Chapter 53: Chapter 51: Franz, the Test-Taker

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

Franz was forced into an education, no longer able to simply point at maps and command the world.

The gentleman who arrived today wore a top hat, a brown high-collared coat, and riding boots.

Upon seeing Franz, he removed his hat and bowed.

"Greetings, Your Imperial Highness Archduke Franz. I am Aaron Aberdeen. It is an honor to be invited by the Habsburg Imperial Family. From this day forward, I shall be your instructor."

Franz nodded in response. This was not out of arrogance, but rather a requirement of court etiquette; those of higher status could not speak to those of lower status first unless it was to issue a command or a request.

In truth, the European education of this era bore no resemblance whatsoever to so-called "happy education."

Every tutor carried a cane or a switch. If a student made a mistake or failed to answer a question, they would "enjoy" a physical beating.

While they wouldn't dare strike Franz, Talia, who stood by, would suffer the consequences.

After all, she was Franz's tutor.

Talia had originally been full of confidence. She was one of the few female university graduates of this era and had even taken first place in the Prime Minister's Secretariat examination.

During her years teaching Franz, she felt she had passed on everything she knew to him.

However, Talia never expected the wickedness of human nature; these prideful university professors would actually present university-level questions to a young child who had just started school.

What Talia found even more inconceivable was that Franz was actually answering incorrectly on purpose.

Mr. Aberdeen was no exception. Upon discovering that basic arithmetic could not stump the child before him, he couldn't help but curse the female teacher inwardly, thinking she was a deviant for teaching a child so much.

But he could not lose his professional dignity as a professor, yet he didn't want to invent bizarrely difficult problems either. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck him.

This move would both save his face and allow him to finish work early.

"Archduke Franz, you are very hardworking. Now, I shall give you a new problem

Please calculate the sum of all numbers from 1 plus 2 plus 3 all the way up to 1000. Once you have calculated it, we shall end the lesson. Of course, if you do not finish today, you may continue tomorrow."

Aberdeen wore a fox-like smile.

Talia, however, was displeased. What kind of people were these? Did they have no morality? Were they planning to treat Franz like a laborer?

Franz took out a piece of scrap paper and looked at Talia.

Talia immediately covered her mouth and whispered, "You aren't actually unable to calculate it, are you?"

Franz smiled and countered, "Do you think I can?"

Talia pressed her hands together above her head.

"If you calculate it, I will tell you some good news."

"How good?"

Before Talia could speak, Professor Aberdeen slammed his cane hard against the table.

"Silence! Do not disturb Archduke Franz while he calculates."

Talia had no choice but to shut up and look at Franz.

On his paper, Franz wrote a single line of crooked numbers.

Franz looked at Professor Aberdeen, who appeared somewhat surprised.

"Finished?"

"Yes, Professor Aberdeen."

Professor Aberdeen walked over to Franz's side and saw the number "500500" written clearly on the paper.

"My God, a true genius!" Aberdeen exclaimed, before immediately feeling it was impossible—it was likely that this woman was playing tricks.

Thus, Aberdeen thought of another problem.

"There is a patch of grass in a pasture that grows at the same rate every day. This grass can feed 10 cows for 20 days, or 15 cows for 10 days, with grass continuing to grow during that time. If it is used to feed 25 cows, for how many days will it last?"

"Five days," Franz answered without hesitation. It wasn't that Franz possessed some staggering mathematical talent, but rather that he had heard this story before.

Had Aberdeen changed the numbers randomly, Franz would have had to recalculate, but since Aberdeen had presented the problem verbatim, Franz naturally knew the answer.

By now, Aberdeen was shocked beyond measure. He fell to his knees, weeping uncontrollably.

"You are truly a genius! As long as you study under me, I guarantee you will become a great mathematician in the future!"

Talia clapped her hands to signal the guards.

"Another one has gone mad. Take him away."

The guards were used to this. Madame Sophie had instructed that anyone attempting to force Franz to specialize in a specific technical field or join a certain organization could be thrown out without permission.

After all, Madame Sophie wanted a monarch, not an expert in some field. In fact, Madame Sophie was more afraid that Franz would become a master craftsman like Louis XVI.

The guillotine and such... how terrifying.

The guards grabbed Professor Aberdeen and began dragging him out, but he still did not forget to shout to Franz

"The Austrian mathematical world needs you, Archduke Franz!"

Franz shrugged, while Talia was doubled over with laughter.

"And here I thought there was nothing in your head but those pretty aunties!"

One of the few pastimes Franz had in this world was looking at beautiful women.

However, due to the backward makeup techniques and the generational gap in aesthetics, most of the beauties of this era only evoked a sense of horror in Franz.

Among the women Franz had met, only Madame Sophie, Talia, and Aunt Ludovika (the mother of Princess Sissi and Princess Nene) could be considered beauties.

This was related to the Emperor. Franz II was already very old, and the ladies-in-waiting and maids in the palace had followed him for decades.

As for the subsequent Ferdinand I... I don't think he had that need, considering his wife, Empress Anna, had to seek lovers to solve her problems.

Consequently, it resulted in the miserable state of Schönbrunn Palace being filled with nothing but old matrons.

"Talia, what was that good news you mentioned?"

Franz waved the whip he had just snatched from Professor Aberdeen.

"Fine, fine. The rubber tree seeds have been brought back. Does that count as good news?"

Franz nodded. He could finally plant rubber trees in Cambodia; this was a vital raw material for future industry.

Historically, Brazil held a monopoly on the rubber trade for a long time, which prevented many industries from expanding on a large scale due to cost issues.

"Excellent. Tonight, I will ask Mother for a delicious feast. If you have free time, mail these seeds to Archduke Ambrosius and have him find a way to promote cultivation in Cambodia."

Franz suddenly noticed Talia looking down, fidgeting with her fingers, so he asked

"What is it? Is there something else you want to say?"

Talia gave an embarrassed smile.

"Franz, I have some bad news to tell you as well."

Franz's expression froze.

"Speak."

"The seeds were obtained, but Mr. Costa says he needs more money."

Franz was speechless. He hadn't expected even the Imperial Family could be extorted. But on second thought, Talia certainly wouldn't have revealed her identity.

Seeing that Talia was generous and a woman, the other party had likely taken the opportunity to hike up the price on the spot.

But then again, that didn't seem right. He had clearly told her to pay in two installments, and there was a contract. Could that Costa be insane?

He then looked Talia up and down. Talia was tall, with long blonde hair flowing freely, complemented by delicate features and fair skin. Combined with the unique temperament of a noble scholar of this era, she truly gave off an air of cold, stunning elegance as long as she wasn't smiling.

If one had to find flaws, it would be her shoulder width, which was comparable to a man's, and those two small canine teeth.

"Are you being harassed?"

(End of Chapter)