Bismarck's tears, though unintended, drew widespread attention, and naturally, they appeared prominently in newspapers the next day.
[The Iron Chancellor's Tears. What is their true meaning?]
[That seat should have been mine. Is Prussia wary of Austria?]
[The tears of iron foreshadow the future structure of the German Confederation. Those who are aware must prepare…]
"It seems Europe is becoming quite noisy."
"Indeed. But Bismarck is supposed to be a cold blooded figure who would not bleed even if stabbed. He always seemed like the type to act before speaking, so it is hard to imagine him shedding tears."
"It must mean he feels deep frustration. Originally, it was Prussia that was negotiating marriage with the British Empire, but Austria took that position."
"It would be disappointing, but to shed tears over it suggests something greater. Could Prussia have been planning war with Austria? Otherwise, it would not provoke such emotion."
Stepping off the ship, John D. Rockefeller let out a sigh as he read the front page of The Times, unsure whether it was admiration or disbelief.
Beside him, Andrew Carnegie studied the article carefully, trying to grasp the shifting situation in Europe.
"Things are not going to turn strange, are they? I wonder if we arrived at the right time."
"We were summoned, so what choice do we have? And if Europe changes rapidly, there may be opportunities for us as well."
"True. It is more productive to think about how to profit from the situation."
Both Rockefeller and Carnegie had entered their prime, no longer inexperienced youths but men at the peak of their abilities.
They possessed confidence, power, and wealth.
Yet even above them, there were greater heights.
At the summons of the new master of the James Group, the consort of the British Empire, both men boarded a ship to London without hesitation.
Upon arrival, they tried to maintain composure, but their tension was evident.
"…Andrew, what do you think? Will the new owner value us?"
"It is hard to say. Perhaps he thinks we are too young for major responsibility."
"I heard he values ability above all else. That might work in our favor."
"Either way, summoning only the two of us is significant."
They had been thinking about how to gain favor, but they had been overtaken by events.
They had not even had time to prepare gifts.
But what could one offer to a man who possessed both supreme power and wealth?
They had no answer.
Before they could decide, the summons had come.
They followed the attendants to Buckingham Palace.
"Your Majesty, it is our greatest honor to be invited during such an auspicious occasion. We crossed the Atlantic at once upon your call."
"To witness Buckingham Palace with our own eyes is a blessing beyond words."
"That is enough of the flattery. Sit. You must be tired from the journey."
"Yes, Your Majesty. We came with joy upon your summons."
Both men immediately fell silent when they noticed the faint change in Killian's expression.
They understood he did not favor excessive flattery.
"I will speak plainly. I called you here to discuss the future management of the group."
"…With us?"
"Yes. If I directly control such a powerful enterprise, the United States will feel threatened. So I will appoint a representative."
"Will a member of the imperial family take that role?"
"Perhaps. But that would create factions within the group and discomfort among the executives."
Rockefeller quickly understood.
Carnegie did as well.
Carnegie spoke first.
"Your Majesty, I swear my loyalty. I will serve your representative with complete devotion."
"Will you?"
"Of course. I will stand as their shield against any threat."
Rockefeller followed.
"Then I shall be your sword. I respected James as a father. Since he entrusted everything to you, I will devote myself as he did."
Their words were partly calculated, but the conclusion was sincere.
Aligning with Killian was the greatest opportunity.
"And I will trust you both. Rest for now. Soon, I will introduce the one you will serve."
For Rockefeller, this was a greater opportunity than even James had given him.
Meanwhile,
"Adelaide, take Mr. Rockefeller and Mr. Carnegie with you and attend as many events as possible."
"You want them to understand our position and submit?"
"Correct, but refine the method. Bring them only among the highest nobility. Let them experience what it means to be aristocrats."
"I understand. Even wealth cannot buy origin."
"Exactly. Those who rise from nothing often crave status the most."
In an age where aristocracy defined society, such experiences were powerful.
"Will you grant them titles?"
"That depends on them."
"They will change."
"They already have."
"Then I will show them properly."
"Also, warn the nobles. Anyone who disrespects them will not be invited again."
"Understood."
Everything was prepared.
Before leaving London, they would not just serve the Empire.
They would believe they belonged to it.
***
Born on November 25, 1835.
Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and later emigrated to the United States with his entire family.
From feeding coal into furnaces to delivering telegrams at the post office, working as a telegraph operator and then as a railway employee, he accumulated experience step by step.
