They hadn't seen each other in private for a while, given how busy he was with military service, so she hoped to keep him totally for herself at the end of that evening event. She was already anticipating how slowly she would have stripped him off that new white and red uniform that fit him so deliciously, highlighting his slender figure and the long hair held together by a black ribbon that fell down his back, meeting halfway the golden belt fastened around his waist.

He turned around and noticed the countess. He was radiant and almost run towards her. It was strange to see him like that, usually the one who looked like a wagging dog was Miklós Esterházy. Strange and unusual for sure but absolutely welcomed.  He appeared even more fascinating than usual, and definitely healthy! She could already see from his arms that he was finally getting a little stronger. He kissed her hand before she could even bow to greet him.

"You are gorgeous tonight, as always after all."

"Oh, stop it already, Your Imperial Highness, you're the one who's catching everyone’s eyes. Has anything good happened to you recently?"

"I want to tell you about it, but later, the two of us alone. Now..." he whispered in her ear, willingly provoking even more glances "is there a dance available for me on your carnet, Grafin? I’m for your eyes only."

"It just so happens that my carnet is totally empty of names, what a shame! And my husband has already sat down to discuss with Thurn und Taxis and will not budge for the whole evening. I guess I could just fill it out with your name. I don’t have other choice but to be completely, selfishly, yours," she reciprocated in a persuasive, honeyed voice. "I’d better seize the opportunity, it's rare to find you willing to dance".

"I had been utterly abandoned. Miklós had to stay at home with his wife, she isn’t feeling well."

"Oh, does this mean I’m just a fallback then?" she pretended to be offended.

"My only fallback, if that can make you feel special. If you weren't here, I would have already left."

Rudolf never liked aristocratic gatherings and court balls—the latest were the only ones he was formally obliged to attend, while he avoided all the others, unless Miklos dragged him by force. Nevertheless, he was an excellent dancer, as befitted a young man of his rank. As much as he hated being complacent with his supervisors and court etiquette, he still put his best efforts into his duties and manners, so he could justify some well-deserved freedom, or feel authorized, for example, to blatantly ignore the various ladies who had been presented to him that evening as well, or some gentlemen eager to win his favour. Would any noble feel offended and speak ill of him because of this? Ah, such a tragedy.

He couldn’t care less.

It was time to end that farce, he had already had enough of those people.

"Shall we go to the garden? Wisterias flowers are blooming and I really need to talk to you," Rudolf suggested, urgently tightening the grip around her hand after a polka, accepting two cool glasses of wine offered by a waiter.

Although he did not like balls, he found more acceptable those that took place at Schöbrunn Palace, outside the city walls. It was easier to withdraw and find an isolated and peaceful corner. That evening, in addition, as the air was particularly fresh, they were practically the only ones to venture out of the palace, a perfect opportunity to sit on the edge of the great fountain of Neptune and enjoy the view of the garden and the yellow elegant building. He would have gladly climbed the hill to the top of the terrace of the Gloriette, his favourite place in that immense park, and observed the city from above, with the upside-down sky reflected in the large pool of water. However, he decided to spare his partner that hike. He had also cared to lend her his cloak.

"Careful! You’ll get your hair wet!"

"Ah, it happens all the time, it doesn't matter!" he laughed.

" You wouldn't believe how many women envy you for this. Will you ever decide to cut it even just a little bit?"

"Only if the world ended. It is my little rebellion against court fashion.”

Drastic, as usual.

Eventually, he let out a sigh, his expression turning serious, but she could still catch a glimpse of a smile on the outline of his face, lit by the dim moonlight and lanterns.

"You know, Rose..."

Such an incipit foreshadowed that it would have been a long chat. Or shocking news, or both.

"I... I'm not sure yet, I mean, about how I feel but… you see, at the usual beisl I frequent with Miklós, there is this girl..."

The countess guessed the rest just from the tenderness of his gaze alone, even if it was addressed towards an indefinite point in front of them. It wasn’t totally unexpected for her to feel her heart sink a little and a small lump in her throat, which she tried to quell by committing herself to fix a hairpin that held her elegant hairstyle together. She had to stop when he finally turned to her.

Lord, how could he be even more beautiful than usual?

And his voice was so calm and pleasant.

"She has bright amber eyes and hair black as the night. I would love to see it loose, run my fingers through it. You know, the first time I noticed her, a few weeks ago, I caught myself staring at her while she was serving me and Miklós a drink. I feared I had embarrassed her, but she reciprocated with the most sweet smile I have ever seen."

Yes, Rudolf perhaps should have seriously considered giving up everything and starting a career as romance novelist.

So, this girl had recently taken up work in that old tavern, she seemed to be alone, nothing was known about her parents. Miklós had not very discreetly asked the owner of the place about her as soon as he noticed how much his friend was totally lost and entranced after that first meeting. That bastard of an Esterházy had obviously refused to tell him the girl's name, he would have had to ask her in person himself.

Ester. Her name was simply Ester.

It had taken several evenings and pushes from Miklós for him to have the courage to ask her to talk in private, perhaps during a break or at the closing hours of the beisl. She must have been totally new to the city and society in general, because, to his surprise, he had to introduce himself to her as well.

And just as Rudolf, nothing more.

She simply nodded and shook hands, smiling at him.

Such a new feeling. So simple but immensely warm.

