Ch.391Traitor

* * *

“So if I do that, I can legitimately take back Egypt or do whatever I want with the pyramids? When I think about it, isn’t that pretty good?

But separate from that, you’re collecting too many royal titles.”

“Hmm, you want me to take the position of Egyptian monarch as well?”

“Egypt hasn’t existed as its own entity for centuries, being Roman territory, hasn’t it? Besides, with how much we’re investing in Egypt, I believe you should at least be the Queen of Egypt.”

At least be the Queen of Egypt, he says.

He’s mistaken if he thinks I’m some kind of title collector, but if it’s related to Rome, I have no reason to refuse.

At this rate, Vladimir is going to have a fit.

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound bad.”

“Yes. If you would do this, we would be most grateful!”

This Nasser fellow—is he really allowed to approve making me queen on his own authority?

So, how many female rulers has Egypt had until now?

Besides Cleopatra, I don’t know any at all. But honestly, aren’t I prettier than Cleopatra?

Still, I’m not thrilled about this because of Nasser.

Asking me to become the Queen of Egypt.

Yes. Rome has deep ties with Egypt, so I suppose it makes sense. Hmm.

No, wait. Looking at this guy’s behavior, it seems like he wants Egypt to become a formal member of the Roman Treaty? If I ascend to the throne, Egypt can’t remain just a partner country.

And if he makes me Empress, his own life would be guaranteed too.

The latter seems more likely.

“Well. Have you ever seen such a traitor? You want me to become your king?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I beg you, please accept the position of Queen of Egypt!”

Ha! Look at this bastard.

He’s trying to exploit an opportunity here. That’s what he means, right?

I really hate guys like this.

But it feels wrong to just beat him up. If I accept the Egyptian throne, wouldn’t I need to invest some budget in Egypt too?

Though we’ve been continuously providing modernization funds anyway, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

“It’s not a bad idea, Your Majesty.”

“Though this Nasser’s actions are despicable, if he does his job well, what’s the problem?”

As long as he does his job well, I suppose.

“Above all, when restoring the pyramids, wouldn’t it be more satisfying to have a monarch overseeing the restoration?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

That’s a valid point, which makes this complicated.

Yes. Simply repairing the pyramids versus restoring them carries different meanings.

Having a monarch makes the restoration more meaningful.

Isn’t it much better than some nobody like Nasser advocating for restoration?

It would be nice if it seemed like I personally ordered Nasser to do it. That kind of feeling.

“Sigh, I suppose accepting would be best.”

“Indeed. Please rule Egypt as the Roman Emperor!”

This guy is even doing a dogeza now.

The kind of sycophant you can see anywhere, anyhow.

Looking at him like this, I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

Such a person ultimately has to live by flattering others.

“Hm. President Nasser.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It’s fortunate you’re so quick-witted. To be honest, if you were someone like Gaddafi, I would have had your head.”

It’s truly regrettable, I mean.

“This Nasser is merely Your Majesty’s servant! Your dog!”

Oh shit, I’ve gained an unwanted middle-aged male servant.

And one who calls himself a dog, like some furry. My secret friend has always been Belkaran.

“Well, you can remain as president. I am the Emperor of all Rome. Just don’t try any more funny business.”

“I will keep that in mind!”

This guy will die soon enough anyway.

There’s no need to go out of my way to kill him.

I’ve simply naturally acquired Egypt as well.

“Should I contact home about this?”

Won’t there be another coronation ceremony with crowds of people?

Moving the entire Duma would be too much, but even a streamlined event would become a global affair.

After all, Egyptian civilization is one of the four great ancient civilizations.

“Wouldn’t a grand ceremony be better?”

“Is there really a need for that? I think we could just announce the Egyptian queenship in the newspapers.”

Louise and Maria had differing opinions.

And now they’re glaring at each other with sparks flying. Don’t fight like that.

From my perspective, when both of you fight like this, I get decision paralysis.

“What should I do when you two have different opinions?”

When my unofficial power players Maria and the French version of Maria Louise have different opinions, it’s difficult for me to decide.

