The Empress's Diplomatic Quill
The Great Game lived up to its name—my head was spinning much clearer after a good night's sleep.
“How is your body, my empress?”
“I'm fine.”
It wasn't like I fainted on purpose, so what was the problem? Sure, my body was weak, but external factors played a bigger role.
“What if we use this chance to replace your ladies-in-waiting?”
“You, Your Majesty?”
Franz Joseph replacing the ladies Sophie had planted around me?
“Wouldn't it be better for you to have maids you truly get along with?”
“I'm okay as is.”
Most of them just followed orders anyway, so what did it matter?
Esterházy was strict, but she was nearing retirement anyway. To grasp the court's power dynamics, I'd have to meet and clash with people myself.
“I suppose you'd know if I left the room...”
But that would be such a hassle.
“Even so, Her Majesty the Dowager Empress has been helping a great deal.”
One reason Sophie couldn't just barge in was the Dowager Empress's presence.
Sophie was close to her like sisters, but naturally, a niece felt more lovable and endearing than a younger sibling—that was universal.
“But... are you really alright?”
Franz Joseph circled back to the issue I'd been dodging.
“It's because you keep fainting, isn't it?”
He nodded, but there was nothing I could tell him.
Did they have CT scans or MRIs here?
Something was wrong, obviously, but what?
“Ladies faint all the time too, don't they?”
He wasn't wrong—noblewomen collapsing at balls wasn't uncommon.
There were even newspaper articles calling it a social issue.
“The elderly might not know, but young ladies and I wear these tightly laced corsets all day.”
It could be a circulation issue from the sudden rush of blood. Or maybe...
I pointed to the gas lamp on the wall.
“Gas could have leaked out and made me faint. Especially since I'd just bathed—dizziness from that, plus leaking gas in a poorly ventilated room? It's very likely I passed out first.”
In fact, the doctor had prioritized ventilation right away.
To clear out the bad air, he'd said.
“Gas leaking can make people faint?”
“In bad luck, it could even kill. I always have company, but some subjects come to Vienna alone.”
Franz Joseph muttered about gas, apologized to me, and stepped out.
I caught words like winter and coal—something must have clicked for him.
Anyway, crisis averted.
“Your Majesty, what are your plans for today's schedule?”
Nothing special, so was he staying in the room?
“I saw a swing in the garden.”
“I'll help you prepare for going out.”
With that, Esterházy showed me a dress different from the usual.
“This is the one I showed you last time. Since the gas has weakened your vital energy, it would be best to wear something loose like this for now, to preserve your precious health.”
Oh, so no corset today.
She was keeping my pregnancy secret from the other maids to the end.
“He says it's the artistic dress trending in England lately. Remodeled from Renaissance styles to be comfortable for modern wear, without feeling outdated.”
Great—change clothes, swing time!
“Before that.”
...What now?
Esterházy nodded to a maid, and stationery and a quill appeared on the desk.
“You must write to Queen Victoria of England, Empress Eugénie of France, Queen Elisabeth of Prussia, and Empress Alexandra of Russia.”
Me?
“Exchanging letters among Europe's empresses and queens goes beyond mere greetings—it's a vital way to maintain close diplomatic ties and personal friendships.”
...But why me?
“Isn't politics a man's domain?”
That was Sophie's refrain for two months: politics belonged to men, so don't meddle in Franz Joseph's affairs. That's why I'd skirted it earlier.
Esterházy continued in her gentle but firm tone.
“Of course, attending cabinet meetings to debate treaties or declare war may be men's work. But what Your Majesty must do is no such rigid politics.”
She lightly brushed the stationery with her fingertips.
“The world of empresses and queens has its own language and bonds. Inquiring after children, sharing thoughts on new dresses, passing along court tidbits—true diplomacy hides in those lines.
Suppose Queen Victoria writes to Your Majesty, 'Our Edward is struggling with his Greek studies these days.' Would you see it as mere princely whining?”
No.
“It means Britain has designs on the Greek throne succession.”
Esterházy smiled in satisfaction.
“Exactly, Your Majesty. If Empress Eugénie writes, 'Paris winters are unusually harsh this year,' what then?”
France...
“A sign of serious unrest among the Paris populace?”
“Precisely, Your Majesty.”
She taught me how to hold the pen properly, then explained my role.
“From the tip of Your Majesty's pen flows Austria's grace, and a single greeting from you can soften prickly relations with Prussia. This is a vital duty only the Empress can—and must—perform.”
I stared at the stationery, lost in thought.
What to write? I'd have to meet them to know.
「Dear, Queen Victoria.」
“Your Majesty, writing to Queen Victoria in English is a fine choice. But...”
She swept away the paper and laid out a fresh sheet.
“For an official first letter, it must be in French. And for all recipients: 'To the lady, my sister and cousin (Madame, ma Sœur et Cousine).'”
Why was I their sister and cousin?
I'd gained some super-powered sisters I never knew about.
“Chief lady-in-waiting.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Don't just stand there—come closer.
