Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 031
Chapter Title: Imperial Diet (4)
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As the applause echoing through the chamber began to fade, the electors and the princes' representatives rose from their seats in small groups, congratulating each other on their achievements and exchanging greetings.
I, too, slowly stood up, a smile playing on my lips as I surveyed the assembly hall.
This agenda had been led entirely by the electors, and I had merely clapped in support, showing respect for the Diet's decision.
In truth, the eyes of the princes and representatives who brushed past me with greetings were filled only with friendly regard.
"Your Highness Franz, you have our thanks for your efforts."
"Not at all. If anything, I feel apologetic that so many of you came all this way on my account."
"Nonsense. Seeing the fiancée of the Archduchess show such respect for the Imperial Diet puts us all at ease. Ha ha ha!"
Of course, of course. The man most likely to become the next emperor had rushed all the way to Regensburg at the Diet's summons.
Not only had he granted every demand from the princes.
He hadn't raised a single objection, not even once.
After showing such docility, it would have been stranger if they hadn't welcomed him.
Once I'd finished greeting everyone, the electors finally approached me last, their faces beaming with satisfaction.
The Palatine Elector Karl Philipp III was the first, smiling as he spoke.
Unlike the sharp gaze he'd fixed on me the day before, he now offered a gentle smile and patted my shoulder lightly.
"Thanks to you, things went smoothly. I look forward to working with you in the future."
"I'm the one who should be grateful. Without Your Highness stepping forward, I could have done nothing."
"Your Highness's humility only makes the future all the more promising. It's a pity we won't get to see the French twist their faces in dismay firsthand."
I bowed my head humbly in response, and the Palatine Elector smiled contentedly once more.
They say that as people age, they care less about money and more about power and honor.
The Palatine Elector seemed far more drawn to the prestige of wresting the French glass industry away than to the profits themselves.
This time, Albrecht of Bavaria approached, playfully tapping my arm with a grin.
"You've laid the board so perfectly—now we expect results."
"You'll reap rewards beyond your expectations. I promise."
"Exactly! That's why I like you, Your Highness. Ha ha ha!"
Albrecht clapped me on the shoulder with a hearty laugh, then turned his gaze toward the Saxon Elector August II and the others in the chamber.
And at that moment, Friedrich, who had quietly drawn near, offered the three electors a proper, respectful bow.
"I was impressed by the keen insight the three of you displayed in today's proceedings. Thanks to you, I gained much valuable knowledge myself."
"Oh ho, the young heir of Brandenburg is so composed and resolute—His Highness Wilhelm must be pleased."
"Indeed. Brandenburg's future shines bright, Your Highness Friedrich."
One moment he seemed like an emotional adolescent boy, the next he exuded mature poise.
Of course, if Friedrich displayed such strength, it was nothing but good for me.
It created a stark contrast with my own mild-mannered, easygoing image.
"Thank you. I'm still lacking, but I intend to strive harder. To make the country as strong as my father has, I have much to learn."
"Ho ho, effort is good, but rest is important too at times."
What, no reaction like, "You're pushing the strong army path even further—"? Friedrich simply ignored it.
After this brief exchange of greetings and subtle sparring, we naturally parted from the electors and exited the assembly hall.
"If Brandenburg grows even stronger..."
"But they're still young, aren't they?"
By the time those distant murmurs fully died away,
I walked the long corridor with Friedrich and quietly opened my mouth.
"Your Highness Friedrich, thank you truly for your support this time. Brandenburg's endorsement made everything go much more smoothly."
"I merely followed through on our prior discussion. As expected of Your Highness—the situation unfolded exactly as you predicted."
Friedrich let slip a meaningful remark with a smirk.
"I hope we can continue cooperating closely and maintaining our good relations."
"Naturally. This matter was just the start—think of all we can achieve together going forward."
If history followed its original course, Prussia and Austria would inevitably clash over dominance in the Empire, but wasn't there a better way than mutual self-destruction?
Simply turn Prussia's blade away from Austria and toward elsewhere.
I shrugged and reminded him of yesterday's agreement once more.
"By the way, you'll explain that matter we discussed to your father properly, right?"
"Of course. He'll be delighted."
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in Friedrich's reply.
The reason he'd unhesitatingly thrown conditional support behind the trio of electors' agenda?
I'd already dangled an enticing bait before him—one even the King of Prussia couldn't ignore.
In the coming War of the Polish Succession, allies would be key.
We could pull Russia into Poland's orbit, but in Western Europe, Austria might face a pincer from France and Sardinia alone.
No matter how many bullets you have, they're useless without soldiers to fire them.
But what if we arranged for Prussia's army to serve as mercenaries?
Prussia was a bit distant from France now, but with our help, they could certainly hobble the French. Sardinia? Austria could handle them alone with ease.
"If anything concerns your father, feel free to add any explanations—I leave it to you."
"From my view, it scratches Prussia's itch perfectly. No issues; just wait at ease."
We exchanged a brief nod and left the assembly hall.
I bid him farewell with a very 21st-century Korean "Let's grab a meal sometime," then parted ways.
At the end of the corridor, Theresia, who had been waiting, spotted me approaching and ran over with a radiant smile.
"Franz! You did amazingly—great job!"
"Weren't you bored waiting? You could have waited at the residence."
"No way! Of course I had to wait. Besides, I chatted with the other noble ladies while I was here."
