She changed Europe

Page 21

"Damn it!" I have to call Rita back. Gisela looked down at her skirt in the mirror.

"I feel a little horrified for some reason..." I have to admit that Sisi is indeed a natural beauty. Her daughter is even more beautiful, with long, slender legs without any excess fat. Her perfect 0.618 is so impressive. Of course, the most important thing is her pair of golden animal ears and tail, which are surprisingly cute with their fluffy fur.

Raising her hand and pointing downwards, across the golden field, Gisela subconsciously conjured up some strange thoughts. The exciting scenes from when she first arrived in this world flooded her mind once again, and that special feeling that only girls had seemed to be awakened again. Yes, just thinking about that feeling, Gisela felt a kind of imperceptible mist of moisture emanating from her body.

"Cough cough!" Gisela patted her cheeks, her cute little face turning slightly red from the action. "I'm not that kind of person, how could I indulge in such strange trifles!" she thought to herself.

"Never mind, I'll just take a shower first." Gisela quickly went into the bathroom and began to take off her clothes. Soon, the sound of the shower running could be heard. Of course, if you listened carefully, you would also hear that "singing voice," which was very low but still clear and melodious.

At 7 p.m. local time in Berlin, at an unnamed Hohenzollern family estate on the outskirts of Berlin, various carriages were already parked outside. Many prominent entrepreneurs, businessmen, and politicians in Berlin had received an invitation from Her Highness Princess Cloris, and the purpose of the banquet was said to be to celebrate the arrival of a distinguished guest in Berlin that day.

Old Hans was one of the "well-known entrepreneurs" who received the invitation. His family was in the shipbuilding business, and the company headquarters was located in Neunøy, in the Duchy of Oldenburg. Although he did not belong to the Kingdom of Prussia by nationality, the Duchy of Oldenburg had agreed to sell 313 hectares of land in Neunøy to Prussia in the Treaty of Yad in 1853 for the purpose of building the Prussian navy. His company was located on this purchased land. Because he served the kingdom, he could actually be considered a Prussian entrepreneur.

Most people won't have much of an impression of Neunøyd in later generations, because after 1869 it had a more familiar name: Wilhelmshaven. Historically, Emperor Wilhelm I, who unified Germany, visited here and named the city after himself. Since then, it has been an important port for the German High Seas Fleet and later the Third Reich Fleet.

Old Hans looked around, trying to find an old acquaintance to learn about the details of tonight's banquet. For him, King William III's youngest daughter, Chloris, was the most mysterious member of the Hohenzollern royal family. Yet today she was hosting a grand banquet to welcome a visitor. If he didn't have any information to back him up, he would seem rather foolish.

"Hey! Charles, long time no see!" Old Hans extended his right hand and patted the man who was chatting with the beautiful lady on the shoulder.

"Look who I see! Long time no see, Uncle Hans, what brings you here? Are you hoping to meet a muse at this banquet?" The young man named Charles said jokingly. Because the two were familiar with each other, old Hans did not take the young man's teasing to heart at all.

"Didn't your father come?" Hans asked. After all, the reason Hans knew this playboy named Charles was because he and Charles were close friends. Their family was in the shipping industry, so the two families had many opportunities to cooperate and naturally had a good relationship.

“As you know, my father is a supporter of Crown Prince Frederick. It’s hardly a wise thing to have him appear at a banquet hosted by his rivals for the throne.” Although Crown Prince Frederick has received more attention from Emperor William III, he is, after all, only a mage, and there is a clear gap in strength between him and his sister Chloris, who is a mage. In the Kingdom of Prussia, which values ​​strength and has a strong martial spirit, he must spend more time cultivating his relationships with various social classes in the country if he wants to ensure the stability of his position.

The fact that the other party had demands and they had needs led many emerging bourgeois entrepreneurs to eagerly curry favor with Crown Prince Frederick, who represented the Junker aristocracy. This political climate was also quite common in the Kingdom of Prussia.

PS1: Thank you for your first order! Sincerely, Cat Girl.

