Down the Danube to Buda
"Any unusual pain or discomfort lately?"
"None."
"How's your appetite and digestion?"
"I've had no appetite lately."
"And your sleep?"
"Can't say."
Schoda ran through his usual questions, observing me closely.
And now he'll leave if everything's fine, right?
"Your Majesty, if I may."
Esterházy placed a handkerchief over my wrist.
"Doctor, is there something wrong with my body?"
I'd looked in the mirror this morning and seemed fine.
He took my pulse, tilted his head, and said,
"No, Your Majesty. Everything's normal. There's talk of a contagious illness going around—"
I shot up from my seat and stared at Esterházy.
"Chief Lady-in-Waiting. Why wasn't I informed about this outbreak?"
I'm actually hurt. I thought we were close.
"I think that's enough for the examination. I'd like to prepare for going out."
Esterházy shot Schoda a fierce glare for a moment, but I let the ladies attend me as I headed to the bath.
"Court Lady-in-Waiting."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
I shook my head.
"No, never mind."
While the Empress bathed, Esterházy confronted Schoda.
"What do you plan to do now?"
She'd worked hard to gain the Empress's trust, and she could feel that intimacy dip slightly from Schoda's excuse just now.
"Ahem, opportunities to use the stethoscope don't come often, especially with something like a contagious illness."
Schoda figured that if he could detect fetal movement with it, he'd be able to care for the Empress more safely from the early stages.
Besides, with typhus or cholera flaring up periodically, he saw no issue.
"Opportunity? Doctor, do you have any idea what ripples a single phrase like 'the Empress underwent an examination due to an outbreak in the palace' would cause?"
"It was a medical judgment. If my suspicions are correct, early stability is paramount for Her Majesty. No ceremony matters more."
As the two began quarreling,
"Court Chamberlain. Her Majesty summons you."
Esterházy's temples throbbed—what now?
Entering the bathroom, she bowed to the Empress.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty?"
"You and the doctor were talking for a while."
'Is she hiding something from me?'
An inexplicable unease stirred in Esterházy's heart.
Emperor Joseph was tied up with the Crimean War and couldn't tend to her.
It had been over a month since he'd left the palace.
Now, with even Joseph—who mediated between Archduchess Sophie and Empress Sisi—gone,
"With His Majesty at the Crimean Peninsula front, Your Majesty's health is the empire's peace itself. Hearing of Your Majesty's lack of appetite at such a time, how anxious do you think the doctor was? Fearing Your Majesty might harm your health with worry, he resorted to a somewhat forceful method to confirm. Our excessive loyalty has troubled Your Majesty instead—this is all my failing."
With those words, Esterházy observed the Empress in the tub.
'The signs aren't clear yet? Or is it hard to tell because of her clothes...'
Well, if you're going to apologize that much, what can I say?
I was just curious.
"His Majesty must truly cherish his Hungarian subjects."
"He'll return soon, Your Majesty."
What kind of husband leaves for the battlefield right after the honeymoon?
An emperor, at that.
"I haven't met the Hungarian subjects yet, have I?"
I should go.
"Your Majesty."
"Chief Lady-in-Waiting. What was the original schedule for the Empress's wedding tour?"
"Visits to the Kingdom of Bohemia, Kingdom of Hungary, and Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia."
Right, that's how it was supposed to be.
I was to tour the kingdoms and territories making up the Austrian Empire, officially introducing the new Empress to the people and strengthening imperial unity.
No radio in this era, after all.
"Is there any reason I shouldn't go to Buda?"
"None, Your Majesty."
From my time here, Hungary was priority one, Lombardy-Venetia priority two.
Bohemia had few complaints, aside from clashes between Slavic and German nationalists.
"I'm afraid the Hungarian subjects might misinterpret His Majesty's intentions."
Just 5-6 years ago, the revolt was barely quelled with foreign intervention, and now the Emperor was stationed there with his army.
This wasn't just whining about not wanting to stay here with Archduchess Sophie, right?
"We'll prepare immediately."
Sophie's influence in the Hofburg was stronger than expected—no room to maneuver.
Time to resume official duties and slowly build my own power.
From the moment I stepped out of the Empress's chambers, every instant was theater.
