She changed Europe

Page 81

"Ah!" Just as Gisela was about to speak, her chest tightened, and Gisela naturally let out a mournful cry, which was heard by Leopold outside.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Although Leopold couldn't hear the sounds coming from the room very clearly, he could still be certain that the scream just now was definitely Gisela's.

"I bumped my head on the corner of the table." Gisela took a deep breath, implying that Aponia didn't need to be so meticulous, and that wearing looser clothes wouldn't hurt...

“That’s right. Your Highness left early last night and didn’t know that His Majesty the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and my aunt had decided to send you to Budapest. They believe you can better realize your ambitions there, rather than in Bohemia.”

“Budapest?” Aponia nodded at the name, indicating that she was also aware of the matter.

If the decision is true, Gisela will have to disrupt her existing plans. She understands that, unlike Inner Leitania, where the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Duchy of Austria are located, Outer Leitania is not a peaceful place for the Habsburgs, and this is even more true for the Kingdom of Hungary, the core of Outer Leitania.

The two countries, Austria and Hungary, had long harbored resentment due to their differing historical and cultural backgrounds and customs. The relationship between the two nobility was particularly fraught with animosity; for example, a saying circulated about the Hungarian parliament: "Whatever the Austrians support, I oppose; whatever the Austrians oppose, we support." The establishment of the dual imperial system in 1867 was just the beginning; the centrifugal tendencies of the Hungarians towards the empire would only intensify.

Sending her to Hungary at this time would be tantamount to pushing her into a fire pit, because Gisela would be exhausted by the constraints of the Hungarian Parliament and unable to accomplish anything. Her hard-earned prestige in northern Italy and her authority in the military would also be worn away over time. If she had no political achievements, the only outcome would be that she would be completely out of the running for the throne.

Thinking about it this way, it's not so unbelievable that he and his mother's number one enemy in the court, that old woman, Empress Dowager Sophie. After all, that woman wanted to kill him at any moment, just like the Jesuits he encountered in Italy.

Now a new question arises: why did her own mother, Elizabeth, agree? She couldn't understand why Elizabeth would agree to the other party's suggestion so easily; at least, the decision wouldn't be confirmed so quickly.

“Your Highness, perhaps Emperor Joseph has some expectations of you?” Aponia stood behind Gisela, gently buttoning up her clothes as she whispered a reminder in her ear.

"What is the basis for this judgment?" Gisela gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and then asked the gentle and considerate nun in a serious tone. Because the two were almost touching, Gisela could clearly smell the woman's fragrance.

“This is it.” Aponia gently removed her gloves, took out a slip of paper from inside, and handed it to Gisela.

“You’ll understand once you see it.” Rita took a step back and stood to the side with a smile.

Gisela rested her chin on her hand, pondering the contents of the note.

Emperor Franz Joseph's mother, that despicable old fox, colluded with the Crown Prince's faction to suggest that Joseph send her to Hungary as the nominal Governor of Translettania. After all, within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary held a superior position on par with Austria. Sending the princess there would, on the one hand, maintain relations between the Habsburgs and the Hungarian parliament; on the other hand, this position, aside from its impressive title, held no real power, not even comparable to Gisela's so-called Bohemian Regent—a demotion in name only.

However, if she does well and can bring Transylvania under her control and complete the governance of Hungary, then such prestige and power would be enough to participate in the competition for the throne. As the saying goes, the strongest and most powerful empire belongs to the emperor, not to mention that she herself is a royal princess.

Even if that doesn't work, Gisela and others who have accumulated enough political experience could marry into Bavaria and help Leopold achieve the same status as his father, becoming the regent of Bavaria and the de facto queen of Bavaria.

After taking everything into consideration, Josephine ultimately did not oppose her mother's decision. After all, the power her mother represented in Neletania was too great, and even Sissi could not have absolute authority.

Although she understood Joseph's intentions, Gisela was still inexplicably unhappy. At the very least, it showed that her father did not have the courage to confront the Queen Mother, who was interfering in the internal affairs of the country. This meant that her and her mother's situation was still very delicate.

Of course, Gisela was also unaware of the old woman's strength; otherwise, given her mother's personality, she might have already fought with her.

PS1: Ra!

