African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 127: Chapter 122: Kidnapping

February 1, 1868.

Ernst walked through Schönbrunn Palace as if he were at home, knowing the way without hesitation. The servants were already accustomed to his presence, and no one stopped him or offered to guide him.

Since last year, Ernst has been shuttling between Heixinggen, Berlin, and Vienna. In both Heixinggen and Berlin, Ernst’s family owned castles and estates, and since Prussia was the territory of the Hohenzollern family, it didn’t matter where he stayed.

As the Austro-Hungarian Empire was the second most important market for the Heixinggen consortium, just behind the German region, it naturally warranted Ernst’s personal attention.

Unlike in Heixinggen and Berlin, Ernst had only purchased a small property in Vienna, not far from Schönbrunn Palace.

During his time in Vienna, if Ernst wasn’t traveling, he would visit the Austrian palace, spending most of his days at either the palace or Schönbrunn, only returning home to rest at night.

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”Ernst, Ferdinand (Maximiliano I) hasn’t caused you any trouble, has he?” Empress Dowager Sophie asked with a gentle smile.

”Empress Dowager, rest assured, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are doing well in East Africa. Their whereabouts are reported to Europe daily via telegraph. I’ve arranged for guards to ensure their safety. East Africa is just less developed compared to Europe, with fewer entertainment venues, but the scenery is quite nice,” Ernst replied respectfully.

”Is that so? Are there telegraph lines from Europe to East Africa? I wasn’t aware of that,” Empress Dowager Sophie said in surprise.

”Empress Dowager, perhaps you’ve been too worried about your father-in-law’s safety to notice. I mentioned in a previous telegram about the communication from East Africa,” Ernst explained.

”I see! I only knew Africa was a barren place and didn’t expect there to be telegraph lines to Africa,” Empress Dowager Sophie remarked.

”In fact, North Africa, specifically Egypt, has telegraph lines laid by other European countries. East Africa isn’t too far from Egypt, so I set up a telegraph line to relay messages through Egypt, allowing information to reach Europe from East Africa within a day,” Ernst said.

”Ernst, if that’s the case, could you have Maximiliano I’s daily updates sent here?” Empress Dowager Sophie asked.

”Of course, no problem. In fact, all messages first arrive in Trieste, with Vienna the second stop. Since I’m not always in one place, I back up the information and have it sent here. Starting tomorrow, I’ll arrange for the Vienna staff to deliver the updates on my father-in-law and mother-in-law to Schönbrunn Palace,” Ernst offered.

”Thank you so much, Ernst. Sigh! As a mother, who wouldn’t worry about her son?” Empress Dowager Sophie sighed with emotion.

”You’re too kind, Empress Dowager. It’s my duty as a junior to do this. You are all my family, and naturally, family matters are my matters,” Ernst quickly said.

In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz undoubtedly held the greatest power. But within Schönbrunn Palace, Empress Dowager Sophie had the most influential voice. Besides politics, Franz couldn’t oppose Empress Dowager Sophie’s wishes, so Ernst had every reason to try to win her favor.

”You certainly know how to flatter! If it weren’t for your impeccable behavior and standing out among the young crowd, Karina wouldn’t end up with you, right? Karina,” Empress Dowager Sophie queried the little girl in her lap.

Karina, with her wide, watery eyes watching the two converse, heard her grandmother address her and responded without thinking, ”Grandmother, are you planning to give me away? Do you no longer want Karina?” Her shocking words revealed an innocent stupidity in her gaze.

”Silly girl, always talking nonsense. You and Rudolph are the treasures of my heart, how could I send you away!” Sofia said, stroking Karina’s hair. ”In the future, you both will grow up and have families of your own. You can’t always be under my protection. I’m old and frail; who knows how much longer I’ll hold on!”

With that, she embraced both Karina and Rudolph at her side.

Young Rudolph, just eleven years old, was three months younger than Karina. Unlike Karina, young Rudolph, perhaps due to his status as Crown Prince,

underwent a much stricter education, being raised by Empress Dowager Sophie from an early age, resulting in a somewhat reserved demeanor.

After all, young Rudolph had access to his parents, and Franz, being quite the traditionalist, had stripped Empress Elizabeth (Princess Sisi) of her educational duties.

Karina, on the other hand, had hardly seen her parents since she could remember, having only met Maximiliano I a few times during his visits to Europe.

Thus, Karina grew close to her grandmother from a young age, and Empress Dowager Sophie’s worries about Maximiliano I made her even more protective of Karina. Karina didn’t need to shoulder the empire’s future like Rudolph, so her education was less strict.

In contrast, Rudolph had it rough. Empress Dowager Sophie applied the same rigorous education she had used on Franz directly to Rudolph.

This approach wasn’t inherently wrong, but the difference was in the circumstances of Rudolph’s family versus Franz’s at the time.

Empress Dowager Sophie and Grand Duke Karl, after all, had no conflicts, and Empress Dowager Sophie was very assertive. Grand Duke Karl, somewhat dull (due to inbreeding), lacked ambition, and was mediocre, which created a balance of sternness and kindness, leading to a decent familial relationship and generally well-adjusted children.