"I would like her, as a first impression, to remember me simply as Rudolf. Forget any Highness, Archduke, Habsburg. Ah, I can't wait to see her again and get to know her better. It's weird, it's like I feel more... light? Just the thought of her is enough to make me smile like an idiot."

"Why, don't you feel the same with me, or Miklós?"

Hell, she had spoken recklessly, almost without thinking about it, and maybe with a sort of annoyed, abrupt tone even. He remained silent, staring at her.

"Sorry!" she shook her head immediately, "my mind must have gone blank for a second, it's not that- "

"No, Rose, it's all right," he reassured her, gently taking her hand, interlacing their fingers.

"I... how to explain? With Miklòs, everything is so natural, habitual. We can even insult each other and then joke about it an hour later. I consider him my real family basically.”

The countess couldn’t hold back a slight smirk.

"With you, well... It's as if there were limits that we have set, you told me that yourself, didn't you? This doesn’t change the fact that I deeply adore the time I spend with you, you have become very important to me. The only problem is that with you two I feel... like I were lacking?"

Oh, wrong answer. He could see the woman's gaze becoming menacingly serious. He had to hurry to give further and better explanations and save himself from yet another earful of hers.

"It sounds like a childish argument... And maybe yes, I'm indeed still pretty childish, I admit it- "

"RUDOLF- "

He tried not to give her a chance to interrupt him any further.

For him, the countess and the Hungarian were special people, way above his level. They were like masters of life to follow. He admired Miklós' free spirit and conviction in every action, while Rose was like a spiritual guide, a welcoming refuge.

"You two would do just fine without me, while on the contrary, I would feel lost alone. Ester instead... It seems to me that she doesn’t expect anything from me, yet I think that perhaps I could really do something good and useful. I want and must. And not only for her, but all the people there... Now that I am somehow free from the constraints of the Hofburg and I spend more time among the soldiers, the folk, normal citizens..."

Rose let out a sigh, partly of relief. That man would have driven her crazy for real sooner or later, and not only in bed.

"Are you finally accepting who you are?"

Was he discovering love?

She squeezed that hand that was still holding hers. So warm, and still so soft.

"But, Rudolf, there is one thing that you still do not want to understand. Even though I am immensely pleased and lucky to be admired by you, because I consider you a person with a great mind and a big heart, I... I'd miss you, you know? Surely, if I had never met you, I would have still lived a happy, quiet, enviable life; and the same goes for your dear friend ...but you have enriched it, and a lot. You have made it more exciting. Like, I could wear rags and still live, but a nice and comfortable dress is better, isn't it?"

"Oh, would I be a nice dress now?" laughed Rudolf sincerely.

"You know how much I love dressing up, don't you?" she switched to a lower, sensual voice, approaching him until she could feel the contact with his leg through her gown. "And this way, you are forced to undress me really slowly," she concluded, biting his lower lip. He felt a shiver running through his whole body and couldn’t refrain from reciprocating impetuously.

"But, if this girl truly makes you feel like that, don't let her go."

Her tone had become gentle again and she no longer bothered to hide that veil of worry and sadness for that lover who had become so dear, and whom she feared she was about to lose.

"And you also know that it won't be easy. It will be hard for her to be accepted."

"There will be no need, because in any case I am barely tolerated myself at court, am I wrong? I will spare everyone the effort! They should be grateful I don’t ask them to kiss my arse! Yet."

That attempt to look like a haughty nobleman failed with his own laugh and a slap on his back from the countess.

"I'm getting ridiculous. If they tried to kick me out, I would be happy, honestly. But we know well that they are not allowed, the sacred imperial law they idolize so much says so, am I right?"

Rose in that moment realised at once what felt different about him lately. He had stopped wearing hats extremely pulled down on his forehead and keeping his gaze lowered in public, as if to hide his face, his own eyes. That evening, on the contrary, it was as if he was showing off those eyes like two sparkling jewels. He had also slightly shortened the strands of hair that almost covered them entirely.

"You're right," she agreed, "after all, we're talking about Rudolf of Habsburg-Lothringen, not just any other prince."

She brushed his cheek with her fingers with the excuse of moving a wavy lock of ginger hair behind his ear, to have a better look at him. He tilted his head to the side to chase that touch. They both stayed silent for a while, and then he murmured again.

"Even if between me and Ester things will go well ... I wouldn't want to lose you, Rose. I would love for you to remain my friend. I don't know if I would still feel like laying down with you- wait! I mean, well, I could, you are so fine... but" he began to babble.

She silenced him with a finger on his lips.

"I was fearing you wouldn’t have asked."

She couldn't deny the sorrow she would have felt if their relationship had changed, but deep down she had taken it into account since the beginning. It had been extremely difficult, however, to resist the spark of this young man, although he himself didn’t yet realize it. If only he wanted to, he could radically alter the existence of all of them, of the whole city and of the Empire itself. Not only the life of a young lonely lady. She believed he would soon shine even brighter and blind everyone. Ah, she had become so weak and romantic.

Rudolf noticed that veil of melancholy and decided to try to ease the tension. Ah, really! Could she truly have had even the slightest doubt about such a thing? Did she consider him such a petty asshole?! Unbelievable!

She tried to shut him up several times without success, bursting out laughing, while he continued and nimbly escaped when she tried to cover his mouth with her hands. After a while he decided to give it up, and indeed, he took the opportunity to pull her into his arms.

"However, right now we could still..." he whispered in her ear, then bit it and enjoyed the thrill it caused her.

"Here?"

"This garden has no secrets for me."