Tyranny Of Steel

Itami sat in silence for a long time after hearing Gerhard's speech. There were many things that she needed to rethink after having a simple conversation with the German Ambassador. While she attempted to expand her power on a global scale, things had not gone the way she had planned. Her first instinct was to blame the Germans for interfering in her operations.

However, when given an alternative solution to her ambitions, one that did not involve aggressive expansion. Itami realized that perhaps the time she spent conquering Japan with firearms had affected the way she viewed geo-politics as a whole.

It was fine to use force to compel her neighbors to obey her whims if she was the only one with access to such advanced hardware. However, the moment she realized that another power existed which had access to the same level of weaponry. She should have taken a more diplomatic approach to global expansion. This was where she had gone wrong, and why the Germans were beating her at every step of this cold war. 

Though Itami had advanced her military might to compete with the technological advantage that the Germans had over her; she had not changed her mindset and how she approached the securing of crucial resources. As a result, the people she conquered despised her and were prone to rebellion.

If her own troops were fanatically loyal to her, such a thing could be quelled with ease. However, Itami had viewed her own population as living resources, whose sole purpose in life was to extend the capabilities of the Japanese Military. This naturally did not do her any favors in morale. 

In fact, the only reason there were not open rebellions taking place across the Japanese mainland at this very moment was because the people of Japan did not understand that there was a better life across the world's oceans. They were accustomed to the lifestyle of a peasant, and were simply happy to have full bellies, even if they were worked to the bone every day. 

If what Gerhard had said was true about the German Empire, and the people lived good lives, with great conditions, then the moment this news spread to the Japanese people, those who had any modicum of intelligence would begin to question why the people of Germany who lived in a nation with a similar level of technological ability, had such better lives than them? Such a dangerous question would undoubtedly lead to open rebellion. 

As Itami was dwelling on these questions, Gerhard simply examined her facial expressions while sipping from a glass of tea. He had learned a lot about the young Japanese empress during their brief discussion. But the more he learned about the albino beauty seated across from him, the more confused he became.

There was a single question that existed on the man's mind that he had yet to ask. As time passed, and no words were spoken, Gerhard felt the increasing need to give it voice, and in the end, that's exactly what he did. 

"Pardon my interruption of your thoughts. However, there is one thing that has beguiled me since the moment we first sat down and started our conversation. Now this is admittedly a bit of a personal question, thus, if you find it too offensive, feel free to remain silent. However, I must ask you, what exactly has compelled you to take up the mantle of Empress?

I mean, I understand your reason for rebelling against the previous Shogunate. The thirst for vengeance is a flame that ignites one's very soul, one that can not easily be quenched. But after avenging your father, why did you choose to become the next shogun? Let alone overthrow the royal family and declare yourself, Empress?" 

This question broke Itami out of her fugue like state, where she gazed upon the German ambassador with a hint of confusion on her face. Why had she taken the mantle of Empress? After avenging her father, what was her reason for seizing absolute power over Japan? What caused her to create an overseas Empire? 

Was she the most suited to rule over her people? Absolutely, without her, they would surely be doomed to fight one another for the next hundred years, at least. However, is that what she wanted in life? To rule over her people? If so, then what did she desire out of it? Wealth? Power? Prestige?

When Itami really thought about it, her position as Empress had brought her nothing but unnecessary suffering. In fact, there was only one reason that compelled her to do everything she had done, and surprisingly, she spoke the word aloud without even realizing it. 

"Responsibility..."

This response caused Gerhard to furrow his brows before questioning the intent behind this word. 

"Responsibility? Explain?"

Itami sighed heavily as she reflected on her past actions with a grim smile on her face. 

"I suppose you could say that after breaking the system, I felt responsible for putting it back together. If I had not assumed the mantle of Shogun, then my people would be fighting for the next hundred years or more to determine the successor to the previous Shogunate.

Rather than sit back and watch as an ocean of blood swallowed my homeland, I chose to become the stabilizing force.  This was working just fine, before your Kaiser decided to interfere in my business."

