Chapter Seven - The Next Phase

Heine found Prince Bruno in the Prunksaal, poring over several books and making copious notes.

"Good afternoon, Your Highness. Am I interrupting something?"

Startled, Bruno looked up and accidentally knocked a pile of books to the floor.

"Oh! No, Master, not at all!" He hastily retrieved the fallen books, inadvertently banging his head on the underside of the table in the process, and piled them back on the table where he'd been working.

Heine looked over the titles with interest. "Conducting research into the various treatises on educational instruction here in Granzreich? A new paper, perhaps?"

Bruno shook his head. "Oh, no. This is for my own edification, Master. Since that day you had me instruct at Maria Vetsera, plus my own small attempts here with Adele and her friends, I've been wondering what the most effective teaching methods are." He rested his chin in his hand, looking pensive. "After all, not everyone is privileged to have a royal tutor. If I am to help lead Granzreich with the wisdom and acumen you hope me to achieve, I must understand more about how to teach, as well as how to learn."

Heine arched his eyebrows as he took a seat opposite the prince. "A wise approach, prince. However, you must also understand that there is no one correct method of teaching, just as there is no one correct method of learning. For example, consider yourself and Prince Leonhard. You have the ability to grasp complex ideas, to see correlations and parallels to facilitate your understanding. Your brother, on the other hand, has a much more simplistic thinking approach, and yet because he is..." He paused for a moment. "Shall we say, mentally unencumbered, he grasps things in a more intuitive, imaginative way. Neither is better or worse than the other."

Heine reached out and tapped the stack of books in front of Bruno. "The same applies to teaching. With you, I can present extremely complicated, in-depth analyses, and your mind is swift to comprehend them. With him, information must be presented as simply as possible to avoid overloading him."

Then he paused when he saw Bruno's eyes shining with admiration behind his spectacles. "You stopped listening the moment I praised you, didn't you?"

Bruno went bright red. "Oh, no, I was hanging on every word, Master! But I cannot express my gratitude that you think so highly of me!" He hid his face in his hands, but not before Heine saw the absolutely beaming smile on his face. Even as he rolled his eyes, Heine couldn't help feeling fond of Bruno for his heartfelt enthusiasm.

Once he'd gotten control of himself, Bruno looked over at the tutor. "But was there something you needed from me, Master? Or were you just visiting the library for your own needs?"

"Actually, I was here to see if you were willing to continue your educational forays at Maria Vetsera. I know that you seemed to enjoy it, and if, as you say, you are hoping to reach multiple generations, the experience should be most useful for you."

"Of course, Master, I would be delighted!" Bruno's eyes lit up, but then his expression grew concerned. "But... would it not be disruptive to your curriculum? I mean, I don't wish to disrupt their progress just to further my own efforts."

Heine shook his head and adjusted his spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "You need not worry. At that age, curriculum is far less structured. As long as the basics are taught, that is the important thing." The tutor rose from his chair. "As before, please prepare instructional material for children aged five to seven. However, I do have an additional task for you."

"Y-yes?"

Heine gave his student a long look. "This time, in addition to teaching them, I want you to learn from them."

Bruno looked puzzled. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Adults can formulate arguments and explanations, but children are far more straightforward, as you learned when the children began asking you all sorts of questions."

Bruno grimaced as he remembered the bombardment of questions.

"Study that childlike, flexible thinking. Ask them to teach you. I think you will be most enlightened by the result."

The prince was quiet for several moments, staring down at the books on the table. "The thing is... I'm not sure I understand what it means to simply be a child." He looked up at Heine, his blue eyes slightly sad and wistful. "I'm not sure I ever did."

"Do not worry, Prince Bruno. I have every confidence in you."


With that, the next phase of Bruno's education began. In addition to his regular lessons with Heine, he and the tutor spent an hour a day discussing his lessons with Adele and her schoolmates, and the children at Maria Vetsera. Heine quizzed him on curriculum pacing, on building and reinforcing knowledge, on discipline and encouragement, and on the balance of work and play.

"It's strange," Bruno mused one afternoon over a cup of tea with Heine. "There are so many facets of learning that I truly had no understanding of. Perhaps it is because my own path of education was so drastically different."

"That is likely," Heine agreed, taking a sip of tea. "And it is why I still continually learn from you, prince."

Bruno was so surprised that he almost dropped his cup. "From me?"

"Of course. You were blessed with tutors from a young age. You attended military academy, even if you did not finish. You were offered university-level instruction despite your age. And you have utilized all of them to your fullest capability." Heine was silent for a while, then went on. "You already know I did not attend university. In truth, I was illiterate until I was nearly the same age as you are now."

Bruno shook his head. "I still find that hard to comprehend, Master."

"Nonetheless, it is true. But I will tell you something I would not tell your brothers, Highness. It was your father's faith in me that made me resolve to learn. He had a dream of what Granzreich could become, and he believed in it and in me so strongly that it became my strength, even when I did not believe in myself. That strength carried me through learning languages, mathematics, history, geography, politics, and so much more. I devoured learning to the point that I ignored everything else." He stopped, embarrassed to have gone on at such lengths about himself, but then Bruno spoke quietly.

