Caesar Incognito

The Austrian Empire is at disbelief, the people are baffled, and the court officials are confused; their beloved Emperor died, and the lands are thrown into confusion.

At the Blauer Hof Palace at Laxenburg, the young eighteen-year-old Crown Prince Hadrian is sitting by the veranda over-looking the pond reading a book when he was disturbed by his butler.

His stature is fragile, with pale complexion and jet-black hair, his striking green eyes lowered earnestly at the book he is reading, and his gentle hand cradles the literary work. He hardly spends time inside the palace when not in the veranda, he can be found at the garden tending to and studying about the plants he planted or talking and working with the old man named Marco. He is also known to have kept himself from any kinds of luxury which his noble relatives found as taboo. He has acquired that habit from reading several books about society, authored by ordinary people, who involved people living in poverty, he is found often reading a book titled “Die Räuber (Translation: The Robber)” Which he reads more often than any other book he has.

‘Your Highness!’ the butler called breathing deeply stopping before the table where the young prince is seated. ‘Your Highness!’

‘What is it?’ the young prince asked closing his book and standing up, with a hint of annoyance in his voice clearly, he did not like being disturbed.

‘His Imperial Majesty the Emperor--’ the butler huffed. ‘His Imperial Majesty died a few minutes ago!’ Hadrian’s eyes widened and dropped his book. Without another word, he stood up and rushed to his room to change his clothes.

‘Ready the carriage, Anton,’ he said hurriedly as he wore his coat. ‘We’re going back to the capital.’

‘But Your Highness, you can’t! In your condition you can’t travel!’

‘My father just died and you’re telling me to stay put? My relatives kept me from my father long enough!’

True, his relatives, and with the reluctance of his father, sent him to Laxenburg. It was done so because the Imperial Family does not want the people to know that he is suffering from a mysterious illness.

‘But Your Highness!’

‘Tell me Anton, who is your master?’ Hadrian said seriously not looking at his butler. ‘Answer me!’

‘Hi-His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Josef Hadrian.’

‘Yet why do you question me?’ the young prince asked. ‘Why do you forbid me from simply seeing my father?’

‘I’m sorry, Your Highness. I will ready the carriage now.’ Anton answered and left his prince.

As the butler left, Hadrian can no longer stop his tears and fell on his knees as he cried for his father. He was angry at his relatives, angry at his younger twin brother for not doing anything, and above all angry at himself for letting them do as they pleased. He started punching the wall in his fit of rage, crying as hard as he can muttering his father’s name and apologizing.

After a few hours, the members of the Imperial Family who gathered at the wake of the deceased Emperor quieted down as they heard that the Crown Prince of their country has arrived at the Hofburg Palace, the residence of the Imperial Family. They went to the gates of the palace to meet him there.

‘Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?’ a middle-aged woman asked. ‘I thought we told you to stay at Blauer Hof?’

‘And what? Stay put?’ Hadrian said with scorn present in his tone. ‘You’ve locked me up far too long, now that His Majesty has passed on, I believe I have a role to take up.’

‘But you are ill, how can you inherit the throne?’

‘You underestimate me, Lady Alexia.’ Hadrian said as he walked to the main hall, where the emperor’s body is kept, with his other relatives just looking at him. Before the door of the hall, he saw a young man, who looks exactly like him, waiting. ‘Josef.’ Hadrian murmured.

‘Brother.’ Josef murmured walking closer to his brother. ‘How have you been doing?’

‘I have been fine, my brother.’ Hadrian answered smiling despite his bitter feelings towards his little brother, wanting to see his father badly; he passed his brother and into the room. He breathed deeply and closed his eyes and prepared himself for what he is about to see.

When he opened his eyes, he saw his father lying in the coffin which is open for all to see. Flowers surround the coffin and are guarded by soldiers. The people who came made their way as one of the attendants announced his arrival. As he made his way through the crowd, he saw his little sister at the side of his father’s open coffin, crying. When she saw him coming, she ran to him and hugged him as tight as she could.

‘Brother!’ she cried. ‘Father is…father is…’ Seeing his sister like this, he can no longer stop the sadness that pierced his heart and let his tears flow again hugging his sister back; he gulped and wiped his tears away.

