The American Civil War.
A civil war unfolding on a scale rarely seen in human history. It was almost unprecedented for so many nations to involve themselves in a single country's internal conflict, all seeking to divide the spoils among themselves.
Yet no matter how much killing continued, the vast territory of the United States and its endless supply of manpower could not simply be erased. Even after nearly two years of continuous fighting, the balance had not collapsed, and both sides were gradually becoming exhausted.
Spain had already reached its limits and was half-withdrawn. France and Prussia were not much different, though they were trapped by momentum and could not easily disengage. The losses had grown so severe that even pride was set aside, and both countries had gone so far as to request reinforcements from the British Empire. The war was heading toward a direction where there would be no true victor, only universal loss.
Then, in the summer of 1863, Canada put into motion its trump card.
Operation Red Bait.
"The target is Montreal. Burn the ships at the Old Port."
The plan was simple. Destroy ships carrying British goods, set them ablaze where all could see, and fabricate evidence to make it appear as though the North was responsible.
In other words, the South sought to create a justification for Britain to treat the North as an enemy.
No matter how strongly Britain claimed neutrality, if its own ships were burned and its cargo sunk, intervention would become inevitable. The South already held a slight advantage, and if Britain entered the war, it would be decisive.
However, there was a reason this operation had not been carried out earlier. Burning British ships required prior agreement with the British Empire. In addition, conditions had to exist that made it plausible for Northern agents to reach Montreal and carry out such an attack.
If the North had been overwhelmingly dominant, there would have been no reason for them to resort to such actions. The situation had to be carefully shaped, agreement secured, and evidence prepared in advance.
"Are the preparations complete?"
"Of course. We have been preparing for this day for a long time."
"Good. Remember, from this moment on, do not use a Southern accent, even among ourselves. We are men from Boston. Members of that ridiculous abolitionist group, the NBA. Do not make a single mistake."
"Yes, sir."
Drexler, a veteran who had survived countless battles, arrived in Montreal two days earlier with an elite Confederate unit.
"At last, the end of this damned war is in sight. Once Britain's navy joins, Northern ports will be paralyzed."
"But will other countries believe this?"
"That is why we waited this long. As the situation turned against them, Northern militias would naturally begin searching for causes. Concluding that Canada is supplying weapons to the South is entirely plausible."
While it might seem irrational to provoke Canada directly, there were always extremists willing to act. Drexler's unit had spent a long time preparing to perfectly imitate such individuals.
They had mastered Northern accents and even falsified identities to join the NBA, an abolitionist organization supported by King James. Since radical elements often existed within such movements, even violent actions would not appear entirely implausible.
"Our assigned targets are warehouses three, seven, and eleven in the Old Port, along with the transport ships loading goods there. The ships are expendable anyway, so destroy them thoroughly."
"Are the goods inside real?"
"If they were fake, it might be discovered. They are real, but Britain has earned enough from this war that the loss is insignificant."
"Then they truly are shameless, selling weapons to both sides."
"They say they will support us in the end. That is enough."
Hatred between North and South had deepened beyond repair. The North condemned the South as traitors selling America to Europe, while the South blamed the North for creating the situation in the first place.
"Set everything ablaze. Let these burning warehouses show the North its future."
"Yes, sir."
The security around the warehouses was minimal, as everything had been prearranged. Even so, Drexler moved cautiously, preparing the site.
Oil was carefully spread across the targets, and barrels were placed on the ships. Once the signal was given, fires would erupt simultaneously, and slogans would be shouted.
Membership cards from the NBA would be "accidentally" left behind as evidence.
Everything had been planned.
"Then we begin…"
Before the signal could even be given, an explosion erupted.
Flames rose from a completely different area.
"What is this? Who started the fire?"
"That is not our sector."
Drexler's face turned pale.
This was entirely unexpected.
If they withdrew now, everything would collapse. Worse, the South might be blamed entirely for an uncontrolled attack.
"…There is no choice. Proceed as planned. The North will take the blame."
"Yes, sir."
Explosions followed across the port, and flames surged into the night sky, turning it bright as day.
