In the original tiline, the xican–Arican War began in 1846.
The year was now 1842, already approaching its end. That ant the war historically lay only a little more than three years away.
And as Heinrich's Law suggests, major disasters are rarely sudden. They are preceded by countless smaller warning signs.
That war had been no exception.
The tensions, provocations, and disputes had been building for years.
So if the current incident beca the trigger that caused the war to erupt earlier than expected, it would hardly be surprising.
What I had not anticipated—
Was the United States trying to drag Britain into the sa cesspool with them.
The historical xican–Arican War had already been fought on a rather flimsy justification.
The present proposal was even more shaless.
"xico's national strength hardly compares to that of the United States," I said calmly.
"Surely you do not require our assistance to wage such a war."
"That is true," Ambassador Everett replied.
"But the British Empire was also hard by xico's despicable sche, was it not?"
He lowered his voice solemnly.
"It pains even to imagine what might have happened if Her Majesty had suffered a severe shock during the incident."
"Considering Her Majesty's condition…"
His eyes widened slightly.
"I can scarcely imagine the fury felt by Your Royal Highness and the citizens of the British Empire."
"So you wish us to attack xico together."
I shook my head slowly.
"Frankly, the proposal does not persuade ."
"Even if xico orchestrated the sche, the n who actually crossed the border were Arican slave hunters."
"The failure to control the border was also an Arican responsibility."
"In short—the criminals were still Arican citizens."
Everett bowed his head imdiately.
"For that, we sincerely apologize."
"We will compensate Britain for any damages incurred."
"But surely, if a force truly orchestrated this sche, justice demands they be punished."
"Especially for the sake of the British Empire's honor."
Since when had the United States cared about British honor?
The logic was laughable.
But I understood what they wanted.
"But xico lies very far from Britain," I replied.
"If we were to fight a war there, the costs to the Empire would be enormous."
"Of course," Everett said quickly.
"We would not ask Britain to deploy ground forces."
"The United States Army would handle the actual fighting."
In other words—
They would beat xico into submission.
And simply borrow Britain's prestige to strengthen their position.
After all, Britain could not easily seize territory in xico.
The most we could realistically do would be naval bombardnts.
Which would conveniently make Arica's war easier.
A perfect arrangent for them.
The United States could avoid appearing to start a fabricated war alone—
And win more easily.
A neat little strategy.
Of course, that assumption only worked if I had been completely unprepared for such a conflict.
"Britain does not wage war in such a manner," I said calmly.
"We do not send allies to fight alone."
"When Napoleon set Europe ablaze, Britain fought harder than anyone to bring him down."
"If we truly go to war with xico, our policy will not change."
"Especially if xico truly orchestrated this insult."
"After all, they would have endangered our Queen."
Everett nodded eagerly.
"Then the Royal Navy would destroy xico's ports."
"That would certainly strengthen our position."
"Is that all?" I asked lightly.
"Our brave Queen's armies would advance south as well."
"We would continue pressing forward until xico surrendered."
Everett froze.
"…Excuse ?"
"Oh," I added casually.
"You ntioned the United States has a serious dispute with xico over Texas, correct?"
"Then this works out perfectly."
"You can advance from Texas."
"And we will move south from Alta California."
"That way xico will be attacked from two directions."
If war broke out between the United States and xico, the Aricans would inevitably concentrate their forces around Texas.
anwhile, Britain could march south through Oregon and raise the Union Jack across California.
From there—
The entire Pacific coastline would fall under British control.
And I had been preparing for that exact scenario ever since arriving in Canada.
Militia units had quietly been training for months.
xico barely had any real military presence in California.
If we decided to take it—
It would fall with little resistance.
Unfortunately for the United States, such an outco would be disastrous.
If events unfolded as I described, Britain might gain more territory from the war than the Aricans themselves.
Everett clearly realized this.
His eye twitched slightly.
"…Canada does not have that many troops," he said carefully.
"There is no need for Britain to overextend itself."
"Not at all," I replied.
"As I said before, Britain never sends allies to fight alone."
"This concerns our honor."
"You need not worry."
"I'm not worrying," Everett muttered.
"Excellent."
"Then we shall decide everything after hearing xico's response."
The ambassador clearly wasn't worried about Britain.
He was worried about Arica.
But the President's letter was already in my possession.
They couldn't easily retract their offer now.
When one tries to manipulate others—
One must always consider the possibility of being manipulated in return.
I folded the letter slowly and slipped it into my coat.
Everett stood up with visible discomfort.
Even a seasoned diplomat had clearly not expected the conversation to go this way.
A mont ago he had probably believed everything was proceeding according to Arican plans.
Seeing his stiff expression was strangely satisfying.
The steak I had eaten earlier felt digested in seconds.
Of course, Everett would now have to report this to President Tyler.
That would be far less pleasant.
But that was diplomacy.
