Franz's Helplessness

Prince Metternich did not realize his own errors, and he selectively ignored most of Archduke Franz's suggestions.

However, he still performed the superficial formalities so well that he even convinced Franz that he had accepted his advice.

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

"Archduke Franz, your words do not seem as easy for others to accept as you imagine."

Ajani said with a hint of mockery. Franz knew she would not speak without cause; it seemed something had gone wrong somewhere.

"What are you trying to say?"

Ajani did not continue to beat around the bush and spoke straight to the point.

"Our Chancellor is still supporting the League of Orthodoxy in Switzerland, and at the same time, his investment in the Papal States has only increased."

This surprised Franz, as according to intelligence from multiple sources, the Austrian Empire government should have indeed cut funding for both areas.

Make Prince Metternich pay out of his own pocket? That was impossible! Besides, he could not afford it; in the nineteenth century, moving funds on the scale of tens of millions could only be done by the state.

"How is that possible? I haven't heard of any recent movements in the Papal States or the Swiss Confederation. And most importantly, where is the money coming from?"

Ajani: "Our Chancellor is, after all, known as the 'Chancellor of Europe.' He has operated in the diplomatic arena and within Austria for decades; is it not easy for him to deceive the world? As for the money, it is, of course, coming from your education fund and colonial development budget!"

New-style basic education was jointly managed by the imperial government and the Church. One of Franz's goals in doing this was to save money, as the Church's own financial resources and obsession with controlling education allowed the