Gerhard rolled his eyes when he heard this before responding in an exhausted tone to the woman's claims.

"Have we not been over this already? We would have never gotten involved in the Joseon Peninsula had you not created an armed proxy in India. I can tell you are too proud to admit that you are responsible for your own predicament, and this pride will ultimately be your downfall. 

I will say this: your desire to take responsibility for your actions is admirable. If only you cared for the wellbeing of your people, more than you did about your pride. Perhaps Japan would be as great as a nation as the Reich. 

But I don't blame you, not entirely. You have no husband, nor any children of your own. So you can't truly understand the desire to work hard, so that the next generation has a better life than you do now."

These remarks were as if knives pierced through the depths of Itami's soul. Even though Gerhard had often given her advice on how to improve her situation, he had always done it in a way which only stoked the woman's ire. She could only scoff at this remark before posing a question of her own.

"So, I presume you have a wife and children?"

A proud smile emerged on the man's face as he heard this question, one that Itami had only seen when he spoke of the Kaiser. After nodding his head thrice, Gerhard did not hesitate to give an appropriate response.

"I have three wives and at least two children with each of them. However, as much as I love my own kids, they will never be as talented as my nieces and nephews. In fact, I want to share something with you. If you would hold on for just one minute."

After saying this, Gerhard rose from his seat and fetched something from the closet. It was a piece of vinyl which had been recorded in the Reich. He carefully placed the recording into the gramophone as if it were the most precious possession he owned before starting the device. 

Instantly a song began to play in the room, one which Itami actually recognized. Though it was slightly different from the version she was used to, as it was played on the piano, there was no mistaking the chorus. A single phrase escaped the woman's lips without her knowledge as she spoke the name of the song from her past life.

"The price of freedom..."

This immediately caused a misunderstanding, as Gerhard looked over at the woman with confusion in his eyes before voicing his thoughts aloud.

"You've heard this before?"

Itami did not answer, and instead she continued to listen to the music, as it was skillfully played on the recording. She could not help but investigate the origin of this song, and who had written it. 

"Who wrote this? Who is playing it?" 

Gerhard was no longer concerned about whether Itami had actually heard the song before, instead he had a proud smile on his face as he gave her the answer.

"My youngest sister Adela composed the song from a series of hummings that her husband, the Kaiser, would sing around the palace from time to time. As for who is playing it, it is actually my nephew Kristoffer. The second Prince is skilled with musical instruments, and has even performed in concert halls across Kufstein despite his young age. 

The boy is talented, more so than any of my meagre offspring, and I can only hope to see what he will accomplish one day. Even if he doesn't succeed his father, his contributions to the Reich will be no lesser than his siblings." 

Itami immediately felt a sense of longing in the depths of her heart. The false memory of her and Julian starting a family together immediately came to mind as she sulked in silence. There was a hidden resentment within her sanguine eyes as she thought about the love and happiness Berengar must feel every day, considering he was surrounded by beautiful women and had a family with each of them.

When compared to herself, who was terminally single, she felt nothing short of envy, and that made her bitter. Ultimately, she lashed out at Gerhard for making her feel this way by demanding he stop the music.

"I've heard enough. Don't we have more important things to discuss? My time is limited, and I do not wish to spend it listening to some child's poor attempt to play the piano!"

This remark immediately caused Gerhard to frown, to insult his nephew in such a manner. It was not something he would take lying down, and thus he simply responded with an utter lack of courtesy.

"I think I have entertained you long enough. I have tried my best to be polite to you, despite the fact that you have made yourself an enemy of the reich. But I will not sit here and listen to you disrespect my nephew. Get out!" 

This volatile response had truly shocked Itami, but she did not let it show on her face. Instead, she stood up abruptly and departed without saying a word. From the beginning, she knew that nothing fruitful was going to come from this diplomatic meeting.

However, despite the tension between Germany and Japan, the young empress had much to think of as a result of this discussion, something she would do the moment she returned to the safety of her own home. 

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