The Fiancé Shield
The harsh punishment for the Spanish succession mattered because of France's trauma. France still feared a two-front war like in Charles V's time, and Eugénie's homeland was Spain. For one empire's empress to have her family fall under a hostile dynasty? France's prestige wouldn't stand for it.
"Wasn't it settled?"
I thought the Hohenzollerns had given up. So the great powers assumed mediation was over.
No, not quite.
I shook my head.
Hold on.
We definitely ended in a draw, right...?
So why did they think Bavaria would join in?
"Königseck, bring me the Piefke papers."
Bismarck would've played the nationalism card again, no doubt. I couldn't just ask Otto or Ludwig, "Hey, did you Prussians sign a defense pact?"...
Sophie, pale-faced, glanced anxiously between Otto and me as she approached.
"Mommy."
Only cute when she needs something.
"Sophie, you like him that much?"
Sophie's cheeks flushed tomato-red as she bowed her head. I'd never blushed like that in front of Joseph. She took after her dad completely—love ignites fast for her.
"Don't worry, Mommy'll talk to Daddy about it."
I'll chat with Ludwig too.
*
The next day, I checked the papers Königseck brought.
That crazy old geezer.
The articles were slyly edited. The French ambassador acted rudely, and a furious Wilhelm I kicked him out unceremoniously. They'd sliced the context and left only provocative words... Even born in the 21st century, he'd never starve.
The puzzle of why Bavaria seemed ready to join snapped perfectly into place. Whether there's a defense pact or not doesn't matter anymore. It's devolved into a German vs. French ethnic grudge match.
In this mad forge of nationalism, if German-speaking Bavaria tries to pull out with "We'll stay neutral"? Even for Bavaria dreaming of a third Germany, their voice weakens, leaving them one choice.
Joseph will at least try to hold the line at neutrality.
Nicely played, Bismarck.
But whether you invoke the German peoples or not, I won't send my daughter's fiancé to be cannon fodder on the battlefield.
Good idea, good idea... Ah!
"Königseck, send telegrams to Vienna and Munich. Content: discussions of engagement between Prince Otto and Archduchess Sophie Friederike."
Oh, one more thing.
"If Ludwig refuses, say he's still upset about the broken engagement with the Duchess of Alençon."
"Right away, Your Majesty."
As Königseck left the study, I hummed a little tune.
No barbaric nation sends an engaged prince to the front lines as bait. Especially if his fiancée is none other than the eldest daughter of the Austrian Empire, the Habsburgs?
Plus, Ludwig's a pacifist romantic. He loathes war; no way he'd push his brother Otto into the meat grinder.
"Hunyadi, fetch Prince Otto and Sophie."
Soon, the two entered the study, faces tense.
"Prince Otto."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Even his voice trembled faintly. Probably fretting when he'd be summoned to Munich and dragged to the front.
"Marry Sophie."
"...Pardon?"
What do you mean, pardon?
"I've already wired both Bavaria and Austria about Prince Otto and Archduchess Sophie's engagement."
Otto blinked, uncomprehending, while Sophie froze, hands over her mouth.
"Not marriage right away. Just the engagement."
In these fast-shifting times, royal breakups aren't a big deal.
Otto clenched his fists.
"I don't want Archduchess Sophie using me as a shield to save me."
Oh, pure Bavarian blood. Like his brother Ludwig, he's got that pointless noble romanticism.
Honestly, if it were me, I'd bow and say thanks.
"An engagement before heading to the front should be fine."
It's convention not to send them. Whether Ludwig and Joseph actually would is another story.
"Sophie, wait outside a moment."
"Mom."
Only calls for Mom when she needs to.
"I'm not scolding. Just go."
Sophie glanced worriedly at Otto and left.
Alone with him, I told Otto:
"Prince Otto, war no longer holds the romance of the Napoleonic era."
Back then, battle dead were mostly intact.
Though I think I saw cannon-blasted corpses in my memories...
Even I feel nauseous recalling it sometimes. And field hospitals for survivors were hell. Shrapnel, amputations, internal bleeding, burns... Records alone are brutal. Actual battlefield corpses? Unimaginable.
"Shells come from nowhere, and the thunder never stops, I hear."
"Your Majesty, as a prince of Bavaria..."
"Fear isn't shameful. Nor cowardice."
Glorious death? Medals? Devotion to country? Rulers hate war too. No war's ever certain.
"Even His Majesty never boasts of his own exploits to me."
Joseph only shares one tale: Radetzky's. He never speaks easily of wars he fought.
"Otto, I want my daughter happy."
Even in a political marriage, I want Sophie happy.
"...First time I've heard that."
Otto continued hoarsely.
"War is glory, sacrifice for country, a prince's inescapable fate. Father, brother, even courtiers... all say so."
I'd said it too. To Italians, Bohemians, our Germans and Hungarians.
Seems hypocritical... It is hypocrisy. War forces choices.
For my family, I can be plenty selfish.
"...Won't it look cowardly?"
Hm...
"Queen Victoria lives as a person before queen. A mere prince can prioritize self a bit more."
"...Your Majesty."
"Only those who know fear can show true courage. Use Bavaria's dignity to protect loved ones, not on the field."
I gently patted Otto's hand as he fought tears.
The door opened; Sophie returned.
Ugh, it hurts my heart.
Feels like yesterday I was teaching her German. They've known each other a day... Sigh.
*
Back in Vienna, Joseph visited me in the bedroom.
"Why the pout?"
"When did I pout?"
I avoided his gaze, brushing my hair at the mirror.
Joseph kissed my cheek lightly. His reflection showed fatigue, but less rigid than at the war news—relief.
"Reply from Ludwig. Officially accepts Otto and Sophie's engagement. Bavaria will outwardly join Prussia's war but keep Otto in Munich for safety."
"That's all?"
"Bismarck snapped his cigar hearing it."
Joseph took the brush gently, combing my hair slowly.
"Yet my empress, who should be overjoyed like she owns the world, sulks with pursed lips. Worried I'll be mad you acted without consulting?"
"When have I ever minded you?"
I glared at his mirror image.
"It's Sophie."
"What's wrong with Sophie?"
"How did I raise her."
Already clinging more to some outsider than Mom. Hurt swelled.
Joseph burst out laughing at my grumbling.
Laughing?
"I proposed to you after one day, ruining Mother's plans. Can't help if she takes after me in love's speed. She's my daughter."
Good grief...
I huffed in disbelief.
"Bragging now?"
"What else? Proof my eye for the world's most beautiful woman in one day passed to Sophie."
Joseph smirked, stopped brushing, wrapped my shoulders softly, meeting eyes in the mirror.
I sighed faintly, covering his hand with mine.
"Still... glad you're not mad."
"Mad about what?"
"Engaged your heir without asking the emperor. Could irk Prussia."
"...Come to think, I am a bit mad."
What now?
"What're you planning?"
Joseph set the brush down.
"Yosha?"
Vision spun; my body floated.
"Eek! Wait, what're you doing!"
"Handing the empire's eldest to Bavaria without imperial permission? Grave crime."
Joseph strode, tossing me onto the bed.
"Confining you to the bedroom till morning."
This sly fox. Perfect excuse.
"...Too harsh a punishment?"
"Crimes against the dynasty are heavy."
I stopped resisting as his lips brushed my nape, pulling his neck close.
Tonight would burn as hot as world affairs.