Chapter II Part Three

When Master Kieten began teaching us geography, my jaw dropped. The map he unfolded was a familiar one. A very familiar one. I had heard about the war with Prussia, the fall of an empire, and the rise of the fantasy Soviet Union, but until that moment I hadn't laid eyes on a map.

The map was far too familiar but so different at the same time. There was Europe, Asia, Africa, the middle east, Australia, Antarctica, and North and South America.

Aquitaine occupied the place that France had on Earth, only it was a lot larger. Aquitaine had colonies in Africa, Asia, and North America.

I couldn't find any country I was familiar with in the America's. Not even fantasy versions of them. It was seemingly colonized by several European and Asian powers... Even Egypt had a colony. Was Egypt an independent country?

I looked at the top of Africa and there it was. Egypt. Officially the Sultanate of Egypt. It occupied the territory of Egypt in my world, Libya, as well as the middle east, Turkey and Iran.

I looked closer at Australia. It didn't seem to be so barren. Dozens of rivers crossed through it. There was a small desert at the center, but according to the map, its lands were green. Forests and grasslands dominated Australia.

Master Kieten coughed. I took my seat and gave him my full attention.

"Okay children, for our first lesson, I think it would be appropriate to briefly cover Europe. Our glorious empire and the grand nations that rival us on the world stage. We will start with the Commonwealth of Britannia. With the Kaiser Reich of Prussia defeated and reduced to a puppet state, some argue that Britannia is Aquitaine's greatest enemy.

"At one point, it had colonies all over the world. Most colonies that were not liberated from Britannia's rule were transitioned into Dominions. The Commonwealth is divided into six such administrative regions: the Dominion of England. The Dominion of Ireland. The Dominion of Scotland. The Dominion of South Africa. The Dominion of New Zealand. And the largest, most influential of them all, the Dominion of Australia. Each dominion is granted a certain degree of autonomy in the commonwealth, though they are subordinate to the royal government in Logres at the end of the day.

"The Dominion of Canada on the western coast of North America remains the only colony that Britannia has left. Given the unstable situation of North America, the Britannia Parliament has assumed direct rule over the colony. To better defend it."

Euphy raised her hand. Master Kieten nodded. "Yes, princess?"

"What will happen to Prussia?"

"That is a good question. It will most certainly become a puppet state of its victorious enemies. Of that, there is little doubt. The Red Prince that once ruled the skies over Prussia met his end in the final push on the imperial capital. He was the Kaiser's oldest son and heir."

Red Prince? Was that this world's version of the Red Baron?

"The Kaiser and the rest of his family perished when the allies bombed Weimar. Other branches of the Kaiser's family have expressed interest in ascending to the throne, but your father is pushing for Prussia to become a federal republic."

The capital of Prussia was called Weimar? That was ironic, considering Germany's relationship with Weimar in the 1900s.

"The emperor believes a republic Prussia would be easier to control than an imperial one. Only time will tell if his assessment is correct.

Master Kieten pointed to Spain and Portugal. "This is the Iberian Confederation. The Kingdom of Hispania and the Kingdom of Porgaul united in confederation 300 years ago."

Master Kieten lectured well into the well about all the nations of Europe. Then he began a second, more detailed lecture that went on well into the afternoon. I was afraid he would start in on Asia or Africa, but thankfully he ended his lesson after that. Euphemia and I were allowed to escape.

We were invited to each lunch with Victoria in her villa. It was a small estate outside of Aquroya, but it was beautiful. The meadow that surrounded it was in full bloom, brilliant green leaves falling as we came and left.

It was at Victoria's villa where we first heard the news; she and Henri were leaving.

Euphemia blink. "You're going to leave?"

Victoria smiled. "Just for a few months. Father wants us to join the 217th in Africa."

"What's in Africa?" I asked.

"Prussian colonies that need to be pacified. Colonies that Aquitaine will oversee until Prussia is ready to enter the world stage again. Not as a belligerent power, but one ready to work with us for peace."

I stopped myself from snorting. A Princes of Aquitaine calling any other country belligerent? The empire was an expansionist imperial power with designs on world domination. Our father would gladly plunge the nation into war if it met getting what he wanted. Namely more land to rule.

I didn't express that opinion allowed. I might be an imperial prince, but if word got back to my father about what I said, he might decide to strip my position and status away. I wasn't cut out for surviving in this world as a street urchin.

"How long will you be gone?" Euphemia asked.

Victoria didn't meet her eyes. "Six months. Imperial Military Command estimates it shouldn't take any longer to pacify the colonies. If it does, we'll return regardless."

Euphemia cried. She didn't want her big sister to go. One day, one of my siblings or I was going to rule the empire. No ifs, ands, or buts. I wondered if this was one way the emperor might test us. See who was best suited to rule and pass the throne to that sibling.

If that was the case, I doubted I would ever ascend to the throne. I couldn't see myself ordering someone's death or ordering my nation to go to war just because I wanted some piece of land. I wouldn't make a very good emperor.

If it wasn't me, it was going to be one of my siblings. The limo pulled away from the estate. Euphy was crying in the corner. I loved my siblings and my mother, but none of them grew up on Earth. None of them were born in an age that had rejected imperialism. In this world, nations competing against each other in the most brutal ways was natural.

I suppose I was just lucky that these countries considered slavery barbaric.

Chapter II: Of mana and men