1 Win, 99 Losses
Franz Joseph read the report intently.
Normally, he would have dismissed it as idle gossip, but the subject of the rumor was Sisi.
“Grüne, do you think this could be possible?”
“It's just a rumor, isn't it?”
Franz Joseph was at a loss for how to take this absurd rumor.
“If the Empress were truly plotting something, wouldn't she have saved Maximilian first?”
“The citizens of the New World aren't all that clever. Rumors are spreading that the Empress is overly interested in America alone and has already given up on him.”
'The Empress funded Lincoln's assassination, along with the American administrative leaders, with 500,000 gulden?'
It was more astonishing that this had made it to his desk with anyone taking it seriously.
“There's a baseless rumor circulating that the Empress's charitable cotton purchase to aid the people of Bohemia is linked to the Confederate forces.”
Joseph Lancaster Brent
This was the man Sisi had been introduced to through the Rothschilds.
“So it's the usual Jewish conspiracy theory, with the Empress thrown in for good measure.”
“It's a novel penned by third-rate American press to boost sales, but there are still those who take it seriously.”
With the war against Prussia fizzling out inconclusively, factions within the German Confederation anxious about losing influence were spreading these rumors.
'Our influence reaches all the way across the Atlantic to America!'
Most salons scoffed at it, but there were a rare few who bought into the nonsense as truth.
“Even in France, rumors swirled that the Empress was colluding with the American South. This must be an extension of that.”
Eugénie wasn't enough; now Sisi was in the crosshairs too.
'The rumors are so outlandish they're actually fueling more suspicion.'
Like the ridiculous Freemason nonsense.
Eugénie was connected to the Rothschilds through the Rosschild family, and Sisi had been introduced through the Rothschilds as well.
Franz Joseph saw no need to dignify such drivel with a response.
'Touching it would only create problems.'
Instead of engaging directly, to prevent any drop in the Empress's popularity, he smothered the rumor with another one.
“Tell Maximilian that this is his last chance.”
“Understood.”
Compiling intelligence from the American military advisory group and the embassy, Senator LaFayette Sabine Foster was pursuing a moderate policy but wouldn't be able to stop the Radical Reconstructionists.
Just as Franz Joseph himself hadn't been able to.
'The American South is headed the way of Hungary.'
Just as Hungary kept rebelling, the South might erupt in endless revolts.
And with Grant dead too, even their military command was in disarray.
America faced its greatest crisis since its founding.
Franz Joseph shook his head to clear thoughts of Maximilian.
Right now, America wasn't what mattered—Europe was.
'Prussia still thirsts for blood.'
He was working tirelessly to redirect Prussia's guns from Austria toward France.
All while striving to stabilize the Empire internally.
'If only I had two bodies...'
One to idle away carefree hours by Sisi's side, the other to bear the crushing workload. He was so exhausted he indulged in such fantasies.
'America might actually be better off than us.'
At least during Austria's tumultuous 1848 revolutions, the leadership had held the country together. With his thoughts on America sorted, Franz Joseph's concern returned to the malicious rumors about Sisi.
“Grüne, why has the Empress become the center of these rumors? Explain in detail.”
“500,000 gulden is negligible in national trade volumes, but astronomically huge for an individual—that's the issue. And Brent is allegedly involved with Northern cotton speculators.”
“Is there more I need to know?”
“What the Empress paid for the cotton was a bearer note guaranteed by the Rothschilds.”
“The Vienna salons are already buzzing that the Empress is in business. It's hardly unusual for the imperial household.”
“The problem is that the note was cashed in Montreal, Canada.”
Franz Joseph's brow furrowed.
Montreal was where Britain had sheltered Confederate spies.
The money Sisi had paid to feed Bohemia's starving people.
'Laundered through cotton as a commodity, only to end up as a bomb in the assassin's pocket?'
“A plausible conspiracy theory.”
“More plausible than it deserves to be.”
But both dismissed it as nonsense.
Sisi gained nothing from assassinating Lincoln, and Austria benefited little even if the Confederacy revived.
'Even now, post-war chaos is giving Egyptian cotton a windfall.'
And routing through Canada via the Rosschilds was only natural.
Now that Lincoln was dead, it was the Reconstruction era... or something?
Honestly, I had zero interest in American history up to World War I.