Am I just a symbolic figure from the start?

Do I just say “yes” to whatever my subjects suggest and sign papers like a rubber stamp?

It’s like I’m at the top of a company, just approving things and collecting a salary while doing nothing. Isn’t that too much for someone like me?

“Isn’t Your Majesty’s will the most important?”

“That’s right. We follow Your Majesty’s words as law.”

My will is most important, they say. When you two say that, it feels like you’re forcing me to take sides.

Wait, where did La Rocque go? Shouldn’t he be helping me right now?

Ah, damn it. How did I end up in this position having to deal with these troubles?

“Honestly, I don’t want this to become public gossip. It’s just the Roman Emperor reincorporating Egypt into Rome.”

I don’t want this to become public gossip.

We can’t have a full coronation ceremony like this.

We can just formally keep the Republic of Egypt as part of the Roman Treaty.

Above all, how long would a coronation ceremony take?

I can’t wait around for all that, so it’s better to just let it pass quietly.

To the point where Egyptians would barely notice it happened.

It would be better to put the coronation costs toward pyramid restoration instead.

“Then let’s keep it to a minimum.”

“No, this Nasser will cover all the costs.”

That’s not your money, you dog Nasser.

A grown man shouldn’t refer to himself in the third person. It’s disgusting even when women do it.

“That money comes from the Roman Treaty anyway. And even if it’s citizens’ tax money, use it to develop the country more.”

Isn’t this the virtue of a monarch?

Hey, a monarchy led by a capable ruler is better than a republic run by trash.

It would be better if I actually governed instead of this Nasser bastard.

“Well, shouldn’t you at least be seen with President Nasser? That way, Egyptians won’t take this situation too seriously.”

“Do Egyptians take it seriously?”

“If images of the president bowing his head spread, wouldn’t they?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

After all, this Nasser bastard immediately prostrated himself when I threatened to cut his throat.

He’s even adding all kinds of cutesy behavior by referring to himself in the third person.

It’s utterly disgusting.

“Yes. Moreover, since President Nasser’s approval rating among Egyptians is quite high, appearing together would be sufficient.”

“So I just need to walk around with him a bit.”

There’s no need to make it as grand as France did.

After all, I’m only accepting the throne for political purposes. Then, I can just go back later and say, “Oh, I accepted the Egyptian queenship. Tee-hee!~” That should be enough.

When the Tsar speaks with such aegyo, I believe no one would dare question it.

So I rode around Cairo city with Nasser in a car.

With banners welcoming the Roman Emperor.

“The Roman Emperor? Are we part of the Roman Treaty now?”

“That’s what they’re saying.”

“You fools. She’s becoming our President Nasser’s patron!”

“Urgh. The prestige of President Nasser who made the Roman Emperor his patron! I’ll follow His Excellency even if my head gets smashed!”

And the Egyptians’ reactions were quite positive.

It’s perhaps natural since it appeared as if Gaddafi had gained the world’s greatest emperor as a patron.

Wow, damn. This much is necessary.

Gaddafi should have at least followed Nasser’s example.

Well, it might be too late now, and it would have been difficult with his personality. Anyway, the Egyptians’ support for Nasser was impressive.

Probably thanks to the money from the Roman Treaty.

Such foolish people.

“How about accepting the Libyan throne while you’re at it?”

The Libyan throne is a bit…

I’ve already made the big decision to return their king and removed Gaddafi, so I’ve done what needed to be done.

“Let Libya handle its own affairs. They’ll figure it out later.”

Libya already has a king, hmm. Then I’ll just take the Egyptian throne for now.

It’s absolutely not because I want royal titles.

It’s just that if I’m going to intervene in Egypt anyway, that approach isn’t bad.

“Since we’re here, shall we go see the pyramids?”

There’s also the purpose of inspecting the pyramids that will be rebuilt.

It would be good to enjoy some tourism while we’re here before heading back.

“Come to think of it, didn’t Napoleon also see the pyramids?”

“Stop with the Napoleon talk already. This hat is embarrassing enough.”

