Ch.395Emperor Make-Believe

* * *

Look at the current situation.

It’s become a matter of going to each country one by one and saying, “Acknowledge me as your emperor!” That’s what it’s come to.

So, isn’t this just playing emperor?

“Put me on the imperial throne. I wanna be emperor, tee-hee!” That’s what this has become.

Of course, if you really think about it, this is all the fault of the many countries trying to put me on the throne.

It’s absolutely not my fault.

For example, Maria is partly to blame. That’s what I’m saying.

Let me say it again, I’m not interested in such things.

Unlike ordinary women, I don’t particularly care about necklaces, rings, or bags, and I’m not especially extravagant.

To begin with, the Kremlin Palace already has everything, so what more could I desire?

But this… doesn’t it make me look like some kind of crown collector?

“Maria, I’ve been thinking about something lately.”

“Yes?”

Maria seems to just enjoy seeing me in high positions, but to me, this situation feels like some kind of forced pressure.

That old man wouldn’t have interfered in this, but I still can’t shake this suspicious feeling.

Of course, thanks to that, the future will be a bit easier.

“Everywhere I go, they’re saying, ‘We’ll put you on the throne.’ Doesn’t this make me look like a crown collector?”

Let’s look at it from a third person’s perspective. Excluding those who would shout “Ana-chan!” even if their heads were cracked open.

Wouldn’t people say, “Look at that woman collecting crowns everywhere”?

“Um, well… I suppose that’s correct?”

“I suppose that’s correct.” Why does that phrase sound so frightening?

If even Maria can see it that way from a third-person perspective, isn’t it obvious?

“I wonder if strange rumors might start spreading about me everywhere.”

If that’s the case, we need to unify quickly.

“Surely that couldn’t happen? No matter what, Your Majesty has dignity.”

My dignity. Right. Because of my dignity, such talk probably won’t circulate for a while. I value history tremendously.

“True. Such talk won’t happen right now. If I unify everything under the Roman Emperor title, there won’t be any problems. But what about historical records? What if they write, ‘The Tsarina mother was extremely… very fond of crowns’?”

If it becomes a topic of discussion even after my death, couldn’t it lead to narratives like “She even threatened Balyen to obtain crowns”?

“Um, well… As I said, you have dignity, so…”

Dignity, my foot. That’s a given.

Originally, I’m not the type of person who enjoys staying on the imperial throne.

If I were to announce that I’m stepping down from the Tsar position right now, the Imperial Guard would be the first to stop me.

Somehow, I can see that future.

“Dignity aside, isn’t that exactly what’s happening? No matter how you look at it, isn’t this just playing emperor? At this rate, I might even aim for the position of World Emperor.”

Look at the Islamic-Hellenistic Federation.

Due to Greece’s antics, the Islamic-Hellenistic Federation is also moderately operating under a three-king system, but they too are exalting me.

Of course, in their case, they’re probably exalting me because they have no choice due to their citizens.

No matter how you look at it, this is neither more nor less than what it appears to be.

Well, there might be an intention to unite more firmly around me as a central figure.

No, why overthink it?

After the Rome Treaty integration, Ana-chan secured the imperial position by entering France, Spain, and Portugal, which correspond to the Western Roman region, to unify the Roman imperial office.

It would be good if it were recorded like that.

“But what about the Byzantine side in this situation?”

“I understand that Turkey and Greece have been informed through the Duma.”

It was announced through the State Duma.

In reality, it was probably no different from a notification.

Russia is, after all, a massive Ana-chan fan club. Now that economic dependence is complete, it’s simply become a matter of “Just offer the crown” without much difficulty.

Wait, is this really okay?

Even though Greece is a pathetically weak nation, it made significant contributions in the Afghanistan War.

Turkey is an important country that defeated Byzantium and took over Byzantine territory.

Meanwhile, we only took Constantinople.

If Greece and Turkey consider themselves part of Rome and accept me as emperor, that would completely secure Byzantine legitimacy.

