Ch.377The Restoration of the French Monarchy

France and Burgundy becoming like North and South Korea? I don’t think so.

“What request? What right do I have?”

I have no rights whatsoever.

Unification? It seems they want to unify France, but why are they telling me this?

I’m just here on vacation, for goodness’ sake.

“We would like your help. Germany also wants to unify with Burgundy, which is hindering our unification.”

These guys are ridiculous. I never authorized any unification. Yet they come to me out of nowhere asking for help with unification.

Well, I suppose they’re trying to get my permission while they’re at it. That must be their mindset.

Since Germany is making moves, they’re approaching me first to set the stage and put on a show.

They want to go with the flow and immediately snatch Burgundy. Is that it?

“I never authorized any unification.”

“Of course not, Your Majesty. But you haven’t authorized Germany either, have you?”

That’s right. I haven’t authorized Germany either.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about that.

I mean, why should I care about unification? It’s just a matter of going to either Central Rome or Western Rome.

“That’s true.”

“Right now, Germany is trying to swallow up Burgundy, which is why we’ve come forward like this.”

They’re not really coming forward—they’re simply trying to establish legitimacy.

Germany is acting on its own, so they want to use me to attempt unification. That seems to be what they’re saying.

Honestly, isn’t it completely transparent?

They’re speaking politely now, but they’re essentially saying, “Wouldn’t it be better if we unified?”

Hmm, well, I don’t know.

I really don’t know how to respond to this.

In the end, I came here on vacation only to get caught up in another mess. Even without terrorism, they find various ways to drag me into things.

Common sense would suggest they wouldn’t attempt terrorism now that the world knows I can’t die.

“Is that so? So that’s why you’ve come forward. Hmm.”

But what do they want me to do? They want to get Burgundy from me while they’re at it. Is that what they’re saying?

What do they plan to do if they get Burgundy?

“Both sides are under the Roman Treaty, so what’s the problem?”

I mean, they’re all the same, so what’s the issue?

They’re all under the same Roman Treaty. They’re all Rome. Everyone is the same within Rome’s framework.

So does unification even matter?

“Your Majesty, there’s still the matter of direct territories.”

“I see. So you want to hold Burgundy in your own hands. Is that it?”

Right. I understand the feeling of wanting to hold a toy in your hands.

I can understand that to some extent. That’s what I’m saying.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Above all, it’s a political issue.”

“Above all, political?”

I really hate politics.

Those who only have self-defense forces aren’t likely to declare martial law. There must be factional fighting internally.

La Rocque’s Freikorps, the Fiery Cross faction.

Or de Gaulle’s faction with Pétain as their leader.

“Yes. If we lose Burgundy to Germany on top of everything else, there might be shooting within our ranks.”

Internal shooting. Well, what can people with only self-defense forces do anyway?

“This is really absurd.”

“Actually, our party leader is even considering restoring the monarchy.”

Restoring the monarchy. Yes, that’s a good… Wait, what? Restoring the monarchy?

“Restoring the monarchy? Bonaparte?”

Are they saying France is attempting to restore the monarchy here?

Good heavens.

Why would they restore the monarchy in this half-baked France?

Trouble seems to follow me wherever I go.

“I don’t know much about that either. It’s just been discussed within the party, and right now unification is urgent.”

If it’s urgent, you should have found out about that too, damn it.

Heaven is truly merciless to create such a precious situation.

“Fine. Let me hear what you have to say.”

So these French guys are aiming for a restoration of the monarchy.

Come to think of it, this is absurd.

France, if nowhere else, is a place that’s gone through revolution after revolution.

Revolution at the drop of a hat. Republic, then Empire, then Republic again, then Commune. Good grief.

I don’t know what these people are trying to do.

“What does Maria think?”

“Why overthink it?”

Right. No need to overthink it. That’s one way to look at it. But you know what?

“In the end, it’s no different from having to work.”

I came here on vacation. I didn’t come here to work.

