There is a saying that in a world of one eyed people, the person with two eyes becomes the abnormal one.
In any society, the minority is often subjected to pressure and scrutiny, and is forced to conform.
But as with all things, there are exceptions.
Within the British imperial family, after just a few family dinners, the atmosphere had already shifted to treating Gisela almost as Edward's fiancée.
For people who always discussed politics, international affairs, and the accumulation of wealth whenever they met, Gisela's refreshing presence felt like a form of healing, though that was not the only reason.
For Edward and Adelaide, who both viewed her very favorably, she did serve as something of a source of comfort.
Being with her allowed them to relax their constant tension.
However, William and Beatrice, who were closer to her in age, saw things differently.
"Isn't Gisela a Habsburg princess? How can she be that naive?"
"I heard it is because she grew up in a completely different environment."
"Does Austria not educate its royalty properly? I thought their imperial authority was even stronger than ours."
"Maybe they focus only on educating the crown prince and expect women to have only basic refinement."
"Even so, Austria is not foolish. They must be planning something through this marriage. What if her innocence is just an act?"
They had grown up among predators, so they struggled to recognize something so different.
Edward and Adelaide had sharper judgment, but William and Beatrice were still inexperienced.
Anything unfamiliar seemed suspicious.
"It does feel strange, but if she were hiding her true nature, Father would have noticed."
"That is true. Even if she is our age, no one could deceive Father."
"Actually, Father might already know everything and be planning to use it."
"That sounds like him. I heard he is best at turning schemes against those who create them."
"If Austria is plotting something, they might suffer even more."
"I should talk to Gisela more. It is fascinating. She seems genuinely kind, but can a royal really grow up like that? Or are we the unusual ones?"
William shrugged.
They had little experience with foreign royalty.
They had expected a rival, perhaps a subtle contest of skill and intellect.
Instead, they found something entirely different.
They had expected a young wolf, but instead a small dog wagging its tail had appeared.
"…Let us just ask Father later."
"That is the easiest way."
The younger siblings secretly hoped she might be hiding something.
But no matter how much they tested her, she revealed no cracks.
Eventually, they accepted two possibilities.
She was either far more cunning than them, or completely innocent.
They waited eagerly for Killian to act.
While the younger ones observed her with curiosity, I met Gisela directly.
"So the emperor has said nothing?"
"Yes. After Edward spoke, he did not say anything further to me."
"It was a blunt approach, but it shows he was trying to protect you."
"…Yes. And please speak comfortably. If I become engaged, I wish to regard you as a father."
I was conducting a final test.
Her character had already been proven, but this was a union between nations.
Even a small risk needed to be examined.
"Then I will speak plainly. What does Edward say about me?"
"He says you are the person he respects and loves the most. And all your children feel the same. I find that remarkable."
"That is an exaggeration."
"No. My own father was too busy to spend time with us. Yet you seem even busier and still receive such love. That must mean you have given them great care."
That was not entirely the reason.
But there was no need to correct her.
I smiled and changed the topic.
"If this marriage proceeds, we will become family. As the head of the household, I should give you a gift. Tell me what you want."
"I am already grateful. Princess Adelaide has given me many gifts. Asking for more would feel improper."
As expected, Adelaide had already moved ahead.
Still, I needed to understand her desires.
If she requested something, it would reveal her priorities.
Even if it involved helping her homeland, that was acceptable as long as it remained within limits.
"…May I make a difficult request?"
"Of course. Speak freely."
"It is about my younger brother, Crown Prince Rudolf."
Rudolf.
A troubled heir in the original timeline.
"I grew up relying on him, and I worry about him. His education has been very harsh. I thought perhaps he could study here instead."
"Bringing the Austrian crown prince to London…"
It was an excellent opportunity.
Not only would it stabilize him, but it could shape Austria's future leadership.
"I will speak with Emperor Franz Joseph I. We can provide education equal to his current training, even better if needed."
"Thank you so much."
She was deeply moved.
"If he comes, we will ensure he is comfortable. He can grow alongside my children."
She thanked me again, nearly in tears.
This was unexpected.
A perfect opportunity had appeared.
The idea of the Austrian crown prince studying in Britain would complicate matters for Otto von Bismarck.
And for me, it was a powerful move.
Gisela truly was a fortunate addition.
***
"Send Rudolf to London? For what reason?"
That was the first reaction of Franz Joseph I when he heard the proposal from London.