Chapter 74 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 8 The Pressure Should Be Transferred to the Stomach (Please Subscribe)

“Anyway, everyone knows what kind of person I am. My father has already made the family’s position clear. I’m worried about you. As the head of the kingdom’s famous shipbuilding industry and so close to the military, haven’t you seriously considered the issue of ‘taking a gamble’?” Charles reached out and took a glass of wine from a passing servant, taking a small sip.

"The wines from Château Hartshausen are still as wonderful as ever. Princess Chlorise is truly generous. It's a pity the flavor is too weak. Personally, I prefer the wines from Château Bacengl in Austria. Austrian wines, like their women, are the most charming and flavorful." Charles seemed to be talking to himself, then glanced at the beautiful blonde girl standing apart from the crowd, and her tall and elegant companion Rita beside her. Clearly, their appearance had attracted the attention of most people present.

"Forget about politics. I just want to run my shipyard well. No matter who leads the kingdom in the future, I only hope that the kingdom will develop better and better. After all, no one has done a better job than Ms. Bismarck." Hans sighed. Because he had stumbled in political speculation in his early years, he had become unusually conservative in his attitude towards political issues.

"Uncle Hans, come closer, I have a question for you." Hans slowly walked to Charles's side, and Charles leaned close to his ear and whispered, "If we disregard other factors, who do you sincerely hope will become the future leader of the Kingdom of Prussia?"

"This..." Old Hans fell into deep thought upon hearing Charles's words. Crown Prince Frederick was the undisputed heir to the throne. He was decisive, brave, and humble. He was conservative, but without a doubt, a traditional Prussian monarch who conformed to the values ​​of the Junker nobility.

But the Kingdom's Prime Minister, Miss Bismarck, once said that the future would be an era of great change. Therefore, the person who would steer the Kingdom's future course should not be someone who sticks to the old ways; he should be a navigator leading Prussia to the unknown new continent. The mysterious Princess Chloris might be able to take on this responsibility. Of course, this was just his idea, because he couldn't say that he knew Chloris well; he could only get a glimpse of her through the aspects she had shown.

"Hehe! Uncle Hans, there's no need to rush to answer me. You just need to have a vague answer in your mind. Don't worry too much about these trivial matters. We're here to enjoy ourselves today." With that, Charles skillfully put his arm around his female companion's waist, leaned his head close to her ear, and whispered something while gently inhaling her hair. At the same time, he led her towards the dance floor in the center of the hall.

"Forget dancing, I'll just have a drink and chat." Hans picked up the other glass of wine that Charles had just placed on the table and began to sip it.

It's just the beginning of the various objections from Er Yi's five wives and Jiu Lu Shan.

"Please don't be nervous, Your Highness! Although this is your first time attending a social banquet hosted by another country, you are a distinguished figure bearing the name of the Habsburgs. According to the hierarchy of the old era, you are the lord of the Hohenzollern family." Rita was absolutely right about this. In Europe, only the monarch of the Holy Roman Empire could call himself emperor. The Habsburg family had long controlled the imperial throne, while the Hohenzollern royal family was nominally only a vassal of Brandenburg, one of the seven electors. From the perspective of noble lineage, the Habsburg family was clearly much more noble.

"Rita, do I look nervous to you?" Gisela smiled as he looked at Rita beside him, his right hand secretly around Rita's slender waist, making him look more like a seasoned playboy.

“Rita, you look so beautiful in your evening gown, I really love this backless style.” Gisela raised her left index finger and secretly drew circles on Rita’s fair back with her small hand, her light blue eyes “affectionately” observing her maid’s somewhat troubled expression.

Today, Rita wore a purple evening gown, which completely showcased her great figure, which was usually hidden under her maid outfit, giving Gisela a refreshing feeling.

Why do women like clothes? Because different clothes bring them different styles. Obviously, seeing Rita in front of her, Gisela deeply understood the importance of this principle.

“Here we are not master and servant, but partners. Your name is Rita Kodigi von St. Gallen, daughter of the Count of St. Gallen, a true imperial noblewoman. And of course, you are also my one and only companion today, Gisela Louise Marie von Habsburg.” If Gisela’s memory served her correctly, this was the first time she, as Gisela, had added the name Habsburg after her own.

