She changed Europe

Page 134

PS1: Please post a few comments and cast some votes, just like I'm asking you to.

Chapter 499 The Two-Headed Eagle's Rebirth: Capter 118 A Family Drama (Vote Requested)

"Little Gisela, you'd better give me an explanation." Queen Elizabeth released her hands, throwing Rita and Jeanne to the ground, and then took out a pouch that looked like a brocade pouch from her pocket.

Those present looked at the bag in Gisela's mother's hand with some confusion.

"I'm very sorry, but this is a private family time. Please go to the next room and wait for a while. You can continue your gathering after this." At this moment, Queen Elizabeth turned her gaze to Queen Eugénie, and then looked at everyone to explain.

As the mistress of Schönbrunn Palace, Queen Elizabeth's words carried considerable weight. Soon, everyone present sensibly left the room, except for Gisela's sister, Mary, who remained standing there motionless.

"Mary, you go next door too," Queen Elizabeth said, frowning as she looked at her youngest daughter who was still lingering in her room.

"Why, Mom! Aren't I part of the family?!" Mary frowned as well, her little face pouting unnaturally, making her look especially cute.

"This is between your sister and me. Get out now," Queen Elizabeth commanded sternly, hands on her hips.

"Okay, Mom." Mary finally lowered her head in disappointment, left the room, and skipped to the next room to play with Gisela's adopted daughter, Mia. Since becoming a girl, the former Rudolf had completely let himself go, but this was not a big deal for her.

The room was now empty except for the mother and daughter.

Queen Elizabeth gently smoothed her golden hair, then walked to the sofa in the center of the room and sat down, crossing her legs and appearing exceptionally serious.

Gisela straightened up, looking at her mother with some trepidation, like a little girl who had made a mistake (which she was).

"You wrote everything inside, didn't you?" Queen Elizabeth pointed to the brocade pouch on the table.

"Huh!?" Gisela nodded instinctively at first, but then seemed to remember something and began to shake her head frantically, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.

"So you mean this third one is also your masterpiece?" Queen Elizabeth's lips curled slightly, seemingly smiling, but to Gisela, it seemed like a laugh born of extreme anger, the calm before the storm.

"Yes? Or no?" the Empress asked again.

“I…” Gisela’s tongue seemed to be tied in knots. She could be calm and eloquent on the battlefield and at important gatherings, but now she was extremely nervous.

"Alas." Queen Elizabeth had already given a clear answer in her letter when she saw her daughter's behavior.

“That was a letter someone else wrote to me; I accidentally slipped it in.” Gisela’s heart skipped a beat; it seemed her mother had actually read it.

"Alright, you don't need to lie or cover it up anymore." Queen Elizabeth stood up and walked step by step towards Gisela. Standing in front of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth had to admit the fact that her daughters had grown up and were all much taller than her.

"I remember when you were born, it was winter, and the snow in Vienna was heavier than usual that year," Empress Elizabeth said, gently stroking Gisela's cheek.

“Rita should have told you that in order to give birth to you, the entire palace dared not light too many charcoal fires. From me to the servants, everyone endured the cold. You are still so restless. Even though I have the body of a magic user, you have tormented me to the point of almost fainting.”

“I still clearly remember the sound of your father’s boots clicking anxiously as he paced back and forth in the hallway outside.”

"Your sister was born weak and had congenital defects. At that time, Joseph placed great hopes on your second child, you, as he lacked a healthy heir." Joseph's concerns at the time were not unfounded, because the complex and intertwined relationships within European royal families meant that consanguineous marriage was not uncommon among the nobility, and there were many examples of children being born with congenital defects. For instance, Gisela's uncle, the former Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria, suffered from congenital epilepsy, hydrocephalus, and language and cognitive impairment, making it impossible for him to fulfill his duties as emperor. He left all state affairs to Miss Metternich.

"Your first cry made the Hofburg Palace, which had endured the cold winter, feel as if it were bathed in a spring breeze, because you would come into this world as the inheritor of six hundred years of glory and bloodline." Elizabeth changed her previous seriousness and spoke of these old stories with a somewhat emotional tone.

“Unlike your father, from the moment you were born, I have believed in you without hesitation, because your health is the greatest gift God has given me, and you have never disappointed me.” The original Gisela was able to play the piano at the age of four, a true prodigy. Although everything changed when she was twelve, with a new soul infused into her body, the one thing that remained unchanged was that the current Gisela has not disgraced the name of a genius.

