Investment

Vienna, the Royal Gardens.

A breeze swept through, carrying the fresh scent of soil.

In the grove nearby, Franz Joseph was swinging on a swing.

On the neatly trimmed lawn of the garden, Archduke Franz Karl was drinking gloomily at a makeshift round table.

Wine again, Archduke Franz Karl thought to himself.

This was a certainty; Francis II had acquired three thousand barrels of wine from the Esterhazy family cellar and knew that this son of his was fond of the drink.

Consequently, Archduke Franz Karl and these barrels of wine seemed inseparable.

Baron Bruck carried a briefcase, walking cautiously across the garden lawn, fearful that stepping on the flowers might ruin the overall aesthetic of the garden.

Baron Bruck removed his hat and bowed in greeting.

"Archduke Franz Karl, you summoned me."

Archduke Franz Karl glanced at Baron Bruck.

"Sit. Sit down."

Baron Bruck had actually scheduled meetings with several bankers that afternoon to discuss loans, but he could not refuse the invitation of Archduke Franz Karl. If this dim-witted Archduke insisted on holding him back, it would be a disaster.

"Sit down!" Archduke Franz Karl raised his voice when he saw Baron Bruck remained standing.

Baron Bruck had no choice but to sit; after all, the other party was royalty.

"Drink." Archduke Franz Karl handed Baron Bruck a glass filled with wine.

Baron Bruck looked at Archduke Franz Karl, then downed it in one gulp.

"Right. I have an... an investment!"

Archduke Franz Karl rarely used such words, so he spoke with extreme difficulty.

"Investment?" Baron Bruck felt a bit dizzy; he had just learned that this dim-witted Archduke actually understood the concept of investment.

He immediately wondered if the man had been swindled.

But then he thought that didn't seem right.

So he asked, "Archduke, what kind of investment is it? Let me help you weigh it."

"No... no need." As he spoke, Archduke Franz Karl took a piece of paper from his breast pocket, slapped it onto the table, and slid it over.

Baron Bruck took a monocle from his coat pocket, placed it over his eye, and carefully examined the slip of paper.

It read:

"I have three million Florin. You are to purchase land in Chicago and New York. Buy whatever you like, as long as it is sold before Christmas of 1836."

A simple contract was attached to the back.

The handwriting was very sloppy and somewhat childish, as if written by a child.

However, Baron Bruck did not grow suspicious; after all, it was impressive enough that this Archduke, who could barely string a sentence together, could write at all.

"The real estate market in America is indeed good, and I have acquaintances operating in real estate there. But Archduke Franz Karl, I must warn you: America is a wild land, and the credit of those barbarians is highly questionable. With land prices rising so rapidly, there will be trouble sooner or later."

At the time, Europeans viewed Americans as barbarians, and mainstream European bankers believed that the rapid rise in American land prices would lead to problems. However, because everyone subscribed to a free-market economy, no one stepped in to stop it.

"I don't care. My son wants to buy it," Archduke Franz Karl said while drinking.

"..." Baron Bruck was speechless. The little Archduke was only four years old, a very cute child currently swinging on the swing nearby.

It seems Archduke Franz Karl is truly drunk, Baron Bruck thought, though he asked aloud, "Is it you who wants to buy, or the little Archduke? How should I fill out this contract?"

Archduke Franz Karl realized his mistake and changed his tune.

"I am buying it for my son."

Baron Bruck let out a long sigh; that was correct, that made sense.

Baron Bruck busied himself with the contract, tucked the copy into his briefcase, and handed the original to Archduke Franz Karl.

At this moment, Thalia reached out and took the contract, examining it carefully.

After confirming that Baron Bruck had not tampered with it, she tucked the contract into a box she had prepared in advance.

Checking the contract was perfectly normal, but Baron Bruck was instead impressed by the legendary dim-witted Archduke.

After all, the trend of speculating on land in America was only known to insiders; for this Archduke to see the trend and make such a massive move showed absolute vision and boldness.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. With me, Baron Bruck, on the job, you will certainly acquire the highest quality land. If you have no other instructions, I have an important meeting this afternoon regarding national finance. You know, now that we have joined the Zollverein, money is being spent everywhere."

Archduke Franz Karl gestured for Baron Bruck to sit, then poured him another glass of wine.

"Drink. Drink and go."

Baron Bruck rarely drank, especially during working hours, but he could not refuse the Archduke's kindness. He finally downed the contents of the glass in one go.

Archduke Franz Karl watched Baron Bruck depart, reflecting on his temporary drinking companion.

"What a fine fellow, though he pushes himself far too hard."

Franz had already hopped off the swing, clutching the contract in his hands with mounting excitement.

Franz knew that this three-million investment would multiply sixty-four times over the next three years.

This sum would be a massive boon for Franz's future, and the best part was that he would be reaping the harvest from the Americans.

But what pleased him most was that Baron Bruck was, just as he had hoped, a truly honest and reliable man.

Even when faced with the immense temptation of three million Florin, he had not tampered with the contract in the slightest.

"Son, I think you're acting strange." Archduke Franz Karl spoke up first.

"Father, I am perfectly normal. It is you who are strange, which is why you see everyone else as abnormal," Franz replied.

Archduke Franz Karl scratched his bald head, feeling that his son's words actually made a lot of sense.

"Don't overthink it, let's drink. I toast to you." Franz Joseph raised his juice.

"Alright, I won't think about it—" Archduke Franz Karl seemed to want to say something, but couldn't quite find the words.

Franz Joseph finished the thought.

"A good drink washes away a thousand sorrows."

"Exactly!"

The two glasses clinked; no words were spoken, yet it said more than a thousand could.

Thalia was the witness to it all, but she did not know what to say, and even if she did, no one would believe her.

Back then, she had been cast out by her family and arrived in Vienna all alone.

Disguised as a man, Thalia had wanted to prove she was no less capable than any man, standing out in the clerk examination for the Prime Minister's office, only to impulsively shed her male attire.

She had expected to stun the crowd, but instead, she drew the fury of the men present.

Feeling insulted, the officials and candidates prepared to hang her from a tree; fortunately, Sophie happened to pass by and had the royal guards save her.

From that point on, she became Franz's tutor. The little Archduke and the Archduchess were her benefactors, and within this imperial palace, they were her only support.

Thalia knew that if she betrayed the little Archduke and the Archduchess, she would lose everything, which was exactly the outcome Sophie desired.

It was just that she hadn't expected the little Archduke to be so extraordinary; perhaps this was what it meant to be an Emperor.