I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 297

Becoming the Genius of the French Royal Family 297 White Flag Surrender (297/355)

Humans are, at their core, creatures of the present moment.

A banquet ten years from now holds less value than today’s sandwich, and people are often willing to risk future criticism to avoid immediate blame.

Ultimately, Percival pleaded for the second option before I’d even finished two sips of my tea.

“But Prime Minister… it’s not an excuse, but I sincerely lack the confidence to persuade Parliament and the people. Frankly, I’m worried I might be assassinated if I present this in London.”

“Threatening London with a sea of fire would be tempting… but I don’t intend to go that far.”

I have a feeling that the British mainland needs to burn at least once for them to truly understand the situation, but if it goes that far, too many civilians will die.

If they genuinely choose a fight to the death, I’ll gladly oblige, but I don’t want to provoke it.

“Actually, I understand Prime Minister Percival’s predicament. It’s been far too long since Britain’s mainland was ravaged by foreign troops.”

Currently, many European countries still have living generations who remember war on their own soil.

However, Britain has long relied on its powerful navy to prevent enemy invasions.

Because of this, many British citizens view war as something that happens only in faraway countries, a story in the newspapers.

Of course, there have been cases where neighbors went to the battlefield and never returned, but the battlefield always remained a distant foreign land.

At least, many still don’t believe that the mainland could be engulfed in the flames of war.

In that situation, what would happen if the prime minister presented a humiliating surrender treaty, unprecedented in history?

I wouldn’t be surprised if he was shot and became the first prime minister assassinated during his term, just like in the original history [referring to a historical or fictional timeline where such an event occurred].

“As Prime Minister Christian said, that’s right. So, at least, I need evidence that I made a significant effort…”

“In that case, you can pursue the first option. Originally, France made this request, but the Prime Minister used his negotiating skills to remain in European history, defied my will, and compromised on the second option. Wouldn’t that be enough to save face?”

If the British Empire is prevented from being completely torn apart and ends up merely subordinate to the French economy, that’s a negotiation worthy of ‘The Negotiator’ [a reference to a skilled negotiator, possibly from a movie or book].

So, in the end, wouldn’t I be Prime Minister Percival’s benefactor?

He won’t be remembered as the worst prime minister in history who led Britain to ruin, but as someone who at least cleaned up the mess.

Of course, even I can’t possibly excuse the fact that he ousted Pitt and made a mess of things, but isn’t that a problem he has to live with?

“Well, of course, it would greatly reduce my burden if you did that… but still… the task of persuading the citizens and Parliament remains unchanged…”

“You’re not asking me to write a speech for you, are you?”

“Of course not! So, I was wondering if there was any way to persuade people to accept the treaty more easily… haha…”

“In that case, I’ll write you a letter.”

“…Yes? Wouldn’t Parliament be even more upset if I presented the Prime Minister’s letter?”

“Who told you to take it to Parliament? Of course, it won’t work then.”

I’ve heard that when people are cornered, their vision narrows. Why is this smart guy acting like this?

His brain has really shut down.

“Yes? Then to whom…”

“Isn’t there someone the Prime Minister has discarded? The person British citizens are clamoring to bring back.”

“I was going to ask Lord Pitt for help before coming here, but he wouldn’t even open the door to his mansion.”

“If you show him this letter, he’ll understand. If not, I can’t help it. Then I hope the Prime Minister will take care of it.”

They refuse to surrender even after I’ve done this much?

Then I can’t help it either.

I’ll have to show them a taste of Napoleon [referring to Napoleon’s military might and ruthlessness].

※※※

Pitt, who had turned his back on politics and locked himself in his mansion, couldn’t have been comfortable.

Politics was always like the air around him, a part of his life that he couldn’t separate from, even if he tried.

But suddenly, he returned to being a private citizen completely unrelated to politics, and it was difficult to endure this awkwardness.

“Sir, here’s today’s newspaper.”

“Okay. Leave it there.”

Even though he stays in his mansion all day and rests, he keeps the latest newspapers from each country by his side.

-France’s pressure is increasing. Is there really a solution?

-Imminent independence of Poland. Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus are also promoting cooperation with Poland.

-Prime Minister Percival. Left for Paris to negotiate with France. Will it be successful?

-London citizens urge Pitt’s return as Prime Minister. Hearing directly from William Pitt’s friends.

“They’re making a fuss. They should have listened when I told them.”

The only good thing about being in this position now, compared to when I was in office, is that I can comment from a third party’s perspective.

However, it’s sad that I can’t just be happy even though the situation is turning out exactly as I predicted.

That the prediction is coming true means that the British Empire, which he has invested his entire life in, is being destroyed.

Pitt took a sip of coffee, his mouth full of bitterness, and received the latest news from an acquaintance in France.

-The meeting between Prime Minister Percival and Prime Minister Christian seems to have found common ground.