"Well, little Gisela, in your eyes, am I really a good mother?" Queen Elizabeth ran her slender fingers along the tip of Gisela's nose.

How many years has it been since the mother and daughter have communicated like this?

Being born into royalty means being a political animal by nature, and they often have to pay a higher price for the so-called power!

"To me, your actions are undoubtedly worthy of your role as a mother." Of course, if we set aside certain motives, Gisela in the past was Elizabeth's trump card in her power struggle with Empress Dowager Sophie, and the main battleground in the confrontation between the two major factions within the Austrian Empire. Gisela's past seems to have intentionally or unintentionally followed the path paved for her by Empress Elizabeth, and her first real break from the shackles began when she started independently commanding battles in Italy.

Having defeated France, thwarted the Italian independence movement, resolved the Hungarian crisis, and now triumphed over Prussia, the young girl was destined to be crowned queen, but now Queen Elizabeth understood that the best thing she could do was to stand by and watch.

"Then you should read less of the Oedipus Rex, since you wrote this kind of stuff for me." Queen Elizabeth said with a hint of sarcasm, then flicked Gisela on the forehead. (Oedipus Rex is a famous ancient Greek epic poem, a tragic family drama; Queen Elizabeth's comment here was more of a joke.)

PS1: Actually, I feel that Gisela's mother, Sisi, was even more sly than a fox when she was young in the book 0v0

Chapter 500 The Two-Headed Eagle's Rebirth: Capter 119 Mother and Daughter's Heart-to-Heart Talk (Seeking Votes)

"I already told you, it really wasn't me who wrote it, Mother!" Gisela covered her forehead and looked at her elderly mother.

"Then tell me, who wrote it?"

“It was written to me by Chloris, the current princess of Prussia, and I mistakenly put it in my pocket.” Gisela, who was as lazy as a salted fish, didn’t want to hide anything anymore, so she told the truth.

"Hmm? Princess Chloris? When did you two make contact? I don't recall ever doing that." Queen Elizabeth seemed to have found a new point of interest, so she continued to ask.

“She has visited Vienna more than once. I also met her when I went to Berlin. We are about the same age and have a lot in common.”

"Hmm! It's no harm for little Gisela to make more friends; more friends mean more opportunities in the future." Queen Elizabeth thoughtfully rested her chin on her hand.

"But are you just friends?"

Gisela fell into a natural silence in response to her mother's words.

"I don't know what she's thinking, but I see how much she likes you. Do you like her? If you do, then cultivate your relationship with her more. After all, she's the future Queen of Prussia." As a member of the Habsburg family, one must be prepared to use one's body as a bargaining chip, whether one is a man or a woman.

"Huh?" Gisela never expected such words to come out of her mother's mouth, and her expression immediately became very strange.

“I’m already married,” Gisela instinctively emphasized. (The sly fox is still pretending to be faithful at this point.)

"Your father and I are still married, but I still maintain a good relationship with your Aunt Selena." Yes! A good relationship, so good that we might do some intimate things together? Gisela clearly saw the pure friendship between her mother and Master Selena as a stark contrast to Chloris, who was lusting after her.

"Marriage has never been a cage that binds our emotions for us nobles, but simply a necessary stage of growth." In fact, this is pretty much the truth. Although monogamy is advocated, marriages among European nobles are mostly for political purposes, and everything else is an open secret between the two sides.

Even Gisela couldn't guarantee that Queen Victoria, currently a single woman in her late twenties, is still a virgin. After all, for a queen, finding a lover wouldn't be too easy. (Actually, a certain single woman really is...)

“Mother, your statement feels even more… radical than mine…” Although she wanted to say “scummy,” Gisela stopped herself after considering the consequences. Her mother was someone who cared about her reputation.

"What's wrong? I'm just concerned about you. Don't think I don't know what you like. Keeping so many girls around you, I just saw that French saint and your little Rita arguing downstairs. She mentioned you several times in her speech. And there's your maid named Aponia, Miss Bella who recently made great contributions in the army, your sister's best friend Tifa, the Rothschild heiress who often visits the palace, and that mysterious Turkish masseur. Oh, and now there's this Prussian princess, and who else..." Queen Elizabeth couldn't remember for a moment.