She puffed out her chest proudly, as if demanding praise, and nodded vigorously.
"Oh, really? What did you talk about?"
"Mostly how tough the journey here must have been. I told them it was no trouble at all with you by my side! They said I was so young yet so diligent—such a good girl."
She clutched her eagle doll tightly in one hand, beaming and shrugging as if she'd received a medal.
Who could resist a friendly response to such angelic words from that face?
By tonight or tomorrow, Theresia would surely be a dinner topic among the princes.
No matter how cold the political arena, people are emotional creatures in the end.
These little things accumulate, impossible to ignore.
I'd bitterly learned in my past life how such intangible human sentiments could sway wars.
"Good work. Thanks to you, the next steps will be smoother."
"Reeeally? Then, as a reward for my praise... could you buy me one more souvenir~?"
I nodded, and Theresia let out a delighted "Waaah!" before catching herself with a cough and stepping gracefully to my side.
Still clinging to that elegant noblewoman persona, huh?
I walked beside her at a very leisurely pace, matching her small steps as she tried to move with poise.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The decisions from this Imperial Diet were far from insignificant.
The electoral states had banded together to challenge monopolies held by France and Venice.
That alone was enough to pique the interest of gossips, and reports of reactions from other territories were pouring into Vienna.
On top of that, the Spanish-English war that had kept Europe on edge was about to reveal its true form.
Anyone perceptive would sense the times of upheaval drawing near rapidly.
And in such times, the nation that moved a step ahead could seize the high ground when events erupted.
The moment I returned to Vienna, I convened a three-way meeting not just with Charles VI, but also Prince Eugene.
To discuss not the present, but the next ten years.
"We must invest in nurturing talent? Does that mean our current state is insufficient?"
"Far from it. I simply mean we should redouble our efforts beyond what we do now."
Austria wasn't short on talent by any means, but it wasn't wrong to say we were in a talent gap.
Among the youth currently rising, there were several who would one day support Theresia and me—the best in Europe across war, diplomacy, and administration.
Diamonds that wouldn't lose to anyone. To claim a talent shortage would be absurd.
But they were all in their early twenties to late teens, unaware of their own gifts.
Conversely, the current ministers who should lead were, bluntly put, not entirely reliable compared to these youngsters.
Eugene was there, but he was a veteran long past retirement age.
The very fact he hadn't fully stepped back proved Austria's mid-tier wasn't robust.
Still, hammering facts too hard would just hurt feelings, so persuasion needed tact.
"Your Majesty is surrounded by the Empire's finest, but the young who will succeed them remain unknowns. If the court supports them, we can draw out their abilities better and heighten their loyalty."
"A fair point. The aged move more by profit than loyalty."
Even today, they say once you're a working adult, it's hard to form pure friendships like in school, no matter who you meet.
This era was no different.
Once you have a family and territory to shoulder, pure person-to-person bonds become nearly impossible.
"So, first, how about the court establishes an academy to train officers? Systematically educating talented youth would supply the army far more efficiently."
"An officer academy..."
"Opinions might divide on the first director, but with Prince Eugene here, that's no issue. If Your Highness accepts, no one would oppose."
"Ho ho... Raising future military leaders does sound rewarding."
In fact, after her crushing defeat by Friedrich in the Austrian Succession, the first thing Theresia did was found an officer academy.
Around 1751, I think—and it was still thriving when I reincarnated in the modern era.
Having watched her trials firsthand, I could shortcut those errors dramatically.
Eugene showed keen interest in the honorary role, and the Emperor seemed amenable, save one concern.
"However, such an institution would require substantial funds, and I'm unsure about allocating a separate budget."
"No problem."
"No problem? You may not realize, but budgets are..."
"I'll invest."
Honestly, for instilling loyalty in officers, the court should run it directly.
External influence makes fiery speeches like "You are the Emperor's chosen heroes—slay his foes as his sword!" harder.
For the future, all academies must fall under direct court control.
"So no need for a separate budget right away."
"Yes. Nor in the future, I assure you."
"...Where should we build it?"
As expected of my father-in-law. With lightning-quick pivots, I smiled and pointed to a spot on the map.
"Here—Wiener Neustadt seems ideal."
"Eugene, your thoughts?"
"Excellent. Close to Vienna, suitable for drills, a strategic military hub with strong symbolism. Hard to find better."
"Then discuss details, draft a plan, and bring it. If no snags, I'll issue the decree at once."
With approval in hand, I immediately asked for a private word with Eugene.
"Your Highness, on the talent nurturing—could you offer special training even before the academy's founded?"
"Special training...?"
"I've got a top prospect in mind. Thought you might meet him—you probably know of him already."
With Friedrich showing monstrous potential beyond his past life, we needed counters for the worst case.
"Leopold Joseph, son of Count Philipp von Daun, who fought beside you at the Siege of Turin."
"The count's son—a prodigy with great martial talent, I've heard..."
"Yes. Perfect as your disciple."
He'd stand toe-to-toe with Friedrich in the Seven Years' War, becoming Austria's top army commander. No lack as Eugene's protégé.
Not just future Field Marshal Leopold Joseph—we'd gather next-gen talents in diplomacy and administration early, unleashing their potential.
Their loyalty's direction? Naturally to me, next Emperor, and Theresia, Habsburg heiress.
Under Charles VI's shadow, Franz I's Holy Roman Empire quietly began to stir.