Friedrich stared blankly at my words, his eyes shifting restlessly.
"So… you are telling me to target Russia?"
"Exactly. If I step forward directly, it could become noisy. Matters like this are always more effective when exposed from within. You have the materials, do you not?"
"I… that…"
"In truth, I do not know exactly how much information Your Highness possesses. So I would like to hear it. Who else is involved in this matter?"
I already knew most of it through James.
However, there were likely details Friedrich had not revealed, and those needed to be uncovered.
He might lie, but I could compare his words with what I already knew.
And Friedrich did not know that James was on my side.
If he lied, it would be obvious.
Moreover, he was already half in panic.
"The masterminds are Emperor Alexander II of Russia, Councilor Mikhail Bakunin of the South… and myself."
"All familiar names. I already knew those three. Are there others?"
"There were people we attempted to recruit. Some in France and Britain… but even a slight probe made them recoil, so we abandoned it. Ah, there is one more. James, chairman of the James Group. He cooperated with us. He said he opposed Your Majesty's advocacy of anti-monopoly laws…"
"I see. So those four are all."
"Those are the leaders. There were many operatives, though most did not even know what they were doing."
It seemed there were no hidden players.
That was ideal.
Too many targets would dilute focus.
Russia alone was perfect.
"So what was your original plan?"
"…We intended to shift all blame onto Russia and provoke conflict between the two imperial families."
"Good. Then proceed as planned."
"But… the evidence has not been fully erased. Russia will retaliate. Then I will be exposed as well…"
He was surprisingly timid.
Still, begging for his life was preferable to stubborn pride.
"Do not worry. I will give you an escape."
"…An escape?"
"When Russia accuses you, admit it. Say you were cooperating from the beginning to expose them. I will support your testimony."
"…If you truly do that…"
If I confirmed it, others would accept it.
"Of course, Wilhelm and Otto von Bismarck will be informed of the truth."
"…Then I…"
"Do not worry. They will not replace their only crown prince. At worst, they will scold you."
If everything were hidden, I could not bind him.
Debts must be repaid.
"If they learn of this, my position…"
"You still worry about that?"
"I… I understand! I will do as you say! But what about Bakunin and James?"
"They will pay their price. The James Group will taste the anti-monopoly law. For him, losing his companies will be worse than death. As for Bakunin, I have plans."
James and I had already coordinated.
Splitting his companies would allow natural integration into the royal sphere.
"And you will use this as well…"
"Crown Prince, why that expression?"
I deliberately made my tone colder.
He trembled.
Yes, fear was necessary.
"Now, it is time to open the curtain. How long do you need?"
"…Half a month…"
"Half a month?"
"…No! One week! I will finish everything in one week!"
I had only asked.
Yet he panicked.
Still, since he humbled himself, a reward was needed.
"I will prepare the materials. You only need to deliver them."
"Yes."
"Then we begin simultaneously in Paris, London, and Berlin."
Once it spreads, the world will know.
Checkmate.
There was hardly anyone who did not know the name of Killian, King of Canada and consort of the British Empire.
Even those without education knew he was extraordinary.
Yet few understood the details.
People only knew that the British Empire prospered because of its capable royal family.
And that at its center stood Empress Victoria and Killian.
For that reason, the royal family was admired across nations.
Thus, when shocking articles appeared in major capitals, attention was inevitable.
[Shocking Revelation! The British Imperial Family is a hidden power manipulating the world!]
[The Dark Sovereign controls the world!]
[How the merciless tyrant shaped history!]
At first, people dismissed it as nonsense.
But strangely, governments remained silent.
Encouraged, newspapers continued publishing such claims.
Even within Britain, outrage grew.
"Who wrote this garbage!"
"Punish them!"
"Your Majesty, please deny this!"
Yet Buckingham Palace remained silent.
That silence created doubt.
If it were false, why delay?
Given Empress Victoria's nature, she would have crushed such rumors immediately.
As unrest peaked, the royal family finally spoke.
"All these claims are false. Our silence was to identify the source. Our investigation has confirmed that these malicious rumors originated from the Russian imperial family. We demand an explanation."
A direct accusation.
The world turned toward Russia.
A clash between empires.
The loser would be disgraced.
And just like that, Russia was dragged into the ring.
***
[The Dark Overlord? The hidden force manipulating the world from the shadows!]
[Was Russia also a victim of a grand scheme? The British Empire's conspiracy revealed!]
[Even behind the reds, the British Empire? What lies beneath the mask?]
"Newspaper! One more copy here!"
"Me first! I've been waiting thirty minutes!"
"I've been here for two hours!"
The rumors spread rapidly in Russia.
Alexander II had not expected this scale, but he was pleased.
"Your Majesty, the papers are selling out in Moscow and St. Petersburg."
"Excellent. I did not expect Friedrich and James to go this far."
"Should we stop it?"
"We should pretend to. But how can we suppress such enthusiasm?"
Russia distanced itself publicly.
Alexander II praised his decision to stay behind the scenes.
"What about other countries?"
"Prussia and France first, then Spain, Italy, even America."