Of course, I say “vacation,” but it doesn’t feel like one. Strangely, that’s how it is.

I’m just formally resting now. Just pretending I’m on vacation.

Even the hotel in Paris is worse than the Kremlin Palace.

It doesn’t really feel like I’m resting.

“Let’s just go and hear what they have to say. Ignoring them now might become troublesome later.”

Just listen to what they have to say. Maria may say that, but she must know I’m not feeling like I’m on vacation.

“I suppose so. Sigh, unification, huh.”

These guys, it’s just talk. In the end, they want their land back, that’s all.

But ignoring them after they’ve personally invited me would be awkward. It might actually be nothing serious.

The mention of restoring the monarchy does seem suspicious though.

“I think unification is an inevitable step. If we ignore it here, it might just create unnecessary bad feelings between us.”

Should I look into the situation in Burgundy?

“No, why would that matter now?”

To me, it just looks like whining.

Why is the restoration of the monarchy suddenly coming up? Tsk. So, if they do restore the monarchy, how would that work? Would it be Bonaparte or someone else who takes the throne?

“Let’s just see. Don’t you feel a bit curious anyway, Your Majesty?”

“Yes, I’m a bit bored. And since Vichy is said to be a resort town, I’d like to visit.”

If Vichy is a resort town, maybe it’s worth going?

I’ve heard many tourists in Paris talking about going to Vichy.

“Then wouldn’t it be good to go and see?”

“Fine. How did I end up like this? It’s really absurd. Alright, guide me to Vichy.”

How did I become such a workaholic?

I definitely need to create computers, the internet, and smartphones somehow.

I feel like I must do this. I’ll definitely make them at least 10 years earlier than scheduled.

* * *

Vichy, France. Vichy.

In Vichy, France, they were busy preparing to welcome the Tsar.

Especially delicious foods that the Tsar likes.

From bread that France takes pride in to mint chocolate desserts. Even de Gaulle and La Rocque were personally involved in preparing the hot spring travel part for the Tsar.

However, there was one problem here.

La Rocque had suddenly brought up the topic of restoring the monarchy.

“You want to restore the monarchy? At this time?”

“Yes.”

“It’s precisely because of the timing. Britain, as well as the Northern, Central, and Eastern Roman regions all have monarchs, don’t they?”

In other words, it’s the trend of monarchies.

The Roman Treaty functions because of monarchies. This was a clear fact.

Although it’s going against the times, with Russia considering the monarch as the focal point of national unity…

“That’s true, but still, why now…”

“Just because it’s trendy doesn’t mean we should give away the throne so easily.”

Above all, this is France.

The situation is different from Britain, Germany, Russia, and the historic Habsburg.

Of course, being within the framework of the Roman Treaty makes it better than ever before.

“What’s the reason we ended up like this? In the end, it’s the continuous revolutions that are the problem, isn’t it? We need a throne to serve as a focal point.”

France is a country of revolutions.

A crazy country that revolts at the drop of a hat. A country where citizens rise up and send politicians to the guillotine if they’re displeased.

This was pushed to the extreme during the last war when they sided with Communist Germany, wanting to be on the winning side, and accepted the Commune only to fail.

So now, are they suggesting filling the throne?

“Then should we restore the Spanish royal family? Whatever we do, talking about focal points… We’ve even overthrown empires.”

In other words, a monarchy in France would be meaningless.

But even so, there’s no better solution.

“Hmm, then Burgundy is completely finished, isn’t it?”

“So what do you suggest we do?”

The representatives each racked their brains and offered various strategies, but it seemed the only way forward was through monarchy.

“Then who do we give the crown to?”

“Let’s give it to the Tsar.”

Ha, give it to the Tsar. The Tsar. Yes, not a bad idea. After all, isn’t the Tsar someone who already holds various royal titles?

Some might even say he’s a collector of royal titles.

For a brief moment, de Gaulle smirked with a sneer, but then his eyes widened.

Give it to the current Tsar? Really?