All I knew about Lincoln was that fake quote 'Don't believe everything you see on the internet' and that he'd pushed to end slavery before getting assassinated.
“What are you doing?”
What does it look like?
“Trying to talk some sense into your disobedient little brother.”
Judging by Franz Joseph's expression, he was thinking, Why am I getting scolded over my brother?
“Feeling wronged?”
If you felt that way, you shouldn't have allowed it.
Your mother basically said it was as good as your permission.
“...I didn't make him sign a formal renunciation of succession rights. If you gang up on me now saying I was too harsh, I have nothing to say.”
His tone said he was already sulking.
“Try saying it more sweetly. Say you're willing to restore his succession rights.”
“What would the nobles and subjects think if an emperor went back on his word?”
...Fair point.
From his brother's perspective, he'd want to reinstate the rights immediately, but as emperor, he couldn't make snap decisions.
“Even absolute monarchs couldn't casually renege on their words. In the end, Maximilian chose that path.”
“...True. Amid ongoing compromises, he couldn't just claim it was all a ruse.”
It would imply the emperor's decrees could shift with the winds.
“It'd be ideal if we could drag him back by force. But that would make other nations think we're eyeing Mexico again.”
“Is saving one Maximilian such a big deal? We're not even interested in colonies.”
Not when the Empire couldn't dream of overseas ventures right now.
“History's full of such precedents. Look no further than France and the Bonaparte revival.”
Ah...
Ugh, Maximilian outside, Hungary inside.
Why are both so stubborn and deaf to reason?
Does Maximilian have Hungarian blood or something?
“Finished?”
I stood, stretching.
“Yeah. Spar for old times' sake?”
When my head hurt, I needed to move my body.
“Don't come at me like last time.”
Franz Joseph said firmly.
That time, a surge of competitive fire got the better of me.
“I won't.”
If he hadn't swiftly withdrawn his blade, I'd have a glorious scar on my arm.
I picked up a lighter épée and donned my protective gear.
“A bit heavy.”
“Want me to buy you a lighter one?”
“Just out of practice with riding lately.”
Childbirth had sapped my muscles; I'd wielded this weight effortlessly before.
Franz Joseph and I faced off.
“Ready?”
“Always.”
I advanced lightly.
First strike was mine.
“What's Hungary so unhappy about?”
Franz Joseph parried and replied.
“Don't ask me. You know better.”
His riposte grazed my shoulder guard.
“Me? Hungary's like a first love.”
“First love?”
I reset my stance, waiting for his move.
“Hard to pin down the emotions yourself? It's trapped in fantasy.”
“...Who?”
“Don't say weird stuff.”
This time, Franz Joseph lunged first.
“Did you have a first love?”
I dodged and thrust at his chest first.
“Secret.”
I teased.
“Who?”
“Does it matter?”
“...No.”
“If it did, I'd tell you gladly.”
Even as his tone softened again.
I pretended not to notice Franz Joseph's feelings.
We traded blows relentlessly.
“Want me to favor Hungary more?”
Flèche, lunge.
“The current love matters more than the first.”
Contre-attaque, counter.
“Meaning prioritize Bohemia and Italy first.”
En garde, back to start.
“Hungary opposes elevating Bohemia's status.”
“Slavic nationalism, probably.”
If Austria favored Croats and Slovaks in Upper Hungary, Hungarian nobles would lose their privileges.
This time, I advanced first.
Allongé.
“What next after pampering Hungary?”
Franz Joseph twisted his wrist, deflecting my blade.
“Hand them economic privileges like Milan.”
So that's what he planned to do with my advice to favor bourgeoisie over nobles in Italy.
“Vienna alone can't check Hungarian nobles.”
Mal paré—Franz Joseph's mistake.
Was he recalling Hungarian backlash, or my mention of first love?
I didn't miss the opening, striking swiftly.
My épée tip hit his chest guard dead center.
'Then Italy's the only option left.'
“But Italy has issues too.”
The newest addition to the Empire.
Bohemia and Hungary hadn't gotten autonomy; Italy couldn't leapfrog them. The legal wife frets while the concubine gets favors first?
I finished with salut and handed my sword to the attendant.
“Already? We just started.”
...Warm-up took longer.
Franz Joseph removed his helmet, breathing heavily.
“Yosha.”
At my pet name, he lowered his épée with a smile.
“You're no match.”
1 win, 99 losses.
So let's call it quits.