Ch.66Warsaw Incident

Just look at those Black Hand guys in Serbia—they were so unhinged they went and killed the Austrian Archduke right away.

How would Poland, which defeated the Russian army in the Great War before gaining independence, respond to the Tsarina’s proposal?

From their perspective, it’s probably an unacceptable offer either way.

So I’ll take a gamble.

If I were them, that’s what I’d do.

For example, they might kill the Tsarina and tell Józef Piłsudski he has no choice. They’d create a situation where war with Russia becomes inevitable.

Moreover, Russia isn’t fully stable yet—it’s largely united thanks to my symbolic presence. They might hope that after my death, Russia would fracture.

Let’s draft a scenario.

For instance, German communist lackeys who’ve infiltrated deep into Poland to agitate Polish workers might hear the Tsarina is coming. They could pass explosive devices intended for communist revolutionary terror to Polish nationalists. Something like that.

That would be the perfect scenario.

The problem is the other ministers.

It would be perfect if we get through safely, but considering the possibilities, the ministers who came with me are also in danger. If they’re not properly prepared, they’ll probably only target me, but it’s still risky.

“Well, nothing has happened yet.”

Nothing has happened yet. Let’s just keep this as one possibility.

Let’s think about what happens if Poland simply refuses.

This world doesn’t revolve around my wishes, after all.

I spoke confidently in front of the ministers, but I need to prepare for rejection.

I should establish defensive lines considering Poland as a potential enemy. And though I don’t like it, I need to strengthen relations with Britain too.

Preemptive strikes are still out of the question.

Fighting from the position of being invaded makes it easier to gain allies.

“Am I doing the right thing?”

When the Great Depression hits, perhaps the image of communist Germany will change somewhat.

They might say they avoided the effects of the Depression because of communism.

I wonder what would happen if they agitated with that message.

“It’s not like I know much about it.”

That’s for economists to figure out. The best I can do right now is travel around as a figurehead, showing that Russia is still strong.

I imagine things must be quite chaotic inside Germany right now too. But that’s beside the point.

Knock-knock-

Someone knocked on the door.

Is this what I’ve been expecting?

“Who is it?”

“Um, I heard today’s guest is a very important person, so I was sent to check if you needed anything.”

It’s a young woman who looks a bit younger than me.

She doesn’t even have a gun. Surprising. Will things just pass by like this?

“I don’t need anything in particular. I was just about to leave for today—”

As I was speaking lightly, trying to send the hotel employee away.

Crash!

Something announced its presence forcefully by breaking through the window and rolling into the room.

It looks like a wooden box, but looking closer, there’s something suspicious and black wrapped in newspaper.

It reminds me of videos I used to watch on streaming sites.

A communist named Shim Young who exploded in divine editing endings every day.

“So they throw these kinds of things in this era.”

“What is that?”

I smiled wryly.

Since there are guards around, making this unsuitable for a Sarajevo-style incident, they’ve thrown a bomb instead.

Bullets were honestly just a bit stinging. I wonder how much a bomb would hurt.

Isn’t it a bit exciting?

“You might die, so get out.”

With a boldness no ordinary human would have, I pushed the hotel employee outside.

And then.

The bomb, as if firmly determined to kill me, exploded without hesitation.

BOOM! CRASH RUMBLE RUMBLE

The explosion destroyed everything that had decorated the room moments ago—the table, dresser, lamp, bed—all shattered by the blast.

And I was thrown against the wall.

“Oh, that’s quite big.”

My chest tightens as if a heavy fist had punched me in the stomach.

Fortunately, it seems the bomb only came into this room.

I brushed myself off and stood up with effort.

My Imperial Marshal uniform is quite torn, but considering I took the explosion head-on, it’s not bad.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

“An explosion on the second floor!”

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty is in danger!”

Amid the commotion from the first floor, the minister who had left earlier appeared along with Ungern and Vera Gedroits.

I couldn’t show my torn uniform, so I put on the coat I’d worn when coming to Warsaw.

“Grown adults causing such a commotion.”

Pretending nothing happened. Acting as calm as possible. I spoke deliberately and clearly.

Why?

Because the guy who appears to have planted the bomb is standing at the end of the corridor with his eyes wide open.

“Th-this can’t be. How? How are you still alive when the room is in that state?!”

Yes, that’s him. Poland’s version of the Black Hand.

Considering the bomb placement, he must have accomplices.

Given the Polish military stationed nearby, someone must have helped with this.

The person who directly stationed Polish troops to protect me was probably Józef Piłsudski.

Unless he’s lost his mind, he wouldn’t try to kill me.

This means there’s an accomplice among the Polish military officials who received his orders.

It seems Piłsudski doesn’t have proper control over Poland.

“That man appears to be the culprit. He seems to have come to check if I died.”

“That bastard!”

The culprit was captured by Ungern and forced to kneel.

He should be grateful for such treatment after throwing a bomb at a foreign monarch. Does he think he has the right to glare at people now?

What an incredibly rude fellow.

“Curious why I didn’t die? The clothes are all torn and the room completely destroyed, yet why is only the Tsarina alive?”

“H-how are you still alive after that explosion?”

