The next day, Andrei Uvarov was granted a private audience.
He had expected this moment from the start. After all, Russia and Austria were the chief players in this struggle for supremacy in the Near East.
On the surface, the peace conference was an attempt by Britain to mediate between the defeated Ottoman Empire and the victorious powers, and to stabilize the situation in the Near East.
In reality, however, it was another division of the Near East into spheres of influence. Every country hoped to expand its own sphere and claim more spoils from the Ottoman Empire.
Thus, Austria and Russia were both allies and rivals.
From the very beginning, Uvarov had known his colleagues were wasting their time. Given Austria's position, it would never agree to let Russia seize half the Ottoman Empire outright, just as Russia could never agree to Greece attacking Constantinople.
If Russia could take even half of the six provinces—Dobruja, Bulgaria, North Thrace, Trabzon, Erzurum, and Diyarbakir—it would be an unprecedented victory.
It would be worth giving up Wallachia to achieve that.
The doors to the Hall of Mirrors swung open slowly. The brilliant light nearly blinded anyone who looked inside. In the glittering hall, a young man sat alone, enthroned above them in splendid clothes, his bearing imposing.
But Duke Uvarov was not cowed. In an even tone, he offered a brief greeting.
"Your Majesty, it is an honor to be granted an audience."
"Duke, I asked you here because I would like to discuss the peace conference."
Franz got straight to the point. Duke Uvarov let out a long breath; he, too, disliked beating around the bush.
"Your Majesty, I believe my colleagues have already told you many times what we seek.
"His Majesty the Tsar hopes to obtain the four provinces