When word reached Shevkyevza, the Queen Mother, that Lord Habescu, Foreign Minister of the Austrian Empire, had arrived, she was at a loss.
At this time, Queen Mother Shevkyevza was in the still-unfinished Dolmabahçe Palace—or rather, she had been forced to remain in Constantinople to steady the people's hearts.
Queen Mother Shevkyevza's hold over the Ottoman Empire was far weaker than she herself had imagined. After the Battle of Constantinople, the British had kept her there without much effort.
The British greatly approved of Queen Mother Shevkyevza's decision to conceal the Sultan's death, so Murad V was still considered to be "ill."
Yet for certain special reasons, Queen Mother Shevkyevza herself had also been half stripped of power, leaving her unaware of what was happening in the outside world.
Queen Mother Shevkyevza had instinctively sensed danger. After all, the two nations were hereditary enemies, and Austria and Russia were allies.
But when Lord Habescu explained his purpose and presented the Austrian Empire's ultimatum, Queen Mother Shevkyevza truly could not stop herself from laughing aloud.
"I deeply sympathize with what happened to your country's Empress, but I have truly never seen a nation more shameless than yours!
The Russians at least dare to take the field with real swords and real guns to seize our land and resources. Your country merely flaps its lips and wants to come carve up our property?"
Lord Habescu rebuked her angrily.
"Your Majesty, please do not spit blood at others! Whether your country did it or not, you had best investigate clearly before drawing conclusions.
If the Ottoman Empire cannot hand over the murderer and give us, the Austrian Empire, an explanation, I guarantee that you will regret it!"
Though Lord Habescu appeared furious, inwardly he was deeply contemptuous.
He thought Queen Mother Shevkyevza had