Ch.380The Queen of France, Ana-chan

“Ahem. Well, I suppose that could be the case.”

“First, I have a few conditions for becoming the Queen of France.”

No matter how I look at it, I can’t just say “I want to be the Queen of France!” like that.

What about the French people, even if these guys are asking me to become their queen?

It’s the Commune era, but can they really trust the people behind those who dropped nukes on them?

Of course, that’s just talk—if I really think about it, it doesn’t matter.

Right now, my life is at stake.

“Please speak, Your Majesty.”

“I am an emperor who follows the will of the people. If the French people desire it, and if this can pass through the Constantinople Treaty Organization, then I will accept at that time.”

It was the same when I became Tsar in the United States.

At that time, the people only wanted Anachang, and even the socialist faction in the State Duma, which had a slight red tinge, wanted me as Tsar.

It was all about “All power to the Duma under the Tsar whom God protects!”

France, on the other hand, is a completely foreign country.

I believe a national referendum is a necessary process.

“Well then, we’ll proceed with a preliminary vote right away.”

“What?”

This bastard had everything prepared in advance.

He knows I love democracy and is doing this.

Come to think of it, if they’re proposing to make me queen, they would have prepared this much.

“At this point, the French people wouldn’t mind if Your Majesty ascended to the throne as long as Burgundy is unified.”

How easygoing are these French people? Or is this some kind of “Anachang effect” despite the nuclear attack?

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“Yes, so you just need to make appropriate contact with the Constantinople Treaty Organization.”

Suddenly putting me up for a national referendum to make me the Queen of France?

Imagining it makes my jaw drop. What does this even mean?

They’ve prepared everything without my permission and made it so I can’t escape?

Isn’t this terrorism in another sense?

* * *

Moscow, Russia

Around this time, Moscow also received the news.

Thanks to European integration, direct phone calls had become possible.

“Hmm, we’ve received a message from France.”

“From France? Why France all of a sudden?”

“They’re holding a national referendum for Her Majesty to become queen in France.”

Yes, becoming queen. That could happen.

She already has many titles, so it could—Alisa Rosenbaum’s jaw dropped as she was thinking.

Wait, suddenly the Queen of France?

Not just anywhere, but the throne of France, the country whose boss dropped nukes on them?

Strictly speaking, they only “killed the Commune,” so it’s not impossible. But you know how it is.

There’s this thing called human emotion—the French probably felt more that their city was destroyed rather than just the “Commune” being killed.

Paris was completely obliterated.

The central area was completely destroyed, and even the relatively intact areas were so unpleasant that buildings were demolished and rebuilt.

“No, what’s going on here? Why does this happen everywhere Her Majesty goes?”

Why do these things happen everywhere she goes?

Honestly, it’s troublesome every time.

Of course, I can’t blame Mother Tsar, and Mother Tsar isn’t doing it on purpose, so I can only blame France.

Come to think of it, this would have happened through the Constantinople Treaty Organization even if Mother Tsar hadn’t gone to France.

“At least it’s not terrorism this time, which is fortunate.”

It’s fortunate that it’s not terrorism this time. The problem is that it’s as big an issue as terrorism.

“Fortunate that it’s not terrorism. Is that what you’re saying?”

“We’re already in a military alliance with Germany.”

Because of Grand Duke Vladimir, the military alliance with Germany is almost confirmed.

Of course, the succession has become somewhat delicate, but the military alliance is a fait accompli.

“Apparently, Grand Duke Vladimir is also being considered as a backup plan. It seems they want to put our Empress on the throne one way or another.”

They want to put her on the throne one way or another.

I can understand that. How great a figure is Mother Tsar?

“The problem is that Grand Duke Vladimir still has no interest in becoming Tsar.”

“It seems the French want the current Tsar to become the Queen of France.”

The current Tsar becomes the Queen of France.

Not just anything, but the queen of France, one of the major countries in the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

Even though the French mainland was torn apart, the Constantinople Treaty Organization allowed them to have a significant voice.

“Huh, is that even possible?”

“All we need to do is hold a coronation ceremony, right?”

Just hold a coronation ceremony.

Easier said than done. Mother Tsar would become the mother of France too.

Of course, she’s the mother of Rome, so it’s possible. It could work, but wouldn’t it be strange if there were no complaints? Above all, they might demand much more than they do now.

“That’s not such an easy matter.”

“What does the Constantinople Treaty Organization say?”

The problem is the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

How will the Constantinople Treaty Organization receive this?

To be fair, the Rome headquarters of the Constantinople Treaty Organization is the highest authority. This needs to be resolved there.

It would be less troublesome if they took care of it.

“They said it’s a Russian matter, so we should handle it.”

They passed it on because it would give them a headache too.

The treaty organization headquarters should handle this themselves. And now they say such things to Russia, which is just one of the countries in the treaty organization!

“Well. Let’s clear our minds and think about this.”

“So what should we do?”

“Just approve it?”

From a national interest perspective, it’s not bad.

It would actually strengthen the Rome Treaty even more.

If Mother Tsar succeeds to the French throne, we could place France under Russia’s direct influence, and it would be perfect for taking the initiative in the Constantinople Treaty Organization by placing it under Russia.

The problem is the French people. Whether the French will accept the Russian Empress as their queen. Another issue is that if she becomes the Queen of France, France is quite far from the Russian sphere.

