Austria remained still and silent among the rowdy, jeering mob. His face conveyed no emotion as he watched Marie Antoinette slowly step across the scaffold. Austria remembered her when she was but young Maria Antonia. She was so cheerful, playful, and kind. She always had an aura of childish innocence, even when she blossomed into a beautiful young woman. She had hair of gold, blue, shining eyes, and a smile that lit up the entire room. Now she wore an exhausted and emotionless expression, lips pursed in a stiff line, eyes dull and tired, and stress marks were prominent on her face. Oh, how the Revolution aged her. Austria stared at the woman he once knew well and loved as if she were his own daughter. The woman he groomed to be worthy of the title "Queen of France". Austria cursed France for not saving her. A young woman who did nothing wrong except for maybe being too naive, yet accused of so many heinous crimes. It sickened Austria to the core. As Marie ascended to the guillotine, she accidentally stepped on the executioner's foot.
"Pardonnez-moi, monsieur; je ne l'ai point fait exprès," she apologized in a weak and sincere tone.
Austria's heart broke as he heard her speak her final words. He gritted his teeth and felt his eyes sting. He tried his damned hardest to keep up this emotionless facade, for he knew he could not lament here. Not before the mob of animals who cheered for Marie's death, who felt no remorse or pity for her. Austria cursed France again and his people. Where the hell was he anyway? This was his fault. The least the bastard could do was show up, but it was too late now. The blade was raised high, and as the executioner released the rope, Austria turned around and winced at the loud thunk. The monsters all roared in triumph. Austria maneuvered through the mob, eager to get away from this hellish country. He wiped away the single tear that steamed down his handsome face, whispering his final words to the deceased queen.
"Es tut mir leid, Maria. Bitte vergib mir."