Chapter 2: This is a Revelation

St. Stephen's Cathedral is the largest church in Vienna and the site where Austrian emperors were crowned and buried; it can be said to be the symbol of Vienna. At the same time, it is located in the very center of Vienna, earning it the title "The Heart of Vienna."

The cathedral was built in 1304 and completed two centuries later, possessing both Gothic style and a touch of the Renaissance.

Outside the cathedral, one can see the 230,000 colored glazed tiles on the roof. Under the sunlight, the colored tiles arranged into the shape of a double-headed eagle are a masterpiece.

Pushing open the cathedral doors, the scent of age and dust rushes to meet you, followed by the smell of resin and frankincense.

Entering the cathedral, the light inside gradually dims, with only the candlelight on the shrines shining brightly. The temperature seems to have dropped as well, making one feel peaceful and calm.

Surrounded by an atmosphere far removed from the worldly hustle and bustle, solemn and sacred, the heart of Franz II seems to have settled down.

With the Emperor visiting in person, Rauscher, the Archbishop of Vienna, naturally had to welcome him personally.

However, his obese body and flamboyant attire seemed completely out of place in this ancient and sacred cathedral.

Franz II was in a hurry this time and did not wait for the always tardy Archbishop Rauscher. He walked straight toward the shrine dedicated to his family, his fingers gently stroking the ancient characters engraved upon it.

Unexpectedly, the usually sluggish Archbishop Rauscher was exceptionally quick this time. In fact, as a bishop appointed by the Emperor, how could he dare to neglect him?

"Oh! Praise the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit. What has brought the great monarch of this world here?"

Franz II waved his hand. "Spare me the pleasantries; I have only come to pay my respects to my ancestors."

Archbishop Rauscher could naturally hear the subtext in those words. As a representative of God, he originally wanted to maintain some reserve, but he suddenly remembered that this Emperor was obsessed with saving face and had very little patience.

"Your Majesty, in the dwelling of God, you may speak of anything."

"I..." Franz II pondered for a moment before deciding to speak. After all, he was a devout Catholic, and the Archbishop of Vienna before him was his own appointee, not an outsider. The most important reason was that this fat man would surely agree with him, which was pleasant to hear.

(European monarchs also used special first-person pronouns. The Tsar would use "мы" (the plural first person) when referring to himself to show the unique status of the monarch. French monarchs would say "je" or "nous." German monarchs would refer to themselves as "Wir," all of which translate to the imperial "We.")

"My grandson, little Franz, displayed the prophecy of Frederick III in the nursery today."

"What is that?" Rauscher asked instinctively, only to realize his mistake the next second. Wasn't it written right there on the shrine he faced every day? To cover his embarrassment, he could only adopt a very indifferent attitude, as if nothing had happened.

"A.E.I.O.U," Franz II blurted out, his tone seemingly carrying a hint of pride.

"This is a revelation..." The Archbishop immediately channeled his inner mystic.

Mystics from all times and places are the same, and Rauscher was no exception. He liked to go along with the Emperor's words, and he himself was a primitivist who had spent his whole life searching for a so-called "born saint."

"Archbishop, are you saying?" Franz II appeared somewhat excited, as he himself thought the same. It was a pity he was not a great ruler; even when he had his own ideas, he wanted to rely on gods and ghosts to corroborate them.

Rauscher naturally would not let this opportunity pass, immediately offering up a compliment.

"This is a good omen, indicating that the grand ambitions of the Austrian Empire will surely be realized." Archbishop Rauscher spoke with such conviction, as if he had truly received some revelation.

In fact, if one analyzes it carefully, saying such things is no different from saying nothing at all. Although Archbishop Rauscher said the Empire's hegemony would eventually be realized, he did not say when or to what extent, so strictly speaking, he was not lying, nor did he violate any doctrine.

But for the indecisive Franz II, this was undoubtedly a shot in the arm. Because this was not just his own idea—it was the will of God. In short, if something went wrong, he wouldn't have to take the blame, and he felt happy at once.

Having stayed in the position of Archbishop of Vienna for so many years, Rauscher possessed the skill of reading people's expressions.

He thought to himself, "The Emperor's state of mind today is not right. Could it be that he intends to pass the throne to his grandson?"

Then Rauscher thought of the *Pragmatic Sanction* and felt a tightness in his chest, but immediately thought of Empress Maria Theresa, the prosperity of her era, and the strength of the Church, and his mood calmed down.

"Your Majesty, I have also met Archduke Franz. He is indeed a special child. I still remember when I performed his baptism, he sprayed me all over."

Rauscher had a good impression of Franz because Franz always held a Bible in his hands, unable to put it down; he must be a devout believer.

In reality, the current Franz did not know much German. He liked holding the Bible because the book was large enough to use as a footstool, and the cover was soft enough to use as a cushion. Sometimes, as a member of the royal family, Franz had to pad his seat with several books to maintain a dignified posture.

Besides that, it could also be used to beat his younger brother (Maximilian).

Maximilian was Franz's second younger brother, and the two seemed naturally incompatible, always fighting and bickering. Maximilian naturally couldn't beat Franz, who had lived two lifetimes, but Franz couldn't really be hard on a child.

So Franz came up with a method: find a book thick and large enough, press it onto Maximilian's back, and then sit on it. This way, he could peacefully resolve the dispute between the children, and that book happened to be the Bible.

The result was that Maximilian was often pinned down by Franz with the Bible, with only his hands and feet able to move. He looked just like a little turtle being held down by its shell.

However, what the Archbishop saw was a devout believer who never let go of the Bible.

On the other hand, Archbishop Rauscher himself had always wanted to find a "born saint" to restore the public's trust in Catholicism.

But after so many years of searching and countless failures, he made a decision.

Rather than waiting for a saint to appear, it would be better to create one himself.

Now that the old Emperor had expressed his intent, Rauscher naturally would not let this opportunity pass. If he let this child inherit the throne in the future, wouldn't he become the Emperor's godfather? At the very least, he would be a Richelieu, wielding immense power while alive and leaving a lasting reputation after death.

(Richelieu, a famous cardinal in history.)

"Your Majesty, you should follow your heart's choice. Your choice is the will of God." Rauscher naturally could not say what he wanted to do, so he could only dump the responsibility onto God.

"Archbishop, what are you trying to say?"

Rauscher did not expect the usually straightforward old Emperor to say this; he really had no shame. He smiled awkwardly.

"May the Austrian Empire enjoy long-lasting peace and stability."

The old Emperor also smiled. He was not a brilliant ruler, but he would not be swayed by a mystic; this was his pride as an Emperor, even if it was of no use.

"Perhaps this really is a revelation."

(End of chapter)