The Crimean War was a turning point that determined the fate of Europe.
Before that great war broke out, although the British Empire was the foremost power in Europe, most people believed that Russia was not far behind.
A second power that stood almost equal to the first.
That was the position of the Russian Empire, and some even believed that if war truly broke out, Russia might hold the advantage.
It was true that the British Empire had superiority at sea, but Russia had no intention of occupying Britain itself.
Even if major ports and coastal cities fell into British hands, Russia's army was widely considered comparable to Britain's.
Moreover, in winter, the seas around Russia's major cities froze, preventing easy naval access, while Russia could also threaten Britain's vital route to India.
With so many variables, debates over which side would win were endless, and there was rarely a clear conclusion.
However, it was certain that Russia was stronger than any country other than Britain.
Combined with its reputation as the nation that had defeated Napoleon, no one doubted Russia's strength.
And indeed, Russia was strong.
Even during the war, it was not unreasonable to say it possessed the second strongest military in Europe.
However, the illusion of being an equal second to Britain was completely shattered, and after suffering a disastrous defeat even in diplomacy, Russia fell to the bottom.
The competition for second place behind Britain shifted to France and Prussia, both of which now believed themselves stronger than Russia.
Crown Prince Friedrich also thought so.
But even a fallen house takes generations to truly collapse.
And Russia was now recovering under a new emperor.
If not now, then in ten years, Russia might regain its former strength.
Prussia would not remain stagnant either, so it would not fall behind Russia, but the problem was its geopolitical position.
Prussia had to face both France and Russia.
Even if they were allies, relations with France were never easy.
And in the long term, Austria also needed to be dealt with.
Facing France alone was manageable, but if Russia intervened as well, the situation would become far more complex.
That was why Friedrich sought cooperation with Alexander II.
However, James's tempting bait caused Friedrich's resolve to waver.
'If this works, could I gain leverage not only over the British royal family but also over the Russian imperial family?'
If James's words were true, the cause of the Crimean War and Russia's devastating defeat would ultimately be attributed to imperial incompetence.
Even if it was not as devastating as a scandal involving the British royal family, it would still severely damage Russia's authority.
Russia appeared stable, but rapid industrialization had already begun to create unrest.
At the right moment, spreading rumors could destabilize the empire.
"Indeed. Being partners does not mean we must protect each other completely."
The more cards one holds, the better.
Even if not used directly, they could become leverage.
"Then I will investigate this further."
Friedrich accepted the proposal.
But this also carried risks.
"James, there is something I must tell you."
"Of course."
"If this leaks, neither of us will be safe."
"I understand."
Trust meant nothing in such matters.
The only way to prevent betrayal was to ensure mutual destruction.
"That is why I trust you."
"Of course."
"Then I will tell you. One of our partners is Emperor Alexander II."
"…I expected as much."
"Then this information must not be revealed."
"Understood."
"Give it to me instead."
"In exchange?"
"I will support your business expansion in Prussia."
James smiled.
"Agreed."
"But should we not distance ourselves from Russia?"
"…What do you mean?"
"If you plan to use this information, you cannot remain allies."
"That is true."
"Then we should prepare now."
Friedrich nodded.
"But Prussia still needs Russia."
"I understand. But you must ensure that if Russia retaliates, it will not affect you."
"That would be ideal."
"Then we must erase all traces of your involvement."
"…Can you do that?"
"If you provide full details, I will handle it."
"Why go this far?"
"Because I do not trust communists. And Russia's growth does not benefit me."
"And Britain?"
"I benefit from Britain's strength."
Friedrich laughed.
"Very honest."
"There is no reason to hide it."
"Very well. I accept."
"Then provide the information."
Thus, Friedrich gained everything he wanted.
Or so he believed.
"Let me see… if this is true, then Killian had already prepared everything before the Crimean War. He manipulated France, provoked Russia, secured alliances, and used the war to strengthen Canada… and then expanded that into the Civil War…"
The more he read, the stranger it seemed.
If true, it meant Killian had orchestrated decades of history.
"…This makes no sense."
Was this manipulation or prophecy?
Could one man truly achieve this?
"Next time, I will verify everything."
He frowned.
For the first time, doubt crept in.
Was this all too perfect?
Was it even real?
***
Perhaps the real twist was that there was no twist at all.
To be honest, I had already considered it most likely that Russia was behind this matter.
But an expectation is only an expectation.
I had wondered whether someone beyond my imagination might be involved, perhaps France or even someone within the British Parliament, but fortunately, that was not the case.
If there had truly been someone that deranged within parliament, I could have used this as an excuse to wield the knife properly, so whether this should be considered fortunate or unfortunate is difficult to say.
Still, not everything proceeded exactly as expected.
"I cannot understand what this man is thinking."
Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia, whom I had originally intended to deal with together with Russia.
