Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 022
Chapter Title: Family
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In the early dawn, as the new moon scattered a faint light over the clear dew.
Having woken from sleep, Theresia sat on the terrace, lost in thought.
"...Engagement."
Today, Charles VI had told her personally.
Franz had agreed to the engagement, so there would soon be an official announcement.
-He said he'd put in even more effort despite his shortcomings. Heh heh, I wonder just how much harder he plans to work.
She hadn't shown it around others, but from the first time she'd seen him, she'd simply liked Franz.
He was handsome, kind, and elegant.
But now, her feelings had grown incomparably larger than back then.
Her father still worried that she was too young to understand emotions between man and woman.
He was probably right. She just liked Franz so much, but if asked what love was, she couldn't answer.
Even after a year or two, it probably wouldn't change much.
Even then, Franz would still see her as a child, and she would surely be overwhelmed just trying to understand and keep up with what he taught her.
-My sisters are different from you, Lady Theresia.
Suddenly, Theresia recalled what he'd said to her last year.
If he saw her as different from his sisters, then what did he think of her?
Children are sensitive to affection around them.
Theresia knew well that Franz doted on her greatly.
But since it was a type unlike anyone else's, she couldn't quite pinpoint it.
Sometimes it felt similar to how her father, Charles VI, looked at her, but other times something was different.
It reminded her of the look in her father's eyes when he spoke of long-ago events from before she was born.
Not childish at all—he was truly mature beyond his years.
He knew the answer to any question and gave her advice more helpful than anyone else's, and lately he'd even gotten involved in platinum and glass businesses.
How much effort must he have put in?
Even if she studied desperately from now for nine years, she wondered if she could ever become like that.
She'd heard rumors in the palace that Franz was working so hard for her sake, as his future fiancée.
Of course, it always came with a line like, So the Archduchess must work hard too.
"The successor to the Habsburgs..."
Last year, the word hadn't felt real at all, but in the past few months, so many things had happened that she couldn't help but be aware of it.
Whenever she heard such talk around her, anxiety crept in unbidden.
The burden of leading a nation. The worry of what to do if she failed. The fear of being pointed at by other countries.
If overcoming all that was required to become the head of the Habsburgs, the path might be more arduous than she thought.
"...Why did it have to be me first?"
Theresia pursed her lips and puffed out her cheeks a little.
"If there had been a precedent, I might have felt more at ease."
In the long history of the Holy Roman Empire, she was told this would be the first time a woman inherited the house.
In the end, that meant no matter how well she did it a hundred times, one failure would invite comments like, The late Emperor should have had a son after all.
Even up until yesterday, thinking of such a future had made her chest tighten, but surprisingly now it didn't bother her at all.
She had woken at dawn not from anxiety, but from anticipation and excitement.
Theresia realized once more.
She had been anxious because there was no one to walk that frightening path with her.
With the person always by her side, smiling kindly, she feared nothing in the world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "His Majesty told me. Franz, are you in your right mind?"
Returning home after so long.
My homecoming, known across Europe as the young lord of platinum, was met with the family's warm welcome.
"Father, are you well?"
"I'm fine, but your mental health is in question. You didn't eat something bad in Vienna, did you?"
"Darling, that's too harsh on our son. Scold him with more dignity."
"Ahem, who was it that said right after hearing the engagement news that he'd turned out like this because we spoiled him too much?"
"W-When did I say that?"
"Brother! I get it! A man born as such should have that much ambition!"
I sat down with a bright smile amid the family's chaotic barrage of excited greetings.
"It's good to be back home after so long."
For them, it had been two or three years, but for me, it was a reunion after decades.
Unlike my younger brother Charles, whom I'd been close to even in my past life, or my mother, whom I'd continued to see even after becoming a duke, I hadn't even been at my father Duke Leopold's deathbed.
He hadn't passed from declining health, but from injuries sustained during a hunt.
So no matter what Father or Mother said, nothing could mar the maximum happiness in my heart.
"I know what you're both worried about. I have my reasons, so how about we eat and talk?"
"...Franz, what really happened in Vienna? You seem a bit different."
"Must be because it's been so long since I came home."
The saying goes that you can't spit on a smiling face. As I kept grinning, Father grumbled awkwardly, glancing at me repeatedly.
"Alright... let's talk first. As you know, I'm not against you marrying Archduchess Theresia. If I were, I wouldn't have sent you to Vienna in the first place."
"Of course I know."
"However, the process matters in all things. Given the ripples from our house uniting with the Habsburgs, it must be handled with utmost care."
My father, Duke Leopold, had grown up like brothers with the current Emperor Charles VI and his predecessor Joseph I since childhood.
Yet he hadn't sent me straight to the Habsburg court because, as he said, the impact of this union was no small matter.
"Because of France?"
"Yes. You're aware, then. But I don't understand why you'd announce the engagement knowing that. His Majesty wants to entrust you with court duties sooner, which also baffles me."
"Exactly as His Majesty said. I have so much to do. Better to have the fiancée title than be a total stranger."
"...The platinum jewelry?"
"That's one. Bohemian glass, Ostend Company, and more businesses planned ahead—not just one or two."
Father's knife, busily cutting food, came to an abrupt halt.
Not because he disliked my answer.
He simply couldn't comprehend it.
"That's exactly what I don't get. I know you're no fool... but how is this possible?"
Father, who had grown up in Vienna just like me in his youth, would understand better than anyone.
That the education nobles received there could never lead to this kind of growth.
But what could he do if he didn't understand? The results were right here before his eyes.
