Going Their Separate Ways (Part One)

Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

Though disaster struck again and again, though powerful enemies surrounded it, and though schemes and evil deeds seemed impossible to shake, Schönbrunn Palace remained springlike in every season.

A seal had claimed the doghouse and was sound asleep. A herd of bluebucks had not only drunk the water trough beside it dry, but had also set their sights on the dog food in the bowl.

Even Ludwig, the Saint Bernard owned by Lady Sophie, had his limits. He couldn't help protesting: why was a seal sleeping on dry land, and why were herbivores eating dog food?

Woof! Woof!

Ludwig had barely barked twice when he disturbed a Great Auk passing nearby. The bird rushed over and sank its beak into his rump.

With his behind pecked, Ludwig could only whimper and run away.

Lakshmi Bai and Little Maria each rode their own pony, galloping around inside and outside the palace. They weren't actually going very fast, despite their "galloping," but they still occasionally smashed some equipment and startled the palace attendants.

As they grew older, Franz's companions had all become adults. They still held the same positions, but their antics had grown increasingly outrageous.

If they hadn't been at Schönbrunn Palace, they would have been even more reckless. Horseback riding and hunting simply weren't enough to satisfy them.

In truth, their families were just as insatiable. Franz was about to come of age, and many people speculated that he might become viceroy of Tyrol while also serving as Colonial Secretary.

The Austrian Empire didn't actually have a position called Colonial Secretary. Even after it acquired colonies, the Minister of War had also held that post.

But Count Latour, who served as Minister of War, knew next to nothing about overseas colonization, so he handed the responsibility over