Constantinople
A negotiation that would decide the fate of three empires had begun. Russia was represented by Alexander Menshikov, Austria by Mestece, and the Ottoman Empire by Pasha Herdegle.
The three were at daggers drawn as negotiations thick with the smell of gunpowder began.
In fact, that was not the case. Everyone still tried to exercise restraint in diplomatic settings, and the negotiations began quite harmoniously.
Aside from Pasha Herdegle's somewhat gloomy expression, the atmosphere remained fairly cordial. The talks between Menshikov and Mestece proceeded very smoothly.
Everything had already been agreed upon in the secret treaty between the two nations. Now that they were merely bringing it into the open, it would have been difficult for things not to be harmonious.
The Ottomans' attempt to exploit the conflict between Russian and Austrian interests in the Balkans and divide the two nations' strategic objectives had failed.
The British and French representatives attending the mediation were dumbfounded. What three-party talks? Russia and Austria had clearly already reached an agreement and come together to carve up the Ottoman Empire.
Before the morning was even over, Russian representative Menshikov and Austrian representative Mestece had reached a consensus. The two nations openly divided their spheres of influence in the Balkans.
The Ottoman representative was so furious that flames seemed to burst from his head. But everyone here was civilized—surely, even when carving up the Ottoman Empire, they could not say so outright?
Russia and Austria now claimed they were dividing commercial trade zones to prevent vicious competition and help the Ottoman Empire join civilized society as soon as possible.
It would indeed join civilized society—just not as the Ottoman Empire. Once it had been annexed by the two nations, it would become a member of the civilized world.
Pasha Herdegle said with a dark