De Gaulle stood up abruptly and confronted La Rocque.

“What? The Tsar? You mean the current Tsar?”

“If we give it to the Tsar, there won’t be any revolutions, and other countries would accept it, wouldn’t they? After all, many countries are allied with the Tsar and the Eastern Army.”

“That’s true, but…”

Indeed, he does have many royal titles.

“And as a condition for giving the crown, we integrate Burgundy here.”

Give away the crown and integrate Burgundy.

Isn’t this like giving away a toy in exchange for land?

“Give away the crown and ask for Burgundy? What kind of…”

“At the very least, on the map of the Roman Treaty, the Gallic region should include Burgundy, shouldn’t it?”

At La Rocque’s words, de Gaulle held his forehead.

Thinking about it, there doesn’t seem to be any other way.

Looking at other methods, France is already branded as an accident-prone country that could flip at any moment.

Even the “German Empire” pretends to be a victim and receives comfort from the Danube Federation, which is like a brother at the Roman headquarters.

Military action is also impossible.

It would be betraying the Roman Treaty, and even if they wanted to gather troops and pretend to rebel, they only have self-defense forces.

These self-defense forces can’t do anything.

It’s already a miracle that Algeria was peacefully incorporated. What can they do in this situation?

In other words, no matter how you look at it, there’s no answer except the throne.

“Using the throne, huh. That’s a great method, but honestly, it’s a bit… Why not put Grand Duke Vladimir on the throne instead?”

The Second Abdication Attempt.

Currently, representatives of the Roman Treaty countries and governments referred to Anastasia’s abdication drama as the Second Abdication Attempt.

This event, which will be called the Second Abdication Attempt in the distant future, was a hot issue even at this point.

Anyway, France was now considering giving the French throne to the Tsar.

“Of course, we should try to persuade as much as possible. We’re also considering Grand Duke Vladimir as an alternative.”

“Ah, so in the end, that’s the only way.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway, does it? We’re already bound by the Roman Treaty, so what difference does it make whether it’s Bourbon or Romanov?”

It seems nonsensical, but it makes sense.

After all, they’re within the framework of the Roman Treaty countries. Whether they make a Romanov the head of state or someone from another royal family, it’s all the same.

Now that they’re united, what does it matter whether it’s the Russian throne or whatever?

They need to reclaim Burgundy at least.

Ideally, they’d like to reclaim English territories too, but that’s probably too difficult.

So, to eat up Burgundy at least, there’s no other answer but to give away the crown.

But suddenly something occurred to him.

“Yes, that’s right. But wait.”

De Gaulle hopes this uncomfortable guess doesn’t come true.

But it was definitely something to consider.

“What’s wrong?”

“Let’s say all of that is correct. Give the throne to recover Burgundy? That could work. But…”

This is the most important part. What I’m saying now.

It’s all good. Giving the throne, the crown to the Romanovs, that’s fine.

Honestly, the nuclear bombing was because of the Commune, so it can’t be helped. That’s how one can rationalize it.

The bad feelings from that time have been shaken off. If we were to argue, if they hadn’t used nukes then, Free France would have suffered too.

But setting aside the past…

“Yes, go on.”

“Would the Tsar accept it? A Tsar who’s already causing an abdication commotion?”

Yes, that’s it.

As mentioned earlier, would Anastasia, who tried to step down citing age as a reason, accept the French throne?

At de Gaulle’s words, La Rocque blinked.

“That’s… Ahem. That’s true.”

Right. Come to think of it, the Tsar wants to step down from the current position, so what would they say if we added another one?

Thinking about it, this might not work.

They’d say they want to quit, and…

“Let’s wait since we’ve invited them to Vichy.”

“Are they coming?”

“Yes, it seems they came determined to travel. It’s possible.”

Whether they come is one thing, but wouldn’t the Tsar already know everything?

They might come since it’s a trip, but honestly, I’m not very hopeful.

They might have caught wind of the discussion about restoring the monarchy.