If there was one person whose actions had clearly fallen outside my expectations, it was him.
From a logical standpoint, trying to bring me down while also marrying Adelaide does not align at all.
At first, I even considered whether this might truly be a misunderstanding.
The probability was extremely low, but perhaps someone around Friedrich had overstepped and initiated this without his knowledge.
Or perhaps Friedrich himself was conducting a highly elaborate deception to mislead those around him.
But after hearing James's report, it was clear that this was no misunderstanding.
This man was unquestionably a full member of the group aiming to strike me from behind.
He had even stated in his own words that he intended to destroy my prestige, leaving no room for doubt.
If that was the case, then it was more likely that Otto von Bismarck had misunderstood something. Perhaps even the Iron Chancellor had begun to lose his hearing with age.
If Bismarck had not brought false information, then Friedrich's statement about marriage had to be part of his deception.
However, according to James, Friedrich was now insisting on proceeding with the marriage regardless.
At the same time, he intended to uncover the weakness of the Russian Emperor as well.
At this point, I could not help but admire him.
He wanted to strike me down, marry the woman he favored, and at the same time seize leverage over the Russian Emperor.
Truly, a man who wished to possess everything in the world.
One might dismiss him as a fool who cannot grasp the situation, but Friedrich was by no means an incompetent man.
On the contrary, he was widely regarded as highly capable, and it was said everywhere that his ambition matched his abilities.
Although I could not fully trust my own memories, if those accounts were accurate, he was likely the same Crown Prince of Prussia who would later achieve great success in war.
A man with such military talent would naturally harbor extraordinary ambition.
Or perhaps, given that his personality was said to be surprisingly warm and kind, he was simply indecisive.
In any case, if he intended to take everything, it would actually make matters easier for me.
The clearer a man's desires, the easier it is to guide his actions.
When this matter first surfaced, although I did not show it, I was momentarily shaken.
I even had that absurd nightmare.
Considering how my previous life ended, it was not surprising that such stress had accumulated.
But this was something that had to be dealt with eventually.
In fact, it was fortunate that it happened now.
Although I had taken a long detour, I was now able to expand this matter to the scale I desired.
"Do you understand, Adelaide? This is roughly what I instructed James to deliver."
"…You gave this to Friedrich?"
"Yes."
"Preparing the conditions for the Crimean War, inducing it, then immediately triggering the American Civil War, manipulating the communist revolution, and using that to ascend as King of Canada? You gave him this?"
Adelaide's eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Did he actually believe this? Who would believe such nonsense?"
As expected.
"Then what do you think?"
"This is worse than fiction. No one could plan all of this in advance. It would be more believable to say you came from the future."
"I see."
"Why would you even give him this? It only damages James's credibility."
"No."
I smiled.
"This is the truth."
"…."
Adelaide sighed.
"Father, your sense of humor is terrible."
Even when told the truth, she could not believe it.
And that was precisely the point.
"No one will believe it."
That was why this strategy worked.
"Then what seems most unrealistic to you?"
"All of it. No one in history could connect all these events."
"Yet Friedrich chose to believe."
"What? James convinced him?"
Her eyes sharpened.
"Could James have other intentions?"
"No."
"Then Friedrich must be pretending."
Exactly.
But it did not matter.
As long as he acted according to my design.
James had already forced him into a position where he had no choice but to believe.
Even if doubt remained, he could not escape.
That was enough.
"Then what should I do?"
"Continue as planned. Test him if you wish."
"…Understood."
She nodded.
Even without knowing the truth, she was moving correctly.
Just like me.
Even my own children could not accept the truth.
And neither could the world.
That was why I allowed this situation to grow.
If I simply crushed Friedrich and Alexander II now, it would end here.
But another would appear in ten or twenty years.
Conspiracies grow stronger over time.
So this time, I would end it completely.
Like a vaccine.
A small dose now, to prevent a greater disease later.
Soon, the world would receive its injection.
***
It had already been nearly a month since he arrived in London.
It was an ordinary morning, but Crown Prince Friedrich's state of mind was far from normal.
"…Today."
There was a faint tension in his muttered words as he woke.
After a simple meal with Adelaide, they would attend an orchestra performance, have tea, and tour the major sights of London. That was the plan for the day.
"I can do this… no, I have to. They will not know anyway."
In theory, the plan was perfect.
He would act as if he knew nothing and steadily grow closer to Adelaide, while the British imperial family and the Russian imperial family would end up clashing with each other.
He would simply remain in London, observe the situation, and intervene when necessary.
Yet his heart felt heavy.
"Your Highness, are you ready?"
"I will be out shortly. Tell them to wait."
"Yes, Your Highness. The Prime Minister is also waiting downstairs."
"The Prime Minister? He must be quite worried."
His sudden change in demeanor caused those around him to stiffen with tension.
