Denmark was focusing on diplomacy more than ever.
Rising nationalism, the growing strength of the German sphere, and the immense geopolitical importance of Schleswig-Holstein meant that a mid-sized country like Denmark lived in constant anxiety, unsure when Prussia might draw its sword.
Ambassador Carl Ernst carried the weight of his nation's future on his shoulders as he prepared for this meeting.
He had thoroughly researched how Denmark could present itself as a valuable partner to the British Empire and believed that if Princess Thyra simply smiled and pleased the Crown Prince, a favorable outcome was certain.
He had been confident.
He had analyzed records and simulated every possible scenario.
But now,
"Let us confirm first. Was that truly morning sickness?"
"…We are verifying it now."
This disaster felt unreal.
There had never been such a case.
Royal marriages were common, but no princess would ever meet a foreign crown prince while pregnant.
Even past scandals did not compare.
Some had hidden illegitimate children or concealed miscarriages, but this—
Morning sickness during a meeting with the Crown Prince of the world's greatest empire.
Ernst could not even process it.
He wanted to shout in anger, but instead he bowed and apologized repeatedly to Killian Gore Hanover and then to Victoria before confronting the princess.
"Please tell me honestly. Were you simply unwell from the voyage?"
"…I…"
He already knew the answer.
She had been perfectly healthy during the journey.
She had eaten well since arriving in London.
Now everything made sense.
"This cannot be hidden. You must tell the truth."
"…I…"
"If it is not the worst case, we can explain it. You will need to be examined and remain in London for observation."
But her tearful expression gave him the answer.
"…I must report this. Do you know who the father is?"
She nodded faintly.
He nearly collapsed.
"You came to London knowing this?"
"I did not know I was pregnant. I only intended to attend once and leave…"
He understood.
She had hoped to avoid consequences.
But the situation was irreversible.
The ambassador struggled to maintain composure.
This was beyond repair.
Even if the Crown Prince had not yet chosen her, the damage was done.
He left in despair.
Diplomats always cleaned up the mistakes of others.
This time was no different.
Back in the palace, Edward sat at dinner in a daze.
The shock was immense.
Even Victoria, who would normally be furious, focused instead on her son's state.
Even Adelaide offered comfort.
"Is it really true?"
"It appears so."
"This is unbelievable. Even commoners would be condemned for such behavior."
"It does seem we were taken lightly."
The situation was clear.
This was not intentional insult, but the result of reckless behavior.
Still, that did not matter.
The British royal family had been humiliated.
More importantly, Edward had been hurt.
Such a first experience would not be easily forgotten.
"Father, we cannot let this pass."
"I agree."
I reassured Edward, though his voice lacked strength.
After dinner, I met the ambassador again.
He looked exhausted.
"This is a disgrace beyond excuse."
"So it is exactly as we thought."
"This was never our intention. We had no idea."
"Of course. Otherwise, it would be an act of war."
Intent no longer mattered.
The facts were clear.
"We cannot hide this. By tomorrow, all of London will know."
"We will have the princess return immediately."
"And relocate your embassy staff for safety."
Public reaction would be unpredictable.
The royal family was deeply loved.
Violence was possible.
Even so, I did not wish harm upon innocent staff.
At the same time, I could not ignore the opportunity.
"This incident will require discussion."
The ambassador apologized repeatedly and left.
Soon after, news spread across the world.
Messages of sympathy arrived from many nations.
Among them, one stood out.
A letter from Otto von Bismarck.
He expressed outrage and sympathy, stating he would come to London immediately.
The words were polite.
But the meaning was clear.
He was pleased.
With Denmark eliminated, Austria's chances increased.
And Bismarck understood that better than anyone.
In my mind, the balance between Prussia and Austria began to shift back and forth.
***
"If we stay here, our lives could be in danger. Empty the embassy immediately and move all the families as well."
