Forged in Blood And Steel

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14-December-1921

There was chaos in what was supposed to be my home, but which had gradually become the Romanovs’ residence in Riga. Tatiana had invited them, considering that I practically only slept there, apart from the occasional days when we tried to conceive a child. Consequently, Tatiana managed the property, which was also one of the safest residences in Riga and, being in the city’s aristocratic quarter, had doctors close enough to respond quickly.

Recently, many members of the European nobility suffering from an illness similar to Aleksei’s had begun traveling to Riga, since Maximilian’s research had progressed and he needed more samples to continue investigating the precise nature of the problem. We also had ample blood reserves thanks to a modest nationwide donation campaign, so Riga had naturally become a gathering place for people with hemophilia, much as the hospital in Estonia had for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Although Nicholas and his family were our neighbors, they practically lived with us. As the Duchy’s ruling family, we had access to everything: food, wine, doctors, security, radio, and any innovation available within my territories. Everything reached our residence first, so they were constantly in our home, like those irritating guests who never quite leave and always find an excuse to return.

And now I also had the dilemma involving Olga and Tatiana.

I had no idea how long we could keep it secret. Time seemed to be working against us, and I did not even want to imagine how long it would take before my wife’s uncle found out. Nor did I know what might happen to our relationship with Russia, which amounted to little more than a business arrangement backed by armed men, since neither side truly trusted the other.

Then there was Germany, which was slowly beginning to recover from everything that had shaken it. Unfortunately, we still had family ties there, and they would undoubtedly have plenty to say about the whole affair.

All because I had given in to lust and those adolescent fantasies of being with several women, which seemed to have returned after the damned trauma caused by my former partner’s infidelity.

Now, when I returned at night after a hard day’s work reviewing documents, I might find Tatiana or Olga waiting naked in my bed, and sometimes both of them.

Besides leaving me thoroughly exhausted, it did little to help me rest. I still struggled to fall asleep with someone breathing so close to me, and the whole situation was only hastening a crisis that would erupt sooner or later.

I did not know what might happen when it did, and that was beginning to make me nervous.

Before dealing with any of that, however, I had managed to arrange a meeting with a European state interested in selling us a colony. That state was none other than Spain, which was in the middle of a protracted conflict in North Africa, the Rif War, and had recently suffered a considerable military disaster.

As a result, many politicians were deeply dissatisfied with colonial affairs, and we had managed to open discussions about purchasing Spanish-controlled Western Sahara. To Spain, the territory had little economic value beyond its anchorages, a few coastal positions, and its fishing grounds. The vast desert they possessed there seemed to be a colony whose only real worth lay in prestige.

But they were literally sitting on a fortune and did not know it yet.

The Sahara’s phosphate deposits were enormous, and there were also gold deposits, making it vital that the purchase go through. It would also be an excellent base from which to sabotage, monitor, or exert pressure on the French colonies in the region, since the territory was almost entirely surrounded by French-controlled possessions.

That was why, as soon as the meeting with the King of Spain was confirmed, I set sail for the peninsula. I would have preferred to travel by train, but that would have meant crossing France. Considering that there was still a warrant for my arrest, that would probably have been one of the worst ideas I could have had.

So, taking advantage of the fact that the Duchy generally remained quiet toward the end of the year, when workers began to have money to spare and increased spending left the population largely content, I traveled to Spain to negotiate an arrangement directly with the king that he could then present to his Parliament.

"I do not like these long sea voyages at all. I still cannot get used to this damned rolling" I said, watching the Spanish coast begin to emerge in the distance as we sailed toward the harbor.

"You will grow accustomed to it someday. But according to our diplomats, this is the right moment. There is considerable resentment toward the government over its failures in the North African colonies, particularly because they are fighting an irregular war around Ceuta and Melilla against a chieftain named Abd el-Krim, who has been winning significant victories against the Spanish. That is why many politicians currently have little interest in retaining colonies that do nothing but consume money. If we offer a sufficiently attractive sum, we might acquire the territory that interests you so much, mein Herzog. It would also provide a good starting point for your future moves in Africa" Alexander said with a smile.

"Yes, but let us hope this does not turn out to be another fruitless meeting. I would like to acquire those lands. They would be our first real step toward owning an overseas territory that we can explore and exploit directly. Within the Duchy, we have forests, cement, and a fairly well-developed industrial sector, but beyond that, we remain primarily an industrial center dependent on raw materials from our neighbors" I said with a grimace.

"Indeed. The French categorically refused to sell us any territory. The Italians did much the same, and the British are still debating whether they could part with certain possessions to reduce some of their debts. The difficulty is that the prices they demand, even for minor territories with a useful harbor, are exorbitant" Alexander said.

"Yes. When we began this plan, I thought saving millions of marks on raw material purchases and workers’ wages, money that is now largely finding its way into construction, would allow me to buy a few substantial colonies. Instead, they offer me nothing but the scraps of their empires while demanding absurd sums for everything" I said, watching as we began approaching the port in Asturias.

"Are you certain you wish to conduct the formal meeting without an interpreter, mein Herzog? I know you say you speak Spanish, but perhaps it would be better to have someone truly proficient in the language present. Speaking directly with the king would give us our best chance. Alfonso has considerable influence over the government, so winning him over would make it much easier to persuade Spain to sell us those lands. Moreover, disposing of that enormous stretch of African sand could help him appease those who criticize colonial expenditures" Alexander said, looking directly at me.

