East of Prague, Royal Hunting Grounds.
Franz had little interest in hunting small animals, but he still had to take part in family activities. A desolate horn sounded, proclaiming the official start of the hunt.
Franz and princes great and small from across the German lands all made their appearance. Even the somewhat depressed Frederick William IV had dressed himself properly and taken up a hunting rifle. Nothing on this scale had been seen in nearly a century.
Several hundred warhorses stood ready to surge forth, their magnificently dressed riders all hailing from the oldest and noblest families of the German lands.
Franz, too, wore hunting attire. A green hat had been unwillingly clapped onto his head, adorned with a long Great Auk feather.
Green represented luck, happiness, and a whole host of beautiful meanings in the German lands, so he had no way to refuse the green hat.
"May Saint Hubert bless us all with a bountiful return!"
Saint Hubert was the patron saint of hunters and foresters.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
After a series of formalities, Lord Karl, the Austrian Empire's Chief Forester, stepped forward and spoke.
"A northwesterly wind, Your Majesty. Your prey lies to the southeast. May you have a pleasant hunt!"
Then several hundred beaters and countless hunting hounds set off together, kicking up a cloud of dust with a truly intimidating momentum.
The cameramen seized the opportunity to capture countless precious scenes, while court painters from various nations had already begun to paint.
But for most of the royal families, the hunt was already over at this point. After all, not everyone was skilled at hunting.
Franz, however, could not escape this ordeal. As Emperor of the Austrian Empire, he had to take part in the hunt.
The younger generations of every nation and family