‘Marianna,’ Hadrian called kneeling to face his crying sister. ‘Hey, Marianna do you remember what father told you?’ the little girl nodded and looked at her big brother who simply smiled. ‘I’m sure father would be sad if he sees you crying,’ he said as she tried to stop crying. ‘So, do not cry, ok?’

‘Will we see him again?’ asked the little girl innocently surprising the older male. ‘Will we, Hadrian?’

‘Yes, someday. We will see him again, and mother too.’ he answered honestly smiling as his sister hugged him again. ‘But we must wait for that day to come, alright?’ the girl nodded.

Having finished his conversation with his little sister, he approached the coffin where his father lies with his sister still hugging his arm, refusing to let go.

‘I’m sorry I haven’t been on your side,’ he thought looking at the peaceful face of his father. ‘I’m sorry for my shortcomings; thank you for being a good father to me all these years, even though you’ve always been busy with your work. Thank you always father, now, it’s my turn to stand in your shoes while being true to myself.’

He paid his last respects to his father as a resolution formed in his mind. ‘I will not back down; even in my condition I will ascend the throne.’ A few days later, the people prepared to send the diseased emperor to his last resting place. As the heir to the throne, Hadrian led everything despite his relatives’ rejections. Knowing that his behavior will cause them trouble in the future, they plan to sabotage him in any way they can.

Right after the late Emperor’s burial, as he himself willed it, his eldest son Josef Hadrian will succeed him as the Emperor of Austria with the title:

“By the Grace of God, Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, of Dalmatia, of Croatia, of Slavonia, of Galicia, of Lodomeria, and of Illyria, King of Jerusalem, and so forth, Grand Duke of Tuscany and of Cracow, Duke of Lorraine, of Salzburg, of Styria, of Carinthia, of Carniola and of the Bukovina, Grand Prince of Transylvania, Margrave in Moravia, Duke of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, of Auschwitz and Zator, of Teschen, Friuli, Ragusa and Zara, Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia and Gradisca, Prince of Trient and Brixen, Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria, Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, and so forth, Lord of Trieste, of Cattaro and of the Wendish Mark, Grand Voivode of the Voivodship of Serbia, and so forth, Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece.”

It is a large leap for the young eighteen-year-old, but it is something he was taught to accept all his life and now is the time to put his father’s teachings into action, not as Crown Prince Hadrian but as Emperor Josef Hadrian of Austria.

Hadrian ascended the throne of Austria without any ceremony as is tradition. And a few days later, he was crowned as the King of Hungary in St. Martin’s Cathedral in Pressburg, attended by several dignitaries from different countries and with the absence of one Hungarian magnate. Months after his ascension to the throne, Hadrian finished his week’s work and stretched his arms as his butler, Anton, came in his office with a cup of tea.

‘You sure are working very hard, Your Majesty,’ the butler said placing the cup of tea on the table.

‘Thank you, Anton. Actually, I have something in mind,’ Hadrian answered sipping from the cup. ‘That’s why I want to finish work as soon as possible.’

‘And what would that be, Your Majesty?’ Hadrian looked at his butler mischievously and placed the cup back on the table.

‘Want to go on a trip?’ Hadrian asked placing his left hand on the table. Anton’s eyebrow twitched and he somehow felt that his master is planning something he would not like; his only fear is that his master is too lenient that his relatives might prey on his kindness and overthrow him. Without even knowing what went on, Anton found himself in a grape plantation far from the capital. He and his master are wearing peasant clothes.

‘What exactly are we doing here, Your Majesty?’ Anton asked annoyingly.

‘What else? Work until our shoulders fall off its sockets!’ Hadrian answered cheerfully.

‘Y-Your Majesty? We’re going to do peasant work?’

‘I wouldn’t want to call it that way, I call it noble work!’ The young Emperor strongly answered. ‘Without them, we wouldn’t have grapes on our tables and wines in our glasses! Now then, let us go!’

‘This is madness! Going out without a single guard!’ Anton sighed looking around the vast plantation. ‘I wonder how in the world he pulled this off. I bet the people in the palace are infuriated by now.’ Meanwhile in the palace, guards and officials are rambling about searching for Hadrian.

