I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 499

< The Road to Peace >

The Black Hand, which threatened to destabilize the Balkans in the 19th and 20th centuries, collapsed almost as soon as it was founded.

My original plan was to prevent groups like the Black Hand from even emerging, but I didn’t realize they already existed.

Still, I was able to eradicate a dangerous threat early on, so I can’t complain.

It was a stroke of pure luck, like finding a winning lottery ticket by accident, but honestly, it was a surprise.

Even with the accelerated pace of history, it’s unsettling that the Black Hand was already operating in the shadows.

If I had waited just a few more years, Serbia might have been completely controlled by the Black Hand, and they could have spread throughout Eastern Europe, not just the Balkans.

As always, prevention is the best approach.

“Your Majesty! I apologize for the concern I’ve caused. Now that all the issues have been resolved, you don’t need to worry!”

The Serbian ambassador to London, suddenly burdened with an incredibly demanding job, had been shuttling between Westminster and Buckingham Palace for days, losing sleep and sweating profusely.

Perhaps that’s why his eyes were hollow, and his expression as he described Serbia’s transformation seemed unusually bright.

He must be relieved to finally be free from this nightmare.

“All individuals associated with the Black Hand puppet organization will be punished for treason.”

“I didn’t expect such a swift response, and I commend your country’s decisiveness.”

In fact, Parliament was ready to declare war if this matter wasn’t resolved satisfactorily.

The radicals’ argument, that this situation arose from excessive patience, gained widespread support.

This was a move intended to demonstrate the British Empire’s influence and power to the world, not just to target Serbia.

My real goal was to completely eliminate the Black Hand and establish a more stable government in Serbia.

But since they orchestrated their own “Serbian Spring” [a reference to the Arab Spring uprisings, implying a sudden and sweeping change] and replaced the entire military, I have no objections.

They’re already leaning towards pro-Austrian sentiments, emphasizing their differences from the Black Hand, so what more can I say?

With Serbia’s humble submission, the radicals in Parliament and the public were appeased and began to revel in the glory of being part of the British Empire.

“Hahaha! That’s how it should be! This is the British Empire! This is the Royal Navy!”

“Why are those who can’t even compete picking fights? They probably thought we looked weak because we were being patient.”

In reality, war was averted.

Serbia took such drastic measures, including a complete overhaul of its government.

The world witnessed the consequences of provoking the British Empire’s wrath.

Looking at the outcome, it couldn’t have been better, so everyone was satisfied and considered the incident closed.

In the first place, what percentage of British citizens could even locate Serbia on a map?

If you asked them to point out Serbia on a world map, some members of Parliament would likely get it wrong.

Therefore, the British Empire’s anger wasn’t solely directed at a specific country called ‘Serbia’.

Rather, it stemmed from wounded pride, from being disrespected by a country they barely knew existed.

Even so, the British Empire, basking in its restored pride, remained arrogant, and accidents often happen in such circumstances.

Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, along with the public, were inclined to dismiss the Serbian situation as a minor event, but I knew better.

The mastermind behind this significant incident had yet to make their move.

The British Empire’s reputation was salvaged, and global attention was secured, setting the stage for what was to come.

With a detached assessment, Serbia’s previously obscure name had gained considerable notoriety thanks to this incident.

“By the way, didn’t France and Prussia have some event recently?”

“Huh? What was it? Oh, right, the wedding!”

“Yes, the Crown Prince of Prussia and the Princess of France got married. There was quite a stir at the wedding.”

“Even before the wedding, it was touted as the wedding of the century, but interest seems to have waned surprisingly.”

“Still, now that things are settling down, won’t they regain attention?”

The Crown Prince Friedrich and his wife, who should have been the celebrated couple of the century, must have felt overshadowed by the major incident that stole their spotlight.

They probably believed their turn would come again.

But once again, they were not the center of attention.

The massive butterfly effect caused by the Serbian protesters, the huge wave that shook Eastern Europe, was still sweeping across the Balkan Peninsula with undiminished force.

Not yet. There’s one more step to go.

* * *

“I sincerely apologize once again for the trouble this has caused you both.”

The Iron Blood Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, carefully trimmed his mustache, which was gradually turning white, and bowed his head.

“The rioter who dared to attack you will be severely punished. Please trust us to handle it.”

“…I was startled, but I’m fine. I believe he acted out of patriotic conviction, so it would be best to try and change his mind through persuasion.”

“He claims to be sincerely repentant, but we need to investigate further to determine if others were involved.”

When the incident first occurred, Bismarck closely observed Edward and Gisela’s reactions.

He had informed them of the plan beforehand, so they needed to act accordingly. Any misstep would require his intervention.

