Chapter 258: Storms Arise
Vienna Palace
Franz's wedding had officially been placed on the agenda. In this matter, he was no longer free to make his own decision—the more than fifty million people of the New Holy Roman Empire were all eagerly awaiting it.
An auspicious day had to be chosen. What if the day turned out poorly, with dark clouds overhead and relentless rain? Would that not be telling everyone that God did not approve of the newlyweds?
Even in an ordinary household, encountering such circumstances would be considered bad luck, and fanatics might even cancel the wedding. If it happened to a royal family, there was even less need to mention it—it would be a massive political scandal.
Although the influence of religious authority had greatly declined, such feudal superstitions still flourished in conservative Austrian regions.
After a group of priests—part theologians, part meteorologists—had studied the matter, the auspicious day was finally set for March 12, 1855.
Preparations had already begun, and Franz had no choice but to occasionally look into them, showing the importance he attached to this marriage alliance.
Marriage was a good thing, especially with someone one liked. Fine, Franz admitted that his feelings for Princess Helen were fairly ordinary, but for an emperor, being able to marry someone he did not dislike was already a kind of happiness.
Franz's good mood did not last long before something unpleasant arrived to spoil it.
"Your Majesty, our plan to purchase gold has failed. Gold prices on the international market have surged by twenty percent. Continuing to buy now would be too great a loss. "Our investigation has found that this rise in international gold prices was orchestrated entirely by the British, with the aim of preventing us from purchasing gold," the Finance Minister said, his face