Marriage Matters

October 14, 1866, Hechingen.

Ernst had finally assembled his own fleet, a significant step for the Hohenzollern Conglomerate. With the fleet's expansion and increasingly stable routes, it would bring Ernst substantial profits. However, the purpose of building the fleet wasn't solely about profitability; it was about independence.

As the saying goes, "Lean on a mountain and it crumbles, lean on a person and they fall." Relying on the Dutch would eventually lead to a major loss, whether today or tomorrow.

With his own fleet, he could personally participate in global trade. Overseas colonization depended on strong ships and powerful cannons. Ships were the hubs connecting the world, the most crucial mode of transportation after the Age of Discovery. Several world powers had achieved dominance by controlling maritime supremacy.

Today, the establishment of the Hohenzollern Conglomerate's first fleet marked not only the first step in Ernst's own career but also a major stride for the entire East African colony. The population and resources needed for the East African colony could be better transported by their own fleet, especially certain previously troublesome goods that the Dutch refused to carry. Furthermore, for materials requiring high confidentiality, Ernst wouldn't feel at ease entrusting them to the Dutch.

Ernst, having returned from Venice, was reading a newspaper at home when his father, Prince Constantin, entered.

"Ernst, you're already sixteen!" Prince Constantin exclaimed.

"What is it, Father?" Ernst asked, puzzled.

"Nothing, just seeing you've grown up and have your own endeavors, I got a bit sentimental," Prince Constantin replied. "Ernst, you're no longer a child. It's time you started thinking about your future marriage!"

Hearing this, Ernst knew exactly what his father was thinking. Having lived another life, Ernst had been waiting for this day. Having experienced two lifetimes, Ernst wasn't one to act on emotions. The hardships of his previous life had smoothed out his rough edges. In this life, as a noble, Ernst found the idea of free love rather absurd. He now prioritized interests. Marriage, especially among European nobles of this era, was a transaction of interests. During his busy work, Ernst hadn't had the time to think about it. Now that Prince Constantin brought it up, it was likely he already had a plan. Ernst decided to go along with it and see what his father had in mind.

"Father, do you already have someone in mind?" Ernst asked intentionally.

"Heh, my son, you know me so well," Constantin chuckled, producing a document from behind him. "I'm getting old, and I still want to personally oversee your marriage. Your mother left us early, and I raised you myself, so I naturally want to arrange your marriage properly."

Constantin spread the document open. "This time, there are three candidates: Princess Heidi of Sweden, introduced by your maternal aunt; Princess Marfa of the Russian Empire; and Princess Karina of Austria."

Ernst looked at the document, then asked in surprise, "Why are they so young? The oldest is only twelve, and the youngest is ten!"

Prince Constantin tapped Ernst's head. "Are you that old yourself? Ernst, you're only sixteen. Don't tell me you think you're an adult already! I didn't get married until I was twenty-six, and you'll have to wait a few years too."

"These princesses are very young now, but in a few years, they'll be beautiful young women. It's best to act now while I still have some influence to secure a good marriage for you," Constantin said.

"Do we really need to be in such a hurry?" Ernst asked, confused.

"What do you know? In recent years, the European nobility has become increasingly riddled with problems, especially the royal families. I don't know what's going on, but I'm clear-headed about it. We didn't have so many issues back then. I'm only telling you this, so please don't mention it to anyone else."

"That's why I'm looking for daughters-in-law who are in good health. I've even investigated the medical histories of their parents. Only then did I find these three who are absolutely healthy and whose status is worthy of our House of Hohenzollern."

Hearing his father, Ernst understood what he meant. His poor nephew, Wilhelm II, was a victim. Although he escaped hemophilia, he was born with a paralytic condition that caused his left arm to atrophy. Thinking of this, Ernst shivered. If he remembered correctly, due to royal intermarriages with the British royal family, hemophilia, a hereditary disease, had spread to many European royal families through Queen Victoria's descendants, including Germany, Romania (the House of Hohenzollern was suspected to be the biggest victim), Greece, Croatia, Russia, and Denmark...

Ernst didn't know how many children Queen Victoria had, as he hadn't researched it thoroughly, and it wasn't something an unknown like him could interfere with. However, he felt concerned for the royal families of the aforementioned countries. Looking at the two candidates on the document, Sweden and Russia, he thought, They should be fine! The information clearly stated their parents' conditions and relationships, as consanguineous marriages were common in this era. All three candidates this time had no connection to Britain. Ernst continued to read.