And then there's Miss Mata Hari. Gisela really wanted to add to the list, but ultimately decided against it. What can you do when someone is lesbian? It just subtly brings a tiny bit more pretty girls into the lives of those around her.

“You will become the monarch of the empire in the future, and no one will be able to interfere with your private life. However, as your mother, I still have to remind you that even if you find a lover, please be faithful.”

"Huh!?" Although I don't know why my mom is telling me so much today, nodding is always the right thing to do.

Suddenly, Queen Elizabeth pulled Gisela into her arms, feeling the soft, comfortable sensation against her chest. Gisela felt a long-lost sense of satisfaction, clearly an instinct of her body. Queen Elizabeth gently stroked the soft cartilage of Gisela's fox ears, and soon Gisela's cheeks flushed red.

"I've wanted to touch your furry ears for a long time, but I've never had the chance." Queen Elizabeth's technique was exceptionally skilled, and what was supposed to be an intimate mother-daughter interaction became strange because of Gisela's peculiar constitution.

Gisela quickly rested her head on her mother's shoulder.

"However, I also have a principle to remind you of. Remember, never lay a hand on a married woman!" Elizabeth's reminder seemed pointed, but Gisela could no longer hear these admonitions because of the angle, and Queen Elizabeth could not see Gisela's expression at this moment.

"With someone as troublesome as you, Nina may have a tough time in the future." Thinking this way, Queen Elizabeth seemed a little sorry for the young girl.

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Mary, the younger sister, walked in, just in time to witness the scene and her older sister's somewhat distressed expression.

"Mother, sister! What are you doing?!" Mary's envious and sorrowful cry echoed throughout Schönbrunn Palace.

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.

On the second day of the meeting, a grand triumphal procession was proceeding smoothly in Vienna, the capital of the Austrian Empire. Since the Battle of Leipzig, in which the empire defeated the unparalleled hero Napoleon, it had been a long time since such a grand military celebration had been held.

This imperial military parade not only invited traditional European countries, but also the United States of America and other American countries such as Mexico, making it a grand event comparable to a world exposition.

The square outside the Hofburg Palace was already teeming with people, both locals and tourists, all eagerly anticipating the grand event.

At 8:00 AM local time, Field Marshal Benedek, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Allied Forces, appeared in the center of the street on a white warhorse. Countless soldiers in dress uniforms, carrying captured Prussian flags and unit insignia, placed them in a corner of the square. Among the flags were those of several units that had distinguished themselves in Europe. For example, there was the Prussian Field Marshal Blücher's Cavalry Division, which had been the first to enter the battlefield during the crucial Battle of Waterloo, playing a key role in defeating the French. This unit originally belonged to Frederick's Second Prussian Army Corps, which had been completely annihilated by the Austrian army at the Battle of Carpathia.

Upon witnessing the army's victory, the Viennese citizens watching the triumphant parade erupted in thunderous cheers; they hadn't felt such awe in a long time.

PS1: Ra!

Chapter 501 The Rebirth of the Two-Headed Eagle: Capter 120 The Empire's Triumphant March (Seeking Votes)

Now they can proudly tell their foreign friends that they are proud to be part of a great empire. The empire remains strong and will continue to be strong.

Benedek, now the center of everyone's attention, nodded slightly, glanced at the mountain of spoils, cracked his whip, and galloped forward. He was heading straight for Princess Gisela, who was now dressed in military attire, her long hair neatly tied back. To match her imposing presence, Gisela had also, for the first time in a long time, sported silver hair.

Those familiar with the course of this war know very well that the young princess played a crucial role in the war. Her brilliant raid completely changed the stalemate of the war, tilting the scales of victory firmly in the hands of the Austrians, and ultimately laying the foundation for the victory.

Benedek, mounted on his warhorse, scanned the soldiers standing on either side of him and saluted them. These soldiers deserved the marshal's respect because they were true heroes who had been on the battlefield and experienced bloody battles.

Soon the marshal's warhorse stopped in front of Gisela. He then dismounted, took the reins, and came to Gisela, bowing down.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Allied Forces' review troops are fully prepared."

