Ch.81Italy’s Hero

# * * *

The novelist is appointed as the Minister of Culture and Arts and is extensively promoted.

This has had a significant influence on neighboring countries.

There are rumors that the new Tsar is deeply immersed in arts like novels and paintings.

The French response has been positive, as Ivan Bunin had briefly taken refuge there and was already famous. They reportedly congratulated the appointment of the great writer as Minister of Culture.

Many German artists have also sought refuge here.

Of course, Communist Germany spewed nonsense about how the Tsarina is neglecting state affairs by being obsessed with art, especially after what happened to her father.

These fools don’t even realize that power lies with the State Duma.

“Hmm, not bad.”

This looks good.

Still, Russia remains thirsty for talent.

While cultural and artistic development is fine, shouldn’t this country have more scholars?

Though I’ve said I favor the arts, that doesn’t mean I want to spend money on them.

I didn’t expect Gabriele D’Annunzio from Italy to come to Russia.

This man is essentially the godfather of Italian nationalism.

In other words, he’s practically the originator of our Mussolini’s fascism.

He’s quite a remarkable figure. During World War I, he dropped propaganda leaflets over Vienna, and became angry when Italy didn’t receive the territories it was promised. The citizens of the city-state of Fiume supported him and called him “Duce.”

Mussolini later adopted that title.

This man was also a Rome enthusiast who tried to transform Fiume in the Roman style. He even created tribunes and dictators, as well as a national flag and unique currency.

They say he even absorbed the suppression forces sent to subdue him.

But it all ended when he was absorbed into the Giolitti cabinet in 1921.

I don’t know much about him. But I have some knowledge I’ve picked up here and there, plus information obtained through the Okhrana.

If this man had ruled all of Italy, he might have truly established a Roman system.

In this history, has Italy fallen to communism, causing him to flee to Russia?

So I wanted to meet this man.

To hear his story firsthand.

I welcomed this Italian hero directly at the Kremlin Palace.

“I’m surprised to meet the hero of Italy.”

“Oh! It’s an honor to meet the Emperor of Rome. I never imagined the Emperor of Rome would know about me.”

“There’s no need to consider it such an honor. Since we experienced a communist civil war, we’ve been selective about accepting refugees. When I saw your name, I wanted to meet you.”

“Is that so?”

Above all, I think this person might know some news about Italy.

Italy is essentially isolated now after teaming up with Germany.

We can’t insert Okhrana agents there, so we need to get information from refugees.

The fact that he came here suggests that current Italy doesn’t suit him.

“Does communist Italy also oppress artists?”

This is something I need to ask directly.

“It’s not just that—they’re completely overhauling everything. That fool Mussolini claims he’ll restore the glory of Rome, but as someone who led a communist revolution, his actions are purely communist. No, he’s just an idiot who’s neither here nor there.”

“Communists are known for saying one thing and doing another. Anyway, welcome. What do you plan to do in Russia?”

I don’t know any of his works, but I’ve heard he’s deeply immersed in Orientalism.

Looking at his background, though, he might have done well as a soldier.

No, if that had happened, he would have been 100% branded a war criminal and killed.

“I plan to write for a while. The current Italy is far from Rome, at least until communism collapses.”

“I see.”

I’ve heard this man has a history with women—will he really just write?

!!

An interesting thought occurred to me.

If this man doesn’t die before World War II…

What if we defeat Mussolini’s communist Italy and send this man back as the new Duce of Italy?

“Russia embraces diverse literature—Russian, German, and even works from the Far East. Please contribute to the literary development of this country.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

“Is there something you’d like to say?”

He’s fidgeting, as if he has a lot to say.

“I’ve heard there’s a party called the Roman National Party.”

Roman National Party.

At those words, I nearly lost my composure.

Roman National Party. What kind of party is that?

The Black Baron standing beside me had a strangely contorted face.

Curious, I nodded slightly to the Black Baron, gesturing him to lean toward me.

“The Roman National Party. Do you know what it is?”

“Well, about that…”

The Black Baron explained about the Roman National Party, and as I listened, I was shocked.

Roman National Party.

It’s a party created by White Army personnel.

It was established with claims of restoring Constantinople and being the rightful successor of the Eastern Roman Empire. It’s meant to support the Romanov Dynasty, which currently relies solely on my authority—but in reality, it’s essentially an Anastasia fan club of older military men.

Charitably speaking, it’s a royalist political force. Less charitably, it’s just an Anastasia fan club of elderly gentlemen.

Surprisingly, it’s quite influential. They apparently chose that name out of Roman enthusiasm, and perhaps because of that, the party is unexpectedly large.

It was founded by Roman von Ungern-Sternberg. If he created it, it might be less about Roman enthusiasm and more about creating a royalist force—a support base for the Tsar who transferred power to the State Duma.

And since it’s from the White Army, it has a reputation for fighting communists. Hmm.

Perhaps because many members are from the military during the Civil War, the name “Roman National Party” was strongly recommended by Ungern’s close friend, Grigory Semyonov.

These damn White Army officers doing unnecessary things!

I thought that briefly, but well, Russia’s current Roman enthusiasm, Roman spirit, and so on—it’s not bad.

In my original world, Russia had pride in being the successor to the Soviet Union. This Russia will now continue with Byzantine and Roman pride.

As long as it doesn’t become fascist like the Nazi Party, I don’t mind.

Gabriele D’Annunzio is waiting for my answer.

I can’t pretend not to know, so I force a knowing smile.

“Ahem. Yes, such a party does exist.”

“Could I join it? If Russia is truly the successor of Rome, I would like to join that party.”

This man’s Roman enthusiasm remains strong.