When I said nothing, she dismissed the other maids.
“What is it?”
“...I need a French teacher.”
I knew English, German, Russian—but French? No clue.
Esterházy pondered, but no situations came to mind where I'd needed French before.
“I assumed Your Majesty knew, naturally...”
“Wasn't the original owner of this position my sister, Duchess Helene?”
I had no memory of empress training. Just sneaking off to my father Maximilian's room during lessons.
“I'll teach you.”
An empress not knowing French was shameful for the empire.
She started with words for the letter, pronunciation and meaning.
“Madame, ma sœur et cousine. Madame means lady...”
I finished announcing my marriage and accession, expressing respect for the sovereign and prayers for amity between our realms, all in florid French.
“And I have to do this three more times?”
“No. For unmarried male rulers, send to their mother or siblings.”
Keep a straight face, straight face.
“So how many more sheets?”
“I lied. Just write to those I mentioned. The rest wouldn't suit Your Majesty's station—wait for them to write first. If anyone complains, reply thus:
Sardinia-Piedmont is an enemy state, so no letter; for Bavaria, your mother-in-law Duchess Ludovika has already sent one.”
Thank goodness.
Hurry up and finish—swing time!
London, Buckingham Palace.
Victoria smiled faintly at the two letters.
“How amusing.”
“What is it, my dear?”
Albert asked Victoria, who held the letters.
“One from Archduchess Sophie, one from Empress Elisabeth.”
Power clashing within Austria.
“You'd side with the empress, wouldn't you?”
“Why think so?”
“Sophie stands against our interests.”
Simple math.
“Makes you wonder which side prompted Austria to withdraw its troops.”
To Britain, Austria's actions were an baffling mystery.
Abandoning crucial military pressure that could sway the war's course, without political explanation—it was diplomatically unprecedented.
“What political clout does the empress have to pull that off? Obviously Sophie, that woman, moved the strings.”
Judging the empress couldn't command armies, while real power Sophie surely intervened, was plain common sense.
Victoria rang for a footman, who brought paper and pen.
“Well, must send replies anyway.”
Meanwhile, Eugénie ignored both letters outright.
Emperor Napoleon III wanted to aid Italian unification, weaken Austria, and ally with Italy.
Conversely, the devout Catholic and politically conservative Eugénie's top concern was the Papal States' safety.
'Another fight with the emperor today.'
Clash between Napoleon, who must swallow the Papal States for full unification, and Eugénie.
But officially, she was France's empress.
Replying to Sophie might signal support for the status quo, clashing with her husband's Italian policy.
Silence to Sisi stemmed from preferring Austria weakened over stable.
Either way mismatched France's strategic gains.
St. Petersburg's Russia knew Sisi's moves exactly.
“Sophie couldn't have withdrawn the troops. The empress is the only answer.”
Nicholas knew how Sophie handled her son-like Franz Joseph.
'Franz, that young emperor's finally come to his senses. Nearly a traitor, but saved by his wise wife at the last moment. Smart man to have such a consort.'
“Send the empress a letter of utmost gratitude.”
Nicholas felt deep thanks to the empress who disbanded troops on collision's eve.
“Understood.”
Hmm, only two replies.
Russia and England.
England's was formal and neutral; Russia's grateful, suggesting a future meeting to talk.
“Hm, Prussia's queen is your aunt—why no letter there?”
My aunt too?
What the hell was my family?
“...Empress, she's your godmother.”
What?
“Same name too.”
What?
No such memory surfaced.
“I knew that.”
“I know your mouth twitches down when you lie.”
Really?
I absently touched my lip corner; Franz Joseph's mouth curved in amusement.
“Knew it—you didn't.”
I swiftly changed the subject.
“What now?”
Withdrawing troops was defying Sophie.
“Nothing for you to worry over.”
The map alone showed the Danube's vital importance.
From Moldavia to Bavaria, indispensable river for Austria.
“Joseph.”
Yielding it meant loss for him.
“Blame me.”
I just needed freedom of movement.
His hand overlaid my knuckles.
“The empress's responsibility is the emperor's.”
“Then Archduchess Sophie's is too.”
“Sisi, Mother always makes the right calls.”
“Who allies us if Russia isolates us?”
“England blocks Russia's southward push, their common foe with France.”
So England and France would help?
“Russia sows division among Slavs. Holding the Danube lets us blockade there too.”
“Joseph, England aided Greek independence. They're helping Italian unification. We're a multi-ethnic empire. Slavs are loyal to you.”
“Sisi, must we discuss this?”
Only then I saw his weary expression.
Ah.
I grabbed a pillow from the bed.
“Sisi? What are you doing?”
I moved to another room, dropping into a Hofknicks.
“Sleep with Archduchess Sophie, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
You jerk.
“You tell me to fulfill empress duties, but follow Mother's word on politics?”
Hmph, think I side with Hungary out of fondness? Everyone knows oppressors of minorities are Hungarians, not Austria—why don't Slavs follow you otherwise?
“Annoying.”