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**Rome Treaty Organization**

The war is over, but this guy’s popularity isn’t fading at all.

First, I had to declare the contents of the negotiations with MacArthur at the Rome Treaty Organization.

Defining our territories, giving up land, designating untouched areas, and discussing the Greenland sale, one by one.

“Hm, giving up too much from Latin America to the Pacific, including former colonies, is that reasonable?”

“We’ve already taken over everything from Eurasia to the Middle East. There’s really no need to be greedy.”

“Hmm, it feels a bit off to hand over the colonies, though.”

“If the U.S. is determined to target the colonies, there’s nothing we can do to stop them. It’s better to hand them over like this.”

Right, we need to focus on post-war recovery in Europe as much as possible.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we can slack off on the military, but still, after claiming we’d decolonize, exerting influence over former colonies feels a bit odd, doesn’t it?

Having acquired North China, the Korean Peninsula, Western Japan, and Taiwan should be enough.

“Indeed, the U.S. has acknowledged the Pacific defense line in Asia, and with the Marshall Plan, they’ve secured European recovery; this should suffice.”

Churchill from Britain looked very pleased.

The Pacific defense line in Asia largely relies on countries like New Zealand and Australia, making the Commonwealth’s role significant.

It was a nightmare during Dunkirk, but having succeeded like this must feel good.

“Is the sale of Greenland from Denmark settled?”

“MacArthur likely just threw that at His Majesty, but it’s vague.”

“Officially, they say they’ll be granting independence to Greenland separately. But they probably want Greenland for the sake of Canada and Alaska.”

Surprisingly, the sale of Greenland had positive prospects.

Since we’ll all be divided competing for the world anyway, it’s better to throw things out and maximize our profits.

After all, Canada, an English multi on top of the U.S., isn’t that bad for Greenland.

It’s not like we’re giving up Canada. It’s Greenland after all.

“If the price is appropriate, we in Denmark are not opposed to selling.”

“Then, let’s negotiate that well.”

Now it’s finally time to wrap up the colonial issues.

I asked Pétain behind Gastev.

“We’ve driven out the Japanese army from French Indochina, so we need to start on independence, what’s the status?”

“We’re conducting votes among the colonists. Independence is a foregone conclusion; they’re deciding whether to become a monarchist nation or a republic.”

The Vietnamese Empire and the Republic of Vietnam, huh.

Either way, this is going to be interesting.

“We already have U.S. troops stationed in the Dutch East Indies. They’ll be assisting with colonial independence, and plans are being coordinated with the local military government.”

It seems we’ve already transferred authority over decolonization to the U.S.

The Dutch representative seems disappointed, but they can’t reclaim the East Indies alone. The Rome Treaty has declared decolonization, and if the U.S. doesn’t eventually say, “Hmm, that colony’s ours,” we won’t have to intervene.

“We need to tackle the matter of the newly established United Nations as well. The UN should be established soon, and we need to ensure that all independent colonial nations join and become part of the international community.”

“There’s a desire for independence even in Okinawa, which was part of Japan. They wish for independence and hope for our support. Let’s grant Okinawa independence and have them join the United Nations.”

“What about Taiwan?”

“Let’s grant Taiwan independence, but since we may return Hong Kong to China in the future, it might be good to establish Taiwan as the Asian branch of the Rome Treaty Organization.”

Taiwan won’t experience the national upheaval of the Republic of China, so it’ll be set as the Asian base of the Rome Treaty Organization.

If something happens in South China, we can intervene and resolve it.

“If any incident occurs in South China, we’ll need to intervene, so it’s not bad.”

“The independence issue in India also needs to proceed well. We can’t give the U.S. a reason to interfere.”

“Yes. Tsar, we plan to grant independence according to religion, referring to Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.”

Churchill, who participated in this meeting, smiled slyly as he thought about how the Commonwealth would turn out.

The Bulldog of the British Empire. His expression is one that befits a head of a bunch of pirates.

Indeed, even an old lion still remains distinctly British.

“Just like Britain.” “They certainly won’t let go easily.” “How surprising.”