It’s already embarrassing wearing this thing on my head, and when you say things like that, it makes me feel like I’m actually Napoleon. What am I, a gender-swapped Napoleon?

“But it suits you well?”

“Enough. Anyway, I need to leave quickly if only to avoid seeing that Nasser. A grown man saying ‘Nasser is~’ is an eyesore.”

Let’s finish this quickly and go.

“Do you think so?”

“Frankly, if I were to say ‘Anastasia wants~ mint chocolate~’ in front of the Duma or you all, wouldn’t you be annoyed?”

When someone who’s fully grown acts like that, it’s an eyesore.

I personally have no desire to act that way either. Anyway, it looks bad.

“Oh, that might be quite irritating.”

“Quite what?”

“Nothing. But if you did that, everyone would probably be dying of happiness?”

Did I just hear something wrong?

No, that can’t be right? Maria, who even has a child, wouldn’t say such things.

She couldn’t possibly say such things even to close aides.

But still, she wouldn’t go that far, right?

“Surely, no matter how brain-damaged, they wouldn’t.”

I used to think that way once.

“President Nasser is the best!”

“Your Excellency! Lead Egypt together with the Roman Empress!”

Egyptians reading newspapers about Nasser near the pyramids are praising him mindlessly.

Hmm, looking at that, it’s not entirely wrong.

I am incredibly beautiful, and if I weren’t the Tsar, these people would be openly staring at me.

If an AI Anastasia comes out looking exactly like me in the future, there’s a good chance they’d be all over it.

If one does come out, I could directly manage it like a VTuber for a while, and then if a truly identical AI appears, I could hand over the treaty government to the AI.

The ultimate form of capitalism. Creating an equal world governed by an incredibly advanced AI government.

Of course, even if this actually happens.

Like the pigs in North Korea, they might worship it with “Comrade Leader,” “General,” and so on.

Well, whatever. At least I’m not getting stabbed, which is fortunate.

Except for the Middle East, which suffered terrorism because of those Greek bastards after the Great War, I’m doing fine.

* * *

Kingdom of Spain

Around this time, Spain heard the news of Anastasia’s ascension as Queen of Egypt.

The Tsar now also held the position of Egyptian Queen.

Egypt was under Roman rule, so what more could be said?

“I hear the Tsar has ascended to the Egyptian throne.”

“Haha. She’s quite the collector of royal titles.”

How many thrones is she taking now?

Perhaps she will collect various thrones in the future as well. If so, what about Spain?

Currently, Alfonso XIII sat on the Spanish throne.

“Tsk. Doesn’t this put us in an awkward position?”

“Well, Libya also has its own king, so it shouldn’t matter.”

Libya might be in a floating position, but it was outside the Tsar’s interest from the beginning, and wasn’t Spain originally part of Rome’s territory?

“Aren’t we different from Africa and such?”

How dare they compare us to the likes of Libya?

However, the Egyptian queenship was a different story.

The Tsar, who didn’t hold the throne of Spain—once Western Roman territory—took the Egyptian queen’s position first. Doesn’t this truly leave Spain hanging?

“Doesn’t Prime Minister Franco have some friendship with the Tsar?”

It’s subtle to call it friendship.

“The Tsar isn’t the type to look down on us just because she doesn’t take our throne. We’re already bound by the Roman Treaty, so what’s the problem?”

“Couldn’t our voice be overshadowed by France?”

In fact, it already was.

To be precise, it was just a voice given out of pity for a torn-apart France. But from Spain’s perspective as a nominal victor, it was concerning.

There was also the Danubian Federation, but the Tsar and former Chancellor Hitler had built a special relationship since the Red-White Civil War. Since the Tsar essentially created the Danubian Federation, the Danubians regarded the Russian Tsar almost like their own Kaiser.

“Then there’s nothing we can do.”

“We have our own monarch, so there’s nothing to be done.”

Spain was a monarchy with an existing king.

Of course, politics were managed by the Falange party, but still.

“No, what if we did this?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Didn’t we have emperor and vassal systems in both Europe and the East?”

Wasn’t there such a precedent in the past?