One nation's misfortune—
Was another nation's opportunity.
The Real Victim
While the United States had its dreams of victory abruptly splashed with cold water—
There was soone else who had suffered a far greater shock.
"Your Royal Highness!"
The voice thundered across the room.
"We are innocent! Completely innocent!"
Standing before was Luis Gonzaga Cuevas, the xican ambassador.
Only days earlier he had visited politely.
Now his voice echoed with barely controlled fury.
Strict diplomatic decorum had clearly been forgotten.
And frankly—
I could hardly bla him.
"The United States claims to possess evidence," I said calmly.
"Surely you understand that it must be examined."
"It's fabricated!" Cuevas shouted.
"The Aricans excel at lies, propaganda, and forgery!"
"You must not believe them!"
Cuevas was no inexperienced diplomat.
He had served in Prussia and Britain.
He knew better than most how terrifying the British Empire could be.
That was why he had volunteered to serve in Canada the mont he heard I would be stationed here.
"What is the situation in xico?" I asked.
"How is public opinion responding?"
"Our governnt is outraged," Cuevas said.
"This accusation is absurd!"
"It is not even worth considering!"
I understood his frustration.
But emotionally dismissing the accusation was not wise.
Once the United States had launched such a sche, xico needed evidence.
Otherwise neutral observers would naturally lean toward whichever side appeared more convincing.
"The Aricans want to shift responsibility onto xico," Cuevas continued.
"They wish to gain the upper hand in their territorial disputes."
"Ambassador," I said gently,
"I understand your anger."
"But if you present your argunt this emotionally, no one will listen."
"The United States has already submitted evidence to our Parliant."
"What conclusion do you think Parliant will reach?"
Cuevas faltered.
"That evidence is fabricated…"
"Perhaps," I said.
"But we cannot prove that."
"And if public anger grows, Parliant may decide to side with the United States."
Even as plenipotentiary representative, I could not ignore Parliant.
And if matters continued this way—
Britain might very well join Arica in attacking xico.
It was simply the easiest option.
Cuevas looked increasingly pale.
"Your Royal Highness…"
"We are truly innocent."
"But because we are innocent, we cannot prove our innocence."
"You know how difficult that is."
"In court, proving innocence is often harder than proving guilt."
"I personally doubt xico would do such a thing," I admitted.
"But Britain is a parliantary state."
"If Parliant demands action, we must obey."
Cuevas nodded desperately.
"Then we will gather our own evidence."
"Please review it with us."
"Of course," I said.
"But tell sothing first."
"Does xico believe war with the United States is likely?"
Cuevas hesitated.
"This conflict could greatly affect Canada," I continued calmly.
"The situation is being watched closely in London."
That was, of course, a lie.
Britain's real concern remained Russia.
The Arican–xican dispute ranked far lower on the priority list.
But Cuevas did not need to know that.
"…We always consider the possibility of war," he said quietly.
"One must prepare for war to preserve peace."
"Indeed."
"Many people in Britain view Arican expansion with concern."
"I am among them."
Cuevas blinked.
"Is that so?"
"I have studied the situation carefully."
"And I concluded long ago that war between your nations would eventually occur."
"I simply did not expect it to arrive so soon."
From xico's perspective, the war might still seem uncertain.
But in reality—
It was already inevitable.
The United States had fabricated too much evidence to back down.
Too many people would be ruined if the truth ca out.
Once they mounted the tiger, they could only dismount after victory.
Cuevas' face grew increasingly pale.
He understood now.
Good.
Let him feel the fear.
Because unless sothing changed—
xico would lose everything.
"Your Royal Highness…" he said nervously.
"If war breaks out…"
"Will Britain remain neutral?"
"I sincerely hope peace can be preserved on this continent."
"But if war occurs…"
"Britain may attempt diation."
Cuevas' eyes widened.
"Truly?"
"Yes."
"Of course, diation would not be free."
"Our Parliant and citizens would require compensation."
"For example…"
I tapped a region on the map.
Alta California.
Cuevas' eye twitched violently.
"If xico agreed to transfer Alta California to British Canada," I said calmly,
"Parliant would likely accept Britain acting as diator."
"…That…"
"Otherwise," I said,
"Britain may have no choice but to remain neutral."
Which ant—
If xico refused—
Britain might simply join Arica instead.
Britain's na carried enormous weight.
Such influence was never free.
Whether Britain joined the war—
Or diated it—
California would belong to us either way.
Still…
That alone would not be enough.
Our child would soon be born.
Victoria.
Myself.
To na new lands after us properly—
We needed at least three new territories.
California and Oregon alone were not sufficient.
But for Britain to seize more—
xico needed to fight harder against the United States.
Unfortunately, xico simply lacked the strength.
Which ant there was only one solution.
If xico could not beco stronger—
Then we would have to make Arica weaker instead.
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