Author's note: This is what I came up with for the second chapter. (By the way, I'm twisting history a bit.) Enjoy!
"Oh, he had an emergency meeting to attend to." I put on an apologetic face. "It's a time of war, and the Emperor has been very busy." The Hungarian Prime Minister, Count Istvan Tisza de Boros-Jeno's face hardened. His mustache moved as he spoke. "I understand that he has been very busy, but I must see him, this Emperor. The Allies are on the move, and it seems that Austria needs supplies, food in particular. If you want me to stop halting the free passage of food from Hungary to Austria, then I must discuss this with the boy himself. Do your job Count, and make sure I see this fool you call Emperor." And with that, he turned around and left. The servants were already cleaning up the hall of last night's ball. The Prime Minister, needless to say, had stayed in a guest room.
I had just arrived at the palace last night to at least attend the end of the ball, only find out that the Emperor was missing. I made up some type of excuse to ease the tension, thankfully, people believed it.
Aleksandar. That fool. His actions, though, do not surprise. I suspected this to happen the moment I even brought out the subject of marriage. Nevertheless, I took the chance. And what did I get? A runaway Emperor and a horrible migraine. Now, where to search for him? I think for a moment and get an idea of where he went.
Really, he's so simple. I'm going to need to fix that.
I walk toward my bedroom, change into civilian clothes, get my horse, and begin my search for him. It doesn't take me long to find him. The fool is sitting at a café, and has obviously spotted me. I get off of my horse and walk toward him.
Alek's P.O.V.
Volger is beginning to come towards me. He's wearing civilian clothes and seems surprisingly calm. I get up from my stool to meet him half way.
"Good day Volger" I say.
He takes my arm and drags me toward a more private area. He then raises his hand, turns it into a fist, and launches it into my stomach. I stagger back and lose my breathe.
"That, Your Highness, is punishment for running away like a coward." His voice is low, and he is no longer calm.
I stand up, trying to regain my breathe. I don't argue. He continues on. "What were you thinking? Aleksandar, this is war. You could have been captured!"
I look at him, and I suddenly feel ashamed and guilty (as I should be). I not only left my duties, but also risked my life. But, instead of saying I was sorry, pride overtakes me. "I am not sorry for my actions Volger (lie), and I was fully aware of the possible consequences of my actions (also a lie)."
Volger sighs, and suddenly looks old. My guilt comes back, and suddenly, I realize something. Volger, the toughest Count I've ever met, actually looks like he's going to give up. And, to add to that, I caused it. I, Aleksandar Ferdinand, Emperor of Austria-Hungary, failed Volger. Yes, I've failed him at times, but this is different. Not once did he try to give up. Not until today. This is just the perfect thing to add to my mental book of failures. This woke me up; I've got to tell you that. I've now realized that I have been a child, not a man. A CHILD. So, I promise, I vow to myself, to do my very best from now on. No running away, no being stubborn. I must do this, to overcome myself, and to fulfill my duties as the Emperor. I must do this.
Once I'm done with my declaration, I turn toward Volger who, I've realized, went back toward his horse. I walk toward him, lock my eyes with his, and with determination I say, "Volger, I am sorry, from now on, I will do what I must."
This, I can tell, took him by surprised. "Even going along with the marriage proposals?" he asks.
I close my eyes, and shakily take a deep breathe. "Yes." My heart ached as I said this.
We are back on horse and Volger is telling me about choosing better ways to hide myself. "Be more unpredictable," he says. Not that I'm paying much attention. I'm still playing the conversation we had earlier in my head. Especially the answer I gave him.
"By the way," he said, "Hungarian Prime Minister, Count Istvan Tisza de Boros-Jeno wanted to see 'the fool I call Emperor'. In other words, you."
This got my attention.
He goes on, "You will not see him." A pause. "Alek, we are going to finish this war. Austria-Hungary must get out of it. It is only benefitting the markets, not the people."
I stop my horse. "What?"
He stops his. "I'm saying that we are going to make peace with the Allied powers. It's the first step toward restoring Austria-Hungary."
"Volger, you can't be serious! Germany will be furious. We made a treaty with them!"
"A treaty made by the Emperor before you. You are the trump card of this war Alek. You can stop this madness. Now that Germany has found out that you are the new Emperor, they will be suspicious. They will most likely try to eliminate you, blaming the enemy for your death. It's the best time to get out of the war, we can prove their suspicions right."
I shake my head, "This is ridicules, it will never-,"
"There is a reason to why I didn't make it to the ball until the very end." He cuts in. "I left to discuss this with Parliament. They have agreed with my suggestion."
I suppress a laugh and shake my head even more. This must be a joke. Thinking that finally, finally, I can end this war. "Volger, I'm all out for this. I trust that what you're telling me can actually be accomplished. I'm trusting you Volger."
"Of course, who do you think I am?" he says.
I full out laugh this time, happy that there's actually some good news to this war. I kick my horse to keep riding, and laugh my way to the palace. Until.
"Just a small fact Your Highness, we are visiting Britain. Our first step to making this peace treaty."
I instantly stop laughing and halt. "What?"
But Volger is already ahead, unable to hear my question.
I stand there, on top of my horse. My mind is going back before I became Emperor. Back to those times. The only thing that played in my mind was a single equation.
Me + Britain = A chance to see Deryn.
Now I wish I hadn't given Volger that answer.
Fact: The Hungarian Prime Minister Count Istvan Tisza de Boros-Jeno was a real person. He did halt the free passage of food from Hungary to Austria because he didn't want Hungary to be the junior contributor of the War efforts in WW1 (even if that meant blackmailing Vienna, which he did).
Very interesting stuff. Anyway, r&r me, tell me what you thought, and correct me on things that you feel, or know that are wrong. THANKS!