Suddenly, Ernst noticed something astonishing. He hadn't heard of any of these three princesses. The Swedish and Russian princesses had connections to his mother's side, hence the introductions. For example, the former Queen of Sweden, Josephine, was Ernst's maternal aunt, and she had chosen the first candidate. The second, the Russian princess, was also related through his mother's sister's marriage to a Russian noble.

But the third one was entirely outside Ernst's knowledge: Princess Karina, daughter of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, aged 10, raised in the Habsburg family under the care of her grandmother, Princess Sophie...

????... Ernst's mind was filled with question marks. This Princess Karina was too unbelievable! If he remembered correctly, Maximilian I was the brother of the current Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz, from the Habsburg family. He had heard of this Emperor of Mexico, but he didn't recall him having any descendants in history. If he wasn't mistaken, Maximilian I, lacking his own heirs, had adopted a descendant of the former Mexican emperor.

"Father, what's the deal with this Princess Karina?" Ernst asked, confused.

"Princess Karina is Maximilian I's daughter, born when Maximilian I and Empress Charlotte were still in Europe," his father explained.

That doesn't make sense, Ernst thought, doubting himself. Even if the butterfly effect of his own birth had altered history, there was no way his family would be connected to the Habsburgs.

"Father, I don't understand. Princess Karina holds a significant position within the Habsburg family. She's Franz's niece and was raised by Empress Dowager Sophie. Moreover, her father is currently the Emperor of Mexico, a position and status more prominent than ours. Why would they seek contact with us!"

Constantin chuckled. "This wasn't Maximilian I's doing. The entire Habsburg family opposed his taking the post in Mexico and becoming Napoleon III's scapegoat. Yet, this fool, disregarding his family's objections, chose to abandon his inheritance in the Habsburgs and try his luck in that Mexican backwater."

"Now, France has withdrawn its troops from Mexico, and I hear Maximilian I's situation is worsening. Recently, he and Empress Carlota have been lobbying various European countries to intervene in Mexican politics."

Ernst nodded. "But what does that have to do with an arranged marriage?"

"Wasn't it Empress Dowager Sophie who made that decision herself? Back then, Maximilian I's trip to Mexico nearly drove Empress Dowager Sophie to death. She doted on Maximilian I the most since he was a child."

"Before Maximilian I and Empress Carlota went to Mexico, the situation there was volatile, and Princess Karina was still young, so Empress Dowager Sophie took her along."

"Dealing with two troublesome sons, Franz and Maximilian I, Empress Dowager Sophie is now extremely cautious, fearing her descendants will be as troublesome as her sons. That's why she's even stricter with their education."

"For example, Maximilian I was too coddled back then. He was already a good-for-nothing, but then Empress Carlota incited him to fantasize about becoming emperor, and he ended up failing miserably."

"Princess Sophie believes that the current state of her two sons is entirely the fault of their wives, which is why she is now more focused on the status and capabilities of her granddaughters' suitors."

Ernst nodded quickly upon hearing this. Capabilities were indeed very important.

"It's not easy to find someone like that in Europe. The Habsburgs have no shortage of potential marriage partners, but Empress Dowager Sophie's emphasis on capability and character this time was even stronger, and in the end, she chose you."

!!!

Ernst felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, feeling he wasn't as good as described.

"My son, I know you best, of course. Your capabilities are undeniable, and your achievements are top-tier across all of Europe."

"As for your character, that's even easier to discuss. You've never acted recklessly. You know, many nobles live dissolute lives. Ernst, it's rare to find someone your age with no scandals outside."

"In terms of status, our family is also not lacking. The House of Hohenzollern is currently at its peak. Prussia and Romania are both ours now, and we are considered top-tier on the European continent. You will also inherit my princely title in the future."

"Although Karina's father is the Emperor of Mexico, his position is merely a self-indulgent fantasy of the Mexicans! His true value lies in his status as a member of the House of Habsburg, yet he insisted on renouncing his inheritance. Now, the situation in Mexico is becoming increasingly uncontrollable, and everyone understands that there is no place for an emperor in Mexico."

Please recognize this is a novel. This Princess Karina is a fictional character, made up by me just like Ernst. Some people should not be so outrageous.