The Austrian Empire is at disbelief, the people are baffled, and the court officials are confused; their beloved Emperor died, and the lands are thrown into confusion. At the Blauer Hof Palace at Laxenburg, the young eighteen-year-old Crown Prince Hadrian is sitting by the veranda over-looking the pond reading a book when he was disturbed by his butler. His stature is fragile, with pale complexion and jet-black hair, his striking green eyes lowered earnestly at the book he is reading, and his gentle hand cradles the literary work. He hardly spends time inside the palace when not in the veranda, he can be found at the garden tending to and studying about the plants he planted or talking and working with the old man named Marco. He is also known to have kept himself from any kinds of luxury which his noble relatives found as taboo. He has acquired that habit from reading several books about society, authored by ordinary people, who involved people living in poverty, he
The next day, Hadrian woke up earlier than usual tending to the flowers in the garden of the palace. While doing so, his younger twin brother saw him.‘Brother.’ Josef called making his older brother look at him.‘Oh, good morning, Josef.’ Hadrian greeted standing up and dusting himself.‘What are you doing so early in the morning?’ the younger male asked as his brother approached him.‘I was just tending to the flowers; it seems as if the gardeners have been slacking for a while.’ Hadrian answered wiping the sweat from his forehead.‘Why would you do that?’ Josef asked not knowing about his brother’s activities.‘Flowers like these are like my family when I was in Laxenburg, if I do not take care of them, they will dry up and die. So, they need to be taken care of every day.’ Josef just stared not knowing what his brother meant. ‘Ah yes, I just picked some f
The next day, as soon as he woke up Hadrian had to go to an early court session where he started discussing the welfare of the children being brought to the cities across Austria particularly the ones being sold off to become chimney sweeps, while some officials debated on the discussion, Hadrian proved his point, and more when they read his proposal on the new law. But the debate took them almost all day, and Hadrian wants to go on with the division of taxes which also took long before he got the approval of the court officials. And while he is walking around the palace to get some rest, Anton came to him to tell him that Baroness Brigitta von Westenholz came to the palace with Anya, his eyes widened and looked at the nearest clock. He nearly made his head hit the wall beside him and wanted to scream out that he wants to rest but he mentally subdued it.‘Lead the way, Anton.’ Hadrian answered weakly.‘Your Majesty, are you sure you’re alright?
The next morning, Josef went to Hadrian’s room where he saw Marianna lying asleep on her brother’s stomach, but Hadrian woke up.‘I’ll come back later,’ Josef whispered but Hadrian waved for him to come in.‘How is everything?’ Hadrian asked in a low voice.‘Everything is fine, though I’m just not used to it.’ Josef answered in an equally low tone as Hadrian slowly sat up trying his best not to wake Marianna up. ‘The aristocrats are debating heavily about your proposal on the division of taxes.’‘Just as I expected,’ Hadrian laughed. ‘But are you alright?’‘I’m fine, though a little tired. I was just taking a break from the morning court session.’ Josef answered. ‘I have to admit, what you’re going through is no joke. I’m surprised that you could endure it.’‘If it’s something you do from the h
The week passed with the court officials repeatedly expressing their objection regarding the investigation in Carinthia but slowly, they gave up seeing as the young Emperor’s decision is set and is not showing any sign of faltering. There’s also fierce rejection from his relatives especially from Lady Alexia who condemned Hadrian’s stand on the issue and his winning the support of most aristocrats and court officials as the time passed.Carinthia proved Hadrian’s speculations to be true as most people were infected with the same disease as the woman’s husband who showed up late in the General Audience a week earlier. And because of this, most of the court officials supported Hadrian’s stand.‘With all this, Lady Alexia will no doubt see His Majesty as a threat.’ Anton thought looking at his master as he works in his office. ‘We must be prepared of a tough retaliation from her.’ But knowing the young Emperor, h
Later that morning, Josef went out to the garde only to find his brother doing the same thing he always does upon waking up. ‘What are you doing out of your bed, Hadrian?!’ Josef cried in surprise running to his brother. ‘I feel alright, don’t worry Josef.’ Hadrian answered, calmly smiling at his brother. ‘Still, you should be resting who knows what might happen to you?’ Hadrian sighed and stood up. ‘You don’t worry about yourself but think about us who’re worried sick about you!’ ‘And that’s something I cannot disregard right?’ Hadrian answered rendering his twin brother speechless. ‘I appreciate your concerns about my well-being. But I have made my point clear once and I will state it again—I am the Emperor of Austria, and as such I cannot let the excuse of my weak body be a hindrance to do my job. I hope you understand, Josef.’ ‘I don’t. I really don’t understand, Hadrian.’ Josef answered. ‘So, you’re saying that I just leave it as it is? A
The next morning as Anton was overseeing the preparations for the inspection as he saw a shadow of a young man sneaking away from the gate. Anton sighed. He already knew who it was and decided to follow him.Hadrian looked left and right, checking for guards who might recognize him. When he was sure the coast is clear, he got up to walk out when he heard someone clearing his throat behind him. He turned and saw it was Anton. He almost jumped in surprise and heaved a sigh.‘Anton, good morning, you found me out, huh?’ He asked chuckling, embarrassed that his butler found him earlier than he expected.‘Your Majesty, we are preparing for your trip around the country, and you are sneaking out again?’ the butler said, crossing his arms across his chest.The young Emperor shuddered and flushed a bit. And opened his mouth to retort but the old butler interrupted him before he even uttered a word.‘About the chimney sweeps aga
Hadrian looked at the windows as they set forth for Pressburg, the capital of Hungary. The last he went there was his coronation as King of Hungary. He bit his finger, he hoped he was not being too rash about this. His heart was pounding in his chest – not because of the thought of being rash, but because of the thought of the children who were brought to Vienna. Those men intend to sell the children for a hefty price, but where does the money go? What do they need the money for?‘This is getting complicated,’ he murmured and massaged his temple again. Remembering the children that he saw in the pub and the children that drowned in the river on their way to Vienna. Hadrian had seen the report in a Hungarian newspaper, a few days back. ‘So that was the news about…’ he murmured again as Catherine looked at him.He looked out again and noted that the people are staring at him with cold eyes. With escorts like Albert and several footmen