Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 017
Chapter Title: The Emperor to the Sovereign
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“Hah, how on earth did he suddenly produce something like that? It’s beyond comprehension.”
“We have to assume he’d been meticulously preparing for it.”
England’s ambassador Thomas Robinson and France’s ambassador Count Louis de Polignac had gathered to discuss matters while Franz stepped away to check his stock.
Naturally, the topic was the platinum jewelry he had just unveiled.
“Fake silver... now to be called platinum, right? Do you know anything about it?”
“Not in detail, but I know it’s a material with little value beyond counterfeiting silver coins. Even that doesn’t work well since it can’t be properly refined and gets exposed quickly...”
It was hard to believe at first glance, but having seen it with their own eyes, denial was impossible.
Everyone had confirmed it didn’t corrode even in nitric acid—what more explanation was needed?
The only lingering question was how Franz had managed to produce it.
No, on second thought, that mystery hardly mattered.
The real issue was...
“He said the quantity is extremely limited, so some countries won’t receive any this year or even next.”
“Obviously. From His Majesty’s words alone, it seems he has no intention of selling to anyone less than a king of a nation.”
Just as they said, the prepared stock was nearly nonexistent.
Price wasn’t the problem. Any monarch could afford a single piece of precious jewelry, no matter the cost.
But if there simply wasn’t enough supply, that changed everything.
It meant some would get it, and others wouldn’t—no avoiding that.
And Count Polignac could easily guess how the allocations would be divided.
“...Ambassador Robinson, what if we joined forces to secure a firm supply? With Great Britain... no, England and France demanding together, who could refuse?”
“Hahaha, is that necessary? As you say, Count, France is sure to be at the front of the line. After all, Fran... ce couldn’t possibly fail to buy even one trinket.”
“Heh heh... y-yes, quite right.”
—Yeah, we don’t need to do that anyway; we can get it without.
The count could read the ambassador’s inner thoughts without hearing them aloud.
Great Britain had been Austria’s ally in the last war and was positively discussing the Pragmatic Sanction to legitimize female succession.
It wasn’t fully agreed yet, but once the interests were settled, an alliance was imminent—unlike France’s situation.
When Franz actually started selling platinum jewelry, Great Britain would inevitably rank ahead of France.
No way Robinson missed the count’s ploy to pull England in and jump the queue.
He casually glanced around, pretending nonchalance, but found no suitable partners.
Spain went without saying, and Elector Karl Albrecht, who had attended in person, had approved the Pragmatic Sanction just recently.
Karl had been subtly wandering, boasting of his foresight.
“...Hahaha! I’d already heard that our dear Franz was preparing something. That’s why I, as an elector, came in person.”
No telling when he’d started using “our,” but France seemed utterly isolated here.
Even Brandenburg was leaning toward agreeing to the Pragmatic Sanction, and they were a military-obsessed nation—strong army fanatics who’d remain poor for it.
They’d likely scorn expensive trinkets as extravagance.
But France was different.
If other kings drooled over the jewelry, France’s king had every right to possess it.
Returning empty-handed would scream ambassadorial failure.
These worthless informants. How did they miss this?
The count even suspected his local spies were withholding info to sabotage him.
Still, he couldn’t just sit idle—he’d have to beg Franz for a promise if needed...
Then.
The door burst open as Franz returned.
Bavaria’s Elector Albrecht, mid-boast, swiftly approached him, acting chummy.
“Haha, Franz! All preparations complete?”
“Yes. Fortunately, we can produce enough bracelets, necklaces, and rings for this year’s needs.”
“As His Majesty said, you plan to sell only to kings first?”
“Seems that way. Even supplying just the royals, deliveries might still be delayed.”
“Ahem, then... is it impossible for my turn to come?”
Franz smiled warmly at the Bavarian elector.
“How could it be? Didn’t Your Electoral Highness say last time we should help each other in tough times? For someone like you, I’d cut sleep to make one extra.”
“Oho! Indeed! My eye for people is impeccable. Hahaha!”
“Here, my exclusive craftsman Johann Kessler will craft the finest piece for Your Electoral Highness.”
“Ah! So this is the legendary artisan who turned impossible platinum into jewelry no one else dared dream of?”
Earlier, no one had spare attention, but now everyone’s eyes locked on Johann.
“Alright, Johann, I’m off to see Theresia. Explain to these honored guests how to order and when deliveries will arrive.”
“...M-me, Your Highness?”
“Of course you. You’re the one making them.”
Franz left those words and departed.
As the door shut, ambassadors and nobles rushed to Johann.
When had a mere jeweler ever faced such fervent pursuit from the world’s powers?
“W-well then... allow me to explain. First, the current stock prepared is...”
A thrill he’d never known surged through him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Franz~!”
“There you are.”
Theresia, waiting in the banquet hall’s side room, trotted over and clung to my side the moment she saw me.
Her adorable eyes sparkled at the necklace and bracelet I’d given her, her smile unending.
“Glad you like them so much.”
“I love them so, so much. Best gift ever, better than all my others combined.”
