Outside the Palace

The next morning as Anton was overseeing the preparations for the inspection as he saw a shadow of a young man sneaking away from the gate. Anton sighed. He already knew who it was and decided to follow him.

Hadrian looked left and right, checking for guards who might recognize him. When he was sure the coast is clear, he got up to walk out when he heard someone clearing his throat behind him. He turned and saw it was Anton. He almost jumped in surprise and heaved a sigh.

‘Anton, good morning, you found me out, huh?’ He asked chuckling, embarrassed that his butler found him earlier than he expected.

‘Your Majesty, we are preparing for your trip around the country, and you are sneaking out again?’ the butler said, crossing his arms across his chest.

The young Emperor shuddered and flushed a bit. And opened his mouth to retort but the old butler interrupted him before he even uttered a word.

‘About the chimney sweeps again?’ Anton asked.

‘You got me.’ Hadrian answered standing straight, smiling knowingly. ‘But you know, Anton, I cannot leave Vienna until this matter is closed. The police cannot find the traffickers when I pointed them to the bar that we went to. So. I’m going to have to find them again.’

Anton massaged his forehead. He has been in this situation before. Right at the start of his reign when Hadrian went to Baroness Brigitta’s land and when he escapes from the palace to observe the people. Anton sighed once more knowing there is no getting around his master. But this is a more dangerous matter altogether; human traffickers are involved. ‘I probably would end up going with him anyway.’

‘Huh?’ Hadrian raised an eyebrow, not catching what the older man has said. ‘Did you say something, Anton?’

‘Your Majesty, why don't you just leave this to the authorities?’

‘What are you saying, Anton? Am I not the authority?’ Anton was stumped. Hadrian was right. He felt like he was hit in the head by a block of ice. He shook his head.

‘That is right,’ he thought. ‘There is no higher authority than he is.’

‘Anton, you are scaring me.’ Hadrian said, slightly retreating, noting his butler's prolonged silence.

‘Why would you be scared, Your Majesty?’

Hadrian tidied his overcoat and prepared himself to go out when a guard passed by. He immediately hid himself. Anton looked at him as the guards passed by casually talking to each other.

‘Why not bring even a single guard with you?’ Anton suggested when another familiar voice called out.

‘Yes, Your Majesty, why not bring one general with you?’ Albert said, Hadrian stepped back and held his chest, surprised at Albert’s presence.

‘It cannot be. You heard everything?’ Hadrian asked and Albert nodded in response.

‘Everything, from the very beginning of your reign, Your Majesty.’ Albert answered. Hadrian sighed deeply and blushed when he was caught twice. He always knew that Albert was smart enough to catch wind even of the smallest details, who knew that he had been watching Hadrian all this time.

‘I wonder how many eyes are on me?’ Hadrian asked himself but Albert certainly heard him and answered his question.

‘Just a pair. I was, in fact, appointed by your father to watch over you.’

Anton gasped; and so did Hadrian. They had never heard of the late Emperor Franz doing such a thing. Hadrian wondered in silence why and when his father appointed Albert to watch over him.

‘I'm sorry, my father appointed you?’ Hadrian inquired again, trying to make sense of what Albert had just revealed to him, it had seemed like a nonsensical decision on his side that his father would keep an eye on him, since he was unable to leave Blauer Hof from the day he was brought there; and the Archduke nodded in affirmation.

Hadrian blinked.

‘So, you…’ he asked referring to the moment he went to Brigitta's farm in mind.

‘I did.’ Albert answered, knowing what was on Hadrian’s mind.

‘And you…’ the emperor asked again remembering the tussle with the men chasing Anya and Albert nodded knowingly and smiling innocently. Hadrian slapped himself in the head.

‘Now that was embarrassing.’ Hadrian said, his face now several shades of red.

‘What is there to be ashamed of? You were heroic back then.’ Albert reassured but Hadrian was far from relieved.

‘I never intended any of you to know what I was doing, save for Anton.’ Hadrian answered not looking at the two other men in shame, he felt like some fool that was being watched by everyone. And it was true that he never intended to let anybody in his family know what he was doing and what he did back in Blauer Hof, but Albert knew everything and there was only one thing in his mind so no one else would know. ‘Would you keep this a secret?’

‘Even from Catherine Dagmar?’ Albert asked.

