1617 Winter(December)
“Urgh...!!"
'Eh' 'Eh'
"C, congratulations, Augusta! He's a healthy prince!"
My 3rd wife, Hildegard produced my late-born child - a 2nd son.
"Well done, my love."
'Pat'
"T...thank you, Imperator."
"Arthur. Your name is Arthur, my boy."
'Eh' 'Eh'
"This calls for another celebration!"
"I hereby declare special pardon to all prisoners in the entire New West Roman Empire! Also, hold a festival, for 3 months, till the New Year's festival! Now!"
"Yes, Imperator!"
And, in just 3 months, 60 million Ducat worth of royal asset evaporated into thin air - which some of it was a loan from the Bank of England, the de facto Central Bank of the New West Roman Empire.
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Also, it was a good cause to distribute ￡ to entire West Europe, because I was planning to make it a world currency in entire Europe. For that, I need to spend at least 100 million Ducat worth of ￡.
'Hmm...maybe she's tired after delivering a child. But, seeming from her perplexed looks, she might be little dumb.'
'Cuddle'
"Arthur, my son..."
'Eh' 'Eh'
"You shall be the king of Greece."
At these words, my aids were first relieved, but after a moment, shocked. They were relieved that the old emperor wasn't out of his mind, not kicking-out the present Prince of Wales from his place. However, they were shocked after realizing that Greece wasn't currently in my realm but belonged to the other empire's territory.
Yes, it belongs to the Ottoman Empire, the only worthy opponent of me - Imperator Eduardo Ivlivs Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of the New West Roman Empire, king of Great Britain, Netherlands, Iberia, Italy, and Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire(Germany).
Looking back on my life, I've never done a total war. Normally, in this era, wars lasted for at least 6-10 years, or even longer. But my longest war, the War of Iberian Succession, ended in 3 years. Excluding the number of soldiers fought in the war, that wasn't a total war! All those wars I endured were just a series of border disturbances.
And that's why I never suffered a financial crisis with all those wars. Holy Roman Empire(Germany) fought with the Ottoman for 12 years during Rudolf II's reign and there's also the infamous Hundred Years' War between England and France, and they didn't go bankrupt! If my kingdom suffered a financial crisis for only 1-3 year's battle, it would have been a laughingstock in entire Europe!
Then, what should I prepare for total war? It's needless to say.
"D, do you mean, C...crusade, Imperator?"
That's what one of my aid said to me, startled.
"Yes, a crusade!"
"Oh my God!" "S...sweet mother of God!"
"Crusade!" "Deus vult!" "Death to Muslims!"
While the maids who were looking after Agusta - Hildegard - and would-be-king-of-Greece - my 2nd son, Arthur - were shocked, the knights who were escorting me were excited.
'Stretch'
'Burble'
'Hahaha'
Instead of scolding the maids and knights who disturbed my words, I raised my young boy into the air with my hands, who were laughing.
"Hmm... a million Crusade would be ideal. But, that would be too much. Maybe 600,000 would do."
"W...where do you plan to attack, Imperator?"
That's what the other aid asked me.
"Let me see. Jerusalem? No, it would surely be a huge honor to Holy Father and Jesus Christ, also a revenge for the Leper King and Richard the Lionheart. But, it wouldn't cause much damage to Muslims."
"How about reclaiming the Basileuousa, Queen of Cities - Constantinople - and making the Sultan bankrupt?"
"Hahahaha!"
Yes, a Crusade. A Crusade to take back Constantinople from the Muslims! 600,000 Crusade!
Suddenly, my heart was thrilling with joy, with my mouth grinning with a smirk.
As they always say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Now I realized that I was truly Felipe II's son.