Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 211 The Tsar's Travelogue (1)

After a long six months of tug-of-war.

In January 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was completed.

It didn't take long to feel how powerful this treaty was.

"Hereby we strip the rights to the Prussian throne and the connected German imperial throne."

France finally announced the disappearance of the empire in the same place where Wilhelm I had proclaimed it in the Palace of Versailles.

Wilhelm II had been preparing for exile to the Netherlands since the domestic atmosphere turned ominous and talk of abdication emerged, so he wouldn't resist, and the meaning this carried was quite significant.

Three empires collapsed from just one war.

Beyond taking responsibility for defeat, they completely drove out the House of Hohenzollern that had ruled Prussia for 400 years.

Each time dozens of pages were read out enumerating Germany's crimes one by one, the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles repeatedly filled with applause and cheers from hundreds.

The venue, content, gathered figures - everything was filled with excessive performance matching how difficult the war had been.

Only Dr. Johannes Bell, appearing as Germany's representative at the huge table, kept his head deliberately lowered and his eyes and ears closed.

Regardless, the end of the war that had reached five years in duration was truly something that couldn't help but be exciting.

Dr. Bell sitting pitifully before dozens of national leaders and representatives.

There seemed no better composition showing the war's outcome than this.

Though reading hundreds of clauses took a long time, the exhilaration didn't drop thanks to the weight contained in each word.

Finally, when all declarations ended and everyone rose to applaud.

Kokovtsov, sitting quietly on the Allied side, also stood while arranging his uniform.

"Roman, let's go back."

"What? What about the following events?"

"This isn't a place for us to enjoy."

Though everyone's cheers grew louder as Dr. Johannes Bell's head lowered more and his shoulders shrank, Kokovtsov felt no excitement from this performance.

Rather, the sense of dissonance he felt throughout this event gave him a bad feeling that all this would return as karma someday.@@@@

'Germany did that in the '70s. Drunk on victory, they rampaged for nearly half a century not knowing how high the sky was.'

This time it's just reversed with France's vindictiveness making Germany bow their head.

"Your Majesty, even so, is there reason for you to go to France personally?"

"Count Fredericks, am I not allowed to go abroad?"

"You know that's not it. After all, it's a foreign country so there are security and protocol issues, and above all since we haven't extended the alliance, the French may not be so friendly."

"It's fine, I'm not going for anything good anyway."

Willy will probably flee to the Netherlands now, and though George is just a decoration locked at home under constitutional monarchy, Russia is different.

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We're an absolute monarchy, and practically I, not Kokovtsov, am the head of state.

Above all, there's something I clearly realized last year.

'The empire won't collapse now even without me.'

Louis XIV said he himself was the state? When I ascended the throne, literally my fate was Russia's fate.

In those days I couldn't go out not just from the capital but even the imperial palace, married late, and with even my brother not being normal, I was an absolutely essential existence who must not die.

But now the Great War is over and the prodigal son has returned after wandering the battlefields.

With Nikita looking perfectly fine as Tsesarevich, this much should be alright, shouldn't it?

This trip to France is privately also my only hobby and deviation. For something only I can enjoy.

'They say I can meet historical figures.'

It's not a perverted taste, and certainly not fan sentiment.

Just the heart of a historian still somewhat remaining in the life of a man named Nicholas moved.

And above all.

"The rapidly changing situation isn't easy even for me to predict now. So, I must see and hear with my own eyes. I must go to France where the world situation is being decided."

Just as the empire's fate and mine are no longer identical, the history I know doesn't match the era I live in.

So I won't be satisfied hearing from others' mouths or reading in newspapers - I must see directly.

"I understand your words but why leave together with the Prime Minister of all times?"

"In the past the Finance Minister was practically Prime Minister. We have Stolypin, don't we?"

"That man... is somewhat twisted. Like someone desperate to fight somewhere."

"I know."