Paris, France, June 1913
The invitation to Paris came as Alan expected: a simple, hand-written note from Lucien Dubois suggesting a meeting to discuss "matters of mutual historical interest." The proposed venue was not the imposing Rothschild Frères bank on Rue Laffitte, but a private dining room at Le Meurice, a hotel synonymous with quiet, aristocratic power.
Alan crossed the Atlantic on the RMS Mauretania, booking a modest but private suite. He spent the six-day journey not admiring the ocean, but in a self-imposed isolation, consuming every available text on the Rothschild family's history, their major transactions, and the political landscape of the Balkans. He was preparing for a final examination, and he would not be found wanting.
The private dining room overlooked the Tuileries Garden. The man waiting for him was in his late fifties, with a neatly trimmed grey beard and the weary, intelligent eyes of someone who had seen empires rise and fall on the strength of his signature. This was Baron Édouard de Rothschild. Lucien Dubois stood discreetly by the window.
"Mr. Mikaelson," the Baron said, his voice a gravelly baritone. He did not rise but gestured to the seat opposite him. "Mr. Dubois tells me you have a... unique perspective on history."
"I believe history is a ledger of recurring debts, Baron," Alan replied, taking his seat. "And Europe's accounts are about to come due."
The Baron allowed a thin smile. "Blunt. A very American trait. Tell me, what do your ledgers predict?"
"They predict a Serbian nationalist will fire a pistol in Sarajevo, and the resulting echo will shatter the Austro-Hungarian Empire," Alan said without hesitation. "Germany's ambition, bound by treaty to Austria, will pull them into conflict. Russia's treaty with Serbia will do the same. France and Britain will be drawn in to protect their interests against German expansion. It will not be a short, surgical war as the generals in Berlin and Vienna believe. It will be a continental slaughter, a war of attrition funded by debt."
The Baron's eyes narrowed. He had heard similar analyses from his own network of informants, but never stated with such chilling certainty. "You speak of this as if it has already happened."
"I speak of it as an inevitability," Alan corrected. "And the victor will not be the nation with the largest army, but the one with the last gold coin. Every government involved will print money to fund the war, debasing their currencies into worthlessness. They will issue bonds that they will struggle to honor. We, Baron, have the opportunity to provide the capital they will so desperately need."
He leaned forward, his proposal now laid bare. "I do not propose we loan them money. I propose we trade them liquidity for tangible, eternal value. A joint consortium, a silent partnership between your house and mine. We provide the financing, and they provide the collateral. Not bonds, not promises. Gold. Shipped and vaulted before the first loan is dispersed. Or, the sovereign deeds to their most productive colonial goldfields."
For a long moment, the Baron was silent, studying the young man before him. He saw no youthful arrogance, only the cold, hard logic of a fellow predator. What Alan proposed was audacious, ruthless, and perfectly aligned with the principles that had made the Rothschild name legendary.
"What you propose," the Baron said slowly, "is a transfer of wealth on a scale not seen since Napoleon. It requires absolute trust. A partnership like this cannot be a simple business arrangement. It must be a union. A dynasty."
He looked towards the doorway, where a young woman had just appeared, stepping in with a quiet confidence. She was perhaps Alan's age, with dark, intelligent eyes and a poise that spoke of generations of command.
"Mr. Mikaelson," the Baron said, his voice taking on a new weight. "Allow me to introduce my youngest daughter, Annelise."
Annelise met Alan's gaze directly. There was no coyness, only a sharp, analytical curiosity that mirrored his own.
"Annelise is my sharpest mind," the Baron continued. "She understands the language of capital as well as any man in this city. A business partnership is temporary. It can be dissolved. But a family... a family is forever."
The implication was as clear as it was monumental. This wasn't just about a deal. It was about merging two houses.
Alan looked from the Baron to Annelise. He saw not a bride being offered, but a strategic partner. He saw the final, essential piece of his plan falling into place. An alliance with the Rothschilds was one thing; a permanent union, sealed by blood and name, was unassailable.
"Baron," Alan said, his voice steady. "I came to Paris to propose a partnership of banks. It seems we are discussing a partnership of families. I find the latter proposition… far more compelling."
Annelise inclined her head slightly, a subtle acknowledgment. An alliance of gold, finance, and family had just been forged.
End of Chapter Summary
Period: Q2 1913
Mikaelson Family Estimated Net Worth: ~$22,000,000
(Note: Net worth reflects increased political and financial capital from the Rothschild alliance, though no monetary transaction has occurred.)
I. Financial Holdings (Starbank)
Commercial & Retail Banking: Branches: 15 (Consolidation complete. Re-chartered as the national "Starbank".)
Total Assets: ~$12,000,000
Investment Banking / Stock Underwriting: A joint division with Rothschild Frères is now in the planning stages.
Asset Management / Mutual Funds: None.
Insurance (L&H, P&C, Reinsurance): None.
Private Equity & Venture Capital: None.
II. Gold Holdings (Mikaelson Gold Consolidated)
Fields: 2 (Nevada, California)
Estimated Bullion Reserves: Reassessment ongoing.
Current Market Value (estimated): ~$10,000,000
III. Luxury Goods (Elysian Holdings)
Brands: None.
Boutiques: None.
IV. Gaming (Pixel Palace)
Arcades/Major Retailers: None.
Acquisitions This Chapter:
Company Name: None.
Mentioned Families & Alliances:
Rothschild Family (Finance): Est. Net Worth: [Classified]. Status: Alliance Forged. A joint venture for war financing has been agreed upon, to be cemented by the marriage of Alan Mikaelson and Annelise de Rothschild.