Was something going wrong? Had there been some disagreement?
Only days ago, the Crown Prince had been full of confidence, yet now he seemed lost in thought.
"Your Highness, if something troubles you, perhaps you should speak with the Prime Minister…"
"A problem? No, there is none. Everything is proceeding without issue."
But no one believed him.
Even Otto von Bismarck, who was waiting below, immediately spoke with concern as soon as Friedrich appeared.
"Your Highness, is there perhaps some issue with Her Highness?"
"Not you as well. I said there is no problem."
"Reports indicate that you have been sighing frequently of late. There must be a reason."
"So now even my sighs are reported? This is no different from surveillance."
"It is not surveillance. It is simply that your behavior has been noticeable enough that others have begun to worry."
If even the Prime Minister had come in person this early, it meant that the matter had already spread widely.
"I said there is no problem."
"I heard you have met with a businessman from the British Empire several times. Since then, you seem troubled. Has something happened?"
"I told you, no. I simply realized that if I truly marry, there will be many responsibilities. That is all."
In truth, Bismarck was correct.
After meeting James, his mind had become complicated.
He had tried to remain composed, but it seemed obvious to those around him.
Even now, the same was true.
Choosing James to investigate the royal family had been the right decision.
As the wealthiest man in the world with vast intelligence networks, he had gathered information at a level that made other intelligence agencies seem incompetent.
The problem was that the information was too overwhelming to believe.
So Friedrich had questioned him, only for James to present evidence that forced him to accept it as truth.
There was only one conclusion.
Everything James had brought was true.
And that was precisely the problem.
Once he accepted it, he began to realize who he had chosen to oppose.
'A monster who has been shaping the world according to his will for more than ten years… James, is it really right to challenge such a person?'
'Are you afraid?'
'I am not afraid… just cautious.'
If he had known earlier, he would never have joined this plan.
He would have left everything to Mikhail Bakunin and Alexander II.
To challenge such a being recklessly was madness.
'Even if we succeed, will it not create a greater problem? If we cannot destroy him completely, retaliation will follow.'
'That is why everything must be attributed to Russia. We will remain in the background.'
'Will that truly work?'
'Of course.'
James had spoken with such confidence.
Yet as the meeting with Adelaide approached, doubt returned.
At this point, his opponent no longer seemed human.
How could anyone plan events like the Crimean War and the American Civil War in advance?
How could someone deliberately incite racial conflict to prepare for such outcomes?
And more importantly, would such a person not anticipate attempts to uncover him?
Perhaps overconfidence had made him careless.
But that was a human assumption.
Could it apply to something beyond human?
Still, there was no turning back.
He had already stepped into this.
Now the only question was whether he could avoid being exposed.
As Friedrich stood lost in thought, Bismarck's concern deepened.
"Your Highness, are you truly well? If necessary, we can postpone today's schedule."
"No. It is nothing. I was simply considering how to present myself more favorably."
"You seemed confident that Her Highness had taken an interest in you."
"I was. But that is not enough."
At this point, he reached a conclusion.
It might be better to ensure that Adelaide truly became attached to him.
If they married, it would provide protection.
Even if something went wrong, he could plead his case as a son-in-law.
Yes. That was the safest course.
Strengthen relations with Adelaide, let Britain and Russia clash, and withdraw if necessary.
With that decision made, Friedrich composed himself and boarded the carriage.
Before, he had felt excitement.
Now, only tension remained.
It was a slightly cool but still bright London afternoon.
"Is that so? Your Highness has quite a bold side."
"Perhaps. Being the same age and raised similarly, my brother and I often clash."
"That suggests a close relationship."
The goal was simple.
Build natural rapport.
Start with light conversation, then move gradually into deeper topics.
"The Crown Prince must feel pressure as well. But with such a capable sister, he must draw strength."
"That is not quite true. We argue often."
"What do you usually discuss?"
"Practical matters. Politics. Recently, we discussed the balance of power."
That caught Friedrich's attention.
"May I hear more?"
"Of course. The influence of the imperial family has grown stronger, but parliament still holds great authority. There is constant debate over this balance. Prussia has similar discussions, does it not?"
"You are well informed."
Friedrich focused intently.
Royal authority versus the prime minister.
Militarism versus liberalism.
Who truly held power?
His own views aligned more with the monarchy.
Parliament should be respected, but not dominate.
"So what is your conclusion?"
"That balance is healthiest."
"Even so, one side will dominate."
"Then you believe the monarchy should lead."
"Of course."
"Then your relationship with Otto von Bismarck must be complicated."
"Our prime minister also respects the monarchy. But he can be stubborn."
"I see. But excessive power always creates enemies. Even my father worries about such matters."
At those words, Friedrich felt a chill.
"His Majesty worries?"
"Only a rumor. Something about people investigating the royal family."
"When was this?"