However, their performances were so convincing that Bismarck’s concerns proved unfounded.

“Does His Highness Edward plan to return after this matter concludes?”

“I must. I’m here as a representative of the imperial family, after all.”

“I understand. I will ensure you experience no inconvenience during your stay. That’s right…”

If he had to choose the most impressive performance, it would undoubtedly be Crown Princess Gisela’s.

Anyone who saw her would believe she was genuinely shocked, as if she hadn’t anticipated such an incident.

Furthermore, she attempted to manage her image by subtly forgiving the perpetrator.

How can someone be so astute?

Since the interests of the British Empire and Prussia aligned and public opinion surged, Serbia’s fate was sealed.

Therefore, even if the Crown Princess offered a few kind words to the perpetrator, it wouldn’t change anything.

However, the uninformed public would see it differently.

‘Oh! Our Crown Princess is so kind-hearted.’

‘How can she be so benevolent even after such terrible events?’

Such reactions were already prevalent in the British Empire, and Prussia wasn’t far behind.

She’s a talent I admire more and more.

If only the Princess of France resembled Gisela even half as much… no.

If that were the case, Crown Prince Friedrich might be completely dominated, so having such a wife isn’t always beneficial.

Crown Prince Edward is confident in his ability to manage Gisela, which is why Killian chose her, right?

If Crown Prince Friedrich had married someone like her, the royal family of this country might have leaned towards Austria.

Bismarck reached this conclusion and glanced at Edward and Gisela again.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia should also cultivate such widespread popularity. Perhaps we should learn from their actions?

“Prime Minister, my father asked me to convey something to you.”

“Is that so? I was planning to seek your opinion before fully commencing, so the timing is perfect.”

“My father said he trusts and supports your actions and is willing to offer assistance if needed.”

The Iron Blood Chancellor, as if awaiting this response, couldn’t conceal his growing smile.

“Thank you. His Majesty’s support invigorates me.”

“I’ve had several conversations with my father, and he holds you in high regard.”

Gisela, who had been listening, added a comment, and Bismarck’s gaze turned to her.

“Is that so? I’m becoming increasingly curious. If it’s not impolite, could you share the topic of conversation when that came up?”

“It must have been the peace between Austria and Prussia. We discussed working towards that goal, didn’t we?”

“…That’s right.”

Unsure how to respond, he glanced at Edward, who simply smiled strangely and remained silent.

Does this indicate a prearranged statement, or is he simply observing, trusting his wife’s abilities?

“I told him that the Prime Minister is a delicate and peace-loving person, despite being known as the Iron Blood Chancellor. My father praised me for my good judgment.”

Killian must have informed Edward of his entire plan, but emphasizing peace with Austria at this moment…

Indeed, I can now roughly understand her intention.

“Don’t worry. The concerns of the Crown Princess will not materialize. I believe this approach is the best way for Prussia to coexist and prosper with Austria. Isn’t that why we’re employing such complex methods?”

“…Hmm?”

“…Yes?”

What? Why are they reacting like that?

Bismarck desperately tried to understand if he was missing something. Before he could speak, Gisela nodded and smiled brightly.

“I’ll assist you in any way I can with your endeavors, Prime Minister. I’ve spoken highly of you to Rudolf [likely referring to a member of the Austrian royalty]. I’ve already received permission from my father, so you don’t need to worry.”

“That’s very reassuring. I also believe that a personal friendship with Austria and His Highness the Crown Prince would greatly benefit the friendly relations between our two countries.”

As expected, Killian can’t be ignored.

Therefore, her mention of Austria’s assistance at this time should be seen as a form of probing.

If things don’t proceed as discussed, the friendly relationship with Austria will inevitably be strained. We should interpret this as a warning about how the British Empire might react.

Regardless, Gisela consistently refers to Killian as ‘Father’ and emphasizes their close relationship.

And the intelligent Edward is aware of all this, so he’s simply observing while suppressing his amusement.

Bismarck was now genuinely enjoying his conversation with this young couple.

At the same time, he envied Killian for having such capable successors.

“When Prince Rudolf’s era arrives, Austria will undergo significant changes, but Prussia’s transformation will be even faster. You mentioned returning when everything is over, so observe from here.”

Perhaps it was due to the stimulating conversation with these bright young individuals, but Bismarck was able to formulate a slightly more concrete plan.

Despite being a local Junker [a Prussian aristocrat] who was often overlooked by the central aristocracy, he was still a member of the Junker class. He was somewhat hesitant to shake the foundations of Prussia, but looking 50 or 100 years ahead, this is the right course of action.

Taking the baton from Serbia, it was now Prussia’s turn to raise the curtain on spring.