Chapter 123: Abduction
February 1, 1868.
Ernst wanders through Schönbrunn Palace as though it were his own home. The servants are used to this by now; nobody stops him or shows him around.
Since last year, Ernst has been shuttling between Hechingen, Berlin, and Vienna. In Hechingen and Berlin, the family has its own castles and estates. Prussia is the Hohenzollern family's domain, so he can stay anywhere he pleases there.
Austria-Hungary ranks second only to the German region as the primary market for the Hechingen (Black Forest) consortium. Understandably, Ernst devotes personal attention to it.
Unlike in Hechingen or Berlin, where Ernst has substantial residences, in Vienna he owns just a small property near Schönbrunn Palace.
Whenever he's in Vienna, he either travels during the day or spends time at Schönbrunn Palace. He typically returns to his residence to rest at night.
…
"Ernst, has Ferdinand (Maximilian I) caused you any trouble?" Empress Dowager Sophie asked kindly.
"Don't worry, Empress Dowager. My father-in-law and mother-in-law are doing very well in East Africa. Their status is reported to Europe every day by telegraph. I've arranged guards for their safety. East Africa may have harsher conditions than Europe, with few entertainment venues, but the scenery is impressive," Ernst replied, bowing respectfully.
"Is that so? I didn't realize a telegraph line linked Europe to East Africa. I wasn't aware," Sophie said in surprise.
"Empress Dowager, perhaps you've been so worried about the Archduke's (Maximilian I's) safety that you haven't noticed. I did mention the colonial telegraph line from East Africa in my previous telegram," Ernst explained.
"Oh! That's right! I only knew Africa to be rather desolate; I had no idea there were telegraph lines," Sophie said.
"In fact, North Africa—Egypt, for instance—already has telegraph lines laid by European nations. East Africa isn't too far from Egypt, so I built a line that connects through Egypt. All news from East Africa can reach Europe within a single day," Ernst said.
"Ernst, if that's the case, would you mind having your staff deliver daily updates from Maximilian and Charlotte to me here at the palace?" Sophie asked.
"Certainly. In fact, all the updates arrive first in Trieste, then Vienna, because I'm rarely in one place for long. The messages are kept in duplicate. Beginning tomorrow, I'll instruct the staff in Vienna to bring news of my father-in-law and mother-in-law to Schönbrunn Palace," Ernst said.
"Oh, thank you so much, Ernst. Sigh! A mother always worries about her son!" Sophie sighed.
"You're too kind, Empress Dowager. It's my duty as a junior member of the family. All of you are my kin, and so your concerns are mine," Ernst said quickly.
In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Emperor Franz Joseph wields the most power, but in Schönbrunn Palace itself, the person whose word carries the most weight is Empress Dowager Sophie. Even Franz Joseph dares not defy her in domestic matters. So of course Ernst pays her every courtesy.
"You're so good with words, Ernst! If not for your spotless record, setting you above all the other young men, you wouldn't have had a shot at Karina. Right, Karina?" Sophie teased, peering down at the little girl in her arms.
Karina's big, bright eyes were already fixed on them, so upon hearing her grandmother's question, she blurted out in confusion, "Grandmother, are you giving me away? Don't you want Karina anymore?" Her innocent face looked anxious.
"Silly child, don't talk nonsense. You and Rudolf are my cherished darlings; how could I give you away?" Sophie chuckled, stroking Karina's hair. "But one day you'll both grow up and start families of your own. You can't always live under my wing. I'm an old woman; who knows how many years I have left."
She spoke these words while cradling Karina and the boy next to her, Rudolf, in her arms.
Rudolf, only eleven years old, is three months younger than Karina. Unlike Karina, he may be more reserved due to the education for a crown prince and having been raised by Sophie from an early age.
Karina, on the other hand, seldom sees her parents—only a few visits when Maximilian traveled to Europe—so she's grown extremely close to her grandmother. Sophie, worried about Maximilian and thus especially protective of Karina, has never imposed a strict upbringing.
By contrast, poor Rudolf has endured a regimen identical to what Sophie once imposed on Franz Joseph—rigorous and unyielding.
Yet, seeing young Rudolf, Ernst's eyes lit up—he had his own designs.
Ernst reached out and pinched Rudolf's chubby cheeks. "Oh my, who is this? So adorable!"
"He's only a child, Ernst, but you talk like a grown-up," Sophie teased.
In reality, Sophie was pleased that Ernst seemed fond of her grandson; she liked Ernst's overall maturity and positive qualities. At eighteen, Ernst was essentially an adult in that era. This era sets adulthood quite early: farmers' sons begin fieldwork, noble sons learn to become heirs. And Ernst, as an heir, is clearly adept, plus he's started successful enterprises. To Sophie, a conservative, that's a major plus.