Hadrian went to the small house at the top of the hill to talk to the owner. When he came, a frail old lady opened the door.

‘Oh, there you are young man.’ the old lady said as soon as she saw Hadrian which surprised Anton. ‘I was beginning to think you aren’t coming.’

‘I could never do that.’ Hadrian answered in the old lady’s accent which left Anton dumbfounded. ‘Now then, which are we going to harvest again?’ the old lady stepped out of the house and showed them the parts of the plantation that are ready for harvest.

‘Harvest? His Imperial Majesty is going to harvest grapes?’ Anton thought looking at Hadrian and at the old lady.

‘I see you have a pretty large plantation, Madam.’ Hadrian said. ‘Looks like we’re in for a big one!’

‘Madam? His Majesty called the old lady “Madam”? This is unheard of!’ Anton thought in dread wanting to faint at that very moment, and then he saw other men and women coming. ‘Other workers?’ he thought.

‘So, the grapes decreased because someone stole it from you?’ Hadrian asked hearing it from the old lady.

‘Yes, so there’s so less to harvest. I reckon that there wouldn’t be enough to harvest.’ The old lady answered.

‘Nevertheless, we’re still going to help you harvest what’s left.’ Hadrian reassured seeing the men and women that he spoke before he and Anton got there.

‘How in the world did His Majesty organize this?’ Anton thought baffled about his master’s concealment. ‘Don’t tell me he talked to all of them beforehand?!’

‘By the looks of it, it would take us at least two days to finish harvesting all the grapes here.’ A large man said looking at the field.

‘I’m sure we’ll finish earlier if we start early,’ another said. ‘And there are a lot of us here.’

‘What are we waiting for?’ a woman said rolling her sleeves. ‘Let us start while the sun is still low!’ Everyone agreed and went on to work.

‘Hey Anton.’ Hadrian called as he spotted his butler. ‘We’re picking red grapes, not pink.’ As soon as he saw what he was doing, he was so surprised that he dropped his basket.

‘Hey, be careful.’ Hadrian said as they started picking up the fallen grapes. ‘You should check the color of the grapes, when they’re bright red like this.’ the young Emperor said showing his butler some of the grapes that he picked which were bright red compared to Anton’s which are pale. ‘…it means they’re ready to be picked.’

‘A-alright, Your Majes—’ Anton stammered, again, dumbfounded as his master stopped him.

‘It’s Francis when we’re not in the palace, Anton.’ Hadrian said as Anton backed off in terror. Never in his life did he imagine calling Hadrian casually and without any honorifics.

‘I cannot do that! Your--’ Anton answered as Hadrian covered his mouth.

‘Francis, Anton. Call me Francis.’ Hadrian said strictly. ‘Repeat after me, F-ran-cis.’

‘F-Francis.’ Anton said hesitatingly. And the two repeated it over and over again until Anton got used to it. Probably.

‘That’s right, and that won’t be the first time you’ll be calling me that so get used to it.’ The younger male said as he let his butler go and went on to his work.

‘Preposterous!’ Anton shook his head trying to shake away the new worries in his mind. ‘His Imperial and Royal Majesty is helping the peasants?’ Though he himself think that it can be a reason for Hadrian to be good leader, he cannot help but think that the young Emperor’s relatives can use this as a weapon to force Hadrian to abdicate his throne or worse, dethrone him. He made it his job to look after his master, but what he does not know is his master is already ahead of him.

The day has passed, and the group harvested a considerable number of grapes, and now that the sun is setting its time for them to call it a day. While the others went home, the old lady offered for Anton and Hadrian to stay at her home, since she knows that they do not live in the village nearby.

‘You know an old man once spoke to me of a young man like you, Francis.’ The old lady said at dinner, which surprised her two guests. Anton was ready to deny it, but Hadrian seems eager to listen to the old lady’s story.

‘I know of a man, who worked at Blauer Hof Palace in nearby Laxenburg,’ the old lady began. ‘When he comes, he tells me of a young man, despite being rich and at the top of the world, he always chooses to be lowly. Everyone finds it peculiar; his siblings are not like him at all neither are his parents! He told me that this young man always spends time with him, watching him fix the carriages, the lights in the palace, the gates where the horses are kept.