Chapter 301 The Fall of Saint Stephen's Crown: Capter 17 When I Become the King of Bavaria (Seeking Votes)

"Well, we'll talk about that later. I was going to Budapest anyway..." That's absolutely right. Gisela's plan was to unite other ethnic groups within the empire by suppressing the disobedient Magyars. It was only a matter of time.

Gisela stopped worrying about getting dressed and walked towards the door. She gently opened the door and went out, then closed it again, facing the young man once more.

"Your Highness, I have a gift I'd like to give you before I leave," Leopold murmured softly. Despite being a dignified man, his tone carried the shyness of a young girl experiencing her first love. Gisela, however, understood his feelings perfectly. She herself had pursued girls in the same way when she was young, but the result... well, it was a long story.

From a modern woman's perspective, she prefers to see confident, sunny, well-mannered, and gentlemanly people, as they are more willing to get along and communicate with her.

“This is it…” He took a deep breath and raised his hand to bring the black box to Gisela’s face to open it, but for some reason, or perhaps due to a lack of confidence in himself, he ultimately chose to give up.

"All of this will only have more meaning when I become the King of Bavaria!" Leopold thought to himself, clenching his fists.

“Your Highness has asked us to part ways here. Next time, I will be someone who satisfies you even more.” Leopold didn’t say anything more, but turned and left. At this moment, he was full of confidence and ambition.

After watching Leopold walk away, an unusually well-behaved "blonde girl" peeked out. Only after the young man had gone far away did she stand back in the corridor with a sigh of relief.

“Your Highness Rudolf, if Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty were to see you walking around Schönbrunn Palace like this…” Even now, Rudolf’s Hungarian maid, Nica, still hadn’t forgotten to lecture him. If Heaven were to grant His Highness the Crown Prince a more masculine air, it would be an immeasurable blessing for the Empire.

Unfortunately, ever since her older sister mistook him for her younger sister, Rudolph has never taken off his women's clothing in public. What's worse, as Rudolph grows up, he, who is about to turn 13 this year, has not become more masculine. Instead, he has become even more effeminate. His fair cheeks and unusually delicate features make it impossible for anyone to associate him with a man. This matter naturally gives Nika a strange headache.

"Nika! Okay, I know. I promise I won't let Mother and Father find out." Although Rudolf was making this solemn promise, her attention was still focused on her sister's room and Leopold, who had just stopped there.

“No, Your Highness, you have no idea how serious this matter is.” Nika pushed up her glasses, appearing unusually serious.

"Nika, do you think my sister will accept that man?" Rudolf seemed a little curious. Although he knew his sister liked women, he also knew that his sister and Leopold had an exceptionally good relationship, not to mention that they were engaged.

"Maybe, Your Highness?" Nika's tone was also very uncertain. Although she didn't know that the second princess liked women, she also didn't want Rudolph to fall into a pitiful unrequited love because he liked his sister. After all, siblings cannot love each other.

At that moment, Gisela's door opened, and Rudolf quickly pushed Nika back into the corner near the stairs, secretly glancing in the same direction as before.

The first to emerge was a blonde beauty with fox ears; without a doubt, she was his most beautiful older sister.

"Gisella is as radiant as ever today," Rudolf muttered to himself, nodding knowingly, a gesture of self-affirmation.

"Wait a minute, one, two, three..." Rudolf realized something was wrong, because besides his sister, three other equally beautiful ladies emerged from the room: the aloof French duchess, the new maid, and Rita, whom he knew well. He had been waiting there since early morning; there was no way anyone could have entered his sister's room without his notice.

Unless it happened last night...

A dreamlike scene suddenly appeared in Rudolf's mind: four beauties with distinct styles making love on the bed, then embracing each other and falling asleep. Oh no, his brain was trembling! Rudolf chuckled foolishly while leaning against the wall, trembling strangely, as if he were possessed. If you looked closely, you could even see the steam rising from his head.

At that moment, someone gently patted his back.

"Don't take my picture, Nika, I'm busy!" Rudolf slapped Nika's hand away without turning his head, and then continued to twitch in a somewhat grotesque manner.

He was patted on the back again.

