The Guardian Of Empires

16. Southern Sweetness under German Souce

The embassy set off to the German Empire on a wet morning of early October. Their path to Frankfurt took five days. Aside from Sergey, the delegation was escorted by two horse riders of Napoleon's guard. Theodore hadn't have time for travel since his trip to Italy, so it was a pleasure for his eyes to enjoy a different landscape. He and Sergey were excited to go for a walk after hours spent in the carriage. The men didn't lose a chance to explore each city. Ambassador Barua complained that he was too old for such trips and didn't wish to stray far from the hotel.

Frankfurt met them coldly as autumn had owned the country. A drizzle sifted through the wet fog.

The guests were welcome to stay at the residence of Emperor Franz Joseph.

As Napoleon supposed, Barua and Theodore's visit to the Emperor was a mere formality. The ambassador expressed Napoleon's compassion for the great loss Germany had suffered. He inquired about the emperor's intentions for the coming year and wondered if Germany would participate in new campaigns against the Turks in the south and east of Europe. To which emperor replied that he, being loyal to the Holy See, was ready to trust their decision, follow their orders, and engage in war against faithless Muslims, who had been taking land from Christians. Of course, the pope realizes the German Empire is defeated and weakened, so he does not demand immediate participation. After freeing southern Italy from the Turks, the pope was not in a hurry to start a new war.

'We all have to heal our wounds, bodily and mentally,' said Franz Joseph in a colorless tone as if repeating a memorized text, while resting his gray head on his hand. 'We must pull ourselves together and help the families of the perished and injured soldiers. In the coming years, Germany will not likely get into war.'

Theodore's meeting with the German Synod was held in the same fashion. A chain of formal questions and answers didn't last long. Nor did the discussion of the management of seminaries and monasteries: Theodore's views on seminary education diverged from the Synod's position. These people knew what Theodore and Maxim were doing in the commission at the Benefian Synod and didn't accept Theodore as a friend. They were disgusted with each other, but that didn't stop them from praying together for the souls of those who perished in war.

Later in the evening there was a less formal dinner with representatives of the Reichstag. Conversations were predictable: the death of General Grossman, resources for economic recovery, and suspension of military exercise as a sign of mourning. The only thing that sparked Theodore's interest was Germany's economic plans: in terms of financial questions, the Benefian Chamber of Deputies could look up to its northern neighbors, who were organized and pedantic.

'We must remind ourselves how good Germany is inside, within it's households and farms' said the round-faced blond, vigorously cutting fat piece of meat on his plate while smiling to Theo. 'The government needs to remind people how strong they are in keeping their farms, shops and other businesses prospering, contributing to the overall greatness of our country, which starts not in the war camps, but here, in every house. In the coming months, we are going to pay more attention to small businesses'. He swallowed a piece of meat, followed with wine, and pleasure blossomed on his face. Theodore smirked, entertained by such lively pictures. On his right, Barua, a wine connoisseur, who barely sipped his wine and never touched it again, raised his eyebrows.

Later, when dinner was over, and Barua and Theo walked out of Reichstag's building, the ambassador said, looking phlegmatically on the grey dusk city in front of him:

'Damn, I need a drink. When it rains like that, I always crave a good drink, and, perhaps, more than that...'

Theodore silently looked at him. "Did he mean... opium?"