"Father said that you taught him how to survive. I think... that is why you embraced learning as much as you did."

Heine looked at the prince in surprise. "Is that so?"

Bruno nodded. "You knew, perhaps on a level you did not want to even admit, that learning would carry you further than just your hard-won wisdom from the streets. You knew how to fight, how to find food, how to lead others and protect them. But how much more change could you effect if you were educated? I think that was what drove you, Master, what became your resolve. That you never wanted another child to endure what you yourself had endured."

Heine stared at his student for a long time, and Bruno went pale at the thought that he had offended the tutor.

"I did not realize just how perceptive you are, prince, until this moment."

"Master, please, if I spoke out of turn-" Bruno began, but Heine shook his head.

"It is quite remarkable, Prince Bruno. Your ability to discern the truth about those you interact with is a quality I truly did not fathom. It is nothing to apologize for. Indeed, I should have already recognized it. But now that I am aware, I assure you, I will continue to help you develop this ability as you prepare for the throne. It is a valuable skill for a king."


As he unlocked the door to his room, Heine saw a letter had been left upon his desk, and he set down the stack of books he'd been holding to pick it up with interest. It was addressed to him, care of the Royal Palace, and postmarked from Paix, in Fonseine. But as he turned the envelope over, and saw a familiar seal of a four-armed cross with four roses, his breath caught in his chest.

He slowly sank into his chair, then he broke the seal, opened the envelope, and drew out the letter with hands that trembled ever so slightly.

Written in Avalonian in a graceful hand, he read:

My dear friend, Heine -
It has been far too long, my friend, since last we saw one another. However, fate has seen fit to turn my steps toward Granzreich once more. As escort and bodyguard to Sir Etienne Deneuve du Surlign, diplomat of Fonseine, I will be traveling to Granzreich in his service. Barring incident, we will arrive at Weissburg Palace by week's end, remaining in Wienner for a month as he negotiates trade and treaties with His Majesty, King Viktor during the forthcoming diplomatic conference to be hosted at the Royal Palace.
I am so pleased and proud to hear of your return to the Royal Palace, and your position as Royal Tutor to the princes of the realm. What a glorious opportunity that must be, Heine! I can't wait to hear all about it! But most of all, I am grateful that Providence has at last rewarded you for your selfless devotion and your generosity to those less fortunate than yourself.
I look forward to seeing you again, my dear Heine, for I am sorely in need of your wisdom and your guidance - now, more than ever.
I remain, as always, your friend,
TaraLeila

He could almost hear the Highland lilt to her words. It had been at least five years since they had last seen one another, but he had never forgotten the young Knight who had saved his life and that of the orphans at Maria Vetsera.

Slowly he ran his fingers across the words, as though trying to grasp her through the ink on the page, then he sighed.

"You're being a fool, Heine," he whispered. Still, the idea that she was coming to visit lifted his spirits, and he found himself smiling.

He got up to place her letter in the large box that kept his other personal keepsakes, and added it to the bundle of her other letters. His eyes misted slightly as he touched the well-worn bundle, bearing postmarks from all across the Western Continent.

Then he paused, and slowly drew out two other letters. He sat at his desk once more, feeling the late afternoon sun warming his face.

The first was elegant, and bore the remains of the royal seal.

Herr Heine Wittgenstein,
I, King of Granzreich, wish to offer you the esteemed position of Royal Tutor. Happy as I am, I was blessed with one princess and five princes. My firstborn son is next in line for the throne, but I cannot ignore the possibility that some unexpected tragedy might befall him. Therefore, I would like to install you as Royal Tutor to his younger brothers. I ask that you groom them for the throne and sharpen their courtly etiquette. The burdens of royal leadership are great, and I feel that my sons are unfit for kingship. In order to prevent disparity in their progress, it is vital that they receive equal attention and instruction from a single source - you, Herr Wittgenstein. If the four of them mature into worthy candidates, then at that time...

He still remembered with crystal clarity the day that the letter had arrived at Maria Vetsera, and all the possibilities, both bright and dark, that it promised. To help bring about their dream of an enlightened and prosperous nation... to help shape his oldest friend's sons into men of character like their father... but only if his own dark past did not interfere.

At that, Heine slowly opened the other letter, well-worn, smudged from repeated handlings, and though he'd admit it to no one but himself, stained with tears.

STEFAN THE THIRD, by the Grace of God, His Royal Majesty of the kingdom of Granzreich,
To Heine Wittgenstein of Wienner and all others whom it may concern, greetings.
It has come to Our attention that Heine Wittgenstein of Wienner, on the 30th of September, 1858, was arrested for five counts of assault upon the Royal Guard, the kidnapping and attempted assassination of a Crown Prince for material gain, and by extension, high treason to the authority of the realm.
Now know ye that We, in consideration of some circumstances humbly represented unto Us, are Graciously pleased to extend Our Grace and Mercy unto the said Heine Wittgenstein in respect of said arrest, and do hereby command all authorities and others whom it may concern that they take due notice hereof; And for doing so this shall be sufficient Warrant.

Heine clutched it to his chest, heedlessly crumpling it as he bowed his head, his thoughts far away and his heart heavy.

To be continued...