"Impressive. Capital truly is powerful."
Such scale required immense funding.
James must be involved.
Alexander II laughed.
"I never expected such bold betrayal within Britain."
To him, it proved Britain was not invincible.
"And the next steps?"
"They plan further revelations."
"Good. We watch."
Even within Russia, few knew the truth.
Most genuinely condemned Britain.
Still, Alexander II felt unease.
"Is all this really true?"
"It is hard to believe."
"Still, everything benefits Britain. Perhaps it is true."
He dismissed doubt.
Attributing it to Britain was convenient.
"And the marriage between Britain and Prussia?"
"It will collapse."
"Then we can pursue Prussia."
A new alliance.
Russia would regain power.
Victory seemed near.
Then the response came.
[These rumors are false. Our investigation has identified the Russian imperial family as the source.]
"What? What is happening?"
Confusion spread.
"Russia defamed Britain?"
"No, Britain is lying!"
Debate erupted.
Alexander II remained calm.
"This is baseless. We deny all involvement."
Gorchakov advised restraint.
Without proof, Britain's claim was weak.
"If they truly knew, they would not name only us."
Thus, Russia rejected the accusation.
They prepared to shift blame onto Mikhail Bakunin.
Public opinion divided.
Suspicion grew.
And that was exactly the point.
The stage was set.
At the peak of tension, a press conference was announced.
Representatives from across Europe gathered.
"I will answer all accusations today."
Questions erupted immediately.
"Do you have proof against Russia?"
"Of course."
Then Killian gestured.
"I will present the one who can confirm everything. Please welcome Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia."
Silence fell.
The Crown Prince stepped forward.
No one understood.
Why was he here?
***
He walked forward with a confident stride, as if declaring that he had come to end this war.
Knowing the anxiety and turmoil hidden beneath that composure, I had to struggle to maintain a solemn expression, while Friedrich took his seat beside me with desperate determination.
The moment he sat down, the reporters raised their hands wildly, their eyes practically begging to be allowed to speak.
"It seems many of you have questions, so I will clarify this clearly. Crown Prince Friedrich is here today to confirm that all of this was a scheme orchestrated by Russia. Is that correct?"
"Of course. This is a vile and malicious slander that should never happen again. No matter how far one goes with political maneuvering, there are lines that must not be crossed. Russia has crossed that line."
"Let us take questions. The reporter from France who asked earlier, please proceed."
"Yes! Your Highness, do you truly have concrete evidence that Russia is behind all of this?"
"Of course."
Friedrich nodded calmly and spoke without hesitation.
"I know this because I was directly involved with His Majesty Alexander II in orchestrating it."
"…What?"
"…What did he just say?"
"Is he confessing?"
"Prussia was involved with Russia?"
"What is happening right now?"
Even at an imperial press conference, the reporters could not contain their shock and began writing furiously.
The hall became chaotic until the commander of the guard struck the floor with his boot.
"Silence! You are in the presence of His Majesty! Ask questions in turn!"
Once the room quieted, I continued.
"I understand this is confusing. Let us hear everything first. After that, you may ask further questions."
The reporters flipped open their notebooks, waiting.
"You may wonder why I am revealing this. It is because I never intended to oppose the British Empire. From the beginning, I planned to inform His Majesty Killian."
"I am grateful, but why?"
"Because Prussia is an ally. We do not betray allies."
Prussian reporters nodded proudly.
"So you cooperated with Russia to expose this conspiracy?"
"Exactly."
"As you have heard, that is why we delayed our response."
I preempted further doubts.
"Now, some say the story fits too well. Let me ask you. Does it make sense that I planned all of this simply because Britain benefited?"
Silence.
"Yes, Britain benefited. But that is the result of responding to each situation and preparing in advance. As the strongest power, we inevitably gained the rewards."
I pointed to a reporter.
"Let us assume this conspiracy is true. That I planned everything. How remarkable. Before the war with Russia, I prepared everything. I even planned the American Civil War decades in advance. Do you know when the NBA was founded? It was established when President Abraham Lincoln was still a lawyer. Are you saying I predicted the division of America decades ahead and created conflict in advance? Do I possess the ability to see the future?"
Murmurs spread.
"And if I can foresee the future, why did I not foresee this investigation?"
The logic was simple.
Even though it was true, no one could believe it.
"And regarding the claim that I created the socialist state. This is false. Here are the financial records of the NBA. There is no funding from the royal family."
The records were presented.
"Will you release them publicly?"
"Of course. This is a fabricated narrative connecting unrelated events. In short, fake news."
Gasps filled the room.
"And there is more."
I exposed and corrected manipulated evidence one by one.
The mood shifted.
Russian reporters grew uneasy.
"Would the Russian representatives like to respond?"
"Your Majesty! While the accusations against you seem false, is there any proof beyond the Crown Prince's testimony?"
"Your Highness?"
"It is simple. Russia funded the McFarlane Detective Agency through intermediaries to investigate His Majesty. The money originated from the Russian imperial treasury. Though laundered, it can be traced."
"We have confirmed this."
The evidence was decisive.
