1613 Winter(December)

I've gathered 250,000 soldiers in my kingdom - The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Iberia - in total. 160,000 from Iberia, 80,000 from the British Isles, and 10,000 from the Netherlands.

Those soldiers were divided into 3 divisions. 160,000 troops from Iberia became 1st(120,000) and 2nd (40,000) division while the 3rd division(90,000) were made up of troops from both the British Isles and the Netherlands.

The strategy? It's simple! While the 3rd division - which the Earl of Essex is in charge - is keeping its place in the Netherlands, Marquis Juan's 1st division will swiftly advance to Barcelona - the capital of the Union of Aragon and Two Sicillies. At the same time, with the help of the Royal Navy, Duke of Braganza's 2nd division will occupy the Balearic Islands and Sardinia, taking control of the entire West Mediterranean.

After that, when the Union surrenders, I'll split the 1st division into half. The 1st half will join the 3rd division and will occupy the Northern German coastlines while the other half directly attacks Venice and Austria with the 2nd division, passing the Union's territory.

Chances? Much higher than that of Japan's attack on Pearl harbor or German Empire's 2 front war in WW1! With France forced to be silent, thanks to its' political instability, I can fight against entire Europe - including Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden - and win! A little bit of delay was no big deal to me.

If I was only the king of Great Britain and the Netherlands right now, my kingdom would have surrendered at the moment its' food supply from Poland or France has been cut, but I'm not.

Let alone North American colonies' food supply, I'm also the King of Iberia now! Hahaha! So, even if France and Poland take Union and Austria's - or Saxony's - side and declare war against me, Sack of the Warsaw and Paris is more likely to happen than the falling down of London bridge.

"Piece of cake."

So, that was my mutter after the generals and aides left the conference room to prepare for the war.

1614 Winter(January - February)

Major battles began.

"Your majesty, Saxony, and other Northern German Protestant states are on the defense mode."

"Union, Austria, and Venice troops are all stuck at their forts and harbors, not trying to attack us first, your majesty."

And that's what messengers reported to me.

'Just as I expected.'

Both of my enemies have neither attacked first nor joined forces to fight against the common enemy - me. They've come a long way till now at this war - which was a religious civil war at first but has now become a succession war for the crown of the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire - to reconcile. Also, both Saxony's side and Austria's side had little chance of winning against my kingdom, with only its' power.

So, they were just praying that my troops attack their enemy first and not them, just like an ostrich sticking its' head in the sand, hoping the lion will not spot it.

But unfortunately for them, the lion did spot the ostrich.

"Retreat!"

"Oh, Virgin Mary, do you desert the Union and Venice?"

"Hahaha! Isn't there any talented commander in Aragon or Venice? I wish to see the feat that the late Lioness showed! She crushed the foes, even her troops were outnumbered 5 or 10 times! But it's only 2 to 1, you fools!"

"Long live King Eduardo I !"

Marquis Juan's 1st division - 120,000 troops - crushed their foes - 60,000 Aragon troops and 7,000 Venice Republican army.

The Catalans of Aragon lacked supplies, war experiences, and experienced Commissioned Officers - let alone extraordinary commander like the late Lioness, while Venetians didn't have enough soldiers. Their only advantage was that they were defending in the forts, but, since they were outnumbered by 2 to 1, it was meaningless.

So, about 3 weeks later, the 1st division was able to hoist the Castillian flag in Barcelona. And Felipe III - my half-brother and king of the Union - had no choice but to flee to Milan with his few followers, declaring Milan as a temporary capital of his kingdom.

After that, for about a month, Marquis Juan led the 1st division and crushed the remaining followers of Felipe III in the Aragon region. Meanwhile, Duke of Braganza's 2nd division swiftly 'passed' the Balearic Islands and landed at Sardinia with the Royal Navy's division led by Sir William.

Why did they pass the Balearic Islands? It was because the islanders surrendered, without single blood!

"We don't want to spill our blood on this succession war. We want peace."

"Then so be it."

So, the 2nd division and the Royal Navy just accepted the islanders' surrender and went straight to Sardinia.

Meanwhile, at the offshore of Tunisia, the naval battle between the fleets of Aragon-Venice and Armada-Royal Navy occurred.

"If you promise to observe Venice's sovereignty even after this war ends, our fleets will desert Aragon fleets and return to our home."

"Excellent! I'll report this to his majesty right now!"

However, thanks to Venice's betrayal - realizing that they had little chance of winning, Venetian fleets deserted their ally in the middle of the naval battle - Aragon fleets were crushed by the Armada and the Royal Navy.

At this point, I've successfully secured the Western Mediterranean. With Venice taking Iberia's side, there was no match against the United Kingdom in the sea.

So, when Duke Braganza's 2nd division(40,000 troops) landed at Sardinia, the patriciates of Sardinia abruptly surrendered. There was no resistance since they were helpless.

No wonder. As they always say, 'Suffer a side blow in a fight, an innocent bystander gets hurt in a fight.' In their point of view, Catalans, Castillians, Portuguese were all foreigners. So, they had no loyalty to the previous regime and had low morale.

"Fight till your last breath!"

"Y...yes"

"O, of course, your majesty."

It was a Judas kiss. While Felipe III declared to fight till the end, all patriciates of city-states of Italy pretended to obey his orders at the front, but secretly sent messengers and suggested negotiations.

They - Milan, Genova, Naples, Sicily, etc - were only speaking for their city-state. They neither care for their king - Felipe III - nor the entire Italian peninsula.

"Just like the times of Italian wars, huh? Swiftly changing your master."

"P, please, have mercy, your majesty...I mean, kaiser!"

"Yes, we'll obediently pay taxes, kaiser! Please, observe our city's autonomy!"

"Very well. It shall be done."

"Yeah, long live kaiser!"

"Long live King Edward VII!"

1614 Spring(March-May)

'Thud'

"Y...you filthy b, betrayers!!! H, how can you do this to me!!!"

And there he was. Felipe III, my half-brother, became a prisoner by Milan patriciates and was handed over to me.

"S, so...y, you...want my head?"

He was pale, in rags, and was alone. It was not hard to guess how he was treated by those bandwagons.

"No, brother. I just want your crown."

And I casually replied. It was no big deal at all. Since I was the eldest son of Felipe II, I was the legitimate successor of the entire Iberian Kingdom. But Felipe III? He was a split heir, who was inherited my legitimate share, thanks to Felipe II's designation.

So, since it was found out that Felipe III couldn't rule his feud properly, I - Edward VII/Eduardo I - as the eldest son, had a just motive to confiscate his feud, for the sake of our family and the people of that feud.

Of course, I need to keep an eye on my incompetent younger half-brother, because he can be a decent figurehead by my political opponents. But I don't necessarily have to murder him, just house arresting would do. He's neither a skillful leader nor a talented general like the dead lioness.

"T, thank you for your m, mercy b, brother!"

'Sigh'

'Isn't there any decent rival for me in this world, except my late first daughter, Elizabeth?'

"Lock him up in his former palace in Milan, and treat him as a Duke."

"Of course, kaiser." "Follow me, sir."

"Oh thank you, thank you! Brother!"

After the servant left with Felipe III, leaving me alone in my room, I sighed.

"Boring"

Now, I miss my once-in-a-lifetime rival, the late Lioness.

This was way too easy.