Chapter 39 The two Crown Princes

Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austrian Empire

"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Grand Prince Aleksandr IV."

"It is my pleasure to meet you the future Sun of the Austrian Empire, Archduke Karl Franz Justinian."

After the meeting, Crown Prince Justinian invited the Russian Grand Prince, Aleksandr IV, to a parlor inside the Hofburg Palace. He also invited a few members of the Russian delegation who are part of the inner circle of the Grand Prince which are Count Nikolai Borisov, Count Artem Egorov, and Baron Gerasim Aleksandrov. He wants to have a close conversation with the future Emperor of Russia and to know what is his stand on different things.

"You can just call me Justinian, Your Highness. I hope I can learn more from you Grand Prince Aleksandr, you are very cool during the meeting a while ago."

"Hahaha, you are a cheeky young man, Justinian. In return, you can call me Brother Aleksandr."

"If that's the case, then you can also call me Brother Justinian. You would be the older brother and I will be the younger one. I hope you would treat me well brother Aleksandr."

"HAHAHAHA… I really like you Crown Prince that I want you to become my real brother. How about you marry one of my sisters? I have a sister name Anastazja, I want to introduce her to you."

"I'm really happy about such an offer but I think I would decline Brother Aleksandr. I'm still young for such talks and Austria is still facing a coming insurmountable problem… I could not rest knowing there is such calamity coming to my country."

Both the two men are having a good time talking about becoming brothers. Grand Prince Aleksandr IV didn't pursue the topic and asks Austrian Crown Prince Justinian about his relationship with a foreign girl. The Russian Grand Prince doesn't want to sour the pleasant mood that they have in this meeting. Thankfully, Crown Prince Justinian was able to steer the topic away from marriages and relationships toward their common enemy – the Ottoman Empire.

"Ohhh… you are right Brother Justinian. I hope Austria would able to overcome such a problem. The Ottomans are really a menace to both our countries, they were not even discreet in their ambition and greed."

"That's why I want to talk with you Brother Aleksandr. Both our countries need to stop this Ottoman menace from encroaching on Europe. Our ancestors have fought against the Ottomans for centuries and at this time is the strongest the Ottomans have ever been."

"I understand your plight Brother Justinian. Austria would be the first on the path of the Ottomans in their expansion to Europe. But we can't just join directly to fight with you, the Ottomans are allied with Germany. If we would participate on your side then Germany would also join in Ottoman's side, that would be very terrible for Austria, being sandwiched by the two powers."

Crown Prince Justinian signals his aide, Count Karl Alexander to leave the parlor. Understanding that what would Crown Prince Justinian would say be only for the two of them, Grand Prince Aleksandr IV also signals Count Nikolai Borisov, Count Artem Egorov, and Baron Gerasim Aleksandrov to leave the parlor. The three Russian aides unwillingly stand up and leave the room. They also want to know what the Austrian Crown Prince would offer and ask Russia, and if it is possible to not drag Germany into the war.

"Yes, I know that Brother Aleksandr. That's why I have an offer to you that would be very advantageous and beneficial to Russia… During the war, send a volunteer corps to fight under the Austrian banner and command, only those who are of German descent or can speak German or those who have ties in Austria."

"So that you can justify that the men coming from Russia to volunteer are fighting for their motherland?"

"Yes Brother Aleksandr. That would be better than dragging you and Russia directly to war. Also, the Germans would unlikely join the war if there are no other European power who would join in the conflict."

Grand Prince Aleksandr IV thinks and absorbs what just Crown Prince Justinian had said. It is like stretching the limits of not participating in a conflict but it might work in a legal and logical sense. There are a lot of Germans who settled in the Russian Empire, especially in the Polish and Baltic Regions. It would be possible if he conscripts a large number of Germans in the Russian Empire and train them before sending them to the Austrians during the war. Also, he can send some agents and spies with the volunteer corps he sent that might be useful in the future.

Crown Prince Justinian knows that there would be a possibility that the Russians would send spies and agents into the ranks of the volunteers but he can't be selective to the volunteers. As long the men can fight and obey the command during the battle, that would be enough.

It is already clear that both Austria and Ottomans are heading into a clash and conflict so the Austrians don't need to be discreet and secretive in their preparation for war. Months ago, Crown Prince Justinian is very secretive and confidential in their preparations but right now, there is no need for that. He knows that he only needs to be discreet for something like secret weapons but in regards to training and getting a large number of volunteers, he doesn't need to be that discreet. If Ottomans are conscripting in broad daylight, then Austria should also.

"That would be stretching the limit of neutrality but I think it would be valid and possible. There are already a lot of German descent and German-speaking troops in the Russian ranks, we can send them as volunteer corps in the future. I would also try to conscript more so that there would be more troops."

"I'm very thankful Brother Aleksandr. Your magnanimity towards me and Austria would always be remembered. We would never forget this favor that you would grant upon us brother."

"You don't need to flatter me with such words Brother Justinian. What I want is that it would be a written agreement even if this deal would only be between us, and also, I want to know what we would be getting in this deal. I and Russia want something better than what is offered in the deal a while ago."

"Constantinople…"

"You are not joking right, Brother Justinian? You are willing to offer Constantinople to us?"

"Yes, Brother Aleksandr. If ever Austria would win this war, I would tell my grandfather the Emperor to give you every land you lost to the Ottomans and the capital Constantinople."

"I don't understand Brother Justinian. That would have a major backlash to your people if you would just give up such a prized city to us even if we won't directly join the war."

Grand Prince Aleksandr is puzzled as to what just the Austrian Crown Prince is trying to offer to Russia in exchange for help. Constantinople is a priceless city that every nation in history wants to rule over this ancient city. Both Russia and Austria have claims on the city of Constantinople and whoever controls it could claim that they were the rightful successor of the Roman Empire. Offering it easily without doubt and remorse make the Grand Prince doubtful if there are any hidden reason for such an offer.

"I know you are doubting me right now Brother Aleksandr. But I assure you that I am a man of honor and I would never try to trick my allies even if it is Constantinople."

Crown Prince Justinian understands why Grand Prince Aleksandr is doubtful and suspicious of any hidden plot. There is no person in their right mind to offer something so valuable that is deemed priceless to a person who didn't have done anything to gain such a thing. If ever Austria would win the war against the Ottomans and they would give Constantinople to the Russians, the Austrian people would surely protest and lost faith in their monarch. In order for Austria to survive such backlash, it must be able to sway and manipulate the people into thinking and believing that this action would be better than having Constantinople.

"You know you are playing with fire by making such an offer. Let us just say that you would win the war, then how will you convince everybody about that."

"First about that… Brother Aleksandr, we would need a lot of volunteers from Russia so that the people would feel your great contribution to the war effort. There would be less opposition from the public if they knew that the Russian had helped the war. Next is that you need to pay us symbolically so that it would seem that you will give us money to help us rebuild while in return we will give you Constantinople."

Grand Prince Aleksandr is thinking as Crown Prince Justinian speaks if his plan is feasible. Such a plan has a lot of holes that it would really backfire if the Austrians would miss a step in such a plan. But he could see the sincerity of the offer and he wants to know more about this deal. He knows that he was enticed by the offer but as long it won't hurt Russia he would accept it. Grand Prince Aleksandr smiles thinking if ever such a deal would come to fruition, he would become a hero of the Russian Empire without even being directly involved in the war.

"Continue… Brother Justinian."