Ch.392Iberian Peninsula

* * *

Of course, in Europe there are cases where the princes are actually stronger and bring shame to the emperor, but regardless.

“You mean to place someone above His Majesty the King?”

“There’s no law against it. After all, both His Majesty and ourselves only survived thanks to Russia.”

It’s simply Spain. Just placing a Roman Emperor over all of Europe above the king who only rules the Iberian Peninsula.

This way, the Tsar has no real grounds to refuse. Yet he can’t immediately hand over the Spanish throne either.

Moreover, speaking honestly, could anyone even memorize all the titles currently attached to the Russian Tsar?

It’s simply a matter of the Roman Emperor having a prince called the Spanish King beneath him.

If anything, Spain, having conceived this system, would likely receive favorable treatment within the treaty.

“Instead of giving away the throne, we place an emperor above the king.”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“What does Your Majesty think about this?”

Alfonso XIII.

Since he was still the king, his permission was necessary.

Of course, knowing he was part of the Roman Treaty, he wouldn’t likely refuse.

“Would anything really change from how things are now? I can’t pointlessly antagonize someone over my stubbornness. After all, we’re talking about the Roman Emperor.”

No need to engage in a power struggle against the Roman Emperor.

Alfonso himself was satisfied with his restoration, as all matters were already being handled through the Roman Treaty.

“Well, I agree to that much. Let’s invite him then.”

“Your Majesty’s decision will make Spain shine even brighter.”

It was a good opportunity worth trying.

Even if not, couldn’t we persuade him somehow?

He doesn’t seem to dislike the throne despite pretending otherwise. Why not offer him an even greater position?

* * *

By the time I finished with Egypt, Nasser was subtly offering me a crown, but I ignored him and just enjoyed Egyptian food instead.

“That aish wasn’t very tasty.”

Aish. The flour bread sometimes called “rag bread.”

Of course it wouldn’t taste good after eating delicious European bread.

Though it’s considered a national food, it was just mediocre.

Well, it’s basically flour bread meant to be eaten with something wrapped inside.

Anyway. I tried various other foods.

Nasser was trying his best to flatter me.

What I liked was something called koshari, similar to bibimbap, and a whole chicken? dish called hamam something, which was pigeon.

The disappointing part was that koshari felt like various beans and rice mixed with tomato sauce instead of gochujang, and the hamam thing, while tasty, was pigeon, which felt strange to me who only ate chicken in my previous life in Korea.

Of course, compared to chicken, well… personally, I think they’re similar, but pigeon might taste better.

“But you seemed to enjoy that chicken-like dish.”

“It was quite tasty.”

There’s no such thing as bad meat in this world.

How amazing to visit Egypt, a place I never went to in my previous life.

Since I was who I was, Nasser tried his best to take care of everything.

Security was thorough too. Though I wonder if bringing my own guard detail even made sense.

“Now we need to go to Spain.”

Honestly, I want to go back to Moscow.

I thought I was taking a break, but aren’t I just working again?

“We’ve already contacted the Spanish side.”

“You’ve already contacted Spain?”

“Yes. We had to make preparations in advance.”

True. Making preparations is natural, but this competition between Spain and France is quite obvious, both here and in France.

“France seems to have a strange competitive spirit toward Spain.”

That’s how it looks.

I’ve been noticing it for a while now; they talk about Spain frequently.

It’s like they’re mocking yet competing at the same time.

Has it become like Korea-Japan relations? Well, at least Spain didn’t colonize France.

“Well, that’s unavoidable. Spain is a victor of World War II, while France’s situation is complicated, and some French territory was taken as Spanish direct territory.”

So the humiliation suffered at Spain’s hands developed into competitive spirit.

That seems right. Looking at the Spanish side, they don’t seem fond of France either.

It seems even more so since I became Queen of France.

“So they feel competitive toward Spain because of that.”

It must be quite humiliating for France.

It’s natural to feel upset when a neighboring country prospers or when you have memories of being defeated by them.

“Yes. That would be the case.”

That makes sense. So when I became Queen of France, the French felt a sense of victory.

With me as queen, the master of French territory became the emperor of a victorious nation. It’s essentially the same as becoming the property of the Roman Emperor.

And Spain doesn’t want to lose out either.

However, France hasn’t yet restored its monarchy.

I’ve connected with England through Vladimir’s child for an Eastern Alliance.

Spain has a king, but we haven’t really discussed anything with them.

So, I think they’ll offer me something too? They wouldn’t want to fall behind France.

But giving me the throne would be difficult since they already have a king.

If they can’t offer an Eastern Alliance or the throne, what could they offer?

Just then, Maria was holding something in her hand.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a personal letter from the King of Spain that just arrived.”

“Let me see it directly.”

At my words, Maria neatly opened it and read the letter.

“The King of Spain is personally inviting us.”

The Spanish King personally? I was planning to go anyway, so it’s not surprising, but seeing such confidence, it seems he does have something to offer.

“Has the French side been informed?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I believe they’ve already been notified.”

Good. I don’t want the French side to worry unnecessarily if I just went.

“Let’s go meet them now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It wouldn’t be bad to visit Portugal after stopping by Spain.

Who’s currently in power in Portugal again?

Wasn’t it that guy with some movement? The one implementing policies to keep the public ignorant.

“But isn’t this just working while traveling around?”

This looks like work to me?

Well, I suppose it could be called travel, but isn’t it just a sweet potato with fancy packaging?

