It turned out Franz did not attach much importance to this matter. As the ruler of a nation, Franz had to attend to state affairs every day.
As for Little Rudolf's education, Franz still trusted his mother quite a bit. After all, he himself had been raised this way back then.
In truth, this was an irresponsible attitude. Some people might only seek to muddle through; perhaps they did not realize it themselves, but it certainly saved them a lot of trouble.
Poor Little Rudolf thus fell into Ernst's clutches, unaware of the kind of life that awaited him.
"Goodbye, sisters! Goodbye, Grandmother!" Little Rudolf bid farewell to his two sisters—his biological sister Princess Gisela and Karina—and his grandmother.
"Ernst! Rudolf will be in your care for a while. Keep a close eye on him, and don't let his studies fall by the wayside," Empress Dowager Sophie stressed.
"Rest assured, Empress Dowager. I'm taking Rudolf with me so he can receive a more complete and advanced education. The people he'll meet are all outstanding young nobles from across Europe," Ernst promised.
"Take good care of yourself, my darling." Empress Dowager Sophie kissed Rudolf on the forehead in farewell.
"Let's go," Ernst said to the coachman. The coachman cracked his whip across the horses' rumps, and the convoy slowly set off.
Only after the carriage gradually disappeared from sight did Empress Dowager Sophie come back to herself. Whether Rudolf's departure would prove good or bad, she did not know. Still, it was only three months, so it should not be a major problem.
"Rudolf, what do you think of the scenery along the way?" Ernst asked Rudolf as he looked through the train window at the fields streaking rapidly backward.
"Brother Ernst, yesterday was fine. The scenery outside really