"Sir? But there are so many important documents…"
"Then take only the classified materials for now. His Majesty Killian Gore Hanover said he would send people right away, so we must vacate this place before tomorrow morning's newspapers are released at the latest."
Ambassador Ernst's foresight in summoning his staff immediately upon returning from the palace proved correct.
Fortunately, none of the embassy staff were foolish enough to leave without understanding the situation.
They had been waiting anxiously, and as soon as the order was given, they gathered the confidential documents and evacuated.
[An insult to the royal family. The outrageous misconduct of the Danish princess.]
[Was this an attempt to pass off another man's child to the royal family? An unbelievable marriage fraud by Denmark.]
[Does Denmark think the British Empire is easy to provoke? The Crown Prince's humiliation shocks the nation.]
The newspapers wasted no time.
By dawn, presses were running nonstop, flooding London with sensational headlines.
At first, citizens did not fully understand.
But by breakfast, most had grasped what had happened.
As always, reports were exaggerated.
[His Majesty's fury. "Those who insult the Crown Prince will not be forgiven."]
[Her Imperial Majesty Victoria to attend upcoming naval events. Is this the beginning of retaliation?]
[Was this deliberate or accidental? Questions surround the Danish princess.]
Facts were unclear, but the story spread rapidly.
Soon, the public began treating the insult as their own.
"This is insane. Have the Danes lost their minds?"
"They dared to humiliate the Crown Prince like this?"
"This is basically a declaration of conflict. Where are they?"
Anger spread everywhere.
Factories, streets, restaurants, all buzzed with outrage.
Rumors escalated quickly.
By afternoon, some claimed the princess had deliberately tried to deceive the royal family.
Crowds gathered at the Danish embassy.
"Come out and apologize!"
"Kneel before the Emperor and the Crown Prince!"
When no one responded, fury escalated.
Bricks, stones, and burning bottles rained down.
Even the gates were damaged.
The embassy fell into chaos.
Police presence was minimal.
Many officers shared the public's anger.
Suppressing the crowd risked backlash.
"Let them vent for now."
As long as there were no casualties, they would not intervene.
Even the authorities tacitly allowed the unrest.
At the same time, politics reacted swiftly.
The opposition blamed the government's diplomatic failures.
The ruling party responded by condemning Denmark and promising action.
Prime Minister Wellesley addressed the press directly.
"This is a grave diplomatic failure. We will investigate fully and hold all responsible parties accountable."
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Discussions followed immediately.
"If we do not act firmly, this will damage us politically."
"We have confirmation from the Crown that strong measures are acceptable."
"We must strike Denmark decisively."
No one suggested war.
But pressure was inevitable.
Parliament officially demanded that Denmark accept responsibility and provide compensation.
Denmark failed to respond properly.
There was a reason.
Christian IX had collapsed upon hearing the news, suffering a concussion.
Wellesley almost felt sympathy.
Even royal families could fall apart like this.
Meanwhile, within Britain, blame shifted toward Denmark.
Even those not directly responsible sought to avoid consequences.
The consensus was clear.
Denmark must pay.
People were often angrier about wounded pride than actual damage.
This was one of those cases.
Then, as expected, Otto von Bismarck arrived in London.
"Our Prussia will not tolerate this insult to our closest ally. An attack on Britain is an attack on us."
The public responded enthusiastically.
When he announced that Prussia had canceled its own marriage discussions with Denmark, support for him surged.
He was no longer seen as the Iron Chancellor, but as a loyal ally.
After gaining public favor, he finally came to see me.
"You met the press before offering condolences."
"I believed it was the best way to demonstrate our resolve."
"It was effective."
"Denmark had no response when we withdrew from negotiations."
"You act quickly."
With Prussia already pressuring Denmark, there was little need for direct British action.
Though his intentions were obvious, I could not deny his effectiveness.
He was simply playing the game well.
And so was I.
"Prime Minister, your support moves me deeply."
"I am only fulfilling my duty as an ally."
"Then you would be willing to act on our behalf as well?"