‘He never tried to live in luxury when it’s already in his nose! Instead, he helps the maids, cooks and even the chimney sweeps. And the way he helps the people are just moving, needless to say he is very enthusiastic about it! But when he is not doing anything, he just sits in a swing; that he himself made, under a tree reading a book or two. And guess who am I talking about?’

 ‘Who was it, Madam?’ Hadrian asked.

‘His Imperial Majesty himself!’ the old lady answered proudly as Anton choked.

‘Are you alright?’ Hadrian asked patting his butler’s back and handing him a glass of water.

‘I’m alright, thank you.’ Anton said avoiding the prescribed name his master told him to use.

‘You know I didn’t believe that old man at first, but he brought a picture of him and the former Crown Prince!’ the old lady continued as Anton choked more. ‘I don’t really remember the face of His Majesty anymore since the old man Marco kept it for himself.’

‘I knew it.’ Hadrian thought with a sense of accomplishment in his mind and heart. ‘This is the old lady Marco told me.’

‘I’m sorry to have gone on telling you stories,’ she apologized. ‘It’s just you remind me of what that old man told me.’

‘No, it’s alright really.’ Hadrian answered smiling. ‘But I have one question, Madam.’

‘Yes, what is it?’

‘This old man Marco, where is he now?’

‘I’m afraid he went on ahead of us.’ Said the old lady shocking her guests, Hadrian lowered his head. He did not know. Ever since Marco left Blauer Hof, he never heard a thing even though he wanted to. Suddenly, sadness filled him just as he felt when his father died, and Marco has been his father for the past ten years since he was sent to the Blauer Hof to hide the fact that Hadrian is ill with an unknown disease.

That night, when the moon is sitting high up majestically in the sky, Hadrian stayed up lying on the grass and staring at the stars and the moon hanging above.

‘Why are you still awake, Your Majesty?’ Anton asked coming to Hadrian’s side.

‘I told you it’s Francis,’ Hadrian answered uncharacteristically plain which told Anton that he is not feeling well. ‘You know Anton; she was the Baroness Marco told me about. She was left by her sons. They…claimed their share of the land and sold it. They kept doing that until her land became this small. She could not say no to them since they are her children, but what they did to her is just plain cruel. Marco once told me that he is one of the few friends she has left. When I heard this story, I promised Marco that I would visit her one day, so that she wouldn’t feel lonely.’

‘I see, is this why you want to work here?’ Anton asked sitting beside his master.

‘Yes, I wanted to see how she’s doing.’ Hadrian answered. ‘It seems to me that she’s doing very well, but like me, she seems sick for some reason.’

‘How did you say so?’

‘She has bruises in her arms, when she didn’t do anything, and nothing hit her.’ Hadrian said rolling his sleeves and showed Anton his bruises.

‘Y-Your Majesty, are you alright? Are you hurting somewhere?’

‘No, I was a little dizzy because of the heat earlier but other than that, I’m fine.’ The young Emperor answered and smoothed his sleeves back on his arm again.

‘I’m worried about you, Your Majesty. Nobody knows about this disease; we don’t know when you’re going to have an attack.’

‘Thanks for worrying Anton.’ Hadrian answered sitting up. ‘But now that I’m Emperor, I can’t go worrying about myself, I have to worry more about the people than my own health.’

‘But as emperor, you do know that it’s part of your duty to keep your health in check. If you are not healthy, how are you going to rule over your Empire?’ Hadrian paused and thought about what his butler said. It is true, if he is weak how can he rule over his Empire and keep the people in mind. But if he minds his health too much, he might not have time for his people and interact with them like this. ‘I’m wondering, Your Majesty.’ Anton followed.

‘What is it?’

‘What came to your mind? I mean why do you want to do this?’

‘It’s simple; I needed to know how the people are doing so I can do my job properly.’

‘But Your Majesty, surely there are other ways for you to know what state of the country, is there not?’

He agreed with his butler. Indeed, he can have people report to him regularly and that he cannot attend to everyone using this method. But Hadrian wants to see and experience everything first-hand. He looked down and smiled, thinking about the first time he went with Marco to fix the broken stable in the Blauer Hof. Since then, he got tired of his life in the palace realizing how boring it is he wanted to know more, he became more curious about the people that work in the palace until he started doing things on his own; from fixing the lights in his room, feeding and cleaning his own horse, and such.