Hadrian's jaw dropped and Anton swore that he saw his master's face turn a darker shade of red and all the while, Albert was just smiling calmly, as if teasing his cousin. Anton blinked and thought that only Albert could corner Hadrian like this. And thankfully, Albert is loyal to the emperor if not, he could be a formidable foe.

‘Your Majesty?’ Albert called, urging Hadrian for an answer. Hadrian snapped out of his reverie and looked at them.

‘Yes, even from Catherine.’ Hadrian confirmed. ‘Please?’

‘Is this an order from my emperor?’ Hadrian flinched. He scratched his head in exasperation. Does anything had to be an order from him? He sighed.

‘If that is what you need, then alright, it’s an order.’ Hadrian answered as Albert bowed to him.

‘Then I shall abide by your orders, Your Majesty.’ Albert said and smiled at him. ‘Now, on to the task at hand. Were you planning to find the bar where the traffickers sell the boys?’

‘I am.’ Hadrian answered. ‘So, you could all go back to work.’

‘No way, I cannot leave His Majesty out in the streets without a single escort.’ Albert said, removing his uniform and revealed that he was wearing a commoner’s clothes underneath. ‘I intend to go with you, Your Majesty. If you say no, then I’ll have to tell Catherine Dagmar about what you do.’

Anton chuckled internally. Albert got him, he precisely knew what he was thinking and knew how to get his way with the emperor. Hadrian tried to sigh away his humiliation but to no avail. Albert merely chuckled at the sight, and he reveled at Hadrian’s defenselessness. This is the first time he ever saw Hadrian like this, as much as he wanted to tease his cousin more, he knew the matter that he wanted resolved is a pressing one.

‘Very well, you’ll come with me, Albert.’ Hadrian finally said. ‘Anton, I leave things with you.’

‘You can count on me, Your Majesty.’ Anton answered, bowing to Hadrian as the two left the palace. Albert looked around the alleyways and the streets. He looked at Hadrian’s back in front of him and wondered how he does not get lost in the city. Albert himself came to the city once disguised but got lost when he went into the slums. Hadrian easily found his way to a secluded bar where they heard whispers of a man selling boys to work in the city.

‘Well, at least I think I have the luck.’ Hadrian whispered. Albert ordered them a drink and had a casual chat with the owner as Hadrian listened on.

‘You indeed have the luck, Francis.’ Albert said, drinking his zirbenlikör. ‘I can say you have the nose for this kind of job.’

‘Only I don’t have the leisure and time for this kind of job.’ Hadrian answered. ‘It’ll be too obvious if we leave at the same time.’

‘Agreed. You should stay and watch them.’ Hadrian nodded as Albert rose to his feet. ‘These boys don’t look too much of a stringer for me, I’ll go find somewhere else.’

‘Alright. You might want to try the Jester then.’ The owner said, directing Albert to another bar where they sell children. Albert went to the direction of the bar and left Hadrian there.

‘How much per child again?’ Hadrian asked.

‘They have raised it to a hundred gulden.’ The owner answered and the patrons went in rage when they heard the price.

‘Why have you raised the price again?!’ a man asked in a loud and angry voice.

‘Is it because of the guards?’ another man asked.

‘Pipe down, you larks! Of course, the security in the border has been tight.’ The owner answered back. ‘The boat carrying the children sank and as you can see, there are only two of them left.’

‘The boat sank. And only two survived?’ Hadrian asked and the owner nodded. Hadrian’s eyes widened in surprise; just how many children were on board the boat when they set sail for Vienna? And only two survived the sinking. Since when have these people started to do this kind of crimes? Ripping the children from their families with the promise of money. Hadrian gritted his teeth hard in anger. He devised a plan to get rid of the trafficking. He knew it would be an uphill climb to put a stop to this crime and it might take even after his reign to be realized, but he was determined. Get rid of the poverty first then, starve off the traffickers. He will use what authority he must put a stop to the trafficking.

Hadrian looked at the boys standing by the fireplace. The boys look pale and tired. They are afraid from their expressions. Hadrian gasped internally. Could these boys be kidnapped? He looked closer for signs, and he saw it on the children’s wrists. He was right. These children were taken by force.

Hadrian breathed deeply, trying to keep himself from lashing out. He looked around, and true enough, he is outnumbered six to one. He must calm down if he wants to gather more information.