"You want our crown prince to study there? Is this not a declaration that you intend to turn us into a pro British faction?"
From Austria's perspective, the request was absurd.
Taking in key figures from another nation and educating them to become favorable was a tactic that had existed since the days of ancient Rome.
To attempt it so openly was both shocking and infuriating.
"Your Majesty, it does not seem to be their intention."
"How could it not be? We yielded once, and now they think they can make such demands. If Rudolf goes to London, who will educate him? He will be surrounded by instructors loyal to the British Empire."
"This was not proposed by the British royal family, but requested by Princess Gisela."
"…What? That child? Why would she do that?"
"Perhaps she was simply worried about her younger brother."
That explanation made more sense.
It was not something Killian would propose so directly.
The situation became more complicated.
"What does Rudolf think? Would he not resist leaving his homeland?"
"On the contrary, he wishes to go as soon as possible."
"…Such weakness."
Franz Joseph frowned.
He believed his son must endure hardship.
But the ministers remained silent.
Rudolf's upbringing had been excessively harsh.
Training meant to prepare him for leadership had instead left deep scars.
He had been forced into extreme conditions, sent into the cold, isolated, and subjected to military style discipline beyond what a child could bear.
Even Empress Elisabeth had once protested when she learned the truth.
The result was clear.
Rudolf had suffered deeply.
With Gisela gone, he had lost his only emotional support.
Now, being invited to London, he had no reason to refuse.
"Your Majesty, refusing this request would damage relations. It would also reflect poorly on us, as it comes from Princess Gisela, who may soon become Crown Princess of Britain."
"…Then we have no choice."
There was no alternative.
Gisela had initiated it.
Rudolf wanted it.
Britain had accepted it.
Austria could not refuse.
"At least they promise proper treatment and education. And stronger relations between our nations."
"Very well. Then can we assume they will handle Schleswig?"
Prussia was advancing rapidly.
If left unchecked, it would consume everything.
Austria alone could not stop it.
"…Perhaps Gisela has given us an unexpected advantage."
Though unintended, her action created an opportunity.
Austria could send Rudolf without losing face, while gaining British support.
It was the best possible outcome under the circumstances.
Meanwhile, Otto von Bismarck continued advancing against Denmark.
But even victory had limits.
Territory could not simply be claimed without justification.
Even a victorious nation had to act within accepted norms.
"Holstein will be incorporated first. That much will not face strong opposition."
"But Schleswig is more complicated."
"Southern areas are manageable, but the north still resists."
Suggestions were made.
Population movement.
Forced integration.
But complications remained.
Russia and Austria opposed full annexation.
Directly ignoring them could create larger problems.
Even if individually weak, together they could pose a threat.
"We must proceed carefully."
Everything depended on balance.
Provoking too many powers would be dangerous.
Still, the plan remained viable.
Britain would eventually intervene.
Denmark would concede.
Prussia would gain Schleswig-Holstein.
Then—
"…The Austrian crown prince is going to London?"
The report stunned him.
"Yes. It has been confirmed."
"That makes no sense. Killian would not request that directly."
"It appears Princess Gisela initiated it."
Bismarck paused.
"…This is an unexpected variable."
Sending a young crown prince abroad was not unusual.
But at Rudolf's age, it meant something deeper.
A child raised in another country would inevitably adopt its values.
This meant Britain could influence not only the future Crown Princess, but also Austria's future emperor.
"…Gisela."
His perception shifted.
Reports had described her as timid and fragile.
Yet this move suggested something else entirely.
"She has played a remarkable move."
If true, it complicated everything.
Britain would not ignore Austria's position after receiving such trust.
Prussia's plans would face new constraints.
"Could this be coincidence?"
"No. We cannot assume that."
Bismarck rejected the idea.
To dismiss it as chance would be dangerous.
"From now on, we must not underestimate Austria."
His thoughts deepened.
Perhaps Franz Joseph was not as passive as he seemed.
Perhaps Gisela herself was more than she appeared.
Either way, caution was necessary.
Bismarck stared at the map.
And for the first time, Austria became a greater concern than before.
***
In the past, the passing of a year only felt like another number added to the calendar and to one's age, but recently it felt different.
Before, I would dismiss age as just a number, but now I could no longer laugh it off so easily.
The difference between one's forties and fifties, and between fifties and sixties, was significant.
On top of that, the children were growing year by year, so the passage of time felt entirely different.
Perhaps that was why people said that when children were spaced far apart in age, the burden on parents doubled.