‘Your Majesty? Is there something the matter?’ the butler asked again.

‘While I’m living in the palace, I cannot imagine myself living in all the riches of this Empire while the people suffer to obtain those things that are just too much for use.’ Hadrian answered. ‘I must say I’m lucky that I was born into the Imperial Family, but whenever I think of the people, I cannot help but be disgusted with myself. “I can’t live like this if people below us suffer.” Is what I always thought.’

‘How did you come to think that way?’

‘When I saw Lady Alexia kick the maid in her residence when I was eight.’ The young Emperor answered honestly surprising the older man. ‘The way she spoke to the poor girl is just too cruel, she said something along the line of: “You mindless girl, look what you have done! You made me look like an idiot in front of the Emperor!” those might not be the exact words I heard, but I’m pretty sure she’s degrading the maid. Starting that day, I promised myself when I become emperor, I will never be like them. And in order to do that, I must be on the shoes of the workmen. I want to know what they do, their suffering, what makes them fulfilled, what makes them happy, what makes them go about their everyday lives and what makes them do what they do. I remember reading something that goes like this: “To be a good leader is to be a good servant.” Don’t you think that I need to know all that?’

‘On the shoes of the workmen huh?’ Anton said leaning back. ‘But still, Your Majesty, you have to take care of yourself.’

‘I will,’ Hadrian answered as he stood up. ‘Alright, let us go to sleep, we don’t want to be late tomorrow.’ Anton could only smile as he followed his master.

‘You’re one of a kind, Your Majesty.’ Anton thought looking at the retreating back of the young Emperor. ‘Surely, you will make your mark in history with your own hands.’

The next day, while Anton and Hadrian are harvesting grapes at the far end of the field. Anton stopped working and stared at his master, he grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper from his bag and started sketching Hadrian while working. Hadrian stopped and saw a young lady walking out of a carriage while Anton was sketching nearby.

The young lady is petite with a small, rounded face with a pinkish complexion and big blue eyes. Her head is covered by a light blue hat matching her dress while her blonde hair flutters with the wind. Hadrian was instantly drawn in by just looking at her.

‘Francis.’ Anton called, noticing that his master is not responding he faced him, but the young Emperor’s eyes are fixed on the lady who noticed him staring, as if he were remembering something. Hadrian flinched and continued working without noticing Anton who was calling out to him all the time.

‘Your Majesty.’ Anton whispered surprising Hadrian.

‘You surprised me, Anton.’ Hadrian said almost dropping the basket-full of grapes. ‘What is it?’

‘Have any idea who the lady is?’ Anton asked.

‘I don’t know,’ the young man answered resuming his work. Anton smiled mischievously and continued his work. ‘She reminds me of Catherine.’ He answered referring to his fiancée.

‘It has been years since you last me her. You must miss her.’ Anton said reading through his master.

‘Oh, please. I’m merely remembering if I have left something back in the office.’ Hadrian answered, trying to fool himself, but Anton can read him like a book. A few hours passed, the harvesting came to an end earlier than everyone anticipated, and the workers prepare themselves to celebrate for a successful harvest, but Anton and Hadrian are preparing themselves to return to the capital. As they came in the little house to say their farewell to the Baroness, they saw the young lady talking to the elder lady.

‘Oh, sorry we’ll come back later.’ Hadrian said as soon as they saw the two ladies talking. But the old lady stood up to the dismay of the younger lady.

‘No, no!’ the Baroness said, a bit in a hurry to stop Hadrian. ‘Is there something you need, son?’

‘We just came to say goodbye, Madam.’ Hadrian said.

‘Why leave so soon, my son? The people are preparing to celebrate this year’s harvest.’ The old lady said sadly.

‘I’m sorry, Madam but we still have work to do in the capital.’ The young Emperor answered as the young lady stood up with her head high.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ the young lady said. ‘But I do not like the way you speak to my grandmother.’ The statement left Anton and Hadrian wondering how she said so. ‘As you might know, she is the Baroness Brigitta von Westenholz.’

