In truth, it would have been procedurally impossible for Prince Constantin to set off for Africa at once. After all, his status was far from ordinary.
He was not only the ruler of Hechingen, but also a prince of the Kingdom of Prussia. And if he was going to East Africa, he would have to bring along some trusted retainers of the Hechingen Royal Family. He could hardly dismiss on the spot those loyal subjects who had served the Hechingen Royal Family generation after generation.
Hechingen was not large, but as a state, it lacked none of the administrative institutions a country ought to have. Even after it had merged into Prussia, some powers had been handed over.
Those were merely powers such as military affairs and taxation. The Hechingen Royal Family still maintained a large staff, including servants and guards.
All of their futures had to be arranged. Those willing to follow Prince Constantin to East Africa would go with him; those unwilling would receive a generous severance payment. The rest, who neither wished to go to East Africa nor had anywhere else to go, would remain and continue managing Hechingen's industries.
After all, the castles and businesses still needed people to look after them. But once Prince Constantin left, they would no longer belong to the Hechingen Royal Family. They would be managed by the Hohenzollern Conglomerate, changing from retainers attached to the royal family into employees.
At the same time, Prince Constantin needed to discuss his destination frankly with the family. The first to receive the news was neighboring Sigmaringen.
"Constantin, are you truly going overseas all by yourself?" Prince Karl Anton asked Prince Constantin.
As one of Prince Constantin's closest friends and relatives, Karl Anton found Prince Constantin's decision utterly incomprehensible.
Because of their geography and