Chapter 48 Engagement
At this point, Ernst seemed to understand it. Princess Karina should be the butterfly effect after his appearance, or it might be that this universe was not a parallel universe of his previous life. Well, no matter what, it was better to control the uncertain factors.
This Karina is the first person he has met in this world who is different from the person in history. Lenoir and others do not count, after all, the change in their fate was actively promoted by Ernst.
This Karina was born before his past life memories were awakened, which means that Karina was born when Ernst was six years old.
When I was six years old, I was still a little kid, acting like a troublemaker in the manor all day long, but I couldn't influence anyone else at that time.
Moreover, Ernst had a premonition that something terrible would happen if he didn't marry her.
Think about it, how much history have you changed since you awakened? One is the Black Xinggen Consortium, the other is the East African colony, which indirectly changed the fate of a group of people.
Princess Karina of Austria had a high status, and the 19th century was an era when everything was possible.
Is it a staged performance, that Her Majesty the Queen returns to Mexico to avenge her father, or that she inherits the Habsburg throne to rebuild the Roman Empire? (I didn't mean to say that. Think about how unlucky Franz was. His brother was executed by the Mexicans, his wife was assassinated in Italy, his son committed suicide, and his future heir was shot by the Serbs.)
…
Having said so much, Ernst also had his own interests to consider. He had been planning a colonial trade route from Prussia (German Empire) to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, through the Mediterranean and finally to the East African colonies.
Among these, Prussia need not worry at all as it is just like home.
Italy was Prussia's ally and could be used before World War I.
Not to mention the East African colonies, which they participated in planning and building, and their words are the law in East Africa.
Only the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself is the least influential, and it would be great if the problem of political influence within the Austro-Hungarian Empire could be solved through marriage.
Moreover, the East African colonies were poor! Prussia (Germany) alone could not afford to support them, and the equally large Austro-Hungarian Empire was also needed.
It was a pity that so many resources were wasted when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. Ernst was willing to take over.
"Father, let's go with Princess Karina of the Habsburg! We really don't have much influence in Austria. Through this marriage, we can better spread our family's business throughout the Greater German region, from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean, and improve the security of our own business."
This is the truth. If this goal is achieved, no conflicts on the European continent will affect Ernst's ambition to develop East Africa.
A single German or Austro-Hungarian navy could easily be crushed at sea, let alone a small commercial fleet.
The Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are Germany's only two access routes to the sea. Germany is slightly better, after all, the Atlantic Ocean is in its northwest corner, but the only access to the sea is a giant like the British Empire.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire's overseas outlet was the Adriatic Sea. Geographically, it seemed to be worse than Germany's, but the actual threat was not as great as the one Germany faced. It was not that Ernst looked down on the Italians, but that the last Battle of Lissa was too shameful.
If the British want to blockade the coast of Germany, it would be very easy. But if the Italians want to blockade the coast of Austro-Hungary, it would be a dream. After all, Austro-Hungary can still directly threaten Italy from land, and Prussia, Italy and Austria-Hungary will form an alliance in the future. With Prussia mediating, the relationship will not be too bad.
"Well, all right. I'll go to Vienna to discuss this with the Habsburgs. Just wait for my news!"
After that, Constantine set off for Vienna.
…
Meanwhile, Austria, Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.
"Mother, Karina is so young, isn't it too early to talk about marriage?" Emperor Franz said helplessly to his mother.
"Hmph, what do you know? It's all because of you and your brother that you're both troublesome people. You caused so many troubles after you got married. I dare not let Karina follow in your footsteps." Queen Mother Sophie said.
When talking about his marriage, Franz dared not speak. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is a global problem that even the emperor cannot escape.
As for his younger brother Maximilian I, he went to the cenote in Mexico and still insisted on his own way. He still doesn't believe what his family says and dreams of becoming an emperor.
"This time, I must personally choose the marriage partner for my next generation. It's because I doted on you two brothers too much back then that so many troubles have occurred." Queen Mother Sophie said.
As he spoke, he took Ernst's information from his hand and handed it to Franz.
