If Josef had truly wanted to break free from his mother, he would have asked me to help him, or suggested we do it together.
For now, let’s take things slowly.
If Josef loses Italy and Germany, he may come looking for me. In any case, until Josef realizes things for himself, trying to do politics will only provoke fierce resistance.
Until then, I should rest.
***
Countess Sophie Esterhazy had no way back.
The decisive reason was that, born in ’98, her retirement was close at hand.
‘Since I’ve rebelled, Sophie will never keep me in the palace.’
That was why she had to turn the young empress into a true empress as quickly as possible.
“Your Majesty, your steps are too quick. A little slower. Even when you are busy, you must always appear composed and unhurried.”
‘Even if I am gone, you must at least take control of the empress’s household.’
The ladies-in-waiting brought from her natal home in Bavaria had already all been driven out by Sophie.
The new ladies-in-waiting filling the empress’s palace were all from Austrian noble families personally selected by Sophie, and like Sophie, their eyes were turned not toward the empress, but toward the archduchess.
‘Had I known this would happen, I should have left a few of them in place.’
So a week passed, and on the night before they were to return to Vienna.
Just before the empress fell asleep, Esterhazy quietly entered the room.
“Chief lady-in-waiting. Did I call for you?”
“No. But I have something to tell you.”
“I suppose tomorrow’s departure time has changed.”
“Beginning tomorrow, Countess Lamberg will be in charge of attending Your Majesty.”
Sisi widened her eyes and sat leaning against the bed rail.
“What does that mean?”
‘Weren’t Esterhazy and Archduchess Sophie close friends? Even if she took my side, for this to happen so suddenly?’
Disregarding Sisi’s confusion, Esterhazy calmly began to explain, as though carrying out her final duty.
“I will be brief.”
Esterhazy taught Sisi how to distinguish enemy from ally.
“The first is Countess Therese von Lamberg. She is of the same generation as Her Highness Archduchess Sophie. It would be easiest to think of her as the oldest order of the court. She will not tolerate change, and she will follow only the will of Her Highness the Archduchess.”
“So she is not someone who can be won over.”
“The second is Lady Pauline von Bellegarde. She is young and ambitious.”
“I remember her. You mean the lady-in-waiting who pointed it out every time I violated etiquette?”
“Yes, that is correct. Always be cautious when Lady Bellegarde is present.”
‘So she’s the enforcer. Until now, Esterhazy must have been blocking her as much as she could.’
Esterhazy paused briefly to steady her breath.
“Lady Sarolta Szapáry and Lady Karoline von Hunyady are Hungarians. Her Highness the Archduchess reluctantly brought them in to make up the numbers.”
‘They must be the ladies-in-waiting who were always sitting quietly in the corner.’
“They have built an invisible wall between themselves and the Austrian ladies-in-waiting, and they do not offer Her Highness the Archduchess complete loyalty. But remember this. You must not rashly believe they will take Your Majesty’s side simply because they are Hungarian.”
Esterhazy did not yet try to make Sisi understand the interests of their families.
She smiled very faintly.
“If Your Majesty wisely extends a hand, perhaps an unexpected door may open.”
Just as she herself had been, Esterhazy believed Sisi could win over others as well.
“Chief lady-in-waiting. Why did you take my side?”
‘To be honest, it’s not as if I have any influence. For now, unless Josef takes my side, there’s nothing I can do.’
Esterhazy did not answer Sisi’s question and slowly bent at the waist.
“Please, be well, Your Majesty.”
With that final farewell, Esterhazy quietly left the room.
Sisi remained alone in the empty room, turning over the names Esterhazy had left behind.
‘Lamberg, Bellegarde, Szapáry, Hunyady… enemies, and families that might perhaps become allies.’
Esterhazy had left.
She had not succeeded in making Sisi a perfect empress, but at the final moment, she had left behind a hint.
‘Now I really am alone.’
***
After Josef and I arrived in Vienna, we returned to our usual routine.
In other words, I stayed in the empress’s quarters and Josef stayed in the emperor’s quarters, and we did not meet.
How can he be this oblivious? It would take no time at all if he came through the passage.
Maybe I’ll go to the gymnastics room today.
Originally, I wanted to work out, but they said that did not suit the dignity of an empress, so a gymnastics room was created instead.
What kind of yoga should I do today?
As I was about to head to the gymnastics room, a woman approached me, paid her respects, and performed a Hofknicks.