Today's stage:
"The Danube is truly beautiful."
The imperial steamer crossing the Danube.
The pristine white ship floating on the river was honestly stunning.
I sat in a deck chair, smiling and waving to the crowds lining the banks.
"A bit more to the left, Your Majesty."
The ship moved deliberately slowly.
So every subject along the river could take me in.
"Your Majesty, your eyes have softened. Show some mercy."
Hahaha...
My arms ached more by the minute, and my smile felt like it was stiffening.
"Your Majesty, we're in the countryside now. Perhaps a brief rest?"
"Very well."
The cabin I entered for a quick break was already turning into a reception room for the next event.
"Your Majesty, we'll dock at Pressburg soon. The mayor and noble representatives request an audience."
...A break, you said!
"Your Majesty the Empress, on behalf of all citizens, we welcome you to the historic city of Pressburg."
Citizens? Hmm.
Well, not my place to nitpick.
"Thank you for your warm welcome. Just as this Danube unites all the empire's subjects, your unwavering loyalty will be a great strength to His Majesty the Emperor."
After the brief audience, Esterházy praised me.
"Well done, Your Majesty."
What exactly? Next time, break it down point by point.
Back on deck, Esterházy pointed to a hill.
"That's Buda."
The crowds on the banks dwarfed anything so far.
Countless Hungarians, rivaling Vienna's population, had gathered to see me.
As the ship neared Buda, the cheers swelled like waves.
As I tensed, Esterházy spoke gravely.
"Your Majesty. They aren't seeing just one Empress. You represent His Majesty's love for wounded Hungary, the empire's unbreakable promise."
She might be right.
Cannon salutes boomed, church bells rang.
And so I arrived in Buda.
Joseph's world was confined to Lemberg.
The empire's eastern edge, the Galician capital impossibly far from Vienna.
Bordering Russia, this heart of the 300,000-strong mobilized army was where the Emperor commanded the war.
The room was covered in massive military maps, the desk piled with reports on Russian dispositions.
Outside, endless shouts of training soldiers and the rumble of cavalry dragging cannons.
'How long since a letter from Sisi?'
No letter from his wife among the Vienna courier's bundle.
Joseph found and read his mother's.
—That flighty child is finally dragging the empire into crisis! To dare go to the land of rebels, Hungary, without the Emperor's permission! If you do not issue an edict to drag her back to Vienna at once, you will witness this mother's heart torn asunder once more—
Joseph's hands grew ice-cold reading the letter.
'Sisi went to Buda alone?'
Bloodstained Hungarian streets flashed in his memory.
Assassins drawing blades on him, nobles' hatred behind masks. Into that den walked his still-naive wife, of her own accord.
His breath caught.
With trembling hands, Joseph picked up another document beside his mother's letter: the official report from the Empress's palace.
• Her Majesty the Empress arrived at Buda Palace under escort of Count Andrássy and Ferenc Deák.
• Visited orphanage and hospital, delivered relief supplies in the imperial name.
'Andrássy and Deák...'
Ringleaders of the revolt. Those names hardened Joseph's resolve.
"Baron Hess."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Revise the ultimatum to the Tsar."
Chief of Staff Baron Hess stiffened, generals murmuring.
"Your Majesty! What—"
"If Russia guarantees independence for Moldavia and Wallachia, we will remain neutral. Convey that if they accept, we withdraw our forces immediately."
Hess and the staff opposed it as a conciliatory retreat to Russia.
"Your Majesty, this is our chance to press Russia!"
"It's no different from yielding to Russia!"
But Joseph ignored them.
His mind fixed on one thought.
'If the Tsar accepts, I can go straight to Buda.'
To Sisi, waiting for him.
Leaving Buda's municipal hospital, I called Esterházy.
"Chief Lady-in-Waiting."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I'd like to see somewhere else."
Esterházy gazed silently, awaiting orders.
"They say the English boast of discovering hygiene these days."
The biggest difference in the Crimean War so far was the shift in military hospital hygiene.
"We'll head to Saint Rochus Hospital. The person Your Majesty wants is there."
This is what a competent secretary feels like.
I went to meet Ignaz Semmelweis, the doctor chased from Vienna and fled to Buda. No Archduchess Sophie here to stop me—perfect.