Chapter 2: True Noble
Throughout history, humans have shared a deep connection with alcohol.
It has served as a catalyst for pleasure, fostering social bonds and creating a pleasant ambiance. However, when consumed in excess, it transforms individuals into undesirable figures shunned by society.
It's natural to avoid indecency.
While exuberance may be a fundamental human trait, it becomes problematic when individuals exhibit such behavior in places like convenience stores, police stations, hospitals, and other places, where their presence can incite disturbances and even assaults?
While these individuals may occasionally provide amusement, it is imperative in the modern world to uphold the rights of all, even when dealing with the rights of intoxicated individuals who infringe upon the rights of others.
Nevertheless, in a bygone era, there may have been instances where resorting to force, such as firing warning shots, was deemed acceptable.
It was a different era.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's recommended or condoned in any way. In the past, there existed something stronger than human rights.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of the 19th century.
"Hahaha! Behold! I am Archduke Otto of Austria!"
Someone might exclaim upon seeing him, "A true eccentric has appeared!"
Is it not natural to see a man riding a horse in the nude?
Moreover, he even performs the feat of holding a bottle of alcohol in one hand. He can rightfully be called an expert, leaving nothing to be desired.
It's a remarkable display of equestrian skill.
Despite his intoxication, he never fell off his horse.
But what's more important is that the madman inebriated with alcohol holds the title of Archduke, a noble title bestowed upon members of the imperial family in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
There's no way to stop this madman.
Who would dare to touch the body of royalty so brazenly?
Rather than being filthy, his presence instills fear, making it necessary for others to avoid him. The only way to restrain such an individual is with extreme beliefs and ideologies armed with nationalist or communist ideals.
It's something we're familiar with.
Hasn't this happened for a day or two? His antics are not only witnessed by the empire's citizens but are occasionally recounted by foreigners as well.
Perhaps he was the most famous stripper of this era. However, today was different.
"Your Highness, I implore you to stop!"
The crowd that had once cheered for Archduke Otto now screamed in horror and desperately tried to stop him.
It was because a young boy, swaying more than the intoxicated Archduke, was riding alongside the Archduke on a horse.
The moment the boy fell off the horse, it became more than a simple accident. Just imagining the scene of falling off the horse made one's heart stop, but what if he got trampled by the horse?
He was not a grown man but an innocent child.
Naturally, he couldn't remain calm in the imperial court. At least no one in this place would be safe.
The Archduke's reckless behavior put not only his own life at stake but also posed a threat to those around him.
People would avoid him, treating him like a carrier of contagious diseases.
They had made up their minds.
For the sake of the future, they had to throw themselves into it, even if it meant getting their bones broken by the horse's hind legs. And so, the courageous ones stepped forward, approaching the horse with determination.
"Ah, ah, ah?!"
Something they absolutely didn't want to happen occurred.
"No, no, no!"
Their worst fears materialized as the Archduke's young child tumbled, his delicate frame unable to withstand the weight of his own head.
As the commotion reached her ears, the Archduchess rushed to the scene, her heart sinking at the sight of her son's headfirst descent.
Overwhelmed with anguish, she silently crumbled to the ground.
"Aaahhh!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness!"
It was once a very peaceful place where tranquility reigned undisturbed.
Death is an inevitable part of life that should be treated with respect. However, if that death is too pathetic, it can become a subject of ridicule rather than respect.
Dying while playing a video game is not a subject of ridicule but rather a death so pathetic that it doesn't even garner any attention.
And it was me who experienced such a death. Does it even make sense?
I wasn't an avid gamer, so why did I suddenly find myself facing death? Was I really dead from the beginning? I had doubts, but I couldn't deny the reality in front of me.
"I warned you against drinking! Why would you drag our child into your reckless behavior...!"
"You admit that you were wrong, don't you?"
"That feeble attempt can hardly pass as an apology...!"
Inside a grand and opulent room, a man and a woman engage in an argument.
The woman clenches her fist tightly and confronts him, while the man shrugs his shoulders, his face adorned with a puzzled expression, seemingly unable to fully comprehend his mistake.
Before me stood my biological parents engaged in a heated argument.
I watched the argument while my head was wrapped in bandages. Couples fighting is nothing new, but my attention shifted to my body.
A small, pale hand caught my eye. It was no longer that of an adult but that of a child. And in my mind, I had memories not only of being an American in the 21st century but also of the memories of a young child.
In this second life, my name was Karl Franz Joseph Ludwig Hubert Georg... Damn, it sounds weird.
To summarize, my name is Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen. I am a member of the famous Habsburg family and would become Karl I, the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, twenty-some years later.
The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. I died while playing a game and woke up as a person from the past.
Well, there's nothing I can do about being dead. There was no changing that fact, so what can I do?
And to make matters worse, I was born into nobility. Not some fake royalty like Real Madrid, but real nobility.
If I were a poor person in a corner of a house with nothing to eat tomorrow, I might cry and scream, denying the reality, but if I were a noble, I had to accept it. Even if I could live grumbling, I could still lead a relatively happy life, even without the advantages of modern civilization.
Unpleasant tasks were typically delegated to those of lower rank, right? But that's where my happiness ended. Karl I, huh?
The person destined to become emperor? That held little significance to me.
