Did Maximilian Ruin My Concept?
Empress Elisabeth ⬛⬛ Did Maximilian break my concept?
Today's role was supposed to be the empress who adores artists, but did that sudden flirtation make me look like a scheming political empress for a moment?
For now, I had to keep talking to the next actor.
"Bauernfeld, the court theater's plays all repeat the same old stories these days. Aren't there any new plays trending in Vienna?"
I approached him first, recalling the brief explanation from Esterházy.
'Bauernfeld, unlike Archduke Maximilian, is a playwright influenced by English liberalism. During the Metternich regency council, he even received a court position for his sharp political instincts.'
"Well, I'd love to recommend a comedy to Your Majesty, but you've probably seen most of them. Are you interested in English literature?"
"Of course. I just read Frankenstein recently. Are there any similar novels?"
Frankenstein is classified as a Gothic novel. In the future, it'd be like pulp fiction or a web novel—nothing like Schiller or Goethe's works in Joseph's study.
Surface-level, I wanted to seem like a girl just enjoying thrilling ghost stories.
"I never imagined Your Majesty would read that novel."
He smiled.
"Walter Scott said of it, 'This novel is the product of an imagination too wild for ordinary people to accept, holding a blasphemously gloomy and dark view of nature and humanity.' What does Your Majesty think?"
I'm supposed to be a frivolous seventeen-year-old Bavarian girl eager for new art. But not just my allies are here—the Archduchess's eyes and ears are watching too.
"As I said at first, even Vienna these days lacks fresh works. Do you hope I'll patronize you, theater director?"
"Will you grant me the honor of Your Majesty's patronage?"
I extended my hand in response. Bauernfeld lightly kissed the back of my gloved hand, sealing the agreement.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Next was Rothschild.
Just wrap this up quick and rest in bed…
I slowly made my way toward him, exchanging a few words with those I passed.
"Baron Anselm von Rothschild. I'm delighted you came to my salon tonight. Countess Esterházy often speaks of you. She says the artworks in your mansion rival those in the palace."
"They can't compare to the imperial collection."
The baron replied with a polite smile that offered no opening.
"You're too modest, Baron. I've heard you're one of the biggest patrons in the art world."
Rothschild paused, eyeing me as if gauging my intentions.
He's the most exhausting one I've met so far.
If art won't work, what angle should I try…?
The frivolous waltz drifting from the empress's salon didn't reach here.
Sophie Archduchess's office was the polar opposite. Instead of red velvet armchairs, stiff Biedermeier chairs with straight backs lined the room.
The walls were adorned not with ornate Rococo decorations, but only stern portraits of the Virgin Mary and past Habsburg emperors.
The silence was so profound it felt like you could hear ink drying.
Knock knock.
With a light rap, Baron Johann von Kempen, chief of the court police, entered. As head of the secret police, he wore subdued dark clothing instead of a flashy uniform.
"Your Highness."
"Report, Baron."
Sophie didn't even look up, her eyes fixed on her papers.
Kempen began his report in a flat, emotionless voice.
"Her Majesty's salon shows no unusual activity so far. She had a light chat with Archduke Albrecht and a rather passionate discussion on Italian art with Archduke Maximilian."
Sophie's pen paused briefly over the paper.
Passionate. She thought of her second son.
Always lost in ideals, blind to reality—a romantic. And beside him, Bavaria's frivolous girl. The worst combination.
"…Continue."
"Afterward, she briefly discussed English novels with playwright Bauernfeld."
Sophie recalled the books in the empress's study.
'Just trivial, sensational novels.'
"I see."
"She promised him new patronage."
Sophie's lip curled in contempt.
'Bauernfeld. A liberal who defied the Metternich regime. For the empress of the empire to patronize him.'
"Still so young, she can't distinguish art from treason."
But Sophie saw this as a chance to rally the conservatives back to her side.
"Continue reporting."
Kempen hesitated before the next name.
"She spoke with Baron Anselm von Rothschild."
Sophie finally looked up.
Rothschild.
The others chased honors or airy ideologies, but the Rothschilds were different.
They were money. The empire's wars and peace began and ended in their vaults.
"Not satisfied with Creditanstalt bank?"
"Unlikely. Her Majesty praised the baron, but he gave only formal replies."
Sophie returned to her papers.
'They know best which side to back.'
"Keep watching Rothschild closely. Record every conversation and movement from that room. Not a single whisper."
"As you command, Your Highness."
As Kempen withdrew, silence reclaimed the room.
Sophie gazed at the childhood portrait of the emperor under the candlelight.
'Joseph. While you're away, Mother will guard the empire.'
It was Sophie who had made Joseph emperor, even discarding the empress's seat herself.
The room I returned to after a successful salon was warmly heated.
"Chief lady-in-waiting. The Rothschilds seem to have already chosen sides."
"Yes, Your Majesty. We'll look into other families."
"What about the Fuggers?"
I don't know the details, but I vaguely recall from Wikipedia that the Fuggers made the Habsburgs winners.
"They won't help us."
"Why not?"
"The Habsburgs ruined them."
I stayed quiet, signaling for more details.
"They lent astronomical sums to Charles V and Philip II, earning princely status in return."
So they should be on good terms, right?
"Philip II declared bankruptcy multiple times, dealing irreparable damage to the Fuggers' banking. They eventually closed."
"So if Rothschilds gained power by lending money, the Fuggers learned not to."
"Precisely, Your Majesty."
"But that was Spain, wasn't it? The Austrian Habsburgs had already branched off by then."
"Your Majesty, they have no reason to fight Rothschilds or help us. The Fuggers distrust the Habsburg name itself."
Ugh, what now?
Right now, the Habsburg ladies' apartments have three empresses sharing privy funds: the dowager empress, the Archduchess, and me.
The dowager empress focuses solely on charity, so she won't cling to her allowance. But the Archduchess and I squeeze every penny from ours.
Today's salon came from my privy purse, and the promised artist patronage will too.
In the end… only that option left?
"Chief lady-in-waiting. What's the most promising business in Vienna right now?"
Esterházy glanced at Lamberg.
"Lamberg, the court lady-in-waiting, can inform you on that."
So the widow Esterházy doesn't handle business matters well?
Lamberg stepped forward and reported.
"Your Majesty, you can't outbid Rothschilds with money. They're the founders of Creditanstalt, established by the Archduchess."
Esterházy brought bad intel.
As a newly founded company, someone must have fed her false info to curry disfavor with her mother-in-law.
"Money, land, buildings—all touched by the Archduchess. Your Majesty must seize what they lack."
"What is that?"
"Roads and light, Your Majesty."
Roads and light.
"Railways and gas lamps."
Lamberg bowed deeply.
"Currently wartime, so used militarily, but post-war, the planned railway construction will proceed."
"Railway construction?"
"The Empress Elisabeth Railway (Kaiserin-Elisabeth-Bahn). Named after Your Majesty—perfect legitimacy."
I choked up, coughing.
"…Empress Elisabeth Railway?"
"Yes. The western line from Vienna through Linz and Salzburg toward Munich in Your Majesty's homeland, Bavaria."
Oh god, embarrassing.
My face burned. Probably beet red right now.
"…What was the original name?"
"Westbahn, but on your marriage, His Majesty the Emperor renamed it for you."
I can't even look up, mortified.
Esterházy continued gently to my flustered self.
"Your Majesty, your name already graces Karl Square and the bridge over the Vienna River. There's also the Hussar Regiment Elisabeth. The one that succeeded at the Danube crossing."
Aaah, what do I do with my hands and feet… "I should write to His Majesty. Tell him no more from now on."