"God's judgment upon the cursed weapons of slavery!"
"Stop exporting arms for slavery! Canada out!"
"Canada, stop your hypocrisy!"
The unit shouted as loudly as possible, drawing attention before escaping in the chaos.
Yet in the confusion, they failed to notice one crucial detail.
From another burning area, voices speaking in Southern accents were shouting similar accusations.
Lately, I had been reflecting deeply on the difficulty of unity.
The Civil War itself was a result of division within a single nation. Even in Germany, conflicts between states had led to constant tension and bloodshed.
If even people of the same nation and culture could not unite, how much more difficult would it be elsewhere?
I had begun considering the integration of Canada into the Empire, not as a colony, but as a constituent kingdom. Yet this was far from simple.
Treating a colony as equal to the homeland would inevitably cause discomfort. Even without prejudice, such a shift would not be easily accepted.
Fortunately, many in leadership agreed that colonial economic systems would not last forever. Regions with strong potential, like Canada, should be integrated.
The problem lay elsewhere.
"Canada is receiving not only black migrants, but also increasing numbers of Asian immigrants. If Canada becomes part of the Empire, they will also become British citizens. This may affect elections."
"We must create the perception that integrating Canada benefits everyone."
That was one reason I had deliberately strengthened Canada during this war. If its scale grew large enough, Britain would have no choice but to take it seriously.
Canada was not like India, which had population but limited industrialization. With rapid industrial growth, within a decade it could rival the Northern United States in importance.
"To maintain our position in America, integrating Canada is essential. Leaving it as a colony will limit our Pacific strategy."
"That is reasonable. When the war ends, we should raise this issue and gauge public opinion."
Wellesley glanced at Edward, who was listening intently.
"With proper guidance, His Highness will serve as a bridge between Britain and Canada."
"He will manage."
Everything had been prepared.
It was time to bring this war to its conclusion.
At that moment, a messenger rushed in.
"Your Highness, urgent news from Montreal."
"Speak."
"There has been a large-scale fire at the port. Warehouses and ships have been destroyed."
As expected.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
"…How could such a fire occur?"
"It appears to be organized arson. Witnesses report hearing Northern accents shouting anti-slavery slogans."
Just as planned.
"And… others reported hearing Southern accents, calling for punishment of traitorous Canada. Several ships were destroyed, and sailors were severely burned."
"…What?"
That was not part of the plan.
Why had this happened?
For a moment, my composure faltered.
"Investigate immediately. Report everything. Compensate the victims fully and ensure those responsible are punished."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As the messenger left, Charles Wellesley burst into laughter.
"Your acting was flawless."
…That was not acting.
"Even I was almost convinced."
Edward smiled brightly.
"As expected of you, Father."
For the first time in a long while,
something had gone completely off script.
***
News of the sudden terrorist attack that caused massive damage to Montreal's Old Port quickly spread, and as expected, public opinion in the British Empire began to boil over.
Although the incident occurred far away in Canada rather than on the British mainland, citizens of the Empire viewed Canada differently from other colonies. The upper classes residing there were largely royalist Britons, and not only Irish immigrants but also many workers had moved there in search of employment.
In particular, as Canada's industry had developed rapidly in recent years, demand had far outpaced supply, drawing large numbers of people from the mainland seeking opportunity. Many of the merchant ships burned in Montreal were owned by British capitalists, making the incident feel like a direct attack on Britain itself.
If one were to ask British citizens what Canada was, most would answer in similar fashion.
"Canada? Isn't that royal land?"
"I thought it was part of His Highness's domain."
Although Killian held authority in Canada as its governor and Duke, it was not literally his personal domain in the medieval sense, nor was it formally royal land. However, in matters of public opinion, facts mattered little. What mattered was perception, and most citizens had little interest in complicated realities.
Few could even accurately identify Canada on a map. Montreal's location hardly mattered. Many could not even point out London correctly. What mattered was the belief that land associated with the royal family had been attacked by the United States.
< Terror at Montreal Old Port. Prime suspect: the United States. >
< North or South, who is responsible? Conflicting witness accounts. >
The newspapers seized upon the story, publishing article after article that inflamed public anger.