‘Anya!’ the old lady scolded raising her voice. ‘You do not know what you’re saying, young lady!’

‘But grandmother!’ the young lady named Anya protested. ‘This peasant dared to even answer back at you!’

‘I apologize for answering back, Your Ladyship von Westenholz.’ Hadrian answered humbly surprising Anton who is ready to answer back with his blood literally boiling and successfully impressing the ladies in front of them. ‘But I’m afraid me and my friend can’t stay for long.’

‘I see, if that is your decision then I accept it, my son.’ Brigitta said embracing Hadrian as tight as she could.

‘Grandmother!’ Anya exclaimed seeing that her grandmother embraced a peasant, but Brigitta ignored her.

‘I thank God you came to me, my son.’ Brigitta said holding Hadrian’s face.

‘It has been a pleasure, even though it wasn’t long.’ Hadrian answered.

‘If there is something wrong, don’t you hesitate to come to me, alright?’ the old lady said reluctantly letting him go.

‘I will, your Ladyship.’

‘Oh, don’t you dare call me that, son, if it wasn’t for you, this land would’ve been dead by now…’ Brigitta stopped him as Anya stood surprised at what her grandmother just said. As far as she knows it, her father sent her grandmother servants and it seemed to her that these people are not sent by her father.

‘Thank you for your kindness.’ Hadrian answered and bowed at Anya right before he and Anton left.

‘Grandmother, who are they?’ Anya asked coming beside her grandmother who stood by the door watching the two men leave. ‘Aren’t they the men who my father sent?’

‘Your father never sent me anything!’ Brigitta answered disappointedly walking back into the house. ‘Taking everything but my title away from me; they can strip me off from my lands and properties, but I will never give them my title!’ it is clear by the tone of Brigitta’s voice that she is angry at her son, who is Anya’s father.

‘But grandmother.’

‘As I said, if it wasn’t for that young man the land would’ve been dead. That young man, Francis came to me and asked if he can work. I turned him down at first because I don’t have the money to pay him, but he said he’ll work even if I don’t pay him and when he came, he brought these workers and they all agreed to work even without payment!’

‘And you paid all those workers twenty gulden each?!’ Anton exclaimed while looking the other way since his master is changing his clothes.

‘That would be enough, right?’ Hadrian asked and finished dressing up.

‘Enough? That is too much, your Majesty!’ Anton answered turning to look at his master who is wearing his red and white military uniform complete with the medals and the Imperial Family crest. ‘Did you bring those clothes with you, your Majesty?’

‘Yeah,’ Hadrian answered wearing his saber on his left waist. ‘I am going to address the Imperial and Royal Landwehr today, right?’

‘Right, but I think that it is inappropriate for you to bring those clothes with you like this.’

‘Then what do you suppose I do? Go back to the palace and change my clothes from the ones I used harvesting the field?’

‘Why not let them know where you’ve been?’

‘Do not let the left hand know what the right hand has done, Anton. It’s something I read from a great book.’

‘Then, why are you doing this?’

‘I thought I made my point clear, Anton?’ Hadrian asked mounting his horse. ‘I am not going to repeat myself again.’ He said strictly and rode out to the capital as Anton followed.

Upon their return to the capital, Hadrian went straight to attend the court session the whole day without rest worrying his butler. The meeting went on until ten in the evening where the young Emperor retired to his room. But instead of sleeping, he took his favorite book from his little shelf beside his closet and sat in the veranda reading the book that he took.

‘That book again, Your Majesty?’ Anton asked coming in with a cup of tea.

‘I can’t help it; I want to read it again and again…’ Hadrian answered as Anton place the cup on the table and took out another book from his coat and gave it to Hadrian.

‘I know you would kill to finish that book before you go to sleep, so I brought you something to drink.’ Anton said.

‘And this is?’ Hadrian asked pointing at the book his butler gave him.

‘A new one to read, it’s been with me for a year and handing it to you is a bit hard since you’re always preoccupied.’

‘Das Erdbeden in Chili? (Literally: The Earthquake in Chile)’ Hadrian looked at it curiously but quite fascinated. He opened the book and took a little peek at it and decided that he will read it. ‘It seems interesting, Anton. Thank you, I’ll finish reading it by the end of tomorrow.’

