Besides Russia and Austria, Spain reacted most fiercely. Ever since inheriting the Spanish throne, Ferdinand II had been bent on making some big news.
With something as momentous as the League of Sacrilege being reorganized, Ferdinand II naturally could not resist sticking his hand into it.
So he, too, wanted to pay a state visit to Vienna, leaving Franz deeply helpless. He had finally grasped the meaning of: no matter how hard a villain racks his brains, he cannot match a fool's flash of inspiration.
Britain was frustrated and bewildered by Murad V's actions. They simply could not understand what he was doing, much less why Murad V was not drawing closer to Britain.
"Prime Minister, could the French be trying to poach from us?"
George Villiers asked with some concern. Britain was running into walls everywhere these days, and the mountain of documents piling up before his eyes gave him a headache every day.
The Ottoman Empire, which Britain had cultivated with its own hands, might now be leaning toward France. He found that exceedingly difficult to accept.
"No, that is unlikely. The French do not have the nerve. According to the latest intelligence sent back by Viscount Stratford, this was entirely Murad V acting on his own initiative.
This intelligence has also been confirmed by Empress Dowager Shevkyevza."
"A disobedient puppet is a ticking time bomb. Can't we replace him?"
George Villiers said bluntly. He had no desire to leave behind another hidden danger. It sounded utterly absurd for a British Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister to discuss replacing the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Yet historically, this very Murad V had been deposed after merely ninety-three days because of his falling-out with Russia, even being branded with a mental illness.
At this