“Your Highness…” Rita pursed her lips slightly. It was impossible for her not to be happy about Gisela’s words, but her good manners allowed her to suppress her joy and instead look at Gisela with a more firm and innocent gaze.

Of course, Gisela, with her straightforward and masculine personality, didn't notice the ambiguity in his words. In her view, these were just words of support for Rita. However, how the other party interpreted those words was another matter entirely.

As for Rita, she is a very special person. She is introverted and low-key, and seems to have an elegant aura towards everyone, calm and unhurried. But who would have thought that under such a disguise, she is also a dangerous woman who can plunge a dagger into the opponent's vitals without hesitation?

“Your Highness, shall we go get something to eat?” Rita gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, clearly trying to avoid clouding her judgment and to calm herself down from her excitement. She then looked at the food nearby and suggested to Gisela.

"Hmm! Good idea."

In this way, the Austrians skillfully shifted the pressure from their brains to their stomachs, and the truffles and foie gras on the long table in the distance, as well as the white sausage popular in Bavaria, had already firmly attracted their attention.

"I desire both the important matter and food; but I cannot have both. I must abandon the important matter for food." This is probably the true inner monologue of the master and servant at this moment.

"But go get me some first, I'll stand here for a while." However, as a former shut-in, Gisela clearly doesn't like crowded places. Although she doesn't have social anxiety, habits formed over the past 20 years are not easily corrected.

“Then please wait a moment, Your Highness.” Rita nodded and turned to leave. She didn’t need to ask Gisela what she liked to eat, because she knew all about His Highness’s preferences.

Gisela turned her gaze to a corner of the hall, where she noticed a pair of scarlet eyes, watching her like a predator. The intense, even dangerous, gaze made Gisela uncomfortable.

PS1: You can think of Bismarck as the BSM character from Azur Lane.

Chapter 75 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 9 The Woman Named Cross

Following her gaze, a girl with long silver-gray hair came into view. She was exceptionally beautiful, the most beautiful person Gisela had ever seen. If it weren't for the fact that the girl looked quite young and lacked the gentleness and tolerance of her mother, Queen Elizabeth, Gisela believed that she herself, as a man in her previous life, might have actually fallen in love with her.

For Gisela, for some reason, her first impression of this woman was one of inexplicable unease, as if she were facing a formidable natural enemy.

"Who is she?" This was a question that Gisela was extremely curious about, and the girl in front of her was so special and mysterious that she was particularly concerned about her.

Of course, astute readers will naturally know that this mysterious young woman is none other than the host of today's banquet, Chloris Eliza von Hohenzollern.

Ever since the Siemens incident, she had been keeping a close eye on Gisela's movements, because this Austrian princess, whom she had never met, had brought her so many surprises. From inviting the unknown Mr. Siemens, to searching for the real Iron Crown, to thwarting the Italians' conspiracy, and unexpectedly becoming a magic user with some Eastern features.

Prussian intelligence was clearly powerful; they could always easily obtain information about the Austrians' movements, including the actions of Princess Gisela. They believed they could easily grasp everything, but they were completely unable to analyze Gisela's motives or know what this Austrian princess was secretly plotting.

The endless mysteries and questions made her increasingly interested in this princess she had never met. But today, from the moment Gisela first appeared, she was able to recognize this rival at a glance, which is why Gisela felt the burning gaze.

"Tsk! Even cuter than I expected." Chloris licked her lips, revealing an elegant yet wicked smile, and murmured to herself in a voice only she could hear.

But that's fine too, since such an opponent is obviously more fun to conquer for her. Now she can't wait to see how this cute young Austrian fox princess performs in bed, and whether she will live up to the name of the Habsburgs.

Thinking of this, Chloris licked her lips, took a glass of wine from the servant, and walked towards Gisela.

“The dead of winter will soon be gone.” Chloris raised her glass as she approached Gisela and recited a poem.

“Spring seems to have arrived.” Gisela smiled serenely and nodded softly in reply. (This poem is from Goethe's *The Sorrows of Young Werther*.)

