A Visit to Vienna

Early in 1888, Waldemar spent a rather busy stretch of weeks on Wilhelm I's state funeral, the memorial ceremonies, and the cosmetics business. Even so, he kept his eye on what needed watching.

France is in an uproar over Boulanger, but Germany, at least, is quiet.

Through correspondence with his letter-writing friend Baron Hammerstein and others, Waldemar confirmed that Germany's internal situation was more stable than he had expected.

I suppose that's because, this early in the reign, he's still leaning on Bismarck.

It was hardly unexpected. Contrary to what the world commonly believed, Wilhelm II had regarded Bismarck as a good partner and mentor in the early days of his rule. Given that in this world he had come to power far earlier than in the original history, that dependence could only have been greater, not less.

But considering both men's temperaments, the relationship was never going to last. Wilhelm II and Bismarck were both politicians possessed of their own stubbornness and convictions. Both preferred bending the other to their will over any thought of compromise, and so conflict and confrontation were inevitable.

While Berlin is quiet, I ought to take a trip to Austria.

Waldemar decided to seize the opportunity and visit Vienna. This time, he intended to see the true condition of the old empire with his own eyes. Like it or not, the Habsburg dynasty was the only ally Germany could trust.

When Waldemar proposed the Austrian journey, Alix readily offered to come along.

"All right."

Traveling with Alix — still an unmarried woman — would swell the size of the party considerably, but that much he could live with. And if they simply kept the servants at a discreet distance, they might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even recapture something of the feeling of a private journey.

Waldemar prepared four attendants and servants for the Austrian trip. Alix's side numbered four as well, most of them ladies-in-waiting who would attend to the princess.

"Pack as much as you like."

"May I really?"

"Yes. I reserved six cars of the train for you to use."

Waldemar had not rented a single special car. He was hardly short of money, so there was no reason to be stingy. When he told her she could pack to her heart's content, Alix truly packed as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she meant to empty the entire residence. She loaded several carriages with every manner of dress and jewel, books, her own tea set, and a miscellany of everyday articles besides. Seeing the spectacle, Waldemar had no choice but to call for a few more servants.

Alix's luggage was so abundant that one passenger car served as her private room and another as storage for her things. One car was naturally Waldemar's, and the remaining three were shared among the servants and attendants. It was, by any measure, a rather extravagant journey — but Waldemar didn't mind. Money, after all, was earned to be spent.

On the first day of travel, Alix was so thoroughly excited by their sweet trip that she chattered without pause, and Waldemar could not even write a letter properly. To soothe her, he arranged for them to stop in Dresden the next day and stroll along the Elbe, just the two of them.

A ball or the opera would have made a perfectly fine outing, but having already had his fill of high society until he was sick of it, Waldemar did not even consider that sort of thing. In Prague, too, instead of attending salons and the like, they toured St. Vitus Cathedral and behaved like ordinary tourists.

And on the fourth day, the train arrived in Vienna.

Waldemar stepped down into the heart of the old empire with Alix, whose eyes shone with anticipation. Vienna in spring possessed a charm more beautiful than at any other season, and Alix seemed thoroughly enchanted by the scenery, her expression utterly captivating.

"Vienna, the city of romance. Even the name is charming."

For German women, Vienna was a place they longed to visit at least once.

"So you like it?"

"Of course I do. Because I'm with you, Your Highness."

Alix said it sweetly as she linked her arm through Waldemar's. While the servants unloaded the luggage from the train, the two of them looked around the station. The railway hall, beneath its vast roof of iron and glass, was filled with young European nobles come to travel — they could tell as much because these people, too, were having servants unload their bags.

"Those people seem to have come here to travel as well."

"Vienna in spring is a decent destination, so I imagine so."

While they talked, a servant brought the carriage.

"Your Highness, the carriage is ready. We'll send the luggage on to the Imperial Hotel as soon as it's prepared."

Waldemar nodded and boarded the carriage with Alix. The fiaker, a fine carriage drawn by two horses, was spacious and comfortable. Alix gazed out at the city for a time, then turned to him.

"Your Highness, how long will you stay in Vienna?" she asked, looking curious.

"I may stay here the entire time we're in Austria."

"I see."

