Chapter 47 Marriage Matters

October 14, 1866, Hechingen.

Ernst finally formed the first fleet of his own, which was a big step for the Hechingen consortium. In the future, with the continuous expansion of this fleet, the route will become increasingly stable.

It will bring huge benefits to Ernst. The purpose of establishing a fleet is not only a question of profitability, but also a question of whether it can be independent.

As the saying goes, a mountain falls on its back, but a mountain falls on its back. Relying on the Dutch will one day suffer a big loss, either today or tomorrow.

And having a fleet in your own hands means that you can personally participate in world trade. Overseas colonization relies on strong ships and sharp guns.

Ships are the hub that connects the world. They are the most important means of transportation in the world after the advent of the Age of Discovery. Several world hegemons have achieved their hegemony by controlling the sea.

Today, the Hechingen Consortium has established its first fleet of its own. This is not only the first step in Ernst's own career, but also a big step for the entire East African colony.

The population and materials needed by the East African colonies can be better transported through their own fleet, especially some items that were once more troublesome. The Dutch would not transport them. There are also some materials that require high confidentiality. If the Dutch can Ernst himself was not at ease when someone else took over.

Ernst, who had returned from Venice, was reading the newspaper at home when the old prince Constantine walked in from the door.

"Ernst, you are already 16 years old in the blink of an eye!" Prince Constantine said with emotion.

"What's wrong? Father." Ernst asked doubtfully.

"It's nothing, it's just a moment of emotion seeing that you have grown up and have your own career." Prince Constantine replied.

"Ernst, you are no longer a child, it's time to think about your life-long affairs!"

After hearing this, could Ernst still know what the master was thinking? As a human again, Ernst had been waiting for this day for a long time.

Ernst, who had lived two lives, was not a person who spoke with emotion. The edges and corners had long been smoothed by the polishing of his previous life.

As a nobleman in this life, Ernst himself feels that free love is nonsense. Now Ernst also puts interests first.

Marriage, especially the marriage of contemporary European aristocrats, is all about the export of interests. Normally, it was fine. He was busy with work, and Ernst himself had no time to think about these things.

Now that Prince Constantine has said it himself, he probably has a plan, so he might as well go with the flow and see what his father thinks.

"Father, do you already have a candidate?" Ernst asked deliberately.

"Haha, he is indeed my son. You all know this." Constantine took out a piece of information from behind with a smile.

"As I get older, I still want to personally take care of your marriage. Your mother left early, and I raised you up, so I naturally have to make arrangements for your marriage."

As he spoke, Constantine spread out the information in his hand and said: "This time, there are three candidates. One is Princess Heidi of Sweden introduced by your aunt, one is Princess Martha of the Russian Empire, and the other is Austrian Princess Heidi. Princess Karina."

Ernst looked at the information and asked in surprise: "Why are you so young? The oldest is only twelve, and the youngest is only ten!"

Prince Constantine hit Ernst on the head with his hand: "Are you very old yourself?"

"Ernst, you are only sixteen years old, you don't think you are an adult already, do you? I didn't get married until I was twenty-six years old, so naturally you have to wait a few years."

"These princesses are very young, but in a few years they will become grown-up girls. Of course, we must take advantage of it now. While I am still a bit thin, I can help you find a good match for you." Constantine said.

"Don't be so anxious!" Ernst asked puzzledly.

"What do you know? In recent years, there have been more and more mistakes made by European nobles, especially the royal families of various countries. I don't know what's going on. Things always happen, that is, others dare not say it. I know it in my heart. We There were not so many things going on at that time, so I will tell you this, but you must not mention it to others."

"So, I am looking for a healthy daughter-in-law. I even checked the medical history of their parents, and finally found these three who are absolutely healthy and worthy of our Hohenzollern family."

Ernst heard what his father said and understood in his heart what his father was talking about. His poor nephew Wilhelm II was a victim. Although he escaped from hemophilia, he was still suffering from a type of paralysis when he was born, resulting in The left arm is atrophic.

Thinking of this, Ernst shuddered instantly. If he remembered correctly, because of the marriage of the British royal family, hemophilia, this hereditary disease, was brought to many European royal families with the descendants of Queen Victoria, including Germany, Romania (Holland) The Hensolen family is suspected to be the biggest victim.) Greece, Croatia, Russia and Denmark...

Ernst did not know how many children Queen Victoria had. After all, he had not searched carefully, and this was not something that he, an unknown person, could interfere with.

However, I am still worried about the royal families of the above-mentioned countries. Looking at the two candidates in the information, Sweden and Russia, well, it should be fine!

