Amid scarcely a ripple, on May 6, 1898, the Kingdom of Bulgaria was established just like that.
To be honest, Ferdinand really could not tell what difference there was between the present kingdom and the former grand duchy. Bulgaria was still the same old Bulgaria, yet everyone remained so keen on it!
After the Kingdom of Bulgaria was founded, Ferdinand officially rose to the rank of "King." Naturally, his life remained as it was—there was no grand renovation of palaces as people imagined, nor were any protocols changed. That sort of thing did not seem to be in fashion in the Western world.
"Your Majesty, the British are lobbying the European nations to abandon their support for the Boers. How should we respond?" At the cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Metev asked with considerable anxiety.
Ferdinand knew that what was bound to come had come; he had merely not expected it so soon. John Bull was already making the various nations choose sides anew.
Clearly, this time the British had not set their sights on the great powers. Everyone knew that any one of Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, or Russia could withstand their pressure, but the lesser nations could not.
Portugal was the first to bear the brunt. With the threat from Spain gone, the Portuguese could once again choose a side.
Given the contradictions between the Entente and the Alliance, Ferdinand did not believe that the European nations could still unite to pressure Portugal. Otherwise, the Spanish-American War would never have erupted.
Even if the British and Americans joined hands, they were now powerless to contend against the united will of the entire European continent.
Now Bulgaria, too, was being forced to choose a side. Ferdinand was resistant to the idea, for this choice would determine the future course of