‘I expected you’d say that, do you really have to read that fast?’

‘No, it is just when I start to like something I won’t stop until I finish it.’ Hadrian said chuckling and inviting Anton to sit with him.

‘No, I cannot possibly sit with you, Your Majesty.’ Anton protested.

‘It is already late at night and you’re no longer working.’ Hadrian answered pulling Anton into the chair and the butler reluctantly sat down. ‘You are already off duty now.’

‘I honestly have to tell you, Your Majesty I felt good after we did the work at the field.’ Anton said honestly.

‘Doesn’t it?’ Hadrian answered sipping from the cup and leaning back on his chair. ‘I thought you did not like it?’

‘I thought so at first, but when we’ve done it don’t know why but I felt accomplishment it was great having to work in the field.’

‘I am glad you liked it, hopefully you will realize what I am trying to do here.’ The young Emperor said as he read the book that he took from his room.

‘I’m always amazed by what you do, Your Majesty.’

‘How come?’ the young man asked his butler, not taking his eyes off from the book he is reading.

‘I’m surprised how did you know all that? I mean a beginner like you should have some problems harvesting a field like that.’

‘What is there to have problems about? There’s no limit to what a person can learn, as long as he has the passion for it.’ Hadrian answered like it was the most natural thing to do. ‘And besides, the staff at Laxenburg taught me well. I have to thank them for that.’

Anton stared at his master wondering where all his passion is coming from. His style is unheard of, the first to be exact, an emperor walking among the people, not only sympathizing with them but being there with them physically. It surprised him when he heard that they will be working in a field and much more so when the emperor himself took off his nobility to work among the commoners; the people who helped his predecessors shape the Empire to how it is today.

The old man sighed, realizing that his master is a piece of work. Though Hadrian always showed his lenient side, Anton remembered he never saw his master be angry at someone seriously. He is certain that Hadrian would never be the one to wage any kind of wars, let alone start any form of misunderstanding. He somehow remembered another emperor with the same name and was called “one of the Five Good Emperors”.

‘What was his complete name again?’ Anton thought. ‘Was it Publius Aelius Hadrianus?’ he vaguely thought while looking at his master reading his favorite book. ‘Hadrian the Good Emperor, huh?’ he chuckled making his master look at him.

‘Are you sick or something?’ Hadrian asked, taking his chuckle for a cough.

‘No, I just remembered something.’ Anton answered thinking that his Hadrian might resemble the Hadrian of the Ancient Roman Empire. ‘Have you read anything about the Ancient Romans?’ he asked casually.

‘A little, why did you ask?’ Hadrian asked, not knowing where this conversation is going.

‘Nothing, I might have something that can relate to what you are doing now.’ Anton said with Hadrian looking at him curiously. ‘Although I find it amusing that you don’t know something, despite your constant addiction with books.’ The old butler mused.

‘That reminds me Anton.’ Hadrian followed closing his book, not minding what page he is in now. ‘I want to visit Blauer Hof.’

‘Blauer Hof? How come?’

‘It has been a short while since I moved here, but I wanted to see how everyone is doing.’ Hadrian answered walking up to the veranda to view the garden below them. ‘I also wanted to see how my garden is doing.’ Anton took notes in his mind and carefully planning the trip in his head.

‘Come to think of it, it’s been years since I last been to Schönbrunn.’ Hadrian added after a moment of silence, it is where he and his siblings were born and it is also where his mother, the late Empress Maria Anna, died after giving birth to Marianna. ‘Alright, it’s been decided! I will not only do an inspection of the palaces, but of the states as well. Make sure we get a minimum budget on the trip.’

‘Alright, I will set a route by tomorrow.’ Anton said. ‘But I will make sure we never venture too far out so as not to tire you out.’

‘But can we go at least to Carinthia? I want to know the status there.’

‘I might consider that, but you still have to think of your well-being, Your Majesty.’

‘I know, I know.’ Hadrian answered and remembered the chimney sweeps that used to clean their chimneys at the Schönbrunn Palace. ‘And I heard recently that there are more chimney sweeps in the city.’

‘They are quite common, Your Majesty. The maids even call chimney sweeps to clean the chimney at Schönbrunn, right?’