Is it because we possess Constantinople?

“You’re not even a Russian citizen yet, are you?”

“I’ll take Russian citizenship if you’ll give it to me.”

“You would abandon your Italian citizenship?”

“At least not the current Italy. That red Italy cannot by any measure be called a successor of Rome. Rather than watching that spectacle, I should have marched into Rome with an army when everyone in Fiume supported me.”

Yes, I suppose that’s possible.

But I’m curious about what’s really happening in Italy.

If this man speaks like this and has come all the way to Russia…

“You harbor deep resentment.”

“The current Italian General Secretary, Benito Mussolini, says that the General Secretary is the Duce, while praising me.”

It seems Mussolini put on quite a show to drive him out of Italy.

What could Mussolini be thinking?

He must have lost his affection for red-flavored Italy.

“What happened to the Pope?”

“Benito Mussolini, perhaps unable to touch the Pope, has set aside the Papal States.”

Is this the Vatican City State that originally emerged in 1929 appearing now?

“Has the Vatican become independent?”

“Mussolini recognized the independence of the Papal States. The actual territory is the Vatican, but he says he’ll call it the Papal States.”

“Hmm.”

It seems like more concessions were made to the Pope than in the original history.

The Vatican City was established by a treaty signed on February 11, 1929, between Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI.

This is five years earlier, isn’t it?

Recognizing the Papal States—does that mean tax revenue goes there too?

No, how does Mussolini’s communist Italy actually function?

“Of course, this hasn’t been officially recognized by the Pope. The Vatican still claims to be a ‘prisoner in the Vatican.’ Additionally, they denounced Benito Mussolini as the ‘Red Invasion.'”

Red Invasion.

So in this world, the Pope recognizes neither the Kingdom of Italy nor communist Italy.

Prisoner in the Vatican, Red Invasion.

It seems that 21st century Italian history will record much more.

“So the Pope hasn’t recognized it.”

Perhaps this will lead to the Pope’s recognition in 1929, just as discussions are happening.

Since a Red Italy has been established, things might be different from before.

“Of course not. Mussolini is acting as if he’s compromised with the Pope externally, while providing maximum convenience to the Papal States.”

Are the people accepting all of Mussolini’s policies?

“Are the Italian people accepting Benito Mussolini?”

“Yes. They praise General Secretary Mussolini, saying he will raise Rome. Unlike Germany, he kept the royal family alive, so he could persuade the royalists.”

I see. The Italian people are on the Duce’s side anyway. The Papal States matter little.

So they can accept it as mere wordplay.

Is Mussolini more stable than Germany?

After all, unlike Germany, he kept the royal family, and in a state where there’s much dissatisfaction with Britain and France, he probably mixed flattering words with communism to gain public support.

So.

The Italian Socialist Republic he established is just something close to fascism wearing the mask of communism.

Communist Germany either accepted Italian-style communism, or at least properly put on the mask of communism.

I don’t know if communism and Rome can coexist, but looking at the current situation, it seems like they’ll start World War II again.

An interesting thought occurred to me.

Not just D’Annunzio, but there’s a lot we could do with the Papal States.

After defeating Red Italy, wouldn’t it be good to entrust the governance of Italy to the Papal States?

What if in the 21st century, only the Papal States exist on the Italian peninsula?

There might be some kind of Papal enthusiasm.

Or maybe later, when I hand Italy over to Gabriele D’Annunzio, reviving the Papal States alongside it would be interesting too.

“Very well. Join the Roman National Party. But if you take Russian citizenship, you’ll have to do a lot for Russia.”

“There’s no question about that.”

Since he’s expressed his willingness to take Russian citizenship and join the Roman National Party, I should pay some attention to him.

Well, that’s enough for this person.

Besides him, someone like Enrico Fermi has also come.

Isn’t he one of the participants in the Manhattan Project?

It seems he also came here to escape Mussolini’s communism. I should put him in the Russian Academy of Sciences. Ah, maybe I should connect him with Einstein.

“It’s surprising that our Russia is becoming an immigration destination.”

After D’Annunzio, drunk on Roman enthusiasm, left, the Black Baron spoke with a surprised expression.

“Is that so?”

“Honestly, Russia isn’t yet a country worth seeking asylum in, is it?”

How dare you strike me with facts with such a matter-of-fact face!

“It’s probably a reflection effect. Since this is where the communist revolution broke out, people want to come to the strong anti-communist country that defeated communism.”

That’s how people are.

To spite the communists. We’re going to Russia, which defeated communism! That kind of thing.

“Well, is there another agenda item?”

“Yes. Dr. Einstein, leading a group of physicists, has requested an audience with Your Majesty today.”

“Then I should meet them.”

I wonder why our Einstein wants to see me.

I was planning to connect him with Enrico Fermi, and now I’ll get to see him at just the right time.

# * * *

Einstein, whom I was seeing for the second time since he first sought asylum, looked radiant.

“So, Dr. Einstein. What would you like to discuss?”

“Your Majesty, thanks to your consideration, I’ve been able to settle sufficiently in Russia.”

I worked extremely hard for Einstein!

In other words, I supported him in many ways. I tried to make the best impression by favoring scientists and establishing institutions like the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“Is there something you desire?”

“I heard Your Majesty is also accepting refugee artists.”

“That’s right.”

Yes, and that’s why many people are coming to Russia now.

To help with asylum, the Okhrana has spread rumors that Communist Germany sends party members to assassinate artists who leave the country to escape artistic oppression.

“Isn’t physics important too?”

Of course it is.

Can’t you see why I’m working so hard to favor you?

But what is he trying to say? I should also drop hints about nuclear technology.