"Gilbert, I wish to see you alone." Fritz said after lunch was over. I nodded.
"Yes Your Majesty Fritz." I stood up and followed him to his office where he silently shut the door behind us and sat down behind his desk and I sat in front of him. He was beaming. It must be good. Or he's just in a really good mood right now.
"I'm sure you know that I've been thinking about who to give my son as a wife. Am I right?"
"The thought crossed my mind." I replied, blushing as I remembered the day that I took him to Spain and France against His Majesty's wishes, on a whim.
"Well I've finally decided on a wife and I've found a way to get both things I want. You know that we're friends with France, that I am friends with King Louis XV. I am also friends with King Charles of Spain." I nodded.
"Yes Sire."
"All princesses, that I am aware of, are Roman Catholic. Sadly all of them are related to Maria Theresa. Though as you well know, it is the King who makes the last decision at the end of the day." I remember learning that first hand. "Since she is married, she no longer calls the shots. Are you ready to hear my choice Gilbert?"
"Yes Your Majesty." I was practically on the edge of my seat.
"I shall inform Frederick in a moment but I would like to first get the specifics out of the way. Prince Frederick George will marry Princess Louise Marie of France and in turn King Louis XV will have his son Prince Philippe marry Princess Maria Josefa Carmela of Spain, thus gaining Sicily, for the price of two dowries and a treaty between France and Prussia."
"But Fritz! That means France double benefits and will have a foot hold in Italy! That's not-"
"Gilbert, this is my decision. Later, after the weddings, I will be buying that land from France, no matter the price. Once Louis has Philippe marry Maria, he is the King of Sicily and therefore decides what he wants to do with it."
"And if he refuses to sell Sicily to you? And what about Silesia?" I demanded.
"We already own Silesia, Gilbert. What do you think the treaty is for? In exchange for Sicily from Louis, I will be protecting him with Prussian troops against any foe who dares to cross him, if he is the attacker or the defensive. The treaty states that in return for a) two dowries, the price of paying for his daughter and Charles' daughter, b) promising to fight by his side in the next battle, c) paying twice the gold for Sicily then I will receive Sicily and it will be guaranteed to be in my possession, France fighting to make sure it stays that way. Of course when Louis XV dies, this treaty is over."
"France is still gaining more than we are." I complained, crossing my arms.
"Not in the long run, besides you forget the possibility of flaunting Sicily in our possession in Maria's face. I have basically just assured that Prussia will own Sicily for a much longer time than we might have. All we are doing is giving France money. I cannot see why you find this fallible."
"It's simple. They gain three things and we gain a princess and land! We can just as easily fight for it."
"And waste even more money?" I blinked. He has a point.
"Fine, I guess you have a point."
"All we are losing is money, troops, and a prince. France is losing a prince, land, and a princess." So he's losing two of his kids. "We are gaining a princess, land, and a friend in future battles that are sure to come. France is gaining a princess, money, and a friend for a future war, and future battles. Do you not like fighting, as I've seen you do many times? Austria is likely to come for Silesia, as he has always done."
"Austria is greedy, he's always wanted Silesia. All he wants is an underling. I accept your terms on this negotiation with France." I replied, crossing my arms and frowning.
"You'll eventually see this was the best decision Gilbert. Now I must retrieve Frederick."
"You realize he'll probably question you too? When he learns the price of getting the wife he wanted?"
"That's why I won't be telling him. He's the Prince of Prussia, he need not bother to know the deal I made to make it so. I will not be following in my Father's footsteps and giving him a wife he doesn't desire. We have more to gain than to lose if we pick Louise." He stood up and headed out of the room.