Their eyes met, and in the candlelight, they saw only each other.

"Welcome to Berlin, Your Highness Princess Gisela." Chloris was very polite, but the eerie smile on her lips sent a chill down Gisela's spine, and her ears twitched slightly—not out of fear, of course!

"Thank you for your hospitality, Princess Chloris." Gisela glanced at the exceptionally beautiful gemstone brooch on Chloris's clothes, and from the emblem on the brooch, she determined the identity of the girl who greeted her.

"Do you know how far it is from Berlin to Vienna?" Chloris chuckled as she posed a somewhat odd question to Gisela in this setting.

"I'm sorry, I don't know." Gisela couldn't answer this unexpected question immediately.

"It is 598 miles, or 962 kilometers. This distance of less than 1,000 kilometers passes through four countries: Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, and Austria. On this land, which is not much different from France, there are still about twenty independent sovereign states. In earlier times, there were nearly three hundred princes on this land."

"A thousand years have passed and this country has never been truly unified. People can easily find Prussia, Austria, Saxony, and Hanover on a map, but they just can't find Germany. The people yearn for national unity, but the greatest enemy of unity is foreign countries, the bayonets and cannons of the European powers. The only way to deal with violence is to resort to violence."

"Dignity lies only on the edge of the sword, and truth only within the range of the cannon." The clever Gisela quickly realized who this familiar tone came from. Without a doubt, it was Bismarck, the current Prime Minister of Prussia. Only that woman would say such a thing. Out of respect for Bismarck, Gisela quoted this sentence at this moment to show that she understood him.

"Your Chancellor Bismarck is absolutely right. Unifying Germany requires force. I know that by 'foreign countries,' you mean Germany that excludes us Austrians."

Hearing this, Chloris looked at the unexpectedly intelligent blonde girl in front of her with great interest. Despite being only 12 years old, she possessed a political acumen and vision that rivaled even the kingdom's most far-sighted advisors.

She should have been the kind of pampered, silly girl, but now it seems that her attention was indeed the right thing to do.

"The German Confederation only needs one leader, and that leader can only be born between our two countries." It should be noted that Prussia and Austria are still diplomatic allies, and they are preparing to send troops to attack the Kingdom of Denmark soon. Yet Gisela said these words to the Prussian princess, which suggests that both sides have a clear understanding of certain things.

"Hahaha! Gisela Louise Marie, you really are the most interesting person I've ever met." Chloris raised her hand and downed the small glass of wine in one gulp.

"It's a pity that neither you nor I can control the fate of the country right now, otherwise I would really like to see what the Austro-Hungarian Empire would become in your hands one day."

"The empire will still be an empire, but what kind of empire it will be, only God knows." As a potential rival, Gisela wouldn't let a few kind words make him complacent and reveal all his future plans and trump cards.

“Let’s stop here for now.” With that, Chloris stood in front of Gisela, tilting her head back and looking at the crowd in the hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my dinner party, Chloris Elizabeth von Hohenzollern. I'm sure you're all familiar with me. Now, let me introduce another distinguished and mysterious guest tonight." Chloris grabbed Gisela's wrist and, with practiced ease, pulled her into her arms, leading her to the guest.

Gisela was clearly unprepared for this sudden action and could only submit to the Prussian princess as she was pulled into her arms.

“Her name is Gisela Louise Marie, a beautiful and noble princess of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Yes, just as you think, she is a member of the glorious Habsburg family.” Chloris spoke calmly, clearly very skilled at organizing banquets.

PS1: Please post more tidbits! 0v0! Kyouka is also one of my favorite characters.

Chapter 76 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland: Capter 10 The Rose of Vienna (Seeking votes and subscriptions)

"This is His Highness Gisela's first visit to Berlin. As our Kingdom of Prussia's most steadfast ally and also the chairman of our German Confederation, Austria-Hungary will join hands with us in the coming days to reclaim the Schleswig and Holstein region from the despicable Danish invaders."