He still doesn’t seem to grasp the reality of the situation.

That’s not the issue at all right now. What he should be concerned about isn’t the iron Tsarina who can’t die.

“Is that important?”

“You didn’t die from the bomb, so yes, that’s important.”

Right. Right. I suppose so.

He was determined to kill me but failed. He risked his life to assassinate a monarch.

I smiled coldly, sarcastically.

I thoroughly mocked our Polish friend who had tried to blow me up.

“You went through all this trouble, but failed to kill me. What will happen to Poland now?”

The culprit became speechless at my words.

Yes. Despite all this, war will be difficult to start.

If he had actually killed me, it might be different. But since I survived, Józef Piłsudski has no choice but to accept Russia’s proposal.

Shortly after, the culprit was dragged away by soldiers.

Now, how will Mr. Piłsudski respond?

* * *

BANG!

While the cabinet was arguing about whether to accept Russia’s proposal, maintain neutrality, or secretly seek an alliance with communist Germany against Russia, Józef Piłsudski received news that would turn Poland upside down.

“What? An explosion at the Tsarina’s lodging? What happened to the Tsarina?!”

“We captured the apparent culprit and accomplices on the spot. The perpetrators are nationalists.”

So the right-wing extremists finally did it.

Of all times, this had to happen while he was serving as President.

“Damn it. I had guards posted everywhere to prevent this.”

If she had actually died, there would have been no choice.

But the Tsarina is perfectly fine.

What does this mean?

The Tsarina personally came to Poland to improve relations, and she was repaid with a bomb.

What a petty nation this is.

It’s clear they’ll be condemned worldwide.

How long has it been since the country was established? They’ll be branded as a nation that tried to assassinate a foreign monarch with a bomb.

“This would be impossible without someone’s collusion. Who was it? You’d better speak up. The hotel employee witnessed everything clearly.”

Moreover, journalists from various countries directly questioned the hotel employee, and the innocent employee who knew nothing about politics answered everything truthfully.

She said an explosive entered the room and detonated, and the Tsarina protected her.

Under Józef’s fierce gaze, the cabinet ministers didn’t dare look up.

After some time, one or two began to speak hesitantly in small voices.

“We did… encourage right-wing forces to show anti-Russian sentiment to the Tsarina…”

At that moment, Józef Piłsudski felt the back of his neck burning clearly and distinctly.

‘We did encourage…’

Yes. There they are. Those contemptible bastards.

Because of those sons of bitches, Poland will now be put on an invisible leash and forced to be Russia’s hunting dog, attacking communist Germany.

“That’s why this happened!”

“We never told them to kill her. A bomb? Absolutely not! We only wanted the negotiations to fail!”

They certainly know how to talk.

Right. Of course. When does a thief admit to stealing?

What idiots.

“If the Tsarina had died, this country would be at war immediately! We’d be trampled by hundreds of thousands of Russian White Army soldiers before Germany could help us! The whole country would be a bloodbath again!”

“Then, Germany—”

“You think Germany would help us? They’d come in after we’re all dead, help a little, take credit, and install a communist regime on Polish soil!”

Germany? Nonsense.

Do they think that red Germany would just help us?

Józef Piłsudski had seen enough of the Russian Civil War and the German Revolution to understand how communists seize power.

Britain prevented Russian intervention during the civil war, but he at least realized that Poland shouldn’t show any weakness to Germany now.

“B-but…”

“Even now we’re in danger. Don’t you understand? Now the whole world will know we threw a bomb at the Russian monarch who extended a hand of reconciliation! We have no choice but to accept Russia’s proposal!”

He didn’t know if they were trying to recreate the Sarajevo incident, but this was clearly a mistake.

All that’s left is to insist the government wasn’t involved, comply with the Tsarina’s demands, and hand over the perpetrators to Russia.

There was never a choice to begin with.

But they’ve thrown away even the chance to accept the reconciliation with some dignity.

The Tsarina may be smiling on the outside, but that’s just a mask.

She’s probably smiling artificially while thinking about how to legitimately use Poland as cannon fodder.

His instincts were telling him this, but unfortunately, his subordinates lacked the intelligence to see it.

Thanks to Britain, when Poland gained independence and when the Russian Civil War ended, the path to war with Russia was essentially blocked.

“I’ll have to go see her myself.”

We need to appease her as much as possible.

That’s the only way to show the Tsarina that Poland is doing its best.

“You personally, Mr. President?”

“Even so, that’s…”

Have these lunatics still not come to their senses?

Józef Piłsudski pointed at each of the bastards.

“You nearly killed the monarch of an empire spanning East and West. Shouldn’t I at least visit her personally? You should be grateful I’m not throwing you before the Tsarina!”

Honestly, if the Tsarina is considering war, he’s even thinking about overhauling the cabinet.

If it were just Poland against Russia alone, he’d grit his teeth and fight, but right now, Poland is clearly the villain in the eyes of the world.

Russia has justification for war and would receive global support, while Poland would face another difficult period.

So now they must bow down.

“I understand.”

Józef Piłsudski sighed and began walking.

He can only hope this incident doesn’t lead to war.