"Do not worry. I speak Spanish quite well. Better than my Ukrainian, to be honest... although my accent might sound a little too much like someone from Andalusia or the Canary Islands" I said, looking at Alexander, who tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes.

"Well, your Ukrainian is very good... Better than their own king’s, according to what people say, so I hope there will be no difficulties, mein Herzog. I am only trying to ensure that everything goes well" Alexander said with a nod.

Once our conversation ended, we soon disembarked at the harbor. A detachment of my personal guards went ashore first and quickly began securing the railway that would take me to Madrid. Spain remained politically unstable, and I knew there had been attempts to assassinate the king with explosives, so we had received permission to deploy armed men along the route.

After a relatively quick train journey from Asturias to Madrid, we arrived in the capital. There, we stepped out of an armored car and made our way toward the Royal Palace of Madrid. Our escort, numerous though it was, could not enter in its entirety, so only a few guards accompanied us into the royal residence.

Before long, we met the king, accompanied by his wife and one of his sons. If I was not mistaken, his eldest suffered from hemophilia, since he rarely appeared in public. He also had other children; one was deaf, and the rest must still have been quite young.

We exchanged the appropriate greetings. I inclined my head slightly, and he did the same.

"Hmm... I see you have not brought an interpreter. Do you speak English or something of the sort?" the king asked with a smile.

"There is no need. I speak Spanish, so we should have no difficulty conversing in your language" I said, speaking it for the first time in several years.

"Ah, excellent. Well, we have had productive discussions with your diplomats, and we understand perfectly well the purpose of your visit. But first, would you care to stay at our residence for a few days as our guest?" Alfonso asked, gesturing for his son to come a little closer.

"Although I appreciate the opportunity to rest in this magnificent palace of yours, King Alfonso, I am afraid my stay in your kingdom will be brief. I have come with a single purpose" I said with a smile, noticing that the king seemed to be suppressing a laugh.

"Forgive me, but... you speak it better than my own wife" he said, barely containing his laughter.

"Thank you for the compliment. I have considerable experience with the language, as it happens... As I was saying, I am interested in purchasing that Spanish colony. I understand it holds little interest for your government, and according to my ambassador here in Madrid, you maintain only a small garrison there, while the territory costs more than it brings in" I said, looking at the king.

Alfonso glanced at his wife. She promptly took their son and left the room. The king did not speak again until they had both gone.

"Good. Then we understand one another. I assume you are aware of the uproar in my kingdom following our recent defeat at the hands of that chieftain, Abd el-Krim. But that does not mean I intend to give you a Spanish colony for nothing, if that is what you are thinking" the king said, looking directly at me.

"I have not come to beg. I have come to pay. We have sufficient funds. As you surely know, my country, my Duchy, has suffered no famine under my administration, and our state coffers have steadily filled as a result of that and other sources of revenue. We have more than enough resources to pay your kingdom outright for the colony" I said with a smile.

"Very well. What is your offer?" the Spanish king asked, glancing at some of the men around him.

"One billion four hundred million pesetas, approximately two hundred fifteen million United States dollars" I said, offering a sum that should seem substantial even to the Spanish.

The king showed no immediate reaction, but remained thoughtful for a few moments.

"That is a serious offer. But may I ask why you are so interested in buying that stretch of sand?" he finally asked.

"What rising nation can claim to be truly successful without a place in the sun? No one can proclaim themselves a great European power without colonies. I have none. You do. And I have enough money to arrange the transfer now or next April in whatever currency you consider appropriate. The Sahara is a colony that seems to offer little to extract, while also being relatively inexpensive to maintain" I said calmly.

"I must speak with some advisers. The sum you are offering is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration. I will consult a few people I trust and return as soon as I have an answer" the king said, rising and leaving us to wait in one of the drawing rooms while he headed into a room to the right.

If I was not mistaken, I had just offered an amount equivalent to an enormous portion of Spain’s annual budget. Considering the military expenses they must have been facing in North Africa, that money could clearly provide considerable relief to their finances.

I waited for quite some time. When I checked my watch, I saw that nearly an hour had passed. Servants had brought us tea and pastries while we waited, but eventually the king returned with a group of advisers.

"Will you pay immediately?" one of them asked, regarding me with some suspicion.

"Yes. We have dollars available, and if you prefer, we can also purchase pesetas to make the payment in your own currency" I replied, looking at the advisers.

"We have only one concern regarding your proposal, Duke Karl. What will happen to the fishing rights in that territory?" another man asked.

"They can remain shared. I very much doubt Baltic fishing vessels will travel all that way to fish, so Spanish boats will be welcome in those waters. I also offer a period of up to five months for the Spanish garrison to evacuate the territory if the sale is finalized" I replied calmly after taking a sip of hot tea.

Some of the advisers leaned toward the king and began whispering to him.

"We have a deal. We will leave our diplomats to draft and agree upon the precise terms based on the price we have discussed. I will see to it that the government accepts the transaction" King Alfonso finally said, extending his hand.

"It has been a pleasure doing business with you, King Alfonso... Now that our states enjoy a much closer relationship, I would also like to discuss the possibility of establishing a dedicated port for some of the naval projects we are developing in the Baltic. A joint investment" I said with a broad smile.

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