“Isn’t it a problem for her to become the Queen of the French? I mean, being Ataman and Queen of Finland, Poland, Great Khan of Mongolia and Manchuria makes sense because they’re within our territory. But France is…”

Great Khan of Mongolia and Manchuria, Ataman of the Cossacks, Queen of Poland and Finland—these all make sense because they’re historically connected or within our sphere of influence.

Of course, France is technically within the Russian sphere if we consider the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

“If we consider it bound by the Rome Treaty, it’s not bad.”

She’s already the Emperor of Rome.

Gaul is just a province of Rome.

Becoming the Queen of Gaul isn’t bad.

As long as Russian citizens don’t protest against it.

“But isn’t giving them Burgundy a bit much?”

Wouldn’t it be problematic if France becomes stronger by getting Burgundy?

Considering France’s poor performance in World War II, I wanted to keep them frozen in that state for a century.

“They’ve already undergone disarmament and only have a self-defense force, so they probably don’t intend to arm themselves now. Besides, France lost many adult men in the last war and hasn’t even properly recovered yet.”

This way, France won’t be able to cause trouble again.

The German Empire also suffered significant damage last time, so a revolution can’t happen.

The post-war reconstruction was most intense in that region, so there’s no chance of revolution. It’s also where Russian troops are most heavily stationed.

“So, they only want Burgundy?”

They only want Burgundy.

“Yes. They’re demanding a national referendum.”

“Well, if that’s the case. What about Germany?”

Wouldn’t Germany be a problem then? It would be nice if one side stayed quiet.

Honestly, Germany has no right to take Burgundy.

They already took Luxembourg, and despite being the losing side, they’ve almost recovered their original territory.

Of course, if they act up relying on the Russian military alliance, that would be another problem.

“There’s no particular reaction from Germany either. It would be strange if they had complaints. They seem to have only made a half-hearted attempt at Burgundy unification.”

Then it shouldn’t be a problem.

“If that’s the case, transferring it to France with the ‘national referendum condition’ should be fine.”

On the surface, Burgundy is an independent country.

If there are many Germans inside, it will go to Germany, and if there are many French, it will go to France.

Of course, it’s undeniable that there are more French people.

So a national referendum is essentially the same as giving it to France.

Yes. That should be enough for them to take it.

If Mother Tsar is the Queen of France, it makes sense to give all French territory back. Of course, we absolutely cannot return the English territories.

But there was a problem.

“What? These frog bastards dare to make our mother the Queen of France?”

It was leaked outside by a Duma official.

Unfortunately, it was news that made those who considered Mother Tsar more of a mother than their biological mother foam at the mouth.

This was an outrage. It was as if their mother was being kidnapped to have a French husband and French children.

They felt like their mother was being taken away.

“This is an outrage we cannot tolerate! They’re taking our mother away!”

As if their mother had been stolen, the Russian people took to the streets in protest again.

Protests had become so routine that being Russian now came with a “protester” passive skill. The Russians shouted anti-French slogans.

Anti-French protests. An obsession with monopolizing their mother. Eventually, the Duma had to grab them by the back of the neck again.

“What are those bastards saying?”

“Those former commies now want Mother Tsar?”

“Mother Tsar belongs only to Russia!”

For Russians, Mother Tsar was only the mother of the Russians.

Of course, the title of Emperor of Rome was considered legitimate as the Emperor of Byzantium, the rightful Roman Emperor.

In reality, they didn’t mind other things, but having their mother take on other children felt wrong.

You know how it is. Like children whining because they feel like their mother is being taken away.

Anyway, anti-French protests erupted in Russia.

Meanwhile, among the French, this matter was also an important topic.

“The Tsar will become the Queen of France?”

“Doesn’t she consider us the Gallic province?”

Gallic province.

France was currently being called the Gallic province.

“It wasn’t the Tsar who treated us as the Gallic province, but the Fiery Cross.”

“But do we have a veto?”

If you ask if they have a veto, they don’t really have one.

They just do what the Constantinople Treaty Organization tells them to do. Of course, France has a fair amount of say, but because of the Commune era, France was neither here nor there.

“It might actually be better that way.”

“I heard the Russians are protesting against it?”

They were dumbfounded by the news of protests.

Protests? Does anyone think we’re happy about a Romanov ascending to the throne?

“Who wants this? The higher-ups decided it, what can we do?”

“But it might be fun to make the Russians angry.”

“Come to think of it, I’m getting angry. Damn Russians!”

“Everyone agrees, right?”

The French people didn’t really care either way.

Over the decades after the war, they had shed the image of a military power, a great nation, and had become almost a tourist country even within the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

They had only been rebuilt with the support of the Constantinople Treaty Organization.

In such a position, what did it matter whether there was a king or not?

But hitting France while it was quiet like this was quite troublesome.

However, if they protested just as the Commune water was draining, they might be accused of starting another revolution. So, expressing minor complaints, the vote proceeded smoothly.

Although the Fiery Cross hastily initiated the national referendum, people across France agreed to install the Russian Empress as the Queen of France. The vote received 90% approval, which couldn’t be compared to Russia’s 140%, but was still overwhelming.

The rest were invalid votes or very few against.

Excluding those who voted with indifference, Anachang was essentially decided as the Tsar of France by an overwhelming majority.

The countries of the Constantinople Treaty Organization found this result truly absurd.