“Raise your head.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. As of today, I am Ida Ferenczy, and I will be taking charge of Your Majesty’s Hungarian lessons and readings.”
Was she the last lady-in-waiting Esterhazy placed with me?
“Reader, follow me.”
I took her with me and headed to the gymnastics room.
Soon enough, Countess Lamberg, who had become chief lady-in-waiting, would come with the imperial affairs report.
“The court ladies are rather late today. Reader, you help me.”
I let Ferenczy… no, in Hungary, did the family name come first?
The future is bleak when this country can’t even standardize something like that.
With Lady Ida’s help, I changed into ballet attire.
It’s always a shame that this is the best option.
“Did you also learn ballet as a child, Reader?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I learned ballet, as well as the violin.”
The ballet spoken of here was not the kind performed by ballerinas on stage, but the basic movements used for posture correction.
I had never heard of her family, but she had received a sufficient education.
Considering that most learned the harp or piano, one could say she had received quite a high level of education.
Judging from the slight commotion outside, Lamberg had arrived.
She opened the door to the gymnastics room, came in, and spoke to me.
“Your Majesty, I clearly informed you that this is the hour for your Austrian history lesson. Why are you staying here?”
Without bothering to turn around, I continued speaking.
“Therese von Lamberg, court lady.”
“That is incorrect, Your Majesty. In the imperial palace, there are no names. There are only positions.”
“Therese von Lamberg.”
If she corrects me one more time, next time I’ll make sure she can’t even enter my apartments.
“His Majesty the Emperor does not wish me to engage in politics, so there will be no need for me to learn Austrian history.”
“Your Majesty. That is the empress’s duty. There is no duty more important than knowing the history of the empire.”
“My duty is to follow His Majesty the Emperor’s wishes.”
I slowly turned to look at her.
“His Majesty said he wanted love from me, not politics. Is history not an extension of politics? I am curious about your intent in trying to teach me history even if it means going against His Majesty the Emperor’s wishes.”
Even after hearing that she was going against the emperor’s wishes, Lamberg did not stir in the slightest.
“I understand, Your Majesty. In that case, I shall go and ask His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Until His Majesty the Emperor personally commands me to study history, I will not take history lessons, so know that. You may withdraw now. Do not disturb my time.”
Lamberg performed a Hofknicks, then closed the door and left.
I really cannot figure her out.
At first, Esterhazy had shown no change in expression like that either.
Silence returned to the room.
“Lamberg has even omitted the imperial affairs report. Today, instead of a reading, we will have a Hungarian lesson.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lamberg’s failure to bring the imperial affairs report could not have been a simple mistake.
Was she trying to isolate me, just as Esterhazy had said?
Putting that thought aside for a moment, the Hungarian lesson went more smoothly than expected.
Ida Ferenczy was not stiff like Esterhazy, and she taught me practical conversation rather than grammar.
After learning sentences by following her pronunciation, the time for etiquette lessons soon arrived.
Today’s subject was how to use a fan.
Pauline von Bellegarde taught me etiquette in Esterhazy’s place.
“Your Majesty, when you open the fan, lightly, with only the strength of your wrist, as though a butterfly were spreading its wings…”
I opened the fan after her example.
Like a butterfly, like a butterfly…?
I repeated it inwardly and put strength into my wrist, but only stiff, awkward motions followed one after another.
“Your Majesty, your wrist is too rigid. It is far from the elegance of an empress.”
Let’s see, Lamberg is nowhere nearby.
I slowly folded the fan and turned to Bellegarde.
“Bellegarde, His Majesty the Emperor wishes me to take an interest in politics as an empress, rather than in love.”
I spoke while recalling the report I had read before coming from Milan.
“They say the recent movements in Bohemia are unusual. The influence of the Hussites is growing stronger and stronger. What do you think?”
It was unusual for an empress to ask a lady-in-waiting directly for her political view, but she chose her words carefully.
“Your Majesty, the movements in Bohemia are a matter that must be watched as closely as Hungary. However, I believe such matters fall within the realm for His Majesty the Emperor to judge wisely together with the empire’s ministers.”
“Did I not just say it? His Majesty the Emperor needs me, someone who sees things from a different perspective than the ministers.”
Now then, which one is it?
Lamberg and Bellegarde. Which of the two is more favored by Archduchess Sophie?
I gave each of them a different answer.
So I would very much like you two to hurry and give me your answers as well.