Through constant advancement, he eventually rose to the position of president of James Steel.
"Andrew, you are the pride of our family!"
"To think someone from our family would meet royalty!"
Even when he became president of James Steel, he was admired greatly, but when he first met Killian, the reaction from his family and relatives was even more intense.
Andrew Carnegie himself felt the same.
At first, he wondered if he was overreacting because of his Scottish origins, but after arriving in London, he saw that even his rival John D. Rockefeller was no different.
After his audience with Killian, he was guided to his residence, and from the beginning, he was stunned by an atmosphere unlike anything he had experienced in the United States.
"This estate has been used since the sixteenth century to host provincial nobles visiting London. Though old, it has been well maintained."
"So it has a tradition of three hundred years."
The greatest complex of America's new wealthy class was the absence of history and tradition, and people are naturally drawn to what they lack.
Carnegie understood that Killian had deliberately placed him here, yet that only made him feel better.
If they were being housed where nobles stayed, it meant they were being treated as equals.
He knew that James's sons had supported the decision and received titles.
If he became the right hand of Killian's heir, becoming a Earl of the British Empire was not impossible.
In that position, he could possess wealth, power, and honor all at once.
Yet Carnegie remained fundamentally a rational businessman.
"I must stay focused and not get carried away."
He could easily guess Killian's intentions.
"Take what is offered and withdraw at the right time."
That was what he thought.
Until yesterday.
"Mr. Carnegie, Mr. Rockefeller, welcome. I am Richard Wellesley, Duke of Wellington."
"An honor to meet you!"
The Duke of Wellington's family was among the most prestigious, associated with Arthur Wellesley and the long serving Prime Minister Charles Wellesley.
To be received by such a figure was beyond expectation.
At Apsley House, they were surrounded by high nobility.
Everywhere they looked, there were earls and dukes closely connected to the royal family.
Despite being American industrialists, they were treated as the center of the gathering.
At first they were overwhelmed, but within a week, they adapted.
They rode horses, hunted, attended exclusive dinners, and entered gentlemen's clubs inaccessible to ordinary people.
"You have remarkable insight, Mr. Carnegie. You truly are suited to noble society."
"I am not worthy of such praise."
"Ability defines nobility in this age."
Rockefeller experienced the same.
"Your perspective is exceptional. You possess the mindset of a noble."
"…Thank you."
At business discussions in elite clubs, they shone.
The aristocrats listened to them, nodded, and praised them.
At night, they dined with nobles, and the next day attended performances steeped in tradition.
At the Derby, seated in the finest section alongside nobles and royalty, they met the man they would serve.
"Mr. Carnegie and Mr. Rockefeller. I have heard much about you."
"Yes, I am Andrew Carnegie, here to assist you."
"You have been praised highly. Sit and enjoy the race with me."
Alfred gestured to the seats beside him.
To sit beside a prince of the most powerful empire and watch the Emperor's horse race was beyond imagination.
Day by day, they lost awareness of themselves.
'I do not want to return.'
'So this is the life of nobility.'
Each night, they fell asleep smiling.
From poverty to immense wealth, and now rising into nobility itself.
In Carnegie's mind, he could already see himself as a duke, standing alongside Alfred.
At the same time, in Marlborough House.
"Thank you for your time. I apologize for causing a disturbance at the wedding."
"It is alright. I heard you were moved and shed tears. There is no need to worry."
Otto von Bismarck observed Gisela smiling brightly.
Her words carried layered meaning.
He had turned humiliation into opportunity.
"Thank you for your understanding. I was concerned the newspapers might cause misunderstanding."
"There is no misunderstanding. Your intentions were clear."
He understood her message.
She understood his as well.
"Your Highness fits perfectly into the British imperial family."
"Do you truly think so? I was very worried."
Her response was gentle, but the meaning beneath it was not simple.
She was both Austrian and British.
Her position allowed influence over both.
Bismarck smiled faintly.
"Then I will support you in any way I can."
"Thank you. I will also pray for your health. A strong Prussia is necessary for stability."
He paused.
Was she warning him?
Was she urging him to restrain internal forces?
Her composure was remarkable.
For a moment, he recalled his younger self, fighting Marx and Engels.
He scratched his head and stood.
In that brief exchange, he felt a barrier between them.
And for the first time, he realized that the true challenge might not be the Crown Prince, but the Crown Princess herself.