"About three days ago."
His hands trembled.
He hid them beneath the table.
Adelaide set down her teacup with a soft click and smiled.
"Oh? Does something come to mind?"
Was this deliberate?
Even if he controlled his expression, his body betrayed him.
His lips trembled slightly.
He could not suppress it.
***
"R-relevant… if you mean something comes to mind… what exactly do you mean…?"
"You said earlier that if you could help, you would. So I was simply asking whether anything at all comes to mind."
"Ah, yes. My apologies. I was momentarily distracted."
As Friedrich trailed off, Adelaide inwardly found it absurd.
Anyone could see that this was the reaction of someone with a guilty conscience.
She had only lightly probed, yet he reacted this strongly.
The reason was obvious.
He was afraid.
Adelaide had seen such behavior many times before.
It was the kind of tone and attitude shown by commoners who had come face to face with someone truly powerful, something entirely unbefitting of royalty.
It was not exactly the same, but the underlying feeling was identical.
The fear that one might have offended someone far stronger.
In other words, Crown Prince Friedrich was clearly afraid of her father.
He had not been like this before.
That his attitude had changed within only a few days proved that her father's words were correct.
And that made it even harder to understand.
Did he really believe everything James told him?
Was he now acting like this because he feared he had involved himself in something dangerous?
Her father had denied it, but perhaps James truly was some kind of hypnotist.
Otherwise, how could someone of Friedrich's level believe such an absurd story?
Yet regardless, James had somehow made Friedrich believe, and as a result, the Crown Prince was now exposing obvious weaknesses.
"Your Highness? Have you finished thinking?"
"Ah, yes. Well…"
"It is fine. This is, after all, a family matter. It would be strange to ask others for help. I only asked in case anything came to mind."
"…I apologize for not being able to assist."
"And besides, my father already has a general idea of who is responsible. He has never once been wrong when he says such things, so I am not particularly worried."
Friedrich's body stiffened.
Good. Just a little more.
"So that is the case? Then it is reassuring that he already has a lead. Still… what kind of fool would dare make an enemy of the British imperial family? They must have a death wish."
"Exactly. And when this is revealed, it will not only be the royal family that reacts. Parliament will not remain silent either. It is the same as making an enemy of the entire British Empire."
"Indeed. They must have believed they would remain hidden. But His Majesty Killian truly leaves no gaps in his work."
Though he tried to remain calm, his panic was obvious.
"Shall we go? I will personally guide you through London. Or if you are tired, we can end here."
"…Thank you for your consideration. But no man would refuse the chance to walk the city with you."
Friedrich forced a smile as they toured London together.
Adelaide explained each location kindly.
Friedrich listened carefully and expressed admiration.
But his mind was elsewhere.
To Adelaide, it was obvious.
It was almost difficult not to laugh at how hard he tried to appear composed.
Under normal circumstances, she might have felt sympathy.
But this man had tried to investigate her father.
He deserved this.
So she deliberately exaggerated how decisive and ruthless Killian could be.
Each time, Friedrich nodded desperately.
At this point, even he must have begun to suspect that she already knew everything.
Near the end of their outing, unable to endure the pressure, Friedrich finally spoke.
"…Your Highness, did His Majesty say anything about meeting me today?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I was simply curious… how he views me."
"Ah, I see. Yes, he did speak of it. After all, you came all the way from Berlin."
"…He did?"
"Yes. Naturally, he thinks well of you."
She delivered the final blow with a bright smile.
Friedrich could not hide his distorted expression and quickly bowed.
"I… enjoyed today. I hope to see you again."
"Of course."
She had done her part.
The rest depended on him.
As Adelaide returned to the palace, her steps felt light.
She had decided to give Friedrich three days.
If he acted within that time, he might survive.
If not, he would lose everything.
Either way, preparations were complete.
On the final night, Friedrich came to see me.
He likely understood the situation.
I welcomed him calmly.
"What brings you here at this hour? Is this about my daughter?"
"…No."
"Then what is it?"
"…I heard… there are those attempting to tarnish the royal family."
"Ah, you heard from my daughter. And?"
"…I may have information."
"Crown Prince, I dislike lies. And you are very bad at them. I will overlook it once. But this is your only chance."
Friedrich's face turned pale.
"I… I am sorry! I was blinded by ambition! I had no personal grudge…"
"So you came here to make excuses?"
He did not even know how to apologize properly.
But I had no intention of discarding him.
Prussia was too important.
And Friedrich was its sole heir.
Destroying him would destabilize Prussia.
That was unacceptable.
Instead, this would bind them closer.
"Since Prussia is a valued ally, I will give you a chance."
His plan had been to pit Britain against Russia.
Life does not go as planned.
"Announce that this was all the work of the Russian imperial family."
Let him clean up his own mess.
That is the proper lesson for playing with fire.