Daily Life

Franz II was in an especially buoyant mood today, nearly bouncing with joy.

Thanks to Prince Metternich's deft maneuvering, the Esterhazy family's Austrian assets had not gone into the state treasury. Instead, they had become the personal property of Franz II.

Franz II had once visited the Esterhazy family's palace. It could only be described as glittering with gold and jade. Though it could not compare with the imperial palace, it surpassed every Imperial Manor.

The works of art in those palaces had been taken away, but the three thousand barrels of wine in the underground cellars could not be moved.

The steward sent to take over the estates had selected a hundred barrels and sent them to Vienna. Franz II then passed them on to Vienna's princes and nobles.

Franz II planned to leave the Esterhazy family's wealth to his grandson, Franz Joseph.

After all, he knew the Austrian Empire's economic situation all too well. The Austrian Empire's debts would likely remain unpaid for the rest of his life.

He feared that Austria's debts would still be there when Franz Joseph ascended the throne.

A man could not go a single day without power, they said, but an emperor without money had a hard time of it too.

He would leave the Esterhazy family's wealth to Franz Joseph, in the hope that it might help him through a crisis.

At that moment, Franz II had something else in his hands. He had yet to decide whether he should give it to his grandson.

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace, nursery.

Franz Joseph was wearing a specially tailored light cavalry uniform today. When he saw Franz II enter, he was delighted.

Franz Joseph knew the old emperor must have come to share some good news with him. He had already read in the papers that the Zollverein had agreed to admit the Austrian Empire.

Still, Franz Joseph planned to pretend he knew nothing. Austria had enjoyed almost no diplomatic victories since the Congress of Vienna, so he would let the old emperor savor this one.

Franz II entered and saw Franz Joseph in his uniform. He immediately stopped, stood at attention, raised his hand in salute, and said,

"Hello, soldier."

Franz Joseph immediately snapped to attention and shouted,

"Long live the Emperor!"

Franz II picked up his grandson, and the old and young laughed together.

Spending time with his grandson always brought the old emperor great comfort.

Looking at the little boy before him, he seemed to see the future of the Austrian Empire. But he truly lacked the courage to challenge the rules laid down by his ancestors, and he did not want his young grandson to bear the weight of the entire empire.

"He should have a happy childhood," Franz II murmured to himself.

Perhaps realizing he had let his feelings get the better of him, Franz II suddenly smiled mysteriously.

"My boy, Grandpa has a treasure here. Guess what it is. If you guess right, it's yours."

In fact, when Franz II had first come in, Franz Joseph had noticed the envelope in his hand.

Considering recent events, the envelope must contain either the good news from the front that Austria had successfully joined the Zollverein, or the three million florins in Prince Esterhazy's account.

Franz figured it was more likely to be a bank deposit certificate.

But what could he do with that money now? Buy candy?

So he answered, "A letter."

Franz II took the envelope from behind his back and handed it to Franz, saying,

"You guessed right. Keep this envelope safe. Don't open it until you're grown up."

Franz Joseph looked at the envelope in confusion. It had indeed been mailed by Rothschild Bank, so it had to be a deposit certificate.

Franz just couldn't understand why the old emperor would give that much money to a little boy like him.

But he knew the old emperor wanted him to keep the money safe.

Franz immediately took the envelope and ran to his "treasure chest." He tossed it inside, then locked it up.

Franz II nodded in satisfaction. He played with his grandson a little longer, then left.

At the end of the hallway, Franz II began murmuring to himself again.

"Forgive your grandfather for being timid and weak. I hope this money can make it up to you."

Franz was conflicted. He didn't know what to do with the money. Three million florins seemed like enough to serve as his starting capital, but he had no idea when he would be able to put his plans into motion.

Having Sophie manage the money seemed like a good choice. He might even get a decent return.

But if Sophie's investments failed, wouldn't he be in trouble too?

Perhaps there was another way.

That night, at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna,

Franz stared blankly at the latest map of the world.

Central America, South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia, still a wilderness at this time—all were lands that could be expanded into.

But Franz was too young to take part in government affairs.

Besides, Austria's navy was in a sorry state. Even if he had the idea, he lacked the means.

While Franz was still thinking, Sophie came in.

"Franz, don't keep scribbling all over the map."

After Sophie had given him an earful, Franz began today's storytelling session.

"Great events under Heaven: long divided, they must unite; long united, they must divide. Now, Cao Cao had entered Wancheng..."

An hour later.

Franz, already sleepy, glanced at Sophie, who was listening with rapt attention beside him.

I'm so sleepy. I want to go to bed. Why is Mother so full of energy tonight? Franz sighed inwardly.

But this couldn't go on. Suddenly struck by inspiration, Franz picked up the beautifully bound Bible beside him, slammed it down on the table, and cried, "To find out what happens next, tune in next time!"

Sophie looked as if she still wanted more. She sighed and said, "Prime Minister Cao really was a fine man."

What was so fine about him? Franz grumbled inwardly.

"What a passionate, earth-shaking love story."

What love story? This kind of worship of the strong is unhealthy, Mother. Your thinking is dangerous. Franz couldn't help grumbling to himself again.

"Who told you this love story? Was it Thalia? Bohemians are always so uninhibited," Sophie continued. "But you're still so young, and she dares to do this. If you were older, who knows what that woman might do?"

"..." Franz was at a loss. She had listened to the stories for more than half a year before realizing something was amiss.

Still, it was wonderful that Sophie had automatically pinned the blame on Thalia, his governess.

At least Franz didn't have to explain anything now.

Thalia would probably have her wages docked. Franz didn't think much more about it; he simply nodded.

Whatever went wrong, it was always safe to blame that Bohemian woman.

Because of deep-rooted arrogance and prejudice, Thalia, the daughter of a minor Bohemian noble, had secretly completed her university studies without her family's knowledge.

At this time, anyone who had completed a university education could already be considered part of the social elite.

In 1834, all the universities in Austria had a combined enrollment of just 7,191 students.

But the outcome had been astonishing: Thalia's father had thrown her out of the house.

With nowhere else to turn, she had become Franz's governess through a twist of fate.

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