"Everyone has their aptitudes. This suited me. Even I'm surprised by how brilliantly the ideas came to me."
"It's absurd... Anyway, to you and His Majesty, these businesses outweigh ignoring France's backlash?"
"Yes. And France's backlash won't be that big. I've already laid the groundwork with their ambassador."
What France wanted clarified before my marriage to Theresia was solely ownership of this place, Lorraine.
Truth be told, if Lorraine went entirely to France, they might not oppose the wedding—they'd probably bless it sincerely.
Of course, ceding territory wasn't simple, and Father's face stiffened.
"...You're not coveting the imperial throne and planning to hand this duchy to France, are you?"
No matter how close to the Emperor, Father—who had devoted his youth to becoming duke here—or my naturally pro-French mother would never accept that.
In fact, in my past life, when Charles VI, facing defeat in the War of the Polish Succession, offered Lorraine to France in exchange for giving me the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Mother had opposed it fiercely.
The only supporter was my ambition-fueled brother Charles.
But there had been no choice; we'd handed it over grudgingly.
The current me had zero intention of handing over this strategic hub and massive iron ore deposits to France.
"As if. I'm just saying we're considering all options broadly, including that. An engagement is just an engagement—actual marriage is still far off."
"Franz, putting off urgent matters like that means nothing. The debt will come due someday."
"It will. But by then, I'll be able to handle it."
If the Habsburgs truly tried to swallow Lorraine whole, France's chance of all-out war approached 100%.
However, war would come regardless.
The unavoidable War of the Polish Succession.
As the Habsburg fiancée, I'd amass vast wealth and deploy all my knowledge to make Austria the victor.
Then France couldn't just demand Lorraine outright.
A sort of borrowing to repay with interest—but I had the knowledge and ability to make it real.
"Planning to expand the court's businesses and persuade France with money?"
"Something like that, but not quite."
Not persuade with money—beat them over the head with it.
"Hah... You used to whine about not even knowing German and how you'd survive in the palace, yet when did you become so bold?"
"Like I said, kids need to play in big waters."
"There you go again. You insisted German didn't matter at all, that French was enough."
"...I said that believing our brilliant son would learn it all quickly on purpose."
"No, when did you? To me, you clearly..."
Smiling warmly at my parents' childish bickering, I stood first.
"Then I'll go rest. Oh, and Father—be extra careful on hunts from now on. I hear nobles in Vienna have been seriously injured lately. Mother, you watch out too."
"Yes, our son really has grown up to worry like that."
"Of course. Stay healthy without a scratch until my wedding. Got it?"
They say you learn the value only after losing it once.
Just as my love for Theresia deepened after never seeing her again, reuniting with family I thought lost forever made even these trivial moments feel precious.
Father's gruff yet affectionate worries, Mother's love, the brotherly bond with my trailing sibling.
All those emotions shone in my heart like the beautiful starlight I'd gazed at from Vienna.
I wanted to give my family anything they desired, confident I could achieve anything for them.
As I returned to my room after so long, basking in that warm afterglow—
"Brother! Brother!"
My brother's urgent voice from the dining hall turned me around.
"What? Want to play chess since it's been ages?"
"No, no. That's good too, but I wanted to say I fully support your decision! A man has to aim for the top!"
"Yeah? Thanks for the support."
"Why so lukewarm? I'm serious. Didn't realize before, but you're my brother alright. The Archduchess is young, but so what? She's not staying nine forever. Wait it out—eight or nine years, whatever."
Was this encouragement or mocking me for getting engaged to a nine-year-old for advancement? Considering his personality... encouragement.
This kid had once turned Mother's stomach in my past life by saying we should give Lorraine to France for my marriage to Theresia.
"You followed me just to say that?"
"No. With you doing so well now, I need to step up too, right? Think about it—if you become Emperor later, you can't go to the battlefield yourself, so I'll go in your place and support you!"
"Uh..."
"So I'm thinking of taking military lessons starting now. What do you think? Good idea, huh?"
His words instantly flashed me back to his disastrous past-life record, like a montage.
Charles of Lorraine. After I married Theresia and fully became a Holy Roman man, known as Karl Alexander von Lorraine—my brother.
His brilliant achievements as a commander:
-Battle of Kesselsdorf: Crushed by Friedrich's mobile tactics—crushing defeat.
-Battle of Hohenfriedberg: Fallen for Friedrich's ambush—disastrous loss. Friedrich quipped, Charles is my finest subordinate general.
-Battles of Zorndorf, Hannesdorf: Despite numerical and terrain superiority, trapped by Friedrich's tactics—defeat.
-Battle of Leuthen: Despite over twice the troops, overwhelmed by Friedrich's divine maneuvers—epic rout.
At this point, while he's my brother, isn't the biggest blame on me and Theresia for blindly appointing him for family honor?
I'd resolved to fulfill every family wish just five minutes ago—but quick cancel.
Some realms you want to but must never touch.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, serious and firm.
"No. From what I see, you're better at administration than war. I'll introduce you to an excellent merchant who's becoming a court Jew—how about managing business with him?"
"Huh? But Brother, a man should at least..."
"No, no. Trust me, little brother. You're an administrative genius! Born for it!"
"Uh... uh... Really? I'm that good?"
"Yes! Chess proves it. Speaking of, let's play a game."
"Sh... shall we? This time I'll win."
Overpowered by momentum, Charles nodded dazedly, and I smiled warmly as we headed to my room together.
Unlike his string of military flops, as Governor-General of the Austrian Netherlands, he'd earned rave reviews—so this was no lie.
So stay far from battlefields, and walk only the administrative path from now on. My dear brother.