"My Empress Dowager, no matter how old I get, I'll always be a child in front of my elders," Ernst replied.
In fact, Ernst was cunningly planning something for Sophie's grandson, though Sophie herself had no idea.
Given Rudolf's tragic fate in Ernst's previous life, Ernst, as his future brother-in-law, wanted to step in and help. He was also curious whether, if Rudolf didn't die, what might the future hold for Austria-Hungary? And what about Archduke Ferdinand, that luckless nephew who was assassinated by a Serbian youth—could his destiny change too?
As for the butterfly effect, Ernst isn't worried. If we consider Franz Joseph's remarkably long reign, even if Rudolf survives in this life, he won't assume real power until after 1916.
By then, everything changes. Based on the current trajectory, the East African colony will have matured into a real power. Located far from Europe, as long as Ernst doesn't make reckless alliances, neither World War I nor II can truly threaten East African soil. And unlike the United States, East Africa is a major regional power in the Indian Ocean, so other parties would be cautious about antagonizing it.
So Ernst's main concern is the colony's current growth phase. Right now, other European powers could intervene in Africa. Fortunately, capitalism has yet to enter the "export of capital" phase in the 1860s; European nations still primarily seek raw materials, focusing on resource exploitation. Ernst keeps East Africa's resources under wraps, minimizing foreign attention.
But once capital export begins—when domestic industry in Europe saturates and capital roams the globe in search of new markets and raw materials—there will be a fierce scramble for colonies around the 1880s. Within mere decades, Asia and Africa would be carved up, and Latin America would effectively become dependent. By the end of the 19th century, a global colonial system was essentially formed.
Hence, East Africa must develop the strength to stand on its own by 1880, or at least by the late 19th century.
…
"Rudolf, want to come live in Prussia with me for a while?" Ernst asked offhandedly.
The boy didn't answer immediately but looked up at his grandmother.
"Ernst, are you joking? He's Austria-Hungary's future emperor—he doesn't have time to fool around with you. If you want a child to dote on, just wait until you and Karina have your own," Sophie chided lightly.
Ernst looked serious. "Empress Dowager, I'm not joking. I believe that a future emperor needs to experience more of the outside world, especially in these rapidly changing times. With accelerating industrialization, many things have become different. If an emperor doesn't keep pace, he'll lose touch with reality."
"Don't be alarmist, Ernst! Franz Joseph was raised this way, and once Rudolf grows up, he'll be free to see the world," Sophie insisted.
Ernst pressed on. "Empress Dowager, letting Rudolf go out sooner isn't a bad thing. A king's life is lonely. Aside from whatever guidance he gets from his father, he has few references. There are only so many monarchs in the world. My idea is to take Rudolf to meet Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Wilhelm in the Prussian royal family for some mutual exchange."
He continued, "Prussia's recent development is obvious. Others may be unclear, but I see how fast Prussia's industry is growing. It can now match France, and at its current speed, it will surpass France soon. And from my personal dealings with the Prussian heirs, they're all bright young talents. So letting Rudolf interact with them would be a good learning opportunity."
"But Prussia's achievements rely partly on Austria's temporary setback—otherwise Prussia wouldn't have come so far!" Sophie objected.
"Indeed, Prussia did seize an advantage, but the last war was not a fluke. For instance, in their advanced firearms, or their use of railways and telegraphs—technology played a major role.
"This proves that understanding industry and technology is essential for a future king. Right now, among Europe's royal families, Prussia's heirs lead the way in those fields. Granted, Vienna is a center of culture and the arts, but modern science and industry directly boost a nation's power," Ernst said, adding polite praise for Vienna.
"Couldn't we just hire tutors in those fields?" Sophie countered.
"It's like admiring a landscape painting versus seeing the actual scenery. If we only rely on tutors, it's like looking at pictures of Schönbrunn Palace rather than living in it. To truly understand the times—to feel the impact of industry and technology—one must witness them firsthand."
This was a good analogy, simple and compelling. Sophie began to waver but said, "Yes, but Rudolf's studies can't be neglected."
Ernst seized the moment. "Precisely. We can have palace tutors accompany him, so he can study and interact with those other royal heirs at the same time, personally witnessing real-world developments.
"The most important trait for a monarch isn't purely academic excellence. Some medieval kings were illiterate yet still ruled effectively, while some learned monarchs fared poorly in governance. Rudolf is destined to be an emperor, not a scholar."
…
Faced with Ernst's barrage of reasoning, Sophie finally consented to let Rudolf visit Prussia under Ernst's care, provided she first discussed it with Franz Joseph.
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