"…Act, you say?"
"Of course. The royal family has been insulted. Public opinion strongly favors action."
It was an exaggeration.
But the justification was strong.
Bismarck understood that.
He watched me carefully.
I smiled calmly.
"Schleswig-Holstein. You want it, do you not?"
***
It has already been over twenty years since I came to know Otto von Bismarck.
Even calling someone a friend of ten years gives the impression of closeness, but twenty years usually means a relationship deep enough to know even the smallest habits.
Of course, relationships between politicians are often exceptions, but Bismarck was someone I had marked early on, even before he rose to prominence.
I knew the embarrassing parts of his past that would make anyone cringe if revealed, and he, in turn, trusted me enough to share personal concerns and stories.
There had been moments of distance when he took on the role of prime minister, but recently, it felt like we had returned to how we once were.
That said, friendship is one thing, and interests are another.
We both stand in positions where the interests of the British Empire and Prussia must come first, so conflict is inevitable.
Even so, I enjoyed these exchanges with Bismarck.
At my current age and position, there were very few people left with whom I could engage in true strategic back and forth.
For such a contest to exist, interests must collide, but within Britain, there was almost no one left who could oppose me.
Wellesley and Disraeli were effectively part of the same interest group as me, and the opposition had long since settled into supporting the royal family rather than challenging it.
Even now, they merely repeated the same lines about punishing Denmark for insulting the Crown.
In the past, figures like Russell or Palmerston would have tried to limit my influence, but after being decisively countered, they had effectively chosen to align themselves instead.
Perhaps the Liberal Party would one day be remembered as the perfect example of the phrase, if you cannot beat them, join them.
Even when dealing with foreign figures, there were few who could truly engage me on equal footing.
Perhaps only Abraham Lincoln had once provided that level of challenge, but now, as a three term president, he carefully chose only battles he could win and had no interest in sparring with me.
In the end, Bismarck was the only one left who could match me in such exchanges.
"Schleswig-Holstein is indeed the most sensitive issue within the German Confederation. Since the majority of the population is German, it is only natural to think it should belong to us. However, in the past, did not Britain and Russia support Denmark?"
"We did not support Denmark. We simply maintained the status quo."
"Yet the fact that you are asking whether I intend to annex the region suggests something else. I see. What territory does Britain desire? If your empire were to mobilize its forces, Denmark would have no way to resist."
As expected, he understood my intent immediately.
At the same time, he deliberately avoided stating it outright.
Despite his words about alliance, he had no intention of drawing his sword on Britain's behalf.
Naturally, I had no intention of spending vast sums on a war against Denmark either.
Even a quick victory would come at a financial cost.
And with technological progress, the cost of war would only increase, never decrease.
Even if we destroyed Denmark's navy instantly, the expense would not justify the gain.
Moreover, the disparity between Britain and Denmark was so great that war itself could generate sympathy for Denmark.
They deserved punishment, but outright conquest would invite criticism.
Therefore, Britain could not be the one to initiate such a war.
Fortunately, Bismarck had already declared that Prussia and Britain were like brothers.
That opened the door.
"If we act directly, it will create unnecessary complications. And frankly, if we declared war, would you not immediately join as our ally?"
"Of course. That is what allies do."
Despite his public image, Bismarck did not favor war.
He valued power and military strength, but only as tools to expand Prussia's influence.
Diplomacy was always his first choice.
War was simply insurance for when diplomacy failed.
His policies were pragmatic to the extreme, always focused on tangible benefits rather than ideals.
Even his approach to expansion reflected this.
Prussia should only expand within manageable limits and avoid provoking neighboring powers unnecessarily.
The problem was that those around him did not always share this restraint.
But that could be used.
"Public opinion here is increasingly favorable toward Prussia. If you do not act now, you may never have another chance to incorporate that region."
"That is true."
"If Britain joins directly, others may intervene as well."
"You mean Austria or France?"
"Exactly."