‘But they are all too young, don’t you think?’ Hadrian said finally setting his book down on the table on the table. ‘How long are we looking at for the trip?’

‘About two weeks or less.’ Anton said and knew what his master has in mind. ‘Please do not tell me, your Majesty, we are going to work as chimney sweeps?’

‘I was planning that, but it might take us a while to work.’

‘His Majesty climbing up a chimney.’ Anton thought trying to imagine Hadrian doing such a job. ‘I will not allow it!’ he firmly rebuffed shaking the idea from his mind.

‘Why not? As I have heard the young chimney sweeps had a hard time…and that their bosses are a bit harsh.’ Hadrian answered rubbing his chin in deep thought. He used to talk to one of them and remembered one of them saying that their life is harsh, so are the bosses. He wanted to do something about it, almost every year the children have been replaced and he has always wondered where the other children went. ‘There’s even an eight-year-old boy with them! This is unforgivable…making an innocent child work like that!’

‘But, Your Majesty--’

‘Let us go out tomorrow, Anton. Let us investigate where they get the children and what happens.’

‘If you insist, but Your Majesty we still have to plan for the upcoming trip.’

‘I understand, Anton we will not be long.’ Hadrian answered as Anton tried to nod but his expression told the young Emperor that he agreed.

‘Seriously, you have to listen to me occasionally, Your Majesty.’ Anton insisted. ‘You have to get some rest; I remember you did not have any rest today.’

‘I’ll just finish this book and I’ll go to sleep.’ Hadrian said as he started reading his book again.

‘Please listen to me, Your Majesty.’ Anton called trying to get his master’s attention. ‘Please, Your Majesty.’

‘Alright, I will listen to you tonight.’ Hadrian answered and closed his book but not before he looked at the page of the book. But as soon as he stood up, he lost energy and almost fell back on the chair.

‘Your Majesty!’ Anton shouted coming to his master who began panting. ‘Are you alright?’

‘I will be alright; I just need to sit down for a while.’ Hadrian answered sitting back down on the chair breathing deeply.

‘Here, try to drink from it.’ Anton said handing the teacup to his master and he took it.

‘Thank you, Anton.’ Hadrian answered sipping from the cup and leaning back on the chair. ‘For some reason I felt weak.’

‘That is because you haven’t had a wink of sleep since we returned. You went to a meeting with the members of the Imperial Family after addressing the Imperial-Royal Army and went to a meeting with the aristocrats.’

‘I just want to know the status of everyone here, you know I can’t just stand by and wait for reports.’

‘Still the stubborn prince, I see.’ Anton sighed.

‘I also want to look upon the division of taxes. I will have to discuss this on court next session…’

‘That is enough, Your Majesty. It’s already night-time and you’re no longer on duty.’ Anton scolded surprising Hadrian, he just managed to sigh.

‘Alright, I said I would listen to you tonight.’ Hadrian said. ‘Can you help me up?’ he said stretching his arm to his butler who took it and wrapped it around his shoulder and helped his master up to his bed.

‘You have not even changed your clothes yet.’ Anton scolded more as Hadrian carefully sat down on his bed.

‘I will take care of it,’ Hadrian assured.

‘Can you do it, Your Majesty? I can help you.’

‘Do not worry, you go to sleep. I can handle myself.’ Hadrian answered as Anton reluctantly left him. Finally, the young Emperor bent over in pain. He has been suppressing the pain in his knee since he was talking to Anton about the trip to Laxenburg. He tried not to shout and fell on the bed sweating, his teeth gritting and his mind trying to fight away the pain. ‘God help me…’ he prayed, never questioning God why he has such illness.

After a few hours, the pain subsided but Hadrian stayed awake lying down on his bed. The pain strongly reminded him that he does not have much time to live; it made his heartbeat fast. He was expecting it but thinking about it made him scared. He sat up, making up his mind.

‘I will not waste even a single second…’ he thought, struggling to stand up. ‘As the Emperor I cannot waste my time for myself.’ With this decision in mind, he decided to set his own priorities aside and make the Empire’s priorities first. ‘This pain is nowhere close to what the people are experiencing in their everyday lives.’