If Russia funded the investigation, they were responsible.
The hall erupted.
"How shameless!"
"Russia again?"
"How dare they!"
The guards struggled to restore order.
"Your Majesty, how will you respond?"
"This is an attack on the imperial family. We will consult Parliament and respond officially. Russia may explain itself at any time."
The press conference continued for hours.
Public opinion shifted completely.
Now the question was simple.
How would Russia respond?
"What is happening?!"
Alexander II shouted as he read the report.
"Why is Friedrich there? A traitor?"
"This is suspicious…"
"He must have been bribed!"
Or worse.
Had Killian already known everything?
"Was Friedrich a traitor from the beginning?"
"…Unlikely."
"Then what is this?"
Alexander II stared blankly.
"What is going on…"
No one could answer.
***
Although it felt as if he might lose his sanity, Alexander II had more to deal with than just foreign affairs.
The news had arrived as breaking information, so for now only the Emperor knew, but within a single day it would inevitably become known to everyone.
Information control?
It could be maintained for days or weeks, but with rumors already spreading worldwide, it was absolutely impossible to suppress it forever.
Especially since the imperial court had believed things were proceeding well and had subtly encouraged the spread of the news, people were bound to become curious about how events were unfolding.
If they suddenly blocked all information now, it would only raise suspicion.
And above all, the entire world, believing that Russia had deceived Britain, was already rising up, forcing them to issue an official position somehow.
How could all of this possibly be kept secret?
"Your Majesty! What in the world is happening?"
"We have heard that the British Empire will soon send an official protest, yet we have received no explanation!"
"The nobility is in confusion over these absurd accusations! Your Majesty, please clarify!"
As expected, within a few days, members of the State Council and various committees began to protest frantically.
Even the ministers of the cabinet demanded a clear explanation, and Alexander II found himself trapped.
"Your Majesty!"
"I… this…"
He needed to make excuses somehow, yet even Alexander II himself did not understand what had truly happened, driving him to the brink.
At this point, it was impossible to avoid responsibility entirely.
He knew that.
But he needed to explain what he could and escape what he could to minimize the damage.
To do that, he first had to understand exactly how everything had unraveled, yet no matter how thoroughly he investigated, nothing made sense.
"Foreign Minister! You still have not identified the cause?"
"I… while we cannot be certain, we have narrowed it down to a few possibilities."
"Then speak."
"As I said before, it is unlikely that Crown Prince Friedrich betrayed us first. The most probable scenario is that the British imperial family discovered him first, summoned him to London, and persuaded him."
"Then the marriage negotiations were merely a smokescreen to trap me?"
It sounded absurd, yet it was a reasonable deduction.
Otherwise, Friedrich's sudden confession made no sense.
"The problem is how they discovered him."
"One possibility is James's betrayal."
"The detective agency Bakunin used belonged to him. So we walked into a trap?"
"If James serves the royal family, he could have identified Bakunin and traced Friedrich. Then he lured him to London with the marriage."
It fit.
But if that were true, why speak with uncertainty?
"Is there a reason to doubt this?"
"…There is one issue. There are rumors that the royal family intends to pass anti-monopoly laws. If so, the James Group would be broken apart. If James were their subordinate, this would not make sense."
"What if he was discarded?"
"Someone of his level would not act without safeguards."
That was true.
A man of such wealth would not be so careless.
"Then there is no explanation without contradiction?"
"…There is one. If the James Group itself belongs to the royal family."
"…You mean that immense wealth is actually theirs?"
If James were merely a servant, it would explain everything.
But that was even more absurd.
"Do you seriously believe that?"
"…No. It is only a possibility."
"Do not waste time on fantasies."
It was nonsense.
When James rose, the royal family were still children.
They could not have built such an empire.
"Then what should we tell the council?"
"…Summon the British ambassador. We must ask them to resolve this quietly."
He was willing to concede anything.
Just preserve the dignity of the imperial family.
Moments ago, it had seemed he held the world in his grasp.
Now, nothing remained.
At that same time, the British Parliament was in uproar.
Both the House of Lords and the House of Commons convened together.
"This madness cannot be tolerated!"
"This is an attack on the Empire!"
Party lines vanished.
Everyone demanded punishment.
"Prime Minister! What is the government's plan?"
"The cabinet will follow the will of the imperial family and Parliament."
"Does that include war?"
At that question, attention focused.
"If necessary, yes."
Even weakened, Russia was still Russia.
Yet no one opposed the idea.
Even Benjamin Disraeli supported it.
"If necessary, we go to war. Does anyone believe this is not grounds for war?"
No one objected.
Even William Gladstone nodded silently.
"How much damage would we suffer?"
"We need not invade. Destroy their ports with the navy."
"Canada and Asia can strike from the east."
The discussion escalated.
War was now assumed.
"No nation will support Russia."
The justification was clear.
This was an attack on the imperial family itself.
"However, we should first demand an apology."
"That is reasonable."
"But we must show resolve."
The decision was made.
Kneel and apologize.
Or face war.
Alexander II's hope of quietly resolving the matter was completely shattered.