The representatives from various nations of the Rome Treaty were not shy in expressing their admiration.

Honestly, that’s how it is. We can’t just give away our stakes. You’ll share! That’s the gist of it.

Of course, when you think about it, I was the one who proposed it first, but still. I suppose the British truly didn’t think they’d actually go through with it.

Since I directly negotiated with MacArthur, today, I plan to have quite a say in the Rome Treaty Organization.

“We must recognize the newly independent Israel and the impending independent nation on the Korean Peninsula as states. Israel will serve as a foothold for intervention in China, and the Korean Peninsula is also a decent-sized nation in terms of population for the Pacific defense line; cultivating a navy there will be beneficial for us. We should also provide reconstruction support to Western Japan, but since it borders Eastern Japan, they’ll be building up their army.”

“But isn’t it possible that these places may eventually break away from us later?”

“How about recognizing them as Asian partner states of the Rome Treaty Organization while separately establishing an economic organization to connect with Russia?”

By throwing in cheap natural gas and similar benefits while economically subjugating them to the Rome Treaty Organization, it would be a similar situation.

They might even develop more than Korea did in original history.

“After the reconstruction, we’ll also need to address the issue of a unified currency in Europe. This will involve paid unification…”

“In coordination with Huey Long from the U.S., we’ve suggested introducing a new currency to serve as an international currency as well.”

“Then, let’s decide on the international currency issue after the decolonization matters are settled.”

Even the topic of international currency was broached.

In original history, John Maynard Keynes’s suggestion to introduce a new international currency called Bancor faded into the background as it was absorbed by the Bretton Woods system, which adopted the U.S. dollar as the key currency based on the gold standard, making the U.S. a hegemonic power.

Well, eventually, the Bretton Woods system also came to an end as the U.S.’s ability to convert gold was called into question with the frivolous farce of the Vietnam War and the space race with the Soviets.

In this history, it seems Russia is rising quickly, putting the ruble forward as an official candidate for a key currency, but Bancor doesn’t seem bad either.

This is something to be resolved later.

Bancor does have its own problems, though.

I expected the Rome Treaty Organization would handle things well and returned to Moscow.

* * *

“Alright, then maybe it’s time for me to get ready.”

I’ve probably lingered too long on the Tsar’s seat.

Maybe I should just toss it to Vladimir and enjoy myself in my own way.

Upon returning to Moscow, I awarded medals to the Far Eastern Expeditionary Forces and paused for thought for a while.

The war is done, and the rest is surely something that the Duma or the Rome Treaty Organization will handle.

I thought it best to step away here, so I casually tossed a hint about delegating to Vladimir in the National Duma.

“I have something to reveal to the members of the National Duma today.”

“Please, go ahead.”

At my words, everyone fell silent.

Yeah, yeah. It’s nice to have everyone showing me such consideration. With this, I’m sure they’ll accept whatever I declare soon.

So, I want to declare confidently.

“I’ve been here for almost over 20 years, so I’d like to pass the throne to our Vladimir soon.”

A moment of silence. It was so quiet that I wondered if I was the only one alive here while the others were just corpses.

After a brief pause, everyone seemed to understand.

Vladimir rushed to my side and collapsed.

“Absolutely not, Your Majesty!”

“No way! It’s only been about 20 years!”

“That’s right. Absolutely not!”

Following Vladimir, even the old assemblymen embarrassingly started crying before me.

Is it such a big deal?

It’s like a scene from Joseon where ministers plead with the ruler not to abdicate.

I felt flustered at that moment.

No, well, I’ve been doing this for quite a while. Twenty years is really a decent amount of time. Vladimir has grown up nicely, and I can trust him, right?

“No, but Vladimir has grown up well now, and I—”

“Queen Victoria of Britain reigned for over 60 years. How can you speak such words, Your Majesty? The war has just ended!”

Wow, I feel like I’m their ancestor now.

Like one of those ancestors who harped on about abdicating forever.

I never intended to do this, but is it really blowing up into such a big deal?