Austria, in particular, had a legitimate claim within the German Confederation.
If they intervened first, Prussia's position would become complicated.
"Does Austria have the capacity to act?"
"They will find a reason."
"Such as?"
"With Denmark eliminated, who becomes the next candidate for marriage?"
"You intend to choose an Austrian princess?"
"She is young, but Edward cannot remain idle forever. I have heard she has a gentle temperament, which would suit him well."
That would provide Austria with justification.
Bismarck paused, calculating.
"So you are suggesting we strike first before Austria intervenes. But the justification is weak."
"Justifications can be created. Schleswig-Holstein is populated by Germans, is it not?"
"That is true. So you wish to punish Denmark without committing British forces, and instead have us act."
"I merely pointed out the obstacles in your path. If you truly want the region, there are more effective ways."
If Prussia declared war, Denmark could not resist.
Schleswig-Holstein would fall quickly.
With Denmark already weakened, the outcome would be inevitable.
At that point, Britain could step in as mediator, secure an apology, and extract compensation.
Greenland had always been on my mind.
This might be the perfect opportunity.
"I understand. I will proceed accordingly."
"You see? I always offer advice that benefits both sides."
"Still, we need a stronger justification. Denmark will likely submit to Britain, and acting without cause would appear strange."
"That is true."
"They will likely punish the man responsible for the princess's condition first."
"Most likely. In his position, I would expect him to be driven to suicide."
The unfortunate officer would likely not survive this.
Both Bismarck and I assumed as much and moved on.
At the same time, in Copenhagen.
"Is it true that Britain might declare war?"
"It must be a rumor."
"No, I heard it from someone connected to the embassy."
Panic spread.
"Why would we go to war with Britain?"
"Where is the princess? How could she do such a thing?"
Public opinion turned against the royal family.
Rather than uniting, people were furious.
And the man at the center of it all, Wilhelm Frimann Marcher, could barely step outside.
Rumors had spread everywhere.
Crowds gathered.
"Traitor, come out!"
"Take responsibility with your life!"
He could not even reach the palace.
Even within the royal court, there was no agreement on how to handle the situation.
Some demanded his death.
Others blamed the princess.
Some believed nothing could be done.
He felt wronged.
He had made mistakes, but this disaster was not his alone.
Yet he was expected to bear all responsibility.
Even if he died, nothing would change.
The child would still suffer.
"No. I cannot die like this."
He decided to flee.
Disguising himself, shaving his head, he escaped through the back and boarded a ship.
His destination was the south.
Schleswig-Holstein.
And with that, the storm at the center of Europe began to form.
***
At a time when the entire world's attention was focused on Denmark and the British Empire, the Austrian Empire, which had been quietly waiting for its turn, gathered all its institutions to discuss how to respond to the situation.
"So Prussia is openly currying favor with the British Empire while pressuring Denmark. Anyone can see this as a signal that they intend to raise their army."
"Is there any chance it ends with mere pressure?"
"There is no chance of that. It will certainly lead to war. Given Bismarck's nature, he will try to completely crush Denmark this time."
"But although Bismarck appears aggressive, he has not actually fought many wars. There is also a strong possibility that this is just a threat."
Denmark's collapse itself was not the issue. The problem was how completely it had fallen.
Austria, already wary of Prussia's growing strength, could not decide whether this development was good or bad.
"…Those fools. Why would they create such a situation?"
Austria first needed to understand Prussia's intentions clearly before determining its own position.
If Prussia truly initiated war with Denmark, Austria would need to unify the stance of the German Confederation immediately.
Even if Schleswig-Holstein were separated from Denmark, the question remained of how the region would be governed afterward.
If it simply became part of the Confederation, that would be manageable, but if Prussia attempted to annex it outright, it would inevitably create conflict.
"Even so, it will be difficult for Prussia to attack Denmark outright."
"I agree. Just look at how they emphasize alignment with Britain. If Britain declares war on Denmark, they will quickly join in."
