1624 Summer(June– August)

One week later after I met with Richard, I’ve appointed him as a co-emperor(Western Emperor, Imperator of the West) of the New Roman Empire. There was no objection, and he went through 2 coronations – one in London and the other in Madrid.

The 6 realms – England&Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal – were directly handed over to Richard, and so was the City of London, Bank of England, The East & West India Company.

Last but not least,

“No, grandfather, please, I beg you! I still have a lot to learn from you!”

“That’s enough. You're talented enough. From now on, just keep mastering what you’ve learned from me so far.”

Yes. I’ve returned Henry – the Duke of Cambridge and my eldest grandson – to his father – Richard, the Imperator of the West.

A few weeks later

“I hereby announce the abolition of slavery of all kinds in both mainland and colonies of the New West Roman Empire and grant suffrage to all adult males in American colonies, regardless of their race!”

The moment he rose to the throne, he immediately pushed his idealistic reforms. Of course, it resulted in serious objections from both the Congresses –1st Congress in London and 2nd one in Madrid – and the mainland citizens, but it became just a storm in a teacup.

Why? Because no one had the guts to challenge him – the co-emperor of the New Roman Empire - in the face, thanks to me – who’ve inherited him that authority.

So, both parliaments - 1st one in London and 2nd in Madrid - of the New West Roman Empir had no choice but to follow suit.

“What a rush. You’ve just made Lincoln and Wilberforce into an unemployed.”

“However, it’s good that you’ve accomplished it while I was still alive.”

Indeed, if I was dead, Congress might have backlash or nullified Richard’s reforms.

Of course, since he has 4 sisters - the City of London, Bank of England, The East & West India Company. - of the financial sector in his hands, he would hear my grumble within a week. But so what?

All I did was compliment an idealist son, who’s the opposite of a shrewd realist politician – me.

“Anyway, since he’s doing his job, I should finish my work as well.”

‘Cough’

“B...Basileus, a...are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

No, I’m not. I was getting weak. Just 2 years ago, it was no problem for me to ride a fighter ship and do paperwork, devise tactics, and deliver commands. But now, I was just suffering from seasickness from a round trip from Constantinople to Naples.

I’m 68(*MC was born in 1556 July 7th) now, so considering this era’s medical science, it’s no surprise that I die on the bed tonight.

‘Shit! There’s not enough time!’

Even though I tried my utmost – unlike my grandfather Henry VIII – to stay healthy, like avoiding greasy foods in my diet, eating all kinds of healthy stuff, doing gymnastics during my spare time, the end is near.

After I’ve shoved my aides away, I’ve contemplated in my room.

“If I were to die right now, there’s 2 groups that would remain loyal to Arthur – my youngest son and the 2nd Basileus of the New East Roman Empire.”

One group is made up of aristocrats of Naples and the other is the circle of Iberian nobles who’ve immigrated to Greece.

“That would do.”

The Iberian nobles who’ve settled in Greece were the ones that stood by my side during the entire 10th Crusade, and have received fief for that service.

Meanwhile, Neapolitan aristocrats are currently growing their influence in the Italian peninsula, with my authority on their back, which means they are bread and butter with the royal.

‘And no wonder. How could poor south Italy become neck and neck with Venice now, without the help of the royal of the New East Roman Empire? They would have to be stupid as the WW2 Japan’s junta, who declared war against the USA if they were to betray the royal!’

In short, these 2 groups would do anything to keep Arthur as the 2nd Basileus of the New East Roman Empire – Greece&Macedonia, Constantinople, Anatolia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, Cyprus, Italy, Egypt, Libya – if I were to face a tragic death like Caesar.

‘Therefore, I must get those 2 groups on the hooks, till I die.’

And it’s not a waste of resources, too. The Iberian nobles who’ve immigrated to Greece were newcomers, so their background is currently unstable and Neapolitan aristocrats are still far too weaker than Northen Italian city-states like Venice.

“Of course, the Military order of Cyprus and the merchants would stand by the royal’s side, but their loyalty is relatively weaker than those 2.”

The Military order might bandwagon between the church and the royal, and the merchants would choose their side based on their profits. Bank of Constantinople? They too would be a loyalist, but they need at least a decade to become a substantial player in New Eastern Roman Empire’s politics.

The native Greeks and the 6 vassal states - Albania, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Egypt – of the New East Roman Empire? They’re wild cards, which can be either my followers or foes, depending on my remaining rule and Arthur’s footsteps.

“On the other hand, I have 3 enemies for sure.”

Persia, Remaining Turks, and Northern Italian city-states.

First, I have no choice but to compromise with Persia. It’s not because I’m afraid of defeat, but to prevent the Kingdom of France & Jerusalem would play both ends against the middle. If Persia were weakened, Louis XIII – the current king of France&Jerusalem – wouldn’t miss his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seize Egypt or grow naval forces, etc.

“Also, as far as I know, the current Shahanshah – ruler of Persia, Abbas the Great isn’t a paper tiger, too.”

So, I should make peace with Persia, conceding them the eastern territories and settle the border between the 2 empires – New East Roman Empire & Persia, making it easier for Arthur and his descendants.

The remaining Sunni Turks? Who cares? Thanks to the late Ottoman family, who’ve crushed other prominent families to solidify the scepter, the remaining Turks were just like Native Americans in the American Frontier Era.

They had no leader and divided among each other, entering the civil war.

“So, if I order the nobles who’ve received fief in inner Anatolia, they would crush them with the help of the Military order of Cyprus.”

Maybe, they would rather choose to obey the Christian Basileus, who proclaimed to protect the Muslims than to be ruled under the heretic Shia.

However, the nastiest ones were the Northern Italian city-states, especially the ‘Most Serene Republic of Venice’

“Yes. I plan to return Constantinople into Mecca of the Mediterranean finance and trade, which would transform them into the Rust Belt.”

And they’ll try to stop it with all their might.

In addition, due to the geographic situation, it’s too heavily influenced by the Austrian Habsburg. Although the Northwest region like Milan would willingly obey the New East Roman Empire royal to avoid being crushed by France again, the northeastern - Lombardy – region of Italy is much easier convenient to rely on Austrian Habsburg than the Basileus of the New East Roman Empire, even if it were to constrain France.

“Yes, they would be a pain in the neck in Arthur’s rule, if I were to let them have their way till I die.”

It would have been nice if I had at least a decade, which is enough time to crush their economy and turn them into a rust belt.

But I don’t have a decade. I just have 3~5 years before I die. And if I were to die today, the Northern Italian patriciate won’t miss once-in-a-lifetime chance to have their way with the 6-year-old 2nd Basileus of the New East Roman Empire, Arthur(*He was born in 1617 Winter),

“Well, well, well. It seems that I have no choice but to crush them with all my might.”