Well, technically speaking, I’m not even 50 yet, and considering that a monarchy was only recently adopted in the Union, a reign of a little over 20 years isn’t too far off from being active.

But being a Puppet Emperor means I should probably stick around longer, right?

Reflecting on the chaos that might ensue post-abdication, I thought, “I’ve aged plenty.”

Suddenly, without realizing it, I pouted my lips in protest and grumbled.

Everyone looked at me as if questioning whether I should be making such a face.

“If His Majesty speaks such words, we’d best just enter our coffins.”

Ah, I’m sorry.

But really, appearances are one thing, and age is another. I just thought I wanted to chill a bit.

Instead, it seems I’ve overly flexed my power as a Puppet Emperor over the years.

I genuinely intended to abdicate, but ended up having a theatrical abdication instead.

Regardless, I had to console the sobbing, whining old men and officially withdraw, before I could return to the Kremlin.

Honestly, I still can’t shake the thought of abdicating.

What shocked me the most is that Vladimir didn’t go along with it.

“No, Vladimir. You should be on my side! You’re gaining support from the White Army now, aren’t you?”

Isn’t he receiving ample support from the White Army?

He even played a significant role in saving the Danube Federation army from Judetenland.

Does this guy want to be affixed to the throne, even in his old age?

Look at Elizabeth II. She could comfortably enjoy her old age holed up at home, yet she reigned for so long, with Charles III becoming king only over the age of 70.

Though when you think about it, my reign’s been a fraction of Elizabeth’s, but wouldn’t this be a pretty decent time frame?

“That may be so, but no matter how I think, it just doesn’t feel right.”

“No matter how you think?”

At my questioning, Vladimir fumbled for a moment before finally speaking.

“I really feel that comparing myself to you, Your Majesty, feels a bit overwhelming. For now, it seems best for you to remain on the throne, as I can’t imagine a Union without your presence.”

Well, that makes sense.

Honestly, I’ve done a lot of dubious things during my time.

“It’s not that I’m leaving, I’ll still be in Russia. Sure, I might go on a little trip to the Far East, but I’ll be just hanging around the Kremlin.”

“That’s not what I mean. Everyone is calling out for the Mother Tsar. I think so too, and I cannot dismiss your symbolic presence. Besides, you haven’t even reached 30 yet. It’s still too early for abdication. And I’m still unmarried.”

Oh dear. Seems I’m in quite the pickle.

At this rate, will I ever be able to step down from the throne in my lifetime?

What if I end up dying still stuck on that throne? No, will I actually die? At any rate…

The future looks alarmingly unclear. Is it going to lead to a tragic end? Of course, the National Duma would have the sense not to manipulate me, right?

“Right. For the time being, I’ll let things slide as they are, but get married and have an heir.”

This guy still hasn’t married.

I’d best hope he produces an heir; otherwise, I’ll have plenty to worry about.

Vladimir isn’t the only one causing a ruckus.

“Mother Tsar’s abdication is absolutely out of the question!”

“Please don’t abandon us!”

“No parent ever abandons their child, Your Majesty!”

I have no idea how this rumor spread, but the opposition is tremendous and overwhelming.

Ah, I truly feel this has flopped.

Eventually, people began fainting in front of the Kremlin, and I had no choice but to officially retract my resignation.

Is this really happening?

Even Joseon wouldn’t treat their ruler this way. If this were everything, I wouldn’t even bother speaking.

Now, all kinds of letters from Wilhelm II and Hitler, Charles I, Edward VIII, Churchill, Kemal, Liberia, and other European leaders have arrived. Even the Pope has sent a message.

Is my abdication news spreading far and wide?

Now that I think about it, I even received ones from Lee Woo and Puyi. Even Mao Zedong has sent one.

They’ve arrived from all over!

This all feels so embarrassing. It’s truly disheartening.

“Given Your Majesty’s popularity, there’s no other way. You could just keep your seat and hang around the Kremlin, right?”

Maria said while massaging my shoulders.

No, I’m genuinely serious.

 

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