Anastasia Romanov (Fate/Marvel)

Anastasia Romanov POV

It has been four years since I successfully convinced my mother to alter the deployment strategy in the Russo-Japanese War, ensuring that Russia emerged victorious. Though the victory was not a resounding triumph, we won nonetheless. We maintained dominance in Northeast Asia and forced Japan to submit to our authority after their hasty retreat following General Alexei Brusilov's counter-ambush at Port Arthur. There, we successfully sank their naval forces, pursued them to their capital, and laid siege.

However, it wasn't long before we began to suffer heavy casualties. The Japanese, despite their resilience, fared no better as they, too, found themselves bogged down in a stalemate. With their advancements thwarted, Russian forces, capitalizing on superior logistics, artillery bombardment, and strategic placement, were able to unleash devastating fire upon the advancing Japanese forces, breaking their morale. Yet, the protracted siege and blockade at Port Arthur exposed us to the long, vulnerable supply lines from Europe to the Far East, which prolonged the stalemate at Tokyo.

In the end, both sides, wearied by the conflict, agreed to a ceasefire, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Kyoto. This treaty, not the more famous Treaty of Yokohama (as no significant battle took place in Yokohama), symbolized Japan's submission to Russian dominance.

This is the content of Treaty of Kyoto.

Treaty of Kyoto – 1905

1. Territorial Gains:

Korea: Japan must formally withdraw from all its ambitions in Korea, recognizing Korea as a neutral buffer state between Japan and Russia. Russia, in turn, guarantees Korea's sovereignty and independence but gains influence in northern Korea to expand its sphere of power.

Manchuria: Russia retains full control over Manchuria, with Japan agreeing to cease all claims or military presence in the region. This solidifies Russian influence in Northeast Asia and its control over key territories.

2. Naval and Military Terms:

Disarmament of the Japanese Navy: Japan is required to reduce its naval forces by half, severely limiting its ability to contest Russia's dominance in the Pacific. Japan's remaining fleet will be limited to coastal defense forces only, allowing Russia to expand its influence without opposition.

Russian Dominance in the Pacific: Japan cedes control of the Tsushima Strait to Russia, ensuring safe passage for Russian ships and solidifying Russia's control over key maritime routes between Japan, Korea, and the Chinese coast.

3. Economic Reparations:

Indemnity: Japan must pay Russia a sum of 300 million rubles as reparations for the war. This amount helps Russia recover from the costs of the war while placing a financial burden on Japan, slowing their economic recovery.

Resource Access: Japan agrees to provide Russia with preferential access to Japanese coal and steel for the next 10 years, helping Russia strengthen its industrial power in the region while hindering Japan's recovery.

4. Ceasefire and Non-Aggression Pact:

Non-Aggression Pact: Japan signs a non-aggression pact with Russia, promising to avoid any further conflicts or territorial expansion for the next 15 years. This guarantees peace in the region and allows both nations to recover from the war.

Naval Inspections: Japan must submit to periodic inspections of its navy by Russian officials to ensure compliance with the treaty's disarmament clauses.

5. Political Influence and Control:

Japanese Domestic Politics: Russia secures the right to place advisors within Japan's military and foreign ministry, ensuring that Japan's foreign policy and military actions remain aligned with Russian interests for the foreseeable future.

This victory lifted a great burden from my father's shoulders. He was no longer shackled by the humiliation of defeat that had once caused him to lose respect within the military—a disgrace that culminated in the disastrous loss of control during the end of World War I.

As long as military power remained in the hands of the Romanov family, what significance was there in the people's discontent over the Emperor's refusal to embrace democracy and modernization like the rest of Europe?

Now, as a six-year-old, I can play in the mud as I please, with the knowledge that I had already secured Russia's victory in this war. The only challenge left is either securing another Russian triumph in World War I or preventing my father from intervening at all. So long as I succeed in these endeavors, nothing will stop us from thwarting Lenin and the Bolsheviks' schemes.

Naturally, I must also consider a suitable candidate to eventually replace Rasputin in the future. Originally, he was supposed to arrive in 1905; however, due to my timely intervention, my brother did not suffer from hemophilia. With the immediate assistance of Viy, we were able to swiftly treat the condition, which in turn delayed Rasputin's efforts to integrate himself into the Royal Family, as he had done in the original timeline.

As of now, there are no clear signs of him making any substantial moves toward my family, the royal family. Nevertheless, Rasputin is still widely recognized across Russia as a mystic healer, and in this world, he holds another identity—the Apostle of the Alien God.

This makes him even more formidable than he was in historical accounts. He must be kept far away from my family at all costs. In this altered reality, Rasputin presents a much greater threat, especially given the existence of mutants, magi, and heroic spirits, along with the Alien God and Eldritch Beasts that roam the lands of Russia with their own ambitious agendas.

His presence in a world filled with such dangerous forces only amplifies the risks, and I cannot afford to underestimate him.

For this reason, I know exactly who is the perfect candidate to replace Rasputin. I need someone who will be willing to fight the Apostle of the Alien God for us, a man who craves power and fame and possesses the necessary courage and capability to face such a being.

It's you, Aleister Crowley!

Please, don't disappoint me.

*****

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