"Of course, that's a matter for several months from now. Everyone here is one of the most outstanding people in the Kingdom of Prussia, so you should all have heard about this. We've gathered here from our busy schedules, not for this pointless war, but to present Her Highness Princess Gisela with a welcoming ceremony befitting her status." Chloris exuded a naturally powerful aura, which was almost the opposite of the low-key and reserved Gisela at the moment.

Facing the somewhat intense gazes from all the guests in the hall, Gisela could only pray that the beautiful young woman before her wouldn't cause her any trouble...

"I heard that when His Highness Gisela was only 4 years old, he was able to play a piano piece for all the guests at a banquet. His Highness's musical talent must be extraordinary now. So I have a suggestion: why don't we all give him a topic on the spot and let His Highness Gisela improvise a piece to liven up the atmosphere?"

Alright! Gisela withdrew her prayer and raised her sapphire-like eyes again to examine Chloris, who had long silver-gray hair. As if to confirm Gisela's thoughts, Chloris's lips curled into a playful smile.

"Your Highness's suggestion is agreed!" Just as Chloris had hoped, countless voices of support rang out. Clearly, this was a prank by the wicked Prussian princess to torment Gisela.

"Tsk!" If it were the original Gisela, then as a genius girl who had been playing the piano at the court since she was 4 years old, a lively musical performance would naturally be no challenge for her. On the contrary, it would be an excellent stage to showcase herself.

Unfortunately, Gisela doesn't believe he has that talent. Let alone playing the piano, he had never even touched one before. So, if this isn't handled properly, it could affect his reputation and the country's prestige, even though it's an informal diplomatic occasion with many Prussian officials and businessmen in attendance.

“Your Highness Gisela, look at all the guests here, they’re all so eager. Don’t you want us to catch a glimpse of your beauty?” Chloris looked at Gisela with a pleased expression, then traced Gisela’s fair back with her index finger once more. But this time Gisela deliberately dodged, her small hand never touching the woman.

"I'm not some kind of demon!" This is probably the true reflection of Chloris at this moment.

Gisela frowned, her face full of displeasure as she glared at the extremely ill-tempered Prussian princess before her. If it weren't for the large crowd and the need to maintain her dignity as an imperial princess, she would have already rolled up her sleeves and started fighting. After all, she had reached her limit.

When Austria becomes powerful in the future, it will definitely teach Prussia and their princess a lesson. As the saying goes, fortunes change, and one should never underestimate a young person's potential.

“Since Your Highness has no objection, let’s start saying keywords randomly!” Chloris tilted her head, deliberately avoiding looking at Gisela’s somewhat angry expression, and instead smiled at the guests in front of her and said softly.

"You!" Gisela gritted her teeth, clearly very angry.

“Then let me say the first word, ‘lover’!” Chloris turned around and looked at her with her scarlet eyes, deliberately appearing to be looking at her with deep affection, as if she were really confessing her love. Unfortunately, her wicked smile silently reminded Gisela of the evil true nature of this Prussian princess.

“Today’s dishes contain a lot of spices, so let’s make it thyme!” A middle-aged man raised his hand and said. Judging from his attire, this man was a well-mannered nobleman.

“Yes, Marquis Ludwig, you have provided our princess with the second keyword, thyme.” Chloris nodded in understanding.

“The ladies here today are all so noble and charming, so let’s choose ‘the lady’,” said playboy Charles, who also seemed quite interested and joined in the “difficult” questioning of Princess Gisela.

“I wish to stay by Your Highness’s side forever, even if it’s just sewing. May I add ‘needle and thread’ to that?” Rita said with a smile after bowing to everyone. Clearly, Rita was also looking forward to it after hearing that Princess Chloris wanted Princess Gisela to play the piano.

"Disgusting...maid!" For the first time, Gisela felt an urge to punish her maid on the spot. She would definitely teach her a lesson about the proper way to be a mistress and servant when she had the chance!

“Including needle and thread, that makes four. Let’s add another keyword. Does anyone else want to suggest one?” Chloris raised her hand and addressed the guests.

"Let's add the sea to the mix. I work in the shipbuilding industry, so I have a deep affection for the ocean." The speaker was Old Hans, and it was rare to see this laid-back entrepreneur so interested in this kind of activity.