Just when I thought I could relax after raising two of them well, it was already time to focus on the others.
Fortunately, the issue of the Crown Princess, which I had expected to be the most troublesome, seemed to be resolving in the best possible way.
With family matters settling, it was natural to turn attention outward.
"The war between Prussia and Denmark, or rather Prussia's occupation of Denmark, is becoming increasingly real. France, Austria, Russia, even the Ottoman Empire and Italy are watching closely. Is it not time for us to intervene?"
"Prime Minister, that makes it sound as though our British Empire has been waiting opportunistically to mediate. We have simply been occupied with the important task of selecting the future Empress."
"I stand corrected. As Your Majesty said, now that we have more room to act, it is time to resolve Europe's concerns."
Allowing Prussia to proceed had been partly about timing, but also about observation.
It was necessary to measure how strong Prussia had become compared to the original timeline.
Especially with Russia weaker than before, Prussia still had room to grow stronger.
France was similar, but I had little expectation of them, so I set that aside.
"What is Parliament's stance? Are there any who oppose intervention? Surely there are no radicals suggesting we should join Prussia and crush Denmark entirely?"
"There were some at first, but after the Crown Prince's favorable relationship with Princess Gisela became known, such voices diminished. The press has been highlighting her kind character and contrasting her with Princess Thyra. It seems to be boosting sales significantly."
"That is to be expected. For newspapers, Denmark has become a source of endless profit."
At first, they profited from condemning Denmark, and now they used Gisela to elevate one side while criticizing the other.
From the royal family's perspective, there was no reason to interfere.
Public opinion thrived on comparison.
And the contrast between Thyra and Gisela made for perfect material.
As a result, the British public felt little sympathy for Denmark being defeated by Prussia.
Prussia was an ally, and there was confidence that Britain remained far stronger.
"Parliament does caution that we must not appear to side with Denmark, given public sentiment."
"That is obvious. It allows us to demand what we want more naturally."
"And for that reason, it would be better if Your Majesty personally leads this matter."
"Me? Yes, that makes sense."
Even if Britain gained something, the fact remained that it would be seen as relieving Denmark.
If Parliament handled it, criticism might arise.
It was better for the Crown to take the lead.
"Very well. I will handle this. In the meantime, prepare for the arrival of the Austrian Crown Prince."
"Everything is already being arranged."
"Not that. You are missing something important."
Rudolf was still a young boy.
Material comfort alone would not suffice.
"The most important thing is warmth and affection. Everything must be built around that."
"I understand. Emotional care must come first."
He had endured a harsh upbringing.
Britain needed to become a place of comfort.
He would stay close to Gisela, attend family gatherings, and be surrounded by kind and caring attendants.
If he felt at home, the rest would follow naturally.
Meanwhile, Denmark stood on the brink of collapse.
Their forces were defeated, their king incapacitated, and their allies unwilling to intervene.
Then Britain stepped in.
A proposal for peace negotiations.
Denmark had no choice but to accept.
Prussia also agreed, provided the terms were reasonable.
At the negotiation table in London, Otto von Bismarck spoke firmly.
"Prussia demands Holstein and all of Schleswig."
The Danish representative struggled to respond.
"That is excessive."
"The situation was caused by Denmark. Actions must have consequences."
Arguments followed.
Then I intervened.
"Holstein is part of the German Confederation, so its case is clear. Schleswig is more complex. Let the people decide."
A referendum.
Holstein would join Prussia.
Schleswig would likely split between north and south.
It was a balanced compromise.
But that was not all.
"Public sentiment in Britain demands compensation. To ensure stability, relations must improve."
Denmark agreed cautiously.
Then I continued.
"Trade routes to Canada require safer passage. Greenland and Iceland could serve that role."
The implication was clear.
Denmark hesitated.
Otto von Bismarck supported the idea immediately.
With no alternatives, Denmark accepted.
They signed the agreement.
Greenland and Iceland would be transferred.
It was a heavy price.
But losing everything would have been worse.
And so, Denmark endured its humiliation, with no choice but to accept the outcome.
***
"To be honest, does this not make the British Empire the greatest winner of this war? Greenland alone seems larger than all of the German lands combined."
"You already know the answer, yet you still say that. It may be large, but it has little practical value. The entire land is frozen, and it is not even suitable for proper settlement. Calling it an achievement would be an exaggeration. We simply secured it for its geopolitical value and the possibility of underground resources."
