First Impressions: Franz Joseph

I stifled a yawn as I listened to Mother and Aunt Ludovka discussing the possible betrothal between Helene and myself. We had been sitting in a small, inner chamber of the palace for a little over an hour. I had not said a word the entire time, though I listened intently to the points that both women would bring into the conversation.

Occasionally I would glance over at the two young girls, seated together on a small couch to my right. Helene looked a bit pale, and I was somewhat worried that she had suddenly taken ill. She kept glancing nervously at her mother, at me, and then her sister, grasping her hand tightly throughout the entire meeting.

Elisabeth, on the other hand, seemed a good deal more collected than her sister. She sat on the sofa, gripping her sister's hand, and reassuring her with whispers or her eyes. From time to time she would glance my way, and our eyes would meet. I couldn't help but notice the blush rise on her cheeks as she quickly looked away.

She had captured my interest from the moment I had first seen her waiting at the foot of the stairs. There was something about her simple beauty, and the fire that I could see in her eyes. Elisabeth seemed sure of herself, in a way that surprised me.

Although Helene seemed very charming, I couldn't help but have my thoughts return to Elisabeth, even though she was considerably younger than her sister. I sighed, shaking my head, knowing full well that both Ludovka and my mother were hoping for Helene and I to be married.

At last the discussion seemed to be over, and I rose, offering my arm to Helene and escorting her out of the room.

After seeing the two girls and their mother to their rooms, I followed my own mother to my private reception room, my thoughts almost whizzing about my head. She turned to me with a small smile, motioning me to sit.

"Well Franz, speak freely to me, how do you like her?"

I looked up at her, snapped out of my own thoughts,

"Who?"

She laughed lightly, taking a seat a little across from me, tilting her head slightly, almost like an interested bird.

"Why, your charming cousin of course! How do you like her Franz?"

I thought for a moment, glancing up at my mother before rising to my feet.

"Well…she…she looks like a fresh almond," I said at last, unsure how to put what I felt into words.

"Like…what?' I grinned a little at the confusion in her voice.

"A fresh almond about to burst."

"Why, that is almost poetry!" She laughed aloud now, rising as well, placing her hand on my shoulder. "She must have made quite an impression on you Franz, to make you speak so."

"Her eyes are so…lovely and warm, and her lips are as red as strawberries," the words now flowed out of me, in one continuous stream.

"Her manners are very well developed too."

"At the ball tonight, I will only dance with her…Elisabeth." I said her name in almost a whisper, feeling it on my lips. Even so, my mother heard, and her tone changed in an instant.

"What?" She turned me to face her, her eyes suddenly sharp and searching, "If I wasn't mistaken, I could have sworn you had uttered that other girl's name and not Helene's."

"Mother, you heard me correctly," I said, chuckling a bit to myself. "I will dance with Elisabeth tonight at the ball, she is the one who I believe may have captured my heart."

"Franz, don't be ridiculous. You know that Ludovka and I have panned for sometime for your wedding to Helene. Why, until today, Elisabeth wasn't even going to be attending the celebration!"

"Nevertheless, mother, I can't seem to turn my thoughts from her. Helene is…pleasant, very well mannered, but she just doesn't…seem right for me."

"Now Franz…"

"Mother, although you may have been planning this wedding for quite some time, it is still my wedding. Who I marry will still remain my decision, no matter how long you may have anticipated otherwise."

I watched her open her mouth to speak, then she seemed to think better of it, and remained silent. When she spoke next her voice sounded quieter, a little bit forced.

"Very well. I understand that this is your decision. After all, who am I to say whom you chose to dance with tonight at the ball. But…Franz, I just want you to think carefully about your decision. You must remember that whomever you chose will be the Empress of Austria…you must be thinking of your country as well as yourself."

"Mother, I promise you that I will consider every possibility," I told her, kissing the back of her hand lightly.

"I hope you do."

She stepped away from me, curtseying before she turned and swept from the room. I sighed, shaking my head and sinking into a chair. I knew that mother would not give up easily, but I was confidant that I was making the right decision.

I thought it was time to bring another character on the scene! I'm going to try and make Franz Joseph a more in-depth character in the story than he seems to be in the show. I feel sorry for him in the musical…enjoy! Please continue to read and review!