The Emperor's Duty
Lately, watching Sisi has made me feel relieved.
The empress, who usually stays out of politics, had been participating so much that it even sparked talk among the nobles.
'It's good to see her showing her old self after so long.'
I know compromise with Hungary is important, but I never imagined Sisi would oppose it so strongly.
Why did Sisi oppose it...?
Yesterday, a free-spirited dreamer; today, a wise politician.
Didn't she treat Hungary's Magyars more like family than Vienna's nobles?
Why?
That playful, carefree spirit is still the Sisi I love.
I still can't quite read her heart.
"Your Majesty, a telegram from Vienna."
From Vienna?
"Read it."
"A republican revolution has broken out in southern Italy."
A republican revolution... So Garibaldi has finally betrayed Savoy.
How should we exploit this chaos?
The longer the turmoil in Sardinia drags on, the safer the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia becomes.
But if Garibaldi stabilizes the Two Sicilies, Italy's republicans might rise in rebellion.
Good in the short term, bad in the long term.
The flames of revolution won't burn out after just scorching Sardinia.
The French Revolution was like that, the July Revolution, the February Revolution too.
'The root of all evil lies here.'
"Grüne, seek Napoleon's permission to return first."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Franz Joseph and I returned to Vienna right away.
"See you later, then."
I can't say it didn't feel disappointing. I didn't even get to buy souvenirs in Paris.
As I headed to my room, I calmly sorted through my thoughts.
For now, rest until Franz Joseph makes a decision.
He's probably already gathering the military and the foreign minister by now, so I should stay with the children for the time being.
Let's see, the time... It's Rudolf's lesson time.
"I need to observe the crown prince's lessons."
I headed straight to where Rudolf's class was held.
Thanks to the incident last time, it had been moved from a remote spot to somewhere servants came and went frequently, so it wasn't far.
I signaled the guard at the door to stay quiet and slipped inside carefully.
Rudolf stood ramrod straight beside his desk, while across from him, Count Latour slowly moved a piece on the map with his gloved hand.
I gave Latour the same gesture to continue the lesson.
"The Kingdom of Sardinia is concentrating its forces in the north. If the republicans use that gap to spread to the central cities, what response should the empire take?"
Turning a current event into a lesson right away.
"First, we need to reposition the forces in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. Strengthen the border defenses before the rebellion moves north."
"And externally?"
"I think we should attempt diplomatic contact with the Papal States."
"If you pursue diplomacy with the Papal States, how will you treat France?"
"Under the pretext of joint protection... because the republican revolution threatens both the Papal States and France..."
Rudolf answered in an uncertain voice.
Well, France is the one that helped complete Italian unification, after all.
"Couldn't that revive Sardinia's momentum?"
Rudolf just moved his lips at Latour's question.
No clear answer, right?
That's why your dad's head hurts.
"...It's hard to fully trust France."
Rudolf squeezed out the words.
"Correct, Your Highness. France stations troops in Rome under the pretext of protecting the Papacy, but it is also Sardinia's patron. That means French public opinion is divided.
"Divided?"
"Yes, it's a power struggle between nationalists who want unification and Catholics. The French emperor can't side with either."
It seemed like Latour was saying you can't trust a nation that can't sort itself out internally, but I wondered if Rudolf could grasp that.
It was heartbreaking that reality forced a child to understand the state first, but that was the natural duty given to the crown prince.
'Even amid such duties, I have to make sure Rudolf doesn't lose his humanity.'
As Rudolf pondered deeply, Latour spoke.
"We'll end today's lesson here. No homework today, but next class, let's discuss France's diplomatic relations with Your Highness."
Rudolf glanced at his watch, puzzled by the early end, and spotted me.
"M-Mother... Your Majesty the Empress!"
Pfft, just call me Mom.
Still, he's trying to keep up appearances in front of his teacher.
"I greet Your Majesty the Empress."
"Captain Latour, thank you for your efforts."
Once Latour had withdrawn, I asked Rudolf,
"Want to play with Mom after so long?"
"Can I?"
I nodded with a smile.
"Of course. What do you want to do with Mom?"
"Tell me about the Paris Exposition!"
The Paris Exposition, huh.
"Where should I start?"
"Um—"
I stroked Rudolf's head.
"We have plenty of time, so tell me the place you want to hear about first."
"I don't know. Can you tell me about the things you found amazing, Mom?"
Amazing things... I rummaged through my memories for a moment.
Krupp's steel cannon? That's Franz Joseph's taste. Egypt and the Ottomans were fun for me, but not amazing. The elevator should work.
"There was a room that rose into the sky."
"A room into the sky?"
Léon Éduard... or something? I can't recall the exact name.
"They say it's a technology that uses hydraulic pressure to carry people up instead of stairs."
"Instead of stairs?"
"Yeah. You just stand still, and the water's power lifts you right up. Like a fairy casting a spell."
"How about installing one in Grandma's room?"
"For Grandma?"
"She goes up and down the stairs leaning on her cane these days."
I'd talked to Franz Joseph about moving her to a ground-floor room.
She says it's fine with the maids supporting her, but it's still worrying.
If we install an elevator for Rudolf's sake, even that strict mother-in-law might yield once.
"I'll ask Dad for you."
I pinched Rudolf's cheek lightly.
"Our crown prince knows to think of people first. The subjects will love that."
"Really...?"
"Of course. Technology is made to make people's lives easier."
That's where we differ from Prussia.
"Dad even ordered research on dynamite to see his Galician subjects more often."
"For the subjects..."
It might be too much for Rudolf now, but I met his eyes.
"Rudolf, but technological progress isn't always beneficial. For example, I just mentioned dynamite, right?"
"Yes."
"Dad researches it to reach the empire's subjects, but someone else might use it for war."
"War?"
"So the crown prince must always see both sides. One: how much it benefits us. The other: how much harm it can do."
He needs to learn to think from multiple angles now, or he won't end up like unlucky Wilson later.
If Rudolf grows up and fights with Franz Joseph, I couldn't take either side.
"Is that why Dad always listens to so many voices?"
"Exactly. People tend to prioritize what they want to see."
"...Mom."
"Yes?"
"Am I lacking?"
I hugged the self-blaming Rudolf.
"No. Mom learned this at sixteen. People expect so much because our Rudolf is smart."
"Really?"
"Yes. You're only nine and already worrying about the empire's future. Do you know how amazing that is?"
Rudolf bit his lip slightly.
"But I couldn't answer properly in front of the teacher."
I stroked his cheek.
"That's not a lack. Admitting what you don't know honestly is far braver. A true emperor isn't someone who knows everything, but someone who asks about what he doesn't know and learns. Your father does the same."
Rudolf's eyes brightened a bit.
"Dad doesn't know everything either?"
"Of course. That's why he listens to so many voices. You can do the same. Mom will be right here."
I patted Rudolf, reminiscing about the past.
What was I doing at Rudolf's age?
Hating lessons, hanging out with friends, gaming, playing soccer at lunch? Getting scolded by Mom for unfinished workbooks, skipping math academy and getting scolded, buying snacks instead of books and getting scolded by Dad...
"...Our Rudolf is better than Mom was."
At ten, I was wondering what to play tomorrow, not burdened with grand worries like Italian unification or the French emperor's schemes.