But Greece is a country that openly proclaimed Megali Idea and clashed with Russia, which claims to be the spiritual successor of Rome.

Turkey, on the other hand, has deep ties with us.

Just as Wilhelm, decades ago, provided immense support to Russia as if under hypnosis. Of course, that was partly to attack France and to make Russia dependent, but anyway, we gave a lot to Turkey.

Despite having fought Russo-Turkish wars until now, Russia has helped Turkey recover significantly.

If we go back to the distant past, it was all originally Roman land anyway.

In any case, there’s a high possibility that they’ll accept it, at least formally.

It should be enough to say something like: “I’m thinking of consolidating my many titles into just ‘Roman Emperor,’ and I hope Turkey, as the successor to the Ottoman Empire that once ruled Byzantine lands, will support this.”

But I’m anxious now that they’ve been informed.

“It was announced through the Duma?”

“Yes, with the intention that they should accept it.”

With the intention that they should accept it. Isn’t this too one-sided a notification?

“I wonder how it turned out.”

Suppose they refuse to accept it and withdraw from the Rome Treaty.

That would likely lead to war immediately.

The war itself doesn’t matter.

If I don’t like it, I can use Turkey or Greece as a massive weapons testing ground.

“They probably have no choice but to accept it.”

“Still, we can’t be certain yet.”

Greece, in particular, seems very dissatisfied. Even though the Golden Hellenism Party was disbanded, that was only due to the bomb terror.

They might still be furious about not receiving what they believe they deserve.

They have a king, but that’s about it.

That king probably doesn’t like this in his heart either.

They’d feel terrible if they don’t get the share they think they should have.

At the very least, they won’t have a system that exalts me as emperor.

“We’ll have to see their reaction later.”

If they don’t accept, I just need to say, “That’s regrettable.”

Anyway, Constantinople is in our hands.

Just having Constantinople gives us legitimacy.

Turkey also gave up its succession rights to Rome long ago, so that’s settled.

The problem might be Greece after all.

I briefly considered imposing economic sanctions on Greece if they don’t comply, but I probably don’t need to bother with Greece.

Again, I’m not interested in Greece.

Even if they make a fuss, it doesn’t matter.

“If they refuse, tell the Duma not to pressure them. It doesn’t really matter, you know.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

We can’t unnecessarily strain relations.

It would be more reassuring if I were recognized as everyone’s Roman Emperor, but the Rome Treaty headquarters is already fully established.

There’s no urgency now.

“Is something worrying you?”

“Ah, I’m just concerned about Greece and Turkey.”

It will work out somehow. But since the Duma has stepped in, they might take a forceful approach.

I should go back quickly and say something.

No, it would be better to make a phone call first.

“Since Your Majesty is concerned about them, both countries will appreciate it. And surprisingly, both countries are likely to accept this proposal.”

“Is that so?”

Maria’s words reassured me a little.

“All the major constituent countries of the Rome Treaty are exalting Your Majesty as emperor. What fate would those two countries face if they refuse?”

They would inevitably collapse against such tremendous power.

Yes, I’m not unaware of that. But still, we shouldn’t pressure them too much.

Unnecessary pressure only breeds resentment.

“Right. That’s how it would be.”

That could certainly happen.

* * *

Ankara, Turkey

At this time, Turkey’s leader was İsmet İnönü.

Following Atatürk, he had successfully led Turkey as the second father of the nation through several re-elections and received a communication from Moscow.

“Since I have too many royal titles, I’m thinking of consolidating them under ‘Roman Emperor.’ Even if not now, as the successor to the Ottoman Empire that once ruled Byzantine lands, please officially recognize Anastasia Tsar’s Roman imperial position.”

It felt like the inevitable had finally arrived.

She had already been crowned queen in Egypt. More precisely, she had become the monarch of Egypt as the Roman Emperor.

Anastasia, who had even reclaimed Constantinople, was no different from a true Roman Emperor.