"Look at the person I picked this time!"
Franz looked at the information and said, "He looks just a little more handsome than I did when I was young, but isn't his status too low? It wouldn't be bad for Karina to marry one of those kings' princes, right?"
"What do you know? There are so many kings and princes for you to choose from, and there are only so many people in the European royal family. I don't like him at the moment. Although Ernst's title is a bit low, he is also the orthodox of the Hohenzollern family. Moreover, he is the only prince of Constantine, so he will also be a prince in the future."
"Besides, her mother died early. If Karina marries him, there will be no conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Ernst is also good at running a business. I heard that his business ranks among the top 30 in Europe. If Karina marries him in the future, she will have no worries about food and clothing. It will be nice to be a princess."
"What kind of character is he, mother?" Franz asked.
"Don't worry about that. I have investigated carefully this time. Ernst is already sixteen years old, but he is very dedicated to his career. There are no messy scandals about him. I have also seen his life trajectory. He is indeed a practical man. He went to Venice a while ago to build a fleet and then returned home."
"He doesn't have any bad habits and has a regular lifestyle. It's better to grab this kind of excellent young man as soon as possible."
"But mother, are you really not going to discuss this with my brother and sister-in-law?" Franz asked cautiously.
"Don't mention them, especially Charlotte, who kept instigating Maximiliano. If it weren't for her, our family would be together now. If anything happens to your brother, I will never forgive her."
In this way, the Emperor and Queen of Mexico were deprived of their daughter's guardian rights. At this time, Queen Carlota was still crying, making a fuss, and even threatening to hang herself in France, demanding that Napoleon III keep his promise and send troops to Mexico again.
After communicating with Prince Constantine who went to Vienna, the two families agreed to get engaged first, and Ernst could marry Princess Karina in the future when he was in his twenties.
On November 3, 1866, the two families announced the engagement of Prince Ernst and Princess Karina. (This event was later called the reunion of the Hohenzollerns and Habsburgs.)
Ernst and Princess Karina attended the ceremony and, influenced by European traditions, exchanged tokens of love. From then on, Princess Karina of the Habsburgs became Ernst's fiancée.
As a man who has lived two lives, Ernst does not have high requirements, as long as she is not too ugly, but Karina does have a good foundation and will definitely be a great beauty in the future. At least in the eyes of people at that time, the two were a perfect match.
…
Now that he had decided on his future marriage partner, Ernst had no choice but to watch his future father-in-law perish. After all, Maximilian I was too miserable. The throne he got for free was actually the culprit of Napoleon III. It was no big deal that the blame for the French colonization of Mexico was all put on Maximilian I.
What was really bad was that the people of Mexico no longer trusted the emperor. Influenced by the Iturbide dynasty and with the Americans fanning the flames, Maximilian I was forced to take the blame and not only did not leave the palace.
In particular, the various warlords in Mexico did not take Maximilian I seriously at all. Among them, the Republican Juarez regarded Maximilian I as a thorn in his side.
The next year, when Maximilian I was arrested and executed, Juarez was also a tough guy who was willing to offend the monarchs of various European countries and the Habsburgs in order to execute Maximilian I.
Ernst wondered if he could rescue his unfortunate father-in-law. He first selected a group of outstanding students from the Hechingen cadets, pretended to be Indians, sneaked into Mexico, and finally packed up Maximilian I and returned to Europe...
There is indeed a glimmer of feasibility. If this thing fails, I won't lose anything, but if it succeeds, I will definitely get good feedback.
Apart from anything else, the Habsburgs will still have to take care of themselves in the future, and the monarchs of European countries will also look at them with more or less respect.
If Ernst wants to develop East Africa, he will have to interact with other countries in the future. Otherwise, it would be ridiculous to be robbed when the great powers divide Africa in the future.
Now, by establishing an image of upholding the aristocracy and supporting the monarchy, the royal families of various countries will always have to say a few good words for themselves in front of the governments of various countries in the future, and the governments of various countries will also have to be cautious.
(End of this chapter)
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