Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace

Today, it is rare for the Franz family to get together, not because of how difficult it was for them to meet, but because of the atmosphere of the upper class society at that time and some rules in the palace.

For example, children are required to stay in the royal family's children's room until they are six years old, after which they are given their own room with their own chambers, servants and annuities.

As for the difference between husband and wife, there is also a distinction between personal property and joint property, and it is not uncommon for them to even sleep in separate rooms or even not live together at all.

In fact, Mrs. Sophie and Franz Karl are often "busy people", one is enthusiastic about politics, the other is obsessed with doing things.

So this party was a rare "happy" family time for Franz Joseph. However, it was very difficult for Maximilian, because the latter felt that the former occupied the place that should have belonged to him.

In fact, children's vanity and self-esteem are often much stronger than adults, and this is especially true for nobles like Maximilian who came from the royal family and carried the golden key.

Since he was a child, everything he wanted would be immediately satisfied, and over time he developed a self-centered personality and judgment logic.

Until one day Maximilian met Franz, and there was no interaction between the two, but the former felt ashamed, because the latter ignored him and did not cast a paying eye on him.

So Maximilian wanted to snatch the scroll that his eldest brother was reading, but he was not an opponent at all and was pressed under the book.

Maximilian complained everywhere, but in exchange for everyone's advice to him, "The other party is the elder brother, you are just the younger brother."

You need to learn to be obedient, that's the Habsburg admonition."

Even his grandfather and mother, who doted on him the most, told him not to provoke Franz.

And that time when he was a child, playing in the Hall of Mirrors deeply broke Maximilian's heart. He was eager to try his hand at the throne one day, and he wanted to enjoy the feeling of looking down at the mountains.

But Franz II did not even allow this grandson to step on the throne, and then the former put the reluctant Franz on the throne and ordered the court painter to paint his portrait, which the latter saw and remembered.

Since then, Maximilian has been determined to defeat Franz as his goal, but the strength of the two is not in the same dimension at all, regardless of physical, intellectual, learning ability, and even the number of supporters... Each time, the former was unilaterally beaten.

So in the face of the table full of delicacies, Maximilian still put on a stinky face and glared angrily at his brother.

The latter didn't want to spoil the atmosphere of the banquet, so he stopped looking at the other party, which made the former feel that he had won.

But all this food is related to Franz, Maximilian said with his chin held high.

"The dishes are too coarse for me."

At this time, the corners of the mouth of the royal chef who were smiling and standing next to him twitched, he was the best chef in Bohemia, in the past, even if a big man like Winster wanted to eat authentic Austrian food, he had to send someone to invite him over, when it was the turn of a little boy to teach him his craft.

It's just that this little kid is a member of the royal family, and now he works for the royal family, so the famous chef can only ask with a smile.

"Honorable Grand Duke Maximilian, if you have any grievances, I will improve them until you are satisfied."

"It's too salty." Maximilian said casually, pointing to a bowl of soup.

The chef frowned at the bowl of soup, but he was still slow to persuade the other party.

"Your Highness, that bowl of soup is sweet, and there is no salt in it."

"It's sweet and salty, pour it out and redo it." There is always a reason to want to find trouble, and Maximilian's arrogance is somewhat offensive.

Franz was about to speak, but his father, Franz Carr, spoke openly.

"Maximilian, wasting food is not a good habit. It's a shame to throw out such a delicious soup, bring it to me. I drink."

The chef was very moved, and deeply felt that the most mysterious grand duke of the royal family was wise and well-intentioned.

Because Archduke Franz Karl's actions did not make Archduke Maximilian lose face, nor did he hurt his dignity as a chef, and more importantly, the former did not live up to this bowl of soup.

"How can such a great man not be awe-inspiring!" The chef and the servants around him were moved to tears by the constant brain supplement.

But in fact, Archduke Franz Karl simply thought that the bowl of soup was delicious, and adhered to the ancestral precept not to waste food.

In fact, he rarely speaks, so Maximilian was a little overwhelmed for a while. Although he has no feelings for this dumbfounded father at all, his identity cannot be changed.

At this time, Maximilian's favorite lemon foie gras was placed on the table, and he was about to do it when little Maria was forked away.

"I'll help you eat this, Brother Maximilian, don't thank me!"

The little sister's actions were so angry that his face turned red and white, but his actions had caught the attention of Madame Sophie, who was looking at the son with disapproval.

Naturally, Maximilian did not dare to lose his temper with his mother, because the latter would really beat him. So he could only watch the little glutton on the side "spoil" his food.

"Maria, eating too much foie gras will make you fat."

Franz couldn't help but kindly remind him that Mrs. Sophie doted on her only daughter, while Franz Carr simply thought it was a good thing to be able to eat, after all, according to his previous experience, it seemed that once people couldn't eat something, it meant that death was not far away, and so was his grandfather and father.

So Archduke Franz Karl thinks that those who love to eat will not be too lucky, so how can he stop the little one from eating?

Maria swallowed the food first, then cleared her throat and retorted.

(Actually, nobles are not allowed to talk vaguely with a mouthful of food, which would be considered rude, and Maria, who has repeatedly died at dangerous distances, is very experienced, and her mother will tolerate her once, but never a second time.) ）

"Brother, didn't you say that girls are too thin and unhealthy?"

"But if you eat it like this, you will become a little pig sooner or later. My sister. ”

"Brother, you see that I don't have a double chin or a small belly. I'm a little fairy who can't get fat! Maria smirked, and spun around twice.

Mrs. Sophie finally spoke.

"Enough, Maria! Stop messing around, a princess flaunting her little belly to people during a banquet is not what a lady should do. Finish the food on your plate and go back to your room for the night without any more food. ”

Maria pouted and crept over to Franz.

The latter said, glancing at him.

"What do you want to do? You little glutton, do you want your big brother to bring you food at night? ”

"No, look."

Maria pulled out two rabbits from nowhere, and Franz looked at them with a sense of déjà vu.

"You guys just ate a big puffin, and now you're beating my rabbit again?"

"No, you see a lot of bunnies!"

Maria had a large cardboard box containing about twenty rabbits the size of an adult rabbit, and a slightly different coat color from the mixed Angora rabbit that Franz had given her.

That's just over two months, and the growth cycle of this rabbit is very short, even shorter than that of modern Ashkenazi Angora rabbits, and it looks very strong, and the meat production should be very considerable.

(End of chapter)