"In that case, we also have a response. Strengthen relations with Britain, pressure Denmark before Prussia does, and ensure that Schleswig-Holstein remains firmly within the German Confederation."
"Then we must hope the princess performs well."
With Denmark eliminated, Austria had become the leading candidate.
But Denmark's scandal had raised the stakes.
British public opinion was furious, and the next candidate would be scrutinized intensely.
Any flaw would be seized upon immediately.
"At least we do not have to worry about our princess causing such trouble."
"She is kind, obedient, and devoted to charity. Her character is excellent. The only concern is that the British royal family is known for its beauty."
"…Ah."
Emperor Franz Joseph I's second daughter, Gisela Louise Marie, was not considered exceptionally beautiful by objective standards.
Her mother, Empress Elisabeth, was notorious for criticizing appearances.
Still, Gisela was not unattractive.
The concern was exaggerated.
"Appearance is not everything. Surely Britain is not that strict."
"The Crown Prince may not be, but the princesses have a reputation."
"Even so, we have confirmed everything. There is no hidden relationship, correct?"
"It has been verified multiple times. There is no issue."
After what people called the Thyra shock, royal families across Europe began thoroughly investigating their daughters to ensure no similar scandals existed.
Gisela had undergone repeated questioning before being sent to London.
Despite all the expectations placed upon her, she felt deeply uneasy.
Not because she had a secret lover, but because of the pressure.
Her father focused only on strengthening alliances.
Her mother showed little affection.
Even as a child, she was treated as a tool.
At fourteen, she was told she carried the burden of the nation.
In London, she often cried from anxiety.
If she failed, her father would be disappointed, and her mother would mock her.
She would likely be forced into another unwanted marriage.
The title of princess felt meaningless.
She wished she could simply disappear.
"It is time. The carriage is ready."
"…Yes."
As she stepped forward, she felt nauseous.
She had eaten nothing, yet her stomach churned.
She closed her eyes tightly.
"…It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise."
When Edward first saw the Austrian princess, his only thought was simple.
She was young.
Even compared to the Danish princess, she seemed even younger.
Discussing marriage with someone so young felt uncomfortable.
He began to speak, then stopped.
Her expression revealed everything.
Asking formal questions would only increase her burden.
Instead, he asked for hot chocolate instead of coffee.
He even explained it casually to ease the tension.
"I feel like having something sweet today instead of coffee. Would that be alright?"
"Yes… of course…"
"I am not very fond of bitter things."
He took his time and spoke gently.
"What do you usually do in your free time?"
"I read, walk in the gardens, and participate in charity work."
"That is admirable. May I ask why?"
"There is no grand reason. I simply feel sympathy for those who suffer. When I was young, I was seriously ill, but I survived thanks to the best doctors. Many people do not have that chance, so I feel I cannot ignore them."
Her sincerity was clear.
Such genuine charity carried far more weight than performative acts.
Even intellectuals recognized the difference.
"That is not easy to do. You have a thoughtful heart. My twin sister believes donating money alone is enough. She could learn from you."
"Your sister is kind and intelligent. I cannot compare…"
He almost laughed.
"She is not as gentle as she appears."
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course. And do not worry about what others have told you."
How much pressure had she been under to look so tense?
He did not like it.
Duty was important, but excessive pressure on someone so young was unnecessary.
"Is there something you enjoy?"
"…Enjoy?"
"I recently went through something unpleasant. I would like to relax. Would you join me?"
"Yes… I will try."
Both of them were under stress.
Perhaps it was better to set aside complicated matters for now.
Edward found himself thinking again.
Austria.
His father likely intended to pressure Denmark and adjust the balance of power.
If he could influence Austria through this connection, it would be advantageous.
Then he stopped himself.
Even now, he was thinking strategically.
He let out a quiet laugh.
Perhaps this was simply who he was.
And with that thought, his mind finally felt at ease.
For the first time that day, he smiled slightly.