"Then what about Iceland?"
"Iceland is useful. As you know, Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck, it is famous for its abundant cod."
With the consumption of fish and chips increasing rapidly, securing a stable supply was a fortunate development.
In the future, British workers would enjoy inexpensive fish and chips and benefit from this decision without even realizing it.
Of course, that was only part of the value. Cod oil could also prove useful in times of food shortages, so it was not something that would go to waste.
Greenland and Iceland held greater long term importance, but for now, that was the most immediate benefit.
At the very least, with Iceland under British control, disputes over fishing grounds would not arise in the future.
"Thanks to your support, Prime Minister, the agreement was concluded more smoothly than expected."
"We had no intention of continuing the war unnecessarily. There is no reason to spend resources occupying land we cannot fully utilize."
"Then did you not intend to annex all of Schleswig?"
"To be honest, we were tempted. If circumstances had allowed it, we might have pushed further. But once the referendum proposal was presented, compromise became unavoidable."
If decided by vote, Holstein would certainly be incorporated into Prussia.
Schleswig would likely be divided, with the southern region joining Prussia and the northern region remaining with Denmark.
Even so, the territory gained by Prussia would not be insignificant.
"That said, what about Austria? They would not welcome this outcome."
"That is why we allowed Denmark to retain part of Schleswig. It may not fully satisfy Austria, but we have also made concessions regarding Hungary."
Bismarck nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. Preserving part of Schleswig while offering concessions in Hungary. Austria's diplomatic ability is more impressive than I expected."
His reaction suggested he had recognized the shift.
Austria's influence had increased through recent developments.
Inviting Rudolf to London had certainly played a role in that.
"It is better for everyone if relations remain stable. If tensions rise unnecessarily, other nations will grow uneasy."
"That is true. But would you have supported Austria so readily without this marriage?"
"That is a fair question."
From my perspective, Gisela was simply a kind and endearing future daughter in law.
But from the outside, she was something entirely different.
The woman chosen to become the future Empress of the British Empire.
A princess of the Habsburg family.
And now, with her younger brother studying in London, attention toward her had only intensified.
Rumors spread endlessly.
People wondered what kind of charm had captured the interest of Edward, who had shown little interest in women until now.
Some even speculated that she already moved freely within Buckingham Palace as if it were her own home.
Such rumors only heightened anxiety within the German Confederation.
Prussia, in particular, could not ignore Austria's growing presence.
Even so, Austria alone could not rival Prussia's strength.
The Hungarian issue still burdened them heavily.
Bismarck's true curiosity lay elsewhere.
He wanted to know whether Gisela possessed the ability to bring meaningful change to Austria.
From his perspective, she might be far more capable than she appeared.
"I hear you have been inviting her frequently to family dinners. You must think highly of her."
"Not only I, but my children as well. She is already treated as part of the family."
"Then she must be quite exceptional."
I paused briefly before answering.
"Her upbringing may have been strict, but she has grown into a kind and considerate person who understands how she should conduct herself."
Bismarck nodded slowly.
"I see. Then she truly is a suitable match."
I had spoken honestly.
Yet he seemed to interpret it differently.
Perhaps he believed she possessed greater political insight than she actually did.
Still, there was no need to correct him.
Misunderstandings could sometimes be useful.
"I appreciate your openness. I will take Austria into greater consideration moving forward. I look forward to attending the wedding."
"Of course. You will be invited."
As he left, he muttered quietly.
"Franz Joseph I is more capable than he appears."
I did not respond.
There was no need to correct his assumptions.
In the end, I had spoken nothing but the truth.
Around the time the peace agreement was concluded, a young boy arrived in London.
Rudolf.
He looked around with a mixture of anticipation and unease.
London was not what he had expected.
It was crowded, noisy, and overwhelming.
Yet at the same time, it was impressive.
The scale of the city, the flow of people, and the vast infrastructure beneath it all reflected the strength of the empire.
Still, he felt uncertain.
He had escaped the rigid environment of Austria, but had he entered something even more demanding?
Then he was welcomed warmly.
The attendants treated him kindly.
The atmosphere was different from what he had known.
And when he saw Gisela, everything changed.
She looked brighter and happier.
"Rudolf, you are finally here. You must be exhausted."
"I am fine. You look… different. Happier."
"Of course. Life here is much more comfortable. You should relax and enjoy your time."
Her smile reassured him.
For the first time, he felt at ease.
And just like that, his impression of the British Empire began to change.