< Betrayal repaid with treachery. America responds to British neutrality with terror. >
"Find those responsible and punish them!"
"This is an attack on the royal family!"
With royal approval ratings exceeding ninety-five percent, there was no chance the public would tolerate such an act. Worse still, this had occurred while Britain maintained neutrality, making it feel like a betrayal.
Demands poured in to punish those responsible, whether North or South, and the government formally requested both sides to explain the incident in detail.
However, just as the British Empire had not anticipated this event, both the North and South were equally confused.
"…You are saying individuals speaking with Northern accents were seen in large numbers at the scene? How is that possible?"
The North, which had spent a long time preparing to frame the South, was at a loss.
President Abraham Lincoln set aside Britain's formal protest and rubbed his temples.
"General Ulysses S. Grant, I need an explanation."
"I have only received reports myself. We are investigating as quickly as possible."
"Are you telling me our operatives failed at such a basic task?"
"That is not the case. The agents we deployed were originally from the South. They cannot even speak with a Northern accent."
The situation was absurd. Yet admitting failure outright would be tantamount to self-destruction.
"Then is Britain lying to frame us?"
"At first, we suspected manipulation. But our agents reported fires in areas outside their assigned targets."
"…So someone else carried out arson at the same time?"
"The original operation was scheduled for two days later. However, security was unexpectedly absent, and the agents advanced the plan."
Lincoln understood.
Another group must have seized the same opportunity.
"Why was security absent?"
"A scheduling error created a temporary gap."
"…Then we deny involvement. What other evidence exists?"
"Membership cards from the NBA were found."
"The abolitionist organization…"
The similarity of the schemes was almost unbelievable.
Both sides had planned to burn the port and frame the other.
"Do we know the South's response?"
"They are likely just as confused, facing pressure from Britain."
Neither side could escape blame. Both had planted evidence. Both had left witnesses.
The South would not be able to distance itself from the incident.
"…The NBA's founder, James King, is British, is he not?"
"Yes. He is currently in Canada."
"Then we must meet him."
Lincoln saw a narrow path forward. If handled correctly, Britain's anger might be redirected toward the South.
The North had no choice.
Without action, they could not endure much longer.
For a moment, Lincoln glanced at his reflection and let out a bitter laugh. The war had aged him far beyond his years.
When it ended, perhaps he would abandon politics entirely.
In truth, the destruction of much of the Old Port was not a serious loss. Though ships had been destroyed, the profits from the war far exceeded the damage. Ship owners and sailors received compensation greater than their losses, and no lives had been lost.
The real problem was different.
"Who do we hold responsible?"
"We were supposed to support the South, were we not?"
"That was the plan… has it changed?"
"His Highness must have planned all of this."
Charles Wellesley tapped the desk lightly as he smiled, and Benjamin Disraeli nodded in agreement.
"Then His Highness is deliberately delaying. The question is why."
"Public opinion is reaching its peak. It is time to decide. We have gained enough from this war."
That night, they went to Buckingham Palace.
"You have come at a busy time."
"Which is why we are here. It is time to decide our position."
"What do you think?"
Wellesley answered carefully.
"There is no clear evidence. Both sides deny responsibility. We can support either side if we choose."
"Exactly. So why must we choose?"
Killian poured tea calmly.
"Does it matter who is responsible? Both sides carried out operations. There are only two forces in the United States."
"…Then we declare both guilty?"
"That is the truth."
"But France and Prussia support the South."
"We will not oppose them directly. We will simply hold both sides accountable after the war."
In other words, both would be treated as responsible, giving Britain justification to intervene as mediator.
"Both sides are guilty, so we step in to end the war."
"Exactly."
It was a perfect justification.
Minimal cost.
Maximum gain.
"Then we indirectly support the South."
"Of course."
That had always been the plan.
But Killian's next words went even further.
"The South will collapse eventually anyway. Supporting them now carries no risk."
Wellesley fell silent, then slowly smiled.
As always,
Killian was thinking several moves ahead.