“Hearing that makes me proud too. Thank you.”
This event was extravagantly grand.
Today’s happenings would surely fill a page in history.
But more than that, knowing Theresia was one of the stars filled me with unmatched pride.
Well, that had been the plan at first, but seeing her genuine joy now made such calculations irrelevant.
Your happy face alone is enough for me.
Thinking back, it was the same in my past life.
When I returned to Vienna as Duke of Lorraine, I was captivated by how much she’d grown.
Even trivial chats and silly jokes kept her laughing nonstop.
That deep love let me abandon my family’s inherited lands for marriage.
Yet even that love wore down against reality’s walls. Over time, flaws overshadowed virtues.
Now, I felt those pure emotions almost daily.
Even awkward thanks now came naturally.
“Franz, Franz! Look at this. How can the color be so beautifully vivid?”
Her voice snapped me from reverie. She was still entranced by the bracelet, beaming happily.
“I should be the one thanking you... Will you give me another gift next year too, Franz?”
“Of course, if His Majesty permits.”
“Ahem, you’ve given me a bracelet and necklace, so next is something else, right?”
Her gaze drifted to her fingers; she fidgeted with her left ring finger.
“As I said before, a ring...”
“Did you know? I looked it up—church law allows marriage from age 12.”
“True, but consensus now says that’s too young; usually 14 or later.”
Honestly, even 14 felt young to me.
My modern life made 14 compute instantly as middle school sophomore or junior.
Unfazed by such concerns, she murmured and flexed her fingers.
“Three years... five years... hmm...”
Then.
“Your Highness Theresia, His Majesty summons you.”
The page’s voice turned her head.
“Father does?”
“Yes, immediately.”
“Mm, no helping it. Franz~ Let’s finish this talk when I return.”
She caressed the bracelet like a treasure, then rose gracefully.
Her cheerful wave as she left overlaid with memories of her shoving a pen at me, demanding a signature for inevitable marriage.
No matter how much she grew, Theresia was always Theresia.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, after sending Theresia off, I strolled the palace carefree, product launch a success.
The artisans’ loyalty to me must be at its peak now, and since I’d shown my face, Britain or France might attempt a kidnapping.
But their “secrets” miss the crucial part, and with covert guards assuming abduction risks, any real attempt would be welcome.
I could leverage it diplomatically for pressure.
“Limiting initial supply and jacking prices—no one will complain. Maybe run it like an auction.”
With free ore as raw material, pure profit margins were unimaginable; I struggled not to laugh.
Like my past life, I thrived most raking in cash.
“...Hm?”
Wandering the gardens, a bizarre sight caught my eye.
Utterly out of place, impossible to miss.
“...Friedrich?”
The potato monster from earlier introductions stared at the flowerbeds.
Searching for potato flowers? Absurd thought—then his eyes met mine.
He hastily straightened his clothes and glanced around.
“Prince Franz! You’re finally... no, good to see you again. The pages left, so I was bored and touring the garden... definitely not admiring the pretty flowers.”
No one asked, yet he defended like a guilty man.
“Nothing wrong with flower-gazing. Why not sit and enjoy comfortably?”
“Pardon? No... the pages will return soon.”
I’d sensed it earlier, but was this really the Friedrich I knew?
War, military, strong nation, education.
A rationalist pursuing practicalities—yet as a boy, so emotionally charged?
I recalled modern wiki: abused near-violently by his father, beaten for “unmanly” acts.
I’d half-doubted then; seeing living proof now stirred mixed feelings.
“Talking with me keeps pages at bay nearby. If worried about repercussions, say I suggested chatting here.”
“N-no, it’s not that...”
“Then, grant me the chance to boast of Hofburg Palace’s splendid gardens? Few in Europe match it.”
I sat first; he hesitated, then pulled a chair beside me.
Cautiously gauging my mood, he spoke.
“That... presentation earlier was impressive. White gold—I never imagined such a thing.”
“Thank you. Honestly, I was nervous inside; glad it went smoothly.”
“Didn’t show at all. Impressive.”
Who’d guess this Friedrich eyed the platinum?
I stared silently; he scratched his head sheepishly.
“Hoo...”
Deep breath.
Hard topic ahead?
“Hoo... hooooo...”
More breaths, steadying.
“Hoo... haa... haaaaa.”
Six... seven... eight.
“Hng... sss. Haa.”
...How long?
Just as I wished he’d get to it, his heavy mouth opened.
“Actually... I have an older sister.”
“...I see.”
“She’s truly kind. I’m here only because she desperately convinced Father. He doesn’t trust me much...”
“She must adore Your Highness greatly.”
“Yes! Considering all she’s done, no repayment suffices. So this time, I want to give her something... but... the platinum jewelry must be... very expensive, right?”
Now I understood why he’d lit up and rushed over.
Gift platinum to his hardworking sister.
That pure motive had him waiting endlessly here.
From his downcast eyes flowed undeniable family love.
Beneath the hulking monster mask lurked no fearsome demon lord or iron strategist—just profound humanity.
At the future great king’s heartfelt words, I quietly closed my eyes.