Alix had been hoping for a sweet holiday in the resort town of Bad Ischl, and disappointment colored her voice. In truth, when one spoke of traveling Austria with a fiancé, spending the holiday in Bad Ischl was the usual thing. It was no wonder she was disappointed to hear they would remain in Vienna.

Considering his fiancée's feelings, Waldemar reasoned with her.

"Alix, this isn't a simple holiday. I can't spend it gathering nothing but sweet memories. I hope you'll understand."

It took several attempts to talk her round, but Alix shook off her disappointment.

"I understand perfectly."

To soothe what regret remained, Waldemar promised they would stop at Bad Ischl on the way back.

"That's a promise, then."

At those words, Alix's mood brightened at once. She was a girl easily soothed, so long as her expectations were met.

"We'll unpack here."

Waldemar settled into a suite at the Imperial Hotel, the most expensive in Vienna.

"Oh my. Is this where you and I will be staying, Your Highness?"

True to her nature as a girl whose mood shifted in an instant, Alix wandered about, inspecting her lavishly appointed room and Waldemar's in turn. Waldemar let her enjoy herself to her heart's content and summoned a servant to find out whether Crown Prince Rudolf and Archduke Ferdinand were in Vienna.

An hour ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠later, the servant returned with what he had learned.

"His Imperial Highness Rudolf is not in Vienna. He departed for Mayerling a few days ago."

If he had gone to Mayerling, meeting Rudolf was, for all practical purposes, impossible.

"And Archduke Ferdinand?"

"His Imperial Highness Ferdinand is on duty at the palace."

"Is that so?"

It was fortunate that Archduke Ferdinand was in Vienna. Waldemar sent a man to the Hofburg Palace with a letter requesting a private, quiet meeting.

Until the Archduke replied, Waldemar passed the time sightseeing around the hotel with Alix. They browsed the nearby shops and bought several outfits — most of them dresses for Alix, though there was a suit for Waldemar as well.

"Your Highness, that suit looks as if it were made for you. It suits you wonderfully."

"I think that's because you picked it out, Alix."

Alix smiled sweetly.

When they returned to the hotel after their brief outing, a reply had arrived from Archduke Ferdinand at the Hofburg, proposing they meet at the hotel.

Hearing that the Archduke was coming, Waldemar decided to give Alix a word of warning.

"You've arranged to meet Archduke Franz Ferdinand?"

Alix looked a little surprised.

"That's right. I'll be seeing the Archduke today."

"Why so suddenly?"

"Because he's a man of great importance to Austria's future."

If Rudolf — mentally ill and not in his right mind — were to take his own life, the man who would become first in the line of succession was none other than Archduke Ferdinand. Waldemar intended to use this meeting to gauge whether Austria was a partner that could still be saved.

Alix reacted at once to the news that the Archduke was an important man. She, too, had accumulated enough experience in high society that her instincts had grown sharp.

"Then should I dress properly?"

"Just enough to be polite — or dress as much as you like."

Ferdinand did not yet have Sophie as his companion, but first impressions still mattered. While Alix dressed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with the help of her ladies-in-waiting, Waldemar sipped his coffee.

Soon she appeared, dressed to the nines with her ladies' assistance. Contrary to her earlier claim that she had no intention of attending social gatherings on this trip, her attire was nothing if not splendid.

"How do I look, Your Highness?"

She had made herself as elegant as possible in a new dress and jewelry she had packed.

"I think you've dressed a little too prettily," Waldemar said, in a complaint that was not really a complaint.

"Of course I should look pretty. Who do you think I dressed up for?" Alix said, as if scolding him.

Waldemar gave an awkward smile at that.

"Your Highness, the hotel has informed us that Archduke Ferdinand has arrived."

Archduke Ferdinand.

Waldemar felt a peculiar excitement at the thought of meeting the man whose death alone had created a fork in world history. Considering that four empires had fallen because of that one man's death, he truly was a historic figure.

Waldemar and Alix waited for the Archduke to come up to the suite. Soon a servant announced his arrival.

"Your Highness. The Archduke has arrived in the drawing room."

"Alix, they say the Archduke has arrived."

"I'm ready."

When Waldemar offered his hand, Alix linked her arm through his as naturally as breathing. He opened the drawing-room door with her on his arm.

There stood a man of tall, striking build.

He was the man who could either save the Habsburgs or destroy them: Archduke Franz Ferdinand.