Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 011
Chapter Title: A Joyful Banquet (3)
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As the banquet truly heated up, the nobles began pairing off to dance.
Theresa first shared a brief dance with Eugène, the host of the banquet, followed by short dances with the sons of high-ranking nobles.
It was a scene that starkly illustrated how, though we were close, our engagement had yet to be officially confirmed.
Though still inexperienced, Theresa gave it her all, and everyone watched her with appreciative gazes.
Around that time, as I observed from the edge of the hall...
"Will Your Highness not join the dancing?"
A somewhat effeminate-looking middle-aged man sidled up beside me.
"I'm not all that skilled at dancing. I'm just closely observing how the others do it."
"I see. Still, doesn't Your Highness carry the blood of elegant French nobility? If you put your mind to it, I'm sure you could dance quite well."
The French words rang out clearly amid a cloud of heavy perfume.
In a hall packed with Holy Roman nobles, anyone who would flaunt their French heritage so brazenly was obvious enough.
"No way. It'd take me at least twenty more years to dance as elegantly as you, Count Polignac."
Louis de Polignac, a member of the Polignac family renowned for their loyalty to the French royal house, had been the French ambassador residing in Vienna since last year.
In my previous life, I'd met him several times and spoken with him while staying in Vienna.
In my memories, he was a staunch Bourbon loyalist who always prioritized France's national interests.
"I remember meeting you once last year, but you seem far more resolute now. And it looks like you've grown quite close to Archduchess Theresa as well..."
A subtle glint of expectation and goodwill shone in Count Polignac's eyes.
France and the Holy Roman Empire had long competed for dominance over Europe.
If I, someone heavily influenced by France, married Theresa and entered the imperial family, it wouldn't be a bad deal for France at all.
"If there's anything we can do to assist, please don't hesitate to say the word. If Your Highness develops a good relationship with Archduchess Theresa, it could even be seen as a harmony between France and Austria."
The count made a bit of a fuss over it.
He seemed to fully regard me as one of their own.
Of course, it was undeniable truth that my former self could barely speak German properly and was steeped in French cultural influences.
From France's perspective, having a pro-French figure like me ascend to Holy Roman Emperor would be diplomatically advantageous.
Even as a son-in-law, once married, a woman was expected to heed her husband's opinions to some degree—that was the unwritten rule of this era.
"In that vein, His Majesty has instructed me to pay special attention to the comfort of Your Highness, who will soon become Duke of Lorraine. When you think about it, we're not strangers, are we?"
"Indeed. I can only express my gratitude for His Majesty's consideration."
France might not mean much to me now compared to the past, but that didn't mean I could afford to exclude them.
A great power like France could become a strong ally at any moment, so maintaining friendly relations was essential.
However, considering Austria's lingering anti-French sentiment, I couldn't afford to appear too cozy with them.
It was a contradiction: staying close was beneficial, but it couldn't show.
On top of that, I needed to plant the conviction that they stood to gain by using me well.
A delicate task, but given my unique circumstances, entirely feasible. I lowered my voice and leaned in toward him.
"Ambassador, that's actually what I wanted to discuss with you."
"Oh? By all means, speak freely."
"To be frank, I want to join the Habsburg imperial family no matter what. That's the only way to secure the safety of the lands I'll inherit. Of course, France might worry that Lorraine will side with the Holy Roman Empire, but with my mother being French, how could that happen?"
"Hmm... I suppose. Still, if Your Highness truly became Emperor of Rome, your territories would inevitably draw even closer to the Holy Roman Empire than they are now."
"Frankly, I'm sick to death of that. I don't want to pass on a life of suffocating tightrope-walking between two great powers to my children."
Anyone with over a decade tumbling through diplomacy would grasp my meaning.
France saw no harm in my becoming Holy Roman Emperor, but fully supporting me was another matter.
The reason: my territory of Lorraine lay on the border between the Holy Roman Empire and France, a vital economic and military stronghold.
At my candid confession of wanting to unburden myself, the count's voice dropped even lower.
"Does that mean... you're even open to exchanging territories?"
"If the terms are right. I see no reason to refuse a decent inland duchy instead of a borderland one."
"Your Highness must have been under quite a strain. Very well, I'll acknowledge your sincerity."
"That's why... as I said, I'm dead serious about aiming for the throne. And once I become emperor, I'll absolutely need France's help. With no strong backing to my name, who else could I rely on?"
The count replied with a knowing smile, and I nodded, continuing in hushed tones.
"That said, if France tries to help me openly, it could backfire. As you know, the mutual feelings between France and Austria aren't something even polite words could call good."
"That's... true enough."
"So I need to deliberately give the impression of keeping my distance from France. Even if I act that way later, I'd be grateful if you understood it wasn't my true intent."
"Hahaha, of course. I'm all the more thankful for your candor."
Returning to the past made it clear anew: age was a powerful weapon.
A mere 17-year-old novice could set the mood, speak earnestly, and most people would buy it.
As I saw off the pleasantly laughing Count Polignac and leaned against the window sill to rest...
"Franz~ I'm here."
A voice that lifted my spirits just to hear it approached.
Turning, I saw her beaming as she drew near, tiny beads of sweat dotting her forehead from successive dances.
"Archduchess Theresa, is it all right to return so soon?"
"Of course. I've danced plenty already. And naturally, the last dance has to be with you, Franz."
Indeed, she'd already danced briefly with all the major figures, so no one would bat an eye if she danced with me.
"Very well. Shall we?"