‘A hundred gulden for a child…’ he thought. He saw a man roughly grab a boy and the boy uttered something in a different language which further strengthened Hadrian's theory that the children were kidnapped.

‘Kérem, engedjen el minket.’ The boy spoke again in a pleading manner and Hadrian was sure now.  Hadrian’s eyes narrowed. He understood what the child said; the child was asking the men to let them go.

‘No doubt about it, the boy is Hungarian.’ He looked at the other boy and heard him speak Hungarian too.

‘Hey! These boys don't even speak our language!’ A man exclaimed. ‘Who would want to buy them now?’

‘It can't be helped! We can only get kids from Hungary!’ the owner was flabbergasted. He did not even know where the children are from. He had heard from his dealer that he brought them from Tyrol, but he never knew anything about some children coming from a neighboring kingdom. Hadrian narrowed his eyes, what were the officials in Hungary doing? As the rule of the country falls on his shoulders, he noted that he had to meet with the Hungarian officials. He finished his drink and stood up as the ruckus continued.

He saw Albert in the other side of the street, just when the police are coming.

‘Took you long enough.’ Albert said sliding his hands in his pockets.

‘I don't like the taste.’ Hadrian answered referring metaphorically to the place.

‘That's a rare phenomenon, indeed. You rarely dislike something.’ Albert rolled his eyes to his cousin, and he was frozen solid on the ground. Albert went from a teasing mood to outright terrified. Hadrian's eyes were raging in anger, Albert could feel the rage seething even from a considerable distance.

Albert could not move an inch nor look away from Hadrian. This is the first time he saw Hadrian this furious. He looked back at the bar and started to deduce what made his cousin this angry. He looked on as the ruckus of arguing men turned into chaos as the police came in and seized the children. Albert took a close look at the children and immediately knew what invoked Hadrian's fury.

‘We're going back, Albert.’ Hadrian said plainly and walked back to the direction of the palace.

‘Already?’ Albert asked following the emperor. It took him a lot of strength to ask; he could still feel the seething rage emanating from Hadrian's person.

‘Something must be done.’ Hadrian simply answered and sought Anton as soon as he arrived in the palace. ‘Anton, send a messenger to the Diet in Pressburg. I have an emergency meeting with them.’

‘Your Majesty?’ Anton called trying to comprehend what Hadrian meant.

‘Anton please.’ The younger man pleaded but the anger is still evident in his voice.

‘Y-yes, Your Majesty. Right away!’ Anton answered and hurried to arrange what the emperor had requested.

Albert looked at Hadrian and tried to muster the strength to ask Hadrian what made him come to such a decision. He had wanted to tease Hadrian, but he felt he would be rebuked and suppressed the urge.

The officials in Hungary hurried to the Parliament at the beck and call of their Emperor. One official, however, looked petrified as he exited his carriage and looked at the grand door of the building.

Albert mounted his horse, dressed in his black military uniform. He glanced as the young Emperor walked out of the palace and into the court grounds.

‘His standing – his posture, and aura haven’t changed. He’s still enraged.’ Albert thought. ‘Whatever it is or whoever that made him this angry surely deserves it.’

Hadrian boarded his carriage and just as when he thought that they were about to leave, he saw the door swing open to see Catherine climbing in.

‘Cathy?’ Hadrian muttered, surprised as the Princess sat beside him. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m coming with you.’ Catherine answered plainly. Hadrian blinked, unnerved by his fiancée's move.

‘Cathy, this is...’ Hadrian began, but was cut short mid-sentence.

‘You’re going to Pressburg, aren’t you?’ Catherine interrupted. ‘I want to go with you. Please.’ She said in a serious tone, looking at the young man in the eye.

‘Alright. You’re coming with me.’ Hadrian answered, finally agreeing.

Meanwhile, at Alexia's residence in Carinthia, news has got to her that Hadrian summoned the Hungarian officials. She was clearly distraught and started pacing by the window in front of her butler.

‘He could not have found that out already.’ Alexia thought to herself. ‘He can't have. Even Edmond isn't privy to this information.’

‘My Lady?’ the butler called, snapping her out of her thoughts.

‘I must do something. I must stop Hadrian or else, this family will never rule.’ Alexia said absentmindedly, seemingly to forget that her butler was there. ‘Yes, he must go. He must be rid of, once and for all.’

The butler shook. He knew she meant to kill the emperor.