It was inevitable that the British Empire and Russia would clash someday.
This was not something that only a brilliant diplomat could foresee.
Anyone living in this age of runaway expansion—where no one bothered to press the brakes—could see that a collision would come sooner or later.
In the original history, that clash had been the Crimean War.
In this era, it might take another form.
It might erupt around the same time as the Crimean War had, or perhaps earlier, or later.
One thing, however, was certain.
It could be delayed—
But it could never be avoided entirely.
And it was not the sort of problem I could solve through personal effort.
Even if I somehow managed to tighten a leash around the British Empire with my utmost efforts, Russia would never obediently follow commands.
A Russia that believed itself powerful could not be restrained by anyone.
That was a rule proven across past and future alike.
Frankly speaking, the Russia of the present was little more than an empty shell compared to the British Empire.
If the British Empire were a well-packed lunchbox filled to the brim with substance, then Russia was a fraudulent product stuffed ninety percent with nitrogen packaging.
Comparing the world's foremost industrial power—already fully industrialized and advancing by the day—with a nation that had not yet even fully escaped the medieval system of serfdom was absurd to begin with.
From a distance, their size might appear comparable.
In reality, however, the difference in density was like that between a UFC champion and an ordinary man who had never exercised.
A superpower equal to the British Empire?
What a joke.
Russia might swagger around its own backyard, but if it fought a proper war overseas, it might struggle even against France—let alone the British Empire.
The real problem was that almost no one in the world understood this yet.
Russia's overwhelming size, and its terrifying ability to endlessly throw human lives into the furnace of war, created an aura of intimidation.
To be honest, even I could not dismiss that aspect of Russia.
Even if victory seemed certain, if Russia continued to pour men into the battlefield without hesitation, the cost on our side would inevitably grow as well.
"So Austria has successfully suppressed the rebellion with help from France… That will certainly bring the two nations closer together."
"That is my hope as well—not only with Austria, but also with Prussia."
"That would be ideal, but as you know, the relationship between France and the German states…"
The reason I was searching for a shield to stand beside the British Empire against Russia's madness was precisely because of that.
And the German states were an absolutely essential piece of that plan.
Geographically speaking, the German states needed to maintain decent relations with either Russia or France in order to avoid being trapped in a two-front war.
Prussia, in particular, had long concluded that friendly relations with France were impossible, and thus had chosen not to antagonize Russia.
That was also why I had arranged a separate meeting with the Prussian ambassador, and why I intended to win over Otto von Bismarck.
The likely course of Prussian policy was already quite predictable.
In the original history, Prussia remained neutral during the Crimean War, preserving its strength while others exhausted themselves.
That decision later contributed greatly to Prussia's overwhelming victory in the Franco-Prussian War.
But what about this time?
If Austria attached itself firmly to France, Prussia might just as easily side with Russia.
In fact, if I were Russia, I would do whatever it took—even empty the treasury—to secure Prussia as an ally.
Fortunately, the current Prussian ambassador in London, Christian Karl Josias von Bunsen, was a man favorable toward the British Empire.
The Prussian king also tended to listen to his advice.
Bringing Bismarck along today was also meant to influence both men—so that they would conclude it was in Prussia's long-term interest to stand with Britain.
"I understand your concerns, Ambassador Bunsen. The resentment between France and Prussia cannot vanish overnight."
"That is true, Your Highness. France will never wish to see a German state grow too powerful. If Prussia becomes stronger, France will struggle desperately to cut us down."
"That might be the case if only France and Prussia existed in the world. But if the British Empire actively mediates between the two nations, would that not change matters somewhat? Britain's goal is to create an environment where European nations do not waste their strength bleeding each other dry, but instead grow through mutual cooperation. That is why we seek allies who can achieve this great endeavor together."
"It sounds to me as though France has already been chosen as your partner."
"That is true. But an alliance of only two partners can always collapse due to conflicting interests. When considering balance… three is a much better number than two."
In international politics, alliances were nothing more than temporary partnerships built upon mutual benefit.
It was a ruthless world where betrayal was never a crime if interests changed.
But if the balance of power was properly maintained, such alliances would not break so easily.
Ambassador Bunsen, a seasoned diplomat, immediately understood what I meant and nodded.
"You wish to build an alliance capable of maintaining global hegemony. But if Austria is already included, are not the three seats already filled?"
"In my judgment, Prussia is better suited than Austria."
"That is certainly pleasant to hear. But I would like to know the reasoning behind such a judgment."
As expected, even the slightest criticism of Austria immediately provoked a reaction.
Perhaps it was the rivalry over who truly represented the center of Germany.
With a satisfied smile, I gestured toward Otto von Bismarck, whom I had deliberately brought along for precisely this moment.
"The answer is the young man who sits here with us."
"...Otto von Bismarck, was it? Your Highness said there was someone you wished to introduce. I had wondered when his name would arise. I am also curious how a Prussian nobleman came to know Your Highness."
