Chapter 116: The Source of Rudolf's Nightmare
"Ernst! What's with all the carriages? Where are you going?" asked Konstantin as he looked at the neat row of wagons in the courtyard.
"Father, Christmas just passed, so I thought I'd visit the children at the school. They're all orphans, with no family. I wanted to check in on them," Ernst replied.
"Good work, Ernst. I'd like to visit those poor kids too. Wait for me, let's go together," said Konstantin.
As nobles, wise aristocrats often maintained their reputation through charitable acts—helping the poor and vulnerable.
Of course, there were also misers who'd rob their peasants of every last coin and ruin the nobility's name.
But most nobles had enough sense to at least maintain appearances.
The Hohenzollern royal house had always enjoyed a good reputation locally.
During holidays, Konstantin himself often aided struggling residents in the Hohenzollern territory.
…
The carriage rolled slowly forward. Inside sat Ernst and Konstantin.
"Ernst, I know you're busy, but life isn't all about work. Sometimes, you should focus on other things too," Konstantin said as he broke the silence.
"Uhh… Father, can you just say it directly?" Ernst replied.
"You idiot! I'm talking about your marriage. When was the last time you visited your fiancée?" Konstantin scolded, frustrated.
Ernst froze.
Thinking back, the last time he saw the little girl was months ago, during a side visit to Schönbrunn Palace.
"Father, Karina is still young. There's no rush. I know you're eager to have a grandchild, but she's not going anywhere. Let's wait a few years," Ernst responded.
Karina had just turned eleven. After New Year's, she would be twelve.
She was still just a little girl to Ernst. He didn't mind the idea of their political engagement—he wasn't opposed to it—but there was no need to rush into marriage.
"You brat! Do you really think I'm that impatient? I may be old, but I've never lost my composure over anything in life. If you weren't my son, I wouldn't even bother with your affairs," Konstantin said.
"As someone with life experience, I'm just trying to share a bit of wisdom.
Your mother and I were also a political match.
We had no feelings for each other at first, but as time passed, we grew fond of one another.
Even after she died, I never remarried—I raised you alone."
"Feelings grow over time. Even a stone can be warmed if you hold it long enough—let alone a human heart!
And I know, these days, all you young people are into this 'free love' nonsense…"
"Father," Ernst interrupted, "you've been reading romance novels, haven't you?
I've never made decisions based on emotion. From the day I understood my place in the world, I've always put family interests first.
Love? That's just a gamble."
That was the truth. Having lived two lives, Ernst had no illusions about romance.
Love, in his view, was unreliable—more like a momentary impulse.
Even if things were sweet before marriage, if the match was wrong, it wouldn't lead to happiness.
Meanwhile, some couples who married out of convenience ended up building deep bonds over time.
Ernst didn't place much importance on emotions.
What thrilled him most in this life was developing East Africa—it was exhilarating.
Unlike unproductive hobbies in his previous life, East Africa offered real, visible returns.
Sure, the returns were small for now, but the satisfaction was immense.
Ernst wasn't emotionless—he was just focused on his career. At seventeen, he believed in self-discipline.
"I'm not talking about that," Konstantin clarified.
"I mean, you should spend more time with Karina. Poor girl—her parents are so unreliable. She must feel awful. Building a connection early will help ensure a harmonious marriage later."
That made Ernst pause.
Konstantin had a point. Given the mental state of the Habsburg family, it wasn't surprising they produced people like Maximilian I and Crown Prince Rudolf.
There were even known cases of mental illness in the previous generation.
Of course, Maximilian was mentally stable and intelligent—just unlucky, idealistic, and sheltered. That's what got him into the Mexican mess.
Rudolf, on the other hand, committed suicide in Ernst's past life.
That tragedy stemmed from his dysfunctional family. Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) was never suited to be a queen, yet her personality deeply shaped Rudolf's.
Emperor Franz Joseph was rigid and authoritarian, leaving Rudolf confused and rebellious.
His suicide seemed to carry a hint of vengeance against his parents.
Now, with Ernst's arrival in this timeline, Maximilian's fate had completely changed.
He was still living carefree in East Africa—offering unsolicited advice to Ernst and regularly sending him telegrams.
Ernst finally understood why Maximilian had wanted to become Emperor of Mexico:
In the modern world, he'd be the kind of guy who hangs out online talking politics.
A true "keyboard statesman."
The classic "If I were in charge, I'd do it better."
Well, Maximilian tried—and failed.
Still, Ernst appreciated his perspective.
Maximilian gave him alternative insights on East Africa's development.
As for Rudolf, he was still just a kid.
Ernst considered finding a way to pull him out of the Austrian palace and reshape his worldview.
In his previous life, Rudolf's political beliefs were extreme.
He wanted to be a president—not a king—of Austria and Hungary. He even pushed for more Hungarian autonomy.
A total betrayal.
But that kind of thinking mirrored Empress Elisabeth's influence.
Ernst figured maybe he could help correct the boy's mindset—maybe even do a better job than Franz Joseph.
After all, how could things possibly go worse than suicide?
Ernst could always frame it as "educational exchange" and let Rudolf experience a tougher life.
He believed that if Austria's royal education was bound to fail, it was better to give Rudolf some real-world experience.
After mulling over all that, Ernst turned to his father.
"Don't worry, Father. I'll make some visits to Austria," he said.
He had made up his mind: he would assess his fiancée's mental state—and maybe cause a little trouble for young Rudolf while he was at it.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10