"You've worked hard." Gisela waved her hand, her tone calm, yet revealing the aloofness unique to her in this state. She then adjusted her military cap, mounted her warhorse, and slowly rode forward. Marshal Benedek quickly mounted his mount as well, keeping pace with Gisela, and inspected the troops.

"Long live Her Highness the Princess! Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Empire!" The soldiers' cheers resounded through the sky. For these soldiers who had fought alongside Gisela, the intelligent and powerful princess was their faith. Rather than praying for God's protection or Mars' blessing, they preferred to believe that the princess would lead them to victory. Because from Italy onwards, this was how they had fought their way up.

It took Gisela nearly twenty minutes to inspect the troops. She then dismounted and, under the watchful eyes of those present, removed her military cap.

“I propose that before the triumphal procession, we observe thirty seconds of silence for the victims of this war on both sides. Whether they were our fallen soldiers, the dead enemies, or the suffering civilians, they all deserve our remembrance and respect.” Gisela bowed his head first and fell into silence.

Seeing the princess's actions, everyone lowered their heads, and the vast Heroes' Square fell into silence, with only the birds singing in the sky.

"My subjects! The empire has won! Let us cheer!" Gisela raised her hands, her purple eyes scanning her surroundings. Using her magical power, she could clearly convey her words to the ears of every person in the crowd.

The shouts of the crowd far surpassed those before; the sound crashed against the surrounding buildings like ocean waves, shaking them violently.

At this moment, Emperor Joseph, standing in the stands, gazed at his daughter with satisfaction. Never before had he been so convinced of how correct his decision had been. She was capable of bearing the weight of the crown, and perhaps she was more suited to be the emperor of the empire than he was.

Queen Elizabeth also kept a close eye on her daughter, knowing full well her daughter's extraordinary qualities and that she would bring even more surprises to the world in the future, and would also steer the empire in a new direction.

Rita gazed at Gisela in the distance with reverence; in her eyes, Gisela had always been as dazzling as the sun.

Jeanne looked at Gisela with a complicated expression. She didn't know whether she should be happy or disappointed. If she was happy, it would be a gesture of goodwill towards Gisela, which, in her subjective view, would be tantamount to a betrayal of Richelieu. But if she was unhappy, it would seem petty and narrow-minded, which would be unfair to Gisela, who had been so good to her.

Aponia gazed at Gisela, whose expression seemed indifferent, yet her bright purple eyes seemed to flicker with flames, just like Gisela in her eyes, who did great things in the ordinary, redeeming others without a care in the world, and Rita happened to be the one she redeemed.

Hannah gazed at Gisela with blessing and anticipation. She had never been so certain that this princess was her promised land, and that Solomon's wealth and the Queen of Sheba's intrigue would surely create a new legend. (From the Old Testament; here, Solomon represents the Rothschild family, the Queen of Sheba represents Gisela, and the promised land represents divine reward.)

Shahrado looked at Gisela with a sense of guilt, for ever since she was forced to cooperate with the British and betrayed Gisela, she had never returned to Gisela's side. If it had ended there, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but her homeland, the Ottoman Empire, was now facing an invasion by the Russian Empire, and the weak Ottoman army was no match for them. As a Pasha (a special title for generals in Ottoman), she felt obligated to shoulder her responsibilities, and thus, she had to rescue Gisela once again.

Thinking of all this, she clenched her fists and looked at the old photo again. She was willing to give everything to protect Sultana.

"Everyone has their own worries, and where will their fleeting fate lead them?" At this moment, Marta, who was on a rooftop, watched the military parade below with great interest. As someone who had remained neutral throughout, her unique perspective always allowed her to see through many things, so she couldn't help but sigh.

"Even the First Intelligence Queen, renowned throughout Europe for her beauty and wisdom, has moments of reflection. Today, I've truly had a feast for the eyes." A soft female voice reached Marta's ears. Marta slowly turned her head and saw a blonde girl with golden eyes. The girl was wearing an exquisitely tailored dress, and every gesture exuded the elegance and composure of an old-fashioned aristocrat.

"Who are you?" Marta was not omniscient; there were many things she didn't know, and she clearly didn't recognize the girl in front of her.

"Me? I am but a wandering soul that has been lost for hundreds of years, a part of a glorious history long forgotten." The girl's murmur was as ethereal as a nun reciting scriptures, but her eyes held the fervor and confidence of a lion.