"I told you to leave me alone, can't you see I'm busy?" Rudolph pouted and turned around with a dissatisfied look. A familiar blonde woman stood in front of her. Unlike Gisela's youthful appearance, the woman in front of her was obviously much more mature, both in figure and appearance.

"Mom?! Yue/Yi-Culing Si Liuqi Baerba!" At this moment, a certain "beautiful girl" completely crashed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Leopold strode steadily across the wide road in front of Schönbrunn Palace, and then, under the watchful eyes of the royal guards, stepped into the carriage bearing the blue and white checkered coat of arms of the Wittelsbach family.

"Young master, shall we go directly to the station?" The coachman bowed and asked in a low voice as he closed the carriage door for Leopold.

“Of course, we’re going to the station, Uncle Adam. If the time on my pocket watch is accurate, then we’ll have to keep lovely Nina waiting for at least half an hour.” Leopold’s sister, Nina, hadn’t attended last night’s ball; instead, she was staying at a hotel near the train station. Although he didn’t know what the little girl was thinking, Leopold never interfered with his sister’s thoughts, after all, he was different from his strict and old-fashioned father and brothers.

"Of course, no problem, sir. By the way, haven't you given your gift yet?" The old coachman named Adam noticed that Leopold's right pocket was still bulging as it had been when he left, which made this old servant, who had watched Leopold grow up, instinctively want to care about him.

"So I couldn't hide it from you after all, Adam?" A hint of helplessness appeared on Leopold's composed face.

“Young Master, I’ve watched you grow up. You’ve never been a child who couldn’t hide your feelings.” Besides, I personally bought that gift for you. Adam smiled kindly and gently patted the young man’s shoulder.

PS1: Another day of slacking off

Chapter 302 The Fall of Saint Stephen's Crown: Capter 18 The Bavarian Tragedy (Seeking Votes)

"It's alright, Uncle Adam. Taking a negative approach to life isn't my style." Perhaps Leopold felt a little regretful about what had just happened, which made him sigh.

"Let's go! Don't keep Nina waiting too long. I still have things to do in Munich." The thought of returning to Munich stirred a newfound determination in the young man.

"Munich, is it..." Adam gently flicked his whip, looking up at the sky. He also seemed somewhat sentimental at this moment, and the carriage they were riding in slowly drove towards the station.

Let's turn our attention back to outside Vienna Central Station—

“Miss, I heard that Lord Leopold was able to get here from Schönbrunn Palace early this morning. He won’t stay at the palace for too long.” Nina’s personal maid stood on tiptoe and skillfully held the parasol over her head, shielding her mistress’s delicate, fair skin from the rude and impolite sunlight.

"Really? Well, 'Don't delay too long' is a good excuse." Nina looked up at the sky with great dissatisfaction; the sun was already high in the sky.

It must be that annoying vixen who deceived her brother's feelings and delayed his trip again. Just thinking about that hateful wicked woman made Nina furious.

It was precisely because they were attending this woman's birthday celebration that the brother and sister traveled from Munich, hundreds of kilometers away, to Vienna, day and night.

"Miss, please understand. After all, Lord Leopold needs to cultivate his relationship with his fiancée." The maid gently comforted her mistress while secretly praying that Leopold would return to his sister's side soon. As the only mage among the new generation of Bavaria, Nina was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father's pampering and indulgence had fostered a somewhat willful and bad temper in her. Unlike her self-disciplined brother, no one knew what kind of disaster this young lady would bring to those around her when she truly lost her temper.

The key point is that this is Vienna, not their hometown of Munich. Here, aside from the Elizabethan dress, perhaps no one would tolerate the young lady's capriciousness.

Nina took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her fists clenched involuntarily.

Because she was reminded of the disgusting scene of the fox and the Prussian princess flirting. They were both women, so she couldn't understand how her brother was inferior to that woman! Thinking of this, Nina's anger intensified.

Upon seeing this scene, the maid gasped and quickly tried to raise her hand to stop her mistress.

Just then, a familiar carriage finally came into their view from around the corner of the street and stopped a short distance away.

"Brother is finally here." Nina snapped out of her reverie and greeted the carriage with a smile.

“Young master, you should not return to Munich. Instead, turn back and run to Schönbrunn Palace, then seek the protection of Her Highness Gisela. You will be safe.” The old man slowly walked towards the carriage, opened the door, and unusually advised the young man before him.

