Palace Intrigue: The Chief Lady's Parting Warning
If Franz Joseph truly wanted to break free from his mother, he would've asked for my help or suggested we team up.
For now, let's take it slow.
He might come looking for me if he loses Italy and Germany.
Anyway, until he figures it out himself, meddling in politics would just stir up more resistance.
I'll lay low until then.
Sophie Esterházy had no backing left.
The decisive reason was that retirement loomed for her, born in '98.
'Sophie wouldn't keep me in the palace now that I've rebelled against her.'
So she had to mold the young empress into a true empress as quickly as possible—even if just one day sooner.
"Your Majesty, your pace is too brisk. You must show a touch more leisure, even amid your endless duties."
'Even without me, you need to seize control of the empress's quarters.'
The maids brought from her Bavarian family home had already been ousted by Sophie.
The new ones filling the empress's palace were all handpicked by Sophie Esterházy from Austrian noble houses—and like her, they faced the Archduchess, not the empress.
'I should've left a few of them after all.'
A week passed like that, and on the eve of their return to Vienna.
Esterházy slipped quietly into the room just before the empress drifted off.
"Chief lady-in-waiting. Did I summon you?"
"No, Your Majesty. But I have something to say."
"I suppose the departure schedule's changed for tomorrow."
"From tomorrow, Countess Lamberg will take over assisting Your Majesty."
Elisabeth's eyes widened in circles as she leaned against the bedpost.
"What do you mean by that?"
'Weren't Esterházy and Archduchess Sophie close friends? Even if she's been on my side, this sudden...?'
Esterházy ignored Elisabeth's bewilderment and began her explanation calmly, like fulfilling her final duty.
"To keep it brief."
Esterházy distinguished enemies from allies for Elisabeth.
"First is Countess Therese von Lamberg. She's of the same generation as Archduchess Sophie. Think of her as upholding the court's oldest order. She won't tolerate change and will follow only the Archduchess's will."
"So, someone who can't be swayed."
"Second is Lady Pauline von Belcredi. Young and ambitious."
"I remember her—the one who kept correcting my etiquette slips."
"Yes. Always be cautious around Lady Belcredi."
'The enforcer, huh. So Esterházy's been holding her back until now.'
Esterházy paused for breath.
"Lady Sarolta Szepessy and Lady Caroline von Hunyadi are Hungarians. The Archduchess reluctantly added them for appearances."
'Those quiet ones in the corner.'
"They've built an invisible wall against the Austrian maids and don't offer the Archduchess full loyalty. But remember: don't assume they'll side with Your Majesty just because they're Hungarian."
Esterházy didn't yet delve into family interests for Elisabeth.
She gave the faintest smile.
"If Your Majesty wisely extends a hand, an unexpected door might open."
Like she herself had done, Esterházy believed Elisabeth could win others over.
"Chief lady-in-waiting. Why have you taken my side?"
'Honestly, I don't have much influence yet. And without Franz Joseph's support, I can't do much.'
Esterházy didn't answer the question. Instead, she bowed slowly.
"I wish Your Majesty good health and rest."
With her final bow, Esterházy quietly left the room.
Left alone in the empty chamber, Elisabeth mulled over the names she'd left behind.
'Lamberg, Belcredi, Szepessy, Hunyadi... enemies and potential allies.'
Esterházy was gone.
She hadn't made Elisabeth a perfect empress, but she'd left a hint at the last moment.
'Now I'm truly on my own.'
Back in Vienna, Franz Joseph and I slipped into our usual routines.
Meaning I stayed in the empress's quarters, he in the emperor's—and we didn't meet.
Does he have no clue? The connecting passage would get him here in no time.
Maybe I'll hit the gymnastics room today.
I wanted a proper gym, but they said it wasn't befitting an empress, so we got this instead.
Wonder what yoga we'll do today.
As I headed to the gymnastics room, a woman approached, curtsying with a perfect Hofknicks.
"Raise your head."
"Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. Starting today, I, Ida Ferenc, will handle Your Majesty's Hungarian lessons and readings."
Esterházy's final addition.
"Reading maid, follow me."
I took her to the gymnastics room.
Countess Lamberg, soon to be chief lady-in-waiting, would arrive shortly with the imperial trends report.
"The court maids are running late today. Reading maid, lend a hand."
I Ferenc... wait, Hungary uses given name first, right?
A country that can't even standardize that? Dark days ahead.
With Lady Ida's help, I changed into ballet attire.
Always a shame this is the best they've got.
"Did you study ballet as a child, reading maid?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Ballet, as well as violin."
Here, "ballet" meant basic posture-correcting moves, not stage ballerina stuff.
Unknown family, but solid education.
Considering most learned harp or piano, this was high-level training.
A slight commotion outside—Lamberg must be here.
She opened the gymnastics room door and addressed me.
"Your Majesty, I clearly informed you this is Austrian history lesson time. Why remain here?"
I didn't bother turning around.
"Therese von Lamberg, court maid."
"Incorrect, Your Majesty. In the imperial palace, names don't exist—only positions."
"Therese von Lamberg."
One more correction, and I'll bar her from my apartments next time.
"His Majesty the Emperor doesn't wish politics from me, so no need for Austrian history."
"Your Majesty, that is the empress's duty. Nothing is more vital than knowing the empire's history."
"My duty is to follow His Majesty the Emperor's will."
I turned to her slowly.
"His Majesty wants love from me, not politics. Isn't history just politics extended? I'm curious about your intent in teaching me history against his wishes."
Lamberg didn't flinch at the accusation of defying the emperor.
"Understood, Your Majesty. Then I'll consult His Majesty the Emperor."
"Until he personally orders me to study history, I won't attend. You may withdraw now. Don't disturb my time."
Lamberg curtsied with a Hofknicks and shut the door behind her.
Impossible to read.
Esterházy was the same at first—no expression at all.
Silence returned to the room.
"Lamberg even skipped the imperial trends report. We'll do Hungarian lessons instead of reading today."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lamberg not bringing the report wasn't mere oversight.
Trying to isolate me, as Esterházy warned.
Pushing those thoughts aside, the Hungarian lesson went smoother than expected.
Ida Ferenc wasn't as rigid as Esterházy; she focused on practical conversation over grammar.
By the time I'd mimicked her pronunciation and memorized phrases, etiquette class loomed.
Today's topic: fan usage.
Pauline von Belcredi taught me etiquette in Esterházy's stead.
"Your Majesty, when opening the fan, use only your wrist lightly, like a butterfly unfurling its wings..."
I followed her lead, opening the fan.
Like a butterfly, butterfly...?
Mulling it over, I tensed my wrist—but only stiff, awkward motions repeated.
"Your Majesty, your wrist is too rigid. It's far from an empress's grace."
No Lamberg in sight.
I slowly closed the fan and turned to Belcredi.
"Belcredi, His Majesty the Emperor hopes I'll take interest in politics as one empress, beyond mere love."
Recalling the report I'd read before Milan, I continued.
"Bohemia's movements seem troubling lately. Hussite influence is growing—your thoughts?"
Rare for an empress to ask a maid's political opinion directly, but she chose her words carefully.
"Your Majesty, Bohemia's situation demands as much vigilance as Hungary's. However, such matters fall to the empire's ministers and His Majesty the Emperor's wise judgment."
"Didn't I just say? His Majesty needs my perspective, apart from the ministers'."
Which one, I wonder.
Lamberg and Belcredi—who enjoys more of Archduchess Sophie's favor?
I've given them different answers.
So now, show me yours.