The information above is very clear about their parents' situation and relationship. After all, in this era, it is normal for close relatives to marry.

None of the three candidates this time had anything to do with Britain. Ernst continued to look down.

Suddenly, Ernst discovered something incredible? To be honest, Ernst had never heard of any of these three princesses.

Among them, the Swedish princess and the Russian princess are related to their mothers, so they are connected. For example, the former Queen of Sweden, Josephine, was Ernst's aunt. She chose the first candidate, and the second Russian princess as well. There is such a connection between his mother's sister and a Russian nobleman.

But the third one was beyond Ernst’s knowledge. Princess Karina, the daughter of Emperor Maximiliano I of Mexico, was 10 years old. She had lived in the Habsburg family since she was a child, and was raised by her grandmother, Princess Sophie. Take care of and grow up...

? ? ? ? …

Ernst was filled with questions. This Princess Karina was too outrageous!

If I remember correctly? This Maximilian I was the younger brother of Franz, the current emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Habsburg family.

I have heard the name of this Mexican emperor, but I don’t remember that he had descendants in history?

If I remember correctly, because Maximiliano I had no descendants of his own, he specially adopted the descendants of the former emperor of Mexico as his adopted sons.

"Father, what's going on with Princess Karina?" Ernst asked doubtfully.

"This Princess Karina is the daughter of Maximilian I, the child born when Maximilian I and Queen Charlotte were still in Europe."

Isn't that right? Ernst doubted himself that even if history changed due to the butterfly effect of his birth, it would be impossible for his family to be connected with the Habsburgs, right?

"Father, I don't understand. Princess Karina's status in the Habsburg family is not low. She is Franz's niece and Queen Sophie's favorite. Moreover, her father is still the Emperor of Mexico. Her status and status are How could someone who is more prominent than us intentionally contact us!"

Constantine said with a smile: "This is not a good thing that Maximiliano I did himself. At that time, the entire Habsburg was opposed to him going to Mexico to take office and taking the blame for Napoleon III. In the end, this fool ignored the opposition of his family and would rather give up. My inheritance from Habsburg also has to turn over in the mud ditch in Mexico."

"It's better now. France has withdrawn its troops from Mexico. I heard that the situation of Maximiliano I is getting worse and worse. Not long ago, he and Queen Carlotta were lobbying European countries to interfere in Mexican politics."

Ernst points out: "But what does this have to do with marriage?"

"Isn't that the case? Didn't Queen Mother Sophie pay attention to it herself? When Maximiliano I went to Mexico, Queen Mother Sophie was almost angry to death. She has loved Maximiliano I the most since she was a child."

"Before Maximiliano I and Queen Carlotta went to Mexico, the situation in Mexico was turbulent, and Princess Carina was still young, so she was taken with her by Queen Mother Sophie."

"After encountering the two terrible sons of Franz and Maximilian I, Queen Mother Sophie is now a shadow of a snake. She is afraid that her descendants will be as unhappy as her two sons. So she is even more strict in education."

"For example, Maximilian I was too expensive to raise, and he was a bitch to begin with. However, he was instigated by Queen Carlotta to dream of becoming emperor, and ended up in a big mess."

"Princess Sophie feels that it is her daughter-in-law's fault that her two sons are like this, so she is more focused on status and ability when choosing her grandson-in-law."

Ernst nodded quickly upon hearing this. Ability is indeed very important.

"It's not easy to find such a person in Europe. Habsburg has no shortage of marriage partners, but Queen Mother Sophie is more interested in ability and character this time, and she finally chose you."

! ! !

Ernst was a little embarrassed to be told that he was not as good as he said.

"Of course I know my son. Needless to say, his abilities are among the first in Europe."

"My character is even better. I have never messed around. You must know that many nobles live irregular lives. Ernst, there are no scandals among people of your age. It is rare outside."

"In terms of status, our family is not bad. The Hohenzollern family is at its peak. Now Prussia and Romania belong to our Hohenzollern family. They are also considered the first in Europe. You will inherit it in the future. My position as prince.”

"Although Karina's father is the Emperor of Mexico, his position is just for the Mexicans to enjoy themselves! What is really valuable to him is his status as a member of the Habsburg family, but he had to give up his inheritance rights. Now the situation in Mexico is getting worse and worse. The more difficult it became to control, the more it became clear to everyone that there was no place for an emperor in Mexico.”

Please understand that this is a novel. Princess Karina is a fictional character, made up by me just like Ernst. Some people should not be too outrageous.