“Why, Adam! You know I have a reason to return there. I really must become the King of Bavaria. I want to personally place the crown on my wife’s head!” Leopold said solemnly to the old man. He would not tell anyone these words except to the old man who had been with him for more than ten years.

"Many times in life we ​​are not in control of our own destiny, young master, I'm sorry..." The old man's words were tinged with sorrow and helplessness, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

"Adam, why are you apologizing!" Leopold stood up, wanting to grab the old man by the collar and confirm the meaning behind his words.

"I'm sorry! Young master, they kidnapped my only granddaughter..." The old man apologized sincerely, while a small pistol slid from his sleeve. He gently raised the gun and then pressed it close to Leopold's chest.

Nina, walking towards Leopold's carriage, noticed her brother and Adam standing motionless by the carriage door. Perhaps because the door was obstructing her view, she couldn't see what they were doing, so she frowned, slowed her pace, and tried to get closer to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Can you tell me who sent you to kill me?" Leopold asked the old man with a hint of relief as he looked at the pistol pressed against his chest.

"It is them, your enemies. You know who they are because when you chose to approach that girl, you stood on the opposite side of them, and your fate of being their enemy was already a foregone conclusion. The only difference is when that fact will come."

"Fate, is it?" Sure enough, he had never escaped the so-called shackles. The will of the gods was inviolable. Even the deaf musician could grasp fate by the throat, while he could do nothing.

“If this can save your granddaughter, then shoot,” Leopold said expressionlessly.

Adam closed his eyes, his finger trembling as he pulled the trigger. With a loud "thud!" the gunshot seemed to signal the end of everything.

"What are you doing, Adam!" Nina roared as she charged toward the old man who had fired the shot. Magic energy swirled around her, causing the veins on her skin to bulge uncontrollably. Clearly, the young woman was furious beyond measure.

“Miss, some things have to be done.” With that, Adam pointed the pistol at his forehead, then, with a self-deprecating smile, pulled the trigger on Nina, who was charging towards him. Blood and brain matter flew everywhere, and Adam met his end.

"Brother!!!" Nina rushed towards the young man who had fallen to the ground without regard for anything else. Crimson blood seeped out from the white suit he had worn yesterday, staining the shiny stone pavement red.

Nina held her brother in her arms with trembling hands.

"You'll be alright, you'll be alright..." she muttered to herself as if possessed, tearing at her skirt as she tried to use the fabric to cover her brother's wound.

"Cough cough, Nina...live well, take my share, and go find your cousin." Leopold was somewhat delirious from blood loss, but even so, he did not forget his duty as an older brother, which was to protect his sister's safety.

"No! You're still alive, your share is yours, I don't need your kindness!" Nina rested her head on her brother's hand, feeling the warmth from her beloved.

"Stop being so willful! Nina... You need to grow up. Your future is in your hands. No one can take it away, and no one can control it!" Leopold grabbed Nina's sleeve angrily and shouted with all his might.

“Good girl! Nina, give this to His Highness…” Leopold’s hands hung limply, and then he closed his eyes, even at the last moment he seemed not to have forgotten the gift in the small pocket.

PS1: The fox is a widow 0v0

Chapter 303 The Fall of Saint Stephen's Crown: Capter 19 Gisela's Wrath (Seeking Votes)

“Brother…” Nina’s desperate sobs echoed throughout the square. The crowd stared blankly at the girl in the center, not understanding the grief contained in her cries, for as the Lord said, “human emotions are contained in all uncertain circumstances.”

Everything happened so suddenly that the girl had no idea of ​​this situation. She never thought that her beloved brother would pass away in such a ridiculous way, but a new thought arose in her mind: to inherit her brother's ideals and protect him to live on. She seemed to have already made up her mind about this.

"What if I were the one who died today, and Leopold were still alive?" With these thoughts in mind, a man named Leopold died on this day, but a girl named Leopold was born, and the name Nina would no longer be remembered by the world. But for the girl who carried the fate of both of them on her shoulders, her trials had only just begun.

The woman atop the church tower looked down at the tragedy unfolding below with a smile, her eyes filled with endless mockery and disdain. Perhaps to her, everything below was nothing more than a pile of insignificant pawns.