I know the future. I will ascend to the throne during World War I as an emperor, but the empire will be destroyed due to defeat. I will be cast out, stripped of all possessions, and forced to live a lonely life in exile. Eventually, I will die at a young age due to lack of money for treatment.
Such is the fate that awaits this body.
A short and intense life is also good but should be reasonably short. Two years is pretty short, is it?
"Enough. I can't bear to hear your words any longer."
"Please come to your senses!"
"You're being noisy."
My parents continued their cycle of arguments and silent treatments, eventually moving towards the window quietly.
The view from the window relieved my heart.
Naturally, the place I live in is a magnificent castle. Its grandeur is unmatched, designed not only for defense but also to showcase opulence and elegance.
From the windows of my room, I can see a lake and a lush green forest behind it. That's why houses with a good view are highly sought after. The criteria for a prestigious location are the same regardless of the opposite direction on the globe.
It makes me even sadder to think that I won't be able to enjoy this for a lifetime.
If only I were born as an ordinary noble instead of someone who would become an emperor, there might have been some way. What meaning does it have to be an emperor when everything collapses during World War I?
You might ask if I could change everything once I become an emperor.
How could I win a world war against countries like Britain, France, the Russian Empire, Italy, the United States, etc.?
And I only have around twenty years given.
If I can't avoid it, can't I prevent a world war or expand alliances? Is that even possible?
Being the son of Archduke Karl Ludwig, the second son of Emperor Franz Joseph I, places me far from the immediate line of succession. I was fortunate that all the potential heirs in front of me died, so I became emperor.
The looming obstacle in my path is none other than my great-uncle, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His infamous presence at the center of the Sarajevo incident makes him the catalyst for the outbreak of the First World War.
Since I am in line for succession after Franz Ferdinand's death, it will be extremely difficult for me to interfere in the empire's politics before that.
With a healthy heir apparent in the first line of succession, would the current emperor or Franz Ferdinand allow the second heir to intervene in the empire's politics?
Even in the absence of the current emperor and Franz Ferdinand, I would still face relentless scrutiny and interference from those around me. There may be extreme measures like assassination, but there will likely be constraints and harassment.
As a young second heir, I hold limited influence and authority. In the original history, this body didn't do anything until Franz Ferdinand died.
Considering these circumstances, perhaps seeking refuge in the United States could be a viable option.
It is the land of opportunity and a safe place without wars.
Despite occasional conflicts with Mexico and their eventual participation in World War I, the United States still held the allure of being a relatively problem-free destination compared to other countries. It could be seen as a paradise.
Moreover, unless the U.S. government goes mad, they wouldn't force me into their military, right?
However, as soon as I thought about going to the United States, my head started throbbing. Just the thought of deciding to go to the U.S. felt like my head was about to explode like a bomb necklace.
Would it even be possible for Karl, born as a young member of the nobility, to carve out his own path?
I find myself facing a difficult dilemma. Crossing the last line seems inevitable, yet the prospect of going to the United States remains unrealistic.
How could I, at such a tender age, find a way to journey to a foreign land by any means?
It might be possible if it were just a short trip, but anything more than that would undoubtedly face staunch opposition from the royal family.
And when Franz Ferdinand passes away, and the next heir ascends the throne, my value as the next successor would rise, so naturally, I wouldn't be sent abroad.
Somehow, they would find a way to bring me back to this country.
"Damn it."
The profanity slipped out on its own. It felt like a somber message had been delivered, urging me to prepare for a path that led to inevitable death. Even if it's against my will, I must do it.
It is an unavoidable fate.
Would the empire have any chance of survival if it weren't for me? What would become of the countries left in the aftermath of the empire's disintegration during the First World War?
In the Second World War, Austria found itself annexed by the Nazis, Hungary joined the Axis powers, Czechoslovakia was abandoned and suffered under Nazi rule, and some experienced a horrific civil war involving ethnic cleansing.
Since it is my destiny to suffer anyway, what harm is there if I try something?
It is evident that the empire's survival hinges upon my presence.
Adopting a more positive mindset, I find my thoughts clearing for the first time.
To prepare for the worst-case scenario, I can hide some assets overseas.
There is plenty of time to accumulate wealth.
But even if I were to exhaust all efforts and face inevitable failure, is there truly no way out?
After the disintegration of the empire and during exile, there might be a country in need of the noble bloodline of Habsburg. It wouldn't take more than a day or two to bring a king from Europe.
I could go to a country that needs my presence, live with dignity, and enjoy the benefits.
At that time, armed with my knowledge of the future, I could invest and lead a comfortable life. That's what I wanted, isn't it?
Not just a powerless individual, but to become an emperor, ruling the empire, commanding a powerful army and a united nation.
Ah, I must lead them. It is a task that only I can accomplish. With boiling passion, I tightly clenched my fist.
"Karl, are you okay?"
My mother, who suddenly approached, asked with a worried expression.
Father, as usual, was already gone, likely engaged in his own vices, intoxicated with a prostitute with little regard for his responsibilities.
"I'm truly sorry. I didn't want to show you this side of me..."
My mother spoke with a remorseful expression. She must be feeling guilty, speaking with such a troubled expression.
Well, considering that I was born as a member of the nobility, this level of family discord is nothing out of the ordinary.
If I were born in this era, I would be thrown into countless chaos and dreadful environments like World Wars. Considering that, I have no right to complain about my noble birth.
After all, nobility holds the highest status in society.