Paris. Ever since news arrived of the Japanese army's surprise attack on the Philippines, Napoleon IV had not slept well for several days in a row.
No matter what, the Japanese army's southward advance had come at the invitation of Britain and France. In order to get the Spaniards to grant passage, the British and French governments had repeatedly given Spain their assurances. Now that this had happened, they naturally could not escape blame.
In this age where the strong devoured the weak, promises were about as valuable as a fart. Under normal circumstances, Napoleon IV would not have cared about breaking his word to Spain; after all, there was nothing the Spaniards could do about it.
But things were different now. Unlike Britain, which remained aloof, France was currently mired in the quagmire of the Continental War, unable to pull itself free. Even Spain, which had originally been setting like the sun, could now pose a fatal threat to them.
How to placate the enraged Spaniards and resolve this diplomatic dispute had become the most urgent issue facing the French Government.
Suppressing his discomfort, Napoleon IV asked, "Tell me. What do the Spaniards want?"
Between nations, interests alone were eternal. No matter what had happened in the past, so long as the benefits were sufficient, anything could be negotiated.
As neighbors, France and Spain naturally had no shortage of conflicts. It was only because France had been too powerful that the Spaniards lacked the confidence to confront it.
The Continental War had altered the balance of power between the two sides. All of France's strength had been poured into the war, leaving it without the ability to continue suppressing Spain.
For a variety of reasons, the Japanese army's surprise attack on the Philippines had happened to intensify the Franco-Spanish