"To be honest, I have not known Mr Bismarck for long. But what impressed me was his initiative. As soon as unrest broke out in Berlin, he rushed there to understand the root of the problem—and then came to London to seek solutions suited to Prussia's circumstances."
"...He came directly to Your Highness instead of speaking with me first? If that had caused a diplomatic issue…"
"I believe a young politician should possess such boldness and determination. More importantly, how many people are willing to travel to a foreign country and act with such passion for the sake of their homeland?"
The sudden praise left Bismarck's face glowing with emotion.
In truth, his meeting with me had not been nearly so noble.
But presentation was everything.
A patriotic nobleman who had come to a foreign land to plead for his country's future.
That was the image now forming in Ambassador Bunsen's mind as he smiled warmly at Bismarck.
"Well, a bit of recklessness is a privilege reserved for the young. If Your Highness views it favorably, I will not object."
"My high opinion of Prussia is not based solely on such sentiments. What truly matters are judgment and execution. If love of country alone could turn a nation into a great power, then every politician in the world would succeed."
"Very true."
"That is precisely why I value Prussia more highly than Austria. Austria received considerable assistance from Britain in this crisis, yet its response afterward has been painfully slow. Prussia, by contrast, is merely a third party observing events—yet here is Mr Bismarck, who immediately grasped the essence of the situation and came all the way to London to gather information for his homeland. With attitudes so different, how could my evaluation be the same?"
"Haha! That is indeed correct. Austria may call itself German, but it is merely a gathering of pretenders. Prussia is the true future of Germany."
Of course, the man saying this was the same one who had invited two opponents to fight, lost in a sequential battle, and later bragged that he had won.
But considering that Marx and Engels were also boasting about knocking him down with a single punch, perhaps they were all equally guilty.
Suppressing a laugh, I placed a hand on Bismarck's shoulder.
"Indeed. If true men like Mr Bismarck here grow and prosper, the future of Prussia will be bright. Are there any nations besides Britain that recognize Prussia's future so clearly? I hesitate to say it, but Russia will likely always regard Prussia as a subordinate state—never as an equal ally."
"…Russia's arrogance is well known. To be honest, I also see Britain as a more promising partner than Russia. But Prussia must maintain decent relations with either France or Russia, which is why we have leaned toward Russia. However, if Britain prevents France from interfering excessively in German affairs, then we may reconsider."
"If you merely consider it an option, that is more than enough."
For a diplomat, that was probably the most favorable answer possible.
I had never intended to secure a firm alliance today.
This was already a tremendous success.
After Ambassador Bunsen departed with polite bows, I left the building with Bismarck.
"Your Highness! I do not know how I can ever repay your kindness for speaking so highly of me before the ambassador."
Any conversation between the British heir and a foreign ambassador would inevitably reach the ears of the King of Prussia.
"As I said earlier, I believe Prussia will become far stronger in the future. Naturally I wish to establish good relations with such a nation."
"Whenever I hear Your Highness speak, I understand more clearly why Britain leads the world. If I ever rise to a high position in Prussia, I will never forget what I experienced here."
"Good, good. Is there anything else in London you wish to see?"
"I heard that there is a hospital and medical training institute named after Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"As it happens, I was planning to inspect it myself. Would you like to accompany me?"
If Bismarck saw firsthand how advanced Britain's institutions were, the contrast with Russia's backward serf system would become even more obvious.
And with Bismarck already intoxicated by the glamour of London, experiences like this would undoubtedly influence his future diplomatic thinking.
To make the visit as authentic as possible, I instructed the staff not to announce my arrival.
Then I took Bismarck with me in a carriage headed for the medical college.
It seemed my instructions had worked.
Only a handful of guards greeted me at the entrance.
"Welcome, Your Highness! Since you asked that the visit not be announced, we could not prepare a proper reception."
"The students are busy studying. There is no need to waste their time on such things. I will simply take a quiet look around."
"Yes, Your Highness. Most students are in class now, so the building should be relatively quiet."
To avoid being recognized, I walked through the halls wearing glasses and a hat.
Considering how much money had been poured into this place—along with investments from the Rothschild family—every facility sparkled.
Watching Bismarck gaze around in amazement made my shoulders straighten with pride.
"This is extraordinary, Your Highness. Establishing such an institution merely to train medical staff… In Berlin, this would be unimaginable."
"If we want to provide the best medical care not only to civilians but also to soldiers, then the doctors themselves must be first-rate. Naturally the institution must be built to this standard. And the quality of education here is not merely about facilities. The students themselves are trained—"
But just as I was enjoying my moment of pride—
A thunderous voice suddenly echoed from inside a classroom.
"You truly know nothing, John Snow! That's not how it works!"
"…?"
What fool was ruining my moment of bragging?
And John Snow was the very man I had appointed to lead this institution.
Who dared say such nonsense to him?
Only I had the right to say that to John Snow.
Without hesitation, I turned and walked straight toward the source of the commotion.