“Your Majesty, this is not work. It’s travel. It’s just that at each destination, the foolish people who see Your Majesty want you as their king and offer you royal titles. You’re simply sightseeing in the Libyan desert while catching a bandit along the way, and in Egypt, you just looked at the pyramids and made restoration plans. Isn’t that how it is?”

“Oh, is that how it works?”

No. I’m not an idiot; I know what that means.

Hmph, Maria is taking me too lightly.

“Above all, wouldn’t it be simpler to think of it as a food tour?”

Food tour. Food tour. Hmm. I did eat in France and Egypt, didn’t I?

Thinking about it, there is a big difference.

On this trip, I’ve eaten many things—it’s essentially been a culinary tour.

De Gaulle offered many foods, begging me not to leave right away. In Libya, though busy establishing a government, I was still well-treated. In Egypt, Nasser fed me various things while pleading for his life.

“Oh. So that’s how it is.”

Maria II is right. I did enjoy lots of food in France and Egypt.

This isn’t work; it can be called travel. A food tour.

I’m simply accepting invitations from various countries.

Of course, there’s no chance Alfonso would suddenly offer me his throne out of nowhere.

If that happened, Rosenbaum, who just returned home, might have to come back again.

I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble.

“Surely you won’t accept the Spanish throne?”

“If they offer me the throne, I’ll have to firmly decline.”

Why create discord? I have no intention of accepting it.

If they have any sense, they won’t easily offer me the throne either.

“Come to think of it, we don’t need to go to the Arabian Peninsula, right?”

“No. Egypt is only keeping an eye on Syria, so they haven’t done anything on the Arabian Peninsula.”

Then we don’t need to go there.

If I went there, it would be a bit much.

It would truly become work, not travel. What fool would say, “Wow, I’m traveling to an oil field region”?

It’s better to just quietly go to Spain.

* * *

Madrid, Spain

“Welcome! Spain and the Falange Party sincerely welcome Your Majesty’s visit to Spain!”

As soon as I entered Madrid, Spanish Falange flags and Roman Treaty banners were fluttering on every building.

People were making quite a fuss just to see me.

“Why such a grand welcome? I’m just traveling. Don’t make it so formal.”

I get embarrassed at times like this. It feels like they’re mocking me.

“The Tsar is putting work aside and just having fun!”

“Let’s tease Ana-chan all we want!”

“Isn’t it about time you went to the next world?”

It feels like I’m hearing such comments, which makes me uncomfortable.

Of course, Rivera probably isn’t thinking that, but whenever I see the welcoming crowds, there’s this atmosphere suggesting I should hurry back.

“You must be tired from your journey today. Please rest in the villa we’ve prepared.”

Oh, they’ve prepared a villa.

“Ah, thank you for that.”

As expected of Rivera. He’s creating an alibi for me.

Soon, I was able to enjoy a feast at the prepared villa.

I should at least try Spanish food to get a feel for the local culture.

“People really need to eat food.”

“Jamón is just a very common food you can find everywhere in Spain.”

Jamón—in my previous life, I was too poor to eat such things.

After my family died, there was even less food in the post-nuclear war world.

Do you know what it feels like to survive among people accustomed to killing?

A day when you got a single can of food was a feast.

Even after decades, that resentment remains, and I remember it.

In Korea, jamón was something I couldn’t even hope for.

“It may be common, but it’s Spanish food. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Spain, even if it’s common food, you should start with that and then try various representative dishes.”

Besides this, there’s gambas and paella.

I’ve had gambas a few times in Korea, so I know it well. Paella is a dish I often saw on the internet.

The potato dishes are especially delicious.

Like fried potatoes topped with sauce.

I’m not one to criticize my country, but when it comes to bread or french fries, Korea really can’t compete in the global market, can it?

Now even those tastes are becoming hazy memories.

Ah, so this is what it feels like to travel without thinking. I somewhat understand the psychology of people who spend money recklessly on overseas travel without saving.

“It’s fascinating.”

“Why?”

Why is Louise looking at me so strangely?

Is it the first time she’s seen someone eat? Is it amazing to see a saint eating food?

Louise should acknowledge by now that I’ve simply been deified.

“Your Majesty, you seem to eat a lot, but you don’t particularly exercise, yet I’ve never seen you gain weight.”

Isn’t that natural?

Food is meant to be enjoyed.

“That’s because I’m a saint. A saint.”

Isn’t a saint inherently a holy woman?

It doesn’t make sense for such a saint to gain weight just from eating food.

So there’s no need to exercise separately. Why would I exercise when I don’t gain weight or have health problems?

Of course, besides regular exercise, I do play with Belka III or play tennis with maids or guards, but that’s far from the kind of exercise done to prevent weight gain after eating a lot.

But I can’t just gorge myself here.

Above all, Rivera and Franco, who invited me, are also present.

I can’t just eat and say, “Thanks, everyone go home.”

“However, I’d like to hear at minimum.”

“What would you like to know? I’ll answer anything.”

I see. You were already prepared.

Your reaction suggests you’ve been waiting for me to say something like this.

Although Rivera and Franco are cooperating now, considering their original history, these two figures have essentially been bound together because of me.

These individuals are waiting for my response at the same table.

“I have a discerning eye, if nothing else. It seems I was invited to Spain because I accepted the French throne.”

Is Louise right?

Spain, a victor in the Great War. Despite Pétain’s opposition, they took French territory.

Even though they’re bound by the Roman Treaty, direct territories are a different concept.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. Because of this, our country is currently in an uneasy position.”

“Afraid that France might pressure Spain?”

I understand that much. They probably want to discuss and resolve this issue in depth.

I put a potato from an unnamed dish into my mouth and waited for their response.