Chapter 273: A Time of Crisis
Ferdinand stared blankly at the other monarchs he was currently standing across from. They each were confused about his odd reactions to the news he had just received. Granted, none of them spoke the Bulgarian tongue, and thus could not actually comprehend what was said.
Had that been the case, they would have indeed been far more suspicious of what was happening at this very moment. And would have demanded a satisfactory answer from the Bulgarian King who seemed to be hiding information from them.
It got even more worrisome as more and more and more news came from the Bulgarian King’s aid, who came rushing in and out of the room saying things to his monarch that nobody understood. The translator hired by the Swiss to maintain impartiality during these negotiations looked like he was sweating bullets, debating whether or not he should say something.
That is until he heard information, he simply could no longer remain silent with. He stood up, and approached the King of Greece and bowed his head, formally apologizing as he spoke in perfect Greek to the man.
The choice of Greek, rather than German, which was a language pretty much everyone here spoke, as all of these monarchs were more or less of German heritage, was deliberate, in a way that sought to avoid alerting the Bulgarian King to what he was saying.
"I must apologize. While I have been hearing some troubling things coming from Bulgaria’s host, I didn’t manage to piece two and two together until now. But with what was just said, I can no longer remain silent as this matter involves everyone present, and your house above all.
If what I have just heard is to be believed, then your second son, Alexander has been killed in an attack orchestrated by Bulgarian Orthodox Militants in Greece… I would suggest we suspend these diplomatic proceedings as there is a crisis occurring that you all need to attend to…"
It was only natural that Constantine’s eyes grew wide in disbelief upon hearing this unnerving news. His son was dead? How was that possible!?! And why were Orthodox militants fighting in Greece? Greece was an Orthodox nation? Was this some scheme initiated by the King of Bulgaria?
There was nothing Constantine wanted to do more in that moment than kill Ferdinand for this unrighteous and dishonorable act, which spat upon the spirit of peace and diplomacy. But the man was quickly prevented from any violent action he may otherwise take by the other leaders of the Central Powers, who surrounded him, and assured him that justice for his son’s death would be had.
But it had to be done the right way, and that was through war. Kaiser Wilhelm taking a pitiful tone in his voice as he spoke the words that Constantine would never forget.