novelSusiti Chapter 322 A Piece of Forged Evidence Determines the Fate
Chapter 322 A Piece of Forged Evidence Determines the Fate
Chapter 322 A False Evidence Sets the Tide
The Marquess of Salisbury slowly rose from the sofa. The elderly prime minister walked to Constantine's side. The firelight cast his hunched shadow onto the young crown prince.
This time, his actions lacked any sense of condescension. He reached out and, with an unprecedented, almost egalitarian gesture, gently patted Constantine's shoulder.
That old hand was dry yet gentle.
"Your Highness, friends may change, but interests are eternal."
The Marquess of Salisbury's voice was no longer a command, but more like the advice of someone with experience, a tacit understanding between top politicians.
"All the Russians can offer you is gold and empty promises. They promise you passage through the straits, yet their own fleet can't even get out of the Black Sea. These promises are like a mirage, beautiful but fragile."
His gaze became deep and persuasive.
"The British Empire can give you a powerful Greece, recognized and protected by the international community. We can give you a written treaty, and the friendship of the world's most powerful Royal Navy. We can make the return of Crete a part of European law, not a risky conquest."
He withdrew his hand, walked to the study window, and pulled back the heavy curtains slightly. Outside, the fog in London was still thick.
"A stable future is far more worth fighting for than a dangerous gamble. The Tsar's friendship is certainly heartwarming, but His Majesty Nicholas II's primary duty is to serve the interests of Russia. When your interests conflict, who do you think he will choose?"
Salisbury's words, like a precise scalpel, dissect the cold, hard truth of international relations.
Constantine remained seated on the sofa, head bowed, hands clasped together, fingers unconsciously twisting as if making a difficult decision.
A long silence fell over the study.
Only the firewood in the fireplace occasionally crackled softly.
The Marquess of Salisbury was very patient. He knew the fish had taken the bait, and now all he needed to do was wait for it to exhaust its last bit of strength.
Finally, Constantine raised his head.
His face bore the weariness of having made a difficult decision. There was even a hint of guilt in his eyes towards his "ally".
"Very well, Your Excellency Marquis."
His voice was a little hoarse, but every word was crystal clear.
"For the hard-won peace in the Balkans, for the lasting stability in the Mediterranean—" He paused, as if making a tremendous decision, "I—I accept your proposal in principle."
The Marquess of Salisbury, whose heart had been hanging in suspense all night, finally felt relieved. He let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
But he wasn't completely relaxed yet. He knew that the devil was always in the details.
"But," Constantine did indeed utter that word, "I have one condition."
"Speaking."
"I cannot sign this agreement by betraying my allies. I need a more noble reason." Constantine stood up, walked to Salisbury, and met his gaze.
"This Agreement on Freedom of Navigation in the Mediterranean cannot remain a secret agreement between our two countries. I need it written into the final Treaty of London as a public clause that all participating countries must abide by. We want to declare to the world that peace in the Mediterranean is not determined by a private deal between two countries, but by a civilized world..."
It needs to be jointly maintained by a multilateral international order.
Constantine's request surprised the Marquess of Salisbury.
He immediately understood the other party's intention.
Making this agreement public and having all countries witness it is tantamount to putting a "moral" armor on Greece. They did not betray Russia, but rather made a "sacrifice" for a greater cause of "European peace."
This would both appease domestic radicals and silence the Russians on diplomatic fronts.
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!
This is not just a step, but a magnificent stage.
"I agree," the Marquess of Salisbury said almost without hesitation, immediately agreeing.
This was exactly what he wanted. A public treaty signed by all the major powers would be far more binding than a secret agreement between Britain and Greece.
In this small, warm study, a dramatic diplomatic blackmail came to a close.
Constantine used a non-existent threat, a meticulously forged document, and an Oscar-worthy performance to secure for his country tangible national benefits that generations had dreamed of.
As he stepped out of 10 Downing Street and returned to the chilly air of London, he felt that the omnipresent, oppressive fog seemed to have dissipated considerably.
A long-awaited ray of sunlight miraculously pierced through the thick clouds, shining like a golden beam onto him, adding a warm edge to his dark suit.
Constantine looked up at the sky.
He finally showed a genuine smile.
He won the game.
He not only won land and sovereignty, but more importantly, he won the right and respect to compete on equal footing with the most powerful empire on the planet, as a small nation. From this day forward, no one will dare to treat Greece merely as a pawn to be discarded at will on the chessboard.
He boarded the carriage returning to his residence. The wheels rolled nimbly on the damp streets.
Constantine couldn't wait.
He wanted to tell the person in Athens the good news immediately.
He wanted to tell Athena that he had kept his word.
What he is about to bring back is a most glorious victory treaty, worthy of being recorded in Greek history.
A magnificent carpet, woven with the prestige of the British Empire and the order of the Old World, is about to be laid out beneath her feet.