1885, I came to save Greece

Chapter 123 A "Blessing" from Great Britain

Prince William's laughter still echoed in the banquet hall.

The phrase "a complete set of equipment for an artillery battalion will be given away free of charge" was like a heavy artillery shell, exploding in the hearts of all the guests.

The German Empire, in the most direct and brutal way, presented a congratulatory gift that no one could ignore for the upcoming royal wedding.

This is support!

It's an open declaration of taking sides!

After the initial uproar, a complex mix of gazes followed.

Envy, jealousy, surprise, and... unease.

In the corner, Alexius Mavrokodatos's face was no longer pale, but ashen.

Everything he meticulously planned, the gold coins he scattered, and the rumors he fabricated all became a complete joke in the face of this "gift" from the German Empire.

He lost.

They were utterly humiliated.

Constantine calmly raised his glass to Prince William, accepting the generous gift and the attention of the entire room.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the other side of the banquet hall.

There, Sir Charles Harding, the British ambassador to Greece, held a glass of champagne. His smile remained unchanged, but the look in his eyes behind his glasses carried a new seriousness.

It’s just a good show.

Prince William was clearly very pleased with the sensation he had created.

He patted Constantine on the shoulder forcefully, his excitement at finding a kindred spirit evident.

"Constantine, you're much more interesting than I imagined!"

"Your governing philosophy, your workers' association, and your understanding of the military! These have all impressed me greatly!"

"I believe that Sophie making the right choice of her life was marrying you!"

Constantine simply smiled and said nothing more.

He knew that he had successfully planted a seed of "trust" in the heart of the future German Emperor.

Just then, a gentle and steady voice broke between the two.

"Your Highness Prince William, your generosity towards Greece is truly admirable."

Sir Charles Harding had arrived unnoticed.

He wore an impeccable English smile and nodded slightly to the two princes.

"The friendship between Germany and Greece will undoubtedly inject new vitality into the prosperity of the Mediterranean."

His opening remarks were polite and appropriate, without a single flaw.

Prince William glanced at him; the Prussian arrogance made him dislike the British diplomat, but he nodded politely nonetheless.

Sir Harding.

Harding's gaze shifted from William's face to Constantine.

His smile remained unchanged, but his words were like champagne mixed with ice crystals.

"Your Highness Constantine, your ambition is truly admirable."

"only……"

He paused deliberately, successfully attracting everyone's attention.

"The Balkans are like an extremely intricate game of chess. Any piece that moves too fast or too hastily could disrupt the hard-won balance."

"Sometimes, moving too fast isn't necessarily a good thing, don't you think?"

coming.

Constantine sneered inwardly.

This is the most classic, and also the most disgusting, British diplomatic tactic.

He did not directly oppose the cooperation between Germany and Greece, as that would have made Britain seem petty.

Instead, he first offered compliments, then changed the subject, using a tone of "thinking of you" to imply to Prince William that his brother-in-law was too ambitious and a troublemaker, and that if he got too close to him, he might be dragged down with him.

With just a few words, they sow discord, sow suspicion, and kill without leaving a trace.

Prince William's excitement cooled down somewhat.

He wasn't stupid; he naturally understood the subtext in Harding's words.

His sharp gaze swept between Constantine and Hardin, and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Sir, do you mean that German friendship will disrupt the balance of the Balkans?" William's voice already carried a hint of displeasure.

"Oh, no, no, Your Highness, you misunderstand." Harding quickly waved his hand, his smile still sincere. "The British Empire is absolutely pleased to see European countries living in harmony."

He looked at Constantine again, his tone becoming meaningful.

"I am merely reminding His Highness Constantine that a responsible ruler needs to consider not only his own development, but also his responsibility for the stability of the entire region."

"After all, if a fire were to start here, it could very well spread across the entire European continent. At that point, it would probably be a problem that a single artillery battalion couldn't solve."

A naked threat.

Although it was packaged in polite diplomatic language, the warning it contained was clearly heard by everyone present.

—Greece, behave yourself and don't try to cause trouble with Germany's support. Otherwise, the British Empire will be the first to object.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became somewhat tense.

The surrounding guests instinctively held their breath, watching this sudden confrontation.

Constantine was about to speak.

He has a hundred ways to retort to the ambassador's words without using a single swear word.

However, just a second before he opened his mouth.

A gentle hand pressed lightly on his arm.

Sofia.

She had somehow already walked up to Constantine's side.

The Prussian princess, who was about to become a bride, remained quiet all evening, like an elegant rose, quietly accompanying her fiancé.

But at that moment, she took an elegant step forward.

This move placed her right between Constantine and Sir Harding.

Holding her wine glass with a serene smile, she took over Sir Harding's topic in fluent, pure Oxford English.

"Sir Harding, your concern for peace in Europe is truly touching."

Her voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream, instantly easing the tense atmosphere.

Harding paused for a moment, looked at the beautiful princess, and out of gentlemanly manners, could only smile and say, "It is the bounden duty of the British Empire to contribute to the peace of Europe."

Sofia's smile widened.

"You're absolutely right."

She gently swirled the champagne in her glass, her blue eyes fixed on Sir Harding.

"That is why I think you will be genuinely happy for the future stability and prosperity of Greece."

"Because a poor, backward Greece, riddled with internal conflicts, is the most dangerous spark in the Balkans, a house full of dry tinder, isn't it?"

This rhetorical question was like a silent slap across Sir Charles Harding's face, which was adorned with a standard smile.

For the first time, his smile became stiff.