacekeeping forces? If that happens, it’ll involve meddling in soft autonomy policies, which would also signify a civil war, so we can’t intervene.
Naturally, Mao Zedong wouldn’t be able to relinquish his status of authority over the middle-ground Chinese soft autonomy, so he wouldn’t wish for that either.
It became a situation that’s neither here nor there.
In the end, the most ideal scenario for Mao Zedong is for the warlords to come to realize and stop the fighting, strengthening themselves to prepare for unification.
Of course, despite all of that, soft autonomy still sucked sweetly from the public title.
The wedding has come to an end.
The Russian-British dual monarchy was achieved, and in essence, it became equivalent to the establishment of Roman Britain.
Though truly, it wouldn’t be Roman Britain.
“Turkey, Greece, Switzerland, and others have officially acknowledged Your Majesty as Emperor over all regions pertaining to the Roman domain.”
Now, there really isn’t anywhere in Europe that can resist me.
“Hmm, so does this mean every country now regards me as the Roman Emperor?”
“Yes. Your legitimacy is further secured now.”
I really dislike this ‘further’ part.
I’m already satisfied; it’s the same as stating I want even more from here on out.
It feels like an endless confirmation process.
Of course, doing that would solidify Europe even more into one unified block.
“It’s just a confirmation process as well, isn’t it? Just tedious.”
Indeed, because of that, I planned to leave it loose and stick with forming a federation, intending to draw limits that would prevent any escape while successively proceeding with economic and political integration.
But now, I’ve genuinely become a true emperor.
Anyway, while Britain feels regret over not being the one, haven’t they united with the Romanovs?
They’d be satisfied from their perspective too. Europe is united under Rome.
Rome has been completely integrated under one emperor through the Rome Treaty.