However, this was just a formal recognition of her as the emperor of all Anatolia.

Nothing would change from how things have been.

If they refused, there would be no problem. It came in a way that wouldn’t cause issues if rejected.

Unlike other countries and military alliances that have recognized Anastasia’s imperial position, Turkey would be left out.

In the days of the former Russian Empire and Ottoman era, it might have been different. But even if Anastasia claimed sovereignty over the entire Ottoman region, it wouldn’t matter since they were already bound by the Rome Treaty.

It makes sense that she’s proposing this to remain as the emperor representing the Rome Treaty.

“If it’s just formal, let’s accept it.”

“But we have the Caliph, don’t we?”

“The Caliph is already established as the Islamic leader. It’s a different rank from the Roman Emperor.”

“Well, considering how much Russia has given us, such recognition shouldn’t be difficult.”

Turkey had no particular complaints.

They had been beaten like dogs by the Entente during World War I and were dismantled.

Then, with Russia’s help, they were able to regain strength. Although they didn’t recover the Ottoman Empire’s territory at its peak,

in terms of national power, they boast a much stronger presence than in those days.

Aren’t they much stronger than Britain and France, who have given up their colonies?

Being in such a position, Turkey owed a lot.

If they refused, even though Russia might say it’s okay, other Roman region countries might isolate Turkey.

If they withdrew from the Rome Treaty, the economic chaos that would follow would be significant.

They couldn’t side with America either.

The public’s favorability toward Anastasia is also high.

So, it’s natural to accept.

The Caliph can remain the Caliph, and the Roman Emperor can be the Roman Emperor.

“That’s settled for us. But Greece must have received the proposal too.”

“Greece, while part of the Rome Treaty, is a country that doesn’t know its place.”

A country that doesn’t know its place.

“They acted up despite warnings about establishing a Hellenistic Empire, and all they got was monopoly rights to Afghanistan’s resources.”

But it was self-inflicted.

To speak plainly, when have they ever properly followed the intentions of the Rome Treaty?

They became like this because they were coddled for being in the Byzantine realm.

“Send an official letter to the Duma saying we accept.”

“Yes, sir.”

İnönü gazed out the window.

The sky over the Rome Treaty was particularly bright today.

Meanwhile, in Athens, the capital of the culprit Greece, there was half-erupted discontent at Moscow’s proposal.

“They only have demands for us!”

“They just happened to unite Europe after being a Roman appeal country!”

This was an outrage that couldn’t be overlooked.

The audacity of trying to stand above other countries’ monarchs with the logic of Greece = Roman territory = Anastasia’s domain is also displeasing.

“I heard Turkey accepted?”

“We should have pushed out Turkey and achieved Megali Idea.”

Even then, they couldn’t do anything because of Russia’s interference.

“This is serious. Romania and Bulgaria have also accepted. If we’re the only ones who don’t accept…”

Romania and Bulgaria volunteered.

Especially Bulgaria, which completely erased Serbia from the map, feels favorable toward Russia.

All Balkan countries are following Russia.

“The Danube Federation hasn’t accepted either, has it?”

“The Danube Federation is superficially called the Habsburg Kaiser, so they’ve tacitly accepted too. Besides, Hitler, the father of the Danube, is essentially the Tsar’s comrade.”

“Damn it.”

This means Greece is the only one left.

There are no countries to ally with, so they have no choice but to accept, whether they like it or not.

“His Majesty the King has also decided to accept if there’s no harm to national interests.”

There weren’t many options to begin with.

Bluntly speaking, what would be left for Greece if they were expelled from the Rome Treaty now?

Nothing. Just slow isolation.

So, if asked whether they would oppose the Rome Treaty, there’s no answer.

If Anastasia were to mobilize just Turkey, not even Russia, Greece would be finished.

“What can we do? It’s the plight of a small nation.”

Anger management issues are neutralized in the face of greater power.