Riding the Wind and Breaking the Waves

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

The royal gardens were stifling in the transition between spring and summer. This weather put Franz in a foul mood, and that damned sense of ceremony only exacerbated his irritation.

It was supposed to be a discussion on vital strategic decisions, yet they had ended up in such a scenic location. Conducting a blatant conspiracy in such a place felt truly incongruous.

That said, he had to admit that even though he was a frequent visitor here, he still found it hard to tear himself away.

The scenery was genuinely enchanting, perfectly suited for gazing out from a height. There were no drifting clouds, only magnificent royal architecture, sprawling gardens, and a beautiful artificial lake.

Wait, what was that? Something was cutting through the waves, charging forward. At this moment, a seal as fat as a torpedo was dragging Friedrich along at high speed through the artificial lake.

Five minutes ago, the young Archduke had realized he was going to be late.

He decided to take a shortcut, climbing over a neatly trimmed hedge before leaping down. However, his "leap of faith" was ruined by a branch that snagged his trouser leg.

Although Friedrich flailed his arms wildly, he lacked wings, and he plummeted straight down. After the dust settled, he found he wasn't hurt; instead, he felt a soft, bouncy sensation against his hands.

Friedrich grew excited. He remembered a story Franz once told about a young prince meeting a beautiful princess.

Only, in that story, the princess had fallen over a wall and knocked the prince down; his situation was the exact opposite.

As Friedrich fantasized about the stranger's appearance, he felt a pang of distress—he was a man about to step into the halls of marriage. Was this behavior a betrayal of his fiancée?