“An agreement has been reached? Could it be…”

Unexpected news made his heart sink.

If he were Christian, he would end the British Empire itself with this opportunity.

He would tear it apart so that it could never be a country again and trample on it.

Unless the British Empire is completely united, Scotland is still trying to leave.

The reason why the country has been operating without problems so far is because it has firmly maintained its position as at least the second superpower in Europe.

There were many who would gladly leave if it was advantageous to break away.

But if that really happens, will he be able to bear it?

Unlike Percival and the ruling party members, he can save his life, but if he has a conscience, he can’t do that.

Pitt turned his gaze to the pistol placed on one side of his desk.

If the day comes when this country is truly over, he will take responsibility and leave with it.

As he was thinking such bitter thoughts, the servant who was cleaning the house came back into the room.

“Sir. Prime Minister Percival is begging to see you just once.”

“What? He came again? Wasn’t that man in France?”

“He seems to have come straight here as soon as he returned home. He says he has something he must tell you, so what should I do?”

“…Tell him to come in.”

Seeing him come so urgently, there might be a problem.

Perhaps it’s about the meeting with France that I just received, so I couldn’t turn him away like last time.

I was also curious about what Christian and Percival had talked about.

Pitt put the pistol in the drawer so it wouldn’t be visible and pushed all the messy newspapers to one side.

“Lord Pitt, thank you so much for taking the time.”

“Enough with the formalities, let’s get to the point. Is the reason you’re here because of what happened in France?”

“…Yes.”

“I thought so.”

If not, I expected him not to crawl back here even after suffering that humiliation last time.

“But aren’t you too shameless? You initiated a no-confidence vote with such momentum, but what is this now? At least clean up the mess and then come to me with open arms.”

“…I have no excuse. But for the sake of this country, Lord Pitt must step forward.”

“Isn’t it for the sake of the Prime Minister’s safety, not this country?”

It’s not difficult to guess what he’s going to ask.

He had no choice but to accept France’s demands, so he’s asking me to persuade them together.

If even I, who was pushed out by Percival, take his side, wouldn’t the citizens feel that he had no choice but to do this?

“Okay. What did Prime Minister Christian say? Did he say he would spare your life if you gave up everything you had and surrendered?”

“…At first, he did, but I desperately grabbed his pants and begged him to make concessions.”

“Concessions?”

That Christian made concessions to Percival?

That can’t be?

“First, please take a look at this. This is the limit to which I was able to get concessions.”

Pitt’s eyes widened at Christian’s second, much milder proposal.

“Are you really going to end it with this?”

“Yes. Of course, it will be difficult to accept this, but…”

“Certainly, if this happens, Britain will never catch up with France. It means they’re going to put a leash on us and treat us like dogs. But they could have completely dropped us to a third-rate level or lower, but they’re going to end it at this level…”

Pitt quickly calculated several possibilities.

‘Are they trying to break up Russia more than us?’

The main culprits of this war are Britain and Russia, but from France’s point of view, Russia may be more hateful.

Anyway, Britain was originally a traditional enemy, but Russia is a traitor who stabbed them in the back even though they were allies.

In addition, I also saw an article that Louis XVI’s bitter feelings were widely known, and anti-Russian sentiment spread greatly in France.

So, they may be trying to put a leash on Britain while pretending to be very generous and crush Russia.

In fact, objectively speaking, it is easier to control Britain, which is nearby, while Russia is not, so it is right to hit Russia harder.

Pitt didn’t believe at all that Percival had worked hard to get these concessions.

If that guy had the ability to do that, this situation wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

Maybe that man is so distracted by other things right now that he doesn’t even understand why Christian made this proposal.

Of course, even so, this is a fortunate situation for Britain.

“Prime Minister. So, you have agreed to do this with France?”

“…Yes. Because I have no choice.”

“So, you want me to give a speech so that the Parliament and the citizens can accept this?”

“As expected, you understand right away. That’s right. If this is rejected, the French army led by Napoleon will cross the Strait. The future of this country depends on Lord Pitt!”

With the Royal Navy shattered, Britain has no means to stop the French landing.

If I ignore it here, I can get rid of that disgusting Percival group, but the future of my country will also be clouded.

Just as I was about to think for a moment, Percival quickly took out a piece of paper from his pocket, as if he had figured out my intentions.

“This is a letter from Prime Minister Christian asking you to deliver it to Lord Pitt.”

“From Christian?”

Pitt snatched the paper from Percival’s hand and unfolded it.

“……”

Pitt, who had skimmed through all the contents in almost one breath, turned his gaze to Percival, who was anxiously watching him.

“…Let’s go to London. I will give a speech as you wish.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. If there is anyone who opposes, I will take responsibility and try to persuade them. So…”

Pitt announced the end of the empire he had built throughout his life with a heart full of tears.