"Grand Master, that esteemed lady has fulfilled her promise, and now she needs to see our methods," a black-clad monk beside the woman reported respectfully.

"Of course, we, the Jesuits, will always be God's messengers, His Majesty's representatives on earth. That princess's life will surely be ours." After the woman murmured coldly, she gently raised her right hand, at which point a ball of golden flame danced freely in her palm.

At this moment, a golden cross on the woman's proudly erect breasts radiated a dazzling light. To be in the closest position to God, yet to be plotting murder, was a profound irony.

The Black Pope, as his name suggests, will forever remain in the shadow of the Pope and God—in the corner unseen by the divine. It's important to understand that the Catholic Church, with its thousand-year history, has not relied on so-called faith and salvation, but rather on bloodshed and violence, as exemplified by Charlemagne's conquest of Saxony and the long Crusades…

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Dead?" Gisela looked at Rita with some surprise as she reported the devastating news. She gasped and sat back down in her seat, then raised her right hand to rub her eyelids. It was all too sudden; she hadn't expected that this young man, on whom she had placed such high hopes, would end up like this.

She wouldn't feel as uncomfortable as Leopold, a complete stranger; the key difference is that he's an acquaintance...

In the original historical record, Leopold would have become one of the top generals in Europe through the crucible of war. If conditions allowed, his achievements would be no less than those of the two genius commanders of the German Empire, Hindenburg and Ludendorff, which is exactly the kind of talent that the empire, lacking famous generals, desperately needed.

Gisele is destined to become emperor, and an emperor needs not only loyal guards and wise ministers, but also capable generals, because she cannot do everything herself.

"Who did this! Tell me who did this!" Gisela slammed his hand heavily on the oak desk. Even though his wrist ached, the pain seemed insignificant compared to his anger.

Gisela's golden hair instantly turned a dazzling silver, and blue flames danced from her clenched teeth—all testifying to her extreme rage. This was Vienna! The heart of the Empire, right under her nose, and yet this had happened. In more vulgar Chinese parlance, it was like "someone defecating on her head"—how could she tolerate that?

“Your Highness, we are still investigating…” Rita lowered her head, feeling somewhat guilty, as she saw the princess so angry and strong-willed for the first time.

"Still investigating? You expect me to rely on that bunch of good-for-nothings who line their own pockets and have no intelligence-gathering ability?" The Austro-Hungarian Empire's terrible intelligence department had become so weak that it was despairing. Historically, they had failed to prevent Empress Elisabeth from being assassinated by anarchists in Switzerland, nor had they been able to avoid the tragedy in Sarajevo. Even after the start of the war, their military intelligence still relied on intelligence sharing with the German Empire.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, our people were too incompetent." Rita lowered her head, looking very guilty. This was understandable, after all, Rita had once been a bodyguard directly under the command of Queen Elizabeth, but her mission focused on protecting people and counter-espionage.

“No! This isn’t your fault. The fault lies with this corrupt system, with those old fogies unwilling to change.” Gisela lowered her clenched fist, took a deep breath, and turned towards the window. The answer to the empire’s decline should never be sought externally, because the force that rots a nation isn’t the enemy’s ships and cannons, but rather lies within the pockets and very bones of the royal family and nobility.

“Tell me about what happened here.” Gisela tried to calm herself down, then fixed her gaze on the dark-haired Jewish girl who was standing silently against the wall with her arms crossed.

“Your Highness, the man who killed Leopold was his coachman.”

"The coachman?"

"Yes, the coachman, the one who came here with Leopold, the full-time coachman. It's said he's served the Wittelsbach family for nearly thirty years." Thirty years is an unforgettable period in a person's life. It would be ridiculous to think he'd simply be hired, to betray his master for money.

"Where is he now?" It's not too late to interrogate the coachman, is it?

“He’s dead. He killed Lord Leopold and then committed suicide with the same weapon.” Rita kept her head down, not daring to look directly at the princess, whose expression was now somewhat frightening.

"Assassination followed by suicide? Gisela couldn't help but think of the group of madmen Aponia had mentioned when she met them in Italy, the Jesuits..." Besides that group, Gisela couldn't understand who else possessed such immense power to repeatedly kill her and those around her.