Chapter 415 Austria’s Best Diplomat
Josef immediately nodded and said: “Okay, as long as it makes you feel at ease, I can go anywhere.”
As luck would have it, he was preparing to go to Vienna even without Queen Mary's instructions.
He looked at his mother again: "Mom, what happened to make you so worried?"
"Alas, I have been taken care of by Mrs. Delvaux from the moment I was born." Queen Mary choked while wiping her tears with a handkerchief. "She gave me meticulous care."
According to the tradition of European aristocrats in the 18th century, children would be fed by wet nurses as soon as they were born. The seven children born to Queen Mary’s mother, the previous Austrian ruler Maria Theresa, were all raised by a wet nurse + tutor model.
So for Queen Mary, Mrs. Delvaux was almost her mother when she was a child, and they had a very deep feeling for each other.
It was precisely because Queen Mary lacked maternal care since childhood that she did not want her children to experience such pain. Therefore, she greatly admired Rousseau's advocacy of "following the way of nature - mothers should feed their children themselves", and she was also one of the first mothers among the European royal families to practice this concept. After her, feeding children by themselves gradually became popular among French women.
By the way, Rousseau has been promoting the concept of "mothers taking care of their children" throughout his life, but he threw all five of his children into orphanages (his wife Thérèse did not die) because he believed that he was "absolutely free”…
"Mrs. Delvaux wrote to say that her health was very bad... and that she had a little granddaughter.
"The poor child's parents died of fever when he was very young, and he was brought up with Mrs. Delvaux."
Queen Mary rambled on about Mrs. Delvaux's granddaughter, and finally said: "That child will be even more beautiful than her grandmother when she grows up, and many young nobles will pursue her.
"And that beauty also brought her trouble. A year ago, a scoundrel named Walter began to pester her. Even though she refused many times, she was still harassed by him."
Joseph frowned and said, "Does the Sheriff of Vienna not care about this matter?"
"The Sheriff dare not mess with that Baron Walter," Queen Mary looked at Mrs. Delvaux's letter, "He is the cousin of the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Maria Vidoluca."
Joseph was stunned for a moment before he connected the name with the corresponding identity: "Leopold II's brother-in-law?"
No wonder no one dared to mess with that baron—Leopold II was the man who was about to be crowned Emperor of the Shinra before his very eyes.
Queen Mary continued: "Baron Walter has a very bad reputation. Mrs. Delvaux is worried that no one in Vienna dares to interfere with his affairs, so she hopes to get Camelia, oh, her little granddaughter, to come to Paris. I will provide her with shelter.
"You know, I can't leave the Palace of Versailles easily, so I hope you can go to Vienna to send blessings to Mrs. Delvaux on my behalf, and to bring poor Camelia back."
"Well, don't worry, leave these things to me." Joseph nodded seriously.
…
Half a month later.
Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.
As the band played solemn music, Joseph, accompanied by Leopold II, walked between the honor guards standing on both sides of the road.
"I really didn't expect you to come in person." Leopold II seemed quite enthusiastic and gestured towards the main entrance of Schonbrunn Palace, "I have prepared a grand dinner for you."
Joseph politely expressed his thanks, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then turned the topic to business:
"Uncle, is there something urgent that you summoned Archbishop Talleyrand this time?" Leopold II showed a ceremonial smile:
"Haha, over the past six months, France has given great support to our country on the battlefields of Silesia and the Southern Netherlands. His Majesty asked me to express my sincere gratitude to France."
Joseph secretly muttered, if he wanted to express his gratitude, he could just give him some florins. Why did he summon the French Foreign Minister?
As the dinner continued, Leopold II suddenly raised his glass and shouted to everyone present: "With the help of French allies, General Leo has achieved a decisive victory in the Southern Netherlands. ! I believe that it will not take long for the rebels to be eliminated and order will be restored in the Southern Netherlands."
He smiled again and said to Joseph:
"And the brave French soldiers will soon be able to return to their long-missed hometown."
Amid the cheers of the Austrian nobles, Joseph smiled and raised his glass in response, but frowned in his heart - Leopold II seemed very sure that the Southern Netherlands rebels would be defeated. But I didn't get any report from the front line at all. Except for a change of defense by the Hanoverian Army a while ago, no decisive battle took place.
Leopold II continued impassionedly:
"In Silesia, our army taught the Prussians a severe lesson. In several battles at Lignitz, Marshal Lacy annihilated nearly 10,000 Prussian invaders. His cannons almost reduced the enemy's positions to scorched earth. !”
The Austrian nobles immediately cheered again:
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Marshal Lacy leads us to victory!"
"To the brave men on the Silesian front line!"
Joseph suddenly became even more confused. Austria clearly had not made any progress in Silesia, so why did Leopold II make it sound like it was about to triumph?
In this way, the banquet ended in an atmosphere of excitement and joy, followed by a dance. It was not until 11 o'clock in the evening that Joseph was finally able to return to his room.
Not long after, Talleyrand knocked on the door and entered. He bowed hastily and said solemnly: "Your Highness, the situation does not seem to be good. Count Kaunitz wants to see you immediately."
Joseph nodded, motioned for Emang to change into casual clothes, and quickly left Schonbrunn Palace with the two servants who had been waiting outside the house.
In the carriage, Talleyrand frowned and reported:
"Your Highness, according to the news I heard in Vienna, Karl II may soon withdraw to Hanover, and the Prussians will also announce that they will no longer intervene in the situation in the Southern Netherlands."
Joseph was surprised: "How is this possible?"
"It is said that Count Ferenc took the lead and persuaded Karl II and William II through minimal benefits." Talleyrand said, "He also received a commendation from His Majesty Joseph II not long ago."
Joseph sneered. If Karl II could be persuaded through diplomatic means, Prussia was fighting a national war with Austria. How could it be possible to easily reconcile with the Southern Netherlands?
"What do you think?" He looked at Talleyrand.
"It's definitely not Count Ferenc, there must be someone else behind it. But if it is true as the rumors say, our country's military presence in the Southern Netherlands will become extremely passive."
(End of chapter)