Just then, the signal for the next piece sounded, and Theresa and I made our way to the center of the hall.
Under the banquet hall's dazzling chandeliers, the music flowed gently.
I took Theresa's hand lightly, and she pursed her lips, trying to match my steps.
"I'll lead, so don't tense up too much."
With those words, the familiar minuet melody began to unfold beat by beat.
Left foot first, then right.
Theresa moved diligently to keep the rhythm, occasionally glancing up at me.
Whenever she missed a beat or lost her balance, I gripped her hand firmly but discreetly to steady her.
"Franz... you're really good at dancing?"
Perhaps contrasting her own occasional slips, she murmured in slight embarrassment, as if surprised.
That sight oddly overlapped with my past self, bringing a smile to my lips.
"Franz, dancing is all about the flow. I'll keep helping you from now on."
In the past, Theresa had always earned applause with her graceful, beautiful dances.
Back then, I was the one struggling to keep up with her steps.
"I want to practice more so I can dance as wonderfully as you someday."
"Of course you will if you practice. Who do you think you are, Franz?"
How much strength those casual words of encouragement had given me.
Her guiding movements from back then overlapped with the present, stirring a wistful echo.
"Everyone starts out that way. You'll get used to it soon enough."
Theresa wiped the sweat from her brow and declared pluckily.
"I'll practice harder so I can dance as wonderfully as you, Franz."
Seeing my faint smile and nod, Theresa pouted playfully.
"You think I can't, don't you? Just watch. Once I grow a bit more and practice, I'll be way better than now."
That confidence was so quintessentially Theresa.
"Of course you can. Who do you think you are, Theresa?"
I returned the very confidence she'd given me long ago.
"Exactly! Who do you think I am?"
I simply smiled, and Theresa danced on vigorously, insisting she'd really put in the effort.
Tap, step, step.
Surprisingly, from then on, she finished the dance without a single mistake.
They say one of life's joys is watching someone grow up close.
True to those words, I felt a greater joy than anyone in the world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The banquet's first day, held in a warm and lively atmosphere, drew to a triumphant close.
Having completed all the formalities, Theresa sat down and gulped down some cool water.
"Haa~ That was exhausting."
After several dances, her body felt drained, her throat parched.
As she reached for another glass, Eugène, the palace's master, approached with a kindly smile.
"Thanks to Your Highness, today's banquet ended most successfully. My deepest gratitude."
"No, no. You kept looking after me throughout, Eugène. I should be the one thanking you."
"Hoho, speaking so maturely—you make me certain the Empire's future is bright indeed."
Theresa stared fixedly at Eugène as he sat beside her, pouring wine glug-glug-glug into a crystal glass.
Sensing her gaze, he tossed out a line in utmost seriousness.
"Your Highness will come to enjoy it in time. In Vienna, wine is essential, after all."
"...Pardon?"
Unsure how to react, she blinked and swallowed her words quietly.
Was this meant to be funny? Or some sophisticated wordplay she didn't know?
Not getting the hoped-for response, Eugène let out an awkward chuckle.
"Ahem, the servants were rolling with laughter, but it seems Your Highness isn't used to such jokes yet."
"Ah... yes. I suppose I'm still a bit..."
The servants surely hadn't laughed from genuine amusement, but she couldn't bring herself to hurt the feelings of Eugène, who was like a grandfather to her.
In such moments, there was only one recourse: change the subject somehow.
"B-by the way, where might Franz be? Tomorrow could be even busier."
"Tomorrow will mostly be for talks among nobles and envoys, so he won't be too occupied. I'll have my hands full, though. Hoho."
"Ah~ So tomorrow's socializing will be more formal?"
"Likely so. With the agreements reached this year and the need to focus on relations with foreign powers, yes. As someone with some influence, I must lend what aid I can."
At that moment, hearing Eugène's gentle explanation...
—Someone like Eugène would probably be delighted to learn how clever you are, Theresa.
Franz's words from their journey here flashed through her mind.
Deep down, she believed no one was as remarkable as Franz.
He answered any question without hesitation, explained in detail until she understood, and was always kind.
Even today, she'd met sons of great nobles with finer pedigrees than Franz, but in her eyes, they all paled in comparison.
She wished her father or Eugène would recognize how extraordinary Franz was.
No—she would make it happen.
This was the perfect moment to put Franz's advice into practice, she was sure.
"Relations with foreign powers... You mean places like Spain?"
"Hm? Has Your Highness heard of this year's treaties as well?"
He seemed surprised that the young archduchess knew of a diplomatic agreement that just concluded.
"Of course. It's the treaty between Spain and Austria. It concerns me too, so I have to know."
The Treaty of Vienna aligned Spain's desire to reclaim Gibraltar with Austria's aim to expand trade routes to India via the Ostend Company.
As Theresa said, it also involved Austria recognizing Spanish royal authority, while Spain approved Austria's Pragmatic Sanction allowing female succession.
"You didn't let on at all when greeting the Spanish ambassador earlier—I had no idea."
"No need to show it in front of others. It wouldn't do me any good."
"Hmm... True enough. To think your thoughts reach that far already—impressive."
A spark of interest began to flicker across Eugène's face, which had seemed merely kindly grandfatherly moments before.
"Then, Your Highness, might you spare a moment to keep this old man company?"
Was this merely reciting knowledge heard from someone else, or did she grasp the basics of international diplomacy?
"Of course! The night is young."
Theresa resolved to gladly take the exam set by the Holy Roman Empire's greatest commander.