"The trajectory of fate should steer us in the direction we desire; as for deviations, let them be corrected." The girl slowly walked towards Marta and finally stopped in front of her.

PS1: General Benedek

Chapter 502 The Rebirth of the Two-Headed Eagle: Capter 121 Hohenstaufen's Long-cherished Wish (Seeking Votes)

“My name is Gladys von Hohenstaufen, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

"Hohenstaufen? The Hohenstaufen of Barbarossa with the red beard?" Apparently, the family's bloodline came to an end in 1268 when the last male heir was beheaded in Naples.

Admittedly, for well-known reasons, the Holy Roman Empire is perceived by most people as a very loose political entity, but in fact, it was a very powerful state in its early days, and its power reached its zenith during the reign of Barbarossa of Hohenstaufen (Frederick I).

"Yes, as you know, our Three Lions family has never disappeared. Now we hope that this land will be reunited, whether in our hands or in the hands of our descendants." Here, "descendants" refers to the current Habsburg dynasty.

“She is intelligent and outstanding. You have not misjudged her, just as I observed in my past interactions with her at Schönbrunn Palace.”

"Have you seen her before?" Marta looked at the silver-haired, fox-eared girl in the distance.

"Although she only promised gold as a bargaining chip for her later economic reforms, that was just a touchstone for me, just like the Rothschild family."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Marta frowned slightly, because she disliked being spoken to when the other person had an informational advantage, as it made her feel very passive.

"Because I want to hire you to stay by her side completely, to keep an eye on her every move. Of course, you are free to do whatever you want during this time."

"So, can you offer me a satisfactory reward?" If she were to say, "Why should I agree to such an answer?", then that wouldn't be Marta; clearly, this kind of answer is more in line with her personality.

"The truth you've been seeking." Gladys smiled slightly and turned to leave.

"I promise you." For the first time, Marta's usually carefree expression flashed with an unprecedented seriousness, because she desperately needed the truth from the other party, something that even she, as the Queen of Intelligence, was powerless to obtain.

As the Austrian Empire celebrated its victory, in the far north, a sleeping giant bear slowly opened its eyes, its vengeful fury already turned south.

Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire

In 1712, Peter the Great, the first emperor of the Russian Empire, abandoned the original capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and moved the heart of the nation there, thus beginning a new and glorious chapter for a great nation. In just a century, this once remote northern barbarian state had become a vast empire spanning three continents (Europe, Asia, and America, including Alaska), with a population exceeding one hundred million. This enormous population made it one of the most feared powers in Europe at the time.

Even a great figure like Polina, a darling of her time, ultimately met her demise at the gates of Moscow, leading her defeated army in a hasty retreat back to France. Russia is indeed favored by the gods, and its strength is invariably dependent on generations of great rulers.

At this moment, Tsar Alexander II was standing on the balcony of the Winter Palace, gazing at the calm waters of the Neva River and feeling the refreshing river breeze. His mood was as calm as the river itself.

"Your Majesty, there have been 124 rebellions recently, 22 fewer than last year." To wash away the shame of Crimea and to make Russia strong again like his ancestor Peter the Great, Alexander II decided to learn from the advanced systems of Western countries. In 1861, he abolished serfdom, liberating peasants bound to the land by the nobility, hoping they would inject some vitality into the stagnant Russian society.

Unfortunately, reforms never go as planned. His determination was initially met with unanimous opposition from the nobles. Rebellions and assassinations kept him from having a peaceful day. Once the nobles were appeased, the peasants who had previously praised him as a "liberator" began to express their dissatisfaction.

When they were serfs, they only needed to think about eating and working; even their marriages were decided by their lords. Now, having spent their entire lives to gain freedom, they find that they have long since lost the means to survive. Land, housing, and countless other issues require them to solve on their own. Russian society, due to reforms, has lost its original sense of comfort. This restlessness has filled every individual and every class in the country with unease and confusion.

To unite Russian society and ease its sharp contradictions was Tsar Alexander II's primary task, and the new war against the Ottoman Empire was precisely his means of easing domestic tensions. After all, for humanity, the power of revenge is always a strong and enduring driving force.

"It's because of the war, isn't it?" Alexander II said, sitting down on the balcony chair without turning his head.

"Yes, Your Majesty."