171 Freedom
It's been two weeks since I arrived in The Hague and this city was starting to bore me... visiting the Winter Queen's residence wasn't the best entertainment either. Every time I went there, I had the opportunity to meet more of her children. Besides Charles, Elisabeth, Sophia... there were also Rupert, Maurice, Louise, Edward, Henriette Marie, John Philip Frederick and Gustavus Adolphus... and two more who died... Her pussy must be wider than the German highways. I saw less movement among the immigrants... refugees in Calais wanting to get to England... I think someone should teach her to swallow.
During one of my next visits, Elisabeth invited me to the garden for a serious conversation... to be honest, I hoped she would refuse, because if she said that she needs to get to know me a little better... then fuck it and I'm leaving The Hague, even my legendary patience has its limits.
"Princess, what did you want to talk about today? You look so serious as if something important happened." (MC)
"I made a decision about our wedding and I am ready to marry you." (Princess Elisabeth)
Well fucking finally, there were cases where countries were conquered faster... for example, Denmark only lasted 6 hours, but everyone laughs at France.
"Although our wedding is mainly for a political purpose, I would like it to be happy, or at last that our marriage would be based on respect and understanding... I do not want to be a wife, locked up at home and only raising children, I have several plans that I would like to implement. Writing, opening an orphanage, build a Calvinist church..." (Princess Elisabeth)
Fuck me, she's a feminist... and I thought she was intelligent.
"Princess, if you want my assurance that you will be able to do all these things... then yes, you can open an orphanage, you can create a Calvinist church and write, I can even print your works in a newspaper." (MC)
The idea of her writing to the newspaper came to my mind a few days ago, it was difficult for me to find someone trusted to help with Polish Mercury Ordinary, and this way she would be able to do it. I had one more ace up my sleeve... and it was Edict of Potsdam, although from now on it will be known as Edict of Jazłowiec or whatever historians come up with. The edict was originally issued in 1685 and Brandenburg and Prussia benefited from it... and it was a perfect solution, especially since I will gain the most.
I asked a servant to bring me a piece of paper, a pen and wax... I wrote a dozen sentences, then signed it and put my family seal with the coat of arms on the document and then handed it to Elisabeth. She read it quickly and then again, probably not sure what to make of it.
"Prince, is it true?" (Princess Elisabeth)
"Permission to settle in my lands, Podolia, Volhynia, Smolensk and Lesser Poland and giving them privileges that will allow them to establish their own churches and religious associations. They will be treated on an equal footing with other inhabitants of my lands and will be subject to the same law. My only conditions are that they must adapt to the local community, learn the language, and their children must go to my schools." (MC)
In 1685, when this edict was announced, more than 20,000 Protestants, seeking a safe life, arrived in Beandenburg, many years after the Thirty Years' War. I will give them shelter and then mold them and their children into loyal subjects... and over time, when we erase the remains of our vassal, the Principality of Moscow, from the map, someone will also have to colonize Siberia.
"Are you doing this for me?" (Princess Elisabeth)
"Of course, consider this as one of my wedding gifts for you. I know the rumors about me in the Empire and maybe this is how you will understand that the wolf is not as scary as it is painted." (MC)
Second, I must be a good and trustworthy husband so that I can kill your family... be like Caesar's wife, beyond all suspicion.
"I don't know what to say, I didn't expect something like this..." (Princess Elisabeth)
My future wife looked really touched by this gesture. It was also a good proof of her character, it rarely happened that a high-born person was interested in the fate of people.
"Does your family know what you've decided? If not, you should let them know quickly so we can arrange the wedding details. I can't stay in The Hague too long, I still have to get back to London and then back home as soon as possible." (MC)
The rest went very quickly, we fixed the wedding date in two months, enough for me to return to England, close my affairs with the King and return to The Hague. I also turned out to be generous and gave up the dowry that belonged to Elisabeth, compared to the Winter Queen I was much richer so I could afford such a gesture. Elisabeth Stuart, to save face, decided she would pay for the wedding, which was fine with me. She is not yet aware how much the hussar company can drink and eat... and if you add Ossolinski to that, the Hague will run out of alcohol. Now I just realized that it will be a partially Polish wedding... Fuck.
I sat in the cabin on the ship and analyzed all my actions and the potential gains and losses. I will get a population, better access to European courts, 20 ships, and trade deals for the country. The war for the throne of Bohemia will weaken the Habsburgs and start the slow destruction of Austria and the Empire... but in return I will lose some gold, supplies and weapons and freedom... I hope someone in the future will appreciate how I was sacrificing myself for the country.