“Alright! Now it’s these five words: ‘lover,’ ‘thyme,’ ‘needle and thread,’ ‘girl,’ ‘sea.’” Chloris repeated the keywords chosen by the guests, then looked at Gisela, bowed to her, and gestured for her to enter.

Gisela was too lazy to bother with the Prussian princess anymore; it was all a carefully orchestrated scheme. If she made a mistake today, she'd be utterly humiliated, but these words were completely unrelated and had no connection whatsoever. Even if Beethoven himself possessed her, he couldn't save her. Especially Rita—Gisela, thinking about being "backstabbed" again, knew that if her "weapon" was still intact, she'd make sure Rita wouldn't be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Despite her dissatisfaction, Gisela still had to perform. Thinking about this, she simply cleared her mind and seriously considered what song could fit the theme. Even if she didn't play the piano, she had to sing it. Gisela was determined to do it.

With this mindset, Gisela walked step by step to the piano. She did not rush to sit down and play, but walked to the piano and gently stroked the body of the piano. The memories that her fingertips touched gradually flooded her mind.

It was that scene, now somewhat blurred, a quiet afternoon in the teaching building, the melodious piano music drifting from the music room. Spring sunshine always brings joy and happiness, for it is the breath of life. It was on that day that the young man, just beginning to experience love, met the girl who stirred his heart. What is love? He didn't understand then, but perhaps the pursuit of beautiful things was the real reason he stayed there listening.

PS1: 0v0! Nothing much happening today.

Chapter 77 The Brandenburg Eagle and the Snows of Jutland

The naive boy would quietly sit by the window near the corridor every day, listening to the musical journeys that the long-haired girl with black hair brought him. Together they experienced Haydn's brightness and joy, Mozart's sunshine and optimism, Beethoven's generosity and passion... Music is always incredibly infectious and full of charm. At that time, he loved music and sincerely wanted to understand it.

Later, he listened to her music every day and pondered it deeply. He wanted to know her name, but he could never take that step. Then one day, after playing a final, inexplicably melancholic piece, she disappeared from his school life. No one knew where she went. The piano in the classroom was later moved from the school; the teacher said she went to a very far place to play for more people who love music…

The young boy believed all the adults' so-called explanations and kept his longing in his heart. It wasn't until years later, when he saw an anime called "Three Questions for the End of the World," that he heard the melody again. His longing and naivety for the girl were awakened from the depths of his heart once more. Only then did he realize that the song had lyrics.

"I once promised to be with that person forever, and being able to make that promise made me incredibly happy... I once felt that I loved that person, and having that feeling made me incredibly happy... He once told me, 'I will definitely make you happy...' Hearing him say that made me incredibly happy... That person shared so much of my happiness... So, now... no matter what others say... I am definitely... definitely the happiest girl in the world..."

That girl's name is Chtholly, or you could call her...

"Scarborog Fair" - a song dedicated to a loved one.

Wiping away her slightly reddened eyes, Gisela's thoughts returned to the present. She slowly sat down in her seat, straightened her skirt, and carefully observed the black and white keys before her. When did I start to hate the piano? Was it from that day? If only I had understood the meaning of your music back then.

The black and white musical notes are a bridge to the past and the future. This time, let me dedicate this song to you.

"(Are you on your way to Scarborough Fair?)" Her fingers danced across the strings, and her voice drifted into the distance. At this moment, Gisela's musical talent and Lin Wei's emotions intertwined, amplifying their infectious power.

"(Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme)" At this moment, Gisela, like a female bard, began to sing a love song with flowing lyrics.

"(Please give my regards to a girl there)" This was exactly what Gisela wanted to say to that girl.

The narration, beginning with "(She was once my lover)," ends, the tone softens, and the piano music gradually slows down.

“Tellertomake群·聊龄鸸亻尔亦伞另兒meacambricsirt” (Tell her to make me a linen shirt).

(Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme)

(No need for sewing or needlework) The emotions continue to build, and the fourth keyword gradually appears in Gisela's lyrics.